CLASS NOTES
Updated Spring 2009
CLASS OF 1987
David Porter and Julie Ann Smith were married on November 5, 2008 at the Ocean Lodge on St. Simons Island, Georgia. David is a co-owner of Three Way Campers in Marietta and Julie is a special education paraprofessional at Cobb County’s Vaughan Elementary School. The couple and Julie’s daughters Ashley and Kayla Smith reside in Acworth, Georgia.
CLASS OF 1988
Mark Gillespie is proud to announce the opening of his restaurant, The Hail Mary Sports Pub, located in Grayson, Georgia. The pub features a menu of wings, sandwiches, burgers and salads, as well as a full bar and is open for lunch and dinner.
Dr. Khyati Joshi, Associate Professor at Farleigh Dickinson University, was a speaker at the Commemoration Event for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination held on March 20, 2009 in Vienna, Austria. The session was entitled “Emerging Trends and Developments related to New Forms and Manifestations of Racism and Xenophobia.”
CLASS OF 1992
Gwen (Black) and Jeff Falkowski (photo, left) reside in Big Canoe with their children, Lauren, Noelle and Joshua. Jeff is senior pastor of the Trinity Evangelical Church in Marble Hill, Georgia.
Chris Smith and his wife, Katie, live in Orlando, Kentucky with their sons Aubrey and Asa. Chris is farming over a hundred acres organically and teaching about the methods of organic farming and Katie is a nurse.
CLASS OF 1993
Taryn Coles and Ben Suriano (left) were married in August of 2008 overlooking Puget Sound at Sunset Hill Park in Seattle, Washington. They were surrounded by their immediate families and a few friends, including long- time Walker friends Jane (Bowden, 1993) Gore and Courtney (Miller, 1994) Ward. Taryn moved to Seattle to pursue graduate work in museum studies, after which she worked in development for some exciting arts organizations. Taryn, Ben and their cat, Bela, have moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Ben is pursuing his doctorate in philosophy/theology. The couple enjoys mountain biking and cross country skiing.
Maggie and Danny Holtz reside in Atlanta. Danny is chief resident in surgery at Emory University Hospital.
CLASS OF 1994
Greer Anthony is teaching seventh grade literature and coaching boys’ soccer in an inner city school in Denver. She loves her work and living in Colorado.
CLASS OF 1996
Austin, Texas is home for Gwyneth and Chris Lenfest and their daughters, Adeline (age 3) and Aravis (age 1).
Erika and Michael McGinley are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter, Maya Molina (Maya) McGinley, on November 26, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. Maya was 21.75 inches long and weighed 8 pounds, 14 ounces. The McGinley family resides in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Leslie (Meeler) and Jason Powell were married on March 3, 2007 in Austin, Texas. Leslie, a graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.B.A in marketing, is a marketing analyst with ALK-Abelló. Jason received his MBA from the University of Iowa and is a financial analyst for Dell. The Powells reside in Austin, Texas.
CLASS OF 1997
Katie and Michael Arjona welcomed Lucia Ann (Lucy) Arjona on January 19, 2009. Lucy weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 19 ½ inches long. Katie is the Fine Arts Department Chair and teacher of Upper School drama at Walker. Michael is Walker’s Academic Dean of the Upper School and a teacher of history.
Sarah and Jeff Johnson were thrilled to welcome Cole Michael (Cole) on February 20, 2009. He weighed 5 pounds 12 ounces and was 19 ½ inches long. Jeff made it home from Iraq just in time to be with Sarah for Cole’s arrival. The three Johnsons are happily at home in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Kala Gulledge and John McRae were married on October 11, 2008 at the Alpharetta First United Methodist Church. Fellow class of 1997 Walker graduates Matt Holling (Best Man), Andy Stewart and Jennifer (Stricklen) Sullivan served as John’s attendants. On September 6, 2008, John was pinned as a Captain in the Georgia Army National Guard for which he commands a company of the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. In civilian life, John is assistant project manager with Choate Construction Company, serves on the City of Milton Board of Zoning Appeals and plays guitar and bass in two bands. Kala is with United Community Bank in Cumming. The couple leads a happy life with their two dogs in Milton, Georgia.
Erica and Ryan Sloan live in North Carolina with their wonderful six-year-old daughter, Kira. Erica is an accountant for a mortgage development firm. Ryan is a private security consultant.
CLASS OF 1998
Lauren (Myers) and Justin Mattox are delighted to announce the arrival of their daughter, Kaitlyn James (Kaitlyn) at 12:55 p.m. on January 14, 2009. Kaitlyn weighed 8 pounds and was 21 ½ inches long. The Mattox family are happily enjoying one another’s company at their home in Mableton, Georgia.
CLASS OF 1999
Kris Conrad and Kara Lynn Seitz were married on October 18, 2008. Kris’ brother, Kevin Conrad (2001), and Josh Thompson (1999) served as groomsmen for the ceremony. The couple, both graduates of Auburn University, honeymooned in Maui. Kris, a pilot for Atlantic Southeast Airlines, and Kara, a sales executive, reside in Atlanta.
Charlie Crabbe (1999) and Emily DeCost are engaged to be married in June of 2009. Charlie graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in international affairs. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. Emily, who graduated from KSU with a degree in political science, plans to attend law school in the fall.
Adam O’Day, a 2005 graduate of The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University with a B.F.A in illustration and a diploma in graphic design, is currently living in Boston, Massachusetts. Adam is employed by Marine Systems Corporation, a Navy contractor, for whom he is a designer, photographer and structural engineer. He also creates virtual reality tours of boat interiors. Those who knew Adam will be pleased to know that he continues to be passionate about the world of art and music. Check his website www.freewebs.com/adamoday for upcoming events regarding his art. Adam has participated in many exhibits in the New England area, and he is involved with a few bands, foremost Before Lazers.
CLASS OF 2000
Jonathan Bottoms, who resides in the Atlanta area, is a pilot for ASA airlines flying routes out of Atlanta.
CLASS OF 2001
Kevin Conrad and Laura Hammond (left) were married on June 21, 2008. The couple honeymooned at Cabo San Lucas. Kevin’s brother, Kris Conrad (1999), and Kathryn Voyles (2001) (right) were wedding attendants. Kevin is Operations Manager with Builders’ Surplus and Laura is a kindergarten teacher in Roswell. The couple resides in Marietta, Georgia.
Alex Demestihas and Kelly Gower were united in marriage on October 4, 2008 at the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Marietta, Georgia. Walker alumni who were members of the wedding party include Eleni Demestihas (2013), Ali Ginn (2006), Emily Lane (2005), Mene Demestihas (1998), Peri Demestihas (2005), and 2001 classmates Louis Evans, Erle Newton and Nolan Morris. Alex, an alumnus of Georgia Tech, is a builder of high end homes in Cobb County. Kelly, an alumna of Georgia Tech, is a senior account manager in advertising sales for Yahoo. The couple spent their honeymoon in Peru. Alex and Kelly reside in north Atlanta.
John Shillingburg is serving in Afghanistan as a member of the Alabama National Guard.
CLASS OF 2002
Katie Yendle lives in LaGrange, Georgia with her three dogs. Katie is engaged to Rory Faver, who is an assistant coach at LaGrange College where he is finishing his MAT degree. After their May 2009 wedding in Austin, Texas the couple will reside in LaGrange until Katie completes her master’s degree in speech and language pathology at Auburn University.
CLASS OF 2003
Jessica Zabell and Charles Taylor were married September 27, 2008 at the Groome Inn in Greensboro, North Carolina. Brian Zabell (2006) officiated the wedding. Jess is a counselor at a community counseling agency in St. Louis, Missouri. Charles is a biomedical technician in St. Charles, Missouri where the couple resides.
CLASS OF 2005
Elizabeth Nixon has accepted a summer internship at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. She will be creating illustrations of plant and animal specimens in their collection. She is currently finishing her bachelor’s degrees in biology and technical illustration at the University of Georgia.
CLASS OF 2006
Brian Berkowitz, a junior at Princeton University, was named the Ivy League Player of the Week on March 10, 2009 following a weekend in which he batted .462 as the Tigers took three of four games at William & Mary. For the game series, Brian was 6-for-13 at the plate, with two of the hits leaving the ballpark, as he drove in seven runs and scored five more. Brian is an outfielder and first baseman for the Tigers.
David Hale, a Princeton University junior, batted above .500 for the Tigers’ March 6-8, weekend series with William & Mary. David hit four doubles and drove in five runs. David is a pitcher and infielder for the Tigers.
CLASS OF 2007
Chelsey Binkley was named the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Division I women’s gymnast of the week and Brown University’s student athlete of the week for the week of February 9, 2009.
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