Class of 2017

After graduation Chris Burkholder moved to Australia to play professional baseball. He played in the Australian Baseball League and worked as a corporate sponsorships manager for his team as well. After 10 months in Australia, he moved to the Czech Republic to play in the Czech Extraliga. His team won its first championship in 45 years and Chris was named Playoff Pitcher of the Year. After that season he moved back to Australia. During his second season in Australia, he was named Pitcher of the Year. He then played a final season in Czech, where his team won a subsequent championship. After hanging up the cleats, Chris moved back to Los Angeles with his family. During Covid Chris started working for Globe Life American Income as an agent. He moved up within the agency and was promoted to a partner in 2022. In January he was promoted to regional director of the agency and now oversees all recruiting, hiring, coaching, and leadership development. Lastly, Chris proposed to Bryelle in March, and their plan is to get married in October. They are extremely excited for the planning and celebrating.

Ellis Guo has been living in Boston since graduation. Outside of work Ellis practices and teaches jiu jitsu. He still hangs out with other Dartmouth ’17s in Boston, including Clare Hern, Dan Finch, Emma Hartswick, and Jack Kirsch. Last fall Ellis officiated Jack Kirsch’s wedding in Lyman, New Hampshire, with many other ’17s in attendance. Ellis learned to play the drums after graduation, culminating in a Somerville Porchfest concert alongside Chase Shipp, Tyler Kelsall, Torri Lee, and Charlie Johnson ’19. During the winter holidays, Ellis and his family visited Japan, where his father is now the owner-operator of a ski hotel in Hakuba, Sejour Mint. He enjoyed it so much, Ellis’s father enlisted Ellis and his brother into buying a second ski hotel in Hakuba, Junior Mint. Reflecting on life, Ellis notes that the changes in life are more subtle compared to the 10-week cadence at Dartmouth.

—Eric Chen, 24036 Wintergreen Circle, Novi, MI 48374; echen027@gmail.com