Summer 2024 Class Notes
In 2022, Guy Briggs (D ’60) wrote a book entitled, “Favorite Song Journeys: What Your Treasured Songs Can Do for You!”
On May 26, Pam Bell (C ’71, AS ’83 ) and Katie Tice (C ’13) participated in a dramatic reading of “Pound” by playwright Sean O’Leary at Winchester Little Theatre, in Winchester, VA. “Pound” is about poet Ezra Pound and his confinement for 12 years at St Elizabeth’s Psychiatric Hospital in Washington, DC.
On May 27, Tim Smith (C ’76) was the keynote speaker for the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the War Memorial in Yorktown, Virginia.
In May, Erika Nelson Francis (HP ’13, HP ’24) received her Doctor of Medical Science degree from Shenandoah University.
On June 1, Glenn Miller (AS ’80) was appointed the vice president of advancement for York College in York, Pennsylvania.
Michael Forest (C ’85, ’86) was highlighted in an article entitled, “Songs of Summer at Beach Haven Library.”
Jared Walker (C ’90) was the master of ceremonies for The Summer Circus Spectacular which returned on June 14 to the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.
On July 1, Frank Comer (AS ’96) became the athletic director for Page County High School in Luray, Virginia.
On May 20, the Frederick County School Board announced that Shelly Lail Andrews (AS ’00) will be the new principal of James Wood High School in Winchester, Virginia, effective on Sept. 8, 2024.
Johnathan Noyalas (AS ’01) was highlighted in an article entitled, “‘The human cost of conflict’: SU professor’s new book explores 1864 Battle of Cool Spring.”
On June 10, Horace Scruggs (C ’03) was accepted into the African American Fellows Program as part of the Voices Remembered initiative at Preservation Virginia in Richmond, Virginia.
On June 1, while using her stage name, Jenene Wheeler Wentworth (C ’03) performed a Celine Dion tribute concert entitled “Celebrating Celine with Jenene Caramielo” at The Stafford Township Arts Center in Manahawkin, New Jersey.
On July 1, Kirk Renegar (AS ’06) became the principal of Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Chad Burk (E ’07) is the principal of Skyline Middle School in Front Royal, Virginia.
In May, Rebecca Myers-Settle (HP ’08, HP ’11, N ’17) celebrated the opening of her new practice Blue Ridge Mental Healthcare, LLC. in Front Royal, Virginia, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Front Royal and the Warren County Chamber of Commerce.
On June 23, Nathaniel Gumbs (C ’09) headlined a musical extravaganza at the North Street campus of Kingston College in Kingston, Jamaica.
On April 30, Renée Dawson (E ’10, E ’23) was a panelist for a discussion entitled “Expanding Successful Pathways: The Workforce Pipeline,” during the 2nd Annual Launch Loudoun Small Business Summit, held at The Lodge at Hal and Berni Hanson Park in Aldie, Virginia.
On July 12, Rachel Waldman Francis (C ’10) returned to Winchester, Virginia to perform with her Fleetwood Mac tribute band, “Tell Me Lies” for the Gardens at Night summer concert series at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.
Lynn W. Zimmerman (E ’10) was selected as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar for the academic year 2024-2025 at Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej w Lublinie (Marie Curie-Skłodowska University of Lublin) in Lublin, Poland, for the Department of English and American Studies.
On June 1, Donna Figueroa (HP ’13) became the founder/ceo of Midlife Midwife Functional Health in Leesburg, Virginia.
On June 12, Taylor Wagner Powers (AS ’15) and her husband Chris Powers welcomed baby Ryman Marie Powers into the world.
On July 15, Harley Ryan (AS ’16) became the graphic designer and digital content creation specialist for Osceola County Government in Kissimmee, Florida.
Darrell Thompson (AS ’16) was highlighted in an article entitled, “Thompson looking to sign with new MLB team after asking for release from Brewers organization.”
On July 1, Candace Deverell (N ’17) became a nurse practitioner for Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City, Iowa.
On July 5, Dot Kelly (C ’18, ’21) was highlighted in an article entitled,”Funny Girl hits the stage at Kennedy Center.“
May 11 – June 9, Will Westray (C ’19) understudied the roles of Juror #7 and Juror #12 in the musical “Twelve Angry Men” at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.
On April 14, Danny Martin (C ’20) and Caitlyn Minuto (C ’19) were married in North Carolina. Marissa Myers (C ’19), Avery Sedlacek (C ’20), Richard Colley (C ’20) and Austin Huehn (C ’20) were in the wedding party.
On May 31, Maranda Switzer (AS ’20, P ’24) married Bridget Mason (HP ’21).
On June 3, Brody Grant (C ’21) performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon!
On April 15, Madison Hoilman (B ’21) became the assistant director of campus events and athletic facilities at Shenandoah University.
On April 26, Madison Hoilman (B ’21) welcomed baby Caylani Michelle Yates into the world.
Andy Espinoza (AS ’22) served as director of photography for a short film during the DC’s 48-Hour Film Project Festival, entitled “Murder on the 31st.” It was screened on June 6 as part of the festival’s “Best of DC” at the AFI Theater in Silver Spring, MD and is the recipient of the Team Spirit Award.
On July 2, it was announced that Jacob Bell (B ’23) earned 2024 Third Team Academic All-America honors.
On May 22, Aaron Reid (C ’24) became a member of the Washington Commanders Marching Band.
Alumni Passings
Marsha Castleman Rust (AS ’71) of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on June 16, 2024.
Donald Royston (B ’77) of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on June 5, 2024
Cindia Stewart (AS ’79) of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on June 18, 2024.
Jeremy Allen Vaughn (C ’10) of Disputanta, Virginia, passed away on June 15, 2024.
George Maalouf (P ’23) of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, passed away on June 10, 2024.
