Class Notes

1940s

Richard S. Van Scoyoc ’49 celebrated his 100^th birthday on October 16, 2016. Van Scoyoc is a World War II veteran. He retired from the Altoona Area School District in 1979, after thirty years of service.

1960s

Dean Hooper ’63 enjoys retirement in Hershey, Pennsylvania, by running marathons, motorcycling, and volunteering.

David ’66 and Suzanne Kass ’67 celebrated fifty years of marriage on December 27, 2015.

Alan Boyd Calvert ’68 is enjoying life in Sunny Chula Vista, California, of suburban San Diego.

Frank Krens ’68 retired after forty-seven years in aerospace engineering. Krens continues to consult in engineering and is involved in real estate projects and local volunteer projects.

Christopher Gable ’69, of Altoona, has joined the Board of Trustees at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

1970s

Cliff Torban ’73 is thrilled to announce his marriage to Heidi Shore on May 17 2015. The couple resides in Princeton Junction, New Jersey. Torban serves as the general manager of the Annuity Division with American Brokerage Services in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.

Sandy Burket Yagiela ’76 enjoys retirement in Farmington Hills, Michigan, by stepping up her workout efforts and working as a volunteer tutor for local public school students. Her daughter, Jordan, a 2015 graduate of Michigan State University, is director of communications and development for a non-profit.

John J. Sammarco ’78 received the Public Health Service (PHS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 2016 Engineer of the Year Award from the federal government and the 2016 Federal Engineer of the Year (FEY) Agency Award from the National Society of Professional Engineers, in recognition for his outstanding contributions to the engineering field.

Amy Seltzer ’78, founder of Seltzer Financial Strategies, LLC, has been named one of the Top 100 People in Pennsylvania Business Central. Each year, Pennsylvania Business Central recognizes the top 100 professionals who have “achieved personal and financial success with an honest sense of direction.”

Karen Adams ’79 celebrates thirty years of her business, Adams Carpet & Furniture Cleaning, which was recently voted “most popular carpet cleaner in Westmoreland County.”

Jessica Adams, daughter of Karen Adams ’79, and Keith Parsons, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, were wed on July 2, 2016, in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Jessica is the service learning coordinator for St. Vincent College in Latrobe.

Jeffrey Tyler ’79 discovered Tyler Built Technology. This technology would bring internet access to those who otherwise do not have access to affordable high-speed internet. This technology would enable people to pay bills, shop, visit doctors, work from home, or take college classes—all online.

1980s

Ralph Marasco ’80 and Anne Michelone were united in marriage on September 5, 2015, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. The couple resides in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

Scott Ickes ’82 graduated from the University of Illinois at Springfield with a master of arts degree in sustainable development and policy.

Timothy Civils, Jr. ’84, of Lansing, Kansas, earned his doctorate of education in adult education at Kansas State University.

Ronald E. Burk ’86 has been named manager of the Altoona office of The EADS Group, Inc.

Gregory L. Elliott ’89 has been appointed to the position of vice president and principal of The EADS Group, Inc. Elliott will serve on the six-person board of directors which governs the corporation.

1990s

Carol Wakefoose-Barron ’95 has been nominated president-elect of the North Carolina Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Daniel Clark ’99 and Heather (Moyer) Clark ’01 welcomed son, Alexander Joseph Clark, on July 15, 2015.

N. Susan Woodring ’99 is the very proud nana of Henry Wade Donley. He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and was 21 inches long. The parents are Mandy Robbins and George Donley, Jr.

2000s

Jeremiah Underhill ’00 was named the Dauphin County Bar Association’s (DCBA) 2015 “Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year” and also received the 2015 Pennsylvania Bar Association’s (PBA) Pro Bono Award for his work on veterans’ issues.

Erin McConnell ’01 graduated from the Leadership Blair County Class of 2016.

Charles Thomas Streightiff ’01, of the Huntingdon Borough Police Department, was promoted to the rank of Corporal in November 2015, and serves as the Criminal Investigator for the department. Streightiff previously served as Detective from 2012 to 2015. The family celebrated their son Aiden James’ first birthday on October 10, 2015, and welcomed a new golden retriever, Nash, to the family.

Julene Hollingshead ’03 and Chris Weidman, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were wed on October 14 at Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford.

Eric Scherden ’03 and Brianna Durbin were united in marriage on August 14, 2015, at Clearwater Beach in Florida. The couple resides in Tampa, Florida.

David Strouse ’03 was elected to the office of District Attorney of Clinton County and took office on January 4.

Michelle (Templon) Brandt ’04 and Christian Brandt ’04, of Orlando, Florida, celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Jade Kitana Brandt, born February 26, 2016, weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces, and 20 inches long. Christian earned an associate’s degree in information sciences and technology at Penn State Altoona and obtained an associate’s degree in 3D animation from Full Sail University. A Penn State Altoona nursing graduate, Michelle is completing her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Penn State World Campus. She is a pediatric RN at Florida Hospital for Children.  Their eldest daughter, Makayla Malibu Brandt, was born in 2013.

Lacey Garrison ’04 and David Sheldahl, of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, were united in marriage on September 12, 2015, at Bree-Z-Acres in Warriors Mark.

Keri McFarland ’04 and Aaron McFarland welcomed their first child, Mitchell Daniel McFarland, on August 6, 2015.

Joseph Walter, Jr. ’04 has joined Stiffler McGraw as an architectural designer.

Abigail Christine ’05 is a dance instructor at Dance Fusion in Tyrone, Pennsylvania.

Heather Najduch ’06 and Thomas Koehle ’03, both of Altoona, were wed on June 18, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Altoona.

Christopher Baker ’07 and Grace Holden, both of Gig Harbor, Washington, are engaged to be married. An October wedding is being planned in Petersburg, Pennsylvania.

Ryan Baranik ’07 and Shauna (Roscia) Baranik ’01, welcomed their first child—a daughter—Makenzie Anne Baranik, on August 1, 2015.

Beth Showalter ’07, of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, and Erik Gore, of Northport, Alabama, were wed on October 15 at Memorial Church of the Brethren in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.

Kara Stefanick ’07 and Brandon Dodson ’05 were wed on October 15 at Grace Bible Church in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

Alan Dodson, Jr. ’08, of Altoona, and Miranda Miller, of Claysburg, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. An October 22 wedding is being planned at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Altoona.

Paul Link ’08, of Patton, Pennsylvania, and Katie DeLeo, of Altoona, were wed on October 8 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Dysart, Pennsylvania.

Nicki Neil ’08 and Josh Schaffer, both of Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. Schaffer is a 2012 graduate of Penn State University Park. A September wedding is being planned at Bethany Lutheran Church in Altoona.

Michael Bender ’09, of Bethesda, Maryland, formerly of Altoona, earned his doctorate in international relations from Florida International University on May 7.

Rachel Lawruk ’09 and Ryan Beasom, both of Altoona, are engaged to be married. A December 31 wedding is being planned at First United Methodist Church in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

Joshua Taylor ’09 and Jenna Coltrin, both of Hollidaysburg, were united in marriage on July 23, 2016, at Lake Raystown Resort.

Ryan A. Caputo ’10 married Stacy L. Yaworski at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on August 20, 2016. The couple resides in Duncansville, Pennsylvania.

Autumn Craig ’10, ’12g, and Joshua Zupon, both of Altoona, are engaged to be married. A December 30 wedding is being planned at Hicks Memorial United Methodist Church in Duncansville, Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Heuston ’10 and Adam Herbaugh were wed on July 2 at Diamond Lane Farms in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania.

William Reese ’10 and Jessica Bender, of Altoona, were wed on April 16, 2016, at Heritage Baptist Church in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.

Emily Saber ’10, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, married Dustin Mertiff on October 10, 2015, at the Baker Mansion in Altoona.

Thomas Seasoltz ’10 and wife, Dominique, of Altoona, welcomed their first child, Evelyn Joann, on August 31, 2016. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 20 inches long.

Jenna Filler ’11 and Joseph Orr IV, both of Altoona, were wed on July 2, 2016, at First Church of Christ in Altoona.

Blake Link ’11, of Altoona, and Grace Smor, of West Newton, Pennsylvania, were wed on May 7, 2016.

Mitchell Thomas ’11 and Austin Nogales were united in marriage on October 3, 2015, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Duncansville, Pennsylvania. The couple resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Lyndsey Gardner ’12 and Ryan Baker, both of Altoona, were wed on June 25, 2016, in Alexandria, Pennsylvania.

Michael Martynuska ’12 and Lyndsay Neugebauer, both of Altoona, were wed on October 1, 2016, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Altoona.

Ryan Plessinger ’12 and Julie DiGiovanni were wed at The Inn at Mystic’s Haley Mansion in Mystic, Connecticut on May 7.

Matthew Turchetta ’12 and Tia LaPenna, both of Altoona, were wed on October 22, 2016.

Brock Hettinger ’13, of Altoona, and Emily Knott were wed on May 28, 2016, at the Grace Baptist Church in Tyrone, Pennsylvania.

Marissa Kennedy ’13 and Alex Robertson, both of Belcamp, Maryland, are engaged to be married. A December 31 wedding is being planned at St. John the Evangelist Church in Altoona.

Alexander Kinney ’13, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has earned his master of arts degree in sociology from the University of Arizona. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree at the University of Arizona, focusing on social movements and alternative currencies. Alex is the son of Rebecca M. White ’94 of Pittsburgh.

Kaylee Koller ’13 and Doug Kenepp were wed on May 28, 2016, at Whisper Hill in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. A reception was held at The Blairmont Club.

Taylor Leonard ’13 and Cory Ellis, both of Altoona, were wed on October 8, 2016, at Blue Knob All Seasons Resort in Claysburg, Pennsylvania.

Kiersten Luther ’13 and Sean Soldner, both originally from Altoona, were wed on October 10, 2015. The couple resides in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida.

Shannon Alyce Caputo ’14 graduated with a master’s degree in behavioral specialist consulting from Mount Aloysius College on May 7, 2016.

Joseph DeFrancesco ’14, of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and Jorden Mousaw, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. A January 28 wedding is being planned at the Edith Davis Eve Chapel at Penn State Altoona.

Rachel May ’14 and James Imler ’14, of Marysville, Ohio, are engaged to be married. A June 17 wedding is being planned at The Arboretum at Penn State.

Jaclyn Sinclair ’14 and Dustin Zazworsky ’14 celebrated their wedding day on New Year’s Eve—December 31, 2015.

Latecia Decker ’15, of Altoona, and Zachariah McCaulley, of Bellwood, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. A 2017 wedding is being planned.

Emily Diviney ’15 has been hired by Keller Engineers, Inc. as the business development team’s marketing specialist.

Courtney Dry ’15 and Zach Lonsinger ’11 were wed on October 1, 2016.

Amanda Grannas ’15 and Brandon Humphreys, both of Bellwood, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. A May 5, 2018, wedding is being planned.

Caleb McGary ’15 and Tara Jasper, both of Coalport, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. An August 12 wedding is being planned.

Annette Nagle ’15 and Dylan Nelson ’12 were wed on June 20, 2015, at Pleasant Valley Assembly of God in Altoona.

Clayton Over ’15 and Hannah Frank, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married.

Jessica Stellabotte ’15 and Scott Holland, both of Altoona, are engaged to be married. A June 24 wedding is being planned at Fairview United Methodist Church.

Loretta Zeth ’15 and Bill Welsh, both of Altoona, were wed on October 15, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Samantha Baughman ’16 and Nathan Pope, of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. A May 20, 2017, wedding is being planned at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Altoona.

Kayla Shriver ’16 and Adam Wheland, of Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. Wheland is currently pursuing a degree in electro-mechanical engineering technology at Penn State. A September 23, 2017, wedding is being planned.

Friends

Dani and Barry Fry welcomed their first child, Evangeline Hope Fry, on February 5, 2016. Dani is director of Student and Civic Engagement at Penn State Altoona.