March 2024 Alumni eNewsletter
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March 12, 2024
FEATURED NEWS
Alumni Weekend early bird deadline this week!
Early bird registration ends this Friday, March 15. Alumni registering by this date will receive an exclusive Oglethorpe Alumni baseball cap upon check-in. Alumni Weekend has something for everyone in the full schedule of events throughout the weekend!
Alumni volunteers enhance Oglethorpe community
For Donna and Bob Rasile, graduates of the class of 1982, Oglethorpe has played an important role in their story. It’s where they met, where they honed their professional skills and interests, and where they have continued to share their time and treasure as proud alumni.
Special events help alumni reconnect
Numerous events on and off campus in the last month have given alumni new ways to network with each other, hear from President McClymond, volunteer with students, and reconnect with faculty. Click below for event highlights and photos, and join us for the next events!
Empowering Futures: Stacey Chavis ’07 speaks with students about networking
The Student Alumni Association recently invited alumna Stacey Chavis ’07 to speak about the importance of networking.
Upcoming Alumni Events
Alumni Weekend, April 19-20
One of the highlights of the spring is Alumni Weekend, and we can’t wait to welcome alumni back to campus! The schedule highlights are available on the website and registration is open now. Make plans to join your fellow Petrels and register today!
Save the Date: State of Athletics, May 8
This special event will offer an overview of the current state of Oglethorpe Athletics, including achievements, challenges, and future plans. Hear from Athletic Director Todd Brooks, President McClymond, coaches, and current student-athletes as you learn about today’s student-athlete experience and how you can be involved in the future of Oglethorpe Athletics. More information will be available soon, and we hope you’ll save the date to join us!
Virtual Book Club, May 15
The Oglethorpe Alumni Virtual Book Club, hosted by Richard Bakare ’03, will meet on Wednesday, May 15 at 7 p.m. ET to discuss Earsure by Percival Everett.
Register to join the discussion >
ALUMNI IN THE NEWS
Tim Tassopoulos ’81: My Pleasure! Chick-fil-A Donates $1M to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta to Amplify Cultural Excellence & Innovation In Staff Onboarding Experience
Laura Turner Seydel ’86: Atlanta Magazine’s 2024 Atlanta 500: Religion, Nonprofits, & Advocacy
Bill Shelnutt ’01: Shelnutt named next Tiftarea Academy Head of School
Katherine Odell ’12: Emeril Lagasse Foundation adds three team members
Awet Woldegebriel ’14: CBS Saturday Morning features unique UPS collaboration with AWET New York
Patrick Cansfield ’15: SportsEvents 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards: Emerging Sports Events Planner
Saron Araya ’21: PCOM South Georgia medical student selected as research scholar
OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY NEWS
OU Giving Day 2024 is a record-breaking success
New Core program exhibit portrays student expressions of identity and self
Saluting women Petrel pioneers during Women’s History Month
Atlanta Preservation Center’s annual history tour includes Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe launches digital diplomas for new graduates
Popular Archive Atlanta podcast highlights Dr. Rhana Gittens Wheeler’s research
Want more University News? Read more online or subscribe to The Source.
Class Notes
News and updates submitted by your classmates.
Antoinette Niland Aglialoro ’07 has been appointed Chief People Officer at Astound Commerce. Prior to joining Astound, she held key leadership roles in Capgemini, where she successfully implemented innovative HR strategies to enhance employee engagement and contribute to the company’s overall success. Antoinette lives in Atlanta with her husband Vincent, two precious daughters Paige and Reese, and one very unruly dog, Brody.
Robert Cairns ’11 recently married Sarah Levitt on February 10, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Susan Kopplin Grochowski ’12 is co-owner and CFO of Mike’s Mobile Wrenches LLC. In 2023, the business became Atlanta’s premier vendor for roadside assistance and yard maintenance for Amazon, Publix, Nexair, Tyson Foods, Starbucks, Uline and others. The business continues to grow with plans for new services across Metro Atlanta as well as Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Tamisha Cox Abiose ’13 is the Onboarding Manager at Family Inceptions, where she onboards women all over the country who want to become surrogates and egg donors.
David Swillum ’21 has recently completed his master’s degree at Texas Christian University. He recently started a new career with Voss Lighting as an outside sales representative in the North Dallas metroplex. He is maintaining his athletic connection as head basketball coach for a Christian sports organization called Right Way Sports, and he has recently started a faith-based podcast called “What’s the Issue.” He is newly married to Nia Swillum.
Alex Blecker ’23 is currently a master’s candidate in Security and Diplomacy at Tel Aviv University. He recently participated in the Wall Street Journal Opinion’s Future View, in which students discuss “Is America too weak or too interventionist?” His response was published in the February 6, 2024, online edition.
Ashrakat Hassan ’23 is attending law school at Washington University in St. Louis. The Washington University Black Law Student Association (BLSA) recently hosted its annual banquet honoring aspiring lawyers, and Ashrakat was honored with the BLSA Chapter Member of the Year award.
Hannah Womersley ’23 is working diligently in Atlanta’s public relations field, just 10 minutes down the street from Oglethorpe, at Cookerly Public Relations. Gaining a connection with the agency through Oglethorpe’s PRSSA, Hannah has had the privilege of working with major Atlanta institutions in B2B and B2C sectors and has found a passion for helping companies thrive
View more Class Notes online >
In Memory
Oglethorpe mourns the loss of members of our alumni family and former faculty.
We’ve recently learned of the passing of these alumni:
Doris “Dot” Pickens Hinson ’49
Josef Harold Shalett ’57
Samuel Dennis Kerr ‘64
A full list of those who have passed away are remembered here.
We want to hear from you! Tell us about a new job, promotion, award, wedding, birth or adoption, or other noteworthy milestone. We want to keep your classmates up to date on your latest news and celebrate your accomplishments!
Upcoming Campus and Community Events
Oglethorpe Out Loud, Wednesday, March 13, 6:30 p.m.
Award-winning writer Willie Perdomo will headline new ‘Oglethorpe Out Loud’ poetry series. The event, established by a gift from alumna Leah Hughes ’88. The March 13 event will take place in the Library Atrium in Lowry Hall and feature a poetry reading and Q&A. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Mr. Perdomo at a post-reading reception and book signing. The event is free.
Sip Brookhaven Returns to Oglethorpe, Saturday, April 13, 3-6 p.m.
Sip Brookhaven, presented by Explore Brookhaven and Word of Mouth Restaurants, will take place on Saturday, April 13, from 3-6 p.m. on the Quad at Oglethorpe. Tickets are $35 for this fun event offering 35+ drink choices, light bites, live music, and more.
OUMA Exhibition: “Contrapunto: Works by a Contemporary Latin American Artist Collective”, Feb. 16 – May 19
The Oglethorpe University Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Contrapunto: Works by a Contemporary Latin American Artist Collective,” is an eclectic exhibition featuring the varied contemporary styles of six artists presenting a comprehensive depiction of Latin American culture, folklore and collective history.
Stormy Petrels
Our Stormy Petrel sports teams are in action! View their schedules >
See more events happening on the Oglethorpe campus >
Stay Connected
Networking on LinkedIn? Be sure to join the OU Alumni group and follow the Oglethorpe University LinkedIn page.