Class Notes

Accomplishments

Photo of Shawn

’24

Hunter Grand

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Lutgert College of Business

Hunter Grand (Finance) recently joined Capital Wealth Advisors, an independent financial advisory firm, as an associate trader. In this position, he provides essential support to the trading operations team through market research, reporting, data analysis and assisting with portfolio management. While at FGCU, he earned substantial experience through active participation in the student-managed investment fund. His contributions included stock screening, portfolio back-testing, fundamental research, financial statement modeling and company valuation assessments.

’21

Michael Briggs

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Lutgert College of Business

Michael Briggs (Marketing) has joined TechTronics Inc. as an event marketing specialist for the Ryobi lines at Home Depot.

’20

Connor Leonarczyk

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Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship

Connor Leonarczyk (Entrepreneurship) has launched his own business, Midnight Delights Cookies, delivering fresh, homemade cookies to FGCU residence halls and off-campus housing. “Since graduating in December 2020, I have moved into a commercial kitchen and continue spreading happiness through cookies by partnering with various sororities and clubs at FGCU for fundraising events. And on any given weekend, you can find our delicious cookies at local green market events like University Village.”

Photo of Shawn

’20

Josh Ballin

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College of Arts & Sciences

Josh Ballin (Integrated Studies) recently began a new role as a premier sales associate in North Carolina for Prudential Financial. He will be participating in Prudential’s inaugural Sales Training Excellence Program, which covers group insurance and financial wellness products and services, licensing exam support, consultative selling skills and financial underwriting concepts through hands-on coaching and 1-on-1 job shadowing with territory management.

Birth | Adoptions

’21

Jessica Carter Peer

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Marieb College of Health & Human Services

Adalynn Elise Peer was born on Feb. 14, 2022, at HealthPark Labor & Delivery to Jessica Carter Peer (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and Douglas Peer of Fort Myers. Jessica is the owner of Concierge Physiotherapy.

Photo of Shawn

’19

Coral Huffman

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College of Education

Coral Huffman (M.Ed., Educational Leadership) and Myron Huffman (’13, Management) welcomed Marlie Jolene to their family on July 13, 2021 at 5:29 a.m. Marlie was 7 lbs., 8 oz. and has two older brothers at home. Coral is a current board member of the FGCU Alumni Association and works for the Lee County School District as a learning and leadership teacher.

’18

Ryne Hensley

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Lutgert College of Business

Ryne Hensley (Marketing) welcomed the arrival of Reese Aimarie Hensley on April 7, 2021.

Photo of Shawn

’16

Sean O’Grady

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College of Education

Sean O’Grady, (Secondary Social Science Ed), and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed baby girl, Adilynn Mae, on Jan. 1. She weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces and was 21 inches long. Adilynn Mae was also the first Lee County baby born in 2019.

Couples

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’19

Thor Parrish

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Lutgert College of Business

Jennifer Hayes (Communication) and Thor Parrish (Professional Golf Management) were married Dec. 20, 2020. He was the Lutgert College of Business student of the year, and she was FGCU’s 2019 Homecoming Queen.

Photo of Shawn

’19

Jennifer Hayes Parrish

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College of Arts & Sciences

Jennifer Hayes (Communication) and Thor Parrish (Professional Golf Management), who met at FGCU, were married Dec. 20, 2020. He was the Lutgert College of Business student of the year, and she was FGCU’s 2019 Homecoming Queen. She is a multimedia specialist with B-Squared Advertising in Naples.

Photo of Shawn

’18

Lisa Ray

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College of Education

Lisa Ray, (Master’s, Educational Leadership), and Christian Halpin, ’16 (Bioengineering), were married on March 16, 2019.  Lisa is an academic advisor at Florida Gulf Coast University and Christian is employed by Arthrex, Inc. as a test engineer in the Imaging and Resection department.

Photo of Shawn

’16

Jessica Scanlon

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College of Arts & Sciences

Jessica Scanlon, (Communication), married Joshua Berroth in November at the Tampa Garden Club. Jessica is a recruiter at Aston Carter EMEA. The couple live in Tampa.

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