The College of Fine Arts is thrilled to have several outstanding alumni returning for Homecoming weekend.
The following alumni are coming to campus and will be recognized at the Alumni Day Luncheon on October 3:
School of Art
Jason Ruyle ’99 has taught art since 1999 in area schools including Clinton Junior High, Normal Community West High, Chiddix Junior High, and Normal Community High, where he is currently teaching. In 2007, Jayme Banzhoff ’07 completed her B.S. degree in art education and photography. She teaches ceramics, sculpture, and photography at Washington Community High School in Washington, Illinois. Jennifer Kelly ’98 is the Art Department chairperson at Normal Community High School where she teaches photography, desktop publishing, and advanced art studio courses. Jaclyn Wargo ’02 is in her 12th year of teaching at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, where she has taught both art and French. She has taught art fundamentals, drawing and painting, graphic design, art history, and visual art. Nick Hostert ’03 is a national board certified art educator at Palatine High School. In 2008 he earned his master’s degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. MaryLynn Meredith ’94, M.S.E. ’00, began teaching elementary art in Unit 5 in Normal 21 years ago and has taught in many area schools including Glenn, Sugar Creek, Brigham, Oakdale, Fairview, and Carlock. Meredith was recently selected as one of the 12 finalists for Illinois Teacher of the Year. Jessica Hooten ’00, ’06 earned both her bachelor and master’s degrees in art education at Illinois State University. She has been teaching art at Normal Community High School for the past 14 years.
School of Art honorees will be conducting an informal roundtable discussion organized by art teacher education students from 2:30–4 p.m. October 3 in the Center for Visual Arts, Room 302.
School of Music
Rick Murphy ’81 is executive teacher in the Fine Arts Department at the University of Illinois Laboratory High School in Urbana, where he teaches music theory, orchestra, jazz band, chorus and madrigal. Timothy Loest ’85 is the band director at F.E. Peacock Middle School and is exclusive writer for The FJH Music Company, Inc. where his exclusive music and methods with The FJH Music Company are used worldwide.
School of Music honorees will be visiting classes on Friday morning, October 2.
School of Theatre and Dance
Scott Shallenbarger ’90 has been a theatre arts instructor at Highland Park High School for 25 years. His program is revered for its sophisticated and rigorous curriculum, often characterized as a college model for performing arts training. Shallenbarger will be the guest for a colloquium for theatre education majors at 10 a.m. October 3. Lucy Vurusic-Riner ’96 has been a member of Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, RTG Dance and Matthew Hollis’ “The Power of Cheer.” She was the Midwest Dance Teacher of the Year, director of dance at Oak Park and River Forest and is currently on faculty at New Trier High School. Vurusic-Riner will be the guest for a colloquium for dance majors at 3 p.m. October 3.
Arts technology program
Chris Smith ’09 is a lead front-end developer at Aisle Rocket Studios (ARS), where he has worked for Fortune 500 companies including IBM, Walmart, Whirlpool, and Sears Holdings Corporation. Smith will give a public presentation at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, October 2, in 133 CVA.
Additionally, the college will celebrate Homecoming at its tailgating tent from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, October 4. The Redbirds take on South Dakota State University at 2 p.m.
As usual, the College of Fine Arts will have a very large tailgating tent in the tent zone on the grounds of University High School. (Look for the big tents north of the stadium.) Free food from Moe’s Southwest Grill will be provided. The Big Red Marching Machine will also be stopping by to play for those at the tent.
All alums are invited to stop by and reconnect with faculty and other friends, regardless of whether they are attending the game.
