Reflections Magazine Issue #60 - Fall 2003 | Page 21

Alumni
News

Mike recently chose to make a contribution to The Campaign
for Siena Heights University: Education with a Mission. Like
many former athletes, he earmarked his gift for the impend-

19

ing expansion of the SHU Fieldhouse.
“I understand what it’s like to recruit student-athletes and
how competitive that process is,” he adds. “This is an opportunity for me to give something back to Siena so we can continue to attract top student-athletes and current athletes can
become even better in their athletic endeavors.

Class Notes
from the
Sites

Thomas Shelvy ‘88 (Southfield) is a senior die designer for
GM Metal Fabrication Division Die Engraving Services.

“It is important that Siena Heights continue to field

Michelle Green ’97 (Southfield) lives in Saint Clair and
writes: “Siena Heights gave me the foundation of a wonderful undergraduate education that made graduate school
easy.” She earned a master’s in counseling from Central
Michigan University.

successful competitive programs. These improvements in the
Fieldhouse – meeting that Kresge Challenge – will help make
that happen.”

Ethel D Saxton ’97 (Southfield) and her husband, Clyde,
are living in Ponce Inlet, FL. A registered nurse consultant,
Ethel is completing a master’s degree in community health
and plans to continue on to earn a Ph.D. in health.

In his career—which has taken him to Michigan, Syracuse
and, for the last seven years, Michigan State—Mike has been
a part of some of the greatest college football traditions in the

Cathy Schiel ’00 (Jackson) of Brooklyn welcomed her
second child, son Eli Christopher, on April 23. Cathy and
her husband also have an older son, Kyle (5).

country. “I’ve been able to experience things at the highest
level of college football. I’m fortunate to have been a part
of conference championships and 10 major bowl games,”
he says.
“The older I get, the more appreciation I have for what has
gotten me where I am today,” he adds. “My father, who is a
former high school athletic director and football coach, is my
role model and he certainly gave me some guidance in my
decision to attend Siena. Once I was there, Siena helped me
grow in the classroom and grow in life. The more I look back
on it, the greater appreciation I have for what the institution
did for me.”

Terry Lewis ’83 (Southfield) lives in Minneapolis, MN,
where he is on the graduate faculty at Augsburg College,
serving as clinical coordinator for the master’s degree
Physicians Assistant Program. Terry is on his second career,
having retired in 1994 from a full and distinguished career
in the U.S. Army as a physician assistant.

Ralph Wight received
the Outstanding Adult
Learner Award.

With a career that often keeps him away from home many

Ralph Wight ’00 (Lansing) of Portland received the Outstanding Adult Learner Award this spring from the Capital
Area Higher Education Network in Lansing. Ralph earned a
B.A.S. in industrial technology from Siena Heights several
years ago. Now he’s back at SHU working on a second
bachelor’s degree, this time in community services. In
addition to carrying a 3.77 grade point average, Ralph has
been caregiver for 14 years for his wife, Judy, who has
multiple sclerosis. He also has worked for GM for nearly
30 years. On top of all this, he volunteers for the Knights of
Columbus, the Lansing Regional Food Bank and “Meals on
Wheels,” and spearheaded the “Golden Opportunity Drive”
for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Ralph was nominated
for the CAHEN award by Christina Deland, one of his SHU
Lansing Center professors, who noted that Ralph has been
largely responsible for raising his and Judy’s two children,
Zack (17) and Hanna (14) – and often seeks advice from
his classmates on topics such as how to French-braid his
daughter’s hair!
Deanna McCreary ‘01 (Southfield) writes from Stockbridge:
“I started my own business the first of the year called Zircon
Aviation Services L.L.C. I am based out of the Mason
Airport. Since it is very new I can’t say how well it is going,
but I’m hoping for the best.”

hours during the week, Mike still focuses on what he calls his
“priorities in life.” His wife, Tami, whom he met while they
both were students at Siena, and his young daughter, Bailey,
have been supportive as his career developed.

Melissa Baldwin ’02 (Battle Creek) works for Bath and
Body Works in Grand Rapids.

“Besides faith, my family is the most important thing in

Yvonne Dean ’02 (Benton Harbor) of Hartford, MI, writes: “I
am in the throes of my first year at Concord Law School. I sit
for my ‘baby bar’ next year and plan to finish up in 2007 with
an LLM at Thomas Cooley.” Yvonne is regional vice president, investments for Thrivent Investment Management, Inc.

the world,” Mike says. “My profession takes up a lot of time
and we have sacrificed at some points but we’ve shared a
lot, too.”
In terms of his hopes and aspirations for his alma mater, Mike
still thinks fondly of that football program he proposed back
when he was a student, but he adds with a smile, “I wish
every program the best success.”
“Now let’s get that Fieldhouse finished!”

The Metro Detroit Staff
poses with President Artman
at graduation in May.