The Carthaginian: Spring 2026

CARTHAGINIAN THE

BACKYARD BOOMTOWN

Carthage

Backyard Boomtown

Carthage continues to provide fertile soil for Kenosha County’s rapid business growth.

Recruiting from the Heart

Driven by loyalty and alumni spirit, the admissions staff wins with authenticity.

NBA Forward to Firebird Superfan

Though he’s hard to overlook, retired NBA player Aaron Williams happily cedes the spotlight to his son, AJ Williams ’26.

3 48 6 20 28 29 31 16

President’s Message

As the connection between the College and the surrounding community grows deeper, we’re all the better for it.

On Campus

While other colleges fought for survival, Carthage set all-time enrollment records in fall 2025.

Athletics

Fresh off a national award through the NFL Latino Youth Honors program, Mariano Talamantez ’29 excelled as a Firebirds freshman.

The Arts

Carthage Theatre earned rave reviews for its performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Faculty & Staff

Psychological science professor Melanie Nyhof earned a Fulbright research fellowship to Indonesia.

Pastor’s Message

For all those who seek it, faith is thriving as part of the student experience.

Alumni

Stay in the loop with news from our accomplished graduates.

Selling the World Cup

A remarkable coincidence gave Carthage an outsized presence at the Library of Congress. 32 36

NBCUniversal executive Daniel Diaz ’11 offers a peek inside this summer’s global soccer tournament.

Class Notes

A Crimson Thread

Revisit the beginnings of A. F. Siebert Chapel as we mark the building’s first 50 years.

THE CARTHAGINIAN Spring 2026 Issue

The Carthaginian is Carthage College’s award-winning magazine, published each spring and fall to celebrate the people, stories, and achievements that define our vibrant community. Mailed to alumni, families, donors, and friends, each issue brings you compelling features, alumni spotlights, campus news, and highlights of the remarkable ways Carthage is making an impact. The magazine is managed by the Office of Marketing and Communications.

All issues published since Fall 2013 can also be viewed online: carthage.edu/carthaginian

Carthaginian Editorial Team

Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Elizabeth Young

Managing Editor

Mike Moore

Contributing Writers

Mike Moore

Andrew Horschak

Freedom Tomasello ’27

Savannah Cooks ’26

Tim Knutson

Design/Art Direction

Jess Wicinski ’20

Steve Janiak

Kim King ’06

Photographers/ Illustrators

Steve Janiak

Hunter Montano

Jess Wicinski ’20

Kassidy Nader ’27

Kamren White ’26

Kayleigh Wieska ’26

Katie Boston ’26

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Gina Madrigrano Friebus ’76

President

John R. Swallow

Vice President for Advancement

Philip Hood

For More Information

The Carthaginian Office of Marketing and Communications 2001 Alford Park Drive Kenosha, WI 53140 262-551-6021 • editor@carthage.edu

Update Address/Mailing Preferences carthage.edu/mycontactinfo 800-551-1518 alumnioffice@carthage.edu

Woven more deeply into Kenosha’s fabric

One of the greatest privileges of serving as Carthage’s president is seeing the many ways our graduates bring their talents into the world. In this issue of The Carthaginian, you’ll meet some alumni who chose to begin their careers right here in Kenosha — a choice that speaks volumes about both the promise of this region and the preparation they received at Carthage.

Their stories reflect something powerful taking shape. More and more, our graduates see Kenosha not only as a city where they studied, but as a place where they can make a meaningful impact, build a rewarding career, and contribute to a thriving community.

Thriving may be an understatement. Unless you follow the region’s news closely, it may have escaped your notice that Kenosha County has added more than 3,000 jobs and welcomed more than $4.8 billion in capital investments in the past two years alone.

This is exactly our vision, centered on Kenosha and expanding outwards: to

strengthen the bridge between education and employment, to expand partnerships with regional employers, and to help young professionals see southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois as a place where opportunity grows.

Carthage is committed to being a catalyst for regional economic vitality. Through The Aspire Center, our employer networks, and expanded career-readiness programming, we’re aligning the strengths of our academic programs with the workforce needs of the region.

In healthcare, an industry with a nearly insatiable demand for new practitioners, this responsive approach is already bearing fruit. Later this spring, we’ll celebrate the grand opening of our School of Health, which is being shaped in consultation with dozens of Carthage’s community partners. Those initial conversations quickly yielded plans for a graduate nursing program, and more offerings are likely to follow.

This issue also lays out our eye-popping enrollment numbers. In fall 2025,

Carthage welcomed a record 1,027 new students from a pool of 11,540 applicants — likewise an all-time high. That’s a tremendous credit to our admissions staff and caring faculty, and it proves that students understand better than ever the value a Carthage education carries.

As positive momentum continues to build up in Kenosha, I predict many of these students will stay for the long term. When our graduates choose to live and work here, they elevate the communities around them — and remind us why this work matters.

I hope you enjoy reading how these alumni are shaping the community’s future. Their stories embody the very best of Carthage: talent, purpose, and possibility taking root close to home.

Warmly,

John R. Swallow

school of health grand opening celebration

Guest Speaker: Steve Serota

For nearly two decades, Steve Serota has worked to optimize patient-centered laboratory medicine.

He is president and COO of Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories, which performs more than 7 million tests annually. He’s also CEO of Atalan, a technology-enabled platform that provides doctors and medical centers unprecedented access to a vetted network of the nation’s foremost clinical laboratories.

Thursday, April 23

Join us to usher in a new era in the preparation of healthcare professionals!

A new altitude

For one night only on Aug. 30, students could glide over Campus Drive on a mobile zipline. That’s one of many fun events Carthage put on to welcome new and returning students last fall.

Enrollment reaches all-time high

The 2025-26 academic year dawned with Carthage setting all-time enrollment records, demonstrating stability and momentum in a shifting higher education landscape.

Full-time undergraduate enrollment stood at 2,873 after the official Oct. 15 count, the largest in the institution’s 179-year history. That included a record incoming class of 1,027 (comprising 926 freshmen and 101 transfers).

While other schools in the Midwest have reported sharp declines in their student population, Carthage enrollment has increased 11% over the past four years. Interest has particularly surged locally; commuters now make up 34% of the total student body.

“More students than ever are choosing Carthage, which reflects the confidence that families have in our strong academic programs, personalized support, and unmatched opportunities,” said Ashley Hanson, vice president for enrollment. “Across the Midwest, there’s been rising awareness that Carthage offers far more than a beautiful lake view.”

Leaders attribute the College’s sturdy

footing to several factors: responsive new degree programs, affordability initiatives, an award-winning approach to career development, and the expansion of athletics. These investments are fueled by the philanthropy of alumni, families, and friends who are playing a growing role in helping Carthage meet its financial objectives.

Between freshmen and transfer students, 11,540 applicants (11,072 freshmen and 468 transfers) sought undergraduate admission for fall

increase over the previous year. Amid this unprecedented surge in student interest, President John Swallow’s vision for controlled growth holds firm.

“As colleges everywhere compete for a shrinking pool of high school graduates, Carthage has resisted the temptation to lower admissions standards or take on debt in the name of short-term gain,” he said.

“Our students rave about the lifelong bonds they form here, and we owe it to them to stay strong for the long haul.”

Turn to page 22 to meet the dedicated Carthage alumni in the Office of Admissions whose tireless efforts bring promising students to their alma mater.

Year-end momentum

Over the fall 2025 semester, Carthage ...

ALLEVIATED

the statewide teacher shortage by creating a pathway to upskill the dedicated staff already at work in K-12 classrooms. Teacher aides from the Milwaukee Academy of Science make up the first cohort, taking Carthage classes that will lead to certification as full-time teachers.

CAPITALIZED

EQUIPPED

76 members of the campus community to prevent suicide, partnering with The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin to offer safeTALK training. Participating faculty, staff, and students learned to stay alert to signs that others may be struggling with suicidal thoughts — and to connect those individuals with safe, supportive helpers.

HOSTED

presentations by experts in a variety of fields, including:

∙ Labor economist Ron Hetrick, whose Sept. 11 talk led off the Carthage Business and Professional Coalition season.

∙ NHL executive David Proper, who spoke at Carthage’s third annual Spotlight on Sports conference Sept. 17.

on the growing research cluster between Kenosha and Chicago, launching a new degree program in biotechnology. The fast-growing field offers pathways into genetic engineering, personalized medicine, cell and gene therapy, sustainable farming, and other rewarding careers. Professor Emily Wollmuth, the program coordinator, noted the campus proximity to industryleading companies like Lilly.

∙ Suneel Gupta, an entrepreneur and author who coached students and alumni to look beyond majors and job titles and build a balanced life in an Oct. 9 event sponsored by The Aspire Program.

∙ David Epstein, author of national bestseller “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World,” who reinforced the value of the liberal arts on Oct. 14. He was a guest of Carthage trustee Don Wruck ’96.

Carthagebucketlist Frombeachdaystoshared cookingnights,seetheserites ofpassagethroughstudenteyes.

2025 in review ReliveoneofCarthage’s moreeventfulyearsinour annual“topstories”roundup.

Dorm decor contest

Seephotosofthisyear’s winningroomsandlearn whatinspiredtheirdesigns.

Incaseyoumissedit

Roommate memoriesSparksomenostalgiaofyour ownbyreadingfunnyand heartfelt alumni stories.

Weeklysportsupdates WatchtheFiREDUprecaps tocatchuponCarthageAthletics in under 10 minutes.

TVandpodcasthost DiscoverhowMeganChristian’24 isfastbecomingthefaceof Wisconsin tourism.

Find links to this and other digital content, plus current and past issues of The Carthaginian magazine: carthage.edu/carthaginian

grand opening celebration

April 23

Join us to celebrate the launch of Carthage’s School of Health and mark a new era in the education of healthcare professionals. To see the event schedule and register, go to: carthage.edu/new-era

Vitals look strong for School of Health

Nobody paused to exhale when the School of Health opened to students last fall.

Carthage moved quickly to begin preparing more highly qualified, compassionate healthcare professionals for a region that urgently needs them.

listening to the community

To ensure the new school responds to real workforce needs, leaders met with more than 75 community stakeholders about the challenges and opportunities shaping the modern healthcare landscape.

The Business and Professional Coalition convened a public forum in November to dig deeper. The discussion, titled “What Healthcare Needs From Higher Education,” featured three panelists:

• David Reitzel ’96, chief information officer at healthcare technology firm Premier Inc.

• Kristin McManmon, president and CEO of Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine

• Lynda Bogdala, administrator at Brookside Care Center in Kenosha

facility expansion

A new nursing laboratory on the lower level

of Hedberg Library is nearing completion, and the Carthage community will get its first look at the space in February.

Carthage trustee Tom Duncan and his wife, Jan, made the facility possible by matching a $1.3 million grant the College had received from Wisconsin’s State Building Commission. The expansion more than quadruples the total nursing space on campus.

Across the street in Lentz Hall, the Nursing Education Center reopened in August following the first phase of renovations. The space now has two acute care patient simulation suites equipped with responsive mannequins and a real-time monitoring system.

graduate program

Along with the continually rising demand for nurses, Carthage recognizes there’s a corresponding need for more teachers who can prepare them. That’s why the School of Health is introducing a path to a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a nurse educator specialization.

The six-semester MSN track is designed for professionals who want to train future nurses in an academic or clinical setting. The first cohort is likely to begin in 2027.

scholarships and job assurances

A newly signed agreement enables Carthage students in either the Certified Nurse Aide or Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs to receive scholarship funding in exchange for a commitment to work in the Froedtert South healthcare system after graduation.

The partnership strengthens the regional workforce while alleviating two of the more intimidating aspects of college: the cost of education and the uncertainty of the job search. A financial commitment from the Duncans made the scholarships possible.

BACKYARD BOOMTOWN

Carthage supplies the fertile soil for Kenosha’s rapid business growth

When Emily (Gabriel) Steenrod ’16 enrolled at Carthage, she didn’t spend much time thinking about the community surrounding the campus.

What mattered most to her at the time were the amenities at the College itself: chiefly the small class sizes and the beautiful lake view. Kenosha, located about 50 miles north of Ms. Steenrod’s childhood home in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, would simply be a return address for the next four years.

As she ventured beyond Campus Drive, however, signs of the community’s immense potential kept emerging. By the time she closed in on a Carthage degree in elementary education, Ms. Steenrod had made up her mind to build a life and career in her adopted hometown.

“I loved every minute of my time at Carthage and really loved being in Kenosha,” she says. “I had such great experiences in the schools and developed such strong relationships with various teachers in the district during observations and student teaching that I really only considered applying for teaching jobs in Kenosha.”

Since then, the buzz about the community’s potential has built to a crescendo. Across Kenosha County, 14,500 jobs have been added in the past decade. With the local renaissance in full swing, Carthage stands ideally positioned to contribute to it — and benefit from it.

RISING STATURE

Ever since its relocation from western Illinois to its current Wisconsin home in the early 1960s, Carthage has promoted its location between Chicago and Milwaukee as a major advantage.

Access to internships and jobs in that bustling corridor remains a strong selling point, but in recent years the College has seen a formidable economic player emerge in its own backyard.

Seemingly every month, another major employer announces plans to set up or expand its operations in the Kenosha area. Amazon. Gummi bear maker Haribo. Packaging giant Uline. Froedtert South healthcare system. Lilly, the pharmaceutical company that developed Zepbound. Just north of the county line, Microsoft is building a huge data center.

Much of this growth is clustered around Interstate 94, but there’s also a rebirth in the heart of the city. A mixed-use development called the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood is starting to take shape on a formerly empty 107-acre lot where automakers Nash, AMC, and Chrysler once cranked out cars and car engines.

Anchoring the site is the Kenosha Innovation Center, a hub for startups that opened in early October. Just a couple of weeks later, the Carthage School of Business and Economics welcomed entrepreneurs to the center for a sixweek business bootcamp.

Economic development officials may be the ones on the front lines convincing companies to locate here, but they’re fully aware that it takes a village to keep the engines of commerce humming.

“We constantly refer businesses to Carthage,” says Nicole Ryf, president of the Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA).

Immediately after she took the position in 2023, the Milwaukee native sensed that Carthage President John Swallow would become a key ally. The feeling was mutual.

“From day one, John embraced and included me,” Ms. Ryf says, and their roadmaps to success remain closely aligned.

Last year, KABA presented its Forward Award to Carthage for driving progress and

fostering growth across the county. Ms. Ryf attributes her confidence in the College largely to President Swallow’s “evolve-or-die mentality.”

He empowers Carthage faculty and administrators to create new degree programs quickly in response to workforce demands, like the recent addition of a biotechnology major. He also encourages stepping outside of the traditional four-year college model, which has yielded a variety of accelerated certification programs — including some taught on site in the workplace.

“Ideally, higher education should position itself to be the primary economic driver in this region, and John is going after all of it,” Ms. Ryf says.

Solidifying the collaboration, she agreed to chair the Carthage Business and Professional Coalition. For nearly 30 years, the group has brought guest speakers to campus to stimulate dialogue about economic issues of common interest.

Now, Ms. Ryf is encouraging the coalition’s committee members themselves — regional leaders from the public and private sectors — to connect more often.

“Nicole brings the same energy and ideas to our steering committee that she is known for

at KABA,” says President Swallow. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the coalition to focus on regional economic development and talent attraction, two topics of vital importance.”

EAGER PARTNERS

As executive director for career and professional development in Carthage’s award-winning Aspire Center, Carolyn Serdar has seen the local business boom give rise to some promising connections. She names Nosco as a prime example. In the five years since the employee-owned packaging company expanded into Kenosha County with a new headquarters and innovation center in Pleasant Prairie, it has become a steady suitor for Carthage students and graduates.

That worked out great for Driedyn Hernandez ’25, who worked part time for Nosco as a senior and then upgraded to a full-time position there shortly after completing his studies in December.

Coming to Carthage from tiny North Webster, Indiana, he squeezed every possible drop out of his college experience. Mr. Hernandez completed his degree in 3 1/2

years as a triple major in finance, marketing, and management while working in The Aspire Center and serving as an officer in multiple student organizations.

Each role added a new branch to his professional network. Nosco first came on his radar when, as president of the student-run Velocity Consulting agency, Mr. Hernandez agreed to speak at an introductory meeting between leaders from Carthage and the company.

“When you’re in business, a lot of it is about connections. Right out of the gate, I could either reset everything at home or build on the ones I’ve already made here,” says Mr. Hernandez, who chose the latter.

To tide him over until Carthage’s official Commencement in May, colleagues at Nosco put on a mock graduation ceremony for Mr. Hernandez — complete with a cap and gown in the company’s signature purple hue.

“It’s been amazing,” he says. “Every time I come home and talk about my job, I hear ‘That’s a great gig you’ve got.’ I think if I went to a Fortune 500 company, I’d be a number.”

Driven largely by the influx of manufacturers, Kenosha’s employment rate rose 10.4% between 2019 and 2024 — by far

the highest increase in the state. Jobs on the factory floor don’t typically require a four-year degree, but white-collar workers are just as vital to those businesses.

“Carthage develops graduates who are ready to step into higherlevel managerial, analytical, or strategic positions,” explains Ms. Serdar, who was recently elected to the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

“Employers know they’re getting someone who can contribute to a modern manufacturing workforce — one that values innovation, data-driven decision-making, and people-centered management.”

The Aspire Center gives hiring managers several avenues to find qualified candidates for jobs and internships. Over the fall semester, Carthage hosted 45 on-campus recruiting visits for individual employers. Informational tables set up near the Caf and other mealtime hotspots boost their odds.

In addition, the center organizes several career fairs throughout the year, including events focused on specific career fields like business, healthcare, STEM, and education. One new fair in April will address local organizations’ growing need for short-term help with standalone projects.

CARTHAGE DEVELOPS GRADUATES WHO ARE READY TO STEP INTO HIGHER-LEVEL MANAGERIAL, ANALYTICAL, OR STRATEGIC POSITIONS.

-CAROLYN SERDAR

RED CARPET TREATMENT

Last fall, Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala met with three young Carthage alumni to learn why they’ve chosen to stay in Kenosha after growing up in other states. They cited positives like affordability, safety, civic engagement, festivals, and work opportunities.

“Alumni felt Kenosha offers the ‘right-size’ environment where their careers can grow quickly, and where their work has a real community impact,” Mayor Bogdala elaborates. “They also said it really felt like home.”

Among the interviewees was Emily Steenrod, the Illinois transplant.

Hired by Pleasant Prairie Elementary School the day before Commencement in 2016, she’s still there as a first-grade teacher. The building sits about 10 miles

southwest of the Carthage campus.

While she remains deeply attached to the school and the population it serves, Ms. Steenrod told the mayor her family’s allegiance to the area is just as much about the quality of life they enjoy outside of work.

“Kenosha is such an underrated city!” she says. “The main message I shared was how the continued development of downtown has been a determining factor for us deciding to stay and plant our roots. From the farmers markets to the restaurants to the lakefront, downtown is such a fun place to be.”

Local officials love to hear that. It means their message is getting through.

Since his election in 2024, Mayor Bogdala has consistently expressed a desire to make Kenosha a true college town. To reinforce that, he greeted students during Carthage’s 2025-26 year-opening Kickoff Days and even took a turn on the zipline.

THERE’S A GROWING RECOGNITION THAT CARTHAGE STUDENTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY’S ENERGY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.

-MAYOR DAVID BOGDALA

KENOSHA IS SUCH AN UNDERRATED CITY!

... FROM THE FARMERS MARKETS TO THE RESTAURANTS TO THE LAKEFRONT, DOWNTOWN IS SUCH A FUN PLACE TO BE.

-EMILY STEENROD ’16

The new arrivals received welcome packets with Kenosha area visitor information. Boutique stores and restaurants displayed Carthage pennants or banners and sweetened the invitation with special offers. Dozens of businesses now give discounts to students on everything from sushi to spa services.

The hospitality extended to alumni who returned for Homecoming and Family Weekend. Multiple class reunions culminated with gatherings at popular Kenosha night spots.

“It has been encouraging to see businesses embrace students and families more visibly,” says Mayor Bogdala. “There’s a growing recognition that Carthage students are an essential part of our community’s energy and economic vitality.”

That was the first step in a concerted effort to win over these bright young minds. Looking ahead, the city is ramping up its hospitality on three fronts, as Mayor Bogdala explains:

“We’re working with local businesses to expand student-friendly initiatives

and create more internship and job pathways. We’re exploring improvements in transportation, signage, and public spaces to make it even easier for students to experience the city. And, as you know, we’re committed to establishing Kenosha as a true center of excellence for higher education.”

Bold goals? Certainly, but that’s the stuff Firebirds are made of.

“I’m grateful for Carthage’s leadership in this shared vision,” says Mayor Bogdala, “and for the role the College plays in shaping the future of our city.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN KENOSHA COUNTY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS:

3,000+ JOBS $4.8 BILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT

4.7 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF DEVELOPMENT

Freshman standout mingles with the pros

Millions of young players dream of playing college football and then ultimately matching up with the top pros at the Super Bowl.

Mariano Talamantez ’29 just tackled those goals in a different order.

In February 2025, Mariano was still months away from finishing high school when organizers of a national award for Latino and Latina student-athletes booked him a ticket to New Orleans. Originally nominated by the Green Bay Packers, he was one of eight finalists selected to take part in exclusive events leading up to Super Bowl LIX.

At the same star-studded ceremony where presenters gave out the Most Valuable Player award and announced the newest Pro Football Hall of Fame class, Mariano was introduced as the male winner in the second annual NFL Latino Youth Honors program — an award that comes with a $25,000 grant toward college.

This joint initiative between the league, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), and sponsor Procter & Gamble recognizes athletic and academic excellence. An HHF news release delved deeper, lauding Mariano for “inspiring his teammates,

volunteering to support his community, and embracing his Mexican heritage.”

The rest of his five-day experience in the Big Easy was a flurry of activity. He rubbed elbows with NFL greats, met individually with wide receiver Chris Olave of the hometown Saints, and generally got the VIP treatment for the big game.

“After the game, the streets of New Orleans were flooded with fans. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Mariano remembers. “It was truly a blessing, and an experience that I will never forget. To this day, I am still in contact with some of the amazing people that I met.”

confident competitor

Six months later, he suited up as a Firebird for the first time. And the defensive back from Racine, Wisconsin, made an immediate impact.

Accumulating 54 tackles and a team-high three interceptions during the 2025 season, Mariano was the first Carthage player ever to be honored as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin’s top defensive freshman.

The ability to calmly sift through the chaos on the field translates well to

Mariano’s chosen profession. Carthage admitted him into its renowned Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

“I’m especially drawn to emergency or trauma nursing,” he says. “I like the fast pace and the chance to make a real difference for someone when they need it most.”

He knows how to talk when it matters. “ ”

Head coach Matt Popino knew he was getting an aggressive competitor with a full tank of confidence. But he took notice as the normally quiet Mariano spoke up to rally his teammates at critical times.

“For a freshman to do that, it shows the type of leadership qualities he has,” Coach Popino explains. “He knows how to talk when it matters.”

Mariano arrived with a built-in fan base. The Talamantez family tent is unmistakable on game days, whether it’s pitched north

of Art Keller Field or somewhere else in the Midwest.

“They come to every single game — home or away — and they always tailgate,” Mariano says. “They’re incredibly supportive, and showing up like that has kind of become our tradition.”

Soon, Mom and Dad will have a reason to cheer extra loud. Their younger son, Mauricio, has also committed to attend Carthage and play football for the Firebirds beginning this fall.

Firebirds senior displays ultimate closing kick

Peaking at the best possible time, Jacob Curulewski ’26 closed out his collegiate cross country career with a season for the ages.

First, Jacob won Carthage’s first individual conference title in men’s cross country since 2002, completing the 8-kilometer course in a personal best time of 23 minutes, 57.2 seconds on Nov. 1 in Rock Island, Illinois. That broke North Central runners’ 15-year hold on the top spot at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet.

Three weeks later, at the NCAA Division III championships, Jacob became the program’s first All-American since 1973. He surged past two rivals in the final uphill kilometer to finish eighth in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and secure the final spot on the All-America first team. It took

another personal record (23:56).

“He’s such a tough kid who runs with so much heart, and it’s just been such a fun ride,” Firebirds head coach Josh Henry said afterward. “I often tell our guys to cherish every moment, because you rarely capture that Disney storybook ending. We got one here today.”

Fueled by what his coach calls an elite work ethic, Jacob steadily improved over four years in the program — and the growth has been contagious. Carthage placed second as a team at the CCIW meet despite losing five of the previous season’s top seven runners to graduation.

It’s not quite time for Jacob to rest those fleet feet. The English major from Downers Grove, Illinois, has one last indoor and outdoor track season to go as a Firebird before he graduates.

women’s volleyball Conference’s top defender

Coaches in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selected Carthage libero Jenna Damon ’26 as the 2025 defensive player of the year. Last fall, the senior led the conference with 556 digs and had the third-most service aces with 58.

all sports

CCIW Network streaming

Powered by Hudl, the CCIW Network became the official athletics streaming platform for Carthage and the other eight core members of the CCIW. All fans can access live broadcasts without a subscription on either desktop or mobile devices. Select recordings are archived for on-demand viewing. cciwnetwork.com/carthage

Youth sports clinics

“Train Like a Firebird: Ember’s Sports Clinics” is a new series of free 90-minute sessions that Carthage Athletics offers at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha for young athletes (grades 1-8) of all skill levels. More than 220 kids signed up for three fall clinics, and families can still register for several others that are scheduled this spring. carthage.edu/community/sports-clinics

Athletic crowdfunding

Firebirds supporters donated $121,536 on Oct. 23 in the first Carthage Athletics crowdfunding day. Football led the way with 240 donors and more than $28,000 raised, and all 28 varsity sports received double-digit donations. carthage.edu/champions

Catching up with the 2025 Hall of Fame class

Four new members joined the Athletic Hall of Fame at the Sept. 27 Homecoming Brunch. We checked in to see what they’ve been doing since taking off the Carthage uniform (left to right):

· Augie Schmidt IV has retired after 38 years as Carthage’s head baseball coach.

· Herman Abban ’19 works as a tennis professional at The Racquet Club of Lake Bluff in suburban Chicago and is part of the Davis Cup coaching staff for his native Ghana.

· Griffin Shields ’17 played pro volleyball in Germany and now lives and works in Milwaukee as a field rewards financial consultant for Northwestern Mutual.

· Matt Meneghetti ’18 is a professional golfer from Schererville, Indiana. He’s won the Iowa Open twice.

“... an incredibly moving show, especially in its closing moments when several audience members were visibly wiping away tears.”

– The Smu Reviews

Stellar showing at the Fringe

Critics applaud Carthage Theatre show in Edinburgh

At its core, the fringe theatre movement embraces underdogs and rejects gatekeepers.

Rather than letting a central group decide which shows to include in its events, the fringe welcomes all participants. That open access approach often attracts experimental plays and up-and-coming theatre troupes — like Carthage.

For three weeks last summer, faculty and students traveled to Scotland’s capital for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. There, they introduced the world to one of Carthage Theatre’s groundbreaking original plays, giving 13 performances of “Life Cycle of a Star.”

Established in 1947, the festival no longer looms on the fringe. It has grown into the world’s largest performing arts gathering. It was Carthage’s third J-Term excursion to Edinburgh, following appearances in 2014 and 2019.

Written by contemporary playwright Ali Viterbi, “Life Cycle of a Star” explores the lifelong friendship between two women using the metaphor of a star’s evolution. It premiered on campus in November 2024 as part of Carthage’s long-running New Play Initiative. Each year, the Theatre Department commissions an acclaimed playwright to create a new script with a student cast and crew.

Like all J-Term study tours, the Edinburgh itinerary left time for students to explore the city. They climbed a small mountain called Arthur’s Seat to watch the sunrise, visited museums, and sampled the local cuisine at several restaurants and cafes.

But their daily duties began long before the 5:15 p.m. showtime. At the Fringe, where festival-goers could choose from an estimated 3,800 different shows,

marketing was essential.

“We were busking every day,” says theatre professor Herschel Kruger, who directed the play. “We wanted to make personal connections with potential audience members, knowing that we had to make this show stand out among thousands of choices.”

To promote their production, Carthage students passed out 5,000 handbills, wrote messages with sidewalk chalk, invited everyone to add their own best friend’s name to a sign, and made hundreds of star-beaded friendship bracelets. Inspired by a scene in the play, they even played the classic children’s string game cat’s cradle with passersby. Those who came to see “Life Cycle of a Star” definitely didn’t regret it. The sea of positive feedback included glowing, fivestar reviews from two professional critics.

British reviewer Mark Fernyhough called the relationship between the main characters “the most moving on-stage relationship of the Fringe,” thanks to actors Melissa Schmidt ’25 and Lily Lourigan ’25. Scottish writer Susan Sloan wrote on her pop culture blog, The Smu Reviews, that Carthage Theatre “delivered with panache, originality, and a close-to-thebone relatability.”

Ticketed patrons raved about the experience, too. Two pages of audience reviews on the Fringe website complimented every aspect of Carthage’s show — acting, narration, directing, lighting, music, and set design.

“When you’re out at international festivals and you’re bringing in audiences and getting professional reviews that are so supportive, it gives you a different type of confidence,” says Prof. Kruger. “It adds up to an experience that can’t be replicated.”

Creative expression inspired by ‘Lady Day’

In Carthage’s fall dance production, “Everything You Touch,” talented student performers brought layers of experience and perspective to the stage through pieces specially choreographed for them.

The show ran Nov. 14-16 in Wartburg Theatre. It featured works by faculty members like Stacy Pottinger, who directs the Carthage dance minor, as well as guest artists and students Liz Duffy ’26, Katherine O’Donnell ’26, and Kyliah Vruwink ’26.

Musical selections for the program ranged from classical to contemporary, including an

ode to Billie Holiday. Guest choreographer Jenna Jozefowski developed the 12-minute montage after emerging from a rabbit hole of research into the jazz and swing legend, whose life and career were repeatedly impeded by racism, sexism, and censorship.

“My piece might be inspired by her life and art,” Ms. Jozefowski wrote, “but it also touches on universal themes that still feel relevant to many of us today.”

Carthage dancers will return to the Wartburg stage May 8-9 with two 7:30 p.m. performances of “Away from the Mirror.”

INSIDE ADVANTAGE

Long on alumni spirit, Admissions team wins in recruiting with concierge-level service

choosing a college isn’t like pumping gas or booking a plane ticket. There’s no selfserve kiosk, no all-knowing algorithm, and definitely no “skip human interaction” button. As one of life’s biggest decisions, it still deserves a personal touch.

That belief sits at the heart of Carthage’s admissions philosophy. Judging by the results, it’s working.

When Carthage reached record highs in both applications and first-year enrollment in fall 2025, it validated what the Office of Admissions has long known: Students and their families want the full-service treatment.

From the first campus visit to move-in day, the Admissions team is there for every step, answering questions, offering reassurance, deciphering financial aid jargon, and celebrating milestones along the journey.

It’s telling that the Carthage admissions staff has enjoyed relatively little turnover, with 15 professionals totaling 201 years of service to the institution. They form a tight-knit group that eats together in the Caf almost daily.

Alumni have proven to be a key ingredient in the not-so-secret sauce. Carthage graduates constitute a majority in the admissions office.

“It is especially rare to see this kind of longevity and this number of alumni on an admissions office staff,” says Ashley Hanson,

vice president for enrollment. “Their loyalty speaks volumes about Carthage and its transformative impact.”

FULLY INVESTED AND AUTHENTIC

The alumni in the office represent a wideranging menu of majors, from business to science to the humanities. Some arrived after careers in other industries. A few left Carthage and later found their way back home.

What draws them in — and keeps them here — is a shared sense of purpose and love for their alma mater.

“Working at Carthage is a vocation, not simply a job,” says Rob Schiferl ’97, director of strategic recruitment. “Seeing students grow and move on to fulfilling lives helps keep me fulfilled, as well.”

ROB SCHIFERL ’97

Director of Strategic Recruitment

25 years at Carthage carthage roots:

• B.A. in English, Criminal Justice

• Married to Jessica (Kahre) Schiferl ’01

In a typical year, each Carthage rep visits 35 to 40 schools, gives hundreds of presentations, and talks to more than 2,000 families. It’s demanding work, but belief in the mission makes the long days worthwhile.

From a high school student’s perspective, it’s a bonus when the recruiter sitting across the desk from you is an alum. Who better to talk about the value of a Carthage degree than the person who’s got one framed on the wall?

“When our staff members share stories from their own experiences as Carthage students, it doesn’t feel like a sales pitch,” Ms. Hanson says. “Families can tell the message is authentic.”

Mallory (Gullo) Madson ’09 points to faculty and staff stability. Her own academic advisors and hall director are still on campus years later. Rafael Lozano ’01 recalls two unforgettable J-Term study tours to Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Cody Taylor ’09, M.Ed. ’14, began and ended his college journey here, with an underwhelming year at a large state university in between. So he can lay out Carthage’s advantages in living color.

Had Mr. Taylor stayed at that other cookie-cutter school, it’s unlikely he’d have such unique stories to tell this generation of college-bound students. Like the time he shut out the Firebirds’ opponent for a half, scored a goal, and earned a yellow card for excessive celebration — all in the same soccer match.

Senior Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

7 years at Carthage

carthage roots:

• B.A. in Psychology

• Member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority

• Married to Curtis Madson ’07

Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

4 years at Carthage carthage roots:

• B.A. in Business administration, Spanish

• Lettered in Men’s Track and Field (4 years), Football (3 years)

• Volunteer Assistant Coach for Men’s and Women’s Wrestling

Families often ask about campus employment, so John Frese ’11 cites his old student position at the Hedberg Library circulation desk. While Mr. Frese — who met his future wife when she broke the library’s copier — can’t guarantee that sort of kismet, he does assure students they’ll earn more than a paycheck.

“As an introverted commuter student, that job pulled me out of my shell by placing me right at the academic heart of Carthage,” he explains. “I helped students and faculty every day, having countless conversations I might never have had otherwise.”

Been there, loved that

Once a class is enrolled, the team hands the new students off to Carthage’s broader support network — academic advisors, professors, coaches, RAs, and career specialists — and quickly turns its attention to the next incoming group.

Many of those students circle back to the Office of Admissions for rewarding campus jobs. As a student ambassador for three years, Bre Reynolds ’21 gave hundreds of campus tours, assisted with mailings, and scheduled family visits.

After graduating with a degree in communication, Ms. Reynolds worked in private industry for a year but felt the familiar tug of her alma mater. Offered a full-time position as Carthage’s admissions event and program coordinator in 2022, she eagerly accepted.

Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

10 years at Carthage

carthage roots:

• B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science

• Lettered in Men’s Soccer (3 years)

Director of Admissions and Financial Aid 6 years at Carthage

carthage roots:

• B.A. in English

• Married to Reiko Arimura ’11, M.Ed. ’20

Admissions Event and Program Coordinator 3 years at Carthage

carthage roots:

• B.A. in Communication

• Member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority

• Worked as a Student Ambassador

• Dance coach for the Spirit Team

GREG HUSS ’90

Director of Admissions and Financial Aid 16 years at Carthage

carthage roots:

• B.A. in Marketing

• Parent of three Carthage graduates

She’s also a dance coach for the Firebirds’ Spirit Team, renewing a passion that she cultivated over four years as a student.

“Getting to chat with prospective dance team families brings me immense joy,” says Ms. Reynolds. “As the saying goes, the people make the place, and Carthage has the best people.”

For long-serving admissions reps, the College often becomes the centerpiece of a family tradition. Greg Huss ’90 proudly watched three of his children graduate from Carthage, and

Senior Director of Admissions and Financial Aid 17 years at Carthage

carthage roots:

• B.A. in Business Administration, Marketing

• Lettered in Baseball (4 years)

• Parent of one current and one former Carthage student

Manager, Slate and Customer Relationship Management 22 years at Carthage

carthage roots:

• B.A. in Computer Science, Classics

• Married to Rebecca (Dufresne) Kishline ’07

Ben Gorres ’97 is the parent of a current junior.

“I always say I can relate to each person’s perspective, because I’ve seen Carthage through a lot of different lenses — as a student, an alumnus, a parent, and an employee for the past 17 years,” says Mr. Gorres. “I like to talk about my experience as a student-athlete in the ’90s and how it shaped me, the growth that’s taken place since then, and the phenomenal opportunities my daughter has seen.”

In today’s increasingly complex college landscape, expert guidance matters more than ever. With confusing acronyms, shifting deadlines, and high-stakes decisions, the process can feel overwhelming — especially for first-generation students, who make up 29% of Carthage’s current freshman class.

That’s why Carthage assigns each prospective student one dedicated admissions counselor from start to finish. One person who can explain the difference between FAFSA and FERPA just as easily as recommending the best place in town for pizza.

If you know any high school students who would thrive in a community like Carthage, please encourage them to contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@carthage.edu or 262-551-6000.

Do you have a bachelor’s degree but want to further your education and advance your career? Enroll in a graduate program at Carthage. We offer master’s degree programs and certifications in a variety of fields.

master of science*

1 year

Business Innovation

Sports Management

master of education*

1.5 to 2 years

Accelerated Certification for Teachers

Bilingual license

Curriculum and Instruction

Sports Leadership in Education

Teacher Leadership

master of music

1 year

Music Pedagogy

Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy

master of arts 2 years

Athletic Training

*These programs can be taken partially or entirely online.

Learn more at: carthage.edu/graduate

Updates

kevin crosby, professor of physics, astronomy, and computer science, won a NASA TechLeap Prize worth up to $500,000, funding development of potentially important technology for future space exploration. Prof. Crosby is conducting a new line of research with several Carthage students and collaborators from NASA and Georgia Tech: Microgravity Ullage Trapping, a method designed to make in-space refueling more efficient. Prize funding enables the team to build an experimental payload with the opportunity to test it on a suborbital, hosted orbital, or parabolic flight.

carolyn del negro, admissions office manager, retired in September after 35 years at Carthage. In addition to overseeing application management through decades of growth and five computer system changes, she directly guided international students through the process.

michael hall, adjunct instructor of music (viola), performed a solo recital Oct. 20 at Blackstone Memorial Library in Chicago as part of the city’s monthlong Ear Taxi Festival.

michele hancock, vice president of college culture for inclusion, received the Rev. Olen Arrington Jr. Excellence Award at the Kenosha NAACP Annual Freedom Fund banquet in November.

gary keller, associate professor of management, shared his expertise in creativity and innovation with three insightful presentations last fall: “Creative Nonprofit Leadership” at the UW-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education, as well as “Creativity and Innovation — Critical Differences” and “Strategic Planning for BizStarts” at the Kenosha Innovation Center.

charlene kluegel, adjunct assistant professor of music (violin), released a landmark album of music by suffragette composers. “DISSIDENTS OF THE GILDED AGE” pays tribute to Cecile Chaminade, Ethel Smyth, and Amy Beach, whose work defied the social confines of their time.

jessica lavorata, assistant professor of engineering, and murat dinç, a ssociate professor of engineering, were selected for yearlong opportunities through Engineering Unleashed — a faculty network that promotes an entrepreneurial mindset. Prof. Lavorata was awarded a fellowship to build on her innovative teaching, while Prof. Dinç was named a community catalyst to stimulate discussion and support participating faculty.

jim padilla, dean of the School of Business and Economics, was recognized by BizTimes Media in July as a Notable Latino Leader.

colleen palmer, associate professor of communication and public relations, is a featured author in the new textbook “Teaching Communication, Volume IV.”

james richie, adjunct faculty – Intellectual Foundations, was nominated for a Best of the Net award for his translation of an excerpt from “WIDE SCREEN” by Mexican poet Victor Cabrera. The translation was published in literary journal Hayden’s Ferry Review.

nina weisling, associate professor of education, published two manuscripts focused on different aspects of understanding and supporting special education teachers.

emily wollmuth, assistant professor of biology, spent six weeks at the University of Guelph in Canada teaching a group of 36 high school students through the Summer Science Program, an intensive residential research program operated by SSP International.

A unique take on the afterlife

Psychology professor wins Fulbright to study Indonesian culture

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awarded a 2025-26 research fellowship to Carthage psychological science professor Melanie Nyhof, expanding her research in Southeast Asia.

Prof. Nyhof departed for Indonesia in November — specifically Tana Toraja, a distinctive region on the country’s fourth-largest island. Her project explores

children’s beliefs about death and the afterlife, and how religion and culture shape those views.

It’s the second Fulbright award for Prof. Nyhof, who previously earned a student fellowship that funded her first research trip to Indonesia in 2009. That study was based in Yogyakarta, a city on the densely populated island of Java, but five days in Tana Toraja piqued her interest in the local culture and its rituals.

“Funerals there were like nothing I’d ever experienced. They can last for several days,

Inside a community where faith thrives pastor’s message

When you read The Carthaginian, you read about the many ways that the College is thriving — in academics, in the arts and athletics, in enrollment, and in a sustainable vision for the future. This community continues to thrive because we continue to prioritize those who matter most: our students.

As I settle in for my second year as Carthage’s campus pastor, thriving is on my mind and in my heart, especially as it relates to our students. What does it mean for young adults to thrive at Carthage, especially in faith and spirituality?

community in Kenosha to feed their spirit. Still others dwell with God by continuing to immerse themselves in their home congregations, no matter how near or far their home communities are. There is an undeniably powerful attachment a person feels to the faith community that formed them as a youth.

and the entire village is involved,” Prof. Nyhof said before her departure. “I’m eager to spend more time there, observing facets of the culture in-depth.”

While she’s overseas, her Carthage lab assistants are pushing forward on a couple of related studies. Eight students are analyzing depictions of death and the afterlife in children’s movies and children’s understanding of animals’ mental capacity.

Hosted by Universitas Kristen Indonesia (UKI) Toraja, Prof. Nyhof is working with an Indonesian theology professor and other collaborators. They’re helping her coordinate visits to schools and worship spaces, as well as interviews with parents and leaders.

From the reams of information she’s gathering in the field, Prof. Nyhof expects to have plenty of follow-up projects for Carthage student researchers to dive into when she returns to campus this fall.

We thrive when we are deeply connected — to one another, to the present moment, and to God. Faith can and does thrive here at Carthage. Compared to those of us who attended college in a previous era, current students’ faith experiences probably look different.

Some of our students are deeply connected to God right here at Carthage through worship, devotions, Bible study, and a variety of faith-based student organizations. Many see God in the beauty of Lake Michigan or experience God’s love through their classmates, professors, and other friends or mentors.

Others find a local faith

Across the country, the vast majority of worship services are now streamed online. That modern amenity provides yet another option for Carthage students who can’t make it to their preferred church, synagogue, mosque, or other house of worship in person.

Each Wednesday after our midday worship, I lead a simple, impactful program called Faith for Today. Over lunch, students and I talk about the intersection of their faith, their lives, and the world around us. The dual emphases of this weekly gathering are important. God calls all of us to live our faith today so that our communities, neighbors, and world can thrive.

I hope and pray that your life — and your faith — are thriving today!

Rev. Adam Miller-Stubbendick Dudley Riggle Endowed Chair for Campus Ministry

LEADERS IN PHILANTHROPY

Scholarships inspired by love of God and the outdoors

Lifelong Kenosha County resident Charlotte (Kozak) Bishop ’77 was only a young girl when Carthage moved to the area. She’s extremely grateful that it did.

Undeterred by the prospect of being “a Catholic among many Lutherans,” she felt welcome enough to enroll at Carthage in the mid-seventies. Nearly 50 years later, that sense of belonging played a part in her philanthropic planning.

Char, as most people call her, had a close relationship with her aunt, Irene LaJeunesse. Wisdom from the Rev. Dudley Riggle’s powerful Carthage course on death and dying prepared her to be a caregiver in Irene’s last years.

Upon Irene’s death, Char became the trustee for the estate. Her responsibilities include deciding which causes to fund every year. Mindful that Irene was a strong supporter of Catholic education in the Kenosha area, Char looked for ways to carry on that legacy through a number of institutions.

In 2020, she established a scholarship at Carthage in her beloved aunt’s memory. By then, Catholic students had become much more plentiful on campus.

With Charlotte Bishop’s guidance, the Irene LaJeunesse Scholarship has provided $135,000 of immediate student impact in just six short years.

Besides pouring the foundation for Char’s successful career, Carthage imparted life lessons beyond the classroom — so far beyond it, in fact, that her love of the outdoors sprouted in those years. She distinctly remembers practicing canoe-over-canoe rescues on Lake Michigan as part of a water safety exercise.

Conservation-minded to this day, Char serves on the board of directors for Hawthorn Hollow, a local nature sanctuary and arboretum. She and her husband, Joel, continue to live on the west end of the county with their equines (including a mini-mule and a mini-donkey) and an assortment of dogs, cats, and occasionally chickens.

Char appreciates the breadth of benefits that her Carthage degree provided, and she’s happy to ensure that today’s students have the same access.

If you would like to create or contribute to a Carthage scholarship fund, please contact the Office of Advancement at giving@carthage.edu or 262-551-5700.

Leadership Giving Society members give $1,000 or more cumulatively ($250 for alums 0-5 years out; $500 for alums 6-10 years out) to any area of the College in a fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. Tiers recognize higher levels of giving. Membership is renewable annually.

Enduring Gift Society members have cumulative lifetime giving totaling $100,000 or more (exclusive of estate commitments). Tiers recognize higher levels of giving. Membership is lifetime.

Alford Park Loyalty Society members have contributed any amount to the College for three or more consecutive fiscal years (July 1 through June 30). Tiers recognize greater consecutive years of giving. Membership is renewable annually.

Denhart Society members have made Carthage a part of their legacy through estate commitments and planned gifts. Membership is lifetime.

Sustainer Society members have demonstrated an ongoing commitment by setting up recurring gifts that provide steady, reliable support for Carthage.

To learn more about our philanthropic societies and see online donor honor rolls, please visit: carthage.edu/leaders-in-philanthropy

Q&A

with Daniel Diaz ’11 Vice President of Ad Sales –World Cup, Sports, and Olympics at NBCUniversal

student highlights

While at Carthage, Mr. Diaz:

• majored in public relations, communication, and Spanish

• competed in men’s soccer (3-year letterwinner, 2010 captain)

• studied abroad in Spain

• completed a 3-month business immersion program in China

How to meet every sales GOOOOAAAAAL!

For Daniel Diaz ’11, a soccer aficionado and advertising executive who lives in New York City, it’s the trifecta of excitement.

The former Carthage student-athlete recently earned a promotion to vice president of ad sales for all major sporting events on NBCUniversal’s local broadcasts and digital platforms, including the long-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup. The media company will deliver the action to Spanish-language viewers via the Telemundo network and Peacock streaming app.

NBCUniversal reported in December that all but 10% of sponsorship packages had sold and ad revenue was running twice that of the previous Cup in 2022. The United States is co-hosting this year’s global soccer tournament with Canada and Mexico.

In the lead-up to the big summer spectacle, Mr. Diaz took time to answer a few questions:

This is the third time you’ve been involved in the World Cup. What’s the excitement level for this one?

This is truly the biggest World Cup. There are more teams competing in more matches in more cities than ever. An estimated 2 billion worldwide viewers will watch the final, so they’re expecting it to be the single most connected moment in the history of civilization. The grandeur of it is going to be unique, and it’s cool to play a part in it.

What’s fueling the spike in advertising demand?

Live sports is becoming more valuable to

advertisers every day, because viewers are really engaged and can’t skip ahead like they might with a recorded show. Then there’s the growth of soccer, which is finally getting the white-glove treatment it deserves. Combine all of that with the fact we’re hosting it, and it’s kind of the perfect storm.

For the Latino fans that we’re specifically reaching on Telemundo, this is almost a cultural event. Advertisers know if they miss this chance, they may have to wait another four years to talk to this audience at the same scale. We also went in with a really good strategy, packaging the World Cup with other NBC “tentpole” events like the Olympics and the NBA All-Star Game.

“the single most connected moment in the history of civilization.”

How did your Carthage experience equip you for this role?

Having the chance to compete in NCAA athletics and still expand my knowledge globally helped me become well-rounded. I wasn’t just allowed to study abroad; I was encouraged to do it. The ability to see the world with that kind of peripheral vision has given me an advantage at every stage of my life.

What keeps you busy outside of the office these days?

In December, I graduated with an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University. I still try my best to play soccer at a high-ish level with Fresh Coast FC, a club I started in Chicago in 2013 and later moved here to New York. We won last year’s Icarus Cup in Boston, one of the premier 7-on-7 tournaments in the country.

And I serve on Carthage’s Sports Management Advisory Council with a group of special people. I’ve been lucky enough to mentor a few of the master’s students in sports management, one of the coolest programs to come out of Carthage. I’m excited to give back in a way that I know is going to make an impact.

“Bullish” on the Americans’ outlook, Mr. Diaz hopes to see the U.S. men’s national team advance to the quarterfinals. Whoever makes the final, scheduled for July 19 at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey, he’ll be there to soak it all in.

Class Updates

Doubly productive in the Library of Congress

Carthage made an outsized mark on the nation’s most prestigious library, as two graduates earned spots in the elite 2024-25 Librarianin-Residence cohort at the Library of Congress. Out of six fellows selected nationwide, one-third were Carthaginians — a coincidence the two alumni didn’t uncover until they met in Washington, D.C.

HANNA (GICHARD)

FOGLE ’09 of Milwaukee worked in the Collections Digitization Division, learning about and taking part in the conversion of library materials to digital formats. Her capstone project focused on the AIDS Memorial Quilt records, which are now viewable online.

KAILA BRUGGER ’22 of Montgomery, Illinois, worked in collections management with the Preservation Directorate, ensuring the accuracy of the catalog and helping to make the collections discoverable and accessible. In September, she began a full-time position at the LOC.

1960s

JUDITH (DELAPP) ANDREWS ’62 of Gardnerville, Nevada, continued her world travels last year with trips to the Scottish Highlands and Tuscany, Italy.

REV. KARL

HOESSEL ’66 of Appleton, Wisconsin, wrote a newly published book titled “The Camel: Conversations of a Man Who Turned Away from Jesus.” In it, Pastor Hoessel imagines the life and inner struggle of the man from Mark 10:17-23 who learns he must give away his riches to reach heaven.

1970s

NANCY MCLAUGHLIN ’78 of Racine, Wisconsin, “decided to rewire” rather than retire. She serves on the boards of Siena Catholic Schools, HOPES Center of Racine, the Kenosha County Food Bank, and her church’s finance council.

DAVID WYNN ’78 of Waunakee, Wisconsin, remains active in retirement by teaching general chemistry, biochemistry, and environmental science courses at nearby universities and technical colleges. His career at Johnson Controls spanned more than 30 years.

LARRY MAGNESEN ’75 was appointed an independent director on the board of Horizon Bancorp Inc., which is based in Michigan City, Indiana. Retired from Fifth Third Bank, he has more than 40 years of experience in the banking industry.

1980s

REV. GRETCHEN (SCHLICHTER)

RITOLA ’71 retired after serving as a music educator, parish pastor, and synod staff member. Pastor Ritola lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she continues to be involved in music, substitute teaching, and family activities.

RONALD FRENK ’73 of Harvard, Illinois, retired after 40 years as a certified registered nurse anesthetist and obtained a license to fly drones for a business venture. While he acknowledges the stark difference between his two professions, Mr. Frenk notes that he enjoys the change of pace.

REV. DOUG JOHNSON ’75 retired from active ministry after 31 years as a pastor of congregations in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Pastor Johnson and his wife, Elaine, continue to live in Florence, Wisconsin, where he also served as chief deputy in the coroner’s office and a licensed EMT with the rescue squad.

PAUL SMITH ’82 received the Joan Wulff Enduring Excellence Award from the Outdoor Writers Association of America at its 2025 national conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mr. Smith is the outdoors editor for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

JULIE (CISKOSKI) REUTER ’87 of Elgin, Illinois, retired after a 27-year career teaching first- through third-graders. Mrs. Reuter looks forward to more time with her husband, Jim ’85, and their first grandchild.

KRISTI (GRIFFIS)

JUAREZ ’89 of Poplar Grove, Illinois, retired in May after 36 years of teaching in elementary schools. Putting her Carthage minor to work, Ms. Juarez spent the last 25 years teaching Spanish Language Arts to kindergarteners. She plans to enjoy her time with family and friends, watercoloring, and reading.

Pictures of friendship spanning 50 years

Traveling from four different states, a group of longtime Carthage friends visited campus on Oct. 4 and re-created a photo taken in 1975. From left to right, the images show:

• CHRIS (RYBERG) SCOTTON ’77

• WENDY (SLAPAK) HALLORAN ’75

• CHRIS (SCHNEPP) CALANDRA ’75

• SHERRY (BETLEY) BETLEJ ’75

• MARILYN (TRIPP) ANDERSON ’75

• NANCY (STRUMPH) RICKHOFF ’75

The six alumnae traded memories of living in Denhart and Swenson residence halls, studying in Ruthrauff Library, attending Chapel services, dining in the cafeteria, and visiting the student union late at night.

1990s

MARK LAMP ’92 of Middleton, Wisconsin, recently signed on as a fractional chief sales officer for management consulting firm Chief Outsiders. He partners with executives in industries like healthcare, medical technology, and commercial real estate.

GREG LUCAS ’96 accepted a position as athletic director at Warden School District in Washington state after holding similar roles in Wisconsin.

KELLEY SQUAZZO ’97 of Baltimore was appointed director of Project MUSE, which provides access to humanities and social science research content. Ms. Squazzo has 25 years of experience in scholarly and educational publishing.

2000s

ERIC ELLIS ’01 became chief financial officer at the Institute of Food Technologists in Chicago. Mr. Ellis has more than 20 years of progressive experience in financial management, strategic planning, and business leadership.

TERESA DREXLER TARMAN ’03 of Cape Coral, Florida, celebrated her 10-year work anniversary in the legal department at Optum last June.

KELLI (ZIAJA) KEYS ’05 of Burlington, Wisconsin, has been promoted to the shareholder group at Vrakas CPAs + Advisors, the firm where she’s worked since 2020. Ms. Keys has helped lead its Kenosha office.

CLEMENTINE MINNIE

BORDEAUX ’06 joined the faculty at the University of California, Santa Cruz, as an assistant professor of history of art and visual culture.

ERIN GAFFANEY ’06

began her work in July as the first director of education and outreach at the National Lutheran Choir, which is based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. She’s working to broaden educational programming and develop new opportunities for intergenerational singing and choral leadership among youths and adults.

TYSON JACKSON ’09 of Madison, Wisconsin, has been appointed director of family, youth, and community engagement with the Madison Metropolitan School District.

SARAH MCKILLOP ’09 of Palatine, Illinois, was appointed to the newly formed Community Mental Health Board. As a member of the Palatine Fire Department, she plays a key role in advancing wellness within the village’s emergency response framework.

Weddings + Anniversaries

DIANE HAHN ’14 married Laureano Perez Morales on Feb. 28, 2025. They live in Minneapolis, where Ms. Hahn is a teacher.

EMILY (BEDNAR) COHEN ’15 and Andrew Cohen of Mundelein, Illinois, married May 2. Mrs. Cohen manages the office of a local tutoring center.

BECCA RIMKUS ’20 AND JONAH SHEEHAN ’20 of Chicago married May 24 in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

2010s

TOMMY NOVAK ’11, M.M. ’20, took on the roles of super captain and third assistant stage manager for the 202526 season at Lyric Opera of Chicago. “Supers” coordinate non-speaking and non-singing performers — those who provide specialized skills like stage combat or puppeteering.

AMBER

BAKKUM ’12 , Ph.D., an upper school science teacher at University School of Milwaukee, was one of 12 applicants selected for the 2025-26 Space for Teachers program. Deeply involved in the space sciences program during her time at Carthage, Ms. Bakkum is now guiding her students through similar microgravity research. The experience culminates with the teachers testing the class experiments aboard a parabolic aircraft.

HEATHER MAY ’13 of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and her partner, Lyle, welcomed their first child together on June 27. Lincoln joined the family with his big brother, Matthew.

ANDY MEYERS ’18 joined the men’s lacrosse coaching staff at Harvard University, working as a defensive assistant. He previously oversaw the faceoff unit at Penn State.

COLLEEN OCHAB ’18 of Roselle, Illinois, wrote “Fight For Your Fairytale: A Guided Quest to Total Transformation,” a newly published book she describes as “part self-help guide, part breast cancer memoir, and part fantasy quest.”

2020s

M-JAY HE, M.M. ’21, performed in the 2025 national tour of “A Christmas Story: The Musical” throughout November and December.

PETER J. SPROULE ’16 completed a Ph.D. in art history through Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. His dissertation, exploring how German fashion illustrations demonstrate changing expectations of masculinity in the mid-20th century, continued a line of research he began as a Carthage student during a semester in Munich. Mr. Sproule is expanding the project as a postdoctoral fellow at the Free University of Berlin.

LEO STERN ’21 was hired as director of men’s basketball sports performance at Fordham University in New York.

NATALIA GOLASH ’22 of Arlington Heights, Illinois, has been promoted to lead tech at Northwest Community Hospital for Endeavor Health. She’s part of a lab that includes chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, and coagulation.

WILLIS SANDS JR., M.ED. ’23, spent the 2025 training camp with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts as one of their Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellows. He assisted the Colts’ defense before returning to his position as co-defensive coordinator at the University of Saint Francis.

In Memoriam

BRYCE SCHAUM ’25 spent the 2025 season with the Chicago Dogs, an independent pro baseball team. The right-handed pitcher appeared in 14 games, including nine starts.

Tom Van Dahm

World War II veteran and Carthage professor emeritus Tom Van Dahm passed away Nov. 14 at age 101.

He contributed to the war effort via cryptography in the U.S. Army Air Corps and Signal Corps, then transitioned to academia as a civilian. Joining the Carthage faculty in 1964, he spurred the early rise of the business and economics programs on the Kenosha campus.

Prof. Van Dahm taught both introductory and upper-level economics courses, often using a textbook he’d written, and built up the faculty as a division and multi-department chair. By the end of his initial 10-year

BEN WOODS, M.M. ’25, joined the cast for Music Theater Works’ production of “Godspell,” which ran from Oct. 23 through Nov. 16 in Skokie, Illinois.

recruiting initiative, about 1 in 5 Carthage students majored in the business programs he oversaw.

Don Johnson, one of the professors hired by Prof. Van Dahm, warmly remembers his colleague as a “masterful leader who stimulated a cohesive working environment where mutual respect and constructive dialogue” reigned.

Using a sabbatical to study the far-right Christian movement, Prof. Van Dahm wrote several articles about its economic policy implications. He retired from the College in 1991 but faithfully continued to show up for Commencement.

To meet increasing cybersecurity requirements and Google storage limits, Carthage must make changes to how it provides and supports digital services. As part of this required work, alumni access to carthage.edu email accounts will be retired.

If you still use a carthage.edu email address, please plan ahead. To avoid losing important messages or files, transfer any emails and Google Drive content you wish to keep to a personal account by March 1.

Step-by-step instructions and FAQs are available to guide you through this process. Need assistance?

We recognize that this change is inconvenient and appreciate your cooperation as we take necessary steps to protect institutional systems and data. Support is available to assist you during this transition. attention: alumni using a carthage.edu email

to carthage.edu/alumni-email or email help@carthage.edu

In Memoriam

1950s

Shirley (Sonneman) Kozak ’51

Elmhurst, Ill.

Nov. 4, 2025

Bob Lee ’53 Madison, Wis.

Aug. 2, 2025

Rev. Glen Floe ’56 Shoreview, Minn.

Aug. 18, 2025

1960s

Frederick Busker ’61 Durand, Ill.

April 29, 2025

Patricia Colby Nakamura ’61 Milwaukee, Wis.

Aug. 26, 2025

Paul Schacht ’61 Racine, Wis.

June 30, 2025

Don Riley ’63 Overland Park, Kan.

Dec. 8, 2025

Irene Hubbard ’64 Algonquin, Ill.

Sept. 25, 2025

Barbara PruntyEckland ’64

San Diego, Calif.

Aug. 15, 2025

Marcia (Moore) Shaffer ’65 Kenosha, Wis.

July 21, 2025

Jeff Akins ’66 Rockford, Ill.

Aug. 22, 2025

LeAnna (Beck) Haigh ’68

Racine, Wis. Nov. 22, 2025

Pete Wynstra ’68 Kenosha, Wis. June 30, 2025

John Lehmann Sr. ’69

Chicago, Ill. Nov. 25, 2025

1970s

Ruth Carlson ’70 Waukegan, Ill.

June 7, 2025

Pam (Werkheiser) Karnatz ’70 Park Ridge, Ill. Oct. 16, 2025

Paul Swasko ’70 Berthoud, Colo.

July 20, 2025

Rick James ’71 Fort Atkinson, Wis. Oct. 4, 2025

Rick Kerst ’71

Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Oct. 23, 2025

Gary Kuehnel ’71

West Palm Beach, Fla. Jan. 20, 2025

Donald L. Miller ’71 Latrobe, Pa.

Aug. 24, 2025

R. Scott Pierce ’71 Kenosha, Wis.

Nov. 20, 2025

Gail Fisher ’72

Effingham, Ill.

May 11, 2025

Marissa Shulak ’72

Racine, Wis.

June 5, 2025

Wayne Brumm ’73

LaPorte, Ind.

Nov. 26, 2025

Pat Moran ’75

Lake Forest, Ill.

Sept. 9, 2025

David Rundell ’75

Marietta, Ga.

May 12, 2025

Chris Anderson ’76

Racine, Wis.

Nov. 9, 2025

Rick McCormick ’78 Mundelein, Ill.

Sept. 2, 2025

James Steem ’78

Germantown, Tenn.

Feb. 22, 2025

James Kopesky ’79

Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Nov. 4, 2025

1980s

Craig Driscoll ’81 Pewaukee, Wis.

June 24, 2025

Michael Smolinski ’82 Kenosha, Wis.

June 30, 2025

Sally (Maas) Stewart ’82

Buffalo Grove, Ill.

April 21, 2025

Matthew Cline ’86 Munster, Ind. Oct. 4, 2025

Bob Gall, M.Ed. ’89 Racine, Wis. Nov. 5, 2025

1990s

Sandra Garcia ’90 Kenosha, Wis.

June 19, 2025

Gary Hagen ’91 Kenosha, Wis. Oct. 13, 2025

Joel Zimmerman ’91 St. Louis, Mo. Aug. 30, 2025

Susan Sullivan ’93 Racine, Wis.

July 15, 2025

Julie Bella ’96 Kenosha, Wis. Feb. 13, 2025

Dave Underwood ’96 Kenosha, Wis. June 21, 2025

Sandra Determan ’97 Racine, Wis. June 5, 2025

Kiri (Sweeney) Sowers ’98 Champaign, Ill. June 12, 2025

2000s

Adhamh Black ’03

Grand Rapids, Mich.

June 23, 2025

Gary Jablonski ’03 Harvard, Ill. May 29, 2025

Rev. Paul Coey ’09

Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Aug. 27, 2025

2010s

Gary Bebler ’15 Lyons, Wis.

June 22, 2025

2020s

Tressa Carniello ’21

Deerfield, Ill.

Nov. 25, 2025

Friends of Carthage

Raymond Camosy

South Bend, Ind.

July 31, 2025

Mark Driscoll Kenosha, Wis. Aug. 10, 2025

Gerri Erickson Kenosha, Wis. Oct. 6, 2025

Jim Igleheart Waco, Texas Dec. 6, 2025

Rick Mowen Spring Grove, Ill. Dec. 31, 2025

Neville Simpson Kenosha, Wis. Nov. 23, 2025

Sandy Turner Rothschild, Wis. May 6, 2025

Rolf Wegenke Sun Prairie, Wis. Nov. 15, 2025

Class Notes Submission Form

Deadline for the next issue is April 15, 2026

Name (first/maiden/current last name) Class Year

Professional Title Employer

Email

Marriage Announcement

Name (first/maiden/current last name) Class Year

Spouse’s Name (first/maiden/current last name) Class Year

Date of Marriage City and State of Current Residence

Birth/Adoption Announcement

Parent’s Name (first/maiden/current last name) Class Year

Parent’s Name (first/maiden/current last name) Class Year

Daughter’s Name (first/middle/last) Son’s Name (first/middle/last)

Date of Birth Place of Birth

Death Announcement

Name of Deceased (first/maiden/last name) Class Year

City and State of Residence Date of Death

Survivor (first/maiden/current last name) Relationship Class Year

Survivor (first/maiden/current last name) Relationship Class Year Submit

Other News (attach additional sheets as necessary)

Besides family updates, here are some other examples of news for alumni to share:

• Job changes, promotions, or retirements

• Awards and other milestones (professional or recreational)

• Publications, studio recordings, art exhibitions, etc.

• New service projects, civic appointments, etc.

• Third-generation (or more) Carthage students

Or tear off this form along the perforated edge and mail to: Carthage College, Office of Alumni and Family Engagement, 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha WI 53140.

Are you

for a challenge?

carthage giving days march 19 -20, 2026

Join Carthaginians around the world as we rally around a common purpose: investing in the areas of campus that mean the most to you. Red and Ready Giving Days offer an opportunity to showcase the spirit of Carthage and our shared vision to strengthen the College’s future.

1847giving days

Discover how you can make an impact:

• Sign up to become a #REDandREADY ambassador and invest in an area of Carthage that inspires you.

• Attend a #REDandREADY event in your area or participate online to celebrate from anywhere.

• Spread the word about the 2026 #REDandREADY Giving Days!

Exploring the through lines that connect Carthaginians of all ages and roles

2O OFF % One Regularly Priced Item use code: ALUMNI20

Did you know ... that the most prized medal for “research on the form and dynamics of the Earth and planets” is named in honor of a Carthage graduate?

Upon graduating from Carthage, Charles A. Whitten ’30 had to make a decision between a career in music or what we now call STEM.

Although he loved performing with the College’s music ensembles, Mr. Whitten possessed an undeniable talent in his mathematics major. A professor encouraged him to take the civil service exam, which opened the door to an impressive career in the little-known but essential field of geodesy.

Geodesists measure the Earth’s precise size, shape, and gravitational field. Today, their work is vital to accurate mapping, GPS navigation, large engineering projects, and climate research.

It was no cushy office job. For one of his earliest assignments with the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Mr. Whitten and three colleagues lived out of tents for two years, taking astronomical measurements from sites in 40 states while fending off heat, cold, and critters.

His wife, fellow Carthage graduate Brena (Uber) Whitten ’32, roughed it with

them. After a brief pause to give birth to the first of their three sons, she rejoined the group with the newborn in tow.

Mr. Whitten’s fascination with Earth’s crustal movements took him around the world. In a 1972 commendation recognizing his 42 years of federal service, officials raved that his scientific advances could “someday lead to the prediction of earthquakes.”

In 1984, the American Geophysical Union established The Charles A. Whitten Medal to recognize outstanding achievements in the field. Long after the medal’s namesake died in 1994, his influence lingers; one recent recipient of the biennial award called Mr. Whitten’s work “the inspiration for most of what I have meddled with in the past half century.”

Likewise, Charles Whitten’s legacy lives on at his alma mater. A plaque outside a Hedberg Library study room bears his name, honoring a donation that his widow made toward the building’s construction.

From NBA veteran to Carthage superfan

Decked out in his custom-ordered Carthage apparel, one men’s basketball fan has been particularly easy to spot at Tarble Arena the last three seasons.

During a 14-year NBA career, Aaron Williams battled against the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal. Now, when his son AJ takes the floor as the Firebirds’ shooting guard, Aaron roots on the team from the stands like any other parent.

“He has been a great, great Carthage supporter, and we appreciate that. You can’t miss him when he comes to games,”

head coach Steve Djurickovic ’11 says of the retired 6-foot-9 power forward. “He wears that gear with pride.”

AJ Williams ’26 transferred to Carthage as a sophomore after attending Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles for a year. A bout of homesickness drew him closer to his Chicago home.

“Carthage checked all the boxes,” AJ says. “The basketball program was good. The academics were good. They had the major I wanted.”

That preferred major, finance, surged to the top of AJ’s list after he began investing

in the market six or seven years ago. An internship last summer with Northwestern Mutual affirmed his interest.

Best of all, the return to the Midwest makes it easier for AJ’s family — which also includes his mother, Heather, and older sisters Danyelle and Cameron — to attend his games. He’s been a major contributor in the backcourt in each of his three seasons with the Firebirds.

“To see him make his way to a great program like Carthage and contribute in a big way is really gratifying,” says Aaron. “He’s a great glue guy. He doesn’t care

about scoring 20 points. He truly wants to do whatever is best for the team.”

Aaron played for 10 NBA teams between 1993 and 2008, which meant lots of family moves. All three kids were born in different states.

In a world filled with overbearing sports parents, thankfully he’s the opposite.

“A lot of my teammates comment about that,” AJ says. “You could have a game-winning shot and he will be straight-faced, or you could be playing terrible and he’ll have the same look. He’s pretty mellow, but after games he’ll offer advice.”

Aaron laughs, describing his evolution as a fan.

“Considering that I played basketball at a pretty high level, I felt like I had the answer key to the test that my kids were taking. When they were younger, I would find myself yelling more and telling them what to do,” he says. “Now I just sit back and watch and enjoy.”

A 4.0 student heading into his final semester, AJ eventually wants to pursue asset management and financial advising. In the meantime, he runs a business with his sisters that provides immersive travel experiences for die-hard sports fans, and he recently got into modeling with a campaign for Nike and Bioré.

Coach Djurickovic sees AJ as a different kind of model, setting an example as “the hardest-working guy in the program.” Praise like that can make even a stoic father smile.

“That’s probably the biggest compliment that I could get … that he’s a good person,” Aaron says. “I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

the past Siebert Chapel looks spry at 50

For a half-century and counting, A. F. Siebert Chapel has functioned as the beating heart of campus life.

Completed during the final wave of Carthage’s early Kenosha construction boom, Siebert Chapel opened with a dedication ceremony on April 28, 1976. Named in memory of industrial leader and philanthropist Alfred F. Siebert, the building reflects the brutalist style that had gained prominence in the mid-1990s. In a 2023 interview, architect Bob Erdmann recalled the project — inspired in part by the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center — as a prized commission for his Architects III firm.

From the outset, Carthage insisted that the building designers prioritize flexibility.

“The challenge was that it was both a chapel and a convocation center,” Mr. Erdmann said. “The design of the space had to accommodate different size groups of people at different times for different purposes, without it feeling empty when it

was a small group or crowded when it’s a big group.”

The dedication featured remarks from leaders of two of the three organizations that later merged to become the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. But the real luminary that day was the Fritsch Memorial Organ and its 3,495 pipes.

The College extended the celebration into a full “dedication week,” hosting recitals that introduced the community to the organ’s majestic sound.

“The direct tracker playing action, rather than electrical controls, makes use of mechanical linkage between the keys and pipes,” a printed program explained, “giving the performer direct and intimate control of phrasing, rhythm, and accent.”

Music professor William Passavant Roth, who had advised Quebec firm Casavant Frères on the instrument’s design and installation, gave one of those early chapel recitals. He even recorded an album for Carthaginians who wanted to hear the organ

at home. About 400 vinyl copies sold in a matter of days.

Through the decades, Siebert Chapel has hosted countless worship services, musical performances, campus-wide gatherings, and community weddings — just as intended. But with the student population more than doubling since the 1970s, the building now serves far more people than its original planners imagined.

This spring, as the chapel turns 50, it enters a new era of renewal. A $2 million gift from local arts patron and former Franciscan sister Grace Kolakowski funded major upgrades to the sound and HVAC systems and allowed contractors to remove piecemeal alterations that had dimmed the interior’s natural light over the years.

The result is a brighter, more welcoming space — a chapel ready to serve the next generation of Carthage students, arts patrons, and community members, no matter how it’s being used.

homecoming and family weekend

SAVE THE DATE: OCT. 9-11, 2026

Join us for an unforgettable weekend jam-packed with ways to reunite, reconnect, and reminisce. If your Carthage class year ends in a 1 or a 6, explore opportunities to celebrate your reunion and visit the Class Reunions webpage to get involved!

weekend highlights:

• Homecoming Brunch featuring the Beacon Awards

- Personal Achievement

- Professional Achievement

- Service and Leadership

- Achievement – Young Alumni

• Homecoming Parade

• Football Game

• Firebird Fanfest

• Homecoming Concert

Visit carthage.edu/homecoming to learn more and be a part of the celebration!

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 18

Performing Arts Series: Wild Prairie Winds

March 19-20

Red & Ready Giving Days

March 20-28

Theatre Production: The Moors

April 1

Artist Talk: Photographer Alayna N. Pernell for Gallery Exhibition Surely You Know?

April 23

School of Health Grand Opening Celebration

April 24-26 Celebration of Scholars

April 24 – May 2

Musical: Bright Star

May 22-23

Theatre students performed “Blue Bird” over two weekends in October and November. Written by playwright Will Eno and directed by Professor Martin McClendon, it’s the latest installment in Carthage’s awardwinning New Play Initiative.

Commencement Weekend

July 18

President’s Dinner