December Class Notes
Emerging Leaders
Gretchen Darrell EL ’19 flew out to LA to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune on November 30, 2023. According to several sources, there is only a 0.0006% chance of being chosen as a contestant – Good luck, Gretchen!
LEAD Institute
Amy Smoyer LEAD ’21 was elected to the Medina City School Board of Education and starts in January for a 4-year term.
Jon Allen LEAD ’22 started a new position as Director, Program Management at Tempel Steel Inc., a division of Worthington Industries.
Phil Rickaby ’22 and his wife recently welcomed the arrival of their second child, Averi. She was born on November 14, 2023.
Skylar Serban ’24 is reminding everyone of the Purple Heart program offered at Apex Dermatology, where she works. As a Veteran owned company, Apex gives back to those who have been wounded during active service with complimentary scar revision treatments.
Signature
’96 The Brightest Class
Bev Shaffer ’96, veteran food writer, joins Rep staff as a food and drink reporter.
Check out this story on cantonrep.com: https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/food/2023/11/15/bev-shaffer-join-me-repository-for-a-culinary-journey/71562750007/
’05 The Ultimate Class
Paul Kipfstuhl ’05 received the 2023 Mission and Values Award from Catholic Charities for his work in education and advocacy on Catholic Social Teaching.
’09 A Class Act
Deborah Wasylko ’09, CEO of Baskets Galore + BG Corporate Gifts and her Team, recently won the prestigious 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year Award on behalf of Medina County Economic Development Corporation. She was also commissioned to design gifts for 14 Buehler Fresh Food stores throughout NE Ohio!
’10 The Social Class
Sue Myers ’10 recently took over the seat for Huntington National Bank on the board for Medina County Economic Development Corporation.
’14 The Class On Fire
Susana B. Lewis ’14 was elected judge of the Wadsworth Municipal Court. Her term begins January 1, 2024.
Leslie Miller ’14 was re-elected to Seville Village Council for her 7th term.
’17 The Collaborators
Mark Dzurec ’17 was elected to the Hudson City School District School Board on November 7, 2023. He will begin his term in January.
Shelley Tender ’17 has been named Conservation Educator of the Year by the Medina County Soil and Water Conservation District.
’22 The Phoenix Class
Nathan D. Eppink ’22 and Medina County Park District were honored in November at the 2023 Smart 50 Awards, hosted by Smart Business Network and presented by Corporate College, A Division of Cuyahoga Community College. MCPD Commissioners Dennis Neate ’02, Kathleen Davis ’10, and Jason Venner ’20 attended the event in support of Nathan and the district.
In addition to this award, Nathan and MCPD received an award for Innovation for the Brown-Trump Homestead and Recovery Farm. The property, a collaboration between MCPD, Friends of Medina County Parks, Cathy’s House, Hope Recovery Community, Feeding Medina County, and the Medina County Historical Society, is the largest known recovery farm in the country. Learn more about this life-changing project on the park district’s website: https://medinacountyparks.com/index.php/parks/brown-trump-homestead.
Nathan has been director of MCPD for five years. Since 2019, MCPD has acquired 1,200 acres, leveraged local dollars to secure more than $11.8 million in grants, and opened several new public areas. The park district is truly honored to have been chosen for both awards. This is a testament to the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of the “small, but mighty” staff.
Signature Class of 2024
Sarah Bullington ’24 will be selling jewelry she created at the Brunswick High School Craft Fair on December 9 from 9a to 3p. 50% of all of Sarah’s proceeds will be donated to Cups Café in Medina.