EHS Magazine - Spring 2015

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SPRING 2015

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1200 North Quaker Lane Alexandria, VA 22302 703-933-3000 1-877-EHS-1839 www.episcopalhighschool.org

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THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

Image Credit: Peyton Schwartz ’15

Do Smartphones Connect Us... ...or Cut Us Off?

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SPRING 2015

PROFILE

VOLUME 67

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NO.1

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SPRING 2015

All In TV and film actor Edward Kerr ’85 rolls the dice on social video app ROLR.

H E H A D N E V E R TA K E N A N AC T I N G C L A S S, N E V E R S TA R R E D I N A S C H O O L P L AY – N E V E R E V E N AUD I T I O NE D FO R O NE . BU T IN 19 9 0, T HE Y E A R HE G R A D UAT E D F R O M VA ND E R B ILT W I T H A D E G R E E I N H I S T O R Y, E D W A R D K E R R ’ 8 5 L O A D E D U P H I S C A R A N D D R O V E W E S T T O H O L LY W O O D. “ I A L W AY S K N E W I T W A S S O M E T H I N G I W A N T E D T O T R Y,” S AY S K E R R . H E H A D $ 3 2 5 A N D J U S T T H E R I G H T M I X O F TA L E N T, D E T E R M I N AT I O N , A N D N A Ï V E T É T O T H I N K H E MIGHT MAK E IT AS AN AC TOR. AND HE DID.

After two years of taking acting classes and waiting tables, Kerr landed a talent deal with NBC. Over the next 20 years he starred in dozens of TV commercials and series, with lead roles in 10 network television pilots, and a handful of films – but, by his own account, he never had a hit. Now, more than two decades after arriving in L.A., Kerr is ready for his blockbuster. It won’t be coming to a theater near you, and you’ve never heard of it, but you could play a part. Kerr’s new social video app, ROLR, which launched earlier this year and is available for download in the iOS app store, just might scratch an itch you never knew you had.

Here’s how it works: Choose from a selection of popular movie scenes, and then use your smartphone camera to record a video of yourself reading one of the roles from that scene. You’re roleplaying opposite a pre-recorded performance of someone else, so no one is actually watching you as you record – but it feels much like a live conversation. Once you’re satisfied with your performance (you can re-record as many times as you like), you have a little video of yourself that friends and others can view and interact with.

Afraid? Hold on a minute. Consider the widespread appeal of a not-so-ancient Japanese art form: Karaoke.

“For those who want to try their hand at singing, there’s karaoke,” says Kerr. “But not many people get a chance to act. And

that’s what we set out to create: the world’s first acting machine.”

Karaoke comes from the Japanese words for “empty” and “orchestra.” ROLR is more like an empty stage – or maybe an empty audience. And yet the experience isn’t empty or lonely. It’s social and surprisingly intimate – a way of connecting with a friend or stranger through scripted dialogue in a manner that is controlled, yes, but in another sense vulnerable. You don’t get to choose one perfect selfie to represent your physical self. Your voice, your expressions – certain aspects of your true identity – are on display. And that’s what makes it so exciting. “There’s something about a scripted interaction that can be potentially deeper than an authentic small talk conversation,” says Kerr.

Kerr’s fondest memories of Episcopal involve late-night conversations on dorm.

“We didn’t have television, so we just talked.” Kerr thinks ROLR might help millennials overcome conversational stage fright. “The idea of ROLR being used as a conversational ice-breaker is kind of cool.”

ROLR’s creation story begins with a film that was never made. Feeling stuck as an actor, Kerr wanted to try on a new role. “I always had to fight for every job I got, so I started to get frustrated later in my career.” He teamed up with a college friend who had always wanted to make a movie: Kerr wrote the script, and his friend agreed to put up the funding – nearly $2 million at the time. “About one out of 40

independent films will make a profit. It’s a very risky proposition. So we thought, if we’re likely to lose all this money, let’s at least try to do something innovative.”

What if they crowd-sourced the casting, they wondered. What if they could make this the American Idol of independent films? “We could never figure out how to make the contest phase compelling because if you watched two or three auditions, you’d get bored. So we thought, what if people could act together via webcam?

Or even phone-to-phone?”

They built a prototype of the recording interface, and suddenly a star was born.

Forget the movie. Forget the contest. The ROLR experience was just the sort of innovation they had hoped to stumble upon.

With no background in business or technology, Kerr took a break from acting (though he still recurs as a character on the popular TV show Pretty Little Liars) and bet everything on building the ROLR iOS app. After a few years developing and patenting the technology, licensing content from major studios, and raising additional funding, ROLR now has a team of 15 (and growing) with offices in Venice, San Francisco, and Belarus. Their office in Venice is right around the corner from Snapchat. “Who knows?” says Kerr.

“Maybe some of their success will rub off on us.”

And maybe some of us will discover a new side of ourselves…without having to pack up the car and drive to California.

LOOK INWARD, OUTWARD, FORWARD

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B Y J O H A N N A D RO U B A Y

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

Contents FEATURES

T HE STRENGTH TO ASK FOR HELP 22 INWARD A Chapel Talk by Sara Wilder Bryant ’16.

CONNECT 26 OUTWARD A new initiative harnesses the power of the EHS network.

A LL IN 104 FORWARD Actor Edward Kerr ’85 rolls the dice on social video app ROLR.

WE GETTING CARRIED AWAY? 34 ARE How smartphones are exploding the boarding school bubble.

THE ARCHIVES 42 FROM The history of keeping in touch.

DEPARTMENTS

2 FROM THE HEADMASTER 4 STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS 5 EHS SOCIAL 6 EPISCOPAL UP CLOSE 20 VOICES NOTES 44 CLASS After Episcopal: Angus McBryde ’55,

Humphrey Tyler ’65, Andrew ’01 and Adie ’07 von Gontard, Hillary Harper Molitor ’05, Danielle Molina ’10, and Elle Wilson ’13

94 IN MEMORIAM

Episcopal High School does not discriminate in its admissions, or in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, or in access to or treatment in any other School-administered program on the basis of religion, race, color, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or any other protected category in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws.

Priscilla Barton-Metcalfe ’16

97 MEMORIAL AND HONOR GIFTS Headmaster: Rob Hershey Director of Institutional Advancement: Christina Holt Director of Communications: Jen Desautels Editor: Johanna Droubay Contributing Editors: Katie DaRin, Jen Desautels, Ella Yates Class Notes Editor: Margaret von Werssowetz ’06 Student Contributors: Priscilla BartonMetcalfe ’16, Sara Wilder Bryant ’16, Natasha Ferguson ’16, Sarah Jane Freeman ’15, Allegra Geanuracos ’15, Leah Joo ’16, Morgan Lineberry ’15, Catherine Maybank ’16, Maddie Morris ’16, Sarah Thomas ’16, John Wickham ’16, and Jared Young ’17

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Photographers: Katie DaRin, Stuart Hill, Brooks Kraft, Meg O’Connor, Audra Wrisley, Ella Yates Archivist: Laura Vetter Designer: Linda Loughran Printer: Mount Royal Printing & Communications Published by Episcopal High School for alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends of Episcopal High School. ©2015 Episcopal High School Please send address corrections to: Advancement Office Episcopal High School 1200 North Quaker Lane Alexandria, VA 22302 Or by email to dwr@episcopalhighschool.org THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

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From the Headmaster

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onnections are the sunlight and years! The focus of our time together was on career oxygen that empower all of us at EHS and also the networking and alumni and parent involvement theme of this issue of the magazine. It is the conwith the Washington Program, which we hope will nection to our 176-year history and the founding model for our students how to connect with the purpose, values, and traditions that have etched external EHS community prior to graduation. The the strong and unique identity of our School. One energy level in the room at this gathering – the need look no further than the School’s mission first of its kind – was remarkable, confirming the statement to see the importance of connections: strong desire of alumni and parents to connect “Founded on a tradition of honor… the School with each other and with our students, all in the fosters empathy and responsibility for self and othname of Episcopal High School. ers through a commitment to spiritual inquiry…

When I first arrived at Episcopal 17 years ago, sharing diverse life experiences, ideas, and values I had heard a great deal about the mystique of the to become discerning individuals Episcopal community, although with the intellectual and moral I certainly did not fully compreEHS is, courage to lead principled lives of hend it. Like an anthropologist, I leadership and service to others.” observed and closely studied the and always has been, Simply put, an understanding of community that I was entering. about the people.

The High School begins with our What I now see so clearly is that connection to others; EHS is, and an Episcopal diploma is not an always has been, about the people. “elitist badge.” It is a shared sense of values and The charge to this year’s EHS Advisory aspirations nurtured in the experience of this Council was to engage this topic from the perremarkable community that connects all of us in spective of alumni and parent programming. How undeniable ways. We have all shared this journey, do alumni want to interact with the School in and the resulting connections transcend mere 2015? How might we connect young alumni with dates of attendance; rather, they are shared across older, life- and career-experienced alumni? How generations and throughout our lives. can we add value to the experience of our current Thanks for all that you continue to do to susstudents and enhance the competencies of each tain the spirit of Episcopal High School!

EHS graduate as they pass beyond the gates?

The Advisory Council came up with ambitious Sincerely, and forward-looking recommendations, which we are launching this year. I recently attended a CONNECT event with more than 150 parents F. Robertson Hershey and alumni from 32 different classes spanning 55

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Student Contributors This issue of the magazine features the work of many student writers and artists, pictured below. These students and many others are members of the School’s Media Team, formed in December 2014 and led by the EHS Communications Office. Members of the team also write news stories for the website, produce videos, create social media posts, take athletic photos, and otherwise report and document life on the Hill.

PRI SC I L L A BARTO N - ME TCALFE ’ 16

M O R G AN L I N EB ER R Y ’ 1 5

Aspirations:

Aspirations:

Intelligence analyst for a government agency. EHS Highlight: Beating Woodberry!

Recommended Reading: “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini.

Undecided. EHS Highlight: Beating Woodberry. Esoteric Interest: Big wave surfing and every issue of Surfing Magazine (although she has never surfed). Recommended Reading: “Blindness” by José Saramago.

SARA W I L DE R B RYAN T ’ 16

Work with children. EHS Highlight: Dominican Republic service learning trip. Esoteric Interest: People Magazine. Recommended Reading: “Kisses from Katie” by Katie Davis.

Aspirations:

NAT ASH A F E RGUSO N ’ 16

Industrial or architectural engineer, maybe. EHS Highlight: The last 10 minutes of The Game against Woodberry this year. Esoteric Interest: Art and painting from the perspective of the painter.

Recommended Reading: “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

M AD D I E M O R R I S ’ 1 6 Aspirations:

Happiness and doing something she loves. EHS Highlight: Winning The Game. Esoteric Interest: Road trips, such as the annual two-week road trips her family takes to different parts of the country. Recommended Reading: “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer.

Aspirations:

SAR A H T H O M A S ’ 1 6 Aspirations: Undecided. EHS Highlight: Helping the Special Olympics basketball team on Saturday mornings. Esoteric Interest: Fly fishing. Recommended Reading: “Going After Cacciato” by Tim O’Brien and “Possession” by A.S. Byatt.

SARAH JANE FRE E MAN ’ 15 Aspirations:

Anything that involves creating. EHS Weekends in Georgetown and dinners out with friends. Esoteric Interest: Whitewater kayaking and canoeing. Recommended Reading: “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr.

Highlight:

AL L EG R A GE AN URACOS ’ 15

Classicist, chemical engineer, or singer.

First time singing in chapel. Esoteric Interest: Latin and Greek incunabula. Recommended Reading: “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern.

JO H N WI C K H A M ’ 1 6 Aspirations:

Sports management and marketing or investment banking. EHS Highlight: Getting to know my teachers as people and developing a special bond with them. Esoteric Interest: Fly fishing.

Recommended Reading: “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card.

Aspirations:

EHS Highlight:

L EAH JOO ’ 16 Aspirations: Patent lawyer. EHS Highlight: Washington Program trip to Best Fortune Dimsum. Esoteric Interest: Time travel theory. Recommended Reading: “Freakonomics” by Dubner and Levitt.

JA R ED Y O U N G ’ 1 7 Aspirations:

Doctor or CEO of marketing at a major sports brand company. EHS Highlight: Being captain of the junior basketball team freshman year and winning for the first time in two years (or this year’s Game against Woodberry). Esoteric Interest: Golf.

Recommended Reading: “Summer Ball” by Mike Lupica.

On the Cover: Photography teacher David Douglas directed photography students CJ Myatt ’15 and Natalie Wall ’15 (pictured) and Peyton Schwartz ’15, Morgan Lineberry ’15, and Ann Mason ’15 (behind the scenes) in the creation of our cover shot. The students worked with the concept of multiple layers in Photoshop to interpret themes from this issue: connections and digital technology.

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EHS Social

2015 ON THE HILL

#WinterCarnival The EHS community battled the winter blues by having fun in the sun at Winter Carnival. Fully embracing the summer theme while taking part in the student vs. faculty basketball game, the students tied up the game at the buzzer! Final score: 46-45, faculty victory in overtime. Photo

credit to: Elizabeth Collett ’15, Cameron Nix ’16, Rick Stubbs.

@EpiscopalSkize

#EHS1415

Priscilla Barton-Metcalfe ’16 keeps her eyes on the skies with her Instagram account dedicated to capturing beautiful sunsets over The Holy Hill.

Clockwise from top left: Sofi Navarro-Bowman ’17 hits the ice in Georgetown with EHS friends; Ella Bickley ’15 has fun during a snowfall; Leo Weng ’15 takes a selfie with Cameron Beauchamp from Roomful of Teeth; and Nathaniel Lambert ’16 documents a trip to Princeton for a rare book collection tour.

#TopChef

Three teams of students cooked up an appetizer, entrée, and dessert in the annual Battle of the Chefs competition.

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NEW COURSE

The History and Politics of Food COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Social studies teacher and Department Chair Heidi Huntley’s new elective explores how various foodstuffs have changed the course of world history, whether through the spice trade, British demand for tea, sugar plantations, or the Opium Wars. The course also presents how our modern food supply is kept safe and regulated through government agencies and public policy.

TEXT BOOKS:

“Food in World History” by Jeffrey M. Pilcher, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”

by Michael Pollan.

TAKEAWAY:

Sarah Jane Freeman ’15, who took the class this fall, interpreted the history of food in this frenetic, attention-grabbing collage.

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PREHISTORY

The Smiling Meuse River Monster B Y N A T ASH A F ER G U S O N ’ 1 6

As you approach it, walking down the first-floor hall of Baker Science Center, it appears to be smiling at you. It’s not a happy smile, but a villainous one – a sneer of power and dominance. But what would you expect from one of the most ferocious marine predators of the Cretaceous Period?

Almost 65 million years ago, the mosasaur was one of the largest marine lizards to roam the Cretaceous seas, ranging in length from about 3 to 60 feet. Episcopal’s robust fossil collection includes the above-mentioned mosasaur mouth, and this spring, a more complete mosasaur skull, given to the School by Wayne Holman ’53, will be added to the display.

Often called the Tyrannosaurus Rex of the sea, mosasaurs were actually “much bigger than T. Rex,” writes University of Alberta biologist Michael Caldwell. “They really were sea monsters.”

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marine snake-and-Komodo-dragon hybrid – with serpentine agility and lizard-like looks. The mosasaur needed oxygen from the surface to breathe, like today’s dolphins, and its diamond scale covering resembled that of crocodiles. Perhaps its most fascinating attribute, a double-hinged jaw, allowed the mosasaur to swallow its prey whole without having to chew. Pawless and clawless, mosasaurs, writes paleontologist E. D. Cope, used their four rows of sharp teeth on the roofs of their mouths as “weapons for seizing their prey” rather than tools of mastication. Powerful swimming skills and the ability to quickly ingest other animals allowed the mosasaur to exert its supremacy.

Like all powerful large lizards of their time, the mosasaur went extinct when the famous meteor hit the Earth and brought an end to the Cretaceous period. Since during this era the Earth was mostly covered by water, remains of mosasaurs have been found all over the world, from Russia to New Zealand, and from France to the United States. The first mosasaur fossil was found in 1764 near the Meuse River in the Netherlands, and so the name “mosasaur” comes from the words Mosa, Latin for “Meuse River,” and sauros, Greek for lizard. Mosasaurs are therefore often referred to as Meuse River monsters, which seems to put them in a category with mythical water creatures from places like Loch Ness.

But the mosasaur was once a terrifying reality. Episcopal’s mosasaur bones give students a physical representation of our biological past. Those who take the time to notice will be reminded that everything imaginary, fabled, and fantastic descends from something magnificently real.

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BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

What’s Next for Stewart Gym? In January, the EHS Board of Trustees met with Voith and Mactavish Architects to discuss the next steps for transforming Stewart Gym into a state-of-the-art student center. Renderings depict open and brightly lit spaces, many areas for group and individual work, a gaming center, a grill, and a designated space for coffeehouse performances. All of these interior enhancements will be made while preserving the integrity and legacy of the building’s façade. With the Board’s approval of the plans for Stewart Gym, the project moves into the next phase. Construction is targeted to commence in January 2016 with a completion date of late summer

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that same year, ensuring that the student center is ready to occupy at the start of the 2016-17 school year. The generous gift of Louis Bacon ’74 this fall has generated tremendous energy and enthusiasm for this project. The idea of reusing a beloved space on campus in a new and innovative way is inspiring and aligns with the School’s mission of adhering to sustainable practices. If you are interested in supporting this project, please contact Christina Holt, director of institutional advancement, at cmh@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4028.

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THEATER

Footloose, Frenzy-Filled, and Meaningful B Y L EAH JOO ’16

In a frenzy of energetic dance, EHS Mainstage produced “Footloose” in Pendleton this February, warming the winter cold with its lively vigor. Characterized by an eclectic collection of musical styles and dance moves, including a breathtaking display of cheerleader stunts, “Footloose” tells the story of a boy named Ren who moves from a big city to a small town. Led by the Rev. Shaw Moore, the town adheres to all sorts of strict rules, including a law that bans dancing.

Director of Theater Meg O’Connor explained that “Footloose” was a meaningful show for the EHS Mainstage team because “it has a lot of issues that teenagers can relate to – fitting in, finding friends, falling in love, struggling with parents, and trying to make positive changes.” The message of “Footloose” is straightforward: teenagers have a voice and are capable of making a difference. For EHS students, the show was a positive reminder of the importance of community activism to forward society in a positive direction.

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ART HISTORY

The Big, Colorful, Splashy Collection of Betsy and Jim Lewis ’64 An assemblage of bright, seductive posters from the early Belle Epoque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Post-Modern eras charmed patrons of the School’s Angie Newman Johnson Gallery Feb. 8 through March 15. Jim Lewis ’64 describes his and wife Betsy’s joyful collection of vintage posters as “modest” – a passion that started as a home renovation project. (They designed their kitchen and living room to complement a particularly vibrant Leonetto Cappiello poster.) Posters like the ones in this collection were once plastered along turn-of-the-20thcentury European streets, advertising dance halls, train travel to the Mediterranean, tandem bicycles, Cognac, fashion, and ocean-going luxury ships. Some specimens remained intact because they were at one time regarded as trash, rolled up and used as building insulation. Today they are sought out by collectors.

P RI SCI L L A BART ON- ME TCALFE ’ 16 IN TE RVIE WE D J IM T H E DAY AFT ER THE SHOW’ S O PE N IN G.

Q Who or what has influenced your taste in art? Did you study art at Episcopal?

I was at Episcopal, there were absolutely no offerings in the visual arts. So what Episcopal has done, in terms of arts facilA When ities and offerings, is truly amazing. I think it’s invaluable to the education of young students today and will bring them lasting pleasure.

In terms of influences, when I was in college, a friend of my grandfather left me $1,000 for my education, and I talked my father into allowing me to use about $800 to go on a six-week vagabond trip around Europe with John Keith ’64 and Bob May ’64.

My father agreed to let me use the money on the condition that I take a full year of art history beforehand, which I did. That made the trip truly educational for me, and when I came back, I began to take every art history course that I could find.

Q How would you describe what you look for in the art that you collect? to being drawn to big, colorful, and splashy. Betsy has a more deliberative, sophisticated approach to collecting. We are A Inotadmit artists ourselves, but we do enjoy being close to the creative genius and energy that artists have, and I suppose that, in part, is what attracted us to the works of these artists and these posters in particular.

Q Your posters are certainly striking as works of art. What makes them also effective advertisements?

Cappiello, a great Italian master of poster advertising, said that color appeals to the viewer’s sensuality and catches his A Leonetto attention, but it is the curves and suggestion of motion that really appeal to his intellect and lock in that attention. So from the standpoint of advertising and marketing, the best posters have color, curves, and motion. They sell.

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hat do you love about art collection and art Q Whistory?

guess collectors, in some sense, are would-be or frusA Itrated artists. What is fascinating to me is to see the evolution of artistic expression, from ancient hieroglyphics all the way forward to very abstract art today.

For Betsy and me, art and architecture have made us much more observant and attentive to design, and they’ve significantly driven what we have done in the way of travel. But mainly they add color and zest to our everyday lives.

Q What is your hope for this exhibit? have a student who has never expressed any interest A To in art in any way say, “I really dig that.” Secondly, I hope that students and faculty can use the posters to complement their courses and to help transport them to another era or language or style of design.

And finally, I like that Episcopal is reaching out to the community. There were people at the opening who had not been to Episcopal in a very long time, some of them never, and were blown away by Episcopal’s campus and the art facilities in particular. do you have for current students Q Wwhohatareadvice passionate about art but might not want to pursue art as a profession?

whatever excites you. It’s really important to A Follow develop interests outside of your profession because they take you and your mind into areas that you would not otherwise go. They expand and enrich your life experience. And art doesn’t have to be limited to just canvases on a wall. For me, the quintessential piece of American art is a building – Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Fallingwater.” People can find art in many different forms. Surgeons will say that opening up an individual and seeing how amazingly put together the human body is – that’s a form of artistry, actually a divine one.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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ART

Student Artists Are Renaissance Men (and Women) PH OT OS AND WORD S B Y MO RGAN LINE B E RRY ’ 15

The Student Art Show opened Jan. 19 in the Angie Newman Johnson Gallery. After seated dinner, students and faculty were treated to cookies, hot chocolate, and fresh strawberries and clementines while they perused student works in painting, ceramics, drawing, and photography. This annual exhibit serves as a last hurrah for seniors and demonstrates the dynamic nature of the EHS community, in which artists are also scholars, singers, actors, and athletes.

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MUSIC

Jay Walker Symposium Celebrates the Break B Y JAR ED YOU NG ’17

Roomful of Teeth had performed earlier that day.

During their two-day visit, Roomful of Teeth visited choir and strings orchestra classes, gave individual singing lessons, and performed with the EHS choir in front of the entire school community on Jan. 28.

Roomful of Teeth taught students how to use their unusual techniques to enhance everyday songs, and most importantly, they helped us break out of our comfort zones.

I personally was very inspired because they showed me that it’s okay for your voice to crack.

Someday, you may be able to hear me in chapel.

Grammy-winning a cappella group Roomful of Teeth visited EHS in January.

As a teenage boy, I often worry about my voice cracking.

Consequently, I have made the conscious decision to abstain from joining the choir and have consistently found myself hesitating to project my singing voice in chapel. Moreover, I firmly believe I’m not alone in my timidity.

But in January, something changed – and I’m not talking about my voice.

I’m talking about the Grammy Award-winning singing group Roomful of Teeth, who rocked the campus with their voice-cracking, yodeling, and expressive sounds, possibly changing the minds of many chorally hesitant young men and women across Episcopal. This startling a cappella group, brought to campus for the School’s annual Jay Walker Symposium, jumped conspicuously from one vocal register to the next, emphasizing and celebrating the break rather than smoothing it over, as is often done in traditional classical singing.

The group’s display was so surprising, awe-inspiring, and amazing that it seemed to absolutely shock the entire Episcopal population. After the group’s first performance, the sounds of students trying out bizarre new vocal techniques could be heard ricocheting around campus. During activities period, I heard people reenacting the Inuit call and response game that

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“ I personally was very inspired

because they showed me that it’s okay for your voice to crack.”

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WASHINGTON PROGRAM

1 Semester, 51 Experiences

MARYLAN D

Fall 2015 Washington Program Offerings Smathers and Branson Red Dirt Studio

1776: Entrepreneurial Incubator n 9th

Washington National Cathedral

Grade Learn the City n 9th Grade Night Monument

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Tour n American Art

Common Good City Farm

Museum: Richard Estes’ Realism n Busboys and Poets

Pew Research Center

Halcyon Incubator

Decatur House

Capitol Hill: House International

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Relations Committee n Carlyle House

Kennedy Center

Chinquapin Recreation Center: SCUBA course

State Department

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Common Good City Farm n Decatur House

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Downtown Geology Scavenger Hunt: Freedom Plaza

Holocaust Museum

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Ford’s Theater n German Goods Store n Great Wall

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National Museum of American History Ford’s Theatre National Museum of Natural History National Gallery of Art Botanical Garden National Air and Space Museum Hirshhorn Museum Sackler-Freer Museum

Asian Market n Green Spring Gardens n Halcyon Incubator

Navy Yard

Hirshhorn Museum: Days of Endless Time n Huntley Meadows

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Jones Point Lighthouse n Kennedy Center: Florencia in the

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Amazon n Mount Vernon Estate n National Air and Space Museum: “Hidden Universe” n National Cathedral n National Gallery of Art (NGA): Captain Linnaeus Tripe n NGA: David’s Napoleon n NGA: Degas-Cassatt n NGA: Dutch

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Painting, 17th and 18th Centuries n NGA: El Greco n NGA: Modern American Poetry n NGA: Peruvian Gold – Ancient Treasures Unearthed n NGA: Wyeth n National Museum of American History: Food – Transforming the American Table 19502000 n National Museum of Natural History (NMNH): Gems and Minerals n NMNH: Human Origins n NMNH: Oceans n NMNH: Wilderness Forever n Navy Yard: U.S. Navy Museum n Octagon House n Pew Research Center n Prince William Forest Park: Pyrite Mine n Public Opinion Strategies n Red Dirt Studio n Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company n Sackler-Freer Museum

Torpedo Factory

Smathers and Branson n Torpedo Factory n U.S. Botanic

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Garden n U.S. Green Building Council Headquarters

Jones Point Lighthouse

U.S. Holocaust Museum n U.S. State Department

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Wounded Warrior Project Headquarters

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ATHLETICS

WINTER WINS DAMI AN WALSH

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1 Nicholas Reed ’16 The boys’ varsity basketball team took its first IAC Championship title since 2011. The Maroon pulled off back-to-back upset victories over regular-season champions St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes and Bullis en route to the tournament championship. Both victories were claimed by a two-point margin, ultimately requiring a buzzerbeater to take back the IAC title from three-time defending champions Bullis on their home court. The junior varsity team enjoyed similar success with a 12-7 overall record.

2 Bea Huffines ’16 The girls’ varsity basketball team enjoyed a successful run, finishing the regular season 14-9 and falling in a close battle to conference foe Flint Hill School in the ISL A tournament semifinals. The girls’ team ranked No. 9 in the state headed into the state tournament. The girls’ junior varsity team posted a final record of 9-6, continuing last year’s trend of finishing with a winning record.

3 Anna Smith ’18 4 Gray Goodwyn ’18 The girls’ and boys’ indoor track and field teams broke new ground, setting both new school and personal records. Senior speedster Brian Chase put Episcopal track and field on the map with a No. 1 national ranking in the 55-meters for the first half of the season and defended his state title.

Greg Morgan ’15 and the boys’ 4 x 200-Meter and 4 x 400-Meter relay teams had all-state performances to end the season, with both relays’ running times qualifying them for the National High School Championships in March.

5 Sarah Doss ’16 Both varsity squash teams had stellar seasons. The boys’ team finished the season 12-4, which included a team championship trophy from the MidAtlantic Squash Tournament hosted on the Goodman Squash Courts.

The girls’ team ended the season with two tournament trophies, taking home runner-up plaques at both the

Mid-Atlantic Squash Tournament and the Episcopal Invitational. Both teams retained their respective rivalry cups, with the girls overcoming Madeira for the Hayden-Faunce trophy and the boys’ squad retaining the coveted Amos-Willett trophy with two decisive wins over Woodberry Forest. With a combined record of 20-8, the boys’ and girls’ junior varsity programs continue to bring new talent into the game.

6 Wrestling The highlight of the boys’ wrestling season was an epic win over Woodberry Forest in the Cage. The dual meet came down to the final match of the afternoon, and EHS hung on for a 46-43 victory in front of a standing-room-only crowd. At the IAC Tournament, the Maroon had three student-athletes finish second, and Calvin Lawson ’15 repeated as conference champion.

College Commitments On Feb. 4, 13 seniors participated in the National Signing Day commitment ceremony, pledging their intent to play intercollegiate athletics next year. Two of these seniors signed the NCAA letter of intent for Division I: Graydon Campbell (William & Mary, football) and Campbell Jackson (Wofford College, football). Jack Bates (Harvard University, football), Matt Renaud (University of Toronto, football), and John Dixon (Virginia Tech University, football) also pledged their commitment to compete at the intercollegiate level.

The following seniors committed to participate at the Divison III level: Quinn Ainslie (Hampden-Sydney, lacrosse), DH Autrey (Rhodes College, football), Brooks Davy (Denison, lacrosse), Ivy Houde (Middlebury College, soccer), Mariela Mendoza (Bowdoin, squash), Merry Sackett (Sewanee: The University of the South, lacrosse), Eric Smith (Williams College, football), and Teddy Wilhelm (Dickinson College, baseball).

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LITERATURE

What We’re Reading 1 “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith 2 “For Love of Country” by Howard Shultz and Rajiv Chandrasekaran 3 “I’ll Give You the Sun” by Jandy Nelson 4 “Origin of Political Order” by Francis Fukuyama 5 “Kasher in the Rye” by Moshe Kasher 6 “Snow Falling on Cedars” by David Guterson 7 “The Good Lord Bird” by James McBride

8 “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

9 “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer 10 The World of Chinese 11 “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart 12 EHS Book Drive 13 “All the Light We Cannot See”

by Anthony Doerr

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THE WORLD IS CLOSER HERE When a high school is minutes from the nation’s capital, so much is possible.

The Roll Call makes it possible.

w

hen a high school is 100 percent boarding, close-knit, and grounded in service and spirituality, self-reflection is a daily occurrence. When a high school is all of these things, that high school is The High School.

At EHS, transformative learning experiences and meaningful relationships are possible because of your generous support of the Roll Call.

To make a gift to the Roll Call, visit www.EHSRollCall.org.

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Voices The Tragedy Term Paper of 1978 B Y T I M ROG ER S ’79, E N GLISH TE ACHE R

George Dunlop suffered no fools. I knew that – the whole class knew that. He could wither a senior in his Shakespeare sections with his sarcasm as easily as a freshman could be talked out of his “boss” (any good dessert at seated dinners) by a clever upperclassman back in the fall of 1978, and no one wanted to be that boy whose opening paragraph Mr. Dunlop decided to read aloud if that work was not his very best.

Mr. Dunlop was a wonderful English teacher, certainly one of my great professional inspirations, and he expected that very best each time out. So what I should have done with my senior year Tragedy

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Term Paper (we always referred to it in capital letters) was to have brainstormed, outlined, drafted, and re-drafted – exactly what I tell my own students to do now with their papers – and handed in something that I’d spent hours on.

But I didn’t. The Sunday afternoon before my 10-page TTP was due, I borrowed a typewriter from one of those students I knew had already finished his paper, commandeered a room with a large central table in the old West Wing, laid all my library books and note cards out (maybe 40, as I had done a good amount of reading and research), and planned to work all night to finish – sign-in with Mr. Burwell on Dalrymple be damned. I wasn’t alone: seniors were in most of the other rooms in the hall doing the same thing I was.

I knew this paper was important: Mr. Dunlop had reminded us all semester that one goal of the Episcopal English department was to have its boys “fluent in and knowledgeable about” the Bard by the time we graduated. Why? Because, according to Dunlop and David Dougherty ’64 and Al Phillips among others, no one taught human beings more about life in his works than William Shakespeare. We’d “hear lines from ‘Macbeth’” throughout our careers;

compare ourselves to Hamlet when it came time to make important decisions as young adults; even think about how long to hold a grudge like Iago, or weigh “the quality of mercy” like Shylock must in “The Merchant of Venice.” The man’s lines should matter to 17- and 18-yearolds like us, felt Dunlop, and he was responsible for at least exposing us to Shakespeare, and then pushing us to do some thinking about the great plays.

And the Tragedy Term Paper in 1978, like the seniors’ Shakespeare Exam today, is meant to be that culmination of an Episcopal student’s Shakespeare education, of course. We would write long and well into the night (some of us), then sit for 70 minutes and respond to quotations and an essay prompt. The goal then was the same as it is today: to say something intelligent about the words of the literary figure who has and who will continue to influence us in some way for the rest of our intellectual lives.

I finished my paper (back on Dal, where Mr. Burwell let me stay up) and turned it in to Mr. Dunlop the next day.

I was proud enough of the final result to keep a copy. Somewhere in the night I’d found carbon paper – but that of course is one tradition today’s seniors need not concern themselves with.

The Shakespeare Exam of 2015 B Y AL L EG R A G EA N U R A C O S ’ 1 5

Calling All Shakespeare Enthusiasts (or those with a particular fondness for quatrains, couplets, and a good love poem)!

Join Whit Morgan, lifelong Shakespeare aficionado and English teacher at EHS since 1987, for an interactive lesson on one of the Bard’s classics on June 6 over Reunion Weekend.

Not celebrating your Reunion in June? More opportunities for intellectual and social engagement with your beloved EHS faculty are to come.

Contact Kirkland Hagerty, alumni programs officer, at khm@episcopalhighschool.org for more information.

“Et tu, Brute?” gasped my English teacher as a swarm of seventh-graders draped in homemade togas made silent stabbing gestures. This had been my only recollection of studying “Julius Caesar,” and, for three years, I thought it would be my last. When I later began my career at Episcopal High School as a new sophomore, I thought I would never read “Julius Caesar” again, and yet there I was on a Wednesday morning, sitting the infamous Shakespeare Exam, and trying to distinguish Brutus’ words from those of Anthony.

For two years, all I ever heard were unsettled grumbles and the rolling of eyes at the slightest mention of this particular test. As the day of the February 2015 exam approached, more and more seniors could be seen in the library or wandering the halls on dorm trying to find spare copies of “Othello” – the more marked-up, the better. Memorization was key, and many turned to shorthand online study guides or sent last-minute emails to the entire senior class asking for help. Clusters of seniors

could be seen huddled in common rooms and nestled in quiet corners of campus for group discussions of each play. The nervous energy was almost palpable as I walked down second floor Dal the night before the test.

Of all the many possible impacts for the Shakespeare Exam to have, I doubt many of my classmates have considered the one that made the strongest impression on me.

The Shakespeare Exam, however briefly, united the senior class in the daily struggle to push our limits and achieve our full potential. For a few short days, everyone collaborated; we were not competitive, as we were all equally underprepared, and we understood that one exam was not the be-all, end-all of our Episcopal careers.

We gained perspective. All the long hours studying and late-night cramming seemed excessive after sitting the exam. The fact that most found it easier than expected stood as a testament to how supportive we are of one another in our individual academic endeavors.

I have been told that the Shakespeare Exam exists to ensure that every student who graduates from Episcopal leaves with a better understanding of four of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies: “Julius Caesar,” “Macbeth,” “Othello,” and “Hamlet.” Perhaps this goal is achieved for a few weeks of the year, but to be honest, by the time I graduate, I will probably have forgotten most of what I wrote on the test.

But I truly believe the Shakespeare Exam is a healthy and necessary exercise in work ethic, cooperation, and perspective that enriches the life and mind of every student on The Holy Hill.

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FEATURE B Y SAR A W IL D E R B R Y AN T ’ 16

In a deeply personal Chapel Talk, a junior learns that she is not alone.

F R I DAY C H A P E L TA L K S A R E O R G A N IZ E D B Y T H E S T U D E N T V E S T R Y A N D A R E G I V E N B Y S T U D E N T S A N D FA C U LT Y. T H E Y M A K E F R I D AY CHAPEL SERVICES SPECIAL AND L E AVE A L ASTING IMPRES SION T H AT S TAYS W I T H T H E L I S T E N E R L O N G A F T E R G R A D UAT I O N .

For those of you who know me well, you know that I get stressed very easily. I get stressed out over the smallest things. Like this morning for example: is it still okay to wear white jeans or have we already moved onto boots and sweaters?

And five minutes ago I was concerned about whether I was tall enough to be seen from behind the podium. That being said, we can all imagine my stress when Rev. Pollach informed me on Tuesday that I would be up here today. It was not pretty. But what was different this time, when I felt like I would most certainly fail, was my willingness to accept help from all the people around me.

You might be familiar with the quote, “It is easy to be faithful when everything is good. It is harder to be faithful to God when everything seems to be falling apart.” For me, this has been a recurrent theme throughout my life.

I grew up in a very Christian household in

LOOK INWARD, OUTWARD, FORWARD

The Strength to Ask for Help

a small, Christian town. For years, I thought faith meant going to church on Sunday and saying my prayers before bed. I assumed that because I did those things, nothing bad would ever happen. But everything changed when I went into middle school.

Each day I was tormented, made fun of, laughed at, and joked about. It was funny at first, and so whenever someone would say something about me, I would join in with the rest of the grade and laugh. But it continued.

And it happened so much that I no longer thought it was funny, and every comment felt like knives.

This relentless bullying could have been stopped as quickly as it started, but I never told anyone how I felt or what was going on. I always thought that asking for help was needy and selfish. Asking for help, to me, was what weak people did. Everyone had their own problems, and they did not need to be

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THE STRENGTH TO ASK FOR HELP

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burdened by mine. So for an entire year this continued, and I felt worse and worse.

I started to doubt my faith. I thought God would protect me from things like this. But He didn’t.

Why would He make me go through this? Didn’t He love me? For months, I continued pushing my feelings down, hoping that by avoiding them they would disappear. Shockingly, they did not disappear.

They only continued until my parents confronted me in the spring of that year. I was forced to admit that I needed help, and I felt like a failure.

Asking for help made me feel weak and helpless.

But despite my feelings of failure, once I asked for help, everything got better. The jokes stopped, and I no longer dreaded going to school.

Fast forward two years when I started my freshman year here. I was all smiles whenever anyone saw me, but I was hurting more than ever behind

Fast forward again to the beginning of sophomore year, when I found myself in a doctor’s office in D.C. I was diagnosed with depression, and for the first time, everything made sense.

My world changed. I no longer felt different and isolated. I no longer felt like I had to walk around with a mask on. I finally had the courage to take all my masks off and show everyone the real me. I wasn’t broken, and I wasn’t different. It wasn’t until my diagnosis that I realized I had never been alone. God had never abandoned me. My family had never loved me any less. I realized that they were supporting me more than ever.

I realized then that when something bad happens, God doesn’t want you to go through it alone. He wants you to call on Him and others to help. I felt like He had ben holding me, even when I didn’t think He was there. He had never left me, and He

“ God surrounds you with people who want to help you.” my smile. When I had first imagined leaving home, I thought of it as a never-ending sleepover with my best friends. I did not factor in leaving behind my three little sisters, being away from my parents, moving away from my small town, or being on my own.

Needless to say, it was hard.

I was lucky, though.

My older sister, Peyton, was a senior, and I went to her every night. I am sure that when she imagined her senior year, she did not have in her mind that her little sister would be in her room at all times, but she was my rock. While I never specifically asked for her help, she knew that I needed her more than ever before.

On top of completing an enormous amount of homework and applying for college, Peyton still found time to hug me every night and hold me while I cried. She knew something I didn’t; she knew that I needed help.

Still, I refused to admit that I couldn’t do it alone, and whenever my mom asked me how everything was, I told her the same thing I told everyone else: I said, “fine.” She knew I wasn’t fine, but she also knew that I had to take my time and do this my own way.

Again my faith started to falter, and I came to the conclusion that God had left me on my own.

will never leave you either. Instead God surrounds you with people who want to help you.

I learned that asking for help isn’t weakness. I learned that asking for help doesn’t mean you are a failure. I learned that asking for help means you know that you can’t do it alone. Asking for help can be as big or as small as you need it to be. It can mean a hug when you are having a very hard day, or it can mean asking a friend to listen when nothing seems to be going right. Asking for help means you know that you are surrounded by loved ones who want you to succeed. Everyone will struggle at some point in their lives, but we are never alone. The beautiful thing about EHS is that we are surrounded by 500 people who love us and want us to succeed.

So when I was informed that I had two days to finish my Chapel Talk (thanks, Rev. Pollach), I accepted help from everyone who offered. I would not have been able to do it alone. Thank you to my roommate, Emma, who probably could recite this verbatim because of the number of times she listened to me practice, and to Mary Ann and Mary Helen who let me visit their room multiple times a night just to ask about a sentence or word. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without your help. And to the entire EHS community, thank you for the nonstop love that makes asking for help so much easier.

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Hopefully you are coming back to The High School because you absolutely do not want to miss all this!

Don’t realize on June 7 that you have missed the best weekend of the year. Don’t get a demerit be written up in Class Notes for skipping all the fun. Register now for Reunion Weekend!

June 5-6, 2015 CLASSES 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 EHS

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FEATURE B Y K ATIE D AR IN

W E F R E Q U E N T LY H E A R S T O R I E S A B O U T A L U M N I C O N N E C T I O N S IN

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ADVANCEMENT

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STORIES

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FRIENDSHIPS

B E T W E E N T H O SE W H O M E T A F T E R G R A D UAT I O N, O F O L D B OYS OFFERING INTERNSHIPS AND FIRST JOBS TO YOUNG ALUMNI, OF EHS GRADS GOING INTO BUSINESS TOGETHER, AND OF A L UMNI M A K IN G IMP O R TA N T PR O F E S SIO N A L IN T R O DUC T IO NS.

Across borders, across disciplines, and across generations, alumni are making connections, and those connections rank among the most valuable perks of an EHS education. So what can the School do to ensure that more alumni are the beneficiaries of this incredible network?

This year’s Advisory Council evaluated Episcopal’s existing programs, making alumni and parent connections the council’s focus for the 2014-15 school year. The chair of the Advisory Council, Chris Giblin ’86, says, “Networking is a huge part of what we do in life in terms of friendships and business connections. Episcopal has the resources, history, and tradition to really provide an outlet for its constituents – alumni, parents, and friends – and we’re making a commitment to do so.”

LOOK INWARD, OUTWARD, FORWARD

A new initiative harnesses the power of the Episcopal network.

The council assessed the School’s efforts in this arena so far – an online alumni directory, a LinkedIn group, regional events, and electronic and print publications that highlight alumni stories – and concluded that there were ways in which the School could play a more proactive role. The Advisory Council and the Advancement Office worked together to develop CONNECT: an initiative designed to celebrate, promote, and strengthen our community.

More than just enhancing professional networks, CONNECT is intended to extend the Episcopal experience, giving alumni, parents, and current students a meaningful connection to a larger, vibrant learning community.

Left to right: Ben Moore ’48, Curtis Mewbourne ’84, Catherine Coley ’07, Chris Giblin ’86, Christopher Summers ’08, Craig Stewart ’70, Bob Coffin ’70, Franklin Boyd ’95, Dylan Glenn ’87, Richard Lee ’05, Hanna Nation Seabrook ’05, Jim Lewis ’64, Johnny Kim ’91, Tevan Green ’96, Leah Andress ’08, Leah Kannensohn Tennille ’01, Marte Meighan ’07, Brett Johnson ’08, Parker Woltz Mackie ’04, Marty Martin ’69, David Wysong ’59, Skip Fox ’71, Teddy Peterson ’07, Tom Archie ’90, and Whitney Schwartz ’96.

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Director of the Washington Program Jeremy Goldstein says, “The great thing about Episcopal is that when you’re at school, you have an entire community that is focused on bettering yourself, living an honest and moral life, while also examining things, experiencing things, and taking risks that can help you learn.

CONNECT extends the experience of living an examined life.” Through the Washington Program, regional associations, regional events, social media, and online communities, alumni and parents will be able to interact, providing a positive return for the School’s community and programs.

There’s no question Episcopal has the players in place. Many are ready to reach out and help a fellow EHS grad in a heartbeat. On the EHS Alumni LinkedIn page, we recently posed the question, “College-aged alumni looking for an internship this summer? On the hunt for your first job?” Responses poured in from young and experienced alumni alike. From Curtis Hall ’84: “We hire 80 interns and 30 graduating engineers every year. If you are studying civil or mechanical engineering and are interested in this type of work, contact me.”

In January, Episcopal sent 3,876 alumni to gather feedback about our current efforts and ideas for facilitating alumni connections. The survey garnered responses from alumni from the Classes of 1943 to 2014, with every class year represented from 1945 to 2014. In survey responses, we heard about dozens of positions filled thanks to EHS connections. Bill Saunders ’56 said that an EHS connection helped him land his first job at the firm he’s still with 54 years later. Survey responses also demonstrated that EHS graduates are hungry to help fellow alumni. Lizzie McPherson ’05 offered Molly Wheaton ’06 the chance to spend five weeks as a production assistant for ABC’s new show “The Taste,” with Anthony Bourdain. There is also a desire for networking outside the professional sphere. Chris Hutchins ’03 commented on a Facebook photo of the EHS climbing team: “As an alum of that team, keep up the good work and let me

know if you’re ever in San Francisco and want to come climbing!”

The parents and alumni of Episcopal offer a diverse set of backgrounds, skills, interests, and careers, but the great common experience they share is the School.

“If anybody ever calls me from Episcopal looking for help, even if I don’t know that person, I’ll always call back,” says Giblin. “I know there’s going to be a quality person on the other end of the line if they say they went to Episcopal High School.”

CONNECT WITH THE WA SHIN G T O N PROGR AM

For more than 45 years, the Washington Program has worked to integrate the resources of a world-class metropolitan area into a boarding school curriculum on a level second to none. Every week, students venture into D.C. to explore one of the program’s four concentrations: cultural awareness, entrepreneurship, public policy, and sustainability.

Director of the Washington Program Jeremy Goldstein and the concentration directors hope that the program’s partnership with CONNECT will further enhance the student experience and provide alumni with a wide variety of exciting volunteer opportunities on and off campus.

BROWN BAG SERIES

The Brown Bag Series gives alumni the opportunity to speak to the community in an informal setting on campus. The program was launched in January, and Goldstein hopes to host one speaker

each month. In the first installment, Phil Lepanto ’91 spoke to a group of students and faculty over a casual lunch in Bryan Library. Lepanto shared his story about life after Episcopal, his career path, and his eventual move to business ownership, as well as information about the D.C. neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant where he lives, works, and has become invested in the local community.

Lepanto says, “I think the externship should be the climax of the Washington experience, not the beginning, so I thought it made sense for the first Brown Bag to be about living and working in D.C. I wanted to give students an understanding of the history of the city, how it’s changed, the challenges it will face going forward, and how to get involved.”

SENIOR EXTERNSHIP

For years seniors have ventured into the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area for the month of May, working 35 hours per week at local, national, and international organizations. In the latest iteration of the program, the terminology used to describe this experience has shifted away from “internship” toward “externship,” a word that better connotes experiential learning and job shadowing. This shift in terminology accompanies a shift toward finding experiences that are more closely related to individual students’ interests.

The program relies heavily on the willingness of alumni and parents to host externships. Through these externships, students begin to identify potential fields of study and career goals.

CORRESPONDENCE CONNECTION

Correspondence Connection is a new idea through which students ask questions and receive advice from EHS alumni.

Students connect with alumni and parents one-on-one through email and phone.

This is an easy entry point for parents and alumni who are interested in volunteering with the Washington Program.

For more information about getting involved with the Washington Program, contact Jeremy Goldstein at jlg@episcopalhighschool.org.

CONNECT

CONNECTING I N K E N YA

THE REV. ZACH DRENNEN ’88 AND PAUL BLAKE ’10

By Jen Desautels

A years-long relationship between Episcopal and the Elewana Project began in 2009, when the project’s founder, the Rev. Zach Drennen ’88, came to campus to talk about his passion for bettering education in Africa. A brave junior, Paul Blake ’10 (now a producer for BBC), sat with Zach at lunch and learned more about his efforts in Kenya. The two remained in touch, sharing ideas, and soon Paul was making travel plans to spend the summer in Amagoro, a town in Kenya’s Western Province. Paul traveled to Kenya, armed with a dozen laptops handed down from the EHS laptop program, each one decorated with the colorful stickers of their former owners – EHS students. That summer was the beginning of a partnership that would change the lives of dozens of EHS and Kenyan students, and it was the start of a friendship that would last long after Paul’s graduation.

Paul: I was totally naïve. At the time I barely knew check-in from security at the airport. Once I got to Kenya, I remember on my first night, the woman who ran the house in Amagoro needed me to run up the road and get some ingredients because she was cooking. In the U.S., you go to the supermarket, the price is listed for bananas, and you pay that price and get exact change back. In Amagoro, there are stalls lining the roads where you go and barter. My presence was drawing a lot of attention, and I had to barter under the spotlight.

That was my first “Wow, what am I doing here?” moment.

Zach: I remember being nervous. I just knew, I’ve got to take good care of this kid.

Things are crazy out in western Kenya, and nothing ever goes the way you plan it. Fortunately, Paul could roll with anything. And that summer, it was just Paul.

He really took a big risk.

Paul: Yeah, Zach took a pretty big risk allowing some kid who was annoying him after a chapel speech to come along!

Zach: Well, I was nervous. Not nervous about Paul himself, but just the fact that I had one lone high school kid. The typical high school student isn’t going to offer a big package of skills that we can capitalize on here in western Kenya. They’re not

Paul Blake ’10

ALUMNI DIRECTORY

Did you know EHS has an online alumni directory? Search by profession, industry, class year, zip code, and more. You can access the directory through our website or through our mobile app. Use the interactive map feature on our mobile app to locate other alumni in a specific region. To learn more about connecting via the alumni directory or our mobile app, visit the alumni section of our website to watch a video tutorial.

Rev. Zach Drennen ’88 EHS

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Susanne Inman Frayser ’02, Rob Hershey, and Caroline Inman Pyson ’03 at a CONNECT event in N.Y.C.

CONNECT EVENTS On February 12 and 24, EHS hosted CONNECT events in D.C. and N.Y.C. Alumni and parents attended and received a contact list detailing professional and personal interests to further facilitate connections.

“We feel that it is an extremely important role of the strong advancement office to foster these relationships through programming, strengthening local EHS networks in a more formal way, providing better volunteer engagement, and offering a variety of events through which alumni and parents can connect over shared interests beyond EHS,” says Director of Alumni and Parent Programs Rick Wilcox.

going to be able to build classrooms by themselves. So Paul was definitely the rare bird that showed up with, as it turns out, all the skills we needed.

What we do is bring Kenyan and U.S. high school students together and set up interactions, group discussions, and sports and service learning projects together. Episcopal students have been like ambassadors. Because of this relationship, students in Kenya know a lot more about the U.S., their English is better, they’re much more worldly and more comfortable interacting with people from different cultures. And I think that’s been more important than the classrooms that we’ve painted and the water projects that we’ve built.

The Episcopal students really embraced the challenges that come with getting to know people in a completely different culture. They threw themselves into it in a really wonderful way, and I think that is a real testimony to those kids.

Paul: I think it’s a very cool project, and for anyone who experiences it, I think it will be one of those things that they’ll carry with them forever. Whether that is working with Elewana remotely from the States or going out there. I don’t think a day goes by when Elewana and Kenya don’t, at some point, pop into my head. Which is why in 2013 I messaged Zach and said, “Can I come out and help in any way?”

Zach: The answer was, “Yes. When do I pick you up?”

Paul: I was able to help Zach by doing video and photo work, which Zach could use to promote the project in the states or online. Zach really promotes the human-to-human relationship aspect of the project, and the things that aren’t necessarily visible but that you feel inside of you. I’ve kept in touch with a number of the people I worked with in Kenya through Facebook. For me that’s one of the biggest benefits: the people that Zach has put me in touch with. That has been a tremendous blessing.

CONNECTING IN D.C.

CRAIG STEWART ’70, HOWARD SMITH ’76, MASON TILLETT ’06, AND KELSEY MONTZ ’07

By Ella Yates

When Kelsey Montz ’07 was studying at the University of Pennsylvania, she knew she wanted to spend her summers as a communications intern in D.C. She was not having much luck using her university career center, so Montz decided to reach out to the Advancement Office and was put in contact with Craig Stewart ’70. Stewart, a past parent at EHS and former EHS faculty member, put her in touch with Tucker Carlson, political pundit and founder of The Daily Caller.

“Tucker needed a lot of interns to help out at the Daily Caller, an online news publication that was pretty new at the time,” says Montz. “The work I did that summer helped me build my resume in the communications field.”

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Craig Stewart ’70 30

CONNECT

Armed with this experience, Montz circled back to her EHS connections again after graduating from University of Pennsylvania in 2011. This time it was Mason Tillett ’06 who served as a resource. Mason was new at Walker & Dunlop, a commercial real estate financing firm in Bethesda, Md. After a few phone conversations, Montz felt confident that this was the right next step for her, and she applied for a job.

“Talking to Tillett was key to getting my foot in the door at Walker & Dunlop, but also to deciding whether or not I even wanted the job,” says Montz. “Learning about the company was just as important as Mason referring me.”

Enter Howard Smith ’76, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Walker & Dunlop. When it comes to creating a productive work environment, Smith knows just whom to look for: EHS alumni.

“I am always looking to minimize risk when hiring someone,” Smith says. “And with EHS graduates, I know I’ve cut that risk in half.”

The Walker & Dunlop offices employ their fair share of EHS graduates. In fact, five are currently on staff. What makes them such a good fit?

“EHS grads know the difference between right and wrong,” says Smith.

“They can work collaboratively, they can communicate effectively, and they understand work-life balance.”

So, did Montz get the job? Yes.

Katharine Farrar ’07, Brennan Killeen ’05, and Clark Barber ’07 at a CONNECT event in D.C.

Howdie Goodwin ’93, Johnny Kim ’91, Tom Archie ’91, and Kwang Hyun Maeng ’07 at a CONNECT event in N.Y.C.

Howard Smith ’76

Craig Stewart ’70 and Dane Snowden ’87 at a CONNECT event in D.C. Kelsey Montz ’07

“ T H E R E I S A U N I Q U E B O N D T H AT M A K E S A L U M N I WA NT TO HELP PEOPLE FROM EPISC OPA L . I THINK I T ’ S A LWAY S B E E N A PA R T O F T H E C U LT U R E OF THE SCHOOL .”

– Chris Giblin ’86

Mason Tillett ’06 EHS

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LOOK INWARD, OUTWARD, FORWARD

CONNECT

CONNECTING I N AT L A N TA

HANNAH HUFFINES AMICK ’99 AND WILLIAM STALLWORTH ’00

By Kirkland Hagerty

A hotbed for young urbanites and professionals craving a lively social scene, EHS alumni flock to Atlanta every year following college graduation – and many of them never leave. That’s exactly what’s happened for William Stallworth ’00, originally from the eastern shore of North Carolina. William moved to Atlanta for a job in wealth management but quickly realized that what he loved most about the job – social networking and building relationships – didn’t account for the parts he, let’s just say, didn’t prefer. Enter Hannah Huffines Amick ’99 and husband Justin, new clients of William with a background in the restaurant and entertainment world.

Bingo.

During a four-hour conversation with Justin one night, The Painted Pin was born. Says William, “I had long seen [an unfilled] niche in the Atlanta marketplace for an upscale bowling and

gaming venue, as the only ones in town were very run down, traditional family bowling centers.” Of course, that was just the beginning.

Using the skills learned during his years as a wealth manager, William tapped his EHS connections once more. “The EHS network has strong roots in the Atlanta area. Because of the relationships I developed at EHS,” he notes, “we were able to get many of my former classmates involved in the project as investors. It has been a fantastic experience working so closely with so many of my EHS friends to bring this project to fruition.” And while nothing beats word of mouth press, especially from the mouths of EHS investors, Hannah serves as The Painted Pin’s publicist. “She is hands down the best at what she does,” affirms William.

So what exactly is The Painted Pin, which was recently named the best new boutique bowling alley in the world by Bowler’s Journal Magazine? A bowling and live music venue in a repurposed industrial warehouse offering 20 lanes, games from shuffleboard to skeeball and two full-sized bocce courts, a Southern Skittles area, and a lot more.

In June 2014, Episcopal hosted alumni, parents, and friends at The Painted Pin to celebrate its grand opening. With more than 3,000 guests passing through the doors each week, William, Justin, and Hannah have certainly found their niche. Check them out on your next trip to Atlanta or find out more at www.ThePaintedPin.com.

Zach Glubiak ’08, Caroline Kelso ’07, and Sebastian Sabella ’07 at a CONNECT event in N.Y.C.

Jay Reynolds ’05, Ralph Rodne ’05, and Curtis Mewbourne ’84 at a CONNECT event in N.Y.C.

“ I A M A L W A Y S L O O K I N G TO MINIMIZE RISK WHEN HIRING SOMEONE AND W I T H E H S G R A D UAT E S , I K N O W I ’ V E C U T T H AT R I S K I N H A L F.” – Howard Smith ’76

Hannah Huffines Amick ’99 32

William Stallworth ’00

The Bell Society:

Fiercely loyal.

Forward-thinking.

165 Episcopal enthusiasts ages 30 to 90 who have included EHS in their estate plans.

If you would like to join the Bell Society, or if you simply want to learn more about your giving options, please visit our planned giving web page at www.episcopalhighschool.myplannedgift.org or contact me with any questions.

Matt Drake Alumni Programs Officer 703-933-4026 mhd@episcopalhighschool.org

FEATURE B Y J O H AN N A D R O U B AY

Are We Getting Carried Away?

How smartphones are exploding the boarding school bubble.

H E A D C H A P L A I N T H E R E V. G I D E O N P O L L A C H H A S E V E R Y C U R R E N T EPISCOPAL STUDENT’S NUMBER IN HIS IPHONE , PLUS THE PHONE N U M B E R S O F R EC E N T G R A D UAT E S G O I N G B AC K H A L F A D OZ E N Y E A R S. IN AN ACT BOTH HUMOROUS AND HYPOCRITICAL , HE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO

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Hey, put your cell phone away. I can see you.

Omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent – Smartphones are everywhere. They know seemingly everything, can do almost anything – from programming tech cues in Pendleton for the winter musical, to metering the light on Strip for a photography class, to humming a note for the choir in chapel. Digital distraction has been a topic of discourse for more than a decade, but only recently does it seem like most everyone holds the world in his or her pocket – or, increasingly, the hand.

Headlines inspire dread. From the New York Times: “Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction,” “Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Needed Downtime,” “The Risk of Parenting While Plugged In,” and “More Americans Sense a Downside to an Always Plugged-In Existence.”

But these headlines are five years old. Now where do we stand? Is the once completely immersive boarding school experience being negatively

intruded upon by constant access to parents, hometown friends, and the outside world? What happened to the boarding school bubble? Has it burst, and should we care?

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

“I think anybody who knows me knows that I’m really attached to my phone,” says Rev. Pollach.

His attachment reminds him of a lesson he once taught on transhumanism, the belief that humans can become one with technology and use it to evolve beyond their physical and mental limitations.

Like many Episcopal faculty members, Pollach is being pulled in a hundred directions, and his phone is his GPS, his Roladex, his life line. He’s raising three young kids, running chapel services

EHS

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ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

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several times a week, teaching classes, organizing community service and visiting speakers, keeping his advisees’ lives in order. He is a talented writer, a deep thinker, and relatable on a level that Jesus must have been relatable. I mean that he can talk about the Kingdom of God in a way that will make nonbelievers nod their heads and say, “Totally.”

So when I see him – a person I really admire and who I can only assume leads a rich spiritual life – looking at his phone on his way to and from daycare pick-up, I think, Huh. What does that mean? Does he struggle to unplug, the way I do? Is that what makes him so relatable – his obvious flaws? Or maybe he really needs his phone to get all of his stuff done, to take care of his kids and hold up his friends in prayer, and respond to my request for an interview. Maybe his phone helps him be the best version of himself that he can possibly be.

One day Pollach was trying to explain the Kingdom of God concept to one of his students. “The Kingdom of God,” says Pollach, “is this reality that lives in the future, that’s just beyond our reach, where the promises of God are made fully present in the present.”

This is not a simple concept, and the student was not getting it.

So Pollach decided to use cell phones and the Internet as an analogy. “We have this whole world that’s just beyond us, overlaid with our experience: the cyber world. It exists, but it doesn’t exist. I can go on my phone and interact with Amazon, which is nowhere, right? It’s in the ether. But then, two days later, I’ll have a book or popcorn or a lightbulb that I ordered online. It’s analogous to prayer.”

Send out a wish to another dimension, and your wish takes a physical form here on earth.

This is not to say that Pollach thinks the World Wide Web is some version of heaven or even heavenly. But the analogy is useful because it is relatable to a teenager today. And because relatability is effective, says Pollach, Jesus would

probably have owned a smartphone.

“Jesus used devices and modes of thinking and interacting that made sense in his time and place. The parables he taught – people knew the genre. I think if Jesus were here now, he would see smartphones as a new way of encouraging and growing a connection to God.” In Episcopal’s classrooms, where phones were once forbidden, some teachers are asking students to keep their phones on their desks to be used as part of the curriculum. Teachers who attended the Florida Education Technology Conference in January are especially jazzed about an app called Kahoot, which was originally developed to be used for bar trivia but is now marketed as an addictive, game-based classroom response system.

Kahoot allows teachers to create quizzes and project them on the board.

Students then use their smartphones to answer questions, their scores are tallied (factoring in their response time), and a winner is crowned.

Science teacher Scott Pohjola has created Kahoots, as the quizzes are called, on topics such as black holes, gravity, and momentum and impulse. “It plays this

ARE WE GE T TING CARRIED AWAY?

great, cheesy music in the background.

The kids love that.” And they love that it’s just like a popular game they play on their phones for fun: Trivia Crack. “I knew that once they tried it, they’d come to class every day asking to do it, and they do.”

In Pohjola’s classes, students also use their phones in other ways – to look up the mass of the sun or the distance between the earth and the moon. “I don’t want to just tell them. I want them to know how to use their phones to access information.”

The assumption that high-school-aged digital natives naturally know more about the Internet and digital technologies than their teachers and parents can be dangerously inaccurate. Yes, many of them know a lot about social media, and some of them are familiar with other creative tools and educational resources. But on the whole, they have to be taught that their phones can be used for more than texting and posting photos and curating virtual identities.

“Showing kids that YouTube can be used for education is an eye-opening experience for some of them,” says Pohjola.

“I want students to walk into my science classroom and see science technology – more technology than they use in the hallway.”

For his part, Pollach uses his phone as a way to immediately connect with his expansive list of contacts, texting alumni to congratulate them on successes and console them in times of suffering.

The school has a prayer email address

– prayer@episcopalhighschool.org – to which members of the community can send prayer requests. And Facebook, which for Pollach comes second only to email every morning, has become a place to find friends who need his support.

“I think there’s a real sense in which the cell phone experience opens us up into a deeper reality, rather than cutting us off from each other,” says Pollach. “Although, at its worst, it does that, too.”

HERE AND NOW

The danger of living so much in this other reality is missing out on the here and now.

“I want you to have an out-of-body experience today,” says science teacher Brad Kovach at the start of his sophomore chemistry class on a chilly morning in February. Kovach is leading his students through a mindfulness exercise, with the goal of bringing his students’ full attention to the present – even though his strategy begins with a trip to the future.

Studies have shown that frequent smartphone use can cause stress and anxiety

and decrease our motivation to stay on task. Exercises like this one – which bring students into the present – are designed to reduce stress and extend focus.

“Hop in your time machines,” he says.

The students are quiet; most have their eyes closed. They are measuring their breaths and listening to Kovach, who is telling a story in which they are each the main character. Outside, there is a wind chill advisory in effect. It feels a few tenths of a degree above zero out there, with gusts up to 20 mph. But Kovach’s students are cruising forward nine days to the soul-warming first hours of spring break.

The exercise continues like this: Imagine all the things you have planned, he tells them, and then put all of that joy in a little box. Wrap it up, put a bow on it, set it on the ground. Now walk away. Walk slowly backward along the timeline toward the present. Acknowledge the things you have to accomplish – exams, travel arrangements. Acknowledge them and move on.

Leave those tasks where they lie. Return to the present empty handed. Take a breath.

Open your eyes.

Since the middle of last semester, several teachers at Episcopal have been

Rev. Gideon Pollach believes Jesus would have used a smartphone.

37

incorporating mindfulness exercises into the beginning of each class period. These exercises are one part of the School’s new Wellness Program – a multifaceted, preventative approach to mental and physical health care. Piloted this year by Health Services and led by Wellness Coordinator Emily Straight, the Wellness Program was the brainchild of Medical Director Adrianna Bravo and Director of Counseling Kristin Hosmer, who had experimented last year with introducing holistic stress and anxiety reduction techniques – such as yoga, massage, a smoothie night on dorm – during exam week.

“We wanted to find out, how foreign is this to students? Will they take to it? It turned out to be really successful,” says Bravo. The success of these trials led to the launch of a more formal program this year.

Although the Wellness Program wasn’t explicitly designed with phones in mind, mindfulness and other stress-reduction techniques seem like a natural antidote to the effects of the virtual world, whose Pavlovian bells and vibrations constantly interrupt and redirect our attention.

“If you’re living in the future or the past, you’re worrying,” says Straight. “If you’re living right now, generally there’s nothing to worry about. This is what we’re trying to help kids understand.”

38

A 2014 Harvard study showed that after eight weeks of practicing mindfulness, the study subjects’ gray matter began to change. Areas associated with stress and anxiety became less dense, and areas associated with memory, self-awareness, and compassion increased in density.

At Episcopal, teachers who regularly incorporate mindfulness into their class periods have already begun to see positive results. Kovach says he’s noticed that students are quicker to dive into the lesson after meditating, and they stay on task longer. “It has gotten to the point that the kids get upset if I forget to do the mindfulness exercise.”

Straight sees a real opportunity teaching mindfulness to teenagers, whose brains are still developing. “We’re hardwiring them so that later on in life they have the tools to trigger their own stress reduction.”

One of the most accessible and popular mindfulness tools Straight prescribes to faculty, students, and coaches is something called Smiling Mind. It plays pre-recorded guided meditations “designed to bring balance to young lives,” according to the website, and you can download it for free from the app store.

That’s right – it’s an app for your smartphone.

HUMAN CONTACT

“Everything is the opposite,” says Abigael Ajuma ’17. She is describing the difference between Episcopal and her life in the Kenyan village of Kateleny’ang. She almost can’t begin to tell you what she means by that statement, but the little details she drops speak volumes. For example: Once in Kenya she stayed up late, slept in past 5 a.m., and as punishment for arriving late to class was made to carry a large amount of water from the well to her teacher’s office using only a teaspoon. “It took tons of trips,” she says.

If you ever have the pleasure of speaking with Ajuma, ask her what it was like to walk to and from school as a grade schooler, an estimated 5 miles each way.

You might also be interested to know that she walked home in the middle of the day for lunch.

Much less interesting is the fact that Ajuma never had a phone before coming to Episcopal. Where she comes from, adults have cell phones, but children and teenagers do not.

“Abigael arrived with no experience with any of it,” says Pollach, referring to all

ARE WE GE T TING CARRIED AWAY?

Abigael Ajuma ’17, who came to Episcopal from Kenya, says she would prefer to connect with people in person.

things digital, “and in short order could not live without it.”

Ajuma initially connected with EHS through the Elewana Project (read about the project on page 31), and ultimately Pollach’s family welcomed Ajuma into their home, serving on an official level as her sponsors and guardians. Since coming to Episcopal, she has immersed herself in choir, theater, and cross country (she made the varsity team as a freshman), and last year she received Episcopal’s Quentin Roosevelt Prize for Character.

While embracing many aspects of Episcopal, Ajuma expresses more reservations about technology than Pollach might guess.

“If I had the option of not using technology, I wouldn’t,” she says, explaining that the integration of technology in Episcopal’s curriculum – from typing assignments to using Geometer’s Sketchpad software in math class – has challenged her because of her inexperience.

But more importantly, she thinks connecting online gets in the way of connecting in person, which she prefers.

“At home I would go up to some random person and say, ‘Hi, where are you from?’ And funnily enough, we might be related,” she says. “Here I find it hard to

do that because you’ll walk up to someone, and they’ll be on Instagram or something.”

It’s hard not to find this troubling.

The good news is that Ajuma is not the only Episcopal student who is thinking critically about the impact of smartphones on the concept of community. In fact most of the students I spoke with for this article expressed some ambivalence about the subject of phones. Based on personal observation and studies showing how much teens use their phones, I think I expected students to tell me that they couldn’t live without them. Instead I heard responses like this one, from Juliette Eberle ’16, who is known in our Communications Office for creating the Facebook page Humans of EHS: “I personally wish that phones didn’t exist. I feel like they cause so many unnecessary problems.”

In response to growing concern about cell phone use in public spaces on campus, last year’s Monitors coined and disseminated the catchphrase, “Don’t be alone.

A sign posted on Anderson dorm listing freshman study hall rules.

EPISCOPAL’S CELL PHONE POLICY EHS students are allowed to use cell phones in private spaces, but are discouraged from using them in public spaces, such as on the Strip, along the walkways, in the Dining Hall, and in Pendleton. In addition, freshmen must leave their phones in the dorm halls outside their doors during study hall.

Pocket the phone.” Its cleverness comes from the claim it makes about virtual connections: interacting through “social” media means isolating yourself from the people actually in your midst.

Annalee Walton ’14, a Senior Monitor last year, says the objective was to get students to look up and say, “Hi,” rather than retreating to their phones when not surrounded by their core social group, especially while waiting outside the Dining Hall or on the Strip.

Walton says as a result of the “Pocket the Phone” initiative, more people started acknowledging each other, and even started calling each other out for looking at their phones in a public space.

Now that she’s in college, Walton misses being in the kind of place that would take the time to examine cell phone behavior.

At her college, she says, “People nervously turn to their phones or pretend to answer a call, all for the sake of avoiding brief awkward contact. EHS has a very special community in which the students and faculty are comfortable connecting with each other. It is actually expected.”

One of the great benefits of boarding school life, says English teacher and Evans Dorm Head Alison Poole, is the ability to dig into a topic like this. “In the classroom, you don’t necessarily have a forum for hav1 ing those conversations, but as a dorm, we do,” she says. “We get 4 to talk about things that there GHI wouldn’t be a natural space for [in a day school setting].

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ARE WE GE T TING CARRIED AWAY?

NEW MESSAGES

On an iPhone, the symbol for voicemail is two little circles and a straight line. It’s a stripped-down cassette reel – two wheels joined by a length of audio tape – because the original answering machine recorded messages on a cassette. The icon is a throwback, a nod to an extinct technology, a reminder that the smartphone you just checked will someday soon be out of date.

“People are not hooked on gadgets – they are hooked on each other,” write Lee Rainie and Barry Wellman in their book, “Networked: The New Social Operating System.” “…When people walk down the street texting on their phones, they are obviously communicating. Yet things are different now. In incorporating gadgets into their lives, people have changed the ways they interact with each other. They have become increasingly networked as individuals, rather than embedded in groups. In the world of networked individuals, it is the person who is the focus: not the family, not the work unit, not the neighborhood, and not the social group.”

This is not a thesis our close-knit Episcopal community – emphasis on community – wants to believe in or live by. But the change is real, if we understand it as a shift away from individuals identifying with a single, small, tight social group and toward identifying with lots of looser, geographically unconstrained circles.

Steve Lugar ’94, a licensed clinical psychologist working in San Francisco, sees the benefit of these diverse social groups.

“It really gives isolated kids and adults – everybody – an opportunity to connect with like-minded communities and to make communities,” says Lungar. “There is so much more access and ease to finding other people that think like they think and

that are excited about the things they are excited about. And that can lead to some great creative expressions.”

In a pre-Internet boarding school setting, says Lugar, “there’s a whole massive slice of life in the world that everybody back home is living that you are really cut out from.” Although it would seem to detract from the unique character of the boarding experience, the ability of boarding school students to stay in closer contact with the outside world opens the door to a world of possibilities.

So maybe the Internet and smartphones do in some sense explode the traditional boarding school bubble, but wasn’t “bubble” always used as an epithet anyway?

Looked at in a different way, social media and constant connectivity actually help to reconstruct the bubble by keeping boarding school friends, classmates, and teachers in contact long after graduation.

42

ARCHIVES B Y L AU R A V E TTE R , AR C H IV IST

The History of Keeping in Touch From the Archives

B E F O R E T H E DAYS O F E M A I L , T E X T I N G , A N D E V E N T H E T E L E P H O N E , E H S S T U D E N T S K E P T I N T O U C H B Y M A I L . L E T T E R- W R I T I N G WA S P R AC T I C A L LY A N A R T F O R M A N D T H E O N LY WAY T O S H A R E A N D R E C E I V E N E W S F R O M H O M E . L E T T E R S , E AG E R LY A N T I C IPAT E D, W E R E R E A D A N D R E- R E A D. B E FO R E S T UD E N T M A IL B OX E S W E R E INTRODUCED IN THE 1930S, STUDENT MAIL WAS DELIVERED TO THE DINING HALL .

Privacy was unknown, and commentary, such as on a girlfriend’s handwriting, was shared.

Initially, Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone in 1875 had little impact on EHS students’ keeping in touch with friends and family. While Episcopal was reachable by a telephone in the Headmaster’s office beginning in the 1880s, this phone was for official business, not student use. By 1958, the telephone situation had improved marginally, with three telephones located outside the dining hall for the School’s 250 students. An editorial in the Jan. 24, 1958, edition of The Chronicle described waiting in lines up to 40 minutes and 20 students long just to place a call. The editorial called for “… at least one telephone in each dormitory building. Ideally, one on each floor.”

Over time, the students’ voices were heard, and hall phones were installed, initially one per dorm and finally one per dormitory floor. Chair of the Board of Trustees Bailey Patrick ’79 recalls that, despite the telephone in his dorm, opening his box in the mailroom was an important part of his day: “ …our communication with the outside world was very limited. Typically we had one payphone on each dorm, which rarely was not in use, so our only hope of knowing

that we had not been forgotten was through mail. Mom could always be counted on to write frequently even with little to say. Dad was good for the occasional congratulatory or encouraging letter that had been dictated to his secretary and concluded in type – ‘Love, Dad.’ Arriving at an empty mailbox on the way to lunch was a real downer, while arriving to find a letter from your girlfriend would make your day. The students today don’t know how good they’ve got it!”

While the availability of a phone on each floor of his dorm was a significant improvement, Luke David ’93 remembers the lack of privacy. Whoever was walking past a ringing hall phone would answer. Luke remembers the excitement when college coaches called the hall phone to reach one of his teammates.

David wonders if there are drawbacks to today’s hyper-connectivity. “Keeping in touch is easier, so it is less appreciated,” he says. Another downside of electronic communication may be its ephemeral nature. While the EHS archives contain student letters going back as far as 1840, what will remain, years from now, of today’s incorporeal emails, texts, and social media posts?

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Mr. Hutchins graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence.

He later graduated from Wake Forest School of Law and worked for 55 years in all areas of the law. He was a former member of the State Board of Directors of the ABC commission, a founding director of Better Business Bureau of Winston-Salem, a director of First Federal Savings and Loan, a director and vice president of the Winston-Salem Jaycees, and a director for Piedmont Craftsman.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; a son, Frederick S. Hutchins III ’79; a daughter; three grandchildren, including Kate Buchanan Woltz ’05; three step-children; and seven step-grandchildren. Other EHS relatives include brother Edward Weir Hutchins ’53.

Dr. Charles Rausch Ayers ’54

of North Fork, Calif., died Oct. 10, 2014.

At EHS, Dr. Ayers was a Monitor and president of the Fairfax Literary Society, as well as a member of the Chapel Committee, choir, The Chronicle, Glee Club, and Whispers.

He went on to receive his B.S. in chemistry from Princeton University and later became a pediatric cardiologist fellow at Duke University. He was board certified in pediatric cardiology and emergency medicine, and he established the specialty of emergency medicine at Kaweah Delta District Hospital, where he was the hospital’s original emergency department medical director.

Dr. Ayers is survived by his wife, Leslie; two daughters; a son; and two grandchildren.

Peter Henry Ramm ’54

of Winston-Salem, N.C., died Dec. 21, 2014.

At EHS, Mr. Ramm played soccer and coached Greenway League Baseball.

After graduating from Episcopal, Mr. Ramm enrolled at Davidson College.

He was a Lieutenant in the Navy from 1958 to 1962. He graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1965. After a period of time at a Norfolk, Va., law firm, he came to Winston-Salem with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company Legal Department in 1971.

Mr. Ramm retired from RJ Reynolds in 1999.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen; three children; a stepson; and several grandchildren.

Allen Johnson Simpson ’58

of Greenville, S.C., died Nov. 3, 2014.

At EHS, Mr. Simpson was a Monitor and member of the Glee Club, the Missionary Society, The Chronicle, and Whispers. He was on the varsity football team and was also a member of the track, tennis, basketball, and wrestling teams.

He attended the University of North Carolina and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1971, Mr. Simpson founded Simpson Capital Management, was frequently quoted in business publications, and appeared on CNBC’s “Kudlow and Cramer.”

Mr. Simpson is survived by his brothers, David L. Simpson ’62 and James A. Simpson ’59, and his nieces and nephews, including James Alden Simpson III ’99 and William A. Simpson ’94.

Winton Malcolm Blount III ’62

of Montgomery, Ala., died Feb. 10, 2015.

Mr. Blount served on the EHS Board of Trustees three times: from 1980 to 1986, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1995 to 2001. As an Episcopal student, he was a Monitor, vice president of his senior class, chairman of the Hop Committee, president of E-Club, and co-captain of the varsity football team. He also ran track and participated in the Advisory Board, Whispers, Chronicle, choir, Glee Club, Missionary Society, Vestry, Lounge Committee, and Blackford Literary Society.

After Episcopal, Mr. Blount graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South. He received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. A Montgomery businessman, political strategist, and philanthropist, he served as chair of the Alabama Republican Party in the 1990s. He was a Republican candidate for Governor in 1994 and 1998 and was one of the founders of Leadership Alabama. At Blount International, Inc., he eventually served as CEO. Mr. Blount is survived by his wife, Riley; six children, including son Winton M. Blount IV ’83; and 11 grandchildren, including granddaughter Frances B. Blount ’13. Other EHS relatives include brother Joseph W. Blount ’74, nephew James V. Miles IV ’96, and cousin Barnes F. Lovelace ’73.

EHS

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IN MEMORIAM

Robert Wilson Hudson Byrd ’64

Albert Stevenson Mitchener ’74

At EHS, Mr. Byrd was a Monitor, usher, and waiter, as well as a member of the E-Club, The Chronicle, Whispers, the Missionary Society, Fairfax Literary Society, and the Advisory Board. Mr. Byrd played varsity football, ran varsity track, and was captain of the wrestling team.

After graduating from Episcopal, Mr. Byrd attended Sewanee: The University of the South and Vanderbilt Graduate School. He was an educator for 40 years, serving as a teacher, coach, administrator, and headmaster at Christ School (Arden, N.C.), Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville, S.C.), Montgomery Academy (Montgomery, Ala.), The McCallie School (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head, S.C.), and Kerr Vance Academy (Henderson, N.C.).

Mr. Byrd is survived by his wife, Lane, and their daughter.

As an Episcopal student, Mr. Mitchener was a member of the football, basketball, and track teams.

After Episcopal, Mr. Mitchener earned a B.A. from the University of North Carolina and an M.S. from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Mitchener enjoyed a long career in both the commercial real estate and the commercial building businesses, primarily in Charlotte. For 15 years, he worked for Lat Purser & Associates. In 1985, he started R.J. Griffin & Company General Contractors in Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Mitchener is survived by his wife, Sally, and two sons.

Other EHS relatives include brother William T. Mitchener ’76, nieces Ruffin C. Mitchener ’11 and Victoria L. Mitchener ’14, and nephew James S. Mitchener IV ’07.

of Virginia Beach, Va., died Jan. 12, 2015.

Quintus Whitaker Sibley ’73

of Highlands, N.C., died Nov. 19, 2014.

At Episcopal, Mr. Sibley won the Whittle Prize for Academic Excellence.

He went on to earn a degree in classics from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law. Over the years, Mr. Sibley was employed as an attorney for several Atlanta law firms and at one time maintained a solo law practice. Mr. Sibley served as a lobbyist for the State Bar of Georgia from 1991 to 1998. He was director of legal affairs for Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Ga., from 1998 to 2009. In 2002, Mr. Sibley was appointed by Governor Roy Barnes as a member of the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority.

Mr. Sibley is survived by his wife, Robbie; father James Malcolm Sibley ’37; brothers James Malcolm Sibley, Jr. ’65 and Jack Norris Sibley ’66; and two sisters. Other EHS relatives include nephews James Malcolm Sibley III ’92 and Jack Norris Sibley, Jr. ’03, and niece Cary (“Lexa”) Sibley Remmes ’97.

96

of Charlotte, N.C., died Feb. 17, 2015.

Memorial and Honor Gifts Many donors choose to make memorial or honor gifts to Episcopal High School as a way to pay tribute to friends and loved ones. We are grateful to these donors who contributed to EHS from Nov. 1, 2014, to Feb. 15, 2015.

ME MOR I A L G IF T S In Memory of

In Memory of

In Memory of

Miss Caroline Elizabeth Anderson ’97 Mr. Joshua Spencer Glazer ’95 Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Gookin Mr. and Mrs. Scott C. Harris ’97 Dr. and Mrs. Charles H. Skipper

Mr. Robert Wilson Hudson Byrd ’64 Elliott Davis Decosimo, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. Moore Mr. and Mrs. Jay Robertson The Montgomery Academy Ms. M. P. Wilkerson

Mr. G. Moffett Cochran ’69 Mr. Marty Martin ’69

In Memory of

Ms. Kristin Ashley Armistead ’00 Mrs. Eliza Smith Dunn ’02 and Mr. Joshua D. Dunn Mrs. Lillian Smith Teer ’00 and Mr. Michael P. Teer, Jr.

Mr. Joshua Pretlow Darden, Jr. ’54 Mr. Reginald E. Rutledge, Jr. ’51 and The Rev. Fleming P. Rutledge

In Memory of

Mr. Lawton M. Calhoun ’59 Dr. and Mrs. W. Reid Pitts, Jr. ’59

In Memory of

Mr. Samuel Cooper Dawson, Jr. ’27 Mrs. Marion Dawson Robinette

In Memory of

Mrs. Anne Herrigel Bailey The Rev. Edwin Pearson Bailey ’45

Mr. Patrick Henry Callaway Dr. Francis Coleman Carter ’71 Mrs. John W. Grant III Prof. and Mrs. John G. Holland ’54

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. David Jeter Blalock ’86 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Goodrum, Jr. ’86 Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Robinson ’85

Ms. Martha Locke Cammack ’09 Ms. Virginia James Oates ’09

In Memory of

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. William Jones deButts, Jr. ’58 Dr. and Mrs. Richard L. Pietsch ’58 In Memory of

Dr. Alexander Colclough Dick, Sr. ’23 Dr. and Mrs. Macdonald Dick II ’59 In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. Edward Gordon Dudley, Jr. ’56 Mr. Floyd Lankford III ’57

Mr. William Moncure Boothe ’43 Mr. and Mrs. C. Braxton Moncure

Mr. Edward Codrington Carrington, Jr. ’63 Mr. and Mrs. Eric A. Heinsohn

In Memory of

In Memory of

Dr. Edward Ryant Dyer, Jr. ’35 Mrs. Edward Ryant Dyer, Jr.

Mr. Edward Trigg Brown ’36 Mr. Thomas Rutherfoord Brown ’73

Mr. Robert Spann Cathcart, Jr. ’29 Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Cathcart ’60

In Memory of

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. John Leak Everett III ’52 Dr. and Mrs. Harte C. Crow ’52

Mr. C. S. Taylor Burke, Jr. ’42 Mr. and Mrs. John O. Goddin, Sr. ’77

Dr. Robert Spann Cathcart III ’57 Mrs. Robert Spann Cathcart III Mr. G. Dana Sinkler

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. Stuart Grattan Christian, Jr. ’39 Mr. A. Stuart Ryan ’03

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. John Chauncey Everhart ’08 Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Daniel Brady Mr. William Luther Hand IV ’08 Ens. and Mrs. John R. Richey ’08

EHS

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97

MEMORIAL AND HONOR GIFTS

In Memory of

Mr. Robert Wiatt Farrar ’07 Ms. Katharine Dawson Farrar ’07 Mrs. Katharine H. Merritt ’02 and Mr. Joseph S. Merritt In Memory of

Mr. Joseph Wilson Fitchett, Jr. ’57 Mr. and Mrs. Shepard B. Ansley ’57 In Memory of

Mr. Stedman English Gage ’09 Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lawrence Williams In Memory of

Mr. William Weems Gates ’93 Mrs. Harold Elliott Barrett Mrs. Catharine S. Crawford ’93 and Mr. Penn Crawford In Memory of

Mr. Lucien Minor Geer Mrs. Catharine S. Crawford ’93 and Mr. Penn Crawford Mr. and Mrs. John F. DePodesta Mr. Alexander Yin-Hwa Liu ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Robinson ’85 Dr. and Mrs. Charles H. Skipper Mr. Richard Myers Stubbs Mr. Jeffrey C. Thomas ’76 and Ms. Janice L. Stolzy Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Tylander In Memory of

Mr. E. Howard Goodwin ’38 Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Goodwin, Jr. ’62 In Memory of

Mr. John William Grant III ’45 Mrs. John W. Grant III In Memory of

Mr. Arthur Powell Gray IV ’64 Dr. and Mrs. Robert Brown Vranian In Memory of

Mr. Joseph A. Halm Mr. and Mrs. Pendleton Clark Agnew Mr. and Mrs. Lee S. Ainslie, Jr. ’56 Mr. and Mrs. Kyle A. Armstrong ’98 Ms. Ellen G. Baber Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Brauner Mrs. Bonne K. Brown Mr. and Mrs. Laurence M. Cafritz Mrs. Sarah Carlyle H. Casella ’00 and Mr. Daniel Casella 98

Mr. Elliott L. Conklin ’01 and Ms. Elizabeth H. Hill Ms. Maria Gardner Cox ’11 Mr. Christian Daniel Driscoll ’12 Ms. Grace Tillery Falken ’14 Mr. Samuel Gregson Falken ’12 Ms. Caroline McMillan Hagood ’12 Mr. and Mrs. John R. Haley Ms. Abby Elizabeth Halm ’13 Mr. Randall H. Harmon and Ms. Barbara L. Booth Mr. Fielding Lewis Harrison ’11 Dr. Lillian Maxwell Bellamy Haywood ’04 Mr. William James Hennessey II ’14 Ms. Amanda Morrison Holt ’14 Prof. and Mrs. Matthew C. Hudson Ms. Emily Morgan Hunt ’14 Mr. Ryan Wesley Jackson ’06 Ms. Monica Hyesoo Jeon ’14 Mr. Bennett Nicolas Jones ’11 Mr. Christopher Elkins Joseph ’03 Ms. Taylor Marie Kelly ’12 Mr. Henry C. Lawson ’13 Mr. Jonathan E. Lee ’01 Mr. and Mrs. Ray Locke Mr. Jared Harry Love ’11 Mr. and Mrs. Matthew A. McClellan Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan M. Meeker, Jr. and Family Mr. Arthur M. Parker and Dr. Meda Lide Doffermyre Mr. Austin Robert Parker ’10 Ms. Mary Lide Parker ’06 Mr. and Mrs. William A. Raney, Jr. ’65 Mr. Howard Worth Smith IV ’12 Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Tamlyn Mr. and Mrs. Charles K. Tarbutton ’84 Dr. and Mrs. Holden Thorp Ms. Mary Werler and Mr. Gary Pzegeo Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lawrence Williams Mr. and Mrs. Howard Osler Woltz III Mr. Thomas Tabb Wyllie ’05 Mr. Sanford Manning Zeigler ’03

In Memory of

In Memory of

In Memory of

Dr. William Evans Hannum II Ms. Gretchen Christina Byrd ’95 Mrs. Katherine W. Easterling ’95 and Dr. Bruce M. Easterling Ms. Frances Dabney Kupersmith ’07

Mr. Frederick Strickland Hutchins, Jr. ’51 Mr. and Mrs. William D. Blake ’51 Mr. Gordon H. Cox Mr. James C. Eller WFS ’49 Mrs. Louise Parrish Perry Ms. Debra Wolfe Shea Steve, Sam, Kathryn, and Tricia Stephens

In Memory of

Mr. Ernest Helfenstein III ’50 Mr. and Mrs. J. E. G. Craig, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. H. Donald Scott ’50 Mr. James M. Seidule

Mr. Charles Rapley Hooff, Jr. ’31 Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Hooff III ’58 In Memory of

Mr. Charles Rapley Hooff, Sr. 1902 Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Hooff III ’58 In Memory of

Mr. John Caryle Herbert Hooff ’37 Mr. and Mrs. John C. H. Hooff, Jr. ’67 In Memory of

Mr. David M. Hoon ’75 Mr. Robert L. Banner, Jr. ’75 In Memory of

Robert Saunier Hornsby, Jr. ’99 Mr. and Mrs. J. Michael King ’98 In Memory of

Mrs. Ruth deWindt Hoxton Mr. and Mrs. Lee S. Ainslie, Jr. ’56 Mr. and Mrs. J. E. G. Craig, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Delano de Windt II Mr. Richard Snowdon Durham ’58 Mrs. Sylvia W. Geer Mr. and Mrs. Douglas L. Hawpe Mr. and Mrs. Archibald R. Hoxton III ’62 and Family Mr. H. Gordon Leggett, Jr. ’50 and Ms. Madeline E. Miller Mr. Douglass Sorrel Mackall III ‘49 Mr. Sorrel M. McElroy Mr. and Mrs. William S. Peebles IV ’73 Mr. Matthew T. Roach Mrs. Frank W. Rogers, Jr. Mr. Steve Six Ms. Joan A. Speers and Mr. Roger M. Mears Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. John M. Trask, Jr. ’54 Mr. and Mrs. Russell P. Wilson

In Memory of

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. Alexander Jennette Johnston ’78 Mr. and Mrs. Harry J. Archer III ’78

Mr. Frank Walter Rogers, Jr. ’47 Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Cramer

Nick Truitt Dr. and Mrs. W. Reid Pitts, Jr. ’59

In Memory of

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. Collier Cobb Lilly ’85 Mr. and James L. Allen, Jr. ’85 Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Robinson ’85

Mr. William Haywood Ruffin, Jr. ’50 Mr. and Mrs. John Ritchie, Jr. ’50

Mrs. Evelyn Vaill Kettner Mr. and Mrs. Frederick S. Vaill, Jr. ’45

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. Joseph Badger Shelor ’52 Mr. and Mrs. Lee S. Ainslie, Jr. ’56 Mr. and Mrs. John L. Appleby ’77 Ms. Gretchen Christina Byrd ’95 Mr. and Mrs. J. Caulley Deringer ’82 Dr. and Mrs. Charles P. Gilchrist III ’67 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Heath III ’81 Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Johnson, Jr. ’73

Mr. John Luther Walker ’54 Mr. and Mrs. John L. Walker III ’79

In Memory of

Mr. Bruce Donald MacKenzie ’59 Dr. and Mrs. W. Reid Pitts, Jr. ’59 In Memory of

Mr. Charles Sheild McCandlish ’66 Mr. and Mrs. David K. Higgins ’66

In Memory of

Mr. James Owen Watts III ’58 Dr. and Mrs. Richard L. Pietsch ’58

Mr. Quintus Whitaker Sibley ’73 Mr. and Mrs. William S. Peebles IV ’73

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. C. Venable Minor, Jr. ’58 Mr. and Mrs. James W. Cook ’58 Dr. and Mrs. Richard L. Pietsch ’58

Mr. Charles Hansell Watt III ’66 Dr. and Mrs. Mason M. Williams ’65

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. Peter Kingsley McKee ’52 Mr. and Mrs. John C. Allen

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. Allen Johnson Simpson ’58 Mr. and Mrs. P. David Brown Mr. and Mrs. Louis H. Gump ’57

In Memory of

Mr. Franklin Barker West ’12 Ms. Elizabeth Austin Conger ’12 Mr. Christian Daniel Driscoll ’12 Ms. Caroline McMillan Hagood ’12 Ms. Chase Dearing Hughes ’12 Ms. Anne Marshall Weisiger ’12

Mr. Allen Carleton Phillips, Jr. Mrs. Catharine S. Crawford ’93 and Mr. Penn Crawford Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Lobdell, Jr. ’71

In Memory of

Ms. Riley Alison Sims ’93 Mrs. Catharine S. Crawford ’93 and Mr. Penn Crawford

In Memory of

In Memory of

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. Robert Pittman Pierce III ’00 Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Kronemeyer Mr. John Ellis Knowles Wisner

Capt. Allen Smith III ’50 Mrs. Allen Smith III

Dr. David Kerndt Wiecking ’50 Mr. and Mrs. Benton T. Boogher, Jr. ’50

In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. James Duff Steptoe ’69 Mr. and Mrs. John A. Zapf II ’69

Mr. Erskine Buford Wilde ’65 Mr. and Mrs. John F. C. Glenn, Jr. ’65

In Memory of

Mrs. Yvonne Tomanelli Pinckney Lt. Cmdr. Bryan St. George Pinckney ’98 and Lt. Cmdr. Susan S. Pinckney Mr. St. George Bryan Pinckney ’65 In Memory of

Mr. William Bee Ravenel III Mr. W. Perry Epes III ’65 and The Rev. Gail A. Epes

Dr. Joseph Percivall Whittle ’38 The Rev. and Mrs. Fielder Israel, Jr. ’56

In Memory of

Mr. John Philip Strubing ’93 Mrs. Catharine S. Crawford ’93 and Mr. Penn Crawford Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Lamond ’93 Mr. and Mrs. Mark H. Masterson ’92 In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. John Warburton Reily ’11 Mr. Fielding Lewis Harrison ’11

Mr. James Robinson Taylor, Jr. The Hon. and Mrs. Larry B. Creson, Jr. ’54 In Memory of

In Memory of

Mr. Landon Haynes Roberts, Jr. ’73 Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Cart, Jr. ’73

Mr. Richard P. Thomsen ’30 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas O. Hunter ’51

EHS

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MEMORIAL AND HONOR GIFTS

HO N OR G IF T S In Honor of

In Honor of

In Honor of

the Class of 1970 Col. and Mrs. James E. Newman, Jr. ’70

Mr. Stephen R. Castle Mr. and Mrs. Blair W. Smith Mr. Claiborne Alexander Livingston Smith ’09 Ms. Stirling Palmer deVeres Smith ’13

Mr. William Perry Epes III ’65 Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge O. Long ’06 Mr. and Mrs. Blair W. Smith Mr. Claiborne Alexander Livingston Smith ’09 Ms. Stirling Palmer deVeres Smith ’13 Mr. Charles Edward Williams ’04 Mr. Jack Alexander Yeh ’99

In Honor of

Episcopal High School Faculty and Staff Mr. and Mrs. Tracey B. Kitchens Mr. Michael J. Reedich and Ms. Catalina L. Keilhauer

In Honor of

Mr. James Harrell Chesson ’79 Mr. and Mrs. John R. Haley

In Honor of

Ms. Amanda Marie Acquaire ’11 Ms. Elizabeth Alexander Henderson ’11

In Honor of In Honor of

Ms. Jacqueline Valentine Clayton ’12 Mr. and Mrs. John H. Duer III ’53

In Honor of

Mrs. Sylvia W. Geer Mr. Richard Myers Stubbs In Honor of

Mr. and Mrs. Lee Sanford Ainslie, Jr. ’56 Mr. James McKay Morton ’69 Mr. and Mrs. William S. Peebles IV ’73

In Honor of

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. Lee Sanford Ainslie, Jr. ’56 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kim Bingham

Mr. Alexander Joseph Collie ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Ray Zeillmann

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mrs. Ellen Shaver Albers Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Wise ’83

Mrs. Viviana R. Davila Mrs. Jane D. Ainsworth Mr. and Mrs. John Hardin Ward IV

Mr. Elwood Brogden Coley, Jr. ’73 Mr. and Mrs. William S. Peebles IV ’73

Mr. E. Howard Goodwin ’38 Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Goodwin, Jr. ’62 In Honor of

Mark Edward Gowin Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Jones III In Honor of

In Honor of

Ms. Mollie Rachel Armm ’17 Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Armm

In Honor of

Mr. William Howard Armstrong IV ’12 Mr. and Mrs. William H. Armstrong III

Mr. and Mrs. William H. deButts III ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Blair W. Smith Mr. Claiborne Alexander Livingston Smith ’09 Ms. Stirling Palmer deVeres Smith ’13

In Honor of

In Honor of

Dr. R. W. Barker Mr. Brian Charles Barker ’93

Mr. William Riley Deeble III Mr. Kemble White III ’62 and Ms. Kathleen Reid

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. David Wilkinson Carr, Jr. ’73 Mr. and Mrs. William S. Peebles IV ’73 100

In Honor of

Mrs. Katherine Webb Easterling ’95 Mr. and Mrs. T. Ladson Webb, Jr. ’69

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. Jeffrey B. Hoisington Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Jackson, Jr. ’81

Mr. Nathaniel A. Ebel Mr. and Mrs. Randolph C. Harrell

In Honor of

In Honor of

The Rev. Thomas C. Hummel Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Pierce II ’78

Mr. and Mrs. William Perry Epes III ’65 Mr. and Mrs. Lee S. Ainslie, Jr. ’56

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. David Wilkinson Carr ’43 Mr. and Mrs. William S. Peebles IV ’73

Mr. and Mrs. F. Robertson Hershey Mr. and Mrs. James R. McNab, Jr.

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. Matthew T. Fitzgerald Mrs. Shawn Ellis Daniel

In Honor of

Mr. F. Robertson Hershey Ms. Carolyn Chandler and Metairie Park Country Day School Mr. Charles S. Craighill ’79 and Prof. Virginia O. Craighill Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Farmer ’74 Brig. Gen. and Mrs. John A. Hurley Mr. Christopher L. Knapp Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge O. Long ’06 Mr. and Mrs. John C. Parrott II

In Honor of

Mr. Joseph W. Blount ’74 Ms. Frances Boston Blount ’13

Mr. Alexander Colgate Green ’14 Mr. Stephen Ridgely Green

Mr. Joel Hurt Jones ’78 Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Arrington, Jr.

In Honor of

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. Sen Michael Kenneally ’17 Mr. and Mrs. Norman E. Kenneally

Mr. Lemuel Preston Randolph II ’16 Dr. and Mrs. Lynwood Randolph

In Honor of

In Honor of

Ms. Maura Lee Kitchens ’16 Mrs. Craig Jumper

Mr. Marshall Frazier Richard ’13 Dr. and Mrs. Stephen R. Richard, Sr.

Ms. Elizabeth A. Vorlicek Mr. and Mrs. Blair W. Smith Mr. Claiborne Alexander Livingston Smith ’09 Ms. Stirling Palmer deVeres Smith ’13

In Honor of

In Honor of

The Hon. John Sidney McCain III ’54 Mr. and Mrs. John H. Duer III ’53

Mr. Robert Jett Rogers, Jr. ’79 Mr. and Mrs. John R. Haley Mr. William James Hennessey II ’14

In Honor of

In Honor of

Ms. Annette Williamson McColm Ms. Annette L. Williamson

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. James M. Seidule Mr. and Mrs. Otto Lowe, Jr. Mr. James McKay Morton ’69

Mr. Emmett Francis McGee, Jr. ’77 Mrs. Nancy R. Morris

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mrs. Rebecca Pomeroy Shores ’02 Ms. Annette L. Williamson

Mr. Timothy Russell McGee ’81 Mrs. Nancy R. Morris

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. Samuel R. Slack Ms. Elizabeth Aline Martinelli ’14

Dr. John Michael Miller Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Pierce II ’78

In Honor of

Mr. Panos J. Voulgaris Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Jackson, Jr. ’81 In Honor of

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Crenshaw Watts III Mr. and Mrs. Lee S. Ainslie, Jr. ’56 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N.P. Johnson III Mr. and Mrs. William S. Peebles IV ’73 In Honor of

Mr. Kevin Soja Mr. and Mrs. Troy P. Laws Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Yardley

Mr. Robert Crenshaw Watts III Mr. Michael Sutton Alford ’11 Ms. Julia Elizabeth Baker ’13 Mr. William Whiting Davy ’12 Dr. and Mrs. Charles P. Gilchrist III ’67 Mr. Anders Vail Hedman ’13 Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge O. Long ’06 Mr. and Mrs. Blair W. Smith Mr. Claiborne Alexander Livingston Smith ’09 Ms. Stirling Palmer deVeres Smith ’13 Dr. and Mrs. Mason M. Williams ’65

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. Mason Mitchell Spence ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Wong

Mr. Michael McMahon Webb ’04 Mr. and Mrs. T. Ladson Webb, Jr. ’69

In Honor of

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. Stewart McLeod Spurry ’16 Mrs. Ethel V. Layton

Mr. Thomas Ladson Webb III ’97 Mr. and Mrs. T. Ladson Webb, Jr. ’69

Mr. Frank P. Phillips Mr. and Mrs. John N. Richardson, Jr.

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. Richard Myers Stubbs Mrs. Shawn Ellis Daniel Mr. and Mrs. Blair W. Smith Mr. Claiborne Alexander Livingston Smith ’09 Ms. Stirling Palmer deVeres Smith ’13

Mrs. Stacie R. Galiger Williams Ms. Elizabeth Aline Martinelli ’14

In Honor of

In Honor of

Mr. John LeRoy Townsend III ’73 Mr. and Mrs. David W. Carr, Jr. ’73 Mr. Todd Robbins

Ms. Wyndham Josephine Williamson ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Zack H. Bacon, Jr.

In Honor of

Mrs. Eleanor C. Moore Ms. Virginia Wellford Moore ’03 In Honor of

Mr. J. Mason New Mr. John Joseph Kelemen IV ’09 Mr. Karl Osian Utermohlen ’08

In Honor of

Dr. W. Reid Pitts, Jr. ’59 Mr. Richard Snowdon Durham ’58 In Honor of

Rev. Gideon L. K. Pollach Mr. and Mrs. Blair W. Smith Mr. Claiborne Alexander Livingston Smith ’09 Ms. Stirling Palmer deVeres Smith ’13

In Honor of

Ms. Susan Serpell Williamson ’18 Mr. and Mrs. Zack H. Bacon, Jr.

EHS

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MEMORIAL AND HONOR GIFTS

The Sibley Family Scholarship In Memory of Quintus W. Sibley ’73 LATIN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROMINENT FIGURE IN THE SIBLEY FAMILY HOUSEHOLD. JACK SIBLEY ’66 AND FAMILY CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT OF THE SIBLEY FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP IN MEMORY OF QUINTUS W. SIBLEY ’73 IN HOPES THAT IT WILL INSPIRE FUTURE LATIN SCHOLARS ATTENDING EHS.

102

A lot of Sibleys have attended Episcopal. How has EHS shaped you and your family?

By my count, 11 of us have attended EHS so far, beginning with my father [James M. Sibley ’37] and ending with my son [Jack Norris Sibley, Jr. ’03]. We all have a love of athletics because they were made available to the average athlete at Episcopal.

More importantly, all of us have lifelong friends across the country, a respect for work and industry, and a desire to serve others where we can.

We were imbued with a sense of honesty beginning with the Honor Code. Our spiritual leanings arise out of seeds planted at EHS.

How did your family develop a love of Greek and Latin?

What are your family’s hopes for students receiving this scholarship?

We grew up with Latin names at the dinner table, and our parents were always sprinkling the conversation with some Greek god’s antics, philosopher’s wisdom, or emperor’s folly. My brother was the fifth child – hence his name, Quintus, which means “fifth” in Latin. Both my brother and father loved classics at EHS, and they further pursued their interest at Princeton. When I arrived at EHS and entered third Latin, I quickly realized I was a Spanish scholar.

When my oldest daughter [Cary “Lexa” Sibley Remmes ’97] wanted to go to EHS, the School gave her a partial scholarship so I could afford to send her. Our hope is that this partial scholarship will enable a family to send their child to EHS. If the student loves to study the classics, all the better. Many in my family have contributed to the fund, and I hope they will continue to do so.

Ed Kerr ’85 showing off his new app, ROLR, in Venice, Calif., outside the offices of ROLR and Snapchat.

PROFILE

VOLUME 67

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NO.1

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SPRING 2015

All In TV and film actor Edward Kerr ’85 rolls the dice on social video app ROLR.

H E H A D N E V E R TA K E N A N AC T I N G C L A S S, N E V E R S TA R R E D I N A S C H O O L P L AY – N E V E R E V E N AUD I T I O NE D FO R O NE . BU T IN 19 9 0, T HE Y E A R HE G R A D UAT E D F R O M VA ND E R B ILT W I T H A D E G R E E I N H I S T O R Y, E D W A R D K E R R ’ 8 5 L O A D E D U P H I S C A R A N D D R O V E W E S T T O H O L LY W O O D. “ I A L W AY S K N E W I T W A S S O M E T H I N G I W A N T E D T O T R Y,” S AY S K E R R . H E H A D $ 3 2 5 A N D J U S T T H E R I G H T M I X O F TA L E N T, D E T E R M I N AT I O N , A N D N A Ï V E T É T O T H I N K H E MIGHT MAK E IT AS AN AC TOR. AND HE DID.

After two years of taking acting classes and waiting tables, Kerr landed a talent deal with NBC. Over the next 20 years he starred in dozens of TV commercials and series, with lead roles in 10 network television pilots, and a handful of films – but, by his own account, he never had a hit. Now, more than two decades after arriving in L.A., Kerr is ready for his blockbuster. It won’t be coming to a theater near you, and you’ve never heard of it, but you could play a part. Kerr’s new social video app, ROLR, which launched earlier this year and is available for download in the iOS app store, just might scratch an itch you never knew you had.

Here’s how it works: Choose from a selection of popular movie scenes, and then use your smartphone camera to record a video of yourself reading one of the roles from that scene. You’re roleplaying opposite a pre-recorded performance of someone else, so no one is actually watching you as you record – but it feels much like a live conversation. Once you’re satisfied with your performance (you can re-record as many times as you like), you have a little video of yourself that friends and others can view and interact with.

Afraid? Hold on a minute. Consider the widespread appeal of a not-so-ancient Japanese art form: Karaoke.

“For those who want to try their hand at singing, there’s karaoke,” says Kerr. “But not many people get a chance to act. And

that’s what we set out to create: the world’s first acting machine.”

Karaoke comes from the Japanese words for “empty” and “orchestra.” ROLR is more like an empty stage – or maybe an empty audience. And yet the experience isn’t empty or lonely. It’s social and surprisingly intimate – a way of connecting with a friend or stranger through scripted dialogue in a manner that is controlled, yes, but in another sense vulnerable. You don’t get to choose one perfect selfie to represent your physical self. Your voice, your expressions – certain aspects of your true identity – are on display. And that’s what makes it so exciting. “There’s something about a scripted interaction that can be potentially deeper than an authentic small talk conversation,” says Kerr.

Kerr’s fondest memories of Episcopal involve late-night conversations on dorm.

“We didn’t have television, so we just talked.” Kerr thinks ROLR might help millennials overcome conversational stage fright. “The idea of ROLR being used as a conversational ice-breaker is kind of cool.”

ROLR’s creation story begins with a film that was never made. Feeling stuck as an actor, Kerr wanted to try on a new role. “I always had to fight for every job I got, so I started to get frustrated later in my career.” He teamed up with a college friend who had always wanted to make a movie: Kerr wrote the script, and his friend agreed to put up the funding – nearly $2 million at the time. “About one out of 40

independent films will make a profit. It’s a very risky proposition. So we thought, if we’re likely to lose all this money, let’s at least try to do something innovative.”

What if they crowd-sourced the casting, they wondered. What if they could make this the American Idol of independent films? “We could never figure out how to make the contest phase compelling because if you watched two or three auditions, you’d get bored. So we thought, what if people could act together via webcam?

Or even phone-to-phone?”

They built a prototype of the recording interface, and suddenly a star was born.

Forget the movie. Forget the contest. The ROLR experience was just the sort of innovation they had hoped to stumble upon.

With no background in business or technology, Kerr took a break from acting (though he still recurs as a character on the popular TV show Pretty Little Liars) and bet everything on building the ROLR iOS app. After a few years developing and patenting the technology, licensing content from major studios, and raising additional funding, ROLR now has a team of 15 (and growing) with offices in Venice, San Francisco, and Belarus. Their office in Venice is right around the corner from Snapchat. “Who knows?” says Kerr.

“Maybe some of their success will rub off on us.”

And maybe some of us will discover a new side of ourselves…without having to pack up the car and drive to California.

LOOK INWARD, OUTWARD, FORWARD

EHS

B Y J O H A N N A D RO U B A Y

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

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SPRING 2015

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THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

Image Credit: Peyton Schwartz ’15

Do Smartphones Connect Us... ...or Cut Us Off?

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SPRING 2015