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
Cheryl B. Schrader
Cheryl B. Schrader ’84, Ph.D., was named the seventh president of Wright State University, assuming office on July 1. Prior to her new appointment, Cheryl served as the first female chancellor of Missouri University of Science and Technology for five years. She is also the first woman to lead Wright State University.
Published Winter 2019
Kirk Melhuish
Kirk Melhuish ’84 celebrated his 30th anniversary with WSB Radio in Atlanta, a multiple Marconi Award–winning station. He has been the station’s only full-time meteorologist since July 1987, was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, and holds the broadcast meteorology certification from both the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society. Kirk forecasts on air and across all digital platforms via audio and blogs. He also had a small voice role in the Atlanta-filmed movie “Baby Driver,” playing himself.
Katharine Donaldson
Katharine Donaldson ’84 is an advanced practice nurse for maternity services and coordinator of perinatal supportive and palliative care at Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell in Pennington, New Jersey. Katharine is a member of the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Case Review Team. She received two awards in 2017 from Capital Health System: Excellence in Nursing Practice and the Martin Epstein Award for Humanitarian Service (first nurse recipient) for her work with families who have experienced a pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or newborn death. Katharine was a finalist for the 2017 March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter Nurse of the Year Award in the Women’s Health category. In May 2018, she received the Alumni Award for Clinical Excellence from the University of Pennsylvania, where she completed her master’s degree. Katharine was appointed to the National Certification Corporation’s panel of perinatal/neonatal safety experts to create a sub-specialty certification examination for perinatal/neonatal quality and safety. She plans to begin studies for her doctor of nursing practice fall 2019.
Published Summer 2015
Dale Clapp
Dale Clapp ’84, senior vice president, regional chief sales officer, First Merchants Bank, has been awarded with the 2014 Legacy of Service Award from the Valpo Chamber.
Randy Zromkoski
Randy Zromkoski ’84 J.D., of Blachly, Tabor Bozik & Hartman LLC and adjunct professor of law at Valparaiso University, has accepted the position to serve as chair elect of the Valpo Chamber beginning January 2015.
J. Scott VanDerbeck
J. Scott VanDerbeck ’84 J.D. was re-elected to his fourth term as judge of the LaGrange Circuit Court in LaGrange, Indiana.