Norman McCorkle (C ’60) played the 18 rank Schantz pipe organ for Homecoming at Thyatira Presbyterian Church in Salisbury, North Carolina, on Aug. 11.
Ray Van Dyke (AS ’75) and Ann Werner Van Dyke (C ’68) celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary on Aug. 27. Ann teaches voice and piano in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. (Pictured to the left.)
Pamela Webber (AS ’75) celebrated the release of her book, “Moon Water: A Novel,” at The Winchester Book Gallery on Aug. 23.
Louise Ball (HP ’85) received the 2019 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
In July, Evan Robb (AS ’89, B ’92) gave his first TEDx Talk. Titled “Two Ways to Get Into a Swimming Pool,” Robb encourages people to be more daring and invites people to reflect on their past. He also teaches his audience to recall moments of daring and shows them how to recapture those feelings and transfer them to new situations. To watch Robb’s TEDx Talk, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS4WMsdLIM4. (Pictured to the right.)
Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal (C ’94) has been nominated for the Saturday Visitor Awards at the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards for his song collection “The Bells.” The winners will be announced at the festival in Baltimore, Maryland, on Oct. 5.
Tom Sweitzer (C ’94, ’11) will perform “Meatballs and Music,” a one man show, at Creative Cauldron in Falls Church, Virginia, on Sept. 13 and 14; and at The Hill School in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sept. 15.
Ford Dieth, Jr. (C ’95) has been appointed assistant head of school at St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Metairie, Louisiana. His wife Meredith Long Dieth (C ’94) also works at St. Martin’s as the director of performing arts.
Jonathan Noyalas (AS ’01) served as the keynote speaker at the Alliance to Preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington’s 155th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Fort Stevens on July 13.
On June 9, Anthony Wayne (C ’03), an original cast member in “Tootsie” and who is part of the ensemble, performed “Unstoppable” with the cast at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards.
Ryan Keebaugh (C ’04) has been appointed conductor of The Valley Chorale of Front Royal (formerly The Front Royal Oratorio Society).
Ashley Engle (AS ’05) welcomed her daughter, Elliot London Neumann, on May 29. (Pictured to the left.)
Kyle Fleischmann (AS ’05) and Laura Shoup were married on June 15 in Haymarket, Virginia. His brother and fellow alumnus Andrew Fleischmann (B ’12) served as best man. James Hernandez II (AS ’04), David Behan (AS ’06) and Michael Gilligan (AS ’06) served as groomsmen and Kaitlin Sommer Fleischmann (AS ’11) was a bridesmaid. (Picture to the right.)
Michael McVearry, Jr. (AS ’05) is a real estate agent for Anne Arundel/Montgomery, Maryland Century 21.
Mary Snead Varga (AS ’05) received the Ronald Keith Barrett Diversity and Multicultural Presentation Award from the Association of Death Education and Counseling for her work on grief and coping among African-American female college students. (Pictured to the left.)
Kelly Morris Rowan (C ’06) will play “Jen” at The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol’s production of “John & Jen” in Lady Lake, Florida, from Sept. 27, to Oct. 27.
Kaitlyn Williams Holloway (C ’08) played Dolly in a performance of “Hello, Dolly!” at the Spring Lake Theatre in Spring Lake, New Jersey.
Lori Swortzel (EL ’08) has been appointed principal of Central High School in Woodstock, Virginia.
The Doniphan Dance Project, founded by Roxie Thomas Clayton (C ’09), put on their fifth annual performance on Aug. 1, at the Tupelo Civic Auditorium in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Jennifer Green-Flint (C ’09, EL ’15) has been chosen to participate in the National Arts Strategies’ Chief Executive Program.
Carl Rush (B ’09, B ’11) was awarded a Winchester Education Foundation grant for his work as a School Division Equity Specialist for Winchester City Public Schools.
In May 2017, Distinguished Alumna for Young Career Achievement Mandy Reed Carter (AS ’09, HP ’10) delivered the keynote address during the Division of Athletic Training’s Hooding Ceremony at Shenandoah University.
Jeffrey Botta (HP ’10) and Kelly Ann Walsh Botta (HP ’09) welcomed their second child, Brooke Isabel Botta, on July 1.
Chelsea Shields Burns (P ’11) and her husband, Robert Allen Burns, welcomed their first child, Francesca Victoria Burns, on April 5. (Pictured to the right.)
Alison Fredenburg Wright (C ’11) and her husband, Mason Wright, welcomed a son, Felix Franklin Wright, on July 30. (Pictured to the left.)
Kaitlin Brown Ferguson (AS ’12) married Adam Ferguson on Aug. 17. (Pictured to the right.)
Anna Knight Cooney (C ’13) has been promoted to associate director of development for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
Nicole Gilbertson (AS ’13) received the 2019 Rolls-Simons Travel Award from The Obesity Society. The award is part of The Obesity Society’s commitment to young investigators in the field of obesity research.
Nigel Huckle (C ’13) will perform in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton’s production of “The Beautiful Game” from Sept. 13 to Sept. 29 at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran, Melbourne, Australia.
This fall, Shenandoah Conservatory is celebrating several alumni serving in new faculty and staff roles, including Allison Echard (C ’14, C ’18), adjunct assistant professor of music therapy; Rebecca Martin Moseley (C ’74), adjunct assistant professor of music education; and Michael “Jonz” Jones (C ’02), assistant technical director and scene shop supervisor.
Andrea Bradford Garcia (HP ’14) and John Garcia (HP ’14) were married on June 1, at Wisteria Hall in the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle, Washington. Shatora Lane (AS ’12, HP ’14) officiated the ceremony and Danielle Fisher (HP ’16) and Mary Claire Malooly (HP ’16) were bridesmaids. (Pictured to the left.)
Michael Hodge (EL ’14 , EL ’16) has been appointed assistant principal for Southeastern Alternative School in Midland, Virginia, for the 2019-2020 school year.
DeShawna Kyle Hopkins (B ’14) and Kye Hopkins (AS ’15, EL ’17) were married on July 20, at Bowling Green Country Club in Front Royal, Virginia. Chasity Toms (AS ’14), Alicia Feliciano Days (AS ’14), Najja Salmon (AS ’14) and Brandon Adams (B ’15, B ’17) were members of the wedding party. (Pictured to the right.)
Anthony Ponton (EL ’14, EL ’17) has been named the principal of Spring Mills Middle School in Berkeley County, West Virginia.
Nolan Potts (AS ’15, EL ’15) was named the Rockingham County Baseball League’s Coach of the Year for 2019.
Jihyun Kim Yoon (N ’15) and her husband, Joshua Yoon, welcomed a son, Jayden Yoon, on March 7. Yoon is a registered nurse at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia. (Pictured to the left.)
Lauren Kesler Clouse (AS ’16) was named Volunteer Coordinator at the Winchester Rescue Mission. Clouse also welcomed her son, Fletcher Kane Clouse, on May 28.
Krisiti Valentine Diminuco (EL ’16) has been named the new principal of Middletown Elementary School in Middletown, Virginia.
Alex Flanigan (AS ’16) has been named the community arts and vitality manager for the City of Winchester’s Development Services Department. (Pictured to the right.)
On Aug. 19, during Shenandoah University’s 2019 Opening Celebration event to welcome back faculty and staff, multiple alumni received service awards for their dedication to the university. Alumni honored include: Niccole Gatliff (AS ’16, EL ’18) and Jeremy Fox (P ’04) for ten years of service; Jason Rockwell (AS ’08, EL ’18) and Alla Marks (P ’04) for 15 years of service; Cathy Loranger (EL ’15) for 20 years of service; Ken Lambert (AS ’87), Michael Forest (C ’85, C ’86) and Elizabeth Tayloe Courts (HP ’10) for 25 years of service; and Becky Rockwell (AS ’91) for 40 years of service.
Kelani Bailey Lawrence (B ’16) won two bronze medals (women’s doubles and team) at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games this summer in Lima, Peru, and finished in the top 12 players in the world in women’s singles racquetball. (Pictured to the left.)
Kelsee Sweigard (C ’16) and James Schoppe (C ’12) are performing on the 20th anniversary tour of “RENT.” Sweigard plays the role of Maureen, while Schoppe plays the role of Steve.
Kamryn Burton (C ’17) has been cast as a storyteller for “Once On This Island” at the Theater West End in Sanford, Florida, which runs from Oct. 11, through Oct. 27, 2019.
Hayden Bauserman (AS ’18) has been named the quarterbacks coach for the Shenandoah University football team.
Daniel “DK” Kelly II (C ’18) is the grand prize winner of the Shure Drum Mastery Contest, a competition which aims to shine a spotlight on creative drumming by musicians committed to their craft. (Pictured to the right.)
Cahal Masterson (C ’19) performed at Belfast, Ireland’s historic Rosemary Street First Presbyterian Church on Aug. 7, and at St. Patrick’s Church in Coleraine, Ireland, on Aug.15.
In Memoriam
Suzanne Smith (C ’72) of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on July 27, 2019. Suzanne was special education department chairman and a special education teacher at James Wood High School and served as an adjunct professor at Shenandoah University. She was a Who’s Who Among American Teachers, Cambridge Who’s Who and Teacher of the Year, and Manchester Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals for multiple years during her career. Suzanne is survived by her husband, Bruce C. Smith; their children, Bruce Charles Smith II, Maggie Luisa Schrock and Joshua Levi Smith; a sister, Nancy Luisa Gaspard; and four grandchildren, Noah Schrock, Lenah Schrock, Ava Smith and Izzabell Smith.
Justin Payne (AS ’04) of Stephens City, Virginia, passed away on Aug. 7, 2019. Justin was a deputy with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office since April 2005 and most recently, served as a school resource officer at John Champe High School. He was a graduate of Handley High School. Justin is survived by his wife, Erica Soule Payne; his daughter, Addison Colline Payne; his mother and father Dottie Ann Payne and W. Bruce Boyd.; and grandmother, Elaine Boyd.
Charles Schlager, Jr. (AS ’04) Winchester, Virginia , passed away on Aug. 21, 2019. Charles was a professional photographer for a period of time and enjoyed taking photos outdoors. He is survived by two sisters, Catherine A. S. Barley and Susan Geiger.
Shane Tanzosh (B ’14) of Warwick, New York, passed away on Sept. 13, 2016. Shane was a sales representative and project manager with Green Mountain Services and a member of St. Stephen RC Church. He is a graduate of Warwick High School and Hartwick College. Shane is survived by his parents, Tony and Felicia Tanzosh; a brother, Anthony Tanzosh; a sister, Ashley Tanzosh; his fiancee, Ashley Larsen; and his grandparents, Carmela Giordano and Edward Anthony Rovira.