Class Notes

Posted on October 19, 2022 by University of Saint Mary in Alumni Corner, Alumni News, Class Notes // 0 Comments

**Robin Thurston-Ross, C’85**, Dimondale, Mich., and her husband, Kevin, celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary on Aug. 11 and will celebrate in November with a trip to Hawaii. She has worked for the last five years at Capital Area United Way in Lansing, Mich., as a community investment associate. She would like to shout out all of the class of 1985 alumni and friends!

’70s
Christina LaMaster, C’73, Lincoln, Neb., was promoted to the assistant director of education at the LUX Center for the Arts. She received her MA from Bradley University and an MFA from Illinois State University.

Karen Kremers Tyler, C’74, Fayetteville, Ark., along with several classmates from 1974, have met consistently since 2010. The majority of those who meet live in the Kansas City area. Three come in from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Washington State. In June, they met in person in Kansas City for the first time in three years. Over those years, they were able to keep in contact through Zoom meetings. Their friendships span 50 years after they all met at Saint Mary.

Alison Banikowski, C’75, Olathe, Kan., was inducted by the Olathe Public Schools Alumni Association into the Olathe Public Schools Wall of Honor. Alison received the Distinguished Person of Honor recognition for her 34 years with the school district and her commitment to educational excellence. Her bio will be part of the district’s visual timeline at the Education Center.

’80s
Nancy Clark Bauder, C’85, Leavenworth, Kan., is serving as mayor of Leavenworth for the second time and has served for six years on the Leavenworth City Commission. She retired from health care management after 30 years and has worked for several nonprofits in the Leavenworth area.

’90s
Anna Haugsness Feldt, C’91, Topeka, Kan., began working at Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas in September 2020.

**Damian Torres-Botello, C’01**, Detroit, Mich., has been approved for ordination. In the fall, he will be an ordained deacon. In the summer of 2023, he will be ordained to the priesthood in Milwaukee.

Susan Howard-Perry, C’96, U’07, Gladstone, Mo., published her first book, “A View from
the Chair.”

’00s
LeTysha Montgomery, U’05, Olathe, Kan., is an international best-selling author, international empowerment speaker, podcast host, endometriosis advocate, jewelry designer, and entrepreneur. She motivates and dares her audiences to advocate for themselves and their health. She’s spoken both in person and virtually at numerous events. She was a featured speaker at SpeakerCon 2020 and Success Fest 2021. LeTysha has also been a part of numerous podcast interviews.

’10s
Michaela Forge Schattle, U’10, and her husband, Bobby Schattle, U’11, Rowlett, Texas, welcomed their third child, Elizabeth “Birdie,” on Aug. 13, 2021. Birdie joins her two sisters, Cecilia Ann (4) and Mary Clare (3). The family is enjoying sweet Birdie and adjusting to life as a family of five. Michaela is the sister of Luke Forge, U’04, Edwardsville, Kan.; Becky Forge Evans, U’07, U’11, St. Joseph, Mo.; and the daughter of Michele Lane Forge, C’80*.

Wesley Henning, U’13, and his wife, Mariah Henning U’13, DPT’17, welcomed their second child, Hadley Grace Henning, on Oct. 10, 2021. They also moved to Perry, Kan., where Wesley was promoted to market president for First State Bank and Trust. It was tough for them to leave Leavenworth and be in the constant shadows of campus, but overall this was a great opportunity for his career and family to grow. They look forward to their next trip back to campus.

Daniel Esterly, M’17, Pittsburgh, Pa., was hired at an independent think-tank called Energy Innovation Center Institute to manage, develop, recruit, and teach for educational programs in the trades and racial equity. Their programs partner with Jones Lang LaSalle, a global commercial real estate company, and Peoples Natural Gas, a regional utility company. Their students typically come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the programs focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a program manager, he designs the curriculum, recruits students from the community, interviews them, teaches parts of the courses, and coordinates with their corporate partners throughout the hiring process. His office overlooks downtown Pittsburgh. His academic background helped him land this contract, and he wants to extend his gratitude toward the University of Saint Mary and the MBA training he obtained in 2017. “I don’t think I’d be here without that,” he said.

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