Mystery Classmate 028

Congratulations to Paula Recchio Joseph, Jamie Kracsun McBride, Milton Koutavas, Mary Bender Knight, Emily DePaul Gil, Larry McAfoos, Brandon "Brandon B" Holmes, Beth Chufo Nichols, Gretchen Grindle, Jack Horner, Mike Williams, Carrie Schadle, Barbara Bender Pietro, Rich Reschoff, Joe Caprara, Ann Broadberry, Lisa Bizon, Bill Stout, Erin Burgard DiPerna, Laura Fleming Schulte, Kristin Burgard, Bruce Kothmann, Paul Rodgers, and Maria Wojtaszek Romanelli, all of whom correctly identified Heather Karsten ('85) as Mystery Classmate 028 and are listed in the order that their responses were received.

In case you were wondering, Heather is the Assistant Professor of Crop Production and Ecology at Penn State University, where her responsibilities include teaching, advising, and developing courses for the Agroecosystems Science Major. Heather is interested in examining the ecological and physiological processes of cropping systems with the objective of improving the sustainability of agroecosystems, and her research has focused on forage and pasture plant ecology and physiology, with the objective of identifying how to improve pasture plant persistence and productivity, and advancing pasture management. Whew!

Many of you had nice things to say about Heather. Many of the ladies marveled at Heather's youthful appearance:

Lisa Bizon: "She looks the same as I remember her in middle school."

Ann Broadberry: "She's so pretty and hasn't changed a bit!"

Beth Chufo Nichols: "She looks GREAT and, except for the shorter 'do, about the same as in high school."

Emily DePaul Gil: "She hasn't changed a bit!"

Gretchen Grindle: "She apparently has not aged a day!"

Paula Recchio Joseph: "Boy, she looks as young as she did in 1985! I can't wait to hear what she is up to!"

Carrie Schadle: "She looks just as lovely as she did in high school!"

Some of the gentlemen wondered where they might see Heather onstage:

Brandon "Brandon B" Holmes: "Is she still acting and singing? I remember how talented she was and how much she used to laugh at Adam. Great to see she's still smiling! Wow, she looks incredible!"

Rich Reschoff: "(Heather and Adam) were total opposites, yet both were amazing in 'Carousel.' Do you know if they both are still acting?"

No official incorrect guesses this week, although Scott Silverman was at my house last Sunday and wondered aloud, quite wistfully, if it was Kathy Begg.