Malone Alumni News

  Kirk Greaves '08 was recently featured in the Louisville Neighbor  for his commitment and service to the Stark County community. Kirk has been a lifelong Stark County resident and has spent his career working with multiple community-forward organizations including the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities and the Hartville MarketPlace. Kirk is now back serving his alma mater, Malone University, as a Major Gifts Officer.  Kirk truly lives out the mission of Malone to impact the church, community, and world at a professional and personal level. He loves the Louisville community, where he has been a resident for almost two decades, and has served on the Security and Logistics Committee as part of Canton's Chamber of Commerce.  Congratulations to Kirk for this recognition on his Christ-centered approach to community! To read about Kirk's life and community involvement, click here .

  Amy Wentworth ʼ92 replaces husband as Indian Valley school superintendent Amy Wentworth, superintendent of New Philadelphia City Schools, was granted a three-year contract, effective August 1, 2026, with Indian Valley, her alma mater. She will be replacing her husband, Ira Wentworth, who is entering retirement. Contrary to appearances, he had nothing to do with the district’s decision to hire her. Rather, she was selected for her years of experience in education, which have included various leadership and administrative roles. Wentworth never imagined serving as a principal or superintendent when she first entered the field of education. Though she cannot pinpoint one exact moment that “shift” happened for her, she is grateful for the people and opportunities that have led her to where she is now. “I was encouraged to try administration, and I’m glad I did because I find this job very rewarding,” said Wentworth. She graduated from Indian Valley High School in 1989 as a c...

Turning Noise into Calling: Ava Hoskins ‘25 and the How We Hear Scholarship It’s not that she can’t hear; it’s actually that she hears too much. Ava (Martinez) Hoskins ’25 has Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), a condition in which the brain struggles to distinguish between background noise and important sounds. Because of this, school was difficult from a young age—someone walking down the hallway demanded the same attention as a teacher speaking at the front of the classroom. “I always heard the school lights buzzing,” she said. “But of course, no one else hears that because they just tune it out.” After dozens of doctor visits, Hoskins was finally diagnosed with APD, a condition that affects about 5% of school-aged children but is often misdiagnosed as ADHD or hearing loss. With the correct diagnosis, her family was finally able to advocate for her needs. Teachers better understood her challenges, and Hoskins began using a Frequency Modulation (FM) system—an earpiece connected dire...

  Congratulations to Shaun Eller '10, who recently celebrated 30 years at Ohio Gratings, Inc.. Shaun joined the company in 1995, and wasn't viewing the job opportunity as a career, but rather a chance to find meaning in his work. He was hired, even though he lacked the advertised credentials, and started his career as an entry-level drafter. He has worked in a variety of roles and sectors of the company, including being the leader of the OGI plant in Texas for almost a decade, and now works as the Chief Business Officer. Shaun prioritizes a genuine care for his team & clients that is built through trust & performance. Eller says "Your job as a leader is to remove obstacles so your people can shine. Set the example. Listen before judging. Make our standards visible to all".  The faith culture at Ohio Gratings, Inc. is something that is very important to Shaun. The company employs a full-time chaplain to help employees with anything they might need. Shaun is als...

  Congratulations to Malone alumnus Manning (Tre) Baumgardner III '25 on signing a professional basketball contract with  Basquet Costa Sud in Tres Arroyos, Argentina!  Coach Charlie Wallrapp added "Tre was not only an incredible player for us, but he was one of the best people and leaders that I have ever been around. I'm extremely proud of him and am so excited that he gets the opportunity to continue his basketball journey." In his lone season with the Pioneers, Tre averaged  13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Best of luck to Tre in this amazing opportunity!   Tre said " To be able to play basketball and travel the world is a blessing to say the least. I'm excited to start this next chapter!" 

  Congratulations to Keith Redmon '88, who recently announced he was stepping away as Director of Redmon Funeral Home. Keith is no stranger to the funeral home, as he grew up in the upstairs portion of the facility. Keith's inspiration for working in the industry came from his father. Keith and his wife, Christine, who also works at the funeral home, are looking forward to taking on a new challenge and finding another way to serve others. Keith has had a fulfilling & rewarding career taking over the family business, but now is the time to step away. Serving families and providing great experiences were at the center of the funeral home, and Keith has had a career he & his father would be proud of. Congratulations to Keith on this next chapter in life, and we wish you all the best! To read the full article on Keith, click here .

  Congratulations to Bob Umholtz '79 on his recent retirement as Geauga County's chief public defender. This role was never something Bob thought of doing. Bob served as a Chinese linguist in the U.S. Air Force, and then came to Malone after leaving the military, where he graduated with a degree in Social Science with a concentration in Far Eastern studies. After getting summer job shoeing horses for a federal judge during his time in college, Bob was encouraged to go to law school. Bob met his wife at law school, and discovered his calling through public defense. Bob placed tremendous value in impacting those he represented in court. To Bob, public defense is about representing people, not excusing crimes, and that understanding a client’s life story changes how justice is viewed. Bob hopes that his career is a reflection of his faith and compassion. What started as encouragement from shoeing horses turned into a tremendous career spanning almost 4 decades that was marked by ...

  Congratulations to Charity Rysak '19 on her recent appointment from Gov. Mike DeWine to be the state commissioner for the New African Immigrants Commission. Charity began her term on December 19th of 2025, and will serve until at least 2028 in this capacity. Charity is originally from Angola, Africa, and she moved to the Canton area almost a decade ago, obtaining her U.S. citizenship in 2022. Charity spent part of her childhood as a refugee in Zambia due to the civil war that was taking place in Angola. Charity is also a licensed realtor and a substitute teacher. In Charity's new role, she will be advocating for community integration, access to services, and elevating African immigrant voices in policy discussions. Rysak’s long-term goal is executive leadership, where she can shape statewide policy, build sustainable partnerships, and lead community-centered initiatives. Since her time at Malone, she has been heavily involved in civic engagement in Stark County, and her dete...

  Abigail Bontrager '25 has been building very strong connections throughout Northeast Ohio as she pursues a symphony position as a cellist. She plays for the Canton Symphony Orchestra, the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, and with Azure Strings, a chamber group that plays at weddings and other special events. Abigail grew up playing chamber music with her mother, who is a freelance violinist in the Stark County area for many years, and her two siblings. Abigail has played the cello since she was 3 years old, and this training and expertise has given her amazing opportunities. Abigail graduated from Malone with a double major in cello performance and business administration. Abigail was also able to spend her last semester abroad in Austria, learning both musically and academically. Her favorite pieces of music to play are Tchaikovsky's No. 5 & ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) pieces with her tribute band. She is currently planning to audition for symphony positions while contin...

 The 2025 Lake Township Chamber of Commerce award winners were recently announced, and 3 winners for this year are Malone alumni! They are: Kristina Kindler '93 '02 - Educator of the Year Kristina is a double graduate of Malone, and has spent 3 decades teaching at schools in Stark County, including Heritage Christian School and Lake Center Christian. Kristina's classroom is marked by creativity and growth through several supportive strategies she incorporates for her students. She is deeply committed to her faith, and blends her faith into her teaching at Lake Center. Known for her joyful spirit and dedication, she exemplifies the mission of Christian education both inside and outside the classroom. Congratulations to Kristina on this amazing honor! You can read the full writeup for Kristina  here . Christian Ramsburg '12 - Outstanding Young Professional of the Year Christian graduated from Malone and went on to work for major shale formations in the gas & oil indus...

  Congratulations to Judge Elizabeth Thomakos '11 on her recent retirement from the Court of Common Pleas in Tuscarawas County. Elizabeth was elected as a judge in 1998, and hasn't looked back since. She attended Stephens College in Missouri, but her life changed and she decided to pursue law school after hearing a speaker she was covering as a communications and journalism major.  Thomakos launched key initiatives during her time on the bench, including a civil mediation program and a Drug Court aimed at rehabilitation and reducing repeat offenses. She then came to Malone to obtain her degree in Christian Ministries to develop a deeper sense of understanding for the people she was interacting with in court, and to make her a more compassionate judge. In her retirement, Thomakos hopes to be more involved in productions with the Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County, where she is so stranger to the stage. Congratulations to Elizabeth on this new chapter of life, we wish you all t...

  Congratulations to coach Selana Ickes '15 on becoming the all-time wins leader for the Malone women's basketball program. Coach Ickes achieved career victory #131 on Saturday, January 17th against Thomas More. Coach Ickes is very familiar with the Pioneers basketball program, as she was a former player herself. Coach Ickes took over as the head coach in 2018, and hasn't looked back.  The Pioneers have experienced major success under Coach Ickes, even making an appearance in the Division II national tournament in 2023. Coach Ickes understands their is more ahead for the Pioneers this season, as they are firmly in the mix in the GMAC (Great Midwest Athletic Conference). Congratulations to Coach Ickes on the tremendous success she continues to experience at the helm of the program! To read the full article on Selana, click here .

  Megan Zahorec-Deierling '22 wanted to make a difference for students and their families. So, she decided to become a school & professional counselor. Megan works with children ranging from ages 8-11 to provide lessons in different capacities, from classroom sessions to individual counseling. These lessons are geared towards social skills & coping strategies. These sessions and children provide new situations and challenges to Megan, which she enjoys. Megan also is a huge animal lover, owning dogs, a cat, and guinea pigs. Her German Shepherd, Chase, serves as a therapy dog and goes with Megan to school to help students. She also helps to lead the "Start With Hello" program, which focuses on kindness and inclusion across the North Canton school district, from students to staff. From cultivating meaningful relationships with her students, to promoting kindness and a welcoming atmosphere, Megan Zahorec-Deierling is making a tremendous impact in her field. Congratula...

  Congratulations to Antonio Turner '15 on recently being named as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the University of South Florida's football program. Antonio will follow Canton native and former GlenOak standout Brian Hartline to Tampa. Antonio graduated from Malone with a degree in  kinesiology and exercise science, and was also a member of the football program during college.  Antonio was most recently the associate director of strength and conditioning at Ohio State, working under legendary coach Mickey Marotti. Turner had several other stops since graduating from Malone, such as Mississippi State, Iowa State, and Ole Miss. Congratulations to Antonio on this amazing opportunity, and we wish you all the best!

Once a Pioneer, always a Pioneer!  The Malone University Alumni Office is happy to support and care for our Pioneer community through a variety of resources. Here's an overview of ways our office is here to support you in 2026 (and beyond!):  Campus Resources: Wellness Center, Library, Community Worship  Campus resources remain available to Pioneers even after graduation! Here are a few to note:  Alumni can purchase a membership to the Wellness Center for a reduced fee. To inquire on purchasing a membership, please contact Joyce Byler at jbyler@malone.edu . Alumni can access free internet and resources at the Everett Cattell Library anytime during operational hours. For hours and more information,  click here .  Community Worship is always available to our alumni. Join us in the Johnson Center on Wednesdays at 10 am!  Career Resources with Handshake Handshake is an employer engagement resource that includes a job board. Organizations can post inter...

  Malone's Center for Student Success is offering Handshake as a platform for students and alumni to help with career services. What is Handshake? Handshake is an employer engagement resource that allows current Malone students, as well as alumni, to access a job board that connects students/alumni to experiential learning opportunities such as internships, full-time/part-time jobs, volunteer roles, etc. Along with the job board, students and alumni gain access to events hosted by external organizations that are usually webinar and information sessions presented through virtual platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams as a way to connect and engage with others. What makes Handshake different from LinkedIn, Indeed.com, and other openly accessible job  boards? Handshake requires an approval process by both the employer relations team at Handshake, as well as Career Services at Malone University. An employer must be approved by either Handshake’s team or Malone Ca...

  Congratulations to Trevor Beerman '18 on recently being named as the interim head baseball coach for Eastern Michigan University for the 2026 season. Trevor has been with the program for 2 years, serving in various coaching capacities, along with being the recruiting coordinator for the team.  Trevor has been a coach at several universities prior to EMU, and each stop saw  progress and success after Trevor joined the program. Congratulations to Trevor on this opportunity, and we wish you good luck during this experience!

  Congratulations to Randy Gibbs '73 on celebrating 50 years in music ministry. When Randy was just four years old, his father traded a shotgun and a load of coal for a piano — a decision that would shape a lifetime. From that first introduction, Randy’s love of music only grew, leading him to a remarkable 50-year journey at Dover First Moravian Church, where he now serves as director of music. Randy has earned degrees in music education and educational administration from Malone and Ashland University, blending his passions for music and leadership throughout his career. Despite all the accolades that Randy has earned throughout his career in ministry, what truly defines him is his heart for people and his belief that music is meant to be shared, not stored away. Congratulations to Randy on this amazing honor! To read the full article on Randy, click here .

  Congratulations to Shelley Engleman '86 on being promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of 717 Credit Union. Shelley has been with 717 Credit Union for almost 4 decades, and was previously the Senior Vice President of Risk Management. Shelley will be the second-in-command for the credit union moving forward.  She is also a part of the team that develops and sets the strategic plan for the credit union, offering ways that 717 can maintain its market share and accomplish organizational goals. Congratulations to Shelley on this well-deserved promotion!

  Congratulations to Joshua McLaughlin '15 on being inducted into the United Local Wall of Fame as a part of the class of 2025! Joshua was a standout athlete during his time playing for the Golden Eagles, playing both football and baseball for United. Joshua later came to Malone and graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. McLaughlin also had a stellar career for the Pioneers, starting all 4 years and being an all-conference selection. Joshua is now invested as an Enterprise Resource Planner, helping provide businesses with software solutions to organizational issues. He also enjoys traveling, gaming, and cooking in his spare time. Congratulations to Joshua on this tremendous honor!