Items of Note:

• Homecoming weekend has a new date. The original date had to be moved because of a change in the WVIAC football schedule. The new dates for Homecoming Weekend are Friday, October 20 through Sunday, October 22. We hope to see you there!
  
  
• The West Virginia Wesleyan College Percussion Ensemble, the Wesleyan Concert Chorale, Larry Parsons Chorale, and the Chanticleer Children's Chorus will perform at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences on Saturday, April 1. Tickets are available through the Clay Center - www.theclaycenter.org. or alumni can R.S.V.P. the event by Wednesday, March 29 to Gloria Neely at (800) 768-8264 or by e-mail at alumni@office.edu.
  
  
• Spring Weekend is an exciting time for alumni to come back to campus to enjoy a wide variety of activities and reconnect with former classmates. Plan to return to your "Home Among the Hills" on April 7-9 for this spring homecoming.
  
  
• The 11th annual West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcat Open will be held on Monday, June 29 at the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, WV. This annual fundraiser by Wesleyan brings alumni and friends together in a lavish setting as an exciting day of golf on one of the most scenic and highly-rated courses in the United States.
  
  

Class Notes: February 2006
E-mail your Class Notes to alumni@wvwc.edu

1938  
JOHN J. FOSTER, Peoria, AZ, celebrated his 90th birthday in January, and recalls, fondly growing up in Buckhannon and his days at Wesleyan.

1952  
JOSEPH V. COCCHIARELLA, Merritt Island, FL, a retired Lt. Col. of the United States Air Force, is a volunteer for the Guardian Ad Litem. As a child advocate, he has been speaking up for the abused, abandoned, neglected children of Brevard County, FL, since 1999.

1953  
ORLO STRUNK JR., Calabash, NC, published his first novel. "Three-Two Count" was released by PublishAmerica in January 2006. He served as Dean of West Virginia Wesleyan from 1959-1969, and now resides in North Carolina where he teaches as an adjunct professor at Webster University in Myrtle Beach, SC.  

1959  
WILLIAM H. MAYERS, Scottdale, PA, has retired from teaching for 13 years.

1961  
JAMES D. (JIM) LEWIS, Wintersprings, FL, teaches English at Timber Creek High School in Orlando, FL.  *   ELLEN GIRD KNAPP, Bennington, VT, is a part-time psychotherapist for an Internist Medical Practice and Home Care Agency.  She and her husband, Ronald will be visiting Ireland in March and April 2006.

1962  
N. KENT LOUDON, Somerville, NJ, retired July 31, 2005.  He has worked as a transportation contractor, computer programmer, railroad traffic analyst, photofinisher, tourist guide, and food service worker.  During his retirement, he plans to participate in local theatre productions, cataloging his 35mm slides taken over the past 48 years, learn to use a digital camera, and travel.

1963  
ANNE ROSS STEWART, Tracys Landing, MD, is executive director of InterFaith Counseling Services, Montgomery County, MD, and an affiliate faculty member at Loyola College in Baltimore, MD.  She currently serves as President of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC).

1965  
JAMES A. TOWNLEY, Nassau, NY, had a hymn tune published and his wife, NANCY COLE TOWNLEY, had an article titled "The Welcoming Choir" both published with the magazine "Church Music Worship."  Nancy also writes liturgy for the website "The Worship Connection."

1966  
KAREN LAWSON MAMAJEK, Bethel Park, PA, son, Jason, has completed his masters of technology education from California University of Pennsylvania.  *  GUY T. TUDISCO, Bridgehampton, NY, retired after a 35-year career in human resources.  *   LEEANN BENNETT BLANKENSHIP, Kent, OH, had her first children's book, "Mr. Tuggles Troubles," recently published by Boyd Mills Press.  *   ROBERTA (BOBBIE) WEIMER VANDERMEER, Orchard Park, NY, retired as adjunct professor at Canisius College, Buffalo, NY, and as district coordinator of mathematics of the West Seneca Schools in New York. 

1970  
THOMAS (TOM) BARTLEY, Olney, MD, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees to The Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.

1971  
JOHN F. LACARIA, Cross Lanes, WV, was awarded his doctor of ministry degree from United Theology Seminary, Dayton, OH, in December 2005.

1978  
SARA THOMPSON GIBBS, Taylorsville, KY, has been named executive chef at Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville, KY.  One of her recipes was featured in an article "Cast Iron Chefs" in the August 2005 issue of Southern Living.  Sara's first cookbook titled "Southern Thighways:  Thigh Recipes with a Southern Accent" has been published by Border Springs Press.

1979  
DIANE RUTH GILBERT, Randolph, NJ, pastor of the Mt. Fern United Methodist Church, and her husband, Gerry Woodlief, would like to announce the birth of their third grandchild, Jordan David, who was born in Canada.  He joins his sister, Genna, and DJ at home.

1981  
JANE ELLEN NICKELL, Wehawken, NJ, is one of six women and three men selected as the 2006-07 Dempster Scholars to receive scholarships to continue their theological studies.  Jane is an ordained elder of the West Virginia Annual Conference and a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, TN.  She is enrolled in the doctoral program at Drew University in Madison, NJ.

1982  
DEBRA HUTTON LOVETT, Manor, TX, and her husband, Trey celebrated their daughter's first birthday.  Lucia Elizabeth was born on November 3, 2004.

1987  
DAVID A. YOUNG, London, England, moved earlier this year from Brussels to London to lead the European operations for CDM Europe.  CDM is Cline, Davis, & Mann, an international pharmaceutical advertising and branding agency whose main office is based in New York City, NY.  He is managing partner, director for European Operations of CDM, and is responsible for the management of the European headquarters in London.   *   NANCY HENDERSON, Saint Albans, WV, was united in marriage to Roy White on March 18, 2005 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Nitro, WV.  Nancy continues to serve on the staff as the deacon associate - Director of Christian Education.

1988  
MELISSA (MEL) CHARLTON, Tallmansville, WV, was united in marriage to Michael S. Smith on November 22, 2003.  They would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Cassandra Faye Spotted Fawn, on September 21, 2005.  She joins her big brother, Ethan, at home.  Mel is the chemistry lab coordinator at Wesleyan.

1990  
BARBARA LEWIS SETI, Lost Creek, WV, and her husband, MICHAEL D. SETI '92, announce the birth of their daughter, Lauren Annalise, on June 5, 2005.  She joins her big sister, Madison Elizabeth, at home.

1992  
ROBYN THOMPSON DANZA, Mullica Hill, NJ, and her husband, MARK W. DANZA, announce the birth of their son, Ty Robert, on October 17, 2005.   * HEATHER WILLIS PERRY, Palmyra, VA, and her husband, Adam, announce the birth of their son, Andrew James, on May 28, 2005.  He joins his brothers, Noah and Benjamin at home (picture left).  Heather enjoys volunteering with her local women's club and serves as general advisor for her sorority's local chapter of ZTA at the University of Virginia. 

1995  
MONICA CROSS FALKENSTEIN, Fairmont, WV, and her husband, Derek Falkenstein, announce the birth of their daughter, Lydia Nicole, on July 18, 2005.  She joins her big brother, Declan, at home.  Lydia and Declan are the great-grandchildren of LULA (SUE) TALLMAN WILLIAMS '49.   *   SHEILA WALTON COBERLY, Buckhannon, WV, and her husband, Patrick "Sean" Coberly, (picture right) announce the birth of their daughter, NinaMae Grace, on November 17, 2005.   *   JENNIFER KOZORA POSEY, Allison Park, PA, and her husband, MICHAEL POSEY '96, announce the birth of their son, David Karol, on September 1, 2005.  He joins his brothers, Andrew, Aaron, and sister, Abigail, at home.   *   MARYELLEN BRIGGS CONWAY, Westport, CT, has completed her master's in nutrition and food science at New York University and is a registered dietitian.  She has started her own nutritional consulting firm.

1996  
KRISTI LOWTHER GANNON, Jane Lew, WV, and her husband, Scott Gannon, are the parents of two sons, Kaleb, and Kyle, and one daughter, Khori.  Kristi is a cardiopulmonary nurse at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital.   *   MELINDA CRAIG, Champaign, IL, was united in marriage to Rayburn (Ray) Dobson Jr. on July 23, 2005 at Christ United Methodist Church in Parkersburg, WV.  Alumni present at the wedding were the bride's brother, DENNIS CRAIG '99, the maid-of-honor, TRACY ALEXANDER '95, and guests KARA CORCORAN SPENGLER '96, and Kate McCain.  Melinda and Ray are both employed by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the Assistant Director for Client Relations and the Assistant Director of Events, respectively.   *   KARIF CARROLL, Houston, TX, and his wife, Kelley, announce the birth of their son, Michael Karif, on December 21, 2005.

1997  
ROBERT E. RAFFETY, Arlington, VA, was united in marriage to Colleen J. Shogan, on October 8, 2005.  Alumni in attendance were bridesmaid, JENNIFER RAFFETY MOSS '94, groomsmen, BRIAN CAYNOR '99, and Anthony Davies.  Robert is the son of J.C. Raffety and CYNTHIA KIRBY RAFFETY '91 of Buckhannon, WV.  Currently, he is Legal Counsel and Special Advisor to the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C.   *   NICOLE DEAN BIERHALS, O'Fallon, MO, and her husband, Andrew, announce the birth of their son, Sebastian Andrew, on September 26, 2005.  Nicole graduated with a master's degree in nursing from Barnes Jewish College of Nursing and Allied Health in May 2005. 

1998  
SCOTT A. BABCOCK, Mount Airy, MD, has graduated with honors from Capital College with his master's in IT Systems Management.  He is employed as a senior network engineer at the Smithsonian Institute.  Scott is married to PAULA SMITH BABCOCK '99, and they have two sons, Ethan and Connor.

2000  
CHAD A. BURDETTE, Elkview, WV, has earned his master's in political science (2004) and master of public administration (2005) from West Virginia University.  He is an alumnus of Sigma Theta Epsilon, and is finishing his second term as National President of the fraternity.  *   JOSEPH (JOE) WOJTYLKO, Geneva, NY, has been named interim head coach of basketball at Hobart College, Geneva.   He received an athletic scholarship to play for the Division II Bobcats, earning Most Valuable Defensive Player for 1998-99.  After graduation, Joe helped coach the Bobcats to their most successful season in 10 years.  *  ELISHA WITT SINGER, White Oak, PA, has accepted a position with General Nutrition Centers (GNC) at their Worldwide Headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA as a payroll processor.

2001  
LETICIA (TISHA) CHRISTEN WALL, Paden City, WV, and her husband, SCOTT R. WALL '99, announce the birth of their daughter, Braeden Reese, on December 20, 2005.   *   AURORA SPANG DAVIS, Sanford, FL, and her husband, MICHAEL P. DAVIS JR., announce the birth of their daughter, Ariah Koryn, on December 9, 2005.  She joins her big brother, Brennan, at home (picture left).   *   GREGORY MATTHEW MELKONIAN, Denver, CO, is currently enrolled at Johnson and Wales University Sports Entertainment School, and works in entertainment operations with the Colorado Avalanche National Hockey League.

2003  
ANN SEBOLD, McHenry, MD, was united in marriage to KENNETH C. NEGLEY '05, (picture right) on October 8, 2005 at Zion Lutheran Church in Accident, MD.  Alumni in the wedding party were TRAVIS ROBERTS '05, BRIAN BECK '05, ZACHARY (ZACH) DELEURERE '05, and MEGAN MILLER SNYDER '03.  *   MEGAN GEIB, Pickerington, OH, was united in marriage to Matthew Waltz, on October 29, 2005 in Canton, OH.  Alumni in attendance were CHRISTOPHER BLACKBURN '04, and STEPHEN FIELDING '05.  *   RYAN SAWYERS, Garden City, KS, has accepted a position as pitching coach at Garden City Community College in Garden City.

2005  
LISA B. FORT, Brevard, NC, was named director of stewardship/office manager for Institutional Advancement at Brevard College in North Carolina.  Lisa returns to Brevard from West Virginia Wesleyan where she worked as coordinator of gift records, technology and research.