30th Anniversary History Book

graduate PROFILE: Hannah Walk

HOME:  Atlanta, GA CLASS OF: 2013

PROFESSION:  Technical Writer HOBBIES:  Painting, drawing, reading, cooking, professional development LAST/FAVORITE BOOK READ: How to Invent Everything FAVORITE MUSIC:  Pop/Top 40

Beacon Counseling Center

Katie McNamara

Then, in June 2010, the college purchased The Chopping Block restaurant to enlarge greatly the space available to hungry students and faculty. The building is slated for major reconstruction during the 2019-2020 school year. The following year, Beacon demolished the D’Addario building to make way for Beacon Hall. Katie McNamara remembers watching Beacon Hall go up — as well as more student housing. “When I was there, we only had the Village Apartments,” said McNamara, who earned a bachelor’s degree in human services. “Over time, we got Woodward and then, during my very last semester, they opened Beacon Commons.” The 2013 graduate also has fond memories of an informal rubber duck hunt, the spiritual grandfather

of the annual tradition then Beacon student Heather Reed later hatched. “Some of the hiding places were pretty hard to find,” including nooks and crannies in the counseling building, the garage and the campus grounds. “Whoever had the most ducks won a gift certificate,” said McNamara, who plans to seek

MOST MEANINGFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT:  I established and built the documentation program and user community for a start-up that was recently valued at $1.3 billion. PROFILE: Strategic and service-oriented professional who thrives in fast- paced and collaborative environments. WHERE IN LIFE DO YOU BELIEVE YOU WOULD BE WITHOUT BEACON? I would be struggling to achieve professional success and be confident in my capabilities. HOW DID BEACON GIVE YOU A FOOTHOLD IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD? Beacon helped me learn to take advantage of my learning differences and make it work for me. The organizational tools and leadership skills I developed in my tenure at Beacon translated into the planning and management skills I use every day. The confidence I gained through my experiences has allowed me to earn the respect of my coworkers and has led to an excellent professional reputation in my industry. HOW DO COMPANIES BENEFIT FROM INTEGRATING INDIVIDUALS’ LEARNING DIFFERENCES INTO THE WORKPLACE? Innovation is driven by a diversity of thought. Companies thrive when they incorporate the breadth of experience their employees can bring to the table. Failing to leverage the wealth of perspective originating from individuals with learning differences is a failure for a company to reach its full potential.

a degree in education at a college near her Nokesville, Va. home. Other changes were underway during McNamara’s time. During the presidency of John Hutchinson, the college in 2011 added a minor in art; in 2012, majors in business management and psychology were added.

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