green berets, unabridged @classof99news - Tumblr Blog

Before we get started...

let's set a few ground rules:

1. Submit on your own behalf only. Tell us what you're doing, tell us you had a great time at the butter carving competition with our classmate Jane, but don't share Jane's news if it doesn't also involve you. 2. News doesn't have to be momentous. Nothing would be better than to get a bunch of snapshot updates from folks who have dropped out of touch. Tell us what's up with you, even if it's not a milestone event. Though naturally we want to hear about those, too.

3. Anonymous submissions won't be posted.

#honor code #playing nicely

Green Beret News, Summer 2014

Christy Bardis Petterson and her husband Davis welcomed their first child. Emmett Abner was born August 14, 2013, seven weeks before his due date. It's been nonstop ever since!

After eight and a half years as a staff attorney for the Superior Court of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Julia Greene joined the law firm of Stewart, Melvin and Frost on January 2, 2014, with a focus on domestic law.

Heather-Leigh "Aria" Owens Nies experiences life to the fullest - sometimes, it happens to be through the actions of her beautiful daughters. Most recently Catherine Luanne (8) and Rosalyn Sophia (5) joined th eminions of fellow Green Beret Patricia Friedrich-Silverberg dancing in Northeast Atlanta Ballet's 2013 Holiday production of "The Nutcracker" as a Pochinelle and a Baby Mouse. Vivian Rhapsody (3) also started wearing glasses and has managed to "rock the cute," exercising the muscles in her pinky to quite the full effect!

Victoria Sloane Bellamy was born to Susan Buckner Bellamy and husband Shaun on October 25, 2013.

Green Beret News, Autumn 2013

Stephanie White Carter and her husband Michael welcomed baby boy Spencer James Carter, March 7. He joins 2-year-old brother Donovan in keeping Stephanie happy and busy. In between mommy time, Stephanie styles clients in her job as an image consultant, wardrobe stylist and personal shopper. Her business is Image Consulting Atlanta & Creative Fashion Services.

Birgitta Johnson presented her paper, "Old School Worship: An African American Megachurch Celebrating the Past and Church Musical Traditions Through Re-enactment" at the 2013 meeting of the International Conference for Traditional Music in Shanghai, China in July at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The paper will also be featured in chapter form in the book Resiliency and Distinction: Beliefs, Endurance and Creativity in the Musical Arts of Continental and Diasporic Africa. A Festscrift in Honor of Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje (Kimasi L. Browne and Jeane N. Kidula, eds., released in July). She also wrote the new music history and biography entires for "African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church," "African Methodist Episcopal Church," "Church of God in Christ," "The Sounds of Blackness," "Sister Ernestine B. Washington," and "Reverend Clay Evans" in The Grove Dictionary of American Music, Second Edition, being published over the summer by the Oxford University Press.

Heather-Leigh "Aria" Owens Nies is busy with the next generation of Scotties; some days she is certain she is raising "la femme Tortuga"! Catherine Luanne "Kitty," 7, was the top reader of her entire first grade class with 840 books. Rosalyn Sophia, 5, started kindergarten this fall and was quoted in the Gwinnett Daily Post during her first Girl Scout camp experience at Lilburn day camp. Vivian Rhapsody, 3, is continuing to work on her people management skills by wrapping eveyrone around her little finger. While managing her minions (herding cats) is a full-time job right now, Heather-Leigh actually manages a balanced headstand every now and then in acro-yoga. Jessica Bryant Moy and husband Johnny welcomed daughter Samantha Amber Moy in February.

Green Beret News, Autumn 2012

Annie Chanpong Kuo and her husband, Victor, welcomed new baby Vivian Pearl Kuo to family on November 30, 2011. Vivian weighed 8 pounds and was 19.5 inches tall. Annie felt fortunate that Vivian arrived a week before her due date. It was a natural birth in Seattle, Wash., where the couple resides. Birgitta J. Johnson has been jointly appointed as an Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology in the School of Music and African American Studies Program at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. Her article was recently published in Ethnomusicology Forum, the academic journal for the British Forum of Ethnomusicology based in the United Kingdom. The article, entitled, “Gospel Archiving in Los Angeles: A Case of Proactive Archiving and Empowering Collaborations” can be found in Volume 21, Issue 2 of Ethnomusicology Forum.

Green Beret News, Autumn 2011

Meredith Fields Kidd got married on Friday, May 27, 2011 to Steve Kidd, an archeologist with the National Park Service (Blue Ridge Parkway). The couple was married on Cumberland Island and celebrated with friends on Saturday night, May 28, 2011. Scotties in attendance included Tiffany Prather McAneny, Kimberly McScwain Hawthorne, Betsy Herrington Malkin, Sandy Miller, Cassandra Castillo, Helene Sabel, Melanie Minzes and Holly Scott Adams. Meredith received the most wonderful wedding gift from these ladies. In Fall of 2009, she lost her beloved ASC ring and these friends bought her a new ring! Meredith and Steve originally met in Tallahassee but recently relocated to Asheville, NC. After 10 years (and 2 schools), Karen Weyer Zieker graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a MS in Biostatistics in June 2010. Karen lives with her husband and son in Cincinnati, OH and works as a Manager for Statistical Programming at i3, a global research organization.

Heather-Leigh Owens Nies welcomed a new addition to her family this summer. Vivian Rhapsody Nies was born on June 17th. Heather Inez Ricks Scott, husband Wilbur Richard Scott IV and big sister Camille Suvess Scott are thrilled to have welcomed another future Scottie into their family. Claire Inez Scott was born on April 30th, 2010. Following in the Scott family tradition Claire was dedicated to the Lord in a service held at Agnes Scott’s Julia Thompson Smith Chapel on March 19th, 2011. Scottie Godmothers, Jamila Heard-Lisbon and Ayoka Shakir were in attendance and did a splendid job fulfilling their Godmother roles. 2010 was indeed a busy and very fulfilling year for Heather. Not quite 6 weeks after giving birth to baby Claire she successfully defended her dissertation entitled, “Ascension patterns and experiences of past and present female trustee board chairpersons at independent colleges and universities” on June 10, 2010. She was grateful for the opportunity to include a former Agnes Scott chair in her study. Heather was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Higher Education Administration from Mercer University’s Tift College of Education on August 12, 2010.

Green Beret News, Autumn 2010

Jennifer Jacob finishes her fellowship training in pediatric emergency medicine this spring. She is heading north to Seattle to start her first "real job" at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. She’s excited to learn a new part of the country and hopes for some Scottie visitors! Christy Bardis Petterson and her husband Davis bought their first house at the end of February. They now call East Atlanta Village home and are enjoying getting settled into their 1936 bungalow. Cynthia Hartley recently joined Chemonics International, an international development consulting firm, as the Business Development Manager of the Africa Region. Prior to joining Chemonics, Cynthia was the Business Development Manager for the International Development Team at MWH, an environmental engineering firm focusing on water and sanitation. For the last five years, Cynthia has been a Board Member of Water for People, an international development nonprofit organization working to provide sustainable solutions to water and sanitation in the most impoverished countries, and a Board Member of the Federal Water Quality Association. Having lived in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of DC for almost four years, Cynthia has become an active member in the community, and is currently the Director of the Capitol Hill Energy Cooperative, helping to empower her neighbors to engage in solutions that will reduce our carbon footprint and build on the sense of community and sustainability. Mary Kate Ryan will be teaching "Sustainability and Historic Preservation," a class she designed for the Plymouth State University Historic Preservation Certificate program in summer 2010. She is still happily unmarried, living in Concord, NH and working for the Division of Historical Resources as the State Survey Coordinator. On October 4, 2009, Cal Daniel Williamson was born to Kara Rector Williamson and her husband, Brian. Cal weighed 7 lbs, 14 oz and was 20 inches long. Fellow Scotties Carolyn Stover Harvey ’00 and Marie Hodgman Schoeneberg ’99 celebrated with Kara at a baby shower before Cal’s arrival. Kara and Brian are enjoying every minute with Cal and can’t imagine what their life would be like without him! Katya Mason Woolard moved back to Kansas City, Missouri with husband Micheal in 2005 to live closer to family. She has been the Administrative Manager for Shepherd’s Center Central since 2006. Katya and Micheal will celebrate their ten-year wedding anniversary this year. They live in a charming 1960’s home in a northland neighborhood with their 12 year-old black Labrador retriever and 3 black short-hair cats. Her husband Micheal will graduate from Centriq in June as a certified Network Administrator. Katya serves on her neighborhood association board; volunteers in the non-profit community; enjoys the performing and visual arts of Greater Kansas City; and loves spending time with her nephews, ages 5 and 7. She looks forward to gardening at her husband’s family farm again this summer. Birgitta Johnson won a 2010-2011 post-doctoral fellowship to teach and conduct research at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Before she departs from Los Angeles at the end of the summer, she will be teaching in UCLA’s Department of Ethnomusicology and performing with the Southeast Symphony Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles on July 18th. Nicole Burkholder Shipman still resides in Dothan, AL with her husband and two daughters (ages 3 and 6). She was recently certified as a ZUMBA fitness instructor and is teaching classes at a women’s only gym in Dothan. Heather-Leigh Owens Nies and her family survived the Georgia deluge of 2009. After being flooded out of their home last September for four months, they have finally managed to renovate the bottom half of their house. They were thinking about selling their home prior to the event, but now that the bottom half of the house is the way they want it they are pretty sure they will be staying put in Lawrenceville for a while! Heather-Leigh’s godbabies (ages 13, 13, 11, 9 and 20 months) are all thriving and doing well in their individual pursuits, which include guitar, clarinet, Odyssey of the Mind, WizzlePro and climbing on anything not tied down. Her birth-daughters (ages 4 and 2) are as crazy and busy as ever! Both Kitty and Rosalyn will be joining Heather-Leigh in a ballet dance recital May 23rd.

Green Beret News, Spring 2010

Kimberly Nelson delivered a beautiful baby girl, Cater August Nelson, on August 2nd, 2009. Kim and her partner, Holly Cater, absolutely love being mommies. Kim is now a passionate advocate for natural childbirth and the life-changing sense of empowerment that it can bring. Jessica Ulack Carothers gave birth to her second baby boy, Cole Ashforth Carothers, on September 5th, 2009. Big brother Abbott is still deciding if he likes his baby brother, as there aren't too many things baby Cole can do yet. Jessica and husband Josh are loving life in New Mexico, where it's always sunny! Jessica would love to see any classmates if they come this way; New Mexico is a great place to visit. After a year and half with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network in Seattle, WA, Courtney Sanders Liebi is moving back to South Africa. She has accepted an offer to be the Project Manager of the Ndlela HIV Research and Clinical Trials Unit in Agincourt, Mpumalanga Province. The NRCTU has a broad HIV/STI prevention focus, including HIV vaccines, microbicides and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). Jennifer Marcum Gelder and husband Michael welcomed the birth of their second daughter, Olivia Monique on November 9, 2009. She joins big sister Adelaide. Jennifer plans on taking some time off and will return to her job of 7 years as an attorney for a national insurance company in the new year. The whole family is doing well and still lives in New Orleans. Helayna Hoss Trask gave birth to Aven Reed Trask on November 23, 2009. He weighed 9lbs. 4oz. and was 21.75” long. His brother Cole and sister Ella were very excited to welcome him home! Jennifer “Jen” Jacob is finishing her last year of specialty training in pediatric emergency medicine. She is enjoying interviewing for her first "real job" and is looking forward to starting it this summer. She would love some Scottie visitors in San Diego! Nancy Lewis-Smith married Allen Smith, her partner of many years, on December 7, 2009 in Marietta, GA. Annie Chanpong Kuo received her Master of Science degree from Northwestern University in integrated marketing communications in December 2008. After graduation she moved from Chicago to Southern California, just in time to celebrate the doctoral hooding of sophomore roommate Birgitta Johnson '99 from UCLA (joined by Yurora Saylor '99 and Tavia Holloway '01). Birgitta was the commencement speaker, by the way! Annie hosted the Scottie Book Month event for Southern California and enjoyed meeting Scotties in the area. She has also had the chance to meet prospective students for Agnes Scott from this region and has been impressed with the high caliber of recruits! She is serving on the Alumnae Board of Directors as co-chair of the alumnae re-engagement committee until spring 2011. Annah Edmonds has lived in Seattle, WA since 2004. She is married to Dirk Lebsack whose family is originally from the Boise, Idaho area. Annah is currently in a Waldorf Teacher training program to be a Kindergarten teacher. Annah and Dirk have two cats and one is a kitten so things are crazy around their home right now. Jamila Heard-Lisbon and husband Ryan Lisbon are pleased to share the news of their new arrival, Benjamin Ryan Lisbon born on September 16, 2009 weighing 5lbs and 13oz. Benjamin is warmly welcomed by his three year old big sister Grace Elizabeth Lisbon. Jamila is doing well and was thrilled to see everyone at the Class of 1999's ten year reunion. Macy Geiger and her 5 year old son, Max, have settled into their new home in Gainesville, Florida. She is excited to be teaching 4th grade at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, a public school affiliated with the University of Florida and located on its campus.

Green Beret News, Autumn 2009

Danyael Miller Garcia and husband Memo welcomed son Keaton Zentli February 24, 2009. Danyael lives in Clarkston, Ga., and works at the CDC. Meredith Fields became a certified Jazzercise instructor in June after a rigorous audition process. She lives in Tallahassee, Fla., where she teaches Jazzercise classes. Helene Sabel enjoys her life in Smyrna, Ga., with her two dogs, Gordon and Isabelle. She earned her master’s degree in human resources development from Georgia State University and works in the corporate training university of SunTrust Banks. Aleesia Tolliver Johnson and husband Andre welcomed their daughter, Naomi Jenae Johnson, Jan. 24. Son Frederick is 2, and the family lives in Indianapolis, Ind. Aleesia works as a program director with Teach For America and is excited to begin a school leadership program in 2010. Carole Butler Rudra and husband Atri welcomed son Akash Edward Rudra June 3. They are all enjoying living in Buffalo, N.Y., where Carole and Atri are both assistant professors at State University of New York Buffalo. Stephanie White Carter is busy with her fashion business, Image Consulting Atlanta. Her day-to-day fashion styling activities include in-home wardrobe consultations, personal shopping, style coaching and makeovers and seminars. Clients have included CNN, Turner Broadcasting, Paris Hilton and Lucy Liu. Stephanie and husband Michael purchased a 101-year-old Tudor Craftsman home that they are renovating in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta. Christy Bardis Petterson lives in Atlanta with her husband, Davis Petterson. She has been the public relations specialist at the Georgia World Congress Center for five years and has been organizing a craft market called the Indie Craft Experience since 2005. She keeps busy writing freelance articles and designing jewelry for her line, Abardis. Asiyah Sarwari-Sharifi married Arian Sharifi in Afghanistan in 2008. Heather Scott Ricks, Jamila Heard Lisbon, Iyonka Strawn, Ayoka Shakir, Leah Thompson '00, and Naylene Felt (who works in the Alumnae Office) all attended the couple's celebration party in Atlanta. They live in Princeton, N.J., where Arian is a graduate student at the Woodrow Wilson School. Asiyah visited Afghanistan and Atlanta this summer and is writing a blog on international development, law and Afghanistan called Finding Peace, Finding Justice.

Green Beret News, March 2009

Gemma Hall Bolling and her husband Travis welcomed their first child October 17th, 2008. Trevor Glen Bolling weighed 5 lb 15 oz. Liza McDaniel Fewell announces the birth of her second child, Annabelle Faith Fewell; born August 5th, 2008. This birth was especially joyful, as mom was put on bed rest and medication at 27 weeks to prevent a premature birth. Annabelle was born at a healthy 37 weeks and 6lb 6oz. She is happy at home with her big brother Alexander, who turned 3 February 2009. Janet Holland-Rauscher relocated to Seattle September 2008, accepting the position of Chief Curator at the Nordic Heritage Museum. She continues to work toward a PhD in History of Art from Indiana University. Birgitta Johnson shares great news from the west coast! She finished her doctoral studies and got her Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology at the University of California, Los Angeles summer 2008. She currently works at Pitzer College in Claremont, California. More great news to come.... Lauren Miller Kincaid traveled in September 2008 for a week to El Progeso, Honduras to volunteer with the Las Mercedes Ministries. She worked with children in a nutrition center and orphanage who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, or all of the above. Lauren encourages all alumnae to volunteer particularly abroad. It is a rewarding and valuable experience. Heather-Leigh Owens Nies welcomed her second child, Rosalyn Sophia Nies, on January 22nd, 2008. Baby Rosalyn (“Wiggles,” as Daddy has nicknamed her) weighed in a healthy 7lbs, 4 oz – and was actually full term! Yeah! Big sister Catherine Luanne, 3 going on 30, is thrilled to be a big sister and is already asking for more siblings. Heather-Leigh directed “A Christmas Carol” winter of 2007 and “Steel Magnolias” spring 2008 with Lawrenceville Community Theatre, then closed down LCT in order to concentrate on her family and not drive herself bonkers trying to be a supermom! (Don’t worry – she plans on reorganizing and reopening another community theatre in a few years… and already has seed money approved and secured for the venture!) She also celebrated 9 years of marriage to George, and is quickly approaching the mark of having known her spouse for half of her life… Heather-Leigh continues to cantor for 11:30 Masses at St. Margeurite d’Youville Catholic Church in Lawrenceville. She dances with Studio Dance and Fitness of downtown Lawrenceville. 2009 is shaping up nicely, and Heather-Leigh is looking forward to seeing everyone for our (gasp!) 10 year reunion! Heather I. Ricks-Scott had a spectacular 31st birthday celebration. She and husband, Wilbur Richard Scott IV, welcomed their first child, daughter Camille Suvess Scott on July 10, 2008, Heather's birthday! Baby Camille weighed in at 6lbs 5oz. and measured 18 inches long. She also has the honor of being the first grandchild for Heather's parents. Jamila Heard-Lisbon and Ayoka Shakir are Camille's proud Scottie Godmothers! Amy Starr welcomed her first daughter, Grace Starr Uriostegui, into the world on March 6, 2007. Grace is a sweet little pumpkin love, and she is growing at light speed! Amy teaches Language Arts and Reading at Marietta Sixth Grade Academy, and wishes all of her Agnes Scott classmates a blessed and joyful year! Sharon K. Strickland got her PhD summer 2008 from Michigan State University. Her dissertation was "Rhyme and Reason: A Rhetorical, Genealogical Examination of Undergraduate Mathematics." She is now at Texas State University in the Math Department. Her daughter, Evelyn Lane, also turned two in January 2009.

Green Beret News, March 2008

Meredith Fields started a new job in Tallahassee. She is an Assistant General Counsel at the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the state environmental agency in FL. She practices water law & administrative law. Jennifer Marcum Gelder and her husband Michael welcomed the birth of their first child, and future Scottie, Sarah Adelaide on July 15, 2007. Jen was able to stay home for the full 12 weeks of her maternity leave before returning to work as a Staff Attorney for Progressive Insurance Company. The new family is doing well and lives in New Orleans, LA. Jennifer Jacob finished her general pediatric residency in the spring at University of CA- San Diego. She can't seem to get enough of post-grad training so she has embarked on a specialization in emergency pediatrics. She also can't seem to get enough of the southern California climate, so she signed on for another 3 years in San Diego. Her fingers are crossed for some Scottie visitors. Email her if you find your way to the West Coast. She's also working on her knitting and is a team-member on a mediocre skeeball team. Aleesia Tolliver Johnson and husband Andre welcomed their beautiful baby boy, Frederick Steven Johnson, on May 15, 2007--the day after her birthday!! He is rolling and crawling around everywhere. Aleesia is in her fourth year as a staff member at KIPP Indianapolis College Prep and is pursuing her Principal's License. Lauren Miller Kincaid had a one in a million chance meeting with Former President Mary Brown Bullock in China. Lauren accompanied her husband Ben with his graduate program to Beijing and Shanghai. They went down to the hotel restaurant in Beijing and were seated at a table next to Mary! She was in China doing research for a book. Small world! LaDonna Faye Brown Lewis welcomed her third daughter, Christina Faye Lewis on August 16. “Chrissie” weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces. Her sisters, fraternal twins Lillian Katherine and Keelie Elisabeth (32 months) were ready to share toys and change diapers. LaDonna, her husband Douglas, and daughters live in Cumming, GA. LaDonna currently serves as National Director of Sales Operations and Training for a leading payroll services organization based in Oakland, CA. Heather-Leigh Owens Nies assistant directed “A Christmas Carol” in December 2007. January 1st, 2008, she took on the role of Producing Artistic Director of Lawrenceville Community Theatre. Being able to put her degree of “Production and Performance” to good use is exciting and fulfilling, and husband George has definitely stepped up in putting their 2 year old, Catherine, to bed most nights while Mama is at work! She encourages everyone to peruse the website, www.lawrencevilleonstage.com, and come support the community arts! She is also cantoring at St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic Church in Lawrenceville and keeping the household running as CEO of the Nies family. Mary Kate Ryan is President of Chapter 4 of the North Dakota Public Employees' Association (NDPEA), the public employees union in North Dakota; chapter 4 includes most of the workers in the Capitol complex. In the past legislative session, NDPEA was instrumental in securing raises for public employees. As part of that effort, she testified about the importance of the health insurance as part of the benefits package at both the state senate and state house committee hearings on the compensation package. She also still works as the architectural historian at the State Historic Preservation Office. Nicole Burkholder Shipman delivered her second child, Mackenzie Hope Shipman on May 17. Mackenzie weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces and was warmly welcomed by her big sister, Madeline Paige (now 4 years old). Nicole, her husband Jason, and daughters live in Dothan, AL. Nicole left her career as a Kindergarten teacher in May of 2004 after starting her own business. She now has the freedom to run her business from home and to serve as the “domestic engineer” of the Shipman household. Kara Rector Williamson graduated cum laude from Georgia State University College of Law. She accepted a position in the Corporate Healthcare group at Alston & Bird LLP and began working there in September 2007. Katya Mason Woolard moved to Kansas City in July 2005. Her husband, Micheal, got a job offer, and they decided to be closer to family. Karen Weyer Zieker gave birth on June 4th 2007 to Benjamin (Ben) Patrick Zieker. Karen and her husband Scott are ecstatic about the new addition!

Green Beret News, June 2007

Courtney D. Sanders-Liebi left for Malawi in February to enhance the country’s HIV/AIDS services at the local level as a Peace Corps Crisis Corps Volunteer. She is working for the District AIDS Coordinating Committee Decentralization Project established by the government of Malawi’s National AIDS Commission. She will spend six months assisting the communities in her district to draft Action Plans for HIV/AIDS activities. Areas she will focus on include home-based care, nutrition education, community mobilization and orphan care. Betsy Herrington Malkin has finally returned from the Northeast and relocated to Atlanta with family in tow. Betsy, Dave and son Nate settled in the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur, only blocks away from the hallowed halls of ASC! Nate loves getting to know his many Scottie "aunts.” Betsy works in human resources at The Home Depot headquarters. Amanda Nichols works with Keller Williams out of the Peachtree Battle office and loves her career! In August she bought a house in Chastain Park. She has two dogs and a super sweet one-eyed kitty who also loves the new location. Life is happy! Heather-Leigh Owens Nies earned the title “Mrs. North Georgia International.” She continues her pageant career in between raising adorable “Kitty” (now a highly mobile 18-month old toddler) and running her Creative Memories and Melaleuca businesses. She and husband George continue their work with United Marriage Encounter and have been named “International Ambassadors” for the organization. She looks forward to hearing from all her classmates. Helayna Hoss Trask joyfully reports the birth of LeElla Joy. LeElla’s big brother, Cole, turned 2 on St. Patrick’s Day. They are all happy and healthy! Please feel free to drop them a line or visit if in the Dallas area. Melissa Odom Magill and husband Chris welcomed Rebecca Merrill in January 2006. Melissa, Chris, and Rebecca live in Decatur where Melissa is a pediatrician, having finally completed her residency at Emory this past summer. Rebecca is the niece of Jennifer Odom ’98 and Catherine Odom Hooper ’02 and the granddaughter of Jacqueline Odom ’64. With unmatched joy Jessica Ulack Carothers announces the birth of her son, Abbott. He arrived one month early and is doing well. He and his mother are happy to be together!

Green Beret News, February 2006

Arjana Mahmutovic Lilic and husband Rusmin are the proud parents of a little girl, Uma Nelly. Nelly was born Nov. 5. Jennifer Jacob is almost half way done (but who’s counting?) with her pediatric residency. She loves San Diego. Between jogs along the ocean and sleepless on-call nights, she has taken up knitting. Her doors are always open for Scottie visitors! Meredith Christine Fields graduated from University of Florida Law School in May and started a two-year clerkship with Justice Harry Lee Anstead of the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee. She is not sure where she will end up next, but she plans to be in Tallahassee until August 2007. Betsy Herrington Malkin and her husband, Dave, welcomed their first child, a son, on Aug. 20 at 1:50 a.m. Nathaniel Frederick “Nate” was born at Princeton University Medical Center in Princeton, N.J. Nate arrived four weeks early, catching mom and dad by surprise, but was perfectly healthy, weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces. Betsy returned to work as a recruiter at the Sarnoff Corp. in Princeton. Betsy and Dave are looking forward to their next relocation upon Dave’s graduation from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School in June. Heather-Leigh Owens Nies has had a busy life lately. She is a proud mama after 12 hours of labor and a high-priority C-section to deliver her first-born, a daughter. Catherine "Kitty" Luanne Nies was born six weeks prematurely on Sept. 3 at 9:22 a.m. at Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion. She weighed 5 pounds and was 18.25 inches long. Apparently, Kitty took “Labor Day Weekend” way too seriously, disdaining her original due date of Oct. 12. "Kitty" spent a week in the NICU and was not slated to come home until her due date. In true Scottie fashion, however, she weaned herself off the CPAP machine, the oxygen tube and blew out two separate IV’s in her determination to get home to be with mom and dad a week after she entered this world. Her father, George, set up a Web page for the newest addition. Heather-Leigh divides her time between being a home executive, a creative memories consultant, a Melaleuca Wellness representative and her duties as the Mrs. Gwinnett County International 2006. She encourages her fellow Scotties not only to view her daughter’s pictures on her Web site, but also to come to her pageant in Roswell, Ga., on Memorial Day Weekend to cheer her on as she competes for the Mrs. Georgia International title. Amrita Dhamoon started grad school. Courtney Denise Sanders completed her two-year assignment with U.S. Peace Corps in South Africa. She returned stateside for the winter holidays but plans to relocate to southern Africa. She asks if there are Scotties interested in supporting, monetarily or otherwise, grassroots, community-based organizations working in the HIV/AIDS field (e.g. orphan care, home-based care, nutrition programs,) to contact her. Courtney, along with about 50 volunteers, is working with local organizations to build organizational capacity and identify financial resources. She believes there are many worthy organizations that could use our support as they work to care and support people living with HIV and AIDS. Courtney offers her time to Phaphamani Home Based Care Centre.

Green Beret News, June 2005

Julia Greene graduated in May from the University of Georgia School of Law. She has accepted a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Kathlene F. Gosselin in Gainesville, Ga.

Green Beret News, February 2005

Cassandra “Cassie” Magdalen Castillo graduated with her master's in English education from Georgia State University May. She teaches sixth grade social studies at Hapeville Middle School. Joy Garwood Ferguson completed the exam and experience requirements to become an enrolled actuary. She lives in Covington, Ga., and works as an actuarial consultant in the Retirement and Financial Management Practice of Hewitt Associates. Meredith Christine Fields started her third and final year of law school at University of Florida this fall, and will be taking the bar exam next summer. Jennifer “Jen” Jacob is in her first year of pediatric residency at the University of California in San Diego. She, like, totally loves her new town and hopes to have lots of visitors! Sarah Catherine Thomas Keane married Sean Keane on June 24 in Atlanta. There were five Scottie bridesmaids - Jessica Ulack Carothers, Helene Sabel, Amy Starr Johnson, Lauren Harmling ’00 and Holly Scott ’00. There were bunches of Scotties in attendance who all performed a rousing rendition of “Beer, Beer, Beer.” The power went out at the church right before the ceremony, but “all's well that ends well”—it ended up being a beautiful candlelit ceremony! Anazao “Annie” Chanpong Kuo married Dr. Victor Kuo, a Pomona grad, on July 4 in southern California. Her “Little Sister,” Juliana Woo ’00, recited a poem at the ceremony, and ASC roommate Birgitta Johnson and Yurora Saylor were in attendance. After the traditional Chinese banquet, BJ and Yurora ducked at the bouquet toss, but it was aimed for them! After Annie and Victor’s honeymoon in Greece, they spent three more months in Portland, Ore., completing Portland Taiko’s 10th anniversary season. Victor is program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Annie is operations manager of Portland Taiko, an Asian American performing arts company. Victor and Annie make their home in Seattle. She hopes to see everyone at the 10-year reunion. Quail Duryea Levergood lives in California, and loves it. She has a great job in computers she has held for the past three years. Her household menagerie includes two cats, two chinchillas and lots of fish. Between the house, the pets and her husband she keeps pretty busy. She’d love to hear from her classmates. Deanna Lynn Mullis is completing the fourth (and thank goodness, the last) year of medical school at Emory University and is in the process of applying to residency programs in internal medicine. Heather-Leigh Owens Nies completed the education, testing, and experience requirements to earn the professional designation of certified insurance counselor (CIC) in November 2003, and was presented with her certificate and pin in a conferment ceremony on August 5. She lives in Lawrenceville, Ga., and is an internal accounting coordinator for Risk Placement Services, Incorporated (RPS) in Atlanta, where she just celebrated her fourth work anniversary November 20. Heather-Leigh is still a multi-tasker. She has been a Creative Memories Consultant since November of 2002. In addition, she has been selected as “Mrs. Lawrenceville Georgia International 2005” and will compete for the title of “Mrs. Georgia International” Memorial Day weekend 2005 in Roswell, Ga. Her platform is “encouraging communication in the married relationship.” Kara Annette Rector started law school at Georgia State University in the fall. Heather Inez Ricks Scott and her husband Rick celebrated their second wedding anniversary on June 22. After a short stint in Athens (UGA) for graduate school, Heather and Rick settled in the Metro Atlanta area. She works for Spelman College as the coordinator for student activities. Her students are always curious to know what life was like at Agnes Scott compared to Spelman because the two are so similar. Nicole Burkholder Shipman and her husband Jason are living in Dothan, Ala. Nicole gave birth to a daughter, Madeline Paige Shipman, on November 25, 2003. She is now a stay-at-home mommy. Amelia Tomlinson has settled into life in Bloomington, Ind., where she is beginning her second year in the Ph.D. program in microbiology at Indiana University. Co-authorship on two scientific papers has taught her the joy of seeing her name in print. Amelia also bought a house in 2003, and in mad sprees of handiwork and domesticity has developed extensive skills in painting, tiling, and flooring. Helayna Hoss Trask married Russell Trask on August 24, 2002 with Jamie Poplin ’00 and Jennifer Holtzclaw Bass as bridesmaids; Tabbatha Cavendish and Rocio Rayas Abundis (Spanish TA in '99) were also in attendance. Russ and Helayna live near Plano, Texas, in a ranch-style house with their cat, Max. Helayna celebrated her five-year anniversary with Citibank in August. Karen Weyer married Scott Zieker on October 23. Deanna Mullis was the maid of honor, and Sarah Thieling Bass ’98 was the matron of honor. Valerie Case Bayham ’98 was also in attendance. Karen and Scott live in Cincinnati, where she works as a statistical programmer for Kendle International. ADVANCED DEGREES Cassandra “Cassie” Castillo M.A. in English education, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, May 2004

Green Beret News, June 2004

Ann E. Winslow started classes this April in the Culinary Arts program at the Arts Institute of Atlanta. Sharon Strickland got married in Las Vegas in October 2002 and also received her master’s degree in math education in December of that same year. She currently is working on her Ph.D. in math education at Michigan State. Courtney Sanders graduated in June 2003 with a Masters in public policy from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Public Policy Studies. She is currently serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa working to build organizational capacity in HIV/AIDS related organizations in her area. Kimberly “Kimmy “McSwain Hawthorne and her husband Bill welcomed their new son William Diaz Hawthorne into their family on Oct. 24, 2003 weighing in at eight pounds, six ounces. Arjana Mahmutovic Lilic has received her M.B.A. with a major in management from Georgia State University in Dec. 2003. After a two-year career at General Electric, her division moved to California/Oregon and she began working as a Manager of Customer Relations for a company called Broadmargin in Alpharetta,Ga. Arjana and her husband Rusmin bought a townhouse in Tucker, Ga. about a year ago and live there with their 4 year old dog Max. Meredith Fields made Law Review in Oct. 2003 at the University of Florida Law School where she currently is beginning her third year. Ashlea Mittelstaedt is making snow angels, braving the ski slopes, and avoiding yellow snow cones in the snow-covered mountains of New Hampshire where she attends the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. If all goes as planned, she’ll get her M.B.A in June 2005. In January Janet Rauscher, her mom, and a family friend all traveled to Tanzania, where they climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Janet lives in Bloomington, Ind. where she is a graduate student and Associate Instructor in the art history department at Indiana University.

Green Beret News, February 2004

Asiyah Sarwari volunteered for six months at an orphan school in Afghanistan with International Orphan Care. She is now working on her master’s program in law and international development at American University in DC. She invites any Scotties interested in volunteering their time to IOC to e-mail her [email protected] Ashlea D. Mittelstaedt is freezing her behind off in the mountains of New Hampshire, where she attends Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business in mad pursuit of an M.B.A.

Julia Greene is finishing her second year at the University of Georgia’s School of Law.

Joy Garwood Ferguson became an associate of the Society of Actuaries in July. She continues to work as an actuarial consultant in the retirement and financial management practice of Hewitt Associates in Atlanta, Ga. Amy Johnson is in a master’s in Anatomy program at Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond. Mary Kate Ryan is the architectural historian for the State Historical Society of North Dakota, where she manages the National Register of Historic Places program for the state. Sally Fischer Thigpen will receive her master’s of public administration from the Andrew Young School of Public Policy Studies, at Georgia State University, in May 2004. Jessica Bryant Moy was hired as the librarian for the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) in Tucson. Nancy Stamey Lewis is currently working at the Emory University Counseling Center for her predoctoral psychology internship. She is also excited that she will have a paper published in the December issue of Ethics & Behavior. Courtney Sanders graduated from The Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies from the University of Chicago, June 2003. She is serving two years in South Africa as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer working on HIV/AIDS issues. If anyone is in the area, she should come and visit or feel free to contact her. Cheers!

Green Beret News, September 2003

Jessica Bryant married Johnny Moy, a 1999 graduate of Cornell University, in March. Jessica is pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science (M.L.I.S.) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee while Johnny completes his M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University. The couple will be moving back to Phoenix, Ariz., after finishing school in winter 2003.

Mary “Kate” Ryan received her Master of Arts degree in art history from the University of Oregon in December 2002. She is the new architectural historian for the State Historical Society of North Dakota in Bismarck, where she manages the state's National Register of Historic Places program. North Dakota does exist, and no, there isn't snow on the ground in May!

Janet Rauscher started the M.A./Ph.D. program in art history at Indiana University. Katherine “Katy” Graham Burford and her husband, Clark, recently celebrated their third anniversary. They both still enjoy living in Savannah where Clark is the Harbor Master at The Landing’s Yacht Club and Katy, after passing the series 7 and 63 exams, is now a registered administrator at Wachovia Securities. Gemma Hall graduated with her doctorate of pharmacy from Auburn University's Harrison School of Pharmacy on May 6. She spent her last of year of school in Mobile, Ala., where she had her clinical rotations and now has taken a position at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Ala. Down South, Gemma Philage finished the 1st Annual Miami Tropical Marathon this past February. She recalls battling mental marathon madness with her running companion and trainer, Lisa Gaylord, with comedy and singing 'Beer, Beer, Beer' during a long stretch; and there was beer at mile 17. Gemma plans to run the 2004 marathon and to start a MS in Nutrition program in the winter. Nancy Stamey Lewis is completing her predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at Emory University Counseling Center. She is scheduled to graduate with a doctorate in clinical psychology in October 2004.

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