Our Board

Celia (Hollatz) Bergman – President – Class of 1983

I graduated from WNHS in 1983. While a student, I was involved in a number of activities including: speech team (individual events), student government, honor society, choir, and drama.

After WNHS I attended Taylor University in Indiana for 2 years, and then transferred to Wheaton College for my final two years. I went on to pursue a Masters and PhD in Education Administration at Loyola University Chicago. I have worked in higher education for over 20 years at a number of institutions and in a number of capacities. I met my husband Chad at Wheaton College and we’ve been married since 1988. We have two children who we adopted internationally. Our daughter is from Nepal and our son is from China.

In addition to being a mom, I am still working in higher education.  Right now I serve as a program manager at the University of Chicago working specifically in student health administration.

I am happy to be a part of the Board of the WNHS Alumni Association. I hope that I can recruit some of my classmates to become involved in our activities and fundraising.

Warisha Aslam – Vice-President – Social Media – Class of 2017

I graduated from Wheaton North High School in 2017. During my time there, I was involved with the speech team, worked as an AET Editor for the Falcon Flyer, peer tutored mathematics as well as science, and joined multiple honor societies, including the National Honor Society. I also served as the Treasurer of Rho Kappa and Secretary of the National English Honor Society.

In May 2021, I graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, along with minors in Psychology and Global Studies, and a certificate in Public Policy.

Currently, I am conducting public policy research in Istanbul, Turkey, for my Fulbright U.S Student Research Award. I am affiliated with Koç University. I will remain in Istanbul until June 2022.

As a relatively recent graduate of WNHS, I have experienced the astounding impact that the Alumni Association has on the lives of students first hand. Now that I have the privilege of being on the other side of the equation, I will serve my role with all the conviction and sincerity that it deserves.

Emma Anderson – Secretary/Social Media – Class of 1981

I am Karen “Emma” Anderson from the class of 1981

I am a graduate of WNHS (class of 1981)

While as a student I was involved in speech team (at least for one year) and just really enjoyed my time at Wheaton North. After high school I went on to Wheaton College and Baylor University to get my undergrad in Business Administration. I also receive my Masters from Baylor University in Communciation. 

Education/school has been a big influence in my life – truly determined who I am as a person through the relationships, activities and of course studies.  Post-academia I found my interests turning to the Healthcare field.  I worked within the healthcare field as a purchasing buyer for many years and then moved into the information technology arena and focused on implementing Materials Management software programs. Today I work for a wonderful company, Workday and I am a project manager for their cloud-based solutions for HR, Financial and Supply Change Management.

I am happy to be a part of the board of the Wheaton North high school alumni Association foundation. This gives me an opportunity to give back to my dear Wheaton North high school through fund raising and relationship building activities.

Sam Walhout – Social Media – Class of 2021

Daniel Connor Robbins – Webmaster – Class of 2022

I graduated from Wheaton North High School in 2022. During my 4 years at Wheaton North, I was involved in a diversity of commitments like the Student Council, Flight Show Choir, Orchestra, Tennis, and Football. I am the youngest of 3 to have graduated from Wheaton North and I am thankful for my time at North. I am passionate about serving on the Board to support Wheaton North as an alumnus. I am currently studying international relations at William & Mary in Virginia.

Brenda Knight – Scholarship Committee – Class of 1983

Brenda (Houston) Knight is a 1983 graduate of Wheaton North High School. She went on to John Brown University, a small Christian college in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business & Marketing and a minor in Communications.

She has spent the majority of her career in various positions with medical device companies, working her way up from sales positions to VP leadership positions. She is currently employed by Medtronic, where she leads its Cardiovascular and Neuroscience franchises for 3 large health systems that span the US.

Brenda has always strived to be the best she can be – and likes to see the same in others. She is anxious to serve in this position on the Board to be a part of discovering and rewarding those who are willing to work just as hard to also be the best they can be, no matter what people or circumstances may stand in their way.

Brenda is married to her husband Eric, an optometrist, who has been in practice for 40 years. They live in Mequon, Wisconsin, just north of Milwaukee, with their dog, Koby. While they both enjoy working their respective jobs, they also enjoy activities around swimming, biking and running, as well as spending time with friends and family.

Abigail Becker – Social Media – Class of 2020

I am a graduate of the class of 2020. I spent my time at Wheaton North getting involved wherever possible by participating in the National Honors Society, WNHS cross country and cheerleading, and orchestra. I am currently pursuing a degree in environmental science at the University of Arizona where I will graduate from in the spring of 2024. I am an active member of my sorority, Sigma Kappa, where I serve on the executive council as the VP of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. 

Angie Meza-Stratman – Social Media – Class of 2005

Angie is a graduate of the class of 2005. She was very involved in extracurricular activities at Wheaton North and has carried that into her adult life. She lives in Winfield with her husband, Kevin, also a WN grad, class of 2006 and their daughter. She currently works for The Mom Project as a Sales Manager and uses her platform to help build community and create a better workplace for working mothers and families. Angie is a longstanding member of the Wheaton community and looks to bring more interest to the Alumni Association and fundraising to the foundation.

Brian Basilico – Marketing Committee – Class of 1979

Brian is a proud graduate of Wheaton North High School in 1979 and an award-winning and internationally recognized author, speaker, and coach. He’s the founder and president of B2b Interactive Marketing Inc., an award winning marketing consulting and production company in Aurora Illinois. B2b helps companies and non-profits, market their products and services through the effective use of on-line tools including; websites, blogs, email, social networking, Google, and more. 

Brian’s career spans over 30 years. Since starting his first production company in 1979, he’s produced thousands of projects for companies ranging from solopreneurs to Fortune 100. Brian combines years of marketing experience, with technical expertise, to build on-line campaigns that produce measurable results.  As a musician, technician, programmer, producer, and consultant, he has built a reputation for creativity, innovation, and translating “geek” into english. Brian is also an adjunct professor, trainer and author of many social networking and marketing blogs. He has been featured with articles in Inc. and Entrepreneur magazines.

Janis Hahn – Fundraising Committee/Scholarships –  Class of 1968

Janis Michelic Hahn graduated from Wheaton North in 1968. She is a founding member of the Alumni Association and chairs the Scholarship Committee. One of her favorite jobs is reading the applications for scholarships and she is profoundly moved by the quality of students graduating from WNHS. As a Political Consultant Janis oversaw the passing of many successful school bonds and in her work with school districts grew to appreciate the excellent education she received as a student in Wheaton. I used to tell my clients that “today you can’t buy the caliber of education I received for free”.

After H.S. graduation Janis moved to Los Angeles where she met her husband Brian (deceased) and she worked as an award winning radio producer. In the 90’s she switched careers to politics and in 2004 she moved to Colorado where she continued to work on various political campaigns until she put her Masters in Clinical Counseling to good use counseling homeless adolescents, which she continues to do today. Janis has one son Jason who works in the tech field in Denver, and they both love to travel the country seeing their favorite blues and rock musicians.

John Hartness – Past Vice President/Marketing Committee – Class of  1971

John is a 1971 graduate of Wheaton North. John spent his career in the newspaper business and is currently employed by the Cantigny Foundation. John is married to Lisa and has two children, Sarah and Jacob.

Ann Hawkins  – Events – Class of 1968

Roger Heaton – Past President – Class of 1967

Roger Heaton was in WNHS’s first graduating class, 1967 (“Always First Class”).  While still attending the only high school in Wheaton his freshman year, Roger and his classmates along with the WNHS Class of 1968 (then in 8th grade at Franklin Jr HS) selected the Falcon mascot and Blue and Gold colors.

He was a member of Student Council, its President and Vice President.  Roger was an All Conference linebacker on the undefeated 1966 football team.  He was a member of the wrestling team and an All Conference baseball player.

Roger was a member of the National Thespian Society and National Honor Society.  He was the Outstanding Student — Athlete one year and President of the Letterman’s Club..

Roger graduated from Denison University in 1971 were he was captain of the baseball team.

He then returned to Wheaton where he taught at Holmes School (PE) and WNHS (Biology) where he coached football, wrestling and baseball.  Roger loved teaching, hated cold and snow so he moved to Honolulu and later to San Diego where he graduated from law school in 1981.

Roger was a civil litigation (trial) attorney until retiring in 2015.  Roger is enjoying retirement and has returned to coaching high school football.

Roger is divorced and has three adult sons.

Roger is very proud of being one of the founding members of the Wheaton North HS Alumni Association in 2008.  After a very successful reunion of the Classes of 1967 – 1970 in 2007, many of those in attendance commented upon how fortunate they were to have attended WNHS and the opportunities it afforded as well as the life-long friendship that were made. They wanted to give something back, to “play it forward.”  And thus the WNHSAA was born.  

Roger is a past President of the Alumni Association.

Cole Helfrich – Past President – Class of 1970

Ruth Springer Kraakevik – Past Treasurer – Class of 1967

Deb Pierce – Past Treasurer – Class of 1968

As a member of the Class of ’68, I was in the first group of students to spend all four years at Wheaton North. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at North, where I loved being a Falconette, a member of the band and orchestra, and a yearbook staffer. My love for learning languages, nurtured at Wheaton North, led me to Michigan State University to study French and Russian and then to the University of Michigan, where I completed the PhD in Linguistics. I then spent 33 years in international education, eventually leading international programs at the University of Toledo, Loyola University Chicago, and Northern Illinois University. Although my husband Bob Fine and I have no children of our own, we still count as our kids the many international students who remain important parts of our lives.

After sailing Lake Michigan on both the Michigan and Wisconsin sides for many years, in 2018 we retired to Florida for some endless summer and great beaches. Here we are part of the growing community of Wheaton North grads living on or near the Suncoast; I’m truly grateful still to be so close to dear friends whom I’ve known for nearly sixty years. Bob Fine and I cannot wait to travel again, especially to France, Sweden, Italy, and Southeast Asia.

Since 2017 Ihave served as the Treasurer of WNHSAAF; in that position my favorite task is writing the scholarship checks each spring for our outstanding scholarship winners.I am thrilled to see that our Board is now growing with new, younger members who bring adiversity of backgrounds and of perspectives. The future is in good hands here.

Jeri Powles – Past Secretary – Class of 1968

Jeri has a degree in secondary education from The University of Iowa, has had several careers including being a successful entrepreneur and has volunteered for several organizations and nonprofits while raising a family in St. Charles, IL. She and her family moved to Colorado in 2004. Currently, she is the volunteer engagement coordinator at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail during the summer and is at the Beaver Creek Children’s Ski School in the winter.

Pat (Cave) Reed – Gone But Not Forgotten – Class of 1971

I am a proud graduate of the class of ’71, growing up in Wheaton off of Jewell Rd and Electric Ave. I worked in the banking and computer industries before giving birth to twins in 1985.  I have lived in Colorado for the last 20 years and retired in 2013.  

My last position was as Race Director for Susan G. Komen in Denver, a position I held for nearly 10 years.  Thank you for tapping me for a board position with the Alumni Association and giving me the opportunity to reconnect and honor fond memories, especially through the Gone But Not Forgotten pages.

Shelly Whitney – Past Treasurer and Past Secretary – Class of 1987

Debra Banzhaf York – Class of 1970

Debra Banzhaf York is a 1970 graduate of WNHS.  Debra holds a BA in French from DePauw University and a MS in Human Resource Management and Development from Chapman University.   As the wife of a US Marine, Debra has lived in 7 different states; however, she has always considered Wheaton “home”.   During her career, Debra has worked in a gamut of different industries.   For the last 10 years, she has served as the Talent Acquisition Manager for the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC.    In August 2016, Debra plans to retire from the federal government and spend more time hanging out with her grandchildren and expanding her tiara collection.