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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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Jared McDaniel ’08
pictured with his wife Ashley and family, has worked at the Department of Corrections for 4 years in February.
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Andy Tinsley ’08
recently became the chief of security for City Water, Light & Power. He served the Springfield Police Dept for seven years.
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Sami Martin ’06
is an administrative assistant and case manager at the Law Firm of Tamara Roff, an education services law firm in New York City.
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Maggie Henry York ’06
launched a new interior design website at margaretofyork.com. The site features York’s design portfolio from her several years working professionally in the field and a blog. Visitors can also shop a collection of her favorite pieces.
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Lisa Orr-Taylor ’06
is vice president at family business Perma-Bound Books in South Jacksonville. She has been married since 2009 and has four children.
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Daniel Morhardt ’06
is a social studies teacher for the Excel Center through MERS Goodwill.
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Ashley Kort Morhardt ’06
is working as an assistant professor of anatomy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Casey Grant ’06
has served as campus minister for The Crossing Monmouth church since October 2019.
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Marissa Giuffre ’06
earned her Master of Arts in Education from McKendree University in December 2018. She is currently employed as an elementary physical education teacher at C.A. Henning Elementary School in Troy.
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Sarah Franklin ’06
is exhibitions and collections manager at Elmhurst Art Museum.
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Cara Pratt-Fleming ’06
was named partner at Young Law Partners, P.C., a family law firm in Springfield.
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Tammy Lonergan Sowder ’02
was promoted to vice president of administration at Milner Media, where she oversees radio stations WVLI, WFAV, WIVR and WYUR.
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Amanda Williams ’01
is practicing immigration law at the award-winning non-profit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. She previously spent a decade working in government law in St. Louis.
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Amanda Shoemaker ’01
has served as the director of alumni relations and continuing education at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry since 2018.
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Susann Minnick,
January 2, 2020, Member of the Julian Monson Sturtevant Society.
In Memoriam
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George Blair Clark,
December 19, 2019.
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Bill Piper ’00
earned his Doctor of Public Administration degree from the University of Illinois-Springfield in July 2019. He is a revenue auditor for the Illinois Department of Revenue.
In Memoriam
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Martha Church H'03,
January 27, 2019. Martha Church was a lifelong champion of liberal arts education. She is remembered as an energetic world traveler who brought boundless energy, curiosity and compassion to her many endeavors. Church served as interim president for Illinois College during the 2002-2003 academic year. Beyond her work at IC, she enjoyed a distinguished career, most notably serving as the first female president of Hood College for 20 years, from 1975 to 1995, as chair of the board of trustees from 2006 to 2008, and being named trustee Emerita in 2009. Including Illinois College, ten institutions of higher education awarded her an honorary degree. Church was 88 when she died on Jan. 27, 2019.
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Roman Petra ’96
was elected to the partnership of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP., effective on Jan. 1, 2020. He concentrates his legal practice on commercial real estate transactions, representing developers and funds. He is based in Orlando, Florida.
In Memoriam
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Will Lange,
January 23, 2020.