AluMNI updATES MARI FOSTER ’08 has a new job with Moss Hill Elementary School. Foster lives in Albertson, NC. SYLVIA NANCE ’08 has been promoted to assistant vice president of Branch Banking & Trust in Lumberton, NC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and organizational development. DEVINN LYNN GEESON, RDH ’09 was the guest speaker for the 21st annual Lorelle F. Martin Lecture on February 28th at MOC. Geeson is a second year dental student at UNC Chapel Hill. She serves as recruitment committee chair with the Student National Dental Association, whose mission is to increase minority admission and retention to medical and dental school; Delta Sigma Delta as philanthropy chair; and the class of 2015 as social chair. She is also one of the founding coordinators of the SNDA CAARES Clinic, a studentrun free dental clinic in Durham, NC. Geeson serves as a teaching assistant for pre-clinical classes and mentors pre-professional students associated with many of her roles. She was recently appointed by the Dean to the Clinical Affairs Committee and the Clinical Curriculum Revitalization Committee. After graduation Geeson plans to continue to contribute to her community and the world while practicing dentistry in the broadest scope in an underserved area. Her goals for the future are the same as the past; to pay forward the gifts she has received personally, educationally, and professionally to enrich the lives of others. Geeson lives in Chapel Hill and has two children, Tyler and Trista, who are both students at Mount Olive College. WHITNEY BROOKE GOUGH ’09 is engaged to marry DAVID COOPER ’08 of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The bride-elect holds a degree in leisure service management and the groom-to-be has a degree in biology and is working on his master’s degree in business at Columbia Southern University. The couple plan to marry in the fall of 2014. LOU STOUT ’09 won the DuPont Davis Excellence in Workforce Development Award. The recipient is chosen by the Region Q Workforce Development Board. Region Q covers five counties: Beaufort, Pitt, Martin, Bertie, and Hyde counties. The award is given by the Board to someone they feel has made significant contributions to workforce development in their region. To date, it has only been awarded once before. “I am still humbled at the thought of winning such an award. I do not ‘toot’ my own horn much, so to be nominated by my peers, it’s an amazing feeling to be recognized for something that I love doing,” said Stout. “I am reaping the rewards of the education I received at Mount Olive College. MOC has given me a great foundation. I am forever grateful.” Stout currently serves as President for the North Carolina Community College Adult Educators Association. She is also attending the University of Saint Mary as a graduate student, pursuing a master’s degree in business administration with a minor in HR management.
2010s
JANE ALLIGOOD ’10 was named staff member of the year by Beaufort County Community College. Alligood is purchasing coordinator and has worked for the community college for the past 18 years. She has one son, Ryan, and lives in Washington, NC. MIKE BEATTIE ’10 has been accepted into the inaugural class of the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine. A biology major and chemistry minor, Beattie writes, “In my time at MOC, I was very fortunate to have a great educational experience which was influenced heavily by two professors in particular: Dr. Mickael Cariveau and Dr. David Dommer. They saw the potential in me to achieve my goal of getting accepted into medical school and would not allow me to settle for anything less than I was capable of. They went out of their way to push me, guide me, and afford me opportunities such as my Senior Research project which all played a key role in guiding me on the path to medical school. I am beyond fortunate to have been able to build a personal relationship with each of them. They are the true embodiment of what it means to be a college professor and advisor.” ROSE DANIELS ’10 is the in-school suspension coordinator at Ayden Middle School and the coordinator of Dare 2B Different, an after school program held at Straightway Holiness Church. Dare 2B Different has given children the opportunity to travel to historic sites throughout the U.S. She also assists with preparing students for the 2013 Greenville Community Black History Quiz Bowl. Daniels is married to Pastor Clifton Daniels of Straightway Holiness Church and resides in Ayden, NC. CURTIS LIVERMAN ’10 was promoted to the rank of sergeant by the Greenville, NC, police department on December 15, 2012. He will serve as a patrol supervisor on D Platoon in the Patrol Bureau. CHARITY LEIGH RHODES ’10 was married to Johnnie T. Page on November 17, 2012. She has a bachelor of science degree in accounting and is a financial aid assistant at Wilson Community College. The couple resides in Wilson, NC. SARAH ANN BRANDON ’11 was married to Michael James Stephens of Santa Ana, CA, on October 31, 2012. She earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice and is employed by the Craven County District Attorney’s Office as a paralegal. The couple resides in Newport, NC. DAVID COMBS ’11 has been named South Lenoir High School’s varsity head baseball coach. He is a physical education teacher. While at Mount Olive College, Combs helped the Trojans to a top three finish in the 2011 NCAA D-II National Championships and back-to-back Conference Carolinas titles.
31 | TODAY | SPRING 2013