Alumni Connections February 2016

Many thanks to the 17 alumni who interviewed Regional Finalists with our staff as part of the Regional Interview Committee and the over 45 alumni who visited with us in Los Angeles, Dallas, DC, New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. We love connecting with Scholars wherever we go!

The Atlanta Regional Interview Committee Skyped with Regional Finalists from all over the country in teams of 3, and also was able to interview some local Regional Finalists in Atlanta. Pictured top left to bottom right: Mark Davis (CCSF), JJ Jaxon (1994), Jamie Williams (CCSF), Josh McNair (2002), Samuel Wakefield (2001), Deborah Stine (1991), Darien Dabney (2005), Patti Ross (Former CCSF), Nakeshia Randall (2004), Monique Kumar (2000), Ryan Rodriguez (Former CCSF), LaQuanda Prince (CCSF), Jane Hale Hopkins (CCSF), and Jaime Broadhead Levins (2002).

 

While in New York, several alumni were able to come together for dinner.

In Washington, DC, Scholar alumni met up for dinner after the first day of interviews. Regional Interview Committee members Rosita Najmi (2000), Ericia Ward-Williams (CCSF), and Aaron Chadbourne (2002) are included in the picture above.

While in town in Washington, DC, Christie Thompson (1990) and her husband met Ericia Ward-Williams (CCSF) for dinner.

Tim McCallum (1991), Carolyn Norton (CCSF), and Jaselyn Williams (1999) interviewed Regional Finalists in Dallas, TX.

Amy Pyle (2013) and Richmond Dewan (2014) helped out during the interviews in Dallas, walking Regional Finalists to and from the interview room and making them feel comfortable.

A large group of Scholar alumni were able to get together for dinner in Dallas!

The group was later joined by Molly Michaels (2011)…

…and Stephen Gilstrap (2004)!

On another night in Dallas, a nice group of 1991 Scholar alumni met up, too!

In Philadelphia, Lauren O’Brien (CCSF), Jamie Williams (CCSF), and Frank Shultz (1999) interviewed Regional Finalists in the Accenture office with the help of Pamit Surana (1989).

The night before interviews began, several Scholars and alumni met for dinner in Philadelphia.

J. Mark Davis (CCSF), LaToya Franklyn (2003), and Trent Bigelow (2004) interviewed Regional Finalists in Rosemead, CA, at the Don Basco Technical Institute.

Mark got together for dinner with alumni in Los Angeles not just one night…

…not just 2 nights (Josh Miller (2005) and Lena Benson (2002))…

…not just 3 nights (Albert Lawrence (2003) and David Buckholtz (1993))…

…but 4! Mark and Krystal Kappeler (2009) celebrated her new job as a Market Development Manager at The Coca-Cola Company in Irvine, CA!

Many of the CCSF staff members and several local Scholar alumni enjoyed a night out to see our first CineConcert, an experience where a live symphony orchestra plays the score to iconic movies, thanks to Brady Beaubien (1997), a CineConcert co-founder. The show was called Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage, where the live orchestra played while the most iconic Star Trek film and TV footage beamed in high definition to a 40-foot wide screen. It was an amazing experience!

We enjoyed a fun visit with Kim Rash (1990), who brought some special birthday gifts for J. Mark Davis – origami bow ties to wear and to hang on his wall!

Angela Harrell (1991) met Markita Morris-Louis (1994) at a work event in New York City. They realized they were both Coke Scholars after they were offered a competitor’s product and both refused, stating they drink only Coca-Cola products!

Christopher Gray and Bryson Alef (2010 Coke Scholars and co-founders of Scholly) enjoyed being part of the Forbes 30 Under 30 event in NYC last month. Christopher was one of the 30 Under 30 honorees!

Dhrooti Vyas (2010) met up with Samorn Selim (2000) in San Francisco to discuss Dhrooti’s startup ideas. They initially met last November at the University of Chicago Career Mentorship Panel, where Samorn served as a panelist.

We enjoyed lunch and getting to reconnect with Natosha Reid Rice (1989) when she came to by for a visit. Natosha is an Associate General Counsel at Habitat for Humanity International in Atlanta.

We loved getting a visit from Helen Clark (2011) and her friend Joe Davies who were in Atlanta for 2009 Scholar Katie Comer’s wedding!

Zak Marcone and Sreya Atluri (both 2015 Scholars) found themselves on the same committee at McMUN (McGill’s Model United Nations conference)!

Pat Blute (2008) met up with Christopher Gray (2010) at the Ted Talks in Vancouver last week.

Carrie Regan (1989) met up with Saad Amer (2012) for coffee and career advice in Cambridge, MA.