Class Notes

Hoogstraten with 'Dancing for Our Tribe' at the Field Museum in Chicago.

Name: Sharon Hoogstraten

Class Year(s): 1975

Note: Photographer Sharon Hoogstraten ’75 (GAP) spent a decade portraying contemporary Potawatomis in regalia and as an unexpected dividend, discovered her own roots. A Michigan native, she traveled to Chicago for graduate study at the University of Illinois and then stayed having no clue that she was literally walking in the footsteps of her Potawatomi ancestors. This legacy project spans all nine Potawatomi Nations and is our gift to the future seven generations. Focusing on both the traditional and contemporary aspects of regalia, it is also a declaration of continued existence. Her nearly life-sized portraits have been widely exhibited and collected. A book, "Dancing for Our Tribe: Potawatomi Tradition in the New Millennium" was released in August of 2022 by Oklahoma University Press. https://www.oupress.com/9781733674423/dancing-for-our-tribe/ https://www.potawatomi.org/blog/2022/10/17/photographer-releases-legacy-project-highlighting-tribal-members-history/ https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/potawatomi-photographer-captures-the-joys-of-dance-in-new-book?fbclid=IwAR0Gs9GvilhTDiuYsb94pNq8eVM6mSFJuKE3x4v55eDiKmfDGSRh3MgQid8

Submitted on: December 27, 2022

Name: Tom Jacek

Class Year(s): 1993

Note: Tom Jacek ’93 (SCB) has accepted a promotion to the title of Business Process Manager at Ford Motor Company. The new position manages process re-engineering and new business systems integration within the Ford Product Design Organization.

Submitted on: December 27, 2022

Chief John Letteney, Thomasville (GA) Police Department

Name: John Letteney

Class Year(s): 1983

Note: Thomasville Police Chief John Letteney BS ’83 (CLA) has been sworn in as President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). His term began October 18 at the conclusion of the IACP Annual Convention and Exposition held in Dallas, Texas. He has served on the Board of Directors for IACP in various roles since 2014 and was elected as 4th Vice President in 2018. Chief Letteney was named Thomasville’s Police Chief in January 2021. He retired in 2005 as a Captain for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in Rochester, New York. The IACP is the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders. With more than 32,000 members in over 170 countries, the IACP is a recognized leader in global policing, committed to advancing safer communities through thoughtful, progressive police leadership. Since 1893, the association has been serving communities by speaking out on behalf of law enforcement and advancing leadership and professionalism in policing worldwide.

Submitted on: December 27, 2022

Name: Scott Vile

Class Year(s): 1982

Note: Scott Vile, ’82 (GAP) is the owner of the Ascensius Press in Bar Mills, Maine, one of the largest letterpress composition and printing offices in the US. He was recently named president of the Society of Printers of Boston, MA.

Submitted on: December 27, 2022

The Heroic Enthusiasts (James Tabbi, Class of 89, 98 and Thomas Ferrara)

Name: James TABBI

Class Year(s): 89, 98

Note: James Tabbi BS ’90, MS ’98 (COS) and his musical group, The Heroic Enthusiasts, released Crimes and Passions on December 2, 2022. This the second of their two EPs releasing this year—is out now on Meridian/ECR Music Group. In contrast with—and to complement—that first EP, Crimes and Passions is a collection of five inspired, vibrant and spontaneous songs, meant to take the listener on a journey that conveys emotions—sweet and savory, light and moody, new and refreshing. https://linktr.ee/TheHeroicEnthusiasts

Submitted on: December 27, 2022

Gabriel Isserlis ’16

Name: Gabriel Isserlis

Class Year(s): 2013,2016

Note: Gabriel Isserlis BFA ’16 (CIAS) raised £300,000 for Tutti - the tech company he started immediately after leaving RIT.

Submitted on: December 27, 2022

Future Tiger

Name: Audrey Braun

Class Year(s): 2005

Note: Wyatt Allister Braun and future tiger, born March 2022 to Audrey Braun BS ’05 (SCB) and Jordan Braun of Austin, Texas.

Submitted on: December 27, 2022

Name: Aaron Heyman

Class Year(s): 2009

Note: Aaron Heyman BS ’09, ME ’09 (KGCOE) has joined the Debra LaMay Insurance Agency in Malta, NY specializing in homeowners and small business insurance.

Submitted on: December 27, 2022

Bailey Pictures

Name: Kat Bastow

Class Year(s): 2003

Note: Kat Bastow ’03 (CIAS) welcomed a little baby girl, Bailey Maureen Bastow, Sept 10, 2022. She was born eight weeks early, so she was four pounds. Spent a few weeks in NICU and is now almost four months old and doing very well.

Submitted on: December 27, 2022

Lisa Stephens accepts EDUCAUSE Community Leadership Award at the Annual Conference held this past year in Denver, CO

Name: Lisa (Sporleder) Stephens

Class Year(s): 1981

Note: Lisa (Sporleder) Stephens ’81 (FAA) received the Community Leadership Award from EDUCAUSE at their annual conference this past October. EDUCAUSE is an international professional association focused on higher education technology. This award was largely in recognition of her efforts launching a global portal that enables educators to share detailed exemplars of technology enabled classrooms to assist with design and renovation planning, as well as ideas for research & pedagogy to better facilitate active and applied learning. More details are available at: https://www.educause.edu/careers/awards-program/community-leadership-award/community-leadership-award-recipients/2022-community-leadership-award-recipient Lisa and her husband Jim continue to reside in Wilson, NY.

Submitted on: December 27, 2022