Alumni Notes
Alumni Notes
Check here often to keep up with your fellow SMV/VC alums and send us a note to let others know what you are up to these days.
Send your update to [email protected] and we will include it here.
2025-26 Distinguished Alumni Award – Meghan Hoffman ’04
The Alumni Advisory Committee selected Megan Hoffman ’04 to receive the 2025–26 Distinguished Alumni Award. This year’s theme is “Change Maker.” Megan truly embodies that spirit. As co-coach of the Charisma Dance Team for 19 years, she and Jessica Anderson led Valley Catholic to 14 state titles. Megan is a full-time NICU nurse at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, where she has worked since earning her nursing degree from the University of Portland. You can read more about Megan’s coaching legacy in the Spring 2025 issue of Spirit Magazine.
Nicholas Rocha ’19 professed his first vows as a religious in the Congregation of Holy Cross. The profession Mass took place on Aug. 2, 2025, at Sacred Heart Parish in Colorado Springs, CO.
Rocha’s family was in attendance, including Amanda Rocha ’21, Elizabeth Rocha ’23, Catherine Rocha ’25, Gabriel Rocha ’29, and Joseph Rocha ’33.
Barbara Kreuzer ’71 retired in June, 2025 after 48 years of teaching in Catholic Education. Forty-five of those years was spent teaching a variety of subjects at The Cathedral School. Kreuzer says her greatest joy was teaching Religion during the final five years of her tenure.
The Cathedral School Community honored Barb with a retirement party on June 1 and named the Cathedral School Atrium in her honor.
To celebrate Barb and her husband are taking a long-anticipated dream cruise to Alaska. A great way to ease into retirement.
Pictured: Mrs. Chris Helton, Barb, her daughter Jaime, Mrs. Donnie Merriman, and Barb’s son Jeremy. Chris and Donnie taught both of Barb’s children at Cathedral.
Alumni Tailgate – More than 120 guests attended the annual alumni tailgate on Friday, Sept. 26. Generations of VC/SMV alumni gathered to share stories and enjoy complimentary tacos and beverages under the shade of the fir trees behind the Marian Villa. The classes of 1995 and 2005 kicked off their reunion weekends at this family-friendly event.
“Anything Goes” – Alumni from 1954 – 2025 gathered for a “de-lovely” evening to see the Broadway Rose Theatre Company’s production of “Anything Goes” on Aug. 14.
Clockwise above from left: Elizabeth Stevens Mitsky ’00, Cathy Collins Kramer ‘74, Jan Sheerin Leone ’74, Breanna Scott ’01, Andrew Abaria ’01, and Broadway Rose Executive Director Meredith Weber Gordon ‘01.
Tania Vanderscheure Rhein ‘95 and Joshua Rhein ‘25
Football Watch Party – Alumni and friends gathered at Taplandia Taphouse (co-owned by Elaine Pham ‘02) to cheer on Daniel Hardy ‘17 of the Chicago Bears on Monday, Oct. 13.
Pictured from left to right: Shauna Hanson Sauer ‘99, Ruby Veniegas ‘99, Sara Bonino Knapp ‘99 and Carrie Bonino Newell ‘04.
Daniel Hardy ’17 made a visit to campus to give the football team a pep talk and took the time to sign some Chicago Bears swag for the VCS Gala.
Class Reunions
The Class of 1971 gathered on July 28 to celebrate 50+ years
Front Row: Cindy Mraz Glenn, Susan Murdock Colton, Sue Torrey Drafahl, Margie Meckes Armstrong, Denise Hector Nunes, Rosalie Hermens
Second Row: Joyce Evers Ochsner, Rita Hertel Zapata, Carol Seus Grant, Peggy Boyle Lamb, Cindy Hering Cotton, Mary Beth Rubay Patton, Peggy Duncan LeFebvre, Dian Kurilo Duyck, Cheryl Niehues Britt, Julia Sperry Waibel
Third Row: Pam Telles Waibel, Karen Wallachy Ashmore,Jan Rothermel, Elizabeth Sahlfeld, Beth Lux Haugen, Barbara Kreutzer English
The Class of 1975 gathered at the Motherhouse recently with Srs. Marcella Parrish, John Therese and M. Juliana Monti.
The Class of 2005 kicked-off their 20th reunion at Alumni Tailgate and kept the festivities going throughout the weekend.
The Class of 1985 had a great time catching up and sharing stories with one another during their 40th year reunion at the Murrayhill TapHouse on July 6.
Valedictorian Cathy (Royer) Cochran also attended Mass at the Motherhouse Chapel and caught up with a few of her favorite Sisters.
The Class of 1995, the first co-ed graduating class at Valley Catholic, celebrated their 30th reunion at the Alumni Tailgate and throughout the weekend.
Several members of the class of 1995 participated in a documentary about the Sisters critical decision to move from an all-girls school to co-ed. Check out the video or read about it in the spring issue of Spirit Magazine – The Co-eds.
Alumni and their families returned to campus on Sunday, March 16 to enjoy Valley Catholic’s final production of “The SpongeBob Musical.” Jennah Curfman ‘16 and Mackenzie Mullet ‘16 were all smiles after winning raffle prizes at the pre-show reception.
Jill Hayes Habrich ’96 is the first Ginger & Maude Franchise Salon Owner. She renovated a building on Tigard’s historic Main Street to open the salon.
Melissa Martin ’92 is a dedicated professional in the field of international public health. Recently, Melissa was named Assistant Director of the African Studies Center at Boston University.
Charisma Coaches Retire on a High Note!
Jessica Anderson, Megan Hoffman ’04, and Danielle Lomartire Upton ’15 are stepping away from their roles as coaches of the state champion Charisma Dance Team, concluding an era of extraordinary success.
Megan and Jessica began coaching Charisma in 2006 and Danielle joined the team in 2019. The dance team flourished under their leadership -earning three consecutive state titles in both the Traditional and Jazz categories. That is six state championships in the past three years!
Juhea Kim ’05 had her sophomore novel “City of Night Birds” published in 2024. The lush story of a ballerina returning to dance after a devastating accident has garnered rave reviews in the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post. It was also featured as Reese Witherspoon’s December 2024 Book Club Pick and made Vogue Magazine’s list of “Best Books of 2024.” Juhea caught up with Charisma teammate Catie Becher ‘05 at Powell’s Books for a book signing event in November.
Classmates – Jack Graham ’01, Meredith Gordon ’01, and Scott Rennie ’01 opened a new, nonprofit children’s museum in Hillsboro. The FLIP Museum (Fun, Learning, Inspiration, and Play) was created to fill the void for families with children 0-10 after the Portland Children’s Museum closed in 2021. After operating as a mobile museum for a few years, they opened their doors for the first time in December and plan to expand in 2025.
“It’s critical for all children to have access to these sorts of play-based educational activities. It’s a big part of healthy brain development and social-emotional learning,” says Jack Graham. “We also love that we can build community by bringing families from all over into this space.”
Find out more at flipmuseum.org.
Matt Wanner ’14 and Sam Wilson Wanner ’17 welcomed their new little Valiant, Layla Christine Wanner to the world on Sept. 20, 2024. She weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 19¼ inches. Layla’s middle name is after her grandmother Christine Wilson Goodner ’95.
Nate Alsdorf ’10 and Jeni Picken Alsdorf ’10 welcomed Jackson James Alsdorf to the world on April 13, 2024. He weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz and measured 20 inches. Jackson is showing signs of his parent’s athletic ability and is loved dearly by his doggy siblings.
Elliott Jackson ’11 and his wife Megan, welcomed their first child on March 30, 2025. Peter Brian Jackson weighed 7 lbs and was 19 ¾ inches. Elliott received the 2023 VCS Emerging Leader Award.
Sarah Connelly ’15 and JD Menkens ’15 were married on Sept. 14, 2024 at the Griffin House in Hood River.
Sarah and JD met in elementary school at Valley Catholic and were classmates all through high school. Sarah is a Category Manager at Adidas, and JD is working for Moss Adam’s as an Assurance Senior.
Their wedding included several alumni:
Meaghan Connelly ’13, Matron of Honor
Erin Connelly ’18, Maid of Honor
Taylor Menkens ’18
Erin McLoughlin ’15
Drew VanderZanden ’15
Carter Buuck ’14, Officiant
Alumni in attendance:
Luke VanderZanden ’12
Kazuma Lane ’15
Liam Meagher ’14
Drew Vanderzanden ’15 and his wife Katie welcomed their son Henry John to the world on April 6, 2025.
In Memoriam
2024-25
Sr. Angeline Sohler Oct. 12, 2025
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1943
Dr. Monica Brennan July 31, 2025
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1967
Charlene Witt Oberson July 25, 2025
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1955
Barbara Baldwin Gracey July 2, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley Class of 1955
Jen Rose Meinz Fagan March 17, 2025
St. Mary of the Valley Class of 1959
Cheryl Genheimer
St. Mary of the Valley Class of 1965
Donna Unger Kearn
St. Mary of the Valley Class of 1965
Travis Banker Feb. 22, 2025
Valley Catholic School class of 2006
Dorothy Bolf Rossetti Jan. 3, 2025
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1949
Eileen Hollman Abderhalden Dec. 20, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1958
Catherine “Kitty” Moran Munro Dec. 6, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1954
Francine Herinckx Gosnell Nov. 14, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1965
Celine Laundauer Allen Nov. 11, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1968
Kathleen Robinson Aug. 21, 2024 St. Mary of the Valley class of 1961
Frances Moellman May 8, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1954
Nancy McGowan Rhein October 8, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1955
Lynne Berry September 6, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1964
Pat Christensen Joyaux March 25, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1954
