Distinguished Alumni
The purpose of the Distinguished Alumni Award is to recognize and honor outstanding alumni who have represented the mission and values of Westminster in their work, life, and communities. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented at Commencement each year.
2011 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner – Cullen Rodgers-Gates
The recipient of the 2011 Westminster Distinguished Alumni Award is Cullen Rodgers-Gates (’96). Cullen arrived at Westminster in fifth grade after having lived abroad in Saudi Arabia with his family. His first Westminster teacher was Miss Buurma. While at Westminster, Cullen was a true Renaissance man – well-rounded in every way. He graduated Salutatorian with the Class of 1996. In addition to his rigorous academic load, Cullen performed in musicals, including “The Sound of Music” and “Bye Bye Birdie,” playing the principal role of Albert Peterson in the latter. Cullen also sang in the Westminster Men’s Quartet, and with them won the GISA state title his senior year. He played tennis, ran cross country and played basketball, and was even Student Council President. On two different occasions, he received the prestigious Christian Leadership Award.
After Westminster, Cullen received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wheaton College in Philosophy and Historical and Systematic Theology, respectively. Cullen has worked as a refugee case manager for World Relief and as Assistant Director of the Human Needs and Global Resources Program at Wheaton College, where he coordinated international student
internships in development. He now serves as Director of Operations for The Congo Initiative, an international organization committed to the training and development of strong indigenous Christian leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization’s goal is to see these leaders transform their communities and their nation in the name of Jesus Christ.
Cullen’s great passion is to share Christ with the global community and to serve the global church. Over the last several years, Cullen has also served his local church in children’s ministry, mission committee work and vestry membership. Cullen is married to Mandy, who is currently in graduate school at Duke Divinity School. They live in Durham, North Carolina, and have three young children: Hannah, Ethan and Caleb.
Cullen graciously accepted the award with thanks and dedicated it to the faculty and
staff at Westminster who helped shape him. He then challenged the Class of 2011 to “seek
first the Kingdom of God in a radical way”.
2010 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner – Carla Wong
The recipient of the 2010 Westminster Distinguished Alumni Award, Carla Wong McMillian, was presented the award at the twenty-seventh commencement ceremony for Westminster Schools of Augusta.
Carla graduated from Westminster in 1991 as the valedictorian. While at Westminster, she was the editor of the yearbook, a member of the debate and math teams, and the STAR Student representative for Westminster. Her STAR Teacher was Mr. Craig Johnson. Her closing statement from her senior last will and testament was, “To Westminster, I leave my thanks for caring for me for 13 years.”
Carla went on to Duke University, where she graduated in 1995, magna cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. While at Duke, she was active with Campus Crusade for Christ and an editor for the Duke Review.
She graduated third in her class from the University of Georgia School Of Law in 1998 and was a member of the Editorial Board of the Georgia Law Review and a Woodruff Scholar, a full-tuition scholarship. She also clerked for the Honorable William O’Kelley of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Carla is currently a partner with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP, in Sutherland’s Atlanta office. Her practice focuses on franchise and dealer litigation and counseling; accountants’ and professional liability defense; and other complex business litigation.
Other professional accomplishments include her selection as a Georgia Super Lawyer, and a Rising Star in 2007 and 2010.
Carla is the oldest of five children, all of whom are Westminster graduates. She is married to Lance McMillian, a professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. They live in Tyrone, Georgia, and have a son James ,6, and a daughter Emily, 2. They are long-time members of Dogwood Church in Tyrone and have served in a number of capacities including leading a small group Bible study in their home and teaching Sunday School.
Carla also serves on the Board of Directors of the Partnership Against Domestic Violence, a non-profit organization serving women, children and other victims of domestic violence in Fulton and Gwinnett Counties.
Carla has remained engaged with Westminster and was a speaker at Westminster’s kickoff for the Campaign for The Next Century in the late 1990s. Congratulations, Carla!
2009 Distinguishing Alumni Award Winner – Kay Lovingood
Kay Lovingood attended Westminster from its founding in 1972 until her graduation in 1980. While at Westminster, Kay was a member of National Honor Society; lettered in soccer, softball, and basketball; sang in the chorus; was a member of the photography club and the yearbook photographer and was the class Valedictorian.
Kay went on to Augusta College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education and had roles in their choir, band, jazz band, orchestra and brass quintet. From there, she went on to receive her Masters in Music Education from The University of Georgia and performed with UGA’s Marching Redcoats, Symphonic Band and Brass Ensemble.
She has distinguished herself as a music teacher and musician. She has served for over 20 years as music teacher at Martinez Elementary School in Columbia County and has held a variety of leadership positions in music at the state level. Outside of her teaching, Kay’s musical accomplishments have spanned from impressive choir directorships to the recent premier of her original work, Alaska! An Orchestral Suite.
Even more importantly to Westminster, Kay loves her alma mater. It’s not unusual to see her helping at the Upper School Spring Musical. She gives generously, in many different ways, to support Westminster’s mission. And she does it with Christ-like humility and grace.
In recognition of her embodiment of Westminster’s mission through service to her community, Kay Lovingood was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award on May 16, 2009.
