Michael "Mikey" Knipp ’03 was running his own media company and managing three properties in New York and New Jersey when he took stock of his life and decided it was time for a change. He paused his business, sold his properties and had a van custom outfitted. In January 2020, Knipp hit the road to seek a life of adventure.
“I sat in the driveway in New Jersey for 30 minutes that first day of van life thinking, ‘Oh my God, did I just make the worst decision in my life or is this going to be something fantastic?’” he said.
Looking back now, he knows the answer is something fantastic.
During the summer, Knipp takes seasonal jobs that have found him working the raffle team for the Atlanta Braves (and, as a staff member, scoring a World Series ring), managing a roadside motel in Southern Oregon and managing a front desk at Grand Teton National Park. He is currently an interpreter at Grand Teton. During the winter, he works odd jobs in Palm Springs, California, and for the rest of the year, the world is his oyster.
He has visited each of the 50 states and almost every national park in the lower 48. He’s also traveled on every Amtrak Superliner except the Auto Train, which he will check off this fall when he rides it from Florida to the nation’s capital. He’s also been to Japan, Thailand, South Africa, Brazil and Colombia.
“Being out here with just myself and my thoughts has really given me a broader, more inclusive and less selfish perspective on things,” he said. “It has given me the opportunity to figure out what’s important, who I am and what I want to be, and the legacy that I want to leave for myself and my family.”
Knipp figures he’ll extend his adventure lifestyle for another two years before deciding what’s next. Meanwhile, he is competing for the grand prize in a competition called Ultimate Explorer. Winning would mean $10,000, a national park expedition in a Winnebago RV, and a feature in Outside Magazine. To learn more and vote for Knipp, click here.
“It’s wild to me that I’ve left everything behind and I have very little in my possession now,” he said, “but I have more purpose than I’ve ever had in my life.”
Mikey Knipp communes with the wildflowers in Borrego Springs, California.
“Being out here with just myself and my thoughts ... has given me the opportunity to figure out what’s important, who I am and what I want to be, and the legacy that I want to leave for myself and my family.”
Mikey Knipp '03
Hannah Koepfinger '21 has joined the athletics staff at Hollins University as the head cross country/track and field coach. Koepfinger earned a degree in health and physical education at Roanoke, then went on to study education at Southwest Minnesota State University, where she was a graduate assistant and senior resident assistant.
At Roanoke, she was named All-ODAC for indoor track and field in the long jump, 800m and 4x400m relay. She was also named all-conference in 110m hurdles and ODAC Champion in the 400m hurdles, and she earned honors from the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association. In 2021, she went to the NCAA DIII National Championships in the 400m hurdles, finishing fifth in her heat and just missing a trip to finals. That year, she was Roanoke's Female Athlete of the Year. At Southwest Minnesota State, she used her COVID season to compete and set school records in the heptathlon, pentathlon, 4x400m relay and distance medley relay.
Alex Burke ’16 recently started a new position as a financial analyst in Carilion Clinic Financial Services. Prior to that, he was assistant director of the Salem Museum & Historical Society, where he had worked full-time since graduation from Roanoke. Burke’s connection with the museum began even earlier than that, in 2014, with a college internship. After graduation, he took a part-time job at the museum and was soon elevated to office manager, then assistant director.
An article in the Salem Times-Register celebrated Burke’s influence at the museum, which included updated exhibits and greater engagement with the public, especially youngsters. “Not many people get the opportunity to work at their hometown history museum,” he told the newspaper. “I was really lucky to find this opportunity and to share my story along with my hometown’s story.”
Burke holds a B.A. in history from Roanoke, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi, and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to the career transition, he celebrated a personal milestone in June when he married fellow Maroon Grace Vandegrift ’16 (right). Grace is in her eighth year as a teacher with Roanoke County Public Schools.
Kasey Draper ’23, a standout member of the Roanoke College men’s basketball program, has signed to play professionally for the EPG Guardians Koblenz in Koblenz, Germany.
At Roanoke, Draper was a three-time All-ODAC First Team selection and was twice honored as the Roanoke College Male Athlete of the Year. He was captain of the men’s basketball team for three years and earned multiple tournament honors.
After earning a degree in business administration and graduating as a valedictorian at Roanoke, Draper used his fifth year of eligibility to play for Division II Assumption University, where he also earned an MBA.
"I am excited to see what I can do on the professional level, but I am also just as excited to live in a different country and experience a different culture,” Draper said. “I am thankful for all the people in my life who got me to this point and especially my experience with the Roanoke College basketball team who prepared for this opportunity."
Draper will be one of two former Maroons playing professionally overseas, as Josh Freund '19 recently signed a new contract with Maccabi Rishon Lezion. Next season will be Freund’s sixth year playing professionally.