Inspire, Summer 2007

28 Summer 2007 Inspire 29 alumnotes alumnotes Stephanie Saville ’96 graduated summa cum laude from Capital Bible Seminary with a master’s degree in biblical studies. She served for two years as a missionary with TEAM in Bologna, Italy, where she produced multimedia presentations. She married Thomas Ahrens on March 25, 2006, in New Carrollton, Maryland. Tom, a graduate of the University of Maryland, is a mechanical engineer. Stephanie works in television in northern Virginia, where they reside. Tom and Stephanie are active members of McLean Bible Church. Adria Andrews ’97 and Howard Jones were married October 7, 2006, in Danville, Pennsylvania, where they now reside. Adria is a substitute teacher, and Howard is a farmer for Jones Family Farms. David ’97 and Joanna Hodson Butgereit ’95 announce the birth of Michael James on January 28, 2007. He joins his sister, Lauren (4), at home in Xenia, Ohio. Jen Ferris Larson ’97 and her husband, Mike, announce the birth of Annika Elizabeth on January 11, 2007. She was welcomed home by her brothers, Eric (5) and Alec (2), in Daleville, Virginia. Mike is the property manager for Total Action Against Poverty, and Jen is taking a break from nursing to be a stay-at-home mom. Brad ’97 and Andrea Linamen Nelson ’01 announce the birth of Nicholas Austin. He was born April 15, 2006, and was welcomed home by his brother, Jacob (2). They reside in Columbus, Ohio, where Brad is a finance manager with Cardinal Health, and Andrea enjoys staying at home with the boys. Jesse ’97 and Kerry Allen Roberts ’97 announce the birth of Alyssa Moria on August 25, 2006. She joins her three older brothers, Jacob (7), Daniel (5), and Joel (2), at their home in Cornish, New Hampshire. Jeff ’97 and Angela Boyce Saunders ’97 announce the birth of Ethan William on March 30, 2007, in Kenya. His two sisters, Erica (6) and Emily (4), are excited to have a baby brother to hug and kiss. The family starts a five-month home assignment in July. Michelle Shinaberry ’97 received her professional counselor’s license from the state of Ohio in November 2006. She is a school counselor for Marysville extended school district. Jonathan ’97 and Sarah Jenks Weber ’97 have been serving the Lord in Belgium for almost one year. They are thankful that they continue to learn the language and pass the exams! Jonathan has started leading worship services in Dutch, and is thankful they have only had a few language glitches. Bill Workman ’97 and his wife, Julie, announce the birth of Vincent Douglas on January 31, 2007. Vince joins his brothers, Alex (3) and Justin (1), at home in Westerville, Ohio. The family is in transition at this time because Bill has been out of work. They are seeking God’s direction in their lives as they pursue a full-time ministry position. Aaron ’98 and Jen Howell Berning ’98 announce the birth of Ethan Lawrence on March 11, 2006, in Troy, Ohio. Aaron is a third grade teacher for Sidney City Schools, and Jen is tutoring individual students from home while caring for Ethan. They attend First Baptist Church in Troy, where Aaron serves on the deacon board and in Olympian Kids Club. Ryan ’98 and Ellen Burkhard ’97 announce the birth of Micah James on November 6, 2006. He was welcomed home by Anna (5) and Sammy (3). Ryan is a mechanical engineer with Procter & Gamble, and Ellen loves staying at home with the kids. The family recently moved from Germany to West Chester, Ohio and can be reached at ryanandellen@yahoo.com. Stephanie Dickerson Porter ’98 and her husband, James, announce the birth of Laura Elizabeth on June 26, 2006. She was welcomed home by her older sister, Ashley Anne (2). James is a senior manager for Deliotte, and Stephanie enjoys staying at home with the girls. They reside in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Jill Townsend Fox ’99 and her husband, Jamie, announce the birth of Jamison Christopher Fox II on January 22, 2007. They reside in Rochester Hills, Michigan, where Jill is a stay-at-home mom and Jamie is an engineer. Nikki Chakalis Meraz ’99 and her husband, Dan, announce the birth of Luke Daniel on September 27, 2006. He joins his sister, Millie (2), in Chicago, Illinois. Heather French Raab ’99 and her husband, Jason, announce the birth of Nathan Andrew Raab on November 27, 2006. They live in North East, Pennsylvania, where Jason is a children’s pastor. Heather works part-time from home and loves being a stay-at-home mom. Paula Rummel ’99 serves as the special projects coordinator at the Armstrong County Community Foundation in Ohio. She is the primary contact for the early literacy initiative (Armstrong Books for Children) and will contribute to other projects that help build the capacity of nonprofits in the county. Tim ’99 and Stephanie Friemel Webster ’99 announce the birth of Brandt Cooper on October 21, 2006. Tim is a software trainer, and Stephanie works part-time as a documentation specialist. They reside in Cleveland, Ohio and attend Cuyahoga Valley Church. Andy ’99 and Becky Crosson Ziegenfuss ’99 announce the birth of Kate Elisabeth on June 10, 2006. She joins her sister, Elle Rebekah (2), in Liberty Township, Ohio. Andy is the discipleship pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Mason, Ohio, and Becky is a sales representative for Schering- Plough Pharmaceuticals. 2000s Tim ’00 and Kim Meadows Amstutz ’01 announce the birth of Brookelyn Grace. She was born on September 23, 2006, and joins big brother Ryan (3) at home in Fairborn, Ohio. Tim is a sales engineer for Opex Corp., and Kim stays at home with the kids. Peter ’00 and Rebecca Jordan Bednarek ’99 announce the birth of John Boaz on July 4, 2006. Pete recently took a position as assistant principal and athletic director for Galway Central School in upstate New York after teaching eleventh grade English for six years. Becky works part-time for the Schenectady County Public Health Clinic and enjoys spending the rest of her time taking care of John. Stacie Bennett Cox ’00 and her husband, Gary, are expecting their first child together in July 2007. They were married on September 25, 2004. Both Gary and Stacie work for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Stacie works in the engineering directorate and Gary works in the Orbiter Project office. They currently have two children, ages 14 and 12. James Deaton ’00 received his master of divinity degree from Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois on May 11, 2007. Brandon ’00 and Pam Huls Luke ’00 announce the birth of Maisie Lynn on August 22, 2006. She was welcomed home by her older sister, Analise Joy. Brandon is an engineer at Fasse Valves, and Pam is blessed to stay home with their two precious daughters. Brandon and Pam reside in Kearney, Nebraska and worship and serve at Kearney Evangelical Free Church. Sam ’01 and Megan Earley Bryant ’02 announce the birth of James Matthew on August 17, 2006. Sam serves as the associate pastor of youth and Christian education at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Springfield, Ohio. Megan now stays at home with James, having taught for four years at Emmanuel Christian Academy in Springfield. Andy ’01 and Erin Burkhardt Gingrich ’01 announce the birth of Luke Andrew on November 1, 2006. Luke was born in northern Virginia, where Andy and Erin reside. Andy completed his master’s degree at Dallas Theological Seminary, and he is now the youth pastor at Providence Baptist Church in McLean, Virginia. Erin has the pleasure of staying at home with Luke. CU Graduate’s Work Revealed on NYSE Kara Merrick ’06, a Cedarville University graphic design major, recently saw her work on display at the New York Stock Exchange. The recent graduate turned a summer internship into a full-time position at Rule29, a strategic design firm near Chicago. Within months of starting her job, Kara was asked to design banners for PowerShares, a large financial company. The designer who usually worked on the PowerShares account had a full plate, and the project was passed to Kara. “Since PowerShares had strict standards,” she says, “they gave it to the new girl, thinking she couldn’t mess it up.” Indeed, she did not. The large banners were noticed, even earning a story mention on MSNBC. An Unexpected Honor Xenia police officer Tim Roop ’94 was surprised when his captain told him he needed to attend a 9 a.m. meeting. Informed that it was a breakfast meeting of the Greene County Children’s Service Board, Tim assumed he had been asked to attend so that he could answer questions about being a school resource officer. Tim continued to sit through the breakfast waiting for the school resource discussion to take place. It wasn’t until Greene County commissioner Rick Perales stood to present the Law Enforcement Advocate awards that Tim learned of the real reason for his attendance: he was to be honored by Greene County Children’s Services as the 2006 Law Enforcement Personnel of the Year. For Tim the award came as a major — but pleasant — surprise! The certificate presented to Tim at the breakfast honored him for “responding to the agency for family team meetings [by standing in] as a peace officer in difficult cases where the staff is concerned about the volatility of the family interactions.” The certificate goes on to explain that Tim is often brought into these meetings “cold,” yet he stays calm and shows an ease in adapting to very difficult situations that have powerful impacts on families’ lives. Tim was nominated for the award by several workers from the Greene County Children’s Service Board.