North Dakota

Last spring, Stephanie Tangedal began working part-time in the Williston State College financial aid office after moving back to North Dakota from Colorado. Stephanie has previous banking experience and has been a wonderful addition to our staff.

Colorado

At the state level:

Supporters of Higher Education in Colorado got an early “Happy New Year” as voters approved the controversial Referendum C in recent elections which will mean the state will have the means to continue financial support for our states public colleges and universities. If the referendum had failed, it would have very likely seen a road to privatization of all public colleges and universities.

At the school level:

Front Range Community College (multiple campuses) is excited to have three new additions to its Financial Aid Team.

Julia Murphy began working at FRCC in August as a Financial Aid Counselor - Processing Center. She attended college at the University of Wyoming and has a background in social work. Julia is new to the world of Financial Aid and is excited to be a part of helping people achieve their educational goals. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and making stained glass windows.

Mae Lee Heble joined the Financial Aid team as a Financial Aid Counselor - Larimer Service Center. Mae Lee, a former work study student at FRCC, has extensive customer service skills. She has worked in the Advising and Counseling Office at FRCC and at the Dean’s Office of the College of Engineering and the Department of Biomechanical Engineering at Colorado State University. Mae Lee serves as the Work Study Coordinator and the office manager. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband. They enjoy camping and hiking in the beautiful Colorado mountains and riding their motorcycle along the frontrange.

Jacob Sweeney joined the Financial Aid team as a Financial Aid Counselor - Larimer Service Center. Jacob was employed as a work study in the financial aid office in the late 90’s. Since that time, he has increased his knowledge of financial aid serving as a financial aid counselor at Parks College. Jacob is primarily responsible for the service window, imaging, and the financial aid web site. Jacob is a former Army Tanker and races Street Modified cars in SCCA and NHRA race series. He has the perfect combination of patience and persistence.

At the association level:

The Gregorys are Inducted into CAFAA Hall of Fame

Jeff Gregory, director of Student Services at the Colorado Community College System, and his wife Nancy Gregory, associate director of financial aid at the University of Northern Colorado, have been inducted into the Colorado Association of Financial Aid Administrators (CAFAA) Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame award recognizes CAFAA members who have made significant contributions to the financial aid profession and to CAFAA over a long period of time. Awardees are nominated and selected by the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

Jeff Gregory has more than 22 years of experience in financial aid and student services at a number of institutions and has been a CAFAA member since 1986. Having served as president, a two-year sector representative, and research chair, he also served on numerous state, regional, and federal financial aid committees. Jeff has provided financial aid training throughout the state and region as a Rocky Mountain Association of Financial Aid Administrators (RMASFAA) decentralized trainer, workshop presenter, and Summer Institute faculty member. Currently, he is chair of RMASFAA’s Electronic Initiatives Committee and will be the Academic Dean for the 2006 Rocky Mountain Summer Institute. He is also a member of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education’s Financial Aid Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining UNC, Nancy Gregory was an assistant director of Financial Aid at the University of Colorado-Boulder. She has been a CAFAA member since 1984 and has served on various committees including numerous conference committees, the technology committee, professional development committee and the awards committee. She was Association secretary for the 2001/2002 year and on several occasions has been editor of the CAFAA Crier, the organization’s newsletter.

During the business meeting at our annual conference in October at Copper Mountain, we announced the results of the election of the 2006 Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The results are as follows:

South Dakota:

South Dakota had a rather eventful fall in 2005:

• September hit 90 degrees throughout the state several times.
  
  
• The first week in October welcomed western SD with over 8 inches of snow that closed schools and major highways for at least a day, broke tree branches and left communities without power for a time.
  
  
• November was unseasonably warm and produced hail, thunderstorms and twisters following Veteran’s Day Observances throughout the state. The “land of infinite variety” that’s us in South Dakota and yes, we are glad to live here!

SDSAFAA is proud of our members recently recognized at the 2005 RMASFAA Conference in Jackson Hole. We thank WYASFAA for a very good conference and provided to all of us while there. Many of us were honored to witness our own Grant Uecker be recognized as the 2005 recipient of the Ron Smout RMASFAA Award—Congratulations once again from SDASFAA to Grant who is so deserving of this award. Many of us have marveled at his dedication, love of the profession and interest in making a difference to students and families over a few decades in this region! Enjoy this honor, Grant!

University of Sioux Falls promotions – Sioux Falls, SD
from Laura Olson, DFA at USFi

Rachel Gunn was promoted to Assistant Director of Financial Aid from her previous position in the USF Office of Financial Aid.

Jodi DeBerg was also promoted to Financial Aid Counselor and Programs Coordinator at USF.

Here are the new hires/promotions at Dakota State University – Madison, SD
from Denise Grayson, DFA at DSU

Janelle Nielsen (new hire) – Janelle started as our financial aid secretary in September. She is great to work with and we all enjoy having her here. Janelle replaced Billie Hoekman after Billie accepted a position on campus in the College of Education.

Heather Muller (promotion) – Heather was promoted to the position of Scholarship Coordinator/Financial Aid Advisor effective November 1st. Prior to her promotion, she was the Office Manager in the Enrollment Services office.

Melinda Fedeler (promotion) – Melinda was promoted to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid position effective October 1st. Prior to that, she served as the Scholarship Coordinator/Financial Aid Advisor.

Denise Grayson (promotion) – Denise was promoted to the Director of Financial Aid position effective August 1st. She was previously the Assistant Director of Financial Aid.

New Hire for U.S. Bank

Rosie Jamison joined U.S. Bank - Student Banking over the summer. She represents U.S. Bank in the states of SD, ND and MT. Rosie recently was the Director of Financial Aid and Enrollment Services Leader for over 12 years at Dakota State University in Madison.

National American University promotions
from Cheryl Bullinger, DFA of NAU Central Office in Rapid City, SD

Diana Shotwell has been promoted to Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Financial Aid Processes.

Shanna Frey, Angie Calvetti and Stephanie Jones have been also promoted to Senior Financial Aid Coordinators at he Central Administration Offices of National American University.

Notable News for SDASFAA member Families

David Martin, SDASFAA President and Financial Aid Director for the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and his wife, Laura, recently celebrated the wedding of their son, David, to Krissy Denovi. David and Krissy live and work in Saint Louis, MO.

University of Sioux Falls' Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Rachel Gunn, and husband had their first baby in June. Alison, a beautiful little girl, is a hit in the family and is on her way to learning what her first Christmas is all about!

Utah

LDS Business College has had a change of staff. Charlynn Jenkins has left to become a full-time mom and Camille Johnson has joined the team as a Financial Aid Counselor. She was employed in Financial Aid at the U of U prior to coming to LDS Business College.

Kansas

State Elections were held at the Fall Conference in October. These officers will be installed at the spring 2006 KASFAA meeting in Overland Park, KS. Results are as follows:

Washburn University has hired Jennifer Hill as the Assistant Director for Financial Aid. Jennifer was formerly employed by Friends University and has her BA in Business from Kansas Wesleyan University and her MBA from Southwestern College. Jennifer starts her position on November 21, 2005.

Myra Pfannenstiel has resigned her position as Director of Financial Aid. Myra began a new career with NSLP early October. We wish Myra all the best in her new endeavors.

Brandon Pierce replaces Myra as Director of Financial Aid. Brandon has been with the Friends University financial aid office for 4 years as a counselor and most recently as Assistant Director.

Friends University has hired Sue Kessler as a Financial Aid Counselor. Sue comes to us after working at the Wichita Children’s Home. Welcome Sue!

Friends University welcomes back Craig Dassow and Denise Lacy. Craig Dassow has been hired as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid. Craig returns to Friends University after taking some time away to pursue personal ventures and do a 1-year tour of duty in Iraq. Denise Lacy has been hired as a Financial Aid Counselor. Denise returns to Friends University after taking time away to raise her children. Welcome back!

Jessi Moors, financial aid counselor at Manhattan Christian College, and her husband Cody are the proud parents of their first child, a girl, born Sept. 16 and named Madison Sue. She weighed in at 8 lbs. and was 20 1/2 inches long. We join Jessi and Cody in rejoicing over a lovely, healthy baby.

Montana

Jaret Hunter Dushin was born at 3:51 p.m. on November 14. The little guy (I'm sure Amber would disagree) weighed in at 8 pounds 13 ounces. Proud Parents are Amber and Jamie Dushin. Amber and Jamie met and fell in love at SI 2004, and now are married with a new baby. Jamie, the father, works for our Guarantee Agency and Amber is a FA employee at Carroll College.