Muriel Chait Durbin, P’81
310-395-4389
msmuz@aol.com

Delighted to hear from Ginny Turnbull Hecklinger P’81, G’08.  She shared news from Sally Hamilton Bundy. Sally has 6 new great grand babies born last year, bringing the total to 29! What a lot to keep track of.  She stays busy volunteering at an elementary school, searching genealogy, making quilts, reading, copying old civil records, and exercises with friends 3 times a week. Sally’s husband, Orville, passed away last year. Our condolences to Sally. Ginny writes -I am standing in my new one bedroom apartment at Homewood in Frederick.  Now I am crammed in with boxes to unpack and sort through.  I expect to attend the luncheon with Sue this Saturday for Alumni weekend. I live close to Sue and to HOOD. I had a wonderful tour of New Zealand for 3weeks in March with a new group of friends. Best to all, Ginny. As for me. Muzzy Chait Durbin P’81, I just returned from a wonderful trip with my sisters, Jo Essex ’53 and Lin Solomon ‘63 to the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks. Looking forward to the fall wedding of my grandson in Ireland. My best to all—Look forward to more news in the next bulletin.

Jean Baker Weikert
717-624-3960

Carol Schwarz Fitch writes her observance of our class news moving closer to beginning of class notes. Carol and her husband Dan remain active despite health limitations. They are living in a life care facility south of Boston…a stimulating environment with lectures, music programs, museum trips, and meeting interesting residents. Family nearby affords frequent visits. Five grandchildren, three of whom are 14, on the brink of high school, two others younger. Dan and Carol’s travels included cruises, both river and ocean by which they have seen most of the world in great comfort and a one-time unpacking experience. Their summertime major activity is gardening, through which they persevere regardless of stressed backs and knees! Amalia “Molly” Heineman Lueder has an updated address which is as follows: 250 South Pepperridge Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963-5012. Marilyn Ogden Heath’s voice was great to hear. Her interest in dressage and teaching continues. Traveling by air is becoming extensive for Marilyn. Enjoying her life-long horsemanship, she is considering downsizing; “the north is too cold.” Al had open heart surgery three years ago. She wants to keep in touch especially with Florida classmates. It was refreshing also to hear from Nolah Sawyer Fulk. She is still driving, interested in antiques and had hoped to attend reunion. We missed seeing her. A sadder phone call came from JMJ Nursing Home in Arizona relayed that classmate Tommie Corwin passed away there in March 2017 of a cardiac condition after being there for three years. It was thoughtful of Tommie’s car consultant, Audrey, to follow-up on my letter to Tommie. Elizabeth “Penny” Hapgood Noepel P’87 attended reunion, flying for her new residence at Kimball Farms, 235 Walker St, Apt 235 in Lenox, Massachusetts 61240-2746. Penny’s Daughter, Lucy Noepel ’87, was also at reunion. Penny cherishes wearing her Hood Ring. It’s always great to receive mail from Elizabeth “Betsy” Oehrle. She still cherishes seeing Mary-Louise Springhorn Rude Leidheiser’52 as I did. Mary Lou traveled from Chicago to attend reunion. It was refreshing to see her still familiar face across the luncheon table! Natalie Colbert Bowers ’52 also sat with us. She had lived in West Chester when Anne Smith Knoll resided there. Lunch tablemates with Mark and I consisted of…..Susan Peters Roetzel Wirths ’56, M.A.’79, G’13, Virginia Turnbull Hecklinger ’56, P’81, G’08, Susan Truby Peterson ’57, Margaret Reeves Leopold ’57, Martha Smith Sperandio ’57. Nancy Locher who assisted Dean Katherine Sherrill, after we in the class of ’54 graduated, also graced our lunch table. Clever Mary Johnston DeMaris wrote as follows: I used to be fast, running late to class, now I’m slow, takes me long to go, I broke my hip, the end of May 2016, then they put it together with a few screws, paid, you good to go, not so. Now I’m going to get a whole new hip, the last one turned out to be a gyp. (May, 25 2017) I live in a retirement home in an apartment called Vinson Hall in McLean VA. I’m not really too happy, but safe. My husband died on Feb 1, 2017. Sorry to hear that Tommie died. I like to hear about everyone. I guess were not “chicks” anymore just hens cluck, cluck.” A beautiful sketch of Norma “Skitsi” Simpson Reins life unfolded in her friendly remembrance of Tommie…Skitsi tells of her cardiac condition and bad knees, yet also persevering! Her son, Mac “Mackie” came to reside with Skitsi to be of help. He is retired after selling the Rein Co Insurance Brokers. Having had back surgery 4 years ago, Mac uses a walker. Skitsi’s daughter and son-in-law Kemper and Mark Warren are physicians in Greensville, NC. Mark goes all over the world to give speeches for a pharmaceutical company in addition to his medical practice. Kemper really loves medicine; however, she has not been practicing for the last few years to rear 3 children, 2 dogs and volunteer at the hospital. Warren and Betty Remsberg DeColigny’s grand-daughter Cindy Armentrout and her husband Ray Armentout gave birth to a son in May, 2017. The DeColigny’s are considering downsizing. Mark Weikert and I thoroughly enjoyed reunion. We are settling in our cottage at Cross Keys. Granddaughter Erin Haafke graduated with a double major in music from Mansfield University, shall teach in S.E school district next fall. Granddaughter Rachael Abrams received Associate from HAAC, and granddaughter Sierra Miller graduated from LIU and continues to work for UTZ Terrace after her innovative work study program at LIU.

Sara (“Sally”) Zimmerman
revsaraz@gmail.com  

Liz Decker Rogers:  “Seems just like yesterday that the call went out but maybe it was 6, 9m ago? Anyway, had I been to Peru? It was fun & just enough of a challenge to let me know I am still alive & better than I thought. That was end of Nov ’16. Traveling with family which includes a resourceful, Spanish speaking D-I-L, is the best! Best news is the 6y home makeover is finally done, well except for a couple of little things. Next challenge is sorting all the stuff in the middle of the basement, covered by tarps. That could take more time! I am leaving that to the sons. They can do it now or later when I am in assisted living. I’m hoping to be around here for awhile to finally enjoy it, however. Underlying annoyance is neuropathy on the left quadrant of my head due to having had shingles last year. The shot is not full proof protection. It’s almost a year & I am thinking this will be with me forever as it doesn’t seem to be dissipating.I am anticipating a trip to Oregon to hopefully view the solar eclipse in August with the same son & family. Keep your ear out for my other D-I-L, Deepa Fernandes, a radio journalist, who has had informative pieces on NPR, BBC’s The World. Her focus has been Latin & South America. That’s it!”  

Beth Pauley Teketski:  “Lou and I are going on a Viking cruise down the Rhine River in June. We just returned from his high school reunion in Wilkes Barre, PA. We are making plans for fly fishing trips to West Virginia and New York. In the mean time I’m judging quilt shows in Lewis, DE, and Quakertown, PA.”

Margo Friedman Friedman:  “I cannot believe it is 55 years since we gave each other graduation hugs.  I am sorry not to be at the reunion, but will think of you all.  We continue to delight in our CT children and grandchildren.   Sid is still directing theatre at Boston University, but he and I have both retired from teaching. I am very busy with volunteering, clubs, and friends.  I have been in touch by phone or mail with Linda Keyler White, Barbie Reeves McGee, Jane Stevenson Rule, Jean Lenhart Golden.  Marty Robertson Williams visited us in Wellesley last August.  We would welcome 1962 classmates, if you are in the Wellesley area.”

Teal West Hugo:   “I never have any news, but this time I do have something. I led a hymn sing based on the life of Sojourner Truth for the Presbyterian Women of Northern New England last weekend (May 13). This was the biggest research project I have done since graduating from Hood!  Mike is in nursing home care at the Veterans Home in Scarborough ME.  His long term memory is amazing, and we share reminiscences about all sorts of topics from the good old days.” 

Nancy Turner Heckscher–   “In January  The Blatchfords   Judy Hammond and Park and the Heckschers  Nancy and Ben drove to Baltimore to go Museum gazing and met Carl and Susan Shinnick Hossfeld for lunch. I often see Penny Mardoian as she comes down to see her son and family!     I am completing (end of June) my 2nd and last year as Judging Rep. for The Garden Club of America.  This has been a challenging job- really 5 jobs: placing, educating, recruiting, evaluating, keeping forms both digitally and in paper files.  I love the people and most of the job but time to hand it over to someone else to perfect!  I continue to play bridge and attend 2 garden club meeting’s and Park House Museum meetings and hook into my kids lives.  Jon and Amanda have moved back from Hong Kong and are in Boston with their 3 girls.  Kali is still in Maine with her athletic Tom and Kali.  They are all going to Europe this summer.   Katie (14) is on an exchange program.  Ben’s Chris just had our newest grandchild in Hong Kong, Marcus.  That makes 8 grands.  David’s Alisa just finished her freshman year in Ohio.  Everyone is healthy and doing their things.   If in Phila. do come and visit.  Judy Blatchford is next door!!”

Judy Hammond Blatchford:  “I’m afraid I sound like a broken record.  Park and I continue in good health as do our kids and grandchildren and so we are traveling while we can, in August to Greenland/Iceland for 3 weeks and in October to Tuscany/Venice for 2 weeks.”

Sunny Griffin:  “Our biggest news is that we finally have our first grandchildren. My daughter, Kelly, had twins (at 44), Oliver and Mabel, and we are over the moon with happiness. Because we want to be able to see them we have sold our home in Thailand and are now living full time in Telluride, Colorado. On a sour note, I have to have a spinal fusion surgery so most of the summer will be spent on my back. After 8 brain surgeries, a crushed nose (from a fall) and pulverized neck (car accident) I am sick of surgery.  Getting old is not for sissies!”

Penny Misirian Mardoian:  “I had a wonderful week in London with my daughter-in-law’s mother. Not one drop of rain! My second grandson graduated from high school in West Chester, PA and will be going to Kutztown University in August. My oldest grandson is interning at Ernst and Young in Boston before he enters his senior year at Trinity in Hartford. I am in my Maine home for 5 months returning mid-October. Life is good!”

Jane Hoskins Bollman: “Art for me is still a big part of my life: painting, selling sporadically, teaching.  I guess old school teachers (which I was eons ago in junior high school) never let teaching go.  I don’t run marathons but I do exercise and do yoga at our wonderful YMCA, which is close enough that I walk there.  Gardening is my other form of exercise.  It wears us out, but the results are worth it.  Children fine, no grandchildren.  Don’t sing with the Met, but we love the simulcasts which we can also walk to.  If you think you don’t like opera, you should try this at least once.  Bridge and book clubs keep the old brain in reasonable shape.  So, bottom line, we are good and not suffering from too many aches and pains at 77.  Seventy seven?  How can that be?  Fond memories of Hood have not faded even after all these years.  We are looking forward to the reunion, certain to be fun.”  

Lynn MacDonough Morrow:  “Traveled in May to southern Germany to visit a cousin of George’s.  It was my first time hiking in the Black Forest.  Then to France for a couple of days in Paris before we joined G’s younger daughter (a grad student in Paris) for a trip to Normandy to visit Mt. Saint Michel, Juno Beach, etc.  Just five days back home and we drove to NYC to stay with another cousin while we spent time with G’s older daughter and son-in-law in town for Fleet Week concerts with their Navy Band Northeast.  Had my first trip to Ellis Island–quite an experience. Hood Reunion weekend will wrap up for me with visits to my two daughters and their families in Baltimore and near Harrisburg on our way home to State College, PA.”

Phoebe Adams Marshall: “I did not go to the reunion this year.  Hope to get to the 60th, if possible.  I keep busy playing tennis three or four times a week.  I also sing in a Masterworks Chorale at the U. of SC – Aiken.  We are planning a couple of trips this summer.  We’re getting together with Joan Terpak Plitt and John.  We’re planning to drive out to Indiana to see my sister, Shirley Adams Beheler (Hood ’56) and her family.  We’ll also have visits to or from grandchildren at some point.”

Barbara Arthur Pretzsch:  “Our lives have gotten more active this year.  We bought a house to “flip” and decided to move into it which we did in December.  It has a fenced in back yard (for the dogs), space for the 5^thwheel,  a house all on one floor and 3 parking spaces for our 3 vehicles.  Our son, Rob, joined us in the business from Kentucky and added another business; refinishing kitchen counters and bathroom tubs and showers.   He brought 4 cats and a dog with him which makes our menagerie more numerous that the humans living here.  He is living in the 5^th wheel.  The business just bought house #18, #15 is about ready to sell and houses # 16 and #17 are midst renovation.  I still do exercises and line dancing although my body is saying “slow down a little” my mind says “No way”.  I have been called into grandchildren sitting.  Sean, now 9 is playing basketball (last winter) and baseball now.  Jaclyn is a typical preteen at 11 nearly as tall as I am.  I’m planning another crochet conference in Chicago in July.  I am a junior reviewer for the CGOA Master’s Program.  Evaluating the portfolios of candidates for the Master’s Program is a challenging experience.  And another mini reunion with my Hood roommates is in the wind.  If anyone is tripping east to west or west to east on Interstate 10, we are only about 3 miles off the interstate.  Come and visit.”

Betty Appel Bailey:  “All is well with us …. thank goodness.  Our daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandchildren live nearby in Carlsbad, CA.  The girls are all in sports and doing well.  We took a great trip this past spring starting in Jekyll Island, GA and up the coast to Savannah, Hilton Head Island, and ending in Charleston.  This was out 6th Tauck trip and as usual they took care of everything.  We are still in San Diego, CA but we recently sold our 2nd home in Palm Desert which we owned for 15 years.  It was time to pare down.  Best to all.”

Judith Simonsen Ziobro: “Ed and I are in reasonably good health, being able to do just about everything we WANT to do and enjoying life greatly!  We spend a good amount of quality time with our kids and their families (except for the one based in AZ.  That’s a long way to come for a cookout.)  This is especially true at our Bay House  – just off the Chesapeake Bay.  We love being around them. I do some financial bookkeeping at my church, and still am allowed to sing in the vocal choir and play in the handbell choir. I do sewing and altering as well (people keep coming back – that means that I must pretty good, or that I don’t charge enough!).  Ed spends time setting up games and exercises to develop math skills in the 6 – 10year old grandkids.  They love it that they know how to read Roman Numerals (however, that is a skill that may not be all that useful anymore — I understand that even movies have stopped using roman numerals in the copyright area in the final credits section. Oh well…)  Life for us is good and I hope to continue it for a long time!”

Regina Schlank Pyle:  “Every spring my private high school in New York commemorates the holocaust by giving a special presentation to honor a beloved instructor who was a holocaust survivor.  It was my pleasure to introduce my elementary public school classmate, Michael Bornstein, author of “Survivors Club: The True Story of a very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz.”  Michael was one of the youngest to be liberated by the Russians and his story is a testament to love and endurance. I traveled in China for three weeks this spring with a close friend.   The impetus for the trip was for me to finally visit Beijing where my dear friend, Bikui, lives.  He worked with my late husband, Tom, in 2000, they became good friends and he’s been in my life ever since.  We started in Beijing and Bikui showed us all of the non-touristy sights and then we began a tour created for us by an excellent company.  After Beijing we went to Xian to see the terracotta warriors, then to Chendgu to see the pandas, then a river trip through the Three Gorges and ending in Shanghai.  Bikui arranged to have a business trip there so he was a wonderful guide. To say the least it was an eye opening trip and caused me to realize that the USA lags behind China is so many ways.  Of course their style of government allows them the ability to forge ahead in many ways we can’t but in the past 30 years or so have created a fantastic highway system, hi-speed rail and excellent air lines, cellular technology, sophisticated cities with gleaming architecture and a highly educated population.  And with a population of almost 1.4 billion, there are plenty willing to be sweepers who keep the streets immaculate.  The people were most welcoming and the weather sunny and smog free! In early June I attended what would have been Tom’s 50^th reunion of the Harvard Business School.  We were married and shared that fantastic experience so it was wonderful to reconnect with many of his section mates and share memories.

Me, “Sally” Sara Zimmerman:  I am teaching an introductory conversational German course as a volunteer with the University of South Florida OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), and was elected in May to serve on the USF-OLLI board of advisors. The German language is a decades-old hobby of mine; so is singing. Early in 2017 I joined Friendship Singers, a Tampa chorus.  We perform mostly in nursing homes and encourage everyone to sing along to our renditions of songs that were popular in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, and 50s.  (Think ‘Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye.’) In an effort to walk taller, I’m at the New Tampa YMCA for a half hour three times a week where I use the resistance machines and lift weights.  My health is very good; however, when I’m meeting someone new, or especially when teaching a new class, I have to explain that my ever-more-noticeable shaking is due to ‘essential tremor,’ a benign, heritable condition.  It was first diagnosed in the mid 1970s when it was barely noticeable.  And if people I’m explaining my tremor to are old enough to remember her, they say, “Oh, just like Katherine Hepburn and her tremor.’  And I say, ‘Yes, just like that.’”

Justin Fox
jmf12@hood.edu

Hello Class of 2016! It’s been a full year since graduation. Caitlin Fay is getting married this summer and in the fall she will be starting her second year of teaching first grade in Montgomery County, MD. Jiselle Lopez is working at a digital marketing company in Bethesda, MD. Alexis Andrukat accepted the events and marketing coordinator position with Item America in Hagerstown, MD. She recently married Julia Price, the two live with their dog in Hagerstown, MD. Nathaniel Leighton is working as a compliance analyst at AffirmX. He is also looking to get his master’s degree in public administration. Theresa Sharp is working as a Social Service Assistant at a skilled nursing facility in Berryville, VA. Tamara Schlossenberg has been in AmeriCorps NCCC since October. She is currently providing flood relief in Southern Missouri before finishing in St. Louis and returning home in July. Roberto Millar just completed his first year as doctoral candidate at UMB. He is also working on submitting papers for publication. Lauren Miller is entering her second year at the UMD, Francis King Carey School of Law and will be interning with the Office of Administrative Hearings this summer. Sienna Bronson has been working as a mathematics instructor at Mathnasium in Richmond, VA. In the fall, she will be attending Arizona State University to pursue a doctorate in mathematics. Mareca Williams is currently a financial manager for the U.S Department of Defense and in the process of applying to graduate schools. Melissa Lopez-Davila is pursuing her master’s degree in forensic psychology. Nicole Wilson got engaged to George Samen Jr. Lydia Emory will be staying in Madrid, Spain for another year teaching English to high school students. Elizabeth Palena is currently working on her master’s degree in library science and is working as a teen librarian in Somerset County, MD. Kirsten Roy finished her first year of the MBA program at Hood. Shannon McHale is currently teaching special education at West Frederick Middle School and coaching the boys varsity swim team at Urbana High School. Owen Rosier purchased a home in Frederick with Sarah Tapscott ’15. Ian Jenkins started graduate school at Penn State World Campus for his master’s degree in public administration. Samuel Pierre is working for a bio-pharmaceutical company in Florida. Joseph Denicola is starting his second year as a doctoral candidate in the complex biosystems program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Laura Shriver has earned an online certificate in grant writing from the University of Notre Dame. Laura is currently working at Moveable Feast writing grants!

Sarah Tapscott
301-807-7821
st12@hood.edu

It’s been 2 whole years since we’ve graduated and it seems like this past year was a big one for many of us!  Continuing our education, living and traveling all over the world, growing our families, and leaving our mark however we can!  I’m so envious but proud of what we’ve been accomplishing!  Here’s what some of our amazing classmates have done!  Kaitlin Morris

Graduated from the University of Maryland School of Social Work with her Masters in Social Work! And she loves her (really awesome) cat!  Julanne Berg will complete her second year of National Service as an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader in early September. When she has completed her term, she plans to look for jobs in the non-profit field back home in Maryland and in South Carolina where she currently serves.  She hopes to be settled enough within the next year to be able to rescue a dog.  Aaron Bowen-Ziecheck graduated with an MSc in Information Technology, Management, and a Organizational Change from Lancaster University Management School in the UK. In September, 2017 he will begin his first year at McGill University in Montreal in the PhD of Information Studies program. He hopes everyone from Hood is doing well in the world and encourages you to look him up if you’re in Montreal.  Logan Bachtell graduated from Marymount University with a Master’s Degree in Forensic and Legal Psychology. Upon graduation she accepted a full-time position with the government and looks forward to a long and rewarding career.  Travis Gilbert continues to manage the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society in Wilmington, NC. In April, Gilbert was elected as a Trustee of the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, a historic 1858 opera house that is one of the country’s oldest theatres still in operation.  Caroline Schuetz has been a preschool teacher since November 2016 and in August will be moving to Irvine, California with Alexander Jarnot ’17!  Jessica Morales is now a current law student at LMU Law in Knoxville, TN. This past semester, Jessica was offered a position during the semester to work at the Sevierville Public Defender’s office, and was hired by her professor as a Research Assistant. She is currently working home in Maryland in Congressman Steny Hoyer’s office and in Judge West’s Chambers in Circuit Court. Although she is often consumed by school, she hopes to plan a trip to conquer yet another world continent!  Nicole Kuehl Gingrich and Russell Gingrich were married on January 8, 2017 at Hood College’s Coffman Chapel. It may have been nine degrees outside that morning, but it was a beautiful day. For their honeymoon, they rented an SUV and drove cross country from Maryland to Anchorage, Alaska.  Samuel Lopez started working as a full-time editor with Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., in April. He also has an article in review for publication with Maryland Historical Magazine.  And I, Sarah Tapscott has had quite a pivotal year.  I bought a home, not far from Hood, with Owen Rosier ’16 and we have been quite busy making it our own!  Being busy with work hasn’t stopped me from gardening, singing with the Choral Arts Society of Frederick, and doing lots of traveling.  Life has taken me to Dublin, Las Vegas, and I may be heading back to Europe really soon!

Bianca Padilla
301-437-8772
bianca.e.padilla@gmail.com

It’s time to see what the members of the Class of 2014 are up to! Paige DeVore graduated nursing school. She is taking the NCLEX on June 13 and will be getting married October 13.  Katelyn Jenkins and her husband Andrew welcomed a baby girl Leona Leigh Hansorte on February 24, 2017. William Haller completed his M.S. in Applied Psychology, Industrial-Organizational track from the University of Baltimore in December 2016. Will currently works at FMP Consulting in Arlington, Virginia. Lauren Shaak is very excited to accept a Park Ranger position this spring at Caledonia State Park in Fayetteville, PA. Charles Kramer is pursuing his masters in social work in the fall of 2017 at West Chester University. Erin Droneburg started her own business, Chalkedelic, LLC. This September, Erin and her husband Javier Zavala ’16 will be leaving for 6 months to travel the U.S. out of a camper and pursue their arts. Tiffany Zechman Flook welcomed her second child on March 29, 2017. Kali Ball is married and expecting a baby boy in August. Zachary Lynch is graduating from Maryland State Trooper Academy in July 2017.This past December, Brittany Davis got engaged to Brian Semkiw. They will be getting married in June 2018. Laura Morton is moving to London, England and starting a master’s program in Modern History at King’s College London this fall. Angela Shaner is getting married to Zachary Dwyer on June 24, 2017. They are very excited to start their lives together. She’s also finishing her third year of teaching 2nd at New Market Elementary School. Angela is working on getting her Master’s Degree in Curriculum Instruction at Hood College. Emily Singleton married Joshua Dimeler on September 24, 2016.  In October of 2016, she began a new position as a Grant and Contract Specialist at UMBC. Emily and Josh bought their first home in March 2017. Steven Powell just graduated with his Ed.S in school psychology. He is moving to Oklahoma State University this fall to start his Ph.D in school psychology. Sydnee Sichert is currently employed with Frederick County Government as an Executive Assistant. Molly Fabricatore graduated from Salem State University with her Master of Education in Higher Education Student Affairs. She accepted a position at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA as a Coordinator of Student Development. Jennifer Bentz had a baby in March and got promoted to team leader at work. Bianca Padilla is finishing her master’s program in August 2017 from National University. Lanee Higgins married Davon Ford on April 11, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. Chelsea Young works as a Marketing Coordinator at United Iron and Metal. She Started a meal prep company – MOD Nutrition and lives in Columbia, Maryland. Keep doing your thing Class of 2014! Have a fabulous summer!

Megan Dancause
717-682-5267
mdancause@comcast.net

As our years increase since graduation from Hood, so do the accomplishments of the class of 2011! Emily Cucchi Raines is working as the Marketing Manager for Cetrom, which is a leading Cloud computing company. In addition, Emily has recently adopted a Shiba Inu named Luna. Phillip Yerby was recently promoted to Group Manager with Weber Shandwick. Julie Shenk is currently working at Mount St. Mary’s as the Information Technology Librarian. Julie is in the midst of planning a November 2017 wedding to Alexander Loy. The couple plans to wed in the Coffman Chapel on the Hood College campus. John Stiles was recently promoted as a Post Production Manager with Vice Media in Brooklyn, NY. Kristan Hawkins married Kipp Vermeulen and is currently working for Rinck Advertising based in Annapolis, MD as a Content Producer. Caitlin Salovich married in 2011 and purchased her first home with her husband in Orlando, FL in 2013. Caitlin accepted a position in 2015 as a Social Media Manager for an Internet Marketing Company. The couple welcomed their first son, Omar Gabriel, in September 2016. Prior to her son being born, Caitlin accepted a new position as an Email Marketing Manager where she is able to work from home. Sarah Mecklenburg is working for Montgomery County Public Libraries focused in outreach.  Sarah and her fiancé, Andy Polack, will wed this year on June 11. Shawna Lentz M.S.’16 is preparing for a job shift next year! Shawna will become a Math Content Coach at Twinbrook Elementary in Montgomery Public Schools. Shawna’s focus will be working with staff to build their capacity in teaching mathematics. In addition, she will be working with administration to analyze data and create professional development plans aligned with school improvement plan. Sasha Speakman received her MSW from the University of Southern California in 2015. Shortly after graduation Sasha joined Operation Progress to help with operations and run their LAPD mentorship program which pairs high-need youth in South LA to committed LAPD officers. Sasha recently became a field instructor for the MSW program at the University of Southern California. Sasha will marry her best friend this summer; August 2017. Elizabeth Arsenault recently moved to Raleigh, NC for a new job as a Video Product Strategist with McClatchy. Monique Sledd recently received a promotion as a School-Linked Mental Health Therapist and is on her way to becoming a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor where she lives in Minnesota.

Alison Kelley Bliss
aekelley06@gmail.com

Emily Heys completed her Masters of Business Administration at the University of Maryland in May 2017. Carlin Rabie ’11 married Emily Gupta of Walkersville on May 29, 2016. Was recently promoted to LTJG and received his wings of gold from the US Navy. He is currently living in San Diego flying a MH-60R helicopter with the Seahawks of HSM-41. Alison Kelley Bliss married Harrison Bliss ’11 on September 18, 2016 in Taneytown, MD. Many Hood alumni were a part of their wedding party and attended the wedding. Ali and Harrison are currently both working and living in Columbia, MD.

Megan Phillips Rosier
megankrosier@gmail.com
mkp11@hood.edu

Sarah Haney Koons
240-520-6523
sjh6@hood.edu

After 9 years with the Naval Medical Logistics command, Amanda Rutten Aung accepted a position with the Department of Homeland Security. Also, in the last issue we reported that she married Min Zaw Aung on July 25^th, but it was actually June 25^th.

Leslie Beck Hughan
301-464-0752
lhughan@gmail.com

Oh my, so much happened since our last class update. The common theme of this update seems to be new jobs/promotions with moves coming in a close second. In 2015, Angela Carideo Auldridge’s 3-year-old son Mark was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, SCN2a. Since then, she became a board member for the FamilieSCN2a Foundation, a licensed non-profit that seeks to advocate and raise funds for research for this rare genetic disorder. They organized a local Color Dash 5K in Middletown, Md., that raised $18,000 with more than 500 runners participating. On Dec. 1, Angie also started a new job as a Disability Support Services Advisor at Hagerstown Community College, where she has been employed for the last 10 years as an Academic Advisor. Pegah Bozorgnia received her loan origination license and became a mortgage banker. She creates a strategy designed to complement her customers’ short- and long-term financial goals, and make sure they have the best terms on their mortgages. She is licensed to originate loans in Maryland, Virginia, DC, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. She also received a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist (CMPS). Pegah understands the financing strategy her customers employ today will carry financial consequences that can impact their lives for years to come. For this reason, she patiently listens to her customers, acting as a partner in the home buying or refinancing process and helps to contextualize home financing decisions within a wide spectrum of tax planning, real estate investment, and financial planning considerations. Please let Pegah know if you, your family and friends need assistance to buy or refinance a residential property. Her business is fully based on referral so please keep her in mind. She currently lives in Gaithersburg, Md. If you would like to learn more about her, please visit apexhomeloans.com/pegah-bozorgnia. Lauren Anderson Cunningham and he husband bought a new house in Crownsville, Md.  “Bye-bye townhouse and hello forever home,” said Lauren.  They are super excited! On Oct. 30, 2016, Cassie Lauren Dukes was promoted to program analyst within the Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office Nuclear Physics, Facilities and Project Management Division. Rachel Collmus Ellick B.A. ’06 and her husband bought a house in Williamsburg, Vir., in July 2016. She also started a new job as a toxicology Health Assessor with the Virginia Department of Health, in Richmond, last December. Maggie Hasselbach will be licensed as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, starting summer 2017. Charlene Vestermark married CPT George L. Hauser, DDS in Jamaica on Nov. 26, with 43 of their family and friends. Leslie Beck Hughan and her husband Bryan welcomed twins into their family in October. The babies were born more than 15 weeks early. Celia Louise was born weighing 1 lb. 11 oz.; and Benjamin Charles was born weighing 1 lb. 15 oz. After very long and eventful hospital stays, she’s pleased to report both babies are home. Lauren Sebald Noll M.S.’12 will be teaching 6th grade at Sacred Heart of Glyndon in the fall. She is very excited. Georgette Sirak Prichard received a promotion at the University of Mount Olive. She’s now the Director of Online Support Services and Enrollment Information. In this role, she works as the director of online programs, as well as with student information system for Admissions. Sarah Robinson Rathbun and her family moved to and bought a house in Fort Collins, Colo. They love Colorado! Sara Levering Roa and husband Vince moved in May 2016. Victoria Tanguay started at Blue Sky Animal Clinic, in Loveland, Colo., as an associate veterinarian.