classnotes Special Edition: Class of 1998 class notes for Friends School of Baltimore 2017 Magazine.
Justine Alger Forrester ’98 climbed the mountains in Xingping, China, on a grant funded trip in June, 2016.
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Justine Forrester jalger1@yahoo.com
Hello again, Class of 1998! With only one Friends Magazine (previously Collection) issue per year, my contact with most of you has dropped dramatically — by 50%. However, we can all look forward to reconnecting soon. Save the date for the weekend of May 4-6, 2018, our 20th Reunion. If you have not been back to Friends in recent years, or maybe even since graduation, there are plenty of exciting developments on campus in store: a new dining hall (and weight room), a new Middle School building, an impressive new auditorium with stadium seating, new athletic fields… the list goes on. Of course, much will appear familiar, including artwork still framed and hanging on the walls from members of our class. Our Reunion Celebration will take you back to the heart of the campus, under a tent centrally located on the quad area between the old Middle School (now the Forbush Building for Fine and Performing Arts), the Upper School, and the Math/Science Building. In addition to a campus tour, Reunion programming will include back-to-the-
classroom sessions led by faculty, a meeting for worship, collection held in the Meeting House, celebratory awards dinners/luncheons, and much more. I am excited to see you then and help welcome you back to Friends. A big congratulations to Lauren C. Johnson, Ph.D., who has completed her third year as an assistant professor in the Teacher Education Department of the College of Education at the University of North Georgia, and her first year in the position of COE coordinator of diversity and recruitment initiatives. Lauren is working on several research projects, in addition to developing a new program with UNG colleagues and Hall County school administrators, to provide college education to bilingual Latino high school graduates interested in becoming teachers. In the summer of 2017, Lauren participated in the Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program at the University of Georgia and also traveled to Chile for a month with the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad Program for postsecondary educators. Clearly, Lauren continues to make impressive strides in her career, and her influence is changing education for the better,
near and far. Here’s hoping we’ll hear more of her stories in person in May. Marc Broady has been working hard and has achieved great success in his career. “Currently I am living in Baltimore and working as a policy advisor and counsel with Congressman Elijah Cummings in
Washington, D.C. I am an attorney now, and it was a tough journey. I still work closely with and am on the Board of Directors of the Holistic Life Foundation hlfinc.org with Atman Smith ’96 and Ali Smith ’94. Atman and Ali founded the program and are now nationally recognized. They continue to save lives and improve health outcomes for hundreds of children and young adults through mindfulness and yoga; it really works. I am still mourning the loss of a wonderful human being and friend, Woodson “Woody” Marks ’97. Rest in peace, my brother.” Marc’s grief is shared throughout the Friends community, especially by those who knew Woody well. Maeli (Poor) Zacchetti writes to share the news that her son, Kieran Zacchetti ’31, started pre-k at Friends this fall. She writes, “We’re all quite excited, although it will be a big adjustment for Kieran (he’s been attending a half-day free play preschool for three years).” Welcome, Kieran, to the Class of 2031! In her own news, Maeli tells us, “I’ve switched jobs, but I’m still working at Aberdeen Proving Ground. I’m working for the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense as a logistician supporting installation defense equipment. The job is pleasantly
Tamara Clark ’98 and wife Patricia L. Red Hawk welcomed their son, Elliott, in February.
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classnotes
Katie Crockett Grant ’98’s triplet sons, Hunter, Tommy, and Jack, and their big sister Millie.
challenging and I’ve had the opportunity to travel to South Korea several times over the past year, which has been a wonderful experience!” Sounds like a fantastic career opportunity. We are also glad to hear from Tamara Clark, who has had some exciting life changes in recent years. Tamara tells us, “In 2015 I left Abington Friends School where I taught preschool for 11 years to take a position as the preschool program coordinator at the Parent Infant Center, a program serving the diverse population of West Philadelphia. I also met my future wife, Patricia L. Red Hawk, that year! We got married in 2016, and I became a stepmom to a tween. On February 24, 2017, I gave birth to our son, Elliott Austin Red Hawk. We are doing well, and settling into life as a family!” So happy to hear the good news and Elliott is such a cutie. In other baby updates, Katie Crockett Grant has some big news as well. Her family recently grew — by three. Katie writes, “I’m living in Bethesda, MD, with my husband Patrick, 3-year-old daughter Millie, and 9-month-old triplet sons, Hunter, Tommy, and Jack. We are grateful that everyone is happy and healthy. We are having lots of fun as an unexpectedly big family. I left my 13+ year career at Discovery Communications last fall to have the boys, and have just recently
started pursuing freelance opportunities. I’m currently contracting with Scripps Networks in their international PR department, so I am a part-time publicist, part-time daycare worker.” Alicia Atkinson has some happy news for us, “On April 22, 2017, I married my long-time friend and partner of almost five years, Ryan Hinojos. We had a simple ceremony in
his grandmother’s backyard in Pico Rivera, California. My son, Bishop Aereaux, and a few other relatives and friends were in attendance. We followed the ceremony with a brief honeymoon to Disneyland and it was indeed ‘the happiest place on Earth.’” Maggie Beetz also took a moment to check in and provide us with her update, “I’m working as the
Alicia Atkinson ’98 and her husband enjoyed their honeymoon in Disneyland in April.
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publications manager at Center Stage and live in Hampden with my husband, Jesse Whyte, and our two (precious) cats. We’re planning a Hawaii vacation in July.” Glad all is well, and we hope to see those pictures in the next issue. In my own news, I am currently in my sixth year of teaching eighth age (second grade) at Calvert School. Calvert has provided wonderful opportunities for me and my family; my husband Bill and I are appreciative that our two sons can attend school there with me. My older son, Silas, 6, is in first grade this year and it is a treat having him just a few doors down from my room. My younger son, Gideon, 4, continues to thrive at Kiddie Calvert daycare. This past summer, I was extremely fortunate to have received a second travel grant from the School, which allowed me to spend two and a half weeks traveling across northern India with a tour group (trip not yet taken at the time of this write-up). I am using the experience to teach our six-week geography unit of study on India. Last year I had a similar opportunity when I spent 17 days traveling across China, from Beijing to Hong Kong, on my first travel grant. It was an incredible adventure. That’s all the news for now. Hope to see and hear from many more of you in person this May! Until then, take care.