Kristi Sammis
As of: 08/20/2009
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: Peterson
Children: 1 daughter-Kensley, 3 years old and another daughter on the way!
City: Kailua
State: Hawaii
Facebook: www.facebook/kristi.peterson3
Email Address: klsammis -at- hotmail -dot- com
I graduated from JMU in 2001 with a BA in English. After college I worked for a large home building company in the northern VA area for a few years until I met my husband, Erik. We got married in May of 2004. Erik is a Captain in the Marine Corps and flies F-18 fighter jets. Erik's job keeps us moving a lot! Since 2004 we have lived in Virginia Beach, VA, Bluffton, SC, Quantico, VA and we currently live in Kailua, HI. We had our beautiful daughter, Kensley Lynn, in May of 2006 and she certainly keeps us busy and entertained! We are currently expecting our second child, another girl, due in November!
We are making the most of our opportunity to move to numerous places! Hawaii is an amazing and beautiful place to call home, and we are thoroughly enjoying our time here. We will move again next year, destination to be determined. Along with our military lifestyle comes long deployments to endure. I am continually proud and impressed by my husband, who his currently on his third combat deployment. I'm also proud of my daughter and myself for coping with them. I am a stronger person because of it!
I look forward to catching up with fellow classmates, and hope to see many of you again at future reunions!
Rebekah Saxton
As of: 08/25/2007
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: Troxell
Children: Thunder (4 1/2 yr old German Shepherd) and Malcom (11 mo old Blue Heeler)
City: Clovis
State: NM
Company: State Farm
MySpace: www.myspace.com/bekahhope
The first part of my past 10 years took place smack in the middle of happy Shenandoah Valley like so many other of our classmates. I attended JMU, graduated in 2001 after changing majors from Theatre, to Media Arts and Design, then finally to Studio Art.
Immediately after college, I tried my hand at freelance graphic design and decided that was a crappy fit for me. Art and deadlines just don't equate to fun for me...plus I wasn't as good as I needed to be.
Oddly enough, my favorite job while still in VA was managing a Cottman Transmission. It worked out well for nearly a year until I'd met and spoken with enough people who honestly believed the entire world existed within two or three states on the east coast. I thought I'd better branch out and see a few things before I fell into the same rut. I'd never intended to stay in Harrisonburg after college and here another four years had already passed by.
First home after the Blue Ridge Mountains...Las Vegas, NV. I lived there for a year and a half and am so glad I did. I learned a lot about myself and being an adult, and found my current career path in the field of insurance. The nerd in me kicked hard enough, and I love where it's brought me. Eventually I plan to follow it on a legal route (but not as a full-fledged lawyer) and hope to be involved in Insurance Law - but I have some time and more schooling yet for that.
From there I moved to Tempe, AZ to work in the State Farm Claims office and completely embraced the turn around that had begun in my life a couple months prior when I reconnected with my former next door neighbor, David Troxell (class of '98).
After our marriage in May of 2006, I left my claims job to finish David's assignment with him in South Korea (David is a Captain in the USAF). From Korea, we flew to Seattle, WA where we drove and camped down the west coast and across the country to get to our new home in Florida. We visited all the major National Parks along the way and made some amazing memories. I highly recommend it.
Florida remained our home for only nine months while David attended Explosive Ordinance School (i.e. bomb squad), and currently we're stationed at Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM where he is the Flight Commander for the EOD Flight here - and I'm back to making insurance happen instead of dealing with claims. It is incredibly rural here, but the sky and the people are fantastic.
It's been fun reading all the posted bios and I'll be thinking of you all if I can't make it to the reunion.
Sara Schwartz
As of: 08/08/2007
Marital Status: married
New Last Name: Bolen
Children: Kayla 4, Samantha 2
City: Hamilton
State: VA
Company: Heritage High School
Title: Health and PE teacher
Home Phone: 540 338 6477
Cell Phone: 703 727 2733
Email Address: bearsmuter -at- yahoo -dot- com
After High School I attended Frostburg State University for 4 years where I played volleyball with Jen Long. I graduated with a degree in Health and Physical Education teaching K-12. I got married that summer to Russell Bolen. We have been married 6 years now! Crazy!
My first job was at Sterling MIddle School, while I was teaching there I coached Freshman Basketball with Coach Keilty at Valley. Then I transferred to Harmony Intermediate where I worked with a lot of our old teachers, like Mrs. VanGilder and Mr. Barton. After that I started coaching at Heritage, I did basketball and volleyball, the following year I began teaching there. While I was there I was working with Ms. Keilty, Mr. Pearson (since retired) and Mrs. Hill, all old Valley teachers. It is still weird to work with some of my old teachers! The last 3 years I have been working part time (every other day) so I can stay home with my girls!
The girls are such a joy! Everyday is different. Kayla (4) is just like me, it is scary, she is very quite and thinks alot about things. Samie is just like her daddy, wild, crazy, so much fun! They are complete opposites.
Karen, my older sister is living in Florida, she travels alot with her job. Laura my younger sister is getting married (August 11th) and going to nursing school.
I think that about covers it! I have no plans for the future, in 20 years, I see myself right where I am! I will work part time as long as they let me, and hopefully stay at Heritage.
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Jessica Smith
As of: 08/13/2007
Marital Status: single
Children: Daphne (vizsla puppy) & Bunny (horse)
City: Arlington
State: VA
Company: uncle sam
Title: financial analyst
Email Address: jessicaiva -at- gmail -dot- com
After Valley went to William and Mary, graduated 2001 w/ Economics degree... have since been working in DC for various government agencies doing financial analysis / econometric modeling (yawn)...currently finishing up a masters in applied economics at Johns Hopkins...living in arlington with friends, going out too much, pretending it has not been 10 years, keeping a horse in Middleburg and foxhunting to maintain my sanity when the city wears on me, which is often.
Justin Smith
As of: 02/07/2009
Nick Name: jungle
Marital Status: single
City: leesburg
State: VA
Company: walmart
Title: over night I.C.S
Facebook: www.facebook.com/justnlsmith
Email Address: justnlsmith -at- gmail -dot- com (note: there is no letter "i" in the first name of email address)
party like a rock star
joined the navy
got married
went to this stupid war
got divorced
left the navy
party like a rock star
some more
turned 30 and got serious aboult life still working on that.
Georgia Sowers
As of: 08/18/2007
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: McGranahan
Children: Kayleigh-6, Anastasia-4, Foster Children Ryan-4, Steven-8
City: Bluemont
State: VA
Company: Loudoun Management Associates
Title: Property Manager
Home Phone: 540-955-5557
Email Address: mcgranahan1 -at- gmail -dot- com
Went to JMU after leaving Valley. Studied Graphic Design. (Got the degree, haven't used it.) In April of 2000, I came home home early from JMU b/c I temporarily went blind (optic neuritis for those medical folk). I ended up being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. A month later my Dad suddenly died of a massive heart attack in his early 50's. A month after that, I discovered I was pregnant. After three tough strikes, things have all gotten much better since then. My MS has never acted up again. I don't take any medication and am doing great.
I got married to Brian McGranahan in December of 2000, and had my first child Kayleigh in February. Despite my mother's despair when i announced my pregnancy, Kayleigh ended up filling a major hole in my mother's life and was a huge blessing. Since then, we've been living in the area, had another baby, bought a house and have worked on it every weekend since. Started working part time recently, b/c although i love my kids, i also enjoy being able to answer the question "So, what do you do?" In April i took on a new challenge of being a foster parent. We got two boys, and have adjusted to the abrupt change in family size. They are great boys and have filled and enriched our lives. With that i must go join the family camp out night about 50 yards from my house. Cracks me up that kids find that fun. Hey, i can't complain, a fun night out and it only costs me some graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows.
Look forward to seeing you all soon.
Samantha Spinks
As of: 08/09/2007
Nick Name: Sam
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: Potter
Children: Nathaniel (Nate) age 4.5
City: Winchester
State: Va
Company: Heritage Hall
Title: Certified Nursing Assistant
Home Phone: 540-665-5146
Cell Phone: 703-606-0937
Email Address: potter5112 -at- aol -dot- com
Right after high school I moved to Kansas City, to "break away" needless to say I got homesick a few months later. I switched jobs a few times until I found my passion in life. For the last few years I have been working as a certified nursing assistant with the elderly, and am soon going to be starting nursing school to get either my LPN or my RN license.
My husband and I got married in may of 2002. We welcomed our son in February of 2003. We traveled some when we first got married. We lived in Alaska for almost two years, We were stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks. It was beautiful. Really cold in the winter and very bright in the summer. Try 20 hours of daylight and midnight ball games.
Well though it doesn't seem like much I am pretty happy with the way things have turned out in my life.
Kelly Stowers
As of: 08/21/2007
Marital Status: In a Relationship
City: Waterford
State: Virginia
Company: Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital
Title: Human Resource Manager
Company Website: www.streamvalleyvet.com
Cell Phone: 540-328-5172
Email Address: cowqueen1 -at- aol -dot- com
I graduated from University of Maryland in 2005 with a management degree. For the past year I have been working as a human resource manager at Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital in Ashburn, VA. I am currently in a 5 year relationship with no plans to marry anytime soon. We have 1 dog (boxer - Dylan), 2 cows and 2 horses.
Becky Styer
As of: 05/26/2011
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: Bradford
Children: Three children: Emily 8, Clara 6, Jacob 5
City: Charles Town
State: WV
Company: B2E Consulting Engineers
Title: Designer/Drafter
Email Address: rebeccabradford -at- rocketmail -dot- com
Went to NOVA as an Interior Design student. Started out as a Kitchen Designer for 3 years then moved to a large Architectural Firm designing and renovating schools. Have had the opportunity to work on a lot of Loudoun county schools over the years. At the present time I an working for a Engineering firm in Leesburg working on schools and rec. centers.
Angela Sumner
As of: 08/16/2007
Nick Name: Angie
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: Cross
Children: 2 - Julie (3 years), Kendall (8 months)
City: Leesburg
State: VA
Company: Loudoun Country Day School
Title: Kindergarten Teacher
Company Website: www.lcds.org/mrs._cross
MySpace: www.myspace.com/angie2teachk
Home Phone: 703.443.1708
Cell Phone: 703.431.4039
Email Address: angie.cross -at- lcds -dot- org
After high school, I went to Virginia Tech and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. I then continued at Tech to finish my masters in Education in 2002. After graduating from college, I traveled abroad for 6 weeks and went backpacking through Europe. I also attended two international study tours in Reggio Emilia, Italy where I studied education.
After all of this "studying". I accepted a job at Loudoun Country Day School (a private school in Leesburg). I am still working there as a Kindergarten teacher and am attempting to juggle the tricky demands of work and family.
Speaking of family... many of you remember Josh Cross (that hunky basketball player!?), well after dating in high school and through college, we got married in 2003. We had our first daughter Julie in 2004 and we just added another little girl to the family, Kendall, in December 2006. Now we are living in Leesburg and just enjoying spending time with family and friends!
Erika Tiedemann
As of: 08/08/2007
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: Moore
Children: Alexander 2
City: Cleveland
State: Tennessee
Company: Lee University
Title: Assistant Director of Church Relations
Company Website: www.voicesoflee.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/ebmoore
Cell Phone: 423-400-8295
Email Address: teed24 -at- yahoo -dot- com
Well, were do I begin, after graduation I stayed around Loudoun County for one more year and attended NOVA. After that I went to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. There I graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice.
I was married in 2003 to a man named Jeremy Moore. We have been living in Cleveland, TN for the last 4 years. I had a baby on September 23, 2005, his name is Alexander. He will be 2 at the end of September. I stayed home with him for 2 years, managed our car business, but recently I have gone back to work. I am the Assistant Director of Church Relations at Lee University here in Cleveland. Things have been great and I'm looking forward to the 10 year reunion to catch up on everyone and what they have been doing.
Christan Tipton
As of: 08/13/2007
Marital Status: In a Relationship
Children: 6 (His-1, Hers-4, Ours-1)
City: Lumberton
State: NC
Company: Acme Elec. Corp.
Title: CSR (CSM in training)
MySpace: www.myspace.com/chrisbase6
Cell Phone: 910-536-8094
Email Address: ctipton6 -at- yahoo -dot- com
My life has been a rollercoaster. I was married in 1998 (worst mistake ever, really should have listened to my family & friends) and divorced in 2004. The best part of the marriage was being blessed with 3 beautiful children: Quinten (8), Stasia (6) and Mason (5). In Dec. 2002, I packed the kids and we moved to NC to be with my family. I love it here! A few months later, I met the love of my life and soulmate Robbie Shockley. Rob and I were then blessed with another angel Alyssa (3). We have such a wonderful family. He has a son Dalton who is 11, and of course every one remembers Zachary who is almost 13! Wow, time flys! Zach is grown (or he thinks so), and is so very bright. He was selected 2 years ago to attend the Clarkton School of Discovery (a gifted school) and has been on the A honor roll since Pre-K. And just to add to our "brady-bunch" family, we have 2 Boxers: Bruno & Daisey (who act just like kids). I have been blessed with a career I love and a beautiful family!
In June/July of 2006, I was diagnosed with Chrohn's disease. I was put on a daily dose of approx. 24 pills for 10 months. One included a Chemo Pill, which is also used to treat lymphoma and lukimia that I will be taking for the next 5 years. I have been doing much better, and have been able to reduce my daily meds over 1/2.
We are about less than an hour from the NC/SC coast line, so we spend a lot of time at the beach, Bike Rally's, fishing, and on the road taking my ex's 3 up to VA for visitation.
I am so excited to see everyone after 10 years! If you are ever on the way to the beach, stop by NC Exits 22-14 and say HELLO!
Christi Unterwagner
As of: 08/18/2007
Nick Name: Noel-my middle name
Marital Status: married
New Last Name: Welsh
Children: Jonah-2, Ava-5 months
City: Purcellville
State: Virginia
Company: stay at home mom
Home Phone: 540-338-9202
Cell Phone: 540-454-5977
Email Address: welsh1977 -at- msn -dot- com
The summer after graduation, I went to a big Christian music festival called Creation, where I met my future husband, Sean Welsh. We dated through my years at JMU and got married soon after I graduated in 2001.
Sean began working at Loudoun Valley and I began working at an adult day care center for seniors with Alzheimer's disease. Last September, we adopted our son, Jonah from Russia. I subsequently resigned from my job as an activities director and began my new job as a stay at home mom! We also just had our baby girl, Ava in March of this year. It's been a wonderful ride-never boring!
Catherine Warner
As of: 09/01/2007
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: same as before
City: Philadelphia
State: PA
Company: UPenn
Title: grad student
Email Address: catherinahwarner -at- yahoo -dot- com
After high school, I graduated from UVA with a degree in linguistics. I also studied abroad in Varanasi, India, for a year. After graduating, I went back to India to volunteer with a women's educational organization in Maharashtra. I continued studying Hindi while in India and became pretty fluent. I ran a small modern art gallery with some friends and then ended up working for a study abroad company leading college-aged students around North India. All in all, I spent almost four years in India. While there, I met my husband in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Now, I am back in the states for awhile (with my husband), but will be returning to South Asia for research, and maybe someday for work. I currently live in Philadelphia where I am a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania in South Asia Studies, with a focus in history. Umesh and I got married last November. We have two adorable kittens- one adopted from the animal shelter and one a former stray from a stray cat rescue organization I am volunteering for. Being back in school is wonderful but stressful too sometimes. But I think after all these years I am really finally able to appreciate it :) Besides school and volunteer work, I also work on campus for the off-campus housing office, which is a really fun job and helps pay the bills. So, life stays pretty busy. Hence, I will not be able to make it to the reunion. I hope everyone has a great time!
Monica Wiegand
As of: 08/12/2007
Children: Wayne-9 Lillian-3
City: Hagerstown
State: MD
Company: Boy Scouts of America
Title: Washington County Training Chair
MySpace: www.myspace.com/feadreams
Email Address: Monica_Wiegand -at- yahoo -dot- com
I have been busy raising 2 kids and enjoying life.
I have been working for the Boy Scouts of America Mason Dixon Council as Washington County Training Chair for about two years now. I have been working with the Boy Scouts going on 4 years now. I find working with the adults and boys an extremely rewarding experience. These things by themselves have been filling my life to it's limits the past 10 years.
Mollie Williams
As of: 09/09/2007
Marital Status: Engaged
City: Reston
State: VA
Company: Gannett Co., Inc.
Title: Supervisor of Federal Tax Compliance
Email Address: mwilliams415 -at- hotmail -dot- com
I graduated from JMU in 2001 with my degree in Accounting.
After my internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), I decided to take a full time job after graduation. I moved to Arlington with a group of girls and began the busy post college life of working and hanging out with friends. Over the next year, I studied for and passed the CPA. After 2 years of working long hours and weekends, I decided to make a job switch. I have been working at Gannett (USA Today) in their tax department for the past 4 years where I am a Tax Supervisor for federal compliance.
I really had fun living in Arlington with friends and enjoying everything DC had to offer. After many years of crossing paths with next door neighbor, Chris Marchant, (LVHS '95, JMU '99) we began dating after running into each other once again at a JMU happy hour in Arlington.
We recently got engaged and are busy planning a May 2008 wedding in Key West. If I am not busy wedding planning, I am working on our new house in Reston. I also enjoy reading, cooking, exercising, boating, traveling and visiting with family and friends.
I look forward to catching up with everyone at the reunion and for those of you who can't make it; I hope things are going well!
Talayeh Williams
As of: 08/23/2007
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: Witt
Children: Due with our first child in early October, don't know the sex yet!
City: Stafford
State: VA
Company: Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy Associates
Title: Physical Therapist Assistant
Email Address: vt2001tat -at- aol -dot- com
I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2001 and also met my husband, Mike, that Fall after graduating. I went back to school for physical therapy, and now work at a clinic in Fredericksburg. Mike and I live in Stafford. My parents still live in Waterford and it's crazy seeing how things have changed out there in the past ten years! We are expecting our first child around October 10th. I wish I could come to the reunion, but a good friend is getting married that weekend.
Ellen Woodall
As of: 08/14/2007
Marital Status: Married
New Last Name: Meyer
Children: None yet!
City: Charlottesville
State: Virginia
Company: Moments Wedding and Event Production
Title: Owner/Wedding-Event Planner
Company Website: www.moments-events.com
Email Address: ellenjmu -at- yahoo -dot- com
Wow- crazy to think it has been 10 years! After LVHS, I went to JMU and graduated in 2001. While at JMU, I met my husband, Brant, though we were together for almost 8 years before we married in 2006. Too much to do before we settled down!
We spent a summer in Buenos Aires, Argentina teaching English and practicing Spanish - we backpacked for 3 months through Central America - then we moved to Kauai, Hawaii where we lived for almost 4 years. That was were I founded my event planning company and have now planned over 400 weddings. PHEW!
After we got engaged, we decided we needed to 'nest' closer to home, so we settled back in Charlottesville - a VERY reluctant move from Hawaii, let me tell ya! But, I have been able to get back in touch with so many people - including my LoCo peeps - so it has been a blessing. I have always planned weddings/events as a living - though I have also worked various full-time jobs to supplement those times when I was burnt out from too many bridezillas.
Looking forward to seeing everyone!
Victor Zottig
As of: 08/08/2007
Nick Name: Vic
Marital Status: Single
City: Charlottesville
State: VA
Company: University of Virginia
Title: Graduate Student
Company Website: www.faculty.virginia.edu/harman1
Home Phone: 434-296-7142
Cell Phone: 910-489-6905
Email Address: zottig01 -at- hotmail -dot- com
Since Valley I spent 4 years at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) getting a B.S. degree in Chemistry with a minor in History. The day before graduating from VMI, I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. I started my Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in May of 2001 and finished October 2001. I then spent 3 weeks in Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia becoming an Army paratrooper. From Airborne School I went straight to Fort Bragg, North Carolina were I spent the rest of my time in the Army.
I started in the 82nd Airborne Division as a Chemical Officer for an Artillery battalion. I changed jobs almost yearly at Fort Bragg, holding a Platoon Leader position in 101st Chemical Company, Executive Officer in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Airborne Corps, and Chemical Officer (Chemo) in 20th Engineer Brigade. While at Bragg I participated in two training exercise at Fort Polk, LA; a 30 day exercise in South Korea, and two tour in Iraq. In February 2006 I got out of the Army and took a 30 day vacation traveling throughout Europe.
In the summer of 2006 I started graduate school at UVA for a degree in Organic Chemistry. I'm enjoying grad school and I've joined a good research group directed by Dr. Dean Harman working in Organic / Organometallic Chemistry.
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