Cheers to Brian Cremins for his new book, Their Mighty American Hero, published by the University Press of Mississippi. Brian’s book tells the story of the controversial superhero, Captain Marvel and the writers and artists who created his adventures. Brian is an associate professor of English at Harper College and his essays have appeared in the International Journal of Comic Art, Studies in American Humor, The Los Angeles Review of Books, Alter Ego and in the edited collection, Comics and the U.S. South.

Natalie Herring has left Cottey College to become an associate vice president at the University of Baltimore. Geoffrey Willison has completed the sale of Valore, a venture backed e-commerce company, and is now chief financial officer of Continuum, an IT software company. Geoffrey’s wife, Susan Willison, is enjoying her fifth year as a fourth-grade teacher in Hingham, Massachusetts, where, Geoff writes: “Life is fun and busy, supporting our daughters, Cara (16) and Morgan (14), in their athletic and artistic pursuits.”

Pam (Brockmeier) Armstrong wrote from her winter hibernation in Newburyport, Massachusetts: “I am plotting my reemergence with spring. The weather has been warm recently and it’s leading to boisterous feelings of happiness and hope! I am wiping the snow off my surfboard (am I supposed to store that thing indoors?) and planning to actually use it this year. It’s mostly been fence decoration. My kids are old enough that I think I can safely leave them on the beach while I paddle out to the waves. Oh, wait, I still have a 4-year-old. Nope, can’t do that yet. We’ll be boogie boarding again. Which is awesome, too.” 

At my request, Pam also shared a bit of advice from classmates: “There are so many wonderful tidbits and words of wisdom that stick with me. But I can’t remember a single one right now. Okay, how about this: Go to bed, Pam. That came from my engineering project group as we entered the wee hours of an all-nighter. It was clear to them I was useless at that point, and I still love them for recognizing it and releasing me. I never tried to pull an all-nighter again.”

What advice do you recall from a classmate? I remember Jen Chapman (now Schindler) as my sorority house manager counseling that any task you need to execute becomes easier when you think through how much (or how little) time it will take to complete. Jill Wesley recalls Alex Nikas (or was it Jon Belk?) telling her not to mix bleach with ammonia. “Very important. I have shared this info with others.” Linda (Albers) Serotta credits Deborah Healy with advising her to wear good walking shoes in New York or Chicago and that exceptional pizza is worth the walk: “We would walk to Foodees. The entire pizza adventure took three hours. Then we’d watch Thursday night must-see TV.” Chris Hamner’s sage words—“always put yourself in a position to win”—have stuck with Lou Spelios, and Corey (Fleming) Hirokawa still thanks Jill Wesley for giving her the best advice ever, to give Ben Hirokawa a chance: “Guess it worked out!”

There are two initiatives underway in our class: First, mini-reunions are on for the 95th Day of the Year, April 5. Join the fun in person or with a post on our class Facebook page. Second is #D95ActOfKindness: a movement to celebrate our collective acts of public service. Pam and her family help cook and assemble meals to bring to families who need them once a month. What are you doing to help others and make the world a better place?

—Kaja (Schuppert) Fickes, 2 Bishops Lane, Hingham, MA 02043; kaja.k.fickes.95@dartmouth.edu; Natalie Herring, 1911 Rex Ave., #41, Joplin, MO 64801; (417) 553-7419; 1995dcn@gmail.com