Valpo alumni are doing amazing things across the country and around the world — in their professional and personal lives. They’re leading industries, contributing knowledge, and serving in a multitude of ways. These class notes offer a glimpse into their activities, accomplishments, and milestones. If you have news to share with your fellow Valpo alumni, please share it below.
Published Fall 2024
James Welch
James Welch ’71 BLS, RN, HNB-BC of Georgetown, DE was announced as the 2024 Holistic Nurse of the Year. A member of AHNA since 2001, James has served on the AHNA Practice Committee, and chaired it from 2012-2014, and is currently also serving on the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC) Board of Directors. In that role he is the secretary and serves as the AHNCC Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Social Justice Committee chair providing leadership in initiating programs that increase equity and inclusion.
Published Spring/Summer 2016
Christine and Bill Vogelsang
Christine Raftshol ’73 and Bill Vogelsang ’73 recently retired from public ministry. Bill was the pastor at Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, Calif., for 26 years, and Christine was the director of music during that time. This is their third congregation since Bill’s graduation from Fort Wayne Seminary in 1978.
Tom Kautz
Tom Kautz ’73, ’76 J.D., was named to the 2016 Best Lawyers in America Copyright Law and Litigation – Intellectual Property list. He has been named to Best Lawyers since 2013 and resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Marie A. Failinger
Marie A. Failinger ’73, ’76 J.D. served as interim dean of Hamline University School of Law during 2015 as it planned a merger with William Mitchell College of Law. She is a 2015 recipient of the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman award, presented to a teacher who has inspired a student to create an organization which has “demonstrably conferred a benefit on the community at large” or “established on a lasting basis a concept, procedure, or movement of comparable benefit to the community at large.” Her student Asma Saroya, who co-founded the Council on American Islamic Relations-Minnesota chapter, nominated her for this award.
Published Summer 2015
Andrew Herrmann
Andrew Herrmann ’73 was announced the winner of Engineering News-Record New York’s inaugural Legacy Award.
Richard “Rick” Carter
Janet Stein ’72 Carter (who taught part time at Valpo in 1975) retired from full-time teaching as an associate professor of biology at Clermont College of University of Cincinnati in January 2013 to spend time caring for her husband, Richard “Rick” Carter ’73. She continues to teach part time as an emerita faculty member.