Where Are They Now?
An Update on the 2010 UHS/PCHS Alumni Scholarship Winners
Up to this time, 26 PC graduates have been awarded $500 alumni scholarships. Although
$500 pays just a small portion of expensive college tuition and books, each recipient receives a
significant vote of confidence and encouragement from their hometown. Donations to the
UHS/PCHS Alumni Association scholarship fund can be mailed along with the reunion
registration form. This year’s reunion registration form can be found at under the Alumni tab on
this website.
In 2010, three Putnam County graduates received $500 Alumni Association scholarships:
Beth Andrew Williams, Jamie Brown, and Brady Fleshman.
Beth Andrew Williams, class of 2005, has remained in Putnam County since graduation
and is “glad to be here and be a part of our good community.” After high school graduation,
Beth used A+ benefits and earned an Associate of Arts degree from North Central Missouri
College in Trenton. She then completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice
Administration through an online program at Missouri Southern University. After graduation,
she was employed by North Central Mental Health in Trenton, working with children.
Since 2013, Beth has been employed by Putnam County R-I as a paraprofessional, again
working with children. This past school year Beth was assigned to the preschool classroom, a
position she says was a lot of fun. She has discovered a love of teaching and is completing a
teacher certification program and will be certified to teach K-6 grades.
Beth is married to Codie Williams and the couple has a daughter, Katie Josephine, born
February, 2016. Codie is the bus mechanic for Putnam County R-I and also drives one of the
west end bus routes. She enjoys quilting, cooking and making decorated cakes for family and
friends. She and Codie moved out of Lucerne into the country last fall. Beth says, “I can watch
the deer from our door; I love living in the country!”
Jamie Brown, class of 2007, began her college career at Missouri Western State
University in St. Joseph. After one year, she transferred to Southeast Missouri State University
in Cape Girardeau and earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2011. The following year
Jamie completed a Master of Social Worker degree from Southern Illinois University in
Carbondale. Jamie’s employment positions since graduation have all centered around children in
difficult situations. Her first job after obtaining the master’s degree was as a counselor/advocate
for children of women in a domestic violence shelter. After relocating, she worked for over two
years as a child abuse investigator in the city of St. Louis and also spent a few months as a foster
care case manager in East St. Louis.
Currently Jamie works in O’Fallon, IL for the University of Illinois-Chicago Division of
Specialized Care for Children (UIC-DSCC) as a care coordinator for the Medically Fragile
Technology Dependent (MFTD) Waiver program that is managed by Illinois Dept. of Healthcare
and Family Services. She assists families who have children that are medically fragile and
technology dependent obtain in-home nursing services, assist in finding resources, etc. She also
works part time as a social worker (doing discharge planning) at Memorial Hospital in Belleville,
Illinois.
One of the things Jamie liked about Putnam County R-I was “that our schools were small
enough that I could still go ask Mr. Spase, my 7 th grade science teacher, for help in 12 th grade AP
Biology, and he still knew who I was!”
Jamie lives in Okawville, which is about 45 miles east of St. Louis, with her significant
other Thomas Renth. Jamie enjoys living in Okawville as it is a small farming town similar to
Unionville, with the advantage of being closer to a large urban area. Thomas is a parts manager
for Riechmann Brothers John Deere implement dealer and they have two dogs.
Dr. Brady Fleshman, MD, just completed his 8 th year of post-secondary education,
earning a Medical Doctor degree from the University of Missouri in May. Brady, PC class of
2008, graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 2012 prior to entering MU’s
School of Medicine. His three-year residency began in July with Mizzou Family Medicine in
Columbia. After the residency he plans to complete a one-year fellowship in sports medicine.
Brady stated his “high school and undergraduate education were mildly challenging, but
medical school, on the other hand, was its own beast. It is much like putting your face in front of
a water hydrant on full blast. However, I found a new learning strategy that worked for me, and
here I am now!”
As a medical student, Brady completed two Christian medical mission trips to
Guatemala, helping treat people that don’t have access to health care. The team he served with
included medical students, residents, and attending physicians. Temporary clinics were set up in
remote villages and as many people were examined as possible, although working through
interpreters slowed down the process.
Brady enjoys the amenities Columbia offers. “It's great to have multiple places to get
food, groceries, and shop. Also, it seems like there are always events and concerts going on, so
there's really never a dull moment. I do miss some of the small town things about Unionville
like always seeing someone you know at the grocery or convenience store, Friday night lights on
the football field, Midget pride, and George and Nicks Pizza (of course).” Brady will marry
Kara Jackson in January, 2017.