Class Notes

’70s
Father Michael Stechmann, O.A.R., C’76, Oxnard, California, celebrated his Golden Jubilee.

’80s
Cindi Lamas, C’82, Kansas City, Missouri, serves as secretary of the Saint Mary Alumni Board and as chair of the Awards and Scholarship Committee. She teaches RCIA Kindergarten at Saint James Parish in Liberty, Missouri. In her spare time, Cindi volunteers as an interpreter for a Guatemalan team that builds churches and develops a partnership with a Guatemalan school.

Elizabeth Conroy Jones, C’88, Cedar Park, Texas, joined the Saint Mary Alumni Board. Along with being a high school family and consumer sciences teacher, she has stayed active in her community doing many volunteer activities. She served as a director on the Water Utility District Board for three years. In this role, she cared for eight parks, planned events, and developed a five-year park plan for the community. She also volunteers with Meals on Wheels, an organization that delivers food to the poor and elderly. She is presently the director of Our Kids at Heart, which is a nonprofit organization. Each year, Elizabeth raises close to $1 million to help the poorest children in central Texas receive a Catholic education.

Beatrice Wake, C’88, Leavenworth, Kansas, is celebrating five years with Airbnb. Her property, currently a “guest favorite,” offers a unique and welcoming experience as she also resides on-site. If you are attending an event at Saint Mary, consider booking a stay at “Busy Bea,” located just minutes away from campus. Enjoy the convenience and personalized touch of staying with a knowledgeable local host.

’90s
Celina M. Peterson Gerling, C’91, Olathe, Kansas, serves as chair of the Events Committee on the Saint Mary Alumni Board. She has volunteered at Catholic Charities, Starfish Project, participated in the church choir, and taught religious education. Her first job is a mom to her adult children, their friends, honorary grandbabies and anyone that needs some extra love. Celina has helped her own kids (2019 USM graduate, current Rasmussen Nursing student, and current UMKC student) through college and “adopted” a USM student and helped him to realize his desire to be the first in his family to graduate college. Celina spends most of her time recently as a caregiver and advocate for her special needs daughter, her in-laws, and her dad. Celina is the office manager for a sign company, Luminous Neon, in Olathe.

Lisa Ingraham Costello, C’94, Parkville, Missouri, joined the Saint Mary Alumni Board. After graduating from Saint Mary, she got into insurance and risk management, where she worked for more than 25 years, mostly for large companies. She has served on her Parish Council and the Hillcrest Board. She finds herself back in school to polish her data analytics skills and learn about AI and machine learning.

Olivia Robinson, C’96, Seattle, Washington, serves as the chair of the Development Committee on the Saint Mary Alumni Board. She has spent more than 20 years working in politics and government in Washington State and currently serves in government relations for King County. In her spare time, she is involved in local theatre and enjoys running, yoga, movies, reading, and exploring Washington’s wine industry. She also enjoys spending time with her longtime boyfriend, Blair, and their two very intense cats.

Davita Wesley Vaughn, C’98, Kansas City, Kansas, received a Master’s in Theology and Biblical Studies from Trevecca Nazarene University in December 2023. In August, she began a Doctor of Ministry, Black Leadership, and Ministry at the Nazarene Theological Seminary.

’10s
Suzanne Bennet, U’12, Topeka, Kansas, married Alex Bruschi in October.

Justin Crutchfield U’12, Lansing, Kansas, joined the University of Saint Mary as an alumni relations manager.

Wes Henning, U’13, Perry, Kansas, serves as vice president of the Saint Mary Alumni Board. He works as the Market President for First State Bank and Trust, specializing in commercial and ag lending. Wes and his wife, Mariah Henning, U’13, D’17, have two daughters, Emerson and Hadley. Wes enjoys spending time with his family, watching the Chiefs and Jayhawks, volunteering for various civic organizations, and traveling.

Todd Forbes, U’14, Kansas City, Missouri, and Lexi welcomed their son in June.

Domonique Kettler, U’17, Lenexa, Kansas, serves on the Saint Mary Alumni Board as chair of the Nominating Committee. She works full time as an accountant and works with clients through her business, Kettler Accounting, LLC.

Dr. Alexandria “AB” Bartels Supple, U’15, Shawnee, Kansas, received her educational doctorate in the spring of 2024 from the University of Kansas. She also joined the Saint Mary Alumni Board.

Nicole DeSimone, U’17, Denver, Colorado, joined the Saint Mary Alumni Board. She works as an administrator for a nonprofit that serves severely abused and neglected children.

Cenyeaa Williams, U’17, Kanas City, Missouri, serves as president of the Saint Mary Alumni Board. She works for AmeriCorps VISTA as the Footprints, Inc. VISTA project supervisor. AmeriCorps works to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. In addition to AmeriCorps, Cenyeaa serves as the outreach and partnership development coordinator for D.A.V.E.’s Place Community Impact Center. She is also the outreach coordinator for her church, Memorial Church International, serving the Ruskin Heights/Hickman Mills community.

Daphne Reynolds, M’19, started working at Metropolitan Community College as a talent acquisition manager.

’20s
Dr. Anne M. Ast, U’20, Wichita, Kansas, completed medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and has started the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Family Medicine Residency Program at Wesley Medical Center.

Morgan Hankinson, U’20, Basehor, Kansas, married Tyler McClarrinon in the fall of 2024.

Carrie Beachner, U’21, Overland Park, Kansas, earned an MBA and went back into real estate full time. “Getting my MBA helped build my confidence while allowing me to see the big picture,” she said. “Real estate allows me to fully utilize my business skills and passion for helping others! That’s a true blessing.”

Zaira Spencer, U’24, Leavenworth, Kansas, joined Saint Mary as an admissions counselor.

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