Summer 2013 Alumni Newsletter - Oldenburg Academy

Alumni News
Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception
building our legacy one student at a time!
SUMMER 2013
Wherever
you go,
GO
with all your
HEART

Thank you for 12 years of service, Sr. Therese Gillman!
It is with mixed emotion that I bring to closure my twelve years of serving as President of Oldenburg
Academy. As I prepare to leave, I carry with me rich memories and my life has been forever enriched
because of my experiences here and the many people who have touched my life.
Some of my richest memories are those of our Alumni. I cherish the notes and updates of how you
go forth to live the OA mission in post secondary education and then in your professional careers and
personal lives. Thanks for keeping the OA legacy vibrant through your gift of time, talent and treasure!
You truly are the life-blood to our future!
Our Alumni are who they are today because of our dedicated faculty and staff. Here at the Academy you will hear our students
say, “No one gets lost. They help you be the best you can be.” My thanks to the faculty and staff for their dedication to
academic excellence and commitment to life-long learning! My heartfelt gratitude to the Oldenburg Academy Board of Trustees
for providing endless support and leadership throughout these years. May they be blessed abundantly as they continue to
envision and lead the school for many years to come.
To OA Alumni parents, my thanks for your investment in a Catholic Franciscan Secondary education here at OA! I know
many of you sacrificed deeply to provide a value-based education for your daughter(s) and son(s).
My endless thanks to the Oldenburg Academy Alumni Association Board and Alumni benefactors and volunteers who
through their generous gifts have helped support our academic and co-curricular programs.
Wherever we all may journey in life, it is my hope that the OA spirit is vibrantly spread to create a better world.
I ask our loving God to bless each of you abundantly for being a part of our OA family these twelve years!
Sr. Therese Gillman, OSF ‘69
Welcome to the OA Family, Diane Laake!
I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve the Oldenburg Academy community in the
capacity as President.
I believe that my experiences as a successful Catholic secondary school teacher and administrator, a
proud alumna of Our Lady of Angels High School (‘75), and my lifelong commitment to the Franciscan
charism through my non-profit volunteer work are perfect cornerstones to this role.
My personal spirituality and faith foundation has always been rooted in the Franciscan tradition. I
was inspired at an early age by Francis’ message of social responsibility, care for creation, and authentic Gospel living.
I have dedicated my life to these guiding principles and have been honored to most deeply express them through the education
and empowerment of our youth.
I understand the challenges facing Catholic education and am confident that with God’s grace and the enthusiastic efforts of
many others, I can lead Oldenburg Academy in the implementation of her strategic plans, maintain her essential mission and
vision, but boldly position her for continued success and growth.
Oldenburg Academy is an extraordinary institution. I was immediately impressed with the commitment to excellence, the
genuine sense of hospitality and care, and an unparalleled dedication to service exhibited by the faculty, staff, students and
their parents. She is built on a solid foundation of faith and tradition -- poised for an even greater future. We are going to be
an awesome team!
I look forward to meeting many of you over the next year. Please feel free to stop by if you are on campus or send me an
email and let me know what you are excited about for the future of OA and how we can work together to make this happen.
Peace and all good.
Diane H. Laake
ALUMNI NEWS - 2

Congratulations Class of 2013!
ROW 1 (L-R): Miranda Kessens, Alicia Quiroz, *Kathryn Chaffee, Miranda Fitzgerald, Elise Comer, *Rachel Gramman, *May Hetzer,
*Samantha Horan, Chelsea Mayborg, *Hannah Hanauer, Kevin Miller, Brent Bohman, *Jialou Shi, Corey Bowling, ROW 2: *Elizabeth
Loch, Nora Stacy, Mary Kahles, Kayleigh Rinck, Zach Gorman, Cory Richter, Andrew Knueven, ROW 3: *Courtney Unkrich, Alena
Schuckmann, *Laurel Kelnhofer, *Sarah Siemer, *Josh Smith, *Austin Alley, John Batterton, ROW 4: Rebecca Hettesheimer, *Morgan
Werner, Chelsi Eckstein, *Lauren Kirschner, *Carly Hertel, Max Moorman, Patrick Wunderlich, Angelo Lipps, ROW 5: *Emily Ulrich,
*Bryn Smith, Alexa Fangman, Sara Abrams, *Sarah Gutman, Alexander Lierman, Joshua Knapp, ROW 6: *Natalie Pottschmidt, Sarah
Cornett, *Theresa Brunsman, *Natasha Hockaden, *Gretchen Wilder, William Geis, Johnathan Baltz, ROW 7: Claire McKamey, *Anna
Hagedorn, *Samantha Jarman, *Rui Cao, *Alec Back, Austin Hornberger, Jon Drew, ROW 8: *Alex Johnson, Brody Witt, *Keith Miller,
*Bryan Kline, Josh Stenger, Luke Wilger, ROW 9: Scott Stenger, *Christopher Hockaden, *Quincy Shenk, Peter Lamping, Corey Reynolds,
Jacob Moorman
*denotes National Honor Society Members
Laurel Kelnhofer
Co-Valedictorian
Natalie Pottschmidt
Co-Valedictorian
Sarah Gutman
Salutatorian
The 69 graduates in the
Class of 2013 collectively
earned over $5.5 million in
scholarships and received
219 offers of acceptance
from 85 college/universities
in 18 states! Of those 69,
46 seniors earned Indiana
Academic Honors
Diplomas.
Best of luck to our graduating future service men, Andrew Knueven (U.S. Army Reserve) and Kevin Miller (U.S. Navy)! We are so proud!
ALUMNI NEWS - 3

Letter from the OAAA President
OAAA Board Members (L-R): Treasurer, Jane Bedel Walke
‘76, Secretary, Bertie Hartman Schmidt ‘64, Vice President,
Liz Hartman Stenger ‘71, President, Pam Decker Vonderhaar
‘64, Trustee, Ruth Leurck Mayo ‘67, Trustee, Barb
Hirt ‘51, and Trustee, Linda Nobbe Siefert ‘61
OAAA Scholarship Fund will be given in perpetuity. That can only happen
if our alumni embrace the opportunities to financially support the Alumni
Association. How can you financially support the OAAA? Please support us
through memorials, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays or other times throughout
the year with a donation to the OAAA and/or the OA Alumni Association
Scholarship Fund. You can also support us through our fundraising activities,
by attending Homecoming, and by purchasing the annual Alumni Challenge
raffle tickets. All donations are needed - and appreciated - however small or
large. We depend on gifts from individuals: from you, our Alumni. With this
said, all your gifts, be it time, talent or treasure are greatly appreciated.
I’d like to take a moment of your time to talk about a $5.00 bill.
True, it won’t buy much today, but we are still interested. Multiply
that $5.00 by our over 3600 alumni and you have $18,000 -
not small at all. I have been asked, “What do I get for paying my $5
dues?” Your dues helps the Alumni Association defray the cost of
the printing and mailing of the annual newsletters and homecoming
invitations along with hosting our annual Homecoming and
Distinguished Alumni Event. Currently, the OAAA is finding itself
in a financial position of whether we can continue to publish two
newsletters and the Homecoming mailings. We are asking for your
$5.00 dues to help the Alumni Association continue it’s ongoing
communication with you!
In addition to keeping in touch with you, the OAAA is committed
to growing its endowment
fund to ensure that the
This past year the OAAA was remembered with a bequest from the Estate of
Amelia Tophinke Yelinek ’53 to the OAAA Scholarship Fund and is a loving memorial to Amelia. We are truly grateful
for this gift and prayerfully remember Amelia.
On Monday, June 10th, Sarah Lamping, Liz Stenger, Barb Hirt, Ruth Mayo and I, along with members of the Batesville
Alumni Chapter, the Immaculata Club, attended the annual summer dinner
of the Cincinnati Alumni Chapter, Cincinnati Oldenburg Club, at Mercy
Hospital. Under the leadership of Irma Klett Sand, ‘51 and Donna Scheper
Meyer ’62, the Cincinnati Club held a dessert auction to raise funds for the
Retired Sisters Christmas Party which they host each year. At the end of a
delightful evening, this chapter presented the OA Alumni Association with
a $500 donation to the OAAA Scholarship Fund (pictured right). This gift
was unexpected, but truly appreciated. Thank you so much to the Cincinnati
Oldenburg Club for your support.
On May 17, 2013 at the Awards Ceremony I had the privilege of presenting
the second $1,000 OA Alumni Association Scholarship to Elizabeth Siemer,
class of 2014. Congratulations, Liz!
Pam Decker Vonderhaar ‘64 presents Elizabeth
Siemer ‘14 with the OA Alumni Association
Scholarship on the Academy’s Awards Day.
Cincinnati Oldenburg Club presents donation
to the OAAA Scholarship Fund
After the awards ceremony, the Senior Reception and Induction Ceremony were held. Our membership grew with the
induction of the 69 graduates from the Class of 2013. As their days at OA came to an end, I hope the experiences they
gained will be extremely beneficial as they continue their journey, moving onto the next stage of their lives and the
adventures that come with it. I ask that they not forget their time here at OA and I wish all of them the best of
ALUMNI NEWS - 4

luck in the future as they continue to strive to be the best in their chosen fields. They are the newest members of the
OA legacy. An elite group known as the OA Alumni Association. This legacy spans over 160 years and we have seen
many changes…we have taken the former ICA and “twisted” it into Oldenburg Academy of today, while maintaining
the rich Franciscan tradition of educating young women and men. We are all known as OA Alumni and very proud of
it. So from the words of Dr. Suess to the Class of 2013;
“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places. You’re off and away… So… Be your name Buxbaum
or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, your off to Great Places! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on
your way!”
The Alumni Association… building our legacy... one student at a time! Take the opportunity to do your part. Give us
FIVE!
Pam Decker Vonderhaar, ’64, OA Alumni Association President
All in the Family: Senior Alumni with Alumni Legacy
ROW 1 (L-R): Claire McKamey
with mother Joan Eckstein McKamey
’83, Corey Bowling with
mother Tara Gabbard Bowling
’90, Susan Kirschner Unkrich ’81
with daughter Courtney Unkrich
and grandmother Ellen Hartman
Kirschner ‘56, Morgan Werner
with mother Nancy Laker Werner
’83, ROW 2: Jackie Wenning
Fitzgerald ‘80 with daughter Miranda
Fitzgerald, Gretchen Wilder
with mother Rita Strange Wilder
’83, Jacob Moorman with mother
Jill Ortman Moorman ‘78, Lauren
Kirschner with mother Janet
Grieshop Kirschner ‘78, ROW 3: Joshua Stenger with mother Marcia Hartman Parcell ‘87 and grandmother Mary
Ann Werner Hartman ‘57, Theresa Brunsman with mother Diane Ryker Brunsman ‘71, Max Moorman with mother
Brenda Wenning Moorman ‘78, Bryn Smith with mother Kim Mollaun Smith ‘77
Not pictured: Austin Hornberger and mother Josie Billman Hornberger ’87 and Alicia Quiroz with mother Diane
Billman Quiroz ‘86
The Alumni Association would like to give a “Shout Out” to staff members Ray Ronnebaum and Tim Maple. Ray
and Tim are a big part of the Alumni functions as they come before to set up and make sure everything is just right,
and come after to tear down and clean up after us. Their hard work and dedication doesn’t go unnoticed… thanks
for a job well done…it is very much appreciated.
ALUMNI NEWS - 5

2013 Homecoming Weekend
Distinguished Alumni Event
Nominations are being accepted for Oldenburg Academy’s Annual Distinguished
Alumni Award! Nomination deadline: July 15, 2013. For more information,
award criteria, and nomination form, go to www.oldenburgacademy.org
and click on Alumni or contact Sarah Lamping at 812.934.4440 ext.240. This
year’s event will take place on Friday October 11, 2013
Alumni Homecoming Celebration
Join us for the Alumni Homecoming on October 12, 2013!! Anniversary classes
have already started planning so make sure you get in on the fun! Remember
this is an election year so please let us know if you are interested in running for
a position on the OAAA Board. If you are interested in a position but not able
to run at this time, consider shadowing a current board member. Contact Ruth
Luerck Mayo, Linda Nobbe Siefert or Barb Hirt to discuss.
Honorary Alumni, Sr. Mary Ammann, OSF
VHE Tribute
We are pleased to announce that the 2013 Homecoming Honoree of the Virtue, Honor, Education Award is the late Sr.
Mary Ammann, OSF, Honorary Alumni. Sr. Mary Ammann taught physical education and was a coach at OA from
1969-1998. She became OA’s first athletic director and joined the Indiana High School Athletic Association, which
allowed competitive play against other schools. In memory of Sr. Mary Ammann, we invite you to join us at HC 2013
to celebrate this honor. Donations on her behalf can be made to the OA Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. More
information will be available in the Homecoming Registration that will be mailed to you in September.
Girls Alumni Basketball Game
“Once a Twister Sister, Always a Twister
Sister”
Dan Kerker, head coach for the girl’s basketball team at
Oldenburg Academy would like to invite you to play in the
Lady Twister Alumni basketball game on July 20, 2013 at
1:30 pm. It will be a great opportunity to talk and visit with
your former team mates and classmates. If you don’t feel
like you can play we certainly would like to recognize you
and have you on hand as a spectator cheering on your fellow
“Twister Sisters” as they re-live their glory years. It is
Oldenburg’s Frudenfest weekend and would be a great opportunity
to continue your conversations and visits after the game while enjoying the day’s festivities here in town.
So remember, player or spectator we would love for you to attend. We will have concessions open during the game
with drinks, hamburgers, hotdogs, and chips. All proceeds will benefit our athletes here at OA and our current
Lady Twister Basketball team. So put it on your calendar, dust and lace them old glory tennis shoes up for some
action! Please RSVP to Dan if you plan to attend at dkerk68@gmail.com or text (812) 212-1601. Please state year
graduated, position played and the number you wore if you can still remember. We look forward to seeing you at
the game. GO Twisters!
ALUMNI NEWS - 6

Alumni Baseball Game
Calendar of
Upcoming
Events
July 5, 2013
Deadline for Distinguished
Alumni nomination
Start spreading the word! The 3rd Annual Alumni Baseball Game will
be held again this year in early August at Liberty Park in Batesville, IN.
Letters will be sent so out soon so be on the look out! Last year we had 16
alumni play and hope for a larger turn out this year. The teams will once
again be coached by Doug Behlmer. Proceeds from the event will be used
for OA baseball equipment needs. It’s a great day for the guys and loyal
fans to reconnect and enjoy a fun game of baseball. For more information,
or to get on the mailing list please contact Jean Stacy at tjtns@etczone.
com or Coach Behlmer at doug.behlmer@hill-rom.com We look forward
to seeing you on the field!
Boys Alumni
Basketball Game
The 2nd Annual Boys Alumni Basketball
Game will be held again in December
at Oldenburg Academy. Please contact
Mark Zinser at 812-584-0687 or email
mfzinser2015@spartans.manchester.edu
if you plan to join us over Christmas
break!
July 20, 2013
Lady Twister Alumni Basketball
Game (1:30 pm)
Aug. 8, 2013
Batesville Alumni Chapter Immaculata
Club Mtg – Summer
Picnic
October 11, 2013
Distinguished Alumni Event
October 12, 2013
Alumni Homecoming
December 1, 2013
Retired Sisters Christmas Party
February 22, 2014
Oldenburg Academy’s Reverse
Raffle
April 19, 2014
Alumni Easter Egg Hunt
April 26, 2014
Holly Bruns 5K Memorial Walk/
Run
ALUMNI NEWS - 7

'Dog Whisperer' enlightens OA Grad
John & Cesar ‘Dog Whisperer’ Millan
take a break from training to pose for
the camera with their pooches
Originally published on March 29, 2013 courtesy of the Herald Tribune,
Batesville. Written by Diane Raver ‘86. Used with permission.
John Rohrig, a 2009 Oldenburg Academy graduate, recently had the chance of a life
time when he attended a training course with Cesar Millan, known for his “Dog
Whisperer” TV show. “My wife Amanda, my dog and I drove from Bloomington
all the way to Santa Clarita, Calif. The trip was over 4,000 miles (round trip), and it
took about two days to reach California.”
The former Milan resident works part time at a doggie daycare and owns The Pack
Leader LLC. “I go to clients’ homes and train and educate both the owners and their
dogs. I have had clients throughout Indiana, including Anderson, and inquiries from
places farther out, like Pennsylvania. I also offer other services, such as dog
walking.”
People from the area may also remember the singer as the winner of OA’s talent
show, “Batesville’s Got Talent” and Canoefest Idol in Brookville.
He found out about the course on Millan’s Web site trainingcesarsway.com. “I am constantly
studying what Cesar Millan and other trainers like Dr. Ian Dunbar do .... We had to apply and tell a little bit about
ourselves and our dogs.
“There were roughly only about 25 people with their dogs and 20 people without that attended the course. There were
people from around the world, like Spain, Brazil, Australia, United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Norway, Puerto Rico,
Austria and even Japan. There were only 20 picked from the U.S.” Millan was assisted by trainers Cheri Lucas and Brian
Agnew.
“We started each day with at least a two-mile pack walk .... when one person would walk eight dogs at a time. We would
switch people out so everyone got a chance walking the pack.”
The purpose of this was “so the unbalanced dogs could learn from the pack how to correctly behave. It also helped with
our leadership skills. It is one thing to control one dog, but it is totally another to control eight dogs at once.”
After those walks, “we were lectured on how to use only our body language to wordlessly communicate to dogs. We also
learned how to see and read dog-to-dog conversations. Because so many people misuse the E-collar (which sends an electrical
stimulus, vibration or tone), we were trained on how to use it correctly if it was needed,” the 21-year-old reveals.
“During the lectures, Cheri and Brian brought different people up on the stage to address their dogs’ problems. When it
was my turn, Cheri said that Axl, my German shepherd, was very well-trained and used him as an example a few other
times during the week. He has a little bit of separation anxiety, but other than that, he did very well. The things they
stressed were being calm assertive and confident.”
However, he admits, “The best part was when I stayed and waited for Cesar. I was
able to have one-on-one time with him for about an hour .... I learned more in-depth
about what I need to do to improve myself and my connection with Axl, how to improve
my business and so much more.”
Rohrig is thankful to his family (parents Julie and John Rohrig III, Milan; siblings,
Daniel, Samantha and Cassidy; grandparents Louise Rohrig, Milan, and John and
Joan Mokanyk, Greensburg) and wife for their support. “Without their help, I would
not have been able to go. I had to get a loan and still needed help from them. They
made it all possible.”
John trains a group on a 2-mile pack walk
The Vincennes University graduate, who has a behavioral studies degree, points out,
“Being able to attend Cesar’s training course not only taught me more about how to connect and train with dogs, but it
also enlightened me about how to improve myself and my well-being outside of dog training. It was a very healthy and
enriching experience, not only for me, but also for Axl and, hopefully, for any future dogs and people I will be helping.”
ALUMNI NEWS - 8

Twister Values Travel Abroad
Taryn Fledderman ‘05 (front, far left) poses
with her group in front of the Taj Mahal
On December 27, 2012 a group of nursing and social work students from
Northern Kentucky University embarked on a two week journey to India to
study gender discrimination and its effects on women’s health. Being a Master’s
of Social Work student, I was fortunate enough to be able to apply and
be selected as one of the fifteen students, and received a scholarship to aid
in the expenses. The opportunity for our group to travel to India arose when
a member of the Art department at Northern Kentucky was on sabbatical in
India and met with Dr. V. Mohini Giri. Dr. Giri is a social activist in India.
She was born into the Brahmin caste, the highest caste in India, and was
married to the President of India’s son before becoming widowed at a young
age. Dr. Giri is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, the founder of the War Widows
Association and the Guild of Service. Dr. Giri’s Guild of Service is an umbrella
agency for a variety of non-government organizations (NGO’s) across India that provides services for oppressed
women. Dr. Giri has also met with the United Nations on several occasions to speak on women’s equality globally.
Most recently Dr. Giri was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey to bring global attention to the cause she has fought for the
past four decades.
Besides a trip to Niagara Falls when I was in elementary school, I had never been outside of the country, but remember
clearly during my World Religions and Social Justice classes at Oldenburg Academy that there was a world much
larger than Southeastern Indiana for me to explore someday. Our first day in India we learned of the death of “Damini”
a 23 year-old Indian woman who, two-weeks prior, was raped on a bus and left for dead on the street in New Delhi.
Her rape and death sent the social activists and young people of India into an uproar; it was an act of fate that our
group of all women was in India at this transformative time.
Our journey in India began in New Delhi, we met with many NGO’s, attended a meeting with the Lieutenant Governor
to offer recommendations to aid victims of rape and assault, and many services in memory of “Damini” where
we met Tara Gandhi, the grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Giri arranged for us to stay at the Guild of Service
widows’ home called MaDham in the city of Vrindavan. A cultural tradition that spans the many ethnic backgrounds
and religions of India is the rejection of a widow by her husband’s family after his death. In many cases, although it is
slowly changing, the woman will be given minimal belongings and transportation to get to Vrindavan, which is known
throughout the country as the “city of widows.” Upon arrival in Vrindavan the woman will ask around to find which of
the multiple widows’ shelters has availability and take up residence in that ashram. When hearing some of the widows’
stories it became evident that these ladies had experienced a life I never deemed possible. When initially hearing of
this dynamic I wondered why the widows did not just return to their parents’ home. The answer to this became evident
after I learned more about the gender discrimination culturally placed upon women in India. There, women are seen as
“burdens” and in “need of protection” by a male family member; whether it be her father, brother, uncle, son or husband.
This burden and power differential is evident in many ways in India: female feticide and infanticide are national
epidemics to the point where gender identification during pregnancy is outlawed in many areas; men are fed the most
and first resulting in an average of 1,000 calorie daily deficit for women; men are provided with more years of education
and taken to the doctor or given medicine in more instances than females; and even though women do 2/3 of
the total work in India they receive 1/3 of the total wages. We ended our stay in Vrindavan by visiting schools, many
temples including the birthplace of Krishna, lectures from internationally known philosophers and professors, and
witnessing the unpredictability of the many monkeys that line the streets. Our journey then took us to Agra, the home
of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is known as one of the wonders of the world, and I could not agree more! To witness
this immense marble structure, with all its intricacies, leads to many nights of critical thinking as to how it could be
built so many centuries ago.
The many smiles and warm hugs from all of the women and children I met showed to me that support, encouragement,
and understanding know no boundaries. They translate despite having a language barrier, looking different, dressing
ALUMNI NEWS - 9

different, and being across the world. My experience at OA in the Adopt-a-sis program reminded me of my encounters
with the widows. Having learned the tools at such a young age to foster relationships that bridged decades of generational
gap and Franciscan values of helping others are ones that have shaped me into the person I am today. I remember
countless stories from the sisters about their work in Papau New Guinea and on Native American reservations; it
taught me that no matter how much or how little you have, helping others is what we are supposed to do. To hear the
narratives of women who stepped outside of then societal norms to travel abroad and think outside of themselves and
their surroundings created a desire inside of me dedicate my life to helping the oppressed. I do not know that I would
be the independent, passionate, and strong-willed young woman I am today had I not had the opportunity to attend
Oldenburg Academy. While in India I learned a new value for what poverty is and that whatever situation life deals
us, someone out there has it worse. I have a new appreciation for clean and running water, consistent electricity, a hot
shower, clean and regulated healthcare, my family, my education, and the opportunities I as an American woman have
that many across the world do not. My 300 hours in India have changed my life and opened my eyes to an even bigger
world where people live interdependently, and not so focused on themselves, much like the Sisters of St. Francis do.
Taryn Fledderman ‘05
Advancement Department Updates
What a fun night it was for all our guests to be on campus with us on Saturday, February 23rd for the 24th Annual
Reverse Raffle as we celebrated 160 years of the Academy. The gym was transformed for our 320 guests with uniforms
from prior years and current years, banners, trophies, and many, many yearbook pictures from our 160 years.
Our guests were entertained by the OA Orchestra and the Academy Singers for a small portion of the evening and
had the opportunity to bid on over 250 gifts.
The $2,000 grand prize raffle was won by alum Sarah Sauntry ’76. Winners of the jewelry raffle were: Blue Topaz
Pendant – parent Heidi Shenk, Hand Polished Jasper Stone on Omega Chain – alum Terri Reynolds Cuellar ’74,
Handmade Sterling Silver Natural Turquoise necklace, bracelet & earrings – grandparent Janis Greene, Sterling
Silver Pandora bracelet & beads – past parent Anthony Moning, and Freshwater Pearl Necklace & Bracelet – past
parent Barbara Luff. The Live auction raffle winner was Marge Greiwe, grandparent. The School Project this year
was the School Security System with nearly $5,000 received from our generous guests toward this project.
Thanks to everyone who helped in any way with this Reverse Raffle – “Traditions…Leading OA into the Future”.
Your help, even in the smallest way, made a tremendous impact on this event. With your help we were able to exceed
our net goal by over $5,500. Thanks to our wonderful donors, sponsors, equipment suppliers, attendees, ticket purchasers
and approximately 50 volunteers! Your generous support directly impacts each and every student at Oldenburg
Academy.
The committee sends a very big thank you to the alumni who donated gifts and/or volunteered, attended the event
and purchased raffle tickets.
Thank you to a fantastic committee for all the hard work over the past 6 months – to Barb Bohman, Mary Beth Simmermeyer
Welsh ’75 and Katie Welsh ’06 who co-chaired this event, along with Susan Strange Glaser ’80, Keith
Moenter and Leslie Puttmann, live auction chairs, Kathy Kuntz Dietz ‘76, silent auction chair and a great committee
of decorators, gift solicitors and gift pick up volunteers, basket makers, class gift coordinators, kitchen coordinators,
and power point designers: Judy Cutter Behlmer ’88, Janet Borst, Mary Beth Hortemiller Dickman ’78, Kathy
Fangman, Jackie Wenning Fitzgerald ’80, Sr. Ruth Mary Forthofer ’51, Mary Pat Kuntz Frey ’79, Ruth Geis, Mary
Harrah, Carol Reed and Jane Smith.
Please plan to join us next year as we celebrate the 25th Annual Reverse Raffle on Saturday, February 22, 2014!
Debbie Lamping, Advancement Specialist
ALUMNI NEWS - 10

In Loving Memory
Honorary member of the
Alumni Association, Sr.
Consolata Kuhn, OSF
passed away March 1, 2013
Mary Louise Ohleyer Lauck ’37
passed away
Louis Smith passed away. He
was the brother of Sr. Constance
Smith ’40.
Mary Helen Bailey Trimpe ’42
passed away.
Arthur Meier passed away. He
was the brother of Ethel Meier
Rosenberger ‘46
Sr. Gerald Mary Gaynor ’47
passed away.
Sr. Dolores Wright ’48 passed
away.
Pauline Laraway Holland ’51
passed away.
Doris Simmermeyer Doll ’52
passed away. She was the sister of
Rose Simmermeyer Weisenbach
’58 and Martha Simmermeyer ‘61
Samuel Schoetmer passed away.
He was the grandson of Jo Ann
Effing Schoetmer’56, son of Teri
Fields Baker ’85 and brother of
Katie Schoetmer ’07.
Alyce Sauntry Pascoe ’58 passed
away. She was a sister to Sr. Jean
Michael Sauntry ’49 and Patti
Sauntry Clark ’55.
Jim Mahle, husband of Mary Jo
Walke Mahle ’61 and father to
Sara Mahle Drabik ’95, passed
away.
Jean Mollaun passed away. She
was the mother of Judy Mollaun
Blacketer ‘62
Raphael Forthofer passed away.
He was the husband of Rosina
Nobbe Forthofer ’64 and brother
of Joanna Forthofer Kinker ’59,
Catherine Forthofer Niese ’62,
Rosemary Forthofer Thiesing ’66
and Vickie Forthofer Dudley ’69.
Charlene Munchel Whittaker’s
‘65 sister, Elaine Nobbe passed
away
Edna Enneking passed away. She
was the mother of Helen Enneking
Kramer ’62, Patti Enneking
Weberding ’66, Donna Enneking
Kraus ’68 and Marilyn Enneking
Weberding ’73.
Virginia Albers passed away. She
was the mother of Judith Albers
Kilgore ’66
Edward Moeller, father to Jane
Moeller Boldrick ’67, Jacqueline
Moeller Moorman ’81 and step
father to Judy Leising ‘69 and
Sandy Gutzwiller ’71 passed
away.
Leonard J. Mauer passed away.
He was the father of Angie
Mauer Kelly ’68, Ruth Mauer
Cook ’69 and Nita Mauer ‘82
Victor Meyer passed away. He
was the father of Grace Meyer
Schneider ’69, Yvonne Meyer
Schneider ’70, Mary Louis
Meyer ’76, Eileen Meyer Duff
’78, Caroline Meyer Sorber ’85,
and Susan Meyer Everage ’87.
Mary Higbie passed away. She
was the mother of Patricia Higbie
Keenan ’70
Rita Gillman passed away. She
was the mother of Zita Gillman
Hartman ’72 and Karen Gillman
‘82
Thomas Zins passed away. He was
the brother of Carol Zins Roell
’72 and Judy Zins Franzen ‘79
Anna Mae Schneider passed away.
She was the mother of Carol Ann
Schneider ’79.
Joe Fritsch passed away. He was
the father of Paula Fritsch ’79.
George Sheehan passed away.
He was the father of Maureen
Sheehan ’81, Eileen Sheehan ’83,
Terry Sheehan Strouse ’84 and
Carol Sheehan Pogoni ‘88
James Koors passed away. He was
the father of Teresa (Tress) Koors
Zielinski ‘84
Ingrid Oesterling’s ‘88 father,
John Oesterling passed away
Kevin Moody passed away. He
was the father of Nicole Moody
Eichhold ’92 and Janel Moody
Norris ‘98
Jack Shields passed away. He was
the father of Katherine Schields
‘02
Updates
Otta Lee Orschell Cohen ’48 - Celebrates her
60th wedding anniversary this year! She has
4 children and 5 grandchildren. She and her
husband Ed enjoy playing bridge and many of
the other events offered by their residence, the
Meadowood Retirement Center in Bloomington,
Indiana.
Bunny Smith Nelson ’63 – Married with 3
children and 4 grandchildren. Divides her time
between Florida and Minnesota (where her
grandchildren live). Retired from teaching 6
years ago and loves retirement.
Cindy Meyer Ziemke ’77 – She serves as the
Republican Representative in the Indiana State
House of Representatives Congratulations to our
1st alum to serve in the Indiana State House.
Jennifer Soldano ’80 – plans to marry Don Kinley
in July 2013. She has two adopted teenagers
and is Director of Titles for the Texas Department
of Motor Vehicles.
Jaimee Brielmaier ’98 – Graduated from
University of Colorado with a Bachelors in Fine
Arts. Received a second Bachelors in nursing
and works as an ICU nurse. Currently pursuing
her dream to be an artist and has been nominated
as artist of the month through Hype Denver.
A big “thank you” to Ms. Burroughs for all the
lessons learned while at the Academy.
Traci Taylor Rowlett ’99 – She and her husband
Tommy welcomed their fourth child, Tessa
Mary, in November 2012. Tessa was welcomed
home by her big sisters, Taylor and Tristan, and
brother Talan.
Margaret “Peg” Staun ’01 – Promoted to
Captain and plans to return from Afganistan in
June 2013. She will be moving to Ft. Knox in
Louisville in August.
Mary Kate Henrikson ’04 – Currently works
as a Wireline Field Engineer for Schlumberger
in Roma, Queensland, Australia.
Taryn Fledderman ‘05 – Traveled to India to
study gender discrimination and its effects on
women’s health. Read her story and view her
photos in the extended version of the Alumni
News on the Alumni website, www.oldenburgacademy.org/alumni/alumni-newsletters
Amanda Dickman ’08 – Works as a Special
Education instructor at Clinton Central Jr./Sr.
High School and lives in Zionsville, IN.
Erin Gish ’09 – Interning with Boeing for a 2nd
time in Huntsville, AL. Currently at Boeing Research
& Technology working with UAH (University
of Alabama Huntsville) and NASA on
nuclear fusion propulsion testing and research.
John Rohrig IV ’09 - John recently drove 4000
miles (round trip) to train with Caesar Millan,
the “Dog Whisperer”. John works in behavior
modification with the dogs and trains the
humans. Read his story and view his photos in
the extended version of the Alumni News on the
Alumni website, www.oldenburgacademy.org/
alumni/alumni-newsletters
ALUMNI NEWS - 11

Alumni Association
Oldenburg Academy
of the Immaculate Conception
building our legacy one student at a time!
1 Twister Circle, PO Box 200
Oldenburg, Indiana 47036
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Oldenburg, IN
Permit No. 4
Holly Bruns 5K Re-Cap
The third time was a charm. On Saturday, April 27, 2013 we
had near perfect weather for holly’s rOAd to education 5K
Walk/Run. The 5K has become an annual event in honor of
Holly Bruns, Class of ’74, to help fund the scholarship in her
name at Oldenburg Academy. We are pleased to report that
we surpassed last year’s event with regard to monies raised
through sponsorships, donations and registration fees. We
had more participants, recruited new donors and grossed over
$8,500! It was so nice to connect with various alums as we
had over 40 alumni that participated, donated or volunteered
their time to make this event a success. The Class of ’74 lead
by Cathy Breeden and Class of ’82 rallied by Julie Daly Neyer
were unknowingly competing for top donor, but were edged
out by the Laugle girls (Billie ’49, Jill ’78, and Jenny ’79 and
Team Caldwell ’80 & Mauer ’82). The very talented Sarah
Schulte ’07 designed the logo and developed the brochure and
posters. Thanks to Nancy Struewing ’79 for creating signs for
the event. Special thanks to Susan Glaser ’80 for recruiting/
organizing the volunteers! Thanks to the OA students who
rallied the day of the event to assist us and the OAAA Board
members who came to help and cheer the runners on. We
hope you’ll join us in making next year’s event even bigger
and better. Visit our FB page at http://www.facebook.com/
pages/Hollys-rOAd-to-education/164873656895800. We
have posted this year’s event on YouTube, as well as previous
years’ that may be viewed.
Save the date for next year! April 26, 2014