alumnae Connection
’02
Heather Craven Sykes graduated from Campbell
University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree in May 2010. LyndaMarie Taurasi earned The Radio Television Digital News Association’s 2010 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for “Best Use of Sound.” She was recognized for the feature series “Thank You for Not Smoking in Orange County” that she executive produced for WCHL.
’03
Elisabeth Nason has earned the Project Manage-
ment Institute’s most recognized and respected global credential, the Project Management Professional designation. Nason is employed as training center operations assistant at Global Knowledge in Cary, N.C. Rebecca E. Rawl is working as an internal medicine resident for the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. Camden Watts, a contemporary filmmaker, served as a panelist in the Southern Arts Federation’s third annual Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival. Watts has written, directed, marketed and performed in a variety of shows and ensembles, including live improvisational comedy at Comedy/Worx. In addition to her other credits, Watts created Honey Scroll in 2009, a consulting company that helps marketing, communications and creative companies and their clients work better together.
’04
Elizabeth Bell Hunter earned a Master of Arts in
Liberal Studies from NC State University.
’05
Jenna Chambers continues to work with Target where she was recently promoted to supervisor and transferred to the North Hills Target.
’06
Elizabeth Loftis Plotkin was named Wake County Teacher of the Year. Plotkin works as a kindergarten teacher at Fuller Elementary School. Mary Covington Walker earned a Doctorate of Pharmacy from Campbell University. She has accepted a pharmacy residency position at MCG Health in Savannah, Georgia. Kaitlin Wilson Botts has received an MFA in imaging arts from the Rochester Institutive of Technology and is currently working as an assistant professor of art at Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga.
’07
Kathryn Taylor passed the National Council for Interior
Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam, and has been promoted to associate at The Freelon Group, an awardwinning architectural firm. Josie Walker (MBA) a
New Gift Will Add to the Beauty of Meredith’s Landscape By Melyssa Allen
A
new gift from a longtime supporter of Meredith College will make a lasting impact on the Meredith College campus. Former Trustee Ruby McSwain, ’54 (H), has provided funds to support the creation of the Ruby McSwain Magnolia Collection, which will supplement the beauty of Meredith’s landscape. McSwain’s love of magnolia trees began at an early age. “Magnolia should be my middle name,” McSwain said. “I grew up under a magnolia tree that was already too big to climb.” Meredith’s campus features many magnolias already, including two substantial Southern magnolias in front of Johnson Hall. Grounds Manager Aaron Schettler said while that style of magnolias is one of the most recognizable, there are more than 200 species of magnolias available, including many smaller, highly ornamental Ruby McSwain, ’ 54 (H) varieties. The McSwain Collection will feature some of the most beautiful and diverse selections of species and cultivated varieties, with funding to provide for plantings well into the future. “Magnolias are found around the world, in a tremendous selection of beautiful and charming flowers,” Schettler explained. “This is a fantastic plant to provide an educational component for students, and spring beauty for the entire campus.” The collection will allow the campus landscape to have an emphasis on magnolias. Planting began in the spring, with more scheduled for this fall and for years to come. Schettler said campus community members should be able to start seeing the impact of the collection by the end of this year. McSwain was elected to the College’s Board of Trustees in 1992. She served on the board until 1995, and again from 1998-2001. In addition to serving Meredith in this capacity, her generous support made a scholarship and library renovations possible. She was also a sponsor of and participating artist in the Spring 2010 Alumnae Art Exhibition. She is pleased that this latest gift allows her to share her love of magnolias with Meredith students. “Meredith has always been admired for its campus,” McSwain said. “There is so much beauty right there for students to enjoy as they are learning.” She imagines art students in particular will be inspired by the variety of magnolias which will be right outside their classrooms. “Words cannot describe what they will come to know through this planting, and the beauty it will bring Meredith all year round,” McSwain said.
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