Class Notes
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1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
1940s
1950s
1960s
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Dante Giammarco, 1968
Dante was recently a featured performer in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman at the Milford Theater and Performing Arts Center in Pennsylvania. He is slated to be a cast member in Of Mice and Men in November.
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Charlie Phillips, 1960Charlie was named the 2022 E&H Alumni Humanitarian of the Year in 2022. Read more…
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Stafford Stephenson, 1969Stafford and Tess Stephenson celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 18, 2021, alongside their three daughters and their families.
Stafford is a retired insurance agent from State Farm Insurance. He played basketball for E&H, served as the color commentator for the High Point University men’s basketball team, and is honored to be in the Smyth County Sports Hall of Fame. Click here to read a fascinating article about a twist of fate during his days working at the University of Evansville.
1970s
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Rob Goldsmith, 1971Rob was named the E&H Alumni Humanitarian of the Year in 2021. Read more…
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Rocky Gregory, 1972Rocky’s book is available! One Groovy Summer: an adventure from 1968. You can find it at Book Vine Press.
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Bob Hatch, 1975
After fully retiring in Cincinnati, OH, Bob and his wife (Kim) and moved back to Dallas, TX in December, 2022. “Dallas was always the favorite place we lived when I was working with JPMC. Great weather, great people and state spirit, and no state income tax. What’s not love?”
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Dr. Ken Noe, 1979Ken’s book The Howling Storm is the co-winner of the Colonel Richard W. Ulbrich Memorial Book Award from the U.S. Military History Group. It is a book about how Civil War battles were affected by weather. In 2020 he was recognized for creative research: https://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2020/12/161530-kenneth-noe.php
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Stan Williams, 1977
Stan Williams (1977) and Sharon Echols Williams (1986) just published “Honey the Bee”, the third in their children’s book series on regional willdlife. The books can be purchased on Amazon, several local outlets or by contacting Stan and Sharon at s.williams.crafts@gmail.com
1980s
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Kendall Calvert, 1982Completed a Master of Science at Northern State University: master’s is in Banking and Personal Finance. Graduate May 6, 2023
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Howard Chafin, 1983Howard has been awarded the Garland Thayer Award by People Incorporated. The Thayer Award honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to benefit low-income people through employment with an organization. He is the Children’s Programs Representative for Feeding Southwest Virginia. Read more…
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Sandi Fort, 1982
Sandi works for Select Health of South Carolina: part of a larger company called AmeriHealth Caritas. Their Medicaid market includes ten states and the District of Columbia. Corporate encourages its employees to volunteer in our communities and to record volunteer hours for their review. She received an email recently informing her that she is one of the top ten volunteers (hours served) in the entire corporation for the 2022 calendar year. This includes all ten states and DC. She put in around 400 hours last year.
Her volunteer time is spent at Seacoast Church, where she serves on the Emergency Response Team. They’re fully trained by the SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and they receive additional training as well – active shooter, mass casualty, CPR and Stop the Bleed, among others. She says, “It’s a good fit for me because I’m an adrenaline junkie who would rather run toward trouble than away from it. We have a great team, and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”
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J.Sanders Henderson III, 1985Sanders ran for school board in the Jefferson District of Washington County in November 2021 and won his third term. He was elected to be the Chairman of the Board for 2022. He is working as a Special Assistant to Athletics Fundraising at Emory & Henry College.
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Monica Hoel, 1985Monica Hoel has just reached 1000 service hours with the Holston Rivers chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist. Much of her service time is spent on bird conservation and education.
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Trenda Johnson, 1987Trenda has worked in various positions within the Volvo Group, (Volvo Trucks, Mack trucks, Nissan Diesel, Volvo Bus, and now Volvo Penta.) She as worked on three continents (Asia, North America, and Europe). “I have worked for Volvo for 29 years, meeting and working with many great people.” She has lived In Gothenburg, Sweden for almost 20 years. “I miss the weather and mountains of Virginia but otherwise I love it here in Sweden. it is a beautiful and great country. I have enjoyed traveling around the world and enjoying new cultures. Moving to a new country when you are not young and learning to work and live in a new language is challenging and exciting.”
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Lisa Jordan, 1984Lisa was selected as the E&H Distinguished Alumna of the Year in 2021. Read more…
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Bunny Medeiros,A second edition of her book, FRIENDLIEST TOWN ON THE TRAIL, is available at The E&H Bookstore. It has all the essential history of the town and its trails with updates on the many changes in recent years that continue to keep Damascus a great destination for locals and tourists. A memoir published in 2019, WALKING TO WIJIJI, is also available at Amazon. Both books are also available locally at the Arts Depot & Holston Mountain Artisans in Abingdon.
After graduation with a BA in Sociology, Bunny briefly worked with with the Area Agency on Aging then moved to Gainesville, FL where she worked as a psychiatric nurse in a private Hospital and a prison. She then attended Florida School of Massage before returning to Southwest Virginia and opening a massage practice.
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Thomas Osborne, 1982
Received from the Dept. of Magistrate Services of the Supreme Court of Virginia an award for 25 Years of Loyal, Outstanding and Dedicated Service as a Magistrate for the Commonwealth of Virginia, on December 6, 2022.
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William Perritt, 1985William married Kim Henderson August 6, 2021, in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Kim is a native of Western Colorado and manages retail operations for the Cortez Cultural Center. They share a home in Dolores, Colorado, overlooking the lake. William says they enjoy camping, hiking, and boating around the “stunning Four Corners area.” At home they “cook together and spend many evenings on the porch watching the sunset and the star-dappled night skies.”
William is employed with Fastmarkets RISI as a writer and editor, analyzing pulpwood, saw timber, and wood biomass markets. “I have held the job through its many gyrations over the past 27 years.” -
Rev. Phyllis Spiegel, 1988On April 30, 2022, Phyllis was named Bishop of Utah for the Episcopal Church. Read more…
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Sharon Williams, 1986
Stan Williams (1977) and Sharon Echols Williams (1986) just published “Honey the Bee”, the third in their children’s book series on regional willdlife. The books can be purchased on Amazon, several local outlets or by contacting Stan and Sharon at s.williams.crafts@gmail.com
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Mike Young, 1986Mike Young was selected as the E&H Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2022. Read more…
1990s
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Harold Craw, 1999Harold was named the 2020 E&H Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by the E&H Alumni Association. Read more…
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Joanna Harader, 1997Joanna has written a book of Advent devotions that will be published in 2022. It is called Expecting Emmanuel: Eight Women Who Prepared the Way. Find more information about it here.
Joanna serves as pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, KS. -
Cyndi Jennings, 1991Cyndi was selected for the 2022 E&H Distinctive Service to Emory & Henry Award. Read more…
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Allison Mays, 1995Allison is the Director of the Virginia Tech Southwest Center. Read more…
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Will Mullins, 1992Will’s scripts The Manor and Fantasy Clash were both Honorable Mention winners in the long running Screenplay Festival script competition. His fantasy script The Madness of Winter was a Bronze Award winner at the LA Sci Fi & Horror Festival. Other scripts advanced in various competitions, including Scriptation Showcase, International Comedy Film Festival, the Screenwriting Master Contest, Lit Scares, So Cal Film Awards, and Culver City Film Festival.
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Kaylin Render, 1994The YWCA of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee has recognized Kaylin Render as one of their 2022 honorees – recognizing women who nurture, empower, and transform. Kaylin is an Assistant District Attorney for Sullivan County, TN, entering her 16th year with the Office of the District Attorney General for the 2nd Judicial District of Sullivan County, TN. She was also just tapped to be the Division Head in Division I of the Criminal Courts for Sullivan County. She prosecutes all the felony domestic violence cases ranging all the way from domestic assaults to first degree murder cases. She also works very closely with the Branch
2000s
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Mark Arrington, 2002Mark and Laura introduced a new baby girl to their family. Helen “Ellie” Virginia Arrington was born in 2021.
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Tommy Britt, 2002Tommy works at George Mason University, and attended Ohio University for graduate school. He has been promoted to Full Professor at George Mason University.
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Dr. Eric Coley, 2004Eric was named the 2022 E&H Outstanding Faculty Member by the E&H Alumni Association. Read more…
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Chaplain Ryan Davenport, 2008
Ryan moved to San Antonio in April 202,2 and is an Air Force Chaplain for Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base
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Will Gibbons, 2003Will was recently appointed Dean of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Crane is one of the oldest and most prestigious music programs in the US, and trains approximately half of all music teachers in New York state.
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Kishanna Heyward, 2008Kishanna was selected as the 2021 E&H Young Alumna of the Year. Read more…
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Lori Hutton, 2008Lori is serving as the assistant principal at Marion Senior High School. She recently was awarded the Smyth County School Board award for “Mover of Mountains.” They just started a reward system for cafeteria staff, bus drivers, and any staff member “who has good attendance, makes a difference in students’ lives every day, goes above and beyond the call of duty, has good staff relations, good job performance, and is a difference maker.” The Board voted on 13 nominations.
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Dr. Monica Jacobe, 2001Dr. Monica F. Jacobe joined the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania as Director of Advising for the Undergraduate Division in August 2022. Her team supports all Wharton undergraduates with degree, academic, and career planning from pre-matriculation to graduation.
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Bobbie Larkin, 2003Bobbie was named for the 2020 Distinctive Service to Emory & Henry Award by the E&H Alumni Association. Read more…
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Matt Long, 2003Matt has been promoted to an equity named partner at the law firm of Bowen Ten Long & Bal, PC in Richmond, Virginia, with eight lawyers and two offices - one in Henrico, Virginia and the other in Hanover, Virginia. The firm is focusing on Family Law, Personal Injury, Estate Planning, and General Civil Litigation.
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Peter Oakman, 2005Ben Davis (’03) and Peter Oakman recently enjoyed a lovely lunch in Newport Beach California. Not pictured is Chris Miller (class of ’05).
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Israel O’Quinn, 2002In May of 2022, Israel was named by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce as the Legislator of the Year.
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D.W. Saur, 2005D.W.’s fourth book titled Just Friends was released in December 2021. His YA Fantasy novel Dark Days finished the 2021 award season with its sixth award coming from the American Fiction Awards in the Epic/High Fantasy category. Learn more at his website: https://dwsaur.com/
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Kris Sheets, 2002Kris was named the 2020 E&H Alumni Humanitarian of the Year. Read more…
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Monica Shew, 2007Monica and Daniel Shew won the Historic Preservation Award for Solar Hill, from the City of Bristol. Monica is a double alum of Emory & Henry, finishing a master’s in community and organizational leadership in 2011. She has recently left a long career in banking to work full-time for their property business, which encompasses 17 units in downtown Bristol. Their focus is to restore vacant houses and homes headed for the wrecking ball. All their houses were built before 1925 and have been made back into beautiful updated homes for tenants in hopes of creating a better community through restoration and maintenance.
The Historic Preservation Award Committee for the city of Bristol, Virginia invites nominations for the Historic Preservation Award. The purpose of this award program is to recognize and honor property owners and developers who engage in preservation projects within the city’s five historic districts: Euclid Avenue, Solar Hill, Virginia Hill, Bristol Downtown Commercial, and Bristol Warehouse Historic Districts. Properties within Bristol, Virginia city limits, but outside these historic districts, are eligible for a Citywide Historic Preservation Award.
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Josh Stamper, 2007Josh was selected as the 2020 E&H Young Alumnus of the Year by the E&H Alumni Association. Read more…
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Erin Street, 2006Erin recently got married to Daniel S. Street, and they’ve completed construction and moved into their new home.
She worked for 11 years in the legal field in both private law and for the Virginia Employment Commission. She also worked for 3 years as a veterinary technician, and has recently chosen to retire early.
2010s
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Rev. Richard Aylor, 2011
Richard has moved to Evergreen, Colorado to be the Pastor at Church of the Hills Presbyterian.
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Jessica Callahan, 2011Jessica and Stephen Callahan were chosen as the 2022 E&H Young Alumni of the Year. Read more…
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Stephen Callahan, 2011Jessica and Stephen Callahan were chosen as the 2022 E&H Young Alumni of the Year. Read more…
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Haleigh Conley, 2016
Haleigh has finished her PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences from North Carolina State University. She is a postdoctoral research associate at Duke University in the Department of Surgery.
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Andrew Downard, 2014
Andrew as been promoted to Supervisor of Remittance Processing at Navy Federal Credit Union.
He is pursuing an MBA degree at Mount Saint Mary’s.
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Amanda Hiner, 2015
Amanda graduated with her Masters in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from George Mason University and is now working toward a PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of Connecticut.
She completed research with a classmate at George Mason focused on number of hours worked and its possible impact on employee well-being. She plans to focus on employee well-being, sexual harassment, and discrimination in the workplace throughout her graduate career and beyond.
“I have moved to Connecticut with my fiancé and cat and we are looking forward to this new adventure!” -
Jade Ritterbush, 2017
Jade is an Export Document Examiner for the USDA. She’s living in Sacramento.
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Matthew Wilkinson, 2013
Matthew is the Planning & Codes Liaison for the Metropolitan Council of Nashville & Davidson County.
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Jenna Wygal, 2016Jenna is currently getting a Master of Science in Information and Library Science through the University at Buffalo. She is working as a Senior Library Assistant in Rochester, NY, and will be promoted to Collection Development Librarian in the Spring of 2022. She married Jonathan Wygal (E&H Class of 2018) in the summer of 2020. “We just adopted an Irish Setter named Murphy to round out the family.”
2020s
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Dillon Hutton, 2020Dillon married Dana Blair Ebb at Emory & Henry’s Memorial Chapel on January 14, 2023.
Dillon works as the Sports Information Director and Broadcaster at Tupelo High School in Tupelo, MS. -
Sydney McKinney, 2020In the spring of 2022, Sydney was named head women’s basketball coach at John Battle High School. Here’s a story on the Bristol Herald Courier page: https://heraldcourier.com/sports/sydney-mckinney-named-girls-basketball-coach-at-john-battle/article_b4ffceae-ca6a-11ec-a540-4f3b7b87a873.html
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Ty Smith, 2022In August of 2022, Ty will begin attending East Tennessee State University, obtaining an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, Higher Education concentration. While earning his Master’s degree, he will be employed through ETSU’s Center for Academic Achievement as a Graduate Assistant - serving as an advisor to undergraduate supplemental instructors and tutors.
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Kara Stafford, 2020
Kara is head women’s basketball coach at Sullivan East High School. Read more…
