Alumni News

— Laura Hamlin Weiler

’00 — Father-Daughter Duo Explore Big Sky Country…

Laura Hamlin Weiler

’00 traveled to the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains for a father-daughter adventure on behalf of the Trinity Discovery Award, an annual award given to a faculty or staff member to support the school’ s Discover Your Path mission. “We had an amazing trip!” said Weiler. They stayed at the H F Bar Ranch in Saddlestring, Wyoming, which was built in 1911. “We rode horses on extensive trail rides up into the surrounding hills and mountains both in the mornings and evenings, ” she said. “The rides were 2-3 hours long and were both totally different and completely breathtaking and beautiful in their own ways. The topography is spectacular, and allowed for extensive exploration, ” said Weiler. “Riding is central to the ranch, and there is no better way to explore the country and see the abundant wildlife than on horseback. We also went skeet shooting, did lots of hiking and running, and spent time on the large porch of our cabin, reading, relaxing, and just talking. The time flew by, and before we knew it, we were headed back to Richmond. It was such a special experience for my dad and me, and we cannot wait to return with our entire family!”

’12 — Lucy Methven ‘12 talks about her experience as a Presidential Scholar at Boston College…

The Presidential Scholars Program was a major factor in making my final college decision and has been a huge part of my BC experience so far. Through this program, I have been able to get to know a wide range of very ambitious and interesting people, from upperclassmen in the program to very successful alumni. I spent my spring break touring Florence with my fellow freshmen scholars in order to get a taste of foreign travel in preparation for both our service trip to Managua, Nicaragua in January 2014 and our two additional travel opportunities during our next two summers.

Next summer, I will be able to choose where I would like to spend eight weeks utilizing a foreign language (either learning a new one or practicing one I have been studying). The following summer, the program directors will help me select and then fund an internship in any country/ place I would like to spend my time. Additionally, the tremendous respect that the BC faculty has for the program has opened many academic doors for me. My advisors have helped me organize my schedule so that I can finish my undergraduate studies in three years and complete the Lynch School of Education graduate study program during my fourth year as a Presidential Scholar. I am very excited about this opportunity to really maximize my educational experiences during the four years I have here.

Lucy Methven ’12 with a group from the Presidential Scholars Program during a trip to Florence.

Currently, I am living on campus with the fifteen other Class of 2016 scholars to participate in the service-learning component of the program. We have each been assigned two volunteer/ internship placements in the Boston area. During the six weeks we are here, I am spending two days each week at the Italian Home for Children, which is a school that provides both residential and day treatment for children with behavioral and/or emotional needs, and two days at the Suffolk County House of Corrections helping inmates work towards earning their GED’ s. As an education major, I was really excited about both of these placements. The House of Corrections is an extremely interesting and unique environment (and I am loving my work there!) but both placements have been challenging and have opened my eyes to many social issues that will be important as I enter the education field. Each Friday, our entire group meets with the director to discuss our work and the week’ s assigned readings. ’ These first two weeks have been challenging, fun, and full of new experiences so I am excited to see what the next month will bring!

— Jon Baliles ’89 —

Political Insights from a Trinity Insider…

Jon Baliles

’89 was on campus in March to talk to Bob Alley ’ s Social Studies class about his experience in politics. Baliles had a close race for the Richmond City Council against incumbent Bruce Tyler who lost by only 20 votes. The race drew lots of attention in the Richmond area and beyond.

He essentially grew up in politics. His father, The Honorable Gerald Baliles, was elected governor when Jon was in the 9th grade at Trinity. “I remember him always being involved in the community and getting to know the city – that ’ s why I got involved, ” said Baliles. “I didn ’ t think we were getting effective representation in the city. ”

Baliles, who graduated from University of Virginia, discovered his passion for politics while at Trinity in Barbara Pierce ’ s AP government class. “I’ll never forget how much more I learned here about how things work and how to keep people engaged. If you ’ re not engaged, people in politics will take advantage of you, ” he said.

“I wasn ’ t good at math and science but I was good at government, ” he said. AP credits to college with me. ” He then went on to work for United Way. Doug Wilder, a pioneer in Virginia politics, eventually hired him and he moved into planning and development for the city.

Campaigning for city council was possibly his most challenging endeavor so far. “The campaign was a ton of work, ” he said. “There were afternoons when I didn ’ t want to go knock on doors, but I did. There were days when I wanted to go watch UVA football, but I didn ’ t. Every little thing made a difference. Every voter made a difference. ” Baliles was even sued (unsuccessfully) by the incumbent to overturn the election because of irregularities. “It cost a lot in legal fees, ” said Baliles.

But helping his city is his passion. “This city has a lot of challenges… poverty, workforce, transit…it gets beat up in the press…but it ’ s all about negotiation and trying to work with the city and the counties, ” said Baliles. “There ’ s always room in the middle. ”

— Ross Edwards

’04 — Sculpting His Future…

Ross Edwards

’04 is living and working in Spruce Pine, North Carolina and is the owner of Ross Edwards Design, a rapidly expanding company specializing in high end ceramic lighting and design. Ross has partnered with with the lighting company, Robert Abbey (The industry leader in the design of fine lighting products) to mass produce his ceramic lighting, The Odyssey Series. His company is seeing huge success and has orders in for his ceramic lights from Macy ’ s, Sears & Y Lighting. “My job, mission, and passion in life is to share it all...I started with nothing and I have created something that has made me figure out the next chapter, ” he said. “In the future, I am planning on opening a factory to employ many people in this community and to continue launching new designs. ”

Edwards, a product of Trinity ’ s International Baccalaureate arts program, had a passion for clay and sculpture at an early age. That passion has transformed into a thriving career. Ross found his niche in Trinity ’ s ceramics program and went on to study at the elite art school, Alfred University in upstate New York. When he graduated, he settled down south in a thriving crafts community in Western North Carolina, to work for a world renowned sculptor, Cristina Cordova, before opening his ceramic design studio.

“Throughout my life I have been moved by lighting and how it affects one ’ s environment and mood. Lighting is a large movement in contemporary design right now, ” says Edwards. “As a designer, I take in the world and its cultural and technological influences that surround me, apply traditional and new age techniques that I have learned as a ceramic artist, and respond by creating modern products. ”