UW Oshkosh alumni Class Notes: October 2024

'67 John "Phil" Hinderaker (B), of Madison, was inducted into the Class of 2023 Meat Industry Hall of Fame in September. Hinderaker is the retired president of Alkar, a smokehouse manufacturer he led to become a leader in thermal processing equipment and technology. Hinderaker created a large hotdog production machine that increased production from one to five tons per hour.

'75 Selwyn Griffith (EHS), of Laurel, Maryland, wrote his first book, Carnage at the Ross Park Zoo, inspired by his own childhood fear of snakes. Griffith, native to Trinidad and Tobago, was a cardiac physiologist for 38 years.

'87 Bob Meller (LS), of Oshkosh, is a lead geologist with Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC. Meller has 35 years of experience in environmental consulting and is married to '87 Sandra Meller (LS).

'88 Michael Pica (EHS), of Wautoma, completed his 24^th year as a teacher in the Wautoma Area School District. Pica is a physical education teacher and is active in youth sports boards and coaching.

'89 Tom Pamperin (B), of Marion, is the President and CEO of Premier Community Bank and has 35 years of experience in the banking industry. Pamperin is married to '89 Denise (Kersten) Pamperin (B).

'95 Tracey (Marohn) Miller (EHS) and '00 (MS), of Omro, is starting her 30^th year as a high school English and speech teacher at Omro High School. Miller has also been an adjunct instructor at both UW Oshkosh and Fox Valley Technical College.

'95 Todd Noggle (LS), of De Pere, is the senior director administrator for Aurora Health Care Medical Group responsible for the Oshkosh and Fond du Lac patient service community.

'96 Amy Pollesch (LS), of Ripon, is the director of operations at the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area. Pollesch brings more than 20 years of non-profit leadership in the community, including founding and running Traded Treasures Thrift Store and Community Food Pantry.

'98 Kelly Ferguson (EHS), of Madison, was named the Wisconsin Association for Language Teachers (WAFLT) 2024 Teacher of the Year, an award that highlights the exemplary achievements of language educators in Wisconsin. Ferguson is a Spanish teacher at Robert M. La Follette High School.

'02 Kelly Guenther (LS), of La Habra, California, is releasing Whatever the Hell You Want: An Escape Plan to Break Out of Life's Little Boxes and Live Free from Expectations, a book to help readers redefine life's expectations to achieve happiness and authenticity. The book is co-authored with her business partner and The Breakout podcast co-host, Keri Ohlrich. Guenther is the chief operations officer for Abbracci Group.

'04 Jason Lingk (LS), of Lexington, Massachusetts, is a U.S. Army War College Fellow at Tufts University for 2024-2025.

'04 Amy Prochnow (EHS), of Fond du Lac, is a special education teacher at Fairview Elementary School in the Plymouth School District. Prochnow has 21 years of teaching experience.

'06 Ryan Berndt (EHS), of Milton, is the principal at Lakewood School in the Twin Lakes #4 School District.

'11 Lindsay (Pribek) Ohlfs (EHS) and '22 (MS), of Sheboygan Falls, is the principal at Cleveland Elementary School in the Sheboygan Area School District. Ohlfs was previously the associate principal at Sheboygan North High School.

'12 Scott Lotze (MSE), of River Falls, is a chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at New Richmond High School.

'14 Jerica Keifenheim (EHS), of Saint Cloud, is a client service associate with Spectrum Investment Advisors.

'15 Michael Lubbert (LS), of Cedar Grove, is the assistant fire chief of the Sheboygan Fire Department and a member of the Cedar Grove-Belgium School Board.

'18 Tammie Alekna (MS), of Friendship, is the associate principal at the Adams-Friendship Middle School in the Adams-Friendship School District.

'17 Jesse Davidson (LS), of Horicon, is a high school English teacher in the Mayville School District.

'18 Jennifer Sartori (MSE), of Appleton, is a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing and JV2 volleyball coach in the Lomira School District. Sartori previously worked in the Appleton Area School District and CESAs. She is married to '89 Tony Sartori (LS).

'19 Jacqueline Conway (N), of Stoughton, is a family nurse practitioner with the SSM Health Monroe Clinic Medical Group.

'21 Neal Hogden (LS), of Marshfield, is a high school English teacher with the Spencer School District.

'23 Jenna Kopitske (LS), of Nashville, had her debut radio single released by Clinetel Records Nashville. Cascade was written and performed by Kopitske, a drummer, pianist, songwriter, composer, and teacher from Appleton. Kopitske was nominated as multi-instrumentalist of the year for the 2024 Josie Music Awards hosted at the Grand Ole Opry.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.