Springfield College Alumni News, Notes, and Accomplishments

In this section, you will find alumni updates from July 31, 2024 through August 31, 2024. Thanks for sharing your news! Please direct any future submissions to alumni@springfield.edu.

By: Maria D'Agostino Crawford '91 and Damon Markiewicz

Stories don’t get much more “Springfield” than this!

Alumni Council member David Swords '78 (pictured on the right) was recently hiking in the White Mountains and stayed at the Zealand Falls Hut as a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Sitting next to him was a father with his daughter and the group started sharing about their careers and where they went to college. Within minutes, Steve Scribner '75 and David realized not only that they were both Springfield College grads, but that they lived in Alumni Hall the same year AND their rooms were across the hall from each other!

David shared this sentiment about the meaningful encounter.

“What are the chances of reconnecting with someone you haven’t seen in 47 years on a porch in the middle of the White Mountains?! We reminisced and laughed for hours. We enjoyed talking about how special Springfield College is, and how important it is that there is still a place where students can go to learn and are committed to helping others.”

Another summer day, another alumni mini-reunion. This crew of the Class of 2013 graduates recently met up in Mystic, Ct. to reminisce about their Springfield College days while making new memories.

More than 35 years after graduating from Springfield College, and this Class of 1987 and Class of 1988 crew is still feeding their friendship and planning mini reunions. This time the good times celebrated were in Vermont.

Pictured are Maggi Fay, MJ Lopez, Fred Ciaglo, Cathy Ix, Bob Smith, Steve Smith, Frank Browne, Dan Zevon, Chris Canty, Dean Hladick.

Springfield College Class of 1989 alumni Luke Hulbert, Ron VanDeVeen and Marty Rosenthal recently got together at a New York Mets baseball game at Citi Field.

Have you gotten together with Springfield College classmates lately? Send your photos to alumni@springfield.edu. Thank you!

The Springfield College connections to the Olympic Games continue. Thank you to Keith Bryant '92 who shared these incredible pictures from Paris. He recently visited in his role as CEO/Executive Director of USA Judo. A sport management major during his student days, Bryant will be part of the upcoming "Springfield College 2024 Olympic Connections" virtual panel discussion on October 9, 2024.

At top left, at the USA House with the Director of the Australia Combat Center Alex Vallentine and Great Britain Judo CEO Andrew Scoular. At bottom left, France Judo International Relations Director Alevtina Ziacas and Vice President of International Relations Gevrise Emane (2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist and three time World Champion). At right, Bryant at the beach volleyball venue.

View Springfield College Olympic Connections...

Andrew Simkewicz '92, G'96, recently stoped by the Alumni House during his visit back to Alden Street. Andy and his daughter were on campus for an admissions interview as Springfield College is on her list of potential colleges. We love seeing legacy families come through our doors.

If you are in the area, please do not hesitate to come see us at the Alumni House, home of the Office of Alumni Relations, located at 258 Middlesex Street.

Congratulations to Ashley Pacheco '19, G'21, and Mike Costello '19 who were married on May 25, 2024. The happy couple celebrated their special day surrounded by fellow Springfield College alumni.

Congratulations are also in order for Taylor Lockrow '17, G'19, and Matthew Ryan '17, G'19, who were married on May 3, 2024 at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield, Ct. Taylor and Ryan met on accepted student day at Springfield College in 2013 and both were in the Physician Assistant program.

Matthew is part of a Springfield College legacy family; his mom Karen Kopycinski Ryan is a member of the class of 1986. The Office of Alumni Relations wishes both couples a lifetime of love and happiness together!

For inclusion in "Wedding Wednesday" and Triangle Monthly, email your photos to alumni@springfield.edu. Thank you!

Robert Meconi '74 was recently inducted into the The Au Sable Fork Men's Fast Pitch Tournament Hall of Fame as a player. He also umpired at the tournament for 20 years.

The tournament is hosted in Au Sable Forks, N.Y., and it is a major men's fast pitch tournament. It has been around for 62 years, and it is the second oldest tournament in the state of New York. It's also a world tournament qualifier.

The tournament has hosted teams from all over, many from Canada representing Ontario and Quebec. Teams from New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania have also participated. The tournament has included many world ranked pitchers and players.

Congratulations Robert!

Springfield College was well represented at the recent 50th anniversary celebration of the Co-Ed YMCA Northeast Leaders School.

The event was held on July 26, 2024 at the Silver Bay YMCA on Lake George. Thank you John Barclay '74 for sharing this photo.

Robert (Bob) Hopkins '73 celebrated his 45th year of ordination as a Lutheran Pastor. His congregation, Saints United Lutheran, in Philadelphia, Pa., had a large party in celebration.

Jay Martin '71, the winningest coach in NCAA men's soccer history and head men's soccer coach at Ohio Wesleyan University since 1977, will retire as the Battling Bishops' head coach after the 2024 season.

"It's time," Martin said. "My heart wants me to continue, my brain wants me to continue, but my body says no. I clearly don't have the energy I had 10-20-30 years ago. The irony is that I think I'm a better coach than I was 10-20-30 years ago in terms of tactics, and I think I'm still good at what I think are two of the most important areas of coaching, empowerment of players and relationships, but it's time for someone younger to bring in new energy to the program."

Martin will continue as a full professor in Ohio Wesleyan's department of health and human kinetics. Associate head coach Matt Weiss will take over as the Battling Bishops' head coach after the 2024 season.

Ken Riegler '91 has been named President of At-Bay Insurance. He has devoted 25 years to crafting risk management solutions that help businesses of all shapes and sizes solve challenges and respond to uncertainty.

Jillian Kelley '16 was awarded "Outstanding Campus Partner" by the Division of Student Development at the College of the Holy Cross. Kelley is the Assistant Director of Prevention and Education at Holy Cross.

Bridget Rossignol '21, G'23, graduated from the United States Air Force's Defense Information School.

Drew Gallant '19 has spent the summer at the Glacier Institute.

"Connecting people to our national parks has always been my mission, and I feel fortunate to work with organizations that share this philosophy," said Gallant.

Gallant recently accepted a new role as Hybrid Education Manager and Educator at NatureBridge. This position will enable him to further his passion for making nature and science accessible to students while also supporting a team of educators.

It is always so exciting and heartwarming to see a group of Springfield College alumni working together. Many thanks to Marissa Woitkoski '18, DPT'21, who sent in this terrific photo of her Springfield College colleagues at Concierge Physical Therapy in Sutton, Mass.

At left, Carly Cornacchioli '27, DPT'29, Marisa Woitkoski '18, DPT'21, Willem Edwards '26, DPT'28, and Matthew Moura '23, DPT'25.

Cornacchioli and Edwards have been working as physical therapy aids and Moura is completing his first physical therapy clinical rotation.

Tom Kretsch '66 spent several years in the Peace Corps after graduation from Springfield College. He worked for 37 years in the Norwalk, Ct. Public Schools as an elementary physical education teacher.

Below is his story in his own words describing a project he developed called "An Olympic Torch Run through Norwalk," a program he envisioned and started in 1984. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the event.

Read Full Story...

Kurt Ogren '91, has been named the 2024 CAS (Connecticut Association of Schools) High School Principal of the Year and the 2024-25 CFSA (Connecticut Federation of School Administrators) Administrator of the Year. Ogren is Principal, Woodland Regional High School.

Elizabeth "Beth" Carabillo Stipanov '95 has been named General Manager for the Springfield College Harvest Table Culinary Group. She joined SC's Harvest Table team in March of 2021. Beth has worked in the hospitality industry for over 30 years with focus on operations, sales, events and most importantly, people.

Timothy Hart '03 is starting a new role as Search Consultant & Member at Point Break Recruiting LLC.

Matt Osgood '04 has joined the faculty of Endicott College's Communications Department.

Kelli Rand Simels '06, G'08, recently became a Health Education Teacher at East Ramapo Central School District (Spring Valley).

CBHC and Mental Health Services at High Point & Affiliated Organizations has named Sara Pomeroy Bennett, G'07, as Chief Operating Officer.

Dallas Pilecki '11, G'14, is starting a new position as a Crisis Clinician with the CARE Team at Holyoke Medical Center.

Matt Fraser '13 was recently hired by American Tower as a Collections Analyst.

Jade Prickett Morris, G'13, has been named Director of Athletics at Williston Northampton School.

Julia Berv Dahlgard '15, G'17, is a Family Medicine Physician Assistant at Urgent-Doctor PC.

Julia Bireley '18 is an Orthopedic Physician Assistant at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Tyler Hansen '20, G'23, has been named Assistant Track and Field Coach by Wesleyan University.

Pepperdine University has hired Rachel Menze '20 as Assistant Athletic Trainer.

Sara Labadorf '22, DPT '24, is starting a new position as a Physical Therapist at ATI Physical Therapy.

Sebastian Martin '22 recently started a new job at the National Football League (NFL) as Coordinator, Event Operations and Accreditation.

Rialee Allen, G'23, is now a Human Resources Business Partner at Fifth Third Bank.

Shamus Biggs '23, G'24, has joined Power Home Remodeling as a Customer Development Representative.

After almost a year as an intern, Rece Gobel '23 is starting a new full time position as Fit & Wear Test Analyst at New Balance. He looks forward to continuing to learn within the product development space.

Jarid Kufczynski '23 shared that he is starting a new position as a Business Consultant with Fiserv.

Andreas Varnauskas '23 has been hired by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving as a Communication Associate.

Ava Rainone '24 has been hired as the Director of On-Campus Recruitment for the Tennessee Tech University football team. She will be leading recruitment efforts while also assisting with creative media for the Golden Eagles.

This fall, Tina Riordan, PhD '24, will begin her role as Assistant Professor, Exercise Science at the University of Hartford.

Andrew Martin-Ryan '24 has been named Associate Head Swim Coach and Team Administrator for the JCCNS Sea Serpents.