Class Notes

COMPILED BY JAN JOSLIN

1970s

Wayne Mills ’71 and Mary Blitch Mills ’71 AAS, ’72 BS celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary August 12 and said their story began at Baptist College. They write: “We first met in September 1968 when Mary was a freshman and Wayne was a sophomore. We had our first date together later that same month, and we never dated anyone else after that first date. We were married at the Charleston Air Force Base Chapel, where Mary’s Dad was a Lieutenant Colonel, Baptist minister, and the Head Air Base Chaplain. Now it’s almost 54 years since that first date and 50 years as husband and wife, and we are so very thankful for BCC/CSU as it provided to us the education that enabled us to pursue our successful careers and as it is the very special meeting place that changed our lives forever. BCC/CSU gave to us a great start in the working world and a wonderful foundation to begin our marriage, and so we are now on our way towards our second 50th Wedding Anniversary!”

Bob Norris ’74 retired as vice president of Norris Supply Company in July after working for 44 years. He said, “My wife and I look forward to travel and relaxation.” They live in Greenville.

1980s

Sheliah Durham ’81 is a lecturer in the department of teaching and learning at Clemson University. She holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction from Clemson, and a master’s degree from Southern Wesleyan University.

Barbara Richardson ’84, ’87 MEd

is the City of Goose Creek Art Director working with the Goose Creek Cultural Arts Commission. Goose Creek is currently adding art throughout the city to beautify and create a sense of pride for residents.

Bill W. Sanderson ’88 is the new district superintendent of Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District in Los Gatos, California. He was previously assistant superintendent of High Schools for San Francisco Unified School District. He has a background in teaching middle school and high school science and in school administration. Bill believes that access to a highquality education is an imperative civil right of all people. He holds an MEd in education leadership and an education specialist degree, both from The Citadel.

1990s

Tessa Spencer ’90 was featured recently in Charleston Woman Magazine as a renaissance woman. She is a news anchor for ABC News Four.

Dr. Tracy Strickland ’90 is entering her second year as principal at Parkwood High School in Monroe, North Carolina. She was previously a Spanish teacher at Parkwood from 2005-10. She has a long history in the public school system and earned a Master of Arts from UNC Charlotte and a doctorate from Liberty University.

Wendell Fant ’92 is a teacher for Career Technical Education at Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina. He is also a regional leader for Primerica, providers of term life insurance.

H. AL Ciccarelli ’93 writes, “Our 30th graduation anniversary is pending. I bought my brick. Since graduating I have had various jobs in between playing a lot of golf which is my favorite fall activity. I live at Westcott Golf Plantation.” Al is currently volunteering at a local Catholic church and has worked for the South Carolina Film Alliance, Medical Billing, and South Carolina Job Service. He is planning a military reunion for veterans who did Vietnam and Thailand tours in the 1960s and 1970s in April 2023 in Charleston.

Belita M. Green ’93 is a board member of the YWCA in Charleston. She is a previous board treasurer and has more than 20 years of experience in human resources and banking. She is also a member of the Charleston chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Cathy Jo Smith ’93 is a contact center supervisor at Securian Financial in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.

Hans Wunch ’94, association missions strategist for Mallary Baptist Association in Georgia, hosts a podcast, Wunchtime, for the pastors in his association. A majority of the pastors in the association serve in a bivocational capacity.

Jennifer Whatley Govea ’97, has a translation company who provides Spanish and German translation for Saddleback Church each week. Check it out at Multitudelanguages.com.

Brian Hyder ’98, ’17 MBA is national account manager for the strategic accounts team for HD Supply. He and his wife live in Fort Mill. He is serving a term on the Alumni Association Board.

Richard Waring ’99 has been selected into the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Initiative through Furman University and will be a Riley Fellow upon completion. He is vice president and executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Charleston Chamber Foundation in North Charleston.

2000s

Jewel Sweeney ’07 has published two novels in 2022: Welcome to Tranquil Springs, and Azalea Café. She has written numerous books and is the author of the children’s series The Adventures of Bugaboo and Ladybug.

Karrie S. Powell ’01 is the vice president for patient care services and chief nursing offi cer at The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg.

Dr. Travien L. Capers ’04 successfully defended his dissertation titled, “A Biblical Response to Same Sex Attraction with Graceful Applications for the African American Church.” He was a part of the inaugural Doctor of Ministerial Leadership cohort at Columbia International University.

Daniel Bryant ’05, an art teacher at Oakbrook Elementary School in Summerville was the keynote speaker for the Nebraska Art Teachers Association convention this fall.

Julie Sprankles ’05 has joined with some friends to open a new venture in downtown Summerville called Selfi e Addict Studio. In the midst of life’s struggles, the friends wanted to create a space for people to have fun. Jamie Brown ’06, ’14 MBA is a supervisor for claims-audits, distribution, and reconciliation with the U.S. Department of State.

Olivia Terzo ’07 was named Teacher of the Year at Sioux City East Middle School in Sioux City, Iowa.

Dr. Jermaine Whirl ’08 MBA was named 2022 Man of the Year by Successteam Foundation for Youth Development. He is the president of Augusta Technical College in Augusta, Georgia.

Garrett Abel ’09 led worship at The Voyage, CSU’s opening worship service, in August during move-in. He is pastor of Seacoast Worship and Seacoast Music. He and his wife, Lauren Mantho Abel ’06 live in Mount Pleasant with their three children.

Amy Doerfl inger ’09 is a leader in digital product management, agile coaching, and insights for Edward Jones. She lives on Saint Helena Island.

Misty Price ’09, ’12 MBA is a corporate human resources manager at Smithfi eld Foods in Smithfi eld, Virginia.

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2010s

Tyrell Lenix ’10 earned a Master of Science in information technology from Purdue University Global. He is a Planview System Administrator for Millennium Software & Staffi ng.

Karriema Calhoun ’11 MBA, was named to the South Carolina Biz News state infl uencers list for the Coastal Region. She works for Boeing.

Joshua Gale ’11 is the senior director of marketing for Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities. He and his wife have three children, and he is a member of the CSU Board of Visitors. Dr. Troy Hall ’11 MBA is a coach for GetMee, an AI-powered communication and personal development coaching software. He is a talent retention consultant, public speaker, and has written several books. Learn more at drtroyhall.com.

Krista LaPlante ’11 is the director of program development and strategic initiatives at Apartment Life in Charleston.

Mark Vaughn, ’11 MS is a senior product manager at Dräger in Andover, Massachusetts.

Grayson Dorr ’12 MBA has been selected into the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Initiative through Furman University and will be a Riley Fellow upon completion. He is an investment finance manager at the South Carolina Research Authority in Summerville.

Yvette Jones ’12 is a human resources director at Redeye Worldwide in North Carolina. She holds a master’s degree in human resources management and services from Ashford University.

Monica Smalls ’12 MEd is the principal of Chicora Elementary School in North Charleston. She was the assistant principal at Chicora prior to her promotion.

Allison Thomas ’12 MEd is a senior recruiter at Fulcrum Staffing. She is a former elementary school teacher.

Brandon Young ’12 is a senior software developer at QBox in Ascot, England.

Catherine Fox Barber ’13, and her husband, Michael Barber, announce the birth of a son, George Thomas Eugene Barber, born March 9, 2021, in Charleston.

Ross Thomas ’14 has been named the assistant men’s golf coach at the University of Wisconsin. He worked as a professional caddie with the Professional Golfers’ Association. He will be working with his former Buccaneer coach, Mike Wilson ‘99, who is the head men’s golf coach at Wisconsin. Courtney Corvino Bayles ’15 has been in the news several times recently for wrestling and relocating alligators. She considers it a normal work day as the animal control supervisor for Charleston Police Department.

Stephen Slappey ’15 has started a nonprofit called Focus Up to mentor high school students in the Charleston area. Slappey is also co-owner and founder of Creative Consulting and Sage Coach Marketing, both based in Summerville. For more info on Focus Up, visit focusupcharleston.com

Tammy Alessandro ’16 MEd is the assistant principal of Goose Creek Elementary in Berkeley County. She served as the Title I Facilitator at Sangaree Elementary from 2019 through 2022. She previously was a kindergarten teacher at Sangaree Elementary where she was named Teacher of the Year in 2010.

Tonya Pratt ’16 MSN, is the senior director of quality management and medical staff at The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg.

Evan Schultz ’16, is the digital marketing manager for Mystic Aquarium in Deep River, Connecticut. Danielle Burnett ’17 is the manager for brand and product operations at Parallel in Atlanta.

Cade Gallagher ’17 announces the birth of a daughter, Lena Grace Gallagher, born March 15.

Lisa Grant ’17 MS has opened a location for her real estate firm, See Wee Homes, in North Charleston. In addition to the real estate office, the space offers home décor.

Nikolay Timoschchuk Jr. ’17 MS

is the chief marketing officer for Scooter’s Coffee in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is also a YouTuber and produces Back2Life, Niko’s Property Show.

Chris Roberts ’17 MA is a district sales manager at Volvo Trucks in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alison Skinner Moore ’18 and her husband, Kyle Moore, announce the birth of a son, Kyle Moore Jr., born Jan. 24.

Michaela Capers ’19, Madelyn Capers ’19, and Rebecca Detwiler ’20, of the Mount Pleasant Police Department, assisted with CSU’s annual Summer Criminal Justice Camp for high schoolers. Michaela and Madelyn are both currently enrolled in CSU’s Master of Science in criminal justice program. Photo: Michaela Capers, Dr. Gary Metts, Madelyn Capers, Rebecca Detwiler, and Professor Alan Fix. Photo by Jan Reed. Austin Pfoff ’19 is one of the owners of Palmetto Sports Cards in Summerville. They offer a wide variety of sports hobby items.

2020s

Braxton Drummond ’20 MBA is a team lead and senior patient service representative at Change Healthcare in Charleston.

Leslie Kirkland ’20 is a senior business operations specialist at Boeing and is working on a Master of Business Administration at The Citadel.

Chris Makowski ’20 is the communications manager for the Town of Kiawah Island. He was formerly the social media specialist for Berkeley Electric Cooperative. He and his wife, Hayley, are expecting their first child.

Namia Stevenson ’20 is earning her master’s degree at Mississippi State University where she is studying frogs and toads in the Conservation Physiology Lab. Prior to beginning her master’s degree, she worked as a zookeeper in Chicago at Lincoln Park Zoo.