Kelly Mathison

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Occupation: Interior Designer. I currently specialize in kitchen and bath design. I paint murals and faux finish on the side.

Hometown: Rockford, IL

Marital Status: Seriously hard question for me to answer right now, Technically single.

Children: I have a son Luke 5, daughter Bella almost 1

Pets: Our guard cat, Emo.

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• I do not feel the least bit different or old now that I'm in my late 20's.My boyfriend, co-workers, and friends are for the most part older than me. I am typically the young one in the group. My kids also keep me young, I absolutely adore them and we get involved in a lot of sports and activities. I also still have 2 siblings @ Belvi High.....Kyle (17 brother) is a senior, and Rachel (16 step sister) is a junior.

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• Dec. 2000 graduated w/ a BFA in Interior Design from The Illinois Institute of Art
• Dec. 2001 Moved back to Rockford from Chicago, bought my first house
• April 2002 my son (Luke) was born, all 8lbs 11oz of him (no drugs...seriously)
• Sept. 2006 my daughter (Bella) was born

Will you be attending the reunion: Yes
• It is practically in my mom's back yard, so I'll be there- I can't pass up the free babysitting.

Kristy Kilian

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Occupation: Circulation Manager, Sales Assistant @ Gulfstream Media Group www.GulfstreamMediaGroup.com

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Marital Status: Single

Pets: I have two cats named Merry & Pippin. These little rascals get into everything but they are cute as hell so I forgive them. I have had them almost a year even though they are both two. They were rescued after the hurricanes and were most likely abused at the "home" they were found at. Poor little guys. Please have your pets spayed or neutered.

What has changed about you? What hasn't?
• I am still outgoing but prefer a much simpler and quiet life now. There is something to be said for tranquility... I am a bigger geek now than I ever was. I love Lord of the Rings and am disappointed I didn't discover it as a kid. I LOVE a good laugh and good friends.

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
•My early twenties really sucked but my late twenties are great! I feel like I am learning more now than I ever have. I have a much clearer picture of how the world works, especially media influence on society.

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• 1998: Lived and went to school in Orange County California. Discovered the best music scene in the world!
• 2000: Moved to Charlotte,NC. What a beautiful city.
• 2003: Moved to Florida and cut off all my hair and found out how liberating not having something to hide behind can be.
• 2004: Attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, major Graphic Design (ran out of money to graduate)
• 2006: I love my current job! I finally know that I want to be in the publishing business. I am leaning towards marketing. But being an editor sounds good too. I know I am not the only one just NOW figuring things out. Being 28 is the best year of my life. I can't wait to see what's in store for the future!

Will you be attending the reunion: No.
• But I would love to plan a little something with some of you guys. Maybe we could take a mini cruise. Email me!

Lauren (Traubenberg) Schmick

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Occupation: RN - Intensive Care Unit, Meriter Hospital

Hometown: Madison, WI

Marital Status: Married (6.7.03)

Spouse's Name & Occupation: Jason Schmick, 31
• Manager of the Digital Arts Department at Great Big Pictures (they do large format printing for companies such as Anne Taylor, Harley, Guess, Kohls...)

Children: Noah Harrison Schmick, 6.29.07

Pets: Max, Gordon Setter Mix; Atreju, mischievous cat; Ocea (O.C.), fat cat

What has changed about you? What hasn't?
• I don't think I put up with as much crap as I used to. I'm not quite as
big a nerd (at least I don't think so).

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• My life has finally begun. Great husband, great job, great baby, great
friends!
• I wanted to be done having kids before I was 30, but I don't think I'm
going to make that goal.

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• 2000: My parents moved to Colorado (way better to visit than Belvi!)
• 2002: Graduated from UW-Madison with a BS in Hebrew
• 2003: Married in June, moved in to our first house in July
• 2005: Graduated from Edgewood College with a BS in Nursing (December)
• 2006: Started my awesome nursing job in January, got my first niece in
September
• 2007: Had Noah in an out-of-hospital, drug-free, midwife assisted, water
birth (most amazing experience ever!!!)

Will you be attending the reunion: I'm not sure yet.

Mindy (Blake) Solem

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Occupation: Woodman's

Hometown: Belvidere, IL

Marital Status: Married

Spouse’s Name: Jon Solem (BHS 92)

Children: Addison 10-14-2006

Pets: Kanga, Boston Terrier

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• November 2004 had heart surgery number 8
• June 2005 Got married
• October 2006 had Addison

Will you be attending the reunion? Yes

Shari (Nimtz) Sulser

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Occupation: Travel Agent

Hometown: Rockford, IL

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name & Occupation: Phil, operator at General Mills


Children: Alexis 3 months old

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• I love being in my late 20's I have been able to have much closer
relationships with my friends and experience some of life's miracles with
them. I do not feel that old most of our friends are around our age so it
does not feel any different.

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• May 2004: Became a Flight Attendant
• Oct 2005: Went back to college part time
• June 2006: Married at Disney World
• June 2007: 1st Child

Will you be attending the reunion: Probably Not
• We will be getting back from vacation that day.

Kristine (Cain) Weiss

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Occupation: Insurance Wholesale Broker mainly Professional Lines (E&O, D&O/EPL)

Marital Status: Married, 6/15/03

Spouses' info: Cameron Weiss, Air Force-SSgt 133AW (Finance)


Pets: Quincy, Black Chinese Pug

What has changed about you? What hasn't?
• I'm older! And aren't we better people now that we are older….and wiser?

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• We can pretty much do whatever we want!!

Significant events:
• 2001 Graduated from Wheaton College, BA English Literature
• 2001 & 2002, visited Guatemala and saw/met extended family
• 2003 Moved to MN, started new job (Jan.)…..then got married (June)!
• 2004 New house (Feb)…..new job (March)….new dog, Quincy (Apr.)
• 2005-07 Nada!! After the previous two years I've been recovering and preparing for 2008!!
• 2008 Baby!?!!? We'll just see!

Will I attend?: Nope, going to be in DC that same week for business. No time!

Candis (Varble) Anderson

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Occupation: Homemaker

Hometown: Belvidere, Illinois

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name & Occupation: Michael R. Anderson (Delivery Man for Lumber)

Children: Anthony (10) & Michaela (3)

Pets: Dog (Cocoa)

What has changed about you? What hasn't?
• Nothing too much really. I am still very quiet.

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• Being married & a mother. Turning 30 on Nov. 1st...makes me realize how fast time sure does fly by each & every year.

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• 1997...I had my son in May.
• 2000...We moved back down south.
• 2002...I got married in July.
• 2003...My husband adopted my son.
• 2004...I had our daughter in March.

Will you be attending the reunion: Maybe?

Benjamin Clausing

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Occupation: Naval Helicopter Aircrewman on MH-53E's

Hometown: Norfolk, VA

Marital Status: Single

What has changed about you? What hasn't?
• One change would be the gray hairs conquering the expanse of my scalp. BUT!!...I'm not losing them!

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• Best: I am grown up.
• Worst: I haven't yet decided what I want to do when I grow up.

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• 1998 Transferred from Iowa State University to Concordia University, NE
• Summers of 1999-2000 Counselor at Walcamp in Kingston, IL
• Easter 2000 Biked solo across NE
• 2001 Backpacked 600 miles of Appalachian Trail and road tripped the summer away, earned B.A. in Studio Art
• 2002-04 Enlisted in US Navy, trained in Chicago, Pensacola, Maine, and Norfolk
• 2004 Ran first of 4 Virginia Beach marathons
• 2005 Operation Lead Shield, Los Alamidos, CA; JTF Katrina/Rita, USS Iwo Jima, New Orleans
• 2006 Presidential Support, USS Shreveport, Cancun, Mexico; RIMPAC, USS Denver, Hawaii; JTF Lebanon, USS Wasp (after Lebanon we ended up in Iceland and Denmark somehow...)
• 2007 GOMEX, Panama City, FL
• 2008 Out of the Navy. Back to Illinois. Graduate school??

Will you be attending the reunion: No


Folded MH-53E onboard USS Wasp at sea


Senior project - Inflatable Tetrahedron


MH-53E's onboard USS Denver off the coast of Hawaii

Deanna Franklin (soon to be Hansen)

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Occupation: I am a Customer Logistics Coordinator at General Motors in Janesville, WI. I am also attending Cardinal Stritch University full time and will graduate with my Bachelors in Business Management in May of 2009.

Hometown: Rockford, IL

Marital Status: Engaged!

Spouse's Name & Occupation: Brandon Hansen (Belvidere class of 1994)...Union Crane Operator in Chicago, IL

Children: Julian 12 years old!!! Can you believe it? I can't!!!

Pets: Dakota (black lab) 10 years old

What has changed about you?
• Everything!! Not so wild and crazy these days...I've learned to be a responsible mother, student, and employee. I still can't believe my son is in 7th grade! Doesn't it seem like we were just in 7th grade?

What hasn't?
• I still love to laugh and goof around. I used to get kicked out of class for that!

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• Worst: Wrinkles!! Bye bye tanning bed!
• Best: it's better than being in your thirties!

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• I graduated with my Associates Degree in May of 2007.
• I met my fiance Brandon in 2003.
• I've enjoyed raising my beautiful son over the past 10 years. He will always be my baby! Yes I am a psycho mom!

Will you be attending the reunion: Yes!
• I'm trying to talk Lindsey (Helgerson), Mindy (Morel), and my brother Chad Houtz into going...we'll see what happens. They are all being a little stubborn!


Dee and Brandon


Mom and Juls

Michelle (Sarver) Love

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Occupation: I am a Surgical Technologist and work at Rockford Orthopedic Surgery Center, I graduated from the Surgical Technologist program @ Rock Valley Colllege in 2000

Hometown: Rockford, IL

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name & Occupation: Brad Love (BHS class of '95), married in Oct. 2000 He is a Union Journeyman Roofer

Children: We have one child, our son Aidan was born June 21, 2005, he just turned 2.

Pets: We have one dog, Chloee, she is 6 years old and is a Rottweiler/Black Lab mix. The 2 of them are so much fun!

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• The worst thing about being in my late 20's is I don't feel like I should be 30 in a little over a year!!!

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• We bought a house in Rockford in the "Rolling Green" area, which unfortuntely has been flooded twice now in the last 11 months w/ the rainstorms passing through here this year and that has to be one of the worse things that has happened losing our truck to the flood and cleaning up the mess to our house and yard!!! The best thing that has happened is the birth of my son, he is my world and I can not explain the love and reward it is to have a child, especially after stuggling a few years for it to happen.

Will you be attending the reunion: Yes
• I am planning in being at the reunion and look forward to seeing everyone and catching up with old friends. I have found a few of you through the "invention" of MySpace.com!!

Kristina Twyning

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Occupation: Commercial Finance Manager for GE Healthcare

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Marital Status: Single, with a boyfriend

Significant Other Name & Occupation: Robert Surma, Mechanical Engineer

Will you be attending the reunion? Yes

Miriam (Baker) Green

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Occupation: Part-time mental health therapist/mostly stay-at-home mom with my 5 month old twin girls

Hometown: Springfield, MO

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name & Occupation: Alex Green, Engineer

Children: Jasmine & Addison Green, both are 5 months old

Pets: Dogs - Belle & Tinsley

What has changed about you?
• I think I'm much more opinionated/outspoken than I was in high school.

What hasn't?:
• In high school, I was very involved in the art department. I still enjoy being creative and got my B.F.A. in graphic design. I realized after working in that field for 2 years that I didn't like sitting in front of a computer 40 hrs. a week. I now do the occasional freelance graphic design project.

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's:
• I'm really enjoying being in my late 20's. My husband and most of my friends are older than I am...so it makes me feel young to not have the 3 in front of my age just yet!

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• Studying abroad in India, December 1998 - May 1999
• Undergraduate B.F.A. in Commerical Art, December 2001
• Getting married, August 2004
• Masters in Social Work, May 2005
• Taking a trip to see my husband's family in Zimbabwe, Africa, May 2005
• Buying our first house, July 2005
• First house struck by lightening, August 2005
• Starting my first job as a therapist, September 2005
• Having twin girls, April 2007

Will you be attending the reunion? Yes


Our dogs, Belle and Tinsley


My daughters, Addison and Jasmine


A great photo of my daughter, Jasmine

Latest Update Regarding Reunion

Hi everyone,
I'm attaching the most current spreadsheet for the BHS Class of 1997. As you'll see, we only have contact information for about 100 people. Please send me any information you have (even if it's a phone number or address).

Thanks again for all of your help! For those of you who are new to this spreadsheet, I've included the initial email below. Thanks!

We've selected a date for BHS Class of 1997 10 Year Reunion. It will be held November 3, 2007 at Bel-Mar Country Club. Please save the date! An Evite will be sent closer to the event so we can track every ones responses.

We are still trying to obtain email address, and we need your help! I've gone through the yearbook and updated the spreadsheet with every ones name. Now, we just need some type of contact information (email is preferred). Please take some time to look over this list to see if there is information you can add. If you do have information, please just send it to me in the body of an email (rather than updating this spreadsheet). As you can see, we only have about 75 email addresses. So, there's still a long way to go! In addition to this "recruitment method", our plan is to put a small article in the Boone County Shopper and Rockford Register Star to draw more people.

Our thought is to keep this reunion casual and simple. However, if you have any ideas that you would like to incorporate, please let us know.

The tentative plan is to have the event begin around 7:00 PM. In an effort to save money, there will be a cash bar and an array of hor'dourves. To cover the costs of the facility, DJ, food, and decorations, there will be a charge at the door. That exact price is yet to be determined, but for planning purposes, please estimate between $15 - $20 per person.

Thanks in advance for your assistance! We're looking forward to seeing everyone November 3!

Maggie