1970s
Dick Miller ’70, ’75g will retire in June 2018 after 40 years of teaching and research in microbiology as a faculty member at the University of Louisville, School of Medicine.
Deborah Ann Kling Rooney ’70 received the 2017 Service to Society Award from the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts.
Scott Bergstein ’74 has written the book Soul of the Heel, available on Amazon.
Melvin C. McDowell ’75 has started a blog at melvinmcdowell.com.
1980s
Donna (Kubitsky) Messner ’81 was recognized as the Wise Women of Blair County 2017 Tribute Honoree for Education on April 19, 2017, at The Casino at Lakemont Park in Altoona.
Brad Norris ’83 has been approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs’ State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators to complete an administrator-in-training program at the Martinsburg campus of the Homewood Retirement Centers. In order to acquire a Nursing Home Administrator’s License, Norris must complete the required training hours and curriculum and pass the state licensing exam by April 2019.
Shawn Ritchey ’85, Chief Construction Engineer/Project Manager at Keller Engineers in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, has obtained his Professional Engineers License in New Jersey.
Michael Mignogna ’86 has been named head of the ARC Federal Credit Union’s new Member Business Lending Program.
Brenda Sheridan ’89 is now the director of Strategic Communications for Rutgers’ School of Communication and Information. She was previously at Drexel University for 10 years. Her daughter, Elizabeth, enrolled at University Park in the fall of 2017 to study engineering.
1990s
Brian Smith ’94, Chief Highway Engineer at Keller Engineers in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, has obtained his Professional Engineers License in New Jersey.
2000s
Summer Siry ’00 and Craig Tomlinson were united in marriage on June 24, 2017, in the Edith Davis Eve Chapel at Penn State Altoona. The couple resides in Altoona.
Craig Starr ’01, Chief Bridge Engineer at Keller Engineers in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, has obtained his Professional Engineers License in New Jersey.
Ken Plisinski ’04 and Marianne Swauger are engaged to be married. A Las Vegas wedding is planned for 2018.
Stephenie Schroth’04, an Altoona native, graduated from Penn State Altoona with a bachelor of science degree in elementary and kindergarten education, and in 2010, earned a master of education degree in instructional systems and educational technology and instructional technology specialist certification from Penn State World Campus. Recently, Schroth graduated from University Park with a doctor of philosophy in learning, design, and technology. She works full time as a multimedia specialist for the University.
Roxanne Birchfield ’06, Mrs. Pike County Pennsylvania 2017, was selected as third runner-up at the Mrs. Pennsylvania America Pageant on June 10.
Vincent DiVittore ’07, of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, and Rachel Fogle, of Altoona, were wed on October 14, 2017, in Elizabethtown.
Typhani Russo’07, of Altoona, has been promoted to children’s service supervisor at the Altoona Area Pubic Library.
Brittany Eckenrode ’08 has joined the Business Development team at Keller Engineers in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, as a marketing specialist.
Michael ’08 and Sarah Schafer welcomed their son, William Schafer, on May 10, 2017.
Michael Bender ’09 and Alexandra Dvoriantchikova were wed on September 10 in Frederick, Maryland.
Rachel Lawruk ’09 and Ryan Beasom were united in marriage on December 31 at the First United Methodist Church in Hollidaysburg. The couple lives in Altoona.
2010s
Austin Lambert ’10 and Emma Dubois, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, were wed on September 23 in Dallastown.
Kaylene Jenkins ’10 and Mark Hufman ’08, of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, married September 2 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Altoona.
Paul R. Christner ’11, of Pittsburgh, received his professional engineering licensure. Christner is employed at Gannett-Fleming in Pittsburgh.
Carlin Alexandra Corle ’11 and Jason Madison Duke were united in marriage on May 13, 2017, at the Birkby House in Leesburg, Virginia. The couple resides in Woodbridge, Virginia.
Stefanie Hinton ’12 and Trevin Kensinger, both of Bedford, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. A December 31 wedding is planned at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bedford.
Michael Martynuska ’12 and Lyndsay Neugebauer, of Altoona, were united in marriage October 1, 2016, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Altoona.
Erika DeCriscio ’14 and Nikalas Bailor ’14 were united in marriage on June 16 at The Casino at Lakemont Park in Altoona. The couple resides in Altoona.
Joseph DeFrancesco ’14 and Jorden Mousaw were united in marriage on January 7, 2017, at First Presbyterian Church in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. The couple resides in Tyrone.
Meghin (Kerila) Pettenati ’14 married Nicholas Pettenati at The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona on June 10, 2017. Meghin and Nick reside in Cresson, Pennsylvania, with their two dogs, Moscato and Kabela.
Jenna Balestino ’14 and Nicholas Raia ’08, both of Altoona, were united in marriage on October 7, 2017, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Port Matilda, Pennsylvania.
Abigail Kreider ’14 and Noah Krehl ’12 were united in marriage on December 31, 2017, at General Potter Farm in Spring Mills, Pennsylvania. The couple resides in Wexford, Pennsylvania.
Alyssa Miller ’15 and Casey Gorsuch, both of Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, are engaged to be married. A May 19 wedding is being planned.
Samantha Baughman ’16 and Nathan Pope were united in marriage on May 20, 2017, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Altoona. The couple lives in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
Natalie Colabove ’16 and Matthew Miller were united in marriage on June 10, 2017, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Altoona.
Victoria Liebal ’16 and Sean Montler ’16 are engaged to be married. A May 5 wedding is being planned at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Newry, Pennsylvania.
Gina Merritts ’16 and Jack Ross III ’14 were united in marriage on June 3, 2017, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Altoona.
Alexa Mock ’16 and Matthew Ritchey ’16 were united in marriage on October 8, 2016, at First Church of Christ in Altoona. The couple resides in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
David Pedersen Jr. ’16 and Madison Baronner were wed on August 26, 2017, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Altoona.
Brittany Paul ’17 and Sgt. Sean Barazotto, both of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, were married on October 28, 2017.
Friends
Y. Jean Young, a Penn State Altoona retiree, and her husband, Kenneth A. Young, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 10, 2017.
Future Penn Stater
Future Penn Stater Jade Brandt
Future Penn Stater Jade Brandt proudly sports her Penn State Altoona onesie. Jade is the daughter of Michelle (Templon) Brandt ’04 and Christian Brandt ’04.
Send your birth announcement to rmoran@psu.edu to get a onesie for your future Penn Stater!