Yote Notes
Yote Notes
Stay up-to-date on the most recent accomplishments and life events of fellow Yotes! View Yote Notes below by the category in which they were submitted.
- Josie Beacom born 5/26/24 to Corey Beacom '10 and Kate Beacom '13, joins three older siblings. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Tashena '22 and Chase Bronson welcome Briggs Colin Bronson on 10/28/24. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Congrats to Sarah '11 and Sam Schleisman! Poppy Schleisman joined the Yotes crew on Sept. 22, 2024. Her mom, a former USD student athlete, hopes she’ll find her way to the soccer field in Vermilion in the years to come. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Allyson '15, '18 and Luke '17 McFarland welcomed baby Ezekiel on September 11 who joins big brother Timothy, both future Yotes! (Submitted Fall 2024)
- D-Days baby August Joseph was born on October 10, 2024, joining big brother Owen and parents Adam '11, '12 and Ashley (Simon) '10 Geraets.
- Morgan '15 and Hank '17 Lentsch welcomed their Yote baby girl on June 13, 2024. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Lyndsay '17, '18 and Ryan '16 O'Toole welcomed their second son, and future Coyote, Benjamin Thomas O’Toole August 17th, 2024! (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Jerry and Brooke (Fodness) Palleschi ‘12 welcomed daughter Jerzi on August 3, 2024. She completes the Palleschi family joining older sister Jeryn (4). (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Kiana '16, '19 and Tim Wood welcomed their daughter Savannah Mae on July 15, 2024. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Brett '18 and wife Lindsey welcomed Van Ewald to the world in July of 2023. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Cody '16 and Rachel '17 (Meyer) Breen welcomed their second son, Hayden George, into the world on November 14, 2023. He is welcomed home by big brother Connor. Proud to pass on the love of the Yotes to our boys! (Submitted Spring 2024)
- Ryan and Gina '13, '15 O'Connor are expecting Yote #2 in November 2023. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- Jennifer '12 and Ryan Murtha welcomed Aliyah to their family! Aliyah was born on March 6, 2023 and adopted on September 18, 2023. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- Brooke '07, '10 and Chris '08 Schloss welcomed Frances Julia on June 8, 2023. She joins sisters Lucille and Josephine. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- Alexa '12, '13 and Shea '12 Williams are welcoming a substitute for their relay team with baby #5, Dar Colette Williams, joining their family in May 2023. (Submitted Fall 2023).
- Marcus and Ashley Dvorak '10 welcomed their son, James Michael, to the world on June 2, 2023. (Submitted Summer 2023)
- Kelsey Warkenthien-Smith '14 and Peyton Smith '12 are expecting their second Yote baby in July 2023! It is a boy that will be joining 3 year old Yote girl-Mila! (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Vance '08 and Emily '08 Janak welcomed their third daughter, Evelyn Judith, into the world on March 18, 2023. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Andrew and Brittany (Lunstra) Yanish ‘16 welcomed their daughter Ruby Yanish on November 16th. She joins big sister Lucy! (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Adam and Tamarra (Roths) '07 Friedrichsen welcomed Reagan Joy to their family on January 3, 2023. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Joe Wiltse '14 left private practice at Dorsey & Whitney to lead M&A activity of H.B. Fuller Company, a publicly traded company and the largest pure-play adhesives company in the world. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Sue Andrews '79 retired after 46 years of hard work, exceptional service, spirit and dedication to the mission of the Children's Home Society of South Dakota. Sue was a Clinical Unit Supervisor, dedicating her time to the Black Hills Children's Home, Rockerville Campus. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Angie Poile '96 completed KeyMakers, Volunteers of America’s national, year long leadership training program as of August 2024 in Alexandria, Virginia. This is an award winning leadership training built specifically for those in this organization that works to serve the underprivileged in our communities. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Chad Smidt '20, '21 began a new position at Oak View Group as the General Manager at the Tyson Events Center (TEC). In this role, Smidt will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of all Sioux City venues. Smidt joined the TEC in 2021 and has since served in the roles of event manager, director of events, and assistant general manager. Read more here. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Robin Aden '98 recently accepted a position as President of Adler Trust Company, located in Sioux Falls, SD.
- Ann Sattler '74 retired after 40 years as chief of adolescent and young adult medicine, professor of pediatrics, University of Massachusetts medical Center. She enjoys hiking and swimming in the lake during five months of the year in New Hampshire’s white mountains with 4 children, 9 grandchildren. She enjoyed world travel, courtesy of invitations from her husband‘s medical colleagues, including several 1-2stents at the European biomedical research Institute and Salerno, Italy and a summer in Paris while he was at the Pasteur Institute. Her family did the 5 day Milford trek in New Zealand, an adventure trip to Madidi National Park in Remote, Bolivia, and hiking to Macchu Pichu. She climbed Mount Washington with her 12-year-old son and friend. She is grateful they were able to do so much earlier in their lives!
- Anshu Chandra '16 joins BWF as director of philanthropic counsel with the campaigns and fundraising strategy division. His expertise helps BWF’s national and international nonprofit clients raise more philanthropic support to fulfill their missions. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- John Stassi '15 moved back to South Dakota after 3 years in Wisconsin working for Footlocker and accepted the position of Foundation Coordinator at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- The Army selected Col. Christopher A. Kennebeck for promotion to the grade of brigadier general and assigned him as lead special trial counsel, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va. He assumed duties on June 3, 2024. Kennebeck enlisted in the Army upon high school graduation in ‘85 and served almost six years as an armor crewman. He was later commissioned as a 2nd Lt. with an ROTC scholarship at the University of South Dakota where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English ‘95 and Juris Doctor degree in Law ‘98. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Melissa "Missy" M. Shields (Gruener) '99, '03, joined Starbucks Corporation in early 2024 as a remote 'Partner' leading the Payments, Strategy and Operations group (one of the four branches within their Payments, Card and Fraud (PCF) team). Prior to Starbucks, she spent over 11yrs in publishing where she led recurring subscription operations, B2B and B2C payments as well as digital editions for Dotdash Meredith (an IAC company known for brands like People Magazine, Allrecipes and Better Homes & Gardens). In addition the recent career move, she is a regular speaker for the payments industry and was recently nominated as Chairman of the PaymentsEd Executive Board (current Vice Chairman), a volunteer non-profit, where she works industry leaders to educate fellow merchants how to drive operational excellence within the complex space-- while working with the industries' fintech leaders in pursuit of new innovative payments technology. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Morris "Rick" Beato '14 has been appointed to the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties of the American Physical Therapy Association. (Submitted Spring 2024)
- Dawn Thomas '06 started as a Contract and Budget Planner for the Bureau of HIV, STI, and Hepatitis at the Department of Health and Human Services (IHHS) in September of 2023. (Submitted Spring 2024)
- David Levavi '19 of Manchester, New Hampshire graduated from Touro University Worldwide in March 2024 with a Doctor of Health Science degree. His doctoral research focused on the development of habitual alcohol consumption-related, chronic nitric oxide-deficient hypertension in middle-aged non-Hispanic White men. (Submitted Spring 2024)
- Seth Gerberding '20 has been working on his Ph.D. in mathematics at Texas A&M University with a focus in an numerical analysis and computational fluid dynamics. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Ryan Davis '21, '22 is pursing a Doctor of Education at Liberty University. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Tristan Heinze '20 is currently a PhD candidate at Drake University and began a career with the federal government. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Alycen O'Neal '21 earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from NWMS and will be starting a 3rd year of teaching 3rd grade in the fall. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Hannah Hovel '22 recently started in the Masters of Social Work Program through University of North Dakota. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Kerby Barnes '22 earned a Master's in American History online at Southern New Hampshire University. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Liv Korngable '22 is finishing up her first year of graduate school at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN and will receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in two years. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Kiana Dowdell '16 and Timmy Wood '19 were married on October 13, 2023 at The Atrium in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- Since graduating with a Master of Social Work in 2022, Ryan Davis '21, '22 has married and relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Kelsey (Berger) Grady ‘20, ‘21 and Jacob Grady ‘19 were united in marriage on August 28, 2021. (Submitted Spring 2022)
- Dr. Henry "Hank" Kosters '68 passed away on Oct. 17, 2023. He was a graduate in the Educational Doctorate Program at USD, was involved with the prestigious “Beadle Club” and received an Honorary Professor of Educational Administration certification from the School of Ed. at USD. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- John Lahey-Wiggs, Masters of Audiology, USD (1997). Bachelor of Fine Arts, USD (1991). John passed away August 20, 2024 with his family at his side. He was a gentleman of the finest kind, avid hunter and fisherman. He was never without his camera and had a wonderful eye for photography that drew him to nature and everything photogenic. He was admired, respected and cared for by everyone that knew his quiet, gentle soul. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Kenneth Koch '70 passed away on May 3, 2024. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Mike Berg '86 passed away on July 29, 2023 after living with Alzheimer's for 8+ years. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- Roger Van Ommeren '61 passed away on February 9, 2023. (Submitted Spring 2023)
- Dr. Dominic (Nick) Meylor '76, '79 passed away on June 2, 2022. (Submitted Summer 2022)
- Gordon Wayne Segelke '59 passed away on March 21, 2022 in Des Moines, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, Barbara of West Des Moines, IA; and his daughters Susan Maass of Austin, TX, and Sheryl (John) Dutcher of Johnston, IA; four grandchildren and one great grand-daughter. (Submitted Spring 2022)
- Stanley Merle Jones '59 passed away peacefully November 2, 2021, at the age of 88 due to Alzheimer's. He began college at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion; was interrupted by US Army stationing him at 5th Army Headquarters in Chicago. After serving in the Army Stan returned to South Dakota eager to finish his education. (Submitted Spring 2022)
- Pat (Miller) Bell '55 passed away on January 2, 2022. (Submitted Spring 2022)
- Gerald (Jerry) J. Alingh '55 of Des Moines, IA, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at Wesley Acres. He was an art instructor for two years and a lecturer for USD. (Submitted Fall 2021)
- John Hoeppner '74 published the book "Winning the Naming Game When You're Not First: Smart Strategies for Second Place Brands." (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Anna Marie Thatcher '72 recently produced and directed "POWER OF POSSIBILITY: The Impact of Public Art is South Dakota Communities." The one-hour documentary includes a visual tour of public art in towns across South Dakota, along with interviews with Joan Benefiel (the artist who created “Power of Possibility” for Dakota Wesleyan University), reknowned sculptor John Lopez, Dale Lamphere (South Dakota Artist Laureate), and Marty Two Bulls, Jr. (Oglala Lakota Artist Laureate) about how public art projects are initiated and completed. The film, along with A Study Guide on Public Art for Teachers and Students, will be available to schools, colleges, and community organizations for use in their arts programming. South Dakota Public Broadcasting will air the documentary on October 3 and 6, 2024. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Dave Bakke '74 has written two books - "The Last of The Market Hunters" and "God Knows His Name" and has received many royalties from the Southern Illinois University Press after 30 years. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Matthew Meyer '00 was recently featured in the Omaha Magazine. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Craig Haugaard '14 became the 100th person in the world to run a half marathon on every continent when he finished a half marathon in Antarctica on March 21, 2024. (Submitted Spring 2024).
- Dann Hurlbert '97 and his teenage daughter Kennedy published a YA and Christian fiction novel, "Suddenly Rural Girl." (Submitted Spring 2024)
- Todd J. Pokrywa '13 played in a Celebrity Shinny hockey game at Amalie Arena with former NHL All-Star Brian Bradley vs the first Captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning Paul Ysebaert. (Submitted Spring 2024)
- Mike Hansen '74, '75 completed the annual RAGBRAI bike race across the state of Iowa, 480 miles. At the start of the race in Sioux City, they asked riders to wear a jersey from their college or high school. As a USD alum, Mike had on a USD jersey. (Submitted Summer 2023)
- Robert "Bob" Giebink '80, '92 published the book "Rising in Glory: Poems from a Freed Soul" with Kharis Publishing in May 2023. (Submitted Summer 2023)
- John Albano '85 was recently featured in a Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) article. (Submitted Fall 2022)
- David Colwell '75 wrote the Alma Mater “Forever Inver Hills” for Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, a southern suburb of St Paul, MN (Submitted Summer 2022)
- Leanne (Klute) Sparks '07 published "The Wrong Woman," a crime thriller with Crooked Lane Publishing (Penguin Random House) on February 8, 2022. The second book, "Every Missing Girl" will release in February 2023. (Submitted Summer 2022)
- David Bush '95 recently published a new Extraordinary Life System (book, life planner, 90 day challenge). The free electronic version of the book and planner are available here. (Submitted Spring 2022)
- Daschle Larsen '10 was featured in the cover story on virtual sales in the January issue of the Independent Agent magazine. Larsen, an Elk Point native, joined McKinney Olson Insurance in 2013 as a Risk Executive dealing with both commercial and personal lines. (Submitted Spring 2022)
- Morris Beato '14 was awarded the Lucy Blair Outstanding Service Award by the American Physical Therapy Association. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Rebecka Peterson '11 was recognized as the 2023 National Teacher of the Year by CCSSO and the White House. I spend the 23-24 school year as an ambassador for the teaching profession, listening, learning, and advocating for our profession. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Andrew Bremseth '13 was recently credentialed by the International Local Government Management Organization. (Submitted Fall 2024)
- Jim Tracy '83 was recently awarded the Business ICON of Idaho Award. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Stan Remer '66 was awarded the National Association of Social Workers Social Work Pioneer Award for this legislative effort in the state of Kansas establishing one of the first multi-state social work licensure laws. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Hillary Paul '10 was recently named the 2023 School Psychologist of the Year for Washington State through the Washington State Association of School Psychologists. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Pat Aylward, RDH '90 received the Abbott House Volunteer Children's Champion award. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Dr. Nora Strasser '82, '83 was named an Emeritus faculty member at Friends University earlier this year. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Nichole Price '96, Senior Vice President of Risk, Process and Performance at Pathward, was recently named to American Banker’s prestigious list of the ‘Most Influential Women in Payments.’ The list celebrates senior executives who guide the future of the global payments industry and is an honor among a top banking media outlet. (Submitted Spring 2024)
- Rev. Warren Egebo '72 was inducted into the National Gym Association Hall of Fame on Nov. 18, 2023. He has produced 37 NGA bodybuilding shows in 23 years. (Submitted Spring 2024)
- Jeb H. Clarkson '83, was named Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pioneer Bank & Trust at their 2023 annual meeting. With banking locations in Buffalo, Belle Fourche, Spearfish, Sturgis and Rapid City, SD, the bank was founded in Buffalo, SD as First State Bank in 1913 by F.M. Clarkson and H.W. Clarkson, his grandfather and great uncle. (Submitted Spring 2024)
- On November 12, 2023, Todd J. Pokrywa '13 was a guest player in the Hockey Hall of Fame Hyundai Legends Classic held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada as part of Induction Weekend. Todd played on Team Joe Nieuwendyk, coached by Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald, vs Team Adam Oates. His wife Cyndi was a guest coach for Team Oates. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- Vic Raphael '68, '70 was honored with presentation of the Director of National Intelligence’s Distinguished Service Medal recognizing his exceptional service to our Nation during of his 50 years in the US Intelligence Community. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- David W. Friess, ‘96 BS, O.D., FAAO, received Salus University’s Alumni Association 2023 Public Service Award. Dr. Friess is currently Vice President of Global Medical Affairs at STAAR Surgical and helped launch Project MyVision, a charitable lens-based refractive surgery program. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- At the recent 2023 Barchart Hedge Awards Norman Haugaard '14 was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his "profound impact on the agricultural industry." (Submitted Fall 2023)
- On September 30, 2023, Todd J Pokrywa '13 returned to Captain Team Viera in the Princess Margaret Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer tournament in Toronto, Canada which raised nearly $30,000 for the cause. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- Mike Stevens '78 has been voted by his legislative colleagues the Speaker Pro Tempore of the South Dakota House of Representatives. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- Dr. Kevin Kennedy '84 is the recipient for the 2022 Distinguished Professional Achievement Award for an undergraduate degree alumnus at his Alma Mater, Mount Marty University in Yankton, SD. An endowment has been established in his name at MMU, The Dr. Kevin Kennedy Endowment Scholarship. In January 2023 he completed a dream traveling to Antarctica. (Submitted Summer 2023)
- John Jenson '69 was elected to the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame for services as a volunteer and rules official and recognized for volunteer service to various community organizations. (Submitted Summer 2023)
- Amber Hulse '21 was crowned Miss South Dakota USA 2023 on June 11. She is the 4th woman to be both Miss South Dakota and Miss South Dakota USA and will compete for Miss USA later this year. (Submitted Summer 2023)
- Dr. Thomas Hokanson '03 was recently awarded a Mellon Graduate Hours Fellowship by the American Indian College Fund. He is a faculty member at Red Lake Nation College in Minnesota. (Submitted Summer 2023)
- Tom Fritz '68, '71 was recently honored by the Pennington County Bar Association as the "Exceptional Lawyer of the Year for 2022, in recognition of "Integrity, Leadership and Exemplary Service to the Community and the Bar" (Submitted Summer 2023)
- Todd J Pokrywa '13 was the top fundraiser for the second year in a row at the Hockey Helps the Homeless Bay Street Tournament in Toronto Canada. He skated alongside NHL Alumni Georges Laraque, Christian Hanson and Lou Franceschetti. (Submitted Summer 2023)
- Melissa "Missy" M. Shields (Gruener) '99, '03, joined Starbucks Corporation in early 2024 as a remote 'Partner' leading the Payments, Strategy and Operations group (one of the four branches within their Payments, Card and Fraud (PCF) team). Prior to Starbucks, she spent over 11yrs in publishing where she led recurring subscription operations, B2B and B2C payments as well as digital editions for Dotdash Meredith (an IAC company known for brands like People Magazine, Allrecipes and Better Homes & Gardens). In addition the recent career move, she is a regular speaker for the payments industry and was recently nominated as Chairman of the PaymentsEd Executive Board (current Vice Chairman), a volunteer non-profit, where she works industry leaders to educate fellow merchants how to drive operational excellence within the complex space-- while working with the industries' fintech leaders in pursuit of new innovative payments technology. (Submitted Summer 2024)
- Morris "Rick" Beato '14 was appointed as the Chair of the Neurologic Board Specialty Council of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. (Submitted Fall 2023)
- Joseph Mehlhaff '21 was elected Board President of the Aberdeen Catholic School System. (Submitted Summer 2023)
- Stephen Williamson '91, '00 is serving as the Chair-Elect for the South Dakota Humanities Council starting in 2023. (Submitted Fall 2022)
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