New Member Spotlight 3/1/2026
Three cheers for the latest crop of new members! 100% of them filled out the Get Acquainted Questionnaire. So…let’s get acquainted:
Meet Ross Courtright
Q:Are you an early riser? Late sleeper?
A: Early!
Q: What do you have for breakfast?
A: Coffee, granola, or overnight oats
Q: How long have you lived in Chicago?
A: In Chicago since 2016.
Q: What do you like about the city?
A: We love Lincoln Square and Logan Square.
Q: How did you find 2U?
A: I am from UCE. We were married here in 2023 though!
Q: Most memorable Halloween costume?
A: Clifford the Big Red Dog
Q: Do you like your job? What is it?
A: Software Engineering. It’s fine, I guess.
Q: Have you ever milked a cow?
A: No, but I’ve touched one.
Q: Do you have a roommate?
A: Yes, my wife Liz
Q: Who cooks? Who does the dishes?
A: We both do both.
Q: Do you have a favorite movie?
A: The Third Man
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a kid?
A: Lord of the Rings
Q: Did you ever swim in Lake Michigan?
A: Yes and I make a point to jump in from the Ledge.
Meet Liz Kantor-Courtright
Q: How long have you lived in Chicago?
A: I moved to Chicago in 2016 after growing up in N.J.
Q: What do you like about the city?
A: I love our neighborhood of Avondale and searching for good pizza and bagels.
Q: How did you find 2U?
A: Ross and I got married here in 2023.
Q: What do you like about 2U?
A: I love how welcoming and democratic the congregation is and I look forward to getting involved.
Q: Do you have a favorite movie?
A: My favorite movie is Office Space.
Q: What’s your number one comfort food?
A: Gooey butter cake and food from WaWa (an N.J. specialty)
Meet Emily Wheeler
Q: How long have you lived in Chicago?
A: 1.5 years
Q: What do you like about the city?
A: What I love most is the accessibility compared to my hometown – it’s very walkable, and shoutout to the CTA.
Q: Most memorable Halloween costume?
A: Probably the time I wore a white tank top to school and had people sign it – my costume was an improv’d yearbook.
Q: Have you ever milked a cow?
A: No, but I’ve milked a goat and have owned cattle before.
Q: Do you have a favorite movie?
A: It’s hard for me to choose favorites, but if I absolutely had to, The Last Unicorn. I recently rewatched it, and it’s been a fave of mine since I was a kid.
Q: When you have out-of-town visitors, where do you take them?
A: City Skylines. Especially for those weekend crepes.
Meet Sam Mobley
Q: Seen any good movies lately?
A: I just watched Casablanca for the first time. Favorite movie is Sinners.
Q: What’s your number one comfort food?
A: Cheeseburger
Q: Ever been to the top of the Sears/Willis Tower?
A: Yes. I went out on the ledge, got scared and scurried away from it.
Meet Alicia Buskirk
Q: Are you an early riser? late sleeper?
A: Mid-morning
Q: What do you have for breakfast?
A: Coffee w/milk
Q: How long have you lived in Chicago? What do you like about the city?
A: Brand new to Chicago! Here since December, love the city. Public transit rules!
Q: Do you have roommates? Who cooks? Who does the dishes?
A: I live with my two partners, Elisabeth and Patrick. Patrick usually cooks.
Q: Have you ever been in a parade?
A: I used to be in marching band, so I’ve done a million parades.
Meet Alana Roman
Q: Are you an early riser? Late sleeper?
A: Early riser
Q: What do you have for breakfast?
A: A good oatmeal, an egg/bacon sandwich
Q: How long have you lived in Chicago?
A: What do you like about the city? From Chicago. Chicago architecture and history
Q: What’s your number one comfort food?
A: Mac & cheese
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a kid? What did you like about it?
A: Watership Down. The unique storyline and taking imagination further
Q: When you have out-of-town visitors, where do you take them?
A: Portillos! The lakefront, Art Institute and/or Field Museum
Q: What’s your one must-do can’t-miss Chicago event?
A: Open House Chicago
Meet Megan Ruprecht
Q: Are you an early riser? Late sleeper?
A: I am trying to become an early riser.
Q: What do you have for breakfast?
A: Usually oatmeal
Q: How long have you lived in Chicago?
A: I grew up in Chicago and moved back 7 years ago.
Q: What do you like about the city?
A: I love the community & live in Lakeview.
Q: How did you find 2U?
A: I was looking for a church community without the Jesus.
Q: What’s your one must-do can’t-miss Chicago event?
A: That first warm day after a long winter when everyone is outside for the first time
Q: Can you drive a stick shift?
A: I can’t drive at all – the struggle of growing up in the city
Meet Sarah Murphy
Q: Are you an early riser? Late sleeper?
A: Late sleeper
Q:What do you have for breakfast?
A: Breakfast tacos
Q: Most memorable Halloween costume?
A: Billy the Puppet from Saw
Q: What’s your number one comfort food?
A: Cheesie’s caprese grilled cheese
Q: Have you ever been in a parade?
A: Yes, the neighborhood 4th of July parade when I was nine.
Q: Can you drive a stick shift?
A: No, but I want to be on the Amazing Race so I should.
