CHCA Eagle's Eye 2014

alumni
Class notes
Rachael Herrmann Martinez completed
her PhD last year in Social Psychology from
Loyola University Chicago and continues
in her position as a Social Science Analyst
in health research for the Department of
Veterans Affairs. She and her husband,
Ian, with their 2 mini Huskies, still reside in
Chicago.
RyanAtkins ‘07
’07
38
Class of 2005
Tommy Andrews
on July 1 started
his 5th year
of working for
Speaker of the
House John A.
Boehner (OH-
08) in Washington,
DC. In
October 2013, he
was promoted to
the title of Special Assistant to the Speaker,
serving as the Speaker’s personal aide.
Rebecca Chait
on May 1st, 2014,
received her doctoral
hood, graduating
with honors
from The Ohio
State University
College of Medicine.
Her dad,
Robert H. Chait
M.D., accompanied
her on stage
to bestow the
doctoral hood.
Becca will continue
her medical training at her two top programs,
The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati for
one year of internal medicine, and The Ohio
State University Wexner Medical Center for
three years of training in ophthalmology. In
January 2014, Becca traveled to rural Kenya
near the Maasai Mara to serve at two
community health centers. Global missions
have long been a passion of Becca’s and will
be a fundamental component of her career
in ophthalmology. She plans to return
to Kenya as a resident to initiate projects
in community eye health and also hopes
to complete an International Fellowship in
Ophthalmology after her four years of residency
training. Finally, Becca is SO proud of
her little sister Hannah for graduating from
CHCA this year at the top of her class, and
she would like to congratulate the entire,
very special, Class of 2014 - Work hard and
never give up! God will give you the tools
you need to accomplish His work.
Joseph Polzin finished his second of four
years at Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis,
where he is in the M.Div. program, studying
to be a pastor. He will be spending the 2014-
2015 on a vicarage assignment at St. Lorenz
Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, MI. He
and his wife Jennifer are expecting their
second child at the end of June. Their son,
Miles is 2 years old.
Teddy Siegel is employed by Catholic
Health Partners as a Specialist in their Advocacy
and Government Relations department.
She resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Lauren Rasmussen Sparks is working fulltime
as a graphic designer and in childcare
at Peoples Church in Clifton. Besides that,
she is also currently illustrating a short story
for Cincinnati company Assailant Comics
which should be published by the end of
2014 (issue #2 of the series “Open Tree”,
written by Chris Charlton) as well as miscellaneous
album designs and other illustration
work. Lauren and her husband Matt are
both passionate about reducing the amount
of waste in their lives. “We’ve succeeded in
reducing a LOT of waste in our small apartment
by cutting out unneeded packaging,
paper products, cleaning chemicals, appliances
and miscellaneous clutter. My “next
big dream” is to be able to get around with
just public transportation and a fully-electric
car to majorly cut our carbon emissions.
We’re doing our best to follow God’s first
commandment and take care of our Earth.”
Class of 2006
Tyler Anderson and his wife, Abby welcomed
a little girl, Theodora Jane Anderson,
born on April
2, 2014. Tyler
is a Financial
Planner
and recently
moved to
Omaha, NE
from Chicago,
Illinois.
Alumni spotlight
Ryan Atkins launched FlatOnMyBack.com, a
blog detailing the lessons learned on the road
God has taken him on since a car accident led
to paralysis in 2009. Each Sunday, Ryan also
leads a bible study with a dozen CHCA high
school boys, all who met Ryan as freshmen in
2012 at Outback America. At the time, they
were looking for a structured environment to
meet in a small group with their friends. Ryan
provided that and has been meeting with
them as a group and one-on-one ever since.
He shares, “Jesus sets an example of hanging
out with 12 guys for three years as a model
for discipleship and calls all believers to make
disciples in Matthew 28:19. Investing in other
people on a one-on-one basis goes further
than most teachings, sermons, or classes. I
want these guys prepared to step onto a secular
college campus, know the reason for the hope
that they have (1 Peter 3:15), be able to share it
with others, and begin to disciple people in their
dorm and college campus themselves living out
the verse 2 Timothy 2:2-‘what you have heard
from me in the presence of many witnesses
entrust to faithful men who will also be able
to teach others.’” After launching his blog,
Ryan received various invitations to speak at
churches and other events, including chapel at
CHCA high school in February (pictured above
with sister Laura ‘12). “It may be cool to speak in
front of thousands at a place like Crossroads,”
Ryan shared, “but what I enjoyed most was
returning to the high school in February 2014,
when I was able to share and interact with
students afterwards. I sat in those same seats
nearly a decade ago and know what it’s like to
be in that environment. I have a passion for
seeing teenagers get serious about their faith.”
He continues to share his message of “Seeking
the Healer, not just the healing”. He is also
currently working on writing a book.