Alumni News

​Alumni, we’d love to hear from you! Let us know where you are and what you’re up to. ​Email alumni@christianencounter.org.
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FORMER STUDENTS

​Steve Neal (‘95-’96) lives in Colorado Springs, CO with his wife, Jamie. After they began fostering in 2015, they adopted Jose, 14, and Fern, 18. Steve has worked in investment operations for the past eight years but is looking to move into full-time ministry. He is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree through Gateway University. 

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​Alexa Gates (‘11-’12) studied fashion at Santa Monica College and launched her own handmade candle business, Piaceri, in March. She resides in Los Angeles, CA. 

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Summer (Hoff) Barry (‘86-’87) and her husband Brad reside in St. George, UT and have two daughters, Mckenzie and Kate, who graduated from Delaware State University last month. Summer completed a B.S. in English in 2013 and did a brief stint in teaching before heading back to school to earn her architectural drafting certificate in 2017. She has since started Summer Barry Design, providing architectural and interior design. Summer created one of the top three (of 30) parade homes in the 2019 Saint George Parade of Homes.


​Ember Caulfield (‘10-’11) lives in North Port, FL and is working as a medical assistant at a dermatology center.

Deena (Moench) Vargas (‘87-’88) lives in Oroville, CA, where she is active in Father’s House Ministry, a church busily meeting the practical needs of many in the community.  She and husband Cory have been married 27 years; they have four children and a nine year-old granddaughter.  Deena is a licensed optician and a manager at Costco.
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​FORMER INTERNS

​Following his internship, Jonathan Mangano (‘13) attended Indiana Wesleyan University where he completed his Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. He has been working as a men’s domestic violence counselor since 2016 at Families First, a local non-profit agency, and more recently also began working in trauma counseling. Jonathan married his wife Kait in November 2014, and they just adopted a baby girl, Aila. They reside in Indianapolis, IN.​​

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​​Melissa (Koch) Summers (‘00) and her husband Phillip met on the mission field in Ecuador and Peru and were married in 2005 with three former interns in the bridal party. They now have three children and live in Winston Salem, NC where they do ministry work in a primarily Latino-American neighborhood. Melissa works as a teachers’ assistant for first graders. 

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​​Emily (Hammer) Louisos (‘16) completed her Master of Social Work degree at the University at Buffalo, NY in 2018 and married her husband Elliot a month later. They welcomed their first child, Annabelle, to the world last June and live in Alexandria, VA. Emily received her licensure in January and works part-time at a private counseling practice.

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​David (‘95-’97) and Daphne (Vaughn) Huffman (‘95-’97) are in Portland, OR with their two children, Naomi and Eben. David continues in his career as an early intervention occupational therapist and Daphne works part-time ​at George Fox University as a social work professor. Naomi graduated 8th grade and enjoys drama and volleyball. Eben finished 6th grade and spends his time with the Boy Scouts and honing his archery skills. 

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Alumni, we'd love to hear from you! Email alumni@christianencounter.org.