Class Notes

In August 2015, Matt Jones married Juliann Boyles ’09 in Orange, Virginia. They currently reside Fredericksburg.

Aaron Byrd is working as a Financial and Legal Analyst as a contractor for the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Prior to this position he worked as an Associate Attorney in the law offices of Elizabeth McMaster, PLC, in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Ashley Fariss Stewart and Craig Stewart welcomed their first son, Henry Colton Stewart, on June 23, 2015. He was born at 9:50 a.m. and weighed in at 8 lbs., 2 oz. and was 21 inches long. Ashley received her Master of Science in occupational therapy in December 2014 and her license as an occupational therapist in February 2015. Craig is in the process of completing his MBA at VCU.

This past June, 2015, alumna Kathleen Watson Keys graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, with a Master of Science in Contract Management. Kathleen received the NPS Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for a Department of Defense Student, and the Army Acquisition Corps Award for Scholastic Achievement. Kathleen graduated with distinction, in the top 10 percent of her class. The commencement speaker—Deputy Secretary of Defense, The Honorable Robert O. Work—also presented Kathleen with a Commander’s coin.

Mike Ambrose and Stephanie Lefferts ’11 completed the 2014 Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run. Mike finished 16th overall out of 700 runners in a time of 20 hours and 41 minutes—second in his age group. Stephanie finished in 29 hours and 23 minutes—fourth in her age group.  Both Mike and Stephanie rowed for the UMW Rowing teams.

Navy Lieutenant James Martin transferred to Navy Intelligence after completing four years as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard USS Benfold (DDG 65), a guided missile destroyer homeported in San Diego, California.

Claire Tuley will attend the University of Tennessee College of Law in the fall of 2015, where she plans to concentrate in transactional law.

Mary Washington bonds often live long past graduation. On October 4, Luan Cao married Jordan Brothers, daughter of Jo Anne Vipperman Brothers ’79. The bridal party included Brianna Lehnert ’12, Mark Placious, and Sam Jordan. Cupcakes at the wedding were made by Katy Peterson, assisted by Deidre Ryan. Other graduates in attendance included Windsor Easley ’79 (Jo Anne’s college roommate), Stephen Schroeder, Elyse Rioux, Rachel Frederick, Ellen Beste, and Lundy Baker Updike ’76 (mother of two more UMW students – Jim Updike ’13 and Tom Updike ’17). Out of the entire guest list, one-eighth of the attendees were Mary Washington alumni!

Megan Kent graduated with a 3.97 GPA from Georgetown University with her master’s degree in corporate communications and public relations in 2013. She works as the Director of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations at Marshall Moya Design, in Nuevo and in Nuevo Digital. She bought and renovated a condo in Arlington this year, and is thrilled to announce her marriage to Census Bureau Mathematical Statistician, Matthew Jordan on July 3, 2015, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. The reception was held at Top of the Town overlooking the monuments. Alison Coleman, Catherine Hancock, and Rachel Enright were included in Megan’s bridal party.

Nick Jacobs and Rachel DeVerna Jacobs are now living in Charlottesville. Rachel is still teaching—but fourth grade now—and Nick is pursuing his doctorate in political science.

Eugene Hamrick and Morgan Mangold were married on June 20 in King George, Virginia. Eugene completed his MBA in January from the University of Phoenix and Morgan begins a master’s degree program in library information science this fall at the University of South Carolina. Congrats and good luck!