Closing the Gap - UMUC

CLASS NOTES
CLASS NOTES
Thomas J. Ledoux ’96
Ellicott City, Maryland, wrote, “An apparently
routine UMUC humanities course on the
Civil War sparked an interest that has blossomed
into a worldwide contributory project
honoring Vermont’s participation in the war,
and led to an MA in Civil War studies from
the American Military University in Manassas,
Virginia.”
HELGA WEST ’95
Dominic P. Tenorio ’96
Okinawa, Japan, received a certificate of commendation
while assigned to headquarters,
Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1 st Marine
Air Wing, on Okinawa. He was recognized for
superior performance of duty, and a U.S. Marine
Corps newsletter reported, “Displaying remarkable
dedication and initiative, Tenorio consistently
performed his demanding duties in an
exemplary and highly professional manner.”
Frederick, Maryland, has partnered with her husband,
Randy West, to establish Mission Works Communications,
Inc., an innovative public relations and management consulting
firm designed to help nonprofit organizations “work”
their missions in new and creative ways by offering seniorlevel
expertise at a fraction of the typical agency cost.
West and her husband reevaluated their careers and priorities
following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which all but crippled
many public relations firms. Rather than bemoan the economic downturn, the
couple decided to put the situation to constructive use and establish an organization
that helps nonprofits help others.
Together, they bring impressive credentials to the job. West recently received her
second Telly Award for a video she produced about newborn hearing screening
for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. That award joins the
couple’s other awards, which include an IABC Silver Inkwell Award for best
media kit and campaign, a PRSA Thoth Award for best radio PSA, and a Telly
Award for a television program on welfare-to-work. For more information, visit
www.missionworkscom.com.
In 2002, after suffering a near-fatal assault in Florida, West also established Witness
Justice, an online, nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering victims of
violent crime by providing guidance and information on understanding and
responding to an attack; strategies for healing; access to mental health, legal, and
relationship experts; access to a virtual community where victims can connect
with other victims; and more.
West’s message has been heard on Larry King Live, Prime Time Live, and Good
Morning America, and her advocacy led to a number of measures being enacted
in Florida, including better signage on highways and in airports warning of crime
trends, and steps to make rental cars less conspicuous and thus harder for criminals
to target. For more information, visit www.witnessjustice.org.
20 ACHIEVER
Tommy C. Clemens ’98
Yorktown, Virginia, completed an MS in
international relations from Troy State
University.
James Rineaman ’98
Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, wrote, “[I] recommend
UMUC to anyone who wants a quality
education. My experience at UMUC was one
that I will always remember and cherish.”
Bonnie Austin ’99
Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is substitute
teaching until she can save enough money to
begin work on her Master of Education
degree. She wrote, “I am so over the dark winters
here, and I would gladly move and put off
graduate school until the next base. I guess I’ll
just have to wait and see, but until then I will
don my anti-spitball goggles and paper-airplane
deflectors and go to work!”
Susan Burgess-Lent ’99
Bethesda, Maryland, received a $6,000 individual
artist grant from the Maryland State Arts
Council for her novel In the Borderlands
(Xlibris, 2000), the story of an American doctor’s
tour of duty in refugee camps following
the Rwandan genocide. The grant will help to
support future writing projects, including a
novel in progress set in the Sudan.
Mary B. Frazier ’99
Annapolis, Maryland, is chief of configuration
and performance management for the U.S.
Census Bereau. She wrote, “I’ve recently
downsized my living quarters, selling my singlefamily
home and moving into a condominium
in Annapolis. My new home gives me more
time to enjoy life and Maryland’s capital!”
Angela R. Knight ’99
Springdale, Maryland, is a computer professional
with more than 10 years of experience in
information technology. She currently develops
client server applications for a financial
services organization. She wrote, “UMUC provided
a high-quality education and flexible
class formats and times, allowing me to complete
my undergraduate degree and further my
career in the technical field.”
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