Class Notes
’50s
’58 BOBBIE (HAFNER) COURVILLE
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for the kindness she demonstrates to others, specifically bringing communion daily to two or three neighbors.
’59 MARY (O’KEEFE) DEVINE
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work as a hospice nurse over the years.
’70s
’76 DAVID KERR
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for his service to Avila University where he has served on the Board of Trustees and helped with events in St. Louis on
behalf of Avila.
’76 ED LEWIS
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for his 42 years as a nurse and his volunteer work with the Knights of Columbus.
’76 MELINDA (PARKER) MOYLAN
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her personal volunteering to find over 52 vaccination appointments for friends, neighbors and those unable to make an appointment themselves.
’77 DENNIS JOYCE
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame as the Assistant Coach with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’80s
’80 JEFF GILMORE
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame as the Assistant Coach with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’80 THOMAS RICE
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’81 ERIC TALMADGE
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’81 TIM ROSS
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’82 DARREK PORTER
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’83 FREDERICK HANEY
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’83 MARK HATCHETT
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’83 MARVIN SELLERS
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’83 MICHAEL MORAN
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame with the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team.
’85 SCOTT WHITE
was inducted into the Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame. Scott has been a strong supporter for the Cass County 4-H program, both as a volunteer leader and as a member of the Cass County Extension Council. During his 20 years of service, he has led projects in leatherworking, photography, aerospace, and more. He always encourages 4-H’ers to try new things and has been a mentor to other volunteers seeking leadership roles in the Shooting Sports program as well as a recruiter for the entire 4-H program.
’85 SUSANNA VELASQUEZ-EATON
and her husband Peter Eaton recently premiered their feature film “Past Shadows” at the historic Commodore Theatre In Portsmouth, VA. It will next be screened at The International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, FL in May and is a nominee for Most Inspirational Film. “Past Shadows” will soon be available on DVD and streaming on Amazon Prime.
’87 CONNIE (SHOFFIT) HAWORTH
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work as an executive director and administrator of senior living facilities since 2001. She is also active with The Alzheimer’s Association and remains good friends with former classmates.
’88 ALEX AIMAN
was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame.
’90s
’91 KRISTA KANIES
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work as the Radiology Operations Manager at AdventHealth-Shawnee Mission.
’92 KELLY (HUBER) PASCUZZI
and her husband, Robert, have produced The Ravine, a Hollywood feature film released in Kansas City and Des Moines over Easter Weekend. The Ravine is a novel-turned-feature film is inspired by true events. Kelly and Robert were behind the scenes for the last several years as writers/producers, along with Phil Goldfine and directed by Keoni Waxman.
’93 LAURA HOFFMAN
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her involvement with multiple charitable organizations ranging from helping young children with medical needs with Cerner’s Firsthand to helping students and alumni with her work on the Avila Alumni Board.
’93 JENNIFER BERRY
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work as a 7th Grade Language Arts/Reading teacher in a Middle School. She goes out of her way to help the students get interested in reading.
’93 BECKY (LEMASTERS) MADDEX
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work as a nurse in Wichita, Kan.
’94 TAMMY WALKER-HARVEY
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work helping children/families and communities in the Chicagoland where she serves as a Public Service Administrator in Social Work.
’95 DEREK FEAGANS
accepted a new job in the legal department at UMB.
’99 JASON NELAND
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for his work as director of Carry the Cross Ministries. He ministers to and foster kids in the Kansas City, KS communities.
’00s
’01 PENNY (HATCH) SPENCE
was named Executive Vice President and CFO for Stowers Group of Companies, including not only the Institute, but also BioMed Valley Discoveries and Stowers Resource Management.
’03 CRYSTAL (HOLT) AYERS
earned her Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Oklahoma State University.
’03 JAMIE (COX) YOUNG
joined the Kansas City Mom Collective as the Events Director.
’06 PATRICIA (PARKS) ROSS
recently had her book, “Lord Bless This Mess, Something to Think About” published.
’06 NICK TEBBE
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for his work as a coach and teacher in the Ray-Pec School District.
’09 LISA (BURKS) ALIZADEH
and husband, Reza, welcomed their second child, Safa Lee, on November 16, 2020. He weighed eight pounds ten ounces and was 21 inches long. He joins big sister, Nima.
’09, ’12, ’14 EUDORA SAVAGE
married her husband on March 6, 2018 and moved to Maryland in September 2019. She continues her term on Avila University’s Board of Counselors and Student Success Committee.
’10s
’10 EMILEE (BILYEU) REHLING
and husband, Jon, welcomed their first child, Everett Wylde Rehling on January 6, 2021. He weighed eight pounds and two ounces. He was 20 ½ inches long.
’11 LAURA TEN EYCK JOENS
married Daniel Joens on October 9, 2020.
’11 PRISCILLA BORDEN
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her volunteer work in an orphanage in Haiti, in an inner-city clinic in Moscow, Russia and for her work as work as a hospitalist (M.D.) at Cass County Medical Center in Harrisonville, MO.
’13 KARA (COFFEE) KREISMAN
recently started a new position as Interventional Radiologic Technologist at Mayo Clinic.
’14 GRACE (GILLASPIE) GRAY
welcomed a baby, Rory Grace Gray, born March 2021.
’14 REBECCA YOUNKER KESSLER
was married in November.
’15 SHELBY FLETCHER
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work as an ER Nurse.
’15 LAURA GALINDO
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work as an ER Nurse.
’16 CALVIN JACOBSON
and wife welcomed their first child, Ava June Jacobson, on November 4, 2020.
’17 JAMES RICHARDS
graduated in May 2020 with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
’18 BECKY KITCHEN
is now serving as Social Media Coordinator for St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church.
’18 HANNAH PINGLETON AND ’18 JAKE MORRISSEY
were married on November 14, 2020.
’18 SHAELYN MATKINS
will be competing for Miss Missouri in June 2021. She is currently Miss Route 66 and was first runner up to Miss I-64.
’18 TRICIA SMITH
presented at the Women’s Series-Checking In: Mindfulness for Mental Health. Tricia Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the owner of Emerge Counseling. Tricia earned her Master’s in General Psychology and Counseling Psychology from Avila University. She is working towards her PhD in Psychology with a concentration in Gender and Sexual Fluidity from Northcentral University.
’19 KATHRYN ROBARDS GORMLY
joined the Avila Advancement team in December 2020 as Director of Donor Relations. Kathryn comes with a wide range of experience including her most recent position with the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas. She recently married Nick Gormly on March 27, 2021.
’19 DEBORAH MANN
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work as the Executive Director of Emmanuel Family & Child Development Center in KCMO. Deborah has a lifelong mission to deliver a nurturing environment and a quality early learning foundation to help children become confident future leaders who love who they are and what they do.
’20s
’20 ATHENA MCCRAY
was named a 2021 Outstanding Beginning Teacher by Missouri Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (MACTE).
’20 MAUREEN REARDON
received a 2021 Dear Neighbor Box for her work in the community.
’20 ASHLEY ROWLAND
was named a 2021 Outstanding Beginning Teacher by Missouri Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (MACTE).
Contents
A Legacy Defined
As a student and administrator, Sue Willcox ’79 has been central to the Avila story for more than 40 years.
Whapham Named VP of Academic Affairs
The Show Must Go On
Avila Theatre caps memorable season with outdoor performances of Pippin
Planting the Seeds
In only five years, the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence has made an indelible mark on the entire Avila community
Champs!
In the best season in program history, Avila Football earns share of KCAC Conference Title
Opening the Door
Jennifer Lindsey ’10, ’15 seeks opportunities for STEM students of all backgrounds
Opportunities Seized
CSJ values guided Mary Morrow-Bax ’64 during pivotal personal and professional challenges
Coming Soon!