Class Notes

1960s

'65 Calvin Irons, BA, MA '67, Queensland, Australia, remains very active after retirement from Queensland University of Technology after 39 years. He co‑founded ORIGO Education, a publisher of mathematics books and founded OceanView Estates Winery and Restaurant. A new venture will build a mathematics gallery near the winery.

'66 Joy (Neal) Kidney, BA, West Des Moines, published her third book in the "Leora’s Stories" series titled "Leora's Early Years: Guthrie County Roots." The others are "Leora’s Dexter Stories: The Scarcity Years of the Great Depression" and "Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II." All five of her sons served, but only two came home. They are remembered on the Dallas County Freedom Rock at Minburn. One of the brothers was stationed at ISTC at the beginning of his cadet training in the spring of 1943.

 '67 Daniel Macy, BA, Wills Point, TX, retired from operating an education research consulting business and serves on the board of directors for Holy Family Academy of Van Zandt County Texas.

1970s

'70 Steve Speth, BA, MA '79, Lebanon, OR, is a featured guest on a PBS series "America Outdoors." The episode filmed in the Chaco Cultural National Park in New Mexico is scheduled to air fall 2023.

 '72 Dennis Wenthold, BA, Miami, FL, was a teacher for 14 years and school administrator for 24 years before retiring in Panama and running a bed and breakfast called Cabanas Potosi in El Valle de Anton.

1980s

'82 Stacy (Roberts) Ingraham, BA, MA '92, Carver, MN, published a memoir titled "The Untold Toll of a Wrongful Conviction" on 5/26/2023.

 '86 Deb Vangellow, BA, Sugar Land, TX, received the 2023 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award from the Ladies Professional Golf Association.

 '87 Ann (Gutknecht) Schreck, BA, MA '95, Cedar Falls, received the 2023 Gold Star Award for Outstanding Teaching. She is a literacy strategist at Irving Elementary School in Waterloo.

 '89 Jane (Brandt) Lindaman, BA, MA '95, ASC '05, EdD '05, Waterloo, received the 2023 Legacy Award from Grow Cedar Valley.

1990s

'93 Amy Van Polen, BA, Wheaton, IL, was appointed CEO of Bridge Communities.

2000s

'00 Kenneth Rigdon, EdD, Winston Salem, NC, worked in Kansas, North Carolina, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kazakhstan before retiring in 2012.

 '01 Rita Koontz, MA, Wellston, OK, earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Oklahoma in 2005. She is writing full time and developing a business plan for private practice.

 '02 Amy Phillips, MA, Marshalltown, was a finalist for the 2023 Iowa Teacher of the Year Award. She is a kindergarten teacher in the Marshalltown Community School District.

 '02 Erin (Kleis) Schmitz, BA, Jesup, was named convention director for the National Down Syndrome Congress. She is the owner of E&B Management and co‑founder of the FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa.

 '03 Melissa Matz, BA, Jacksonville, FL, was named the 2021‑2022 Florida Teacher of the Year. She is a seventh grade math teacher at Lakeside Junior High.

 '04 Ashley (Atherton) Thompson, BA, Ames, was named to the United Way of Story County Board of Directors.

 '05 JoEllen (Schwab) Pruis, MA, Waterloo, received the 2023 Gold Star Award for Outstanding Teaching. She is a 6th grade teacher at Hoover Middle School.

'05 Laura (Cox) Wittnebel, BA, Bettendorf, was named one of the Quad Cities Business Journal's inaugural Forty Under 40. She is assistant race director for TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon and business development coordinator for Mel Foster Co.

'07 Tylor Burke, BA, Waverly, was named one of the Cedar Valley's 20 under 40 by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier for 2022. He is a partner and business solutions advisor with The Accel Group.

 2010s

'10 Christina (McDonough) McDonough, BA, Princeton, was named one of the Quad Cities Business Journal's inaugural Forty Under 40. She is a community transformation consultant for Scott County and city council member for the city of Princeton.

'12 Maria (Schreiber) Sulentic, MA, Algona, was elected K‑12 vice president for the Iowa School Counselor Association. She is a school counselor with the West Bend‑Mallard Community School District.

'13 Bryce Lobdell, BA, Ankeny, was promoted to buyer and planner for LeMar Industries.

'14 Nathan Dobbels, MA, Bondurant, received the 2023 Professional and Scientific Learning Community Coordinator Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. He is an academic advisor in agricultural education and studies.

'15 Alex Rebling, BA, MA '21, Fairfield, is the activities director and dean of students for the Pekin Community School District and serves as Second Lieutenant for the 109th HHC Medical Battalion for the Iowa Army National Guard.

'17 Meghan (Runyan) Bruns, BA, Waterloo, received the 2023 Gold Star Award for Outstanding Teaching. She is a 2nd grade teacher at Cedar Heights Elementary in Cedar Falls.

'17 Mikayla Montgomery, MA, Waterloo, was named one of the Cedar Valley's 20 under 40 by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier for 2022. She is assistant principal at the Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence.

2020s

'21 Jake Cash, BA, Cedar Falls, teaches 6‑8th grade project Lead the Way at Bunger Middle School in Evansdale. Courses include medical detectives, human services and business/career exploration.