1950–59
Marlow Ediger ’53, North Newton, received notice that the following of his manuscripts were accepted for publication: “Homework, Innovation and the School” in the Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science; “Listening Across the Curriculum” in Reading Improvement; “Mathematics Achievement and the Pupil in the School Setting” in Edutracks; “Supervision of Instruction” in College Student Journal; “Quality in the Mathematics Curriculum” in the Journal of Instructional Psychology; and “Issues in Teaching Mathematics” in Education. Marlow also co-authored the university textbook School Curriculum, Issues and Concerns (Discovery Publishing House). He was reappointed to the editorial board of Reading Improvement, and his biography will appear in Who’s Who in the World 2016.
1960–69
Lauren Friesen ’65, Chicago, is a certified docent with the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute. The institute has the largest collection of Near Eastern (Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia and Syria) archaeological artifacts in America and provides free tours to interested groups (seniors, schools, churches, etc.).
Jack Janzen ’69, Minneapolis, Minnesota, toured Aug. 5-14 in Ireland with the South Metro Choral of Prior Lake, Minnesota, under the direction of Russell Adrian ’05, North Newton. The group, of which Jack is a member, performed concerts in Killarney, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Kylemore Abbey in Connemara, Galway and Kinsale.
Jim Neufeld ’63, Shafter, California, was featured in the Aug. 8 edition of the New York Times in an article titled “A Once-Flourishing Pima Cotton Industry Withers in an Arid California.” The piece related the downturn of farming in the San
Joaquin Valley over the four years of drought that has left reservoirs once used for irrigation nearly dry. Jim planted only 250 acres of Pima cotton—used for high-end retail clothing—this season, down from a peak of 11,000 acres in the 1990s. He and others are making efforts to cut down on water use and to replenish the region’s aquifers. Jim farms with his wife, Priscilla (Dick) Neufeld ’64.
1970–79
Yvonne (Unruh) Coulter ’71, Lititz, Pennsylvania, retired after 43 years as a medical technologist and information system specialist at Via Christ Health in Wichita.
Anne Ediger ’75, Teaneck, New Jersey, is professor of applied linguistics at Hunter College, City University of New York. Last July, she was invited to teach a seminar on advanced linguistics at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil in Ecuador. Anne recently co-wrote and published the first three volumes of Elements of Success: Grammar for Language Learning (Oxford University Press, 2015). The fourth volume of the same series will come out in January 2016.
Michelle Friesen-Carper ’75, Valparaiso, Indiana, is an elementary school principal with the East Porter County School Corporation. Her school was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2013. That year, the student body of just over 300 donated to Heifer International through their Read-to-Feed program. The students read more than 13,000 books and the community raised more than $13,000 dollars to make the donation possible.
Jerry Janzen ’77, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, toured Aug. 5-14 in Ireland with the South Metro Choral of Prior Lake, Minnesota, under the direction of Russell Adrian ’05, North Newton. The group, of which Jerry is a member, performed concerts in Killarney, St. Patrick’s
Cathedral in Dublin, Kylemore Abbey in Connemara, Galway and Kinsale.
Jim Krause ’75, Lawrence, placed third in the finger-picking guitar contest at the 35th annual Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships in Lawrence on Aug. 23. Jim is employed with the Americana Music Academy, whose mission is to “teach, promote and support the advancement of all forms of American roots music and its influences, and to pass on the grand tradition of American based music to future generations.” He specializes in fife, finger-picking guitar, old-time contra dance-style fiddle, and the claw-hammer style of banjo playing. He is currently working on a new CD, to be titled Create What You Will.
Ken Loewen ’70, Altona, Manitoba, is retired, after serving as an educational assistant with the Border Land School Division. He continues to work in art and is involved in metal sculpture using recycled materials. Ken is part of a local art group, Buffalo Creek
Artists, who exhibit in the local gallery periodically and also participate in the Pembina Valley Artists Studio Tour each September. He also continues in music as a member of the local Choral Society and the Faith & Life Male Choir, which is part of Mennonite Church Manitoba.
Keith Ratzlaff ’75, Pella, Iowa, is a professor of English at Central College there. He and wife Treva Reimer ’75 directed Central’s study-abroad program in the late 1980s, and celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a trip to London this past summer. They think often of their first Bethel interterm trip to London with John and Elsie Sheriff in 1975, and consider it a life-shaping experience.
Treva Reimer ’75, Pella, Iowa, is a professor of art at Central College there. She and husband Keith Ratzlaff ’75 have been in Pella since 1983. Treva taught in the theater department until eight years ago, when she moved to the art department. They spent three years living in London as Central’s program directors. While there,
they entertained John Sheriff’s interterm group for tea at their flat. They enjoy international travel and have been to Europe, Southeast Asia and Central and South America, with more places on their list.
Clare Ann Ruth-Heffelbower ’70, Fresno, California, is conference minister for the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference. She continues as executive director of Circles of Support and Accountability, a reentry program for individuals who have committed sexual offenses. She and husband Duane, now retired from Fresno Pacific University, enjoy backpacking. They plan to finish the John Muir Trail while they are in their 60s, with about 80 miles to go.
Dennis Schmidt ’75, Pandora, Ohio, is a pastor at Grace Mennonite Church in Pandora.
Laura (Boehr) Steingard ’75 and Dale Steingard ’76, Henderson, Nebraska, farm together. Laura is bookkeeper for the business.
Dayle (Funk) Toews ’70, McPherson, was a social worker with SRS in Clay County (Kansas), Oklahoma City and Newton for seven years. She taught special education in Newton for 10 years, McPherson for seven years and Inman for six years. After retiring, Dayle taught one semester at Lindsborg High School. Now she and husband Bill enjoy traveling. This year they’ve been to Branson, Missouri, and Washington, D.C., in the United States, and also to Canada and Guatemala.
Suzanne Wedel ’76, Marblehead, Massachusetts, was honored at an Oct. 7 gala and fundraiser to support the Suzanne Wedel XOXOut Ovarian Cancer Fund at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. Approximately $50,000 was raised through the event. Suzanne is CEO of Boston MedFlight, a critical care transport system.
1980–89
Brenda (Kinzie) Beck ’88, Albuquerque, is a certified nurse midwife with Lovelace Medical Group.
Vania (Pires) Chequer ’87, Rio de Janeiro, completed a bachelor’s degree in theater and media arts from the University of Kansas in 1987, earned a master’s degree in business at Fundação Getúlio Vargas in Rio de Janeiro in 2001 and is general manager at Cardice Cardiology Clinic there.
Rachel Waltner Goossen ’82, Topeka, received the Peace History Society’s 2015 DeBenedetti Award for “Disarming the Toy Store and Reloading the Shopping Cart: Resistance to Violent Consumer Culture,” published in the journal Peace & Change. Rachel is a professor of history at Washburn University.
Lora Jost ’88, Lawrence, was featured in an article in the Aug. 2 edition of the Lawrence JournalWorld titled “Only in Lawrence: Artist Lora Jost ‘keeps making, keeps working’.” Lora has created several public art projects in Lawrence and continues to create theme-based mixed-media pieces. She says that one of the roles of an artist in this world is to stimulate a dialogue and bring attention to issues dear to one’s heart.
Jim Melgren ’84, Osage City, is an account executive with D+H Financial Technologies.
Sheri Rickman Patrick ’85, Elk Grove, California, received a doctor of nursing practice degree from the Northern California Consortium, Fresno/San Jose, last May. She works at Pocket Pediatrics, Sacramento.
Carla Reimer ’84, Guelph, Ontario, moved to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for two years to teach English to 6th and 7th graders and work as the library coordinator at an international school.
Jeff Steely ’88, Hewitt, Texas, was appointed dean of libraries at Georgia State University, Atlanta, effective Dec. 1. Jeff has served on the Baylor University (Waco, Texas) library faculty since 1999, most recently as associate dean and director of central libraries.
Leslea Wahl ’89, Greenwood Village, Colorado, is the author of a Christian young adult novel titled The Perfect Blindside (Pauline Books & Media, 2015). The book is about a silver medal-winning snowboarder from Kansas who moves to a small Colorado mining town. While dealing with his new fame and the unwanted move, he finds himself part of a mystery set in the town’s abandoned gold mine. Leslea says the book “is an adventurous mystery but the basic premise is to find and use your God-given gifts to help others.” The main character is based on her time in Kansas, including visiting her Bethel roommate’s hometown, Halstead.
1990–99
Sara (Hochstetler) Bonner ’90, Lawrence, is in her 25th year of teaching music at the elementary level. She recently was honored with the “Lawrence Teacher of the Year” award, and mentored a student teacher from Bethel during the fall semester.
Margaret De Jong ’90, Louga, Senegal, reached a milestone of 20 years of international service this year, with 11 years in Haiti with Mennonite Central Committee and nine years (and continuing) in
Senegal, West Africa, with Mennonite Mission Network.
Brian Epp ’90, Denver, Colorado, is director of student success for Pearson Global Higher Ed Managed Services. He leads student retention programs at Pearson-owned institutions in South Africa and Mexico, along with partner institution-managed services at Monash and Griffith Universities in Australia and Kings College-London. Brian is entering his eighth year at Pearson, after seven years in academic leadership at Jones International University.
Vicki Epp ’90, Marietta, Georgia, works at Behavioral Health Link and at Perfect Peace Counseling Center. She presented a workshop on working with youth with severe emotional disturbances at the National Association of Social Workers Annual Conference in Atlanta in October 2011, and obtained a license as a clinical social worker last February
Mark Regier ’90, Elkhart, Indiana, vice president of stewardship investing at Everence Financial, was recently named the new director of sales for Praxis Mutual Funds. In addition to his existing responsibilities for environmental and social considerations in investments at Everence, he will now provide senior leadership to the sales team.
Jalane Schmidt ’91, Charlottesville, Virginia, was awarded tenure at the University of Virginia, where she is associate professor of religious studies. She regularly travels to Cuba, where she conducts field research on religious practices. Her book, Cachita’s Streets: The Virgin of Charity, Race and Revolution in Cuba, was recently published by Duke University Press.
David M. Schrag ’90, Kansas City, Missouri, earned a master’s degree in library science and information services from the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, in 2000 and is a library media specialist for the North Kansas City School District. He, wife Janelle (Schmidt) Schrag ’90 and their two daughters attend Rainbow Mennonite Church, along with many other Bethel alumni.
Janelle (Schmidt) Schrag ’90 is an assistant vice president at State Street Corporation, where she manages the accounting for mutual funds. She, husband David M. Schrag ’90 and their two daughters attend Rainbow Mennonite Church, along with many other Bethel alumni.
Nathan Stucky ’99, Princeton, New Jersey, completed a doctorate in Christian education at Princeton Theological Seminary last spring. He now directs the new Farminary there. The idea came to him while in school for a place where seminary students can enhance their theological education by working and learning in an agricultural setting. Nathan’s idea is grounded in his roots on a Kansas wheat and cattle farm. He was featured in the Aug. 24 edition of Mennonite World Review in an article titled “Could Princeton’s Farminary change the culture of theological education?”
2000–09
Kristen Abrahams ’05, Monte Vista, Colorado, received a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, last May. She spent two weeks volunteering in Guatemala at the Centro de Salud (public health center) in the rural community of San Andres Itzapa, primarily working with pregnant women and children in the village.
Russell Adrian ’05, North Newton, earned a doctor of musical arts degree in conducting from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, in May and teaches music at Hesston College.
Amelia Brandt ’06, New Orleans, is pursuing a doctorate in global health at Tulane University. She recently returned from Sierra Leone, where she was working with GOAL, an Irish NGO, on the Ebola response. Amelia earned a joint master’s degree in social work and public health in global health and development from Washington University, St. Louis, in August 2011.
Anna (Weaverdyck) Cronenwett ’05, Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a research technician in the Epidemiology Department of the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan.
Jeanette (Waltner) Ducett ’02, Madison, Wisconsin, earned a doctorate in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012. She is employed as a scientist at Illumina.
Nicholas Enz ’02, Davenport, Iowa, earned a doctorate in music from Ohio State University in May and is director of bands at St. Ambrose University, where he conducts the symphonic band and the jazz ensemble and teaches courses in music and music education.
Susan Schmeichel Harder ’09, Marion, South Dakota, earned an M.S. degree in art therapy with a concentration in counseling from Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, in May. She works at Avera Behavioral Health Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Aziza Hasan ’03, Los Angeles, was appointed to the president’s 3rd Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships this fall (see page 12). This past summer, Aziza gave a TEDx talk titled “Unlocking the Courage of Curiosity,” which explores the courage it takes to wade through emotionally charged conversations and unlock conflict. The talk is on YouTube.
Adrian Howie ’04, Hugoton, finished his district-level licensure in May at Wichita State University and accepted a position in April as superintendent of USD 210-Hugoton.
Ross Lehman ’07, South Bend, Indiana, earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Colorado-Denver last May and began doctoral studies in economics at the University of Notre Dame in August. His primary areas of interest are family and development economics.
Djordje Maricic ’07, Belgrade, Serbia, owns Maverick Consulting, the only organization licensed to offer the thinking-preference assessment tool Neethling Brain Instrument in the Serbian language. Specializing in the study of human communication, Maverick helps businesses develop and implement successful marketing strategies.
Jodi (Rempel) Ostlund ’01, McPherson, was featured in July in a National Public Radio piece about why women who once were heavily involved in basketball left the game.
Luke M. Schmidt ’03, College Station, Texas, is an assistant research scientist at the Texas A&M Astronomical Instrumentation Lab. His main focus is designing and building GMACS, a multi-object spectrometer. This is a first light instrument for the Giant Magellan Telescope under construction at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.
2010–19
Paige (LaFever) Fee ’15, Manhattan, is a first-grade teacher at Ogden Elementary School.
Aaron Howard ’10, Lubbock, Texas, is a tax supervisor with Robinson, Burdette, Martin and Seright LLP in Lubbock.
Kyle Howard ’13, San Francisco, earned a master’s degree in finance from Claremont (California) McKenna College last May. He is an investment banking analyst with Harris Williams and Company in San Francisco.
Katherine Malotte ’12, Wichita, has joined the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Department of Joseph, Hollander & Craft LLC, focusing on federal and state employment law, intellectual property, negative covenants and contract disputes. Katie graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law earlier this year. She is a member of the Wichita Bar Association and the Kansas Bar Association.
Josh Nathan ’10, Los Angeles, California, is the writer and director of the short film Another Easygoing Brother in the Meadow Wind, which was an official selection for the 13th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita in mid-October. The film—done as a single, continuous shot—was applauded at its debut in early October at the Santa Monica (California) Independent Film Festival. Articles about Josh and his film were in several Kansas newspapers in fall.
Alli Rudeen ’15, Karansi, Tanzania, is serving with the Serving and Learning Together (SALT) program of Mennonite Central Committee at PUNCHMI English Medium Primary School. Through SALT, Christian young adults from Canada and the United States serve internationally in a wide variety of positions. During their assignments, SALTers are immersed in another culture, living with host families or communal settings such as dormitories or teacher housing in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin and Central America and the Middle East.
Elizabeth Shelly ’13, Lenexa, earned a doctorate in physical therapy in May from the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Jesse Voth-Gaeddert ’15, Hanoi, serves in Vietnam with the Serving and Learning Together (SALT) program of Mennonite Central Committee as an Agent Orange research aid and technical assistant, assisting a current medical student doing research on families affected by Agent Orange. He will work in MCC’s Vietnam office as a resource person, help set up their internet website to improve communication, and may be able to do his own research project on child health. Through SALT, Christian young adults from Canada and the United States serve internationally in a wide variety of positions.