<![CDATA[North Cross School

<![CDATA[North Cross School - Class Notes]]>Wed, 20 May 2026 20:03:45 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Class Notes May 2025]]>Mon, 19 May 2025 18:12:22 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-may-2025

Joshua Fleisher '04, Director of Golf Course Maintenance at Addison Reserve Country Club in Delray Beach, Florida, was recently spotlighted in a golf industry publication about the $24 million course renovation he and his team completed with Rees Jones. To read more, click here.

]]><![CDATA[Class Notes - April 2024]]>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 17:42:23 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-april-2024

Congratulations to Catherine P. Bradshaw '93, a University of Virginia Professor and senior associate dean for research at UVA’s School of Education and Human Development, for being elected to the National Academy of Education, one of the highest accolades a researcher in the field of education can attain!

A member of the UVA faculty since 2013, Bradshaw is a leading national expert on bullying and school climate, the development of aggressive behavior, and school-based prevention of behavioral and mental health problems. She also serves as a faculty fellow with the University’s Office of the Vice President of Research.

Read more here.

]]><![CDATA[Class Notes - February 2024]]>Mon, 26 Feb 2024 20:44:54 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-february-2024

Since graduating from Hampden-Sydney College in 2020, Harrison Wells '17 has had an exciting career in the military! After college, Harrison attended Navy Officer Candidate School and commissioned as an Ensign in Newport, RI; graduated from Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation (NIFE) in Pensacola, FL; and conducted Primary Flight Training from in Corpus Christi, TX. He has since been selected for Navy Strike/Fighters out of Primary Flight Training and will be flying the T-45C for tailhook training and learning the fundamentals of Fighter/Attack aircraft in Kingsville, TX. In a recent email to our alumni team, Harrison said, "All of the branches (especially the Navy), offer incomparable experiences and opportunities for virtually any style of career path." North Cross is proud of what you've accomplished, Harrison!

]]><![CDATA[Class Notes - January 2024]]>Mon, 29 Jan 2024 19:44:14 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-january-2024

Congratulations to North Cross School Alumni Board Member and Salem Red Sox General Manager, Allen Lawrence '96, who will serve as the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce 2024 Board President! Allen has been active with the chamber for many years and has served in a multitude of capacities including the Executive Board and several volunteer committees.

]]><![CDATA[Class Notes - April 2023]]>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 19:15:33 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-april-2023

Gregory Kwaczala (Sides) '06 was recently promoted to Vice President of Strategy, Equity and Advancement at Youth Research Incorporated (YRI). YRI is the affiliate nonprofit of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. In his new role as Vice President, Greg will be responsible for further developing the agency's theory of change model, advancing our commitment as an anti-racist agency that centers equity in our work, and ensuring that the children and families in New York are supported by a child and family well being system that offers opportunity, autonomy and possibility. While at North Cross, Greg was a founding member of Voices for Inclusion By Education (VIBE) a student led group that explored diversity in all its forms. That involvement shaped his interest and put him on a path to this exciting opportunity. Greg lives in Albany, New York with his husband Kramer.

]]><![CDATA[Class Notes - March 2021]]>Fri, 19 Mar 2021 14:44:47 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-march-2021

Kirk Bowers ‘69 was quoted in a recent article in the Charleston WV Gazette, “Mountain Valley Pipeline still facing concerns over Lewis County Erosion”.

Ashely (Hunt) Mireless ‘08 graduated on April 24, 2020 from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with her Doctor of Physical Therapy! Congratulations, Ashely!

Tanner Smith ‘16 had his first national column published last week on the baseball website BaseballHQ, owned by USA Today. Tanner has been a contributing author to this forum in the past, but was this spring awarded a regular weekly column. Tanner was a baseball player and two-year captain for the Raiders, and is currently a full time graduate student at the college of William & Mary, and also a volunteer assistant coach with the North Cross varsity team this spring. He graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2020.

]]><![CDATA[Class Notes - January 2020]]>Wed, 20 Jan 2021 20:30:22 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-january-20208469339

Congratulations to Farrell Irons ‘09 and her fiancé Kian on their Christmas Eve engagement!

Tyler Caveness ‘10 and his wife Jennifer welcomed daughter Cameron Madison into the world on November 15, 2020. She joins siblings Chloe ‘35 and Cole.

Congratulations to Amy Putnam ‘11 and her fiancé Daniel on their December 22nd engagement!

Congratulations to Tom Girani '12 and his fiancée Julia on their August 2020 engagement! Photography by Ryan Hunt '14 of Ryan Hunt Photography.

A huge congratulations to Tim Putnam ‘12 and his fiancée Anna on their engagement in 2020!

]]><![CDATA[Class Notes - November 2020]]>Wed, 18 Nov 2020 18:07:12 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-november-2020

Congratulations to Andrew McDonald '91 on the upcoming release of his book "Divine Trust!" Check out his website here: https://www.divinetrust.love/

Congratulations to Hannah Greenberg ‘08 and her fiancé Ward on their recent engagement!

Congratulations to Erika Martin ‘08 as well who also recently got engaged! (pictured with Hannah Greenberg '08)

Congratulations to Madison Macher ‘14 and her fiancé Will on their recent engagement!

In Memoriam

We are sad to share that Stephen Lee Shimchock '66 passed away on Saturday, November 14, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Karen Shimchock; son Matthew Shimchock '92; grandson, Stephen Bailey Shimchock: sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Ken Connor; mother-in-law, Margaret Pauline Barbour; niece, Katie Connor; nephew; Jason Dooley and family; family members, Sarah and Aerowyn Lacoma; many local friends; and his best pal, Rocky. An in-person service in not planned due to pandemic concerns. In lieu of food, flowers or gifts, the family is requesting donations to the Roanoke Valley SPCA in Stephen's honor. Online condolences may be shared with the family at https://memorial.oakeys.com/stephen-shimchock/4423872/index.php.

]]><![CDATA[Class Notes - October 2020]]>Thu, 01 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-october-2020

Will Dichtel '96 has been named the 2020 Laureate in Chemistry of the prestigious Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists for pioneering methods to create novel, porous materials from simple, carbon-based building blocks. Congratulations to Dr. Dichtel on this huge honor!

Dr. Bette Kaufman McNamara ’97, and her husband, Dr. Robert S. McNamara, are thrilled to announce the arrival of William Brendan on 8/4/20. William joins big siblings, Belle ‘30 and Bo Jack. He is the nephew of Dr. Bill Kaufman ‘02.

Congratulations to Claiborne Fletcher ‘09 and her husband Matt Montgomery! They were married on January 18, 2020 in Roanoke with Farrell Irons ‘09 serving as Claiborne’s Maid of Honor.

Congratulations to Will Stephenson ‘10 and his wife Ann! They were married on September 26, 2020 in Roaring Gap, NC. Will’s sister, Seely ‘08, served as a bridesmaid, and Gavin Hollingsworth ‘10 and Alex Strain ‘12 both served as groomsmen.

Congratulations to Reagan Robey ‘11 and Whit Brown ‘06! They were married in a small ceremony at The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA on July 11, 2020.

Congratulations to JB Mitchell ‘11 and his wife Keri! They were married on June 13, 2020 in Peachtree City, GA!

Congratulations to Miranda Clarke ‘12 and her fiancé Andrew on their recent engagement!

A huge congratulations to Alexandra Martin ‘12 and Clark Crutchfield on their recent engagement!

A huge congratulations to Paul Ross ‘12 and Katherine Proctor on their recent engagement!

Congratulations to Paul Smith ‘12 for being named to the All-Decade team for Concord University Football!

Congratulations to Rachael Wright ‘12 and her fiancé, Scott, on their recent engagement!

Congratulations to Laura Warren ‘13 and her fiancé Ryan on their recent engagement!

Congratulations to Hart Semler ‘15 and his fiancée, Lily, on their recent engagement!

Melissa "Sage" Vilgats ‘15 has been accepted to Ross University school of Veterinary Medicine! She began her challenging studies this fall.

After her first year majoring in construction management at VT, Claudia Morgan ‘19 took a tour of the renovations at North Cross before starting a summer internship at Hourigan Construction in Richmond.

Lainey Auwarter ‘19, Sophia Kelley ‘19, and their fellow Grandin Film Lab students have won a very prestigious National Academy of Television Arts and Science Capital Emmy Award in the Best High School Long-Form Fiction category for their film “Hourglass”! Lainey was the producer on the film, and Sophia was the editor. “Hourglass” also won Best Narrative Student Film at Longleaf Film Festival in Raleigh, NC in early May!

In Memoriam

We are sad to share that Thomas Nganele ‘14 passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 in New York City. He is survived by his mother, Charlotte Hagan, MD, his father, David Nganele PhD, MBA, his sisters Julie Nganele and Marie Nganale ‘11, his stepfather, Robert Hagan, stepbrother, Bobby Hagan, and stepsister, Sarah Hagan.

]]><![CDATA[Class Notes - January 2020]]>Thu, 16 Jan 2020 15:59:01 GMThttps://www.northcross.org/class-notes/class-notes-january-2020

Susan Hankla ‘69 recently published a book of poetry, "Clinch River”, from Groundhog Poetry Press, LLC, an all-poetry imprint that originated in Roanoke, VA. It’s available to purchase through Amazon and Small Press distribution!

Mark Sandy ‘83 was on the front page of The Roanoke Times on November 21! It’s a great article with quotes from some favorite former faculty members like Margaret Grayson and Doc Maycock. (If you didn't grab a paper copy, you can also read the article on Roanoke.com .)

Exciting news from the "left coast." Will Dichtel ’96 used technology developed in his labs to purify water in a revolutionary way and then partnered to start a company to distribute it: "Cyclopure has developed a line of DEXSORB adsorbents that have demonstrated excellent performance in the removal of microtoxins now present in tap water… A growing number of these contaminants are linked to cancer, brain and nervous system damage, developmental defects, fertility problems and endocrine disorders." Congrats on being listed as C&EN magazine's 2019 Top 10 Start-Ups to Watch and improving the future of water purification.

James McCallum Grove ‘00 visited campus in December to talk to Global Studies students about “Blue Zones,” which are regions of the world where people supposedly live longer than average. (If you’re wondering, the five they discussed were Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Lima, California.)

We'd like to congratulate Alison Stover Vagts ’03 and her family on their newest addition Catherine Magee Vagts who came into the Raider family on January 3. Sisters Olivia '31 and Margaret '34 were excited to meet their newest charge. Everyone's doing well and still on that new-baby high. Mrs. Vagt's second-grade class and the entire Raider clan is also excited to meet her soon (hint, hint).

Congratulations to Ainsley Revercomb '05 and James Revercomb '06 on their new addition! They welcomed son, Grove Legare Revercomb, into the world at the end of November!

Congratulations to John Hornick ‘07 and his wife, Alexa! They were married on November 1, 2019, at The Mill At Fine Creek in Powhatan, VA. Carter Magee ‘07 was John's best man and Stuart Draper ‘07 was a groomsman. John's sister, Rebecca Hornick ‘05, was a bridesmaid.

Congratulations to Reagan Robey ‘11 and Whit Brown ‘06 on their recent engagement!

Congratulations to Lauren Oddo ‘11 for recently winning a Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse to study alcohol and drug misuse among college students with ADHD!

In Memoriam

The entire North Cross community was saddened to hear of the passing of one of our beloved benefactors, past parent, and previous Board chair. Bittle Wilson Porterfield III will be greatly missed, though the generous impact he, along with his wife Charlotte, had on his family, friends, and North Cross School is everlasting. His sons are both graduates, Forrest '94 and Wilson '91, and Wilson's wife, Holly graduated in 1992.

We are sad to share that Ashley Sadler Huray ’99 passed away suddenly on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. She is survived by her husband, Andrew M. Huray, and her parents, Darlene and Larry Sadler.

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