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Dale Huffman catches up with the ‘Class of 2000’

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By Dale Huffman, Staff Writer Updated 2:50 AM Thursday, April 16, 2009

Michele Jacobs Gabree, and her twin, Mark Jacobs, graduates of Carroll High School, are 27 and doing well in their chosen professions.

I am very proud of them as two of the 100 members of the Dale Huffman “Class of 2000.”

We originally invited 50 girls and 50 boys, including two sets of twins, to take part in the special class that included young people chosen at random from all over the Miami Valley. I followed them from kindergarten to high school graduation.

Since their college years, the class members have been busy meeting life’s obligations. Many are raising families and chasing personal dreams.

Michele is training for the 26-mile Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20.

According to Gene Crabtree of Dayton, his granddaughter graduated from the University of South Carolina with a master’s in genetic counseling.

“She and her husband of 18 months, Scott Gabree, met when both were undergraduates at Miami University,” Crabtree said. “They now live in Boston where Michele works as a cancer counselor at Massachusetts General Hospital.”

She’ll be raising money to support pediatric cancer research at the hospital.

Concerning the marathon, she said, “I am finishing my training, which happened during New England’s crazy weather, including snow, hail and freezing cold weather. So I am sure I’ll be ready, no matter the weather, on marathon day.”

He twin, Mark, is a mechanical engineer for the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., which has a world headquarters in Houston. He lives in Texas.

“The house that Mark and his fiancee were living in was damaged by Hurricane Ike. They were able to evacuate safely before the storm hit, but he still has damages to repair,” Crabtree said.

Mark and his fiancee, Britni Schoonover, met while attending West Virginia University and plan to marry in November.

From the earliest days of kindergarten, when I first met the twins, Michele and Mark have always been outgoing, friendly, athletic, studious and kind. I am pleased they continue to make this world a better place in which to live.

I would love to get updates from other members of the special Class of 2000.

In June 2010, my kids will observe the 10th anniversary of graduation from high school. Who knows? Perhaps a class reunion can be arranged.

Dale Huffman wants your suggestions and story ideas.

Send an e-mail

to dhuffman@DaytonDaily News.com or write to him at 1611 S. Main St. Dayton, OH 45409.

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