1920's, 1930's & 1940's

Emeline Judson Synodis, BA '27, returned to her native San Antonio from New York and now is a resident in the Incarnate Word Retirement Center.

Helene Krueger Byrd, BA '29, called to say thanks for the birthday greeting for her 92nd birthday and with the news that in December she had a heart attack, recovering from that to get pneumonia, then an allergic reaction to medication. Soon she hopes to be able to move to the Chandler Center in San Antonio.

Sisters Mary [of Perpetual Help] Dowling, CCVI, BA '27, Geralda Malloy, CCVI, BA '30, Anne Smiley, CCVI, BA '57, Neomi Hayes, CCVI, '62, and former teacher Adriana Escobar, CCVI were honored last fall during the re-dedication of the Village at Avoca Apartments by having buildings named for them. The on-campus student apartment complex at the headwaters of the San Antonio River was named for the town of Avoca temporarily on this site after 1836.

Cecilia Rice Kelly, BA '32, attended the February 11th Incarnate Word meeting in Houston with her son, Tynan.

Honorees (in gold gowns) Holly Bohnet, Gladys Henke Niemann and Naomi Trigg Schoppe of the class of 1950 join Alumna of Distinction honoree Rosemary Hughes Kowalski, IWHS '41 after May commencement.

Reba Mims Leach, BA '34, wrote from Devine after her 85th birthday and reported the passing of her only sibling, Lulu Marie Mims, a biology graduate of the class of 1940. Lulu had a long and distinguished career in St. Louis as supervisor of the Blood Bank at Deaconess Hospital. Lulu was buried in the family plot. A generous bequest from Lulu will be honored with a memorial section in the new Science and Engineering Center on campus.

Mrs. Gordon [Althea L.] Politis Moore, IWHS '39, BSHe '43, called last summer with the exciting news that Naoma Grant, the first laywoman in the IWC Home Economics Department who taught the Sisters who later joined the department, celebrated her 101st birthday in Georgetown, Texas. Naoma taught textiles and clothing.

Rosemary E. Hughes Kowalski, IWHS '41, founder of Catering by Rosemary and CEO Emerita of the RK Group, was named 2000 Alumna of Distinction for Professional Achievement at the May 2000 UIW commencement ceremony.

Elizabeth M. Aman, BA '42, was re-elected president of the Knollwood Residents Association where she lives in Washington, D.C.

Emilia Rodriguez Garcia, BA '45, is recovering nicely from a broken arm and is enjoying life with her five sons and their families in Laredo.

Winifred M. Murray, BA '47, had a surprise four-score birthday party on campus and the biggest surprise was that it wasn't her birthday yet. Winnie's forty plus years of teaching sociology, most of them as Sister Mary John, were celebrated noting her official retirement in 1990 and recognition as Professor Emerita. A major surprise was a visit from the East coast for her birthday by former academic dean Dr. Peter O'Connor.

1950's

Nancy Hollingsworth Bohnet, Gladys Henke Niemann, Naomi Trigg Schoppe and the late Janine Gittinger Parker, all BA '50, were the first group of golden anniversary graduates, called the Golden Girls, who donned gold caps and gowns and marched with the graduates of the class of 2000 at May commencement to represent the anniversary class of 1950. For Holly Bohnet it was the real thing. Her family had a mandatory military transfer before graduation so she never got to cross the stage for graduation. That is, until fifty years later to celebrate her golden anniversary. The ceremonies are videotaped and broadcast on cable television. The golden anniversaries for those interested are celebrated at May commencement, the silver anniversaries in December.

Ellen R. Toren De Tournillon, BA '50, now lives in Miami after a successful career of teaching chemistry in Laredo. She says her years at IWC were rewarding and the Sisters who taught her were the best.

Mary Elizabeth Kuhnel Conroy wrote after the death of Sister Joseph Marie Armer, CCVI to say that in the 1950-51 school year, even with poor eyesight, Sister drew the greatest illustrations on the blackboard. "Anyone should have been able to learn biology under her." Among the many alumni who sent in reflections are Sister Cornelia Marie Knezek, CCSJ, BA '65, MA'69, Maxine Buhler Burns, BSN '52, Faye Ann Kershen Spitzer, BS '60, Margaret Chuman, BSN '65, Ruth A. Freiburger, MA '79, Mary Catherine Flume Janssen, BS '56, Miriam Rivera Kennelly, BA '57, Ramah Koenig O'Gorman, BA '61, Mary Alma Flores Lysinger, BA '61, MA '66, Dr. Jim VanStraten, MEd '61,and Jody Barloco Riley '52.

Mary Caldeira Wade, BS '50, Sister Helen Arnold, OP, BA '51, and Loretta Bordages, BS '50, had a mini class reunion for a week in Mercedes, Texas. Mary and her husband, JR, are busy with a mission in Mexico. They are building a little chapel in the village of Canales that will be a utility building for Mass, meetings, rosaries, and giving out goodies. They go down once a month with large bags of food, clothing, and used toys for the children. They are raising money for the building, so any angels can contact Mary.

Dr. Irene McCrystal, BA '51, enjoys her visits with Maxine and Joe Burns, Donna Kelly Repman and Theresa D. Bohl and says her life is full as Professor Emerita of English at San Antonio College. Irene just finished a non-fiction manuscript on a study of animals and nature in the Texas Hill Country, which she has been working on for over fifty years. Her next book will be on her consuming interest in the Civil War and all the research she has done. She also enjoys elderhosteling in this country, Italy and Israel and has been honored for her involvement. She attributes her majoring in English at IWC to her teachers, Sisters Agnes Imelda Lange, CCVI, '38, Gertrude Horgan, and Sister Alacoque Power, CCVI, '45.

Maxine Buhler Burns, BSN '52, attended Homecoming and brought some of her classmates from St. Paul's School of Nursing in Dallas with her for their own pre-homecoming reunion at the Grossman Center on campus. They also attended the Sister Charles Marie Frank Lecture at the opening of the weekend. Last fall Maxine and her husband, Joe, represented the university at the inauguration of Rev. Stephen Privett, SJ as the president of the University of San Francisco.

Dr. Jimmie Lee Flume Hughey, BA '52, is retired from St. John's in Minnesota and is living in the country near the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul and doing business on the Internet. His grandson, Jacob, is now in second grade and made his First Communion.

Music alumnus George Gaytan is performing in recognizable circles as he plays the guitar last December for now President and Mrs. George W. Bush.

Esther M. Hoffmann Wright, Wendy Waters and George Laughlin, Anna Louise "Easy" Tschirhart and Harold Hans, Anna Marie Garza and Richard Morales, Sister Mectilde Goertz, OSB, Vertice Hercek Hill, Joan Schriewer, Mildred Klecka Hovenden, and Barbara Tate and Bob Hoffmann, all BSN '53, met in San Antonio before Thanksgiving and spent some time on campus visiting with the Sisters who taught them at Santa Rosa: Sisters Margaret Mary[Lucilla] Curry, Theodosia Conroy, Monika [Frebonia] Schonberger, Dorothea Burke and Mary Aidan Handibode, CCVI. The group had lunch at Earl Abel's, dinner on the River, a drive to Mission Concepcion, lunch at Mi Tierra and then to Bulverde for dessert at the home of Esther's son, Dennis, Wendy and George's godchild. We can't imagine what this class will do for their golden anniversary in 2003, but we'd better be ready!

Harriet E. Sharp, IWHS '54, of Dewey, Arizona, has done extensive volunteer work with hospice in San Antonio and Prescott, Arizona.

Mary Lou Cornett Earnest, BSN '55, and Diannah Weaver Parker, BM '56, renewed a friendship from childhood and college days at the July reunion of Borger (Texas) High School. They had not been together in forty years. Mary Lou, a widow, is retired from nursing and lives in Fritch, Texas where all three of her daughters reside. She spends her summers at her home in Colorado. Diannah lives in Chickasha, Oklahoma with her husband, Jim, the Mayor. Her two daughters and two sons have gifted them with twelve grandchildren. After graduation she spent three years teaching, but for the past forty years partnered with her husband in land development and home building. Back in school Diannah earned the BS in Education in 1993 from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, although today she is primarily in property management, while still active in music and president of the Oklahoma Federation of Music Clubs.

Mary Agnes Ney Gilhooly, BSN '56, published a new book, When Memories Go Missing: My Mother and Alzheimer's Disease and offered a discussion and book signing at Homecoming. The Alumni Office has copies of the book for $10.

Rose K. Reed, MA '57, celebrated her 87th birthday in February and, despite being homebound for two years, enjoys her family and friends and surely would love to hear from classmates.

Tencha Casso de Couttlenc, BA '58, Mapy Casso de Uranga, BA '59, and Soledad Madrazo de Hernandez visited in Mexico last fall with Sisters Mary Daniel Healy, BA '47, and Margaret Patrice Slattery, Ph.D., BA '52, CCVI. Tencha was featured in a magazine article for her career in teaching and translating.

Dr. Caroline Schoch Spana, BSN '59, and her husband, Ron, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on campus in September at a party hosted by their children. The party also celebrated the arrival of grandchildren Christopher Paul and Leo Adams and Ron's English teaching adventure on the UIW campus in China which began last October.

1960's

Tom Jackson, MA '60, a longtime member of the UIW Development Board is the new Chairman.

Lidia Garza Morales, '66 represented UIW at the inauguration of Dr. Linda Hanson as the new president of the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico

Rita Shaw Reindl, BSN '60, is an excellent class reporter and is always looking for classmates and email addresses. In her January email, Rita reported on hearing this year from Estela Montalvo Scott, BSN '60, Lois Schrenjer Criscione, IWHS '56, BSN '60, Rosalie Rice Grahmann, IWHS '56, BSN '60, Chris Durbin Irvin, BSN '60, Martha Ternus Koperwhats, BS '60, Joyce Busenlehner Michal, '60, Fred Murphy (Irene's widower), Lucille Seten Newhouse, IWHS '56, BSN '60, Irma Garza Granger Spade, BSN '60, Sister Teresa Stanley, BSN '60, CCVI, Jo Ann Hemstreet Vaughan, BSN '60.

Karen Daehne Letsch, BS '64, married Bob Letsch just days after graduation and lived in San Antonio that first year. She taught first grade until he finished at St. Mary's, then they moved to Racine, Wis., where they have lived happily for 37 years. They have three sons (two of them living in Racine and the youngest in Knoxville) and eleven grandchildren. Karen taught parochial school kindergarten and first grade for thirteen years and is now retired and enjoying her grandchildren.

Estella Reyna Kierce, BA '65, MA '69, was installed as president of the Women in Insurance and Financial Services at the national conference in Atlanta. This is the leading professional organization for women in life and health insurance with headquarters in Annapolis, Md., and representing 1,000 women internationally. Estella has an insurance and financial practice in San Antonio offering insurance and investments.

Lidia Garza Morales, BA '66, had a wonderful time last September representing UIW at the inauguration of Dr. Linda N. Hanson as the sixth president of the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico.

Mary Jo Quinn, BS MRA '66, is in Zambia for a year of volunteer service with the Presentation Sisters in Lusaka, the capitol. She'll be back in March of next year. Interestingly enough, the Incarnate Word Sisters are about to embark on their first mission in Africa, also in Zambia.

Stephanie Alavarez, BS '69, MA '74, and an Alumna of Distinction certainly had a memorable, even if freezing, Inauguration 2001. Stephanie is a member of the San Antonio Urban 15 Carnival De San Antonio Dance Group which performed at the Hispanic Inaugural Ball and marched in the Inaugural Parade in Washington, DC.

Mary Ann De La Garza, IWHS '69, BM '75, last June earned the Fine Arts Teacher of the Year Award from the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. This much honored IWHS teacher is also the music director for Blessed Sacrament Parish in San Antonio. In addition to her choral/madrigal courses and directing duties she teaches two sections of pre-AP algebra I and serves as IWHS Dean of Students. The Chorale and Madrigals are well known in Texas and have entertained then Gov. George W. Bush and Lady Bird Johnson.

Emily Duane Ferry, IWHS '69, has added yet another feather to her well-feathered Hollywood cap with her designs for the ever popular Jim Carey film, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

Lynn Humble Kienzel, BA '69, writes from California of her two years of volunteer work with the International Food Security Treaty Campaign seeking an end to hunger by force of international law. She urges alumni to get involved and to visit the website for all the details.

Basia Recko-Kasliwal, BA '69, represented UIW at the inauguration of Dr. Jacqueline Powers as president of Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, Calif.

Julie Leake, BA '69, retired after 28 years in social work, primarily in the field of child abuse and neglect. After a year of rest she started her own business, Interior Arrangement, as a professional interior designer.

1970's

Kay LaNelle Anske, IWHS '70, works for the Department of State as Consul General in Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr. Mary Spalding, IWHS '70, BA '74, of El Paso was honored last year for 21 years of membership in the American Academy of Family Physicians. Mary chairs the Texas Tech Department of Family Practice.

Dr. Sara Jane Warren White, BA '70, and family were on a medical mission to Guatemala last summer and then on to Austria and the Passion Play. Sara was selected for the second class of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners in New York.

Lucille Jeffery, BSN '72, visited the campus last March from Louisiana. Lucille retired in February from nurse anesthesia having worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center as a CRNA and "loved every minute of it".

Catherine Abeyta, BA '72, is the Director of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

Walt and Cynthia Vela Glass, both BA '72, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last August. The donation from their McQueeney Pottery has been a highlight of the annual Scholarship Sweepstakes and Swing-In Tournament for the past decade.

Ellen Shull, BA '72, is as busy as ever with her teaching duties at San Antonio's Palo Alto College and editing the much respected Palo Alto Review.

Arthur Drew Felio, MA '73, visited the campus with his family from their home in Newport, N.Y.

The silver anniversary class of 1976 enjoy their celebration on the porch of the Brackenridge Villa

Rita Pauline Fox, IWHS '73, BA '76, was a Brooks AFB Ambassador 2001. Rita represents the base at school tours, career days, and during all of the Fiesta Week activities (about 59 of them). Rita joined Brooks after leaving her GS-14 position at Kelly AFB. She is now the Deputy Director of the Brooks Air Force Base Group, assisting in the management of all base operations including civil engineering, security forces, military personnel and base logistics. As part of her new job she spoke recently to high school students, among them some from her IWHS alma mater, and she said it was fun talking about how life at IWHS has changed since 1973.

Katherine E. Niska Fusselman, BA '73, MS '81, visited the campus in February and was interested in former teachers and classmates. She'd love to hear from people at P.O. Box 2585, Granite Shoals, Texas 78654-2699.

Barbara Heater, BA '73, returned to school administration after five years back in the classroom and advanced to candidacy for her doctorate. "The end is in sight," she said.

Sister Yolanda Tarango, CCVI, BA '73, Hon. '96, started Visitation House 15 years ago when she noticed a growing number of impoverished women and children living in the streets of San Antonio. The CCVI ministry is regarded as a two-year safety net for women with children who are willing to change their desperate circumstances through education and work training. Sister Yolanda has served on the UIW Board of Trustees and as a university teacher.

Hilda Chatfield, BA '74, is retired and has taken up writing poetry and short stories. Hilda says she'll always remember the kindness of the Sisters when she taught at St. Mary Magdalen School, and as a IWC student.

Jimmie Ruth Winters Moye, BA '74, celebrated her 70th birthday in style with a party hosted by her daughter who came in from Germany and a call from a friend in Paris. Her joy is her cat, Jasmin, who watches her for hours as she paints or does handwork. This past year she finished Volume II of Voices Singing Still that she is writing for her German grandchildren so they can know more of their heritage. Phylis Speedlin, BSN '75, was elected District Judge, 408th Judicial District, Bexar County.

Dr. Mary Allyn Watson, BA '76, unable to attend the December 9th ceremony, received special recognition from Dr. Agnese at the December 13th Associates Dinner. Denise is beginning her 25th year of teaching and is active in fine arts and speech arts organizations. David left teaching to devote full time to his stained glass business, The Glass Pagoda. This is a new tradition of honoring golden and silver anniversary classes at graduation time as well as at homecoming.

Mel DeMore, BM '76, enjoyed a rare visit to the campus in May 2000 from her home base in Oakland, Calif. Mel's life is busy with teaching and performing, here and in Europe, and in such venues as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Kathleen L. Ordons Harr, BSN '76, is the Dean of the Baker University School of Nursing.

Dr. Frances Strodtbeck, BA '76, BSN '77, has migrated back to Texas for a new position in Dallas as Associate Professor and Director of the newly established Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program at the Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University. It is the first program in the northern part of Texas at which graduates receive a MSN degree. Frances is also completing the last year of a two-year term as President of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.

Evelyn Gee, BA '77, is still busy performing in San Antonio and one of her productions in the past year was the hilarious comedy, Nunsense, at the San Pedro Playhouse.

And who are these hard-working IWC Work-Study students in the spring of 1967? Hint: they both lived in Dubuis Hall.

Maria A. Pena Rocha, BSN '78, is looking forward to her graduation silver anniversary in 2003 and her silver wedding anniversary next year. Maria is a benefits nurse analyst with Pacificare/Secure Horizons after fifteen wonderful years of hospital nursing at Santa Rosa and Metropolitan. Her son, Joel Emilio, is a junior at UTSA and daughter Antoinette Rose Renee is a busy sixth grader at Pat Neff School. Both children are exactly nine years, one month, and one day apart [911] in age.

Linda Jackson Stierle, BG, USAF Ret., BSN '78, and Alumna of Distinction, was named Chief Operating Officer of the American Nurses Association. As COO she will be responsible for all of the business operations of the 6.2 million member ANA. Linda gave the 2001 Annual Sister Charles Marie Frank Lecture in Nursing at UIW in April.

Patricia Bullion Recker, MS '79, completed her 16 year as a biology teacher at John Jay High School and has also been active in writing curriculum and grants, and a year ago was the Spurs teacher of the game. She, husband Steve and children Noah and Samantha live on three acres of land in the country near LaVernia.

1980's

George Gaytan, BM '81, is teaching at St. Mary's Hall and is still busy performing, including the Governor's Mansion in Austin.

Sister Jo-Michelle Sierra, SSGJ, MA '81, received the 2001 Religion Award from the La Prensa Foundation in San Antonio.

John Gann, BA '82, is back in Texas with Lucy and the family and is now an Associate Professor of Natural Science and Math at Tomball College in Tomball, Texas.

Regina Ciarrochi, IWHS '84, BA '93, married Randy Boon on October 21, 2000 in Indianapolis. Attending (left) were Maura and Jerome Ciarrochi and (right) David Ciarrochi and Catharine Ciarrochi, IWHS '83, BA '88.

Mardi Swift Marah, BA '83, now lives in the United Kingdom, is married to a Yorkshireman, and they have one son, Gregory, 10. She is still involved in politics, is taking a management course, and does medical word processing on the side.

Jesse Borrego, Class of 1984, is still busy making films in Hollywood, but he took the time to star in Don Juan in Hell with the San Antonio Symphony and music by Robert Xavier Rodriguez.

Josie Garza Brigham, BA '84, is a self-employed mortgage loan officer in Florida.

Monica M. Garcia Karam, IWHS '84, is currently a UIW ADCaP student happily strolling down memory lane as she takes college courses evenings on the IWHS campus. Last October she celebrated her tenth wedding anniversary with Michael Karam, and they have two boys, Zachary, 3, and Douglas, 1.

Major Arthur Anthony, BA '85 received his promotion in rank last January and has moved to Charleston, W.Va. Arthur's wife, Luise, and their daughter, Shana, now 4, have made the adjustment to new surroundings.

Veronica Prida, BA '85, and Alumna of Distinction outfitted a stuffed bear for a Children's Bear Essentials benefit for the Family Service Association. Veronica dressed her bear in a Mexican skirt and embroidered top.

Tami Anne Smolik Piemonte, BS '86, left active duty to join the Air Force Reserves and moved to Connecticut. In August and September, she and Joseph celebrated their wedding with friends and family in Texas and Pennsylvania.

Dr. Joseph Penn, BS '87, made a congressional visit in February representing the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and has been busy giving or about to give talks in Boston, Buffalo and Philadelphia.

Catherine Ciarrocchi, BA '88, left for Italy to teach English for 6 to 8 months.

Mario Herrera, MA '88, Spanish poet and photoessayist, will have his literary works preserved in the Special Collections section of the University of Texas/Arlington library which specializes in the works of Texas and borderlands writers.

Rose Marie Perez Martinez, BSN '88, MSN '97, is a clinical nurse specialist in urology at South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Audie L. Murphy Division.

Sister Louise (Benedicta) Delisi, CCVI, BA '67, MA '85 visits with well wishers at her Golden Jubilee celebration as a Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

Vanessa R. Treadway Morton, BA '88, magna cum laude was selected by the government as an Outstanding Scholar and completed their management intern program. She is currently living and working in the state of Washington and is a Government Contracts Officer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Elizabeth Skrobarczyk, BA '88, is now the head of the design department for Haggar Clothing of Dallas.

Sean Patrick Sullivan, BBA '89, and Kathy Lynn Sullivan, BBA '90, celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last June. They have two children, Megan Elizabeth,3, and Jacob (Jake) Charles, 1. Sean is a part-owner of a small software consulting firm and Kathy is working for a recruiting firm, ProStaff, both in Houston.

Francois P. Tomasoa, BBA '89, emailed from Jakarta that he enjoys the UIW website and news and information via email.

1990's

Cathy Baisley, BBA '90, accepted a Technical Support Manager position with Southwestern Bell Communications in July 2000.

Javier Bustos, BA '90, has been in the military and served in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and is now back in the U.S. working as a police officer in Austin.

Michelle C. Casanova, BBA '90, took part in the Austin Race for the Cure on November 5th in memory of her sister, Peggy's, three year battle with breast cancer. Michelle reminds us that early detection isn't a cure, but it can help save a life.

Karen Jaceldo-Siegl, MS '90, is a doctoral candidate in nutrition at Loma Linda University in California, specializing in nutritional epidemiology.

Denise DeJarnette Stout, BA '76, her husband, Dennis and son, Derek enjoy the reception after the Homecomming 2001 Mass.

Denise Barkis Richter, MA '90, received her Ph.D. in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and her UIW graduate advisor, Peggy Bowie, was present at her defense. Denise's dissertation was "Local Television News and Viewer Empowerment: Why the Public's Main Source of News Falls Short" which she presented at the Association for Education In Journalism and Mass Communications. Denise is now in her third year of teaching in the communications department of Palo Alto College.

Teresa Trevino, IWHS '90, BS '95, is now in Fort Collins, Colo., where she is a student in the Veterinary Medicine program of Colorado State University.

Mary Bowlin-Brand, BA '91, played Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit last fall at San Antonio's Harlequin Dinner Theatre.

Rev. Gilbert Cavazos, OFM, MA '91, completed the doctorate at the Antonianum in Rome and now teaches liturgy at the Chicago Theological Union.

Gerardo Valdivia-Gonzalez, BA '91, visited the campus in September. He is now in acting school in Mexico City while promoting his music, and hopes to land a role in the soaps in Mexico. Many alumni have called to say they saw him, well at least his teeth, in a Colgate commercial last year.

Susie Phillips Gonzalez, IWHS '91, is Assistant Director of Public Relations at Trinity University.

Anthony Ciaravino, BA '92, won a San Antonio Globe Award last year for best lead actor in the campus production of Hamlet.

Don Espiritu, O.D., MA '92, graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry with a Doctor of Optometry degree and is working with Sharp Eye Consultants in San Antonio.

Hilary Gilchrist Keahey, BA '92, completed a five-month Disney cruise working as an improvisational comedienne.

Anne Ohlrich-Mann, BA '92, returned to Washington from her assignment as a foreign service officer in England where she is learning Portuguese in preparation for her next assignment in Racife, Brazil. Daughter Margaret, 5, is doing well in school.

Carolyn Kierce Weiblen, BA '92, graduated summa cum laude with a MS in Communications in August from the University of North Texas. She went to graduate school part time while working full- time as a Network Manager for EDS corporate business television network in Dallas.

Caterina E. M. Lasome, MSN/MBA '93, is a Major in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and a doctoral informatics student at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She was awarded the Nurses‚ Educational Funds, Inc. top scholarship award for this year, the Isabel Hampton Robb scholarship for study at the doctoral level.

Dr. Alfonso H. Luevano, BS '93, began his Family Practice Residency July 1st at the UT Medical Branch in Galveston.

Yvette Paredes-Gonzales, BA '93, MEd '00, was part of the San Antonio ISD Cohort III since 1998 and received her Master's in Education from UIW in December.

Mikiko Shikano, BA '93, operates Mikiko Fine Arts Productions in Baltimore. She invites her colleagues and UIW alumni to visit her website at and her email address is the same without www and with @yahoo.com on the end.

Junab [Pookie] Ali II, BBA '94, is Director of Operations at Via Technology and wife Denise, BA '96, left her job as product manager to raise their daughter, Angelina.

Anel Flores, IWHS '94, BA '98, had a show of her art work and writing at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio in March.

Rev. Robert Frimpong-Manso, MA '94, was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood on December 1, 2000. He was the tenth IW alumnus ordained to the priesthood. In addition, there are three Catholic deacons, six priests with Master's degrees, and three Texas bishops hold UIW honorary doctorates

Karen D. Goodman, MA '94, is the Director of Continuing Education at New Hampshire College, Nashua Center.

Rene Wolf Herring, BSN '94, is employed as an elementary special education teacher at Archer City ISD and also as a nurse at the United Regional Health Care Systems in Wichita Falls.

Desiree Kornrum-Byrne, BBA '94, has been accepted into the doctoral program at UT Austin and is working on her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. She was also promoted to Data Specialist for the Texas Coordinating Board's Grants and Special Programs Division. Her little one, Preston, turned two in June.

Michael Rosado, BSN '94, is a critical care transport nurse for Duke Life Flight, Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina.

Raul Saenz, BA '94, and sports anchor for Univision KWEX-TV in San Antonio charmed an audience of prospective students and parents at an information night on January 31st. The Laredo native and communications arts alumnus spoke highly of his years at Incarnate Word.

Nancy Glass West, MA '94, has yet another book ready, a novel about a woman whose husband mysteriously disappears.

Rev. Quang Nguyen, CSJ , BA '95, was ordained to the priesthood on November 25, 2000 in San Jose, Calif., as a member of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He is the eleventh UIW undergraduate to be ordained to the priesthood.

Rev. Gilbert A. Panza, BA '95, was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in Fort Worth last May and is now at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in North Richland Hills. Gilbert also earned the Master of Divinity from the Oblate School of Theology with a Certificate of Advanced Studies for Presbyterial Ministry.

Rosalinda "Rose" Rosales, BBA '95, was named one of the Latina Women in Action by La Prensa Foundation. Rose is the director of family services for Habitat for Humanity. It was noted that Rose worked herself up from beginnings in Texas cotton fields to a position where she can now help poor families own their own home.

Ricardo A. Chavira, BA '96, is keeping busy on the West coast using his theatre degree. Don't be surprised if you see his face on a television series or two in the future. His last role was as a pediatric resident on City of Angels, and then on March 27, 2001 he was Miguel on JAG (CBS) and Kenny Montemayor on NYPD Blue (ABC). He is going by Ricardo Antonio for his stage name.

John Anthony D. Maldonado, BBA '96, was voted employee of the year 2000 for Northpark Lincoln Mercury in San Antonio. John has been with the firm since 1998 and is assistant manager of the accounting department.

Hortencia Martinez, BBA '96, earned her MBA from the University of Illinois/Chicago in 1999 and is currently a business systems analyst at Hewitt Associates, LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in human resources.

Ned Meneses, BA '96, has been teaching computer graphics at Judson High School and continues to work as a freelance artist. His work as a digital artist was featured in the cover story of Digital Imaging for the January/February issue.

Michelle Sparkman, IWHS '96, completed the international relations program with a second major in French at St. Mary's University. She was a President's Award recipient. She was able to study abroad in London and Florence and did her internship at the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania. She is continuing her studies at George Washington University. She was also a bridesmaid in the wedding of fellow shamrock Erin Morgan Ochoa, IWHS '96, with Tara Kolar IWHS '96, and Amy Morgan, IWHS '00.

Michael T. Berger, MBA '97, was promoted to an industry analyst for the market engineering and consulting firm, Frost and Sullivan.

Nicole Dawn Hernandez, BS '97, has been attending medical school in Florida and is in her third year and in clinical rotations. She is specializing in podiatry and will graduate in the spring of 2002. Nicole passed part one of her medical boards exam and hopes to return to Texas to do her residency and practice podiatric medicine.

Lisa Garcia Luna, BA '97, works for the Pleasanton Express where she is the Lifestyle Editor. In April 2000, she was honored by the South Texas Press Association with a third place award in the Family/Social pages division. Lisa lives in Pleasanton with her husband, Christopher, and their daughter Ava Christine, 6.

Jennifer Mae Savedra, BM '97, and Dominic Savedra, BA '97, are living in McAllen. He is the USPTA teaching professional at The Club at Cimarron and directs the junior tennis program. Jennifer is a choir director in La Joya and teaches middle school.

Alicia Sternberg, BA '97, played Hermione in the Shoestring Shakespeare Company's production of The Winter's Tale at the Alamo Street Theatre last winter.

Luis R. Vasquez, BBA '97, is with Vasquez Insurance Agency, Farmers Insurance Group.

Alfredo Figueroa, BA '98, started as a graphics designer for a San Antonio-based company manufacturing tool belts and accessories and moved to marketing services manager. He is currently in Houston as Production Director for a free style and fashion magazine in Houston and Dallas, Papercity, with a monthly circulation of 176,000.

Shelly Chance, BA '99, joined the Firelight Players as special projects director and directs the high school playwrighting competition with former UIW student Teri Pena Ross.

Mary Ann Garrett, MA '99, is studying at Seabury-Weston Theological Seminary in Illinois for ordination in the Episcopal church.

Most Rev. John E. McCarthy, Hon. '99, retired in January as the bishop of Austin.

Travis Turner, BA '99, visited San Antonio before Christmas from Creighton University Law School

Stacy Williams, BA '99, is on her own as a fashion designer and last summer produced a solo event, "Fashionista: An Art Happening," a 28-piece runway show held at the Texas Highway Patrol Museum and a gallery show at IV Art Space, both in San Antonio.

2000's

Mikala Gibson, BA '00, won a San Antonio Globe Award for best supporting actress for her role in the campus production of Picnic.

Stu Werner, MBA '00, was promoted to Regional Sales Manager for the southern U.S. and will be moving to Dallas later this year.