NI ALUM E S AT UPD
Photographer KRISTI ODOM ’98 was one of 10 visual artists chosen to join the Nikon Ambassador program. The group of 33 artists strives to empower creatives through education and inspiration, while working directly with Nikon to communicate valuable insights regarding the evolving industry. Kristi writes, “Pace was such a big part of this journey—from photographing for yearbook to being inspired by [photography teacher] FRANCE DORMAN. I begged to double up on my math classes and not take an art class, but Pace wouldn’t allow that, so I signed up for photography. It’s funny how your path sometimes finds you, and in my case, Pace put me on that path. I am so beyond excited and honored!” BLAKE BURTON ’02 has published his first book, Ponce City Market: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Atlanta’s Largest Building. Over the course of six years, Blake, an architect and photographer, documented the transformation of the former Sears, Roebuck & Company from beginning to end. The book can be purchased on Blake’s website, www.blakeburtonphotography.com.
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KnightTimes | Summer 2018
Blake lives in Atlanta with his wife, Tess, and is an associate architect at Square Feet Studio, located in Inman Park. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects. This past spring, TAOS WYNN ’04 received several awards for his work on behalf of the Perfect Love Foundation, a 501(c)(3) he founded to form partnerships among businesses, schools and community organizations with the goal of “creating hopeful futures” for individuals in Georgia and abroad. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms presented Taos with the City of Atlanta Phoenix Award for exceptional leadership, advocacy and philanthropic contributions. Taos also received Georgia State University’s 2018 Outstanding Community Impact Award, one of the school’s Carl V. Patton Awards for Community Service and Social Justice. Award recipients demonstrate the university’s philosophy and commitment to developing positive connections with the community to gain a better understanding of civic responsibility. In addition, Taos brought home the
Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service—his second—presented by the Office of the President of the United States and the Corporation for National and Community Service; the Daily Point of Light Award, created by President George H. W. Bush to recognize extraordinary volunteers; and a commendation from the Georgia Senate recognizing the Perfect Love Foundation’s Unify Georgia initiative. HEATHER ALLEN ’05 won the 2018 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show for her work as a producer on The Price Is Right. This was Heather’s third nomination and second win. Heather writes, “My boyfriend, Matt Bernes, flew out to L.A. and attended the show with me. Sharing the moment together made my second win that much more special.” Heather moved back to Atlanta from Los Angeles in October 2017. ROBERT BANICK ’06 lives in Kathmandu, Nepal, and provides mapping and spatial data analysis to various humanitarian NGOs and the World Bank. For the past year, he has worked with the World Bank to protect