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/Winter 2017
Molly Halvorson Nagel
Molly Halvorson ’80 Nagel is one of 10 educators across the United States to receive the 2016 Brighton Excellence in Education Award. Molly teaches at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church & School in Lake Forest, California. In 2005, she was recognized by the Tri-State Lutheran Schools Association as Preschool Educator of the Year.
Published Fall 2023
Colette Silverman
Colette Silverman ’80 was elected secretary on the Board of Directors of CareLink, a statewide Rhode Island nonprofit healthcare network of post-acute and community-based providers serving older adults and adults with disabilities. She is the executive director of Scandinavian Communities in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Joel Bretscher
Joel Bretscher ’80 teamed up with longtime colleague Kenneth Haugk to write The Gift of Empathy. The book, which is published by independent educational nonprofit Stephen Ministries, equips readers to relate with greater empathy with family, friends, coworkers, and others in their lives. Joel is program director at Stephen Ministries and a member of the Valpo Athletic Hall of Fame.
Published Fall 2019
Roland Bellman
After seven years in Minnesota and 20 years in Gurnee, Illinois, Roland Bellman ’80 and his wife, Jennifer, now live in Scotts, Michigan.
Robert “Bob” Rautenberg
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) awarded the OARS – OSIS Augmentation & Relief Sewer project with an Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA) Award of Merit. James Siebert ’73 and Robert “Bob” Rautenberg ’80 were part of the team that for the $370 million project, which provides wet weather relief to the existing OSIS sewer, the main combined sewer through downtown Columbus, Ohio
Published Winter 2019
Chuck Baldwin
Chuck Baldwin ’80 appeared on the 2018 list of BTI Client Service All-Stars in recognition of client service exceeding all others. He also received the International Law Office’s 2018 Client Choice Award. Client Choice recognizes those law firm partners around the world that stand apart for the excellent client care they provide and the quality of their service. Chuck, who was recently re-elected as managing director for Ogletree Deakins, is the exclusive winner in the employment and benefits category for Indiana. He is an active member of the Indianapolis community, serving as chair of the board of directors for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and previously selected as an Indiana Chamber “Volunteer of the Year.”