CLASS NOTES
Liz (Jorgenson) Alvarado
is director of operations leadership development at IDEA Public Schools in Edinburg, Texas.
Mahlet Amanuel
is ERAP coordinator at Housing Counseling Services in Washington, D.C.
Megan (Hallberg) Bang
of Forest City, Iowa, is a software engineer for HashiCorp in San Francisco.
Sonja Birthisel
earned the Ph.D. degree in ecology and environmental sciences from University of Maine in Orono, where she is a postdoctoral research associate and instructor.
Krista (Morris) Blessing
is a structural engineer at Short Elliott Hendrickson in Rochester, Minn.
Erin Bostrom
is a paralegal at the Medina County Prosecutor's Office in Medina, Ohio.
Levi Bridges
is a registered nurse at Waverly Health Center in Waverly, Iowa.
Meghan (Mathison) Byrnes
is a law school student at the University of St. Thomas, and works as a law clerk at Anderson and Anderson Law, LLC in Minneapolis.
Joseph Coffield
is a communications technician at Comcast in Salt Lake City.
Ryan Deignan
earned a doctorate of musical arts from the University of North Texas and is assistant professor of choral music at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Zachary Dieterman
of Zumbrota, Minn., is a general laborer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Ashley Dissmore
is business manager at Dahl Automotive in La Crosse, Wis.
Makara Fairman
is a behavioral health proposal consultant at Cigna in Minneapolis.
Brad Foresman
is a research scientist at Corteva Agriscience in Olivia, Minn.
Allison (Kirchoff) Gans
teaches in the Hibbing (Minn.) Independent School District.
Katie (Dolan) Gerber
is a school psychologist at Eastern Carver County Schools in Chaska, Minn.
Megan (Petersen) Gibson
is LTC supervisor and an occupational therapist at Big Stone Therapies in Marshall, Minn.
Kristina Golling
is an employee relations consultant at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis.
Linnea
and
Christopher Graffunder-Bartels ‘11
live in Minneapolis. Linnea is senior community development specialist for The City of Oakdale. Christopher is an ethics analyst at U.S. Bank in Minneapolis.
Laura Grangaard Johnson
is senior research analyst at Stratis Health in Bloomington, Minn.
Mesha Hall
is a family services specialist for the City of Alexandria (Minn.) Department of Community and Human Services.
Mallory (Marlatt) Hanson
is director for Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism at Northeast Iowa RC&D in Postville, Iowa.
Sara Hanssen
is the administrative assistant at Decorah United Church of Christ and also works as a midwife’s assistant.
Becky Haug
is a forestry technician for the U.S. Forest Service in Ontonagon, Mich.
Rachel Haug Root
and
Keith Root ‘09
live in Eden Prairie, Minn. Rachel is a flute instructor at Winona State University and director of flute sales at Schmitt Music. Keith is a call coach for Alarm.com.
Landon Jacobsen
is commercial and marketing lead at Extraction Oil and Gas in Denver.
Cassandra Jensen
is a marketing specialist at Kaplan Professional in St. Paul, Minn.
Jacob Johnson
is a UX/UI designer at Media Services in Los Angeles.
Kristen Johnson
earned the master’s degree in education from St. Thomas University and teaches fourth grade at Barack and Michelle Obama Elementary School in St. Paul, Minn.
Gina Klennert
earned a master’s degree in DAPE from Minnesota State University. Gina teaches health, physical education, and DAPE at Albert Lea (Minn.) High School.
Becca Lange
is a certified medical assistant (AAMA) at Hall-Perrine Cancer Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Sara Leahy
is a social worker at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.
Blair (Hercules)
and
Derek Leigh
live in Chaska, Minn., Blair earned a master’s degree in education from Concordia University and teaches 4th and 5th grade at Eastern Carver County School District. Derek is a collegiate sales rep with Nike, Blue 84, and Legacy.
Sarah (Luloff) Lilly
teaches elementary music at Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, Kans.
Sky Macklay
is an oboist, installation artist, and assistant professor of music at Valparaiso (Ind.) University. She was the featured composer at the 2019 New Music Festival at the University of Louisville School of Music.
Sarah May
is a graduate student in music/instrumental conducting at Butler University and is an accompanist for the Indianapolis (Ind.) Children’s Choir.
Jaymie McGrath
is talent development director for McGrath Family of Dealerships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Gina (Lewis) Njugunah
is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and inpatient mental health discharge planner at Fairview Health Services in St. Paul, Minn.
Jamie Ottman
is facilities coordinator at Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation in Madison, Wis.
Darren Oxton
is a buyer at BevSource in St. Paul, Minn.
Lisa (Torgerson) Pertz
is a market research analyst at ACPI Sales, Inc. in Waconia, Minn.
Kristin (Porter)
and
Neal Petersen
live in Waterloo, Iowa. She is operations specialist at Ameriprise Financial Services. He earned a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Upper Iowa University and is a therapist at New Directions Counseling Services.
Tyler Powell
is northern door executive director at Door County YMCA in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
Melysa Rogen
is senior director of marketing and communications for the Austin Opera in Austin, Texas.
Jacob Reitz
is security contracts manager at Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Minnetonka, Minn.
Anna (Simonson) Saul
earned the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from St. Catherine University, and is a physical therapist at Summit Orthopedics in Woodbury, Minn.
Michelle Sawyer
is a social worker at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Anna (Quick)
and
Trey Scheetz
live in Eden Prairie, Minn. She is vice president of asset management at Wildamere Capital Management. He is senior account coordinator at CH Robinson.
David Schmitt
teaches K-6 music for the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Schools in Waterville, Minn.
Kirsten (Jensson)
and
Taylor Scholz
both work at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Kirsten is a medical administrative assistant and Taylor is an athletic trainer.
Nora Shaffer
of Chicago is a freelance clarinetist and private instructor and is a member of the chamber ensemble, Lake Effect Clarinet Quartet, which released their debut album “Nielsen, Grainger, & Strauss” in Oct., 2019.
Diana Springer-Doescher
is a certified optician at Gundersen Health System in Onalaska, Wis.
Aaron Stenhaug
is assistant corporate controller at Digi International, Inc. in Hopkins, Minn.
Kristopher Ulrich
earned a master’s degree in business administration. He serves as the president of the Neenah (Wis.) Rotary Club.
Vanessa (Oelrich) Wiest
is contracts and assignment specialist for University of Iowa Housing and Dining in Iowa City, Iowa.
Tessa Winterton
and
Tom Blattner
live in Misawa, Japan, while Tessa completes her commitment to the United State Air Force as an OBGYN. Tom is working as a substitute teacher at the high school on base while working towards a master’s degree.
Zara Zanussi
earned a master’s degree in comparative international development education and a minor in program evaluation from the University of Minnesota. She is founder and executive director for ComMUSICation in St. Paul, Minn.
MARRIAGES
MARIA CARR and Juan Moreno, June 12, 2019
CARSON CHRISTEN and Jaime Kelleher, Sept. 14, 2019
ALISYN CHRISTENSEN and John Harrison, June 10, 2018
KAYLA DENNER and Tim Freeman, Nov. 2, 2018
SARA LEAHY and TJ Phillips, May 11, 2019
ANNA SIMONSON and David Saul, Aug. 31, 2019
EMILY WITTIG and EHLER ORNGARD '09, Sept. 21, 2019
BIRTHS/ADOPTIONS
Clara Elena, in September 2019, child of LIZ (JORGENSON) and Cesar Alvarado
Dorothy, in October 2018, child of MEGAN (HALLBERG) and Dakota Bang
James, in January 2018, child of TESSA (WINTERTON) and THOMAS BLATTNER
Raymond Duke, in July 2019, child of KRISTA (MORRIS) and JOSH BLESSING '09
Noah Stephen, in October 2019, child of KATE (WESTBY) '09 and ABE CAMPOS
Margaret, in June 2018., child of MEG (BERVEN) '09 and CULYNN CURTIS
Nicholas William, in June 2019, child of SARA (KESSLER) and GREG CROGHAN '09
Twins, Charlie and Louis, in February 2019, children of Abby and RYAN DEIGNAN
Dawson, in June 2019, child of Jennifer and ZACH DIETERMAN
Caleb Thomas, in December 2019, child of KRISTEN (HAUG) and Eric Ebeling
Lottie Marie, in November 2019, child of CASSIE (TYSLAND) and JACOB FOUTS '12
Cameron, in January 2020, child of KAYLA (DENNER) and Tim Freeman
Margo Marie, in September 2019, child of LAUREN (HENRIKSON) and NATE
GENDRON
Hadley, in May 2019, child of EMILY (HOERMAN) and Brian Grantham
Oak, in September 2019, child of BEKKY (WILLIS) '11 and BEN HARKINS
Stella, in January 2019, child of LAURA (MOHS) and Justin Hesse
Parker, in January 2019, child of JAYMIE (MCGRATH) and Anthony Hobson
Graham, in October 2019, chhild of Jenny and LANDON JACOBSEN
Helena, in October 2019, child of ALEX (LARSON) and Joel Groten
Piper Alison, in February 2019, child of BLAIR (HERCULES) and DEREK LEIGH
Ethan, in July 2018, child of GINA (LEWIS) and Tommex Njugunah
Eira, in September 2019, child of KARI (TAYLOR) and MATT OLSON
Miles, in June 2019, child of Ryan and DARREN OXTON
Jonah, in July 2019, child of LISA (TORGERSON) and Samuel Pertz
Hendrick, in November 2019, child of MELANIE (MASSNICK) '11 and JACOB REITZ
Harper, in November 2018, child of HEATHER (MALECHA) '11 and DARIN
SCHNEIDER
Loren Paul, in November 2019, child of MARIE (PALMQUIST) '08 and PAUL SCHOLTZ
Isla, in June 2018, child of MELISSA (LARSON) '11 and BEN SCHORI
Tyson, in November, 2018, child of LIZ (LUBBEN) and TREVOR THEOBALD
Charlotte May, in August 2018, child of Bridget and KRISTOPHER ULRICH