Alumni Updates
Jessup alumni are making their mark in the marketplace, government, sports entertainment and in the Church. Read our latest updates below.
April Ballestero (‘19) is a strategic leadership coach for One Light Ahead, a service of One Light Academy. She is also the author of “Slaying the Onion”, Second Edition, and coming soon, “One Light Ahead,” a 16-month planner. She is also a nationwide traveler.
Richard Rohlfing (’01) and his wife Marci (Martinez, ‘13) serve at Faith Legacy Church in Sacramento where Richard is pastor. He recently published a book entitled “A New Song: Biblical Hebrew Poetry as Jewish and Christian Scripture.”
Cody Adams (‘15) and his family returned from a number of years in Turkey with Team Expansion. He is currently working stateside for Team Expansion out of Indiana.
Caleb Kang (‘23) was accepted into the Legislative Fellows Program at the California State Capitol, preparing to serve in the State Assembly.
Here is the latest update from alumni Harold Knepper (85’, 22‘): https://fb.watch/swyqiwv8iq/
Ashanti Grayer (‘22) is an account manager in membership sales for the Sacramento Kings.
Jordan Grant (‘22) is an account manager in member services for the Sacramento Kings.
Ben Aleshire (17‘) moved his family from California to Mitchell, South Dakota where he is an adult discipleship pastor at RiverTree Church. State Senator Joshua Klumb introduced South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to Ben and his wife Brie. Ben was invited to pray for the State Senate before they conducted their voting process.
In Memoriam
Stella Fiah Solleh-Turay, went to be with Jesus October 13, 2023. She graduated from Jessup with a Bachelor of Science in Leadership and is survived by her husband Ansumana Benson Turay who is an alumnus.
David Lee Bladorn was born on December 7, 1929 in Carlton, OR and passed away December 29, 2023 in Chico, CA. He attended high school in Perrydale, OR and served in the United States Marines Corps. He worked for Standard Oil Company.
Pauline Rickard (’48) passed away on March 16, 2024. She was married to alum Wayne Thomas (’49) who passed away in 2017. After graduating from SJBC, Pauline served the Lord in ministry her entire life. Most recently she was typing Bible transcriptions for Wycliffe Associates, mentoring women in her church and participating in the weekly El Camino Spanish Bible study at her local church in Watsonville, CA. Her father, Dennis Rickard, was best friends with William Jessup, sharing a lifelong friendship.
Rosalie Whitmore (‘54) went to be with the Lord on February 28, 2021. After earning her Bachelor’s of Sacred Literature at SJBC, she went on to work at the Boise Christian Children’s Home where she met and married William T. Macauley. The family delayed her celebration of life service until May 2024 due to Covid-19 and other complications.
Jonathan Roy Stedman (‘72) spent the majority of his life dedicated to serving his Lord. Stedman was a minister of music at North Fresno Christian Church and Court Street Christian Church in Salem, Oregon. In addition, he served as senior minister at Alta Vista Church of Christ in South San Francisco for the last 27 years of his life. He also taught at Boise Bible College and was a pianist and organist at various churches.
Don Hart is survived by his wife Nadine and had a lifelong love of foreign missions, serving churches abroad. He also dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours at Central Christian Church in San Jose working in the church office in the afternoons. He was involved in music and sang in various choirs of churches he was involved with. He also worked at SJBC during the 1970s.
Stephen Richard Sibley (‘20) passed unexpectedly at the age of 39. Stephen earned his MBA at Jessup and knew His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is survived by his wife Kristin and their unborn baby due June 28, 2024 and son Wyatt, two brothers and his beloved mother and father.
