Graduate/Alumni Information & Resources

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St. Olaf College Upward Bound Graduate Highlights*

*Graduate Highlights are current as of June 26, 2006.

Click on the Year below to go view individual class updates:


UB Class of 2006   Top of Page

 

 

 

UB Class of 2005   Top of Page

Ozzie Echols (Humboldt) will continue his studies this fall at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.

Marissa Goode (Humboldt) spent the year at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota.

Cynthia Lee (Central) spent this year at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Judy Pete (Red Wing) will return to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota in the fall.

Levelle Timberlake (Central) will be attending college in New York in the fall.

Ger Vue (Central) will be working part-time and taking classes at Century College in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

 
UB Class of 2004   Top of Page

Amanda Bolland (Red Wing) spent her summer at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota working in the Kierkegaard Library, and returns for a second year at St. Olaf this fall.

Ulysses Izaola (Humboldt) will begin his second year at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota. Ulysses is majoring in Music Education, and will be working for the University as a First Response Security/Parking.

Heather Lynch (Red Wing) spent her January St. Olaf term in Minneapolis as part of her education class, "Schools in the Urban Communities."

UB Class of 2003   Top of Page

Misha Dameron (now Mardi) (Humboldt) will continue studies at Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota in the fall. She also the mother of a new baby girl. Misha writes in her update, "Don't let anything stop you from doing what you want to do, not even a baby!"

Ka Bao Lor (Humboldt) will begin her third year at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Bao is working as a graphic designer for the Web Development Services and is a peer advisor on campus.

Dung Mao (Central) will begin his third year at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Cheng Seng Vang (Humboldt) will continue his studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Cheng spent this last summer taking classes on campus, and spent his January, 2005 St. Olaf term at the University of Washington studying engineering.

UB Class of 2002   Top of Page

Luis Castillo (Central) wed his long-time sweetheart in June, 2005. Congratulations, Luis!

Aliesha Escalera (Central) will be attending school in Washington (state) in the fall. She is also busy raising two sons.

Jamie Fields (Central) graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Jamie is currently on St. Olaf's campus finishing classes for her education major and student teaching.

Zong Lor (Central) got married Summer, 2003, and recently gave birth to a son. After a short maternity break, Zong intends to return to Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota to finish her Bachelors.

Miesha (The Queen) Martin (Central) was married earlier this year. Congratulations!

Drew Phillips (Red Wing) is attending St. Cloud (Minnesota) State University.

Jonathan Tischler (Humboldt) graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Jonathan will be attending graduate school in Public Policy at the University of Minnesota in the fall.

Mang Vang (Humboldt) graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. She plans on either work or graduate school in the fall.

UB Class of 2001   Top of Page

Tony Kiefer-Dean (Central) is currently stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the Naval Support Activity Base. Tony writes, "I am also pursuing a degree in sociology (the hard way, working full-time in the Marine Corps and doing school at night!), which I want to help me become a St. Paul Police officer."

Xay Moua (Humboldt) currently lives in Summers, Arkansas with her husband and child.

Kou Vang (Central) graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota in May, 2005.

Ying Yang (Humboldt) is busy raising a daughter and newborn son. Ying also started a small business involving "healthy" coffee. More information about Ying's business is available at: www.myganoexcel.biz/yingyang.

UB Class of 2000   Top of Page

Jessica Lee (Central) graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota in May, 2004.

Donnita Osborn (Central) graduated from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota in May, 2004. Donnita is also busy working full-time and raising two sons.

UB Class of 1999   Top of Page

Mao Lo (now Mos Prestwich, Humboldt) recently welcomed a son to her family, congratulations! He joins dad and daughter Kayla, all of whom reside in Michigan. Mos graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (note: Mos actually completed her degree in December, 2001. She finished early because of her participation in the Postsecondary Options Enrollment [PSEO] program). Mos majored in Journalism and minored in French.

Yang Lor (Humboldt) graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota in May, 2003.

Neal Speetzen (Red Wing) graduated from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota in May, 2003; he majored in Physics and minored in Mathematics. Neal finished his Masters in Electrical Engineering and got married in Spring, 2005, and is currently working at Seagate Technology in Shakopee, Minnesota.

Shataia Stallings (Central) will be attending classes at Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Shataia is working on a Paralegal degree. She is also busy planning a wedding for Spring, 2006.

UB Class of 1998   Top of Page

Beth Bremer (now Duffing) (Red Wing) graduated from Minnesota State College/Southeast Technical and is workign as a Licensed Pratical Nurse (LPN) at Hi-Lake Park Care Center and Hiawatha Homecare.

Natalie (Boler) Kennedy (Central) works in the Operations Department at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Natalie is also a committee member of trhe Wild Cat Santuary and a singer with World Voices, a choir committed to enhancing awareness and meaning of the cultural roots of music from around the world.

UB Class of 1997   Top of Page

Heidi Gilles (Red Wing) is currently pursuing a Masters in Non-Profit Management at Hamline University; Heidi plans on finishing her Masters this fall or winter. Heidi is also starting her fifth year with the St. Olaf College TRiO Programs.

(Diane) Snickers Issac (Central) recently finshed her Masters in Nurse-Midwifery at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Snickers was also married this year and now has the last name Banigo.

Samantha (Boler) Kennedy (Central) is the Associate Director of Multicultural Programs in the Multicultural & International Program & Services (MIPS) office at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Gina Robinson (Central) finished a Masters in Spanish through Middlebury College School in Spain, and spent a year in Madrid. Gina is also certified to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) and will be moving to Guadalajara, Mexico to teach until she begins graduate school again next fall.

Brenda Valentine (Central) graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her after college plans include graduate school.

UB Class of 1996   Top of Page

Claudia Perez (Humboldt) starts her sixth year working as an Academic Advisor for the St. Olaf College GEAR UP program. Claudia is also working on a Masters in Leadership at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She plans to finish next in Spring/Summer 2007.

Chuayi Thao (Humboldt) was recently married to UB alum, Yia Yang (Class of 1995). Chuayi will be leaving her job as Outreach Coordinator of Multicultural Programs in the Multicultural & International Program & Services (MIPS) office at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota to join Yia in Michigan. Congratulations, Chuayi and Yia!

Mari Tototzintle (Humboldt) is currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work at the University of St. Thomas and the College of St. Catherine and plans on graduating in Spring 2007. Mari also continues in her role as the Mentor Coordinator for our very own Upward Bound program.

Mee Vang (Humboldt) is recently moved back to St. Paul and is working full time.

UB Class of 1995   Top of Page

Erik Yates (Central) is working as a pastor in St. Paul, Minnesota. Erik and his wife are expecting their first child (a girl) in September.

Mike Yang (Central) is the proud parent of a son, Avery Chixeng Yang. Congratulations!

Yia Yang (Central) was recently married to UB alum, Chuayi Thao (Class of 1996). Yia and Chuayi will reisde in Michigan. Congratulations!

UB Class of 1994   Top of Page

May Lee Xiong (Humboldt) curently works in the Transitional Language Center program in the St. Paul Public schools. She works with the new Hmong students from the camp in Thailand, and teaches 5th and 6th grade at Phalen Lake Elementary school. May Lee was also highlighted in the March, 2005 edition of the St. Olaf TRiO Upward Bound Messenger in the "Mentor Spotlight" section. Click here to read the article.

UB Class of 1993   Top of Page

Ivan Carter (Red Wing) is currently a Sportswriter at the Washington Post in Washington, DC. Ivan was profiled in the January, 2005 edition of St. Olaf Magazine. Click here to read the article. Ivan was selected as a Minnesota TRiO Achiever for 1995, and was honored with University of Minnesota, General College Upward Bound Alum (and State Representative) Cy Thao at the annual MnAEOPP Spring Conference at St. Olaf College in April, 2005. Ivan also got married in June, 2005.

Joy Quaidoo (Red Wing) is working at Big Brothers Big Sisters in St. Paul, Minnesota.

UB Class of 1992   Top of Page

Ben Durband (Central) was married in December, 2004 at the Turf Club in St. Paul, Minnesota. His wedding ceremony was profiled in the December 19, 2004 St. Paul Pioneer Press. Ben and his wife perform together in a band called Divebomb Honey.

Tawana Holtz (Central) currently works at Guidant Corporation in Arden Hills, Minnesota, working in Compensation. Tawana says, "my plans are to apply for a Masters in Human Resources and Industrial Relations in the fall of 2005. Keep your fingers crossed."

Tou Ger Xiong (Humboldt) continues to perform as a diversity consultant and artist. Click here to visit Tou Ger's website.

UB Class of 1991   Top of Page

Shadee Hardy (Central) earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas and the College of St. Catherine. Shadee is currently working at Chrysalis, a non-profit, woman-centered health and human services agency as a psychotherapist.

Claire Puckett Ireland (Red Wing/Watertown-Mayer) is pursuing an MBA and running her own business, Chef Claire, which allows Claire to be a personal chef, cater parties, and prepare weekly meals for clients. Visit her website: www.chefclaire.com

St. Olaf TRiO Upward Bound Graduate Messenger

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