Alumni News - Black Hills State University

Alumni NewsAlumni NewsKudos & AnnouncementsMake plans now to attendthe baseball reunionat BHSUSturgis WilliamsMiddle School.Michael Jones, Classof ‘05, Spearfish, wasrecently hired as afifth-grade teacherat WhitewoodElementary School.Justin Kopp, Class of‘01, Billings, Mont.,will receive his masterof science in mentalhealth and rehabilitationfrom MontanaState University inMay 2006. He is alsopursuing a Ph.D. ininterdisciplinarystudies with anemphasis on multiculturalissues.KennethKrzyzanowski,Class of ‘00, RapidCity, was recentlyJune 23-24SpearfishEvents include:Campus tour, social and picnicas well as a golf tournament.Call 642-6446 or email JodiNeiffer@bhsu.edu for details.elected president ofthe South DakotaTechnologyEducation Associationand was a nomineefor Teacher of theYear award from theWest Region S.D.Technology EducationAssociation.Pat Moriarty, Class of‘03, joined the Lead-Deadwood HighSchool faculty inAugust 2005. Heteaches social studies.Michael R. Odle,Class of ‘02, Redding,Calif., was named thepublic affairs officerof the 2.1-million-acreSTNF (Shasta TrinityNational Forest).Michael joined theSTNF staff in June2003 after receivingBlack Hills State University Alumni Magazine Page 12his master's degreefrom the University ofSydney, Australia.Anya Olverson-Linn,Class of ‘02, Sturgis,was named a TenOutstanding YoungAward recipient bythe S.D. Jaycees. Anyaand husband DerrickLinn, Class of ‘02,own and operate theSturgis Dance Studio.Dan Patterson, Classof ‘02, Spearfish, coordinateshundreds ofaudio blogs, managestwo bands from SanFrancisco, and producesthree podcasts.Shaun Reinhart, Classof ‘00, Casper, Wyo.,graduated in May2005 with a degree inlaw. He was admittedto practice in Coloradoand Wyoming inOctober 2005.Kyle Smith, Classof ‘02, Rapid City,recently joined theFirst WesternBank team as aloan officer.Mikayla(Tetrault) Graslie,Class of ‘02,Spearfish, joinedthe Lead-Deadwood HighSchool teachingstaff in August2005.Norma Walks,Class of ‘00,Tucson, Ariz.,recentlygraduatedfromMinnesotaMedical School. She isnow in general surgeryresidency at theUniversity of Arizona.Mark Watson, Classof ‘03, Spearfish, wasrecently named cityeditor for the BlackHills Pioneer.Jennifer (Wagner)Williams, Class of‘02, Pierre, is workingas a law clerk for theSouth DakotaSupreme Court. Sherecently moved toPierre with husbandWilliam Williams Jr.David Worthington,Class of ‘05, Littleton,Colo., has joined theDepartment ofDefense ContractAudit Agency as aGS-9 auditor at theirLakewood, Colo.,branch.Stacey Yost, Class of‘05, Gann Valley, hasreceived an earlychildhood specialeducation teachingjob in the ChamberlainSchool District.Christina Haines,attended ‘80-’83, wasrecently named theNJCAA 2005Administrator of theYear by the NationalAssociation ofCollegiate WomenAthletics Administrators.She is the athleticdirector for SouthMountain CommunityCollege in Chandler,Ariz.FormerFaculty& StaffMerlyn and ShirleyAman celebratedtheir 50th anniversaryJuly 23, 2005.Jan Golliher, retiredassistant professorand outdoor educationcoordinator atBHSU, was namedthe South DakotaOutstandingEnvironmentalEducator for 2004 bythe EnvironmentalEducation Council.She was alsopresented withan honorablemention awardfor the NationalEnvironmentalEducator in Juneof 2005.Engagements & MarriagesThe70sClaireJohnson-LeDuc,Class of ‘73,Spearfish, marriedDanny O'Neill,May 14, 2005.The80sTinaFarmer,Class of ‘89,Midlothian,Va., married BillClarke in August 2005.She is an elementaryteacher with theChesterfield CountySchool District.Kelly Trenary, Class of‘83, New Underwood,married Judy BowmanNov. 18, 2005. Kelly isa corrections officer.The90sBeth Carter,Class of ‘99,and ScottNielsenwere married July 30,2005. Beth is anindividual programcoordinator at BlackHills Special Services.Kimberly Foley,Class of ‘99, Philip,and James Boumanwere married June 25,2005. She is a juniorhigh school scienceand math teacher.Shane Hime, Class of‘94, Torrington, Wyo.,will marry KeriMinnmann June 24,2006. Shane works forUnion Pacific Railroad.Shannon Scott, Classof ‘94, Rapid City, andChris VandeVenterwere married Oct. 22,2005. She works atArrowhead CountryClub as an accountant.Sona Starkey, Classof ‘99, Spearfish, marriedCraig O'ConnellSept. 17, 2005. She isan advertising representativeat the BlackHills Pioneer.John Stelljes, Class of‘98, Milwaukee, Wis.,and Angela Mickelsonwere married April 23,2005. John is a theologygraduate student atMartin Luther College.Michelle Thomas,Class of ‘97, Omaha,Neb., married BrianSmith Jan. 22, 2005.JeremyWeaver,Class of ‘01,Rapid City,married HeatherCarpenter Oct. 8, 2005.Jeremy is a compensationand benefitsanalyst at Rapid CityRegional Hospital.Tina Beguin, Class of‘04, and Nick VanKley,Class of ‘05, marriedJune 18, 2005. Tina isa graduate student atHarvard University.Nick is a graduatestudent at BrandeisUniversity. The couplelives in Boston.Adelle Beltman,Class of ‘01, Berdi,Minn., marriedJonathan KallemeynJune 11, 2005. Adelleis currently finishinga BS in graphics/webdesign at DSU.Amanda Benedick,Class of ‘01, FortCollins, Colo., marriedBrent Uhrich July 9,2005. Amanda is anelementary specialeducation teacher forPoudre School District.Crossing campus with the Crosswait familyBob, Bill and Jonathon Crosswait represent threegenerations of family attendance at BHSU.The00sThe Crosswait family has been attending Black Hills StateUniversity for several generations. It all started when BillCrosswait, Class of '50, enrolled at Black Hills State Universityafter the war.Bill grew up in Woonsocket, in the eastern part of South Dakota,and came to the Black Hills each summer with his family for a vacation.When he was ready to begin college in 1946, Bill and his brotherBruce both decided to attend BHSU. Bill lived on the second floorof Wenona Cook Hall (where his grandson also lived when he firstcame to college). Bill remembers teaching at the lab school underthe direction of Mrs. Warren. He graduated with a bachelor'sdegree in science and math. He went on to earn a doctorate degreein school administration and was superintendent of schools for afew years. He later served as director of graduate studies andtaught education courses at BHSU from 1969 to 1985. His wife,Mary, also attended BHSU.Representing the second generation, Bob, Bill and Mary's son,came to BHSU in 1974 to earn a biology degree. He later went on todentistry school and continues to work as dentist in Spearfish. Bob'swife, Charlene (Vondra), also attended BHSU and earned teachingcertificate. Bob says he was persuaded by his father to attend BHSU."He said BHSU was the best place to be. And it is. People seemto do pretty well after they graduate from BHSU," Bob says.Currently, Bob and Charlene's oldest son Jonathon is pursuing abiology degree at BHSU and is considering dentistry school in thefuture.Other family members who have the same alumni connectioninclude Craig, Bob's brother. Craig graduated in '81 and is now thebusiness manager for the Spearfish School District. Craig's wifeKimberly (Mickelson), graduated with honors in '94. She is a physicaltherapist at Ft. Meade. Also, Anne (Crosswait) Degen, Class of'76 and her husband Dave Degen, Class of '78. In addition KatieDegen attended BHSU.Black Hills State University Alumni Magazine Page 13