Darlington Magazine Summer 2013

S U M M E R

M A G A Z I N E

2 0 1 3

Tom Whitworth Headmaster James Milford Associate Headmaster Director of Admission Max Roach Director of Upper School James Hutchins Director of PK-8 Joe Montgomery Chief Advancement Officer Vicki Vincent Director of Alumni Relations Doug Hamil Director of Graphic Design Tannika King Director of Media Relations RuthAnne Anderson Buffalo Bills Davidson College Kelly Moore (’95) Photographic Contributors Darlington Magazine is published two times a year by the Communication Office of Darlington School, and is distributed to those who have shown a continued interest in Darlington.

Darlington School, a nonprofit organization, does not discriminate in admission because of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, and maintains non-discriminatory policies throughout its operation.

1014 Cave Spring Road Rome, Georgia 30161 706-235-6051 (phone) 706-232-3600 (fax) alumni@darlingtonschool.org www.darlingtonschool.org

On The Cover: Bailey Brock (’13), Harris Burton (’13), Charles Copeland (’13), Alex Cox (’13) and their classmates earned over $8.8 million in merit scholarships (not including HOPE).

SUMMER

2013

Content 2 Community News 10 Sports News 32 Class Notes 52 In Memoriam Campus Features 12 Ask Kim Tunnell 14 On the Search

Whitworth announces retirement, trustees begin national search for new headmaster

15 One School, One Campus

School moves all grades to main campus, sells Lower School

18 Technology

Learning in the 21st Century

25 Creative Curriculum

Professional development award funds work on online textbook

28 Lea Duncan

Road to Retirement

29 Charla Brewster Road to Retirement

Campus Views 16 RUMPUS 26 Grease is the Word!

30 2012 Alumni Weekend Alumni Profiles 34 Don Maddox (’59) Distinguished Alumnus

35 Nancy (Smith) Hunter (’65T) Distinguished Alumna

40 Chris Motley (’99, LD ’13) An entrepreneurial spirit

44 Ben Bagley (’00) Frequent flyer

48 Shawn Powell (’07) Playing the field

Community News

Attorney educates students on Georgia laws affecting teens

J. Tom Morgan

J. Tom Morgan, author and nationally recognized expert on the prosecution of crimes against children, spoke to Upper and Middle School students and parents last September about Georgia laws that impact young people. During his presentation, Morgan went through what he called the “teenage timeline,” referencing a long list of Georgia laws, many of which related to sex, drugs and alcohol.

“Only 10 states in our country prosecute teens as adults on their 17th birthday and you live in one of those states,” he told students. “You’ve got to understand our laws. You are the future leaders of this state and this country – the doctors, lawyers, police chiefs. Do not wreck these opportunities. If you disagree with the law, work to change it.

Don’t go break it.”

The author of “Ignorance is No Defense, A Teenager’s Guide to Georgia Law,” Morgan has appeared on CNN’s “Talk Back Live,” the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Court TV,” the “Today Show” and “48 Hours.” He served as the district attorney of DeKalb County, Ga., for 12 years and was the first prosecutor in the

state to specialize in the prosecution of crimes against children. He is currently a trial lawyer in private practice in Decatur, specializing in criminal and civil litigation.

“This is the second time we have brought J. Tom Morgan to campus as part of our ongoing commitment to teach our students about healthy decision making,” said Matthew Peer, director of student life. “Throughout his career, he has spoken to thousands of teens and parents on this topic, and we hope his message will leave a lasting impression on our students.”

Morgan has dedicated his career to child advocacy and is committed to helping young people avoid being both victims and perpetrators of crimes.

He served on the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect and was chairman of Georgia’s Child Abuse Prevention Panel. Recognizing the need to treat victims of child abuse, he was a founding member and is currently vice chairman of the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy Inc., which provides free counseling to children who are victims of child abuse.

61 earn AP Scholar designation During the 2011-12 school year, 116 students in Rome and Floyd County earned the designation of AP Scholar

by The College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Exams. Of these scholars, 61 are from Darlington.

“The AP exams are an excellent measure of readiness for college study,” said Academic Dean David Powell. “We applaud our students for attaining the status of AP Scholar as they prepare for a rigorous college curriculum.”

Two 2012 graduates qualified for the National AP Scholar Award, the highest designation, by earning an average grade of 4 or higher on a 5-point scale on all AP Exams taken during their high school career, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. They are Jesse Baker (’12) and Avani Reddy (’12).

“In 2012, 173 Darlington students took a total of 392 AP Exams, and 80.3% of these exams scored 3 or higher,” Powell said. “In the State of Georgia, only 57% of AP students scored 3 or higher, and in the entire nation, that number is only 61%. We are very proud of our students.”

Fundraiser nets $72,000 for parent groups

Amber and Josh Hembree Darlington’s first-ever one-school fundraiser, “Ride the Wave…Catch the Darlington Spirit,” raised over $72,000 for the school’s parent organizations last August.

2

“As I walked around the room, greeting returning families and meeting new families from across the country and around the world, I was simply blown away by the spirit that evening – the spirit of community,” said Headmaster Tom Whitworth.

This was Darlington’s third annual reverse raffle fundraiser, but the first time Tiger PRIDE PK-12, the Athletic Booster Club and the Fine Arts Booster Club had come together for a joint oneschool fundraiser. The purpose of this event was two-fold: to raise money for the parent organizations and to provide a fun opportunity for PK-12 parents to come together as a community.

The nearly 450 attendees enjoyed food, fellowship, live entertainment and some friendly bidding on over 200 auction items donated by local businesses and

members of the Darlington Community.

Items ranged from student artwork, donated by the Lower and Middle Schools, to a full orthodontics treatment

by Drs. Pridemore and Cox. Day parent Barry Hurley was announced as the winner of the $10,000 reverse raffle; however, in the spirit of the evening, he had sold his winning ticket to grandparent Terry Laughridge just minutes before the drawing took place. Day parent Rocky Tillery won the second-place $2,000 raffle prize.

“I want to give a very special thank you to the parents who worked so hard to make this event happen and to everyone in our community who came out to support it,” Whitworth said. “Our parents never cease to amaze me!”

The fourth annual reverse raffle fundraiser will take place on Oct. 12.

Darlington Magazine

Community News

Leadership Darlington graduates 23 in program’s second year Twenty-three more alumni graduated from the school’s Leadership Darlington program in February.

“Leadership Darlington is a prestigious and competitive opportunity for alumni to engage with their alma mater and school leaders on an in-depth, personal level,” said Vicki Vincent, director of alumni relations.

“The program is designed to increase the number of alumni actively engaged with the school and develop the next generation of Darlington’s leadership.”

Members of the Leadership Darlington Class of 2013 are Fatema Bandukwala (’06) of Rome; Susan (Adair) Blanton (’76) of Greensboro, Ga.; Katie Brindell (’04) of Raleigh, N.C.; Bob Elkins (’63) of Athens, Ga.; Bryan Freeman (’77) of Atlanta; Rachel Gross (’89) of New York; Meredith (Koegler) Harrison (’93) of Rome; Janie Hortman (’03) of Atlanta; Chris Jackson (’02) of Cave Spring, Ga.; Luke

Lester (’84) of Cartersville, Ga.; Sam Lucas (’97) of Rome; John McElrath (’99) of Birmingham, Ala.; Holly (Hagge) McHaggee (’97) of Rome; Anne Montgomery (’05) of Atlanta; Chris Motley (’99) of Chicago, Ill.; Edgeley (Askew) Myers (’95) of Macon, Ga.; Parrish Owens (’04) of Rome; Dan Pate (’76) of Rome; Matt Sirmans (’88) of Rome; Brad Skidmore (’80) of Atlanta; Karen (Candler) Tucker (’74) of Rome; Teresa (Huffman) Watters (’72T) of Rome; and Miles Wellesley (’02) of Boston, Mass.

Over two days, participants obtained an integrated view of Darlington, including the internal and external forces that affect her direction, and the challenges she faces. They also experienced an interchange with senior administrators and participated in discussions about the future of Darlington. The program featured honorary chairman and keynote speaker

Bob Elkins (’63, LD ’13) Jere Drummond (’57), retired vice chairman of BellSouth Corp. in Atlanta, who is chairman of Darlington’s Board of Trustees, co-chairman of the Second Century Campaign and a Distinguished Alumnus.

To apply for Leadership Darlington 2014, contact alumni@ darlingtonschool.org.

Big John Shearer (’62) connects with students Darlington students reaped the benefits of Big John Shearer’s (’62) decision to return to campus for his 50th reunion last October. The musician performed a concert and held a guitar master class, where he talked about different styles of music and the importance of being a well-rounded artist.

“It was exciting to have John back on campus and I’m thrilled that he was able to spend some time with our students,” said Vicki Vincent, director of alumni relations. “He is a extremely talented, and I know they enjoyed meeting and learning from him.”

Shearer got his start at the age of 18 as a singing waiter in North Carolina and has been making music ever since. He currently performs with his Blue Side Up Band, describing their style as “real organic music in the flow.”

“It’s real because it’s acoustic and it’s organic because we don’t over-rehearse,” Shearer said. “What we do is bring great chops and sweet instruments

Summer 2013

John Shearer (’62) and proven tunes to our concerts. We then form a three-way partnership – ourselves, the audience and the spirit.

And with the three of us going together, then we follow the muse wherever it takes us. The energy is astounding.”

Based in Chapel Hill, N.C., the band plays a wide variety of tunes, ranging

from field songs and spirituals of the Old South to the sophisticated Vintage Cafe Society Blues style of the 30s, 40s and 50s. They also have a long list of original compositions. For more information, visit www.bigjohnshearer. com.

3

Community News

Commencement honors Class of 2013

House Senate President Alea Vick (’13) addresses her classmates during Darlington’s Commencement ceremony in May. The school’s 125 newest alumni hail from 13 countries and eight states. Eight were four-year resident students, and 16 were 14-year seniors. Thirty have siblings who are also alumni; 23 others are secondgeneration graduates; eight are thirdgeneration; and one is fourth-generation.

Collectively, these students gave 10,231 hours of service to others – 3,400 of which occurred during their senior year. They also earned $8.8 million in merit scholarships (not including HOPE), and will attend 69 different colleges in 22 states and Scotland.

4

Students hear from community reading program’s featured author

Kelsey Timmerman has lunch with Darlington freshmen.

Over the past five years, the One Book, Many Voices reading initiative has brought a series of renowned authors to this community. Last year was no different as schools, book clubs and other local organizations in Floyd County built programs around Kelsey Timmerman’s novel, “Where Am I Wearing?”

“We get dressed every day and probably take for granted the items we wear,” said Melinda Holmes, director of library services and member of the One Book, Many Voices Committee. “Kelsey Timmerman, however, noticed his clothing labels and decided to pursue their origins.

His book details his travels to Latin America and China as he explores where his T-shirt, undergarments and flip-flops were made. His search not only reveals unfavorable factory conditions, but also tells the story of the young people who are employed in these manufacturing facilities.”

Modeled after similar initiatives throughout the nation, One Book, Many Voices is designed to encourage reading, spark discussion and bring the community together through one book. Last summer, Timmerman’s story was the required summer reading book for Darlington ninthgraders. Students had an opportunity to connect with him in person during

his visit to Darlington and at his community presentation in October.

As the school’s winner of an essay contest focused on the book, Elisa Montanaro (’15) had the opportunity to meet the author at a special reception. In 2012, over 200 students entered the contest, which was sponsored by the Rome News-Tribune.

Winners were selected from each area high school.

“It is important to support our own economy, and buying American may be ideal. However, buying products from other countries that are made by hardworking, honest people does not mean we are buying from the enemy,” said Montanaro, who wrote about her father’s experience running a textile mill in Latin America. “We need to continue to seek solutions which provide for full employment for Americans and our neighbors in Latin America. The poverty our neighbors face all comes back to us in this global economy.”

One Book, Many Voices is sponsored by several community organizations, including Darlington School. Visiting authors from previous years have included Maya Angelou, Sherman Alexie, Paul Rusesabagina, Jay Asher and Kristin Kimball.

Darlington Magazine

Community News

School launches progressive early childhood education program

Children hear from award-winning author

Darlington School is taking an innovative and more customized approach to early childhood education.

Beginning in August, students who would traditionally enroll in pre-K, kindergarten or pre-first will instead be part of Darlington’s Early Learning Academy, a progressive program in which instruction is based on the students’ individual needs.

“Students in the Early Learning Academy will work collaboratively on big ideas and break out into small, ability-based groups for the core areas of reading, writing and arithmetic,” said James Hutchins, director of PK8. “This will allow Academy teachers to build a directed, customized curriculum that takes into account various levels of ability and builds on the students’ strengths.”

The Academy will expose all students to three highly qualified teachers who are teaching a dynamic, cohesive curriculum as a team. The standards,

New York author-illustrator Brian Pinkney brought his stories to Darlington last November during the Lower School’s annual author visit. Pinkney is the author of several highly-praised picture books, including “The Faithful Friend,” “In the Time of the Drums” and “Duke Ellington.”

“Brian inspired, entertained and educated the students with his stories, drawings and drum playing,” said Ann Glass, Lower School librarian.

“He was funny, creative and engaged students in discussions about writing and illustrating. We are left with three of his signed sketches as well as great memories.”

Pinkney has won numerous awards, including two Caldecott Honors, four Coretta Scott King Honors and a Coretta Scott King Award, and the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award. He has been exhibited at The Art Institute of Chicago, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, The Detroit Institute of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, The School of Visual Arts and The Society of Illustrators.

He has been published by Greenwillow Books, Hyperion Books for Young Readers, Little, Brown and Co., Feiwel & Friends, Harcourt Children’s Books, Simon & Schuster, and Random House. His work has also appeared in New York Times Magazine, Women’s Day, Business Tokyo, Ebony Man and Instructor.

Past guest authors/illustrators visiting the Lower School have included Patricia Reilly Giff, David Winsniewski, Robert San Souci, Jack Gantos, Lynn Cullen, Mike Lester, Carmen Agra Deedy, Helen Lester, Jane Kurtz, Mordicai Gerstein, Eric Kimmel, Grace Lin, Lola Schaefer, Diane Z. Shore and Elise Broach.

scope and sequence of the curriculum will be vertically integrated with Darlington’s entire academic program, and students will be exposed to the teaching and learning styles that are best suited for their individual needs.

“This is the next logical step in differentiation for us,” said Academic Dean David Powell. “Our goal is to build more creative, collaborative learners by meeting the children where they are and pushing them as far as they can go. Each student will make – at the very minimum – a year’s progress from the point he or she came in, but this ability to customize the program will actually allow students to go even further, progressing at a pace that is comfortable to them.”

The Early Learning Academy has a limited enrollment of 42 students. For more information or to enroll your child, please contact DeLean Brandon in the Admission Office at dbrandon@ darlingtonschool.org.

Darlington Lessons Academy open to the public Darlington’s fine arts department has launched a program that is open to any adult or child in Rome and its surrounding areas. Darlington Lessons Academy offers aspiring musicians affordable, private weekly lessons by professional instructors who have placed students in renowned music programs across the country.

“Whether you are interested in sharpening your skills in voice, piano, or band and orchestra instruments, the instructors at Darlington Lessons Academy have the expertise you need to help you get to the next level and beyond,” said Kim Tunnell, director of fine arts. “We offer accommodating lesson times, a convenient location and a flexible fee structure.”

Participants may take 30- , 45- or 60-minute lessons once a week for 12

Summer 2013

weeks during each semester. Instructors include Anthony Avitollo (low brass), Sam Baltzer (trombone and low brass), John Bleuel (saxophone), Annie Camp (cello), Kris Carlisle (piano), Sinisa Ciric (violin and viola), Adam Crane (viola), John Davis (flute and saxophone), Mickey Fisher (oboe), Melanie Fuller (flute), Adam Hayes (trumpet), Emmy Hengeveld (bass), Donna Hester (piano), Ellie Jenkins (French horn), Carlye June (French horn), Miriam Marchetti (voice), Tom Moore (trumpet), Luan Mueller (clarinet), Douglas Overmier (percussion), Elisabeth Peulask (violin) and Angele Sherwood-Lawless (violin).

To sign up, contact Will Camp at wcamp@darlingtonschool.org. For more information or to read bios on the instructors, visit www.darlingtonschool. org/lessonsacademy.

Brian Pinkney

5

Community News

DarBots win top engineering prize Du Zhang (’13) and the DarBots robotics team received the Rockwell Collins Innovate Award, the top engineering prize in the state, at the FIRST Tech Challenge State Tournament in March. Held at Southern Polytechnic State University, this competition featured the top 38 robotics teams from Georgia and Alabama.

The DarBots have since embarked on a new project – creating a solar-powered, fully autonomous, ballcollecting robot for use on the tennis courts.

Vest (’15) wins Poetry Out Loud

Mary Frances Vest (’15)

6

Poetry came alive in the McCallieKennedy Library during Darlington’s 5th Annual Poetry Out Loud competition in February. Mary Frances Vest (’15) came in first with her recitations of Stevie Smith’s “Do Not!” and Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “What lips my lips have kissed, and where and when.”

“It’s not easy to speak in front of a group, much less to recite a memorized poem,” said Beth Wilson, English department chairperson. “Poetry Out Loud participants must not only remember all the words, but interpret the poem effectively, all while maintaining a strong physical and vocal presence. It’s great practice for everything from making a senior speech in assembly to presenting a proposal to a business client.”

More than 150 students participated in the event by memorizing and reciting a poem of their choice in class. The top 15 classroom winners were then selected to recite two poems in front of their peers and a panel of judges.

Through this exercise, they were able to learn much more about the work than they would by simply reading it on a page.

Five join Board, life trustees named Five new members were elected to the Board of Trustees during the May meeting and three life trustees were named.

Dwight Hutchins (’82) of Washington, D.C., is a partner at Accenture. He is the former chairman of the Board of Visitors and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society. He and his wife, Maria Castillo-Ruiz, have one daughter.

John Irby (’81) of Atlanta is a managing partner at Wilson, Brock & Irby LLC. He is a former chairman of the Board of Trustees, a member of the Second Century Campaign Cabinet and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society.

He and his wife, Abby, have three daughters.

Robert H. Ledbetter Jr. (’84) is executive vice president for development at R.H. Ledbetter Properties Inc. He is a former trustee, a member of the Second Century Campaign’s Northwest Georgia Cabinet and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society. He and his wife, Patti, are the parents of current students Bob (’16), Hollis (’17) and Kathryne (’19). His father, Robert H. Ledbetter Sr. (’53), graduated from Darlington as did his brothers, Wright (’85) and David (’88), and several other relatives. His grandfather, E.L. Wright, was a former headmaster and president of the school.

Scott Whitworth (’93) of New York City is a managing partner at WM Capital Partners. He and his wife,

Carlisle, have two children.

Larry Williams (’67) of Atlanta is president of Breckenridge Group Inc. He is a former trustee, a member of the Second Century Campaign’s Atlanta Cabinet and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society. He and his wife, Yeardley, have one grown daughter.

Life trustees include Suzy Gilbert of Rome as well as George Johnson (’54) and Billy Mitchell (’58) of Atlanta.

Gilbert is a former trustee, a member of the Second Century Campaign’s Northwest Georgia Cabinet and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society.

She and her husband, Pete (’57), are the parents of Barritt Gilbert (’83), Amy (Gilbert) Carter (’85) and Ivy (Gilbert) Spencer (’86). They have eight grandchildren, including William (’11), Lizzy (’12), Thomas (’14) and Mary Harbin Gilbert (’18).

Johnson is the owner of George H. Johnson Properties. He is a former trustee, co-chairman of the Second Century Campaign, a Distinguished Alumnus and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society. He and his wife, Janet, have three grown children.

Mitchell is the retired president of Carter & Associates LLC. He is a former chairman of the Board of Trustees, co-chairman of the Second Century Campaign’s Atlanta Cabinet, a Distinguished Alumnus and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society. He and his wife, Gladys, have two grown children.

Darlington Magazine

Community News

Annual lectureship features Agnes Scott College president Elizabeth Kiss was the tenth speaker in Darlington’s annual Class of 1953 Lectureship Series, delivering her address, “Ethical Leadership in the 21st Century,” to Upper School students and faculty in March.

“Ethical leadership that changes the world starts in small places,” said Kiss, who used examples from blockbuster films like “The Hunger Games” and “Lincoln” to illustrate the complexity of what she calls “right-right dilemmas.”

“It starts in places close to home. …

Every time you muster up the courage to do what’s right, it becomes a little easier. Little by little, you become an honest and courageous person. And that ability to do what’s right even when it’s not easy or popular is one of the most important ingredients of ethical leadership.”

Since becoming the eighth president of Agnes Scott in 2006, Kiss has led the all-female liberal arts college in developing “Engaging a Wider World,” a strategic plan guiding the college through the year 2014, and “The Roadmap 2020,” a plan for financial sustainability. Achievements include the launch of Agnes Advantage, supporting study abroad, internships and mentored research; new undergraduate programs

in neuroscience, public health, and environmental and sustainability studies; the fielding of the first women’s collegiate varsity lacrosse team in Georgia; and the largest first-year class in college history. Under her leadership, Agnes Scott students have garnered Marshall, Truman and Goldwater scholarships, and the college has been named a “Top Fulbright Producer” with four students awarded Fulbrights in 2012.

A 1983 graduate of Davidson College, Kiss received a B.Phil. and D.Phil. in Philosophy from Oxford University in England. A Rhodes Scholar, she has held fellowships at the Harvard Program in Ethics and the Professions, the National Humanities Center, and Melbourne University’s Centre on Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics.

She specializes in moral and political philosophy and has published on moral judgment and education, human rights, ethnic conflict and nationalism, feminist debates about rights and justice, and justice in the aftermath of human rights violations.

“I think this [lectureship] is a wonderful gift to Darlington and I feel a special sense of honor of being the first woman to be the 1953 lecturer,” Kiss

Elizabeth Kiss meets Abraham Johnson (’15). said. “Darlington is an extraordinary place because its alumni continue to care about future generations of students. This is a wonderful example of that, and I hope that it will inspire students to give back and to continue to be a part of the life of this tremendous place.”

Visit www.darlingtonschool. org/53lectureship to watch a video of Kiss’ address.

Thornwood alumnae dedicate Thornwood house, scholarship Alumnae of Thornwood School, the all-girls school that merged with Darlington in 1973, gathered during Alumni Weekend to celebrate the success of the Thornwood Campaign.

As part of the Second Century Campaign effort, the Thornwood Campaign sought to create a lasting legacy to Thornwood School through the naming of Thornwood Hall – the home of Thornwood House, one of three

female residential halls at Darlington – and the endowment of the Thornwood Scholarship, a financial award made each year to a female day student. Last October, members of the Thornwood Campaign Cabinet and other alumnae and friends gathered in Thornwood Hall for the first time for the dedication and an opportunity to meet inaugural Thornwood Scholar Hannah Harper (’15) of Rome.

Joyce (Riddle) Neely (’62T)

Summer 2013

7

Community News

Classmates earn Distinguished Alumnus Awards at W & L Darlington classmates Frank Barron (’48) and Dick Denny (’48) received Distinguished Alumnus Awards from Washington and Lee University last September during the institution’s FiveStar Festival, a weekend celebration for senior alumni who have surpassed their 50th reunions. The two men were on campus to celebrate their 60th reunion.

“It was a very special for W&L and the Class of 1952 to celebrate these two classmates who have really distinguished themselves professionally and in their respective communities,” said Beau Dudley, executive director of alumni affairs. “This is the highest award bestowed by the Alumni Association, and they both richly deserve it. They have lived exemplary lives, served others, and supported W&L as alumni volunteers and as donors.”

After earning a Bachelor of Science, Barron served three years in the U.S. States Navy during the Korean War. He began his career with the CocaCola Bottling Co. in 1956 and retired as a director of Rome Coca-Cola and six other local Coke companies.

Throughout his life, civic service has been a priority for Barron. He has served with distinction on the Board of Trustees of Berry College, the Boys & Girls Club, Darlington School, the

Dick Denny (’48) and Frank Barron (’48) with Hank Johnson (’99), Anne Montgomery (’05), Rebekah (Barron) Montgomery (’78), Joe Montgomery, Wendi Betting (’11) and Bastian Richter (’09). Johnson, Betting and Richter are Darlington graduates currently attending W&L. Georgia Public Policy Foundation and the Richard B. Russell Foundation; the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; the Board of Advisors for The Georgia Conservancy; and the Board of Councilors of the Carter Center (of which he is a life member). He is also a member of Rome Rotary and former director of the Atlanta Gas Light Co. After earning a Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor, Denny had a long and distinguished career with Atlanta law firm King & Spalding. In his 30 years there, he founded the firm’s real estate practice group and was an architect of its growth into a national and international powerhouse. In 1993,

Denny became chairman of the Atlanta High Museum Board of Trustees, and he and his family led the launch of its now-famous Wine Auction. This event is the largest fundraiser for the High Museum of Art, the top charity fundraising event in Atlanta and the fifth largest charitable wine auction in the United States, according to Wine Spectator. In 20 years, it has raised over $20 million to support the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs.

Denny is also a distinguished life trustee of Woodruff Arts Center, former chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Lovett School and a member of the Board of Councilors of the Carter Center.

Alumni Council welcomes new members Darlington’s Alumni Council has welcomed five new members for the 2013-16 term.

Helen Davis (’02, LD ’12) of Atlanta is principal with H&H Home, an interior design firm. A graduate of Leadership Darlington, she is an Annual Fund volunteer and has hosted several Atlanta young alumni events. She also served on the Ad-Hoc Marketing Committee of the Board of Trustees.

She is the daughter of Laura (Harbin) Davis (’70T) and Ken Davis (’69) and the sister of Drew Davis (’04).

8

Bedell James (’87) of Nashville, Tenn., is director of development at The Ensworth School. A loyal Annual Fund supporter, he is the brother of Ingram (James) Lynch (’84) and Ransom James (’92). He and his wife, Anne, have two sons, Ed and Foster, and a daughter, Tanner.

Parrish Owens (’04, LD ’13) of Rome is associate marketing manager at Southeastern Mills. A graduate of Leadership Darlington, he is an Annual Fund supporter and has hosted several young alumni events. He is the grandson of Life Trustees Gaynelle and Vernon Grizzard, the son of Linda (Grizzard) Owens (’79), and the brother of Mary Owens (’06).

Win Stewart (’97, LD ’12) of Atlanta is a partner at Walnut Creek Investments.

A graduate of Leadership Darlington, he is also a member of the J. J. Darlington Society. He and his wife, Morgan, have two children, Wes and Hattie. A former resident student, he is the son of Brother Stewart (’68) and brother of Carolyn (Stewart) Morgan (’98).

Will Thuston (’00, LD ’12) of Birmingham, Ala., is an attorney at Christian and Small LLP. A graduate of Leadership Darlington, he is an Annual Fund supporter and has hosted several alumni gatherings. He and his wife, Ginger, have one son, William Lee Thuston III. He is also the son of W. Lee Thuston (’67).

Darlington Magazine

Community News

High-achievers earn Honor Scholarships

Bernadette Ebri

Drew Pickens

Incoming freshmen Drew Pickens of Rome and Bernadette Ebri of Brunswick, Ga., are the 2013 recipients of the Darlington Honor Scholarship.

This full scholarship is awarded to one freshman day applicant and one freshman boarding applicant each year.

“The Honor Scholarship is the most prestigious merit award offered by Darlington, and we are proud of Drew and Bernadette for the countless hours of hard work and dedication that earned them this achievement,” said James Milford, associate headmaster and director of admission. “I am confident that each of these students is a great fit for Darlington and will make long-lasting contributions to our school community. I look forward to

Blood Drive honors Mathis (’13)

Desktop Support Specialist Chris Earnest prepares to give blood at a March Blood Assurance blood drive in honor of Sam Mathis (’13). The Darlington Community donated 25 units of blood in honor of Mathis, who was in and out of the hospital earlier this year after being diagnosed with a gastrointestinal disorder he has apparently had since birth.

Summer 2013

welcoming them to campus this fall.”

Pickens comes to Darlington from St. Mary’s Catholic School, where he was class president, vice president of the Student Council, and a member of FCA, Math League, Junior Beta Club, Drama Club, and the baseball and tennis teams.

He was a recipient of the St. Mary’s Principal’s Award, the Presidential Academic Achievement Award and the National Guild Gold Cup for Piano. At St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, Ebri was president of National Junior Honor Society and earned multiple awards as a member of the Model UN Team. She also plays basketball and was the winner of the Coastal Georgia Regional Science Fair Grand Prize, the Savannah Deanery Spelling Bee, the St. Francis Xavier

School Lux Mundi Essay Competition, the National American Miss Talent competition and the Mozart Society of Glynn County Scholarship.

Established in 2011 as a result of Darlington’s Second Century Campaign, the Honor Scholarship is a full-tuition award that also covers room and board, books, and any other materials and fees. It also provides for an internship the summer before the student’s senior year; a Mastery Award, which is set aside to help the student develop in an area of his or her choice; and a leadership retreat. The multistage selection process involves alumni interviews and a required campus visit and interview. For more information, contact admission@darlingtonschool.org.

Servant leaders travel to India

Shivani Singh (’14) A group of Darlington students and faculty members’ lives have been forever impacted after spending two weeks on a servant leadership trip to India in June.

The trip took students to New Delhi to do various service projects at Sulabh Public School, a school for urban poor, homeless and orphans, and Naidisha Vocational Training Centre, a nonprofit that focuses on community development through education.

Students were also able to enjoy the city through sight-seeing tours and shopping excursions.

The trip was organized by Darlington parent Amar Singh, the father of

Shivani Singh (’14), in cooperation with Director of Servant Leadership Reba Barnes. This is the second international servant leadership trip organized for Darlington students, the first being a trip to Taiwan in 2009.

“We are so thankful to Dr. Singh for helping us put together this exciting opportunity for our students,” said Reba Barnes. “I am so proud of our students who were a part of this. While they had to overcome a few cultural barriers, they now know that anyone can serve anywhere. You can use your hands and feet — you don’t need your voice.”

9

Sports News

Campbell (’13) earns national recognition in women’s soccer

Jane Campbell (’13)

Jane Campbell (’13) has been named Player of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

“Jane was one of only about 40 players to be named an NSCAA All-American last year, which was a great honor for her,” said Chad Liddle, director of Darlington School Soccer Academy.

“To be named NSCAA Player of the Year this year is simply astounding.

We are so proud Jane and all that she has accomplished during her time at Darlington.”

Competing at the national level since she was 14, Campbell has now claimed a spot training and competing on the U20 Women’s National Team.

“She made history by being the youngest-ever goalkeeper to be brought onto the Women’s National Team at 17,” Liddle said.

Campbell has already seen great success on the field at international events like CONCACAF and the U17 Women’s World Cup in 2012. Last fall, she was one of only five nominees for U.S. Soccer’s 2012 Young Female Athlete of the Year award and the only nominee still in high school. She was also called a “future game changer” in the July 2012 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Campbell, who is also a member of Concorde Fire South in Kennesaw, has signed to play soccer at Stanford University on a full scholarship this fall.

Wrestlers claim state titles After three days of intense competition, teammates Hayden Cook (’15) and Jule Peek (’14) brought home matching individual titles from the Class A GHSA State Wrestling Championships, held at the Macon Centreplex in February. Darlington finished No. 8 in the team standings, thanks in large part to the championship runs by Cook and Peek, along with a third-place finish by Jordan Beck (’15).

Cook won the 170-pound weight class by defeating Commerce’s Trent Reddish with a 13-5 major decision.

“I met Hayden when he was in Middle School and I knew right away that he had the potential to be a state champion if he was willing to work,” said head coach Kelly McDurmon. “The more I got to know him, I saw that he had the work ethic and the physical build to go all the way.”

Cook said he appreciates the way McDurmon pushes him during practice.

“Coach McDurmon makes me work hard, and he really drives me to want it more and more,” he said. “My goals for the future are to win state two more times and go undefeated.”

Peek took the title in the 126-pound weight class by defeating Commerce’s Michael Patton with a 5-1 decision in the championship round.

“When he was in eighth grade, Jule wrestled and defeated a two-time USA state champion,” said McDurmon. “It in that tournament – when he executed our

Hayden Cook (’14) and Jule Peek (’14) game plan – I realized he was capable of winning a state championship. We’ve been working toward it ever since.”

Peek said that McDurmon has really motivated him. “He has taught me to work hard,” he said. “He is great to learn technique from and has really helped me to perfect my skills.”

Beck took third in the 152-pound weight class by defeating Telfair County’s Rickyeon Jenkins in his final match.

“These young men are leaders in the practice room,” McDurmon said.

“As they began to see more and more success, their teammates recognized that if they were to emulate some of their practice philosophies – being on time, working hard, staying after practice, giving their all – that they could be more successful, too. The great thing is, all three of these wrestlers will be returning next season and we can build on this success. If we could get a few athletes to fill up some of the weight classes we’ve missed in the past, we very well might be able to win a team championship.”

Stewart (’13) becomes all-time leading scorer

Terar Stewart (’13)

10

Terar Stewart (’13) scored her 1,625th career point in January, surpassing Caroline (Peek) Blaylock’s (’91) record and claiming the title of all-time leading scorer for the Lady Tigers basketball team. The honor came during the fourth quarter of a home game against Mt. Zion, which the Lady Tigers won 53-14.

“It felt good to beat the record, but I’ve got to give credit to the team because I wouldn’t be able to do it without them,” said Stewart, who scored 17 points in that particular game. In an earlier game

against Mt. Zion, she also collected her 1,000th career rebound. “It made my senior year all the better to have reached these milestones.”

As co-captain of this year’s squad, Stewart helped lead her team to the Elite Eight in the Class A State Tournament before they were ousted by St. Francis 61-40. The Lady Tigers ended the season 21-8 and Stewart was named to the Region 6A All-Region team, along with teammate Maggie Beth Atha (’14).

Darlington Magazine

Sports News

Wetherington (’13) selected for elite soccer experience Allison Wetherington (’13) attended the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and U.S. Club Soccer id2 National Training Camp at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., last summer. Presented by Nike’s “The Chance,” the program drew 100 of the top female youth soccer players born between 1993 and 1996 from across the United States.

“They came together for three days of elite training and competition at one of the world’s premier facilities,” said Chad Liddle, director of Darlington School Soccer Academy. “It was great exposure for Allison because U.S. Soccer scouts were there to scout players for potential inclusion in the National Team programs. She also got to play in front of soccer superstar Mia Hamm.”

Out of the 100 participants, 18 – including Wetherington – were selected for an international soccer experience in England.

“This was an incredible opportunity to play with some of the top players in the nation,” said Weatherington, a two-time NSCAA All-American. “On the last day, the coaches and Mia Hamm chose a team to go to England and compete.

We also got to watch the U.S. Women’s National Team face North Korea in the

Allison Wetherington (’13) Olympics. It was the trip of a lifetime!”

She and her teammates played against Everton Ladies, one of England’s top teams, at Old Trafford Stadium, the home of Manchester United. The result was 1-1. She was also invited to attend Mia Hamm’s Team First Academy.

Wetherington, who is also a member of Concorde Fire South in Kennesaw, has signed to play soccer at the University of Portland this fall. The university has awarded her a $60,000 Arthur Schulte Scholarship. She is also currently training with the U20 Women’s National Team.

Lady Tigers golf team wins state The girls’ varsity golf team scored 171 to win the Class A-Private Schools GHSA State Championship, held at Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah, Ga., in May. “There is a lot of satisfaction in winning by a shot over Athens Academy after losing to them by one shot last year,” said coach Josh Hembree. “The girls did a great job preparing for this tournament. The course was set up really tough with pins tucked on nearly every whole. It was great to see them compete at such a high level, and come out on top, again.”

Contributing to the team’s first-place finish were Hannah Mae Deems (’14)

Summer 2013

with a score of 81, Lovisa Clausen (’14) with a score of 90, Peyton Albertson (’14) with a score of 95 and Virginia Summer (’13) with a score of 118.

Deems tied for third individually.

This is the second state title in three years for Deems and Albertson, both of whom were part of the 2011 state championship team.

“All our girls have been a pleasure to coach this year,” Hembree said. “They’ve worked extremely hard on their games throughout the winter and spring, and I’m super proud of every one of them.”

Bearden (’13) and Cox (’13) claim state track titles, Bearden goes on to win nationals Miles Bearden (’13) and Alex Cox (’13) had strong showings at the GHSA State Track and Field Championships in Jefferson, Ga., in May, each bringing home an individual state title and helping the Tigers to a third-place finish overall.

Bearden high jumped 6’ 10” – defeating not only his Class A-Private opponents, but all 93 jumpers from Class A to Class AAAAAA. He went on to win the national title by jumping 7’ ¼” at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, held in Greensboro, N.C., in June.

“Miles is a very versatile athlete,” said coach Alan Parish. “His primary sport is baseball and he’s also a member of the swim and dive team. This is actually the first year he has high jumped for us.”

The three-sport athlete has set a new high-jump record for Darlington, the previous record of 6’ 6” having been set

by Joel Martens (’80) in 1978.

Cox finished the 400-meter dash with a personal record time of 48.97 – two seconds ahead of second place – to take the state title.

“His previous personal best in the 400 was a 50.11 at the state sectional meet, and his goal was to break 50 seconds at state,” Parish said. “We knew if he broke 50 he would win the title. Not only did he break 50, but he broke 49 and won by two seconds. It was a dominant performance.”

Cox also placed third in the 800 meters, fifth in pole vault, and was a leg of Darlington’s 1,600-meter relay team – along with Avery Cypress (’14), Chandler Duggan (’14) and Ian Winder (’14) – which placed second in the state with a time of 3:27.44.

Miles Bearden (’13)

Alex Cox (’13)

11

Kim Tunnell, who has been member of the fine arts faculty since 2001, has over 20 years of experience in the classroom. She taught music and chorus classes at both the Lower and Middle Schools before being named director of fine arts in 2009. She holds a B.M. and B.M.E. from Shorter University and an M.M.E. from the State University of West Georgia. She and her husband, Mark, associate director of admission for Darlington, are the parents of current students Jack (’15), Hillary (’18) and Sarah (’22).

Kim Tunnell

When did you first realize that you wanted to be an educator?

Although I didn’t know it at the time, I guess I realized I wanted to be an educator after my first opportunity to work with a children’s choir at church when I was in high school. It was intriguing to me to watch little ones learn music and either sing and play instruments.

Music was always a big part of my life, as both of my parents were musicians, and so I took many musical experiences and opportunities for granted until I got to college. After one semester of not being involved in music, I realized that I needed it to be a bigger part of my life – more than just a hobby or interest, but a passion that I could share and get others excited about. That’s when I made the connection that teaching music could fulfill my needs, both to see learning happen and to share my love and passion.

What do you enjoy most about working with young people?

I love watching students experience something for the first time and decide to try it again because they enjoyed it so much. I also enjoy watching students grow in skill and ability from first grade all the way through high school. I have taught most of this past year’s seventhgraders in some capacity since they were in kindergarten, and the process of watching them try and succeed in the arts has been incredible.

It’s the same with the Class of 2013. I’ve worked with them in some way since they were in sixthgrade chorus. It’s an amazing ride to see the directions they choose and the interests and passions that they find and want to continue after they leave Darlington.

What attracted you to Darlington School in 2001?

I was first attracted to Darlington because of the opportunities and success for students involved in the arts. As a local music educator, I was always impressed with Darlington’s level of performance at events such as literary and other showcases in the community. When an opportunity was available for a part-time Middle School music position, I jumped at the chance. Darlington gave me an opportunity to work part time and still be home with my children when they were small. As they grew,

12

so did my opportunities to be more involved in the fine arts department. Each year has been different yet rewarding for me and my family.

What is your personal educational philosophy? Why should everybody have one?

My philosophy of education supports my belief that all children can learn and should be given the opportunity to receive an education. As teachers, we are called to meet children where they are and lead and guide them to succeed to the best of their ability in skills of reading and comprehension, math and science, and history and communication. Each student has a different level of success and it is our job to recognize this and work to raise that level each and every day.

Along with that, as an educator in the field of the arts, it is my responsibility to provide opportunities that extend beyond the regular classroom and give chances for students to experience the aesthetics of all other subjects.

Aesthetics provide new ways of seeing and perceiving the world. If a student can understand a poem more fully through the act of putting it to music, then we have succeeded in raising the level of that student’s success.

My philosophy of education reminds me why I do what I do each and every day. I think that it’s important for us as teachers – whether we are starting the first day of school or in the midst of a really busy and stressful time – to remember the purpose of our role in educating each and every child.

What inspired you to move into an administrative role four years ago?

I was serving as the Lower School music teacher when I was asked if I was interested in interviewing for the position of director of fine arts. Having taught and work with students from all three divisions by that time, I saw this as an opportunity to work with my colleagues in another capacity and to continue discovering new ways for our students to experience the arts and find a lifelong love and appreciation for visual art, music and theater.

Why was it important to you to stay in the classroom at least part time?

Although challenging at times, my opportunity to be in the classroom allows me to stay connected to the students and teachers and relate to the experiences that they are having on a regular basis.

What were some of the immediate challenges you faced as you moved into your new role and how did you turn them into opportunities?

It’s not always easy to transition from a colleague into a supervisory role, and it can be a little overwhelming. I think some of my biggest struggles have been in learning how to best support the faculty and students in our department. It’s a balancing act between developing relationships so that people feel supported, trusting them to do their jobs, and giving them the recognition they deserve.

Opportunities arose as I was given the chance to develop these relationships with people who had once been my colleagues. Through this process, I have gained a better understanding of who each teacher is and what he or she brings to our team. After all, we may be different and we may not work side by side in the same office space, but we all have one common goal – to get and keep students excited about experiencing the arts while developing discipline through practice, confidence through performance, and passion through expression.

How has the fine arts program changed in four years?

We have added a Lower School music teacher, a theater director and a dance team. We have participated in the GHSA One-Act Play competition and increased our student-led performance opportunities at the Upper School, as well as our level of competition with regard to visual art and festival performances. The gallery opportunities have also broadened over the last couple of years, with presentations in the community and in various locations around campus. Additionally, our Middle School performing arts programs, representing grades 5-8, now support their own holiday concert in the Huffman Athletic Center with seven groups performing.

Darlington Magazine

Campus Feature The instrumental program, under the direction of William Camp, has also added the Darlington Instrumental Conservatory for students to pursue musical instruction and advanced study during after-school activity time. Students involved in this program practice each afternoon, participate in a performance ensemble, and receive extra theory and skill instruction each day. The addition of the Lessons Academy has also broadened the opportunity for students and faculty to receive private music instruction, instrumentally or vocally, from area professionals. This past year, there were eight Upper School students in the Conservatory and over 40 students involved in lessons on campus.

What sets Darlington’s fine arts program apart from other schools?

Where do I begin? We offer a string experience that can begin as early as first grade and every Lower School student has visual art and music twice a week (as opposed to other elementary schools that choose between the two, offering their students instruction only once every five to six days). At the Middle School, every fifth- and sixth-grader is a musician, whether by singing in chorus or playing an instrument in strings or band. Additionally, our Instrumental Music Conservatory is the one of its kind in the area, offering expert instruction to prepare students for further study in college or continued lifelong participation in musical opportunities. At Darlington, you can choose to just get your feet wet, dabble in a few puddles or really just dive in! At any level, we encourage students to take a risk and try something new.

What makes Darlington Lessons Academy unique?

For our own school community, the Lessons Academy provides a convenient, on-site location for students and adults to take advantage of exceptional music instruction from area professionals. Lesson opportunities right after school allow for more flexibility and less traveling to and from other locations. And because it’s open to non-Darlington students as well, this program is a great outreach opportunity for the Rome and Floyd County community to see some of what Darlington provides. The pricing structure for these lessons is very reasonable and, for our families, offers a way to pay in installments throughout the school year.

Why are the arts such a critical component of a well-rounded education?

The arts provide freedom of expression and an opportunity to work on the creative process.

In our current economic times, employers are looking to hire people who can be flexible, creative and work well with others who can do the same. The ensemble work that goes on in orchestra, choir and theater allows for students to work together toward a common goal and

Summer Winter 2012 2013

fulfill their potential while at Darlington and beyond. And in visual art, the opportunity to start a project and see it through to completion enhances skills that go beyond developing selfesteem and promoting a talent. Art students are able to develop a talent that will bring them joy outside of their work environment, potentially for the rest of their lives.

What are some of the things students learn by participating in the arts that they might not experience in other aspects of school life?

The arts provide a place where grades are not the determining factor for success. Although all classes in fine arts are graded, creativity and expression drive the experience. You get what you give and the reward can be incredible.

It’s very fulfilling to work together toward a common goal, to celebrate the fact that the end product can be different every single time, to allow for mistakes to happen and to be a part of a creative process all along the way.

What is your vision for the fine arts at Darlington?

My vision is for each division – whether it be theater, drama, music, visual art or multimedia – to be equally strong and to share energy and excitement within and across divisions for showcasing our students in every way possible.

I want Darlington’s hallways to be flooded with examples of student artwork in every corner and crevice. I want instruments and voices to be heard constantly throughout the Zelle Fine Arts Building, Thatcher Hall and the Lower School classrooms. I want Darlington’s Conservatory and Lessons Academy to be known throughout Rome and our surrounding communities for producing talented students who make it to the next level. I want Darlington to be the first name that comes to mind when you think of students excelling in fine arts in Northwest Georgia.

For our boarding students who are interested in focusing on the arts, I want Darlington to be that place that allows them to become their very best artist. And last but certainly not least, I want a building that will showcase all of these things and provide opportunity for our community and beyond to see it all in action and to get involved.

What do you see as you greatest challenge in the immediate future?

Why? Each division offers challenges, but one that is common across all three divisions is the planning and coordination of schedules that work to support the arts. It takes extreme effort to accommodate sharing of faculty, which is necessary to support a full-time position in a school our size with several divisions. A good, supportive schedule has to be a top priority in a school that values arts education.

Secondly, while the addition of Thatcher Hall gave us more rehearsal and performance space, there is not a space big enough and aesthetically

appropriate to support our larger performances here on campus. We continue to use all of our spaces creatively, but a building designed for the sole purpose of concerts, recitals, class plays and theater productions – with space for a true art gallery – would take Darlington’s fine arts programs to the next level. Practice rooms and studio space are needed to support our growing Lessons Academy and Conservatory, which are already attracting talented young artists from around the world. A fine arts facility with streamlined programming throughout the year would also position Darlington as a leader in arts education, not only in Rome and Floyd County, but throughout Northwest Georgia and the Southeast.

What do you see as Darlington’s areas of greatest success in terms of its fine arts program?

The true success is what happens in our fine arts classrooms each and every day with our incredible faculty leading our students. Their energy is contagious. They are always willing to try new things while holding on to our traditional values of making art fun, exciting and beautiful. The benefits of these successes manifest themselves every year in performances and exhibits throughout the year.

In your opinion, what does it mean to be a Darlington Tiger?

To me, it means always striving to be your best, regardless of how you feel at the time.

It is acting with integrity as you learn with passion and serve with respect. Yes, that is our mission statement and something we hear often, but I think ultimately – in all we do and say as a school community – that those are the characteristics I want Darlington Tigers to be known for.

What are three personal goals you have set for yourself this year?

Professionally, I want to work with the fine arts faculty to build a vision and finalize a strategic plan for fine arts based on the 2012 Ad-Hoc Committee’s recommendations as well as our program strengths and weaknesses. Personally, I am always trying to work on finding balance between work and home. I want to continue to find ways to be the best mother and wife I can be, while fulfilling my responsibilities as a leader in our fine arts programs at Darlington. I also want to find more time to run and to complete a few sewing projects, which is a favorite hobby of mine.

13

Campus Feature

Road to Retirement

On the Search

Whitworth announces retirement, trustees begin national search for new headmaster

Darlington School trustees are undergoing a national search to find a successor for Headmaster Tom Whitworth, who announced in January his plans to retire in June 2014.

Since his tenure began in 2005, Whitworth said he has been most inspired by the people in this tight-knit community who make Darlington the special place that it is.

“Margo and I have been very fortunate to encounter the beauty and good people of Rome,” Whitworth said.

“However, working with the faculty, staff and students at Darlington has been our highlight. We have loved our time and our work here, and we will always be invested in Darlington’s future and well-being.

“While Margo and I are really looking forward to this new chapter in life and to spending more time with our children and grandchildren, we cannot lose sight of the present,” he continued.

“There is much to do over the next year

14

and I plan to work as hard as ever. We have so very much that is positive and defining to accomplish together, to ensure the very best for our students and families in Darlington’s second century and beyond.”

Whitworth began his tenure during the school’s Centennial Celebration.

Since then, he has led Darlington through the completion of a $90 million Second Century Campaign, which included the addition of Thatcher Hall, a LEED-certified Middle School facility.

“His steadfast dedication to building endowment for faculty support and student financial aid has inspired us to keep on working hard to raise funds over and above our goal,” said Jere Drummond (’57), chairman of the Board of Trustees. “He has also worked with the Business Office to maintain a balanced budget despite the national economic downturn and the increased need for financial aid among current and prospective families.”

With over 30 years of administrative experience, Whitworth has been the driving force behind many initiatives that have strengthened Darlington’s student-centered programming over the past eight years. He was integral in the establishment of the Teaching and Learning Center, which meets the needs of all types of learners in grades PK-12. He led Darlington through the transition to a unified PK-8 program, which strengthened curriculum continuity and allows students to progress with fewer transitions.

Under his leadership, Darlington has also integrated 21st Century skills in all facets of its curriculum through initiatives such as the 1:1 program in grades 4-9 and a focus on project-based learning in all grade levels.

“Tom has been purposeful in his effort to create a ‘one-school’ atmosphere between what, for years, has felt like three different campuses,” Drummond said. “But most importantly, he has always shown an unwavering commitment to the mission of Darlington School.”

A Search Committee, chaired by trustee Linda (Grizzard) Owens (’79), is leading the national search for Whitworth’s successor. Ad-hoc committees comprised of faculty and staff, parents, students, and alumni will also be involved in the search process.

“We hope to identify a new headmaster by fall 2013 in order to ensure a seamless and effective transition,” Drummond said. “I want to take this opportunity to thank Tom for his dedication to Darlington. It has been such a pleasure to work with him in so many aspects of life at Darlington, and I know he has always had the school’s best interests at heart. I look forward to continuing our work over the next year.”

Darlington Magazine

Campus Feature

One School, One Campus

School moves all grades to main campus, sells Lower School Beginning in 2013-14, Darlington’s youngest students will no longer have to be bused over to the main campus for school-wide e v en ts l i k e Open i ng C on vo cat ion, Fa l l for the Arts and the International Fair.

They will already be here.

In February, the school announced plans to move grades PK-4 to its Cave Spring Road campus and sell its property on Shorter Avenue to Shorter University.

“This is a tremendous win for Darlington and for Shorter,” said Headmaster Tom Whitworth. “We will be able to deliver a better product with all of our students and teachers here on one campus. As always, safety is our primary concern, and there is no doubt that securing one campus is easier and more efficient than securing two. This is a huge opportunity for us to truly become one school.”

With the move, PK-8 Director James Hutchins will no longer have to split his time between two campuses, but can instead maximize his time building a true PK-8 model that lends itself to better communication, curriculum continuity, and the vertical alignment of teaching and learning, in addition to enhancing the connections between students and teachers PK-12.

“This is really exciting,” Hutchins said. “The opportunities to capitalize on the synergies between teachers and students at all levels are endless. The Lower School already does a great job of collaborating between grade levels and subjects, but being on the same campus with the rest of our student body – including students from 42 countries and 22 states – will allow us to provide an abundance of unique learning experiences for all.”

Grades 3 and 4 will move into Thatcher Hall with grades 5-8, while the Early Learning Academy and grades

Summer 2013

1 and 2 will be temporarily housed in modular units designed and constructed

by Spectrum Building Systems Inc. “The primary teachers have been included throughout the selection process and are anxious to get into the new buildings,” said Beth Pollard, chief financial officer. “There will be two units, each with 3,000 square feet of space and four classrooms. One unit will house the Early Learning Academy and the other will be for grades 1 and 2. These high-quality structures do not look like your typical modular classrooms.”

All grades will share Thatcher Hall’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the Johnson Assembly Hall, the Ledbetter Commons, the Joanne G. Yancey Library, the Courtyard, Morgan Pavilion and Charlie Davidson Field. Plans are to build a permanent structure once the Lower School Transition Committee, chaired by Associate Headmaster James Milford, has determined the ideal size and scope of the facility.

“We have already settled on a preliminary site for a new facility, located behind the archway in Thatcher Hall’s Courtyard at the foot of the mountain,” Pollard said. “James and the

committee will spend the next 12 to 18 months talking with students, teachers and parents in order to identify our needs just as we did before Thatcher Hall was constructed.”

Jere Drummond (’57), chairman of Darlington’s Board of Trustees, added that the school’s primary reason for engaging Shorter specifically was the desire to protect the Lower School site and, particularly, the Thornwood Building, which was built by Shorter University founder Col. Alfred Shorter in the late 1840s. The home of Thornwood School from 1958 to 1973 – the all-girls prep school that merged with Darlington to create the co-educational institution we are today – the Thornwood Building served as administrative offices and classroom space for Darlington. As part of the agreement, Shorter will make every effort to have Thornwood added to the National Register of Historic Places within the next 18 months.

“While moving the lower grades to the main campus has been part of Darlington’s Campus Master Plan for nearly a decade, it was very important to us to find a buyer that would appreciate the historic value of Thornwood,” Drummond said. “Thornwood alumnae care very deeply for their alma mater and have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the restoration of the property, the naming of a female residence hall on the main campus in honor of Thornwood, and the endowment of the Thornwood Scholarship. And while Thornwood will always be part of Darlington, it was important to us to ensure that the place these women so fondly remember is protected. To this end, Shorter was the ideal partner because it also has a stake in Thornwood’s history.”

15

In Memorial

R UM P U S

It only happens once a year. Each January, day and boarding students representing each of Darlington’s six houses vie for the coveted title of RUMPUS champion during three days of intense competition. This year’s players included the Cooper House Cowgirls, the Summerbell House Spartans, the Regester House Pirates, Throwback Thornwood House, the Moser House “Moso Gym” Cobras and “Neville 911.” Teams made spirit banners and donned creative costumes as they competed in events planned by head prefects from each house. Students and faculty members alike played dodgeball, ate odd food combinations during Fear Factor, racked their brains during Mind Skillet and Team Trivia, baked without a recipe during Iron Chef, took center stage during Lip Sync and pushed themselves to their physical limit during the final challenge – The Gauntlet. The boys of Neville House banked 41 points to be named 2013 RUMPUS champs and, as always, the highly anticipated weekend promoted teamwork, unity, sportsmanship, fun and laughs as the Darlington Community came together as a family.

16

Darlington Magazine

Campus View

Summer 2013

17

T E C H N O L O G Y Learning in the 21st Century More than two years ago, a large group of Darlington teachers began work on a plan for better integrating technology into the classroom. What developed, though, was a vision for teaching focused on the needs of a new generation of learners. Students now require, more than ever, abilities like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation, expressed through an advanced set of skills involving technology, media and information.

To make this happen, Darlington committed to making technology more available to teachers and students by putting a personal device in everyone’s hands. In grades 4-6, students have a school-issued iPad tablet, and students in grades 7-9 have a schoolissued MacBook laptop. This program will be grown to include the entire Upper School.

With these tools in hand, we have developed a 21st Century skills curriculum that is being blended into the existing curriculum instead of taught separately. Our teachers have focused their professional development and class planning on integrating these two things seamlessly into the learning process they architect for their students.

Darlington will continue to work toward this vision, but the photos and captions across these pages show how much our st u den ts a n d t e ach ers h av e a lr e a dy accomplished.

18

Every morning during center time in Beth Smith’s class, students grab iPads and work through various subject areas and apps including interactive books, writing practice, math exercises, coloring pages and word games. The activities not only develop their core knowledge and skills development, but help them start developing 21st Century learning skills such as responsible use and digital creation that will be reinforced through all grades. Here, Anna Grace Braden (’25) and Lily Ivester (’25) work on their morning activities.

Sophi Shumate (’23) and Hamilton Shamblin (’23) practice fluency skills while completing Reader’s Theater, an exercise in which students practice reading a script while recording with an iPad. Because each student has access to a recording device, he or she can work at his or her individual pace to selfevaluate reading skills and improve at a quicker rate.

Spanish students are doing a year-long project in which they record themselves speaking Spanish in intervals throughout the year. During these times and particularly at the end of the year, students will compile this work to show how much progress they have made. By involving students more in the evaluation of their progress, students also take more responsibility in their learning. Here, Trent Glass (’16) pulls up his YouTube video on his iPhone.

Darlington Magazine

Campus Feature

Randy Smith’s students often start their day by doing warm-ups using Quia, an online tool for doing activities, quizzes and skill practice. Besides being a practical and efficient way for students to learn the material, online classroom management tools like Quia complement Mr. Smith’s flipped classroom style, allowing students to practice outside of the classroom and become more involved in their learning.

Here, Dalton Stinson (’18) and Tigger Frix (’18) work on the warm up.

All seventh-graders take information literacy, a class that teaches students how to apply 21st Century learning and research skills into their everyday class work. While learning a variety of applications and Web 2.0 tools like iMovie, Prezi, Glogster and Voki, they also learn about copyright, research, digital media, online group collaboration and project management.

Here, Skyler Sledge (’17) listens to a classmate’s presentation.

Summer 2013

Fourth-graders teach pre-K students how to make presentations using Keynote and videos using iMovie. One project involved a lesson on penguins connected with a current pre-K lesson.

Students did their research and worked with their fourth-grade buddies to create the presentations, along the way learning collaboration and media skills.

Here, Sasha Wood (’26) works with her fourth-grade buddy, Emma Good (’21).

19

Class Notes

Sixth grade makes science relevant through a year-long national park study in which students each pick a different park and connect it to their current science topics. So far, students have made Keynote presentations on park history, promotional commercials using iMovie, and partnered with pre-K students learning geography to make park posters. Here, Nicolas Seijo (’19) presents a comic book story, made using the Comic Life app, set in Olympic Park, which included facts about the park.

While Laura Hicks reads during a Reading Workshop lesson, fifth-grade students use their iPads to analyze how character perspective is expressed in the story. This process has led to students being more focused and encourages collaboration, which helps them process connections better. This type of self-directed critical thinking through collaboration is a complex and important skill for the current generation of students to have. Having technology like iPads always available allows for skills to be reinforced through daily integration into any lesson.

20

Madeline Dillmon (’18) presents a grammar topic during humanities class. She and her classmates were put in groups and assigned a grammar topic to teach (as part of a review). This picture was taken as she and the rest of her group taught the class about their assigned topic, possessive nouns. Presentations like these are a great alternative to traditional assessments like worksheets or lectures because they force the student to develop a deeper understanding of the topic as they work through the clarity of their communication.

And some days, students just listen better to each other.

Darlington Magazine

Campus Feature

The iPad is the center of academic life for students in the fifth grade. They have gone paperless, taking advantage of many apps including everyone’s favorite, Notability. Here, Chloe Duck (’20) works math exercises directly on her iPad using this app, which lets her take pages from her book, complete work, and submit it to her teacher, BeBe Cline, for review.

The Computer Lab is an extension of the classroom. Students take topics from their classes and come to the lab to dig deeper into their subjects using technology to do project-based learning.

As classroom topics are explored, a technology curriculum is also integrated, which includes topics such as internet safety, digital citizenship, and computer skills like keyboard and mouse skills. The lab is outfitted with 21 iMacs. Here, Chatlie Hernandez (’25) uses Doozla to draw a picture, which will act as a writing prompt for a lesson on turtles.

Summer 2013

Third-graders completed research and made Keynote presentations and iMovie videos about their historical fiction, all under the tutelage of the fourth grade. A walk-through-history wax museum project is an old-school biography project overhauled for the 21st Century by third-grade teacher Steve McConnell. The project was also multi-disciplinary as students drew a self-portrait, researched and wrote a paper, acted like their characters, and translated basic parts of the project into Spanish. Here, Aiden Cloud (’21) poses as Jimmy Carter.

Sanjid Dewan (’14) reviews a video of his chemistry teacher, Julia Dodd, quickly before class. Mrs. Dodd is among several teachers at Darlington using the flipped classroom model, which allows students to view lectures before class time, thereby giving more time in the classroom to work on hands-on work like labs, projects or discussion.

The idea is to let students take more responsibility for acquiring information on their own and use time with their teacher and classmates more effectively.

21

Campus Feature

Working from creative writing developed in class, Jennifer Sikes’ students created podcasts, audio recordings of them presenting their work, which were then shared with classmates. Creating in a relevant digital medium for the purpose of publishing to an audience of peers not only makes students want to do their best, but also helps develop contemporary communication and creativity skills along with media and technology skills.

Here, Amber Rodriguez (’16) helps Katelin Ellis (’16) record her podcast.

The Middle School DarBots finished first in a field of 16 teams at the Dalton Regional First Lego League tournament.

The team surpassed the second highest robot game score by 45 points and received great accolades from judges for their work with senior citizens.

Working with staff and residents at our local Winthrop Court Assisted Living Center, the DarBots designed and constructed an improved back rest for rollator walkers. The team shared their prototype with patients and plan to tie into the service part of Darlington’s mission by actually producing their invention for Winthrop Court residents.

Robotics is a great example of blending science, technology and engineering through creative innovation. Here, Jack Eady (’19) and Ian Kinney (’17) compete in the tournament.

22

Darlington Magazine

In groups, students in Brian Inman’s class took different Chinese philosophies they had been studying and created fictitious schools, which were built on those philosophical tenets. Decisions on clothing, rules, leaders and customs were also established in consideration of the core philosophy. Final presentations were created using Prezi, an online tool for presenting ideas which allowed students to visually show the relationships among their philosophy’s tenets and their implementations. They could then share their work with other students at Darlington and other schools. Here, Vance Wall-Brown (’16), Victoria Samuels (’16) and Wei Zhou (’16) get feedback from Mr. Inman.

Technology is integrated into all classes in the eighth grade, including Angela Pieroni’s science class as they study motion.

Students formed groups; came up with business plans; assigned roles such as researcher and presenter; built prototypes; and measured and presented results. Final projects were shared with the class in the format the students thought most appropriate, including presentations and movies. Here, Cooper Brock (’17), Gamble Shadday (’17), Annaleise Clevenger (’17), Henry Fields (’17) and Katie White (’17) race their model cars.

Summer 2013

Fourth-graders take their reading a step further by reflecting on the days Reading Workshop mini-lesson while blogging on their current reading assignment.

Teacher Flo Anthony makes sure this is an authentic learning experience by having students record and share their thoughts on their iPads, making students authors, readers, and collaborators during the process.

Here, Madeline Bradshaw (’21) reviews her latest blog entry.

23

Campus Feature

Another example of interdisciplinary projects, Steve McConnell’s mock election also drew in students across divisions. While Lower School students read stories by guest author Brian Pinkney, from which the candidates were chosen; researched the electoral process; and developed campaigns, Brant Evans’ Upper School government students created election process videos and prepared to run the election. On Super Tuesday, Lower School students went through an immersive voting experience, viewing the student-created orientation video, showing their ID to register, and casting their ballots through an iPad app developed just for the day. Middle School students also voted and results were shared live throughout the day on the school website.

Here, Technology Integration Specialist Rebekah Kinney helps Gracie Cowan (’26) cast her vote.

Kelly McDurmon’s class studied presidential elections that occurred from 1815-1850, during which changes in attitudes across the nation led to many political alterations across the country. Students used Google Apps to collaborate during the group research process. Their final project was a campaign commercial recreating the issues of the time, which they presented just before participating as characters in a reenacted debate for the class. Here, Chandler Duggan (’14) and Thomas Gilbert (’14) square off in front of the 48-star flag to debate early American politics.

24

Kevin Ivester’s class uses an electronic version of the math textbook so students can always have their book with them, take notes and complete work anywhere and anytime, and even share what they are doing in class through wireless projectors. Darlington has taken a holistic approach to the need to evolve our traditional approach to textbooks, led by the Middle School, which eliminated most printed books last year.

Electronic versions of printed books, open-source e-books, web-based books, teacher-compiled resources and flipped classrooms have all been used.

Darlington Magazine

Creative Curriculum

Professional development award funds work on online textbook

Jacqueline Cline’s (’18) iMovie comparing praying mantises to komodo dragons will be part of Darlington’s life science curriculum long after she graduates, thanks to an innovative new project being developed by Randy Smith and Angela Pieroni.

The two Middle School science teachers are creating an interactive, ever-changing, virtual e-textbook for seventh-grade life science and eighth-grade physical science – a project they have dubbed the “DarSEI Program” (Darlington Science E-Textbook Initiative). And their work is well underway, with many student assignments from this past year making their way into the online text.

“This evolving virtual textbook will not only give students the opportunity to interact, but to contribute to the building of information with original pictures, student-created video and more,” Smith said. “This is a cutting-edge opportunity to integrate 21st Century technology into our curriculum, and it complements our 1-to-1 program wonderfully.”

He added that their project should progress even more quickly, thanks to the Carla and Leonard Wood Faculty

Summer 2013

Professional Development Endowment award he and Pieroni received last fall.

The two were selected from a pool of seven applicants to receive the second annual professional development award, funded through the Second Century Campaign.

“All of the proposals showed ambition and creativity,” said Academic Dean David Powell. “The winners did a particularly good job of planning the projects, and included a measurable plan for bringing what they learned back to the rest of the faculty at Darlington.”

The bulk of the award funds will be designated toward professional growth opportunities, such as 21st Century skills workshops and webinars, and researching other like-minded programs in the independent school arena that will help Pieroni and Smith fine-tune their project.

“Even though this grant is funding the initiative for two years, this will be a continual work in progress long after the fellowship funding is over,” Smith said. “This kind of virtual text changes with the needs of students over time.

The potential to develop/incorporate new themes and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration is endless. It’s all about connections and relevance.

According to their proposal, creating an interactive e-textbook spurs creative and innovative teaching practices by using technology to deliver science content in a variety of ways. Instead of a static text, an e-text format allows teachers to embed video and virtual simulations, add links to current articles and feature blogs, personalize the data, and engage students in real-world applications.

“The philosophy that science is not historical facts to be learned, but experiences in which to be engaged, coupled with the knowledge that students must be taught skills essential to tomorrow’s workplace (i.e. critical thinking, collaboration, and communication), requires teachers to reach beyond the pre-packaged programs that traditional textbooks provide,” Pieroni said.

She added that this endeavor has truly been an experience in learning with passion, and that she and Smith were thrilled to find out that their proposal had been selected.

“Randy and I immediately exchanged a high five, but in reality, it validated the hope for our students and for the direction of the Middle School, Darlington and education,” she said.

“Any time a person loves what he or she is doing, whether a student or teacher, and sees the direct relationship to his or her own life, the process becomes part of the education. Working together to create an environment of exploration is what we hope to model for our students. What we can create, especially in this digital age, is fascinating, and everything we discover opens new doors and gets our mind working in new ways.”

Powell said he is thrilled to see this level of innovation born from the Wood Faculty Professional Development Endowment.

“This approach to information exemplifies the kind of project-based learning that is invigorating our classrooms,” Powell said. “This project not only helps Middle School science, but also serves as a template for other teachers to collaborate in developing dynamic teaching materials.”

In response to the Second Century Campaign’s effort to increase endowment for faculty support, trustee Leonard Wood challenged the Darlington Community to get on board by offering to provide a 1:1 match of every gift to this area of the campaign up to $500,000. His call was answered as 37 donors funded half of The Carla and Leonard Wood Faculty Professional Development Endowment, allowing Darlington to claim the remainder of the matching gift.

To find out how you can make a difference in the life of a student or faculty member, contact the campaign staff at campaign@darlingtonschool. org.

25

Grease is t h e W ord !

More than 80 students took the stage in Darlington’s production of hit Broadway musical, “Grease,” at the Rome City Auditorium in February. Set in 1959 and named for the 1950s American youth subculture known as “greasers,” the well-known story follows a group of teenagers at Rydell High School.

Over the summer Danny Zuko, played by Will Warren (’13), falls in love with Sandy Dumbrowski, played by Elizabeth Wilhoite (’14). The musical picks up at the beginning of a new school year when some surprises shake up Rydell. In an attempt to recreate the sounds of early rock ‘n’ roll, the score features fan favorites like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” “Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee,” “We Go Together,” “Born to Hand Jive,” “Beauty School Dropout,” “Sandy” and “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.” A special thanks to Darlington’s Fine Arts Booster Club for supporting yet another fabulous production!

26

Darlington Magazine

Campus View

Summer 2013

27

Campus Feature

Lea Duncan Lea Duncan began working in Darlington’s Admission Office in January 1989 when her oldest son, Bailey (’98), was in second grade. It was a change of pace from her previous work as a licensed medical technologist, and – as the wife of a 1969 alumnus – she looked forward to the opportunity to share with families the many benefits of a Darlington education.

“At the time, I was staying at home with Griffin (’03),” she said. “As a parent, I was already pretty much a fixture at the Lower School, so I think they just decided to put me on the payroll.

When I started, I was part time, and my office was a three-corner table in the secretary’s office. That school year, 1989, marked the start of the pre-K program, and Griffin was in the first class. It’s been a great lesson for me that you’ve got to be open. You may think you know where you’re headed, but you’ve got to be open to other possibilities and just kind of relax and go where you’re led.”

Twenty-four years later, as the assistant director of day admission for Lower School reflects on her retirement, she says she appreciates having had the opportunity to watch hundreds

28

of students – including her own two children – make the journey from Lower School to Commencement.

“When our sons went to college, both of them thanked us independently for sending them to Darlington,” she said. “They felt more prepared than so many of their friends and classmates, and it was amazing to them that some students didn’t know how to even begin a research paper. Both Bailey and Griffin have a very strong work ethic and good time management skills, which I think date back to their experiences at Darlington. John’s and my values, and what we hoped for our children, were reinforced at school. We knew our boys were in a very supportive and challenging environment not only at home, but at school as well. It was a great partnership.”

Duncan has also enjoyed watching the Lower School transform into the special place it is today. Some of the changes occurring during her tenure include the addition of uniforms; the launch of curricular programs like the Teaching and Learning Center and the SCIS Science Lab; and, most recently, the consolidation of all grades onto the main campus, to name a few.

“A lot has changed but we have always kept the heart of the school the same,” she said. “I know that even with all the advances in technology, the speed of the 21st Century, Darlington will always remember what’s important – and that’s these little children.”

She added that, more than anything else, she is going to miss the relationships she has built with students and their parents.

“I’m going to miss their smiles,” Duncan said. “To see our students evolve from small children into young men and women is so gratifying. They change, but in so many ways they don’t.

They are still the same smiling little faces that I get to know in pre-K. It’s really neat to witness and it’s made my life so much better. The Lower School years make a lasting imprint on all the families that come through here. We’re all part of an extended family.”

The other gratifying thing, she says, has been the opportunity to work with incredible colleagues over the past 24 years.

“I have been very blessed to work with wonderful co-workers and administrators. My best friends are here and I’ll absolutely miss seeing them every day,” she said. “It’s amazing to see how our teachers relate to students in such creative ways. Even the teachers who have been here for a while reinvent themselves every single year. It’s heartwarming to see the amount of attention and pride our teachers have in what they do. They love these children and it’s so evident every day.”

With one son in North Carolina and the other in El Salvador, the Duncans look forward to slowing down a little and spending more time with family.

“Family is very important to us and we plan on seeing everyone a whole lot more,” she said. “After 13 years in the medical field and 24 here, I’m worn out.

I think it’s time to be open for what opportunities might be out there and I’m ready to see what’s next.”

However, she added that retirement is definitely going to be bittersweet.

“It’s the bitterest of the bitter and the sweetest of the sweet, but I truly feel like this is my time,” she said. “Darlington hasn’t been a job for me; it’s been 24 years of loving experience. People always tell you to find what you love and do it, and fortunately it found me.

I could tell a million stories. It’s been a full, unbelievably wonderful ride – more than I ever could have dreamed or hoped for. It’s the epitome of having an avocation for your vocation. My family will always be a part of Darlington, and Darlington a part of us.”

Darlington Magazine

Road to Retirement

Charla Brewster Charla Brewster’s fourth-grade teacher, Virginia Oglivie, challenged her students each day to do their very best. She taught them to take responsibility for their actions as well as their learning. And she understood and loved students who worked hard but may not have necessarily been at the top of the class. Brewster was inspired and on the last day of school, she told Mrs. Oglivie that she wanted to be a teacher just like her. Now, as Brewster retires from a 38-and-a-half-year teaching career, she knows she made the right decision.

“I found that teaching children is a joy, and I have loved coming to school each day,” Brewster said. “Seeing children challenge, question and work hard made for an incredible teaching experience daily. I cannot think of a better way to have spent my day than working with students, parents and other teachers who enjoy learning.”

After earning her B.S. in Education from The University of Georgia, Brewster went right to work teaching first grade at Oglethorpe County Elementary in Lexington, Ga. Her husband, Bill, was just beginning pharmacy school and the young couple had the world ahead of them.

“Oglethorpe was a wonderful school with an emphasis on learning and had incredible teaching peers to model great teaching techniques,” Brewster recalled.

“It was the first year the school had been consolidated and there were seven first

Summer 2013

grades with some children who had never been outside the county.”

Three years later, the couple moved to Rome. Brewster spent one year teaching for Floyd County Schools before she was contacted by Larry Muschamp, then-principal of Darlington’s Lower School. Muschamp was looking for a teacher who had experience with a new reading program the Lower School was implementing, and – fortunately for Brewster – it was the same program she had used in Oglethorpe County.

“I remember walking into Beth Starnes’ first-grade classroom and being blown away by the curriculum, enthusiasm and caring,” Brewster said.

“I knew that I would be challenged to give 100% each and every day if I were offered the job. This is when I realized what Mrs. Oglivie had done each day that I had spent in her fourth-grade classroom. I knew, then, what she meant about being a lifelong learner.”

Throughout the next 34 years, Brewster would teach first, second, third and fifth grade at Darlington.

She also had the opportunity to see her daughters, Jennifer (Brewster) Helbing (’98) and Beth (Brewster) Marek (’95), walk across the stage at Commencement.

“As a parent, I knew that I wanted my own children to experience the joy of learning from these wonderful and caring teachers that I worked with each day,” Brewster said. “I knew that the teachers my girls would have would give them 100% of their energy and knowledge because they had similar goals for their children who were also at Darlington. Both of my girls are now very successful adults with a continued love for learning and a heart for giving back to their communities.”

Since 2007, she has had the opportunity to work alongside her daughter, Jennifer, who has taught multiple grade levels at Darlington and currently serves as PK-8 dean of students.

When Thatcher Hall opened its doors in 2009, Brewster and two of her Lower School colleagues, Perree Collier and BeBe Cline, made the move over to Cave

Spring Road to work with fifth-graders.

Two years later, Brewster was named dean of grades 5 and 6.

“I was able to write the humanities curriculum for the fifth grade and continue to share my love for reading,” she said. “I worked with a great team of teachers. We created units, worked as a team and picked each other’s brains every day. I came in each day with renewed energy and looked forward to what the day would bring – knowing that at some point during the day, I might hear someone holler out, ‘I have a great idea!’”

Last spring, Brewster decided it was time to start slowing down, but she wanted to give Darlington one more year. Fittingly, she would end her teaching career at Darlington in the same place it began – at the Lower School. In her final year, she served as a part-time learning specialist, building a new program for accelerated reading and math students in K-4.

“What a great way to end a wonderful career working with young children and parents,” Brewster said. “Over the years, I have found that my greatest joy has been seeing my students achieve their goals and continue to be lifelong learners. I will miss the smiling and eager faces of my students and the wonderful people I have had the privilege of working with throughout my years at Darlington.”

Brewster said she looks forward to spending more time with family, reading, traveling and hiking, but Darlington will never be far from her mind.

“I know I am not leaving this great school; I will just be taking on a different role, as a grandparent, watching my grandchildren grow under the guidance of the very best teachers and staff members around,” she said. “As I look back, I realize what a gift I was given by Darlington to be able to work at a place where I was treated as professional and where my work was respected by my peers, students and parents. There are not many people who can say that they have loved every day they came to work, and I can certainly say I have!”

29

2012 A L U M N I W EE K E N D

More than 500 alumni and friends returned to the Lakeside last October for Darlington’s annual Alumni Weekend celebration. Event highlights included the presentation of the Distinguished Alumnus Award to Nancy (Smith) Hunter (’65T) and The Hon. Don Maddox (’59), a 19-10 win over Christian Heritage at the Homecoming game, the annual Fall for the Arts festival and the dedication of Thornwood Hall. Reunion classes had high attendance, with 27% of alumni in classes celebrating their 50th reunion or less participating. The class parties were also a huge success, with the Class of 1972 boasting the largest number of returning alumni and the Thornwood Class of 1962 seeing 80% participation. A special thanks goes out from Darlington School to the class agents, event hosts, and all those involved in making this year’s celebration a great success. Make plans now to attend Alumni Weekend 2013, which will take place Sept. 27-29. Hope to see you there!

Nancy Hunter

Pixie and John Frank (’62)

Jessie (Brinson) Greene (’65T), Donna (Jacks) Griffin (’65T), Cindy (Knox) Sherbert (’65T), Mary Sib (Mooney) Banks (’65T), Nancy (Smith) Hunter (’65T), Kay (Boggs) Settle (’65T), Martha (Stanton) Van Der Mallie (’65T) and Pat (Jones) Gore (’65T)

Harley Yancey (’07)

Homecoming King and Queen Will Warren (’13) and Bailey Brock

30

Leighton & Winn Lozar

Megan Healy (’13) and Austin Spooner (’12)

Darlington Magazine

Campus View

Jordano Williams (’02), Miles Wellesley (’02), Emily (Griffin) Johnson (’02), Page Ryan (’02), Tiffany (Payne) Horton (’02), Helen Davis (’02, LD ’12), Stephen Whatley (’02), Frank Stegall (’02), Natalie Stegall and Chris Jackson (’02)

Charlie Williams (’82)

Whitney (Keene) Whittington (’01)

Fred Neely (’62)

Jeremiah McClure (’14)

Sadie Bingham and Jennifer Peacock (’07)

Gordon Lee Hight (’62), Villa (Sulzbacher) Hizer (’66T, LD ’12) and Sam Moss (’63)

John Shearer (’62)

Summer 2013

31

Class Notes

Washington and Lee University Distinguished Alumni Dick Denny (’48) and Frank Barron (’48) with W & L students Hank Johnson (’99), Wendi Betting (’11) and Bastian Richter (’09), all Darlington alumni.

Brooks Gulledge (’61) pictured at the North Carolina gathering.

1948

(next reunion 2013)

Class Agent: Frank Barron

Frank Barron Jr. and Dick Denny (’48) were awarded Washington and Lee University’s Distinguished Alumnus Awards during the institution’s FiveStar Generals’ Festival on Sept. 13, 2012. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the institution’s highest achievement award. Frank was also presented with the H.G. “Pat” Pattillo Honorary Membership Award from Leadership Georgia at the 40th annual Leadership Georgia Alumni Gala and Awards program in Athens in November. He is only the third recipient of the award, which is presented to an individual who has never participated in a Leadership Georgia class but has supported the program immensely.

Class of 1952

Class of 1957 1944

1957 (next reunion 2014)

Class Agent: Joe Stukes

Lyons Heyman has turned over the reins of the Heyman Family Foundation to his son, Lyons Heyman Jr. (’70), who will now serve as managing trustee.

1947

(next reunion 2017)

Class Agent: Gardner Wright

Hugh Richardson Jr. writes about a Darlington memory: “Late in the afternoon of April 12, 1945, my roommate Preston Stevens (’47) was in the closet of our dorm room in Old Main smoking a Camel. I was

32

lying on my upper deck bunk covered with red welts on my chest, arms and legs, having lost another towelsnapping-fight in the showers to a fellow smaller than me. On our radio, ‘Hop Harrigan,’ America’s ace of the airways, was getting ready to takeoff.

A network announcer interrupted the program with a bulletin that Franklin D. Roosevelt had died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs. At supper in the dining room, there wasn’t much conversation. F.D.R., the only U.S. President we had been aware of – he had been elected to an unprecedented fourth term – was dead and we didn’t know what to say.”

(next reunion 2017)

Class Agents: Alston Glenn, Bob Ragan

Paul Harmon has completed final design and construction plans for nine monumental sculptures for Patriots Park in Clarksville, Tenn. His towering sculptures depict the service men and women in their various roles within the 101st Airborne of Ft. Campbell. The nine sculptures are being fabricated in Cor-Ten steel and stand a soaring 18 feet tall each. This project is an initiative of the Military Affairs Committee of the Clarksville Area of Commerce in coordination with the Military Museum and the Fort Campbell base. Award-winning Tennessee architect Kem Hinton

Darlington Magazine

Dudley Ottley (’53) and Gene Herrin (’53) enjoy catching up.

Frank Barron (’48) meets Agnes Scott President Elizabeth Kiss.

Jimmy Kirkland (’53) and Spencer Willis (’53) return to Darlington.

Class of 1962 commissioned Paul and will oversee the installation of the sculptures.

Patriots Park is located on Ft. Campbell Boulevard near the Wings of Liberty Museum.

1961

(next reunion 2016)

Class Agents: Terry Bradshaw, Alex Wyatt

Jerry Minge (’53), Dudley Ottley (’53) and Ebbie Brinson (’53) are reunited.

Summer 2013

Ray Dempsey and his brother, Lynn Dempsey (’69), have been named to the Georgia Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame. Ray has been a part of the company that his father, Sproull Dempsey, started in 1965; Lynn joined the company in 1973.

Both brothers have been very active members of the statewide industry organization. Lynn has served the state auctioneers as president. Ray and Lynn were formally honored at the 2012 GAA Summer Conference.

33

Alumni Profile

Don Maddox (’59) Distinguished Alumnus

Don Maddox (’59)

A lifelong attorney, The Hon. Don Maddox (’59) credits Darlington with instilling in him an unwavering belief in “Honor above Everything.”

“The world out there is pretty tough,” he told students in his Distinguished Alumnus address last October. “The temptations and opportunities for all kinds of trouble become greater as you move into the world of higher education and, later, into your business and professional lives. Your classmates, the faculty and administration, and your families provide you with that little voice that says, ‘Do the right thing.’

“Periodically issues come up in the practice of law where you need to check the Code of Professional Conduct that governs the conduct of lawyers and judges,” Maddox continued. “It was always my view that if you have to check a book to see whether or not something is ethical or fair, then you already have the answer. This is also true for you now and in the future. You already know what is fair or honest or ethical or right.

Listen to that little voice.”

Born in Bristol, Va., Maddox was raised in Gastonia, N.C., and attended public school there most of his life.

His senior year, he became a resident

34

student at Darlington School and enjoyed his time as a member of the varsity wrestling team.

“The tyrants on campus during my era were Worth Moser and Mr. Yankee,” he laughed. “It was clear that they were placed on this earth to make my existence miserable. They were successful! Mr. Moser and Mr. Yankee had certain concepts about discipline, behavior and academics that had very little relation to my concepts in those same areas. I am here to tell you that their concepts prevailed!”

After graduating, he went on to earn a B.S. from Pfeiffer University in 1964 and a Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1967.

Maddox worked throughout high school, college and law school in the oil fields of Southeastern New Mexico. He loved this area of the country so much that after graduating from law school, he moved permanently to New Mexico and has lived in Hobbs ever since.

He passed the New Mexico Bar Exam in 1968 and served as an assistant district attorney for several years. In 1970, he formed a law practice with his brother, Jim. He is permitted to practice before the Supreme Court of New Mexico, U.S. District Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals (5th and 10th Circuit), and the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2000, he was appointed district judge for New Mexico’s 5th Judicial District by Gov. Gary Johnson in 2000.

He was elected without opposition and retained his post in subsequent elections until his retirement in 2010.

Maddox has received multiple awards and honors throughout his career, including the Trustee in Free Enterprise Award from the University of the Southwest and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Pfeiffer University.

He was also named a Paul Harris Fellow

by Rotary International. In 2011, he and his brother received the Distinguished Leadership Award from Leadership

New Mexico for their numerous contributions to Hobbs, Southeastern New Mexico and the State of New Mexico.

As a lawyer and as a judge, Maddox has been active in various professional organizations. He has served as president of the Lea County Bar Association, as well as chairman of the New Mexico Bar Disciplinary Board, prior to being appointed to the bench.

Additionally, he was previously active in Rotary International and other civic activities, and attends First United Methodist Church in Hobbs.

Currently, Maddox serves as officer and director of the J. F Maddox Foundation, a position that he has held for over 40 years. He maintains an office in Hobbs, where he is involved in the management of the foundation.

Maddox remains active in the Darlington Community. He is a visitor emeritus and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society. He was also privileged to give the Commencement address several years ago. He and his wife, Susan, have two children, Ann Maddox Utterback of Albuquerque and Ben Maddox (’91) of Taos, and four grandchildren, Sarah and Toby Utterback and Asher and Stella Maddox.

“It has been 53 years since I lived and studied on this campus, and everything has changed except the lake and the feel of the campus,” he said. “You will know more about the feel of the campus and the spirit of Darlington after you have been gone for a few years, or many.

There’s nothing quite like it.”

Darlington Magazine

Alumni Profile

Nancy (Smith) Hunter (’65T) Distinguished Alumna

Nancy (Smith) Hunter (’65T)

Nancy (Smith) Hunter (’65T), only the second woman in school history to receive the Distinguished Alumna Award, is a retired educator who is well-known in Rome and Floyd County for her dedication and service to the community.

“This is the first time this award has been given to a classroom educator,” she said. “We don’t make a lot of money, but we touch a lot of lives and I’m proud of that. The confidence that your teachers instill in you is one of the finest gifts you will receive… It will follow you right out of these gates.”

Hunter grew up in Lindale, Ga., and is a graduate of Thornwood School, the all-girls school that merged with Darlington in 1973. In high school, she was very involved in student government, serving as secretary/ treasurer her junior year and president her senior year. She was also a member of the yearbook staff, the Thornwood Chorus and the A Cappella Choir.

As a senior, she received the DAR Citizenship Award and was named “Best All Around” by her classmates.

She went on to attend St. Mary’s Junior College in Raleigh, N.C., and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1969 with a B.S. in Education.

Summer 2013

She started her career in Cobb County, where she taught from 1970 through 1977. She then moved back to Rome, where she taught at the Pepperell schools for 30 years until her retirement in 2007. In 1988, she was recognized as Pepperell Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year.

Hunter has always been active in her community. In fact, she and her husband, David, were among the recipients of the 2012 Heart of the Community Award for servant leadership, presented by Redmond Regional Medical Center. She has worked with various organizations such as Alpha Kappa Delta Educational Sorority, Claws for Paws, Good Neighbor Ministries and the Empty Bowls Project. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Hospitality House for Women and Rome Area Council for the Arts. She was also named Junior Service League’s Sustainer of the Year in 2008 and is active at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

But Hunter says the organization that is dearest to her is Camp Sunshine, a camp for children with cancer, where she has volunteered as a counselor for 28 years.

“Camp Sunshine is my heart,” Hunter said. “Our dear friends lost their 3-yearold son to cancer a long time ago, but something good came out of this sadness because they helped start Camp Sunshine. The first year, 40 campers attended. This past year, 30 years later, there were over 400 campers and onethird of the counselors were former campers. Down the road, you’ll find organizations that mean something to you and I trust that you’ll continue the habit of giving back [that you learned at Darlington]. You’ll enjoy it – the rewards are unbelievable.”

And though she never actually attended Darlington, Hunter remains an active member of the school community. She is a longtime member of the J.J. Darlington Society and has

supported several capital campaigns over the years. She has served two terms on the Alumni Council and was co-chairwoman of two all-Thornwood reunion celebrations. She has also been a Rome parent to two female resident students and a member of the Thornwood 50th Anniversary of the Founding Committee, the Thornwood Restoration Committee and the Thornwood Campaign Cabinet for the Second Century Campaign.

“At our last Thornwood reunion, we voted to endow a scholarship for a local girl, and this year we were excited to be able to give a partial scholarship,” Hunter said. “We look forward to fully endowing this award in the near future. Additionally, one of the newest girls’ dormitories has been named Thornwood Hall, ensuring that Thornwood will always have a permanent place on the Darlington campus. It’s exciting to know that the Thornwood legacy lives on here at Darlington.”

35

Class Notes

Dick Cornwell (’67) pictured with Charlotte Checkers mascot, “Chubby,” during the Charlotte gathering.

Kim McConkey (’73, LD ’12) attends the Alumni Council Kickoff Party.

Dan Hanks Jr. was honored for his years of service and contributions to the people of Northwest Georgia in a resolution that was passed in spring 2012 by the Georgia State House of Representatives.

1962

(next reunion 2017)

Class Agents: Adeline (Wright) Hanks, Fred Neely, John Shearer

Joyce (Riddle) Neely and her husband, Joe, announce the birth of a granddaughter on Jan. 24, 2013. Their daughter, Rachel Johnson, welcomed Madeleine Abigail at 8:29 a.m. She weighed 8.10 ounces. The family is doing well and resides in Winston Salem, N.C. 1963

(next reunion 2013)

Class Agents: Honey Bee (Buskill) Dews, Bob Elkins

Steve Jenkins Sr. has been elected Judge of the State Court of Elbert County, Ga. He took office for a fouryear term on Jan. 1, 2013. Steve is married to the former Marcia

36

Terri (Huffman) Watters (’72T, LD ’13) was one of 23 Leadership Darlington graduates in 2013 (pictured with Jere Drummond (’57) and Tom Whitworth).

Dan Pate (’76, LD ’13) at Leadership Darlington Collins of Maplewood, N.J., and they have four children, all living in the Elberton area, three of which are married. They also have five grandchildren.

Sam Moss III was awarded the Helen Dean Rhodes Distinguished Service Award from the Rome Symphony Orchestra for his dedicated volunteer service. Additionally, he writes: “When George Home (’63) was in town last fall to check on his parents, a group of us from the Class of 1963 got together for lunch at Harvest Moon Café. George lives in California and Tom in Atlanta.”

Bill Wofford III stopped by the Darlington campus last fall during a trip to Georgia for a visit with classmate Sam Moss (’63), the school’s dean of college guidance.

Both Bill and Sam are looking forward to their 50th reunion during Alumni Weekend, which will take place Sept. 27-29, 2013.

Susan (Adair) Blanton (’76, LD ’13) at Leadership Darlington.

1964

(next reunion 2014)

Class Agent: Vacancy

Terry Honan received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from The National Eagle Scout Association upon nomination by the Alabama-Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Fewer than one in 1,000 Eagle Scouts are selected to receive this award. Recipients must have achieved extraordinary national level recognition, fame or eminence within their profession, and also have an outstanding record of voluntary service to their community over a number of years. Previous recipients include Neil Armstrong, Lloyd Benson, Stephen Breyer, Gerald Ford, Steve Fossett, Robert Gates, James Lovell, Sam Nunn, Ross Perot, Jeff Sessions, Sam Walton and William Westmoreland.

Darlington Magazine

Alumni Council President Chason Mull (’78) greets guests at the Alumni Council Kickoff.

Joe Montgomery pictured with Michael Kahn (’78), the host of the Charlotte gathering.

Bryan Freeman (’77, LD ’13) at Leadership Darlington

Julia Barton Pollard (’86), Mary Kate (Vick) Fuller (’84) and Madge (Brown) Crawford (’84) catch up at the Alumni Council Kickoff.

1966

(next reunion 2016)

Class Agents: Villa (Sulzbacher) Hizer, Frank Virgin

Elizabeth (Smith) Avery has launched her latest enterprise, SoloTrekker4U.com, a free, luxuryfocused website. The company’s goal is to connect individual travelers looking for 4-5 star hotels and tours at attractive pricing. Since bookings are generally based on two people, solo travelers often have a real challenge. Find them on Facebook!

Will Thuston (’00, LD ’13) co-hosts the Birmingham gathering.

Summer 2013

37

Class Notes

Andy White (’87) attends the Birmingham gathering.

Will Harbin (’95), CEO of online gaming company Kixeye, speaks to Sierra Elder (’14).

1973

Rachel Gross (’89, LD ’13) at Leadership Darlington 1970

(next reunion 2015)

Class Agent: Tom Barron

Lanny Thomas was named a recipient of The Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award from Georgia Tech. This award recognizes alumni who have provided distinguished contributions to the profession, field, Institute, or society at large.

38

(next reunion 2013)

1976

(next reunion 2016)

Class Agents: Steve Wilhoite

Class Agent: Lisa Trawick

John Moore was honored at The Greenbrier in West Virginia for his service as president for The South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (SAAOG). The meeting coincided with the 75th Anniversary of the society, which includes the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia. John was recognized several times during the meeting, which culminated with his presidential address and a formal gala in his honor. At the conference, he was joined by his wife, Theresa, and their two sons, Cliff and Brent. Also in attendance were his mother, Frankie; his three sisters, Ruth Moore, Kay Moore Earle and Beth Moore Tolbert (’80); and his niece, Mary Frances Tolbert. He was also joined by fellow Darlington classmate Steve Wilhoite (’73) and his wife, Ann. John practices with Peachtree Women’s Clinic in Atlanta at Northside Hospital Sandy Springs and Northside Hospital Forsyth. He says he looks forward to seeing his classmates at their 40th reunion this fall.

C.J. Jordan III earned North Carolina’s prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian award. The distinction was kept secret from family and friends as they gathered to celebrate his decade of service with the N.C. Housing Finance Agency. C.J. said he was shocked when the agency’s executive director announced the award. He said: “It’s a great surprise. I’m honored to be able to receive that.” Criteria for the award are up to the governor, but it generally goes to people who have helped the state through either their fame or through dozens of years of dedicated government work. He joins about 15,000 other award recipients, including Andy Griffith, Charles Kuralt, Bill Friday and Michael Jordan. C.J. lives in Hillsborough, N.C.

1975

(next reunion 2015)

Class Agent: Vacancy

Hal Storey’s photography was displayed in Floyd Medical Center’s art gallery in August and September 2012.

1978

(next reunion 2013)

Class Agents: John Gilliland, Chris Peacock

Rick Cromartie III and his wife, Jill, announce the birth of a son, Hendrick Lafayette IV, on Nov. 29, 2012. The family lives in Rome.

1982

(next reunion 2017)

Class Agent: Charlie Williams

Jodie (Chastain) Feimster married Andy D. Feimster on Aug. 11, 2012, atop Hawksbill Mountain in Burke County, N.C. The couple lives in Crumper, N.C.

Darlington Magazine

Michael Van Cise (’97, LD ’13) at Leadership Darlington Dan Garrett writes: “My family continues to live in Sunnyvale, Calif., and I continue to work at Cornerstone Research in the field of litigation consulting. We have four kids, ages 12 to 21.”

Melanie Sumner-Marr’s latest novel, “The Ghost of Milagro Creek,” was published by Algonquin in 2010. The book is set in Taos, N.M. For details, visit melanie-sumner.com.

1983

(next reunion 2013)

Class Agents: Katherine (Persons) Kelly, Stephanie (Smith) Walker

Richard Marcus writes: “I have recently started a new venture called ‘It’s About Time’ Personal Assistant and Concierge Services in Rome.

Our mission is to help individuals, families and businesses maintain their quality of life by alleviating pertinent and mundane chores, tasks, errands, etc. while freeing up that time to spend as they chose. It’s About Time also offers a variety of services for businesses like on-site evaluations and secret shopper visits.

I am extending an invitation to all alumni to share your professions with me so that I can add you to my referral list. Please find us on Facebook!”

Summer 2013

John McElrath (’99, LD ’13) at Leadership Darlington 1984

Class of 1972

(next reunion 2014)

Class Agent: Kathleen (Smith) Hughes

Mary Kate (Vick) Fuller and fellow Darlington parent Kerin Riley were the honorees for the school’s Nov. 9, 2012, Blood Assurance Blood Drive. Thirty-three pints of blood were collected by the Darlington community in honor of Mary Kate, who is currently in remission from cancer, and Kerin, who was undergoing treatment at the time of the blood drive.

Mary Kate (Vick) Fuller (’84) and Kerin Riley pictured with Angie Milford at Darlington’s fall 2012 blood drive.

Class of 1977

39

Chris Motley (’99, LD ’13) An entrepreneurial spirit

From modest beginnings on the south side of Chicago all the way to Wall Street, the journey of alumnus Chris Motley can only be seen as inspirational. His is a story of overcoming obstacles to achieve greatness – made possible by his sheer drive and determination, coupled with the education he received at Darlington School.

This article was written by Ian Griffin, co-founder and managing partner of V3 Publications LLC in Rome. He serves as chief of advertising and sales director for the company’s well-known publication, V3 Magazine, in which he also writes a monthly column and other feature stories.

40

As a young man, Motley attended Glenwood School, Chicago’s only boarding academy for disadvantaged children, where he was introduced by the mother of a close friend to a program called A Better Chance. Its goal was to offer inner-city students a better chance at attending college via specialized, college-preparatory education tracks. Motley applied and was accepted, and thus began his pathway to success.

Darlington was on his list of school options, and after visiting the campus, it didn’t take long for him to decide that it

was the right place for him.

“For me, decision making was very simple back then,” he said. “I remember seeing the brochure with the lake and the two swans, and thinking that it was a very impressive place to get an education. After that, my family made the trip with me to Rome and the campus just blew me away. I distinctly remember going to the gym and watching some guys playing basketball, and thinking about everything that would be accessible to me if I went to school there. It was an extremely positive experience, and one that certainly changed my life. It also didn’t hurt that the weather is so nice in the South.”

Motley had found his place at Darlington, and that comfort only became more apparent when he arrived on campus. As a freshman, he was voted class president – an office he was appointed to within the first two weeks of school. This immediate acceptance

only solidified the feeling the he belonged, and bred a hunger to succeed that would push him through the next four years.

Motley served as either president or vice president of his class for all four years of high school. During that time, he worked closely with the headmaster, trustees, administrators and the student leaders tasked with helping to develop Darlington’s marketing campaigns. In fact, much of what Motley helped to institute as an amateur politician is still being enjoyed by students today. One part of that effort that he still holds dear is the official school motto.

“It was a real honor to help develop the Darlington brand,” Motley said.

“It makes me very proud to have left a legacy like that, and I honestly try to conduct myself to this very day by the motto we created: ‘Wisdom More Than Knowledge, Service Beyond Self, Honor Above Everything.’”

But while he excelled in his academic,

Darlington Magazine

Alumni Profile

athletic and political pursuits, he wouldn’t realize the full weight of Darlington’s impact on his life until the time came to apply for college. With his eyes trained unflinchingly toward a career somewhere on Wall Street, Motley knew for certain that he wanted to attend school in New York. Columbia University seemed like a perfect fit.

Looking back, Motley credits Darlington’s well-structured learning environment, which taught him to, among other things, compartmentalize his day in a way that translates directly to performance and well-roundedness.

“Darlington provided me with a model that I use every day to give me structure,” Motley said. “I didn’t have that before, and to be honest, it has been invaluable. It has allowed me to utilize every minute of every day, and I can’t tell you how important that has been.”

With the blueprint for success laid out before him, he excelled as a student at Columbia. On his road to achieving this long-held dream of a career on Wall Street, Motley never forgot how A Better Chance had made it all possible, and in the time since, he has been a dedicated servant in the organization’s name.

As luck would have it, the well-known investment firm Goldman Sachs was also a supporter of A Better Chance, and after working there with employees of the firm, Motley would later take a position alongside them as an oil and interest-rate trader. His time with Goldman Sachs was an experience parallel to his time at Darlington – a validation of the highest order in his worldview. He was working with some of the world’s greatest minds, and clearly, he was succeeding.

Still, despite achieving the dream he’d etched out for himself as a young man, Motley couldn’t help but yearn for the greater sense of personal fulfillment he’d experienced while volunteering with A Better Chance. He wondered if he was in the right place. Wealth had guaranteed him financial security, yet he felt a void deep within that he couldn’t ignore. Soon after first grappling with these emotions, he took

Summer 2013

the biggest gamble of his life and left the firm.

“It may sound crazy, but I just didn’t feel like I was where I needed to be,” Motley explained. “It was a good time to be on Wall Street and the experience was wonderful, but what I really needed at that point was clarity, and I wasn’t going to get that being consumed by the hustle and bustle of Wall Street.”

Within a week, he was already making moves. To find his new calling, Motley employed his arsenal of networking skills by, first, placing a call to an old mentor, who soon found him a position with a new company. 1888 Mills was in the business of producing textiles for hotels and large retailers, and as executive vice president in charge of 1888’s Institutional Apparel Division, Motley was tasked with scouting several locations in Africa to assess their viability as new mill sites. The company sought to create better-paying jobs for locals, who, in turn, would produce kitchen aprons, chef jackets, medical scrubs and other utility clothing items.

Settling on Ghana after a scrutinous search, 1888 Mills, with Motley at the forefront, went on to create over 500 jobs for African women.

It was just the sort of rewarding jolt he had needed so badly. Riding the high, he committed himself even more wholeheartedly to helping others with the creation of BetterWeekdays.com, a site designed to better connect job seekers and potential employers via a Jobscript evaluation. Users create an account, login, complete the 45-minute assessment and are then provided with a detailed, analytical report on everything from their personal strengths and weaknesses to what positions they are best fit to hold.

Now back in Chicago, Motley saw his story come full circle when Jobscript was used with the Leadership Darlington Class of 2013 – of which he was a member.

“A large part of the Leadership Darlington program was showing the alumni how they could be leaders in the community,” he explained. “Being a great leader requires self-reflection

Jere Drummond (’57), chairman of Darlington’s Board of Trustees, and Headmaster Tom Whitworth present Chris Motley (’99, LD ’13) with a certificate upon his graduation from Leadership Darlington in February. and self-awareness. If you can accept certain aspects of your personality and apply them to your leadership skills, it certainly helps you understand and communicate with the people you are trying to lead.”

One thing’s for certain – Chris Motley is proof that embracing the Darlington School motto and mission can produce dividends in life.

“The most important thing I developed at Darlington, by far, is the ability to effectively communicate with different kinds of people,” he said. “There was such a diverse student body and so many great teachers and administrators that you learned to understand a wide variety of personalities and cultures. That ability to communicate – and the ability to be genuine and clear about my intentions through that ability to communicate – have gotten me where I am today.”

41

Class Notes

Ivey Harrison (’99) and fellow college counselors on the 2012 Sweet Tea Tour.

Class of 1982

Joan Pedley has been named director of strategic initiatives for Pearson Education in New York City.

1985

(next reunion 2015)

Class Agent: Wright Ledbetter

Wright Ledbetter and his wife, Kelley, announce the birth of twin daughters, Harper Barnes and Virginia Harbin, on Feb. 26, 2013.

The family lives in Rome.

1987

(next reunion 2017)

Class Agent: Kimberly (Murphy) Moseley

Class of 1987

Alice (Harrison) Williams writes: “I obtained my license as a Mental Health Professional Counselor in 2007 and worked part time with my private practice for two years while I continued my career as a school counselor. I left the schools in 2009 and have been working full time as

an LPC with Psychological Associates of NWGA and contracted with the Sexual Assault Center of NWGA and Hospitality House, as well. I absolutely LOVE my job, even with some long hours and difficult cases!

My husband, Chris, is still employed with Comcast and is a supervisor for Cobb County. We live in Rome and have two precious cocker spaniels.”

1988

(next reunion 2013)

Class Agents: Ron Mixon, Jim Valentine

David Ledbetter and his wife, Lauren, announce the birth of a daughter, Margaret Campbell, on Aug. 14, 2012. The family lives in Rome.

Calling all alumni…

Distinguished Alumnus Nominations Send us your nominations for the 2014 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Established by the Alumni Council in 1983, this award recognizes alumni who have achieved prominence in their profession and/or community and who have demonstrated loyalty to Darlington.

Please e-mail your nomination to vvincent@darlingtonschool.org and include the following information:

Alumni Council Nominations Send us your nomination for the 2014-2017 term. The Darlington School Alumni Council is the governing body of the Alumni Association. Council members serve for a three-year term and are nominated by current Alumni Council members and the Association membership at large. Please e-mail your nomination to vvincent@darlingtonschool.org.

Name and class year of nominee Reason(s) for nomination Your name and class year

42

Darlington Magazine

1989

(next reunion 2014)

1993

(next reunion 2013)

Class Agent: Vacancy

Class Agent: Sarah (Evans) Joseph

Aaron Finley has been promoted to assistant editor of Foreign Policy Magazine in Washington, D.C.

Brad Bohannon is having a successful career as assistant baseball coach at the University of Kentucky.

1991

(next reunion 2016)

Class Agent: Vacancy

Mara Evans writes: “Just wanted to let our Darlington Community know that an alumna is responsible for Old Navy’s fall 2012 campaign. I am associate creative director on the Old Navy account at the agency Crispin, Porter & Bogusky in Los Angeles, Calif. Our TV commercial, which was released on Sept. 19, 2012, stars the Backstreet Boys emerging from a giant boom box to perform their hit ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’ in front of a runway show that features women of different shapes and sizes strutting a runway in skinny jeans.”

1991

(next reunion 2016)

Class Agent: Vacancy

Tara (Lumpkin) Hindman and her husband, Matthew James Hindman III (’96), announce the birth of a son, Matthew “Ames” James IV, on Feb. 7, 2013. The family lives in Atlanta.

Sarah (Evans) Joseph and her husband, Anwer, announce the birth of a son, Miles, in October 2012. He joins brothers Fletcher and Will. The family lives in Roswell.

Heather (Cox) Rosenberg and her husband, Evan, finalized the adoption of their son, Warren Joshua, on Jan. 29, 2012. Heather writes: “This was one of the happiest moments in our lives, and Warren is truly an amazing little boy!” They are also in the process of adopting a baby, Christopher, and are hoping that he will become a permanent addition to their family sometime in 2013.

1994

Class of 1992

(next reunion 2014)

Class Agents: Maurie Dugger, Jimmy Smith

Will Beattie Jr. was named one of Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40.”

Britta (Stern) Graf and her husband, Markus, announce the birth of a daughter, Clara Sophie, on Dec. 26, 2012. The family lives in Essen, Germany.

Class of 1997

THE ANNUAL FUND IS Your gift to the Annual Fund helps fund 5% of all student, parent, faculty, staff and alumni programs at Darlington School. To make your tax-deductible gift, please visit www.darlingtonschool.org/give by May 31, 2014. Every single gift matters.

Summer 2013

43

Ben Bagley (’00) Frequent flyer

Ben Bagley (’00) set his goals sky high at an early age. And with the help of a supportive family and an excellent education, he has now achieved what his mother describes as a lifelong dream since being hired as an international pilot for Fed Ex Express in 2011.

This article was written by Ian Griffin, co-founder and managing partner of V3 Publications LLC in Rome. He serves as chief of advertising and sales director for the company’s well-known publication, V3 Magazine, in which he also writes a monthly column and other feature stories.

44

Bagley’s Darlington roots run deep, as his two older brothers, Leigh (’90) and Bert (’91), are both alumni. Even his wife, Miranda, attended Darlington’s Lower School for a few years. One of the last student-athletes to play football under now-retired coach Jerry Sharp, Bagley remembers walking onto the field at the Georgia Dome for the Class A state championship game in 1998 like it was yesterday. And as a testament to his love for flying, he was once called to former Headmaster David Rhodes’ office for taking a page out of the “Top Gun” handbook and flying a plane too low over the Darlington campus – a day he says he will never forget.

Following his graduation in 2000, Bagley attended Auburn University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree

through the school’s Aviation Management and Professional Flight Program. He credits his Darlington curriculum with making the college experience a breeze academically.

“The words ‘college prep’ mean a lot to me when I think of Darlington,” he said. “To be perfectly candid, college was really easy for me because of my education at Darlington. The study habits and independence that were part of the study structure gave me the know-how and maturity to handle my classes and truly enjoy my college experience.”

Bagley went on to hone his aviator skill-set flying in the Bahamas and Canada after college, but aspired to be a part of the Fed Ex team and never gave up on that dream. Then, in 2011, eight years after first submitting his resume to Federal Express, it became a reality.

Shortly thereafter, he popped the question to Miranda. The couple exchanged vows between his in-dock training and type training for the specific model of aircraft he would be flying for Fed Ex.

He was then offered the option of being stationed in Memphis, Tenn., or moving halfway around the world to Hong Kong. The newlyweds assessed the pros and cons of each, and with no children to consider as of yet, decided to seize the opportunity to live abroad for a few years.

According to Bagley, his overseas assimilation has been made easier thanks to his time at Darlington. “I had classmates from all over the world, and wish I had taken a little more time to appreciate that when I was a student there,” he said. “The adjustment from a small town like Rome to a big city anywhere in the states can be drastic, so my experience with all the students from around the world certainly made the transition to living in Hong Kong a lot easier.”

But while the transition may have been easier for him, it wasn’t entirely devoid of culture shock. “I love being from a small town,” he said. “I grew up in a small town and went to college in a small town. So, coming from that to a city of 7 million people all packed into a few square miles is an adjustment. My apartment in college was bigger than the one we have now, so it’s a completely different way of life here.”

The language barrier also created some hiccups, as Cantonese and Mandarin are the mostly commonly spoken Chinese dialects in Hong Kong.

This has forced Bagley to expand his foreign-language skills in order to better communicate with the locals.

His love for flight stems from his earliest memories constructing model airplanes. Then, for his thirteenth birthday, his grandmother bought him a flying lesson. From that point forward, he was hooked. Bagley enjoyed the experience so much, his grandmother purchased one lesson per month until he turned 15 and was allowed to begin earning his pilot’s license.

But while his closest loved ones helped

Darlington Magazine

Alumni Profile

fan the flame he held for being airborne, he was also greatly inspired by former U.S. Navy pilot and starting punter for the U.S. Naval Academy football team, Roger Sheppard. Sheppard, a family friend, not only played a large role in encouraging Bagley to pursue his lofty goals, but also ended up being his sponsor at Fed Ex, which later resulted in his hiring. His tales of gunning F-14 fighters off the deck of an aircraft carrier, in addition to his presence throughout the course of Bagley’s early development as a pilot, made him a perfect mentor for the aspiring aviator.

“Roger is just an amazing guy,” Bagley said. “Every Sunday, my dad and I would go out and practice punting and throwing the football when I was a kid.

On the weekends Roger was not flying, he would come into town and help coach me a little bit. On my sixteenth birthday, he cut the shirt off my back (a tradition amongst aviators) when I made my first solo flight. He was always an outstanding role model, and without him or my grandmother, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Bagley also credits his parents for being supportive of his life choices.

In fact, for a time while at Auburn, he developed quite a following as a budding singer-songwriter and decided to pursue a music career in Nashville, Tenn. Rather than balk at the idea, his mother and father showed him nothing but encouragement. Stardom never came, but luckily for him, he had never truly placed being a pilot in his rearview mirror. Today he harbors no regrets.

Bagley is currently operating under a two-year contract with Fed Ex Express, flying the Airbus 300/310 out of Hong Kong. To secure the right to fly this massive aircraft, the young pilot would grind out a meticulous, three-month program in order to qualify for the title of first officer. Not only did he have to learn the ins and outs of the new aircraft, but it was also required that he understand all of the different

Summer 2013

international flight rules of the many foreign nations from which he would be flying in and out each day. This was, of course, a much longer training regimen than he was accustomed to, but a necessary one for the dangerous job he had decided to take on.

His time spent flying over the Bahamas and Canada had not prepared him for the international rules and regulations in place across the globe. In China, for instance, they use meters as for altitude while the Airbus aircraft’s gauges read in feet; and with all of the different people and dialects he encounters while communicating with air traffic controllers station to station, it can become quite a handful.

These obstacles certainly presented a great challenge to Bagley, but thanks to his formative years spent in a loving, supportive home and attending one of the finest independent schools in the U.S., he welcomed each one as an opportunity for personal growth.

With a possible extension in Hong Kong, the Bagleys could choose to settle into their new China home even more comfortably, but options to relocate to Cologne, Germany, or Memphis are also in play. Only time will tell if the couple ultimately decides to head back to the States or embark on a new adventure in Europe.

One thing is for sure, though: Ben misses Chick-fil-A, Bojangles and Mexican-American cuisine. So much so, actually, that it may play a considerable role in his upcoming decision.

“Whatever you do, just stay the course and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Each job I had leading up to this one was a stepping stone, and I knew that at the time. I also knew there would be more stepping stones before I landed at what I would like to think of as my final job, and being realistic about the fact that it won’t happen overnight is a very important mindset.”

From the daydreams of a little boy

Roger Sheppard and Ben Bagley (’00) with his model airplanes to soaring international skies as a pilot for one of the world’s largest companies, Ben Bagley has become a Darlington success story due to extraordinary personal drive, a strong support system filled with friends and family, and, no doubt, the secondary education he received.

“Darlington was just a great experience from start to finish,” Bagley said. “From the beautiful campus to all the friends I made over the years, it’s really hard to sum up how fortunate I was to be a part of such a wonderful school.”

45

Class Notes 1997

(next reunion 2017)

Class Agents: Julie (Wilson) Lucas, Michael Van Cise

Wes Foss and his wife, Kelly, announce the birth of a son, Gage River, on Dec. 3, 2012. The family lives in Franklin, Tenn.

Aaron Sumner (’02, LD ’12) attends the Class of 1953 Lectureship.

Chris Jackson (’02, LD ’13) at Leadership Darlington 1995

(next reunion 2015)

Class Agent: Vacancy

Mandy (Nicklas) Beam and her husband, Cody (’95), announce the birth of a daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, on Oct. 15, 2012. The family lives in Peachtree City, Ga. Steven Turner married Jessica Rachel Turner on Oct. 1, 2012, at First Baptist Church, Lindale. He writes: “I am also the proud stepdad of Garrett Hayes, a fourth-grader who excels in wild game hunting, baseball and playing football. My wife teaches at Armuchee Middle School. I am a truly blessed man. The wait was well worth it!”

1996

(next reunion 2016)

Gage River Foss

Ashley (Rice) Gomez and her husband, Andre, announce the birth of a daughter, Addison, on Oct. 3, 2012. The family lives in Atlanta.

Sam Lucas has been named partner with Rome law firm Brinson, Askew, Berry, Seigler, Richardson & Davis.

Maggie (Lea) Mishin married and Denis Mishin on March 16, 2013.

Maggie (Lea ’97) and Denis Mishin

Class Agent: Corie (Dempsey) Swan

Class of 2002 Frank Pratt III writes: “I recently joined my father in private practice, and am now providing counseling full time, at our office in Rome. I have also been working with Darlington to assist them in the development of their fencing program. Our daughter, Rose, turns 3 in June. I am also now a proud uncle! My brother, Garrett (’96), and his wife, Adriana, recently celebrated the arrival of their first child, Marlen.”

Supriya Donthamsetty writes: “Hi, everybody! I am done with my military obligation and am now back stateside! We live in New Orleans and I am half way through my first year in pathology residency at Louisiana State University, Charity Hospital.

My husband, Mark, and I are keeping busy with our crew. Miss y’all and can’t wait to see everyone someday.”

Anna (Huffman) Park and her husband, Phillip, announce the birth of a daughter, Josie Elizabeth, on Nov. 14, 2012. The family lives in Atlanta.

Garrett Pratt and his wife, Adriana, announce the birth of a daughter, Marlen.

Blair Watkins and her husband, Dan, announce the birth of a daughter, Caroline Maria Dorneanu, on Aug. 2, 2012. The family lives in Charleston, S.C.

46

1998

(next reunion 2013)

Class Agent: Regan Maki

Gillian (Fierer) O’Nan and her husband, Michael, announce the birth of a son, Finnigan “Finn” Michael. The family lives in Atlanta.

1999

(next reunion 2014)

Class Agent: Marie (Hodge) Gordon

Carolyn (Seigler) Brearley and her husband, David, announce the birth of a son, Joseph Walker, on Nov. 28, 2012. He joins big brother Bennett.

The family lives in Rome.

Ivey Harrison and Darlington faculty member Ivy Brewer, associate dean of college guidance, took 40 college counselors on the Sweet Tea Tour to see 12 colleges across South Carolina and Western North Carolina during the summer of 2012.

Darlington Magazine

Class of 2007 Robert Hortman Jr. and his wife, Nancy, announce the birth of a son, Robert West, on Oct. 3, 2012. The family lives in Fallon, Nev. Robert writes: “West wears his Baby Tiger bib every Friday when the family listens to Darlington football on the internet!”

Christie (Oh) Lo and her husband, Michael (’99), announce the birth of a son, Lincoln Renjie, on July 3, 2012.

He joins big sister Evangeline. The family lives in Decatur, Ga.

Lincoln Renjie Lo Robert (’99), Kelly and West Hortman

Matthew Jones is head football coach and associate athletic director at Kentucky Country Day School.

This past season, he was selected as District Coach of the Year. As a first-year head coach, Matthew led the Kentucky Country Day School Bearcats through the best season in school history, finishing 11-2. The Bearcats claimed their first-ever District title, posting an undefeated record against district opponents.

The team also won a sixth Pioneer Athletic Conference title. Under Matthew, the Bearcats broke several school records this season, including school records for points per game and yards rushing per game. He also led the squad to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, a feat never before accomplished by the Bearcats.

Summer 2013

Elizabeth (Ogletree) Ponder and her husband, Todd, announce the birth of a son, William Ballard, on March 24, 2013. The family lives in Rome.

2000

(next reunion 2015)

Class Agent: Skye Wellesley

Ben Bagley and his wife, Miranda, were featured on HGTV’s “House Hunters International” last September. The couple lives in Hong Kong, where Ben is a pilot for Fed Ex. Ruffin Paulling married Katherine Ann Balkun on May 4, 2013, at Saint Adalbert’s Catholic Church in Providence, R.I. Ruffin is a senior sales executive with Siemens Corp. in Littleton, Colo., and Katherine is a research chemist at Waters Corp. in Golden.

47

Alumni Profile

Shawn Powell (’07) Playing the field

According to Shawn Powell (’07), his connection to Rome, Ga., and Darlington School stems from his father Larry’s hard-court heroics as a basketball player for then-Shorter College in the late 1970s. The elder Powell also worked at the Second Avenue YMCA during his college days, and after starting a family in Moultrie, Ga., some years later, he returned to the Rome Y in 1991 to assume the title of associate executive director.

This article was written by Ian Griffin, co-founder and managing partner of V3 Publications LLC in Rome. He serves as chief of advertising and sales director for the company’s well-known publication, V3 Magazine, in which he also writes a monthly column and other feature stories.

48

Naturally, Larry’s wife and children accompanied him, and it is here that his son Shawn’s love for athletic competition blossomed. “I was a daddy’s boy growing up, so wherever he went, I was right there with him,” Powell said.

“I have always been a person who has to be doing something, so if we were at a baseball game, I found a way to get out and swing a bat; if it was basketball, I found a hoop to shoot on. Sports were always at the forefront of our family, and regardless of the game being played, I wanted to compete at a high level.”

Powell’s father never pressured his children into playing sports. He let them choose which, if any, to participate in and didn’t give them a hard time if they chose not to play. While both of his sons expressed interest several different sports, Larry avoided coaching his boys until they were old enough to ask for his help.

“My dad knew we weren’t going to listen to his advice when we were little kids, so he didn’t coach me until I was 11 or 12,” Powell explained. “At that point, he asked me if I was ready to learn, and when I showed him that I was, he really helped develop me as a basketball player. For baseball and football, he put me with the right coaches … like Terry McAbee (baseball) and Greg Cater (football), who came along at the perfect time in my life to help me be the best athlete I could possibly be.”

Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bills

Powell’s Darlington career began at the end of his eighth-grade year and culminated with his high school graduation in 2007. A standout in baseball, basketball and football, he excelled on the field of play. However, it was the high standard of academic excellence expected at Darlington that he credits with setting him up for future success.

“I struggled with my grades when I first got to Darlington,” Powell said.

“I kind of coasted through my classes before I started there, and my grades reflected my poor study habits. The teachers at Darlington really showed me how to manage my time and organize my notes from class so that I got the most out of the study time I had available. I spent a lot of time in the Learning Center becoming a better student because I had to make good grades in order to compete in school athletics.”

Fortuitously, he met husband and wife teacher duo Joe and Angela Pieroni. Joe was his Middle School basketball coach, Angela his science teacher. An instant bond was formed between mentors and student, and it was one that would help Powell thrive both academically and socially at Darlington.

His God-given talent and passion for athletics only made Powell’s transition that much easier, as he was a major contributor to each team he joined.

He credits Darlington head football

coach Tommy Atha and retired head basketball coach Jim Van Es for making him the man he is today.

His fondest memory came during a basketball game against Coosa High School in which the region championship was on the line. “I’ll never forget that game,” Powell said. “It was over at Georgia Highlands College, and the announcer told all the fans who had come for the girls game before us that they had to leave and re-enter if they wanted to watch us play because there was a line around the building to [see our game]. The crowd went nuts every time one of us scored. I still get jacked just thinking about it.”

It was Powell’s punting ability on the football field, however, that would ultimately entice the Seminoles of Florida State University to offer him a scholarship in 2008. And it was soon after arriving in Tallahassee that he quickly learned a little-known truth – being a football player at the NCAA Division I level is a full-time job.

Were it not for Darlington’s insistence on developing unimpeachable study habits and time management skills, Powell says earning a degree in international relations while appearing on the starting roster for one of the nation’s premier college football programs would have been far more difficult. Practice, film study and grueling workout sessions are yearround activities for America’s gridiron

Darlington Magazine

warriors; therefore, Powell’s capacity to compartmentalize each of his athletic and educational duties is a major asset.

“I noticed right away that I was much more prepared to be a student-athlete than most of the incoming freshman at Florida State,” Powell admitted. “I graduated in two-and-a-half years and accomplished that by having 15- to 18-hour course loads each semester. I couldn’t have done that, played football, and maintained a healthy social life without the skills I picked up at Darlington.”

He finished his career at Florida State with a school record-setting average of 44.2 yards per punt, and was a consensus first-team All-American in 2011. He was a part of a resurgence of the Seminoles football program and played under the legendary coach Bobby Bowden, as well as current head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Oddly enough, Powell grew up a Florida Gators fan, but that allegiance was reassessed once he set foot on campus in Tallahassee. “I was once a Gator, and when I left for FSU – and I have never told anyone this before – but I told my sister I would put the orange and blue back on when I was done playing there,” he laughed. “Once I got there, though, I knew that would never happen. The tradition, the region and the passion of the fans on a Saturday afternoon at Doak Campbell Stadium changed me forever. Now and forever, I

Summer 2013

will hate the Florida Gators.”

With his highly decorated career at Florida State behind him, Powell was faced with another monumental decision moving forward: try his luck in the NFL Draft or put his international relations degree to use? Being the competitor he is, he quickly decided to resume training and make a run at the former of the two.

The draft passed without his name being called, but the Buffalo Bills quickly contacted Powell’s agent afterward and signed the NCAA standout. He would have to beat out 12-year starter and two-time Pro Bowler Brian Moorman in order to get the job.

The rookie posted solid numbers in the preseason, but with Moorman entering the last year of his contract, the Bills opted to go with their incumbent punter. Immediately, Powell’s agent began contacting other teams that had expressed interest in his client.

“The first thing you have to understand about the NFL is that, unlike college football, this is a business,” Powell explained. “The way I looked at it was that I was competing for a job that only has 32 positions (the number of teams in the NFL) available in the world. That’s a pretty elite group to be in, and just having an opportunity to compete for one of those jobs was an honor. I knew there was a good chance I would get released, but I had already made the decision to keep training so I [would be prepared if another team was] interested or if the Bills changed their minds.”

The 2012 season kicked off without Powell’s name appearing on an NFL roster, but it turned out Buffalo was the best place for him to be presented a second chance. Moorman got off to an atrocious start, averaging a career worst 32.7 yards per punt, and was released from his contract Sept. 25. That same day, the Bills re-signed Powell and named him their starting punter entering week four of the regular season versus the New England Patriots. His hard work and determination had paid off; his dream of playing in the NFL had become a reality.

Shawn Powell (’07) pictured with his parents, Kellie Kielbasa and Larry Powell, during a January jersey retirement ceremony at Darlington.

Shawn Powell is only the second Darlington School alumnus to ever play in the National Football League. The first, Doug McFalls (’61), was picked by the Chicago Bears nearly a half century ago, in Round 8 of the 1966 NFL Draft.

A daddy’s boy with a love for sports and an athlete who made his name on campus at Darlington, Powell is making Romans of all stripes (pardon the Tiger pun) proud of all he has accomplished – and will accomplish – in the years ahead.

“I couldn’t have made it to where I am today without the help of my friends, family and mentors,” Powell said. “Don’t get me wrong when I say this because I had a great childhood, but I really think the turning point for my life was making the move to Darlington. Had I never encountered the people I met there, I don’t know if I would have had the tools I needed to succeed at this level. I listened, I learned and I wanted to be the best at everything I did. I took every inch of what they told me and put it to use, and I will always be grateful for the knowledge I gained there.”

49

Class Notes

Ben (’02) and Sarah McElrath attend the Alumni Council Kickoff Party.

Brett Henson (’07), Mac Gilliland (’08), John Weeks (’10) and Kathryn Aldrich (’09) catch up at the North Carolina gathering.

Blake Rolan has been named wide receivers coach for the University of Cincinnati. At Darlington, Blake was quarterback. He went on to play football at Middle Tennessee State before graduating from the University of Louisville. He has been a graduate assistant coach at the University of Tennessee and also served as a graduate assistant coach under Tuberville at Auburn.

2001

(next reunion 2016)

Class Agents: Kelli (Hutchinson) Karanovich, Whitney (Keene) Whittington

Anna-Ward (Martens) Martin and her husband, Jim, announce the birth of a son, Les. The family lives in Marietta, Ga. Caroline (Dasher) McWhorter and her husband, Hil (’01), announce the birth of twins, Elizabeth Hilary and Samuel Garrin, on Oct. 28, 2012. The family lives in Cedartown, Ga.

Janie Hortman (’03, LD ’13) at Leadership Darlington

On behalf of the students, faculty and staff of Darlington School, we are most appreciative of your donation during the 2012-13 academic year. Thanks to you, we have raised over $1 million in the Annual Fund for the 18th consecutive year!

The Honor Roll of Donors for gifts received between June 1, 2012, and May 31, 2013, is available exclusively online at: www.darlingtonschool.org/honorroll Your gift has made a difference in the lives of our students – thank you for your support!

50

Anna (Sargent) Miller married Christopher Aaron Miller on Oct. 20, 2012, in Rome. The couple lives in Atlanta.

Whitney (Keene) Whittington and her husband, Andrew, announce the birth of a daughter, Annie Rose, on May 17, 2012. The family lives in Duluth, Ga. Sutton Connelly and his wife, Susan, announce the birth of a daughter, Lillian Grace, on March 14, 2013. The family lives in Trion, Ga. Leslie (Brown) Petit married Thomas Petit on Oct. 27, 2012, at the home of the bride’s parents. The couple lives in Paris, France.

Stephen Smith III and his wife, Keri, announce the birth of a daughter, Slade Catherine, on Feb. 14, 2013.

She weighed 7 lbs., 9 oz. and was 21 inches long. The family lives in Rome.

2004

(next reunion 2014)

Class Agent: Whitney (Smith) Hsu

Matt Gill is a senior consultant in Deloitte & Touche’s Mergers and Acquisitions Transaction Services Group in New York City. There, he provides financial due diligence and transaction consulting on small to large cap acquisitions and divestitures primarily in the healthcare and life science industry.

Laura (Draudt) Western and her husband, Matthew, announce the birth of a son, Jason, on Dec. 16, 2011.

The family lives in Cartersville, Ga. 2005

(next reunion 2015)

Class Agent: Madison (McRae) Criswell

Madison (McRae) Criswell married Jody Christopher Criswell on Sept.

15, 2012 in Jackson, Ga. The couple announces the birth of a son, Sam, on Jan. 9, 2013. The family lives in Macon, Ga. Zachary Ware has started an inshore fishing guide service on the gulf coast. He fishes for redfish, speckled trout, tarpon, etc. For more information, visit panamacitypigstickers.com. He guides from east of Apalachicola to Destin, Fla. 2006

(next reunion 2016)

Class Agent: Strom Mull

Elliott Harrison married Kelly Alexander Day on Feb. 2, 2013, at The Creek Club at I’On in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Darlington Magazine

Bess Kelley (’09), Jamie Vincent (’10), John Wilhoite (’12), Calley Craton (’11) and Caroline Baker (’09) attend the kindergarten and pre-first musical.

Hope (Lester) Sonam was among the finalists in GeorgiaCountry.com’s 2012 Country Music Female Artist of the Year Award. The singer/songwriter grew up in Rome and performed as a member of the country-rock band South 70 before going solo.

Peter Whatley married Alyssa June Maloof on April 20, 2013, in Rome.

Peter is a second-year graduate student at Mercer University’s Master of Medical Science Physician Assistant Program. Alyssa is a paralegal at the Law Offices of Betty Nguyen Davis and a second-year law student at Georgia State University.

2007

(next reunion 2017)

Class Agents: C.J. Cypress, Christie Doss

Andy Giannakakis was accepted to the Rhode Island School of Design MFA program in painting.

Chad Hulsey and his wife, Brandi, announce the birth of a son, Jonathan David, on July 18, 2012. The family lives in Mechanicsville, Va. Ben Stoddard, an alumnus of Darlington School Soccer Academy, is now coaching college soccer at Indiana Wesleyan University.

2008

(next reunion 2013)

Class Agent: Kelly O’Mara

Natalie Brock married Caleb Moffitt Babington on Jan. 26, 2013. The couple lives in Homewood, Ala. Lacey Sheppard was the individual medalist and helped the Berry College Lady Vikings golf team finish in second place at the UCSC (Santa Cruz) Invitational. She shot 83 the first day and 82 the second day, totaling 165 to give her a two-shot win.

Summer 2013

2009

Rick and Elizabeth Buice (’08) pictured at the North Carolina gathering.

(next reunion 2014)

Class Agents: Rachel Buckle, Shanarra Goode, Cleve Jackson

Katie Flint is the news director for Georgia Tech’s radio station, WREK. Kosuke Morimura stopped by to see his friends at Darlington during a recent visit to Rome. Kosuke graduated from Lee University in May 2013.

Patrick Pierson married Anna Catherine Day on May 4, 2013 at the Taylor-Grady House in Athens, Ga. Patrick is director of Athens PBJs, a non-profit organization. Anna is currently pursuing a master’s degree in professional counseling at Richmont Graduate University.

Abby Vincent, senior technical theater major at Valdosta State University, met up with former faculty member Jason Whitfield on a recent trip to New York City. She also spotted fellow Darlington alumni Ben Davidson (’11) and Cody Rivet (’10) at a recent Valdosta State University Zeta Tau Alpha formal.

2010

(next reunion 2015)

Class Agent: Cole Daniel

Mack McCann and several Darlington alumni gathered together for the wedding of Soccer Academy Coach Jeff Haigler on Oct. 20, 2012, in Columbia, S.C. 2012

(next reunion 2017)

Class Agent: Austin Spooner, John Wilhoite, Kelsey Ann Williams

The Class of 2013 pictured with their alumni relatives.

Jonathan Tierney helped coin the name “McCamish Maniacs” for the student spirit section at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets basketball games.

The games are hosted at Tech’s McCamish Pavilion. Jonathan says: “We were at the Wake Forest game and we were looking around and the student seats weren’t filled up.

We wanted to do something get the crowd more involved. I was just joking around with my friend and we decided it would be cool to come up with a name for the student section.

So we decided to use the name McCamish Maniacs. The students can have such a huge impact on the game and get in the opponent’s head because we might get away with saying some stuff that a 40-year-old man wouldn’t be able to.”

Myles Englis is No. 16 for Top-5 NCAA program Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.

51

In Memoriam

Ed White (’42)

A teacher, coach and friend Mike Cheatham (’50) fondly remembers playing football for the Darlington Tigers under Coach Ed White (’4 2).

“At halftime, the first-year coach’s team trailed he state champion Yellow Jackets, 34 to zip. After haranguing his shell-shocked players, drenched by the steady downpour outside, the young coach approaches his smallest and least talented team member,” Cheatham wrote in his book, “Class of the Carolinas.” “’Jake Cheatham here could have played better than any one of you out there,’ he said, laying a hand on my padded shoulder.

‘Jake Cheatham will start the second half and play every minute of it. One thing he’s not is a quitter!’ … This tough-as-a-pine-knot competitor presented me with only athletic letter I would ever win. And I could identify with this intense little man with the big heart. Maybe that’s why I let him call me ‘Jake’ even though my name is Mike. I just respected him so that I thought it impertinent to correct him.”

Born in China to Presbyterian missionaries Emma and Locke White, Ed’s passion and talent for athletics dates back to his early years. As a boarding student Darlington, he excelled in football, basketball, baseball and tennis. In fact, his basketball team photo can be found today in the display cases in the Huffman Athletic Center’s Van Es Arena. Emerging as a leader among his peers, White was also vice president of the junior class and a member of the Knights of the Grail, the “D” Club and the “Y” Cabinet.

He went on to attend Davidson College in North Carolina, a school that would play a very important role in his future. In college, his 5’ 9” stature did not stop him from lettering in basketball three years, serving as team

52

Photo courtesy of Davidson College

captain, and earning the title of high scorer as a junior and senior. He also played football and baseball.

“He was a small guy, but a heck of an athlete,” said Dan Hanks Jr. (’61).

During a summer vacation, White met Carol Meade, who was singing in the choir of the Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Ky., where his father was minister. They married in 1945 and shortly thereafter, he left his new bride and his studies, to serve two years in the United States Air Corps.

After graduating from Davidson in 1947, White returned to his alma mater, Darlington, to teach until 1949.

It was during this period of time that he coached Cheatham.

“During this era and even today, there is a tremendous amount of connection between Darlington and Davidson,” said Hanks, who – like White – earned his undergraduate degree from Davidson College. “Dr. Wilcox [former president of Darlington 1921-54] went to Davidson and several faculty members – including Ed White, Joe Stukes (’44) and Gordon Neville (’55), to name a few – went from Darlington to Davidson

and back to Darlington.”

White left Darlington to pursue graduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill and the University of South Carolina.

Armed with his master’s in education, he became assistant principal of newly opened Eau Claire High School in Columbia, S.C., before returning to Davidson as assistant dean of students.

From 1955 to 1979, he worked in admissions and financial aid at Davidson, serving as dean of admissions and, later, as director of admissions and financial aid. A 1979 article from Davidson’s archives states that as many as half of the college’s 12,000 living alumni (at that time) may have been admitted under White’s leadership.

“Ed White’s personal interest in Davidson applicants and his sound judgments played a leading role in determining the high caliber of Davidson’s students for many years,” said Samuel Spencer, former Davidson president, in the same article.

Among his many responsibilities, White helped recruit student-athletes who could meet the academic requirements while excelling on the

Darlington Magazine

field – admitting students who became the nationally ranked basketball teams of the 1960s, the football stars of the late 1960s who went on to win the Southern Conference in 1969, and the influx of female talent in the 1970s after the college went co-ed.

White left in 1979 to become athletic director of Southwestern at Memphis, an independent, Presbyterian-related liberal arts institution much like Davidson. There, he also coached men’s tennis, a sport he had played competitively in his adult years for over

a decade, becoming the fifth-ranked senior tennis player over 50 in the entire Southeastern United States.

He served in this capacity for five years before returning to Davidson, N.C. for his retirement. But he continued playing tennis into his senior years while he and his wife lived at The Pines at Davidson.

According to White’s obituary, “Ed won the N.C. State Doubles Championship the week before suffering a stroke.”

In 2007, White was inducted into the Davidson College Athletic Hall of Fame and past employees, friends and

family honored him with a scholarship established in his name.

His memorial service was held at Davidson on May 5, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Carol; his three children, Henry Edmunds Jr., Susan and Locke; and his grandchildren; Hope, Katherine and Jordan.

In Memoriam 1929

Henry “Lawrence” Lansdell died Nov. 20, 2012

1937

Fletcher Winstead died Nov. 30, 2008

1938

Earl Beatty Jr. died Nov. 26, 2012

1947

Maurice Culberson Sr. died Sept. 17, 2012

1949

Randolph “Randy” Karrh died Nov. 18, 2012

1954

Glenville Haldi died May 14, 2007

1970

Frank Parr died on July 25, 2012

Hubert Walston died Oct. 16, 2012

Dan Moore died May 8, 2009

Dick Pretz died April 3, 2013

1959

Dick Lesley died March 10, 2013

1971

Tavner Dunlap died Feb. 4, 2013

Mac Richards Jr. died Jan. 30, 2012

1960

Jerry Vick died March 10, 2013

1974

John Floyd died Oct. 7, 2012

David Lock died Sept. 26, 2010

1976

Robert “C.J.” C. Jordan III died Nov. 6, 2012

Jack McDonough Jr. died March 19, 2013

1961

Ernest Higgins Jr. died Dec. 25, 2012

1979

Brian M. Sumner died Jan. 4, 2013

Travis “Pat” Story died Oct. 30, 2012

1952

1950

David Mitchell died Aug. 10, 2012

1948

H. Howard Smith died Aug. 22, 2012

1962

Douglas Davis died Jan. 16, 2011

1981

Walter C. Palmer died Nov. 27, 2007

Bill Stubbs died Oct. 21, 2012

1967

Tommy Denney died Aug. 10, 2012

1989

Whit Wyatt III died Oct. 18, 2012

Andrew Earl Hall died in May of 2012

John McLeod Jr. died Oct. 3, 2012

1953

Archer Glenn died Oct. 25, 2011

Jerry Pietenpol died Jan. 26, 2013

1969

Richard Mason died Jan. 4, 2013

1995

H. Broughton Land died Dec. 2, 2012

Nick Nichols III died July 20, 2012

1998

Brandon Mikell died Aug. 29, 2012

Not Pictured – 1940: Sunny Dunlap Sr. , died June 18, 2010 • Wright Hollingsworth, died July 16, 2012 • Barden Winstead, died Jan. 18, 2013 1941: Edward Cunningham Jr., died April 9, 2012 1942: George Cato, died Jan. 29, 2013 1944: Sam Ransom, died Nov. 23, 2012 1949: Dick Coburn, died April 2, 2012 • Ed Jackson, died Sept. 15, 2012 1952: Walter Magness, died Feb. 28, 2013 1956: James Williams, died Sept. 5, 2011 1960: Bill Moore Jr., died Nov. 26, 2012 Robert “Bob” G. Wilson III, died Feb. 3, 2012 1963: Pat Nicholson, died Sept. 3, 2010 • Phillip “Buck” Preston, died Jan. 26, 2013 • Louis Schubert Jr., died Dec. 29, 2012 1965: Tom Borland Jr., died Oct. 18, 2012 • David Cannon, died Nov. 18, 2012 1966: Mercer Tharpe II, died Sept. 11, 2011 1978: Kimberly (Headley) McMullen, died Dec. 22, 2009 1987: Tasia (Rigas) Sheppard, died Jan. 18, 2013 1998: Evan Landry, died April 6, 2012 Memorials published in this edition were reported to the Advancement Office prior to April 15, 2013. Additional memorials can be found on the alumni web page.

Summer 2013

53

Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Rome GA 30161 Permit No. 501

1014 Cave Spring Road • Rome, Georgia 30161-4700

Leaving a Legacy Bolling Farmer (’66T) believes that precollege education is a key factor in being successful in the business world and the community. That’s why she has made a planned gift to Darlington School.

“Although our resumes are often judged based on university and college performances, our judgment and our mental framework formed by earlier education are often critical to success at the collegiate and graduate levels,” she said. “My commitment to Darlington is to enhance and sustain providing solid educational foundation in North Georgia.”

Since her graduation from Thornwood School, the all-girls preparatory school that merged with Darlington in 1973, Farmer has gone on to become a senior executive at Booz Allen Hamilton, a leading provider of management and technology consulting services to the U.S. government in defense, intelligence and civil markets. She has over 30 years of experience in systems engineering, large system development and I.T. integration in the intelligence

community, and served as a mathematics and engineering professor at the University of Florida prior to joining the industry.

“Certainly, the teachers and classes at Thornwood improved my study habits, deductive thought and problem-solving skills, and my communication skills. The smaller class sizes offering individual coaching and encouraging participation aided this,” Farmer said. “However, there are many schools that provide this experience and that I could support financially. What brings me back to Darlington are the wonderful friendships that began when I was there. I have a deep respect for the integrity and determination of the faculty and staff, and cherish the friendships I built.”

To find out how you, too, can support Darlington with a planned gift, visit www. darlingtonschool.org/giftplanning or call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 706-236-0401

Catalyzing Extraordinary Lives.

Darlington Magazine