PILLARS - The Episcopal High School Fall 2021 Magazine

Library Renovation • Competition Team Debuts

•

Evolution of the Mascot

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: Ashley Long along@ehshouston.org 713-512-3478

Chief Achilefu ’03 cachilefu@ehshouston.org 713-512-3606

Episcopal High School 4650 Bissonet Houston, TX 77401

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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The Episcopal High School Magazine, Fall 2021

IN THIS ISSUE

From the Head of School 04 #KnightsStandOut 06 Athletics Wrap-Up 12 Underwood Library Renovation 14 Cheerleaders’ Cancer Awareness Initiative 16 Bright Knights 20 EHS Dance Program Debuts Competition Team 26 Pop Quiz 30 The Mascot Throughout the Years 34 Alumni Leadership Day 38 Alumni Profiles 40 The Last Word 44

ON THE COVER

Members of the new dance competition team, Elevate, rehearse during the “Pillars” photo shoot. Included in the photo are, from top to bottom, Olive Martin ’23, Lili Shore ’24, and Mali Hogue ’24. Photo by Lauren West

SAVE THE DATE

Oh, What a Knight! Auction 02-18-22 Alumni Weekend 04-09-22 Commencement 05-15-22

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear EHS Family, Much has changed since the pandemic began, but even more has stayed the same. We began this school year, our third year with COVID-19, emphasizing that which has not changed since our founding: our Episcopal identity, our faith, and our mission. What has changed is how we live the mission each day. For instance, when we gathered for Chapel on opening day, fully half of the students present—400 of them—had never been together as a community in Chapel. We needed to adapt creatively to onboard a group this size, we did just that, and we did it well. We evolved to meet the needs of the moment as we have done since our very first day.

The evolution of the Episcopal High School mascot, featured in the article beginning on page 34, is a wonderful metaphor for the School’s ongoing evolution, preserving the essence while remaining flexible to meet the needs of the moment. Our mission, and our founders’ vision, remain constant even as the expression of that mission changes from one generation of students to the next. Our commitment to the School’s mission and pattern of excellence and innovation continues unabated today.

Read on page 43, how Gilbert Sosa ’16, already an accomplished producer and director while at EHS, recently started StoryHouze, a content collaborative dedicated to storytelling and philanthropy. Gilbert and his team focus on acts of kindness in vulnerable communities and use their collective efforts to produce inspiring content. Gilbert’s content has been viewed by more than one billion people across his several social media platforms, and he credits his time at EHS—he was involved with the Acolyte Program, Students of Service, Student Government, EHS Onstage, and ETV—for his start. The details may change but the essence remains the same.

Alternately, look at the article on page 11 describing how the Entrepreneurship Club took home the win in the recent Microsoft Innovation Challenge with their proposal to add to the Microsoft Stack to help solve the hybrid work paradox. Or read about the vision for Elevate, our newly formed dance competition team, in which our dancers collaborate as they compete. We continue to help our students find their inner genius and they continue to stand out in new and different ways. None of this would happen for students like Quinn Charlton ’22 and KitKat Kwiatkowski ’22 (featured on pages 20 and 23 respectively) without the strong positive influence of teachers like, Andy Clack, Kristina Burgess, and Julius Michael (featured on pages 31, 32, and 33 respectively).

As we continue this year to build on our 38 years of EHS tradition and excellence, we remain grateful for all who have come before. Thank you for the part you have played, and please stay involved in whatever way you are able. We look forward to it!

Go Knights,

Ned Smith

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Students Gain Insight into Professional Woodworking Earlier this fall, students in Sculpture classes witnessed woodworking on a large, elaborate scale at the Woodworking Show of Texas.

Displays included exotic wood species, professional tools, and precision machinery. Cristian Munoz ’22 said, “I enjoyed seeing how people use wood for things like knife handles, golf putters, and art.”

In addition to highlighting the many possibilities for working with wood, the field trip was also a hands-on experience. The Woodworkers’ Club of Houston helped students assemble birdhouses and turn wood on lathes.

“The birdhouse was super fun to make, and I will put it up at my house,” said Sophia Perwien ’23. On the lathes, students turned wood blanks to create pens. “We had to sand it [the wood], shape it, and then polish it,” explained Cristian Munoz ’22.

Sculpture teacher Lauren Cunningham was touched by how much the students appreciated the communal aspect of the show. Whit Robertson ’22 shared, “I enjoyed talking with [everyone].

I learned that there is a community of woodworkers that is passionate and driven.” Cunningham hopes that by meeting people who have devoted years to perfect their craft, students will be inspired in the classroom and beyond.

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Spanish Language Program Celebrates Hispanic Heritage For Hispanic Heritage Month, the Spanish Language Program introduced students to different areas of culture on- and off-campus.The Spanish II classes recognized Cuba while listening to the music of the Buena Vista Social Club and Celia Cruz. And the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica decorated the Library in honor of the month.

Ms. ReBecca Alcalá brought her Spanish III class to help with the display by teaching them how to make Fiesta flowers and prepare quotes from famous artists, scientists, and athletes.

One of their favorite quotes was from the acclaimed author Julia Alvarez: “The point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on.”

In Mr. Alex Bruton’s Spanish V class, an important theme is to constantly be “searching under the surface.” His class recently watched and studied the 1980s movie “El Norte” about two Guatemalan migrants who make their way to Los Angeles.

The students then went on a field trip to the Holocaust Museum of Houston to see Withstand: Latinx Art in Times of Conflict, which features the artwork of contemporary regional artists and their depictions of opportunity, justice, assimilation, freedom, violence, and human rights.

Leana Greene ’22, Spanish V student, adds, “Throughout my four years of EHS Spanish courses, being able to go to the Holocaust Museum’s exhibit was an experience unlike any other. I saw pieces of work that described emotions I was unable to put into words, and yet these artists have managed to make them into artwork.”

#KnightsStandOut

Performing Arts Back to In-Person Performances The 2021-2022 EHS Performing Arts season is in full swing. The season opener was the fall production of the timeless masterpiece “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder. Set in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, this Pulitzer Prize-winning play shatters conventual theatrical practices and celebrates the ordinary life lived fully and well.

In October, the EHS Band, Chorale, Midknight Blues, and Orchestra hosted their annual spooktacular concert “Hauntcert.” The evening of fun was marked by spooky music and guests were encouraged to wear festive Halloween costumes.

The winter production of “Eurydice,”

by Sarah Ruhl, commenced with high attendance. “Eurydice” retells the myth of Orpheus from the perspective of Eurydice, his wife. The story focuses on Eurydice’s choice to return to earth with Orpheus or to stay in the underworld with her father.

EHS Student is Top 10 Finalist in 2021 Congressional Art Competition for Texas’ 7th District The Studio Arts program is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Minton ’22 is a top 10 finalist in the 2021 Congressional Art Competition for the 7th Congressional District. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher displayed Minton’s self-portrait “Uncovered” in her district office in Houston. Minton is one of 34 students who submitted artwork to the district.

For Minton, art is one of her biggest passions, and she encourages others to enter the competition next year. “I can’t imagine my life without art. It has helped me in so many ways and allowed me to express myself,” Minton says. “I encourage anyone who has a passion for arts to enter.”

Established in 1982, the Congressional Art Competition, sponsored by the Congressional Institute, celebrates the artistic achievements of high school artists from across the country. More than 650,000 students across the country have submitted art for display throughout the past 40 years.

Each participating congressional district selects one winner every year, whose artwork will be displayed in the United States Capitol for one year. The other top 10 submissions get the honor of being displayed in the district office for one year.

Throughout the years, many EHS students have entered the Congressional Art Competition and received national and local recognition.

Minton initially found out about the competition through Sharon Willcutts, studio arts teacher at EHS. “Mrs. Willcutts, who I have had as my art teacher at EHS every year, always pushes me to keep up with and explore my passion for the arts by showing me artists who may inspire me,” Minton says.

And most recently, the performance season ended on a high note with the Fall Dance Concert “Resurfacing.” The student-choreographed performance featured students from both Impact, Repertory, and Elevate.

You can find more information on upcoming performances by searching for Performing Arts on our website.

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT New Head Coaches for Girls Lacrosse and Swimming and Diving Programs The EHS Athletics Pillar is pleased to announce that Shaun Flood has been named as the head coach of the Swimming & Diving program, and Paige Moriarty has been named head coach of the Girls Lacrosse program.

Coach Flood is no stranger to EHS as he served as the JV head coach in 2020-21. In addition to his coaching duties, Coach Flood teaches Biology and Anatomy & Physiology.

Honors Chapel Recognizes Academic Excellence In September, Episcopal High School recognized students who achieved outstanding academic performances for the Spring 2021 semester during Honors Chapel in the Alkek Gym. It was the first time in more than a year that all students, faculty, and parents gathered to celebrate the achievements of the Academic Pillar.

“While these recognitions focus on a result—a grade in a class or a score on an AP exam—the truth is that they reflect a wide range of journeys that students took to achieve their goal,” noted Eric Lerch, Ninth Grade Level Dean. “These honors represent hard work, integrity, intellectual curiosities, perseverance, and a positive attitude.”

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Before arriving in Houston, Coach Flood worked as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Loyola Marymount University. This followed a storied water polo playing career at LMU where Coach Flood was a three-time WWPA Conference champion. Coach Flood helped lead the Lions to the NCAA Final Four on three occasions. Before working at his alma mater, Coach Flood was the head coach at Whittier College (CA).

Coach Flood graduated in 2008 from LMU with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences.

Before her move to Houston, Coach Moriarty worked as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Amherst College. This followed a storied playing career at Franklin and Marshall College where Coach Moriarty was a three-time first-team All-American and two-time NCAA DIII Attacker of the Year. In addition to her national accomplishments, Coach Moriarty was a four-time All Centennial Conference player and currently holds the conference record for points (393) in a career.

A 2018 graduate of Franklin and Marshall College with an undergraduate degree in American Studies, Coach Moriarty recently completed her master’s degree in sports industry management from Georgetown University.

#KnightsStandOut

“This process made us realize how much we love choir and how church has played such a vital role in our lives growing up,” Leah says.

EHS Chorale Students Receive Silver Award from the Royal School of Church Music The Performing Arts Department is pleased to announce that Kate and Leah Teagarden ’22 have earned the Silver award from the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) for their dedication and excellence in choir singing. The silver medals are a point of prestige and distinction for those in the chorale community.

Kate and Leah are the first students at Episcopal High School to receive such a distinction and both were highly commended in their category.

To earn awards, students must complete a rigorous examination, which includes singing, music theory, and a comprehensive oral interview.

The RSCM provides a series of grades and awards to signify varying levels of musical achievement. There are four basic merit awards, which include the light blue ribbon, the dark blue ribbon, the red ribbon, and the yellow ribbon.

Beyond the merit, are the medals awarded after successful coursework and examination, which are the Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards.

The RSCM is an international Christian music education organization dedicated to the promotion of music in Christian worship, in particular the repertoire and traditions of Anglican church music, largely through publications, training courses, and an award scheme. Both Kate and Leah have taken part in numerous summer choral camps run by the RSCM since the fourth grade.

When asked what motivated them to pursue such a distinction the sisters credited Mr. Garmon Ashby, the Performing Arts Department Chair, who also directs the EHS Chorale program. “He is very encouraging and helps us a lot, especially with music theory,” Kate says.

Freshmen enjoyed an Adventure Summit “High Ropes,” or elevated obstacle course and zip line, “Low Ropes,” or community building games in an outdoor pavilion, Advisory, a session in which advisories bonded and wrote a letter to their future senior self they will read at Senior Retreat, Religion/Service, a session on the Religion Pillar led by Reverend Callaham, and some free time, where they got to relax or “get owned” by Dean Lerch in a game of Nine Square.

Ninth Grade Level Dean Eric Lerch adds, “It was fantastic to be able to return to Camp Allen for Freshman Retreat. The students had so much fun with the variety of activities, and the advisories were able to build even stronger connections with each other.

We are looking forward to building on this experience for a great rest of the year.”

Freshman Retreat Returns to Camp Allen The Freshman Retreat is back with a few changes. The decision was made to move the date from the Sunday before the school year begins to the Wednesday following Columbus Day. Freshman advisories were able to engage in activities that forged a stronger connection rather than a simple “get to know you” theme.

Although it was still a bit warm for October, it was much more temperate than the summer temps of over a hundred degrees.

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT The Office of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion Hosts DIA Mix and Mingle, Distinguished Guest Speaker For the Office of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion, it has been a busy fall semester. The DIA (Diversity in Action), a student-led organization, hosted its annual Mix and Mingle. After a year hiatus because of COVID-19 related restrictions with in-person gatherings, more than 150 students, parents, faculty and staff, and Board members congregated in the USC for the event.

Rev. Beth Holden started the afternoon with a prayer, followed by Director of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion, Wayne Jones’ welcome.

Mr. Jones shared the vision for DIA “DIA is an organization for all EHS students to come together, be involved, and be their authentic selves.” DIA sponsor Ayesha Spooner followed and spoke passionately about relationships and the EHS mission. “DIA is a place where we get to understand ourselves and each other in really meaningful ways.”

DIA students Chandler Hollis ’23, Quinn Charlton ’22, and Karma Elbadawy ’22 reflected on their time in DIA and how the group supports the School’s mission.

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In addition, with the help of DCI, the School was able to host Dr. George C. Wright, a noted African American scholar. Wright visited with senior administration, faculty and staff, and student organizations. He offered words of encouragement as the School prepared for a new school year.

“I’ve always believed in the gospel of hard work,” Wright says.

Dr. Wright was the seventh President of Prairie View A&M University, the second oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. He currently teaches history and serves as a Special Advisor to the President at his Alma Mater, the University of Kentucky.

#KnightsStandOut

Entrepreneurship Club Wins Hybrid Work Challenge The officers of the EHS Entrepreneurship Club entered The Microsoft Innovation Challenge and took home the win. The challenge: What product or solution can be added to the Microsoft Stack to help solve the hybrid work paradox? 16 other schools across Texas competed and each team had 30 minutes to come up with a plan.

Catherine MacConnell ’22, Sean MacConnell ’22, Stephanie Nelson ’22, Courtney Callahan ’22, and Wade Arntzen ’22 pitched a virtual conference room that makes collaboration and inclusivity a priority in the way we now work. Some features of their proposed application include a transportable interactive experience, surround screen, and spatial audio that give the feeling in an online meeting that you are sitting next to the other participants. This application would offer a full VR experience without the headset and include the ability to translate languages making international business more efficient.

For winning the Challenge, these budding entrepreneurs were rewarded with a laptop and $100 of seed money for a future competition.

Sean explained, “We brainstormed for 15 minutes, then wrote and practiced with timing to see what we needed to change. We made edits to make it shorter and kept repeating the process.”

Courtney added, “We all immediately had the idea of something with VR and kept working together to get more specific with the features the tech could provide.” “It helped,” Catherine said, “that the challenge posed no limits to our creativity.”

“We could come up with something convenient, or outer-worldly,” Wade said. Wade believes their collaboration is what helped them win the challenge.

“We all had very different ideas, thought differently, but ended up with something that worked.”

The club was started by Stephanie and Courtney. Stephanie is CEO of the company they are creating, Courtney is co-president, and the others have more supportive roles like board members.

Advancing Educational Technology at EHS EHS focuses on finding and implementing up-to-date educational technologies. With an experienced tech team led by Director of Educational Technology, Kyle Sumrow, our Knights experience a curriculum that takes full advantage of our one-to-one laptop program.

EHS is one of the newest members of the Southeast Texas GigaPop (SETG), a consortium of higher education institutions including Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, and the University of Houston, that provide an ultra-high-speed internet connection.

EHS is the first and only private K-12 school in Texas to be accepted into the consortium.

This year, the Technology Department rolled out Clever, a new EHS Student Launchpad. It’s a one-stop shop for digital resources the students need on any given day. Clever remembers all the passwords students need and logs students into many of these resources automatically. This application has simplified day to day tasks for students by putting all the links for classes onto one launchpad page. Teachers can add links and resources to their students’ launchpads without adding anything to other students’ pages. In short, Clever has taken the complexity out of the systems and put them all in one place.

The Student Technology Council is a new club led by Kyle Sumrow and Computer Science Teacher, Alan Duncan. The club meets once a month to plan weekly lunchtime activities for students, faculty, and staff. The students will decide on collaborative projects (pending approval) like homemade rocket launches, coding stations, games, paper circuits to light up LED lights, the 10-minute design challenge, and problem-solving challenges.

Technology helps in the Arts as well.

When Mr. Ashby (the EHS Choir Director) turns the page on his iPad, the ForScore app allows him to control the students’ page-turning. This ensures that students are in the right place while singing along with a piece.

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Athletic Director’s Report A bit of normalcy returned to EHS this fall season as students, parents, and friends were able to gather once more in person to cheer on the Knights. The community spirit and energy that has become a hallmark of home EHS athletic events were on full display throughout the season as our teams gave enthusiastic crowds much to cheer for.

The highlight of the fall athletic season was most certainly the Girls Cross Country team’s thrilling SPC championship. The Knights placed six runners in the top-thirty of the championship race at Norbuck Park in Dallas and earned a commanding ten-point win over runner-up Hockaday.

History was made as the championship was the first in program history! The win capped off an outstanding season that featured several wins over 5A and 6A teams in UIL races.

The Boys Cross Country team completed their own strong season as the Knights finished 7th overall in the SPC championship race, their highest finish in several years.

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The Girls Volleyball team finished south zone play with a 7-1 record, good for a three-team, first-place tie with St. John’s and St. Stephens.

The Knights defeated FWCD 3-0 in the opening round of the SPC tournament before falling to eventual runner-up Oakridge in the quarterfinals. The Knights rebounded with a strong 3-1 win over ESD to finish 5th overall.

The Boys Volleyball team earned the #1 seed in the south zone with their 8-2 zone record and earned a bye into the second round of the tournament. The Knights faced perennial power Casady in the quarterfinals and dropped a 3-1 decision to the Cyclones. The Knights responded in strong fashion by defeating St. John’s 3-1 to capture 5th place in the tournament.

The Girls Field Hockey team, fueled by a three-game winning streak to end the regular season, earned the 4th seed in the south zone. The Knights dropped a heart-breaking 1-0 match to FWCD in the opening round of the SPC tournament but responded with 7-0 victories over both St. Andrew’s and Duchesne to finish 2-1 in the tournament.

More than 85 students participated in the JV White, JV Blue, Varsity Cheer, and the Pom teams this season. They thrilled crowds at football games and pep rallies. All four teams competed in the fall Lonestar Classic sponsored by the NCA. The Varsity, JV, and JV White football teams all finished their seasons with impressive wins in the final weeks of the season. With more than 100 students involved in the program, each team boasted large rosters full of enthusiastic participants. The Varsity Knights ended the season in fine fashion with a dominating 31-7 win at home vs.

Houston Christian on Homecoming.

This followed a thrilling 28-21 win at St. Mark’s.

—Jason Grove

#KnightsStandOut

Photos by Mauro Gomez

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Artificial Turf Fields

UNDERWOOD LIBRARY RENOVATION Updated Facility Offers Students and Faculty Room to Explore and Learn

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In designing the renovation, our library team—Kate Hall, Head Librarian, Jennifer Succi, Librarian, Kyle Sumrow, Director of Educational Technology, and Jay Berckley, Dean of Arts and Innovation—wanted to let as much natural light into the space as possible and make the library flexible for different kinds of learning. They wanted to move beyond a library being a place that shelves books and instead creates a space for learning, thinking, reading, and studying. “We envision it becoming the beating heart of the Episcopal campus, bustling with energy and activity throughout the day,” said Sumrow. Some of the many services offered at the library are eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines.

Jay Berckley adds, “We are thrilled to be part of this special moment in the history of Episcopal High School, and especially this next chapter in our celebration of the Underwood Library.

The leading vision of our Board of Trustees, Head of School Ned Smith, and the wide range of stakeholders who helped develop our strategy has been unified from the start, uniformly aimed at renovating this magical space, all while keeping the spirit of community, teaching, and learning, and creating a welcoming space to explore and develop ideas at the heart of the EHS experience.”

Berckley went on to say, what started off as an idea became reality. “The spirit of innovation that is now manifest in remarkable improvements and unique new opportunities will support and inspire our next generation of Knights for years to come.”

The renovation has created a more innovative and inviting space for students to stop by. You’ll notice the furniture is modular. That created cozy study areas and allowed a seating area for forums.

The technology help desk serves the students, faculty, and staff from this central location.

Kate Hall adds, “I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing library during such an exciting time. It is an inspiring space to collaborate and create, but it is also a wonderful place to curl up with a good book. We will host guest speakers, facilitate interactive class projects, and much more. There will be lots of activities happening in the library throughout the year so make sure to stop by!”

Thank you to School leadership, parents, students, faculty, and staff for helping make this happen.

We hope you take a tour next time you are on campus!

—Emma Kate Tsai

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SPREADING AWARENESS FOR CANCER ONE T-SHIRT AT A TIME Cheer Program Expands T-shirt Fundraiser to Shed Light On More Types of Cancer Aside from being devoted athletes and curators of school spirit, one of the hallmarks of the Cheer Program at EHS is the team's dedication to increasing awareness and fundraising for cancer. For years, under the leadership of Head Cheer Coach Leigh Anne Raymond, the Cheer Program has spread awareness and fundraised for breast and pediatric cancer. This year the Cheer Program decided to incorporate more cancer diagnoses into its well-known T-shirt fundraiser initiative.

The motivation to spread awareness for other cancers came from Varsity Cheerleader Elizabeth Cabes '23. After her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020, Cabes was inspired to start the Cancer Awareness Club on campus and include other pervasive cancers in the T-shirt fundraiser. For Cabes, spreading awareness is the best method to finding a solution to cancer.

“Cancer affects everyone no matter what, and when my mom got diagnosed, I realized it affects more people in our community than we think,” Cabes says.

“And since there is no cure, we need to keep fighting and bringing attention to it.”

In addition to the staple gold and pink T-shirts that honor pediatric and breast cancer that have been around for years, other T-shirts will recognize ovarian, leukemia, and lymphoma cancers with teal, orange, and light green colors. As the captain, Sophia Neylon ’22 has taken on the role of designing, ordering, and promoting the T-shirts. “Our job as cheerleaders is not just to be entertaining and encouraging, but also to be community advocates,” Neylon says.

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Besides the T-shirt fundraiser, which the Dads Club underwrites to cover initial costs, the Cheer Program also hosts baked goods sales to help meet their fundraising goals. All the proceeds of the T-shirts and baked goods fundraiser go to A Shelter for Cancer Families (ASCF), a local nonprofit in the West University area. ASCF offers housing and tangible support to all families seeking cancer care in the Texas Medical Center and those who travel to Houston for treatment.

For both Cabes and Raymond, whose families also have been directly impacted by cancer, it is important to give to a local organization that puts families’ needs first. “We wanted something in our backyard that our students can interact with,” says Raymond.

The Cheer Program volunteers with the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance, which provides emotional, educational, and practical support to families of children with cancer. Every year, the cheerleaders lift spirits and cheer on participants of the Candlelighters Fun Walk. The Fun Walk is designed to bring awareness to childhood cancer and celebrate the lives of cancer warriors, survivors, and angels.

“My whole mission for coaching and being with these girls is to make them good human beings,” Raymond says. “From the beginning, we have always been giving back. That’s the mission of the Cheer Program here.”

—Lauren West

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“From the beginning, we have always been giving back.

That’s the mission of the Cheer Program.”

From left to right: Leigh Anne Raymond, Sophia Neylon ’22, and Elizabeth Cabes ’23

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Bright Knights

STANDING OUT ON HIS OWN PATH Quinn Charlton ’22

Quinn Charlton ’22 is known as a leader and willing to help where he is needed. He believes part of what has made him successful at EHS is how often he speaks up in class discussions. “It made things easier for me. It will give you a better relationship with your teacher when they can see you care and are paying attention in class,” says Quinn. “Talking in the class discussion also makes the information easier to take in when you’re actively responding and making your brain do something.”

Nancy Eisenberg, Associate Head of School and Quinn’s English teacher, says she experienced Quinn’s leadership qualities firsthand. “Quinn is a leader in-class discussion. He was the first to volunteer to recite a Langston Hughes poem, and when the class was having difficulty understanding a metaphor, he stood up to demonstrate. His insights are excellent,” says Eisenberg.

“Be open to making new friendships and meeting people that come from a different place than you do.”

He is well-known for his active involvement with DIA (Diversity in Action), one of the oldest student-led organizations at EHS. “I got into DIA wanting to be around more of the students like me, getting to know them better.” Quinn adds, “The best part of DIA for me has been going to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference and participating in the multiracial affinity group at the conference. At the conference and in DIA I’ve gotten to meet more biracial kids like myself, and it makes me feel less alone.” Associate Director of Admission and DIA Sponsor Ayesha Spooner describes Quinn as a gem and a ray of sunshine. “I appreciate all that he offers in the way of being a student leader and I believe it’s his smile and genuine energy that makes the organizations, teams, and this campus better for everyone.”

Aside from playing an active role in campus life, Quinn is also very involved in sports, including football, wrestling, and tennis. “I like different aspects of all of them,” he says. “I love football games. I love wrestling practice. I love tennis as a whole, but that’s also because it’s something I’ve grown up with and is a big part of my family. It’s something everyone in my family does,” says Quinn.

Perhaps one lesser-known fact about Quinn is that he is passionate about dancing. He took his first dance class when he was four or five years old. His brother was a dancer, so Quinn always danced, too. Quinn focuses on Hip Hop for Boys at EHS, but he has also danced ballet. “I like the music,” Quinn adds. “The music makes me want to dance. My body just starts moving on its own.”

For prospective students, Quinn has this advice: “Be open-minded and get out of your comfort zone. Be open to making new friendships and meeting people that come from a different place than you do.” To teacher and Student Activities Director Courtney Lindloff, Quinn’s willingness to help other students stands out. “Before his senior year started, Quinn reached out to see how he could volunteer to work with our new Knights to help them make their transition to EHS even better. Quinn takes initiative, invites his peers to participate, and discovers joy in the many ways in which he connects with our community,” says Lindloff.

Quinn finds driving motivation in his two favorite quotes, one by The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the other by musical artist Tupac. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that,” and Tupac said, “Long live the rose that grew from concrete. When no one else even cared.” Quinn hopes to attend the University of Miami to study intercultural communications.

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—Emma Kate Tsai

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Bright Knights

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

KitKat Kwiatkowski ’22

Many who know Katarzyna “KitKat” Kwiatkowski ’22 know she is a powerhouse cross country and track and field runner.

Her signature running style is often marked by steady endurance and strength that pushes her to the top of the race.

“What makes KitKat stand out as an athlete is her ability to focus and the determination she has to finish the race,” says Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant 12th-grade Dean Julius Michael.

KitKat’s stamina has even earned her national recognition. This past summer, she placed 10th in the Outdoor Nationals, presented by Nike, with a time of 2:10 for the 800-meter run. And impressively, she can run a 5k with a time of 17 minutes, 20 seconds. “Running takes patience, and I have to trust myself that I will get to where I need to go,” KitKat says.

One of the major reasons KitKat came to EHS was her interaction with Mr. Michael. After being introduced to him at an Open House on campus and later at her middle school meet, KitKat knew this was the place for her to take her running to the next level and grow as an athlete. “Coach Michael’s welcoming spirit influenced me to come to EHS,” KitKat says.

“I felt that he would care about me and that I would have a support system here. He’s an amazing coach.”

“Running and playing music gives me a chance to express myself, and it’s been a great outlet for me.”

Aside from being a stellar runner, KitKat is a multifaceted artist who plays the cello in the EHS Orchestra and the piano.

Music has played a big part in her family’s life, and she began learning how to play both the piano and cello at age five.

Playing music is something her mother wanted to instill in both KitKat and her brother. “My mom is from a piano family,” KitKat says. “My grandmother was a concert pianist in the Philippines, and my grandfather owned a piano shop, so my mom grew up playing on all the organs and pianos.”

While KitKat’s athletic and artistic abilities come natural to her, the accolades and praise she has received come from hours of practice and discipline. “Because KitKat is an athlete, I think the determination it takes to do that translates into her musical abilities,” says Music Coordinator and Performing Arts Teacher Grant Gould. “She is the best of both worlds in terms of being an artist and an athlete.”

“Being a runner has taught me how to push through things and when I hit a roadblock with my music, I just push through,” she says. “Running and playing music gives me a chance to express myself, and it’s been a great outlet for me.”

While KitKat has developed her running and music abilities at EHS, she also notes that the faculty has helped her immensely. “Mr. Mark Mitchell is the first teacher that I could talk to about literature in an open and honest way,” KitKat says. “Also, Mr. Andrew Lauer has been someone I can go to with any problem.”

The future is certainly bright for KitKat. She is currently in the recruitment process for cross country and track and field for Brown University, Columbia University, and the Air Force Academy. Drawing inspiration from her family’s Filipino and Polish heritage, KitKat wants to major in foreign affairs, specifically Asian area studies, with a minor in a foreign language.

Ultimately, KitKat hopes to pursue a career where she can help others and foster mutual understandings. “Coming from two cultures, I know what it is like to be on the different sides and bring people together.”

—Lauren West

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MOMENTS

EHS student-athletes and coaches cheer on participants of the Challenger Football Game.

The Challenger sports program provides children with disabilities the opportunity to play ball and experience team sports. Photo by Mauro Gomez

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INTRODUCING ELEVATE

Inaugural Competition Team Makes Its EHS Debut

The arts are collaborative, innovative, and competitive. Episcopal High School welcomes dancers from beginner to intermediate and advanced. You’ve seen our fall concert and watched the fun routines at pep rallies. The dedication of EHS dancers and their teachers is apparent by the consistent level of performance. Dance Program Coordinator Kristina Burgess, along with choreographer and teacher Karen Pfeifer ’05, would like to introduce you to the new competition team, Elevate. “We have a lot of dedicated dancers who wanted to pursue more performance opportunities. They love competing. It brings out a different side of the artistic part of dance.

We decided that we wanted to add a level not only of performance opportunities but chances for the students to compete and experience conventions,” explains Burgess.

There are nine dancers on the inaugural team and it’s open to all grade levels. The team members are from Repertory or Impact and were extended invitations to officially dance for Elevate. They’re now getting the opportunity to take classes taught by professional dancers. “A lot of them are currently dancing on Broadway or with New York City Ballet,” adds Pfeifer.

Our cameras were there to capture some of the group as they worked through poses and collaboration earlier this fall. Mali Hogue ’24 says, “I think we had a lot of dancers who previously competed or currently do competitive dance, so the School wanted to involve students who like competing and make it a bigger program.”

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While Hogue is new to this dance structure, Olive Martin ’23 has stepped onto the competitive stage before and under a familiar face’s leadership.

“I used to compete in middle school, and I wanted to get back into competition dance. And because I am so involved with other sports on campus, my schedule wouldn’t allow me to be at a studio. So, they made this opportunity to help me do this. And it’s been helpful to continue to work with Ms. Pfeifer because she was my instructor at the West University Dance Center,” says Martin.

“They’ll compete with dancers from all over Houston and the world. They’ll have the chance to help raise their standards of dance in the process.” —Kristina Burgess It’s no secret we Stand Out here at EHS so why not keep that tradition alive? “As far as I know we are the only one (school) that has a competition group that does these types of competitions. There are a lot of private school students that go to these competitions through their dance studios but as far as private high schools, I believe we are the only one in Houston that is doing this,” explains Burgess. She went on to say that both EHS senior leadership and the parents have been very supportive of this new creative outlet for the dancers. That support is apparent in the smiles on the faces of the dancers and in observing their interactions with each other. “I think our team has gotten really close. We have a good connection,” says Hogue.

The Elevate team practices every Saturday morning. Dedicated to their craft and to each other, they show up week after week. “It’s taught me how to work with others. What one person may be struggling with, another one can help. And when we put it together, it looks great,” says Lili Shore ’24.

The New York City Dance Alliance hosted a November competition, giving Elevate their first taste of conference competition. In January they’ll get another chance to showcase what they’ve spent the better part of the school year preparing for. January’s convention competition is hosted by Los Angeles-based Streetz Dance. There, dancers will be exposed to more contemporary dance styles. But that’s not all. Elevate dancers have three other competitions to attend with a chance to showcase their talents, all within this school year.

Martin explains, “It forces you to figure out your strengths and how to improve on your weaknesses because everything must look good and cohesive when you compete.”

With pride on their faces, Burgess and Pfeifer look forward to next year and beyond as they watch their team grow together. Pfeifer smiles when she says, “Some of these girls are considering pursuing dance in college and I think this is a great experience for them just to see what it’s like in the dance world.” “I think they are really going to gain a lot of confidence within themselves,” adds Burgess.

—Jessica Morales

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Photo by Peter Hutcheson

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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 teaching EHS students.

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ANDY CLACK

Director of Interim Term, Religion Teacher, Track Coach Religion teacher Andy Clack calls Georgia home but he grew up in a few different places. Clack says you can track his life based on where there are M&M Mars plants (The people who make Skittles, M&Ms, and Snickers). His dad was an industrial engineer with Mars and the family moved around a few times because of his work.

Clack was born in Cleveland, Tennessee, but spent many years in Pennsylvania before graduating high school in Albany, Georgia. Clack attended Birmingham-Southern College where he majored in religion and minored in Spanish. He later went on to earn a Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary. Clack joined EHS in 2019.

He ran the 400m dash in college and is now the assistant track and field coach at EHS. But that’s not all, Clack also serves as the Director of Interim Term along with teaching his religion classes. He has spent a good amount of time over the years running and cycling, hiking, and playing golf. It should come as no surprise, Clack enjoys spending time outside. Along with his wife, Julie, chasing his toddler around the backyard is a current pastime.

What’s on your playlist?

Spotify is saying Wilco, Khruangbin, The Doors, and Vampire Weekend.

Not a week goes by when I don’t listen to my favorites: Sufjan Stevens and Manchester Orchestra.

What was the first concert you attended?

The first live concert that really hit me was at Center Stage in Atlanta in high school. Manchester Orchestra opened for another indie rock band called Brand New. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you pick for a career?

For some reason I always told myself that I’d end up in law school even though I had no clue what that implied. So, we’ll go with lawyer.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

I should probably say being a dad, and that’s probably true.

But I’ll make it more interesting.

I researched screenwriting conventions and wrote a 43-page Seinfeld script as a screenwriting project rooted entirely in personal experience to graduate from the honors program when I was in

college. It was a lot of work, and I had a blast doing it. I’ve been told it reads just like a Seinfeld episode.

Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget?

Nope. Not a tech guy.

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

Dr. Travis Campbell. My family moved from Pennsylvania to Georgia before my freshman year, and Dr. Campbell was my 9th grade history teacher. He showed me how to love learning, think critically, and appreciate the most fundamental questions human beings can ask, questions about the meaning of our existence.

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

Though the living conditions would be rough, probably Roman history at the height of the Roman Empire.

What do you most respect about your colleagues?

There is a fountain of goodwill among colleagues here. Teachers appreciate the life of the mind, and it shows in the way they engage each other and their students.

What do you most respect about your students?

Rev. Callaham says it best: Students say thank you when they turn in tests. I respect the joy I encounter in students. For all the students: it’s okay to have a bad day or to be an introvert.

Read any good books recently?

I recently read much of James Baldwin and finished reading Jane Austen’s novels. My wife is a certified Janeite (or is it Austenite?), and being the good husband I am, I vowed to read all that Jane has written.

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

On Sunday nights, we start the new week off with ramen from Ramen Bar Ichi in West Houston.

It wouldn’t feel right without it.

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KRISTINA BURGESS Dance Program Coordinator

Dance connoisseur Kristina Burgess is a native Houstonian.

She attended Eisenhower High School before heading over to the University of Houston where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts History with a minor in Latin America Studies. Burgess is in her 10th year at EHS. She is the Dance Program Coordinator and the Spring Musical choreographer. She is also one of the Advisory Steering Committee Chairs. Her favorite way to spend her spare time is traveling near and far to visit family. Those morning walks with her hubby and two dogs rank right up there whenever schedules allow. Burgess loves cheering on her Houston Astros and going to the theatre.

What’s on your playlist?

Hamilton Broadway Cast recording, Max Richter, Melody Gardot, lots of pops songs for students and ballet music.

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Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget?

Soda Crush.

What was the first concert you attended?

Sting back in 1989 (or maybe 1990?).

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

My mom! She is the reason I am able to do what I love, dancing and teaching.

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

Performer (acting, singing, and dancing).

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

Hmm? Do I get a Tardis?

What is your proudest accomplishment?

One of them would definitely be coordinating the 2020 Fall Dance Concert, Convergence. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic and the EHS dancers and creative team put together an outstanding virtual concert!

What do you most respect about your colleagues?

Their passion for teaching and coaching!

What do you most respect about your students?

My students’ creativity and willingness to think outside the box!

Read any good books recently?

I often reread One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It’s my favorite book!

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

Chinese food.

JULIUS MICHAEL

Head Cross Country Coach, Assistant 12th Grade Dean, History Teacher Head Cross Country Coach Julius Michael is a favorite across the EHS campus. Michael was born in South Sudan, Africa, but he grew up in a refugee camp in Uganda. He eventually moved to Houston and attended Lamar High School. Michael then went on to study at Sam Houston State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Secondary Education. He didn’t stop there. Michael also has a Master of Science degree in International and Intercultural Education from Florida International University. He came to teach at EHS in 2017 and teaches 10th Grade World History II. Michael is also the Head Coach for the Boys and Girls Cross Country team, Assistant Track Coach, Assistant 12th Grade Dean, and part of the Model UN. Probably not a surprise to most, Michael enjoys running and visiting State and National Parks in his free time.

What’s on your playlist?

Everything on Cross Country Practice Playlist (Lucky Dube, Springsteen, DJ Khaled, Sia, Wale, Meek Mill, DMX).

What was the first concert you attended?

John Legend at the Houston Rodeo.

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

United Nations government official.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My mom coming from Uganda to Houston to live with me.

Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget?

Garmin Clipboard and EdPuzzle.

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

Jerry Martinez, my former coach and the current Cross Country Coach at Lamar High School.

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

I would love to witness the time of Mansa Musa 1200s-1300s and see how he was able to build his empire in Mali, one of the wealthiest and largest empires in the continent of Africa and the world during that time.

What do you most respect about your students?

Their support for each other across all Four Pillars, especially during Chapel when one of them gets up to speak and participate in the service.

Read any good books recently?

Daniels’ Running Formula by Jack Daniels.

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

Breakfast: Honey Bunches of Oats cereal with almond milk.

What do you most respect about your colleagues?

Their intelligence and commitment to perfect their crafts in the classroom as well as the extracurricular activities they are involved in on campus with our students.

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THE MASCOT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS Four Iterations, One Stand Out Mascot

For 29 years and counting, our mascots have been there to cheer us on. But does anyone know the story of this legendary figure?

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“The best part of being the mascot was getting the crowd fired up at games and pep rallies.”

CIRCA 2002

Most mascots are the curator of school spirit and make any pep rally memorable and entertaining, and at EHS, the situation is no different.

Flipping through the hundreds of yearbook photos, we see numerous images of the mascot, even citing Otis, a stuffed teddy bear, as the “unofficial” mascot in the 1986 yearbook. Class of ’86, does this ring a bell?

Since its inception in 1992, the Knight mascot has gone through four different variations, with the most recent change happening in 2007. In the early days of the mascot, it was initially named “Homey” the Knight and later more aptly renamed “Lance,” which was inspired by Lancelot du Lac of the Knights of the Round Table legend.

Along the way, Lance picked up an awesome horse sidekick named Excalibur.

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The third iteration of the mascot came in 2002, after a brief hiatus.

According to the 2002 yearbook, the mascot was revived by Jenny Childers ’02 during her senior year because she was tired of the School not having a good luck charm. With help from a friend, Childers designed the final look for the mascot that included a cartoon-like expression adorned with a sword, shield, and full body armor. “The best part of being the mascot was getting the crowd fired up at games and pep rallies,” Childers says. “I have always been the person who has team spirit and who likes to make others smile.”

Following the tragic events of 9/11, Childers incorporated the American flag at every game with the hope of being a bright spot in the EHS community during such a difficult time.

Over the years, the Knights mascot has earned recognition for best mascot awards and competed in the mascot national championship at the National Cheer Association Nationals.

John DeForest ’04 remembers it well. He competed at the NCA and placed 7th overall. “In competition, you are scored based on audience interaction, choreography, music, and performance,” DeForest says. “I worked really hard and am proud of what I accomplished as the mascot.”

And while those who have served as the mascot make cheering for the home team look easy, it does have its challenges. “I have a lot of respect for the other mascots.

While it was an honor to represent EHS as Lance, that mascot head can get pretty hot, especially in the Texas heat,” says Kit Klaes ’13, who starred as Lance from 2012-2013. “It’s a fun job and tougher than it looks.”

More recently, surprise guests usually play the mascot during pep rallies, but Leigh Anne Raymond, the head cheerleading coach, hopes that another student will soon take an interest in it. “I hope people will get excited about reprising the role of the mascot and audition for it in the spring,” Raymond says. “It’s a fun role and an important part of the cheer program. As cheerleaders, our job is to inspire, motivate, and entertain, and the mascot is a huge part of that.” Whoever assumes the role of Lance next will have a rich history of pride and spirit waiting for them.

CIRCA 1995

CIRCA 1992

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ALUMNI LEADERSHIP DAY In November, more than 40 Alumni participated in the annual Alumni Leadership Day. They met with EHS seniors and shared stories about decisions that impacted their career paths and described daily life in their professions.

This two-day event began with Alumni Leadership Day Chapel on Monday, November 15 where Moody Heard ’12 spoke to students about his journey from EHS to co-founding his company, BuildForce. Leila-Scott Price ’93 was our keynote speaker for the opening session on Tuesday. Price shared successful tips and advice for seniors as they take their next steps after EHS. After the success of last year’s virtual panels, this year’s Alumni Leadership Day was a hybrid model, giving out-of-town Alumni a chance to participate. Panels included diverse fields and professions ranging from a Broadway and television actor, a veterinarian, a U.S. Naval Commander, and investment bankers, to name a few.

Alumni emphasized the value of classes and participation in all Four Pillars while at EHS. Another common theme was the importance of networking. Alumni recommended students join the EHS networking platform after graduation. Panelists encouraged seniors to make connections, grow from their mistakes, and never stop learning.

—Ashley Long

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Alumni Spotlight

BIANCA KIRKLAND ’06

Multiple Paths, One Amazing Journey We all need something that makes us feel alive. Maybe it’s a pursuit that adds extra meaning to life or an activity that provides a sense of fulfillment or purpose. Fortunately for Bianca Kirkland, she did not limit herself to just one interest that made her happy. She is proof that multiple passions can come from two completely different worlds.

Bianca’s first love was working with animals. She spent the summers of her teen years volunteering at the Houston Zoo and shelters across Houston. Those experiences eventually led her to her first job at a local animal hospital.

“I was always so intrigued by animals as a kid,” says Kirkland.

“To now be able to help creatures that can’t speak for themselves is challenging yet fascinating at the same time; it was even more rewarding though to make them feel better and send them back happy and healthy to their loving homes.”

Dance is her other passion. A passion she found while at EHS. She came to the campus with zero experience, but after only one semester Bianca fell in love with the art form and knew it was something she wanted to continue in college.

“My mother actually made the suggestion for me to take dance class,” says Kirkland. “I had always been more into sports, but dance was something new and different, a way for me to express myself like I never had before. Dance teachers Evelyn Ireton and Frank Vega were my first introduction into the dance world, and they left a long-lasting impression on me.”

They left such an impression that Bianca went on to Texas A&M University where she starred as a member of the Aggie Dance Team while earning a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences with a minor in Dance Science. After college, she moved to New York City where she enjoyed a professional dance career for 18 months. She danced in the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive Concert and was an Instructor and Performer for Sizzle Dance Company.

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To supplement her income while in NYC, Bianca naturally gravitated toward something that was familiar and that she loved as much as dance. She worked days as a technician at an animal hospital while still going to rehearsals and auditions in the evenings. After long talks in the surgery suite with the doctors she worked alongside, Bianca’s passion for animal care was reignited. Although she loved dancing, she knew it was time to fulfill her lifelong goal of becoming a veterinarian. She applied to and attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of Saint Kitts in the Caribbean. Today she is a practicing veterinarian at one of the largest animal hospitals in Houston.

Knowing that she was not limited to one path is something Bianca is most grateful for from her time at EHS. That perspective played a pivotal role when she decided to pursue a career in veterinary work.

“EHS helped me realize that I didn’t have to choose one or the other. It was time to take a step back from dance to pursue my lifelong goal of becoming a veterinarian. Through the EHS curriculum and Four Pillars, we were able to experience all kinds of things and develop talents we might not have known we had otherwise. Our career plans may not happen exactly how we want them to but finding what you love in life is the joy of the journey. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

—Chief Achilefu ’03

Alumni Spotlight

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Alumni Spotlight

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GILBERT SOSA ’16

Alumni Spotlight

Lights. Camera. Action.

If you’ve met Gilbert Sosa, you’re probably rooting for him.

After all, he was voted most likely to live in Beverly Hills with multiple Academy Awards.

Today Gilbert is enjoying a career as an internet personality, actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist. His social media content has been viewed by more than one billion people across the globe, a number that might intimidate some, but not Sosa. He reflected upon how his time at EHS positioned him not only to break out in one of the most competitive industries in the world but to give back to others in the process.

“I came to Episcopal my junior year and I knew early on that I wanted to maximize my time on campus,” says Sosa. “In order for me to do that, I knew I had to be involved more than the standard eight hours per day. The Academic Deans were instrumental in helping me do so. They always spoke to me about being intentional with my time and they helped find ways to make things work.”

Some of the activities Gilbert took to were the Acolyte Program, EHS Onstage, Episcopal Television (ETV), Students of Service, Student Government, and even emceeing at pep rallies. Media Arts teacher Pejman Milani, taught Gilbert in his ETV moviemaking class, and he reminisced about the impact Sosa made while on campus and his desire to do more.

“I was lucky enough to be both his advisor and film teacher,” says Milani. “If you saw Gilbert in a lecture, you would observe him leaning forward, eyes wide open, and nodding his head because he was pretty much trying to soak up everything.

I don’t know where he got the energy to juggle as many responsibilities as he did at that age. I remember him being so involved in the community that we had to dial it back so he could be sure to do some homework, too.”

His experience at EHS led him to where he is now. The support from his teachers and advisers mixed with an environment built to foster his interests created the perfect launch for Sosa.

“I now realize that not many [people] get the opportunity to have their interests heard and implemented at such a young age,” he said. “Sometimes I had to remind myself that not everyone has access to the things I was fortunate to have at EHS and I wanted to take advantage of them completely.

I was able to have a very positive experience just by being a part of the EHS community. It boosted my confidence to eventually go out into the real world and take on filmmaking as a career.”

In 2019, Sosa directed his first short film, “First Timers.”

Months later he produced and directed his first foreign film “La Sangrienta Navidad,” shot in Mexico City. Both short films were released within weeks of each other, with his foreign short holding a packed premiere event in Mexico on Christmas Day. His most recent endeavor is being a talent manager for other social media content creators. Sosa started StoryHouze, a content house dedicated to storytelling and philanthropy. With tens of millions of social media followers amongst the house members, Sosa and his team focus on acts of kindness in vulnerable communities and using their collective platform to make inspiring content. Given the many hours Sosa spent with Students of Service at EHS, it was an easy mission to get underway, as he was exposed early on to the meaning and power of helping others who are less fortunate.

“I will always love EHS because you learn to humble yourself really quickly after you leave. Not everyone has access to the opportunities, but more importantly the attention. EHS was such a welcoming environment and helped develop and nurture my interests. Every day I’m grateful that I get to inspire people who look like me (and beyond) with the work I do.”

—Chief Achilefu ’03

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The Last Word

YOUR STORY MATTERS

by Phuc Luu, Ph.D.

Your story matters. At one time, I somehow believed that no one would want to hear about my life. I did not have exciting adventures of travel and intrigue, was not an athlete or a celebrity.

When I was a chaplain at a mental health and drug recovery hospital, clients would divulge tales about their substance abuse, homelessness, broken marriages, financial ruin, and in some ways, I wished that I lived some of that so at least there could be something exciting to write about. But these stories were not mine to tell.

Several years ago, I became entrenched in the work of reconciliation and justice, and at the same time immersed myself in Houston’s literary community. My best friend Kate and I would go to numerous Inprint reading series, where we would hear authors talk about crafting their stories, both real and fictitious, in both prose and poetry. Most of these stories did not involve personal disasters due to addiction or mental breakdowns, but simply were ways to look at the world differently, to see with new eyes, hear with new ears. They simply emphasized their unique perspectives.

This was my impetus to write a book called Jesus of the East during my break as a university professor. The idea came from my dissertation, a work that probably five people on this planet read but was about the intersection of the writings of the Eastern Church Fathers and the Minjung Theology or People’s Theology of Korea. I believed my book, Jesus of the East could not be an academic book but needed to serve a specific population, resulting in the subtitle my publisher and I developed: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded.

Up to that time, what we as a nation experienced was the #timesup and #metoo movements, racial tensions, political divisions, ecological disasters, and, in many of these cases, there were clear victims. So, I had to ask, “What is the good news or gospel for those who were hurt by the perpetrators of these crimes?” And in writing this, I came to include my own story as an immigrant child, a refugee of war, to answer this question. People who suffered from the wrongdoings of others need good news now.

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Before I came to Episcopal High School, I was a university professor for 14 years, teaching New Testament, Christian theology and history, and philosophy. After this, I worked as an educator to help integrate theology and social concerns among churches and then spent the next six months working on my manuscript.

When I started at EHS, this book was in the first editing and revision phase. I was teaching classes and going back to my office to re-write and make edits. The classroom was the laboratory that helped me to communicate complicated ideas in ways in which anyone can understand. This became my teaching haiku: Each day I teach here I learn much about myself Seeing me in you Being an instructor has made me a better writer, and writing has forced me to bring thought to paper. It is tough work to write well, and even more difficult to take a complicated idea and distill it into something digestible. The students help me do this.

Each student at EHS has a story. If I listen closely enough, I can hear it between the complaints about tests, the stresses of balancing classes, the trials and tribulations of trying to fit in, and all the other growing pains that go with being a high school student. It is a story only they can tell.

The Last Word

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2021 ‑ 2022 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle Executive Chair A. Haag Sherman Frances Alexander, Shelley Torian Barineau, Jane Johnson Dabney, Emerson K. Hankamer Sr., Terri Havens, Andrew B. Hawthorn ’91, Thad Hill, Richard A. Howell ’01, Elizabeth K. Howley, Simmi Jaggi, Jenna Junell, Alecia Lawyer, Clay Manley, George O. McDaniel III, Joel Moore, Laurie N. Morian, Charles H. Prioleau, William Randall, Ned Smith, James E. Taussig, The Very Rev. Barkley Thompson, Duncan K. Underwood, 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 W. Craig Childers, The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, William F. Galtney Jr., Melinda Budinger Hildebrand, Richard A. Howell ’01, Victor A. Kormeier Jr., Clay Manley, A. Haag Sherman, Ned Smith, Lynda Knapp Underwood, John Weinzierl, James Whitehead ’94, Randa Duncan Williams, Julius Young Jr.

LEADERSHIP Head of School Ned Smith Associate Head of School Nancy Laufe Eisenberg Principal Kim Randolph

Director of Finance and Operations Evelyn Cambria Director of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion Wayne Jones

Dean of Faculty Nguyet Xuan Pham 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 Jessica Morales Faculty Writer Emma Kate Tsai Photography & Graphic Design Lauren West

Contributors Chief Achilefu ’03 Kristina Burgess Mauro Gomez Jason Grove Peter Hutcheson Ashley Long

Phuc Luu Jessica Morales Karen Pfeifer ’05 Leigh Anne Raymond Emma Kate Tsai Lauren West

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