CLASS SCENE
Kathryn Schmidt Picha, Class of 2008 of Burbank, California and her husband, Brent, welcomed their first child, Slade into the world on October 9, 2020.
WE’VE GOT CLASS 1990s
Todd Fadley, Class of 1997 of Springfield, Ohio recently began a new career as a Department Service Officer with AMVETS (American Veterans). Todd is happy to have found his true professional calling after many years of service with various sectors of Ohio Law Enforcement and the United States Marine Corps, helping veterans. 2000s Lew Montgomery, Class of 2000 of Marco Island, Florida was recently named the new Head Football Coach for Marco Island Academy, a charter high school in Marco Island, Collier County, Florida. Lew was an avid player, himself, while on campus and is TU’s all-time career leader in quarterback sacks (30) and tackles for loss (55). He is also the single season sacks record holder with 15 in 1999. Alexis Berg-Townsend, Class of 2003 was recently nominated as a candidate to receive the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) 2021 Woman of the Year Award. This recognition was made in light of her efforts to raise a total of $65,000 for the affiliate LLS Man & Woman of the Year Campaign, a charitable effort dedicated to helping those affected by its namesake diseases, as well as the continued funding of subsequent treatment and cure-related research. The fundraising efforts of Alexis and her team allowed for the naming and support of immunotherapy research in honor of J. Michael Schweder, her late uncle who passed away from lymphoma during the 2021 campaign. Alexis is especially proud to have helped advance this research due to her personal connection to the cause. Abigail Merchantz, Class of 2007 of Lockport, Illinois married her husband, William on October 10, 2020 in Portage, Michigan. Janice Mitchell, MCJ 2007 of Cleveland, Ohio published her memoir entitled “My Ticket to Ride: How I Ran Away to England to Meet the Beatles and Got Rock and Roll Banned in Cleveland (A True Story from 1964)”on September 15, 2021. The memoir is already receiving both local and national attention. Janice is a retired federal investigator, a private investigator, former adjunct professor in TU’s criminal justice department and, as the title of her memoir suggests, a lifelong Beatles fan.
CLASS SCENE / 29
Mike Lento, Class of 2008, MBA 2010 of Kansas, Ohio is the Head Football Coach for the Lakota Raiders of Lakota High School, and was recently named the All-Ohio Division V. Co-Coach of the Year. He was also named as the 2021 Ohio High School Football Coaches Association (OHSFCA) Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award recipient. Maggie L. Smith, MSCJ 2009 of San Angelo, Texas recently graduated with a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree from Angelo State University and plans to continue her journey toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate before eventually attaining the status of Licensed Professional Counselor. Maggie is looking forward to the few years of supervised internships this will require. Stephen Gambescia, MH 2009 of Havertown, Pennsylvania completed a Master of Legal Studies degree, with a concentration in Healthcare Compliance at the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law in May of 2021. He also received their Award for Outstanding Performance in Healthcare Compliance. As it happens, Drexel’s mascot is also a dragon, and Stephen is very proud of his new “Double Dragon” status. He is employed as a professor at Drexel. 2010s Allison Christina Budaj, MH in Humanities, 2010 and MH in Communication, 2015 of Cincinnati, Ohio defended her dissertation in May of 2020 to obtain a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Humanities and Culture from Union Institute and University. She is now employed through the Ameritech College of Healthcare as a Full Professor. Jessica Novak, MH 2012 of Cleveland, Ohio recently started a new position as Program Manager for Continuing Education and Health Technologies, Grants, Projects and Recruitment at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio. She was also recently selected to be a new member of the 100+ Latinos Cleveland Must Know cohort, dedicated to providing professional opportunities for and amplifying the voices of Hispanic, Latino and Latinx individuals / communities within the greater Cleveland area. Keenan Hamilton, Class of 2013 of Lawrence, Kansas is a Facility Operations Programmer with his current city of residence.
