Class Notes

Announcing Grace Helbing Born October 2007. Daughter of Proud Cyclones Tim Helbing & Joy (Shutters)Helbing

Bob has written a chapter for the book entitled "My Heavens! The Adventures of a Lonely Stargazer Building an Over-the-Top Observatory". It details the design and construction of Bob and Barb's Stargate 4173 at Grimaldi Tower observatory.

Charity Nebbe (Poli Sci 1996) has just published her first children's book. "Our Walk in the Woods" is the story of a girl and her dog and their walk in the woods. The story is told from each of their very different perspectives. Charity is a public radio host at Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor. She lives in Dexter Michigan with her husband Rob Parrish (Psych 1996) and their two children Audrey and Carter.

Ken Sweeney ('59 Landscape Architecture) has recently completed a two year term as president of the North Olympic Land Trust. Sweeney and his wife Sue operate a 70 acre sporthorse farm in Port Angeles, WA, where they provide schooling facilities for Pony Club event riders from throughout Western Washington. In 2003 they placed a conservation easement on the farm to assure that it will continue to be available for equestrian activities into the future.

Kathleen Kovacs MS 1978, DVM 1983 is Submissions Lead for the Toxicology Department at Pfizer Inc in Groton, Conn. Husband Mark Kovacs MS 1978, DVM 1983 is a Clinical Veterinarian at Pfizer Inc in Groton, Conn.

Kendra and Dan Bumblauskas welcomed Addilyn Elizabeth Bumblauksas at 11:50 pm on Tuesday, May 6. Addilyn weighed 5 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19 inches long. Addilyn and her parents reside in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Theodore (Ted) Brimeyer ('07, Music) will begin graduate study at Michigan State University this June for a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting. His wife Elyse (Flagg) Brimeyer ('07, Music) will complete her Masters Degree in Education at Viterbo University in July. Both Ted and Elyse currently teach vocal music for the Johnston Community School District.

On January 19th of 2008 we welcomed the birth of our fourth child, Abigail "Abby" Melsa!

Jon Brackmann ('98 Marketing) and Signe Brackmann (Salthun - '99 Exercise Science) gave birth to a second boy on March 20, 2008. His name is Owen Daniel Brackmann. He was 21 inches long and weighed 8 lbs. 3 ozs. His big brother, Jack, is proud of his new role and very excited about the addition to our family.

Erin Penne ('99 Aerospace Eng) and husband, Jon, welcomed their son, Dylan James Robert Penne, on March 5, 2008. He joins proud big sister, Hailey.

Tom and Aichatou Johnson of Danja, Niger announce the birth of their third daughter, Elisabeth Gabrielle, who was born in Zinder, Niger on March 24, 2008.

Born March 18, 2008 to Jeff (2004) and Stacie (2000) Wendland

The Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Welcomes Allyson Walter AMES, IA, March 5, 2008 -- The Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) recently announced that Allyson Walter has joined their team as a manager of the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau. Walter will be responsible for managing the business office for the ACVB and overseeing the Visitor and Membership Services team, including Marketing and Public Relations. Walter is an Ames native and was the owner of The Savvy Shopper in the Main Street Cultural District for the past five years. “Allyson’s involvement in the Ames Community and experience in marketing make her a natural for the position,” said Julie Weeks, Executive Director of the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are excited to have her as part of the team to help us prepare and welcome the thousands of new visitors coming to Ames and Iowa State this summer and fall.” The ACVB is a members-based organization supported with hotel/motel tax that builds economic activity in the Ames area by recruiting visitors to the community for meetings, conventions and other events. Member businesses have consultative services with ACVB staff, exclusive marketing opportunities, members-listing in the Ames area visitor guide, peer to peer networking opportunities, special offers available to visiting groups and many other benefits. For more information on how your business can enjoy all the privileges of membership, please contact the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau at 515.232.4032 or at www.visitames.com

Chris and Cindy (Sleichter) Ross ('97 Ag Studies) along with daughter Nicole welcomed home baby Miranda in January. Miranda has already attended 3 mens basketball games so she's gotten off to a great start!

Timothy G Carlson** ('86 arch.) started a new architectural firm, TRUE NORTH DESIGN LLC in Appleton, Wisconsin, specializing in commercial and industrial design, including churches and schools. Tim also lives in Appleton, Wis.

Jayant Reddy** ('90 econ.) and wife, Christine are proud parents, of a son, Ravi Jacob Reddy, born on February 4, 2008, almost exactly 2 years after his sister and 40 years after their father. :-) Mommy and baby are doing well, and Lexi is thrilled to have a baby brother. Daddy is thrilled, too!

Angie (Hopkey) Barnard** (’97 pub. svc. & admin. in ag.) and husband Matt Barnard, welcomed their first child, Alex Otho, on January 1, 2008! Angie and Matt reside outside Champaign, Ill.

Brian Schueller** (’96 finance) and wife, Sandy (Strange) Schueller (’96 advt.) gave birth to Addisyn Kaylee. Addisyn was born on November 12, 2007. The Schueller’s live in Waukee, Iowa.

Mark D. Sorenson** ('85 fin.) has wrapped up another Red Ribbon Dinner & Great Art Auction, a fund raiser for AIDS Project Quad Cities. This year marked the 15th Annual event supporting the agency in it's 21st year of existence. The all volunteer effort this year raised a record $109,000.00 before expenses which are on track to be less than 20%! This year marked a change in the date of the event, a change in venue and a change in the type of entertainment proffered at evenings end. The art and other auction items available to the patrons out shown anything seen in the past. A survey was distributed that evening and all the responses received to date are highly complimentary of everything that changed, especially the locale and the singer who provided entertainment. Planning begins again in March for the 16th Annual Red Ribbon Dinner... if you want to be a part of a great event benefiting a very worthy cause, contact the AIDS Project Quad Cities office at (309) 762-5433 and tell them you saw this on Cy-Space! Or for more information contact Mark directly at MarkS@MarksPage.com, or visit the agency's website at www.AIDSProjectQC.org.

Julie (Shelton) Mittelstadt** ('98 land arch.) and husband, Chad Mittelstadt** ('97 mech. engr.) announce the birth of their daughter, Sophia Marie on November 22, 2006. Grandparents Raymond Mittelstadt ('49 engr.) and Marilyn Mittelstadt, and Dane Shelton* ('68 arch.) and Christina (Craychee) Shelton* ('66 mod. lang.) are proud to welcome the newest cyclone into the family. Chad and Julie live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Brian Wooldridge* ('96 biol.) and wife, Minnie Wooldrige, welcomed their son, Jacob Robert Wooldridge, born December 24, 2007. He joins his big sister Sydney Katharine, born April 25, 2004. Best Chrismtas present ever! Brian lives in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Maren Hess Engelmohr* (‘87 arch.) has joined Forum Studio, Inc., which is a full-service architecture, interiors, graphic design, and planning collaborative. Maren will share leadership responsibilities for Forum’s interiors group. She lives in St. Louis, Mo.

Julie Hawkins* (’81 home ec. journalism) has just had her first novel, A Beckoning Hellfire, published. During the bloody American Civil War, the stark reality of death leads one young man on a course of revenge that takes him from his quiet farm in northern Alabama to the horrific battlefields of Virginia and Pennsylvania. A haunting look at the human side of one of America’s most tragic conflicts, A Beckoning Hellfire speaks to the delusion of war’s idealism. Julie lives in Longmont, Colo.

Nathan P. Klinge* (’07 arch.) was recognized by the American Institute of Architects with the Award of Merit as Runner-Up in the Gondola Design competition Oct. 8 at the 2007 Design on the Delaware Conference. The Gondola Design Competition was intended to develop a prototype for the fabrication of new freestanding merchandise display structures for the AIA Bookstore and Design Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Of the submissions, three designs were recognized. Nathan lives in Ames.

Robert Hensley* (’06 PhD. HDFS) writes: “Tammy and I were married on June 17, 2006 in Mandan, N.D.” Career-wise, Robert is now the assistant professor of psychology at the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, Minn.