Bobby Spiers (C ’69) played “Taps” on the trumpet for the 20th anniversary remembrance of the lives lost on 9/11 at a Commonwealth DAR Chapter special program at Reveille United Methodist
Church.
Lynnette Lofton Embree (B ’90, ’92) was installed as the 100th president of the Kiwanis Club of Winchester, Virginia.
Charlene Baughan Romano (C ’91) performed at a memorial concert sponsored by the Winchester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Romano also presented a month-long series of hybrid-format flute workshops and an outdoor clinic on audition techniques. (Pictured to the left.)
James 
(C ’92) was chosen by Kansas Wesleyan University as the new music department chair. (Pictured to the right.)
Heather H. Wilson (B ’93) was profiled in a “Silicon Review” article “30 Most Inspiring Leaders to Watch in 2021”.
Tom Sweitzer (C ’94, C ’11) was featured in a story done by ABC 7News (Washington D.C.). Sweitzer started a free, weekly music therapy session for people dealing with the long-term effects of COVID-19. (Pictured to the left.)
Corina Nusu (C ’98) received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show for her work on “Jeopardy” as a contestant producer. (Emmy Award pictured to the right.)
Jerome Brooks, Jr. (C ’02) was recognized with a $5,000 City Artists Corp. Grant for his show “Social Distance ” which was written in the midst of the pandemic in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan.
Enrique Reynosa (C ’04), David Pedraza (C ’04), and Alán Estrada (C ’03, C’10) are members of The Vitali Quartet that reopened its concert series after a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19 with a concert at the Spruce Forest Great Hall, Grantsville, Maryland.
Patrick D. McCoy (C ’05) was hired as the conductor of the Virginia State University Concert Choir.
Faith Boles (C ’07) performed a solo cabaret live at the Winter Park Playhouse in Winter Park, Florida. (Pictured to the left.)
Heather Gregg Reed (C ’09) was a key part of a film-making team that won the Asheville 48-hour Film Project Competition with the film, “Deliver Me.”
Anthony Walker (P ’09) was awarded the Award for Excellence in Service from the University of Louisiana Foundation.
Kenny Robertson (AS ’10) was featured in an article in the online publication “The Voice of Bythewood & Fairfield County.
Ian Bowling (C ’11) performed in “The Falling and The Rising” at Tri-Cities Opera of Binghamton, New York.
Alexis Pinero-Benson (C ’13) was honored as the reci[pient of the Individual Award of Excellence from the Association for Student Conduct Administration. (Pictured to the right.)
Angela Gravante Kursey (P ’13) and husband Adam Kursey (P ’13) announce the birth of their daughter, Avery Grace Kursey, born September 17, 2021. (Pictured to the left.)
Veronique Walker (EL ’13, EL ’14) was appointed equity coordinator for Winchester Public Schools.
Kerrylynn 
(C ’14) was awarded a merit-based Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board for advanced studies and research in dance movement therapy in Germany. (Pictured to the right.)
Matt Edwards (C ’15) was featured in an interview with VocalPedagogy.com. (Pictured to the left.)
Michele Boyd Kalis (C ’15, C ’16) performed as part of the cast of “Newsies” at the Henegar Center for the Arts in Melbourne, Florida.
Megan McIntyre (AS ’12, HP ’15) and husband Nathan Barr (HP ’15) announce the birth of their son Rowan Alan Barr on July 25, 2021. (Pictured to the right.)
Alexander Bernstein (C ’16) performed as part of the 6 Summertime Concerts at Triskel, Cork, Ireland. (Pictured to the left.)
Derek Davis (B ’16) started a job as marketing coordinator for Arizona State University Sun Devil Athletics on August 16, 2021.
Kelani Bailey Lawrence (B ’16) was selected to be part of the team representing USA Racquetball at the IRF World Championships in Guatemala.
Courtney Short McNeely (N ’16) and husband Kyle announce the birth of their daughter Quinn James McNeely, born August 27, 2021. (Pictured to the right.)
Patricia A. Sheetz (N ’16, N ’19) opened a medical practice, Hometown Family Healthcare in Cumberland, Maryland.
Kelsee Sweigard (C ’16) was cast in the North American tour of “Pretty Woman: The Musical.” (Pictured to the left.)
James R. Gann, Jr. (C ’17) celebrated 10 years of teaching elementary music for the Blount County School System in Maryville, Tennessee. (Pictured to the right.)
Victoria Okafor (C ’17) won second place in the 2021 Lotte Lenya Competition. (Pictured to the left.)
Erin Septer (AS ’17, EL ’20) was appointed as assistant coach for women’s soccer at Shenandoah University.
Hayden Bauserman (AS ’18) was appointed as a full-time assistant football coach at Shenandoah University.
Issaiah Wallace (N ’18) was appointed assistant professor in the School of Nursing at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Drew Becker (C ’19) was cast in the role of Michael Dorsey in the first national tour of the Tony-nominated musical “Tootsie.” (Pictured to the right.)
Kacie Gee (HP ’19) married Travis Mitchell (N ’18).
Kaela Dunlap (C ’20) was appointed production manager of music facilities at Shenandoah Conservatory. (Pictured to the left.)
Eoin Fleming (C ’20) was awarded 5th prize at the 66th Maria Canals International Music Competition in Barcelona, Spain. (Pictured to the right.)
Mathilde Handelsman (C ’20) was appointed lecturer of piano and director of the Piano Extension Program at the University of New Hampshire. (Pictured to the left.)
Diego Cortes (C ’21) was cast in the ensemble for the world premiere of “A Crossing: A Dance Musical.” (Pictured to the right.)
Kelly Donah (C ’21) was cast in the role of Rumpleteazer in the national tour of “Cats.”
Kristen Hunt (AS ’21) and Daniel Guizar were married August 7, 2021, at the bride’s home with family and friends in attendance.
Isabella Morande (AS ’21) was appointed as assistant coach for field hockey at Shenandoah University.
In Memoriam
W. Oscar Karnes (D ’49) passed away Dec. 2, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in World War II. He was a teacher at Shenandoah High School and also served as assistant to the superintendent of schools in Page County, Virginia.
Frank Mina (D ’51) passed away May 26, 2021.
Winifred Heatwole McConnell (D ’52) passed away Sept. 13, 2021. In 1993, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumna Award for her service to Shenandoah University for keeping her classmates connected to the university and each other.
George G. Lough (D ’59) passed away Dec. 15, 2020. He grew up near Mozer, West Virginia, and joined the Army in 1963 to work on crypto machines while stationed with the Berlin Brigade in Germany. He later continued a career in electronics working at Virginia Tech in the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department. George had a passion for Scouting and the outdoors, helping his local Boy Scout troops as a committee member.
Rosalee Frances Malcom Siron (D ’59) passed away April 14, 2020. She was a second grade teacher at Luray Elementary School for 30 years. From a young age, Rosalee enjoyed all types of art, especially music.
Donald E. Oates (D ’62) passed away Sept. 18, 2021. Quite the accomplished athlete, Don’s talents were always acknowledged whether on the football field, basketball court, baseball diamond or the golf course. Perhaps his greatest asset was his ability to engage people from all walks of life. He was definitely a people person who enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest.
Hercules Michas (’62) passed away July 24, 2020.
Richard Lamar Seigman (C ’62) passed away Aug. 4, 2021. At an early age, Richard showed an interest in music, studying trombone, piano and voice. In the fall of 1958, he entered the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music where he majored in voice, with minors in trombone, basson, and music education. Richard loved dogs throughout his life, and he enjoyed collecting model trains.
George W. Yeatman (C ’64) passed away Aug. 20, 2021. His love of music and performance started with percussion lessons in elementary school. Mark went on to major in music education and was an elementary and middle school band director in Delaware for 35 years,
Jimmie B. Bowers (HP ’73) passed away Sept. 25, 2021. Jimmie was a respiratory therapist for nearly 50 years and retired from Valley Health in 2018. While Jimmie always enjoyed his hobbies, his greatest enjoyment came from being with his family. Surrounded by his children and grandchildren was his favorite way to spend an evening. After the clean-up was finished and everyone was gone, he would always say, “Wasn’t that fun!”
Barbara Keller Johnson (C ’75) passed away Aug. 30, 2021. She enjoyed many hobbies and loved sharing them with others. Barbara attended Shenandoah University and later James Madison University, which then led her to teach four decades of students to learn and appreciate music.
Gary Gibson (HP ’81) passed away Aug. 24, 2021. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, fishing and going to the beach. Gary’s theme for living was “make a memory.”
David R. Stephens (C ’82) passed away April 7, 2021. He received two bachelor degrees – music therapy and music education. After several years of performing leading roles in many regional theaters, David earned the starring role of Old Deuteronomy in the European tour of “Cats.” David became an exceptional voice teacher and, while he had no children of his own, he actually had too many to count. Being a voice teacher was David’s true calling. David’s legacy will live on in those that were lucky enough to be one of his “singlings.”
Robert “Bob” Patrick Travers (AS ’98) passed away on July 30, 2021. Bob was a lifelong educator, teaching middle and high school English. In addition to being a teacher, Bob was a brilliant writer. With his brother, Mike, he wrote screenplays, tv shows, and musicals. Bob’s greatest accomplishment, however, were his children, often admiring and sharing their accomplishments with others. He was the very definition of a proud dad.
Rachel Anne Aterrando (AS ’20) passed away on Aug. 4, 2021. Rachel was a second-year Ph.D. student in the department of chemistry at Georgetown University. She received her Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 2020 from Shenandoah University where she served as a teaching assistant. Rachel followed a vegan lifestyle and loved all beings as well as the planet they lived on.
