PILLARS - The Episcopal High School Fall 2016 Magazine

Lights in the Darkness • As Irons Sharpens Iron • The Gap Year

Episcopal High School was founded in 1983 as a four‑year coeducational day school within the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

ACCREDITATION Independent Schools Association of the Southwest MEMBERSHIPS National Association of Independent Schools National Association of Episcopal Schools Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Educational Records Bureau College Board National Association for College Admission Counseling Texas Association for College Admission Counseling Southwest Preparatory Conference MISSION Episcopal High School is an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas established for the purpose of providing a superior education in preparation for college and a significant life thereafter. Through a rich offering of academic, spiritual, artistic, and athletic programs, the School provides an opportunity for each student to reach his or her maximum spiritual, intellectual, social, and ethical potential. Operating as a Christian community within the beliefs and traditions of the Episcopal Church, EHS in its teaching philosophy emphasizes understanding and responding to the individual needs and capabilities of each student.

In an effort to reflect the community we serve, EHS strives to maintain a student body that is diverse in its social, economic, ethnic, and academic backgrounds.

ADMISSION Episcopal High School admits students of all races, colors, and national/ethnic origins to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national/ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other school‑administered programs.

ALUMNI Please share your news with the EHS Alumni Association. Send information to: Margaret Young myoung@ehshouston.org 713‑512‑3600

Kendall McCord '03 kmccord@ehshouston.org 713‑512‑3478

b facebook.com/groups/EHSHoustonAlumni x instagram.com/ehs_alumni j linkedin.com/grps/Episcopal‑High‑School‑Houston‑Alumni‑1029617 This publication is printed on FSC certified paper with soy‑based inks.

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Episcopal High School P. O. Box 271299 Houston, TX 77277‑1299

The Episcopal High School Magazine

IN THIS ISSUE From the Head of School 04 News at EHS 06 The Gap Year 10 Alumni Leadership Day 14 As Iron Sharpens Iron 20 Lights in the Darkness 24 Pop Quiz 28 The Last Word 35

ON THE COVER

After raising funds to build a safe house in Zambia, seniors Grace Geib, Alexandra Pearson, and Gigi Hanna joined the young residents in July for a grand opening celebration. Photo by Marshall Foster.

SAVE THE DATE Auction Gala 02‑24‑17 Alumni Weekend 04‑07‑17 Commencement 05‑21‑17

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear EHS Family, When Lynda Underwood, featured within as this year's Ned Becker award winner, and the other founders established Episcopal High School, they had in mind exactly the sort of community evidenced in this issue of Pillars: students like Grace Geib '17, Alexandra Pearson '17, and Gigi Hanna '17, pictured on the cover, taught by teachers like the Rev. Phil Kochenburger, our new Dean for Spiritual Life, becoming alums like Chidi Achilefu '04 and Katie Barnes '92. Committed to lives of significance in service to others, EHS students and alums continue in ways large and small to make a difference in the world in which they live; and there remains great need for that difference in this world.

What a difference one EHS student's mission trip in 2013 made, as you'll read in our cover story on page 24. Grace's first trip inspired her friends to do similar work, all of which resulted in the fundraising for and construction of a new permanent home, Bethel House, for 10 orphan girls in Zambia. Of course, students like these are led and inspired by equally committed teachers, veterans and rookies alike. Long-time faculty member Ray Balch has inspired countless EHS students to serve others: Ray was, for instance, one of the first people James Lloyd '02 consulted when deciding whether to run for Congress.

And every year brings new teachers like Phil Kochenburger to campus, who is poised to inspire the next generation of EHS students to lives of significance by virtue of his long service as an Army chaplain.

Of course, our alums are proof positive of the founders' vision. Read Chidi's words on page 16 as he recounts his experience in Karen Foster's anatomy class and then at the Houston VA Hospital with EHS's Students of Service. Learn how he was inspired to become a doctor, to give back to others in the practice of medicine in Waco. Or experience Katie's journey, begun at EHS, which gave her "the opportunity to develop an original voice." As a director at Texas Central Partners and an active member of Christ Church Cathedral, Katie credits EHS with preparing her for and inspiring her to lead a life in service to others.

It is such a blessing to witness the good that EHS does in the world, through its alumni, its faculty, and its students. Thank you for all you have done and all you will do to sustain this legacy.

Go Knights!

Ned Smith Head of School

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Head of School Ned Smith greets the Alumni Leadership Day participants. Photo by Mauro Gomez.

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NEWS AT EHS Seniors Recognized

by National Merit Program Seven seniors have been designated as Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program. These students met the requirements to enter the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program based on results from the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Out of approximately 1.5 million high school juniors who take the PSAT, the students listed below are among about 34,000 Commended Students nationwide who have shown exceptional academic promise.

Congratulations to these National Merit Commended Students: Grace Geib, Gavin Geib, Calvin Henry, Madelyn Klinkerman, Anthony Small, Amanda Strang, and Abigail Wrather.

In addition, the National Merit program designated Steven Perez as a National Hispanic Scholar.

The St. Anselm Society: Leaving a Legacy to EHS When courage, genius, and generosity hold hands, all things are possible.

Generosity comes in many forms, and it is often the best way for you to support important causes that matter the most to you in your life. Planning for a future gift to Episcopal High School is one way you make a significant impact and ensure your faith in the School's mission is sustained for generations of future students.

The St. Anselm Society at Episcopal High School recognizes and honors individuals who have made provisions for EHS in their wills or other deferred gift commitments. St. Anselm was dedicated to learning and to his church, which is why, in 1997, the EHS Board of Trustees created the St. Anselm Society to honor his legacy and the legacy of others dedicated to our School.

While gifts in the form of current income are the most frequently requested contributions to Episcopal High School, donors may make gifts in a variety of ways. Please consider including EHS in your estate plans. Bequests are the simplest and easiest form of a planned gift, and 85 percent of all planned gifts take this form. However, many other options are available for a donor's consideration. A helpful resource can be found on the School's website at ehshouston.planmygift.org.

With the courage to leave a legacy, a little know‑how, and a giving heart, incredible things can happen. For additional information, contact Peggy Haney, Director of Advancement, at phaney@ehshouston.org or 713‑512‑3436.

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Episcopal's World Affairs Club Takes a Global View The largest academic club on campus is the World Affairs Club sponsored by history teacher Alice Davidson. More than 65 students participate in the club, and Episcopal has the largest presence among Houston‑area schools at World Affairs Council events. Last year, junior Abigail Wallin attended more events than any local student, and according to Davidson, the odds are strong that Wallin will achieve that status again this year.

Davidson says her goal for the EHS club is to expose students to college‑level lectures on foreign affairs.

"I want them to hear authorities of various fields speak about issues that affect our world," says Davidson, "and to be exposed to differing viewpoints on topics of global importance."

A highlight of fall club events was lunch with Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United Nations. The ambassador met with the students to speak about his childhood, his path to U.S. citizenship, and the future of the Middle East. Each student received an autographed copy of Khalilzad's book, The Envoy: From Kabul to the White House, My Journey Through a Turbulent World.

News at EHS

Wilson and Little Stand Tall Among Elite Players in the U.S.

Lynda Knapp Underwood Presented with the Humanitarian Award, Craig Childers Named a Life Trustee at Founders Day Chapel

For defensive tackle Marvin Wilson and offensive tackle Walker Little, the 2016 football season has been filled with media requests, accolades, and applause.

This year's Founders Day Chapel recognized two of the School's long‑standing supporters, Lynda Knapp Underwood and Craig Childers.

Both players are ranked as top 10 high school recruits at their positions, and both seniors have received multiple offers from Division I powerhouses to play college football.

In October, American Family Life Insurance traveled to Episcopal High School two times to award each player an All‑American jersey. Wilson is an Under Armour All‑American, and plays in the Under Armour Bowl on January 1 in Orlando, Florida. Little is a U.S. Army All‑American and suits up for the U.S. Army Bowl in San Antonio on January 7.

Both players credit their teammates, coaches, and each other, for their outstanding success. Explains Wilson, "One of the reasons I'm an All‑American is that my brother Walker Little pushes me day in and day out. We both do whatever we have to do to get better!"

Lynda Knapp Underwood was presented with the Edward C. Becker Humanitarian Award for "extraordinary leadership, which has improved and enriched the lives of others." Head of School Ned Smith said in his remarks, "I cannot think of someone who exemplifies this award better than Lynda Knapp Underwood, who has continuously served the School since the days before we opened our doors. She has given generously of her time, talent, and treasure, and she has passed that example on to all three of her children, including Duncan Underwood, Class of 1989, who is a current trustee.

"Students, as you pass through the door of the Underwood Theatre or the Underwood Student Center," Smith continued, "I want you to think about Lynda Knapp Underwood and her model of service to EHS for over 30 years. You and all of the alumni before you are her legacy. Your life will forever be shaped by her vision and the vision of all the founders of EHS and the trustees who have carried the mission onward."

Founders Day Chapel also included the appointment of W. Craig Childers as a Life Trustee. Childers has served on every committee of the board of trustees and is currently serving on the Governance Committee and on the Endowment board.

"We have relied on Craig Childers' sage advice, financial acumen, and dedication on countless occasions," said Ned Smith. "I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of the mission of Episcopal High School, and I am honored to recognize you as a Life Trustee."

"We are honored to have two All‑Americans at EHS and proud of both Walker and Marvin and all that they have accomplished in their four years here," says Athletic Director Jason Grove. "Walker and Marvin are outstanding young men who contribute to the community in many ways. Their success is a testament to the program that Coach Leisz and his staff have put together at Episcopal High School."

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NEWS AT EHS High Fundraising Performance Earns EHS National CASE Award The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) recently announced that Episcopal High School has earned a 2016 CASE Sustained Excellence Award in Fundraising.

The award recognizes fundraising programs that have demonstrated exemplary performance in three of the past five years, from 2010 to 2015.

Says CASE President Sue Cunningham, "Congratulations on this outstanding achievement. Episcopal High School has not only demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism and best practices in its fundraising efforts, it has contributed to the betterment of educational advancement worldwide."

Idea Lab Designed with Innovation in Mind Students who helped found the EHS Idea Lab, a creative makerspace with 3D printers, machine tools, and a CNC machine, held an open house for faculty, staff, and fellow students to introduce the community to their exciting new workshop.

The lab can be found behind the library, with plenty of tables and a Lucite‑walled printing area. The room provides space for students to print small items such as camera lens caps, coasters, models of protons, and board game pieces, as well as parts for larger projects. President of the Make More Everything club, sophomore Rohan Asthana, says the lab is open to all students after school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The club holds meetings each Friday.

Idea Lab sponsor and Director of Technology David Lankford adds, "A team of juniors has jumped at the opportunities provided by the Idea Lab and designed a concept car which they will build in the new space." The concept car, an aluminum‑bodied, all‑electric vehicle, will use Li‑ion battery technology and feature a state‑of‑the‑art chassis design. Central to the concept car's design, adds Lankford, is a radically different driving position that the team will demonstrate when they launch the car this winter.

Austin McGinnis, Weston Bering, Harrison Hobbs, Shane Hauser, Clayton Reid, Ryan Fulghum, and Will Worthington make up the core of the team who plan to unveil their design in January.

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Fourteen Students and Two Faculty Members Capture Photography Awards The Association of Texas Photography Instructors (ATPI) recognized 14 EHS students and two faculty members in their annual photography, video, and film contest. Each year, ATPI receives more than 6,000 entries from across the U.S. from public and private schools. The winners reflect excellence in several categories, including cell phone photography, sports photography, fashion photography, and video.

Students who earned awards from this fall's contest are Sarah Vanderbloeman, Gwyneth Bryan, Weston Bering, Tina Taghi, Morgan McKee, Mark Enyart, Austin McGinnis, Will Keenan, Cristian Arias, Miranda Greenwalt, Mollie Hanna, Sophia Wayne, Margaret Runnels, and Sasha Vermeil. Mollie Hanna, Will Keenan, and Sasha Vermeil received two awards each.

Visual Arts Chair Kate Philbrick and ETV instructor Pejman Milani earned awards in the faculty category.

News at EHS

Fall SPC Showcases Valiant Efforts The SPC competition in Austin showcased the grit and talent of EHS athletes and the dedicated support of our fan base.

The football team fought hard against Fort Worth's All Saints Episcopal in the championship match. The Knights were up 27‑24 at halftime, but the Saints rallied to win 57‑39. The Knights finished with a record of 9‑2.

In cross country, the girls finished 8th, with senior Gwyneth Bryan placing 15th overall. The boys cross country team came in 9th. The Knights will miss their seniors, but a young and motivated group returns in 2017.

The field hockey team defeated Fort Worth Country Day 2‑0 to earn their first SPC tournament win since 2013 and took a highly‑ranked Casady team to overtime before losing 3‑2. The Knights, who finished the season with a 9‑9 record, were a young team this year and graduate only three seniors.

The girls volleyball team picked up a 3‑1 win over Hockaday and finished 6th after dropping a 3‑0 match to ESD and a tough 3‑2 match to Oakridge. The girls had a terrific season and finished with an overall record of 24‑12.

Episcopal High School Welcomes Carol Wasden as the New Director of Admission Carol Wasden joins EHS this year as the new Director of Admission. Wasden began her admission career at Boston University, where she managed all print and electronic communications for the admission cycle in addition to recruiting and reading applications. She served as Director of College Guidance at Hawken School in Cleveland and as Director of Academic Outreach for Naviance, a software provider that serves the college counseling process, before spending nine years as Director of College Counseling at The Hockaday School in Dallas.

While at Hockaday, Wasden served as President of the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling and as Chair of Organizational Advancement for the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools. She holds a master's degree in education and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, and she was the inaugural blogger for The New York Times "The Choice" blog about college admission.

"I am excited to represent Episcopal High School as the Director of Admission," says Wasden. "I have seen remarkable teaching going on in the classrooms, and I appreciate how much emphasis our coaches place on character. And when I have a particularly busy day, it's a gift to be able to sit for a moment in Chapel to remember what matters most.

"As I go through my own freshman year at Episcopal, I have been especially impressed by how genuinely we live out our mission. Everyone who is used to reaching out to new students has reached out to me and made me feel welcome, and the students themselves have shared great stories about their experiences here. I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Episcopal High School community, and I am looking forward to giving that opportunity to a new incoming class this spring."

The boys volleyball team played well in their three matches and look to build off this year's momentum. The boys entered tournament play as the #3 seed in the south zone and return a solid group of young players.

"I am proud of our accomplishments," says Athletic Director Jason Grove.

"School spirit was outstanding this season, and our community showed incredible support for the Knights."

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The Gap Year

A PASSPORT TO ADVENTURE AND KNOWLEDGE When the White House announced that the First Family's oldest daughter, Malia, would be taking a gap year before starting Harvard in the fall of 2017, traffic to the American Gap Association's website spiked to record levels.

Parents and students throughout the United States were interested in learning more about this post‑high‑school option that has been gaining popularity since the 1980s.

At Episcopal High School, Director of College Counseling Julie Rollins says that inquiries about gap year programs are increasing, and in the past few years at least two seniors, Joanna LeFebvre '13 and Devin Gohel '16, deferred college acceptances to complete gap years.

Some students are seeking adventure; others believe a gap year can help them gain a better sense of what to focus on during college.

Knights Abroad Devin Gohel (see photos, next page) is currently spending a semester in Thailand in a program organized by Pacific Discovery, where he will also tour Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, returning at the end of November. After a few more travels in the spring of 2017, including a month‑long photography course in Santa Fe, Gohel begins his studies in computer science at the University of Michigan next fall.

Joanna LeFebvre (see essay, page 12) spent a year in Bolivia via Rotary International, and is in Chile this fall studying at the Pontifica Universidad Catolica and interning with the office of the Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy.

LeFebvre is enrolled at Washington University where she majors in International and Area Studies with a focus on Development.

Student Interest Grows Rollins, who has been working in college counseling at EHS for more than 25 years, recalls that 10 years ago, parents were typically the initiators of discussions about a gap year.

They wanted their children to have time to mature and build confidence before juggling dorm life, fraternities and sororities, and tough academics.

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But in the past few years more students are starting the discussion about a gap year. "Students who have been working tirelessly on their studies and taking every AP offered are beginning to consider the benefits of a break," says Rollins. "Some students are seeking adventure; others believe a gap year can help them gain a better sense of what to focus on during college."

A growing number of gap year options are offered, and research is easy with websites such as American Gap Association (americangap.org) and Global Citizen Year (globalcitizenyear.org), or by attending a local gap year fair sponsored by USA Gap Year Fairs (usagapyearfairs.org).

A Houston‑area fair is scheduled at St. John's School on February 1, 2017.

Many gap year experiences are sponsored programs, while others are planned and organized by the students themselves. The expense of a sponsored gap year can be prohibitive, ranging up to $25,000. Increasingly, internships and community service opportunities such as those offered

by Americorps or City Year provide low‑cost programs that include room and board. Students can sometimes earn college credit for gap years, which makes the cost worthwhile.

Universities such as Harvard, Princeton, University of North Carolina, and Tufts offer scholarships to help students with the financial burdens of transit and room and board.

With features like travel, service projects, internships, cultural immersion, college credit, and character‑building, the First Family and EHS families are discovering that the benefits of a gap year are boundless.

—Claire C. Fletcher

Top Destinations for Gappers

Cycling through the Vietnam countryside.

United States Ecuador Israel India Australia Senegal Thailand Fiji France Peru Motivations for Taking a Gap Year 92% want to gain life experience and personal growth

Bathing an elephant.

85% want to travel 81% want a break from the traditional academic track Gap Year Outcomes Allowed time for personal reflection Increased maturity and self‑confidence Learned to interact with people of different backgrounds Data provided by American Gap Association.

Photos courtesy of Pacific Discovery.

Flood relief crew at the monkey sanctuary.

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MY GAP YEAR IN BOLIVIA

by Joanna LeFebvre '13

After graduating from EHS in 2013, I left my friends, family, and deferred my college education for Santa Cruz de la Sierra Bolivia with Rotary Youth Exchange, a volunteer‑run exchange program designed for high schoolers through the service organization, Rotary International. Thanks to a rigorous curriculum at EHS that precluded my participation in typical high school shenanigans, I had no need to earn good grades at Colegio Santo Tomás and was ready to relax and let the Spanish language permeate my brain. Of course, building up comfortable proficiency in a second language isn't as easy as sipping a cup of coca tea, and neither is navigating the confusing and sometimes frustrating incongruences of a culture and host family with a different value system from that of the communities in which I grew up.

I didn't miss home much and developed good relationships with my host family and classmates quickly, so the most challenging aspect of my gap year was struggling to cope with substantially different standards for gender norms and expectations. The women in Santa Cruz are expected to look flawless—always; if you aren't thin enough, made‑up enough, or if you haven't fixed the bulge in your nose yet, people will comment on it. All of this unnatural beauty is greeted with cat‑calling in the streets, regardless of age. To maintain a spotless reputation, families expect their daughters to be home hours before their sons, and victim blaming is rampant.

Of course, as a young adult in the U.S. I am aware that these blatant forms of misogyny are also commonplace in this country, but I was shocked by the extent of it in Santa Cruz.

The most rewarding part of my experience in Bolivia was becoming fluent in Spanish. About five months into my exchange year, my parents visited and we traveled to Peru together (the Amazon, Cuzco, and Machu Picchu of course).

This was the moment I realized that my Spanish wasn't being choked and twisted on the way out, and I wasn't asking anyone to repeat their sentences. From then on, the best compliment I could receive was someone asking where I was from, implying that my accent wasn't distracting enough to flag me immediately as a gringa.

Although my gap year experience did not radically alter my academic path, it deepened my understanding of what I am studying at college.

I am at Washington University majoring in International and Area Studies with a concentration in Development and a regional focus on Latin America. A positive impact

The Gap Year

of my time in Bolivia is that now my Spanish classes are a breeze. However, my lived experiences have also given me invaluable perspective that my classmates wait to gain until a three‑month study abroad program junior year.

Although I learned a lot about the culture in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and about Bolivian politics, one thing I realized during my gap year was that I probably could have had an even more enriching or broadening experience doing an "exchange" in a less than affluent community right at home in Houston. I learned that the lifestyles and luxuries experienced by the upper‑middle class are relatively similar across national and cultural boundaries. The wealth gap in Bolivia is startling, and I certainly didn't gain a firsthand experience of an average Bolivian's life. I was confronted with my own privilege and the fact that similar disparities exist in the U.S. Most gap year experiences throw students into unfamiliar environments where they are asked to adapt quickly and positively represent their personal identities. My year was no different, and like most students I gained confidence in my abilities to confront and excel in new situations.

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ALUMNI LEADERSHIP DAY EMPHASIZES CAREERS AND CONNECTIONS This year, the EHS community was excited to see the return of Alumni Leadership Day and Alumni Chapel. On October 18, James Lloyd '02, a Rice University and UT Law alumnus, spoke in Chapel about the importance of his time at EHS and how it shaped him and prepared him for professional pursuits.

Lloyd's comments focused on three main points: first, get involved and start early. His experience volunteering at the VA and for political campaigns gave him a head start on his own run for Congress. Second, start small. "Be humble and demonstrate that you have a good attitude," said Lloyd, who credited his willingness to do any task, however menial, with opening the door to a White House internship. Third, ask for help. Lloyd encouraged the students to turn to the EHS community for help, both now and in their future ventures. Ray Balch, Lloyd's former government teacher, was one of the first people he called when considering a run for Congress.

On October 19, the 2nd annual Alumni Leadership Day welcomed over 50 alumni back to campus to speak with seniors about their careers and the paths that helped them achieve their professional goals. Each senior attended two panels in a classroom setting before moving onto lunch, where students and alumni could have a more casual and personal conversation. Students and alumni alike engaged in lively conversation. Alumni spoke honestly of their experiences, what worked well and what required several attempts. Most importantly, alumni encouraged the students to plan as best as they can, but be prepared to be flexible and willing to take calculated risks.

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UP CLOSE WITH ALUMNI LEADERSHIP DAY PANELISTS Chidi Achilefu '04 Anesthesiologist and Junior Partner at Mid‑Tex Anesthesiology Associates "It all started in Karen Foster's anatomy class with the dissection of a frog," Chidi Achilefu said when asked what drew him to medicine. He recalls being awed by the sight of a complete, integrated system that supported a living being.

Although Achilefu experienced an epiphany in anatomy class, he said that at times, his efforts and attention were not as focused on academics as they should have been. His teachers recognized his abilities, however, and pushed him to make the most of his time at EHS; eventually their high expectations became his own.

Achilefu's time volunteering in the Stroke Unit at the VA Hospital through Students of Service also provided him

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the opportunity to care for veterans. Their stories and experiences compelled Achilefu to begin exploring a career in medicine. Achilefu credits his early volunteering experience and academic preparation with helping him prepare a strong medical school application—a necessity, given that only 20 percent of applicants gain acceptance.

Now a practicing anesthesiologist, Achilefu and his wife, Allison, an internist, have settled in Waco and are beginning to explore how they can use their education and expertise to give back, both at home and afar.

Chris Bailey '04 Owner of Chris Bailey Photography LLC, Magnolia Portraits, and Ham & Cheese Photobooth If you attended a Houston wedding recently, there is a strong

Alumni Leadership Day

chance Chris Bailey, wearing his signature bow tie and infectious smile, was the man behind the camera capturing every detail of that special day.

Since launching his company in 2008, Bailey has become one of the most sought‑after wedding photographers in the city, and his business continues to grow. He now has a team of four photographers and operates three businesses: Chris Bailey Photography, Magnolia Portraits, and Ham & Cheese Photobooth. Chris Bailey Photography's main focus is weddings and events. Magnolia is the portraits branch of the company, capturing senior portraits for many EHS students as well as family portraits. Bailey and his team work hard to provide a unique experience for their clients by shooting more than just the classic posed photo. "Ham it up and say cheese" is the motto behind Bailey's fun and interactive Ham & Cheese Photobooth, which began in January 2015.

Episcopal laid a strong foundation for Bailey as an artist and as a professional. After learning the basics of photography at St. Francis Episcopal Day School, Bailey came to EHS with "a new‑found love of photography," he says. "Episcopal, with its incredible photo program, helped me to develop my photography skills as well as plan for a future in making pictures. At EHS, I had teachers and staff who constantly believed in me and pushed me to do my best. They taught me

how to work hard and to believe in myself. As an entrepreneur, you have to believe in yourself and those around you."

Bailey also credits former EHS photography teacher Cara DeBusk for her "careful teaching and wonderful support."

During his senior year, Bailey recalls when DeBusk purchased a large format camera. At the time, Bailey idealized photographer Ansel Adams for his fine art landscape work.

Coincidentally, Adams used a large format camera to capture his incredible works of art—Bailey was instantly fascinated.

Using this camera and being exposed to this technology prior to college was a pivotal moment in his photo career.

When asked why he wants to participate in Alumni Leadership Day, Bailey states, "I hope I can share my experience, answer questions, and offer some small bit of help in guiding students in what can be a rewarding, but also challenging, career in the arts."

Katie Barnes '92 Director of Right of Way at Texas Central Partners Katie Barnes absorbed lessons from textbooks and lectures in political science at Texas Christian University and went on

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to earn her J.D. at South Texas College of Law, but, looking back, she realizes that a primary component of her career success was mastered at Episcopal High School. "In the early years of Episcopal, we were encouraged to dive into the many extracurricular offerings offered as well as a full academic schedule. I was a founding member of Students of Service, lead by faculty sponsor Scott Poteet, and we completed many service projects, whether at work camps or on home repair weekends. During my junior and senior years in high school, I became involved in the dance program and performed at concerts, even though I had never danced on stage before," she remembers.

"These experiences were central to my growth and forged lifelong friendships, but I realize now that exploring different activities with different types of students taught me how to manage my time, how to multitask, and how to get along with all kinds of people—skills I rely on every day in my job.

"Episcopal gave me the opportunity to develop an original voice," she adds, "and I have been able to carry that voice forward in graduate school and in my career." Today, as Director of Right of Way at Texas Central Partners, Barnes is on the management team for the Texas‑based company that is developing a high‑speed passenger train and associated facilities between Houston and Dallas. The rail is slated to

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be built by 2022. Each day she coordinates with attorneys, engineers, and public relations and real estate professionals to acquire the necessary land and rights for the project. "We hold open houses, political forums, and we negotiate with property owners, some happy, some not as happy," says Barnes. "The challenge is ensuring that all the pieces come together on schedule and on budget."

Another gift from Episcopal is her love of faith and service.

She is active at her church, Christ Church Cathedral, serving as a past Vestry member and on the steering committee for the Hines Center for Spirituality, supporting various outreach projects such as The Beacon, a day shelter for the homeless in downtown Houston.

Life skills, close friends, the Four Pillars, learning to live with purpose—the EHS effect on her life is positive and profound.

"I am grateful that in 1988 my parents and I took a chance on 'that new high school,' Episcopal!"

Alumni Leadership Day

The Arts and Entertainment panel was interesting because there were such a variety of careers represented, ranging from visual artists to a venue operator. I enjoyed hearing the different perspectives that each panelist brought to the session.

Jordan Pytosh

I plan to major in neuroscience and go to medical school, so I appreciated all the discussion in the Medicine and Science sessions. The panelists were all very honest about their day‑to‑day responsibilities as well as the sacrifices and the level of commitment that is necessary to excel.

Chandler Cade

I learned valuable information in the Energy and Engineering session. The alumni were extremely knowledgeable.

They guided us on the first steps we should be taking, such as internships, if we wish to pursue these fields.

John James Anderson 19

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AS IRON SHARPENS IRON The Rev. Phil Kochenburger joined the Episcopal High School community in July to serve as the Dean of Spiritual Life and Chaplain. Kochenburger sat down with English teacher and Pillars contributor Emma Lyders to discuss his background in education and the military and share his vision for enhancing and strengthening the Religion Pillar.

Can you give me a little background on your career that led you to Episcopal High School?

I felt called to the Army Chaplaincy after becoming a Christian as a young Soldier back in 1981. I became an active duty chaplain in 1999, and retired from the Army after 20 years of service just this past April. For the past 20‑plus years, I've been involved in numerous academic settings working with young students. I was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church through the Diocese of Central Florida in 1996, and served churches there—including my first church where Bishop Benitez had served some years earlier—before entering active duty. My last assignment was serving as the 101st Airborne Division Artillery Chaplain at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Prior to that, I served two years as the Deputy Garrison Chaplain and Resource Manager for all Religious Support Operations at the Defense Language Institute and Foreign Language Centre in Monterey, California, an intensive academic center for 5,000 students.

How would you like to effect change at EHS? I'm thrilled to see what we are doing well, and learning more about that day by day. I would like to build on the spiritual formation potential we have here at EHS with our abiding commitment to the Religion Pillar through daily Chapel, community service, religion department classes, and all the other things we already have. I envision the Religion Pillar as necessarily suffusing all the other pillars; it is the bedrock.

We have great potential for growth in spiritual formation that seems largely underdeveloped. Parent Education opportunities and Choices; relationship‑building; Bible study; prayer groups and better coordination in pastoral care support and communication are all areas ripe for development.

Mentorship is another area that I see as crucial to all that we do in the EHS community. With our advisory groups, and small groups of students walking through their EHS

experience with a mentoring figure, I think we have something here that is unique and can be developed into a powerful experience, both for the mentors and the "mentees." The fact that it is already happening, to a degree, is a larger key to EHS success than I think we may be aware of.

As far as non‑academic counseling support, we have a great team here with the Rev. Beth Holden, Choices Counselor Sam Scharff, and psychologist Beth Fowler. Good coordination within that team provides powerful counseling support to our community, and I look forward to developing that support to our students and their families.

How did you come to this career? Was it something you always wanted to do?

I have always enjoyed working with teenagers and young people in general, and have spent most of my life dedicated to youth. It is indeed something I've always wanted to do.

But much more significantly, I think, is my long‑time mentor and friend, Luis P. Alvarez. My story cannot be told without telling his as well. I met Mr. Alvarez—my math teacher—in middle school, and again at Kathleen Senior High School.

Through my teenage years, he became like a second father to me. His mentorship and friendship have brought out the best in me throughout my life, and he continues to challenge me today. A few months back I noticed that he has been asked to return to Kathleen Senior High to teach again, even though he had been retired for a while, enjoying time with his family and grandchildren.

Mr. Alvarez took me under his wing, taught me how to be a good man, how to treat people, and was the first person to really ever challenge me. We both enjoyed photography—a lifelong passion of mine—and I worked for him on the yearbook. I began to visit him where he lived and worked at the Florida Baptist Children's Home in Lakeland, Florida, as a residential care counselor, teacher, and tutor. I got to see up close the difference he made in all these young lives, and that inspired me to do the same. I would eventually become a residential care counselor there as well for about four years while I was in college. It was a great place to start!

I think this experience, more than anything, is how I "came to this career" as you put it.

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What did you enjoy most about your training in seminary?

Iron sharpens iron. In the days before blogs, we had an "Iron Sharpens Iron" bulletin board where we would carry on arguments and debates—it was right beside the "Wailing Wall" where grades were posted! We were constantly challenged in our thinking; glibness did not survive there. You had to defend what you were proposing, and you had to think deeply.

I enjoyed that kind of vibrant, electric academic atmosphere where everyone was challenged to bring their A‑game all the time. I really appreciated the breadth and the depth of the experience at Gordon‑Conwell Theological Seminary. It was part of the Boston Theological Institute, along with Harvard, Andover‑Newton, and the Episcopal Divinity School, so it was a rich, rewarding academic and spiritual experience.

We had an "Iron Sharpens Iron" bulletin board where we would carry on arguments and debates. We were constantly challenged in our thinking; glibness did not survive there. You had to defend what you were proposing and you had to think deeply.

In fact, it was during spiritual formation class there—under Dr. Richard Peace, editor‑in‑chief of the Serendipity Bible series— that my spiritual journey led me to become an Episcopalian. I had come to know Christ at a Southern Baptist Church, was licensed to preach in the Assemblies of God, but I found my spiritual home in the Anglican Tradition. This was one of the most enjoyable and meaningful experiences I had during seminary.

How did that feel? Can you tell me more about how it was to experience that?

It was a great journey. My worldview was challenged, and I put everything together that I'd learned and heard and read. It was a wonderful experience.

What do you think is or will be your biggest struggle in your post here?

There's always a struggle with external appearances and what's really going on inside of us and in our community. That was a big challenge for the Army as well; to look good and "squared away" on the outside went a long way to convincing people that you had it all together. One of the big tasks as a chaplain was to see beyond those "masks" we live in to the genuine person, meet them there, and help them to bring out the best in themselves. Here at EHS we have a wonderful aspiration to live "lives of significance in service to others"; I

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want to make sure that is really happening, what we are doing, not just something we say. I look forward to finding new and exciting ways to encourage and support that aspiration, and help our students to actually attain that. The biggest challenge I see, and a big part of my developing vision, is to create meaningful spiritual formation opportunities that will build to that.

How are you liking the change in industry from the military to an independent school?

I love it! I like the unique challenges of chaplaincy ministry where you meet the world beyond the parish. EHS is—I hate to overuse this word, but it's true—a vibrant community; the excitement and energy is so palpable. Connecting one‑on‑one with others, learning what they think, hearing about their life experiences, establishing powerful relationships, working with such talented faculty, staff, and students—this is what life is all about. It is energizing for me.

How is EHS different structurally from your earlier posts?

Chaplaincy in any institution is remarkably consistent. At EHS, we are an Episcopal school, and Christian. The Army—military in general—cannot be legally established on any specific faith or religious organization. But chaplaincy at EHS is very much similar to Army Chaplaincy in its essential mission: to perform Episcopal and Christian religious services (worship, ordinances, sacraments, and ceremonies) for those who identify as Christians or Episcopalians, and to provide pastoral support for those in our community who have no religious preference, or who are of different faiths.

What do you feel you bring to the EHS community that's uniquely you?

A wealth of rich experiences that seem to have perfectly suited me to be here. I offer a fresh perspective on spiritual formation and re‑envisioning of all that the Religion Pillar is and can become.

—Emma Lyders

GOT BLUE

From the Archives

Dean of Parent Programs and School Legacy John Colello's office is a renowned gallery of EHS memorabilia, give‑aways, and swag. Colello shared some of his objets de Knight for this photo and encourages anyone who has donations for the Legacy Project archives to please contact him at jcolello@ehshouston.org.

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Bright Knights

LIGHTS IN THE DARKNESS Teens often share recommendations about movies, boutiques, or restaurants, but in 2013, when Grace Geib returned from her first trip as a volunteer with Family Legacy Missions CampLife in Zambia, which serves the country's orphan population, she felt compelled to recommend a mission opportunity to her friends at EHS. She described the highs and lows in detail, the dire poverty she encountered, contrasted with the incredible connections and transformations that could be created in just one week.

Two of her volleyball teammates took heart. In 2014 Alexandra Pearson volunteered, then in 2015 Gigi Hanna signed up.

After they all volunteered together in July 2015, they decided to join forces and raise funds for a permanent gift to the

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camp, resulting in Bethel House, a safe home for 10 girls in Family Legacy's Tree of Life Village.

When they learned they could rescue 10 orphan girls from the streets by building a house, they organized swiftly.

Family Legacy, a Christian‑based foundation, provides assistance as well as spiritual and academic enrichment to orphans in the southern African country of Zambia. Due to HIV/AIDS mortality among Zambian adults, the nation has

the highest per capita orphan rate in the world, with 1 million orphans out of a total population of 12 million. The foundation operates in Tree of Life Children's Village near the capital, Lusaka. Camp volunteers pay their own transportation to Africa and also sponsor a child to attend camp. Each summer more than 600 American teens and adults travel to Zambia to volunteer for the camp sessions, which are held for seven consecutive weeks throughout the summer.

Pearson explains that a volunteer's first tour of Lusaka and the slum called "Trashbag Village" is shocking. "You smell sewage everywhere," she says. "The homes are constructed from plastic bags, and the air is thick with dust and dirt.

Drunken men line the street and prey on the children."

"Most of these girls have been sexually abused by the time they are teenagers," adds Geib. "Many children suffer from malnutrition and are jaundiced with distended stomachs."

Witnessing the positive transformations Family Legacy shapes amid such severe poverty and deprivation motivated Geib, Pearson, and Hanna to deepen their commitment to the mission. When they learned they could rescue 10 orphan girls from the streets by building a house for a cost of $150,000, they organized swiftly, holding bake sales at school, hosting a fundraiser kickoff party at Pearson's home, and making appeals to friends and local foundations. Their goal was to raise $150,000 in two years, and they surpassed that goal, raising $165,000 in eight months.

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Bright Knights

People ask me if the conditions in Zambia are too harsh, but the hardest part is leaving the orphans and returning to a world of such excess. The disparity between our lives and the lives of these children is beyond all understanding.

Bethel House opened its doors last July when Geib, Pearson, and Hanna returned to Zambia for camp. "The girls were so happy and in utter awe of having a home!" exclaims Pearson.

"The whole experience has been gratifying, especially when, long after camp ends, the children are praying on their own and keeping in touch with you via email," adds Hanna.

"Counselors return to the same group of children every year,

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so you get to know the kids, their families, and circumstances, and can really build on the relationships."

"People ask me if the conditions in Zambia are too harsh," says Geib, "but the hardest part is leaving the orphans and returning to a world of such excess. The disparity between our lives and the lives of these children is beyond all understanding."

Once back at school in August, Geib admits, "It's easy to fall back into a feeling of entitlement, or to stress over minor things, like grades. We remind each other to take a deep breath, look at our photos from camp, and reclaim our perspective."

Pearson, as Geib and Hanna nod in agreement. "They emanate true joy and spirituality and are full of life. The children of Zambia inspire us to live better lives."

Article by Claire C. Fletcher. Photos by Marshall Foster.

All three seniors intend to make service an integral part of their futures. Geib and Pearson plan careers in medicine, and Hanna is interested in education and how innovative schools can help break the cycle of poverty. "I can't imagine this work not being part of my life," says Hanna.

"What's miraculous is that these orphans who have endured such adversity are naturally loving and respectful," says

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Q+A with EHS Teachers

Pop Quiz turns the table on teachers and asks them to respond to 13 quick questions. Their enthusiastic responses reveal the values, quirks, and interests that make them so effective in leading EHS students.

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JESSICA ADAMS English Teacher and Coach

Jessica Adams grew up in New York State and attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's in English and a master's in English Education. This is her second year of teaching at EHS, and she teaches English II and III. When she is not in the classroom, Adams can be found on the athletic fields, serving as head coach for both the girls JV field hockey and lacrosse teams. She lives in the Upper Kirby area with her husband, Jeff, a professional football player, and dog Sammy. Although New York City holds a special place in her heart, she is proud to now call Houston her home.

What's on your playlist right now? Mostly Classic Rock with a sprinkling of awful pop music (think Ke$ha, Flo Rida, etc.). What was the first concert you attended? Maroon 5's "Songs About Jane" tour at Jones Beach Theater. If you weren't a teacher, what would you pick for a career? From a young age, I had aspirations of attending culinary school to become a chef. Preparing food at that level requires such skill, precision, and creativity. It would be exciting to be able to express myself in that way. My desire manifests itself through recurring dreams in which I am a competitor on Chopped. What is your proudest accomplishment? My ability to adapt to change. Growing up, I never imagined leaving my family in my home state of New York; living in multiple cities over the past several years has pushed me out of my comfort zone and awarded me amazing opportunities for growth. Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget? Recently, I downloaded the Headspace app on my iPhone as a somewhat half‑baked attempt to get into meditation. So far, I have been using the app almost daily. My favorite feature is the meditation for sleep—the guided progressive muscle relaxation has transformed my nightly bedtime ritual. Which pro or college sports team do you cheer for? Columbia Football. It's fun to root for my alma‑mater, the perennial underdog. Simply put, we no longer hold the record for longest losing streak in college football! Roar, lion, roar! Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired your career? My junior year Precalculus teacher, Mr. Faraci. He helped me realize my talent and potential in mathematics, a subject in which I lacked all confidence. He was a fierce advocate for his students with a passion for math that was contagious. What's your favorite city abroad? Venice, Italy. I enjoy meandering along the seemingly endless bridges and waterways with a scoop of gelato in hand. The romantic, haunted feel of the city, with its lack of cars and gothic architecture, transports you to a different time. If you could travel back in time, what period would you choose? The Progressive Era through the mid‑1920s. How cool would it be to witness the ratification of the 19th amendment? Also, a part of me wishes that I was a member of the Lost Generation. Maybe I could hang with Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Stein in a Parisian café. What trait do you most admire in your colleagues? Their commitment to the students. Every day, I am in awe of the tireless work they put in to reach each student and help each student realize his or her potential. That level of passion and love inspires me to do my best. What trait do you most admire in your students? Their growth mindset. My students are unafraid to take risks as they pursue their passions across the Four Pillars.

I am inspired by their desire to challenge themselves, as well as their willingness to embrace failure as a vehicle for future success. Read any good books recently? I am about half‑way through Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch. It is a long, dark novel with a protagonist who frustrates me greatly; however, sometimes good literature should be a challenge to get through! If you could eat only one meal this week, what would it be? A toasted poppy seed bagel with cream cheese and lox. Ideally, I would also be sipping on a large coffee, enjoying the weekend newspaper.

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DEREK SANDERS Religion Teacher and Coach

Derek Sanders was born in Lewisville, Texas, and moved to Georgia when he was 3. His elementary school years were spent in Peachtree City, about 45 minutes south of Atlanta.

The summer before 7th grade, his father was transferred to Chicago, and he spent middle school and high school in St. Charles, Illinois. He felt called back to Texas when it came time for college and attended Baylor University.

Sanders began his college career as a pre‑med Biology major. He decided to branch out beyond the sciences, however, and began working on a minor in Religion by studying abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. There he discovered his true academic passion, Religious Studies. Sanders changed his major and graduated from Baylor with a BA in Religion and minors in Biology and Chemistry. From there, he attended Yale Divinity School where he earned an MA in the history of Christianity. In his fifth year at EHS, Sanders teaches World Religions and New Testament, coaches football, and serves as a co‑director of Students of Service.

What's on your playlist right now? The Lumineers, Beastie Boys, Pixies, and Cold War Kids. What was the first concert you attended? Keith Urban at Country Thunder Wisconsin. If you weren't a teacher, what would you pick for a career? I would be a fly fishing guide in Colorado. I have been in love with the Colorado mountains since I was young. What is your proudest accomplishment? Graduating with honors from Yale has to be my proudest accomplishment, the culmination of my 19‑year career as a student. Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget? I love to run, and I like that I can now track and log all of my runs using the Strava app on my phone. Which pro or college sports team do you cheer for? The Baylor Bears, of course! I am also a huge Yale hockey fan. Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired your career? In 10th grade, I had a Chemistry teacher and basketball coach named Mr. Larson. He had the biggest impact on my academic and professional career, hands down. He was special because he taught me the link between athletics and academics. I could see the same competitive spirit that he demonstrated as a coach come out in the classroom, and I began to have that same competitive spark in my academic pursuits. He was also someone who never stopped preaching the message of integrity, a message that he appeared to live out. What's your favorite city abroad? Sienna, Italy, is a beautiful medieval town with a rich history surrounded by the rolling hills of Tuscany. I love wandering the narrow cobblestone streets, stumbling across hidden restaurant gems, and forgetting anything other than the cuisine and culture of central Italy. If you could travel back in time, what period would you choose? I would probably travel back to the Axial Age, about 2,500 years ago. It was a remarkable time for the world, particularly in terms of religion and philosophy. In India, this was the time of the Buddha, Mahavira, and the Upanishads. In China, Confucius and Lao Tzu were writing their masterpieces. The Jewish prophets were bringing the Israelites admonitions from God, while Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were revolutionizing Greek philosophy. For a religion nerd like me, there is no better time period. What trait do you most admire in your colleagues?

Humor. I love it when I come into the office after a frustrating day and find myself laughing with colleagues.

What trait do you most admire in your students? Curiosity. A curious and inquisitive mind can carry a student a long way. Read any good books recently? In nonfiction, The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert was alarming, but very good. Fiction‑wise, I recently read Aldous Huxley's Brave New World for the first time, which I also enjoyed. If you could eat only one meal this week, what would it be? Pepperoni and cherry pepper pizza from Frank Pepe's Pizzeria in New Haven, Connecticut.

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PAUL REVAZ Stagecraft Teacher

Paul Revaz is in his second year as stagecraft teacher, technical director, and scenic and lighting designer for EHS OnStage. He has a BA in English Literature from Western Connecticut State University and an MFA in Theatre from the University of Memphis. Most of his family live in the Northeast, where he grew up. He has an aunt in Katy and says, "As a recent transplant, it's nice to have some family connections here!"

What's on your playlist right now? The Beatles, Steely Dan, The Band, and a shameful number of show tunes. What was the first concert you attended? I seem to remember seeing John Denver in concert when I was 10 or so, but that only barely counts. Maybe the Moody Blues? If you weren't a teacher, what would you pick for a career? I'd run a small theatre. I love doing so many different things in theatre that I would always be challenged and never bored. What is your proudest accomplishment? Going to graduate school and getting my MFA after 20 years in theatre. The downside of that was surviving the GRE some 24 years after last taking the SATs. I had to relearn half of the math! Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget? Yahoo Fantasy Sports app takes up a lot of my down time. I also spent more time than I should admit on Soda Crush Saga (I'm level 805—a heady mixture of pride and shame involved in that one). Which pro or college sports team do you cheer for? I'm from Connecticut and ended up a NY Giants and NY Mets fan. Both teams peaked right as I started paying attention to sports growing up, so it was an easy sell.

Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired your career? Several. I've learned how to (and how not to) do things from everyone I've ever worked with. I had tremendous friends in theatre who showed me lots of different ways of getting things done. I started acting in high school and learned tech as a way of being able to be in the theatre all the time. I still love to act, but it's been four years since I've been on stage.

What's your favorite city abroad? Lucerne, Switzerland, is gorgeous. I'm more of a beach vacationer, but that city is beautiful. If you could travel back in time, what period would you choose? I have always been a fan of Colonial American history. I'm not sure how well I would do in that period, but it's been a great era to study. What trait do you most admire in your colleagues? Their passion for what they do. What trait do you most admire in your students? Their curiosity and energy. I love watching students who had no mechanical skills coming into the class look back and realize how much they can now do. The best is when they look at a finished set and realize that they built it! Read any good books recently? Just started The Dresden Files series. It's a good escape. If you could eat only one meal this week, what would it be? I almost always choose a good steak when the option is available. Add in au gratin potatoes, and I'm sold.

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MOMENTS

The Rev. Beth Holden's freshman Old Testament class put themselves in Moses' sandals and wrote their own farewell speeches to the Israelites. Photo by Ashleigh Teel.

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MEET THE TRUSTEES

Elected at the Diocesan Council

Rod Cutsinger Rod Cutsinger—a founding investor of Advanced Telecommunications, American Funeral Services, and Worldpages—is now the chairman of the Cutsinger Family Office and the Sue Nan and Rod Cutsinger Foundation.

Cutsinger and his wife, Sue Nan, are the parents of alumnus Bradley '90 and the proud grandparents of EHS sophomore Tate. They are members of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, where Cutsinger has served in many leadership positions. He joins the EHS Board of Trustees as a member of the Building and Grounds Committee.

J. Todd Frazier '88 Todd Frazier '88 is the System Director of Houston Methodist Hospital's Center for Performing Arts Medicine and President of the National Organization for Arts in Health. He was the founder of American Festival for the Arts and co‑founder of Houston Arts Partners.

Frazier, a composer, is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and the Julliard School in New York City. He is married to EHS alumna Jennifer McReynolds Frazier '88 and they have two children, daughter Kenzie, who attends River Oaks Baptist, and son Mac, a sophomore at EHS. Frazier is a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and St. Luke's Methodist Church.

Susan C. Garwood Susan Garwood serves on the boards of the Susan Vaughan Foundation, Glenwood Cemetery, and the Ripley Foundation. In addition, she volunteers at the Garden Club of Houston, the Clayton Library for Genealogical Research, and Preservation Houston. As a member of the EHS Board of Trustees, Garwood's focus is the Advancement Committee.

Garwood and her husband, Dr. George Peterkin III, have two children. Their son, John, is a junior at St. Thomas High School and their daughter, Kate, is a sophomore at EHS. Garwood and her family are members of Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church.

George O. McDaniel III George McDaniel III is the chairman of Saber Power Services. He and his wife, Ann, have three children who graduated from EHS: George McDaniel IV '00, Mary McDaniel O'Black '01, and William '04. Son‑in‑law Weston O'Black '00 is also an alumnus.

The McDaniels are members of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. In addition to his service at EHS, McDaniel is a board member of the Chinquapin Preparatory School.

McDaniel joins the EHS Board of Trustees as a member of the Finance Committee.

Duncan K. Underwood '89 Duncan Underwood, a graduate from the Class of 1989, is beginning his fourth term of service on the EHS Board of Trustees where he serves on the Advancement Committee.

He has served on the Trees for Houston Board of Trustees, the Fondren Foundation Board of Trustees, and the St. Edward's University Board of Trustees.

Underwood was the first official member of the EHS Alumni Association and is a past president. Underwood and his wife, Sarah, are the proud parents of daughter Riley and son Austin—two future Knights.

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The Last Word

A FEW WORDS ON TEACHING

by Emma Lyders

Forgive yourself. Just have fun. Hold your breath until Thanksgiving. One after another, each piece of advice becomes an aphorism that rolls through my brain as the kids roll into the room. They're not young, not old, but making their own age‑associated adjective. I try to smile enough but not too much, I try to introduce myself, I try to shake their hands as they walk across the threshold and into my life, I try to read in their faces which palms not to touch. I catch on pretty quickly.

The opposite of a music venue, the classroom fills from back to front. I can tease them, I can shame them, I can pull that embarrassed half‑smile from stiff cheeks, but unless I demand it, they won't join me where it's most lonely: where the teacher stands. My hands are still sore from pulling thumbtacks from walls that never wanted to be punctured, and they'll be sore next week when I make my own mark.

When we do.

I look out to find a blur of the same face. Some blonde‑haired, some brown, some dancer thin, some basketball strong. But those faces, excited, restrained, at rapt attention, afraid to speak, afraid to break the ice that'll melt in time. I can't stop staring at them, into their eyes, away, and back again.

At first I can't feel. I'm just in it, in here, with them. Then I get it. It's heart. Theirs, mine, what hangs in the balance between us, what lingers in the room after they've run from it, backpacks bouncing and sliding and pinching. It's in this moment that I realize the kind of teacher I am, the kind of teacher I'll become, pulling my newly‑minted profession on as if it's a full‑body costume. It never comes off. The bell can ring and they can leave, but I'm still a teacher. One that lets them be who they are, what very few ever did for me. The few that did? They mattered to me because I mattered to them.

I imagine a ping pong table between us, and every question I pose, every universal meaning I offer, a ball I hit over the net. Will they hit it back? Will they catch it and hold it in their hands? Will they hit it to a classmate? Will they drop the racket and slap the ball back with their hands, so fast I have to duck as it whizzes by? Or, will they let it fall to the floor, all of us watching, waiting, wondering how many times it will take before someone makes a move. But they aren't balls, they're words that fly through the air. Words I speak, words they hear, words they return, words I write, words they write. There is no script, for either one of us, and in that way we are the same.

The syllabi get passed out, the rules and standards get set, and we fall deep into more words, different words—the words someone else wrote. By the end of the second day, I've learned 60 names. By the third day, I'm no longer in a match against the entire class. We're on the same side. Not everyone comes willingly, but eventually they'll feel a part of the universe of the story, the one we're reading, the one we're creating together, the one they'll make on their own. Each student finds his or her home base for the year, and we build a community in this room of desks and chairs, whiteboards and collaged walls.

Six weeks in, I stand at the front of the room, the white board behind me, judgmental in its blankness. I open The Great Gatsby, and they follow, desperate for something to do that will keep them awake, this tiny class of 12 seated in a circle.

Birthday. The word seems raised from the page, isolated under its own thunderstorm, like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.

"I just remembered, today's my birthday," Nick tells us. I repeat his words, I pause. Before I can stop myself, I'm writing on the board though I don't really know why. The questions pore out of me, some rhetorical, some demanding a response.

And then, that student—every class has one who does this—breaks the silence, with a truth that is comedic for how painful it is: "Sounds like a pretty lame birthday." We laugh in unison, and then we talk about Nick and Gatsby. But it isn't about them, it's about us.

The books are vehicles, objects of transport into a shared world where we both reside. It's the gray matter—what lives between the letters and words and in the blank space on the page, what I pull from paper and push into their minds—that pulls us together. Only we know what just happened. And I have to hope, years from now, they'll remember Holden holding fast to his own innocence, and Nora standing up for herself, and Annie John leaving home, and that they'll never forget the beauty of language, and how grammar gets in your way if it isn't on your side, and finding meaning in the lives of others. Thankfully, this is a song I can put on repeat and trust that it will never get old.

In addition to teaching English I and II at EHS, Emma Lyders is a published essayist and professional book editor.

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Photo by Chris Bailey Photography.

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2016 ‑ 2017 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle Executive Chair Melinda Budinger Hildebrand Matthew K. Baird, Shelley Torian Barineau, Ronald P. Cuenod Jr., Rod Cutsinger, Thad T. Dameris, Julie G. Donaldson, David Ducote, Paige Fertitta, J. Todd Frazier '88, Susan C. Garwood, Gregory R. Geib, Laura Gilchrist, The Rev. James M. L. Grace '94, George V. Kane III, George O. McDaniel III, Jeffrey J. McParland, Dis Netland, Townes G. Pressler Jr., Joe Pyne, Ned Smith, Michael O. Strode, Duncan K. Underwood '89, Bridget Butler Wade '87, Randa Duncan Williams Life Trustees John F. Austin III, Edward C. Becker, The Rt. Rev. Maurice M. Benitez †, W. Craig Childers, Lacy Crain, The Rev. Laurens A. Hall, Victor A. Kormeier, Frederick R. McCord †, Laurence B. Neuhaus, The Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne, Joel I. Shannon, Lynda Knapp Underwood, The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly Executive Committee Merrell Athon, John F. Austin III, John S. Bonner III †, Thomas L. Carter Jr., Jonathan M. Clarkson, The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, William F. Galtney Jr., Melinda Budinger Hildebrand, Victor A. Kormeier, Laurence B. Neuhaus, Joel I. Shannon, Ned Smith, Lynda Knapp Underwood, Thomas M. Wright

LEADERSHIP Head of School Ned Smith Assistant Head of School and Principal Nancy Laufe Eisenberg

Director of Finance and Operations Evelyn Cambria Dean of Faculty Nguyet Xuan Pham

Dean of Spiritual Life The Rev. Phil Kochenburger

Dean of Arts Jay Berckley

Director of Athletics Jason Grove

Director of Advancement Peggy Haney

PILLARS MAGAZINE TEAM Director of Communications Claire Fletcher Graphic Design Ashleigh Teel

Contributors Kate Ahner, Chris Bailey Photography, Marshall Foster, Peggy Haney, Joanna LeFebvre '13, Emma Lyders, Kendall Buckalew McCord '03, Pacific Discovery, Margaret Young

Photography Claire Fletcher, Mauro Gomez, Ashleigh Teel

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Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Houston, TX Permit No. 10468

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