Emily Bastine de Hernandez is a native of South Bend and a Washington Graduate. After returning to the United States and South Bend in 2015, she began to get involved in the community. Emily stepped on the board in the Fall of 2020. She has served on the Girl Outing, Development and HOF planning committees and chairs the Scholarship Committee. Emily’s favorite part of serving on the SBAA board is hearing about new opportunities students have because of a Co-Ex grant or a sponsored event. Emily serves as the Board Chair of SBAA starting January 2024. 

Karla D. Lee is a proud native of South Bend and an alumna of Washington High School. She is actively involved in her community’s advancement with a specific focus on PK-12 literacy and engaging students in school. Karla joined the SBAA Board in 2013, where she serves on the Girl Outing Committee, and recently accepted the roles of the SBAA Board  Vice Chair and Chairperson for the Hall of Fame Committee in January 2024. Karla also previously served on the Scholarship Committee. Karla enjoys creating learning and extracurricular opportunities for all students as a member of SBAA and as a member of other community/national organizations. 

Steve Luecke and his wife Peg moved to South Bend 51 years ago, thinking they’d stay for a couple years…but the community grew on them as they made friends, put down roots and became actively involved in numerous organizations. They raised four children who went to Madison, Clay Middle and Clay High. All were involved in extra-curricular activities. Along the way, Steve became a carpenter fixing up old homes; worked for a neighborhood development corporation to fix up old neighborhoods; and eventually served on the City Council and as Mayor. After retiring he became Executive Director of the SBAA for four years and continues to serve on the Board, chairing the CoEx Grant Committee and supporting all activities of the SB Alumni Association. He believes in the power of extra-curricular activities to help students develop their potential and loves having the opportunity to enhance academic clubs, the arts and athletics in our schools. That students who benefit from the grants participate in volunteer service activities is a teaching moment, helping them to understand we are all connected and should give back to the community that has nurtured us.

Tim Baker is a South Bend native and a 1963 graduate of South Bend Central High School. Most of his grandparents, parents, siblings, children and grandchildren are graduates of South Bend Public Schools. His mom also taught in South Bend Schools for 20 year. He is a believer in of Public Education for the South Bend Community and understands the value of extracurricular activities within our schools. Tim joined the SBAA Board of Directors in 2010 and has been the board chair for four of those years. Tim also serves on the Development Committee. The organization has grown significantly grown in its support to the schools. 

Alex Bowman was born and raised on South Bend’s south side and attended SBCSC schools through his graduation from John Adams High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2013 and went on to earn his juris doctor degree from the Saint Louis University School of Law before returning to South Bend to practice law. Alex and his wife, Abigale, and their trusty French Bulldog, Roxie, live on Riverside Drive in South Bend’s Near Northwest Neighborhood.

Alex brings to the South Bend Alumni Association a commitment to the South Bend community and a passion for serving others. Alex currently serves with a number of charitable organizations, including the Kroc Center, the Friends of the Studebaker Fountain, and the Casaday Costume Company. As an attorney, Alex focuses his practice on real estate and municipal law, with a focus on good governance practices and community development. As the son of a public school teacher, Alex believes supporting South Bend’s public schools is an essential part of strengthening the South Bend community.

Jack Champaigne is a business leader who has a passion for education, the arts, South Bend schools’ alumni communities, veterans and STEM. His name is associated with scholarships, music and culture. Community is first and foremost to him. He is a graduate of Adams High School (1961) and Purdue University (1968). He started his business, Electronics Inc. in 1974. The firm is a key player in the field of surface enhancement engineering. He is a leading authority on fatigue and stress analysis. He holds 30 U.S. patents. He has had several national and international leadership roles on scientific, engineering and aerospace committees.

Julio Cruz has lived in South Bend since 1999 and is a proud Eagle alumnus. Julio got involved with SBAA after learning about their work through Emily and a few other board members. Julio is a board member and sits on the Co-Ex grant committee. Julio loves being part of SBAA because we get to impact lives and change the experiences many students have when attending SB public schools. 

Greg Humnicky is a native of South Bend and a 1964 Central High School graduate. He graduated from Purdue University in 1968 and returned to South Bend and taught and coached in the SBCSC for 40 years, retiring in 2008 after serving as Clay High School’s Athletic Director for 20 years. He has been involved with the SBAA since retirement serving on the Board of Trustees and on the Co-Ex Grant Committee. He is also involved with Purdue University serving on the Purdue Club of Saint Joseph Valley Board of Directors and is a member of the John Purdue Club and Purdue University President’s Council and is life member of the Purdue Alumni Association (Purdue for Life). He also serves as a Director Emeritus for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle, IN.

Jim Kapsa has served the community as a teacher, guidance counselor, director of elementary education, principal and superintendent. Today he is a community activist. He believes in the power of education and service. He often says it is “important to stand up and fill a need.” He was employed with South Bend schools for 42 years before retiring in 2011. Jim was the Hall of Fame Chair for more than 30 years. 

Erin (Linder) Hanig is a native of South Bend and an alumna of John Adams High School. Erin graduated from Northwestern University in 2002 and the University of Illinois College of Law in 2005. After practicing at a large law firm in Chicago, Erin returned to South Bend to serve as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert L. Miller, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Following her clerkship, Erin joined SouthBank Legal where she focuses her practice on complex litigation, products liability, and labor and employment. Erin enjoys giving back to the community and has served on the boards of other local groups, including The Stanley Clark School, Southold Dance Theater, the YWCA of North Central Indiana, the City of South Bend Redevelopment Authority, the St. Joseph County Bar Association, and the St. Joseph County Bar Foundation. One of Erin’s favorite opportunities involving the South Bend schools was the privilege of coaching mock trial at Adams, where her team won two state championships and a national championship. Erin is very excited to get involved with SBAA to help create even more opportunities for students.

Jennifer Pittman is a graduate of Washington High School, Indiana University, and Indiana Wesleyan University. She is the proud mother of 3 and passionate about serving her community particularly in ways to help others gain access to resources and opportunities. She has primarily spent her career in the realm of education working to break down barriers and help empower students, family, and staff. Jennifer is currently a project coordinator for Gear Up South Bend. Prior to this role, she spent time at the University of Notre Dame with Trio Programs as well as in the Enrollment Division, the South Bend Education Foundation, and South Bend Schools Title I department. She also spent time as a volunteer professional grant reviewer for Indiana Youth Institute. Jennifer also serves as a member of the 100 Black Women of South Bend, the IUSB Family Engagement Project Advisory Board, the IUSB Map the Gap Advisory Committee, and the South Bend Schools CTE Health Sciences Advisory Committee.

Jim Seitz is a principal in SBCSC. He has been on the board since 2018. He has worked in several different schools. Jim serves on the board because he likes to have an inside view in the schools on behalf of the board. 

kchoinacky@sb.school

In May 2022, the SBAA welcomed our new Executive Director, Kris Arizmendi Choinacky! Kris is no stranger to South Bend, born and raised here. She is an alumna of Washington High School. Kris continued her undergraduate education at Holy Cross College and University of Indianapolis and holds a Masters of Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Kris has over 15 years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector, as well as many years of community engagement and volunteer work.  Kris has a deep passion for the South Bend community through her advocacy and involvement with local boards and committees.

sbaa@sb.school

Kara O’Malley grew up in the Chicago suburbs and first came to South Bend as an undergrad at Notre Dame. After graduating with a degree in accounting, she worked for a decade in churches in both South Bend and Boston before becoming a stay at home parent for her young children. Kara was excited to start work at the SBAA in 2023 in a position that combines her experience with non-profit work and her business degree. In her spare time, Kara sings with the South Bend Chamber Singers, pursuing the love of music that was first fostered through extracurriculars in her youth.