Class Notes

1950s

Eleanor Watkins ’52 Whitsett received a Doctorate of Humane Letters in June from Southern Nazarene University after her many years of private organ lessons and teaching Hymnology.

1960s

Carol Sue Ray ’67 received the 2023 Service Excellence Award at the Bluegrass Hospitality Awards held in Lexington, Ky.

1970s

• Linda Watson ’71 Owen is the Mississippi Poetry SocieGene Ezell ’70 started his 50th year of teaching at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.ty’s Poet of the Year. She is enjoying the honor of representing the Society with readings from her POY book, “A Gift of Dappled Light,” which is a compilation of her award-winning and reader favorite poems, available on Amazon.
• Dixey Behnken ’72 published a book of memoirs in Jan 2022, titled “Marked by Miracles, Journey with the Divine.” It is available on Amazon and Kindle.
• Phil Webster ’77 has appeared in character as John Jay for 25 years. He has performed in places like Federal Hall on Wall Street, the Naval Academy, a reenactment of the signing of the Treaty of Paris at the Treaty of Paris Inn at Annapolis, the John Jay Homestead and other places. He wrote “1776 FAITH: The Christian Worldview of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence” and “1787 FAITH: The Christian Worldview of the Signers of the Constitution.” They can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Xulon Press. On July 20, he addressed the Evangelical Church Alliance in Colorado Springs, Co., as John Jay to the ministers and chaplains at a conference.
• Ted Faye ’77 released three books titled “The Twelve Mule Team of Death Valley,” “Death Valley Gold Rush” and “Goldfield.” They can be found on Amazon.

1980s

• After 43 years of ministry, David Grout ’80 retired June 5, 2023, spending 35 of those years ordained in the UMC. He and Pam Ritchey ’79 Grout are looking forward to retirement in Bradenton, Fla.
• Ian Layton ’80 retired after 40+ years in the insurance software industry. His wife, Cindy Grout ’79 Layton, retired from United Methodist Church ministry in June 2022.
• Jay Edwards ’80 authored the book “Daniel: Absolutes in a Gray World and Power, Business, and Politics.” It is available on Kindle and Amazon. Jay and Kirsten Webster ’80 Edwards have been missionaries in South America since 1987.
• John Bruner ’87, a professor of film and media arts, received the Teaching Excellence & Campus Leadership Award on Sept. 11 from Taylor University.

1990s

• Jill Leasure ’92 Higgins published a devotional titled “Grateful for God A through Z.” It is available on Amazon.
• Greg Jacobs ’96 was promoted to Assistant Vice President in Branch Exams with LPL Financial.
• Michael Foraker ’95 is the Manager and Creative Director for NewsNation/ Nexstar Media Group.
• Lisa Gibbs ’97 Hamilton released “Complete Psalms Bible Study Journal, Intimately Knowing the God of the Bible Through Personal Study” in July 2023. It can be purchased from Amazon.
• Brad Griffin ’98 released his newest book, “Faith Beyond Youth Group” in November 2023, featuring research from the Fuller Youth Institute on character- forming discipleship. It is published by Baker Books and full details can be found here: faithbeyondyouthgroup.com.

2000s

• Allison Shuey ’05 Buzard earned her Doctorate of Social Work in May 2023. Her dissertation research explored anti-racist pedagogy implementation within social work education. In June, she accepted a position as the Master’s of Science in Social Work (MSSW) Program Director and Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s College of Social Work, Nashville Campus.
• Mark Siverling ’03 was ordained by the elders of Summit Church in Fort Myers, Florida in August 2023.
• Lisa Hall ’07 was the resident organist at Chester Cathedral, Cheshire, England, from July 10 through July 16 during the choral residency of the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Lexington, Ky.

2010s

• Ryan Milford ’14, Joshua Forringer ’17, and Adam Rousey ’18 recently started a podcast called “Bravely Discord.” If you can name it, they can probably do an episode on it, but they always strive to keep God at the center regardless of the topic.
• Phillip ’14 and Hillary Fisher ’14 Jackson welcomed Palmer James Jackson on May 22. Proud grandparents include John ’65 and Jane Edgett ’63 Scudder.
• Emma Saska ’18 published her debut young adult novel, “March & Feather.” It is available at most major online book retailers in paperback and ebook.
• Derek ’17 and Alexandra Gaines are proud to announce the arrival of Norah on March 21, 2023.
• Caitlin Gagnon ’16 competed in the World Aquatics Masters World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, August 2-11. She placed tenth in the 400 freestyle, earning a World Aquatics Top Ten Diploma.
• Bradley Strait ’19 is a managing associate in the Firm’s Environment and Natural Resources practice in Lexington. He recently was recently asked to
  serve as a chair of the Kentucky Bar Association’s Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Law Section.

2020s

• Katharine Doty ’21 is the Resident Director at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
• Vivienne Feiser ’21 is moving to serve North African refugees in Southern France. Please keep her in your prayers.
• TikTok fan favorite Sophie Diener ’21 debuted her poetry collection, “Someone Somewhere Maybe,” about first love, first heartbreak, first loss, identity and self-worth. This book is available on Amazon and in bookstores across the Nation.