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
Joseph Svetanoff
Joseph Svetanoff ’02 J.D. was named a senior attorney at the law firm of Kopka Pinkus Dolin P.C. in Crown Point, Indiana. He is licensed to practice law in both Indiana and Illinois as well as five U.S. District Courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. Joseph’s primary areas of practice include municipal/local government, real estate, business and commercial transactions, estate planning/ probate, criminal law, and employment law.
Tamara Harrell Kenning
Tamara Harrell ’02 Kenning fought acute myeloid leukemia beginning in September 2014. She underwent a stem cell transplant in April 2016 and is currently in remission and recovering. Tamara is thankful to God and for the support of her friends and family. Her husband, Dan Kenning ’03, and her three children, Sean (6), Ryan (4), and Nolan (3), share in her happiness.
Sarah Engelbert
Sarah Engelbert ’02 has 11 years of experience working in family law firms. In August 2016, she opened Howe Engelbert LLP, a family law practice, in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles with her business partner and fellow Pepperdine Law School graduate. They practice all aspects of family law and bring extensive big-firm experience to a small, comfortable setting.
Published Fall 2021
Jakob Rinderknecht
Jakob Rinderknecht ’02 Ph.D. authored the 2016 book on Lutheran-Catholic Ecumenism “Mapping the Differentiated Consensus of the Joint Declaration” (Palgrave-MacMillan), which was awarded the 2020 Harding Meyer Prize in Ecumenism from the Strasbourg Institute of Ecumenical Research.
Published Winter 2019
Justin Freiberg
Anna and Justin Freiberg ’02 welcomed Theodore James Scott Freiberg, born May 15, 2017.
Josh Messner
Josh Messner ’02, along with fellow Valpo alumni Sally Jacob ’02 Messner, Paul Friesen-Carper ’04, Laura Potratz ’05, Luke Tegtmeier ’05, and Sophie Hunt ’05, took part in a chorale service of holy communion on July 23, 2017, as part of the Elm Ensemble. The Elm Ensemble is directed by Sally and Josh and has involved those in the Valpo family in every project it has done. Josh, Sally, Paul, Laura, Luke, and Sophia were all members of either or both the Valparaiso University Chorale and the Kantorei during their time at Valpo. Sally, Paul, Luke, and Laura are professional musicians.