The Bolles School Winter 2020-21 Bolles Magazine

BOLLES REDEFINING JOY A Spirit of Wisdom: Academics and Teaching With a New Hue A Passion for Beauty: New Masterpiece Works Define All Areas of #BollesArts A Healthy Transformation Winter 2020-21

2020-21 Bolles Board

of Trustees

Fernando Acosta-Rua ’85 Chair

Tatiana Salvador ’86

Trustees Emeriti

John Schickel Jr. ’88

Russell Newton III Vice Chair

Allison Korman Shelton ’94

Preeti Swani Secretary

George Stelljes III ’80

Tyler J. Hodges President/Head of School

John Surface ’90

Quinn R. Barton Jr. ’46 James V. Bent Sr. ’53 John W. Connolly Jr. Deceased William K. Hatcher ’48 Deceased Ann C. Hicks ’55 Bartram Beverley W. Hirsig ’46 Deceased Helen M. Lane ’42 Bartram Hal Lynch Robert H. Paul III ’52 Deceased Frederick H. Schultz ’46 Deceased A. Chester Skinner Jr. ’40 Deceased Herman Ulmer Jr. ’37 Deceased George W. Varn ’38 W. Lester Varn Jr. ’42 E. Ellis Zahra Jr. ’64

A. Chester Skinner IV ’98 Karen Stone Mark Travis ’80 A. Rodney VanPelt ’73

Trustees Charles Arnold III ’86

Ex-Officio Members

Ali Chahlavi

Adam Edgecombe ’98 Alumni Board, Chair

Anika Goel Comar Robert Crosby Rahul Deshmukh ’89 Aubrey Edge Steven Gold ’95 Brittany Groover Michael Meyers

Marcia Howard ’83 Board of Visitors, Chair Jacque McGraw Parent Association, Co-Chair John McGraw Parent Association, Co-Chair

Ricardo Morales, III ’81 Kathryn Pearson Peyton C. Daniel Rice ’80

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President Emeritus Harry M. deMontmollin Jr. ’56

A Spirit of Wisdom: Academics and Teaching With a New Hue Potential potholes and roadblocks did not obscure Bolles educators’ visions of academic excellence for 2020–21. While there have been bumps in the road, this year’s new path in synchronous online learning has inspired teachers at all grade levels how to better manage the unexpected and find new excitement in an ever-evolving classroom setting.

in a workshop wherein participants were encouraged to evolve in the time of COVID. “She said we should not be looking to get back to normal, but instead should be striving to use this experience to improve for the better,” Drew said. “In other words, we should create a new, better normal and not settle for the old normal.”

In early September, Bolles Associate Head of School Mike Drew attended the virtual Challenge Success conference and participated

I have been working here since 2018. From the moment I stepped on campus for my interview I could tell it was a place I wanted to work. There is a feeling — of loyalty, of respect, of pride and of fun. I come to work every day so I can share my time with people who are like me, who build me up and enjoy working here as well. We have fun together, but we also work hard.

CLAUDIA MARGOLIS

What drives me to be a teacher (and I think so many teachers) is because at the end of the day, I just want to make a difference. I want my students’ world view to amplify, teach them about a foreign language, cultural perspectives, products, practices and day-to-day human interactions that will help them become the best leaders for our future. A good leader in my mind should feel connected to the world to make a positive impact on others. That’s what drives me to teach!

ADRIANA STAM

Finance Center Assistant

Spanish Teacher

Upper School San Jose Campus

Upper School San Jose Campus

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Bolles Speech and Debate Team Making National Gains Fresh off a successful 2020 competitive season, the Bolles Speech and Debate Team launched into the 2020–21 school year on a first semester rocket of wins and strong performances that are bringing new distinction to the program.

The team has participated in four prestigious national events since September and all resulted in impressive performances. The first virtual contest was Incubate Debate, a Student Congress debate competition staffed by Congressional speakers, think-tank researchers and visionaries who want to help shape debate events in schools across the United States. Bolles Team Coach Marie Kervin said the team participated in a free workshop prior to the event followed by a four-hour post-debate workshop hosted by the organizers. Bolles student participants came away with multiple awards including: Tyler Schimpff ’22, Top Novice; Pranav Kasavaraju ’22, Top Novice; and Will Stankard ’22, Outstanding Novice. Cameron Gratz ’23 and Joe Libby ’21 also participated in the event. Teammate Sophie Grace Posick ’22 was engaged in the training portion of the event.

The team also competed in the Yale University Invitational meet, a prestigious competition leading the Speech and Debate tournaments for 29 years. The Bolles Team fielded a Lincoln Douglas team for this competition. Lincoln Douglas debates are highly competitive events. They are a type of one-on-one debate with a heavy emphasis on logic, ethical values and philosophy.

The format is named for the 1858 series of 45 debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. The Bolles Lincoln Douglas debaters are Fapianey Alexandre ’21 and Dahlia Kirov ’21. During the Yale Invitational, they debated the Resolution, “In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory.”

What drives me to be a teacher? Seeing the excitement for learning is contagious! I love seeing the lightbulb go off as kids grow and learn each day!

BRITTANY HETLAND Kindergarten Teacher Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus

“In their rounds, they in equal measure fiercely defeated their opponents and scored highly in the speaker rounds,” Kervin said.

The event was highly competitive. Nearly 400 schools and 1,965 entries participated, representing 41 states.

Following hard on the heels of the Yale Invitational the Bolles Speech and Debate team came away with high marks for its performance in the Georgetown University Fall Tournament Debate. The field was competitive with 73 schools and 329 students entered. Kirov competed as a Lincoln Douglas debater and won all five rounds over a two-day period. She went into the semifinals and lost by only one point. Several teammates competed in the event’s Public Forum debate, a contest that requires students to debate in pairs. Yash Gupta ’21 and Satvik

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IT, Band Join for Innovative Solution Flautists in the Bolles Band have been restricted during COVID-era rehearsals because their playing techniques force unsafe air from their instruments. Luckily, they go to a school where faculty model innovation and problem-solving and as such, the issue is a problem no longer.

Bolles Instructional Technology Specialist Andrew Nation and Bolles Band Director Maggie Vance collaborated on a project that mitigated the problem of flautists’ unhealthy air distribution.

When I first started teaching, I did it because I loved teaching and learning languages, but now I do it for the relationships I can build with my students. A good teacher loves their students more than their subject matter. I learned that lesson when I took a break from teaching to go to graduate school. I thought I would love learning more about my subject, but I just missed my kids.

I ended up with an MA instead of a PhD, but I got to go back to the classroom, where I am happiest!

SARA PHILLIPS-BOURASS French and Arabic Teacher Upper School San Jose Campus

“Wind mitigation was a concern in the band with the spread of massive air movement,” Vance explained. “We were able to correct the issue with bell covers and playing masks for the rest of the band. The flute, however, does not produce airflow in the same way.”

If there could only be some kind of shield to place over the flute’s opening to better protect musicians – or a contraption that reduced the forced air flow from students’ lips. Vance did a little research and discovered designs for a plastic shield that would do just that. Her next call was to the Bolles IT department.

“When Maggie sent me the 3D file, I loaded it into our the software that works with our MakerBot 3D Printers. The software created the print file and added dissolvable support material to ensure the best print quality possible,” explained Instructional Technology Specialist Andrew Nation. “Since these were fairly intricate in some design aspects, we chose to print them using the MakerBot Method 3D Printers at Bartram and San Jose. Each print took approximately 14 hours to complete.”

He said the printer used PLA Filament to print the objects.

PLA is a type of vegetable-based biodegradable plastic.

“Not only are these technically considered PPE for COVID, they are also Earth friendly,” Nation said. He said Bolles Chief Technology Officer Paul Sollee ’88 was extremely helpful in the printing part of the project. “By expanding to use the San Jose printers, we were able to produce more of them at the same time, which greatly sped up production.”

With the new shields, the air is not distributed far or wide and makes Bolles Band rehearsal a safer class environment.

There are various types of “intelligences” and academic learning hits on only some of these.

I am driven to expanding a child’s world through building competence in empathy, pride, intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, and exploration.

JONATHAN KEEN Campus Head Middle School Bartram Campus

“This is just one of the many systems we have in place to keep our students healthy and playing,” Vance said. “Thank you to the tech department for the collaboration!”

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Bolles IT Equips Classrooms, Campuses for New School Year Preparing four campuses and all classrooms at every grade level for hybrid at-home and on-campus learning is no job for the faint-hearted – especially when the groundwork is uncharted, timing is undetermined and certainties are, not. But the Bolles Technology team took the proverbial bull by the horns and made sure students and faculty were well-provisioned to deliver during Bolles’ most historic school year. And at the end of it all, they designed more innovative, better connected spaces with technology that takes Bolles to learning environments light years ahead.

So what exactly drives me to be a teacher? That’s easy… my colleagues and students. My colleagues are always finding innovative ways to encourage one another, even when the going gets tough! My students’ eagerness to learn amazes me! I love to see their faces light up when there is a great moment of discovery.

ANNE FALLON Grade 3 Teacher & Associate Campus Head Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus

“I’m very proud of the way this all came together — so many people and schools in our area have been reactive to the challenges of learning during a pandemic,” said Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges. “We have not. We have been proactive and this will pay off in the short- and long-term as we support our students, faculty and families.”

Bolles Chief Technology Officer Paul Sollee ’88 led his team in a summer-long advancement of existing classroom technology on all four campuses: the Bolles Lower School Whitehurst Campus, the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus, the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus and the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus. Enhancements were required for every classroom and meeting space from Pre-K to Grade 12. With 288 faculty and staff members, the IT team’s punch list was robust.

The Bolles IT department includes Tony Shubert, Jeff Williams, Michael Bachman, Allie Sollie-Bailey, Leonardo LoNigro and instructional technology designers Andrew Nation and Gloria Wood.

The team installed a 23-inch monitor hooked to a Surface dock in each classroom. Also added were web cameras on tripods, which were connected to each dock. This allowed all teachers the ability to connect to the system and provide synchronous learning for students learning at-home (10–15 percent of the student population) and in the classroom.

“This allows teachers to monitor their students at-home as well as teach kids in the classroom, and do both at the same time,” Sollee said.

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Additionally, IT associates worked individually with each teacher to assess their needs and questions.

“Everybody teaches differently and every teacher’s classroom is different — so we worked hard to meet individual instruction needs,” Sollee said.

First-Ever:

All-School Virtual Convocation Each year, Bolles leaders host an all-school convocation during the first week of school to connect students on all four campuses and mark the beginning of the school year.

The 2020–21 all-school convocation made school history by not only connecting students from four campuses, but by bringing together students from home classrooms and campuses all over the world.

Following welcome remarks from Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges in the McGehee Auditorium on the Upper School San Jose Campus, students in George Hall on the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Campus led the Pledge of Allegiance. A Bolles Way demonstration from the Bolles Lower School Whitehurst Campus ensued, followed by remarks on the Honor Code from Parker Auditorium on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus. Live from his home classroom, Bolles Student Council President Adarsh Aratikatla ’21 shared an encouraging talk with the student body. The convocation concluded with senior well wishes from two Whitehurst Pre-K students and some Bulldog spirit from Bolles cheerleaders.

I look forward to coming to work at The Bolles School every day for many reasons. First and foremost, I enjoy the camaraderie of being a Team Player with faculty and staff in a positive “All Things Possible” environment. The Bolles students are amazing and I am so impressed with how hard they work at school and yet find time for sports, fine arts and/or volunteer work via the many clubs. And every day I can have river front dining on the patio overlooking the ever-changing view of the River Campus. I’ve been working here for 17 years + and I look forward to each day!

CYNTHIA HARCROW Administrative Assistant Academic Office Upper School San Jose Campus

The department piloted some of their designs this summer via academic summer programs on campus. Jen Willis’ Life Management class, for example, was a blended model experience with half of the students learning in her classroom and the other half learning from home. The IT department worked with Willis to provide technology and connection that made this set-up manageable. Sollee did the same for Anne Fallon’s summer math camp on the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus. Both went “really, really well,” Sollee said. The team continued their planning around those models and invited faculty to observe.

Meanwhile, the IT team also upgraded internet bandwidth between and on all four campuses and increased wireless access points in larger campus facilities.

“We ran our numbers to see what the worst-case scenario might look like, we wanted to be prepared for anything that might hit us,” Sollee said.

Now just weeks into the second half of the school year, it’s clear this summer’s hard work and preparation has paid off — and then some.

Students and teachers in every grade level — both on campus and at-home – have discovered all sorts of All Things Possible in their ability to progress learning in the classroom.

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A Healthy Transformation Switching gears to accommodate safe school environments and At-Home learning on four campuses was not easy. But thanks to capable and determined administration, staff and faculty, the Bolles community made it through successfully and are a better school today because of the experience.

“Every campus had its own challenges and spaces and I am both thankful and proud of the leadership shown by our task force to get the job done,” Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges shared during a virtual message to the Bolles Board of Visitors. He explained how the School held countless Teams meetings over the summer to address how the community would return to campus and what precautions needed to be implemented.

A “Return to Campus Guidebook” was the result and that set the path for each scenario on all campuses. “It answered the need to keep everyone safe and healthy without bringing their education to a halt.”

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Bolles Partners With The Social Institute The Bolles School has established a partnership with The Social Institute, a Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based online learning platform that empowers students to navigate social media and technology. School leaders already have begun to implement the firm’s #WinAtSocial program on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus and expect to engage students throughout the 2020–21 school year.

All lessons will be related to social-emotional health, social media use and technology. Applied both in-person and remotely, the discussion-based lessons will be part of weekly advisory sessions and other presentations on campus. Students will be encouraged to speak openly about social-emotional health and social media during the advisory meetings. Afterward, parents will receive a “Family Huddle” link to help students and parents continue relevant conversations at home and align with topics being discussed at school.

Balancing our time and attention on tech with the people around us Surrounding ourselves with positive and credible influences Using social media as a microphone to create meaningful change Finding your own path no matter the pressure from others The Social Institute’s materials are developed with students to “ensure lessons are respected and embraced by students. The firm has partnered with many forward-thinking independent schools and institutions around the country including Duke Men’s Basketball, U.S. Olympic athletes, Miss Porter’s School and Ravenscroft School.

The company was founded by Laura Tierney, a social media expert who managed social media accounts for Nike, Disney and ESPNW among others.

“Their positive, high-character, gamified approach is created with student leaders and researchers across the country,” said Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus Head Jonathan Keen. “We are excited to be able to offer this timely program to our community.”

“As a team of digital natives and unshakable optimists, we strive to create best-in-class-emotional lessons that meets students on their level,” the firm describes on its website, www.thesocialinstitute.com.

A few of the upcoming topics to be discussed in the #WinAtSocial program include: Reflecting our values, character and interests in our actions online

Bolles parents are encouraged to register for the resource portal by using a special code issued to students at school. There, they also will have access to a Parent Playbook and other materials to support what students are learning on campus.

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Devi Priya Patcha ’21

Edward Sun ’21

Lara Morello ’21

Yash Gupta ’21

Jessica Zeng ’21

2021 National Merit Semifinalists, Commended Scholars Revealed Officials with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of 16,000 semifinalists in the 66th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program, a list that includes five senior students from The Bolles School.

This year’s National Merit semifinalists from the Bolles Class of 2021 are Yash Gupta ’21, Lara Morello ’21, Devi Priya Patcha ’21, Edward Sun ’21 and Jessica Zeng ’21.

Park ’25 Scores in National Virtuoso Competition, Video Contest Bolles musician and technology innovator Sarah Park ’25 earned top honors in two international competitions — one highlighting data-driven video production, the other classical music. Both events were testament to Park’s determination to pursue her passions, despite at-home learning for nearly the entirety of 2020.

Park entered the Florence Nightingale Student Video Competition for students in grades 6–12 this fall. The contest celebrates women in statistics and data science. Contestants were asked to make a research video production, including an abstract and letter of recommendation.

Park won second place and a $200 scholarship for her entry, which contest organizers shared during a virtual event. Park plans to donate the scholarship funds to the Pratt Library on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus to help build a small collection of books about women scientists and mathematicians.

Park also is a talented violinist and pianist. This fall, she entered the 2020 New York Young Virtuoso Competition — a contest founded to “discover and guide young and virtuoso classical musicians around the globe.” She won first place in her age group in this competition and was invited to perform at the Winner’s Reception at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in November. While the event was canceled due to the pandemic, Park did not miss a beat on other virtual stages. She also took first place in the Foundation for the Promotion of Music’s annual regional Piano Sonata/Sonatina Festival. This is the fourth consecutive year Park has taken first place in this contest.

More than 1.5 million juniors from 21,000 high schools around the country entered the 2021 scholarship program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT. The semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.

The National Merit Scholarship Scholarship Corporation also named five Bolles seniors Commended Students in its 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program: Ashmitha Arun ’21, William Camp ’21, Finnigan Murphy ’21, Daniel A. Nesmith ’21 and Zekum Wang ’21.

Alexandre ’21 Recognized as African American Scholar The College Board, which develops and administers the SAT and PSAT standardized tests, named Fapianey Alexandre ’21 an 2020-21 African American Scholar.

The designation is part of the College Board National Recognition Program, which helps create pathways to college for students from underrepresented communities. The nonprofit educational association’s programs include: The African-American Recognition Program; the Hispanic Recognition Program; the Indigenous Recognition Program; and the Rural and Small Town Recognition Program.

Alexandre has achieved in many areas at Bolles, most notably as a Lincoln Douglas debater on the Bolles Speech and Debate team.

She has earned many accolades in this area during the past two years, including an impressive two-day, 7-round Lincoln Douglas debate at the New York City Invitational. She is the president of the American Sign Language Club at Bolles and studies Chinese.

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A Passion for Beauty: New Masterpiece Works Define All Areas of #BollesArts During what some might describe as an “off-key” school year, the Bolles Fine and Performing Arts Department is hitting new program high notes with innovative new approaches to visual, performance and musical arts. Now on the other side of 2020–21 intermission, School arts leaders say many of the changes have successfully amplified Bolles’ talent for dominance on a critical stage.

“We knew this year would be different and we expected to make change,” said Bolles Director of Fine and Performing Arts Laura Rippel. “What we didn’t expect is how these changes would actually be huge leaps forward for us and take our program to new heights. In true Bolles fashion, we took something that was great and used the excuse of a pandemic to design forward-thinking, evolving excellence.”

She said the department began by working directly with Mayo to proof and edit as needed COVID plans with specific regards to performance arts, including singing and playing instruments, which have a higher level of risk if not properly managed.

“We had to pivot to virtual performances first semester, pre-recording our performances for chorus, band and theatre and hosting virtual watch party presentations,” Rippel said. “By doing this, we were able to allow both in-person and full virtual students the opportunity to participate.”

The Bolles Band was one group that seemed particularly challenged by the parameters of physical distancing and mask-wearing. Instead of focusing on the activities and music students could not play during Band class, Bolles Band Director Maggie Vance honed-in on possibilities. She made plans for Band rehearsals in the Cain Gymnasium where students could spread out more easily, instead of

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crowding into the much smaller Band Room on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus. Middle school musicians were able to physically distance on the Parker Auditorium stage with no difficulty.

“We have the entire auditorium available and we use it!” Vance said.

Students perform wind instruments in small groups and are provided bell covers. All musicians wear face masks.

This school year’s more deliberate curriculum planning has helped students explore new instruments and sections. Students on both campuses have tried everything from bucket drumming to learning Beatles songs. The bands also started the inaugural Bolles Drumline.

All the while, Vance has been balancing on-campus learning with students participating from their home classrooms. Each week, all On-Campus and At-Home musicians submit recordings of themselves on specified sections of music – the “perfect mechanism for individual student assessment and growth,” Vance added.

“Our students’ attitudes have been very positive – they like change, so the new activities have been a breath of fresh air, especially for our returning Band students,” Vance said. “I have a feeling this group of students will create deep bonds and lifelong friendships.”

Chorus and music classes at Bolles have also been a melodious experiment in pushing forward. They have created a new score for learning some of music’s most fundamental concepts. Bolles Lower School Whitehurst music teacher Beth Zerkowski introduced a six-foot “singers’ playpen” to her classroom that enables students to remove their masks and sing indoors.

“They love being selected to go in there,” Zerkowski said.

The enclosed plexiglass space provides an opportunity for students to belt it out in front of their peers. Otherwise, students have been humming music or singing pieces behind their masks — spaced six feet apart in the classroom. The area will be particularly useful as all lower school classes prepare for their holiday concerts, which will be virtual events this year.

Students Sea Beauty in Bent Mural Installation A stunning, 3-D marine life mural has been installed this summer by Bolles students under the direction of upper school visual arts teacher Tiffany Gonzalez.

In mid-June, Art Club Vice President Natalie Garcia ’21 and art and marine science enthusiast Emily Lekas ’21 began work on the painting and the installation of the dimensional pieces. They returned in late-June to complete the work. Gonzalez said 35 relief sculptures of species of specific fish made by Foundations Art students during the past school year are part of the giant mural, which takes up the length of the west second-floor hall of Bent Student Center. Bravo to the artists, it is a beautiful addition to our campus art collection!

On the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus, music teacher Stacey Posick started the year off with special instrument kits for every student on campus. The kit includes a pair of sticks, pool noodle, scraper, scarf, egg shakers and plates. Posick said the students use these items for movement and instruments. Students sing outdoors only, but inside body percussion and bucket-drumming are fun and meaningful areas of musical study.

Posick had to get creative about singing and focused on some of the safer elements of performance. Movement is one such pivot. During a recent class, Posick organized a “Machine Game.” The activity required students in small groups to perform interconnected movements. And upon hearing different sounds or instructions, students were challenged to portray their movement faster, or slower or to mimic an explosion. Students enjoyed the lesson, got to move around the room safely and learn how to express themselves theatrically.

At middle and upper school singing levels, Bolles Chorus Director Meredith Mormann has employed “singers masks” to allow students the experience of singing indoors safely.

“Chorus will definitely look different this year, but I know we will still accomplish great things,” Mormann said. “We have been implementing a ton of new things into the curriculum and shifting our focus less on performance and more on just growing singers’ skills.”

Because the online platform lends itself well to individualized instruction, Mormann is doing more direct training with students. She has employed virtual choir multi-tracks, or, videos recorded separately and assembled professionally, as well as in-class performance recordings and small ensemble videos. These videos will give her the opportunity to highlight honor students and singers who are more serious about their vocal training.

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tried grouping dancers to demonstrate new steps, a trial that she says works “really, really well.”

“This is all definitely different and unique but these kids are making really good progress and are having a great time,” Blackledge said.

Drama teachers also are finding different stages to pursue the arts.

On the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus, longtime drama teacher Michael Fritton often takes his classes outdoors and last year experimented in videoed shadow creations.

Dance also has complicated new rhythms that are opening up the stage to new opportunities. Bolles Director of Dance Angela Blackledge is teaching students — both at-home and on-campus, like all Bolles arts educators — how to move and progress their passion for dance.

“It’s awesome and we’re having an amazing time,” Blackledge said.

This year, on-campus dancers in the Lynch Theatre have spots or boxes to sit on so she Blackledge can maintain a class seating chart for contact tracing purposes. Dancers practice sections in smaller groups and everyone wears a mask during class. A large screen above the mirrors pulls at-home learners into the studio experience.

Blackledge wears a headset and microphone to project her voice because without it, masks muffle her signature animated direction.

Also new to the dance card this year has been partially-virtual Dance Company auditions. In early September, students convened six feet apart and masked on the Parker Auditorium stage to try out for a spot in the company. Adjudicators and professionals from Jacksonville conferenced in on Schoology, and other students auditioned online. Senior company members guided the audition and after a long evening, the 2020–21 company was decided.

New moves are no problem for Blackledge, who is applying an extra dose of positive energy to the dance program. Beyond the more structured seating chart and stage spot rules, she is game for trying new approaches to teaching dance in the safest way possible. She has

Lower School Whitehurst Campus Drama teacher Daniel Austin took the excuse of a new COVID landscape to completely flip the script on his lower school drama curriculum. Instead of focusing on grade level performances throughout the year, he has rearranged the lesson to zero in on the craft by section and lesson. He even renamed this year’s curriculum, “The Show Must Go On.” Kindergarten students, for example, are “Digging Deep into Bravery and Clarity” this year while Grade 1 is “Performing with Puppets.” Students in Grade 3 are learning about storytelling and fourth graders are focusing on radio drama.

“As we continue to navigate the challenges presented by COVID-19, new opportunities for our student performances without live audiences have been researched and explored,” Austin said. “We are excited to share that each grade level will participate in an area of focus that will include a digital production for families to enjoy.”

The new format also allows students to see how a performance is created from the production side, a lesson Austin says is a “whole new look at drama.”

This part of the score has been one of the biggest thought hurdles for art educators this school year. But teachers are undeterred, and for the first time ever shows now have become expert in digital production.

Zerkowski and Posick filmed students for their holiday concerts to turn it into a shareable video for parents. Rippel is creating virtual visual art exhibits and “Art Student of the Week” profiles that can be distributed via email or on social media.

“We came up with some innovative ideas to help continue our robust programs and continue to feature our student artists,” Rippel said.

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Making Sweet Space for Distance When your campuses are spacious and boast stunning outdoor settings, meeting the pandemic challenge of physical distancing just takes creative planning — and the muscle power to turn problem-solving ideas into new realities.

Some of the most obvious changes this year have been on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus. To accommodate all students on campus at once, smaller-sized English classrooms in Schultz Hall were relocated to other venues, including the Varn Boardroom and the Class of ’46 Alumni Conference Room. Most of the historic furniture in Staman Lobby of Bolles Hall was placed in storage to make way for student study tables, chairs and plexiglass dividers.

The Upper School Band now rehearses in Cain Gymnasium and the once crowded Verlander Hall has fewer seating arrangements due to the increased number of shorter lunch periods.

On the Bolles Lower School Whitehurst and Ponte Vedra Beach Campuses, students have lunches in their classrooms or at playground picnic tables. And the only other major move was to relocate the

Pre-K classroom on the Ponte Vedra Beach Campus to the iLab room to better space out the School’s youngest, and busiest learners.

All classrooms on every campus were redesigned with space and safety in mind. Plexiglass dividers and resituated desk seating now define every classroom, where students must respect seating charts for the purposes of contact tracing.

The outdoors, however, remain the most desirable learning environment in today’s new COVID climate. Whether socializing or participating in a Greek Civilization mini-Panatheniac Game competition, students enjoy the freedom and inspiration of Bolles’ grounds – on all four campuses.

Dance classes have been held on the bluff overlooking the St. Johns River and study groups often make space at Commencement Pointe or in the Meditation Garden on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus. The Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus, with its many outdoor social areas, is a perfect venue for learning outdoors.

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Zooming for the Greater Good: Service Initiatives Require Different Approach, Creativity During Pandemic Encouraging students to be compassionate global citizens who make a difference in the community is still at the heart of a Bolles education, even when a global pandemic puts new parameters on community service efforts.

A typical school year at Bolles begins with important service events like Make a Difference Day and Club Day. A freshman year rite of passage, Make a Difference Day brings students out into the community to volunteer their time at dozens of local organizations and then back to campus for inspiring projects, presentations and service work. Club Day, historically held in Davis Gym, invites the entire student body to peruse more than 80 student-led clubs and service group booths and make decisions on initiatives they will commit to and support during the school year.

COVID’s physical distancing protocols have made on-site volunteer planning a little different this year. Bolles Student Activities Director Piper Moyer-Shad ’91 said the number of club opportunities this year has been capped at 50. And instead of Davis Gym, Club Day was hosted online — Virtual Club Day. Make A Difference Day was not on this year’s calendar.

The new pandemic challenges, however, have forced students and faculty sponsors to look at community service through a more virtual lens.

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member-guest tournament. The Bulldogs hold practices and home matches at Deerwood and did their part to help the course stay in great shape. Bolles sophomore Christopher Kilpatrick ’23 refurbished computer desktops for students in need. The Bolles volleyball team did not let COVID stop its annual Pink Out fundraiser with the Bishop Kenny team, which raised significant funds for the Donna Foundation. And twice this fall, student members of the Bolles Surfrider Club and the Save Our Seas Club gathered on the beach to pick up trash and make the beaches “a healthier environment for marine life.”

“For meetings this year, students are encouraged to have hybrid meetings or do all of their meetings online. “Anything done on campus must have a virtual component, so all students can participate.”

Students are showing their resiliency and adaptability to change.

Not even a pandemic can stop their commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.

Moyer-Shad recalled one student who, in the past, had enjoyed volunteering her time at local nursing homes. The student still supports nursing home residents through her service work, but now does so through the donation of her artwork to exhibit on the facilities’ walls. She is still able to volunteer her time and share her strengths, just in a different forum. Moyer-Shad said three different nursing homes took the student up on her art volunteer offering.

Other students have organized events on a larger scale, combining creatively community need and new pandemic parameters. This summer, senior Adarsh Aratikatla ’21 led the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Club in a creative community event that raised more than $4,000 for the local children’s hospital. Club organizers hosted a drive-in movie event at The Markets at Town Center in conjunction with other sponsors.

Other students took a more personal, tangible approach to giving.

Sophie Grace Posick ’22 and sister Lilybeth Posick ’28, a fifth-grader on the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus, recently cropped their long COVID locks in support of children with illnesses.

This is the 10th time Sophie Grace has donated her hair the nonprofit, Children With Hair Loss. The organization makes wigs out of the hair and donates them to children battling hair loss-causing sickness. Lilybeth also is a veteran hair-donator. In fact, donating hair is a personal mission of all three Posick sisters — including Meghanne ’26 and their mother, Stacey Posick, the music and drama teacher on the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus. Meghanne has cut and shared her hair before and Stacey has given her hair to others four times.

Some of the annual service traditions at Bolles — including the food drives for Woodland Acres Elementary School and the Malivai Washington Foundation, as well as the Bolles Middle School Library Media Ambassador’s book raiser for West Riverside Elementary School — went on as planned, just without the giver-to-receiver connection of years past. The Pumpkin Drop and Annual Pointsetta Sale, which raise funds for Dreams Come True, also both proceeded without much change.

“There are many ways to pursue service projects, we just have to be more creative about it this year,” Moyer-Shad said.

Bolles juniors Audrey Cheng ’22 and Yasmeen Ibrahim ’22 recently founded a group called Totes for Hope. The students began their work in the early months of the pandemic during their quarantine “as a way to give back and to utilize the skills of our community,” Ibrahim said. Using a simple pattern, the students sew carryall bags for foster children served by Guardian Ad Litem of Duval County.

Children use the bags to pack clothes and personal items when circumstances dictate a move or relocation.

With the help of friends across the globe and sponsors like Nike, the Steve Harvey Foundation and Chicago nonprofit Project I Am, Taylor Richardson ’22 was among the youngest “virtual packers” to help the homeless in communities around the U.S. The virtual event included more than 150 students from 65 cities who packed 5,000 blessing bags to give to local homeless shelters. Richardson delivered her 50 blessing bags to Changing Homelessness.

There have been in-person moments of service as well. The boys’ golf team volunteered their time this fall to help repair divots on the Deerwood Country Club golf course in preparation for an upcoming

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Matthew Anderson

Jackson Baumeister

Gunner Boree

Jackson Mayo

Maxine Montoya

Emily MacDonald

Ansen Meyer

Sasha Ramey

The following Bolles student-athletes were honored:

College Athletic Commitments at Bolles — November 11

Baseball Matthew Anderson, University of Richmond Jackson Baumeister, Florida State University Gunner Boree, Brown University Jackson Mayo, University of South Florida

Cross Country & Track Maxine Montoya, Brown University

Swimming Eight Bolles student-athletes were honored on November 11 for committing to a particular college or university to continue their athletic and academic careers. Family, friends, classmates, coaches and faculty gathered in Davis Gymnasium on the San Jose Campus to celebrate this well-deserved achievement. Athletic Director Matt Morris welcomed everyone and several coaches introduced their respective athletes.

Emily MacDonald, Columbia University Ansen Meyer, Georgetown University Sasha Ramey, Louisiana State University This was the first of three college commitment ceremonies planned at Bolles this school year to recognize student-athletes as they commit to colleges.

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Homecoming 2020 a Historic Success Bolles Homecoming Week 2020 made history with theme dress up days on all four campuses, remote broadcasts, a middle school pep rally and two upper school pep rallies. While the festivities ended Friday, September 25 with an overtime loss to the Creekside Knights, the week and evening was a tremendous show of orange and blue pride and demonstration of Bolles strength and resilience.

Homecoming Week started early this year to accommodate upper school students on campus for Operating Scenario 3. Students dressed up in decades, movie and spirit attire. For the first time ever, students on the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach and Whitehurst campuses and the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus also participated in Homecoming theme days including Disney, decades, Bulldog spirit and pajama inspired attire. In another first, the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus hosted a pep rally on the football field Thursday, September 24. A virtual pep rally also was held for the benefit of students learning from home.

On the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus, student spirit and activities leaders planned two pep rallies — one on Wednesday, September 23 and another on Thursday, September 24. As Bolles tradition dictates, the Homecoming Court was announced and senior football players gave roses to senior cheerleaders. Students were physically distanced in the stands. In lieu of the annual Homecoming Parade, the Homecoming Court made two loops around Hodges Field in golf carts.

The September 25 game began with a moment of silence for Bolles football legends Coach Corky Rogers and A. Chester Skinner Jr. '40, both of whom passed away earlier in 2020. Football players wore special decals on their helmets for Coach Rogers. The game also included the half-time, 50-yard-line announcement of the 2020 Homecoming Sweethearts: Katie Fites ’21 and Jake McGraw ’21.

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The 2020 Homecoming Court included seniors: Matthew Anderson Adarsh Aratikatla Gunner Boree Will Camp Justin Cayenne Bobby Crouch George Duffy Davis Ellis Jake McGraw Reese Skinner Emma Bole Caitlyn Boyer Maya Gopal Kate Hastings Katie Fites Izzy Kimberly Catherine Kunz Olivia Landolfo Abby Lynch Sophia Mitchell Sasha Ramey Meagan Shaffer

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A Happy Home Life: Bolles Res Life Pulls Together During Tough Year International and domestic students from 20 countries and 10 states were among the first Bulldogs to acclimate to the “new normal” of campus life this school year. They moved into the dorms, all located on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus, throughout the summer months and settled in for what promised to be a distinctive year on campus.

With travel home, to off-campus destinations and weekend getaways significantly restricted or cut out altogether, students have been discovering new ways to connect and thrive on campus. Bolles Residential Life staff say the result is a bonded boarding community that has made Bolles Hall a happy home.

Right off the bat, students participated in campus scavenger hunts as a way to get to know each other and their new campus. Practicing physical distancing and proper mask usage, students explored areas of the dorm and facilities and shared fun photos of places they discovered. Resident Life staff also planned safe social outings, including an afternoon of outdoor paintball and a visit to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Girls also made tie-dye clothing and all participated in a celebratory evening of dorm trick-or-treating October 31.

Social endeavors of all kinds have been important events for students trying to navigate a different school year.

“The kids who are here are really happy to be here,” said Mike Boswell, Boys’ Resident Dean. “We have had to come up with a lot of on campus activities that have brought our boarders together more often.”

Boswell said the students have been happy to follow the rules and live by new standards dictated by the pandemic.

“They understand the challenges of keeping our boarding community safe during the pandemic,” Boswell said. “They really have been awesome.”

Girls’ Resident Dean Cyndi Trapnell said this school year — which has brought all boarders under one roof — has been a good “trial run” to see how everyone does together. Future plans call for the expansion of Bolles Hall boarding facilities that can accommodate everyone on one campus.

“We have started planning for next year when the girls come over to the San Jose Campus permanently,” Trapnell said, adding the program this year has run smoothly and the girls have enjoyed living in Bolles Hall. “Our program will become one and we will be more prepared because of this experience.”

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From the

Dean of Admission & Financial Aid Over the years, many folks have asked me what I love about admission work and the answer is quite simple: I thoroughly enjoy building lasting relationships. I was first introduced to the work of admission as a recruitment specialist at a Canadian college for two years. During that time, I traveled throughout the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, presenting the School to eager Grade 12 students. And while I enjoyed many aspects of my role, something was missing.

Towards the tail end of my second year, I had the great fortune to travel to Bermuda and Germany with a group of admission professionals from independent boarding schools in the U.S. and Canada. I was immediately struck by the personal connections between prospective students, current families, alumni and my colleagues in the independent school realm. Shortly thereafter, my family and I moved to Georgia to live among 65 young men as dorm parents. I was the director of boarding and international students at a boarding school and what an experience it has proven to be!

And now, 17 years later, I have landed at a truly remarkable school, The Bolles School. When I began considering my next career move, I developed a few criteria the next school would need to possess. The first criterion was the legacy of the school needed to be strong, internationally known and deeply rooted within the city the School was located. The Bolles School, with its 87-year history, is, without a doubt, embedded as a pillar of educational excellence in Jacksonville. Bolles is widely recognized in the international independent school circle for the robust academic program, including the arts and for our highly competitive athletic program. Its reach is far! In a recent conversation with one my friends at a peer school, he enthusiastically referred to Bolles as “the big dog school in Florida.”

The second non-negotiable criterion was geography. Our location in North Florida is not only beautiful, picturesque and idyllic, but the campus is truly breathtaking. As you walk around The Bolles School grounds, the attention to excellence is obvious at every turn — from the manicured landscaping and the music coming from the outdoor speakers to the incredible athletic facilities and the backdrop of the St. Johns River. These qualities elevate Bolles among our peers as one of the most incredible school campuses in the United States. At Bolles, we maintain a healthy balance of preserving our historic buildings while incorporating state-of-the-art facilities for the living and learning experiences of our students. And even better, the winter season is nothing like Eastern Ontario or Colorado, neither of which I will miss!

The third, and likely the most important, criterion was the Bolles community. From the very first moment I arrived on campus, greeted by the security personnel at the front entrance, every meeting emanated a genuine warmth that made me feel as though I had truly found my forever home. Perhaps the most notable meeting of my interview sessions was meeting six students — boarding and day students, sophomore, juniors and seniors — all of whom embodied the Bolles motto, All Things Possible. They freely expressed care and concern for the Bolles of the future. They readily offered questions about bridging the day and dorm student experience, my thoughts about creating avenues to celebrate the many aspects of diversity among the Bolles community and how I would adapt to the Bolles community. I left our meeting feeling energized and inspired by these six students and most certainly ready to become a Bolles Bulldog!

Many have remarked how challenging it must be to move across the country and start a new position during these uncertain times and yes, that is true. However, the support of the Bolles community has been insurmountable. As I spend my first year transitioning into the Dean of Admission chair and learning the many facets of a Bolles experience, there is one particular aspect I am most anticipating: the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with prospective students and their families, current students and their families and alumni. There is little doubt that as our current families and alumni share accounts of their Bolles experiences in the hallways, classrooms, dorm rooms, stage and sport fields, more fresh faces will come to see for themselves that all things really are possible at Bolles.

Kila McCann

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From the

Chief Advancement Officer As the new year begins, I hope you found some time over the holidays to read the Bolles Annual Report. This publication was designed to remind us of our community’s special and inspiring story.

Together, we all play important roles advancing Bolles’ rich tradition of academic excellence — one that is timeless and rooted firmly in courage, integrity and compassion. The gifts and cast of donors profiled in this report help ensure these qualities continue to be part of Bolles’ narrative for generations to come. We are so grateful for our donors for stepping boldly into the limelight and modeling such change-making generosity. I cannot think of an academic institution in the world that provides such leading student experiences on tuition revenue alone. All our students – yours, mine and those who are not yet even born — benefit from these extraordinary gifts.

A wonderful example of this success-making philanthropy is Llura “Lulie” Liggett Gund ’58 Bartram, whom we lost in 2020.

She was an avid supporter of Bartram School for Girls and The Bolles School after the two schools merged in 1991. The Bolles advancement team was profoundly humbled to work with her husband, Gordon Gund, and the couple’s two

12036 wren hollow ct Jacksonville, FL 32246 904.568.1052 www.3dvisuals.org

BOLLES HALL 2nd Flr Renov

12.15.2020-R1

L u k e davidluke@outlook.com

sons Grant and Zack, on a transformative gift to construct the new Llura “Lulie” Liggett Gund ’58 Bartram Residence Hall for Girls — fulfilling our community’s longtime vision of locating our Girls Residential Life program on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus. The residence facility will be located on the second floor of historic Bolles Hall. This gift allows our girls’ boarding program to grow and expand in its experience.

Girls will soon be able to live on the campus where they learn and — along with boy boarder and day student peers — flourish in an environmentally friendly facility. Thanks to the Gund family’s generosity, Bolles Hall will be 100 percent solar energy dependent when the new residence hall opens in July 2021. The gift also works in concert with another exciting initiative that will further enhance girls’ boarding at Bolles. Once the STEM building is constructed on the bluff, the residence hall will expand and accommodate 60 girl boarding students — double its current capacity of 30. The Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus also benefits from this work. The former girls’ dorm rooms on this campus will be converted to much needed learning spaces for our middle school students.

The indelible impact Lulie made on the world through her philanthropic endeavors is tangible and forever changes the future for Bolles. Giving makes a difference and Lulie was such an example. Along with husband Gordon and another couple, Lulie co-founded the Foundation Fighting Blindness which funds research into treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases.

She also was an avid conservationist and advocate for renewable energy. Lulie’s life is a true testament to our aspirations of pursuing excellence through courage, integrity and compassion. I hope you A r c h i t e c t u r e, P A will find inspiration in her profound life works. Bolles is grateful for this gift and all others that help refine and advance the educational experiences of our children.

904-699-5113

4651 Salisbury Road

Suite 400

Jacksonville, FL 32256

Carol Nimitz

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The McGraw Family

From the

Parent Association Co-Chairs To say this year is different for the Parent Association is, of course, a major understatement. What isn’t different is the dedication and caring of the Parent Association volunteers! We started early in the Summer with ZOOM meetings to discuss what this year would look like for each campus.

With the understandable policy of having no parents on campuses, the goal has been not to cancel any activities, but to reschedule and reimagine those events. We continue to have meetings virtually and are constantly working to make a difference. This includes striving to fully include the at-home learners as part of our Bolles community.

While Grandparents At-Home Day was a virtual event this year, no less dedication went into making it as special as every other year.

We will continue to work to make sure future events are just as special as well. Thank you for your kindness as we navigate the changes this year has brought.

Virtual hugs, Jacque and John McGraw Parent Association Executive Committee Co-Chair Jane ’09 and Jake ’21

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Wine & Wisdom After several successful panel discussions on best parenting books during the 2019–20 school year, the Bolles Parent Association’s popular Wine & Wisdom series was on track for a lively 2020–21 season. But no one expected a global pandemic to be the event’s big cliffhanger. After thoughtful planning with a focus on physical distancing, organizers staged a limited capacity outdoor event October 22 that advanced the plot for future Wine & Wisdom gatherings.

attendees remained outdoors and wore masks. Panelists and attendees also were invited to participate from home via a screened Zoom connection.

The special topic-focused parent education parent discussion included a synopsis of three books addressing various diversity, equity and inclusion topics: “Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria,” by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum; “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” by Isabel Wilkerson;” and “Tell Me Who You Are,” by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi.

The Wine & Wisdom discussions, set in motion by Bolles Trustee and local radiologist Dr. Kathryn Pearson Peyton, are based on the acclaimed Resilient Child Summit curriculum, following last year’s Motivated Child Summit curriculum. They provide a synopsis of numerous best parenting books and expert interviews.

Each session focuses on 3–5 of these books and offers practical tools, insight and strategies for parents to help cultivate resilience and develop potential.

Panelists at the event included well known community leaders Donna Orender, former president of the Women’s National Basketball Association and founder of Generation W, and Charlene Taylor Hill, longtime Executive Director of the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission. The panel also included Bolles parents Katoia Wilkins and Kathy Cheng, Bolles PA Executive Co-Chairs of Parents for Positive Change.

Like past Wine & Wisdom events, attendees were invited to read the books ahead of the gathering “book club-style” or watch the “Cliff’s Notes” presentation. Respectful of COVID-19 protocols,

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The panel discussion provided an opportunity for guests to share their experiences and perspectives and address relatable parts of the books.

Upcoming Wine & Wisdom events are scheduled for February 2 and April 8. The February discussion is focused on the topics of “Raising Happy and Successful Teens in an Age of Anxiety and Distraction, ADHD, Empowering Families to Improve Motivation, Recognizing Eating Disorders in Time to Help and the Four Tendencies.” The final session focuses on “Resilience Tools, Guiding Teenage Girls, Preparing Kids for a Fulfilled Life, The Power of Introverts and Supporting Teens to Independent Adulthood.”

Bolles Hosts First-Ever Virtual Grandparents’ Day Festivities In another history-maker for the School record book, the Bolles Parent Association hosted its first-ever virtual Grandparents’ Day. The COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to re-think plans for the much-anticipated annual event, which typically is held in classrooms and auditoriums on all four Bolles campuses. This year, grandparents and special friends stayed home and the Bolles hospitality came to them.

Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges welcomed grandparents in a special video message, which was followed by campus tours, messages from key administrators, sweet videos and links to photo galleries. Ahead of the event, attendees were given the opportunity to write their grandchildren via special note cards.

Students on campus also enjoyed the festivities, which included wrapped and safely stored cookies for all in the classrooms.

“We hope this ‘first’ of a Grandparents’ Day will help give you a sense of our Bolles community — and the important part your student plays in its success,” Hodges said. “In this historic moment, I am grateful for your health, your family and the opportunity to be together in such memorable times.”

One of the highlights was a collection of class and advisory photos from all four campuses. Even with masks, it was easy to see students’ love for grandparents and special friends shining through!

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1965 1964 Class Representative: Missie Graham Sarra LePrell (904) 803-4141 | Missie@missiesold.com

’80s

1966 Class Representative: Marcia Caribaltes Hughes (303) 680-6636 | marciachughes@yahoo.com

1981 Class Representative: Susan Williams Brodeur (904) 384-2148 | usan_brodeur@ml.com

1968 Class Representative: Judy Goins Quick (205) 669-6862 | jgquick@bellsouth.net

1982 Class Representative: Carmen Crenshaw-Hovey 01141-1-720-49-11 | carmencrenshaw@msn.com

1969 Class Representative: Virginia Conley Pappas (215) 843-9751 | virginiacpappas@gmail.com

1983 Class Representative: Rebecca Faircloth McNeil (904) 389-7334 | marvmcneil@bellsouth.net

’70s

1971 Class Representative: Kerry Lee Byron Ehrlich (352) 281-4010 | klehrlich@cox.net

1973 Class Representative: Barbara Arnold Pickett 904-388-5994 | bsap00@comcast.net 1974 Class Representative: Joann Ferguson Purdie (904) 389-1007 | jpurdie@springfieldcapital.com 1975 Class Representative: Marnie Law George (850) 386-3060 | marnie@thegeorgegroup.com Board of Visitor: Marnie Law George 1976 Class Representative: Virginia Ferguson McNulty (904) 384-7777 | virginia@mcnulty.tv 1979 Class Representative: Jennifer Williams Wiegand

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1980 Class Representative: Hilda Pendleton Fenton (978) 462-1502 | mafenton@hotmail.com

1986 Class Representative: A. Patricia (Tricia) Helwig Todd (904) 387-0160 phtodd@helwigandtodd.com 1988 Class Representative: Rebecca (Becky) Martin Forbes (904) 221-4597 | rmf2ya@bellsouth net 1989 Class Representative: S. Courtney McCranie (904) 321-2222 | Mccranie2222@gmail.com Class Representative: Josephine (Josie) Bryan (904) 388-6807 | jbryan@stmarksdayschool.org

’90s

1990 Class Representative: Grace Herzog Bryan ’90 (904) 389-0062 | bryan.grace@mayo.edu

1991 Class Representative: Jennifer Purino Hensley

Bolles

Alumni Notes

’30s

1938 Trustee Emeritus: George W. Varn

1939 The highlight of this year’s Veterans Day 2020 celebrations on all four campuses was a virtual presentation by Retired USAF Major General DeWitt R. Searles ’39, who, at age 100, is Bolles’ oldest living alumnus. Searles introduced himself to students in a recorded video message and led upper school students in a virtual Pledge of Allegiance.

1959 1941 Willam D. “Bill” Roundy passed away on June 1, 2020.

1942 Trustee Emeritus: W. Lester Varn, Jr. 1945 Douglas B. Shaw passed away on March 14, 2020.

DeWitt R. Searles ’39

1946 Class Representative: Fitzhugh (Hugh) Powell (904) 733-3673 |Hpowell@cwpowellins.com Trustee Emeritus: Quinn R. Barton Jr. Dennis Hudson passed away on April 5, 2020, in Stuart, Florida.

George Young passed away on May 29, 2020, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, following a brief illness.

James Douglas “J.D.” Henry passed away on November 22, 2020, at his home in Gainesville, FL. 1948 Class Representative: Robert (Bob) W. Brack, Jr. (904) 744-2759

’40s

1940 Chester Skinner passed away on August 7, 2020, in Jacksonville, Florida. (See story on page 61.)

1949 Class Representative: Jerry (Jerry) S. Foley III (904) 389-6460 Charles I. Man Jr. passed away on August 6, 2020 following a brief hospitalization.

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’50s

1950 Roy C. “Shep” Sheppard passed away on April 15, 2020, in Jacksonville Florida.

The Bolles Alumni Office hosted Jim Barker for lunch and a campus tour to thank him for his years of service as a 1953 Cadet Class Agent.

1952 Charles E. Kern II passed away on August 23, 2020.

1953 Class Representative: James (Jim) M. Barker IV (904) 287-0318 | jmbchb@aol.com Trustee Emeritus:James V.E. Bent Sr. Cadets from Class Years 1953–1957 were invited to use the Zoom video conferencing software to reconnect on Tuesday, October 13.

Bolles alumni cadets Dr. Charles Chestnutt ’53, Harry deMontmollin ’56, John “Skip” McGuire ’56, Ron Langley ’57, Father Conrad Conwart ’57 and Alumni Officer Ryan Trevett ’99 were in attendance.

Bolles Cadet Reunion 1953–57

Chestnutt shared that he has been living in the Seattle area for the past 50 years and attended Bolles from 6th–10th grade before graduating from The Hill School in 1953. Dr. Chestnutt spent many years as a Medical Professor at the University of Washington and still visits Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville and his daughter in Gainesville every so often. He has fond memories of Bolles and his classmates.

1958

1954 Class Representative: Hayes (Butch) L. Basford, Jr. (904) 388-3932 | hbasford@icloud.com George W. Gibbs III passed away on October 10, 2020, in Jacksonville, Florida, from complications of Lewy body dementia.

William C. “Bill” Miller passed away on March 24, 2019.

1958 40 | alumni |

1953

1955 Class Representative: William (Bill) C. Hallowes (904) 387-4618 | bhallowes@aol.com John S. Slye passed away on August 21, 2020, in Tallahassee, Florida.

1956 Class Representative: Harry M. deMontmollin, Jr. (386) 756-8576 | hmdem@aol.com

Bolles Cadet Reunion 1953–57

President Emeritus: Harry M. deMontmollin, Jr. John “Skippy” McGuire ’56 and Harry deMontmollin ’56 joined the Alumni Cadet Gathering for Bolles classes 1953–1957 on October 13. McGuire shared that he has enjoyed life since retiring from the U.S. Sugar Corporation in 2000 as a citrus grove senior horticulturist. He is presently living in Clermont. deMontmollin mentioned how impressed he was with campus updates after visiting for a wedding earlier this year and encouraged classmates to return to campus as soon as it is safe to do so. He is enjoying life in Port Orange, FL and often returns to campus for alumni school gatherings.

Arturo Aponte died on June 1, 2020.

1957 Class Representative: Albert (Ted) T. Quantz (843) 546-3214 | tedquantz@gmail.com Ron Langley and Father Conrad Cowart joined the Bolles Alumni Cadet gathering on October 13 and both made connections with the classmates in attendance. Ron helped moderate the conversation and Father Conrad Cowart visited campus to ensure he was able to participate using the new Zoom application on his smartphone. A good time was had by all in attendance.

1958 Bolles Cadets from class years 1958–1961 were invited to join a Zoom Reunion Gathering on October 20 to reconnect and share how they have been over the years.

Robert Kirk joined our Bolles Cadet Reunion for classes ’58–’61 on October 20 and is doing well in Titusville, FL. Lloyd A. Petrash passed away on June 1, 2020.

1959 Class Representative: Barry P. Sales (904) 268-6629 | bpsrnr@aol.com

’60s

1960 Art Hutzler joined our Bolles Cadet Reunion for classes ’58–’61 on October 20. Hutzler shared that he’s been living in Iowa for the past 40 years, has four kids, seven grandkids and has fond memories playing soccer for Bolles.

1963

1963

Pablo Salame joined our Bolles Cadet Reunion for classes ’58–’61 on October 20 and fondly recalled his time as a noted 4-sport athlete playing football, soccer, tennis and track. He and wife Alba presently live in Key Biscayne and enjoy visiting the Galapagos Islands off the shore of his hometown of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Salame also helped coordinate this Alumni Gathering with the help of his classmate John Leyerzaph ’60.

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Neal M. Parker passed away on May 19, 2020.

John Leyerzaph — Although John was unable to join our Zoom Gathering on October 20, he was instrumental in helping the Alumni Office contact classmates and offer his support. John and wife Bonnie have lived in Bend, Oregon nearly 30 years and have three grown daughters. John was a Bolles tennis standout and often traveled for tennis competitions throughout the greater Sarasota area and beyond while growing up. He credits Bolles tennis for his West Point appointment and John served on the Bolles Board of Visitors in an alumni leadership position years ago.

1968

John Leyerzaph ’60 and Ryan Trevett

1961 Class Representative: Ben T. Franklin, Jr. (904) 399-8977 | bfranklin@southbankgroup.net Ben Franklin joined our Bolles Cadet Reunion for classes ’58–’61 on October 20 and shared that he was the starting center on the varsity football team and that he has great memories of Bolles.

After graduating from Bolles, Franklin attended Clemson for a brief stint and then transferred to Georgia Tech majoring in textile engineering. Ben served in the US Army and later worked in construction industry where he built Pizza Hut, Wendy’s and Taco Bell stores. Franklin later sold his business and operated a bank. Ben currently spends his time living in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and Stillmore, Georgia and on the call shared his admiration for the late Capt. Tavi Garces and Capt. Hochheim and maintains a close friendship with classmate, Barry Covington ’61.

William Dailey shared that he attended Bolles for one year, received his appointment to U.S. Naval Academy, worked in aviation and performed two tours at Naval Air Station Jax (NAS). He later attended law school and specialized in government contracting in Washington D.C.

1968 42 | alumni |

1968 Dailey later moved to St. Simons Island, Georgia and does consulting work, enjoys the beach and warm weather and mentioned his reverence for Capt. Rufus McClure.

Charles “Chuck” Cole reported that he lettered two years on the Rifle team, excelled in math and science and attended Stetson University. Prior to our Zoom Gathering, Cole shared with the alumni office that he moved back to Florida in 2018 after a 32 year “exile” in Minnesota for a job after the Challenger Accident. He’s now happy to be back “home” again in Titusville, FL enjoying the Indian River Lagoon area. Cole is retired from the aerospace & defense high tech field and was proud to share that he helped “Katrina-proof” the Everglades in the ’70s, helped develop part of each of the laser precision targeting systems seen on TV to guide smart things and aircraft like on the Stealth, F-16s, F4s, Huey’s. In 1977, Cole founded nonprofit Central Florida Astronomical Society and recently renewed his ham radio license after 60 years.

Walt Martin was unable to make the virtual Alumni Cadet gathering since he leads a weekly Silver Sneakers exercise class at his Fitness Center. Walt asked to give those in attendance “regards to all of the old Bolles guys. Hope everyone is doing well and taking care of themselves.”

1962 Michael M. Danford died on June 1, 2020.

Robert D. “Bob” Rogers passed away on September 10, 2020, in Denton, Texas, due to complications from COVID-19.

1963 Class Representative: C. McNeill (Neill) Baker (904) 448-0584 | neill46@aol.com Scott A. Gifford died peacefully in hospice care on June 28, 2020.

1964

1964 Class Representative: Gregory (Greg) W. Blackmer (904) 613-8439 |gregblackmer@yahoo.com

1968 Daniel M. Smith and his wife Nyla returned to Bolles for a visit on October 22 all the way from Mobile, Alabama. The Smiths toured the Upper School San Jose Campus, met Head of School Tyler Hodges in the Bolles Hall Staman Lobby and concluded their visit in the Campus Store just prior to their departure.

Trustee Emeritus: E. Ellis Zahra Jr. Board of Visitors: Jeffrey M. Berman 1965 Class Representative: Charles (Chuck) P. Torrey Jr. (865) 256-2713 | Charlestorrey1@gmail.com

1969 Class Representative: James (Jim) R. McCain, Jr. (904) 613-5624 | Jrmjr1951@gmail.com

1966 Class Representative: Shepherd (Shep) E. Colledge (904) 619-1791 |Shepherdc904@aol.com 1967 Class Representative: Christopher (Chris) B. Stubbs (407) 324-7181 | cstubbs@linkstaffing.com Chris Stubbs serves on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for International Reforestation — www.airguatemala.org. In addition to planting over 6,000,000 trees in Guatemala, AIR has provided many Guatemalans with smoke-free cooking, agricultural consulting, and the opportunity to own their own agribusiness.

’70s

1970 Class Representative: F. William (Bill) Borg bill_borg@vanguard.org

Class Representative: Chester (Chip) Skinner III (904) 732-9400 | chip@skinnerrealty.com 1971 J. Malcolm Jones Jr., former Bolles Trustee, passed away on October 28, 2020. (See In Memoriam on page 63.)

1972 Class Representative: James (Jim) F. Bailey, Jr. jbailey@baileypub.com Henry E. “Hank” Dean III passed away on March 24, 2020, in Rome, Georgia.

1973 Class Representative: Mary Allen Howe msah29926@gmail.com Board of Trustees: Rodney VanPelt 1974 Class Representative: Jan K. Reeder (904) 208-8725 | jreeder@rpds.com

1970

1975 Class Representative: J. David Sheppard (904) 273-9638 | sheppardpvbfl@bellsouth.net

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Class Representative: Mark McGowan (904) 905-6570 | mark.mcgowan@bcbsfl.com 1976 Class Representative: Kevin T. Gay (904) 476-4050 | kgay@operationnewhope.com Alumni Board: Jerry F. Hurst Board of Visitors: Ruth Calvin Scharf Tim L. Lawrence passed away on December 26, 2019, in Jacksonville, Florida.

1977 Class Representative: Catherine Randle Hurst Catherine.hurst10@yahoo.com 1978 Class Representative: Jeffrey (Jeff) L. Evans (904) 887-0542 | jeff.evans@colliers.com

Tatiana Salvador ’86

Salvador ’86 Named Co-Chair of Duke Hispanic/Latino Association Tatiana Salvador ’86 was named co-chair of the Duke University Hispanic/Latino Alumni Association.

Salvador, a circuit court judge in Jacksonville’s 4th Judicial Circuit, is also a member of the Bolles Board of Trustees and is a Bolles parent. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke in 1990.

Bolles Celebrating Brown ’86 The Bolles School will host a celebration honoring the success of DeCovan “Dee” Brown II ’86 and retire his #20 Bulldog jersey. The special event will be held Friday, January 15. Bolles administrators will lead a jersey retirement ceremony during half-time of the Bolles vs. Bishop Kenny basketball game, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Davis Gym. Seating is limited due to COVID-19, but we invite you to join us virtually at www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/bolles-school-jacksonville-fl Brown is a Bolles athletic legend. He was a 12-year NBA veteran and was the Boston Celtics’ first-round draft pick in 1990. Brown also played for the Toronto Raptors and the Orlando Magic. He won the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Contest at the All-Star game in Charlotte, performing his memorable “no-look” dunk.

44 | alumni |

“Building and strengthening the connections between the current students and the alumni, whether through networking, mentoring or participating in new programs and initiatives, can leave a lasting impact not only on the students and alumni involved, but on the university as a whole,” Salvador said in an association board member highlight of the week.

The Jacksonville Daily Record recognized Chip Bachara as one of the city’s “Leaders in the Law,” in a recent article. Bachara is founding and managing partner of Bachara Construction Law Group.

Anthony Nesty ’87

Nesty ’87 Appointed to SEC Council on Racial Equity and Social Justice

Chip Bachara ’78

Olympic gold medalist and University of Florida Swimming & Diving Coach Anthony Nesty ’87 is one of the inaugural members of the Southeastern Conference’s new Council on Racial Equity and Social Justice. The council includes student-athletes, administrators, coaches and SEC staff.

An SEC announcement said the council was formed to “identify resources, outline strategies and assist with implementation of efforts that, when taken together, will promote racial equity and social justice while also fostering diversity, helping overcome racism and pursuing nondiscrimination in intercollegiate athletics.”

Nesty swam competitively for Bolles and represented his country, Suriname, in the 1988 Summer Olympics. He is the only Olympic medal winner from Suriname and was the second black athlete to win an individual Olympic medal in swimming. Netsy, who also swam for the University of Florida, was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an “Honor Swimmer” in 1998 and the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a “Gator Great” in 2002.

He was a member of the Bolles swimming coaching staff before coaching for the University of Florida men’s swimming team.

“An important movement has been ignited around the equitable treatment of all underrepresented minorities, and the SEC is determined to be a leader in the pursuit of meaningful and lasting change,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “With the Council as our guide, we will develop an action agenda built on the foundation that all are created equal and ensure this truth echoes across our stadiums, our arenas, our campuses, our communities, our states and our nation.”

Swim Alumni, Athletes Make Online Splash Nearly two dozen Bolles swimming alumni and leaders participated in the Orange and Blue Online Splash Zoom program this fall. All enjoyed the opportunity to connect alumni to the current swimming team and pool activity. Hall of Fame and Olympic swim coach Gregg Troy was the special guest. Event highlights included championship stories of athletic greatness from alumni swimmers and guests.

Alumni swimmers and parents in attendance included Rich DeSelm ’74, Missy McDonald Troy ’79, Tom Myers ’82, John Whitner ’85, Paul Kelly ’86, John Dennison ’87 and Jeanne-Marie Dennison ’88, Christopher Marshall ’87, Patrick Sagisi ’89 , Shastri Roberts ’90, Hope Gittings Wells ’93, Steve Gold ’95, Mike Renshaw ’95, Matt Obringer ’00, Tommy Gutman ’10, Kasey Schmidt ’15, Paul Sollee ’88 and Joni Neidigh, parent of alumni swimmers Ashley ’13 and Lauren ’11.

Bolles Head Swim Coach and Aquatics Director Peter Verhoef shared news about Bolles Aquatics and the new Tarver Pool, which is expected to be complete in early-2021. A pool dedication is planned and the future for Bolles Aquatics is deep and bright!

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1979 Class Representative: Karen Ibach Bowden Kbowden61@comcast.net

Scott Rinehart ’79 Scott Rinehart received Notre Dame’s Presidential Achievement Award. The award recognizes breakthrough initiatives, extraordinary innovations and significant contributions to the University’s long-term success. Rinehart is the director of broadcast technology at Notre Dame Studios. Thanks in large part to him, the Martin Media Center has been recognized by HPCwire, Sports Video Group, TVTechnology and other industry groups for its cutting-edge, IP-based technology. Rinehart’s work ethic, serviceorientation and commitment to Notre Dame’s mission is unrivaled.

He continually sharpens his industry knowledge and relationships so he can position Notre Dame Studios for technical improvements on the horizon.

’80s

1980 Class Representative: Jennifer Hanigan (904) 607-1202 | jennifer.hanigan@wellsfargo.com

Board of Trustees: C. Daniel (Dan) Rice, George (Chip) Stelljes III, Mark F. Travis 1981 Class Representative: Ricardo (Rick) Morales III (904) 219-0224 | rick@moralesgroup.com

Melissa Nicholson ’90

Nicholson ’90 Nonprofit Wins Grant Prissy and Pop’s Helping Hooves, a 501c3 nonprofit animal rescue organization founded by Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus Grade 1 teacher Melissa Nicholson ’90, was named one of the top eight $25,000 Grand Prize winners in Tractor Supply Co.’s Rescue Your Rescue contest. Voting ended September 30 and Tractor Supply Co. announced the grand prize winners via Facebook on October 6.

“We are so honored to be amongst all these amazing organizations and are so appreciative of your generosity,” Nicholson commented on the company’s social media announcement. “This is going to make a huge difference for our rescued friends!”

Nicholson’s nonprofit rescues and sustains farm animals of all shapes and sizes — including pigs, cows, donkeys, goats, horses, cats and dogs — on her Northeast Florida farm property. The organization’s namesakes, Prissy and Pop, are Grade 1 classroom pig peers in Nicholson’s classroom. They, and their extended piglet and farm animal family, are social media sensations with an international following.

Board of Trustees: Ricardo (Rick) Morales III John R. Schultz passed away on November 5, 2020.

Nicholson describes the mission and meaning of Prissy and Pop’s Helping Hooves on the pigs’ website, prissyandpop.com.

“In January of 2016, we gave up the beach life to move to a farm and pursue mommy’s dream of having farm animals by providing a loving forever home for some in need. In a little over two years, we have welcomed two horses, four mini horses, a cow who gave birth after we rescued her, three donkeys, three goats, three farm pigs, one dog and eight mini potbelly pigs.”

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1987 Class Representative: Michael (Mike) S. Wachholz (904) 738-9661 | Mwachholz02@comcast.net Class Representative: Ellis Barton (904) 777-0180 | ellis@moralesgroup.com

1976 1982 Class Representative: Virginia (Ginny) Jones Charest (813) 240-2316 | gcharest1@verizon.net 1983 Class Representative: Erin O’Dell O’Brien (904) 359-3103 | Erin_O’Brien@csx.com Class Representative: R. Dean Scott (904) 399-3479 | rdeanscott@msn.com Board of Visitors: Marcia (Ia) Morales Howard, Chair Troy Douglas serves as the defensive coordinator for the Howard University football team in Washington, D.C. This year marks his 33rd season in the college football coaching profession.

Lynne Phillips passed away on June 1, 2020.

1984 Board of Visitors: Carole Ann Coplan 1985 Class Representative: Beth Rosenbaum Angelo bethangelo @aol.com Class Representative: Kimberly (Kim) Tucker Price (904) 349-2750 | kimtprice@gmail.com

Olympic gold medalist and University of Florida Swimming & Diving Coach Anthony Nesty is one of the inaugural members of the Southeastern Conference’s new Council on Racial Equity and Social Justice. The council includes student-athletes, administrators, coaches and SEC staff. (See sidebar on page 45.)

1988 Class Representative: Karen Rinaman Barakat (904) 396-9615 | karenbarakat@comcast.net Class Representative: Monica Bernhardt (904) 386-5662 | mburns92@comcast.net Class Representative: W. Scott Hudmon (904) 389-6071 | sargescott@aol.com Board of Trustees: John J. Schickel 1989 Class Representative: M. Laurie Shumer Gelman (904) 874-6182 | lsgelman@comcast.net Class Representative: K. (Megan) Mickler Ira (904) 707-4999 | megira@me.com Board of Trustees: Rahul V. Deshmukh Board of Visitors: L. Clarke Lemons Chad Fleming is a wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch in the greater Atlanta Metropolitan area. Over the summer, he and his three children, daughters Paige, Lucy and son Charlie visited the San Jose campus hosted by Advancement Office members Ryan Trevett and Rahul Sharma.

Board of Trustees: Fernando J. Acosta-Rua Board of Visitors: Terri Arnold 1986 Class Representative: Jeanine Gulliford jeaninegull@yahoo.com Board of Trustees: Charles (Charlie) Arnold III, Tatiana Radi Salvador Board of Visitors: Peter R. Bream Jr. Tatiana Radi Salvador, currently a Circuit Court judge in Jacksonville’s 4th Judicial Circuit and a member of the Bolles Board of Trustees, has been named as co-chair of the Duke University Hispanic/Latino Alumni Association. (See sidebar on page 44.)

Chad Flemming ’89

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1973

Dan Dearing ’95

1990

’90s

1990 Class Representative: Amy Hightower Beaver (904) 396-3575 | azbeaver@bellsouth.net

Class Representative: David A. Barton (904) 613-6060 | davidabarton@yahoo.com

Class Representative: Betsy Lande Givens (770) 405-8870 | betgivens@yahoo.com Board of Trustees: John S. Surface Board of Visitors: Ron T. Patrick In the middle of the COVID pandemic, Keith Anderson took Amwell public on the New York Stock Exchange as their Chief Financial Officer. It was coincidental timing since Amwell is a leading Boston-based telemedicine company that enables doctors to deliver care virtually to their patients, even in the hospital. On September 17, Anderson and his CEO rang remotely the opening bell of the NYSE, closing Amwell’s $953 million IPO with Google as their largest IPO participant. Since the IPO, Amwell’s stock has nearly doubled valuing the company at over $7 billion.

Anderson credits Bolles wrestling Coach Matt Morris and long-tenured Bolles science teacher Jim Cortez ’66 for pushing him physically and academically to achieve more than he thought was possible. Anderson claimed to be an underwhelming athlete who loved to be a part of the team and never would have tried out for wrestling or taken Mr. Cortez’s AP class without encouragement from both of these mentors. Anderson still has close ties to many in the Bolles community including current parents, alumni and classmates and enjoys returning to Ponte Vedra Beach with his wife Megan and their children to visit family.. (See sidebar on page 46.)

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Dearing ’95 Selected to FACA Hall of Fame Bolles alumnus Dan Dearing ’95 has been selected to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s 2020 Hall of Fame Class, announced June 30 by the FACA. Dearing served as the Bolles Track and Field Head Coach from 2004–2019.

In Dearing’s tenure as head coach, the Bolles boys’ and girls’ teams won a combined four state championships, 15 region championships and 22 district championships. Dearing’s teams recorded 23 top-ten finishes at the state meet. He has also served as the statewide Track and Field Chairman for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) and on the FHSAA Track and Field Advisory Committee.

The FACA Hall of Fame Luncheon and Induction Ceremony will take place on January 9, 2021 at noon at the Daytona Beach Hilton.

Dan Dearing has been selected to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s 2020 Hall of Fame Class, announced June 30 by the FACA. Dearing served as the Bolles Track and Field Head Coach from 2004–2019. (See sidebar on page 48.)

1996 Class Representative: Fontaine LeMaistre IV (904) 874-1327 | fontainelemaistre@comcast.net Robert L. Pollard III passed away on July 31, 2020.

Keith Anderson ’90

1997 Board of Visitors: Heidi S. Schauer 1998 Class Representative: Lindsay Skinner Eyrick lindsayeyrick@yahoo.com Board of Trustees: A. Chester Skinner IV Alumni Board: Adam Edgecombe, David Cohen Board of Visitors: Michael J. Verlander

1991 Class Representative: Elizabeth (Liz) Kilgore Mundin mundinl@bolles.org Class Representative: Norianne Wright noriannewright@yahoo.com 1992 Board of Visitors: Jamie P. Dwyer 1993 Class Representative: Matthew (Matt) T. Berquist (904) 422-0476 | mberquist@intrepidcapitalfunds.com 1994 Class Representative: Jason M. Winkler (919) 395-7465 | jasonwinkler@earthlink.net Board of Trustees: Allison Korman Shelton 1995 Board of Trustees: Steven T. Gold Scott Schweitzer and his wife, Sara, have announced the birth of their daughter, Avery Grace Schweitzer, born on August 18, 2020.

The family resides in Norwalk, Connecticut. Professionally, Scott serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Veteran Transparency & Accountability Fund, a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. “VTAF” provides support and aid to Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families that are experiencing financial hardship.

Kami (Bobbitt) Marshall ’98 Kami (Bobbitt) Marshall and her husband Brooks founded a children’s apparel brand in Ventura, California. The line of children’s hats and apparel raises money to sponsor underprivileged kids to attend outdoor camps. Marshall earned her BA in Early Childhood Education from FSU, but was always drawn to the world of design and the arts. After the birth of her son Otis, now nine years old, she started designing hats inspired by one that her husband wore growing up as a toddler in Baltimore. Her husband’s nickname was “Jolly Boy”and she named the company after him.

The company has been in business since 2017 and the line has grown into “Jolly Girl” as Marshall was inspired by the birth of her daughter, Schuyler (age 5). The family uses the proceeds of the hats and apparel to sponsor inner city Los Angeles children to experience outdoor adventures through the foundation Skate Wild.

To shop the line of kids wear and support the mission, please visit www.JollyBoy.com. Kami is hoping to continue to grow the line and has hopes of customizing an orange and blue hat for the Bolles Bulldog kids in the future!

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Bill Thompson works for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in Washington, D.C. Jessica Mason was named the 2019–20 Middle/Junior High Coach of the Year by the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Board of Directors. The award is given for leadership, skills and passion for teaching and nurturing young student athletes, reflecting the SCACA motto of “Kids Need Coaches”. (See sidebar on page 51.)

1999 Class Representative: Christopher (Chris) C. Dostie (904) 251-5930 | ccdostie@hotmail.com Ryan R. Trevett (904) 610-4177| trevettr@bolles.org Board of Visitors: Dennis E. Pash Erik and Kelly Stoneberger welcomed the birth of their son Shepard Daniel Stoneberger to their family on April 7, 2020.

1988 Andrew McConnell is the chief executive officer of Rented.com, the world’s largest online marketplace connecting property owners with professional short-term rental managers. McConnell has been active in numerous nonprofit and professional organizations including Sheltering Arms, Georgia’s oldest charity, for which he currently sits on the board, The Entrepreneurs Organization, for which he sits on the EO Atlanta Board and EO Atlanta Accelerator Board, Young Entrepreneur Council, Atlanta Tech Leaders (on the Advisory Board), and the Serve America Movement.

A former member of the US National Team in Open Water Swimming, McConnell received his A.B. in History from Harvard University, his J.D. from Harvard Law School, and his LL.M. from the University of Cambridge, Trinity Hall.

In addition to being a frequent national and international speaker and writer for vacation rental events and outlets, McConnell also contributes more general business insights and advice to publications like Inc.com, Forbes, and Huffington Post.

Justin Ashourian returned to campus for a tour and had the opportunity to visit with Head of School Tyler Hodges, History Department Chair Dr. Kostandarithes and Upper School Dean of Students John Newman ’86.

Kelly Basinger ’99 Kelly Basinger is the proud, new author of “Cool Jolly Greg and His Slim Fit Pants,” which addresses the potential negative effects that technology, smart phones and social media can have on us all. As the father of three young children, Basinger was inspired by them to write a creative story for our younger generation that promotes personal connection, being present in the moment and just put down the screen and play. Visit https://www.cooljollygreg.com to learn more about Kelly and his new book.

1983

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Classmates Ryan Ong ’99 and Andrew Weltman ’99 virtually visited separately on Zoom with Alumni Officer and classmate Ryan Trevett ’99 and reconnected for the first time since graduation.

Benjamin and Jennifer Seay welcomed daughter Rachel Michaela Seay on August 16, 2020 and are moving from California to Texas this year.

Rachel Seay

’00s

2000 Class Representative: Faye Hedrick (904) 655-5555| fayemhedrick@gmail.com

Class Representative: Keri Kanehl Trevett (904) 534-3211 | trevettk@gmail.com Board of Visitors: C. Clayton Bromberg Jr. George S. Pilcher III Alumni Board: Justin Hart

Jessica Mason ’98

Mason ’98 Named Coach of the Year in South Carolina Bolles alumna Jessica Mason ’98 was named the 2019-20 Middle/Junior High Coach of the Year by the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Board of Directors. The award is given for leadership, skills and passion for teaching and nurturing young student athletes, reflecting the SCACA motto of “Kids Need Coaches”.

Mason serves as the athletic director and physical education teacher at Long Middle School in Cheraw, South Carolina, and coaches volleyball, basketball and softball at the school.

Emily Tanzler ’00 Emily Tanzler got engaged on September 16.

George Garcia and Ashley Garcia welcomed the birth of their son Grant Conley Garcia on August 11, 2020.

Shane Liesegang, formerly a story and game software developer, has completed his initial studies in his process for formation with the Jesuits. He has earned two masters degrees and has now been assigned to live in Beirut, Lebanon. For the next two years he will be with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Beirut, although he will also have assignments that will have him traveling to other areas of Lebanon and the Middle East. (See sidebar on page 52.)

Taco Pope has been named the new County Manager of Nassau County, Florida, after serving as the Assistant County Manager since May 2019. (See sidebar on page 54.)

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2001 Class Representative: Katie Skinner Farrar (904) 955-5119 | katie.s.farrar@gmail.com Class Representative: William O. Inman IV (904) 476-2245 | woinman4@gmail.com Class Representative: Lloyd Regas lregas2@yahoo.com Diego Andrés Almeida is Senior Consultant, with Almeida Guzmán & Asociados and is an active contributor to publications covering Ecuador’s governmental policies and business. Diego and his father Diego Almeida Guzman recently had an article published on September 16 in Bloomberg INDG titled INSIGHT: Ecuador-New Taxes and International Agreements.

Brock Suriano and Ashley Suriano welcomed the birth of their son Lennix Macallan Suriano to their family on April 13, 2020.

“Fly Like a Girl,” an independent film produced by Matt Wiatt that features Bolles STEM advocate and one-day astronaut Taylor Richardson ’22, was released worldwide in theaters and on-demand October 9. The film, which screened locally last November at the 2019 Jacksonville Film Festival, won several awards at more than 12 different festivals across the country that year. (See sidebar on page 55.)

2002

1981

Shane Liesegang ’00

Liesegang ’00 Serving With Jesuit Refugee Service in Beirut Shane Liesegang ’00, a former video game and theme park designer in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., recently completed two masters degrees and his initial studies as part of his formation with the Jesuits. He received a two-year mission assignment with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Beirut.

The Jesuits are a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers founded in 1540. Its members, which number 17,000 priests and brothers around the world, share a vision of seeking to “find God in all things.” The Jesuits are the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church.

According to a team member profile on the Jesuits’ website, Liesegang earned a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science and theater from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in entertainment technology from Carnegie Mellon University. He completed his First Studies at Fordham University in New York.

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Liesegang is one of four brothers who attended The Bolles School. Brothers include: Brian Liesegang ’88, member of bands Nine Inch Nails and Filter; Jason Liesegang ’90; and Alex Liesegang ’94. Their father, Dr. Thomas Liesegang, established the Eileen R. Liesegang Endowed Spirit Award in 2003 to honor his late wife and their four sons. The award provides a cash honorarium for two seniors, one from the varsity football team and one from the fine and performing arts program.

2003 Class Representative: Rahul Sharma (904) 470-0036 | sharmar@bolles.org Alumni Board: Carla M. Jones, David Dunn, and John Langley.

Ali Thompson and Brian Thompson ’04 announced the birth of their son, Luke Brian-Evan Thompson, born on August 5, 2020.

2004 Class Representative: Harry A. Kenning III (904) 982-1025 | harry.kenning@beeline.com Board of Visitors: Jordan B. Bolch

1980 Class Representative: Elizabeth Brotman Daniel eabrotman@yahoo.com

Ali Thompson ’03 and Brian Thompson announced the birth of their son, Luke Brian-Evan Thompson. Born on Aug. 5, 2020.

Brittany Dewan Frazier and her husband, James, welcomed their second son Reece Elias Frazier on August 28, 2020.

Class Representative: Margaret (Meg) Cheney Coleman meggie2431@aol.com Class Representative: John M. Marees (904) 994-0212 | jmarees@josephandmarees.com Class Representative: Carson E. Vandergriff carson.vandergriff@gmail.com Alumni Board: John M. Marees, Chair Carson E. Richardson, Heather Lane Courtney John Ganzel was married to Rachel Barksdale on October 10, 2020, on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus. Both John and Rachel are staff members on the Bolles Lower School Whitehurst Campus, and John manages the summer Bolles Day Camp.

Reece Frazier 2005 Class Representative: C. Grace (Gracie) Williams Register (904) 545-5499 | c.gracie.williams@gmail.com Alumni Board: Timothy (Tim) J. Miller Board of Visitors: Katherine E.S. Newton

1982 Rachel and John Ganzel ’02

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Eric P. Bass passed away on August 22, 2020. Following his graduation from Bolles, Bass was an alumnus of Tulane University.

He was a management consultant at Deloitte in New York, NY, at the time of his death.

Trey Leonard and his wife, Lauren, recently welcomed a new baby girl to their family. Lucy Rose Leonard was born on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Leonard is currently a PE teacher on the Bolles Lower School Whitehurst Campus.

During this unprecedented pandemic school year, Kerry Phillips has returned to serve her alma mater community as the Whitehurst Campus Nurse. (See sidebar on page 56.)

2006 Class Representative: Ashley K. Rawlins (904) 629-0881 | akrawlins@gmail.com

Taco Pope ’00

Alumni Board: Ashley K. Rawlins Michael Garcia and Sarahi Garcia were married on November 8, 2020, in Jacksonville. Michael is a general surgeon resident at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare following his graduation from UCF medical school.

Kelly Gillis Park writes, “I have recently graduated with my Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Jacksonville University and started my own counseling business locally, Bold City Counseling.”

Amanda Le Gee writes, “this update is well overdue but I got married on March 31, 2019 in St. Augustine, so we recently celebrated our first wedding anniversary (during COVID-19 shutdown). We now live in the San Francisco Bay Area.”

Lemise Dajani and Beau Hill recently welcomed the birth of their daughter Hazel Lemise Hill.

1983 1983

54 | alumni |

Pope ’00 Named Nassau County Manager Taco Pope ’00 has been selected for the County Manager position of Nassau County, the county where he was raised and currently resides.

A recent article in the Fernandina Beach News-Leader said Pope has held numerous posts in the area including the Nassau County Director of Planning and Economic Opportunity and Assistant County Manager. Pope has a master of public administration degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and two bachelor of business administration degrees from the University of North Florida.

He also founded the Yulee Basketball Association and has coached numerous teams. He represented the United States as a member of the USA Tomahawks rugby league and played with the Jacksonville Axemen rugby team, according to the article.

2007 Class Representative: Michelle Risley Baker michelle.e.risley@gmail.com Class Representative: Allison Dewan allisondewan@gmail.com Board of Visitors: Allison T. Dewan, Peter S. Sack, Caitlin Hayes Shafer Michelle Risley Baker and James Baker gave birth to their second child on December 14 in Austin, Texas. Her name is Elizabeth Julie Baker.

Matt Wiatt ’01

Worldwide Release for Wiatt ’01 Film “Fly Like a Girl,” an independent film produced by Matt Wiatt ’01 that features Bolles STEM advocate and one-day astronaut Taylor Richardson ’22, was released worldwide in theaters and on-demand October 9. The film, which screened locally last November at the 2019 Jacksonville Film Festival, won several awards at more than 12 different festivals across the country that year.

Tucker Juan has embarked on a new business venture — he and his business partner have opened Makenu Chocolate in Atlantic Beach.

The business combines the products from both partners’ existing businesses — toffee, chocolate bars and chocolate truffles.

Aarian Afshari and Megan Afshari were married on October 1, 2020, in Sonoma, CA. Allison Dewan and James Giebink got engaged on July 3, 2020 in Dallas, Texas.

The “Deadline Hollywood” entertainment news site reported independent film distributor Gravitas Ventures recently acquired worldwide rights to “Fly Like a Girl.” That opened the door to an October 2020 release in theaters around the globe.

According to the story, the film “features firsthand stories from girls and women who dared to aim higher in male-dominated vocation.” Wiatt filmed an interview with Richardson, who has made a name for herself internationally as an advocate of girls in STEM, nearly three years ago on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus. Parts of Richardson’s story are woven into the film, which documents “movement of young girls and women relentlessly pursuing their passion for aviation.”

Allison Dewan ’07

In addition to Richardson, the film features interviews with United States Senator Tammy Duckworth, veteran NASA astronaut Nicole Scott, American aviator, aspiring astronaut and American advocate for STEAM education Abigail Harrison and U.S. national aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff.

“If you ask someone to name as many female aviators as they can think of, most would only be able to say Amelia Earhart. There are so many women beyond Amelia both modern and historical that have played an important role in the aviation and STEM world. ‘Fly Like a Girl’ brings some of these women’s stories to light,” said director Katie McEntire Wiatt.

1987

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Russell Newton IV and Powell Newton recently welcomed the birth of their son Russell Newton V. 2008 Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace was the subject of a recent feature in a Bahamian publication. In the story, the national record-holder from the Bahamas talks about her gratitude for the swimming experience she enjoyed at The Bolles School. (See sidebar on page 58.)

Kerry Phillips ’05

2009 Class Representative: Mandana (Mandy) Fatemi mandyfatemi@yahoo.com Board of Visitors: T. Edward Salem Ellie Doyle was married to Max Baumer on September 5, 2020, in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

’10s

2010 Class Representative: Morgan O’Hare mohareaffair@gmail.com

Class Representative: William Hartje william.hartje@gmail.com Jordan Garside and his wife, Krissy, welcomed a baby girl, Isabelle Grace Garside, to their family on August 12, 2020.

Lydia Schellenberg was married to Michael Stanley on December 28, 2019.

2011 Class Representative: Ruth Curry Clements clements.curry@gmail.com Board of Visitors: Lewis S. Lee III Nathan Theus was named district manager at Waste Management in Jacksonville.

Phillips ’05 Returns to Bolles as Whitehurst Nurse During this unprecedented pandemic school year, Kerry Phillips ’05 has returned to serve her alma mater community as the Whitehurst Campus Nurse.

“I am so excited to be back on campus helping out our little people,” said Phillips, a Bolles “lifer” who knows well what it’s like to be a little Bulldog.

Phillips is a pediatric registered nurse hired to assist with the on-campus health and safety of lower school students.

Bolles Lower School Whitehurst Campus Head Christy Lusk said she feels “very lucky to have her join our dedicated faculty and staff.”

Phillips received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Washington & Lee University and her nursing degree from the University of Florida. Her area of specialty has been in pediatrics and lactation counseling. Phillips also is a professional mother — she and husband John Phillips ’05 have four children: Carson (8), Everett (5), Laine (3) and Hope (1).

Yes, Phillips and her husband were high school sweethearts. In addition to parenthood, they have shared many educational journeys together including Bolles dating, Washington & Lee life and perhaps one day, their own children’s Bolles experience.

Phillips recalls fondly her days at Bolles, where she enjoyed science, painting, volleyball and being with friends. She said many of her memories are still present today.

1988

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“I remember teachers’ clear love for and involvement with students, long lasting friend and family relationships, the depths of subject exploration and this beautiful campus,” Phillips said. “Masks and social media are definitely new additions.”

Jessi Ponder Tejada and Max Tejada ’12 were married on November 21, 2020.

2012 Elias Farah and Maya Saikali have announced their engagement.

Elias has graduated from medical school and has started his residency in Interventional Radiology at the University of Florida Hospital in Jacksonville. Maya is completing a Doctorate of Nursing degree at Jacksonville University. The wedding is planned for 2021.

Hannah Schellenberg was married to Peter Helow on June 22, 2019.

Hannah and Peter welcomed the birth of their son, Leo Joseph Helow, on December 28, 2019.

Max Tejada and Jessi Ponder Tejada ’11 were married on November 21, 2020.

Dr. Daniel J. Majarwitz and Mariam Dvalishvili were married on September 26, 2020. Their wedding took place in Johns Creek, Georgia and they currently reside in Greenville, NC. DJ Stewart, a starting outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles, went on a hot streak at the plate in September, hitting seven home runs with 12 RBIs and a .394 batting average over nine games. He gained praise in several circles and was named the Major League Baseball Network’s Orioles Player of the Week.

Elias Farah ’12 and Maya Saikali ’12 Katie Prusiecki was married to Mitchell Davis at The Farm at Old Edwards in Highlands, North Carolina, on September 12, 2020.

Brogen Kirby ’12 and Morgan Sandlin ’11 served as bridesmaids.

Katie and Mitchell, both graduates of the University of Georgia, are currently living in Atlanta, Georgia, where Katie is working as an Engagement Manager for Sagepath.

DJ Stewart ’12 2013 Board of Visitors: Ryan F. Murphy Dylan Schreiner has been named management consultant with Accenture in Charlotte.

2014 Alexandra Pentel shared that after receiving her MPH, she began working as a public health and healthcare consultant and will be

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making a career change as she was recently accepted to medical school. She was also recently engaged and will be Mrs. Lawlor in July 2021 and Dr. Lawlor in 2025.

Christian Weeks participated in an August 25 Face-time video conference with the Alumni Office where he discussed his senior boarding experience and how he’s fared living in Darien, Connecticut during COVID-19. Christian shared that he enrolled at Bolles in 2013 without an actual on-campus visit, was on the swim team and later went on to attend SMU. Christian is currently working for Standard Charter, a London based bank, remotely from his home and hopes to one day move to New York City to work when it is safe to do so.

2015 Amelia Hartje and Gustavo Machado ’13 got engaged in July and returned back to Bolles for a visit in October.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace ’08

Swimming Career of Vanderpool-Wallace ’08 Featured in Publication Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace ’08 was the subject of a recent feature in a Bahamian publication.

In the story, the national record-holder from the Bahamas talks about her gratitude for the swimming experience she enjoyed at The Bolles School.

Amelia Hartje ’15 and Gustavo Machado ’13 Former swim standout Kasey Schmidt completed her Master’s coursework at Northwestern University and is now working for the National Football League (NFL) as Club Media Strategy and Analytics Coordinator. She was among notable swim alumni that

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“I know 100 percent that if I did not go to Bolles, my career would have worked out differently, if I had one at all,” Vanderpool-Wallace said.

Vanderpool-Wallace has represented the Bahamas in many international championships including the Olympics, FINA world championships and the Pan American Games.

participated on a Zoom call on October 2 sharing championship stories that also featured Hall of Fame and Olympic swim coach Gregg Troy.

2016 Alumni Board: Roland L. Johnson Tom Skinner is a digital strategist for Cause Inspired Media. Earlier this summer, Skinner graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida.

Mac Jones ’17

Jones ’17 Garners Praise and Accolades During Impressive Season Mac Jones ’17, a redshirt junior quarterback on the University of Alabama football team, has garnered awards, accolades and praise from media for his stellar performance in the 2020 college football season. As of press time and prior to the Southeastern Conference Championship game, the odds were in favor of Jones leading the Crimson Tide to SEC and national titles, while winning the Heisman Trophy. Through ten games, Jones has completed 76.41% of his passes for 3,321 yards and 27 touchdowns while leading his team to a 10-0 record and number one ranking.

Jones earned four Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors this season in wins over Texas A&M, Tennessee, Georgia and Auburn. In the win over Tennessee, Jones set an Alabama record with 19-consecutive completions, spanning eight straight to close the Georgia game and 11 in a row at the start of the UT game. In the win over Auburn, he recorded a career-high five passing touchdowns, tying the Iron Bowl record.

2017 Justin Mitchell is doing well and will return to Harvard University in the spring since the football season was cancelled this year. He’s looking forward to returning and is on track to graduate from college in December of 2021.

Mac Jones, a redshirt junior quarterback on the University of Alabama football team, continues to garner awards, accolades and praise from media for his stellar performance thus far in the 2020 college football season, including consideration as one of the top Heisman trophy candidates. (See sidebar to the left.)

Bolles classmates Mac Jones and Jack Lundgren were featured during the CBS national broadcast of the Alabama — Texas A&M football game on October 3. The segment included video of Lundgren, a former Naval Academy football player with plans to join the Navy Seals, helping Jones, a redshirt junior quarterback for the Crimson Tide, prepare for the 2020 football season. Training at home in Jacksonville last summer, Jones benefited from Lundgren’s knowledge of Navy Seals training principles and techniques. Jones led Alabama to a 52–24 win over A&M, completing 20 of 27 passes for a career-high 435 yards and four touchdowns.

Alan Perry was accepted to the Boston University 7-Year BA/MD Program (SMED) following his Bolles graduation and has finished his three years at Boston University undergraduate. He recently was promoted to the status of medical student at Boston University School of Medicine in the Class of 2024.

Through December 12, Jones led the nation in overall quarterback rating and yards per completion, ranked second in the nation in completion percentage, ranked fourth in passing yardage and tied for fifth in touchdown passes.

Jones’ success has drawn praise, debate and substantial coverage among sports media. From his prospects as a potential NFL first round draft pick to recognition as one of the top Heisman trophy candidates, Jones is undoubtedly one of the top stories of the 2020 season.

Looking back at where his football career started, a video of Jones’ Bolles highlights was shared on MaxPreps.com and has tallied more than 56,000 views.

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2018 Caden Matson was named President of Engineering Ambassadors at The University of Florida.

2019 Like most college students, Richard Sollee had to return home last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His freshman season as a rower at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology came to an abrupt halt but his efforts in the sport did not. On May 23, Sollee set a new world record on an indoor rowing machine in the Lightweight Men 19-and-under age group. His time of six hours and 39 minutes for the distance of 100,000 meters beat the previous record by 14 minutes. Sollee is at home in Jacksonville this fall taking his MIT fall classes online. He also is working as an assistant coach with Bolles Crew on the Upper School San Jose Campus.

Justin O’Leary ’20

O’Leary ’20 Featured in Vogue Justin O’Leary ’20 was featured in a stunning Vogue magazine photographic showcase of GenZ first-time voters.

The former Bolles student-athlete was one of nearly 30 young people from across the United States profiled in the magazine’s online Election 2020 coverage November 3.

Richard Sollee ’19

’20s

2020 Justin O’Leary was featured in a stunning Vogue magazine photographic showcase of GenZ first-time voters. The former Bolles student-athlete was one of nearly 30 young people from across the United States profiled in the magazine’s online Election 2020 coverage November 3. The piece showcased the work of GenZ (those born in the mid-to-late 1990s to the early 2010s) photographers who shot portraits of themselves or their friends to “highlight the importance of elevating young voices.”

Each photo includes a quote or story from the photo subject. (See sidebar to the right.)

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The piece showcased the work of GenZ (those born in the mid-to-late 1990s to the early 2010s) photographers who shot portraits of themselves or their friends to “highlight the importance of elevating young voices.” Each photo includes a quote or story from the photo subject.

Photographer Denise Stephanie captured O’Leary’s image, which depicts him hanging onto a basketball rim, smiling.

O’Leary says, “I feel it’s especially important [to vote] this time around. In general, the youth haven’t shown out to the polls, and when older generations are choosing who’s in office, that means the policy will reflect their own needs. Right now is such a critical election due to the turmoil in America. I think that this is the younger generation’s chance to show out and for the politicians to hear the voice of the majority. They can’t keep ignoring the masses and continue to keep getting elected on empty promises. The people are tired of the same old runaround, where nothing gets done, and hopefully a big turnout from our generation will fix that.”

Bolles Mourns the Loss of A. Chester Skinner Jr. ’40 Our community has lost a great man, alumnus and friend. A. Chester Skinner Jr. ’40 — who has been a constant force in the Bolles community since its earliest years — passed away peacefully on Friday, August 7, 2020. His passing marks an end to an era of guidance, support and wisdom he shared for his beloved alma mater.

His love for the School is proven through the numerous volunteer positions he held and countless projects he oversaw in all areas of school life. He was known for always seeking campus improvements and for keeping a keen eye on the San Jose Campus until his passing at age 98.

the years. Some of Skinner’s “marks on Bolles” include beautiful handcrafted Pedroni stone benches and wooden banquet tables around Bolles Hall, football field players’ benches that Skinner made in his backyard, campus statues memorializing Bolles’ military history, our memorial flagpoles flanking the front of campus, “Flag Court,” and “Commencement Pointe” on the River Campus, tree plantings, school crests made of stone, the construction of the San Jose Campus’ river road to the Lower School Campus (said to have been made in one night under Skinner’s direction with him as the

No one has done more for Bolles than Chester Skinner. He enriched our country, city and School in so many ways.

Skinner was involved with Bolles on many levels, both hands-on and otherwise, since his years as a battalion commander, class president, valedictorian and honor cadet in the Bolles Class of 1940. While a student at Bolles, he achieved the nickname “Moo” because his father operated a dairy farm and furnished the School with all its milk in exchange for tuition. Skinner went on to Georgia Institute of Technology where he earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree with highest honors and later served in the Army designing, testing and assembling radar units. He also was employed as an engineer with Reynolds, Smith and Hill before starting and operating a dairy, Meadowbrook Farms, with his brother, Brightman.

Skinner was inducted into the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Hall of Fame in 1999 and has a long history of philanthropy in the Jacksonville community.

Skinner’s love for Bolles football has never wavered. In addition to helping coach the Bolles Bulldogs in their early years, Skinner has remained a close supporter of the team and its coaches over the years. His assistance to Bolles, however, has been even more far-reaching. He was named as a member of the Bolles Board of Trustees in 1961 and has assisted with numerous projects through

bulldozer driver), the construction of Skinner-Barco Stadium, athletic storage and signage showcasing achievements for all facilities, the stadium press box, athletic display cases, team uniforms and meals, mascot costumes, entrance signage, Valedictory Hall signage in Bolles Hall, a batting cage, flag donations, residential property transactions to expand the campus, locker rooms for

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Blessing for A. Chester Skinner Jr. Celebration

by Jack Milne

“As told in the Book of Genesis, 4,000 years ago God made a covenant with the ancient patriarch Abraham, promising that, “I will bless you, so that you will be a blessing.”

Tonight we gather to honor a present-day patriarch who also has been blessed by God, and who has in turn been a blessing to not only all of us here, but to many, many more.

swimmers and football players, stadium lighting, weight room equipment and the expansion of the Coaches Office creating the new and improved Mike Barrett Strength and Conditioning Room, and even the School’s San Jose Boulevard billboard — just to name a tangible few contributions.

Most recently, he honored former Head Coach Corky Rogers with “Corky Rogers Plaza” creating a beautiful tribute to his football career and a new stadium entrance. This does not include his tremendous and constant presence, which he shared generously with Bolles coaches, administrators and students over his many years.

Those who have been welcomed into Chester Skinner’s home, have no doubt seen the maxim hanging on his wall, which he has prominently displayed for decades. Who here could think of a truer example of someone who has held so faithful to these words: Work like you are going to live forever.

Pray like you are going to die today.

And could not a third line be added for our honoree tonight: Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, to touch as many lives as you can.

Please pray with me.

Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for Your many gifts in this life. And on this happy occasion we offer our special thanks for Your good servant, Chester Skinner, who through his kindness, intellect and generosity has done so much good for so many people.

A man who has faithfully given of his time, talents, treasure, energy and wisdom to make Your world a finer place. We are better for having known him, as he has honored and continues to honor You with his life and works.

We ask now that You bless this food to our use and us to Your service and help us to follow the example set by Chester Skinner, making us truly mindful of the needs and the feelings of others and likewise willing to give of ourselves to make Your world a better place.”

(Read at a 2014 dinner honoring A. Chester Skinner Jr. ’40)

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Bolles President Emeritus Harry deMontmollin ’56 shared his thoughts on Skinner several years ago during a special dinner Bolles hosted in his honor.

“Not-for-profit corporations are unique creations, especially those that operate like a regular business and Bolles is one of those — this sort of structure depends on the special relationship between the generous and inspirational volunteers who serve as officers and those professionals hired to carry out their vision. There has been one constant through all these years and that’s A. Chester Skinner Jr. who served as a trustee and vice chair of the board for more than 20 years, building on a standard of excellence exemplified by his designation as Valedictorian of the Class of 1940. Chester brought stability, consistency and most importantly, extraordinary vision to his role,” deMontmollin said.

Bolles Head Football Coach Corky Rogers had a special, longstanding relationship with Mr. Skinner in support of Bolles athletics prior to his passing this past year. At the same dinner, Coach Rogers regaled him with these words: “Chester Skinner is class. Chester Skinner is what Bolles stands for — he is The Bolles School, and anybody who’s been around it knows that. (To exemplify Skinner’s humility, he recalled a board meeting he attended during which Skinner described himself as simply, a farmer.) As we know, he’s much more than that. It’s already been told he was valedictorian of his class, but he’d say, ‘Coach there weren’t very many people in the class back then.’ We may forget what you said, or what you did, but we’ll never forget how you made us feel. We love you.”

Bolles sympathies, support and prayers are with Mr. Skinner’s children and their families: Chester III “Chip” ’70, Kathy ’72, David ’77 and Christopher ’80. The School is grateful for this special relationship over the years and hold all these significant memories dear as we remember Skinner’s legacy of generosity toward the Bolles community.

For those wishing to give a gift in Mr. Skinner’s memory, the family has requested them to be given to The Skinner Family Endowment for Bolles Athletics. Gifts may be sent to the Office of Advancement, 7400 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32217. Questions may be sent to Rahul Sharma, Leadership Giving Officer, at sharmar@bolles.org.

J. Malcolm Jones Jr. ’71 Leaves Vibrant Legacy J. Malcolm Jones Jr. ’71, former Bolles Trustee and chair of the School’s first-ever capital campaign, died October 28. His death comes just a few months after the passing of his legendary uncles A. Chester Skinner Jr. ’40 and C. Brightman Skinner Sr. ’43.

Jones, President and CEO of Florida Capital Group, carried forth his family’s steadfast commitment to The Bolles School’s mission first as a student, and later as a two-term Bolles Board of Trustees leader (Chair 2000–2002) and parent volunteer. In addition, he served the School as a Class Representative, a member of the Board of Visitors, Chair of the Annual Giving Fund and participant in the Campaign Feasibility Study in 2017.

In February 2001 — arguably one of the School’s most historic and well covered moments — he welcomed Bolles grandmother and First Lady Barbara Bush to the Upper School San Jose Campus to launch the “Wings to Soar” capital campaign with great fanfare. Mr. Jones’ passion for Bolles endured in the educational experiences of his two children, J. Malcolm Jones III ’96 and Whitney Jones Kampfe ’99, who, along with dozens of celebrated cousins and friends, continued the dynamic legacy Mr. Jones and the Skinner family set in motion here so many decades ago. What a testament to this loyalty that grandson J. Malcolm “Mac” Jones IV ’26 decided to join the Bolles family on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus this year.

The Bolles community offers condolences to Jones’ wife Leslie, their children, eight grandchildren and surviving family, which includes mother Mary Virginia Jones, siblings Edward “Ned” Jones ’73 and Virginia “Ginny” Charest ’82, as well as many alumni relatives. The Bolles community is grateful for Jones’ multigenerational dedication and service to our School family.

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2021 Key Dates JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

January 18

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, No Classes

May 24

End 4th Quarter/2nd Semester (Half Day)

February 2

End 3rd Quarter Interim Tuesday

May 25–28

Exams, Grades 6–12

February 12

Professional Day, No Classes

May 29

Commencement, Class of 2021

February 15

Presidents’ Day, No Classes

May 31

Memorial Day, School Closed

March 5

End 3rd Quarter

June 1

Makeup Exams, Grades 6–11

March 8–12

Spring Break, School Closed

June 1–4

Faculty/Staff Post-planning

March 15

Faculty Work Day, No Classes

March 16

Classes Resume

April 2–5

Holiday Break, No Classes

April 6

Classes Resume

April 15

End 4th Quarter Interim

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.

MAY

JUNE

7400 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville, Florida 32217 Change Service Requested DATED MATERIAL, PLEASE DELIVER ASAP

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