Community News

Bolivia, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Grenada, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Mali, Nepal, Nicaragua

By JoAnna Haugen on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

BOLIVIA

Stephanie Frischie (96-98) works for the Nature Conservancy’s 8,000-acre Kankakee Sands project in northern Newton County, Indiana, as a plant materials and conservation programs coordinator. In her position, she determines what plants are native, collects seeds and gets them to grow in the area. After graduating from Purdue University, Frischie worked at a wheat research lab and a sorghum lab then moved to Bolivia to do watermelon and potato farming before beginning work as a volunteer at her current place of employment.

BULGARIA

Jennifer H. Fortin (04-06) recently had her book of poetry, Mined Muzzle Velocity, published. She is the author of three chapbooks and another is forthcoming. Fortin is the co-founder and editor of the online poetry journal LEVELER. Her work has appeared in several publications, and she was named a finalist for the Poetry Foundation’s Ruth Lilly Fellowship. She is a graduate of Goucher College and The New School.

ETHIOPIA

Doug Eadie (64-67) has written his eighteenth book, The Blind Visionary, which tells the true story of the book’s co-author, Virginia Jacko, who became the first blind president and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind in its 80-year history.

GRENADA

Becca Stroebel (04-06), a reference librarian at the main library in downtown Boise, has been named the Idaho Library Association’s Librarian of the Year. She is also the legislative co-chairwoman of the Idaho Library Association. Prior to her position at Boise’s library, Stroebel worked for a family service organization that supported children in foster care.

GUATEMALA

Penelope Northrop Broberg’s new book SleuthyGumshoe: The Remarkable Detective will allow kids to digitally color in some of the illustrations. Broberg studied creative writing at Hartford College for Women, The New School in New York City and Long Ride Writers Group. This is part one of a two-book series.

INDIA

Larry Hughes has been named grand marshal of the 66th annual Greater Manassas Christmas Parade through Old Town Manassas in Virginia. Hughes, who has been the city manager since 1999, is retiring from the position, effective January 1. While city manager, he has focused on major community level projects, economic development and financial management. Prior to this position, Hughes was deputy county executive in Prince William County, budget director of Richmond, assistant to the budget director in Metropolitan Dade County, Fla., and assistant to the development director in Kansas City, Missouri. He received his bachelor’s degree from Graceland University and his master’s degree from the University of Missouri.

KENYA

Deb Adelsperger (91-93) was a flight attendant before joining the Peace Corps, but since returning from her tour, she has worked in international development and service. Now a geological engineer, Adelsperger has worked with the International Rescue Committee on the Rwandan genocide, CARE International in Congo, WaterAid UK in Bangladesh and Mercy Corps International in Central Asia. She also taught in the Denver public school system and served in Iraq and Pakistan after an earthquake struck the area in 2005. In 2008, she went to Afghanistan with USAID. Adelsperger currently volunteers with the Huntsville, Ala., chapter of Engineers Without Borders Zambia Project, the International Services Council of Alabama and 16 Main Gallery in Madison.

MALI

Beth Ziesenis (93-95) just had her first book, Upgrade to Free: The Best Free and Low-Cost Online Tools and Apps, published by TSTC Publishing. The book, which grew out of a blog Ziesenis launched in 2006, suggests several marketing, computing and productivity applications available for little or no cost. Her book has also launched a public speaking career. Ziesenis is a freelance copywriter. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree from the University of Alabama.

NEPAL

Upper Moreland High School recently inducted Joseph Boutwell (70-72) into its Hall of Fame. Boutwell taught high school for 39 years while serving as an adjunct professor at three different universities. He received the 1989 Christa McAuliffe Fellowship from West Virginia University while he served as a state mentor teacher. In 1990, Boutwell was named County Teacher of the Year and received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math Education. He received his bachelor’s degree from Alderson Broaddus College and his master’s degree from West Virginia University.

NICARAGUA

The HOPE Program has appointed Jennifer Mitchell (95-97) as its new executive director. Prior to this position, Mitchell worked at The Doe Fund for the last eleven years, and before that she worked at America Works and at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. She received her bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University and her master’s degree from Columbia University.

Comments (1)

  1. Jessica Condon said 553 days ago

    Mali is where my BFFL lives now. His mom Chris worked in peace corp and now is a friend (Madou Chris’s son) who is long gone and who i dearly miss. Love ya Madou. BFFs forever

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