Bolles Class Notes

Bolles

Alumni Notes

Alumni swimmers convened for a splash in the pool this fall.

’30s

1938

George Varn Sr. passed away on September 4, 2021, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, the same hospital in which he was born on December 1, 1920. The intervening 101 years encompassed a varied and accomplished life. His verve and charm will be missed by all who knew him.

1942

Trustee Emeritus: W. Lester Varn Jr.

1943

Keller Campbell passed away on July 31, 2021, in Frankfort, Kentucky.

1946

Class Representative: Fitzhugh “Hugh” Powell Hpowell@cwpowellins.com Trustee Emeritus: Quinn R. Barton Jr.

1947

Jon Courson passed away on June 17, 2021, at his residence at Florida Presbyterian Homes in Lakeland, Florida.

1948

Class Representative: Robert (Bob) W. Brack Jr. (904) 744-2759

1949

Class Representative: Jerry Foley (904) 389-6460

1951

John Beckum, retired Doctor of Optometry, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2021, at his home in Gainesville, FL.

1952

Jim Tyson and his wife, Eileen, returned to campus this Fall to watch the Bulldogs take on TCA at Skinner-Barco stadium. Dr.

’40s

’50s

Tyson was a member of Coach Mark Bradley’s Bolles basketball team that defeated Mulberry 56–30 for the program’s first state title in 1952.

Jim Tyson ’52 with wife, Eileen

1953

Class Representative: James (Jim) M. Barker IV jmbchb@aol.com

Trustee Emeritus: James V.E. Bent Sr.

David Cates passed away on August 9, 2021.

1954

Class Representative: Hayes (Butch) L. Basford Jr. hbasford@icloud.com

1955

Class Representative: William (Bill) C. Hallowes bhallowes@aol.com

1956

Class Representative: Harry M. deMontmollin Jr. hmdem@aol.com

President Emeritus: Harry M. deMontmollin Jr.

Kirk Jones passed away at his home in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on February 19, 2021.

1957

Class Representative: Albert (Ted) T. Quantz tedquantz@gmail.com

1958

Class Representative: S. Thompson “Tom” Tygart silas5037@aol.com

Charles Conway passed away on September 18, 2021.

1959

Class Representative: Barry P. Sales bpsrnr@aol.com

1961

Class Representative: Ben T. Franklin Jr. bfranklin@southbankgroup.net

1962

Class Representative: Richard Hyer Richardhyer44@gmail.com

Class Representative: Creston “Clark” Riffe clarkriffe@gmail.com

1963

Class Representative: C. McNeill (Neill) Baker neill46@aol.com

1964

Class Representative: Gregory (Greg) W. Blackmer gregblackmer@yahoo.com

Trustee Emeritus: E. Ellis Zahra Jr.

In April of this year, Bill Hunter received the President’s Award from Dr. Thomas Walker, president of Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, NC. In presenting the award, Dr. Walker noted Bill’s considerable generosity to Wayne CC over the years while successfully leading his own company (Eastern Aluminum Supply). A member of the Wayne CC Foundation Board of Directors for the past 15 years, Bill’s friends established an endowment at Wayne CC in Bill’s name a few years ago.

Hugh Simpson was featured in a recent edition of Dot Com Magazine, which highlighted his company Valentine International LLC and XP Concierge Services LLC. Simpson’s company covers shelter, food growing and alternative power for both natural and man-made disasters.

1965

Class Representative: Charles (Chuck) P. Torrey Jr. Charlestorrey1@gmail.com

The Atlanta Journal Constitution featured a story on Henry Michael Rothschild and his record company, Landslide Records, in its October 27 issue. (Shown on next page.)

’60s

Hodges Speaks to Rotary Group on ‘Climate and Culture’

Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges was the guest speaker at the West Jacksonville Rotary Club’s September 15 meeting.

Hodges was invited to speak as part of Rotary’s focus on education topics. He shared a meaningful presentation on how Bolles and other independent schools around the country have been navigating climate and culture during the past year or more. During his talk, Hodges indicated a bright future for the School and highlighted many of Bolles’ successes.

Held at Timuquana Country Club, the lunchtime event was attended by many Bolles-related Rotarians and patrons including Richard Dostie ’72, Bolles Chief Advancement Officer Carol Nimitz and Shep Colledge ’66 Henry Michael Rothschild ’65

1966

Class Representative: Shepherd (Shep) E. Colledge Shepherdc904@aol.com

1967

Class Representative:Christopher (Chris) B. Stubbs cstubbs@linkstaffing.com

1969

Class Representative: James (Jim) R. McCain Jr. Jrmjr1951@gmail.com

Steve Milberg passed away on December 1, 2020.

1970

Class Representative: F. William (Bill) Borg bill_borg@vanguard.org

Class Representative: Chester (Chip) Skinner III chip@skinnerrealty.com

Jim Cousar recently became counsel to the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP in Austin, Texas. Jim previously practiced 41 years in the Austin office of Thompson & Knight LLP. The two firms merged in August 2021.

1972

Class Representative: James (Jim) F. Bailey Jr. jbailey@baileypub.com

’70s

1973

Class Representative: John F. Pendergast Jr. jpendergast@penderlaw.com

Board of Trustees: Rodney VanPelt

James Mooney passed away on August 5, 2021.

1974

Class Representative: Jan K. Reeder jreeder@rpds.com

1975

Class Representative: John Crescimbeni jrcjaxfl@aol.com

Class Representative: Mark McGowan mark.mcgowan@bcbsfl.com

Class Representative: J. David Sheppard sheppardpvbfl@bellsouth.net

1976

Class Representative: Kevin T. Gay kgay@operationnewhope.com

Alumni Board: Jerry F. Hurst

Gordon Terry and Bradley Terry ’09, both standout players for the Bulldogs, were on campus for the Bolles vs. Trinity Christian game this fall.

Gordon Terry ’76 and Bradley Terry ’09

1977

Class Representative: Catherine Randle Hurst Catherine.hurst10@yahoo.com

1978

Class Representative: Jeffrey (Jeff) L. Evans jeff.evans@colliers.com

Crosby ’79 Wins Second Pulitzer

Jackie Crosby ’79 and her reporter colleagues at the Minneapolis Star Tribune received a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of George Floyd’s murder more than one year ago.

The staff of the Star Tribune won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Reporting, which honors a “distinguished example of local, state or national reporting of breaking news that, as quickly as possible, captures events accurately as they occur, and, as time passes, illuminates, provides context and expands upon the initial coverage,” according to the Pulitzer organization. The staff won for its “urgent, authoritative and nuanced coverage of the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis and of the reverberations that followed.”

A story in the Star Tribune said staff writers first reported on Floyd’s killing at 3:30 a.m. on May 26, 2020 and updated it 115 times through the day. The journalists provided “24-hour-a-day coverage of the rage that consumed Minneapolis,” the story read.

The 2021 winners constitutes the organization’s 105th class of Pulitzer Prize winners. Each year, 22 prizes are awarded and 113 jurors are appointed to make three recommendations in each of the 22 categories. In the Journalism prize section, there are 15 categories including investigative reporting, local reporting, international reporting and editorial writing.

This is the second time Crosby has been awarded a Pulitzer Prize. Along with fellow Macon Telegraph and News reporter Randall Savage in 1985, she won a prize the Specialized Reporting category for an “in-depth examination of academics and athletics at the University of Georgia and the Georgia Institute of Technology,” according to Pulitzer listings. That year, she was the youngest person to ever receive a Pulitzer Prize.

Morales ’81 Appointed to JEA Board

Ricardo “Rick” Morales III ’81, President and Chief Operating Officer of Morales Construction Co. Inc. and member of the Bolles Board of Trustees, has joined the JEA board of directors. The Jacksonville City Council approved Morales’ appointment at its September 28 meeting.

“We are pleased that Rick Morales is joining JEA’s board,” said JEA Managing Director & CEO Jay Stowe. “He brings a new perspective to our board and his long history as a leader in the Jacksonville community will allow us to continue on the path of becoming the best utility in the nation.”

Morales fills a vacancy left by the late Leon Haley Jr., who died in an accident on July 24. Haley, who was CEO of UF Health Jacksonville, had served on the JEA board since April 2020.

Morales leads operations at Morales Construction, a design/ build general contracting company specializing in estate custom homes in Northeast Florida. He has more than 35 years of experience in all phases of construction, including financial management, field supervision, project management, estimating, project development and executive management. Morales started his career as an estimator for Atlantic Constructors, a division of Patterson Enterprises, in 1985. In 1987, he joined Morales Construction Co., becoming president of the company in 1995.

Morales is active in numerous business and charitable organizations. He was appointed to the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2001 and 2007, then reappointed by Gov. Rick Scott in 2013 and served as its chairman from 2013 to 2015. Morales is a board member, PAC chairman and previous board president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association and is a director and past chairman of the Presidents Council for the Florida Home Builders Association. Morales, who received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Wofford College, has supported The Bolles School in numerous leadership capacities over the years including roles as trustee, parent and alumni.

JEA is a not-for-profit, community-owned utility located in Jacksonville, Florida, proudly serving an estimated 478,000 electric, 357,000 water, 279,000 sewer and 15,000 reclaimed water customers.

1979

Class Representative: Karen Ibach Bowden Kbowden61@comcast.net

Jackie Crosby and her reporter colleagues at the Minneapolis Star Tribune received a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of George Floyd’s murder more than one year ago. (See sidebar on page 61.)

Brad Johnson ’79 and other alumni hosted a gathering at the Prime Osborn III Convention Center November 6 to celebrate the Bolles coaching legacies of Corky Rogers, Wayne Belger, Buddy Ward and Mike Barrett. Called “The Coaches’ Reunion,” the event was managed by Airstream Ventures and drew more than 200 Bolles graduates, donors and friends from all over the country, Johnson said. Dee Brown ’86 shared this photo (shown below) of himself and other alumni attendees at the event via Instagram.

Clarkston Hines ’85, DeWayne Terry ’84, Dee Brown ’86 and Terrence Laster ’84

’80s 1980 Class Representative: Jennifer Hanigan jennifer.hanigan@wellsfargo.com Board of Trustees: Mark F. Travis Richard Schwalbe passed away on September 11, 2021.

1981

Class Representative: Ricardo (Rick) Morales III rick@moralesgroup.com Board of Trustees: Ricardo (Rick) Morales III Christopher Lee Johnson passed away on July 26, 2021. Rick Morales, President and Chief Operating Officer of Morales Construction Co. Inc., and member of the Bolles Board of Trustees, was recently selected to join the JEA board of directors. (See sidebar on the left.)

1982

Class Representative: Virginia (Ginny) Jones Charest gcharest1@verizon.net

1983

Class Representative: Erin O’Dell O’Brien Erin_O’Brien@csx.com

Class Representative: R. Dean Scott rdeanscott@msn.com

Class Representative: Marcia Morales Howard

Joseph Wingard III passed away unexpectedly on November 27, 2021.

Troy Douglas stopped by campus this fall to visit with the Bulldog football coaches during his Florida recruiting trip. Troy was a stand-out football and baseball player at Bolles and played football collegiately at Appalachian State. He is the defensive coordinator for Howard University in Washington, D.C. and was on campus looking for prospective players to add to the Bison roster.

Troy Douglas ’83

1984

Class Representative: Stephanie Hodge Bassett bassett4837@comcast.net

Board of Trustees: DeWayne Terry

Board of Visitors: Carole Ann Coplan

1985

Class Representative: Beth Rosenbaum Angelo bethangelo @aol.com

Class Representative: Kimberly (Kim) Tucker Price kimtprice@gmail.com

Board of Trustees: Fernando J. Acosta-Rua, Chair

Board of Visitors: Terri Arnold

Acosta-Rua ’85 Appointed to JAA Board

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Bolles Board of Trustees Chairman Fernando Acosta-Rua ’85 to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Board of Directors.

Acosta-Rua, who was named to the board October 29, participated in his first JAA meeting in late-November.

Acosta-Rua is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pet Paradise. In addition to his Bolles Board of Trustees leadership role, Acosta-Rua has served as Chairman of the Community Hospice of Northeast Florida Board of Directors and sat on the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute Board of Advisors and the 2020 Republican National Convention Host Committee. Acosta-Rua earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Florida and master of business administration from Northwestern University.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently appointed Bolles Board of Trustees Chairman Fernando Acosta-Rua to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Board of Directors. Fernando is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pet Paradise. (See sidebar above.)

1986

Class Representative: Jeanine Gulliford jeaninegull@yahoo.com

Board of Trustees: Charles (Charlie) Arnold III DeCovan Brown, Tatiana Radi Salvador

Board of Visitors: Peter R. Bream Jr.

1987

Class Representative: Michael (Mike) S. Wachholz Mwachholz02@comcast.net

Class Representative: Ellis Barton ellis@moralesgroup.com

Hamilton ’87 Elected JaxPort Board Chair

Wendy O. Hamilton ’87 was elected chair of the Jacksonville Port Authority (JaxPort) board of directors during the group’s September 27 meeting.

Hamilton, who has served The Bolles School in many leadership roles over the years including trustee and parent, is president of Eventide Investments of Florida.

“I am thrilled to serve as Chair during this time of incredible growth and opportunity for our port,” Hamilton said in a release from JaxPort on September 28. “From harbor deepening and the buildout of the Blount Island terminal to rising to the business challenges created by the pandemic, CEO Green and the port’s leadership team have done an incredible job positioning JaxPort for the future. The JaxPort team has the full support of our Board as we work together to maximize the jobs and business opportunities a modern deep water seaport creates for our community.”

Members of the seven-person JaxPort board are appointed by the mayor of Jacksonville and the governor of Florida. Financial services executive Wendy Ottenstroer Hamilton was recently elected Chair of the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) Board of Directors. (See sidebar on the left.)

1988

Class Representative: Karen Rinaman Barakat karenbarakat@comcast.net

Class Representative: Monica Bernhardt mburns92@comcast.net

Class Representative: W. Scott Hudmon sargescott@aol.com

1989

Class Representative: M. Laurie Shumer Gelman lsgelman@comcast.net

Class Representative: K. (Megan) Mickler Ira megira@me.com

Board of Trustees: Rahul V. Deshmukh

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Bolles alumnus Julie Taylor to the Duval County bench. Most recently, she has been general counsel for the 4th Judicial Circuit Court. (See sidebar on the right.)

1990

Class Representative: Cynthia Sinha-Anderson cynthia.anderson3@gmail.com

Class Representative: Amy Hightower Beaver azbeaver@bellsouth.net

Class Representative: David A. Barton davidabarton@yahoo.com

Class Representative: Betsy Lande Givens betgivens@yahoo.com

Board of Trustees: John S. Surface

Board of Visitors: Ron T. Patrick

1991

Class Representative: Elizabeth (Liz) Kilgore Mundin mundinl@bolles.org

Class Representative: Norianne Wright noriannewright@yahoo.com

’90s

Liz Mundin ’91 and Rachel Ringhaver ’91

Classmates Liz Mundin and Rachel Ringhaver have daughters graduating in 2022 — Anne Harvey and Kylie. The tradition continues!

Kevin Barrett and 1991 classmates Jermyn Shannon, Eddie Keyes, and Brian Dolan reunited at the Homecoming football game at Skinner-Barco stadium in October. The foursome were teammates on Coach Corky Rogers’ first state championship football team in 1990.

Bailey Chase ’91

Bailey Chase stopped by the San Jose Campus to visit with his teammates and coaches this fall. An accomplished actor, Bailey is best known for his role in the popular Netflix western crime series “Longmire”. He also was a member of the 1990 State Championship football team. He and his family have recently relocated from Los Angeles to Asheville, North Carolina.

1992

Board of Trustees: Dr. Jamie P. Dwyer

1993

Class Representative: Matthew (Matt) T. Berquist mberquist@intrepidcapitalfunds.com

1994

Class Representative: Jason M. Winkler jasonwinkler@earthlink.net

Board of Trustees: Allison Korman Shelton Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Allison Korman Shelton to the University of North Florida Board of Trustees August 6. (See sidebar on page 66.)

1995

Class Representative: Leed Silverfield lsilverfield@yahoo.com

Board of Trustees: Steven T. Gold

Board of Visitors: Summer J. Decker

Taylor ’89 Appointed Judge

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Bolles alumnus Julie Taylor ’89 to the Duval County bench. Taylor, selected from a group of five contenders for the position, replaces retiring Duval County Judge Ronald Higbee. Following her Bolles graduation, Taylor went to the University of Florida and then received her JD from Samford University Cumberland School of Law. She has been practicing law in Jacksonville ever since, a career that includes work as a public defender and assistant state attorney. Most recently, she has been general counsel for the 4th Judicial Circuit Court.

Shelton ’94 Named to UNF Board

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Allison Korman Shelton to the University of North Florida Board of Trustees August 6. Shelton, of Jacksonville, is the former Director of Government Affairs for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and was previously Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for The Stellar Group. She is a recipient of the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Women of Influence Award and currently serves on The Bolles School Board of Trustees in addition to being a past President of the Jewish Community Alliance and graduate of Leadership Florida. Shelton earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida State University. Bolles alumnus Ashley Collins has been selected as a recipient of the 2021 Top 100 CEOs in Innovation Award by World Biz Magazine. (See sidebar on this page.)

1996

Class Representative: Fontaine LeMaistre IV fontainelemaistre@comcast.net

Heather Creel and Kymberly Wolfson ’99 were named co-chairs of this year’s Winter Design Show benefitting Wolfson Children’s Hospital, which was postponed until December 2022 due to COVID. The event, formerly known as the Art & Antiques Show, is an annual outreach and fundraiser of the Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Roderick Brown and former teammates Will McCray ’97 and Kendal Francis ’95 met up in the stands for a recent football game.

Collins ’95 Selected as a Top 100 CEO in Innovation

Bolles alumnus Ashley Collins ’95 has been selected as a recipient of the 2021 Top 100 CEOs in Innovation Award by World Biz Magazine. Collins’ selection follows a stringent process that evaluated more than 40,000 nominees. The award recognizes product, service, functional, strategic and managerial innovation in companies. The award also recognizes individuals showing exceptional commercial insight and market integrity.

Collins is the owner of Jacksonville-based Collins Builders which he founded in 2003. Roderick Brown ’96, Will McCray ’97 and Kendal Francis ’95

1997

Alumni Board: Steve Kurosko

Following a 2.5-year competitive layoff due to a bike accident and the pandemic, Bolles alumnus Ed Baker returned in fine form by winning the men’s 40–44 age group and placing 19th overall at the Ironman Maine 70.3 in August. He followed that feat up with an overall win at the Ironman Santa Cruz 70.3 in September. (See sidebar on the right.)

1998

Class Representative: lindsayeyrick@yahoo.com

Board of Trustees: A. Chester Skinner IV

Alumni Board: David Cohen Adam Edgecombe, Chair

1999

Class Representative: Christopher “Chris” Dostie ccdostie@hotmail.com

Board of Visitors: Dennis E. Pash

Author and digital media professional Kelly Basinger participated in a “Class in Session” segment for the Alumni Association in October. Kelly reflected on the inspiration for his book “Cool Jolly Greg and His Slim Fit Pants,” including the importance of play, interaction and leveraging new technologies in a smart way.

Heather Creel ’96 and Kymberly Wolfson were named co-chairs of this year’s Winter Design Show benefitting Wolfson Children’s Hospital, which was postponed until December 2022 due to COVID. The event, formerly known as the Art & Antiques Show, is an annual outreach and fundraiser of the Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Travis Hodge ’00, Trey McCullough ’03 and Benson Hawkins ’00 at a recent game

’00s

2000

Class Representative: Faye Hedrick fayemhedrick@gmail.com

Alumni Board: Justin Hart

Board of Visitors: C. Clayton Bromberg Jr., Chair George S. Pilcher III

2001

Class Representative: Katie Skinner Farrar katie.s.farrar@gmail.com

Class Representative: William O. Inman IV woinman4@gmail.com

Class Representative: Lloyd Regas lregas2@yahoo.com

Alumni Board: Lauren Bacalis Scheible

2002

Class Representative: Elizabeth Brotman Daniel eabrotman@yahoo.com

Class Representative: Margaret (Meg) Cheney Coleman meggie2431@aol.com

Baker ’97 Wins Recent Ironman Events

Following a 2.5-year competitive layoff due to a bike accident and the pandemic, Bolles alumnus Ed Baker ’97 returned in fine form by winning the men’s 40–44 age group and placing 19th overall at the Ironman Maine 70.3 in August. He followed that feat up with an overall win at the Ironman Santa Cruz 70.3 in September. The 70.3 or “Half Ironman” events include a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1 mile-run.

Baker’s Ironman career is highlighted by winning the Ironman Lake Placid event in 2018 and qualifying for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, the pinnacle of long-distance triathlon competition. He also won his age group in his first two half-Ironman competitions, Texas in April 2018 and Mont Tremblant in June 2018. Baker finished as the top amateur at the Copenhagen Ironman as well in 2018, bettering his Lake Placid time by over 50 minutes.

An accomplished cross country and track athlete at Bolles, Baker went on to compete at Harvard, where he was a two-time Team Captain and NCAA Regional All-American. Following graduation from Harvard he went on to earn an MBA from Stanford where he also qualified for the 2008 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials in 2008.

Class Representative: John M. Marees jmarees@josephandmarees.com

Class Representative: Carson Vandergriff Richardson carson.vandergriff@gmail.com

Alumni Board: Heather Lane Courtney, Carson Vandergriff Richardson, John Marees

Winton Mays and his wife, Kate, have announced the birth of their daughter, Kennedy Camille Mays.

Former Bolles dancer Lauren Yalango-Grant and her husband, Christopher Grant, are choreographers of the new Broadway-bound musical “Invincible: The Musical,” a show based on the story of “Romeo and Juliet” by rockstars Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. (See sidebar on page 68.)

Yalango-Grant ’02 Choreographer for ‘Invincible: The Musical’

Bolles dancer Lauren Yalango-Grant ’02 and husband Christopher Grant are choreographers of the new Broadway-bound musical “Invincible: The Musical,” a show based on the story of “Romeo and Juliet” by rockstars Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.

The show made an invitation-only industry presentation at the Bourbon Room in Los Angeles November 10—12.

“Named for Benatar’s famous 1985 single, ‘Invincible,’ the show features music from both Benatar and Neil Giraldo, with book by Bradley Bredeweg, direction by Scott Schwartz, choreography by Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Grant, orchestrations by Girlado and music direction and arrangements by Jesse Vargas. Jamie Cesa and Bel Chiasso Entertainment are the producers,” the Variety article reads.

Yalango-Grant was recently in the Broadway musical “King Kong, Alive on Broadway.” The couple’s dance and choreography credits include Apple’s holiday spot, “Sway,” Spike Jonze’ Changers, A Dance Story, Advil PM, “Dancing Around Pain” and the Royal Variety Performance in honor of the Queen of England among many others. Paty Villarreal, who represented Mexico in the 2000 Olympics, lives in Houston where she is raising three boys.

Paty Villarreal ’02

2003

Class Representative: Rahul Sharma sharmar@bolles.org

Alumni Board: David Dunn, Carla M. Jones, John Langley

Tyler Rhoden was promoted as the new Vice President of Orthopedics, Neurosciences and Spine at TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Alli Tinsley was married to Brendon Smith on March 13, 2021, at the Lightner Museum Courtyard in Saint Augustine, Florida.

Over the summer, friends and family of Kathleen Stopyra Dale gathered on the Bolles San Jose River Campus to witness her promotion to Lt. Commander in the United States Navy. Ed Stoprya, former Associate Head of School and Kathleen’s father, performed the ceremony.

Kathleen Dale ’03 with father Ed Stopyra

David Dunn, a Bolles parent, serves on the Alumni Board and is an active supporter of the youth athletics in the community.

The David Dunn ’03 family and friends

2004

Class Representative: Harry A. Kenning III harry.kenning@beeline.com

Alumni Board: Harry Kenning

Teddy Foster is a local attorney at Morgan & Morgan and visited the San Jose Campus to speak to the Bolles faculty and staff during pre-planning for the 2021–2022 school year . Teddy’s reflections on his positive Bolles experiences, both in and out of the classroom, were much appreciated and well-received by the entire community. (See sidebar on the right.)

Jonathan Sofge ’04 and son, Joseph

Jonathan Sofge ’04 and his wife Serenity welcomed their second son to the family — Jase Daniel Sofge.

Foster ’04 Shares Reflections With Bolles Faculty, Staff

Teddy Foster ’04, a Bolles “Lifer” and local attorney with Morgan & Morgan, was the alumni guest speaker at the 2021–22 Bolles All Faculty and Staff Preplanning Meeting August 5 on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus.

Foster shared his full-circle reflections on the Bolles experience, which began for him in Kindergarten and continues today as the father of a Bolles Kindergartner in the Class of 2034. Scanning the audience, he accounted for the many familiar faculty faces who inspired him both in the classroom and on the field during his time at Bolles — including several coaches who encouraged his baseball excellence. Foster attended the University of Florida on a baseball scholarship. He was part of the 2005 SEC Championship and runner-up in the College World Series. He earned All-SEC academic honor roll during the last three years of his UF undergraduate work. Foster has a master’s degree in sports management from UF and a Juris Doctorate from Florida State College of Law.

“I look around and see people who taught me how to be a good person — how to treat people, how to talk to adults and to show respect to every person,” Foster said, challenging himself to recall the name of every teacher he had at Bolles from Kindergarten to his senior year. “It’s the small moments and conversations that made the most impact.”

Foster shared several examples of the brief encounters he had with faculty and coaches that still inspire him today. He reminded faculty and staff of the pivotal role they play in the development of good people.

“Bolles is not anything without its teachers,” Foster said. "You guys don’t push people in the right direction, you show them the right direction."

Skinner ’05 Inducted into Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame

Bolles alumnus Riley Skinner ’05 was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony on September 17, 2021 in Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Skinner was announced as an inductee in June 2020 but the pandemic pushed the ceremony until this fall.

Skinner is the winningest quarterback in Wake Forest history, leading the Demon Deacons to 31 wins as a starter from 2006–2009. In his redshirt freshman season, he led the Deacons to an 11–3 record, the ACC Championship and a berth in the Orange Bowl in January 2007. The ACC Rookie of the Year in 2006, Skinner was a second team All-ACC pick that year and an honorable mention selection in 2008 and 2009. He became the first quarterback in school history to lead the Deacons to three bowl games while setting school records for completion percentage, passing yards, completions, touchdown passes and passing efficiency. Skinner remains the NCAA record holder for completion percentage in a bowl game, having connected on all 11 attempts in Wake Forest’s 29–19 win over Navy in the 2008 EagleBank Bowl.

2005

Class Representative: Gracie Williams Register c.gracie.williams@gmail.com

Board of Visitors: Katherine Newton Jones

Dylan Kiernan earned his MBA from the University of Tampa and is currently employed by Crowley as a senior analyst in finance.

Dylan Kiernan ’05

Bolles alumnus Riley Skinner was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony on September 17, 2021 in Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Skinner was announced as an inductee in June 2020 but the pandemic pushed the ceremony until this fall. (See sidebar on the left.)

While officially married on December 4, 2020, Kenneth Akel and wife, Peggy O’Brien, formally celebrated their marriage with family and friends on October 29, 2021 at a reception held at Treasury on the Plaza in St. Augustine, Florida.

Peggy and Kenneth Akel ’05

2006

Class Representative: Ashley K. Rawlins akrawlins@gmail.com

Cristin Harcrow Johnson ’06 has launched a start-up business called Cristin Johnson Media in Roanoke, Texas. She also works part-time in a family-owned brewery called Soul Fire Brewing Company, where she handles social media for company events.

Cristin Johnson ’06

2007

Class Representative: Michelle Risley Baker michelle.e.risley@gmail.com

Class Representative: Allison T. Dewan allisondewan@gmail.com

Board of Visitors: Allison T. Dewan, Caitlin Hayes

Tommy and Kendall Isaacs welcomed the birth of their son Carter Thomas Isaacs on October 21, 2021, at 5:43 p.m. Carter weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and is 20 inches long.

Allison Dewan married James Giebink at The Chapel at Beaver Creek in Beaver Creek, Colorado on July 17, 2021. Many Bolles alumni attended the wedding and celebrated with the couple on a beautiful day in the Rocky Mountains! Austin Slater ’11

Austin Slater ’11 and Stewart ’12 Conclude Big League Seasons

Former Bolles baseball teammates Austin Slater ’11 and DJ Stewart ’12 both concluded another season in Major League Baseball. An eighth-round pick in the 2014 MLB draft, Slater concluded his fourth big league season with the San Francisco Giants. A first-round pick in 2015, Stewart finished his fourth season with the Baltimore Orioles.

An outfielder, Slater played in 132 games for the Giants in 2021, including three postseason games. During the regular season, he batted .241 with 12 home runs, 12 doubles, a triple and 32 RBIs. He had five at-bats in the National League Divisional Series with two hits.

Stewart, also an outfielder, played in 100 games for the Orioles. He batted .204 with 12 home runs, 10 doubles and 33 RBIs.

DJ Stewart ’12

Author Pierson ’13 Shares Publishing Experiences with Bartram Students

Alexandra Pierson ’13, a New York City-based young adult middle grade fiction author known by the pen name Alex Aster, shared her story of becoming a published author with Tim Creter’s English students during a virtual presentation on the Bolles Middle School Campus November 16.

She took students through her 10-year quest to become a represented and published author — a journey that began when she herself was a student in Creter’s class. She said the book she wrote at the time went through “hundreds” of rejections as she sought agent representation and mainstream publishing. Yet she did not give up on her dream. Through high school and college, she worked on new book projects, tried new approaches, queried agents and continued to pursue her plans to be published. Rejection, reworking, persistence and patience defined her mission as her book projects were picked up by agents, shopped and more often than not, stalled or dropped. Pierson’s big break came after she started a Tik-Tok account and began marketing one of her latest works, “Lightlark.” A teaser video for the book “racked up 1.2 million views, 278,000 likes and more than 7,000 comments — and scored Aster a six-figure book deal with Amulet Books” according to a recent article in Bustle. com. She was on a book tour through New York, New Jersey, Washington DC and south through Florida in early summer. Her second book was published June 8.

Aster’s books “Curse of the Night Witch” and “Lightlark” received a Kirkus Star. “Curse of the Night Witch” was listed as one of Amazon’s best children’s books of 2020.

During her Bartram presentation, Aster encouraged students to never give up on their writing, to stay in tune with the most current media applications and that even dreams that seem to come true overnight are a long time in the making. Her enthusiasm and encouragement were palpable! Thanks for sharing your story with our middle school writers, Alex! And congratulations on your successes and writing career!

2008

Class Representative: Catharine A. Brown catharineabrown@gmail.com

Class Representative: Christina “Christy” Prewitt Yost Christy.prewitt@hotmail.com

Bill Erwin ’80 and John Dominey ’08

Sarah and John Dominey welcomed the birth of their second child John William Dominey to the family on October 11.

2009

Class Representative: Mandana (Mandy) Fatemi mandyfatemi@yahoo.com

Janet “Ley Ley” Francis and Charlie Griffin were married on September 18, 2021, at the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Parker Hardwick was married to Genevieve Whyte on January 23, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois, in a small family ceremony on the shores of Lake Michigan (in 15 degree weather!)

Kay Schellenberg was married to Gabriel Gari on July 9, 2021, in Jacksonville, Florida.

2010

Class Representative: Morgan O’Hare mohareaffair@gmail.com

Hannah Conte Johnson and husband Morgan Johnson welcomed their son Easton Scott Johnson to the world on October 27, 2021.

2011

Class Representative: Ruth Curry Clements clements.curry@gmail.com

Board of Visitors: Lewis S. Lee III Jamil R. Murray

’10s

Peter Verhoef, Jake Lee ’11 and Dale Porter

Jake Lee returned to the Bolles campus in October to volunteer his time and serve on the School’s Board of Visitors for the 2021–2022 school year. As a student, Jake was a stand-out swimmer for the Bulldogs and had the opportunity to meet current swim coaches Peter Verhoef and Dale Porter during his visit.

Jamil Murray ’11

Jamil Murray made the trip from Atlanta to visit campus in September to see the Bulldog football team in action. Jamil currently lives in Atlanta and works for the Frito-Lay corporation. Jamil is also a member of the 2021–22 Board of Visitors.

Literary Agent Katherine Odom-Tomchin ’14 Shares Perspectives with Bolles English Faculty, Students

Katherine Odom-Tomchin ’14, Audio Rights Director and literary agent at Manhattan-based Folio Literary Management, was on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus October 20 to speak with English department faculty and students about the publishing industry.

Odom-Tomchin began her Bolles visit with a presentation to upper school English teachers. She presented on a variety of topics about the literary field as many English teachers have an interest in writing and publishing nonfiction, flash fiction, novels and/or poetry, said Bolles English Department Chair Pamela B. Clubb.

“She spoke with English faculty about the process of writing a query letter to a literary agent and explained the various elements writers’ must address within a proposal to a literary agent,” Clubb said. She also touched on the importance of seeking representation from a literary agent.

Later that morning, Odom-Tomchin provided a presentation to AP English students, giving advice and information on careers in publishing, working in an internship program and writing a resume for college and careers. She also taught a lesson during the creative writing class which focused on the creation of literary elements within a fictional piece.

Odom-Tomchin began her publishing career at Heritage Publishing, Inc., which publishes magazines, guides and directories for health care, seniors, tourists and attorneys throughout Florida and Southeast Georgia. During her time there, she held various positions in the editorial, graphic design and information departments. Her many jobs included producing original content for their many publications and assisting in ad placement. At Folio, Odom-Tomchin works to strategically place the agency’s audio rights with the most effective audio publishers possible. She also acts as a subagent for BenBella, an independent publishing house based in Dallas, Texas known for publishing a range of nonfiction titles, and places audio rights for the storied authors of Harold Ober Associates and Emma Sweeney Agency.

Gibbons ’15 Joins Bolles Swim Staff

Jake Gibbons ’15 returned to his high school alma mater in August following a year as a volunteer coach and a successful swimming career at Texas A&M. He serves as the Late Night coach with the Bolles Sharks. As a student-athlete, Gibbons earned Texas A&M’s Distinguished Letterman Award, the highest award presented to a student-athlete once a year by the athletics department. The individual is someone who displays extraordinary talents in the areas of athletics, scholarship, leadership and service. He served as a team captain during his junior and senior seasons as well as the Chair of the SEC Student-athlete Advisory Council and as a member of the NCAA Division I SAAC. Gibbons was a two-time College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American and a recipient of the Brad Davis Scholarship. Gibbons was also a member of the SEC Community Service Team.

“I am personally excited about Coach Jake because of his undeniable passion for swimming, for developing ‘the whole human’, and for Bolles,” Head Coach Peter Verhoef said of Gibbons. “Coach Jake has the distinction of helping to coach the most dynamic short course swimmer over the past two years in Texas A&M standout Shane Casas. We look forward to learning from Coach Jake and his experience!” The Richardson Family

Kyle Richardson and brother Austin ’13 and their family attended the Bulldogs’ Region 1-4A semifinal football game versus Gadsden County this fall. Kyle lives in Tampa and Austin is living in Denver.

Nathan Theus ’11

Nathan Theus was on campus recently to visit with coaches and teachers and pick up some gear for his little Bulldogs. After graduating from Bolles, Nathan played football for the University of Georgia where he served as a Captain on the Special Teams. Nathan and his family reside in Jacksonville where he works as the General Manager for GFL Environmental Inc.

Former Bolles baseball teammates Austin Slater and DJ Stewart ’12 both concluded another season in Major League Baseball. An eighth-round pick in the 2014 MLB draft, Slater concluded his fourth big league season with the San Francisco Giants. A first-round pick in 2015, Stewart finished his fourth season with the Baltimore Orioles. (See sidebar on page 71.)

Duffy Flynn visited Skinner-Barco stadium in late September to watch the ‘Dogs football game versus UC. After graduating from Bolles, Duffy attended UNF and is currently managing the sales and customer service department of ICEMULE Coolers.

2012

Class Representative: Parker Wilf phwilf@aol.com

Board of Visitors: Katherine Prusiecki Davis

AJ Crouch recently qualified for eight starts on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour. Crouch shot a 7-under 64 in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament’s Final Stage on June 8, 2021, in Savannah, Georgia, to tie for 14th place.

Bulldog greats Ryan Murphy ’13 and Teo D’Alessandro returned to campus in September to offer some words of wisdom to the Bulldog swim team about the opportunity to compete in the upcoming 1A State Championships in Stuart, Florida.

Luke O’Steen and Annie Lee were married on November 6, 2021, at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Lane Travis has announced her engagement to Walker Kane.

DJ Stewart ’12

A 2-sport state champion at Bolles, DJ Stewart just finished his fourth season as an outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles. (See sidebar on page 71.)

Liam Benson works in the stallion department at Nicholasville, Kentucky-based Taylor Made Sales Agency, which handles everything from racing partnerships to breeding and raising thoroughbreds. Taylor Made raised the famed American Pharoah as a yearling. Benson also recently traveled to Chile with a Kentucky Derby winner (2014 California Chrome) for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.

2013

Board of Visitors: Ryan F. Murphy

Julianne Gillis graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in 2021. She is currently a first-year resident in orthopedic surgery at Emory University Medical Center. Dr. Gillis and her mother Laura visited the San Jose and Whitehurst campuses on October 13. Dr.

Schmidt ’15 On-hand to Congratulate Sathianchockwisan ’22 Breaking Record

Bolles swimmer Manita “Fresh” Sathianchockwisan ’22 broke the Bolles girls’ 50 free record with an automatic All-American qualifying time of 22.63 to win the event at the Region 1-1A Championships at Bolles on October 26. Alumna and former 50 free record holder Kasey Schmidt ’15 and her mother Brandi Schmidt were volunteering at the meet as timers and were able to congratulate Sathianchokwisan in person to make the accomplishment particularly special.

Kasey Schmidt returned to Jacksonville after earning a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University in 2020 and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Hawaii in 2019 where she was a member of the swim team. She currently works in Digital Audience Development with the PGA Tour.

King ’16 Visits Bartram Dancers

Recent West Point graduate Joe King ’16 was a guest presenter in Angela Blackledge’s dance I and II classes on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus the first week of the school year.

An upper school athlete and former student of Blackledge’s, King talked to the students about his experiences in dance and sports at Bolles — and how they shaped him as a person. King, who was recently commissioned as an officer in the Army, is heading to Fort Benning and then to Fort Bliss in Texas.

“The students — they loved it!” Blackledge shared. Gillis enjoyed her time with faculty members and toured the renovated girl’s residence hall (The Llura “Lulie” Liggett Gund Residence Hall) where she had lived as a boarding student.

Dylan Schreiner was married to Kasey Rolen on November 6, 2021.

Austin Richardson and brother Kyle ’11 and their family attended the Bulldogs’ Region 1-4A semifinal football game versus Gadsden County this fall. Kyle lives in Tampa and Austin is living in Denver.

Alexandra Pierson ’13, a New York City-based young adult middle grade fiction author known by the pen name Alex Aster, shared her story of becoming a published author with Tim Creter’s English students during a virtual presentation on the Bolles Middle School Campus November 16. (See sidebar on page 72.)

2014

Alumni Board: Hunter Walker

Charles “Jake” Bistrong passed away on June 7, 2021.

Gordon Olson ’14, Nick Reinschmidt ’14, Cody Boswell ’14, Kian Schoenborn ’14, Rachel Duffy ’14 and friend

The Bolles Class of 2014 was well-represented at Skinner-Barco stadium to watch the Bulldogs in action when the football team clashed with TCA this fall. The mini-reunion included Nick Reinschmidt, Gordon Olson, Kian Schoenborn, Cody Boswell and Rachel Duffy.

Patrick Glover recently completed his first year of medical school at Emory University.

Katherine Odom-Tomchin stopped by the San Jose Campus in October to present to faculty and students. Kat is a literary agent and the Audio Rights Director at Folio Literary Management in New York. (See sidebar on page 73).

2015

Jake Gibbons returned to his high school alma mater in August following a year as a volunteer coach and a successful swimming career at Texas A&M. He serves as the Late Night coach with the Bolles Sharks. (See sidebar on page74.)

Kasey Schmidt was on-hand to witness Manita “Fresh” Sathianchockwisan ’22 break her school record in the 50 free. (See sidebar on page 75.)

The Collings Family

Victoria Watterson Collings and John Collings IV welcomed John “Quint” Collings V to the world November 27, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. The Collings family lives in Nashville where Victoria works in marketing for one of Sony Music’s record labels.

2016

Alumni Board: Roland Johnson

Brittney Rayfield Scantling and husband, Hunter, welcomed their first child, Jaeden Michael Scantling, to the family on October 16, 2021. Jaeden arrived a month early at 6 lbs. 8 oz. and 20 inches long and everyone is doing well.

West Point graduate Joe King was a guest presenter in Angela Blackledge’s Dance I and II classes on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus the first week of the school year. An upper school athlete and former student of Ms. Blackledge, King talked to the students about his experiences in dance and sports at Bolles — and how they shaped him as a person. (See sidebar on page 75.)

Prusiecki ’16 Completes Appalachian Trail Hike

Bolles alumnus Adam Prusiecki ’16 summited Mount Katahdin in Maine on September 8 to complete a four-month hike of the entire 2200-mile Appalachian Trail. Prusiecki began at Springer Mountain in Georgia exactly four months prior, two days after completing his Master of Accountancy degree at the University of Georgia. He will continue to reside in Athens while studying for and taking parts of the CPA exam over the next three months before starting with Ernst & Young in Atlanta in early January.

In sharing the news, Adam’s father Drew stated, “We are very proud of his accomplishments and grateful for the outstanding Bolles education he received!”

Jones ’17 Performing as the Top Rookie QB in the NFL

Bolles alumnus Mac Jones ’17 has performed as the top rookie quarterback in the NFL in 2021 based on stats, wins and most measurables. Jones was drafted with the 15th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by New England following a stellar final collegiate season in which he led the Crimson Tide to national and SEC titles and earned several individual accolades including Academic All-American of the Year. He was named the starting quarterback for the Patriots as the NFL wrapped up the 2021 preseason.

In one of the most anticipated and watched NFL games of the season, Jones excelled as Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visited New England on October 3. Hyped as “The Return” of Brady to New England, and even though the Patriots were edged on a missed field goal, Jones arguably stole some of the spotlight from the future Hall of Famer.

Leading up to the game and following, Lower School Whitehurst Campus teachers Jill Bobbitt and Dawn Collins were interviewed by Boston television station WHDH Channel 7. A reporter and cameraman visited the Whitehurst Campus to interview Bobbitt and Collins, as the pair have stayed in touch with Jones as he moved on to middle and upper school at Bolles, then the University of Alabama and now the NFL. Coincidentally, Jones had sent the two teachers autographed jerseys the night prior and they wore them to school and for the interview. Bolles alumni on Air Force Academy Football Team

Jordan Jackson ’16

Jordan Jackson, a senior defensive tackle on the Air Force Academy football team, tallied 37 tackles including seven sacks to help the Falcons to a 9–3 record in 2021. Jackson is on the watchlist for the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl, an annual college all-star football game that is played at the conclusion of the NCAA season. He is one of three Bolles alumni on the Air Force squad along with Amari Terry ’17 and Benjamin “Cody” Mercer ’17.

Kenny Johnson is currently a participant in the IT Career Foundational Program at Boeing South Carolina in Charleston.

Zev Lee, a recent University of Massachusetts Amherst summa cum laude graduate who double-majored in history and political science and minored in film, has begun his pursuit of a master’s degree in history from Kings College, University of London. His thesis is based upon many of the passions he developed at Bolles, where he thrived as a history student in Danton Kostandarithes’ classroom. “It was through Dr. K’s classes that I not only learned so much, but found a subject that excited and captivated me, evoked debate and enthused me to want to research and discover further connections to other courses at Bolles,” he said. Lee’s master’s thesis combines his love of music (Lee was captain of the Bolles Band in 2015 and 2016) and Torah and his passion for “heated and well-informed debate.” Lee next plans to attend Oxford University for a degree in law.

Bolles alumnus Adam Prusiecki ’16 summited Mount Katahdin in Maine on September 8 to complete a four-month hike of the entire 2200-mile Appalachian Trail. (See sidebar on page 77.)

Jonathan Alley ’16

After graduating from FGCU Lutgert College of Business, Jonathan Alley is living in Neptune Beach and works in management at Reliant Roofing.

2017

Christian Glover recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the FSU School of Business.

Bolles alumnus Mac Jones has performed as the top rookie quarterback in the NFL in 2021 based on stats, wins and most measurables. Jones was drafted with the 15th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by New England. (See sidebar the left.)

E.J. Porter ’17

E.J. Porter totaled nine tackles in his redshirt senior season on the Coastal Carolina football team, helping the Chanticleers to an 10–2 record and as high as 14th in the national rankings.

Ferguson ’18 Selected by Padres in MLB Draft

Bolles alumnus Max Ferguson ’18 was selected by the San Diego Padres in the fifth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft with the 160th pick. He played in 25 games with the Padres’ rookie league team and 12 games with the Lake Elsinore Storm, a Low-A affiliate of the Padres. Combined, he hit .212 with six doubles, two triples and 13 RBIs in 2021.

Ferguson completed his junior season on the University of Tennessee baseball team in 2021. He earned Southeast All-Region and All-SEC Tournament Team honors in 2021, helping the Vols to the program’s first College World Series appearance since 2005. An infielder, he started 67 games (primarily at second base), ranking fourth on the team with 46 runs scored, 12 home runs and 46 RBIs, all career highs. Ferguson also led the team and ranked fifth in the SEC with 15 stolen bases.

Barco ’19 Selected for USA Baseball Team

Bolles alumnus Hunter Barco ’19 was selected for the 2021 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Barco was among 48 players on two 24-player teams that played 11 intrasquad games from July 2–15. In prior years, the USA Collegiate teams played international opponents.

The majority of the teams’ games were played in the cities of the Appalachian League in its first season as a summer collegiate league as part of MLB and USA Baseball's Prospect Development Pipeline.

A freshman pitcher on the University of Florida baseball team in 2021, Barco led the Gators in wins with a record of 10–3 including the SEC and NCAA tournaments. Pitching in his first full season of collegiate play, Barco posted a 4.01 ERA through 16 starts with a .239 batting average against and 94 strikeouts. He was named to the All-Southeastern Conference Newcomer Team. Barco competed for the Gators at the start of the 2020 season before the remainder of the season was canceled last March, resetting his eligibility as a freshman in 2021. Ahman Ross ’17

Ahman Ross, a redshirt junior safety on the Florida Atlantic football team, totaled 30 tackles and an interception for the Owls in 2021.

Lexi Riley-DiPaolo ’17

Lexi Riley-DiPaolo graduated with honors from the College of Wooster with a degree in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Biology. An all-conference swimmer who also achieved conference academic honors, Lexi joined the University of Florida’s College of Medicine's LaVoie Lab at the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases for the summer and began her PhD program in the UF Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience concentration program this fall.

2018

Bolles alumnus Max Ferguson was selected by the San Diego Padres in the fifth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft with the 160th pick. (See sidebar on page 79.)

Dragon Theam led the Army West Point men’s golf team in two tournaments this fall, highlighted by a T-2 finish at the Bucknell Invitational to lead the Black Knights to the tournament win. Theam is a junior at the US Military Academy, playing at La Salle University as a freshman.

Dragon Theam ’18

John Bowers, a senior on the Naval Academy cross country team, helped Navy to a Patriot League Championship and earned All-Patriot League First Team and All-Academic Honors. He competed in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for his final cross country race at Navy.

John Bowers ’18

Hastings ’19 Among Survivor 41 Cast

Bolles alumnus Xander Hastings ’19 was among the cast of Survivor 41, the long-running reality television show on which contestants form a beachside society and vote each other off in the pursuit of a million dollars. Filming began in March and the season has already wrapped, but Hastings “survived” to be among the final three contestants. In cast bio on the CBS/Survivor website, Hastings notes his most proud accomplishment as qualifying for and competing in the 2018 Nike Cross Nationals along with his Bolles teammates.

Hicks ’19 Places 4th at NCAA Cross Country Championships, Wins Pac 12

Bolles alumnus Charles Hicks ’19 led the Stanford University men’s cross country team with a fourth-place individual finish at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country National Championships in Tallahassee on November 20. The Cardinal placed fifth as a team and Hicks earned his second consecutive All-American honor in cross country.

Several Bolles coaches and former and current cross country team members made the trip down I-10 to watch Hicks compete, congratulating him in-person after his amazing accomplishment. The NCAA meet was held at Apalachee Regional Park, site of the FHSAA state meet the last several years, where Hicks won back-to-back individual and team state titles as a junior and senior at Bolles.

Hicks was also named the West Region Men’s Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season after another impressive season as the top distance runner for the Cardinal. He also led Stanford to victory at the NCAA Division I West Regional Championships in Sacramento on November 12. He narrowly placed second individually. Hicks won the individual title and led Stanford to a team runner-up finish at the Pac 12 Conference Cross Country Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 29.

A freshman in cross country eligibility and junior academically, Hicks added to numerous accolades in his running career including a runner-up finish at the Pac 12 meet last season to lead Stanford to the team title, winning the 10k at the 2021 Pac 12 track championships, earning All-American honors in cross country and track last season and placing sixth in the 5k at the British Olympic trials. Izzy Schwam, a two-year captain and senior on the Haverford College volleyball team, helped her team to a runner-up finish in the Centennial Conference tournament and a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament. Haverford defeated UMass Boston in the first round before falling to MIT in the second round in the Cambridge Regional. Schwam has also been named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll multiple times and serves on Haverford’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Izzy Schwam ’18

Anastasia Scott ’18

Anastasia Scott, a senior on the Long Island University volleyball team was named the Northeast Conference’s 2021 Defensive Player of the Year and to the All NEC First Team, both for the second time. She was also named NEC Defensive Player of the Week six times. Scott led LIU with 5.38 digs per set, ranking ninth in the in the NCAA. She recorded 293 digs in total, including an NEC single-season match-record 34 in a match against Bryant on October 2.

2019

Julia Butler visited the San Jose Campus over the summer to discuss her time at William & Mary and her passion for writing. A junior at the College of William & Mary, she is pursuing a major in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics along with a generous helping of Chinese language and culture. She is also a member of the school’s Undergraduate Honor Council and former Co-Chair of the

council’s Faculty-Liaison Committee. Julia currently serves as the Honor Council’s Assistant Chair of Administration.

Will Shepherd returned to the San Jose Campus at the beginning of the school year to entertain the Class of 2022 with his music at the Senior Breakfast. Will is currently a junior at Dartmouth College, where he is also a member of the Big Green baseball team.

Cooper Sullivan ’19

Cooper Sullivan led the Wabash College football team in receiving in 2021 with 57 receptions, 850 yards and seven touchdowns, helping the Little Giants to a 7–3 record. The sophomore receiver is one of four Bolles alumni on the Wabash team along with Will Netting ’20, Ben Netting ’20 and Avery Epstein ’21.

Charles Hicks led the Stanford University men’s cross country team with a fourth-place individual finish at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country National Championships in Tallahassee on November 20. The Cardinal placed fifth as a team and Hicks earned his second consecutive All-American honor in cross country. The feat capped another impressive season for Hicks as the top distance runner for the Cardinal. (See sidebar on the left.)

Hunter Barco was selected for the 2021 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. (See sidebar on page 80.)

Xander Hastings is among the cast of Survivor 41, the long-running reality television show on which contestants form a beachside society and vote each other off in the pursuit of a million dollars. (See sidebar on page 81.)

2020

Sam Levin was named the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week for the Elon Phoenix football team.

Congratulations to Bolles Band alumna Soraya Rafat ’20. Soraya had an amazing performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and continues to pursue her passion for music while studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. (See sidebar on the right.)

’20s

Rafat ’20 Lands Gig with Frances Forever

Multitalented Bolles musician-artist and lifer Soraya Rafat ’20 recently was asked to join Tik-Tok music sensation Frances Forever on Misterwives’ Resilient Little Tour, which includes performances in venues across the country this fall.

Rafat will play guitar for Frances Forever on tour, which begins with a November 9 performance in Ft. Lauderdale.

The opportunity surprised Rafat, who is a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston. She said she already was a fan of the band, whose song “Space Girl” was a hit on social media, when a friend suggested she audition for a guitarist opening.

“I immediately told them I was interested and a few weeks ago, their manager flew me out to Boston for a few days so I could finally play with the band,” Rafat said. “We played through the songs on their latest EP, Paranoia Party. We had so much fun and we all got along really well! After I left the studio, Frances’ manager emailed me welcoming me to the band.”

Rafat said she is thrilled to have the opportunity to step into the music industry, which has been her dream since the beginning at Bolles.

“Ever since I was in the sixth grade, I had a very strong passion for music that only kept getting stronger over the years — it was in the 8th grade that I finally realized I wanted to pursue a career in music,” Rafat said. “No matter how hard things got, music was always there for me and I never let go of my dreams. Now, only a year after I graduated from Bolles, I’ll be on tour! Music really brings out the best in me and I can’t wait to finally share myself with the rest of the U.S.”

On tour, Rafat and Frances Forever will be opening for a band called Misterwives, which was one of the opening acts at a concert Rafat went to during her freshman year at Bolles.

“It’s so nice to have this full circle moment now,” Rafat said.

Baumeister ’21 Named All-American

Recent Bolles graduate Jackson Baumeister ’21 has earned All-American honors from Baseball America. The Baseball America end-of-season High School All-America Teams are selected by Baseball America staff after consulting with scouts and high school coaches. Players are honored for both their production and their tools.

Baumeister was named to the Third Team as a pitcher. He is currently a freshman pitcher on the Florida State University baseball team. Will Netting totaled 55 tackles and two interceptions as a sophomore defensive back on the Wabash College football team, helping the Little Giants to a 7–3 record. He is one of four Bolles alumni on the Wabash team along with Cooper Sullivan ’19, Ben Netting ’20 and Avery Epstein ’21.

Olivia Candelino ’20

Olivia Candelino, a sophomore forward on the Auburn women’s soccer team, helped the Tigers to an NCAA tournament berth, as high as a #10 national ranking and a 12–7–1 overall record. Candelino started all 20 games for Auburn, tallying two goals and eight assists on the season. Helena Kummings ’20

Helena Kummings, a sophomore at Emory University, earned All-Region honors with a 13th place individual finish to help Emory University win the Division III South/Southeast Regional Championships on November 13 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Kummings helped the Eagles to a 19th-place finish at the NCAA DIII National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 20.

Chloe Schiavone has recovered from undergoing hand and wrist surgery last spring to finish among the top-10 in Notre Dame’s last two fall golf tournaments. The former Florida Times-Union First Coast Player of the Year posted a career-high 8th for the Irish in the Olde Stone Invitational in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with a 54-hole total of 8-over 224. Notre Dame finished fourth as a team. In her previous start, Chloe shot 6-over 220 and tied for 10th in the Badger Invitational as Notre Dame finished second.

Avery Patterson, a sophomore defender on the UNC women’s soccer team, helped the Tar Heels to an NCAA tournament berth, as high as a #2 national ranking and a 12–3–3 overall record. In the Tar Heel’s penultimate regular season match against Notre Dame, Patterson headed in the game-winning overtime goal for the 900th win for legendary UNC coach Anson Dorrance and the program. She was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week on October 5 as helped then fifth-ranked UNC to a scoreless draw against second-ranked Virginia on October 3.

Avery Patterson ’20

2021

Avery Epstein tallied 27 tackles and an interception as a freshman cornerback on the Wabash College football team, helping the Little Giants to a 7–3 record. He is one of four Bolles alumni on the Wabash team along with Cooper Sullivan ’19, Will Netting ’20 and Ben Netting ’20.

Avery Epstein ’21

Izzy Kimberly, a freshman on the Southern Cal soccer team, helped the Trojans to an NCAA tournament first-round win over Grand Canyon University, a 14–3–2 overall record and as high as fifth in the national rankings.

Thearika Phat was awarded the 2021 Study Florida/Florida Association of International Educators Secondary School Scholarship. This marks the first year that Study Florida/FAIE have offered a secondary school scholarship. (See sidebar on the right.)

Phat ’21 Earns Study Florida Scholarship

Recent Bolles graduate Thearika Phat ’21 has been awarded the 2021 Study Florida/Florida Association of International Educators Secondary School Scholarship. This marks the first year that Study Florida/FAIE have offered a secondary school scholarship.

Born and raised in Cambodia, Phat entered Bolles in 2018 and notes it has always been her dream to study in the United States because of its diversity and vast opportunities. Attending Bolles allowed her to meet people from around the world, learn about different cultures and experience a wide array of academic, arts and leadership opportunities. She is attending the University of North Florida.

Izzy Kimberly ’21

Jackson Baumeister earned All-American honors from Baseball America. The Baseball America end-of-season High School All-America Teams are selected by Baseball America staff after consulting with scouts and high school coaches. (See sidebar on the left.)

IN MEMORIAM Betsy Ross Lovett Bartram ’48

One of the brightest stars in the Bartram/Bolles universe dimmed recently with the passing of luminary Betsy Ross Lovett ’48 Bartram. Mrs. Lovett died October 26, 2021 in Jacksonville, leaving many friends, family and community beneficiaries to mourn and celebrate her extraordinary legacy. Mrs. Lovett’s enthusiasm and passion for the arts, our School and Northeast Florida philanthropy enriched the Bolles experience for all of us. Though we are saddened by this loss, we are grateful for her example of grace, generosity and exuberance and know her influence continues to inspire many in our community.

For anyone who isn’t familiar with Mrs. Lovett’s longstanding zeal for Bolles, please enjoy these excerpts from a recent profile published in our 2019–20 Annual Report. As the writer noted, her life is like the “script of a blockbuster movie.” She loved to entertain, fund-raise, dress in showstopping costumes and travel. She was an accomplished markswoman and enjoyed outdoor adventures including safaris in Africa and hunts with the King of Spain. She redefined the trajectory of many artists and changemakers in our area and she treasured people. As the story describes, Mrs. Lovett was a “celebrated raconteuse” and many of her stories were inspired by her experiences at Bolles.

Mrs. Lovett’s association with Bolles began in childhood. Young Betsy Ross was a boarding student at Bartram School, where she played intramural sports on the Green Team and competed – along with her sister – in equestrian events. High spirits and competitiveness won Mrs. Lovett a variety of honors on horseback. But they landed her on the wrong side of the rules at Bartram at least once, bringing her to the attention of redoubtable headmistress Olga Pratt.

“One night, when we were supposed to be in bed,” Mrs. Lovett told the writer during an interview nearly two years ago. “Charlotte Palmer and I had gotten dressed and were slipping out through one of the windows.” Charlotte had gone out ahead of me, and I was halfway out the window when I heard this voice say ‘GIRLS, what are you DOING?’ It was Miss Pratt!

“I pulled my leg back in,” she continued, “and turned around and told her that we were going out to the courtyard to smoke cigarettes. And Miss Pratt said ‘Get back in here now!’”

Fully prepared for some sort of punishment, Mrs. Lovett asked the headmistress what was going to happen next.

“…And Miss Pratt said, ‘You are going to shake my hand and go back to your room and get to bed!’ And I said ‘Okay!’ …But from then on, Miss Pratt had her eye on me.”

In spite of an occasional eye from Miss Pratt, Mrs. Lovett enjoyed her time at Bartram and sent her own daughter there. And by 2015, she had seen six grandchildren graduate from Bolles. Lovett has been generous with her time and treasure throughout her family’s long association with Bartram and Bolles. She served on the Board of Trustees from 2003–06, and has open-handedly supported the school, most recognizably as the naming donor for the Bartram Campus’s Betsy Lovett Center for the Arts. A passionate supporter of arts and culture, Mrs. Lovett was involved in every facet of the project, right down to making sure there was plenty of leg room for audience members in the theater. She was proud of these results and was delighted to hear stories of the Center’s influence on budding performers.

Mrs. Lovett’s spirit of giving and living graciously is demonstrated so poignantly in this January 2013 interview with Jacksonville Daily Record Editor Karen Brune Mathis:

“I get up every day and I know at my age I have crinkles and aches and pains but somehow it’s just another day to get out and get going. Somehow when you do a project and you see success, be it a medical thing or a library or even a helping hand in the grocery store, I have a little thing that runs through my head frequently that ‘no man stands taller than when he stoops to lift another up.’ And that more or less applies to everything we do.

In the library we are lifting education so anyone can be educated. And the same with hospitals, look what they offer, salvation, help, for the ailing, the hurting. And the arts center. About two years ago I was in Publix shopping and had seen this lovely cashier and we chatted off and on but she didn’t know my name. And so that day somehow she saw my name, Betsy Lovett, on something and she said,‘by any chance are you connected to the Betsy Lovett Arts Center at Bolles?’ and I said, well a little. She said, ‘I just have to tell you my son was at Bartram and kind of headed down the wrong direction and he goton that stage and literally I want you to know it has turned his life around.’

What greater joy. That money was nothing compared to the joy of that little boy’s life being turned around. I sound kind of sentimental but those things do add up in life.”

Indeed they do, and how. On behalf of The Bolles School and Bartram School community, we offer our deepest condolences to all who were touched by Mrs. Lovett’s lifetime demonstration of good will and vibrance. Our School is a better place because of her dedication and we are all humbled by her example of philanthropy. Her gifts added up to changed lives throughout the Bolles/Bartram community and far beyond. May Mrs. Lovett’s ebullience shine eternally bright.

New Rowing Shell Named for Betsy Lovett ’48

The Bolles girls’ crew is practicing and racing in a new four-seat shell, named the Betsy Lovett in honor of the 1948 Bartram School student and Bolles benefactor. Lovett’s passing left an extraordinary legacy of philanthropy and passion for All Things Bolles.

George Varn ’38

IN MEMORIAM

In memory of the September 4, 2021 passing of George W. Varn Sr. ’38, we are honored to republish this illuminating interview, which ran in the 2020–21 Bolles Annual Report. Mr. Varn and his brother Lester have been longtime advocates and supporters of The Bolles School and are considered among the School’s most dedicated alumni figures:

Why did George Varn’s parents send him to military school?

“Because that’s what was here!” said Mr. Varn. “They wanted me to go somewhere better than the local public schools, but didn’t want to send me to boarding school, so I ended up going to Bolles. That was my entire connection with the military until I went into the Navy.”

Mr. Varn’s three years at Bolles were memorable for a number of reasons, beginning with academics. He was number one in every class during his whole time at Bolles, with one exception.

“One month, a history professor asked me if it was all right to put another boy first,” he said. “He said the boy had been working really hard and needed some encouragement. And I said yes.”

After 80-plus years as an alumnus, Varn is still proud of his accomplishments.

“I received the Lewis Award all three years I was at Bolles,” he said. The H.W. Lewis Award was given to the Upper School cadet with the highest grade point average.

He also received the Honor Cadet Award three years in a row, and capped a brilliant Bolles career by serving as Battalion Commander his senior year. That took a little extra work.

“When I was a senior,” Mr. Varn recalled, “I decided I didn’t want to play football anymore. I was very small and only weighed about 120 pounds at the time – and was tired of being knocked around. But the head military man called Daddy in and told him I had to go out for football.”

“He said they wanted me to be Battalion Commander, but they couldn’t make a day boy Battalion Commander if he wasn’t playing football. So, I went on and played football and darn near got killed!”

Another vivid memory for Varn is competing with an “uptight” senior for best drill cadet during his freshman year. “He was a top-rate military man and I was a jackleg child,” chuckled Varn, “so after 15 or 20 minutes, he defeated me. And that had never happened before, so it still ranks high in my recollection.” After graduating from Bolles, Varn attended Harvard University. It wasn’t a foregone conclusion; in fact, he had initially applied to, and been accepted by, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But at the last moment, for reasons he doesn’t recall, he changed his mind.

“I asked around to see if there were any other good schools in Boston, and somebody said, ‘Well, there’s Harvard, but admissions are closed,’” he said. “I called the dean and talked to him, and even though it was closed, they sent me an application. And I got in, and had a wonderful experience.”

Unsurprisingly, young Varn did well at Harvard. He was a senior with a Phi Beta Kappa key when Japanese forces attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. Fortunately, he was able to graduate before entering military service in the Navy the following summer.

“I was recruited for a top-secret program in Naval Intelligence in Washington,” he recounted, “and served there for about six or seven months. After that, I was transferred to Pearl Harbor and spent most of the war there.”

After returning from the service, Mr. Varn got married and moved with his new bride, Betty, to Palatka, where he built and ran a turpentine still for his family. During their stay, both George and Betty earned their private pilot’s licenses.

“They asked me to go on the Board when they started adding alumni,” he said, “but I was too far away and couldn’t do it. After we moved back to Jacksonville, though, I went on the Board.”

Asked why Bolles deserves his support, Varn, who will turn 100 on December 1, 2020, is characteristically direct.

“I feel that the three years I spent there gave me as good an education as I could get in this part of Florida. And as near as I can tell, they are continuing to offer that, so they should have my support.”

Along with the Varn Board Room, Mr. Varn and his younger brother, Lester, made a name for themselves early on as champions for building Bolles’ endowment.

“When money would come in, we would fight to put more of it in the endowment,” he said. “But the headmasters always had something else that needed to be done, so we didn’t do a great job.”

Despite past challenges, Mr. Varn is still emphatic about the need for a robust endowment.

“No private school can possibly manage to run purely on the strength of the fees they charge,” he stated. “And if they don’t have a substantial endowment, the quality of their education goes down over time.”

Births

George “Winton” Mays ’02 and Kate Mays Kennedy Camille Mays

Jenny McGehee Claggett ’04 and Ty Claggett Campbell McGehee Claggett

Jonathan Sofge ’04 and Serenity Sofge Jase Daniel Sofge

Thomas “Tommy” Isaacs ’07 and Kendall Isaacs Carter Thomas Isaacs

Sarah Erwin Dominey ’09 and John Dominey ’08 John William Dominey

David Dunn ’03 and Madeleine Dunn Andrew Davis Dunn

Hannah Conte Johnson ’10 and Morgan Johnson Easton Scott Johnson

Victoria Watterson Collings ’15 and John Collings IV John “Quint” Collings V

Brittney Rayfield Scantling ’16 and Hunter Scantling Jaeden Michael Scantling

Engagements

Lane Travis ’12 and Walker Kane Olivia Sleiman ’13 and Bradley Manning

Marriage

Allison Diane Tinsley ’03 and Brendon Smith Kenneth Akel ’05 and Peggy O’Brien Allison Dewan ’07 and James Giebink Janet “Ley Ley” Francis ’09 and Charlie Griffin Parker Hardwick ’09 and Genevieve Whyte Kay Schellenberg ’09 and Gabriel Gari Luke O’Steen ’12 and Annie Lee Dylan Schreiner ’13 and Kasey Rolen

Deceased

George W. Varn ’38 Keller B. Campbell Sr. ’43 Jon Louis Courson ’47 Betsy Ross Lovett ’48 Bartram John Thomas Beckum ’51 Dean Walk Gordon Jr. ’51 David Lester Cates ’53 Jane Howard Chadbourne ’53 Bartram Charles M. Conway Jr. ’58 Donn Kean Degnon ’58 Carol Gervin Bates ’63 Bartram Susannah Schmoe Borg ’70 Bartram Chesterfield H. Smith Jr. ’71 James Elliott Mooney III ’73 Christopher Lee Johnson ’81 Joseph T. Wingard III ’83

Bolles Family

Retired Whitehurst teacher Laurie Braddock passed away July 7, 2021

Retired teacher Mary O’Connor Bean passed away Friday, July 30, 2021

Former Bolles coach Tim Bobbitt passed away on August 2, 2021

Former Bolles English teacher Susan Castelli passed away Monday, November 15, 2021

Longtime team doctor, Dr. Stephen Lucie passed away December 10, 2021

Longtime staff member Helen Smith passed away December 15, 2021

2022

Key Dates

January 3 Classes Resume

January 13 Bolles on the Road, Alumni Event in Atlanta

January 17 MLK Jr. Day, No School

February 3 Phoenix Society Celebration of the Arts

February 18 Professional Development Day, No Classes

February 21 Presidents’ Day, No School

March 7–11 Spring Break

March 14 Faculty Work Day, No Classes

March 17 Agnes Cain Painter Glynlea Society Event on San Jose Campus

March 31 Bolles on the Road, Alumni Event in Charlotte

April 7 Bolles on the Road, Alumni Event in Dallas

April 15, 18 Holiday Break

May 14 Annual Alumni Reunion

May 23 Middle, Upper School Reading Day, No Classes

May 24–27 Middle, Upper School Exams

May 28 Graduation

May 30 Memorial Day, School Closed

May 31–June 3 Faculty/Staff Post-Planning

June 23 Bolles on the Road, Alumni Event in Cashiers, NC

July 14 Bolles on the Road, Alumni Event in Vail, CO

August 18 Bolles on the Road, Alumni Event in Denver, Red Rocks Amphitheater

September 13 Bolles on the Road, Alumni Event in Washington, D.C.

September 15 Bolles on the Road, Alumni Event in New York City, NY

Non-discriminatory clause: The Bolles School admits students of any race, color and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally available to students at the School. It does not discriminate in administering educational policies or other school programs. This School is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant students.

ANNUAL ALUMNI

REUNION

The Bolles Alumni Association invites All Bolles Alumni to join us on the beautiful st. johns river for the bolles school annual Alumni Reunion!

SATURDAY

May 14

2 0 2 2

Evening San Jose River Campus River Party Celebration for All Bolles Alumni Association Members

To receive the invite for this amazing event, join the Bolles Alumni Association today by giving your best gift to the Bolles Annual Fund.

7400 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville, Florida 32217

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