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Virginia Sanders Crane, IWHS ’43, BA ’47, sadly lost her husband and lifelong friend, Joseph, on January 28, 2003. They were married for 52 years but they had known each other since her IWHS days. Mary Helen [Pinkie] Devine Pinner, BA ’46, and her classmates of the 1940s continued the annual tradition of a Three Kings reunion party on January 6th. Among the group of spouses, family and friends were alumnae Lillian Toudouze Debner, BS ’47, Zenia DePhillippi Kitowski, BA ’46, Grace Roegelein Spalten, BS ’47, Nellie Mueller Kothmann, BSN ’48, Helen Auge Keene, BA ’46, Ethel Bowermaster Knust, ’46, Rita Pfeiffer Moulder, BA ’46, June O’Mara Kirk, BM ’46. For all the years since graduation the party was held at her Kingsville home, but in recent years they have moved the party to the UIW campus at Brackenridge Villa. That night is the last night for the campus Christmas lights so the party is a fine finale for the season.
Dr. Irene McCrystal, BA ’51, reports that her brother, Major
William F. McCrystal, Jr, passed away on October 15, 2002. On a happier
note, her book Sunshine in a Cup, a collection of true stories of her
contact with animals and nature over the course of fifty years, has
received an enthusiastic and heartwarming response. It is available
through Bookstop or directly from the publisher, American Literary Press
1-800-873-2003, Connie Conway Dankesreiter, BS MedTech ’53, retired in 1996 and she and her husband, Lawrence, do quite a bit of traveling. They were on the first alumni tour to Ireland. They have two children and three grandchildren. Connie says that she thinks she has become a full time volunteer. Mary Garaña Allen, BA ’54, sent a postcard from Paris in October where she was enjoying the cool weather, the museums, the galleries, and friends. Sister Olivia Prendergast, CCVI, BSN ’56, [formerly Sister Ann Francis, CCVI] authored Olivia—She Was Hospice edited by Gene Shelburne and G. Donald Curphey. The book traces Sister Olivia’s roots in Ireland and the establishment of hospice care for the Texas Panhandle. It has also been translated into Russian for the development of hospice there. Sister Olivia also served on the IWC nursing faculty.
Sister Bette Ann Bluhm, CCVI, IWHS ’56, BA ’60, MA ’71, was elected Province Coordinator for the United States Province of the Incarnate Word Sisters for a four year term as of January 1, 2003. Sister Germaine Corbin, CCVI, Ph.D., BA ’62, received a Yellow Rose of Texas Education Award at the tenth annual “Salute to Quality in Education” in San Antonio on October 26, 2002. She was recognized for her contributions in the field of education. The awards are presented by the Constance Allen Heritage Guild for Lifetime Learning, so named for the late Constance Allen, IWC alumna of the class of 1928. Sister Germaine left San Antonio February 10, 2003 for a temporary teaching assignment at China Incarnate Word. I am sure she would love to hear from us at srgcorbin@yahoo.com until July. Sisters Eleanor Geever, CCVI, BA ’63, MA ’79, and Rose Ann McDonald, CCVI, BA ’63, were elected to the CCVI United States Province Team for a four year term beginning January 1, 2003. Dr. Mary Elaine Adamek Jones, BSN ’63, and 1985 Alumna of Distinction joined the UIW faculty last fall as the BGen Lillian Dunlap Professor of Nursing.
Sister Brigida Smiley, CCVI, BA ’63, and Sister Margaret Kelly, CCVI, BA ’70, MA ’78, are the Community Relations Director and Executive Director respectively of the ten-year-old Sisters Care in San Antonio. Sisters Care offers in-home care for senior adults and now employs 18 people and serves over 100 seniors. Last summer, Sisters Care moved from cramped 1,000 square feet of offices to a new 3,300 square foot facility at 1946 La Manda Street in San Antonio. Sisters Carol Bird, CCVI, BA ’64, and Rosita Hyland, CCVI, BA ’64, were elected to the CCVI United States Province Team for a four year term beginning January 1, 2003. Eugenia [Jeanie] Wrbas Goldman, BS in Home Economics ’64, retired
at the end Sister Kathleen Coughlin, CCVI, BSN ’67, began her duties as Vice President for Institutional Advancement of the University of the Incarnate Word on November 11, 2002. “A number of exceptional candidates were considered for this crucial position,” said Dr. Louis J. Agnese, Jr., President of Incarnate Word. “We feel that Sister Kathleen possesses an unmatched combination of depth and breadth of professional experience as well as familiarity with Incarnate Word and San Antonio.” Sister Kathleen, who was president of the Catholic Health Association of Texas, was President and CEO of the Spohn Health System in Corpus Christi from 1981 to 1995. She is also a past member of the university’s Board of Trustees and, from 1996 to 2000, served as Provincial Superior of the U.S. Province of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
Sister Louise Delisi, CCVI, BA ’67, [formerly Sister Benedicta] had a wonderful experience last summer helping with retreats at The Sangre de Cristo Retreat Center just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Center is run by the Christian Brothers of St. John Baptist de la Salle and holds a variety of retreats, but Sister Louise said she most enjoyed those for Christian Brothers 45 to 55 and those 55 and older. She also enjoyed the glorious setting, although the altitude and the work took some getting used to. She was invited to spend the summer by Sister Helen Ann Collier, CCVI, UIW Trustee Emerita, who works at the Center. Kathleen Klein LeStrange, BA ’67, is the head of the creative writing department at NESA, the Northeast ISD magnet school for the arts in San Antonio. Dottie Christen Mensik, BS MDT ’67, retired from The Dow Chemical Company after 33 years of service in Toxicology, Biomedical Research, Quality Assurance, and finally in the Computer Tool Development and Service. Someone must have told Dottie that if she really wants to work harder, then retire, as she is considering a new field, one of which is real estate. Sister Michele O’Brien, CCVI, BS RT ’67, was elected to the CCVI United States Province Team for a four year term beginning January 1, 2003. Judy Barkhurst Bruner, BSN ’68, and her sister, Marty
Barkhurst Weissinger, BSN ’69, visited San Antonio from Oregon in October
for their mother’s 97th birthday. Marty’s niece and her
daughters accompanied her for an eventful return visit to a much-changed
campus. All she remembered was the Nursing Building, but a kind faculty
member drove them up to the International Conference Center to visit
the new bookstore. They walked down the long distance back to Earl Abel’s,
a bit tired but impressed with their alma mater. After her BSN, Marty
earned the FNP at UT Health Science Center San Antonio and then the
MSN at UT El Paso. Marty is the FNP and Judy is the RN and it is the
first time they have worked together [in a tiny rural clinic in Northern
California] Sister Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI , BA ’68, was selected for a 2003 Peacemaker Award from the San Antonio Bar Association awarded on March 1st at the Westin RiverWalk Hotel in San Antonio.
Diane Leal Sosa, IWHS ’66, BA ’70, MA ’75, is the art teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School in San Antonio and supervised the making of ornaments for the Texas Christmas tree on the White House lawn last December. Her fifth grade students made doll figurines out of twine and jute and they represent the children of Texas. The Children’s Art Museum recommended Hawthorne largely due to Diane’s reputation in promoting the arts in the schools. Terry Espinosa Farina, BM ’71, is now living in Jupiter, FL and is still a senior vice president with First Southern Bank. Jerry Watson, who studied theatre in the ’70s, received rave notices for his directing debut with the play Art at the San Antonio Little Theatre in January. Jerry acted in endless shows with Maureen Halligan, Hon MA ‘71, and Ronnie Ibbs, Hon MA ’71, at Incarnate Word, and just about every other theatre in San Antonio, but he had never directed before.
Sylvia Garza, BSN ’72, has been working at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TX for the past 25 years and married to her husband, Tom, for twenty. Currently she is the Director of the VBMC Health Management Services overseeing the occupational health nurses that serve 2,500 employees. Prior to that she managed the post anesthesia care unit and coordinated the establishment of the Day Surgery Unit. She keeps even busier through the United Way, AHA, and is the current board president for the American Cancer Society and will be taking her exam this year for Case Management as a certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist. Vickie Minar-Baugh, BSN ’72, continues to serve as a member on ANA’s Standards and Guidelines Committee as a nursing administration representative. She also serves as an appointed appraiser for ANCC’s Magnet Nursing Service Recognition Program. She works as a consultant out of the Mobile, Alabama area.
Michele McRoberts Brice, BSN ’73, underwent double knee anthroplasty joint replacement late last summer. Michele is the daughter of the late Lois Palmer McRoberts Farmer, BSN ’51. Karen Ottis Murray, BA ’73, moved to the Business Office of Houston Baptist University and has expanded duties to include treasury functions. Karen met four UIW staff at a Dallas meeting of the Texas Bursars and University Cashiers. Norma Jean Butler, BSN ’74, wrote from Florida this Christmas to Drs. Mary Louise Mueller and Winifred Murray and said that she is still playing saxophone in two bands and loving it. Joe De Benedictis, MA ’74, retired after seventeen years as a Basic Skills Reading Specialist/School Test Coordinator with the Plainfield, New Jersey public schools. Teri Peña-Ross, ’74, received the lead actress in a comedy award from the San Antonio Alamo Theatre Arts Council for her role in Full Gallo, presented at the Globe Awards in San Antonio on September 29th. Agnes Maddux, BA ’75, MA ’94, was featured in “Mature Matters” last summer in the San Antonio Express-News. Octogenarian Agnes exercises every day and advises other seniors not to quit exercising. “Agnes is the exact model the Texas Department on Aging is promoting to all older Texans,” said reporter Mary Lance. Kathleen Milam Carter, BSN ’76, was featured in the October 27, 2002 San Antonio Express-News in the “Then and Now” column by Scott Huddleston. Ten years ago Kathleen was the Bexar County campaign coordinator for Ross Perot. An active community volunteer as well as a high rating ICU bedside nurse, she withdrew from a Unit Manage position to take on a volunteer job at the Alamo, and has been at it for almost two years. Laurie Ellen Fitzpatrick, BA ’76, received the supporting actress in a drama award from the San Antonio Alamo Theatre Arts Council for her role in Kindertransport, presented at the Globe Awards in San Antonio on September 29th. Norma S. Garza, BA ’76, is Administrative Assistant in Alumni Relations for St. Mary’s University. Rev. John Edward Kelly, BA ’76, has returned to his high school alma mater as campus Chaplain. Father Ed graduated from St. Joseph High School in Victoria,-his hometown; in 1966. He also served in San Antonio. Hilda Salazar Castro, BA ’77, has been teaching at China Incarnate Word for almost four years. Before that Hilda worked for the Archdiocese of San Antonio for 25 years. Leslie Mayrand, PhD, BSN ’77, BA Drama ’77, is Professor of Nursing and Graduate Level Director at Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX. She is also putting her drama degree to good use as co-producer, actress and director for Looking Glass Productions. They do dinner theatre at Jabberwocky’s. Her daughter, Kat, is nineteen and a graphic design major at Angelo State. Martha Jane Keenen, BS MRA ’78, accepted a position as Medical Administrator at the Pine Bluff Chemical Demilitarization Project which her company, Washington Group International, is building and will run for the U.S. Department of Defense. Kim Brinster, BA ’79, and Theresa Maguire Lymbery, BSN ’82, proved that is it a small world after all. On Saturday, November 23rd, they just happened to meet in front of a theatre in midtown Manhattan, NY.
Katherine Williams Trevino, BA ’80, husband Tony and their four children live in Dripping Springs, Texas. He works for Dell Computers and she is at Waldorf Kindergarten. Charmaine Reininger Williams, IWHS ’59, BA ’80 and 1998 Alumna of Distinction, was the recipient of yet another national award, the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators 2002 Vision Award. She was honored for “her work to foster lay leadership within the church…building church systems and processes that are participative and collaborative.” Charmaine is the Director of Pastoral Planning and Human Resources for the Diocese of Fort Worth. Bishop Joseph Delaney of Fort Worth expressed gratitude for her more than 30 years of ministry at the parish and then the diocesan level.
Juan Lopez, BS ’83, MA ’89, started his studies at the Naval War College in Newport, RI last fall. He is working on a master’s degree in strategic studies. Robin Donald Reblin, BS, Nuclear Medicine ’83, accepted a position at Dell Computer Corporation in Round Rock on November 18, 2002 as Environmental, Health and Safety Manager. She had been at Motorola for ten years in the safety and industrial hygiene department. Debra Smith Drury, BS nutrition ’84, works thirty hours a week at a dialysis clinic in Alton, IL and keeps busy volunteering at her daughter’s schools and scouting activities. She and Alan have been married 13 years and Emma is 6 and in first grade, Payton is 5 and in kindergarten. George F. Burnette, MA ’85, received the Jasmina Wellinghoff Award for Special Contributions to the Theatre from the San Antonio Alamo Theatre Arts Council at their Globe Awards in San Antonio on September 29th. George, a longtime actor and technical director and designer for theatre at UIW, was the first scenic designer to receive such an award. Lana J. DePaolo, MEd ’85, received a Yellow Rose of Texas Education Award at the tenth annual “Salute to Quality in Education” in San Antonio on October 26, 2002. She was recognized for her contributions in the field of education. The awards are presented by the Constance Allen Heritage Guild for Lifetime Learning, so named for the late Constance Allen, IWC alumna of the class of 1928.
Joseph P. Libby, BA ’85, was awarded the coveted Certified Magic Professional (CMP) award at a ceremony last fall in Atlanta. The designation is for excellence in the art of magic, and there are only forty other magicians in the world who have been so honored. A drama major, Joe has worked as a magician, mind reader and ventriloquist since his student days, and his goal always was to make his living as an entertainer. While still active in local theatre productions, he keeps busy performing for associations, corporations, schools and libraries, encouraging children to stay drug free and get excited about reading. Diana Marin, BA ’88, owns and operates Publicity Plus in San Antonio. Diana was featured in the San Antonio Express-News on September 14, 2002 in a story by business writer Melissa S. Monroe. In the story it shows how “through traditional marketing and public relations Diana has built a niche in helping restaurants become better known.” James Estes, BA ’89, received a lighting design award for his design of the play Taking Sides from the Alamo Theatre Arts Council and presented at the Globe Awards in San Antonio on September 29th Laura Ann Perez-Hrncir, BA ’89, and husband, Donald, have two sons, Daniel, 5, and David, nearly 2, and they live in Cibolo, TX. Donald has been with Motorola for ten years, and Laura is busy keeping up with David and volunteering. Mark Lampe, BBA ’89, MBA ’94, is a UIW adjunct instructor in computer information systems. Jackie Leone, BA ’89, MEd ’95, is back in Houston and enjoying teaching second grade and keeping busy.
Stacey Johnson, MA ’90, was selected the Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Palo Alto College in San Antonio. Stacey had served as interim Dean and previously chaired the English, Communication and Foreign Languages Department. Initially she served as special assistant to the first president, Dr. Terry Dicianna, now UIW Provost. Mark A. Richter, ’90, is a founding director of the San Antonio Lyric Opera and was recently hired as the Director of Development for Assumption Seminary. Peter Scott, MA, ’91, is currently working as a Human Resource Consultant with the Washington State Patrol. After graduating from Incarnate Word College, Peter attained a degree in Software Engineering and Programming, in 1994. As a self-employed contractor, he provided computer systems support services to various organizations; his last contract was the Database Administrator for the Alumni Division of Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington. He is married to Evelyn, who also works for the Patrol.
Laura J. Vaccaro, MBA ’91, has joined Valero Energy Corporation as Manager of Corporate Leadership Training and works in San Antonio at other Valero locations. Laura still teaches in the UIW ADCaP program as well. And Laura has announced her engagement to Dr. Ricardo Hernandez for an October 18, 2003 wedding at their ranch in Mountain Home, TX. Ray VanderMeer, BSN ’91, earned an MBA in International Business and Development and works in the U.S. and Costa Rica. He has a part interest in a coffee farm and works on medical research with snake byproducts [bile and venom]. He spends 6 weeks in the U.S. then 2 to 4 in Costa Rica. Medical tours to the rain forests, jungles and his facility in Costa Rica are in the future. Consuelo Cortez, BA ’92, has been in Nashville for almost four years and as a volunteer with Catholic Charities she has met many diverse refugee families from all over the globe. Teresa McVicar Huettner, BA ’92, was promoted to Manager of Marketing and Sales with EG&G for their U.S. Customs Service Seized Property Management contract [http://www/treas.gov/auctions/customs] . Teresa’s friend and classmate, Sharon Kroll Ledbetter, BA ’92, MA ’96, husband Pat, daughter Raegan, 5, and son Jarrett, nearly two months old, made their annual visit to the campus. Teresa and Steve welcomed their first daughter in May, and the Ledbetter’s their first son in August. Graciela Lopez-Cox, MSN ’92, is a UIW instructor in Nursing. Hilary G. Keahey, BA ’92, received the best supporting actress in a comedy award from the San Antonio Alamo Theatre Arts Council for her role in Anton in Show Business, and John Wade Poole III, Theatre ’92, received the lead actor in a comedy award for his role in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, both presented at the Globe Awards in San Antonio on September 29, 2002. John also took directing honors for his Romeo and Juliet for the Shoestring Shakespeare Company. Edward Rey Leos, BA ’93, is the owner and CEO of Destination Marketing Group in San Antonio and www.thehotelguide.com Kenyon Coppinger Anderson, BA ’94, was promoted to Senior Project Manager and Senior Writer/Producer for HNTB’s Multimedia Office in Kansas City, MO. Also freelancing and a member of IABC and the National Alzheimer’s Association. Robert K. Mitchell, BA ’94, was the subject of a major feature story by Emily Spicer in the San Antonio Express-News on October 10, 2002. His business, Mitchell Productions, produces fashion show events [including UIW’s own Cutting Edge in April], styles for print and broadcast, and provides wardrobe for film. Robert also teaches at UIW in the spring. His shows take him regularly to Dallas, Houston and Austin and also to Mexico City, New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. Dolores Magaly [Maggie] Varona, MSN ’94, was one of forty finalists in the 2002 Nursing Excellence Awards in the mentoring category. Maggie is the Administrative Director for Patient Care Services of the University Health System, San Antonio. Cynthia E. Almaraz, BA ’95, is a teacher in the San Antonio Independent School District and recently won the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway on www.saweddingmall.com Alexandra [Alex] Hart, BA FDS ’95, was featured in the San Antonio Express-News on December 20, 2002 in a feature story about the Big Brother-Big Sister program. Alex volunteered for the program as part of her UIW community service requirement. At the time the little brother assigned to her, Isaac Moncivais, was nine years old. Isaac came to depend on her visits, and even after she graduated and moved to Austin she would come to San Antonio twice a month to spend time with him. Isaac, now 15, towers over Alex and he is a freshman at Fox Tech High School in San Antonio. Ping Li, MBA ’95, writes that Vancouver, BC is a great place to be in 2003, the year of the sheep, with the mountains and the ocean right there and a Chinese population of 25%. The winter is perhaps not too great, as it seems to rain six days a week. She is the Director of Business Development for GlobalListing Directories, which provides web site translation and global web promotion in ten of the world’s most commonly spoken languages and other comprehensive services. Some of the clients include Cornell University, the Library of Congress, IBM, MG Financial Groups, RG Geologging, etc. Her baby, Emily [photo Summer 2002 Word] is now 15 months old. Leticia Martinez, BSN ’95, was one of forty finalists in the 2002 Nursing Excellence Awards in the community service category. Leticia is Health Careers Adviser for the University Health System, San Antonio. She takes nursing to the streets and across international boundaries, and with the SAISD created Club 98.6 to expose students to the health professions. Marisa S. Galindo Mitchell, BSN ’95, worked for seven years after graduation at the Santa Rosa CVOR. Married since 1998 she has taken time off to be with her son, Alex, who arrived last September. Rev. Gilbert Pansza, BA ’95, is the proud pastor of three churches in two Texas counties [Jack and Wise] and is the only Catholic priest in these two counties. Rev. Pansza spends lots of time in his car as you can imagine. However, he did have time to visit Italy in October, got to see the Pope, celebrated Mass next to the tomb of Pope Paul VI in St Peter’s Basilica, the cathedral in Florence and also in the Peace Chapel in Assisi near the tomb of St. Francis. Gil’s life prior to and after ordination was featured last year in the Wise County Messenger. Ricardo Antonio Chavira, BA ’96, never got to play Coach Garra on the Fox TV series, The Grubbs with Randy Quaid, as Fox cancelled the series before it aired. However, in January Ric began filming in San Antonio for a role in the new version of The Alamo. Coral May, BSN ’96, began working at San Antonio’s Methodist Women’s Center last March after passing her menopause educator certification program. Freelance writer Rachel Patton featured Coral in the San Antonio Express-News last September. Cindy Osbourne, BA ’96, is using her free time playing keyboards for the industrial rock band “Scary Manilow” in San Antonio. David L. Taylor III, BSN ’96, and wife, Donna, are back in San Antonio with their family, Ciera, 11, Cienna, 7, and Sebastian, going on two, and a new family member due in January. David has started working on his MSN at UIW. Ana M. Abud, BA ’97, MAA ’99, visited the campus for December graduation. She lives in Houston and works for Integrated Trade Systems, Inc. as Support Module Coordinator. Capt. Michael D. Hall, USAF, MSC, MBA ’97, is stationed at Incirlik AB, Turkey working as a Medical Service Corps officer. Michael represented UIW at a college night in December at the base high school. Juan Daniel Morales, BA ’97, is in Washington, D.C. where since early summer of 2002 he has been Hispanic Liaison to the US Secretary of Labor. Daniel earned the masters in Public Service from the George Bush School of Government at Texas A&M. Patricia Ann Potyka, MA ’97, is the Director of Public Relations and Development for the Keystone School in San Antonio. Dominic, BA ’97, and Jennifer Mae Whitney Savedra, BM ’97, emailed from the Valley with some recent news. Jennifer is now the choir teacher for Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Schools, and he is the assistant tennis pro at Club at Cimarron in Mission, TX. This summer he was selected Boy’s and Girl’s 12’s Zonal Coach for Team Texas. Zonals is a national junior competition held once a year in Oklahoma City. Boys and girls twelve and under are selected from the respective regions for the competition. Dr. Cynthia Anne Vontur Davis, BS ’98, received her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Texas A&M University in 2002 and is employed at the Fort Worth Lakeside Veterinary Clinic. Her husband, Dr. Cal Davis, also earned his DVM at Texas A&M in 2001 and is employed in Weatherford at the Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery. Shirley A. Martinez, BA ’98, was named one of 100 Influentials nationally by Hispanic Business magazine in October, 2002. Shirley is Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Equal Opportunity. Henry [Hank] McDonnell, Jr., MAA ’98, is a UIW assistant professor and Chair of the Communication Arts Program. Peggy Burford, BA ’99, has been working at UTSA as a career counselor for a year and is planning her May 24, 2003 wedding. Irving Carlos Gomar, BBA ’99, has been in Germany for almost two years and has had the opportunity to meet many people and has many stories of his experiences. He is living in Coburg, northern Bavaria and would love to hear from his UIW friends: carlosgomar@yahoo.com Melynda M. Hooper, BA ’99, writes happily that she is a graduate student in Los Angeles and likes to keep up with events at “the school that gave me wings.” Shannon R. Johnson-Quaife, BA ’99, completed her master’s at Kansas State University in December, 2000 and is now working on her PhD in family psychology at Capella University in Minnesota. David Meyer, BBA ’99, was promoted to Computer Specialist GS 12 at the Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL last October. Martin E. Rivera, SNN ’99, RRNA is in St. Louis working as a Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Cristina Villegas-Hernandez, BA ’99, is in East Palo Alto, CA working for a non-profit agency called College Track. They help low income/urban high school students stay on the path for college. She specifically works with their community service requirements and says it is a big change from her previous job.
Katherine Schweers Fell, BBA ’00, moved to Dallas after graduation and has been working for the Dallas Mavericks ever since—and loving every minute of it. By the time you read this she may have switched jobs to the buying program at Neiman Marcus in Dallas. She earned her MBA in finance from the University of Dallas and is about to receive her MA in Humanities. Married to Charlie Fell in 2001, she also runs her photography business in her spare time. Alma Guevara, BA ’00, earned the Med in curriculum and instruction from UTSA last December. Leon Bedolla, BA ’01, is in Mexico working on the opening of a company called Trainik, a sister company of Intelligent. Trainik provides trainers for companies in need of training at any level. Rev. Virgil Elizondo, Hon. ’01, received the prestigious national Hispanic Heritage Award in Washington, D.C. Father Virgil goes back a long way at Incarnate Word and was instrumental in the formation of the Pastoral Institute as well as the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio. During the week he now teaches at the University of Notre Dame where he had been awarded the Laetare Medal. Jean Fiegel, BAAS ’01 ADCaP Del Mar, accepted a position in October with Coastal Bend Youth City. She serves as a houseparent for 6-9 teens, ages 16 to 18, who achieved the highest level of residency called “independent living.” The teens are wards of the State and come from backgrounds of abandonment, neglect or abuse. A challenging assignment indeed, Jean. Elisa Salinas Flores, BA ’01 ADCaP, would like to activate an alumni group for ADCaP in San Antonio and promote a voluntary ADCaP directory in the UIW alumni webpage. Myra Vanessa Alvarez Garza, BA ’01, works as a rehabilitation specialist at a San Antonio mental health agency. She is married to UIW HVAC technician, Gerardo Garza, Jr and they have a son, Jeremiah Valen. Angie Herdman, MEd ’01, has moved to Nashville where she is working for the mayor of Nashville as his early childhood specialist. Her husband started his residency in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University. Monica Velasquez McIlwain, BA ’01, reports that 2002 was indeed the busiest ever for her. Having her house built, moving into the house, starting to work at USAA and starting her Masters (now in her 7th course!), her sister obtaining her Masters, her step dad going into remission, etc. In addition she has begun working with teen moms, serving as a mentor for them. Monica hopes that they feel that they have their own personal team of people rooting for them and that they realize that anything is possible as long as they put in the effort and have their heart in it. “I feel that I have learned a lot about giving of my time from the volunteer work at UIW.” Michaela Himes Rangel, BA ’01, is doing graduate work at the Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, TN . Monica M. Engleson, BSN ’02, is in St. Louis working at the Barnes Jewish Trauma Center, the location that has the new Charles F. Knight Emergency Services. She’ll be able to test to be certified as a Trauma Nurse in one year. Barnes is a huge hospital [52,000 square feet] but her clinic is small. She says she’s proud to be a UIW grad and wear her grad pin there. Christina Janis Gonzalez, BBA ’02, is a marketing executive with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Belen E. Ramirez, BA ’02, has moved to Lawton, OK and is a producer/reporter for KSWO-TV, the ABC affiliate there. Austin Martin Schafer, PI ’02, is a seminarian with the Priests of the Sacred Heart and is studying for the priesthood in Chicago. |
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| ©2003 University of the Incarnate Word. All rights reserved. Send feedback on this page to Troy Knickerbocker. |
Laura Lee Shaw, BA ’82, MA ’85, and her husband, Jack,
are enjoying retirement in their new home in Gainesville, Florida.
She and Jack are closer to a son, daughter-in-law, and enjoying
3-year-old grandson, Edward, and other family visitors. Laura served
in a number of capacities in her 22 years at UIW, including Executive
Director of Development and interim Vice-President for Institutional
Advancement.
