Class Notes

Send your updates to Kendall Buckalew McCord '03 at kmccord@ehshouston.org so that you can be featured here in the next issue of Pillars magazine! You can also keep up with your fellow alumni by joining the EHS alumni Facebook page.

88

Todd Frazier is creating worldclass musical programming for Houston Methodist Hospital's lobby performances; composing an opera based on a heart transplant performed by his father. He is also writing a symphony, Thomas Jefferson: The Making of America.

89

Courtney Key Tardy works at the Rice Design Alliance at Rice University's School of Architecture, where she oversees membership and fundraising for RDA. RDA is a program dedicated to the advancement of architecture, urban design, and the built environment in Houston. Courtney has a master's degree in Architectural History from the University of Virginia. She and her husband, Philip, have three children: Winifred, age 13; Harry, age 11; and Cecily, age 7.

Lisa Papademetriou is an author whose latest book, A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic, was released in October 2015. Goodreads says of the book "Bestseller and author of the popular series Confectionately Yours Lisa Papademetriou is back with a magical, page-turning adventure for readers of all ages—a touching tale about destiny and the invisible threads that link us all, ultimately, to one another." Not one to sit idle, Lisa also has an engaging and comical video personality as the grammar diva Ivana Correctya. Ivana provides tips on the many nuances of the English language. Check out www.ivanacorrectya.com.

91

Hether Flanigan, her husband Randy Agee, and three sons now reside in Salado, Texas.

92

Featured in the Wall Street Journal, Tom Covington's San Franciscobased analytics startup tag.bio created software to analyze information before a soccer game to determine how the opposing team is expected to perform.

95

In October 2015, the Los Angeles Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman as the team's director of baseball operations.

96

The band Grand Old Grizzly featuring Chris Lewis and Will Thomas '97 released a new album "Cosmonada" in February 2015.

Jayson Seidman is building a new boutique hotel in the Montrose area of Houston, Texas.

97

Clayton Katz and Lauren Blaylock Teare '98 received the Houston Association of Realtors Top 20 Realtors Under 40 Award for 2015.

John Thomas-Kobos wed Krystie Ruth Davila on October 17, 2015, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Will Thomas is a partner in the new Raven Tower. The Tower was originally built in the 1970s as a metal fabrication shop with a bachelor pad on the top floor. Now, it is an amazing bar and venue for live music.

98

Katie Stuckey Rushing wrote, starred in, and directed her first play entitled Wake Up, Mama to sold out audiences in Houston in the fall of 2015. Wake Up, Mama is the story of a woman who finds herself overwhelmed with the transition into motherhood. Feeling lost, void of purpose, and disconnected from herself and God, she sets out on a mission to discover who she is and what she is meant to do with her life. The cast included four actors playing multiple characters. For more information on the production, visit www.wakeupmamatheplay.com.

99

Riley Sharman married Lee-Taylor Evans on February 27, 2016, in Fort Worth, Texas. Stephen Ebaugh served as one of the groomsmen, and Eddy Blanton and Craig Peterson were ushers.

00

On July 18, 2015, Collier Crouch wed Denise Bajgrowicz in Lake Tahoe, California.

Jenny McKinney married Austin Moore on January 30, 2016, in Houston, Texas.

01

Laura Denson is now a Financial Recruitment Manager with The Rowland Group located in Houston, Texas.

02

Jenny Childers graduated with honors from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston in May 2015. She was named one of the Top Five Outstanding Students in her graduating class.

03

Caroline Dudley Bean received the 2015 Rookie of the Year Award and was named a Top Producer for 2015 at Greenwood King Properties.

Anne Louise Conway was named 2015 Commercial Sales Top Producer at Old Republic Title.

HEATHER SKIDMORE HOWARD '87

From the Runway

When Heather Skidmore Howard graduated from Washington College with a degree in sociology, she returned to Houston in pursuit of a career in social work. During her search for a degree-related job, Howard began working for a friend who had recently started a screen-printing t-shirt company. Suddenly, Heather found herself part of a three-person company, and it was there that she learned how to build various departments such as customer service, inventory management, and credit and collections.

With this newfound experience under her belt, Howard decided it was time to leave Houston and head to San Francisco. After her tenure at two companies, Howard landed at the iconic company, Gap Inc., as director of operations and then as director of production. During this time in San Francisco, Heather married and had her twin daughters, Taylor and Addison. Although she was managing work and family life well, Howard and her husband, Chris, were eager for more of an adventure.

With London in mind, both Howard and her husband began interviewing for positions that would allow them the opportunity to live in Europe. She met the English designer Anya Hindmarch and was hired as director of product development and production of Anya Hindmarch London. During the London Fashion Week shows, Anya Hindmarch is the only accessories brand to produce a full on-schedule show. Initially, the company employed 40 people, but now the main office has grown to 100 employees. In Heather's first five years, the scope of her job expanded to also include not only product development and production but also shipping and warehousing, and in 2015, she was promoted to chief operating officer. In this new role, Howard runs the supply chain and the processes around them—design, product development, sales, production, and quality control.

In discussing her success, Howard says that EHS is "one of the best things that could have happened to me. My best friends today are the women I met in 1984. The freedom and foundation from EHS were the building blocks of what has carried me through my life and career today."

—Margaret Young

Megan McGraw married Shaw MacIntyre '96 on August 22, 2015, in Ojai Valley, California. Caroline Dudley Bean served as matron of honor and Katie Lucia served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids included Lytch Turnow Gutmann, Shannon MacIntyre '00, and Kendall Buckalew McCord. Adriana Banks, Anne Louise Conway, and Elizabeth Schlotzhauer Putnam were in the house party. John Nicholson '96 and Carter Malone '96 served as best men. Groomsmen included Scott Gordon '94 and Matt Herring '96. Andrew Bean '04 and Drew Evans '94 were ushers.

Elizabeth Schlotzhauer married Buck Putnam on April 23, 2016, in Houston, Texas. Kendall Buckalew McCord served as matron of honor. Bridesmaids included Diana Dunlap Bridger, Caroline Dudley Bean, Anne Louise Conway, Megan McGraw MacIntyre, and Ashley Forgason Willis. Tobin Summers served as a reader in the ceremony.

04

Kelsey McDowell wed Guillermo Machado on December 12, 2015, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Bridesmaids included Meredith Clote, Melissa Millin Cook, Sarah Harrison Ford, Leanne Reeves Gotcher, Amanda Hobson Savoie, Kelly Boss Shields, and Caroline Brantley Williams. Andy McDowell '00 served as a groomsman.

Mary Catherine Ziegler married Jay Birk on April 18, 2015, in Houston, Texas.

05

Sean Knecht and Sammy Lampe '07 appeared on ABC's Shark Tank, where they presented their company, PrideBites Pet Products, to the judges.

On June 13, 2015, Melissa Matteson married Travis Jenkins in Houston. Abbey Matteson Ames '06 and Emily Matteson '10, sisters of the bride, served as matron of honor and maid of honor. Courtney Somerville Becker, Katy Pyburn Dunlap, and Elizabeth Taaffe were bridesmaids. The house party included Betsy Myers Presley.

Jordan Owens married Lindsay Nichols on Saturday, November 14, 2015, in Midland, Texas. Groomsmen included Robert Buckwalter and Rogers Crain. John Scully and Michael Weekley served as ushers. Sister of the groom, Leigh Owens Fitzgerald, served as a bridesmaid.

On November 14, 2015, Liz Webster wed Cullen Kappler. Lindsey Webster Amiralai '99 served her sister as matron of honor. Shaden Abboushi, Adriana Banks '03, Georgia Carter, Molly Carter, Addie D'Agostino, Katie Lucia '03, Annina Stefanelli '04, Sarah Downie Zahoryin were bridesmaids. Jordan Emmott '00 served as a groomsman.

06

Tommy Chernosky married Lindsay Carey on July 18, 2015, in Houston, Texas. Tommy is currently working as a project engineer with Plains All American Pipeline.

In May 2016, Alanna Dorsett will receive her MFA in Directing from the Actor's Studio Drama School at Pace University in New York City.

Meghan Grisell works as the Development Manager at the American Lung Association in Houston. Steven Klimczak wed Amber Maddox on June 6, 2015, in Dallas, Texas. Madison Klimczak '12 served as a bridesmaid. Neal Brown and Sammy Lampe were groomsmen.

08

On November 14, 2015, Ajay Brivic married Chloe Goodman in The Woodlands, Texas. Dakota Klaes served as a groomsman.

Emily Brlansky married Connor Tamlyn on October 17, 2015, in Houston. Bridesmaids included Amy Brlansky '11, Vivian Heard, Megan O'Shaughnessy, Jenny Tamlyn '11, and Emily Vidor. Trevor Tamlyn '08, brother of the groom, served as best man. James Brooks '05, Robert Buckwalter '05, Jordan Owens '05, Michael Weekley '05, and Jeffrey Williams '05 were groomsmen.

Ellie Chernosky wed Eric Johnson on October 24, 2015, in Houston, Texas. Kathryn Sinclair and Rebecca Copeland Bajgier served as bridesmaids. Brother of the bride, Tommy Chernosky '06, served as a groomsman.

Harrison Cullen married Lilly Lewis on February 27, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Lisa Wojnar is a preschool teacher at Drumlin Farms Community Preschool in Massachusetts where children learn through hands-on nature-based experiences.

Josh Tobin plays Leo in "4000 Miles" in a sterling production from Center Stage in Baltimore.

07

Neat Clark married Anna Chae on August 29, 2015, in Houston, Texas. Anderson Clark '14 served his brother as best man. Groomsmen included Carter Johnson and Peter McLean.

10

Emily Matteson teaches kindergarten at KIPP Connect in Houston.

Stephanie Styles plays the lead actress in the musical "Newsies."

Andrew Tharp is an Oil Products Trading Analyst at Noble Americas in Houston. Noble is one of the largest blenders and shippers of retail grade

gasoline. He completed his Bachelor's of Business Administration and Master's of Science in Finance at Texas A&M in August of 2014 and December of 2015. Lauren Hollins graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in Biological Science and Geology in May 2015.

11

In June 2015, Elon Cornelius graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in American Studies.

Travis Gauntt married Lizzy Orr on June 7, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. Tyler Gauntt '13, brother of the groom, served as best man. Kevin Hassenflu served as a groomsman. Ushers included Shea Pierce and Holden Hamblen.

12

Alysia Anderson's short film "Geester," funded through Kickstarter, was selected to screen at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2016.

13

Mitchell Webber is a sophomore defender on Louisiana State University's lacrosse team. University of South Alabama junior Ken Williams made the Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Team.

14

Falyn Page was selected to join the University of Missouri's Tour Team. Additionally, this summer Falyn will travel to Florence, Italy, to attend the Florence Arts & Culture Short-Term Program.

15

Princeton soccer midfielder Jeremy Colvin was named "Ivy League Rookie of the Week" in October 2015.

GINNY FUCHS '06

Fighting Her Way to the Top

Ginny Fuchs is not your average 28-year-old. Instead of attending office meetings and young professionals networking events, her days consist of intense physical training, strict dieting, and sheer focus on her sport: boxing. She has her sights set on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

While at Episcopal, Fuchs had never stepped foot into a boxing ring. "I was an athlete, but my focus was track and field," she explains. After graduating from EHS in 2006, Fuchs headed east to Louisiana State University. It was not until her sophomore year of college that she discovered boxing. "What began as a way to stay in shape, soon turned into a passion and a career," says Fuchs.

After competing in several boxing tournaments, it was clear Fuchs had talent, real talent. She later qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials, but ultimately finished fourth. She did not let this disappointment shatter her Olympic dreams. Instead, it motivated her to work harder toward the 2016 Olympics. And she is quite close to making this dream a reality.

In May 2016, Fuchs will have a chance to qualify for the Olympic Games during the 2016 Women's World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. If she qualifies, Fuchs will be EHS's first alumni member to be an Olympian.

No matter the outcome, Fuchs manifests the heart of a champion and is a true fighter, in every sense of the word.

—Kendall Buckalew McCord '03

In November 2015, Georgetown University freshman Haddon Hughes won an Intercollegiate Sailing Association Women's Singlehanded National Championship. Haddon is the first Georgetown sailor to win the event.

Autumn Watt was accepted into Cornell University's 2015-2016 Society of Women Engineers Corporate Relations Liaisons Team.

ANDREW PATERSON '06

Making Medical Tests "Smart"

Andrew Paterson, a chemical engineering doctoral student at the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering, won the Young Investigator Award at Affinity 2015, a conference of the International Society for Molecular Recognition.

The award recognized Paterson's ongoing research in rapid medical testing using nanophosphors, lightemitting nanoparticles, to detect biomarkers such as viruses, proteins, and bacteria. Paterson has worked to improve over-the-counter rapid medical tests since 2012, when he joined the lab of Richard Willson, UH Huffington-Woestemeyer Professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, after completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado Boulder.

"Our goal is to get this diagnostic technology out of the lab and into doctors' offices, and ultimately, we want to develop a consumer device sold in drugstores, so people can buy off-the-shelf diagnostic tests for a variety of diseases," says Paterson.

He and UH colleague Balakrishnan Raja have formed a startup, Luminostics, to commercialize the diagnostic technology. Their technology features a smartphone-based diagnostic platform that uses a lateral flow assay reader and high detectable nanophosphors for sensitive disease detection. Luminostics was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from Johns Hopkins University to develop point-of-care tests using the smartphone reader platform.

After many years of research, Paterson is excited to see his concept move one step closer to the consumer. "What drives me is the excitement of taking an idea that could change the world and have a positive impact on people's lives, and developing that idea into reality," he explains. "By creating technology that enables accurate medical diagnostic testing with a smartphone, we hope to empower people to take control of their health in unprecedented ways."

Paterson credits his high school years at Episcopal for teaching him how to write. "Although my career is in engineering and science, one of the best things I took away from being a student at EHS is a solid foundation in writing. From writing scientific papers and patents to developing business plans for technology commercialization, the writing skills I developed as a student at Episcopal have been indispensable."

—Claire C. Fletcher