Class Notes

Annice Hirt van der Sluis hadn’t sent anything for Class Notes in 25 years! She worked, traveled, hung out, lived abroad, learned Spanish, and explored different careers, before pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood education. She worked the next several years in Alexandria, Va., developing a bilingual preschool special education program and using her experience and skills to support children growing up bilingually. She and violinist husband Howard met while she was working at public schools, married in 2006, and have two girls. Annice homeschools Fiona, 7, and Sophie, 5, and is a part-time early childhood education consultant. She reconnected with classmates at the 25th reunion and has been keeping up with old friends in the D.C. area.

Jay Bradshaw heard from Lianne Wilkens Best, an official empty nester. Daughter Amanda is in her final semester at Johns Hopkins, and son Nicholas goes to the College of William and Mary. After a decade spending evenings on school and sports activities, Lianne is finding herself … at the gym. She still recruits for Employment Enterprises. She and husband Buck, a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue captain, will celebrate 25 years of marriage this spring.

Amy Sullivan and Jim celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last March. Son Jake married Stephanie in July; majors in political science and American studies and minors in history, homeland security, and math at Christopher Newport University; and planned to graduate in spring. Amy teaches math in the Fredericksburg area and now has a math teacher daughter-in-law. They are some of the youngest empty nesters they know, but they love it!

Don Appiarius planned to move to Indiana for a new job.