January-Claire Donnelly
c/o 2007 - "FOUNDATION"

December-Shannon Kessler
c/o 2003 - "GRATEFUL"
November-William Federspiel
c/o 1986 - "OPPORTUNITY"
October -Gary Hrywnak
c/o 2001 - "LUCKY"
June - Julie Miller
c/o 2003 - "STEPPING STONE"
May - Hunter Krawczak
c/o 2013 - "ATTENTIVE"
April - Tom Hickson
c/o 1992 - "HONOR"
March - Andrea McNab
c/o 2002 - "DEDICATION"
February - Cecelia Irish
c/o 2013 - "DEFINING"
January - Kerri Boros
c/o 2003 - "HOME"

December - Desirae Grunwell
c/o 2012 - "FAMILY"
November - Connor Mooney
c/o 2015 - "PROTRACTED"
OCTOBER - Tim Novak
c/o 1989 - "FAMILY"
SEPTEMBER - Sarah Mooney
c/o 2012 - "HOUYHNNHNMS"
AUGUST - Adam Pavlik
c/o 2001 - "COMMITMENT"
JULY - Alex Joynt
c/o 2015 - "TENACIOUS"
JUNE - Dr. Natalie Bartnik
c/o 2007 - "COMMUNITY"
APRIL - Matthew Federico
c/o 2001 - "REWARDING"
MARCH - Michael Williams
c/o 1990 - "BOND"
FEBRUARY - Peter Bartels
c/o 1987 - "COMPETITIVE"
January - Robi Stuart
c/o 2017 - "PREPARED"

December - Elizabeth (Irish) Marshall
c/o 2008 - "FOUNDATIONAL"
October - Nicole Buckingham
c/o 2015 - "COMPETITIVE"
September - Matthew Kelly
c/o 2000 - "OPPORTUNITY"
August - Erica Decker
c/o 2011 - "WELL-ROUNDED"
April - Megan Sullivan
c/o 2011 - "EMBRACING"
March - Michelle (Fulsher) Mitchell
c/o 1994 - "MEMORABLE"
January - Michael Bujold
c/o 2005 - "VALUES"

December - Ben Schuller
c/o 2009 - "INSPIRING"
October - Danielle (Kamm) Carter
c/o 2003 - "ENRICHING'
September - Jay Mohan
c/o 2005 - "REWARDING"
August - Jen (Thieme) Kehres
c/o 2003

Nouvel is continually proud of the impact our alumni make after they graduate. It is our honor to spotlight those alumni who truly represent our Nouvel Strong culture of believing, learning and succeeding. Our Alumni Spotlights feature outstanding alumni succeeding in their careers and showng pride in their Panther heritage.

Nominate your fellow Panthers for the Alumni Spotlight. Send an email to erandall@nouvelcatholic.org or fill out an Alumni Spotlight Nomination form on this page.

Claire (Gembrowski) Donnelly is a 2007 Nouvel Catholic Central High School graduate. After graduating, she attended Saginaw Valley State University and achieved her Bachelors of Business Administration degree in 2011. In 2015, she received her Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan-Flint. 
She is currently a Buyer in Powertrain Purchasing at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn.  She has worked at Ford since 2015, with the majority of her time spent in Lean Manufacturing, coaching Ford's North America and European supply base.  While attending SVSU for her undergraduate degree, she worked at Nexteer Automotive as an HR co-op.  Following graduation, she joined Nexteer Automotive's Lean Manufacturing team. 
She is  a volunteer and advocate for Mercy Education Project (MEP) in Detroit.  MEP is a nonprofit that provides women and girls education, access to resources, encouragement and empowerment.  She is a weekly English tutor for the girls' program and a contributor to college readiness programming. She is a member of the Ford Motor Company Thirty Under 30 fellowship class of 2019.  She participated in a year-long, philanthropic-driven leadership development initiative, paired with a Detroit community nonprofit Grandmont Rosedale Community Development Corporation (GRDC) to engage, learn and identify a problem statement. 
She continues to engage with GRDC on developing a youth leadership arm of their board. While  living in Royal Oak, MI with her husband, Mike, they enjoy doing home improvements together, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.  She is very proud of her strong Nouvel family, the Gembrowski’s.  She is one of 8 children who attended Nouvel for high school. When asked to choose one word to describe Nouvel, she chose, “FOUNDATION.” Although she only attended Nouvel for two years (Junior and Senior year) her time spent there was foundational in two ways: academically and philanthropically.  Her coursework at Nouvel was challenging, engaging, and provided a foundation for her collegiate studies.  Compared to her peers, she was well prepared for the demands of a freshman college course load.  The foundations she learned specifically in AP Lit served her well at SVSU where she was a Writing Center mentor for 2 years.  From a volunteer perspective Nouvel created a foundation of giving time, talent and treasure to serve others.  
 

Shannon Kessler is a 2003 NCCHS graduate. After graduation, she attended Saginaw Valley State University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education in 2009.  
She is currently a Young Fives teacher at McComb Elementary in Caro, MI. This is her 12th year teaching young children. She has taught 10 years of preschool and was also a program director for four of those years. Teaching young children has always been one of her passions. When she looks at a child, she sees them as “a child of God.” Every morning before she goes to work, she prays for every student in her classroom. She believes that even though she is currently teaching in a public school; it is her job to show the children Jesus by loving them and seeing them the way He would! She was inspired to become a teacher way back when she went to school at what is now called Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary. She remembers feeling loved and cared for by her teachers. Her favorite years of her life entailed growing up in a school that breathed faith and family. 
Since graduating from Nouvel Catholic Central she has served in the Saginaw/Caro community anywhere from visiting elderly, serving people at Old Town Christian Outreach, greeting and being part of a leadership team for a post college church group, serving on a mission trip, reaching out to anyone in need, or just going wherever the Lord calls her to go. Her mission on this earth is to serve the Lord.  One of the things she does daily is ask the Lord where He wants her to go or who He needs her to help, talk to, or pray for. She is called to serve and that is what makes her life fulfilling!       
She has a 3 year old chocolate lab named Gabby. Together they enjoy traveling, going on car rides, walks in the woods, playing with the chuck-it, going into school to visit their school friends and camping together! She also loves spending time with her three beautiful nieces Sophia, Amelia, and Julia! They bring her joy! She enjoys getting together with her family on holidays and during the summer by making memories at her family's cottage! 
One word to describe her experience at Nouvel would be “Grateful.” She is beyond “Grateful” that her parents decided to give her a solid “faith filled” education by sending her to Catholic schools. She is “Grateful” for all the teachers who truly cared about her. She could see this passion they had for teaching even when she was a small child. She is “Grateful,” for their commitment, care, and how they inspired her to be a teacher! She is “Grateful” for going to a smaller school that made education more intimate. This was a place where everyone knew each other and treated each other like family. But most of all, she is extremely “Grateful” for the “Foundation of Faith,” that was instilled in her from the time she was in Kindergarten all the way to her 12th grade year. She knows her faith would not be where it is today without her education at Nouvel. Nouvel taught her to love Jesus, to serve others, and that prayer is important! 

William “Bill” Federspiel is a 1986 graduate of Nouvel Catholic Central High School. Following Graduation, Bill moved to Florida and became a police officer in the city of Cape Coral. He worked there for nearly 10 years and completed his Associate in Criminal Justice Technology degree from Edison Community College (Ft. Myers Campus) during that time.  He then returned home to Saginaw and worked for the Saginaw Township Police Department for 12 years. During this time he earned a Bachelor in Community Development degree from Central Michigan University (CMU). He also entered politics upon his election to the Saginaw City Council in 2005. 
In 2008 he was elected to the Office of Sheriff of Saginaw County and is currently in his fourth, four-year term. He oversees nearly 200 employees and is responsible for law enforcement services in the entire 810 square-mile county as well as maintaining a 511-bed jail and providing security for the Circuit, District and Probate Courts of Saginaw. He also earned a Master of Science of Administration Degree from Central Michigan University during his first term in office.
Bill has been married to his wife, Mandy, for 28 years and they have two children, Helena and Alexander, who both attend Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary. They are all members of St. Thomas Aquinas Church of Saginaw.
Bill is a staunch supporter of the Right to Life movement and is a believer in the awesome power of prayer (especially the Holy Rosary).
In his spare time, Bill enjoys singing and playing music. He also plays tennis and is very involved in his children’s extracurricular activities. He has served on the board of the Michigan Sheriff’s Association, instituted the “Do the Right Thing” program in Saginaw Township, and is a proud supporter of the Emmaus House, Bridge the Gap and Youth Development Corporation.
When asked what one word he would use to describe his experience at Nouvel, Bill said “OPPORTUNITY”. “My brother and I were raised by a single parent on the east side of Saginaw. We didn’t have much because my mom had to work two jobs just to get by. She also had to work the bingo games at our parish, St. Casimir, to help offset the cost of our tuition. We didn’t have much, so when Nouvel instituted the dress code it allowed me, and others, to “fit in”. I didn’t have to worry about what I was going to wear, or if it was the latest fashion. To this day I still wear my uniform and think of my time at NCC. Some of the highlights of high school include Drama Club, Typing, Band, British Literature and daily racquetball games. (Note: I was the Panther Mascot during my senior year)
 

Gary Hrywnak Jr. is a 2001 graduate of Nouvel Catholic Central. Following graduation, Gary attended Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) where he earned a Bachelor in Business Administration in Finance. During his time at SVSU, Gary was provided an opportunity to co-op with Dow as part of his curriculum. Upon graduation from SVSU, he joined Dow full time in 2006 and has taken on many projects and roles as part of the company’s transformation – most notably as the first Global Supplier Diversity Leader in Dow’s history. 
In this role he spearheaded the supplier diversity initiative for Dow as part of the Corporate Inclusion & Diversity Strategy where he worked closely with the Chief Human Resources Officer & Chief Inclusion Officer and Vice President of Global Purchasing, to develop and execute Dow’s Global Supplier Diversity Strategy. Gary’s leadership has positioned Dow as an industry leader in Supplier Diversity. His accomplishments include embedding Supplier Diversity in Strategic Sourcing, driving diversity through the value chain and expanding Dow’s presence internationally across 10 countries. 
As an advocate for inclusion & diversity, Gary is continuing to drive the cultural transformation for Dow as a North America Senior HR Business Partner. In addition to this core role, Gary is an active participant in the Disability Employee Network ERG as a member of the Midland Steering Team. Gary is also a part of the Employee Experience Community of Change Champions and a member of the SVSU Alumni Core Team with a focus on engaging our strong network of SVSU Alum and building a relationship between Dow and SVSU.  
Gary currently resides in Saginaw, MI with his wife and son where he enjoys volunteering as a coach for basketball, soccer and baseball. In his spare time, he appreciates the company of friends and family as well as a round of golf when the Michigan weather allows.
When asked to describe his time at Nouvel and the Catholic School Education system, he says “LUCKY”. Lucky to have had the chance to forge lifelong relationships. Lucky to receive an education from dedicated staff and teachers. However, luck is not by chance, rather it is when preparation meets opportunity – the opportunity afforded to me by the choice my parents made to send me through the school system and the same opportunity I have chosen to provide my child.

Julie Miller graduated from Novuel Catholic Central in 2003. Since Nouvel, Julie has earned a Masters in Teaching from Saginaw Valley State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University. She now is the Elementary Principal at Merrill Park Elementary in Saginaw.

Julie is actively involved in the Saginaw Public School District Bond Campaign and a supporter of READ Association, Girl Scouts and the Saginaw Public School District community. She has been married to her husband Andy for almost 10 years and they now have two children, Elise (7) and Ezra (4). They enjoy being outdoors, camping, biking, snowboarding and going on adventures. 

The one word Julie would use to describe her experience at Nouvel is “STEPPINGSTONE”. She says, “Now, right off the bat, this may not sound like a particularly flattering way to describe Nouvel, but hear me out. In reality, that is exactly what elementary and secondary school should be; when done well. Nouvel was a true steppingstone for me into college and my career. I went to college prepared because of the rigorous, high-quality education I received at Nouvel. Most important to me, however, were the many experiences I had that instilled in me the importance of stewardship and goodwill for all of my community members. Although high school is just a steppingstone on the path throughout your whole life, it is a very important one!”

Hunter Krawczak graduated from Nouvel Catholic Central in 2013. He then furthered his education at Michigan State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in packaging. Hunter is now employed at L’oreal where he is the Senior Developer of Color and Artwork.

Hunter is part of the Green Team at L’Oreal which works on sustainability efforts aiming to inspire and enable employees and the surrounding communities to engage in pro-environmental behaviors. He also mentor’s freshman and sophomores at Michigan State in the packaging department on career advice, internships, interview tips and real-life expertise in the industry. While a student at MSU, Hunter also was a part of the Greenline group which raised over $22K for student programs, scholarships, food banks and more.

When asked what one word he would use to describe his experience at Nouvel, Hunter said “ATTENTIVE”. “As I went off to Michigan State I soon became one of 50,000+ students, then I moved to Chicago and was living amongst 3+ million people, now I live in NYC amongst 8+ million people. I’ve come to appreciate the individual attention we received as students at Nouvel – thanks to small class sizes and an overall sense of community within the student body. The sense of being “more than a number” and part of a tight-knit community is empowering and something I’m glad I grew up with!”

Tom Hickson graduated from Nouvel Catholic Central in 1992. He then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Albion College in 1996. Tom is currently the Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy at Michigan Catholic Conference. 

No stranger to the community, Tom has served on the City of Lansing Board of Public Service since 2020 and the Habitat for Humanity Capitol Region Board from 2011-2017. He has also been involved in Michigan Information and Research Services (MIRS) and has earned numerous awards as an association lobbyist. 

When speaking about Nouvel, Tom says, “I am ever grateful for my time at Nouvel to learn under intelligent and family oriented teachers who instilled in us the values of our Catholic Faith.  I have many great lifelong friends that I met in my time there and still stay in touch with.  We all agree that Nouvel gave us a better experience to prepare us for college than our peers at other schools.  It just seemed like we were more ready for a college setting.  Whether in the classroom or in athletics, Nouvel has always been in pursuit of excellence!”

One word Tom uses to describe his experience at Nouvel Catholic Central is “HONOR”. “The wonderful teachers (too many to mention), Coach Smokey Boyd, Coach Bob Szymanowski, Father Mike Steltenkamp all taught us to honor the Lord, the Catholic traditions, academics our family and ourselves.”
 

Andrea McNab graduated from Nouvel Catholic Central in 2002. She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology from Ferris State University and a Doctor of Medicine from Wayne State University. She did her general surgery residency at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville and a plastic surgery residency at Rush Medical Center in Chicago. Andrea is now an aesthetic plastic surgeon.

Service and achievements are no stranger to Andrea’s profile. She has been involved in Operation Smile, Habitat for Humanity, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons and the Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgeons. She is also a regular blood donor. Throughout her career, Andrea has earned numerous awards and honors, some of which include; Rush University Plastic Surgery Chief Resident, Best Breast Reconstruction Resident Presentation at the plastic surgery national conference, UF Health Jacksonville Department of Surgery Award for Excellence in Patient Centered Care, G. Shahin Research Award for Physician in Training in Duval County, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Resident Scholarship, Thaddeus Moseley UF Health Jacksonville Department of Surgery Research Award and UF Health Jacksonville Department of Surgery ICU Award.

When asked how she would describe her experience at Nouvel, Andrea uses the word “DEDICATION”. “Looking back, it is evident that faculty, coaches, and staff were dedicated to the education and success of the students. In addition, these same people challenged us as students to be our best selves and to push our comfort zones.”