Steven Cherney ’07 was named Administrative Chief Resident for Washington University Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

Josh Biere ’07 returned to campus March 31 to perform a tuba recital at IWU’s Westbrook Auditorium. The program included “Box of Justice” by alumnus composer Brian Baxter ’07.

Based in Montgomery, Illinois, Josh earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University after graduating from IWU. He is the principal tubist with the Madison Symphony Orchestra and holds the principal tuba chair with the Kenosha (Wisconsin) Symphony. He regularly performs with the Chicago Composers Orchestra and has performed with the St. Paul (Minnesota) Chamber Orchestra.

Brian Baxter (b.1985) is a Chicago-based composer and drummer whose music is vigorous, direct, and heavily influenced by personal experiences of places and environments. Lawrence A. Johnson of The Classical Review has described Brian’s music as “smartly scored and makes effective impact with economy of means.”  Having co-founded the Chicago Composers Orchestra, Brian serves as a co-Artistic Director and Board of Directors President overseeing all aspects of the organization. Brian’s passion for new music is equaled by his passion for music education and is put to work as Director of Operations with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras where he oversees more than 500 student musicians in a variety of orchestras and chamber music groups that perform across the Chicago area and around the world.  Brian has received two Individual Artists Program Grant Award from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events and six consecutive ASCAP PLUS Awards. Brian holds degrees in music composition from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts (M.M.) and Illinois Wesleyan University (B.M.).

2015 Participation Goal: 5,286 Donors

Join the Young Alumni Challenge by donating before July 31:

• A trustee has agreed to make a $2,500 gift for every young alumni class (1999-2014) who reaches 24% or better before July 31.
• This means that for every class that hits 24%, IWU will be able to award an additional $2,500 scholarship to a deserving student.
• Also, an additional $2,500 gift will be made for any class that reaches 30%.
• All gifts count! Find out how your class stacks up.

Sarah shakes the hand of Sen. Elizabeth Warren after her graduation as salutatorian of the Class of 2015 from Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

After graduating from IWU, Sarah Lewis ’07 “went to sea working as a deckhand after following the advice of IWU’s own Dr. Will Jaeckle,” she wrote.  She then received a commission with NOAA Corp as an ensign and sailed as a third mate on their research vessels for a couple of years, before returning to school to earn a marine engineering degree and resigning her commission.  Next month, she begins working on nuclear submarines in Portsmouth Naval Yard.

Tina (Broholm) Gnade ’07 teaches in Frankfort, Ill. Her colleague Mrs. Lee, who taught her in kindergarten is retiring, and Tina continues some of her traditions. She was recently featured on a news segment by Fox 32 Chicago.

Luke Gullickson ’07 performed Open June 10 at Chicago’s High Concept Laboratories. The pianist and composer “is part of a new breed of new-music figures who make the boundaries between once-disparate stylistic approaches as porous as they want.” Read more about the performance.

Laura (Curtis) Kraynak ’07 recently started a new job as an Insurance Counselor for PLR Insurance.