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1990
Tim Drinan (A&S) and his wife, Catherine, welcomed daughter Anne Marie into the world on June 30, 2008. She joins big brothers Daniel, Sean and Matthew. The family lives in Germantown.
1993
Jim Ellis (E) earned a doctor of education degree in educational leadership from Edgewood College in Madison in May 2009. He is in his seventh year as the district administrator for the Minocqua J1 School District. He lives in Minocqua.
1994
Michele (Wenzl) Tippel (E) has completed her 14th year of teaching first grade for the Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools. In March 2009 she was named as a recipient of a 2009 Kohl Fellowship. According to a press release from the Kohl Educational Foundation, fellowship recipients are chosen for their superior ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, their ability to motivate others and for their leadership and service within and outside the classroom. Michele would enjoy reconnecting with other former resident assistants and friends from Towers South. She soon will be reachable through Facebook. Michele lives in Stevens Point with her husband, Ron, and their sons Timmy and Matthew.
Tami (Sutton) Wilson (B) and husband James were married March 15, 2008, in Nashville, Tenn. Tami is an audit manager for Hospital Corp. of America. The couple recently purchased their first home together in Old Hickory, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville.
1995
Ann (Hilmo) Allen (B) and her husband, Ross, announce the birth of son Henry on Sept. 3, 2008. He joins big sister Adeline. The family lives in Rosemount, Minn.
Adam Hafdahl (A&S) recently was elected a member of the Society for Research Synthesis Methodology, a selective international professional society. He also was appointed to edit a feature section in Research Synthesis Methods, the SRSM's new peer-reviewed journal. Adam owns ARCH Statistical Consulting, an independent consulting practice based in St. Louis, Mo. He lives in St. Louis.
Darcy Luoma (E) is the director of U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl’s Madison office, where she represents the senator at events and speaks on his behalf to numerous groups. She also is the past president of Wisconsin Women in Government. Darcy holds a master's degree in organization development from Pepperdine University. Her thesis, focused on the impact of life coaching on overall life satisfaction, led her to start her business, Total Wellness Coaching LLC. As a professional life coach, Darcy helps clients find greater success personally and professionally. An active member of the International Coach Federation, she lives in Madison.
Allison Whittenberg (MA) has had her third novel, "Hollywood and Maine," published by Random House. She says the novel, published in 2009, has had rave reviews. Allison lives in Philadelphia, Pa.
1997
Heather Porter Wolfe (A&S) reports that she is using her background in biology and ecology to
farm wine grapes and make wine on her family's vineyard, Porter Family Vineyards, in Napa Calif. The vineyard uses sustainable agriculture and technologically-advanced agricultural monitoring systems. The winery is a 17,000 square foot cave, designed to best utilize space and minimize environmental impact and energy usage. More information about the vineyard and winery is available online at PorterFamilyVineyards.com. Heather lives in Napa.
Sarah (Koval) Scheib (A&S) and husband Rod are excited to announce the arrival daughter Lauren Hana on Jan. 26, 2009. The family lives in Madison.
1998
Brandon Riechers (B), '03 (B) has been named vice president of consumer lending and collections for RCU. He oversees consumer lending business lines and RCU's collection department. Brandon joined RCU in September 1996 and has held positions as financial sales representative, loan officer, technology resource specialist, operations coordinator and most recently director of consumer lending. He is a committee member of Filene i3, a national credit union organization which uses a diverse group to build the future of credit unions by creating new and innovative ideas. Brandon currently serves on the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association board and is treasurer of the Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School board. He also is the chairperson for the Junior Achievement Annual Golf Outing Committee, a member of the Leadership Development Committee of the Emerging Leaders Advisory Council for United Way and is a member of the Young Professionals of Chippewa Valley. Brandon lives in Eau Claire with his wife, Emily.
Sarah (Frisque) Schmitz (A&S) and husband Jerry welcomed their first child, Jillian Ruby, on April 8, 2009. The family lives in Minnetrista, Minn.
1999
Jay Williams (A&S) has completed his fourth year as a teacher at the Oakley School, a private therapeutic, college-prep boarding school in Oakley, Utah. He says that living just 20 minutes east of Park City, Utah, offers endless opportunities for backcountry skiing, and the nearby Uinta Mountains hold acres of solitude for climbing and hiking. Jay teaches biology, honors anatomy and physiology, and environmental science. He credits UW-Eau Claire biology professors Wil Taylor and Paula Kleintjes Neff for inspiring his choice to teach. On winter weekends Jay works on the Canyons Resort volunteer ski patrol and in the summer he continues with running and cycling. He would enjoy hearing from UW-Eau Claire friends by e-mail at runout23@hotmail.com. Jay lives in Oakley.
Submitted within the past six months
1992
Jennifer (Michel) Bacon (A&S) and husband Mark are proud to announce the birth of son Brady Michel on July 26, 2006. Jennifer is a marketing specialist for Metro Transit in Madison. The family lives in Madison.
1993
Jill (Bonkoski) Petersen (A&S) and husband Matt announce the birth of second child Karsten Matthew on May 3, 2006. He joins sister Evie, 2. The family lives in Sioux City, Iowa.
Bill Shannon (B) and wife Cindy (Geske) Shannon '94 (B) are proud to announce the birth of son Mason Eric on Jan. 4, 2008. He is adored by his older brothers Parker and Carson. The family lives in Savage, Minn.
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1994
Tom Bernd (B) and wife Stacy (Brightman) Bernd (A&S) announce the birth of their second child, Adam Thomas, on Sept. 3, 2008. He joins big sister Emily. The family lives in Cross Plains and can be reached by e-mail at bernd@tds.net.
Trudi (Ableidinger) Leder (E) and Carl Leder are the proud parents of daughter Katie Ann who was born Dec. 4, 2008, in Madison. The family lives in Waunakee.
Stephen Skeels (A&S) has accepted a position as director of product management for The Stanley Works consumer tools and storage. Stephen, wife Jean (Thompson) Skeels '93 (A&S) and their children will be relocating to the Hartford, Conn., area.
Tom Trinko (A&S) and his brother, Dominic, were granted U.S. patent No. 7481393 on Jan. 27, 2009, for their invention, "Produce Bag Dispensing System for Reducing Wasted Bags." The product that has been developed and licensed already is in use in thousands of grocery stores across the United States and in other countries. Tom lives in Menasha.
1996
Kristin Weaver Bowman (A&S) and husband David Bowman announce the birth of son Zachary Edward on May 21, 2007. He joins big brother Alexander. The family lives in Fullerton, Calif.
Jeffrey Heil (A&S) and wife Allison are proud to announce the birth of daughter Jenna Anne on Feb. 15, 2009. Big brother Nathan is very proud of his little sister. Jeff is a patrol sergeant with the Dane County Sheriff's Office. The family lives in Verona.
1997
Lisa (Johnson) Bendall (E) and her husband Jake announce the birth of son Mason on March 1, 2009. He joins big sisters Elisabeth and Allisan. The family lives in Mayville.
Areina (Smock) Rehl (HSS) and husband Bret Rehl '97 (B) welcomed son Caelan on June 30, 2008. He joins big sister Ava. The family lives in Plymouth, Minn.
Rebecca (Baetke) Schuette (B) and husband Darin announce the birth of second child Elizabeth Lauren on Sept. 25, 2008. She joins sister Kate, 2. The family lives in Greenville.
1998
Billie Jo (York) Hays (A&S) and Corey Hays were married Aug. 20, 2005, at Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. They live in Altoona.
Steven Klukas (A&S) and wife Amy welcomed third child Ava Elizabeth Jan. 9, 2005. She joins brother Matthew, 6, and sister Emma Grace, 4. Steven is an insurance analyst for Clark Consulting in Bloomington, Minn. The family lives in Woodbury, Minn.
Jamie LaVora (A&S) graduated from Marquette University Law School May 20, 2006, after five years working full time and attending law school at night. She was sworn in at the state capital in Madison on May 22, 2006, by Justice Patience Roggensack. Jamie will be joining the law firm of Kirchner & Buchko in Sheboygan as an associate attorney beginning in August 2006. She lives in Grafton.
Bryan Theobald (A&S) and his partner of six years, Travis Callstrom, had a commitment ceremony Jan. 3, 2009, in Key West, Fla. They live in Minnetonka, Minn.
1999
Amy (Breuckman) Holwerda (A&S) and her husband, Jim, were featured in the November 2007 issue of Field and Stream Magazine for their successful hunting season and story from 2006. They live in Randolph.
Jay Williams (A&S) recently left the bartending/bike-messengering/substitute-teaching lifestyle in Madison to teach seventh- and eighth-grade math and science in the Milwaukee Public Schools. He continues to facilitate leadership programs around the state and still finds time to rock climb, windsurf, bike and snowboard. Jay's old van, often seen limping up the UW-Eau Claire hill, has been retired. He lives in Milwaukee and can be reached by e-mail at runout23@hotmail.com.