Alumni Share Milestones from 2022

1974

CLASS AGENT: LYNN WALL MCKINNEY

Joe Christian published a book, “Investing with a Full Deck: What Las Vegas Taught Me About Managing Money,” and founded Far Better Coaching, a performance-coaching company specializing in helping individuals reach their financial goals.

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1977

CLASS AGENT: TERRY WALLACE CHAMBLISS

Fairley Bell Cook shared, “Our son Ben got married to Hannah Streetman in May. We enjoyed a lovely wedding at Haywood Hall House & Gardens in Raleigh. Also, my husband, Dan, and I built a modern farmhouse on a lot we had beside our old house and moved in October. We cleared out a lot of ‘keepsakes’ and are glad to be settled. Come see us!”

Fairley Bell Cook ’77 and her family at son Ben’s wedding

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1978

CLASS AGENT NEEDED!

Nat Walker, Jock Brakebill and Rob Christian returned to campus for Homecoming on Oct. 7 and enjoyed touring the new Olander Center for Student Life at the A.E. Finley Activity Center and supporting Ned Gonet, who retired from coaching at the end of the Fall 2022 season.

Nat Walker ’78, Jock Brakebill ’78 and Rob Christian ’78 at Homecoming 2022

Ann Norris O’Neal shared, “John and I spent the past year renovating a 90-year-old church in Beaufort, turning the fellowship hall into a four-bedroom bunkhouse (sleeps 16)! It’s perfect for families, friends and small groups. We are on three acres with gorgeous live oak trees and magnolias bordered by a peaceful tidal creek and marsh (lots of wildlife including birds, deer and fish) just minutes from downtown. This year, we are working on getting the sanctuary renovated to be used as a meeting space/large living area/wedding venue! Check out our VRBO listing!”

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1979

CLASS AGENT:  ALLISON GILBERT HOLMES

Lisa Brown has shared an update on her family. Gates Aldridge ’07 lives in Raleigh with his Ravenscroft freshman sweetheart and now wife, Courtney Newcombe Aldridge ’07. They started 2021 with the birth of their daughter, Ashton. Days are spent working virtually upstairs while Ashton enjoys her days being downstairs. Gates followed his passion for gaming to a career as gameplay designer at Epic Games, and Courtney is with Cisco. Logan Aldridge ’09 has been living in New York City since accepting a new role in adaptive fitness training and education with Peloton. He holds many athletic titles and accomplishments.

Ann Harris, Worth Harris’s wife, shared that their daughters, Sarah and Georgia, are both living in New York City.

John Hogan went to Park City, Utah, with his siblings and their families during the summer of 2022.

Allen Massey and Lorie Hightower Massey ’84’s daughter, Lee, gave birth to a son, Jaxton Doak Noble, on Oct. 20, 2022. Congratulations!

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1981

CLASS AGENT NEEDED!

Gordon Berkstresser began work as the Compliance Officer at Axiom Space in Houston, Texas. Current Axiom missions include building a private space station to replace the International Space Station as well as Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services — spacesuits for the next moon walk and for exterior maintenance on the space station.

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1982

CLASS AGENTS: WILLIAM GAITHER AND GENE DANIEL

Adam W. Jones will have his second children’s book published this spring. “Cecil and the Soccer Match” is the second book in a four-book series featuring Cecil the Littlest Ant. The first book, “Cecil and the Big Wave,” received wonderful reviews and a Reader’s Favorite 5-Star rating. Adam expects to publish books three and four of the series in 2024 and 2025.

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1983

CLASS AGENT: CAROLINE DAY PLUMMER

William “Benjye” Rose retired after 31 years of service as Durham County Director of Social Services on Nov. 1, 2022. Former classmates got together to celebrate with him at Mulino in Raleigh.

William “Benjye” Rose ’83, at left, celebrating his retirement with Allison Smith Shackelford ’83, Dale Robbins ’83 and David Zarzar ’83

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1986

CLASS AGENT: ASHLEY ALLEN

Lyn Fairchild Hawks has a new young adult novel about Minerva Mae Christopoulos, teen reporter, coming soon to a bookstore near you! “@NervesofSteel” will be released in April 2023.

Lyn Fairchild Hawks ’86 with husband Greg, and the cover of her upcoming young adult novel

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1987

CLASS AGENT NEEDED!

Give your ears a treat with some honky-tonk by John Howie Jr., “When I’m Not There With You,” in Ravenscroft Magazine’s latest Inspired.

John Howie Jr. ’87 with members of the Rosewood Bluff (photo courtesy of Bob Adamek)

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1988

CLASS AGENT: CATHY MYERS CARLINO

Kim Brady-Gillaspie and her family are doing mission work in the Dominican Republic for 10 months at Freedom International Ministries. The ministry is building a village Christian school for the children of the sugar cane workers. Kim and her daughter, Kolby, serve in the kindergarten classroom, and Kim’s husband, Nick, serves in the building of the school and surrounding communities. They would appreciate your prayers.

Kim Brady-Gillaspie ’88 and family

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1990

CLASS AGENT: CHRISTI JONES

Michael Gallagher published a memoir, “Run Down: An Endurance Athlete’s Race Against Chronic Fatigue,” in the spring of 2022.

Michael Gallagher ’90’s memoir, published last spring

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1992

CLASS AGENT: STEPHENIE BUTLER KOVAC

Thomas Hines is living in Japan with his wife, Tracey, and two sons, Thomas and Braxton, while serving as the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan. “Thomas, a junior at Kinnick High School, earned his third varsity letter in cross country this fall. Using everything I learned from Coach Gonet, I served as the head coach of the JV football team for Braxton, ninth grade, and we were fortunate to win the Japanese Mainland National Championship for DOD schools,” he wrote. “We look forward to reconnecting with friends and family when we return from Japan in the summer of 2024.”

Thomas Hines ’92 with his sons, Thomas and Braxton, on a recent trip to the summit of Mt. Fuji, and with his family at his Change of Command Ceremony in June 2022.

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1994

CLASS AGENT NEEDED!

Enjoy a throwback to the days when the Murphy Bell Tower and Arboretum was designed and dedicated in honor of the Class of 1994 in our latest Ravens Rewind, Alumni Parents’ Gift of Gratitude Creates Campus Icons.

Kate Lee was featured in Virginia Business’s “100 People to Meet in 2023” after being named president of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, the state’s largest craft beer brewery, in July. She joined Hardywood in 2014 after 12 years at Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Kate Lee ’94

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1996

CLASS AGENT: TIM JOHNSON

Ellen Robertson accepted a faculty position at Randolph-Macon College, located outside of Richmond, Virginia. Ellen and her family moved to Richmond at the end of 2022 after eight years at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

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1998

CLASS AGENT: ELLEN MANN O'CONNOR

Keith Diener has published a book, “The Lawyer's Guide to Business Ethics.”

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2001

CLASS AGENTS: EMILY TAYLOR FERRELL AND JACLYN WHITE MORGAN

Jessica Gladwin joined the City of Raleigh’s Planning & Development Department in 2019. In 2021, Jessica obtained the American Planning Association’s AICP certification, the only nationwide, independent verification of planners’ qualifications. In August 2022, Jessica was promoted to Senior Planner and moved into the Site Development Review Group.

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2003

CLASS AGENT: ANNA CLAIRE MURNICK PRICE

David Fajgenbaum gave a talk at a recent Clinton Global Initiative meeting announcing the creation of a nonprofit, Every Cure, to accelerate making connections between existing drugs and the diseases that they have the capacity to cure.

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2004

CLASS AGENTS: ASHLEY BOARD, GRETCHEN PRESNELL AND KEITH STROMBOTNE

Saba Chaudhry Taj was a featured artist in Liza Roberts’ 2022 book, “The Art of the State.”

American Wild Ensemble, directed by flutist Emlyn Johnson, released its second album, “Duos and Trios,” on New Focus Recordings in July 2022. The album features a collection of imaginative new repertoire for flute, clarinet and cello, all commissioned by the ensemble, which has commissioned 40 new works since it began in 2015.

Cover of American Wild Ensemble’s “Duos and Trios,” directed by flutist Emlyn Johnson ’04

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2007

CLASS AGENT: ROB BYRD

Taylor Machikas Willard and family made the move to Raleigh in October 2022 and are loving the area! Tenley (4) started preschool at St. Philip Lutheran, and Keaton (2) will start in September 2023. Taylor still works for Pfizer on the sourcing team, and Jon is still with Almac Clinical Services in Durham.

Taylor Machikas Willard ’07 and family

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2008

CLASS AGENT: CASEY STEVENSON

Steven ’08 and Sarah Hyde Benedict ’08 welcomed their third child, Zoey Abigail Benedict, on Nov. 27, 2022. Big siblings Ellie and Adam are very excited to have a new little sister!

Steven ’08 and Sarah Hyde Benedict ’08 with baby Zoey Abigail, Adam and Ellie

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2010

CLASS AGENTS: CHASE BERNHARDT, NATALIE SALMONESE WILLIAMS AND TYSON PRESNELL

Karyn Miller shared, “I’m headed to Oxford to pursue my MBA at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. From Hampstead Parochial School to Ravenscroft and finally to Hogwarts.”

Karyn Miller ’10 at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Ildi Gaal will be representing Team USA at the 50K World Championships taking place in India this November. Go, Ildi!

Ildi Gaal ’10 running the 2022 MadCity Ultra 50k Race in Madison, Wisconsin

Be sure to read our Frame feature “Young Alumni Pursue Their Passions in the Performing Arts,” which includes a profile of actor and fight choreographer George Labusohr.

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2011

CLASS AGENTS: PATRICK BAILEY, ZAKI HAIDARY AND ALLIE WITHERS PARKER

Check out Alumni to Watch, in which friends and classmates Temple Sloan, Baker Mills and John Haslett discuss the path each took to joining the Navy and what they’re doing today.

Allie Withers Parker reports that she has been named a REALTOR Magazine 30 under 30 for 2022!

Allie Withers Parker ’11

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2012 

CLASS AGENTS: ANGELIKA BARTH AND LEWIS STOCKS

Garrett Bird took part in an outdoor program led by former Ravenscroft Middle School teacher Glenn Delaney. As Delaney shared, “I have been the director of a small experiential education boarding school called The Outdoor Academy since 2018. Last year, we partnered with Norfolk Academy to develop an outdoor program with a leadership development focus for a group of their students. As it happens, Garrett was one of the faculty members at Norfolk that we worked with, and I had the chance to go backpacking in Pisgah National Forest with him and his students. Garrett was in my first eighth-grade advisory group as a new teacher at Ravenscroft, so it was great spending time with him on the trail reminiscing, hearing updates about all of my former students and watching him do such excellent work with his students. We kept an eye out for the Junior Mountain Trip but missed them by a couple of days.”

Garrett Bird ’12, at left, with former Ravenscroft teacher Glenn Delaney on top of Black Balsam in Pisgah National Forest

Caroline Margolis, Eliza Kramer, Sarah Fritsch, Grace Fuscoe, Melissa Funsten, Caroline Lindquist and Rachel Barnett Maples ’09 were among the Ravens at Ann Barnett Cousins’ March 2022 wedding.

Ann Barnett Cousins ’12 and fellow Ravens at her 2022 wedding

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2013

CLASS AGENTS: EMILY BEDSOLE, BRYANT DOWD AND THOMAS SIGMON

Julia Swan Laird is a soprano currently in residence at Pittsburgh Opera. She has performed across the country at houses such as Tulsa Opera, OperaDelaware, Piedmont Opera, OperaBaltimore, North Carolina Opera, Opera North! and Pittsburgh Festival Opera. At Pittsburgh Opera, she just finished performing the role of Susanna in “Le Nozze di Figaro” by Mozart — the largest soprano role in operatic history!

Julia Swan Laird ’13, soprano, currently in residence at Pittsburgh Opera

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2014

CLASS AGENTS: MARY GRADY BELL AND HUMZA RIZVI

English Bernhardt has been cast in the “MEAN GIRLS: The Musical” as the lead role, Cady Heron. The show is currently touring nationwide.

English Bernhardt ’14, at left, with fellow castmates from “MEAN GIRLS: The Musical”

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2016

CLASS AGENTS: HENRY ATKESON, EMERSON BURKHARDT, MEGAN RAGUSA, LUCY RUSSELL AND ZOE STRAFFORD-PRICE

Be sure to read our Frame feature “Young Alumni Pursue Their Passions in the Performing Arts,” which includes profiles of soprano Haley Murdoch and actor/director Jace Carlyle Berry.

Catch up with field hockey standout Megan Ragusa — who has translated her experience on UNC’s national-championship team into leadership and legacy as a graduate student playing for Temple University — in the latest feature for Fit.

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2017

CLASS AGENTS: DOUGLAS DILLON, JORDAN PARHAM, JAXON STOCKS AND NATASHA ZALETEL

Allison Arber recently won the Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering’s Masters in Research in Molecular Engineering Prize of Excellence. Allison’s work throughout the course culminated in her project, “Crystal Growth Behaviour Post Breakage.”

Be sure to read our Frame feature “Young Alumni Pursue Their Passions in the Performing Arts,” which includes a profile of model and actor Douglas Dillon.

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2018

CLASS AGENTS: DASHA TEYF, BELLA CHURCH, RUTHANNE WINSTON AND CAMILO CORRALES GIL

Kathryn Hubbard relocated to Raleigh and began a job as a digital content producer at CBS 17.

Bella Church graduated with highest distinction from UNC-Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Emphasis) and a minor in music. Bella was honored to receive the Excellence in Marketing Award from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. After graduating, she ventured to NYC for six weeks over the summer to participate in the Mentora Foundation’s Youth Changemaker Fellowship. Through this opportunity, Bella connected with individuals from 10 different countries and studied Mentora’s Inner Mastery - Outer Impact approach to bring positive, deep change to a dedicated area of social impact. Shortly after the program concluded, she returned to Raleigh to begin a full-time role as an associate digital strategist at IBM.

Bella Church ’18

Reed Farrow graduated from UNC-Wilmington with a degree in computer science, is an assistant coach for the lacrosse team and founded a company called The PCE, which promotes and spotlights local musicians and venues in the Wilmington area.

Reed Farrow ’18

Be sure to read our Frame feature “Young Alumni Pursue Their Passions in the Performing Arts,” which includes a profile of actor Matt Sheaffer.

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2019 

CLASS AGENTS: KEMMIA GHODRAT, MELISSA KONG AND MICHAEL SISSON

Matt Lang graduated from NC State in December 2022 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management. Matt has recently accepted a position in the Operational Safety & Compliance Programs Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico.

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