Updates
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Jim Spizzo ’74
was recently awarded first place and a cash prize in the architecture category in the 2021 juried exhibit sponsored by the Midwest Center for Photography in Wichita, Kansas, for his photo “Infinity: The Way Out.” Jim has also received honorable mentions by juries for his photography in the annual Minimalist Photography Awards, as well as in other exhibits at the Midwest Center for Photography. In the past few years, Jim’s photos have been selected by juries for inclusion in a dozen exhibits in Chicago; Wichita; Scottsdale, Arizona; and online. He was invited to do a show at the Pharmacy Gallery in Springfield as a guest artist in September.
In Memoriam
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Conrad Damsgaard ’57
was a dedicated, active alumnus who had a vision for raising the profile of the institution. He and his late wife, Patricia Carlson Damsgaard ’53, remained active supporters of the College throughout their lives. Over the years, Conrad Damsgaard served on the Board of Trustees and as president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. In 1987, he was honored with a distinguished service award “for his devotion to ¶¶Ňőpro as evidenced by thoughtful alumni involvement.” The Damsgaards’ philanthropy made them members of the Julian Monson Sturtevant Society and the ¶¶Ňőpro Society.
As a student, Damsgaard was elected student body president and was an active member and leader in Phi Alpha. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Omega, economics club, the Hilltoppers dramatic organization, student forum, social committee and intersociety board.
He was first sergeant of the Army Reserve unit on campus and served in the Army from 1954 to 1956. He started his career in sales with Shell Oil Company and went on to have a long career in sales and marketing management at Shell, Swank Motion Pictures and Psychological Associates.
The Damsgaards had three daughters, Susan Damsgaard-Brand ’81, Kristine Damsgaard and Beth Damsgaard Rodriguez. Susan and their granddaughter, Rachel Brand ’18, carried on the family’s legacy as IC alumni. He was 88 when he died March 23, 2022.
Updates
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Lanie Cooper Kepler ’12, Brady Kepler ’12 and Bailey Cooper ’18
founded the KASE Project. It is a central Illinois non-profit dedicated to supporting the autism community. They installed a playground communication board at Southwind Park in Springfield for children with limited verbal speech to enjoy the park with their peers.
Births
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Michael '04 and Mallory Thuente Bendorf ’07,
a son, Leo James, September 9, 2017. He joins big brothers Jude, 5, and Silas, 2.
Births
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Garry and Kirsten Sittler '94,
a son, Nathaniel Edwin, April 4, 2017.
Marriages
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Zachary Thomson and Morgan Heinz '16,
June 10, 2017. Zach is a treasury accountant at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Ill.
Marriages
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Wade Mathis '16 and Lydia Reither ’15,
March 4, 2017. Wade is the head golf coach at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill., and Lydia is an occupational therapist for Select Rehabilitation’s Heritage Health practicing at locations in Beardstown and Mt. Sterling, Ill.
Marriages
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Gage Harding '14 and Kinzie Verhines ’16,
August 5, 2017.
Marriages
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Dmytro Zaytsev and Morgan Rush Zaytseva '15,
June 10, 2017. Morgan is studying for a Master of Science in accountancy degree at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Marriages
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Joshua Kuehn and Krysta Garrott '13,
October 14, 2017. Joshua is a lead walk-in technician at Darwin Chambers in St. Louis, Mo., and Krysta is an assistant buyer at Totall Metal Recycling in Granite City.
Marriages
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John McCormick and Annamarie Goldstein '12,
October 28, 2017. John is an environmental inspector for St. Louis County and Annamarie is a first-year resident of internal medicine at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.
Marriages
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Joe Craven and Alyssa Gerhardt '12,
May 21, 2017. Alyssa is a doctoral candidate at Baylor University in Waco and Joe is an attorney at Carlson Law Firm in Killeen, Texas.
Marriages
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John Wardein and Raquel Puckett '11,
August 5, 2017. Raquel works for Hunter Engineering Company as a human resource specialist in Bridgeton, Mo.
Marriages
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Timothy Lo and Kristine Plocher '11,
October 28, 2017. Kristine is an associate director of prospect management at the University of Chicago.
Marriages
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Jeff Durbin '09 and Tamara Kerkemeyer ’10,
September 2, 2017. Jeff is an F-16 pilot in the Minnesota National Guard in Duluth, Minn.
Marriages
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Jake Weller and Emily Griesbeck '08,
June 24, 2017. Jake is a fellow at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center in Indianapolis, Ind. He is an orthopedic surgeon at Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tenn.
Marriages
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Jeremy Fite and Allison Hansen '07,
April 28, 2017. Jeremy is a forensic toxicologist at the Great Lakes Naval Base and Allison is a quality analyst for Avalign: German Specialty Instruments in Schaumburg, Ill.
Marriages
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Adam Wenger and Kaitlyn Crohan '02,
July 8, 2017. Adam is an exercise specialist with ATI Physical Therapy in Dallas, Texas.
Updates
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Samuel Welbourne '17
Samuel Welbourne is a supply chain analyst for Dot Foods in Mt. Sterling, Ill.
Updates
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Ashley Murphy '17
Ashley Murphy is a benefits solutions expert for Aflac in Seattle, Wash.
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Lauren Mense '17
Lauren Mense is an account executive for football and baseball at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Lauren will focus on season ticket sales, renewals and group sales.
Updates
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Kayla Matthews '17
Kayla Matthews is a management assistant for Enterprise Holdings at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
Updates
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Mesfin Lenth '17
Mesfin Lenth is a budget analyst for the State of Illinois Governor’s Office of Management and Budget in Springfield, Ill.