Class Notes

This fall, a group of alumni and friends completed their sixth relay race together - Top of Zion Relay, a 195-mile run through three national parks in Utah at elevations topping out around 9700 feet - finishing 3rd overall. Alumni runners included Eddie Alcorn ’04, Daniel Brown ’08, Savannah Sipperly ’09, Miles Brown ’10, Cameron Cook ’11, Eden Sipperly ’11, Shelby Sipperly ’11, and retired teacher Monty Coggins.

B1- Cameron Cook ’11, B3- Savannah Sipperly ’09, B4- Eden Sipperly ’11, B5- Shelby Sipperly ’11, B7- Daniel Brown ‘08, B8- Miles Brown ’10, F1 - Eddie Alcorn ’04, F2- Monty Coggins

2004 Meredith Berry Letendre and family welcomed their new son, William John Letendre, to the world on October 21, 2019 weighing in at 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 22 inches long.

2007

Will Sherrill and Rob Vendley

Will Sherrill and Rob Vendley both ran the full Charlotte Marathon on Saturday, November 16. In addition, Rob earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Georgia this past May.

Anthony Oddo

Anthony Oddo was named a finalist for the Barbara Rosser Hyde Alumni Leadership Award by Teach For America Memphis for his work in bridging the gap between healthcare and education. In Memphis, he has created opportunities for teachers to spend time in the clinic and hospital while also bringing physicians to the classroom and athletic event sidelines to promote awareness and insight into the various aspects of pediatric health.

2008

Kelsey Willoughby Hartmann married Jeff Hartmann on October 26, 2019 in Maiden, NC. Katie ’08 and Patrick Joseph ’07, Virginia Goode Ourisman ’08, Julia Simonini ’08, Allison Jarrett ’08, and Tom Regnery ’07 attended. Kelsey and Jeff currently live in Coral Gables, Florida and enjoyed spending the holidays with loved ones in the Sunshine State.

Kelsey Willoughby Hartmann’s wedding at the Historic Providence Cotton Mill in Maiden, NC

Class Notes

Kelsey Ross and Matthew Bostwick

Kelsey Ross married Matthew Bostwick in Marfa, Texas in September. In attendance were several Cannon alumni, including Jessica Robbins ’08, Kathryn DeSutter ’09, and Tal Jacobs ’08, as well as current Cannon teachers Kevin Ross ’12 and wife, Erin Ross. Kelsey works as a landscape and urban designer and Matt is the vice president of product development at a tech firm. They live in Austin with their two dogs and four chickens.

2009

Jessica Ekstrom

Jess Ekstrom released her second book, Chasing the Brightside, published by Harper Collins. The book’s theme is based on Jess’s optimism and how this mindset has helped her overcome challenges in her life as she worked towards being a young entrepreneur.

Michael Lloyd and his wife, Ally, are expecting their first child, a baby boy, due May 25, 2020.

2010

Rianna Das

Rianna Das is recently engaged to fiancé, Carter, and they are planning a wedding for November 2020. Rianna also accepted a new role as a sixthgrade science teacher at Quail Hollow Middle School. She always thinks of the engaging lessons of Mr. Coggins and tries to channel that energy in her own classroom now!

2011

Alaina Altumra received her M.S. in Health and International Development from the London School of Economics and accepted a Senior Associates position with Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc., a Clinton Foundation initiative. In this role, Alaina is a part of the Advanced HIV Disease Team and works to help save the lives of millions of people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world by dramatically scaling up antiretroviral treatment.

Alaina is also recently engaged to fiancé Fitz Powers and they are ecstatic to tie the knot in 2021.

2012

Vicky Bruce finished her most recent professional soccer season with Morön BK, in Skogsvallen, Sweden after completing her previous contract with Apollon Ladies in Cyprus.

JoLee Moon

Bekah Eyre and her husband, Kento, recently moved to Okinawa, Japan, with the Marine Corps and welcomed their first baby, JoLee Moon, on July 10.

Class Notes

2012

Tim Gruber completed a Fulbright Grant to Malaysia in November. He will be running the Boston Marathon on April 20 and would love to see fellow Cannon alumni in the Boston area!

Caroline Johnson

Mason McClanahan performing at Pianos in Lower East Side, NYC

McKenzie Moyer In September, Caroline Johnson got engaged to her fiance, Jonathon, in front of the Statue of Liberty.

This past November, Mason McClanahan published his first solo album, Waiting All Day, on all music platforms. As a Cannon student, Mason had the opportunity to learn guitar in Mr. Davis’s Jazz Combo. You can learn more about the album on his Instagram: @mason_mcclanahan

McKenzie Moyer graduated this December from Arizona State University with a Masters in Exercise and Wellness. She is in her fourth year of teaching Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy, and Wellness at ASU Preparatory Academy Poly High School in Mesa, Arizona where she has coached cross country, basketball, track, and golf.

Eric Rossitch moved to Seattle over the summer to pursue a Master of Communication degree in Digital Media while also working as a Production Assistant for the local NFL team – the Seattle Seahawks. He’s always been intrigued by the idea of capturing life’s moments, telling stories, and the influence they can have. With his degree, he’s hoping to spark change, thought, and emotion in people by harnessing the power of visual media and storytelling. Eric Rossitch

2013

Austin Larkin took home the award for Outstanding Lead Performance in New York City’s Fresh Fruit Festival for his role in Head First this past fall.

Myles Martino earned his real estate license in October of this year and is currently with Wilkinson ERA.

Austin Larkin

2015

Myles Martino

For the next two years, Tyler Ventura will be working at a boarding school for underprivileged youth within Kyivska Oblast, Ukraine as a Peace Corps volunteer. He works with kids ages 9 through 17 in both English language and physical education by organizing different clubs and camps. As the only native English speaker around, he also assists the English teaching staff with their classes whenever possible.

Will Gordon began his professional golf career this summer at the GolfBC Championship in Kelowna, BC, Canada and is part of the Mackenzie Tour in Canada. In addition, he has signed on to be part of the TravisMathew Team.

2016

In August, Davis Nelson summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania during an 8-day climb.

Davis Nelson

Over the summer, Aspen Stevanovski had the pleasure of researching and studying African carnivores in Tanzania for a month. She was able to interview the

Class Notes

Maasai people, help the Tarangire Lion Project track lions with radio technology, conduct carnivore surveys in the Serengeti and four other parks, and perform community service by building predator-proof livestock enclosures for at-risk homesteads.

2017 Matt Chaiken completed Basic Camp for the US Military. His graduation was held at Fort Knox after 30 days of intense tactical training. Aspen Stevanovski

Matt Chaiken ’17 at Basic Camp graduation with sister, Emma Chaiken ’16, on left.

Class Reunions

Class of 2014 attendees: Caroline Turner, Alex Dahan, Sophie Bitar, Nicole Voulgaropoulos and Daniel Wyatt

Alumni from the classes of 2004, 2009, and 2014 enjoyed their 5, 10, and 15 year reunions at Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts in December.

Class of 2004 attendees: Eddie Alcorn and Naomi Bailey

Class of 2009 attendees: Farrah Yaghi, Shelby Borowicz, Molly Pedemonte, Whitney Harriss, Jennifer Dunn, Allain Andry, Curt Black, Justin Bitar, Alex Bruce, Ben Shafran, Kim Kleimeier, Will Kerr, Tyler Webb, Justin Ringuette, Nathan Haselden, Meredith Frazier, Scott Griffin, and Luke Carnes

50th Anniversary Festival

with the return of the Strawberry Festival and Arts Jam

Saturday, April 18 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Bryant Central Green, Cannon School

For our 50th anniversary finale event, we’re bringing back two beloved traditions from Cabarrus Academy’s and Cannon School’s history—The Strawberry Festival and Arts Jam! Imagine fun for the whole family with food trucks, strawberry shortcake, festival games, arts activities, scavenger hunts, athletic exhibitions, arts exhibitions, and live music and theater performances by Cannon’s student-artists.