Class Notes

Whitney Hunt Botts, 29, went to be with the Lord on August 2, 2021. Born August 8, 1991. Preceded in death by her mother. She is survived by her loving husband of 6 years, Zach Botts, son, Atlas, father, Steve Hunt, mothers-in-law, Candace Robinson and Marcia Botts, father-in-law, Dennis Botts, grandparents, Ann and Raymond Hunt, sister, Megan (Cody), sisters-in-law, Kaitlin Botts, Olivia (Mark) Gravelle, Courtney (Chris) Pendergrass, brothers-in-law, Matt (Jeri) Botts, Ben (Ashley) Sweeney and several nieces and nephews. Whitney was a graduate of Lee University. She was employed by Peniel Rehabilitation Center in Johnstown, Pennsylvania where she was an intake counselor. She loved being a precious mom to her 5 year old son, Atlas, loving on and encouraging people. Upon meeting Whitney, you immediately fell in love with her. She was a very gifted singer and writer. She was a blessing to everyone she met. The last year of her life was her best ever—loving and serving the Lord with her husband, Zach. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 7, 2021, at Peniel Praise Community Church in Johnstown, PA and will be officiated by Bishop Mark Spellman. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Peniel Residential Treatment Center, P.O. Box 250, Johnstown, PA 15907

is living and Interpreting in NYC. She is currently interpreting 6 days per week, working three days of the week with New York’s Department of Education and free lancing the other three days. This free lancing is with Empire Interpreting Services in NY. In addition to interpreting, she is taking advantage of living in NY and joined a Deaf Theatre group, the New York Deaf Theatre. Their first show, Jekyll and Hyde opened November 7, 2014. She is the assistant stage manager and reportedly is “loving it so much!” She has met and worked with incredible deaf actors and the entire play is in ASL.

Shelby and Tyler met in 2010 at Maryville College, both students of the ASL-English Interpreting program. After graduating in 2013, Tyler and Shelby moved to New York City and, shortly after, founded their own interpreting agency for the Deaf- Inclusive Communication Services (ICS). To date, ICS remains a pillar in the NYC community as a leading agency for affordable equal-access accommodations for the Deaf, Deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing. In 2021, Shelby and Tyler launched their second business together, Eclipse Scheduling, LLC, an innovative online software focused on improving how interpreting and caption agencies manage their services and providers. Shelby and Tyler are eternally grateful to MC for their rounded liberal arts education, to Peggy Maher for providing such exceptional professional training and career readiness, and to the universe/fate for having introduced the two and leading them to where they are today.

Bonnie Finn recently completed her two Master’s degrees (Musicology, ’16 and Information Science, ’17) and accepted her first professional position (July 2019) at the College of Saint Benedict / Saint John’s University in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Bonnie is the Fine Arts Librarian (music, theater, art) for the joint Benedictine institutions, which have three libraries – the Music Library located in the arts building, Clemens Library @ St. Benedict’s, and Alcuin Library @ St. John’s. She is liaison and teaches information literacy for the Fine Arts, History, and Military Science departments.

works full time at East TN Technology Access Center (ETTAC ) in Educational Technology Services in Knoxville and does contract interpreting for Knoxville Center of the Deaf.

Jerica Johnson married DeMarcus Hall October 15, 2022

completed the nationally highly competitive School to Work Program at the Video Relay Interpreting Institute in spring 2014. He works as a video relay interpreter with Sorenson Video Relay in New York, previously interpreted with Knoxville Center of the Deaf, and has interpreted in a local TN school system. He moved in fall 2014 to New York state and is working interpreting for Empire Interpreting Service, A la Orden in Syracuse. He works among the languages of spoken English, Spanish, American Sign Language and English sign forms. His majors at MC were: AEI and Spanish.

Received her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Lincoln Memorial University and has started working as a small animal veterinarian in Kingsport, TN.

Brennon Picarella age 25, of Knoxville, Tennessee, formerly of Festus, Missouri, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born March 25, 1991, in St. Louis, the son of Brenda (nee Noland) and Michael D. Picarella of Festus. In addition to his parents, he is survived by grandparents Michael (the late Jeanne) Picarella and Harold (Sharlette) Noland Sr.; aunts and uncles Gary (Judy) Picarella, David (Denise) Picarella, and Don Picarella, all of Crystal City, Missouri, Sandy (Dan) Henke of Festus, Cindy Picarella, Harold (Tonia) Noland Jr. of Dupo, Illinois, Charles (Lina) Noland of St. Louis, James (Tamara) Noland of Imperial, Missouri, Bea Noland of Norman, Oklahoma, and Eva (Jesse) Kinder of De Soto, Missouri; and numerous cousins and friends. He was a second-year law student at the University of Tennessee, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and economics before going on to law school. Brennon had a deep love of all things sports, especially soccer. He was a member of the 2009 State Champion soccer team at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee, and was an avid follower of Tennessee sports, especially the University of Tennessee Volunteers. He also enjoyed going to St. Louis Cardinals games, running marathons and triathlons, golfing, hunting, and fishing. He loved spending time with his family and looked forward to family vacations. Interment is at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Crystal City. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Brennon’s name are preferred to any cancer organization of the donor’s choice.

Devan Reynolds ’13 has taken on the role of General Manager for Abridged Beer Company, a West Knoxville Brewpub.

The Grassroots Leadership team in Austin, Texas welcomes Lauren Voyles. She was placed at Grassroots Leadership through the Young Adult Volunteer program, a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The program allows young people to serve domestically or internationally at sites where we are able to positively impact those who live around us, as well as enables us to be good stewards of our society and our world. She is heavily involved in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is considering a seminary education following her YAV year. She feels most called to a chaplaincy of some kind.

Lindsey O’Neal Yoder ’13 had a story published recently by SisterSTEM. The story, “Tackling the Mountain,” shares a scientist and grad student perspective of Mt. Rainier and taking care of oneself. Read more here: https://sisterstem.org/2018/07/26/tackling-the-mountain/