Highlights - Front Page - Christ Church Episcopal School

C h r i s t C h u r c h E p i s c o p a l S c h o o l • G r e e n v i l l e , S C 

Highlights 

Carrie Ryan '96: 

Lots of Buzz for Her 

First Novel 

May 2009 

In this Issue: Following Your Passion • Finding Opportunities in a Challenging Economy 

Appy Apperson '79 on Being #2 • Edward Toledano '83 Talks About His "Ten-Year Plan" 

Wayne Hopkins '91 Trades Hollywood for the Ministry • Conor Sullivan '99 Opens His Own Law Practice 

Jonathan Kovach '05 Follows His Passion for Open Waters • Frances DeLoache Ellison '68 on Clarifying Your Philanthropic Priorities 

Spring 2009 | 1 

A Cavalier Evening—The Power of Purpose, People, and Philanthropy • Much more...

Highlights May 2009 

Published by the Advancement Office 

Connie Lanzl, 

Vice President for Advancement 

Alice Baird, Editor 

Contributing Writers 

Class Agents 

Appy Apperson ’79 

Alice Baird 

Caroline Cheves ’95 

Kathryn Cheves ’90 

Langdon Cheves ’89 

Rebecca Ellen Clay ’77 

Lee Cox 

Bentley DeGarmo ’97 

Frances Ellison 

Donna Pazdan Friedman ’82 

Ron Gregory 

Wayne Hopkins ’91 

Jonathan Kovach ’05 

Connie Lanzl 

Virginia Phillippi ’82 

Craig Ragsdale ’99 

Viviane Till 

Courtney Tollison ’95 

Michael West ’05 

With special thanks to 

Cynthia Willis for her 

assistance with Class Notes. 

A Note from the Editor 

Lately, everywhere we turn there are dispiriting stories about the 

current economic downturn and its effect on people in all walks of 

life. It occurred to me that CCES prepares its graduates to thrive 

in precisely this kind of challenging environment. So, in this issue 

we present stories of our graduates’ resiliency and resourcefulness in 

defining success on their own terms. 

What we discovered is that the current climate is ripe for people 

who wish to change direction from “following the money” to 

“following their passions.” In many ways, the foundation laid at 

CCES helps graduates find and cultivate their passions. In the 

classroom and beyond we expose students to a broad range of 

knowledge and experiences. But perhaps even more important, our 

faculty work one on one with students, helping them to cultivate 

their unique talents through such assignments as the Tenth Grade 

Personal Project, the Senior Thesis, and the IB Extended Essay. 

Students emerge from these experiences with more than mere 

knowledge. They emerge with self-confidence, a sense that their 

personal interests have been validated and that their contributions 

are valued and meaningful. It is no wonder that CCES graduates 

are able to adapt—and prosper—even in a difficult economy. 

Graphic Designer 

Brandy Lindsey, 

The Graphics House, Inc. 

Alice Baird 

Director of Publications & Marketing 

Cover photo: Carrie Ryan ’96 

Read more on page 

16. 

2 | Highlights

Finding Opportunities in a Challenging Economy 

Table of Contents 

From the President’s Desk, by Dr. Leland H. Cox, Jr.............................................. 5 

Opportunities for Students and Alumni ............................................................. 6 

The Power of Alumni Networking, by Viviane Till ........................................................ 6 

Appy Apperson ’79: Advice to CCES Students 

(Alumni Career Program Keynote Address) ............................................................. 8 

The Luxury of Choice: Academic Success and Opportunity, 

by Courtney Tollison ’95 ..................................................................................... 10 

Following Your Passion............................................................................................ 12 

Edward Toledano ’83: Finding Your “Hole-in-One,” 

by Rebecca Ellen Clay ’77 .................................................................................... 12 

Goodbye to $50 Lunches and All That, by Wayne Hopkins ’91 ................................ 14 

Carrie Ryan ’96: The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by Alice Baird.................................... 16 

An Excerpt from the Book...................................................................................... 18 

Conor Sullivan ’99: What to Do With a Law Degree 

When Law Firms Aren’t Hiring, by Craig Ragsdale ’99......................................... 20 

Boats and the Sea: The Passion Remains, by Jonathan Kovach ’05 ............................. 22 

The Luxury of 

Choice, page 

10. 

The Opportunity to Make a Difference ............................................................ 23 

Clarifying Your Philanthropic Priorities in a Difficult Economy, by Frances Ellison..... 23 

Ask Ron Gregory: Why Planned Giving Makes Sense Now ......................................... 24 

Profile in Philanthropy: A Cavalier Evening— 

The Power of Philanthropy, People, and Purpose, by Connie Lanzl....................... 26 

Profiles ........................................................................................................................ 28 

National Fashion Publications Take Note of Stacy Smallwood’s Sense of Style, 

by Bentley DeGarmo ’97 .................................................................................... 28 

A New China for a New Generation, by Michael West ’05 ........................................ 30 

In Memoriam.............................................................................................34 

“Mr. O”: An Affectionate Remembrance of Edward Olechovsky, 

by Langdon Cheves ’89, Kathryn Cheves ’90, and Caroline Cheves ’95 ............ 34 

Angela Gullatt Lykes ’82: by Virginia Phillippi ’82 

and Donna Pazdan Friedman ’82 ....................................................................... 36 

Spring 2009 | 3

It All Starts Here. 

CCES 

Legacy, 

page 

41. 

Alumni Events ............................................................................................................. 38 

Note: Class Reunions will be covered in the Fall 2009 Highlights. 

2008 Sports Hall of Fame: A Celebration of Volleyball.................................................. 38 

Alumni Awards VIP Dinner.......................................................................................... 40 

Ready, Aim, Fire: Alumni Take Aim at Sporting Clay Tournament................................ 40 

2009 Legacy Breakfast................................................................................................... 41 

2009 Alumni Career Program: “Being #2 Can Be a Good Thing” ................................ 42 

2009 Alumnae Field Hockey Game ............................................................................. 44 

2009 Oyster Roast......................................................................................................... 44 

Class News.................................................................................................................... 45 

Marriages...................................................................................................................... 45 

Births............................................................................................................................ 45 

Deaths........................................................................................................................... 45 

Class News.................................................................................................................... 45 

CCES Mission Statement 

Christ Church Episcopal School 

is a coeducational college preparatory school 

in the Episcopal tradition 

for Primer through Grade Twelve 

that nurtures each student’s intellectual and spiritual development, 

personal integrity, sense of community and self-worth, 

and promotes international understanding 

and an appreciation of the diversity of persons and cultures 

through strong academic programs, 

comprehensive athletics, and vibrant arts. 

Cces Core Values 

Character 

Community 

Excellence 

Service 


Finding Opportunities in a Challenging Economy 

From the President’s Desk 

President Lee Cox addresses 

alumni panelists at the CCES 

Alumni Career Program on 

March 19. 

Several years ago, before coming to Greenville, I came upon 

a note written by my father. It had a profound effect on me 

and continues to be a guiding force in my life. Written in 

his hand, on a yellowed note card, was a single question: 

What are the essentials of a full life? To this question he 

enumerated four short answers: (1) a faith fit to live by; (2) 

a self fit to live with; (3) work fit to live for; (4) someone 

to love and be loved by. I don’t know when he wrote these 

words, what his frame of mind was at the time, or even 

if the words were actually his. What mattered, and what 

had the strongest effect on me, was that here was a set 

of principles without which, however articulated, no life 

endeavor could be fully realized. 

The theme for this issue of Highlights is finding 

opportunities, a quest made all the more complex in a 

challenging economy. Among others, you will read about Wayne Hopkins ’91, who moved 

from Hollywood to the ministry; about Carrie Ryan ’96, who transitioned from law to 

writing; and about Connor Sullivan ’99, who created his own law firm to meet his own 

needs and dreams. In these and other examples you will read of people following their 

passion, not simply looking for a job. Beyond that, however, I will venture that there are even 

deeper needs that motivated the people you will read about; and if pressed, they would affirm 

that the fundamental bedrock of satisfaction rests upon qualities very similar to those listed 

by my father. 

There is no doubt something deep in our human nature that causes these needs to resonate 

so strongly. How they are nurtured and developed, though, depends largely on the 

environments in which we find ourselves or which we seek. And to be sure, the environment 

at CCES encourages all of our students, at every grade level, to search for meaning, to grow 

their faith, to think independently and critically, to take risks (which sometimes means 

learning valuable lessons from failure), to be of service to the community, and to be a positive 

force in the world. 

Maturing in faith, the development of a fully realized self, preparation for a life of worthy 

endeavor—all of these are a central part of the CCES experience. 

Lee Cox 

President 

Spring 2009 | 5

Opportunities for Students and Alumni 

The Power of Alumni Networking 

by Viviane Varin Till 

Chances are that if you are one of our 2,700-plus CCES alumni, you feel strongly, as we do, that you received 

a top-notch education, possibly the best that South Carolina has to offer, and were prepared for the rigors of 

college. That is, after all, the mission of Christ Church Episcopal School. But, in today’s world of layoffs, stimulus 

packages, and bailouts—is that enough? 

If you are looking for a 

job, a summer internship, 

or for networking 

opportunities, put 

CCES alumni events 

on your list of social 

engagements. 

The CCES Alumni Network is 

Strong 

The Alumni Office is well aware that in this 

economic climate it’s not only what you 

know but also who you know that will help 

you succeed. The CCES alumni network is 

strong and available to all members of the 

CCES family. If you are looking for a job, 

a summer internship, or for networking 

opportunities, you would do well to put 

our CCES alumni events high on your list 

of social engagements. Attend our Oyster 

Roast, Christmas parties, reunions, and 

other events and you will not only enjoy 

catching up with your old classmates and 

teachers—you might also make a valuable 

professional connection, set up a job 

interview, or spend some time talking with 

other alumni about potential business 

opportunities, not only here in Greenville, 

but anywhere around the world. The CCES 

connection is evident in many business 

relationships in town, for example, the 

Nachman Norwood & Parrott Investment 

Group, with partners Bob Nachman ’82, 

Ben Norwood ’83, and John Parrott 

’65. Similarly, when Stacy Smallwood 

’97 opened her stores (see article, p.28), 

she turned to Linning Smoak Crawford 

for publicity, where she knew she could 

count on CCES alumnae Katherine Wood 

Smoak ’88 and Marion Rose Crawford 

’85 to deliver. 

New Senior Internships 

When Ingram Carpenter ’06 was looking 

for a summer internship following 

her freshman year at the University of 

Pennsylvania, the Alumni Office helped 

arrange one with Tucker Eskew ’79 in 

Washington, DC. Now two current 

alumni programs are in place to help our 

students begin networking while they 

are still at CCES. This spring the Upper 

School launched a new senior internship 

program. Government and economics 

teacher Melanie Carmichael, other 

faculty members, volunteer parents, and 

the Alumni Office have teamed together 

to place eligible seniors in intern positions 

with firms in the community that match 

the student’s career ambitions. This pilot 

program will provide students with real-life, 

hands-on experience that can’t be taught in 

a classroom. After their internship, a report 

will be given to the junior class in hopes of 

inspiring them to take advantage of similar 

internship opportunities next year. Among 

the CCES graduates and current parents 

participating in the internship program 

are Stephen Geary (Steadman Hawkins 

Clinic of the Carolinas), Marie Clay Hall 

’75 and Cindy Carrigan (Novartis), Tim 

Hughes (orthodondist), Linda Pentaleri 

(Greenville County Children’s Museum), 

and Courtney Tollison ’95 (Upcountry 

History Museum). 



Alumni Career Program 

The second alumni networking program 

began five years ago when CCES held its first 

Alumni Career Program for Upper School 

students. Designed to expose juniors and 

seniors to successful practitioners in fields 

ranging from medicine and law to education 

and public service, the program brings 

reunion-year alumni face to face with our 

students to offer advice, answer questions, and 

make connections. A secondary benefit of the 

program has been the professional networking 

opportunities the participating alumni 

discover by talking to each other on that day. 

Keynote speakers have included businessman 

and former Clinton White House staffer Billy 

Webster ’75, Hollywood producer Wayne 

Hopkins ’91, international security expert 

Ann Hayes ’77, TV executive Billy Campbell 

’78, and agricultural commodities consultant 

Appy Apperson ’79 (read an excerpt from 

his keynote address, p. 8). Along with these 

keynote speakers, scores of accomplished 

alumni have volunteered to sit on career panels 

and interact with students. From retired 

family court judge Amy Sutherland ’72, to 

freelance sports journalist David Hamilton 

’99, United States Secret Service agent 

Scott Summers ’91, cardiologist Tommy 

Siachos ’89, and many others, our alumni 

have proven generous of their time with our 

students. As our graduates move through 

college, internships, and careers, these alumni 

connections will undoubtedly appreciate in 

value. 

All along, you’ve known that CCES has been 

a powerful force in your life. Through this 

school you have made lifelong friends and 

shared many wonderful experiences. But 

the benefits of a CCES education don’t end 

abruptly with Commencement. For many 

pursuing jobs, careers, and new opportunities, 

this school continues to yield valuable 

dividends, especially in the area of alumni 

networking. ■ 

Viviane Varin Till is Director of CCES 

Alumni Programs. 

The annual Alumni 

Career Program 

allowed Appy 

Apperson '79, 

Scottie Echols 

Fowler ’79, Emily 

Collins Rackley 

’79, Greg Kintz ’79, 

and Pam Sheftall 

Huffman ’79 to 

network over a 

delicious lunch. 

Spring 2009 | 7


Appy Apperson’79: 

Advice to CCES Students 

On March 19, Appy Apperson ’79 delivered the keynote address at the Alumni Career Program. Below are 

excerpts from his remarks to Upper School students. Barbara Carter introduced him as “an astute businessman, 

an entrepreneur, a financial consultant, a world-traveler, and an adventurer.” A student at CCES since Primer, 

Appy graduated in 1979. He was co-captain of the soccer team, a member of the tennis and baseball teams, 

an editor on the Cavalier Express, and an enthusiastic officer of the Outdoor Club. After earning his B.A. in 

economics at Sewanee in 1983, he struck out for New York, starting as a clerk with the New York Cotton 

Exchange. This eventually led him to a position as a broker in Dallas, Texas, with Drexel, Burnham Lambert, 

where he serviced commercial firms in the US, Mexico, and Australia, working especially in the cotton market. 

When Appy decided to pursue an MBA degree, he chose the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. His dissertation 

not only earned him the Walter Scott Foundation Prize for best finance dissertation but also a market researcher 

position with the London International Financial Futures Exchange. Then he moved half a world away. His 

financial expertise and knowledge of agricultural commodities, especially cotton, led him to several positions 

in both rural and urban areas of Australia, including the establishment in 1990 of his own firm, Apperson 

Management, an agricultural commodity risk management advisory firm. His life “Down Under” led to his 

becoming a naturalized Australian citizen in 1996. 

Appy returned to the US in 2004 and lived in Virginia before completing the circle and moving back to Greenville 

in 2008, where he opened another branch of Apperson Management. But his adventurous, roaming spirit 

continues no matter where is. 

I am very humbled to stand before you 

today and be asked to be the keynote 

speaker for this Program. I was even more 

humbled when Viviane Till informed me 

that I was the second choice and not the 

first. 

Be thankful your 

education at CCES will 

help you handle obstacles 

an seize opportunities [for] 

the rest of your life. 

Being Second Can Lead to 

Being First 

Let me emphasize to you this morning 

that being second choice is not to be 

frowned upon, but is an honor and most 

of all an opportunity. Though we usually 

do not remember who came in second for 

last year’s World Series, or who won silver 

in a particular Olympic event, or who was 

Harry Truman’s Vice President, not being 

first can still lead to many wonderful 

opportunities in life, and eventually to 

being first in the eyes of your peers. 



I will never forget Sam Wyche, former 

Furman football player, professional 

football player, sports shop owner, and 

NFL head coach, who spoke to us at 

the former Lower School downtown 

sometime in the 1970s. He was always 

second-string quarterback in college, 

second string in pro football, second to 

open a sporting goods store in Greenville, 

and always assistant coach in the NFL. 

Then, when someone retired, he got to 

be first: head coach of the Cincinnati 

Bengals. 

You never know when your chance will 

come and you never know when you will 

receive recognition for your efforts. 

Though I will speak today of my 

career and experiences with some 

words of wisdom thrown in, 

this occasion has given me an 

excellent opportunity to reflect 

on my career, my strengths, my 

weaknesses, and, most of all, 

my passions. For after having 

a fantastic thirty years after 

graduating form CCES, my life 

has changed; and I am having to 

re-establish my career for the next 

thirty years. Life will constantly 

throw opportunities and threats 

at you, many times beyond your 

control; but be thankful your 

education here at CCES is part 

of an enlightenment and social 

foundation that will help you 

handle those obstacles and seize 

those opportunities the rest of 

your life, especially in your career. 

I am not going to try and compete 

with the wonderful careers and 

presentations of those alumni who have 

addressed this forum previously, but I 

will attempt to give you some insight 

and encouragement about someone who 

was not first in his class, but did study 

hard and maintain above-average grades; 

who was never most valuable player on 

the soccer or tennis team, but always 

won the sportsmanship award; who 

began playing a very different musical 

instrument—bagpipes—when his friends 

were learning the guitar, piano, or drums; 

who did not go to an Ivy League school, 

but did attend Sewanee, the Harvard of 

the South; who took the first job he could 

land out of college in New York at the 

bottom of the totem pole, and ended up 

working in Dallas, Texas, soon after with 

continued on page 19 

English teacher Barbara 

Carter introducing 

keynote speaker Appy 

Apperson '79. After he 

expressed amazement that 

she, his former teacher, 

is still alive, and she that 

he graduated, Mrs. Carter 

teared up with pride at 

“how Appy turned out.” 

Spring 2009 | 9


The Luxury of Choice: 

Academic Success & Opportunity 

by Courtney L. Tollison, Ph.D., CCES Class of 1995 

Dr. Tollison offered this address to Upper School students at the Academic Honors Assembly held on February 5, 2009. 

I always enjoy coming back to this very special place that was so formative in my development. As someone who 

has entered the field of education, I now have an even greater appreciation for the powerful commitment that 

CCES faculty have towards their students. 

“I’ve observed a 

high correlation 

between a record of 

academic success 

and an abundance of 

opportunities after 

college.” 

A former student who graduated from 

Furman last year is now volunteering in a 

program to assist high school juniors and 

seniors in San Antonio public schools with 

writing samples and college applications. 

She frequently laments the quality of the 

students’ writing and told me that homework 

is a virtually unknown concept to the 

students with whom she works. According to 

her, many teachers consider it a futile exercise 

and have completely done away with it. 

Now, I remember my time at CCES, and 

the concept of homework was one that I was 

intimately, intimately familiar with, as I’m 

sure you all are. While there may be a small 

part of you that envies the fact that your peers 

in some schools across the country do not go 

home on a daily basis with hours more work 

to do, you are in fact extremely fortunate to 

have the opportunity to become educated in 

such an academically rigorous institution. 

The Habit of Excellence 

From your experiences here you understand 

that as a CCES student you are expected to 

be fully engaged in the classroom. I believe 

that engagement in your classes, activities, or 

endeavors is a first step towards establishing a 

pattern of excellence in your life. 

I am fond of this quote from Aristotle, and 

when I seek rejuvenation, this quote sustains 

me: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, 

therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” –Aristotle 

As an educator who is a close observer of 

students as they transition from college to 

graduate school or the workplace, I am privy 

to the options available to students and spend 

significant amounts of time weighing those 

options with them. I’ve observed a high 

correlation between a record of academic 

success and an abundance of opportunities 

after college. 

The Luxury of Choice 

One of the greatest benefits of academic 

success is that it provides the luxury of 

choice as one proceeds through life. Those 

of you who do well in high school will have 

more choices as to where you would like to 

attend college than those who don’t. Those 

of you who excel in college will have greater 

opportunities for graduate school and career 

options than those who don’t. Those of 

you who do well in your careers will have 

opportunities to become leaders in your 

chosen fields and will earn the respect and 

admiration of your peers in ways that those 

not committed to excellence will not. 

Those of you who are being recognized today 

already understand the importance of that 

commitment to excellence. Congratulations! 

Those of you who commit yourselves to 

excellence at this stage in your lives put 

yourselves in a position to be able to decide 

to go to Harvard Law School and/or join 

Americorps, a public service program that 



attracts the nation’s top recent college 

graduates. You can decide to become a 

kindergarten teacher or matriculate in medical 

school and conduct ground-breaking research 

in the field of pediatric cancer. You can enroll 

in a graduate program in art history at the 

Sorbonne in Paris or teach finger painting at 

a school you helped build in Nairobi. All are 

valuable and honorable pursuits, and the point 

of academic success is that it enables you to 

choose to do what brings a sense of happiness 

and fulfillment to your life. 

Recently I had a conversation with Page and 

Emily Bridges’ father. Some of you may 

not remember Page but probably remember 

Emily, who graduated from CCES last year. 

Both of these young women chose to attend 

Furman, and Page is now enrolled in a joint 

M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of 

North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Page Bridges 

is giving herself options. My understanding 

is that Emily Bridges, with her strong history 

of academic success, will continue to work 

hard to ensure that she too has the option to 

become whatever she puts her mind to. 

Success, to me, is being able to spend your 

life doing what makes you happy. Life is 

more fun when you are in the driver’s seat… 

when you are able to do what is it you want 

to do, where you want to do it. Too many 

people in this world do not have the luxury 

of that choice. 

Congratulations to those of you who are 

being honored today. My wish for you is 

that as you navigate the next several years of 

your life, you will stay focused, work hard, 

and understand that the time and energy 

you dedicate to your studies now will yield 

important benefits later in life. Now is the 

time to create a foundation for future success, 

Continued 

and CCES is an ideal community to support 

you in that preparation. So make excellence 

in your life a habit; you will certainly thank 

yourself for it later. ■ 

Courtney Tollison ’95 is Assistant Professor 

of History at Furman University and Museum 

Historian at the Upcountry History Museum. 

She earned undergraduate degrees in history and 

women’s studies from Furman University and her 

master’s and Ph.D. in history from the University 

of South Carolina. In 2006 she was honored 

by the Greenville Chamber of Commerce as 

“Young Professional of the Year” and by the 

Association for Women in Communications as 

“Communicator of the Year.” 

Courtney Tollison ’95 

addresses Upper School 

students during the 

Cum Laude Assembly in 

February. 

Spring 2009 | 11

Following Your Passion 

Edward Toledano ’83: Finding Your 

"Hole-in-One," by Rebecca Ellen Clay ’77 

Sometimes it takes a few too many bogies and double bogies ever to have an eagle or a hole-in-one. Where can 

I make my next hole in one? was a question that Edward Toledano, Class of 1983, began to consider seriously 

after 9-11. We have all learned that if we put money first, it takes over our lives and steals our dreams. Edward 

was not going to let that happen. He decided to follow his dream. 

Richness is measured 

by the friends we have. 

And by doing whatever 

you have a passion for. 

After graduating from the University of 

Georgia, marrying his college sweetheart, 

and working in a variety of industries, from 

the lumber business to financial services, 

public relations, marketing, and the tech 

world, Edward set a new path for himself to 

follow his dream. 

On September 11, 2001, Edward was 

attending a training session for a new 

employer in Washington, DC. “My friend 

next to me pointed to the screen on his 

laptop showing the video of the first plane 

hitting the twin towers. Right after that, 

someone came into our conference room to 

tell us to take a break. Then we learned of 

the Pentagon plane. We were three miles 

from the Pentagon, on the sixth floor at 

the top of our building, and we could see 

the smoke rising in the distance,” Edward 

remembered. 

Deeply affected, he called his family to let 

them know he was safe. “Two of us rented a 

car for the next day to drive back to Atlanta. 

We drove 100 mph to get home. It was a 

long drive, and I wanted to be with my wife 

and my daughter.” 

The experience had a lasting impact, and 

set Edward thinking about following his 

passion. “A year later I left the company. It 

had been the fourth technology company 

I had worked with though the dot-com 

era. I was burnt, just did not know it. It 

had really started the year prior on that day 

in Washington.” My wife, Jena, and I had 

both been working 70 - 80 hours a week. 

It kept us away from family time and away 

from each other. We had to get the balance 

back. So, with Jena’s encouragement, he said 

goodbye to the dot-com world, and hello to 

golf—and being Mr. Mom. 

Conducting a financial assessment was his 

first order of business. He planned for a 

ten-year period with no income from him. 

Switching roles with his wife, he became 

Mr. Mom, a stay-at-home dad for his 

daughter, Ansley, and his wife became the 

family breadwinner. While “it took some 

ego adjustment time, my time with Ansley 

and our quality of life has been fantastic.” 

Now he spends his days devoted to 

family—and to his “passion for the game 

of golf.” 

Now in the seventh year of his ten-year 

plan, Edward has made the most of this 

opportunity. He is President of the Board 

of Atlanta Jr. Golf, which serves 1,200 

junior golfers; Foundation President of the 

Wayne Reynolds Scholarship Foundation, 

which provides scholarships to Jr. Golfers 

of Georgia; President of the Dogwood 

Foundation, which hosts The Dogwood 

Invitational; Board member for the Druid 

Hills Golf Club; member of the Royal 

Dornoch Golf Club in Scotland (where he 

makes a yearly pilgrimage); and an active 

member of the Donald Ross Society, which 



is dedicated to preserving the classic golf 

courses designed by Donald Ross. 

Over the years golf has also become the “tie 

that binds” him to his CCES classmates. 

For 16 years, Edward and many of his 

CCES friends gather for the Henry Hudgins 

Memorial Invitational (named after Henry 

CCES Upper School custodian and friend 

to all in the 70s). Often participating in 

this reunion are Byron Berry ’83, Pete 

McKenna ’83, Ben Norwood ’83, Scott 

Odom ’83, Bob Shaw’ 83, Charles Smith 

’83, Keith Strausbaugh ’83, Clarkson 

Williams ’83, Allen Ivester ’84, CCES 

parent and coach Park Owings and CCES 

parent Scott Millwood. 

Edward agrees that his friendships with 

CCES classmates are invaluable. Richness is 

measured by the friends we have. 

And by doing whatever we have a passion for. ■ 

Rebecca Ellen Clay ’77 also throws herself 

into her endeavors with passion. In addition 

to her Greenville interior decorating business, 

Rebecca’s Interiors, she has established the Bracketbook 

Foundation to raise funds for the Breast 

Cancer Foundation. The foundation recycles and 

redecorates bras, giving them new life as what one 

reviewer called “adorable clutch-sized purses” that 

are now featured in 70 boutiques, five of them in 

Greenville. With a “Just Do It!” mindset, Rebecca 

was also a champion water skier and black 

diamond snow skier. 

Golf is the “tie that binds” these CCES alumni, who annually hold a “Henry Hudgins Memorial 

Invitational.” Front row, left to right: Michael Elliott, Allen Ivester ’84, Clarkson Williams 

’83, Pete McKenna ’83, Edward Toledano ’83, Keith Schemm; back row, left to right: Charles 

Smith ’83, Keith Strausbaugh ’83, Scott Odom ’83, Ben Norwood ’83, and Scott Millwood. 

Spring 2009 | 13


Goodbye to $50 Lunches 

and All That by Wayne Hopkins ’91 

My career change began in 2005 after a period of spiritual development and professional curiosity. Having lived 

in Los Angeles for some 11 years at the time, I had experienced economic downturns intermittently as a result of 

working as a freelance television producer. Yes, the money was great, but there had been many times when I was 

“between projects,” and I’d had to learn to live efficiently and be quick on my feet. 

“I had to make the 

tough decisions on 

what to keep and what 

to set aside in order to 

afford a more serviceoriented 

life.” 

While I was not ready to completely ditch 

the entertainment industry, I realized that 

my better purpose at the time would be 

to study God’s word and become more 

involved in helping people to improve their 

lives. Of course, this sounds great until all 

this study has to be paid for! 

Thankfully, I had developed relationships 

with many people in the greater Los Angeles 

area who understood the variables of “The 

Biz” (aka “Show Business”). They offered 

me opportunities to work while returning 

to school to pursue my divinity degree as a 

part-time student. 

The difficulty of this lifestyle change was 

very much noticeable in terms of finances. 

Los Angeles is an expensive place to live, 

even if one chooses not to flaunt real or 

artificial wealth. I had to make the tough 

decisions on what to keep and what to set 

aside in order to afford a more serviceoriented 

life. The tally: I kept my modest 

apartment in a great neighborhood rather 

than purchasing an overpriced tiny house 

in a bad area. I also kept my luxury car, 

since most of my time is spent sitting 

in traffic. Alas, I had to bid farewell to 

my daily 50 dollar lunches and monthly 

weekend vacations to Las Vegas. To quote 

former CCES teacher Monty Ball, “Oh, 

darn!” 

Personal Economic Downturns 

Ultimately, as personal economic 

downturns like mine have become an 

issue for more and more Americans, I 

realized that my experience in freelance 

employment, change of career, and 

adjustment of lifestyle were all great 

builders of character and marketability. 

My current employers were excited about 

the fact that I had learned to survive in 

various professional environments. Many 

of my sermons have been helpful to 

people who are hitting hard times for the 

first time. Even my family has come to 

understand the great value I have gained 

simply by being flexible enough to make 

the best out of my work rather than be tied 

to a title. In my early years as a producer, 

I mused that one of my long days on set 

was still better than sitting in a cubicle. 

Now as a cube-dweller, I miss some of the 

glitz of the cameras, but I also have been 

able to travel freely and stay out of debt 

because of my steady diet of daily work. 

My days are usually quite long. I leave 

home at 6:30 a.m. for an hour-long 

commute. After working until about 6 

p.m., most days I head to my church 

where I serve as youth minister and staff 

organist. I conduct either a Bible study 

or choir rehearsal. My weekends consist 



Notice how the sun breaks right 

over Wayne Hopkins’ shoulder 

when he’s working with “his kids.” 

of Saturday morning meetings, Saturday 

afternoons off, and two morning services 

each Sunday. Real weekends are rare, but 

I try to take time off on Mondays and 

Tuesdays if I do not have a class on those 

nights. 

Whenever I have free time, I make myself 

available to the young people of my church. 

With about 20 high school and college kids 

under my watch, I’m always receiving a text 

message or Facebook notice about someone’s 

sports or school activity. Most important, I 

try to be a liaison between the kids and their 

parents when necessary. 

I am on track for ordination at my church, 

and although I could apply for a full-time 

pastoral job now, I will not begin that 

process until later in 2009. 

Wayne’s Advice 

My advice to those contemplating a radical 

change to follow their passions is simple. 

First, save cash – it’s always helpful. Second, 

don’t be embarrassed to let people know 

when you need help. Many opportunities 

go to waste because no one claims them. 

And, most important, “Seek first the 

kingdom of God and all these things will be 

added unto you.” 

Go, Cavs! ■ 

Wayne Hopkins ’91 is currently studying 

for a Master of Divinity degree at Fuller 

Theological Seminary in Pasadena, 

California. 

Spring 2009 | 15


Carrie Ryan ’96: 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth 

by Alice Baird 

Four months after she began practicing law, Carrie Ryan ’96 decided it was not what she wanted to be doing in 

30 years. “I loved the law,” said the Duke Law School graduate, “but I thought, if I woke up one day and all my 

dreams had come true, I would be a full-time writer.” 

Today Carrie is living her dream. 

Published this March, her debut novel, 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, is causing a 

sensation in the young adult fiction market. 

It received two highly coveted starred 

reviews from Publishers Weekly and School 

Library Journal, and one of Carrie’s favorite 

writers, the award-winning Scott Westerfeld, 

called it “a post-apocalypse romance of the 

first order, elegantly written from title to last 

line.” Reminiscent of Margaret Atwood’s A 

Handmaid’s Tale, Carrie’s novel refuses to 

be neatly categorized. “The Forest of Hands 

and Teeth is a romance novel, a thriller, a 

horror story—but it’s also literary,” says the 

author. It is being published in Australia 

(where Carrie has already had a radio 

interview) and will be issued in the U.K. in 

July. A German translation is in the works, 

and other translations are under negotiation. 

The first sequel, The Dead-Tossed Waves, is 

slated for release next spring, and Carrie is 

under contract for a third book in the series, 

yet to be written. 

All this—and it’s just her first novel. 

“If I only had eight minutes 

while I was boiling water, I 

would set a timer and write 

for eight minutes.” 

It All Started Here. 

Carrie’s first attempt at writing fiction was 

the short story she wrote for her senior 

project, “Crab Shell Angel,” about a woman 

who goes home to take care of her mother 

after she has fallen off the roof. Barbara 

Carter, her project mentor and teacher 

for two years at CCES, remembers her 

former student fondly: “I always loved her 

enthusiasm, whether on the soccer field, 

debating an issue in class, trying to convince 

Student Council to do something she 

wanted them to do, or writing an essay in 

class where she did not want to leave out 

one single point! Her enthusiasm and joy 

of living are infectious, and simply being 

around her and having a conversation 

with her leaves you feeling invigorated. It 

absolutely does not surprise me at all that 

Carrie is having such success in her life. 

And I am delighted for her.” 

Carrie remained interested in writing 

during her undergraduate years at Williams 

College, and during the year she spent 

working as the assistant technology 

coordinator at the Foxcroft School in 

Virginia after graduating, she wrote two 

romance novels. Recognizing that writing 

for a living would be a risky proposition, 

she earned a law degree from Duke and 

began practicing law. But when she 

realized that she did not want to devote her 



entire career to lawyering, she 

decided, like Edward Toledano 

’83 (see p. 12 ), that she needed a 

“ten-year plan.” 

“I made a commitment to myself 

that I would write and try to sell 

at least one book a year,” she said, 

“and that at the end of ten years, 

I would evaluate whether writing 

was going to be a viable career for 

me.” 

A litigator at the time, she was 

working many days from 7 a.m. 

to 9 p.m., but she stuck as best 

she could to her goal of writing 

2,000 words a night—after work. 

Of course, there were times when 

that was not possible. “If I only 

had eight minutes while I was 

boiling water, I would set a timer 

and write for eight minutes,” she 

said. Her remarkable discipline 

has paid off. She started writing 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth in 

November 2006 and finished it in 

April 2007. Six months later in 

October—less than two years into her tenyear 

plan—she not only had an agent, she 

also had her first book contract. 

Why Zombies? 

Why, of all things, did she choose to 

write her first novel about zombies? “All 

my life,” she said emphatically, “I hated 

scary movies.” But when, early in their 

relationship, her fiancé talked her into 

going with him to see the remake of the cult 

classic movie Dawn of the Dead, she found 

herself simultaneously “terrified” by the 

film’s flesh-eating zombies and fascinated 

with the questions of survival facing the 

characters. “Then my fiancé, as a joke, 

gave me a copy of The Zombie Survival 

Guide.” This started the pair on a “zombie 

apocalypse” phase of movie-viewing and 

reading. 

“Why zombies? I love fiction that creates a 

whole new world,” she said. “Young adult 

fiction today is pushing the boundaries.” 

Carrie recalled reading a young adult 

classic about an alternate universe in fifth 

grade. “A few weeks after we had finished A 

Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, the 

continued 

Carrie answers a CCES 

student’s question 

during the Alumni Career 

Program. 

Spring 2009 | 17


Excerpt from The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by Carrie Ryan ’96 

My mother used to tell me about the ocean. She said there was a place where there was nothing but 

water as far as you could see and that it was always moving, rushing toward you and then away. She 

once showed me a picture that she said was my great-great-great-grandmother standing in the ocean 

as a child. It has been years since, and the picture was lost to fire long ago, but I remember it, faded and 

worn. A little girl surrounded by nothingness. 

In my mother’s stories, passed down from her many-greats-grandmother, the ocean sounded like the 

wind through the trees and men used to ride the water. Once, when I was older and our village was 

suffering through a drought, I asked my mother why, if so much water existed, were there years when 

our own streams ran almost dry? She told me that the ocean was not for drinking--that the water was 

filled with salt. 

That is when I stopped believing her about the ocean. How could there be so much salt in the universe 

and how could God allow so much water to become useless? 

But there are times when I stand at the edge of the Forest of Hands and Teeth and look out at the 

wilderness that stretches on forever and wonder what it would be like if it were all water. I close my 

eyes and listen to the wind in the trees and imagine a world of nothing but water closing over my head. 

It would be a world without the Unconsecrated, a world without the Forest of Hands and Teeth. 

Excerpted from The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Copyright © 2009 by Carrie Ryan. 

author came to address the school! I don’t 

know of any other school where this would 

have happened.” 

“It Made Me Want to Read.” 

Zombies nothwithstanding, Carrie is 

proving herself a serious writer. When asked 

about her goals as a writer, she says simply, 

“More than anything else I want my books 

to inspire someone to want to read. Young 

adult fiction is what made me fall in love 

with reading in the first place, and I want to 

share that with others.” It is a goal that is 

already in reach. At a school she visited in 

New York City on a pre-publication book 

tour, students had already received and read 

advance copies of The Forest of Hands and 

Teeth. “One student raised her hand and 

said, ‘I don’t like to read and I’ve never been 

a reader. But your book made me want to 

read.’” It was the kind of moment writers 

live for. 

“I wake up, and I just can’t believe it. I am 

living my dream,” said Carrie. ■ 

You can read more about Carrie Ryan ’96 

at www.carrieryan.com. Her blog, which 

she describes as her favorite “procrastinatory 

outlet,” is alive with the enthusiasm that 

Mrs. Carter remembers from Carrie’s years at 

CCES. The novelist can also be seen talking 

about her years at CCES on our website 

at www.cces.org. Just click on the CCES 

Testimonial Videos button. 



Apperson, continued from page 9 

a top commodity company; who did not 

attend a top US business school but did 

attend one of Europe’s best, the University 

of Edinburgh; who was not flown to New 

York to interview with a top investment 

bank on Wall Street, but ended up 

being flown to Australia for a two-week 

“adventure interview”; who did not 

work for a top international corporation, 

but did start his own business oversees 

and merged that business into one of 

the world’s oldest and most respected 

banking institutions, Rothschild; who 

did not stay in the corporate world, but 

re-started his own business, returning to 

the United States to diversify the business 

while Australian agriculture was suffering 

because of drought; who had to make 

the tough decision to cut back those 

businesses due to external factors (such as 

drought, changing farming practices, and 

tough economic conditions) and begin 

looking at other avenues of opportunity. 

Duty: 

Character, Friendship, and Faith 

Recently, I attended the 125 th anniversary 

of my fraternity at the University of the 

South. The keynote speaker stressed to 

the young men present the importance 

of Character, Friendship, and Faith. But 

what do the words character, friendship, 

and faith mean? For that, I will refer 

to the words of my favorite leader and 

educator, Robert E. Lee. Lee’s infamous 

biographer, Douglas Southall Freeman, 

said, “Lee the soldier was great, but Lee 

the man and Christian was greater by far.” 

Here is what Lee had to say about 

character: “in your youth you must 

be careful to discipline your thoughts, 

words, and actions.” “Do your duty in all 

things….you cannot do more, you should 

never do less.” 

On friendship: “the great duty of life 

is…. the promotion of the happiness and 

welfare of our fellow men and women.” 

And: “You must make friends while you 

are young, that you may enjoy them when 

old.” 

And on faith: “God helps those who help 

themselves…in his own good time.” 

The common theme here is “Duty.” 

Cicero, the Roman philosopher, 

statesman, and lawyer, suggests that duty 

can come from four different sources: 

from being human, from one’s particular 

place in life (your family, your country, 

your job), from one’s character, and from 

one’s own moral expectations for oneself. 

If you take nothing away from this talk 

today, I want you to at least remember 

these words, taking them with you beyond 

the doors of CCES and wherever your 

career and life will take you: 

Follow your passions: Don’t be afraid 

to be different and don’t measure 

success by monetary means alone. 

Maintain character: Always maintain 

your integrity; if it sounds too good 

to be true, it usually is. 

Honor friendship: Follow up and 

follow through; people may forget but 

they remember. 

Keep the faith: just as you have been 

taught and exposed via your Christian 

preparatory education here at CCES. 

“Good on you, mate!” ■ 

Spring 2009 | 19


Conor Sullivan '99: 

What to Do With a Law Degree 

When Law Firms Aren't Hiring 

by Craig Ragsdale '99 

A positive attitude is a state of mind well worth developing and strengthening. Having a resilient sense of 

optimism is one of the qualities that has always made Conor Sullivan '99 stand out in the crowd. Now that he's 

started his own business in a slow economy, keeping a positive attitude is even more important. 

The very recession that 

had prompted Conor 

to "go solo" had now 

begun to provide him 

with an income. 

Law school was a natural progression, 

after graduating from Southern Methodist 

University with a psychology degree. Conor 

envisioned working in employment or civil 

law for a firm in Nashville, where he was 

moving to be with his fiancé. Shortly before 

graduating from Atlanta's John Marshall 

Law School, he received a job offer with 

a firm in Nashville. Now he could focus 

on two things: passing the bar exam, and 

getting married less than a week later. 

Having the critical exam and major life 

event just three days apart tested his nerves, 

but the growing economic crisis was about 

to test him further. 

As the economic crisis accelerated, law 

firms nationwide began downsizing. Only 

two months after receiving an offer, Conor 

found himself in the office of the firm's 

main partner, who "sat me down and told 

me that the firm's caseload had decreased 

dramatically in the past three months and 

that the firm likely would not be able to 

afford me by the time I started. So, the firm 

had to withdraw its offer." 

Undaunted, he re-focused on passing the 

bar and anxiously awaited his results. In 

late October, just as the economy seemed 

to implode, he received notification that he 

had passed the bar and would be eligible 

to practice law. However, his excitement 

turned into anxiety as the U.S. jobless rate 

hit a 14-year high, and he was still looking 

for a job. Now that he was finally available 

for hire, the conditions for employment 

seemed incredibly bleak. "Firms were not 

hiring, or willing to pay new hires," Sullivan 

said, "and tenured attorneys were selected 

first for the jobs that were out there." 

When an opportunity had not materialized 

by January, Sullivan came to the conclusion 

that his destiny was in his own hands. 

In January of this year, Conor tested his 

courage and decided to launch the Conor 

F. Sullivan Law Firm. "I started reading 

about starting firms and what I had to do to 

get going. I wanted to start out with little 

overhead, so I work in my home office. I 

filed my company with the state, bought 

some insurance, got business cards printed, 

and started going to court to pick up 

appointments for indigent clients." 

He hit the ground running by networking 

and making as many connections in the legal 

community as possible. Court-appointed cases 

got him started, but referrals soon started to 

add to his case load. Ironically, the downturn 

has actually helped fuel his new business in the 

form of bankruptcy, mortgage modification, 

and collections cases. The very recession that 

had prompted him to "go solo" had now 

begun to provide him with an income. 

Understandably, the last few months have 



brought immense responsibilities, and Conor 

has climbed a steep learning curve. He has 

made a point of finding the positive side 

to legal situations, rather than dwelling on 

the negative. Working out payment plans 

in collections cases has allowed him to help 

over-leveraged clients get through tough times. 

And modifying loans to help clients salvage 

their credit scores and avoid bankruptcy has 

been rewarding too. Such cases have allowed 

families to keep their homes—ultimately a 

benefit not only for them, but also for the 

economy. 

His hard work is definitely paying off. 

Recently he was retained by the state of 

Tennessee for what will be a year-long case. 

"It will involve representing the State during 

appeals filed by recipients that have lost their 

health coverage," noted Conor. "It will give 

me a lot of experience in health care law, 

which has been of increasing importance as 

premiums continue to rise." 

"Half the battle is having a positive attitude 

and putting one foot in front of the other," 

he says. "It has been tough, but the support 

of family and friends and my drive to 

succeed in my law career have kept me 

going." He also attributes his preparation 

to his time at CCES. "I wouldn't have 

been prepared for where life has taken me 

without the foundation I received at CCES. 

Looking back, I appreciate that now more 

than ever." 

While the world around us may be changing 

rapidly, Conor's entrepreneurial spirit and 

willingness to persevere are signs that things 

will eventually change for the better. ■ 

Craig Ragsdale'99 now works with his 

family's business, Martin Printing Company. 

His devotion to CCES has taken many forms, 

including printing and mailing Highlights 

and as an alumni representative for the Class 

of '99. 

Conor Sullivan '99 

and his wife Ally. 

Spring 2009 | 21


Boats & the Sea: 

The Passion Remains 

by Captain Jonathan B. Kovach ’05 

From Primer to graduation from CCES, my passion has always been boats and the sea. A traditional university 

education was not for me. My college experience at Maine Maritime Academy has given me education, training, 

and experiences to pursue my passion. With 75 percent of the world covered by water, the school sailing team 

has taken me from the Atlantic to the Pacific. I was elected team Captain during my junior year. It has been 

challenging, but with numerous off-shore sailboat racing victories on both oceans, our team has been referred to 

as the “Powerhouse of College Sailing.” 

My summer co-op jobs have been 

interesting and have provided more training 

with increased responsibility and leadership 

roles. I have been placed on large, hi-tech 

tugboats assisting mammoth container 

ships and tankers in the port of Charleston, 

South Carolina. The cruise ship American 

Star enabled me to visit many ports and 

meet hundreds of interesting people from 

many different places. Having become a 

licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain, I have 

learned that other occupations, such as 

business, accounting, human resources, 

sales, marketing, engineering, and others are 

all important to commanding a ship. 

About 90 percent of the world’s goods and 

energy products move by ship. Due to the 

reduced demand for imported products, 

some container ships are being laid up into 

mothball fleets, with a skeleton crew. There 

has been a reduction of the oil drilling 

rigs in the Gulf of Mexico as some have 

moved outside the U.S. for better business 

contracts. Cruise ships are experiencing a 

reduction in the number of passengers and 

a corresponding reduction in the number of 

crew onboard. Cruise lines, container ships, 

tankers, and ocean exploration are all being 

affected by the current world economy. 


Jonathan at the helm of 

Cedar Island, a 120-foot 

Broward “mega-yacht.” 


The Opportunity to Make a Difference 

Clarifying Your Philanthropic 

Priorities in a Difficult Economy 

by Frances DeLoache Ellison '68 

No one reading this issue of Highlights needs to be reminded that these are difficult economic times. They are 

more difficult for some than for others, of course, but it’s a rare person indeed who has not been affected at all. 

Let’s give some thought to how the current hard times are influencing philanthropy: the questions of what to 

give, to whom or what, and how. 

For our purposes, we’ll make two basic 

assumptions: (1) People still would like to 

make donations to causes that matter to 

them; and (2) Organizations that have relied 

on philanthropy in the past are in even 

greater need now. The stock market that 

has sent the value of individual portfolios 

and 401(k)s plummeting and has similarly 

affected investment funds and endowments 

that formerly contributed much more to 

organizations’ bottom lines. 

What to Give 

First, let’s look at what to give. In the past, 

many donors gave stock or real estate that 

had appreciated, because they could avoid 

capital gains tax on the appreciation. Now 

that appreciation has largely disappeared. 

Should stocks and real estate still be given 

to charities? Some people believe that the 

lower values of both stocks and real estate 

are temporary and that it would be better 

to hang onto those assets until their values 

increase. Good ol’ cash may be a better 

charitable vehicle right now, especially since 

the “opportunity cost”—the interest you 

might earn if you kept the cash instead of 

giving it—is relatively low. 

Establishing Your Giving 

Priorities 

How do these hard times affect thoughts 

about where your charitable dollars should 

go? There are several themes emerging. 

First, many donors seem to be focusing 

more on “the basics.” On a large scale, 

that may mean more attention to basic 

human necessities, like food and shelter. 

Within specific organizations, that may 

mean more attention to operating successful 

existing programs, rather than investing 

in new projects. Some donors are trying 

to help people and organizations “make it 

through the year,” rather than addressing 

longer-term concerns. Second, donors are 

looking for new needs brought about by 

the economy, and they are expecting some 

existing needs to increase. More people 

are visiting food pantries, for example, and 

more students need scholarships. Third, 

it is more important than ever that donors 

have confidence in an organization’s honest 

and efficient use of the funds they receive. 

The economic downtown has given rise 

to a fair amount of soul-searching and can 

be used as an opportunity to re-examine 

what is important to you. What are your 

priorities? How should those priorities be 

reflected in your charitable giving? Is it 

important to you that you or members of 

your family have had a positive personal 

experience with the organizations to which 

you give? Should that be important? Should 

your charitable gifts be made to local 

organizations that you might know better, 

or to ones with a broader geographic scope 

that you are less familiar with? Would you 

rather give lesser amounts to more charities, 


The economic 

downturn can be used 

as an opportunity 

to examine what is 

important to you. 

Spring 2009 | 23


Questions for Ron Gregory: 

How Does Planned Giving Fit My 

Plans to Support CCES? 

Securing the Future: 

It All Starts Here. Now. 

First of all, what is “Planned 

Giving”? 

I’d like to change the terminology a bit and 

call it “Gift Planning.” Any gift is “planned” 

when donors purposefully integrate a 

charitable gift into their overall financial, tax, 

and estate planning. Planned gifts can be 

deferred, or they may be current. 

Why should someone consider 

Gift Planning? 

Gift planning offers donors many benefits. 

Through Gift Planning, you can: 

• Make sure your assets are used as you intend 

• Keep your estate plan up-to-date to 

reflect changing circumstances 

• Make provisions for the uncertain future 

• Take advantage of changing tax laws, or 

legal innovations 

• Establish a gift currently while you can 

enjoy the outcome of your generosity. 

What are some examples of Gift 

Planning? 

• Gifts of cash or securities, with staged 

or deferred benefits 

• Life insurance proceeds 

• A bequest by will 

• Charitable trusts 

• Gift annuities 

• Gifts of property conditioned upon a 

future event 

What is an example of a deferred 

gift of cash or securities? 

A good example might be a donor who wishes 

to fulfill a five-year pledge to Endowment 

with publicly traded securities. She agrees to 

transfer $10,000 of stock each year for five 

years. This gift could be either a fixed dollar 

amount each year, or a set number of shares. 

The commitment is made, then the actual gift 

is deferred over several years. 

How does using life insurance 

as a gift to CCES benefit me as a 

donor? 

You can give CCES an existing life policy, 

and receive a tax deduction for its cash 

value. If the policy still requires future 

premiums, these are also paid by the donor 

for additional deductions. *As always, seek 

advice from your legal and tax advisors! 

What are the mechanics of 

including CCES in my will? 

To include CCES in your will, just ask your 

attorney to use the language shown on our 

website under Giving to CCES/Planned 

Giving/Bequests. The CCES Endowment 

Corporation is the proper organization to 

name. You may call me to clarify. 

What is an example of using a 

charitable trust for a Planned Gift? 

A charitable trust can accomplish two 

important financial goals: first, provide 

you with a guaranteed income, and 

second, provide for disposal of any 



remaining assets after your death to a 

designated charity. For example, you 

might transfer $100,000 of assets to a 

trustee with instructions to pay you an 

income of $6,000 for life, then distribute 

the remaining assets to CCES through its 

Endowment Corporation. There can be 

significant tax advantages, depending on 

the donor’s age, the amount of income 

retained, and the type of assets involved 

(cash vs. appreciated securities). Note: this 

requires legal and tax advice, and may 

not be feasible for accounts of less than 

$50,000- $100,000. 

What is an example of a gift 

annuity? 

A gift annuity is an outright gift to the 

school where you retain future income 

benefits. You would transfer the property 

directly to the CCES Endowment 

Corporation, and then receive monthly or 

quarterly payments for life, or for a term 

that you specify. A fixed-term annuity, 

for example, might be eight years until 

a mortgage is paid off and your income 

requirements drop. The donor receives 

income, usually at an attractive rate, 

plus income tax benefits, and the school 

receives the principal to fund Endowment 

purposes. 

How could a gift be conditioned 

on a future event? 

As an example, say you wish to provide 

financial aid for future CCES students, 

after paying for your grandchildren’s 

tuition. You could set up either a gift 

annuity or a charitable trust (see above). 

The income from these gifts would be 

used for the grandchildren’s tuition until 

they graduate, or for a preset term, say 

ten years. After that, the income would 

be used for other students’ assistance. 

The income tax advantages are highly 

dependent on the term of years you want 

to retain benefits and what level of payout 

you choose. 

Who can assist me with my 

“Gift Planning?" 

You may contact your tax or legal advisor 

and your insurance agent. I am also 

available to discuss your options with 

you and assist you in setting up whatever 

method you choose for making CCES the 

beneficiary of your gift planning. As with 

all of your financial or estate planning, 

there can be significant tax and legal 

issues—always consult with your legal, tax, 

and financial advisors when considering any 

planned gift. 

How can I learn more about our 

Endowment or gift planning at 

CCES? 

If you have questions about the 

Endowment, or about Gift Planning in 

general, please contact me at 864.299.1522 

x1255. We have also added a whole section 

of useful information about Planned 

Giving to our website. Go to www.cces. 

org and click on Giving to CCES/ Planned 

Giving. ■ 

Ronald E. Gregory, Director 

Planned Giving & Major Gifts 

Dr. Ron Gregory is an economist who has 

taught at Clemson, Furman, and Greenville 

Tech. 

Spring 2009 | 25


The Power of Purpose, People, and 

Philanthropy by Connie Lanzl 

The evening of Saturday, April 25, 2009, was a vivid demonstration of what can be achieved when people join 

together for a purpose they believe in to benefit others. Usually the article written for this area of Highlights 

profiles an individual or a family whose gifts to CCES illustrate the impact of philanthropy on our ability to carry 

out our mission. This time, however, the multiple gifts of all the people who contributed to the success of A 

Cavalier Evening deserve special recognition and our sincere gratitude. 

The rationale for launching an event that 

could generate significant non-tuition revenue 

is easy to articulate: 

For almost 50 years, Christ Church Episcopal 

School has carried out its mission of offering 

an educational experience unparalleled in our 

area. This event is designed to support the 

faculty, programs, and facilities that together 

enable CCES to carry out its mission. We 

believe that CCES has an important role to 

play in our area today by offering Upstate 

residents plus incoming businesses, physicians, 

and other transferees an educational option 

that matches their expectations for their 

children. We believe that CCES has an 

important role to play in the future by 

empowering current students to lead and 

excel, in the classroom and in life. “A Cavalier 

Evening” will help ensure that the challenging 

academics, outstanding extracurricular 

opportunities, and our strong tradition of 

reaching outward through service learning all 

continue and develop. 

The idea of a fundraiser in the form of a 

social event is not new. Auctions in one 

form or another have been a part of CCES 

and Greenville for many years. This time, 

however, the concept was strategically 

elevated to a level not only new to CCES 

but unparalleled in Greenville. Lofty 

assertion, even after the fact? Perceived 

evaluation? Apparently not. The reviews 

and kudos have come rolling in: 

WOW! That was the most fabulous event 

we’ve ever attended. Thank you and all of 

those who worked for a year on making the 

Cavalier Evening the most memorable event. 

What a great evening! While I know we 

made good money, I also know that the 

volunteers wanted this to be a “signature” 

event for the Greenville community. It 

was that, in spades! And not just from my 

perspective but from the folks I talked to 

during the evening and since who have been 

in Greenville for a long time. 

We have been to our fair share of school 

auctions and other charitable events and last 

Saturday’s was, easily, the best we have ever 

been to. It was classy from start to finish. 

The silent auction featured a wide range 

of items with time to socialize, and the live 

auction was entertaining. Overall, it was a 

great evening and moment for the school. 

At the request of the Board, the three Gala 

Chairs – Sally Daniels, Linda Grandy, and 

Jamie Horowitz – started planning in the fall 

of 2007. Their knowledge of our community, 

their experience in running similar events, 

their appreciation of the importance of our 

being successful, and their willingness to 

pioneer this effort were keys to its success. 

While they indeed aspired to make this a 

“signature” event in its very first year, they 

never lost sight of the critical definition of its 



Preliminary Bottom Line Results 

(as of May 4, 2009): 

Gross Revenue (as of 5/4/09) 

$152,521.................................Auction Sales 

$ 62,500.................................Ticket Sales 

$ 66,505.................................Cash Donations, 

Sponsorships, 

Underwriting 

Projected Net Revenue (as of 5/4/09) 

$190,000 

success: the bottom line. They scrutinized 

expenses at the same time they delegated 

responsibilities to their capable committee 

members. They added new marketing efforts 

to increase word-of-mouth advertising, 

effecting a “buzz” that was clearly apparent 

during the last week, especially, when we were 

besieged by last-minute requests to create 

additional tables. Their selection of Nan 

Rasmussen as Auction Chair, and her choice 

of Tammy Conits, Dena Stone Benedict ’78, 

and Nancy Farr Strausbaugh ’84 as division 

chairs, evolved into an enthusiastic and 

cohesive group of solicitors for auction items. 

The artistic vision and creativity of decoration 

chairs Kathy Townes and Jennifer Taylor 

Sterling ’80, along with Angela Keown Hart 

’81, transformed the Carolina First Center 

hallway and ballroom into a magical vista with 

an Asian theme. Lisa Ashmore handled all 

the operational logistics, and Beegi Clohan 

and Mimi Hallman managed to arrange 

over 300 items with an eye to both display 

and access. Blair Dobson Miller ’00 and 

Liza Wilson Ragsdale ’99 were two of our 

young alumni who accepted the challenge 

of arranging for musical entertainment and 

creating the invitation, respectively. Lower 

School teacher Martha Wrenn played 

several roles and convinced faculty and many 

others to participate. Volunteers like Dana 

McCall (reservations), Sara Lynne Roettger 

and Linda Townes (promotion), and A. B. 

Stewart (breakdown) accepted jobs that were 

both difficult and critical. Board Vice-Chair 

Eva Marie Theisen Fox ’83 and immediate 

Past Board Chair Rod Grandy recruited a 

committee that accepted the challenge of 

soliciting sponsorships during the fall of 

2008, a time of great anxiety and pessimism 

about the economy, convinced that the value 

of CCES in this community would still 

generate corporate 

philanthropy; their 

efforts brought in 

almost $50,000 from 

22 sponsors. 

The Board of Trustees, 

Dr. Cox, and the 

Advancement Office 

extend our thanks 

and admiration 

to these and other 

outstanding volunteers, 

to our sponsors and 

underwriters, and to the 

644 supportive guests 

who attended this event 

and brought the vision 

to life and the dream to 

a reality. ■ 

Connie Lanzl is 

Vice President for 

Advancement. 

Gala chairs Sally 

Daniels, Linda 

Grandy, and Jamie 

Horowitz. They wanted 

"A Cavalier Evening" to 

be a signature event. 

Spring 2009 | 27

Profiles 

National Fashion Publications Take 

Note of Stacy Smallwood’s Sense of 

Style by Bentley DeGarmo ’97 

When Stacy Small Smallwood ’97 began dreaming of owning her own women’s boutique, she never imagined 

her aspirations would bring her right back to her hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. The first Hampden 

Clothing opened in February 2007 on King Street in the highly competitive Charleston market. Since then, 

Hampden has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, and Lucky and has become one 

of the “must shop” boutiques in just a few short years. 

Not one to remain still for long, Stacy 

began forming plans for a second store 

almost immediately. “I always hoped to 

be able to open a second store within a few 

years, and with Greenville becoming such 

a thriving city and growing every day, I 

couldn’t have hoped for a better place.” So, 

when the opportunity presented itself in 

Greenville, Stacy went after it with the same 

enthusiasm that makes her such a great 

retail owner. “I was delighted to find such 

encouragement and support from the city. 

Greenville’s family has been so welcoming 

and supportive in respect to the growth of 

small businesses.” 

The second Hampden Clothing store 

opened in November of 2008 in McBee 

Station near the downtown Publix to the 

delight of many Greenville women. Setting 

herself apart from the usual boutique 

crowd, Stacy prides herself on finding 

emerging fashion designers. “I try to 

remind my customers that it’s okay if you 

haven’t heard of the brand yet, don’t be 

intimidated by that – it’s my job to see 

that you aren’t wearing the same labels and 

styles as everyone else in town.” Indeed the 

minute one enters her Greenville store, it’s 

apparent that Stacy knows what she’s doing. 

Stepping into the store, with its urban-chic, 

minimalist décor and stylishly lush dressing 

rooms, feels just like stepping into the pages 

of a high-gloss fashion magazine. 

Stacy strives to convey to people that 

owning two retail stores is more than just 

playing shop. “There’s a lot more behind 

the ‘business’ of fashion than most people 

realize,” she says. Stacy credits her drive 

and unwavering energy to her early days 

at Christ. “From the very start at Christ 

Church School, you are held to higher 

expectations and are taught to strive to be 

your very best.” Stacy recalls that because of 

the small class sizes, one was always driven to 

succeed and try harder. “Even in high school, 

it wasn’t cool not to do well. You had to 

work hard, and working hard has definitely 

gotten me where I am in my career today.” 

Following Christ Church, she, along 

with her twin sister, Sallie Small Holder 

’97, headed to Vanderbilt University in 

Nashville, Tennessee. While attending 

a career fair, Stacy found the niche she’d 

been looking for with high-end retailer 

Neiman Marcus. “Without Christ Church, 

I wouldn’t have ended up at Vanderbilt 

and from there, would not have ended up 


Profiles 

at Neiman’s corporate office in Dallas.” 

Working as an assistant buyer, Stacy honed 

the retail and fashion savvy needed to 

manage and run two thriving stores. “My 

manager at Neiman’s was a huge influence 

on me. She never asked us to do anything 

she herself wouldn’t do. I try to manage by 

that same philosophy today.” 

That technique is surely working wonders. 

As Missy Houser, a part-time employee 

and mother of CCES third-grader Jackson 

and Primer Harris, notes, “The distinctive 

excellence in the style and tailoring of the 

clothes Stacy has brought to Greenville is 

exclusive. It has been amazing to watch 

women who normally do not step 

outside of their traditional style introduce 

timeless pieces to their wardrobes. More 

importantly, the confidence it brings to 

the customer is invaluable. Every day we 

are helping our customers stylishly update 

their wardrobes without jeopardizing their 

individual style.” 

Stacy has also been adept at making 

accommodations to current economic 

conditions. “I am making adjustments by 

carrying lower-priced lines that still manage 

to offer the quality you would expect to find 

at Hampden. We also offer frequent-shopper 

appreciation cards that allow customers to 

earn a $100 gift card towards their next 

purchase,” she noted. But, she adds, “I think 

this is a time when the consumer needs to 

be supportive of local stores. We all need 

to shop local in order for our communities 

to remain unique and diverse. This is 

something Greenville has been working 

towards and achieving for the past ten years.” 

With Stacy’s invaluable experience 

at Neiman Marcus, her boundless 

determination and 

true passion for 

retail, and her savvy 

marketing, Hampden 

will no doubt 

continue its stellar rise 

as the top boutique in 

Greenville. 

Bentley DeGarmo 

'97 is currently in 

the process of opening 

a women’s designer 

consignment store, 

Labels, off Augusta Road in Greenville. She 

is a member of the CCES Alumni Association 

Board. 

“Even in high school, it 

wasn’t cool not to do 

well. You had to work 

hard, and working hard 

has definitely gotten 

me where I am in my 

career today.” 

Spring 2009 | 29

Profiles 

A Young Person’s View of China 

by Michael West ’05 

We were listening to public radio’s “Whad Ya Know?” broadcast during the 2008 Summer Olympics when Mike 

West was introduced as “our man in Beijing.” Highlights invited him to write an article about his perspective on 

the changes he’s witnessed in China since 2001. 

The country’s rapid 

development left a 

palpable sense of 

excitement in the air, 

and it made me want to 

learn Chinese. 

“Move! Get going old man!” I yelled in 

Chinese as I pushed a nameless elderly 

Chinese peasant with the butt of my gun. I 

looked back at my friends Charlie and Will 

as they shouted at the old men, kicking one 

man who dropped his sack of grain as we 

herded them into a corner. I looked up and 

saw the captain standing next to me. He 

raised his gun, calling us to do the same. The 

leader of the old men stood up, faced down 

the barrel of the captain’s gun, and shouted, 

“You can kill us, but you will never defeat 

China!” The captain pulled 

the trigger of his gun while 

sulfur and smoke filled the 

air. The loud gunshot was 

so deafening I almost didn’t 

hear the French director 

shout “Cut.” 

I was on the set of Shou 

Shan, a television show 

being produced for CCTV, 

China Central Television, 

in which my American classmates and I 

were dressed as Prussian soldiers invading 

Shanghai in the early twentieth century. 

We agreed to slave-like working conditions 

after a talent agent came to our college in 

Hangzhou, China, looking for six or seven 

“handsome white boys” for a TV drama. It 

would pay $50 plus meals for one night’s 

work, which sounded like a deal…. at the 

time….It was now 5 a.m., we’d been working 

for eleven hours, and we needed to finish 

filming before sunrise. My friends were not 

happy that I had recruited them for this 

adventure, to say the least. 

Snapshot of a New China 

But as I looked around the set, I saw a 

snapshot of a new China, or, perhaps, of 

China’s new openness to the world. The 

director was French, the Prussian captain an 

English teacher from Wales. The soldiers I 

had recruited were American and European 

students. We were betting that China would 

become the next superpower, and we were 

here to get a head start on learning Chinese. 

“Hey, Laowai [foreigner], do you think 

Taiwan is part of China?” It was one of the 

young Chinese stagehands striking up a 

conversation. Realizing I was about to get 

into a highly charged political debate, I was a 

bit tongue-tied, but the stagehand answered 

his own question. “Either way,” he said, 

“China’s getting stronger, and in a few years 

we can take back Taiwan—whether America 

likes it or not.” Highly patriotic talk like this 

has been one major change I’ve witnessed in 

China since the first time I visited. 

I spent two weeks visiting my brother, Bill 

West ’95, in Xi’an, China, in spring 2001, 

and though I couldn’t speak Chinese yet, 

there was a distinct feeling in the air that 

China had a long way to go, economically, 

socially, and even politically. Still, the 

country’s rapid development left a palpable 

sense of excitement in the air, and it made 

me want to learn Chinese. When I started as 

a freshman at Christ Church Upper School 

that fall, the administration allowed me to 

study Chinese with a private teacher to fulfill 

my foreign language requirement. After 

graduating from CCES with an IB diploma 


Profiles 

(which included a course in IB Chinese), 

I took a semester off to return to China. I 

enrolled in Tsinghua University, known 

throughout China as the “best… or maybe 

second best” university in China. 

A Generation Without 

Economic Worries 

That fall I met Xiao Chao in front of 

McDonald’s in Wudaokou, the foreign student 

district of Beijing. I was looking for a tutor 

with whom I could practice my oral Chinese. 

In his early 20s, he spoke in slow, unaccented 

Mandarin, a must for Chinese teachers in 

China. He walked me into the small, paved 

courtyard of a slightly rundown apartment 

complex to his “office.” As we climbed the 

dark outdoor staircase toward his apartment, 

he turned and said, “Please don’t call me laoshi 

[teacher] around here – you 

can’t conduct business in a 

residential space in China.” 

In 2008 when I returned to 

Beijing as an intern for The 

Nature Conservancy, I met 

again with Xiao Chao. He 

invited me to his office in 

the central business district 

of Beijing on the top floor 

of one of the city’s newest 

buildings. You could see 

for miles out the window, 

almost far enough to make 

out the little apartment 

where he had started out 

three years earlier. He now 

had two offices, twenty 

employees, plenty of cash, and a beautiful 

fiancée. He was living the Chinese dream. 

Entrepreneurialism and hard work are rewarded 

generously in China, and stories like Xiao 

Chao’s are ubiquitous. While he was on his way 

to wealth and success by his mid-twenties, older 

entrepreneurs had been taking advantage of 

China’s free market since the 1980 reforms. It 

is their children who have now helped create 

a new Chinese phenomenon: a generation of 

young people who have grown up without 

pressing economic worries. 

In 2006 I began studying at Middlebury 

College in Vermont, where I continue to 

learn Chinese. When I returned to China for 

a semester during my junior year, I studied 

at a university in Hangzhou. I chose this 

city after hearing about its reputation for 

continued 

Mike West ‘05 in 

Tiananmen Square 

in 2000. 

Spring 2009 | 31

Profiles 

Far right, Mike 

West ‘05 with 

an American 

friend at the 

2008 Beijing 

Olympics. 

delicious green tea, moderate wealth, and, 

of course, beautiful girls. When I arrived, 

money was apparent everywhere. People 

lounged in Starbucks and Pizza Huts, and 

Audis and BMWs lined the streets. This 

certainly was different from Beijing. When 

I met the Chinese students in my dorm over 

the following months, I realized that many of 

them were from a new generation in China, 

one that thought less about how to put food 

on the table, and more about enjoying life. 

If I had to pick a poster boy for this 

generation, it would be Xu Chao. Xu Chao 

was born in Guangzhou, one of China’s 

economic hubs, into a fairly wealthy family. 

Compared with my roommate, who grew up 

in the rural countryside and did everything 

he could to get into college, Xu Chao was a 

laid-back college student. He was tall, by any 

standard, and wore a crisp button-down shirt, 

designer jeans, and real (not knockoff) Nike 

shoes. One Saturday he tapped my door and 

invited me to ride my bike with him to the 

Arts University, which was about 80 percent 

female, “to pao niu [look for chicks].” 

An Apolitical Generation 

This attitude is new. Since China’s 

humiliating defeat in the Opium Wars 

against England in the 19 th century, 

and the years of political and economic 

turmoil throughout the 20 th century, 

the country has provided little of the 

political and economic stability that 

would allow for wealth to accumulate. 

Thus, the unhindered economic growth 

in China, particularly in the 1990s and 

2000s, has left many of China’s young 

people unquestioningly satisfied with the 

current communist government. Ask a 

group of Chinese friends their opinions 

on anything from Hong Kong pop music 

singers to American television, and their 

opinions will vary widely. But ask about 

their government, and you will likely hear 

that they are satisfied—or worse, that they 

don’t care much about politics. While their 

parents’ generation, which experienced the 

consequences of poor governance, keeps 

a watchful eye on politics, young Chinese 

today see the government as a stable force, 

and they are content with this state of 

affairs. But if one day the government 

does something to adversely affect this new 

generation, I think this group of politically 

naïve young people will become a dangerous 

force to reckon with. 

“Cut… Clear set,” the Chinese director 

shouted through the megaphone in accented 

English. I followed my classmates off the set 

of 19 th century Shanghai into a Ming village 

set, past a section of the stage Great Wall, and 

sat down on the shrunken Tiananmen Square 

set. “I’m tired, but this is pretty amazing,” 

my friend said as he leaned against a fake 

stone pillar. I knew what he meant; I got this 

feeling a lot in China. Despite numerous 

cultural differences, growing nationalism, and 

suppression of information, China is still one 

of the most exciting places in the world. ■ 

Michael West ’05 will graduate from 

Middlebury with an East Asian Studies degree 

in February 2010. This summer he plans to 

intern at Emerging Asia Inc., a consulting firm 

in Shanghai, China. 


Profiles 

Philanthropic Priorities in a Difficult Economy, continued from page 23 

or direct your philanthropic resources to a single organization or project? While these 

issues are not directly connected to the current economic situation, limited resources may 

bring them into sharper focus. 

How to Give 

Finally, the method of giving that is currently the fastest growing segment of philanthropy 

in the U. S. is one that may gain added traction in these hard times. It’s called “collective 

philanthropy.” People donate money to a pooled fund, and then decide together where 

the money should be given. Collectively, they can make more of an impact—give away 

more money—than anyone could individually. 

And there’s one more thing all of us are doing together nowadays, in hopes of making an 

impact: we’re wishing for better times ahead, and soon! ■ 

Frances Ellison is Co-Chair of Greenville Women Giving, a collective philanthropy group which 

has distributed $850,000 in Greenville over the past three years. A past Chair of the CCES School 

Board, she currently chairs the Board of Trustees of the Greenville Hospital System. 

Passion Remains, continued from page 22 

I hope by this time next year, when I 

graduate, the industry will be back on its feet. 

Sources tell me it’s on the rebound, and that 

the pay for a captain’s position will not be 

affected because of the skills and hands-on 

experience required. It’s a trade. There are 

many avenues in my field of work, from ship 

assist, to working with an offshore supply 

company that services the oil rigs in the Gulf 

of Mexico. So, despite the economy, I remain 

optimistic about my prospects. 

I have been fortunate to meet a wonderful 

girl who shares my love of the water. 

Emily will graduate from the College 

of Charleston this spring. She too has 

a captain’s license and enjoys sailing on 

her family’s J120 in the very competitive 

Charleston racing circuit. With her 

business degree, she will be looking for a 

challenging post later this summer. 

Advice to CCES Students and 

Alumni 

I would like to encourage CCES students 

and alumni to follow their passion. Do not 

be forced into a career or field that is not 

your passion—follow your heart. You need 

to remember that you will be living this 

life for decades, so don’t be afraid 

to follow an unconventional path. 

Life is so much better when you love 

what you are doing—and get paid 

for it. Even better when you have 

someone at your side who enjoys it 

as much as you do! ■ 

Jonathan Kovach ’05 was elected 

Sailing Team Captain at the Maritime 

Academy for 2009 and 2010. He will 

graduate in spring 2010 and hopes to pursue 

a job with an offshore supply company after 

graduation. 

“Do not be forced into 

a career or field that 

is not your passion— 

follow your heart.” 

Spring 2009 | 33

In Memoriam 

“Mr. O”: An Affectionate 

Remembrance of Edward 

Olechovsky by Langdon Cheves ‘89, 

Kathryn Cheves ‘90, and Caroline Cheves ‘95 

To his students, he was affectionally known as “Mr. O.” To his colleagues on the CCES faculty, he was “always 

interesting.” To the three of us, Edward F. Olechovsky was our step-grandfather, but none of us thought of him 

as anything other than our true grandfather. 

We have no doubt of 

his love for teaching. 

Our family is a very Southern one. Yet 

this Polish Northerner remains a huge 

influence on his grandchildren. He had a 

major role in shaping one granddaughter 

who majored in Latin, a grandson who 

constantly sought his counsel in law 

school, and another granddaughter who 

achieved a perfect score on the National 

Latin Exam. 

Born in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, Ed was a 

man of considerable education. A graduate 

of Grove City College, he obtained 

a masters degree from Florida State 

University and was a doctoral candidate 

at the University of North Carolina. He 

was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon 

Fraternity and was a fraternity advisor 

at Furman University. Prior to teaching 

at CCES, Ed taught Latin and Greek 

at Furman University, Queens College, 

Duke University, and Northern Montana 

College. Long after his days at CCES were 

over, he continued teaching Latin for the 

Greenville County schools as a substitute 

teacher. 

Ed taught Latin and French at CCES from 

1973 to 1980 and was responsible for 

expanding the foreign language program 

at the school. He was instrumental in 

introducing French, Latin, and Spanish to 

seventh-grade students so that they could 

“obtain a strong, solid facility by the senior 

year.” Chris Hearon, who succeeded Ed as 

head of the foreign language department, 

remembered him as “an extremely 

knowledgeable person in many different 

areas. He provided students with a broad 

perspective on life, which they much 

appreciated. Ed was highly respected by 

both faculty and students.” 

We have no doubt of his love for teaching. 

Faye Jay recalled his impact on her 

daughter Julia Day ’77: “She loved him so, 

and he so impacted her life and her love for 

French. Mr. O. was also so very special to us 

Golden Cavaliers [a chartered organization 

of former CCES teachers]. He called us his 

‘harem’ and kept us entertained with his zeal 

for life. He was unique.” 

Every time we saw Ed, he would regale us 

with stories of our youth, embarrassing as 

they sometimes were. As we grew older, he 

was the dinner guest who told corny jokes 

and recounted stories that always came 

across as outdated. But these anecdotes 

were always amusing to us. His former 

colleagues on the faculty remembered 

him for his humor too—and for other 

talents as well. “Mr. O made beautiful 

Christmas ornaments for all the Golden 

Cavaliers each year,” recalled Page Scovil 

Hoyle. “He started the project right after 


In Memoriam 

Christmas and made many 

hundreds by Christmas of 

the next year,” added Gena 

McGowan. “He was also 

quite a cook and made 

fabulous cakes—particularly 

fruitcakes.” 

As his grandchildren, our 

fondest memories of Ed 

concern his relationship 

with our grandmother. 

That this stereotypical 

Southern matriarch and 

this Polish expatriate 

from Pennsylvania 

should have such a strong 

relationship seemed almost 

counter-intuitive. Yet 

the love between them 

was never-ceasing and 

joyously evident. As our 

grandmother aged into 

infirmity, Ed remained 

her rock. Though we 

worried about him 

after our grandmother’s 

passing, he surprised us 

all. He became active in 

numerous organizations, including the 

Elderberries, Wednesday Bible Study at 

First Presbyterian Church, and his beloved 

Golden Cavaliers! We doubt he ever 

missed one of their luncheons. He truly 

loved CCES. 

It was only after his death that we learned 

of his role on D Day in World War II and 

of the medals he received. We never knew, 

but...Mr. O was like that. ■ 

Langdon Cheves '89 graduated from Emory 

University and earned his law degree from 

the University of South Carolina. He is a 

practicing attorney in Greenville. Kathryn 

Cheves '90 is a graduate of Converse College 

and earned her masters degree in Counseling 

from Webster University. Employed by the 

First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg, 

she has served as a missionary in Kenya. 

Caroline Cheves '95 graduated from 

Sewanee: The University of the South, and 

currently works as a Systems Consultant with 

Bar Code ID Systems in Greenville. 

In Memoriam: 

Edward Olechovsky 

Spring 2009 | 35

In Memoriam 

Classmates Share Memories of 

Angela Renee Lykes ’82 

(June 16, 1964 – July 10, 2008) 

by Donna Pazdan Friedman ’82, Nora Margolis, and Virginia 

Phillippi ’82 

A Remembrance by Donna 

(Pazdan) Friedman ’82: 

It is with deep sadness that I am writing of 

the loss of one of our dearest classmates. In 

this time of hope and change, I am struck 

by the tragedy of Angela’s death in the 

same year that the people of the United 

States elected their first black President. 

Angela too accomplished many firsts in her 

life. She was the first African-American to 

graduate from CCES, where she was voted 

our senior class President; and she was the 

first in her family to attend college. 

I met Angela in the third grade at St. Mary’s 

Catholic School. We became friends 

immediately at a time when it was uncommon 

for whites and blacks to play together. I loved 

her sweet nature. I left St. Mary’s to attend 

CCES, and later Angela joined CCES for 

grades 10-12. Her parents wanted her to have 

a wonderful education, and Angela took every 

opportunity and advantage of the education 

she received at CCES. She was an honor roll 

student and involved in all aspects of student 

life. She was a member of several clubs and 

played varsity field hockey. 

It was no surprise that Angela was deemed 

the “Friendliest” in our graduating class. 

She was always sweet, kind and brave, 

and received the Citizenship Award at our 

high school graduation. Angela moved 

valiantly through her life. She will be 

missed. 

A Remembrance by Nora 

Margolis, MD: 

Angela was a quiet leader and role model. 

With her bright smile and sweet voice, she 

always had a certain magic about her that 

made everyone around her feel welcome and 

happy. In college she continued to have this 

magic, and continued to serve others in many 

leadership positions. At Emory University 

she served as a Resident Advisor for three years 

and took an active role in her sorority, AKA. 

Angela is survived by her mom and five 

brothers and sisters. Her family and friends 

were very important to her, and she gave 

much of her time to make sure they were 

happy. She had always wanted to be a 

mom, and although she never had children, 

she became a favorite aunt. 

Angela also did much charity work for the 

Junior League, an organization that helps 

children and families at risk. The Atlanta 

Junior League named her a “Woman to 

Watch,” an honor given to her because of 

her enthusiasm for working with others to 

improve the community. She was a caring 

and dedicated volunteer with the League’s 

Political Affairs Committee and Nearly New 

thrift shop. In her professional life she was 

a manager for State Farm, where she worked 

for over 20 years. 

Angela lived in many cities and towns 

(Atlanta, Washington, DC, Daytona, 


In Memoriam 

The beautiful blue butterfly 

sculpture is actually 

a bench and will be 

dedicated in memory of 

Angela Renee Lykes by 

her friends and family on 

Saturday, June 13. Visiting 

this garden full of flowers 

and butterflies and viewing 

this beautiful sculpture 

will bring a smile to the 

faces of many children—as 

Angela, in her life, brought 

many smiles to us. 

and Charleston), but her final journey in 

life brought her back to her loving and 

supportive family and community and to, in 

Angela’s words, her “beautiful childhood” in 

Greenville. She always believed that it was 

important to “Pay It Forward”—that if you 

were kind to others, and expected nothing in 

return, they would pass that kindness onto 

others, and the world would be a better place. 

A Tribute from Her Friends, by 

Virginia Phillippi ’82 

“You’re a butterfly, and butterflies are free to 

fly,” Elton John crooned on the radio as I 

drove into town the morning of my friend 

Angela’s funeral. Through my tears I smiled 

and knew that she was, indeed, now free. 

Several weeks later I learned that one of 

Angela’s closest friends, Nora, her roommate 

from Emory, was trying to find someone 

locally to help establish a memorial in 

Angela’s honor. I knew exactly where it 

should be—the Butterfly Garden at the 

Roper Mountain Science Center where my 

kindergartener had visited the year before. 

She just couldn’t stop talking about how 

beautiful it was with all the flowers and a 

bridge over a little stream. 

In memory of Angela’s special magic and love 

of children, her classmates and friends have 

raised funds to install a magical butterfly 

bench at the Roper Mountain Science Center 

Butterfly Garden, where children from 

across Greenville County visit and learn. A 

dedication ceremony will be held Saturday, 

June 13, at the Butterfly Garden from 10:00 

a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (rain or shine). Please 

contact Viviane Till, Director of Alumni 

Relations, if you would like more details. ■ 

Donna Pazdan Friedman ’82 graduated 

from the University of North Carolina, Chapel 

Hill in 1986 and now lives in Ann Arbor, 

Michigan. Virginia Phillippi ’82 is a member 

of the Alumni Association Board and works 

as Membership Coordinator for the Greenville 

County Museum of Art. She has a Masters in 

International Business from the University of 

South Carolina and a Masters in Middle Eastern 

Studies from the American University in Cairo, 

Egypt. Nora Margolis, MD graduated from 

Emory University, where she first met Angela. 

She practices medicine outside Philadelphia. 

Spring 2009 | 37

Alumni Events 

2009 Sports Hall of Fame: Abby 

Simon Lyle ’99 • October 3, 2008 

by Viviane Till 

As the sun was setting over Carson Stadium on October 3, the CCES 2008 Sports Hall of Fame Induction 

Ceremony revisited the school’s athletic history. While the Cavaliers prepared to play Whitmire in the annual 

Homecoming football game, Jonathan Breazeale ’87, President of the CCES Alumni Association, and Dr. Lee 

Cox welcomed guests, fans and previous Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Nancy Yeargin Furman ’73, John 

Jennings ’84, Park Owings ’82, John Sterling ’79, and Scott Summers ’91 to a “Celebration of Volleyball.” 

Emily Reynolds 

’00 inducts Abby 

Simon ’99 into 

the CCES Sports 

Hall of Fame. 

Emily Reynolds ’00 flew to Greenville 

from Washington, DC (where she is the 

Deputy Director of Communications at 

the National Women’s Business Council) 

to induct her teammate and friend, Abby 

Simon Lyle ’99, with warm and heartfelt 

memories of their exploits on the court. 

Abby, a Miami attorney, attended CCES 

for two years, but in that short time left a 

permanent mark on the volleyball court. As 

team captain and two-time CCES MVP, 

Abby and her team were undefeated regional 

champions and in 1998 became the 1A 

State Championship Team. Abby earned 

Regional Player of the Year and All-State 

Player of the Year honors for two consecutive 

years, 1A Volleyball Player of the Year, and 

the Gatorade Circle of Champions South 

Carolina Volleyball Player of the Year. She 

also set the CCES school record in shot 

put and discus in 1999 and was named All 

Region and All State in both these sports, 

earning her the Coach’s Award. 

Abby was awarded a volleyball scholarship 

to Furman where her leadership and love 

of the sport flourished. She was named 

to five All-Tournament Teams, including 

the United States Air Force Academy 

All Tournament Team and the William 

& Mary Hi IQ All-Tournament teams. 

Abby was also a NCAA Post-graduate 

Scholarship Finalist. She played on the 

Athletics in Action International Volleyball 

Team, which opened up opportunities for 

volleyball athletes 

in Sri Lanka, 

Hong Kong, and 

Germany. 

Abby with her 

retired Number 

3 volleyball 

jersey. 


Alumni Events 

As Abby’s parents look on, 

Athletic Director R.J. Beach 

announces the retirement of 

Abby’s volleyball jersey. 

At the ceremonies Athletic Director R.J. 

Beach made CCES history by retiring 

Abby’s volleyball jersey Number 3—the 

first time a CCES female athlete’s athletic 

jersey was retired. Abby joins Mills Ariail 

’91 and Rasmi Gamble ’02 in having 

their jerseys hanging in McCall Field 

House. 

Continuing the celebration, Volleyball 

Coach Jennifer Numberger recognized 

Karen Cochran Kee ’95, Hannah 

Rogers Metcalfe ’95, Annie 

Woods Parker ’97, and Caroline 

Cheves ’95, all members of the 

1994 Volleyball team, the first to 

win a CCES State Championship. She 

also recognized volleyball state champions 

Thea Van der Zalm ’01, Emily 

Reynolds ’00, Katherine Chisholm 

’01 (represented by her mother Susan 

Chisholm), and Kate Williams Powell 

’01 (represented by her father Doug 

Williams, our JV Volleyball Coach), who 

were all on hand to celebrate this very 

special occasion. ■ 

Members of 

Abby’s family and 

teammates display 

the resolution retiring 

her jersey. 

Spring 2009 | 39

Alumni Events 

Alumni Awards VIP Dinner 

Lang Cheves and Jonathan 

Breazeale ’87 present 

Dena Stone Benedict ’78, 

representing the Class of 1978, 

with an award for the class with 

the highest participation in the 

2007-08 Annual Giving campaign. 

For students, the Big Event 

of the evening would be 

the Homecoming Game, 

but for CCES alumni the 

festivities began with the 

Alumni VIP Dinner held in 

a tent overlooking Carson 

Field. While guests enjoyed 

the buffet dinner, Alumni 

Association President 

Jonathan Breazeale ’87 

presented the annual 

Marguerite Ramage Wyche Alumni Service 

Award to Kathy Hunt Marion ’77 for her 

tireless volunteer commitment to the CCES 

Alumni Association and to Cavalier Classics, 

the chartered organization for parents of 

CCES alumni. 

Also announced was the Cheves 

Achievement Award, presented by Lang and 

Kay Cheves to the alumni class with the 

greatest participation and the largest total 

Kathy Hunt Marion ’77, who received the 

Marguerite Ramage Wyche Alumni Service 

Award, with her husband Alex ’76 at the 

Alumni VIP Dinner. 

donation to Annual Giving. The winning 

classes from the 2007-08 AG campaign were 

the Class of 1978 for highest participation, 

represented by Dena Stone Benedict ’78, 

and the Class of 1982 for highest gift total, 

represented by Bobby Nachman ’82. ■ 

Mark Kent ’81, CEO of Kent 

Wool, fielded a crack team 

that took home first place in 

the Sporting Clay tournament. 

From left, Brad Pressley, 

Andrew Pressley, Steve Haire, 

and Alan Pressley. 

Ready, Aim, Fire: Alumni Take Aim at 

Sporting Clay Tournament 

Pull! CCES alumni are practiced at taking 

aim at their goals in life, so our first-ever 

Alumni Sporting Clay Tournament offered 

them an entertaining 

twist on zeroing in 

on desired targets. 

The tournament was 

held on October 3, 

2008, at Riverbend 

Sportsman Club 

in Inman, South 

Carolina. Alumni 

Liz Marion ’01 

and Bern DuPree 

’98 did an amazing 

job co-chairing the event, whose proceeds 

support the Dr. Georgia Frothingham 

Scholarship Endowment. Eleven teams 

came out for the 100-shot course on a 

beautiful fall morning for the friendly 

competition, several bringing their own golf 

carts and camouflage gear. Kent Wool, 

with players Alan Pressley, Brad Pressley, 

Andrew Pressley and Steve Haire, won the 

contest. John Kehl ’88 brought home a 

shiny new Baretta shotgun from the raffle. 

We look forward to seeing it in action at 

the next tournament, to be held Friday, 

September 11, 2009. Please call 864-299- 

1522 x1294 to register to play. ■ 


Alumni Events 

Celebrating a CCES Legacy 

This year’s Alumni Celebration Weekend 

kicked off on March 18 with our annual 

Legacy Breakfast for the families of students 

whose parents attended CCES. Children 

dived into donuts and scones while their 

parents chose bagels and fruit salad from 

the buffet in the Upper School Presentation 

Room. Photos were taken of each “Legacy” 

and his or her children and mailed to 

them. These loyal parents know there is no 

better legacy to leave their children than an 

excellent education. 

Ninety-one alumni families have children 

enrolled at CCES this school year, and ten 

legacy students are now seniors. Pictured, at 

right, and listed below are the families who 

attended the 2009 Legacy Breakfast. 

1972 

Richard Furman ’72, Robert ’09 

Roger Varin, Maddy ’09 

1973 

Holly Hatcher Deshields, Brent ’14 

Nancy Yeargin Furman, Robert ’09, Sitton ’15 

1975 

Roger Stone, Randy ’09, Caroline ’10, 

Roger Stone ’13, Michael ’15 

1976 

Kirk Stone, Kirk ’20 

1977 

George Conits, Ian ’09, Nina ’12 

1978 

Dena Stone Benedict, Jeff ’12, Kathleen ’13 

Nolley Cruikshank Sanchelli, Will ’19 

Viviane Varin Till, Steven ’13, Robert ’16 

1979 

Dan Einstein, Charles ’13 

Emily Collins Rackley, Austin ’14 

Scottie Echols Waddell, Rick Fowler ’09, 

Rainey Fowler ’14, Virginia ’14 

1980 

Jeff and Holly Horton McCall, Heather ’10, 

Karen ’12, Olivia ’15 

John Pazdan, Mary Bradley ’15, 

Susannah ’15, Sam ’19 

1982 

Elizabeth Sterling Jarrett, Sterling ’10, 

Elliott ’13 

Park Owings, Neely ’15, Sylvia ’18 

Mike Sierra, Harris ’18, Sara Grace ’21 

1983 

Bibby Harris Sierra, see Mike Sierra ’82 

1986 

Emilie Roy Pazdan, see John Pazdan ’80 

1987 

Jonathan Breazeale, Taylor ’14, Bailey ’17 

Blanton Phillips, Sam ’19, Sarah ’21 

Dan Sterling, Daniel ’19 

1988 

John Kehl, Liza ’17, Lucy ’19 

Debi Reyner Roberts, Taylor ’19 

1989 

Katherine Russell Sagedy, Charles ’20 

1992 

Clark Gallivan, Jack ’19 

1993 

Nicole Swalm Bell, Mary Barton ’21 ■ 

Our congratulations to the ten members of 

the Class of 2009 whose parents are also 

graduates of CCES! Standing tall, front 

row, left to right: Randy Stone (son of 

Roger Stone ’75), Maddy Varin (daughter 

of Betsy Goldsmith Varin ’77 and Roger 

Varin ’72), Kimbrell Hughes (daughter of 

Phil Hughes ’73), and Robert Furman (son 

of Nancy Yeargin Furman ’73 and Richard 

Furman ’72). Back row: Ian Conits (son 

of George Conits ’77) and Rick Fowler 

(son of Scottie Echols Waddell ’79). Not 

pictured: Clay Hall (son of Marie Clay 

Hall ’75), Holly McKissick (daughter of 

Martha Wood McKissick ’82 and Smyth 

McKissick ’75), Christopher Sladek 

(son of Ginny Fraser Milam ’74), and Cliff 

Timmons (son of Rick Timmons ’67). 

Spring 2009 | 41

Alumni Events 

2009 Alumni Career Program 

“Being # 2 can be a good thing.” 

Participants in the 2009 Career Day Program gather outdoors under a canopy of cherry 

blossoms for a group portrait. 

The fifth annual Alumni Career 

Program was held March 19 as 

part of Alumni Celebration Week 

2009. In all, 22 alumni participated 

in Career Panels attended by CCES 

juniors and seniors. These Cavaliers 

represented a wide variety of careers 

and industries, and students had 

the opportunity to find out “what 

it’s really like” to be a lawyer, a 

TV sports journalist, a novelist, 

a cardiologist, and many other 

fascinating careers in seven different 

areas. The 2009 panelists were: 

Communications 

Lisa Chambers ’84 

David Hamilton ’99 

Carrie Ryan ’96 

Education/ Service 

Pam Sheftall Huffman ’79 

Kathy Vaughan Jones ’93 

Sloan Shoemaker ’79 

Scottie Echols Waddell ’79 

Finance/ Real Estate 

Appy Apperson ’79 

Hagan Rogers ’89 

Doug Webster ’74 

Law/ Security 

Scott Summers ’91 

Amy Sutherland ’72 

Medicine 

Jay Mack ’74 

Liza Wilson Ragsdale ’99 

Tommy Siachos ’89 

Sales/ Business 

Jonathan Breazeale ’87 

Mary Claire Hall Busby ’89 

Emily Collins Rackley ’79 

Technology 

Ted Hassold ’79 

Greg Hood, CCES Webmaster 

Greg Kintz ’79 

Craig Ragsdale ’99 

Katherine Russell Sagedy ’89 ■ 


Alumni Events 

1 2 

3 

1) Perhaps the “coolest” panelist (at least in students’ eyes) was national TV sports journalist David Hamilton 

’99. Students peppered him with questions. Here, one of his responses elicits a smile from media researcher 

Lisa Chambers ’84. 2) Scottie Echols Waddell ’79, Kathy Vaughan Jones ’93, Pam Sheftall Huffman 

’79 and Sloan Shoemaker ’79 discuss the merits of a career in education. 3) A student’s question during the 

Law/Security panel amuses moderator Melanie Carmichael, standing, and panelists Scott Summer ’91 

and Amy Sutherland ’72. 4) In the Lower School library, a space remembered by most of the alumni present 

as the library in the Upper School, panelists are welcomed by CCES President Lee Cox. For more photos from 

Career Day, visit our website’s Alumni pages. 

4 

Spring 2009 | 43

Alumni Events 

Alumnae Field Hockey Game: 

Not Even Clear Who Won! 

The Alumnae vs. Varsity Hockey game during Reunion Celebration Weekend was more 

spirited than skilled and more funny than serious. Despite an injury to Marion Rose 

Crawford ’85, who continues to take aggressive play to a high level, the players and 

spectators of all ages had a great day! 

Left to right, first row: Dena Stone Benedict ’78, Holly McKissick ’09 (daughter of 

Martha ’82 and Smyth ’75 McKissick), Smyth Taylor ’09, Tao Brody ’10, Ellie Walker 

’10, Liz Marion ’01 (daughter of Kathy 

Hunt ’77 and Alex ’76 Marion), and 

Emily Swenson ’10. 

Alumni Oyster Roast 

Oysters, as you know, are famed as aphrodisiacs. So is it 

any wonder, with all the love among CCES alumni, that 

many were attracted again this year to the Alumni Oyster 

Roast held at Oysters on the West End on February 26? 

This group enjoyed 

the company as much 

as the food. From 

left: Debi Reyner 

Roberts ’88, Baker 

Wyche, Martha Louise 

Ramage Lewis ’81, 

Lee Lewis, Marie 

Clay Hall ’75, and 

Marguerite Ramage 

Wyche ’65. ■ 

Middle row: Marion Rose Crawford 

’85, Kimbrell Hughes ’09 (daughter of 

Phil Hughes ’73), Griffin Wynkoop ’11, 

Isabella Parker ’11, Katherine Grandy 

’10, Allie Stern (daughter of Musette 

Williams Stern ’75), CeCe Sherman ’11, 

Marie Clay Hall ’75, Anne Hassold (first 

CCES field hockey coach and mother of 

Rob ’72, Jim ’74, and Ted ’79). 

Back row: Victoria Nachman ’11 

(daughter of Bob Nachman ’82), Tory 

Gentry ’11, Sarah Daniels ’09 and 

Connie Lanzl (Head Field Hockey Coach 

& Vice-President for Advancement). ■ 


Class News 

MARRIAGES 

1968 

Libby Knight to Ford Hardy 

Borders on October 18, 2008, 

in the Harper Chapel of First 

Presbyterian, Greenville. 

1992 

Kate Fowler to Chris Nichols, 

October 5, 2008, in Greenville. 

1994 

Jim Harris to Anina Basile, May 

2008. 

1995 

Amy Hooper to Marshal 

Comstock White, on November 

1, 2008, at Lake Toxaway Country 

Club, North Carolina. 

1996 

Nadim Salman to Jenny Jones, 

May 31, 2008. 

1998 

Thomas Cheves to Ann Hock 

of Augusta, Georgia, in August 

2007. 

Lindsey Seaman to Jeff Demirjian 

on December 14, 2008. They wed 

at Walt Disney World’s Wedding 

Pavilion. 

Nick Janouskovec to Amanda 

Potter, on November 29, 2008. 

Chantal North-Coombes to 

Devon James Speas, on May 3, 

2008, on Edisto Island. 

2000 

Robert Carman to Allison Muise, 

on June 7, 2008, at Christ Church 

Episcopal, in Greenville. 

Henry Gallivan to Amanda Jean 

Morris, on August 23, 2008, in 

Columbia. 

Kelli Brown to Adam Stauff, 

October 11, 2008, at Christ 

Church Episcopal in Greenville. 

2001 

Elizabeth Provence to Everett 

McMillian, January 17, 2009, 

at Christ Church Episcopal, 

Greenville. 

Amy Trobaugh to Chris Pruitt, 

December 29, 2008, in Ann Arbor, 

Michigan. 

2002 

Cheryl Moehlenbrock to Michael 

Caston, August 30, 2008, at 

Highlands Lake Inn, Flat Rock, 

North Carolina. 

Lace Cosgrove to John Fang, July 

19, 2008, on Sullivan’s Island, SC. 

Included in the wedding party 

were bridesmaids Britten Meyer 

Carter ’03 and Kelly Gavron 

Scoggins ’99. 

2003 

God-Is Watts to Jason Rivera, on 

January 31, 2009, in Staten Island, 

New York. 

BIRTHS 

1987 

To Paul Griz and wife, Mary Beth, 

a daughter, their fifth child, Lydia 

Elizabeth, born November 2007. 

1988 

To Jess Pardi and husband, Bobby 

Lanier, a daughter, Elle Pardi 

Lanier, on February 5, 2009. 

1990 

To Elizabeth Aiken Chambers 

and husband, Matt, two 

daughters, Caroline Alderson, 

on February 28, 2007, and 

Katherine Reid, on February 3, 

2009. 

1992 

To Clark Gallivan and his wife, 

Katherine, a son, Graham, born 

January 29, 2009. 

To Jim Henley and wife, Skye, a 

son, Reed, born June 17, 2008. 

1993 

To Nicole Swalm Bell and 

husband, Griffin, a son, Alan 

Richards, born February 3, 2009. 

To Amy McCauley Farnsworth 

and husband, Stephen, a son, 

Carter McCloskey, on August 19, 

2008. 

To Rory Payne Foster and 

husband, Dolph, a daughter, 

Chesnee Seals, on October 13, 

2008. 

1994 

To Matt Wyche and wife, Hillary, 

a daughter, Anne Villere, on March 

17, 2009. 

1995 

To Will Holt and wife, Ayyana, a 

son, Raiden, born January 2, 2009. 

To Farrah McCauley Redmon 

and husband, Michael, two 

daughters, Francesca, age 2, and 

India, born September 2, 2008. 

To Brent Williams and wife, Penn, 

a son, Robert Carter. 

1996 

To Hamp Henley and wife, 

Amanda, a daughter, Lucy, on 

March 27, 2007. 

To Frankie Marion and wife, 

Brooke, a son, William Francis IV. 

1998 

To Rob Payne and wife, Katie, 

a daughter, Lila McKay, on 

December 14, 2008. 

To David Ryan and wife, Katie, 

a son, John 

“Jack” Steven, 

on February 11, 

2008. 

1999 

There's nothing 

like a positive 

attitude, and 

David Ryan's 

son Jack has it 

in spades! 

To Jarrett Ziegler Kraeling and 

husband, Brett, a daughter, Emma 

Harley, on September 14, 2008. 

To Amanda Cagle Mikolajek 

and husband, Robert, a son, 

Noah, in 2008. 

2001 

To Melissa Jimenez Nocks and 

husband, Laurin, a girl, Lila Grace, 

on March 11, 2009. 

DEATHS 

1973 

Kitt Kittredge, on April 4, 2008. 

1974 

Gary Roberts, on April 13, 2009. 

1978 

Murray McCollum, earlier this 

year in Florida. 

1987 

Jinks Jervey Page, on January 16, 

2009. 

Class Notes 

1967 

Lynn Yeargin is President of 

Yeargin Potter Shackelford 

Construction, which was named 

one of South Carolina’s Fastest 

Growing Companies for 2008. 

The company has received this 

award three of the last four years. 

1972 

Mary Jane Gilbert Jacques 

RGJacques@aol.com 

Bill Bannen completed his 

first half-marathon in February 

2008 at the Myrtle Beach Half 

Marathon. He then completed 

the South Carolina Half Ironman 

at the end of September and has 

been training for the triathlon 

season. 

Beth Hipp Murphy is hosting 

two boys from Ghana and is 

sending them to Porter-Gaud in 

Charleston. 

Bill Pittendreigh is now serving 

as Senior Pastor of the Chapel by 

the Sea at Ft. Myers Beach, Florida, 

which is located on Estero Island in 

the Gulf of Mexico. 

Spring 2009 | 45

Class News 

Rip Parks ’72 and Mary 

Jane Gilbert Jacques ’72 

are reunited at the 2008 CCES 

Alumni Christmas Party held at 

the Upstate History Museum. 

1973 

Candy McCall 

candym@olcinc.com 

907-683-0149 

Caleb Freeman, developer of 

The Acadia Community (www. 

AcadiaSC.com) was recently 

recognized by the Upper SC 

Masonry Association, which 

selected the Pavillion at Acadia as 

a finalist for its annual Awards and 

Recognitions. The Pavillion is the 

center point of the Acadia Village, 

a place for neighbors and visitors to 

gather for casual and special events. 

SynTerra, a Greenville-based civil 

engineering firm, held its annual 

organization and planning retreat 

there as well. Caleb gave a walking 

tour of his environmentally 

friendly planned community to 

the entire SynTerra staff. The 

corporate retreat was conducted 

at Acadia’s meeting facility. Other 

firms are invited to consider Acadia 

for their corporate retreats and 

private functions. 

Gay Wallace Peden made a 

career change in 2008 and is 

now working at New Prospect 

Marketing in Spartanburg. Her 

daughter, Olivia, and husband, 

Robbie, live in Washington, DC. 

1974 

Elizabeth Bethea Patterson 

libpatterson@comcast.net 

(615) 353-0559 

Tom Espey writes, “My daughter, 

Hannah, age 11, is a member of 

the Young Champions of America 

Cheer Team. Her team went to 

Madison, Wisconsin, in 2007, 

where they won the Pro-All-Star 

division. In 2008 Hannah moved 

up to the elite level, and her team 

placed third in nationals held in St. 

Louis, Missouri. Hannah is now 

on the Performing Team, which 

attended the nationals in Michigan 

last summer. That’s about it, as 

my wife and I live through our 

daughter. Oh yeah, we still have 

jobs!” 

Will Leverette wrote, “I just 

finished a book, A History of 

Whitewater Paddling in Western 

North Carolina, published by the 

History Press of Charleston. It has 

been wildly successful and sold out 

the first printing in less than two 

months. I have given PowerPoint 

presentations of the sixty-plus 

pictures in the book all over 

Western North Carolina and can 

guarantee a great show. The book 

can be found on Amazon.com, the 

Nantahala outdoor center’s web 

page, the History Press, as well as in 

numerous bookstores throughout 

Western North Carolina.” 

Libby Bethea Patterson wrote 

to inform us proudly that her 

daughter, Bethea, is currently 

a freshman at Vanderbilt 

University. 

Mary Ellen Wilkinson ’74 

relaxes at the opening of 

her picture-perfect Bed and 

Breakfast, the Magnolia Inn, in 

Travelers Rest, South Carolina. 

1975 

Your reunion is next year during 

the CCES 50th Anniversary! If you 

would like to serve on the committee, 

please contact Viviane Till, Director 

of Alumni Programs, at tillv@cces.org 

or call 864-299-1522 x1294. 

1976 

Kirk Stone 

stonek@minoritysales.com 

864- 235-5967 

Lynda Harrison Hatcher 

lhhatcher@comcast.net 

804-387-4873 

1977 

Rebecca Clay 

rebeccasints@bellsouth.net 

864-233-6650 

Rebecca Clay has started a new 

business, “Once a Bra, Now a 

Purse,” which makes handbags 

out of bras. The profits go to 

help in the fight against breast 

cancer. She has a showroom 

in the Atlanta mart, as well 

as a catalogue. She recently 

began shipping internationally. 

Check out her website at www. 

bra-cketbook.com. Both Skirt! 

and Talk magazines recently 

featured the bags. Rebecca 

writes, “Be sure to click on my 

story on my website.” Her bags 

are sold in 

five 

boutiques 

in 

Greenville, 

one being 

Finer 

Things on 

Augusta 

Road. 

Amy 

Inglesby 

Hawke 

has three 

sons, all 

attending 

high school. Teddy plans to 

graduate this year and has 

applied to Clemson. Twins 

Blake and Justin are currently 

sophomores. 

John Walter was appointed head 

of St. Timothy’s Preparatory 

School in Apple Valley, 

California, in July of 2007. St. 

Tim’s is an Episcopal co-ed 

day school located in the High 

Desert of Southern California 

about 90 miles northwest of Los 

Angeles. Check it out at www. 

sttimsprep.com! In the fall of 

2008, John was asked to fill a 

vacated seat on the Apple Valley 

Chamber of Commerce Board as 

well as one on the Victor Valley 

Museum of Art Board. 

Laurie Steinman Watral has 

been married for twenty-six 

years and lives in Raleigh with 

her three daughters. One 

daughter attends UNC- Chapel 

Hill, one is a high school senior, 

and one is in ninth grade. 

Laurie launched a new geriatric 

care management business in 

January ’09. 

1978 

Billy Campbell was named 

President and CEO of 

Panavision and has relocated 

to Los Angeles. According to 

the press announcement of his 

appointment, he will “oversee all 

domestic and foreign operations 

and management of the leading 

supplier of digital and film 

camera systems and lighting 

to the motion picture and 

television industry.” 

Trip Lea writes, “After twelve 

years in St. Thomas, I’ve 

relocated to Curaçao in the 

Netherlands Antilles with wife, 

Boni, two children, two dogs 

and three cats.” Their son, Hap, 

is in tenth grade, and their 

daughter, Jordan, is in eighth 

grade at the International School 

of Curaçao. Trip co-founded 

NuCapital, Inc. (www.nucapital. 

nl) with a group of U.S. and 

European investors to focus on 

the development of utility scale 

renewable energy projects in 

Central and South America and 

the Caribbean. Trip is traveling 

extensively in the target markets, 


Class News 

visiting the wind farms under 

development in Aruba, Brazil, 

Chile, Curaçao, and several 

Central American locales. 

Jack Miller is enjoying boating 

and fishing, having recently retired. 

Jane McMahan Parker relocated 

to Lenoir City, Tennessee, along 

with husband, Daniel, son, 

Nathaniel, 18, and daughter 

Melissa, 21. Jane writes, “We are 

thoroughly enjoying our house 

and new hobbies: coffee time 

with a view of the lake, bonfires, 

‘watchable wildlife,’ including my 

‘deer friends,’ wild turkeys, foxes, 

bald eagles, and woodpeckers. 

We also enjoy kayaks, sea-doos, 

billiards, and darts. Melissa 

graduates from Carson-Newman 

College in May. In March we plan 

to go on a two-week tour and class 

in Israel with 40 people from our 

church. Nathaniel is attending his 

second year at Hargrave Military 

Academy in Chatham, Virginia, 

and also graduates in May. He 

hopes to attend Tennessee Tech 

University and continue his 

participation on the rifle team 

there. Daniel and I returned 

recently from a two-week trip 

rafting down the Colorado River 

inside the Grand Canyon. That 

was an adventure of a lifetime, 

full of excitement, challenges, 

and incomparable beauty! Since 

we are empty-nesters with extra 

bedrooms, we welcome company. 

Please come visit and help us enjoy 

the lake!” 

1979 

Ted Hassold 

tedhassold@nuvox.com 

864-271-7303 

Tammy Wooten Claussen is active 

in residential real estate as a broker 

while continuing to act as National 

Vice President for Arbonne, a 

health and wellness company. Her 

daughter is currently a junior at 

Charlotte Country Day School, 

where she is a member of the 

National Honors Society. 

Tish Short Malkmus will do 

anything to get outdoors! She 

plays on several volleyball teams, 

hikes, skis cross country, and 

gardens whenever possible. Her 

daughter, Savannah, will be 

attending the Savannah College of 

Art and Design in the fall. 

Robin McCain is the scheduler in 

the office for Senator Harry Reid 

(D-Nevada) in Washington, DC. 

Emily Collins Rackley is still in 

radio advertising and living on 

the farm in Belton with husband, 

Tony. Their son, Austin, is a 

seventh-grader at CCES and is on 

the traveling team of the Carolina 

Elite Soccer Academy, which keeps 

the family on the go. 

1980 

David Sagedy 

zagnutt14u@yahoo.com 

864- 422-0423 

1981 

Allison Martin Mertens 

allison.mertens@crglobal.com 

864- 233-9358 

Allison Martin Mertens writes: 

"Martha Louise Ramage Lewis 

survived tax season. I just saw her 

and husband, Lee, at parties. CCES 

had its first gala, which was lots of 

fun. We sat with Mike ’82 and 

Bibby Harris ’83 Sierra and Joe 

Jennings’ brother, Clayton ’91, 

and his wife Mahaley. The Jennings 

twins and mine (not twins, just 

one) will be starting Primer next 

year. Yes, while the rest of you 

have kids heading to college, Mac 

will be 5 next week. Of course, 

I am not alone in the ranks of 

having little kids. Fortunately, I 

am joined by Caroline Robinson 

Fleming, Elizabeth Jervey Gentry, 

Lea Bauknight Fulk, and Mark 

Kent. (Perhaps there are others, 

but you need to let me know!) The 

one thing that we have going for 

us is that we have at least twelve 

more years for our college fund 

to rebound after the most recent 

economic events. 

This past Christmas I was able 

to get together with Joe and 

Susan Fowler Credle, Peter and 

Caroline Robinson Fleming 

and Lynn McColl Kozikowski. 

Susan and Joe were on a road trip 

from New York City to Chapel 

Hill to Beaufort to Spring Island 

to Asheville to Greenville and 

back to NYC to visit ALL of their 

families. Peter and Caroline and 

kids, Eliza and Peter, are still in 

Atlanta. Lynn was visiting from 

her home in Albuquerque, New 

Mexico. She is taking a sabbatical 

from teaching so she can spend 

more time painting and writing. 

I also get to see Josephine 

Forrester Laney every now and 

then when she and Eddie head up 

from the heat of Columbia to the 

mountains of Caesar’s Head. 

Kevin and I were in DC for the 

inauguration. We managed to 

run into a schoolmate of Keli 

McCormack Allman. She 

attended Punahou High School in 

Hawaii with Barak Obama. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with 

Elizabeth Jervey Gentry and her 

family at the death of her younger 

sister, Jinks." 

Susan Gaddy writes, “I enjoyed 

volunteering for the Obama 

campaign in North Carolina. I 

also enjoyed meeting CCES 

alumna Beth Hipp Murphy ’72 

in Charleston this fall." 

1983 

Valerie Alexander Slade ’81 and Peter 

Dority ’81, classmates of Billy Richardson 

’81, and Billy’s parents, Billy and Lib 

Richardson, are on hand to congratulate 

senior Ricky Davis on winning the Billy 

Richardson Sportsman Award for his 

dedication and sportsmanship throughout 

the 2008 football season. 

Byron Berry 

bwberry01@bell8south.net 

864-242-584 

Scott Greene 

finaid@gatech.edu 

Scott Odom 

orf_modo@hotmail.com 

(650) 596-0177 

Linh Nguyen writes, “My wife 

and four-year-old daughter and I 

celebrated our fourth Christmas 

and New Year’s in Albuquerque, 

New Mexico. I’m in touch 

with and see Lynn McColl 

Kozikowski ’81 often as she 

also lives here (small world). I 

continue to grow my management 

consulting business (www. 

morningsideconsulting.com). I 

worked several months last year in 

Washington, DC, on the Obama 

transition team, co-leading the 

transition process for the Office 

of Personnel Management, the 

human resource department for 

the federal government. Unless 

asked to serve by the ‘Big Man’ 

himself, I plan to return to my own 

practice soon after the 

inauguration.” 

Charles Smith 

visited the Lower 

School during the 

career week program 

to speak to students 

about his company, 

eDR Solutions. He 

founded the company, 

headquartered in 

Greenville, in 2004. 

Today it is recognized 

as a leader in electronic 

destruction and 

recycling. The Hard 

Disk Crusher sparked 

much excitement 

among the students! 

It is recognized as 

Spring 2009 | 47

Class News 

the number one physical disk 

destruction product on the market 

today. 

Lucie Dority Snyder wrote, “I 

enjoyed seeing so many of my 

classmates at our 25th reunion! 

Thanks to everyone for organizing 

such a fun evening. We had a 

great turnout considering we had 

such a small class. My boys and I 

still love living in Simpsonville.” 

Son, Andrew, is in the eighth 

grade, and Preston is a sixthgrader. 

Lucie has taught at Bethel 

Elementary for eight years, six of 

those in kindergarten. This year 

marks her 21 st year of teaching 

school. 

1984 

Daniel Varat 

danny.varat@furman.edu 

864- 233-6340 

Lisa Chambers has made another 

trip to Botswana, Africa. 

1985 

Pepper Horton 

pepper@GFandH.com 

864-234-5641 

Christopher B. Roberts 

864-271-9768 

Jan Schipper and his family 

spent most of the summer on 

the South Carolina coast, staying 

close to their roots. He flies 

down for long weekends from 

New York. 

1986 

Emilie Roy Pazdan 

epazdan@charter.net 

864-370-2578 

Mike Teachey is living in 

Simpsonville with his wife, 

Joelle, and four-year-old son, 

Seth. He is the director of 

community relations for the 

Greenville County Recreation 

District. 

1987 

Katy Glenn Smith 

Katy@Katydid.biz 

864-271-3891 

1988 

Elizabeth Rose McKissick 

ermckissick @charter.net 

864- 271-4030 

Stephanie Harris Shipley 

continues living in Delray Beach, 

Florida, where she loves her 300 

steps to the ocean! As director 

of the Delray Beach Historical 

Society, she is restoring a 100-yearold 

house that will become a new 

learning and resource center for the 

community. Brother, Jim Harris 

’94, and his wife, Anina, recently 

visited and enjoyed the warm 

weather. 

1989 

C. Langdon Cheves III 

864- 271-0962 

Katherine Russell Sagedy 

krsagedy@juno.com 

864-233-7932 

Don Hunt is currently serving 

as the 2008-09 President of the 

South Carolina Association of 

Orthodontists. 

Katherine Russell Sagedy has 

enjoyed getting in touch with 

former classmates while planning 

their reunion. Her son, Charles, 

loves first grade! Katherine writes, 

“It’s great to be back at CCES as a 

parent.” 

1990 

Grayson Davis Marpes 

grayson.marpes@datastream.net 

864- 895-9399 

1991 

David Belk 

davebelk@insightbb.com 

502-742-1232 

Mills Ariail 

rmariail@charter.net 

864- 467-9015 

Katherine Sijthoff Snoots 

kateandjeffrey@hotmail.com 

703-768-1190 

Cynthia Petesch Sturtevant 

cynthiasturtevant@yahoo.com 

704-364-2964 

Mills Ariail hung his shingle at the 

law office of R. Mills Ariail, Jr., in 

August, in Greenville. Good luck, 

Mills! 

Hailey Hall Arthur and husband, 

Mike, are enjoying their twins, son 

David Elliott, and daughter Lane 

Brasington. Hailey writes, “They 

are starting to crawl and are into 

everything! Our four-year-old 

son, Shep, recently completed a 

round of hyperbaric oxygenation 

treatments, and he is doing 

great as a result. He is running 

around now in his walker, and his 

speech and fine motor have really 

improved since the treatments. We 

have built a home in Weddington, 

North Carolina, where we recently 

moved. It is only ten minutes from 

where we are now (still a suburb of 

Charlotte) but in a better school 

district – especially for children 

with special needs.” 

Wayne Hopkins writes, “It’s hard 

to believe, but I marked 14 years 

of life in Los Angeles in August. 

Dang, when did we get so old? I’m 

enjoying the sun and surf in LA 

now more than ever. Although 

I’m semi-retired from Hollywood, 

I’m a business development and 

marketing specialist for March 

Vision Care, Inc. I am also still 

working on my masters of divinity 

degree at Fuller Seminary, and 

I spend most of my free time 

working as youth minister of my 

church. I still enjoy being involved 

with music. As for the wife and 

brood, well, the wife’s a work-inprogress 

and my brood consists of 

two nephews plus five godchildren 

whom I am helping to get into and 

through college. If anyone comes 

to the LA area, please get in touch!” 

(See “Goodbye to $50 Lunches and 

All That,” p. 14.) 

Owen Schiano writes, “Carly 

and I now have two toddler boys, 

Owen and Quinn. Last year we 

moved to Cleveland, where I work 

for U.S. Foodservice.” 

Kate Sijthoff Snoots and 

family still live in Charlotte, 

North Carolina. Kate works for 

SRA International as a senior 

environmental communications 

consultant. 

Scott Summers and Heather still 

live in Greenville with their two 

sons, Carter, age four, and Gavin, 

one. Scott continues to work with 

the Secret Service. He writes, “I’m 

going to keep my head down and 

stay here for as long as I can.” 

1992 

Micah Kee 

micahkee@caplan-group.com 

770-962-4182 

Alvaro Cantillo returned to New 

Jersey recently after three years 

living in Tennessee. He continues 

his work with Colgate-Palmolive, 

where he is the director of 

performance and strategy. 

Bob Croft completed the Army’s 

operations research course and 

began a new job at Ft. Benning in 

Columbus, Georgia, improving 

and developing new infantry 

equipment. He bought a new 

(old) house downtown and enjoys 

being able to ride his bike to work. 

1993 

Nicole Swalm Bell 

nbell@coldwellbankercaine.com 

205-879-6702 

Kimberly Simms Gibbs is 

currently teaching seventh grade at 

Berea Middle School and lives in 

Marietta, South Carolina, with her 

husband, Jeremy. 

1994 

Anne Genevieve Gallivan 

aggallivan@gmail.com 

864-235-0705 

Brooks Ariail Conner 

brooks.connor@nuvox.com 

864-236-9879 

Katherine Aiken White 

katherineaikenwhite@gmail.com 

864-242-6634 

Katherine Hines Dobie 

recently completed residency at 

Vanderbilt and is now working 

as an anesthesiologist on staff at 

Vanderbilt. 


Class News 

Glyn Finch and wife, Amy, 

enjoyed a trip to Italy in October 

2008. They visited Milan, 

Florence, Rome, and Venice. 

Natalie Spigner McConnell 

and husband, Beech, are living in 

Anderson, South Carolina. 

Sitton Smith Ostobee and 

husband, Heath, are enjoying their 

new daughter at their home in 

Easley, South Carolina. 

Rob Russell, his wife, Lindsay, and 

son, Cooper, are still in Nashville 

where they plan to reside until he 

finishes his surgical residency in 

June 2010. He plans to apply for a 

pediatric surgery fellowship. 

1995 

Marsha R. Kennedy 

marsharkennedy@aol.com 

864-288-0657 

Marie Earle Pender 

Mariepender@hotmail.com 

828-694-0733 

Ernest Crosby recently graduated 

from The Riley Institute at 

Furman where he participated in 

the Upstate’s Diversity Leaders 

Initiative (DLI). Chosen by 

nomination and application, 

participants in the DLI come 

from all demographic groups 

and sectors— corporate, civic, 

non-profit, faith-based, and 

education—to build leadership 

skills while also examining and 

pursuing solutions to challenges 

and opportunities most pressing 

to our communities. During the 

course of the class, participants 

examine complex diversity 

issues and network with other 

community leaders, developing 

diversity management tools 

to enhance their business, 

organization and community. 

Jay Grady is an administrator 

at League Academy of 

Communication Arts in 

Greenville. 

Will Holt and his wife, Ayyana, 

moved to Hawaii in July. In 

January they celebrated the birth of 

their first child. They plan to live in 

Hawaii for one year, then transfer 

to Oakland, California, where Will 

will begin his gastroenterology 

fellowship in San Francisco. 

Jennifer Ogden Neher, along 

with husband, John, and son, 

Townsend, relocated to San 

Diego, California. Her company, 

Blackbaud, transferred her to 

head up the customer support 

department for the Kintera 

division. 

Courtney Tollison is still living 

in Greenville, enjoying her joint 

position as professor at Furman 

and Historian for the new 

Upcountry History Museum. 

She co-produced a documentary, 

Threads of Victory: Upcountry 

South Carolina During World War 

II, which won a National Award 

of Merit from the American 

Association for State and Local 

History. She is currently working 

on an exhibit on World War II 

that will be open to the public at 

the museum in November. The 

exhibit is funded by a $25,000 

Hollingsworth grant. (See “The 

Luxury of Choice: Academic Success 

and Opportunity,” p. 10.) 

1996 

David Sickinger 

dsickinger@ 

garvindesigngroup.com 

803-739-9695 

Sam R. Zimmerman 

boinspain@hotmail.com 

864-288-0326 

Tina Block writes, “I travel for 

both work and for pleasure—to 

Dallas, Anaheim, Las Vegas, 

The Bahamas, Cancun, 

Aruba, and Germany. I stilll 

have my business in personal 

development, Nohona 

Enterprises, LLC, and it is 

booming. With the problematic 

economy, people are looking 

for a way out of the rat race 

and we provide them with that 

opportunity. We are currently 

doing business in over twenty 

countries, with the top hitters 

being the U.S., Australia, and 

England. In December, the 

company sponsored a comedy 

show at Saffron’s Cafe with Rory 

Scovel and Jay Hastings. I’ve 

enjoyed reconnecting with almost 

all of my classmates on Facebook 

and it’s been fun catching up on 

what everyone is doing. Raven, 

my four-legged baby, turned one 

in September and she continues 

to fill my life with joy and 

laughter. I still live near Phoenix, 

Arizona, and plan on staying here 

for a while. I love it out west and 

can’t imagine being anywhere else 

at the moment.” 

Montague Laffitte and wife, 

Lauren Bell Laffitte ’97, 

celebrated the first birthday of 

their son, Monty, in January. 

Lauren is a teacher at Sandhills 

Academy, and Montague works 

at South Carolina Bank and Trust 

in Columbia. 

Carrie Ryan’s first novel, The 

Forest of Hands and Teeth, was 

published in March by Random 

House. The teen novel features 

“the Unconsecrated” (insatiable, 

flesh-eating zombies) and “the 

Sisterhood,” whose mission it is 

to protect the village. The book 

received a starred review from 

Publishers Weekly. Her sequel, 

The Dead-Tossed Waves, will be 

published next spring, and she is 

already at work on a third book 

in the series. Check out her cool 

website at www.carrieryan.com! 

(See “The Forest of Hands and 

Teeth,” p. 16.) 

Nadim Salman is an emergency 

physician at Greenville Hospital 

System. 

1997 

Bentley DeGarmo 

bentleydegarmo@hotmail.com 

410-347-0007 

Kathleen Meyer Patterson 

katemeyerpatterson@gmail.com 

229-247-1110 

Sarah Rogoff 

sarah.rogoff@medpoint.com 

864-420-4899 

Andrew Clark is the founder 

of Sensor Tech, the innovative 

South Carolina advanced 

materials company. SC Launch! 

will present a check to Sensor 

Tech and Dr. Clark, along 

with co-inventor Dr. Martine 

LaBerge, as a promising South 

Carolina start-up company. 

Andrew hopes to accelerate their 

entrepreneurial growth with a 

seed-capital investment, ongoing 

mentoring, and Resource 

Network Services. SensorTech 

offers a new, patent-pending 

contact-sensing technology that 

can accurately measure force, 

pressure, torque, or impact. It 

can be formed into any shape 

and size. The new technology is 

simple in operation and allows 

sensors more durability in many 

applications. 

Alicia DeFronzo recently 

accepted a new position of 

Costco E-commerce manager for 

Michelin, North America. 

Luci Lattimore Nelson is 

practicing law at Ogletree Deakins 

in Charleston. Her husband, 

Tripp ’98, is in his third year of 

medical school at MUSC. 

Kate Meyer Patterson and her 

husband, Alex, have relocated with 

their two children, three-year-old 

daughter, Ellen, and two-yearold 

son, Campbell, to Valdosta, 

Georgia, where Alex is the chief 

systems officer for South Georgia 

Medical Center. They miss 

Greenville and hope to visit and 

catch up with family throughout 

the year. Kate is working parttime 

as a consultant for Paperly 

Stationery. 

Stacy Small Smallwood's store, 

Hampden Clothing, opened a 

second location in Greenville 

at 500 E. McBee Avenue on 

November 19, 2008. Her sister, 

Sallie Small Holder, has been 

very involved in the new store! 

Her first store is in Charleston. 

(See “National Fashion 

Publications Take Note of Stacy 

Smallwood’s Sense of Style,” p. 28.) 

Spring 2009 | 49

Class News 

1998 

Anna Johnson 

lvarived1253@aol.com 

859-245-8598 

James D. Sparkman IV 

jdsparkiv@aol.com 

864-616-5985 

Thomas Cheves is in residential 

real estate in Greenville. 

Rob Payne received his Ph.D. 

in chemical engineering 

from Auburn University in 

December. He works as a 

battery chemist for EaglePicher 

Technologies in Joplin, 

Missouri. 

Elizabeth Sima-Eichler writes, 

“I love my job as director of 

new product development for 

Trump University, which is part 

of the Trump Organization. I 

live in a great new apartment 

on the Upper West Side of New 

York City and would love to 

have old friends come visit!” 

1999 

Craig Ragsdale 

rags1205@aol.com 

864-420-6983 

Kelson McKnew 

bronwynkelson@yahoo.com 

864-277-4064 

Katherine L. Sickinger 

katsickinger@Hotmail.com 

864-277-8166 

Cooper Butler and classmates 

Kenneth Cosgrove, David 

Mathers, Russell Wagner, and 

Scott Weaver enjoyed a twoday 

reunion last Fourth of July 

on Lake Keowee at the home of 

Cooper’s parents, Charles and 

Mariam Butler. 

Kenneth Cosgrove graduated 

from the Clemson University 

MBA program. In July he was 

elected Vice President of the 

South Carolina Association of 

Convenience Stores. 

Jarrett Ziegler Kraeling is 

married to Brett, has a baby 

girl, Emma, and is owner of 

Pink on Main in Spartanburg. 

Kathy Sickinger writes, “I am 

currently a nurse in the operating 

room and love it!” In February 

she traveled to Honduras for a 

surgical mission trip. 

2000 

Allison Buck 

allison.buck@infor.com 

864-414-1472 

Grace Hungerford Trail 

madi4@aol.com 

864-233-2706 

Robert Carman lives in 

Raleigh, North Carolina. He 

is a financial advisor with 

Edward Jones Investments, 

and his wife, Allison, is a nurse 

in the neonatal ICU at Duke 

Hospital. 

Kathryn Hinton writes, 

“Jennifer Rook, Amanda 

Lanzl, and I have all been 

living in Washington, DC for 

the past four years, since we 

graduated from college. This 

summer we all moved – Jennifer 

and Amanda both to Austin, 

Texas! They are even living in 

the same apartment complex 

and see each other frequently. 

Amanda continues to work for 

Accenture, and Jennifer has a 

new job working in the Office 

of the Governor of Texas. I 

moved to Atlanta to attend law 

school at Emory University.” 

2001 

Rutledge Johnson 

rjdc05@aol.com 

Lauren Sheftall 

gingerbear1216@yahoo.com 

Harriet Gallivan moved to 

Charleston where she is in her first 

year at the Medical University of 

South Carolina. She is studying 

occupational therapy. 

Meredith Walker Gower 

and Brad spent their wedding 

trip in the Grenadines in the 

Caribbean. They have settled 

in Columbia, where Brad 

attends USC Law School. 

Meredith continues to work 

from Columbia for the 

Wilderness Society based in 

Washington, DC. 

Elizabeth Provence McMillian 

loves her job as development 

coordinator for the South 

Carolina Governor’s School for 

the Arts Foundation. 

Dominic Moore now lives in 

California and is pusuing a 

master’s degree in divinity at the 

Church Divinity School of the 

Pacific. Prior to moving to the 

West coast, Dominic had been 

a publicist at Hobart, his alma 

mater, and helped to develop 

the school’s website and other 

promotional and informational 

materials. His wife, Jessie, 

graduated from William Smith 

and teaches world history in a 

parochial school in Berkeley. 

Amy Trobaugh Pruitt, along 

with fiancé Chris, invited 

friends and family to what they 

thought was an engagement 

party...it turned out to be their 

surprise wedding ceremony. 

This took place in December 

in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Chip 

Lee ’02 was in attendance. 

Amy and Chris live in San 

Diego where he is a gunner’s 

mate in the U. S. Navy. 

D. J. Seaman, professional 

baritone, was a featured artist 

during Christ Church’s “Lenten 

Recital Series.” On March 

25 he performed “Eilt” and 

“Betrachte, Mein Seel” from 

The Johannes Passion by J.S. 

Bach and the song cycle Five 

Mystical Songs. 

Dane Sowinski is currently 

in law school at the College of 

Charleston Law School. 

2002 

Brooke Carpin 

brookecarpin@gmail.com 

512-694-5233 

Moutray McLaren 

william.mclaren@furman.edu 

864- 246-5285 

LaceCosgrove Fang and her 

husband, John, are living in 

Ann Arbor while he works on 

his MBA. 

Amy Jacques received her 

Masters in Arts Journalism 

from The Syracuse University 

Newhouse School of Journalism 

in May 2008. She is working 

in New York City at the Public 

Relations Society of America 

as associate editor. She is a 

contributing writer for PRSA’s 

publications and RELIX 

magazine. 

Moutray McLaren was featured 

recently in stir, an online 

magazine based in Columbia. 

The interview focused on his 

career as a professional poker 

player. Check it out on the 

issuu website. 

Kevin Roe is living in 

New York City, where he 

is the Development and 

Communications Manager for 

the Partnership for After-School 

Education, which works to 

ensure that all young people 

have access to high-quality 

after-school programs. With a 

friend, he is the founder and 

editor of Food Junta, a blog 

dedicated to helping people 

learn to cook for themselves 

without much time, money, 

or skill. Bon Appetit magazine 

recently named it one of their 

favorite food blogs. You can 

check it out at foodjunta.com. 

Asher Watson is a first year 

student at Charleston School 

of Law. 

2003 

Ashley Page Mooney 

ashley.page@furman.edu 

864-233-6396 

Britten Meyer Carter 

brittenmeyer@gmail.com 

864-380-5795 


Class News 

Katie Blouin received her 

masters in sport management. 

Lyle Bridgers is living in Los 

Angeles and is the nanny to 

Ron Howard’s grandchildren. 

Andreana Horowitz has been 

working at Postcard from Paris 

in downtown Greenville since 

May 2008. 

Tyner Ray plans to graduate 

from the Medical University of 

South Carolina in May with a 

B.S. in nursing. In the fall she 

plans to begin work towards 

her doctorate of nursing, 

specializing in pediatrics. 

Charlie Timmons graduated 

from USC in August 2008 with 

a B.S. in Economics. 

2004 

Andrew C. Waters 

andy.waters@furman.edu 

864-244-6019 

Elizabeth Morrow 

cmorrow@clemson.edu 

864-232-1578 

Mary Elizabeth Carman 

graduated from Clemson, cum 

laude, in May 2008 with a 

B.S. in health science. She 

is currently living in Vail, 

Colorado, and plans to go to 

graduate school to become a 

physician’s assistant. 

Sara Dean spent the summer of 

2008 in a study abroad program 

in New Zealand and Australia and 

then in Singapore and Beijing, 

China. The time spent in Asia 

was for an Industrial Engineering 

program where she was able 

to concentrate on academics 

but also had a great experience. 

She will graduate in May 2009 

and has been interviewing for 

jobs related to her major of 

Industrial Engineering, such 

as manufacturing (paper mills, 

steel mills, Rubbermaid), supply 

chain logistics (Staples, wholesale 

grocery distributors), and 

consulting. 

Elizabeth Heinz is currently 

living in Charleston and 

working at the Citadel’s writing 

and learning center as office 

manager and English tutor. She 

plans to attend graduate school 

this fall to pursue a masters and 

Ph.D. in English, in order to 

become an English professor. 

Brook Matthews has appeared 

on WYFF’s Channel 4 in 

Greenville as a recipient of 

their Golden Apple Award. She 

is a global studies teacher at 

Greenville Middle Academy. 

Kyle Schumaker and his 

Virginia Tech Design Team's 

fascinating design for a 

swift water rescue harness, 

Hydrospine, is receiving 

national attention and is up for 

an award. 

Jessica Simpson is a graduate 

student at the University of 

South Carolina. 

Lee Timmons graduates in 

May from the University of the 

South at Sewanee with a B.A. in 

English. 

2005 

Fletcher McCraw 

mccrawf@wlu.edu 

864-370-2339 

Helen Doolittle 

hdoolittle@ut.edu 

864-297-4131 

Anne Keating Norris has been 

taking 17 hours of class during 

the second semester at College 

of Charleston, working parttime, 

and has started her own 

stationery company. Her newest 

venture has been a work in 

progress for the last 3 ½ years; 

see her designs on her website 

at www.cherry-blossomdesign. 

com. Anne hopes to secure 

an internship at a gallery in 

Washington, DC, for the 

summer and will graduate in 

December. 

Andrew Porter writes: “I 

attended Christ Church from 

kindergarten to my graduation 

in 2005. CCES allowed me to 

discover a passion for writing 

which, over the years, has only 

grown stronger and stronger. 

For the past three years, I have 

been studying screenwriting 

at the University of North 

Carolina School of the Arts. 

Ever since I have arrived at this 

school, I have dedicated my 

life to the pursuit of work that 

not only entertains, but also 

enlightens and connects. Early 

last July, a directing student and 

myself began development on a 

web series. These talks gave birth 

to an unapologetic comedy, 

focused on what happens when 

someone refuses to grow up. 

We plan on shooting two, tenepisode 

seasons this coming 

August. We have the story 

outlined and workshopped, 

minimum and maximum budget 

proposals, a tentative shooting 

schedule, and a marketing plan. 

We’ll be broadcasting over the 

web on our own website. Here, 

people will be able to comment 

on episodes, read bios on 

characters and creators, contact 

us, and subscribe to updates 

about the show. Now we are in 

need of supportive investors. 

Working on it has been some 

of the most fun of my life, and 

the scripts being generated 

have continually astounded 

not only my classmates, but 

my professors too. This is a 

project I and everyone involved 

knows has potential for being 

something terrific. If anyone 

would like more information on 

the project, please feel free to 

contact me at: aporter2@pop. 

ncarts.edu.” 

Michael West was interviewed 

by Michael Feldman on NPR 

in August, live from China. 

The podcast of the 16-minute 

interview can be found at 

www.notmuch.com/Show, 

August 9, Part 1. Michael 

spent the summer working for 

the Nature Conservancy in 

Beijing, translating documents, 

and creating ads displayed 

throughout Beijing during the 

Olympics. (See “A New China 

for a New Generation,” p. 30.) 

Chris White was elected 

captain of the LSU men’s swim 

team. The team is nationally 

ranked the highest in the 

school’s history. 

2006 

Ellis Bridgers 

ebridgers@elon.edu 

864-288-0619 

Zay Kittredge 

Kittzj@wfu.edu 

864-233-5525 

2007 

Mary Elizabeth Watson 

Maryeliz207@aol.com 

Lauren Page 

Lwpage88@bellsouth.net 

Neal Moseley 

Kmose1981@aol.com 

Wells Timmons is a sophomore 

at the University of the South at 

Sewanee where she is majoring 

in English. 

Mary Elizabeth Watson is a 

sophomore at Sewanee. She 

participated in a Sewaneesponsored 

mission trip to Haiti 

in March. 

2008 

Kelsey McCraw 

kmm1112@aol.com 

Elizabeth Beeson 

Beesoneli@hotmail.com 

Spring 2009 | 51

Thank you for a very suCCESsful Cavalier Evening! 

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245 Cavalier Drive • Greenville, SC 29607 

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