PILLARS - The Episcopal High School Fall 2019 Magazine

SPC Champions• Community & Inclusion • Freshman Retreat

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, founded and guided by the Diocese of Texas, is an inclusive and joyful Christian community where students discover and develop their individual talents through the Four Pillars – academics, arts, athletics, religion – preparing for meaningful lives in service to others.

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

Ashley Long along@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, Fall 2019

IN THIS ISSUE From the Head of School 04 #KnightsStandOut 06 Teacher Study Grants 12 Bright Knights 14 Community & Inclusion 20 Alumni Leadership Day 26 Pop Quiz 30 The Last Word 34

ON THE COVER Head Football Coach Steve Leisz after secretly dressing as the school mascot for a Fall pep rally.

Photo by Scott Cunningham.

SAVE THE DATE

Blue Knight Masquerade Auction 02-21-20 Alumni Weekend 04-03-20 Commencement 05-17-20

EHS Cheerleading after performing at Texans Halftime show

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear EHS Family, In this issue of Pillars, you’ll read that our arts faculty recently incorporated a new technique, raku, into the advanced ceramics curriculum (page 8). Raku means “happy accident” in Japanese, and, for potters, it is an incredibly exciting technique. With raku firing, there is always an element of the unexpected, the possibility of the happy accident.

There is likewise an element of the happy accident in the Episcopal High School experience. Like the potter, we faculty and staff thoughtfully shape our top-notch material, our students, in our founders’ vision. EHS invites the full range of students in our diverse city to come together in an inclusive and joyful Christian community where students are encouraged to stand out, to find their inner genius, and to develop their talents through the Four Pillars, preparing for meaningful lives in service to others. We do not limit ourselves by focusing on one Pillar only or by admitting a narrow set of students from a carefully proscribed community.

This inclusive approach lies at the root of our mission and allows for the many happy accidents exemplified in the wrap-up of the fall season by Athletic Director Jason Grove on page 10 or in the tales told by alumni at Alumni Leadership Day, highlighted on pages 26-29. Senior Justin Broadfoot’s experience (pages 14-15) offers another version of the happy accident as does senior Anna Moise’s profile (pages 16-17). And none of it is possible without the expertise and artistry of our faculty and staff like those featured in “Pop Quiz” on pages 30-33, and “Teachers on the Move,” describing our study grant program (pages 12-13). These articles illustrate the incredible support of our faculty and staff by our generous community of alumni and parents.

Science teacher Eric Avera, in his essay on page 34, speaks directly to the experience of a happy accident as one of our faculty leaders attending Freshman Retreat. This accident leads him to conclude that at EHS, “we are fortunate to be connected by relationships that encourage each of us not merely to cope but to flourish. Our community supports us, even when the ground is nowhere near our feet and we feel vulnerable and afraid…It’s a powerful way to grow.”

Like the potter with his raku kiln, we at EHS work hard on what is ours to control, all the while remaining open to the happy accident: the near fall on the ropes course; the student who demonstrates surprising or unexpected talent; the class that marches into and then tames new and unfamiliar material; and the community that inspires unexpected but welcome conversation. It is a powerful way to grow. It is EHS. Have a wonderful close to 2019 and Go Knights!

Ned Smith Head of School

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Missionpalooza Orbits EHS Each July, the Episcopal Diocese of Texas sponsors 100 or more youth and adult volunteers from 15 parishes in a program called Missionpalooza. Most frequently, the goal is to help victims rebuild their homes and lives after natural disasters such as floods, fires, and hurricanes. The group provides basic carpentry and materials such as sheetrock, paint, and flooring. When called for, teams have set up food banks, organized summer camps, painted murals, and listened to many stories of survival.

For more than a decade, Missionpalooza has been led by Bay City resident Kathy Westmoreland.

Westmoreland shares that her favorite part of Missionpalooza is seeing the youth realize their own value as they make a difference in these communities.

"I love watching them strengthen their faith and learn more about the sacrifices they are able to give to those in need," says Westmoreland. "Many students in our diocese volunteer year after year, building a foundation of love of service."

In previous summers, the volunteer corps has served in Baton Rouge, Beaumont, Mississippi, and Bastrop.

Last summer, Missionpalooza focused on helping the forgotten victims of Hurricane Harvey. Episcopal High School hosted these service-centered volunteers as they dedicated a week's vacation to improving the lives of our Houston-area neighbors. Volunteers set up “camp” in Alkek Gym, and the School also arranged to have breakfast served each day.

At the end of the week, more than 20 homes in Pearland, north Houston, and "Little Cambodia" in Rosharon were renovated. In Rosharon, the volunteers built greenhouses to help the agricultural community return to their livelihood of farming and growing produce.

John F. Austin III, Life Trustee and recipient of this year's Edward C. Becker Humanitarian Award, stands with his family and friends in Benitez Chapel on Founders Day 2019

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#KnightsStandOut

A Great Success For First Arts Day EHS On-Campus On Wednesday, October 16, the entire freshman class participated in Arts Day EHS, an exciting annual event. During the half-day schedule, students rotated through several different arts courses on campus, including ceramics, music, film, dance, painting, and photography.

Katie Koestner Shares Her Story, Moves Community

No previous experience was necessary, and no matter what background in arts the students had, the event unlocked creative potential and encouraged students to explore a new passion.

Says Dean of Arts Jay Berckley, Ph.D., "Arts Day was a success for many reasons: The community was able to celebrate a variety of creative and ambitious artistic initiatives from the entire class of 2023; it was a bold plan, executed brilliantly by the Arts Pillar faculty; and most of all, we had a total blast!”

On Tuesday, October 22, Katie Koestner, national expert on healthy relationships and campus student safety, visited the EHS community.

In 1990, Ms. Koestner appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine as the first woman to speak out publicly as a victim of date rape. She has shared her personal story with over 5 million students. She addresses respect, consent, healthy decision-making, sexual assault, and the impact of alcohol, while inspiring students to become active bystanders in their communities. Presented by Community and Inclusion, including the Consent, Advocacy, and Refusal Skills Education Initiative (CARE), and Choices program, Ms. Koestner met with the students, faculty, and staff during Chapel and Advisory. Afterward, she conducted a Lunch-and-Learn with parents at noon in the Alumni Room on the third floor of the Hildebrand Athletic Center.

Varsity Field Hockey Coach Shelley Edmonds registers for the blood stem cell donor registry at October’s Homecoming game. The DKMS mobile cheek swab station was run by the EHS Cheerleading program as part of their effort to raise awareness for pediatric cancer.

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Ruth Steinfeld & Leadership Launch Holocaust survivor Ruth Steinfeld keynoted October’s Leadership Launch Day during Chapel, educating students about the dangers of prejudice and apathy.

Steinfeld and her family were victims of the Nazi Kristallnacht purge of neighborhoods on November 9, 1938, in Sinsheim, Germany. She and her sister, Lea, were separated from their parents and sheltered by a FrenchJewish philanthropic organization called the Children's Aid Society, who saved their lives. When WWII ended, they emigrated with their grandfather to the United States, and eventually landed in Houston where they married and raised families.

Mr. Trauba Throws Pots with Raku sports, and extracurricular activities, gathered in Scurlock Gym for in-depth inclusion training by national student trainer Patrick Maurer of San Diego.

Explains Student Activities Director Courtney Lindloff, "The first half of training featured team-building and skill-building that focused more on the 'welcoming' side of inclusion. The second part of the day focused on bigger levels of inclusion and the importance of creating inclusive opportunities for others through empathy, communication, and connection."

National Merit Program Recognizes Academic Talent This fall, the National Merit Scholarship program announced the index scores for the 2020 competition, and several EHS seniors received recognition.

The School’s National Merit Semifinalist, scoring among the top 1 percent in the state, is Quinn Ogle. Ogle’s index score enables her to compete for National Merit Scholarships that will be announced this spring.

Steinfeld is a sought-after speaker who feels a responsibility to tell her Holocaust story in honor of millions of Jewish children who did not survive Nazi genocide. And while her childhood was marked with tragedy, Steinfeld preaches that one of the most important lessons she's learned is to "forgive those who did such harm."

Following Chapel, 65 student leaders representing all EHS grade levels,

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Of the approximately 34,000 students nationwide who receive Commended letters, EHS recipients include Will Arntzen, Pola Aronowski, Berkeley Baird, Rosalind Coats, Noah Cook, Claire Henry, Amelia Heymach, Ethan McAlpin, Sophia Pamphilis, Derrick Perillo, and Aidan Stewart.

In addition, the National Merit Program designated three seniors as 2020 National Hispanic Scholars: Alexandra Halfon, Amelia Heymach, and Sophia Pamphilis.

Students in advanced ceramics classes will have a new technique at their fingertips: raku firing. Raku, which means "happy accident" in Japanese, differs from traditional firing techniques in that it is fired faster and produces more immediate results—which can bring out a few surprises.

Instructor David Trauba is excited to offer raku to his experienced students.

"My classes are going to love it. The results are hands-on and immediate.

With traditional ceramics, we often wait two to three days to see the final product. With raku, students will be able to see their efforts unfold during a block class."

Trauba explains that the raku kiln can be fired up to 1850 degrees in one hour. When the glaze turns glossy, the hot ceramic piece is placed in a metal barrel or container that holds organic materials like paper or sawdust. After closing the container, the material burns, producing carbon, and begins a reduction process that spurs a variety of effects and textures. Students will be able to observe the results in under two hours.

During the 1500s, Zen Buddhist monks favored the technique for its simplicity and the fact that it employs the four elements of earth, fire, air, and water.

Trauba is betting that 21st century teenagers will also be fans of raku.

#KnightsStandOut

New Performing and Visual Arts Complex Planned “Lead the Way: Our Campaign for the Four Pillars” has launched fundraising efforts for the new Performing and Visual Arts Complex at EHS. This $25 million project will include 40,000 square feet of new construction space and over 20,000 square feet of renovated space in the existing Fine Arts Building. The art deco exterior along Bissonnet Street will continue uninterrupted with the new addition, creating a cohesive image with our iconic Convent building.

Highlights include three performance venues, 14 classrooms and studios, two dance studios, seven practice and recording rooms, along with office suites and meeting rooms. The building will have an abundance of natural light and common areas with college-style

student lounge seating to promote the EHS sense of community.

The 365-seat theater pictured below will include orchestra and balcony seating, a proscenium stage, lighting catwalks over audience chamber for lighting and follow spot, a 50-foot fly loft for sets, teaching-sized control booth for lighting and sound, a dance surface, and a portable orchestra shell for music and choir performances. In addition to dance, acting, and musical performances, this theater will be used for parent education, grade-level meetings, debate tournaments, and more.

To support this important effort, contact Peggy Haney at phaney@ehshouston.org.

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Athletic Director’s Fall Wrap-Up The girls volleyball team completed an outstanding season with a 3-0 win over Episcopal School of Dallas in the SPC championship game in front of a large and spirited group of fans in Alkek Gym. The Knights earned their spot in the championship game with earlier tournament wins over Houston Christian (3-0) and St. John's (3-0). The win marks the Knights second SPC title in three years and gave the team an impressive 35-4 record this season.

Both JV teams had strong seasons as the JV Blue team finished the season with a record of 13-5 while JV completed the season at 9-6.

The EHS football team captured their first SPC title in five years with a thrilling 42-21 win over Kinkaid at Butler Stadium. The Knights used an overpowering running game, led by Quon Marion's 270 yards rushing and three touchdowns, to complete the season sweep of the Falcons. Adrian Cormier's 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns gave the Knights two running backs who eclipsed the century mark on the ground. The Knights' defense held the Falcons to 21 points and stifled the Falcon offense in the fourth quarter. The Knights finished the season with an impressive 9-1 record while the JV team completed the season with a record of 5-3. The JV White team finished with a very strong record of 6-1.

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The girls cross country team ran one of their best races of the season at Spring Creek Park in Tomball and took home their second consecutive SPC RunnerUp trophy. The Knights were led by All-SPC runners Katarzyna Kwiatkowski, Kate Freeman, and Ella Newman. Alena Haney, Lucy Holden, and Elizabeth McLauchlin each ran fantastic races to help the Knights reach the podium. The EHS boys cross country team finished twelfth in a very competitive SPC field.

The field hockey team capped an outstanding weekend with an impressive 3-1 win over Greenhill to take fifth place in the SPC. The finish marks the highest finish for the Knights in more than 10 years. The Knights began tournament play with a thrilling 1-0 overtime win over Hockaday and gave North Zone #1 seed Trinity Valley all they could handle before falling 1-0 in overtime in the quarterfinal matchup.

The Knights finished the season with a record of 12-10-1 and the JV completed their season with an 8-3 record.

The boys volleyball team overcame a tough 3-2 loss to Greenhill in the quarterfinals and defeated St. Andrew’s 3-0 to place fifth in the SPC. The Knights finished an outstanding season with a record of 22-12, capturing the SPC south zone championship with a conference record of 8-2. The young JV team rallied from some tough earlyseason losses and finished the year with a 7-14 record.

All three EHS cheer teams have thrilled crowds throughout the fall season with their pep rally and halftime routines.

The three teams capped their seasons by dominating the field in the NCA Lonestar Classic at NRG Arena in mid-November. Both the varsity and JV squads took home first place. The freshman squad also performed well and finished as runners-up in their division. In addition to the competition success, the entire EHS cheer program was recognized with the Go Be Great Award for their outstanding outreach efforts in the community.

And finally, to add an exclamation point to the great start of the year in athletics, we had six students commit to play at the next level: D’Avian Houston College of Charleston basketball; Jahari Long - Seton Hall basketball; DJ Nussbaum – Virginia Military Institute basketball; Laney Pieper - Lee University lacrosse; Trinity Watts Liberty University volleyball; and Tanner Witt – University of Texas baseball.

Go Knights!

—Jason Grove, Director of Athletics

#KnightsStandOut

Photos by Mauro Gomez

Photos by Mauro Gomez

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TEACHERS ON THE MOVE Each summer, for the past three years, a handful of Episcopal faculty have traveled throughout the United States and abroad to enrich their knowledge via our Study Grant Program. The teachers move beyond walls and textbooks to design extraordinary experiences they can share with their diverse and globally minded students. Below are the grant recipients from the summer of 2019, generously funded by EHS Annual Giving.

Pejman Milani

Jessica Adams

ETV Instructor Studio Experience in Los Angeles

12th Grade Dean, English Teacher A Journey into the Hearts and Minds of the Irish Literary Greats

Where did you travel for your study grant?

Los Angeles, California.

Why did you pursue this study?

The main goal of my trip was to visit the heart of the film industry and to get a pulse on what’s been happening in the industry since I went to film school. If a student is serious about wanting to work in film, they will generally have to live in L.A. (at least to get established). I focused my trip mainly on visiting the Big Four studios, Sony, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros., while at the same time, reconnecting with EHS alumni who are currently working in the industry.

How will this enrich your classroom teaching?

This was easily one of the most rewarding, relevant, and meaningful experiences I’ve had as a teacher. It was helpful to see how the professional studios crafted their sound stages, foley studios, and set designs. I also visited the Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Games, and Animation, which gave some key insights to the design of moviemaking and animation classroom spaces. The trip gave a strong sense of direction of where we should take the EHS filmmaking and animation programs in the next several years. Most important, the experience of reconnecting with alumni reinvigorated and reinforced my sense of purpose in the classroom. I sometimes get lost in the weeds of the day-to-day grind, but seeing the impact that resonated with students who graduated over a decade ago was a powerful reminder that what we say and do every day with our students truly matters.

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Where did you travel for your study grant?

I traveled to Ireland, beginning in Galway and the surrounding area, then moving onto Sligo in the Northwest, and finally, Dublin.

Why did you pursue this study?

The primary goal of this study was to gain a better understanding of the works and lives of Irish literary giants, W.B. Yeats and James Joyce, by literally following in their footsteps and experiencing the landscapes of Ireland as they once did. Many consider Ireland to be one of the literary capitals of the world, as the island is home to prolific writers (Shaw, Heaney, Joyce, Yeats, Wilde, Swift, Beckett, Stoker, etc.) and boasts four Nobel Laureates in literature. In college, I developed a love of Irish literature, in particular a love of Yeats. It was a privilege to experience some of my favorite literature in a new way.

How will this enrich your classroom teaching?

Studying abroad has expanded my content knowledge and has inspired me to incorporate some of the texts I studied into my own curriculum. By incorporating pictures and storytelling about my trip into lessons on Irish poetry and short stories, I’m better able to engage my students and instill a greater passion for the texts. I’m looking forward to other possibilities, such as teaching an Irish Literature senior elective or taking students on an Interim Trip to Ireland.

Erin Russe

Kate Liang

Science Teacher Science in South Africa

Chinese Teacher Tracing the Silk Road in China

Where did you travel for your study grant?

South Africa.

Where did you travel for your study grant?

I explored the Ancient Silk Road and some other modern cities: Shanghai, Xi’an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Urumqi, Kashgar, Beijing, and Hong Kong.

Why did you pursue this study?

A safari through the African savanna has always been a “bucket list” dream for me. South Africa offered a wide variety of activities and excursions that match my interests and courses I teach – Environmental Science, Biology, and Geology. I approached the study grant as an opportunity for field experience, professional development, and personal growth. It did not disappoint!

How will this enrich your classroom teaching?

This experience has already enriched my classroom teaching by providing me with experiences to make personal connections with the material and to share stories that engage my students. It adds relevancy and context to the content and has given me ideas to be more creative and globally minded in my teaching. Talking to my students about this trip and everything I got to do allows me to model what it means to be a lifelong learner and hopefully inspires others to get out and explore.

Why did you pursue this study?

I wanted to visit famous historic places from ancient China by traveling through western China on the Silk Road, one of the most influential and important trade routes in Chinese and world history. My goal as a teacher is to be the connection, like the Silk Road was to so many, in bringing China to my students, and encourage them to visit China one day and find their own path to the future.

How will this enrich your classroom teaching?

Throughout the whole trip I learned about many Chinese minority groups and their clothing, food, musical instruments, architecture, and religions. I gained so much new knowledge of the history of the western Chinese people and their interactions with Central Asians. Each day, I share what I have learned from my trip with my students. I’ve introduced them to the geography and function of the old Silk Road, and the history of each temple we visited. In classes, we’ve discussed the quick development in the big cities, and how different the culture is between China and America. I am so grateful for the study grant and this trip, the trip of a lifetime.

Past Study Grant Recipients: Summer 2016: George Brock -Washington, DC — Shakespeare and Early American Theatre; Kate Philbrick - Marfa, Texas — In-depth Exploration of Alternative Process Photography; Toshla Guthrie - From Berlin to Budapest — The Role of Eastern Europe in World History. Summer 2017: Alice Davidson - South Korea – Past and Present; Beth Holden - Egypt, Jordan, and Israel — The Biblical Route of the Exodus. Summer 2018: Matt Fox - Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam — War in Southeast Asia from Multiple Perspectives; Eric Avera - STEM institute at the Singapore School for Science and Technology.

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Bright Knights

A CHINESE LESSON CHANGES A LIFE

Justin Broadfoot ’20

Sometimes a high school course is fascinating, and if you are really fortunate, the class is transformational. Such was the case for Justin Broadfoot after he enrolled in Chinese I during freshman year. Having taken Spanish at Trafton Middle School, he was ready to try a new world language in high school. Three years later, the 6-foot-3-inch volleyball player would be marching with Houston’s Taiwanese community in HEB’s Thanksgiving Parade, studying abroad for a summer in Beijing, taking Chinese IV Honors, and planning to major in Asian Studies in college.

“The minute you walk into class with Mrs. Liang, her enthusiasm for the Chinese language is infectious,” says Broadfoot. Like all great teachers, Liang believes her subject matter is essential and relevant, so the students feel it’s important to learn.

“Mrs. Liang hooks you in with stories about the history, myths, and traditions of Chinese culture,” Broadfoot explains. “She organizes field trips to Houston’s Chinatown and celebrates holidays with traditional tea ceremonies in the classroom.”

Although a challenge to grasp, Broadfoot says that Chinese calligraphy intrigues him, especially the way the characters evolved from illustrations. “It’s just a more creative way to express ideas,” he says.

When he was studying with Middlebury Interactive Languages last summer, the program asked students to sign a pledge to speak only in Chinese. “Our program was full immersion, and I was able to gain an ear for dialects by the end of four weeks.”

The highlight of his summer abroad was touring the Great Wall of China, especially the ancient Badaling section built with quarried rock during the Ming Dynasty in 1505. “For centuries, China was closed off from the world, and so visitors experience a culture that’s truly unique. The architecture is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the street life is vibrant, with surprises like alleyways called hutongs, lit with red lanterns.”

While he loves Chinese culture, he admits that the government’s censorship made him uneasy.

“We were told to not speak about Tiananmen Square, President Xi, or Hong Kong. Another thing I observed was the lack of birds in the city, even pigeons, due to pollution,” he says.

Next year, he hopes to study at a college with a strong Asian Studies department, such as the University of Oregon, NYU, or University of Texas. His career goal is to work in international business as a liaison between China and the United States. In a complex, interconnected world, business leaders will need a multicultural mindset to navigate local and global environments, Broadfoot predicts.

A famous Chinese proverb reads: “Teachers open the door; you enter by yourself.” Motivated by his teacher’s knowledge and enthusiasm, this senior’s ready to take the next step.

—Claire C. Fletcher

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Bright Knights

FROM AVID READER TO AMBITIOUS WRITER Anna Moise '20

Anna Moise came to EHS from The Village School, a competitive math and science middle school.

There, in the seventh grade, she learned she not only had an interest in creative writing but a talent for it. Motivated by an English teacher who used creative writing to teach grammar, Moise learned how to write plot, outline a story, and use more active voice and proper punctuation. “I always liked to read a lot,” she recalls, “and I remember thinking when I finished a book, ‘Wow, I want to make people feel like this.’” As a result of writing original material, she became more of a writer and less of a reader. “I wanted to produce the actual material and not just be a passive spectator."

Although Moise loved writing, she still wanted to focus on math. “I’ve sort of absorbed my parents’ professions,” she confesses, whose mother has a doctoral degree in applied math and whose father is a doctor. Moise started out in honors Algebra II with Dr. P. and quickly felt pulled into the world of math at EHS. “Our math club holds competitions, and I was used to those from middle school, and they were always a lot of fun for me.” She eventually became president of the math club at EHS as well as Mu Alpha Theta, the math honors society.

When Moise arrived as a freshman at EHS, she was disappointed she couldn’t take creative writing in 9th grade, but she introduced herself to Mrs. Hillary Houle, EHS’s creative writing teacher and faculty sponsor of the school’s literary journal, Light and Shadow. Because Moise had submitted to the Scholastic Awards before, that was her “in”—and she asked Mrs. Houle the requirements and how to submit writing. That year, she won an honorable mention.

By sophomore year, Moise could register for creative writing and she took it both semesters, as she did junior year, and this year she’s working on a novel for her independent study. The Scholastic Art and Writing Contest has always been a foundation of her writing. Her sophomore year, she won three silver medals, and as a junior last year, she won a gold regional, silver national, and an honorable mention.

Even in Moise’s college visits, she has managed to stay on course. At Dartmouth, she plans to sit in on a calculus class and a senior creative writing workshop. “My plan is to major in math and minor in creative writing. I need to balance the math and analytical side of things. One thing I love about is writing is that no one can say you’re doing it wrong.”

The novel Moise is working on with Mrs. Houle for her independent study is high fantasy. She originally proposed spy-based realistic fiction, but one of her biggest supporters, her grandmother, didn’t like it. “Even though she only speaks Romanian, she likes to read what I’ve written.

My parents will put it through a translator and we’ll communicate that way. I really trust my grandmother’s feedback.”

It hasn’t been easy to straddle her love of math and her dream of being a writer. “My grandparents are from Romania and lived through Communist times,” Moise explains. “Because of that, my parents have always been adamant that I’ll go further in life with a career in math. But, I love to write, and I think I can make it work.”

—Emma Kate Tsai

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MOMENTS

Toshla Guthrie, Chair of the History & Social Sciences Department, embraces her son Braden '21 after he announces to the EHS community that she completed her final radiation treatment just a few days prior.

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Former teacher John Drexel ’10 surprised the Benitez Chapel crowd with a visit during Homecoming.

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COMMUNITY & INCLUSION AT EHS What does community and inclusion look like at Episcopal High School? It's the quiet moments in the hallways and the loud ones in the stands. It's friends under an umbrella through an unexpected storm. It's swing dancing in the USC and people gathering for a laugh around your phone. It's raising money to end childhood cancer, a hug in the hallway, a smile as you turn the corner just before the moment's gone. This is a place where people remember you, where you walk around new buildings and new faces, when suddenly someone recognizes you, and they say to you, "Welcome home."

Here at EHS, all are welcomed. All are empowered. Everyone is heard.

—By Scott W. Cunningham

Acolytes serve the community daily.

Student cheer sections stand out.

Varsity Field Hockey celebrates seniors.

Bonds form via games at Field Knight.

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A teacher helps students create SPC shirts.

Bleachers fill with pink to support cancer patients.

Teacher Meghan Moake '01 and family are true blue.

Friendship is a shared umbrella.

Cheerleaders are ambassadors of school spirit.

Daily Chapel joins students together for prayer.

Freshmen gain exposure to photography at Arts Day EHS.

EHS Onstage productions exemplify collaboration.

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Coffee sales raise money to fight human trafficking.

Spirit dress days unify student body.

Ice cream snacks bring students together.

Guest speakers bring wide berth of career experience.

Karen Foster’s DNA sequencing lesson sparks joy.

Laughing with friends in Glassell Hall.

Beautiful weather draws lunch crowd outdoors.

Applauding talent at Coffee House performances.

Follow us on Instagram @EHSHouston for more. #KnightsStandOut!

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ALUMNI LEADERSHIP DAY On Tuesday, November 5, over 40 alumni returned for Alumni Leadership Day. They met with students and shared stories about decisions that impacted their career paths and described daily life in their professions.

Alumni covered a range from 1989 to 2014, which gave the seniors a chance to hear about careers at a variety of stages.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Stirling Craig, Class of 1997, shared insight about her time as an EHS student and her journeys in college and medical school.

The summer before medical school, Craig accompanied a group of ENT surgeons with Faith in Practice to Guatemala. Having the opportunity to witness ear reconstruction surgery, she found her calling in plastic surgery.

Dedication awarded her a six-year residency at Yale for Plastic Surgery and then an MD Anderson Microsurgery Fellowship.

Upon completion of her fellowship, she joined the faculty at MD Anderson as a Multidisciplinary Breast Team member and authored the chapter in breast reconstruction in the plastic surgery bible. In addition, she became a speaker and advocate for breast cancer reconstruction for an organization called CME Matters, which provides rural hospitals with the knowledge and tools to offer breast reconstruction to their breast cancer patients. “I wanted every woman to have the chance to rebuild after surviving such a difficult time in their life.”

Today, Craig has a Houston practice that specializes in breast reconstruction, as well as cosmetic procedures. In her words, she is “making women feel whole again, one way or the other.”

—Ashley Long

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Photos by Marc Nathan

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Alumni Leadership Day

# FIND INNER GENIUS

Carroll Cartwright

Dr. Ramsi Bethany Taylor

Cartwright is currently an Assistant Vice President in the Energy Group at Wells Fargo. Over the past two years, she has managed various distressed companies and advised companies on restructuring solutions. Prior to that role, she has worked in various divisions of the Wells Fargo Energy Group, including: Upstream Oil & Gas, Oilfield Services, and the Investment Grade Group. Cartwright is focused on business writing and evaluation around structural elements for several credit facilities.

After attending Howard University on a track scholarship, Dr. Taylor completed her residency in Houston at Kelsey Seybold and the University of Houston. In 2007, she worked at Baylor St. Luke’s and was promoted to Clinical Specialist in 2011. Currently she is the Clinical Specialist for Professional Development and Policy Management and Internal Medicine and the Director of PGY1 pharmacy residency program.

Class of 2010 Banking, Finance, and Accounting Panel The University of Texas, Bachelor of Arts, Economics and Business

Cartwright’s advice to the Class of 2020: “Stay positive and really work hard, even in troubled environments. It can be difficult to find a job today, but if you prove that you are a diligent and driven worker during college, opportunities will arise that you never even expected. I believe that EHS prepared me for the work I do today, so I would encourage you to take what you have learned and apply that throughout your daily life.”

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Class of 1998 Healthcare and Medicine Panel Howard University, Bachelor of Science in PrePharmacy Studies Howard University, Doctor of Pharmacy

Dr. Taylor spoke to our seniors during Alumni Chapel. Her inspiring comments challenged the EHS community to write a personal mission statement. Her advice to the Class of 2020: “Always remember, you have been afforded an awesome opportunity to sit in these seats. Your parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors deliberately pour into you and your future and are expecting great things from you. Remember, it is not enough for you to gather all of this education and experience and then hold your talents to yourself. I challenge you to be bold and stand out as you step out into this world, knowing that you are equipped to succeed.”

Alumni Leadership Day

Kate McLean

Jerrien Johnson

McLean was the executive chef at Tony’s for three years and now runs popular chef collaborative events. McLean currently co-hosts and produces a podcast, Pre-Shift with Kate and Brossa. It is a Houston specific restaurant industry podcast that covers the perspective of someone working in that industry, while touching on important issues like women’s health, mental health, and bullying. Additionally, McLean is a freelance journalist and a reporter. She writes investigative pieces, covers breaking news, as well as events in the restaurant and bar scene.

Johnson is the Operations Manager at Charbonneau Industries. In his role, he manages the receiving, inventory, and prep for shipment and shipping departments for one of the largest privately-owned master valve distributors in the United States. He coordinates priorities with project managers to ensure Plains AA, Enterprise, Energy Transfer, Targa, Buckeye, and other large pipeline players have the materials they require. In addition to his duties at Charbonneau Industries, Johnson is overseeing his new startup, Third Coast Industrial Solutions, and serves as president.

McLean’s advice to the Class of 2020: “As a senior in high school, it’s hard to know exactly what you want to do professionally. Sometimes, even after years on one path, you may get the urge to change to another, which means starting at the bottom. What is important is a strong work ethic, directed toward a goal that you’re passionate about. Failure is inevitable, and it’s how we learn. Learning how to fail with integrity by taking ownership and pushing forward will set you apart from others. Make sure to have fun along the way, too.”

Johnson's advice to the Class of 2020: “Episcopal prepared me for academic and life challenges that I did not expect, but still navigated with precision. Work hard. Know your strengths and understand your weaknesses. In this business, no matter how much you plan, you always have to be prepared to make a tough decision, call an audible, and tackle a new priority.

You have to be flexible, analytical, show empathy, but don’t be afraid to hold others accountable and to those same standards.”

Class of 2003 Arts & Entertainment Panel University of Colorado at Boulder, Bachelor of Arts in Business Marketing

Class of 2009 Business & Entrepreneurship Panel University of Texas at Dallas, Bachelor of Science in Finance and Business Administration

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Q+A with EHS Teachers

Pop Quiz turns the table on teachers and asks them to respond to 11 quick questions. Their enthusiastic responses reveal the values, quirks, and interests that make them so effective in leading EHS students.

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KAREN FOSTER Science Teacher

Karen Foster grew up in Beaumont, Texas, and moved to Houston for her first teaching job at St. Mark’s Episcopal School. She received her Bachelor of Education from Texas A&M University and a Master of Education from the University of Houston. She’s taught anatomy and physiology as well as biology for the past 30 years. Foster has served on many committees and is currently co-director of the mentoring program, which supports new teachers during their first two years at EHS. She and her husband, Pat Foster, have been married for 30 years and have two children: Kimberly, EHS Class of 2010, and Kyle, EHS Class of 2014.

What’s on your playlist?

On my “high school” playlist I have America, Boz Scaggs, and the Eagles. And of course on game day – the Aggie Band!

What was the first concert you attended?

I saw the Commodores in Beaumont, Texas, at the Montagne Center.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you pick for a career?

I would be a physical therapist, but my dream career would be a professional tennis player.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

I am most proud when former students reach out to me to tell me something about themselves or something they remember from my class. If I have made an impact on a student I feel a sense of accomplishment and know that learning has taken place beyond just the subject.

Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget?

Alexa – I love the question of the day.

Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired your career?

My parents were probably my biggest supporters. They taught me the value of hard work and giving back to others.

If you could travel back in time, what period of history would you choose?

I would go back to the 1930s.

In 1939 A&M won the National Football Championship, and it might never happen again.

What do you most respect about your colleagues?

My colleagues are life-long learners and continue to strive

for excellence in all they do for our students, not only in the classroom but with time spent with extracurricular activities.

What do you most respect about your students?

Their genuine gratefulness and kindness. Even on days when they are feeling exhausted, they say thank you when leaving the classroom.

Read any good books recently?

“Where the Crawdads Sing.”

If you could eat only one meal this week, what would it be?

Chips and queso.

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DAN BINDER Religion Teacher

Dan Binder joined the Religion Department at EHS in 2008, after completing his undergraduate degree at Columbia and a Master of Divinity at Yale.

He currently serves as the chair of the Religion Department, as well as a lay assistant chaplain and a junior advisor.

He and his wife, Alyssa Farmer, have two small children, and Alyssa works in admissions at Duchesne Academy.

What’s on your playlist?

The last album I bought was Houston’s own The Suffers, who are leading the charge in Gulf Coast Soul. But now, thanks to my daughter, it’s mostly “Moana,” “Trolls,” and “Frozen” on endless loop.

What was the first concert you attended?

David Bowie’s 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden in NYC. I was 13 years old, went with my dad, and was far too young to fully appreciate it.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you pick for a career?

Lounge singer/cult leader/ dharma bum.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Aside from my family and my professional success, probably my beard.

Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget?

The app Forest helps me limit my phone usage by growing plants, on screen and in the real world.

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Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired your career?

My junior-year AP European History teacher, Mr. Maguire, challenged me to think like no other teacher I’d had, while showing me that challenging classes can be the most rewarding. He also proved that teachers can use the same jokes for decades and still be funny.

If you could travel back in time, what period of history would you choose?

Any time between the discovery of penicillin and the invention of the smartphone would be fine with me.

What do you most respect about your colleagues?

The dedication to the mission of the school and to the needs of our students.

What do you most respect about your students?

The wonder and curiosity that they bring with them—their thirsts for achievement, for knowledge, and for wisdom.

Read any good books recently?

I generally stick to the tried-andtrue—the Bible, the Stoics, epic poetry, the Bhagavad-Gita, and classic board books.

If you could eat only one meal this week, what would it be?

EHS cafeteria mac and cheese, with three servings of Miss Darlene’s bread pudding.

ASHLEY SAUNDERS History Teacher

Ashley Saunders was born in Silver Springs, Maryland, but moved as quickly as possible to Texas, where she grew up in Pearland with her three younger siblings. She earned her bachelor’s in history and education at Dallas Baptist University where she played soccer. This is her fourth year at EHS and her eighth year as a teacher, having previously taught in Fort Bend ISD. Saunders teaches World History II and is the assistant grade level dean for 9th and 10th grade. When she is not in the classroom or meeting with students, she can be found on the athletic field, serving as head coach for the girls JV soccer team.

What’s on your playlist?

I’m listening to an audiobook called “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet Spy” and my current playlist is one my younger brother created with a little bit of everything.

What was the first concert you attended?

Backstreet Boys Into the Millennium Tour.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you pick for a career?

I think it would be interesting to be a costume or set designer for movies.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment will be finishing my master’s degree in Instruction and Curriculum in Social Studies.

Since I graduated during the recession it would have been easy to go straight into a graduate program, but I waited until I figured out what in education and/or history I was really interested in. It’s been a lot of work, but I have learned information that has helped me become a better teacher.

Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget?

Skyscanner and Hopper. I love to travel so when I am planning a trip I use those two apps regularly.

Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired your career?

My 7th grade Texas history teacher, Mrs. White. She had the ability to make history come alive, and I loved going to her class. She was the first teacher that I had where I knew she not only loved her students, but she loved history and was authentically herself.

If you could travel back in time, what period of history would you choose?

I would travel back to the height of the Roman Empire or to New York during the Harlem Renaissance to witness the cultural explosion of individuals like Madam C.J. Walker, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, and Josephine Baker.

What do you most respect about your colleagues?

Their commitment to their students and to each other.

What do you most respect about your students?

I love their curiosity and willingness to ask hard questions when interested in a specific topic.

Read any good books recently?

I just finished the “Red Rising” series, a great science-fiction story that my entire family ended up reading.

If you could eat only one meal this week, what would it be?

Baltimore-style crab cakes. They are mostly crab meat with just enough breadcrumbs or crushed saltine crackers to give it shape.

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The Last Word

STEPPING OUTSIDE: A TALE FROM FRESHMAN RETREAT “Step outside of the box.” The Camp Allen staffer’s words nudged me forward, and before I realized what I’d agreed to do I was donning the lattice of straps that would serve as my safety harness. It was an August afternoon, right after lunch spent with the freshman advisory group I was looking after during Freshman Retreat. How could I ask these nervous 14-year-olds who had yet to see the inside of their first freshman classroom to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself?

Now it was my turn to shuffle anxiously as I waited with our new art teacher Lauren Cunningham to ascend a tight spiral staircase 40 feet or so to the “Adventure Summit” challenge course. We would be the final pair to cross its 10 elements before our large group headed off to the next rotation. At last we were waved upward. A little winded by the steep climb, I lamented my lack of physical conditioning for this… but not enough to reconsider my decision. Some freshmen had done just that, wending up the spiral staircase only to return right back down. There is no shame in that. Each step outside the comfort zone we take is a step into a new state of being and awareness, unlike anything we’ve experienced before. That’s the point, isn’t it? To safely explore such scary, vulnerable spaces.

The elements, created from rope, planks, beams, and cable, increased in difficulty as you progressed through them. Some, like the first, were easy to skitter across. Earlier, watching students glide through the harder ones zipline-style had lulled me into thinking I could do this without too much difficulty.

I had failed to factor in the effects of the muggy August heat, which were sapping us of energy and moisture by the minute, or how my lack of physical stamina could present some serious problems for me that were not evident at the beginning. Crossing the deceptively easy first element, we were informed that this was our last opportunity to turn back.

We chose to move forward. We were in it for the duration.

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I came to the last two sections breathing hard, but without any real misgivings. About halfway across the second beam of the ninth element, I slipped, and found myself straddling the beam, shaking with spent muscles, unable to get up again. I found new strength in the steady encouragement from Lauren, who was following me along the course with a grace that had abandoned me several elements back. Finally, I was able to work one leg under myself so that I could use the cable to climb back into a standing position. I made it to the last of the little platforms that allow you to catch your breath and recuperate between each element. I could tell as I stood panting on this final ledge that I had reached my limit.

But there was no way to go but forward. I devised a strategy to cross this element’s series of swinging planks, a daunting disconnected foot bridge. I wrapped my arms around the cables, two swings at a time, stepping forward across them once stabilized. I had engineered a solution, even if it wasn’t pretty! My strategy ran afoul when I reached two planks that were tangled together. I tried with my flagging strength to unhook them with my foot, but instead I slipped again and spun, ending up laying supine across several of these swings.

I could hear consternation in the Camp Allen staff’s voices as they joined Lauren and others from the ground in coaxing me to do what was necessary to make it the final 15 feet to the platform.

The thing was, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t sit up again, let alone stand and struggle back to safety. My breathing became ragged, and the sun seemed intent on melting me onto the swaying planks. In the end I had to be dragged unceremoniously back to the platform, plank by plank. I was later told that this was only a “Level One” situation, and that it happened fairly often; but my dignity had been a casualty up there. Dehydrated, deflated, downright embarrassed, I

The Last Word humbly accepted the concern and aid offered generously to me by so many I cannot name them all: cups of cold water, a place to sit, bandages for my raw fingers, words of comfort.

All I could think of was how I must have worried the students, of how it had been folly for someone of my age and fitness level to have attempted this thing in the first place.

Despite all, the Freshman Retreat was wonderful and fun. At the end of that long day, easing past the dazzle of excited parents collecting their tired but no-longer-nervous charges, I returned home to share my tale of aerial humiliation with my wife, Zeba. “You shouldn’t be embarrassed,” she told me. “You should be proud.” In one sense, I was proud: proud to have taken that step “outside the box” into uncertainty, even though it stretched me as far as I could go and beyond.

But I wasn’t proud that others had seen me struggle. It took me several days to realize that this was my ego talking, not my colleagues. On the contrary: adults and students alike had been the ones to support, encourage, even cheer me on through those difficulties. I have witnessed this time and again in struggles faced by members of our community, myself included. We are fortunate to be connected by relationships that encourage each of us not merely to cope but to flourish.

Our community supports us, even when the ground is nowhere near our feet and we feel vulnerable and afraid.

Truly, there is no shame in that. It’s a powerful way to grow.

—Eric Avera, Science Teacher and Leader of the Advisory Program

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Liam Griffin '20 after Fall SPC Cross Country Championships

2019 ‑ 2020 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle Executive Chair Randa Duncan Williams Frances Alexander, Henrietta K. Alexander, J. Craig Chandler, W. Craig Childers, Rod Cutsinger, William A. Edens Sr., J. Todd Frazier ‘88, Emerson K. Hankamer Sr., Terri Havens, Elizabeth K. Howley, Jenna Junell, Alecia Lawyer, Clay Manley, George O. McDaniel III, Laurie N. Morian, Townes G. Pressler Jr., William Randall, A. Haag Sherman, Ned Smith, Trey Snider, The Very Rev. Barkley Thompson, Duncan K. Underwood ‘89, John Weinzierl, James Whitehead ‘94, Julius Young Jr. 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 Jr., 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 J. Craig Chandler, W. Craig Childers, The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, William F. Galtney Jr., Melinda Budinger Hildebrand, Victor, A. Kormeier Jr., Clay Manley, George O. McDaniel III, A. Haag Sherman, Ned Smith, Lynda Knapp Underwood, Randa Duncan Williams

LEADERSHIP Head of School Ned Smith Associate Head of School Nancy Laufe Eisenberg

Director of Finance and Operations Evelyn Cambria Principal Kim Randolph

Dean of Faculty Nguyet Xuan Pham Director of Advancement Peggy Haney Dean of Spiritual Life The Rev. Beth Holden

Dean of Arts and Innovation Jay Berckley Director of Athletics Jason Grove

PILLARS MAGAZINE TEAM Director of Communications Claire Fletcher Photography & Graphic Design Scott Cunningham

Contributors Eric Avera Claire Fletcher Peggy Haney Ashley Long Mauro Gomez Emma Tsai Margaret Young

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