Class Notes

1960s

Sen. Kenneth "Kim" Brimer '67 was selected by the Arlington City Council as the namesake for a bridge in the heart of the Entertainment District located near the intersection of Nolan Ryan Expressway and AT&T Way. The bridge is slated to open in March 2025. Brimer served as state senator for the Arlington area from 2003-09 after seven terms in the Texas House of Representatives from 1989-2003. Brimer earned a Bachelor of Science in general business.

1970s

Charles Johnson '76 received the Realtor Emeritus award from the National Association of Realtors. He is a member of the Waco Board of Realtors and Texas Association of Realtors, and he also is a broker and property tax consultant with jäGROUPcompanies in Waco. Johnson received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing with a minor in computer science.

Christi Harlan '78 wrote the book, "Mr. President, the Class is Yours," which focuses on President Jimmy Carter's stints as a Sunday school teacher while serving as president of the United States of America. The book features 14 known transcriptions of Carter's Sunday school lessons and introduces historical context of the issues he had to confront during his presidency. Harlan will be a featured author at the 2024 Holiday Book Festival organized by the White House Historical Association. She is a former editor for The Pine Log newspaper at SFA and earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.

Col. Linda Harkness '79 retired after 30 years with the U.S. Army. She held multiple duty stations, positions and assignments. Her last assignment was as human resources director with the 321st Civil Affairs Command, Joint Base San Antonio. Harkness received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art.

1980s

George A. Faber II '80 was presented with the Arts in Education Icon Award from the Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in music and administrative education.

Patricia Boniface Williamson '82 & '85 retired from JPMorganChase in January 2023 after serving as director of human resources for more than 30 years. Williamson received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts, both in psychology.

Dr. Karen Brooks '83 was named director of general surgical services and director of quality of DHR Health Brownsville. Brooks earned a Bachelor of Science in biology.

Johnnie Cotton '83 was named director of bands at Carthage Independent School District. Cotton earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music.

Dr. Louise Fincher '83 was named interim president of Emory & Henry College. Fincher earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education.

Sidney Evans II '85 was one of two people chosen out of NRG Energy's 19,000 employees to receive the Impact of the Year Award — the company's highest level of customer experience awards. Evans earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management.

Craig Goodman '86 was named chief of police for Waco Independent School District. Previously, Goodman served as deputy chief of police at SFA and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.

Lisa Renee Canales '87 was named principal of Jenks Elementary School in Katy Independent School District. Canales earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.

Robert Belt '88 developed a unique career providing trusted audit services to local governments, and the firm he helped found recently joined one of the nation's premier accounting firms, Crowe LLP. Belt earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting.

Bob Murray '88 retired from The University of Texas at Austin. Murray earned a Bachelor of Science in forestry recreation management.

Tim Pareti '88 recently published the coming-of-age novel, "Ernie's Bleachers." An award-winning journalist, Pareti worked as a reporter and editor for Scripps newspapers and was a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune. He's currently a real estate agent and Illinois-certified residential appraiser in Chicago. Pareti received a Bachelor of Arts in English.

1990s

Gathering at a Dallas Arts District after-party celebrating a performance by Jill Grove '90 in the Dallas Opera presentation of "Elektra" where she portrayed Klytämnestra are, from left, David Zimmerman; Shirley Watterston, retired SFA music faculty; Grove; Kevin Roberts '90; Deborah Dalton, SFA associate professor of voice; and Matt Hardman '06. Grove received a Bachelor of Music, Roberts a Bachelor of Music, and Hardman a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences.

Joe Cauthen '90 was named a defensive analyst for the University of Memphis football program. Cauthen earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education.

Dr. James Hockenberry '91 & '99 was named superintendent of Lufkin Independent School District. Hockenberry received a Bachelor of Science in biology and Master of Education, both in educational leadership.

Jae Gaskill '94, principal at McKinney North High School, will serve as McKinney Independent School District's director of career and technical education. Gaskill earned a Bachelor of Science in biology.

Walter "Mack" McKee III '94 retired from the Nacogdoches Police Department after more than 28 years of service. McKee is a U.S. Army veteran and received a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice.

John K. Streeter IV '94 was elected to the City of El Lago Council Position 5. Streeter received a Bachelor of Business Administration in general business.

Brad Milam '95 & '99 was named assistant principal at Carthage High School. Milam earned a Bachelor of Science in physics and a Master of Education in educational leadership.

Richard Robichaux '96, a professor in Texas State University's Department of Theatre and Dance, has roles in the latest streaming sensations "Hit Man," directed by Richard Linklater, and "The Long Game," directed by Julio Quintana. Robichaux earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre.

Dr. David Scott '96 was named special projects director at the East Texas Council of Governments. Scott earned a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice.

Denise (George) Hollis '97 was named science department chair at Allen High School. Hollis earned a Bachelor of Science in biology.

2000s

Jackie Zimmerman '00 was named executive director of Lufkin Creative. Zimmerman earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in journalism.

Jennifer Putman '01 was named principal of Curtis Elementary School in Northwest Independent School District. Putman received a Bachelor of Science in elementary education.

James Reyes '01 was named athletic director and head football coach for Palestine Independent School District. Reyes received a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.

Jerrod Campbell '02 & '15 was named superintendent of Tenaha Independent School District. Campbell earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and a Master of Education in educational leadership.

Matthew Seale '02 was ranked No. 39 in the 2024 Forbes Top Best-in-State Wealth Advisors in Texas. This is the sixth time he has been ranked. Seale earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.

Wes Hightower '03 was elected to Van Independent School District's board. Hightower received a Bachelor of Science in speech communication.

Dr. Lee Payne '03 recently completed his novel, "The Pack." A professor in SFA's Department of Government, Payne earned a Bachelor of Science in political science and government.

Dr. Elaine Howard '04 was named superintendent for Sharyland Independent School District. Howard earned a Bachelor of Science in biology.

Eric Finley '05 was named principal of McRoberts Elementary School in Katy ISD. Finley earned a Master of Education in educational leadership.

Paul Gray '05 & '10 was named director of Growlite at Barron Lighting Group. Gray earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science, both in biology.

Craig Haynie '05 was awarded the Art Teaching Excellence Award in the high school division from the Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. Haynie earned a Bachelor of Music.

Matt Mizell '05 & '14 was named superintendent of Trinidad Independent School District. Prior to the appointment, Mizell served as a principal in the district for 10 years. He received a Bachelor of Science in health science and a Master of Education in educational leadership.

Katie (Freelove) Nelms '05 launched "Broadcast Made Easy," a company that creates content for elementary schools with video announcements. Nelms received a Bachelor of Arts in radio/television.

Joanna Huckabee '08 was named director of institutional advancement at Panola College. Huckabee earned a Bachelor of Arts in radio/television.

Shawna Lynch '08 was awarded the Art Teaching Excellence Award in the elementary school division from the Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. Lynch earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in performance.

Nathan Hague '09, sports editor with The Daily Sentinel in Nacogdoches, was named the Texas Managing Editors' Celeste Williams Star Sportswriter of the Year. Hague earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.

Dr. Betsy Mijares '09 & '17 was named program officer for education and economic mobility at the TLL Temple Foundation. Mijares earned a Master of Education in secondary school administration and a Doctor of Education in superintendency and educational system administration.

2010s

Sean Doyle '10 was recognized as one of Independent Community Bankers of America's 40 under 40. Doyle is senior vice president of sales management at Texas First Bank and received a Bachelor of Arts in communications.

Jessica Davis '11, a teacher at Redwater High School, was named campus teacher of the year. Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in hospitality administration.

Ashley (Felts) Perry '11 was named director of nursing at the Joint Replacement Center of Louisiana. Perry received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Adam Tate '11 was named the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development's first-ever renewable energy planner. Tate received a Bachelor of Arts in theatre.

Alex Morcom '12 was named head of marketing at Ridley Block Operations. Morcom earned a Bachelor of Science in animal science with a minor in agriculture business.

Nana Ankamah '14 was named head boys basketball coach at Arlington Martin High School in Arlington and is the first African American male head coach in the school's history. A former basketball student manager, Ankamah received a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.

Glen Croll '14 was named principal of Downing Middle School in Lewisville Independent School District. Croll earned a Master of Education in educational leadership.

Mary Lynn Gawryszewski '14 has been named principal of Robert M. Shoemaker High School in Killeen Independent School District. Gawryszewski earned a Master of Education in educational leadership.

Jacob Hines '14 is director for clinical applications at Premise Health. Hines and his team ranked 32nd in the Training APEX Awards. Hines graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.

Marina McLerran '14 received a doctoral degree in music education from the University of Miami. McLerran received a Bachelor of Arts in music education from SFA.

Kendrick Harrison '15 was named athletic director and head football coach at Liberty High School. Harrison earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.

Demi Stillinger '15 was named Student Support Personnel of the Year for Katy ISD. She serves as the college and career facilitator for Jordan High School. Stillinger received a Bachelor of Science in child development and family living.

Deanna Anders '16 was named director of technology at Elysian Fields Independent School District. Anders earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Dr. Johnny Walker '16 is the first Milken Educator Award recipient in Winona Independent School District history. The award comes with a $25,000 cash prize. Walker received a Master of Education in elementary education.

Jimmy Friday Wright '17 was named superintendent of Wells Independent School District. Wright earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a concentration in agriculture development production.

Mahayla (Kissman) Atkinson '18 announced the April 2 birth of Evelyn Leanne Atkinson, a future Lumberjack. Atkinson received a Bachelor of Arts in theatre.

Eric DeJesus '18 was named head baseball coach at Nacogdoches High School. DeJesus earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.

Kylie Altier '19 was named 2024 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. She is a first-grade teacher at McKinley Elementary School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Altier received a Master of Education in elementary education.

Jeff Martin '19 was named director of basketball operations at Rice University. Martin served as a graduate assistant for SFA men's basketball and received a Master of Business Administration.

Dr. Ryan Stewart '19 was among 131 students recently awarded a Doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. Stewart earned a Bachelor of Science in cellular and molecular biology.

2020s

Kiara Hawkins '20 was awarded the Art Teaching Excellence Award in the middle school division from the Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. Hawkins earned a Bachelor of Arts in educational theatre.

Mason McCarty '20 was named director of technology for Lufkin ISD. McCarty earned a Bachelor of Arts in information technology.

Trace Horger '21 began an IT cybersecurity specialist role at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. Horger received a Bachelor of Arts in information technology.

Jared Belz '22 was named industrial designer with the Boss International Group. Belz earned a Master of Business Administration.

Dayven Coleman '22 joined the Valparaiso University football staff as nickelbacks coach. Coleman earned a Bachelor of Science in human sciences.

Colby Jackson '23 was named the Western Athletic Conference's assistant director of communications. Jackson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in sports business.