Griffiths Member Spring Class Notes
Alumna Kristie Bray is planning a wedding on November 15 in Kansas City. Her fiance, Ryan Larson, is an alumnus of Benedictine College but an MU fan.
Collegians Jennifer Kimball and Laura Merritt have been named Truman Scholars.
Collegian Katie Lang is taking an Italy study-abroad tip this summer and then beginning a job at Cerner Corporation.
Collegian Beth Maricle will graduate in August with a master’s degree in animal science.
Alumna Elizabeth Tenorio Davis is celebrating two major milestones in 2008. She and her husband, Matt, marked their 10-year wedding anniversary on June 6 and planned a trip to Chicago “to celebrate our continued wedded bliss.” In addition, in October she will have been a practicing attorney for 10 years. However, she adds, “I’m certain that will be overshadowed by my emotions (excitement, fear, anxiety) over my daughter, Kaitlyn, as she starts kindergarten, and my son, Ryan, as he attends his first year of preschool!”
Collegian Nicole Niewald has been accepted into Teach for America and will move to New York City at the end of June to teach high school biology.
Alumna Sheila Oliver has recently adopted two siblings: Katherine Grace (Katie) in November 2007 and her brother, Cory Thomas, in May. In addition, Oliver has a new job as manager of credit operations for the Ag Division of John Deere Credit.
Collegian Laura Piper graduated in May 2008 with a master’s degree in counseling psychology. After a four-month adventure to Alaska to work at a private lodge in the mountains, she plans to return to Missouri and work either in career services in higher education or smoking-cessation and wellness efforts.
“To further my desire to be in the kitchen,” alumna Melodie Powell has enrolled in a nine-week Basic Professional Culinary Program this summer through the Culinary Center of Kansas City. In addition, she and her husband, Jerry Short, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in Italy on October 8.
Alumna Betty Cook Rottman, at age 85, was honored as a Mortar Board Honor Tap at Tap Day 2007.
Collegian Emily Spradling is going to begin studying at the MU School of Medicine in fall 2008.
Alumna Cheryl Stephens and her husband, Joe, are expecting their second child in mid-July. Their daughter, Caroline, turned 3 on April 13.
After seven years in federal affairs with the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, alumna Kellie Bray started a new job in June as government affairs leader at CropLife America in Washington, DC.
This July, collegian Angela Cain is moving to Columbia, South Carolina, to begin her year-long predoctoral psychology internship at the University of South Carolina Counseling and Human Development Center. She will focus on individual and group eating disorder treatment, prevention, and outreach. Over the year, she plans to return to Columbia to defend her dissertation--her final milestone in obtaining her Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
Earlier this year, alumna MeLinda Schnyder attended the 13th annual Society of American Travel Writers Institute for Travel Writing and Photography in Orlando. Although employed full-time at Cessna Aircraft Company, Schnyder plans to continue her free-lance travel writing and photography career.
In addition, the Kansas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America awarded Schnyder an Excellence Award in the organization’s annual statewide competition. The recognition was for a speech that she wrote and Cessna CEO Jack Pelton delivered in 2007 for the commencement ceremony at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Twelve Griffiths members were honored in April at the 81st annual Tap Day Ceremony, where six honorary organizations inducted their newest members.
- LSV: Alumna Anne Deaton and collegian Jennifer Kimball.
- QEBH: Alumna Anne Deaton and collegians Dana DeMott and Alex Ferrell.
- Omicron Delta Kappa: Collegians Carrie Bien, Alex Ferrell, Amanda Hoffman, Alex Lackos, and Brittany Perrin.
- Mortar Board: Collegians Traci Harr, Jean Horan, Jennifer Kimball, and Emily Roxberg.
- Rollins Society: Collegian Jennifer Holland.
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