Class Notes

Stephen L. Krentz ’87, ’90 J.D. was elected circuit judge for the 23rd Judicial Circuit, Kendall County, Illinois. He has served as a member of the judiciary since his appointment as an associate judge in 2012.

Peter Marhenke’s ’87 daughter Julia became a fifth generation Valpo graduate in May 2022, and the 10th member of her family to graduate from Valpo. Peter’s great-grandfather graduated in 1901.

Gayle Renken ’87 is the principal of St. Timothy’s Christian Academy in San Jose, California. In 2017, Gayle was selected as the ELEA Principal of the Year and granted the National Distinguished Principal award by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. These honors are bestowed upon principals of schools where programs are designed to meet both the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations.

Monique R. Spotts ’87 J.D. was named a shareholder in the law firm of Bryant Miller Olive. Since 1987, Monique has been a public finance attorney, returning to Bryant Miller Olive’s Tampa office in 2013, where she focuses her practice on government public finance and affordable housing. She is a member of the Florida Bar and the National Association of Bond Lawyers and is admitted to practice law in Connecticut.

James McManus ’87 received the Western Michigan University Department of Geography Alumni of the Year award for 2015. James obtained his master of arts from Western Michigan University in 1992.