Class Notes: Spring/Summer 2024-25

’60s

Jim Sensenbrenner MCDS’61,former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin, was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the school’s commencement in May. Sensenbrenner earned his juris doctor degree from UW-Madison in 1968.

Hack Noyes ’66 submitted the following note: “Over my years of being involved with the school, I have gotten to know Mike Williams ’71 (second from left) and Steve Becker ’64 (second from right). Mike invited us to lunch, and I suggested that we invite history teacher John “J.S.” Stephens (right). We all talked about SO MANY things: students, teachers, USM’s fabulous plays and musicals (he always attends, where I often see him), changes in teaching today, and more. The lunch lasted three Diet Cokes for me, and 2.5 hours of fun!”

Marina Spheeris Krejci ’68 was awarded the USM Alumni Service Award during the 2025 Reunion Weekend to honor her long-standing service to the school in various volunteer and leadership capacities, including vice president of USM’s Board of Trustees, and director of advancement, where she led fundraising efforts for USM’s $45 million The Next Generation campaign.

’70s

Mark C. Hansen ’74 is serving as lead counsel and lead litigator for Meta in the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against the company. Hansen is a partner at Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick in Washington, D.C. Hansen also hosted a USM alumni regional event at his law firm in May. Following the event, guests were invited to join the 8th grade class and Chuck Taft, 8th Grade American Studies History Teacher, on their tour of the National Mall as part of the annual class trip to Washington, D.C.

Kip Jacobs ’74 was USM’s Class of 2025 Commencement speaker. Jacobs taught many members of the Class of 2025 as their 7th grade science teacher in 2019-20. “Most people say practice makes perfect, but nothing is perfect,” he said. “So it is better to say that practice makes permanent. Time, hard work, and bit of perseverance and practice will allow you to get better at anything.”

Carl Meyer ’76 was profiled in the Wall Street Journal for his annual 100 Holes for Our Heroes fundraiser for veterans. Since 2008, Meyer has golfed 100 holes every Fourth of July at Chenequa Country Club in Hartland, Wisconsin. To date, he has raised roughly $1.8 million in support of Hire Heroes USA, an organization that helps veterans find meaningful jobs in the civilian workforce.

’80s

Raj Bhala ’80 was interviewed by journalist Kara Swisher for her podcast “On With Kara Swisher.” The episode is titled “Trump’s Tariffs: Chaos, Confusion & Consequences.” In addition, Bhala was awarded a University Distinguished Professorship, a significant honor that reflects the recipient’s valued accomplishments and contributions to the university and the field. Bhala is the Brenneisen Distinguished Professor in the University of Kansas School of Law and an expert in international trade law.

Bruce Lee ’81 launched a podcast, called “The Disruptors,” that dives deep into the lives and minds of visionary entrepreneurs, innovators, and change-makers who are revolutionizing industries and shaping the future.

Bill Zito ’82, general manager and president of hockey operations for the Florida Panthers, earned the storied Stanley Cup once again after the team won the National Hockey League championship in June, their second in two years.

Fred Haberman ’84 and his classmates Marty Broan ’84 (left) and Margy Stratton ’84 (right) reunited at a memorial service for Fred’s mother, Carmen, who died in February.

Margy Stratton ’84 reconnected with alumni and former teachers representing many eras of USM history, who were gathered for the Upper School Honors Assembly in May. They are (from left) Susan Zarwell ’87, assistant head of Upper School; John “J.S.” Stephens, retired Upper School history teacher; Will Piper ’96, assistant director of alumni relations and reunion giving; Joe Eason, interim head of Upper School; Rosie Lyons, retired head of Upper School; Stratton; Steve Breummer, retired Upper School history teacher; Mary “Peetie” Basson, retired Upper School English teacher; and Charlie Housiaux ’02, Upper School dean of students.

Adam Ciralsky ’89 wrote an in-depth article for the February 2025 issue of “Vanity Fair” titled
“Inside America’s Most Unconventional Counterterror Squad,” which profiled Rebecca Weiner, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism. In addition, season two of “The Recruit,” the show for which he is an executive producer and is loosely based on his work at the CIA, will premiere on Jan. 30, 2026 on Netflix. “The Agency,” a show on which he is the consulting producer, was released on Paramount+ and Showtime in December 2024.

Lindsay Stevens ’89 was given the USM Alumni Impact Award during Reunion Weekend 2025 to honor her work in the greater Milwaukee community, including founding Rock the Green, a nonprofit and pioneering zero-waste music festival, and serving as board member of the Kopmeier Family Fund, helping to allocate strategic funds to more than 60 nonprofits annually.

’90s

Will Darling ’92 and Anwar Floyd-Pruitt ’95 each displayed artwork in the first-ever Alumni Art Show held in the Werner Family Art Gallery on campus. Alumni who were on campus for Reunion Weekend 2025 were invited to view the unique and colorful pieces.

Dr. Wendy Jepson ’90 and her collaborators were awarded a $4.6 million grant by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to launch a national center of excellence in environmental justice and humanities at Texas A&M University. Jepson holds a university professorship in the Department of Geography at Texas A&M, where she has been on faculty since 2003. She is a fellow of the American Association of Geographers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Fulbright Scholar, and an AAAS Leshner Fellow. Jepson leads several research projects and institutional initiatives on water insecurity, environment, and sustainability, and has generated over $9 million in grants and awards from the National Science Foundation, private
sources, and internal awards to support her research program.

Kitty Loos Thomas ’90 was named chief of staff to the president and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund in March. “The WWF-US team is incredible and I’m excited to be a part of WWF’s
vital conservation work,” she wrote.

Osi Aniakudo ’91 (Right) returned to campus with his son, Trey (center), to visit Fred Lange, his former Upper School math teacher and chess coach. Aniakudo was the USM chess team captain in 1991.

Will Piper ’96 spoke to 4th grade students in April about the history of USM, including cultures and traditions from the predecessor schools that continue on at USM today. Piper is USM’s assistant director of alumni relations and reunion giving.

Raj Chetty ’97 gave the first lecture in a new series of lectures hosted by Yale University President Maurie McInnisas. The series will bring a leading expert to campus each semester to share ideas and inspire critical thoughts on complex topics, particularly as they related to higher education. Chetty, a renowned Harvard University economist, spoke about factors that determine economic mobility.

’00s

Hisonni Johnson Mustafa ’01 won an Emmy award for his work on the documentary “Legend Has It: The Remarkable Rise of Stephen McCain.” In addition, he served as the 2025 commencement speaker for the College of Southern Nevada. Mustafa graduated from CSN’s film program with honors, and is well known for his breakout feature film “Take Out Girl,” a drama that earned over
20 awards and was picked up by Hulu after making waves at more than 50 film festivals.

Colleston Morgan ’03 was named to the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 2025 40 Under 40. Morgan is the executive director of City Forward Collective, a Milwaukee organization that seeks to eliminate educational inequities and ensure every child has access to a great school. Morgan also serves as a USM trustee.

George Baumann ’04 was named a Vistage 2025 Leadership Award Finalist. Baumann (right) is president and CEO of Great Lakes Industrial, and has led the company through remarkable growth and transformation. Baumann received the award from Stacy Terris (left), parent of Christopher Terris ’08 and Vistage chair executive coach.

Jonathan Smucker ’04 was named a 2025 Excellence Awardee by InvestmentNews for Advisor of the Year (Midwest). Smucker is a partner and portfolio manager at Marietta Investment Partners, a boutique investment firm in Milwaukee.

Emily Vruwink ’04,along with Andy Gordon ’98, played in a Milwaukee Winter Club coaches game at USM. They also coach atoms and mites teams together for the MWC.

Jeffrey Koenig ’06 was awarded a Meritorious Conduct Award from the Milwaukee Police Department after providing lifesaving first aid and CPR to a gunshot victim prior to the arrival of emergency medical technicians, and supporting an officer on the scene. “Your display of courage and selflessness during this incident was heroic and should be commended,” wrote Jeffrey Norman, chief of police.

Cristina Costantini ’07 directed “Sally,” a film about astronaut Sally Ride, which played during the Milwaukee Film Festival and was sponsored by Susan A. Lubar ’76. It explores Ride’s professional achievements and her personal life, including her 27-year relationship with her life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, and is now available for viewing on Disney+ and Hulu.

Ashley Heun ’08 and The Moonlight Tavern, which she co-owns with her husband, were named one of 20 supper clubs across the state chosen to take part in the NFL’s Taste of the NFL Draft charity event. They served their signature parmesan-crusted salmon at the NFL Draft held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in April.

Blake Pindyck ’08 currently works as a postdoctoral fellow with the United States Olympic/Paralympic Committee. He has worked in the field of elite athletics for 10 years, including an internship with the University of Denver’s student-athletes and eight years in professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers. In these roles, he worked with athletes on enhancing their on-field performance and providing clinical mental health services. He is currently licensed as a professional counselor and certified through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology as a certified mental performance consultant.

Michael Luckey ’09 was unanimously appointed as the next county administrator by the board of supervisors for Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The role serves as the chief administrative officer and is responsible for implementing the policies adopted by the Board of Supervisors and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the county’s 680 employees. Luckey lives in Lake Mills, Wisconsin with his wife and daughter.

’10s

Mohsin Khan ’10 married Dr. Marina Sharif (both seated in center) in May, with several alumni in attendance, including (standing, from left) Fitz Stratton ’10, Jeff Levy ’10, and Peyton Stanford ’10,
and Claire Stratton (seated far left) and Dr. Saira Khanna ’10 (seated, far right).

Forrest Florsheim ’12 is a chef at Penny, a raw bar and seafood counter in New York City’s East Village. Penny was named a James Beard Award finalist for 2025 and a top 10 best restaurant in New York City by The New York Times. He’s pictured with Holly Morse, retired Upper School Spanish teacher (left) and Liz Krieg ’79, retired director of College Guidance (right).

Tyler Parks ’12 shared that The Parks Group at Graystone Consulting was ranked 19th in this year’s Barron’s Top 100 Institutional Consulting Teams. “It’s an honor to be recognized among this exceptional group of our peers,” he wrote. “Special thanks go out to our amazing clients for
helping to make this accomplishment possible!”

Ishan Sinha ’12 visited campus in December to connect with his former teachers Fred Lange (left) and Drew Mullen (right).

Megan (Waples) Edwards ’14 married Phil Edwards in Milwaukee’s Third Ward in September 2024. They ran collegiate cross country and track and field at Emory University and currently live in Brooklyn, New York, where Phil works in tech and Megan is a physical therapist.

Alyssa Bilkovski ’16 won both the men’s and women’s NCAA March Madness Bracket Challenge hosted by the USM Alumni Association in March. She received a prize pack featuring Wildcat gear for her accomplishments. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Captain John Ostermeyer ’16 (Left) recently completed advanced flight training and received his wings of gold as a naval aviator. Ostermeyer graduated on the Commodore’s List with Distinction, the Department of the Navy’s highest award for achievement in academics, flight performance, and overall conduct in the advanced flight curriculum. Ostermeyer is now serving at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego’s North County, where he is training to fly the KC-130J aircraft with VMGR-352 of the Third Marine Air Wing.

Greta Weiss ’17 started a new job at New York City Psychotherapy Collective specializing in helping teens and young adults navigate anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationships, and questions of identity.

Ayesha Kazi ’19 co-founded ASL Aspire, an online educational platform that teaches STEM education to K-12 deaf students and their teachers. “What began as an idea turned into pilots, partnerships, and now a real product being used in classrooms,” she wrote. “There’s no clear road map, and I’ll be honest—it’s scary to step away from the traditional path. But the impact we’ve seen already, the students we’re reaching, and the feedback from teachers and parents make it all worth it. If you’re in edtech, accessibility, or just want to connect, I’d love to chat!”

Michael Swiatek ’19 got engaged to Celiné Thérèse Gaeta on Oct. 22, 2024. Michael and Celiné met at a college in New Hampshire and are getting married on Jan. 3, 2026 in Milwaukee. They plan to live in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin while Michael pursues his Ph.D. at Marquette University.

’20s

Reid Pezewski ’20 started a new position as an artificial intelligence engineer and researcher at Eruditis, a fintech startup developing algorithmic trading strategies for private investors.

Mya Johnson ’21 graduated from Harvard University with a major in neuroscience and a minor in theater, dance, and media. Johnson served as an Art of Science fellow at the University of Colorado medical campus and received the Suzanne Farrell Dance Award from Harvard. She will continue her education at New York University, where she plans to further explore the positive applications of artistic practices on our neurological and overall physical health. As a researcher, movement artist, and DJ, she looks forward to creating spaces for and expanding comprehension of the implications of dance and music on the brain and body.

Alex Ptak ’22 joined a small group of students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to compete in a NASA engineering challenge. They were invited to test their product at NASA’s neutral-buoyancy lab in Houston in June with NASA astronauts and other professionals—one of only a few teams throughout the country to do so.

Marcus Thundercloud ’23 was named the Northeast Conference’s rookie of the year (and second team all-NEC) for his redshirt freshman year on the University of Detroit Mercy’s men’s lacrosse team.

India Vielehr ’23 accepted a position as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Joseph Wang’s Laboratory for Exploration and Astronautical Physics (LEAP) at the University of Southern California. The LEAP lab conducts research on a diverse range of topics, including space weather interactions, space suit design, electric propulsion, atmospheric reentry, and planetary science. “This role is an incredible opportunity to join a talented team, contribute to innovative research, and further develop my expertise in astronautical engineering,” she said.

Emily Igwike ’24 won the Midwest Regional Youth Poet Laureate competition and competed in May at nationals.

Graham Kasten ’24 was named co-rookie of the week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and named to the national team of the week by D3baseball.com. Kasten plays for the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons baseball team.

Elise Stephens ’24 competed at the National Collegiate Equestrian Association’s single-discipline national championship in April, where she was named to the tournament’s all-fences and earned the most outstanding fences performer honor. Stephens competes on the Dartmouth University equestrian team, which won the national championship, defeating the College of Charleston in a tiebreaker.

Will Zhao ’24 (Pictured, far left) joined classmates (from left) Anjali George ’24, Neema Mollel ’24, Emily Igwike ’24, and Erika Schuh ’24 for a visit to their alma mater in January to share their first semester college experiences with seniors.

Jorge Guifarro ’25 presented a short film titled “A 2 Week Art Journey,” along with other short films by youth filmmakers, as part of the Milwaukee Film Festival.

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