Hey everyone! As the seasons pass, it’s interesting to see how the class updates are getting a little smaller each time. Nonetheless, I’m happy to see many people doing well!

 Casey Lebo-Dunn welcomed her second child, son Phoenix, in September and Spencer Knoll is engaged to Lauren Agresti. In September, Breanne Carbaugh, Andrea Zona Baker, Sarah Kohler Joyce, Olivia Wolz, and I missed Jahtay Teh (who was traveling for work) as we traveled to Burlington, Vermont to celebrate ten years of friendship!

Bridgitte McColligan Hessler joined a startup patient education company as their Senior Product Manager; William Lewis is the new drama director at Poolesville High School; and, in August, Mi’Kea Bowie Hawkins started teaching third grade with FPCS. Kimi Brunot Humphreys started a new job as an HR Generalist for ABSI Aerospace & Defense and Joseph Edun released his first novel Trazer: Kids of Stolen Tomorrow and was invited by a non-profit to give a couple workshops on Sci-fi & Afrofuturism for students at the Laboratory School of Finance & Technology in the Bronx, NYC – one of the places he calls home (along with Nigeria). During the workshops, they discussions around Afrofuturism, identity, and representation in books and students drafted a short fiction tales of their own.

In May, Andrew Bodine completed his masters in clinical counseling with a certificate in thanatology and recently returned from a trip to Japan! Ashley Birdsell recently moved to Old Town Alexandria and is continuing her work with National Theatre, Story District, and the Smithsonian National Zoo; and I, Elaheh Eghbal, am continuing with work, school, volunteer work, and plotting my next adventure. Make someone smile today!

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 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! And I, Elaheh Eghbal, recently joined the team at Go2s, a social networking platform and community app and the board for Aythos, an NGO that does work in Nepal. I also spent two weeks trekking through the Himalayan mountains! Keep soaring, everyone!

Hey, Class of 2013! First, my apologies. The Winter 2018 update never made it to print because life caught up with me and I forgot to send in the update! So, included in this update is some old news that is just as joyful and exciting.

Breton Stailey Siler married Cole Siler in Coffman Chapel on Apr. 14, 2017. Blair Starnes Dykeman married Matthew Dykeman on June 10, 2017 in Annapolis! They live in the Boston area and she is working at Boston Children’s Hospital Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research. Kate Adams Anthony is living in Hawaii with her husband, Ben, and is enjoying teaching second grade. Nicole Tabbachino, LGSW graduated from Rutgers in Jan. 2018 with her masters in social work and is now a licensed graduate social worker! Joseph Knotts married Krissy Peck on June 9, 2018. MJ Swicegood and Geoff Huntoon ‘17 moved to Rockville, Md. in May 2018. Ashley Darling Genova and her husband, Brent, welcomed their first daughter, Penny Grace Genova, on Apr. 27, 2018! Kris Fair is the the first chairperson of The Maryland LGBT Political Action Committee which will identify, train, and provide resource to LGBT candidates running for public office across the state. In May 2018, Alexi Smith received his MA in interdisciplinary studies of human behavior from Hood and is a dedicated aide at the Foundation Schools of Montgomery County.

Andrea Zona Baker and James Baker ‘14 welcomed their second child, daughter Avery, on Jan. 4. 2019! Kellie Duncan Clairmont and her husband Matt welcomed her second daughter, Sadie, on Jan. 4, 2019! Bridgitte McColligan Hessler and her husband Mark welcomed their second child, daughter Isabelle, on Nov. 27, 2018. Darcy Heflin Gottschalk was promoted to a GS-13 in Mar. 2018 and married Robert Gottschalk, Jr. on Oct. 25, 2018. She and Rob are now living in Spotsylvania, Va. in a new home that they built together. Nicola Sussman started a working at a new school, Hallie Wells Middle School in Montgomery County, teaching reading interventions. Ashley Birdsell is currently the marketing manager of sports and entertainment at Events DC and is enjoying volunteering with the Smithsonian National Zoo. Nilsa Gonzalez is the current president of the United World College National Selection Committee of Panama and currently working at America Expo Group, an exhibition company in Panama. William Lewis directed his first show, Cabaret, with The Fredericktowne Players. In May, Katie Triplett will be graduating from Hood with her MBA. Spencer Knoll has been promoted to Legislative Aide in the office of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. He advises the Senator on defense, homeland security, and veterans affairs. Justin Stone will be graduating from Goucher College in May 2019 with his masters in athletic administration and leadership. He and his fiancé, Danielle Medovich, are planning a 2019 wedding. Until next time!

Hey, Class of 2013! Well, this year’s graduating class had red dinks. I’ll let that sink in for a minute…

Thankfully we have started enrollment for the class of…2039(?)! Elizabeth Garner Drummond and husband Scott welcomed a healthy baby girl, Isabel, on January 26; Megan Turcios and her husband Carlos welcomed their second child, Christian, on April 27; and Mikea Bowie Hawkins and her husband will be welcoming their first child in October. Casey Dunn welcomed baby girl, Reagan, on March 22nd and Amanda Blakeslee Darling and her husband welcomed a son, William Darling IV, on April 15.

Emalie Stroup was married in March; Gregory Eyler and Meghan Mannas ‘14 were married in May; and Jess Manuel is marrying Brandon Wilt in September. Breton Stailey got engaged to Cole Siler in February and is planning an April 2018 wedding; Darcey Heflin got engaged over the holiday season and is getting married in Fall 2018 in Mexico; and Christine (Teany) Meehan is engaged to Nathan Miller and looking forward to an October 2018 wedding.

Billy Lewis is HCM Support Analyst with Payroll Network Inc.; Meme Brown is certified as an assisted living manager and plan to start her own assisted living facility in the next two years; and Spencer Knoll has joined the office of Senator Chris Van Hollen as a Legislative Correspondent. Kris Fair is running for City Alderman; Nowreen Chowdhury is working for a multinational contract research organization as a Clinical Research Associate; and Trevor Shell is an Commercial Energy Consultant with Luminous Solar in New Jersey. Russel Holz works as a Full Stack JavaScript Engineer in Silicon Valley for a company called Dokkio; Dominick Baretta Fair is the  Chief Technology Officer of SADOS, LLC in downtown Frederick; and Alexander Smith is a lead sales consultant for Best Buy Mobile and is almost finished an MA in interdisciplinary studies in human behavior at Hood. Carly Oeller is working as a program support assistant for the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine in Rockville, MD. She is also attending graduate school at Hood, pursuing a certificate in the Organizational Management Program. Heidi Gunzelman started work at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia as a research specialist in the Betts Laboratory and I, Elaheh Eghbal, continue to enjoy working at Zerion and living in Bethesda.

MJ Swicegood graduated with her MBA from Hood College; Brett Shelley is pursuing a PhD from Virginia Tech in Translational Plant Sciences; and Kate Adams Anthony graduated with her masters in teaching and learning elementary education. Steven Davis will begin a PhD in French Studies at Brown University this fall; and Christine (Teany) Meehan will be starting Penn State’s MBA program Spring 2018.

Continue to rock on, Class of 2013. Cheers!

Muli Shani, Class of 2013! Does anyone else feel like time is flying right past them? I sure do!

Justin Stone is a recent homeowner; Meme Brown is in the job market after graduating from Hood’s M.B.A. program; and Katie Triplett will be starting the M.B.A. program at Hood this year. Nora Jaskoski is an after-school tutor in Clarksburg; Adam Patterson graduated with his M.S. in Education and is teaching 7th grade at his alma mater, Sykesville Middle School; and Bre Carbaugh graduated in May with her Masters of Thanatology from Hood.

Mikea Bowie Hawkins has completed her first year of graduate school at Frostburg State University where she is studying Curriculum and Instruction; Diana Stewart is a mental health therapist in Frederick, M.D.; and Donna Clarke is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor working in Maryland.

Spencer Knoll is a Federal Policy Analyst at Sixkiller Consulting, Elaheh Eghbal is the marketing manager at Zerion; and Jahtay Teh will complete his service as a Peace Corps volunteer this August.

Stephanie Taylor Widmeyer married Hood alum Mark Widmeyer in May; Bridgitte McColligan Hessler married Mark Hessler in February; and, in May, Amanda Blakeslee Darling celebrated her one year anniversary to Will Darling and continues to work at Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff.

Kellie Duncan has moved to New York City and is a manager for Oasis Day Camp’s Central Park location; Caitlin Stromowsky finished her third year of teaching special education in Montgomery County and completed her first year of Hood’s reading specialization graduate program; and Trevor Shell is the marketing manager at Sunset Hills Vineyard and 50 West Vineyards.

Kathy Lee has been a slot technician for a year and a half; Deryka Nairne completed her masters degree and is a residence hall director at the University of New Hampshire; Jennifer McCullough Lewis married Bart Lewis in January; and William Close is stationed at Fort Caron, Colorado with the Army and is looking forward to making captain. Continue to rock on, Class of 2013!

Bonjour, Class of 2013! As always, we’re keeping busy — maybe even too busy! These days, we are working with different organizations, in the midst of additional degrees, and celebrating recent marriages!

Around the world, Kellie Duncan is living in Germany for the next month while being part of the opening team for the Norwegian Escape. In November she’ll set sail to Miami! Jahtay Teh is into his second year as a peace corps volunteer in Zambia and Nick Mudgett has just returned from his time as a peace corps volunteer in Nicaragua.

We have a lot going on around Frederick, too! Ashley Birdsell graduated from Brooklyn College with her Masters in Fine Arts and is the manager of marketing at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. She and her fiancee, Billy Lewis, are living in Frederick, Md. Nicola Sussman is a homeowner! This summer she bought a house near Downtown Frederick and has started the education graduate program at Hood to become a reading specialist; Andrew Bodine is enjoying his position as Assistant Aquatic Center Manager and has started in Hood’s counseling program; and Giovanni Kavota is living in Downtown Frederick and is a company member of The Maryland Ensemble Theatre and a member of Baltimore Improv Group. During the day, he is a training & development coordinator for Country Meadows retirement community. Mi’Kea Bowie Hawkins is teaching Head Start for the YMCA of Frederick and Brett Shelley is Hood College’s Cross Country and Track and Field coach.

In the DMV area, Darcey Heflin is enjoying her new apartment in Alexandria, Va. and Kimi Brunot will be graduating in December from Loyola University Maryland with a Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology, is a homeowner, and looks forward to her May 2016 wedding! Nick Temple is looking forward to a May graduation from Georgetown Law and plans to return to Baltimore to practice; Meladeh Rabie McKinnon married John McKinnon and is enjoying life with her 1-year old son, Kaiden; and I, Elaheh Eghbal, am the marketing manager at Zerion Software, Inc. Continue to make your mark, Class of 2013, and keep in touch! Cheers!