CLASS NOTES Alumni, we want to hear what you’ve been doing. Mail career, wedding, birth, and death news to Class Notes, Virginia Tech Alumni Association, Holtzman Alumni Center, 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061; email the information to classnotes@vt.edu; or submit the news online at vtmag.vt.edu/submit-classnote.php, where photos may also be uploaded for consideration. For assistance, call 540-231-6285.
’60
CAREER Peter R. Kurzhals, Fountain Valley, Calif., is president of the Orange County Chapter of Sigma Xi.
’65
CAREER Sheridan R. Barringer, Newport News, Va., published his third Civil War biography, “Unhonored Service: Lee’s Senior Cavalry Commander, Colonel Thomas Taylor, Munford, CSA.” Peter L. King, Rehoboth Beach, Del., will publish his fifth book, “Production Scheduling of Process Industry Operations—Strategies, Processes, Software.”
’68
CAREER Victor E. Sower, Huntsville, Texas, published the third edition of his co-authored book, “RFID for the Supply Chain and Operations Professional.”
’70
COURTESY OF THE STIDHAM FAMILY
CAREER Charles E. McDonald III, Midlothian, Va., retired from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty after 20 years. Randy H. Thurman, Malvern, Pa., chairman of the board, Outlook Therapeutics Inc., was named to the board of directors of the Villanova University Scarpa Center for Entrepreneurialism and Law as well as to the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.
’74
CAREER Victor M. Perez, Katy, Texas, was elected to the Katy (Texas) Independent School District Board of Trustees.
’75
CAREER Neil C. Damgaard, Roanoke, Va., edited a book, “Wounded Faith—Understanding and Healing From Spiritual Abuse.”
’76
CAREER Barbara L. “Bobbi” Kurshan, Washington, D.C., co-authored “InnovateHERs—Why Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurial Women Rise to the Top.”
’77
CAREER Thomas A. Belote, La Plata, Md., who retired from the Joint Warfare Analysis Center in Dahlgren, Va., and the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., volunteers as a Master Gardener. Susan Jackson Getty, Manchester, Md., was appointed to the Maryland State Board of Education for a fouryear term. Frances M. Park, Springfield, Va., announced her forthcoming memoir, “That Lonely Spell: Stories of Family, Friends & Love.” Diane “Carol“ Ragone, Kilauea, Hawaii, was honored as the Society for Economic Botany’s Distinguished Economic Botanist for her work to conserve, study, and use breadfruit for food and reforestation.
Sharon and James Stidham
MOM AND SON EARN DOCTORATES This spring’s commencement ceremonies certainly were a family affair for the Stidhams. Sharon Stidham received a Ph.D. in instructional design and technology from the School of Education, while her son, James, earned a Ph.D. in condensed matter and material physics from the College of Science. It marked his third degree from the university, all in physics. A stint as an adjunct professor at a community college sparked Sharon’s decision to earn a doctoral degree. She was frustrated with her students’ math skills, and she’d been interested in the use of computer games to help students learn concepts and develop additional skills. The two now are preparing for their next steps. James is moving to Northern Virginia to be with his wife, while Sharon continues to pursue several potential job leads.
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