Connections Newsletter

For the latest Charter Oak news, please see the August 2009 issue of Connections (download here as a PDF), or visit the News & Events section of this site.

• Connections - August 2009
• Connections - February 2009
• Connections - August 2008
• Connections - January 2008

Updates from the Class of...

2008

Tracy Green is pursuing her master's degree in Organizational Leadership at Southern New Hampshire University.

2007

Furman Blue, a Pleasantville, NJ resident, tells us he is spending the summer on a national tour promoting a recently-published book he authored. He is also completing his MBA online with the University of Phoenix.

Daniel Klein has enrolled in New York University's College of Dentistry.

Deborah Markel has enrolled in the Health Education/Health Promotion master's program at the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa. In her correspondence, she notes that "Charter Oak helped me realize you can teach an old dog new tricks."

Jeanne Cavanaugh recently entered the Master of Arts in Art Therapy program at Connecticut's Albertus Magnus College.

2006

William F. Pilon, Jr. has been accepted to George State University's MBA program and will begin studies for his master's degree this fall.

Kathy Barra maintained a GPA of 4.0 while earning her Master of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of New Haven. She recently completed a student teaching assignment in the West Haven (CT) school system.

Leigh H. Shapiro informs us that he has completed his graduate studies with Grand Canyon University (online) and anticipates receiving his master's degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership in May, 2009.

2005

Patricia Zielinski has been accepted into the University of Denver's graduate program in Applied Communications.

Lt. Commander Bruce C. Brown has authored six books during his 24 years of U.S. Coast Guard service. He is the recipient of a 2007 Independent Publisher Award and an American Library Association Book of the Year Award.

2004

Rochelle Chambers writes: 'Within one month of graduation, I received a promotion with a $10,000 raise.” She plans to start her own consulting company some time this year.

Denise Fleming will complete her master’s in Special Education this summer at Southern Connecticut State University. She has been teaching Pre-Kindergarten youngsters in Waterford, CT.

Christine (Caramonte) Ford is Marketing Manager for all U.S. LEGO-brand retail stores.

Stephanie Galindo is Director of Administration and Student Dean for a small online graduate program and employs her creative talents as a freelance publications designer.

Edwin Hill recently earned his MS in Management of Technology at Fairfield University.

Sheila Jarrell has received her Master of Education degree, with distinction, from Northern Arizona University and is employed as Assistant Registrar at Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ.

Julie (Howard) Kieras earned her master’s in Education at Sacred Heart University and has taught Language Arts in the Windsor Locks, CT school system.

Margarita Leahy-Giffone received her MA in Counseling Services from Rider University.

Diane Lemire, a contract writer at Amgen, Inc., a major biotechnology company, has completed paralegal certification at the Blackstone Career Institute and is taking advanced paralegal courses.

Edward Manes tells us he’s working on his MBA at Southern Connecticut State University and expects to receive his degree by year’s end.

James Martin received his M.Ed in Instructional Technology from American Intercontinental University Online.

Marilyn McDonald is a mental health technician at a residential behavioral health facility in Towanda, PA and has plans to enter Elmira College’s master’s program this fall.

Brenda (Hunter) Murphy, who works for the HoChunk Renaissance, the native language program of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, anticipates receiving her teacher certification from the University of Nebraska in December. She is also pursuing an MA at the University.

Brian Perkins teaches ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) in High Point, NC. Following her Charter Oak graduation.

Sandy Reavill completed Connecticut's Alternate Route to Teacher Certification program and now teaches 9th grade in the Bloomfield, CT school system. She is in the process of earning an MA in Mathematics at Central Connecticut State University.

Lisa Rublowsky is enrolled in the MS Community Counseling program at the University of Bridgeport.

Frank Shekosky has been inducted into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Weapons Master of the Year. He and his wife operate a martial arts school in Cromwell, CT.

Lou D. Shing, Jr. is working on his master's degree in business Administration in Human Resource Management at American Military University.

Aaron Thomas has completed a specialized degree in Nuclear Medicine at Gateway Community College.

Vanesa White-Cameron is an account manager at St. Paul-Travelers and Vice President of the company’s Toastmasters Club.

Christopher Wilton, who earned his Charter Oak degree while deployed with the U.S. military in Iraq, has returned to his home and family in Cordova, TN.

2003

Loretta Beukema has earned a Master of Arts in Humanities from Central Michigan University.

Sheri DuBois is living in La Junta, CO where she runs her own bodywork Therapy business.

Mark Fazioli reports that he received his MS in Instructional Technology from Southern Connecticut State University and now works as an instructional designer for the College of Public Health in Tampa, FL. He is enrolled in Capella University’s Ph.D. program.

Paul Klug was awarded an MBA in Information Technology Management by Touro University International and is pursuing his doctorate in Management in Organizational Leadership with the University of Phoenix.

Stacey Lambert-Bottone has earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from Salve Regina University and is a doctoral candidate at Walden University. She has been promoted to the position of Practice Manager at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam, CT.

Jeannie Leitao recently completed her Registered Dietitian studies at the University of New Haven and expects to do her internship at UConn.

Carol Lewin-Dayes is a recent graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College where she earned an MS in Management. She is currently a member of the financial aid staff at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY.

Randell Omer earned an MS in IT Management from Touro University International and is enrolled in Northcentral University’s Ph.D. program.

Maria Peplau is employed as a project manager at DST Output in South Windsor, CT. Following her Charter Oak graduation, she earned a master’s degree in Management from Albertus Magnus College.

Alyssa Siordian proudly announces that she has entered the world of motherhood and is totally enjoying her new daughter, Madison Noel.

2002

Amanda Bryant informs us that she completed her MBA in 2005 and now serves as a traveling nuclear medicine technologist.

Candace Craven is teaching fifth grade in Lancaster, CA.

Larry Kirk has been Chief of Police in New Athens, Illinois since 2004.

Pearl Lauder recently earned her MA in Christian Education from the Princeton Theological Seminary.

Ronnie Maebry, who has been a Yale University employee for 28 years, recently returned from a 14-month tour of duty in Iraq and has been promoted to Custodial Services Supervisor at Yale.

Kenneth Nessing has received a Master of Science degree in Labor Relations from the University of New Haven.

CarolAnne Rowe has earned her MBA from Salve Regina University and her JD from the Southern New England School of Law and has enrolled in the Ph.D. program at Walden University.

Clare Settle earned her Master of Science in Management from Colorado Technical University Online. She works in the Project Management Office of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, CT.

Robin Smith is a clinical instructor for the radiology program at St. Vincent’s College, Bridgeport, CT and supervises the mammography department at Derby, Connecticut’s Griffin Hospital. She is pursuing her master’s in health studies at the University of Medicine and Dentistry Online.

M. Barron Stofik has published the book Saving South Beach, the story of a desperate struggle for control of two square miles of prime real estate in Miami, FL.

2001

Steve Atwood reports that he has spent the past four years traveling and lives, seasonally, in Florida and Connecticut. He recently earned his Florida mortgage broker’s license.

Art Belanger has earned his master’s in Health Science from Quinnipiac University.

Frank Omonte became a proud dad last year and currently teaches ninth grade math at Immokalee (FL) High School.

2000

Darrell Julian received his law degree from Seattle University and has been admitted to the practice of law in Washington State.

Steven Weems retired from the U.S. Coast Guard last month. Says Steven: 'My Charter Oak degree aided my promotion to full Lieutenant…from the enlisted ranks, a major milestone in my Coast Guard career.”

1999

John G. Brenner has retired from the Bridgeport, CT Police Department and has launched a private investigations company in that city.

1998

Colleen Kruger, director of Continuing and Professional Education with Connecticut’s Career Development Center, was invited to become a member of the Youth Futures Policy Team, a state legislative advisory committee.

1996

Kathleen Simmons, a Palm Harbor, FL resident, has earned her Ph..D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University.

1994

Kevin McKeon has enjoyed the unique experience of traveling throughout Connecticut to visit every firehouse in the state and to photograph every fire vehicle. He has published three books featuring his photos. Kevin is a career Fire Lieutenant in the West Shore Fire District of the city of West Haven, CT.

1991

Deborah (Clark) Ebel, who has worked as a child and adolescent psychiatric nurse in Connecticut, Alaska and Virginia since her graduation, recently published her first book, The Forgotten Future: Adolescents in Crisis. The book, she explains, provides important information about how, when and where to seek help for troubled children and focuses on specific questions to ask of providers and mental health facilities. More about the book is available at www.debebel.com.

1990

Blaise Falbo informs us that he has earned his Master of Science degree in Community Counseling from Southern State University.

1989

Anita (Bailey) Schmidt presented a paper, 'Examining the Rhetorical Situation Through America's Great Speeches,' at the Georgia Communications Association Conference in February. She teaches public speaking at Macon State College.

1988

Matthew Newgarden, of New London, CT has been awarded the professional insurance designation Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). He is employed as a claims analyst by the Hartford Financial Services Group.

1987

Rev. Lin McGee, who currently serves as Pastor and music director of the Eagle Rock Church in Thomaston, CT, has founded the state's first chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. an organization that cares for the families of fallen military personnel.

1983

David Lomax, who has been in the field of Information Technology for more than 20 years, has earned Microsoft Certification as a Desktop Support Technician

1982

Richard Ewing reports that he recently passed the California Professional Engineers Exam in Electrical Engineering.

1980

Claude Rankin informs us that he departed, on July 3, for Shanghai, China where he will join the teaching staff at Cambridge (University's) International Centre, Shanghai Normal University. He'll be teaching college-level geography and English language speaking and listening to 14 to 16-year-olds who attend the college preparatory academy.

What's new, graduates?

We'd like to hear from you about job changes, graduate degrees, marriages, births, and other significant events and successes in your life. We'll post your news right here on our Alumni News page.

Please send your information to Chuck Albert. Include your year of graduation, your name, mailing address, and e-mail address. We eagerly look forward to hearing from you!