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CLASS NOTES
CLASSNOTES
Jarrard earns medal from AUSA
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Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Jarrard, ’88, earned the Lt. Gen. Raymond S. McLain Medal from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).
Jarrard recently completed an assignment as the deputycommanding general for U.S. Army Europe and Africa for the Army National Guard, and his next assignment will be announced soon.He is the former adjutant general for the state of Georgia and commanding general of the Georgia Department of Defense. He served on active duty for more than 20 years.
The medal was established in 1999 and is awarded annually to a serving or former member of the U.S. National Guard who has contributed most to the advancement of AUSA’s goal of a seamless and componentintegrated Army.
1980s
Mark Agerton, ’87, has been named senior vice president, federal sector, with Syft. Prior to joining Syft, he was a senior area sales manager for Vocera and held executive positions with CareFusion, Cardinal Health and Pyxis. In addition, he was a director of materials management for several hospitals and health systems, including Northeast Georgia Health System and DeKalb Medical Center. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in business management. Paul Arcangeli, ’87, longtime United States House Armed Services Committee staff director, retired from his role April 1. Arcangeli worked for the committee for nearly 18 years in a variety of roles. He commissioned into the Army upon graduation from UNG and served for 12 years before shifting gears to work as a congressional staffer. Joan Lee, ’89, was added to the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. After earning her M.Ed. in 1995, Lee taught business administrative technology and accounting for over two decades at Lanier Technical College, where she also served as division chair for business and computer sciences.
1990s
Melanie Reed, ’92, was named superintendent for the Buford City School System. She previously held the deputy superintendent position. A native of Gwinnett County, she also held leadership positions at Buford Elementary and Buford Middle schools.
Joshua Teteak, ’94, was appointed chief supply chain officer at BlueLinx Holdings Inc. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and served in the U.S. military for six years. He currently serves on the UNG Foundation Board of Trustees.
Karen Towles, ’95, won the 2021 Lower School Teacher of the Year Award from the Georgia Independent School Association, beating out nominees from 160 other schools. She is a physical education teacher and coach at Lakeview Academy in Gainesville.
Susan Bennett, ’96, was a Forsyth County Teacher of the Year finalist. She teaches English for Speakers of Other Languages at Cumming Elementary School, where she began her teaching career in 1997.
2000s
Jackson DeFore, ’00, was appointed deputy director for administration and finance with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Builder Travis Camerio,
’01, and designer Heather Camerio, ’07, received an award in the Specialty Project Category in the 2021 Best in American Living Awards from the National Association of Home Builders. Their company Camerio Builders helped create an accessibility and sensory room for a client who had suffered a traumatic brain injury. Michael Cheek, ’04, was a Forsyth County Teacher of the Year finalist. He teaches eighth-grade math at Vickery Creek Middle School. He received his bachelor’s degree in marketing and began his teaching career in Forsyth County in 2009.
Jimmy Lane, ’05, was appointed president and CEO of the Cocoa Beach (Florida) Regional Chamber of Commerce. Lane previously was the executive vice president for the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. He earned a degree in math education. Jennifer DeFillippes, ’06, was promoted to assistant superintendent at Lee Arrendale Transitional Center. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice at UNG. Deticia Oosthuizen, ’06, was a finalist for White County’s Teacher of the Year. She is a second-grade teacher at Mossy Creek Elementary School and has been teaching for 16 years, with 13 of those at MCES. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management and later a master’s degree in early childhood education.
Donna Peters, ’06, was recently hired as director of marketing and communications with Sterling Seacrest Pritchard in Savannah, Georgia. Peters previously worked as the marketing and events coordinator for the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia. She graduated with an associate degree in sociology. Nicole Stansell, ’07, has been named assistant principal at Longtime Kennedy Middle School in Aiken, South Carolina. Stansell earned her bachelor’s degree in middle school education.
World Series is a family affair
Troy Snitker, ’16, helped the Houston Astros reach the 2021 World Series as one of the team’s hitting coaches. That created a matchup with his father, Braves Manager Brian Snitker.
After playing three seasons for UNG, Troy Snitker played two years of minor league baseball in the Atlanta organization before entering coaching. He earned a degree in physical education from UNG.
Cynthia Kinsey, ’08, was named the 2022-23 Teacher of the Year for Gainesville City Schools. She earned a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education.
2010s
Mollie Parker, ’13, was promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Dalton Police Department. She joined the force after graduation from UNG and then earned her law enforcement certification and became a patrol officer later that year.
Jessica Scroggs, ’16, was a finalist for White County Teacher of the Year. She is an interventionist at Jack P. Nix Elementary School, where she teaches response to intervention classes. Her degree is in early childhood and special education, along with a reading endorsement. Sommer Coen, ’18, was appointed studio manager and artist-in-resident of the Transylvania Community Arts Ceramics program. She is a native of Cumming, Georgia, and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in studio art.
Erica Jones, ’19, was named editor of the Dawson County News. After graduating, Jones joined the Dawson County News team in March 2020 as a features and education reporter.
Melissa Pruitt, ’07, ’14, ’19,
opened a MedLink Georgia clinic in Suches. MedLink Georgia is a nonprofit that serves patients from 26 Northeast Georgia counties and contiguous North and South Carolina communities.
2020s
Ariel Turner, ’21, has been named associate dean for collections and discovery for Clemson Libraries. Before Clemson, Turner worked within Kennesaw State University’s library system, where she served as department chair of library resources. Turner earned her Doctor of Education in higher education leadership and practice at UNG.
Ranger Distinguished Honor Grad
Jared Pate, ’20, graduated from the U.S. Army’s Ranger School, where he was recognized by the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade as the distinguished honor graduate of his class. Pate was a member of the Georgia Army National Guard as an infantryman assigned to the Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment as a strategic and security studies major. He attended Ranger School after graduation.
