DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI 2018

2018 Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients

Ann Meyer Hazelwood, Class of 1962, and Col. Lance Van Zandt, Class of 1992, were as the 2018 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients during Homecoming 2018. The reception will be held in the Old Senior High this year, where visitors can get a sneak peek at renovations to the building.

Mrs. Hazelwood is a nationally-recognized authority on quilting and textiles, as well as a successful author. She has penned a popular series of novels featuring quilting that is set in East Perry County.

Col. Van Zandt is the commander of the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Air Cavalry Brigade at Fort Hood in Texas, and a combat veteran with over 1,350 combat flight hours in support of deployed forces.

Ann Meyer Hazelwood

Ann Meyer Hazelwood

After graduating from PHS in 1962, Ann Meyer Hazelwood continued her education at Patricia Stevens Modeling and Business School in St. Louis. In 1964, she married Joel Watkins and had two sons, Joel and Jason.

In 1970, they moved to St. Charles where she started a home-based business called Patches Etc., which in 1979 became a brick and mortar store on historic Main Street in St. Charles. Eventually, it developed into three shops — Patches Quilt Shop, Patches Craft Center and Patches Button Shoppe.

Due to early restoration efforts in St. Charles, she became active with not only restoring their circa 1858 house, but other preservation efforts in the area. She was a charter member and president of the South Main Preservation Society for which she earned the Sacajawea Award.

The success of Patches Etc. was recognized by Better Homes and Gardens as one of the 10 best quilt shops in America. In 1988 the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce honored her as its Small Business Person of the Year and she was a state finalist for that award the following year. In 1998, the City of St. Charles recognized her as Retailer of the Year and in 2000 the Chamber of Commerce presented her with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mrs. Hazelwood was one of the first to receive certification for appraising quilts by the American Quilting Society. As an authority on quilts and textiles, she has written for quilting magazines and newsletters. She has taught quilt-appraising classes and was on the certification committee. She served on the board of the National Quilt Museum located in Paducah, Ky., and later became board president.

In 1999, she married Keith Hazelwood, a local attorney. She now has two sons, two stepsons, and four grandchildren.

In 2008, she sold her business to devote more time to travel and writing. She has authored eight Missouri travel books with local publishers. She has written a column called “A Missouri Mile With Ann Hazelwood” for a local magazine. She has written three successful fiction series, a total of 14 novels for American Quilt Society Publishing, with more on the way.

Throughout her life, Hazelwood has remained active on many civic boards and commissions with particular interest in economic development, which allowed her to serve on both the city and county economic development committees. Serving on the Greater St. Charles and Visitors Bureau is a way she can continue her support for the historic area that she loves.

Her high school activities included four years of band, the Silver Dagger Dramatic Club and Future Homemakers of America. Her senior year she was on the Tuba Yearbook staff and also the Pirate Puns staff. Hazelwood credited librarian Forest Thilenius and Robert Heflin, who taught English and journalism, as the PHS teachers who had the most influence. She said, “They both understood and encouraged me, seeing something within me that I didn't know was there.”

Lance Van Zandt

Lance Van Zandt

After graduating from PHS in 1992, Colonel Lance K. Van Zandt joined the United States Army. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Aviation upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1996.

He and his wife Lydia have three daughters ‑ Abigail, Shelby, and Victoria.

Col. Van Zandt’s operational and deployment experience include serving as a Scout Platoon Leader in 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade at Camp Eagle, Korea (1998-1999) and later as a Maintenance Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in the Aviation Intermediate Maintenance (AVIM) Troop, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Ft. Carson, Colorado (1999-2001).

From 2002 to 2009 he was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas and commanded D/1-4 Aviation Regiment and A/1-4 Aviation Regiment during OIFI.

The highlight of the deployment was his company flying in support of Operation Red Dawn which netted Saddam Hussein on Dec. 13, 2003.

He later commanded his 3rd company in combat, the Aviation Intermediate Maintenance (AVIM) Troop and additionally served as the Squadron Executive Officer, 4th Squadron, 3d ACR during OIF 07-09. The unit was part of the Iraq Surge in 2007 and the Battle for Sadr City in the spring of 2008. From June 2011 thru June 2013, he served as the Brigade S3 and Deputy Brigade Commander of the 2d Combat Aviation Brigade, 2ID at Camp Humphreys, Korea.

Van Zandt commanded 4-501st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (later re-flagged as 1-501st ), 1AD CAB, Ft. Bliss, Texas and deployed the unit in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield where they conducted split-based operations between Iraq and Kuwait.

Van Zandt’s broadening experiences include serving in 21st Cavalry Brigade (Longbow Unit Fielding and Training Program) from May 2004 to May 2006 as an Observer / Controller and later Combat Aviation Training Team Chief where he assisted in the fielding and training of four Attack Reconnaissance Battalions as well as several Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs. From June 2010 to June 2011 he served as the Aide de Camp to the Commanding General of the Combined Arms Center at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Most recently, Colonel Van Zandt served on the Joint Staff in the Force Application Division of the J8.

Van Zandt’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Medal (with Numeral 2), Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 4), Combat Action Badge, Parachutists Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Master Aviator Badge; he has over 1350 combat flight hours in support of deployed forces.

His other civil and professional military education include the Initial Entry Rotary Wing / Aviation Officer Basic Course (Distinguished Graduate) and Apache Qualification Course (1996-98); Aviation Officer Advanced Course (2001); Combined Arms and Services Staff School (2001); Apache Longbow Qualification Course (2001); and in 2010 he attended the Command and General Staff College while simultaneously earning a masters degree from Kansas State University.