Culver Class of 2013 Newsletter: Reunion Edition

COME TO REUNION SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A NEW CLASS PHOTO!

JOIN US FOR OUR 5-YEAR REUNION BACK AT CULVER! Friday May 18 Saturday, May 19 Sunday, May 20 1:30 pm 11:45 am - 1:30 pm 8:00 am - 1:00 pm Culver Today Reunion 2018 - All Class Reunion Brunch Luncheon 7:00 - 10:00 pm ONE Culver 12:35 pm Reunion Class Photo Celebration 5:45 pm 10:00 pm Alumni Parade Fireworks 7:00 - 10:00 pm Class of 2013 Reception and Dinner

Catching up with Caleb Jadrich My first reunion is this spring and I’m excited, but also baffled. Where did the time go? What have I done? The quick version is easy to tell. I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I studied chemistry and exercise science. Realizing collegiate team sports could never compare to the experiences I had at Culver (as well as my lack of athletic talent…), I decided to make a change and try individual sports. I ended up training in Brazilian jiu- jitsu, and eventually helped found the Southeast Intercollegiate Grappling Competition, alongside my roommate and fellow Battery B alumnus Shaun Schneider. I also got involved doing research in UNC’s Miller lab, where I worked on a catalysis project related to carbon-neutral energy. After my first year at Carolina, I was fortunate enough to be able to take an internship at the Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, where I helped redesign the patient filing system in HIV clinics, as well as compiled risk- factor data for cervical cancer screenings at the university hospital. Then, with my interest in chemistry research continuing to grow, I took internships from the Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis, and from Eastman Chemical (along with Culver alum Nick Bachewicz), and have been able to work on a variety of projects in polymer and organometallic chemistry. After my four years in North Carolina, it was time for another change, so I moved to the west coast! This fall I started a Ph.D. program at Stanford University, hoping to do research on sustainable polymers and self-assembling hydrogels. I’m loving what I’m doing, and I look to the rest of my time here. So, there’s the quick version, skipping over the wonderful and terrible and ridiculous moments that make it special, interesting and fun. I looked forward to hearing those kinds of stories when we can all get together again. Best wishes to all my fellow Culver alumni! I would like to express my gratitude to Josh Pretzer, Igor Stefanic, and Mark Prochaska, the current and former Culver faculty members who started me down the path toward a career in chemistry.

DID YOU HEAR? Amanda Dilena Mary McKinnis Cord Martin Rachel Sharp Anna Zaccaria Mason Quinn Dani Etheridge Sara Powell JOIN THEM! Ashley Bohne Mikayla Cooper DQ King Taek Lee Bailey Henry Pete Hamm Ellery Sever Will Brewer REGISTER

NOW: https://alumni.culver.org/2018/reunion/reuni ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND on-2018---class-of-2013 OUR 5 YEAR REUNION!

Sports Update? Yannick Vedel Hello Class of 2013! I hope this little update from across the pond finds you well. In the almost five years that eclipsed since we walked through the Gate and Arch; my life has taken me all around the Globe, as I’m sure is true for many of you as well. My journey might differ from yours, in that it has been hockey which guided it. Hockey brought me to Culver, it has continued to guide my way. After graduation, I spent two seasons in Fairbanks, Alaska playing in the NAHL for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. We went on to win the National Championship my first year in Fairbanks. When the last eight months of your life have centered around hockey, the team and a common goal, achieving that goal is such a rush. I have no way of describing the thrill we felt when we lifted that Cup in front of 4000 screaming fans, so I won’t bother trying. After losing in the playoffs the following year and failing in my quest to get a scholarship to play college hockey, it was time to return hom e to . In the fall of 2015, I was accepted to the School of Business and signed a contract with my hometown team the . Our team was not very good that year. We missed the playoffs and personally I had a tough time adjusting back to the European style of play. I wasn’t very happy with my season and decided to switch it up and signed with a different team located on the opposite side of Copenhagen, the Eagles. I missed the playoffs once again, but had a much better season personally posting careers highs in goals and assist, finishing as one of the top Danish players in the league. My first two years in Denmark, I had a tough time keeping up with my schoolwork while playing pro hockey. We play two or three games a week and practice every day. Depending on how long the road trips are, we spend between 30-35 hours at the rink or on the bus each week during the season. Games and practice interfere with classes each week, on top of eating away at your study time. I know I’m basically just whining here, but it brings me to this: I quickly realized that business school probably wasn’t for me, I’ve always been a science guy, which I must have forgotten as my brain was on standby in Alaska for a couple of years. This year I got accepted to study medicine at the University of Southern Denmark, which is located about two hours west of Copenhagen. I now live in Odense, population 200,000 i.e. the fourth largest city in Denmark… it’s a small country, I know this. Being accepted to SDU has easily been the best things that happened to me, since being accepted to Culver. Before, when I went to school counselors for help in managing my schedules, makeup tests, classes and so forth I would get little to no help. SDU has a whole program set up for student athletes, which provide you with a personal counselor that sets yours schedule in the best way possible, allows you to move exams, and they provide “study buddy’s” to take notes and go over missed lectures with you. Remember, there are no collegiate athletics in Denmark, no NCAA. The university is one entity and your sports team another. SDU isn’t making billions and billions of dollars on student athletes, they don’t make a cent, but still they provide support for us. This school year, while still very much challenging, has been much better than my past two. I’m getting a ton of support and it makes it a breeze to stay passionate and work hard. I find myself at the right school, studying the right subject, and playing for the right team. Predictably, this has resulted in me having a good year on the ice. I’m happy and the club is happy with me, which resulted in me extending my contract for another two seasons. I have many good years of hockey and school ahead of me, and as long as I can keep doing what I love and not having to get a real job while getting my education I’m as happy as I can be. For the first time since Culver, I feel like I am where I am supposed to be, and it has lifted a burden of my shoulders. Getting back to hockey, Odense does have a hockey team, the . While we have hit a rough stretch lately, we started out great, even leading the league at one point in December. We’re definitely going to make the playoffs, for the first time in my pro career and I can’t wait. I know some of you got enough hockey at Culver to last a lifetime, and I am sorry to be dragging on about it. Despite that, I want to express my gratitude of the support you guys gave us in the Henderson Ice Arena half a decade ago. I don’t think we, as a Culver Hockey team, appreciated it enough at the time. Through two years of Juniors and almost three years in the Danish Metal League, nothing really compares to playing in front of all your friends packed into the Eagles Nest in that tiny rink in the middle of nowhere. So, thank you, it meant the world. Last but not least I’d like to note that Denmark is beautiful, especially in the spring and summer. I’d be more than happy to show anyone of you around my peaceful little corner of the world. If you’re ever in Europe or consider planning a trip, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email at [email protected] or send me a message on FB. I wish all of you all the best, Yannick

From the Top 5 on the Voice to Culver Reunion: Aynes López Espada

After graduating Culver I moved to Mexico City to pursue a major in Communications and entertainment. Shortly after, I got invited to audition for the reality show “The Voice… Mexico” in which I can proudly say I was one of the top 5. It was definitely one of the most amazing experiences i’ve had in my life. It pushed me to grow in the discipline I’ve always loved and it helped me meet a lot of amazing and talented people in the industry. After The Voice I decided to go back to college to finish my degree and at the same time pursue my music dreams as an independent artist. Since then I’ve been working on my own songs using social media as a way to expand my music. Last July I released my first EP titled “Falso Paraíso” ( False Paradise in Spanish) and it has been getting a lot of attention from Mexico and other Latin American countries such as Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. It’s definitely been a very tough but fun road and I don’t plan on quitting anytime soon. I’m currently working on my next discographic material as well as my first big show in Mexico City. Also in the near future, I would like to crossover my music into English so I can become the international artist I’ve always dreamed of being. I’m extremely excited to go back ton Culver for our 5-year reunion! I’ve been back to work for three summers but it almost feels like a different place, being able to go back during winter school times and reunited with ya’ll will be an experience I’ll cherish forever. See you all there!

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