Life after college
In April 2023, Samantha “Sami” Ralli Worthington welcomed William Lyles Worthington IV, named after proud father, Billy, whom she married in 2020.
Saum Sami, M.S. ’12 got married in August 2022 and has two kids, Jude, 4, and Sophia, 1. Saum has been with Washington Academy and High School in Princess Anne, Maryland, for the past six years, where he currently teaches U.S. history and coaches softball.
Kim Clemens Hudson is still working as an art therapist and addiction and trauma therapist based out of Annapolis, Maryland. As if that wasn’t enough, Kim put her talents to work and started a new art side business, called KimSY Art, that combines mixed-media prints and crepe paper flowers. She sold items at the First Sunday Annapolis Art Festival in 2022, and we hope to see more soon. She and her husband also welcomed baby Timber Boone in March 2023.
Marzak Ahmed celebrated 10 years at NCQA last year. Earlier this year, his efforts were rewarded with a promotion to senior representative, enabling him to take on more leadership at his workplace. Marzak still resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and was able to visit campus for Homecoming for the first time since the pandemic, writing, “It was nice seeing so many new and diverse faces among the student body.”
Maria Clark Hawn has not only earned her M.B.A. from Shippensburg University with a concentration in business analytics but also now has two human resources certifications. This has led to the creation of Maria Hawn Consulting, where she assists companies in general business and human resources management. In her spare time, both she and her husband, Mark, are active volunteers at Littlestown Elementary School, where their daughters Grace and Anne both attend. Can we squeeze in another leadership role? We sure can, as Maria is also the PTO president! The family enjoys spending time together and taking family trips.
Back in June 2022, Amy Kachel was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. She underwent pretty rigorous treatment, including seven rounds of chemotherapy, 25 rounds of radiation, one hysterectomy, and two mastectomies exactly one year apart from each other. Thankfully, Amy is now officially in remission.
Amelia Reiniger Markosian has been promoted from teaching to being the science, STEM, gifted and talented, and local accountability coordinator for Kent County Public Schools. And not one to back down from a challenge, she is also working on her doctoral degree through Bowie State University, with an anticipated completion date sometime next year. She is still very close with Ellen Larson, Kirstie Menzies Miller, M.S. ’14, and Alison Rose ’11, and makes it a point to see them as often as possible. “I miss all my McDaniel Ultimate Frisbee people so much and look forward to reunions!”
Tyler Kudravetz Zacchero has worked for Bozzuto Management Company for the past 10 years. Now residing in Lutherville, Maryland, with her husband, Brad, the two welcomed their son Vincent James in August 2022, joining their expanding family that includes two big dogs. Tyler also battled head and neck cancer throughout 2023, but is now in remission. Happily, this means that Tyler and her family hope to travel internationally soon, something she enjoys doing with her husband.
Lia Snow McNeil, M.S. ’12 teaches in Hoke County Schools, North Carolina, where she has been able to teach at many different grade levels in elementary school. Her unwavering commitment to her work has paid off, as she was recognized as Teacher of the Year at Sandy Grove Elementary School and Hoke County Schools in 2020, and then again at the school level in 2023. Lia and her husband, DeMarious, have four children, with the newest addition arriving in August 2023. Lia still shares her melodic singing voice within her community, singing with a gospel choir, and also helping to bring the arts to the schools in her district.
Frannia Bryant, M.S. ’14 is still working as a school counselor, now with Calvert County Public Schools, where she is in her second year. Frannia still meets up with Lyndley O’Dell Andrews ’09, M.S. ’12 for the occasional lunch and catching up on McDaniel memories.
As for me? It has been quite the ride since the last column! After three great years in Texas, I took the opportunity to move back east and accepted a position as the assistant director of college counseling at Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, a lovely Quaker boarding school in a great town. Before moving back east, I took the time to have some adventures, including being a bridesman for Kacey Decker ’09’s wedding in Ocean City, Maryland, to husband Jeff, which of course meant spending time with other bridal party friends, Amanda Brady ’09 and Amy Faby Chowdhury ’09. But as soon as I made it to Chester County, I was welcomed with open arms by Nicole Cahill Jordan. I then discovered quickly that Brittany Cooper Taylor and Daniel Taylor also live in the borough! Then, to my further pleasant surprise, Kay Dixon also made the move to town, and I now have a regular happy hour partner. Being east has also meant being closer to other McDaniel friends, like heading to Baltimore to see Adina Oved, or a simple drive to New Jersey to see Christina Hinkle Pasquarella ’09, or continued adventures with Amanda Gushard-Edwards ’09. While I might miss the warmer weather of the Lone Star State, I have to admit that being closer to friends and family has been wonderful, and my new role at Westtown has been quite possibly my most fulfilling. I look forward to making more memories with McDaniel friends, so if you ever find yourself in the Philadelphia area, please feel free to let me know!
Fernando Gomes2010 Class Reporterfgomes06@gmail.com301-943-4351