Class Notes—Fall 2013

Notables:

Eric Walter ’05 set a couple of joggling Guinness world records at O’Laughlin Stadium in April 2013. Joggling is running while juggling. He ran 1,000 meters on the SHU track in a record time of 2:46.63. The time to beat was 3 minutes flat. In the 400 meter he ran a 56.47 (57.32 was the old record). Walter also won the 200, 400, 800 and the 4×100 relay at the 2011 World Joggling Championships in Rochester, Minn.

Sister Donna Kustusch, OP, ’63 a long-time faculty member at SHU, passed away in July 2013. “Donna’s determination came from her deep commitments—to her students and to the mission of Siena Heights; to her sisters and to the mission of the congregation; to the call of the gospel for a preferential option for the poor; and to her prayer relationship with God,” said SHU Vice President of Academic Affairs Sister Sharon Weber, OP, a former colleague. A faculty member in the Religious Studies program from 1975-92, she had the challenge of bringing the curriculum to a new generation of students. For her enthusiasm in the classroom and her concern for the growth of each of her students, she received the award for outstanding teaching in 1991.

She also established the Spirituality and Peacemaking Institute in 1988. The institute provided such offerings as a variety of lectures in collaboration with Weber Center, prayer opportunities for students and a conference “Dominican Education in Search of Peace.” Her commitment to the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ vision of acting on behalf of the poor drew her to her work on the U.S.-Mexico border. In fact, she received the Sister Ann Joachim Award in 2002 for her work serving impoverished women and children in Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas.

Class Notes—Spring 2013

From The Sites:

SHU—Battle Creek

Rob Viland ’97 was recently named executive vice president of Business Development for Post Community Credit Union. He has more than 20 years of financial institution experience. He lives
in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Timothy Bourgeois ’98 will represent local law enforcement after being appointed to a four-year term on the 14-member Mental Health Diversion Council by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. The council will operate within the Michigan Department of Community Health. His term will expire Jan. 30, 2017. With more than 35 years of law enforcement experience, he currently is the chief of police for the Charter Township of Kalamazoo.

SHU—Lansing

Tom Cochran ’10 was elected to the Michigan state legislature during the November 2012 elections. He will serve as state representative for the 67th District. He resides in Mason, Mich

Misozi Houston ’12 and her husband, Anthony, announced the birth of a daughter, Lily, who was born July 4, 2012. The family recently relocated to Pennsylvania.

SHU—Southfield

Suzy Manning ’91, ’95/MA is a radio talk show personality on the Military Mom Talk Radio network. She is also the creator of Sizzzl, a motivational counseling program for women, and also the author of “Wise Women-Circle of Wisdom” and “You Were Born Magnificent.” The transitional coach and speaker also has the web site www.sizzzl.com.

Steven Aggas ’95 has carved out an impressive career in the engineering field. He currently owns 22 patents, and designed and built Arizona’s largest, privately owned telescope. He also is founder/director of Apache-Sitgreaves Astrophysics, and astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey named an asteroid after him that is recognized by the International Astronomical Union. The name of the asteroid is 152533 Aggas (2007 AL26). He said completing his Siena Heights degree “made all the difference.” He currently lives in Gold Canyon, Ariz.

Donna Cole ’97 recently received her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Michigan. While attending Michigan she received the Margaret Dow Towsley Scholarship from the Center for the Education of Women. She currently resides in Highland, Mich.

Class Notes—Fall 2012

From The Sites

SHU—Online

Jimmy Blacker ’09 is employed as a patrol officer at St. Clair County Community College. He resides in Port Huron, Mich.

Andrew Zaleski ’12 (Lansing) & Laurie Kipp ’12 have both accepted positions as flight medical crew members for Beaumont One, Beaumont Health System’s new air medical transportation program.

SHU—Battle Creek

Niki Cummings ’04, ’08/MA recently opened a unique transitional home in Battle Creek, Mich., for homeless women veterans. The house has five bedrooms, which is enough to house eight women. It also has a medication office, case management and counseling office, a community porch, a dining room and full kitchen.

SHU—Benton Harbor

Timothy Vanderslik ’10 joined the Educational Community Credit Union in July as a network administrator. His new responsibilities include the installation, configuration, maintenance and support of ECCU’s internal and external hardware systems, in addition to performing all phases of server and desktop software installation and maintenance. He is also a certified Microsoft professional.

Tom Bevington ’12 is employed as an assistant textbook manager at the University Bookstore DeVos Center at Grand Valley State University.

SHU—Lansing

Richard Bushong ’01 was promoted to lieutenant in June by the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office in Charlotte, Mich. He is a 23-year veteran with the office.

SHU—Monroe

Paula Gyorkos ’05, ’07/MA joined the staff of Caring Alternatives Counseling Center in Monroe, Mich. She is a limited licensed professional counselor and has an enhanced certification as an alcohol and drug counselor from the Michigan Certification Board of Addiction Professionals. She also provides treatment in the areas of domestic violence accountability, anger management, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. She resides in Onsted, Mich.

Todd Eberline ’08 is employed as the sales and service manager for Fedco-USA in the East Asia Oceania region. Fedco is a company based in Monroe that manufactures high pressure pumps and energy recovery devices for the reverse osmosis desalination market. He recently relocated to Singapore to start an office there. He has traveled to more than 20 countries since starting his position.

Laura Pressotto ’12 received the President’s Award from her employer, Pioneer Metal Finishing in Monroe, Mich. Pressotto is employed as an account manager.