NGV News

Tag: ALUMNI

  • Buford High School Alumni Spotlight: Faith (Dinges) Clack, Class of 2019

    Buford High School Alumni Spotlight: Faith (Dinges) Clack, Class of 2019

    Faith (Dinges) Clack: Finding Belonging Beyond the Classroom

    For Buford High School alumna Faith (Dinges) Clack, high school wasn’t defined by trophies or titles; it was defined by people.

    “High school wasn’t a book of achievements for me,” Clack said. “It was full of conversations, laughs, inside jokes and friendships.”

    When she graduated in 2019, Clack says she left Buford with something more meaningful than accolades: a sense of belonging and community.

    One educator who made a lasting impact was Coach David Snell, who taught in the Early Childhood Education pathway.

    “He always pushed me to be better and want more out of life than the bare minimum,” Clack said. “Coach Snell truly cares about each student who walks through his doors.”

    After graduation, Clack chose a different path than many of her classmates. Having started working at 16 and balancing three jobs during her senior year, she stepped directly into the workforce. Since April 2021, she has built a career with her company, working her way from customer service into the accounting department, where she now handles billing and collections.

    “I’m someone people count on professionally,” she said. “I’m proud of myself for sticking through challenges and not giving up.”

    Her life outside of work has been equally meaningful. Clack met her husband, Tyler, in 2019, and the couple will celebrate five years of marriage in July 2026. In April 2022, they welcomed their son, Paxton — a role she calls her greatest accomplishment.

    “I am a loving mother and wife, and that is truly my biggest accomplishment,” she said. “God knew I was made to be Paxton’s mother.”

    Looking back, Clack says the Buford community helped shape the person she is today.

    “This community is a huge family,” she said. “Buford taught me to be kind, inviting and always willing to lend a helping hand.”

    Some of her favorite memories are simple ones,  lunches spent laughing with friends, afternoons walking the Mall of Georgia and grabbing tacos from the Chevron on Thompson Mill Road.

    “I was friends with anyone and everyone,” she said. “My whole high school experience was full of laughter.”

    Buford High School wasn’t about accolades for Clack; it was about connection, community, and learning to approach life with resilience and heart.

  • Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Kathy Davis Burnette, Class of 1974

    Buford High School graduate Kathy Davis Burnette is marking a half-century working in the local banking industry this year. She graduated from Buford in 1974 and went to work shortly after receiving her high school diploma.

    “After graduation my mother wanted me to go to college,” Kathy remembered. “She said if I didn’t go to college I needed to get a job. She thought I would hate working and decide to go to college.” 

    Kathy went to work in July 1974 at First Commercial Bank in Buford. First Commercial became NBG, 1st American and later South Trust Bank. Through those changes in names, Kathy remained there for 19 years. In 1993, she took a role at Peoples Bank & Trust. 

    “Obviously, my mom’s wish did not come to fruition because I love banking,” Kathy said. 

    Kathy is now assistant vice president of Peoples Bank & Trust in Buford, which is the oldest community bank in the city.  

    “Since 1984, we’ve focused on serving the people of Buford and the surrounding areas,” Kathy said. “Our bank is a special place to work. We are like family, we take care of our employees and our customers.

    “I have always enjoyed working in Buford,” Kathy continued. “I get to help people, some I have known all of my life.” 

    Kathy’s Buford roots run deep not only in the banking industry, but also in her family’s connections to Buford High School — her grandparents, Gordon Burel and Bess Cain Burel, and their siblings all graduated from Buford. Bess Burel played on the school’s basketball team in the 1930s. 

    “When the gym was built on Hill Street my Grandfather Burel donated the money for the first time clock in the new gym,” Kathy said. 

    Kathy’s grandparents were the owners of Burel’s Grocery Store, and Kathy worked there her senior year following basketball season. 

    Kathy’s mother, Janice Davis, was a cheerleader for Buford, as well as Miss Football and Miss Buford. Kathy’s uncle, Larry Burel, is also a Buford graduate, and Kathy’s grandmother on her father’s side, Myrtle Davis, was a teacher at Buford High School and the senior sponsor for many years.

    “We always attended all of the senior plays, beauty contests, ball games, anything that was happening at the school we were there,” Kathy remembered. 

    A Buford City Schools student for nine years, Kathy attended BCS from first through seventh grade, attended a different school system from eighth through 10th grade and returned to Buford High School her junior and senior years. 

    During her two years at Buford High School, Kathy played varsity basketball. She received trophies for Most Valuable Forward and Best Free-Throw Shooter her senior year. She was also a cheerleader her senior year and was crowned Miss Homecoming. 

    “When I think back about how lucky I was to grow up in this small town and attend Buford City School System, I have too many memories to start listing (my favorites),” she said. 

    Kathy has two children, Daniel Peevy, a graduate of North Gwinnett High School, and Lawson Peevy, who attended Buford. Kathy is the daughter of Janice Burel Davis of Buford and the late Archie L. Davis. Her sister, Donna Davis Jones, is a Buford High School graduate. She also has a brother, Lee Davis. 

  • Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Bethany Phillips, Class of 2007

    Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Bethany Phillips, Class of 2007

    For the past 12 years, Bethany Phillips has been a language arts teacher at Buford High School, the very place where her love for literature and theater began.

    Phillips credits the trajectory of her teaching career to Dr. Tim Harris, who was her teacher in high school and now serves as the director of Curriculum and Instruction for Buford City Schools.

    “My two years spent in Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition and AP Literature and Composition with Dr. Harris really shaped my future. His class was the first academic class I experienced that was innovative and fresh, and showed me what education could be like. He made his classroom a home and a safe space for discussion, which was huge for 16- and 17-year olds who were just starting to figure out who they were and wanted to be,” Phillips said. “We were always learning, but we were always having fun while doing it, and literature really came alive for me in his classroom. I’m fortunate to have had him as a teacher, and as a colleague.”

    Bethany Phillips with Amy (Sanner) Merritt at their 2007 high school graduation. Photo courtesy of Bethany Phillips.
    Bethany Phillips with Amy (Sanner) Merritt at their 2007 high school graduation. Photo courtesy of Bethany Phillips.

    Dr. Harris was quick to share his memories of Phillips in high school as well, as he was not only her English teacher but was also a co-teacher for musical theater.

    “When I reflect on Bethany as a student, I remember her being vibrant and engaged, bringing energy and focus to the classroom and the school as a whole. She was a skilled academic writer, equally adept at commenting upon prose, poetry, or dramatic literature,” Harris said. “In musical theater, Bethany distinguished herself as a leader; in fact, her peers selected her as president of the Thespian Society. Bethany’s leadership was evident not only in her performances — which were always exceptional — but also in her work ethic and attitude.”

    And now, Phillips is serving the community she loves, teaching AP literature for seniors and 10th grade world literature. Additionally, Phillips sponsors the Buford Leadership Team and Buford’s panel for the Gwinnett Student Leadership Team, while also serving as a cheer coach and frequently assisting with the theater and dance departments.

    When she was a student at BHS, Phillips was not only heavily involved with musical theater but was also a regular participant in One Act competitions, a high school theatrical event where groups of student actors perform short plays that consist of only one act and are judged against each other based on their acting, technical elements and overall production quality. 

    “I remember really loving that entire process, even though we never made it out of the regional competition back then,” Phillips said. “It was just always such a special time.”

    In addition to her time spent in theater, Phillips shared her vocal and dance talents as a performer in the choral department and annual Variety Shows.  

    “I was actually awarded ‘Outstanding Performer’ in chorus my 9th (through) 12th grade years because of the Variety Show,” Phillips said. “The Variety Show was always a blast with our dance rehearsals during the school day, and the way that the Buford Community as a whole showed up for those performances was always incredible.”

    Phillips also maintained a 4.0 GPA while taking honors and AP classes and was a member of multiple academic honors clubs and societies, including Beta Club, National Honor Society and Thespian Society. Her high school success allowed her to attend Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, where she completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees.

     Today, when she’s not backstage helping with various performances for dance, chorus or theater, she keeps busy with her husband Isaac and their four children — Kinley, 5, Fallon, 2, and 1-year-old twin boys, Ryland and Declan, who all attend Buford schools and child care. The Philips family attends Gwinnett Church and Brittany and Isaac serve as sixth grade small-group leaders. If she finds any spare time, Phillips is either reading a book, snuggled up with one of her kids and watching a movie or enjoying time with friends. 

    As an English teacher at Buford, Phillips has taught nearly every level of English offered by the high school and her students are reaping the benefits of her hard work, passion and dedication to their success. 

    “As a teacher, Bethany was impressive right away with a commanding presence in the classroom. She also inherited the AP English Literature class from me when I left the classroom. Of late, her students’ scores have far exceeded mine on the challenging AP Exam as she has experienced an almost 100% pass rate over the past three years,” Harris said of Phillips’s contributions to Buford City Schools. “Another thing I appreciate about Bethany as a professional is that she rarely says no — she teaches, she stage manages for theater, she serves as one of the literary coaches, she coaches cheerleading, she is one of the sponsors of our student leadership program, and she serves the district as a ‘Lit Leader,’ preparing her colleagues for the rollout of the new ELA standards. She is an asset to her students, her colleagues, her school, her district, and her community.”

    FEATURED PHOTO: Bethany Phillips with her husband Isaac and their four children. Photo courtesy of Bethany Phillips.

     

  • Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Lori Parks, Class of 1994

    Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Lori Parks, Class of 1994

    As a self-proclaimed bookworm and lifelong resident of Buford, Lori Parks knows a thing or two about how special the Buford community is. 

    “Buford is a wonderful city to live in,” Parks said. “It is a place where people extend their kindness and support one another.”

    It is also one of the reasons she chose to stay here and impact future generations as a first-grade teacher at Buford Academy. 

    After graduating from Buford High School in 1994, Parks went to Gainesville College, then transferred to University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, where she graduated in 2001. From there, she began teaching at Buford City Schools, and that’s where she has stayed for the past 24 years.

    Lori Parks, a 1994 graduate of Buford High School, poses for a senior photo. Photo courtesy of Lori Parks.

    “I absolutely love being a teacher! I teach at the best school and in the best school district,” Parks said of her career in Buford City Schools. “I love my students and colleagues. I learn something daily from my students, and they make me laugh every day. It is always an adventure with first graders.”

    And, her students love her just as much. Luke Phillips, now in fifth grade, remembers Ms. Parks and her class fondly, even in the midst of COVID masks and social distancing. 

    “I remember Ms. Parks planned a really fun Easter egg hunt for us that year,” Phillips recalled of his time with Ms. Parks. “She was nice and funny and made us laugh all the time, even when we misbehaved. But I think what I’m most thankful for is the stack of pictures she gave to each of us at the end of the school year so that we could always look back at them and remember how much fun we had in her class.”

    In addition, Parks’s colleagues recognize her special ability to connect with her students and their families. Fellow first grade teacher Whitney Wolfe had high praise for Parks and her dedication to the community.

    “Lori is a teacher whose passion for both her students and her community shines through in everything she does. She commits herself to her students’ success by going beyond the traditional roles of teachers every day,” Wolfe said. “Whether it is leading a diversity and inclusion group or teaching Saturday School, she puts her heart and soul into those people and projects. Lori embodies the belief that teaching is not just about academics — it is about building relationships, loving people, and creating a caring, compassionate community where everyone feels valued and accepted.”

    Parks knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher.

    “My mother was a substitute teacher and she stressed the importance of education to me,” Parks said. “We both value education, and I want to be able to spread the love of learning to my students.”

    As a high-school student at BHS, Parks was heavily involved in the arts, where she took Advanced Placement art history and was part of the National Art Honors Society.

    “I also played on Buford High School’s first ever volleyball team in the early 1990s. My mom managed the basketball concession stand in the early 1990s, and I had many friends on the basketball team,” Parks said. “If there was a basketball game, I was always there to cheer them on. I loved supporting Buford Wolves football, as well.”

    She was also active in Future Business Leaders of America, Art Club, Key Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Parks also remembers her teachers well and recalled those who made a lasting impression on her.

    “I really enjoyed Ms. Coley’s Spanish class,” Parks said. “She always made learning fun and inspired us to do our best through her positivity and sense of humor.” 

    Parks attributed much of her high school success to her love for reading and learning. However, her favorite memories included time with friends that created timeless memories.

    “Some of my most-cherished memories from high school included being on the JV and Varsity volleyball teams and travelling to away games with the team,” Parks said. “It was all about friendship and laughter. I was not very athletic, but volleyball was a sport I enjoyed and my niche in sports.”

    Today, when Parks is not at school preparing for her first-grade students, she enjoys reading, volunteering in the community and spending time with her mother, LaRita Parks, who graduated from Buford in 1962.

    Elena Vo, principal at Buford Academy, praised Parks and her commitment to her students and her job, as well as the Buford community.  

    “Ms. Parks is a true example of dedication and community spirit in the city of Buford. Having lived here her entire life, she carries on a family legacy deeply intertwined with the town — her mother has been a valued member of the Buford community for an incredible 80 years,” Vo said. “For close to 25 years, Ms. Parks has poured her heart into giving back, both in her classroom and beyond. She continuously serves through community initiatives like the North Gwinnett Co-op and the bookmobile, sharing her passion for learning and compassion for others. Going the extra mile, she even studies Spanish to better connect with and support her students and their families. Ms. Parks demonstrates the spirit of Buford where teaching is not just a profession but a lifelong commitment to lifting up the community.”

    FEATURED PHOTO: Lori Parks, who has been a teacher for the past 24 years, is pictured in her first grade classroom at Buford Academy. Photo courtesy of Lori Parks. 

  • Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Andrew Southerland, Class of 2005

    Andrew Southerland is a second-generation graduate of Buford High School — his mother, Celia Southerland of Buford, is a 1980 graduate and was on the color guard team — and other family members, including Andrew’s aunts, uncles and cousins, are also Buford alumni. 

    Andrew Southerland. Submitted photo.

    “Buford is in my blood,” Andrew said. “It’s a great area to live, work and play.” 

    During his four years as a Buford High School student, Andrew excelled in the area of academics. He was a member of the National Honor Society and an Honor Roll student. 

    “I am always seeking to learn new things every day,” he said. “Buford High School is where I discovered the love of learning that has carried into my professional and personal life today.”

    Andrew was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America and Beta Club. He said his favorite memory from high school is his senior class trip to New York City. 

    “We visited all the major sites and created memories with fellow students that still gets recounted today,” Andrew said. “It was a trip I’ll never forget.” 

    Coach Hunnicutt, who taught American history, was Andrew’s favorite teacher. 

    “Coach Hunnicutt was a great teacher, very relatable and made the subject matter interesting,” Andrew said. “He took the curriculum seriously, but also made it fun.” 

    If he could repeat any class or activity at Buford, Andrew said he would return to his physics class.  

    “It was a challenging class where we were able to build a Rube Goldberg machine (a chain reaction–type machine or contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way) from scratch,” Andrew said. “It was a lot of fun.” 

    After graduating from Buford, Andrew earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of North Georgia and a Master of Business Administration in leadership from Liberty University. He is a sales representative for the Sherwin-Williams Company in Johns Creek, where he has worked for the past 11 years. 

    Andrew Southerland during Buford High School’s graudation in 2005. Submitted photo.

    “At Sherwin-Williams, I enjoy working with small business painting professionals helping them grow their business, develop strategic business models to differentiate themselves from their competition and making the world a more beautiful place one color at a time,” he said.  

    Andrew said several BHS business and economics teachers were influential in helping set the course of his path in the field of business. 

    “Mrs. Aiken helped mold her students into business professionals,” Andrew said. “She taught us the importance of professionalism and how to carry ourselves in professional work settings.

    “Coach Snell taught economics and showed his students how business impacts everyday life,” Andrew added. “Coach Snell brought economics to life with his ability to teach difficult concepts to young minds.

    “Through both teachers, and the other business courses I took at BHS, I developed a love for business, professionalism and entrepreneurship.” 

    In addition to his job with the Sherwin-Williams Company, Andrew has served as Central Campus Go Team Pastor at Christ Place Church in Flowery Branch for the past seven years. 

    “At Christ Place Church, I lead a team of high-level leaders at the Central Campus in the areas of missions, church administration, and the Weekday Preschool Program helping them to disciple the next generation of world changers,” Andrew said. “I have a passion to help people grow in their personal, spiritual and professional lives. In both of my roles as a sales representative and a pastor I am able to fulfill this passion.”   

    Andrew maintains strong past and present connections to the Buford community — he played Little League baseball at the same park where his two sons, Ethan and Rhett, play baseball today, and Andrew serves as coach for their recreational team. He and his wife, Lisa, their daughter, Molly, and their sons regularly attend Buford football, baseball and basketball games.

    “The main reason we continue to support Buford Athletics is because of the community, friendships, and love for Buford,” Sutherland said. “Once Buford gets in your blood, it never comes out. We love the degree of competition, the excellence in how the programs are run, and the relationships we have been able to establish. Simply put, Buford does everything right.”

    The Southerland family resides in Flowery Branch. 

    Andrew is the son of Frankie and Celia Southerland of Buford. Andrew’s brother, Adam, is a North Gwinnett High School graduate.

  • Buford High School Alumni – Then and Now: Kayla McBryant, Class of 2010

    Buford High School Alumni – Then and Now: Kayla McBryant, Class of 2010

    As a fifth generation Buford graduate, it was probably inevitable that Kayla McBryant came back to Buford to teach first grade. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. 

    “I absolutely love teaching and don’t know of any other career I’d rather do,” McBryant said. “The days are long and very tiring, but getting little hugs from my first grade babies and seeing them excited to walk in my classroom is such a special feeling.”

    McBryant didn’t always know she wanted to be a teacher. In fact, as a student growing up in the Buford school system, she admittedly struggled in school.

    Kayla McBryant, Buford High School Class of 2010

    “I always struggled in my academics, and I had to study really hard for things that came easily to others. My mom ended up taking me to the doctor during my junior year to chat about my attentiveness at school. Turns out, I was diagnosed with ADD,” McBryant said. “Once I was diagnosed, my grades and my focus at school really made a drastic change for the better. I’m so grateful to my parents and my teachers who helped me during this change. With my ADD diagnosis, I feel like I am able to better understand my students who might also struggle with attention in school.”

    After graduating in 2010, she worked at a law office before accepting a parapro position at Buford Elementary. From there, she gained the experience necessary to work in a kindergarten and first grade special education classroom, where she fell in love with working with kids. McBryant decided to enroll at the University of North Georgia and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Upon graduating from UNG, she taught first grade in Forsyth County for three years before being hired at Buford Academy three years ago. 

    “I’m forever grateful to Mrs. Vo and the Board of Education for allowing me to come back and teach in the same school system that helped shape who I am today,” McBryant said.

    Looking back on her high school years, McBryant recalled pivotal moments that put her on the path to becoming a teacher. Those moments came from influential teachers like Bonnie Davis and Casey Laws, who both taught math. 

    “In both of their classes, they could be teaching a new concept and, afterward, they could look at me and know I did not grasp anything. They didn’t get upset or frustrated but they would simply look at me and ask, ‘Where did I lose you or how can I help you?’” McBryant said. “I think those moments are super evident in why I became a teacher. I want to be that teacher for my students.”

    While in high school, McBryant was a presence in both athletics and the arts. She was a member of the girls basketball program all four years, including her junior and senior years when the team won its first and second state championships under coach Gene Durden. She also enjoyed serving as a statistician for the baseball team in addition to being part of the chorus program and performing in the annual Variety Show with former longtime choral director Chris Fowler.  

    “When I look back on high school, memories that really stand out to me are from my years in the basketball program. I formed so many friendships through basketball that I am so grateful for,” McBryant said. “If you have been around Buford long enough, you know one of our big games each year was against Greater Atlanta Christian. We played GAC one night, and won, but played terribly. We came in dreading practice the next day. When we walked in, Coach Durden put us all on the line and we just knew we were about to sprint or run, but then he threw a huge bag of dodgeballs on center court and let us play dodgeball. For those that don’t know, Coach Durden has a soft side. You just rarely see it.”

    When she’s not actively attending an event in the Buford community, McBryant enjoys being with her husband, Ben, a 2008 Buford graduate, and their two young children, Harleigh and Hank, ages 4 and 2, respectively.  

    “My family and I try to attend as many events as we can. Our favorite week is Homecoming week because we love the dress up days and the parade,” she said. “I also love to go watch the girls basketball games during the season. My dad has been over the park and rec department since he was in his 20s so we are always watching rec football and basketball when we can.” 

    McBryant’s parents, Ken and Kelli Burge, are well-known in the Buford community as well. Her brother, Tyler, graduated in 2012. 

    A true hometown girl, McBryant’s life has come full-circle. Born and raised in Buford, she’s back in the community she loves, teaching and impacting the lives of students who walk into her class every day. 

    “I wasn’t a straight-A student. I had to really work hard in school and had fabulous teachers who took time to help me in the areas I struggled in,” McBryant said. “I look back now and can’t believe that I became a teacher after not being great at school. I love my Buford community and if you didn’t grow up here or know what it was like before it got so big, it might be hard to understand how special this place truly is.”

    FEATURED PHOTO: Kayla McBryant poses for a photo with her husband, Ben, and their children, Harleigh and Hank. Photo courtesy of Kayla McBryant.

  • Buford High School Alumni -Then and Now: Ashley Mengwasser, Class of 2005

    Buford High School Alumni -Then and Now: Ashley Mengwasser, Class of 2005

    From class valedictorian to homecoming queen to regular TV host and winning nine Emmy Awards, Ashley Mengwasser was always meant to be in the spotlight. 

    “I remember standing in front of the television as a little girl watching Atlanta’s Monica Pearson (formerly Kaufman) anchor the evening newscast,” Mengwasser said. “I heard my inner voice with utter clarity say, ‘I’ll do that someday,’ even as a youngster. Funnily, my path never deviated. 

    “Now, nearly 15 years in, I’m convinced I was destined to work in television and the media.”

    Ashley Mengwasser

    As a Buford “lifetimer,” Mengwasser attended Buford City Schools from kindergarten through graduation before attending Agnes Scott College in Decatur, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude in 2009. From there, she began her career at Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta, where she hosted the popular series “Georgia Traveler.” 

    “For my very first segment, I went skydiving with my late grandma, Judith Thompson. Grandma Judy was a fixture at Buford’s Friday night football games when I used to cheer. For those who knew her or swam in her pool, you won’t be surprised to see in the video that she landed FAR more gracefully following her skydive, with the posture of a cherub. Oppositely, I flopped onto the ground with the composure and confidence of a disjointed lamb fleeing a predator,” Mengwasser joked. “But hey, I survived the dive! That was the beginning of my TV career. Since, I’ve been so privileged to produce and host engaging, educational programming alongside beloved colleagues. This year, I earned my ninth Emmy, and it was a special moment.”

    In 2016, Mengwasser decided to pursue her media dreams independently as an entrepreneur producer and host for hire. She has hosted everything from pet travel shows to DIY and home improvement pilots. She’s traveled to China twice to film and write a documentary about tea. She also went to QVC headquarters in Pennsylvania to audition for a position as a home shopping host during a host search in 2019, where she made the top 19 out of 10,000 American hosts. 

    “Lately, my career has led me to hosting opportunities connected to Georgia’s education system. Currently, I host the Georgia Department of Education and GPB’s podcast series ‘Classroom Conversations,’ which features noteworthy Georgia educators and their instructional strategies,” Mengwasser said. “I also created the GPB Education digital romp ‘Tiny Mic, Big Designs,’ a series of interviews with (hilarious and brilliant) K-12 student inventors competing in Georgia Tech’s K12 invention competition. Every March, live on GPB, I co-host Georgia Tech’s collegiate invention finals in a Shark Tank-style show called ‘The InVenture Prize.’”

    Mengwasser has also become a regular gala and fundraising host for nonprofits that raise funds to support missions that serve women and children. Additionally, she enjoys officiating weddings and has recently become an event emcee for bar and bat mitzvahs with a local production company.

    Despite all her show business accolades, Mengwasser still bleeds green and gold for the Buford Wolves. 

    In high school, Mengwasser was a self-proclaimed “brainiac” who loved school. Voted Most Intellectual and Classiest in her senior superlatives, as well as being recognized as Star Student, she was a varsity cheerleader who prioritized academics as the 2005 valedictorian. She was also heavily involved in Bel Canto Chorale, Gwinnett Student Leadership Team and musical theater, where she played Sister Amnesia in “Nunsense,” the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods” and Frenchie in “Grease,” all under long-time theater teacher Kim Staples. 

    “From that dazzling Fine Arts Center stage as a teenager, I desired a public facing career. Now I host on stages in large theaters, and I feel that familiar rush,” Mengwasser said. “It’s akin to coming home to Buford, each time.”

    Ashley Mengwasser stands outside the Grand Hyatt Atlanta Buckhead holding her ninth career Emmy Award. Photo courtesy of Ashley Mengwasser.

    Reflecting on her high school achievements, she credits her English teacher, Tim Harris, with much of her success as an adult.

    “Honors English and AP English with Tim Harris were my favorite classes. A class with Tim nurtured so much personal and academic growth. He had an uncanny ability to unite and engage students in learning,” Mengwasser said. “His style of teaching was life-changing, and his infectious personality was irresistible. He is able to reach students’ hearts and minds in a profound and unusual way.”

    Without Harris’s influence, Mengwasser might have never been inspired to pursue her talents as a writer and producer.

    “It was through my English coursework with Tim that I decided to declare an English major in college,” she added. “I knew, thanks to him, that I should choose a writing-based career. It felt natural to me. And he developed that innate ability further.”

    In her free time, Mengwasser loves to spend time with her 2-year-old basset hound, Starla, and attends Woodstock City Church. She loves reading and intermittently hosts a book club that is inspired by a photo of rapper 50 Cent reading, and participants call their small group the “You Can Find Me in Da (Book) Club.” In addition, she also enjoys her time as a homeowner and keeping house. A true type A personality, Mengwasser is proud that her house looks like a model home.

    “I call myself a mighty tidier, strategic sorter and energy entrepreneur,” she said. “My vacuuming game is so strong, I live for carpet lines. And I don’t allow myself to buy or keep anything I don’t use.” 

    This November, Mengwasser will be back in Buford to serve as a judge at the Buford Middle School pageant. She also enjoys coming back to contribute her professional skill set at State Literary Meets, when hosted at Buford. 

    “Both my learning journey as a K-12 student in Buford City Schools and my maturation as a young member of the Buford community shaped my personality and my professional standards. I choose clients who are affable and inclusive, in the Buford Spirit,” Mengwasser said. “As an executive producer and host, I treat my audiences like friends and my coworkers like family. Warmth and authenticity have been my secret to success, and I have Buford to thank for prizing these qualities in my younger self.”

    FEATURED PHOTO: Ashley Mengwasser hosts the live televised invention competition “The InVenture Prize” at Georgia Tech at Ferst Center for the Arts in Midtown Atlanta. Photo courtesy of Ashley Mengwasser. 

  • Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Kelley Kirkland, Class of 2005

    Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Kelley Kirkland, Class of 2005

    Kelley Outler Kirkland is a 2005 graduate of Buford High School who is now making an impact on campus as a 9th grade Language Arts and Advanced Placement Language and Composition teacher.  

    Daughter of Donna Beard of Buford, Kirkland was a “lifer” in the Buford City School System, attending Buford schools from Kindergarten through graduation.  Her fondest memories center around her participation in the arts program, specifically theater.  As a member of the National Art Honor Society and Thespian, she was also awarded Best New Actress Freshman Year and Best Actress in a Full Length during her sophomore, junior, and senior years.  Additionally, her classmates voted her “most talented” and “one of a kind” for senior superlatives.  

    As she reflects on her time as a student at Buford, Kirkland speaks highly of her former teachers, including long-time Buford High School Geometry teacher Bonnie Davis. Kirkland says, “She taught me that it wasn’t my brain that was the problem; I just needed a teacher to present the material the right way.” 

    Additionally, Kirkland smiles recalling Mrs. Kim Staples, who Kirkland credits with giving her “a home away from home” in the world of theater.  Kirkland recalls falling off the stage during a performance of “Our Town” and laughing, “My wig fell off!” Kirkland also adds, “I am fond of all my memories performing on stage.  I made lifelong friends and found myself completely in my element for the very first time.  I went on to participate in community theater abroad and direct student productions at my previous school, Fulton Science Academy Private School.”

    Kirkland also recognizes her Advanced Placement Literature teacher, Mr. Tim Harris, for putting her on the path to become a teacher, noting that he “gave me confidence in myself as a writer.”  Mr. Harris is now Dr. Tim Harris who serves Buford City Schools as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.  Kirkland says, “When I took AP Literature with Mr. Harris, I didn’t know it at the time, but it set me on a certain trajectory that would lead me where I am today.”  

    Upon graduation in 2005, Kirkland earned the Hope scholarship and stayed local to attend Georgia State, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English.  She then moved to South Korea for two years where she taught English in a public elementary school before returning to the States and enrolling at Kennesaw State University, earning a Masters in Secondary English Education.  

    Kirkland and her husband Jay, of Blackshear, GA, live in Gainesville with their two young girls, Zetta (age 4) and Azalea, or Azie (16 months).  They are active members of the Cystic Fibrosis Georgia Chapter. “We fundraise annually for the foundation,” Kirkland said. “We hope to give our daughter, Zetta, a CF fighter, the absolute best quality of life.” 

    When she and her family aren’t actively working to help fundraise for Cystic Fibrosis Georgia, Kirkland enjoys hiking, traveling, writing poetry and reading. 

    In addition to teaching, she leads the “Poetry Out Loud” competition at BHS, which gives students the opportunity to create and perform original poetry.  The competition recently sent a student on to the state competition, placing second.

    For the past four years, Kirkland has been teaching at Buford High School.  Kirkland is glad to be back in the school system that made such an influence on her life, stating, “I feel grateful to be able to give back to the community that poured into me.” 

  • Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Amy Davis, Class of 2019

    Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Amy Davis, Class of 2019

    Amy Davis started Buford High School in the middle of her 10th grade year after moving from Texas to Georgia, and the 2019 Buford graduate credits her favorite teacher, Ms. Green, who taught 10th grade honors chemistry, with helping her adjust. 

    “I was having a difficult time,” Amy remembers. “She helped encourage me and would talk me through any concept I was struggling to understand — not only in her course but other classes, too. So, she will always be my favorite teacher for the simple fact that I felt like she cared for me during a difficult transition in my life.”

    While at Buford, Amy would join the marching band and take sculpture art classes. She was also involved in Spanish Club. Ms. Head’s environmental science course was one of her favorite classes. 

    “That class was the most fun I’ve ever had while learning and she was an incredibly wonderful teacher,” Amy says. “I had so many friends in that course and we all had the best time together while learning! I’d love to reunite with that group again — even if it’s just for a few hours!” 

    Amy would go on to graduate from Buford with honors and a 4.0 weighted GPA.

    Following graduation, she went directly into the workforce, becoming a hostess at Bare Bones Steakhouse on Main Street in Buford in August 2019. Four years into her employment with the local establishment, she has become the restaurant’s lead hostess and event coordinator. 

    “If you would have told me in high school that I would find my place as the event coordinator for a local steakhouse, I would’ve been so puzzled,” she says. “I wanted to be so many different things back then — a meteorologist, a chemist, a journalist, an author … while I never specifically studied for this position, I enjoy every second of it.” 

    Amy says she loves her job and the outgoing nature she has developed as a result of her duties. 

    “I see hundreds of locals as they visit us every week and give every regular patron that comes in a hug when I see them,” she says. “I even recognize locals around town now, too, so I always stop to say hi.” 

    As event coordinator for Bare Bones, Amy helps set up events in private rooms, from wedding rehearsals and receptions to birthday parties and retirement celebrations. Holiday events are especially popular at the Buford establishment, she says.  

    “I make sure everything is set up correctly and the staff know all the details they need to ensure our guests for that evening leave happy,” Amy says. 

    In addition to her full-time job, Amy is currently taking college courses as an English major. She is an avid writer and hopes to one day become an author. She is also considering becoming a teacher. 

    “I want to be a beacon of hope for children as they grow, going on to educate them about both academics and real world issues,” she says. “My future may change, but currently — that’s my hope!” 

    For now, she’s enjoying the social aspects of her job at Bare Bones. 

    “I always enjoy seeing new faces and welcome every person to visit me,” she says. “You’re a part of the family the second you walk through those doors!”

  • Buford High School Alumni — Then and Now: Katie Lynn McClure, Class of 2009

    A 2009 graduate of Buford High School, Katie Lynn McClure is using her knowledge and skills in physical therapy to empower kids to reach their highest potential — Katie is a pediatric physical therapist with All About Kids Therapy Services and Buford City Schools. 

    “My job has taught me how resilient and determined kids can be if we provide them with the best tools and opportunities to succeed while caring for them unconditionally,” she said. 

    Katie started at Buford High School her sophomore year after her parents, Jack and Karen Lynn, moved their family to Buford. 

    “I am grateful for my parents’ sacrifice and willingness to move to Buford in 10th grade as it changed my life’s trajectory,” she said. “I do have deep Buford roots as my dad graduated from Buford High School in 1970 and my mom graduated from North Gwinnett High School in 1976 in Suwanee.

    “My parents as well as my brother Joseph have encouraged me and challenged me in my journey through this crazy life which has allowed me to reach goals I never thought I could achieve,” she continued. “Family is a huge part of my life and will always be as I continue to grow my own family and accomplish my future endeavors.” 

    Katie credits Spanish class at Buford High School for enhancing her ability to communicate in her job. 

    “I was unsure in high school how the Spanish language would help me in my future endeavors, however, I use the Spanish language daily in my career as a physical therapist to communicate with families in their personal homes and in a clinical setting to meet the gross motor needs of their children,” Katie said. “Thank you so much Mrs. Jamie Thomas for sharing your love for the language!”

    In athletics at Buford, Katie played for the team that brought home the school’s first state championship in girls basketball. 

    “I would love to go back and play basketball with my old teammates and coaches,” said Katie, who now helps coach fifth and sixth grade basketball teams. “We had so many great memories at camps, Breakfast Club, countless hours of practice, and games.

    “I often look back and wonder how I ever made it through (Buford’s) Women’s Basketball program because it was mentally and physically demanding,” she continued, “but it taught me a lot about life and hard work. I made some great friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

    After graduating from Buford in 2009, Katie played basketball at Oglethorpe University for a year before transferring to the University of Georgia, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She then pursued a doctorate in physical therapy at the University of North Georgia. 

    Katie is married to Buford native Zach McClure and they reside in Flowery Branch. Katie loves running for fun and participating in local races.

    The Buford High School alumni spotlights are made possible by the generosity of the City of Buford.