The Path - Spring 2021

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2301 Trent Road New Bern, NC 28562 2201 Henderson Avenue New Bern, NC 28560 252.638.0122 www.epiphanyglobalschool.org Head of School Dr. Dwight Carlblom Assistant Head of School and Director of Middle and Upper School David Wang Director of Lower School Dr. Heather French Director of Admissions Tahira Copland Director of Advancement Brittany Spear Director of Athletics Matt James Director of Finance Tara Hughes Director of Learning Services Dr. Morgan James Director of Spiritual Life Rev. Ed Koffenberger Director of Student Life Ryan Seeger Director of Technology Peter Williams Associate Director of Admissions and Advancement Molly Ostmann College Counselor Michele DeCamp

In This Issue: From Dwight's Desk.......................................................3 15 Year Anniversary .....................................................4 Reflecting on 15 years .................................................8 A Conversation with Mr. Ellenberger ................12 Meet Our New Administrative Assistants .....19 Student Senate ..............................................................20 How We've Stayed Connected ..............................22 The Confidence to Hit "Reply" .............................24 Alumni Class Notes .....................................................26

Want to be featured in future issues?

Send in your story ideas, travel photos and alumni updates to mostmann@epiphanyglobalschool.org.

The Epiphany School of Global Studies, anchored in the JudeoChristian commandment to Love God and Your Neighbor as Yourself, is a comprehensive college-preparatory and globally-focused school where dynamic and innovative learning is stretched beyond the classroom walls, emphasizing the knowledge, skills, creativity, adaptability, curiosity, and international experiences students will need to flourish in an increasingly globalized 21st century.

PAGE 3

FROM DWIGHT'S DESK from

our

families.

This

year

our

ministry was "Connections"; and to be honest,

I

wondered

how

we

would

accomplish that in a year of social

! y n a h p i p E , Hello

distancing and no large gatherings. But we

did!

students

We built

stayed new

connected. friendships

Our with

What a year it has been! The blessings

classmates and staff, and our families

that have come because of all we have

connected with us by way of Zoom,

experienced this year are tremendous.

athletic events, and more. Our Epiphany

When I look at what our school has

community stayed connected, and for

achieved in just 15 years, with this last

that I feel blessed.

year

most

Join me in both my hope and my

challenging, how amazing is it that we

excitement for the next 15 years. Stay

can

has

connected with us because together we

happened and hopeful for what is to

can do great things in the lives of our

come?

children/students.

Our community, every one of you, has

Blessings,

being be

both

maybe proud

the of

what

shown great faith in us over the years.

This year we saw a community come together

to

achieve

"in

person

learning" for our students and support

Dwight Carlblom, PhD Head of School

PAGE 4 15 YEARS

I

t’s hard to believe that The Epiphany

grades 6-10, the Board of Trustees had

School of Global Studies has been

to lay the groundwork and decide what

educating students for fifteen years,

kind of school Epiphany should be.

or that the dream that Cathy and I had

Some decisions may seem relatively

would have wonderfully flourished in

straightforward

the way it has. Nor would it have been

desire for a comprehensive college-

possible without the committed belief

prep education or the desire to found a

and

many

Christian school, for instance – but

different people, including Trustees,

even those decisions required hours of

administrators,

discussion by the

sustained

effort

by

faculty

so and

staff,

in

retrospect

–

the

Board of Trustees,

students and their families, and the

discussions that continue to this very

New Bern community at large. For all

day. What, after all, does

that everyone has done to support Epiphany, Cathy and I remain forever grateful. Perhaps, I think, it might be interesting for some to know a bit about the early years of

Epiphany.

While most people know that the school opened its doors in 2006 to just under a hundred students in

PAGE 5 “college prep

education” really mean,

We

are

endlessly

especially in a world that’s becoming

abilities,

more globalized with every

thoughtfulness

year?

How

passing

specifically

amazed

at

professionalism, of

our

the and

incredible

should

administration, faculty and staff. We are

Christianity infuse the daily life for our

thankful for the ongoing efforts and

students? Every

question seemed to

beg

questions

even

also

ensure the long-term viability of the

required answers, and little by little,

school. We are gratified by the love our

the groundwork was laid not only for a

students have for the school and their

successful opening, but for the school’s

daily efforts to uncover their own gifts.

ongoing success in the future. Fifteen

And we feel blessed by families not only

years later, the Board of Trustees still

for

works with the administration in the

trusting the school with the education

hopes

Epiphany

of their children. It is often said that

remains the wonderful school that it is.

gratitude is a gift we can give ourselves.

Cathy and I look on with great pride at

For Cathy and I, the Epiphany School of

how well our graduates have flourished

Global Studies makes gratitude very

at

simple.

of

the

more

ensuring

university

that

that

expertise of the Board of Trustees to

level,

both

supporting

the

school,

but

educationally and spiritually.

Nicholas Sparks Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Catherine Sparks Secretary of the Board of Trustees

for

PAGE 6 15 YEARS

The Epiphany School is formally founded by Nicholas and Catherine Sparks after focus group indicates a strong desire for a college-prep school, rooted in the Christian tradition, with a strong program of Global Studies in New Bern.

2006

In August, 2006 The Epiphany School opens its doors to grades 6-10 with 92 students and 13 employess.

2007

In 2008, Grade 12 is added.

First travel abroad experiences offered, and first international studentteacher arrives.

Trent Road site purchased.

2008

In 2007, Grade 11 is added. First foreign exchange student arrives and travel abroad partners vetted.

2009

In 2010, The Epiphany School becomes The Epiphany School of Global Studies.

2010

In 2009, Grade 5 is added.

School gains membership in the NC Association of Independent Schools First graduating class celebrated.

2011 In 2011, construction begins on the Middle and Upper School campus on Trent Road.

Epiphany gains membership in the Southern Association of Independent Schools.

PAGE 7

In 2012, Epiphany is accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Trent Road campus opens its doors to grades 7-12.

Grades 3-4 added.

2012

2013 In 2013, Henderson campus renovated to add Grades K- 2 with Spanish Immersion.

Trent Road campus expanded for Grade 6.

2016 In 2016, Epiphany celebrates 10 years of learning and growth.

2021 In 2021, Epiphany celebrates 15 years of learning and growth and enthusiastically looks toward the future!

PAGE 8

REFLECTING ON 15 YEARS By: David Wang Assistant Head of School, Director of Middle and Upper Schools

Fifteen years--that is a long time to

would still be at this wonderful school

be in one place or working one job. As

fifteen years later. There is something

the son of a US naval officer, I grew

unique and special, however, about this

up moving often, never spending more

school community that has kept me in

than five years in any one place. My

New Bern.

life

had

transitions

become of

used

moving

to

the

In the early years at Epiphany, the

and

the

school’s mission statement began with

challenges that arise with each new

the

following

words,

“We

are

a

move. I have lived in Hawaii and

community of faith and scholarship.”

Maine and many states in between

Community is the word that stood out

them. In 2006 when I started at

the most to me. Whether in advisory

Epiphany, I never imagined that I

groups, on retreat experiences, or in

PAGE 9

the farthest reaches of Costa Rica, we build

community

students,

our

amongst

teachers,

our

and

our

neighbors. The start of a school year begins with a focus on community. We play

games,

learn

about

life

at

Epiphany, and form friendships in the community of fellow students and teachers. The Buddy Program, which pairs

juniors

with

kindergarten

students and seniors with first-grade students, strengthens the community bonds between Henderson and Trent Campuses. It is amazing to watch the bonds that form between these little Falcons cupcake

and

the

treats,

big

Falcons

over

kite-flying,

and

leprechaun traps. These bonds can

PAGE 10 15 YEARS realities of COVID-19 in the 2020-2021 school

year

have

impacted

us.

Our

typical efforts to build community at Epiphany have been thwarted by the requirements of social distancing--we can’t have groups larger than twelve students in a classroom, we can only place so many athletes on a bus for an away game, we can’t hold Chapel in the become so strong that I have even seen a little Falcon help her big Buddy paint her parking space during the summer.

Moreover,

the

final

experience of any Epiphany student is Love in Action, a service program that allows seniors to spend their last month of school in “community” with one another serving those members of our New Bern community who are most deserving. Our seniors complete builds with Habitat for Humanity, play games

with

the

residents

of

RHA

Howell, or travel to Belize to serve a school

overseas.

These

soon-to-be

graduates truly learn the meaning of “Love

God

Yourself”

and

while

Your

Neighbor

demonstrating

as

how

strong a community Epiphany can be.

Though the mission has changed over the

years,

this

emphasis

on

the

concept of community remains strong at Epiphany. It is funny how the

PAC on a Friday in person. Despite these

challenges,

however,

we

have

shown collectively levels of resiliency and creativity that have generated new possibilities for our school community.

We can create virtual meetings with Zoom that allow us to make crazy announcements.

We

can

play

four-

square and pick-up basketball outside as champions now. I think these kinds of accomplishments are what give me the greatest pride when it comes to Epiphany. I know that in the future, no matter the challenges that arise, the community

of

Epiphany

will

come

together and succeed. I look forward to the next fifteen years and the continued evolution of the Epiphany community.

PAGE 11

PAGE 12 FACULTY HIGHLIGHT

A Conversation

with

Mr. Ellenberger

Brittany Spear sat down to talk with JT Ellenberger about his 15year tenure with The Epiphany School of Global Studies. Following is a transcription of that interview.

How did you get to Epiphany?

OK,

so

New

wife's

there, and she said, "You told me that

hometown, and she had a great job

you used to teach English. I heard they

opportunity, and her dad was getting

are opening a new school, and they are

old, so we came down here. I was

looking for teachers." I thought maybe I

working

church

could get a part-time gig. So, I went

musician in Pennsylvania. When we

over to talk to the people, and they said

checked

church

the school isn't happening anymore; it's

down here, it turned out they needed

being moved somewhere else--I didn't

someone because their organist was

really know what the details were--but I

leaving, so I took that job; but I had a

had already sent in my application.

little bit of time on my hands--I was

Anyway, I didn't hear anything, I didn't

mostly the babysitter for my two little

hear anything, I didn't hear anything,

girls. I went to choir

and then I found out from someone else

as out

Bern

a

is

my

practice one night, and this lady was

full-time

the

Lutheran

PAGE 13 that everyone over there packed up

How

and came over here [Epiphany]. So I

been at Epiphany?

got my resume and took it over.

I spent eight years in the University

Shortly after that, I got a phone call

environment. The thing I liked about it

from Mr. McLaughlin, and he said, "Do

most was the interaction I had with the

you want to talk?" So, I went over and

students. I didn't think I would make a

met him in this old house that isn't

good classroom teacher so much, but I

there anymore, and we talked for a

thought I'd be the guy sitting around

little while, about 3 hours, and at the

the table with the brightest ones in the

end of it, he said, "I don't need an

room, and we would **deep voice**

English teacher because we don't have

seriously

enough students, but I want to keep

someone who is 13 coming up and

your name around just in case." So, I

asking me," Mr. Ellenberger, why should

went home, then got this really nice

I do this?" and having to explain why, I

letter that said some nice stuff, but

wasn't really certain that this particular

that they really couldn't use me right

kind of environment was right, but I was

now. I figured that was all over. Until

attracted to the school and the team of

one

administrators. I didn't know if I could

day,

I

was

sitting

with

my

has

your

teaching

discuss

experience

things**.

Having

youngest daughter, Hope, watching

talk

cartoons, and the phone rings. It's Mr.

experience was in a college setting. I

McLaughlin

still

had to modify the way I taught, but I

interested in being a teacher, not an

didn't have any problem relating to

English

two

younger students. They looked at me as

history classes. And I said, "Sure, why

someone who is kind of a weirdo, and I

not," and he said, "I'll meet you at the

always got along with them. There are

Food Lion." So, I get the kid in the car

always students who act up or ones who

and drive out, and along comes this

are not interested in what I'm teaching,

car with an arm sticking out holding

but I cannot think of a single kid I was

two textbooks. It pulls up next to me,

not able to reach in some way or

and Mr. McLaughlin said, "Be at the

another.

Baptist church tomorrow morning at

teacher? No, I'm still not. I'm usually

9:00. Here, take these," and he drove

three weeks behind in grading and all

off. So the next day, I show up, and I

the professional, necessary things, but

think I've been at every meeting since

as far as establishing relationships with

(except for a few),

the students, that I can do. And if

asking

teacher

but

if to

I'm teach

and the rest they say is history…

to

an

8th

Was

I

grader

the

because

world's

my

perfect

PAGE 14 there's been one good thing about this

When I listen to your story--so much

year, it's that the class sizes are

has happened since you were given the

relatively small, so I've had more

textbooks in the parking lot--is there

interaction with the students this year

one thing you can pinpoint as an

than I have had in any other year.

Epiphany for you--a moment of this is

For every bane, there's a blessing,

why I’m doing this work?

and that's this year's blessing, that

I have every thank you note a student has ever written and every letter of recommendation I've ever written. There is not one story.

Those would tell the story.

I've gotten to know them better.

And because the 7th and 8th graders have to walk around the circle [oneway hallway], I know the names of many of the 8th graders already, and I'm looking forward to having them in my

classroom

next

year

because

there's a pile of brains out there. I've got 3-4 who love to read and stop by to borrow books now and again. I think it's great they want to read something.

I'm going to be able to retire about the time that this years' freshmen graduate, and I'm going to have to make a decision about continuing. The missus would like me to have only one job, but I'm pretty sure that this isn't the one I want to give up, even though being a church musician is what I was really trying to do; I just wasn't good enough to be hired for a full-time ministry here. But in the larger plan, things seem to have worked out, and, as a person of faith, I recognize that it is a blessing to be able to do both.

Truth to tell, I cannot even believe that all this happened the way it did.

All students pique the teacher's interest in some way, we see what is good in them, and hopefully, we can emphasize that and help them improve and be their best. The only way to teach well is to be in

a

decent

relationship

with

the

students. You don't have to be their buddy, but it helps a lot if they know that you will support them and they can come to you. We are not establishing friendships but a relationship of the spirit, not just the teacher/student. I never want to disparage my colleagues who work in the public schools--they have it hard. If this opportunity had not shown up, I would not be a teacher. I'd still be banging away on an organ or tuning pianos. One thing I think we've done

well

here

professional appreciate

is

encouraging

camaraderie. the

things

our

We fellow

teachers bring to the table. Epiphany truly is a family--the people who work here are my family members. Like any

PAGE 15 other family, we bicker, but we get

I feel there is something beyond every

over it, and we come back to break

single person in this place, but all of

bread

that

together,

though

I

miss

lives

together

somehow

that

my

whatever it has that we all bring to this

colleagues. And I truly feel I am in a

place (even our flaws), that there is this

God-centered environment as much in

spiritual gravity that comes from the

this place as I do in any church. It's

students, the teachers, the parents, the

not as if everyone is worshiping all the

people who run the board, the bosses,

time. It's more like an autonomic

everyone, and all of that is almost a

spiritual

living organism and I get to be one of

scheduled

gatherings

experience;

with

it

happens

whether you want it to or not. We have the best Head of School we could possibly

have;

he

knows

how

to

manage the school and the people in it. He was exactly what we needed, exactly when we needed it. I'm like everyone else, I go home and complain about what happened that day, but it never puts a dent in what this place is doing and who it's doing it for.

the cells!

Over the years, there have been so many things that have evolved and changed.

What

are

your

hopes

for

Epiphany and its future?

The vision for the place was always, and I believe is still, to be the global school that Mr. Sparks wants it to be. Fifteen plus years ago, some folk in New Bern had these dreams and then this place

I never talk about this place with someone without smiling.

showed up. But like everyone else who's trying to create something, we hoped to

Ever.

bring it into existence immediately like

I discovered a long time ago that I had

God, "Let there be Epiphany, and then

the ability to teach students younger

there was Epiphany, and there was

than

in

affordable tuition and a giant school and

colleges. I have been blessed to have

all these people going to this place and

lasting connections to some of our

that place, and being exchange students

graduates. There are graduates who

and all that." There has been some of

still ask me questions, who ask me

that, obviously. We are growing, but, on

how things are going, and for advice. I

the other hand, one of the focuses we

can't imagine anyone with any brains

had that kind of took control was that

would ask me for advice, but they do!

we wanted to get smart students into

It's all something that is truly divine in

excellent

its own way. Divine in the sense that

might happen ten, fifteen years down

the

ones

I

was

used

to

schools.

Who

knows

what

PAGE 16 the road. JT might win the lotto and

Sometimes it’s hard to explain why we

will give Epiphany half of it! I think

are so different from other schools.

that we are a little bit more content

How do you think Epiphany is unique?

with what we are managing to do now

I

than we have been before. In the

graduated from the school, and neither

beginning, we wanted to go from 0 to

regrets graduating from Epiphany. I

Harvard in two years; it wasn't that

now have a little grandbaby crawling

we didn't have the students. I see our

around, and we've already decided that

students who have come through here

she will be in the Class of 2038. I

and what they are doing now, and I'm

believe that this is a school that has a

proud to have been their teacher;

different idea of what school spirit is.

even the ones who didn't like me as a

One of the things that we can do here is

teacher. I've had students say, "Mr.

to get close enough to students to

Ellenberger, I like you, but I hate

understand their needs, their anxieties,

poetry," but one day, I got a message

the things that they can do well, and we

from one of those students that said,

can

"Mr. Ellenberger, I read this poem the

miracles? Generally, we don't have to,

other day..." And I was like, "Ahhhh!!"

especially since the ones who come up

**heavenly sounds** The rewards of

from our lower school are very well

being a teacher do not necessarily

prepared

stop when you pass out the diplomas

Experience.

and see what they do.

relationships that we are able to create

have

two

work

[daughters]

with

them.

for

the

I

believe

are special and lasting.

who

Do

we

Trent the

have

work

Road personal

PAGE 17

The real gift here is our smaller

They're going to learn more from

student body; a teacher can't give

the love than they will from the

anybody much personal attention if they have 90 people lined up outside the door. I spend all the time I can spare with students; I like it, I like getting to know them, what they are afraid of, what they love, how they feel

about

things,

and

about

the

school and the teachers. I think that is the chief thing.

Once or twice, our existence has been threatened and, somehow or another, we have been able to overcome those problems with the help of God, and now we're doing most of what we set out

to

do.

The

things

that

were

expected of Epiphany in the beginning are

still

happening.

The

kinds

of

book. I believe that 100%.

I'm so lucky in a lot of ways. I miss having

the

arrangements

we've

had

before [covid]; this has been hard on all of us; hopefully, we will get back to something that looks like normal, and I'm all for that because I think a lot of things in the last year and a half have been

hard.

It's

been

hard

for

the

students, too. Hopefully, we will be able to get back to that; obviously, none of us can do anything to help that except try to understand, try to encourage. I feel for the students; they work hard.

They are a good bunch. There hasn't ever been a bad bunch.

instruction we wanted to give, an

When you see people and they ask

engaged

about Epiphany, how do you describe

lives,

involvement and

committed

in

students'

above

all,

teachers

the

mission

to

of

this

Epiphany?

I say it's the best thing that ever

place. Somehow or another, those folk who took the chance that a local organist would be able to handle what was put in front of him and have the job done the way it was supposed to be done got lucky. There's never been a kid I didn't want to help. If you love the

students,

despite

whatever

problems they bring you, and if you treat them like someone you love, you'll be all right.

happened to me.

I tell them how I managed to get here and all the happy accidents that have enabled me to do the things that I do. I talk

about

my

colleagues

who

are

excellent, my bosses who are excellent; I talk about the physical plan, which is as

excellent

as

we

can

make

it

presently. I talk about the things that we do.

PAGE 18

While we focus on academics

given my disposition for that kind of

because we realize that is the

music and being a part of a church's

center of what we are doing, we also focus on developing persons who are thoughtful and

musical life, it is a very satisfying thing to sit down at an instrument that a bunch people

of

amateurs

happy

by

built

making

and

make

music

on

Sunday morning, but nothing compares

appreciative.

We have small class sizes, we have teachers who are very, very good at what they do, and we've got them from kindergarten on up… and that's basically it. I sell the package and how happy I am to be a part of it.

We've got a variety of people, and

to Epiphany. While that organ will be around a long time after I'm not, so will this school. Which one is going to be more important to me in the long run?

It's this place. And to think I did not want to come to New Bern, North Carolina.

somehow or another, we all manage to

God moves in a mysterious way

get involved and manage to stick

His wonders to perform:

together.

The

students

who

come

here understand what we're going to do. It's the students who make it; it's the young people who are here and

He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.

the parents who are behind them.

We're here to serve the students. I wouldn't have it any other way.

And that’s pretty much my story.

When we started to put that organ in,

Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill; God treasures up His bright

I would go from here to there, and we

designs

had three retired guys who loved

And works his sovereign will.

tinkering

around

and

were

really

jazzed to get the installation done.

They would meet me at 7:00 am, and I

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

would tell them what they had to have

And scan His work in vain;

done and when I'd be back after my

God is His own interpreter,

classes. When I was done here, I

and God will make it plain.

would go there. A couple of miracles happened, and we got it built. To me,

PAGE 19 STAFF

Meet our New Administrative Assistants

Jessica Phelps Lower School

Jessica has a BA in Education from the

University of North Carolina-Wilmington, and worked as a 6th grade teacher and preschool teacher before joining the Epiphany family.

Hobbies: Going to the beach, bike rides downtown with her family to get a Pepsi from the fountain, and practicing yoga.

Fun Facts: Jessica realized she was afraid of heights climbing Angels Landing in Utah. She has walked 30 miles in 3 days for a fundraiser.

Mario Kart is her favorite Nintendo game.

Favorite Places She has Traveled: Ocracoke and Victoria, Canada

Betsy Downard

Middle & Upper School

A native

of Greater Cincinnati, Betsy graduated from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Her professional background has been in communications and marketing in both the public and private sectors. Betsy and her husband relocated to New Bern in the fall of 2018.

They have two adult sons.

Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, taking day trips to the beach, and exploring North Carolina Fun Fact: Prior to moving to New Bern, Betsy’s only time in eastern North Carolina was the summer she spent as a Camp Seafarer counselor.

Favorite Places She Has Traveled: Family trips to Grand Cayman, Switzerland, Rome, and Vatican City.

PAGE 20 STUDENT SENATE

STUDENT SENATE

by Allison Potter '23

Student Senate Secretary

Pictured: Student Senate executive team . Bayleigh - President, Emma - Treasurer, Emma - Vice President, Allison - Secretary

For

as long as I can remember at

on May 1 on the soccer field. We hosted

Epiphany, Student Senate has hosted

this event for grades 5-12, and there

two

events

were games and music. Also, Kona Ice

traditionally. These include an end-

came out, and our school-wide grill

of-the-year dance for all grades and a

master, Señor Craig Hearne, made us

prom for grades 10-12. Well, with

some of the best hotdogs ever. For the

COVID, these events seemed to be a

first time in a long time, students were

struggle, but for our Senate team, it

able to bond with other grades through

was not impossible. We knew that an

games of kickball, soccer, corn hole,

end-of-the-year dance for all grades

and

could not happen because of social

conversation. I am very proud of all of

distancing

the senators and officers for chipping

Student

end-of-the-year

guidelines.

Senate

alternative

that,

came I

However, up

with

believe,

an

even

just

carrying

on

a

into this event to serve their school.

some

students enjoyed more. We came up

Another event that was quite difficult to

with “The Tailgate.” This event was

host was prom. Typically, prom is at the

PAGE 21 STUDENT SENATE all to gather together. On the night of May 7, students spanning from grades 10-12 put on their new dresses, rented tuxedos, boutonnieres, and corsages, and went to Copper Ridge for prom. We began the night with salads, grilled chicken, and pasta. The night ended with trying to get Coach Campbell and Mr. Barlow to do the Wobble. Overall, Taken during the Tailgate. From L to R: Allison (grade 10), Addison (grade 5), Emma (grade 11).

prom was very different from a usual year, but it was a success, and some

New Bern Golf and Country Club, and

may even say that they enjoyed it better

all events are inside. But this year, we

than a normal prom.

did not want to gather together inside because who wants to take 15-minute mask breaks at prom? We knew we had

to

find

another

venue

that

allowed us to be outside for most or all of the event. Then, Copper Ridge on the Neuse in James City came on our radar. Copper Ridge has beautiful scenery that allows everyone to be outside. Also, Copper Ridge gave us the option of having dinner there, which served as another reason for us

Pictured: L to R: Emma (grade 11), Diggs (12), Allison (10), Zarek (10), Charlie (11), Madelyn (11), Ben (outside guest). At dinner at prom.

PAGE 22 CONNECTION

Connected How We've Stayed

In a year where we were encouraged to distance ourselves and stay apart, we found creative ways to live out this year's ministry and stay connected on each campus, between campuses, and to our community.

Games with friends during Brain Breaks

Zooms with authors and special guests

Held traditional events, like battle of the brains, virtually

Kindergarten created goodie bags for medical staff at Carolina East

Virtual Alumni visits in the classroom

PAGE 23 CONNECTION

Lower School held virtual events for Grandparents and parents

Zooms with authors and special guests

Service clubs continued to serve our community

Trent Campus Tri-M Students performed for Lower School Students during lunch.

Lower School held virtual events for Grandparents and parents

Seniors Love in Action, serving the New Bern Community.

K & 11, and 1 &12 grade buddies met virtually throughout the year, and finally got to gather together in May!

PAGE 24 ALUMNI

THE

CONFIDENCE

TO

During my time at Epiphany I traveled the

world,

made

"REPLY" By: Andrew Breasure '18

capable of. I did well in school, but I

and

didn’t really desire to be much more

added MLA format to my arsenal. I

than a strong student and a professional

learned

American

baseball player. Epiphany challenged me

Revolution in Mrs. Chiles’ class and

to keep pushing myself to see what

how to do Stoichiometry with Mr.

other

talents

DeCamp. I constructed a solar panel

school

was

with Mrs. Brown and read Frankentein

introducing

with Mrs. Fitzgerald. However, the

particularly this one about these things

most important things I learned were

called Lollipop moments. Essentially,

about myself. I came to Epiphany

this

rather unsure of the influence I was

moments that go on to change your life.

about

3-pointers,

HIT

the

term

I

might

also me

refers

possess.

The

responsible

for

to

to

Ted

Talks,

insignificant

PAGE 25 ALUMNI I had mine freshman year of college,

systems.

and my life has not slowed down yet.

member

Every from

week

a

another

new

school

staff meets

with me to introduce “Beers Aren’t Bad.” During my first semester at NC State,

This

new

approach

my friends were all joining fraternities

education will hopefully effect lasting

and not having the best time. They

change

were being hazed and struggling in

campuses. Greek Life at NC State is

school as a result. Witnessing how

changing, and I am proud to have had a

they were being mistreated by these

hand in it.

on

on

hundreds

substance of

college

organizations upset me, and I wanted to make a change. I got an email with

While

the opportunity to recharter Pi Kappa

academically

Phi at NCSU. My dad was a Founding

prepared me to be an adult and a

Father of the same organization at

leader. I am no longer scared to stand

Barton College. I decided to take on

up for what I believe in or fight for the

the challenge. As I look back, I cannot

little guy. I now know that nothing is

fully account for all that has happened

impossible, and no goal is too great.

since. I started this fraternity in my

There

dorm room with a small handful of

influenced my life, but Epiphany stands

friends and people who also wanted a

out.

different

responding to that Pi Kappa Phi email.

Greek

experience.

Three

Epiphany

are My

prepared

for

many

college,

people

Lollipop

who

Moment

the Top Pi Kappa Phi chapter in the

Epiphany to have been critical in giving

country. Personally, I won the award

me the confidence to hit “Reply.”

President

at

NC

State

and

the

National President of the Year Award.

By 2023, a $5 million mansion will be finished to house the next class of leaders. I now oversee the entire IFC Community at NC State and work with other

universities

incorporate

new

nationwide

to

alcohol-education

programming into their Greek

of

was

seconds, but I consider my years at

Chapter

total

have

Best IFC Fraternity at NC State and

Outstanding

a

also

That

Most

took

it

years later, we have been named the

for

moment

me

120

PAGE 26

u l A

i n m

o N s s a l C

s e t

'19

1

4 Brandon Damgaard has joined the NC Army National Gard and completed his Initial Enlisted Training last August. He recently became an uncle and godfather to

some

wonderful

babies

in

his

life

and

has

completed his first semester at ECU majoring in Biology with minors in military science and Spanish.

'18

Taylor Glover (4) has become a major leader on Barton College's campus and currently serves as a Resident Assistant,

SGA

President,

a

Student

Ambassador,

Presidental Leadership Fellows Peer Leader, President of Lambda Phi Epsilon, President of Alpha Phi Sigma, and was Founder of the campus' "Shatter the Silence" Initiative.

Joshua LeRay (2) is majoring in Forestry at NCSU and has recently started his own business. Check him out at www.bonsaiguync.com!

2

'17

Ashley Bell (1) graduated early from ECU and now attends the Charleston School of Law. Andrew Maune graduated summa cum laude from NCSU with a B.A. in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Spanish Languages and Literature in May 2020. Drew has now graduated summa cum laude again from NCSU this May with an M.A. in Spanish with

a

Hispanic

Literature

and

Cultural

Studies

concentration. In the fall, Andrew will be attending the University of California Davis to begin a Ph.D. program in Spanish with a Designated Emphasis in

3

Critical Theory. He was offered a multi-year funding package from UC Davis and will serve in the role of Teacher Assistant while pursuing his degree.

PAGE 27

5 '17

10

6

Anna Walker (3) received her service assignment as a member of the United States Naval Academy's class of 2021. This summer she will begin the necessary steps to becoming a Naval Pilot.

Jeffrey Williams concluded his baseball career and earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Eastern University

11

this May. He became engaged to Andrea Murillo on January 4, 2021, in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, and has recently been accepted to NC State University's Masters in Mechanical Engineering program.

'16

Tristan Stewart (5) will graduate from West Point on May 22.

7

He will train for nine months at Ft. Benning,

GA, and will then join the 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg,

14

NC.

'14

Robbie LaGuardia (7) recently visited Epiphany to thank the members of NJHS for the military care packages that were sent to him and his fellow sailors while they were stationed in the Gulf of Bahrain.

'13

Kristin Peed Beute (6) is currently an ICU nurse at Carolina East Medical Center. She received her BSN from ECU after graduating from NCSU magma cum laude with a bachelor's in Human Biology.

She

married her high school sweetheart, Derek Beute on May 16, 2020.

She is starting her Doctorate of

Nursing Practice program in Nursing Anesthesia at ECU to become a CRNA with plans to graduate in 2024.

Zulay Romero (8) has published a book of poetry, narratives, and artwork entitled She Saw Hell and Survived It.

8

PAGE 28

PAGE 29

CONGRATULATIONS

EPIPHANY CLASS OF 2021 We look forward to celebrating you in the Fall issue of The Path!

Board of Trustees Nicholas Sparks - Chair Cathy Sparks Missy Blackerby Isa Gratacos Ken Gray Erin Hartman John Hawkins George Oliver Phil Pritulsky Chris Richey

On the Cover:

Mrs. Haddock's Global 'issues Class Zooming with students from around the world under the 15th anniversary seal.

The Path The Epiphany School of Global Studies Magazine Published twice each year

Editor:

Molly Ostmann Associate Director of Admissions and Advancement

Contributors:

Nicholas Sparks Cathy Sparks David Wang

JT Ellenberger Allison Potter '23 Andrew Breasure '18