Virginia Wesleyan College

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Personal Updates

1970s

JIM KESSINGER ’70 has worked in sales at 3M Company for 33 years. Jim and his family moved to Alabama in 1991 due to a job transfer. He and his wife, Darleen (Board) ’71 have two sons. Jeremy lives in South Carolina and Brandon is in Georgia. Jim enjoys golf, hunting and fishing.

FRED ROWLANDS ’70 lives with his wife, Nancy, in Plymouth, Pa. Fred has taught social studies for the past 26 years in the Wyoming Valley West School District. In his free time he enjoys fishing.

EVE (RUSSELL) ’70 and STEVE STARKEY ’70
live in Salisbury, Md. They have two grown children: Jamie is a graphic designer in Nashville and Jeremy is a commercial banker with Monarch Bank in Norfolk. Steve is a sales representative with Lane Enterprises, Inc. He worked for a construction firm in the heavy highway industry for 18 years prior to that and retired from the USMCR after 21 years and service in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Eve and Steve love to travel and serve the Lord together.

BILL SHELHORSE ’70 is the owner of Chesapeake Bay Contractors. He has two sons and enjoys sailing, flying and golf.

JANE SHUPE ’70 and MARTY YOCUM ’71 live in Lebanon, Pa. and have been married for 35 years. Together they own Yocum & Co., which sells and services life, health, disability and long term care insurance. Their daughter Abbie gave birth to their first grandchild (a boy) on June 2. Their son, Tripp, is engaged to be married in January. They love to travel and Jane is a master gardener and does horticultural programs in the community.

LINDA WARREN ’70 is looking forward to retirement to the Outer Banks of North Carolina after 25 years of teaching English.

RON WEST ’70 just retired as Instructional Technology Coordinator or the Northampton County Public Schools on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

STEPHANIE MOLNAR WITT ’70 just retired from teaching in the Isle of Wight County School System after 21 years. She and her husband, Dave, live in Carrsville, Va. Their son, Paul, was married in August and their daughter, Jen, was expecting their first grandchild in October.

JIM ZULLINGER ’70 is an associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Shippensburg University in south central
Pennsylvania.

DR. CHARLES K. BARLETTA ’71 was named the founding Dean of the College of Continuing and Professional Studies at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pa.

CARSON DIGGS ’72 lives with his wife, Anne, in Richmond, Va. He recently retired after 32 years as an instructor at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind.

CHARLES K. GILES ’72 teaches middle school on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

DR. THOMAS ISHOM ’72 was honored with two awards for his service to the Boy Scouts: the Distinguished Commissioners Award and Vigil Honor in the Order of the Arrow. Thomas has
a dental practice in Chesapeake, Va.

SAM SNOW ’77 was named Director of Coaching Education for US Youth Soccer in November 2004.

LYNETTE HARRIS ’78 has been named vice president of Monarch Bank’s Chesapeake region. She has more than 20 years of experience managing business finances, having previously worked as assistant vice president, regional analyst and subsidiary manager for BB&T/Branch Realty Inc.

1980s

KIRK KINCANNON ’80 is the Department Director for Alexandria Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities in Alexandria, Va.

ROB VINCENT ’80 is the Associate Pastor at Atlantic Shores Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Va.

DENA (BAILEY) HARRIS ’82 is a Collections Counselor with CMA CGM (America) Inc. in Norfolk, Va. MARY ANN CROCKER ’83 has been hired to head the health and wellness division at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury. As vice president for health and wellness, she is the administrator of record for health services and assisted living. KEVIN CLARY ’84 is the Director of Youth and Youth Adult Ministries at First United Methodist Church, Fox Hill, in Hampton, Va.

CHARLES RANDOLPH CARSON ’85 recently began working as a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Harbour Realty in Cape Charles, Va.

ANITA MATSON MONROE ’86 was promoted to Office Manager/Paralegal at Pierce & Thornton, PLC in February 2004.

MELISSA BURROUGHS ’86 is a Commercial Account Manager with Old Point National Bank in Hampton, Va. She currently resides in Norfolk, Va. CHARLES R. GROVES, JR. ’87 is a Network Administrator for Newport News Shipbuilding Employees Credit Union in Newport News, Va.

DR. LISETTE LUTON ’87 was promoted to Associate Professor of French at Charleston Southern University in 2003.

CARLA HARRIS ’89 received a firstplace award for radio at the recent Virginia Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations awards. She also received a second-place award for an internal magazine. Carla resides in Emporia, Va.

POLLIE MORISON ’89 was honored for her 10th anniversary with the Ronald F. Spindel Agency with a scholarship for continuing education: the Pollie Morison Award for Excellence in Holocaust/
Tolerance Education.

1990s

JENNIFER (WEHMEYER) GODFREY ’91 is the owner of A Party Playhouse in Chesapeake, Va.

GEORGE FARRUGIA ’92 was recently promoted to Supervisor of the Gang Violence and Hate Crimes Bureau of the Queens County, N.Y. District Attorney’s Office, where he has been a prosecutor for the past eight years.

SUSAN NOOTNAGEL MOLLURA ’92 was promoted to Director of Human Resources at HSBC North America. MARK A. O’CONNELL ’92 is a Government Affairs Counselor in Arlington, Va.

DONALD DRAUGHON ’92 was recently promoted to Area Finance Manager of the Philadelphia Metro Area at Nextel Communications.

FRANK BOTTONE ’93 graduated with a Ph.D. in Nutrition from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. May 2005.

CHARLES WEINRICH ’93 is a Financial Executive for Citicorp Investment Services, Inc. in New York.

KELLY (GILLESPIE) MILLER ’93 accepted a new position as the Executive Director of the Indiana Mortgage Broker Association (INAMB) in Indianapolis, Ind. She will be working with this young association to build a strategic plan, work toward growth in membership and implement good business practices. Kelly and her husband Carl have lived in Indianapolis for over six years with their children Erinn, 4, and Conrad, 1.

PAMELA RAE SEELEY ’93 and CHRISTINA ROSS MCLAIN ’98 were ordained Elders in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church in June 2005. Pamela serves as pastor of Danville Cooperative Parish in Danville, Va. Christina is the pastor of Brunt Factory United Methodist Church in Winchester, Va.

JANINE BROOKS CUNNINGHAM ’95 married Sean McTernan on Oct. 8, 2005. The couple resides in Bedminster, N.J.

RHEA VAFLOR ’95 graduated from the George Washington University in December 2004 with an M.F.A. in Interior Design. She is a commercial interior designer with Hickok Warner Cole Architects> in Washington, D.C. Her husband, GEOFFREY WARDZINSKI ’94, is an attorney.

JACKIE (CORDERY) BOSWELL ’95 is the athletic director and basketball and softball coach at Seton Keough High School in Baltimore, Md. Jackie was recently named the All-City and All-State Softball Coach of the Year. JOHN S. BURTON, ESQ. ’95 opened his own law firm in Virginia Beach, which generally limits its practice to estate planning for individuals, families and small businesses.

JAIMIE REESE ’95 was recently promoted to Business and Financial Manager of the LPD-17 San Antonio Class Program Office at the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C.

KRISTA (MCDONOUGH) VICICH ’95 participated in commencement ceremonies at Regent University in May 2005 and formally received her M.B.A. in Organizational Change and Development in August.

CHRIS CLOUSER ’97 earned master’s degrees in Library Science and Information Systems from Drexel University in June 2004 and was appointed to the faculty of Indiana University of Pennsylvania as an assistant professor in January 2005.

VIJ PAWAR ’97 recently announced the opening of his new law firm in Morristown, N.J. Prior to this he was associated with one of the largest firms in New Jersey.

EDWARD G. SALSBERRY ’97 is a Preventive Maintenance Coordinator of the Health Science Center at the University of Florida.

SANDRA IRISH HULKER ’98 is a Customer Service Representative for the Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA).

MATTHEW M. BOUTON ’98 is an Operations Senior Group Leader with the Target Corporation. He resides in Schenectady, N.Y.

SAMANTHA COLEMAN ’98 has opened her own chiropractic business, Coleman Chiropractic, in Virginia Beach, Va.

KRISTIN (KAIL) COLLINS ’98 received an M.S. in Education with a focus in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Walden University in December 2004.

PATRICK MOORE ’98 completed a M.Ed. in school counseling from Cambridge College in June 2005 and began working as a school counselor at Mathews High School in August.

JEN BATTAGLIA ’99 is a Cost Accountant with Prospect Homes in Richmond, Va.

MEG MCCLARY ’99 is the Director of a preschool in Chestertown, Md. and coaches the middle school girls’ basketball team.

BONNIE SUTTON ’99 was recognized in a December 2004 issue of Inside Business as a recipient of an Achievement Award. Bonnie is the president and CEO of Access College Foundation, formerly known as the Tidewater Scholarship Foundation.

JENNIFER BATTAGLIA ’99 is a Staffing Manager for Accountemps in Richmond, Va.

IAN M. BOLLING ’99 joined the law firm of Dunton, Simmons & Dunton in White Stone, Va. as an associate. He will initially practice in the areas of estate planning and corporate law. He and his wife Krishna reside in Kilmarnock, Va.

NORM MARTEL is an outfielder for the Kannapolis Intimidators, the Class ‘A’ affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

2000s

MICHELLE PARKER '00 joined the firm of Decker, Cardon, Thomas and Weintraub & Neskis PC. Michelle will specialize in personal injury law, corporate law, business law and criminal law.

MEGHAN (FISHER) SZAFRAN '00 recently completed her master's degree in counseling psychology from Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania. She and her husband, Joe Szafran '97, welcomed their first child, 8-pound 13-ounce Nicolas Joseph, on April 12, 2005. The family resides in Bensalem, Pa.

CHRISTINE CAPPS '01 is a sales coordinator for First Colony Coffee and Tea in Norfolk, Va.

LAURA J. SULLIVAN '01 graduated in June 2005 from the California School of Professional Psychology with a Doctorate of Psychology with an emphasis in Forensic Psychology.

TERESA ALUTTO'02 graduated from American University's Washington College of Law in December 2004. She began clerking for Judge Mary Ellen Barbera on the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in January and for Judge Michael Whalen of the Maryland Circuit Court for Prince George County in August 2005.

SARA SIMMS '02 is pursuing a singing career in Nashville. She was the lead female part in the CMT video "What's a Guy Gotta Do" by Joe Nichols.

SUSAN TROTH '02 is the office administrator for the brokerage department of Divaris Real Estate in Richmond, Va.

KELLY BUFFALOE '02 is pursuing a master's degree in community Health Education and Promotions at Old Dominion University.

TRINA STOCKES '03 is the Library Circulation Supervisor for Midway College, a small, women's liberal arts college in Midway, Ky.

JOSH HILL '03 is a marketing and communications associate for the United Way of South Hampton Roads.

JESSICA ROUTON '04 is an advertising traffic manager with O'Brien et. al. Advertising in Virginia Beach, Va.

TRACY KESSLER-KELLER '04 was recently promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast and was featured in an April 2005 issue of The Compass.

ELIZABETH DYER '04 is a media relations manager for the Norfolk Convention Visitors Bureau.

JANA POPELESKI '04 is a Communications Specialist at the News Media Office at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.

Marriages

VANESSA MARIE HAWKINS '81 married Callistus Chuma Ezemba in February 2005 in Winnipeg, Canada. Vanessa is a Case Management Counselor and Paralegal.

PAGE LARSON '87 married John Benson on March 30, 2005 in South Beach, Miami, Fla. Page is a math teacher at First Colonial High School in Virginia Nicolas Joseph Szafran Beach, Va.

CHRISTOPHER CHANNING DAVIDSON'89married Debra Ann Batten on Oct. 16, 2004 at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center. Chris is a two-term member of the Virginia Wesleyan College Alumni Association. The couple will reside in Virginia Beach.

LARISSA CASH '94 married James McClaren on May 5, 2005.

JENNY (ERNWEIN) VESTA '95 married Eric M. Vesta in Glen Ridge, N.J. on May 13, 2005. The couple currently resides in Hoboken, N.J.

LYNDA (HARLOW) SCHUCHERT '96 married Jeremy Schuchert on May 21, 2005 in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

JENNIFER BUSH '97 married Neal Lawson on Sept. 25, 2004.

EVA (LANSFORD) BETJEMANN '97 married Keith M. Johnston on Oct. 7, 2001. The couple resides in Plainfield, Conn.

ADDIE R. (SHANKLE) BESEMER '98 married Derek Besemer on Oct. 2, 2004. The couple resides in Fredericksburg, Va.

PATRICK LYNN '99 was married to Kolbi Cumbo on Feb. 19, 2005 in Abingdon, Va. The couple resides in Winthrop-by-the-Sea, Mass.

MARK O'CONNELL '92 married Kara Elsden on April 23, 2005. The couple resides in Arlington, Va.

CHAD LONGE '99 was married on Oct. 16, 2004 to Colleen Moity of New Orleans, La. The couple lives in Virginia Beach, where Chad works at Kempsville High School and coaches baseball at Lake Taylor High School.

RACHEL LAFEX '01 married Matthew Trussell on Aug. 14, 2004. The couple resides in Dayton, Tenn.

DENISE (MASTROMATTEO) ESBER '02 was married on Feb. 7, 2004. She and her husband currently reside in Chesapeake, Va.

KRISTINA ADAMS '05 married ADAM HAMILTON '05 on May 15, 2005. The couple welcomed their first child, Brycen Ayers Hamilton on Oct. 16, 2005. The family resides in Virginia Beach, Va.

JASON MOREY '02 married Emma Hughes on Feb. 19, 2005 in Wanaka, New Zealand. Jason is an alternative education teacher for troubled youth. The couple resides in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Baby Marlins

JIM SMITH '88 and his wife, Juanita, welcomed 6-pound, 10-ounce Ean Zachary on June 18, 2005.

BETH WILSON WHITE '89 and her husband, Palmer, welcomed a daughter, Sophia "Claire" White, on May 4, 2005.

NANCY CLOHISY HALL '89 welcomed her firstborn, Braeden Michael, on Sept. 19, 2004.

LAURA BALCOM GADSBY '90 and her husband, Brian, welcomed Julia Terese Gadsby on April 15, 2004. Julia joins older siblings Kaitlyn, 7, and Andrew, 4 H. Laura is the Director of Enrollment and Marketing for Sentara Senior Community Care. The Gadsbys live in Virginia Beach, Va.

LAURA MCCORD DONNELLY '91 and her husband, Thomas, announced the homecoming of their son, James Hobart Donnelly, on April 8, 2005. James was born on Sept. 7, 2004 in South Korea. The new parents traveled to Seoul, Korea to bring James home. The family was assisted with their union by Holt International Children's Services. Laura is now a stay-athome mother. The family resides in Westfield, N.J.

MOLLY (MCCLURG) BOCHENEK '92 and her husband welcomed their first child, Augustus J. "Gus" on March 1, 2005.

KIMBERLEA (JORDAN) VALVONIS '92 and her husband, Steve, welcomed their son, Zevan Jordan Valvonis, on Jan. 11, 2005.

STEPHANIE MULLANEY LEE '92 and her husband, Daniel, welcomed their fourth child, Maura Ruth, on April 15, 2005. Maura joins sisters Isabel and Corinne and brother Ezra.

CATHY (HERMAN) HOLAVA '93 and SCOTT HOLAVA '93 welcomed Luke Anthony Holava on Nov. 8, 2004. Luke joins big brother Jacob, 4.

CHRISTIE (COCHRAN) CARSON '93 and her husband, Aubrey, welcomed 7-pound 8-ounce Charles Henry on February 13, 2005. Christie is employed with the Law Firm Cochran Freund & Young LLC as a Trademark & Copyright Paralegal. Henry is the couple's first child.

JOHN '94 and LESLEY (CHAMBERLAIN) ELIASEK '93 welcomed daughter Ava Lane Eliasek on May 17, 2004. Ava joins big sister Brooke, 4. The Eliaseks reside in Midlothian, Va.

MARY L. (HAYES) ICKERT '94 and her husband, Chris, welcomed 8-pound 12-ounce Evan Garret Ickert Jan. 31, 2005.

ROB '96 and HEATHER (ZEIGLER) REICH '97 welcomed 6-pound, 5-ounce Emily June Reich on April 23, 2005. "EmJ" is the couple's first child. The Reichs live in Ladysmith, Va.

ALLISON BAKER WYANT '97 and her husband welcomed a son, Colin Eric Wyant, on Aug. 13, 2004.

SARAH (WILMARTH) PARENTI '97 and her husband Bill welcomed their first child, 8-pound 8-ounce Samuel John on October 18, 2004.

LAWRENCE D. BURROUGHS, II '98 graduated from Regent University School of Law in May 2004. He and his wife, JENNIFER '93, have three daughters: Jacqueline, 3, and welcomed twins Madeline and Isabella.

SHANNON (THOMAS) '98 and GREG FREEDLAND '97 welcomed their first child, 6-pound 6-ounce Abigail Grace, on March 5, 2005. Abby is the couple's first child.

WILLIE HARRELL '98 and his wife Lorna welcomed 7-pound 10-ounce William Logan Harrell on March 8, 2005. Logan is the couple's first child. Willie is the Assistant Director of the Batten Center at Virginia Wesleyan.

ROBYN (SNYDER) WOOD '99 and her husband, Pete, had a daughter, Rachael Elizabeth, on Nov. 22, 2004. Robyn is living in Owego, N.Y. and works as a school psychologist.

JENNIFER NEWMAN'00 and her husband, Kevin, welcomed 7-pound, 10-ounce Miles Nathaniel Newman on Dec. 12, 2004. Miles joins big sister Ella, 21/2. The Newmans currently live in Grand Blanc, Mich.

In Memoriam

JOHN MAHER ’75 passed away Oct. 22, 2001. A Humanities major at Virginia Wesleyan, John was the founder and owner of Macarty Park Guest House. He earned a master’s degree in journalism from Marshall University and served as a former art director for New Orleans Magazine. John was also an active community volunteer at Charity Hospital and the NO/AIDS Task Force, and received the Louisiana’s Extraordinary People Award and the NO/AIDS Task Force Volunteer Service Award in 1993.

TOM FANNEY ’76, Virginia Wesleyan associate professor of mathematics, passed away February 21, 2005. See “In Memoriam” on page 12.

BONNIE ALBANESE KIRKPATRICK ’85 passed away July 9, 2001. Bonnie was a LAMP major at Virginia Wesleyan.

MARC S. TACE ’98 passed away June 19, 2005 in his home. A native of New Orleans, La., Marc was a Political Science major.

THOMAS A. “SKIP” IMESON passed away May 11, 2005 at his home. He served in the Army Reserves after attending Virginia Wesleyan.

DR. WILLIAM STURM, Virginia Wesleyan professor of philosophy from 1972-1993, died peacefully in his home in North Carolina on Oct. 22, 2005. He is survived by his wife, BETTY ’76, two sons, Jonathan and Brian, and his sister, Esther. He remembered his years at Virginia Wesleyan as ones of great learning and privilege in teaching the students about history’s great thinkers.