The Class of 2022

THE CLASS OF2022

National Merit Scholarship Program

Sayre was delighted to report the Class of 2022 National Merit® Finalists in the 67th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Sadie Barlow and Noah Lutz were declared National Merit Finalists and Lindsay Whitaker, National Merit Commended Scholar.

“To have three members of the class garner National Merit distinction speaks to the high academic caliber of our student body, as well as to the high caliber of instruction offered by our faculty,” said Randy Mills, Sayre’s former College Counselor. Randy recognized the seniors for “making their mark through outstanding performance with vast potential for future academic success.”

Over 1.5 million entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Those accepted into the program were awarded National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million in the spring.

A Cup of College Counseling

Interested in building relationships with Upper School families, Assistant College Counselor Cathy Bilberry suggested the office invite sophomore parents to a session introducing the college counseling staff and process. “It is important to develop strong relationships with families early on in their high school career,” said Cathy. “It is essential to ensure parents are engaged in the process and feel comfortable scheduling visits with the office.” In 2014, the office started hosting A Cup of College Counseling. Randy Mills, former Director of College Counseling, and Cathy Bilberry invited parents to join them for coffee and to discuss collegerelated issues in a casual setting. A Cup of College Counseling introduces parents to Sayre’s college counseling philosophy, provides helpful information about the college-search timetable and college entrance examinations, and any other talking points parents want to discuss. The meetings are part of an ongoing conversation throughout the school year.

CLASS OF 2022 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

(Matriculations in boldface)

American University Anderson University Auburn University Bard College Baylor University Beloit College Bentley University Boston College Boston University Cabrini University Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Central Methodist University Centre College Clemson University Colgate University College of Charleston College of William and Mary Colorado College Colorado School of Mines Columbia College Chicago Coppin State University Denison University DePaul University DePauw University Eastern Kentucky University Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical

University Emory University Florida State University Fordham University Furman University Geneva College George Washington University Georgetown College Georgia Tech Hanover College High Point University Hollins University Huntington College Indiana East University Indiana Tech Indiana University Indiana Wesleyan University Kenyon College Lake Forest College Loyola University Chicago Luther College Marshall University Miami University Midway University Morehead State University Mount Allison University (Canada) Muhlenberg College New York University-Shanghai North Carolina State University Northern Kentucky University Northwestern University Pratt Institute Purdue University Rice University Rochester Institute of

Technology Rollins College Rose-Hulman Institute of

Technology Saint Ambrose University Samford University Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago Stephens College Stetson University Texas Christian University The Ohio State University Thomas More University Transylvania University University of Alabama University of Colorado-Boulder University of Dayton University of Denver University of Findlay University of Florida University of Georgia University of Kentucky University of Louisville University of Maryland University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of Pittsburgh University of Richmond University of South Carolina University of Tampa University of Tennessee University of Texas-Dallas University of the South-

Sewanee University of Virginia Virginia Tech Wabash College Wake Forest University Washington University in

St. Louis West Chester University Western Kentucky University Wofford College Xavier University

CHARGE TO THE CLASS OF 2022

Now, you must understand that today marks a beginning in your life, not an ending. Now, YOUR slate begins anew. James Allen writes: “Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be. One who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal, will one day realize that dream.” On what foundation have you to accomplish your dreams? I think a very solid one, headed by the support, encouragement, and wisdom you receive at home, coupled with the rewarding Sayre education you have completed. You will be faced with adversity, but you must aim high because the prize that lies ahead is the realization of your DREAM. Your DREAM must loom larger than all of these challenges. Your DREAM will provide you the incentive to master the vast amount of change and need for compromise you will encounter during your college experience. Your DREAM will provide you the confidence and energy to become an active and integral member of your campus community, and yes, above all, your DREAM will provide you the courage to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and hurdles that clutter your path to its realization. Always remember: limitations are not real; they simply appear to be real. Adherence to your DREAM will enable you to overcome all potential roadblocks and fears. I believe the quality of your dream, the measure of the value of your dream, lies in the answer to this question: “Does the fulfillment of my dream enhance the lives of those around me?” In other words, by reaching my dream, my goals in life, how many others may I carry along with me? Your dream can’t be selfish---it can’t be only for your reward. The legacy of your achievements will be determined by how many lives you positively impact along the way to the realization of your dream.

—RANDY MILLS, COLLEGE COUNSELOR 1998-2022

Senior Breakfast

Rebecca C. Price ’09 was the guest speaker at the annual Senior Breakfast held Friday, April 21, 2022. After graduating from Sayre, she attended Samford University in Birmingham as an undergraduate and the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and cum laude, respectively.

Currently, Rebecca practices law at the firm of Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney here in Lexington. She focuses on energy and utilities law and regulation issues, as both general counsel and a litigation attorney. Prior to this position, she worked as a Special Attorney in the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General and as a Staff Attorney to the Honorable Thomas D. Wingate in Franklin Circuit Court. Most notably during her time as a public servant, Ms. Price led the Kentucky Attorney General’s COVID-19 price gouging enforcement effort.

Remembering the experience of her Sayre senior internship well, Rebecca shared the lessons she learned with her audience - make connections, be involved, and be enthusiastic. It was great to have Rebecca back on campus!

LIFERS

GRADUATION RECOGNITIONS

A lifer is a student who has attended Sayre School since first grade or 12 years or more.

Lexie Blackburn Lilah Bloomfield Mason Dunn Omar Fakhoury Hope Garlington Cat Graves James Gunasar Dylan Lynch Aiden Owen Sam Quintero Olivia Richardson Eliza Scoggin Jane Stilz Hayden Stollings Lindsay Whitaker Allison Yandell

Valedictorian Address

After 14 years at Sayre, you would think that writing this speech would have been a walk in the park. Spoiler alert: it was not. I could stand up here and regale you all with tales of my highest highs and lowest lows, or maybe even tell you about the time I ran into the brick wall on the playground and was left with a crippling fear of looking behind me while running, but I think I’d rather tell you about the most valuable lesson I’ve learned during my time here.

A wise woman once told me (hi mom) “Something can be both hard for you and good for you at the same time.” I haven’t always believed this to be true. I used to be the kid that would give up the minute something began to show signs of difficulty because, after all, if I wasn’t good at it in my first two seconds of trying, why bother? It was only through much trial and error that I discovered, much to my chagrin at the time, that I had been wholeheartedly incorrect.

To all of you in the audience today that have helped both me and the rest of the Class of 2022 persevere through all of life’s challenges, thank you. To my friends that taught me it’s ok not to be perfect, to my family that allowed me to feel loved at all times, to my teachers, who never for one second let me think I could achieve anything less than my dreams, and to my parents, who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. You all are the reason I can stand up here and confidently say that difficult experiences have helped me grow into a better person.

Fellow graduates, you have done difficult things, and you are the person you are today because of them. Be proud of yourselves. Your kindness, humor, and ambition will take you far in life - I can’t wait to see each of your successes.

Class of 2022, go forth, continue to try difficult things, and become better because of them.

—LINDSAY WHITAKER

LEGACIES

For over 166 years, students have followed in their parents’ footsteps by graduating from Sayre. Among those in the Class of 2022 were:

Ashton Bell Mason Dunn Cat Graves Jack Murphy Mary Grace Murphy Sam Quintero Jane Stilz

Valedictorian Address

Today, by definition, is this present day, May 29th, 2022. This day also happens to be our last day. “Last” by definition means final. Therefore, today is our final day. Final day of what? High school.

Many thanks are due before we all go our separate ways. First, none of us would be where we are today without the teachers at Sayre School. I’d like to thank all of the teachers that we were lucky enough to learn from these past four years. We had the opportunity to work with distinguished educators and form relationships.

What was high school even like? The answer to that question may differ for some of us. However, there’s one thing I believe that most of us can agree on. High school is over, and it’s time to move on. Learn to live with the person you were in high school. You may never see them again. You may reflect on your experience or see photos of yourself from the last few years. Some of us will reminisce about high school, the fun we had, our friends, or the dynamic of our classes. Others will never give high school another thought, and that’s perfectly fine. It’s time to look forward to the future and think about hopes, plans, and dreams. None of us are who we will truly become yet, and that’s important to recognize.

Your worth is not determined by whether or not you could find the integral of the derivative or the derivative of the integral (if that’s how it works). Your worth is defined by how you choose to frame your mindset in the future. It’s defined by the chances you take and the opportunities you seize. It’s also defined by passion. All of us have a passion for something. Even if you don’t know it yet, you will uncover it soon. Explore that next year. This fall is a chance to refresh and reset. And lastly if you were afraid to be yourself in high school, I hope you find the courage and comfort in order to truly be you in the future.

—WILL MARSDEN

Salutatorian Address

Class of 2022, we have a lot to be proud of as we reminisce on our years at Sayre. There are many exciting moments to celebrate: a state championship for girls’ varsity lacrosse, game winning plays and college sport careers to look forward to; I see stars of the stage as actors and musicians; successful podcasters and media influencers; exceptional students going to outstanding universities; top writers with national awards and leaders and researchers.

Growing up, my parents emphasized two very important things. The first: Everyone is struggling with something you know nothing about. The second: Treat others as you would want to be treated.

Class of 2022, we are there for each other. I see it in your actions. We hug each other and cry together. We find solace in prayer. In the hallway, you ask me and those around me “how are you doing”; masks are finally off and you smile at one another. In class, we challenge the most entitled and privileged to stop talking and listen to those who are not. We fight for injustice and fight for individual human rights. This needs to be our legacy. This must be what you carry on from Sayre to your next adventure. It is this empathy and ability to treat others as you would want to be treated that helps lift others up around you-that lets each of us be ourselves. This humanity allows us to live an authentic life.

Class of 2022: each of you does this for someone around you even if you aren’t aware. You inspire us to live our best lives, most often out of the spotlight. My hope is that you each carry this gift with you. Lift up those around you. Treat them as you would want to be treated. Be your authentic self.

—ANNA KATE MIEDLER

Salutatorian Address

I have actually been looking forward to this since my first day at Sayre. Funny enough, on our first day of senior year, Ms. Davis asked my AP English Literature class what each of us was most looking forward to in the upcoming year. Most people responded with sweet things like prom, deciding on a college, or playing their final sports season, but I immediately blurted out graduation.

When I found out I was giving this speech last week, I started to freak out a little bit because, in this rush to close this chapter of my life, I could not think of a single, pivotal moment that made me go, “Wow, that really sums up my time at Sayre.” In my hurry to finish out my high school career, I had forgotten about some of the things that make the Sayre experience a unique one.

In my attempt to craft a perfect singular moment that would totally sum up the lessons I’ve learned here, I started realizing it wasn’t the big moments that made my Sayre experience, but the small, mundane, predictable ones that did instead; from trying to break the record from the previous class of how many minutes we could keep Mr. Leer off track, to playing Just Dance with Ms. Bishop in AP US History and wondering how we just didn’t have time to get through all the material before the exam, to struggling to park in the senior lot because it turns out I’m not the only one in this class who shouldn’t have a license, to avoiding Dr. Quintero when we knew our shorts certainly weren’t fingertip length or our “pants” were in fact leggings. The everyday things I often overlooked have turned out to be some of my fondest memories. So, from this, I have learned to appreciate the little things.

Congratulations, after four long years, this day is finally here, and I can proudly say I don’t think anyone’s been more ready for it than I.

—LILLY ADAMS

The Headmaster’s Medal

There is no written criteria for the medal other than it is to be given to the Sayre student who has given in an outstanding manner to the school.

Imagine someone who never seems to have a bad day, who exudes positivity while lifting up others, sets the standard for being kind and considerate of classmates, and, in the classroom is open-minded, inquisitive, and receptive to differing points of view. A tone setter and a difference maker, always looking outward for ways to help the community; his service to the needy is simply unparalleled. He’s a true gem. This year’s 2022 Headmaster’s Medal recipient, who attends Wake Forest University, was Liam Fallon.

The Optima Award

This is a special award voted on annually by the seniors in a secret ballot without nomination. They are simply instructed to choose the one individual, who in their opinion, best exemplifies the ideals of Sayre.

This year’s recipient was involved in many areas of school life. A positive, confident, and independent young adult, she balances her academic, athletic, and extracurricular activities very well. A KIDS-to-Kids facilitator for four years, she fostered greater recognition and appreciation of human diversity, and she also participated in the Green Dot bystander training, which recognizes the power of peer influence, leverages the most influential students, and offers actionable solutions within a teen’s social realities. She helped lead the Pep Club, cheering on her classmates and teammates. Her optimism and enthusiasm are contagious. She has made her mark on Sayre athletics, playing and excelling in four sports, and was recently recognized with the Abby Sayre Cup celebrating her exceptional athletic contributions. Currently playing soccer at the University of Findlay, the 2022 Optima Award was presented to Cat Graves.

Diplomas of Distinction

Sayre offers Diploma Distinctions in five discrete areas to recognize students’ affinities and accomplishments in these different disciplines: Distinction in Creative Arts, Distinction in Global Studies, Distinction in Service, Distinction in Sustainability, and Distinction in Engineering (new this school year).

Seven members of the Class of 2022 earned recognition for their work in two of the areas.

Lexie Blackburn - Distinction in Global Studies Bill Bradley - Distinction in Creative Arts Caroline Evans - Distinction in Creative Arts Jackson Marshall - Distinction in Creative Arts Anna Kate Miedler - Distinction in Creative Arts Sam Quintero - Distinction in Creative Arts Eliza Scoggin - Distinction in Global Studies

SAYRE STUDENT GRADUATES AT THE AGE OF 14!

Original Story by Emma Story

Georgetown College ’25 Sayre Communications Intern, Summer 2022

Sam Quintero is one of Sayre’s legacy and lifer students; he attended Sayre for over 12 years, and his mother graduated from Sayre. He graduated with the class of 2022 at the age of 14! In order to accomplish something this unique, Sam skipped three grades: fifth, seventh, and twelfth. It was in the fourth grade that it became apparent he was above the benchmarks for the classes and needed to be challenged. Sayre assisted him in this as they offered enrichment classes that helped Sam strive for academic excellence. Sam is thankful for all the support and guidance Sayre provided him as he headed into college at a much younger age than most. He is attending the University of Kentucky (UK). “Going to UK has been a great experience,” said Sam. “My Sayre education certainly prepared me for my current course load, especially in physics and calculus with my major of mechanical engineering.” Sam went into his first year of college with 25 college credits, putting him ahead in classes and creating the possibility of another early graduation. Sam lives at home and commutes to classes; he says, “Riding my bike is my transportation. It is only 16 minutes and 40 seconds.” Sam said his favorite part about college is studying in the library, the independence, and being able to devote his time to pursue specific interests. Sam continues to play the piano and enjoys being a part of new groups and clubs.

Don Jacobs, Sr. Seminar

The Don Jacobs, Sr. Seminar Series is a required part of the curriculum for seniors, and the sessions deal with personal finance and legal and civic responsibilities. The series, launched in 2005, runs from September through March and focuses on practical topics such as spending, earning, giving, saving, borrowing, and investing. The seminars are coordinated by Upper School faculty members Marti Quintero ’88, Amy Dunn, and Adam Samples. The seminars are designed to give students training and guidance in personal finance and civic involvement. Guest speakers and members of the community from various professions enhance the seminars and provide students direct access to experts in their fields. Mentors, Sayre alumni, and those selected from the Sayre community work with small groups of students throughout the year and are an integral part of the program. Of the mentors, 9 of 14 are alumni, ranging from the classes of 1987 to 2014, and 11 are past and current parents who serve as mentors. Most notably, Michael Dunn ’87, has served as a mentor since the inception of the program.

2021-2022 Mentors include: Sue Strup, UK Healthcare (Board member and past parent), resumes and internships Matt Stockham, Meridian (current parent), investment basics Monroe Jett, Title Leader (past parent), spending and credit David Helmers, Railbird (past parent), entrepreneurship Lisa Adkins, Blue Grass Community Foundation (past parent), philanthropy Anthany Beatty, Lexington Police Chief, Ret. (past grandparent), civic responsibility

FACULTY AWARDS

BOARD AWARD

Jason Nahra When it comes to this year’s recipient of the Board Award, 37 is the lucky number. This individual is always kind, respectful, accepting and inclusive, and he fills a role or meets a need at the drop of a hat. Carrying himself with a quiet humbleness and grace and driven only by an unparalleled desire to serve the students and community at Sayre, Jason Nahra has had a cumulative impact on Sayre students that is immeasurable. Jason cares for children and teaches them to care for each other. He has been described by colleagues as “always engaging and has a way to make everyone in the room feel at ease and welcome.” The phrase “some things never change” is exceptionally relevant. A former teacher said that when Jason was six years old, “He had such a joy of living that it had a positive effect on the entire classroom.” Jason has spent 37 years at Sayre - 13 as a student and 24 as an employee. There have only been seven years in his life when he hasn’t been at Sayre. We are so fortunate and lucky that he has spent 37 years with us. 37 is the lucky number! We thank Jason for representing the best of Sayre.

SHORT AWARD

Ashley Bailey This year’s Short Award for Excellence in Science and Math went to a teacher who is dynamic, creative, and full of energy. Her magical classroom transforms multiple times a year to match the topic that the class is studying. She has a costume for every event and may even create events in order to have costumes. Her class carefully delves into each project topic with a dedication and depth of research that would match that of students two or three times their age. Her projects are often built around scientific subjects such as arachnids, Kentucky waterways, transformation, and even an investigation of dirt which involved a complex study of what can be found underneath our feet. Her students are enamored with learning scientific concepts and are able to share their learning with others even though they are only three or four years old. The 2022 Short Award recipient was Ashley Bailey.

SHORT AWARD

Chris McGinley This year’s Short Award for Excellence in the General Category went to a scholar who connects with kids in so many important ways. In the classroom, he constantly reimagines his lessons for greater pertinence and broad interest for young people. The lessons themselves are a perfect example of interdisciplinarity, leading students via hands-on doing and thinking into deeper analysis of what they have learned. A published author with a lyrical, haunting voice, this teacher uses his talents to guide young writers toward lovelier turns of phrase and more gripping opening sentences. His catch phrase, “You alright, buddy?” is indicative of the attentiveness to and care for others that this thoughtful, community-minded intellectual maintains. You’d be surprised by how many people – students and teachers alike – he sustains through his formal and informal mentoring and his caring attention. With the campus farm, he engages young people in cultivating plants from seed, seeing them through to full growth, harvesting them, and producing pickles and jellies as part of a student enterprise, all the while incorporating native plants on campus that thrive under the care of his students. Nurturing seeds with light, water, and attention – what a perfect metaphor for the 2022 Short Award recipient, Chris McGinley.