CAS Alumni News

Alums: Please use this form to send us news and photos. The latest departmental news is posted on the CAS news site and you may visit student news for the latest about current students. Subscribing to the CAS alumni email list will put you in touch with former classmates, possible jobs, shared housing arrangements, moving advice and the like. To subscribe, send the following message to majordomo@calvin.edu: subscribe casalum "your email address".

 NOTE: We do not publish alums' precise email addresses. When you click on a name, the email address that pops up will have a "2" instead of an "@" in the address. Please make the change and then send.

Katherine "Kate" Allodi (Mass Media '07) has accepted a full-time position near her hometown of Wheaton, Illinois as a Public Relations and Marketing Communications Assistant at NEC Display Solutions. Kate says, "This great opportunity came to me through a staffing firm, as they found my resume on Careerbuilder.com. I am ecstatic to be so close to my "dream job" right out of college! Many thanks to Calvin's CAS department for helping me realize what I wanted to do with my life and for giving me the tools to do it well." [10/10/07]

Jordan Horras (Mass Media/Film Studies '07) reports that he has been working as a Studio Camera Operator and studio production assistant for the Big Ten Network which broadcasts and reports on all Big Ten school sports. [09/19/07]

Alex Agard (Theatre '06) has been working on Dreamgirls at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, Hew Hampshire but that is not his biggest news. He has been offered a 15 month Equity principal contract for the singing role of "Kiume" in "Festival of the Lion King" at Disney World's Animal Kingdom in Florida. Friends of Alex can see him at work in this production between mid-December and February 2009. [10/31/07]

Liz Klynstra (Mass Media '06) has been working at WWMT (West Michigan's CBS Affiliate) as an assignment editor for six months. She's responsible for managing/overseeing the evening newscasts, producing web and radio broadcasts, and running the news desk. Liz reports that commuting from GR to Kalamazoo was becoming too much of a hassle, so a few months ago she relocated to the Kalamazoo area. [3/24/08]

Jeff McBride (Mass Media '06) is currently working full time as a video editor/motion graphics designer at LimeGreen Productions (www.limegreenproductions.com) where the main business is production and post-production of National TV Spots and PR Packages. [02/12/07]

Lorien Reese (Theatre '06) has been accepted for graduate study in dramaturgy at the pretigious State University of New York at Stony Brook. [5/14/07]

Angenette (Stacer) Spalink (Theatre '06) works at the Grand Rapids Ballet Company as the office administrator and serves as house manager for the ballet company's new Peter Martin Wege Theatre, which opened in September 2007. She also served as co-stage manager on Seven Passages: The Stories of Gay Christians at Actors' Theatre last fall. [2/14/08]

Ryan Terpstra (Mass Media '06) has recently been given the opportunity to host his own sports-talk radio show on 1370 AM WGHN in Grand Haven, Michigan. He will also will continue to work as a Sports Reporter/Photojournalist on a part-time basis with FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, and has been doing freelance reporting for FOX Sports Detroit. Ryan says, "Thanks to Calvin for helping me on my path, and thanks to God and my family as I embark on this exciting opportunity in my home town!" [12/14/07]

Sasha E. Wolff (Film Studies '06) reports that, "After a year of working at WZZM 13, I've been promoted to the Weekend Morning producer. It is a huge undertaking, but I feel prepared for the task because of the work ethic instilled in me at Calvin." [09/04/07]

Julie Herrmann (Speech Pathology and Audiology '05) completed her master's in speech-language pathology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She now works in pediatrics at a hospital in Lafayette, Indiana. [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 57]

Bethany Keeley (English/Rhetoric and Communication '05) was featured in the July 10 edition of the Dubuque Telegraph (Dubuque, IA) in an article called "Why Do 'People' Misuse Quotation Marks?". To see what Bethany had to say on the subject, visit http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=165311. [7/11/07]

Bethany Keeley (Rhetoric and Communication '05) completed her master's degree in speech communication at the University of Georgia in August 2007. She is now beginning work on her PhD in the same program. [The Calvin SPARK Winter 2007 P. 54]

Sara VanderHaagen (Philosophy/Communication A & S '05) has been awarded a Harvey Fellowship from the Mustard Seed Foundation. Sara says, "Since the Calvin CAS program was so influential in my decision to pursue graduate work in rhetoric, I thought you might like to share in the good news. Besides being an encouragement of my vocational choices and scholarly work, this fellowship will provide an excellent opportunity for me to interact with other Christian graduate students at similar institutions." [03/15/07]

Evangeline Whitlock (Theatre '05) is the Production Stage Manager for the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. She also does freelance stage management work at theatres in the Grand Rapids community, including Circle Theatre (Morning's at Seven, Moby Dick! The Musical, and Almost, Maine) and Actors' Theatre (A Lesson Before Dying, Ladies of the Camellias, Elizabeth Rex). Last fall she was the co-stage manager and script supervisor for the ground-breaking work Seven Passages: The Stories of Gay Christians at Actors' Theatre. [2/14/08]

Brian Farish (Theatre '04) is receiving his MFA in Acting from Harvard University. He has studied and worked in Moscow, Russia at the world-renowned Moscow Art Theater and in the fall of 2006 he was part of an experimental musical play at the ART, playing alongside members of the band The Dresden Dolls (www.dresdendolls.com), which toured New England. [05/14/07]

Laura Hoksbergen Bultman (Theatre '04) received her master's in library science from the University of Illinois and now works as a children's librarian in New York City. Last winter she enjoyed moonlighting as a stage manager for the Village Light Opera Group's production of Oklahoma. [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 57]

Dean Kladder (CAS/Mass Media '04) received his master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in May 2007. He and his wife Andrea, both serve as associate pastors at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Illinois. [The Calvin SPARK Winter 2007, p. 54]

Monique Mejan (Telecommunications '02) has just been accepted into the Claremont Graduate University. [03/05/07]

Adam Mellema (Theatre '02) The movie "Jump In!: Pop-up Edition" hits the Disney Channel Friday, June 1 at 9/8c. It stars Corbin Bleu, the crazy-haired guy from “High School Musical.” It was Adam's joy and delight to have been both a WRITER and a PRODUCER on the project. [6/1/07]

Rebecca Noricks (Business/CAS Group '02) received her master's in public administation with an emphasis in nonprofit management from Grand Valley State University in April. [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 56]

Cathy Bowren (Theatre '01) sends news from the Picolo Theatre in Evanston, Illinois where she has served as the lighting designer for their production of "Lust, Lies and Marriage" which runs from April 4 thru May 10, 2008. [4/15/08]

Phil Christman (Rhetoric and Communication '01) finished his master's in English literature at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He began creative writing studies at the University of South Carolina, Columbia this fall. [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 55]

Nick Dekker (English/Theatre '01) will be receiving his Ph.D. in theatre studies from Ohio State University on June 10, 2007. [5/14/07]

Jeff De Kock (Telecommunications '01) lived in a camel skin hut eating camel meat and drinking camel's milk with the Rendille tribe of northern Kenya on and off over the past three years. He has made a film about one of the tribe's myths titled Banayye, The Rendille Queen. Because of his knowledge of the tribe, Jeff has been enlisted by the Kenyan government to shoot a documentary on the state of the tribe's environment. He is pursuing post-graduate studies in visual anthroplogy at the University of Manchester in England. To read more of his account of the Rendille people, click here. [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 55]

Nathan Finley (Telecommunications '01) has recently accepted a new position at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. He is now an application administrator for the Blackboard Learning Suite there on campus. He provides administration and support for the faculty, staff and students. He is also beginning to pursue a Master's Degree in Education, with an emphasis on Student Affairs. [04/19/07]

Caty Rozema (English/Communication A & S/Art '01) lives in a different country every month - 52 of them in the last four years. She works for Harris Corporation, training staff at U.S. Embassies and consulates around the world to use new hardware and software designed to improve their services, such as processing passports, for Americans abroad. Rozema believes her globe-hopping job is "something God's given me to open my eyes to where and how I might be be used in the next part of my life." [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 59]

Terrence Schoone-Jongen (Theatre '01) is making plans for law school as he nears the time of graduation from Ohio State University with his doctorate in theatre studies. [5/15/07]

Stephen Swanson (Film Studies '01) has just completed his doctorate in American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University. He has accepted a position teaching English at Penn State - Erie. Steve and his wife, Jenna ('03), are expecting their first child in January. [7/06/07]

John Vanderhaagen (Business/Communication A & S '01) has returned to the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Rampage, an arena football team where he worked in ticket sales from 1999-2003 during which attendance records for the team were routinely set. After leaving the Rampage, he worked with Clear Channel Entertainment (now Live Nation) in concert production, served as the group sales manager for Van Andel Arena and the DeVos performance Hall, and was the director of promotions and operations at the historic Orpheoum Theatre in Witchita, Kansas. [The Calvin SPARK Winter 2007 p. 54]

Deborah Lew (English/Theatre '00) is back in theatre news again with her performance as Sujata in Up in the Air, based on the Japanese children's novel Boonah, the Tree-Climbing Frog. Directed by Amon Miyamoto, the first Japanese director to make it on Broadway, with music by Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls) this is not your usual kids' musical. Washington Post reviewer Nelson Pressley calls this "a soaring musical fable for the kids." [2/14/08]

Jayme Mellema (Theatre '00) just landed a position as a faculty scenic designer at Duke University. He will also be back at Calvin this fall as the alumni guest designer for Calvin Theatre Company's production of The Tempest. If you have the chance, check out his amazing portfolio. [3/24/08]

Joel Veenstra (Theatre '00) has been asked to join WELSH POETS SOCIETY, which is a long-form improvisation grad group at Second City Los Angeles. Welsh Poets Society performs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. during Soirée Tuesday (with three other groups) at The Second City Studio Theatre, located at 6560 Hollywood Blvd. (2nd floor), Los Angeles, CA 90028-6217. Tickets are $5 at the door. If you're in the area, drop in and see Joel in action. [9/11/07]

Derek Benthem (Telecommunications '99) has accepted an online marketing management position with the Walt Disney Co. in Burbank, California. [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 52]

Nick Rogers (Theatre '99) has been asked to participate in the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Partnerships for Pluralism program and to serve as a coach. the program facilitates and encourages dialogue about all forms of diversity at the school. Nick has also been asked to serve on the senior year initiatives committee which, among other things, provides information about the transition from school to the working world. See also Sharon Vanezande (Theatre '99). [The Calvin SPARK Winter 2007 p. 50]

Sharon Vandezande (Theatre '99) has been elected to serve on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) staff council as a representative of the department of access services. With husband Nick Rogers she worked on and directed a script titled Delayed which was performed at the Father's House Church live and via the Web eight times between Dec. 22-23. [Calvin SPARK Winter 2007 p. 50]

Bryn Jones (Film Studies '98) has been published by Focus On The Family's Breakaway magazine with seven of his short stories. He's also working on a suspense novel that he will be marketing in the spring of 2008. For more information on Bryn visit his home page. [10/10/07]

Brad Van Arragon (Communication A & S/English '96) co-produced Juno, which won Best Screenplay at the Academy Awards on February 24th.  Brad and a couple colleagues fund a developing screenwriters program in Vancouver to locate and cultivate writing talent.  You can see all of Brad's credits at:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0885612/ [2/26/08]

Chris Matthysse (Business/Communication A & S '95) recently joined the law firm of Law, Weathers & Richarson in Grand Rapids, MI as a senior attorney in the estate planning group. [The Calvin SPARK Winter 2007 p. 48]

Patty Tawadros (Art/Communication A & S/Business '95) launched IntegriDate, a Web site she describes as "the Consumer Reports of online dating profiles with an eBay model of feedback" in January of 2007. Besides feedback on dater profiles, IntegriDate offers dating advice and hosts a blogging community. [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 57]

Tom Laarman (IDIS/Communication A & S '93) graduated with honors in January 2007 from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He then passed the national board exam in mortuary science and the mortuary law exams for the states of Michigan and Texas. In June, he and his wife Christa Kasik Laarman ('92), moved to Houston where Tom now works as a director with Klein Funeral Homes and Memorial Parks. [The Calvin SPARK Winter 2007 p. 48]

Kelly Planer (Communication A & S '93) has written a song that Crayola, the crayon company, will use for in-house music video presentations to potential buyers. Kelly works for First Generation Visual Communications, a production company in Allentown, PA that specializes in film/video content, interactive presentations and live-event staging. [The Calvin SPARK Winter 2007 p.48]

Kerry van der Griend (Communication A & S '91) was cast as one of four Neanderthal men in the December-released movie Night at the Museum. Though he still keeps his day job, this is not the only theatre work for the Vancouver-based van der Griend. He has appeared in The Chris Isaak Show, First Wave, The X-Files, and TV movies and commericals. Besides acting in local theatre he also directs plays for Pacific Theatre, a company established "to explore work having particular meaning...to Christians." [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 55]

Carol Jenkins (Communication A & S '88) has worked for eight years with women who have been abused. This year she has expanded the group curriculum she wrote, Healing the Past God's Way, to include discipleship material titled Practicing the Spiritual Disciplines. Both are available at Epiphany Inc. [The Calvin SPARK Winter 2007 p. 47]

Rich Lodewyk (Communication A & S '88) graduated from North Dakota State University with a Masters Degree in Mass Communications in December 2007. He currently works as Sports Director/ Anchor at KXJB TV CBS in Fargo, North Dakota.[April 7, 2008]

Debra Marshall (Communication A & S/Business '85) has accepted the position of senior policy advisor for the minority staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 50]

Daniel Hoebeke (Communication A & S '72) is a tax lawyer and also the founder of Adopt-A-Chaplain. It all started when, at the request of a friend, he responded to an email from a chaplain in Afganistan who needed help with some spiritual struggles. With the help of his wife (Ellen Ackerman Hoebeke Communication A & S '73) and later his church, Dan's support of one chaplain has turned into a national network of churches supporting deployed chaplains and the troops in their care with prayer, letters of encouragement, and anything else that might help chaplains serve soldiers. [The Calvin SPARK Fall 2007 p. 51]

For older news items related to CAS alumni, visit the archives.

NOTE: We do not publish alums' precise email addresses. When you click on a name, the email address that pops up will have a "2" instead of an "@" in the address. Please make the change and then send.

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