As I finalize this installment of our Class Notes, the members of Dartmouth’s newest class of 2020 are valiantly attempting their final laps around the bonfire. Due to the marvels of social media, I have already borne witness to the fact that at least a few ’96s were in Hanover to partake in the annual festivities.

There is one ’96 celebrating a particularly significant “homecoming” to the College on the Hill. Our own Elizabeth A. Kelley was named Dartmouth’s director of class activities earlier this year. She writes, “I am loving getting to know all the dedicated and creative volunteers across eight decades of classes, including the great class of 1996! My team works directly with the presidents, vice presidents, treasurers, newsletter editors, reunion chairs, mini-reunion chairs and webmasters and indirectly with the secretaries, Dartmouth College Fund heads (and other) agents and gift planning chairs. I look forward to getting to know more of our classmates in my new role and to being a resource for all of you in Hanover. My husband, Shawn, and I live in Quechee, Vermont (a “stone’s throw” from the fabulous Simon Pearce), with our 14-month-old son, Graham Patrick, and 7-year-old Old English Sheepdog Henley (yes, named for the rowing race). I welcome any and all classmates to be in touch if you’re planning a visit ‘home’ to Hanover. Or just stop in sometime—to the left when you walk in the front door of Blunt!” We are elated to have Elizabeth leading the path forward for our own class activities as well as those of all the other classes lucky to work with her and her team!

Several other classmates are also reaching new heights in their respective professions.ABC television recently picked up a drama project from Jonathon “Stew” Stewart and his writing partner Eyal Podell ’97. Grace is set in the fictional town of Grace, Missouri, and focuses on a family of siblings upended when their minister father reveals he is gay. It is described as “a grounded, unfolding saga of a 21st-century American family and the everyday challenges they face as members of a community and as individuals and how their faith both guides and complicates their lives.” However, Grace is more than just another television pilot making the rounds—it is a true labor of love inspired by Stew’s own life and the story of his father, a preacher who also came out.

Also in the entertainment arena, Jesse Israel is enjoying some great news of his own! Jesse produced a movie called The Late Bloomer, which hit theaters on October 7 in 10 cities and was simultaneously released on video on demand. It is based on a Dateline NBC story Jesse worked on many years ago about a man who went through puberty at age 30. The film features an impressive cast of actors, including Academy Award-winner J.K. Simmons, Jane Lynch from Glee and Brittany Snow from Pitch Perfect—to name just a few! Check out the movie’s website and trailer via www.thelatebloomermovie.com!

Kudos on a major career milestone to our own Shannon Smith-Bernardin, who completed her Ph.D. program in nursing and health policy at the University of California, San Francisco, this past July. Congratulations to the now Dr. Smith-Bernardin!

Lastly, congratulations to Corby Thomas and Megs Didario on their recent nuptials! I’m told the couple wed in Mantoloking, New Jersey, on September 17, with Niels Verbeek, Kevin Mahoney, Ethan Sawyer, Craig Thomas, Andrew Solomon, Casey Conway ’16, Katie Catapano ’98, Sarah Thomas ’94, Megs Ann Thomas, Bill Thomas ’92, Lisa Catapano ’94 all bearing witness to the happy day!

—Garrett Gil de Rubio, 1062 Middlebrooke Drive, Canton, GA 30115; ggdr@alum.dartmouth.org