10 minute read

Class Notes

COMPILED BY JAN JOSLIN

1970s

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Fred Wehman ’71 has retired after 35 years with the Ford Motor Company. He lives in Mount Pleasant.

Rev. Glenn Creech ’76 is the member care consultant at the International Mission Board in Richmond, Virginia. He is married to Pam Black Creech ’77.

Donnie R. Simmons ’77 has retired from the faculty of California State University, Fresno where he served as distinguished lecturer in the department of sociology and as co-director of the humanic’s program in philanthropy and community based leadership. Prior to joining the faculty at California State-Fresno, he served on the faculty of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (now Gateway Seminary of the SBC), Occidental College, and Biola University. He continues to lead a national consulting firm, Creative Potential Consulting and Training, and lives in Fresno, California.

1980s

Dr. Rodney E. Graham ’82, ’02 is a 10th Degree Japanese Karate Black Belt Grand Master. He’s a United States AAU National Gold Medal Recipient and member of the U.S. National Martial Arts World Competition Team. Rodney has been inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He recently appeared in a book that commemorated Chuck Norris’ lifetime dedication to the martial arts. He resides in Summerville, where he serves as the drummer for Forward Church.

Will Powell ’83 won the Fittest 6064 contest at CrossFit Games in the summer of 2021. He is the first master’s athlete to win in three divisions: 50-54, 55-59 (twice), and 60-64. He owns Powell Fitness Training and Wellness in Greensboro, North Carolina, and is married to Terry Ellis Powell ’83.

Lee Taylor ’89 announces the birth of two grandchildren, Norah Alice Tuck, born March 1 in Mount Pleasant, and Lewis Benjamin “LB” Bowlby, born March 18 in Anderson. LB is also the grandson of Laura Skipper Sanders ’89. Lee lives in Piedmont with his wife, Christine Taylor.

1990s

Dr. Wally Baird ’96 is the new executive director of academics and innovation for Berkeley County School District. He was formerly the assistant director of elementary schools for Dorchester District 2. He is married to Stephanie Faulkner Baird ’95 who is an instructional coach for literacy at Sangaree Elementary School in Summerville. The Bairds have two sons.

Leslie M. Whitten ’98 is an attorney and partner in the Chartwell Law office in North Charleston. She holds a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and formerly worked at Clement Rivers LLC.

Christie Chambers ’99, ’02 MEd, and John “Phud” Chambers ’98 announce the birth of Asa Chambers, born Sept. 13, 2020. Christie said, “He is the youngest of eight. Our oldest is now a freshman at CSU.”

Mike Wilson ’99 is the new head coach of the men’s golf program at the University of Wisconsin. He spent five seasons as the head men’s golf coach at AlabamaBirmingham where he was a twotime Conference USA Coach of the Year (2020 and 2021) and helped the Blazers to an appearance in the 2021 NCAA Championship. Wilson’s Blazers climbed to a No. 5 national ranking in November of 2020 after posting an undefeated fall season. The No. 5 ranking is the highest in program history. Prior to UAB, Wilson served as head coach and director of golf at Charleston Southern where his team earned a 2016 NCAA Regional appearance, the first-ever at-large postseason berth for any sport in school history. He was also a two-time Big South Coach of the Year (2012 and 2016). He played varsity golf at Charleston Southern.

2000s

Diana Saillant ’06, ’10 MBA, has been named to the board of directors for the YWCA Greater Charleston. Saillant is the owner of Saillant Language Consulting, LLC.

Alexis Davis ‘07 has published her first Christian children’s book, Wherever You Go, based on Joshua 1:9 through Covenant Books. She said, “It’s available on Amazon by searching Wherever You Go Alexis Davis. I’m also going into my 15th year of teaching, the past 11 years being at Stratford High School in Berkeley County.”

Carolyn Anderson ’08 MEd has been named interim principal at Septima P. Clark Academy in Charleston. She was previously assistant principal at North Charleston High School. Her career with the Charleston County School District has included serving as a career and technical education teacher, teaching leadership, and as a South Carolina Teacher Mentor. She founded and directs Anderson Alpha Angels, LLC, which seeks to cultivate the strengths of young women in elementary, middle, and high school through stepping.

Phillip Wilson ’08 graduated from Trinity School for Ministry with a Master of Arts in religion in May 2021. Currently, he is a bivocational clergyman working in commercial banking with Pinnacle Financial and serving as the Associate Priest at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Park Circle in North Charleston.

J.W. Myers ’09 is the new athletic director at Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville. Myers is continuing to serve as the head varsity football coach. Previously, Myers taught middle school social studies at Pinewood and coached junior varsity and varsity football. Myers is married to Beth Boyle Myers ’08, and they have one daughter.

2010s

Megan J. Bruner Busch ’10 and Jordan Busch ’10, ’14 MBA announce the birth of a son, Boone Busch, born May 8. Kristi Latham ’10 has been named a master teacher at Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville by the South Carolina Independent School Association. She teaches middle school English and writing at Pinewood. She has been teaching for 11 years at Pinewood. She also holds a Master of Business Administration.

Jessica Berrios ’11 has published her first children’s book, The Paint Jars. She said, “I have had a soft spot for children’s literature for as long as I can remember. In 2017 I started working on my book, then finally published with Barnes and Noble Press in December 2020. The Paint Jars is written ideally for young children but can be enjoyed by budding artists of all ages as it teaches colors, color blending, and even shading! Parents can read The Paint Jars to or with their kids, or teachers can share it with their classes. “Since graduation, I moved to Charlotte, N.C., where I serve in my local church in music and children’s ministries, and I work as an administrative assistant at a university. I’m currently working on future books, two of which will teach children money concepts and music.”

Monica Smalls ’12 MEd, is the new principal at Chicora Elementary School in North Charleston. She has been a guidance counselor at Minnie Hughes Elementary, C.C. Blaney Elementary, Brentwood Middle, and Charleston County School District Sixth Grade Academy. She was Teacher of the Year in 2004-2005 at A.C. Corcoran Elementary School. Laura Temples ’12 and her husband, Chris Temples, announce the birth of a daughter, Alyssa Jade Temples, born Jan. 14 in Greenville.

Dr. Tracy Williams ’12 has published her first children’s book, The Adventures of Quintarus: Introducing My Big Biracial Family. The book is available from mascotbooks.com and celebrates growing up in a blended family. Tracy is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina and is a pharmacy manager for CVS.

Stephen Thomas ’13 MEd is the principal at St. Andrew’s School of Math and Science in Charleston. He served as assistant principal at Jennie Moore Elementary and Memminger Elementary. He was a teacher at St. James-Santee Elementary-Middle School and was named Teacher of the Year for 2010-2011.

Rachelle Rea Cobb ’14 and Devin Cobb announce the birth of a daughter, Rosalie Cobb, born April 18, 2020.

Marcus Schoultz ’14 is employed at Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic as the mobile application development lead and as STEM events coordinator. He also runs a nonprofit he started when he was at CSU called True to Your SOLE. He said, “Each year we give back to rural areas with sneakers, scholarships, and mentorships. This year we were able to collab for our first STEM Camp sponsored by NIWC Atlantic.” Andrew Woodall ’14 has been promoted to Lieutenant with the Salisbury Fire Department in Salisbury, North Carolina. He has been with the department since 2020 and formerly worked for the North Charleston Fire Department.

Seth Montgomery ’15 MBA has been named associate athletic director for communications and digital content at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he will oversee the overall management, operations, and performance evaluations of athletic communications. Formerly, he was associate athletic director for communication/public relations at Charleston Southern. He was also chair of the Big South Conference’s Sports Information Directors Committee.

Stephen Cagle ’16 has been named the football coach at Ben Lippen School in Columbia. He was previously offensive coordinator at A.C. Flora High School. He is married to Alisha Best Cagle ’13.

Jaimee Salone ’16 is the new marketing coordinator for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. She formerly worked for the 628th Force Support Squadron at Joint Base Charleston.

Gage Dowling ’18 and Casey Fabian Dowling ’17 both earned a master’s degree in management from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2021. Gage is the new director of residential living at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, and Casey is the new director of talent search TRIO at Sul Ross State University.

Mary Beth Kegley ’18 and Zak Kegley ’18 announce the birth of a daughter, Annabeth Kegley, born July 7, 2020.

Cameron Cain ’19 is serving as the defensive backs coach for Ashley Ridge High School Swamp Foxes in Summerville.

Class notes

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Elizabeth Conroy ’19 was named Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2021 at Mount Holly Elementary School in Goose Creek.

Zackery Evans ’19, ’20 MS in man-

agement won Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2021 at Hanahan Elementary School in Hanahan.

2020s

Sydney Lord ’20 was named the Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2021 at Devon Forest Elementary School in Goose Creek.

Allison Moyer ’20 was named Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2021 at Foxbank Elementary in Moncks Corner.

Kylie Mussat ’20 was named Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2021 for Westview Primary School in Goose Creek.

Kevin Jacques ’21 has been named a staff accountant at Jarrard, Nowell & Russell, LLC in Charleston. He previously served as an intern for Jarrard, Nowell & Russell. He has been an assistant manager at Johnston & Murphy. Paul Washington ’21 was named Outstanding Mentor by the Scott Mentorship Golf Tournament Group. Washington was honored at the group’s sixth charity golf event in Peachtree City, Georgia. He was nominated by Dr. Nina Grant, assistant dean/director of the Career Center at CSU, and selected for his exceptional community service and mentorship in community, church, employment and nonprofit organizations, serving young people, citizens, veterans, and peers. The Scott Mentorship Group was formed to continue the legacy of seven colonels assigned to Scott Air Force Base during the 1980s and believes in placing service before self. Pictured are: Travis Lewis, Elijah Jackson, Walter Smith, Paul Washington and Abe Morrall ’78. Ted Thurmond ’81, and a member of Alpha Dite Criterion Fraternity, Inc., also assisted with the event.

Hannah Rogers ’21 is the Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2021 at Sangaree Elementary School in Summerville.

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