PILLARS - The Episcopal High School Spring 2021 Magazine

Rev. Callaham’s Bake-Off • Power of Conversation

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How It’s Going

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

Ikechi “Chief” Achilefu cachilefu@ehshouston.org 713-512-3606

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, Spring 2021

IN THIS ISSUE

From the Head of School 04 #KnightsStandOut 06 New Fields on Campus 16 Bright Knights 18 The Power of Conversation: Q&A with Wayne Jones 22 Pop Quiz 26 How It Started...How It’s Going 30 Alumni Spotlights 46 Alumni Weekend Awards 50 Class Notes 52 The Last Word 58

ON THE COVER

The Rev. Art Callaham and his children, Aaron, 8, and Hannah, 10, make modeling seem like a “piece of cake” during the “Pillars” photo shoot. Photo by Lauren West

SAVE THE DATE Senior Leaving Tree 05-15-21 Virtual Baccalaureate 05-15-21 Commencement 05-16-21

Senior Mckenna Whitney ’21 enjoying herself on the rock climbing wall during Senior Retreat.

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear EHS Family, In schools, spring is the season of celebration, and this year is no different. Except that it is.

This year we not only celebrate our seniors and their many accomplishments as well as those faculty and staff who depart us, but also the long hoped-for return to some semblance of normalcy following 14 months of Covid restrictions. Though necessary, these restrictions changed the way we lived our lives on campus and off and in ways large and small. What remained the same was our shared commitment to the mission of the School, to joyfully embracing all Four Pillars and our collective strength.

In comparing the photos in “How It Started…How It’s Going” on page 30, you will see that the details of the EHS experience may be different today, but the essence remains unchanged. In this photo essay you will see excitement written on the faces of both students and faculty, just as in the School’s early days. In the accompanying articles you will hear of our ongoing commitment to the EHS mission and the creative and collaborative ways we have found to live that mission despite the challenges and limitations of the last 14 months.

Throughout that time, the School was an inspiration. Consider the recognitions garnered by our Arts Pillar students in the many state and national awards competitions or the strength of the Athletics Pillar through all three SPC seasons. Read about the innovative service programs and their creative responses to the restrictions in place, some of which will last beyond this current Covid time. Read about the accomplishments of students Davis Barringer ’22 and Gloria Ni ’21 in and out of the traditional classroom.

Perhaps most important, many of us discovered unexpected joys during this new normal.

Nowhere is this joy more wonderfully encapsulated than in Art Callaham’s odyssey to attempt every Pillsbury Bake-Off winner since 1949 (page 58). Without the challenges of Covid, we may never have discovered Family Chapels (one Chapel a week celebrated by individual advisories and led by students within that advisory), or fully understood the virtues of daily advisory, or the strengths of streamed parent programming to increase participation and engagement.

There is indeed much to celebrate as 2020-2021 comes to an end. We hope you will join us as we do so either in person, as we are able, or through one of the many virtual opportunities now available.

Have a wonderful summer and Go Knights!

Ned Smith

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT School Prepares Seniors for College Life Preparing for College Life, a program coordinated by Rachel Lopez, College Counselor, in the Spring semester, was Rev. Beth Holden’s brainchild back in 2014. That fall, she remembers reading about how difficult the transition can be from high school to college.

Rev. Holden adds, “Most alarming to me were some shocking statistics about the sexual assault of women in their first few months of college and the rise of depression among all college students. I was also reading about very practical challenges students experienced in making the transition to college life.”

Beth began a conversation with a number of people on campus, including our Choices Counselor, the College Counseling team, senior class sponsors and deans, and select faculty.

Rev. Holden says, “This program was envisioned as a means of giving further support to our school mission to prepare students for meaningful lives beyond their high school years.” In fact, it is one program that does so in a very direct and specific way.

The committee looked to find a way, in a two-day program, to tackle big and small challenges alike that all college students face, like consent and assault, roommate conflict, getting into sororities and fraternities, stress management, how to survive lecture courses, time management, applying for internships, money management, health care, and more.

A few years ago, the leadership and coordination of the program made its way to Rachel Lopez in College Counseling. This year, the workshop

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was consolidated to a single day to account for COVID-19 policies and procedures. Seniors attended a workshop during 5th period on Wednesday, April 7, with Dr. Richard Baker, Executive Director for Institutional Equity and the Title IX Coordinator at Rice University. They heard about Dr. Baker’s compelling life, future life as an undergrad, and continued to build skills in establishing effective boundaries and maintaining healthy, consensual relationships. Their lunch this year ended with a visit by an ice cream food truck, a nice treat in a difficult year.

Dr. Baker selected Daniel Koch ’21 for a demonstration that focused on differentiating between non-verbal and verbal consent. Daniel adds, “It was cool to be involved in the discussion like that. I felt like I gained a lot from it.

It was an interesting way to learn how you should always make sure you have verbal consent.”

Isabelle De Bruyker ’21 found it to be an eye-opening experience. She says, “Dr. Baker was very engaging as he spoke about taking care of ourselves through college whether it was about consent or being at a party.

He related to all of us as he explained what experiences he had through high school and college. I’m really happy he shared his experience with us!”

Adds Ms. Lopez, “After several years presenting to the male senior students, it was exciting to witness Dr. Baker in action with all members of the Class of 2021. Learning about his childhood in Compton, California, and the ‘baby-blue flame moments’ (as he calls them) that led him to Texas, to multiple degrees, and to the upper echelons of higher education, inspired the listening group of students, faculty and staff.”

Two-Day Senior Outreach Makes Big Impact Though the COVID-19 pandemic forced the School to shorten this year’s Senior Outreach from eight days to two days, the students made a huge impact at volunteer sites throughout the city.

“In prior years, the majority of seniors volunteered at under-served schools, schools for children with special needs and learning differences, and homeless shelters,” explains Senior Outreach Director Mike Donnelly. “With pandemic safety concerns being of paramount importance, we concentrated on finding opportunities that allowed us to work outside or follow physical distancing requirements.

“We were fortunate to partner with Debbie Allensworth, Senior Associate and Community Pastor at Pearland’s St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, who is the Executive Director of the Mosaic in Action Storm Recovery Center and also the Coalition Co-Coordinator of Brazoria Responds. Debbie was able to help us secure some non-traditional Senior Outreach sites,” says Donnelly.

He thanks more than 12 faculty and staff members who volunteered to supervise seniors on the seven projects.

#KnightsStandOut

Below is a summary of Senior Outreach accomplishments: • A crew of 39 students led by Marc Klinkerman and Dick Gaston helped refugees from Cambodia and Laos in Rosharon by building greenhouses and moving supplies, plants, and mulch.

• A crew of 14 led by Julius Michael painted the exterior of a house in Pasadena.

• Ten girls, led by David Trauba and Paul Revaz, worked to repair Thong House in Rosharon, including taping, floating, and sanding drywall along with clearing the yard’s brush.

• A group of 20 seniors, led by Dan Binder, harvested 160 pounds of cabbage and 30 pounds of cauliflower at Target Hunger. Target Hunger operates multiple Food Pantries that serve individuals and families who need food assistance including providing nutritious fresh produce.

• A crew of 16, led by Rev. Art Callaham, documented headstones at the historic Oak Park Cemetery, where many prominent Houstonians are buried, including Mickey Leland.

• A team of 27 students, led by Emily White, assembled sandwiches at Kid’s Meals to provide free and healthy meals for hungry children. They made more than 6,000 sandwiches!

• Two crews (56 students) volunteered at the Houston Food Bank. These crews were led by Matt Fox, Jason Grove, Chief Achilefu, Lauren West, and Shaun Flood.

Ceramics Instructor David Trauba, one of the faculty supervisors at the Thong House, praises his Senior Outreach experience: “The girls in our group were completely engaged during our time out there. They never hesitated about any job we asked them to do. I am very proud of all the work they accomplished.”

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT EHS Supporters Light Up the Knight!

On Friday, February 26, 2021, the EHS community was able to gather virtually to celebrate Episcopal High School’s 37th Auction, “Light Up the Knight!” Co‑chairs Michelle Juden and Caren McKinnie, along with countless volunteers and generous donors, raised necessary revenue for the School’s operating budget.

Our community rose to the challenge and supported the virtual event for “Light Up the Knight,” along with our Online Auction, where all items were featured using this digital platform.

During the Pillars Up portion of the Online Auction, the generous EHS community raised funds supporting the Four Pillars of EHS.

As Maya Angelou said, “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.”

This quote would take on more meaning than Juden and McKinnie ever expected when choosing the Auction’s theme.

Not a global pandemic, nor an ice storm, would dim the light that shines from Episcopal High School!

With our virtual and Online Auction complete, EHS is gearing up for Auction 2022, “Oh, What a Knight!” Co-chairs Mary Ellen Bos, Anne Freeman, and Allison Jordan promise an unforgettable evening as we disco into a Friday night fever! Save the date: February 18, 2022.

Once a decision to go virtual was made, the Auction team moved forward and lined up one-of-a-kind entertainment with songwriting maestros Song Division. This group of world-class musicians from Nashville wowed our guests who tuned in. Songs were requested, using the chat feature, while an “EHS Rock Anthem” was produced that very night. Guests picked up fabulous charcuterie boxes made by City Kitchen, while EHS totes provided a drink kit complete with sparklers, so guests could “Light Up the Knight” in style, and in the comfort of their homes.

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For the latest Auction 2022 “Oh, What a Knight!” news and updates, check the School’s website and weekly Windows newsletter. If you would like to get involved, contact Debbie Kelley at dkelley@ehshouston.org or Mandy Malone Loper ’98 at mloper@ehshouston.org.

Freshman Service Broadens Scope For the past few years, Freshman Service Day was a day of service at the Food Bank where all freshmen were required to participate. Scheduling a day for freshmen to engage in service has been a longtime tradition at EHS. “Even during my time here,” The Rev. Beth Holden explains, “the shape of that day has taken different forms, but the goal has been the same. In keeping with our school’s mission to prepare students ‘for meaningful lives in service to others,’ the goal of this event for freshmen is to introduce them to service, in hopes of establishing an interest in and commitment to continuing in service to others throughout their years at EHS and beyond.”

Rev. Holden says EHS was already looking at making some changes to Freshman Service Day pre-Covid. “A committee of faculty and deans has been meeting over the full course of last year to re-imagine what we’ve done in the past—a single Saturday morning in September at the Houston Food Bank for the entire freshman class and their advisors.”

Although the Food Bank is still one of the school’s favorite service sites, “We recognized that there were a growing number of students who had Saturday commitments and were missing the ‘class bonding’ aspect of the day.

We also thought that giving students the opportunity to choose from an array of service options—on-campus and off-campus, addressing different needs from hunger to homelessness to environmental concerns to care of the elderly and care for medical workers and patients, and on different days during the week—would give students more investment in the service they were doing and introduce them to the kind of small-group service experience that SOS will continue to offer.”

And so, the Freshman Service Experience was born. The decision happened to be serendipitous since

COVID-19 pandemic protocols recommend smaller groups of students at various sites. “We’re getting great feedback from students, parents, and the faculty who are graciously assisting with the many events.”

Organizations students can continue to support include Kid’s Meals, The Nature Discovery Center, Buffalo Bayou, Animeals, the Houston Food Bank, The Beacon, SEARCH, Houston Methodist Hospital, Blessings in a Backpack, and the Christian Community Service Center.

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Students Land Record Number of Scholastics for Writing and Art EHS is proud to announce the winners of the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a national program designed to identify and celebrate “the vision, ingenuity, and talent of our nation’s youth.”

In all, students earned 35 awards in writing and 63 awards in the arts. By earning Honorable Mention, Silver, and Gold Keys in this year’s competition, these students established EHS as a powerhouse of creativity.

Senior Alena Haney won the distinguished honor of American Voices Nominee. Five works of art and five writing pieces are selected as best of show from approximately 9,000 Harris County Department of Education regional entries in the 2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Each American Voices nominee receives a cash award of $250 from the HCDE. From the pool of five, a panel of jurors in New York City selects one artist from each of Scholastic’s 100 regional affiliates to receive an American Visions Medal.

These medalists from throughout the nation are celebrated during national events and exhibits in New York City.

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Hillary Houle, creative writing teacher and editor of the literary journal Light and Shadow, adds, “What a wonderful way to celebrate our strengths in 2021! By using their writers’ voices to capture their stories, our students are connecting with others. I am so proud of the work submitted this year— whether poetry, prose, essay, or script, the words hold power.”

This year has seen a strong showing from the Creative Writing Club, which was created in 2018 with a few writers who didn’t have time in their schedule to take creative writing. Several club meetings were dedicated to writing for Scholastic. With faculty sponsor Emma Tsai’s help, these students submitted work that was recognized in these awards.

EHS arts students came in strong as well with a total of 63 awards.

John Dameris earned a National Gold Award for his sculpture, “Dark Strength.”

“This has been our highest number of Scholastics Art Awards since I started at EHS in 2011,” reports Kate Philbrick, Department Chair of Visual Arts.

“It’s proof that even during uncertain times, art continues to be a practice students use as a means of expression.

If a pandemic can’t derail the forward momentum of EHS Visual Arts, nothing can!”

#KnightsStandOut

The Goal for These Athletes is Service The girls soccer program and the girls basketball program wanted to give back this year, even though participating in service as a team proved more difficult with Covid protocols in place.

Rachel Stetler, head of the girls soccer program, started by creating a three-year picture for the program.

“We want to compete like crazy on the field, but we always want to pursue a higher purpose than winning,” Stetler explains. “So, one of the pieces of this picture was selecting a cause to fundraise during a game(s) with technical goals. This premise comes from a bigger movement called Play Better.” Over winter break, sophomore Mia Tuckwood and varsity soccer player suggested Charity: Water.

Tuckwood says, “It’s so amazing to start something so special within our program, and I’m very excited for the impact we will make on Charity: Water in later years.”

These shoeboxes are filled with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items that are then delivered to children around the world with a message of the gospel and God’s love.

“We participated in this project by going to a local Target to pack shoeboxes for children around the world,” says basketball coach Kayla Rogers. “The girls’ basketball team packed four shoeboxes for four children of various ages and gender. These gifts were then shipped to a processing center in Charlotte, North Carolina, to be distributed around the world.”

Play4Kay is a nationwide movement in women’s basketball at the high school, collegiate, and professional level that raises money for all cancers affecting women. The fundraiser originated from

Coach Kay Yow at NC State who passed away from Stage 4 breast cancer in 2009. Coach Yow left a legacy of uniting women’s basketball for a common cause and helped get girls basketball to the level it is today.

“As a North Carolina native,” Rogers says, “I grew up watching Coach Yow at NC State. As a young player, to watch her persevere through her fight and use her platform to unite women’s basketball under a common goal of beating cancer was amazing. Play4Kay is a movement that shows that basketball is more than just a game. It is an opportunity to play for something bigger than ourselves.”

28th Annual Dads Club Golf Tournament

Once these student athletes reflected on how different their lives would be without an available source of clean water, they were committed to their goals. Mimi Wilson, a senior player, says, “Charity: Water is a great cause that is very close to our hearts as female athletes. I can’t wait to see the positive impact we can make on these communities!”

The girls basketball program participated in two fundraising events this season, Operation Christmas Child and Play4Kay. Operation Christmas Child is a project under Samaritan’s Purse that delivers packaged shoe boxes to children.

More than 145 golfers teed it up at the 28th Annual Dads Club Golf Tournament on April 12. The day of camaraderie and competition raised approximately $100,000 for student programs throughout the Four Pillars.

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Visual Arts Department Brings Home Multiple Awards On March 6, more than 3,000 art students from 500 area high schools competed in the Texas Art Education Association Visual Arts Scholastic Event, also known as the VASE Competition.

The Studio Arts program is proud to announce that all 11 participating students brought home 15 regional medals (see VASE Media Gallery in news archives), with two earning perfect scores of 60, and one advancing to the State VASE level competition. What makes VASE a unique competition is that during the judging students are required to answer written questions to defend the merit of their artwork.

“The Shadow of Lady Macbeth”

“Lighting the Way”

Alena Haney ’21

Sophia Neylon ’22

“Bird Cage”

“Just Peaches”

Cassie Stewart ’21

Bella Vogiatzis ’21

“Transitions”

“Canyon Dreams”

Will Citizen ’23

Ava Grove ’24

For a complete list of individual winners in all art competitions, go to our news archives at: https:// www.ehshouston.org/about/news.

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“Creek”

“Kaleidoscope”

Serena Moore ’24

Giulia Calabrese ’23

#KnightsStandOut

EHS Earns 33 Awards in ATPI Contest The Visual Arts Department is proud to announce that 22 EHS students and one faculty member won a total of 33 awards in the 2020 Association of Texas Photography Instructors Fall Contest.

“Keyboard Collage,” Jules Weinstein ’24

“Food,” Kate Philbrick

Digital Editing Category, First Place

Faculty Submission, First Place

Cynotype, Amanda Novotny ’24

“Red on the Water,” Karma Elbadawy ’22

Beg. Portfolio Category, First Place

Adv. Open Category, Third Place

Freshman Jules Weinstein won a first place in the ATPI Virtual Winter Conference for the Digital Editing category. Faculty member Kate Philbrick also won three awards in the Faculty categories of Food and Animals.

The Association of Texas Photography Instructors sponsors a fall competition in photography, film, and multimedia for students and teachers. This year’s entries came from Texas, California, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Canada. The judges reviewed more than 4,500 entries from 111 schools.

Thirteen Knights Named to NFHCA National Academic Squad Congratulations to the following students who were named to the 2020 Keith Waldman Optimal Performance Associates/NFHCA High School Academic Squad:

Audrey Post Eleanor Pratka Elena Small Chloe Song Helen Young Miller Zaleski The High School Academic Squad recognizes seniors and juniors who have a minimum GPA of 3.5 throughout the first quarter of the 2020-2021 school year.

Christina Amelio Mac Bechtol Chandler Black Lucy Howley Margrethe Jensen Bailey Junell Kathryn Knolle

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# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Athletic Director’s Report: New Vibe, Same Strong Results The spring athletic season may look and feel a bit different, but the results remain consistent as the Knights have enjoyed success on the fields, courts, and courses. Students and coaches have embraced the challenges presented by Covid and made the necessary adjustments to conduct practices and events in a safe manner.

The softball program continues to dominate in SPC play, despite the graduation of key players in 2020. The Knights’ young and exciting lineup features an outstanding mix of speed and power and the pitching staff continues to impress. The Knights earned a big 5-4 road win over Kinkaid and look to continue their success against St. John’s, Houston Christian, and the rest of the SPC. The baseball teams have made the newly renovated Jess Borg Field a difficult place for opponents to visit as all three teams have enjoyed outstanding success at home. The Knights have been equally impressive on the road with JV White, JV Blue, and varsity all posting big wins over tough opponents. The Knights continue to set the standard as the preeminent power in the SPC as the varsity team has

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maintained a top spot in the Diamond Pro/Texas High School Baseball rankings throughout the season.

The girls and boys lacrosse programs have also enjoyed strong seasons this spring. The varsity girls team has earned big wins over Awty, Stratford, and St. Agnes while the boys picked up thrilling wins over St. John’s, Houston Christian, and Cy-Woods among others. Both teams have benefited from veteran lineups and outstanding senior leadership.

Both the girls and boys golf programs have made great use of their new artificial turf chipping and putting green located just beyond the outfield fence of the softball field. This one-ofa-kind facility gives our students an outstanding practice venue just steps away from their classrooms. Both golf programs have enjoyed success on the course as well with the young boys team earning top-two finishes at several invitationals.

The girls and boys tennis programs have also returned to the courts this spring and posted strong results early in the season. Both teams practice indoors at the Downtown Club

at the Met where weather is never an issue. The Knights begin the SPC portion of their schedule in the coming weeks and look to build off of the momentum established during the non-conference matches.

In addition to our normal spring athletic offerings, the wrestling team has returned to the mat room this season.

The Knights joined other SPC, TAPPS, and UIL wrestling programs in moving their regular season to later in the school year due to the impact of Covid.

The wrestling team hosted Milby and Clear Creek in the first home contest of the season and honored our three outstanding senior wrestlers. In addition to a few local dual matches, the Knights look to continue their season at the Texas State Prep Championships later this spring.

Go Knights!

—Jason Grove, Director of Athletics

#KnightsStandOut

Photos by Mauro Gomez

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NEW FIELDS BRING COMPETITIVE EDGE TO EHS ATHLETICS PROGRAM Artificial Turf Fields for Baseball, Field Hockey, and Golf Create Opportunities for Play and Practice

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#KnightsStandOut

From the South Ellipse, it is easy to spot the extraordinary new improvements to campus. Those additions include the Jess Borg Baseball Field, the waterbased field hockey turf, and the golf putting green. All of the fields bring value and give current and incoming student-athletes a competitive edge.

“Our new turf athletics fields are a welcome addition to the Athletics Pillar,” says Jason Grove, the Director of Athletics. “We are grateful to those whose gifts made this happen.”

Improvements to the outdoor athletics facilities at EHS are part of the Campus Master plan developed in 2016; renovating the baseball field was the first project to be completed. A unique feature of the baseball field is the open bullpen adjacent to the right field.

Several players and parents were eager to recreate the look of the bullpens at Minute Maid Park, and the engineers at GeoSurfaces were excited to add this innovative feature. Additionally, the artificial turf field allows students to train and play in almost all-weather conditions. James Taussig ’21, a baseball team leader, considers the new baseball field a great place to

practice, rain or shine. “The new field has improved our team’s playing ability,” Taussig says. “It allows for us to practice every day no matter what the weather conditions are.”

Unveiled in November 2020, the waterbased turf field for field hockey is the most recent addition. The water-based turf field was also built by GeoSurfaces and is one of 12 internationally certified field hockey fields in the United States and the only one in the region. Although the team played just one match on the new field this past season, the students and coaches are thrilled to call this world-class facility home. Lucy Howley ’21, a field hockey team captain, believes the new field will be a big draw for prospective students. “Even though I only got to play on the new field for a short time, I can already tell how beneficial it will be in attracting skilled players,” Howley says.

Moreover, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and USA Field Hockey are excited about our school’s investment to grow the sport in the region and create a top-notch facility to prepare athletes for competition at

the next level. Several organizations, including college and national teams, have already inquired about using the facility, and EHS looks forward to showcasing this field in the future.

Additionally, the new area serves as a practice spot for the lacrosse teams in the spring season.

In late November 2020, a new golf putting green was added north of the softball field. The putting green and chipping facility offer both the boys and girls golf teams a one-of-akind opportunity to train on campus.

Whether getting in some team practice or enjoying some leisure time between classes, this space has been in constant use every day. According to Luke Weinzierl ’22, the new putting green has allotted more time for teammates to work on their swings with each other. “I think the new putting green has allowed us to challenge each other as teammates, improve our short game, and help us perform better in tournaments,” Weinzierl says.

—Lauren West

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Bright Knights

HIGH OCTANE PERFORMANCE

Davis Barringer ’22

Davis Barringer remembers the first Formula One race he attended when he was 6 years old. His family lived overseas, and he and his father joined excited fans at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Awed by the joyful crowd, the intense colors, the roaring engines, and the sweet smell of racing fuel, from that day forward he wanted to drive Formula One cars.

Barringer studied the careers of Austrian Formula One champion Niki Lauda and motorsport legend Ken Miles, the driver portrayed in the film “Ford vs. Ferrari.” When his family moved back to Texas, he researched racing schools. After watching the Grand Prix in Austin in 2018, he enrolled in the MSR racing school in Angleton. “That summer was my first time in a car, and I loved it. There’s much to grasp about race craft, from flag signals, to balance, to technical and basic knowledge.

I joined MSR’s DEForce Racing team to keep learning.”

At MSR, students train with a test simulator and then high-speed go-karts. “Formula Four is the Junior series, and you advance to Formula One by winning races in your division,” Barringer explains. The race season is typically April through August. Off-season, students like Barringer exercise to improve reflexes and strengthen their necks and legs. Barringer also practices with a virtual reality simulator at home that tracks data. “Data is so important in racing. One-tenth of a second shaved from each lap could land a win.”

“The environment at EHS creates go-getters.”

The next time he traveled to Austin, Barringer was competing in the Formula Four season finale. “Things didn’t start out great,” he confesses. During his practice run, his brakes completely failed, and he almost wiped out. Determined to continue, he regained his composure and jumped back in the cockpit for three races. The sole rookie, he came in 11th out of 22 in his division. “It’s cool to overtake the competition, but when you make close contact with the wheels, you are vulnerable,” he admits.

“You have to be brave,” he continues. “You are driving at the limits—3Gs—and you feel the stress throughout your entire body. There’s no power steering or power brakes. It’s tough on your knees and neck, and you need laser focus.”

Success requires more than skill. “Racing is an art. You have to be nice to the car. Careful into the corners, fast out. I have spun a car and banged wheels with another driver when my timing was off.” The biggest challenge on the circuit is being consistent. “It’s crucial to have consistent lap times because less than a second makes a difference.”

Barringer takes his high-octane performance into the classroom, too. An honor student, he participates in cross country, soccer, track, and is president of the 3-D Printing Club. “The environment at EHS creates go-getters,” he says. “If you want to try an activity or start a club, the school provides support. I’ve especially enjoyed my history classes with Mr. Lerch, Mr. Lauer, and Mr. Schwarz.”

By the time Barringer graduates, he hopes to land a sponsor and move up to Formula Three. From there, he plans to attend Oxford Brookes University in the U.K. to major in Motorsport Engineering. “I’m interested in engineering and want to learn how to build cars. I’d love to get in the industry whether I’m building or driving vehicles. And the more I understand the mechanics, the better driver I’ll be.”

At this point in the sport, Barringer maintains a confident yet philosophic attitude about the dangers. “Everything is a calculated risk,” he says. “There are hundreds of decisions to make during a race, just as in life.”

—Claire C. Fletcher

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Bright Knights

A MIND FOR MATH Gloria Ni ’21

Gloria Ni credits her parents, both Chinese immigrants, for her opportunities. “They worked tirelessly to provide for me and my brother, and their industriousness and strength have motivated me to work diligently and be academically ambitious,” Ni explains. Ni is the epitome of a Four-Pillar Knight, who has participated in academic clubs, performing arts performances, sports, and Chapel committees. How does she do it all?

“Determination and passion have helped me achieve what I never thought possible, because where there’s a will, there’s a way,” she says.

Fellow Knights have seen Ni on every part of the campus—in Chapel as a lay minister and usher and on the soccer field in her sophomore and junior year, but she is perhaps most associated with her presence in math, a robust community of mathletes in clubs, honor societies, and competitions. Ni’s love for math preceded her first steps past the Convent. Whether it was reciting times tables in Chinese with her parents in the car or competing in regional MathCounts competitions in middle school, she’s always had an affinity and a desire to learn the language of numbers.

“I’ve always just felt that numbers speak to me,” Ni says.

At Episcopal, Ni has been the president of Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) and helped organize schoolwide celebrations like Pre-Pi Day and Pre-Fibonacci Day fundraisers. She’s participated in international math modeling competitions like MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge and HiMCM, contests that give high school students real-world problems to solve under time and resource constraints.

“I’m extremely grateful for the community I’ve had these past four years at EHS.” “These competitions, along with Dr. P’s mentorship, have truly allowed me to fall deeper in love with applied math.” Upon graduation this spring, Ni plans to pursue a B.A. in Computational & Applied Mathematics at Rice University.

Dr. Joanna Papakonstantinou (Dr. P) has been a role model for Ni. “Seeing her leadership, determination, and passion as a woman in applied math has been extremely inspiring and impactful to me. She showed me it was possible.”

Ni’s advice to other Knights is to get involved and make the most of the incredible resources they’re offered at EHS. “Join clubs, go to tutorials, check out a book from the library, do a sport. If you want help, don’t be afraid to ask.”

The College Counseling Department at EHS is phenomenal, she adds. “My teachers and counselors have not only helped me immensely in my academics and extracurriculars but have also mentored me through various experiences and guided me when considering plans for my future. I’m extremely grateful for the community I’ve had these past four years at EHS.” —Emma Kate Tsai

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THE POWER OF CONVERSATION

Q&A with Diversity, Community, and Inclusion Director Wayne Jones

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Photo by Chris Bailey

In May 2019, Head of School Ned Smith appointed Wayne Jones as Episcopal High School’s first director of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion (DCI). Jones, an experienced and respected educator, has held leadership positions at independent schools throughout Houston since the 1990s. For the past 10 years he has taught history courses and coached basketball and golf at Episcopal High School. “Pillars” magazine sat down with Jones recently to discuss the progress the Diversity, Community, and Inclusion program has made during the past three years and his hopes for the future.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your role as Episcopal High School’s first Director of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion?

As a longtime educator, I felt the pulse of students today and knew they were ready for conversations around diversity, community, and inclusion. But the openness of the Faculty and Staff and the support of the Board of Trustees has been amazing and consistently strong.

My DCI team members Emily Barron and Ayesha Spooner are phenomenal. They are incredible leaders and organizers and have helped this effort flourish at EHS. I lean on them daily for collaboration.

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How have your plans for the program evolved during the first three years?

During our first year, our goal was to to celebrate the good that Episcopal has done in the area of diversity, community, and inclusion as well as create as many relationships as possible. We knew we would focus our work around the Big Eight Identifiers. The goal was to lay a foundation for an open exchange of ideas. To that end, we founded a faculty/staff book club, and amped up Culture Fest and the student-led Diversity in Action organization.

Concurrent with those initiatives, our students saw weekly news stories about social injustices, and they wanted to talk about what was going on in our society. As educators, our goal is to prepare students to have the hard conversations. We want them to be informed citizens who possess the competence and sensitivity to engage with diverse people and contemplate without necessarily agreeing about complex social issues.

You mention hard conversations. Which has been the most difficult?

Hands down, the toughest conversation surrounds race. With everything that has happened within the last two years in America, that topic often demands an unlearning of what you think you know. Reflection, honesty, and introspection are required.

It’s difficult to accept that there are no absolutes. Hopefully we can begin to listen to and acknowledge each other’s viewpoints. Through this process at EHS, we are learning how to discuss and share our experiences, respect each other, but not necessarily agree, and that is OK. How will success be measured in DCI? My hope is that we’ll continue to make steady, sturdy steps. In the future, we’ll measure the success by the ongoing strength of conversations and the willingness for individuals in our community to share their stories without fear of being judged. We all have unique schema, and that schema is what drives our perspectives.

Next year, we hope to create more opportunities for parents to get involved in DCI. This year’s virtual forum with parents was well-attended, and great questions were asked. I look forward to in-person discussions after the Covid era. Many parents in our community are open to becoming advocates and ambassadors for DCI. You’ve taught history for more than two decades. What’s the relationship between history and DCI work?

The absence of an accurate historical lens has helped lead us down the path to where we are today. We are made up of our experiences, and history plays a huge part in that. In my opinion, when a majority of Americans accept accurate historical facts, we’ll begin to straighten these curves and understand other people’s points of view.

What’s one word that describes how you feel about the future of DCI at Episcopal?

Optimistic.

—Claire C. Fletcher

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ADDING TO THE CONVERSATION

As the faculty/staff sponsor of Diversity in Action (DIA), how have the students shaped the work that you do with DCI, or what have you learned from them these past few years?

There is nothing that brings me more joy than sitting in my office with a group of students talking about how we can make this school and our country better.

What they bring to me is what drives our DIA discussions and activities; from issues in the news to the classroom, the DCI work we do is the work that the students believe needs to be done. Our students’, especially our students of color, willingness to not live in silence and to speak openly about their lived truths motivates me to continue advocating for them. These kids are stronger than I was at their age and it excites me about their futures in our world. The students that I have the opportunity to work with everyday are the reason I have the strength, desire, and drive to keep coming back. Simply put, they are amazing and make my work a joy!

Ayesha Spooner

Emily Barron

DCI Team, English Teacher, Lacrosse Coach

DCI Team, Associate Director of Admission, DIA Sponsor

You have taken a leadership role in facilitating the book club. Which book has prompted the most honest and impactful discussions?

The current text we are reading is “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown. While this text is told through the lens of the Black woman, it has given us the opportunity to sit honestly with her experiences. Brown has empowered us to take an introspective look at our own biases as well as given our Black colleagues the opportunity to echo what is in the text.

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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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EVAN HARRIS English Teacher

Evan Harris was born in Washington, DC. As the son of a US diplomat, he grew up moving from country to country.

At just 3 months old, he moved to Vienna and then on to Germany, Luxembourg, Paraguay, and Belgium, before coming back to the U.S. at the age of 12.

Harris went to middle schools in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Colorado before attending boarding school at Mercersburg Academy where his older brother and grandfather had also attended. Harris then went on to Vanderbilt University and began working in the music business, promoting events, and working at the world-renowned, Creative Artists Agency. Harris then moved to Los Angeles to manage his own roster of touring artists. Eager for a change, Harris decided to switch careers and began work as a teacher at a boarding school near Sedona, Arizona, before arriving at EHS last year. He has recently been accepted into a summer master’s program at Columbia University. Harris enjoys skiing, tennis, and producing music in his home studio.

What’s on your playlist?

A ton of R&B. I love anything with jazzy chords and that Rhodes piano sound. I really like Jacquees, Tink, and Bryson Tiller.

What was the first concert you attended?

My first real adult concert experience was HARD fest in 2008. It was held in LA. I saw MSTRKRFT, the Bloody Beetroots, N.E.R.D., and Steve Aoki. It was mostly electronic music.

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

I’d love to be a comedy writer for a sitcom or late night TV show. I think being in a writers’ room with funny people all day would be incredibly fun.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

I wrote, published, and directed a full-length play about three years ago. It took years from inception to opening night. It’s always easy to get excited about the beginning

of something, but hard to really follow through.

Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget?

I love my VR headset. It’s great for boxing and meditation.

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

I’d say my dad was my biggest influence. He was a U.S. diplomat.

He was unbelievably hard-working, and I think his profession was just as noble as teaching.

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

This is sort of a cheesy answer, but realistically, I’d just go to 2009 and buy up a ton of Bitcoin.

What do you most respect about your colleagues?

I love the English Department at EHS. We’re all sort of “big kids.”

While obviously everyone is incredibly smart and effective in the classroom, the department

is also a little silly and doesn’t take itself too seriously. I think our students can tell that we are happy, and they’re happier as a result.

What do you most respect about your students?

I love the sort of student who comes to tutorials and isn’t afraid to ask for help. I don’t know if I had that kind of maturity in high school, so when I see a student really striving to improve, I’m blown away.

Read any good books recently?

I’m just starting a book called “Pranksters vs. Autocrats.”

It’s about how non-violent actions can defend democracy from autocracy.

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

My mom’s chicken enchiladas.

She’s from New Mexico, and that’s an incredible food culture.

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PEJMAN MILANI

ETV Instructor, Media Arts Coordinator Pejman Milani was born in Tehran, Iran, and moved to the States at a young age. His father, a self-taught photographer, moved the family all over the U.S. until finally settling in Houston, where Milani spent most of his childhood. After graduating from Elsik High School, he went on to the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a bachelor’s in both Radio-Television-Film and in Japanese. He also went on to earn a Master of Education at UH in Instructional Technology. Right after college, he spent some time in Japan teaching English before beginning his career at Episcopal in the fall of 2004. He currently teaches all the moviemaking and animation classes at EHS as well as serving as the Media Arts Coordinator and a member of the Tech Mentors. In his spare time, Milani enjoys salsa dancing, cooking, and playing with his two young sons.

What’s on your playlist?

“Roses” by SAINt JHN (Imanbek Remix) and “Take On Me” Acoustic version by a-Ha. What was the first concert you attended?

Linkin Park concert in Tokyo.

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

Music video editor.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Teaching my son to ride a bike…I got choked up watching him in those first few moments when he was able to balance himself and coast without any help.

Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget?

During the pandemic I bought a Peloton Bike and I love it. The bike and the app are just brilliant.

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

Mr. Aber, my high school art teacher. Video wasn’t really a

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thing when I was in high school, but he encouraged me to tap into the limited resources the school had to make movies. Originally, I was one of those kids who tried to avoid school at all costs, but Mr. Aber helped steer me back in the right direction.

After I graduated and came back to visit, I felt like a small celebrity because all the kids already knew who I was. Apparently, Mr. Aber was showing my films in his classes as examples (a flattering yet mortifying revelation).

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

I wouldn’t want to live in any other time than today.

What do you most respect about your colleagues?

Each teacher at Episcopal cares deeply and does their absolute best to meet our students where they need to be met to succeed in the goals they set out to achieve.

What do you most respect about your students?

Making a good movie is a challenging task even for veteran filmmakers who’ve worked in the industry for decades. Students have to synergize writing, staging, acting, and photography with all the technical skills unique to cinema, yet it feels that our students continue to raise the bar of what is achievable by a high school filmmaker.

Read any good books recently?

“Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen”

by Dan Heath.

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

Sushi, and lots of it.

AMANDA WATTS

Health Teacher, Head Volleyball Coach, Assistant Athletic Director Amanda Watts was born and raised in Houston, Texas.

After graduating from Elsik High School, she earned a scholarship to play college volleyball at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). After graduating from UTA she began teaching and coaching at Trinity Valley School, which is a member of the Southwest Preparatory Conference. Before moving back to Houston in 2012, she earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from UTA. She has been teaching Health and coaching volleyball at Episcopal for the last nine years. During her coaching career, Watts has won four SPC Championships and accumulated more than 400 career victories.

She is the proud mom to Kansas, Trinity, and Logan. Kansas is a junior at CSU Pueblo where she plays basketball, Trinity is a freshman at Liberty University and a member of the volleyball team and her son, Logan, is a junior, and a basketball player at EHS. What’s on your playlist?

My playlist includes everything from country, ’80s R&B, ’90s rap, smooth jazz and Christian rock. Every day in my classroom I love to play 89.3 KSBJ Christian hits for my students. One of my favorite artists is Charlie Wilson.

What was the first concert you attended?

The first concert I ever attended was Kenny Rogers back in the early ’80s. Most recently I have been to see Charlie Wilson. He is the best performer! Love his music from The Gap Band as well as his current stuff.

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

I think I would be a great sports commentator! I have always loved sports and think that would be a fun career. Am I too old to take one of Mr. Framel’s classes?

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Being the mom to Kansas, Trinity, and Logan is most definitely my proudest accomplishment.

Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget?

I love anything Apple!

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

My mom always showed me how to be a hardworking, independent woman, and I am so thankful for her.

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

I have always thought the Roaring Twenties would have been an interesting time to experience.

What do you most respect about your colleagues?

My colleagues are so passionate about teaching and coaching at Episcopal. They never cut corners

and make sure they do all they can to help prepare their student-athletes for life outside of EHS. What do you most respect about your students?

My students always leave my class and thank me and tell me to have a good day. That means a lot to me. You can tell they love being a part of the Episcopal family.

Read any good books recently?

“Legacy” by James Kerr was a great read, and we used it a lot during the past season.

It helped us work better as a team and taught us to embrace the expectations of being a championship program.

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

Let’s just say Taco Tuesday is my favorite day of the week!

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HOW IT STARTED...

HOW IT’S GOING It all started in the early 1980s when a group of dedicated founders led by Bishop Ben Benitez dreamed of a Houston-area high school where students could flourish throughout the Four Pillars of academics, arts, religion, and athletics.

Today the EHS founders’ mission stands stronger than ever. Episcopal High School has grown to become one of the nation’s top independent schools. Not only is the campus a beautiful haven in the heart of a city, but the transformations that take place inside the classrooms prepare future leaders for meaningful lives in service to others.

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Students enjoy cool breezes and a hot lunch in the Russell Courtyard in 1987.

Students welcomed a return to lunches under the temporary tents between the Underwood Student Center and Hildebrand Athletic Center this April.

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HOW IT STARTED...

HOW IT’S GOING

EHS Founder and Life Trustee Larry Neuhaus says, “Vic Kormeier is an allstar player on the Episcopal High School team. He has served in numerous different roles over the last 40 years. He’s been a stellar member of the board ...HOW IT’Schair GOING of trustees, he was executive from 1998-2000, he chaired two capital Today’s Athletic Center and Simmons Fieldand provide campaigns, wasHildebrand on the executive committee for years, hasstudent-athletes served as the.

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with facilities that dazzle home crowds and competitors.

Students enjoying lunch at the old hexagon in 1987.

HOW IT STARTED...

EHS Alumni will remember cheering for friends at Brown Field, which now incorporates the Simmons Football Field. (Photo circa 1986)

33 Students enjoying lunch outside under tents between the Hilderbrand Athletic Center and the USC .

HOW IT STARTED...

Students rehearse folk songs for Chapel in 1984. The Chapel was named in honor of Bishop Maurice “Ben” Benitez on April 15, 1986.

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...HOW IT’S GOING

This Lent, the community gathered for worship in Benitez Chapel.

The beautiful stained-glass windows were commissioned by Bishop Benitez and dedicated to the School’s founding supporters.

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HOW IT STARTED...

Science teacher Beverly Rutledge and math teacher Tom Wright joined the school as faculty in 1988.

...HOW IT’S GOING

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Following three decades of service to Episcopal, both Rutledge and Wright are retiring this May to travel and spend time with their families.

HOW IT STARTED...

Knights Fight! In 1986, the cheerleading squad revs up the fans.

...HOW IT’S GOING

This year’s cheerleaders champion the Knights vs. St. John’s Mavericks at the Homecoming game played at TDECU Stadium at the University of Houston.

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HOW IT STARTED...

How the uniforms have changed! Students parade to Chapel in 1986.

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...HOW IT’S GOING

Freshman Valentina Morales and sophomore Harrison Wallace stroll the sidewalk in today’s formal uniforms.

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HOW IT STARTED...

Future faculty member Hillary Brooks Houle began her freshman year in 1988.

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...HOW IT’S GOING

Mrs. Houle prepares questions for her award-winning creative writing students.

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Alumni Spotlight

KATHERINE ALEXANDER ’89

EHS Influences Lifelong Commitment to Serving Others and Country After 22 years as an intelligence officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), it is safe to say that Katherine Alexander ’89 lives a life of service to others. Alexander knew she always wanted to help others but was not sure how to do it. As a high school student, she had hoped to become a psychiatrist. That was until she joined Model United Nations (U.N.) in her junior year at EHS. In 1987, a new history and government teacher, Ray Balch, came to EHS and spearheaded the Model U.N.’s creation. He served as the faculty sponsor until his retirement three years ago. This new student organization intrigued Alexander and inspired her to join. As one of the first students to participate in the EHS iteration of Model U.N., she joined because she was fascinated by the crucial role the U.N. played in international affairs.

“Take chances and try new things, especially things that scare you.”

At the time, she had no idea that Model U.N. would change the course of her personal and professional life. By being introduced to the world of international relations, Alexander soon had her sights set on working for the U.N. and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in international relations at American University.

While working for the U.N. as a troubleshooter alongside peacekeeping forces was Alexander’s goal, history had other plans for her. As the war in former Yugoslavia began to escalate in the early 1990s and the world looking to the U.S. military to stabilize the situation, Alexander reconsidered her career path and saw an opportunity to help those in need through the military.

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“As the world looked to the U.S., and specifically the U.S. military, to stop the carnage going on in Yugoslavia, I realized the U.S. military was the single greatest force in the world,” Alexander says. “The U.S. military had the power to help people. I decided I wanted to work for them and help people that way. Working for the military was a natural choice for me.”

After graduating from American University in 1993, Alexander soon went off to Georgetown University to pursue her master’s degree in National Security Studies. And shortly after graduating from Georgetown in 1996, Alexander finally landed her dream job working for the Pentagon.

The DIA’s role is to plan, manage, and execute intelligence missions in war, crisis, and peace. As an intelligence officer, Alexander’s responsibility is to ensure the proper intelligence is communicated effectively. Working for the DIA has afforded Alexander the ability to see the world and work with amazing people across the continental U.S., the Middle East, and Europe. Life as an intelligence officer with the DIA has its challenges, but it is rewarding for Alexander to know that she is keeping people safe. “What I enjoy most about my job is the fact I get to serve my country and work with the U.S. military,” Alexander says. “I consider it an honor and a privilege to do so.”

Alexander’s professional journey as it relates to service can be accredited to her tenure at EHS. She encourages students to remember that how you serve and what you become does not have to look like everyone else’s path. She adds that the path to discovery often happens when you try new things, nurture what excites you, expand your horizons, and offer to lead when the opportunities arise. “Take chances and try new things, especially things that scare you,” Alexander advises.

“Failure is not defeat; it is a growth and learning experience.”

—Lauren West

Alumni Spotlight

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Alumni Spotlight

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Alumni Spotlight

CARL SCHERRIEB ’90

30 Years of Giving

Carl Scherrieb ’90 recalls the first time he made a gift to Episcopal High School in 1991. He was a freshman living on the Texas Christian University campus and carefully placed a $10 bill into an envelope addressed to EHS. While his actions were never about the amount, he realized even then the power of remembrance and the importance of reciprocity.

For Scherrieb, these qualities have always been sources of personal pride.

“I believe all alumni of EHS have an obligation to be the biggest cheerleaders for the School.”

Since graduating from EHS more than 30 years ago, Scherrieb has made a gift to the School every year. One donation he enjoys most is providing flowers for the Benitez Chapel.

One opportunity Scherrieb looks back on during his time at EHS, was his participation in cheerleading – an activity he was initially hesitant to try, but ultimately glad he did after receiving encouragement and support from his teachers.

“A lot of my favorite memories took place in Chapel,” Scherrieb says. “I’m a member of an Episcopalian church here in Fort Worth, so I’m just reminded of the traditions and the music and the flowers. The flowers are especially important to me, because while I may not be physically present to see them, I know they are something everyone else can see and enjoy. In a way, it helps me maintain a connection to the School.”

For the last 16 years, Scherrieb has worked at Tarrant County College - South Campus as an advisor for students with disabilities and most recently as a general academic advisor.

He has also served as a case worker for the state and a school teacher.

“I feel like I was meant to work in education,” he explains. “I try to take all the lessons I’ve benefited from and share them with the students I work with now. The encouragement I had from high school teachers like David Van Ness and Clinton Carbon, especially as I faced learning differences, transformed my life.

Those teachers never let learning differences be a barrier to my academic success.

“I attended private schools for all but two years of my education, and I understand the resources needed to maintain the level of excellence and personalized attention to students’ needs. That’s a reason I am inspired to give; I want today’s students to have the same great opportunities I had.”

“They knew cheerleading was going to be challenging for me because I was socially awkward and I wasn’t the most coordinated person,” Scherrieb admits. “But I wanted to do it, and my coaches worked with me and helped me to do well.

That is something I will always remember, especially now that I work in education and want to see people do well.

“I believe all alumni of EHS have an obligation to be the biggest cheerleaders for the School. It’s about celebrating what we have learned and how we have grown over the years.”

Unlike cheerleading, being a compassionate person is something that has come naturally to Scherrieb. “As soon as I graduated, I launched my own stewardship program, so to speak,” says Scherrieb. “I’m not really a competitive person, but it’s always been a personal goal to continue giving to EHS and also improve upon my giving.

“People say I’m kindhearted and want the best for people, but as someone who has been blessed with good opportunities, it’s important for me to share those blessings with other people and pay it forward the best way I know how.”

—Ikechi “Chief ” Achilefu ’03

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ALUMNI WEEKEND AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Event Honors Exemplary Alumni and Faculty Since our founding, EHS has benefited from the leadership of the bishops who inspired students to become well-rounded individuals through self-discipline, leadership, responsibility, and respect for others. Their greatest wish is for students to graduate with the knowledge and character that enable them to live meaningful lives and reflect the School’s mission. The Bishops Alumni Award recognizes alumni who are fulfilling this vision, and on Friday, April 9, EHS honored the 2020 and 2021 winners.

K. Knox Nunnally, Class of 1997, is the winner of the 2020 Bishops Alumni Award. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the University of Texas School of Law. Prior to commencing his legal career, Knox served as an infantry officer and light armored reconnaissance officer for the U.S. Marine Corps, before his honorable discharge as a captain. He completed three combat deployments to Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and three citations for valor. Following the Marines, Knox attended law school at the University of Texas at Austin, served as a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s office, and now practices civil law as a partner with the Ware Jackson Law Firm here in Houston.

Knox is actively involved with the boards of several Houston charitable organizations involving veterans, scouting, and education. Knox is on his second, three-year term for the Directors Council and is an active participant in Alumni Leadership Day. Melissa Cross, Class of 1989, is the 2021 Bishops Alumni Award winner. She is an alumna who, as a student, was a co-founder of Students of Service and recipient of the DAR Citizenship Award. It comes as no surprise that she is being awarded the Bishops Alumni Award in honor of her leadership, service, and integrity. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Engineering degree, and currently serves as a senior client executive at Dassualt Systems. She is an advocate for career and networking opportunities for EHS alumni. Melissa is a consistent participant in Alumni Leadership Day and a mentor for STEM-focused alumni. When not helping the Alumni Office and Episcopal, she is a recruiter and mentor

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for Vanderbilt University, volunteers with the Houston Food Bank and Emergency Aid Coalition, and is an active member of National Charity League. She recently volunteered with Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston to help schedule COVID-19 vaccines for the elderly.

In addition to the Bishops Alumni Award, the alumni nominate faculty and staff for the Hexagon Distinguished Achievement Award every Alumni Weekend. The Hexagon Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes current and former members of the faculty and staff who have cultivated Episcopal’s deepest ideals and have had a lasting impact on the School.

The recipient is someone who has fostered the development of students’ minds, faith, and spirit. Most important, they have worked to ensure that all EHS students are well grounded in the mission of Episcopal High School. The winners for 2020 and 2021 were Nancy Eisenberg, Assistant Head of School and Matt Fox, Assistant Athletic Director, English Teacher, and Varsity Baseball Coach.

—Ashley Long

From left to right: Dillon, Cara, K. Knox Nunnally ’97, and Rowan.

From left to right: John Bowling, Melissa Cross ’89, Jack Bowling, and Grace Bowling.

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MOMENTS

A behind-the-scences glimpse into the rehearsal of “Be Our Guest” for the Spring Musical “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.” Photo by Lauren West

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CLASS NOTES

Send your updates to Director of Alumni and Annual Giving Margaret Young at myoung@ehshouston.org so that you can be featured here in a future issue of “Pillars.”

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Marlo (Cobb) Saucedo ’87 Marlo partnered with Houston’s Methodist Hospital for the #WritingOurHistory project creating pieces to bring Methodist employees together to commemorate the year since their first COVID-19 patient. #WritingOurHistory is a community art project honoring the innovators and innovations which helped everyone through the pandemic.

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Meredith McCord ’92 Meredith shared that despite the pandemic, she is still incredibly busy guiding amazing fishing trips both near and afar. You can read about EHS’s world-class angler on her website www.meredithmccord.com.

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Mark Massey ’99 Mark Massey is Round Top’s youngest mayor in its 150-year history. His campaign platform “Keep Round Top, Round Top” assured residents that he is eager to preserve the town’s character and charm while planning for managed growth. Mark was sworn in on November 9, 2020, his 40th birthday, with his fiancé and family beside him.

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Todd Frazier ’88 Todd thought of EHS when he learned that one of the newest student interns in creative arts therapy at Houston Methodist is an EHS alum, Addy Purdy, Class of 2014. Todd is the director of this unique department at Houston Methodist, now the most comprehensive in the world for arts in health.

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Russell Boiarsky ’97 EHS reconnected with Russell in the fall when he participated in Alumni Leadership Day. In addition, SongDivision, where Russell works, helped EHS pull together an exciting night of entertainment straight from Nashville for our first ever virtual auction.

John Thomas Kobos ’97 John Thomas was voted by Corpus Christi Caller-Times readers as the city’s best reporter/columnist. John Thomas graduated from EHS in 1997 and earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Houston Baptist University in 2005. He was a reporter at TV stations in Alexandria, LA, and Fresno, CA. He moved back to Texas and has been the morning anchor at KIII TV 3 in Corpus Christi since 2011.

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Jen Towbin ’99 Jen currently works as a marketing executive at KPMG.

Juan Martinez ’05 Juan and his wife, Amanda, welcomed daughter Carmen Adel on February 5, 2021. Carmen joins siblings Bane Alexander and Ava Marie!

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Kevin ’02 and Kaitlin (McLaughlin) Necas ’06 Kevin and Kaitlin welcomed Luca William on January 8, 2021.

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Lindsey (Gorski) Miller ’03 Lindsey welcomed the birth of Colt Templet in November. Colt joins siblings Meredith and Morgan.

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Annina (Stefanelli) ’04 and Jordon Emmott ’00 Annina and Jordon welcomed a baby girl, Ninella Estelle Emmott, on December 1, 2020. Ninella joins proud big brother Charlie, who is two.

Major Michelle (Kolcun) Williams ’03 Michelle, a Medical Service Corps Officer in the Air Force Reserve, was appointed Chief Administrator for the Air Force COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Program, working in concert with DoD’s Operation Warp Speed (OWS) to ensure Air Force Military Medical Treatment facilities are prepared to administer the COVID-19 Vaccine.

Keith Cornelius ’04 Keith is helping his mother, Angel Cornelius, grow her beauty brand Maison 276. Both were featured on a recent episode of the “Today Show” where they promoted their products.

Keith is also the brother of Elon Cornelius ’11.

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Erick Espinoza ’06 Erick is a product manager and business strategist for IBM. He also serves on the board for multiple nonprofit organizations, including Prospanica, an organization that empowers Latinx professionals to achieve their full educational, economic, and social potential.

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Ashley Cline ’05 Ashley was promoted to partner at Williams Anderson Ryan & Carroll LLP in Dallas in January 2021.

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Class Notes

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Landi (Lausen) Lutz ’09 Landi and husband Kyle welcomed Gentry Jacob on December 26, 2020.

Ryan Steinhart ’10 Ryan is an attorney at The Buzbee Law Firm.

Drew Webber ’10 Drew married Audrey Pillars in December of 2020.

11 Dr. Bianca Kirkland ’06 Bianca earned a bachelor’s in wildlife and fisheries sciences with a minor in dance science from Texas A&M University. Dance was one of Bianca’s true passions while at EHS. She danced for the Aggie Dance Team and also had a career in New York City.

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 St. Kitts in the Caribbean. She is currently an associate veterinarian at CyFair Animal Hospital.

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Chris Cassidy ’07 Chris joined Walker & Dunlop as a senior analyst on the investment sales team.

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Kellie (Nolen) Hastings ’08 Kellie and Harrison Hastings welcomed Nolen James on December 28, 2020.

Nolen joins big brother, Wells!

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Sarah (Bailey) Dawson ’10 Sarah Bailey married Matthew Dawson on November 21, 2020, and they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Margaret Dye ’10 Margaret currently works at St. Francis Episcopal alongside teachers who taught her at both EHS and SFES! She is also a professional artist.

Cameron Fox ’10 Cameron and wife Leah welcomed their first child, Hallie Kathryn Klein Fox, on August 25, 2020. Cameron and Leah both work for the family company, Klein Tools, in the Finance department in Mansfield, TX. Cam’s youngest brother, Tanner Fox, is a senior this year at EHS and his brother Blake is coaching varsity baseball at EHS alongside Coach Matt Fox.

Cesar Lovo ’11 Cesar graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in civil engineering. He is currently a Project Manager at Aldridge Electric, an electrical contractor based in the Chicago Area. He has worked on runway projects at Chicago’s Midway Airport, the modernization of the Automatic Transit System at O’Hare Airport, and is currently working on the electric modernization of a pump station for the Chicago Department of Water.

Lauren Hollins ’11 Lauren will graduate in May 2021 from Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University with an MBA. Following graduation, she will work for Dell Technologies.

Emily Garibaldi ’11 Emily moved to Los Angeles in 2018.

She is working in music doing digital marketing for artists including Zedd and Bea Miller.

Ryan Manoogian ’11 Ryan married Amanda Knabe on November 7, 2020.

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Class Notes

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Jon Hansing ’12 After getting married, Jon changed his last name from “Thiess” to “Hansing.”

He played Division I baseball at West Point for a few years, then graduated with a degree in computer science. He served in Missouri, Hawaii, and now Arizona. He will pursue his master’s at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management in Fall 2021.

Hannah Tosch ’12 Hannah was featured in a recent edition of Houston Business Journal (HBJ).

As a senior associate for the Houston branch of real estate company Colliers International, Tosch told HBJ that Instagram and food delivery are the future of restaurants when it comes to attracting Gen Z.

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Anna Louise Buckley ’14 Facilities engineer Anna Louise moved to Tyler, TX, for her job with ExxonMobil.

Courtney Fontaine ’14 Courtney graduates from Tulane University Law School in May 2021.

Maggie Rippeto ’14 Maggie graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master of Education degree in human development counseling with a concentration in mental health counseling.

Matt Speer ’14 Matt works in fundraising at the Alley Theatre.

13 Libby Gerstner ’12 Libby moved back to Houston last year after graduating from Tulane University Law School. She is a first-year associate at Vinson & Elkins.

Hayley Hansson ’12 Hayley lives in Somerville, MA, and works for Apple as a software engineer.

Julia (Nini) Patteson ’12 Julia recently moved to Denver with her husband, Douglas. She is a registered nurse for an intermediate ICU unit and COVID unit.

Moody Heard ’12 Moody is co-founder and CEO of a recently launched construction staffing app - Buildforce. Moody, who had previously served as senior investment analyst at Mercury Fund, launched the app in July of 2020. Buildforce aims to more efficiently connect contractors to skilled workers in the trade.

Kate Lowman ’13 Kate graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in history in 2017 and is a recent graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. After passing the Illinois Bar, she works in the tax law section of Ernst and Young in Chicago.

Mary (Taylor) Speer ’14 Mary works as a registered behavior technician at Action Behavior Centers and is completing hours to become a board-certified behavior analyst.

Sabra Washington ’14 Sabra graduated from Syracuse University with a master’s in biomedical forensic science.

Emma (Morgan) Melody ’13 Emma Morgan married John Melody ’13 on September 19, 2020.

Mark Milholland ’13 Mark works for PlanSource in Orlando, Florida.

Braxton Wilks ’13 Braxton will graduate from Baylor Law School on May 1, 2021, get married on May 29, 2021, and begin work in Houston for Norton Rose Fulbright in October 2021.

Addy Purdy ’14 Addy is currently interning in Methodist Hospital’s creative arts therapy under the guidance of Todd Frazier ’88.

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Class Notes

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Brittany Aaronson ’15 Brittany works in commercial real estate on the industrial team for Stream Realty Partners.

Amanda Garza ’15 Amanda is finishing her first year of a DVM program at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

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Corrinne Cassell ’16 Corrinne and her father were recently celebrated for their unique family legacy in an article from the University of Texas Cockrell School of Engineering.

Both Corrinne ’16 and her father, Craig, are graduates of the Cockrell School’s McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering.

Megan Logue ’16 Megan graduated from University of Texas-Dallas with a bachelor’s in speech-language pathology and audiology in December 2020. She works at The Parish School and Carruth Center.

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Caroline Rippeto ’17 Caroline is currently in a 3+2 accelerated Nursing Program at Vanderbilt University. She graduates in May with a bachelor of science, but will continue for another year to get her master’s in the science of nursing to become a pediatric care nurse practitioner.

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Aidan Cook ’18 Aidan was recently awarded the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit for saving a child who was drowning in a swimming pool. This is the highest award given by the American Red Cross to an individual or team who saves a life. The certificate bears the signature of the President of the United States. Aidan is currently a third-year student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, completing a double major in mathematics and brain cognitive science.

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Carolyn Hammond ’19 What started as a passion project from her work as a writer for SMU’s LOOK magazine has now turned into a blog and newsletter – Modis. Modis features facts and analysis about the business and law of fashion. A recent issue examines the pandemic’s impact on fashion. You can subscribe to her blog: modishquarterly@gmail.com, or follow her website: modishquarterly.wixsite.com/modish.

Lauren St. Paul ’19 Lauren is the creative media intern for the University of Texas at Austin football program.

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Tanner Witt ’20 Tanner plays baseball at University of Texas at Austin and is having a standout season as a pitcher and infielder.

THANK YOU, EPISCOPAL! EHS Communications Director Starts New Chapter After 14 Years of Service When I look at the photo feature “How It Started, How It’s Going” on page 30, I am struck by how much things have changed at EHS during the past few decades. Even in the 14 years that I have worked at Episcopal, the physical plant has been upgraded to include the Trotter Academics & Sciences Building, the Hildebrand Athletic Center, new sports fields, and the Underwood Student Center.

Though much about the building and grounds has evolved, the original mission of the school remains true. Teachers meet the students where they are, the students are happy, and lives are changed for the better.

As I wrap up my last year at Episcopal High School, I am proud of the work that the Communications team has created over the years. I want to thank Head of School Ned Smith, the administration, our partners in Advancement, and Director Peggy Haney. I’d also like to thank my former and current Communications co-workers by name: Reba Kingsbury, Diana Mumford, Mauro Gomez, Ashleigh Teel, Scott Cunningham, Lauren West, and faculty writer Emma Tsai. Each person has helped raise the quality of the magazines, brochures, photography, and social media to new heights. And while many projects won awards from our peer groups, the best part was the fun we had in challenging each other and collaborating on some amazing work.

Thank you, Episcopal High School!

—Claire C. Fletcher

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The Last Word

A PERFECT RECIPE FOR COPING WITH THE PANDEMIC

Chaplain and Children Attempt Every Pillsbury Bake-Off Winner Since 1949

By The Rev. Art Callaham Hey Rev. Callaham, what did you do over your summer break?

As much as I would like to have said that my family and I traveled the world like we did the previous summer, life had other plans. Moving and preparing for my new position at EHS were going to be challenging enough without the added fun of COVID-19. Summer 2020 would have to be low-key for the Callahams.

So, I decided I would do some baking during my time away from work. Little did I know that the idea would become a months-long adventure.

The Pillsbury Bake-Off was started in 1949 as the Grand National Recipe and Baking Contest hosted at the WaldorfAstoria Hotel in New York City, and has been held more-or-less annually ever since. During the early years of the contest, the only requirement for entry was that a recipe use Pillsbury BEST Flour. In more recent years, however, the Bake-Off has become a place where home bakers have experimented with unique ways to modify and embellish Pillsbury’s many convenience foods, like cake mixes, biscuit dough, and the everpopular crescent rolls.

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And so, my baking odyssey began. My intention was to prepare two or three Bake-Off winners per week starting with 1949’s Water Rising Twists and finishing with the winner of the 2019 Bakeoff winner, Dublin Cheeseboard-Stuffed Appetizer Bread. There were 56 recipes in all, however. It became clear almost immediately that I was going to need some help.

Enter my kids: Hannah, age 10, and her younger brother Aaron, who is 8.

During my previous career as a parish priest, I wasn’t able to spend a whole lot of time with my kids. Days at church were long, and nights could get late.

Even though our homeschooling schedule allowed for us to share at least one day off per week, educational opportunities and church commitments always picked away at our family time.

The prospect of me being home for 10 straight weeks and then with greater frequency than before once school started was a golden opportunity.

Cooking, and especially baking, has long been a passion of mine. A project like this seemed like an excellent opportunity to share something of myself with my kids.

And now, the reviews are in: “Cooking with Dad is really fun,” Aaron offers, “because we always have a lot of fun in the kitchen and the smell of stuff cooking in the kitchen is awesome.” Hannah agrees, adding, “Dad always finds ways to connect the ways we’re cooking the Bake-Off stuff to things we cook on other days.” Needless to say, they–along with the members of the EHS Business and Chaplaincy offices–appreciated the leftovers.

Baking our way through nearly seven decades of sweets and savories gave us a deeper appreciation for the way that American cuisine has evolved over the years. Apple Pie ’63, a recipe from 1963, sticks in Hannah’s mind because of its pronounced citrus flavors. “I don’t think I liked it that much,” she adds, “but I guess that’s how people liked their pie back then.”

Though many of the cakes and pies stand out for their flamboyance and creativity, cookie recipes were hands down Callaham favorites, with Snappy Turtle Cookies (1952) and Fudgy Bonbons (1994) topping the list. Several savory dishes were also memorable— Hungry Boy Casserole (1963) and

The Last Word

“A project like this seemed like an excellent opportunity to share something of myself with my kids.”

Loaded Potato Pinwheels (2013), to name a couple, if not for their flavors then at least for the way they introduced the younger Callahams to an important staple of their parents’ youth: Poppin’ Fresh biscuit and bread dough.

As we head toward the summer of 2021 wondering, with everyone else, whether or not any sense of normalcy will return to our lives, the kids and I have already begun to brainstorm new adventures.

Having just purchased a countertop convection-oven/air-fryer combo, I’m particularly interested in seeing how my favorite baking recipes can be scaled down. Hannah is imagining a culinary world-tour of sorts, the opportunity to bake/cook traditional dishes from across the globe. Aaron, however, is pretty confident in his baking skills, for now, and would prefer the entire family focus more attention on our other passion, board

gaming. He’d like to play all of the Spiel des Jahres (international game of the year) entries and winners from that prize’s inception in 1979 until now.

Thanks be to God and summer vacation, we’ll probably do all of the above!

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Senior Miles Jones ’21 leads the pack during the 21st Annual Dick Phillips Relays.

2020 ‑ 2021 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle Executive Chair A. Haag Sherman Frances Alexander, Henrietta K. Alexander, Shelley Torian Barineau, J. Craig Chandler, W. Craig Childers, Jane Johnson Dabney, William A. Edens Sr., Emerson K. Hankamer Sr., Terri Havens, Andrew B. Hawthorn ’91, Thad Hill, Richard A. Howell ’01, Elizabeth K. Howley, Jenna Junell, Alecia Lawyer, Clay Manley, Laurie N. Morian, William Randall, Ned Smith, Trey Snider, The Very Rev. Barkley Thompson, 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, 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 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 Faculty Writer Emma Kate Tsai Photography & Graphic Design Lauren West

Contributors Ikechi “Chief”Achilefu ’03 Chris Bailey The Rev. Art Callaham Scott Cunningham Claire Fletcher Mauro Gomez Ashley Long Emma Kate Tsai Lauren West Margaret Young

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4650 Bissonnet • Bellaire, Texas 77401 • 713‑512‑3400 • 713‑512‑3606 • www.ehshouston.org