Class Notes
Notices as of July 7, 2025
1968
L. Jeffry Price published his first book of poetry, titled "Katsu: A Book of Poems from Life" (available on Amazon).
1969
Randy Slusser was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on May 3, 2025, as a "Friend of Basketball." He received this honor in part because of his three years serving as the manager of the Vikings varsity men's basketball team and six years keeping stats while teaching in Rock Island.
1970
Bonita Vize will retire on July 31, after a 60-year career as a minister of music and ELCA-rostered deacon.
1973
Carolyn Aiken received the Rob Grierson Friend of Scholastic Bowl Award at the annual Awards Banquet of the Illinois High School Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association on May 4, 2025. The award was established to recognize the work of non-coach community members who dedicate time and effort to scholastic bowl activities statewide.
1974
Dewaine Nelson founded Solergy Inc. in 2001, which he reports was the third solar company in Illinois. He is now retired.
Elaine Aiken Seevers received the Rob Grierson Friend of Scholastic Bowl Award at the annual Awards Banquet of the Illinois High School Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association on May 4, 2025. The award was established to recognize the work of non-coach community members who dedicate time and effort to scholastic bowl activities statewide.
1976
Paul Jakse retired in 2024 after 19 years as vice president with AeroGo, Inc. in Seattle, Wash.
1979
Paul Obrock received the Presidential Award of Excellence from Dr. Pankaj Patel of Nairobi, Kenya — the Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA) international president — at the organization's recent annual meeting and gala. The PFA is an international honor society of dentists whose mission is to recognize and develop outstanding leadership in the profession and in the community. Paul is the PFA trustee for Region 3, overseeing the nine states of the southeast United States and the Caribbean.
1984
Matt McSparin will be an assistant professor and the program director of sport management at Greenville University (Illinois) this fall. Matt has had a 30-year career in business ownership and currently owns Edison's Entertainment and Visual Events, both located in Edwardsville, Ill.
1985
Patricia Tucker retired after working 31 years at One Collective, an organization that brings people together to help the oppressed.
1987
Jim Porter retired after a 38-year career in health care finance. He served as CFO and other senior-level finance positions at various healthcare systems in the Midwest.
1991
Eric Schmidt is the controller for the Global Walt Disney Theme Parks and Experiences Division and is based in Orlando, Fla.
1992
Kathleen Elder retired from River Bend Schools, in Fulton, Ill., after a 33-year career in education.
1993
Paula Anderson Nimrick received her certificate in financial planning and analysis from the Institute of Management Accountants.
1998
Margo Schmitt was promoted to superintendent at Prairie du Rocher School District 134.
2001
Elizabeth Isaak Potter received her M.A. in counseling, with an emphasis in school counseling. She is a school counselor in the Douglas County School District in Colorado.
2011
Matthew Peters is in labor relations with the City of Chicago Department of Water Management.
From the left: Miki Steinberg '16 Bagnuolo, Bailey Bradford '18 McFadden, Meredith Chew '16 Lane, Somer Druszkowski '16 Strain, Alexandra Jones '16 Stone, Wendy Guadarrama '16 Smith, Jacque Kibir-Evans ‘17, Gloria Nevarez ‘18, Casey Janko '16 Morgenstern
2016
Alexandra Jones married Adam Stone on June 21, 2025, in Augustana's Ascension Chapel. Alexandra is a faculty member at Augustana.
2020
Allessandra West attended the University of Colorado Boulder's Orchestral Conducting Symposium in June. She worked with other educators and had the opportunity to grow her conducting skills with professionals in the field.
2023
Riley Scranton Bale is pursuing a Master of Science in Education Counseling at Quincy University.
Kathryn Benshish '23
Kathryn Benshish graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Master of Social Work with a micro specialization and endorsement in school social work.
Tristyn Escobedo is starting medical school at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Ill.
Deaths
Notices as of July 7, 2025
*Ruth Swensen ’42 Mills on Nov. 20, 2022.
*Betty Hallstrom ’50 Loose on July 1, 2025.
Lois Dahlberg ’52 Peterson on June 4, 2025.
Leroy Johnson ’54 on June 3, 2025.
J. Lorimer ’56 Holm on May 29, 2025.
William Tolander ’58 on June 10, 2025.
Carolyn Swaine ’60 Harrison on May 15, 2025.
Walter Hulstedt ’62 on Jan. 23, 2020.
*Donald Kreag ’70 on June 9, 2025.
Cynthia Carlson ’75 Pham on June 28, 2025.
Robert Dunsworth ’78 on Nov. 6, 2024.
Arthur Bergren ’90 on June 17, 2025.
Tracy Vroman ’95 on May 31, 2025.
* attendee