NOLE NOTES

We’ve all had a chance to travel life’s path in different ways; stories to tell, adventures to reveal, milestones to share, and lessons learned. Let your classmates know what is new with you — email alumni@pc.fsu.edu with your name, major, graduation year and life update for inclusion in the next edition of the Torch magazine. Pictures encouraged, but not required.

1990s

TRICIA PEARCE, ’99, ’03

the 2020 Gene Wright Municipal Resilience Award for her work as the Lynn Haven city manager. She won the award from the Northwest Florida League of Cities, which is made up of cities from 16 counties stretching from Jefferson County to (B.S. communication, MBA) became the program director for BayCares, a nonprofit specialty medical providers who can help, in November 2019.

2000s

VICKIE GAINER, ’04

(M.S. corporate and public communication) was honored with connecting those in need to

Escambia County.

2010s

CASEY LATHEM, ’12 (B.S. professional communication) celebrated the second anniversary of CRYSTAL (QUIMET) McHENRY, ’08 (B.S. professional communication) and husband, Ian, welcomed daughter, Quinn Alexandra, on October 22, 2019. Crystal is a success coach at Ambassador Software. the Sugar Bean, her online clothing boutique, in May. Casey is also the business development coordinator for Buffalo Rock. She and her fiancé, Mark, are currently planning their spring 2021 wedding.

KEVIN ELLIOTT, ’13 (M.S. corporate and public communication) opened Wewa Films in Nov. 2019. He has been the senior marketing and communication specialist for ARA since 2015 and an adjunct professor for FSU Panama City since 2014.

ERIN WOMMACK, ’13 (B.S. professional communication) became the marketing director for Walborsky, Bradley & Fleming in

June 2020.

KELLY LATHEM, 12’ (B.S. elementary education) was recently honored as Bay Haven Charter Academy’s 2019-2020 Middle School Teacher of the Year. Kelly serves as the sixthgrade team leader and teaches advanced language arts.

2010s cont.

KATIE (HOLZER) RICCA, ’13 (B.S. professional communication) married John Ricca on March 14, 2019. Katie, a first grade teacher at North Bay Haven Charter Academy, was featured on major media outlets including Good Morning America, MSN and People for going above and beyond to connect with one of her students during the COVID-19 shutdown this spring. Katie and John are also the owners of The Bake House (formerly Cakes by Ricca).

MICHAELEAN (DRYER) STEWART,

’14 (B.S. professional communication) and husband, PATRICK STEWART, ’15 (B.S. recreation, tourism and events), welcomed daughter, Grayson Fay, on October 25, 2020. Michaealen is the interactive marketing manager for Visit Panama City Beach and Patrick is the sports marketing and special event operations manager at the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.

HAYDEN DeFORGE, ’17 (B.S. computer engineering) as part of the LED Air Warning System (LAWS) team from Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) was selected by the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) to receive one of its highest honors — a 2019 Excellence in Technology Transfer (T2) Award.

CAMERIN DIXON-HATCHER,

’17, ’20 (B.S. professional communication, M.S. corporate and public communication, JD) is a law clerk at Jeffery D. Hatcher Attorney at Law and completed her Juris Doctor degree from the FSU College of Law this spring.

JACKIE JERMYN, ’17, ’19 (B.S. electrical engineering, M.S. electrical engineering) was awarded a Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship from NSWC PCD for her research in electrical engineering. She is a doctoral student at the FAMUFSU College of Engineering where her research is on mobile robot navigation.

JUSTICE WOBSER, ’17 (B.S. electrical engineering) was awarded a SMART Scholarship from the NSWC PCD for his research in electrical engineering. He is currently a electrical and computer engineering graduate student at the University of Florida.

JUSTINE POWELL, ’17,

’19 (B.S. professional communication, M.S. corporate and public communication) closed on her first home with her (now) fiancé, Alan Pressley, on June 12. Less than two months after moving into their home, Alan proposed to Justine in their backyard on Aug. 7, 2020. They are now planning a spring wedding.

DEVIN BURNETT, ’19 (B.S. professional communication) will begin his graduate studies at the FAMU College of Law this spring.

SARAH HARRIS, ’19 (B.S. professional communication) started her own wedding and event planning business SLH Events. SLH Events was nominated for Best of Bay and placed in the Top 5 for wedding planners in Panama City/Bay County in 2020.

ANGELA DONAHUE, ’19 (B.S. professional communication) is a graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University pursuing a combined master’s to doctoral degree in communication.

2020s

BAYLEE BROWN, ’20 (B.S. computer engineering, B.S. electrical engineering) after becoming the first female to graduate with a double major in computer engineering and electrical engineering from FSU Panama City, Baylee is working on her master’s degree in engineering from the University of West Florida.

RYAN ISON, ’20 (B.S. social science interdisciplinary) was recently accepted into the Officer Training School with the U.S. Air Force. This highly prestigious program is open to individuals with a bachelor’s degree and a passing score on the Air Force Qualifying Test. Candidates must also pass a physical and mental screening as well as a selection board interview process. Ison anticipates completing the training program in the spring.

MARSHALL SOWELL, ’20

(B.S. electrical engineering) was awarded a SMART Scholarship from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWC DD) in Dahlgren, Va. for his research in electrical engineering. He is a graduate student at Oklahoma State University where is research his on electromagnetics.

TONI WEAVER ’20 (B.S. mechanical engineering) was awarded a SMART Scholarship from the NSWC PCD for her research in mechanical engineering. She is currently an electrical engineering graduate student at Florida State University.

FSU PC ALUMNI CONNECT WITH US!

Join our FSU Panama City Alumni Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/ FSUPCAlumni

A PLACE TO CALL HOME: Construction began on Seminole Landing, FSU Panama City’s first-ever residential housing on July 27, 2020. Located on the west side of the campus facing North Bay, the apartment style living complex for FSU PC and Gulf Coast State College students is scheduled to be completed by fall 2021. Learn more at seminolelandingfsu.com.

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