Class Notes

Accomplishments

Kent Montgomery ’63 has been inducted into the Stanly County Sports Hall of Fame. Montgomery starred on the Wingate baseball team as a pitcher and went on to record what was at the time the lowest earned run average for a season, 0.94, in N.C. State baseball history.

Jim Huneycutt ’82 is the new director of advanced placement government and politics for The College Board.

Bailey Alan Pennington ’82 is the new manager of maintenance and operations for plant engineering at the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Doug Jones ’84, ’86, ’10 (M.A.Ed.) retired as director of athletics for Union County Public Schools in April. Jones, a former assistant coach for women’s basketball at Wingate, taught and coached at four high schools before being named athletics director for UCPS. During his tenure as UCPS AD, UCPS schools won 64 team state championships.

Quin Troxler Dionne ’85 has been inducted into the Concord (N.C.) High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Dionne, who attended Wingate on a tennis scholarship, has taught visual arts in the Cabarrus County Schools for 31 years, including 21 at her alma mater, Concord High School, where she coached tennis for 12 years. She was inducted into the Cabarrus County Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Robert Welch ’85 has received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Williamsburg Academy in Kingstree, S.C. Since 2008, Welch has been the executive director of Vital Aging of Williamsburg County, where he raises awareness and funds to provide the elderly with meals and services.

In September, Jeff Branch ’89 was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the most prestigious honor handed out by the governor of North Carolina. Branch, who recently retired as a DARE (drug abuse resistance education) officer in the Montgomery County Schools, is the promoter of the Big Lick Bluegrass Festival and the Bluegrass in Troy festival and is a Mayberry tribute artist, impersonating Howard Sprague at events around the state.

Sharon Jenkins Padgett ’89 became the chief executive director of the Gaston County (N.C.) YMCA on April 1. Padgett has worked at the Gaston County YMCA since 2009, when she was named chief operations officer.  

Tony Griffey ’90 was awarded the University’s highest honor for an alumnus, the Distinguished Alumnus Award, during a Griffey performance in the Batte Center on Sept. 13. Griffey, who has won four Grammy Awards during his distinguished opera career, was also the cover story in the September/October 2019 issue of Classical Singer magazine.

Dr. Kim Eagle ’93 is the county manager for Gaston County. Eagle is the first female manager in the county’s history. She began her new position in August.

Patrick C. Brown ’95 received a Distinguished Alumni Award during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. Brown is president and CEO of Innovative Aftermarket Systems in Austin, Texas.

Amee Odom ’95 is the chair of the Executive Committee of the NLC (NCICU Library Collaborative) for 2019-2020 academic year. The NCICU (North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities) provides research and information to the state’s 36 private, nonprofit institutions of higher education.

Amanda Wilson ’95 is the chief district court judge in Judicial District 16A, which includes Anson, Richmond and Scotland counties in North Carolina. In August she was appointed to the N.C. Family Courts Advisory Committee.

Stephanie Johnson Cartwright ’98 received a Distinguished Alumni Award during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. Cartwright, who earned a doctor of optometry degree from Nova Southeastern in 2003, has a private optometry practice in Elkin, N.C.

Mindi Kamman Stokely ’98 is a teacher’s assistant at John Hay Elementary School in Morristown, Tennessee.

Jason English ’99 has published The Whole Thing: The Story of the Bible Through Six Images. English is a pastor at The Heart church in Boone.

Chris Cartwright ’00 received a Distinguished Alumni Award during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. Cartwright is the founder and president of Prism Medical Products, a multimillion-dollar wound-care-supply business he started in 2006.

Matt Blair ’01, won $50,000 on the ABC game show “The $100,000 Pyramid” in July. Blair is pastor at Limitless Church in Tampa, Florida.

John Welch ’01 has been promoted to associate athletics director for internal operations at Appalachian State University. Welch, who has been on staff in the ASU athletic department since 2001, oversees event management, facilities operations and equipment operations for the Mountaineers.  

Anthony G. Daise ’02, ’05 (MBA) received a Champion of Diversity Award during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. After participating in Bulldogs Reaching Out as a member of the Wingate men’s basketball team, Daise spent several years volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters. He now serves on the board of directors for Sugar Creek Charter School. Daise works as a financial consultant for Wells Fargo.

Jason McGuire ’05, ’14 (M.A.Ed.), ’18 (Ed.S.) is the new principal at Jefferson (S.C.) Elementary School.

Seth Howell ’07 received an Outstanding Young Alumnus Award during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. Howell is a physician in the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and serves as a medical officer in the South Carolina National Guard. Howell served in the U.S. Air Force from 2007 to 2014.

Dinika Johnson ’07 is the head athletic trainer at Georgia State University, in downtown Atlanta.

Shaughn Neal ’07 is the new head baseball coach at Bethany Community School in Summerfield, N.C.

Shawn Barrett ’08 is head strength and conditioning coordinator and wide receivers coach for Johnson C. Smith University’s football team.

Christina Carroll ’08 is an assistant athletic trainer with U.S. Speedskating. Based in Salt Lake City, at the Utah Olympic Oval, Carroll works with both long- and short-track skaters.

Kenwin Cummings ’08 was inducted into the Wingate Sports Hall of Fame during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. Cummings was a two-time All-American defensive lineman who spent three seasons in the NFL. He is Wingate’s all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss. Cummings is vice president of Revamped Home Security in Dallas, Texas.

Amber Funderburk El-Amin ’08 is in the Health Policy and Management Ph.D program at the University of Maryland.

Jennifer Ann Foster ’08 (M.Ed.) received an Alumni Excellence in Service Award during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. Foster is the founder and president of Stand Out Ministries, where she also works as a missionary.  

Matt Van Liew ’08 has earned a master’s degree in wellness and lifestyle management from Rowan University.

Anna Atkinson Caparaso ’09 was inducted into the Wingate Sports Hall of Fame during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. Caparaso was a two-time SAC player of the year and two-time All-American who was also a two-time first-team Academic All-America honoree. She is first in conference history in steals and second in assists. Caparaso earned her doctor of dental surgery degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2014 and works as a dentist in Marion, N.C.

Maria Vlashchenko Crowder ’09, ’13 (MBA) was inducted into the Wingate Sports Hall of Fame during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. In 2008, Crowder became Wingate’s first female swimmer to win a national championship, taking the title in the 100-meter breaststroke. She was a 12-time All-American. Crowder works as an accounts payable specialist at US Fitness Holdings.

Amber Hines Jensch ’09 was inducted into the Wingate Sports Hall of Fame during the University’s Blue Carpet Gala in October. Jensch was a four-time All-SAC runner and three-time Academic All-America honoree. In 2006 she was named SAC Runner of the Year after finishing second in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals. Jensch earned a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She works with small animals as an associate veterinarian at Parkside Animal Care Center in Green Bay, Wisc.

Steven Grandy ’12 is an assistant sports information director at Mars Hill University.

Kyle Ward ’12 is a school success associate in Chicago with Albert, an education-technology company. Ward helps middle and high schools throughout the U.S. to use Albert’s digital platform, specializing in advanced-placement and core content.

Elizabeth Foster ’14 (M.Ed.) is an assistant principal at Rocky River Elementary School.

Dr. Erik Johnson ’14 is the new principal at East Albemarle Elementary School. 

Trina Potter ’15 (M.Ed.) is the principal at Shamrock Gardens Elementary in Charlotte.

Tom Spitz ’15 was sworn in as an officer with the Cherry Hill (N.J.) Police Department on Aug. 1. Spitz spent four years in the St. Louis Cardinals organization before becoming a police officer.

Celeste Stewart ’16 (MASM) is an assistant basketball coach at Augusta University. Stewart spent four years on the women’s basketball staff at Wingate.

Kristen Smith ’17 (MASM) is the new head coach for women’s lacrosse at Piedmont College in Georgia.

Tyler Smith ’17 is an assistant volleyball coach at Anderson (S.C.) University. Smith helped lead Wingate to four conference titles and two NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances in her four years on the volleyball team. 

Carey Fike Williams ’17 is the new coordinator for equity and student conduct with the Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools.

Tasha Wilson ’17 is the women’s golf coach at Watauga High School in Boone, N.C.

Anna Holmquist ’19 was named one of 30 finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Holmquist was an All-American volleyball player at Wingate, as well as an Academic All-American. She is in a graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh and will teach English in Brazil on a Fulbright appointment beginning in February. 

Andrew Llewellyn ’19 is a graduate assistant on the Randolph-Macon University baseball coaching staff. Llewellyn will assist the team with catchers, hitters and camps. A catcher, Llewellyn was a four-year starter for the Wingate baseball team.

 

Bulldog Pups

Rich LaCalamito ’06 and Ashley LaCalamito, twin boys, Nicholas Wright and Benjamin Alexander LaCalamito, Sept. 9, 2019.

Amber Funderburk El-Amin ’08 and Saj El-Amin, a girl, Zoe Skye El-Amin, June 21, 2019.

Katie Paxton Kelsch ’10 and Andrew Kelsch, a boy, Charles Anthony Andrew Kelsch, July 9, 2019.

Anna Rogers Murphy ’11 and Ben Murphy ’11, a boy, Parker Murphy, Dec. 3, 2018.

Jack Taylor ’12 and Ivy Taylor, a boy, James Jack Taylor IV, June 3, 2019.

Amy Saunders Honeycutt ’12 and Taylor Honeycutt ’11, a girl, Merritt Reed Honeycutt.

Robbie Nallenweg ’13 and Chelsea Nallenweg, a girl, Emma Lynn Nallenweg, Aug. 31, 2019.

Kaitlyn Schultz McPherson ’14 and Dodson McPherson ’13, twin boys, Ret Jackson and Rhys JohnLee McPherson, March 12, 2019.

Abby Whitley Grainger ’15 and Eric Grainger, a boy, Nash William Grainger, July 14, 2019.

Steven Trombello ’15 and Veronica Trombello, a girl, Emma Sofia Trombello, March 18, 2018.

Susan Roets ’17, a daughter, Serafina Irene Marie Roets, Jan. 28, 2017.

Keith Griffin ’18 and Brittany Griffin, a boy and a girl, Brooks Keith and Georgia Jean Griffin, July 5, 2019.

 

Weddings

Corey Iacofano ’04, ’08 (Bachelor of Science - Accounting) and Nicki Kremer, Aug. 31, 2019. Among the attendees were former Wingate golfers (from left to right) Garrett Dahms ’07, Jarett Stowe, Iacofano, Antoine LeSaux, Stuart Bryson ’11 and Lukas Richter ’19.

Sean Barnette ’08 and Andrea Carrigan, Aug. 3, 2019. Among the attendees were several of Barnette’s Wingate basketball teammates (from left to right): Jamie Vaughn ’17, Larry Staley ’10, David Johnson ’10, Barnette, Bryan Grier ’08, Fernando Powell ’06, Rosco Turner ’09 and Shaun Kirkland ’07.

Hope Gilley ’12 and Steve Bogaert, Sept. 28, 2019.

Becky Mordas Wolfe ’13 and Max W. Wolfe III ’15, July 13, 2019.

Avery Day ’13 and Jon Bandish, Sept. 28, 2019.

Laura Hartsell ’14, ’19 (Pharm.D) and Justin Crump ’15 (Pharm.D), May 4, 2019.

Katlyn Batts ’18 and Zach Almond ’16, May 4, 2019.

 

Engagements

Larry Staley ’10 and Anna Woody, March of 2020.

 

Those we’ll miss

Taylor Simmons Inman ’53, Aug. 12, 2019

Elizabeth Bundy ’66, Sept. 17, 2019

Tony Reid Koontz ’70, July 10, 2019

Dexter Burns ’75, Jan. 4, 2019

Gregory Heywood Hinson ’76, June 27, 2019

Jeffrey Ellsworth “Jake” Sheaffer ’82, May 20, 2019

Dr. Robert Threatt, accounting professor, Oct. 1, 2019