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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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Marissa DeLong '16
Marissa DeLong teaches English at Rosetta Stone Learning Center in Osaka, Japan. She also works as a model at GRAM Model Management in Osaka.
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Taylor Coad '16
Taylor Coad is currently living in Pensacola, Fla., pursuing a certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography at the Florida Institute of Ultrasound.
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Sonya Boykin '16
Sonya Boykin is a patient care technician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Surgical Stepdown unit in Nashville, Tenn. She has traveled to Haiti, Costa Rica, Viet Nam and Kenya to assist in rare surgeries and volunteer in clinics.
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Lindsey Birdsell '16
Lindsey Birdsell recently opened LB Beauty in Jacksonville, Ill. She began her business, which offers full body waxing, facials and makeup, after a year of offering freelance makeup for clients throughout central Illinois.
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Megan Kuchar '15
Megan Kuchar earned a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in business process management from the University of Illinois Springfield in May 2017. She is a principal consultant with the Illinois State Board of Education in Springfield, Ill.
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Sarah Adcock '15
Sarah Adcock is enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program at the Sam Fox School at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.
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Logan Giesing '14
Logan Giesing works full time as a shift manager at Starbucks while assistant directing a dinner theatre group and performing at Comedy City Sports Improv in Kansas City, Mo.
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Spencer Campbell '14
Spencer Campbell is a loan officer at FCB Banks in the metro East St. Louis, Ill., area.
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Benjamin Prince '03
received the 69th Annual Arthur S. Flemming Air Force-Level Award. He was recognized in the basic science category for his research in next-generation electronic propulsion systems. The Flemming award honors outstanding federal employers who have made a significant and extraordinary contribution to the federal government.
Sympathy
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Bob Merris '53
Illinois College extends its sympathy to Bob Merris '53 on the loss of his wife Mary Merris, who was also sister-in-law to Bill Merris ’56, on September 30, 2018.
Sympathy
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Francis Doan '24
Illinois College extends its sympathy to the survivors of Parker Lincoln Doan, son of Francis Doan on March 13, 2018.
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Brett Palmer '19,
a senior math major pursuing licensure to teach secondary mathematics, was awarded a 2018 Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics Scholarship. Nine IC students have been awarded this scholarship since 2005.
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Don Knott '18
is enrolled in a master’s program for music in vocal performance at North Park University Chicago.
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Michael Wells '17
began the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Governors State University in University Park, Illinois.
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Taylor Coad '16
graduated from Florida Institute of Ultrasound in Pensacola, Florida, and currently works for HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, as a cardiac sonographer.
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Laura Reynolds '13
graduated from University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and is a veterinarian at the Danville Small Animal Clinic in Tilton, Illinois.
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Owen Barbknecht '13
is a retail banker at Woodforest National Bank in Jacksonville, Illinois.
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Hayleigh Ray '12
graduated from the University of Florida with her Ph.D. in entomology and nematology. She is currently employed as a teaching assistant at the University of Florida and plans to pursue a professor position
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Jaimie Newby '12
was elected as the 2018-2020 chair of the Small Colleges & Universities Advising Community within the National Academic Advising Association. She also serves as the vice president and webmaster of the Merrill’s Marauders Proud Descendants Association honoring WWII veterans.
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Dr. James Geiselman '10
completed postdoctoral training to receive his diploma from the American Clinical Board of Nutrition. He is currently an assistant professor of allied health at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.