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UMW Magazine – Class Notes
1301 College Ave.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

1980

Suzanne R. Bevan
serb@cox.net

On January 1 a new scholarship in dance was presented by the Friends of Dance of UMW and the Sacred Dance Ensemble of Fredericksburg, in the names of Vicky Nichols Wilder and Florence Overley Ridderhof ’50. When endowed, this scholarship will join with the Claudia Moore Read Scholarship and Sonja Dragomanovic Haydar Scholarship to help dancers with their tuition at UMW. Congratulations to both ladies who have worked diligently for 20 years to promote dance at UMW and had no idea about this scholarship being formed in their names.

Our group continues to get together periodically and our big trip for the year was our 35th reunion in May at UMW. Anne Miller, Victoria Prescott, Alison Roedy Mack, Lizabeth Murray Patterson, and Martha Williams Locke all attended. Most of us stayed in the dorm and were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. We especially loved the air conditioning on that blistering hot weekend. We then continued on to Asheville for a three-night tour of the area, including the Biltmore. The group is making plans to get together for lunch at Christmas as Alison will be up from Florida.

Amy Meyers Becker and Lizabeth Murray Patterson got together this summer in Phoenix, and then they flew to Whitefish, Montana, to stay at Beth’s mom’s home. They camped and hiked in Glacier National Park and toured Northwest Montana.

Beth retired in January of 2013 and has been leading the vagabond life, touring the west during the spring and summer and visiting national parks and hiking as much as possible. She also has been knitting and quilting again now that she has more time!

Kimm Harty writes, “After 31 years with the Utah Geological Survey, 20 of them as Deputy Director, I am retiring on January 1, 2016. Retirement plans include continuing to restore my 115-year-old house as well as extensive travel to Maui, Florida (twice), New York, and Cancun in 2016 and Bora Bora likely in 2017. Email: kharty@ualberta.net.

Vicky Wilder celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Sacred Dance Ensemble and also the Friends of Dance of UMW at a large gathering of dancers on January 1, 2016.  She is founder of both organizations and has been the principal choreographer of the Ensemble and leader of both groups. The Sacred Dance Ensemble has participated in many church services, weddings, funerals, pastor installations, and other events in Fredericksburg and other areas of Virginia. She has opened many hearts to movement being a part of praise and rejoicing. The Friends of Dance of UMW has given thousands of dollars over the years to deserving dance students at the University in the form of scholarships.