On July 6, Thomas Wilkins (C ’78, ’03) was featured in an article by AFR News, The Black Media Authority entitled “Two conductors, two paths through a historically exclusive field.”

On July 30, Bill Stewart (B ’85) was announced as the interim athletic director at Shenandoah University (pictured right).

On July 10, Amanda Volk (P ’93) joined Norland Avenue Pharmacy in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and Carl’s Drug Store in Greencastle, Pennsylvania on their pharmacy team. 

On July 10, Robin L. Shrum (C ’99, E ’07, ’22) was recognized by “Influential Women” for her transformational leadership in K–12 education.

On July 14, Kirsten Brondstater (AS ’03, HP ’05, ’23) was featured in an American Academy of Physician Associates article entitled “PA Kirsten Brondstater Champions Inclusivity for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Communities.”

On Aug. 3, Ryan Keebaugh (C ’04) was appointed artistic director and conductor of Blue Ridge Singers in Front Royal, Virginia.

On July 27, Matthew Wygal (E ’09) became the director of human resources for Shenandoah County Public Schools in Woodstock, Virginia.

On July 8, Jeremiah Shaw (C ’11), a founding member and cellist of Telegraph Quartet, was awarded album of the year for “Edge of the Storm” by Chamber Music America. 

Byron Mitchell (AS ’14, E ’20) started Byron Mitchell Performance, LLC (BMP Program), a football training and mentoring program, in Virginia Beach, Virginia (pictured right).

On July 28, Avery Bargassé (C ’16, ’18) became an assistant professor educator of musical theatre voice at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Roy Martin (E ’16) was named dean of students for sixth grade at Frederick County Middle School in Winchester, Virginia. 

On July 21, Mackenzie Fennell Enterline (AS ’18, HP ’19) and Travis Enterline (AS ’15) welcomed baby Aubrey Faye Enterline. 

On Jan. 6, Kyle Mangold ’19 and Joe Verga ’22 started the national tour of “The Notebook.” Kyle performed as Younger Noah and Joe was an understudy for the role of Middle Noah. The tour runs through May 2027.

On Oct. 27, 2025, Jeremy Chontow (C ’20) started as a composer I at Hexany Audio in Los Angeles, California. He won a Mark Award at the Production Music Awards for best trailer track of 2025 for his composition, “Story Of Us.” He also worked on a remix of Wet Leg’s “Catch These Fists” that was placed in the trailer for Amazon’s Citadel Season 2. 

On June 13, 2025, Jeremy Chontow (C ’20) married Sara Chontow in Canada. 

Olivia Weinel (AS ’22) was named as one of Alexandria, Virginia’s 40 under 40 honorees for 2026 (pictured right).

On July 10, Tori Glaspell Thompson (HP ’23) was promoted to head athletic trainer at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. 

Alumni Passings

Mate Tisinger (N ’77) of Berryville, Virginia, passed away on August 1, 2026. 

Robin Pitcock Spence (N ’82) of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on July 14, 2026.

Janet M. Konopa (N ’86) of Stephenson, Virginia, passed away on Aug. 3, 2026.

Nathan Edward Windle (B ’09) of Stephens City, Virginia, passed away on July 29, 2026.

Sue M. Bonnett (ANG) of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on June 30, 2026.

Faculty/Staff Passings

John “Jay” Christensen of Stephens City, Virginia, passed away on July 30, 2026. Jay was an employee in the Physical Plant Department for eleven years. 

Key

AS – Arts & Sciences 
B – Business
C – Conservatory
D – Dayton
E – Education
HP – Health Professions  
N – Nursing 
P – Pharmacy 
ANG – Alumnus Non Grad