Class Notes
1949 |
1965 |
1966 |
1968 |
1972 |
1974 |
1976 |
1977 |
1987 |
1990 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
School of Theology
Class of 1949 Top of page
Donna (Stanley) Thomas BA writes, “My latest book, Faces in the Crowd, New Hope Publishers, was chosen by Outreach Magazine as one of the top four books in evangelism for 2009. An earlier book, Becoming a World Changing Family was published first by Baker Books and has been picked up by YWAM for continuing distribution. My first book, Climb Another Mountain, was published by Warner Press. During my years at Project Partner, I assisted native Christian leaders in 79 countries. Now I am supposed to be retired but am enjoying a busy schedule speaking in various churches, conferences, seminars, and universities. I do enjoy living in Indiana and plan to stay here until the Lord sends his taxi for me.” It was incorrectly reported in the summer 2009 issue of Signatures that Donna had moved to Florida.
Class of 1965 Top of page
Pauline (Horvath) George BA writes, “I have authored a book on resilience: If You Can't Move Your Mountain . . . CLIMB IT! 10 Steps to Turn Setbacks into Comebacks. It is a simplistic workbook-type book that is perfect for use with support groups.”
Class of 1966 Top of page
Bernard Wingo BA, MDiv ’75 — see The School of Theology, 1975.
Class of 1968 Top of page
Ken Bucy and his wife, Nancy, play in a group called Journey West, a traditional western group. They have an album called Driftin’ West. Ken and Nancy are active in a motorcycle ministry through Christian Motorcyclists Association.
William “Bill” Parker III BA retired as pastor from Huguley United Methodist Church, Lanett, Ala., on June 7, 2009, after 13 years of sevice in the United Methodist Church. He served at Huguley UMC for 5 years. He continues to serve as a full-time chaplain with Chattahoochee Hospice, Inc., in Valley, Ala.
Class of 1972 Top of page
Steve Lewis BA was inducted into the National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame this year.
Class of 1974 Top of page
Jeff Chandler BA retired in October 2008 after a 23½-year career with Kraft Foods (18 years) and Altria Corporate Services, Inc. (5½ years). Since retirement Jeff has gone on a church work-project trip to Morocco, Africa, and has taught accounting at a local community college. After some serious relaxing, Jeff hopes to move into a consulting assignment at some time in the near future, since he believes he’s far too young to retire permanently.
Jeff and Barbara (Bryant) Chandler BA ’77 reside in San Antonio, Texas, along with their children, Bryant (24) and Brianne (18).
Class of 1976 Top of page
Debbie (Fuller) Thomas writes, “My second book, Raising Rain, debuted Sept. 1, and my first book, Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon, is a Christy Award finalist.”
Class of 1977 Top of page
Barbara (Bryant) Chandler BA — see The College, 1974.
Kimberly (Leach) Johnson BA was named a 2009 Florida Super Lawyer by Law & Politics Media. Kimberly has extensive experience representing numerous families in the planning of their estate and handling their affairs after their demise. She is with the law firm Quarles & Brady Naples office.
Joe Siefferman BA retired from the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services at the end of September. He and Lynnie Sylvester Siefferman BA ’78 now live in Phoenix, Ariz., where Lynnie is a special education teacher.
Terry West BA writes, “I specialize with my company WestLink Consulting LLC in the patient eligibility services area assisting uninsured patients with their financial and other social service needs.”
Class of 1987 Top of page
Mark McCaw BA is the 2008-2010 recipient of a full-tuition scholarship for nonprofit managers to attend Vanderbilt University's Executive MBA program. He will graduate in May 2010. He is in his 20th year serving the nonprofit community of Nashville and currently works at Siloam, a Christian health-care ministry that serves the uninsured.
Class of 1990 Top of page
Stephen Fink BA and his wife, Alisha, announce the birth of their second child, Andrew Michael, on Nov. 6, 2007. Andrew was welcomed home by his very excited brother, Stephen Ashton.
Jennifer (Mosteller) Peeler BA announces the birth of her eighth child, Emery Justus, on April 14, 2009. She writes, “As a homeschooling mom, having more children means job security for me.”
Class of 1994 Top of page
Jody Pierce MBA received the Distinguished Hoosier Award. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels presented the award to Jody. The Distinguished Hoosier Award is one of the highest awards given by the state of Indiana to its citizens.
Class of 1995 Top of page
Vera (Schunn) Davis would love to hear from her former classmates.
Class of 1996 Top of page
Jennifer (Cole) Hatch BA and Judd Allen Hatch celebrated the birth of twin girls on Jan. 18, 2009. Piper Jentry and Riley Autumn were welcomed home by their 2-year-old sister, Sophia Coco.
Laura (Schmitz) Rapley BA announces the birth of her first child, Tobin Kenneth, on July 14, 2008.
Julie (Adams) Benzenbower BA writes about a new addition to her family. Jacob was born in South Korea and became part of the family on May 29, 2009.
Lisa (Jackson) Bowden BA and her husband, Rodney, welcomed their fourth child, Zoe Angela, into their happy home June 24, 2009. “Life is never dull with four children ages 5 and under! We are abundantly blessed.”
Larissa
Hittle married Kenneth Luck of Salisbury, Md., on May 26, 2009. Larissa moved to Salisbury to join her new family in July. She can be reached by e-mail at larissasbin@yahoo.com or on Facebook.
Class of 1997 Top of page
Marla (Wilm) Watkins BA announces the birth of her first child, Adela, on Sept. 16, 2009.
Class of 1998 Top of page
Randy Aukerman BA and his wife, Carrie, welcomed Garrett William on June 2, 2009. He was a healthy 9 lbs 10 oz, and 22 1/2" long. Carrie recovered very well. Garrett is developing well and not giving his parents many problems. Garrett's paternal grandparents — John Aukerman BA ’72, MDiv ’75 and Brenda Aukerman BA ’72 — are proud first-time grandparents. Garrett is the fifth grandchild for Carrie’s mother, Judy Gordon. Garrett’s middle name is in memory of his grandpa, Bill Gordon, who died in May 2008.
Katie (Grof) Heffelfinger BA completed her PhD at Emory University and now teaches at a Trinity University extension in Ireland.
Jamie Heffelfinger BA ’99 had been working in the Atlanta School System and Druid Hills Methodist Church.
Hawia (Woodman) Lasiloo has mentored Navajo teenagers at Sanders Valley High School for the last six years. She works there as a school nurse. She also serves with her husband in the children’s ministry and worship at the Klagetoh Shelter Mission in Arizona and does evangelism to children and youth throughout the reservation.
Karla Love BSN has relocated to the southern United States after having made a drastic career change. She is working on a second bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She writes, “My older children are grown and all doing their own thing. My oldest son completed a tour of duty in Iraq as part of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles.”
Jessica Thompson BA reports that July was a busy month. She went on a mission trip with her church to the Dominican Republic and then moved into a new house. “I thank God for my blessings every day!”Class of 1999 Top of page
Jamie Heffelfinger BA — see The College, 1998.
Anna (Wilkins) Kaster BA and her husband, Michael, welcomed their first child, Elise Margaret, on May 14, 2009.
Christine (Wittenbach) Wood BA writes, “In January 2009, my husband and I became houseparents at the Four Corners Home for Children at Navajo Ministries. We left our home with our two natural children and moved in at the children’s home and now care for up to ten children at a time. At one point we had nine children with five children under five years old. All of the children are Navajo. You can see more information about what we do at http://navajoministries.org.”Class of 2000 Top of page
Heather Harris BA — see The College, 1998.
Jeannette (Bunce) McMahon BA announces the birth of her first child, Chloe Madison, on June 25, 2009. She was born one day before Jeannette and her husband celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary.
Matt Miller BA and Amanda (McCollum) Miller BA ’01 welcomed their first child, Brooks Matthew, on March 24, 2009. Matt writes, “We are so blessed to have a happy, healthy little boy. Brooks is looking forward to being the starting second-baseman for the Ravens around 2028, which will be Coach Brandon’s 56th year as head coach!”Class of 2001 Top of page
Katrina (Petre) Canfield BA and her husband, Troy, announce the birth of their first son, Ian Neal, on March 26, 2009.
Wes Harris BA and Heather Harris BA ’00 announce the adoption of Anderson Jeffery, born on July 4, 2008. Wes and Heather write, “He joined our family when he was one day old, and we have been so blessed by his little personality. We are also happy to announce the birth of our daughter, Juliana Marie, born on May 20, 2009. God has been faithful to fulfill the desires of our hearts one miracle at a time. Sister, Rachel, 4, is a fantastic helper, but at times admits, ‘We have a lot of babies at our house!’” Heather resigned her position as mental health counselor and manager to take a promotion as stay-at-home-mom for our family. Wes is employed by Hendricks Regional Health as athletic trainer for Brownsburg High School. Friends may contact them at family@harris-online.org.
Amanda (McCollum) Miller BA — see The College, 2000.
Class of 2002 Top of page
Kari (Genzink) Ledebuhr BA and her husband, Mike, announce the birth of their second son, Owen Daniel, on May 11, 2009. His brother, Ty, turned 2 in July. Kari is having fun staying home with the boys and doing some in-home daycare. Friends may write at kariledebuhr@gmail.com. Shannon New Spangler BA, MDiv ’08 — see The School of Theology, 2008.
Class of 2003 Top of page
Renee (Ellsworth) Gulledge BA and her husband, Josh, welcomed
Levi Michael on July 10, 2009. Levi weighed 7 lbs., 6 oz. and was 20
inches long with a full head of auburn hair.
Class of 2004 Top of page
Morgan (Lee) Hart BA writes, “We welcomed our son, Nolan Michael, on June 19, 2009. Mom, dad, and baby Nolan are all doing well.”
Matt Hasket BA and his wife, Laura, announce the birth of their second child, Alina Avery, on July 22, 2009. She has a brother named Emmitt who is 18 months older than her.
Jason Lantz BA and Gail (Hicks) Lantz BA ’05 teach English as a Second Language in South Korea. They work with children in pre-school through elementary school. They write, “It’s been an amazing experience, living abroad in a completely different culture. There have been a lot of challenges, such as the language barrier, of course, but also working environments are a lot different, as well as personal interactions, especially how people of different cultures define who they are. All public schools in Korea, as of this year, are required to have at least one native English-speaker who will teach the students English. The benefits are really great. They pay for airfare and housing, plus a bonus at the end of a one-year contract. The only requirements are that you have a bachelor’s degree and that English is your first language.”
Brett Spangler BA — see The
School of Theology, 2008.
Class of 2005 Top of page
Stephanie Hatch married Brett McMorris on April 18, 2009. Stephanie works for the Forest Service as a range management specialist, and Brett works as a youth pastor for Fort Jones Community Church.
Gail (Hicks) Lantz BA — see The College, 2004.
Rachelle
(Krinn) Shaw writes, “I was married on June 20, 2009. I also am working
on getting my second book published.” Her first book, Where the Path
May Lead, was published in October 2005.
Class of 2006 Top of page
Amy Smith BA married Brent White on Oct. 12, 2006. She became an “instant” mother to Austin, age 13. Brent, Amy, and Austin welcomed Timothy Dean into their family on Feb. 17, 2008. They live and work in the Greenville, Ohio area.
Class of 2007 Top of page
David Hynds BA married Sara Peard BA ’09 on May 30, 2009.
Class of 2008 Top of page
Craig Smith BA married Emily Bell BA ’09 on June 6, 2009. The couple lives in Indianapolis, where Craig is a bank examiner for the Department of Financial Institutions.
Class of 2009 Top of page
Emily Bell BA — see The College, 2008.
Dane Benton BA is the digital media specialist for Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. “I am their in-house designer, working on print and Web design projects as well as new and social media strategy. I live in downtown Indianapolis and am blessed to have so many AU friends and alums living in the area!”
Sara (Peard) Hynds BA — see The College, 2007.
School of Theology Top of page
1975- Bernard Wingo BA ’66, MDiv writes, “After living in Flora, Ill., for 29 years, my wife, Bonnie, and I have moved back home to Roanoke, Va., to enjoy our retirement years. We left here in 1961 to attend Anderson College and again in 1971 to attend the School of Theology. After pastoring in Alabama and Illinois, it seemed fitting to return home.”
1981- Robert Eric Graham MDiv is working with First Nations people in North Bay to establish a First Nations Church.
2008- Shannon New Spangler BA ’02, MDiv accepted a senior pastorate at Harvest Point Church of God in Lordstown, Ohio. She and Brett Spangler BA ’04 have been married since September 2005.
