1990s Class notes

Submitted within the past six months

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.

James Kniola (E) received a nursing degree from UW-Madison in May 2009. He and his wife, Renee (Hess) Kniola '89 (N), have lived in many states and on a Caribbean island and both have changed professions since graduating from UW-Eau Claire. James says he may pursue a doctorate in nursing in the future so that he can teach nursing classes at the university level — perhaps even at UW-Eau Claire. The couple live in Cottage Grove.

1991
U.S. Navy Commander Joe Turk (A&S) became commanding officer of the USS Louisiana (Gold) on May 26, 2009, at Keyport Museum in Keyport, Wash. After graduating from UW-Eau Claire, Joe was commissioned by the Navy. He then completed nuclear power training and submarine officer school and served aboard several submarines, including the USS Hawkbill, USS Georgia and USS Augusta. Joe and his wife, Julie (Fitzgerald) Turk (E), live in Seabeck, Wash.

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.

Back to top

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.

Amy (Petersen) Hutchinson (A&S) has launched a new company called StrataDesign: ideas for every layer of your business™. The main areas of focus are Strata g™, executive level marketing strategy; Strata i|o™, input of the newest technology and output of marketing efficiency; Web and print design; and art and photo direction. More information about the company is available online. Amy lives in Stoughton.

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.

Back to top

1994
Erika (Csavoy) McMahon (A&S) and husband Grayson are happy to announce the birth of son
Ryan Grayson on Jan. 21, 2009. He joins his proud big sister, Kaelin. The family lives in Waukesha.

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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.

Jennifer Kushnier (A&S) reports that after leaving a successful (yet ultimately unfulfilling) career in publishing, she returned to school and received a specialized diploma in the culinary arts. She now is the pastry chef for The Farmhouse, one of Pennsylvania's premiere farm-to-table restaurants. When not eating desserts, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband, Robert Wilson, and their pug, Greta. She would enjoy reconnecting with UW-Eau Claire friends through Facebook. Jennifer and Robert live in Bethlehem, Pa.

Robin (Rusch) Riggs (A&S) and husband Scott welcomed twin sons Brendan and Colton on Jan. 15, 2009. They join big sisters Kirstin and Trinity. The family lives in Crystal, Minn.

Back to top

1997
Sarah (Koval) Scheib (A&S) and husband Rod are excited to announce the arrival of daughter Lauren Hana on Jan. 26, 2009. The family lives in Madison.

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.

Back to top

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.

Laura Finley Opicka (B) and Chad Opicka ’99 (A&S) were married April 25, 2009, in Stewartville, Minn. Laura is a business unit controller at Associated Bank in Green Bay, and Chad is a detective sergeant with the De Pere Police Department. The couple live in De Pere.

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top