The Galax (Winter 2023)

Editor: Donna Wheeler P’21

Design: Steve Parker Design

Editorial Contributions: Sarah Benton, Benjie Colberg, Jeff Joyce, Graylyn Loomis ’10, Olga Mahoney P’20, Andrew Pearson, Erin Price.

Photographic Contributions: : Graylyn Loomis ’10, Olga Mahoney P’20, Michael Oppenheim, Erin Price, Wesley Shelmire, Donna Wheeler P’21.

The magazine’s name, The Galax, honors a traditional school emblem, the galax plant, which is indigenous to our area of Western North Carolina. It was also the name of the first school paper, The Galax Leaf.

The Galax is published two times a year by the Christ School Advancement and Communications Offices: Betsy Ellis P’24, Assistant Head for External Affairs; Graylyn Loomis ’10, Director of Communications; Jeff Joyce, Associate Director of Advancement; Donna Wheeler P’21, Director of Publications; Kathryn J. Belk, Director of Advancement Services; Sarah Benton, Assistant Director of Advancement; Dan Stevenson ’72 P’15, Director of Alumni Affairs and Major Gift Officer; Andrew Pearson, Digital Content and Communications Specialist; Chris Childers, Video Production Specialist.

Send submissions to: Galax Editor, Christ School, 500 Christ School Road, Arden, NC 28704 or call 828-684-6232, ext. 104. You can also submit information through our web page at www.christschool.org or to Donna Wheeler at dwheeler@ christschool.org.

Christ School admits boys in grades eight through twelve based on academic ability, personal qualifications, and recommendations, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, or national and ethnic origin.

This fall we launched an aviation program named in honor of Christ School alumnus Robert K. Morgan ’36. Colonel Morgan was a decorated pilot of the Memphis Belle in World War II whose heroism earned him distinguished military honors. As you will read in the feature article, our students are fortunate to learn from two former Navy fighter pilots, Stephen Hoffert P’26 and World Languages teacher Les Thornbury. The American Champion Citabria (7GCAA) has drawn acclaim, not only by its students, but by those who enjoyed its flyovers of campus before football games. Students in the program will have a chance to work towards flight ratings and certifications.

before you. Be thankful for them, because without them, we would not be where we are today. Use them as motivation to let them know that their sacrifices were worth it.” n

by Dr. Sean Jenkins

Among the many highlights from the fall semester – one that included opening Christ School’s 123rd year with record enrollment (300 boys), record returning students (215), and new faculty and staff from all over the world (Bahamas, Jordan, Shanghai, Singapore, and South Korea) – was the honor of a visit from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. Bishop Curry’s words and presence were full of qualities that we hope to inspire in our boys: grace, kindness, love, respect, gratitude, forgiveness, and selflessness. His poignant, uplifting messages are a timely reminder of how much there is to be thankful for at Christ School.

We were thrilled to announce the Krieger Leadership Scholars Program (KLS), named in honor of Paul and Beth Krieger’s extraordinary service to Christ School. KLS is an endowed merit scholarship that will bring talented students from around the country to Christ School. This February we will host our inaugural KLS finalist selection weekend. We will offer one full and one partial domestic boarding scholarship to young men who represent the highest ideals of Christ School. Thanks to the generosity of alumnus and parent Edwin Cooper ’81, P’19, P’23, we are welcoming artists, poets, and musicians from around the world to campus. The Cooper Living Arts Series allowed Christ School to host multi-instrumentalist Andrew Finn Magill in residence. Magill has been featured on

MTV-U, TEDx, and multiple times on NPR. He has performed with artists including John Doyle, Rising Appalachia, Trio Brasileiro, and many others. Next semester we will welcome artist Zander Stefani, poet Tim Seibles, musician Jonathan Scales Fourchestra and others. The arts are alive and well at Christ School, where we have over 40 boys in this year’s choir. You will also read in this issue of The Galax of our commitment to the boys’ health and well-being. This is not new for Christ School, but we have made a significant effort to better understand their needs coming out of the pandemic, the pressures and anxieties they face, and to create a comprehensive and intentional focus on wellness. This is a longterm journey for us as teachers, mentors, and coaches to better understand and educate our students through a team approach to supporting mind, body, and spirit. We embrace these development opportunities and know success will happen through a team approach to addressing wellness.

I wish you and your family happiness and prosperity in 2023. We are ever thankful for your dedication, support, and commitment to Christ School, and for the sacrifices of those who came before us that allow us to enjoy all that Christ School offers. As you read and enjoy this issue of The Galax, think of what Kennedy Achugamonu ’23 shared in his senior speech: “I hope my speech inspires everyone here today to look at the sacrifices of those who have come

Sean K. Jenkins, PhD. Head of School

TO BUILD, CRE ATE & IMPROVE from the head

“Remember those who crawled so you could walk, those who ran so you could fly, and those who took a chance on you even when they didn’t have to.”

OFF TO A FLYING START

This winter, our afternoon sports offerings included an exciting, new activity: aviation. Conceived by two former military fighter pilots, Spanish teacher Les Thornbury, who flew for seven years with the Navy, and parent Stephen Hoffert P’26, a retired career Air Force pilot, the Robert Morgan ’36 Aviation Program took off with 10 eager pilots in training.

While Thornbury has been planning this program for years, it was a parent-teacher conference with Hoffert that really got the wheels turning and led to the program that was launched in November.

“Over the course of about 18 months we came up with a plan that we could present to the school. When Steve volunteered to participate, purchase the plane, and incorporate the flight school everything changed,” Thornbury said. “My original plan was to drive kids down to the Asheville airport and drop them off at the local flight school.” Instead, they incorporated the flight school with Christ School as its sole client. They run the program out of a small airstrip in Hendersonville, NC, away from control towers and other distractions. “So now, instead of some external group working with kids, it’s a parent and a faculty member who are sharing

What we provide is 10 hours of flight time and the entire ground school; all of the academic course work that you would do to get your pilot’s license we complete during the sports period so they will be prepared to take the FAA exam at the end of the season.

the responsibilities.” Since Hoffert already has his instructor ratings, he’s been taking the boys flying since their first afternoon in November. Thornbury will soon be a certified instructor as well.

The autonomy of the program allows Thornbury and Hoffert the ability to set the pace and structure. And while there are other schools in the country that offer aviation, there is no other high school program that does so with a plane that’s designed to undertake aerobatics. “Because we bought an aerobatic aircraft that can spin and do rolls and flips, it allows us to expose kids to a part of aviation that is hard to find anywhere else,” said Thornbury. The plane is a 1998 American Champion Citabria, a tandem two-seater that gives the students the feel of flying solo, even with their instructor sitting behind them. Thornbury believes that flying an aerobatic plane will give

Les Thornbury and the official Robert Morgan ’36 Aviation Program patch.

the boys a competitive edge in their future flying. “We didn’t just buy the plane to have fun, we bought it because it will better prepare the boys for any flying situation that may arise,” Thornbury said. “He will know what it feels like to enter into a spin and will therefore be able to anticipate and correct it if it happens in the future. From a safety perspective, we think we are building better pilots.”

The goal of the program is to get every boy up to pre-solo speed, or rather all the steps necessary before the FAA gets involved. For $4500

a half hours. The BATD (Basic Aviation Training Device) simulator produced by Real Sim Gear, adds $600 in value per student per year, not to mention that the students will have just about unlimited access to the system in Thornbury’s classroom. It’s a large, three-screen FAA-approved high-powered gaming device that runs flight simulator software.

Thornbury and Hoffert structured the program so that each of the boys gets to fly every week.

“Our worst enemy is daylight, and we knew it

Christ School students of all ages are eligible to participate in the program during the winter sports period. “What we provide is 10 hours of flight time and the entire ground school; all of the academic course work that you would do to get your pilot’s license we complete during the sports period so they will be prepared to take the FAA exam at the end of the season,” Thornbury said. Each boy will have a logbook signed by Hoffert with hours that are good for the rest of their lives. Thanks to the generosity of two sets of parents, the boys will also have unlimited access to a state-of-the-art FAA-approved flight simulator, allowing them to log another two and

from the start, so we designed it to run two flights a day.” Those guys who have a free block at the end of the day head down to Hendersonville (a 20-minute drive) for the first flight with Hoffert and a faculty member brings down the next boy after classes. When they are not flying, the students work on the academic piece. The weekly schedule (when the weather cooperates) is two Sim days, two academic days, and one flight day. They use the King School curriculum; “It’s a complete online comprehensive course tailored to the FAA exam, but we supplement that because there’s no way you can learn all you need to know by watching 10-minute videos,” Thornbury

Clockwise from Top Left: Hoffert P’26 demonstrates pre-flight inspections and checklists that every student must complete before each flight; Luke Garner ’24 learns how to strap on the parachute required for aerobatic flight; the FAA approved BATD Simulator allows students to hone their skills while logging an additional 2.5 hours of flight time.

“We didn’t just buy the plane to have fun, we bought it because it will better prepare the boys for any flying situation that may arise.”

—Les Thornbury

“I’ve always wanted to fly and pursue getting my private pilot’s license and eventually fly in the military.”

said. “So, on rainy days the two of us co-teach a class on a core subject that the kids are working on, such as aerodynamics, aircraft instruments, airspace, and weather.”

Tyler Brouse ’25, who participated in the inaugural aviation season with brother Scott ’23 said, “I first got interested in flying when I flew with my dad’s friend who had a plane and I thought it was amazing; when we heard about Christ School’s aviation program, my brother and I agreed that it was something we wanted to try out.” Penn Morris ’25, who mountain biked with Mr. Thornbury in the fall, was already planning

to take lessons at a county airport. “When this came about, I took this opportunity and jumped on it. So far I’ve loved it. Being up in the air is awesome, and just looking at the views and knowing that one day I might be a pilot is even better,” Penn said. For Tucker Semens ’25 it’s a dream come true. “I’ve always wanted to fly and pursue getting my private pilot’s license and eventually fly in the military. I didn’t really know how I was going to do that. When the aviation program became available it was the perfect opportunity, so I jumped on it right away and it’s been a blast so far.”

Thornbury admits it was a leap of faith for the school to approve the program. “This isn’t like saying we’re starting a bowling league; we’re taking kids flying!” It certainly didn’t hurt to already have an instructor like Hoffert lined up to teach. “If you go to learn to fly at an airport, you’re most likely going to get a 21-year-old who’s trying to build time to go into the airlines,” Thornbury said. “Nobody else is getting a 6000-hour recently retired Air Force pilot to teach them how to fly. Steve was a flight instructor for the Air Force Air Training Command so he’s very patient and he knows exactly what’s going on in a student’s

school bragging rights, it doesn’t stop there. The academic portion of the program is projected to become a semester-long class next year. “I think that the school’s stamp of approval speaks to Head of School Sean Jenkins’s desire to start greenlighting the kinds of ambitious programs that will move the school forward. Really, what I hope is that it serves as a sort of road map for other teachers’ visions,” said Thornbury. “I always think, imagine if every class the boys took was a class they wanted to take. That would move CS’s academic program into a real, 21st century, visionary curriculum.” n =

mind.” The fact that Hoffert is a Greenie parent (his son Easton ’26 participated this winter) adds a lot of credibility to the program. In the early parent meetings Hoffert, anticipating other parents’ concerns, said “Look, I get it, I’m a parent, my own son is in the program; you can be confident that your son’s safety will be paramount.”

The program is named after Christ School alumnus, Robert Morgan ’36, who was the pilot of the Memphis Belle, the famous WWII bomber. It just so happens that his picture hangs in Harris House, the dorm where Thornbury is Head of House. “In Asheville aviation circles he’s pretty famous,” Thornbury said. And although Morgan has passed away, his daughter lives in the area. Each year, the boys will design a patch to put on their jackets and they hope to invite Morgan’s daughter to campus to receive one later this year. While his aviation program certainly gives the

—Tucker

Semens 25

Left: In June of 1943 the Memphis Belle began a publicity tour that took her to just about every city in the US.

Below: the photo of Robert Morgan ’36 and the Memphis Belle that inspired Thornbury to create the aviation program.

Scan this QR code to see the Citabria in motion.

new faculty

James Ballantyne

James Ballantyne joins the faculty as a multidisciplined educator with a motto perfect for Christ School: “I do not teach science, I teach young men.”

Mr. Ballantyne is responsible for Chemistry classes, but has also taught Biology, Physics, Algebra, and Engineering in his decade-plus career. No matter what the subject may be, Mr. Ballantyne keeps student inquiry, engagement, and humor at the heart of every lesson.

He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Southeastern Louisiana University and his master’s in teaching from Nicholls State University. A gifted athlete, Mr. Ballantyne owned and operated a wrestling academy for five years before leaning into teaching full-time. He taught at three different high schools; however, Christian Brothers High School in Memphis helped him zero in on the all-boys environment where he felt he could have the greatest impact.

Christ School’s commitment to its Four Pillars, and in particular Spirituality, complement the work Mr. Ballantyne has done with Christian Brothers’ High Impact Christian Club, an

organization associated with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He looks forward to launching a similar club at Christ School, in addition to coaching in the Outdoor Program and serving as a part of a duty team.

Mr. Ballantyne and his wife, Jill, have four children, James, Elijah, Mahri, and Selah.

William Ballenger

William Ballenger comes to Christ School with a wealth of experience as a teacher, AP exam reader, coach, and houseparent.

He teaches in the History Department, serves as Head of House in Young House, coaches basketball, and guides backpackers in the Outdoor Program.

Mr. Ballenger launched his boarding school career at Blue Ridge School (VA) in the late 1990s where he crossed paths with longtime Christ School faculty member Jamie Auch.

He and his wife, Kristin, most recently lived five transformative years overseas in Jordan, where he chaired a department and shepherded aspiring, young teachers as Director of Teaching Fellows at King’s Academy.

Mr. Ballenger’s favorite fictional character is Indiana Jones and he has lived out his own share of adventures, including thru-hikes of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Camino de Santiago trails, as well as two complete coastto-coast bicycle treks. He is a believer in the educational value of travel, bringing history alive for students by integrating his personal, globetrotting experiences at historic sites in over

50 countries across five continents. Mr. Ballenger has been recognized several times with teaching and leadership accolades.

Mr. Ballenger is a boarding school alumnus (The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey) who graduated with honors in History from Alma College, later going on to get his master’s degree in Social Studies Education from the University of Virginia.

Mr. Ballenger and Kristin are both major animal lovers and thrilled to live in Young House.

Marshall Baltazar

Christ School students from 2010 to 2018 will be delighted to hear that Marshall Baltazar has rejoined the World Languages Department to teach Spanish.

During his Christ School tenure, Mr. Baltazar drew from more than 30 years of teaching experience in public and private schools in North Carolina and the Chicago area. In addition to sharing his love of Spanish language and culture with his classes, Mr. Baltazar launched and coordinated a distinctive, three-week study abroad program for Christ School students at Colegio Delibes in Salamanca, Spain. When Mr. Baltazar retired (temporarily) in 2018, the Angelus yearbook was dedicated to him.

Sawyer Duhaime ’18 read this tribute to Mr. Baltazar during an end-of-year assembly:

“This beloved faculty member has lived in three different countries and worked as a hotel manager, a tightrope and trapeze artist, a clown, and an acrobat. He earned a master’s degree in

Urban Teaching and won a dance contest on the 1970s TV show, ‘Soul Train.’ Since 2010, he has been an integral member of this community, teaching Spanish, directing plays, and leading trips to Spain. This kind, wise sage claims that his heart is a potato, though everyone who knows him would say it is a heart of gold. So, in an effort to keep this dedication short and sweet, just like our dear señor, the senior class dedicate the 2018 Angelus to Señor Baltazar.”

Sarah Benton

Sarah Benton has advocated and worked for the betterment of students throughout her young career. She is ready to pour that same energy into Christ School as Assistant Director of Advancement.

Ms. Benton is from Auburn, AL, and received her BS in Apparel Merchandising, Production, and Design from Auburn University. She assisted her peers as an undergraduate and graduate through academic advising and new student orientation before going on to complete her master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of South Carolina in 2022.

While in Columbia, SC, Sarah served as an advisor to students pursuing Graduation with Leadership Distinction, instructed courses, and oversaw the Gamecock Food Pantry.

Ms. Benton likes to spend her free time traveling with friends, taking Pure Barre classes, and spending time with her fiancé, Christ School alumnus Mason Blevins ’16.

Ballenger

Ballantyne Benton

Baltazar

Chris Daller

Sports have opened many doors for Chris Daller, who will help the boys balance academics and athletics in their own lives, too.

Mr. Daller is a new addition to the Christ School Math Department and Athletic Department – he taught and coached basketball and football the past seven years at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis.

Mr. Daller was a 4.0 student while pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. He had the same grade-point average at Central Michigan University, where he earned his master’s in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on supervision. Mr. Daller graduated with a BS in Mathematics and minor in English Literature from Aquinas College in 2015.

Mr. Daller is engaged to Jenna, an immigration lawyer, and the couple share a love for animals.

Patrick Dansdill

Patrick Dansdill earned the “Most Respected” award from his Wheaton College (IL) football coaches and teammates in 2013 and they were onto something.

Mr. Dansdill has distinguished himself the past nine years with a willingness to explore many different courses in K-12 education.

Mr. Dansdill graduated from Wheaton with a BA in Elementary Education.

He teaches Spanish at Christ School and is an assistant football coach, but has previously worked with students in art, business, English, math, music, physical education, science, and social studies. Mr. Dansdill most recently taught at Hall Fletcher Elementary School in Asheville.

Patrick Haley

Carrying on Christ School lacrosse’s winning tradition spoke to Patrick Haley, as did the Greenie value system, which mirrors his own. Along with Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach and Program Director, Mr. Haley is Assistant Athletic Director for Student.

Mr. Haley comes to Christ School from St. John’s College High School near Washington, DC, where he was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the country’s No. 1 ranked high school team, according to Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse. Prior to his eight years at St. John’s, Mr. Haley was offensive

coordinator and the first coach and employee of IMG Academy’s program in Bradenton, FL. He was responsible for launching IMG Academy’s residential lacrosse student program. Mr. Haley has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Maryland University College.

Mr. Haley brings 14 years of coaching experience to Christ School and comes from an extensive lacrosse family. Mr. Haley has mentored dozens of NCAA lacrosse players, including two of his younger brothers (Georgetown University and University of Maryland) and four of his cousins (University of Denver, Georgetown University, University of Maryland, Ohio State University, and United States Naval Academy).

Mr. Haley played collegiate lacrosse at Towson University. Through his education and work experience, he has built a network will support and build Christ School lacrosse.

Mr. Haley and his wife, Kellie, live on campus with their sons, Pax and Rowe.

Peter Hartwig

Peter Hartwig wears many hats in his first year at Christ School, teaching Humanities and serving as Assistant Chaplain.

He was previously at Northwest University in Kirkland, WA, and the Westminster Theological Centre in the United Kingdom. Mr. Hartwig was most recently a Communications Associate for Global Endowment Management out of Charlotte.

Mr. Hartwig was an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia, receiving his BA in Religious Studies and Classics in 2016. He then went on to receive master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge (Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion) and the Princeton Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity).

George Johnson

Greenie football players have an incredible resource in George Johnson, who played defensive end in the NFL for nine years. There is more to Mr. Johnson’s life than just football though, and his background in philanthropy and working with youth aid him as the new Assistant Dean of Campus Life. Coming to Christ School reunites Mr. Johnson with Varsity Football head coach Chad Walker – the two men were previously on the

same coaching staff at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa, FL. Mr. Johnson played professionally for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and New Orleans Saints from 2010 to 2018.

Mr. Johnson is completing his BA in Labor Studies and Labor Management from Rutgers University where he was a four-year starter at defensive end.

Mr. Johnson has six years of volunteer experience for the Boys and Girls Club of America and has also been involved in benefits for youth and families in need through a church food pantry. Mr. Johnson comes to Christ School with his wife, Rebecca, and their children, Olivia, George, Mae, and Bo.

Jeff Joyce

Jeff Joyce is getting to know Christ School’s many passionate supporters in his role as the new Associate Director of Advancement.

Mr. Joyce fell in love with the rivers and mountains of Western North Carolina while working at a summer camp in college and has lived and worked in the area since 2008. He served as the Director of Public Policy for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce for eight years, before transitioning to the world of philanthropic development. Mr. Joyce has most recently been Director of Alumni Affairs and Development for nearby Brevard College.

Mr. Joyce is a 2008 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Staying active in his community has been a common theme as Mr. Joyce served as Board Chair for the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce and as President of the Young Professionals of Asheville. When he’s not working, Mr. Joyce can be found whitewater kayaking or mountain biking on local rivers and trails.

Carolyn Lowe-Thompson

Carolyn Lowe-Thompson P’24, P’26 has a background and a drive that make her a natural fit at Christ School.

She is a Math instructor, Cuningham houseparent, and assistant coach with the Greenie cross country and swimming programs. Mrs. Thompson was the valedictorian of her high school, won a NCAA Division III national championship in the 10,000-meter run, and

has taught, coached, or been a houseparent at schools in the Bahamas, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Virginia.

She was one of the founders of the Community School for Arts and Academics in Roanoke, VA, where she worked from 2013 to 2020. Mrs. Thompson has head-coaching experience in cross country, cycling, swimming, and track.

Mrs. Thompson earned her BS in Operations Research from Carnegie Mellon University and then a master’s degree in Education from the University of New Hampshire. She enjoys all outdoor activities, including training for triathlons.

Mrs. Thompson and her husband, History instructor Mark Thompson, have three children –Tyler ’24, Spence ’26, and Kaile.

Jack Peterson

Jack Peterson will be a great asset to the Learning Resources Department given his educational background and experience teaching all age ranges, including at the college level. He joins the Learning Resources department mid-year.

Mr. Peterson describes himself as a creative, collaborative English teaching professional with strong administrative skills and a passion for student success in higher education.

He is the founder of Ao English, an online service that offers tutoring and editing. Mr. Peterson has previously been an instructor at five different colleges, most recently on a part-time basis at Durham Technical College in Durham, NC. He was the Parish Administrator for Durham’s St. Titus’ Episcopal Church from 2021 to 2022.

After receiving his BA in English from Georgia’s Covenant College in 2002, Mr. Peterson studied at the University of Washington where he earned his master’s in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and then Indiana University Pennsylvania, where he received a PhD in Composition and Applied Linguistics.

Mr. Peterson was born in Ohio, but has also lived in Vietnam, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, Washington, and now North Carolina.

Mr. Peterson enjoys writing poetry in his free time and his work has been published a number of times. His wife’s name is Amy and they have two children.

Haley

Dansdill Hartwig

Joyce

Johnson Lowe-Thompson

Daller Peterson

Josh Schwartz

Josh Schwartz bases his coaching philosophy around three E’s (effort, enthusiasm, and execution), which has allowed him to build an impressive resume in lacrosse.

Mr. Schwartz has worked at five different colleges, most recently rising to the rank of Associate Head Coach at Catawba College. Christ School lacrosse is not only bolstered by his coaching expertise – Mr. Schwartz is also a new teacher in the Learning Resource Department.

He graduated from the University of Mount Olive with a BS degree in Exercise Science in 2014, then earned his master’s in College Athletics Administration from Coker College. Mr. Schwartz lives in Greenbrier House with his wife, Katie.

Wenshun Tang

Residing on campus and the daily ebb and flow of boarding school are part of what drew Wenshun Tang to Christ School.

Mr. Tang is a new addition to the World Languages Department with his specialty being Mandarin.

He has spent the last couple years in Wuxi, China, teaching English and before that taught five levels of Mandarin, assisted with admissions, and served as a liaison to international families at Florida Prep Academy.

Mr. Tang received his BA in English from Nanjing Normal University in China and his master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Vermont’s SIT Graduate Institute.

Mr. Tang is excited to be a houseparent in Young House where he will live with his wife, Ying, and he anticipates sharing his love of table tennis with Greenies of all ages.

Mark Thompson

Always eager to keep learning and bettering himself, Mark Thompson P’24, P’26 has been involved in education for three decades, including the past 14 years as an administrator.

He is a new addition to the History Department and has a willingness to pitch in wherever needed with coaching.

Mr. Thompson was formerly Assistant Head of School at The Greenfield School in Wilson,

NC, and prior to that was Head of the Upper School at North Cross (VA) for 12 years. He has also worked at schools in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and New York.

Mr. Thompson received his BA in History from Bates College in 1991 and his master’s in Social Studies Education from Boston University in 1995.

Mr. Thompson describes himself as an avid reader, runner, and hiker. He ran in college and has completed five marathons, a Half Ironman triathlon, and other shorter races.

Mr. Thompson and his wife, Math instructor Carolyn Lowe-Thompson, have three children –Tyler ’24, Spence ’26, and Kaile.

Tracy Weldon

Christ School students can count on Tracy Weldon to be a trusted ally in their college search. Our new Assistant Director of College Guidance says she is inspired by college applicants who take the process seriously and aims to help every boy explore all possibilities, whether the universities are domestic or abroad.

Mrs. Weldon grew up on a small farm just outside Asheville but has spent her last 10 years working as a college counselor at international boarding schools in Leysin, Switzerland, Shanghai, China, and most recently, Jeju Island, Korea. Besides college counseling, she also has experience working in admissions and alumni affairs at a small private liberal arts college. She holds a master’s degree in Higher Education from Harvard University and both a master’s in Creative Writing and a BA in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Mrs. Weldon has long admired the mission and beauty of Christ School. Her first visit to campus was one of her high school cross country races that she remembers fondly.

Outside of school, Mrs. Weldon enjoys traveling, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her daughter and husband.

Akin Williams

Akin Williams has impressed everyone with his energy and enthusiasm in his initial months at Christ School.

He aims to keep campus a formative, but fun place as Assistant Dean of Student Engagement.

Mr. Williams worked last spring as an assistant coach for the Greenies’ state runner-up track team while he was wrapping up his own career at UNC Asheville. Mr. Williams graduated from UNCA with a BS in Health Sciences and a minor in Neuroscience.

Mr. Williams is a houseparent in South Carolina House.

Chelsey Williams

Chelsey Williams describes her passion in education as creating a learning environment where students are encouraged to ask questions, wonder, make mistakes, and explore things in a new way.

Mrs. Williams taught Learning Resources Department this first semester and is taking off the second semester to have a child. She has spent the past seven years teaching in Singapore. She graduated from Liberty University with a BA in Education. Along with a background in incorporating technology and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) into her lesson plans, she has experience coaching basketball and volleyball.

Mrs. Williams lives in Ivy House with her husband, Physics instructor Matthew Williams.

Matthew Williams

No matter where his travels take him, Matthew Williams remains endlessly fascinated with the subject of Physics and connecting science to realworld applications.

Mr. Williams pursued his BA in Physics at Cedarville (OH) University, before going on to earn a master’s degree in Science Education from the University of Dayton. He is quite a world traveler, having visited more than 25 countries. Mr. Williams spent the past five years teaching and coaching at an international school in Singapore. It was there that he met his wife, Chelsey.

Outside of teaching, Mr. Williams enjoys hiking, travel, and spending time with his wife. He lives on campus in Ivy House.

Lauryn Wooding

Along with a temporary new home, the Christ School Bookstore has a new face this year in Lauryn Wooding.

Construction on the Beaver Student Center

has moved the store to the Stolz Dining Hall’s Bradshaw Room for at least part of the 2022-23 school year. Ms. Wooding is assisting Manager Cissy Elmer in day-to-day operations during this transitional time.

Ms. Wooding graduated from Appalachian State University in May with a BS in Psychology. She lives in Arden.

Faculty Professional Development

• Antonio Britto began working on his master’s in English at Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, and Wyatt Long continued in his second year there.

• William Ballenger (AP European History), Jessie Breite (AP English Literature), and James Uhler (AP US History) all served as readers and scorers for the AP exam this past summer.

• Steve Chester (AP Economics), Jack Lynch (AP Environmental), and Will Gordon (AP Language) attended AP Institutes.

• Learning Resources teacher, Julia Delaney, celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary in June with a two-week trip around Andalusia, Spain, visiting Granada, Cordoba, Ronda, Frigiliana, and Seville.

• Michael Karp started (last March) a master’s in Educational Leadership through Moreland University, Washington DC, and will finish March 2023.

• Spenser Simrill is developing a series of four NCAIS virtual classes on topics including “Podcasting 101: How and Why to Bring Podcasting Into Your Classroom” and “The Green Light: Giving Students Voice and Audience through Customized Websites.”

Thompson

Tang

Weldon

M. Williams

Schwartz

Wooding

A. Williams

C. Williams

FINE ARTS

medium TO SING ABOUT — SOMETHING — happy a

Students this semester have been busy at work creating art in many mediums.

by Erin Price

The Fine Arts program at Christ School consists of Art 1, Honors Photography, Honors 3D Sculpture, AP Art History, AP 2D Design, AP Drawing, and AP 3D Design. The curriculum has expanded in many ways in the last couple of years with the recent addition of the Honors programs.

The Honors Photography class and Honors 3D art class are new additions to the arts curriculum. Both classes will provide the next step for students looking to extend their art skills after Art 1.

3D was offered this fall and consisted of pottery hand building, plaster forms, subtractive carving, and woodburning.

The new Honors Photography class will give students the chance to move beyond cellphone snapshots and learn how to operate a DSLR

camera. Students will not only learn how to capture landscape, portrait, still, and moving pictures, but also how to edit and display their works.

Students can choose to select their path in the fine arts to find a passion that best suits them providing freedom in their creative process. Recent alumni are now studying UX Design, Architecture, Photography, Film, and more. n

Thirty-eight voices strong, the Christ School choir is as vibrant as it’s been in decades. Music Director Jim Cassarino attributes this vocal boom to the burgeoning presence of music across campus. “The boys are seeing that the music program is growing, and I think they want to be part of it,” Cassarino said. Many of the seniors who joined choir this fall did so to fulfill an arts requirement, but then quickly discovered a new passion. “A few of them have told me that they regret waiting so long because they’ve enjoyed it,” Cassarino said. It doesn’t hurt that many of the singers are senior leaders and role models for the younger boys. “I’m hoping their involvement in the choir will inspire some of the younger guys to want to be in choir.”

In addition to their size, the choir’s presence can be felt more than ever because they perform on a regular basis in assembly and chapel. “My goal was to have the boys make some kind of appearance every two weeks and we have done that,” Cassarino said. The boys have input into what they sing. “As long as

it’s something that can be adapted for choir,” Cassarino said, “we can sing it.” In addition to liturgical music, they have sung toe-tapping renditions of “California Dreaming” and folk favorites like “Blue Ridge Mountain Blues,” which they performed in an all-school singalong this past fall.

Going forward, Cassarino would like to focus more on outreach within the local community.

“Next semester we plan on performing at Calvary Church in Fletcher and probably doing some kind of evensong or vespers service in the evening,” Cassarino said. Several students are already serving as musical stewards, fostering positive town/gown relationships. Noah Henthorn ’24 sings with Calvary Episcopal Church, Harrison Bieschke ’26 often solos at the Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville, and Noah Graham ’23 is a regular substitute organist at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Asheville and at the Warren Wilson College Chapel. “I want the community to know that we are artistic; we have boys who appreciate aesthetics and I think we are seeing that.” n

Above: Henry Warner ’24 works on a graphite drawing in Studio Art 1.

Right: Kevin Xue ’25 is fitted for a plaster mask in 3D Sculpture class.

This year the choir has performed on a regular basis in chapel and assembly.

MIND BODY SPIRIT &

Put yourself in the shoes of a boy recently enrolled at boarding school. You are nervous to meet people, anxious about the new environment, and right when you begin to settle in, FOMO hits. This “fear of missing out” is triggered by social media posts from your friends back home. You try to stop looking at Snapchat, but your phone notifies you every time your friends post.

WELLNESS AT CHRIST SCHOOL

by Graylyn Loomis ’10

teenagers face; Richard Reeves’ 2022 book Of Boys and Men is one of the most enlightening about males. Among many points, Mr. Reeves explains that boys are underperforming in school and college compared to girls. “Girls are 14 percentage points more likely than boys to be ‘school ready’ at age 5, for example, controlling for parental characteristics,” writes Reeves. He writes that for every 100 bachelor’s degrees awarded to girls, 74 are awarded to boys.

The pandemic exacerbated many of these already alarming trends amongst boys. Christ School’s position as an all-boys school allows us to directly address the increased need for interventions and programming at the school level. “There is a need, perhaps more than ever, to educate our boys about self-care and to help them develop healthy lifestyles,” said Dr. Jenkins.

“The developmental task of the teen is to begin to individualize and develop a separate identity from one’s family,” said Dr. Lisa Garner, Christ School’s Director of Student Counseling and Wellness Programming.

“Teens rely heavily on peer interaction and socialization to refine their ideas about who they are – to develop a sense of self – and rely on social interaction as a powerful stress reliever too. The pandemic significantly diminished peer interactions. Teens are working on catching up now.”

Dr. Lisa Garner, Director of Student Counseling and Wellness Programming, began work at Christ School in August of 2021. Prior to this, Dr. Garner spent more than 20 years living and working in Chicago with a professional practice focused exclusively on work with children, teens, and families in community, school, and residential settings. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified school counselor. Dr. Garner is passionate about helping each Christ School boy grow and develop into the best version of himself. Dr. Garner and her husband, Lee, are proud parents to Lawson, Lily, and Luke ’24.

Operating with the Best Data

At Christ School, recent wellness initiatives started with gathering data. “In late February 2022, our students participated in a comprehensive survey based on eight dimensions of wellness, including physical, occupational, financial, environmental, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual dimensions. This anonymous survey, completed by 273 Greenies, generated valuable data for our Wellness Programming Committee (WPC) to analyze throughout the spring and summer,” said Dr. Jenkins.

The survey results were a reminder of the many challenges that teens face daily – concerns about self-image, confidence, and fitting in – that are universal and timeless. “That’s all the normal stuff,” said Dr. Garner. “But, when you add in the stress and conditions of the pandemic, our survey uncovered significant emotional and mental health challenges as well.”

“Data showed us that the boys have a range of preferred coping strategies, encompassing both healthy and unhealthy habits. Listening to music, exercise, sleeping, and watching TV or movies are popular strategies. Unfortunately, we also noticed the endorsement of some unhealthy strategies, including excessive gaming and social media use, substance use, gambling, and pornography.”

Technology and social media use rose to the top of concerns for our boys according to their

“Across the country – before COVID 19 and exacerbated by two years of lockdowns and social distancing – adolescents report feeling increased stress, including high levels of anxiety, loneliness, and depression.”

What Changes Are We Making?

Knowledge is power - Throughout the year, students participate in form-based programming (speakers, group discussions, and activities) designed to help students identify and develop habits that enhance self-awareness, healthy relationships, mental health/positive coping, and physical health.

Food for thought - In the Wellness Survey, more than 50% of all boarding students reported eating breakfast two or fewer times per week, and 60% of day students reported never eating breakfast. Knowing the importance of eating well for energy, engagement, and academic performance, the school now requires all boarding students to attend breakfast. Starting this year, boys also have healthy food options available for them after evening study hall in Stolz Hall. The “4th Meal” arose from to the combination of our boys being hungry after study hall and the Student Center snack bar being offline for renovations. “We wanted to provide the guys with food that they could grab after study hall,” said Director of Campus Life, Benjie Colberg, “in hopes of offering healthier options than some of the snacks that they tended to eat in the past.” In addition to a healthy eating option after study hall, the 4th Meal is an opportunity for the boys to come together in community, giving them something to look forward to after study hall on

weeknights. They leave their dorms, converging on Stolz, to discover the surprise 4th Meal option that evening. Sage Dining does a great job of switching the options nightly while providing tasty, healthy choices.

survey answers. The concerns included amount of time spent on social media, effects of social media on self-image and self-confidence, use of pornography, and effects on relationships.

With guidance from Dr. Garner, the WPC identified three areas of focus – 1. technology use; 2. emotional well-being and belonging; and 3. physical health – and developed actionable health and wellness recommendations to address these opportunities.

The value of time - The daily class and evening residential schedules were changed for the 2022-23 year based on feedback from students, faculty, and staff. The location and structure of evening-supported study hall also changed to ensure students have an expert in each academic department available to them during that time. Historically, Christ School evenings had operated on an “In Room and Lights Out” timeframe, where the first time the boys had

to be in their dorm was at In Rooms, and fifteen minutes later they were expected to fall sleep. We shifted our evening model to have an “In Dorm” check in at 10:00 p.m., with “In Rooms” at 10:30 and lights out at 10:45, thus giving the boys more time to wind down with their dorm mates. In addition to improved sleep patterns, house parents have observed an improvement in the boys’ jobs and room inspections.

Building connection - Many students enjoy playing video games to decompress and interact with friends online; games can be a fun, healthy part of boys’ lives. However, excessive gaming can compromise students’ well-being and their connection with our community.

—Dr. Sean Jenkins, Head of School

We’ve adjusted our gaming policies to limit time spent playing video games to specific times on the weekends.

The Social Institute - “We decided to partner with The Social Institute (TSI) this year,” said Dr. Garner. TSI is a gamified, proactive, systematic, and sustainable approach to promote positive decision making and student well-being. TSI gives students, parents, and advisors tools to discuss technology use, social media use, and more. The goal is to develop high-character decision making on online platforms, equip families and faculty with resources to inform healthy tech standards, and foster connection between students and faculty. Advisory groups began using TSI this fall, and students have had lessons about recognizing the science behind screen time and social media, building habits to enhance peak performance under pressure, understanding and mastering the mind and body’s response

to stress, and examining how outside pressures lead us to define ourselves on social media.

Looking Ahead

In some ways, Christ School has been doing this work for 123 years. In other ways, we’re just getting started. As the school looks ahead, each year will require changes and new strategies to address wellness in an ever-changing landscape. There are ongoing improvements to the physical plant like the $2m+ renovation of the Patrick Beaver Student Center and a rethinking of how we use spaces like Stolz Hall. We will continue gathering data from our students and young alumni to inform our decisions. Our educational programs and wellness policies we’ve put in place will change and adapt with each subsequent school year. There is no finish line in the world of health and wellness. The work continues and like all Greenies, we strive to become better and better. n

A SWEET GESTURE

Elliott Stay ’27, a new 8th grader, was following a suggestion from his dad, Steve Stay P’27, Executive Assistant to the Head and Registrar, when he started baking and handing out cookies this past fall. “My dad said, ‘to help you get to know people, why don’t you make cookies?’” What began as a goodwill gesture has evolved into a weekly tradition during Monday assembly, one that the whole community eagerly anticipates with a drumroll as Elliott calls out the names of that week’s 12 lucky recipients. Elliott’s weekly list is generated randomly, but his cookies are a labor of love. “I do enjoy it, but I’m not a professional,” Elliott said. Each Sunday he works on a new batch, drawing inspiration from cookbooks borrowed from the library. He takes into account food allergies

and tries a new recipe each week, which can sometimes make for a stressful Sunday. “This week it was s’mores squares with graham cracker crust, chocolate fudge, and homemade marshmallow fluff,” said Elliott. “I was close to crying; the fudge burnt to the bottom of the pan, I had to smash the crust into the pan with my fist and that hurt, and the marshmallow fluff was a whole ordeal. My mom had to help with that.”

So far, Elliott has made well over 150 cookies, and sweetened the day for that many classmates. Cookies aren’t necessary to forge friendships among Greenie brothers, but they sure don’t hurt. “It can be a lot of work, but I enjoy doing it,” Elliott said. “I hope to continue baking cookies next year.” n

Elliott Stay ’27 and some happy cookie recipients.

FIGHTING MIS/ DISINFORMATION

Through Cutting-edge Media Literacy

Last spring, Ed Roberts ’61 decided it was time to address the problem of mis/ disinformation in social media. As an alumnus of both Christ School and the University of South Carolina (Ed graduated from USC in 1964 with a degree in International Studies), he proposed a partnership between these institutions to understand and combat this insidious issue.

by Olga P. Mahoney P’20

The collaboration Roberts envisioned is well underway. Christ School hosted a mis/ disinformation consultation meeting in June where media literacy, tracking mis/ disinformation, and advocating for effective policy on social media platforms took center stage. USC visitors Dr. Tom Reichert, Dean of College of Information and Communications, Randy Covington, Director of Special Projects in the College of Information and Communications, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Joel H. Samuels, attended the meeting.

With momentum from that summer meeting, USC hosted a group of Christ School students in October. Along with faculty members Emily Pulsifer P’15, P’17 and Olga Mahoney P’20, the students toured the amazing Social Media Insights Lab where Randy Covington and his colleagues demonstrated how the latest

to monitor and act on false content. Faculty are also beneficiaries of this project. Mrs. Mahoney attended “Science Rising Train the Trainer” hosted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and shared information on literacy strategies at a faculty workshop in January. In this session, teachers learned new tools for cutting-edge media literacy instruction. Strategies such as lateral reading, algorithm analysis, effective Boolean searches, and critical evaluation of media reports of scientific issues will help students develop the skills needed to distinguish between evidence-based information, pseudoscience, misinformation, disinformation, and entertaining material. For faculty, passing

along these critical tools will offer another opportunity to fulfill the school’s mission to “produce educated men of good character prepared for both scholastic achievement in college and productive citizenship in adult society.”

Christ School is blessed by the vision, energy, and direction of Ed Roberts and his brilliant wife, Pat, who shares his passion for this project. We are incredibly fortunate to have these dedicated philanthropists spearhead an initiative designed to address an urgent problem affecting so many areas of our civic responsibilities. n

technology is employed to spot and track the flow of information on social media. This was a remarkable opportunity to learn in real-time how information spreads, how it can be tracked, and, most importantly, how to analyze it. This initiative is finding its way into Christ School classrooms as well. In her Honors Applied Ethics course, Mrs. Mahoney’s students watched “After-Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News,” a 2020 documentary that explores the ongoing threat of “fake news” in the US. The film prompted students to consider the real-life consequences that disinformation, conspiracy theories, and deceptive news stories have on average citizens. Students then held a debate: “Resolved: That Social Media Platforms Must Monitor Content.” The affirmative side won by demonstrating that internet giants such as Meta have exacerbated the problem by refusing

Above Left: Students visit USC's Insights Lab. Right: Jackson Knoll ’23 makes the case for content regulation by media platforms in a debate in Honors Applied Ethics. Bottom: Ms. Pulsifer and Ms. Mahoney with students who visited USC’s Media Insights Lab for the Enrichment, “AI and Social Media: Cutting Edge Technology where you are the Researcher.”

“Offering a meal to someone experiencing poverty has shown me that even small gestures can make a big difference to people in need,” Henry said. “I designed the white hat ‘Sandwich Squad,’ as an incentive for our volunteers and it has become a symbol of hard work and service of our group.” The Squad has met several times to learn about homelessness. They then set about making sandwiches and writing encouraging notes which they handed out, in person, in downtown Asheville.

GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP LEADS TO NEW SERVICE LEARNING INITIATIVE

In February 2022, Olga Mahoney P’20, Director of Service Learning, gathered student leaders for a grant writing workshop to help them pursue future philanthropic projects.

In April, some exciting news arrived for one of the participants, Henry Nicholls ’23: “Congratulations! You have been selected to receive a 2022 $250 Standard-Size Hershey Heartwarming Young Hero Grant to engage youth as volunteers in the Global Youth Service Day ‘Sandwiches for Hope: Providing Sandwiches to the Homeless Population of Asheville’ project.”

Henry’s hard work and effort spent rewriting his application to get the budget, goals and outcomes just right had paid off. And so, with a charter and funding in hand, Henry created the “Sandwich Squad” – a group of students and faculty dedicated to helping the homeless in Asheville by making and distributing sandwiches.

By learning about food insecurity and homelessness, participants were able to understand and empathize with the grateful people they served. And while their efforts won’t solve the problem, Henry noted, “we could really tell that we were making a difference.”

The time spent making and distributing the sandwiches allowed the boys to connect with homelessness on a deeper level and forged relationships with community partners that will allow the continued growth of the project. n

’23, Vovi Lagutin ’23, Jake Liss ’24, Jonathan Chen ’23, Campbell Vernon ’23, Mrs. Mahoney, Matthew Sorrells ’23, Ben Fedder

DIGNITY OF MANUAL LABOR

the fourth pillar

Henry Nicholls ’23 and Spence Thompson ’26 carefully spread the peanut butter.

Back Row: John Barton ’25, Phillip Lopez ’23, Guest of Jackson Knoll, Jackson Knoll ’23, Anthony Robinson ’23, Jaron Richardson ’23, Kahzi Sealey ’23 , Dylan Lindsey ’23, Peter Roberts ’23. Front Row: Mr. Will Gordon, John Jaber ’25, Joe Gilliam ’25, Briggs Kroeger ’24, Brian Sheridan ’23, Henry Nicholls

’24.

by Olga P. Mahoney P’20

Head of US Episcopal Church

VISITS CHRIST SCHOOL

by Andrew Pearson

Many luminaries have visited Christ School in its 122-year history. Congressmen and senators with influence in Washington, artists at the top of their craft, and athletes who went on to become household names.

Speaking of, it’s a little-known fact among the boys today that NBA legend Steph Curry once played basketball against the Greenies in Mebane Field House. And it was Curry who was name-checked to introduce a special afternoon appearance by “The Steph Curry of the Church” – Michael Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church. Bishop Curry was in Asheville in November to help the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina celebrate its 100th anniversary. He sat at the front of St. Joseph’s Chapel for an hour-long question and answer session with Christ School students and faculty, moderated by Father John Roberts and the Rt. Rev. José A. McLoughlin.

“What a blessing to be with this community,” Bishop Curry said.

“I was a school chaplain many years ago now and I know what a remarkable time this is for you that will live with you for the rest of your lives. I just pray God’s blessing on each one of you that your dreams will be true and that you will bless God’s dream for the entire world. It’s just a joy to be here with you.”

Bishop McLoughlin presides over the Episcopal Diocese of WNC and is part of Christ School’s Board of Trustees. He said it was “a pleasure and a privilege” to have Bishop Curry visit the area.

Born in Chicago in 1953, Bishop Curry has been an ordained priest since 1978 and was elected to a nine-year term as Presiding Bishop and Primate in 2015. He has authored five books and is a regular guest on national and international media programs. He became the first American to preach at a British royal wedding when he gave a sermon at the 2018 nuptials for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Bishop Curry returned to campus on Sunday to preach to over 700 guests at a revival service inside Mebane Field House. n

The Jenkins and a group of Greenies hosted Bishop Curry after chapel.

Bishop Curry and Rt. Rev. José McLaughlin sat at the front of St Joseph's Chapel for an hour-long question and answer session.

YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION

The first time Kennedy Achugamonu ’23 stepped onto campus was the day he moved into his dorm. That nerve-wracking drive down Christ School Road still makes him shudder. Because he arrived on campus after the start of school, he likens that first week to jumping into a moving river.

Kennedy first discovered Christ School through a video he watched about a Greenie basketball player. Something about the school stuck in his mind. “In 9th grade I wasn’t very happy with my school, so I started looking at other options and had Christ School in the back of my head from that video,” he said. “I looked at the website and found the application – I had never done anything like that before – but I submitted my application. It was the middle of the pandemic, so I didn’t visit or anything.” Kennedy took a leap of faith and left his home in Arlington, VA, for 500 acres in Arden. His mid-year transition to Christ School

amid COVID-19 protocols was challenging, but Kennedy quickly set about making his mark on the community. Now, as a senior, he is the Prefect in South Carolina House, a student leader in the Alliance, and the president of the Black Student Union.

“It’s funny because throughout my life I’ve always been the one friend who could communicate kids’ desires to adults. That has helped me in leadership roles where I’m an intermediary between students and faculty.” That ability to bridge the gaps has made Kennedy a model student and role model for his fellow Greenies.

In the classroom, he leads by example in part by urging the school to offer more classes in engineering and computer science. “I’ve taken AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science at Christ School. This past summer I learned the coding language Python,” he said. He spent the summer after his junior year working with an organization that helps teach elementary and middle schoolers to code.

“Christ School can offer a curriculum beyond the textbook. If we had more courses that were hands-on with coding and engineering, it would be amazing.”

When you speak with Kennedy, a common theme emerges: when a proverbial door opens, he walks right through it. “My parents always tell me to capitalize on opportunities now, because you don’t know if they’ll ever come back,” he said. To a greater degree than most teenagers, Kennedy has watched his parents make sacrifices to provide his family with opportunities. He, in turn, has worked his hardest at Christ School to take those opportunities and run. Kennedy’s dream is to attend a top university to major in Business and Computer Science. If his track record at Christ School is anything to go by, he’ll have more open doors in front of him than he could have ever imagined. n

As with so many students who entered high school around 2020, Rhodes Feild’s ’23 teenage trajectory was changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Near the beginning of the pandemic, Rhodes found himself in a situation that unexpectedly pushed him toward Christ School.

“I was kayaking during COVID and in that group was Havilah Cooper’s ’23 mom,” said Rhodes. “When I found out that that Havilah was at Christ School, we started to do some research. I wanted something different than my old school and remote learning; attending Christ School meant that I could learn in person.”

Rhodes attended his previous school in his hometown of Greenville, SC, his whole life, but he decided it was time to make a change. “The transition was really tough with all of the social distancing,” he said. Fortunately, that initial transition became easier and easier as pandemic restrictions eased and Rhodes began to create his path at Christ School.

At Christ School, Rhodes has participated in many different programs, but he’s found a passion in rock climbing. “Climbing has been a recent interest that the school has let me find,” said Rhodes. “For years I did cross country and track, but I moved over to climbing this past year, which has been really fun; climbing is always a challenge.”

As you talk to Rhodes, you realize that finding a challenge is a common thread in his pursuits. When he graduates, he will have exhausted every math and science offering at the school. He has gone beyond the standard math curriculum and is taking Linear Algebra this year with Dr. Houston. Rhodes’ academic passion lies in the STEM fields and his excitement about math, science, and engineering is palpable.

“Engineering – maybe more chemical engineering or even just chemistry – is where I’m leaning,” he said when asked about his plans for college. “Dr. Harris is my advisor. I’ve done every science offered at Christ School but saved chemistry for senior year; it has been my favorite class by far.”

Rhodes’ ethos toward school, extracurriculars, and life in general is to choose the most demanding path. “If I fail, that’s okay, but if I don’t challenge myself, I’ll never know if I could have done it,” he said. “Last year I took the hardest course load of my life. I overreached a little and it took me down a little bit, but I’m much happier that I went for it than if I didn’t. The takeaway was to learn to know when you are failing. If you keep telling yourself that you’re ‘good’ it can become more problematic the longer it goes.”

That mature insight and perspective is typical of what you find in the understated Rhodes Feild. Regardless of where he goes in life, he will always hold himself to the highest standards. n

RHODES FEILD ’23

YEAR: SENIOR

HOMETOWN: GREENVILLE, SC.

KENNEDY ACHUGAMONU ’23

YEAR: SENIOR

HOMETOWN: ARLINGTON, VA.

If you wear Greenie gear to nearly any local golf course, you’re likely to get asked, “Do you know Jamal Hutchison? He plays for you guys, right?”

Those golfers may know Jamal as a winner of junior tournaments, but more than likely, they also know him as the guy who practices for hours, regardless of whether it’s raining, scorching hot, or blisteringly cold.

“I get that work ethic from my dad,” explained Jamal. “Dad talks about how he wouldn’t leave the basketball court for twelve hours when he was growing up. I know that’s what I need to do if I want to make it.”

“Jamal carries himself with a quiet confidence that only comes from putting in countless hours of practice,” said Christ School varsity golf coach Graylyn Loomis ’10. “He has both a drive and commitment that are exceedingly rare.”

Jamal’s hard work began to really pay off this past summer. He consistently finished near the top of golf tournaments, culminating in a victory at the Skyview Golf Tournament at the Asheville Golf Course. The Skyview, which was founded 1960 as an African American event and

integrated shortly after, has grown over the years and now draws players from across the southeast for its professional and amateur divisions. Jamal, who grew up attending Skyview each year, shot 68-73-69 for a winning score of six under par with his parents proudly watching on, as they do in nearly all of his tournaments.

Jamal’s success has attracted a lot of attention. He recently committed to play golf at North Carolina Central University where he plans to major in business. Beyond college, Jamal also caught the attention of professional golfer Harold Varner III. Varner chose Jamal to be the keynote speaker at his foundation’s gala dinner last year at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club. Varner, who has become a mentor and friend to Jamal, will undoubtedly be a resource for Jamal as he chases his goal of playing professional golf. At Christ School, Jamal radiates quiet confidence as an Admission Liaison where he meets with and tours prospective families around campus. He recognizes his younger self in the prospective boys. “I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect when I toured campus for the first time and I can see that now in them,” he said. Jamal credits his advisor, Mr. Britto, for helping him learn the ropes at school. “Mr. Britto and I both came to Christ School at the same time. We were both new and it was fun getting acquainted with everything at the same time.”

Jamal approaches most things in life with a motto that he and his father have shared since Jamal was young. “You can always make par,” explained Jamal. “It’s true in golf and life. You can hit three bad shots and one good shot to make a par. Even if things are going badly in your life, it only takes one good thing to turn it around.” n

Henry Lytle ’23 has a voice that most Greenie fans would recognize. For the past four years, he has had a consistent presence as a commentator in Christ School Broadcast Network (CSBN) live streams of Greenie athletic games.

Henry’s love for broadcasting started early during his time at Christ School. “Since I was little, I wanted to be in front of the camera and part of the action,” said Henry. “Broadcasting at Christ School was one reason that I wanted to come here. My experience with CSBN has inspired me to pursue broadcasting in a professional setting.”

Henry found that professional setting during an internship this past summer in Hawaii. After seeing an online advertisement for an internship at a news station in Maui, Henry applied and was accepted. Once he solved the puzzle of finding housing in a state 4,510 miles away, he arrived and loved every second. “I learned about being in front of the camera, as well as what it takes to run the business from the management side,” Henry said. “On my off days I hiked volcanoes or surfed in the ocean.” Henry took that experience in Hawaii back to Christ School for his senior year, where he has worked with CSBN on broadcasts or runs the PA at games.

Hawaii isn’t the only far-off place that Henry’s interests have taken him. The fall of his sophomore year he did a semester school program in Idaho with the Alzar School. “It’s an outdoor leadership school,” he explained. “You’re in school for a month before a two-week expedition in Idaho. We then did another two-week expedition in the Oregon desert. We got lost on that trip and I was leading it.” The leadership skills that Henry developed during that semester fueled a service project he launched upon his return: gathering winter clothing for a local homeless shelter.

Henry, who is the Christ School Sacristan, finds that helping those in need aligns with his faith. “I help bridge the gap between the chapel program and the students,” he said. “I ring the Angelus Bell and read the prayers, but I also help with Fellowship and Bible studies.” Recently Henry gave a sermon during a student-led eucharist chapel where he preached about living virtuously, helping others, and forgiveness.

During his time at Christ School, Henry has participated in baseball, mountain biking, kayaking, strength training, and CSBN. An Eagle Scout, Henry seems to always be looking for the next goal or challenge. n

JAMAL HUTCHISON ’23

YEAR: SENIOR HOMETOWN: FLETCHER, NC

HENRY LYTLE ’23

YEAR: SENIOR HOMETOWN: ASHEVILLE, NC

YEAR: SENIOR HOMETOWN: RALEIGH, NC

Because of the level of respect that Jack Shimer ’23 has earned from students and faculty alike, it’s hard to believe that he has only graced our campus for two years. When his advisor, Jameel Brenneman, introduced him for his senior speech, he said “Jack established himself as an ideal Greenie not after a year or even a few months, but within weeks.”

At the end of his first year at Christ School, Jack was named Prefect in Gardner House. He was then voted Head Prefect by his peers. That first year at Christ School didn’t start smoothly, though. Jack arrived for early football and almost immediately broke his arm. His first season was spent largely on the bench or filming practice and games. Despite that, Jack said that first season as a Greenie, “made me completely fall in love again with football. My goal now is to play in college.”

Jack credits part of his early success at Christ School to a senior mentor. “I was striving to get a senior leadership position because of Charlie Bednar ’22. He was the Prefect in Gardner House, and he was a great role model and a great leader. Charlie helped me as a new student to delve in and become a Greenie. I wanted to follow in his footsteps.” When asked about paying that mentorship forward, Jack recognizes the underclassmen that look up to him. “I love being a role model for younger guys on campus.”

Jack discovered Christ School through his friend and fellow Raleigh native Bill Young ’23. “He spoke very highly of Christ School,” said Jack. “I took a tour and immediately knew this was the place for me.”

When Jack thinks ahead to college, he sees himself somewhere that he can find a closeknit community like Christ School. Denison University is a top choice, but he’s open to a number of different schools where he hopes to play football. Wherever he enrolls in college, he will apply his life philosophy to whatever he pursues: “I’m determined, driven, and disciplined enough to keep doing the right thing every day,” he said.

In his senior speech, he acknowledged others who have helped him at Christ School. “The people here are what make this place so special. The teachers, coaches, and faculty members preserve what it means to be a Christ School man. They want you to succeed.” n

Christ School varsity football coach Chad Walker believes that his team’s 2022 season can be best defined by one word: resiliency.

Early-season losses in the closing minutes or overtime built the character and fight of a Greenie team that ultimately finished its season with an appearance in the NCISAA Division I state semifinals.

Led by senior co-captains Tray Mauney ’23, Jack Shimer ’23, and Zack Myers ’23, the Greenies didn’t allow widespread injuries or sickness to stop them from ending the regular season with an impressive 11th straight victory over eventual NCISAA Division II state champion Asheville School.

The quarterfinals of the state playoffs proved a giant test for the Greenies as they traveled to Charlotte Latin missing 16 players. It was a match that is referred to on campus as “The Flu Game.” The Greenies battled back from an early deficit to avenge an opening-week loss and win 36-35 in overtime.

Offensively, this year’s team had several new and young faces contribute early and often with

tight end Matthew Pethel ’23, running back Kaden Brown ’24, wide receiver Khalil Conley ’24, wide receiver Brewer Nitcher ’25, athlete Morlue Eesiah ’24, and offensive lineman Luke Anderson ’25 among many others making their mark as a unit that averaged over 300 yards a game.

The Christ School defense was led by all-state selections in linebacker Cayden Jones ’24, defensive end Josh Harrison ’24, and safety Zack Myers ’23. Throughout the season, newcomers to the defense in defensive lineman Eythan Serrano ’25 and defensive back Vincent Lytle ’24 contributed to the solid play of veterans JoVaughn Hudson ’23, Cooper Perone ’24, Jack Shimer ’23, and Quinton Cancel ’23.

The Greenies defense finished the year with 85 tackles for a loss, 47 sacks, and 17 forced turnovers (interceptions and fumbles).

As of December, four players had committed to play college football – Zack (NC State University), Tray (Lafayette College), Quinton (Davidson College), and Tom Tang ’23 (Oberlin College). n

FOOTBALL

Coaches:

Chad Walker

Antonio Britto

Chris Daller

Pat Dansdill

Mike Freeman

George Johnson

Randy Lytle

Scott Perone

Captains:

Zack Myers ’23

Tray Mauney ’23

Jack Shimer ’23

All-Conference:

Khalil Conley ’24

Tray Mauney ’23

Dylan Lindsey ’23

Josh Harrison ’24

Cayden Jones ’24

Zack Myers ’23

Quinton Cancel ’23

All-State:

Cayden Jones ’24

Josh Harrison ’24

Zack Myers ’23

Despite a number of injuries to key personnel and a late-season bout with sickness, the Greenies (6-6) defeated Asheville School for the 11th consecutive season and reached the second round of the NCISAA Division state playoffs following an upset of Charlotte Latin.

JACK SHIMER ’23

YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION

SOCCER under the lights

Coaches:

Guy Campbell ’00 P’24 P’26

Jeremy Jordan P’26

Jameel Brenneman

Benjie Colberg

Captains:

Reeves Cates ’24

Jackson Knoll ’23

Ethan Rose ’24

Brendan Regan ’24

All-Conference:

Brendan Regan ’24

Carter Compton ’24

Truett Compton ’25

All-State:

Carter Compton ’24

The Christ School varsity soccer team went 1110 this fall and lost in the second round of the NCISAA 4-A state tournament. The Greenies were the runner-up in the Carolinas Athletic Association with eight of their 10 losses coming by either a single goal or by penalty kicks after a scoreless overtime.

“The 2022 schedule tested us every game,”

Coach Guy Campbell ’00 P’24, P’26 said. The Greenies played a difficult schedule, but still outscored their opponents, 38-30, with 11 different individuals scoring goals.

Wells Edwards ’25 led the team in goals (nine). The Greenies were led in assists by Jaron Richardson ’23, Jackson Knoll ’23, Truett Compton ’25, and Bradley Campbell ’24, each finishing the year with four assists. Ben Yang ’24 led the team in saves (155), which is 7.8 saves per game, and had seven shutouts.

The Greenies will lose four seniors to graduation – Jackson, Jaron, Jonathan Chen ’23, and Max Hartwig ’23.

Jaron, Jonathan, and Max played two years of varsity for the Greenies, with a combined 20

wins. Jackson has been a four-year varsity player and been part of 30 wins in his career at Christ School.

“This group will be remembered for the impact they have had on our culture within our program and throughout the school,” Coach Campbell said.

“They have contributed as much to our young players off the field as they have on it.”

“The 2022 Team played the game the right way and we reestablished us as a top team in North Carolina,” Coach Campbell said.

“The coaches see a tremendous opportunity for the Greenies for years to come. This senior class helped cement our identity as a team on and off the field. The foundation for us is set for next year. Our successes in the future will be directly attributed to the class of 2023. We played very good teams this year and won some big games. Beating (High Point Wesleyan Christian Academy) at their place, in front of 2,000 fans, pretty much sums up where we are as a program right now. We can beat anyone, anywhere, and we know it.” n

CROSS COUNTRY STATE

CHAMPIONS

The 2022 Christ School cross country season was a strong success. The team opened the season finishing second out of 50 schools at the Eye-Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, SC. This meet was followed by a strong performance at the ultra-competitive Adidas Invitational, where the boys finished sixth overall, just 15 points from third place.

The squad was led by the 2022 North Carolina Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year, Rocky Hansen ’23. Rocky set four course records this fall, two meet records, and his 14:20.90 run at the Alexander/Asics Invitational in Georgia is the all-time, allclassifications record for North Carolina boys runners.

Dawson Reeves ’24, Kahzi Sealey ’23, Eyob Gill ’24, and Dallas Reeves ’27 had strong seasons as well.

The Greenies successfully defended their NCISAA 4-A state championship on Oct. 28 at Hagan-Stone Park in Greensboro, NC, with a dominant performance.

Rocky repeated as the individual winner as well, with his fifth individual state title in NCISAA track and cross country. Dawson came in second place, while Eyob and Kahzi finished seventh and ninth, respectively, setting strong personal records and make the all-state team.

Luke Parrish ’24, Will Peeler ’23, and Dallas also set personal records to bolster the strong team win. n

Coaches:

Randy Ashley

Carolyn Lowe-Thompson P’24 P’26

Mark Thompson P’24, P’26

All-Conference:

Rocky Hansen ’23

Dawson Reeves ’24

Kahzi Sealey ’23

Eyob Gill ’24

Dallas Reeves ’27

Luke Parrish ’24

Will Peeler ’23

All-State:

Rocky Hansen ’23

Dawson Reeves ’24

Eyob Gibb ’24

Kahzi Sealey ’23

Right:

and

Above: Jackson Knoll '23 was one of four team captains for the Greenie soccer team. The Greenies (11-10) were the runnerup team in the Carolinas Athletic Association and advanced to the second round of the NCISAA 4-A state playoffs.

Above: The Greenies repeated as NCISAA 4-A state champions and were analytically the fastest team in North Carolina this fall, private and public schools combined.

Rocky Hansen '23 and Dawson Reeves '24 were consistently the top-two runners for Christ School and came in first

second place, respectively, at the NCISAA 4-A state meet in October.

ASHEVILLE SCHOOL WEEK

The eagerly anticipated week began with Monday’s Senior Assembly in which the seniors did their best impressions of the faculty. On Tuesday, students’ alarm clocks were supplanted by a Mariachi band roving the dorms and Dr. Jenkins and his family woke up to toilet paper in the trees of Boxwood House. Later in the week there were costumes and sing-a-longs with the choir and string musicians to “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “Blue Ridge Mountain Blues.” The energy was off the charts for the annual Senior-Faculty basketball game; the faculty led most of the game and pulled away in the final quarter for 48-41 win. More treasured memories were made at the Bonfire. Saturday’s win by Greenie football set the mood perfectly for the Halloween party that evening. We were honored to host St. Mary’s School for a celebratory night full of dancing and costumes.

>4,018

Late Comeback Extends Greenies’ Streak to Record Number of Days

by Andrew Pearson

Energized by a huge home crowd, the Greenies rallied for 11 unanswered fourth-quarter points – with 11 being the magic number – to keep the trophy for a series record 11th straight year with their 18-9 comeback win over Asheville School.

Tray Mauney ’23 ran for the go-ahead touchdown from 2 yards out with 11:30 to play. Five minutes later, fellow senior Matthew Hammel ’23 got just enough leg into a career-high 41-yard field goal.

The defense had its back against the wall all afternoon in terms of field position. But the group held the Blues (6-3) scoreless for the game’s final 17 minutes, aided by interceptions from Ashton Parker ’24 and JoVaughn Hudson ’23. Up until then, a banged-up Christ School (5-5) team which lost multiple starters early in the season was in real danger of losing to Asheville School for the first time since 2011.

“The next man up philosophy is something we’ve talked about all year, and it wasn’t something we’ve had to put into fruition until late in the season and again this week,” Coach Chad Walker said.

“This is a resilient group that can bounce back. We talk about them playing for each other and they showed it today. I’m proud of the seniors that they could go out as winners in their final home game and just happy overall for our young men.”

Asheville School scored first, aided by a Greenie miscue – a high snap sailed over the head of punter Seth Shuler ’23 in the first quarter – and the fumble was recovered on the Greenie 2-yard line. Later on, the Blues took a 9-7 lead into the fourth quarter after getting a 25-yard field goal with 6:49 to go in the third.

Tray and the offense drove 72 yards on the ensuing drive, spread out over the third and fourth quarters. Sophomore Jackson Cancel ’25 gave the Greenies some valuable rushing yards and Calvin Williams ’24 ran in the 2-point conversion after Tray’s quarterback keeper. Christ School’s first touchdown was a 13-yard pass from Tray to Brewer Nitcher ’25 with 5:20 to go in the first quarter.

“I didn’t want to lose my senior year. To be that team, the captain and leader of this team, and lose this game,” Tray said. “So, knew we were going to do everything we could to win this game and we did.”

Matthew made his only extra-point attempt without a problem Saturday. The field goal was another story. The senior from Clyde, NC, thought he might have come up short when the ball left his right foot, out of an excellent hold by Jakob Iwanek ’24. But the kick managed to just sneak over the crossbar of the goalpost that sits in front of Pingree Auditorium. “This win means a lot. We came into this game knowing this was the last home game for the seniors. We had a lot of players step up and put their bodies on the line,” Matthew said. “(Asheville School) came in with a good record and a lot of momentum. Our defense was able step up and shut it down.”

This year’s game was the 96th meeting between the two oldest high school football rivals in the Carolinas. Asheville School now leads the all-time series, 50-42-4, but Christ School has a 30-20-2 edge in games played since 1971. That was the year the Fayssoux-Arbogast Trophy was introduced as the prize that goes annually to the winning team.

The Christ School Broadcast Network livestream of the game included regular announcer Henry Stuart ’24 as well as color commentary from Blues student Paul Russell.

SOME GREENIE WAS INDUSTRIOUS ENOUGH TO CALCULATE HOW MANY DAYS THE FAYSSOUX-ARBOGAST TROPHY HAS BEEN IN CHRIST SCHOOL’S POSSESSION. NATURALLY, THE NEXT STEP WAS TO WRITE THE NUMBER (4,018) ON A BANNER HANGING FROM THE YOUNG HOUSE DORM FOR ALL TO SEE DURING THE GAME. TACK ON ANOTHER 365 DAYS.

ASHEVILLE SCHOOL WEEK

Left to Right: Mrs. Sarah Fox P’25 finds a quiet spot at the Parent Council Tailgate; Mr. Edward Mercer P’26 adjusts son, Alex's tie; Noah Henthorn ’24 prepares to sing the National Anthem before The Game; the Greenies celebrate their first TD; Kennedy Achugamonu ’23 charges through the faculty defense at the Senior Faculty Basketball Game; Rhodes Feild ’23 begins the Noland House skit at the Bonfire; Mr. Daller takes a dive during the Senior Faculty Basketball Game; Sam Ludington ’23 escorts his mom to the Tailgate; Mrs. Emily West P’25 and and Mrs. Kristea Cancel P’23, P’25 enjoy the Sage Dining barbecue lunch; Mr. Mohney P’23 gets in some class prep during a quiet moment during Asheville School Week; QB Tray Mauney ’23 carries the ball; Mrs. Marcella Marie Carter P’26 arrives for Parent Conferences.

“The Green Race” kind of sounds like an event tailor-made for a couple kayakers from Christ School, doesn’t it?

Rainy weather didn’t hamper the November 5 performance by Chapin Mohney ’23, who paddled to a third-place finish in the Junior division (4:24.05), or Assistant Dean of Students/ Outdoor Program coach Wesley Shelmire, who was sixth in the Men's division (4:19.83).

Chapin is the son of Math instructor/ Outdoor Program Director Mike Mohney P’23 and school nurse Deidra Mohney P’23.

Mr. Shelmire built the kayak that he paddled, a process that took about three months. He got the permission of local company Liquidlogic to use its “Stinger” design for a boat constructed mostly out of Carbon Kevlar fabric and two-part epoxy. There was also some fiberglass on the outer layer and on the cockpit rim, and a little wood on the interior for more support under the seat.

Christ School Kayakers Place at 27th Annual Green Race

Pink and Greenie All-Star Weekend — Guaranteed to be a home run!

MOTHER & SON —WEEKEND

Greenie Moms, mark your calendars for Mother Son Weekend on April 21-22. More details and a full schedule of events to follow.

Now in its 27th year, The Green Race is billed as “the largest extreme kayak race in the world” and takes place the first Saturday of every November on a 2.9-mile section of the Green River in Henderson County, NC, and Polk County, NC. There were 164 total paddlers in this year’s race. n

Events include: Cocktail Welcome, Mignonne Gavigan Trunk Show, Amazing Race, optional Saturday night Asheville Tourists game

by Andrew Pearson

Dear Greenies,

As a mother of a current Greenie, the transformational power of Christ School is always in sight, literally right across the table from me at breakfast and dinner. It is overwhelming to witness and reflect on the thousands of boys whose lives have been touched by this special place. As an employee, I am acutely aware that our boys’ growth does not happen in a vacuum. Instead, it is a community effort that involves everyone from our top-notch faculty to our dedicated facilities crew. Critical and crucial to this effort is the generosity and support of our alumni, parents, and greater community. Your collective investment ensures that Christ School remains strong and continues to be a place of transformation for the next generation of Greenies.

I am certain that Christ School is needed and necessary in our world. That is why I thank you for your past support and ask that that you continue to give generously to the important work of Christ School.

There are many ways to get involved in the new year with Christ School. We hope you will take time to connect with us through one of our regional events or through one of the following opportunities:

•Grandparents Day, April 21, 2023, is a chance for our grandparents to join the boys on campus for a day in the life of their Christ School student.

•Mother Son Weekend, April 21-22 is the time for Greenie moms to celebrate and be celebrated.

•On May 3, we host our third annual giving day, “One Day for One Million,” in an effort to provide the infrastructure for all that happens at Christ School. Whether you give to a class scholarship or your favorite team, your participation and generosity are important.

•We hope Alumni will join us for our inaugural Alumni Weekend and The Game on September 29-30, 2023. More information to come!

Thank you for all you give to Christ School!

Go Greenies!

Betsy Ellis P’24 Director of Advancement

29-30 SEPT 2023

Celebrating Reunion Years for Classes Ending in 3 and 8. Events include:

Beast and Barrels, Tailgate for The Game, Alumni Awards, and more.

The

with gratitude.....

On October 29, 2022, Christ School’s most loyal supporters gathered at the Grove Park Inn to celebrate those that ensure the success of the school we love. The evening, which featured a performance from the Christ School Choir, a student-created video of thanks, and live music, capped off Asheville School Week and another showcase of the community that makes this place so special.

KRIEGER LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS

WHAT IS IT?

The Krieger Leadership Scholars (KLS) program is an endowed merit scholarship for new 8th, 9th, and 10thgrade domestic boarding students. KLS honors the legacy of former Headmaster Paul Krieger.

WHO ARE THEY?

Scholars must be nominated, participate in a campus visit and interview, as well as an oncampus weekend for the selected finalists for the scholarship.

Nominations can be from teachers, coaches, school administrators, or other community members outside of the student’s immediate family.

HOW IT WORKS.

Scholars must be nominated, participate in a campus visit and interview, as well as an oncampus weekend for the selected finalists for the scholarship.

Nominations can be from teachers, coaches, school administrators, or other community members outside of the student’s immediate family.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Find more details, including criteria and the nomination form using the QR code or by going to www.christschool.org/kls

Estate Planning: Lyston Peebles ’65

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

Lyston Peebles ’65 has chosen to include Christ School in his estate planning.

The genesis of his gift was his Christ School experience. He learned much about life from long-serving former headmaster David Page Harris – Mr. Dave – and his corps of teachers and staff. They “taught us the values of Christ School and they lived it,” said Lyston. Living in a principle-driven community where hard work, honesty, strong leadership development, personal responsibility, and faith are valued has stood the test of time.

Early in Lyston’s career, his faith in Christ and his love of people led him to work in numerous faithbased non-profits in America and abroad. Most of these efforts were focused on poverty, education, jobs, healthcare, food insecurity, and other ways of trying to provide the help a person needs to flourish in the world. Much of his time and attention was focused in East Africa. Stemming from that time, he adopted two young men who are thriving today and are a joy to him as sons.

For the last 40 years, Lyston partnered with Cherokee Investment Partners, a private equity firm based in Raleigh NC. Lyston launched and directed Cherokee’s social and philanthropic endeavors known as Cherokee Gives Back. “Giving back or paying it forward,” Lyston said, “is the foundational tenet of the firm that directed both our investments and our philanthropies. For me, giving back is where the rubber meets the road in our effort to impact all aspects of life.”

It all started for Lyston when he realized that Mr. Dave, and Father and Mrs. Wetmore before him, were seeking to impact all aspects of the boys’ lives at Christ School, not just their reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. With more time on his hands now, Lyston enjoys keeping up with Christ School on social media and occasionally visiting campus. The teachers and staff that make Christ School unique, the fond memories of his four years here, and the fact that other students have an opportunity to go through the Greenie experience brings Lyston great joy. He said, “Now that is worth dying for (someday)!”

Lyston’s planned gift at Christ School is made through one of the most frequently used tools in estate planning, a bequest. If you would like to find out more about bequests or planned giving at the school. Please contact the Advancement Office (828-684-6232) n

Grand a Day to Celebrate

Grandparents are an important part of the Christ School community.

Christ School grandparents are invited to spend a day with their Greenie. Come learn about and experience all that makes this place so special.

1951

William Elliot ’51 submitted to The Galax: “I would appreciate you letting those of us still around know that Willie Elliott ’51 is still kicking and in surprisingly good health living in Penney Retirement Community, Penney Farm, FL. My love of Christ School will never end.” Thank you for the note, Willie!

1965

1967

1973

Bob Twomey ’73 recently changed positions within DuPont State Recreational Forest. Previously in Forest Maintenance, he has assumed new responsibilities in Recreation and Trail Maintenance across DuPont Forest effective October 2022.

1981

1985

Tim Madison ’85 and his family come up to Maggie Valley/Lake Junaluska most summers and they were on their way there when he and his son stopped by campus.

2001

Christ School students volunteered and then presented a check to VETS farm, a Veteranoriented outreach in Hendersonville, NC, that is run by Truett, the daughter of Dr. Jennings Presley ’65.

1966

Tom Hatcher ’67 visited campus in July. He has retired from the construction business and enjoyed regaling his buddy, Trent, with tales from a distant past that included shoveling coal, milking cows, and surviving Captain Reid's Latin classes.

1969

Christ School would like to thank Tony Coggiola ’81 for his extremely generous donation of this loaded Toyota FJ Cruiser to the Outdoor Program.

1982

“You could have knocked me over with a feather this summer when I found a Christ School shirt on the rack of an American vintage store selling for £20 in Margate, England!” writes Peter Gartrell ’01. “No one told me that my sweaty old athletic shirts were going to appreciate so much in value, or I would have stowed a bunch away!

When he is in Kentucky, it is always a pleasure for Dan Stevenson ’72 to visit with Buck Hinkle ’66 and Henry Hinkle ’69.

Jill and Dan Stevenson ’72 enjoyed the cool hospitality of Bonnie and Peter Waters ’69 at The Skyline Lodge in Highlands, NC.

1970

James Van Zandt ’70 and his wife, Mary Jo, recently purchased a home in Clifftops, a community in Monteagle, TN. He also officiates services at St. Bede’s Episcopal church in Manchester, TN, two Sundays a month.

Will Huffman ’82 and Geddings Crawford ’81 recently hosted the Greenies basketball team for a meal while they were in South Carolina for a game. Will and Geddings hosted the team at Lizard Thicket in Columbia.

Stan Gibson ’58 holds the microphone in the 2022 Tryon, NC, parade.

Adam Willis ’01 recently switched jobs after nine years with a logistics company. He is now with a company called Traffix and was recently asked to help open their Charlotte office, which he can do from his home office in Hickory.

2006

2009

Will Battle ’09 hosted the Greenies for an Atlanta Gathering at the Intown Club in Buckhead. He and his wife Danielle have a young daughter and are expecting a baby boy.

2012

Doug Colvard ’06 visited Christ School and spoke to a group of students about his recently published book titled “Pivot Points: Living a Purpose Oriented Life.” Former Dean of Academics and History Department Chair Erich Cluxton P’06 was one of Doug’s biggest mentors at Christ School. He attended Doug’s talk along with his wife, Linda, who formerly headed up the Communications Department. (photo)

2008

Zack Myers ’23 and Rett English ’08 recently shared stories in a Ventura, CA, coffee shop. Zack committed to play college football for NC State University in June, one month after winning a state track championship in the high jump (6 feet, 6 inches). Rett is a member of the Christ School Athletic Hall of Fame and was a three-time state champion as a Greenie in cross country and track. He formerly held school records for the 1,600-meter run (4:30.97), 3,200-meter run (9:45.67), and 5-kilometer run (15:54).

After serving as the interim head lacrosse coach at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Maryland, Max Snider ’08 was named the new head coach at Bishop Ireton in Alexandria, VA. Max will continue working full-time as a commercial real estate developer with 10Square in Washington, DC.

Dee Giger ’09 met up with Justice Ajogbor ’20 at the Asheville Championship basketball tournament. Dee played, and Justice still plays, college basketball for Harvard.

Christian Rogers ’09 and Andrew Walters ’10 ran into each other in the construction industry in Raleigh, NC. Christian is an Account Manager with Concrete Supply Co. Andrew is a New Home Orientation Specialist with Lennar SUN Division.

2010

Jeff Hudak ’10 recently moved to the Atlanta area to join Delta Airlines as a pilot. Jeff recently got engaged and we hope he and his fiancée will visit campus soon to speak with the Robert Morgan ’36 Aviation Program.

Doug Embler P’19 and James Garland ’10 took a bus full of Greenies to watch the Charlotte Hornets vs. Brooklyn Nets in the first semester. Mason Plumlee ’09 had a solid game for the Hornets in a 98-94 home loss with a team-high 11 rebounds and nine points.

Thomas Willingham ’10 and his wife just had their first child – a daughter – in May.

2011

Marshall Plumlee ’11 is enrolled at Harvard Business School where he is pursuing an MBA. He completed a summer internship with Blackstone where he worked in their tactical opportunities group.

Hampton Haney ’12 has been working in the golf business as a superintendent for the last few years. Recently, he moved from Pinehurst, NC, back to WNC to work on the Bobby Weed Golf Design project at Waynesville Country Club. Hampton is excited to be back in WNC and working on a big golf course renovation project.

Tom Beard ’51 in front; left to right: John Beard ’84 (Thomas’s uncle), Thomas Beard ’12, and John Beard Jr. ’18.

Zack Myers ’23 and Rhett English ’08

Rory and Thomas Beard ’12 were married on Saturday, August 6, in St. Joseph’s Chapel.

2014

Ellis Pace ’14 rushed for more than 2,000 yards in high school and continued his football career at Wofford College. He is doing a different kind of running these days. Ellis was the overall winner of the Hope for the Holidays Jingle Jog 5K in downtown Hendersonville, NC, in December. His winning time of 18 minutes, 20 seconds was 23 seconds faster than any other runner in the field. And Ellis, wearing bib number 1687 in this photo, ran the whole way with a Santa hat on his head.

2015

George Thornton ’16 is living in Dallas working for a land and commercial real estate acquisition firm. George gained his first real estate experience working for Henry Keenan ’14 in Puerto Rico. The two worked together at Henry’s company called RED Atlas.

2017

2018

John Beard ’18 moved to Wilmington, NC, in August to start work for Live Oak Bank as a business analyst.

Max Brie ’18 founded a company while at St. Bonaventure called Dalorum. The company helps college athletes navigate their college experience with NIL deals and more.

After graduating from Wofford in May of 2022, Marshall McDill ’18 decided that instead of going into the corporate world, he wanted to go somewhere he could work and play. He is living in Key West, FL, and is chartering boat trips in that area. He plans to buy a bigger boat soon to expand his business. He is keeping busy and enjoying the work.

Connor Booher ’20 is a junior at Duke studying economics, religious studies, and political science. He is studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain this semester and is looking forward to this summer when he'll be working in banking in NYC.

Jack Purvis ’15 recently spent the week at his family’s ranch along with Jarrett and Kelly Lange P’16 and Payton ’16 relaxing and hunting. Jack and his wife Paige are expecting a baby girl in March. They live in Midland, TX, and Jack recently took a job as the Director of Business Development for Global Compression Services. Paige just celebrated three years of owning her Pilates Studio (Embody Lagree).

2016

Michael Freeman ’16 moved to Atlanta about a year ago and just recently started working for Home Depot as a senior analyst.

Aaron Graham ’16 works in financial advising with Boys Arnold Wealth Management in Asheville, NC. Aaron and his fiancé, Bailey, recently closed on a condo in Hendersonville, NC.

John Helton ’17 graduated from Elon in January of this year and is working for AmeriCorp in Washington DC.

Vance Stiles ’17 is a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps and currently stationed in Quantico, VA (about 45 minutes outside of Washington, DC). He began the 13-week Infantry Officer Course (IOC) last October.

Adam Pollard ’18 graduated from Auburn last spring and got a job as a data analyst with Comcast in Denver, CO. He sees Charlie Bradshaw ’17 occasionally, who lives in Vail, about an hour and a half away.

2020

Connor Jones ’21, Joseph Coladonato ’20, and Henry Duggins ’20 met up at the Army-Navy game in sunny Philadelphia.

You wouldn’t think that Harvard plays a lot of basketball games in Asheville, and you would be correct. But the Crimson and Justice Ajogbor ’20 were part of the four-team Asheville Championship in November. Justice is a junior forward who appeared in six games last season after recovering from an injury. His freshman season was cancelled by the pandemic.

Joseph Visconti ’20 visited campus before heading back to Florida State for his first full year on the cross country team. He was on campus with Andrew Hammel ’20, who is also now running at Florida State.

Patrick Cunningham ’17 visited Jake Johnson ’17 and Peter Zhou ’19 in Seattle, Washington.

This photo from a Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) indoctrination program visit to the USCGC Campbell was posted to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy lacrosse team’s unofficial Facebook page. Will Iorio ’17, fourth from left, is a crewmember aboard the Campbell, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Newport, RI. Will graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2021. Charlie Bednar ’22 can be seen, sixth from the right, with another cadet candidate’s arm around him.

Ellis Pace ’14 pictured in his Santa hat

Adam Pollard ’18 and Charlie Bradshaw ’17

Vance Stiles ’17

Aydan White ’20 is the first NC State corner to earn All-ACC recognition in 10 years. Aydan ranked second in the ACC with four interceptions as a sophomore.

2021

AJ Hesselson ’21 shipped out for Fort Leonard Wood last July where he completed AIT MOS combat engineer training.

Connor Jones ’21, who is in his second year at West Point, recently visited Christ School while on a break. He is on the pre-law track and this summer he went to jump school and completed training to become jump certified.

2022

Sam Bassett ’22 was named to the USA Lacrosse All-Academic for the 2022 season and is a freshman playing lacrosse at Washington and Lee University.

Jack Britts ’22 broke up the long trip from Asheville to Montana State University by meeting up with Gil Cooper ’22 in Salt Lake City. Gil attends the University of Utah.

Lots of Greenies got together this fall: Connor Jones ’21, Grant Haldeman ’21, Luke Rheney ’21, Wesley Thomas ’22, Andrew Graham ’21, and Tyler Bell ’21.

Joshua Edgecomb ’22 got to know Joe Massey ’65 while attending St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta. They enjoyed lunch after church before Joshua headed off to be a cadet at the University of North Georgia.

Colson Etheridge ’22 and Gil Cooper ’22 recently hiked in the Colorado mountains and shared an epic photo with the school. Colson is a freshman at Colorado School of Mines while Gil is a freshman at the University of Utah.

Luke ’22 and Sanford Gardner ’22 ran into Henry Holland ’23 in Oxford, England this past summer.

AJ Hesselson ’21

Aydan White ’20

Jack Britts ’22 and Gil Cooper ’22