“Award/Recognition” Class Notes

William Ellis (Col ’72 CM) received the Linda Dégh Lifetime Achievement Award for legend scholarship from the International Society for Contemporary Legend Research in June 2016. Mr. Ellis continues to teach part time in the interdisciplinary studies program of Salisbury University and lives in Berlin, Maryland.

Yolanda Gruendel (Com ’91 CM) received a Distinguished Service Award from the Federal Trade Commission for her contributions during the past two decades. She served as an attorney and leader at the commission, where she dedicated herself to professional and leadership development. She recently left the commission to found Pause for Insight, a professional and leadership coaching firm.

Vincent Schooler (Engr ’94 CM) has been elected president of the Greensboro Medical Society. He is a partner in Eagle Gastroenterology in Greensboro, North Carolina. Dr. Schooler and his wife have two children.

Barbara-Ann Adcock (Educ ’88 CM) is among 213 educators across the nation named as recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching by President Barack Obama on August 22, 2016. The announcement included both 2014 and 2015 recipients. Up to one science educator and one math educator from each state are named each year. The award, regarded as one of the nation’s top honors for mathematics and science teachers, recognizes teachers who develop and implement high-quality, effective instructional programs. Ms. Adcock, formerly a teacher at Pocahontas Elementary School in Powhatan County, earned the presidential award for K-6th grade science. She is now the STEM coach for Powhatan County Public Schools.

Carol Mattey (Col ’79 CM) received the 2016 Federal Communications Bar Association Excellence in Government Service award in June 2016. This award is given annually to an individual with a long-term communications career in the federal government who is dedicated to excellence in government service. Ms. Mattey is deputy bureau chief at the Federal Communications Commission, focusing on expanding broadband access across the country. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband, James “Jim” Mattey (Col ’79 L/M). They have three children, including Caroline Rebecca Mattey (Col ’12 L/M) and Katelyn Anne Mattey (Educ ’15 L/M).

Marissa Friedman (Col ’14, Educ ’16) has been chosen by the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation as a member of its 2016 cohort of 34 early-career high school mathematics and science teachers. As a KSTF Teaching Fellow, she will have access to a comprehensive set of benefits, including summer stipends, grants for teaching materials, mentoring and support from experienced educators, for five years. This fall, Ms. Friedman will begin her second year of teaching at McKinley Technology High School in Washington, D.C.

Yingge Du (Engr ’07) has received a 2016 Early Career Research Program grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. He works at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the materials science division, where he studies transition metal oxides—very thin materials with applications including energy capture, storage and conversion.

Rachel DeBacker (Arch ’02) participated in the Cheekwood International Playhouse Design Competition and won a spot in Cheekwood’s summer 2016 exhibition, International Playhouses. The exhibition was presented by Cheekwood, a botanical garden and art museum on the Cheek family estate in Nashville, Tennessee, and it was based on the Cheek family’s travels. Ms. DeBacker’s project, Monsoon Pavilion, was inspired by the colors and patterns of the art and architecture of India.

Brian Chekal (Engr ’97 CM) has received a 2016 Heroes of Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society in recognition of his work on a drug for metastatic breast cancer with Pfizer, where he works in chemical research and development. The award program recognizes chemical scientists whose work has led to the creation of successful commercial products that contribute to human welfare.

Robert Westermann (Col ’92) was recognized in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA for his bankruptcy and restructuring practice. Mr. Westermann is a shareholder in the litigation section of the law firm of Hirschler Fleischer. He works in the firm’s Richmond, Virginia, office, where he is a team leader in the bankruptcy, restructuring and creditors’ rights practice group.

Elizabeth Smith (Col ’85) has been appointed to the board of directors of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Ms. Smith is chairman of the board and CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, the hospitality company that owns Outback Steakhouse and other casual and fine dining brands.

Andrew Lee (Med ’89 CM) has been named president-elect of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Dr. Lee is the chair of the Blanton Eye Institute at Houston Methodist Hospital and lives with his wife, Hilary Beaver (Med ’91), and their two daughters, Rachael and Virginia Lee, in Houston.

Joseph Evangelisti (Col ’85) has received the John “Jack” Koten Corporate Award from the University of Alabama’s Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. The award recognizes leaders in corporate communications for their commitment to mentoring young professionals. Mr. Evangelisti is head of worldwide communications and media relations for JPMorgan Chase.

Brian Farmer (Col ’84, Law ’87 CM) was recognized in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA for his practice in corporate law and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Farmer works in the Richmond, Virginia, office of Hirschler Fleischer, where he is chairman of the firm’s business section and leads the investment management and private funds practice group.

Jacquelyn Perry (Educ ’83) received the General Colin L. Powell Service Award at the inaugural Our Community Salutes of Central Virginia award ceremony in April 2016. The award recognizes a high school educator for providing guidance to students exploring options for serving in the armed forces. Ms. Perry is a guidance counselor at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville.

Charles Romine (Col ’79, Engr ’86 CM) has received an Arthur S. Flemming Award from the George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. The awards recognize employees of the federal government for exceptional public service. Mr. Romine is the director of the Information Technology Laboratory at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, where he oversees a program designed to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness through the development of standards and measurements for interoperability, security, usability and reliability of information systems.

Dennis Curran (Law ’77) received the President’s Award for Judicial Excellence from the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys in recognition of his service and his commitment to the civil justice system. As a trial judge, he has presided over 415 civil and criminal trials.