Winter Bridge Alumni Class Notes

1960s

William Kunzman ’69, Charles City, Iowa, shows off his copy of The Bridge in front of one of the 20 houses he helped construct in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. William winters in Rio Grand Valley each year and has been involved with the humanitarian project for 20 years.

 

 

 

 

1970s
Lowell Tiedt ’71, Anamosa, Iowa, was bestowed the Outstanding American Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Iowa Chapter. Lowell was recognized for his outstanding wrestling career in addition to his service to country and community. In addition, Lowell and his wife, Sue, visited Richard “Sam” Barber ’95 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Sam serves as the head wrestling coach. During the visit, the Tiedts attended wrestling practice and snapped a Peacock photo (left) with former UIU Athletic Director David Miller and former UIU Board of Trustees Dr. Darrel Lang ’70 and Bob Firth ’89, ’00.

 

Ezekiel Morris ’76, Willowbrook, Illinois, was installed as the 2021 president-elect of Illinois Realtors. He is the owner and designated managing broker of EXIT Strategy Realty/ EMA Management in Chicago, Illinois.

 

Mike Knickrehm ’77, Le Claire, Iowa, (right) and Jeff Stavnes ’76, Storm Lake, Iowa, recently visited Gullfoss, a spectacular glacial waterfall in Iceland near Reykjavik.

 

 

 

 

1980s
Kevin D’Angelo ’82, Laurel, Maryland, is currently serving as the chief financial officer with Vehicles for Change Inc. in Halethorrpe, Maryland, and is starting his 35th year as a football official.

1990s
Jason Zilk ’94, Des Moines, Iowa, was selected by the Rotary Club to be the 2020 Des Moines Fire Person of the year. With his award, he was given the opportunity to select a charity of his choice to donate $500 and made the decision to support UIU’s ANQ Scholarship.

Steve Husome ’96, Cedar Falls, Iowa, established Adaptive Golf to provide opportunities for people with all types of disabilities to learn or return to the game of golf — after his own motorcycle accident in 2014 caused him to lose his leg.

Lt. Col. David McDill ’98, Spring Lake, North Carolina, graduated from the United States Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with a master’s degree in strategic studies on July 24, 2020.

2000s
Renee (Stanford) Christoffer ’00, Waterloo, Iowa, was named Veridian Credit Union’s president and CEO in their Waterloo office. She was the chief administration officer since 2007.

Faith Wallowing Bull ’01, ’06, Riverton, Wyoming, recently opened her own accounting business, Eagle Eye Accounting LLC. While managing her business, she will be working to obtain her certified public accountant (CPA) license.

Pete Hildreth ’01, Lake View, Iowa, was named the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Wildlife Bureau Conservation and Recreation Division administrator. IDNR director Kayla Lyon announced Hildreth’s appointment in October 2020.

Kate (Shank) Giannini ’06, Riverside, Iowa, was honored by the Corridor Business Journal as a Forty Under 40 recipient. She serves as the communications specialist for the Iowa Flood Center.

Christopher Langlois ’06, Omaha, Nebraska, was hired as the fire chief in Leland, North Carolina.

Brian Sims, MBA, FACHE, ’08, ’10, Chariton, Iowa, accepted the position of Good Shepherd Health Care System’s next president and chief executive officer.

Sarah (Torrey) Bond ’09, Indianola, Iowa, joined LenderClose as their relationship manager.

Jeremy Masterson ’09, Waukee, Iowa, and his partner in their firm Masterson & Bottenberg law firm joined the Ahlers & Cooney law firm as special counsel, effective October 1, 2020. Jeremy’s work is within the Ahlers’ Business Entities Practice Group.

Kristina (Courtney) Wiltgen ’09, Decorah, Iowa, was inducted into the Northeast Iowa Community College Hall of Fame as an outstanding alumna for her service, leadership and creative problem-solving initiatives during the pandemic in her role at the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

2010s
Adam Chase ’10, San Marcos, California, was hired as the new marine safety chief at Imperial Beach, California.

Tina (Buchter) Whitman ’10, Denver, Pennsylvania, was hired as the program assistant for GateHouse. She also welcomed her very first grandchild last year.

Amanda (Burns) Stack ’13, Waterloo, Iowa, was chosen as a Waterloo Courier 20 Under 40 recipient. She currently works as the office manager and legal assistant for Trent Law Firm in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Casey (Ryan) Westphalen ’14, Atlantic, Iowa, rejoined NutriQuest Business Solutions team as the director of business services. She previously served as CEO of Brenneman Pork. Prior to her time at Brenneman Pork, she led NutriQuest Business Solutions for 10 years.

Kenneth Clary ’17, Bondurant, Iowa, started as the new chief of the Bellevue Police Department. He took over in September 2020.

Ashley Althoff ’18, Strawberry Point, Iowa, was hired as the city economic development director and Main Street Elkader director. A story featuring Ashley’s hiring can be viewed on Bridge Online at bit.ly/37O5hUb.

Hazel Lim ’19, Selangor, Malaysia, was hired by Ogilvy, an advertising, marketing and public relations agency, as the account manager for their public relations team.

Anne (Shaffer) Puffett ’19, Strawberry Point, Iowa, started as the director of career development at Upper Iowa University on October 1. She was formerly the career development specialist.

2020s
Brinn Grunder ’20, Fayette, Iowa, was hired as an admissions counselor at Upper Iowa University’s Fayette Campus.

Corey Lange ’20, Fayette, Iowa, moved from the Fayette Admissions Office at Upper Iowa University to the Human Resources Office, where he is the human resources generalist.

Allie Ney ’20, West Union, Iowa, is the new youth development coordinator for the North Fayette Valley Community Coalition. She is also a co-coach for the North Fayette Valley drill team.

Ryan Roth ’20, Mediapolis, Iowa, accepted his dream position as a park ranger with Des Moines County Conservation.

Sasha Zainal ’20, Fayette, Iowa, was hired as a data processing specialist at Upper Iowa University’s Fayette Campus.

Alumni in Education: Where are they now?

1970s
Twila (Shaw) Converse ’78, Postville, Iowa, retired in May 2020 from teaching middle school science and life skills at MFL MarMac Schools.

1990s
Neil Jeanes ’96, Oelwein, Iowa, is the new industrial technology instructor at West Central Community School District in Maynard, Iowa.

2000s
Jayme Hurley ’00, Independence, Iowa, accepted the role of 7-12 principal at Manson Northwest Webster Community School District. Previously, he taught junior high and high school physical education in the Independence (Iowa) Community School District.

Cory Lang ’04, Dysart, Iowa, was hired as the new K-6 special education teacher at the Partnership Center for the South Tama County School District.

Theresa (Mudderman) Schmitt ’08, Waterloo, Iowa, began teaching second grade at Cedar Heights Elementary with the Cedar Falls Community School District.

2010s
Matt Gallagher ’10, Phoenix, Arizona, accepted a position to teach American history and world history at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ashley (Boehm) Becker ’11, Elgin, Iowa, was hired to teach fourth and fifth grade at North Fayette Valley Community School District.

Alex Gonzalez ’13, Palm Springs, Florida, currently a physical education teacher and coach, recently received the 2020 Teacher of the Year award at Somerset Academy Canyons High.

Nikki (Petersen) Bergmeier ’17, Hudson, Iowa, started teaching high school special education in the Hudson Community School District.

Abbi (Rust) Grapp ’17, Waterloo, Iowa, is teaching third grade in the Waverly-Shell Rock School District at Margaretta Carey Elementary.

Jamie (Buehler) Vargason ’17, Oelwein, Iowa, started teaching K-12 art at West Central Community School District.

Amber (Miller) Morse ’18, Fayette, Iowa, began teaching first grade at West Central Elementary School. Prior to West Central, she taught Head Start in Oelwein for five years.

Robin (Cornelius) Pestotnik ’18, Boone, Iowa, was hired at Sacred Heart Catholic School, teaching grades 6-8 social studies and grades 4-8 computer.

Brian Waskow ’18, Sumner, Iowa, was hired as the new high school industrial education teacher with the Decorah Community School District.

Vanessa Westen ’18, Washington, Iowa, is the new second grade teacher at Starry Elementary with the Marion Independent School District in Marion, Iowa. She previously taught first grade at Sacred Heart in Oelwein.

Ashten Wolff ’18, West Union, Iowa, joined the Peace Corps following graduation, where she taught English in the Philippines. Recently, she took a position teaching special education for grades 4, 5 and 6 at West Central Community School District.

Rebecca Barrett ’19, Des Moines, Iowa, was hired to teach English at East High School with Des Moines Public Schools.

Ross Chettinger ’19, Waverly, Iowa, was hired to teach third and fourth grade special education for the Charles City Community School District.

Matt Gross ’19, Jesup, Iowa, accepted a position teaching fourth grade at Jesup Elementary School. In addition to teaching, he will be the head wrestling coach for the J-Hawks.

Kayla (Kammann) Weidenbacher ’19, Waterloo, Iowa, was hired to teach sixth grade at Cedar Heights Elementary School for the Cedar Falls Community School District.

2020s
Noah Dettmer ’20, Waverly, Iowa, was hired as a special education teacher with the Charles City School District.

Terry Manning ’20, Pleasant Hill, Iowa, accepted the fourth grade classroom teacher position at Rogers Elementary in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Jazel Rocha ’20, Des Moines, Iowa, was hired to teach second grade at Woodbury Elementary in Marshalltown.

Welcome to the Peacock family

Nicole (Gibson) ’18 and Nathan Gibbs, Elgin, Iowa, welcomed their first child, Nolan Jon Gibbs, into this wonderful world on September 16, 2020. He weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long.

 

 

Hannah (Miller) ’16 and Chris Schveiger, West Union, Iowa, celebrated the birth of their first child, Tinley Grace Schveiger, on October 6, 2020. She weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces and was 21 inches long.

 

 

 

 

Lyndsay (Westgaard) ’13 and Tony Ampe, Belgrade, Minnesota, welcomed their second child, Westyn Anthony Ampe, four weeks early on November 11, 2020. Westyn weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 22.5 inches long. He joins big sister Strykar.

 

 

 

Kali (Loescher) ’15 and Troy ’14 Parker, Crystal Lake, Illinois, welcomed their miracle baby, Kai James Parker. Kai is their first child and was born October 4, 2020.