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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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Andrea Leefers '09
is a guidance counselor at Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Illinois.
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Karen Trusley '06
is an office medical specialist in the Psychology Clinic at Western Illinois University.
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Christopher Miller '05
is vice president of sales and marketing at the ATB Technologies in Chesterfield, Missouri. Courtney Traub is a merchandise planner at ModCloth.
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Lisa Schrock Magliari '04
is a third grade teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School in Keokuk, Iowa.
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Adam Magliari '03
is principal of Keokuk High School in Keokuk, Iowa.
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Mark Dochterman '02
was selected as a 2018-19 President’s Executive Leadership Program Fellow, a professional development program meant to strengthen leadership among the three universities that comprise the University of Illinois System. Dochterman was among a limited number of individuals chosen for the program from a competitive pool of 60 nominations. He is visiting assistant vice chancellor for student engagement for the University of Illinois Springfield.
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Dellann Stutsman '99
was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Auburn Fire and Rescue Department.
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Gail Noll '94
has moved to a new position as financial litigation and bankruptcy program specialist staying with the Illinois Department of Justice. The move comes as her husband, John Milhiser, begins his new role as U.S. attorney for the Central District of Justice.
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Bethany Kershaw '86
retired as the captain of Jacksonville Fire Department in June 2018 after working for the city since 1990.
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Mike Mann '85
is a budget and legislative analyst for the Joint Budget Committee of the Colorado General Assembly in Denver, Colorado. Rick Meidel recently retired from ExxonMobil and joined Crowley Fuels as vice president and general manager, responsible for the performance and day-to-day operations of their Alaska division in Anchorage, Alaska.
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David Fischer '85
was among those honored as CFO of the Year for 2018 by St. Louis Business Journal.
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Robert '78 and Sandee Skoglund Zirchelbach ’79
are pastors at First Presbyterian Church in Adair, Iowa, and Bob also serves as business manager for Mt. Olive Lutheran School in Des Moines, Iowa.
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Reg Ankrom '71
was named the recipient of the Illinois State Historical Society annual awards with the honor of Superior Achievement for his scholarly book, “Stephen A. Douglas: The Political Apprenticeship, 1883-1843.”
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James Alexander '69
earned a medal in the men’s 5k and 10k runs during the Illinois Senior Olympics held in Springfield, Illinois. He will advance to the 2019 National Senior Games to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Bill '65 and Becky Edelbrock Hitt '65
have relocated to The Woodlands, Texas.
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Bill Hitt '63
traveled to Kenya on a two-week trip with Judah Lion Ministries.
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Jack Schmitt '59
joined with friends, family, and managers of the Jack Schmitt Chevrolet Family of Dealerships to celebrate a donation to the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, Illinois, that allowed the hospital to purchase a rehab vehicle.
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Cory Washington '13
Cory Washington will complete a master’s degree in college student personnel administration in the summer of 2018 from Illinois State University.
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Darcy Holloway O’Connor '12
Darcy Holloway O’Connor was recently recognized as 2018 Educator of the Year in the Classroom Teacher category by Illinois Computing Educators. The award is designed to honor ICE members from throughout the state of Illinois who are exemplary educators and leaders at the school or district level, and who have made significant contributions leading to the integration of technology into the educational process. Darcy is a fourth-grade teacher at New Holland-Middletown Elementary School in Middletown, Ill.
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Terry Grant '11
Terry Grant is the branch and regional manager of Prairie State Bank and Trust in Jacksonville, Ill.