UT Classics Alumni Update
Houston Boyd (’24) has been accepted to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s graduate program in classics with full funding. Warmest congratulations!
Alanna Heatherly (’19), a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan, was accepted into the 2024 Classical Summer School of the American Academy in Rome with full funding. Needless to say, she had the time of her life. While there, she met fellow Knoxvillian Andrew Riggsby, Lucy Shoe Merrit Professor at the other UT (Austin), and many other luminaries in classics.
Magister Bobby Huddleston (’83), our most senior active student/colleague, is now in his 40th year teaching at Father Ryan High School. Perhaps Magistra Susan Neas Hankins (’86), only in her 38th year with the Latin program at Greeneville High School, will take up the challenge and ditch her plans to retire at the end of this year?
Two alumnae won competitive regional and national awards in support of their K-12 Latin teaching: Magistra Julie Holt (’00) of Powell High School was awarded a Rudolph Masciantonio grant from the Classical Association of the Middle West and South, and Magistra Lizzi Kersey (’07) won the Coffin Fellowship from the National Society for Classical Studies and the Golden Anchor Award for Outstanding Teaching at Farragut High School. We could not be more proud of you both!
Magistra Chloe Lovelace (’15), who joined the Metropolitan Museum in New York as an intern in 2015, is now a collections specialist in ancient Near Eastern art. She is currently assisting with the renovation of the Met’s Near Eastern galleries. Great going, Chloe!
Magister Andrew Montgomery (’22) has started the master’s program in Mediterranean archaeology at UT. He is writing his thesis on Minoan peak sanctuaries under the supervision of Tristan Barnes and Aleydis Van de Moortel.
Magister Cooper Phillips (’22), a PhD student in Egyptology at the University of Memphis, has been helping to produce facsimiles of some Ramesses II’s reliefs on the southern exterior wall at the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak. He also has his own project, creating 3D models of various scenes and reliefs with photogrammetric software. Currently he is producing a model of Ramesses’ Hittite Peace Treaty from the walls of the Cour de la Cachette. As a proof, he sent a photo of him attaching a sensor to Ramesses II’s chest. We are in awe, Cooper, and, yes, well, slightly envious as well.
Walter Price (’23), an MA student in Ancient Mediterranean Studies at the University of Missouri, Columbia, has started to teach undergraduate Latin. He also participated in his first professional conference, presenting his research at the 2023 meeting of the Southern Section of the Classical Association of the Middle West and South in Greensboro, North Carolina. Way to go, Walt!
Adelle Rosendale (’24) is pursuing a master’s degree in education and a license to become a Latin high school teacher. She is currently interning with Magister Sandy Hughes (’05) at Bearden High School, truly a first-rate role model!
Zoe Smith (’22) has been accepted into the MA program of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago with partial funding. In addition to Mesopotamian and Anatolian archaeology, she is expanding her language arsenal by taking Hittite this fall and Turkish this spring. It is wonderful to see you on your way, Zoe!
Magistra Mary Walter (’24) is teaching math and Latin at Pigeon Forge High School. She has been invited to present a paper at the annual conference of the Tennessee World Languages Teachers Association. What a great start, Mary, and welcome to the ranks of Tennessee’s Latin teachers!
Warmest congratulations to Vicki Weaver (’92), chair of our Classics Advisory Council, for her new position as vice president for human resources at SouthEast Bank in Knoxville.
Finally, former Department head Chris Craig was surprised in his cardio class to hear another participant reciting the Aeneid to himself. Bradley Grindstaff, now a financial fraud investigator and accountant, memorized his Vergil for Craig in 1988 and has used it for calming perspective ever since. A great reunion!
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