Virginia Wesleyan College

In this issue:

E-mail College Communications to submit a story idea for the next magazine or request a copy of the Virginia Wesleyan Magazine.

 

Marriages

THOMAS L. WHITTEN '91 married Rachel Smith of Houston, Texas, in Cozumel, Mexico on July 1. The couple will reside in The Woodlands, Texas.

MARY ELIZABETH DOWNING '93 married Daniel Alan Price on July 15. Mary is employed by Media General in Richmond, Va.

J. RODNEY DUCKWORTH '94 married Amy Fink on July 1. He is currently employed as vice president of the Duckworth Financial Group at UBS Financial Services in Virginia Beach, Va.

KEN BARBER '98 married Patricia Rosas of Berkeley, Calif., on Aug. 12. Ken works for L3 Communications as the Communication Planner for an organization called Joint Task Force Civil Support. He works out of Fort Monroe, Va. The Barbers reside in Williamsburg, Va., with their dog, Berkeley.

LESLIE MCCONNELL '98 married Michael Taber on April 8 at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The bridal party included matron of honor MOLLY (MCCONNELL) GUTHRIE '01, bridesmaids KATHRYN WAGNER '99 and JENNIFER DUGGAN '99 and program attendant JENNIFER BENDER '98. The Tabers live in Virginia Beach, Va.

MICHELLE ROGERSON '99 and MARKOS DRAGAS '99 were married on June 1 in Sorrento, Italy. Michelle currently freelances as a PR/marketing consultant and Markos is vice president of his family's business, Dragas Homes.

MELISSA GARRETT '00 married Brandon Grayson on July 8. Melissa teaches kindergarten in Prince William County, Va. The couple resides in Stafford, Va.

LINDA (ROSS) PUGEL '00 married Major James Pugel on Oct. 8 in Woodbridge, Va. The couple resides in Lake Ridge, Va. Virginia Wesleyan alumni BRIAN LORD '99, JULIE ECKER '00 and TARA (COX) CAMPBELL '06 were also in the wedding party.

STEPHANIE ANNE SMITH '01 married Norman Lee Smith III on July 8 at Bayside Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach, Va. Stephanie is a third grade teacher at Windsor Oaks Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Va.

MICHAEL HEYER '02 married Sarah Slevin on May 27 in Chesterfield, Va., where Michael works as a branch manager for CTI Consultants, Inc. Sarah is from Dromore County, Ireland.

BRANDON ELLIOTT '03 married LAURA MILLS '05 on Oct. 14 at the Founders' Inn in Virginia Beach, Va.

LEE SULLIVAN '03 married Carley Rowe on Nov. 20, 2005. Lee passed the CPA exam in February and is currently employed by Wave Church, where he oversees the financial reporting of the Church and its related entities. Lee and Carley reside in Virginia Beach, Va.

MARY (DOUGLAS) CROSBY '05 married Adam Crosby on July 21. Mary is a first grade teacher at Taylor Elementary School in Norfolk, Va.

Baby Marlins

KEVIN SAYERS '90 and his wife, Darlene, welcomed identical twin daughters Kailyn Ryan and Rylie Elizabeth on May 12. They join big sister Ava Lauren, 2.

DOUG HASKETT '92 and JULIE HEATER HASKETT '94 welcomed their fourth son on June 13. He was 6 pounds, 2 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long. He joins brothers Jonathon, 9, Matthew, 7, and Joshua, 3.

MICHELE (MAZZARULLI) QUINLAN '92 and her husband, Joe, traveled to Guatemala on Sept. 17 to welcome Jarrett Lazaro Quinlan and Rhiannon Alejandra Quinlan into their family. Jarrett and Rhiannon were born in March in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Michele is a senior officer with Customs and Border Protection and is stationed at the Champlain, N.Y. Border Crossing.

KEVIN DOEPP '93 and his wife, Debra, welcomed their third child, 8-pound, 6-ounce Lily Alexandra on July 14. She joins older brother Zachary Kevin, 6, and sister Madelyn Jean, 3.

LISA (HAYFORD) HALL '94 and her husband, Scott, welcomed a daughter, 7-pound 10-ounce Megan Taylor Hall, on March 16. Megan joins big sister Erin Lindsey. The Halls reside in Pequannock, N.J.

ALEXANDRA (RAMOS) GILLESPIE '95 and her husband, Bobby, welcomed their second child, daughter Sienna, on June 26. Sienna joins big brother Sebastian, 3. The Gillespies reside in Tampa, Fla.

KIMBERLY (HARRIS) TODD '95 and her husband, Gregory, welcomed son Ethan on May 21. The couple was married in October 2004 in Bermuda, where they currently reside. Kimberly works in the insurance field.

MICHELLE (FRANCIS) CARDOZA '96 and her husband, Abram, welcomed daughter Greta Christine on April 5. Greta joins big brother Asher, 3.

MISSY LINSKY '95 and her husband, TIM LINSKY '97, welcomed twin boys on May 24. Timothy Adam weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches and Ashton Michael was 5 pounds, 8 ounces and 18 1/2 inches. Timothy and Ashton join big sister Abigail.

MATT CONRAD '97 and his wife, Audrey, welcomed 8-pound 4-ounce Thomas Hudson Conrad on Sept. 21.

NICOLE (EVANS) ZUCCHI '97 and her husband, Steven, welcomed Ava Elyse on Sept. 7. She joins big brother Colin, 3.

CHRISTINA (ROSS) MCLAIN '98 and her husband, John McLain '96, welcomed their second son, Samuel Connor, on July 21. Samuel joins big brother Isaac, 3. Christina is the minister at Burnt Factory United Methodist Church in Stephenson, Va.

CARA (HANCOCK) SLIFKA '98 and her husband, Billy, welcomed their first child, 9-pound, 8.5-ounce Sidney Liam, "Sid," on Nov. 26, 2005 in Portland, Maine.

ELI MILLER '00 and his wife, Sarah, welcomed 6-pound, 6-ounce Brooke Avery on June 1.

DESIREE (GRIFFITH) ROSE '00 and her husband, Joe, welcomed 8-pound 2-ounce David Owen on Aug. 31. He joins big brother JW. Desiree works with Beacon Computer Services. The Rose family resides in Hampton, Va.

ALLISON (HECHTKOPF) WHITEMAN '00 and her husband, Eddie, welcomed a baby boy, Joshua David Whiteman, on May 10. Allison and Eddie were married on July 10, 2005. Allison currently works at the Beth Sholom Terrace as the director of
recreation.

JASON MOREY '02 and his wife, Emma, welcomed their first child, 6-pound, 2-ounce Imogen Anne, on Aug. 19. The Moreys reside in Dunedin, New Zealand.

BRENDA (KILHEFNER) PERCY '03 and her husband, Duane, welcomed their first child, daughter Taylor Julianna, on Feb. 7. Brenda works as a technical editor for STG, Inc., an Information Technology Company in Reston, Va.

TARA (COX) CAMPBELL '06 and her husband, Benjamin, welcomed their first child, son Aiden Benjamin, on May 30.Tara is a paralegal for a domestic law firm in Virginia Beach, Va.

Personal Updates

1970s

ARTHUR GITAJN '73 is the chief financial officer for Intential International. He currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden.

WILLIAM MORRIS '73 is a doctor of osteopathy at The Morris Clinic in Virginia Beach, Va. He resides in Virginia Beach.

C. DONALD TOMLINSON '74 retired on Oct. 1. He served 31 years as a police officer on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia.

DARRYL PERKINSON '75 is president of the National Federal Managers Association. Darryl works as the supervisory training specialist for Norfolk Naval Shipyard and is also a member of the Virginia Wesleyan Alumni Board.

LAFAYETTE CAMPBELL '77 received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Madison University in January 2006. He resides in Norfolk, Va.

1980s

CHARLES ROWLEY '80 was featured in the August 2006 Virginia Advocate for his work rebuilding in the gulf. A resident of Virginia Beach, Va., the chaplain arrived in Pascagoula, Miss., in early October.

JESSE HELLYER '81 is a financial services professional agent with New York Life Insurance Company in Waverly, Va.

CHRISTINE BAIR '82 is finishing a Ph.D. in energy medicine and a Th.D. in spiritual healing. She wants to work on integrating the two in medicine and how we view life. She has been asked to speak at Penn State's Medical School and hopes to be able to start a course there in the future.

LONNIE BLOW '82 is the assistant men's basketball coach at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va. He formerly served as an assistant coach at Hampton University, where he helped the Pirates win the 2006 MEAC championship. Lonnie currently resides in Portsmouth, Va.

KELLY (TRAYLOR) JACKSON '84 is the project manager at WHRO's center for Regional Citizenship. She resides in Virginia Beach, Va.

LEE STEVENSON '85 is the managing director for private equity and M&A for Marsh & McLennan Companies in Chicago, Ill.

MELISSA BURROUGHS '86 is the senior vice president/regional executive officer for The Old Point National Bank in Chesapeake, Va.

MIKE KOS '86 was promoted to the position of Chesapeake city executive for Resource Bank. He lives in Chesapeake, Va.

MARK KUMPF '87 has been selected as the new director for the Montgomery County Ohio Animal Resource Center. He formerly served as superintendent of the Newport News Animal Services Division in Newport News, Va.

TIMOTHY MINER '87 is the business director of the Citizen's Committee to Protect the Elderly in Virginia Beach, Va. He resides in Norfolk, Va.

CORINNE (KING) MARSH '89 has retired from the Virginia United Methodist Church as a pastor. She was a pastor for 17 years.

1990s

CATHERINE GIORDANO '90 received the Fast 5 Award from Women Impacting Public Policy, a national bipartisan public policy organization. Catherine is president and CEO of the Knowledge Information Systems technology firm in Virginia Beach, Va.

MATT AUGUSTINE '91 is a district sales manager with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. He has three children: Myah, 6, and twins Jack and Ella, 3.

RENA BERARDI '91 is the corporate controller for Wasabi Systems, where she is responsible for all finance, treasury, corporate governance and human resource functions and directs all financial reporting for Wasabi's U.S. corporate office and foreign subsidiaries. Wasabi Systems develops innovative software products and development tools designed to address the converging requirements of voice, data and video network infrastructure products. Rena resides in Virginia Beach, Va.

CHRISTINE CIPRIANI '91 was promoted to series producer on the Style Network's longest-running television series, "The Look for Less." The show, hosted by "America's Next Top Model" winner Yoanna House, airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. Christine resides in New York City.

LAURA MCCORD DONNELLY '91 recentlymoved to Hingham, Mass., with her husband, Thomas, and their son, James. Laura is a stay-at-home mother.

STEPHANIE O'HARA '91 is the clinical director for Creative Changes Counseling Center in Virginia Beach, Va. The center specializes in substance abuse, anger management, children, adolescents and families.

REV. ROB WOODFIN II '91 is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, serving Keysville United Methodist Church in Keysville, Va.

ANNETTE BROWNLEY '92 is the owner of Brownley International, an e-commerce business. She resides in Chesapeake, Va.

KATHRYN "KAT" (JONES) DAWSON '92 is the director of adult ministries at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Chesapeake, Va.

DAVID SCHWARTZ '92 is a photographer and owner of David Schwartz Photography in Virginia Beach, Va.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 RONALD W. STEBBINS '92 transferred from Fighter Squadron 31 to the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Va., and is serving as an Aviation Maintenance Branch Head.

BRIAN VESELY '92 is the athletic supervisor for Louisa County Parks and Recreation in Louisa, Va.

KEVIN DOEPP '93 is the new service account executive for Comfort Systems USA, located in South Portland, Maine. The company, based in Houston, Texas, is involved in the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) industry. Kevin's role is to secure new preventative maintenance contracts from commercial businesses and properties.

MAIR DOWNING '93 was promoted to regional production manager for Media General Interactive's Virginia Group, where she manages Web design and usability as well as all creative service revenue activities for more than 30 Web sites across Virginia.

JENNIFER AGUADO '94 is a substance abuse counselor with the Norfolk Community Services Board. She resides in Virginia Beach, Va.

SUSAN HUDSON '94 just wrapped up her first full season as an owner and apprentice trainer at Colonial Downs. Her horse, Prime Time Chef, had a good season, including second- and third-place finishes.

NICOLE LETOURNEAU '94 is the communications director for the National Low Income Housing Coalition in Washington, D.C. She was previously working as press secretary for Congressman John W. Olver of Massachusetts. Nicole resides in Washington, D.C.

JACQUELINE E. RODRIGUEZ '95 graduated from Seton Hall Law School in Newark, N.J., in May. She attended school as an evening student while continuing to work for the Social Security Administration, whom she started with in September 1995 after graduating from Virginia Wesleyan.

NICOLE ALDRICH CLOUSER '96 is the director of the University Singers and the Women's Chorus at the University of Delaware, and is also president-elect of the Delaware chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

JOHN HOATSON '96 is the assistant director of student services with Keiser College in Sarasota, Fla.

RICHARD MEISER '96 received his commission as probationer member in the Virginia United Methodist Church on June 12. Richard is the director of the Wesleyan Foundation at Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College. He resides in Keysville, Va.

LISA BLACKMAN BLACKMONSON '97 received her commission as probationer member in the Virginia United Methodist Church on June 12. Lisa is the pastor of Providence United Methodist Church in Suffolk, Va. She resides in Suffolk.

JASON SCALESE '97 was named director of tennis operations at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif. He maintains his position at the United States Tennis Association-NorCal and as a high school coach at Archbishop Mitty High School, where he has coached for nine years.

APRIL HAND-CAMERON '98 recently began a 10-month appointment for a competitive clinical counseling graduate assistant position at Old Dominion University.

BECKY EDMONDSON '98 is an administrative assistant/receptionist in the Admissions Office at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.

JASON HECHTKOPF '98 is a reporter for WAVYTV 10 as well as FOX 43 News. He resides in Virginia Beach and goes by the name Jason Marks.

KIMBERLY MILLER '98 is a regional advertising executive for Move.com, headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif.

BRYAN PENNINGTON '98 is the Executive Assistant to Mayor Fraim in Norfolk, Va. He resides in Virginia Beach, Va.

JIM SEARLE '98 is studying education in graduate school at Boston University.

GIORGIO VALENTINI '98 is a marketing designer for CONCOA, a company that manufactures gas flow regulators and welding equipment. He is also president of Genesis Graphic Design, Inc., an advertising design company.

IAN BOLLING '99 was hired in August by Tidewater Community College to head the sociology department at the Chesapeake Campus. He received his master's degree from Florida State University in 2001 and earned his juris doctorate from The College of William & Mary and passed the bar in 2004. He and his wife, Krishna Renae Smith, have a son, Aidan Kaleb, who celebrated his first birthday in August.

STEVE CLENDENIN '99 teaches music at Granby High School in Norfolk, Va., and is the director of the Granby Marching Band.

2000s

SCOTT "SKIP" STONE '00 was named director of residence life at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Md. His primary responsibility is to assist students with all of their housing needs. He and his staff plan programs, mediate conflict, enforce policies and manage emergencies, as well as further student development and education outside of the classroom.

MEGAN (FISHER) SZAFRAN '00 was promoted to Director of Prevention Services with TODAY, Inc., a non-profit organization in Bensalem, Pa., where she will be responsible for overseeing more than ten programs designed to prevent substance abuse and other problem behaviors in the Bucks County, Pa., area. She and her husband, JOE SZAFRAN '97, reside in Bensalem with their 15-month-old son, Nicolas.

SHARON BALABANIS '01 is in training as a banquet supervisor/event planner for Belterra Casino Resort and Spa, which is located in Florence, Ind. She currently  resides in Warsaw, Ky.

JOHN DOUCETTE '01 is a metro news columnist with The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va.

LAURA SULLIVAN '01 is a clinical psychologist for California State Prison - Sacramento, a maximum security men's prison, and is currently studying for her national psychology licensing exam.

EMILY (MORTON) WALKER '01 is the director of associate relations and communications with Gold Key/PHR Hotels and Resorts. She resides in Virginia Beach, Va.

TERESA ALUTTO '02 began clerking for the Honorable Roger W. Titus, of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, in August. She resides in Silver Spring, Md., and is a member of the Maryland Bar.

MELISSA COLEY '02 has been working for Forest Pharmaceuticals since October 2004 and was promoted from territory sales representative to office-based specialty sales representative in December 2005.

JASON EVANS '02 is the director of the Conservatory of Fine Arts at First Baptist-Norfolk. JENNY HECHTKOPF '02 is an admissions counselor at Virginia Wesleyan College representing Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

ELIZABETH GOUPIE LUTZ '02 received her commission as probationer member in the Virginia United Methodist Church on June 12. Elizabeth is the associate pastor at Epworth United Methodist Church in Norfolk, Va. She resides in Virginia Beach.

SARA SIMMS '02 is pursuing her music career, has appeared in several music videos and is currently working in marriage ministry at Family Dynamics. She resides in Nashville, Tenn., where she and her fiancée own Harsh Media, a graphic design and photography company.

ROSS ANDREWS '03 works in technical support for Cavalier Telephone in Richmond, Va.

JAMES KELLEY '03 is an associate with CB Richard Ellis in Wayne, Pa.

JASON KNOWLTON '03 graduated with two master's degrees in May. He earned a Master of Fine Arts and Master of Letters in Shakespearean studies and acting from Mary Baldwin College in Partnership with the American Shakespeare Center.

NICHOLAS CAMBRIA '04 is a market analyst for Team Disney in Orlando, Fla.

ELIZABETH DYER '04 is a media and communications coordinator with the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau in Virginia Beach, Va.

BRAD MARTIN '04 is in a master's program in communications at Northern Illinois University.

COURTNEY TURNER '04 is a contractor with Dataline, Inc.

KERRIE (PENNY) VYTLACIL '04 has been hired by Norfolk Christian Schools to teach art for grades K-7 at their three campuses in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

JESSICA DONOVAN '05 is in a master's program in journalism at Syracuse University.

TIFFANY STROCK '05 is a technical writer/editor for L-3 Communications in Virginia Beach, Va.

CHANNAILE GORDON '06 is an executive manager/assistant with ALON, Inc. in Springfield, Va. She resides in Woodbridge, Va.

MELISSA HOLDERBY '06 is the discharge planning coordinator for Norfolk Health Care Center.

JESSICA A. JONES is working as an RN at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center, a psychiatric hospital in Maryland.

COURTNEY BROCK LAMBAISO '06 is a teacher at Douglass Park Elementary School in Portsmouth, Va. She resides in Portsmouth.

MATT MONTGOMERY '06 is a financial advisor associate with Smith Barney in Newport News, Va.

LINDSEY NUSBAUM '06 teaches second grade at Willard Model School. She resides in Norfolk, Va.

ELIZABETH OWENS '06 received her Peace Corps assignment and left for Ukraine for a tour of two years in September. She is teaching English and working in community development.

PORTIA POORAN '06 was accepted for the Japanese Exchange Teaching (JET) Program and will be teaching at a high school in Fukui, Japan.

JENAEE POWELL '06 is a teller at the Old Point National Bank. Her daughter, Aniya Nicole, was born on June 11.

KIMBERLY TURNER '06 is employed with Heartland Hospice as their bereavement coordinator.

CARA WEHMAN '06 is a teaching assistant at Princess Anne Elementary School in the Virginia Beach Public Schools system.

LEAH WICKHAM '06 is the trip coordinator in charge of planning mission trips with Orphan Helpers in Hampton, Va.

MEGAN ZIRKLE '06 is the assistant director of College Communications and lead writer at Virginia Wesleyan College.

In Memoriam

JAMES HUDGENS '72 passed away on April 25. James was a biology major at Virginia Wesleyan and lived in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

JOYCE BREWSTER '74 passed away on Aug. 22, 2006. A double-major in religous studies and philosophy, Joyce lived in Tyler, Texas.

JOHN GUY "JACK" NELSON '74 passed away on Oct. 27, 2006. An English major at Virginia Wesleyan, Jack was a teacher and self-employed writer and actor. He wrote, directed and performed a oneman Mark Twain show, performing locally, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and in Branson, Mo. Jack was also a former theater director at Norfolk Academy and taught in the Norfolk public schools.

BOBBY ROY SMITH '80 passed away on Jan. 18. A social science major at Virginia Wesleyan, he served in the Air Force for 26 years and was a veteran of World War II.

DUANE MAPLES '81 passed away on Sept. 21, 2006. Duane graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history and served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1974. He shared a passion for the history of World War II due to the service of his father in the Pacific Theater. Together, he and his dad wrote two books describing his father's service in the 20th Air Force. He had almost completed a third book at the time of his death.

HOWARD D. MAST passed away on Oct. 27, 2006. Howard joined Virginia Wesleyan in 1966 as facility engineer, tennis coach and instructor of physical education. More recently, he served as substitute teacher in the Suffolk school system and served as tennis coach at Nansemond River High School.