Hood Magazine | Spring 2024

REUNION WEEKEND 2024

Thursday, June 6-Sunday, June 9

The Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement is excited to welcome you Home to Hood! Whether you’re celebrating your 5th or 50th, or any year in between, we hope you’ll join us for a weekend of laughter, love and maybe even a little learning. We’ve planned a weekend full of traditions, both old and new, including a celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of Hood’s Black Student Union!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration materials will be mailed in April; if your mailing address has changed, please contact our office at alumoffice@hood.edu to ensure you receive your reunion packet in time to register for the weekend’s events. Your packet will contain information about on- and off-campus lodging, meals, classes and a complete schedule of events.

Registration deadline: Friday, May 24

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement at alumoffice@hood.edu or 301-696-3700.

SPRING 2024

VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Laurie Ward

EDITOR

Meg DePanise ’15, MBA’20

ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN

Renee Rohwer

Ronda Wolford-Smith

COPY EDITOR

Matt Lee ’15

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mary Atwell

Archivist, Collection Development Services Manager

Mason Cavalier ’19 News Editor, Media Manager

Susan Kolb, Ph.D.

Director of Athletics

Aba Blankson ’99, H’22

Glorie Cassutto ’19

Jawuana Greene ’92

Emily Maerz ’13

Audrey Quaye Paige ’97

Martin Scarborough ’17

Lynette Burrowes Siewe ’98

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Nancy Gillece ’81

Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Michelle Burnett

Assistant Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement

Jaime Cacciola ’04

Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs

Kellye Greenwald ’86

Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement

Malinda Small ’81 Executive Director of Individual Giving

Emily Wise VanderWoude, CFRE Senior Director of Advancement

PHOTOGRAPHY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Paul Burk Photography, Mason Cavalier ’19, Craig Chase Photography, Kurt Holter ’76, Derek Knecht, Matt Lee ’15, Doug Via Photography

Please report all address changes to the Hood College Office of

301-696-3900

Lillian Brown Hodson with portrait of her husband Col. Clarence Hodson circa 1967.

Little Blazers, Big Dreams

Check out our budding Blazers! The Hood College legacy continues with these adorable dink debuts. Do you have a little Blazer in your family? Email alumoffice@hood.edu to request a dink be mailed to you.

Ezra ’44, Eli ’40 and Emma ’42 from Kelsey Knippenberg Lynch ’14 and Zachary Lynch ’14

Leo ’42 from Emily Kahn ’05

Savannah ’43 from Rowela Silvestre Lascolette ’15, MBA’18

Asher ’40 from April Street Der ’08

Renee ’45 from Emily Eckard Leedy ’15

Zachariah ’38 from Amanda Reunken ’06

Allison ’45 from Tara Biser Little ’15 and Devon Little ’16

Stellan Craig ’44 from Sarah Johnston Comer ’11, MBA’14

Lilly ’40 (blue) and Clara ’42 (yellow) from Caitlin Witters Yeager ’13 with Jensen ’41 (red) and Violet ’43 (green) from Megan Cooper Haines ’13 and Josh Haines ’12

Message from the President

Dear Friends,

In the last issue of Hood Magazine, we trumpeted the extraordinary success of the Forging the Future campaign. I am thrilled to share that good news keeps coming. This issue features the historic gift from The Hodson Trust of $54 million in endowed funds for undergraduate scholarships. Our cover story takes this unprecedented moment to recognize the many decades of support from The Hodson Trust for Hood and our students. It is a story of philanthropic commitment to an institution of higher education like no other, and The Hodson Trust’s impact is evident in the accounts shared by members of the Hood community whose lives were transformed by this generosity.

Currently, the financial challenges facing small private colleges like Hood are significant. Many are faltering, and some have even closed. Hood is not immune to these formidable difficulties; however, there is no doubt that the backing of The Hodson Trust, along with all of your support, is a primary reason why Hood will surely overcome these challenges and continue to thrive.

One of the privileges of serving Hood over the past nine years is that I came to know the Hodson trustees, who committed decades to stewarding the Trust in the way its founders intended—to ensure academic excellence for all. Their deep knowledge of Hood, wise counsel and unwavering dedication helped me be a better president. Many of my goals and aspirations for Hood were only realized due to their support: endowed faculty positions, increased faculty research funding, renovation of the BeneficialHodson Library and Learning Commons and the Hodson Science and Technology Center, and scholarships for our most deserving students.

Although the Trust’s dissolution is a moment of tremendous celebration for Hood, for me, it is also bittersweet, as my relationship with the trustees ends. Please join me in taking a moment to express appreciation for these faithful servants and wish them a fitting conclusion to a job well done.

With deep gratitude,

ANDREA E. CHAPDELAINE, PH.D.

Ben Cardin

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin Named Speaker for Hood College’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony

Hood College is proud to announce U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) as the featured speaker for the Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony. A third-generation Marylander and dedicated public servant, Senator Cardin is a consensus builder with a well-earned reputation as a national leader on healthcare, retirement security and the environment as well as human and civil rights.

Cardin’s career spans more than 58 years across state and federal politics. He is a strident defender of the Chesapeake Bay and has been a leader on federal policies to improve the economy, create job opportunities, make college more affordable and support small businesses.

“I am looking forward to standing with the incredible students of Hood College,” said Senator Cardin. “This is a special time, full of boundless potential and opportunities. I appreciate all the hard work, dedication and sacrifices that have helped each student reach this milestone.”

Demetrius Johnson Named New Dean of Students

Demetrius Johnson, D.M, was named Hood College’s new dean of students following the assembly of a search committee comprised of current students, faculty, staff and members of Hood’s senior leadership team. Johnson’s first day at Hood was Dec. 4, 2023.

In his role as dean, Johnson will oversee Hood’s Office of Residence Life and the Office of Student Engagement and Orientation, while collaborating with students to provide a meaningful, enriching and student-focused experience for Hood residents and commuters.

Johnson brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership. He most recently served as vice president for student affairs at Bowie State University and previously served as associate vice president for student engagement at Marymount University and dean of student affairs at Dillard University.

Mahesh P. Joshi Appointed as Inaugural Delaplaine Business School Dean

Hood is thrilled to announce the appointment of Mahesh P. Joshi, Ph.D., as the inaugural dean of The George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business. The appointment was led by a search advisory committee comprising business school faculty, current students, alumni and members of the College’s senior leadership team. Joshi began at the start of the spring 2024 semester.

Joshi will lead the School of Business in its commitment to provide a high-quality education in business and economics for future leaders of industry, government and civil society, supporting the principles of economic, social and environmental stewardship.

Joshi joins Hood after more than 20 years at the George Mason University School of Business. There, Joshi served as the founding director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and as an associate professor of global strategy and entrepreneurship.

Joshi will lead the School of Business in its commitment to provide a high-quality education in business and economics for future leaders of industry, government and civil society.

Demetrius Johnson, D.M.

Mahesh P. Joshi, Ph.D.

Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. Awards Grant Toward Brodbeck Hall Repair and Renovation

Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. has awarded Hood College a grant of $25,000 toward the repair and renovation of Brodbeck Music Hall following a lightning strike and subsequent fire that caused significant damage to the building in September 2021. The funding will be used to bridge the gap between what insurance will cover and the cost of updating the building, constructed in 1868, to modern standards.

The College intends to maintain Brodbeck Hall’s historic integrity while making upgrades to serve the needs of Hood’s current campus community, including the expansion of classrooms and offices; restoration of the main concert hall and stage; and improved accessibility measures such as ramps and elevators, ensuring that Brodbeck Hall is an accessible and inviting space for events and classes on Hood’s campus. (Read more on Page 8.)

“It’s wonderfully exciting to see how, literally out of the ashes of the 2021 fire, the oldest building on campus will arise with a grand four-story restoration that will enhance campus capabilities to better serve students as well as the community at large.”

Marlene Grossnickle Young ’76, P’09, H’14, president of Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. and Hood trustee

Student-Athletes Raise Money for Local Children with “Free-Throw-A-Thon” Charity Event

Hood College Athletics raised $6,425 in support of Frederick’s Toys for Tots program during “FreeThrow-A-Thon,” an event in which donors pledged gifts based on the number of free throws Blazer student-athletes could make in one night.

“ With the Free-Throw-A-Thon, we were able to come together both as a community in the spirit of volunteerism and as an athletic department, supporting one another as we support our community.”

Katie Barnett, men’s and women’s volleyball coach and SAAC adviser

Approximately 65 student-athletes participated in free throw shooting, while a crowd of more than 100 students attended to support their teammates. The event, which took place within Blazer Arena on Nov. 30, 2023, was hosted by Hood’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was supported by 293 donors.

“We like to give back to the Frederick community in as many ways as we can because they support

us throughout our seasons,” said Katie Barnett, men’s and women’s volleyball coach and SAAC adviser. “With the Free-Throw-A-Thon, we were able to come together both as a community in the spirit of volunteerism and as an athletic department, supporting one another as we support our community.”

Hood Graduate School Launches First-Ever Ph.D. Program

The Graduate School at Hood College is launching a new doctoral program in counselor education and supervision beginning in fall 2024, the first Ph.D. program offered in Hood’s history.

The program will train counselors, supervisors and counselor educators at the highest level via advanced coursework and a series of hands-on internships. Candidates will supervise students in Hood’s counseling M.S. program and work alongside real clients at the NeighborHood Counseling Training Center. Shannon Shoemaker, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and counseling, will serve as program director.

The addition of the counseling doctoral program will create a pipeline for master’s students to remain at their alma mater and seek terminal degrees in their field.

The counseling master’s, which offers concentrations in clinical mental health and school counseling, is the most popular and competitive graduate program at Hood. The addition of the counseling doctoral program will create a pipeline for master’s students to remain at their alma mater and seek terminal degrees in their field.

Shannon Shoemaker, Ph.D.

Marlene Grossnickle Young ’76, P’09, H’14

Blazer student-athletes pose with toys at the Toys for Tots distribution warehouse in Frederick.

Hood in the News | Our Experts Cited in the Press

First-Year Seminar Course on Taylor Swift Gains International Attention

“Taylor Swift: More Than Her Reputation” was featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and television news broadcasts worldwide.

Hood College’s first-year seminar courses typically cover a wide range of unusual topics; however, FYS 101-12, titled “Taylor Swift: More Than Her Reputation,” piqued interest nationwide, with Professor Ashley Gardner being featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and on news broadcasts across the country. The course even garnered international attention, when Dutch public broadcaster NOS visited Hood’s campus to film a news segment.

Swift’s place as a role model, businesswoman and pop-culture icon.

“It isn’t a class where you just learn about Taylor Swift. It’s a class where you do quite a bit of critical thinking.”

—Christopher Krol ’26

“I love the format of Hood’s first-year seminar program because it requires students to be active participants in the campus culture while completing assignments for research and engagement—getting to talk and teach about Taylor Swift and her ‘Reputation’ is an added bonus,” said Gardner. “The media response to Hood College being one of the first colleges in the country to offer a Taylor Swift class has been life changing. I love that some of the media outlets have asked to involve the students in interviews.”

As part of the course, students delve into Swift’s career, analyzing her influence on the music industry, her songwriting, and her cultural and political impact. Students also debate

“It isn’t a class where you just learn about Taylor Swift,” said Christopher Krol ’26. “It’s a class where you do quite a bit of critical thinking.”

Hood is one of 10 institutions nationwide to offer a course on Taylor Swift, and the seminar will return in the fall 2024 semester.

“The fact that I got to connect with a thing that I love so much and then incorporate it into a class is surreal,” said Kara Heidlauf ’27. “So I was like, I have to take this class.”

Read the full story at hood.ws/swift-course

“Taylor Swift: More Than Her Reputation” made headlines across the U.S. and around the world.

• Vermont (Burlington)

• Florida (Tampa)

• Utah (Salt Lake City)

• Virginia (Roanoke)

• Arkansas (Little Rock)

• Georgia (Augusta)

• West Virginia (Clarksburg)

• Washington, D.C.

• Ohio (Columbus, Youngstown)

• The Netherlands

Taylor Swift. Image via Tinseltown/Shutterstock.

Dutch public broadcaster NOS visits Hood’s campus.

NEWS MAKERS

Hood College Archivist Details Project Aiming to Digitize More Than a Century of Historic Hood Publications

Mary Atwell, archivist and collection development services manager, hopes to preserve decades of Hood history.

From Frederick News-Post story “Hood to use grant funds to digitize old student publications,” published Dec. 28, 2023:

Mary Atwell stood beside shelves piled high with books on a recent morning, looking up at seemingly endless stacks of publications representing more than a century of Hood College history.

Grant funds from a local history organization will soon help digitize that history, said Atwell, the College’s archivist, making it more accessible to researchers and community members alike.

“Over the years, you look at the stories, and you see how these students kind of won their freedom,” Atwell said. “Especially in the ’60s and ’70s, when they were really pushing for more freedoms on campus.”

“It’s an important part of Frederick women’s education.”

Read the full story at hood.ws/digitize-hood

HOOD COLLEGE AND THE FREDERICK NATIONAL LABORATORY BRING YOU

HIV IN 2024: PROGRESS, PROBLEMS & PROSPECTS

SEPT. 23, 7:30 P.M. AT

HOOD COLLEGE

KEYNOTE LECTURE WITH Salim S. Abdool Karim, Ph.D., director of the Centre for AIDS Program of Research, South Africa (CAPRISA); CAPRISA professor of global health, Columbia University; special adviser to the director-general of the World Health Organization; pro vice-chancellor (research), University of KwaZulu-Natal; and adjunct professor of medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

RECEPTION, 5:30 P.M., WHITAKER CAMPUS COMMONS

KEYNOTE, 7:30-8:30 P.M., HODSON AUDITORIUM, ROSENSTOCK HALL

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Mary Atwell works in the archives.

MUSIC WILL BE

Renovating and Restoring Brodbeck Music Hall

History

As the oldest building on Hood College’s campus, Brodbeck Music Hall has quite a storied history. Built just after the Civil War in 1868, the building was named for U.S. Congressman Andrew Brodbeck, who was a Hood trustee and the parent of two alumnae.

For more than a century, Brodbeck has hosted innumerable lectures, concerts, events, parties and so much more. In 1984, it became the primary residence for Hood’s music department and Summer Concert Series.

Tragically, in September 2021, a lightning strike to Brodbeck’s trademark cupola caused a fire in the upper floors, with ensuing severe water damage on all levels of the building. Since then, Brodbeck has been closed to the public, awaiting extensive renovations necessary to restore the building to its former glory.

Photos on left: Brodbeck Performance Hall, c. 1922; Students on bicycles in front of Brodbeck, c. 1915; and Brodbeck Hall, c. 1890.

From Messiah concerts to providing choral singers for opera performances, the Choral Arts Society of Frederick has a long history of collaboration with the Hood music department. We love working with the budding musicians that Hood is developing. We cherish our close relationship with Hood, and we fully support the renovations and repairs to Brodbeck Hall.

Brenna Hill, Ph.D.

Former President, Choral Arts Society of Frederick, and Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, Hood College

HEARD AGAIN

The Challenge

To keep the historic integrity of the building while making improvements to serve the needs of our 21st century campus community, significant and costly upgrades are needed.

Insurance will cover the expenses to restore the building to its state prior to the fire, but in order to leverage this unfortunate event into an opportunity to reimagine Brodbeck Music Hall as an accessible, inviting venue for future endeavors, we must fully renovate and enhance the interior space. The gap between insurance proceeds and the expense required for our vision, however, is substantial. That’s why we need your help.

Hood and the Frederick community were devastated by the lightning strike and resulting fire that damaged Brodbeck. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and Frederick County Fire & Rescue extinguished the flames quickly. Still, many artifacts were damaged beyond repair, and the inability to use the building for the past two years has diminished the vitality of our campus and challenged our music program. We are thrilled with the plans for restoration and renovations to this historical and beloved building on Hood’s campus.

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D. President, Hood College

The Vision

The renovation of Brodbeck will include an accessible entry and elevator, which will make the third floor available after decades of non-use. In addition, there will be a new green room, practice rooms, classrooms, offices and restrooms, complementing a restored concert hall and stage. This will provide an enlarged capacity for the thriving student musical ensembles. Our goal is to create a premier event venue on campus and for the Frederick community, featuring enhanced HVAC and acoustics, catering space, box office and even a bride room for weddings.

A OpportunityPhilanthropic

To renovate and restore Brodbeck, Hood College seeks your individual philanthropic support, with opportunities for naming. For more information, please email Nancy Gillece ’81, vice president for institutional advancement, at gillece@hood.edu.

The late Noel Lester, Ph.D., associate professor of music, instructs a student at the piano.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIRD PLACES AND QUEER IDENTITIES

By Glorie Cassutto ’19 and Martin Scarborough ’17

Our lives are dominated by two major spheres: home life and work life. In sociology, they’re referred to as the “first place” and “second place,” respectively. Our lives are shaped by their interplay, by the responsibilities and relationships that each demands of us, from colleagues and bosses at work (or professors and classmates for a student) to partners and families at home.

Outside of these spheres is the “third place,” a neutral ground separate from the responsibilities of its first and second counterparts: libraries, gyms, churches, community centers, clubs, bars, theaters and any place where people gather in between. The purpose of a third place is to build community and conversation, to create a sense of belonging, to spark ideas and to be a space free from power dynamics and obligations, geared toward personal fulfillment. Third places anchor a community together.

What happens, though, when the community as a whole is unsafe? While third places are meant to be safe, welcoming, neutral grounds for all who visit, that hospitality doesn’t always extend to marginalized members within a community. Instead, marginalized individuals are left to create their own third places and build community amongst themselves.

For the LGBTQ+ community, these third places aren’t just for fun and friendship; they’re lifesaving. LGBTQ+ individuals like us face discrimination, marginalization and struggles in all spaces, especially in a divisive political climate. For many LGBTQ+ people, home and work are unsafe, unsupportive or even hostile, and an LGBTQ+-affirming third place gives us a reprieve where we are understood and valued for who we are. Queer third places—gay bars, Gay-Straight Alliances, Pride festivals, Queer Student Unions, community centers—are sometimes the only place we feel like we belong.

Both on and off campus, Frederick’s LGBTQ+ community has carved out crucial third places. For more than a decade, Hood College’s Queer Student Union (QSU) has provided a place for community and activism for LGBTQ+ students, allowing them to meet outside of class or work, create and develop LGBTQ+ initiatives, and uplift and build a safe, inclusive community on campus.

Frederick Pride images courtesy of The Frederick Center.

THIRD PLACES ANCHOR A COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

Some of these students and alumni, including Delegate Kris Fair ’12, Jordan Costley ’24 and ourselves, are now the core staff at The Frederick Center, the second-largest LGBTQ+ community center in Maryland. Through group programming and events like Frederick Pride, of which Hood is a staunch supporter and sponsor, The Frederick Center creates spaces for community, identity and self-expression for hundreds of queer people annually. This webwork of communal third places is vital to the thriving queer community in Frederick.

Changing social dynamics make it difficult for us to keep connected to third places: fluctuating work schedules and longer commutes make it harder to schedule free time for community; technological changes like social media reshape how we interact with others; and a global pandemic drastically rerouted all our social experiences. These factors drive social isolation, diminishing third places in the process. We must work to preserve and bolster third places, through active engagement and community-building events. Otherwise, we lose space for idea-sharing, creativity, activism and social growth. We shrink back and lose a vital, humanizing part of ourselves.

Without Hood’s QSU, without The Frederick Center, without Frederick Pride, members of the LGBTQ+ community risk losing their second (if not only) home. If we protect these third places, we protect the people they serve.

Martin Scarborough ’17 was a double major in global studies and Spanish at Hood and participated in multiple honor societies, including Mortar Board, Sigma Iota Ro, Sigma Delta Phi and Pi Sigma Alpha. He is passionate about supporting fellow members of the queer community in his role as development director at The Frederick Center.

Glorie Cassutto ’19 is the program director of The Frederick Center and majored in social work, with a minor in the study of women and gender. During their time at Hood, Cassutto served as the first diversity chair of the Student Government Association and received the Epitome Award from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (now the Division of Community and Inclusivity) for dedication to social justice in the Hood community.

Development Director Martin Scarborough ’17, Executive Director Kris Fair ’12 and Program Director Glorie Cassutto ’19 gather at The Frederick Center.

LEARNING CURVE

In October 2023, Governor Wes Moore launched the Service Year Option, the first public service year program for high school graduates in the nation. The new program offers young adults (ages 18-21) an opportunity to gain on-site job training and mentorship through local organizations. The goal of the Service Year Option is to enhance workforce development, address community needs, expand volunteerism and promote both vocational and college-level education.

“The Service Year Option serves as a purposeful avenue for the multitude of high school graduates in Maryland who embark on their post-graduate journey without a clear plan,” said Parul Kumar, partnership development fellow for the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation (DSCI). “Throughout the service term, members not only earn a living wage, but also immerse themselves in a transformative experience, gaining valuable professional insights, enhancing their skills, expanding their networks and receiving comprehensive wraparound supports.”

Those support systems include designated coaches, who help members map out their post-service plans, which may include higher education or a career in civil service. At the end of their term, members receive a $6,000 completion award to

A Year of Service Learning at Hood College

HOOD COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND FOR NEW SERVICE YEAR OPTION.

By Matt Lee ’15

serve as a financial springboard. This money can be accepted as either a cash stipend or a taxexempt educational credit to help cover tuition. Members are also given a variety of options for their placement, including nonprofits, government agencies, educational institutions and for-profit businesses. Hood College is proud to partner with DSCI as a host site for the inaugural cohort of Service Year Option members.

“An important part of this program is that DSCI qualifies all of the work sites,” explained Helen Propheter, director of corporate and government relations at Hood. “Members are offered work at vetted businesses that do more than just employ them. We truly offer an experience that meets members where they are and creates opportunities to grow their professional development.”

Hood offers additional perks for members, including a scholarship toward tuition if they choose to enroll at the College after their service-learning year. “We hope this partnership will bring great prospective students to Hood, who will want to stay and complete their college education here,” said President Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D. “We

have committed to providing a scholarship to these students to help make that possible.”

Joining Hood College’s Office of Conference and Event Services is Alexander McCauley, who is currently serving as an event manager through the service-learning program. Originally from Boonsboro, Maryland, McCauley graduated high school in 2021 and worked at Greenbrier State Park before applying to the Service Year Option. While interviewing for his placement, McCauley was impressed by the friendly yet professional atmosphere at Hood, and he was keen to gain experience in a forward-facing, managerial position.

Hood offers additional perks for members, including a scholarship toward tuition if they choose to enroll at the College after their service-learning year.

“I haven’t worked in an office setting like this before, so it was a big jump for me,” said McCauley. “It’s been great to learn how events function, how contracts and scheduling work. I need those skills, and I feel like I’ve been getting them at Hood. Working here more accurately reflects what I want my future career to look like.”

In a typical week, McCauley plans and facilitates events, such as summer camps or guest speakers. He creates registries and tracks capacities for venues. Much of his focus goes to communicating and building relationships with clients, both on and off campus. At the same time, McCauley frequently meets with his support coach and attends regional training sessions with other program members.

Britton Muir, director of conference and event services at Hood, serves as McCauley’s supervisor. She is grateful for the extra assistance but has also witnessed how the service-learning program has enabled McCauley to grow and thrive.

“The most rewarding aspect of this program has certainly been getting to know Alex. His attention to detail and readiness to jump in and help have been such a great addition to the conference and

“It’s been great to learn how events function, how contracts and scheduling work. I need those skills, and I feel like I’ve been getting them at Hood.”

—Alex McCauley

event services team,” said Muir. “I hope Alex will leave the service-learning program at Hood with confidence in his abilities as an event management professional.”

McCauley hopes to eventually earn a four-year degree (possibly at Hood), then transition to a career with a state or national park. Protecting these natural resources and sharing their beauty with people has long been his passion. “I’d like a career where my decisions directly impact the preservation of a place in nature,” said McCauley. “Learning to set up events ties into that, whether I’d be facilitating school field trips or planning educational programming. I’m getting a lot of valuable experience for where I want to go next.”

LEARNING CURVE

MARYLAND SERVICE YEAR OPTION

job training and focused developmentprofessional

Earn at least $15 per hour

Earn $6,000 toward tuition costs or as a cash stipend upon completion

Hood additionally offers a scholarship toward tuition upon completion

A TRANSFORMATIVE FULL YEAR OF PAID, ON-SITE JOB TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP gaining valuable professional insights, enhancing skills and expanding networks.

Alexander McCauley and his supervisor Britton Muir, director of conference and events services.

Creating a Healthcare Professional Pipeline at Hood

NURSING MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMS JOIN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL.

Jennifer Cooper, DNP, RN, is chair of Hood’s Department of Nursing and director of the newly launched Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), now accepting applications, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), forthcoming in 2025. Cooper has been with Hood since 2016. She earned her DNP from George Washington University, her MSN from Rush University and her BSN from Cedarville University.

Cooper’s research interests include prevention and management of chronic disease in the community. She previously served as president of the Association of Public Health Nurses. Locally, she serves on Frederick County’s Board of Health and leads Hood Million Hearts, which aims to prevent cardiovascular disease at Hood College and within the greater Frederick community.

What inspired the creation of the MSN and DNP programs and what makes them stand out?

The inspiration was our undergraduate students and our community partners. In recent years, undergraduate students have asked about continuing in a graduate nursing program at Hood. Nursing faculty have taught and advised every student throughout their undergraduate program and would welcome the opportunity to continue doing so, when post-graduate students seek to prepare for an advanced role.

We know from our community partners that there is a need for nurse practitioners in primary care practice, nurses to lead teams and systems, and nurse educators. The three MSN tracks and DNP program will help fulfill these needs. Both the history and presence in our community allow Hood nursing to stand out—we truly know our students and community partners.

How does Hood incorporate the latest advancements and industry trends into the curriculum?

We stay connected with our community partners, who navigate advancements and trends every day. Our faculty are involved at the local, state and national level in various specialty areas. By being engaged in practice, research, policy and quality improvement, our faculty stay current and can bring what they know into the classroom. We are also fortunate to have amazing technology in our simulation center and labs, which allows us to provide a safe learning and practice environment for all students.

What are your thoughts on the future of nursing education and the role these programs might play?

We are facing issues such as healthcare workforce shortages, pandemics, disparities, mental health crises and financial insecurity. My goal is not only to prepare students to take on these issues, but also to ensure that our community partners see Hood nursing and the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences as part of the solution to some of the issues that our practice partners are working to address. Academic-practice partnerships are critical to addressing community issues, and these partnerships must be creative and reimagined.

What excites you most about overseeing these programs?

What excites me most is the return of our alums, who wish to advance their education, and the opportunity we have as a program and a school to supply nurse leaders, educators and practitioners. I was at Hood to see the first graduating class of pre-licensure BSN students and now look forward to seeing the first graduating MSN and DNP students.

Hood’s Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral and Health Sciences building on Toll House Ave.

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

The Whole Student Approach

WELLNESS RESOURCES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS AT HOOD

Graduate students are used to receiving academic assistance, but what about needs that extend beyond the classroom, such as mental health, career coaching and housing?

The Graduate School at Hood College has taken measures to holistically support students with various programs aiming to close these gaps. April Boulton, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School, has overseen the implementation of wellness services based on how the student population has evolved.

“As we continue to see growth in the younger demographic across graduate programs, many graduate students expect some continuity between the supports they experienced as undergraduates and the available services in their graduate program,” said Boulton. “We have expanded many of Hood’s pre-existing strengths and reputation for being a high-touch, student-centered institution. The ‘whole student’ is very much the focus for many of the initiatives we’ve developed and curated.”

Graduate students can access resources online through GradCare, which is an extension of the Hood College Office of Wellness. GradCare connects students with counseling services, the Career Center, tutoring and much more. To further boost GradCare’s visibility, every graduate-level course syllabus is required to include a statement on wellness, and students are provided with frequent reminders about the bevy of programming offered throughout the year.

“We hope that GradCare can be an accessible, initial stop for graduate students who are seeking balance and health during their academic studies,” said Amanda Dymek, director of wellness at Hood. “In addition to the resources listed on the GradCare site, the College offers and promotes several programs to support students’ wellbeing, including Mental Health First Aid and QPR Suicide Prevention trainings, sound baths, financial literacy courses, affinity nights and more.”

Another new development has been to offer on-campus housing for graduate students, many of whom are eager for affordable housing options. Both international students and those fresh out of their undergraduate studies appreciate the convenience of living where they learn. Having residential space dedicated specifically to graduate students also helps build community.

“Housing rentals are often too expensive for graduate students this early in their career, so they need affordable options,” said Boulton. “The College has invested in adding new and renovated housing on campus, which appeals to both undergraduate and graduate students.”

Scan the QR code to access GradCare!

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Introducing the Low-Residency Creative Writing MFA

NEW PROGRAM IS FIRST OF ITS KIND IN MARYLAND TO OFFER FICTION AND POETRY CONCENTRATIONS.

The Graduate School at Hood College is launching a new Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Hood’s creative writing MFA, which is the only low-residency program in Maryland to offer concentrations in both fiction and poetry, will begin its inaugural summer residency in June 2024. The low-residency format has grown increasingly popular in recent years, thanks to the flexibility it offers for working professionals and lifelong learners. In a low-residency program, students from across the country work remotely while corresponding one-on-one with faculty mentors.

During the summer, students convene on Hood’s campus for a 10-day residency. The residency experience includes workshops, readings, panels and lectures with permanent faculty and guest writers. Students may also partake in an optional study abroad residency in Prague and apply for special scholarships, like the Nora Roberts Scholarship or the Elizabeth Peters-Barbara Michaels Scholarship Fund.

At Hood, students will join a diverse community of writers, who will immerse themselves in all aspects of the writing life from literary history and theory to editing and publishing. By the end of the

MFA Guest Writers

Nebraska Omaha

SANDRA BEASLEY University of

CELESTE DOAKS Fairfield University

ROBERT EVERSZ UCLA Extension Writers’ Program

JAMES ALLEN HALL Washington College

DONNA HEMANS DC Writers Room

STEVEN LEYVA University of Baltimore

CLEYVIS NATERA Barnard College of Columbia University ELLY WILLIAMS Johns Hopkins University

Elizabeth Knapp, Ph.D., associate professor of English and MFA program director.

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

two-year program, students will produce a fully polished manuscript that will be ready to submit for publication.

Augmenting Hood’s permanent faculty are several acclaimed guest writers: Sandra Beasley, celeste doaks, Robert Eversz, James Allen Hall, Donna Hemans, Steven Leyva, Cleyvis Natera and Elly Williams.

“A low-residency program gives a very authentic sense of what it means to be a working writer, which is that you have to steal time,” said Sandra Beasley, award-winning author of “Made to Explode” (W. W. Norton, 2021). “You have to juggle the academic needs with trying to stay creative and loose. In some ways, the inevitable struggle that happens post-MFA program is much more manageable for people who did it in the low-residency model because they have built a community that’s always used to supporting each other long distance.”

“YOU CAN TAKE A DEGREE IN CREATIVE WRITING AND GO ANYWHERE. THERE ARE SO MANY POSSIBILITIES.”

—CELESTE DOAKS, GUEST WRITER

While many graduates of MFA programs go on to teach and publish books, having a strong foundation in communications can translate to a variety of career paths. Guest writer celeste doaks, for instance, combines teaching with working as a copywriter for a financial investment firm.

“You can take a degree in creative writing and go anywhere,” said doaks. “There are so many possibilities—students could work in advertising, communications, newspapers or publishing. It’s so

important for students to know that they have a wide range of options.”

Serving as director for the MFA program is Elizabeth Knapp, Ph.D., associate professor of English. Knapp is the author of “Requiem with an Amulet in Its Beak” (Washington Writers’ Publishing House, 2019) and the recipient of the 2022 International Poetry Prize from Atlanta Review.

“Central to our program’s philosophy is the idea of balance—between writing and the demands of everyday life, between periods of solitude and social interaction—as well as the presence of a diverse and cohesive literary community,” said Knapp. “We believe that while we may write in solitude, we work together as a community to bring our art into the world.”

For more information, visit hood.edu/MFA

WELL DONE, BLAZERS!

MEN’S BASKETBALL MAKES HISTORY WITH NATIONAL RANKING AND NCAA TOURNAMENT

Twenty years since its inception, the Hood College men’s basketball team reached a new milestone in the 2023-24 season—a national ranking. After winning three games against ranked teams, the Blazers earned the No. 21 spot in D3hoops’ Top 25 poll on Jan. 14, 2024.

“This was a great achievement for us as a team and also the program as a whole,” said Ryan Hollwedel ’23, forward and current Hood graduate student. “It was a big step in proving that we belong in the conversation among the top Division III teams in the nation, and I’m proud to have been a part of that.”

The Blazers are building on recent success, which includes winning the program’s first-ever Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championship in 2022. Coach Chad Dickman, who took over the program in 2015, believes the 2023-24 squad has even greater potential.

“This year’s team is similar to our recent teams, as they are a deeply skilled, hard-working and unselfish group,” said Dickman. “I think this group could have a higher ceiling than previous teams because of our size, ability to defend and improved rebounding.”

BID

Susan Kolb, Ph.D., director of athletics, has also taken notice of the strong depth of the team. “They have leaders, but they don’t have just one star that leads the team. This is a well-rounded team that has a lot of talent and a desire to win,” said Kolb.

“This is a well-rounded team that has a lot of talent and a desire to win.”

Susan Kolb, Ph.D. Director of Athletics

While getting national recognition was “a nice feather in the cap,” Dickman and Hollwedel said their primary goals are winning the conference and then advancing into the NCAA tournament.

In February, the Blazers achieved one of those goals, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA “March Madness” tournament. This marks the third time in the College’s history that men’s basketball made it to the tournament.

“We know that we can compete with any team in the country,” said Dickman.

Pictured at top of page, front: Karron Mallory, Justin Gielen, Javon Yarborough, Assistant Coach Arthur Claybon, Assistant Coach Will Pataki, Head Coach Chad Dickman, Assistant Coach Luke Summers, Trumaine Strickland, Troy Fulton and Jack Robertson. Back: Jack Fricka, Moussa Gaye, Will Spencer, Soren Almquist, Garrett Cox, Jude Huseby, Garrison Linton, Ryan Hollwedel, Yhali Stainhauer and Kullen Robinson.

Soren Almquist fades away from a defender in Hood’s 78-61 win over Wilson.

Two student-athletes, Cristian Reyna ’25 and Jamel Mins ’25, were accepted into the 2024 NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program, which took place Jan. 10-14, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. Reyna is a junior and member of the baseball team from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Mins is a junior and member of men’s track and field from Columbia, Maryland.

“The convention was an opportunity of a lifetime that I will never forget,” said Mins. “I was able to network with so many informative people, who I will now be connected with forever.”

For the immersion program, the NCAA selected 40 students from underrepresented populations who would like to pursue a career in coaching

“The experience was breathtaking. Being around so many people and learning how to network was awesome. I saw firsthand the ins and outs of the NCAA, and I am so excited about a future career in collegiate athletics.”

—Cristian Reyna ’25

or athletic administration after graduation from a Division III institution.

“The experience was breathtaking,” said Reyna. “Being around so many people and learning how to network was awesome. I saw firsthand the ins and outs of the NCAA, and I am so excited about a future career in collegiate athletics.”

At the 2024 NCAA Division III Convention, Reyna and Mins saw the inner workings of Division III legislation, its membership and the governance process. In addition to the scheduled programming, Reyna and Mins were assigned a mentor to help in their journey of finding their first post-graduate career in athletics. A major goal of the program is to build a pipeline of candidates to ultimately diversify the coaching and/or administrative landscape in Division III.

“I applaud Cristian and Jamel for taking advantage of an opportunity like this to better

themselves after college,” said Susan Kolb, Ph.D., director of athletics at Hood. “So many of our student-athletes will never understand what goes on behind the scenes of college sports. Attending the convention is eye-opening for first-timers, and the NCAA does a great job with the Student Immersion Program preparing student-athletes for a career in athletics after graduation.”

Cristian Reyna ’25 and Jamel Mins ’25 at the NCAA Division III Convention.

ATHLETICS

BLAZERS WELCOME NEW STAFF MEMBERS

Lindsey Feldman

Office Manager for Athletics

Lindsey Feldman comes to Hood after working as director of human resources for CarePlus Home Health since 2017. She has also worked as a lead case manager, operations manager, middle and high school teacher, and career counselor. She has a B.S. in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, holds more than 15 certifications and belongs to 13 professional groups and organizations.

In October 2023, Feldman walked through the doors of the Volpe Athletic Center and hit the ground running. She currently oversees all transportation requests, budget accounts, game contracts, practice schedules and new hire paperwork. She is a member of the athletics senior staff and works closely with Susan Kolb, Ph.D., director of athletics, and Jack Mehl, associate director of athletics, on all components of the athletics department.

Matthew Gelhard

Asst. Director of Athletics for Communications

Matthew Gelhard joins Hood from Penn State, as he steps into the role of assistant director of athletics for communications. A graduate of Penn State with a B.A. in journalism, Gelhard brings experience in Division I. Gelhard played baseball, but his career has covered a variety of sports at the youth, high school, college and professional levels.

A native of Mount Airy, Maryland, Gelhard has taken the opportunity to travel for his work. In 2022, he was invited to cover the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the Associated Press (AP). During the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, he traveled to New Zealand, covering the games as a freelance writer and photographer, again for AP. Gelhard joined Hood in January 2024 and now leads a staff of three graduate assistants, who are responsible for covering stats, game footage, interviews and post-game stories as well as nominating players for awards. Gelhard serves as a member of the athletics senior staff.

Geoff Moore

Head Coach, Men’s Soccer

Geoff Moore began as the head men’s soccer coach at Hood in January 2024. With a career coaching record of 204-99-40, three NCAA Division III final four appearances and four “Coach of the Year” honors, he is expected to make a significant and immediate impact on the men’s soccer program.

Moore began his head coaching career in 2005 at SUNY Delhi, where he earned a record of 39-22-4 during his four years in charge. In 2009, Moore transitioned to SUNY Oneonta and helped guide the Red Dragons for 10 years, taking his team to a national championship on three separate occasions. In 2019, Moore moved to SUNY Morrisville as the head coach and improved their program every year. Moore earned a bachelor’s in recreation and sports facility management from SUNY Delhi and holds several coaching licenses and certificates.

BLAZERS SOFTBALL COACH PRESENTS AT NATIONAL CONVENTION

By Emily Maerz ’13

As part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) held in Louisville, Kentucky, Dec. 4-9, 2023, Hood College softball coach Terry Burdette gave a presentation titled “A Coach’s Guide to

Field Maintenance” to 150 fellow college softball coaches. “Many people think maintaining a field is just dragging it after each use,” said Burdette. “I covered everything from repairing the pitching and hitting areas to keeping the bases looking new. I tried to document in pictures and video clips many of the things I do on our field, and the coaches appreciated the information.”

In addition to sharing his own expertise, Burdette learned from others by attending the NFCA Coaches College class on coaching dynamic team practices, taught by three Division I coaches from the University of Nebraska, University of Southern Mississippi and Wichita State University. Burdette said that he learned “a lot of great drills and techniques,” which he has already started to incorporate into spring practice planning.

Another major element of the convention was networking opportunities, and Burdette appreciated catching up with colleagues, including former Hood assistant coach Bayleigh Masterson, who is now an assistant coach at Murray State University.

Other features of the convention included committee meetings, an exhibitor hall with 169 participating companies and the NFCA Hall of Fame Banquet.

“I enjoyed so much about the convention,” said Burdette. “Softball coaches are great at sharing what they know with others, and we learn a lot from each other.”

Terry Burdette presents at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association convention.

FACES IN THE CROWD

SHANNON FOSTER ’24 Women’s Soccer

Shannon Foster ’24 has been an impact player on the women’s soccer team for each of her four seasons. Being selected to First Team All-MAC at the end of the 2023 season, an honor few athletes achieve during their college career, was a welldeserved accomplishment to finish out her time at Hood. While soccer brought her to Hood, she also has a passion for helping people. In May, she will graduate with a degree in nursing, and her plan is to work as a NICU nurse.

TYLER SCHWARZMAN ’24 Baseball

Tyler Schwarzman ’24 transferred to Hood for his sophomore year. Now a senior, he has one goal— win the MAC Championship. A psychology major from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Schwarzman chose Hood because he liked the psychology program and wanted to play for Coach Michael Impellittiere and his staff. As the current captain of the baseball team, leading the Blazers to a championship is how Schwarzman wants to end his Hood journey.

BROOKE HARPER ’26 Women’s Lacrosse

Coming off a stellar first year as goalkeeper, Brooke Harper ’26 is ready to keep opposing teams off the scoreboard during her sophomore season. A finance major from Sykesville, Maryland, Harper hopes to play a big role in the Blazers’ success this spring. When she was introduced to lacrosse as a fourth grader, Harper instantly fell in love with being a goalkeeper, a position that requires both physical and mental endurance.

ISIAH “IKE” BRITTINGHAM ’25 Men’s Swimming

Shattering records one lap at a time, Isiah “Ike” Brittingham ’25 from Lewes, Delaware, set the pace for the men’s swim team this season. Currently holding two Hood records in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke, Brittingham isn’t finished improving. Before becoming a competitive swimmer, he was a state champion in high school football. Out of the pool, you will find Brittingham busy in the classroom, as he focuses on his major in integrated marketing and communications.

AYLENE NOY ’26

Women’s Cross Country / Track and Field

Aylene Noy ’26 broke the ceiling as the first-ever runner from Hood to have earned a spot on the All-Region team at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship. During the championship meet in November 2023, Noy bested her own school record, running the 6,000-meter course in a time of 22:22.3. Noy compliments Coach Michael Petro and the cross country staff for training her to reach this level of competition so early in her collegiate career. As she transitions from cross country to track and field, she is looking forward to running long-distance races, such as the 5K and 10K.

Hood College is proud to spotlight these amazing student-athletes, who excel on and off the field.

A chance encounter—that is how the relationship between Hood College and The Hodson Trust began nearly 100 years ago.

In the early 1920s, Col. Clarence Hodson and his wife Lillian were driving through western Maryland.

established at its current location (Read more about Hodson’s discovery of Hood on Page 64).

So began Hood’s most impactful philanthropic relationship. In 1936, The Hodson Trust made its first-ever gift to Hood College:

WE TRUST IN HODSON

A Legacy of Giving

They stopped in Frederick, where they happened upon Hood College. The couple had a long-standing interest in higher education, and as they toured the College, President Joseph Henry Apple made a lasting impression with his irrepressible passion for Hood. President Apple was no doubt proud to show off the campus, which had then only recently been

$9,961, more than $150,000 in today’s currency. This legacy of philanthropy culminated in October 2023, with a record-breaking final gift of $54 million—the largest single gift in the College’s history. The best part? One hundred percent of this gift will go toward scholarships for undergraduate Hood students.

Knowing that this gift will benefit students for many years to come, let us reflect on the past, present and future of what Hodson means to Hood.

BY MATT LEE ’15

Excellence in Education for All

Clarence Hodson (1868-1928) is a true American success story. Born in Laurel, Delaware, he was the son of Thomas S. Hodson (1837-1920), a prominent lawyer and politician. Clarence was raised in Crisfield on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and showed an acumen for business early on. At the age of 25, he became the youngest bank president in the

United States, and a few years later was commissioned as a colonel in the Maryland Militia by Governor Lloyd Lowndes.

Col. Hodson was guided by the principles of personal betterment and excellence in education for all. An advocate for legislation to regulate consumer loans, he was instrumental in the passage of

the first Small Loan Law in New Jersey in 1913.

Observing the need for working-class Americans to have access to personal loans with affordable interest rates, Col. Hodson founded the Beneficial Loan Society in 1914. Fourteen years later, the company had expanded from a single location to 200 offices

A look around campus in the 1920s

across the country. In 1970, it was renamed the Beneficial Corporation, a global, multi-billion-dollar powerhouse.

The Hodson family have been proponents of education for generations. Thomas Hodson attended both Yale and Princeton, and he shared his belief in empowerment through education with his son. In 1920, Thomas Hodson founded The Hodson Trust; Col. Hodson provided the assets as a tribute to his father. Since then, the Trust has supported educational programs at four Maryland colleges: Hood College, St. John’s College, Washington College and Johns Hopkins University.

In 1920, Thomas HOdson founded the Hodson Trust. Since then, the Trust has supported educational programs at four Maryland colleges, including Hood college.

During his 40-year career, Col. Hodson served as director of more than 40 banks, insurance companies, trust and mortgage companies, and public utilities. After Col. Hodson’s death in 1928, his wife Lillian Brown Hodson maintained close ties with Hood, becoming a major benefactor of the College. She facilitated the dedication of the Hodson Outdoor Theater (est. 1938) in her husband’s name, and the Lillian Brown Hodson Science Hall (now

After Col. Hodson’s death in 1928, his wife Lillian Brown Hodson maintained close ties with Hood. She facilitated the dedication of the Hodson Outdoor Theater (est. 1938) in her husband’s name, and the Lillian Brown Hodson Science Hall (now the Hodson Science and Technology Center) was named in her honor in 1957.

the Hodson Science and Technology Center) was named in her honor in 1957. She served on the Board of Trustees from 1955 until her death in 1963 and was a tireless champion of Hood for the duration of her life.

After the Beneficial Corporation was sold in 1998, the long-serving trustees of The Hodson Trust remained diligent in their commitment to Col. Hodson’s original mission. To support those who worked at the Beneficial Corporation at the time of its sale, the Trust funded fulltuition scholarships at any of the four beneficiary institutions for children of former Beneficial employees, and many of these descendants have attended Hood. As the trustees continued to invest in

Hood’s endowment annually and fund capital projects on campus, they also acted as advisers and advocates, offering guidance to Hood presidents.

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D., president of Hood College, can attest to the trustees’ knowledge and support. “Through the years,

past presidents to collectively ensure the College’s continued success. I am especially grateful for Eileen Dickey, H’08, a true friend and partner to Hood and me.” In addition to serving as a trustee, Dickey was president of Hodson Services LLC and oversaw the administration and operation of the Trust.

the partnership between the hodson trust and hood has shaped the college in immeasurable ways and touched countless lives.

the Hodson trustees have been willing to listen to Hood leadership share current opportunities and challenges alike,” said Chapdelaine. “They have worked in close partnership with myself and

The partnership between The Hodson Trust and Hood has shaped the College in immeasurable ways and touched countless lives. In total, the Trust has given Hood more than $150 million.

Walking through Hood’s campus, it is impossible to miss the numerous buildings and locations emblazoned with Hodson: the Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons, the Hodson Science and Technology Center, the Hodson Outdoor Theater, the Hodson Auditorium, the Hodson Fitness Center and the Hodson Gallery.

More Than a Name

Yet, the most impactful aspect of The Hodson Trust’s contributions to Hood has come in the form of scholarships. The first Hodson Scholarship was awarded in the 1978-79 academic year, and since

Hodson Scholars Past and Present

L INDA ALLAN ’70, M.S.’78

Linda Allan ’70, M.S.’78, trustee emerita, has watched Hood College evolve for more than half a century, and throughout that time, has made significant contributions to her alma mater. For Allan, giving back is a way of paying it forward, since her success is directly tied to the generosity of the Hodson family.

While growing up in Boston, Allan first heard of Hood from a high school classmate. Intrigued by the College’s science curriculum, Allan asked her mother Jean about potentially applying. As it turned out, Allan was eligible for a competitive scholarship at Hood because her mother was an employee of the Beneficial Corporation. Although she had been accepted to several other colleges in Boston, Allan opted to apply to Hood as well, and after meeting with admission staff and taking a trip to Maryland to visit campus, she received the good news—Allan was one of three students selected to receive a full-tuition scholarship, funded by The Hodson Trust.

“It changed my life,” said Allan. “The experience of going away from home and the ability to interact with students from all over the country was invaluable. I got to visit Europe and tour seven

then, more than 2,000 students have received at least one Hodson Scholarship. These merit-based scholarships are far-reaching. In fall 2023 alone, nearly 20 percent of Hood’s undergraduate students

countries with the Hood choir. None of that would have happened if I’d stayed in Boston.”

Allan earned both a B.A. in biology and an M.S. in human sciences from Hood. She went on to be a pioneer as a woman in STEM, working at Fort Detrick, where she did cutting-edge research on DNA, and later transitioning to the field of information technology. At the time of her retirement, Allan was the executive vice president for corporate development at NCI Information Systems, Inc. She has also served in various capacities on the Hood College Board of Trustees since 1989.

“This final gift from Hodson is transformational,” said Allan. “Hood will be able to give out more scholarship money to more students, which will help retain the best and brightest of the next generation.”

Sue Hecht ’85 (top photo) came to Hood as a non-traditional, adult-learner. A Hodson Scholarship allowed her to pursue a B.A. in management. After graduating, Hecht served as executive director of Heartly House, a Frederick-based nonprofit that offers assistance to survivors of domestic violence. She then began a long career in politics as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1995 to 2003 and later from 2007 to 2011. It is only fitting that Hood College was in the district she represented.

“Receiving the Hodson Scholarship as an adult student was a life-changing event for me. I had not succeeded as a traditional-age college student. I dreamed of returning to school but was afraid of again not succeeding,” said Hecht. “Years later, when I applied to Hood, I was ready to learn and given a second chance. The Hodson Scholarship not only helped me financially, but also was a huge encouragement to succeed. Hodson and Hood invested in my future.”

GARY HUGHES ’88

Gary Hughes ’88 studied business at Hood College. He later earned a master’s in management of aging services from University of Maryland Baltimore County. A U.S. Navy veteran, Hughes credits his Hood education with building his confidence and intellectual curiosity, which he has applied to a career in real estate. He also currently serves as a deacon at Fairlington Presbyterian Church and a volunteer spiritual adviser at Inova Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. Hughes says that without receiving a Hodson-Gilliam Scholarship, he would not have been able to pursue higher education.

“Hood literally and figuratively gave me access to a new world, where I transitioned from seeking credentials to finding myself,” said Hughes. “Hodson Scholarships make attending Hood possible for deserving students and open a future that likely is not even imagined at the time of application.”

Hodson Scholars

Past and Present

were Hodson Scholars. Furthermore, in the last six years, Hodson Scholars have maintained graduation rates of 87 percent—well above the 68 percent national average for private, nonprofit institutions.

“We are committed to providing significant financial support in the form of scholarships, so that all students who wish to attend

Hood can be here and graduate with very little debt,” said President Chapdelaine. “The Hodson Scholarships are key to overcoming financial barriers that often hinder talented students. First and foremost, they promote accessibility to education.”

The Hodson Trust has also funded faculty positions, including the Hodson Trust Professorship

“The Hodson scholarships are key to overcoming financial barriers that often hinder talented students. they promote accessibility to education.”

—President Andrea E. chapdelaine, Ph.D.

in Nursing and the Hodson/ Maryland Endowed Chair in Advanced Bioproducts Research and Education. Nursing is the fastest growing undergraduate program at Hood, while biology is a cornerstone of the College’s popular STEM offerings. Both programs are also vital for workforce development in the region.

Jennifer Cooper, DNP, RN, chair of the nursing department, currently holds the Hodson Trust Professorship in Nursing. She believes that the rapid growth of the nursing program has been partly due to the Trust’s funding.

“This is an investment in nursing education,” said Cooper. “Leadership of this growing program is essential to ensure we are engaging community partners who assist with student learning experiences and that Hood is contributing to the pipeline of the future healthcare workforce.”

Hodson Scholars Past and Present

INDIA DENNIS ’19

For India Dennis ’19, a Hodson Scholarship was the deciding factor in achieving her higher education dreams. A first-generation college student, Dennis was determined to broaden her horizons and study outside of her home state of Delaware, despite knowing it would be more expensive. Receiving a Hodson Scholarship allowed her to do just that.

“Scholarships allowed me to move away from home for the first time and live on campus, giving me more wiggle room to pay for books and other college necessities,” said Dennis. “The Hodson Scholarship allowed me to have the opportunity to choose the school that was best for me, and I believe that is the most important factor in creating access to higher education.”

Currently working as an admission counselor at her alma mater, Dennis has a unique perspective on the role that Hodson Scholarships play in attracting a diverse array of students to Hood. Raising awareness about scholarships is a critical part of recruiting and supporting prospective Hood students.

“The process has always been straightforward and easy to communicate with students and their families,” said Dennis. “Hodson Scholarships attract students who otherwise may not be able to afford the cost of tuition, which can increase enrollment and diversity within the student body.”

“Quality education has an associated cost. Scholarships are vitally important, as they provide access, reduce debt and give students the freedom to immerse themselves in the college experience.”

—Rachel Bagni Beyer '99, Ph.D.

Daehwan Kim, Ph.D., serves as the Hodson/Maryland Endowed Chair in Advanced Bioproducts Research and Education. In this role, Kim spearheads collaborative initiatives with industry, government and academic partners, combining research, education and economic development. With Hood students, he has conducted exciting research projects on alternative energy sources, including biochemical and biofuel production. Kim was also instrumental in developing Hood’s sustainability studies major.

“I try to prepare undergraduate and graduate students with the skills they need for the growing bioeconomy and work with regional partners to bring innovations to biofuels, bioenergy and bioproducts production from the research laboratory to the market,” said Kim.

By alleviating financial constraints, scholarships and professorships allow promising students and faculty to have educational and research opportunities that may have otherwise been unattainable.

Hodson Scholars

Past and Present

RACHEL BAGNI BEYER '99, PH.D.

Rachel Bagni Beyer ’99, Ph.D., was drawn to Hood’s close-knit community and dedicated professors. Ultimately, receiving the Hodson Trust Academic Excellence Scholarship sealed the deal. The Hodson Trust Academic Excellence Scholarship is among the most prestigious honor scholarships available at Hood and is awarded to those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, academic excellence and community involvement.

“My education at Hood set the groundwork for all that came after,” said Beyer. “I didn’t just cover coursework at Hood—I was challenged to critically evaluate and consider information, which are skills I use every day.”

After graduating with a B.A. in biochemistry from Hood, Beyer earned an M.S. from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. from Catholic University. She returned to her alma mater as an assistant professor of biology and served as director of the biomedical science master’s program from 2012 to 2017. Today, she is the head of the vector production facility and quality control clinical products at the National Cancer Institute, where she originally completed an internship as a Hood student.

Beyer is forever grateful, and after her stint as a Hood faculty member, she has an even greater understanding of just how far scholarships can take students.

“Quality education has an associated cost,” said Beyer. “Scholarships are vitally important, as they provide access, reduce debt and give students the freedom to immerse themselves in the college experience.”

RIANA CALDWELL ’25

an enduring legacy

In tandem with benefiting students, The Hodson Trust’s final gift will significantly enhance Hood’s place in private higher education, increasing the College’s endowment by 42 percent! With a greater resource pool, the College will be better able to provide students with financial support and meet emerging needs—improving facilities or starting new degree programs—all of which serve to boost Hood’s visibility in an increasingly competitive educational landscape.

“Endowed gifts are long-term investments that strengthen an institution’s financial stability,” said President Chapdelaine. “This new vantage point will enable the College to increase

investment in its core mission and to better meet unexpected challenges.”

For almost a century, The Hodson Trust and its faithful stewards, the Hodson trustees, contributed to the growth of colleges and universities in Maryland. The Trust’s generosity has enabled the completion of capital projects, such as the Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons. It allowed top-tier professors and department chairs to join Hood’s faculty, like Jennifer Cooper and Daehwan Kim. And in keeping with Col. Hodson’s values, it empowered students to have a choice in their higher education journeys, ensuring excellence in education for all.

The Hodson Trust’s final gift will [allow] the College to be better able to provide students with financial support and meet emerging needs—improving facilities or starting new degree programs.

Hood students sign thank you cards for The Hodson Trust during a campus celebration in October 2023.

hood Scholarships drive the development of skilled, knowledgeable professionals and allow Hood's academic programs to align with the workforce demands of today and tomorrow.

Hodson Scholars

Past and Present

RIANA CALDWELL ’25

Riana Caldwell ’25, an honors student and biology major, received both the Hodson Trust Academic Excellence Scholarship and Hodson-Gilliam Scholarship, which is reserved for students from underrepresented populations. She chose Hood based on the small class sizes and the stellar faculty support. She plans to pursue a career in veterinary medicine after graduation.

“Receiving Hodson Scholarships has allowed me to have peace of mind while pursuing my studies and extracurricular affairs. I’m able to enjoy campus life to the fullest thanks to their financial support,” said Caldwell. “Scholarships are important for increasing accessibility to higher education, since they allow students of various backgrounds to further their education based on merit and not financial status.”

SIMEON WALLER ’27

A communication arts major and aspiring filmmaker, Simeon Waller ’27 is an honors student and Hodson Scholar. The support of scholarships has allowed him to focus on his dreams and aspirations, rather than debt. For Waller, every dollar that goes toward scholarships allows students like him to achieve their goals and actualize their dreams.

“If you had asked me four months ago about my purpose in life, I’d have had no answer, but my short time at Hood has shown my calling,” said Waller. “When I received the Hodson Scholarship, it furthered my want to embrace every opportunity offered in higher education.”

Providing equitable access to education is one of the best ways to foster diversity and inclusivity on campus and beyond. When underrepresented students excel at places like Hood College, the broader workforce is equally enriched. In this way, Hodson Scholarships drive the development of skilled, knowledgeable professionals and allow Hood’s academic programs to align with the workforce demands of today and tomorrow.

Although The Hodson Trust has formally dissolved as of 2023, its impact on students is far from over. “We know that higher education is a game changer for students, that access to a college degree ensures many positive outcomes after graduation,” said President Chapdelaine. “By designating these funds exclusively for scholarships, the Hodson trustees will help us meet the financial needs of all students of promise. This final gift is a testament to the incalculable legacy of The Hodson Trust at Hood College and one that will last in perpetuity.”

hodson scholarship

1978-79 FIRST NAMED HODSON SCHOLARSHIP

253 HODSON SCHOLARS

1,209 TOTAL FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (FALL 2023)

THE CURRENT POPULATION OF HOOD’S HODSON SCHOLARS

68% 65% 47% FEMALE NON-WHITE ADDITIONALLY FUNDED*

*

2,324

HODSON SCHOLARSHIPS RECEIVED SINCE FIRST NAMED SCHOLARSHIP

23% fast facts

OF HODSON SCHOLARS ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS.

GRADUATION RATES

Over the last six years, 87 percent of Hood’s Hodson Scholars have graduated in four years or less, 19 percent greater than the 68 percent graduation rate of peer institutions.

the hodson name on hood's campus

1957: The Lillian Brown Hodson Science Hall was built. In 2002, an addition was built, and the building was renamed the Hodson Science and Technology Center.

1966: The Hodson Gallery in Tatem Arts Center was dedicated.

1938: President Henry Stahr (left) and Lillian Brown Hodson with guests at the opening of the Hodson Outdoor Theater.

1938: The Hodson Memorial and the Hodson Outdoor Theater were constructed near the historic Williams Observatory.

1938

1957

1966

1992: The Beneficial-Hodson Library and Information Technology Center was built. Following the 2019 renovation, it was renamed the BeneficialHodson Library and Learning Commons.

2008: Hodson Auditorium was named and refurbished in Rosenstock Hall.

The

2017: The Hodson/ Maryland Endowed Chair in Advanced Bioproducts Research and Education was established.

2011: The Hodson Fitness Center in the Volpe Athletic Center was dedicated.

2009:

Hodson Trust Professorship in Nursing was established.

HOOD PROUD hood

homecoming and fall family weekend 2023

IT WAS “A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD” AT THE 2023 HOMECOMING AND FALL FAMILY WEEKEND, AS WE WELCOMED ALUMNI, PARENTS AND NEIGHBORS TO CELEBRATE THE SUCCESS OF FORGING THE FUTURE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR HOOD COLLEGE.

Friday started the weekend with the 2023 Summer Research Showcase, hosted by the Board of Associates and the Businesses for Hood Committee. Students and faculty presented on a variety of academic topics, ranging from the causal relationship between sleep apnea and

diabetes to archaeological excavations in Turkey to the comparison of immigration practices between France and the United States. To say that we as a community were #HoodProud is an understatement.

Saturday morning, President Andrea Chapdelaine and husband Dave Tetreault treated Hood’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC) to breakfast at East Cottage. PAC members enjoyed the comradery of discussing their shared experiences as Hood parents and welcomed the opportunity to meet with administrative leadership.

The residential quadrangle was the scene of a big “Party in the NeighborHOOD!” After a confetti-filled campaign announcement, alumni, students, parents and neighbors spent the day getting their caricatures done, battling it out in the inflatable arena and cheering on our Blazers, as they competed in tennis, field hockey and soccer. Hood alumni stretched a few muscles playing lacrosse, field hockey, baseball and softball—no injuries were reported.

Sunday brought more alumni to campus, as we inducted four former Blazers into the Athletic Hall of Fame: Julia Flynn ’80, B.S.’81; Ryan Junghans ’09; Alexandra Dystant ’15; and Drew Demich ’17. It was truly heartwarming to see the pride exhibited by former coaches and parents and to hear the gratitude for the support they received expressed by our newest hall of fame members.

Last but certainly not least, it wouldn’t be Fall Family Weekend without the annual Hood Scavenger Hunt. Congratulations to Kate Weir ’26 and her parents, PAC members Jack and Marian Weir, for completing the entire hunt!

Hello from Alumnae House!

It’s been nearly five years since I returned to Hood, and I am eager to welcome the 4’s and 9’s back for Reunion 2024. Time has truly flown by, which reminds me of the importance of taking every opportunity and every chance to reunite with our Hood friends.

As you have read throughout these pages, the campus is celebrating all things Hodson. The Hodson name can be found across campus—the Hodson Science and Technology Center, Hodson Outdoor Theater, Hodson Scholars and so much more. The most recent gift is restricted exclusively to scholarships, and through the generosity of the Trust, we are able to recruit and reward amazing students with financial support. Please refer every high school student you know to Hood, where we can guarantee them an outstanding education on an amazing campus.

Many of you answered the question we posed on Facebook, “What do you think of when you hear the name Hodson?” The variety of responses from generation to generation certainly tells a tale of Hood’s history and the impact the Hodson family has made at Hood. For me, it’s the Hodson Outdoor Theater: Spring Parties Sundays spent relaxing and listening to music, my graduation day when I did NOT want to leave my Hood, my home, and have to be a “grown-up.” Even now when I walk past the Theater, I think of the fond memories that were made on that gently sloping, grassy hill and am inspired to do whatever I can to make sure that future generations of Hood students get to create their own collection of Hood “memoirs.”

May your Hood memories inspire you to give back and come Home to Hood,

Kellye A. Greenwald ’86 Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement

The Hodson Memorial plaque reads: “The Hodson Theater, a memorial to Colonel Clarence Hodson, patron of the arts and friend of youth. ‘In each man there lies something greater than any hazard. Believe in that something and accomplish greatness.’ 1938.”

CLASS NEWS

REMINISCE, UPDATE AND RECONNECT

1953

Johanna Chait Essex alumoffice@hood.edu

Pat Lloyd Fordham lives in the small town of Pratt, KS, and feels fortunate being in such a pleasant community. She goes back to NV every three or four months to visit friends, and she speaks to Marge Aronson Dalmas every month. Sheila Asher’s big news is that her granddaughter is expecting; this will be Sheila’s first great-grandchild. My (Johanna Chait Essex ) news: Hal and I are fine. We’re staying indoors due to the bitterly cold weather, so I’ve been doing a lot of reading, including the new Mitch Album book “The Little Liar.” He came to my daughter’s synagogue and gave a talk about the book and a reading; it was a fascinating evening. Hopefully, the weather will warm up a bit, and we will be able to go out walking—great exercise for both of us.

1954

Jean Baker Weikert alumoffice@hood.edu

Jean McCarty Bowen is living in Adamstown, MD, and in physical therapy after a fall. She’s grateful for daughters living nearby and looking forward to her granddaughter’s wedding. Sue Clement Christie and Ed reply from Mesa, AZ. Ed is 94 and Sue is 91. Their children still visit as often as possible. Catherine has two sons, Alex and Connor; Beth lives in Chicago and has two boxers; Patty, who’s still working for school, has two dogs and two cats; and lastly, Ted works for GEO and has two girls in college and a new puppy. Barbara Coleman writes from Oceanside, CA, sharing memories of her Baltimore-based TV show “Here’s Barbara.” There was news recently of Henry Kissinger’s passing; Henry had been dating her best friend while negotiating the SALT agreement with Romania. Carol Channing often sang for them at the home of the “hostess with the mostess.” Marilyn Walters Corey lives in Northville, NY, and says that, at 90, she’s still doing the same things she was doing at 89! She’s going to visit three children in the south in Jan. and has a new “really adorable” great-granddaughter named after her. Thalia Males Cutt in Concord, CA, enjoyed a phone conversation with Sue Clement

Christie. Thalia’s doing well and enjoys her large family. Betty Remsberg DeColigney’s son John visits regularly from Hagerstown, MD; he’s been contending with squirrels invading his log cabin. Betty still lives at Homewood in Hanover, PA, and dotes on triplet granddaughters. Granddaughter Cindy and husband Christopher became proud parents of twin girls last Aug., Natalie and Josie Grace, adding to a happy family with two sons, ages 6 and 2. Cindy homeschools. Betty sent a copy of the Frederick News-Post, noting the proposed destruction of Strawn Cottage. I, Jean Baker Weikert , have fond memories of Strawn, in which I lived the first semester of my senior year with other home economics majors and our house mentor Professor Irene Pistachio. We served a nice dinner every Thursday at Strawn. Carol Schwarz Fitch tells of dealing with COVID variants: “Life is good. Take nothing for granted.” She and Daniel have three granddaughters in college as first-years at the University of Richmond and Bates College. Carol continues to cherish her Hood education as a springboard for her lifelong interests in music, art, literature and history. She mentions that we did not have to deal with the importance of STEM in the fifties. Marilyn Odgen Heath, still in Venice, FL, tells of her husband Al’s passing last Oct. They had been married 70 years. Most of their extended family were able to attend his celebration of life. Marilyn feels blessed to have a supportive family. Bonnie Baird Mitchell-Hurwitz writes of having eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Diane Matthews Garman has 25 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. She believes strengthening children keeps her active. Janet Marra is in Waynesville, NC, and likes hearing from classmates: “Getting old isn’t for the fainthearted, but it happens. It helps to keep a sense of humor!” She and Rita have decided to stay in their home instead of moving to assisted living. They have joined the Methodist church, have made new friends and keep busy. Back to me, Jean Baker Weikert : Mark and I feel blessed with family, who help us in many ways. We’ve been dealing with some medical issues this year. Our grandsons are doing interesting things: Sean’s attending Pitt Law; David’s out of the service and got a great opportunity with Boeing; and Nick’s almost finished with his film education in Cleveland. Mark and I enjoyed a bus trip to Sight & Sound to see the “Miracle of Christmas.”

1957

Martha “Molly” Smith Sperandio mollymom76@gmail.com

Eugenie Krauss Wikberg says, “After selling my apartment buildings on Fort Lauderdale Beach, I thought I would retire, but the opportunity arrived to purchase more real estate. I still live in Fort Lauderdale. I have three adult children, all in real estate, insurance and property management, and all happily married. I have one adult grandchild. I’m single, able, active and don’t look my age (a real blessing most times). To summarize my life as of today: I have been blessed.” Eugenia Smith Durland says, “We are walking every day and keeping busy with a variety of things, mainly projects of our Quaker meeting. One of several granddaughters graduated from American University Law School in May and passed the bar on her first try. Another is working on her master’s in nutrition and was tapped to spend a month in Tanzania working on village nutrition projects. A third granddaughter, who finished medical school three years ago, is just finishing her OB/GYN residency. One grandson is an executive chef at a high-end Denver restaurant, and the other has developed his own construction company. Our children are approaching retirement age or have already retired.” Carolyn Stevens Amstutz says, “My eyesight is no better, but at least I can dictate into my iPad and respond to emails. I had a wonderful trip to England for Christmas. My daughter and her family live in Sevenoaks, Kent, about 45 minutes from London. We were able to stay with her family and had a great time. My biggest fear was falling and ruining everybody’s trip, but I managed to stay upright.” Audrey Goetz Swart says, “Four years ago, we moved from a lake community near Greenville, SC, to a senior community near one of our daughters. My husband Sam passed away in March 2022 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. I have four daughters; all but the youngest are married with children. I am blessed with seven grandchildren and six great-grands. I am also blessed with good health, so I am on the go: church jobs, traveling, golf and several duties here at home. Barbara Thomas Yinger says, “Bob and I enjoy living in the Frederick area, but we don’t get to many events because of losing eye-sight due to Glaucoma; night glare makes

driving after dark difficult. We didn’t get to our annual family Christmas gathering because of that. I can advise anyone thinking about moving to a retirement community to do it now while you can make friends and familiarize yourself with the territory. One of my favorite places in Frederick is the historical society called Frederick Heritage. I’ve supplied family possessions for two exhibits so far, both with connections to Hood. One exhibit will be on women artists of Frederick, which will include info and items by three Hood art instructors, including my mother. Bob and I attended part of the reception for the completion of the Forging the Future campaign. I had a chance again to chat with Mary Jane Harkness Nace’s daughter Cathy Nace ’80, who is on Hood’s Board of Trustees. Recent news in the local paper lists the death of Barbara Weaver Batdorf.” Nancy Paul Stimson says, “I went to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving and was able to meet my fourth great-grandchild, third boy. Christmas was spent with my son and his family. Winter weather keeps me inside; I don’t want to fall! I still play bridge, read and count money at church; I drive in the daytime, but not at night.” Molly Smith Sperandio says, “I am blessed that I still can drive to and participate in volunteer functions. Unfortunately, I attend more celebrations of life than weddings or birthday parties, but life goes on. Visits from grands are few and far between, since all live out of state, but I am looking forward to visiting San Diego, CA, in Feb., when the first of my grandchildren will be getting married. It will be fun to visit with extended family members.”

1958

Marylin Garis Kellow maggiehood1958@gmail.com

Joan “Jeb” Bennett Moran provided news about several classmates. Sadly, she reports news from Don MacNeill, husband of Carol Jumblatt MacNeill, that Carol passed away in Sept. Carol transferred to Hood from CA as a junior when she became engaged to Don, who was a midshipman. Jeb is in touch periodically with Joan “Tigger” Clark Mills Carol Huelson Warrington and husband Bob have become full-time FL residents at SeaSide Springs in Nokomis. She extends prayers and sympathy to Sara Lea Callaway Redmon in the accidental death of her son Lea. These sympathetic feelings are from all classmates to Sara Lea. Jeb attended the 2023 reunion alumni luncheon with Joan Enterline, Elly Baumgart Ritchie and Ruth Wood Weaver Jeb says, “Sara Lea and Joan did all the work for our class and deserve all the credit for a job well done.” Jeb has set a personal record of six round-trip air flights in 2023. Two were to MD to

say goodbye to her sister Vivian. Shortly after, she mourned the passing of her 91-year-old brother Bob. Jeb returned to the family in Nov., when granddaughter Meghan got married in NY. Daughter Karen was her escort. The year ended happily with Thanksgiving feasting and Christmas fun at her son Mike’s home in Alpharetta, GA. Anne “Ricky” Merrick Vosti’s life is filled with a large family, which now includes five great-grandchildren. Fortunately, they all seem to like visiting grandma, so her house is constantly being utilized for therapy, hugs, food and advice. Anne’s best friend will be 108 next Feb. and is a constant role model of energy, kindness and curiosity, which keeps Ricky attempting to live that same way. Jean Witherington is back to traveling again. Last year, it was to Iceland and Egypt. Next year, it will be South Korea and Japan. In Dec., she attended her granddaughter’s wedding in Orlando. Jean still sings in the CFC Arts Chorus and is part of the Narrators Group. They just had their big performance at the Maitland Art Museum. I, Marylin Garis Kellow, received news that my brother-in-law Al Transue passed away. He was father to my niece Susan Transue Hoge ’76. Al was a terrific man and always enjoyed the Father/Daughter Weekends at Hood. I will be headed from WI to PA in the next few days for his funeral service. On a happier note, I would like to share that, in Dec., I was notified by the VA that I will be receiving benefits from the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. My husband was stationed there during that time and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 49; he suffered for more than 30 years. Once again, I want to thank those who responded to my request for news. Prayers for happiness and contentment in 2024.

1959

Anne Wilson Heuisler aheuisler@comcast.net

Eleanor Brown Wheeler and Phil share their house happily with son Jamie and his wife Sabrina. Eleanor is now reorganizing and writing up some family history: “The writing is a bit of a moving target as I discover new information. I do enjoy the research.” Tarun Comegys Johns had surgery on both feet last fall and is recovering well. She enjoyed a weekend with granddaughter Tarun and her husband in Delta, British Columbia, and a cruise on Puget Sound with her cousin. In 2024, she expects three more great-grandchildren and two weddings. Nancy Curran Crowley is active in parish activities and plays a monthly game of Bunco. The Crowleys’ 28th anniversary was in March. Her family continues to grow as grandchildren now get married and have children. Nancy is grateful for all her life experiences, both good and bad. Mary

Anne Guild Simmons has enjoyed her garden club for 53 years. President Truxal once told her, “Frederick is good to old people.” She hopes to see many of us at our 65th reunion. Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee is still recovering from her fall a year ago but is back to taking walks. She has a grandson living in Frederick. Edith “Edee” Howard Hogan is enjoying living at Ginger Cove in Annapolis. She traveled with Carol Wick Ericksen down the Danube from Prague to Budapest with a stop at Vienna, a favorite city. She spent Thanksgiving with her daughter Chrysti Hogan ’86 in Memphis, TN. Carol Wick Erickson writes, “Another fun golf season now over. I broke 100 once. Always a goal.” Carol enjoyed two weeks in Costa Rica in Feb. Marcia King Wilke died in Sept. 2022. She was living at Wheatland Village Retirement Community in Walla Walla, WA. After Hood, Marcia earned a master’s in music. Her life centered on service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walla Walla. She worked as the youth choir director and organist. Marcia was preceded in death by her husband Norm and son Christopher. She remained a fervent supporter of Hood all her life. Anne Montesano Ellis’s old cat Patch died last summer. Anne visited the Rochester Humane Society the very next week and brought home fluffy gray and white Susie. Anne was very ill in Oct. and was just getting her energy back at Christmas. Judy Moreland Granger had knee surgery in Feb. Judy and Bob became great-grandparents in Sept. with the arrival of Juniper. Their family is multiplying rapidly. The Grangers attended the SMU/Navy game in Dallas with friends Don and Karen Nordberg Sanders ’60 : “The game was dreadful.” Rachel Ravey Johnson enjoyed a gorgeous White Christmas in Canada. She reported major ups and downs in 2023: illness, worries and losing family members, but also fun with swimming, kayaking, hiking and travel. She and her husband “pray for the beautiful earth and all the entities that depend on it, as it is suffering at our hands.” Sonya Solosko Baum died at 84 in Juno Beach, FL, in May 2023. After graduating from Hood with a B.A. in English and political science, she earned a B.S.R.N. from Columbia University. Her long career included managing nursing education departments and instructing students in university nursing programs. Sonya will be remembered as a caring person who spoke up for social justice. Her funeral arrangements were the care of the Neptune Society, with interment at sea. Carolynne Veazey Lathrop said she feels somewhat isolated these days because American Airlines, Dubuque’s one transportation link with the outside world, quit flying to and from Dubuque. Her son Nathaniel accompanied her back from two weeks in Boston to celebrate Christmas and the New Year together. Della Wilson

Holtzapple says, “My Yamaha has taken over for church organs very nicely. I Zoom a weekly recital to my WV family, and my ancient sewing machine provides me with all the challenge I need to hasten my quilts for friends before they don’t need them anymore.”

1960

Sally Fletcher Murray murraysfm@comcast.net

Judy Arndt lives on Orrs Island, ME, with a dog and four goats. Her diverse interests and skills include mushroom foraging, mycelium cultivation, building and photography, with a focus on cows. Her 2023 book “Crown Thy Good: Across America by Bicycle 1986” is on Amazon. Gretchen Beckhelm writes from Cedar Rapids, IA: “After a diagnosis of incurable lung cancer last summer, I’m doing well. Radiation treatments eliminated the cancer cells, and periodic CT scans will continue to track my progress. I’m feeling well and am helped along by my little Heidi, a black cat with white paws, a white bib and white bikini.” Barbara Nagle Creager lives in Hagerstown and says, “I keep busy since Milt’s death last year, but it’s hard not to feel at loose ends. My four daughters and their families have been a great help. I attend Literacy Council meetings, and I belong to a caregiver’s group at church. Elinor “Poppy” Herndon McCarty and I keep in touch regularly.” Grace Elliott is in Silver Spring, MD, and writes, “My favorite activity is jumping in the pool with friends. It keeps me limber and active as well as social.”

Mary Ann Brush Gearinger says, “The greatgrandchildren keep on coming. I have lived in the same house in Frederick since 1972. So many changes have occurred over the years to our beautiful city and on Hood’s campus. I keep busy singing in several musical groups and exercise three times a week.” Pat Crowl Johnson writes from Norton Shores, MI: “Sadly, my husband died early Nov. from Parkinson’s disease. There is much we are grateful for; 61 years together with an amazing family. No regrets! I do have good news: my grandson’s wedding, two book groups, amazing, supportive friends, etc. Looking forward to another grandson’s wedding this year and accompanying my granddaughter to London, where her parents will be teaching abroad. We will visit Ireland on our return.” Marty Evans Marcello says, “Still in North Conway, NH. I enjoy rock climbing, but my main activity for the past three years has been my presidency of the Fryeburg Historical Society in ME. The society collaborated with a local historian to write an updated history of Fryeburg, the town where my ancestor John Evans was one of the original seven families who settled there in 1763. ‘Fryeburg, Maine, An Illustrated

History’ is a 400-page visual journey (learn more at fryeburghistorical.org).” Barbi Olsh lives in Westminster, MD, and writes, “Among my diversions are reading, gardening, photography, my nieces and nephews, and pups. Having lost my black lab Alice suddenly to hemangiosarcoma months ago, I was recently gifted with another black lab, Tinley (Tin Lizzie), who retired from showing and motherhood. I have a new focus on another one of my favorite creatures and favorite activities with them, rally and nose work, which also gives me a crew of great human friends.” Maryann Whitehead Scherzo is on Mercer Island, WA, and says, “John and I continue to live in the same house for 44 years, which our real estate agent, Pam Skells Ladley, found for us. Singing at Hood is one of my best memories. I have a dogwood that blooms outside my office window to which I sing every spring, ‘The dogwood blooms by Brodbeck, songs sung in frosty air.’ The closeness of Hood’lums that has lasted for a lifetime is exceptional.” Judy Hodges Weaver and John moved in Dec. from their home in NJ to Powell, OH, just a block from their daughter. Judy has joined a book club and plans to get more involved in the community once winter has passed. Anne Kurka Woods reports from Pittsford, NY: “What I value most from my Hood years is the lifelong friendships. Over the years, several of my Hood ‘sisters’ held mini reunions at my home in NY and in many other states. Wonderful memories.” In Warrenton, VA, I, Sally Fletcher Murray, live with my dog Juno. My children and grandchildren live in five distant states, but with today’s communication not limited to a single pay phone in the lobby of the dorm, it is not difficult to stay closely connected. Be well!

In 10 words or less… “What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the name ‘Hodson’?”

Gratitude for my BeneficialHodson Scholarship!

—Meg Lee ’96

grandchildren. Lynne Linzey Barnes and her husband still live in IL, but all her children have moved away to MO, IN and MI. Lynne and her husband enjoy visiting them. Lynne has had some health problems but hopes they will not affect her summer tennis games. She and her husband spent past winters in FL, but the owners sold the condo they rented. Nancy Brown Braudrick spent Christmas with her son and his family and had a very good time. Things are looking hopeful for her son-in-law after his cell infusion. She hopes 2024 is an improvement over 2023 for all of us. Estelle Harrison Brendle retired in Dec. 2022 after working 25 years as an administrative assistant for a philanthropist. Estelle had COVID in May. She is still experiencing long-term effects. Otherwise, she is in great spirits and good health. Sally Bennett Edwards goes to Cape Cod for several months in the summer, where she, her husband, their five children and nine grandchildren have family get-togethers. Sally visited her daughter in CA the week before Christmas and plans to take her whole family for a week in Bermuda this coming summer to celebrate her 85th birthday. Anne Bierstein Grenfell’s life has changed in challenging ways, due to a hip replacement in 2022 resulting in a paralyzed foot nerve. She is still teaching with her county’s Home and Hospital program and writing for her condo newsletter. She enjoys reading and crocheting and stays involved with her family. She belongs to the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment organization, which offers health, healing and expanding awareness. Vivi Bruckel Harvey will be going to Guatemala again this winter for four months. She will not be leading any group trips, but if anyone is looking for some immersion in Mayan culture during a visit of their own, she would love to show you around. Her email is vivianharvey43221@gmail.com.

1961

Martha Kaiser Canner plcanner39@gmail.com

Katharine Baum Wolpe kwolpe@gmail.com

After working 70 years as a music educator and providing music ministry in various churches, Ann Coleman Alexander is now retired. She is enjoying family and friends, especially her six

Katherine “Kit” Compton Long lives in CA and enjoys being part of the local American Dahlia Society. She also has a small summer and winter garden of vegetables for herself and to share. She guesses the biggest change in her life as she grows older is that the circle of close friends grows smaller and smaller. Her motto is, “Find something to give you pleasure every day.” Dorothy Willis Rainwater was sorry to learn of the death of her first-year roommate Mary Ann Fleetwood. Dorothy and “Fleetsy May” had a great time. Mary Ann passed away in June 2023. We send our condolences to Mary Ann’s family. Dorothy and her husband Roger are well, and their grandson is a first-year at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Their granddaughter is a high school junior and may become a Hood legacy. Dorothy is happy to see Hood with an outstanding nursing program. Beverly Yarroll Sweetman and her husband Don live in Cape May Point, NJ, most of the year

CLASS NEWS

but visit their cabin in VT for the holidays. She and Don enjoy the cold and snow but no longer ski. She now has two great-grandchildren.

Barbara Hufham Wells had a wonderful visit with Ann Corderman Helton in early Sept. Ann and Barbara became best friends when they first met as table girls and kept in touch through the 90’s. They didn’t reconnect until 2022, at which time they continued talking as they always did. Katharine Baum Wolpe continues to enjoy attending events with her friend Philip. She and Philip also participate by Zoom in a monthly Israel-Palestine reading group. She enjoys meetings with her local Democratic club, singing in her church choir and working on health-related issues. In late Sept., her brother George fell off a ladder while working on his home’s second floor. He broke his back and has been in hospital and rehab for several months. George and wife Julie are now staying with his son Ryan in San Jose, CA. Katharine spent Thanksgiving with her sister Ginny and family near Annapolis and hopes to visit George and Julie in CA in late Jan.

1962

Linda MacDonough Morrow lmorrow@psu.edu

Susan Shinnick Hossfeld had a very busy 2023, which included a late summer vacation to Newfoundland: “It was our first trip out of the country after the COVID era. It was a wonderful trip; we loved the friendly people, the small fishing villages, the history, the mountains, lakes, lobsters and uncrowded scenic roads. Our grandchildren are rapidly growing, with Elizabeth applying to colleges and Jason returning to his studies. We are looking forward to two of Carl’s ski trips this winter, one to Bend, OR, at Mt. Bachelor, and another trip to Snowmass, CO.” We are so thankful for Linda MacDonough Morrow and Rev. Sara Zimmerman for most recently having been 1962 class reporters. If anyone is able and willing to step into their shoes and take up the mantle moving forward, please email the Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement at alumoffice@hood.edu.

1963

Dorothy Snyder Engle dengle3699@aol.com

Eek! First of all, an error in the fall column. No reunion in 2024, as Robin and I will be on our way to France for our birthday trip, but let’s try for 2025. I got a nice surprise email from Marcia Kerr Quill’s widower Jerry telling me they would have been married 60 years on Nov. 30, 2023. Jerry and their children Kevin and Shannon and grandchildren still carry her memory close in their hearts, as many of us do. Sue Olpp

Remsberg and daughter Stephanie Allen drove to MD for the Poole-Remsberg family reunion, planted a tree in Bob’s memory and mixed some cremains in the soil where he grew up, “bringing him back home, so to speak.” She had dinner with Bobby Campbell Rickman, who is as busy as ever at Homewood. One granddaughter is about to graduate from Goucher, and the other is a high school sophomore in GA. Jo Cissel Doyle helped start a lifelong learning program 10 years ago and takes several classes herself each semester. She says the most important activities are walking with three friends every day and afternoon exercise in the gym. She looks forward to visits from her son, who lives in TX, and her daughter in VA. Sue Oster Robinson says she is finally starting to recover from her husband Dave’s passing in Sept. and is getting back to painting, knitting, crocheting and eating with friends. Our condolences, Sue. You must check out the website of Marilyn Monson Baldi (www.imagerybymarilyn.com). She has won too many photography awards to mention. Unfortunately, a broken ankle brought her down, and she has not been able to travel or take photos. She thinks all the titanium in her body is more valuable than a catalytic converter. Kathie Anderson Houchens and Dave traveled to MD in June, VT in July and Dallas in Aug. Kathie got a new hip in the fall and was visited by her children, who helped her recover. Kathie is job-sharing an organist position at a local church. Her hip replacement went so well that she is ready for another replacement next year. Cindy Klopp Butler enjoyed spending the reunion week with Brenda Eklund Pearson at Dottie’s house. She enjoyed visits from her daughter, who lives in San Francisco, and her Saskatchewan-based professor son. In Sept., she and Keith enjoyed a week in Halifax. Amie Godman Tannenbaum said her highlights of 2023 were the Hood-sponsored trip she took with husband Don and daughter Ellyn to Egypt and the 60th Hood reunion porch party. Amie is going to be funding the Godman Prize in French at Hood now rather than waiting until she is dead, so she can meet some of the recipients. She is going to meet up with Dottie for lunch in Middletown soon. Sue Coulton Gibbons drove down from Boston to Salisbury, MD, so she could bring Jo Cissel Doyle to the Hood reunion. Then she went on a 4,500-mile trip with a friend traveling through the south to New Orleans and back. They were fueled by ice cream and Starbucks. On a trip back home, she had a flat on the Garden Park Expressway. A repairman came and installed her “doughnut” spare, which can only be driven short distances at low speeds. Some took offense at a little old lady driving 40 miles per hour, holding up traffic. Give them the finger, Sue! In June, Piret Magi ’12 paid a visit to Dottie, who had become

friends with Piret when seeking a donation to Hood. Gail Kloblen Spertzel is off on a sixmonth-cruise from Jan. until May. One grandson, a pilot, is signing with Southwest Airlines, and the other is joining the Israeli Army. He is Jewish and has been to Israel many times. He will be inducted in Jan. 2024. Needless to say, Gail is fearful. As for me, Dottie Engle, I am traveling as much as money will allow. Robin and I went on the Great Lakes cruise, and I came back with COVID and then developed low sodium, ending up in the hospital for a week. In Feb., if my leg and back cooperate, we will be going to Australia and New Zealand, and in June, we will be going to northern France for our birthdays. Here’s to new adventures, good health and happiness for us all in 2024.

1964

Barbara Maly Fish barb2fish@yahoo.com

Pat Finan Tibbetts describes herself as living in “an old folks community,” also known as a continuing care retirement community, in Milwaukee, WI, and there is another Hood alumna living there, Anne Swainbank Brooks ’68, who left early to get married. Pat’s passion is space exploration, and she has given three lectures on the subject to her community, one on the Hubble Space Telescope, one on women astrophysicists and one on the origins of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Health issues will keep her from our 60th reunion. Mike and Flo Sechler Miller have put their names on a list for a CCRC, Crosslands, which is near Longwood Gardens, where they already have friends. In preparation for the move, the Millers have now begun to downsize. A series of illnesses has kept Flo and Mike from pursuing their lifelong passion for hiking, though she is rebuilding her strength on easier trails and hopes that he will join her soon. Flo has started a blog about their decades-long adventures on mountain trails (www.flohikingadventure. wordpress.com). They enjoy regular trips to NC to visit family and “celebrate the accomplishments of our four wonderful granddaughters.” Sandy Borrelli Ricci also lives in a CCRC, Riderwood in Silver Spring, MD, which she describes as “very much like living on campus. The staff and other residents are friendly and helpful, and there are opportunities to participate in a wide variety of activities.” Sandy is happy to live only 30 minutes away from both of her children, Daniela in D.C. and Matteo in Severna Park. She gets together with their families more regularly now. She writes, “Although the move has been life changing, I feel that I am happier and healthier than I can remember in many years.” Kate Jenks Powell writes, “Due to the exigencies of

aging, my mobility has been somewhat affected. After fully retiring seven years ago, I had every good intention of finally bringing order to my closets and cabinets—in short, my house.” Having accomplished only about one percent of those tasks, Kate instead enjoys visiting her children and their families. Daughter Becky lives with her husband Matt and daughter Katie (16) near Reading, PA; son Bill lives near Frederick with his wife Jen and sons Liam (13) and Henry (9). Katie looks forward to seeing classmates at our 60th reunion. JoAnn Risser Moroz reports that Las Vegas has recovered from COVID and is preparing for Super Bowl LVIII. She and husband Pete were glad to have all three grandkids home for Christmas. Blessed with good health, JoAnn and Pete traveled to the Netherlands and Belgium in 2023 and made a trip to Southeast Asia in Aug. and Sept., visiting Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and cruising the Mekong River. In Las Vegas, they volunteer at a food pantry, walk with their walking club and birdwatch every day. A grandson’s graduation will prevent JoAnn from coming to our reunion. Katharine “Kathie” Tatem Brody and husband Hal recently took an elegant three-week trip on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship through the Panama Canal. They boarded in Miami, went through the canal and visited Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico before disembarking in Los Angeles. Katharine highly recommends it as “the trip of a lifetime.” Katharine and Hal have four grandsons, who are making their grandparents proud. Another proud grandma is Sally Erb Soisson, whose granddaughter Abby will graduate in June from the University of Tennessee, where she completed her coursework in three years. Abby already has a job lined up in the field of logistics, like her father and grandfather. Her parents Steven and Melanie live in Perry, GA, but would like to return to Germany, where they lived for six years. Sally’s other son Michael lives in FL but plans to retire to SC after daughter Maddie (16), Sally’s youngest grandchild, graduates from high school. Sally enjoys playing bridge and quilting. Darlene “Cookie” Johnson Bolig also loves to play bridge with her American Contract Bridge League partner and is trying to earn points for the master’s level. She and husband John enjoy regular visits to Key West, FL, and NYC. Cookie especially enjoys the theater in NYC. The Boligs own five cats, ranging in age from 18 to eight months, most of whom were adopted as strays and all of whom need much loving attention.

1965

Emily R. Kirby erkilby44@gmail.com

Jamie Barr Gartelmann writes from northern NJ: “Peter and I keep reminding ourselves that

we are 80 and should be resting on our laurels at this point. We’re thankful that we’re able to mostly keep up with the activities we enjoy, although it’s harder to keep the weeds at bay in the garden. We still travel to NC, especially in the winter, and enjoy golfing, walking and reading on the beach. Two sons and their wives live nearby and help with the wintertime tree cutting, as the ash borer has wreaked havoc on Schooley’s Mountain, and we sell and burn firewood on the farm. The grands are mostly grown, so we don’t see them as often anymore, but we had a super time at Barnegat on Long Beach Island last summer. A couple have significant others, and we hope to be there for the next stage of their journey. Cora, our eldest, is captain of Rutgers Equestrian Team, and I’ve enjoyed some of her shows.” Sympathies go out to Katherine Cribbs Tromble upon the death of her husband Bert in July 2023. They had begun dating when Kathie was at Hood and Bert was stationed at Fort Detrick; they married soon after her graduation. Kathie remains home in Finksburg, MD, where her local family helps her adjust to living with that loss. Deborah Demmy Thomas claims that she leads a mundane life in Altoona, PA, but working as a full-time school nurse until just last year seems more remarkable than mundane. Retirement ended Deb’s 40-year career as a registered nurse, first in the public school system, then at the Grier School, a private boarding and day school in Tyrone, PA. The beautiful campus and all-female student body reminded Deb of the Hood of yore and the many great memories of our time there. “I did not really want to retire,” Deb writes, “but decided that I did not want to become the oldest registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” In 2023, she and husband Gary traveled to visit daughter Jean and her husband in Guatemala, where Jean is chief of the nonimmigrant visa section at the U.S. embassy. They took a cross-country train journey from Altoona to CA, ticking one more item off Deb’s bucket list. Life is a beach for Carol Anne Ford Kent and husband Tom, who take semiannual trips from their primary residence in Norfolk, VA, to getaways in Bethany Beach, DE, and Groton Long Point, CT. Not that there’s much lounging about for Carol Anne, as she participates in two garden clubs, the advisory board for one of Norfolk’s historic homes and the Masterpiece Society of Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum of Art. This year, she became president of the Norfolk Society of Arts, a 400-member organization that supports the arts by presenting seven annual lectures by nationally recognized speakers. Carol Ann credits Hood for fostering her love of art and remarked that even though we were there just four years, it was a significant fraction of our lifetime. This past Jan., I ( Emily Kilby ) crossed the threshold into my 80s with a gathering of local family and

friends. Among the more distant well-wishers were classmates Ann Fulton Warren, Nancy Hoveman Schultze and Catherine Beyer Meredith. With the good fortune of having a mostly cooperative body, I joined my younger sister in achieving one of her major goals: locating and visiting all 23 Mason-Dixon markers that line the northern border of our home territory of Cecil County, MD. We negotiated some rugged terrain and lots of briar-covered landscape to reach these 250-year-old inscribed stones. The most difficult find was mile marker #9, which had been broken off and discarded years ago, leaving nothing to mark the spot in the center of a vast Amish cornfield. Sis had just had a knee replacement a month before, so I did the digging, which was remarkably on target, thanks to the GPS locator on her phone. Other recent searchers lacked access to dig during crop season, so we became the only living human beings to have seen the marker stub, which was about a foot below ground. We completed the mission in early spring before planting season, and in Nov., we gave a well-attended presentation entitled “Edith and Emily’s Excellent Adventure.” Here’s to excellent adventures for us all, as we continue onward toward our 60th reunion in 2025.

1966

Dianne Beebe Barske

A five-day mid-Jan. ice storm has brought the entire Portland, OR, area to a standstill, including our little town of McMinnville. It’s providing a good opportunity for me to settle down and write our class news column and express thanks to all who shared news. Betty Schmidt Martin shared special stories of travels. She’s been on three different trips advertised through Hood, including the Tulip Cruise last April, and now plans to go to Scotland. She’s also been on Globus tours with her daughter to southern Italy and Sicily, and with her husband, she has taken Viking cruises the past two Decembers. She hopes to go on a Danube River cruise this year. As are many of us, she is approaching her 80th birthday and a family gathering to celebrate with her three children and six grandchildren in New Smyrna Beach, FL, in June. Martha “Marty” Vogt Snyder reports that she and husband Skip are fine. They live in Vero Beach, FL, and spend summers in the Pocono Mountains. She comments, “We are close to family in both of those places. We enjoy traveling, but our destinations are not all around the world as they used to be. We have four grandsons, the oldest of whom is now a first-year in college!” Marty adds that she was able to speak to Susan Rickerich Sphar shortly before Sue passed away. Sue’s obituary appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

CLASS NEWS

in Feb. 2023. The obituary calls her “always a cheerleader,” cheering at soccer and field hockey games for her four children, running carpools and leading Brownie troops. She and her husband of 56 years Holly found great joy in traveling the world together on bicycle trips to Europe and South America. She graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in the early 1990s and launched a career in interior design. The obituary states that Sue was a prolific gardener and quilter, a birdwatcher and a chef. I’m sure many of us are saddened by her loss. Anna Buhr Cole shares that her career as a librarian reached over to her two daughters: Elizabeth is a librarian at Montgomery College Library, and Susan is at the Library of the House of Representatives. She and husband Miles have two grandchildren, Ben (5) and Susan (2). Another world traveler is Elizabeth “Bonnie” Scull Hawkes. After the loss of her husband Geoff a few years ago, Bonnie says, “I seem to finally be coming out of my post-grief shock.” This past year, she went on a two-week trip with some friends to Svalbard, Norway, circumnavigating the island of Spitsbergen. Bonnie suggests we look it up on a map. “You won’t believe how far north it is!” The birdwatching was outstanding, and there were sightings of polar bears, walrus, seals, whales and Arctic fox. Bonnie has discovered the vast offerings of her local senior center just across the street from her home in North Vancouver, BC. In a brief note, Marjorie Giles Magness reported that she and husband Bill are currently living in Soldotna, AK, on the Kenai Peninsula. This brought back a flood of good memories for me of fishing for salmon on Kenai River during our 43 years in AK. It was fun for me to get a thank you note from Cheryl Carlson Peyton Cheryl is the author of a series of mystery books. Cheryl thanked me for reporting the activities of members of our class and added, “A special thanks from me for promoting my books in your column.” Cheryl is a founding member of the Authors Guild of Tennessee and can be contacted at www.authorsguildoftn.org. On a personal note, while many of you were happily touring the globe, husband Elliott and I ( Diane Beebe Barske) were moving, lugging box after box of our stuff just four blocks from our first McMinnville, OR, home to Hillside Senior Living, a continuing care community. Don’t ever decide to move your own things. “Just four blocks,” we told ourselves, “That can’t be hard.” It was much harder than moving the thousands of miles from AK to OR six years ago, when professional movers packed and hauled everything! We love our new home in a cottage on a beautiful meadow in a fun and friendly senior community. Our new address is 721 Meadowood Circle, McMinnville, OR 97128.

1967

May Mumma Ohman eohmanjr@gmail.com

Debbie Smith Aldrich says, “Love thinking of third floor Meyran! I’m impressed with all Hood has added in courses and majors. Life is wonderful for the aging. Spending time in VT at my son’s house and with my daughter and youngest granddaughter.” Suze Johnson Comerford says, “Happily situated for six years in the Appalachian Mountains near our children and their families. Jim is a disabled Vietnam veteran. He is a love, and we have good times. I keep busy and send my love.” Barb Cummings Stacks says, “The old saying, ‘No news is good news!’ We are all well in our area and always enjoy our visits. Be well in the New Year.” Barbara Jo Wood Spellman says, “Grandson Cole is still in Japan. In Oct., we visited son Andy in Beaverton, OR. Got to see one of Finn’s (16) soccer games and visited Kai (20) at his dorm at Oregon State.” Ginny Price Bracken and I have joined the book club at our church. Ginny says, “I’m settling in at my new home in Kennett Square, PA, an area, where Brack and I lived for 30 years. Kids and grands live nearby. I reconnected with classmates Barbara Jo Wood Spellman, Kathie Zale Myhre ’70 and Donna Hayes Edwards ’60. Looking forward to the Hood trip to Scotland in Aug.” Laurie Seymour Carlson says, “All is well here in Folsom. Grateful for the beautiful area. My granddaughter and I created an Etsy shop selling doll clothes. She designs and I sew. It’s been a joy to do this with her.” Diane Smail Robertson says, “With Christmas past, I am ready for winter reading with a stack of books. Love being close to grandchildren and watching them grow and flourish. We are not traveling as much, but I do get out in our garden.” Kris Campbell Joyce says, “BJ and I recently tested positive for COVID. I am a natural medicine fan, and we have been using lomatium, NAC and elderberry syrup for our symptoms. Good luck staying well this winter.” Beth Costello Hobby writes, “Midwest life is good, especially when a warm weather getaway to Fort Myers is possible. Our biggest challenge is having homes in two states, IL and WI, where Sandy owns Longbranch Gallery. I’m looking forward to our next reunion!” Johanna Van Wert Thompson says, “A grandson just got engaged, and we are beyond excited. We had family at our house for Christmas—all 18 of us! Michael and I are well and look forward to Norway come spring. Had lunch with Joan Peschel Young and Bob.” Cynthia Newby says, “Completed 10 years of service on Hood’s Board of Trustees. Looking forward to spending more time with our class at reunion, which

is amazingly not all that far away. Eager for reports on the Hodson Trust Award, continuing scholarship work started by Judy Messina ’66 that I contributed to.” Patricia Rosner Kearns says, “Hello from Louisville. I caught COVID in Nov. Just had an aortic dissection (tear) last week, so I’m taking it easy through Feb. Again, my plans for Europe are in limbo!” Barb Morgan Herron says, “I spent most of 2023 recovering from spinal fusion surgery. I became council vice president of my Lutherpalian congregation. Believe it or not, I’m having fun. Still in our house in Baltimore; other Herrons have moved to FL. I’m in a writing group and active with the Baltimore Colts Cheerleader Alums. Enjoy playing hand bells at our church.” Lani Chen Viney says, “I am fine, and life goes on. My husband had major health issues but has continually improved. I’m regularly in the dance studio. I maintained my registered dietitian credential and was pleased to see Hood now offers a master’s in nutrition. I get to see son Jonathan, his wife Marnie and grandkids.” Judy Lehman Ballinger says, “Life continues as before. I’m focusing on family, friends and art. It is a joy to be living close to the Barnes Arboretum. A sad year, as beloved son-inlaw Scott died of a heart attack, and cousin Gail died just before our Christmas reunion. We went to UT anyway, a comfort to my remaining cousin. I see grandkids frequently but not my Berkeley family until July in Cape May. I visited Cheryl Wray on the Chesapeake.” Susan Wadia-Ells says, “Life is quite exciting! I continue to research and write on metabolic/not-toxic approaches to breast cancer screening and treatment. You can log into my Substack at bustingbreastcancer. substack.com.”

1968

Sandra Gerwin Herndon sandraherndon@gmail.com

Our class news was inadvertently left out of the last issue of Hood Magazine, so the alumni office emailed the fall 2023 news to everyone on file. If you did not receive it or would like a copy, please email alumoffice@hood.edu. After graduating from Hood and getting an M.Ed., Janet Fales Morris taught high school social studies for eight years. She took off several “mommy years” and returned to the classroom to teach students with disabilities and spearheaded a local district student transition program. She and her husband moved several times before finding the perfect retirement home near her family in PA. With Jayne Hustead’s English degree from Hood, she pursued a career in journalism and public relations beginning in Morris County, NJ, and ending in Vero Beach, FL, which has been her home for 27 years. She has enjoyed staying in

touch with classmates. Rita Rous Hollada sadly reports that she lost her husband last fall to Alzheimer’s disease. She loves the support that she has received and will stay in DE, where she has lived for 50 years. She is going to be a great-grandmother for the first time this spring. Lisa Morris Sarenduc spent 35 years in Santa Fe, NM, where she hand-built her home and worked for 18 years to create six short-term solar rental lodgings, building food gardens all over the property and bringing the barren desert soil back to fertility. Lisa now lives in Tucson, AZ, “pondering and researching every day since the pandemic to understand this life.” After Hood, Sally Eser Stuart earned master’s degrees in theological studies and social work. She was a medical social worker for hospitals, nursing home and home health agencies for many years in the Chicago and Atlanta areas. She is now retired and lives in Atlanta with her husband Fred. They have three children and five grandchildren. Fay Tripp Ruotolo has been retired for 10 years after first working as an English teacher and later as a director of human resources in several school districts. She and her husband John celebrated their 55th anniversary in Dec. They travel frequently from their home in CT to Cape Cod and ME and had a magical trip to the north of Spain and France last fall. Linda Winter-Blacksher reports that she and husband Bill are golfing incessantly, post-COVID binge traveling both the U.S. and Europe, visiting their three daughters and nine grandchildren and enjoying their homes in coastal FL and NC. Phyllis Gimbel continues to excel in mentoring new principals, speaking at key meetings and writing in major publications. Her most exciting news is that her 14-yearold grandson built a snowmaking machine. Karen Ritchie Hiatt never left MD and is now enjoying retirement from teaching. She lives outside Columbia with her two sons (who work in IT and teach). She renewed her enjoyment of floral arranging by helping neighbors make arrangements. After living 37 years near Castle Rock, CO, Suzanne Gottert and husband Hank moved to Colorado Springs, where Hank’s family had lived since the late 1800s. They have become active in four historical and fine art groups. They also like to ski with their children and grandchildren, hike and travel. They spent a few weeks in Australia last fall. Maxine Shupis DeSanchez lives in Madrid, Spain, in a small cozy apartment on a moderate pension. She is not very pleased with puppet governments but enjoys the advantage of free healthcare. She has eight grandchildren. She meets with a great group of girlfriends every week to “solve the world´s problems.” Her New Year’s resolution is to resume painting. She welcomes anyone to visit her in Spain. Mimi-Richardson Ernst worked as researcher/tech at NCI in Frederick until she

retired. She is living in Boonsboro with three cats, a dog and two horses. Lucille VanBaaren used her biology degree from Hood and a master’s in toxicology/pharmacology to have a career that spanned 50 years in the corporate world of cosmetics. Last year, she moved to a small place on Nork Fork, Long Island, and travels to her home on Cape Cod. She has two daughters and four granddaughters. She talks to Cheryl Bonynge Harker periodically, seeking her decorating advice. Mary Crawford Thomas is adjusting to life in Ashland, ME, where neighbors help neighbors, and the crime rate is the lowest in the country. She loves the snow and living near her son, so she can attend her grandsons’ activities.

In 10 words or less… “What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the name ‘Hodson’?”

The auditorium—many wonderful shows, performances and presentations.

—Lily Bean ’21

1969

Sayre Roney Steere sayre1126@gmail.com

Marty Silcox Hankins took an exciting trip to England in Aug., following the footsteps of author Jane Austen. Marty is a master gardener and a Friend of the Carroll County Library, which honored her recently with an award for her work as a community educator. Ginny Pagan Schragel has been living in Sun City West, AZ, for the past 20 years. She and her husband have seven children, 18 grands and eight great-grands. Prior to retirement, she worked for the City of Los Angeles and has travelled extensively in Europe and Morocco. Lavonne Blattenberger Vogt’s husband Bob is courageously fighting liver cancer. Granddaughter Elisabeth will graduate from West Point in the spring, following her dad’s footsteps. Pat Warren Carlson spent three weeks last winter playing golf in FL. At home, she likes to play with her granddaughters, one a first-year high school cross-country star, the other a fourth grader and soccer/ basketball enthusiast. Lavonne took a cruise along the Rhine in Oct. Jean Winn Swan and husband Bob celebrated their 51st anniversary with a two-week trip to Ireland and Scotland. Jean works part time at a local nursing home in the recreational therapy department. She

recently welcomed her fifth grandchild into the family. Betsy Seele Gotta and husband Roy vacationed in Alexandria, VA, in Sept., then drove to IN, where they danced at the Indiana State Square Dancing Convention and visited with Jill Stanley and Adam. The Gottas continue to teach square and round dancing. Despite suffering back pain and enduring shots and PT after two surgeries, Susan Taylor Shoch still plans to get together with Barbara Hoagland Ziegler and Deborah Dick Holbert at Christmas time, as they have done for 43 years. Sue says, “Hood friendships have anchored my life from day one in 1965.” Ginny Monaco Hatfield delights in watching her granddaughter grow up and keeps busy with several organizations. She maintains a cedar home, within walking distance of Lake Tahoe. Joanne Ingoldsby Peters and husband George have recovered from another bout of COVID. Though George can no longer travel, Joanne plans to continue and has booked a cruise along the Snake and Columbia Rivers in the spring. Christine Diehl continues to crochet, volunteer at her local library and create cards and paintings, which she sells at fairs and gift shops. Last summer, Connie Meek crosscountry skied marathon races in Australia and New Zealand. In Feb., she hopes to complete her 40th American Birkebeiner 55 Kilometer Ski Marathon. Maureen Clancy Shiftan, who resides in a La Jolla, CA, says her current travels revolve around the families of her two sons, who live in San Francisco and NY. She hiked the Dolomites this summer and hopes to ski in CO in the winter. Husband T continues his struggle with Parkinson’s but enjoys the chaos of grandchildren and gazing at the ocean from their porch. Barbara Shipley Cober is still adjusting to her “new normal” as a widow but delights in the many girlfriends she has now, who are all eager to explore and travel. Susan Musser Erickson and family have lived in D.C., Brussels and Detroit. She worked for 25 years establishing HeadStart and daycare programs for inner city children. Five years ago, she remarried and moved to Denver to be close to her two sons and six grandchildren. They also have a summer cottage outside Gettysburg. Carole Downing Staton and Roy will be traveling to Fort Hood, TX, in the spring to witness son Andrew’s promotion to Lt. Colonel. Dave and I, Sayre Roney Steere, continue to applaud our decision to relocate to the Seattle area five years ago to be nearer our daughters and grandchildren, ranging in age from 1 to 19. We enjoyed a special cruise in the fall to Italy, Greece and Turkey. It was touted as a “Holy Land” tour, but due to the current world situation, that didn’t pan out. Fortunately, the cruise line threw in several extra Greek Islands, which curbed our disappointment. Hope to see all of you at our 55th reunion in June!

1971

Mary McMunigal Burland mburl5@verizon.net

Mindy Laighton Wilcox mlwilcox3@gmail.com

Pam Borden Heckert and Clark celebrated their 50th anniversary last summer with a two-week trip to AK by ship and land. In April 2020, they became grandparents of a little wonder, Wyatt, who became big brother to Emmett in Oct. 2022. Pam’s first novel “Alma Mater,” which is about Canadian girls who go to an American boarding school in 1855, was published in 2019, and “Simply, Perfectly Grand,” which is about a girl who leads an exciting 19th century life after attending the same school, was released on Amazon in Dec. 2023. Pam is currently working on a prequel and a sequel to the latter. She stays in touch with Wendy Erway by email and had dinner with Catherine “Kate” Healy Drummond and John in PA to celebrate their birthdays. Sharon Weiss Jones enjoyed reconnecting with many Hood’lums at our 50th reunion in 2022. She and her reunion roomie Janice Butz wondered why they rarely connected during their Hood years, since they so enjoyed each other’s company that weekend. Sharon has enjoyed many long phone conversations with Barbara Hasbrouck Murphy and Lucinda Tyson and has visited Leslie Moir Howell and Peter at their home on Amelia Island. Of course, Sharon and her Hood roomie Rosemary Coull Aitcheson are forever connected by phone and visits. Sharon’s nine grandchildren, who reside in south FL and the St. Louis area and range in age from 3-20, visit and now beat her at their favorite board games. After finally getting her home repaired following Hurricane Ian, Sharon will soon be selling it and moving to North Port, FL, to a mother-in-law suite at her daughter’s home. Leading up to our 50th reunion, when Edith Purdie and I talked frequently, she promised both me and Mindy Laighton Wilcox that she would send news for Hood Magazine. Now, a year and a half later, she has kept that promise. After the challenging years of 2020 and 2021, Edith found 2022 and 2023 to be make-up years for travel and visiting friends and relatives. She did a two-and-a-halfmonth off the grid camping trip out west with a combination of carefully planned stops and some spur of the moment stops, then returned home in time for her third daughter’s wedding. All three daughters are now married, and Edith is still working part time, but her journey has reminded her to get serious about her bucket list priorities. Christy Monroe Smith wrote to say that Cindy Jackson Hileman died in Sept. 2023, shortly after a diagnosis of cancer.

She is survived by her husband Dave and two sons, Geof and Greg. Christy attended Cindy’s memorial service along with Cindy’s roommate Rebekah Olewiler Roberts and her husband Philips. Christy has had health problems this past year but said treatment is going well. Alice Paul McGinnis reports that the pandemic slowed down her international travels, but she and Richard still spend half the summer each year in ME. They have also been to Canada and several National Parks. Visiting their five grandchildren is also a favorite pastime. Alice stays busy with piano playing, reading and swimming. She does consulting work for her church Presbytery, helping congregations that are looking for a new pastor. She is also active with refugee families, helping those seeking asylum and otherwise trying to navigate life in their new country. Mary and I are always grateful to receive your news and would especially love to hear from those of you who have not written in a while. Send your news to either one of us any time, and we will include it in the next Hood Magazine.

1972

Cynthia A. Clifford cynthiaclifford999@gmail.com

Linda Cumber Gifkins is still loving VT, though winters are long. In June, they enjoyed a twoweek trip to ME, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and back home through New Brunswick. It included a delightful two-night visit with Elizabeth “Betsey” Kipp and husband Deryl on the way north. As you read this, they will be back from a month-long trip to Australia and New Zealand in Feb. Nancy Williams Bishop will pick them up during their 12-hour layover in Los Angeles, so they will get a day visit. Linda keeps in touch with Chrisse Butler Hassett . Virginia Procino Hartmann says that she was one of nine air training officers who visited the Air Force Academy last summer. They were given a fantastic tour of the academy, which has changed dramatically since she was there 48 years ago. In preparation for the arrival of the first women cadets, 12 female Air Force lieutenants were chosen to go through much of the same training that male cadets endured during their first and second summers. Approximately 2,000 pictures taken of their training were digitized and emailed to Virginia. Once she identifies and labels the location and people in them, they will be made available to anyone researching this unique piece of academy history. Janice Williams Martin writes that she and Al celebrated their 50th anniversary in Sept. with a Napa Valley river cruise and a Thanksgiving cruise from Jacksonville, FL, up the east coast. After nearly 50 years as a 4-H leader, she has turned the club

over to a deserving successor. Sarah Sonne O’Donnell says her “twin” grandchildren arrived as expected. The first NJ grandchild arrived in Aug. 2023. His name is Maximus. In Jan., the second “techno” baby girl arrived in CT. Deidre Jean Wright has created a new veterans’ network with her move to Mount Dora, FL. She has served as coordinator for the Waterman Village Military Ball, Memorial Day and a Veterans Day breakfast and participated in the Villages Charter Schools’ Veteran in the Classroom program. Deidre recommends the American Cruise Line after enjoying a two-week American Revolution/Cherry Blossom cruise of the Chesapeake Bay with her grandnephew. In 2024, she connected with the Villages’ Honor Flight program and the Tri County Women Veterans organization, and with her sister, she created the program for the family’s Urn Interment of her mother’s ashes. Danise (Simpson) Simmons and her husband Bruce spent some time on the road in 2023, visiting friends and family. The longest trip involved driving to NM, where Bruce promoted his novel “Try to Shoot an Azimuth” (available on Amazon), which he views as his love letter to NM. They made a stop in Wheeling, WV, to see her sister Donna Simpson ’77, to put flowers on daughter Carrie’s grave in MD and to revisit Rehoboth Beach, DE. Daughter Sarah and their three grandchildren are still very much a part of our lives. Elizabeth Mitchell Gruppe Stover says that 2023 started on a low note, as she fell carrying a box downstairs and hit her head. Four weeks later, she was having trouble with her memory and balance. It was determined that she needed surgery to drain blood/fluid buildup in her brain. She is now almost back to 100 percent, thanks to great medical care. The other good news is that she received word that John Sime (Peter and Carol Reisner Sime’s son) has passed his dissertation for his Ph.D. Carol would be so proud, as she always had faith that he would. Jane Hively Zarfoss says her sister’s youngest daughter is engaged to a well-known musician and Emmy winner, who had been invited to perform at the National Christmas Tree Lighting in Washington, D.C. There was an extra family ticket for the event, so Jane was invited along. She had no idea that the host performer had personal ties to Jill Biden. It was a spectacular two days, experiencing the beauty of the White House being decorated for the holidays. It also provided an opportunity to meet worldclass performers and a brief meeting with the President and First Lady. Her 73rd birthday will be one that she will never forget.

1973

Leslie A. Hawkins hawkins.leslie.a@gmail.com

I guess we spent so much time catching up at our reunion last June that I didn’t receive very much news for the upcoming issue. However, it was good to hear from Peggy Weinbeck , who had to cancel plans to attend the reunion due to a fall and dislocation of the hip she had replaced. She is feeling great now and traveled to visit her sister’s family in Gilbert, AZ, enjoying that time and visiting nearby sites, and she highly recommends a visit to the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale. She also did some travel in VA and has plans for a cruise in 2024 with a group of friends through the Panama Canal from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale in April and a coastal driving trip from VA to St. Augustine. Charlie Miller Ponticelli was happy to spend time with her granddaughter Samantha at Thanksgiving and then to welcome her second granddaughter Piper Isabella, who arrived on Jan. 2. She and Tony had a wonderful gathering with Lucia Grabenstein Kline ’72 and husband Chris in Nov. She continues affiliating with the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council and American Council on Women, Peace and Security, and her prison ministry with Hispanic inmates in Baltimore. As for me, Leslie Hawkins, I had a wonderful trip to Morocco in Sept., although being in Marrakech during the 6.2 earthquake while staying in the centuries-old section of the city was a little more excitement than I bargained for! I had a hiking trip in the mountains around Santa Fe in Oct., but a trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt planned for December was cancelled due to the war, and I changed my reservation to a tour of Sicily in April.

1974

Patricia E. Kidd pat.kidd@hotmail.com

From our 50th reunion committee: We’ve begun planning for our reunion on June 6-9, 2024. We hope you will attend. See old friends, tour the campus, stay in the new dorm, enjoy a BBQ on the quad, take part in a service of reflection and enjoy class recognition. We’re also collecting college photos (please scan yours and send one at a time to Kellye at greenwald@hood. edu.) Whether you can come or not, please consider adding to our class gift. Donations already made this school year count. Thanks to the many early donators! Sue Whaley, Rev. Deborah Kohler, Magaly Maurus Green, Ann Williams DeMers and Alice Dekker Linda Hess Conklin reports: “I’m back in PA after a life in and around NYC. My daughter, however, after graduating with honors (proud mama) from

Hopkins, stayed in MD. Recently, she took me out to Frederick. What a difference 50 years makes!” Tricia Armstrong Kuhn sends news “for the first time in 50 years.” After graduating, she taught at North Frederick Elementary for more than five years, then got her reading specialist master’s from Hood in ’79. That same year, she met her husband-to-be, George Kuhn, on a blind date and was married in the Hood Chapel 11 months later. Since that time, they’ve lived in seven different states (four times in PA). For the last 27 years, they’ve lived in Chadds Ford/ Glen Mills, PA. Through these moves, they’ve had two sons, Andrew (1981) and Mark (1983), and a daughter, Lindsay (1989). Tricia retired as a middle school reading specialist in June 2019 (just before COVID). Tricia and George live in a 55+ community, which they love, and all three children are married and live near them, along with seven grandchildren (including a little girl who inherited Tricia’s red hair). George’s 97-yearold mother also lives with them. Tricia is planning to come to the reunion and is donating items from her mother Alice Austermuhl Armstrong ’39 to the Hood Archives. Victoria Raeburn Benton says, “This is such an exciting time! Two senior proms, two high school graduations, 16th birthdays, 18th birthdays—where to start?” Last May, grandson Camden graduated from Viera High School. He heads to Wofford College with a baseball scholarship. In June, second grandson Marty graduated from Newburgh Free Academy and heads to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Marty, a computer science whiz, has been awarded the Presidential Scholarship and is considering playing ice hockey. In June, youngest grandson Ryan turned 16. In June, the family all headed to HI to celebrate these milestones. Dot Herdle Files, a faithful news contributor, writes that she and Eben had 2023 trips to Yellowstone, TN, the Caribbean and around TX. They’re busy teaching their only grandchild to text on a phone she got for Christmas. Dot was “promoted” to church choir pianist and enjoys the hours of practice during bad weather. She looks forward to gardening in the spring. After living in NY and D.C., Ginnie Keane Bukovac moved to Kansas City 40 years ago and became involved with representing abused children in Juvenile Justice Court as a court appointed special advocate (CASA). Ginnie was also a CASA trainer and board member and, along the way, CASA of the Year. After being diagnosed and treated for eye cancer, Ginnie began volunteering at the R.A. Bloch Cancer Hotline, connecting newly diagnosed patients with cancer survivors, helping them find cancer-specific support groups and encouraging them to get second opinions when necessary. After 20 years of fighting child abuse and cancer, she “decided to get involved with something that didn’t involve crying and possible

death,” turning back to her first love, art history. She now volunteers as a docent at the NelsonAtkins Museum of Art. Her experience has brought back fond memories of art and speech classes at Hood with Miss Randall and Professor Dennis Hughes. Ginnie and her family have been actively involved with the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival since its inception. They are all well and healthy. Her husband Dan is winding down his law practice after 47 years. Their son Matthew is a student at the University of Missouri School of Law. After graduating from Georgetown University, their daughter Claire stayed in D.C., where she works at an international management consulting firm.

1975

Deborah Page Rath drath@nhhicks.com

Thank you to everyone who took time to share. Beverly Nester Jefferson and husband Don have had a love affair with Africa for many years. After visiting different places, they decided to take their children and grandchildren to Tanzania to experience Africa through their eyes. Their grandkids were 14, 13 and 12. Their guides were fabulous and thoroughly tuned in to the kids, teaching them Swahili words and songs. They took them to visit different villages and explained the local customs. One of their memorable experiences was meeting the Hadza tribe and accompanying them on their search for honey, an important part of their diet. They shared some honeycomb, and Bev’s hands were stung repeatedly by the bees, but it was worth the experience. Hadzas are considered one of the oldest foraging nomadic tribes on earth. The time they spent together making family history during those weeks was not exactly what she had expected, but the unexpected made it all the better. Arlene (Russo) Bujese has stepped down from the East End Hospice Board of Directors after 15 years but continues to chair the annual Box Art Benefit fundraiser, now in its 23rd year. Her most recently curated exhibition was Visual Vernacular at Canio’s Cultural Cafe in Sag Harbor, NY. Steven and Rhea Bel-Jon Calkins had a wonderful time up north with both their families all together for Thanksgiving last year. They got to visit Margery Berringer-Schuran ’74 and catch up with other friends. Margery and husband Horst are in Mexico as she writes. They just got back to their house after a few days at the beach in Isla Aguada, Campeche, near a massive lagoon with dolphins. They explored pyramids, waterfalls and jungles in Palenque, Chiapas. It was spectacular, and they had quite the adventure. Cheryl Cuddeback’s 30-year-old daughter Samantha Mendl just became engaged. Her boyfriend had

CLASS NEWS

the whole surprise proposal planned while they were in Amalfi, Italy, with friends. For a milestone birthday, Laura Lee Hickman’s sister treated her to three days and nights of sheer fun in NYC. The Christmas season put them both in the spirit, and the city’s energy was inspiring. They enjoyed the Manet/Degas exhibition, shopping, miles of walking and the serendipity of experiencing whatever came their way. Mid-Sept., six of Barbara Baird Rogers’ classmates met to celebrate their 70th birthdays together in ME. These classmates met in kindergarten at the Shipley School—pals for all these years! Jim and Barbara went to St. Louis, MO, in Oct. for a national meeting of the NSCDA, a women’s service organization. One of her favorite parts was going up the Arch. Lastly, Jim fell in the driveway of their son and daughter-in-law’s house in Jan. and badly broke his hip. He has returned from rehab and is working hard to get his life back to normal. Dory Barrows Smith and Steve had a lovely holiday. Dory’s girls were in attendance on Christmas, and Steve’s daughters were together for the first week of Jan. It was busy, with lots of shared dinners and events to entertain Steve’s 6-year-old grandson. He is the youngest, but not for long, as Dory has a new granddaughter expected any day now. Cherilyn Widell ran across her old blue 1975 blazer in the closet recently. She cannot believe that next year it will be 50 years since we graduated from Hood. She remembers how strong and focused we were, “blazing” a new trail as professional women with careers, celebrating news that one of us was accepted at law school, another at medical school or graduate school, where we would shape the next generation. It was an extraordinary time to be a young woman. Thanks to each one of you for sharing it with Cheryl. She is looking forward to sharing our landmark 50th year and hearing your extraordinary stories. As for me, Debbie Page Rath, I lost my mom last Sept., six years after her stroke. She had a great life and will be missed but is now without pain and with Kyle. It’s never too early to start thinking about our 50th reunion, which is 18 months away. I hope everyone will attend. Until next time!

1976

Nancy Ludwick Warrenfeltz nlwfeltz@hotmail.com

Libby Crouter Holter and Kurt just celebrated their second year as full-time OH residents. They feel lucky to be near their oldest son Colin, his wonderful wife Jessica and 4-year-old grandson Campbell. They’ve had several joyous sleepovers with Cam. Libby and Kurt’s son Andy lives in Chicago, a short six-hour drive away. They were

able to visit Chicago last summer. A Chicago hot dog is the best! Libby took a trip to Salzburg, Austria, and Italy in Nov. with her sisters—a bucket list dream for a “Sound of Music” fan. It was a mild winter by OH standards, but the Holders summoned the courage to take a ride down their local toboggan run. Kurt says never again! Linda Fox-Jarvis reports that 2023 was amazing in real estate. Her daughter Stephanie, who lives a mile away, has taken over as team leader. They are still called the Linda Fox-Jarvis Team. Their four agents sold a total of $34 million. Linda still enjoys working in real estate, assisting with the extensive marketing and management of 40 rentals. Her husband David enjoys retirement, golfs about three times each week and helps with real estate tasks. They enjoy their newest family member, a three-year old Schnoodle named Pretzel. Linda and David’s granddaughter Carter (Stephanie’s daughter), turned 6 in Jan. They love having sleepovers every week. Linda and David spent Christmas week in Breckenridge, CO, with Stephanie, Tyler and Carter. They had great fun watching Carter learn to snowboard. Son Brian lives in Fairfax, VA, and is engaged. The wedding will be in HI later this year. Mary Lynn Furtek Eubanks had some good news in 2023. In May, she and Jack were blessed with their first great-grandchild, Georgia Jean. Lynn says that she is a cutie. In June, they added a son-in-law when Jack’s daughter Tara married Joe. They broke Jack out of memory care, and things were running so smoothly they decided to visit NJ—twice! Their last visit was the big family Christmas get-together, where they finally met Georgia. Unfortunately, on Christmas Day, Jack started coughing. Long story short, COVID and eight stitches later, they made an early return to TN. Lynn and Jack are just looking forward to feeling better, and they will greet their second great-granddaughter in Feb. Maggie Lindsay Doyle notified us about the difficult year that Michele Smith Guyette has endured. Her husband died suddenly July 4, 2022. Then in fall 2022, Michele was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Thankfully, surgery led to a complete recovery. Last summer, Michele and daughter Madeline made a wonderful trip to Europe. Upon returning home, Michele drove to northern WI to visit Maddy and her boyfriend for a few weeks. While there, she got a phone call from a neighbor telling her that her detached garage was on fire. It got so hot that the windows in her house melted. She lost everything in her house and garage. The only clothes and shoes she had were the ones on her back and in her suitcase. All the firefighters in neighboring towns within 60 miles came to help. Michele has taught sign language in the public high school for years, interprets at

the Sunday mass at her Catholic church, has her own interpreting business in Madison and is well respected and loved by the community, some of whom have started a Go Fund me page. Along with Maggie, Cheryl Kruse Rondorf, Sandy Stingl and other classmates have worked hard to support Michele. The Doyle family is doing well. Lindsay has just returned from another summer working in AK. Becky was also sent to AK for a week with her job as a contract electrical engineer with the Coast Guard. Meredith and her husband just bought a house around the corner from the Doyles, which Maggie loves. Larry and I, Nancy Ludwick Warrenfeltz, traveled to Ireland in Aug. for the Navy-Notre Dame football game in Dublin. We traveled with a group of his Naval Academy classmates (and 39,000 other Americans). It was the biggest movement of Americans to Ireland since World War II. The Irish people were extremely welcoming and friendly. The pub food, along with pints of Guinness and Smithwicks, was good. Navy lost the football game 42-6 but beat Notre Dame in rugby 78-0. Larry says that Navy won the weekend. Please email me your Hood news. I will include it in the next publication. Thanks!

1977

Elizabeth Anderson Comer elizabeth.anderson.comer@gmail.com

Ruth Ann Oyer Shaffer is moving to Maryville, IL. Her email address will stay the same. Kas Kluth Rohm writes, “Greg and I celebrated our 47th anniversary in Jan. (not sure how that happened!) and are happily enjoying four young grandkids all living nearby. Greg is busy in his workshop, which we fondly call ‘Greg’s Hardware Store,’ and I have created a lively retirement pastime teaching watercolor painting and exhibiting artwork at local galleries. We just returned from an excursion to Southeast Asia and were fascinated by the astounding beauty and a culture so different from home—a wonderful, life-changing experience.” Kathy Weslock writes, “Hello from Bainbridge Island, WA! I’d like to say I see Meghan Mack Opsahl all the time, but a ferry ride in rough weather is tough. I have very little interesting news. I continue to work, as it is something I love to do, and will continue to do as long as possible. I have been in touch with Denise Swan Isacson, who gifted me four beautiful Hood champagne glasses that her mother had purchased many years ago. Maybe I can convince Meghan to take the ferry to Bainbridge so we can enjoy them. Gretta Tomb O’Brien’s son just graduated from USAF flight school and is now a lieutenant getting ready to fly F15’s. He was “pinned” by his Uncle Moe, who is married to another Hood alumna, Janet

Tomb Newcomb ’71, and happens to be one of the remaining POW’s who had the misfortune of landing in “the Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War. Serving on our Board of Trustees for our beloved College is a source of much pride and accomplishment. For those of you who haven’t been back to campus recently, do go! The campus looks better than ever, buildings are under major construction, as the ravages of time have taken their toll and we need upgrades, and the grounds, as always, are stunning. Frederick is a bustling town. Leadership on campus is one of the best teams I have ever seen, and President Andrea Chapdelaine is absolutely the right leader for our future. She has a wonderful team around her, including Nancy Gillece ’81 and other Hood alums, and our new chair of the board is my fellow Latin studies major and dear friend Tonya Thomas Finton ’78. If anyone is interested in serving on the board or in another capacity, please let me know. We need your leadership, and we also need your financial contributions and legacy. You knew I just had to end with that statement!” Megen Mack Opsahl writes, “My first-year roommate and classmate Elaine Patry Jones and I became first-time grandparents within a month of one another! Since the arrival of Joshua and Gabriel, we have exchanged many texts and photos. Needless to say, we are both excited about our new roles, and Elaine has now become a grandmother for the second time. I met up with Adaline Smith and Kim Anderson McDonald ’78 in Sedona, AZ, in March. We had a wonderful time catching up but missed Faith Voth Stone, who was unable to join us. Adaline, Kim, Faith and their spouses are all enthusiastic travelers, and I, the homebody, love to hear their stories. My husband Mike and I have now lived in Kirkland, WA, for 20 years. We are grateful to have our grandson and his parents 30 minutes away. At 70, Mike is still working full time—good thing he likes his work as a fertility doctor. After conquering some health issues, I am ready to get back to volunteering at Seattle Humane. We both love being Oma and Opa!”

In 10 words or less… “What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the name ‘Hodson’?”

Hodson Outdoor Theater, Campus Day and graduation!

—Janice Butz ’71

1978

Jo-Ann M. Bourguignon h00dclass1978@gmail.com

Linda Kirkpatrick Megahan sends tidings out to her Shriner second floor friends and wants to hear news from others! Linda has been in NC for the last 16 years after living in NJ for most of her life; her family (she, husband, daughter and son) all moved together, and they live no more than eight miles away from each other, which is wonderful. They get to enjoy five beautiful grandchildren, ages 6-17. “Grandbabies are the best, and they keep me young!” Linda Pearce Prestley sends greetings from Martha’s Vineyard. Now retired from the Hartford, CT, bench but no less busy, she is writing, mediating family cases and preparing to launch the last one from the nest. After 44 years, the youngest is graduating high school this spring and heading to nursing school. Linda recently met up with Memorial Hall roommate Kathy Kenney Bunchman while down in FL in Aug. Linda summons fellow “Hoodites” to look her up when they come to the island. An update from Laureen Suba began with a brief reminiscence of our class together with Professor Lenny Latkovski. After Hood, Laureen finished her MBA and headed to work in Manhattan. She was posted to Venezuela for a few years, then returned to the states and went to work at a TX bank that was eventually bought out by JP Morgan. She retired in 2008. A second act brought Laureen to Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary for a Master of Divinity and ordination as a PCUSA minister. She retired as pastor of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in 2023. She expressed gratitude to have more time for travel (she and husband Lad explored Rome in Jan. 2024) and to have time to reconnect with Hood. She sends wishes for grace and peace in 2024. Susan Dornbusch Sohn noted how beautiful the campus looked at 2023 reunion and how it felt like old times reconnecting with classmates. She expressed a huge thank you to Hood for helping shape her life and friendships. Julie Orvis is retired as of Jan. 31, 2024. No specific plans yet, but travel is most definite. Julie is confident she will be able to put more focus on her volunteer activities, which include the Interfaith Council of Franklin County (MA), where she serves as treasurer. She is still singing with the St. James and St. Andrew’s Church Greenfield choir and the Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus. Jorja Notargiacomo Stark wrote about attending our 45th class reunion with her husband: “It was so good being together with classmates, sharing memories and seeing the future of Hood as we enjoyed the activities.” In 2023, Jorja, her sisters and her daughter began a new company, Holy Cow Publications,

to write and publish books for children; a lifelong dream come true. Husband Tim became a pastor, and 2023 was also full of family involvement and gatherings, as they remain active in their church. Jorja is the drummer in a band with Tim and friends. They play mainly for retirement homes or community events. Tonya Finton’s excitement is building for their oldest son’s upcoming wedding in Nov. and their youngest graduating with his MBA from University of Chicago. Last Fall, COVID finally caught up with her and almost derailed a get-together with Coblentz roomie Brenda Hughart Payseure. Undaunted, Brenda and her husband Barney showed up at Tonya’s door for a lovely front porch/driveway chat, which lifted her healing spirits. Tonya remains busy in her community and loves serving as chair of the Hood Board of Trustees. From Providence, RI, Dorothy Bohn Brown is also anticipating her engaged son’s wedding, expected in 2024. She continues to work part time and sends greetings out to everyone. As for me, Jo-Ann Bourguignon, I was lucky to celebrate my birthday with my former D.C. housemate, Georgianna Van Syckle ’77, who flew in from OH. We did lots of sightseeing here in western MA. Into late fall, I continued my garden projects to keep me grounded; got out to a Red Sox game; and squeezed in day trips to NYC. I reconnected with Deb Popp Galvan, reminiscing and sharing updates, since she moved out near Las Vegas to be closer to their in-laws. Hopes for good health, joyous moments and stamina to face any bittersweet challenges in 2024. Drop me a note in the email above for the next issue. (NOTE: the email contains zeros, not capital letters). Consider engaging the “Hood College Class of 1978” group page on Facebook.

1979

Deborah Eaton Thackston deborah.thackston@gmail.com

Bethanne Warrack was quick to share, “Mark and I retired in Oct. We celebrated with friends, including Jack and Sue Ganley and Bess Muir in early Nov.” Malia Anderson shares, “Enjoying retirement and spending time with my two grandchildren, James and Vivi. Hopefully, I will make it to our 45th, but I have a great-nephew’s wedding on June 7 in Charleston, SC.” Carol Frentz says, “Celebrating my first social security check, still teaching Taekwondo and spending time with my 7-year-old granddaughter.” Recently retired, Ruth Sikora Seel replied, “I am happy to report that I do not miss living my life by the high school bells! We are expecting our fourth grandchild in Feb. I am thrilled! I keep busy with my love for sewing and machine embroidery. Travel has begun, and we are planning to hit a

CLASS NEWS

few bucket list places a year. 2023 took us to TX to visit grandchildren, Sedona, the Grand Canyon and Four Corners National Monument, and we made a quick trip to stand on a corner in Winslow, AZ” Karen Kerber writes, “I’m looking forward to my retirement this year after spending my entire working career in the field of early childhood education.” Karen also just moved her 95-year-old mom from independent living to assisted living. Bess Muir shares, “I took a trip to the Christmas Markets in Germany in Nov.-Dec. and almost caught up with Nina Chomnuck Robertson ’81! We were in the same city on separate ships.” Betsey Ditto Lillard reports, “I had a great lunch visit with Wendy Herrick Mahan ’80 and Donna Peterson, and we video chatted with Titi Hiers Conley ’80. We all hope to attend the reunion in June. My husband and I met up in Breckenridge, CO, with our daughter and her family. We recently visited our son and his partner in Atlanta, GA. We continue to enjoy retirement, staying busy with volunteering.” Donna Walters Gault updated us, “I moved into a senior apartment in June 2023. It is conveniently located in Westminster—near my brother, church and friends. I’ve visited my son in CA twice. The last visit was in Aug. when my great-grandson Owen turned one. It was a great celebration by their pool. I am looking forward to their visit in April, when we celebrate my nephew’s wedding.” Winifred “Winnie” Davies-Hancock shares, “Hank and I are still living and working at Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills outside of Detroit. While we think about retirement more often than we used to, we’re not ready to end our current life chapter yet. Our eldest son lives with his wife and son Aidren (1) in Saint Paul, MN, and our younger son lives with his wife and sons Will (almost 6) and Wade (2) in Winfield, IL. We still spend much of our summers in ME. School, church, choir, nonprofits, elections and book clubs keep my life full. I’m grateful for being able to stay in touch with Hood friends via Facebook.”

A long email from Rebecca Seymour Sweeney regarding the dozen Hood friends who engage in Secret Santa through the mail inadvertently left off some of our classmates who take part in this fun each Dec. Here are all the names and Becky’s lasting thought, “Who knew that the Camelot provided by a small women’s college in the 70s could deliver the strongest, best ties of friendships? I feel like the luckiest person in the world to call these loving, wonderful women my friends: Sue Hawk Coy, Esther Beckmann Bowman, Julie Flynn ’80, Paula Setters Driftmyer, Laura Baldwin-Stout , Nancy Garrow Aldrich, Debbie Mooney Bennett , Cindy Weaver, Peggy Van Schaick , Cindy Nofziger, Linda Hawk Kluge ’77 and Maria White Husted ’80.” As for me, Deborah Eaton

Thackston, I said farewell to my beloved dad on July 24, 2023, after a nine-year journey of Alzheimer’s disease. I miss him but know that he is whole again and in a much better place. I was able to visit him daily over the past two years when he lived near me in a memory care facility. In Dec., Julie Murray McCaffery and I attended a Hood holiday party. Julie and I see each other at Board of Associates meetings twice a year and an occasional lunch meet up in Urbana. See you in June at our 45th!

1980

Frances S. VanBrocklin franmail80@gmail.com

Greetings! Let me begin by thanking Jackie Vallette Uglow for inviting me to compose this column while she and Ron enjoy a world cruise. Lisa Fasnacht Ginder emailed to say that she retired from the family business in Rehoboth a couple of years ago. She has earned a degree in spiritual formation and direction and completed training with a group called Someone To Tell It To. Lisa plans to begin volunteering with them as a listener. She keeps in touch with her Hood roommate Nancy Brown-DeAngelo and enjoys the escapades that Nancy relays about the wildlife on her property. Sue Early Noriega writes that she and husband Steve plan to retire at the end of 2025. They made a move to a 55+ community in 2017, which they found attractive due to a shorter commute and appealing amenities. Their time there may be shortened, however, as their only grandchild lives in NC. Nancy Thomas Daniel is still working and loves her position at Cross Keys Village, a CCRC in New Oxford, PA, selling independent living homes. She also made me chuckle as she recalled my helping her with chemistry class. Audrey Tozer shared quite a bit of personal news but began by saying that she and Kim are excited to enter 2024 with better health and new adventures. The previous four years were filled with ups and downs, beginning with the passing of Kim’s mother. Shortly after her mom’s funeral, Kim fought a battle with cancer. Audrey began her own health challenge toward the end of 2020, finding herself legally blind. She credits Hershey Medical Center with restoration of her vision. A short three weeks after regaining her vision, she awoke with an inability to walk. She was confined to a wheelchair with intense pain and required assistance to perform activities of daily living. Fortunately, after months of declining health, doctors performed an enzyme test and diagnosed her with rheumatoid arthritis. After a trying experience finding the right therapies, she is now walking again, managing periodic flare ups and learning to live with the disease. Kim and Audrey made a difficult decision to close their

24-year-old business. Both have taken new jobs and are “living new adventures at work.” Audrey says, “Faith in God has allowed us to finally be thankful for the many blessings we have.” Audrey enjoyed a trip to Frederick and a visit to the Hood campus, meeting with Linda O’Toole Teebagy and Joyce Hare DeBolt and their husbands. She also saw Deedee Randall Luttrell on a previous trip to Frederick. Audrey and Kim look forward to celebrating 35 years together and are grateful for all their Hood friends, who support them in so many ways. Just a few words about what’s happening in my ( Fran Van Brocklin) life. Following a career in dietetics and raising two wonderful daughters, one married and the other being married in April of this year, I volunteered for 14 years with a pregnancy resource center, Birthright of Montgomery County, and held the position of executive director during my final three years. Spending time with family (in particular, my 2-year-old grandson), traveling with my husband, spending time at our home by the seashore and simply appreciating life are my favorite things. I dabble in calligraphy, watercolor and creating flower hammer artwork and volunteer with the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society and Museum. I am a sacristan for our church and am involved with other programs there, a wonderful community of fellowship. My husband and I live in Olney, MD, in our home of 31 years, and have no plans to downsize or relocate anytime soon. If you find yourself nearby, send a note, and let’s catch up in person.

1981

Mary

Thompson Calhoun hoodalum@msn.com

Happy spring, everyone! Greetings to my fellow 1981 Hood alums from the Calhoun Corgi Crew here in the eastern panhandle of “West-BahGawd Virginia!” We all stayed busy in 2023, but our hectic schedules didn’t keep us from enjoying a visit with our far-flung classmate Nina Chomnuk Robertson in June 2023. Nina and I popped in on Nancy Gillece at Hood when Nina came back to the U.S. from her current home in Ecuador. Nina says she never knows when or where one will make a Hood connection: “Bess Muir ’79 and I were both in Passau, Germany, on the same day on two different European river cruises. We tried but failed to meet up for a drink. You never know where you might find a Hood’lum!” Jill Wood Tallman and I got out and about with DeeDee Randall Luttrell ’80 in Sept. at the local craft show in Harpers Ferry, WV, which was a blast. When we are not hitting the local breweries, distilleries and wineries, Jill and I can be found browsing around the craft shows, which feature a lot of interesting items being sold by talented local artists. We heard

from Lisa Vehmas in Golden, CO, who says, “I retired in July 2022 and am loving retirement. It’s great to set my own schedule, sleep in, try new things and travel.” Malinda “Lindy” Small tells us, “I will be officially retiring at the end of Feb. and, in celebration, have an Amalfi Coast trip planned in April. My travel buddies will be Sharon Gravatt Kulesz and her daughter Lauren, along with Deedee Randall Luttrell ’80. We are all excited.” Linda Rupy Spar also wrote in: “Dr. Brian retired from his medical practice in Pittsburgh (nephrology), and after selling my car, we drove cross country with the two pups. It was crazy buying a house during the pandemic in highly desirable Maricopa County, but we found a nice one in the Ocotillo golf community in Chandler, AZ. I am so thrilled to finally live in the Valley of the Sun, where I no longer have to deal with cold, snow and gloomy weather. Plus, there are restaurants galore with fabulous shopping. Hood classmates are always welcome to visit. I’m still working and have switched gears from social media consultant to becoming an inventor. I’ve been passionate about new ideas and improving products since I was young. I was recently awarded my first patent. Kudos and thanks to David Gurzick, M.S.’03, Ph.D., director of Hood’s Delaplaine School of Business, for hosting me on Zoom in his entrepreneurship class and giving his students my product to test and evaluate. I’m currently working on the product’s name and logo, with trademark and copyright, and anticipate selling and marketing in the coming months. Brian and I finally were able to take our pandemic-delayed trips. Our first was in May to Israel and Palestine. We participated in a dual-narrative tour throughout Israel, Tel Aviv, the West Bank, Ramallah and the old city of Jerusalem. It was intensely educational and thought-provoking, especially now. We also visited our son Jason and daughter-in-law Brianne Palmer where they live in Bonn, Germany. Brianne is working on her post-doctoral studies in environmental paleontology and soil ecology. Jason is working in logistics and financial technology for a European company. Their blue heeler Tucker lives with us now and gets along with his new pack, Chessi (our red heeler) and Inky (our black lab), all sweet rescues. I don’t think Tucker misses Maple the cat, who now lives in Germany. In July, I hosted a few girlfriends on our delayed Germany trip to Munich, Cologne and Berlin. I got to visit Jason and Brianne once again, while enjoying a Rhine cruise, a full tour of the Reichstag and Bundestag in Berlin, and Cologne Cathedral, the most-visited building in Germany and a Unesco World Heritage site. This year, Brian and I are planning another trip to Germany in the summer to see the fam, show him Berlin and then visit Prague.” On a somber note, several of our classmates— Cindy Hancock Weller,

Sharon Gravatt Kulesz, Karen Srsic, Hope Bober Corrigan, Barbara Steiner Holmes, Tracy Fox, Linda Hecklinger Procter and Judith Reamer Egan —wrote to express their condolences, share their memories or otherwise make mention of our late classmate and friend Maureen McDonnell Weschler, who passed away in June 2023.

1983

Mary L. Townley

hoodalum1981@gmail.com

Deborah Single Hays shares news of her two sons, Matthew and Timothy. Matthew and his fiancée Lauren wed in April, while her son Timothy “should graduate from Rice in May 2024 with two degrees. He is expecting to go to medical school this year and has received an acceptance and is waiting for some others. Stephen moved to Rochester, NY, to work at Golisano Children’s beginning in Feb. 2024. I will continue to keep our Iowa City home and go back and forth to Rochester for the foreseeable future.” Kathy Alexander Long writes, “It was so great reconnecting with my roommate Sally Seward Kirby, Laura Schauer, Jill Feaster LaPan and others in June. Sally is as crafty as ever and created the most beautiful Hood College ornament for my Christmas tree. I am still working for the Maryland State Department of Education Office of Childcare, which is the agency that regulates childcare. I left Frederick County more than a year ago and am now located in Washington County. I’m still enjoying my work and not retired yet. Our five adult children are all well: a nurse, middle school teacher, construction project manager, Air Force radiologist and research assistant. Now that we are finished with college payments, we are hoping to travel more and enjoy our four grandchildren.” I also heard from Denise Barton Schuler, who shares, “I am now ‘semi-retired’ after working as the assistive technology specialist for the Maryland Assistive Technology Program for the last 17 years. In 2020, via MDTAP, I started Maryland Assistive Technology Reuse (MATER), the first and only high-tech reuse program in the U.S. We collect donated items to refurbish and pass on at no charge to those with disabilities who cannot afford new devices. Hit me up for more info on assistive technology. I was honored to have the Assistive Technology Demo and Loan Library named after me before I headed south. We moved to GA last spring and are still unpacking. Once settled, I hope to start a high-tech reuse center here. One month after moving, my husband had a heart attack (while still in MD). He has undergone rehab and is in great shape now with no damage to his heart. My daughter and two grandsons (11 and 9) live

with us, while one son and his family live about an hour away, and the other about three hours away. All six grands are within three hours, which is wonderful. My parents liked the area so much that they moved close by in Sept. We are blessed!” Laura Schauer writes, “I actually don’t think I have ever sent an update for Hood Magazine. I will start from reunion, which was great! I stayed with Sally Seward Kirby and Jill Feaster LaPan at the Barbara Fritchie House, and we had a fantastic time. We caught up on way too many current events and relived some great times from 40 years ago. I live in Wilmington, NC, and I have six grandsons and one granddaughter. My daughters live here in town, so we all see each other often, and I have sleepovers when schedules allow with ‘Nonnie.’ I have traveled as much as I can, and in Jan., I’ll have 10 days in Colombia. My employment situation is a little fluid right now. I have been in real estate, mostly property management, for more than 20 years. I am figuring out my next move here on the coast.” Jacque Witt Lyons shares, “This past summer we sold our house in North Port, FL, and moved to the Charlotte, NC, area. I left my job with the Florida Department of Revenue for a job as an accountant with a Charlotte credit union. The driving force for the move was to be a lot closer to our grandchildren. I was just missing too many precious moments watching them grow. I am happy for the years we spent in FL, and I am enjoying this new chapter of our life. Ed and I just celebrated our 40th anniversary. Life is good, and we are truly blessed.” Finally, Wren Brady writes, “Very happy and busy in my first year of retirement. Presently overseeing our Historic Village Improvement Association Hall on Terra Ceia Island and volunteering with repairs and assisting with fund raising at Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary.” Hugs to everyone!

1984

Ellen-Marie Samsen Knehans emknehans@mchsi.com

Sue Sutton Bartolotto states that she “continues to work in the health office at the high school with Fairport Central Schools. My husband John continues to be at Carestream Health. Daughter Sarah and her husband John live in Quakertown, PA, fostering two young girls. Daughter Emily and husband Pete moved into a new house Nov. 2023. Sutton had her first birthday in Oct., and they will welcome a new baby in July 2024. Hannah works with Maximus, where she recently got a hefty promotion and is doing well. Son Johnny is a senior at Baldwin Wallace University. He spent the fall semester at University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. We were fortunate to visit him for two weeks in Aug. 2023. Johnny is back in Cleveland to

finish his last semester on the lacrosse team. I hope to get to the reunion in June after missing the last one.” Susan Youry Kenney writes, “A lot has happened in the past year. Following his stroke in early 2023, Robbie and I sold our house in NJ in Sept. and relocated to Ocean Isle Beach in coastal NC. We are getting acclimated to our new surroundings, meeting new friends and participating in community activities, yet we still miss our family and friends up north. Reach out if any of you Hood’lums are in the area. I would love to see you!” Hello from Daphne Byrd Gabb. After seeing my many Facebook posts, she shared, “I am going to be a grandma in May. My daughter Alexis is expecting a baby boy. 2023 was a rough year for me. As of the end of Oct., I am now divorced. Luckily, I found a good attorney and fought hard for myself. The support of friends from Hood really helped. The friendships we made there are for life. I did manage to get my professional genealogy certificate in Dec. My plan has been to start a genealogy business as a post-retirement gig. I have not quite gotten there yet, but I’m hoping to retire sometime this year. I am not giving up on my future plans, just pivoting a bit. I am looking forward to our reunion this year. Can’t believe it has been 40 years (we have not aged, of course).” Terry Rappoldt Stickles spent some time in freezing cold water, in the ice-covered lake at Gifford Pinchot State Park to be exact. “I did my second polar plunge for Special Olympics PA Team Adams. The temp, with the wind chill, was in the teens, and there were three inches of ice on the lake. A little chilly, but it was for a good cause. I’m in my 14th year as the local program manager for this incredible program.” Please share this information for next year with us, so we can support you as you brave the cold water! Jeanne Thomson Dinterman shares, “My husband John and I welcomed our first grandchild this past summer, Maggie Reese Dinterman, born Aug. 2023 in Hagerstown. The proud parents are our oldest son Andrew and his wife Hannah. Planning on coming to the 40th reunion (yikes!). Hope to see you there!” As for myself, Ellen-Marie Knehans, I am enjoying my 40th and last year in the classroom. I’m still teaching in the continuation high school: ceramics, world history and an elective online. I’m also rehearsing the Messiah with our town’s combined church choir. My new role as Grammy is just wonderful. I recommend it! Our PODs have been filled and moved, and we will officially be SC residents in June. I can’t wait to see all of you at our 40th reunion. Until then, be safe, be happy and stay healthy.

1986

Alison Drum Althouse alison.althouse@gmail.com

Before we dive into all the fun news we typically see, Judi Glaser Shaw wrote to share that Susan Barry ’87 passed away suddenly in May. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers as they grieve. I don’t have any details to share, but her obituary is at Tazzini Funeral Home under Susan B. Barry. Sue Auger Manory wrote to share that her son Drew graduated from University of Dayton last May and is staying to earn a master’s in computer science, so she and Joe travel frequently to visit. She keeps in touch with roommate Lucy Noepel ’87, since they both now live in NH and are happy to experience all four seasons again. Pamela Brown Johnson moved from Baltimore to Savannah four years ago to be closer to her husband Charlie’s daughter. Charlie was both a Navy and Coast Guard veteran. He was a fighter and fought with dignity through two brain disease diagnoses before he went to be with the Lord in Sept. Pam recently spent time with her Hood roommate Marlene Roberson England at her bookstore WordPlay in Wardensville, WV. If you get the chance, it’s a great place to visit. Pam misses living in the north but really loves Savannah— give her a shout if you’re in the area. Paige Flory sent an update to share that she recently moved to Pittsburgh and keeps busy raising, homeschooling and advocating for her adopted 11-year-old son with special needs. She loves to share cooking and healthy lifestyle videos online and runs a small cooking consulting and catering business. Additionally, Paige adores spending time with daughter Olivia and her husband (in Chicago) and with recently married son Isaac and his wife, who are expecting their first child this fall. She can’t wait to be a grandma. Kellye Greenwald got a new kitty! She adopted Dickie on June 29, 2023, and he is quite the aggressive cuddler and food stealer. She’s still doing improv with Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick. Marcia Menihan Kodlick and husband Jim are still in the Harrisburg, PA, area, living in the same home they purchased just before they got married. Her father lives in the house next door, and she loves having him close by, especially now that her mom is gone. While retirement dreams in Ireland are on their wish list, they’re waiting until their younger son Will (currently finishing his sophomore year at Penn State) graduates. Their older son James completed four years in the Army as a combat medic and is now training with the PA DCNR as a park ranger. Marcia keeps in regular contact with fellow Shriner sisters Heidi Schwab-Jurmala, Katrina Anderson Cicala and Kellye Greenwald and visits with Anne Lamoureux and Sooz Edmiston and her

family often. Elvy Vieira has been busy being the dean of community, continuing education, workforce development and west Essex campus at Essex County College and reopening a new campus. She wants to remind us that community colleges are still the best way to offer education and training to many of our citizens. Elvy hit a milestone of 35 years in the field this year and was promoted to full faculty professor, so teaching is always an option. She says that she never dreamt that she would be in academia and didn’t really appreciate the functions of a dean when she was a work-study for Dean Drum (Alison’s stepmother) while at Hood, but she definitely does now! Their kids are all doing well, and she has an adorable granddaughter, Lara, so between Lara and their dog Ziggy, her weekends are blissful. As for me ( Alison Drum Althouse), we still live in Avondale, PA. Our son Drew Althouse ’12 and his wife Kristen live in MI with their daughter (our first granddaughter) Sammie. Drew is an athletic trainer at Eastern Michigan University. Our son Evan (UVA ’14) and his wife Gabbie live in MA and welcomed their son (our first grandson) Emmett in early Dec. Life “on the road” is going to become even busier for us. Michael and I continue our associations with USNA. Michael works instant replay (for Navy football) and shot clocks (for Navy lacrosse), while I am the on-field sports photographer for TheMidReport. Additionally, Michael is now a trustee with Athletics and Special Programs for the USNA Foundation. We love the interactions with midshipmen in whatever capacity.

1988

Charlotte “Bambi” Volatile-Goebel cagoebel1213@gmail.com

Happy New Year, everyone! Now that we’ve settled into our new house, my husband and I decided we needed to add to our family. We now have three Valais Blacknose sheep to take care of. It has been so much fun to watch them grow up and play together. They are brothers and truly act like it with how they play. If you are in the area, please come by for a visit. My daughter and I met up with Margie Murphy McWilliams ’85 at a fiber festival in Frederick, since I now have wool to use from my sheep. If you know anything about sheep wool and what to do with it, I would love any advice. It also was a pleasant surprise to see my daughter pictured in the last Hood Magazine. She was the one that made the chalk design at our reunion in June. It’s nice being closer to Frederick to meet up with Hood friends. While catching a baseball game at Camden Yards with my husband and son, I ran into Stacie Cox Clark . It helped that we both had on Hood ball caps, but I think I might have recognized her without it. I’m glad that I’ve heard

from some of you over the past few months. I’m not the only one that has had an addition to their family. Anita Krall Christie told me that she and her husband welcomed their first grandchild, Joshua Drew Christie, on Sept. 7, 2023. I found out that Anigda Rivera Landry is not far from me in northern VA, and we plan on meeting up soon. Alicia Grumbine-Macom states that the only entry she would have for Hood Magazine is that she and husband Bill have moved to San Antonio, TX, where she works as the director of admissions and recruitment at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, while Bill is the director of tennis at St. Mary’s University. They still own their old home and hope to move back eventually, unless she can convince Bill to migrate to Denmark or Italy! Here’s what Elizabeth Chappell Forstmann said: “I got married in June 2022 to my soulmate Dean Forstmann. Anne Malcolm Brown ’90 (adopted Little Sister) was there with her family. In June 2023, I retired from my teaching career after 35 years in the classroom. By Sept., I began a new career as a corporate instructional designer for M&T Bank. I work fully remote, allowing for a work/life balance no teacher will ever understand. I can work from anywhere, including the airport on my way to visit my Lil Sis!” Pamela Eyler Noble says, “I’m happy to announce that my daughter Lauren has enrolled in the nursing program at Hood for next fall. She will be graduating 40 years after we did, in 2028!” Many thanks to everyone that has sent in news. I look forward to getting more news for future Issues.

1989

Deirdre Herman classof1989@hood.edu

Angelina Beres Kreiser starts us off, writing, “I am looking forward to reunion! I’ll be there, and I think I have convinced Kathleen “Cady” Whiteside Anderson ’90 to bring her mother Martha Grove Whiteside ’64 for her 60th. Speaking of Cady, I got to hang out with her a few times this summer. She lives in Fairfield, PA, which is about halfway between Frederick and where I live. As for me, I have been working for the PA Department of Human Services as a human resource analyst for about three years now. I am in labor relations, and I like it a great deal. I divorced my husband in July and am now enjoying the single life in a cute apartment in Enola, PA. I didn’t buy because I didn’t see anything I liked, interest rates are ridiculously ugly, and I’m up in the air about where I might want to live after retirement (c’mon 2028!). Plus, my son graduates from Marywood University in the spring, so I’m up in the air with his living situation as well. Anyway, work and friends keep

me busy, and I can’t wait to see everyone for our 35th!” I think you will agree that Stacey Collins’ determination is an inspiration. She writes, “I’m looking forward to the reunion this year! After two knee replacement surgeries in 2023, I’m ready to get back into having fun in 2024.” Martha “Rainie” Dasch writes, “I continue to work as an adjunct faculty member at the University of South Florida, teaching courses in professional writing and critical thinking. Because they are online courses, my husband and I can travel in our RV while I teach. In 2023, we reached our goal of visiting all 48 domestic states in our RV, which has taken five years. We are now going back to visit our favorite areas again. This summer, we think we will go explore the Great Lakes.” Kristen Johnson Kloostra is now based in Sedona, AZ, and says, “I am loving my free-spirited life in the magical high desert! I enjoy adventures traveling to nearby hot springs, mountains and the Pacific coast, all of which are in an easy day trip now, which is a welcome change from my many years of living in WI. As Omkari, I offer transformational retreats and sessions in the healing arts and yoga and would love to connect with any fellow Hoodies who want to come and visit!” If you are heading her way or want to plan a special getaway, please reach out to her at kristenkloostra@gmail.com or visit www.omkari.love. It was so great to hear from my former roommate Elizabeth Tate who writes, “In ’97, I completed my M.S. from Loyola in pastoral counseling/clinical psychology and had a wonderful career as a therapist and owner of a defense contracting business. When we sold the business in 2005, it afforded me the ability to build a state-of-the-art equestrian facility on our farm in Mount Airy, MD, called Paradise Stables. I always wanted to marry my horse and psychology background together, and in 2017, I did just that! I began working with military veterans who suffer from PTSD, among other injuries. Over the years, God has brought the right people, horses and clients together, and we formed Common Ground, Inc., a nonprofit organization. At Common Ground, we harness the powerful connection between horses and humans to teach, learn, grow and heal. We proudly serve our beloved military, first responders, corporate professionals and numerous groups, including at-risk adults and youth. If you are in the area, I would love to show you around. Check us out at www.commongroundps.org.” I wish everyone a happy and safe reunion, and I hope to hear from more of you for the next edition!

1994

Carol Deck Montoya carolannmontoya@gmail.com

Tamasha Cherono Shariff moved with her family to Rome, Italy, in Dec. She plans to start a consultancy on quality assurance, specifically ISO/IEC 17025, which is for quality control analytical laboratories. Krista Nowell Beran and husband Matt celebrated their 25th anniversary with a trip to Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jan. Looking forward to seeing everyone at our 30th reunion, June 6-9, 2024. It will be great to see you all back on campus!

In 10 words or less… “What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the name ‘Hodson’?”

The academic scholarship that paid a significant portion of tuition.

—Amy Seward Quinn

’89

1996

Tanya R. Sander-Marks

Hello, Class of ’96 Hood’lums! For this issue, in addition to regular updates, I asked members of our class to share their favorite memories of winter weather at Hood and all that went along with it. Jewel Smith was able to spend some time shopping with Kim Unseld ’95 and her mom twice this year. She also saw them both again at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Capital Centre. Jewel is still grateful that Kim’s father helped her to get an internship with the Bullets (now Wizards) during her senior year. Jewel also sat for her first meeting on the Hood College Board of Trustees in Oct. She reports that she is incredibly honored and excited to be on the board and to help the next generation of Hood students. Doug Pittsnogle recalls Rayford Lodge and the French House as especially warm places to rest during the winter months as a commuter. Doug studied abroad in Strasbourg, France, his junior year and enjoyed seeing how different Christmas celebrations were in Europe. Jenelle Neiderberger-Beekman, Carla Halfast Nay and Tanya Sander-Marks were also part of that same study abroad semester. Congratulations to Meg Lee, as the second edition of her book “Mindsets for Parents” was published by Routledge in Dec. 2023. The book was written to help parents and caregivers develop persistence, resilience and

perseverance in children. The book also has a Hood connection—it profiles Kearney Francis Blandamer in the sports chapter. In Meg’s role at Frederick County Public Schools, she works with Hood’s education department and the nonprofit Deans for Impact to facilitate the first-of-its-kind Learning Science Consortium, designed to bring together higher education faculty with teachers and leaders from public schools to strengthen evidence-informed practice in service of teacher preparation. Marjorie Mathers Kane transitioned to an administrative role as department chair of special services this year, after working as a learning disabilities teacher for many years. She works for Neptune School District in NJ and reports that she loves her new role. Her son will graduate this spring with a B.S. in biology from Muhlenberg College. Her daughter is a first-year at Bucknell University majoring in business analytics. This fall during Parents’ Weekend at Bucknell, friend and fellow Hood alum Melinda Cohen Donagan surprised Marjorie when they dined out in her hometown of Williamsport, PA. Rachael Miskill Brown, M.S.’06, is still living happily in Wales. She and her husband Roger visited Dusseldorf, Germany, and Barcelona, Spain, and spent time with family in ME this year. They added a greenhouse this summer and grew a wide range of vegetables. Her older niece started college in the fall, studying art history, and a younger niece has taken up karate in addition to ballet. Angela Schmuck Bond, P’27, is excited that her daughter Mikayla Bond ’27 finished her first semester at Hood. Mikayla’s finals experience will be one to remember, as Smith Hall residents had to move out of the dorm when the boiler malfunctioned. Mikayla was able to commute for exams. Angela joined the Hood College Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) and spoke with prospective students and parents at Discover Hood Day. She reports that it was a lot of fun bragging about Hood and helping families make their college decision. Stephanie Sheck Bahr recalls one of her favorite winter memories was getting snowed in while living in Coblentz Hall. It felt like a mini vacation with the days off, and she loved walking around the quad with all the snow. Her daughter graduated from Penn State in May 2023 and is working in NY as a meteorologist. Her son is in his first year of college in RI. She currently works at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center as a security engineer. This year, Stephanie’s husband Jim retired from the Navy after 31 years of service, and Stephanie was officially part of it for 26 of those years. Tanya Sander-Marks says, “I have many wonderful memories of Hood in the winter, but I can’t forget walking out of Coblentz Hall a little too quickly after an ice storm and promptly tumbling all the way down the beautiful marble steps. I heard

some applause when I finally landed. My husband Brian and I celebrated our 20th anniversary in the fall, and we enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends over the holidays.”

1998

Jennifer Barbieri Casey jenb.hood98@gmail.com

Ann Price-Davis is in year 26 of teaching family and consumer sciences. She is co-conference chair of the Ladies Aux Maryland State Firemen’s Association. Ann keeps in contact with Antonella Dattilo, Jennifer Barbieri Casey and Susan Dornbusch Sohn ’78 Jessica Myers Staley is living in Roanoke, VA, working full time as a veterinarian and medical director at VCA Valley Animal Hospital. Jennifer Barbieri Casey says, “I’m still working for Arris Design in Fells Point, MD. I’m busy keeping up with my 6-year-old’s schedule, so there hasn’t been time to do much else. I still keep in touch with Jacki Resop Amato and Ann Price-Davis among other classmates on Facebook. I’d love it if there could be a York County, PA, Hood event in the next few months.”

1999

Anne Hambrick-Stowe Rankin annehambrickstowe@gmail.com

Hi, class! I hope you’re all doing well. Congratulations to Sherie Love-Kenny and husband Brant on welcoming their third child Eleanor at the beginning of Jan. Their boys, Max and Jacob, are excited to have a baby sister. This year marks Sherie’s 15th year as a pediatrician with JDC Pediatrics in Mechanicsburg, PA. Alison Gregg Dowd has moved back to the

east coast and is settled in Jefferson County, WV, with husband Don. They live in an 1892 Victorian home that is far from a fixer-upper but keeps them busy with DIY projects that match their taste for color, preservation and setting up her family’s antiques. They welcome new and old friends to come visit. In 2011, Alison met her amazing husband Don at church; they married in 2022. You will see her name going forward as Alison Vistica. Alison continues to work as a clinical psychologist—rumor has it that her student loans are approaching forgiveness! Since Hood, she hasn’t stopped loving RenFaire, RPG gaming, going to the ballpark and reenacting. When things settle down (does that ever happen?), Alison hopes to reconnect with SCA. She is still cooking and enjoying food—sometimes truly gourmet, other times just gourmand takes over, but either way, food remains her best and favorite connection to all. Alison loves to do anything related to being on the river: fishing, kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding. She reports not being on social media too much, but she also isn’t invisible. If she sees anyone on social media platforms, it’s most likely on Facebook. Alison truly hopes to see folks at reunion one of these years (or preferably when we can reconnect to sing Messiah). Until then, she welcomes anyone to reach out. Toni Draper is wrapping up her fourth book with Desert Palm Press. Set partly in Frederick, one of the main characters is a Hood student/graduate. Although she now calls TX home, Toni will be at Frederick Pride on June 22. You can find out more about her and her books at www.tonirdraper.com. I hope to hear from others for the next magazine column, and I know many are eager to reconnect at reunion this June. Hope to see you there!

Photo by Caroline + Co.

50 YEARS STRONG:

HONORING THE BLACK STUDENT UNION’S LEGACY AND IMPACT

BY ABA BLANKSON ’99,

Our Black Student Union (BSU) is about to achieve a major milestone—its 50th anniversary. We couldn’t be more thrilled, and we’re pulling out all the stops to commemorate in the grandest way possible. From Frederick, Maryland, to Accra, Ghana, get ready for an unforgettable celebration, as we honor the legacy of BSU at Hood College.

BSU is not simply a cherished student organization; it is a dynamic community, a family that comes together to uplift and support one another and to recognize our achievements and navigate challenges. We have formed a powerful network with a deep sense of belonging, and this anniversary is a testament to the lasting impact that BSU has had on the lives of countless students.

From its inception, BSU has been grounded in a commitment to advocacy and activism. It has provided a platform for speaking truth to power, making an impression on campus and beyond, and embracing the uniqueness of our stories. This spirit is embodied in our iconic annual event Liberation of the Black Mind Weekend, which truly encapsulates the essence of BSU’s mission.

There was nothing quite like the thought-provoking conversations about justice and equity that we had while planning the Liberation Weekend agenda; the guidance from advisers like Hoda Zaki, Ph.D., and Nina Banks, Ph.D.; the heightened excitement of welcoming students from other colleges and universities; sharing meals and attending concerts; and sitting in the audience at spoken word poetry night or keynote addresses with friends from sister organizations like the International Students Club and Latinx Student Union.

DESTINATION GHANA

Let’s make new memories as we mark our golden jubilee with an extraordinary trip to Ghana in April 2025. This is a transformational journey to the very roots of our ancestry, a birthright that connects us to a continent steeped in heritage, breathtaking beauty, culture and timeless traditions.

This is an incredible opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. It’s a chance to make new connections, strengthen friendships and create lasting memories, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of BSU. Please join us for this extraordinary experience!

SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY! SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH A VIDEO TOUR WITH ABA BLANKSON ’99, H’22, AND REGISTER FOR THE TRIP.

H’22 [1], JAWAUNA BROWN GREENE ’92 [2], AUDREY QUAYE PAIGE ’97 [3] AND LYNETTE BURROWES SIEWE ’98 [4]

2001

Heidel K. Goldenman goldenmanh@hotmail.com

Holly R. Kirkpatrick kirkpatrick@arcadia.edu

Christine Wheeler and her husband relocated to southern MD and are enjoying life by the shore. She also celebrated 10 years of selfemployment and moved her mental health counseling private practice to be closer to their new home. After graduating from Hood (communications arts/Spanish), K. Alice Lindsay Fox moved to Ithaca, NY, to work as a program assistant for the McKnight Foundation Collaborative Crop Research Program at Cornell University. While working full time, K. Alice decided to pursue a master’s in horticultural biology through the employee degree program. After seven years of hard work (mostly very late at night), K. Alice defended her thesis in May 2011 and graduated with honors (summa cum laude). She discovered her passion for the scientific laboratory and went on to pursue a career as an academic laboratory manager and senior research support specialist. For more than 10 years, K. Alice performed research and laboratory management duties in several laboratories at Syracuse University and the State University of New York-Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) in Syracuse, NY. Her research ranged from co-evolution of species (plant-insect interactions); wildlife genetics and diseases; plant ecological systems; and biophysics. In late 2023, K. Alice decided to leave the academic laboratory setting to pursue an operations manager position at Ichor Life Sciences in LaFayette, NY. In this industry position, she will be managing a team of research technicians in the protein production department. This contract research organization designs and synthesizes proteins that are then used in studies related to aging, contributing directly to medical advancement.

2002

Megan R. Mills meganrhiana@gmail.com

Kudos to Julie Fouche White on her appointment and swearing in as assistant U.S. attorney for the district of Rhode Island!

2005

Leslie Beck Hughan lhughan@gmail.com

Douglas Brown earned a certification of added qualification in palliative medicine and hospice care (CAQ-PMHC) from the NCCPA. He also opened a new medical practice, ComingOut

Health, in Frederick in fall 2023. In this new clinic, he offers primary care for trans/nonbinary people ages 13 and older as well as care for partners of trans/non-binary people who are 18 or older. ComingOut Health is the partner practice to Mason-Dixon Mobile Medicine, which provides compassionate, affirming and equitable primary and palliative care services to homebound patients, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ elders.

2008

Steven E. Delaney stevenedelaney@gmail.com

Holly M. Crawford recently observed their twoyear work anniversary as director of adult public programs at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and served as an inaugural Steering Committee member for CIRCA: Queer Histories Festival 2023, the first LGBTQ+ history festival in the U.S., sponsored by the ONE Archives Foundation. Lisa Blankfard Weeks welcomed a healthy baby boy named Grayson Gregory Weeks in Jan. Jamie Boden and her boyfriend bought a new home in Hagerstown, MD. She also completed the project management graduate certificate program at the University of Maryland in Dec. 2023. In Oct. 2023, Margie Bodrogi Musary celebrated six years with UL Solutions and was promoted to global marketing manager for the cybersecurity division. Hannah Grant Paugh completed a national board teaching certification in early childhood in Dec. 2023. Elizabeth Thompson recently relocated from Washington, D.C., to Brooklyn, NY, and is now working as a leadership gift officer at Columbia University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Elizabeth is also nearing the end of her doctoral degree program in organizational leadership at Hood, where her dissertation research focuses on engaging alumni from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Elizabeth plans to tie the knot this year with her fiancé Whit Washington, Esq., in a summer celebration in NYC.

2009

Lisa K. Wells lkw14@icloud.com

Katelyn Vaughan, M.A.’21, married Todd Rubenstein on April 30, 2023. She is currently human resources manager at TSPi. Her kids are Roman, Grace, Hadrian, Bailan and Autimn— Roman was Bar Mitzvah’d May 20, 2023. Since graduation, Suzan Rababe has earned a master’s in international taxation and financial services from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. She is a senior estates specialist at Redmon, Peyton & Braswell, LLP (where she recently celebrated her 15th work-anniversary). Suzan is

a recent recipient of the 2023 City of Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Award. She’s traveled to Italy, France, U.K., Mexico, Egypt and Lebanon and many states. Aside from traveling, she enjoys spending the weekend with family and her four brilliantly smart nephews: Emad, Adam, Jawad and Omar.

2011

alumoffice@hood.edu

In 2021, Sarah Johnston Comer and husband Matthew transferred their careers from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, MD, and purchased a home in Carroll County. They welcomed son Stellan Craig in Sept. 2022.

2012

Laura Saad Voelker lauragvoelker@gmail.com

Ashley Nokes Reidenauer adnokes@gmail.com

Drew Althouse completed his first full year as an athletic trainer at Eastern Michigan University and is surviving the “three-nager” time with daughter Samantha and wife Kristen. Carley Davis Wescott is currently living in NC with her husband and son, preparing for another move in the spring. Lauren Hagan, her partner Stephen, their two dogs and one cat continue to enjoy the Downtown Frederick life and purchased their first home on Market Street last year. Taylor Hartman graduated from law school in May 2021. Molly Poling Hjelle enjoyed a trip to Norway with her husband, ran another half marathon, wrote a bunch of poems and finally started recovering and healing from past traumas. Zeppa Kreager-Schreyer and husband Andrew welcomed their daughter Lulu Patricia on Dec. 17, 2022, in Mexico City, where Zeppa works as senior adviser to the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Eric Leviton will be reaching his eighth year of service with the USAF in Jan. 2024. He currently resides in the Netherlands and is working towards his master’s with a focus in homeland security from UMGC. Meghan Coulbourne Neanover moved to Holly Springs, NC, with her family and started a new role as an educational consultant with Public Impact. Scott Mauer got married to his now wife Angela. Kasey Smith Plume welcomed a baby boy in Aug. 2023, making them a party of six. Michelle Kuehl Randolph is celebrating five years of marriage in 2024, watching her two kids grow too quickly and starting her first USA Gymnastics Season coaching a Level 2 team. Audrey Vargason married Jackson Dolly in a small family ceremony on the steps of Alumnae Hall on Sept. 29. Laura Saad Voelker and her

husband celebrated their son’s first birthday in Oct. Taurean Washington launched a new art business, Taurean Washington Studios LLC, and will be lecturing at Hood in spring 2024. Haley Just Webb and Jared Webb ’13 welcomed their son Maverick in March. April Smith Widdes recently opened her own small practice for mental health therapy with her business partner and co-therapist in Frederick.

2013

Elaheh Eghbal hoodcollege2013@gmail.com

Andrew Gumas is enjoying living in Los Angeles. He’s working as a tour manager and has a side hustle making and selling scented soy candles. Andrea Zona Baker is enjoying family life with James Baker ’15 in Downtown Frederick, taking trips and developing Maryland Ensemble Theatre into an even more amazing and thriving nonprofit performance art ensemble for visitor and community benefit. Nicola Sussman Martin and husband Billy Martin will be welcoming their first child, a boy, in May. Meladeh Rabie Toney married Derrod Toney in the fall, finished her master’s in curriculum and instruction, started her eighth year of teaching high school chemistry and adopted a new fur baby. Nicole Crutchfield Tabbachino and husband Trevor Tabbachino ’16 moved to Tampa, FL, in 2021. She’s an LCSW-C and working as a full-time professor of social work at Southeastern University. She is also teaching psychology courses at a university in Poland and is a certified yoga instructor. She spent summer 2023 in Hungary, developing a study abroad program, and will be bringing her first group of BSW and MSW students this summer. Crystal Wine Kosko started a new job in Oct. 2023 with the National Institutes of Health, National Institute for Drug Abuse. Darcey Heflin Gottschalk and husband Rob recently celebrated the first birthday of their daughter Alexandria in their home in VA. Elaheh Eghbal is the head of program marketing at MITRE. William Lewis and his wife Robin welcomed their son Reed Beckham Lewis into the world on June 27, 2023. He also started teaching full time at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Germantown as a 7th grade science teacher. Alexi Smith received his M.S. in mental health counseling from Hood in May 2023 and is now a mental health therapist at Inner Self Healing in Gaithersburg, MD. Be well!

2014

Bianca E. Padilla bianca.e.padilla@gmail.com

Hello, Class of 2014! Here’s what we’ve been up to. Domenic Cetrone got married last year in Richmond and is currently living in the Baltimore area. He has been working as an ICU nurse at University of Maryland Medical Center for the past three years. Dom will be starting the nurse anesthesia program at Wake Forest this Aug. Angela Shaner Dwyer is in her tenth year of teaching for FCPS. Angela and her husband are expecting their third child in May. Kate Kopasek Black was recently promoted to grants and contracts specialist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Shock Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center. She is also a member of the current UMBrella cohort, which focuses on supporting and uplifting women in the workplace. Erin Droneburg had the honor of naming and completing the first female ascent of a climb in Colorado’s St. Vrain Canyon; staged three rogue

skateboard contests in three states; and is in the process of purchasing her first home. Lacey Creelman Reed resigned from Charles County Public Schools in Feb. 2023 to accept a position working for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head division. On Nov. 4, 2023, Lacey married Tyler Reed surrounded by her Hood girls. Please look out for more information about our 10-year reunion. See you in June!

2015

Sarah Tapscott Rosier sarah.tapscott12@gmail.com

Our class continues to make big moves! Mary Hickman will be relocating from Honolulu to Portland, OR, in 2024. Caitlin Battey left her job at the McCain Institute (which she held for the last nine years) and accepted a new position as director of public affairs at PLUS Communications. She and her longtime partner Creek got engaged in 2023 and continue to reside in Washington, D.C., with Hank, their black lab rescue. Brigid Ayer, MBA’18, got

CLASS NEWS

engaged in Aug. to Thomas Luttrell. They are getting married in 2024. Logan Bachtell bought a house near D.C. Megan Blair McGill bought a house this year and adopted a loving cat, fulfilling both major goals on her “to do before hitting 30” list. Naeisha Palmer Vawter had a baby girl on Jan. 24, 2023. Alaina Kinsey was recently promoted to senior manager, HR business partner at Sallie Mae. Alaina, boyfriend Ben and their rottweiler Panzer are keeping busy house hunting, traveling and hitting the links. Julianne Berg is entering her third year at Innovatis Group. She will be leading the team at two large conferences again this year. Not only does she enjoy leading the team, but she also loves getting to travel for work. This fall, she hopes to explore the U.K. Annette Zhandosova O’Connell is completing her last year of residency in emergency medicine. She will begin her position as an emergency medicine attending physician in Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ, in summer 2024. She and her husband Dylan O’Connell ’12 are starting their shopping. Kristen Geatz Temple just completed her first semester of graduate school at Shenandoah University, where she is pursuing a master’s in performing arts leadership and management. Kristen recently started a new position at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., as their rentals and operations manager. Reach out if you would like to host an event. Kristen and her husband Nicholas Temple ’13 just adopted Canoe, a 4-year-old beagle/dachshund.

Megan Rodriguez Mercer and husband Jared welcomed their second son Kian into the world in Sept. and have been learning how to be a family of four (six if you count the dogs). She’s continued to gain more responsibilities and leadership in her technical lead position with iNovex Information Systems. Sarah Wagstaff was promoted to a new position at her company United Electric Supply. Tara Biser Little and her husband just finished another major renovation on their house. She was also awarded the 2023 Salesperson of the Year award from Proteintech Group. Romitta Hoff started a new job working in the field of environmental sustainability in Baltimore. Meg DePanise, MBA’20, and husband Justin Everett ’11 continue to enjoy seeing the world through their 2-year-old Violet’s eyes—she was so excited to play in snow for the first time. Matt Lee and wife Bailey are getting ready to celebrate their fifth anniversary and are keeping busy renovating their 80-year-old fixer upper and chasing after 2-year-old son Umberto. Matt’s new book “The Backwards Hand” will be published by Northwestern University Press in May. Sarah Tapscott Rosier and her husband Owen Rosier ’16 continue to travel, trying new beers along the way. Sleeping Bee Designs, Sarah’s

event coordination and planning company, has been an absolute joy and continues to grow and help families all over MD and VA celebrate love. As we prepare for our 10-year reunion in 2025, Sarah wants to know what you’d like to do! Reach out to her via email or on Facebook.

2017

Mary Milligan Jaskiewicz mary.r.milligan@gmail.com

Reem Zietoon moved to FL and started a residency program in July to specialize in pediatric pharmacy. Caroline Kinna became a licensed clinical social worker and is a school therapist working with teenagers and their families. Cameron Rogers self-published his debut novel “Their Days Are Like Grass,” which takes place in Frederick. Logan Bennett is an attorney adviser with the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. She was recently named deputy designated federal officer of the Communications, Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council. Logan lives in Alexandria, VA, with her spouse Lou, their cat Ollie and their two chinchillas, Roxie and Velma. Weston Bimstefer attended graduate school at Lenoir Rhyne University and finished his lacrosse career there, where he played in the D2 lacrosse national semifinal game. He graduated with his master’s in 2019 and started a real estate company with his family, Winning Edge Real Estate. Kassandra Stout started a new job at Moog, Inc., as a communication specialist in its Space and Defense Group based in East Aurora, NY. In Oct. 2023, she traveled to Europe to explore Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Amber Tavenner Sobalvarro is working as a tax accountant in Frederick at Hildebrand, Limparis & Associates while studying to obtain her CPA license. Blaine Daisey is now living in Australia, teaching Zumba full time, and is also a freelance graphic designer. He says he’d love to stay “down under,” so if any Aussie alums are hiring, let him know. Guillermo Sobalvarro is working at Clark Hill PLC in Washington, D.C., while attending law school at the University of the District of Columbia. Leland W. Creadick feels like it was just yesterday that he graduated from Hood and is thankful for the confidence he gained during his time in college that has led to his successes today. He is coming up on three years as the general manager of Onelife Fitness Alexandria (VA). In 2021, he co-founded a semi-professional men’s soccer team based out of Alexandria called FC 1749. The team had instant success, winning both divisions of the historic Maryland Major Soccer League. After earning significant winnings, the team

moved to the United Premier Soccer League. Last summer, Leland became the general manager for the Alexandria Reds, and during his first season as GM, the team was crowned Mid-Atlantic Conference Champions of the National Premier Soccer League. The current team (a merger of the Reds and FC1749) is currently ranked in the top 25 nationally. In his tenure as GM, the teams have held a combined record of 58-17-9. As a previous member of the Hood College men’s soccer team, he is proud to be a Hood alumnus and thankful to still be working in the game he is passionate about.

2018

Mat L. Molina matthew.molina2014@gmail.com

Mat Molina is at the tail-end of the second year (halfway done!) of his graduate program in audiology. He has already improved the quality of life for many of his patients and cannot wait to improve many more. Bethany Montague recently started a job at the Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, NC. She is super excited to have finally made her way into a museum.

2021

Liliana C. Bean lilianacbean@gmail.com

Tailyn Kite coaches volleyball at Harford Community College and helped lead them to their third conference title year in a row. The team also won region and district championships, leading its first appearance at NJCAA nationals. Jordan Reed-Estes is at the same job but recently joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary as a marine and environmental safety officer. She’s in the training phase right now but hopefully will soon be out in the field and at sea assisting active duty “Coasties.” Jody Eccard is teaching 3rd grade but is eager to get back to special education. She is engaged after eight years and is getting married in Sept. Ashley McGlaughlin launched her first blog called “Ashley’s Life Blog,” where she spreads awareness about addiction and being a child of addiction. Sydney Whipp Main is returning to Hood for her master’s in mathematics instructional leadership. She and her husband are finally settled into their home. She is still teaching 3rd grade for FCPS and looking into planning another cruise to the Bahamas. Omnia Ahmed Salem took and passed the national counseling exam and is starting a new position as a vocational specialist at a residential facility for adults with mental illnesses while working on her licensing application to become a therapist in MD. She graduates from Hood with her master’s in counseling in May. Lily Bean got engaged on

a magical wintry day in Dec. 2023 in Downtown Frederick. Minutes after her engagement, she saw Garrett Gravanda —how coincidental! She works as a case administrator under the Chapter 13 Trustee, hosts her own podcast “Girl Math with Lily Bean” and lives in Columbia with her fiancé. Emily Savona had an unexpectedly busy second half of 2023. She graduated with her master’s in May from North Dakota State, spent the summer in SC and moved to OR in Aug. She’s working with the University of Oregon’s soccer and lacrosse teams as director of operations. In the fall, she bounced around the west coast with soccer and is currently preparing for lacrosse’s upcoming season with the transition to the Big Ten. Savannah Louise Branch got married in Sept. and recently started working for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services as a social science research analyst in the Medicare Plan Payment Group. Cameron King received his MBA at Hood. He just got married and is working as a financial analyst for Kroger. Caroline Jeranek graduated from the University of Central Florida with a master’s in nonprofit management

in May. She’s relocating to Asheville, NC, with her boyfriend Joshua Womack, MBA’22, and hoping to start some sort of social entrepreneurial business in the next year to benefit animal welfare. Bryce McCown moved down to FL and is working at Paychex. His clothing brand Kozy Dayz is taking off. Life is good!

In 10 words or less… “What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the name ‘Hodson’?”

Hodson Science Hall—Bio

101 and 102 freshman year!

—Susan Youry Kenney ’84

2022

Catherine M. Neves cmn5@hood.edu

The Class of 2022 has been busy! Thomas Nieto is volunteering for the Peace Corps. He is working in the Philippines with the Coastal Resource Management sector. He will finish his work in 2025. Maryam Iftikhar started a new job at the nonprofit organization Freedom House in March 2023. She is working as the media and events specialist. Please feel free to reach out any time you have news.

In Memoriam Remembering those we have lost.

As reported January 1, 2024

Undergraduate Alumni

Doris Hemp Gaither ’42

January 2019

Jane Taylor Slabaugh ’42

December 2023

Vera B. Peters ’47

November 2023

Virginia Dyer Smith ’47

November 2023

Phyllis Peak Sullivan ’47

July 2023

Elaine H. Cortelyou ’48

July 2023

Jean Heer Clark ’49

July 2023

Martha Kirkpatrick Marsh ’49

August 2023

Lorraine Illan Anton ’51

2021

Louise Mistlebauer Harris ’51

August 2022

Margaret Wilhelm Pfaff ’51

June 2023

Barbara Allen Prall ’51

August 2023

B. Lorraine Moberty Stup ’51

September 2022

Joanne Dickerson Mason ’52

September 2023

Jane Taggart Whittaker ’52

August 2023

Elizabeth Wright Barr ’54

January 2024

Barbara Weaver Batdorf ’54

December 2023

Joyce Parker Evans ’54

November 2023

Norma Simpson Rein ’54

September 2023

Mary Raine Lach ’55

September 2023

Barbara Bundens North ’56

August 2023

Mary Holland McRae ’56

July 2023

Joan Hildreth Mulqueen ’56

September 2023

Sarah L. Stonehurst ’56

July 2023

Stephany Smith Harper ’58

October 2023

Penelope Adams Rogers ’58

October 2023

Vivian Garnier Trabulsy ’58

January 2024

NANETTE CARIGNAN MARKEY ’79 Registrar

November 26, 1953 – October 25, 2023

Margaret Trussell Ummel ’58

September 2023

Carole Moore White ’58

November 2023

Sonya Solosko Baum ’59

August 2023

Jeannette M. Boothby ’59

March 2023

Sarah Corbin Rogers ’60

November 2023

Janice McDavid Kuntz ’62

July 2023

Margaret A. Fritz ’64

October 2023

M. Ann Collins Hanewald ’64

August 2023

Gail Rosenblum Sherman ’67

September 2023

Nanette grew up in Walkersville, Maryland, and went on to major in English at Wheeling College and later at Hood College, following in the footsteps of her mother Nancy O’Neill Carignan ’48 and her grandmother Emma Cornpropst O’Neill, Class of 1922. She began her 39-year career at Hood in the admission office as an information specialist and completed her time as the registrar before retiring in 2018. As a staff member, she was a recipient of the Whatever It Takes Award in 2008 and the Dr. Henry P. and Page Laughlin Distinguished Administrative Achievement Award in 2018.

“Nanette was a dedicated employee, with a wonderful sense of humor and infectious smile,” said President Andrea Chapdelaine. “Anyone attending campus holiday parties or Commencement rehearsal will remember her as a holiday singer or humming Pomp and Circumstance.”

Nanette spent much of her retired years volunteering with Friends of Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, pouring herself into cleaning and cataloguing gravestones in a role that saw her posthumously named Volunteer of the Year 2023 by Preservation Maryland.

She was silly and loving to her dying day, and she was fortunate enough to have passed in the company of her husband, sons and siblings. She is survived by her husband Rob Markey, sons Josh and Mike, grandsons Nicholas and Leo, siblings Christine, Andrew and Rosemary, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary Louise Fox Eaton ’71

August 2023

Cynthia Jackson Hileman ’71

September 2023

Lorraine Davis Beckman ’74

June 2022

Martha Childs Brannon ’79

December 2020

Nanette Carignan Markey ’79

October 2023

Virginia Corder Byrd ’81

April 2022

Dolores Nasby Wojcik ’81

July 2023

Philip R. Clark Jr. ’85

October 2023

Robert F. Jackson ’87

January 2024

Pamela Dickson Siedor ’90

January 2024

Carl R. McKnight ’94

December 2023

Hugh L. Gordon, Jr. ’95

September 2023

Carroll J. Alexander ’08

August 2023

Christopher Cole ’13

January 2024

John W. Adams ’22

November 2023

Graduate Alumni

Leah Weimer MacMillan, M.A.’84

November 2023

Brenda Crews Stanfield, M.A.’84

January 2024

Barrett L. Cross, M.A.’90

October 2023

Frank J. Ferrara, MBA’98

June 2021

Faculty, Staff and Friends

William S. Bivens, Administrative Staff

May 2023

Agnes E. Griffith, Faculty

October 2023

Marcia A. Hall, Administrative Staff

January 2024

Louise McCandlish Mangus, Faculty

September 2023

John W. Urian, Administrative Staff

October 2023

Flat Tires and Dream Cookies: How Hodson Chose Hood

By Mary Atwell, Hood College archivist

Thomas S. Hodson (1837-1920), a Maryland politician and newspaper owner, was a man of many talents who highly valued education. Near the end of his life, in 1920, he settled The Hodson Trust with funds provided by his son Col. Clarence Hodson. The Trust was created to finance a new university or, if that did not prove to be viable, fund existing educational institutions.

Why Hood College was chosen as one of four beneficiaries of The Hodson Trust is unclear. Little explanation readily exists, and it does not make sense on the surface. At the time, Col. Hodson and his wife lived in New Jersey, and he commuted to New York City for work. How Hood was discovered by the Hodsons might have come down to a flat tire and a cookie recipe.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the popular story about Washington College being named a beneficiary of the Trust occurred when Col. Hodson had a flat tire in front of the college, and students and faculty helped him change it. Sally Hynson Hopkins, Hodson’s granddaughter, believes this story is true but thinks the flat tire may have actually happened at Hood College.

Several sources suggest that the Hodsons came across Hood’s campus during a trip through western Maryland in the 1920s (when their tire may or may not have gone flat). Seeing the College in the 1920s must have been impressive. Alumnae, Shriner and Brodbeck Halls stood tall at the end of a long drive, interrupted only by the trolley tracks. Hood’s new campus was extremely active— between 1922 and 1925, four buildings were constructed to add to the seven existing buildings, so institutional growth was clearly evident.

The College farm lay beyond these buildings, and the Catoctin foothills rose past farmlands to the west. Students travelled between the new campus and Winchester Hall for classes and dorm life, and many rode on horseback to Camp Raudy in the foothills for weekends away. As a thriving women’s college experiencing fast growth in a historically significant city in the middle of rural central Maryland, the campus must have appeared vibrant.

In 1928, Col. Hodson died suddenly from a heart attack. Lillian Brown Hodson, sharing her husband’s interest in education and philanthropy, subsequently became involved with The Hodson Trust. The four schools selected to receive funds from the Trust were Hood College, Washington College, Johns Hopkins University and St. John’s College. The selection process itself was internal and quiet.

The first gift to Hood was given in 1936 to finance the Hodson Outdoor Theater in Col. Hodson’s

memory and may have been thanks to a marvelous batch of fresh-baked cookies.

The cookie recipe story comes from a letter written by Martha Pease Gamble ’42 to Martha Church, Ph.D., Hood’s seventh president. According to the letter, Lillian Brown Hodson visited with President Henry Stahr and his wife in 1934 or

1935 for a campus tour and tea. Campus dietitian Martha C. Thomas oversaw home economics students and served tea and cookies to the group.

Mrs. Hodson left without any comment about Hood, but she sent a chauffeur back later in the week to request the recipe for the cookies that were served. They were called “dream cookies,” and the recipe was Thomas’ own. Within a year, Hood received its first gift from The Hodson Trust. Thomas liked to think it came in part due to her cookie recipe! The recipe was published several years later in her cookbook along with the story.

Augusta Lantz, registrar, and friend on an outing in the 1920s.

Lillian Brown Hodson lays the cornerstone in the Hodson Science and Technology Center (originally named the Lillian Brown Hodson Science Hall), 1957.

2024-25 AHI JOURNEYS

SCOTLAND – STIRLING

AUG. 11-19, 2024

CROATIA & THE DALMATIAN COAST

OCT. 11-22, 2024

HOLIDAY MARKETS

CRUISE

THE FESTIVE RHINE RIVER

DEC. 10-18, 2024

DUTCH WATERWAYS

APRIL 1-9, 2025

ENCHANTING GEMS OF AUSTRIA

JUNE 11-20, 2025

BASQUE COUNTRY SPAIN & FRANCE

OCTOBER 15-26, 2024

Join your fellow Hood alumni for an immersive exploration of Basque Country, a beautiful region that stretches across northern Spain and southwestern France along the Bay of Biscay.

You’ll make your home in dazzling San Sebastián, Spain’s culinary capital, and set off on wonderful excursions throughout Basque Country. Discover the chic beach resort of Biarritz and explore French Basque culture in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Espelette and Bayonne. In Spain, savor dinner and conversation with local Basques, tour the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum and stroll the streets of Hemingway’s Pamplona!

Throughout your trip, a seasoned team of travel directors, lecturers and expert guides work together to deliver the AHI experience you expect.

For more information about all Hood Alumni Travel, please go to hood.ahitravel.com .

already made

for many students who are now thriving. We hope that you’ll help even more aspiring students realize their dreams.