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Fort Hunt high school opened along Fort Hunt road, Alexandria, Virginia in 1963.

Due to declining enrollment it closed in June 1985 to merge with Groveton high school and become West Potomac high school….using the Groveton campus. The Fort Hunt campus became Carl Sandburg middle school.

Fort Hunt, a public school. Open for only a short time, thus our numbers are limited. Our impact is vast.

 

Some of our grads…….

— Jeanne Coughlin Tisinger, class of 1979, the CIA’s first female Chief Information Officer, and served as Deputy Director of the CIA for Support. At Fort Hunt, indoor National High School Record Holder in the 4 x 800m relay.

— Edward [Ned] Wright, Fort Hunt class of 1965. Leader in identifying origins of the universe. His early 1990’s work led to his colleagues being awarded the Nobel Prize in physics, in 2006. That work was first recognized by NASA in 1992 when Ned received the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal. In 2017 he was awarded the $3 million “Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics”, awarded to physicists….”that have made transformative contributions to fundamental physics”.

— Wendy Lawrence, class of 1977, NASA Space Shuttle Astronaut

— Hoda Kotb, class of 1982, Host of the NBC Today Show

— Rick Atkinson, Fort Hunt class of 1970. Deputy National Editor for the Washington Post. 1982 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism, 1999 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism, 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Books.

— Phil Wiggins, class of 1973. Blues artist, recipient of the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts from the National Endowment For The Arts.

— Sharon Clark, class of 1980. World-renowned jazz vocalist.

— Matt Miley, class of 1984. Production Manager for touring rock bands, Goo Goo Dolls, Indigo Girls, Moby, Everclear.

— Phoef Sutton, Fort Hunt class of 1976. TV show writer for….Newhart, Bob, Cheers, Boston Legal. Winner of Emmy, Golden Globe, and Peabody Awards. Executive producer for Cheers during the TV show’s highest viewership years, including when the show was the number 1 TV show in America.

— Cindy Drummond, class of 76. Stand-up comic at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, The Laugh Factory, The Improv, The Comedy Store. Actor, roles on TV series shows….Grey’s Anatomy, The Unicorn [CBS], The Office, Gilmore Girls, New Girl, General Hospital, Mrs. America [FX on Hulu]. Actor in 2 popular Geico TV commercials. Cindy has been the answer to questions on the long running TV show, Jeopardy.

— Bob Novogratz, class of 1981, TV shows on BRAVO and HGTV. Owner of The Novogratz

— Russ McGuire, class of 1982. Vice President of the tech giant Sprint Nextel, in charge of corporate strategy.

— Carolyn Cole, class of 1979. Photojournalist, Los Angeles Times. Pulitzer Prize winner. The first person to ever win all three of America’s top photojournalism awards in the same year.

— Mike Novogratz, class of 1983. Billionaire investment manager, Director of Fortress Investment Group. Frequent guest on CNBC.

— Stephen Wilson, class of 1977. Air Force Vice Chief Of Staff.

— Jacqueline Novogratz, class of 1979. Founder and CEO of Acumen Fund.

— Patty Kosciuszko Collette, class of 81. Celebrity cake artist and pastry chef, owner of Patty Cakes Inc. Her work has been featured on Oprah, CNN, local Washington DC TV news segments, and featured in People Magazine, The Washington Post, Style Magazine, Town and Country.

— Rocky Belk, class of 1979, NFL wide receiver

— Sheri Lynn [Wellens] Gibson, class of 1983. Photo Journalist for NBC Universal. Composed stories for NBC Nightly News, Today Show, CNBC, Reuters. Covered major sport events including -7- Olympic Games and the NFL Super Bowl.

— Leslie [Howerton] Jones, Fort Hunt class of 1980. Photographer, her work has appeared in nature publications. From predator birds, Florida gators, and insects, to beautiful sunsets in Panama, Florida. Owner of Leslie Jones Photography, featured on the local television news [ABC13 TV news].

— Lynn Clark, class of 1975. Professor at Iowa State University, the world’s leading expert on bamboos, internationally recognized for her expertise in plant systematics [plant classification]. Awarded by the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History with the Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany.

— Marc Mial, class of 1979. At Fort Hunt, ranked among the top high school sprinters in the United States. Marc and Fort Hunt teammate Rocky Belk ran on the DC Striders sprint medley relay that tied the National High School Record. In college at University Of Montana, Marc achieved early season World rankings in the 100m and 200m.

— Elizabeth Gray, class of 1983.

CEO of the National Audubon Society. The first woman to serve as CEO in the organization’s 116 year history.

— Beth Harrell, class of 1977. Swimming, former American Record Holder 50 butterfly, 200 free style relay

— Gloria Parmentier, class of 1976. rifle marksman, 1984 Olympic Games, 4th place, 1982 World Championships, silver medalist, holder of multiple United States National Records, 5-time United States National Champion

———————————————

International…..

— 1972 Fort Hunt Band….winners of the international band competition in Vienna, Austria. Fort Hunt’s band branded as “World’s Finest”.

National…..

— Paulette Desell, class of 1972. As a junior at Fort Hunt, the first female Page to serve on the floor of the United States Senate.

— 1981 Fort Hunt cheerleaders, National Champions.

— 1979 Fort Hunt girls indoor track 4 x 800m relay, National High School Record Holders.

— 1978 rowing…Junior 8 crew, National Champions. Senior 8 crew, 3rd at the National Championships.

East Coast…..

— 1970, 71, 72 Fort Hunt Band….winners of the Mid-Atlantic band competition.

Virginia…..

— 1960’s thru 1980’s, across many sports, there were many District and Regional Champion teams and individual athletes, as well as many nationally ranked individuals and State Champions.

— Fort Hunt teams, Virginia State Champions….

– 1970 boys cross-country

– 1978 boys track

– 1978 boys swimming, [girls 2nd]

– 1980 girls track

– 1980 girls cross-country

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‘

Marshall Burt, Fort Hunt class of 1981.

‘

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A few of the women grads of Fort Hunt high school.

The first female graduate of the United States Naval Academy to fly in space.
Wendy Lawrence, class of 1977.
 
The first person to ever win all three of America’s top photojournalism awards in the same year.
Pulitzer Prize winner. Photojournalist, Los Angeles Times.
Carolyn Cole, class of 1979.
 
The CIA’s first female Chief Information Officer.
Jeanne Coughlin Tisinger, class of 1979
 
The first female Page to serve on the floor of the United States Senate.
As a junior at Fort Hunt in 1971.
Paulette Desell, class of 1972.
 
Fort Hunt’s first female drum major.
Sarah Brooks, class of 1979.
 
National High School Record Holders.
Fort Hunt indoor track 4 x 800m relay, January 1979
Linda Portasik, class of 1979
Nancy Davis, moved away after sophomore year, would have been class of 1981
Jeanne Coughlin, class of 1979
Sue Miley, class of 1981
 
National Champions.
Fort Hunt cheerleaders, August 1981
alphabetical order….Jennifer Agden, Dawn Bethea, Mary Cavanaugh, Mary Coughlin, Aisha Davis, Cameron Demaine, Julie Dodson, Valarie Hehemann, Jenny Howay, Cush Howard, Dawn Gerber, Christi Langsam, Dannielle Lerro, Eileen Marousek, Laurie Olson, Tee Ragland, Monica Rodriguez, Joni Takane.
‘

‘

 

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Fort Hunt high school opened = Sept 1963

Fort Hunt high school closed = June 1985

Since 2013, the 50th anniversary of the school’s opening, our school has gathered each Summer or Fall for a 3-day mega-meetup in and around our Fort Hunt neighborhood. Going strong for more than a decade. Our school has also gathered to participate in the annual Scottish Walk Parade in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.

‘

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October 2023 we gathered for in the auditorium at our old school [which is now Carl Sandburg middle school] to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the school’s opening. Fort Hunt opened 1963, closed 1985. 
Hoda Kotb, class of 1982, host of the NBC Today Show gave a great speech and aired part of it on her TV show.

‘

‘

 

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Fort Hunt, a public school.

Open for only a short time, thus our numbers are limited. Our impact is vast.

‘

by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Sarah Brooks, class of 1979.
Fort Hunt’s first female drum major.

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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Paulette Desell
Fort Hunt class of 1972.
In 1971 she was the first female Page in the United States Senate.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Wendy Lawrence, class of 1977.
First female graduate of the United States Naval Academy to fly into space.
Visited the Russian Space Station Mir.
Space Shuttle Mission specialist.
Flew on the Space Shuttle in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2005.
.
Retired Navy Captain, NASA astronaut, helicopter pilot, engineer.
Masters degree in ocean engineering from MIT.
.
Daughter of Vice Admiral William Lawrence, former Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Destroyer named after him….USS William P. Lawrence.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Bob Novogratz, class of 1981.
Mega-designer to the rich and famous, top professional athletes, Hollywood actors, and to average joes across the last couple decades.
Bob and his wife Courtney have been featured in an array of major magazines on top of many interviews and appearances on several TV shows including…..
Rachel Ray
CBS Morning show
CNBC’s Secret Lives Of The Super Rich
NBC Today show….interviewed by fellow Fort Hunt grad Hoda Kotb [class of 1982]
They’ve had several books and TV shows…..
— 9 By Design [BRAVO]
— Home By Novogratz [HGTV]
Books…..
— Downtown Chic
— Home By Novogratz
— Beachside Bohemian
Products
— in Macy’s
— in Walmart
They were featured on a 2016 episode of CNBC’s show called “Secret Lives Of The Super Rich”.
Segment focussed on the house they built and and lived in, located in Manhattan. At selling time they hosted a celebrity house party. House worth about $17 million.
—————–
.
2018,….Forbes Magazine—
“Cortney and her husband Robert Novogratz have been designing and developing spaces around the world for over 25 years. Thanks to a combined passion for design, art and architecture, the Novogratz design duo have renovated a Hollywood Hills castle (which is basically their home!) and rebuilt entire city blocks.”
“As a reality TV star alongside Robert on Bravo’s 9 By Design and HGTV’s Home by Novogratz, and coauthor of three books (so far!), Cortney proves that you can have your dream career, while maintaining the role of Queen Bee to a family of seven kids.”
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Coaching staff for the 1973 girls track team at Fort Hunt high school.
Periodically helping out with coaching March thru June that year were a couple of professional track athletes based at the time across the river with a pro track club in Washington D.C..
Gwen [Nicky] Norman and Lacey O’Neal.
Gwen Norman was a National Class 400 meter sprinter.
1969 = 4th place USA Track & Field Championships.
1970 = 3rd place USA Track & Field Championships.
1971 = 2nd place USA Track & Field Championships.
1974 = 4th place USA Track & Field Championships.
Lacey O’Neal was a World Class hurdler.
The American Record Holder at 100m hurdles.
Finished 7th in the semi-finals at the 1964 and 1972 Olympic Games.
In 1975 she was named Head Coach at the University Of Florida, one of the top collegiate women’s track programs in the United States, and later named to President Ford’s United States Council On Physical Fitness & Sports.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Not to be outdone by Fort Hunt’s band, track, swimming, and cheerleading programs……Fort Hunt’s crew/rowing program was among the best in the United States as well.
During the era when several northern Virginia high schools rose to national prominence in rowing, the 1978 Fort Hunt High School Junior 8 crew won the National High School Championship, ending their season at #1 in the nation.
The 1978 Fort Hunt High School senior 8 crew finished 3rd at Nationals.
“Fort Hunt High School, a dominant rowing program in Northern Virginia…..”
“The 1978 Fort Hunt High School Junior 8 crew is recognized for its success in rowing, including winning championships at the Northern Virginia Rowing Championships and competing at a national level.”
“1978 Fort Hunt High School Junior 8 crew won the Scholastic Rowing Nationals in the Junior 8 category….”
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Rocky Belk, class of 1979.
Finished 3rd in both the 100m and 200m helping Fort Hunt win the boys team title at the 1978 Virginia State Championships for Track & Field.
Rocky joined Fort Hunt teammate Marc Mial at a major track meet in Atlanta, Georgia where they tied the National High School Record, running legs on a sprint medley relay for a Washington area All-Star team, the DC Striders track club.
—– In football, after a standout career at Fort Hunt, Rocky played at the Top 10 ranked University Of Miami [Rocky was Associated Press 2nd-team All-South in his final season].
—– 1983 NFL Draft, Anthony “Rocky” Belk was taken as a wide receiver by the Cleveland Browns.
Rookie season, he played 10 games and scored 2 touchdowns.
Following season was picked up by the Los Angeles Raiders but released prior to the season.
He returned to school, earned 2 masters degrees, returned to the northern Virginia area and taught at an elementary school.
Rocky worked with the Gum Springs area youth league and coached at Washington & Lee high school.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Patty Kosciuszko Collette, class of 1981.
Celebrity cake artist and pastry chef, owner of Patty Cakes Inc.
Over the years her masterpiece art that doubles as cakes for weddings and other occasions have been commissioned by folks like a Vice President of the United States, news commentators Cokie Roberts and Arianna Huffington, and actor Will Smith.
Across the last couple decades Patty’s work has been featured on Oprah, CNN, local Washington DC TV news segments, and featured in People Magazine, The Washington Post, Style Magazine, Town and Country.
In northern Virginia she teamed up with celebrity chef Jaques Haeringer at L’Auberge Chez Francois restaurant in Great Falls. Jaques Haeringer has had cooking shows on PBS, History Channel, and appearances on The Today Show, ABC World News, etc.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Jacqueline Novogratz, class of 1979.
—– Founder and CEO of Acumen Fund, a non-profit global venture capital fund.
Using “patient capital” to fund an entrepreneurial approach to impacting global poverty.
—– Acumen has impacted the lives of a half-Billion people across the planet.
—– Has been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and served on the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board
—– May 2023, she gave the Valedictory address at University Of Virginia.
—– PBS News Hour interview
December 15, 2016

–

 

 

 

by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Matt Miley
Fort Hunt class of 1984.
Matt entered the music industry early on after high school and college [VCU]. Got into road crew and production management for touring rock bands.
Production Manager for touring rock bands…..
Goo Goo Dolls
Indigo Girls
Moby
Everclear
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Russ McGuire, class of 1982.
Indoor track Regional Champion at 800 meters.
Before and after “retirement”, a thought leader in the tech industry.
Founder/co-founder of several tech startups. His first in 1995, an internet company.
In the 2000’s, for more than a decade, Vice President of the tech giant Sprint-Nextel, leading their corporate strategy.
Author of thought leader articles and books, and has been utilized as a guest speaker at business schools of major colleges and universities.
He continues to impact the tech industry as a consultant.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Sheri Lynn [Wellens] Gibson, class of 1983.
Fort Hunt crew team captain and Army Captain.
Photo Journalist for NBC Universal.
Composed stories for NBC Nightly News, Today Show, CNBC, Reuters.
Covered major sport events including -7- Olympic Games and the NFL Super Bowl.
Scholarship to University Of Charleston.
Crew team captain.
Won the Cincinnati Regatta, Braxton Regatta.
Won the Mid-America in Tennessee with her fellow Fort Hunt grad, Colleen Mullins.
Lives in northern Virginia, and has been an assistant rowing team coach at West Potomac High School for several years.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Marc Mial, class of 1979.
High School All-American sprinter and long jumper.
In his senior year at Fort Hunt high school, his indoor national rankings 
— #1 in the nation, 60 yard dash
— #1 in the nation, 300 yard dash
— #7 in the nation, triple jump
Boys track team, 1978 Virginia State Champions.
At the end of his senior season he ran for a local all-star team [D.C. Striders track club] with fellow Ft. Hunt’er Rocky Belk. They tied the National High School Record for the sprint medley relay.
In college Marc had an early season top 20 World Ranking at 200m.
At the University Of Montana…..
— outdoor track, early season World Rankings at 100m & 200m
— School Record [indoor] 300m
— School Record [outdoor] 100m
— 1982 Conference Champion at 100m and 200m
— 1982 Conference Champion at 55m [indoor]
— 1983 Conference Champion at 55m [indoor]
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Phoef Sutton.
Fort Hunt class of 1976.
Among the most popular TV shows he has written for….Newhart, Bob, Cheers, Boston Legal.
In his trophy case….Emmy, Golden Globe, and Peabody Awards.
Author of several novels. New York Times Bestseller.
–
Showrunner = writer, top level executive producer, and generally the person in charge of a television series.
–
Phoef was the showrunner for Cheers during the show’s highest viewership years.
Over 30 million viewers in 1989 and 1990.
The number 3 TV show in America in 1989.
The number 1 TV show in America in 1990.
–
In 1989, the show won the Prime Time Emmy Award for most outstanding comedy series.
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2022…..Rolling Stone magazine ranked Cheers as the 8th greatest TV show of all time
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Fort Hunt Cheerleaders.
National Champions, August 1981.
Jennifer Agden
Dawn Bethea
Mary Cavanaugh
Mary Coughlin
Aisha Davis
Cameron Demaine
Julie Dodson
Valarie Hehemann
Jenny Howay
Cush Howard
Dawn Gerber
Christi Langsam
Dannielle Lerro
Eileen Marousek
Laurie Olson
Tee Ragland
Monica Rodriguez
Joni Takane
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Cindy Drummond, class of 76.
Stand-up comic at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, The Laugh Factory, The Improv, The Comedy Store.
Actor roles on TV series shows….Grey’s Anatomy, The Unicorn [CBS], The Office, Gilmore Girls, New Girl, General Hospital, Mrs. America [FX, Hulu].
Actor in 2 popular Geico TV commercials.
Cindy has been the answer to questions on the long running TV show, Jeopardy.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Phil Wiggins.
Fort Hunt class of 1973.
Acclaimed blues artist, recently moved on to whatever is next.
Top left photo is from class of 73 yearbook.
Below are recent excerpts from…..
—– Washington Post
—– New York Times
—– National Endowment for the Arts
[National Endowment for the Arts, May 9, 2024]
“It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of acoustic blues harmonica player Phil Wiggins, recipient of a 2017 NEA National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.”
“By the time he graduated from high school in 1973, Washington, DC blues elders John Jackson, John Cephas (1989 NEA National Heritage Fellow), and Archie Edwards had embraced him.”
“With Cephas as guitarist and primary singer, the duo performed together for 32 years as internationally renowned stars of the country blues, and a staple on blues radio, ever present on the concert and festival circuit. Cephas & Wiggins played Carnegie Hall, Royal Prince Albert Hall in London, and the Sydney Opera House, as well as small venues worldwide, touring every continent except Antarctica. They recorded more than a dozen critically acclaimed albums, on noted labels such as Flying Fish and Alligator Records, winning the prestigious W.C. Handy Blues Award in 1984 for Best Traditional Album of the Year and in 1987 as Entertainers of the Year. They even performed at the White House with B.B. King.”
——————–
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[Washington Post, May 14, 2024]
“Phil Wiggins, a blues harmonica virtuoso who embraced the jaunty Piedmont style and toured the world as part of a duo celebrating a distinctive musical form that was revived in clubs and impromptu jams in the Washington area, died May 7 at his home in Takoma Park, Md. He was 69.”
“In 1976, at the Smithsonian National Folklife Festival, Mr. Wiggins met a guitar player who had emerged as a star from the city’s Piedmont blues scene, John Cephas.”
“Their collaboration would last for more than three decades as the duo Cephas & Wiggins, recording 12 albums and traveling the globe as ambassadors of the Piedmont blues at storied venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London.”
——————–
.
[New York Times, May 18, 2024]
“Phil Wiggins, a harmonica player of such range that he could make his instrument sound like a clarinet one minute, an accordion the next and then an entire percussion section — all in the service of the complex melodies and steady rhythms of the style known as the Piedmont blues — died on May 7 at his home in Takoma Park, Md. He was 69.”
“For much of his career, Mr. Wiggins was best known as half of the duo Cephas and Wiggins, in which he performed and recorded with the guitarist and singer John Cephas. The two were considered one of the country’s top Piedmont blues acts, and they toured regularly at home and abroad for over 30 years, until Mr. Cephas’s death in 2009.”
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Mike Novogratz
Fort Hunt class of 1983.
—– Wrestling at Fort Hunt, Mike finished 2nd at the Virginia State Championships.
—– Wrestling at Princeton, Mike finished 12th at the NCAA National Championships
—– Honorary chairman of USA Wrestling Foundation, and chairman and founder of “Beat the Streets” non-profit organization that promotes wrestling in New York City public schools.
Very frequent guest on CNBC.
Co-founder, Fortress Investment Group.
Co-founder, Galaxy Investment Partners.
Member of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Investment Advisory Committee on Financial Markets.
$5.5 Billion, mid-2025 Forbes net worth estimate.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Sharón Clark
Fort Hunt class of 1980.
World-renowned jazz vocalist.
Articles about her performances have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.
She has performed at the Kennedy Center, done many tours across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Performed as a featured soloist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Lynn Clark.
Fort Hunt class of 1975.
The world leader on bamboos, internationally recognized for her expertise in plant systematics [plant classification].
While at Fort Hunt high school she invested her summers across the bridge in Washington DC on the National Mall, working at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History where she learned from the curator of grasses, bamboo expert Thomas Soderstrom.
Fast forward to early 2025, she was awarded by the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History with the Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany.
Having named over 100 species, Lynn Clark is recognized as the world’s leading expert in woody bamboos.
Lynn is a professor at Iowa State University, Department of Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology.
At Iowa State she serves as Director of the Ada Hayden Herbarium.
Lynn has been presented with the Iowa State University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research.
Co-author of American Bamboos, published in 1999 by Smithsonian books.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Doug Perry
Fort Hunt class of 1985.
Vice Admiral United States Navy.
Commander of the 2nd Fleet.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Stephen Wilson
Fort Hunt class of 1977
United States Air Force.
Retired, 4-star General.
Served as the 39th Vice Chief Of Staff of the Air Force.
The longest serving Vice Chief Of Staff in Air Force history.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Leslie [Howerton] Jones, Fort Hunt class of 1980.
At Fort Hunt….Drill Team and All-Region cross-country runner. Helped the girls team finish 2nd at the 1979 Virginia State Championships in cross-country. Leslie finished 22nd.
A triathlete in her adult years, she has won her share of hardware in Florida.
As a nature photographer her work has appeared in nature publications. From predator birds, Florida gators, and insects, to beautiful sunsets in Panama, Florida.
A prolific business woman, owner of Leslie Jones Photography, Leslie has been featured on the local television news [ABC13 TV news, February 2022 in the Florida panhandle area for annually donating her skills to the local Humane Society on Valentines Day.
Earlier this year she was recognized with the Business Partner of the Month award by the Bay District School Superintendent for her photo work with school staff.
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by | Sep 4, 2026 |

Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Ann Burnette….my fellow class of 1981 grad of Fort Hunt high school [Alexandria, Virginia].
Also happens to be a fellow Austin, Texas resident.
Ann teaches at Texas State University in San Marcos, a suburb of Austin.
.
excerpts from Ann’s bio……
Dr. Burnette is an Associate Professor who teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in Political Communication, American Speeches, and Rhetorical Criticism.
.
— Texas State University Alumni Teaching Award of Honor.
— Presidential Distinction Award in Teaching
— College Achievement Award in Teaching
— Golden Apple Award for undergraduate and graduate teaching
— Associated Student Government has also named her a Bobcat Hero
.
research interests…….
political campaign rhetoric, the construction of gender in public discourse, historical political debates, and freedom of speech issues.
.
Presents at national and international conferences.
Published in books and in national and international publications
— Journal of Argumentation in Context
— Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric
— First Amendment Studies.
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by | Sep 3, 2026 |

Beth Harrell, Fort Hunt class of 1977.
Co-Captain, Fort Hunt swim team.
Competed at North Carolina State University.
Multi-time Collegiate All-American.
‘
At Fort Hunt….
— qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials
— rated by colleges as one of the Top 5 high school swimmers in the nation
— high school East Coast Champion = 100 free style
— high school East Coast Champion = 100 butterfly
— high school East Coast Championships, named “Most Outstanding Swimmer”
[east coast meet = the Annual Atlantic Seaboard Inter-scholastic swimming and diving championships]
‘
— ranked Top 10 in the World for multiple years
— American Record Holder = 50 butterfly
— American Record Holder = 200 freestyle relay
— United States National Team for the World University Games
— Bronze Medalist, 100 freestyle, World University Games
— Gold Medalist, 4 x 100 freestyle relay, World University Games
— Gold Medalist, 4 x 100 medley relay, World University Games
‘
After college…..
— 1992 Masters World Champion = 50 butterfly
— 1992 Masters World Champion = 100 butterfly
— Masters World Record Holder = 50 butterfly
— Masters World Record Holder = 100 butterfly
— Masters American Record Holder = 50 butterfly
— Masters American Record Holder = 100 butterfly
‘
— Inducted = State of North Carolina, Swimming Hall of Fame
— Inducted = North Carolina State University, Athletic Hall of Fame
— NC State’s annual Most Valuable Player Award is named after Beth Harrell
— Served as Head Coach, North Carolina State University
— Served as Head Coach, University Of South Carolina
— Served as Head Coach, University of North Florida
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by | Sep 3, 2026 |

Carolyn Cole.
Fort Hunt class of 1979.
Photojournalist, Los Angeles Times.
The first person to ever win all three of America’s top photojournalism awards in the same year.
Recognized globally, has worked in Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Russia, Haiti, Afghanistan, Mexico.
—– 2004 Pulitzer Prize for photography
—– 2003 nominated Pulitzer Prize for photography
—– 3-times, U.S. Newspaper Photographer Of The Year
—– 2-times, World Press Photo Award
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by | Sep 3, 2026 |

Gloria Parmentier, Fort Hunt class of 1976.
Member of the Fort Hunt riffle team.
— 3-time National Junior Champion
— Pan American Games, gold medalist
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rifle marksman……
— 1984 Olympic Games, 4th place
— 1982 World Championships, silver medalist
— holder of multiple United States National Records
— 5-time United States National Champion
— Sports Illustrated Magazine, Award Of Merit
‘
Tennessee State University…..
— 2002 inductee into Tennessee State University Athletics Hall Of Fame
— 4-time Collegiate All-American
— during her 4 years she led her team to top 3 finishes every year at the National Championships
— selected for the 1977 United States team that competed at the Championship of the Americas
‘
After college……
— Captain, United States Army Marksmanship Unit, International Rifle Section
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by | Sep 3, 2026 |

Rick Atkinson
Fort Hunt class of 1970.
Reporter for the Washington Post.
Deputy National Editor for the Washington Post.
Bureau Chief, Berlin, for the Washington Post.
Assistant Managing Editor, Investigations for the Washington Post.
Adjunct Faculty, United States Army War College
—– 1982 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism
[National Reporting]
—– 1982 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism
[Local News Reporting]
—– 1999 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism
[Public Service]
—– 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Books
[History]
—– 2013, book author, #1 ranking New York Times Best Seller List
[Volume three, The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944–1945]
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by | Sep 3, 2026 |

Elizabeth Gray.
Fort Hunt class of 1983.
CEO of the National Audubon Society.
Founded in 1905……in 2021 Elizabeth became the first woman to serve as CEO in the organization’s 116 year history.
A.B. in psychology from Harvard University.
Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Washington.
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by | Sep 3, 2026 |

Jeanne [Coughlin] Tisinger.
Fort Hunt class of 1979.
The CIA’s first female Chief Information Officer. Served as Deputy Director of the CIA for Support.
At Fort Hunt, indoor National High School Record Holder in the 4 x 800m relay.
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by | Sep 3, 2026 |

Edward [Ned] Wright.
Fort Hunt class of 1965.
Earned his PhD in physics at Harvard. Professor at MIT and UCLA.
In 2012 Ned was a speaker selected for Google Zeitgeist….”a collection of talks by people who are changing the world.”
Across the last 35 years Ned’s work has significantly advanced the ball in identifying the age and content of the universe, and Ned has been awarded with the hardware and financial prizes to prove it.
His cosmology work in the early 1990’s contributed to the discoveries that resulted in his colleagues many years later, being awarded the Nobel Prize in physics, in 2006.
That work was first recognized by NASA in 1992 when Ned received the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal.
The award is….”awarded for unusually significant scientific contribution toward achievement of aeronautical or space exploration goals.”
He earned this award for his work with the Cosmic Background Explorer [COBE] satellite. This work looked at the origins of the universe through the measurement of cosmic microwave background radiation, the oldest light in the universe.
2017, with his colleagues Ned shared the “Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics”.
This $3 million prize is awarded to physicists….”that have made transformative contributions to fundamental physics, and specifically for recent advances.”
2018, Ned received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal.
The highest honor that NASA can bestow.
2006, Ned and his colleagues were awarded the Gruber Prize in Cosmology. This $half-million prize is awarded for…”discoveries leading to fundamental advances in our understanding of the universe.”
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—– 2007 elected to the American Academy Of Arts & Sciences
—– 2011 elected to the National Academy Of Sciences
—– 2 minute video, Oct 2012, Ned Wright speaking at Google Zeitgeist. “Google Zeitgeist is a collection of talks by people who are changing the world.”
—– 4 minute video, 2014 Ned Wright from his office at UCLA, astronomy professor talking about his work.
—– December 2017 article by UCLA.
“Scientist shares in 2018 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics”
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