For the fourth year in a row, Ravenscroft's student-led fundraising team for Crucial Catch has been recognized as the top fundraising school in the nation, exceeding their goal of $30,000 by more than $6,000, and once again winning the prestigious Pink Cleat Award.
Three Ravenscroft art students have been recognized for their submissions to the Fine Arts League of Cary Teen Show.
Six Middle School students took the global Pegasus Mythology Exam in March, with all winning awards for their performance.
Jennifer Ingram Maddrey owns two local businesses, Maddrey Custom Monogramming and Salem Sisters Sportswear, which offers a variety of items related to Salem Academy and College.
Charles Winston was named North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s 2021 Restaurateur of the Year for his accomplishments in the hospitality industry at his restaurant, Winston’s, located in North Raleigh.
Bill Browning has published “Transformational Learning in Community Colleges,” which explores how community colleges play a critical role in supporting underrepresented students in higher education. Read our Q&A with Bill and three other alumni writers in 4 to Watch.
Evelyn Scruggs Davis and her husband, Stuart, have moved to Emerald Isle. They have opened a Briggs Hardware Store there.
Mary Dennis Hart Fogelman’s son, Dennis, married Jasmine Almond on Oct. 3, 2020, in Lake Gaston.
Lisa Phillips Perkinson became a grandmother on Dec. 13, 2020. Baby Ellen Jeanne Perkinson is named after two of her grandmothers.
Bill Adams’ daughter was married on May 16, 2020, at Fletcher Park in Raleigh. Bill and his wife, Hilary, have both retired and enjoy spending time in Topsail Beach.
Irish Howsam Dunlap retired from GSK/ViiV Healthcare after 33 years in marketing, with the last 10 years as a senior marketing director. In March 2020, she became an executive board member and Chief Commercial Officer at a local start-up, rXperius, Inc. She lives with her husband, Owen, in Raleigh.
Bill Joyner is Assistant Professor of Vocal Studies at the University of North Texas. In addition to his teaching, he continues to portray some of opera’s most well-known leading roles. Of late, he has begun to explore some of the more lyrical Wagnerian roles.
Beth Towle Love’s daughter, Christian, was married on Oct. 31, 2020. The couple now live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Susan Edwards Surratt’s daughter, Liz, was married on Feb. 1, 2020, in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Classmates Joy Hollingsworth and Marianna Bass were in attendance.
Joy Hollingsworth ’80 and Marianna Bass ’80 at the wedding of Susan Edwards Surratt ’80’s daughter, Liz
Eric Thompson helped establish and serves as a board member for the Kyrgyz American Foundation (KAF), which exists to strengthen ties between the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan and the United States. The foundation consists of artists and scholars from both countries and regularly holds classical concerts in major U.S. cities, with a portion of the proceeds going to support children’s music and language education programs. The KAF has grown to encompass the Eurasia Festival which, in its abiding mission to promote international goodwill, affords U.S.-based artists from Russia, Ukraine, China, Korea, Uzbekistan and beyond opportunities to perform on the highest classical platforms. Eric has had his piano works performed in Raleigh, Wilmington, New York, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans. He is retired from the N.C. Army National Guard and has been employed full-time with Polynt Composites USA, Inc. for 27 years. He lives in the Weatherby Lake community in the greater Kansas City, Missouri, area.
Eric Thompson (center) with Jonathan Levin and Aza Sydykov of the Kyrgyz American Foundation
Enjoy Carrie Deener Alspaugh’s memories about serving the community as a member of Damsels in Ravens Reflect.
Mary Catherine Bunn Johnson has published “Where Your Treasure Is” (arriving April 23 under the name M.C. Bunn), a historical romance set in the late Victorian period. Read our Q&A with Mary Catherine and three other alumni writers in 4 to Watch.
In February 2020, John Rhodes presented a talk at TEDxCharleston. He shared his experiences from the path to obtaining an MD, showing that overcoming dyslexia, attention deficit disorder and other processing deficits is not an insurmountable task.
Erik Day started a new job as an Adjunct Animation Instructor at Colorado Mesa University.
Todd Harris started a new global nonprofit organization, North America Scholastic ESports Federation, which focuses on using video games and esports as a platform for students to acquire critical communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in work and in life. Read our Spring 2020 profile of Todd in Makers.
Cheryl Rhodes Pope has lived in Dallas, Texas, for the past 25 years and unfortunately doesn’t get back to North Carolina as much as she would like since her dad passed away a few years ago. She still has UNC basketball tickets and tries to come up for a game or two each year but sadly doesn’t think that is in the cards this year due to the pandemic. She added that she doesn’t have any kids other than the four-legged kind (two Golden Retrievers and a couple of cats), but she and her husband travel as much as they can.
Trevor Hornick is celebrating 25 years living in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Lyn Fairchild Hawks recently went on leave from the Duke Talent Identification Program to pursue her MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She also is the owner of Success Story Essay Consulting, a coaching service that helps students harness storytelling strategies to write a standout admissions essay.
Emily Procter lives in Los Angeles with her partner, Paul, and 10-year-old daughter, Pippa. Two years ago she founded a nonprofit, Ground Breakers Inc, a program that teaches social/emotional conflict-management skills and personal development. The initial program was launched at Kern Valley State Prison, with plans to expand nationally in 2021. A children’s program also launched virtually to fourth- through eighth-graders at Nightingale School in Stockton. The nonprofit’s overall mission is to provide the language skills necessary to advocate for oneself in a peaceful and effective manner. The work has been incredibly rewarding. “Sending a big hello to the Class of ’86!” she added.
Lori Gilman Rubin became a partner at Odgers Interim, a leading international interim-executive management recruitment firm, with offices in the UK, Australia, Canada, US and Colombia, in Dec. 2020.
Ashley Allen has been back in Raleigh for three years after living and working in France and Sweden for 27 years. She has a 16-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son. She is currently working as Company Manager at Theatre Raleigh with former Raven Lauren Kennedy ’04.
Curt Johnson, President and General Manager of NCFC (North Carolina Football Club), was named to the North Carolina Sports Leadership Council in November 2020. Read our profile of Curt from the Summer 2018 magazine.
Bill Olmstead is riding out the COVID storm with his family in the woods of Fairfield County, Connecticut. He asked classmates to drop him a line at wolmstead@gmail.com so that they can catch up virtually for coffee, beer or a cocktail.
Alumni Class Notes are published once a year, in the Spring issue, as part of our now-100% digital Ravenscroft Magazine and will appear on our website. Send us your milestones — weddings and births, degrees and recognitions, promotions, relocations and retirements — via Submit a Class Note.
Keep up with fellow Ravens throughout the year via our Alumni Facebook page and any class-specific social media accounts your class agent may manage. We look forward to hearing from you!
Penny Abrahams married Daniel Crampton in a small backyard ceremony at their home in Raleigh. Her younger brother, Steven, served as the officiant, and her daughter, Julianna Rogers ’21, was the maid of honor. Julianna plans to attend Appalachian State University in the fall and major in pre-law, and her brother, Jack, is a sophomore at Florida Polytechnic University majoring in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity.
David Rountree’s daughter, Chloe Jo, will be starring in the new ABC sitcom “Home Economics.” Chloe Jo will be playing the daughter of “That ’70s Show” star Topher Grace and “How to Get Away with Murder” star Karla Souza. The series is inspired by the life of co-creator Michael Colton, and it examines the relationship between three adult siblings: one in the 1 percent, one in the middle class, and one barely holding on. It will air in Spring 2021.
Kate Hagopian Berry has published “Mast Year,” a collection of poetry. Read our Q&A with Kate and three other alumni writers in 4 to Watch.
Shep Buckman moved back to New Orleans two years ago after 20 years in Washington, DC. He married Michele on Nov. 21, 2020, in New Orleans. (See a photo of them on their wedding day with Michele’s son, Connor, under “Weddings.”)
Jen Madison Snook’s son Christian started kindergarten at Ravenscroft this fall — and he lost his first two teeth. “I’ve definitely felt nostalgic pulling into the same carpool line that my mom’s station wagon used 38 years ago,” she said. Christian recently celebrated Green and Gold Day as part of Ravenscroft’s Spirit Week, COVID-19 mask and all!
Jen Madison Snook ’95’s son Christian
Sean Fowler and Elizabeth welcomed Theodore Meredith Fowler III on Feb. 12, 2020.
Rebecca Myers has published a collection of poetry entitled “My Seaborgium.” Read our Q&A with Rebecca and three other alumni writers in 4 to Watch.
Brett Wells and Ally welcomed Cayden Jeffery Wells on Oct. 16, 2020.
In late 2020, Brooke Baker Belk was accepted into the MFA program at Queens University, where she will be studying poetry and plans to graduate in 2023.
Justin Anne Snipes Patterson was featured in Walter Magazine sharing tips for self-care during the COVID pandemic. She is also currently working as a yoga instructor for the NC State football team.
Ebony Tanner-Moore was named the head coach of the St. Augustine’s women’s basketball team.
Megan Meyer and Rossa welcomed Owen Michael Fitzgerald on June 30, 2020.
If you’re interested in serving on our Alumni Council, keeping your classmates connected as a class agent or helping plan future reunions, please contact Alumni Engagement Officer Dan Ressner ’99. Class agents are needed for 1978, 1987, 1991 and 2005.
Lauren Plichta was appointed President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, a nonprofit dedicated to “igniting the power and promise of youth” through one-to-one mentoring relationships.
Lauren Plichta ’01, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles
Josh Edwards and his wife, Anna, welcomed their second child, Charlotte Bradford, and moved from Raleigh to Morehead City.
Josh Edwards ’01 and family in Morehead City
Shauna Marie Lawlis and Christopher welcomed Rhys Mercer Winstead on Oct. 18, 2020.
Read about the outstanding work Rodgers Dameron is doing in mixed media, animation and music in Inspired.
Moss Withers was honored with two Elite Broker Awards by the Triangle Commercial Association of Realtors. One was for Total Sales and the other was for Land Sales.
Adam Ressner and Tess welcomed Halston Wolf Ressner on March 17, 2020.
John Bower was named Head of Middle School at the Rivers School in Weston, Massachusetts. John previously served as the Assistant Head of Middle School and the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Maggie Simons was named one of the Operation 36 Top 50 Golf Coaches in 2020. Maggie instructs at the Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Oregon.
Jenna Schneider Chalk resides in Lynchburg, Virginia, with her three boys (Hayes,7; Parker, 5; and Landon, 2). She continues to practice dentistry with Riley Dental Associates and is a co-owner of a local pilates studio. Husband Evan continues to be busier than ever as an oral surgeon. “2020 has given us a wild ride, but we’ve come out with more appreciation and gratitude for all that we have,” she added.
Jenna Schneider Chalk ’03 and family in Lynchburg, Virginia
William Moss and his wife, Chailee, welcomed twins, Henry and Flora, on Dec. 28, 2019. Big sister Louisa has been overly excited at times but very loving and helpful overall. They’re living in Baltimore and are ready for the wild ride that has been 2020 to be in their rear-view mirror.
Taylor Greene and his wife, Zoey, welcomed William Thomas Greene to the family on April 26, 2020. The Greenes also moved into their first home in Holly Springs and are enjoying the new neighborhood. Taylor continues to assist running the two family businesses in insurance adjusting and real estate.
Leslie Sherrill Boliek married Tate D. Boliek on Oct. 17, 2020, at a smaller-than-originally-planned wedding ceremony with several friends from Ravenscroft standing at her side, including Cori Rose Dary as matron of honor. “Our formal reception is postponed until 2021. We’ll honeymoon in Italy and France in 2021, hopefully; but immediately after our ceremony we enjoyed a mini-moon at Disney World and in Savannah! I continue to practice law in Charlotte and Tate works in finance.”
Cori Rose Dary ’04 and Leslie Sherrill Boliek ’04 at Leslie’s wedding
Emlyn Johnson was selected as one of 60 fellows in this year’s Global Leaders Program. GLP is an executive graduate certificate program focused on social impact and change through music.
Matt Hunter and Laura welcomed Joni Marie Hunter on Feb. 10, 2020.
Josh Edwards and Anna welcomed Charlotte Bradford Edwards on July 6, 2020.
Samantha Rosenberg Griffin and Timothy welcomed Cooper Hayes Griffin on Sept. 8, 2020.
Read David Jones’ reflection on his participation in a Middle School service project to clean up around a nearby stream in Ravens Reflect.
Jeremy Smith and Rachel welcomed Josiah Berne Smith on Feb. 26, 2020.
Mary Fletcher King Mullikin married Seth Mullikin in Savannah on June 6, 2020. They live in Charlotte.
Brooke Holliday McLendon and husband Ross welcomed Grant McLendon in May 2018 and Wyatt McLendon in June 2020. They live in Charlotte. Brooke works in financial crimes compliance at U.S. Bank and was recently named the Chief BSA/AML Officer for U.S. Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary FSV Payment Systems.
Taylor Machikas Willard and husband Jon welcomed son Keaton Milo Willard in August 2020, pictured here with big sister Tenley. They live in Chapel Hill.
Randall Schneider married Nicole Savage on April 25, 2020.
Rob Schaaf and Emily welcomed Mary Margaret Schaaf on Feb. 16, 2020.
Tré Cotten worked with the cast of director Regina King’s new film, “One Night in Miami,” as a dialect coach. Read our profile of Tré in Frame.
After living in Charlotte for six years, Steven and Sara Hyde Benedict moved back to Raleigh in January of 2019. He accepted a job at Troxler Laboratory Inc. as a product manager and has enjoyed working there ever since. They welcomed their second child, Adam Wade Benedict, on Sept. 14, 2020, which also happened to be their seventh wedding anniversary and the day after Sara’s birthday! Ellie is now 2 ½ and loves being a big sister.
Dominic Parker was hired as an assistant coach for men’s basketball at Guilford College in November 2020.
Lauren Miller Wieczorek is currently the “boss mom” of her two daughters, Charlotte and Cameron, and is working as the funding coordinator for the Miller Family Foundation.
Stephen Dunn married Kristin Regan on Dec. 19, 2020. He switched jobs in the middle of the pandemic to join a start-up, Eton Solutions, and bought a gym 10 minutes from Ravenscroft, Goliath Athletics. Erin Bratcher ’10 owns EB Athletics, which shares space in the same 10K-square-foot facility.
Casey Stevenson and Caroline welcomed Avery Grace on June 1, 2020. In what has been a tumultuous and crazy year, “she has certainly been a shining light. We were lucky to have Meghan Wilson ’08 as one of our delivery nurses, which truly made the life-changing event even more special,” he said. “We're still in Raleigh and eager to get together with friends and family once it becomes safer to do so.”
Mary Lanier Berne and Brett welcomed Ella Jane Berne on Sept. 21, 2020.
Justin Bradley was promoted to associate head coach for men’s basketball at Dartmouth College.
The Ravenscroft Alumni Association is proud to recognize outstanding alumni with the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Alumni Sports Hall of Fame Award and the Alumni Fine Arts Hall of Fame Award. In addition, the Class of 1862 Award bestows honorary alumni status to faculty and staff, parent volunteers and other supporters who have made significant and lasting contributions to the school. The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2021.
Caroline Willauer, a historian, had the very exciting opportunity to co-host the live broadcast of Joe Biden's inauguration alongside the “Anderson Cooper of France” on the international network France 24. “It was quite exciting and so special to be able to cover such a historic day!” she said. Caroline has also been active in the DC lacrosse community over the past 10 years and was involved in introducing the sport to public schools a few years ago. She coached a team for two years and made it to the championship in their second season — “a very proud moment for me as a coach.”
Sofia Armstrong Cole has left the athletic training staff at Ravenscroft and taken a job at Raleigh Neurology in the Concussion Clinic, where she’s conducting testing, providing patient care and working on marketing.
Allie Withers Parker married Hayden Parker in Wilmington on Feb. 1, 2020. Allie and Hayden continue to live and work in Raleigh.
Read Ann Barnett’s recollection of “just doing what she can” to give back to the community through service in Ravens Reflect.
Laura Beacham graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Master of Science in Systems Engineering
Caroline Hirl started a new job in consulting at the Eliassen Group in Reston, Virginia.
Caroline Lindquist was accepted to University of California-Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design to pursue a master’s degree in landscape architecture. She plans to focus on using design to address urban ecology, hydrology and social justice. She was also named a SHIFT Emerging Leader.
Matt McDowell graduated from the physician’s assistant program at East Carolina University and is now seeking job opportunities in Denver, CO.
Riley Ray married Rhian Merwald on Dec. 12, 2020.
Sarah Pupa, a fourth-year doctoral student of audiology at the University of Pittsburgh, was the recipient of the The American Academy of Audiology’s Foundation 2020 Jerry Northern Scholarship in Pediatric Audiology. This honor is awarded to a student who shows exceptional promise as a clinical audiologist, with a focus on the specialty of pediatric audiology. The work that she was recognized for investigated how children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) behaviorally respond to various levels of sound.
Abby Quirk-Royal is living in Savannah, Georgia, and opened an online pottery business, Pragmatic Pottery.
Christina Potter is an analyst at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and a Research Associate in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Christina’s primary research interests include outbreak preparedness, response measures and global health policy. In May 2020, she received her MSPH in global disease epidemiology and control from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Zoe Quirk-Royal moved to Charleston, South Carolina, and started a new job as a Certified Athletic Trainer at Low Country Orthopedics.
Nina Barnett was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur Finalist for her work with grooop and was announced as a winner with the UFA x Luminary Fellowship in New York for woman-founded small businesses. Earlier in the year, she had the opportunity to open for Jim Gaffigan at Gotham Comedy Club in NYC. She added that she hopes comedy clubs will reopen soon.
Skye Deitelbaum graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in broadcast journalism and then moved to Australia to work, travel and blog about her experiences. Initially she lived in Melbourne but then moved to Northern Queensland to work for a sailing charter company. She returned to the U.S. in April 2020 and plans to depart for Chile in February 2021 to do social media marketing for a tourism company.
Travel writer and social media marketer Skye Deitelbaum ’15
Caroline Hansen was chosen to represent the University of South Carolina Pharmacy School for National Pharmacy Day and distribute COVID vaccines. She will complete her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May 2021.
Caroline Hansen ’15 on National Pharmacy Day
Sydney Macnabb was accepted into the Master of Music program at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University to study vocal performance and opera. She began her studies in the fall of 2020.
Austin Morin founded Queer Block Island, a nonprofit that is bringing awareness to the LGBTQIA+ community in Rhode Island. The organization has several people working on community outreach projects tackling queer-oriented issues such as medical care, education, tourism and acceptance. In 2021, the group plans to host the island’s first Pride Week with a parade, drag brunches, a production of “Rocky Horror” and a few parties.
Austin Morin ’15
Andrew Vande Berg won a regional qualifier and advanced to the U.S. Disc Golf Amateur Doubles Championships, which was played in October 2020. He and his partner finished tied for 12th in the nation.
Laura Naslund married Lucas Melogno on Oct. 17, 2020.
Lauren Cook graduated from the University of Alabama in the spring and began her studies at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine in the fall of 2020.
Abbie Green started nursing school at the Medical University of South Carolina in January 2020 and was selected as a MUSC Presidential Scholar.
Michael Gong was accepted into St. Hilda’s College at Oxford University to pursue his Master’s in Economics.
Kaira Harrison started a new jewelry business, Thick Girl Tings, selling creative ring designs.
Charlotte Hood graduated from Elon University with a degree in psychology in the spring of 2020. She then moved to Boston to pursue a Master of Arts in Psychology at Boston University.
Aaron Inglee graduated from Elon University and started a job at Credit Suisse’s Raleigh office as a Technology Analyst.
Robin Kikuchi graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles and was accepted to the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Ellie Knudsen was accepted at the University of Maryland Law School, beginning her studies in the fall of 2020.
Payne Lubbers graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in the spring of 2020. He is now working in New York City as a reporter for Bloomberg News.
Ryan McAtee started a new job at State Farm Insurance in Raleigh working in sales and marketing.
Chloe Mikles is working toward a Ph.D. at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station in Monterey Bay, California. For her dissertation work, she is studying Atlantic bluefin tuna with electronic tagging and genetics. Some of her field work is off the coast of North Carolina. Her research team was able to tag five fish this December and they’ll be tracking their migrations, which may go as far as the Mediterranean Sea. The pandemic has prevented Chloe from moving to California, so in her time off she has been commercially fishing for bluefin and collecting genetic samples.
Yunxin Ouyang was accepted to Duke University to pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. She began her studies in July of 2020.
Taylor Patel graduated from Boston University in the spring of 2020 and developed her own podcast, You Do You, which is meant to motivate others to be confident and unapologetically themselves.
Rob Sar graduated from Furman University and took a position in the Raleigh office of Fairview Investment Services doing compliance support.
Lauren Walsh graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in music/vocal performance. Lauren began graduate work in the Master of Accounting program at UNC-Chapel Hill. She has also started a style blog, Style Up With Lauren, where she covers topics including clothing, make-up and hair tips.
Natalie Lang graduated from UNC-Charlotte in December 2020 with a B.A. in Computer Science with a concentration in Human Computer Interaction and a minor in Cognitive Science. She took a position as a Technology Business Systems Analyst with Wells Fargo in Charlotte at the beginning of 2021.
Zach Murphy was named to the ACC Student Athlete Academic Honor Roll for the 2019-20 school year. Zach is a kicker on the Wake Forest football team.
Natasha Zalatel was accepted into the University of Queensland in Australia graduate program in conservation biology and will begin her studies in June 2021.
Clay Baker attends Duke University, majoring in computer science and minoring in biology and classical civilizations studies. Clay was awarded a research grant by the Duke Undergraduate Research Support Office for his remote summer project, “Deep Learning Analysis of Gut Nutrient Stimulation on Mice Pose.”
Kathryn Hubbard will be graduating from Lynn University one year early this May with a major in multimedia journalism and a minor in criminal justice. Last year, she interned with ESPN in West Palm Beach and worked as a field team member at the Super Bowl in Miami. She also worked in the media tents at the Honda Classic golf tournament in February. She is excited to see what’s in store for this year.
Bella Church attends UNC-Chapel Hill and is majoring in business administration through the Kenan-Flagler Business School and minoring in music. This past summer, Bella completed an internship with Inmar Intelligence as an influencer marketing intern on the product marketing team while training for and completing her first marathon with her brother. This fall, she is excited to join IBM’s Marketing and Communications internship program.
Lily Sykes was named to the Dean’s List at Clemson University for the Spring 2020 semester. Her major is Bioengineering.
Kemmia Ghodrat joined the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity at NC State and is planning to study in Australia during the fall semester of her junior year. She is also interning for a wedding planning company in Raleigh and would like to pursue it as a career after graduation.
Be sure to read these other alumni-focused stories in the Spring 2021 issue:
As of April 2021, no decisions about future on-campus reunion dates have been made. Follow our Alumni Facebook page for updates — and make sure we have your current contact information!
