The OWL - September 2019 - Featuring Tom Mustin, Class of '78

Tom Mustin is a two-time Emmy Award winner for best large market morning show, both for his solo-anchored coverage of the Bailey School shooting, and as part of Emmy award winning live coverage of the Hayman fire, and the Bolder Boulder 10k run. He was also awarded the Mississippi AP Award for best continuing coverage of a developing story.

Tom is also a teacher, husband and father. We've asked him to share the story of the path he's taken, which he begins with his freshman year at ACS: Education "I attended ACS for my freshman year in 74-75. My father was with the U.S. Navy's 6th fleet. We left Greece to return to Alexandria, Virginia, where my father worked in the Pentagon. I graduated from St. Stephens in Alexandria. (All conference in football, all conference and all prep in baseball.) I received a BS in Economics and a minor in English from Virginia Tech. (Go Hokies!). I was a two year college football letterman at Hampden-Sydney college, before transferring to VT. I later received a certificate in Broadcast Journalism from UCLA. During our time in Greece, we lived in Kifissia. I played on the Kifissia Chiefs football team and the Kifissia Sox baseball team, and was an all-star in both sports.

Career "I'm a news anchor and reporter at KMGH - the ABC affiliate in Denver, Colorado. I also worked at KCNC, the Denver CBS station, and stations in Greensboro, N.C., Jackson, MS, and Charlottesville, VA. I interned at KABC in Los Angeles."

I had excellent teachers at ACS, who helped prepare me for a career in broadcasting. I remember being scared to death to speak in front of my English class, but my instructor (who's name escapes me) was so encouraging I somehow made it through that terrifying experience. She helped me conquer my fears, and realize I could do it. I now emcee numerous events with the Make-A-Wish foundation, Reading Partners, Adoption Exchange, Visit Denver, Alzheimer's Association, and many others. I credit my ability to speak in front of hundreds of people (and thousands of viewers everyday) to my experience long ago at ACS. Yassou!

After graduating from Virginia Tech, I moved to Los Angeles, and worked as an actor for several years. (General Hospital, Star Trek IV, L.A Law, Days of Our lives, etc.) Again, props to ACS for helping conquer my fear of public speaking! During a writer's strike I helped launch Working World magazine - a free employment publication. I also attended UCLA at night where I received a certificate in Broadcast Journalism. That lead to my first on-air job as a reporter in Charlottesville, VA."

Tom contributes to his civic community in many ways, as well as giving future journalists the benefit of his experience and success through teaching: Civic Life "I work with the organizations I mentioned previously (Make-A-Wish, Reading Partners, Adoption Exchange, Visit Denver, Alzheimer's Association, etc.) and have been a board member with the Virginia Tech Alumni Association of Denver."

I also teach a "Fundamentals of Journalism" course at the University of Colorado, two days a week.

My goals are to continue championing worthy causes, and to shine a spotlight on amazing organizations that work to change the lives of deserving people.

I'm an avid runner, and hiker. I support the charities listed above, and often speak at local schools.

OWL asked Tom to tell our readers about his family: "I am married to Carolyn Cooper Mustin. We just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. (We were children when we married!) Carolyn owns "The Bees Knees" - a popular antique shop in Castle Rock, Colorado. We have three children.

Tyler is 27. He's a University of Texas graduate, and producer for Fox Sports in Los Angeles. (He's won four Emmys for his part in Fox's World Series coverage.)

Will is 25. He's an NYU graduate, and an editor/director/writer at Fox Searchlight in Los Angeles.

Hayley is 21. She will be a senior at the University of Texas, majoring in Communications.

My father was a career Naval officer. He retired in Arlington, VA as a three star Admiral. The U.S.S. Mustin destroyer was named for my father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle. Dad passed away two years ago. My mother still lives in Arlington and is a member of the ArmyNavy Country Club tennis and golf team.

My brother, Lloyd, (also an ACS alumnus) just sold his business, XL Associates, and is retired in McLean Virginia (For now.) He also retired from the Navy as a captain. He is married to his wife, Tracy. They have three children, and 6 grandchildren.

My sister Kay lives in Suffolk Virginia. She's a hospital recruiter. Her husband Steve is an award winning home project manager. They have three children.

My brother John, is keeping up the family's naval tradition.He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1990, and is now a rear Admiral. He and his wife, Kim, live in New York City."

Tom remembers ACS Athens friendships fondly.

"I look back on out time in Greece with great fondness, and thanks to social media, still keep in touch with many of my classmates all across the world- Jerry Gaffney, Susan McQuillan Bonney, Annie Ball, Jenny Arvidson, and others. I'll never forget walking across campus at Virginia Tech and bumping into my old ACS classmate, Jack Bedrosian! What a small world!

I was also at a party in Blacksburg while in college and ran into another ACS alum-Derek Donahue. To quote Darth Vader, "The ACS force is strong!"

Tom has this advice for new ACS Athens graduates, and young upcoming professionals in general: "My advice to this year's ACS Athens graduates- Go for it!

Figure out what you want to do with your life and do it.

Don't ever let anyone tell you what you can and can't do.

Life is short, so pursue your dreams with passion and persistence. I had a teacher at UCLA who offered some great words of wisdom- 'Don't ever be frightened, intimidated, or lazy.' ACS has given all of us a great foundation. Now it's up to you to build on that foundation.

Work hard, have fun and change the world! Yassou."

Tom Mustin KMGH Denver 7

________________________________________ Congratulations to Dr. Stefanos Gialamas

ACS Athens President, for receiving on July 31st the Ideagen Leadership Award for the Great Work the Entire Community of ACS Athens is doing to "Prepare Young People to Become Tomorrow's Leaders with Ethos"

________________________ ACS Athens opens the door to a new world of learning through its new Virtual School The ACS Athens Virtual School officially inaugurates its programs for the academic year 2019-2010, under the auspices of The Institute of ACS Athens.

Read more here!

We hear 2019 ACS Stateside Alumni Reunion in San Antonio, Texas was a lot of fun... Watch this space next month for photos!

ACS ATHENS MEGA 2020 Reunion in Athens

Mark your calendars for the MOTHER of all reunions: Event on campus, June 13,2020. Lots of plans in the works.

Tours, a cruise of several islands, a trip down to the Peloponnese.

A-la-cart pricing and package pricing will be available. Airfare to Athens is separate. Start making your plans. Invite your friends and family. You will not regret it.

Pass this along to all!

Natalia Linos, MSc, ScD Executive Director Natalia joined the Harvard FXB Center from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with a wealth of global health and development experience having worked in the UN system since 2007. Most recently, she led UNDP’s work on addressing complex challenges at the nexus of health and environment, looking especially at the vulnerability of poor and marginalized communities to climate change. Natalia developed the strategy for UNDP’s engagement in this new area of work, fostering closer collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), and established relationships with academic partners and funders, including the Planetary Health Alliance, the Wellcome Trust and the European Commission.

ACS Athens Alum Tereza Panagiotopoulos' compelling cover of the classic "Fly Me To the Moon" Have a LISTEN!