Ellen Maulding:
CLASS OF 1982
Kecoughtan High SchoolClass of 1982
Hampton, VA
Benjamin Syms Junior High SchoolClass of 1979
Hampton, VA
Aliamanu Intermediate SchoolClass of 1978
Honolulu, HI
Hickam Elementary SchoolClass of 1976
Honolulu, HI
Hill Elementary SchoolClass of 1975
Austin, TX
Ellen's Story
After high school I attended Mars Hill College in NC for two years where I learned how to study, I made some great friends, dated way too much, ran cross country track and enjoyed the ambiance of the blue ridge mountains. Then got married to the man of my dreams, moved back to Hampton VA and attended Christopher Newport University, completing my degrees in Psychology and Art. Expanded my career in modeling going from employed at an agency to freelance and then back to an agency. Started a family with Andrew being born in 1988 then Ben in 1990, Bekah in 1991 and finally Christopher in 1993. Now I have four adults I immensely enjoy parenting and am already feeling an empty nest syndrome with some of my children being gone. It used to be that the boys would keep me busy with their new found wildflowers, critters and team sports. Then as they grew older, they would keep me busy going to football games, occasionally watching them play video games (I stink at it), helping with studies and shooting some basketball. Now I enjoy getting phone calls and an occasional "Skype" request from my boys where they tell me how everything is going with school and girls! And then there is the common ground of the love of running me and my boys have together. When they are home, it is one of the things we enjoy. Our only girl is quite spoiled I must say! She is all girl and we enjoy being girls together by shopping and primping of course! She loved taking dance and at the local recreational center. She was a senior at the University of South Carolina (until she became ill). She was one of eight students with cognitive disabilities to have been accepted! We are very proud of her! Bekah's having a cognitive disability due to Down syndrome has broadened my world. We found ourselves having to advocate on her behalf when she entered the public school. I quickly received and education regarding disability issues and realized that while everyone with a disability has the legal right to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, the public school does not usually comply with this. In 2006 I received appointment to our state's Developmental Disabilities Council from the Gov...Expand for more
ernor for which my job was to decide where the taxpayers' money goes regarding programs for those with developmental disabilities. I became a member of the Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates where I serve as an Advocate for parents on behalf of their children who have disabilities in the state of SC. And more recently was appointed to the Council on Consumer Affairs, Medical School of South Carolina. Bekah became ill with a rare disease her senior year with Autoimmune Encephalitis. She has been fighting this disease for little of a year now. She is under the care of neurological specialist at Duke in NC. It has been very difficult for her and our family. We pray that she will come out on the other side completely unscathed and in remission. For most, it takes two years to know the final outcome. I spend some time as an administrative helper on two Autoimmune Encephalitis Society Facebook sites, helping others who have AE and parents of children who have AE. Most of you who knew me in high school knew that I was a Christian, (at least I hope my life evidenced that). I apologize if I did not seem to be as accepting of others as I would have liked to have been. Teenage insecurities/immaturity played havoc with me. I still have a relationship with God through Jesus and we have most definitely been on a journey! My relationship with God is my strength. Even though this has been difficult for us and we have wondered where God is with all this, we trust that He has Bekah's best interest at heart and that is good enough for us. Mark and I are looking forward to the middle part of our years, seeing one by one go out on their own and wondering what in the world are we going to do with ourselves! My hope is to create an inviting home so those kids and grandkids of mine will want to come back and stay for a while! I hope to get back to painting portraits and maybe some pottery making as well as running a couple of ultraruns! I also hope to farm a little land and enjoy the front porch more. I also hope Mark and I can relax and explore our interest together like maybe diving on the Great Barrier Reef or hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. Hope to hear from some of you, send me some email.
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