Below are Class Notes for this issue. To see all Class Notes, click here.
(Sigma Pi) July 31, 2025
Illinois College extends sympathy to his children Julie Kurtock ’74, Debra Kurtock Haynes ’76 and Janice Kurtock Chiaradonna ’78, his brother Charles Kurtock ’51 and his son-in-law Gary Haynes ’74.
November 19, 2025
Illinois College extends sympathy to her brother Neal Hart ’60.
(Gamma Delta) December 17, 2025
Illinois College extends sympathy to her niece, Rachel Doolin ’86, her nephew William Doolin ’82, and her sister Martha Read ’53.
(Gamma Delta) January 22, 2026
Illinois College extends sympathy to her brother, Charles Cobb ’57.
(Phi Alpha) September 29, 2025
(Gamma Delta) September 18, 2025
October 23, 2025
November 1, 2025
(Gamma Nu) October 2, 2025
January 6, 2026
Illinois College extends sympathy to his grandchild, Ryan P. Howard ’12.
October 17, 2025
September 15, 2025
April 28, 2025
Illinois College extends sympathy to her son, Brian Engebrecht ’87, and her grandchild, Elizabeth Engebrecht Hollendonner ’11.
January 14, 2026
(Chi Beta) January 15, 2026
(Phi Alpha) November 15, 2025
(Gamma Delta) December 27, 2025
(Chi Beta) October 7, 2025
October 17, 2025
(Pi Pi Rho) January 16, 2026
Illinois College extends sympathy to his cousin, Paul Runkle ’68.
January 11, 2026
has raced a full marathon in all fifty states twice and was ranked second nationally for doing the most half marathon races in the US.
November 4, 2025
(Sigma Phi Epsilon) October 14, 2025
Illinois College extends sympathy to her husband, Bob Pearson ’71, her daughter, Amy Pearson Carriger ’92, and her grandchild, Trevor Huston ’23.
December 16, 2025
(Alpha Phi Omega & Phi Alpha) November 20, 2025
(Gamma Nu) July 7, 2025
(Chi Beta) January 1, 2026
August 24, 2025
(Gamma Delta) September 30, 2025
December 10, 2025
September 14, 2025
Illinois College extends sympathy to his wife, Gale Weglarz Wessler ’77, his brother Jay Wessler ’81, his sister-in-law, Shelley Smith Wessler ’81, his daughter, Jacie Wessler Shoufler ’00, his son-in-law, Clay Shoufler ’98, his grandson Blake Shoufler ’29, and his brother-in-law Craig Stambaugh ’84.
retired from the Eagle Valley Bank in Bluffs, IL after 52 years of service.
retired from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA., where he worked as the Merryl and Sam Israel Chair in Anesthesiology as a professor and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology since 2016.
retired from Routt Catholic High School, where he served as principal.
was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2025 and received Baylor’s Outstanding Professor Award.
September 25, 2025
Illinois College extends sympathy to his wife, Amy Struck Kluemke ‘89, his daughter, Leah Kluemke ‘23, his sister, Marcia Kluemke Borowiak ‘88, and his brother-in-law Scott Borowiak ‘90.
published her first children’s book “Cora the Curious Circle.” Her son was the illustrator of the project.
Simmons Hanly Conroy partner and management committee member, was named to St. Louis Small Business Monthly magazine’s “Top People To Know in Southern Illinois” list for 2025.
has been promoted to Product Support Manager at Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc.
accepted the position of Foundation Director at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital.
accepted a SNAP Senior Policy Advisor position at the Illinois Department of Human Services.
received the 2025 Herman Graves Award from the Illinois Principals Association, which recognizes outstanding service to the organization. Jacie serves as principal of Riverton Elementary School.
is now Boeing’s Lead Technlogy Integrator for Phantom Works, challenged with improving technology strategy.
started a new position as Assistant Vice Provost of Undergraduate Academic Experience at University of Colorado Boulder.
was named 2026 Elementary School Principal of the Year for the Two Rivers District by the Illinois Principals Association.
was named educator of the year by Jacksonville (IL) School District 117.
is the director of advancement for the Chicago Academy for the Arts.
is the Vice President at ATB Technologies in Chesterfield, MO.
joined Country Financial as Director of Accounting Operations.
has been named principal of South Elementary School in Jacksonville School District 117.
welcomed a daughter, Jillian Sarah Babbitt, on October 22, 2024.
welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth Mae, on August 28, 2025.
has been promoted to Vice President and Creative Director at The Players’ Tribune.
started a new role at Parkland College as career services manager.
obtained a certification in strategic workforce management from Human Capital Institute.
was promoted to vice president, video and production at Marino.
has been promoted to Human Resources Director at Medline Industries.
started a new position as Assistant Director of Student Success - Armstrong Campus at Georgia Southern University.
was promoted to Regulatory Affairs Scientist I at Allucent where her work focuses on drug development consulting and regulatory affairs.
was promoted to Registrar at Illinois College.
earned certificates in Hospitality Management and Hotel Revenue from Cornell University. She serves as Head of Business Development and Investor Relations at Amber Hospitality Services Limited, building an African hospitality brand focused on stays and experiences.
joined the Hispanic Bar Association of St. Louis’s Board of Directors.
started a new position as Scholarly Acquisitions Editor at Vanderbilt University Press.
started a new position as Law Clerk at American Center For Law & Justice while earning her JD at Regent University School of Law.
started a new job as a professor of the physical therapy program at Southwest Baptist University.
was promoted to Illinois College’s Director of Recruitment and Outreach in the Office of Admission.
March 16, 2025
got married to Gabrielle Nava in 2025.
got married to Michael Cameron on September 20, 2025.
got married to Mackenzie Shawgo on November 21, 2025.
got married to Mark Wilson in 2025.
welcomed a daughter, Nori James, on February 9, 2024 and son, Arlo Gene on September 14, 2025.
April 16, 2025 Former First Lady
August 4, 2025 Former Chief Information Officer
February 6, 2026 Former Sociology Professor
October 8, 2025 Former Student Financial Services Counselor
January 28, 2026
September 8, 2025
Illinois College extends sympathy to his wife, Deborah Klang Smith '75.
welcomed a son, Myers Emory, on August 11, 2025.
got married on January 25, 2025.
got married June 14, 2025.
got married November 8, 2025.
returned to the Hilltop as IC’s Director of Alumni Engagement.
graduated from Penn State with a Master’s of Arts in Communication Arts and Sciences in August 2025, continuing on to the PhD with a dual title in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
started a new position as Communication, Education & Events Manager at Health Care Council of Illinois.
completed Mental Health First Aid for Higher Education training through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. The training helps individuals recognize signs of distress to connect them to the right resources and support student wellbeing.
started a new position as Chief Marketing Officer at True North Genetics.
passed the FE electrical and computer engineering exam from NCEES.
started a new position as 1LMX Classified Integration Project Engineer ELDP at Lockheed Martin.
started a new position as Associate Team Leader at H&R Block.
is working on a book about Titanic law and Marine Cultural Heritage sites with The Ocean Foundation. The role also involves assisting with Project Tangaroa and cleaning up polluting shipwrecks.
started a new position as PE teacher at Triopia.
June 19, 2025
