April 2024 Alumni eNewsletter
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April 9, 2024
FEATURED NEWS
Alumni Weekend is next weekend!
It’s not too late to register for this fun, event-filled weekend with your fellow Petrels! Take a look at the weekend’s schedule and register by April 11 to ensure you don’t miss out!
Coach Eric Quinn ’13 Memorial Endowed Scholarship established
The family of Eric Quinn ’13 – an alumnus, former student golfer, and assistant golf coach at Oglethorpe who passed away last year – has established a new scholarship to honor his memory and legacy at Oglethorpe.
2024-25 Alumni Board slate announced
The 2024-25 Alumni Board of Directors will be voted on at the Alumni Board Annual Meeting on April 20, during Alumni Weekend. You can view the slate of board members online. Thank you to these dedicated alumni for their volunteerism!
Award-winning journalist Rose Scott will deliver Oglethorpe’s 2024 Commencement address
Oglethorpe will welcome Rose Scott, an award-winning veteran journalist and Atlanta public media radio host and executive producer, to deliver the keynote address to the graduating seniors.
Petrel Pair finds special photo in University Archives
In the summer of 1997, Kevin Martin ’01 and Heather Ringer Martin ’01 met during new student orientation at Oglethorpe. When celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary, a search for a photograph of them together at this event led them to the University Archives.
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! Make plans to join your fellow Petrels and register by the April 11 deadline!
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.
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 Erasure by Percival Everett.
Register to join the discussion >
ALUMNI IN THE NEWS
Drew Findling ’81: America’s Top 200 Lawyers 2024
Theresa Spralling ’91: Profile: President & CEO of The Spralling Group, LLC
Nicole Kang Ahn ’13: From grief to growth: The artwork of Nicole Kang
Mackenzie Blumberg ’21: An all-star love: Atlanta couple has a Waffle House truck at their wedding
Grace Henderson ’22: Passion of the Pitch
OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Oglethorpe hosts out-of-this-world Atlanta Science Festival event
Award-winning poet Willie Perdomo draws crowd for first Oglethorpe Out Loud event
Three Oglethorpe students present research at international genetics conference
World Showcase celebrates diversity and intersectionality, enriches campus community
Politics student discusses healthcare with Presidents Biden and Obama
OU students, alumni and faculty present research at professional psychology conference
Want more University News? Read more online or subscribe to The Source.
Class Notes
News and updates submitted by your classmates.
Jennifer Nanek ’98 was recently recognized for 25 years of service at the City of Lake Wales, and happened to be wearing her Oglethorpe t-shirt when accepting this recognition.
Donald Warden ’16 will graduate in May 2024 from the University of Memphis with a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. His dissertation, which he successfully defended this spring, focused on epigenetics in the development of asthma.
Becki White ’18 recently completed her fourth marathon at the Marathon des Vins de la Côte Chalonnaise in Givry, France. She and her finance, Joshua Quinn, made front page news twice for completing the marathon and for Quinn’s proposal.
Dylan Harper-Firchow ’19 was recently featured on ABC 36 Lexington’s Lee and Hayley Show. He was interviewed as a board member of Lexington Rotary Club for the show’s Charity Spotlight. Dylan is one of Lexington Rotary’s youngest board members and has led new initiatives including a monthly morning mixer for Lexington’s business community.
Jada Triplett ’19 just completed her master’s degree in engineering from Arizona State University and is an engineer for MAREN Construction in Atlanta. Though no longer playing basketball professionally, she is performing in the band Middle Child around the Atlanta area.
Jamie Weiss ’22 is pursuing a Ph.D. in history at the University of Georgia and serves as a graduate teaching assistant. Jamie was the 2023 recipient of the Carl Vipperman Teaching Assistant Award and has organized a panel titled “Empire, Statecraft, and Identity from the Imperial Crisis through the War of 1812” for the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic (SHEAR), which will be presented in July 2024 in Philadelphia.
Melanie Davis ’23 is currently working as a digital correspondent for the NBA with Fresh Tape Media, creating live content for NBA social media and at State Farm Arena. She is also a videographer and editor for the new professional volleyball team, Atlanta Vibe, and continues to help out at OU as a videographer with Oglethorpe Athletics.
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:
Lois Semel Blonder ’56
Patricia L. Marks ’01
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
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.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Symposium (LASS), April 24-26
LASS brings together OU and faculty in a celebration of exemplary scholarly and creative work produced by Oglethorpe students under faculty mentorship. This year’s theme, “Reasonable Doubts: Crime and Punishment,” asks students to take the measure of crime and punishment in our society.
Rikard Lecture, Tuesday, April 30, 4-5 p.m.
The Hammack School of Business will welcome Atlanta Business Chronicle Publisher David Rubinger to Oglethorpe to deliver the 2024 Rikard Lecture in the Cousins Center Atrium. The event is free, and alumni are welcome to attend.
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.