Our Family Tree- Buncombe County Past Representatives 1985-2017

Whether a Junior Miss, Young Woman of the Year, or Distinguished Young Woman, we are proud and honored to have these distinguished women listed among our alumni and as our representatives over the past 30+ years. Each one of them continues to be an outstanding citizen and is involved in their community, continuing the values of this program no matter where they are.

1985-Lisa Marlene (LM) Sawyer-Charles D Owen High School, Boston University, American University in Washington, DC; owner of fly, Jive, fly, LLC and Wild Blue Rodeo, both air show production/promotion companies; professional air show announcer; lives with husband in Las Vegas, NV.

1986- Marcia Martin- AC Reynolds, Marsh Hill University, UNC-Greensboro; Senior Hospital Account manager for Astellas Pharma, US; two children; lives in Yorktown, VA; overall scholastics and fourth finalist at NCJM

1987- Amy Young- Asheville High, Yale University; works as professional actress as Bellamy Young; currently on ABC’s Scandal; NCJM; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement at national program. Lives in Los Angeles, CA. * Ginny Davis- from Asheville High School, Ginny graduated from Princeton University. She and her husband live in Boston, MA. She is the daughter of Johnny and Jeannie Davis of Asheville.

1988- Robin Turner Oswald- Carolina Day School, University of Colorado at Boulder with double major; works with Bonesteel Productions in Asheville; lives in Asheville with husband, Ozzie, twin sons Carson and Harrison, and daughter Riley.

1989- Heather Whitaker Goldstein- AC Reynolds, Duke University, George Washington University Law School; NCJM; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement and interview at national program; attorney for VanWinkle Law Firm; lives in Asheville with husband, Jeremy, and their four sons. *Lisa Raymer Laney-Enka, UNC-Greensboro, Masters’ Degree in Educational Leadership and NC Principal License; Dance teacher with Buncombe County Schools; lives in Haywood Co. with husband Chris; two daughters: Kennedy and Reagan.

1990- Brandi Wolfe Henson-Clyde A Erwin, Western Carolina University; former teacher at Estes Elementary; currently full time mom; lives in Asheville with husband, Todd and their 3 boys; preliminary honors in Poise and Interview at state program.

1991- Alyssa Miller Harrison- AC Reynolds, UNC-Greensboro, Liberty University; works for Global Outreach International; lives in Tupelo, MS with husband and three boys; preliminary honors in Poise, Scholastic Achievement, Interview, and Fitness at the state program.

1992- Andrea Jones- AC Reynolds, UNC-Chapel Hill, UCLA; completed two year assignment with Teach for America, lives in Carrboro, NC; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement, talent, interview and third finalist at the state program.

1993- Jacqueline Donnelly- AC Reynolds, Barnard College, Duke University; completed clinical psych internship at VA Medical Center in Roanoke, VA; Clinical Psychologist, lives with husband and two daughters in Asheville; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement, poise, and was third finalist at state program.

1994- Lori- Carter Connolly- Clyde A Erwin, Wake Forest University; Executive Diabetes Sales Specialist for AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical; group fitness instructor; lives in Waxhaw, NC with her two daughters; at state program received preliminary honors in talent, scholastic achievement, fitness, and was named third finalist.

1995- Kimberly Kiser Fussell- Enka, NC State University; works for McKinney, and advertising firm in Durham, NC; lives with husband and active in Durham-Orange Junior League; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement at NCJM.

1996- Jennifer Lasher Banks- North Buncombe, Duke University; works at family’s business, Crest Mountain; lives with husband Zach and their two children in Weaverville; received preliminary honors in scholastic achievement, interview, poise, and was named second finalist at the state program.

1997- Melissa Edwards- Enka, UNC-Chapel Hill; Senior Academic Advisor for Academic Advising Program at UNC- Chapel Hill; received preliminary honors in talent and scholastic achievement and was named third finalist at the state program. Our Family Tree- Continued

1998- Susanna Shetley Barbee- North Buncombe, NC State University, Appalachian StateUniversity; language arts/social studies instructional coach, freelance writer, blogger at zealousmom.com; lives in Candler , NC with husband Todd and their two boys.

1999- Robin Luse- Clyde A Erwin, Erskine College; teacher’s assistant for autistic class at Jones Elementary; died in car accident 2004; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement at the state program.

2000- Emily Snyder- AC Reynolds, University of Virginia, UNC-Chapel Hill; planner for alternative transportation systems with Parsons Brinkerhoff; lives in Denver, CO with her husband and new baby daughter; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement at the state program.

2001- Jennifer Sales Slechter- AC Reynolds, UNC-Chapel Hill, Parker Chiropractic College; Owner of WNC Chiropractic; lives with husband Scott and son Parker in Asheville; preliminary honors in interview at the state program.

2002- Alisha Hagerling Ear- Asheville High, the Ohio State University; dance instructor in Asheville; lives with husband Walter and their 3 daughters in Asheville; earned awards in fitness, poise, talent, interview, and scholastics and was named NCJM; preliminary scholastics honors and Top 16 finalist at national program. * Michelle Miller- Asheville High, Stanford University for Bachelors and Masters degrees; lives in New York City; worked for J.P.Morgan & Co., first book, The Underwriting, was released in 2015.

2003- Katie Wilson Stewart- AC Reynolds, East Carolina University; lives in New York City with husband, Jake; dancer and instructor at Broadway Dance Center; preliminary awards in interview and talent at the state program.

2004- Lauren Patton Imhof- Charles D Owen, Elon University with Musical Theater and Dance degrees; National Tour of Wizard of Oz; works for SC Children’s Theater; dance faculty Anderson University; lives in Greenville, SC with husband Chris

2005- Kayla Anderson- Enka, NC State University with double major in communications and Women and Gender Studies; works as an Ecommerce Account Representative for Kassatex Fine Linens; recently moved from New York City to Charlotte, NC; preliminary awards in scholastics and interview, third finalist at the state program.

2006- Windsor Hanger Western- Asheville High, Harvard University; President and Publisher of HerCampus.com; lives in Atlanta, Ga with her husband and daughter; expecting second child in October; preliminary awards in self expression, interview, overall scholastics, and first finalist at NCJM.

2007- Rebecca Curtis- AC Reynolds, UNC-Wilmington with dual degrees in International Business and Spanish; lives in Ecuador studying and teaching; received preliminary award in talent at the state program.

2008- Mallory Lane Olson- TC Roberson, Elon University degree in communications with double minor in spanish and business administration; news reporter for WXII-12 in Winston-Salem; married to Brad Olson.

2009- Diane Huang- TC Roberson, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and College of Arts and Sciences (dual degrees); lives in New York City; Equity Analyst for Morgan Stanley; preliminary awards in interview, overall scholastics, first finalist and Spirit award at state program.

2010- Laura Ellis- Charles D Owen, UNC-Asheville, Appalachian State University; currently working on PhD at University of Arkansas; Irish dancer and instructor; lives in Arkansas.

2011- Katie Fiore- Charles D Owen, UNC-Chapel Hill double major in Journalist amd Mass Communications; lives in Nashville, TN; works for CMT in Integrated Marketing; received a fitness award at NCJM.

2012- Christina Maxwell- AC Reynolds, University of Michigan; lives in New York City; works for Actors Equity and pursuing career in Musical Theater; DYW for NC, at national program received awards for Self Expression, Talent, Be Your Best Self, and named DYW of America.

2013- Brianna Birchett- TC Roberson, Elon University; received Lumen Prize and studied in Bangalore India to research Hindu lay community relationsips with devadasis; lives in Asheville; received talent and interview awards and named first finalist at the state program. Our Family Tree- Continued

2014- Grace Kim- Asheville High; senior at Vanderbilt University majoring in flute performance; received preliminary awards in talent, interview, and scholastics at the state program.

2015- Kadee Beasley- AC Reynolds, junior at NC State University double majoring in finance and accounting; received awards in all 5 categories at local and state program; named DYW of NC; named First Finalist at national program.

2016- Kristie Kim- Asheville High, sophomore at Duke University on a pre-med track; founded Asheville Young Musicians Club, past concertmaster of Asheville-Buncombe Youth Symphony; received preliminary award in scholastics at state program.

2017- Leila Yow- TC Roberson, freshman at UNC-Asheville; aspires to have career in global health; received awards in interview, talent, self expression and was named first finalist at the state program; played Ella in TCR’s Cinderella this spring.

* First finalist assumed local duties when Buncombe County representative was named North Carolina’s Junior Miss.

Best of Luck to our Beautiful and Distinguished Young Dancers! We are so proud of the young women you have Become and we love you!! Cheryl, Tonia, the ADT Staff and your fellow ADT Dancing Gems AUTUMN EUDY EMMA GRACE KISER

KAYLEIGH NEEDER SARAH ANN HAMRICK