A SPRINGER CELEBRATION! 2017

With a 1920s theme, Springer’s annual fundraising dinner featured three alumni speakers who are in their 20s. A Springer Celebration! 2017: A Roaring Good Time was held on May 3, 2017. The art deco surroundings of The Renaissance Hotel provided a perfect setting for the event, and guests and volunteers got into the ‘20s spirit, wearing feather boas and headbands, suspenders and boater hats.

The three speakers shared with guests their childhood experiences dealing with a learning disability, and how their education at Springer has helped them to find success in school and beyond. Marc Banks ‘04 earned his BA degree is Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University in 2014, and moved to Washington, D.C., for an internship in the press office of New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Marc then joined the marketing and communications team at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, where he is currently the Public Relations Specialist. He has also launched a public relations firm, Bankable PR Management & Services, in Washington.

Daniel Allen ’03 joined Teach for America in Indianapolis, upon graduating from DePauw University in 2012. He earned his masters in teaching from Marian University and taught at both traditional and charter public schools. Daniel is a special education specialist for Indianapolis Pubic Schools, and a member of IPS' Autism Evaluation Team. Daniel hopes to receive his second masters in applied behavior analysis in the spring of 2018. This fall, he will join Springer’s staff as a member of the Peterson Scholarship Team.

Katy Zembrodt ‘05 attended Hanover College on an academic scholarship before transferring to Northern Kentucky University, where she ran track for two years. Katy joined the Army National Guard in 2016, and will graduate from NKU in the fall of 2017 with a degree in Exercise Science. During Army basic training and subsequent individual training, Katy received a number of awards leading to the honor of receiving the Challenge Coin from the Adjutant General of the Kentucky National Guard. She continues to train monthly with her unit in Louisville while she finishes college.

Local 12 WKRC TV’s Brad Johansen served as emcee for the evening, which featured a duo singing hits from the ‘20s and a display of Springer alumni in their 20s, and the Event Chair was Springer Trustee and alumni parent Matthew Gockerman. Guests bid on more than 100 live and silent auction items, and took their chances in a raffle for a Caribbean cruise and a 100-bottle wine and liquor pull. The event raised $142,500 for financial aid and school and center programs.