EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE
Magazine of Sayre School 2018
THE PODIUM
OBSERVATION
A Message from Stephen Manella Head of School Greetings from Old Sayre, We build the future by standing on the shoulders of those who went before us. This past year we mourned the loss of two giants in the Sayre community — Clayton G. Chambliss and Thomas A. Grunwald. Mr. Grunwald served our community for over a half century and Mr. Chambliss’ twenty-two year tenure as Headmaster is the second longest in Sayre’s history. Both men, through their leadership, guidance, and care, shaped our community and the lives of our students for the better. We dedicate this issue of The Podium to their extraordinary legacies. Quite fittingly, the theme of this year’s Podium — Observation, Experience, Knowledge — encapsulates the legacy of a Sayre education. Those three elements are part of the daily life at Sayre and are also interwoven into the culminating experience of our students — the Senior Internship Program. Our feature articles highlight how those internships helped our alumni forge career paths. As you read of the accomplishments of our current students and the achievements of our alumni, you will see how the opportunities provided at Sayre serve as a foundation for the success of our alumni. In this respect, every day at Sayre is a step toward the future. We are in the midst of a transformational year at Sayre. With the construction of the new Lower School, our campus is literally growing before our eyes. What is most exciting is the realization that this is only the beginning of where we are headed. Years from now, the next generation will carry Sayre even further standing on our shoulders. Go Spartans!
FEATURES
18 Observation, Experience, Knowledge
ON THE COVER: Aya Samadi '20 spends the summer at the University of Kentucky in Dr. Robin Cooper's lab studying the technique of optogenetics.
SAY RE online @sayrespartans sayreschoollexington sayreschool sayre-school sayreschool
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Sayre Board Member Sue Strup describes experiential education and the importance and uniqueness of the Sayre Internship Program.
20 Alumni Internship Stories
Alumni share their Sayre senior internship experience and discuss how it impacted their future.
27 Thomas A. Grunwald Buttery Dedication
The Sayre community gathered to honor Thomas A. Grunwald's legacy and to dedicate the Buttery in his honor.
35 DEPARTMENTS 08 Making Their Mark 26 Alumni Gatherings 28 Class Notes 35 Building Excellence
2017-2018 SAYRE FACTS Students and Faculty 544 Students preschool through 12th grade Congratulations to the Class of 2017! 15 Average class size 7:1 Student-to-teacher ratio 66% Faculty holding advanced degrees 20% Students from diverse racial backgrounds 12 Central Kentucky counties represented 23% Students receive need-based tuition assistance totaling $1.25 million 2017 Advanced Placement Highlights 81% Seniors who took an AP class earned a score of 3 or higher 100% Students taking AP French & AP Physics II exams earned scores of 3 or higher 97% Juniors taking the AP English Literature exam earned scores of 3 or higher 90% Students taking the AP Biology, AP Calculus BC and AP Physics I earned scores of 3 or higher 75% Sayre's AP scores were 3 or higher (53% Kentucky average) 42% AP students were designated as AP Scholars Class of 2017 Results 64 Seniors enrolled in 38 different colleges in 20 different states, the District of Columbia and England 100% College placement 80% Seniors received merit scholarships totaling over $6 million $95,000 Average scholarship per student 7 Seniors participated in intercollegiate athletics 35% Seniors scored 28 or above on the ACT; over 25% of the class scored 30 or above Legacies Over the past 163 years, students have followed in their parents’ footsteps graduating from Sayre. Among those in the Class of 2017 were: Left to right (front): Lauren Dunn, Katherine Backer, Katharine McLean Left to right (back): Will Newton, Robbie Goodman, Logan Pelfrey Not pictured: James Dupree 194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Board Welcomes New Members We are excited to welcome four new members to our Board of Trustees, Class of 2021—Emily Cowles, Jennie Garlington, Kelly Healy and Langdon Shoop ’93. Emily Cowles is an attorney with McBrayer, McGinnis, Leslie & Kirkland. She and her husband, Joe Ruel ’95, have two boys at Sayre, Walt in 6th grade and Charlie in 1st grade. Emily has volunteered over the years in a variety of capacities at Sayre; she has served on the Lower School PAC, was a member of the Lower School Head search committee that selected Dr. Papero, and last year Emily was the SPA Treasurer. On the Board, she is a member of the Governance and Trusteeship committee. Jennie Garlington is an accomplished television producer and environmental journalist, who currently produces and hosts EcoSense for Living, a television show which earned an Ohio
Valley Regional Emmy Award for its approach to promoting sustainability and educating consumers about earthfriendly choices. Since 1990, Jennie has served as a Trustee of the Turner Foundation and has been on the boards of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Zoo. Jennie’s expertise is an ideal fit for our Enrollment and Marketing committee. She and her husband Peek (who himself just completed an eight year term on our Board) have six children, five of whom currently attend Sayre. Kelly Healy and his wife, Claudia, joined our community two years ago when their son, Jack, transferred into 10th. Kelly is the President of the Healy Organization, which owns and operates 10 McDonalds in eight Kentucky communities. Kelly, who is a member of our Finance committee, is someone
who believes in the value of giving back to one’s community and has been a volunteerleader at a range of organizations including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Langdon Shoop, Emily Cowles, the Bluegrass and Kelly Healy Cardinal Hill. Not pictured: Jennie Garlington Langdon Shoop graduated from Sayre in 1993 and graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1997. Langdon is the President/Owner of Frank Shoop in Georgetown, KY. He has been a longtime supporter of Sayre School. In 2011-2012 he served as a Don Jacobs mentor. He became the president of the Alumni Association in 2015 and continues in that role today. On the Board, Langdon is serving on our Advancement and Capital Campaign committees.
Board Awards The Miles Service Award is named in honor Dorothy Moomaw Miles, Headmistress of Sayre from 19521961. Awards are given to both a Michael Dawahare, Kit current parent Rutherford, Ben Haggin, and a past patron Teresa Villaran (traditionally a past parent or parent of an alumnus) who have been actively involved in the daily life of the school providing opportunities for parent and/or student opportunities for participation and expression.
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This year’s current parent recipient is Kit Rutherford for her inspired leadership for the past two years as the Chair of Spectacular. Under Kit’s guidance, we shifted the venue to the Hilton. If you were one of the four hundred people in attendance you enjoyed the amazingly elegant setting resulting from Kit’s creativity. Her unflappable spirit and energy made
Spectacular true to its name. The past patron recipient of the Miles Award is Michael Dawahare ’79 whose contributions to Sayre span from the classroom to the Board room. Michael recently completed a two-year term on the Board where he served as a member of the Finance and Investment committees. He has also found numerous ways to share his expertise with our students. For many years, Michael has been both a mentor and a presenter in our Don Jacobs Seminars. In addition, each spring, he opens up his hedge fund as an internship opportunity for our seniors. Michael is also a talented musician who for the past two years has been playing guitar with our recent alumnus and rising star, Walker Montgomery ’17. The McClellan Award is named in honor of Major Henry Brainerd McClellan, Sayre’s most distinguished and longest tenured Headmaster who served Sayre from 1870-1904. The recipient of this award is to be a friend or organization
of the school that has made significant contributions in the form of service to the student body. This year’s recipient is Teresa Villaran who is in her second year as President of the Sayre Parent Association (SPA). Through her thoughtful leadership, SPA endeavors generated over $15,000 in revenue that directly supported our students and faculty. The Trustee Award is given to a current or past Trustee of the school who has been singled out by his fellow trustees as a leader in providing guidance and direction to the school through his or her efforts. This year’s designee, Ben Haggin ’84, completed two terms on the Board (eight years), serving as Chair for the last four years. He has been a phenomenal leader, a vocal supporter of all things Sayre, and a tireless volunteer whose countless hours on the school’s behalf contributed to our vision for the future. Four years ago, when a new Lower School was just a dream, it was Ben who said to us all, “This is going to happen.” Thank you, Ben!
Class of 2017 Recognitions The Optima Award 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. The young man voted Stephen Manella, Hunter Rice to be this year’s Optima Award winner by his peers is much beloved for his kindness, optimism, and helpful personality. Whether it was in the classroom, his advisory group, or on the athletic fields, this young man brought a level of enthusiasm, dedication to hard work, and positive spirit that was infectious. It was difficult to be around him more than a minute or two and not be smiling along with him. A member of the National Honor Society, the Spartones, a two-year starter in soccer and an avid lacrosseman, the 2017 Optima Award recipient, who attends the University of Mississippi, was Hunter Rice.
When reflecting back on his years at Sayre, Hunter said, “Coming to Sayre in 4th grade was easily the best decision I have ever made. Throughout the years, I have built many great relationships with teachers, Mr. Berryman and Mr. Mills to name just two of many. My favorite class in the Upper School was AP U.S. History with Ms. Bishop. But when I look back on my Sayre experience, I cherish most the friendships I have built with all of my classmates.” There is no written criteria for The Headmaster’s Medal other than it is to be given to the Sayre student who has given in an outstanding manner to the school. This year’s recipient of the Headmaster’s Medal certainly followed Mr. O’Rourke’s advice about navigating one’s Upper School years—Balance is Everything. I would twist that and say, for this senior, “Everything is perfectly in balance.”
Stephen Manella, Kennedy Sabharwal A humble scholar, gracious, compassionate leader, an extraordinary volunteer, always focused on making a positive difference, this senior was no stranger to the stage. If you looked up “poise” in the dictionary, you would see HER picture. That’s why, if she were a stock, you would want to invest in her, because she is only going up. It was an honor to bestow the 2017 Headmaster’s Medal to Kennedy Sabharwal.
"One of the things I will miss about Sayre are the summer trips. Education at Sayre extends beyond the classroom and this is one of my favorite aspects of the school. I have been to Greece with Mrs. Morrish and Mr. Bebensee, Spain with Dr. Everts and Mrs. Beck, and I am going to the Galapagos this summer with Ms. Holsinger and Mrs. W heeler. In Spain, Dr. Everts broke the news to me that I will never be a professional Flamenco dancer, which was tough to swallow at the time. Actually, when our entire group went to a Flamenco class, I was the 2nd worst dancer; her son Jackson was the worst. In all seriousness, the summer trips that Sayre offers are a prime example of how good the faculty at this school is, and I would like to thank all of the Sayre teachers for doing what they do so well."
ZACH GRISSOM ’17 Excerpt from his Valedictorian Address to the Class Attending University of Miami Florida "Each and every person has specific gifts, which must be capitalized upon in order to differentiate themselves for success. It is in this way that all people are equal, even though they are different. One man may have the gift of thought while another may have the gift of strength. They have different gifts, but they both have gifts. The only way one person may rise above another is through how well they capitalize upon these gifts. It is for this reason that you must embrace your individuality, in order to know yourself on the deepest level. Only then can you identify the hand you have been dealt and how best to use it."
TAYLOR JOHNSON ’17 Excerpt from his Valedictorian Address to the Class Attending Vanderbilt University
Kennedy looked back on her Sayre experience and had these thoughts: “I will forever cherish the four years I was able to attend Sayre School. The relationships that were formed, whether they be between faculty or peers, will never be lost. After only living in my dorm room at the University of Kentucky for eight days, and not even having started classes yet, I made my first trip back to Sayre. If this doesn’t say something about how much I truly love the Upper School, I don’t know what would. Every time I walk back into the atrium, I feel at home. I know that I am in a place where everyone wants to help me become the best I can be. The work I was assigned throughout high school was obviously not fun at the time; however, it truly prepared me for college and has allowed me to feel fully prepared on the pre-medicine track. Even today, I told one of my new friends how much I missed being in high school. I don’t hear that much on this college campus, but I know that all of my friends who attended Sayre say it all the time because of how much we loved the Upper School. “
"One lesson in specific that I have learned from my classmates is how beneficial an environment where women support other women can be. W hether it’s building up each others’ confidence in the comment section of Instagram, parenting bags of flour together in health class, or leading classroom discussions that ensure everybody’s voice is heard, the women of this class have looked after each other more so than I have seen in other women our age. It is this type of support that I hope we take with us to college."
MARIA MURAD ’17 Excerpt from her Salutatorian Address to the Class Attending University of Pennsylvania
194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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A True Visionary
Clayton G. Chambliss 1946-2017 And lead he did. A true visionary, Clayton transformed Sayre into a cutting edge academic institution that became a national model of independent schools. Through his strategic leadership, the campus was rebuilt to the height of technological innovation and a critically needed athletic complex was obtained and developed, providing home fields for Spartan sports for the first time. His was the second longest tenure in the prestigious school’s history. “The tremendous influence that Clayton Chambliss had on Sayre can be both seen and felt,” Head of School Stephen Manella said. “Award-winning buildings like the Upper School and the Buttery launched Sayre into the twenty-first century. Even more important is the fact that at one point Clayton had hired the vast majority of the faculty that so many of our families have grown to love. The warm and caring tone that is Sayre, and still impacting our students today, has been shaped by his vision and leadership.”
In the moment, on target, and vested in the good work and friendship of his friends and colleagues, Clayton Chambliss did not like the phrase “I work for you.” Rather, “I work with you.” Clayton celebrated everyone’s current adventure, not tomorrow’s or yesterday’s. He relished in the excitement of the moment, lifting us up day to day. When news of his passing began to spread throughout Sayre on Friday, August 26, 2017, there was one mission: to make Clayton proud. That is the legacy of Clayton. Because he believed in you, you must do your best for him. Born on July 5 (“Not the 4th, but the 5th,” Clayton would say), 1946, he often spoke of playing on the Indian Shores and Indian Rocks Beaches of Tampa Bay long before mass development arrived. He spent many summers at Frye’s Leap Camp in Maine. He never stopped loving Maine and Florida. After attending H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, he earned a BA from Emory University and an MAT from Jacksonville University. Clayton’s first professional position was with Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield, ME. He then advanced to the Bolles School in Jacksonville, FL. Ultimately he would land midway between north and south, and spend twenty-two years in Lexington at Sayre.
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The Sayre School Quarterly Winter 1989 edition quoted Carole Nahra, Search Committee Co-Chair, with these prophetic words, “We were looking for a person with strong academic credentials in a major academic area; an individual with fresh, innovative ideas to lead the school into the new decade.”
Clayton donned costumes for Halloween, Founders Day (David A. Sayre in particular) and other special occasions. He relished the little ones, the middle ones and the biggest ones. He was passionate about continuing education for Sayre’s faculty. He considered teachers artisans, and teaching an art form. He was known to help faculty members with job interviews when relocating. He wanted to celebrate you. He always wanted to know, “How are you, my friend?” A memorial service was held September 8, 2017, at the First Presbyterian Church where Clayton served as an elder. The Reverend Lee Bowman returned to Lexington to deliver a portion of the homily. She recalled the abiding friendship between the Bowmans (she and her husband Dave (Board of Trustee member) and son Will ’06) that transcended the years. She spoke to the good times and the challenging times, reminding sons Noland ’02 and Callis ’08 of his unconditional and unwavering love. And, of course, she finished her remarks with what had become Clayton’s mantra, often shared with the Sayre community in trying times… ”Life is short and there is little time to gladden the hearts of those who go the journey with us. So, be quick to love and make haste to be kind.” Henri F. Amiel A reception serving some of Clayton’s favorite foods (Cuban sandwiches and pecan tassies) was hosted by Sayre’s Director of Food Service Bill Barnes in the Buttery. Friends and family reminisced with laughter and stories of this fun-loving champion of students, faculty and friends. Clayton’s legacy lives on with the thousands of people who were touched by his wit and wisdom. We are better because of him. Right Here; Right Now; You Are Worth Celebrating, My Friend.
The Face of Sayre
Thomas A. Grunwald 1942-2017
enter Old Sayre. Former students would quickly gather and reminisce, savoring time with him and sharing all those Sayre memories. Even with a crowd of people surrounding him, he made you feel like you were the only one in his presence.
Perhaps you were stuck on the side of the road, or sitting in a classroom lecture. Maybe you were in an office meeting, or somewhere on the athletic field. Most likely you could have been camping in the wilderness, but at some moment, there was a good chance you would remember a certain situation and recall something Tom Grunwald taught you. Tom may have been your history teacher, but he could help you fix that car. He may have been Head of the Upper School, but there wasn’t a sport he did not coach. And probably, most notoriously, Tom may have been your guide to the great outdoors in Canada, but even if he wasn’t, he was your friend. That was the thing about Tom. He was so much to everyone. In the classroom he was more than just a teacher. In the early 70’s, it was not unusual to hear a flintlock rifle fired in his classroom. In the late 70’s, his class tanned a cowhide and painted “cave motif” on it. In 1981, his junior U.S. history class trapped a “critter” and served beaver tail for lunch in the Buttery. He was into teaching “hands on” long before it was the popular thing to do. This carried over to his days as Head of the Upper School.
His realm of so many talents and so much knowledge has truly left an indelible mark on the Sayre community and on all of those he knew. That indelible mark finds its expression in his amazing legacy: two sons, two grandsons, and one granddaughter, member of the Class of 2021; a 50 plus year career at Sayre; the Buttery named in his honor; a lasting link with Sayre’s alumni through the Thomas A. Grunwald Scholarship; the memories we hold so dear; and the Sayre spirit, which he both embodied and helped create and sustain. We are truly grateful for Tom Grunwald. “I know the Lord has a plan and we have to accept it, but it gets harder and harder to understand why he takes the "best" so often. My grandmother once told me that God, like man, goes to his garden and picks the most beautiful flower for himself. Well, in my mind, he got the true American Beauty when he chose Tom Grunwald!! I will always treasure those 10 nights so many years ago around a warm campfire in the cold Canadian woods and the life lessons I learned from a young man wise before his time. I can only hope he is now casting his line in one of those beautiful lakes and enjoying the beauty that surrounds him." Caroline Thompson Burns ’69 As time heals the pain of losing Tom, we would do well to remember Dr. Seuss’ words, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Tom is certainly smiling down on Sayre School today.
Sure, Tom had rules, and you’d better adhere to them. Yet, on the other hand, you could talk to him and still follow the rules. He never treated his students as his job, rather as young men and women he truly cared about getting to know. Tom knew things about students that they didn’t want him to know and things they didn’t know themselves. He was truly remarkable! Obviously, Canada was a huge part of his life and he made sure to share those experiences with so many. For Tom, Canada was the icing on the cake. He took students out of their comfort zone and taught them to overcome adverse circumstances. He exposed students to a different environment and showed them what was available to them outside the classroom. It’s amazing how what at the time may have seemed like useless information from Tom would come back later to benefit you in life. In 1991, Tom was appointed Director of Alumni Affairs and he quickly became the face of Sayre School. No matter what year you attended, or when you returned, the familiar face of Tom Grunwald greeted you and you knew you were welcomed. It was the highlight of every reunion when Tom and Judy would 194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Making Their Mark in Athletics Coach Clary Wins 250 Coach Kevin Clary achieved his 250th career win this year at Sayre School. The 2018 season will be Coach Clary's 4th at the helm of Sayre’s baseball program. This year’s team advanced to the 11th Region Finals for the first time in school history. Coach Clary has helped build the Sayre program into one of the most respected in the city. Under his watch, the baseball team has had several players compete at the collegiate level. 11th Region Finalists in Baseball The road to the 11th Region Baseball Tournament finals started with the 43rd District Baseball Tournament at Bryan Station High School. The Spartans upset the heavily favored Henry Clay Blue Devils 3-1 behind a stellar pitching performance by Cameron Stiglich ’18. The Spartans started off the 11th Region Tournament with a big win over Model 22-6. The next challenge was facing highly ranked Woodford County who defeated the Spartans 12-2 a month earlier. The Spartans rose to the challenge with another great pitching performance by Cameron Stiglich. Will Lain ’18 and Sam Seahorn ’17 hit big homeruns to put the game away. Sayre knocked out Woodford County 7-3 to advance to the 11th Region Finals for the first time in program history. The Spartans came out swinging and never trailed against the Jackets, who entered on a seven-game win streak and had won 16 of their previous 18 contests. Unfortunately, the Spartans lost 7-2 to 2nd ranked Scott County in the 11th Region Finals. Coach Goodman ’89 11th Region Coach of the Year Coach Robert Goodman, Sayre’s boys basketball coach, had an amazing season last year. The Spartans advanced to the semi-finals of the 11th Region Tournament, where Coach Goodman was selected as the 11th Region Coach of the Year. He attributes much of his success to coaches he played for and with over the years, but mostly to the hard work of his players. Coach Goodman has been able to hire and retain a number of former Sayre basketball players to his staff who are equally passionate about Sayre basketball. 11th Region Semi-Finals and School Record 23 Wins in Boys Basketball The 2016-17 Sayre Boys Basketball season is one that will not soon be forgotten. A schedule loaded with city teams and several top 20 programs, the boys were excited to see what the season would hold and how good they could be. The Spartans would go on to have one of the greatest seasons in the history of the school. Some of the accomplishments include beating three city teams in one season (first time ever), beating number 18 South Laurel on the road, competing in the prestigious Republic Bank Classic at Lexington Catholic, playing eight teams ranked in the state top 20, and winning a school record 23 games. While this was not the first time Sayre had advanced to the regional tournament, it was the first time doing so from the new 42nd District (Scott County, Henry Clay, Bryan Station). The team advanced to the 11th Region Semi-Finals before ending their magical season. Jake Duby ’17 was named 1st Team All-City. Robbie Goodman ’17 and RJ Smith ’18 were also on the All-City Team. Jake Duby was also named All-Region and 3rd Team All-State. Girls Basketball The girls basketball team had an amazing season under former Kentucky Mr. Basketball and current Sayre faculty member Charles Thomas. In Coach Thomas’s first year at the helm, the Lady Spartans made an impressive run in the All-A Basketball Tournament, winning the Regional Tournament and advancing to the All-A State Tournament at the Frankfort Civic Center. Coach Thomas and the Lady Spartans look to build on last year’s success for another run in the All-A Tournament this year. The Sayre girls had three students receive all tournament accolades: Dee Dee Wheeler ’18, Isabel Pergande ’18 and Kaya Davis ’19. Kaya Davis was also named 11th Region All-A Tournament MVP. All-A Regional Swim Meet 2017 marked the first All-A Regional Swim Meet with Courtland Leer ’04 as the head coach . The Lexington Christian Academy (LCA), Model and Sayre coaches worked together to organize this event. The meet was held on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Eastern Kentucky University. This meet included Berea, St. Francis, Model, LCA, and Sayre. Sayre won the meet overall with the girl’s team victory and the boys placed second to winners LCA.
NOTE: Team pictures by Phillips Mitchell, member of the Class of 1986
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Spartans in the News Catherine Graves ’22 is a young lady who has achieved impressive success through athletics as a middle schooler. The current eighth grader plays on LFC's (soccer) top U-14 team as a goalkeeper and forward. She was co-leading scorer last year on the team that won the state championship and advanced to regionals. Catherine ran 16th in her first varsity Cross Country meet as an eighth grader in the Titan Classic this fall and continues to impress coaches with her natural ability. She was also the first over-all female finisher in the Hope for Tomorrow 5K and Dirty Dog Trail Run. In addition, Catherine advanced to the state track meet last spring in both the mile and 400-meter relay. She was recognized as the MVP for Cross Country and received the Spartan Award in basketball for Middle School. As time permits, she also rides horses! Tyler Fox ’23 is an active participant in the local United States Tennis Association tournament circuit and is currently ranked 13th in the state in his age division. Tyler trains four to five times per week, mostly under the supervision of The Wildcat Tennis program. He loves the challenge of improving his game, his fitness, and his concentration. He does his best to put it all together to be the best tennis player he can be. He is thrilled about the opportunity to play tennis for Sayre this year and also work with former University of Louisville tennis player and current Sayre tennis coach Mackenzie Harju. Jack Bergstrom ’18 competed at the Under Armour Scott Stallings Championship in Knoxville, TN, The Hudson Junior Invitational in Cleveland, OH, and the Bubba Conlee National Invitational in Memphis, TN. The Bubba Conlee Invitational is one of the premier junior tournaments in the country where virtually every player is committed to play D-1 golf. Jack also qualified for the Kentucky Open, which is a professional event, held every year by the KYPGA. He had three top five finishes; one at the Hurricane College Prep Series, and two on the Golfweek Junior Tour. Additional highlights include: • Qualified for 2017 Golfweek Midwest Invite in Chicago • Qualified for 2017 KY Open • WKYT KHSAA Scholar Athlete of the Week, 11-1-16 • 20th in 2017 All-A State Tournament • Qualified for All-A State Tournament 2016 and 2017 • Central Kentucky Bluegrass Conference - North Division (CKBC) - 1st Team All-Conference 2016 and 2017 • CKBC-N Stroke Average Champion 2017 • CKBC-N Player of the Year Runner-up 2017 • Won 2016 PRP Invitational This past basketball season, Jake Duby ’17 scored 701 points, ending his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,868 points. He would go on to be named 3rd Team of the Lexington Herald Leader AllState. Jake was also named All-Region and All-City.
Spartan Highlights Athletics at Sayre has experienced great success over the past year. Many teams throughout the year did well locally, regionally and at the state level. • Girls Soccer won the 2016 Smoky Mountain Cup soccer tournament in Gatlinburg, TN. Dee Dee Wheeler ’18 earned All-City 2nd Team. Ellie Alford ’17, Laney Helmers ’17, Isabel Pergande ’18, and Sydney Strup ’17 were also on the All-City Team. • Will Newton ’17 was named 1st Team All-City Boys Soccer. Robbie Goodman ’17, Alex Mitchell ’17, and Logan Pelfrey ’17 were also named All-City. • Girls volleyball finished with a 24-10 record and captured the Bluegrass Conference Championship. Emerson White ’18 and Lauren White ’17 were selected to the AllCity Team. • In Cross Country, Katie Kostelic ’17 was named AllRegion for her performance. • Girls Basketball finished the season with a 19-8 record and advanced to the All-A State Tournament. The girls also captured the Bluegrass Tournament Championship. • Boys Basketball advanced to the semi-finals of the 11th Region Basketball Tournament. • The Swim Team captured the 11th Region All-A Championship. • Baseball reached the finals of the 11th Region Baseball Tournament. • Girls lacrosse finished their inaugural season with a 7-1 record. Maggie Little ’20, Sierra O’Brien ’20, Audrey Sams ’20, Isabella Turley ’18, and Dee Dee Wheeler ’18 received All-Conference Honors.
Facility Improvements • New flooring for both boys and girls basketball locker rooms was installed thanks to the generosity of Joe Palumbo ’94. • New sideline chairs and stools were purchased for the volleyball and basketball teams. • A 40-foot flagpole was installed at the Sayre Athletic Complex (SAC), and displays the American and Sayre flags for home events. • Two new press boxes for the baseball field were each equipped with a PA system and speakers. The new field for soccer and lacrosse has been completed. • Two new athletic playing fields are under construction and are slated to be available for the 2018 spring season.
194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Making Their Mark in Math & Science University of the Cumberlands Math Competition The University of the Cumberlands Math Competition is an annual competition for middle and high school students from across the state. Sayre Middle School students Andrew Liu ’22 and Jason Zhang ’22 both competed on the high school level for Algebra 1, took a written test, and came in 1st and 2nd. Congratulations to Andrew and Jason!
Midway Stream Water Testing Beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year, Lower School Science classes set out into the field in an effort to study the natural world. Students traveled to the Walter Bradley Park in downtown Midway, KY, where they engaged in ecological forest and stream studies under the direction of Lower School Science teacher Chris Zachau, Head Ranger John Holloway and Sayre’s Blythe Jamieson. During these trips, students had the opportunity to construct topographical maps, inventory the variety of trees in the park, and assess the area for overall habitat quality. These processes all contributed to developing a view of the ecosystem as a whole and allowed students to understand how each component of the environment is essential to the greater ecosystem. The primary focus of our ecological studies always remained with the students’ favorite part of the outdoors: the critters! Students scoured the leaf litter to see what types of animals made their homes in such a habitat. They then discussed what types of adaptations allowed these organisms to thrive in such an environment. Finally, students (timidly at first) set foot in Lee Branch Creek flowing through the park. Students turned over sticks and rocks allowing debris to float downstream into nets, which were then sifted carefully to find tiny camouflaged animals known as “macro-invertebrates." Macro-invertebrates lack a backbone and are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. These animals’ specific adaptations were then analyzed in order to determine what features made them particularly equipped to survive in the fast-moving water of the creek. While children also discovered frogs and turtles, the majority of what was collected from the creek were these tiny macroinvertebrates. One type, the mayfly nymph, holds on to the bottom of creek beds and collects food debris as it drifts by in the current. This nymph will eventually grow to become the adult mayfly, which is often the insect’s only phase that humans observe. By encouraging students to look more closely, they began to see more and more of these tiny organisms that each possessed their own method of thriving in the creek habitat. Since many of the organisms discovered were known to be intolerant of polluted water, students then concluded that the water quality was healthy. Also, since such a large variety of organisms were discovered, students concluded that the creek contained a high level of biodiversity. This process allowed students to explore the world around them and to make conclusions about the environment based on their observations. By allowing the students to discover phenomena, they take ownership of their learning and realize their personal role and responsibility in conserving the world around them. In addition, walking in the creek is good, plain fun! Lower School students are left with a lasting memory and a realization of their tangible role in making the world around them a better place.
Mollusk Conservation In October 2016, Debbie Wheeler's Environmental Science class went to Rockcastle River, near Mt. Vernon, KY, to reintroduce mussels raised at the Center for Mollusk Conservation. Students learned the importance of mussels in the ecosystem and the pollutants that have reduced the population in the area, including fertilizers and pesticides. They tagged the mussels by gluing tiny little numbers to each shell, weighed them, measured their length with calipers, and placed them in the river. Students worked with world-renowned malacologist Dr. Monte McGregor.
Annual Tremont Trip Tremont is located near Townsend, TN, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This institute is a private, nonprofit organization that works closely with the National Park Service to provide educational programs to a variety of groups. Debbie Wheeler has been taking her AP Environmental Science students to Tremont since 2001. Studying at Tremont is a great opportunity to spend time in the natural world. This helps students gain an appreciation for the outdoors as well as providing more opportunities to do field work. Many times they collaborated with researchers to collect data about organisms. On hikes, students see firsthand some of the issues with air pollution. There has been ozone damage on rhododendrons, the wooly edelgid (an invasive species attacking native hemlock trees), and even wild boar damaging entire sections of forest. Debbie said, “One of my goals for the students is for them to gain first hand awareness of various environmental issues but, also, to encourage them to be good stewards of our resources.” One evening was spent with Sean McCollough, a professor at the University of Tennessee, who teaches a class called 'The History of Rock and Roll.' He shared the culture and history of music in the Appalachian Mountains and brought a variety of instruments
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to play and described their origin. (One year, Sean came to Lexington with his band, The Lonetones, to play for Sayre!) On our way to Tremont, students spend a few hours in Horse Cave, KY, exploring karst topography and cave ecology. By the end of the weekend, the class really bonded with each other, and they have many good memories to share. In one weekend, students come away from Tremont completing important AP Environmental Science labs in the field!
Soil and Water Testing In the spring months, Middle School faculty members Chris McGinley, Brian Radcliffe and Rebecca Ashby worked with sixth graders at The Sayre Farm on projects related to social studies and science. Students used power tools and traditional farm implements to build two tool caddies and three pyramid planters. After they conducted soil pH tests, they transplanted hot pepper cultivars in raised beds they had built earlier. The sixth grade science classes concluded a unit on Water Quality with a trip to West Hickman Creek in southern Fayette County. At the creek, students conducted chemical tests to determine the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, the pH of the water and the water and air temperature. They conducted a macro-invertebrate study by picking up rocks and using nets to determine what small insect larvae, crustaceans, worms and mollusks were living in the water. The students found a variety of snails, isopods, leaches, flatworms and others that told them the creek was doing pretty well at supporting living things. In spite of the threat of rain, a good time was had by all.
Arachnid Encounter Each year, the four-year olds immerse themselves in an in-depth project on spiders. This project started when students found a large spider in their classroom. They watched while the spider was gently captured and taken to the garden. Once in the garden, the spider was carefully released. Following this initial encounter, children remembered and discussed the spider and told stories of times and places where they had their own spider encounter. During Morning Meeting, time was spent discussing spiders and studying pictures of their anatomy. Because people are often frightened of things they know little about, the teachers wanted to help children see how fascinating spiders can be and assist them in learning that spiders are good helpers for people. A project on spiders was born! Preschoolers conducted extensive research and field work by reading books and poems, watching videos, having guest speakers, including Lower School science teacher Chris Zachau. They visited the arachnids at the Children’s Museum downtown, observed spiders in the wild and in captivity, and made observational drawings. They created spider-inspired artwork, played arachnid fact games, and much, much more. For the final two weeks, the classroom transformed into a “Spider Museum” as children displayed their scientifically correct habitats, sketches and models around the room. Students became the teachers as they were able to enthusiastically tell parents and visitors what they had learned. Now, when these children meet a spider, they may not see it as scary but will instead think of all the interesting facts they learned and all of the ways that spiders help our world.
Sayre’s Spectacular Three-Minute Drill raised $14,000 for improvements to the Buttery in March. A custom designed cold-well salad bar with two end tables now enables vegan and allergen free lunch options. Also purchased were a small milk carton refrigerator and a holding box designed to keep hot food from the kitchen hot at the serving line. The Food Service staff continually strives to improve service and dining options. Nutrition, physical activity and responsible behavior all contribute to overall wellness! Making good choices is easier when good choices are abundant. At Sayre, wellness is a basic life skill and critical to success in the classroom and in the community. From the classroom to the Buttery to the athletic fields, Sayre provides diverse opportunities that foster healthy choice-making for Sayre students, faculty and staff.
Specific Action for Good Nutrition in the Buttery: • Follow and exceed all practices to ensure wholesomeness of food, from delivery to service • Offer a variety of well-balanced food options including vegan and allergen free salad bar • Communicate information on food allergens within all menu items, both on website menu and dining room menu board • Limit portions to prevent over eating (and food waste). No seconds allowed for chips, bread, or dessert • Fat free or 1% milk • Eliminate sugary lemonade drink, and replace it with 100% orange juice • Salads, salad dressings, and soups are made in-house, from scratch • Fresh fruit is available every day • Offer vegetarian, vegan and allergen-free food options • Use Angus ground beef • Use whole grain pastas • Provide gluten free items from Gluten Free Miracles Bakery: biscuits, pizza crusts, sliced bread, hamburger buns, and cookies significantly increase gluten free options. 194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
DID YOU KNOW...
Wellness at Sayre
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Making Their Mark in the Arts In Her Voice by Kate Christensen ’18 Throughout this semester I have been working with Blythe Jamieson on an independent study in photography. Photography is a subject I have always had an interest in so I was ecstatic when given the opportunity to participate in this study. At the beginning of the semester, I explored aperture, shutter speed, and other elementary camera settings. As the quality of my photos began to improve, I was given more challenging projects. Recently, I have been working with Mrs. O’Rourke’s fourth grade class to photograph their project on The Odyssey. Although capturing these students in action was more difficult, I was able to learn more about photographing working subjects. When photographing friends or students I was more comfortable with, it was easier to arrange the photo to my liking. However, when working with younger students I often had to catch them in the middle of a sentence or while they were working. This experience gave me insight into the professional world of photography. As in reality, I will not know or feel comfortable with my subjects. Overall, I was able to gain knowledge about different types of photography and how to capture different people.
Two Outstanding Playwrights Sayre School has a very active theatre program, with two Upper School productions per year and a Middle School musical every January. But it isn’t all that often we have adult actors performing at Sayre. However, last fall, we had two young playwrights emerge from the Upper School, whose work deserved the interpretation of adult performers. Their debut short plays were given dramatic readings by four local professionals on Monday, December 11, 2016. Edward Morris ’18 was the author of The Sandra Scandal – a drama about an incumbent American president running for reelection and preparing for a debate, even as accusations swirl about potential corruption in his administration. Morris, an experienced writer but new to theatre, was surprised by the immediate grasp his actors, Roger Leasor and Melissa Wilkeson, had on his material. “I was particularly impressed by the ease with which the actors figured out the general gist of our plays,” he said. “It was clear in their voices that they were very experienced, and it was especially neat to see how quickly they could pick up on the tone and emotion of a scene.” Henry Zahn ’19 was the author of The Ornament – a drama about a young married couple, played by Shayne Brakefield and Marianne Miller, busying about the house getting ready for Christmas. Only at the end does the audience realize that they have lost a young child, and are doing everything they can to remain a normal family without talking about it. Zahn, an experienced theatre artist but gathering his voice as a writer, found the experience encouraging. “It was really neat,” he said. “It gave me a reflection of my mind and how it functions as a writer.” He is even considering pursuing writing in college, and continues to express himself on the page and the stage. “I write often. I continue to take playwriting this year and hopefully next year.” “I was blown away by their talent,” said Bo List, their playwriting teacher. “They have such distinct voices as artists, and so young! It takes a good writer a long time, usually, to figure out who they are and what they have to say. These young men have such a leg up, with their talent and initiative.” List was also impressed with the response from the school. “I was amazed!” he said. “It seemed like everybody was there – some of their teachers, the Head of School, Middle and Upper School Heads, and a number of the administrative staff. I’ve played professional shows to smaller audiences than that which showed up for these two readings. That speaks volumes about how much this school supports the arts.” Volumes are also expected from these two intrepid writers, just getting started in their careers.
Artists of Sayre
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“Artists of Sayre” is an exhibit of the artwork of Sayre Upper School students. The two-dimensional work on display was created in classes taught by Bill Berryman. The jewelry and other three dimensional work was created in classes taught by Elizabeth Foley. In their preschool-12 visual art classes, students at Sayre experiment with different media, develop a sense of personal aesthetic, and recognize the influence of art in different cultures from past and present.
Sayre Fine Arts Students Making Headlines Walker Montgomery ’17, up-and-coming country star, performed at the UK Football Team’s season-opening concert, and at a variety of venues across the region. Skye Park ’20 was a finalist in the 2016 International Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists, held in Germany. Skye was also Concert Master in the 2017 Kentucky All-State Orchestra. Will Peters-Seymour ’19 was a featured guitar soloist in the 2017 Kentucky All-State Jazz Ensemble and performs frequently as a guest musician in Lexington area restaurants and jazz events. Lissy Taylor ’17 made appearances on Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour and Red Barn Radio and released her first album, “Reminds Me of You.”
All-State Art Competition For the first time, Sayre Lower School students submitted entries into the 2017 Kentucky Art Education Association’s (KyAEA) All-State Art Competition. The competition exhibited the best of the best from the Commonwealth of Kentucky with more than 250 individual artworks, representing 60 public and private schools in 13 categories spanning both two-dimensional and threedimensional artworks. The submitted entries were selected by Lower School art teacher Georgia Henkel as representing a high level of sophistication for inventive uses of color, materials and composition. Four Lower School artists won great recognition including: Maddie Papero ’25, Self Portrait, Best in Show Carson Graves ’26, 1st place in Painting Fiona Lee ’25, 2nd place in Mixed Media Lily McMahon ’26, 3rd place in Painting These hard-working, talented artists were recognized at an award ceremony at the Polvino Family Art Center in Nicholasville, KY, in April 2017. Sayre is lucky to have such an outstanding artist-teacher leading our Lower School art program and these honors are indicative of Georgia Henkel’s skills both as an artist and as a teacher of young children.
Preschool Jubilee The Preschool Jubilee has been a longtime Sayre tradition where parents, families and friends are invited to see the collaborative effort between art and music. Music teacher Sarah Kuchera works with the children to prepare them for their performance in front of a large audience. This is their time to showcase the rhymes and songs they’ve learned from music class. Using their own work, art teacher Georgia Henkel encourages creativity by helping the students create a visual backdrop for the stage. Students paint and add various graphics and images that coincide with the songs of the jubilee. Intentionally combining art and music, with the Preschool Jubilee in mind, strengthens the preschooler’s confidence and abilities through the performing arts and gives them ownership of the production.
SPA Supports Sayre Arts In May 2017, Sayre Parents Association (SPA) members presented incoming Chair of Sayre Board of Trustees Andrea Tew with a $10,000 check to go toward the operational budget. Members also voted to distribute another $5,000. SPA president Teresa Villaran presented a check to Bo List in the amount of $3,000 for the drama department. A $1,000 check was presented to Liz Foley for the art department, and a $1,000 check was presented to Amy Berryman for the music department.
Thank You Sayre Parents! Left to right: Kelli Hardeman Ellis, Kathryn Hill,
Stephanie Nahra Johnson '91, Teresa Villaran, Emily Cowles, Donna Brostek Lee, Andrea Tew, Courtney Reed, Rosie Harris, Molly Yandell
The Podium is a magazine published by Sayre School. Contributors include: Linda Barnes
’75, Brad Becker, Mary Breeding, Kate Christensen ’18, Julie Dunn, Rob Goodman ’89, Leslie Isaacs ’69, Bo List, Richard Little, Stephen Manella, Randy Mills, Barb Milosch, Timothy O’Rourke, Annie Papero, Kristin Seymour, Aya Samadi ’20, Shannon Stollings, and Sue Strup. 194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Making Their Mark in the News Students in the News 2016 and 2017 have been big years for Sayre students doing big things off-campus. In addition to their studies and extracurricular activities, the following students have gotten big results by competing, showcasing, performing, and otherwise sharing their talents in our community and beyond. Hanae Yoshida ’20 won the League of Women Voters’ essay contest with “Election 2016: Do You See What I See?” as well as the Grand Prize in the Sister Cities Young Authors Showcase with her essay “No, I Didn’t Need a Bodyguard.” These experiences were transformative for Hanae. “I realized that this is what I want to be, the true purpose of my life and my endeavors,” she said. “To give people the hope and courage to make a difference.” Alana Bloomfield ’19 also made her mark with the Sister Cities program, but as a visual artist – winning the Lexington round of its annual art competition. But she didn’t expect to win. “When I heard that the theme for the competition was, We’re Going Places,” she said, “I instantly thought of the world map…I painted the canvas with objects that I felt represented each continent or country. I entered the contest because I love to paint. I really didn’t expect to win. When I received the news that I won for Lexington, I was pretty shocked.” Her winning entry, “Globe Trotting,” traveled to a variety of art galleries and to the International Festival in Virginia Beach this summer. She also won $250, as did her teacher, Bill Berryman – for classroom supplies! This last winter, MJ Farrell ’20 won her second consecutive “Excellence in Female Performance” Award from the Junior Theatre Festival (JTF). Farrell’s accomplishment is all the more remarkable, granted that she was competing against literally thousands of students from across the country! Fifteen performers are awarded out of 3,000 competitors! This year, she was also designated a JTF All-Star, and was included in a showcase for some of the most accomplished performers of the Festival. Among her judges were Benj Pasek (co-composer of the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen) and Andrew Keenan Bolger (former cast member of the musical Newsies). MJ, like Hanae, found the experience life-changing. “My accomplishments at JTF are some that I will never forget,” she said. “And they have slightly shaped me to who I am today.” Other students Making the News include: Kennedy Sabharwal ’17, winner of the 2016 Youth in Philanthropy Award, given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The Leadership Lexington Youth Classes of 2016-2017 included Samantha Perez ’18, Marielena Villaran ’18, and Ellie Webb ’18.
Outstanding Sayre Riders Last May, Sayre held its 26th Annual Sayre Horse Show at Masterson Station Park. Special recognition was awarded to Marcum McLean ’21, the first Sayre student to win the Kelly Fleckinstein Award for Sportsmanship. This Award is dedicated to the memory of Kelly, who worked as the Assistant to the Head of School and as a volunteer for the Horse Show for over 40 years. The award is presented to the individual whose sportsmanship reflects the qualities for which Kelly was admired: propriety, respect for others, graciousness in winning or losing, and service to the community. Jane Stilz ’22 was the recipient of the Sayre School Challenge Trophy. Jane received both the lowest combined test score and the highest dressage score. Congratulations Sayre riders! Be sure to join us for the 27th Annual Sayre Horse Show at Masterson Station Park on Saturday, May 12, 2018.
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Lending a Hand This year, the Humane Society Extravaganza (HSE) was held in April. In just an hour, Sayre’s Middle School community raised $1,025! This year’s recipient of the donation was Old Friend’s Equine Retirement Farm. Students Benny Haggin ’21 and Ian Thornberry ’21, along with the HSE committee, presented the check to Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends.
Promoting Civic Responsibility The 2016 election was consequential on many fronts, with the biggest contest being, of course, the Presidential race between now-President Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Kentucky enjoyed a high profile race of its own, with Senator Rand Paul challenged by Lexington Mayor Jim Gray. Paul would go on to reelection, with Gray back to the Mayor’s office. The week after the election Mayor Gray was at Sayre Middle School talking about the election, leadership, and the opportunity to serve. Gray spoke for nearly an hour to the student body telling stories, answering questions, and opening up about what it was like to be a candidate, and thereafter, a former candidate. After a long and challenging election, he enjoyed the chance to speak directly with some of his youngest constituents. “One of the best occasions about my job as mayor is speaking to students,” he recalls of the event. “And not just because I’m speaking, but because I’m listening to what they’re seeing and learning, and what concerns them.” Gray’s visit highlighted one of the benefits of Sayre’s proximity to the hustle and bustle of city life. “Yet another value of downtown education is that prominent leaders in the city government and community are readily available to include a Sayre visit in their busy schedules,” said Sayre teacher Brad Becker. The Mayor, who has a keen interest in both art and history, understands Sayre’s special role in the vibrant downtown that he himself calls home. “Through its education of future citizens and leaders, Sayre has a remarkable history of contributing to Lexington in a unique, singular, and significant way.” Then he added: “And don’t forget your staff and faculty: they’re awesome!”
DID YOU KNOW...
Sayre's College Counseling process utilizes the knowledge that colleges and universities have individual personalities just as each of our Sayre School students has an individual and distinctive personality. Program highlights include: • College Application Support • College Essay Summer Workshops • One-to-One Consultations on The College Essay • Mock Interview Sessions • Campus Visit Tips • Free Online Test Prep • Resume Writing • Senior Internship Program • Summer Enrichment Programs
ALUMNI MAKING THEIR MARK After graduating as class co-valedictorian, Eric Shockley ’14 enrolled at Texas Christian University (TCU). Beyond packing and traveling to his new home in Fort Worth, TX, he also transported 30 hours of Advanced Placement (AP) credit. As a result, while Eric was a residential freshman, he was immediately classified in academic standing as a sophomore. Sayre’s extensive array of AP course selections enabled Eric to excel in a demanding curriculum and to be rewarded by outstanding AP exam scores that earned 30 hours of college credit. Eric’s initial enrollment as a sophomore propelled him to graduate in three years, amassing a cumulative grade point average of 3.9. His advanced standing also allowed him to pursue and to graduate with a double major in Finance and Accounting. Now, in his fourth year at TCU, Eric will earn a Master’s of Accounting Degree in May 2018. He has already accepted a full-time job offer to join the Big-4 accounting firm of Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG), in Fort Worth. Katie Gardner ’08 never thought she would be good at math or science…until she took Ryan Depew’s AP Physics and Amy Dunn’s AP Calculus BC classes. She put those skills to task during her senior internship in UK’s Physics Department, measuring the thickness of glass with lasers. Katie soon earned a Mining Engineering degree from UK, and went to work at Newmont Mining Company in northern Nevada, one of the world’s largest gold producers. A self-proclaimed “gold digger,” she has always loved playing in the dirt. Now she was working underground with operators and loading explosives. At Sayre, Katie says, she was never told “You Can’t” about anything! Another pivotal Sayre class was Woody Snowden’s AP US Government class. A writing assignment examining an international environmental legal case opened her eyes to the complexities of the legal profession. Law continued to pique her interest while at Newmont due to the heavily regulated nature of mining. Fast forward…September 2017. Katie is embarking on yet another bold, role-breaking challenge. She is entering the prestigious three-year dual JD/MBA program at the University of Pennsylvania at Penn Law/Wharton School of Business. She is looking forward to maintaining her engineering license while navigating the business and legal complexities of international environmental law. Katie is passionate about women’s roles in today’s business world. She would also like to see more exposure to mining for younger students. While visiting Sayre she was impressed with the changes underway while relishing the ambiance of the campus. Before long, there will be young students inspired by science and math in the new Alltech Science Lab! One more thing about Katie…she is a whole lot of fun. After all, who doesn’t like to play in the dirt? 194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Impressive Summer for Sayre Middle School Students Think the summers between middle school years are all about sleeping in, babysitting, and mowing lawns? Those traditions have their place, but some students are using summer to explore new topics of intellectual interest, to serve in the larger community, or even better yet, for a combination of both. Sayre Middle School students spent time in the summer of 2017 in an impressive array of activities. Because the school recommends students to a range of nationally renowned programs, many are eligible for unusual summer opportunities. In 2017 alone, Sayre students were on campuses at Harvard for the Ambassador Leadership Summit, Davidson with Duke’s Talent Identification Program (TIP), and Western Kentucky University’s SCATS – Summer Camp for Academically Talented Students, a “unique learning environment to explore new ideas, develop concepts, make friends, and share experiences.” A group of six students and two adults also traveled to the Dominican Republic for a Sayre School service project. How did it work out for them? Eighth grader Ashton Bell ’22, who spent his second consecutive summer in the Dominican Republic (DR), sums it up nicely. “Pushing myself past my comfort zone was the best decision I ever made.”
Left to right (front): Wine to Water employees and factory workers; Ashton Bell, Aiden Owen, Neo Sanders Left to right (back): Wine to Water employees including Radhames Carelas, master ceramacist; Lexie Blackburn, Mary Grace Murphy, Kristin Seymour
Ashton described the weeklong program, in which Sayre partners with the nonprofit Wine to Water to make and distribute water filters. “It’s been really enlightening to be making and handing out water filters in the DR… to see the water crisis firsthand and to know that I am contributing to help stop that water crisis. When you hand someone a filter, the feeling you have is really unexplainable. It’s just awesome.” Aiden Owen ’22 made the decision to attend the Ambassador Leadership Summit at Harvard and followed that experience with a week working in the DR. How would he sum it up? In one word: “Fun. I made a lot of friends at Harvard and I still keep in touch with all of them.” Sitting down together, Ashton and Aiden relived highlights of their week in the Dominican Republic. Days are spent in a factory making clay water filters; the hours are long and the temperatures are high. But somehow these friends and the other students who attended the trip don’t remember the hardship. “This was a different experience,” said Aiden. “I used to go to resorts in the Dominican, but I didn’t see what it was like to actually live there – what life was like outside of the resort gates. (With the Wine to Water trip) you feel better …you can go to a resort anywhere and they’re all the same. But this trip was different – it opened my mind. Helping is fun, and playing is fun, and on that trip we did both.” Ashton joins in: “Yes. Hot and sweaty, cold showers for a week – and I’d honestly go back to the DR again rather than go to a resort. It’s more satisfying.” The Ambassador Leadership Summit at Harvard was, according to our students, a great way to meet people from all over the United States and 14 countries. Students chose an important topic to research and present to their peers, answering the question “What global subject would you choose to influence if you were able?” Megan Maines weighed in: “It was a lot of work. We did a project on human trafficking. We want to spread awareness of the topic. It was definitely useful, and I enjoyed learning about it. We had inspiring talks from a speaker. Overall, it was fun and it motivated me to have more of an impact here when I returned.” Closer to home but no less exciting, Western Kentucky University’s SCATS program provided current eighth grader Lindsay Whitaker ’22 a wealth of options. She enrolled in Writing Boot Camp, Innovation Station (an entrepreneurship and Maker Space experience), “From Mars to Mutations” (robots and genetics), and Acting. “I learned to be more independent while having lots of fun and learning cool stuff,” says Lindsay. Her father, Jason Whitaker, concurs. “It was nice to see Lindsay be on her own for a couple weeks and take on some interesting academic challenges.” Like current eighth grader Aiden Owen, current eighth grader Neo Sanders ’22 chose to go from a week of academic inquiry to a week in the DR making water filters. He joined the Duke TIP program at Davidson where the description reads like this: “Explore the history and process of designing spaces and structures through a comprehensive examination of the rich world of architecture.” The course not only did that, but it provided students with the opportunity to design their own structure, and Neo excelled at the task. Performance reviews described him as “an uncommonly creative designer.” Neo’s mother, Heather Sanders, ascribes some of that creative success to
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Left to right: Class of 2022 - Mary Grace Murphy, Neo
Sanders, Ashton Bell, Aiden Owen (DR trip), Hope Garlington (Harvard Ambassador), Lindsay Whitaker (SCATS), Will Marsden and Megan Maines (Harvard), Eliza Scoggin (SCATS), Sam Lain, Lexie Blackburn (DR)
his Sayre experiences. “I’d like to show appreciation for the early opportunities that Neo had with Chris McGinley and the Sayre Farm. Neo was offered opportunities to be involved with his classmates in projects and to show leadership before he even began classes at Sayre.” If Neo was tired at all after an intense week of creativity at Davidson, it didn’t show in his work ethic on the Dominican trip. He loved working in the factory, and had to be reminded to take breaks for water and occasional rest. Eighth grader Lexie Blackburn ’22 summed up her experience making water filters on the Dominican trip. “It was life-changing. You got to completely see how other people live and how they survive with what they have and make the most of it. Building the water filters was beneficial to the community, but the real thing we learned and were practicing was how to be someone who can change the world with knowledge.” Learning how to change the world with knowledge. Could there be a better way to spend a summer as an adolescent?
Traveling to Galapagos! This summer, Rachel Holsinger and Debbie Wheeler took a group of nine students and four parents to the Galapagos Islands to study the unique island ecology of this world-renowned archipelago off the coast of Ecuador. Working with the Galapagos National Park Service, the group measured, tagged, and weighed wild giant tortoises on the Island of Santa Cruz. There was time for snorkeling and kayaking in the Galapagos Marine Reserve off the coast of the Island of Isabela where marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and many sea lions were seen! The travelers also saw the famous Galapagos penguins. These are the smallest of South American penguins and are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. They visited the Charles Darwin Foundation Breeding Center and saw several species of giant tortoise that the Darwin Center is working to save from extinction. Rachel and Debbie teach about these famous islands, significant for their role in Charles Darwin's book On the Origin of Species, a seminal work in evolutionary biology. They learned so much seeing these organisms first hand. Left to right (front): Yuri Villaran, Sophie Harned '20, Rachel Holsinger, Elizabeth Robbins, Andrés Fiallo, Sam Banks '19, Alex Mills '19, Juan Carlos Montaño
Left to right (back): John Eberth, Alison Henry '19, Marielena Villaran '18, Lauren Thornberry '18, Lauren Eberth '19, Dee Dee Wheeler '18, Debbie Wheeler, Jimmy Thornberry, Zach Grissom '17, two research scientists with Galapágos National Park Service
Traveling to Spain! Sayre students took off for southern Spain in July with Upper School Spanish teacher Nance Everts. Biking, dancing and a cooking class were among the most popular activities. The group stayed in the charming coastal city of Cádiz for two weeks and took advantage of the sun and surf. They also visited Sevilla, a city renowned for its fortress, cathedral, and Moorish architecture. Students enjoyed time with host families, as well as a daily dose of sun and sand.
Left to right: Nance Everts, Sam Levy '17,
Caroline Hager '19, Jackson Foster '18, Cassidy Hook '19
194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Observation, Experience, Knowledge The Technique of Optogenetics by Aya Samadi ’20 In the summer before my freshman year, almost two years ago, I spent time at the University of Kentucky in Dr. Robin Cooper’s lab. My parents had communicated with Upper School Science teacher Debbie Wheeler to make contact with Dr. Cooper. I didn’t expect anything from my time there; in fact, I didn’t think I would be able to do anything since I hadn’t had an in-depth course in biology, physiology, or chemistry. However, to my surprise, it turned out that since I could count to 400, I would be of help in the lab. Every day, I would arrive at the lab around 8 a.m. and wait for Dr. Cooper to give me my “assignment.” I became part of a project called optogenetics. Optogenetics is a biological technique involving the use of light to control cells in living tissue, typically neurons, that have been genetically modified to express light-sensitive ion channels. I, along with UK undergraduate and graduate students, would spend hours a day in a dark room counting Drosophila Melanogaster larvae heart rates with blue light shining on them through microscopes. The heart rates ranged from 50bpm to 400bpm depending on the larvae. In short, we wanted to see the effects of blue light on genetically modified Drosophila larvae – on fruit flies and their – heart rates. My summer at UK was definitely one to remember. I always loved the quick stops to Starbucks throughout the week. That summer, I was put in a completely different environment than the one we have at Sayre. It was scary at first because I was the youngest person there and because I had never been exposed to research before. The truth is, I didn’t really understand a lot of the terms or concepts related to the Drosophila larvae; yet, I was able to catch on to important terms and learn to understand the real purpose of the project. I do hope to continue research in the future, but I want to explore other areas like environmental science. Maybe once I am in college, I can be a part of another lab like this one and spearhead my own project.
Sayre Senior Internships by Sue Strup, MSEd, MSN Career Consultant UK Chandler Hospital and UK College of Nursing Past Parent and Sayre Board of Trustees Whenever my friends ask me, “Why Sayre?" I answer, "How long do you have?” As an educator and university administrator for more than 24 years, my entire professional career has been dedicated to career services, experiential education and more specifically working with college students to secure internships and employment after graduation. One of the many things I tell my friends about why we chose Sayre for our children is how experiential education is woven into so many facets of the educational experience. To the lay person, that seems like a mouthful. Dr. Janet Eyler, a professor of education at Vanderbilt and one of the national leaders in experiential education, describes it this way, “Experiential education, which takes students into the community, helps students both to bridge classroom study and life in the world and to transform inert knowledge into knowledge-in-use.”
UK Interns (left to right): Emma Bilberry, Kyle Hensley, Rex Farmer, Zach Grissom, James Kyrkanides, Anjali Shankar, Grant Peters, Hayden Adams, Sydney Strup, Kaden Silverburg
Starting from when our children were in the Sayre Lower School, the importance of experiential education through community service and service learning was evident. By the time our daughter Sydney ’17 (a lifer) graduated from Sayre, she had accumulated close to 750+ service hours. These service opportunities exposed her to various community agencies such as Lighthouse Ministries, the Hope Center and God’s Pantry, to name a few. It taught her about doing good work and what these important organizations do for citizens in our community.
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The final Sayre experiential education component is when our seniors complete an internship during the last four weeks of their senior year. According to the Sayre Internship Program, “the premise is that success in higher education is predicated not only on how much knowledge students have acquired, but on how well they have learned to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate that knowledge. Whether interning in a field that interests them, or learning about something entirely new, students gain important experience during their month out in the workforce. Our Sayre Seniors are required to plan, design, and implement an
internship experience in an area of career interest. They write weekly journals describing their experience culminating in making an oral presentation about their internship in a formal Upper School assembly. The Sayre internship also allows students to get a better understanding of the education and experience and qualifications needed for a career.” Internships sometimes help a student hone in on selecting a college major or minor. The students get experience and skills by working on a team, communicating effectively, dressing and acting professionally, building their network of professionals, managing their own time in a business setting, demonstrating responsibility and possibly obtaining a skill or producing something tangible that they otherwise didn’t have prior to their internship.
Griggs Powell, Hilary Johnson Sewell '01, John Johnson '90, Barry Mitchell '92
Internships are great resume boosters as well and connectors to future potential employers and may lead to other internships in college or future employment as evidenced by Griggs Powell, who attended Sayre, John Johnson ’90 and Barry Mitchell ’92. Both Griggs and Barry have hired numerous Sayre interns over the years and have several Sayre alums working for their two companies - Madd Merch and Promotional Robbie Goodman, Jake Duby at P3 Products Plus, LLC (P3). “The Sayre intern program has been a great way for us to work with current Sayre students, stay connected to the school and hopefully provide some helpful insight to our interns about how a small business operates.” Specific goals of the Sayre senior internship program include: • Experience a business setting • Explore a career of interest • Establish a transition period from high school to college with greater individual freedom and responsibility Fortunately, many Sayre alumni and past or current parents remember the importance of the senior internship and want to “give back” to Sayre through hosting and supervising a senior at their workplace. According to Cathy Bilberry, Sayre College Counselor and Internship Coordinator, the Class of 2017 interned with more than 22% Sayre alumni. This opportunity bodes well for developing network contacts for our seniors throughout Dr. Meg J. McBrien, Sam Van Balen at MedVet their lifetime. Madison Harris at Morton James Boutique
Here are but a few benefits internships bring to our seniors: • Help students decide what they do and do not want to do • Provide hands-on technical experience • Teach accountability, time management, interpersonal communication • Show value of professional networking • Create stepping stone to further opportunities
In the past, Sayre students have worked in a variety of areas including veterinary science, law, communications, engineering, finance, graphic design, athletics, merchandising, education, banking, business, medicine, nursing, environmental science, and journalism. According to Julianne Waldron ’93, Associate Athletic Director for Marketing at the University of Louisville, “It was the Sayre internship that opened my mind to what I was passionate about - communications. From that one internship, I sought out the next adventure, and the one beyond that, until I had six internships on my resume prior to graduating from DePauw. The variety of working experience that I gained from these internships was crucial to gaining my first and second job at The White House. Beyond that, as a senior administrator today, I am well equipped to manage young professionals as they look to grow their own careers. Looking back, I know it all started at Sayre.”
Julianne speaks to the Class of 2017 at the Senior Breakfast
Many of our current Sayre students are doing internships with current or past Sayre parents. Current Sayre parent Dr. Andrew Bernard, Chief, Section of Trauma, and Acute Surgery Trauma Medical Director Paul A. Kearney MD Chair of Trauma Surgery, describes the importance of students interning, “Experiences are bases for learning. Since internships are full of new experiences, they have great educational value.” The Sayre internship is just one of many components that set the educational experience apart from other schools. Not only does doing an internship get Sayre students “real world” Sydney Strup, Dr. Bernard at experience, it offers them a sneak peek into the future of endless career possibilities and lifelong learning. UK Chandler Hospital Through internships, students develop tools, skills, experiences and connections that will last them a lifetime. 194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Internship ‘in tern Ship Noun: internship; plural noun: internships 1. the position of a student or trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification ~ Webster’s Dictionary The Sayre Senior Internship program began as a hands–on work project initiated in 1977 by Headmaster William T. Williams. It allowed students the opportunity to explore career options before graduation. By 1988 it was an all-day, every day internship for the month of May. “The program has a different feel today; so many seniors take several Advanced Placement classes that cut into the amount of time many of them spend in the internship. But it lives on and I think it is a valuable experience for most of our seniors.” Tim O’Rourke, Head of Upper School
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Marty Whitehouse Riney ’05 I was so inspired by my internship that it shaped the path of my life. At the time, I realized I was incredibly fortunate to be able to experience a vast amount of the equine veterinary world. I now look back and see all the ways it changed me.”
Marty Whitehouse Riney attended the University of Kentucky and graduated with an Animal Science degree in 2009. Marty continued on to graduate school and received her doctorate from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. Today, Marty and her husband Tom live in Nicholasville, KY, with their dogs, cats, and horses. Together they are part owners of the Nicholasville Road Animal Hospital in Lexington, KY. Marty also has her own equine dentistry practice, MWR Equine Dentistry LLC. What was your senior internship at Sayre, and what did it entail? My senior internship was with a large equine hospital in Lexington, KY. I was rotated through the hospital to get a thorough overview of equine veterinary medicine. I spent time in the pharmacy, laboratory, surgery, medicine, and ambulatory portions of the hospital. I was able to interact with board-certified veterinarians, senior veterinarians, interns, and many VERY knowledgeable technicians. How did your internship experience impact you? I was so inspired by my internship that it shaped the path of my life. At the time, I realized I was incredibly fortunate to be able to experience a vast amount of the equine veterinary world, but I now look back and see all the ways it changed me. After graduating I continued on a track towards veterinary school. I chose a college that had a pre-veterinary degree, worked for veterinarians, and volunteered in locations that would help me gain more experience in my projected field. What have you chosen for your career today? Of course I followed my path, even when it did get a bit bumpy, and went on to veterinary school at Auburn University. I graduated as a veterinarian in 2014… a dream come true! I own part of a small animal veterinary clinic in Lexington with my husband and I also continue to do equine medicine in the form of dentistry as well. What advice would you give to Sayre seniors when choosing an internship? For the seniors coming up on this decision, I would encourage those who have ideas of what they may be interested in, find an internship in that field. By going towards your ideal field, you will get hands-on experience and time in the real world of it, that will help you decide whether or not this is something you should continue to pursue post-Sayre. If you don’t have any ideas, then follow a passion or a dream… you never know what it may lead to! You are clearly well suited, well grounded, and well satisfied with the career path you have taken. Setting it all aside, if you woke up tomorrow and had to do something else…what would it be and why? I would think had I not proceeded with veterinary school, I probably would have done human dentistry! I love dentistry (hence why I do plenty of it in both of my veterinary practices) and always found orthodontics impressive! The ability to provide people with both practical and cosmetic changes to their mouth would be rewarding to see.
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Julianne Corbett Waldron ’93 Take this (Senior internship) opportunity to see if your passions are spot on. Always put yourself in a position that is challenging, exciting and fuels your curiosity.”
Last spring, the guest speaker for the Senior Breakfast was alumna Julianne Corbett Waldron. It was Julianne’s enthusiasm for internships that led us to the subject of this article. Julianne Corbett Waldron ’93 grew up in Nicholasville, KY. She graduated from DePauw University in 1997 with a B.A. in Communications. Afterwards, Julianne attended and graduated from Northwestern University in 2002, with a M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications. Julianne’s list of internships from her senior year at Sayre to 1997 is quite impressive. WKYT-TV, Lexington (Senior internship 1993) WVLK AM/FM, Lexington (Summer 1994) The Talk Radio News Service, Washington, DC (Fall 1995) WNYC – NPR New York (Summer 1996) The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (January 1997) Presently, Julianne is the Associate Athletic Director for Marketing for University of Louisville Athletics. What was your senior internship at Sayre, and what did it entail? My senior internship was with WKYT-TV in the newsroom. Each day I supported the station and learned from producers, directors, assignment editors, weather and videographers. I did whatever was needed that day. How did your internship experience impact you? It taught me that I love a fast-paced environment, communications and being a part of current events. It also taught me that I needed to keep doing internships because the media industry was hard to break into at the time. I also learned that I did not want to work in television. I did not want to worry about what I looked like all the time or be concerned with make-up, hair and the like. I did want to be close to the news of the day, but had no interest in being in front of the camera. What have you chosen for your career today? Today, I am the Associate Athletic Director for Marketing for Louisville Athletics. It’s a far cry from where my path began in the media at WKYT-TV. Yet, while there are obvious differences in where I am today, there are some fascinating similarities. Both are high-profile and fast. Both are connected to current events, the emotions or psychology of human interests. Both require a consumer base that needs to be delighted, celebrated and entertained. What advice would you give to Sayre seniors when choosing an internship? Ask yourself, “What is my impossible?” Don’t take the internship that’s easy to “fall into,” or something you’ve done already the previous summer. Don’t do the internship that just “checks the box." I’m probably way off script here - but don’t look at previous Sayre Alumni internships first. Have an internal conversation about your dreams, your interests and your passions. Take this internship opportunity to see if your passions are spot on. Always put yourself in a position that is challenging, exciting and fuels your curiosity. Look at individuals in the city, state or nationally that you would like to emulate. Study their career paths and see how you might be able to mimic it. Write that person, tell them why you want to emulate their careers, ask for an introductory meeting—whether it is Mayor Jim Gray or Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook. Aim high. If you shoot for the moon – you will at least hit the stars. Above all, know yourself and trust your interests - never block out opportunities because of predetermined opinions. At the age of 17, I would never have guessed that I would work in sports marketing some day. You are clearly well suited, well grounded, and well satisfied with the career path you have taken. Setting it all aside, if you woke up tomorrow and had to do something else…what would it be and why? I would love to write children’s books. I read so many books to my two boys and I am always in awe of how simple authors make it look. I realize there is so much more to storytelling to kids especially in this era of new media and digital access. I would love to have the talent and capacity to be a writer for this very special audience.
194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Allen Prewitt ’13 Your internship might very well influence you in the positive direction and help with deciding a major to study in college."
Allen Prewitt hails from Mt. Sterling, KY, and attended Sayre for six years. He continued his studies at Virginia Tech’s (VT) engineering program. He is completing an undergraduate degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering where his focus is in the construction management, water resources, and geotechnical aspects of civil engineering. Currently, he is fulfilling his third co-op term (semester internship) with Ulliman Schutte Construction in Charlotte, NC, where they are making improvements and upgrades to one of Charlotte’s wastewater treatment plants. What was your senior internship at Sayre, and what did it entail? My senior internship at Sayre was with David Dean '88 at Dean Builds, Inc. Dean Builds is a Construction Management and General Contracting company with projects all over Kentucky and surrounding states, including the current construction of Sayre’s new Lower School. While I was with David, he had me do a few different things to get a taste of the construction world. I would go out to various job sites with the Project Superintendent to see the different scopes of work completed by subcontractors. David introduced me to the estimating world by having me complete small quantity take-offs and get quotes from different vendors or subcontractors. On occasion, he was able to take me to meetings with either current or possible clients in order to show me more of the business management aspect of always having work lined up for your employees. Overall, I had limited time at the internship due to Advanced Placement courses, but Mr. Dean made sure the time I had with him was not wasted and I received as much exposure to the construction world as possible. How did your internship experience impact you? I would have to say my internship experience gave me a lot of insight on what I wanted to pursue studying in college. I was already enrolled in Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, but I was not entirely sure which type of engineering I wanted to study. So, interning with Dean Builds introduced me to the Civil and Construction world. It showed me how there is plenty of opportunity to get out into the field instead of being stuck to a desk, which is something I knew I could never do. Also, I really liked the idea of building something that society would use for years down the road and knowing I played a part in constructing that something. Overall, it made my decision in becoming a civil engineer much easier and one I know I won’t regret. What have you chosen for your career today? I’m continuing to be a civil engineer. As I briefly mentioned, I have not yet graduated due to taking a couple semesters off from classes to get real world experience through a cooperative education program through the school and my current employer. (Also, who doesn’t want to milk out an extra year in college??) I will return to VT in January and finish up a few credit hours, and upon graduation, I plan to work full-time for Ulliman Schutte. With this company, we focus in the water resources industry, so most of our projects deal with improving or building more sustainable water and wastewater treatment plants. At this time, my end goal is to be a Project Manager after working for a few years as being a Project Engineer. What advice would you give to Sayre seniors when choosing an internship? I would have to say try and choose something that you think might be of interest to you. At the very least, if you end up not enjoying the internship, you figured out you don’t want to pursue it as a career. But as in my case, your internship might very well influence you in the positive direction and help with deciding a major to study in college. Furthermore, you might even open doors for future employment if you impressed your employer. But overall, I urge you not to choose something because it will be easy. I have heard a few stories where Sayre seniors ended up sitting around twiddling their thumbs at their internship, and it is a waste of time for both you and your employer. At the very least, if you cannot find something that is similar to your desired career path, then go out and do something random and fun. It will be an experience you can look back on! You are clearly well suited, well grounded, and well satisfied with the career path you have taken. Setting it all aside, if you woke up tomorrow and had to do something else…what would it be and why? This is a tough question, because I enjoy what I do now so much. Regardless, I worked with a surveying team for an engineering firm in Lexington the summer after my freshman year at VT. I really enjoyed that line of work for multiple reasons, and I could see myself being a licensed surveyor. For one, I enjoyed being outside for work. You can be anywhere from a job site staking buildings or roads out to creating a topography map for an undeveloped piece of land. Overall, this might not be the best answer since I still survey in my civil engineering career, but it was a job that interested me while I was doing it. Outside of this, my family has a farm I grew up working around, so I can always picture myself going back and helping my father, Buck Prewitt ’74, run the farm to eventually take it over. But, I do not see that happening anytime soon… right now I have an opportunity to experience the fun and challenging path of engineering.
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Sydney Lutz DeLong ’10 Some of the most valuable information the W VLK News producer gave me as a senior in high school was when I was making my college decision. He told me that it was not the school program that would prepare me for the ‘real world’; it would be the internships and experiences I sought out that would push me to be ready for a job in television news.”
Sydney Lutz DeLong attended Centre College where she obtained a Bachelor of the Arts in Spanish with a minor in Government, graduating in the Spring of 2014. While at Centre, she was a cheerleader and captain for two years and met the love of her life, Kyle. They were married in July of 2016 and currently live in Lexington. In their spare time, Sydney and Kyle enjoy spending time with family, traveling, exercising, cooking, attending sporting events, and exploring their home state of Kentucky. They are the proud parents of a three-year-old Toy Poodle/Maltese mix (Maltipoo) named Bella. What was your senior internship at Sayre, and what did it entail? My senior internship was in the News Department at WKYT in Lexington. I had always known that I wanted to work in television news, therefore I searched for a news department that would accept someone as young as a senior in high school. As an intern, I would call local police departments and ask dispatch centers if they had anything going on. I was also given the opportunity to write stories for the "News Ticker" that scrolled on the bottom of the screen during newscasts. Multiple times during my internship, I had the privilege of going out into the field with reporters and photographers, to watch and learn how they covered stories. The most memorable moments from my senior internship were when I worked in the newsroom with the 11:00 p.m. show producer. He taught me how to write news stories, and allowed me to write stories that were used in his newscast. Some of the most valuable information he gave me was when I was making my college decision. The producer told me that it was not the school program that would prepare me for the real world; it would be the internships and experiences I sought out that would push me to be ready for a job in television news. How did your internship experience impact you? The experience at my senior internship truly shaped the person I am today. Because of what I learned at my internship, I chose to go to Centre College, instead of a school that offered a Broadcast Journalism program. I knew it would be more work, but I knew it was the experiences at internships I participated in that would shape me, not the classes I took. Because of my senior internship, I took another internship when I was in college, ultimately landing my job as a television news producer. What have you chosen for your career today? I am currently a television news producer at WLEX-TV. During my junior year of college I interned at WLEX, and then was offered a part-time job while I was still in college. I worked eight hours each weekend gathering news stories, answering phone calls and writing stories for the news website. After working for several months, I was offered the position to launch and begin producing the LEX 18 News at Sunrise weekend show. During the spring semester of my senior year, I went to school during the week, then worked overnight on the weekends. Upon graduation from Centre, I was offered to produce the LEX 18 News at Sunrise show, the most-watched morning newscast in central Kentucky. Because of my choice to intern at WKYT while at Sayre, I was able to jumpstart my career ambitions for my future. What advice would you give to Sayre seniors when choosing an internship? My best advice is to take your internship seriously. Even though you might be losing motivation at the end of your senior year of high school, focus on the goal of your future, and treat your senior internship just like your job. Most importantly, enjoy your internship...don't be shy, ask questions and do everything you possibly can. You are clearly well suited, well grounded, and well satisfied with the career path you have taken. Setting it all aside, if you woke up tomorrow and had to do something else…what would it be and why? I would like to be an event planner. As a news producer, I have to be very organized and be quick to problem solve, qualities that are also very useful when organizing events. In my personal life, I have done some work planning weddings and events, and if I had to wake up tomorrow and do something else, I would start my own business and become an event planner.
194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Harding Dowell ’01 Choose passion over practicality. If you do something that you really care about, the lessons will stick deeper, and the memories will be richer.”
After graduating from Sayre, Harding Dowell continued his studies at the University of Florida earning his Bachelor of Design in 2005. From the University of Florida, Harding earned his Master of Architecture from the University of Virginia in 2008. He was hired by Centerbrook Architects in Essex, CT, as a Staff Architect and worked with them until 2012. In 2012 EOP Architects in Lexington, KY, saw Harding’s potential and he was hired as an Associate. Harding continues in that position today. Harding is married to Wells Bullard Dowell and they have a 3-month-old son named Hall. They reside in Lexington, KY. It is noteworthy to see the list of Harding’s internships: 2002 - Sherman Carter Barnhart, Lexington 2003 - Safdie Architects, Boston 2006 - Guyon Architects, Lexington 2007 - Kube Architecture, Washington DC What was your senior internship at Sayre, and what did it entail? I’d divide my high school internship experience into two parts. First, I interned for two summers at Sherman Carter Barnhardt Architects after my junior and senior years. This internship set me on the path to the architecture career I have now. I was able to work directly with one of SCB’s premier construction administrators Joe Nolasco. Admittedly, high school interns in architecture firms are often relegated to menial tasks like scanning old drawings or organizing material libraries. Some may be lucky enough to draw a bathroom plan! I was, by happenstance really, afforded a different path. Working with Joe put me on the construction side of the architectural process, teaching me great lessons in the realities of building. I visited sites, reviewed “shop drawings” (the documents that each subcontractor submits to show exactly what they are going to build or install; “where the rubber meets the road” so to speak), and heard Joe berate more than one misbehaving contractor. Joe’s high expectations were the best form of mentorship. How did your internship experience impact you? My Sayre senior internship was a conscious departure from architectural practice. By my senior spring, I’d long since decided to major in architecture, and had been accepted to the University of Florida. I knew I had a summer of shop drawings ahead of me, so I decided to indulge an interest outside of my chosen career path: photojournalism. Through my work with the Pillars yearbook, I knew the valuable story that could be told through a good photo (even so, the yearbook I helmed that year had an unusual number of photos of people’s feet; not sure what story I was trying to tell there). I wanted to get a sense of the photographer’s role in building each day’s newspaper. I joined Mark Cornelison, who still shoots for the Herald-Leader, acting as his shadow and pack mule. Only occasionally did I touch a camera; the paper had just gone fully digital, and Mark’s state-of-the-art 5-megapixel Canon (laughable now, when your phone’s camera probably has at least 8 megapixels) was not to be trusted in my unsteady hands. Nevertheless, I learned a great deal about the art of putting together the day’s news. More often than you’d imagine, Mark was sent out to “find news” to fill space. The decline of print and the dominance of the internet was only barely on the horizon in 2001; we figured there’d always be a market for photos of the latest high school baseball game or curious human interest story. What have you chosen for your career today? I’m an architect. I focus on smaller, community-focused projects for EOP Architects in Lexington. What advice would you give to Sayre seniors when choosing an internship? Choose passion over practicality. Life is short, and there will be plenty of time for pragmatism later. If you do something that you really care about, the lessons will stick deeper, and the memories will be richer. As a bonus, you’ll probably have more fun, too. You are clearly well suited, well grounded, and well satisfied with the career path you have taken. Setting it all aside, if you woke up tomorrow and had to do something else…what would it be and why? That’s tough; I’ve really wanted to be an architect since I was very young, drawing floor plans while bored in church (but never in class, of course!). But, if I had to choose something else, I think I would have gone into government or public service, but still with a design focus. I love internal processes, and finding little ways to make them better. I would have had a grand time designing Census forms.
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Lucretia Payne Anderson ’99 W hen I was a senior in high school I decided that I wanted to work in MLB, specifically for the Cardinals. The fact that this dream of mine came true right after I graduated from college was amazing. Hard work, networking, and being connected to the right places and people at the right time, led me to that career path.”
Lucretia Payne Anderson attended DePauw University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2003. After graduation from DePauw University, Lucretia fulfilled her life-long dream of working for the St. Louis Cardinals. She obtained an internship in the Community Relations/Cardinals Care department with the Cardinals Major League Baseball (MLB) team. A few months into her internship, she was hired full-time in that department and stayed there for 12 years, until she married in 2015. Recently, Lucretia, her husband Irving, and daughter Gabrilla moved from Grants Pass, OR, to Northern Kentucky. Baby Anderson #2 is due January, 2018. What was your senior internship at Sayre, and what did it entail? For my senior internship I worked at 590 WVLK in the sports department under Tom Leach and I also worked a little bit with Larry Glover. I wrote short sports recaps/stories. Both Tom and Larry critiqued my writing. I was also able to record a few stories that I wrote. I cannot remember if any of the stories aired or if it was just used for feedback. I had an interest working in sports, specifically in baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, and was thinking about sports broadcasting—either radio or television. How did your internship experience impact you? My internship allowed me to see I was definitely still interested in pursuing a career in sports. Tom Leach helped me a lot with my writing. I certainly used the advice he gave me for my first two years in college when I worked in the sports department for the school’s radio station. What have you chosen for your career today? I am happily a full-time wife and mother now for almost two years. However, after I graduated from college in 2003, I was able to obtain an internship in the Community Relations/Cardinals Care department with the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball (MLB) team. A few months into my internship, I was hired full-time in that department and I stayed there for 12 years, up until I married in 2015. My job consisted of fundraising for the team’s community fund, Cardinals Care, through various events. I also helped to run a youth baseball development league, Redbird Rookies, for kids ages 5-13 in under-resourced communities. There was no charge to participate in the program. In addition to providing all of the equipment and uniforms for the kids to play baseball, we also had learning programs for them in the areas of health, education, mentoring, and cultural arts. It was extremely rewarding for me to have a positive impact on the community while working for my favorite baseball team! As I mentioned, when I was a senior in high school I decided that I wanted to work in MLB, specifically for the Cardinals. The fact that this dream of mine came true right after I graduated from college was amazing. Hard work, networking, and being connected to the right places and people at the right time, led me to that career path. I was a part of four World Series, two of those being championships in 2006 and 2011. I also helped with hosting some of the MLB All-Star festivities when All-Star weekend took place in St. Louis in 2009. All of it was amazing! What advice would you give to Sayre seniors when choosing an internship? As a senior, if you believe you have an idea of the career path that you would like to take, then definitely try to choose an internship that will allow you to see if that area truly is something that interests you. If you are not sure what you would like to do for a career, then I would simply choose something that is of interest to you or something that you would be interested in learning more about, otherwise you are going to have a LONG few weeks. You are clearly well suited, well grounded, and well satisfied with the career path you have taken. Setting it all aside, if you woke up tomorrow and had to do something else…what would it be and why? Being a wife and mother is something that I would always want to do, with a career or not, but if I was to do something in addition to being a wife and mother I would be interested in being on the radio as a Disc Jockey. I was the Program Director at my college’s radio station for several semesters and I hosted a weekly radio music program in addition to doing a few short news and sports cast updates. I enjoyed that a lot. I can easily say that my experience at 590 WVLK caused me to get involved with the college radio station, and ended up being something I was heavily involved with all four years of college! 194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Alumni Gatherings 2017 Hall of Fame Induction The Sayre Athletic Hall of Fame Induction ceremony was held on Friday, January 27. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor and recognize individual athletes, teams, or coaches that have made a significant contribution to the school by their participation in the school’s athletic program. This year former cross country and track star Ann Eason ’11 joined former swimming sensation Nick Graves ’06, and both shared the stage with former cross country coach Colleen Cornelius. A reception followed and was attended by family and friends of the three new inductees. The Alumni office will be accepting nominations for future inductees. The next induction will be during the 2019-2020 school year. Top photo: Swim Coach Courtland Leer ’04, Nick Graves ’06, Director of Athletics Richard Little Bottom photo: Ann Eason ’11, Colleen Cornelius
Thomas A. Grunwald Golf Scramble The Thomas A. Grunwald Golf Scramble continues to be a successful event for the alumni. Held at Spring Valley Golf Course on Monday, October 16, alumni, current parents, sponsors, and friends enjoyed an afternoon of golf while raising funds to benefit Sayre School. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Chair Cabot Haggin ’11, the committee members, teams, and sponsors.
Justin Jones, Polly Hilliard ’72, Steve Jones, Gary Hilliard ’02
The 2017 Thomas A . Grunwald Golf Scramble Winners with Chair Cabot Haggin ’11: Steve Whitman, Matt Whitman, Danny Harpe, Bennett Clark
Scott Mayes, Carson Asbury ’73, Hi Nuckols, Don Pisacano ’74
Will Bishop, Allison Hancock Bishop ’10, Walker Hancock ’08, Taylor Burgess ’08
Alumni Reunion Sayre celebrated its Alumni Reunion in partnership with the Dedication Ceremony for the naming of the Buttery in honor of Thomas A. Grunwald. The All School Alumni Cocktail party on Friday, October 20 began at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Dedication Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. A fun-filled night continued celebrating the life of Tom Grunwald and catching up with old friends. The following classes received lapel pins in recognition of their special anniversary: 1967 (50th), 1992 (25th), and 2007 (10th).
Class of 1967 - John Palumbo, Berry Hall, Bill Goodman Bell, Jane Aaron, Larry Flynn, Steve Ruschell
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Class of 1973 - Sam Marcus, Jean Ellen Paulson, Ike Lawrence, Mary Dike Midkiff, Holly Wiedemann, Carson Asbury, Ann Bakhaus
Class of 1982 - Laura Newsome, Jonathan Otis, Shelia Shaw Sanders, (David DiPrete), Cecilia Clarke DiPrete, Lindsey Burton Kindt, Leigh Ann Wagner, Jayne Kissling Tannenbaum, Tom Bunch, Tori Eurton, Jennifer Carlile, Jennifer Stephenson McLamb
Thomas A. Grunwald Building Dedication At this year’s Alumni Reunion, the Sayre community gathered on the Front Circle to dedicate the Buttery in honor of Thomas A. Grunwald. Throughout Tom’s fifty years of service to Sayre, he did just about everything —History Teacher, Bus Driver, Upper School Director, Department Chair, Director of Alumni Affairs, and, of course, Sayre Canoe Trip Founder. “Moments like these,” stated Stephen Manella, “take place for only one reason — Love. We are here because of the countless ways that Tom made a difference in our lives.” Following remarks by Tom’s sons, Andrew and Matthew, the dedication was unveiled and the celebration continued! We want to thank the over 160 members of the Sayre family for their gifts and pledges totaling over $400,000. With the match from an anonymous alumni family, over $800,000 has been raised so far to honor Tom Grunwald and support the school he loved.
Matthew Grunwald ’87
Andrew Grunwald ’89
Judy Grunwald, Buck Prewitt ’74
The Grunwald Family
David Hume ’77, Edie ’77 and Bush ’78 Gess, Becky ’77 and Don Diloreto
Joseph ’87 and Jacquelin ’88 Murphy, Buck Prewitt ’74
Tom Isaacs ’58, Board Chair Andrea Tew
Left to right: Mary Lloyd Ireland ’70, Bruce ’70 and Leslie ’69 Isaacs, Buck Prewitt ’74, Ann Bakhaus ’74, Jane, Abby ’21, Andrew ’89, Judy, and Matthew ’87 Grunwald, Terri Prewitt, Lisa Underwood ’77, Jay Hollingsworth ’72, Carson Asbury ’73, Melissa Dean ’88, Brooks Scudder, Langdon Shoop ’93, Richard Turnbull ’74, Stephen Manella
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Alumni Class Notes ’70 Mary Combs ’70 and Jay Wheeler were married December 12, 2016. “Here are the bride and groom, still on our honeymoon, at a local inaugural ball here in Naples for the Trump volunteers. We actually had our first date on Election Day, having reacquainted after 17 years, (dated 20+ years ago), at the Trump Headquarters here in Naples where we both volunteered. Jay's still tall, dark and handsome to me! We met here in Naples at the Yacht Club; our parents were friends.” Congratulations, Mary and Jay!
’77, ’78 Edie ’77 and Bush Gess ’78 hosted a party for the Class of ’77 Saturday, October 21, 2017. Classmates also hiked Lower Howard’s Creek and spent an afternoon at Keeneland. Tom Isaacs ’58, Buck ’74 and Terri Prewitt, JP Cordray ’75, Jennifer Stephenson McLamb ’82, and Polly Ruff Peel ’76 joined the group at the party.
’87 Michael Zarocostas ’87 writes “My wife Liana and I live in Los Angeles where I work as a lawyer and a writer. The film rights for my legal thriller novel, Plummet, were optioned and I wrote the screenplay for the movie. Plummet is now available in paperback at the Lexington Public Library at the Tates Creek and Beaumont branches. The TV show "American Lawmen" featured my historical novel, The Barrel Murder, and I appeared in an episode on the American Heroes Channel about Italian-American Detective Joe Petrosino who fought the mafia in turn-of-the-century New York. We are developing a TV pilot for a serial about Petrosino, as well. Both books are also available on Amazon and the Silver Lake branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. Our best work, however, is our kids Roman and Vesta who are three and six. I enjoy taking photos of them and catching up with Sayre friends on Facebook. Hope the Spartans are doing well. Remember Thermopylae!”
’89 Hunter Lisle ’89 owner of The Arthur Murray Studio in Lexington was featured as part of "Faces and Places" in TOPS Magazine in August 2017. His dance studio has the honor of being one of the most successful and largest teaching organizations for Arthur Murray in the nation! Also worthy to note is Hunter’s involvement in Dancing with the Lexington Stars, a local dance competition with all proceeds going to Surgery on Sundays.
’94 Heather Hacker Reilly ’94 and her husband Danny are pleased to announce the birth of their second daughter Gresham Jane Reilly. Gresham was born August 29, 2017 at 6:47 p.m. She was 6 lbs. 9oz. and 18.5 inches long. She joins big sister Collins Marie who turned five on October 1. “My husband Danny and I feel very blessed by our newest addition."
’96 Jason Nahra ’96 and Sayre Volleyball Coach Leigh Clark were married on the steps of Old Sayre in a family ceremony on October 12, 2017. The bridal party was the Sayre Volleyball team, and Jason's wedding party consisted of his nephews, ranging in age from 13 to one-year old! Upper School music teacher Amy Berryman, who taught Jason while he was a Sayre student, performed music for the ceremony. Congratulations, Leigh and Jason!
’98, ’99 Heather Watts ’99 and Tim Robbins ’98 welcomed Holly Lynn on December 8, 2016. She joins her big brother Dean Michael, age six. Congratulations to the Robbins family!
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Note to Alumni and Parents of Alumni - Be sure to submit your current email and mailing address so that we may keep you informed of future news and events! Thank you to all our alumni who have submitted notes for this magazine. Please send news and photos to Leslie Parrish Isaacs ’69 and Rob Goodman ’89 at alumni@sayreschool.org.
’01 Wells and Harding Dowell ’01 are pleased to announce the birth of Edward Hall Bullard Dowell born on July 15, 2017 at 6:02 p.m. Hall weighed 9 lbs. 1 oz. and was 21 inches long. Congratulations to the Dowell family!
’05, ’06 Margaret Barr ’05 and Bush Gess ’06 are the proud parents of Louise Fauntleroy Gess, born August 4, 2017. Louise weighed 7 lbs. 17 oz. and was 19.25 inches long. Big brother Henning, age two, loves having a little sister! Congratulations to the Gess family!
’07 Caroline Dowell ’07 and Michael Paul Thompson, Jr. are pleased to announce the birth of Michael Paul "Tripp" Thompson III. Tripp was born on January 22, 2017 in Nashville, TN, weighing 6 lbs. 13 oz. and 18¾ incles long. Aunt Elizabeth Dowell ’07, Uncle Harding Dowell ’01 and the rest of the family welcome Tripp with open arms. “We are so proud!”
’09 Stanley Sievers ’09 won Best Film Editing for the short film “Fratino” at the Atlanta Comedy Festival this past summer. The Atlanta Comedy Film Festival is a theatrical event for international filmmakers to screen their comedy films. Stanley, an editor and director, lives and works in Chicago performing with the Second City Comedy Club and at The Annoyance. He also works at Active Campaign, a marketing company in Chicago. Congratulations, Stanley!
’12 Martha Barr ’12 and Chandler Fischer were married at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington September 16, 2017. Sayre alumni in the wedding party were bridesmaids Emily Culbertson ’12, Mary Jo Hoffman ’12 and reader Maddie Brotherton ’12. Other Sayre alumni who attended the wedding and reception were Kelly Ball ’12, Jennings Brotherton ’11, Annie Marcum ’11, Chenault VanMeter ’12, Headley VanMeter ’12, Cabot Haggin ’11, Reid Freeman ’12, Sophie O’Rourke ’12 and Elizabeth Judy ’12. Cheers to Martha and Chandler! Philip O’Rourke ’12 writes: “I am currently teaching 5th grade in Southside Chicago at a small Catholic school called St. Nicholas of Tolentine. I am also in a full-time Masters program and will be graduating this coming May. Since I’ve been at St. Nicks I have been helping coach middle school girls and boys basketball. As the year progressed I realized that there were not many opportunities for students to learn and play basketball in this particular community. In light of that, I organized my own summer camp Phil's Skills, for the kids at St. Nicks to learn and practice basketball skills in a fun and safe environment. I had 8th graders on the basketball team as helpers, and provided summer sessions several times a week for grades 3-7. I sought out support from some Sayre alums and past parents to help sponsor the camp with designed t-shirts and scholarship opportunities. Coach Rob Goodman ’89 and Gay VanMeter ’81 supported the camp with t-shirts and camp balls for the kids to take home. The support I received was incredible and really made it all happen.”
Class of 2017 Alumni Blue Gold Award Recipients The Alumni Blue Gold Award is presented annually to a senior or seniors who have demonstrated leadership, community service, and good citizenship at Sayre. Created by the Alumni Council in 1984, it is the highest and oldest award given by the Sayre Alumni to a graduating senior or seniors. Langdon Shoop ’93, President of the Alumni Association, presented the awards to Lauren Noelle Dunn ’17, daughter of Amy and Michael Dunn ’87 and Sam Holbrook Van Balen ’17, son of Lauren and Craig Van Balen. Currently, Lauren is a freshman at the University of Florida and Sam is a freshman at Centre College. 194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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Alumni Visit Campus Basketball Teams Give Back For the past several years, the Sayre basketball coaches and teams have given back to the community in a special way. At home games during the months of November and December, fans are asked to bring a toy for the needy in lieu of admission. For the past two years, the recipient of those gifts has been Miracle on East Main. Over 30 years ago, Donna Quillin ’70 and Bob Johnson ’71 felt a need in the Georgetown community they wanted to fulfill. They noticed there were just too many families going without during the holiday season. They asked themselves, “What could we do to ease this hardship for these families?” That is when Miracle on East Main was born and they are still going strong today. Donna and Bob collect donated toys throughout the year and before they know it Christmas Eve is here. Santa and his elves pack the van and visit areas throughout Georgetown where they know there is a need. After hugs and one-on-one conversations with Santa, each child climbs into Santa’s sleigh, aka Santa’s van, to choose a toy. With the van so full of toys, some have a very hard time choosing their favorite! The Sayre holiday basketball campers were in for a treat this past year. Camp was in session when Santa came to pick up the toys collected at Sayre. After photos were taken and last minute requests from some of the campers were made, Santa was on his way with a van full of toys donated by Sayre families, visiting teams and their fans. Now, if you happen to be driving down Main Street in Georgetown on Christmas Eve, don’t let your mind fool you…that is Santa Claus waving to you from his driveway before making the Christmas Eve deliveries. Oh, and those cute little elves with him happen to be Mrs. Claus and his grandchildren!
Former Sayre Student Turns Love of Basketball Into Project Book Like so many boys growing up in the Bluegrass, Jarrett Van Meter ’09 has always had a love for basketball. He will never get over classmate Ryan Brady’s buzzer beater in Future Spartans, which sank his team’s championship hopes. Jarrett graduated from the University of Vermont (UVM) in 2013 with a BA in English. Since graduating, he has worked as both a newsroom and freelance journalist. He moved back to Lexington in the fall of 2015 to begin working on his first book. How Sweet It Is was released in March of 2017. What made you want to become a sports writer? My dad recently joked that the person most surprised by my career choice had to be Cathy Bilberry, my English teacher at Sayre. I read the sports page every single morning as a kid and really absorbed everything. I was never a great athlete, so I always figured I would either be a coach or a writer. Where did the idea for your book come from? Kentucky is one of only two states left in the US that crowns one state champion every high school basketball season. This means every team in the state has the same goal every season, regardless of enrollment or where the school is located. I wanted to go all-access with three teams from different parts of Kentucky that, on the surface, had nothing in common except for state championship aspirations. What was your favorite part of the process? I ended up really getting to know the players and the coaches and really wanting them to succeed. I was feeling the highs of victory and the lows of defeat right alongside the players. Going to Rupp Arena with Taylor County (spoiler) for the Sweet Sixteen was a blast. Running through the tunnel with the team before the game and looking up and seeing almost everyone from their hometown there to support them was a feeling those kids will never forget, and I won’t either. How did Sayre’s English program help you as a writer? I was by no means a literary star in high school, so I was shocked to find how far ahead I was of so many of my peers in the UVM English Department. Perhaps the biggest thing, though, was the amount of time that Sayre dedicates to teaching students how to actually structure a paper. You can be the greatest wordsmith in the world, but if you don’t know how to properly piece it all together, you’ve got nothing.
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What’s next? I caught the coaching bug from being around the three great coaches featured in my book. I am moving to Asheville, NC, to coach basketball and lacrosse at Asheville School, a school similar in size to Sayre. I will continue to write articles for several publications, both in Asheville and Lexington.
In Memoriam Carolyn June Brown ’42 passed away on May 15, 2017. June was a member of Southern Hills United Methodist Church for more than fifty years and an avid golfer. She is survived by her son, James Brown, Jr, her two daughters Jo Carol Kovac and Karen Brown-Teich, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Susan Snowden Duarte ’69 went to her eternal reward on April 7, 2017. Our mother “showered love on all around her, from her family to the people and students she served as a social worker.” She is survived by her husband Jack; her children; Stewart North ’93 (Susan), Katherine LaMonica ’95 (Jamie ’90), and Callie Fluhrer (Gabriel); her brothers Harold Snowden ’70, Steven Snowden ’72, and William Snowden ’79; Jack’s two sons, and eight grandchildren. Mary Ellery Ezzell Hall ’73 passed away after a short illness on November 21, 2016. She was the daughter of Jean Bagby Ezzell and the late William Ellery Ezzell. Besides her mother, Mary Ellery is survived by her children Ike Wingate Callaway, Jr. and Catherine R. Callaway (John) Kelly, her brother Robert Douglas (Debbie) Ezzell, her sister Jean Ellen ’74 (Wyn) Paulson and several nieces and nephews. Dorothy Johnson Brooks Hancock died May 23, 2017. She was the widow of William Clinton Hancock and George Savage Brooks. Mrs. Hancock served as Executive Secretary to the Sayre School Board of Trustees for twenty-eight years. She received the “Love and Appreciation” gift from the Sayre faculty and staff, the Sayre Alumni Faculty Staff Award, and the distinguished David A. Sayre Medallion. Mrs. Hancock is survived by her daughter Cathy Hancock Comley ’70, three grandchildren, Clinton Hancock ’95 (Holly), Catherine Laine Comley, ’98, Campbell “Cammie” (Ryan) Atkins, and six great grandchildren. In addition to her first and second husbands, she was preceded in death by her son William Clinton Hancock, II ’67, and her grandson Lance Corporal Chase Johnson Comley ’02, USMC. Charles McGehee Isaacs ’72 passed away September 23, 2017, doing one of his favorite things in the world…watching college football. After graduating from Sayre, McGehee graduated from Denison College in 1976 and Northern Kentucky University – Chase College of Law in 1979. During his career he served the public with his expertise in law. McGehee is survived by his wife Betty, sons Christopher (Lauren), Brandon (Katrin), and Charles (Jessica). He is also survived by his sister Mary Lisle ’68 (Charlie), his brother Bruce Isaacs ’70 (Leslie ’69) and several nieces and nephews. Kenneth O’Rourke ’71 died September 1, 2017. Many of us knew him as “Chopper” while he attended Sayre. He attended Bellarmine University and the University of Kentucky. Kenneth was proud to serve his country in the Navy. Kenneth is survived by numerous cousins in Arizona, California, Illinois, and Texas. Hedgman Dent Smith passed away suddenly on July 25, 2017. While at Sayre, Hedgman was Director of Development, a Middle School history teacher, and served as Advisor to the yearbook from 1971-1974. He was predeceased by his wife of 32 years, Nancy Hackett Ensor Smith. He is survived by his sister Ann Tucker Smith Wood (Gary); his niece Margaret Elizabeth Pike; his nephew Dennis W. Pike, III (Heather); his cousins Edward “Ned” ’79 (Leslie), Randolph Turnbull IV, and Stewart McBryde Turnbull (Elizabeth); and his beloved cat Darius.
SPECIAL AWARDS Brucie Glenn Rowe Student Government Award
The Glenn Family has been a part of Sayre School for over three decades, having sent three daughters to the school. The youngest of these young women was Brucie Glenn Rowe who loved Sayre and was a beloved member of the Class of 1977. As a student, Brucie was impish, fun loving, and took an active role in nearly every extracurricular activity offered. Because of illness, Brucie could not play athletics, but in both the Middle and Upper Schools, she took a special delight in the affairs of the Student Council. Brucie died on April 6, 1998, leaving a wonderful legacy of friendship, joy, and loyalty to those she loved. To honor her memory, this award was established by her parents, friends and the school. The 2017 recipient of the endowed Brucie Glenn Rowe Student Government Award given for service, Brucie in 1974 leadership, and devotion to the spirit of the school was Spencer Stewart ’17.
Marc Goldenberg Award Since 1985, Sayre School has presented the Marc David Goldenberg Award to the Junior or Senior who excels in the sciences. This year, Josh Morgan ’17 received the award for his achievements in physics. The Award was created by David and Hildegard Goldenberg in memory of their son Marc who attended Sayre from 1983 to 1984. As a sophomore novice on Sayre’s Debate Team, Marc and his partner, Robert Kesten ’85, won almost every novice tournament and were ranked as the state’s top novice team throughout the season. Tragically, Marc died Marc in 1983 that summer in an automobile accident while traveling to a debate training session. We are honored that Dr. and Mrs. Goldenberg chose to remember Marc by establishing this award endowment that over the years has honored so many of our students.
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A Smart Investment
Thank You!
The Sayre Fund Giving to the Sayre Annual Fund is an investment opportunity for those who benefit from and appreciate the mission of Sayre. It is a way to express thanks to those who have made a difference in the lives of our students. Contributions not only impact the educational experience of our students, but they also impact the tremendous work of our teachers. In today’s complex and competitive world, students need more than just a solid education – they need an extraordinary one. Contributions to the 2016-2017 Sayre Fund campaign provided a total of $324,609 in gifts and pledges from 437 donors. Recognizing how valuable these funds are to Sayre for the school’s long-term health, our parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty and staff and friends were given a choice this year on what their dollars could support. These opportunities included: Academic Support
Financial Aid
Enrichment Programs
Area of Greatest Need
Our distinguished Sayre faculty reached 100% participation in the Annual Fund campaign this year. This is a strong indication of the commitment of our teachers and their investment in Sayre’s mission to empower our students to reach academic excellence. Annual Fund gifts not only enrich intellectual development, but they also enhance the social and personal development of every Sayre student. Every day at Sayre, we witness the impact a single donation can have on our entire school community. It generates enthusiasm and encourages others to join in the support. Our strong donor support is evidence of just how much a Sayre education is valued.
Faculty Awards 2017 Board Award
Michelle Simpson was the recipient of the Board Award. Michelle approaches her classroom and the students with a quiet calm and an observant eye. Her classroom is built upon relationships and she has piloted a strong mindfulness program with this young group of children. Always a learner herself, Michelle has embraced every opportunity for learning about the craft of early childhood teaching. Children in Michelle’s class love to write, and they write prolifically. More importantly, they see themselves as authors. As project based learning rolled through the Lower School, Michelle jumped right into the waters, using the knowledge
Short Awards 32
The recipient of the Short Award in the General Category was Lower School music teacher Sarah Kuchera. Sarah works with children across an enormous developmental span, always engaging their minds, their bodies and their spirits. Deeply collaborative in spirit, Sarah’s musical hand has touched almost every Lower School performance, working side by side with classroom teachers to offer our students the most robust, holistic curriculum possible. Sarah not only teaches the skills and knowledge which make up the field of music, but also values children’s creative spirit and gives them opportunities to compose and play their own musical scores. Whether it be crafting their own sound script to accompany their Greek god/goddess performance, allowing toddlers to use instruments in open ended ways, or encouraging Encore students to develop their own comedic twist for a performance, Sarah understands what brings music and movement alive for children in the early years. All one has to do is look at the children’s smiles and looks of pride on their faces while they perform to know that this teacher really is making magic.
she had gained from training. If you walk into her classroom, you will find children using their reading and writing skills to research an area of interest and you can be guaranteed that they will have confidence in their voice as they tell you about what they have learned. A deep understanding of early childhood paired with a true interest in the lives she is shaping makes Michelle’s classroom a wonderful place for young learners. Always kind, always interested in how to help a child achieve or make friends, Michelle has the reputation for loving what she does and loving the children in her class. Joe Mahler was the recipient of the Short Award for Excellence in Math or Science. Joe is an extremely knowledgeable physics teacher, well versed in the Modeling method of teaching physics, where he uses an inquiry-based methodology to teach students physics concepts. So they learn by doing. He has a light and easy touch with students, cajoling them to stay on task, reminding them of steps to complete, or joking with an individual student or table group. In Joe’s class there is a steady stream of information, encouragement and clarification coming from him as he paces the room, moving from one group to another. This goes on in the midst of steady and focused, task-oriented work and review, whether in the lab, or completing post lab seat-work. Joe is a consummate professional and actively involved in his own professional growth. As a member of the American Modeling Teachers Association, he is connected to the teachers of his discipline in the state and region, presenting at conferences and serving on committees to advance high school physics.
Summer Sabbatical Professional Development Abroad The tradition of the Summer Sabbatical program for faculty at Sayre is strong. The school has been funding unique faculty opportunities for many years now. Each spring when a call for proposals is issued, the faculty responds with outstanding possibilities. In the summer of 2017, two faculty Summer Sabbatical proposals were approved, sending our teachers on trips that promised to bolster their professional practice and to bring back to Sayre some great offerings for students. Linda Froehlich’s travels in France In summer 2017, Middle and Upper School French teacher Dr. Linda Froehlich went to Paris, Biarritz, Béziers, and Montpellier – four French cities, each of which offers language school opportunities for high school students. Linda’s mission? To scout the best options for an outstanding summer language program for Upper School students of French. Linda did significant research before her departure, selecting locations where language instruction is hands-on, interactive, and student-friendly. Not surprisingly, Paris offered many options, and her visit there was wonderful. Staying in the less-touristy 17th arrondissement, Linda met and got to know a group of Parisians who reflect the German ideal of the “Bildungsbürger,” whose life centers on participating in the rich cultural landscape within their city. Her trip included wonderful gastronomie, lively conversation, and many cultural experiences (among them a game of pétanque, a favorite sports pastime). But in the end, Paris, despite its trove of offerings for the young, did not have the advantages of a manageable smaller town where students can have deep immersive language experiences. And Béziers had the opposite issue - not quite enough to do for a curious group of youthful Americans. Biarritz, with its Mediterranean location, highenergy teaching staff, and fabulous surfing and seafood opportunities, was another stop for Linda, and it seemed like a terrific option. That is, until she arrived in Montpellier. There, all aspects of the search came together. Student housing is easy and comfortable, removing the unknowns of home stays. Public transportation is readily accessible; the combination of wide boulevards (for easy navigation) with tiny side streets (for exploration and adventure) seemed to meet the needs of students both adventurous and more timid. Day trips to the beach are easy. Outstanding teaching, a high-energy and capable faculty, and a language school owner with vast experience make Montpellier appear to be the ideal destination. Linda, using her Summer Sabbatical, had the chance to deepen her own French language and cultural experiences, travel, eat, and enjoy herself while planning and searching for a future summer program for language students. Keep an eye out for more information about this upcoming opportunity for Sayre’s French students!
Bo List’s Adventures at the Edinburg Festival Fringe Every August, Scotland’s capital city of Edinburg hosts an enormous cultural festival that includes music, dance, opera, and theatre. Beyond the Edinburg Festival itself is the Festival Fringe, the self-proclaimed “single biggest celebration of arts and culture on the planet.” The Fringe is four times larger than the Festival, providing an opportunity for “fringe” cultural events to happen in tiny venues in every imaginable location. Bo List, Sayre’s Director of Theatre, set off on a trip to the Edinburg Festival Fringe with the goal of imagining unexpected theatrical spaces to be found on our own Sayre campus. “What I learned,” says Bo, “is that it does not matter how the space looks as long as it is treated as if it matters – the right charming actor who says ‘Right this way’ can evoke Victorian times simply with his voice and manners. If you do something with curtains in a simple space, you can make the audience believe they are there. The emphasis, of course, has to be on character and on storytelling.” While the Festival houses performances at venues like the Edinburg Playhouse and Festival Theatre, the Fringe venues include bookshops, bars, and art galleries. With thousands of performances to choose from, Bo opted to look for theatre that could inspire through its flexible use of space. He learned to look at space differently. For example, so many changes have come about in professional theatre’s approach to lighting. “Everything now is LED. Whereas it used to be true that to do anything magical with lighting required lots and lots of electricity, now one can drape lights in a way that becomes very special without extensive electrical power.” Bo attended performances in spaces that spend most of the year as classrooms, offices, lobbies, and churches. “What a transformation these buildings undergo, and quickly and cheaply, too!” he raved. With no dedicated theatre space on the current campus, Sayre productions are scheduled at local venues, where costs and limited rehearsal time put significant constraints on the program. Until a performance hall becomes a reality, learning to make creative use of spaces is a crucial skill. Thus, his Summer Sabbatical. “I learned about theatrical architecture, and how sets are made from those spaces with a ‘pipe and drape system’ relatively inexpensively. At Fringe, I saw a performance of Queen of Wolves, a one-man Victorian farce in a cavernous, cool, cobblestone room. The simple material the walls were made of evoked the setting.” Actors and directors bring shows from around the world to tiny, makeshift spaces, performing with the simplest of sets carried in a suitcase. A talented cast and a flexible production team make the difference. Bo saw Maid of Cabbage, Lucy Pearman’s one-woman comedy about the limited options available for an unmarried woman “from the olden days” in Scotland; Shakespeare for Breakfast; and The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (Abridged), among other plays. From August 8 through August 11, Bo drew inspiration for using non-traditional sets and everyday spaces as one’s theatre. Keep your eyes open for the next Bo List production to see where he takes lessons learned from the Fringe. 194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
-Winnie the Pooh
Never Goodbye, It's See You Later... Enjoy Retirement! After teaching public school in North Carolina for ten years, Patty Ryan and her husband moved back to Lexington in 1985 and Patty came to Sayre. “I needed a change,” said Patty. “In public school it always felt like everything was done by the clock. But for me, teaching is creative work. It’s about being in the moment. So I was looking for something different.” Asked how Sayre was able to keep her for 32 years, Patty summed up her answer in one word: family. “I came from rural Tennessee where people knew each other and cared for one another. Sayre, to me, was like a small town nestled into a big city. It is hard to find a school community where one feels entirely supported, in and out of the classroom. I knew Sayre was a place where I could develop close relationships with colleagues, express myself in the class, and truly know the kids I was teaching every day.” Between visits to Ohio, where both her brother and father live, spending time with grandkids, and trips to Franklin, TN, which she considers home, Patty is doing something she’d put on hold for too long: writing poetry. “While teaching was a great creative outlet for me, I always wanted to have more time to write about things I see and think about, especially things in nature. I love poetry. Now when I have a thought or an idea, I can stop what I’m doing and write. I enjoy this so much!” Sayre Preschool teacher Beth Pitman ’96 was in Patty's first class at Sayre. Beth's daughter Lucie ’26 was in Patty's last class at Sayre! “Mrs. Ryan made sure we were giving our best effort but she also was caring and kind. Now that I am a teacher and a mom, I think that balance is very important and I am so grateful for the guidance she provided me as a teacher, colleague and parent,” said Beth.
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Pat Williams has been in the Extended Day Program, as well as the Summer Safari Program, at Sayre for over 15 years. In that capacity she taught children at the Kindergarten and First Grade levels to express their artistic abilities through unique and creative displays of artwork. She helped them embrace their own imaginations when building masterpieces out of Legos and blocks. Because of Pat's nurturing, kind and loving nature, children were able to connect with her on a very close, personal level often resulting in lasting, lifelong, relationships. Extended Day Program Directors Kara Cobb and Andy Fitch agree that Pat, “not only impacted the lives of many Sayre students throughout the years, but also impacted the lives of all co-workers who had the opportunity of getting to work with her at Sayre.”
Starting a New Chapter Congratulations! Dawn Jenkins Klus began teaching at Sayre in 1993, teaching primarily in the science department and later assuming the role of Director of Technology. Ten years later, working with her department members, Dawn helped Sayre become the first one-to-one laptop program in the region. During her time at Sayre, Dawn served as Associate Head for Academics and most recently Associate Head for Strategic Initiatives. “Insightful, intelligent, and compassionate with a smile for everyone, Dawn epitomized the best of Sayre,” said Stephen Manella. She left Sayre for Chicago to become the ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) Director of Accreditation.
Susan Keegan finished her eleventh year at Sayre this past spring after teaching Sayre students in grades three and four. While moving to Kindergarten is a significant change, Susan was ready for the challenge. She accepted a job at The Foote School in New Haven, CT, where her husband has taken new employment. Her colleagues call her “warm, cheerful, compassionate, creative, and hilarious.” We will sorely miss Susan, and wish her well as she continues on her career path. “It has been such a pleasure and an honor to work at Sayre,” said Susan.
Liz Foley joined Sayre’s Upper School Art Department in 2002. She brought with her a range of skills to teach art forms including sculpture, metalsmithing, ceramics, design and 3D art. Teaching over 15 years at Sayre, Liz served on the Professional Development Committee and co-directed the Global Studies Initiative. Outside of Sayre, Liz coordinated classes and workshops for Bluegrass Printermakers' Cooperative at ArtsPlace on Mill Street. Her Sayre colleagues called her “inspirational, industrious, and reliably affable.” Liz has embarked on a new pathway. At Foley Prints Studio in Louisville, she creates “colorful, abstract art.”
Building Excellence Groundbreaking News On April 13, 2017, parents, trustees and students assembled at the site of the new Sayre Lower School for the official groundbreaking ceremony. Head of School Stephen Manella, Mayor Jim Gray, Board Chairman Ben Haggin, and the Head of Lower School Annie Papero addressed the Lower School students and guests. Major donors Mrs. Deirdre Lyons, Justice Laurance VanMeter, Mr. Rudy and Mrs. Pat Schmidt, Mrs. Becky Goodman, Mrs. Jacquelin Murphy ’88, and Mr. Peek and Mrs. Jennie Garlington and family assisted Stephen Manella with turning over the first shovels of dirt.
Campaign for the New Lower School Update From September through October 2017, all eyes on campus were drawn to the new Lower School and Extended Day building construction site as structural steel was welded into place. Many of us stopped to watch the erector gently lift each beam and place it for welders to attach to other beams. When the time came to place one of the last beams in the new building, Lower School students assembled in the parking lot behind Old Sayre to sign their names. There were many wide eyes and smiles as our students and faculty signed the beam in Sayre colors. As the last portion of structural steel was put in place, masons began laying brick. Our architects, Street Dixon Rick, took great pains to match not only the color but also the Flemish bond of the Thomas A. Grunwald Buttery’s brick. This decorative bond lends a visual quality to the wall surface with alternating stretchers (sides of brick) and headers (ends of brick) forming a pleasingly patterned regularity that requires skill to execute. The brick exterior is not the only element you will discover tying the new Lower School to other buildings on Sayre’s campus. Like the Buttery, the roof of the new building will have a split pitch metal roof. The split creates a hallway where the air conditioner and heat pump are hidden from view but easily accessed by our maintenance staff. And like the Upper School, the new building will have metal clapboard at the base of each window. This defines the windows while breaking up the brick façade. As we head into the winter months, our contractor, Dean Builds, will turn their attention to the interior space of the structure. An incredible amount of work will be taking place but, unlike the flurry of activity this past fall, most of this progress will not be visible to the casual observer. As we head into the spring, we will offer tours of the construction site as the interior begins to take shape. We are so excited to share this magnificent facility with the Sayre community!
194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 ∙ www.sayreschool.org
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194 North Limestone Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 254-1361 www.sayreschool.org
Thomas A. Grunwald Buttery Tommy was a true example of someone who gave his time, energy and money. Let's reciprocate his generous spirit by continuing to give and raise a million dollars for the Campaign to Honor Thomas A. Grunwald. That million will turn into two, thanks to a generous, anonymous, alumni donor. - Allen "Buck" Prewitt '74