Class notes
Class of 1997’s Rida D'Agostino, Sarah Melville, Vanessa Harbin, Rebecca Leonard McWilliams, Claire Cherlin Kosloff, Melissa Ciesla and Christina Counselman Patrick at the November 2009 wedding of Rebecca and Thomas McWilliams in New Orleans.
located in Fernandina Beach and “learning a ton.” Jessica Lichtenfeld continues to work at MTV (hanging with the likes of “the Situation”, Snooki, Brody and Spencer) in New York and went to Mexico with the New York Choral Society. She performed in six concerts and, after her big solo in three of the shows, she was recognized on the street the following days in Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende! Her performances are available on YouTube. Simone Stalling finished her M.D./ Ph.D. program at Penn and is doing an internship at Temple University Hospital, followed by a dermatology residency at University of Pittsburgh. Dan Kahn, aka “Dank,” finished his M.B.A. recently; he’s recovered from an ankle injury and is back running. Dank aims to run the Baltimore half-marathon again, if he can. Tabitha Lewis is in her second year at Duke Divinity School and went to Uganda for the summer for
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a field placement. She will be working and preaching at a Catholic parish in Luweero, Uganda. Thanks everyone, for the updates. We are beginning the planning for the 15 year Reunion next summer and hope to see many of our classmates and catch up. Have a good winter, all!
1997
Claire Cherlin Kosloff clairekosloff@yahoo.com Garrett Smith garrettmichaelsmith@gmail. com
Hello class of ’97! I hope that everyone is doing well. Lots of news—I’ll get right to it. Rebecca Leonard McWilliams married Thomas McWilliams on November 14, 2009 in a beautiful ceremony in New Orleans. Thomas received his M.B.A. at Tulane University in 2008 and is a financial manager with a large health care system in Louisiana. Friends School of Baltimore
Rebecca is the director of development for a community hospital in New Orleans. Friends school attendees were Elizabeth Leonard Clifton ’93 (Matron of Honor), Rida D’Agostino, Vanessa Harbin, Sarah Melville, Melissa Ciesla, Christina Counselman Patrick, Matt Fogelson ’93, Tracy Fogelson Gruver (honorary ’97) and me. Rebecca is too shy to brag about it, but of course she looked absolutely stunning and the happy couple did a fabulous job of introducing their guests to the dynamic city they love so much. The reception got incredibly spirited, and Rebecca’s “second line” skills put her “Crazy For You” choreography to shame. Vanessa Harbin writes, “I left my job at the Smithsonian this summer and am getting a master of public policy degree at Georgetown.” Ruth Draper recently completed her M.Mus. in pipe organ performance from Eastman School of Music
Fall 2010
and relocated to Seattle, WA with her partner, Dana Prince. They had a garden wedding in August 2008, and are both working towards doctorates at the University of Washington. Ruth works at Seattle First Baptist Church, accompanies many choirs, and traveled to Kaliningrad, Russia in the fall for an international organ competition. Many congratulations, Ruth! Mather Preston writes, “I’ve just completed my first year on the Friends School Alumni Board, and am looking forward to taking a more active role in organizing events for next year. Additionally, I got engaged to Anne Charlton on May 12, 2010, the day between our birthdays. The wedding will take place in Baltimore in November. I also started working for a new company at the end of May and now do technical recruiting for government contractors in the Fort Meade area.” Congratulations, Matt! We look forward to hearing more from you as you move forward with Friends alumni activities. Erica Winters sent in this update, “I just came back from a vacation in Baltimore and am getting ready to apply for nursing school. Dave Jr. is almost three and very rotten!” Christa Sterrett Gatewood has exciting news to share. Her son, Kyan Michael Gatewood, was born April 10, 2010. Chrissy reports, “He’s a bright and adorable baby who already has a quirky sense of humor. We feel so lucky to be his parents! Christina Counselman Patrick, Anna Gapuz and Sarah Melville came out to Cincinnati to meet the little guy. He loved all of his aunties immediately.” I have had the pleasure of meeting the little guy and he is quite a charmer! Speaking of babies, Mark Kelly’s adorable daughter Grace was born on November 11, 2009. Mark says, “She is