Class Notes - Fall 2020
The following class notes were submitted by alumni between October 16, 2019 - June 1, 2020.
Class notes are subject to content editing by the Offices of Alumni and Family Relations and Marketing & Communication.
The Centenary Alumni Association seeks news of Centenary alumni. Please send news and information to alumni@centenary.edu.
Office of Alumni and Family Relations
Centenary College of Louisiana • 2911 Centenary Boulevard • Shreveport, LA 71104
318.869.5115 • alumni@centenary.edu
1970
Randy Pace, Houston, TX, Trustee/Board Vice President of the Pace Society of America, along with 15 other heritage groups, presented a wreath at the 400th Anniversary of First Representative Legislative Assembly on July 30, 2019. Ceremonies were at the historic Jamestown Church, original site of the assembly held July 30, 1619. Invited by Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown and American Evolution/2019 Commemoration, Williamsburg, the groups came representing their ancestors and goals and mission of their organizations. Pace and society members descend from Ancient Planter, Richard Pace, notable for warning Jamestown before the March 22, 1622 massacre. His son George Pace married Sarah, daughter of Rev. Samuel Maycock, who was counselor of Governor George Yeardley and present at the 1619 assembly with elected members from plantations. Speakers, including Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, Sir David Natzler, British House of Commons and other dignitaries, recognized contributions of the ancestors of heritage groups as well as highlighted the changing ways we look at Jamestown's role in American history today, focusing on significance of the first assembly in America as forerunner of our American Democracy. At the Pace Society annual reunion, which was held in June 2019 in Hendersonville, NC, Pace made a presentation entitled "1619 - Jamestown and the Forging of American Democracy" to inform and to encourage members to attend the ceremony for the 400th Anniversary of the First Representative Legislative Assembly in Jamestown in July 2019.
1971
Susan Glanville, Saint Francisville, LA, received The Psychology Times 2019 Community Award for Media for events that “took psychology to the people.” As “Susie Marie PhD ® Country Lady” she drives her RV across the South to give performances for people of all ages, featuring her book series of original stories, art, and music. Her doctoral-level expertise in psychology, Native American heritage, and love of living close to nature, inspire and inform the core concept and universal appeal of her “Life Lessons from Mother Earth.”
1980
Melissa Brigman, Tyler, TX, was honored at the St. Paul Children’s Services Guardian Circle Luncheon on Thursday, February 6, 2020, for her more than 30 years of dedication to the organization. St. Paul Children’s Foundation provides medical and dental services to pediatric patients, as well as a food pantry and a clothes closet with a service area of over 30 counties in East Texas.
1983
Graham Bateman, Coppell, TX, started a new job working as an immigration attorney at Thomas Price, PLLC, in Dallas, Texas.
1994
Denis Poljak, Shreveport, LA, was named to Forbes Magazine’s 2020 list of Best-in-State Wealth Advisors for the second year in a row.
1997
William Hagan, Lafayette, LA, was appointed as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the oilfield services company Stratagraph. He was previously President at the Lafayette, LA based mud logging and pressure detection services company. He has performed roles in sales, business development, marketing, operations, and mud logging since he began his career with Stratagraph in 1998.
Lisa McInnis, New Albany, MS, has been selected to oversee Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s diverse natural and cultural resources as the Chief of Resource Management and Science.
2000
Ashley Hunter, Austin, TX, was recently reappointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority for a term set to expire on February 1, 2025. The Authority assesses the scope of motor vehicle crime in Texas and supports a statewide law enforcement network through grants, auto theft reduction initiatives, education, and public awareness.
Tracey Autrey Josefovsky, Houston, TX, has been at Halliburton almost 20 years and is currently the VP of HR.
2003
Maria Moores Watts, Chicago, IL, was named to the 2020 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market Mergers & Acquisitions list in December of 2019.
2006
Jared Frank, New Orleans, LA, is the Director of Finance & Operations at Morris Jeff Community School, an open access public Charter school serving grades PK4 - 12th.
Ashlie Junot Hilbun, Little Rock, AR, was promoted to senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Arkansas Children's, leading planning efforts, advancing business strategy, and overseeing strategic marketing for the state’s only pediatric health system. Hilbun’s promotion follows three years of leadership with the Arkansas Children’s Foundation, where she most recently served as vice president of philanthropy, co-leading the system’s overall fundraising strategy and crafting external messaging and storytelling. In the chief strategy officer position, Hilbun will also be responsible for new business development and outreach focused on advancing child health initiatives as part of Arkansas Children’s bold new vision: Our promise: Unprecedented child health. Defined and delivered.
2009
Bryan Myer, Virginia Beach, VA, was selected as the Navy's 2019 Diver of the Year. Bryan is a Navy Diver 1st Class assigned to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center's Dive Locker. MARMC Dive Locker Master Diver William Wenzel said of Bryan, "When I thought about the perfect Navy Sailor, ND1 Bryan Myers immediately came to mind. He is a smart Sailor, great communicator, leader and probably one of the best I've ever seen in the water! He is a solid overall performer, I cannot think of one area where he has a weakness. No matter the job, scope or location, I can send him and know that the job will be completed.”
2010
Kari Kennon, Shreveport, LA, 's film Fast Forward Style premiered at the Louisiana Film Prize in 2019 and then made a California premiere at the Metreon Theater for Silicon Valley International Film Festival in San Francisco on December 14, 2019.
Marriages
Long & Thompson
Lindsey Long '15, Frisco, TX, married Cole Thompson '13 on March 14, 2020, in Leonard, TX.
Christan Weidner Griffin '96, Gretna, LA, married Derek Griffin on March 2, 2019.
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Frantz ’16, DeKalb, IL, married Kalie Hughes Frantz ’16 on November 16, 2019 in Centenary’s Brown Chapel.
Jared Frank '06, New Orleans, LA, married Dr. Larkin Page on January 18, 2020 in New Orleans, LA.