Association news & class notes
Alexandra Stitely, M.S. ’19 is currently in her seventh year of teaching. She teaches sixth grade English Language Arts at West Middle School in Westminster, Maryland. Alex is continuing to take graduate classes at McDaniel and is pursuing National Board Certification. She is still living in Westminster, and recently adopted a golden retriever. She celebrated her sister’s (Michaela Stitely Freter ’17, M.S. ’22) wedding in Negril, Jamaica, in the summer of 2024 with Samantha Stitely Janiga ’15, M.S. ’18; Jana Ferraro ’17; and Dan Gebhart ’17, ’19.
After graduation, Mable Buchanan Palmer worked as an editor, then earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and taught middle school. She lived in Baltimore for a while, working, writing, and puppeteering, then met her husband, Theron, while Lindy Hop dancing. They got married in April 2024 and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in September 2024. Mable is now teaching creative writing, literature electives, and composition at a local college.
Julia Halberstam has been working at Mothers Against Drunk Driving for the Underage Drinking Prevention Program. She earned a master’s degree in Forensic Investigation and is now back in school to obtain a nursing degree to become a forensic nurse. She is still active in CrossFit, competing in Jupiter, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Benjamin Agee and Lucy Bainbridge Agee, M.S. ’24 still live in Glen Burnie, Maryland. In December, Lucy graduated from McDaniel’s master’s program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and is now working as an English language development teacher in Glen Burnie. Ben is currently in graduate school at Johns Hopkins University for a master s degree in Computer Science.
Alex Tolle Michaels and Ben Michaels ’19 got married March 29, 2025, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. They celebrated with many Phi Alpha Mu sisters and McDaniel alumni. Stephanie Golub and Kendall Harnsberger ’19 were bridesmaids. Alex currently serves as the assistant director of donor relations at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. Ben accepted a new role with Deluxe Corporation, and they will be relocating to the Minneapolis, Minnesota, area.
Sarah Rasch has been a special education teacher for five years. She is currently living in Baltimore City. She was looking forward to a monthlong summer trip to Hawaii.
Emily Caudell Hildebrand, M.S. ’19 had a baby, Amelia Jane, in August 2024. She has also accepted a promotion as of this school year and is now a special education department chair in Frederick County (Maryland) Public Schools.
Kayla Hamilton Lyons is in her seventh year of teaching sixth grade English Language Arts. She married Chris Lyons in 2023. She earned a graduate degree in educational curriculum writing and anticipated finishing her English as a Second Language certification in August.
Upon graduation, Jacklyn Goldsmith started working in the psychology field for a nonprofit organization called Gateway Homes Inc., from July 2018 to February 2024. She served as a recovery support specialist for adults diagnosed with severe mental illnesses residing in mental health group homes. She also worked part time as a recovery support specialist at Recovery Centers of America Capital Region in Waldorf, Maryland, and as a substitute relief mental health counselor at the Fairfax County-Falls Church Community Services Board. Since 2022, she has been a behavioral health specialist for the Fairfax County-Falls Church Community Services Board; she works in the Residential Intensive Care Program. In 2022, she also moved from Germantown, Maryland, to Alexandria, Virginia. She landed a second job within the county government, where she serves as a substitute mental health clinician at the Wellness Circle Crisis Stabilization Unit of Fairfax County.
Becca Sykes Over and Nick Over welcomed their first baby, a girl named Lyla Joy, in July 2024.
Drew Scott recently got married.
After graduating from graduate school, Mark Gales has been working as a social worker.
Katie Kirschenmann Marr and Nathan Marr ’17 had their first child in January 2024. They moved to Connecticut for Nathan’s new Division I football job and are fortunate enough to live by the beach.
Madison Bodnar, M.S. ’21 and Liam St. John got married on Oct. 31, 2024, and moved to California on Feb. 13, 2025.
Abigail Rose-Craver had a great time back on the Hill for Homecoming 2024. A highlight was catching up with Cathy Orzolek-Kronner ’86 under the alumni tent. And, of course, they had to stop at Baugher’s after the game. In May 2024, she had the honor of being a bridesmaid for former roommate Tonae’ Hamilton Hur ’17 when Tonae’ got married on the Eastern Shore. Yessica Rodriguez ’19 and SoYoung Jeon ’20 were also in the wedding party, and they got to see their North Village roommate Kristian Popov ’17, M.S. ’21. Just weeks before Tonae’s wedding, Tonae’ and Abigail attended SoYoung’s wedding along with a bunch of former ACC members! In December, Abigail got to attend the National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference in Denver. She stayed a couple extra days and had the chance for a super-quick visit with another North Village roommate Jamil Elfahdi ’17 and Lizzie DeRycke ’17 at Jamil’s family’s cafe, Cafe Miriam. This summer, Abigail was excited to have Tonae’ serve as one of her bridesmaids at her three-year anniversary party. Since Abigail and her husband were saving for a house, they only had a micro-wedding back in 2022. Tonae’ and Yessica were there. Now that they have the house, they’re ready to fully celebrate!
Erin Holtz works for the St. Johns County Public Schools as an exceptional student education paraprofessional. She works with Board Certified Behavior Analysts and uses her behavioral technician certification at the school when she works with students with challenging behaviors. Erin has a new addition to the family: Linus, a basset hound. She still lives in St. Augustine, Florida, and does house- and pet-sitting through Rover.
Alex Stitely2018 Class Reporteralex.stitley@yahoo.com