The Path - Summer 2025

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THE PATH

The Epiphany School of Global Studies Alumni Magazine

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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 David Wang Assistant Head of School and Director of Global Education Sandra Haddock Director of Admissions Molly Ostmann Director of Athletics Matt James Director of Development Julia Connolly Director of Finance Nancy Coughlin Director of Lower School Calah Ronzheimer Director of Marketing Regina Ruisi Director of Middle School Dr. Morgan James Director of Spiritual Life Kirk Ronzheimer Director of Upper School Ryan Seeger Director of Technology Bobbi Jo Kelly

In This Issue: From David’s Desk...............................................................................................3 Family, Jewelry, and the Art of Intention...............................................4 Campus Scenes.......................................................................................................8 Get Pumped: The Heart and Hustle of Student Senate.................10 Second Annual Alumni Reunion..................................................................14 Señor Hearne’s Pancakes..............................................................................15 Fueled by Intention: A Journey from Illness to Impact.................16 Where in the World is Freddy Falcon?..................................................18 Class of 2025.........................................................................................................20

Want to be featured in future issues? Send in your story ideas, travel photos and alumni updates to Molly Ostmann at mostmann@epiphanyglobalschool.org.

The Epiphany School of Global Studies, anchored in the Judeo-Christian commandment of Love God and Your Neighbor as Yourself, is a comprehensive college preparatory and globally-focused school that inspires students to devote themselves to our core values of respect, responsibility, service, and integrity.

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FROM DAVID'S DESK sets the strategic vision for our school's future. One of the important steps that our Board takes is an annual review of

! y n a h p i p E , o Hell

our

Epiphany

As the hot days of July ramble on to the start of the new school year, I am excited for this issue of The Path. This edition contains stories that focus on the

importance

of

mission.

"intention,"

our

ministry for the previous school year.

Hannah and Katie, recent graduates of Epiphany and two of our newest alumni, share wonderful stories of how their experience at Epiphany highlights the purposeful ways we strive to educate

They

offers

opportunities mission.

make

that

When

sure

that

programs

and

align

the

you

with

glance

at

the

opposite page, you will notice a new version of Epiphany's mission, one that the

Board

worked

diligently

to

accurately reflect what is important at Epiphany. I am grateful for their work to clarify what is most dear to us as a school.

Their

intention

with

this

process is a tremendous step of growth, and I am excited by this update.

students. Likewise, Madison Hearne's

As we begin the new school year in

journey since graduation reminds us of

August,

the

how

ministry for the 2025-2026 academic

mysterious life can be, often times

year will be "Joy." I hope you can join us

moving us to destinations we never

in

imagined. I am always eager to see what

Epiphany and its many achievements.

our graduates learn and achieve!

Perhaps it will be at a basketball game,

importance

of

family

and

a

it

the

is

only

coming

Talent

Show,

fitting

year

or

a

to

that

the

celebrate

Lower

School

The upcoming year marks Epiphany's

Gathering. Regardless of the moment,

twentieth year as a school. What an

please

accomplishment!

welcome at Epiphany. Here's to a year

We

are

excited

to

celebrate this amazing milestone with activities and events throughout the year. We have so much to be grateful

know

the

pleasure

of

working

with

Epiphany’s

Board

of

Trustees,

the

governing body of the school, which

you

are

always

full of joy and wonder. Enjoy The Path!

Peace,

for at Epiphany. As Head of School, I have

that

David Wang Head of School

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Family, Jewelry, and the Art of Intention

By Madison Hearne ‘16

W

hen I graduated from Epiphany in

2016 and jetted off to Rhode Island to start my freshman year of college, I had the typical “young-buck” attitude that I am NEVER moving back to New Bern…

Four

years

later,

I

graduated

from

college right about the same time covid made the world stop spinning. Despite my dreams and desires to move to New York City as a young 21-year-old with few responsibilities, COVID times had other plans for me. Against my wishes, I

packed my bags and headed back to my hometown of New Bern, North Carolina.

After a few weeks of realizing that COVID was not going to be a quick fix, I decided

to

move

back

in

with

my

parents and to work for their family business,

Hearne’s

Fine

Jewelry

-

something I also swore I would never do - but, I needed the money and assumed it would be a temporary job. Little did I know

the

significance

of

this

unintentional journey and the way it would shape my entire career and life.

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Nearly five years have passed since I started

working

Jewelry,

the

at

store

Hearne’s

my

Fine

grandparents

opened in downtown New Bern in 1972.

For the last five years, I have had the privilege of working every single day alongside both my dad and my grandma.

Not only have I had the chance to learn the ins and outs of our business from them directly, but I have witnessed first hand the amount of intention and love that they put into every single aspect of this business. From helping customers with a ten dollar watch battery or a 10,000 dollar diamond ring, they truly treat each and every customer who walks through our doors with the same attentiveness and care- despite who they are or what they are buying. Our intention with every customer is to make their day better because they chose to come see us. We always want the

customer

to

leave

happy

and

satisfied, to feel like they are now a part of our family. Customers that my grandparents sold wedding bands to in the 1970s are now bringing in their children

and

with

There

us.

grandchildren are

not

to

shop

only

three

generations of Hearnes working in the store, but also three generations of customers choosing to let us be a part of their family's jewelry for over 50 years. While our quality and product is definitely unmatched in the area, I solely believe that we have been around

for

so

many

years

because

of

our

commitment to customer service and our determination to build relationships with our customers.

Jewelry is a very unique and exciting industry to work in. Aside from the altogether sparkle and beauty jewelry brings, it also offers sentiment that many tangible things do not. On a daily basis, we get to work with customers who are buying a ring to mark the start of

their

forever

commitment

to

someone, we are selling a watch to someone who is celebrating their

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grandson’s graduation from law school,

career I never knew I wanted because

we are helping a woman who lost her

the way I grew up, I was taught to take

spouse repurpose her wedding set- the

care of people, to open the door for

list goes on and on. In a world of

those

disposable things and constant trends,

crutches,

jewelry is one of the few things that

kindness and respect and to always try

lasts

to put a smile on someone’s face. When

forever.

Jewelry

itself

is

intentional!

with to

a

walker, treat

stroller

everyone

or with

your career tasks align with your core values, it's a no-brainer you will thrive

Like any job, working in jewelry let

and excel in the workplace. From a New

alone any retail store is not always

Bern native who vowed to never move

glamorous. Despite our best efforts,

home, I now vow to never move away

sometimes we do not impact each and

again.

every one of our customers the way we

community of kind, loving people with

hope to. However, the key is to always

mom and pop family businesses just like

try. Try to make a customer happy, try

ours. I am so blessed to live in such a

to care the way my grandpa Mickey

special “honeyhole,” and I am even more

cared when he opened up our doors in

blessed to get to spend every single day

1972, try to always be intentional - no

pouring love and joy into our business

matter what. I have fallen in love with a

alongside my family.

New

Bern

is

magic;

it's

a

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Campus Scenes Traditions, fun, and intention continue on both of Epiphany’s campuses!

Cheerleading finished with a silver medal in the medium varsity cheer music nontumbling division

Feast of Epiphany kings

Fourth Grade Colonial Day with Camp Flintlock

The Fifth Grade Falcon News Team visits WCTI

NHS at Empty Bowls

Women’s Swimming: NCISAA 2A State Champions!

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Lower School Grandparents’ Day

Twin Rivers Young Authors Writing Contest

Science Olympiad JV placed 1st and Varsity placed 7th in the ECU Region.

Matthew and Sam qualified for States!

Trent Campus Spring musical, "Let it Be: A Celebration of the Music of The Beatles."

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The Class of 2025's Love in Action travels to a new location: Peru

PAGE 10

Get Pumped: The Heart and Hustle of Student Senate

By Hannah Van Dyke ‘25

S

tudent Senate at Epiphany is different

from any other student government.

these events for the past five years, and I fell in love with the process.

While Mr. Seeger is a great advisor, he intentionally leaves everything up to

At Epiphany, there are class Senators

the

do

per grade level, starting in the seventh

everything from the planning to the

grade. They are elected by their own

execution of events. Pep rallies, dances,

classmates.

Then,

Spirit Week, Steeplechase, Sixth Grade

executive

officers

Game Night, Countdown to Christmas,

President,

Treasurer,

powderpuff, and so much more. These

who are elected by the entire student

events are planned by students, not

body. Election time at the end of the

teachers, not parents, but students.

year is always stressful, but to be part

What an amazing opportunity for us to

of an elite group of Epiphany students,

learn how to plan, set up for, and run

you have to win the election. Then, at

these events! It was an honor to run

the beginning of the next school year,

students.

The

students

there

are

four

(President,

Vice-

and

Secretary)

PAGE 11 the new Senate meets for its first official

time.

The

task

of

each

Senate is to improve the culture and climate of Epiphany.

A good Senator is someone who is willing to put the time and effort into events. Be early and stay late.

Think out the details down to the smallest decoration. Build an Eiffel Tower

out

of

PVC

pipes

for

Homecoming. Get whipped cream and cheeseballs on your face in the rain for a Steeplechase video. Come early to school to prepare for a Morning

2012,

Challenge in Gathering. Adjust your

dances before had been in the dining

schedule to make a video for Senate.

Hall

Yes, we did a lot in Senate, and yes, we

everyone that the gym was not too big

worked hard, but we also had a good

for our 100-person dance, we spent

time and enjoyed a good payoff, which

countless hours planning the logistics

was

and setting up in the gym to make our

to

have

fun

alongside

our

classmates.

according or

Rear

to

Mr.

Foyer.

Seeger).

To

prove

All to

vision come to life. When the first group of girls walked into the gym,

During my Tenth Grade year, while I

wide-eyed and open-mouthed, and said

was Treasurer, we decided that we

this was the dance of their dreams, I

were going to host the Homecoming

considered

Dance in the gym for the first time (at

provide an experience that others

least since

everything

worth

it.

To

appreciate was my goal, even if the work went unacknowledged.

If I had to choose one thing at Epiphany that has prepared me the most for my future, then I would choose

Student

organization

taught

Senate.

This

me

to

how

collaborate with others in a group as both a learner and a leader,

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taught me how to plan, advertise, set

As

up, and take down events, and taught

doesn’t

me to think creatively and adjust to

happen.” It takes a team to get things

sudden changes. I appreciated my time

accomplished. To have a great team, it

on Senate because there were so many

takes

opportunities to serve my classmates,

energy, and passion. I have tried my

serve my school, and give back to those

best to serve those who have shaped

who have given me everything. My time

me. I am thankful for everyone who has

as a Senator increased my confidence

been on this journey with me. I will

and allowed me to reach and connect

forever be grateful for the impact you

with more people. As a younger Senator

have had on my life. Remember we can

in Middle School, I would observe and

accomplish anything with a good vision

learn

and

and hard work, but ultimately we really

older Senators. Back then, I worked

do need community, and that is what

hard as a Senator, but still had no

Epiphany and Senate have given me.

from

previous

Presidents

intention of running for an executive position when I got to Upper School. As I grew up at Epiphany, I took those chances, ran for executive positions, and won. Going from learning how to be a Senator in Middle School to leading the Senate as President my senior year has

been

a

very

experience for me.

transformative

Mr.

Seeger just

always

happen.

communication,

told

me:

“It

You

make

it

participation,

PAGE 14

Second Annual Alumni Reunion

December 18, 2024

PAGE 15

Señor Hearne’s Pancakes Ingredients

Instructions

For Pancake Mix 1 ¼ Cups Self Rising Flour 1 ¼ Cups of Milk 1 Egg Splash of Oil

For pancakes, mix all ingredients virorously with a whisk. Pour deisred amount onto a lightly greased skillet over low to medium heat. When the batter bubbles on the surface, flip with a spatula and cook through.

For Syrup ½ Cup of Sugar ½ Cup of Brown Sugar ½ Cup of Water

For syrup, bring ingredients to a boil until desired thickness.

Stack pancakes, pour on the syrup and eat with gusto. Have a glass of cold milk handy. Provecho!!!!

PAGE 16

Fueled by Intention: A Journey from Illness to Impact

By Katie Myers ‘25

I

n 2022, just after my 15th birthday, I

cancer, I found that having an illness so

was diagnosed with a rare form of

scary not only affects you physically

cancer,

life

and emotionally but also financially. Not

forever. Similar to Epiphany’s theme

only is there the financial burden of

this year, "intention," I felt that there

medical bills, but also the burden of

was a reason why God put me in this

travel

battle with cancer, and my intention

overlooked. Fortunately, my family had

was to find a way to help others in

good insurance, and I was able to obtain

similar situations. So, after my last

any treatment that was necessary to

major

help heal me. One thing that insurance

instantly

surgery,

Remission,

a

I

changing

founded

nonprofit

my

Roads

to

organization

didn’t

expenses

cover

that

was

are

often

travel-related

aimed at helping other children battling

expenses, which impacted my family, as

terminal illnesses.

we had to travel five hours round trip for each of my appointments at Duke

Throughout .

my

own

journey

with

Children’s Hospital. This need is what

PAGE 17

inspired

me

to

create

Roads

to

Remission.

feel when I receive news of successful treatment for the kids we’ve supported, is what helps me continue to fight my

With the goal of easing the financial

battle every day. Cancer has by far been

burden travel brings for families with

the most challenging season of my life.

children

illnesses,

Despite this obstacle, I know it has been

Roads to Remission provides gas cards

the time I’ve been able to help the most

so that they can get to and from their

people.

battling

serious

necessary appointments. A $100 gas card may seem small, but it ensures

Through the intention of giving back

that no parent has to choose between

and helping others battling cancer, I’ve

paying for travel costs or securing life-

found

saving care for their child.

Chapel Hill this fall, I intend to continue

my

passion.

Attending

UNC

my journey with Roads to Remission

Over the past two years, I’ve organized

while studying Business Administration

groups

with a minor in Business of Health.

of

fundraising

volunteers events

and

for

Roads

to

There, I will continue to learn and grow

$11,000

and

my nonprofit to help as many children

with

with cancer as possible.

Remission,

raising

over

supporting

over

50

cancer

Duke

Children's

at

hosted

children

Hospital,

UNC Health, and ECU Health. Seeing

If you’d like to learn more about Roads

parents’ expressions of relief when we

to Remission or make a donation to our

give gas cards, and the immense joy I

cause,

visit

our

website

https://www.roadstoremission.com

at

PAGE 18

Where in the World is Freddy Falcon?

1 4

3

2

5

1. Tucker ‘24 on a mission trip in Guatemala 2. Madeline ‘32, Emily ’30, Nathan ‘29, Luke ‘28, Liz ’31, John ’30, and Caroline ‘32 on the Family Italy Trip in Lido di Venezia and in the Adriatic Sea 3. Brody ‘34 and Abigail ‘29 on the USS North Carolina 4. Winn ‘32 and Kennedy ‘29 in Chicago 5. Weston ‘31 and Sloane ‘33 in Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

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6. Madeline ‘32, Emily ’30, Luke ‘28 at Disneyland Paris 7. Brooklyn ‘30, Keylee ‘36, Tierney ‘30 in the Bahamas 8. Wynn ‘32 at The Bean in Chicago 9. WIll ‘31, Kate ‘29, Brooklyn ‘30, Keylee ‘36 in Orlando 10. Epiphany Upper School Students in Chile 11.. Epiphany Families in Italy

6

9

8

7 10

11

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14

12

13

15

16 12. WIll ‘31 and Kate ‘29 in Costa Rica 13 and 14. Isadora ‘34 in Colombia 15. Madeline ‘32, Emily ’30, Luke ‘28 in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 16. Members of the Class of 2025 at Machu Picchu, Peru 17. Will '29 at Aguateca, a Mayan City in Guatemala’s Petexbatun Basin

17 17

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Class o

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f 2025

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Class Speaker

Senior Awards: Service, Global Citizen, Arete

Valedictory Address

Board of Trustees Dan Murphy - Chair Cathy Sparks Isa Gratacos Ken Gray McKenzie Hall Kate Horney John Hawkins Joe Osenni Reid Parker Beth Walker

On the Cover: Three Generations of the Hearne Family at Hearne’s Fine Jewelry

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

Editor:s Molly Ostmann

Contributors: Madison Hearne ‘16 Hannah Van Dyke ‘25 Katie Myers ‘25