Every time we send an email to a new group of states, it’s like Christmas. I get to hear from all kinds of interesting alumni — and eventually I’ll be lucky enough to actually meet some of them on our VISIONS Across America travels.
Here are some especially interesting correspondence I’ve received in the past couple of weeks:
Kristyn Mostek (’97 speech communication) writes:
“I would like to nominate Courtney Heilskov Schlichte and Jason Schlichte. They live in North Carolina. They follow Cyclone athletics, going to games when they are in the area. Last fall Jason told his daughter he would take them to Disney World if the Cyclones beat OSU in football. They are now planning a trip to Disney!” I love this!
Another great Cyclone story comes from Kathleen Saladino (MS ’70 textiles and clothing), a retired teacher who lives in Virginia:
“When my oldest grandchild (now 11) was learning to talk, his father, who is a great Husker fan, made the comment when ISU was playing a football game against the Huskers, ‘Granny and her Cyclones’ (I think the Cyclones were winning at that moment). Little Cole picked up the Granny and Cyclones and I became ‘Granny Cyclone’ which all the grandchildren and friends now call me!”
And this touching story came from Bret Wortman (’90 math) of Jeffersonton, Va.:
“Here in Virginia, I became a volunteer paramedic in my spare time and met my wife Holley while we were volunteering at the same rescue squad. We were married on the Potomac River on a paddle wheel steamer on Sept. 8, 2001, just 3 days before everyone’s lives would change forever. Instead of taking my new bride on a honeymoon en route to our new home in Australia, we sat in a hotel in Merrifield, Va., wondering what our future would hold, and whether my new employer would wait long enough to get us onto a flight before deciding to cut me loose — with our worldly possessions packed up and stored who-knows-where.
“We did arrive in Australia in early October and began a four-and-a-half-year residency there, which saw the births of both our children. We got to experience another culture and had the unique experience of seeing America from the outside. Our love of our country just grew even as we saw its imperfections alongside its nobility.”
Finally, here’s a two-for-the-price-of-one story from Mike Risk (’04 MIS), who lives in the Washington, D.C. area:
“Here’s my story, which involves fellow alum Nick Renner (’06 mechanical engineering). Nick and I did not know one another during our initial years of undergrad. I spent most of my time at the Gerdin business school as an MIS major while Nick was doing whatever mechanical engineers do. We both held leadership roles in our fraternities, he at Lambda Chi Alpha and me at Pi Kappa Alpha, and lived at our respective houses. During the summer of 2004, however, we both accepted an internship at Maytag in Newton. And so ignited our friendship over crazy internship events and related social outings. (Unfortunately, I must add that there was a third member of our trifecta who happened to be a Hawkeye.) At the end of our internship, we tried to keep in touch. Nick and I had a saying ‘one night a week’ because that seemed to be how often we stumbled upon each other at Sips, Mickeys, Peoples, Cys, and the occasional Big Shots. (Meanwhile, the Hawkeye was wrapping up a less adequate education in Iowa City.)
“Fast forward to February of 2010. After working for five years for Ernst & Young in Kansas City, I decided to transfer to our McLean office. My wife and I made the move and soon found out via Facebook that Nick, who had been working with Caterpillar in Peoria, also moved to the Reston area just a month later. We quickly connected and watched a number of Cyclone basketball games at Crystal City Sports Pub (the local gamewatch location). While Nick and I still hang out “one night every few months,” this story probably wouldn’t be as ironic and unique had the Hawkeye not also moved to D.C. to work for the Redskins! So far in the past two years we have celebrated Mexican Christmas, partied with Russian lifeguards, cheered on the U.S. in the World Cup, attended Redskins games, participated in the Hawkeye’s surprise birthday party, played 18 holes, watched the Super Bowl, and are planning our next gathering as we speak.”
Keep these stories coming, folks. They are so much fun to read! And be sure to post your own stories on your state pages – linked from this website.
On the road 