Ashlie Workman

After leaving SDSA in 8th grade, Ashlie continued her education at Sussex Tech. Upon graduation, she traveled to NC and attended High Point University graduating in 2010 with a B.S in Psychology. After graduation, she spent her time as a nanny for twin girls. With a passion for education, Ashlie joined the staff at the Sussex Consortium - a specialized school and program for students on the Autism Spectrum. While working at the Consortium, she went back to school, earning her Masters in Special Education as well as obtaining her Autism Certification.  Ashlie still has a passion for singing & acting. In college, she was the president of an all-female acapella group called the Petal Points. For the past seven years she has performed in many musicals and plays throughout Sussex County with different theater organizations.

Justin Kates

Justin joined the Mayor’s Cabinet in August 2011 after coming from his role as a Homeland Security Consultant for the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.  In his role, Justin coordinates city-wide emergency response efforts by working with Federal, State, and other areas of municipal government in obtaining the necessary resources to recover after a disaster.  He developed the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan for the City and chairs the Local Emergency Planning Committee.  During his time in Nashua, Justin was responsible for coordinating the response and recovery of FEMA declared disasters Tropical Storm Irene, the “Snowtober” Nor’easter, Superstorm Sandy, Winter Storm Nemo, and Winter Storm Juno.

He is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) affiliated with the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and was awarded “NH Emergency Management Director of the year” in 2015.  Justin is a graduate of the University of Delaware where he majored in Emergency Management and Public Administration. He has taught Crisis Management as an Adjunct Professor at Daniel Webster College, Public Health Emergency Preparedness as an Adjunct Instructor at Rivier University, and numerous FEMA state-delivered courses for the New Hampshire Fire Academy.  He is currently the Vice President of the IAEM Region 1 Board of Directors, Chair of the NH Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NH VOAD), and a Member of the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation Board of Directors. 

Rebecca Southmayd

Rebecca is a proud graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. After graduating in December 2015, Rebecca accepted her first producing job at NBC12 in Richmond, Virginia. She started as a weekend producer and worked her way up to becoming one of the top producers on the morning show, 12 News Today. It was her work on that broadcast that earned Rebecca her first Emmy Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 

After two years in Richmond, Rebecca moved to West Palm Beach, Florida to accept another producing job at WPBF 25 News. She’s currently working as the senior producer of WPBF 25 News Mornings, striving for that next Emmy. During her first year, she’s covered major events like the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the FIU bridge collapse, the 2018 Election recount scandal, the SunTrust Bank shooting in Sebring and President Donald Trump’s many trips to his winter White House on Palm Beach. 

During her 8 years at SDSA, Rebecca was an active participant in the arts. She majored in dance and minored in vocal music. She also participated in Odyssey of the Mind, ExCEL and Academic Challenge. After graduating from SDSA in 2008, Rebecca went on to graduate as Valedictorian from Sussex Technical High School. That’s where she first developed her passion for broadcast journalism.

Aside from being a “news nerd,” Rebecca is a Disney enthusiast and reality television junkie. She also enjoys soaking up the south Florida sun year-round.”

Gillian Letonoff

Spending 7 years at SDSA, Gillian continued to dance at Sussex Dance Academy Year round. She also attended First State Ballet her senior year of high school. During the summer she attended ballet intensives at the Rock School for Dance Education, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Maryland and earned a scholarship to Oklahoma City Ballet. She was a scholarship recipient in 2015 from the Diane Drulis Foundation, which helps dancers continue their dance education. In 2015, she also received a Trainee Contract with Ballet Theatre of Maryland where she danced for 3 seasons. This past season, she was a trainee with the Oklahoma City Ballet and will be a trainee again this coming fall. She will continue to dance and audition in hope of moving up through the ranks of a company.

Thank you all for all of your efforts and accomplishments to make our world a better place and to follow your passions. As you can see, our inaugural Walk of Fame class has used the work ethic, dedication and passions they built at SDSA to make an impact on their community and our society as a whole. Thank you all for joining us for our celebration and enjoy the rest of today’s festivities.

Matthew Wiltshire

Matthew was unable to join us today as he is fulfilling his duties as he saves lives in the medical setting. He is currently working on his internship to become an anesthesiologist. We would like to recognize him as well, and he will be included as part of the inaugural class as well.