Hood Magazine | Spring 2026

HOOD

Magazine for alumni and friends of HOOD COLLEGE

2026 HOOD COLLEGE REUNION WEEKEND

Friday, June 5 - Sunday, June 7, 2026

Hello, Hood Alumni!

This year, we’re spotlighting classes that end in ’1 and ’6, with a special 50th reunion celebration for the Class of 1976. So grab your roommate, classmate or teammate and come home to Hood in June. Remember, Hood reunions are for everyone.

See you in June!

TO SEE THE 2026 REUNION WEEKEND SCHEDULE, VISIT

Watch your mailbox for your registration packet, which will have all the information you need to help you and your fellow alumni have the best time at Reunion Weekend 2026!

Find your reunion class chairs on Page 48.

HOOD COLLEGE ALUMNI

VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Laurie Ward, MFA’26

EDITOR

Meg DePanise ’15, MBA’20

ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN

Renee Rohwer

Ronda Wolford-Smith

COPY EDITOR

Matt Lee ’15

COLLABORATING IN THE CLASSROOM

Grandmother-grandson duo teach course in bioethics.

Sofia Montoya-Deck ’26 studies abroad in London.

Grants promoting youth literacy, new partnerships and student/alumni success stories. 08

Renovating and restoring Brodbeck Hall.

CURVE

An innovative approach to bioethics. 12

Fast-tracking education with 4PLUS. 15

NeighborHOOD Partners Program offers tuition benefits. 16

Men’s basketball wins MAC Commonwealth Championship.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mason Cavalier ’19, Lead Photographer

Paul Burk, Cody Cervenka, Craig Chase Photography, Aaron Heller ’25, Matt Lee ’15

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mary Atwell, Archivist, Collection Development Services Manager

Mason Cavalier ’19, News Editor, Media Manager

Matthew Gelhard, Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications

Gracyn Van Bemmel ’26

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Nancy Gillece ’81, Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Michelle Burnett, Assistant Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement

Jaime Cacciola ’04, Senior Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs

Kellye Greenwald ’86, Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement

Meg Kula ’01, CFRE, Leadership Gift Officer

Emily Wise VanderWoude, CFRE, Senior Director of Advancement

Life at Hood during WWII. 20 FEATURE 26 REASONS WHY YOUR HOOD EDUCATION IS WORTH THE WORK.

Hood students support African Americans of Excellence.

Gracyn Van Bemmel ’26 reflects on a transformative chapter at Hood. 64 A LOOK BACK

ADDRESS CHANGES

Please report all address changes to the Hood College Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement at 301-696-3900 or alumoffice@hood.edu.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

If you have a letter you would like to send us for possible inclusion in the next issue of Hood Magazine, please email us at marcom@hood.edu.

Hood Magazine is published twice a year for Hood College alumni, friends, parents, students, faculty and staff by the Office of Marketing and Communications. Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders of any material reprinted in this magazine. Any omissions will be corrected in subsequent issues if notice is given to the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Copyright © 2026 Hood College

SOCIAL SNAPSHOT

From vintage tees to cozy hoodies, these snapshots show that Hood pride never fades. Each photo tells a story of memories, connection and the lasting spirit of Hood—a reminder that our alumni carry their Hood pride wherever they go.

Follow @hoodcollege and @debbieathood to see what makes Hood truly worth the work.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Hood family,

One of the privileges of serving as president is witnessing the remarkable accomplishments of our students. Their curiosity, determination and ambition are constant reminders of why the work of higher education matters.

In this issue of Hood Magazine, you’ll find “26 Reasons Why Your Hood Education Is Worth the Work.” The list highlights many experiences that define a Hood education: hands-on research, internships with regional employers, mentorship from faculty and the countless opportunities students have to connect classroom learning with the world beyond campus.

Of course, every member of the Hood community has their own version of this list. For some, it’s the traditions that bind generations of Blazers together, from the Hood Hello to Strawberry Breakfast. For others, it’s the sense of belonging that comes from a close-knit campus where students can reach their fullest potential.

For me, what makes the work worthwhile is seeing our students succeed—watching them grow into thoughtful leaders, engaged citizens and compassionate professionals who will shape the communities they serve.

This issue also coincides with an exciting moment for the College: the appointment of Paige Eager, Ph.D., as provost. Eager brings more than two decades of dedication at Hood to this new role. Her leadership, scholarship and deep commitment to our students exemplify how meaningful work and meaningful impact go hand in hand.

And sometimes, the rewards of that work are visible in unforgettable moments of celebration. This spring, our men’s basketball team captured the MAC Commonwealth Championship, earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory and—at the time of this writing— advanced to the Sweet 16.

Our students, faculty, staff and alumni give us so much to celebrate, and their stories are a powerful reminder that a Hood education is truly worth the work.

Sincerely,

Debbie Ricker, Ph.D. PRESIDENT

Education Department Receives Grant to Expand Local Youth Literacy Programs

(L-R) Delaplaine Foundation

Executive Director Michele Corr, Delaplaine Foundation President Marlene Grossnickle Young ’76, H’14, P’09, President Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., and Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs Jaime Cacciola ’04.

The Hood College Department of Education has been awarded a $23K grant from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc., to fund the Hood College Summer Reading Clinic and literacy tutoring for youth in the Frederick community.

For more than three decades, the Hood College Summer Reading Clinic has provided children with an opportunity to improve reading, writing, spelling and linguistic skills. This grant will allow the clinic to expand and include K-12

Nutrition Program Receives ACEND Accreditation

The nutrition science master’s program has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Accreditation was officially granted to the program on Oct. 20, 2025, and is valid until June 30, 2033.

ACEND

ACEND is the sole accrediting agency for education programs that prepare students for careers as an RDN (registered dietitian nutritionist) or a DTR (dietetic technician, registered). Accreditation ensures graduates of Hood’s program are eligible to sit for the national registered dietitian nutritionist credentialing exam

and confirms that the program meets the national standards for education, experiential learning and professional readiness for the dietitian profession.

students, with Hood undergraduate students leading yearlong literacy tutoring in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County and the Housing Authority of the City of Frederick. The clinic’s scholarship offerings, in tandem with tutoring, will create a two-pronged literacy and learning support initiative, benefiting students in Frederick County.

Associate Director of Financial Aid Earns Professional Excellence Award

Susan Erb, a longserving member of the Hood College Office of Financial Aid, has been awarded the Marilyn Brown Professional Excellence Award by the Tri-State Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Presented at the Tri-State annual conference in Hanover, Maryland, the award recognizes financial aid professionals who demonstrate exceptional compassion, professional ethics and commitment to ensuring access to education.

Erb has dedicated 25 years of service to Hood College, supporting students and families through every step of the financial aid process. Her knowledge, patience and genuine care have helped countless students earn their degrees. Her work embodies the College’s mission of promoting access, belonging and student success.

Hood, FCC Partner With Washington Freedom Cricket to Launch Student Internship Program

Hood College and Frederick Community College (FCC) are partnering with Washington Freedom Cricket and Infinite Computer Solutions to enhance educational opportunities and workforce development in Frederick County. This collaboration, solidified during a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony on Friday, January 16, 2026, will provide local students with high-impact internship opportunities across multiple industries.

Through this partnership, students from both Hood and FCC will gain exclusive access to internships at Washington Freedom and Infinite Computer Solutions, a global leader in IT services founded by Washington Freedom owner Sanjay Govil. These hands-on roles span a diverse range of disciplines, including information technology, sports marketing, game-day operations, cybersecurity and business administration.

“This partnership isn’t just about providing internships,” said Govil. “It’s about creating a bridge between the classroom and the global industries of technology and professional sports. We are proud to invest in Frederick County’s students and look forward to the fresh perspectives they will bring to our organizations.”

Hood and SHIP Frederick Partner to Support Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Hood College is proud to announce a new partnership with Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County, a local nonprofit that provides critical resources and urgent services to hundreds of Frederick County youths who are experiencing homelessness. As part of the partnership, SHIP has relocated its offices to Hood College’s campus, strengthening access to educational, career and community resources for the students it serves.

In moving to Hood’s campus, students supported by SHIP will benefit from direct access to the College’s Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons, individualized career support through the Catherine Filene Shouse

Career Center and easier access to public transportation.

Together, Hood College and SHIP Frederick aim to create a more coordinated, accessible support system for Frederick’s most vulnerable student populations.

Creative Writing MFA Students Launch Online Literary Magazine

Students in Hood College’s creative writing MFA program are creating a new space for writers’ voices through “Pergola,” which debuted on February 14, 2026, at pergolalit.com.

Planning for Pergola began in spring 2025 with the program’s inaugural cohort. Students worked collaboratively to craft the magazine’s mission statement, design its website, establish a masthead and submission guidelines, and build a social media presence. During the summer 2025 residency, the second MFA cohort refined the editorial process by developing rubrics, creating production schedules and preparing for the magazine’s first open call.

“Pergola represents what our MFA program was designed to do—combine craft and community,” said Aaron Angello, Ph.D., assistant professor of English and creative writing program director. “Students are learning not only how to write and revise, but also how to edit, evaluate and engage with a diverse community of writers.”

The debut issue of Pergola, with cover art by Sonal Goorha.

WORTH THE WORK .

STUDENT AND ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

A Semester Abroad in London

Sofia Montoya-Deck ’26 is a communication arts major who spent the fall 2025 semester studying abroad in London, England. Having served as co-editor of The Blue and Grey student newspaper, Montoya-Deck’s appetite for media studies drew her to London’s bustling metropolis.

“The opportunity seemed like the perfect way to blend my studies with my passion for travel,” said Montoya-Deck. “I chose London because of its exciting culture and media—it is one of the most diverse cities in the world.”

While attending Queen Mary University of London, Montoya-Deck took courses in film history, microeconomics and business management, which complemented her interdisciplinary communication arts major. Outside of schoolwork, Montoya-Deck also made a point to explore the city as much as possible.

“One thing I’ve learned while studying abroad is to always take the opportunity for an adventure,” said Montoya-Deck. “I’ve also learned how important it is to simply participate. I’ve joined a few clubs while at my new school, and it has been a great way to meet people and build a community while abroad.”

That community helped Montoya-Deck navigate the sprawling streets of London (607 square miles compared to Frederick’s 24) and acclimate to cultural differences (it’s a “lift,” not an “elevator”). Despite going on day trips in and outside the city, Montoya-Deck still feels she

barely scratched the surface of everything London has to offer.

“Some areas are better for peace and quiet, and others are best for their astounding architecture,” said Montoya-Deck. “London offers endless opportunities to visit new buildings, parks, restaurants, museums and more.”

One of the benefits of spending a full semester abroad is that it allowed Montoya-Deck to truly immerse herself in a foreign setting. After a few months, she was confident enough to start acting like a local. And even if the experience of leaving home can feel nerve-wracking, Montoya-Deck encourages other students to take risks and put themselves out there—because the payoff is always worth it.

“My advice to any student getting ready to study abroad is to be excited to step out of your comfort zone,” said Montoya-Deck. “Although it can be scary at first to be far away from your friends and family, it is truly the adventure of a lifetime.”

Read our full Q&A with Sofia Montoya-Deck ’26. hood.edu/sofia-montoya-deck

Derek Miller ’26 Named Frederick Hometown Hero

Derek Miller ’26 is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who serves as the Veterans Affairs Work Study at Hood College, where he assists other veterans with the transition from active duty to higher education. As a psychology major and disabled combat veteran, he is particularly interested in supporting the mental health of student-veterans like himself.

“After my military career, while I was getting help for my disability, I found a strong interest in psychology and sociology,” said Miller. “I noticed there are not enough people in the psychology field of veteran mental health and decided I would go on the path to help fellow veterans with mental health issues.”

His advocacy for student-veterans and outspoken efforts to destigmatize mental health struggles earned him recognition as a Frederick Hometown Hero by local radio station WFMD. For Miller, the best outcome of his moment in the spotlight is reminding student-veterans that they are not alone.

Miller is grateful for the support he received during his own transition from military to civilian life. He notes that Hood has a long history of providing student-veterans with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.

“We have a strong commitment to bringing veterans to Hood,” said Miller. “My experience at Hood has been far and beyond what I could expect.”

Brodbeck’s Next Chapter

ALUMNI GIFTS BRING NEW LIFE TO BRODBECK MUSIC HALL.

For the past several years, Brodbeck Music Hall has sat silent. In September 2021, a lightning strike to the building’s iconic cupola started a fire, and combating the blaze caused significant water damage. Since then, Brodbeck has remained closed, awaiting extensive renovation.

Fortunately, steady progress has been made. Exterior renovations have weatherproofed the building, allowing for work on the interior to finally begin. And as you’ll see from the accompanying renderings, the College has big plans in store for returning Brodbeck to its former glory.

Our generous donors have so far contributed a combined total of nearly $1M, including a recent gift totaling more than $400K from the estate of Gwynedd Wood Wade ‘46. The College worked with her surviving family to allocate that gift toward the more than $10M restoration project.

“The gift to Hood College by the late Gwynedd Wood Wade ’46, a Hood alumna, for the restoration of Brodbeck Hall honors Gwynedd by ensuring that this campus landmark, central to the history of Hood College, will continue to serve future generations of students,” said Gwynedd’s son-in-law Guy Garner.

Planned renovations include a fully renewed concert hall and stage, along with modernized practice rooms, classrooms, offices, a new green room, enhanced acoustics and catering space—making Brodbeck an academic hub and a premier event venue. It will host concerts, recitals, lectures, wedding receptions and special events, becoming a center of creativity for generations of Hood students and community members.

Brodbeck will be a welcoming space designed to serve today’s students, artists and audiences, while honoring its history—but we cannot realize this vision without you.

In Biomedical Ethics, students examine pressing ethical questions at the intersection of medicine, science and society through an innovative, intergenerational teaching model. Co-taught by Ann Boyd, Ph.D., professor emerita of biology, and her grandson Jeremy Boyd, an English teacher at Boonsboro High School, the course combines scientific expertise, philosophical analysis and case-based learning.

This course is taught by a grandmother-grandson team, with one of you teaching remotely and the other in the classroom. How does that dynamic shape the way the course is taught?

ANN BOYD: I bring knowledge of content issues such as genetic testing, sequencing and gene therapy, whereas Jeremy brings a philosophical perspective as well as a younger worldview. Both of us favor a Socratic dialogue approach to discussions, in which diverse views can be heard and appreciated. I live in Vermont, and Zoom-based instruction is not ideal for class participation. Jeremy being in the classroom with the students is situated to encourage discussion, questions and engagement.

JEREMY BOYD: The result ends up like a kind of post-modern collage of a Socratic dialogue, where an idea comes to life in conversation. It was wonderful standing across from my grandmother and seeing the difference of years and background knowledge and recognizing that there is a remarkable amount of distance that can be bridged when one makes the effort to foreground understanding and consensus.

A Collaborative Approach to Biomedical Ethics

Why do you think biomedical ethics is especially important for students today regardless of their major?

JB: What philosophy and science seem to share is the value of investigation. Students are asked to interrogate opinion, certainty and beliefs. Both disciplines are highly practical because they take seriously the shape of our thinking on both everyday occurrences and the almost unimaginable circumstances life can present you with. Philosophy and science encourage people to follow an idea from conception to real-world application.

AB: The course focuses on issues that anyone can encounter in healthcare or life in general. We all make ethical decisions even if we don’t use a formal method. The cases chosen for analysis represent common examples of choices patients and health professionals face in modern medicine. Students will identify the issues in the case and gather information, such as what we have done in the past. We seek to provide an ethical toolkit that is practical and useful in making ethical and moral choices.

I hope students walk away feeling like they’re not alone and operating in a vacuum, while equally accepting that one person does not, and perhaps should not, have all the answers.

—jeremy boyd

the least harm. Many health-related policies are based on this approach, and history shows that the projected most good overall is not always accurate in the risk of harm. An example is the shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrospection shows that disproportionate harm to some groups resulted in higher death rates, which was not in the risk-benefit calculus intended to save the healthcare system from collapse.

How do you help students learn to reason ethically when there is no clear “right” answer?

JB: Questions will often lead to more questions. My hope is that our students won’t walk away paralyzed in an endless stream of questions but will be able to pose critical questions in their lives outside the classroom, which could lead to more helpful conversations and solutions.

What kinds of questions do you hope students will begin asking—of the material, of society and of themselves?

AB: What is the good life? Why is happiness such an important overall goal for some theorists? What is happiness? What difference does ethical thinking make in my life? How do my actions reflect my values? Am I a good person? Who do I admire and why? What kind of professional will I be? What difference will my choices make in the lives of future generations?

How do you establish a classroom environment where students feel comfortable questioning assumptions and engaging with differing viewpoints?

JB: Any discourse should be grounded in an open-minded agreement that acknowledges the risks we are taking in class. It can be easy to be callous about ideas and refer to them as these disembodied, dispassionate things that aren’t tied to a feeling person. The course provides students with alternative frameworks that aren’t directly tied to their feelings and will ask them to utilize the frameworks in discussion and writing as a way of bypassing any personal beliefs.

AB: Students are temporarily “utilitarians” who look for the most positive outcomes for the greatest number with

AB: In virtue theory, the question is: What would a good person do? Which virtues apply and why? Moral theories can recommend a similar if not common “answer” for a good action, or they may diverge, and that leads to a discussion of why. If students see that even the experts don’t agree on a “right answer,” they will feel more comfortable with diverse opinions.

JB: Who decides what is right? It’s the kind of question that can equally empower and humble. I hope students walk away feeling like they’re not alone and operating in a vacuum, that their thoughts and perspectives add tremendous value, while equally accepting that one person does not, and perhaps should not, have all the answers.

DOUBLE YOUR DEGREE, DOUBLE YOUR WORTH.

4PLUS DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAM FAST-TRACKS GRADUATE EDUCATION.

5 years

AVG. COMPLETION TIME

AVG. INCREASED EARNINGS WITH MASTER’S DEGREE

For many high-level careers, earning a master’s degree isn’t merely an option—it’s a necessity. As advanced degrees become increasingly commonplace, students are pursuing graduate school earlier, with many entering graduate-level programs not long after earning their bachelor’s degree. The Graduate School at Hood College has witnessed this demographic shift firsthand, which has been a major driver of Hood’s 4PLUS dual-degree program.

The 4PLUS program offers students the ability to expedite their master’s degree. With 11 tracks to choose from, students begin taking graduate-level courses in their junior or senior years, so by the time they’ve completed their bachelor’s, they’re already well on their way toward earning their master’s.

“The 4PLUS program is an attractive option for our students because they save time and money on two great degrees from Hood,” said Nick Masucci ’17, assistant director of graduate admission. “On average, 4PLUS students save more than $8K on their graduate education and earn their master’s degrees in one year less compared to their peers.”

When you combine other Hood alumni perks like the ALTY Scholarship, the savings continue to grow. But beyond those tangible benefits, 4PLUS also delivers more holistic support. It deepens relationships with faculty, acts as a springboard for networking and helps students grow their confidence.

Alisa Gorham ’26 is a 4PLUS student in the biochemistry B.A./biomedical science M.S. track. As a member of the Hood Honors Program, she found the accelerated nature of 4PLUS to be a natural extension of her academic trajectory.

“The 4PLUS program is an attractive option for our students because they save time and money on two great degrees from Hood.”

Nick Masucci ’17, assistant director of graduate admission

“I have met tons of great professors and been granted many opportunities— research, job offers, internships,” said Gorham. “The 4PLUS program is a wonderful opportunity for college students to bridge their undergraduate studies and their upcoming professional life.”

Completing advanced coursework early can also ease the transition from undergraduate to graduate life. Just ask Alyssa Murtaugh ’25, a 4PLUS student in the psychology B.A./counseling M.S. track. For Murtaugh, the chance to “dip her toes into” graduate-level studies helped alleviate anxiety and clarify expectations. It also gave her an edge while interviewing for the highly competitive counseling M.S. program.

“The 4PLUS program is the reason I decided to transfer to Hood College,” said Murtaugh. “I owe much of my success and comfort in my studies to 4PLUS and am thankful for all the opportunities it has provided.”

Establishing connections with working professionals was an added bonus for Emanuel Granados ’25, a 4PLUS student in the computer science B.S./cybersecurity M.S. track who says the program has shaped his leadership style and empowered him to take ownership of his future.

“As a 4PLUS student, you will be in the classroom with seasoned professionals who have great career paths and connections,” said Granados. “It allowed me to ask lots of questions and gain knowledge about what the real world is like before stepping into it.”

From financial incentives to networking and career opportunities, the benefits of 4PLUS are clear. Combined with the fact that earning a master’s degree can be a surefire way to give yourself an edge in today’s job market, there’s never been a better time to become a double Blazer.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAM

FINISH STRONG AT HOOD COLLEGE.

Designed for students with fewer than two years of coursework remaining, the Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program provides a clear, supportive and affordable path to graduation for those whose studies were interrupted by work, family, military service or life circumstances.

 Low-cost tuition.

 Flexible schedule.

 Online courses.

 Academic advising.

 Faculty mentorship.

Refer a future Hood student:

NeighborHOOD Partners: Investing in Frederick’s Future

Hood College’s connection to Frederick has always extended beyond its campus.

Through the NeighborHOOD Partners Program, the College is opening doors to higher education for local employees and their families.

The NeighborHOOD Partners Program brings together Hood and local employers to reduce financial barriers to education. Eligible employees of partner organizations, along with their spouses and dependents, receive substantial tuition benefits, making it possible for more people to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees close to home.

“The NeighborHOOD Partners Program is about access,” said Helen Propheter, director of corporate and government relations at Hood College. “We want to make education affordable and achievable for the people who live and work here every day.”

“When

we invest in local people, we invest in the future of Frederick.”

Helen Propheter, director of corporate and government relations

For students like McKenzie Eacho of Frederick Health’s Pathology Lab, the program has made graduate education feel possible. “I have always wanted to pursue a graduate education but have been extremely hesitant due to its reputation for being expensive,” said Eacho. “I am so thankful that Hood recognizes the hard work we put into the community and rewards us for our commitment to Frederick.”

Eligible employees of partner organizations, along with their spouses and dependents, receive substantial tuition benefits, making it possible for more people to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees close to home.

Partner organizations include Frederick County Public Schools, Frederick Health, Frederick County and City governments, the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Tech Frederick and Frederick County Chamber of Commerce members.

“Our partners consistently tell us it’s a powerful tool for employee retention, strengthening workforce development and expanding opportunities for lifelong learning across Frederick County,” said Propheter.

The program offers more than 60% off undergraduate tuition, valued at up to $33K annually, and up to 25% off graduate, doctoral and certificate programs. For working adults balancing careers and families, those benefits can be life changing.

Taylor Kline, a first-grade teacher and team leader at Monocacy Elementary School working on her master’s in educational leadership, sees that impact firsthand. “The tuition discount has been a huge help for me as I balance school, work and life with two young children at home,” said Kline. “This support has really eased some of the financial stress and allowed me to stay focused on my goals and my students.”

Rick Weldon, president and CEO of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, agrees. “Only in Frederick could you find a commitment to real collaboration and partnership like the NeighborHOOD Partners Program,” said Weldon. “Hood College understands the critical value of a high-quality education, and the NeighborHOOD program converts dreams into action.”

As the program continues to grow, its impact is felt across the region—in classrooms filled with dedicated professionals, in families pursuing education together and in a stronger, more nimble local workforce.

“Hood College has always been deeply rooted in Frederick,” said Propheter.

“The NeighborHOOD Partners Program reflects who we are as an institution, one that believes education should strengthen the community it calls home.”

LEARN MORE hood.edu/neighborhoodpartners

Men’s Basketball Claims Second-Ever MAC Commonwealth Championship in Double Overtime Thriller

The Blazers men’s basketball team clashed with the York College of Pennsylvania Spartans in front of a packed Woodsboro Bank Arena, eventually pulling through with a 103-98 win in double overtime to capture their second Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth title and an automatic qualifying spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

“Our student and community support were phenomenal. That has to be the best environment we’ve ever had here for a Hood sporting event.”

—Chad Dickman Head Coach, Men’s Basketball

Guard Jevon Yarbrough ’27 scored a career high 44 points in the championship tilt, dishing eight assists and eight rebounds on his way to earning the tournament MVP award and being named MAC Player of the Year. Yarbrough also broke the program record for single-season scoring and assist records in the contest.

Forwards Jude Huseby ’27 and Garrett Cox ’26 made key contributions, each scoring 13 points. Huseby led the Blazers on the glass with 14 rebounds, while Cox protected the paint, notching three blocks on the day.

The championship was the Blazers’ first since the 2021-22 season and their second in four seasons. This win represents the first-ever MAC Commonwealth Championship for men’s basketball won at home within the Woodsboro Bank Arena.

“Our student and community support were phenomenal. That has to be the best environment we’ve ever had here for a Hood sporting event,” said Coach Chad Dickman, who was named the MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year for the second time following the championship win.

Finishing the season with a 24-3 record, the Blue and Grey entered the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time, earning their last appearance during the 202324 campaign. At press time, the Blazers advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.

Field Hockey Reaches MAC Playoffs

The Blazers field hockey program has been on the rise since Head Coach Carley Kessler arrived in 2020. This season, the team reached new heights by qualifying for the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth playoffs for the first time since joining the conference in 2012. The team finished the season as the NCAA statistical champion in total team defensive saves (35), with contributions from Madeline Moreno ’27, Abby Chiavetta ’26, Emma Numme ’28 and Ellie Dainton ’28.

Moreno led the team and all of Division III with 18 defensive saves, establishing herself as the program’s top defensive-save student-athlete. On offense, Kate Haufe ’26 led the team with nine goals, including key scores against Alvernia

The team finished the season as the NCAA statistical champion in total defensive saves.

and Messiah. Bianca Scally ’28 continued to impress, while first-year player Sydney Fleming ’29 ranked top five in assists for the conference.

The team broke new ground with a win over Widener—defeating the Pride for

the first time and earning three MAC Commonwealth wins. Late in the third quarter, Dainton extended Hood’s lead to 4-1. Although Widener mounted a late comeback, the Blazers stood strong for a 4-3 win.

The team fell 4-1 to Stevenson in the first round of the playoffs, finishing the season with an 8-11 overall record and a 3-4 mark in conference play.

Field hockey earned five All-Conference honors across both ends of the field.

Chiavetta led the way with a First Team selection, while Moreno, Scally and Grace Guy ’26 earned Second Team honors. Haufe rounded out the post-season awards with an Honorable Mention.

and

after her spectacular performance in the fourth quarter to prevent two Widener penalty strokes in net. The win marked three conference wins, the most for the program since the 2001 season.

New Players Propel Men’s Soccer

Men’s soccer posted a 10-6-2 record and the No. 4 seed in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs, the team’s best record since 2016.

The team had an electric start to the 2025 season with a 4-2-1 record. Chino Delgado ’29 led the team with three goals. Cristian Topovich ’28 and James Knowlton ’29 were right behind Delgado with two goals. The Blazers kicked off with a 6-1 win over Wilson College, where the previously mentioned players all scored the first five goals.

Between September 20 and October 21, 2025, the team went undefeated, with first-time wins against Elizabethtown, Wilkes and King’s College.

The Blazers also beat conference opponents Eastern and Alvernia. In the Alvernia match, a fifth-minute goal from Zeth Zambrano ’29 proved to be the clincher in the 1-0 win. In the team’s match against Albright, senior captain Cam Simpler ’26 scored to give the Blazers a 2-1 victory, keeping the team on pace with the rest of the conference for the playoff race.

Topovich, Jackson Quenzer ’26 and Adam Labows ’29 were named to the MAC Commonwealth All-Conference Team, with Topovich making Second Team, and Quenzer and Labows being named Honorable Mentions. Labows’ outstanding season with six clean sheets earned him Rookie of the Year, the first time since 2016 that the program earned the award.

Although the Blazers were knocked out in the first round of the MAC

his second goal in a 6–1 opening-night win over Wilson.

Commonwealth Championship, their future is certainly bright, with several key players returning for next season to continue the momentum of the team’s first 10-win season since 2019.

Women’s Volleyball Rides Conference Hot Streak

Ann Ofoegbu ’26

Led by outside hitter Ann Ofoegbu ’26, the women’s volleyball team wrapped up the season with their best performance since 2015, going 4-3 in conference and qualifying for the MAC Commonwealth Championship.

The Blazers looked untouchable at the start of the season, finishing their first five matches with a 4-1 record, the best start to a season since 2000. After opening conference play, with a very close loss to Stevenson, Hood faced off against York and stunned the Spartans, marking the Blazers’ first-ever win over their conference rival. That match was also important for Ofoegbu, who became the fourth player in program history to reach the 1,000-kill mark.

The Blazers picked up key conference wins against Albright and Alvernia, paving the way for a do-or-die match against Widener for the final spot in the playoffs.

Although it looked like the Pride would take the edge in the first two sets, the Blazers refused to go down without a

fight, scoring one point at a time before forcing a decisive fifth set. The final set was as close as it could get, with Hood initially leading until Widener narrowly pulled ahead.

Down 7-5, Anna Daley ’26 made four kills out of the Blazers’ next seven points. After a 12-10 lead moved to a 14-13 lead, an attempt to get the ball over the net by the Pride looped out of bounds, and Woodsboro Bank Arena erupted as Hood secured its first playoff spot in a decade.

The Blazers’ playoff run would end in the first round against top-seeded Eastern University, but with plenty of young players returning next season, the team has a strong foundation moving ahead.

BLAZERS IN THE CROWD

KATY GROW ’26

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Grow has excelled as part of a defensive-minded squad since she has been on campus and helped the team hold off some of the most powerful attacks in the conference. As a force on the field, coaches and peers named her to the MAC AllSportsmanship Team in fall 2025. Grow was also named to the College Sports Communicators All-District Team and consistently listed on the MAC Honor Roll.

JULIA GREGORY ’26

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

The 2025 Second Team AllConference representative has earned her captain status with the drive she’s shown inside the lines. Gregory led the team with a careerhigh 37 goals and 109 draw controls, scoring a season-high seven goals against Mount Holyoke. Gregory is also on the SPURS executive committee (Students Providing Understanding and ResourceS), a peer-mentoring program that connects first-year athletes with a select group of upper-class athletes who help new students adjust to life at Hood.

ALEX SESKAR ’26

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY, MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

With many strong runners coming through Hood’s program, Seskar has been consistent in his training and reached a new height in his senior year. His run at the 2025 Middle Atlantic Conference Cross Country Champi onship landed him 28th and earned his first All-Conference bid with ThirdTeam honors. Seskar was also named a member of the All-Sportsmanship Team based on his ability to be a good team mate and even better competitor.

JACKSON QUENZER ’26

MEN’S SOCCER

Quenzer has been a mainstay of men’s soccer. The captain’s defensive efforts earned him Second Team AllConference honors in his senior season. His play in the backfield kept offenses out of net at the third lowest rate in the MAC Commonwealth. Quenzer was recently named to the All-Sportsmanship and CSC Academic All-District Teams, and he has been especially appreciated while introducing prospective and incoming students to campus.

REASONS WHY...

WORTH THE WORK . YOUR HOOD EDUCATION IS

BY MATT LEE ’15

Ask 100 Hood alumni what they love most about Hood College, and you’ll get 100 different answers. Some will say it’s the College’s deep-rooted traditions, from dinks and Hood rings to Liberation Week and Give Your Heart to Hood Day. Others will spotlight Hood’s scenic campus and tight-knit sense of community (the “Hood Hello” is practically trademarked). Still more will point to the relationships built at Hood, whether it’s lifelong friends or faculty mentors. But a consistent theme that may ultimately define the Hood experience is how well the College prepares students for their next chapter. Higher education is a

serious commitment—it takes time, money, dedication and, most importantly, hard work. While debates about the value of a college education show no sign of waning, Hood’s mission remains unchanged, and the positive impact of our work remains evident.

How exactly does Hood prime students to pursue meaningful careers and purposeful lives? What does the College offer that sets our students up for success? In celebration of the graduating Class of 2026, here are 26 reasons why your Hood education is worth the work.

INDUSTRY-ALIGNED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

With nearly 100 majors, minors and concentrations at the undergraduate level, plus more than 30 graduate-level degrees and certificates, there is no shortage of academic options at Hood. Students can mix and match majors and minors to create unique pathways that combine personal interests and professional goals. And whatever field you study, every program at Hood is designed to prepare you for careers in the industries that matter most.

NEXT-GEN HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

The Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral and Health Sciences (SBHS) is fostering the next generation of healthcare workers. From nursing, public health and nutrition to counseling, psychology, social work and sociology, SBHS boasts some of the most popular programs at Hood in the most high-demand workforce areas. Students hone their skills in state-of-the-art

facilities like the nursing simulation lab or the NeighborHood Counseling Training Center. Thanks to Hood’s partnership with Frederick Health, the region’s largest healthcare provider, those same students also get to work and learn in real hospitals and clinics.

BUILDING BETTER BUSINESSES

Accounting. Business administration. Economics. Finance. You’ll find it all at The George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business (DSB). Students can dive into the world of financial markets at The Virginia Munson Hammell ’67 Trading Room or manage a real investment portfolio by joining the Blazing Alpha Fund. DSB also operates The Michael S., P’09 and Marlene B. Grossnickle Young ’76, H’14, P’09 Data Driven Frederick Center, where students analyze and organize data from local organizations. By offering a secure, centralized location to store, manage and share critical data, Data Driven Frederick gives students opportunities for experiential learning while also serving the needs of local partners, making it a win-win for Hood College and Frederick County.

PERSONALIZED CAREER PREP

The Catherine Filene Shouse Center for Career Development and Experiential Education is a one-stop shop for internships, work-study and career coaching. Students can connect with an array of regional employers for internship opportunities that often lead to post-grad jobs. Career Center staff are available to conduct mock interviews, draft resumes that get noticed and even take headshots for LinkedIn profiles. The Career Center also frequently hosts workshops and job fairs, so there are plenty of ways for

THE CLOSE FACULTY ENGAGEMENT AND PRACTICAL FOCUS PREPARED ME TO LEAD, MANAGE COMPLEX RESPONSIBILITIES AND APPLY WHAT I LEARNED TO REAL-WORLD CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE.”

—DERRICK HARRIGAN ’07, MBA’14 HOOD COLLEGE BOARD OF ASSOCIATES CHAIR, FISCAL AND POLICY ANALYST, MONTGOMERY

AN INVESTMENT WORTH MAKING

Hood works hard to make education affordable and accessible. That’s why the College offers more than $40 million in annual scholarships. We know that when financial burdens are lifted, students are free to pursue higher education on their own terms. With incentives like merit scholarships, the full-tuition Chair of the Board Scholarship or the Hood Advantage Program for

CUSTOMIZABLE CORE

Hood recently rolled out its Heart, Mind and Hands Core Curriculum. The new core isn’t just a rigid list of required courses. On the contrary, it’s fully customizable, so students can select courses that complement their major and support their interests, while still receiving a well-rounded liberal arts experience. Interdisciplinary by design, the core also features an innovative service-learning component that requires students to participate in a community-focused project with a local nonprofit.

THE WORLD IS YOUR CLASSROOM

Learning is never confined to campus, thanks to the study abroad program. Hood students have traveled to every corner of the globe, from Europe to the Middle East to Asia and beyond. Whether going on a group excursion with your classmates or planning an individual semester-long trip, there are few better ways to immerse yourself in a new culture and connect classroom learning with the broader world. Undertaking an archaeological dig at an ancient Roman site. Interning with a top U.K. media firm. Providing nursing care to disadvantaged communities in the Dominican Republic. It’s all possible when you study abroad (Read more on Page 6).

REAL RESEARCH, REAL RESULTS

The Summer Research Institute (SRI) pairs students with faculty to design, implement and present a wide range of research projects. Students receive funding to support their efforts, which often take place off campus. By collaborating with our world-class faculty, students get a firsthand look at the research process, and many students go on to share their work at national conferences and publish their findings in scholarly journals.

SCHOLAR SHOWCASE

One of the spring semester’s culminating events is the Scholarship, Performance, Innovation, Research and Experience (SPIRE) Symposium. This cross-departmental showcase features presentations from undergraduate and graduate students. The breadth of projects reflects the diversity of Hood’s student body and the richness of our academic programs. There are original artworks on display, readings from creative writers, film screenings, and qualitative and quantitative research analyses. The SPIRE Symposium highlights the best and boldest work from our hard-working students.

A HOOD COLLEGE EDUCATION CHALLENGES YOU DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO BECOME A SCHOLAR, A PROBLEM SOLVER AND A COMMUNITY LEADER. MY HOOD COLLEGE EDUCATION WAS WORTH THE WORK BECAUSE IT HONED MY SKILLS IN BUILDING CONSENSUS, BEING THOUGHTFUL AND RESPECTFULLY CHALLENGING STANDARD CONVENTIONS.”

DELEGATE KRIS FAIR ’13

MARYLAND STATE

REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 3, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE FREDERICK CENTER

DOUBLE UP YOUR DEGREE

27% of Hood students pursue graduate-level education, and many of them choose to do so at their alma mater. The 4PLUS dual-degree program makes earning a master’s degree easier, faster and more affordable. With 11 tracks to choose from, students begin taking graduate-level courses during their junior or senior years. For driven students who want a competitive edge in the job market, 4PLUS is the best way to accelerate your education at Hood (Read more on Page 12).

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The Honors Program is selective and rigorous—but it’s also built around a community of support and empowerment. Honors students participate in special seminars, Departmental Honors projects, co-curricular activities and off-campus experiences that enhance their programs of study. And they enjoy special perks, like access to the Christine P. Tischer Honors Center and eligibility for awards like the prestigious Portz Prize, most recently won by psychology major Casey Chamberlin ’25.

A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS

BIOSCIENCE BREAKTHROUGHS

Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing industries, and Hood College is leading workforce development efforts in this crucial sector with the Bioscience Research and Education Center (BREC). The center recently received National Science Foundation funding to train students in synthetic biology and biomanufacturing, putting students in real labs alongside working scientists. BREC is dedicated to promoting innovation within the life sciences, and it all starts with Hood students and hands-on research.

20+

DIII ATHLETICS PROGRAMS

BLUE AND GREY ALL DAY.

BLAZER NATION

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At Hood College, Blazer pride runs deep. With more than 20 DIII athletics programs, the Blazers stay busy year-round. And all that discipline has paid off—the men’s basketball team won the MAC Commonwealth Championship in 2022 and 2026, and the men’s golf team won the MAC Commonwealth Championship in 2023. When they’re not busy on the court, turf, ice or field, our student-athletes also thrive in the classroom. They are living proof that with the right support, athletics and academics are a perfect match.

EDUCATION HUB

Within the Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons, you’ll find the Student Success Center, where students can map their academic goals with advisers and take advantage of resources to support their ongoing growth at Hood. The adjacent Writing Center offers in-person tutoring on a variety of subjects, so students can sharpen their essays and other assignments. This interconnected support system is staffed by experts who can meet students wherever they are in their academic journey at Hood to refine learning strategies and promote personal development.

MORE THAN A COLLEGE TOWN

Hood is located in the heart of historic Downtown Frederick, Maryland—a city with the most beautiful main street in America, according to Reader’s Digest. But beyond its scenic charm, Frederick continues to grow as a regional powerhouse for workforce development. From healthcare and tech to arts and education, there are countless opportunities for students to connect with employers right here in Hood’s own backyard. Frederick’s central location also gives students easy access to major cities like Baltimore and Washington, D.C. When Hood students come to Frederick and never leave, who can blame them?

HOOD’S CLOSE - KNIT COMMUNITY, SUPPORTIVE FACULTY AND HANDS - ON OPPORTUNITIES GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE, CURIOSITY AND CORE VALUES THAT CONTINUE TO GUIDE HOW I LEAD AND DRIVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE TODAY.”

—JUDITH APSHAGO ’93 CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER, AMTRAK

ALUMNI ALLIES

Hood may be a relatively small institution, but our footprint is vast. Thousands of Hood alumni can be found across the country—and even outside the U.S. One common thread that unites our alumni is a desire to pay it forward. When current students tap into that alumni network, doors start to open. Many alumni are eager to share their expertise and guide students toward their next big break.

HOOD COLLEGE IS WORTH THE WORK BECAUSE IT OFFERS A SUPPORTIVE, FAMILY-ORIENTED COMMUNITY WHERE STUDENTS ARE SEEN, VALUED AND MENTORED. THE EFFORT STUDENTS INVEST IS MATCHED BY AN EDUCATION THAT OPENS DOORS LONG AFTER GRADUATION.”

—CHERYL DYSON, DOL’21 SUPERINTENDENT, FREDERICK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GO FURTHER WITH THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Earning an advanced degree is an increasingly attractive option in a competitive job market—not to mention that master’s degree holders on average earn 20% more than those with only a bachelor’s degree (Bureau of Labor Statistics). The Graduate School at Hood College offers a plethora of options, including 20 master’s degrees, four doctorates, 11 post-baccalaureate certificates and numerous Skill Accelerator badges. With online courses, flexible scheduling and scholarship perks for Hood alumni, the Graduate School allows you to upgrade your education on your own terms.

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FACULTY IN YOUR CORNER

It’s impossible to get lost in the crowd at Hood. Our average class size is 15, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. Small class sizes allow for a personalized approach to education, where your professors can get to know the real you. Faculty mentors will serve as some of your strongest advocates, helping you navigate challenges, directing you to opportunities on and off campus, and giving you the support to discover what you are truly worth.

HOOD’S FACULTY DIDN’T JUST TEACH ME IN THE CLASSROOM— THEIR GUIDANCE AND WILLINGNESS TO CONNECT ME WITH AN INTERNSHIP GAVE ME MY FIRST STEP INTO THE FIELD, WHICH SET THE DIRECTION FOR MY CAREER. IT’S THE REASON MY HOOD EDUCATION WAS ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE WORK.”

—RAEANN BUTLER ’89 PRESIDENT, EDENTON FREDERICK

INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

Hood’s community is built on a strong sense of belonging. No matter where you’re from, what you look like or what you believe, there’s a place for you here. Our students hail from 25 states and 12 countries, and more than 41% of our undergraduate student population are members of underrepresented groups, making Hood a vibrant and welcoming cultural melting pot.

NO-HASSLE TRANSFERS

If you’re having second thoughts about your current college experience and are ready for a change, look no further. Hood recently welcomed a record number of transfer students for the spring 2026 semester. Dedicated transfer admission counselors make the process smooth, and transfer students are also eligible for merit scholarships. Even if Hood wasn’t your first choice, finishing your studies here could be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.

FUTURE-FOCUSED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The innovative Skill Accelerator badge program lets you complete college coursework without committing to a full degree (though badge credits can later be applied toward a master’s degree). Ideal for working professionals who are seeking to upskill or boost their careers, Skill Accelerator badges are “microcredentials” tied to specific competencies. Subjects range from business and bioscience to education and wellness, with new badge offerings being added regularly.

MY HOOD COLLEGE EDUCATION WAS WORTH THE WORK BECAUSE IT VERY MUCH SHAPED THE LEADER THAT I AM TODAY. HOOD STRENGTHENED MY CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, TEACHING ME HOW TO ANALYZE COMPLEX ISSUES, BALANCE COMPETING PERSPECTIVES, FACILITATE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE THOUGHTFUL, WELL-REASONED DECISIONS.”

—KEISHA SYKES POLK ’97 SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CITIBANK

JOIN THE CLUB—OR START YOUR OWN

There are 50+ student-run clubs and organizations at Hood, giving you ample opportunities to express yourself, share your passions and meet with likeminded individuals. Make an impact on campus with the Student Government Association, or join a club related to your major like the Archaeology Club or the Free Radicals Chemistry Club. Cultural organizations like Black Student Union, Latinx Student Union, Queer Stu-

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IMPACTFUL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Hood students are no strangers to supporting our neighbors through volunteer work. The on-campus Community Resource Garden provides fresh produce that is donated to the Frederick Rescue Mission to help feed families in need. The Coastal Studies program runs the Frederick Food Security Network, which builds sustainable gardens to combat “food deserts.” Nursing students hold an annual toy drive to donate presents for children staying at Frederick Health Hospital during the holiday season. Political science majors conduct regular voter registration drives during election cycles. However they choose to give back, Hood students make a real and lasting difference in their community.

NEWSMAKERS

At the Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. Multimedia Center, students have access to a broadcast studio, an audio recording studio, and computer labs for photo and video editing. Students produce podcasts and live talk shows for Blazer Radio, publish the longstanding Hood newspaper The Blue and Grey, and film weekly campus news segments and social media content. These hands-on experiences allow students to flex their creativity, but they’re also powerful primers for careers in communications.

THE EMPHASIS ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PUSHED ME TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY AND SHAPED HOW I APPROACH SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP. I’M IMMENSELY GRATEFUL FOR MY HOOD EDUCATION.”

—SPENCER KNOLL ’16

DIRECTOR OF U.S. POLICY AND ADVOCACY, MALARIA

NO MORE

DYNAMIC PARTERSHIPS

As the old saying goes, it takes a village—and education is no exception. That’s why Hood partners with local organizations in mutually beneficial ways. It’s what allows education majors to complete teaching internships through Frederick County Public Schools. It’s how biology majors conduct cutting-edge cell therapy research through Kite Pharma. And it’s the reason Hood offers benefits to employees of partner organizations, like the NeighborHOOD Partners scholarship (Read more on Page 15). All of this creates a pipeline that takes students from the classroom to the workforce.

DISCOVER MORE REASONS WHY A HOOD EDUCATION IS WORTH THE WORK—OR SHARE YOUR OWN STORY:

HOOD COLLEGE WAS WORTH THE WORK BECAUSE IT TAUGHT

ME THAT EXCELLENCE IS EARNED, NOT GIFTED. I LEFT HOOD

KNOWING NOT JUST WHAT I COULD DO, BUT WHO I AM.”

— JA’BETTE LUISA LOZUPONE ’04, MBA’09, DOL’20 FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL, WISHFUL DOING LLC

TIMELESS TRADITIONS

Though the College has a knack for evolving to meet the needs of today and tomorrow, there are certain steadfast traditions that connect alumni across generations. When a member of the Class of 1976 gives words of encouragement to a soon-to-be graduate of the Class of 2026 at Strawberry Breakfast before Commencement, or when alumni pass down their Hood rings to the next graduating class, there’s a palpable sense of tradition that transcends time. When Hood becomes part of your story, you have joined a legacy of learning that stretches back 133 years. Education is a transformative experience—and there’s no better proof than Hood graduates and their accomplishments.

FROM CAMPUS TO CANVAS

Hood Students Participate in African Americans of Excellence Program

Founded in 2023, African Americans of Excellence (AAOE) is an annual event that celebrates the Black community in Frederick, Maryland.

“Our mission is to inspire, educate and promote community healing by fostering dialogue, understanding and unity, while honoring cultural achievements,” said Yemi Fagbohun, local artist and founder of AAOE.

Each year, individuals are nominated based on their contributions to the historical, political and cultural fabric of Frederick. Honorees are spotlighted through multimedia production, including art, photography and video, culminating in an award ceremony at the Weinberg Center for the Arts.

“ WE ARE GIVING THESE WONDERFUL INDIVIDUALS THE ROSES THEY SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVE, TO NOT ONLY CELEBRATE THEIR WORK, BUT ALSO INSPIRE THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF FREDERICK.”

—Sabella Barron ’26

Sabella Barron ’26, an art and archaeology major with concentrations in art history and studio art, has worked with AAOE for the past three years. She serves as a professional artist for the program, painting portraits of honorees.

Barron has painted portraits of Hood alumnus Ted Luck, M.A.’89, known for his contributions to Frederick’s education system, as well as Gayon Sampson, senior adviser to the mayor of Frederick. This year, Barron’s honoree is none other than Olivia White, H’20, Ph.D., former vice president for student life and dean of students at Hood College.

“I am honored to be the one to create a piece on Olivia White. I truly believe she deserves this recognition,” said Barron. “The honorees of AAOE have contributed so much to the Frederick community,

becoming the very foundation of Frederick County. Now, we are giving these wonderful individuals the roses they so rightfully deserve, to not only celebrate their work, but also inspire the future generations of Frederick.”

Barron also helped recruit other student artists to participate. Previously, these had been middle and high school students, but starting in 2026, college students have joined the roster, including several from Hood College: Mimi Bafor ’26, Robin Draetta ’26, Isabel Malaga ’26 and Jenny Schlossberg ’28.

Barron is proud to be part of the AAOE legacy while also being able to utilize her Hood major and the artistic skills she’s developed in the classroom.

“Personally, the one thing I have come to learn and appreciate is the tight-knit community of Hood,” said Barron. “The classmates, teachers, admin, custodians and campus safety are all wonderful and hardworking individuals who have contributed so much to strengthen Hood.”

2026 AAOE HONOREE

OLIVIA WHITE, H’20, PH.D.

Olivia White, H’20, Ph.D., served Hood College for nearly 30 years as the vice president for student life and dean of students. She continues to impact the local community as a project manager for the NCNW Good Health WINs initiative, chair of the Charitable Partners Committee for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and president of AARCH Society, where she leads efforts to promote Frederick’s African American Heritage Center. The nominating committee for African Americans of Excellence spotlighted her commitment to service, culture and community.

“Remember who you are and who you belong to. Treat people how you want to be treated.”

Olivia White, H’20,

Ph.D.,

recalling what

her parents said to her after she accepted the position as dean of students at Hood College

Happy spring from Alumnae House!

One of my favorite quotes is by Sir Bernard Arthur Owen Williams, an English moral philosopher: “The day the Lord created Hope was probably the same day He created Spring.” After the winter we’ve had, this resonates so much with me. The hope that winter will end and bring us the new life of spring. As I gaze out of my office window at the blossoming trees, I can finally say, “It’s here!”

President Ricker’s vision statement for Hood is “Bold Hope, Bright Future.” What does that mean to the College? It means our baseball team will have a great season. It means all our seniors will graduate into careers that bring them meaning and purpose. It means the goals we set for Hood will be met and exceeded because all of us alumni have risen to the occasion and given in ways both big and small, truly embodying our heart, mind and hands.

How can I help? To name just a few ideas, volunteer to host an alumni event in your area. Join me on “Reunion Radio” as a guest. Grab your pen and mail postcards to potential future alumni. Head to a game and cheer our Blazers on to victory. Make a gift in support of scholarships, to help rebuild Brodbeck or to enable a student to experience a semester abroad. And, my favorite, come to reunion and celebrate with your classmates and me.

It’s my reunion year, and if your class ends in a ’1 or ’6, it’s your reunion year too. But I cannot stress enough that Hood reunions are for all Hood alumni. Grab your classmates, your dorm buddies and your teammates, and join us on campus for Reunion Weekend 2026, June 5-7.

I’ll be waiting for you on the Quad—because the fun doesn’t start until you are here!

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

1953

Johanna Chait Essex alumoffice@hood.edu

I received a wonderful note from Pat Lloyd Fordham. This past Christmas, her daughter had robotic open-heart surgery in Pittsburgh and was able to fly home to KS after 10 days. Pat still goes to an “over 60” exercise class three times a week. Pat and Marge Aronson Dalmas keep in touch via the phone, and Pat and her daughter plan to drive to NM in the spring for a visit. I got a card and a phone call from Marilynn Phillips. She lives alone in her farmhouse in Ooltewah, TN. Marilynn has two great-granddaughters, plus four grandsons, three sons and two daughters-in-law. I still have the beautiful rose pictures that she gave to me during our 50th reunion. They are up on a wall where I can see them every day. Elaine Green Powell was one of my two roommates freshman year. We were in a triple on the third floor of Coblentz. Elaine has remained in the room she shared with Dave at Havenwood (he passed away in June), and now she shares the room with another roommate. Her three children are married, and the grandchildren are going the marriage route. She has one 2-year-old great-grandchild. Elaine’s daughter has had cancer surgery but is still working, along with her husband, three boys and two dogs. Sheila Seigal Asher sent me a short note and wished everyone a wonderful New Year. Elizabeth Woodcock Erbring reminisced about the time we were puppets in fall 1949. She still thinks of all the great things we did together—that was indeed a special time. Hal and I (Johanna Chait Essex) are pretty much settled in the apartment. There are things I miss, such as my kitchen table when I want to bake, and other things that did not make it from the house to the apartment, but for the most part, life is good. I no longer drive (my choice), and while I don’t miss driving, I do miss having the convenience of a car. But the local taxi drivers are quite nice, and we have no problem going places. Our kids and grandkids are fine, and the great-grandchildren are a pleasure to be around. We wish you all a happy, healthy 2026.

1957

Martha “Molly” Smith Sperandio mollymom76@gmail.com

Carolyn Stevens Amstutz writes, “Life is good here at Edgewood, and I really do enjoy the beautiful surroundings and ability to walk and listen to my audible books through my hearing aids! I wish I could still play bridge, and mahjong sounds like fun as well. Unfortunately, I can’t see well enough to do it. I spent Christmas in England with my whole family: two daughters, their husbands and four grandchildren ages 18-25—two boys, two girls. I was fearful I would hold everybody back, but I didn’t. We did it all, and it was wonderful. Happy 90th or 91st, whichever may apply, and love to everyone.” Eugenie Smith Durland says, “We had a quiet and happy holiday—saw most of our grands and great-grands.” Nancy Paul Stimson says, “I have learned to play mahjong, which is all the rage here. I also play Rummikub, along with bridge. Games keep me going. Hope all is well with everyone. Happy New Year.” Sylvia Blackburn Felcyn writes, “Our son and family moved from San Salvador to Vienna, Austria. His wife Maria Magdalena, who is with the World Bank, has been transferred there, so our grandsons now will go to an international school. They are fluent in English and Spanish but now must learn German, along with their parents. George still works for a D.C. law firm. I loved Vienna when I was there in the 1950s and hope I can revisit again.” As for me, Molly Smith Sperandio, time marches on and, as this happens for this gal at this age in Dec., sorrows compound and memories are lost, but I keep on doing my thing as best I can. My eldest, fourth and last sister Kitty Smith Dunn ’47 died during the Easter season on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at age 98, just shy of turning 99 in June. My knee replacement continues to give me grief, and though I had to give up some of my volunteerism, I still usher at theaters and am active in church ministries as head of ushers. Thrift shop work and counting money offerings keep me busy and socialized.

1958

Marilyn Garis Kellow maggiehood1958@gmail.com

Joan “Jeb” Bennett Moran observes that most of us turn 90 this year. Jeb’s big trip was to Alpharetta, GA, for Christmas with son Mike’s family. There, she met her 1-year-old great-granddaughter Daphne, who was the “star.” She attended a surprise birthday-anniversary party for Bob and Carol Huelsen Warrington in Nov. Jo Olmstead Witherington’s family is celebrating her 90th in Feb. at a Tampa resort. Sara Lea Callaway Redmon says her granddaughter is officially engaged, so that gives her a happy event to look forward to. Sara continues to live at home and keeps busy with church activities, bridge, book club, gardening and exercise. Mary Allen Reynolds is happy to join the cadre of great-grandmothers with the birth of a baby boy in March. She is still living independently with lots of help. Anne Merrick Vosti relates how she came to Hood as a naive, insecure, homesick freshman and graduated with confidence, a job with career possibility, a collection of wonderful friends and a wonderful fiancée. I received Christmas cards from Joan Enterline, Bunnie Potter Richardson and Eleanor “Elly” Baumgart Ritchie, P’89. Elly had a fall and ended up in rehab. Joan entertained at two open houses. Bunnie is fine and thanks God for each new day.

1959

Anne Wilson Heuisler aheuisler@comcast.net

Catherine Brooke Buckingham is happy living with her daughter at Fleet Landing in Atlantic Beach, FL. Eleanor Brown Wheeler had a melanoma removed last fall and reminds us all to have those suspicious spots checked and remember the sunscreen. Tarun Comegys Johns had a coronary artery blockage, which required immediate double-bypass surgery. Surgery went well, and she has had an excellent recovery. Tarun says that our column is a testament to how well we have stayed connected. Nancy Curran Crowley says, “Those were magical years at Hood. After all these years living in CA, I still miss the East Coast and the area around Frederick.” Nancy Fletcher Artlett died at 87 in Aug. She is survived by three sons, David, Douglas and Matthew, and her sister Sally Fletcher

Murray ’60. Nancy was born in N. Adams, MA, and grew up in Holden, MA. After earning a B.A. in education from Hood, she taught kindergarten in many schools in VA. She then spent 25 years in Sydney, Australia. She returned to VA in 2017 and enjoyed reconnecting with lifelong friends while seeing her grandchildren grow up. Jeannette Haines Boothby passed away in March 2023 in the U.K. She is survived by her husband John, daughter Heather and son Peter. Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee now has a cochlear implant and says she has been given a new life. “To hear birds and what people say is miraculous.” I had lunch with Edith “Edee” Howard Hogan and her daughter Chrysti Hogan ’86 when they were last in town. Edee has moved to Memphis to be near Chrysti. Judy Moreland Granger has discovered tai chi walking and says, “It is strengthening my old legs. We are thankful for son Bob’s ability to ring the bell early in Dec. at Texas Oncology and feel blessed to be doing as well as we are.” Rachel Ravey Johnson died in Oct. 2025. Rachel was married to the Reverend Carl F. Pattison for 39 years. She had two daughters with her late first husband Royal C. Johnson: Elizabeth “Beth” Johnson and Leah Bradford Johnson. Rachel was born in Toledo, OH, but grew up in Fox Chapel, near Pittsburgh. Her life was full of adventures: spelunking/caving, rock climbing, sky diving, kayaking, hiking and anything to do with water. She was a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist and an activist with Earth First as well as other environmental and animal protection groups. She earned a BSN from Eastern Mennonite University and an M.A. at University of Nebraska. She also took graduate work at four other schools, including University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She had a many-faceted career as a lifeguard, swimming teacher, caving instructor, mental health RN/ counselor, social worker, guidance counselor

and college faculty member. Rachel met Carl as a fellow caver, and they shared Canadian adventures. Rachel had a natural burial in the expectation of recycling and contributing to the sustenance of many other plant and life forms—a farewell gift to nature. Hera Tzortzopoulou Leighton died at 88 in Sept. 2025 in Golden Valley, MN. Born in Athens, Greece, and having lived through WWII and the Greek Civil War, she emigrated to the U.S. in 1956 to study at Hood. Obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees in home economics, English and German, she was awarded a doctoral degree in German language and literature from the University of Illinois. She worked as a cataloguer of foreign books in several major U.S. university libraries between the early 1960s and the 2010s, and she taught both English and German at U.S. colleges and universities for almost 40 years. Hera travelled frequently with her husband of 30 years, the late Dr. Lauren G. Leighton, with her two sons and with friends. She is survived by her sons Denys and Jamie Leighton. Mary Faith West Clark died in July 2024 and was buried in Richmond. She is survived by two sons, Christopher and Damien. Carol Wick Ericksen traveled to Mexico and Portugal last year. She played lots of golf and duplicate bridge and read bestsellers and other books. She chats regularly with Edee Howard Hogan. Della Mae Wilson Holtzapple wrote, “Phil died two weeks ago and it’s like my life at Hood did too. There would have been no 64 years with this man without our introduction at Hood.” Akiko Yamamoto Fasolo writes, “It was an honor for me to be able to attend a Hood gathering in Sept. in NYC. Judith Messina ’66, trustee emerita, very generously hosted the event to meet President Ricker. Conversations with President Ricker and attendees from administration, faculty, alumni and students were wonderful. I appreciated learning an exciting update on the College.

In 10 words or less... “What made your Hood education worth it?”

“Challenging assumptions; expanding my world through rigor, debate and discovery.”

—Susan Audino ’85, B.A.’99, Ph.D.

“The friends, confidence and leadership skills will last

a lifetime.”

—Stephanie Kane Mummert ’98, Ph.D.

They reminded me how fortunate I am to have had the opportunity to spend my four years at such a loving, nurturing community. The Hood College experience fostered my long-term self-assurance. Since I moved recently from my Lake Katonah, Westchester, NY, home of 56 years to Garden City, Long Island, NY, where my younger daughter lives, it took two hours by taxi to attend the meeting. It was a unique opportunity for me to be close to my alma mater!” Anne Wilson Heuisler says, “David Coppage thoughtfully sent us the news that his mother, our dear Nancy Fletcher Artlett, had died. I wonder if we all might add Hood Alumni Office to our own lists of people to notify when the time comes.” (alumoffice@hood.edu)

1960

Sally Fletcher Murray murraysfm@comcast.net

Mary Ann Brush Gearinger of Frederick, MD, retired after teaching for 46 years. She writes, “My days are filled with family, exercise classes, square dancing and singing in several choruses. Ocean cruises with my daughter have been highlights in recent years.” Pat Crowl Johnson of Norton Shores, MI, reports the loss of Wanda Koedderich Hilner last fall. For several years, Pat and Wanda attended Shakespeare plays in Stratford, Ontario. Pat welcomed her first great-grandchild in March 2025. She is secretary of her HOA, still in two book groups and volunteers in different ways at church. Maria Rodriguez Astiz was a foreign student at Hood in 1958. She was born in Argentina but now lives in Spain. She married Carlos Astiz at the end of the school year at Hood and moved to PA to attend Penn State. She earned her Ph.D. from SUNY at Albany and taught Spanish language and literature at Union College. In 1980, she took a test for translators at the United Nations and worked there until she retired in 1997. She writes, “My scholarship at Hood was an excellent opportunity to discover these exciting possibilities.” Barbara Bailey Reinhold of Easthampton, MA, reported that she has taken a bold leap to make a big life change for 2026. She and Sally Hutchins Stott ’66 have decided to end their 16-year marriage. Sally is staying in FL, while Gus has returned to live in a Quaker independent living community near Smith College, where she spent the final 25 years of her organizational career. She has reunited with old friends, colleagues and clients from her

Smith years as well as her private practice there as a career coach. Some folks were surprised when she turned up at the “No Kings” March in Northampton last fall, but she loves “being back in the world of stimulating ideas, great conversations and unflinching commitment to acceptance and dignity for all.” Elanor Black Craig of Fresno, CA, retired from a second career selling insurance. She volunteers for an organization which raises money for charities, attends a gym five days a week and reads a lot. Ellie enjoys visits with her three children and four grandchildren. Frances Chandler Fisher of Hockessin, DE, retired after 30 years of teaching and lives with her husband in a retirement community. They have four children and four grandchildren. During their marriage, they moved several times and traveled the world. Frances enjoys painting and is an award-winning quilter. After four years at Hood, Mary Rooney Yount of Chapel Hill, NC, completed her requirements for a nursing degree at Mass General Hospital, where her roommate was Nancy Roller Roberge, another Hood nursing student. During her career, Mary enjoyed sabbaticals in London and Cambridge, England. She has three children and two sets of twin grandchildren. Mary is an avid tennis fan who has played competitively, taught tennis to underprivileged youth and played squash with Judy Arndt years ago when they both lived in the Boston area. Martha Evans Marcello of North Conway, NH, writes, “Unfortunately, 2025 was a tough year for our family. Our middle daughter Betsy was diagnosed with cancer last spring. She has been undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy and will have many more months of treatment. Betsy lives nearby in Fryeburg, ME, as do our other two daughters. We all help Betsy and each other. Tom and I are okay, considering our advanced age. Tom will be 90 in March! We still love living in North Conway. I go for a two mile walk almost every day, when weather permits.” Last fall, our class lost Audrey Heyman Rooney, an extraordinary artist in everything she touched. She was a painter, illustrator, musician, singer, writer, poet, gardener and cook. In 2011, a group of classmates visited her lovely home in Lexington, KY, before she moved to VA to be near her son. I, Sally Fletcher “Fletch” Murray, remain involved in education and election activities but mostly live quietly in Warrenton, VA, with my dog Juno, content to read, sew, watch sports on TV and enjoy get-togethers with family and friends. Stay well!

1961

alumoffice@hood.edu

Shared by Anne Wilson Heuisler ’59: “Mary Dickinson Cohen died on Oct. 4. Mary was a day student who had a gorgeous soprano voice. She transferred to Peabody Conservatory on the recommendation of her voice teacher. She became a music teacher in elementary schools in the Baltimore area and also sang professionally in churches. I knew Mary as a fellow resident at Blakehurst, a retirement community in Towson, MD. She died of a heart attack.”

1962

Jane Hoskins Bollman jbollman@goeaston.net

From Phoebe Adams Marshall: “Not much new here. I still play tennis twice a week, work in the house/yard, go to church and feed feral cats. I have a lot of support from good friends. I also read a lot. If I don’t have a book, I’m not happy.” From Susan Shinnick Hossfeld: “Amazingly, the entire family stayed well during the busy holiday season. In Jan., Carl and I are leaving for a short ski trip. This June, we are taking our family of eight on the Alaska by Rail trip, which runs from Fairbanks to Seward/Anchorage. Carl and I are extending our trip to Homer and the Kenai Peninsula, while everyone else must be back home for school or work. This Sept. will find the family back to the beaches of Rehoboth, our annual vacation!” From Sara Zimmerman: “As I write this, it’s 4:30 p.m. on January 7, and I’m just back from a walk on an unusually warm day, 57 degrees Fahrenheit, after a very cold Frederick, MD, winter so far. I’m sure wintry weather will soon return, but in the meantime, today it was so enjoyable to walk outside without my gloved hands turning blue and to walk with neighbors working in their yards. As for New Year’s resolutions, I’m beginning two writing projects. One, ‘Politics at the Speyer Cathedral,’ and two, ‘UU History, the Musical.’” From Doris Dalzell Kimball: “We still feel blessed to be living in picturesque Door County, even as our life roles have changed. Like many of our classmates, I am now the caretaker and decision maker. The transition was slow and smooth. I still participate in book and bridge clubs and volunteering, so I get out and about. One grandson has gifted

the family with a darling great-grandson who outshines the sun. Our new acquaintances here in Scandia are lively, interesting and often inspiring. Age is just a number!” From Penny Misirian Mardoian: “Aside from a few minor health issues, which we all experience as we get older, my life is rather busy. I spent five months in my ME home and will return there in May. My grandson Michael will graduate from Vanderbilt with an MBA and will work for Boston Consulting Group at their headquarters in Boston. Madison, my granddaughter, will graduate with a degree in psychology at U Amherst and plans on either going into the workforce or graduate school.” From Liz Decker Rogers: “Some blood pressure issues necessitated a trip to the local ER recently, but blood pressure medicine was increased, so I don’t consider that newsworthy, and I seem to have stabilized. Three long-time friends have passed, but that’s the way it is at this point in our lives. I have seen some good movies and gone to some great events. Culture helps to balance things out. Susan Rugemer Kurtz , a long-time Hood friend who lived near us in Baltimore, passed a few months ago.” Gail Dawson Clarke writes: “I am now living in the four corners of CO—very different from the Denver area. We often feel neglected in the weather forecasting industry since our climate is uniquely semi-desert but cold enough for snow, wind, sleet and hail, sometimes on the same day. It is great out here; we have mountains and are close enough to visit other states. I spend time in the Navajo-managed Monument Valley National Park region and visit the Red Rocks in UT as well. I loved visiting the Grand Canyon, but AZ is too hot for me now that I’m far, far away from FL and content with dry, cold weather. Also, the altitude here is 6,500 feet, which suits me. My son lives nearby and loves to hike and explore these regions and more. We get our fair share of critters too: mountain lions visit our homes in Jan. and Feb., and red foxes, eagles and deer families call my backyard home, as well as the plentiful (but not welcome) prairie dogs. I live in a very rural area, so my close neighbors are herds of cattle. I try not to dwell on the political climate these days, so contacts with old friends and family are a happy antidote. I occasionally see my daughter in the mountains of NC with her two children. Healthwise, I feel fine but can’t walk as far as I’d like. However, I can’t complain. I have hopes for a better 2026 in every way.”

Dorothy Snyder Engle dengle3699@aol.com

Kathie Anderson Houchens writes that she and Dave enjoy living at Otterbein Senior Life in Granville, OH. Kathie writes for a community newsletter, loves water exercise class, tai chi and ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), and she and Dave have added a native wildflower meadow to their garden. Their children visit, and they hope to spend Christmas with family in New England. Linda Chait Solomon, M.A.’84, M.A.’95, says her knees are betraying her, but she is still loving life, especially the theater, and delights that there are many venues in the D.C. area. Linda still tutors and was happy to gain a new family member in the fall when her grandson got married. Book and discussion groups keep her busy, but she is ready for our next reunion. Susan Olpp Remsberg reports that she and daughter Stephanie traveled to Germany, where Steph was presenting at a conference, and they had a delightful time along the Rhine River. Sue was elected to the board of directors at her retirement community. She is still singing and knitting and enjoys these quiet activities. Ann Enzian Robbins moved to a facility in Newport News to be near her daughter but still misses her Richmond connections. Ann stays in touch with Sarah Lutton and is now a “certified cat lady”—her orange tabby Willie keeps her company. Amie Godman Tannenbaum was proud to carry our class banner at the inauguration of Hood’s 12th president, Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., whom she dubbed “a real firecracker.” She and husband Don enjoyed the day, especially after it warmed up. The oldest class represented was 1956, and a few were there from ’61 and ’62. (She did mention that some canes were in attendance!) “Don managed to find his way to Hodson and bumped into a former student of his from Gettysburg who went to Hood for her master’s.” Sue Oster Robinson said she had her one-year checkup for her aortic valve replacement and can take this doctor off her list. She was able to go to Bethany Beach in the fall and had lunch with Joanne Cissel Doyle Sue is planning road trips to FL in the spring and ME in the fall. Sue Colton Gibbons writes that her grandchildren are doing well in college, and she is teaching ESL, working at the local food bank, reading and taking part in church activities. Sue and her sister enjoyed a Viking cruise on the Rhine, from Amsterdam to Lucerne. Gail Kloeblen Spertzel took her daughters on a cruise and says they were patient with her slower

pace. Gail visited her grandson Zak in Israel. Her other grandson Eli is a Southwest pilot and loves it. Gail still enjoys crafting silver jewelry, tapestry weaving and pastel painting. Helen Buss Mitchell still enjoys teaching philosophy, women’s studies and Chinese Taoism at Howard Community College. She keeps in touch with Mary Ann Holloway Ford, M.A.’79, who stays informed about politics and is a master gardener. Helen also stays in touch with her roommate Louise Thornton Burns. Louise lives in SC and says husband Joe (her high school sweetheart) had some health issues, but he seems to be on the mend. Penny West Paulley lives on MI’s Northern Peninsula in what used to be her parents’ home. My daughter Robin Engle ’96 and I (Dottie Snyder Engle) had a great trip to AK in June. We flew into Fairbanks, saw Denali, then took the train to Anchorage where we boarded our ship. After the cruise, we stayed in Vancouver and took the ferry to Victoria to Butchart Gardens. I arrived home with COVID and pneumonia. After I recuperated, we went to the Eastern Capitals of Canada on our sixth Tauck tour, visiting Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. In Ottawa, Cindy Klopp Butler and her husband Keith joined us for dinner. Keith is Canadian. I came home from that trip illness free, but the next morning, I was trying to stretch out a cramp in my leg, slipped and broke my left wrist. And I am officially my spine doctor’s queen of kyphoplasties, having gotten 13 cemented. I am still on the mend but hope to be in fine shape in June because we have booked a Danube cruise. We will also stop in Bratislava, where I hope some of my Slovak friends will be able to meet up with us. I am trying to get people to take over my responsibilities with my senior lunch group and senior exercise, both of which I have been doing for more than 25 years. I also need to be fully mended to help Robin when she gets her aortic valve replaced. Brenda Eklund Pearson has been busy traveling. Her family cruised to the Mexican Riviera and to Iceland, Greenland, the Scottish Faroe Islands and Norway. Brenda also visited Maui and Orlando before heading back to Waikiki, her old stomping grounds, where she lived when Nils was assigned to Pearl. I am officially “out of your hair,” at least until the next news is due. I have given up a lot of my duties, but I doubt anyone would do this job, and most people seem to want to know what’s going on. Two former Hood employees passed away: Barbara Neel and Jackie Allison Anderson ’89 Jackie just died about a week ago, and her body has gone to the Anatomy Board of Maryland. Jackie was related to me by marriage.

1964

Barbara Maly Fish barb2fish@yahoo.com

Betsy Beachley Winger is happily ensconced in a CCRC in Elizabethtown, PA, where she participates in many activities. With the Travel Club, she will go to Niagara Falls in May and on the Rocky Mountaineer train ride in July. She also plays duplicate bridge several times a week. She lives in a small two-bedroom cottage on the campus and still drives her own car. Betsey Covel, who lives in Frederick, enjoys her quiet days, interrupted by occasional doctor appointments and lunches with friends. Ellen Roberts Glaccum’s husband Tom, whom she describes as her “lover, best friend, counselor and sparring partner,” passed away, and she has been slowly adjusting to her new life. Pressured by her children and friends, she sold her remote log cabin in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and moved to Hailey, a small town in central ID, where she has lots of friends. She describes her health as “a sort of C+.” She limps but manages short walks with

her beloved lab, drives and lives independently. She hasn’t yet missed a protest, and her fence is decorated with anti-Trump signs. Mike and Flo Sechler Miller were both avid hikers in the past, but health problems now prevent him from joining her. The Millers will soon move to Ever True Luther Crest, a CCRC in Allentown, PA, their hometown, where Mike hopes to find some serious bridge players, and Flo plans to engage in all things literary. Flo also plans to reconnect with the Allentown Hiking Club and explore local hiking trails. Barbi Haun Morris is looking forward to family celebrations in 2026: the wedding of one of her granddaughters in Aug. and two graduations, one from high school and the other an MFA from the University of Georgia. Barbi enjoys living in Williamsburg, VA, and would love to meet with any classmates who plan to visit there during America’s 250 festivities. Katharine Tatem Brody and Hal are still “plodding along” and enjoying life with their two children and four grandsons, three of whom have graduated from college and are attending graduate school. The fourth is still in college, majoring in international diplomacy. Hal and Katharine go on a cruise about once a

year and particularly loved going through the new Panama Canal. Last June, Heidi Stephens Whitesel went on a Viking cruise to AK, then in Aug., she visited her oldest daughter, who lives with her English husband on the Channel Island of Jersey. Her English granddaughters (19) are in their second year at universities in Exeter and Winchester. Over the New Year’s holiday, her whole family gathered in Leesburg, VA, where her daughter Stacy lives with husband Gary about 30 minutes away from Heidi. Those grandchildren are Luke, a freshman at Virginia Tech; Lexi, a senior at the University of Tennessee; and Kate, a graduate student in physical therapy at Jefferson. Heidi described the time together as “precious.” Ann McMillan Shuman has been living in Delray Beach, FL, for the past eight years near her grandchildren, Shane (17) and Sadie (15). Ann enjoys busy days playing canasta, swimming, eating out, Zooming with her Pittsburgh book group, going to movies, serving as a deacon at her church, supporting local theaters and keeping up with Met Opera Live, PBS, Netflix and Steeler games. After teaching for 30 years in the public schools of Garrett County, MD, Joanna Miller has enjoyed

more than 30 years of retirement. Health problems, especially with her heart, now keep her in the U.S., so no more trips to ancestral sites in Switzerland, Germany and the Alsace in France. She is still able to enjoy genealogy, family and local history, visits with her four remaining siblings and her many nieces and nephews, her church family, renewing acquaintances with former students and occasional contact with Cathy Molter Yohn, who lives nearby. Joanna proudly serves Cranberry Crunch every Thanksgiving and Christmas. She has also written two books, “Joanna’s Book: A Mapleshade Memoir” and “The Casselman Hotel: 1824-2017.” Both are available from Amazon or from the publisher Masthof Press of Morgantown, PA. Karen Kuechenmeister Kolosek remarried eight years ago, after five years as a widow. She was walking down her street one day and struck up a conversation with a man who had lived 10 houses away from her for 13 years, but whom she had never met. She says, “God does work in mysterious ways, and later that year, we married. Health issues arise, but so far, we are managing to handle them.” Carolyn McCurdy Wilson has no earthshaking news, a good thing at our age, but continues to do pretty much what she has always done: being married to Peter since 1971, sailing, but now running races and teaching rather than competing, fly fishing and spending time with her grandchildren. Carolyn Fritch Clewell retired from the National Geographic Society after a happy 37-year career. She still lives in the D.C. area, where she describes every day as “an adventure.” She still plays tennis and golf and enjoys many cultural activities. She writes, “I was pleased to be one of our class representatives at the inauguration of President Debbie Ricker in Oct., and I’m looking forward to her tenure.” Finally, an apology from me, Barb Maly Fish, to Tina Bassett Stevens. In my last column in Hood Magazine, I wrote that Tina had moved to NH to be closer to ME, where she goes every summer. She does indeed go to ME every summer, but she has not moved to NH; she still lives in Wilmette, IL. I do not know why or how I moved her. Senior moment?

Emily R. Kilby erkilby44@gmail.com

Thank goodness for Christmas notes. Without them, this column would be even skimpier than it is. I (Emily Kilby) am a shameful excuse for a class reporter, but I offer no further excuse than I am always behind on some history project or write-up or other, and I run out of juice. Just three days before this deadline, I finally sent in a reworking of an article about the Kilby sisters’ Mason-Dixon line marker search I was asked to do for Pennsylvania Magazine. Before that, it was the write-up of a history hike for my Facebook group, and before that, a response to someone who asked about a suffragette from the county. Fortunately, I can report the Christmas note news that Diana Beers Lobdell and husband Ralph have settled full time in their West Coast hometown of Vancouver, WA, after selling their wintertime FL home last April. They’ve moved to an apartment in a senior living community not far from their previous home with the help of their two sons, one of whom lives in nearby Portland, OR, and the other in Park City, UT. The Lobdells are grateful for their 60-year marriage filled with much travel and fantastic experiences, but most of all, they are thankful for their sons, their daughters-inlaw and their five accomplished grandchildren. Some special news gathering happened during the in-person catch-up hours I spent with Marilyn “Lynn” Farnell a few days after Christmas. We met in Quarryville, PA, partway between my home in northeastern MD and the Lancaster home of Lynn’s sister Jean Farnell Bednarski ’68, where she spent the holiday. Lynn describes herself as in good health with some “mechanical challenges,” which didn’t stop her from driving solo from her home in Natick, MA. Lynn and Jean usually take annual trips to distant locales, but this year, they had several smaller adventures at the MD shore and the Naval Academy, their mother’s hometown and Lynn’s birthplace of Bronxville, NY, and, with their brother included, for a week in Little Compton, RI, where the family’s deepest roots are. At home, Lynn is active in her local church, where she’s the church historian, and she continues the longtime weekly bridge games with seven friends. Last year, she stepped up to act as the “everyday life organizer” for a dear friend of 50 years during her decline and passing. Lynn also has regular contact with two of our

MA classmates and shared a bit of news about them. Deborah Bentley Hall and husband Eric, longtime residents of Quincy, MA, are on the long waitlist to relocate to a retirement community in Amherst. Judy Lang Spooner is in a care facility not far from Lynn and Deb, who visit her regularly. Judy’s daughter, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General, keeps a close eye on her mother as well. Still in her Finksburg, MD, home, Kathie Cribbs Tromble is involved with a scripture study group at her church and enjoys activities with her “Best Years” group, but her family is her primary focus. Her teacher son Wayne and lawyer daughter Kate live in the Baltimore and Washington areas, while lawyer Connie is in CO and burn surgeon Alice lives outside Dayton, OH. Kathie’s nine grandchildren range from high school age to mid-20s. Kathie took a couple of trips last year to visit the CO and OH families and, at the time she wrote her note, was anticipating a southerly cruise out of Baltimore with Alice’s family the week before Christmas. Do your part to keep me in business—send news as it happens. This seems to have become the enduring theme of my columns. But maybe you don’t notice because your memories may have become as leaky as mine.

1966

Dianne Beebe Barske eldibarske@gmail.com

We graduated in 1966 from Hood College—60 years ago! Our reunion chair Ginny Wheeler Jones, M.A.’88, and assistant chair Pat Kehoe Tylander have been busy planning our reunion events on campus for the weekend of June 5-7. Both Pat and Ginny were back on campus on Oct. 18, 2025, to attend the inauguration of Hood’s 12th president, Debbie Ricker, Ph.D. I’m sure there were moments of reunion planning that weekend. Both are hoping that as many of us as possible will attend. Ginny outlines what we can expect: “We are planning a ‘Welcome Gathering’ on Friday, before a casual dinner together in a comfortable indoor setting on campus. On Saturday, there will be an outdoor Parisian Picnic lunch as well as a chance for an informative double-decker bus ride through a very changed Downtown Frederick. On Saturday evening, we have again requested a comfortable indoor place for our celebration dinner.” We will be able to spot the classmates planning to attend once reunion online registration is open

in April. Names will be listed by class and will be updated weekly. Ginny adds, “This seems like a positive way to motivate and encourage attendance, as we learn about friends who are planning to be there. Hopefully you can join us!” Thank you, Ginny, for all you are doing to make this reunion weekend happen. Pat summarizes, “Ginny has been an amazing organizer for our 60th reunion.” As your class columnist, Dianne Beebe Barske, I am always grateful to classmates who respond to my plea for news. Sandra Bounty Wooster shared that she and Tom have been married for 59 years. They have six grandchildren. “We feel fortunate to be active and healthy and able to travel.” Recent trips include northern Europe and the U.K., with a visit to Boston planned for this year’s Fourth of July weekend. Sandra included a happy photo of her and Tom on a Christmas Eve 2025 Colton River Club cruise. Bonnie Scull Hawkes took a cruise to HI last Oct. A planned cruise to the Arctic had to be aborted when icing made the take-off to the ship impossible from Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada. Three attempts at de-icing failed. “I am disappointed, but not enough to bother trying it again next year!” Keeping her busy has been a move from a townhouse in North Vancouver, British Columbia, where she had lived for 33 years, to a senior living community nearby. Karen Sweeney Fulwiler began her note by stating, “This past year was a reminder that getting old ain’t for sissies!” Husband Arlen was hospitalized in Jan. and discharged to rehabilitation in Feb. During one of her daily visits to him there, Karen fell, landed on her knee replacement and broke her femur. Following surgery, Karen joined Arlen in rehab for three months. When she wrote, both Karen and Arlen were back home with 24/7 caregivers, “thanks to the efforts of our amazing daughter and long-term care insurance.” She adds that her faith is helping her move on through these days. She would

love to be at our class reunion but obviously won’t be able to attend. I’m sure we all wish you and your husband better days ahead, Karen. Happily, Nancy Frederickson Sherlin tells us that she will be at our reunion. “My health is good, and I’m still selling stained glass at the Renaissance Fair in the spring.” According to Nancy, husband Grover “is having a few aggravating health issues but is doing fairly well. All kids and grandkid are well. We are exceptionally blessed.” Nancy heard from Pat Chapple Wright, and they reminisced about a visit with her in Madagascar 10 years ago. She reported that Pat still has lots of energy. “I am so proud of her accomplishments.” Pat emailed me about a few of them. In Jan., she was in Madagascar at Ranomafana National Park, where she had just received a grant from the Leaky Foundation to excavate caves there for remains of extinct hippopotami and lemurs. Pat is founder and executive director of Centre ValBio Research Station in Madagascar and is still teaching at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY. Her IMAX film “Island of Lemurs, Madagascar” is now available on DVD. Pat adds, “I would like to be at the June Hood reunion, but it is the week of the Environment in Madagascar, and I have to be here for the events.”

1968

Sandra Gerwin Herndon sandraherndon@gmail.com

I received a beautiful email from Don Prial, Linda Mader Prial’s husband. She passed away in June 2024. He shared some highlights of her life: While Linda enjoyed much success in her 20-year corporate career in Manhattan and NJ, she was prouder of her works leading non-profit arts organizations such as the Newark Museum,

In 10 words or less...

“What made your Hood education worth it?”

“Air Band, sports, 3rd floor Meyran, small campus, safety, friendships.”

—Katlin Hassell ’08

“Hood boosted my confidence and created lifelong friendships!”

—Laurie Machovel Tomcanin ’04

Mendocino Classical Music Festival and the Mendocino County Arts Council. After moving to Sonoma County in 2008, Linda served on the board of directors for the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. She retired in 2019, and they settled in Salem, OR. I talked to Carolyn Fraley who shared that after Hood, she earned her master’s and doctoral degrees. She worked on her doctorate thesis in Rome, where she spent 14 years on and off. She is healthy and enjoying retirement by spending most of her time volunteering at church, her “second home.” Carolyn doesn’t have internet and still has only a wall phone. Margie Arnold Creek’s latest travels took her to East Africa, where she went on a safari in Kenya, spent a fortnight in Tanzania, then went on to Zanzibar and coastal areas near Cape Town. Glaxo changed its headquarters from Philadelphia to London; Janis Peterson was marketing manager of Europe. Due to family priorities, she chose not to relocate, which led her to a real estate career in NJ and PA until she officially retired in Dec. 2025. Janis is now enjoying retirement at her home in the Willow Valley Community in Willow Street, PA. Jane Ford Simcock recently moved to the same community and has a spacious condo in this wonderful CCR. They feel that they made the right decision for this phase of their lives, and she is looking forward to meeting up with Janis. Although she is concerned about the state of her home country, Spain, Maxine Shupis DeSanchez is happy to be alive (but with some health issues, like all of us). She’s thankful for good friends, her four kids, eight grandchildren (with one on the way in March) and her lovely niece, who encourages her to travel. She is sorry that she was so shy when at Hood, failing to enjoy the “richness of friendship” that she could have benefitted from knowing everyone. Carol Huntington is still working as a DBT psychotherapist, doing telehealth seven days a week from her home office but getting around using a cane and a walker. Beverly Thompson Gardner and her husband Bernie spent Christmas week with their sister-in-law in CA but had to cancel their trip to her place at The Sea Ranch in northern CA because of no power, so they spent time in Cupertino instead. Donna Nelson Hyde keeps busy singing in two choirs and is active in the Gamma Mu chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa. She traveled to South Korea and Japan this past year and keeps in contact with her Hood roommate Laurie Kammler Kaye. Marjorie Field Trusler reported that she has been fascinated by the rise of artificial intelligence.

She visited NYC, where she saw “Ragtime” and ate bagels and blintzes. She has been wishing that there were more movies and books focused on dynamic “70+” characters, like us! Phyllis Gimbel Schnitman and her husband returned from their trip on the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, where she spoke French (and her husband listened). They also spent time with their grandchildren in VT and went to Quebec. Linda Search Atack lives in the Raleigh area of NC—the state where you can experience all four seasons in a 48-hour period. Her older son and his family live nearby. Her oldest grandson is a sophomore in college, and his brother is a sophomore in high school. Her younger son and his family moved out west from the D.C. area, so visiting is harder to arrange. Following the destruction from Hurricane Helene in Aug. 2024, she recharged her social work credentials and helps support recovery services in western NC. During the past year she became active in the national group INDIVISIBLE. A note from institutional advancement: In compliance with federal guidelines, scholarships with certain criteria can no longer be awarded. To ensure that students continue to benefit from your generosity, the class scholarship’s name and criteria have been changed. The scholarship is now named the Class of 1968 Scholarship.

1969

Sayre Roney Steere sayre1126@gmail.com

Margaret Dunkle was recently featured in a “Member Spotlight” piece in Phi Kappa Phi Magazine, as she had been inducted into the Hood chapter of PKP in 2012, the same year she was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. Karla Leum Stoner, M.A.’81, still resides on her farm in Frederick. Boarding six horses keeps her busy! Connie Meek will spend early Feb. in northern Italy competing in agegroup cross-country skiing, then she heads to the Olympics to watch more racing. Jill Stanley and Adam attended their daughter’s installation as senior cantor at her Synagogue in Portland, OR, then square danced in Olympia before heading to Las Vegas. Our condolences go out to LaVonne Blattenberger Vogt, who lost her husband Bob to liver cancer in Aug. Fortunately, they enjoyed a 42-day Mediterranean cruise just prior to that. LaVonne plans to remain in Wilmington, NC, not far from “roomie” Emily

In 10 words or less... “What made your Hood education worth it?”

“Definitely feeling freedom and learning what’s important to me.”

—Britta

Spreen Adams ’03

Biemiller Burgess, who lives in Raleigh. Barbara Shipley Cober, M.S.’80, continues to enjoy the amenities provided by her life care community, especially the pool, gym and dining hall. She welcomed her great-granddaughter in Aug. Chris Diehl sends greetings from the shores of West Haven, CT, on Long Island Sound. She has frequent phone visits with Marya Rusinak, who performs medieval music within the community. Pat Warren Carlson was honored to represent our class at the inauguration of President Debbie Ricker in Oct. She’s confident our alma mater is in excellent hands. Marya has recovered from a broken femur and golfed in Casa de Campo in the fall, and she anticipates another golfing vacation to FL in Feb. Jan Erbacher Greening reports that last year she, her husband and Rapelje Fairley visited Camilla Brownson Kenny and Peter in Jacksonville, FL, for the first time since graduation. In July, they met once again at Rap’s home in Southport, NC, and were joined by Betsy Prinz Kohler On that same trip, Jan and Charles had lunch with Mary Esther Carlson Morton and Mike in Fairfax, VA. Marty Silcox Hankins remains active with the Carroll County Master Gardeners as well as the League of Women Voters. She will serve as an election judge in the upcoming primary and general elections. Her husband’s health has improved, so he’s taken up pottery once again. All her children and grands visited during the holidays. Betsy Seele Gotta is recovering from a nasty fall while in Charleston, SC, resulting in a broken femur around her earlier hip replacement. She’s walking with a cane but gradually getting back into square and round dancing. Ann Murray Meacham is finally retiring from her executive coaching business, which she has conducted primarily on Zoom. She enjoyed her 60-year high school reunion

“Lifelong

friendships

and building my confidence in the workforce.”

—Susan Reeder Jessee ’80, MBA’93

in Elmira, NY. Retirement activities will include birding, book clubs and community groups. Ann keeps in touch with Kathie White Lucas, who has a large family and lives in MO. In Sept., Cheryl Brown Dreiling and her sister Sharon Brown Vejvoda ’71 travelled on an AHI: Hood College trip to Great Britain: Yorkshire, the Lake District and Wales. They toured old castles and charming towns and even visited the homes of William Woodsworth and Beatrix Potter. Cheryl highly recommends such trips. Maureen Clancy Shiftan lost her husband Thomas in Dec. We send our condolences. As for me, Sayre Roney Steere, there have been no major changes in the past few months. Still loving the PNW, especially having our family nearby. We took a fun trip in Sept. back to St. Thomas, VI, where we honeymooned 56 years ago. Much has changed, but it remains a lovely island paradise. Looking forward to HI in Feb.

1970

Marj Menchey Berkheimer mench49@gmail.com

From Pamela Nesbit: “I am realizing the importance of being artful every precious day. Art truly is a necessity of life and a beautiful gift. This season, we’re enjoying deep winter with temperatures of 40 below zero and multiple feet of pure white snow.“ From Rosalyn “Roz” Goddard Phillips: “John and I have lived in San Luis Obispo, CA, for more than 50 years and will celebrate our 55th anniversary in June. In Oct. 2025, our first grandchild Callum was born in Fairfax, VA, to our son and his wife. In May 2025, on a trip to the East Coast, we visited Alice Barber Lundgren and Betsy Cooper

Pizzolato ’71 and her husband Tom. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with them, reminiscing about the Hood/Ft. Detrick connection. From Lisa Smith Roney: “I’m busier than ever. I’m still doing water aerobics three times a week, participating in two book groups, helping with various senior activities in the D.C. area and making regular trips to Philadelphia and Rockville to visit our granddaughters, their parents and cats. The girls play flute and are heavily into musical theater, dance and rock climbing. The oldest just became a teenager, and we’re not sure what that will bring. I remember those years all too well! My husband of 50 years Milt and I are going to Spain in Aug. for the 2026 eclipse after seeing the previous two in ID (2017) and TX (2024). I saw my first eclipse with Edith Jones VanHoose, Carol Mudge Finn and one or two other Hood classmates in March 1970 on a quick day trip from Hood to Chincoteague Island, crowded in Edie’s Volkswagen Beetle. That was the most memorable of all! I still miss my Hood roommate and very close friend Tina Brincefield Fletcher, who died two years ago of cardiac problems, followed by her husband Rob a year later.” From Marj: “My message to you is that our alma mater is in excellent hands led by President Debbie Ricker and the administration, plus a strong Board of Trustees. It’s wonderful for me to have close access to the campus to enjoy the beauty of the different seasons as well as cultural and educational opportunities. Best of all, my two grandchildren attend the former Onica Prall School of Early Childhood Education (now Georgetown Hill Early School), and it’s the best! Good health and happy days to you all.”

1971

Mary McMunigal Burland mburl5@verizon.net

Mindy Laighton Wilcox mlwilcox3@gmail.com

Barb Hasbrouck Murphy and her business partner are in the process of retiring and closing their executive search firm Equinox Search, which they founded in 2001. Their business focused on retained search for the commercial real estate industry on a national level. Barb looks forward to spending more time traveling and enjoying the cultural benefits of NYC, where she has lived for 45 years. Karen Spence and

spouse Helene sold their home in MD and permanently moved to the Netherlands to be closer to Helene’s children and grandchildren. They live within walking distance of local grocery stores, shops, restaurants, the gym, and their doctor/pharmacy and use their bikes to get around. Joan Hart visited them in Oct. following her trip to Florence, Italy. They had a great time showing Joan around their town, Etten-Leur, and went to Delft for the day. Joan was their first visitor from the U.S. Karen’s sister and her husband will be visiting in May, and a visit to London with a bus tour to the Scottish Highlands is planned. Many thanks to Karen for the pictures of her new home. Edith Purdie Is still enjoying adventures as she travels both in the U.S. and abroad. Last summer, she traveled to England and Scotland and is now off again to El Paso, followed by a trip to the Copper Canyon in Mexico before heading to San Diego and any other place she finds interesting. Edith and I (Mary Burland) have been chatting about our upcoming 55th reunion In June and are hoping to see many of you at Hood from June 5-7, 2026. Dr. Martha Thomas, P’99, P’09, and I represented our class at the inauguration of President Debbie Ricker in Oct. It was a beautiful day on campus, and President Ricker impressed us with her plans for the College. An added surprise was that my Little Sister Dr. Chris McHenry ’73, H’24, and Mindy’s Little Sis Charlie Miller Ponticelli ’73 were there representing their class. As always, we encourage you all to send us your news any time, and we will include it in the next issue. We also write to some of you before each deadline for the magazine, but don’t wait to be asked! We love to hear what you have been doing.

Carol Bradford cbradford043@gmail.com

Cynthia A. Clifford cynthiaclifford999@gmail.com

Nancy Williams Bishop writes, “After spending several multi-month-long visits with my daughter and son-in-law in Sydney, I am thrilled to have them, my grandson (4) and granddaughter (10 months old) here in Malibu for a month-long visit through the Christmas season. It is a joy to all be together.” Jane Esselen Blocker says she was honored to take part in the festivities of “Rictober,” the month of celebrations around the

inauguration of Hood’s new president, Debbie Ricker, Ph.D. Linda Cumber Gifkins was my plus-one for some of the festivities. She, Chrisse Butler Hassett, M.A.’75, and Linda Wicks Crites processed with their class flag. For the first time since May 1972, I wore a graduation robe and a beautiful blue and grey collar. Board work continues as we work on the Middle States Accreditation. Helen De Leonard says, “I wish all my Hood classmates a belated 75th milestone birthday. We’ve all done so much living since graduation! I thought of you all and celebrated you too, as I was queen for a day at my birthday party with my closest friends and family—such a fun and love-filled time with party games, caricature portraits and merriment!” Linda Cumber Gifkins writes, “I was lucky enough to join Chrisse Hassett and Linda Wicks in representing the Class of 1972 at the inauguration of Hood’s 12th president, Debbie Ricker. Along with us was Jane Blocker, now a Hood trustee. It was a fabulous weekend, plus I had wonderful visits with Chrisse at dinner and Jane as a travel companion back to CT. I hope to see Betsey Briddell Kipp in FL in March after a birthday trip to Puerto Rico in Jan. Winter has arrived in VT with a white blanket on the ground.” Lucia Grabenstein Kline says, “Chris and I continue to travel. Our next adventure takes us to the Canary Islands on a Windstar Cruise and then on to Morocco. I’ll return home, but Chris will continue on for several more weeks visiting bucket list destinations. I find it hard to be away from my activities for too long, teaching mahjong at the YMCA, heading up the Flower Ministry at church, volunteering with St. Vincent DePaul and trying to keep up with our grandchildren. I enjoyed a visit with Becky Riehl and look forward to seeing Jane when she comes to a meeting in Frederick. Hard to believe, but the Class of 1972 will be celebrating our 55th reunion next year, 2027. Keep posted for more details, and please plan to come!” Janice Williams Martin says, “Al and I spent Thanksgiving on an American Cruise Lines trip from Tampa to Key West and back. Loved it, except for one stint of rough water, but that is to be expected. The highlight was meeting a Hood graduate from 1968! For the life of me, I can’t remember her name, nor did I find her again, even though only 150 passengers were on board. She recognized my ring, which I wear everywhere. In late March/ early April, we are going on an ACL cruise to Puget Sound area, where we hope to see tulips. Plus, we plan to visit our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter on the way out.” Helen-Mae

Reisner says, “All is well here—a quiet and balanced year with finalizing my federal retirement in Jan. I vacationed in Puerto Rico, where the highlight was Ron del Barrilito’s rum tastings and mixology class. I also had a memorable time volunteering at Fairchild Aircraft’s 100th anniversary weekend-long celebration at the Hagerstown Aviation Museum, where my family donated a restored Kreider-Reisner biplane, a predecessor of Fairchild. The highlight was flying in an open cockpit biplane over the Blue Ridge mountains, reminiscing about my father who also flew these same skies.” Marti Murray Robinson says, “My big trip this year was to Vienna, Salzburg and Prague with the Jungian group from New Paltz, NY, in Nov. The highlights included a performance by the Lipizzaner horses at the Spanish Riding School and a major exhibit of Gustav Klimt’s works at the Belvedere Gallery, both in Vienna. I’m continuing my Jungian studies through numerous courses and venues, including a nearly year-long memoir writing course through Pacifica Graduate Institute’s Extension Program. Pat Kidd ’74, Deborah Kohler ’74 and I keep in touch via regular Zoom sessions.”

1973

Leslie Hawkins hawkins.leslie.a@gmail.com

This will be a short column, as I only received one response to my solicitation of news! I hope that means you had a busy holiday season or were otherwise occupied by fun activities. Thanks to Ann Jones, who sent me a very newsy email after New Years. Ann continues to love life in Asheville, NC. Recovery is continuing from Hurricane Helene, but routines of playing bridge, taking and teaching classes at OLLI, and volunteering have filled her calendar. She spent time last summer with her sister and dogs at Madeline Island in Lake Superior and spent Christmas in Amsterdam with her niece Lucy and Lucy’s boyfriend’s family. She then went on to visit Madeira, an island which she recommends as a lovely and fun place. I have to agree. In Dec. 2024, I spent a few days there, and its lush scenery, Portuguese traditions and Christmas markets made for a great visit. Ann said that while the loss of Pat Funari Bevacqua last summer was tough, she heard from Bonny Barncord Berger, Susan Tomchin ’74 and Alison Alder Kennedy at Christmas, so in a poignant way, Pat’s death connected them together again. As for me, Leslie Hawkins, this

year was a little less hectic. I skied at Big Sky in Montana in March and then squeezed in four days of skiing in Kitbuhel, Austria, in Dec. (plus a day in Vienna’s Christmas markets). My sister and I did a cruise in northern Europe from Denmark to the Netherlands and Belgium, then to Dunkirk and Normandy in Sept. I lost my black lab rescue Gracie in March, and my chocolate lab Raisin is now 14, so we really have a senior household with slower movement in our house. Remember, you don’t have to wait for “next call” for news this summer. If a Hood’Lum moment comes up or a special memory/event occurs, feel free to send me an email. Happy 2026, and stay safe and upright!

1974

Patricia E.

Kidd

pat.kidd@hotmail.com

Beth Rittenhouse, P’07, reports, “My husband and I are settled and enjoying the retirement community to which we moved in May 2024. Our two daughters continue to thrive with jobs, husbands, houses and pets. Last year, we went to Cape May, NJ, twice and to NH for a family wedding. All is well here in southeastern PA.” Dot Herdle Files says she’s taking a Master Naturalist course that will take most of the year to complete. “Eben is on the local municipal utility board, and we keep doing all our music and church stuff.” Vicki Raeburn Benton sends good cheer, “Happy New Year to the Class of ’74! I hope that this year will be all you need/ want it to be.” Sally Johnson Leland has great personal and travel news: “Greetings from ME! This was a year of change! In mid-March, on our way to purchase a new TV, we stopped to look at a condo building in a neighboring town. By week’s end, we were under contract. We closed in a month’s time and put our home in Freeport on the market. Everything is in place and art is up on the walls before our two-week tour of Ireland on June 1. Phew! I trained for two Caminos (de Santiago, in Spain) over the summer and started out Sept. 2 retracing my steps taken in 2017 on the Camino Frances. Walked into Santiago, Spain, 33 days later. Spent two nights in Santiago and then bussed to Ferrol, Spain, to begin the Camino Ingles. Arrived back in Santiago after a total of 575 miles. Doug trained last summer to join USNA ’75 riders on the Gulf to Goat Ride. He joined the group in Raleigh on 10/14 and rode with them to USNA. I drove down from ME to cheerlead and welcome the team at USNA on 10/22. I spent two wonderful

days prior catching up with Patti Bartlett, and her husband Bob. Lots of memories shared. I was also tickled to see Nancy Ludwick Warrenfeltz ’76 and Larry at the cyclists’ finish line for a quick reintroduction and hug. It was the 50th reunion for Larry and his USNA ’75 classmates. Enjoyed our first long boat cruise on the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland. There were so many castles to see with every turn on the river. Best wishes to all for 2026. May you be blessed with great health, many opportunities to create lasting memories and the bandwidth to remember them!” Billie Weise has great news: “This month, I am celebrating my one-year anniversary with my new knee! Ann Cuppia Gandy drove from Columbia, SC, to NJ to be my living angel and see to my recovery and rehab rehabilitation. Who says Hood girls aren’t good girls? Since the knee replacement, I have been spending time volunteering at our church thrift store and also as head of missions. I’m playing tennis again completely pain free. I am finally spending time at the gym (also pain free) and continue my passion for weaving. Five grandchildren under the age of 14 bring me such joy and keep me young. I just enjoyed New Year’s Eve, visiting Margery Berringer-Schuran at her new home in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Three other friends (since kindergarten) joined us. Looking forward to 2026 with hope and peace.” From Deb Kohler: “In Aug., I took a wonderful trip to D.C. as a driver and one of the hosts of a group of young people from Pomerania, Germany. My colleague and I drove the biggest vehicle I’ve ever driven, a 12-passenger van, from Kalamazo. That evening, 16 teens and three adults arrived to join us. They were very moved by the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial but were less enamored by the White House because we had to stand so far away. We also visited both the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of the American Indian. One of their favorite spots was the Hard Rock Cafe. They were delightful, and many of them are very interested in the current government situation, aware of the history of their own country and the current challenges; we talked a lot about differences and what we have in common. The trip back to MI with them was a new experience for me since I have no children or grandchildren. The whole thing made me feel both younger and grandmotherly.”

COURSE TITLE

Becoming Me: A Cumulative Education

By Gracyn Van Bemmel ’26

Course Description

This course will continue to teach the student—me—in ways that extend far beyond this 50-acre, wisteria-laden, squirrel-loved campus. I will walk away with the ability to not just speak publicly but actually enjoy doing it, to conjugate French verbs into le subjontif tense and to identify insects based on their mouthparts and wings. Beyond that, I will also have learned things that no textbook could ever teach—how to meet deadlines, how to be comfortable being uncomfortable and how to challenge my own views. But most importantly, through the friends and professors I’ve had and the old versions of me that I’ve shed and the new ones into which I’ve metamorphosed, I’ve learned the most important yet never-ending lesson of self-discovery that will continue to shift and evolve with me even after graduation.

Learning Objectives

After successfully completing this course, I have learned:

1. How to think critically and to trust that thinking.

2. How to recover from burnout without losing curiosity.

3. How to study abroad.

4. How to leave and return changed.

Required Materials

• Yellow dink.

• Grand piano from Coffman Chapel.

• Endless supply of cupped ramen noodles and instant meals.

• Peet’s Coffee caramel macchiato.

• Blazer Ambassador nametag.

• “Stage Managing for Dummies.”

• “How to Talk to Squirrels.”

Final Project: Leaving with Intention

In which I will walk the stage, looking out into the crowd of friends, family and teachers, all of whom have taught me a great deal. My eyes will land on a point somewhere off in the distance. I’ll see visions of myself painted in the clouds, a thousand possibilities that Hood has offered me—journalist, travel blogger, published author, public relations specialist, au pair for a wealthy French family—the list is truly endless. I thought I would leave with one path to follow, but in reality, Hood has unleashed my potential to do and be anything. My French professors who unwaveringly encouraged and supported me throughout my study abroad journey. My communications professors who showed me that the sky is the limit. So rather than viewing graduation as an end, I’ll choose to see it as the continuation of my time here at Hood in which I am always and constantly learning and growing.

Deborah Page Rath drath@nhhicks.com

Laila Grabowsky Bottomly and Kirk (like most of us, she hopes) are enjoying retirement, grandkids, travel, reading, their church, gardening and good health but are unhappy about national politics, pollution and degradation of the environment, unkindness and electronic pervasion. A regular highlight for Laila and Kirk is their annual campground hosting at Yosemite in July. This will be their sixth year doing it. Stop by Porcupine Campground if you’re in the park. Arlene Bujese, M.A.’78, will be visiting Hood in Feb. to participate in a seminar led by Professor Kimberly Morse-Jones, Ph.D. The seminar, held in the art and archaeology department, will feature research into the lives and art of five women artists whose works are part of the permanent collection of Hood College. She is the longtime curator and chairperson for the East End Hospice Art Auction, a premier East End art event now in its 26th year. Arlene curates more

than 85 local artists who donate unique, decorated box artworks, including painting, sculpture, collage and photography, to raise funds for hospice care. Kathy Iredale Sacchetti and Rick are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this April. We wish them many, many years together. After all the wonderful happenings at our 50th reunion, Laura Lee Hickman had a surprise Oct. reunion with Christiann Connor Bash, who attended Hood and lived in Meyran our freshman year. Laura knew her from summers in Bethany Beach, DE, beginning around 1965. Christi lives in the Pittsburgh area and was very happy to hear about the great time we had at our reunion. Special hello from her to Ann Thomas Phillips! All is well with Cheryl Cuddeback. She’s still in the real estate business, primarily focusing on her neighborhood in Forest Hills, Queens, NY. She also continues to write historical articles focusing on notable neighbors of the past, one being Geraldine Ferraro, who ran for vice president in 1984 as the running mate of presidential nominee Walter Mondale. Cheryl also loves walking dogs, which is a great way to intermingle with her neighbors. She is

blessed to have a healthy husband despite him experiencing a heart attack several years ago. Another blessing is her daughter, who works as an occupational therapist at NYU Hospital, a plus given her knowledge in the health industry. Cheryl’s daughter is engaged, though no date has been set. Dr. Kristen Zarfos and Cherilyn Widell were asked by the alumni office to represent the Class of 1975 at the inauguration of Debbie Ricker as Hood’s 12th President on Oct. 18, 2025; it was a beautiful fall day on campus in the Hodson Outdoor Theater. Sadly, Kristen could not attend at the last minute, but Cherilyn joined two representatives from each Hood graduating class from the 1950s to the Class of 2025 in attendance. They all marched proudly, two by two, into the ceremony, each bedecked in a sash emblazoned with their class year. Some sad news: Ann Wiggins Ely’s husband Thomas died at the end of Aug. He was diagnosed in Sept. 2023 with cancer. So sorry for your loss. A quote from Ann, “Life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

REUNION WEEKEND 2026 | JUNE 5-7

Your 2026

1946 1951

The Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement alumoffice@hood.edu

1956

Ginny Turnbull Hecklinger gigiheck@gmail.com

1961

Jeanne Duncan Jehl jehljeanne@gmail.com

1966

Ginny Wheeler Jones virginia.w.jones@gmail.com

Pat Kehoe Tylander p-ty@comcast.net

1971

Mary McMunigal Burland maryburl5@gmail.com

Edith D. Purdie edithpurdie@gmail.com

1976

Carol A. Fleming revcarolann@aol.com

Joan B. Gillece joangillece@icloud.com

Heidi McCombs Lane hmlane@comcast.net

1981

Marcy Goldberg Taylor mta2003604@aol.com

Linda Hecklinger Procter lindaprocter7@gmail.com

Mary Thompson Calhoun hoodalum1981@gmail.com

Lindy B. Small malinda.lindy.small@gmail.com

Hope Bober Corrigan hope.corrigan@verizon.net

1986

Alison Drum Althouse alison.althouse@gmail.com

Kellye A. Greenwald greenwald@hood.edu

Dana Humphreys-Acock dana.acock@gmail.com

1991

Vivan Koch Laxton vlaxton@gmail.com

1996

Angela Schmuck Bond bamonti@hood.edu

Jewel K. Smith jewelsmith@hotmail.com

2001

Niki McElroy Grant nikielroy@hotmail.com

Meg Kula kula@hood.edu

Dr. Lisa Zaleski-Larsen lisa.larsen777@gmail.com

2006

Sharia M. Barksdale sharia@eclecticfete.com

2011

Phill Yerby-Ford phillyerby@gmail.com

Allen R. Kees allenkees@gmail.com

Abby K. Dyjack abby.dyjack@gmail.com

2016

Lydia E. Emory lydiaemory@gmail.com

2021

Elena F. Rowe elenafran99@gmail.com

Caylee M. Winpigler caylees-writing@hotmail.com

HOOD.EDU/REUNION

1976

Nancy Ludwick Warrenfeltz nlwfeltz@hotmail.com

Heidi McCombs Lane, Carol Fleming, P’07, P’09, and Joan Gillece have offered to lead our 50th reunion planning. Here is a message from them: “Calling all members of the Class of 1976! You know we have our 50th class reunion this year, June 5-7. We hope to see you all there. Heidi, Carol and Joan have teamed up with Hood for special 1976 events—stay tuned. We would like to celebrate with our blue dink colors, and if you no longer have yours, wear something blue anyway. If you have any special ideas, please reach out to Heidi at hmlane@comcast. net, as we look forward to a great 50th turnout!” Debbie Huff Nicholson just began a new job as the executive assistant to the president of St. John’s College in Annapolis. The faculty and staff are terrific and incredibly supportive. It’s a great opportunity, and she is grateful to be a part of their community. Mary Lynn Furtek Eubanks had an “interesting” year. In Feb. 2025, her husband Jack died as a result of Lewy body dementia. Lynn spent the next few months in a grief fog. Over the summer, her sister helped her out of her doldrums. They went on a cruise to Iceland and Ireland—places Jack never wanted to go. This past fall, her family grew with the addition of two great grandsons—one who was named after Jack. Michele Smith Guyette says that her life has certainly been interesting since we graduated almost 50 years ago. Presently, she has retired from teaching deaf students and from teaching American Sign Language to hearing students. (Her first ASL class was at Hood!) She continues to interpret for the local deaf community through several agencies on a freelance basis and loves doing it. Michele now lives in a lovely small house in Madison, WI. Her daughter found it in a friendly neighborhood. Michele moved last year after her house burned down, she had brain surgery and her husband suddenly passed away. Life is full of lessons to be learned, and she is a survivor. Michele is looking forward to seeing classmates at our reunion. Barbara Woolmington Smith went on a yoga retreat to Lesvos, Greece, in Sept. and then joined up with her husband Craig and several friends to explore Istanbul and Crete. They had a great trip with lots of history, shopping and delicious food. Larry and I (Nancy Ludwick Warrenfeltz) keep busy with our family and

social groups. We attended his USNA ’75 50th reunion in Oct. 2025. It was fun to sit with Ann Thomas Phillips ’75 at one of the events. We talked about her 50th Hood reunion last year. Please wear blue on Saturday, June 6, to the Hood ’76 events. Our granddaughter Madeline graduates from high school the same weekend as Hood’s ’76 reunion, so I plan on attending Friday and Saturday morning and afternoon. Looking forward to being back at Hood!

1977

Elizabeth Anderson Comer ecomer@eacarchaeology.com

On Oct. 18, 2025, Donald Beachley and I (Elizabeth Anderson Comer) were honored to be the alumni representatives for the Class of 1977 at the inauguration of Debbie Ricker as the 12th president of Hood College. Kath Weslock was part of the regal procession as a trustee in her doctoral robes. Kath writes, “What a hoot. As a freshman, I thought I’d be lucky if I even got to be a sophomore, much less wear full J.D. regalia. It was great to see so many friends after these years, including my Big Sis Cherilyn Widell ’75, who has remarried and couldn’t be any happier. Still the same Big Sis.” There was a full-on Spanish major representation, with Magaly Mauras Green ’74, M.A.’79, and Tonya Thomas Finton ’78 represented (Tonya was a Latin America major, but close enough). We have a wonderful new president in Debbie Ricker—she is “buckled in” for all that Hood stands for in terms of tradition yet has her eyes on the future, which are going to be challenging times for all academic institutions. Please give her your full support, classmates. Kath and I missed seeing each other in the huge gathering, but the day was a magnificent one with perfect weather and an inspiring inaugural address. Hood College is clearly in excellent hands going forward. Kath says she is in regular contact with Dr. Gretta Tomb, Megen Mack Opsahl and Debbie Davis Hewson and reports that Debbie is going through some health challenges now, and her husband Tom couldn’t be a better steward as a health advocate for her. Kath says, “He updates us regularly, so let’s keep wishing Debbie all the best and keep up the fight. I enjoy my texts with this mini Hood’Lum group, as it reminds me how pithy, smart and hilarious we all are, particularly as we get older. On the work

front, the tech company I was working for was acquired by another tech company from Silicon Valley. After a very long acquisition and sale process, our team was asked to exit stage left— with parachutes. I thought maybe, just maybe, I’d do one more gig and then did an interim job for another tech company that reminded me it was time to smell the roses and enjoy life a bit more. I did get my executive coaching certificate from Rutgers, so maybe I will hang out my own shingle or work for a consulting group that advises other CHRO’s, so more in the new year! We travelled a lot last year. My husband Bill and I went to Spain and Morocco. We visited friends and family in LA and Santa Barbara and continue to toggle between the East and West Coasts. My last work trip was to Korea, so I took advantage of it. I highly recommend the trip, as it is quite a unique country. Plus, the food and cosmetics are out of this world. Next up will be Machu Picchu and then cooking and touring my way through Sicily. My mother’s family all hail from the same town, and I might just have to find where they lived and find the long-lost recipe for my grandmother’s secret tomato sauce. Wishing all a hopeful and more optimistic New Year!” Sharon Thorpe Kourtz and Martha Homnack Armenti enjoyed watching Yo-Yo Ma perform with the Fairfax City Symphony in Dec. Sharon’s son Collin was married in June 2025 and recently purchased a home in Baltimore. Sharon traveled around the coast of Italy last fall. Kas Kluth Rohm and husband Greg just celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary in early Jan., and they have so much to be thankful for. They have made some fun travel plans for 2026 to the British Isles and throughout several European countries, including France, where Kas hopes to find out how much those recent French lessons have stuck with her. Kas is still exhibiting and volunteering at a local art gallery, teaching watercolor classes and has created a fun following with four young grandkids who love to paint with her. She reports that all is well in Towson, MD. Ann Kowitski Barber enjoyed a 10-day trip to London and Wales with her Big Sister Beth Sheppard Kline ’75 in Nov. They had a great time. Wendy Haddaway Gahm, P’07, reports she has been “enjoying my crochet and sewing groups and also lots of dog walking and swimming at the Y. Totally loving retirement life and knowing all our kids are happily married!” In mid-Dec., our entire family converged on Warsaw to spend time with Margaret and visit as many Christmas markets as possible. I

can report they were all magnificent, and the hot mulled wine warmed us all the way to our toes night after night. The cities and towns were lit with so many lights that they looked like something out of a dreamland. Can’t wait to see everyone at our 50th in 2027!

1979

Virginia “Ginny” Roth vjroth@gmail.com

Hello, everyone! Here’s the news: Malia Harrison Anderson sends regards from Chantilly, VA. She says that her grandchildren are growing too fast, and she loves spending as much time as possible with them. Malia just finished the first of two cataract surgeries, with the other one coming up shortly. Margaret Forbes Mendoza sends warm greetings with family news that her daughter Sarah is engaged and planning a Dec. 2026 wedding. Cathrine Sherman Hancher and Susan Bartlett Dunbar came for a visit after Christmas, enjoying a cold but beautiful New Year’s Eve with fireworks on the beach. Katt, Susan, Donna Mishkin Gordon, Emily Schwartz McEntee and Meg are meeting in May for a mini reunion in Charleston, SC. In another example of “it’s a small world,” Meg met someone from Hershey, PA, and learned that she and Susan know several folks in common. Debbie Eaton Thackston, P’11, P’20, sends lots of news, mentioning that she and husband Mike now have a new way of staying active by babysitting their 9-month-old granddaughter several days per week. Debbie still loves pickleball, Pilates and taking walks with friends. In early Oct., Lynn Hicks Townsend and Debbie teamed up to partner for Hood’s Fall Family Weekend scavenger hunt. In late Oct., Debbie, Julie Murray McCaffery, Susan Murawski Ganley and Susan Gearey were honored to be part of the inauguration of Hood’s 12th president, Debbie Ricker. That evening, Debbie traveled to Baltimore to celebrate her 50th high school reunion. She and Mike have taken a few vacations, including a Caribbean cruise and a trip to WISP ski resort. She and the baby were the only ones who didn’t ski! The trip reminded her of skiing with Hood friends every Monday night as part of a PE class in freshman or sophomore year. In addition, Debbie continues to give back by volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association, her church’s Christmas bazaar, the Frederick

County Retired School Personnel Association and, of course, Hood. Ruth Sikora Seel, P’14, proudly announced that her daughter Kelly and husband Joe welcomed baby “JD” in Jan. Big sister Ellie is in love with her new baby brother. This is Ruth’s fifth grandchild. If you follow Ruth on Facebook, you will notice that she keeps the summer going longer by visiting beaches in warmer climates with friends and family. Pam Yocom Harrison, M.S.’87, writes with sad news. Anne Gregory Sarao, a Hood student for her freshman and sophomore years, courageously battled metastatic breast cancer with her usual positivity and humor and left us on Oct. 19. Anne always said that her best memories were of her days at Hood. Pam mentioned that Anne was part of the annual Coblentz reunion with Tammy Chomnuk, Cathie Noyes Newell, Jill Tuttle Lee, Karen Ochis Holloway, Carol Myer Gibson ’78 and Judi Middleton ’78. They were fortunate to spend a Sept. weekend at Anne’s home in Ocean View, DE, full of laughs and memories. The Coblentz friends are heartbroken at the loss of their beloved friend and plan to get together in March to celebrate and remember her by carrying on their reunion tradition. As for me, Ginny Roth, I will be returning to Scotland in late summer, this time to visit the Highlands and some of the Hebrides Islands. After several months, I have nearly recovered from shoulder surgery and am looking forward to working in my gardens again in the spring. On a personal note, while working on the class news, I was struck by the number of us who visit with each other throughout the year. I believe this is one of the lasting legacies of Hood. Of course, we received an excellent education, but to have the opportunity to grow lifelong friendships with classmates is another gift we have been given. Finally, two important administrative notes: first, if you know ’79ers who aren’t part of our FB group, please let them know they only need to type “Hood College Class of 1979” in the search bar under Groups to join. And please remember to notify the alumni office (alumnioffice@ hood.edu) with any changes to your contact information.

1980

Jackie Valette Uglow jvu57@hotmail.com

Mary Newton Deighan and husband Mike continue to enjoy retirement in Charlottesville, VA, where they still host their family Sunday dinners. Six of their nine children live nearby, so it is almost always a full table. Mike and Mary welcomed the arrivals of their sixth and seventh grandchildren, James Francis and Luke Matthew. In Aug. 2025, they hosted the Deighan family reunion in VA to celebrate Mike’s mother’s 90th birthday. They also hosted singers from the Charlottesville Opera over the summer, a tenor and a baritone, and in return received complimentary tickets to performances of “Carmen” and “The Pirates of Penzance.” Mary keeps up with her sewing hobby by teaching a mending workshop series, while Mike teaches Sunday School at their church. They are taking a Mediterranean cruise in March 2026 from Barcelona, Spain, to Rome, Italy. While in Rome, they plan to visit with their youngest son, who will be studying abroad there for his junior spring semester. Laura Shulman says, “I am winding down my teaching career by completing 30 years of teaching religion classes as an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College. I anticipate my last teaching assignment to be in fall 2026. I have plans to build an educational website as my retirement project (having already started). Last spring, my brothers and I finally managed to get together in NY to inter our parents’ cremains. Mom passed in 2019 and Dad in 2023. Cindy Smith Fritz, her husband Larry and I got together for Thanksgiving at their WV cabin. In fall 2024, I met up with Shira Rubinstein ’81 for the first time in 40 years! I was teaching a lifelong learning class at her parents’ retirement residence (Greenspring in Springfield, VA), and she happened to be visiting from her home in Sardinia, Italy, where she lives with her husband.” I (Jackie Valette Uglow) just want to add that Ron and I are celebrating two grandchildren: Elyse (1-year-old) and Hugo (5-months-old). We continue to travel back and forth to CA to help with my 95-year-old mother, relatives and my son RJ in San Diego in the Navy. We are planning some trips this year to Europe.

In 10 words or less... “What made your Hood education worth it?”

“58 years of lifelong friends. Women’s colleges were the best.”

—Linda Cumber Gifkins ’72

I would also like to thank Hood College for inviting me to represent the school at the formal installment of a new president, Mayme Hostetter, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN, this past fall. I know everyone in the Class of 1980 is busy, but any news you would like to share is welcome. I also am reminded that many of you might be busy with family care as well. Thank you.

1981

Mary Thompson Calhoun hoodalum@msn.com

Frances Kirk Tucker writes from Washington County, MD, “where I have resided for several decades in my dreamhouse—a 150-year-old fieldstone farmhouse (read: structure on the land where I throw all my money!). I actually have news to send this time: I retired from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in Sept. 2025. The self-regulatory organization regulates broker-dealers, and I worked specifically in quality control/compliance. Although FINRA is in the finance industry, my unit reviewed disciplinary actions for firms and representatives, identifying those that were statutorily disqualified, so my degree in law and society was instrumental in getting and performing the job. Being part of an organization that is devoted to ‘Investor Protection, Market Integrity’ was a challenging and rewarding career—I recommend it to recent grads. After 35 years at FINRA being a human-doing, I’m trying to get used to being just a human-being! After such a long time, my coworkers felt very much like family, and I miss interacting with them day-to-day but must admit that I’m not missing the hours or the commute in the least. I haven’t decided about continuing to work part time but probably will.

“Late nights, lifelong friends, critical thinking, confidence, curiosity, failure, growth, independence, perspective and purpose!”

—Kiara Brown ’21

Right now, I’m just incredibly grateful to have the choice and am enjoying spending time with family, friends, pets, books and my guitar. I continue to volunteer at my church, the local Ruritan and the occasional political campaign and get out to hear or perform live music as often as possible.” Donna Smith Mecca reports: “My husband and I live in Herndon, VA, where we have been since 1999. We have a married daughter who lives in Centreville and another daughter who lives in D.C. My husband has been retired for a few years now, and I’m thinking that this will most likely be my last year teaching. A year ago, we purchased a second home in Colonial Beach on the Potomac River, and we really enjoy spending time there, where we can immerse ourselves in small-town living and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Last year, when I turned 65, I completed my Ph.D. in literacy. This was a bit of a lifelong dream that I had hoped would happen decades ago, but life took over, and I was never able to do it while raising children and working full time. Last May, I was officially hooded and became Dr. Donna Mecca. This year, I’ve been using the knowledge gained from interviewing teachers as part of my doctoral research, while providing literacy instruction to little ones who have challenges regulating their emotions. I really do love working with the kids, even though I find the systemic requirements of data collection and paperwork a bit more than I can handle these days.” Laura Jones, who was a Martz resident while at Hood, writes, “My big news is that I am finally retiring in Feb. 2026. Well, technically I will be ‘semi’ retiring since I have chosen to work part time. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I had so much free time on my hands. I have been working since graduation as a recreation therapist in NJ. I will be spending my free time visiting with my great-nieces in the Boston area, going on cruises and playing with my pets!” Ed Waters

says he “received a national award for volunteerism at the Brunswick Heritage Museum. And I now lead a weekly church program at a Frederick assisted living community.” Karen Robinson Curtis tells us, “We are enjoying retirement in Dallas, TX. We spend time with our children and grandchildren and enjoy traveling and cruising. This past year, we cruised the Panama Canal. We will be celebrating our 45th anniversary in May 2026.” Maggie Park says, “I have been enjoying life with my daughters, sons-in-law and grandkids. I am still working as a professor at Converse University and looking forward to retiring in a year. In my free time, I enjoy working in my flower garden. I am looking forward to going to our college reunion this summer. “ As for me, your “esteemed” class reporter Mary Thompson Calhoun, I’m still rolling along, here in the Eastern Panhandle of WV, with just one corgi, Merlyn, and Hood friends with whom we visit periodically, including Jill Wood Tallman, Lynn Hicks Townsend, Nina Chomnuk Robertson and her sister Tammy Chomnuk ’79, Brenda Main ’80 and Amanda Baulig ’18. Those Hood girls are always great fun, and we enjoy their company very much. I want to see you all at Hood at our reunion, June 5-7, 2026, so we can catch up with each other after 45 years!

1982

Elizabeth Bastian Chapin busybethc@aol.com

It was great to hear from some new voices! Kimberly Wolf Frock retired from teaching in June 2020 after 36 years as a special education teacher in PA, MD and DE. She loves retirement and works part time as a professional organizer, tutor and retail associate at Target. Spending time with her daughter Rachel and two grandsons Emory and Andrew is so relished. Jackie McDaniel West had an eventful 2025. Becoming a first-time grandmother to grandson Penn is at the top of her list. Visits with several Class of ’82 classmates took place across the states. She visited Christy Belisle Fitzgerald and D’Ann White Van Meter, P’11, in FL. Together, Christy and Jackie headed to the Pacific Northwest in the summer to spend time with Glynnis Edwards Cowdery at her tranquil cabin in Quilcene, WA, on Bainbridge Island. Jackie frequently sees Kimberly Keeney in her hometown of Easton, MD. Memories with her Hood buddies are such treasured moments, and more plans are in store for 2026. Amelia Blades

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Steward reported that she is retiring from her business of 25 years, Steward Writing & Communications. After 40 years of telling the stories of businesses, local nonprofits, artists and environmentalists on the Eastern Shore of MD, she is going to focus her time on her memoir and a novel that she and Lisa Spuria are writing about women in World War II. Life continues to bring joys and sorrows. Amy lost her mother Connie unexpectedly in May. Her son Andrew continues to battle testicular cancer but has been two years without a reoccurrence. The arrival of her granddaughter Andie (named after her father) during the family’s trials continues to keep them all uplifted and hopeful. Amy is joining Lisa and Susie Hiles Giallonardo in Pittsburgh in Feb. to celebrate a baby shower for Susie’s daughter Lindsay. Joy Miller Beveridge continues to

enjoy retirement with husband Don, taking “never enough” visits out west to see their two children and three grand-joys and attending many live music concerts—their favorites include Switchfoot, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Maggie Rogers and Alison Krauss & Union Station. Joy serves on the Hood Board of Associates and is the chair of the Alumni Executive Board. She hopes to see many classmates at the June 2026 reunion to celebrate the Class of 1981. While Hood is her number one priority, she also volunteers on the board of Woman-to-Woman Mentoring, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing free mentoring guidance/support. This past summer, she joined the Frederick Health Volunteer Auxiliary and volunteers at Select Seconds, a long-standing thrift store located in Downtown Frederick—she’s in “triage,” sorting through

all the donated treasures. While enjoying the winter months and its holidays, she is looking forward to springtime, when she will continue spending most days in her own gardens and supporting the Hood/Frederick Health Resource Garden. This summer will be the garden’s 10th! Thanks to local volunteers and a generous grant available from FH, this vegetable garden has moved beyond solely producing nutritious food for the community in need and now serves as a model for sustainable growing practices, education and environmental responsibility. Joy encourages everyone to grow something this summer. Getting your hands dirty in the Earth is good for the soul. Liz Bastian Chapin is still working long hours at the local AAA office in the travel department. The demand for travel is just off the charts, and the busiest time of year is here. She never tires of her personal travels. Last May, she spent two weeks in tented bush camps in remote areas along the Zambezi River and in other areas of Zimbabwe and Zambia. Victoria Falls was very impressive, and her first helicopter ride over the falls was amazing. Liz and her husband celebrated their 40th anniversary in Antigua as well as on an Oceania cruise on Alaska’s Inside Passage. Travels capped off in Oct. with a quick visit to London to join her sister Nancy Bastian ’79 and see the fabulous Cartier exhibit. Eating our way through Borough Market, seeing “The Devil Wears Prada,” a new musical with music by Elton John, and visiting the pop artist Wayne Thiebaud exhibit at The Courtauld were some of the highlights of the trip.

1983

Mary L. Townley hoodmlt@aol.com

Hello, Class of 1983! As I write this column in Jan., times are very challenging in our country, but I am keeping hope and faith in the righteousness of most people. Let’s move on to our class news. For this column, I heard from a couple of people. First was Kim Hall. Kim shared, “Despite dealing with ongoing health challenges, 2025 was a busy year! The book I’ve worked on for way too long, ‘The Sweet Taste of Empire,’ was published by University of Pennsylvania Press, and we had a very successful online launch via YouTube. The book looks at the rise

of a ‘sugar culture’ in 17th-century England and its connections to women’s labor, royal politics and Caribbean colonization. I’ll be speaking on that book as well as working on my other book, ‘Othello Was My Grandfather.’ My college also invited me to co-curate a 2025-26 quilt exhibit, ‘Weaving Dreams: The Quilts of Kim F. Hall,’ in conjunction with the centennial of writer Zora Neale Hurston’s matriculation at Barnard. The exhibit has a crazy quilt I started during my Hood days that includes a cross-stitch given to me during a Secret Santa. I’ve been working with partners in the library, the Center for Engaged Pedagogy and the Design Center to incorporate the exhibit into classrooms. My ability to travel is limited, but my family is planning to go to QuiltCon 2026 in Raleigh. Maybe there will be some other quilting alums there!” Kim, I am sure I speak for our whole class saying congratulations on your huge accomplishments! I heard from Ann Kitson Snook, P’15, who shared some wonderful family news. Ann writes, “Our big news is the birth of our first grandchild Callan Avery in Jan. He’s a handsome lad; we think we’ll keep him.” I (Mary L. Townley) heard from a few other Hood alums recently, including Theresa Bielenda, Deborah Single Hays, Kate Meyer Burke, Sue Audino ’85, B.A.’99, and Maureen Mahoney Anderson. As I write this column, I am enjoying a bit of Mexican warmth before returning to a huge snowfall and cold blast in RVA. I want to thank Hood for inviting me to represent our class, along with Ruth Ravitz Smith, at Debbie Ricker’s presidential inauguration last Oct. Such a wonderful event, and I’m thrilled with the exciting things Debbie will do for Hood!

1984

Ellen-Marie Samsen Knehans goodhoodgirl1984@gmail.com

Heidi von Storch Miner sends greetings from MI. She and Randy are busy enjoying the life of grandparents, having both a granddaughter and grandson. A recent trip to Germany and much family time with Heidi’s mom, son and grandbabies were the highlights of her year. Paris DuChesne Niesterowicz shared news on one of my postcards. She wrote that she is still working as an emergency room RN as well as enjoying the work of running a small farm with

her husband in MD. Their dogs and horses enjoy spending time with Paris and her husband. Terry Rappoldt Stickles works as an apartment manager for an assisted living community. She has stepped back from her Special Olympics roles a bit and is now the treasurer of the local program instead of the local program manager. A Rhine River Viking cruise was enjoyed by Terry and her husband last summer. She also enjoyed the beach get-together with Tammy Snyder Rall, Karen Curtis Craney and Cami Meyer. A postcard from Robin Schneider Mahoney sends greetings from FL sharing that she got together with Carol Zortman and Terri Wildasin Mack in Oct. at Terri’s daughter’s wedding. They all try to get together once a year with Suzanne Wilson Schumann ’86: “We always have a great time and the years melt away. It’s like we haven’t been apart for 40 years. We will always be friends, and we have a great time reminiscing about our Hood days. We will never forget our time there.” As for me, Ellen Marie Samsen Knehans, Bill and I have had a busy first year in SC. We attended Bill’s 40th reunion (USNA) in Sept., travelled to CO for a mini family reunion, Bill had two hip replacements, I travelled to Hood to represent the Class of ’84 with Carol Pointer Wanner at President Ricker’s inauguration, and we spent time with my cousin in Aiken at the Steeplechase. Both Bill and I are actively enjoying our musical interests and have been building our “new village” of friends. I’m now a member of Hood’s Alumni Executive Board and am working with Kathrine Anderson ’86 on a new Hood cookbook, so keep your eyes open for more info and start gathering your favorite recipes! As always, it is good to hear from all of you. I enjoy connecting you with one another via this news column. Please continue to send your postcards. Join us at Hood events. Remember, reunions are for all of us. (Crash another class’ reunion. It’s so fun to see those who was with us during our years at Hood.) I hope to see you in June. Keep exploring your world, Class of ’84!

1986

Alison Drum Althouse alison.althouse@gmail.com

Donna Becker Creiger and Chris have made the most of Chris’ retirement 10 years ago. They are wrapping up visits to six continents in about 12 months and enjoy no longer being constrained with school schedules. About three years ago, Donna added photography to her list of hobbies, which has added a new dimension to all their travels. She was recently able to have a great but short visit with her Hood roommate Mary Gillette Delgado. Donna is looking forward to our reunion this summer and hopes to catch up and reconnect with more friends, especially those from Shriner. For classmates that can’t make it to the reunion, if you find yourself in AZ, make sure to let Donna know. She’s a wealth of information! Marcia Moxey Hodges is looking forward to seeing everyone at reunion. Christina Hom Wilson writes that 2025 was full of love, as three out of five of her blended-family children got engaged. In addition, the audiobook of her book, “Believe: A Memoir in Stories,” won the Audiobook Reviewers Award for the 2025 Best Memoir. (Congratulations, Chris!) She plans to return to Hood this June for our 40th reunion with other Coblentz Cuties: Jane Brophy Martinez, Alison Drum Althouse, Betsy Reed Ringel, Stacey Robins Baum and Alexandra van Gigch Mores, and she hopes Jennifer Lee Matts will be able to make an appearance too. It will be fun to see all the other ’86 Hood’Lums! Dana Humphreys-Acock and Cathryn Flynn Killam reunited in late Aug. for a lovely lunch in Columbus, OH, after Cathy dropped her youngest child off for freshman year at Purdue in IN. Dana and Cathy are excitedly planning to attend our reunion and are encouraging all our classmates to plan to return to campus for reunion 2026, June 5-7. Patty Kenyon Grimm and Chris will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this June. They are semi-retired, living in the wonderful village of Batesville, VA, at the foot of Afton Mountain. Patty works as a patient care coordinator in the UVA Outpatient Imaging clinics in Charlottesville. They are blessed to have their son Beck and daughter-inlaw Ellie living close. Patty’s family is so proud of her cousin’s daughter Rachael Low ’26, who had four fabulous years playing soccer for the Blazers. Patty hopes to make the reunion

and would love to catch up with her dietitian cohorts. Mari Padilla Spina had lots to share. Last year, her girls trip to Savannah included Maritza Bido, Luz “Lucy” DeBrosse Ment, Gina Oliveros, Khateeta Emerson, Maribel Martinez ’87 and Kim Burns ’87, where they celebrated Mari and Kim’s 60th. Mari and Steve have an apartment in Miami close to both Gina and Ana Besu, so they’ll be spending their winters in FL and get to have lots of Hood’Lum visits. Mari and Gina spent a few days on Block Island with their families and created such wonderful memories. Mari reports that her son now lives in Raleigh and is a video content producer for the Carolina Hurricanes. Her daughter spent three weeks with them in Miami before heading back to London, where she is a schoolteacher. Kristy Wiarda Williams shares that they moved in 2022, from Havelock, NC, to Cedar Grove, near Durham, NC, to be closer to son Kirk, his wife Hope and their grandchildren Lark (6) and Logan (3). She and Jim bought during the COVID real estate bubble and found the perfect house on 10 acres that affords them peace, quiet and space, while only 25 minutes away from activities with their grandkids. Kellye Greenwald’s big news is, “After 40 years of wishing, I’m finally going to be on the radio! ‘Reunion Radio’ (as part of Hood’s Blazer Radio Network) launched Feb 6, and my first guest was none other than Angela Corio, a.k.a. ‘Little One.’ Tune in every Friday at 10 a.m. (hood.edu/blazer-radio). Can’t wait to see everyone at reunion. I’ve reserved Shriner for our Class of ’86 ‘hang’ on Saturday afternoon!” Since my last report was published in fall 2025, much has remained the same for our family, and we continue to spend a great deal of time in Annapolis, when we’re not at home in Avondale, PA. Let me know if you’re in the area so we can visit!

1988

Charlotte “Bambi” Volatile Goebel cagoebel1213@gmail.com

Alicia Grumbine-Macom shared that she accepted a new position in Oct. and is now living in Fairbanks, AK, working as the director of admissions at the University of Alaska. Also, she met Alison Bardecki ’87 in NYC over the holidays while visiting her son and his wife. They had a great time shopping and dining. Eunice Dubuque-Aronson shared that in Oct., she had an incredible opportunity to play in a

women’s ice hockey tournament in Chamonix, France. She played in honor of her dad. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, both on and off the ice. Not much to report for me (Charlotte “Bambi” Volatile Goebel). I’m still working on getting the cat cafe open. Hope to see some Hood alums stop by for a biscuit and cup of coffee.

1989

Deirdre Herman classof1989@hood.edu

I’m so grateful to continue hearing from my classmates! Martha “Rainie” Allison Dasch, MBA’92, P’04, starts us off, writing, “I moved back to MD this summer after 15 years in FL. My husband Tom and I are living in Hagerstown. We continue to see the world on cruises. As I type this, I am in Punta del Estes, Uruguay, headed to an olive farm to do olive oil tasting and learn how it is made. We will reach Antarctica in another week. I will have visited all seven continents once we return. Next is exploring the Galapagos this summer! I continue to teach as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida.” Beckee Shaw followed up on her trip in Oct. She writes, “Oh yes, I did get to London. It was awesome—now I need something else on my bucket list! Perhaps the Galapagos? I am in my 30th year as a school psychologist in Baltimore City Public Schools—can’t believe it! I work with students in all grades, and I like to think that they keep me young. My daughter Nicole will earn her master’s in bioethics from Johns Hopkins this year. I now have an empty nest except for a dog, two cats and various fish. I am starting to consider what I might like to do in retirement.” Glad to hear from Amy Seward Quinn, who got in touch while on a trip to Oahu with her mother and aunt to visit her niece, who is a Navy JAG stationed there. She writes, “In Dec., I retired from Verizon after 36.5 years of working for them and their predecessor companies. I joined immediately after graduating from Hood, and for most of my career, I was in roles that were considered nontraditional, either because the positions were in male-dominated functions or because I worked in a technical field with my liberal arts degree. I credit the friends, mentors and education I gained at Hood with helping me use my voice. Now, I look forward to adventures with my husband Ted and visiting my adult children Katie and Will. Katie is

currently at the University of Toronto pursuing a Master of Information in Library Science. Will lives in Bluffton, SC, and remodels homes on Hilton Head. Ted works part time as director of Safety School for SwimRVA, a nonprofit with a mission to ‘drown proof Richmond.’ Always enjoy updates from Angie Beres Kreiser, who says, “I started a new position with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Oct. and am no longer working at the Department of Human Services. I am now working at the Department of Revenue. I’m still doing the same line of HR-employee relations. My new position is a challenge with its different culture and processes. Nothing like embracing the student mindset again to understand the dynamics and deliver excellent service! Fortunately, I am up for the challenge.” It is heartwarming to hear that Kristen Johnson Kloostra just celebrated her first anniversary on Winter Solstice in Sedona, AZ, where she now lives with her beloved Michael Pupiales! “Michael is a passionate motivational speaker, men’s transformational coach, and group facilitator for healing and empowering the divine masculine,” she says. “We warmly invite anyone to come visit us in Sedona for a guided personal or couples retreat or just a fun getaway in this place of exquisite beauty and healing energy.” Kristen adds that she “loves her relaxed lifestyle and work in the field of healing arts, yoga, intuitive coaching, nature immersions and retreats.” She wishes everyone a happy and abundant New Year! Feel free to connect with her anytime: kristenkloostra@ gmail.com and omkari.love. Lastly, from me (Deirdre Herman), you may recall our dog’s leg was amputated to treat bone cancer. Poncho finished immunotherapy and chemotherapy in Sept. and was declared cancer free. In Dec., his scans showed a possible nodule; happily, in Jan., his follow-up scans were clean. He is now back to taking mile-long walks every day, which is miraculous for a dog who last May could not walk 30 feet. We enjoy our bonus time with him and look forward to June, when he is eligible for a booster of the canine EGFR/HER2 peptide cancer immunotherapeutic from TheraJan. Again, if you know anyone whose dog has cancer, I encourage you to let them know about immunotherapy treatments that may one day help us humans too.

1990

Fayth Brice Smith fayth.hood90@gmail.com

Hi, Class of 1990! Our request for updates went out during the holiday season, so it was a quiet round, which is completely understandable. Hopefully, we’ll have lots of news to share in the next issue. In the meantime, if you have something you’d like to share before the next call goes out, feel free to email me, and I’ll save it for the upcoming issue. I’ll share a little news of my own: since our last column, I earned a certificate in applied generative AI from Johns Hopkins University. I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to share for next time.

1994

Carol Deck-Montoya

carolannmontoya@gmail.com

Many thanks to our classmates who shared their updates. It’s always great to hear about professional accomplishments, personal successes and family news. After 30 years of working as a special educator and then a school psychologist, Jenny Weaver retired from public education in March 2025. She is enjoying this new slower-paced chapter at her home along the Chesapeake Bay. Jenny keeps in regular contact with her Shriner Hall buddies Brie Dorian, Sarah Adams Strikovski and Lauren Janney Wolf. Additionally, Jenny and I still get together to enjoy rock concerts around the DMV like we did during the Hood days. Most recently, we enjoyed Never, Never, a Led Zeppelin tribute band that we used to catch at the Rabbit’s Foot in Frederick in the early 90s. We hope to see Gina Wise Sklar ’97 and Sarah the next time they make their way up to Harford County for a show. Lisa Boney Laubach shares

MEET AT HOOD.

The Hood College campus, with its Georgian-style brick buildings and tree-shaded lawns, offers a beautiful, relaxed setting for your next meeting or event. From planning to setup to catering, our team makes hosting easy—it’s your one-stop shop.

• Full-Service Catering

• Drop-Off Catering Services

• Variety of Event Spaces

• Presentation Technology & Free WiFi

• Full-service Printing via Print@Hood

For more information on venues at Hood College and availability, email Audrey Vargason ’12, C’19, director of conference and event services, at events@hood.edu.

that her son Stephen is studying business management at East Stroudsburg University, and her daughter Kimberly is in honors classes in the 10th grade and is in a culinary program at Career Institute of Technology. Lisa is working on the illustration and layout of a memoir and looking for another illustration opportunity. Lucy Song Gilbart’s oldest daughter Megan got married last year. After working for 25 years, Lucy and her husband sold two of their three dental offices and moved part time to central FL, starting their semi-retirement life. They spent Christmas and New Years in Key West. Brie Dorian is the clinical manager of the integrated behavioral health program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She works with a team of psychiatrists, social workers and psychologists in pediatric primary care settings to bring high-quality, evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents and their families. Personally, I (Carol Deck-Montoya) am looking forward to my daughter Sofia graduating from Hood in May. She studied abroad in London for the fall semester, and I was able to

enjoy a trip with her at the end of the semester; we visited sites in England, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Luxembourg. At the beginning of the year, I celebrated 20 years of ownership of my association management company, Potomac Management Resources.

1995

Jacki Resop Amato jresop@yahoo.com

Hello, Hood’Lums! I had the pleasure of meeting up with Sara Noble twice for lunch recently in Newark, NJ. My daughter Julianna and I went to see the NJ Devils play at The Prudential Center. It is always great to see Sara, but unfortunately, the Devils lost both times. We hope to see her again soon. My daughter graduates from high school in May. Hood was the first college where she was accepted. Proud mom! Please feel free to email me anytime with news.

1998

Jennifer Barbieri Casey jenb.hood98@gmail.com

Laura Kontes Ames: I am living in Havre de Grace, MD, and went full time with my portrait photography business a couple years ago (Laura@lauraamesphotography.com). I have a studio in town, and it has been amazing! My boys are now 17 and 14. If anyone is driving by on 95, stop by Havre de Grace, and let’s grab a coffee! I plan on seeing Ann Price-Davis this spring at the semi-annual Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company quarter auction.

1999

Anne Hambrick-Stowe Rankin annehambrickstowe@gmail.com

Greetings! I hope this season is treating you well. It was great to hear from a couple of classmates since the last edition of the magazine was printed. Aisha Blunt Wagstaff shared that 2025 was an exciting year for her, as she reached her goal of early retirement. What a remarkable achievement. Congrats, Aisha! Since retiring, she has been traveling and doing interior decorating projects for clients. Incredibly grateful to be in this new stage of

life, she recognizes it has been a busy year, and she looks forward to being able to continue to travel and experience more of the world. Aisha’s next goal is to live abroad once her husband retires. A noteworthy fun fact: Aisha is a self-proclaimed foodie. She keeps in touch with Sharifa Anderson, Jennifer Foreman Holliday ’98, M.S.’03, and Lyssa Fils-Aime Hargrove ’98 It was also fun to hear from Marissa Vigneault Marissa recently served as the interim director of the Center for Intersectional Gender Studies & Research at Utah State University. She is in her last semester of MBA coursework at the University of Utah and will complete the degree in May. Way to go, Marissa! A highlight for me (Anne Hambrick-Stowe Rankin) last Oct. was when my daughter, a high school junior, asked if I would take her to the open house for prospective students at Hood! (Of course, I cleared my calendar to make that happen.) Perhaps not surprisingly, she had a great experience exploring the campus and connecting with faculty, staff and current students. We’ll see—maybe she’ll end up with a green dink as part of the Class of 2031. It is always fun to be back on campus and, while there are some changes, the special Hood spirit remains the same. Like Aisha and Marissa, I also keep in touch with several Hood friends through the year—a definite plus about social media. Reach out with updates you’d like to share with the class. It’d be great to hear from you! In the meantime, take good care.

2006

Sharia Barksdale hoodclass06@yahoo.com

Karen Orgler Ochs is proud to share that her oldest son David and middle child Lizzie both enrolled into their local community college, and David has his driver’s permit. Her youngest child Abby is a preteen. Karen is involved as a coach in her local run club and is teaching Spanish. As a family, they like to bike, hike and raise chickens. From the village of Elder Millennial Acres, Amanda Reinken lives with her son and is still able to drive and get around. Jen Jones tied her shoes and only groaned on the left one. That day was a good day. Sharia Barksdale, as the class reporter, wept. Hope to see you all at our 20th reunion, June 5-7. Registration information will land in April, so mark your calendars!

2008

Steven E. Delaney stevenedelaney@gmail.com

Hilary Owens Petropouleas has been promoted to director of learning and development with WLR Automotive Group, Inc. Lauren Procter Beaumont, M.S.’17, and husband Shawn welcomed their daughter Eliana into the world in Nov. In Oct. 2025, Jamie Boden joined FUJIFILM Biotechnologies as a technical marketing manager. On Nov. 14, 2025, she married her husband Jacob in Frederick.

2011

Katelyn Bramkamp Bozich kbramkamp@gmail.com

Hello, Class of 2011! It’s hard to believe that our 15-year reunion is in June. Beth Arsenault became an aunt to her adorable nephew Chris and celebrated one year of marriage to her husband Tyler in May. She also started a new job as a product manager at Big Human and is teaching hot yoga classes at YogaSix in Columbia, MD. Sarah Johnston Comer, MBA’14, and husband Matthew welcomed son Rune Lachlan. He became fast friends with big brother Stellan Craig, and they are now navigating toddlerhood as partners in crime. Shawna R. Lentz, M.S.’16, became an assistant principal for Montgomery County Public Schools in July 2025 after 14 years as a teacher and math content coach. She and her husband celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in Oct. Shawna is currently in the dissertation phase for a Ph.D. in higher education leadership with the goal of defending during the 2026-27 academic year. Travis Harrant moved back from Korea last summer to assume the duties as the Battalion Executive Officer for the Hood College ROTC program. I (Katelyn Bramkamp Bozich) have been living in Pittsburgh working as an analyst and enjoying life with my husband and 2-year-old daughter.

2014

Bianca P. Sledzik hoodcollege14@gmail.com

Lanee Higgins published her first novel “Bottled Emotions: Planet Melancholia, 2205” in Sept. 2025. A copy is available in the Hood College Alumni Library! Alex Engler ’13 and Rachel Gannon Engler welcomed their second son Oliver in Aug. Big brother Henry loves his new little brother. Kate Kopasek Black is excited to share that her poetry has been accepted into the upcoming issue of “1807: An Art and Literary Journal.” This will be her third consecutive publication in the journal. This year’s piece was inspired by her son Jay, age 3.

2015

Sarah Tapscott Rosier sarah.tapscott12@gmail.com

Last year was a big year! Megan Rodriguez Mercer was promoted to technical director of R&D, celebrated 10 years at her company, enjoyed her 10-year reunion with all you lovely people, marked 10 years of marriage on 1/2/26 and announced that she is expecting their third boy in July. Giuliana Burton and her husband reside in Frederick and are thrilled to welcome a baby girl this spring. In addition to expanding

her family, Giuliana is excited to begin a new profession this year. She has completed her licensing through MBON to become a licensed electrologist in MD. She will begin her career with ZAPS Hair Removal as early as April or May. In her spare time, Giuliana remains active with her dogs, enjoying hiking, rock climbing and traveling. Cecelia Lee is the entertainment marketing manager for MGM Resorts, overseeing marketing for The Theater at MGM National Harbor and the Borgata in Atlantic City. Over the past year, she has promoted performances by major artists, including T-Pain, Bruno Mars, The Black Keys and Def Leppard. Outside of work, she’s the proud owner of a three-legged French bulldog named Gatsby. Evan Reed ’16 and Wallis Shamieh married in Nov. 2025 and just purchased their first home in Boonsboro, MD. Angelia Miller defended her master’s thesis in May 2025 on the impacts of offshore wind development on annual stock abundance indices of commercially important fish species. She officially graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology in Aug. 2025 with a master’s in marine science and technology. She and her husband recently moved to Winston-Salem, NC, where she now works remotely as an independent consultant under her own LLC (Maris Collaborative, LLC). She is supporting ongoing efforts at the New England Fishery Management Council to develop solutions for the flexible management of commercial

and recreational fishing industries in a rapidly changing environment. Alaina Kinsey is embracing her new titles with great joy. 2025 was a big year: she bought a house back in her hometown in Chester County, married her best friend Ben and welcomed baby girl Bailey. She is looking forward to all the house projects and to teaching Bailey all her firsts this year. Julianne Berg started a new job with Walker & Dunlop as an event coordinator. She is excited to bring events to life all over the country. 2025 was an exciting year for Maya Jackson. She got engaged on her birthday in April, received a promotion at work in July, purchased her first home with her fiance in Sept. and welcomed a cane corso puppy in Oct. In 2026, Maya is looking forward to celebrating her best friend’s wedding in Sept. as well as her own wedding in Oct.

2016

Justin Fox

jfox125@gmail.com

Hello from the Class of 2016. It has been a bit since we have shared an update, but we have been busy! Adam George-Wright started as a children’s librarian with Carroll County Public Libraries. Adam is a very active ensemble member working in the Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s Comedy Night groups. Nathaniel Leighton

bought a house in Baltimore, MD. He became a certified information privacy professional through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Rowan George-Wright sits on the board of Small Angels Rescue, an animal rescue nonprofit in the Washington, D.C., area. Courtney Lapsley and her husband started a new adventure by moving to Irondequoit, NY. They purchased a house and welcomed a baby boy into their lives this year. Bonnie Monnier has started a new role as director of advancement at Lucy School in Middletown, MD. Ivana Soce Shuck, MBA’21, is living in Frederick with her husband. They are expecting their first child. She is working as a talent acquisition manager for Service Coordination. Arianna Delerme is a licensed psychologist practicing independently in northern VA. She coaches high school basketball and is engaged. Ashley Sinisi got married, moved south and had two children. During that time, she had a marketing business, but motherhood has become more important. She has been planning a nonprofit to start after both boys are in school. Nicole Curreri got engaged and is currently wedding planning. She has also started a new job and is working in RI and MA. Michael Curry ’17 and Aubrey Fetters Curry moved into their first house last Feb. and welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Genevieve. Aubrey started working as a regional behavior director. Justin Fox bought a house in MD with his partner and got a dog. Hannah Thompson Gray and her husband welcomed their second daughter Daphne Maeve in July.

In 10 words or less... “What made your Hood education worth it?”

“Self-discovery, determination, critical thinking skill development and enduring friendships!”

—Eileen Bunnell Valadez ’89

“The friends turned family, Dean White, Dr. Ruffin, Dr. Zaki!”

—Dolores Hooban ’03

“I felt validated in my career choice of secondary education.”

—Chrystal Hogan ’86

Mat Molina matthew.molina2024@gmail.com

Miranda Barrientos was laid off last Sept. and is seeking new employment in writing, editing or publishing. She recently published a live theater review in File 770. Amanda Baulig was recently honored as one of Loudoun County’s Top 40 Under 40 after completing five years at Loudoun Habitat for Humanity. She was promoted to the position of vice president of housing and community strategies. Jackie Mangogna Suarez married fellow Hood alum Charlie Suarez ’19 and has been coaching boy’s cross-country and track and field and teaching at Urbana High School in Frederick County since graduating college. Originally from NY, she chose to

remain in Frederick after graduation, where the community has become her home. Jackie is currently in her fifth year as head coach of the boy’s cross-country program and her second year as head coach of boy’s track and field, after serving as an assistant coach since 2018. The fall 2025 season was historic for Urbana High School, as the boys cross-country team won its third consecutive Frederick County Championship, claimed the individual county title and captured the Central Maryland Conference Championship for the second time in three years, again earning the individual title. The team went on to win the Maryland 4A State Championship with 53 points, marking Urbana’s first cross-country state title in 22 years and its first ever in the 4A classification. The victory was also the first 4A cross-country state championship for a Frederick County school, with six of seven runners placing in the Top 20. She completely credits her experience on the Hood XCTF teams for putting her on the path to coaching! She would not be here without Hood and her coaches John Grim, Brent Ayer, P’14, P’15, and Brett A. Shelley ’13, M.S.’16 Taylor Polito Wright, B.A.’19, recently sat for their clinical exam and is a now fully licensed clinical social worker with the state of MD. She and her husband are expecting a little girl in March, and they think 2026 is the most exciting year yet. They can’t wait for this next chapter.

2020

Samantha Lloyd Strickland samrlloyd21@gmail.com

Samantha Lloyd Strickland married fellow alum Nigel Strickland in Oct. 2025 with plenty of other Hood alumni in attendance, including Greg Roddy as Sam’s man of honor and Maria Bernal as a bridesmaid. They moved back to Baltimore in early 2025 and started off 2026 by buying their first home in Catonsville. Monica Arocha is soaring the restaurant seas and was recognized as one of the important players of this past year in her restaurant group as assistant general manager of the Silver Spring Copper Canyon Grill. Genevieve Simmons is a systems engineer and moved to Rochester, NY, in early 2025. She has a partner of six years and five wonderful pets.

2021

Liliana Bean Pickrel lilianacbean@gmail.com

Colton Barkefelt wed his lovely bride Morgan in Oct. 2025. They are currently living in Germany and have many adventures planned. Lily Bean Pickrel is celebrating her one-year anniversary with her husband Ryan at the end of Jan. They plan on moving back to Frederick County in early 2026. Maria Kelly married Ben DeLeo in May 2025. They had a gorgeous wedding in New Freedom, PA. Tobias Braswell was Ben’s best man, Cameron King, MBA’23, and Colton Barkefelt were groomsmen. Anna Eyler bought a house by herself in Frederick and is enjoying the short commute to work at Frederick High School as a science teacher. Ashley McGlaughlin got

engaged in Nov. 2024 and bought a house in May 2024. She’s getting her master’s to become a family nurse practitioner through Walden University and recently became a certified medical-surgical RN. She’s still working at Frederick Health as a registered nurse since 2021. Tailyn Kite and Brandon Merson welcomed their baby girl Brinley Mae in Jan. Brandon got his master’s in project management from UMGC, and Tailyn is about halfway through her master’s in educational technology and virtual teaching at Towson. Tailyn is teaching second grade this year and loving it. Regina Royal is an officially licensed funeral director in D.C., MD and VA. Caylee Winpigler is serving as the president of the Thurmont Historical Society. This year, she received the Maryland Rising Star Award from the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and finished her first half-marathon.

2022

Cathy Neves cmn5@hood.edu

Elizabeth Haney is halfway through her graduate program at Mount St. Mary’s with a 4.0 GPA. Way to go, Elizabeth! Katelyn Klukosky Schmidt married her husband Alex in Nov. 2025. She looked absolutely radiant. Her sister Sarah Klukosky Clem ’24 was her matron of honor, and Caroline Jeranek ’21 was a bridesmaid. Bre Harwood ’16, M.A.’19, C’19, C’22 , Matthew Clark and Joshua Womack ’21 were also in attendance. If you have news or recent accomplishments to share, please reach out to me.

If you are interested in being a class reporter, please email alumoffice@hood.edu. There are vacancies for the following classes: 2023-25.

To protect the privacy of alumni, we do not print individual addresses within class columns. To get

Hood Legacy Ring and Scholarship Program

CELEBRATE YOUR CONNECTION TO HOOD.

Through the generosity of alumni and the Alumni Executive Board, students in their junior and senior year can apply to receive a donated legacy ring or a scholarship toward a new one. Each ring carries the proud Hood “H” and symbolizes a lifelong bond with the Hood community. Help continue the tradition for generations to come. hood.edu/legacyrings

Always Part of Hood.

Paying Tribute to the Alumni, Faculty and Staff we have lost.

Margery Elfin, Ph.D., Virginia E. Lewis Professor Emerita of Politics, Trustee Emerita

MAY 24, 1933-FEBRUARY 9, 2026

Marge was an exceptional educator and a Hood faculty member for 21 years. She earned a Ph.D. from Columbia before beginning her long career in education. In 1977, she became a professor of political science at Hood and served as chair of the Department of Political Science. She was also a member of the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2016.

Marge was more than a professor—she was a trusted mentor, adviser and friend who touched the lives of countless Hood students.

Marge’s husband Mel was the longstanding Washington bureau chief of Newsweek, and Marge quickly became embedded in Washington, D.C.’s social scene, attending embassy parties and befriending several congressional wives. Marge and Mel often invited Hood students to their Washington, D.C., home for dinner. Marge was the author of three books on subjects ranging from wage-gap disparities for women in the workplace to French history. After retiring from Hood in 1998, Marge was named the Virginia E. Lewis Professor Emerita of Politics. In 2024, the College honored her as the inaugural recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award.

Claire N. Fulenwider ’64, Ph.D., Trustee Emerita

APRIL 16, 1942-OCTOBER 11, 2025

Claire earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Hood College, where she was class president, before earning a doctorate from University of Wisconsin-Madison. She served on the Board of Trustees (1971-82) and was also a Hood faculty member. She was involved with various boards and committees throughout the country and was a founding member of the New Harvest Foundation.

Lucy B. Dennison, Ed.D., Associate Professor Emerita of Home Economics

JULY 9, 1928-DECEMBER 28, 2025

Lucy’s career in education spanned 41 years. She earned a doctorate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University before teaching at public schools and universities across five states. She was a faculty member at Hood for 11 years (1980-91) and served as chair of the Department of Home Economics.

Barbara F. Flythe, Trustee Emerita

DECEMBER 9, 1933-NOVEMBER 22, 2025

Barbara was a lifelong advocate for community action and social justice. A retired educator and certified consultant in multicultural education and diversity, her 30-year career centered on serving at-risk children and their families. She served on the Board of Trustees from 1979 to 1991 and again from 1992 to 1998.

UNDERGRADUATE ALUMNI

1946

Alice Schilling Ball OCTOBER 2025

Jane Williams Johnston JANUARY 2024

1947

Beverly Smith Benington MAY 2025

1950

Isabel Masland-Gelbaugh DECEMBER 2025

Barbara Bagley Moule SEPTEMBER 2025

1951

Peggy Friedkin Schriefer JUNE 2025

1952

Mary-Gray Schofield Davis DECEMBER 2025

Suzanne Purdom Glezen JULY 2023

Anita DeCristofaro Riccio

JANUARY 2026

Joanne Kates Roos JANUARY 2026

Nancy Fahnline Warren DECEMBER 2025

Joan Kellogg Weddle JANUARY 2026

1953

Elizabeth Arnold Cole JANUARY 2026

Stefanie Pick Kopp OCTOBER 2025

1954

Jean McCarty Bowen NOVEMBER 2025

Janet Edelstein Ettinger APRIL 2024

Barbara Peterson Smith FEBRUARY 2025

1955

Elizabeth J. Schwegman DECEMBER 2025

1956

Judith Berry Brooke FEBRUARY 2025

Barbara Salyers Cleveland MARCH 2023

Margaret White Dawson JULY 2022

Sandra O’Brien Guy DECEMBER 2021

Sydney Kahn Hamburger SEPTEMBER 2025

Barbara A. Lockwood NOVEMBER 2021

Nancy Gunnet Tyler JANUARY 2026

UNDERGRADUATE ALUMNI, CONTINUED

1957

Ann Koreywo Mele

MAY 2025

1959

Rachel Ravey Johnson OCTOBER 2025

Hera T. Leighton SEPTEMBER 2025

1960

Judith Fahy Cablk SEPTEMBER 2025

Wanda Koedderich Hilner NOVEMBER 2025

Audrey Heyman Rooney OCTOBER 2025

1961

Donna Blaydow Chiesi APRIL 2022

Mary Dickinson Cohen OCTOBER 2025

Nancy Crowther Denmark DECEMBER 2025

Hilda C. Koontz SEPTEMBER 2025

Barbara Rohrback McManus

SEPTEMBER 2025

1962

Sabina Robin Prusan AUGUST 2022

Margaret B. Van Huizen NOVEMBER 2025

1963

Jane Gritsavage Gardner OCTOBER 2025

1964

Claire N. Fulenwider OCTOBER 2025

Diane McKay Nuner SEPTEMBER 2025

1966

Judy Congleton Miller MARCH 2023

Linda James Stewart NOVEMBER 2025

1967

Judith A. Kuhnle SEPTEMBER 2025

1970

Darlyn Counihan Chambre’ JANUARY 2026

1976

Richard C. Bartholomaus SEPTEMBER 2022

Ellen Beachley Jenkins MARCH 2024

1978

Sylvia Creeger Burtner NOVEMBER 2025

Constance C. Glennon-Hall DECEMBER 2025

1979

Anne Gregory Sarao OCTOBER 2025

1981

Diane Martensen Ippolito AUGUST 2025

Julie Colangelo Wasley SEPTEMBER 2025

1982

Linda L. Seibert OCTOBER 2025

1985

Delegate Sue Hecht SEPTEMBER 2025

1986

Theresa Twilley Wiltrout DECEMBER 2025

1989

Jacqulin Allison Anderson JANUARY 2026

1990

Tibetha A. Owen DECEMBER 2025

1991

Anne M. Constable OCTOBER 2024

2002

Evelyn Crawford Leopold OCTOBER 2025

2005

Tracy E. German JANUARY 2026

GRADUATE ALUMNI

Shirley Hammonds Bliss, M.A.’82 JULY 2025

Michele R. Linehan, M.A.’13, P’06 DECEMBER 2025

Richard R. Potter, M.S.’98 OCTOBER 2023

Ronald L. Rowe, M.A.’77 DECEMBER 2025

Stephen A. Simpson, MBA’92 NOVEMBER 2025

Michael E. Smith, MBA’95 OCTOBER 2025

Michael J. Strine, M.A.’74 OCTOBER 2025

Sylvia A. Wendt, M.A.’95 NOVEMBER 2025

FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS

Carroll E. Clabaugh, Staff OCTOBER 2025

Lucy B. Dennison, Faculty DECEMBER 2025

Richard M. Dull, Staff JANUARY 2026

Margery Elfin, Faculty and Trustee FEBRUARY 2026

Barbara F. Flythe, Trustee NOVEMBER 2025

Barbara H. Neel, Staff DECEMBER 2025

Anne E. Thayer, Staff SEPTEMBER 2025

Hood WartimeDuring

Reflections from Eleanor Gambrill Bowers ’46, P’83

By Hood College Archivist Mary Atwell

I had the recent pleasure of meeting one of Hood’s eldest living alumni, Eleanor Gambrill Bowers ’46, P’83, whose family has deep ties to Hood. Her grandfather, James H. Gambrill, Jr., was a Board of Trustees member. Eleanor and her sister Virginia Gambrill Hendrickson ’44 both graduated from Hood, as did two of Eleanor’s children.

I asked Eleanor about her college years during World War II, a time I’ve often thought was unique. It was clear that the war was “front and center” to her experience, but other themes arose that speak to Hood even now.

When Eleanor started at Hood in fall 1942, she was accompanied by Barbara Hodges Simonsen, a British citizen who was from Portsmouth, England, a coastal town on the English Channel. After several bombings in the area, Bar-

traveled on the last transport of British children to the states and eventually came to live with the Gambrills.

The two girls completed their junior and senior years at Frederick High School before attending Hood as day students.

War heightened camaraderie and compassion on campus. Students and teachers were quick to help each other, and they were mindful of loved ones overseas.

When Barbara was 18, she was called back by her family to take part in “war work” on her own soil. Eleanor was sorry to see her go, but they kept in touch for many years.

When Eleanor moved onto campus, she immediately took on war work with her best friend Ann Brandenburg Walsh ’46. One summer, they were hired by Birds Eye to pack vegetables for freezing. Birds Eye paid their travel expenses to Mount Morris, New York. When they arrived, there weren’t enough vegetables to pack, so they were sent to work in the fields for six weeks. It was challenging, but the German and Italian prisoners of war working alongside them made the grueling work interesting.

campus. Students and teachers were quick to help each other, and they were mindful of loved ones overseas.

Outside of the war, Hood was simply a great place to “grow up in a good way,” according to Eleanor. Professors had a way of encouraging average students to achieve excellence, despite the more formal and strict environment.

Curfews were closely monitored back then—much to Eleanor’s chagrin when she missed curfew one night and was sentenced to two weeks “campusment” by the Cooperative Governance Association. Confined to campus, she had to forego trips to town with friends.

Eleanor has remained a strong supporter of Hood throughout her life. She is grateful to the College for her education and growth as well as the support faculty showed both her and her children when they attended decades later. Her husband served on the Board of Trustees, and her son Philip Bowers ’83 is a current member. Having seen Hood’s evolution over many years, Eleanor and her family are proud to continue embracing the spirit of “heart, mind and hand.”

Back on campus, as members of WORMS (Women’s Organization for the Relief of the Manpower Shortage), the girls worked in the College’s laundry room. Eleanor said that the war heightened camaraderie and compassion on

Photo (above): Eleanor Gambrill Bowers ’46, P’83, between Alice Stockwell Stahr (left) and Norma Jane Gresset ’45 (right) at the christening of the S.S. Hood in Baltimore.

AHI TRAVEL AND HOOD COLLEGE PRESENT

southern africa

Luxury Safaris, Rovos Rail and Cape Town journey to

JAN. 25-FEB. 8, 2027

Join your fellow alumni and discover the incredible wildlife and wonders of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe!

From colorful Cape Town to Victoria Falls, historic Soweto to Robben Island, every moment of this 12-night journey inspires. See exotic animals in famous safari destinations: Kapama Private Game Reserve, Hwange National Park and Chobe National Park. This unmatched program includes a Rovos Rail journey, two flights within South Africa and an extensive meal plan.

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

2026-27

AHI TRIPS

RICHES OF THE EMERALD ISLE

SEPT. 20-30, 2026

HOLIDAY MARKETS CRUISE THE FESTIVE RHINE RIVER DEC. 2-10, 2026

FRANCE: PLEASURES OF PROVENCE MAY 4-12, 2027

COASTAL SPAIN & PORTUGAL

SEPT. 29-OCT. 7, 2027

As

Oney P. Smith, Ph.D., P’13 Professor of Biology