1994

Kate (Christian) Leonard (BS): After working for TLC for Children & Families in Olathe for 3 years as a case manager for homeless and runaways, as well as juvenile offenders, I was able to stay home and raise my daughter, Kena, who is now 2 years old.  My husband Travis and I were married on 5-29-07 and are expecting a son in October.  Life is Good!

1997

Dana (Rodrock) Gifford (BS): Currently a stay at home mom with 3 kiddos, and also is a Silpada Designs Sterling Silver representative.

Cara (Gillen) Stewart (BS): I am a stay at home mom keeping busy raising three kids, Zane, Alexa, and Stephanie. I also homeschool.

1998

Tiffany (Lay) Henkelman (BS): Currently employed at Protection One and am enrolled at Friends University to start the Masters of Organizational Development program in August 2008. I have two children Taylor and Chandler.

Stephanie (Thomas) Kinsley (BS): Employed at the Linn County Attorney’s Office and have one child, Quentin.

1999

Megan (Emmerson) Campbell (BS): Employed at the Sunflower House and gave birth to my little girl, Emma, July, 2008.

Kevin Emerson (BS): I am employed as the Chief Court Services Officer for the 28th Judicial District Court.  I was promoted to this position from a Court Services Officer I in September of 2006.  I started employment for the 28th Judicial District Court immediately upon graduating from ESU and have worked in the district for the past 9 years.

Michael Uphaus (BS): In March 2008 I was promoted to supervisor over all the adult probation officers. My wife who graduated from ESU is a special education teacher in Leavenworth County.

Darby (Cochran) Wilson (BS): I have recently completed my BS in Nursing from ESU and began working in the Emergency Department at Newman Regional Health.

2000

Norma Lambert (BS): Employed at the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas.

Rachel (Baxter) Richardson (BS): Working as a targeted case manager at RCIL for individuals with physical disabilities and taking care of my kids, Regan, Reed and Ridley.

Alissa (Fenske) Smith (BS): Employed at the Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services (Voc Rehab).

2001

Tauna (Schonhardt) Baker (BS): Back at TFI, Family Services, supervising the Topeka Resource Family Services team. Brent and I had another baby back in November 2007, a little boy named Jonah.

Lisa (Zogelman) Gibbons (BS): Currently employed at Children’s Mercy Hospital and have one child, Noah.

Dawn (Neve) Healy (BS): Graduated from KU MSW program in May 2008. Currently employed at Good Shepherd Hospice.

Carrie (Kirk) Stastny (BS): I am a SAHM and I have my own home based business.  Our city was recently devastated by the recent flooding.  Our family was not “affected” but we did have friends lose their homes and businesses.

2002

Heather (Thornton) Bratcher: Employed at Aviva USA. and have one child, Gavin.

Julie (Looper) Carroll (BS): I moved to Norman, Oklahoma in September 2005 and married Jake Carroll in February 2006. I am currently the Drug-Free Communities Program Director at NAIC in Norman. For the Center for Oklahoma Alcohol & Drug Services, Inc.

Kate Krcina (BS): I have been a Human Services Specialist for SRS in Johnson County (Overland Park) for 20 months. I am a case manager for families receiving Food Stamps, TAF, Child Care and applying for Medicaid. I am also a Peer Leader in my office in Overland Park for new staff members. I bought my first house in July 2008 in Overland Park, KS.

Erica (Huerter) Murrill (BS): Upon leaving Emporia I worked for Crittenton Children’s Center for 4 years, then worked at the Children’s Division of Family Services for four years.  I am currently employed with First Steps of Greater Kansas City and work with developmentally disabled children ages birth to three.  I work there full time during the day and I also currently work part time as Safehome, a domestic violence Shelter in Kansas.  I graduated from Emporia in 2000 with a degree in Art and in 2002 with a degree in Sociology.

2003

Amy Hill (BS): Recently graduated from KU with Master’s in Social Work (Child and Family Therapy). Currently working at DCCCA as a Family Preservation Specialist, serving Douglas and Franklin Counties.

Susan Mukwindidza (BS): I am working on my Master’s degree in Health Promotion at Methodist College here in Nebraska. I am almost done with the program. I have finished my last class for this program today and I am starting to work on my capstone. However, the class for the capstone is going to officially start in two weeks time, August, 2008. My last day for this program is going to be on 10/26/08. I hope to come back to Kansas because all my family are over there. That means I am now busy looking for a job in Kansas. Well, take care everybody. I hope to hear from you.

Ashley Robbins (BS): I’ve been living in Kansas City and doing quality assurance for an insurance company, Assurant Employee Benefits, for the past 4 years. My husband and I are expecting our second little girl, due next month.

Mariah Snyder (BS): I will be marrying my high school sweetheart and best friend (12 years) Rex Pendlay on October 4, 2008.

Jessica Wagoner (BS): Currently employed at TFI Family Services and have a 4 month old as of July 18, 2008, named Sylas.

2004

Katie Ek (BS): I am a Special Education Social Worker for the Gardner School District.

Nikki (Taylor) Morris (BS): Employed at the 12th Judicial District Court Services and have one child, Dylan.

Sarah (Bachman) Oubre (BS): Employed at the Hospice Care of Kansas Agency and have two children, Natalie and Allison.

Miranda (Hamilton) Parker (BS): Tim is currently serving in Iraq, and I am still planning to pursue my masters degree. I also have two children, Jaden and Lara.

2005

Angela (Buckbee) Givens (BS): I continue working for Catholic Charities as a case manager, but have also taken on the responsibility of billing for the Emporia and Topeka offices.  I will be returning to Washburn University in January of 2009 to complete my masters degree in Social Work.  I was married in March 2007, gave birth to my daughter in September 2007 and purchased our first home in Lebo, KS in December of 2007.

Jared Morris (BA):  Since receiving my Bachelors of Arts in Sociology in 2005, I have been working towards my Masters of Arts in History, which I will complete this Fall of 2008.  I have spent the past two years as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Social Sciences, with one year spent working with two World Regional Geography courses, while the final year was spent working with two US History Since 1877 survey courses.  I was given the opportunity to teach my own US Since 1877 survey course in the summer of 2007 and it turned out to be a success and a fun experience as a majority of my students were international students from Japan and Vietnam.  This past year I have spent as a graduate student and a teaching assistant, but I have also devoted a great deal of time at my stepson’s elementary school here in Olathe.  I spent many afternoon’s volunteering as a guest lecturer with his first grade class, doing lessons on geography and history.  It not only seemed helpful to the teacher but it seemed to gain the attention of the students and by the end of the school year they seemed to take a more active interest in the social sciences.  As I am nearing the end of my goal of obtaining my Masters, I am looking at the future and am focusing on eventually teaching US History at one of the local community colleges!

Nicholas Hofmeier (BS):  I recently accepted a teaching position at Ottawa High School where I will be teaching LIfe Skills to students with exceptionalities.

2006

Heather Gonzales (BS): I am living in Overland Park working on downtown Kansas City, MO for Phoenix Family Housing Corporation.  Have worked for PFHC for the last four years; came to the organization after working for a year and a half as the Coordinator of the Victim Assistance unit in the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.  I enjoyed advocating for victims of crime thru the court process but missed working more directly with people.  When I first came to PFHC I worked as a Service Coordinator at an apartment community in the inner city offering after school and summer programming for the youth that lived in the community.  During the day I assisted the adults on property with a variety of issues from parenting assistance, job search, and crisis work.  Two years ago I made the change to another property for senior citizens 62 and older and those on disability.  The property that I am at is in the heart of downtown which is a fun place to be currently.  Everyday I learn something new about Medicaid and Medicare and the complex issues of growing older.

Rachel (Williamson) Krueger (BS):  I am employed at TFI Family Services.

2007

Morgan Murphy (BS): Employed at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Chad Weaver (BS): I am working for Johnson County as a Juvenile Corrections Officer and truly Enjoying every minute of it. The job has brought me great joy thus far and I continue to love every aspect of what each day brings for me. It is a very simple routine but you never know what the day will bring you. It is wonderful experience to be working with troubled youth and having the ability to adjust their criminal behaviors and guide them on a better life track. I definitely recommend this job to those in the department that don’t see themselves in Law Enforcement. Opportunities are endless and all you can do is climb up.

2008

Amanda (Golden) Hinrichs (BS):  I am in my 6th week of graduate program.  I am working on my Master’s in Gerontology. 

Erin Lindsey (BS): Employed at 810 SportsZone in Overland Park, Kansas.

Mandy Maher (BS): Lives in Lenexa Kansas and is employed at Premier Bank.

Casey Renner (BS): Employed at Farmers Insurance.