Hood Class of 1979 News

The biggest news is that the Class of 1979  gathered to celebrate our 40th (!?!) reunion on campus in June – it was SPECTACULAR.  What a bunch of amazing woman we are and if you weren’t there, we missed you and want to see you next time – specifically Donna Mishkin, Ruth Sikora, Ginny Roth, Cindy Guy Clark, and Sarah Stigelman Carroll, and you, insert-your-name-here.

There was a lot of laughing and connecting – we enjoyed ourselves fully and LOVED being back in Frederick which is way swankier than it was back in the day.

Many of us are grandmothers, some happily retired, many are immersed in eldercare.  Some, like Anne Kelley, are on second careers – Anne is now a librarian in Nashville, TN.  As different as our lives may seem, we were reminded that inside, we are all feeling very much the same as we embark upon life in our 60’s.

We were there in person to celebrate with classmate Cindy Nofziger as she received the 2019 Distinguished Alumna award.   Cindy leveraged her work as a Peace Corps Volunteer and founded Schools for Salone, an organization dedicated to improving education in West Africa’s Sierra Leone.   Nothing by chance they say – through her recent work in Sierra Leone, Cindy connected with a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, Jillian Jones, who, as it turns out is a Hood Alum too – 2012.   What are the chances?

We all loved remembering and reminiscing and find that, even though we were not in the same dorm or same classes, 40 years later it all morphs and blends together – it is the common thread of Hood College that will be connecting us together forever.

Awesome campus.

Awesome people.

We are grateful.

See you next reunion!

BE SURE TO JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE – look up Hood College Class of 1979 and come on in!

2016
Justin Fox ’16 Jmf12@hood.edu

Sarah Marcello is now working as the Corporate Communications Specialist at Stryker’s Spine Division. Elizabeth Palena graduated from Rutgers with a Masters in Information and is now a full-time Librarian. She attended the New Jersey Library Association conference this year. Laura Shriver Talis is still a Grant Writer in Baltimore, MD. She married Paul Talis ’17 in May and the two recently celebrated their one-year house anniversary in Towson, MD. Justin Fox started a new position as the Program Director for Summer Sessions at Georgetown University. Erin Murray is working as a Teacher’s Assistant at a special education school while pursuing a Masters in Infant and Toddler Early Childhood Special Education at St. Joseph’s College on Long Island, NY. Connor Asman thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018. He started a new job in Northern Virginia as a Marketing Production Specialist for Ratner Companies. Jiselle Lopez is working as a Search Engine Optimization Administrator for Pearson Online & Blended Learning. She also adopted a cat. Jason Dagenhart has been teaching high school history for a few years and will be starting law school in the fall. Caitlin Fay Smith is still teaching first grade. She and her husband just had their first baby, a boy named August Monroe Smith. Javier Zavala is working as a Counselor and Case manager at Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County working with high school age students experiencing homelessness. Javier has also been promoting his mandala art in the Frederick community and had his work on display at Frederick Coffee Co. for the month of July. Michele Cirrincione finished her third year teaching and will be moving from teaching fifth to fourth grade for the 2019 – 2020 school year. Allen Paxton graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law. He is currently studying for the Bar Exam and is working for the Cannabis Law Practice Group at Greenspoon Marder LLP in Denver, CO. Leah Hull has been working in healthcare administration and traveling but plans to pursue a Masters soon. Last summer she got engaged to Jonathan Moughty ‘13. The two currently live in Frederick, MD with their five pets. Lydia Emory joined the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program in fall 2018 to teach English to high school students in Kagoshima, Japan. She plans to continue teaching in Japan until August 2020. Ashlee Metzger started a position as a Physician Assistant at a family medicine practice in Southern Pennsylvania. Lauren Miller graduated with her J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and will clerk for the Honorable Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera of the Maryland Court of Appeals. After, she will become a second year associate at Venable LLP. Yan Karavai is working as a Business Analyst at Fannie Mae and finishing an MBA at Hood. Yan welcomed a daughter in May. Cara Dye and Patrick O’Leary ‘16 got engaged in Italy this past November and are moving to Baltimore, MD. Cara is still enjoying teaching in Howard County. Caitlin Clark will be finishing a Masters at Penn State this December. After, she is considering moving to a new city to start her career in Organization Development and Change! Sienna Bronson graduated with a Masters of Liberal Studies from Arizona State University in May and has accepted a full-time math teaching position at GateWay Early College High School.

2015
Sarah Tapscott Rosier
301-807-7821
Sarah.Tapscott12@gmail.com

Hi all!  I am counting down the days until our 5-year reunion!  How crazy is that?  Keep an eye out on Facebook and email for more information about the reunion.  You may see a few emails directly from me!  I can definitely say that things are ramping up for us all as we’ve either settled, moved, re-invented, or a combination thereof.  Justin Cifuentes married his fiancé, Sarah, on August 8^th in upstate New York.  He also finished his 3^rd year of teaching 8^th grade English in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.  Jordan Fridenmaker, after graduating from John Hopkins in 2017, moved to Denver, Colorado and has been working as an ICU nurse.  Adding to his accolades, he became a flight nurse.  He also wanted to include that though he has not gotten married, bought a house, or had kids, he did adopt another cat, though.  Kacy Strasser completed her first year of full-time teaching at Oakdale Middle in Ijamsville, MD where she teaches 7^th grade Creative Arts.  She is excited to be the yearbook adviser next year! She also spends countless hours at Oakdale High School as a color guard tech and is finishing up her Master’s at Hood in Curriculum & Instruction, graduating spring 2020.  Cecelia Lee recently became the Events Coordinator at Vanish Brewery in Leesburg, Virginia. She is devising an original abstract theater piece at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre called, “Transcend Receive.”  Regginald Daniels completed his Masters at Hood.  Julianne Berg is starting her 3^rd year with the Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital.  She has successfully directed both a Spring Break and Summer camp for the organization, giving over 200 girls the chance to experience Girl Scouting.  Blair Tetter Schnapp has been substitute teaching for elementary schools in Frederick County.  She hopes to get a full-time teaching position with FCPS.  Blair and her husband, Ben Schnapp, bought a house together in Frederick in August 2017, then got married on October 5^th, 2018 at Dutch’s Daughter, a popular Frederick restaurant and venue.  Courtney Smith is still teaching 2^nd grade in College Park.  She began in 2017 and loves it!  Travis Gilbert presented at the North Carolina Museum Council’s 2019 Conference on Hurricane Florence recovery at Old Baldy Lighthouse. He is learning to surf and is competing in his first sprint triathlon this fall.  As for myself, Sarah Tapscott Rosier, Owen Rosier ’16 and I finally got married on June 8^th 2019 and the day was perfect in every way.  I am moving on to the next project, of course, because I absolutely cannot help myself.  We’re hoping on going on a honeymoon to Europe next year! Please continue to send me updated mailing and email addresses, or to remove any outdated info.

2014
Bianca Padilla
bianca.e.padilla@gmail.com

Hey all! Reunion weekend was lots of fun. It was great to see familiar faces and reminisce on our times at Hood. Here is what we are up to!

Emily Singleton Dimeler and her husband, Josh, are expecting their baby girl in November 2019. Olivia Sledzik is getting married in September in Narragansett, RI. She and her fiancé bought a 104 year old home in Warwick, RI and are having a blast restoring it. Chelsea Young moved to North Carolina recently and got married.  She started coaching CrossFit along with nutrition and personal programming for her full-time job. Bianca Padilla is a 5th grade science, social studies, and writing teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland. She continues to certify people to become MixxedFit instructors at her trainings as a National Trainer. Kate Kopasek Black graduated from Notre Dame of Maryland University in May with her Master of Nonprofit Management degree. Kate and her husband just bought and moved into their first home in early July. Emily Kraatz Adesina married the love of her life, Segun Adesina, in July 2018. She completed her masters degree in Education Leadership at Hood College in May 2019. She taught for 5 years with Frederick County Public Schools and came back to the Hood to work as the director of the Lab School preschool program. Have a wonderful summer Class of 2014!!

2013
Elaheh Eghbal
eeghbal14@gmail.com
Namaste, Class of 2013! As always, we’re continuing to lead beautiful and exciting lives. Elizabeth Garner Drummond and husband Scott Drummond welcomed their second baby girl, Cailin Faye Drummond, on April 9th 2019. Jordan Atha married Mikhael Weaver on March 8, 2019 in Washington County, Md. Kellie Duncan Clairmont and husband Matt welcomed their second daughter, Sadie Rose Clairmont on January 4, 2019. Andrea Zona Baker and husband James Baker ‘15 welcomed their second child, Avery Gabriella Baker…also born on January 4, 2019! Future members of the Hood College Class of 2041? Andrea is continuing her work with Frederick’s Woman to Woman Mentoring. In May, Mi’kea Bowie Hawkins received her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Teacher leadership. This July, she and her husband Adrian, will welcome their second child, a girl. Carly Oeller received her certificate in organizational management from the Hood College Graduate School. Breanne Carbaugh started a new position at Coastal Hospice where she’ll be a bereavement counselor working with children and teenagers who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Nicole Crutchfield Tabbachino, LMSW is opening The Orenda Center of Wellness this summer. The Orenda Center is an inpatient women’s substance abuse treatment facility and an outpatient women, men, and children’s substance abuse and mental health treatment facility. Inpatient services will be in Sabillasville, MD and outpatient services will be in Frederick, MD. Ashley Birdsell is enjoying her work in DC as the Director of Marketing and Sales at the National Theatre, is a board member for both Story District and Rorschach Theatre, and volunteers with the Smithsonian National Zoo. Amanda Blakeslee Darling and husband Will welcomed their daughter Emma Mae on June 16, 2019. Baby, Mom, Dad, Emma and big brother Willie are all doing well and look forward to the 2019 alumni field hockey game this coming fall. Aimee Smith wrapped up her 6th year as a Special Education Teacher for Heather Ridge School in Frederick County. She was named Heather Ridge School Teacher of the Year and Frederick County Public Schools Outstanding Special Educator of the Year. William Lewis is engaged to Robin Samek. He is also teaching theater and voice, directing shows, and has returned to the classroom for his secondary education teaching certificate! MJ Swicegood completed her PMP certification and was accepted into Johns Hopkins Masters of Biotechnology program. Nicola Sussman received her Masters in Reading Specialization at Hood and walked at commencement for a second time! I, Elaheh Eghbal, recently joined the team at Go2s, a social networking platform and the board for Aythos, an NGO that does work in Nepal and spent two weeks trekking through the Himalayan mountains. Keep soaring, everyone!

2012
Laura Saad Voelker
lauragvoelker@gmail.com
Ashley Nokes Reidenauer
adnokes@gmail.com

As always, the class of 2012 has lots of exciting news and updates! Katelyn Vu Brady married Shane Brady ’11 and lives in Virginia Beach, VA where she works as an attorney with Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP. Carley Altenburger completed her MA in the History of Decorative Arts at George Mason University and recently accepted the position of Assistant Librarian for the Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera at Winterthur Museum. Cara Dillon Clements celebrated her daughter’s first birthday and is looking forward to a new position in the Montgomery County Public Schools system. Edwin Franco is the owner of a small real estate business in partnership with Keller Williams Capital Properties in Springfield, VA. Courtney Fraser has two nephews and a niece and is a consultant for both ‘Usborne Books and More’ and ’31 Gifts’. Samantha Gertner celebrated her engagement to Francis Nebenburgh III last summer. They are getting married next spring in St. Martin where they shared their first date. Samantha’s private grief consulting business continues to grow. Lauren Hagan was promoted to senior digital marketing strategist at Immersion Active, a digital-first marketing agency in Downtown Frederick. Kelly Harris is working as a special education teacher at Bancroft. She has been married for almost 10 years and has 2 beautiful daughters, Sofia (5) and Charlotte (2). Rachael Conboy Harris had a baby, got married and is teaching special education. Jessica Henry is working at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and loving life in Boston, MA. Jose Sanchez Hernandez is defending his thesis for the completion of the Biomedical Science Master’s degree at Hood College this July. He recently won “The People’s Choice Award” in the 2019 3MT competition and is loving his job at the Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research. Troy Hubbard and Lauren Baranauskas Hubbard live in North Carolina where he is finishing post-doctoral studies at the National Toxicology Program branch of NIEHS and Lauren teaches 8^th grade history in Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. They are expecting their first child in October. Mike Lancaster is living in Southern Maryland designing maps for the Marine Corps. Eric Leviton is continuing his service in the Air Force and was recently promoted to Staff Sergeant. He completed a year tour in Turkey and now lives in Germany. Nathalie Lewis resigned as Accounting Associate at Nymeo Federal Credit Union in Frederick, MD and as June 3rd became Staff Accountant for Maryland Oral Surgery Associates Management office in Rockville, MD. Scott Mauer worked as a historical researcher for a New York Times best-selling author and is now a technical writer for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Elizabeth Ulmer Page celebrated the birth of their first daughter in May and is teaching at an independent all-girls school in Columbus, Ohio. Conor Prachar shifted his computer monitor about 6 inches to the right and is still working at Hood as the women’s soccer coach. Molly Poling and her fiancé got a kitten to keep their cat, Escher, company. They have been working in their garden and are looking forward to their wedding in September. Doug Raftery stepped into the role as General Manager, Business Operations of Reno 1868 FC, a professional soccer team in Nevada in April. Michelle Kuehl Randolph married her husband Dane in Asheville, NC in May. They also are expecting their rainbow baby this year. Ashley Nokes Reidenauer was married in October and is working for an outpatient mental health clinic in Greenbelt. Kaitlin Hughes Retallick received a promotion to Primary Patent Examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office last September. Drew Roderuck bought his first house and is currently working at the National Aquarium in Baltimore as a Herpetologist. Kenneth Rupert was the winner of the 2019 Pitch Competition, published the Financial Self-Defense Training Guide and is now offering Financial Wellness Training as a part of the Financial Black Belt Academy. Bonnie Lapp Seabolt just finished her 6^th year as a 3^rd grade teacher and is continuing her education at Hood College. David Stanker is enjoying life to the fullest! Laura Saad Voelker has moved to Silver Spring, MD with her husband, Bruce, and is a 1^st through 3^rd grade science teacher at an independent school. Taurean Washington will be having a solo art exhibition at the Hood College art gallery in Tatem Hall on November 21^st. He and his wife are expecting a baby boy in August.

2011
Megan Dancause
717.682.5267
mdancause@comcast.net

It’s crazy to think that eight years ago we left the comforts of Hood and began facing the real world. The class of 2011 is always making the most of life! Kristina Coggins made the jump from hotel events to academia events in Fall 2018.  With that transition, Kristina also left the 100+ degree North Texas weather to more temperate Colorado weather.  In October 2018, Kristina moved to Colorado Springs to pursue a position at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).  As the Manager of Chancellor and University Events, Kristina works on UCCS’ VIP and donor events.  This position allows Kristina to continue practicing her love of events with a little more work / life balance.  No more 1 AM events and she even experienced three snow days this year!  On August 2, 2019, Kristina will marry her fiancé, Daniel Heck in Pine, Colorado.  In 2020, they are looking to purchase a home in Colorado Springs.  If anyone is ever passing through Colorado Springs, please reach out!  Megan Dancause is recently engaged and an October 2020 wedding is planned. Jess Miller Kehler recently got her Maryland home inspection license and started a new job with US Inspect. Her family also grew in March as she adopted a rescue dog, Opal, a pit-bull mix. Chelsea Bosch Perry and her husband welcomed their first son, Andrew James, on May 24^th. Emily Cucchi Raines and her husband welcomed their first child, Jace Allen Raines, on May 6^th. Dan Rocker bought a house in Pasadena, MD this past year and also took a new job with Hewlett-Packard Enterprise as a Partner Business Manager covering MD, DC, VA and NC. John Stiles started a new job in December as a Post Producer for DAZN, a sports media company. Ysabel Suarez is recently retired but has started a home-based business which produces personalized books for children. The business is books4youandyours.com. In addition, Ysabel received a Master’s degree from Hood College in 2011. Krista Zerby-Campbell got married in October 2018. Krista also graduated with her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University this past winter. She will be joining a private practice.

2010

Rebecca Norris Allen married Eric Norris on October 6 in Norwood MA.

2009

Liz Lopez writes: I am graduating this August with my masters in school counseling and have accepted a position for this coming school year at a high school