We love hearing from you! Let us know your latest news — new jobs, degrees, children, marriages, recognitions and achievements — by submitting a class note. See notes submitted in previous years here.
Search By Decade
1950s
1959
Carlyle Whitelow was posthumously inducted into the inaugural class of the ODAC Hall of Fame.
1960s
1965
Ralph MacPhail Jr. published Only Idle Chatter from Gilbert & Sullivan Austin, a collection of his newsletter articles and program notes for productions he directed for Gilbert & Sullivan Austin. All proceeds for the book benefit the organization’s scholarship program.
Dr. Phillip C. Stone of Rockingham, Va., was honored by The Abraham Lincoln Association with The Lincoln the Lawyer Award, a national award that recognizes his work in honoring and promoting the legacy of the 16th president of the United States.
1966
The Reverend Warren C. Murphy was awarded the Merlin and Dorothy Faw Garber Award for Christian Service for 2025. Dr. Merlin E. Garber ’36 and his wife, Dorothy Faw Garber ’33, were Bridgewater College alumni and were deeply involved in the life of the Church of the Brethren as pastors. They also shared a great interest in travel and learning from people from all over the world. The award is intended to honor outstanding Christian service.
1968
Mike Guinn competed in the track portion of the National Senior Games in Ames, Iowa, in July 2025. This was his fifth Senior Games. Guinn competed in the 80-84 age group and finished fifth in the 800-meter, sixth in the 400-meter and 10th in the 200-meter. His team finished second on the 4×100-meter relay.
Dr. James E. Upperman published his first book, Three Photos Wiser, a historical fiction novel that tells of his quest to uncover the story of his grandmother’s journey from life as a four-year-old orphan in England to her immigration to the United States in 1913.
1970s
1976
Dr. David C. Huffman, Associate Professor of Economics, celebrated 45 years of service at Bridgewater College.
Ron Lohr and Elizabeth Marks Lohr ’76 retired in 2018 and have been enjoying life.
1980s
1981
Duane E. Harrison was posthumously inducted into the inaugural class of the ODAC Hall of Fame.
1984
Laura C. Stump and Robert Hopkins Jr. were married on Nov. 4, 2024. The couple resides in Stuarts Draft, Va.
1985
Todd A. Gardner opened an art show at the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery at Bridgewater College entitled “iCommentary,” which ran from Oct. 2-29, 2025.
Ashley B. Smith was named to the Virginia 500: The 2025 Power List, published by Virginia Business.
1986
Susan Shaffer Cox and Brad Cox ’86 are co-directors of The World Friendship Center in Hiroshima, Japan, through the Brethren Volunteer Service.
1987
Dr. Barry O. Davis earned his Ph.D. in sports leadership from Concordia University Chicago and published his first book, Old Dog, New Tricks: The Power of Leading with Emotional Intelligence.
1988
Dr. Barbara Hottle Long, Dean of the Nolen School of Business and Professional Studies, celebrated 25 years of service at Bridgewater College.
1990s
1991
Christina Strickler Haag was selected as Teacher of the Year by the Rockingham Education Foundation for the 2024-2025 academic year. He is a reading specialist at Peak View Elementary School in Penn Laird, Va.
Melody Derrow Hinkle was inducted into the inaugural class of the ODAC Hall of Fame.
1993
Stephanie Parrott Haraway retired from Lexington City Schools in August 2024. She worked at both Waddell Elementary and Lylburn Downing Middle Schools in Lexington, Va. She previously worked for Allegheny County Schools.
Shari Huffman Payne and Craig Payne ’94 are happy to announce the birth of their grandchild, Laramie Skye Payne, to Chris and Cierra Payne. Josh Payne ’26 is the uncle.
1994
Craig Payne (see Shari Payne ’93)
1996
Angela Anderson started a new business, Wellness at Serenity Springs, in Millboro, Va. She is a yoga therapist and mental health counselor.
Chris Caldwell received Lord Botetourt High School’s Teacher of the Year award and Botetourt County Public School’s Teacher of the Year award, both for 2024-2025. He is the band director for the Virginia high school.
1997
Allen Hicks was presented with the Excellence in Leadership Award by the Fredericksburg (Va.) Regional Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, vision and dedication in their professional roles and community service.
Photo Credit: Larry Stone, Larry Stone Photography
April Milupi, Marketing Specialist, Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce
1999
Karen Marshall Grady was named the Virginia Region 5 Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Department of Education.
2000s
2000
Joe Meslovich Jr., Network Administrator and IT Security Officer, celebrated 25 years of service at Bridgewater College.
2001
Jennifer Waldron Conley was named Teacher of the Year for 2023-2024 at Prospect Heights Middle School in Orange, Va. She is also the author of Bury Me at Pamunkey: The 250-Year History of North Pamunkey Baptist Church and is on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Historical Society.
Jennifer Sluss McNamee was promoted to the position of Associate Director of New Bridge Weekday Early Education Center in Sandston, Va. She continues to serve as Nursery Coordinator for New Bridge Baptist Church.
2002
Dr. Ryan Keebaugh, Associate Professor of Music, celebrated five years of service at Bridgewater College.
Kirk Monroe and Amanda Monroe celebrated 20 years of marriage. Kirk also celebrated 18 years of service with Estes Express Lines and began volunteering as a tour guide at the Wilton House Museum in Richmond, Va.
2003
Matt Barnhart, Senior Director of Play and Competition for the United States Tennis Association, spent a week in London meeting with international tennis federations and major tennis brands during Wimbledon. He presented on Red Ball Tennis, a modified version of the game for new players. Barnhart encourages fellow Bridgewater alumni to visit redballtennis.com to learn more.
Megan Orndorff Huffman became a member of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.
James A. Meadows was named one of eight inaugural Foundation for Economic Education Teacher Fellows.
2005
Katherine Brinkley was promoted to Director of Board Operations at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.
Dr. Jennie Preto Carr, Associate Professor of Education at Bridgewater College, was selected as the 2025 William Lowry Mathematics Educator of the Year by the Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Jared Chalk was named as one of the Most Influential People in Coastal Virginia for the 2025 CoVaBIZ Magazine.
Justin Pruett started a new position as Director of Claims and Litigation at Ascension Healthcare.
Jonathan Steck was selected as a recipient of the 2025 Dawbarn Education Award. Established in 1992, the award recognizes educators in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County, Va., who make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. He is a social worker for Waynesboro Public Schools.
Justin Traxler, Data Management Specialist, celebrated 20 years of service at Bridgewater College.
2006
John Jeniec Jr. competed in the National American Power Boat Association bracket 400 class, winning both National and World Championship titles.
Elizabeth Lamm was awarded the Maryland Office of the Public Defender’s In Re: Gault Award for 2025. The award is given to an attorney for their exemplary advocacy in the fight to protect the due process rights of juvenile clients.
2008
Laura M. Daniel earned her M.S. in education in career and technical education from Virginia Tech in fall 2024.
Jennifer Upshaw Porter and Benjamin Porter welcomed a child, Benjamin Franklin Porter II, born in March. Benjamin is also the first grandchild of Robert “Buck” Upshaw ’80 and Penny Alderman Upshaw ’82. The family resides in Fredericksburg, Va.
Amber Stewart Willis and Jonathan Willis were married on March 17, 2025. The couple resides in Ludowici, Ga.
2009
Brandon Spalding and Ann Carlisle Strole were married in July 2025. The couple resides in Lexington, Va.
2010s
2010
Will Osborne and Leah Andersen Osborne ’10 welcomed a child, Theodore, in July. The family resides in Midlothian, Va.
Alaina Erbaugh Pfeiffer, owner of InMotion School of Dance, began teaching chair tap classes for seniors at the Bridgewater Retirement Community in Bridgewater, Va.
Lindsay Spencer Wisniewski and Andrew Wisniewski were married in June 2024. The couple resides in Williamsburg, Va.
2011
Jordan Hartman was inducted into the Millbrook (Va.) High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Heather Houchens was made partner at The Jones Group CPAs & Consultants, PLC after being with the firm for 14 years.
2012
Haley Johnson Bennett and Matthew Bennett ’12 welcomed a child, Theodore “Teddy” Bennett, in May. The family resides in Washington state.
Leigh Bradley and Amanda Bradley welcomed a child, Steele, born in March. The family resides in Lake Worth, Fl.
2013
Katie Hottinger Paden and Christian Paden welcomed a child, Zahari Rae, born in June 2024. The family resides in Linville, Va.
2014
Cory Blanton started a new position as Assistant Principal at East Rockingham High School in Harrisonburg, Va.
Clarissa E. Sanders was promoted to Director of Interpretation and Programs at the Fredericksburg Area Museum in Fredericksburg, Va.
Ronnie Thomas was named the new men’s basketball Head Coach at Longwood University in Farmville, Va.
Summer Rain Ursomarso was named to the Top 50 Women Leaders of Virginia for 2025 by Women We Admire.
2015
Travis Chittum and Kelsey Limbert Chittum ’16 welcomed twin boys, Calvin and Griffin, born in May. The family resides in Dayton, Ohio.
Paxton Sauerwald Sutphin and Taylor Sutphin welcomed a child, born in January. The couple resides in Roanoke, Va.
2016
Kelsey Limbert Chittum (see Travis Chittum ’15)
Emily Higgins Eby started a new position as Marketing and Social Media Specialist for the City of Harrisonburg (Va.) Tourism Department.
Joshua J. Gooden was named one of 15 Under 50 by the Daily News-Record for his work as the mayor of Elkton, Va.
Kristen Harsh-Knupp and Aaron Knupp welcomed their son, Oliver Allen Knupp, in June 2024. The couple resides in Rockingham, Va.
Alex Szucs of Grottoes, Va., was chosen as a 2025 Educator of the Year for Harrisonburg City Public Schools. Alex is an ESL teacher at Spotswood Elementary School in Harrisonburg, Va.
2017
Brady Winter and Rachel McCuller Winter ’18 welcomed their daughter, Claire Margaret Winter, in December 2024. The couple resides in Waynesboro, Va.
2018
Breanna Ratigan Hiegel and Jamie Hiegel ’19 were married on November 2, 2024. The couple resides in Roanoke, Va. Alumni in attendance were Isabel Lopez ’18, Maddison Teasley ’18, Trey Gibson ’17, John Denlinger ’19, Katie Lake ’18 and Gabe Lake ’19.
Rachel McCuller Winter (see Brady M. Winter ’17)
2019
Jamie Hiegel (see Breanna Ratigan Hiegel ’18)
Andrew Kegley was named the Senior Associate Athletic Trainer for Texas A&M’s men’s basketball team.
Lauryn E. Kelley won Best Wedding/Event Planner category in the Best in the Valley Awards, published by the Daily News-Record. Her business is Bouquets & Bustles.
Kadera Lyburn and Kyaer E. Lee ’20 were married on June 12, 2025.
Alisha Redmon was selected as a Moorefield (W.Va.) Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
John Settle published his first book, The Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution’s Southern Campaigns. He currently teaches 7th grade history and civics at Powhatan Middle School in Powhatan, Va.
2020s
2020
Emily Witzke Bagby was promoted to Head Coach of Bridgewater College’s women’s field hockey program.
Kasey Carns and Calvin Ledford welcomed a child, Magnolia Mae Ledford, in January. The family resides in New Windsor, Md.
Kyaer E. Lee (see Kadera Lyburn ’19)
Bethany Newman Lough opened her own musical studio business, Musical Journeys LLC, in October 2024. The music studio in Harrisonburg, Va., offers private lessons and public classes for all ages.
Anthony Marasco was named Athletic Director at Rockbridge County (Va.) High School.
Keon Nesmith, Director of Residential Life and Community Standards, celebrated five years of service at Bridgewater College.
Tom Shue started a new position as Major Account Sales District Manager at ADP.
2021
Dean Barker started a new position as Director of Business Development at Titan Medical Solutions.
2022
Chad Jones and Nadia Valle Jones ’22 started a new business, Charlie Prints Vending, which provides vintage vending machines that dispense custom stickers and prints for events such as weddings, bridal showers and other special occasions. They also have two machines with mini prints designed by local artists that are circulating around Virginia and were recently featured at Heritage Bakery and Asdelia Mae Boutique in Harrisonburg, Va.
2023
Grace Hayes Blanks was selected as the new varsity volleyball Head Coach for Nelson County (Va.) High School.
Megan R. Byle, Assistant Director of Motion Graphics and Video Design for University of Oklahoma, worked on several projects and helped the University of Oklahoma win Best Overall University Production at IDEA’s Golden Matrix Awards.
Salim Solayman was promoted to Project Engineer II at Timmons Group.
2024
Kwinton Banks started a new position as Store Manager at Music & Arts in Kempsville, Va.
Lydia Hart started a new position as Digital Marketer and Content Creator at Hugo Kohl Fine Jewelry in Harrisonburg, Va.
Noah Hughes was named Head Coach for tennis at Bridgewater College.
Elena Larcombe started a new position as the Director of Operations for the track and field/cross country team at William & Mary.
Raymond Plunkett started a new position as Market Development Representative for Rimini Street. He was also promoted to Senior Sales Development Representative at memoryBlue.
Olivia Stieler started a new position as Athletic Trainer at Orange County (Va.) Public Schools.
2025
Laura Alinani started a new position as Systems Programmer at Credit Union West.
Caleb Brock started a new position as Director of Player Development for the Virginia Soccer Association.
Rory Cantwell started a new position as Graduate Research Assistant at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va.
Briana Carlsen started a new position as Reservations Specialist at The Jefferson Hotel.
Tyler Crew started a position teaching eighth grade social studies at Salem Middle School in Virginia Beach, Va.
Richard Fox III started a position as Financial Aid Advisor at ECPI University.
Cam Herron started a new position as an Operations Assistant at Nielsen Builders, Inc. in Harrisonburg, Va.
Drew Huber started a position as staff consultant in the Contract Compliance practice at SC&H after completing a summer internship.
Matthew Leonard started a position as Accounts Receivable Specialist at CoStar Group in Richmond, Va.
Jared Mullins started a position as Business Service Specialist for the Harrisonburg branch of Farm Credit of the Virginias.
Erica Nelson was awarded the Bridgewater College Citizenship Award, given annually to a graduating senior in recognition of their good citizenship and contributions to the campus community.
Grayson Preece started a new position as Digital Media Coordinator at Bridgewater College.
Jana Shyti started a new position as Data Analyst at Ridgewood Savings Bank.
Alex Thompson started a new position as Pathways Adviser at AdviseVA.
Eric Wilbur started a new position as Student Researcher at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.
