Ripon Ripon Scrapbook Scrapbook

Lon Michels in FLorida

These four alumnae took a cruise together on the “Queen of the West” down the Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers in Oregon. From left are Jane Peterson Krampert ’50 of Mt. Prospect, Ill.; Mary Ellen Brodie Whitmore ’50 of Phoenix; Jean Deroin Weber ’45 of Sierra Madre, Calif.; and Jere Deroin DuBois ’50 of Portland, Ore.

Cruisin’ Down the River

COWS Tour Swings Through Ripon

Forty-four high school guidance counselors visited the College in April as part of the Counselors Observing Wisconsin Schools (COWS) tour. The annual effort brings counselors from around the country to campus to help familiarize them with Ripon. They also make stops at Beloit, UW-Madison, Marquette and Lawrence. Above, the group gathers in front of the president’s house after a prairie walk and reception there. Sal De Los Angeles ’05 photo

Artist Lon Michels ’84 recently had an art exhibit at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House in Florida. Above, Michels is shown with his painting “Freedom,” a 140-inch by 112-inch acrylic on canvas.

Food for the Soul

The annual soul food dinner continues to be a popular event for students, faculty and staff — when food is involved, events are always popular. Below, a group of students enjoy a slightly different fare than they would have gotten in the Commons. Sal De Los Angeles ’05 photos

$5,000 Fire Safety Day

Ripon College’s Phi Delta Theta fraternity turned over a check for more than $5,000 to the Ripon Fire Department as a result of their fifth annual fire-safety fund-raising event. At left, one the Phi Delts, dressed in full gear, pulls a dummy as his part of the fire fighter challenge obstacle course similar to what a fire fighter might encounter when fighting fires. Other Phi Delts pulled loaded fire vehicles and still others ran laps in full firefighting gear. The event has raised more than $21,000 for fire safety projects. Sal De Los Angeles ’05 photos

Roy Awarded Underkofler

Associate Professor of Communication

Jody Roy, second from right, is Ripon’s 2004 recipient of the James Underkofler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. The award was created in honor of James Underkofler, past president and chairman for Wisconsin Power and Light, now Alliant Energy. Administered by the Wisconsin Foundation for Independent Colleges (WFIC), the award recognizes the importance of excellence in undergraduate teaching by honoring one outstanding teacher from Ripon each year. Joining Roy in the photo are, from left, President David Joyce; Mary Brott, major account manager for Alliant; Pamela Wagner, Alliant’s executive vice president for strategy and performance; Roy; and Marc Torinus, WFIC president. Ric

The Ripon Contingent at Washington State

Dick Bennett ’65, the new head basketball coach at Washington State University (WSU) and Trevor Durham ’98, assistant director of communications for the WSU Foundation, got together for a photo in April. Bennett and Durham started their new positions at Washington State about a year ago. Bennett, former head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, guided his new team to a 13-16 record, a six-win improvement over 2002-03. The team also had seven Pac-10 conference wins after winning just seven of its last 46 conference games entering last season. Washington State was named the men’s basketball national team of the week in early February after winning games at UCLA and Southern California. Bennett, as expected, is working his magic with another collegiate basketball team.

The Newest of Ripon’s Finest

Lindsey Gorske ’04, right, was sworn in as the newest member of the city of Ripon Police Department in May. At left swearing Gorske in is Mayor Aaron Kramer. In the middle is Ripon Police Chief Dave Lukoski ’77. Gorske worked for the local police department as a junior and senior at the College. Ripon Commonwealth Press photo

Ripon at Fort Bragg

Women’s Alumni Basketball Team

A chance Ripon gathering took place at the 82nd Airborne Museum at Fort Bragg, N.C., last December when Lt. George Johnson ’00 went to buy a copy of the book All the Way to Berlin from author Jim Megellas ’42, not knowing that Megellas was also a Ripon grad. Jim, noting George’s Ripon T-shirt, asked George if he went to Ripon. Of course, a Ripon conversation ensued. George is the grandson of Frances Sischo Altheimer ’43 who was at Ripon when Megellas was.

Last winter, Ripon hosted an alumni basketball weekend. Alumni from a variety of years and a broad geographic area participated. In the front row, from left, are Heidi Marks ’96, Kristin Dodds ’98, Crystal Helm ’97, Kelly Johnson ’99, Erin Gatzke ’00 and Neely Zakos ’01. In the second row, from left, are Niki Gorske ’01, Molly Kneip ’03, Sandy Secor Koresch ’89, Lori Bull Katte ’90, Andrea Wepner ’96, Jeri Belongia Loewe ’96, Kelly Koepp ’00 and Kim Wachtel ’01. In the back, from left, are Rit Lee ’93 and Heather Van Gorden Thomas ’92. Sal De Los Angeles ’05 photo

Massachusetts Gathering

Kay Stender Rains ’71 of Braintree, Mass., left, and Jon Meyer ’70 of Aberdeen, Wash., visit at her home in April. Kevin Rains ’71 photo

Dutcher Claims ‘District Attorney of the Year’ Honors

Guy Dutcher ’87, center, of Wautoma, Wis., was named the 2004 “District Attorney of the Year” by the Wisconsin District Attorney’s Association. Dutcher is district attorney in Waushara County. He was recognized for his work with other community agencies in developing the Waushara County Coordinated Community Response Team to Domestic Violence. He was also recognized for his dedication to his community and close working relationship with local enforcement agencies. “What sets him apart from other district attorneys is his compassion for the mission of fair and equitable justice for all while maintaining the integrity of the office he services,” says Waushara County Human Services Director Lucy Rowley in the Waushara Argus newspaper. Dutcher’s community involvement includes the Waushara County Fair, Booster Clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis, Shara Olympics, youth basketball and Pop Warner football. From left are Waushara County Sheriff David R. Peterson, Dutcher and Curt Olson, a detective in the sheriff’s office. Waushara Argus photo