Saint Mary's Magazine Fall 2004 - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Toni (Kowalski) Mercer,
Anchorage, Alaska, is a
teacher for the Anchorage
School District and is coowner/manager
for
Quarterdeck Charters, a
fishing boat charter company.
Merridith Morrison,
Arlington, Va., is a lieutenant
junior grade with the United
States Coast Guard. She
serves as aide to the admiral
in charge of environmental
protection, and marine safety
and security.
Mic Nauman, Winona,
received her master’s degree
in counselor education from
Winona State University
where she is employed as a
residence hall director.
Kelly (Kirby) Pinta, Huntley,
Ill., received her master’s
degree in reading, language
and literacy in 2004.
Angela Pitel, Minneapolis,
Minn., has a new position as
a relocation specialist with
Sirra.
Scott Pugh, Maple Grove,
Minn., was named associate
financial analyst at Midwest
Medical Insurance Company.
He also partners in a small
business that does tax
preparation and eBay listings.
Shannon Schaffer, Roseville,
Minn., works full-time at
American Express as a
licensing specialist and holds a
part-time position at Fairview
University Medical Center as a
psychiatric associate.
Andy Sobiech, Golden
Valley, Minn., is a video game
buyer for Navarre
Corporation.
Robert Stangler, Lakeville,
Minn., started a new position
at Guy Carpenter & Company,
Inc. as a network
administrator and systems
administrator.
Annissa Ulbrich, Madison,
Wis., started a new position
in November 2003 with
GTECH Corporation as a
project manager.
Robert Weaver,
Minneapolis, took a new
position as a national recruiter
in June 2003 with Wells Fargo
Home Mortgage.
2000
Kristin Buege, Caledonia,
Minn., started a doctoral
program in chiropractics at
Northwestern Health Sciences
University in May 2004. In her
spare time, she coaches sixthgrade
girls basketball and
travels.
Brett Dahlof, Minneapolis,
relocated back to Minnesota
from Raleigh, N.C. He has
been an account manager for
Cisco Systems since
graduating from Saint Mary’s.
Kristin (Joseph) Edwards,
Stillwater, Minn., is an English
teacher at the Academy of
Holy Angels.
Robert Edwards, Stillwater,
Minn., is coordinator of
therapeutic support at the
foster care agency, Path Inc.
Robert Greenhalgh,
Madison, Wis., started his
own music production
company, Naughty Monkey
Productions.
James Joyce III, Mendota
Heights, Minn., is an
underwriter for National Truck
Underwriting Managers.
Amy Kroll, Maple Grove,
Minn., has a new position at
River Way Clinics as a certified
physician’s assistant.
Carl Morreale, Gurnee, Ill.,
has a new position as an
elementary school teacher for
Lincoln Elementary School.
Renee Speltz, Lenox, Mass.,
completed her master’s
degree in fine arts at
Minnesota State University,
Mankato, in June 2003. She is
continuing her actor training
as an intern at Shakespeare &
Company in the
Massachusetts Berkshires.
Catherine Stangler,
Rochester, Minn., is a lifestyle
coach for Mayo Medical
Center.
Laura (Carpenter) Sufka,
Bloomington, Minn.,
graduated with a master of
arts in education in June 2004
from Saint Mary’s.
Kristin Van Sloun,
Alexandria, Va., is an
occupational therapist for
Rehab Plus Group.
Jonathan Zolondek
(right center) is
honored for his work
with the U,S, Marine
Corps and as a
military police officer
Students serving in Iraq
The last issue of Saint Mary’s Magazine featured
alumni who have served overseas. But we neglected
to mention the many SMU students who have
withdrawn from school and put their education on
hold to serve their country.
Jonathan Zolondek, a sophomore at
Saint Mary’s, was deployed on Feb. 18, 2004, to
Iraq. His family eagerly awaits his safe return home
in late September. It’s been many long days of
prayer and waiting for Jonathan’s father, Tom, who
works as assistant director of campus safety at the
Winona campus.
“I, as his father, have mixed feelings,” Tom
said. “I am so proud of John, and yet so afraid of
losing him. This has made his mother and me turn
to God in prayers. I don’t believe that I have ever
prayed more, any other time in my life, as I have
since he has been over there.
“We pray for all the military that is over there
— including our allies — for their safe and speedy
return home. Our hearts go out to the parents, who
have lost their son or daughter over there. My rule
has always been that I die first, before either of my
boys. I hope and pray, that this rule, will come true
for me.”
John has been stationed in Baghdad, Bagouba,
Fallujah, Karbala and Ramadi. A lance corporal in
the U.S. Marine Corps and a military police officer,
John guards the second largest prison in Iraq, goes
house-to-house on patrols and protects convoys.
“He considers it an honor, to be able to serve
for his country,” Tom said. “He says that there are a
lot of good Iraqi people. The news media does not
give the service people, nor the Iraqi people, credit
for what they do.”
Upon his return to the U.S. this fall, John plans
to continue studying criminal justice at Saint Mary’s.
“No one likes war, so please support our
troops,” Tom said. “Be thankful that there are
young men and women who put their lives on hold
for the Iraqi people and for all of us. Never forget
9/11 and all the people we lost there. Please pray
for all our service people.”
If you know of more SMU students or alumni
who are serving overseas, let us know. We’ll put
their names and contact information online at
www.smumn.edu/alumni.
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