Liz (Sweet) Olsen

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Occupation: Associate Director of Customer Service for Enrollment Services at Southern Oregon University

Hometown: Talent, Oregon

Marital Status: Married - just got married July 7, 2007

Spouse's Name & Occupation: Jake Olsen - Assistant Football Coach, Offensive Coordinator for Southern Oregon University

What has changed about you?
• I'm much more outspoken and direct than I was in high school. Also, I'm now adjusting to being a football coach's wife - let's just say, it's a very different world!

What hasn't changed?
• I'm still athletic and competitive - probably why I married a coach!

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's:
• That's a tough question - I guess the best thing is knowing that you can control your own happiness and there are so many years ahead to enjoy on my own terms!

Significant Events over the last 10 years:
• May 2001 - Graduated with B.S. in Math and Computer Science from Rockford College
• May 2001 - First job working as a computer programmer at Woodward in Rockford
• April 2003 - Got laid off from Woodward and wondered what the heck do I do now!
• August 2004 - Started working as a graduate assistant women's basketball coach at Lewis University
• October 2005 - Took full-time job in financial aid office at Lewis University
• May 2006 - Graduated with a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Lewis University
• July 2007 - Got married, moved to Oregon and started my new job at Southern Oregon University

Will you be attending the reunion: No
• Wish I could be there, but it's just not possible right now with the new job and football season.

Paul Karvelius

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Occupation: Mechanic at UPS

Hometown: Rockford, IL

Marital Status: Married since June of 2001

Spouse's Name & Occupation: Anna (Parker) BHS '98. Anna is a Family Support Specialist for the Rockford Public Schools Early Childhood Program.

Children: Someday

Pets: Ace, 2 yr. old - 100 lb. chocolate lab

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• June 1997: Started at UPS and have been there ever since
• June 2001: Married my high school sweetheart
• April 2005: Bought our first house

Will you be attending the reunion: Yes

Melissa (Schwartz) Thomas

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Occupation: Marriage Enhancement Program Coordinator for Children’s Home and Aid Society, Drama Teacher at Steps to Grace Dance Academy, and Independent Demonstrator for Gold Canyon Candles.

Hometown: Rockford, IL

Marital Status: Married on May 26th, 2007. So I guess that makes us newlyweds still!

Spouse's Name & Occupation: Mike Thomas, Shop Foreman for Lonnie’s Stone Crafters

Children: Soon we hope.

Pets: No pets here since I am allergic to just about everything, but I would like to have a horse one day.

What has changed about you? What hasn't?
• I think that I have a better understanding of life, people, and their experiences which I guess just com e with the gig of our walk in life. Although I always considered myself to be open minded and understanding of people and their needs that just continues to grow with time. I have enjoyed involving into the person I am today and can’t wait to see what is next!
• I am pretty sure when it comes to having a good time I have not changed too much, although I may have toned it down a notch......or not.

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• I am not really sure if there is a best or worst to being 28. I just know that every life experience counts and I am blessed to still be here living life and enjoying my friends and family.

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• May 2001- Graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts.
• August 2001- Took an unforgettable trip to Europe with some friends from college. We visited Italy, Greece, France and Holland.
• November 2002- Made a complete career shift into Social Work and have been doing it ever since.
• August 2006- Purchased a home in Rockford, IL.
• September 2006- Started working as a sub-contractor for Steps to Grace Dance Academy and love it!
• May 2007- Got married to my wonderful husband Mike. I am pretty sure that is the most significant event for me to date.

Will you be attending the reunion: Yes
• Thank you to everyone who had pitched in to make this happen.

Sara DuFresne

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Occupation: Catering Sales Manager

Hometown: Currently, Covington, Kentucky

Marital Status: Divorced

Pets: Coco the Cat

What has changed about you?
• I am a lot more confident than I was in High School.

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• 1999 - My dad got married
• 2000 - My little brother and sister (twins!) were born in May.
• 2002 - Started with Centerplate Catering, as a Banquet and Retail Outlet Manager at the Seagate Convention Center
• 2003 - Transferred to Indianapolis, IN and worked at the Indianapolis Convention Center and RCA Dome as a banquet manager then was promoted to Catering Sales Manager and was transferred to Covington, Kentucky.

Will you be attending the reunion: No, but I wish I could!

Andi Beth/Andrea(now) (Eikedahl) Shepherd

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Occupation: I teach second grade at Washington Elementary School in Belvidere.

Hometown: Belvidere, IL I never thought that I would live in this town, but I have to say that I enjoy it! Call me crazy!

Marital Status: I met my husband at ISU and he is actually from Rockford and attended Boylan. It is very nice that both of our families are close by. We just celebrated our 3-year anniversary!

Spouse's Name & Occupation: My husband’s name is Chris Shepherd. He works for a 3rd party logistics company call C.H. Robinson Worldwide. He does sales for the company.

Children: We have a daughter named Kiersten Erin and she will be 1 on September 10!

Pets: We have a 4 year old golden retriever named Bogie. He is still jealous that he’s not the baby anymore!

What has changed about you?
• Well, after graduating from college and getting a real job, reality set in and I grew up fast. No more late nights and wild parties.

What hasn't?
• I’m still always running late and doing things at the last minute. I like to add extra stress to my life!

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• The best thing would have to be that things have settled down and I feel happy and secure with my life. I still feel young and know that I have time to do so many more things with my life! The worst thing would have to be that we are all knocking on 30’s door.

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• 2002 Graduated from Illinois State
• 2002 Got my first real job teaching 2nd Grade
• 2004 Married my husband
• 2006 Graduated from St. Xavier University with a Master’s Degree in Education
• 2006 Our first daughter was born and we named her Kiersten Erin after my Norwegian grandmother and my older sister who is no longer with us. She has changed our lives so much and we are so lucky. We count our blessing everyday!!

Will you be attending the reunion:
• I will not be attending the reunion because we have a wedding that day out of town. It’s a close college friend to both of us, so we must go. My friends that are attending will update me. I know that they are excited to see everyone!

RaeAnn Diamond

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Occupation: General Manager - Wausau Center Mall; CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.

Hometown: Wausau, WI

Marital Status: Single, but with an amazing boyfriend

Boyfriend's Name & Occupation: Joe Hrudkaj, Informational Technologies, Marshfield Clinic

What has changed about you?
• I think I'm much more outgoing and open to new activities and relationships. I was very shy in high school, and now I'm adventurous and can be a little crazy at times. I love being spontaneous, which is a trait I've gained over the past 10 years. I've definitely gained a lot of leadership skills over the years as well, which carries into my career.

What hasn't?
• I still love to make people laugh, even at my own expense.

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• I love being so independent! I feel like at 28, it all makes sense... everything I've been doing over the last 10 years has really come full circle and I'm loving life!

Significant events for you in the last 10 years:
• December 2001: Graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater with a BA in Speech Communications - Public Relations.
• January 2002: Landed my first job as the "Afternoon Drive" girl at a small-market radio station in Southeastern Wisconsin.
• October 2003: Moved to Rockford to become the Assistant Marketing Director at CherryVale Mall - began my career with CBL Properties; the 3rd largest owner and developer of malls in the country.
• October 2004: Received a promotion to Marketing Director at Wausau Center Mall in Wausau, Wisconsin.
• June 2006: Witnessed the birth of my beautiful "niece", Alexis Ann.
• July 2007: Promoted to General Manager of Wausau Center Mall.

Will you be attending the reunion: Not sure
• I'm returning from vacation that day.

Kim (Nelson) Lawler

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Occupation: Pediatrician, Chef, Chauffeur, Housekeeper, Child Psychologist, Personal shopper…just a few hats I wear as a full time mom!

Hometown: Currently, South Bend, IN

Marital Status: Married to Scott Lawler, Head Assistant Baseball Coach, Recruiting Coordinator, University of Notre Dame.

Children: Lucas, 20 months and expecting our second child (a girl) around September 20.

Pets: Cooper, 5 year old Black Lab.

What has changed about you? What hasn't?
• My hair. I change it about every six months! I have fun with it and it always grows back!
• Seriously tough, I am much more patient and self-less. I think those traits pretty much go hand in hand with trying to be a good wife and mother.
• What hasn’t changed is that I still love to run and compete!

Best (or Worst) thing about being in your late 20's.
• Worst thing about being in my late 20’s is not appreciating and taking advantage of my younger years as much as I would have liked.
• The Best thing is that we are actually really young and God willing, still have so much to do and experience ahead of us!

Significant events for me in the last 10 years:
• August 1997, Left for NIU to discover a whole new world outside of Btown. Besides going to class, I ran Cross Country and made friends for life! I really blossomed as a person and discovered what it means to be independent, which was scary and exciting all at the same time! I actually enjoyed the educational aspect of college…and the parties too!
• May 2001, Graduated from NIU with a BA in Corporate Communication and hired by Eli Lilly & Co as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative in Rockford, IL.
• June 2002, Engaged to Scott and moved to Evansville, IN to support his career. Transferred with Lilly. Bought our first house and got a dog!
• June 2003, Married the man of my dreams!
• July 2005, Moved to Little Rock, AR (5 months pregnant) to support Scott’s coaching career, at which point I retired from the professional workforce. Bought our second house!
• December 2005, Gave birth to Lucas 8lbs, 10oz., 21in….lots of GREAT prescriptions drugs!
• July 2006, Moved to South Bend, IN for a great opportunity with the University of Notre Dame. Bought our third house. I guess I should add Real Estate agent to my list of titles.
• September 2007, in South Bend and planning on being here for a bit, which is a significant event in our career. Baby number two is coming any day now!

Will you be attending the reunion: Undecided at this time.
• I can’t think of any better way to celebrate my 28th birthday! I would love to attend, however, with a new baby, and 22-month-old, the travel may be too difficult on my own. Scott has work obligations that weekend.

I can’t believe that it has already been 10 years. Hopefully the old saying that things get better with age holds true in all aspects of our lives! It has been great looking at the profiles on the blog. I wish all of you a healthy, safe and happy year! A special thanks to Miriam for taking the time and effort to put this great communication tool together and to Maggie and all the others behind the scenes who are making the effort to reconnect!