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Steps to Hope recently welcomed three new members of the Board of Directors: Sonya Twitty, Mary Metcalf Greene and Carl Schoendorfer.

Twitty is the executive director of Higher Academia, a non-profit dedicated to empowering at-risk youth and their families through education, mentoring and tutoring. “Our programs are developed to motivate and support the achievement of academic excellence and social responsibility through building self-esteem and educational competence,” explains Sonya. She has been a resident of Polk County since August of 1991, and enjoys reading, music, visiting small towns and traveling abroad. Sonya strongly believes, “You can teach what you know, but you will impart who you are.”

Greene is a native of Polk County and a graduate of Gardner-Webb University, where she earned undergraduate degrees in English and Communication. She currently serves as the director and school guidance counselor at Polk County Early College PEaCH, where she is dedicated to fostering students’ academic and personal growth. She is married to Aaron Greene, and they have an adult son, Grayson Greene.

Schoendorfer moved to Hendersonville after a rewarding career in Long Island, NY, at what is now the Northrop Grumman Corporation. While in Hendersonville, Carl volunteered for several causes including the Interfaith Assistance Ministry, the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, as vice president of the Timber Creek Homeowners Association, and as the Moderator of the First Congregational Church Council. In 2017, Carl and his wife, Jean, moved to Tryon Estates in Columbus; Jean passed away in 2021. Carl is currently involved with Mountain Views, the monthly publication for the residents, and the Life Engagement Committee. Carl is part of the team that photographs the new residents and prepares a short story for publication on the website. He was chair of the residents’ association for two years. He enjoys hiking and walking, working on the resident’s newsletter, reading, and fussing with the computer.

 

Submitted by Diane Nelson