Updates
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Jim Spizzo ’74
was recently awarded first place and a cash prize in the architecture category in the 2021 juried exhibit sponsored by the Midwest Center for Photography in Wichita, Kansas, for his photo “Infinity: The Way Out.” Jim has also received honorable mentions by juries for his photography in the annual Minimalist Photography Awards, as well as in other exhibits at the Midwest Center for Photography. In the past few years, Jim’s photos have been selected by juries for inclusion in a dozen exhibits in Chicago; Wichita; Scottsdale, Arizona; and online. He was invited to do a show at the Pharmacy Gallery in Springfield as a guest artist in September.
In Memoriam
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Conrad Damsgaard ’57
was a dedicated, active alumnus who had a vision for raising the profile of the institution. He and his late wife, Patricia Carlson Damsgaard ’53, remained active supporters of the College throughout their lives. Over the years, Conrad Damsgaard served on the Board of Trustees and as president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. In 1987, he was honored with a distinguished service award “for his devotion to Illinois College as evidenced by thoughtful alumni involvement.” The Damsgaards’ philanthropy made them members of the Julian Monson Sturtevant Society and the Illinois College Society.
As a student, Damsgaard was elected student body president and was an active member and leader in Phi Alpha. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Omega, economics club, the Hilltoppers dramatic organization, student forum, social committee and intersociety board.
He was first sergeant of the Army Reserve unit on campus and served in the Army from 1954 to 1956. He started his career in sales with Shell Oil Company and went on to have a long career in sales and marketing management at Shell, Swank Motion Pictures and Psychological Associates.
The Damsgaards had three daughters, Susan Damsgaard-Brand ’81, Kristine Damsgaard and Beth Damsgaard Rodriguez. Susan and their granddaughter, Rachel Brand ’18, carried on the family’s legacy as IC alumni. He was 88 when he died March 23, 2022.
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Lanie Cooper Kepler ’12, Brady Kepler ’12 and Bailey Cooper ’18
founded the KASE Project. It is a central Illinois non-profit dedicated to supporting the autism community. They installed a playground communication board at Southwind Park in Springfield for children with limited verbal speech to enjoy the park with their peers.
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Chauntel Vance ’19
graduated with a master of science degree in counseling from Eastern Illinois University.
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Blake Matson ’18
started a new position as missionary with Fellowship of Catholic University Students.
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Matthew Murphy ’16
is the recipient of the Lawrence E. Schrader & Elfriede Massier Plant Physiology Fellowship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Kathryn Stroud ’14
was promoted to senior researcher at Impact Justice.
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Cory Washington ’13
was promoted to instructor at Saint Louis University.
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Willie Barefield ’13
started a new position as consulting analyst at Huron.
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Kaitlin Salisbury ’10
joined the board of education for the city of Chicago as assistant general counsel in the federal litigation unit.
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Evan Wilson ’01
was named a 2021 Molly K. Arnold President’s Service Recognition Award winner by the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC). This award recognizes members with more than five years’ service who have provided strong and consistent leadership to IACAC.
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Sarah Buck ’99
recently earned a Faculty Excellence Service Award from Chicago State University. To be considered for the award, faculty must demonstrate service at various levels at the university, as well as off-campus.
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Bill Stephens ’96
was hired in August of 2019 to work for the Liberty Mutual legal department’s Miami office. He still resides in Illinois.
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Dan Carie ’82
has been named principal of Routt Catholic High School in Jacksonville, Illinois.
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Kay Rasmussen Wettlaufer ’81
retired from a 35-year teaching career at the end of May. She most recently worked as a special education teacher at Slater School District in Slater, Missouri.
Sympathy
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Christian Lopez ’22,
Illinois College extends its sympathy on the death of his brother, Roberto “Robbie” Lopez ’20, on November 29, 2020.
Sympathy
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Rudolph Porter ’14, Sam Porter ’15 and Dani Hillis Porter ’13,
Illinois College extends its sympathy on the death of their grandfather and grandfather-in-law, Charles Porter, on April 21, 2021.
Sympathy
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Jordan Tenhouse ’06,
Illinois College extends its sympathy on the death of his mother, Diane Moore Tenhouse ’78, on December 2, 2020.
Sympathy
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Megan Langdon McGuire ’02,
Illinois College extends its sympathy on the death of her father, John G. Langdon ’76, on December 19, 2020, and to his brother, Greg Langdon ’80.
Sympathy
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John Zumstein ’01,
Illinois College extends its sympathy on the death of his mother, Mary Jo Releford Zumstein ’65, on December 15, 2020.
Sympathy
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John Stafford ’80,
Illinois College extends its sympathy on the death of his brother, Kevin L. Stafford ’76, on December 18, 2020.
Sympathy
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Marilyn Long Mayberry ’74,
Illinois College extends its sympathy on the death of her father, Scott E. Long ’51, on March 4, 2021, and to his grandson, Adam Mayberry ’10.
Sympathy
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Carol Pillsbury ’69,
Illinois College extends its sympathy on the death of her sister, Cheryl Pillsbury ’69, on November 18, 2020.