North Cross School Alumni

North Cross is happy to share that Hannah Greenberg McCarthy '08, recently welcomed a baby girl! Georgia Catherine McCarthy, "Georgie," was born on March 14. Georgie's grandmother is Cathy Greenberg, a North Cross Board of Trustees member. Congratulations!

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The family of long-time North Cross coach and Athletic Director Donna Satterwhite is hosting a Celebration of Life for her on Saturday, June 27 from 2 - 4 p.m. at Center of the Universe Brewing Company, 11293 Air Park Road, Ashland, Virginia.

They have invited those who knew and loved Donna to join them for an afternoon of stories, laughter, food, and memories.

To help them plan food and logistics, please click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhU1AgjbFYE-KLZBfP10KgTNxYqhP_gnW1et1Rop0vtgovgg/viewform

Everyone can participate in the celebration of life by sharing photos and memories at the following link by Friday, June 26: https://albums.memento.com/Donna2026/view?utm_source=Master+Email+List&utm_campaign=53d7dee354-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_03_09_03_03_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e01aa66594-53d7dee354-92901413

Congratulations to Blair Calvert Trail-Bennett '95 (NCS alumna and former second grade teacher and Athletic Director) on her marriage to Scott Bennett on May 9!

First picture:
Tim Miller '85 (brother-in-law), Michelle Miller '85 (sister and Matron of Honor), Blair Calvert Trail-Bennett '95, Scott Bennett, Landon Trail '23 (son of the bride), Matthew Miller, and Kathryn Miller.

Second picture:
Michelle Miller '85 (sister and Matron of Honor), Blair Calvert Trail-Bennett '95, Landon Trail '23 (son of the bride), and Robin Calvert (mother of the bride and wife of the late David Calvert, former teacher/administrator).

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The North Cross community is delighted to share that Kyle Fraser ‘12 and his wife Maggie have welcomed baby girl Wyatt Fraser to their family! Congratulations on their new arrival!

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The North Cross School Alumni Association is honored to announce that this year’s recipient of the 2026 North Cross Alumni Service Award is Dr. Elizabeth “Bette” Kaufman McNamara, Class of 1997.

Bette truly embodies the mission and spirit of North Cross School through her generosity, enthusiasm, and unwavering dedication to our community. As a devoted alumna, dermatologist, parent of three current students, former member of the Alumni Board from 2018 to 2023, and a class agent for the class of 1997, she consistently gives her time and talents to enrich the lives of others.

Whether she is serving as a room parent, chaperoning field trips, supporting theater and musical productions, participating in our annual Take the Hill 5K, representing North Cross through community initiatives like Help Save the Next Girl, or attending alumni events, her love of her alma mater is evident. What’s more, Bette makes every person she interacts with here with feel valued and connected. Please join us in congratulating Bette! 👏

Check out this great article about the exciting things NCS alumnus Noah Evans '23 has been involved in while attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After Noah graduates, he hopes to pursue a master’s degree in Flight Test Engineering from the National Test Pilot School (NTPS) in Mojave, California, and then follow his dream of building a career in flight testing.

Noah Evans is Taking Flight with Experimental Aircraft From a young age, Noah Evans (’27) knew that aviation was his passion. Now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering with minors in Flight Test and Simulation and Aviation Safety, he is carving his path toward the skies.

HUGE congratulations to North Cross alumnus James Jackson '21 who will be the first alum in school history to play for the NFL, having just signed with the Tennessee Titans!! "Tennessee is getting a tough, smart, team first linebacker who has been playing at a high level since day one. The best is still ahead, congrats James!"

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Last Friday, our JK4 students took a "deep dive" into the world of marine biology with special guest North Cross alumnus Sam Strauss '15!

As a former University of Washington Research Collaborator (and a proud Husky grad in Marine Biology & Biological Oceanography), Steve brought the mysteries of the ocean right into our classroom. 🌊

A highlight from the visit included a lesson on octopuses, leaving the students spellbound by mind-blowing facts about our favorite eight-armed cephalopods.🐙

It’s always a treat to see our alumni returning to inspire the next generation of explorers. Thanks for making a splash, Sam! ⚓️

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Donna Satterwhite. Over a remarkable 40-year career at North Cross School (1971–2011), Donna coached and led programs in volleyball, girls basketball, tennis (boys and girls), softball, field hockey, and cheerleading—shaping not only our athletic program but our entire community. Her talent for coaching, her warm smile and wit, and her unwavering commitment to doing things the right way left a lasting impression on all who knew her. She positively impacted generations of Raiders, as well as her fellow North Cross colleagues. Across the years, we still hear her voice and feel her full support.

Last Friday, North Cross started off Alumni Reunion Weekend with our annual Symposium, a long-standing tradition for our students in grades 8–12. The event provided a dedicated space for students to step outside their typical routine and connect with over 25 guest speakers who traveled from the Greater Roanoke Valley and across the country, including South Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

The day began with a keynote address from MacArthur Fellow and Northwestern chemistry professor Dr. Will Dichtel ’96, who shared insights into his background and his pioneering work in the development of porous polymers.

The subsequent sessions covered a broad range of professional experiences, allowing students to learn about the daily realities of being a trauma surgeon, the career path of a former NFL defensive tackle, the work required to create a lasting impact through nonprofits, and so much more.

This year’s lineup was bolstered by the participation of five current and former parents and eight alumni (Will Dichtel '96, Rick Brown '66, Nick Carey '20, Justin Jensen '16, Harry Johnson '86, Claudia Morgan '19, Bobby Mountcastle '02, and Will Stephenson '10)--three of whom are Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

We are grateful to all of our guests for taking the time to share their expertise and provide our students with a thoughtful look at the many paths available to them after graduation.