Taylor Plantan ’20 and Sarah Edwards ’96 earned a 2024 Mid-America Emmy for their documentary production of Prairie Fire on WILL-TV.  Congratulations, Taylor and Sarah!

Betsy Phillips ’96 and Demetria Kalodimos ’81 recently recorded a podcast episode together about Betsy’s new book, Dynamite Nashville: Unmasking the FBI, the KKK, and the Bombers Beyond their Control. In this episode, they dive into Betsy’s journey of researching three Civil Rights-era bombings in Nashville: Hattie Cotton school in September 1957; the Jewish Community Center in March 1958; and the home of attorney and councilmember Z. Alexander Looby in April 1960. You can listen to the podcast episode here, or read more about Betsy’s new book here. Congratulations!

Erica (Whitten) Emmett ’96 launched FYR Consulting in 2023 after a 25-year career in veterinary medicine, that included nursing, sales and lastly, talent acquisition and development. FYR was borne from her desire to help people harness their superpowers to achieve greatness. She received her M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University in 2022 and became a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach to help individuals and organizations improve their teamwork, communication, engagement, and overall well-being. Congratulations Erica!

On September 10, 1957, Hattie Cotton Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee, blew up. On March 16, 1958, the Jewish Community Center was bombed. On April 19, 1960, the home of Civil Rights attorney and Nashville city councilman, Z. Alexander Looby was dynamited. He and his wife were lucky to escape with their lives. These bombings have never been solved.

In fact, many in Nashville don’t even know they’re connected.

In Dynamite Nashville, Betsy Phillips ’96 pieces together what really happened in Nashville at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement. It has national implications for how we understand the violent white response to desegregation efforts and white supremacist actions now.

You can learn more about the book here.

Vasan Ramanuja ’96 recently participated in Dancing with the Mankato Stars! He was nominated and performed with dance partner competing against 11 other local celebrity/dance coach duos. This was a benefit for the American Red Cross serving Southwest Minnesota, which raised over one million dollars!

You can learn more about the event here.

Deidre Dyer ’96 has been appointed to Circuit Court Judge in Cook County, Illinois. She is the first judicial appointment of Justice Joy V. Cunningham.

Carla Vigue ’96, director of tribal relations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was named one of Wisconsin’s most influential Native American leaders for 2023. Read the full Madison 365 Article here.

Kevin Geraldi ’96 will begin an appointment as Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, beginning Fall of 2022. As the 7th person to hold this position in the 154-year history of the Illinois Bands program, he will conduct the renowned Illinois Wind Symphony, teach graduate conducting, and provide administrative leadership for the University’s comprehensive and historic band program. From 2005–2022, he served on the faculty of the School of Music at UNC Greensboro. In May 2022 he was keynote speaker for the Spanish Musicological Society conference in Vigo, Spain.

Jeff Burke ’96, director for resource planning, Arizona Public Service, was appointed to the Arizona Technology Council Board of Directors. Congratulations!