Santa Clara Magazine

Amy Brydon Rapp '95 and Toby Rapp welcomed their son, Andrew, on Feb. 21, 2013. Amy works for Nike and the family lives in Portland, Ore.

Ron Hansen M.A. ’95, M.Div. ’04 is this year’s recipient of the Evil Companions Award, which honors a writer who hails from the West or writes about it. Hansen is an Omaha native who teaches literature at Santa Clara University. He has earned numerous honors in his four decades as a novelist, essayist and short-story writer, including the status of creating one of the longer and more intriguing titles in contemporary fiction: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Ken and Leanna (Porter) Deaton '95 joyfully celebrate the adoption of their son, Samuel Addisu Deaton on January 1, 2013. The family resides in Hayden, Idaho.

Bernard Zanck ’67 writes, "My son, Bernie Zanck ’96, just graduated from University of Chicago with an MBA on March 22, 2013. He was also the Director of Recruitment for the university's MBA program, and during his time as director he spent 3 years in London recruiting for the program."

Mike Betz '96 and Alisa (Harmon) Betz '97 are pleased to announce the birth of their third (and final) future Bronco, Charles Donald Betz on Oct. 14, 2012. Charlie joins his siblings Alice and Henry and has the distinct privilege of being the proud owner of numerous articles of hand-me-down SCU gear! Here's to hoping they all get in to SCU! Third one's free, right?

Michelle Andre '96 writes, "After working for the Merola Opera Program at San Francisco Opera as the Director of Membership & Marketing for the past four to five years, I was recruited to head up the new marketing department (as director of marketing) for an international market research firm called Decipher. I am traveling all over the world and loving the new challenges in a new industry for me. It is putting to great use my MS in IMC from GGU too, in addition to my undergraduate degrees from SCU. And I am in the 12th year of owning my own 'side' business, Andre Design & Marketing. We also welcomed our new baby daughter home from Russia early in 2012, Nadia Marie. She just turned 2 years old on May 4. She joins big brother, Niko, who will turn 7 on June 13. A photo is attached of our daughter Nadia on her second birthday with her brother Niko on the far left, and my identical twin sister's son, Ivan, in the middle."

Joseph Westfall '97 is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Houston-Downtown. He and his wife have two-year old twins, Oliver and Eloise, and welcomed a third child, Dorothy, on May 19, 2013.

Laura Lee Norris J.D. ’97 has been named founding director of the new Entrepreneur’s Law Clinic at Santa Clara's School of Law. 

Yan Yuen Brenda Lao MBA ’97 writes, "I am working at Hong Kong Baptist University now."

Birgitta Delurgio Hughes ’97 and husband Allen Hughes—their second child, a daughter, Faith Marie Hughes, on Oct. 22, 2012. She joins brother Rhys Delurgio Hughes, 2. The family lives in Kirkland, Wash. outside of Seattle.

Russell Dahl ’97 is an associate professor of medicinal chemistry in the Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmaceutical Science at The Chicago Medical School of Rosalind Franklin University, in North Chicago. Dr. Dahl is the author of more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and an inventor on over 20 patents in small molecule therapeutics. He also directs the Laboratory for Molecular Design and Drug Discovery.

Colleen Blake ’97 was named one of Silicon Valley Business Journal’s “100 Women of Influence.” As sr. director, Global People Operations, Brocade Communications Systems Inc., Blake is a key partner in driving the company’s involvement in community initiatives for young girls and women, and is responsible for the company’s diversity and inclusion strategy, including the expansion of Brocade’s Women In Networking (WIN) initiative across the globe. Blake was named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2012 "40 Under 40" list, and she is active in youth and women's organizations.

On July 7, 2012, Steve O'Brien '98 wed Julianne (Visbal) O'Brien '04 in the Santa Clara Mission Church with over 40 fellow Broncos in attendance. It was truly a great day to be a Bronco! Today, the couple resides in Annapolis, MD, where Julianne works as a civil engineer with Bay Engineering, and Steve serves as the Naval Academy Athletic Association's Associate Athletic Director-Development at the United States Naval Academy. The O'Briens enjoy regularly returning to the Mission Campus for a variety of SCU events and are looking forward to making their next trip back this October for Steve's 15-year reunion.  

Front row: Anthony Zamora '98, Matt McNelis '98, Frank Lico '52, Julianne (Visbal) O'Brien '04, Steve O'Brien '98, Bill O'Brien '70, Chris Brady '98, Stephan Vernaelde '05, Fr. Art Liebscher '69, M.Div '84  Second row: Tom McDermott '52, Lisa (Sacco) Swendsen '98, Matt Giudice '98, Jack Grimes '98, Ryan Dunn '98, Joe Delucchi '98, John Maloney '85, Francisco Zepponi '05 Third row: Lauren Prehoda '03, Damien Swendsen '98, MA '00, Erahm Machado '98, Keith Marshall '98, Dan Romanski '98, Chris Yamashita '98, Barbie Graver '98, Brandon Kitagawa '98, Aaron Uchikura '05, MA '11  Fourth row: Paul Neilan '70, Kimarie (Reasons) Manfre '79, Sallie Krochalis '04, Rebecca (Levy) Corwin '04, Steve Heyn '98, Jason Sarich '98, Nicole (Tung) Sarich '98, Cinde Quint '73, Mike Quint '72, Teddie Page MA '98, Tom DeNatale '73, MS '79, Cynthia (Page) Teeple '96 Fifth row: Nick Livak '59, J.D '63, Rich Giorgetti '70, Terry Giorgetti '71, Jim Obot '77, Lynsey (Yeakel) Kehrli '04, Bob Kehrli '04, Dan Turner '98, James Dallosta '04, Jeff Herbage '04, Jen Zamora '98, Paul Page MA '95

Meredith McKenzie J.D. ’98 was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown ’59 to the Dental Board of California. McKenzie has been vice president and deputy general counsel at Juniper Networks since 2012. She was senior director of intellectual property at Symantec Corporation from 2006 to 2012, director of litigation, licensing and IP for Cypress Semiconductor from 2001 to 2006 and corporate counsel and director of IP at Enuvis Inc. from 2000 to 2001. McKenzie was an associate for Howrey LLP from 1998 to 2000 and patent agent and design engineer at Intel Corporation from 1993 to 1998.

 Imelda (Wong) Kortens '98 and Jediah Kortens welcomed their first baby boy, Jackson Robert Kortens, into the world on April 30, 2013.

Cathy (Miller) Justl '98, M.A. '01  and David Justl '99 live in Wisconsin and are pleased to announce the arrival of Katherine Yeon Emma Justl, born March 17, 2011, in Osan, South Korea, home forever on August 30, 2012. She joins big sister, Kiya, age 4.

Olga Diaz ’98 was named Civic Leader of the Year at U-T San Diego’s second annual San Diego Latino Champions Awards ceremony.

Jason M. Caskey ’98 is an attorney in the Intellectual Property and Information Technology group at Kutak Rock LLP, specializing in technology licensing, copyright, trademarks, and commercial transactions. His wife, Kirsten, and he welcomed their son Daniel Patrick on December 26, 2011, joining big sisters Grace (6) and Claire (4). The family lives in Omaha, Nebraska, but Jason makes it back to the Bay Area to visit with clients and friends as often as possible.

Christy Aguirre '98 recently received state and national awards for her contributions to the library profession. She was named 2012 Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy from California Libraries Association and 2013 Library Journal's Movers and Shakers Community Builders from American Libraries Association. She attributes much of her success to her SCU education, "community building is a way of life, not just a job." She currently supervises Sacramento Public Library's Southgate Branch.