Class Notes

COMPILED BY JAN JOSLIN

1970s

Ray Snyder ’75, ’92, ’01 (honorary), was named 2019 Educator of the Year in the Southern United States by the American Association of Community Colleges. He received his BS, MBA, and an honorary doctorate from CSU and is a Business Technology Instructor at Trident Technical College. He is pictured here with his wife, Kathy Snyder ’77, receiving the award in San Francisco.

1990s

Steve Strickland ’92 is the Middle School Pastor at First Baptist Church of Indian Trail. He and his wife, Dr. Tracy Vassar Strickland ’90, and their two sons live in Monroe, North Carolina. Tracy is the Union County Public School Director of Student Support. Albert Doria Jr. ’94, former CSU Student Body President, recently married Jennifer Karen Lucas ’93. Albert and Jennifer and their five children live in Gilbert. Jennifer recently retired from teaching in Lexington District 1 after 25 years, and Albert is the owner of Gulf Coast Insurance in Naples, Florida, and First Carolina Insurance in Lexington, South Carolina.

Christie Wallace ’97 was named 2020 Teacher of the Year at Piedmont Academy in Monticello, Georgia. She teaches middle school math.

Jim Shuman ’98, head football coach and science teacher at Allendale-Fairfax High School, was selected as the 2020-2021 Allendale County Schools District Teacher of the Year in addition to being chosen as the Teacher of the Year for Allendale-Fairfax High School. He has also been selected as a member of the coaching staff for the South squad for the upcoming 2020 Touchstone Energy Bowl North-South All-Star football game to be played in Myrtle Beach in December.

2000s

Jason Usry ’00 and his wife, Shirley Law Usry, announce the birth of a daughter, Marigold Usry, born June 4. Terdell Mealing ’02 has joined the staff of G. L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary and serves as Manager for the Aiken and Edgefield locations. He has taught in the public schools across South Carolina for the past 18 years until making a career change. He is licensed as a Funeral Director and Notary Public for the State of South Carolina. Terdell holds memberships in the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, the South Carolina Morticians’ Association, and the Sixth District Morticians’ Association. He has served in the roles of Assistant Secretary and Secretary for the Sixth District Mortician’s Association and is currently the Governor of the Sixth District Morticians’ Association.

Arleen Kennedy ’03 MEd is superintendent of the Balsz Elementary School District No. 31 in Phoenix, Arizona. She holds a doctor of education from Morgan State University and previously worked in the public schools in Louisiana.

Matthew Alexander ’04, cofounder of OneWorld Health, has been named Vice Chair of the Supervisory Committee of the South Carolina Federal Credit Union. Jason Brewer ’04 and his band, The Explorers Club, released two albums in June with Goldstar Recordings. “The Explorers Club” album features original music, and “To Sing and Be Born Again” features covers of some of the bands who have influenced the group. The Explorers Club is based in Nashville.

Drena Smith Hazel ’05, and her husband, Kevin Hazel, announce the birth of a daughter, Palynn Quinn Hazel, born Nov. 5, 2019. Drena said, “God’s little miracle to us!”

2010s

Amanda Shaw Dukes ’10 and her husband, Taylor Dukes, announce the birth of their third child, Rhett Otis Dukes, born June 20.

Kimberly C. Ford ’10, ’17 MA is a graduate of the Charleston Metro Chamber’s spring 2020 Leadership Discovery class. Leadership Discovery is an innovative, skillsbased leadership development program that allows participants the opportunity to learn from experienced executives in the Charleston region.

Cori Hustedt ’11 is the new principal of Pleasant Knoll Middle School in Fort Mill. She was assistant principal at Pleasant Knoll for three years. She completed the Foundation of School Leadership Program and serves at the district level on the science curriculum and SLO development teams.