SHU Students, Faculty Members Play a Role in “Hockey—the Musical!”

By Arthur Gwoszdz, Student Writer

Mitch Albom’s original production of “Hockey—The Musical!” had a distinct Siena Heights presence this summer. The show returned to Detroit’s City Theatre inside Hockeytown Café, with SHU musical theater students J.J. Hoss (right, middle) and Patrick Wallace joining the musical’s cast. Also, SHU Assistant Professor of Theater Daniel Walker was the lighting designer for the show.

The production, which premiered last summer directed by Peter Albom, was very successful, said Walker.

“After a successful run last summer, they are going to remount it. This year, they put out the word that they were casting, so I made a phone call and said, ‘I think I have a couple of guys and a couple of women, would you want to see them?’” added Walker, who said the producers were doing their last days of auditions in Detroit before heading to New York. “So, the very next day, I sent them Patrick and J.J. (The producers) said, ‘we will fit them in for 15 minutes and see them since we know you,’ and they kept them for the whole day. They ended up going to New York and still hired our guys.”

Siena Startups

Ashlee Trempus ’15 co-founded the startup company SignOn, which is a “virtual immersion program” that connects the hearing and deaf communities through authentic learning interactions.

Recent Graduates Follow Their Passions to Create New Businesses

Editor’s Note: From time to time, Reflections Magazine will highlight entrepreneurial alumni who have recently started business ventures within the past year. This article spotlights Ashlee Trempus ’15 and Kenneth DeGraaf ’16.

Ashlee Trempus ’15: SignOn

As a sign language interpreter, Ashlee Trempus ’15 is used to face-to-face contact with the deaf community in helping them communicate with the world around them.

When she graduated from SHU’s Lansing campus with a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies, she decided to bring that face-to-face concept to the Internet. Trempus co-founded the start-up company SignOn, which is a “virtual immersion program” that connects the hearing and deaf communities through authentic learning interactions.

Trempus said she got the idea when an illness slowed her ability to complete her required hours of interaction she needed for her interpreter certification.

“I became homebound,” she said. “I was unable to travel.”

Ministry of Presence

Michael Donovan Chooses a Retirement of Helping Others on Chicago’s South Side

Michael Donovan ’75 chooses to see the best in humanity, even when it is at its worst.

As someone who witnessed the World Trade Center attack on that tragic day of Sept. 11, 2001, Donovan had no choice but to watch the horror unfold from his Manhattan IRS office just across the street from Ground Zero.

However, when he retired at age 50 after a distinguished nearly 30-year IRS career, he did have a choice. He could do pretty much whatever he wanted during his retirement years. But instead of spending his time sitting on a beach in Florida, Donovan moved to Chicago to volunteer in prison ministry and restorative justice efforts.

“I knew it was time to give back,” said Donovan of his decision to get involved in helping those involved with violence and conflict. “I absolutely felt I did not have the time while I was working to give back. I wanted something substantive, and jail ministry and working in the inner city seemed like the right thing to do.”

For the past 13 years, he spends most of his days visiting prisoners at penitentiaries around the State of Illinois, and nights helping with the Precious Blood of Reconciliation ministry in Chicago’s infamous South Side. Donovan, a devout Catholic, said he believes this is what he was called to do.