spring/summer 2011
The second annual Golden War Eagle Club
event was held May 28 at Woodward so
that classes of 1961 and earlier could recon-
nect with classmates and tour the campus.
In addition, the Class of 1961 gathered for
its 50 th reunion on May 29 at the Georgian
Club in Atlanta. Pictured are members
of the Golden War Eagle Club; Mrs. Judy
Parrish, Julius Parrish ’61 and O.B. Avery
’61; and President Stuart Gulley with Board
Chairman Ben F. Johnson III ’61, who cel-
ebrated his 50 th reunion.
SPRING/SUMMER 2011 15
ClassNotes+
AlumniUpdates ’61 Mike
Cluver’s family
is doing well. His
youngest grandchild just turned
three, and his son returned safely
’41 Thomas N.
Lennox has published
his first book, “Wolf
Among Wolves,” a legal thriller.
’56 Robert W.
Schorr (below, right)
recently joined fellow
World War II veterans in a visit
from Kuwait. His family lives in
Washington, D.C., and Houston.
A graduate of Tulane University
and Loyola Law School, he served
in World War II in both the Marine
Corps and the U.S. Navy, from
to the National World War II
Memorial in Washington. q
’62 Robert G.
Holmes is a Certified
Public Accountant
in Florida, only working about
which he was retired for wounds 1,700 hours a year. He spends
received at Iwo Jima. He prac- most of his free time along the
ticed law in New Orleans for more Intracoastal Waterway on his
than 40 years. He now lives in 34-foot fast trawler.
Covington, La., and Asheville, N.C.,
with his wife, Claire, and is working
on his next novel.
’66 Michael
Cotton is executive
producer of “Senior
’48 Daniel N.
Cote is living in
Xtremers,” a new reality show
being filmed in North Florida and
Galveston, Texas.
He has five children spread
throughout the United States,
from Texas to Illinois to Key West.
’57 Jerry E.
Austin retired from
austinstrucks.com and
is traveling throughout the United
South Alabama featuring people 55
and up with interesting hobbies. The
show has filmed surfer Lisa Wakley,
skydiver Don Cripps and boat racer
He and his wife have 13 grandchil- States. He has settled primarily in Mark Mitchell, among others.
dren and one great-grandchild. Panama City Beach, Fla. He and his
He never dreamed that life would wife, Ann, will celebrate their 50th
bring him such a wonderful family
when he walked the Bullring on so
many Saturdays long ago.
anniversary this year. q
’67 Frank A.
Vella and his wife,
Karol, recently moved
to Missoula, Mont., following
Frank’s retirement. Frank is a profes-
sional engineer and has worked for
several firms in his 40-year career.
He is looking forward to woodwork-
ing and playing golf in retirement.
The GMA symbol connotes alumni of Georgia Military Academy. The school became Woodward Academy in 1968.
Correction: On page 17 of the winter
2011 issue of the Woodward maga-
zine, the photo from the inaugura-
Regional Receptions
tion of President John F. Kennedy did Woodward held regional receptions for alumni in Chicago and New York
not depict the GMA Marching Band City this spring. The New York City reception was hosted by parents of
as stated but other members of the alumni, Nena and Joseph Moss. Last spring, Mr. Moss gave the Academy
group of cadets who were part of the
inaugural parade. We apologize for $1 million in honor of his two sons, Joseph ’68 and Logan ’75. In Chicago,
the error, and express our thanks to a reception was hosted by Cheryl and Hill Hammock ’64. Mr. Hammock
Doug Starr ’62 for alerting us to it. received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.
16 W O O D WA R D A C A D E M Y
www.woodward.edu/alumni
’76 Nicole Thomas
Adams has been
named national account
manager for Avid Technology, Inc.,
of Burlington, Mass. In her role,
Nicole is responsible for developing
’78 Peter L. Wilkerson
and his wife, Julie,
live in Asheville, N.C.
Their son, Stuart, graduated from
and managing sales strategy and high school in June and will attend
execution for broadcast groups and the University of South Carolina
entities in the continental United (USC) Honors College in the fall.
’71 p Lynn Clemmons
Nilson is still teach-
ing piano out of her
home. Included in the picture is her
States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Robert P. Campbell is still
Stuart was awarded the Cooper
Scholarship from USC.
husband of 31 years, Cliff, and their
two sons, William and Jonathan,
both graduates of Florida State
University.
“happily blundering through life”
in Asheville, N.C. Following 25-plus
years in the wine business, he is
finally putting his education to
’79 Alan Muldawer
serves the Washington,
D.C., metro area with
IT services.
good use as a clinical therapist He is mar-
working with adult psychiatric ried and has
’73 Peggy Dyer McNash
is still teaching at
Woodward Academy
and is head of the English
clients. He passed the National
Counseling Exam in November,
and is now accruing the hours
required for full accrediting as a
a 20-year-old
son. He has
been moun-
tain bike
Department. Classmate Rusty Licensed Professional Counselor, racing for
Zaring ’73 is head of the Social while also slowly completing a more than
Studies Department. Cathy Weaver major renovation of his home. 20 years.
’73 is director of the Campus Store.
(See 2005 and 2006 class notes to
learn how Peggy’s children have
been keeping her busy this year.)
’77 Caroline Thompson
Watts resides on 67
acres in Heidelberg,
Miss., with her husband. The cou-
Todd Sentell had a long teaching
career in special education. He has
now started a unique tutoring ser-
’74 Steve P. Hitchcock
graduated from
Southern Tech in
Marietta in 1978 and moved to
ple has three dogs and a cat. She is
a special education teacher.
vice, Todd’s Tutoring, a leadership
and social skills mentorship service
for students of all ages and abili-
ties. Todd is also the author of the
Memphis, Tenn. He worked for Southern-fried novel, “Toonamint
the utility company there for 30 of Champions.”
years before retiring in 2008 and
later moving to West Georgia to ClassNotes continues on next page
start a lawn and landscape busi-
ness. He has two children and two
granddaughters. He and his wife
celebrated their 30th wedding anni-
versary in June.
Jeffrey B. Millar and his wife,
Pictured are members of the Class
Nancy, have a daughter, Taryn, of 2007, Mary Beirne Taylor, Grace
who received her doctorate in Pardo, Jill Hertzberg and Claire
psychology at George Washington LaBriola with teachers Chris Myers
’00 and Jane Graham; also pictured
University in May. Their son, are Kevin Abernethy ’95, Scott
Bracken, will be attending law Henwood ’95 and Kelly Garges ’97.
school this fall.
Summer in the City
The fifth annual Summer in the City gathering occurred on June 9 at 5 Seasons
Westside. The event raised more than $3,545 benefiting the Alumni Association
Summer Scholars Program. More than 200 alumni attended.
SPRING/SUMMER 2011 17
ClassNotes+
AlumniUpdates ’83 Jeff Hannon is mov-
ing from the Atlanta
area to Vienna, Va., this
summer with his wife, Katherine,
and their children. Jeff, a lieuten-
2011-2012
Alumni Association
Board of Directors
’81 Jeffrey H.
Stepakoff’s book
“Fireworks Over
Toccoa” was recently released in
ant colonel in the Army, is leaving
his position with U.S. Army Forces
Command for an assignment in
the Pentagon as a speechwriter
paperback. His new novel, “The for the Chief of Staff of the Army.
Executive Committee Orchard,” was officially slated for Katherine will resume working as
release in July. a psychologist in northern Virginia.
• Simon Arpiarian ’94, President Jeff’s oldest stepson, Christopher
• Carlos Moreno ’82, Zimmerman, graduated from
’82
Vice President
Candy Shaw Codner, Milton High School in May and
• Robbie Ashe ’93, Treasurer owner of Jamison starts at the University of Rhode
• Jack Rhodes ’93, Secretary Shaw Hairdressers in Island this fall. Jeff and Katherine’s
• Mary Moore ’87, Atlanta, was selected to style hair other children are Charlotte, 15;
Advisory Member
for Carrie Underwood’s wedding Reed, 10; Alec, 7; and Cooper, 7.
• Anthony Webb ’99, at the Ritz Carlton at Lake Oconee.
Advisory Member
Underwood requested Candy
Directors
• Jean Verdel Alexander ’76
• Mike Blackstock ’93
after she had done the wedding
of Tiffany Fallon, former Miss
Georgia and Atlanta Falcons cheer-
leader, and Joe Don Rooney of
’84 Carroll Farber
Ericson earned her
Certified Insurance
Service Representative designa-
• Mason Lee Cardwell ’98 the band Rascal Flatts. Candy and tion. She works for Liberty Mutual
• Todd Ellenberger ’93 her husband, Fred, have two sons Insurance as a service agent.
• Blake Ivey ’87 Jamison ’07 and Jesse ’10. Their
• Daphne Bryson Jackson ’81 daughter, Jenna, will enter the fifth Greg Graves continues to serve
• Valaurie Bridges Lee ’90 grade at Woodward in the fall. in the Army with U.S. Central
• Damian Pryor ’99 Command at MacDill Air Force
Donna Jones Llanes retired Base in Tampa, Fla. Greg and his
from Delta Air Lines in September family moved there in 2009 follow-
2008 after 23 years of service as ing his year-long deployment to
a flight attendant. She is living in Iraq. He was promoted to colonel
the Atlanta area and traveling with last June and hopes to be in Tampa
her husband, Steve. She also is for at least another year. In the
www.woodward.edu/go/alumni enjoying a new career with Julie photo, Wya Graves and General
Willard & Associates after becom- David Petraeus pin new silver
Log into the Woodward Alumni ing certified as a court reporter in eagles on Col. Greg Graves’ shoul-
Net Community to submit Class the state of Georgia in 2008. Her ders as he is promoted. q
Notes, read alumni news, check daughter, Rachel, 17, graduated in
out upcoming events and more. May from Eagles Landing Christian
Academy, where her son, Matt, 15,
Join our Facebook Fan Page is a rising junior.
“Woodward Academy/GMA
Alumni Association”
Parents of Alumni: If your child
no longer lives at your address,
please notify the Alumni Office
(alumni@woodward.edu or Over the past two years, Woodward has experienced
404.765.4035) of his/her new a 63 percent increase in requests for student financial
mailing address, and let us aid. Because of these increased requests, all gifts to the
know if you would like to con- Woodward Alumni Fund will support student financial aid. You may
tinue to receive this publication. donate online at www.woodward/edu/alumni or contact the Alumni
Office at 404.765.4035 or alumni@woodward.edu for more information.
18 W O O D WA R D A C A D E M Y
www.woodward.edu/alumni
most enjoyed being able to wear
her favorite hats on air. Tracie is a
Capitol Hill-based correspondent on staff at Woodward since 1997.
for NBC News Channel, the affiliate The McIvers also celebrated Becca
division of NBC News. She lives in earning her Girl Scout Gold Award
Maryland with her husband, Derek, with three other girls in her troop
a general contractor, and two the same weekend.
school-aged children.
’85 p Sally
Samantha
M. Smith graduated
last May from the
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of
Russ and Patty McIver, along
with Jo McIver ’66, presented
Becca McIver with her diploma
during the Academy’s 2011
’88 Andrew D. Lewis
was promoted
to Executive Vice
President of the Georgia Charter
Nursing at Emory University with Commencement. It was a very Schools Association (GCSA).
a bachelor’s degree in nursing. special day for the family as Becca GCSA is the advocacy organiza-
She works at Emory University is the third generation graduate tion and resource group for the
Hospital as a transplant nurse with and follows her dad with a first state’s charter public school sector.
the kidney/liver transplant teams. for the school. Russ McIver was Charter schools are public schools
She enjoys working out at CrossFit the first graduate of an alumna, of choice, allowed to operate with
and training for road races and and Becca is now the first grand- more flexibility and autonomy in
triathlons. She recently completed child of an alumna to graduate exchange for higher accountability.
the Spartan Race, her first mini- from Woodward. Patty has been Andrew and his wife, Alisa, live in
adventure race. Decatur with their two children,
Ansel, 8, and Analisa, 6.
’87 Tracie Finley Potts
reported on the royal
wedding for NBC. She
reported from Trafalgar Square,
Juliana Zorka Thomas has
developed and created a nonprofit,
Awaken the Arts, an outreach
program for at-risk teens gifted
where 20,000 people gathered to in the visual and performing arts
watch the wedding service a few who are seeking careers in the arts.
blocks away at Westminster Abbey. Awaken the Arts provides a venue
During that week, Tracie provided for learning technique and getting
more than 160 live reports from the studio time, mentoring, portfolio
Square, the Abbey and Buckingham help and, ultimately, help with the
Palace. A Southern girl at heart, she college admissions process.
’89 Grant F. Christians
(far right) had a great
weekend of skiing in
Upcoming N O V E M B ER The keynote speaker
February in Vail, Colo., with other
Woodward alumni. The group
Events 11
for Veterans Day
ceremonies on
hopes to make this an annual event.
Pictured with Grant are, left to right:
November 11 will Jason Morris ’89, Monica Bifano
OC T O B E RMark Your Calendars be Maj. Daniel ’89 and Brandon Causey ’89. q
for Homecoming M. Gade, formerly commanding
/
29 30 2011: October
29-30, 2011. Check
officer of Lt. Tyler Hall Brown
’96, a Woodward alumnus who
your mail for details lost his life in 2004 in Iraq, where
about the reunion for the classes Maj. Gage lost his leg in a roadside
of 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, bombing. Maj. Gade is finishing up
1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006. If you a Ph.D. and will begin teaching this
are interested in volunteering for fall at West Point, his alma mater.
your class reunion committee,
please send an email to alumni@
woodward.edu. For more information about events, ClassNotes continues on next page
please call 404.765.4035 or email
alumni@woodward.edu. 19
ClassNotes+
AlumniUpdates ’98 Zebulon K. Chandler
recently graduated
from Atlanta’s John
Marshall Law School. He plans on
practicing music and entertain-
’90 Holly M. Fletcher, a
Delta flight attendant
and Oglethorpe teach-
ing graduate student, attended the
Richard E. Shelor and Howard
Hsu ’95 started Sweet Auburn
BBQ, which is located in Downtown
Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Market.
ment law in Georgia. While in law
school, he continued to develop
his business, DJ Atlas Productions.
Under his alias “DJ Atlas,” he has
Class of 1990 reunion in fall 2010. appeared at a variety of Atlanta
“It was great to reconnect with Darryl A. Trell is a TV producer nightclubs and produced private
lots of old friends,” she writes. “It living in Culver City, Calif., with events. This
was especially fun to take a private his wife of five years, Laurie. This spring, he
tour of Woodward’s campus with year, he created and executive- was DJ at
Dean Rusty Slider ’75 and John produced the hit FOX TV show, the 2011
Dowhy ’90.” “Mobbed,” with Howie Mandel. Woodward
The show has been picked up Prom.
Andrew J. Welch has been with an eight-episode order and
elected to serve as the State will start airing around the holiday
Representative for the 110th months. Darryl started his own
District in the Georgia House of production company, Smoke and
Representatives. Rep. Welch was Mirrors Creative, and looks back
selected to serve on the Children
and Youth, Education and Judiciary
Committees.
on his time in the WATV studios
as the beginning of it all.
’99 Justin H. Alexander
received his M.B.A.
from the Wharton
School of the University of
Yvonne C. Yancy was named
by Mayor Kasim Reed to be the
new Commissioner of Human
Resources for the City of Atlanta.
’96 Ashley Baker
Brannen and her
husband, Chad, are
practicing law together in the
Pennsylvania in 2010. While at
Wharton, he was elected president
of the Wharton African American
M.B.A. Association and served as a
Yvonne brings more than 16 years greater Atlanta area and just fin- graduate assistant in the Wharton
of public and private sector experi- ished building a home in Chastain M.B.A. Admissions Office. In
ence in both union and non-union Park. Ashley and Chad have three 2009, he completed a successful
workplace environments. She most children, Candler Barnes Brannen, stint as co-chair of Harvard Black
recently served as a Vice President, 6; Carson Baker Brannen, 3; and Alumni Weekend. Last summer,
Human Resources Business Ellery Grace Brannen, 17 months. he returned to the Atlanta area to
Partner, with SunTrust Bank. join the corporate strategy team at
Tricia Patterson received an InterContinental Hotels Group.
award from the Forward Arts
’95 Brian P. Schiltz,
pitmaster and founder
of Smokesouth, was
named one of Charleston, S.C.’s
Foundation given annually to
an emerging artist. The win-
ner receives $10,000 and a solo
show at the Swan Coach House
Brit A. Baines is the new head of
wardrobe on the 25th anniversary
tour of “Les Miserables.” She has
been with “Beauty and the Beast”
2010 and 2011 Signature Chefs by Gallery. Tricia studied at the Atlanta for 15 months. She plans to stay on
the March of Dimes. He and his College of Art and earned a B.F.A. tour until December and then settle
team compete nationally in several at Georgia State University in down after three and a half years on
different food competitions and are 2004 and an M.F.A. at the San the road.
two-time “Top Hand” award-win- Francisco Art Institute in 2009. Her
ning chefs at the Texas Steak Cook- work is being shown at the Young Alan K. Hosley
off, featured on the Food Network. Blood Gallery this summer. In the is founder and
He is a certified barbeque judge spring, she conducted a workshop abbot of the
by the Kansas City Barbeque for Woodward Upper School art Order of St.
Society and winner of several bar- students. Tricia is the daughter Anthony the
beque competition awards. Brian of Susan Patterson ’65 and a Great. He has
and his team were featured food descendant of Woodward found- been accepted
artists at Charleston’s Guerrilla ers Col. John Charles and Lucile as a postu-
Cuisine in December 2010 and Woodward. lant for Holy
again in June 2011. Orders for the
20 W O O D WA R D A C A D E M Y
www.woodward.edu/alumni
alumni spotlight
Alumnus Wins M.B.A. Fellowship
Anthony M. Webb ’99 will begin the pursuit of his M.B.A. at the Yale
School of Management this fall. Anthony was selected as a Consortium
Fellow, a full tuition and fees scholarship award that covers the nearly
$100,000 cost of the program.
The fellowship was awarded a nonprofit organization that promotes the social and
by the largest single M.B.A. professional development of youth.
scholarship fund in the world, Anthony credits his Woodward experience, which
The Consortium for Graduate began in the eighth grade, with supporting him
Study in Management. This and preparing him well. “I had the opportunity to
year, the group awarded nearly $21 million in fellow- be taught by some of the greatest teachers in the
ships to 323 business school applicants, mostly under- country and build friendships with amazing people
represented minorities. such as Paul Billingsly ’99 [Consortium Fellow and
An advisory member and former Vice President 2009 Emory Goizueta graduate] who was my mentor
of the Woodward Alumni Board, Anthony is a 2003 through the business school application process.
graduate of Dartmouth College and a 2006 graduate The discipline and work ethic that Woodward instilled
of the University of Chicago Law School. He currently in me is a large part of who I am today, and I am truly
practices law at DLA Piper LLP in Midtown Atlanta. He excited about the future of the Academy under our
is also the founder and CEO of Boys Speak Out, Inc., current leadership.”
’99 Alan K. Hosley continued at Appalachian State University, Tiffany M. O’Neill has completed
where she will continue to educate her third year teaching Spanish
Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. He pre-service teachers and school at Landmark Christian School in
will be entering seminary in the psychologists and delve further into Fairburn. She is engaged to be
fall of 2012. He is also curator for her research on academic motiva- married to Ben Reed, a partner at
the Grey Parrot Gallery of rare tion and engagement in children. West Reed, a marketing and brand-
books and maps in Buckhead, for ing agency based in Atlanta. Tiffany
which he was featured as the book currently lives in Atlanta with her
specialist in several episodes of
“Auction Kings” on the Discovery
Channel this past year. ’01 Victoria M. Beltran
graduated from Emory
University with a mas-
ter’s degree in public health in 2009.
sister, Christy O’Neill ’04.
Darren P. Rivas finished up her
two-year commitment to Teach For
Lauren D. Johnson was nomi- Since then, she has held a number America in June and will be mov-
nated for an Emmy award for her of fellowships at the Centers for ing to Boston to attend Harvard
work on a health story about HPV. Disease Control and is currently Business School in the fall.
The piece, “Hope Without A Cure,” working as a program evaluator
was a detailed look at a deadly contractor in the Division of Oral Kathryn E. Romeyn is now living
STD that causes cervical cancer Health. She lives in Atlanta and is in Los Angeles, Calif., working as
in women. Lauren is a general the proud aunt of Charlotte, 2, and senior editor at Riviera magazine, a
assignment reporter at WHBQ in Samantha and Anna, 5-month-old luxury lifestyle magazine in Orange
Memphis, Tenn. twins, daughters of Carla Beltran County. She is also freelancing
York ’96 and Jared York ’96. for the Los Angeles Times, writing
Lindsay Barr Masland graduated bridal trend and wedding stories.
from the University of Georgia with
a Ph.D. in school psychology in
May. She is excited to move with
her husband, Caleb, and her two-
year-old son, Camden, to Boone,
’02 Jennifer M.
Chrisman is living in
Atlanta and working
with an investment consulting firm.
Ingram S. Smith is writing
for a college football web site
that he started.
N.C. Beginning this summer, She also is working part-time on ClassNotes continues on next page
Lindsay will start a position as an her M.B.A. in finance from Georgia
assistant professor of psychology State University.
SPRING/SUMMER 2011 21
ClassNotes+
AlumniUpdates
Starring Zelda Williams and Ryan
Carnes, “Stupid Questions” is an
official selection at the New York
International Film Festival.
alumni spotlight
’03 Jessie B. Kahnweiler
lives in Los Angeles.
She works in film and
television at Bad Robot Productions.
Evan V. Watts recently finished
a master of science in real estate
development and a master of archi-
tecture from Columbia University.
She recently made a short film He is working at Tamarkin Co., a
called “Stupid Questions,” about boutique design and development
a young, feisty casting assistant firm specializing in residential and
who holds phony casting session commercial construction, primarily
in an effort to find her dream guy. in New York City.
‘Walking with KPeasey’
Brent Pease ’01 and Evan Pease Evan and Brent made it so easy we have as brothers and edged
’03 joined their brother, Kyle and fun to help make a dream into us toward bigger goals together,
(Evan’s twin), in running, biking a reality for me. Crossing the finish as brothers.
and swimming their way to a line was the best. I was so happy
dream this spring. and overjoyed with excitement. What are your plans for the future?
Kyle was diagnosed with cerebral Why did you decide to do this Kyle: Our future plans are to
palsy at a young age and lives together? continue down this amazing path,
primarily in a wheelchair. This has race a lot more, hopefully do an
not prevented him from graduat- Evan: This idea came about Ironman one day and start a busi-
ing college, holding three jobs because we wanted to spend time ness doing racing and motiva-
and inspiring others to follow together. All of our lives, we have tional speaking.
their dreams with his motivational been close, but as we get older it
speaking. His brothers helped is tougher to find time to get all What has been the impact
him achieve his own dream of three of us together. We wanted of Woodward on your lives?
becoming an athlete by participat- to do something we all enjoyed
ing with him in the St. Anthony’s doing together. It was not ever Evan: Immense. Every passing
Olympic Triathlon in Florida in about interviews or TV specials. It year makes me appreciate how
May. (As a lead-up to that event, truly was always about us hang- much Woodward has played a
the brothers participated in the ing out together. role in my success. I was so well
Georgia Publix Half-Marathon in prepared for college. I think the
March.) The brothers’ story was How did this experience with your social aspects have allowed me
followed by 11Alive. brothers affect you? to have the huge support network
I have today and the friendships
Following is a brief Q&A with the Brent: Being able to compete with that I still maintain. Some of those
Pease brothers: my brothers was an experience Woodward friends were out there
unlike any other. Throughout any cheering with us at the races.
We understand it has been Kyle’s endurance race, certain moments
dream to be an athlete, and Evan always stick out. For me, that Brent: From the discipline
and Brent helped to achieve that moment was exiting the water instilled in the classrooms and the
dream. Can you describe the after the swim portion, and Evan athletic teams, I learned how to
experience and how it felt when being right there waiting to help. conduct and handle myself. I look
you crossed the finish line? It summed up the entire day— back now and truly appreciate the
the three of us working together impact Woodward had on shap-
Kyle: The experience was amaz- toward the ultimate goal. The race ing who I am today.
ing. I finally felt like a true athlete. only added to the commitment
22 W O O D WA R D A C A D E M Y
www.woodward.edu/alumni
’04 Preston M. Kendall
is working on his
a year working as a manager at
Dick’s Sporting Goods in Charlotte,
master’s degree in civil
engineering at Georgia Tech and
expects to graduate in May 2012.
He was awarded funding from the
N.C., she accepted the position
of merchandise manager at Lee
Sports Incorporated in Loganville,
Ga. She lives in the metro Atlanta
’07 Shelley N. Adams
received a bachelor’s
degree in business
administration with a concentra-
Joe S. Mundy Endowment to travel area with her two Shih Tzus, tion in marketing from Howard
to Paraguay and assist a beekeeping London and Kingsley. University on May 14, 2011.
cooperative. He will live in Paraguay Shelley plans to remain in the
for three months this summer. The Sarah B. Weinstein lives in Austin, Washington, D.C., area.
goals of the trip are to develop, Texas, and works as the public rela-
improve and implement production tions manager for the city’s largest Justin C. Berger graduated from
and processing equipment. pet rescue and advocacy organiza- Elon University on May 21, 2011,
tion, Austin Pets Alive. She will with a B.A. in Media Arts and
Christy M. O’Neill graduated from return to school in the fall to work Entertainment.
Samford University’s McWhorter toward a master’s degree in adver-
School of Pharmacy in May 2010. tising at the University of Texas. ClassNotes continues on next page
She is now a pharmacist at a Publix
in Newnan. Christy lives in Atlanta
with her sister, Tiffany O’Neill ’02.
Shayla A. Seibles graduated from
the University of South Carolina
’05 James D. McNash
graduated with a B.S.
degree and high honors
in May 2010 and then earned his
in 2009 with a bachelor of science master’s in civil engineering from
in retail management and fashion Georgia Tech on May 8, 2011. He is
merchandising. After more than job hunting and living in Atlanta.
alumni spotlight
‘Woodward Cares’ in Action
Following is an excerpt from a letter to Sandy Adamek, the Upper School teacher who coordi-
nates “Woodward Cares,” a program that sends care packages to alumni in military service:
Dear Mrs. Adamek and Woodward Cares,
Thank you so much for the generous care packages touched reading about their hopes and interests—
during my deployment to Iraq. I am now returned about their piano lessons and the new songs they were
to the States and have the time to thank those who learning, how some wanted to participate in track and
pushed me through one of my greatest personal field like I did or how they had even seen my picture
challenges. Your support of me and my fellow ser- in a yearbook. I was humbled that such talented and
vice members made our lives drastically easier and hopeful young students had expressed interest in fol-
happier. It may be hard to believe, but simple things lowing similar career paths or hobbies. I was brought
like toothbrushes and hand sanitizer really were a to tears that night, but it wasn’t from being homesick.
tremendous help. Those letters gave me a new reason to stay motivated.
Woodward Cares sent me a package for the holidays I kept them through my deployment, and I now have
which arrived around Christmas. I had obstinately tried them saved in a scrapbook.
to ignore Christmas altogether so I wouldn’t miss my This is just one instance of the encouragement
family so much. My homesickness hit me hard dur- you brought countless deployed individuals such as
ing my walk alone back to my barracks on Christmas myself. Keep up the good work. We’ve still got guys
Eve. Trying to distract myself from the rising lump and gals over there.
in my throat, I dug into a box from Woodward Cares
and picked up some letters dated on my birthday Very respectfully,
from Woodward North third graders. I was absolutely Jackie Burns, Class of 2005
For more information about Woodward Cares, email Mrs. Adamek at sandy.adamek@woodward.edu.
SPRING/SUMMER 2011 23
ClassNotes 1992
Susan A. Laney
is an artist living
in Savannah with
her husband,
Frank Ellsworth,
and their daughter,
Stella, who was
born November
13, 2010. Susan
is the director of the Oglethorpe p Michael L. Harrison and his
Gallery. She recently established wife welcomed Miller Langston
Laney Contemporary Fine Art Harrison, who was born on
’07 continued from page 23 Consulting. February 5, 2011.
’07 Tahir S. Haque
graduated from the
biomedical engineer-
ing program at Georgia Tech. In
Ayana Hardnett Stallings
and her husband are excited to
announce the birth of their first
child. Caleb is a New Year’s baby,
Lisa Pruitt Mundy and her
husband, Ross, welcomed their
third baby to the world on March
23, 2011. Sara Elisabeth joined
his final year, he took a yearlong born January 1, 2011. Ella Grace, 6, and Jake, 3. Lisa and
design course, which involves Ross celebrated 11 years of mar-
teams designing devices to solve riage in June. q
a unique problem presented by
1993
an outside company or university. Becky Steinmark Erwin and her
His team designed a device, the husband, Ryan, welcomed a baby
CardioScout, for minimally inva- girl, Ansley Elizabeth Erwin, on
sive cardiac surgery, in conjunc- March 31, 2011. She joins big brother
tion with St. Joseph’s Translational Noah, 3. The family lives in Atlanta.
Research Institute. The project has
been extremely successful and has
filed for a full patent.
1995
Elizabeth Thwaite Browne,
Samuel Q. Long plays for the her husband, Clayton, and son,
Navy Baseball Team as the left- Clark, 2 ½, welcomed Charles Stephanie Simpson Nalley and
handed pitcher. He has been Thwaite Browne to the family on her husband, Street Nalley, wel-
named Louisville Slugger National February 3, 2011. comed baby James Weston Nalley
Player of the Week, ECAC Pitcher to the world May 10, 2011.
of the Week and Patriot League
Pitcher of the Week. q
’08 Joshua D. Cohen is
a current undergradu-
ate at MIT and was
selected as a 2011 Barry M.
Goldwater Scholar. This scholar-
ship provides up to $7,500 per year
’09 Ashish R. Gandhi was
recently elected to be
the next president of the
College Council for the governing
for educational expenses to sopho- association for the undergraduate
mores and juniors who intend to College at Emory University. This is
pursue careers in mathematics, the a unique position because it’s not
natural sciences or engineering. often that a rising junior is elected.
Bianca M. Whitten graduated The position is usually reserved for a
from Georgia Tech with a busi- Adam M. Meyer is currently a rising senior. Ashish served as SGA
ness management degree. She will junior at Vanderbilt double majoring President at Woodward.
travel to Uganda this summer to in human and organizational devel-
work on micro-finance initiatives opment and political science. He will
and help with setting up a school. serve as the next Vanderbilt Student
She will be attending the LSU Government president. He also
School of Medicine in New Orleans serves on the executive boards of
beginning in August. the Inter-fraternity Council and Hillel.
24 W O O D WA R D A C A D E M Y
www.woodward.edu/alumni
2001
i do Lacy Garrison Gow married Brit
Gordon Gow on August 27, 2010, in
the vineyard at Saddle Rock Ranch
2003
Mary Ellen Suitt Barnwell and
in Malibu, Calif. She also passed Brian Montgomery Barnwell of
the July 2010 California bar exam. Orangeburg, S.C., were married
She lives in March 26 in Clinton, S.C. She is a
London but graduate of Furman University and
1995 will be relo- the Arnold School of Public Health
Brande Singleton Jeidy married cating for her at the University of South Carolina.
Craig Jeidy on October 2, 2010. husband’s She is employed by Colonial Life
job to Perth, Insurance Company in Columbia,
Australia, in S.C., as a wellness coordinator.
August.
2006
Hayley S. McNash married Scott
Lowe of Trion, Ga., on May 14, 2011,
at Southwest Christian Church in
Audrey Roberts Smith mar- East Point. Jeni Bangma ’06 and
ried Josh Smith at Chateau Elan Jacqueline Bangma ’06 were
in Braselton on October 2, 2010. bridesmaid and maid of honor.
Lauren Roberts ’01 was the maid Since June 2010, Hayley has been
1996 of honor. Other Woodward alumni employed as an interior designer
Erin Weber Christopher married in attendance were John Carter at DeKalb Office Environments in
William Christopher on April 3 in ’01, Robbie Alpharetta, where she was named
Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The couple Moody ’01 Designer of the Year. Hayley and
lives in Atlanta and both work in the and Matt Scott live in Dawsonville between
advertising and marketing industry. Swope North Georgia College, where Scott
’01. Audrey will enter the Doctor of Physical
and Josh Therapy program, and her office.
1998 now live in
Lindsay Breece Arehart married Griffin.
Corey Allen Arehart on September
25, 2010, on a beautiful fall day in
Breckenridge, Colo.
’09 continued
Te’Jah D. Gowins is finishing
his fourth semester at Berklee
College of Music. He is the percus-
’10 Carl W. Jackson
was honored at
Woodward’s spring
athletics banquet when his No. 24 where he is an engineering major
sionist in a band, China Fox. This lacrosse jersey was retired. Carl and a redshirt freshman cornerback
summer he will be touring around holds Woodward’s career records in for the Hokie football team under
Boston and working in music boys lacrosse for scoring, ground- Coach Frank Beamer.
production. balls and
assists and Victoria A. Polo has been
Ashley E. Riggs was part of the received All- selected by the DukeEngage pro-
2011 Georgia Southern University State and All- gram to participate in an immersive
All-Girl Cheerleading Team that won Region honors civic engagement opportunity over
the NCA National Championship throughout the summer in Charlotte, N.C. The
in Daytona Beach, Fla., on April 8, his lacrosse program allows students to gain
2011. Her sister Shelby Riggs ’10 career. He exposure to a spectrum of experi-
also was part of the all-girl team. is a rising ences from hands-on teaching of
This is the second national champi- sophomore at at-risk children to the development
onship for the all-girl team. Virginia Tech, of system reform efforts.
SPRING/SUMMER 2011 25
SPOTLIGHT
‘Mending Hearts’
A
t the age of nine, Dr. Nguyenvu “Winston” Nguyen ’90 left Vietnam with his family
for the United States. The Nguyen family spent one year in refugee camps in Malaysia
and the Philippines before settling in College Park. In the sixth grade, Dr. Nguyen was
admitted to Woodward Academy, a place that he now refers to as his home for intellectual
and personal development.
Growing up in war-time Vietnam, Green Foundation. During that
Dr. Nguyen says he and his family year, he collected artworks and
never knew what each day might oral histories from refugee camps
bring. All of that changed when he in Southeast Asia. “The project
came to the U.S. and Woodward helped put my personal experi-
Academy. For the first time in his ence with the Vietnam War into the
life, he felt safe to live and envision larger context of global conflicts,
a future. which often lead to community
“My whole world opened up in displacement and poverty.”
non-threatening and limitless dimen- Though Dr. Nguyen considered a
sions,” says Dr. Nguyen. He recalls career in politics, he found his true
the time he spent in Carlos Library, calling in medicine. As a Woodruff
reading for the first time about fellow, he attended medical school
Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian cul- at Emory University. Today, Dr.
ture; where he also relished learning Nguyen practices pediatric cardiol-
Latin, English literature and biologi- ogy at Children’s Memorial Hospital
cal sciences. He took advantage of at Northwestern University in
AP classes, played in the orchestra for him because of the rich educa- Chicago.
and was a member of the wrestling tion and expansive introduction to Dr. Nguyen is passionate about
and track teams. He also served on world perspectives that Harvard global health and participates in
the Honors Council. offers. “I was surrounded and humanitarian programs, donating
“I am grateful for the cul- nurtured by people who dream his time, expertise and resources
tural diversity that existed at often and dared to execute their to support and develop pediatric
Woodward,” says Dr. Nguyen. dreams,” he recalls. cardiac programs in developing
“Not only was the student demo- During college, Mrs. Sanchez countries—mainly in Vietnam.
graphic diverse; our education was encouraged him to follow his Because of the financial aid
thoughtful and reflective of the heart’s calling and travel to India. offered at Woodward, Harvard and
world at large.” Dr. Nguyen received a letter of invi- Emory and other grants received
Dr. Nguyen remembers Director tation from Mother Teresa to travel throughout medical school, Dr.
of College Counseling Missy and document his experience in Nguyen was able to choose his
Sanchez as someone who made Calcutta, the City of Joy. “I was try- career based on what is fulfilling
a profound impact on his life on ing to figure out my identity,” says for him. In his work as a pediatric
multiple occasions. “From Mrs. Dr. Nguyen of his travels. “Taking cardiologist, Dr. Nguyen feels he is
Sanchez, I learned more than how care of sick and dying people and using his education in the service
to do well on testing and evaluate experiencing one-on-one interac- of others and mending the hearts
admissions criteria from colleges,” tion with my fellow mankind when of children.
said Dr. Nguyen. “I learned to they were most broken, that was “I obtained an education to
believe in the power of one indi- a privilege. I learned how to be develop and support a dream. For
vidual to articulate his own voice fragile and powerful at the same someone who grew up during
and connect with others through time, which impacts how I practice wartime, I was fortunate to have
common human experiences.” medicine today.” the opportunities to pursue higher
Dr. Nguyen received his under- After Harvard, Dr. Nguyen learning for its own sake as well as
graduate degree at Harvard completed a public service fel- to put all that education into action
University. It was the right choice lowship funded by the Echoing to benefit others,” he says.
26 W O O D WA R D A C A D E M Y