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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.
Sympathy
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Ken Miller '80
Illinois College extends its sympathy to Ken Miller on the death of his mother Martha Jane Mercer Miller on April 19, 2019.
Sympathy
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Heather Harlan '76
Illinois College extends its sympathy to Heather Harlan on the death of her son Micah Harlan Bacus on February 25, 2019.
Sympathy
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Delmar Seitz '52
Illinois College extends its sympathy to Delmar Seitz on the death of his wife Jean Seitz on July 20, 2019.
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Sarah Kline '19
is a music teacher and director of bands for kindergarten through second grade at North Mac Elementary School in Girard, Illinois.
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Noah Yantis '18
is legislative assistant for representative Mike Bost handling the Ag Committee and his education portfolio.
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Morgan Wachob '17
graduated cum laude from Vincennes University in their physical therapist assistant program and has accepted a job at ATI Physical Therapy in Bloomington, Indiana, and Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.
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Paige Graham Hand '16
recently began a new role as a social services career trainee with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. She is training to become a human services caseworker.
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Rob Brown '14
has been promoted to director of consumer
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Jaimie Engle '12
is assistant director of academic advising for biological sciences at DePaul University in Chicago as of May. She hosted a webinar panel discussion in May sponsored by the National Academic Advising Association, entitled “Maximizing our Minimal Time: Perspectives and Successes with Advisor Collaboration.” She was recently asked to serve as Common Reading Chair on the Conference Planning Committee for the 2020 NACADA Region 5 Conference in Milwaukee and selected as a presenter at the 2019 Illinois Academic Advising Association Drive-In Conference.
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Elisa Stampf '09
graduated from University of Indiana Kelly Online Business School in May.
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Lynnaun Johnson '09
successfully defended his Ph.D. at the Chicago Botanic Garden in May. The committee commented on the quality and significance of his research findings, a majority of which was conducted on Ghost Orchids in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.
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Matt Vilicana '07
accepted a new position as a federal on-scene coordinator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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Danielle Doerfler '06
is the associate athletic director at Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Missouri, as of June 2019.
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Lucas Williams '06
has been elected as the mayor of Mt. Zion, Illinois.
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Lindsay Hymes Williams '04
is the Controller, North America General Accounting and Close at Archer Daniels Midland.
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Samantha Bentley Renaud '04
started a new job with Summit Agriculture Group in March 2019.
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Christopher Morgan '03
is the director of technology at Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing.
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Elizabeth Jenkins Morgan '02
is a licensed clinical social worker working as a psychotherapist in private practice in Normal, Illinois.
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Tom Betsinger '97
accepted a position as the director of recreation in June 2019 for the Oswegoland Park District in Oswego, Illinois. He was also appointed in May 2019 to serve a two year term on the village board in Montgomery, Illinois.
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Carrie McCrary Ward '91
is the executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.