2010s

Picture Perfect
Class of 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Picture Perfect
Class of 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2019

Alexa (Koll) Waller ’17 married Brandon Waller in August 2017. Their marriage was celebrated by many Lutes. From left to right: Kristin Phillips ’17, Amanda Hartley ’17, Nicole Dandridge ’17, Karli Floyd ’17, Alexa (Koll) Waller ’17, Brandon Waller, Kathy Allen ’17, Haley Bridgewater ’18 , Emma Adams ’18, Sam Couch ’19. Not pictured: Anna (Koll) Stokke ’12.

Picture Perfect
Class of 1960, 1961, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 2010, 2017 and 2019
Picture Perfect
Class of 1960, 1961, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 2010, 2017 and 2019

The weekend of Commencement 2017, the Gettel and Gunnarson families met to celebrate the graduation of David Gunnarson ’17. His family and fellow Lutes gathered for a celebration photo. Pictured from left to right: Shirley (Allen) Gettel ’61, David Gunnarson ’78, Nadine (Gettel) Gunnarson ’88, Chris Gettel-Gilmartin ’19, David Gunnarson ’17, Robert Gettel ’60, Marie Gettel-Gilmartin ’86, Judy (Lovstrom) Gunnarson ’84, Samantha Gunnarson ’10 and Dennis Gunnarson ’83.

Future Lute - Melissa Zamora
Class of 2017
Future Lute - Melissa Zamora
Class of 2017

Melissa Zamora announces the birth of her second child, Tanner, born on Sept. 14, 2017.

Shane Daggett
Class of 2017
Shane Daggett
Class of 2017

Shane Daggett ’17 and Sarah (Sanders) Dagget ’08 married Aug. 5, 2017, at Northwest Trek in Eatonville, Washington. Ethan Miller ’15 was in the wedding party.

Chelsey Clammer
Class of 2016

Master of Fine Arts graduate, Chelsey Clammer, released her work, Circadian, winner of the Red Hen Press Nonfiction Manuscript Award.

Pamela Barrington
Class of 2016

Pamela Barrington started as the business manager of Fisher House, located on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in July 2017.

Rhys Jones
Class of 2016
Rhys Jones
Class of 2016

Rhys Jones joined the PLU Academic Assistance team as administrative assistant.

Nicollette (Hall) Markin
Class of 2016
Nicollette (Hall) Markin
Class of 2016

Nicollette (Hall) Markin received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington in June 2017. She married Jason Markin on Oct. 31 at the William Ross Mansion in Tacoma, Washington.

Thomas Kim
Class of 2015

Thomas Kim was elected chair of the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division in March 2017.

Chelsea Dimas
Class of 2015

Chelsea Dimas launched her new apparel line, Stay Gold.

David and Amber (Aguiar) Carr
Class of 2015
David and Amber (Aguiar) Carr
Class of 2015

In August, David and Amber (Aguiar) Carr married in Burlington, Washington. Lutes in the wedding party included Connor Anderson, Samantha North, Alex Smith, Skyler McFeeley and Canaan Higa. There were 30 other Lutes in attendance.

Pam Axtman-Barker
Class of 2014
Pam Axtman-Barker
Class of 2014

Pam Axtman-Barker earned her master’s degree in communication and rhetorical studies from Syracuse University in May 2017. She now coaches the University of Rochester’s debate team. In June, Pam married Chris Axtman-Barker.

Evan Ameluxen-Coleman
Class of 2014

Evan Ameluxen-Coleman earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Michigan in August 2017. He recently began practicing at Rebound Physical Therapy in Prineville, Oregon.

Christopher and Lindsay (Beale) Edison
Class of 2014
Christopher and Lindsay (Beale) Edison
Class of 2014

Christopher and Lindsay (Beale) Edison were married in July 2017. Lexi (Haas) Whitmyre, Mychael Tuiasosopo and Jonny Volland were in the wedding party with many other Lutes in attendance.

Michelle Black
Class of 2014
Michelle Black
Class of 2014

Michelle Black, who weighed 297 pounds upon graduating from PLU, has since lost 100 pounds and is currently awaiting a donor for a kidney transplant.

Future Lute - Olivia (Benge) Civile
Class of 2013
Future Lute - Olivia (Benge) Civile
Class of 2013

Olivia (Benge) Civile and her husband, Michael, announced the adoption of their daughter, Marie Nevaeh Civile. Marie was born on July 17, 2015, and was adopted Oct. 23, 2017.

Hailey (Boucher) Wood
Class of 2013
Hailey (Boucher) Wood
Class of 2013

Joshua and Hailey (Boucher) Wood ’13 married Sept. 1, 2017, in Pioneer Park in Puyallup, Washington. Amelia (Klein) Kaiser ’13 was matron of honor.

Brian Higginbotham and Allie Jo Koester
Class of 2013
Brian Higginbotham and Allie Jo Koester
Class of 2013

Brian Higginbotham ’13 and Allie Jo Koester ’13 married July 23, 2017. Lutes in the wedding party included Anna Pfohl ’13, Christopher Higginbotham ’14, Ryan Mitchell ’13 and Mark Herzfeldt-Kamprath ’13.

Sean Boaglio
Class of 2013
Sean Boaglio
Class of 2013

Sean Boaglio ’13 married Chrissy (Swope) Boaglio ’14 on May 5, 2017, in Seattle. Lutes in attendance included Dennis Boaglio ’78, Sue Boaglio ’78, Samantha (Potter) Tveter ’14, Chloe Cook ’15, Andi Adams ’15, Sarah Barnes ’16, Megan Abdo ’16, Hannah Munson’16, Kara Sherman’15, Michaela Edgers ’16, Katelyn Smith ’14, and Coach Jen Childress-White.

Panayotis Alexandros Horton
Class of 2012
Panayotis Alexandros Horton
Class of 2012

Panago Horton passed away on Aug. 22, 2017. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing Panago will forever have a piece of his compassion, friendship, loyalty, laughter and love. Please click below to read his full tribute.

read obituary

Sean Andrascik
Class of 2012
Sean Andrascik
Class of 2012

Sean Andrascik, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, returned to the U.S. in late summer from a deployment to the Mediterranean where he was supporting Marine Corps operations across the continent of Africa.

Amanda Robinett
Class of 2012
Amanda Robinett
Class of 2012

Amanda Robinett and Thomas Hansen were married July 4, 2017. Amanda works as a social media manager for the Pierce County communications team. The couple recently bought a home in Spanaway, Washington.

Kathleen Haughey
Class of 2011

Kathleen Haughey was appointed executive director of the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury, Vermont.

Kristen (Lindell) Hagler
Class of 2011
Kristen (Lindell) Hagler
Class of 2011

Kristen (Lindell) Hagler ’11 married Scott Hagler on Sept. 23, 2017. Lutes in the wedding party included Megan Lindell ’09, Brooke Drennon ’11 and Holly (Dunning) Johnson ’11.

Jonathan Stout
Class of 2011

Jonathan Stout received a Master of Fine Arts from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop in 2016. Currently, he is a visiting faculty member in the Rhetoric Department at the University of Iowa and his chapbook, The Dream of Zukofsky, was a finalist for the 2017 Omnidawn Chapbook Contest.

Colby Davies
Class of 2011

Colby Davies was named interim head coach of Steilacoom High School football team.

Conor McNeill and Kelly (Fenton) McNeill
Class of 2011
Conor McNeill and Kelly (Fenton) McNeill
Class of 2011

Conor McNeill and Kelly (Fenton) McNeill married in August 2016. Connor and Kelly celebrated their marriage with 13 Lutes in the wedding party and upwards of 35 in attendance.

Future Lute - Brendan Abshier
Class of 2011
Future Lute - Brendan Abshier
Class of 2011

Brendan Abshier and his wife, Tiffanie, welcomed their first son, Jackson Keith, on Nov. 18, 2017.

Katherine Alegado
Class of 2011
Katherine Alegado
Class of 2011

Katherine Alegado was promoted to captain in the U.S. Army Reserve. Capt. Alegado serves as the personnel management officer for the 451st Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) G-1 in Wichita, Kansas.

Jasmine Johengen
Class of 2010

Jasmine Johengen was hired with the 771st Test Squadron as commanders secretary at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Paul Richter and Jackie (Roberts) Richter
Class of 2009 and 2010
Paul Richter and Jackie (Roberts) Richter
Class of 2009 and 2010

Paul Richter ’10 and Jackie (Roberts) Richter ’09 married in July 2017. Numerous Lutes were present for the ceremony and the reception. Lutes in the wedding party included Jessica Lee ’09, Osa Forrester ’12, Kyle Sinnott ’10, Dylan Twiner ’10, Frank Roberts ’13 and Travis Tingvall ’10.

2000s

Andrew Croft
Class of 2009

Andrew Croft coaches soccer at Woodinville High School in Woodinville, Washington.

Kate Geldaker
Class of 2009

Kate Geldaker was named director of government affairs for Alaska Airlines in August 2017.

Future Lute - Nicole (Reinke) Gant
Class of 2009
Future Lute - Nicole (Reinke) Gant
Class of 2009

Nicole (Reinke) Gant welcomed baby Emery Reese Gant on July 24, 2017.

Michael Jorgensen
Class of 2008

Michael Jorgensen was recognized as one of the honorees in the Business Examiner’s “40 Under Forty” list for 2017, for entrepreneurship and business acumen.

Leann Conley-Holcom
Class of 2008
Leann Conley-Holcom
Class of 2008

Leann Conley-Holcom graduated with honors in June 2017 from the University of Washington, earning a doctorate in choral conducting. During her time at UW, Leann led recital choir, assistant directed the university’s top choir, Chamber Singers, and taught undergraduate choral methods and conducting.

Future Lute - Kelli (Dukleth) McLeod
Class of 2007
Future Lute - Kelli (Dukleth) McLeod
Class of 2007

Kelli (Dukleth) McLeod and her husband, Ian, welcomed their first child, Zachary Colin McLeod, on Aug. 26, 2017.

Future Lute - Travis Pagel
Class of 2007
Future Lute - Travis Pagel
Class of 2007

Travis Pagel ’07 and Jessica (Luppino) Pagel ’08 welcomed their second child, Owen Douglas Pagel, on June 15, 2017. He joins older brother, Hunter.

Joe Izenman
Class of 2006
Joe Izenman
Class of 2006

Joe Izenman completed his Master of Information and Data Science through U.C. Berkeley School of Information.

Leslie Harris
Class of 2005

Leslie Harris left her position as community relations manager and policy analyst with the City of Kenmore on Aug. 26, 2017. She now works as a management analyst for the City of Bonney Lake.

Future Lute - Raechelle (Watkins) Baghirov
Class of 2005

Raechelle (Watkins) Baghirov and Farid Baghirov welcomed their son, Logan Idris Baghirov, on Sept. 19, 2017.

David Wolbrecht
Class of 2005

David Wolbrecht was appointed neighborhood services outreach coordinator for the City of Kirkland.

Rosa McLeod
Class of 2005

Rosa McLeod was recognized as one of the honorees in the Business Examiner’s “40 Under Forty” list for 2017, for her work as the South Sound and North Olympic Peninsula outreach director for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.

Judy Henry
Class of 2005

Judy Henry was promoted in August 2017 to chief financial officer of VirTra in Tempe, Arizona.

Future Lute - Molly (Marten) Hill
Class of 2005
Future Lute - Molly (Marten) Hill
Class of 2005

Molly (Marten) Hill and husband, Dustin, welcomed their second child, Dexter James Hill, on Nov. 20, 2017.

Future Lute - Anna McLeod
Class of 2004
Future Lute - Anna McLeod
Class of 2004

Anna McLeod and Ken Cyprian welcomed their daughter, Ella Ozioma McLeod Cyprian, on May 17, 2017.

Future Lute - Katrina (Wagner) Murphy
Class of 2004

Katrina (Wagner) Murphy and her husband welcomed Nora Lee Murphy, their first child, on Aug. 3, 2017.

Future Lute - Daphne (Smith) Buren
Class of 2004
Future Lute - Daphne (Smith) Buren
Class of 2004

Daphne (Smith) Buren and husband, Erik, welcomed their son, Elliot James Campbell Buren, on Sept. 10, 2017.

Nichelle Holloway
Class of 2003

Nichelle Holloway was a featured artist for the 35th concert season of Magic Philharmonic Orchestra in Magic Valley, Idaho.

Stacy Hilton Klutzke
Class of 2003
Stacy Hilton Klutzke
Class of 2003

Stacy Hilton Klutzke ’03 married Matthew Hilton Klutzke on May 6, 2017, at the Abernethy Center in Oregon City, Oregon. Jessica Darling ’03 and Peter Bonifaci ’02 were in attendance.

Joshua Seckel
Class of 2003

Joshua Seckel recently started as chief solutions architect at Sevatec in Fairfax, Virginia, a national security firm.

Laura Brewer
Class of 2003

Laura Brewer was recognized as one of the honorees in the Business Examiner’s “40 Under Forty” list for 2017, for her work in the South Sound.

Ray Brassard
Class of 2003

Ray Brassard, Emerald Ridge High School teacher and Puyallup High School football coach, was awarded the first-ever, high-school level Medal of Honor Excellence in Character Education by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.

Judy Loveless-Morris
Class of 2001

Judy Loveless-Morris was recognized as one of the honorees in the Business Examiner’s “40 Under Forty” list for 2017, for her passion of lifelong learning and public service.

Amy Van Horne
Class of 2001

Amy Van Horne has joined the Affiliated Community Medical Center in Willmar, Minnesota, as a family nurse practitioner.

Danielle Beck
Class of 2001

Danielle Beck received a tenure-track assistant professor position at Folsom Lake College in Folsom, California, in the department of psychology.

Emily (Keys) O’Quinn
Class of 2000

Emily (Keys) O’Quinn serves as the college and career readiness counselor at Mountainside High School in Beaverton, Oregon. Emily was a member of the planning team that designed the school and now facilitates programs such as advisory curriculum, post-high school planning activities and community service initiatives.

Meshelle Taylor and Ronald Cole
Class of 2000
Meshelle Taylor and Ronald Cole
Class of 2000

Meshelle Taylor and Ronald Cole were promoted to lieutenant colonel by the U.S. Army on Oct. 1, 2017. Lt. Col. Taylor is the chief of medical information officer at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia. Lt. Col. Cole is the deputy chief nurse executive of the Army Public Health Nursing Division at Public Health Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. They are respected leaders who are enforcing the latest evidence-based practice and shaping the future of Army nursing.

Shane Tackett
Class of 2000

Shane Tackett was elected senior vice president of revenue management and e-commerce at Alaska Airlines.

1990s

Terry Shaw
Class of 1999

Terry Shaw received the 2017 Governor’s Arts and Heritage Award for his contributions to art and cultural development in the Olympia, Washington, community.

Kristen Sundberg Lunstrum
Class of 1999

Kristen Sundberg Lunstrum’s collection of short stories, What We Do With the Wreckage, has won the 2017 Flannery O’Connor Prize. Her work will be published by the University of Georgia Press in October 2018.

Jana Strasburg
Class of 1998
Jana Strasburg
Class of 1998

Jana Strasburg gave a TEDxRichland talk on innovation.

Tara Nelson
Class of 1998

Tara Nelson began working for Denver’s Messner Reeves LLP in June 2017 as a litigation legal assistant.

Josh and Lisa Lawrence
Class of 1997
Josh and Lisa Lawrence
Class of 1997

Josh and Lisa Lawrence opened a new wine tasting room for their estate winery, Gard Vintners, in downtown Walla Walla. The winery has received acclaim over the years for accomplishments, such as the highest scoring domestic ice wine ever for Wine Spectator, and highlighted in the article “New Faces of Washington Wine” in Wine Spectator.

Dr. Jason Dashow
Class of 1997

Dr. Jason Dashow recently joined the Alaska Center for Oral and Facial Surgery.

Keith Dussell
Class of 1997
Keith Dussell
Class of 1997

Keith Dussell was promoted to the position of human program manager of human resources at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Recently, he returned from a trip to Scotland.

Jamie (Anderson) Passaro
Class of 1996

Jamie (Anderson) Passaro recently started an obituary writing service called Dear Person. She writes obituaries, eulogies and toasts.

Farah (Hussain) Ardmore
Class of 1996

Farah (Hussain) Ardmore moved to Texas in 2015.

Kelly Davis
Class of 1996
Kelly Davis
Class of 1996

Kelly Davis recently was hired as a front-end web developer in the interactive brand marketing department for Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Georgia.

Chris Porter
Class of 1995

Chris Porter, owner of A la Mode pie shop, now has two locations in Seattle.

Future Lute - Shannon Tilly
Class of 1994
Future Lute - Shannon Tilly
Class of 1994

Shannon Tilly and Craig Norton welcomed their son, Samuel Vincent Norton, on Dec. 3, 2015.

Dr. Jay Evans
Class of 1993

Dr. Jay Evans was elected as a board member for the Montana BioScience Alliance.

Future Lute - Holly (Matthes) Guadagno
Class of 1993
Future Lute - Holly (Matthes) Guadagno
Class of 1993

Holly (Matthes) Guadagno and husband, Steven, adopted daughter, Gia, on Jan. 4, 2017. She joins brothers Jason, Luke and Kyle.

Neil Kelleher
Class of 1992

Neil Kelleher was named one of the winners of the inaugural Advances in Measurement Science Lectureship Award.

Linda Trendler
Class of 1990

Linda Trendler works as the volunteer manager at Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville, Washington.

1980s

Susan Houg
Class of 1989

Susan Houg died Sept. 23, 2017.

Picture Perfect
Class of 1989
Picture Perfect
Class of 1989

Jeff Neumeister ’89, John Ringler ’89 and Tony Hidenrick ’89 celebrated John’s 50th birthday with a desert hike in the Nevada Mountains in spring.

Melissa (Womack) Mills
Class of 1989
Melissa (Womack) Mills
Class of 1989

Melissa (Womack) Mills has served in law enforcement for the past 28 years. Melissa was a platoon leader during Desert Storm, a deputy for Pierce County and is now a federal officer.

Ron Newberry
Class of 1988
Ron Newberry
Class of 1988

Ron Newberry recently accepted a communications specialist position at the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. The nonprofit is dedicated to protecting lands and waters in Island County.

Denise (Bruce) Higgins
Class of 1987
Denise (Bruce) Higgins
Class of 1987

Denise (Bruce) Higgins was inducted into the PLU Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2017. She was a two-time NAIA National Champion and All-American in the high jump. She does employee communications for King County in Washington state.

Bruce Berton
Class of 1983

Bruce Berton was appointed ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina for the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe.

Charles Guildner
Class of 1983

Charles Guildner was appointed as president and chief executive officer of North Cascades Bank in Chelan, Washington.

Craig Muller
Class of 1980

Craig Muller recently joined The Private Bank as a director and private wealth advisor. He is based in Walnut Creek, California, and services Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

1970s

Diana Glassman
Class of 1979

Diana Glassman died Aug. 19, 2017.

Elizabeth James
Class of 1978

Elizabeth James is a member of the senior executive services at Veterans Affairs and the acting chief learning officer in Washington, D.C.

Randall Fowler
Class of 1977
Randall Fowler
Class of 1977

Randall Fowler retired from emergency medicine after 25 years with Rocky Mountain Emergency Physicians in Pocatello, Idaho. He now works part time with Portneuf Medical Center as the medical director of employee health and occupational medicine. Recently, Randall summited Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Hood.

Kim Bishop
Class of 1975

Kim Bishop ’75 retired from teaching in June 2017 and now works part time for Gonzaga University as a supervisor for field experience and student teaching. Kim’s wife, Cindy (Moen) Bishop ’76, is a compliance manager for Providence Health Services.

Lawrence Johnson
Class of 1975

After 41 years, Lawrence Johnson retired from his position as operations manager of AMPCO System Parking at San Francisco International Airport and is relocating to Maple Valley, Washington.

Jill (Tallman) Veverka
Class of 1974
Jill (Tallman) Veverka
Class of 1974

Jill (Tallman) Veverka retired from her position as an English teacher. She now works as an online affiliate marketer and moved back to southern Oregon, where she worked most of her teaching career.

Dennis Bryant
Class of 1971

Dennis Bryant retired from California Lutheran University.

1960s

Dennis Ostroot
Class of 1967

Dennis Ostroot died June 27, 2017.

Scott Fisher
Class of 1967

Scott Fisher died in July 2017.

Stanley Hoobing
Class of 1965

Stanley Hoobing finished his interim ministry position in Westby, Montana, at the end of July 2017. He now serves as interim pastor at First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, Montana.

George Beard
Class of 1964
George Beard
Class of 1964

George Beard celebrated his 51st wedding anniversary in August 2017. After three years in retirement, George has many hobbies and belongs to the Navy League and the United States Power Squadrons.

Ron Walsh
Class of 1961

Ron Walsh died Oct. 14, 2017.

1950s

Ron Ho
Class of 1958

Ron Ho died Sept. 7, 2017.

Alta Gaarder
Class of 1955

Don and Alta Gaarder celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in August 2017. After 38 years, they moved from Pierre, South Dakota, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.