The Magazine of Episcopal - Winter 2018

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EPISCOPAL Episcopal School of Jacksonville

Winter 2018

Mission Statement The mission of Episcopal School of Jacksonville is to provide a superior college-preparatory education in an environment marked by high expectation, Christian nurture, and social diversity. Through a balanced program of academics, arts, and athletics, Episcopal’s faculty seeks to instill in each student intellectual growth, character development, responsible leadership and a commitment to community service.

LEADERSHIP 2018-2019 Board of Trustees Len Allen Claudia Saenz Amlie ’87 – Secretary Clare G. Berry ’73 Beverly H. Bonaparte, Ph.D. Stephen D. Busey – Chancellor Troy M. Davis ’93 Kelly A. Flanagan ’02 Heather Fouts David C. Hodges Jr. ’90 – Chairman R. Brian King Mark R. LaBorde ’84 The Honorable Don H. Lester John Magevney ’89 The Very Reverend Katherine B. Moorehead – Vice Chairman Helen C. Rowan – Chair-Elect John C. Schmidt ’70 Sally Haskell Singletary ’86 William N. Steitz III Carl E. Stoudemire III ’75 Stephen Suddath ’73 Kenneth D. Sweder Arnold D. Tritt ’81 Ryan I. Utti, MD Theodora D. Walton Sidney Wells ’91 The Right Reverend Samuel Johnson Howard, Bishop of Florida, Ex-Officio The Reverend Adam S. Greene, Head of School, Ex-Officio Charles Chunn ’98, Alumni Board President, Ex-Officio Foundation Board Robert M. Clements John A. Delaney Stephen D. Moore Jr. John E. Sawyer IV Kenneth D. Sweder David C. Hodges Jr. ’90, Chairman Board of Trustees, Ex-Officio The Reverend Adam S. Greene, Head of School, Ex-Officio

Trustees Emeriti William B. Bond E. Bruce Bower Peggy P. Bryan J. F. Bryan IV John W. Donahoo Jr. David W. Foerster Henry H. Graham Jr. † Joan S. Haskell Preston H. Haskell III Mark Hulsey † Delores T. Lastinger Allen L. Lastinger Hugh M. Magevney III J. T. McCormick † Thad L. McNulty Walter A. McRae Jr. † John A. Mitchell III Jane S. Munnerlyn † W. Wilson Munnerlyn † The Rev. Doctor Robert R. Parks † Gert H.W. Schmidt † The Honorable Gerald B. Tjoflat Elizabeth Walton † William H. Walton Jr. † Mary Winston † James H. Winston † Katharine K. Zambetti Head of School Emeritus Charles F. Zimmer Honorary Trustees Michael D. Abney † William B. Barnett Margaret B. Berg † The Rt. Rev. Frank S. Cerveny Robert M. Clements Maxwell K. Dickinson Thomas M. Donahoo J. Dix Druce Jr. Bertram N. Herlong † Richard H. Jones Dr. Ross T. Krueger Joan W. Newton Marian B. Poitevent Richard H. Suddath † The Very Rev. Gustave J. Weltsek †

Alumni Board Charles Chunn ’98 – President Heather Rainey Moseley ’88 – President-Elect Katherine Donahoo Nott ’90 – Vice President of The Episcopal Fund Peter Blumeyer ’08 – Vice President of Membership Ashley Helmick ’07 – Secretary William Milne ’00 – Chaplain Lesley Marchman Gittings ’06 – Eagle Society Chair, Ex-Officio Members at Large Mary Burke Baker ’93 Brooks Fraleigh Cannon ’97 Mary Lanier Cook ’94 Darren Glenn ’91 Lee Haramis ’10 Jennifer Stopiak Hayes ’90 Leigh Elizabeth Black Isreal ’05 Brad McCollum ’08 Graham Riley ’00 Shannon Shea ’89 Julie Wiggins Sorenson ’98 Stacy Byrd Thomas ’07 Tracy Thompson ’12 Deanna Thornton ’10 Nick Walker ’10 Katharyn Smith Woods ’07 Editor Meg Scheu Sacks Design and Production Katie Lawrence Contributors Jane Labossier Heather Newman Johnson ’90 Jennifer Windley Missy Ketchum Lisa Allen Ryan Riggs Andy Kidd ’99 Josephine Sanchez Janelle Sessoms ’19 Michelle Krueger Photography Brandon Westerman ’99 Laura Evans Photography († deceased) ESJ

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From the Head of School Alumni Military Features Campus News Alumni News Advancing Episcopal End Notes

Winter 2018

PHOTO

The Fine Arts Department performed the Florida premiere of Striking 12 in November, a

musical inspired, in part, by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl.” It tells the story of a grumpy, overworked New Yorker who resolves to spend New Year’s Eve alone in his apartment when an unexpected visitor brings some much-needed cheer.

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

HH Victories have abounded this semester.

Members of our volleyball, swimming, golf, and cross country teams all headed to state competitions. Fine Arts ushered us into the season with the Florida premiere of Striking 12 and a joyful Christmas concert at St. John’s Cathedral. We worshipped together at the Cathedral as a community, and Student Vestry led us in thought-provoking and energetic Chapels throughout the semester. In World Languages, Node Desks are being used for the first time to facilitate language skills development and our students and teachers are reaping the benefits.

The 2018-2019 school year already has been one to remember! As I reflect on this first semester, I am proud of all we as a school have undertaken to continue to offer the most exceptional 6-12 grade experience in the Southeast. Through a focus on learnercentered teaching, health and wellness, and an even more robust and outstanding college counseling program, we are ensuring that our students truly have opportunities not found elsewhere. We were again named “Best Private School in Jacksonville” for 2018 by The Florida Times Union – a tribute to what the finest faculty in our region do in our classrooms and around our beautiful campus each and every day.

This semester we began work on executing our strategic plan, Seek Boldly. Faculty and staff are meeting monthly to develop strategies to ensure we reach the goals laid out in this comprehensive plan. Seek Boldly has inspired our work this year and set the course for what we will accomplish in the future. Additionally, we are exploring options for a new student life center, expanded sixth grade space, and additional facilities for our best-in-class Fine Arts programs. Our Board is committed to providing facilities which are commensurate with the excellence of our programs, and you will hear more about these plans soon.

Our Health, Safety, and Well-Being initiative has brought three healthcare professionals from Baptist Health to campus for a speaker series, and we will host two more events with Baptist Health in the spring. As part of this programming, our students, through extended advisory periods, have enjoyed various activities and educational programs, as well as on-campus guests who’ve addressed nutrition, peer pressure, and bullying.

I am also thankful to share with you that giving within our community – parents, faculty and staff, alumni and even students – is at a higher level than ever before, meaning more of you are giving, and giving more support to our students and faculty. We are profoundly grateful for your support and deep faith in our mission.

We could not provide what we do for our students without the time and resources you dedicate to making the Episcopal experience one that remains unrivaled in Northeast Florida.

Blessings for a safe and joyous Christmas season as we celebrate this most special time of the year. We look forward to 2019 and all it will bring for our wonderful Episcopal community.

The Rev. Adam S. Greene Head of School

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ALUMNI

Serving Our Country In this issue of The Magazine of Episcopal, we share stories of alumni who are serving or have served our country in the military. Each alumnus has shared with us how military service changed their lives.

Some are starting their careers while some have moved on to other endeavors, but all have selflessly given their time and talent to our country on our behalf. We salute these alumni for their service.

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Brad Sleeth ’97, D.M.D: “Benefits of Service are Immeasurable” Brad Sleeth ’97 had just graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in biology on an ROTC scholarship when the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 occurred and he was deployed to Kuwait.

“The attacks on the World Trade Center happened while we were doing final field exercises in Officer Basic Course. When they told us about what happened, I initially thought it was part of our next exercise,” said Brad. “A couple of weeks after that, I got to my

Don Sleeth, had served in the Army and it was important to Brad to serve his country. His biggest role in the Army was as a Combat Engineer Platoon Leader -- which specialized in demolitions and mine warfare as part of the armored cavalry.

His highest rank was first lieutenant.

“Being in the military taught me a lot about leadership and hard work.

I learned how to delegate, assign responsibility and follow up. I learned how to think strategically and then translate strategic goals down into the

“EPISCOPAL CHALLENGED ME FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE WHICH SET ME UP TO BE ABLE TO MEET SUCCESSIVELY BIGGER CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. MY TEACHERS AND COACHES MADE SETTING HIGH STANDARDS A HABIT AND I HAVE CARRIED THAT WITH ME THROUGHOUT MY CAREER.” new unit, and then landed in Kuwait on Thanksgiving Day (coincidentally the same day my father landed in Vietnam).

I had just been a college student a few months before that, so that whole experience really forced me to develop quickly as a leader.”

Brad’s father, Tim Sleeth, and grandfathers, James Lawrence and

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smaller actions needed to accomplish those goals,” said Brad. “I also learned a lot about communication and how to get a team to work together towards a common goal.”

Brad learned the importance of teamwork, crucial to success in the military, at Episcopal.

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“My experience in football and wrestling definitely helped me learn the importance of being a part of a team, doing everything I could to support that team and relying on my teammates,” said Brad.

“Episcopal challenged me from a very young age which set me up to be able to meet successively bigger challenges throughout my life. My teachers and coaches made setting high standards a habit and I have carried that with me throughout my career. ESJ also helped me develop critical thinking skills, an inquiring mind and a love of learning.”

Currently Brad is in a two-year residency at the Medical University of South Carolina specializing in endodontics.

He previously earned his D.M.D. from the University of Florida, after also

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earning a B.S. in Building Construction Management and an M.S. in Biology at the University of North Florida. He plans to return to Jacksonville with his family (wife Elizabeth, sons Brooks and Whitman, and daughter London) to practice professionally when he completes his residency in the summer of 2020.

Brad is proud of having served in the military and appreciates what it has taught him.

“I think that military service offers an opportunity for growth that is difficult to find in civilian life,” he shared. “Serving as a young adult will provide a great foundation on which to succeed in any other career. Anyone who chooses to serve in the military will have to make a number of sacrifices, but the long-term benefits of service are immeasurable.” H

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Lee Hackney ’74: “Look for Leadership in Others” U.S. Navy Capt. Norma “Lee” Hackney Lee’s first assignment was to Naval Data was the first woman to command a Automation Command, Washington, U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship in D.C., as an economic analyst. In 1980, a war zone. At the height of her career, she transferred to USS Proteus, homeshe was responsible for a crew of 1,000 ported in Guam, as the damage control sailors and 1,500 marines on board. assistant and engineer officer. In 1985, “My major command she graduated with was the USS Saipan. a M.S. in operations SHE THRIVED AS We call it a baby analysis from the aircraft carrier Naval Postgraduate A COMMANDING because it is only School in Monterey, OFFICER. “I LOVED three football fields CA. long instead of four,” BEING ABLE TO Her next tour was she says. aboard USS Yosemite, EXPLAIN THE VISION Lee was in college, Mayport, FL, as engineer officer. In working her way OF WHAT WE’D BEEN 1988, she graduated through in order to pay her tuition at High ASSIGNED TO DO, from the Armed Point University and Forces Staff College THEN WATCHING MY then at Jacksonville and reported to the University when she Joint Staff, J8, to CREW PULL IT OFF...” serve as an operations learned of an ROTC scholarship that analyst. Lee was then named executive officer aboard USS would fund the rest of her degree. She won the scholarship and earned a B.S. Merrimack, Norfolk, VA, from 1991 to in mathematics with a computer science 1992. minor from Jacksonville University.

Following her XO tour, she was assigned to OPNAV Staff, as head She received her commission through surface analyst. From November 1994 the Naval Reserve Officer Training until November 1996, Lee served as the Program in 1978. For the next 28 years, commanding officer of USS Willamette. her naval career took her all over the “The highlight of this tour was world and into leadership roles that deploying to the Western Pacific and the would shape many men and women Persian Gulf,” she says. who served under her.

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Her next assignment was to Surface Warfare School, Command Department, Newport, RI, to instruct prospective commanding officers and executive officers. From June 1998 until March 2000, she served as executive officer aboard USS Bataan, Norfolk, VA. After this XO tour, Lee served as the commanding officer of Assault Craft Unit FOUR from May 2000 until August 2001. During her various afloat assignments, she sailed to the Mediterranean, Western Pacific, South Pacific, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and the Caribbean. “I have gypsy blood,” says Lee. “I liked traveling to different places, having new experiences.”

She became commanding officer aboard USS Saipan on December 6, 2001.

She thrived as a commanding officer.

“I loved being able to explain the vision of what we’d been assigned to do, then watching my crew pull it off,” she says. “I looked for leadership in others. Every day I wanted to build the relationships with people.”

This relationship of trust is, according to Lee, covenant leadership. “I wanted to help them be the best they could be, even if they didn’t want to continue to serve in the Navy.

If I could help those who didn’t want to be career military with certifications or skills that would help them get a job outside the Navy, that benefitted all of us.”

In addition to campaign and unit awards, Lee was awarded the Legion of Merit (with gold star), the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with three gold stars) and the Navy Commendation Medal.

After Lee retired from the Navy, she cared for her mother while she was ill and dying, something she is grateful she had the opportunity to do. After her mother died, she moved to Anna, IL, where she lives now.

“I’m not afraid to try new things,” says Lee. “In fact, I have a passion for doing something different, tackling something new.”

Lee says that Episcopal provided her with a great foundation for her life. “People were interested in people, and it was a supportive environment,” she says. “Going to Episcopal was confidence-building, as I had teachers who took me under their wings.” Lee has made this same gesture for countless others throughout her life, in service to her country and community. H

She is hardly retired, however. She serves as the director of the Anna Arts Center.

“It is a merger of my two passions—art and leadership.” She has also bought and rehabilitated three 100-year old buildings in Anna’s downtown.

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Darisse Bowden Smith ’96: “You Have to Love Serving Others” Darisse Bowden Smith ’96, who ultimately achieved the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army, had several reasons for joining the military. She was influenced by her father’s pride in his service in the Army, and she wanted to learn about true leadership and “have an adventure,” she said. Her desire for adventure ultimately led her to Iraq, where she worked with Kurdish Iraqis and South Korean soldiers, developing a deep sympathy for Iraqi civilians trying to build some semblance of an every-day life in a country roiled by war.

She was deployed to Iraq from 2005 to 2006.

“The ROK Army was there building hospitals and schools for the Kurdish people. Our job was to make sure they had the supplies they needed, and that the hospitals and schools were being built to represent all Kurds, and not just areas which were prominent with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG),” shared Darisse.

“I was in a rather unique position in Iraq because I was working with both Kurdish Iraqis and South Korean soldiers. I developed “...MOST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO LOVE a lot of empathy for the Kurds SERVING OTHERS, EVEN IF THAT in particular. Here is a group of people who are highly MEANS PUTTING YOURSELF ASIDE,” persecuted, trying to develop a self-reliant region in a warSAID DARISSE. “AS AN OFFICER, MY torn, violent country,” said ENTIRE JOB REVOLVED AROUND Darisse. “I had never given much thought about what life TAKING CARE OF OTHERS, AND THIS was like for a regular civilian in Iraq. I was able to participate IS AN EDICT I LIVE BY TODAY.” in both broad policy decisions in the area as well as what life Darisse was an OH-58D “Kiowa Warrior” was like on the ground and day to day. helicopter pilot and began her career My experience there led me to study after flight school as a Platoon Leader the Yazidis, who are a unique ethnoin Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, religious group who were nearly wiped 10th Attack Battalion, 10th Mountain out by ISIS in August 2014.”

Division at Fort Drum, NY, where the temperature regularly fell below zero during the winter, with much “lake effect” snow. Her job was to train and lead other helicopter pilots, mostly Chief Warrant Officers during reconnaissance and attack missions.

She also oversaw aviation crew chiefs, who were responsible for the aircraft maintenance.

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Darisse was also responsible for the morale, health and welfare of eleven U.S. soldiers while living on a South Korean Forward Operating Base (FOB).

After she finished as a Platoon Leader, she served as the Republic of Korea (ROK) Logistics Liaison Officer at Camp Zaytun in Irbil, Iraq, which is in Northern Iraq in Iraqi Kurdistan. To end her career,

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she served as the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade (10th CAB) Logistics Officer, Rear Detachment. She was responsible for a multi-million dollar budget, and generally made sure forward and rear units had the money and supplies they needed.

“My experience in the Army taught me that I am capable of much more than I thought I was. When I got to Iraq, I was asked to do a job I had no training for, in a hazardous, combat environment, in an area of the country I knew nothing about.

I had to figure out my job on the fly, and eventually was able to do the job well.

Now if I face a challenge, I know I can overcome it, because really nothing can compare to the challenge of deployment.

Also, I learned that even English majors can be taught to fly helicopters!” she said.

It was the moral education Darisse received at Episcopal that helped her through some tricky times, especially during her year in Iraq.

“Episcopal instilled in me the drive to serve others, and developed me as a whole person. My experience at Episcopal challenged me not just academically, but physically and spiritually. The classrooms taught me to think critically, and athletics

helped me hone my desire to be part of a team,” said Darisse.

Darisse is currently working on her second bachelor’s degree in literary journalism at the University of California, Irvine, using the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Darisse earned her first bachelor’s in English at Davidson College in North Carolina on an ROTC scholarship. She plans on writing a book about Yazidi refugees as her first project after graduating from UC-Irvine.

“The military will challenge you in every way possible. No matter what, your service in the military will be the defining time of your life. Most of all, you have to love serving others, even if that means putting yourself aside,” said Darisse. “As an officer, my entire job revolved around taking care of others, and this is an edict I live by today.” H

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Catherine Yip ’14: “An Opportunity to Live a Life of Honor” U.S Navy Ensign Catherine Yip ’14 is currently stationed in Pensacola, FL, after graduating from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in May. She is a student naval aviator in flight school in Pensacola, where she is working to develop a foundation in technical training, character development, and professional leadership to become a combat-quality aviation professional.

The desire to serve is something she feels she learned at Episcopal.

“Episcopal influenced me by instilling a sense of service to others in me.

wanted to be just like them. In them, the Naval Academy and the Navy, I saw an opportunity to live a life of honor dedicated to serving my country and others.”

While at USNA Catherine held numerous leadership positions. As a 2nd Class (junior), she was the 17th Company Operations Sergeant during the fall semester. As a firstie (senior), she served as the 17th Company Adjutant during the fall semester and the 17th Company Training Officer during the spring semester. During the

“BY ACCEPTING MY NOMINATION, I HOPED TO ENCOURAGE AND INSPIRE MORE EPISCOPAL STUDENTS TO GO TO THE SERVICE ACADEMIES OR JOIN THE MILITARY.” Episcopal always emphasized giving back to the community, and that sense of duty to the community ultimately inspired me to dedicate my life to service to others and thus caused me to join the Navy,” said Catherine.

She visited the Naval Academy while a student at Episcopal, and what she saw there inspired her to apply.

“The midshipmen were hardworking, dedicated individuals who embodied the tenets of duty, honor, and loyalty, and they were completely different from the average college student I had met,” said Catherine. “I was completely in awe of them, and I immediately

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summer between her plebe (freshman) and youngster (sophomore) year, Catherine was assigned to the USS Higgins (DDG 76) for four weeks as it was underway for deployment.

“I embarked on the ship with other midshipmen at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii where we sailed to Bahrain. Along the way, we made port calls at Guam, Singapore, and the UAE. During that cruise, I realized that we are all very lucky and blessed to live in the United States,” said Catherine. “While it was interesting to see other cultures and countries, I realized that American values and the American way of life are truly unique around the world. It

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Catherine was very honored to accept her nomination to the Naval Academy.

was then that I realized that I would do anything to protect our values and way of life so that Americans could continue living their lives in peace without having to worry about outside threats that might try to destroy that way of life.”

Catherine said learning perseverance at Episcopal also has helped her in her Naval career.

“Through my experience at Episcopal, I learned to never give up. I learned that even though things may seem dark and there may be times when you want to just stop trying, giving up is never the answer,” she said. “There were many times at the Naval Academy where I wanted to give up and go back to the life I had before joining the Navy, but because I developed perseverance at Episcopal I never gave up even when it would have been easier to quit than to continue moving forward.”

“By accepting my nomination, I hoped to encourage and inspire more Episcopal students to go to the service academies or join the military,” she said. “Do not be intimidated or believe that the military will never accept you or that you will never make it in the military. The military needs different people with different perspectives from different backgrounds, so don’t be afraid to apply.”

Her wish to serve others, her dedication and her perseverance will all ensure she does well as she continues her career in the U.S. Navy.

“By continuing to put the mission and others before me, I strive to continue living a life of duty, honor, and loyalty not to myself but to the Constitution, the service, the mission, the ship, and my shipmates,” said Catherine. H

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Joseph Kincart ’13: “A Bond that Will Not Fade With Time” A 2018 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Joe Kincart, 2nd Lieutenant, is just beginning his career in the United States Air Force in Del Rio, TX, at Laughlin AFB while attending undergraduate pilot training. Always impressed with his grandfathers’ stories of service during World War II and Vietnam and holding them up as role models, Joe was also forever changed when his family was living in New York and his father was working in the city on September 11, 2001.

“I know everyone says it, but I really do remember 9/11 like it was yesterday: the fear, the panic, the urgency. But what still sticks with me is the way our country rallied around it and united as Americans, and that was a feeling I wanted to do anything I could to hold on to,” says Joe. “It was a feeling I could proudly stand and fight for, and that’s what led me to want to join the military.”

While attending the Air Force Academy, Joe had the opportunity to serve in various important roles. Senior year, he was elected to serve as one of four Group Commanders in the Cadet Wing, made up of approximately 4,400 cadets.

“I was held responsible for the standards, trainings, safety and overall performance of 25% of the wing in my group. This position allowed me to interact with the other top cadets and both Field-grade and General officers daily, in order to ensure that our wing was being run as effectively as possible to produce future officers for our Air Force,” says Joe. 16

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Since joining the military, Joe has had the opportunity to travel throughout most of the United States. But it was his time in Hawaii, and visiting Pearl Harbor, that most deeply moved him.

“What affected me most from the memorials was my time at the USS Arizona. In addition to the history of the vessel and all of the lives lost during the attack, I had an opportunity to see something truly incredible,” shares Joe. “A sailor who had been on the ship and survived the attack had recently passed

“I HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP FOR SOMETHING I BELIEVE IN AND TO DO SO IN FRONT OF MY FAMILY,” HE SHARES. “I LIKE TO KNOW THAT I AM DOING WHAT I CAN TO PROTECT THOSE I LOVE.” away. Before passing, he had requested that his remains be submerged in the ship so that he may rest alongside his brothers lost on that day and who are forever resting in the Arizona. That really hit home for me as a service member knowing how strong the bond is and will be with all of those serving alongside me. It is a bond that ties you to all of those who served before and will serve after you, and is a bond that will not fade with time.”

Joe feels that being in the military has taught him in a hands-on way that a

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Joe is engaged to Kaitie Hieb ’13.

good leader always puts his people first.

“Caring for your people is the most effective way to inspire those around you to execute the mission,” says Joe. “People are drawn to a person who puts others before themselves, and in return, they want to do whatever they can to return the favor.”

He experienced that care as a student at Episcopal.

“The faculty at ESJ have always been an inspiration. They were one of the first instances where I saw a genuine care for students and their willingness to do whatever they could to help students. I was very lucky to have so many dedicated faculty in my time at Episcopal, from the baseball field to the classroom. I would not be where I am, or who I am today without their help and influence,” he says.

Air Force will provide him and continuing his service.

“I have found a real sense of brotherhood and camaraderie similar to the one I always had growing up playing sports.

Everyone is all in on one goal, and that’s always a cool environment to work in. I have really appreciated the opportunity to stand up for something I believe in and to do so in front of my family,” he shares.

“I like to know that I am doing what I can to protect those I love. On top of that, the relationships that I have made and the people that I have met have made a huge impact on my life and will be something for which I will be forever grateful.” H

Joe looks forward to the opportunities the ESJ

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Chaz Phillips ’98: “Going to Sea with the Nation’s Finest is Humbling” U.S. Navy Commander Chaz Phillips ’98 is following in his father Charlie Phillips’s footsteps by serving in the Navy, an experience he says has shown him after 16 years of active duty that people are always the most important aspect of the job and putting others first is imperative.

“The Navy can always find someone else to lead a ship, but they can’t always find someone to inspire that ship toward a common goal,” says Chaz. “You must show compassion and empathy for the struggles sailors and their families face; mentor sailors towards their next career milestone; and motivate sailors to have a vested interest in the ship’s success. These are all of the things that matter.”

Chaz, currently stationed in Alexandria, VA, is Special Assistant for Nuclear Enlisted Plans, Policy, and Training – Naval Reactors Headquarters. This is a two-year shore duty assignment in between submarine tours that he began in February 2017. Previously, he completed his third submarine assignment as the Executive Officer (2nd in Command) onboard USS Hawaii (SSN 776), a Virginia class fast attack submarine, in Honolulu, HI. His next assignment will be in command of a nuclear powered submarine in fall 2019.

During his time in the service, Chaz has earned his qualification and certification to stand the lead watch over a nuclear reactor. His first submarine assignment was onboard the USS Pasadena (SSN 752), a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine, in

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Honolulu, HI, serving as a Division Officer.

His second submarine assignment was onboard the USS Nevada (SSBN 733), an Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarine, in Seattle, WA, where he was the Chief Engineer.

“During this tour we conducted a complete refueling of the nuclear reactor and the subsequent return of the submarine back to a normal strategic asset conducting patrols at sea. One of the highlights of this tour was

“LIFE IS MUCH HARDER IN OTHER COUNTRIES. THERE ARE THINGS WE SIMPLY TAKE FOR GRANTED IN AMERICA THAT YOU DON’T NECESSARILY SEE WHEN YOU ARE A TOURIST IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. ” standing Officer of the Deck for a test launch of a ballistic missile, followed by a sevenday transit from San Diego to Seattle with my father onboard,” says Chaz.

His second shore assignment was on the staff of US 6th Fleet in Naples, Italy, where he served as the Chief Engineer for the fleet, overseeing the engineering teams for all of the submarines that deployed to Europe and Africa. During that time, he and his wife, Devon Zotovich Phillips, immersed themselves in the culture.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH “We lived right in the heart of the city, forgoing the offered comfort of ‘fortress America’ housing on the base. This turned out to be a great choice as we got to see firsthand how different people live,” says Chaz. “Life is much harder in other countries.There are things we simply take for granted in America that you don’t necessarily see when you are a tourist in another country. Driving, laundry, shopping, finances, official documents – daily life is simply harder. It was nice returning back home to the comfort of the US, but we retained the knowledge about challenges the rest of the world faces.”

Chaz credits Episcopal’s diverse faculty with the inspiration that helped him to see the benefits of serving in the military.

“Episcopal had a cadre of teachers during my time there that served in the Navy. Pat Crandall, Don Reott, and my father were the three I knew the most, and they were great

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resources for what the military had to offer,” says Chaz. “You could see that their time in the military as Naval Officers reflected in their leadership and communication skills in the classroom.”

With an undergraduate degree from Cornell in biological and environmental engineering and Naval Postgraduate School master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics, Chaz also is thankful for the writing skills learned from his English and History teachers at Episcopal.

“My roles in the Navy required a significant amount of writing, much of which were on reports that directly impacted other sailors’ careers. The writing skills I learned from my English (Marin Flint, Russel Flint, Jeff Tripp, and Judy Norman) and History (Doc Peterson, John Iorii, and Jo Miller) teachers helped me throughout my career,” he says.

He also first learned the importance of people while on campus.

“I was able to develop into a well-rounded person through art, athletics, drama, religion, and leadership opportunities. This helped drive home the lesson regarding the importance of people. You have to develop the people that work for you in all areas of mind, body, and spirit. Episcopal provided a great example of this,” Chaz says.

The opportunity to lead others is something Chaz greatly appreciates about his Naval experience.

Chaz Phillips, his wife, Devon, and their daughter, Eden, in September 2018, following his promotion to Navy Commander. Chaz’s next duty assignment will be as Commanding Officer of the submarine USS Vermont.

“You can’t beat the responsibility and leadership opportunity that is given to you right out of college and that increases exponentially throughout a career,” he says.

“At 24 years old I was the officer of the deck of a submarine, responsible for carrying out the ship’s mission during my watch; less than 17 years later I will be commanding a submarine, responsible for the entire ship and the lives of everyone onboard. Knowing that I get to go out to sea with 150 of the nation’s finest individuals is humbling.”H ESJ

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Charlie entered The Citadel in 1969 and was enrolled in ROTC. Like his son Chaz Phillips ’98, Charlie chose to follow his father’s footsteps. Charlie’s father, Chaz’s grandfather, attended The Citadel from 1944 to1946 before enlisting in the Army. Following graduation, Charlie attended Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL, and he received his commission as an Ensign in 1973.

His first assignment was to Patuxent River, MD, flying a C-130 aircraft. He then transitioned to the S-3 Viking aircraft for Antisubmarine Warfare, serving two tours at Cecil Field. During his 20 years of service, Charlie also made four Mediterranean

Charlie Phillips upon his commissioning as Ensign in the U.S. Navy following his completion of Aviation Officer Candidate school in Pensacola, FL, in 1973.

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deployments aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (1978-1980) and the USS Saratoga (1985-1987). He has served as the Weapons Officer aboard the USS Enterprise and as a recruiter in Boston, MA. During his time in the service he was also able to earn a master’s degree in public administration from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in international studies from The Naval War College.

During his deployments in the Mediterranean, Charlie had numerous port calls including Haifa, Israel; Alexandria, Egypt; Naples, Italy; Malaga, Spain; and Dubrovnik, in the former Yugoslavia.

whether in the military or in civilian life,” he said. “I look back with pride on my service to my country for 20 years. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve with other professionals protecting our hard earned freedoms. I am proud that my son (Chaz Phillips ’98) has followed my career path.”

Charlie is a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America, a nonprofit veterans’ association dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and ensuring the country keeps its commitments to currently serving, retired, and former members of the uniformed services and their families and survivors. H

“The visits allowed me to see the city of Jerusalem, the Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and the walled city of Dubrovnik. In addition we went through the Suez Canal en route to the Indian Ocean,” said Charlie. “It was during this portion of our deployment we crossed the equator. It was a memorable experience to be a part of this Navy tradition. All of this was really helpful in my first teaching assignment at ESJ, World Geography.”

Charlie believes the military provides its members with the training to be the very best and is a commitment, but a rewarding one.

“Whether you serve for a short period of time or serve for a lifetime it will offer opportunities for leadership that will provide valuable experience for future choices Left to right: Charlie Phillips and Chaz Phillips. Charlie retired as a Commander from the U.S. Navy in 1993 but wore his uniform to be part of Chaz’s commissioning ceremony. Chaz was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy following his graduation from Cornell in May of 2002.

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Warriors’ Wings Club Supports Jacksonville’s Wounded Warrior Project Kiefer Washburn ‘19 has two older brothers in the service (Lt. Commander Hunter Washburn, United States Naval Academy (USNA) Class of 2004, and Walker Washburn, USNA Class of 2012, now a civilian). Kiefer’s familiarity with the challenges current and former members of the military face spurred him to form Warriors’ Wings as a student club at Episcopal.

“With Jacksonville being a large military town it was important to help shed some light on the sacrifices that these men and women make everyday,” said Kiefer.

Kiefer Washburn ’19

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Warriors’ Wings supports Jacksonvillebased non-profit Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). Wounded Warrior Project provides support for veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001.

Warriors’ Wings kicked off fundraising for WWP for the year with a Back to School Bash, hosted by Eagle Ambassadors.

The dollars raised from the night of fun – intended to welcome new Upper School students to campus – helped support Wounded Warrior Project. Students enjoyed games, music, and color wars.

Students supported Wounded Warrior Project by attending the Back to School Bash. All proceeds from the event were donated to WWP.

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Warriors’ Wings also partners with Wounded Warrior Project for various activities. Students – more than 20 are active in the club – volunteer by writing letters and sending shoeboxes of goodies to active duty members, laying wreaths at Christmas at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, and raising money through concession sales at campus events.

appreciation for these men and women as well as giving me the chance to hear some incredible stories,” said Kiefer.

Kiefer, a member of Episcopal’s cross country team and rowing team, hopes to follow his brothers’ footsteps and attend the United States Naval Academy after graduation. H

“I am very happy to help Wounded Warrior because it allows me to show my

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Veterans on Campus Name Matt Sturgeon

ESJ Title Buildings & Grounds

Joe Cullen Buildings & Grounds

Branch of Service

Years of Service

Current or Last Title in Service

Marine Corps

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Sergeant

US Navy Officer

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First Class Petty

Pat Crandall

Communications & English Instructor

US Navy

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Commander

Charlie Phillips

History Instructor

US Navy

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Commander

Brian Francois

Science Instructor

US Army

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Sergeant First Class

Keesy Goebertus

Assistant Head of School & US Army Head of Upper School

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Captain

George Terre Director of Technology US Navy 6

First Class Petty Officer

Bernie Hurley

Buildings & Grounds

Marine Corps

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Frank Talan

Buildings & Grounds

US Army

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Specialist

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College Counseling Keeps Up with Changes at Florida’s Flagship Universities With admission to state universities in Florida becoming more and more competitive each year, Episcopal’s College Counseling office is working to ensure students interested in applying to those schools have the support they need during the process.

“Our state is going through what North Carolina, Virginia, and Michigan went through 25 years ago regarding their flagship universities,” says Ryan Riggs, Director of College Counseling. “The University of Florida and Florida State University are seeing more applications from in-state students than they have in the past. This means that getting accepted has a higher threshold than in the past.”

In 1998, 46 ESJ students applied to UF, and 35 were admitted. The average grade point average (GPA) of admitted students was a 3.3, and their average SAT score was a 1200.

At FSU that year, Episcopal had 49 students apply and 46 admitted. Their numbers averaged a 3.0 GPA and an 1150 SAT. This is not just the case in Florida, but all over the country. At UNC Chapel Hill, the in-state admit rate has dropped from 49% to 41% in just two years.

One of the main points of confusion for students and parents alike centers around the grades that appear on a student’s transcript. ESJ lists every class and each semester grade earned, and they all count the same. However, both UF and FSU count only the core five academic classes--English, Science, Math, World Language, and History-when they recalculate a GPA. “So if a student’s GPA has a boost because of Speech, Sports and Fitness, Ceramics, and Desktop Publishing, then they will lose that boost when UF or FSU recalculates the GPA,” says Riggs. “This is not to say these aren’t worthy and important classes, because

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Ryan Riggs, Director of College Counseling

they are, but parents and students should understand what each particular college is counting when they are looking at GPA.” Additionally, both UF and FSU throw out pluses and minuses in GPA calculations.

A grade of B+ becomes a B; a grade of Abecomes an A. Usually this does not change a student’s GPA much, but for a student who has earned all B+ and A+ grades in core academic classes, he or she will see a drop in the recalculated GPA. Episcopal continues to improve its curriculum and review its graduation requirements so that students may take additional academic classes and remain exceptionally competitive in the college admissions process. Episcopal is committed to ensuring that we provide sufficient sections of AP and Honors classes so that every student that is recommended or has a strong desire to enroll has that opportunity.

Episcopal also reviews all of its AP and Honors offerings annually to determine ways to improve them. The school is also considering adding additional levels of SAT and ACT review in Math and English classes in 11th grade, because while many state

CAMPUS universities are now “Test Optional,” Florida schools are not. SAT and ACT test scores still weigh heavily in their admission decisions.

Episcopal’s admissions statistics for the University of Florida and Florida State University can vary year to year because ESJ does not limit or require students to apply to state schools.

“It would be simple for us to manipulate our admissions statistics to certain colleges, but we don’t. We could mandate that students in the very top of the class apply to both UF and FSU. We could also prevent students at the bottom of the class from applying to UF and FSU. We do neither, and that’s why our statistics at these two universities vary from year to year,” says Riggs. “Our philosophy is that students should apply where they are interested.”

these schools know our college counselors and know our students. That’s an advantage.”

In October ESJ counselors attended a joint presentation by the UF and FSU admissions offices. ESJ was the only independent school that attended the meeting. Zina Evans from UF and John Barnhill from FSU both discussed their school’s admissions processes in detail.

“We confirmed that our local UF rep remains critical in the admissions decisions, and because we have a good relationship with her, our students benefit. She understands the context of our school and our students.

We have the same relationships at FSU,” says Riggs.

On the downside, because UF and FSU are both on a new application platform, the Coalition Application, the raw application numbers to both schools will continue to climb, which will drive selectivity. Last year, UF had 29,000 applicants for 6,500 freshman beds, and FSU had 30,000 for 6,100 freshman beds.

“In speaking with the leaders in the undergraduate admissions offices at UF, FSU, UCF, UNF, and other state universities, I have been assured that in no way are Episcopal students disadvantaged academically in the admissions process,” says Riggs. “They are very THE TRUTH IS THAT EPISCOPAL STUDENTS HAVE familiar with the rigor SUCCESS APPLYING AND GETTING ACCEPTED TO available at Episcopal and all admissions decisions BOTH UF AND FSU. ESJ’S THREE-YEAR AVERAGE are made in context of ACCEPTANCE RATE AT UF IS 55%, WHILE THE UF the opportunities made available at the school AND OVERALL AVERAGE IS 37%. THE THREE-YEAR AVERAGE the ability of the student.”

ACCEPTANCE RATE AT FSU IS 72%, WHILE THE FSU

Episcopal’s college OVERALL AVERAGE IS 55%. counselors travel to individual colleges, Episcopal’s College Counseling office national and regional college admissions adheres to the Four Pillars: Academics, conferences, and other professional Athletics, Fine Arts and Spiritual Life and development events to ensure that they supports the mission of the school in remain informed about the ever-changing every way. landscape of college admissions.

“We also use these opportunities for networking and to ‘wave the flag’ for ESJ students whenever we can,” shares Riggs.

“We know that the efforts that we make on behalf of our students at colleges and universities all around the country make a positive difference. There is never a guarantee of admission, but our students get a fair read. The admissions offices at all of

“Match and fit are the most important aspects of the college selection process, not status and ranking numbers,” Riggs says.

“The ESJ Board of Trustees supports us in our objective that we are here for deep learning, not to be a college admissions factory. We do not place students anywhere; we prepare them to succeed everywhere.” H

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Episcopal and Beaches Episcopal School to Become One July 1, 2020

EPISCOPAL SCHOOL of JACKSONVILLE

Episcopal School of Jacksonville (ESJ) and Beaches Episcopal School (BES) announced on December 14 that the two schools will become one on July 1, 2020.

After thorough discussion and an in-depth review, the governing boards of ESJ and BES, the Diocese of Florida, and St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church voted unanimously to merge BES into ESJ to continue their mutual mission of Episcopal Christian education. A legal agreement was signed on December 13. Both schools believe this combination advances the passion and commitment each school has to quality education, which benefits our students and families, as well as the faculty and staff, and the greater Jacksonville community. Episcopal and BES appreciate the guidance, leadership, and care during this process of The Right Reverend Samuel

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Johnson Howard, Bishop of the Diocese of Florida, and the Rector and Vestry of St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.

The two schools will spend the 2019-2020 school year working on the operational implications of the merger. BES will continue to operate as an independent school through June 30, 2020, after which time it will be fully merged into ESJ. Following in the spirit of their Founders and in the pursuit of fulfilling their missions, both Episcopal and BES remain committed to serving students and helping them to reach their full potential while pursuing a life of leadership and purpose.

Together, as one school, we know that this mission will only be further strengthened as we build on more than one hundred combined years of academic excellence.

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How an Unexpected Decision Changed My Episcopal Experience (and Me)

By Janelle Sessoms ’19

I have experienced multiple classes and events at Episcopal that I would categorize as moments of personal growth. But deep down, there is something telling me to share about a certain class -- Yearbook with Mrs. Leah Glotzbach.

Mrs. Glotzbach started out as my ninth grade English teacher, and honestly, I assumed that was all she was ever going to be. So imagine my surprise when she asked me if I would consider applying to be a member of the yearbook staff. Now, it is important to interject that I had a plan going into high school. My plan was that I would take my required courses and have theatre as my elective. So I think it is safe to say that being on the yearbook staff was not a part of my plan.

I had no idea what Yearbook was about, who was in it, or what the workload was: it was a ‘no’ for me. But, another thing I told myself going into Episcopal was that I was going to try new things, and yearbook most definitely fell into the ‘new thing’ category. Thus, I filled out the application and turned it in. I didn’t realize that one decision would change my whole Episcopal experience.

Yearbook has taught me how to work outside of a routine. I had previously been living my life on a schedule. I would wake up, go to school, go to sports practice, do homework and go to bed.

With the classes I took in ninth grade, that schedule worked out perfectly.

But Yearbook is a whole different ball game.

It is the exact opposite of your typical class. You are assigned a spread, given a deadline, and are expected to be done with your spread before the deadline. It is both based on your own time management and the management of others. That is what made it a little difficult for me at first. I could finish my writing quickly, but I had to wait on others to take pictures and for students to respond for quotes. I had to wait each day to enter my writing into the yearbook room computers. I had to be patient for an editor to edit my work. Everyone was working within their own schedules and that was new for me.

But that exposure shaped me into becoming a better person. I stopped living in my own world that was all about me and my plans, and started looking through the eyes of others. I stopped rushing to get everything done right then and slowed down to take a breath. Yes, I still get my work done in a timely manner, but I no longer force myself to follow that restricted schedule.

Now, because I have learned the value of patience, I can enjoy life and the moments life has to offer. I can participate in the school play, be a part of clubs and participate in other activities Episcopal has to offer. Being on the staff was not something I expected, but it was something I needed. H ESJ

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Fine Arts Presents Florida Premiere of Striking 12 The Fine Arts Department presented the Florida premiere of the off-Broadway musical Striking 12 on November 8-10 to a sold-out crowd. Episcopal welcomed Val Vigoda, Striking 12’s composer and lyricist, to campus before the show.

“Not many people, and certainly hardly any high schoolers, can say that they worked with the show’s creator on their production,” said Katie Lebhar Black ‘95, Director of Fine Arts. “Val was as impressed by our students as they were with her.”

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Inspired in part by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl,” Striking 12 is the story of a grumpy, overworked New Yorker who resolves to spend New Year’s Eve alone in his apartment when an unexpected visitor brings some muchneeded cheer. The show includes an eclectic score that combines pop, rock, jazz, showtunes, and more. H

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Val Vigoda was interviewed by WJCT while on campus at ESJ. She performed for students, faculty and staff and met with students at rehearsals for Striking 12.

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2018 Christmas Concert Showcases Music from Around the World

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The annual Episcopal Christmas Concert at St. John's Cathedral, this year titled Joy to the World, included two performances, both standing room only.

Greg Hersey, Director of Instrumental Music, led the band and Wind Ensemble in Deck the Holidays, Jingle Ye Merry Gentlemen, and African Holy Night, among others.

The audience was treated to an event full of holiday music from around the world.

Carolyn Tuttle, Director of Choral Music, led choral ensembles in Es Ist Ein Roess Entsprungen (Germany); Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Poland); Il Est Ne’, Le Divin Enfant (France) and other traditional carols.

The full choral and instrumental ensembles led the audience in Joy to the World to close the evening. H

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How Art Programming Helps Students Manage Emotions and Improve Self Esteem Visual Arts instructor Michelle Krueger’s experience as a teacher in the classroom has changed over the years. No longer is art simply a “fun” class where students focus on imagination and creativity.

Instead, art class and art exploration have started to become a visible relief to students – a time of the day when they can balance their emotions and recenter themselves.

“I can visually see students deflate as they walk in the art studio. They leave the responsibilities of their lives outside and engage their right brain,” said Mrs. Krueger. “This gives them the opportunity to express

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themselves in a different way. They can explore their emotions and have a sense of accomplishment in a way like no other.

Students consider art class a nice ‘brain break.’”

Episcopal’s schedule shift to longer class periods allows students more time to decompress and engage with their creative side. They are increasingly gaining a sense of self-worth and pride from what they accomplish in art classes.

“Art improves self-esteem,” said Mrs. Krueger. “There is scientific proof that art is good for you -- it reduces anxiety and distress. Color can create an

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emotional response in the brain, and I can see the shift in the students’ moods.”

This year students are engaged in many ways in art, using art projects and initiatives to really tune into health and well-being. Students particularly enjoy creating kindness rocks – painted rocks with messages of love on them – and hiding them around campus. Mrs. Krueger offers Art Club once a week for students to come into the studio and has seen attendance double over the past few years.

In addition, as part of Episcopal’s new initiative, Episcopal & Jacksonville: Partners in Arts, the school has partnered with Indigo Art Therapy Studio. Indigo is a licensed art therapy organization in Jacksonville that works with autistic children as well as others who struggle with all forms of mental illness, anxiety, and depression.

The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) is comprised of more than 40 ESJ student artists. NAHS works with Indigo Art Therapy Studio to educate the ESJ community on the benefits of art therapy.

The team at Indigo Art Therapy spoke to ESJ students at the end of September and prepared them to lead art groups with their peers on campus so that others can benefit from creating art to decrease anxiety while building supportive communities.

Incorporating so many outlets for art expression on campus is benefitting the health of students and giving them another outlet for emotional development. It also gives them an opportunity to contribute to the Jacksonville community.

“Art can help people express themselves, calm their emotions, manage addictions, and improve their self-esteem,” said Mrs. Krueger. “Students love giving back.

Anytime there is an opportunity to contribute to a project either for Episcopal or for the outside community, we get involved.”

This year students made 30 paintings of lemons to auction off at the Lemon Ball, which supports the non-profit Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Mrs. Krueger’s students also contribute to other non-profits like Sanctuary on 8th Street and Angels for Allison. These opportunities to decompress while working on projects that benefit the community are a vital part of student well-being. H

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First Semester of Health, Safety, and Well-Being Programming Provides Community with Opportunities for Fun and Growth Zumba in the gym? Guided meditation in the wrestling room? Dizzy bat during advisory? Jenga before lunch? All of these activities are part of Episcopal’s Health, Safety, and Well-Being (HSW) initiative, which kicked off this year in a communitywide effort designed to involve and benefit students, faculty and staff, and parents through 2018-2019 and beyond.

In addition to fun, relaxing or energizing activities during special extended advisory periods for students, the school is hosting

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speaking events and special programming for students based on the 2018-2019 themes of Self-Care, Healthy Relationships, Global Awareness, and Choice.

The Health, Safety, and Well-Being program was created in response to grim statistics that today’s adolescents have too many stressors that negatively affect their lives. Episcopal is uniquely capable of becoming a partner in helping our students and families learn to mitigate these stressors.

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The school is supporting and sponsoring the following on campus as part of the HSW program: World Day of Bullying Prevention World Suicide Prevention Day National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month A Chapel dedicated to bullying awareness Professional development for faculty and staff related to managing issues affecting middle and high school students today A presentation by Amanda Ranney of Fit Peace by Peace on the importance of nutrition A mental health talk by Dr. Phillip Tran of Baptist Health A peer pressure presentation and discussion by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Lauren Yerkes ’99, followed by small group discussions in advisory Administration of a school climate survey to establish a baseline for what issues are impacting our students and to help determine priorities for future programming “Mindful Mornings” in partnership with Student Government “The goal of the extended advisory events for students is to highlight the fact that self-care can take lots of different forms. We wanted to foster well-being by exploring new ways to help students learn about themselves, their choices, and their community. Taking care of ourselves means taking care of all of who we are, as individuals and as a community,” said Amy Burrows Perkins ’92, Director of Student Services.

Dr. Karla Repper presented at the first Baptist Speaker Series event, “Teen Physical Health and Nutrition.” She discussed ways physical and emotional well-being are co-dependent, and how to incorporate high-impact, healthier choices into our daily lives.

Episcopal has also established a partnership with Baptist Health for 20182019 to provide four expert speaker panels for the Episcopal community.

The first Baptist Health speaker event, “Teen Physical Health and Nutrition,” featured Dr. Karla Repper of Baptist Health, on September 13 in the Munnerlyn Center.

Aubrey Brown, LCSW, and Dr. Stephanie Kinnare of Baptist Health followed with a presentation on November 13, titled “Stress, Anxiety and Coping Skills.” The two events scheduled for the spring are “Influence & Effects of Social Media and Screen Time” and “High-Risk Behavior and Substance Abuse.” Videos of each of the events are on the Episcopal website under Health, Safety, and Well-Being. The Baptist Health events are free and open to the public and all are invited to attend.

Zumba in the Semmes Gym was one of the events students could participate in during an extended advisory devoted to Health, Safety, and Well-Being activities in August.

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CAMPUS “The HSW initiatives are all helping to build a broader conversation about how to keep yourself healthy, while looking out for your peers and being supportive and inclusive of all,” said Perkins. “We are working hard to foster a culture where physical and mental health are priorities that can also be discussed, time is made for recreation and intentional relaxation, and our programming supports our community. We are moving the cultural needle, and impacting day-to-day life on campus.” H Tess Sturgeon, Assistant Director of Dance, balances Erica Prockow ’24 in the air during acro-yoga. Students were able to practice yoga in the dance studio during an extended advisory period that offered different opportunities for Health, Safety, and Well-Being activities.

The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School; Amy Burrows Perkins ‘92, Director of Student Services; Aubrey Brown, LCSW; and Dr. Stephanie Kinnare hold a panel discussion following the “Stress, Anxiety, and Coping Skills” event on November 13.

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SAVE DATE the

APRIL 26-27 2 019

Episcopal School of Jacksonville

REUNION WEEKEND Classes Celebrating Reunions: 1974 • 1979 • 1984 • 1989 • 1994 • 1999 • 2004 • 2009

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Episcopal Athletics: An Inclusive Environment with Elite Results

By Andy Kidd ’99, Director of Athletics in contests. For example, some schools offer two Middle School volleyball teams, including as many as 20 girls per team.

Episcopal, on the other hand, fields four Middle School volleyball teams to maximize its athletes’ development.

The Episcopal Athletics Department takes pride in providing the best experience possible for our student-athletes. As with many schools, our coaches push their teams to achieve success both on and off the field; however, we believe our approach to achieving success differentiates ESJ athletics from other schools. Our ability to offer a place on a team for every student who desires to compete in a sport while also being able to support the elite athlete who aspires to play at the college level is unique in middle and high school athletics.

Episcopal fields 65 teams in 17 different sports for its students. When Middle School students first arrive at Episcopal, they are introduced to athletics in an inclusive environment featuring a no-cut policy. Since Episcopal adopted its no-cut philosophy for Middle School more than 10 years ago, several other schools have followed suit. However, our commitment to placing the appropriate number of athletes on each team ensures each athlete has the opportunity for targeted coaching instruction as well as quality playing time 40

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We recognize the importance of establishing a winning culture early on within our athletic programs.

Consequently, we organize our Middle School no-cut teams on the basis of ability versus age. This gives an exceptional sixth grade student-athlete the opportunity to compete on a top-tier team when the coach deems him or her sufficiently talented and prepared to compete there. As a result, our Middle School teams consistently win championships in our Independent Middle School Conference. This outcome not only helps establish an early winning culture in our programs but also sends our Middle School athletes to high school already having experienced meaningful competition.

ESJ is committed to providing opportunities for students to learn the lessons sports teach throughout their Episcopal years. Our Upper School sports also offer at least one no-cut program each season. Though this policy requires added investment in facilities, coaching staff, and equipment, it pays huge dividends for our students, teams, and school spirit.

Students receive the character-building, teammate bonds, and physical well-being that come with meaningful team sports participation. Coaches experience more student-athletes trying out for their sport and thereby the opportunity to grow their program. School spirit receives a boost when more students are involved in athletics because they are more likely to cheer on their classmates in other sports.

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Cole Crane ’19 committed to swim at the University of Texas last year. Cole has broken numerous school swimming records and has held the state title for the 50 freestyle for the past two years.

Currently, 80% of Episcopal students compete in at least one sport. We attribute ESJ’s inclusive environment from Middle School through Upper School as the major factor behind this extraordinary level of voluntary participation. Yet, while we esteem our inclusive environment, we also value excellence and winning. ESJ teams have a rich history of bringing home championships at the district, regional and state levels. This excellence is carried forward annually by graduating Episcopal student-athletes who advance to collegiate competition. These results are due in large part to our high-quality coaching staff, elite training, and state-of-the-art facilities.

Episcopal strives to recruit coaches who are both knowledgeable and successful in their sport. Our coaches’ resumes include playing and coaching at the highest levels.

The vast majority of our program directors work on campus, which immerses them in our community and helps them better understand the Episcopal culture. It also better equips them to work with our student-athletes. It is common to see our coaches involved in ESJ academics, Fine Arts, Chapel, and community service.

Episcopal coaches benefit from regular exposure to new instructional techniques and training methods by attending conferences and clinics made possible by

Caroline Johnston ’19 recently committed to Clemson University for track and field.

the Elizabeth Simpson Walton ’71 Fund for Coaches’ Professional Development. Our athletes are direct beneficiaries of these funds as our coaches incorporate the new techniques and methods they have learned into their practice sessions and contest strategy.

Episcopal has long been blessed with strong coaches and quality studentathletes. Now, thanks to the Lead the Way campaign, we also offer athletic facilities reflective of our high caliber athletes, coaches and teams at Episcopal. New fields, training facilities, and team meeting rooms comprised a significant portion of the campaign. Our coaches now have everything they need to prepare their teams to compete at the state level. We are thankful to all Lead the Way contributors who recognized the importance of these facilities, which will enhance our studentathletes’ experience for years into the future.

Looking back, when we implemented our inclusive athletic environment and nocut policy, we had no idea of how much positive impact it would have on our community. Looking forward, we foresee continued growth and increased athletic excellence far into the future. H Go Eagles!

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Fall Sports Teams Succeed at District, Regional and State Competitions Boys Swimming Team Tampa Bay Invitational Champions District Runner-up Region Runner-up State Runner-up New Episcopal Swim Records • 200 Medley Relay (Caden Staggard, Mats Kemp, Jace Crawford, Julian Smith) • 200 Individual Medley – Jace Crawford – 1:51.56 • 500 Free – Jace Crawford – 4:30.00 • 50 Free – Cole Crane – 20.32 • 100 Fly – Cole Crane – 47.76 • 400 Free Relay (Cole Crane, Scott Haney, Jace Crawford, Caden Staggard) – 3:06.16 • 200 Free Relay (Cole Crane, Scott Haney, Julian Smith, Reed Bankston) – 1:25.09 • State Champion – Cole Crane (50 Free and 100 Fly) Girls Swimming District Runner-up Region Runner-up Top ten finish at the FHSAA State Meet New Episcopal Swim Records • 200 Medley Relay (Mary Kate Kelley, Sophia Mantegari, Kate Wilkerson, Allie Alton) 1:49.14 • 100 Backstroke - Mary Kate Kelley – 55.30 • 200 Free – Kate Wilkerson – 1:53.25 • 400 Free Relay (Mary Kate Kelley, Kate Wilkerson, Allie Alton, Sophia Mantegari) 3:36.33 Boys Cross Country 14th overall finish at FHSAA State Final Meet Girls Cross Country District Runner-up 14th overall finish at FHSAA State Final Meet

Boys Golf Web.com Invitational Champions District Runner-up Regional Champions Seventh overall finish at FHSAA State Finals Tournament Football The 2018 team under Coach Mark Brunell finished the season with a winning record, 7-3.

Sophomore Davis Ellis led city in receiving.

Sailing Sailing finished first at the Brunswick Open Regatta for first sailing victory for ESJ Sailing Program. The winning team included Chris McCollum, Jack Swingle, Julian Galpin, and Dylan Staggard.

Volleyball District Champions Region Champions State Semifinalist (Final Four)

1. V olleyball team after winning the District Championship. The team was 17-12-0 overall and made it to the State Final Four.

2. S wimming places second at the State Championship, with multiple swimmers breaking Episcopal school records.

3. Boys Golf wins the Regional Championship.

4. I n its first year, the Sailing team places first at the Brunswick Open Regatta.

5. S enior Cheerleaders on Senior Night, left to right: Daniella Teixeira, Amaria Simmons, Justice Queen, Precious Lavender, Katie Cofran, Janelle Sessoms.

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New Node Desks Build Language Skills in Classrooms For the first time, Episcopal World Languages teachers are using specialized Node Desks in their classrooms to better facilitate development of language skills.

Node Desks are mobile (with wheels) and can easily be put into pairs, groups, and even a large circle for Harkness-type discussions. They are another expression of how the school is adopting learnercentered teaching strategies in every discipline.

Instructors Carolina Collins and Dr. Rebecca Howes, who have the desks in

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their classrooms this year, have found that the equipment is already a catalyst for positive learning experiences.

“There is a lot of active learning happening in the foreign language classroom and these desks are highly mobile, allowing for quick and effortless moving arrangements to fit the activities and easily transition,” said Carolina Collins, Spanish instructor.

“The desks have allowed me to change groups often which helped my students get to know everyone in the class better.

Moreover, I have noticed that they are

CAMPUS

more engaged and getting accustomed to taking more ownership of their learning.

As I continue implementing different activities such as conversation circles, group work, pair work, and academic games, I like the desks more and more.”

Spanish instructor Dr. Rebecca Howes has found that the Node Desks have permitted her to include more group work in the classroom.

“For my Spanish Honors 3 class, we were able to mobilize the Node Desks into a semi-circle to conduct a Harkness class. For both my Spanish 2 and Spanish 4 classes, I have included within the curriculum Quizlet Live. Quizlet Live requires students to move into groups to practice both vocabulary or a sequence of events in regard to a particular reader,” said Rebecca.

The desks help collaboration among language students with different studentcentered activities created by the teachers, such as communicative activities, TPRS activities (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling), and have helped to develop students’ communication, and creative and critical thinking skills.

Madeline Pruden ‘20, who is in Honors Spanish 4 with instructor Philippa Marks, says the desks have helped with collaboration and interaction with her peers.

“There is more communication, and visually being face to face with people who are talking, speaking with a partner, helps everyone listen,” she shared.

Emily Waters ‘19, also in Honors Spanish 4, agreed.

“Especially for languages, they are very helpful when working in groups, and then we can separate for projects,” said Emily.

The desks were made possible by generous gift from the Polster family, who wanted to support Episcopal’s focus on learner-centered teaching, especially as it applies to languages.

“In my family’s opinion, the ESJ foreign language and exchange programs are fundamental to secondary education because they stand out against the insularity in general of education in the United States,” said Bob Polster.

“The program encourages students to become acquainted with other cultures, augmenting their worldly understanding, and, ultimately, furthering their maturity.

Therefore, due to the respect we have for the program, we were pleased to present this gift.”

Another feature of the Node Desk is the space provided for students to place their backpack and books underneath.

This provides more access for students to move around in the classrooms and gives the instructor the space to circulate to make sure that students stay on task.

“Ultimately, I truly believe that the Node Desk is the right solution for Episcopal.

It creates teaching spaces that work with both students and teachers. It favors student-centered learning over teachercentered learning,” shared Rebecca. H

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Upper School Students Participate in Adecco Job Shadow Program Over a period of four days during the summer Upper School students participated in 54 job shadow opportunities with The Adecco Group (individual students participated in more than one area).

Job shadowing with The Adecco Group is part of the Alumni Association’s Career Launcher program, a resource for alumni transitioning from college to career. The goal of this program is to help young alumni by providing internship opportunities and

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career resources exclusively to Episcopal alumni. The number of participants doubled from 2017 to 2018 and the program is expected to continue to grow.

In the spring of 2017, Jack Thompson ’19 wondered if a job shadow experience with The Adecco Group could possibly benefit Episcopal students. Jack approached his father Rich Thompson, Adecco’s Regional Head of Human Resources for North America, UK and Ireland, with the idea.

“At The Adecco Group we truly believe in investing in our future! We believe that by giving these students the opportunity to explore the workforce they are better equipped to make decisions around their future college education. We hope to create a pipeline where students can observe through our High School Job Shadow Program (in their chosen areas of interest), come back to us as working interns and then upon graduation apply to hopefully work with us

CAMPUS

one day,” said Rich. “We see this as a full circle approach to the students’ education and their future.”

“Our leadership takes a vested interest in our Job Shadowers and interns.

They take the time to sit through and listen to their Capstone Projects, have conversations and ask questions,” said Rich. “The students teach us so much about what they are looking for in a career, expectations of the future job force and smarter ways for us to do our job.”

Through the job shadow program, students experienced the day to day operations of a career in the following fields: legal, finance, accounting, marketing, healthcare benefits, information technology and human resources. Each of the one day job shadow experiences provided fun, hands-on experiential learning in a corporate setting.

“Episcopal is grateful to Adecco and especially Rich Thompson, for providing this unique experience to our students,” said Heather Newman Johnson ’90, Director of Alumni Relations. “This opportunity provides an authentic work experience not offered inside a regular high school classroom and gives students access to meaningful work in the corporate world. The ESJ Job Shadow Experience with The Adecco Group enhances the vibrancy and strength of the Career Launcher program and helps students prepare for college by providing insight into possible majors and career paths.”

Save the date for Summer 2019 job shadow opportunities: June 13 and June 27. Contact alumni@esj.org for more information. H

Summer 2018 Job Shadow participants: Lucca Antonio-José Alex Bateh Matthew Cooper Nick Coutros Abigail Crawford Mason Doherty Abigail Donahoo Anna Donahoo Inés Eisenhour Sam Ero Sidney Gibbs Alexander Goldfield Jillian Griffin Cooper Hayman Will Kohla Olin Moseley Andrew Moseley Nial Murphy Simone Pozzoni Dylan Staggard Natalie Stone Kristin Taylor Emily Teems Luke Wentzel Meri Claire West Mary Woodward Grace Woodward Anne-Charles Zimmer Victoria Zlatanoff

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CAMPUS

Two Students Participate in International Job Shadow Through Adecco This summer two Episcopal students, Zack Blair ’19 and Jack Thompson ’19, participated in an international job shadow opportunity through Adecco.

The two traveled to London, England, to work and enjoy the city and sights. They were able to attend the championship play-off final football match at Wembley Stadium, where the Fulham FC (owned

by Shad Khan, who also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars) outlasted Aston Villa 1-0 to get promoted to the Premier League.

The two also visited the Imperial War Museum, London Bridge and the Tower of London.

At Adecco they worked with the bid team, the change team, technology, insurance and the law group, going down to the courthouse as well. They also visited the HR department, marketing, accounting, recruiting and attended a meeting with the President of UK Adecco.

“For me, the trip was a life-changing experience. I got to see how people live in London, how they talk, eat, interact, and live. I also got to see another culture a person like me isn’t able to see every day -- the work culture. It truly is a different way of doing work, compared with a classroom,” said Jack. “You can only learn so much from a classroom. Being able to meet with executives and get a firsthand view of how they became successful is priceless.

What they taught me was that if I work hard I can do almost anything I want professionally.

I really hope that we can continue this experience for not just me, but for other students at Episcopal. Every student should experience this.”

If you are a student and interested in learning more about possible international job shadow opportunities with The Adecco Group, contact Candice Anderson at candice.anderson@ adeccogroup.com. H

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Winter 2018

ALUMNI College Age Alumni Participate in Summer Internships through Episcopal’s Career Launcher Program

Episcopal’s Alumni

are interested in

Association is proud to

offering an internship

offer Career Launcher,

or participating in

a resource for alumni transitioning from

an internship, make sure to visit the

college to career, that leverages and

Episcopal website (esj.org/alumni/career-

engages the ESJ network to provide

launcher) for additional information

internships for college age alumni.

or contact Heather Newman Johnson

The goal of this program is to help

‘90, Director of Alumni Relations, at

young alumni build their resumes, gain

johnsonh@esj.org.

experience, and choose a career. If you

Summer 2018 Career Launcher Internship Host Companies The Adecco Group Angels for Allison Burdette Ketchum Business Valuation, Inc. Congaree and Penn Downtown Vision, Inc. Episcopal School of Jacksonville – Advancement Office Episcopal School of Jacksonville – Athletic Office FIS

Harbor View Advisors Heritage Capital Group KPRC, Houston, TX KSAT, San Antonio, TX State Attorney's Office The Towers Group, St. Augustine, FL WCWJ, Jacksonville, FL WDIV, Detroit, MI WJXT, Jacksonville, FL WKMG, Orlando, FL WSLS, Roanoke, VA ESJ

49

“ ALUMNI

This summer I got the opportunity to intern at WJXT Channel 4 in the creative services department. It was a wonderful learning experience that helped me gain hands-on experience at a television station. After I graduate from college I plan to work in television or film and I’m confident I will use skills from WJXT in whatever job I have next. I’d like to thank Mr. Chunn for putting me in touch with Mr. Swider, the Executive Producer of Sales Presentations at WJXT. I would also like to thank Mr. Swider for hiring me as an intern and the whole creative services department for teaching me new things every day and being so welcoming. WJXT is an amazing

Charles Chunn ’98, Vice President / Local Sales Manager at WJXT & News4JAX, with Conor Chepenik ’16 at WJXT.

place to work and I highly recommend applying for an internship there if you’re a college student interested in film and media. ~ Conor

“

Working in the Institutional Advancement Office this summer has been a great and rewarding internship. I was able to learn skills important to an office work environment like data entry and organization, teamwork, time management, and project management.

All of these skills were taught to me by a caring and nurturing group of

Camille Henley ‘16 with Missy Ketchum,

individuals, all of whom made me

Director of Advancement,

feel included in the office space and

in the Episcopal Advancement Office.

supported in all my projects. I was truly a part of the office community this summer and I am sad to leave it! I can’t thank everyone enough for creating such a tranquil place to grow and learn. ~ Camille

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Winter 2018

ALUMNI

Episcopal graduates at the State Attorney’s Office, left to right: Harry D’Agostino ‘16, Phoebe Clements ‘17, Caroline Still ‘17, Melissa Nelson, State Attorney, Jack Stephens ‘14, Jack Jolly ‘15, Erin Wolfson ’01, Assistant State Attorney.

“

This past summer was more eyeopening and rewarding than I could have possibly imagined. Not only did it give me a new perspective on the world we live in, it showed me a new career path. I can honestly say that I loved every second of this internship. The hands-on experience I gained throughout the past 10 weeks was phenomenal. I observed an ongoing FBI investigation, helped

“

Interning at the SAO was one of the best experiences of my life. I learned so much about the inner workings of the prosecution side of the law and got to experience so many new things. It was a very reaffirming experience, in that I now

question witnesses, combed through

know that being a lawyer is definitely

Facebook and phone records of gang

what I aspire to be. Every member

members, organized evidence for

of the SAO were very helpful and

trial, created PowerPoints for juries,

welcoming.

and so much more! I will forever be

~ Jack

grateful for the opportunities I had this summer. Working with such an experienced prosecutor like London Kite was absolutely invaluable, and I feel so much pride in being a small part of the village it takes to make our community a safer place. ~ Caroline

ESJ

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“ “ ALUMNI

Kara was looking for an internship before her senior year of college.

She specifically was interested in an

My internship at The Adecco Group was

internship in Human Resources, which is

an experience that jump started my

hard to find. Most business internships

career in the corporate world and was an

seem to be in business marketing or

experience that I will look back on for the

finance. I suggested she look at the ESJ

rest of my career. Working in the Human

website Career Launcher to see what

Resources department showed me one

internships may be available. Kara was

side of the business world and allowed

surprised to find there was an internship

me to learn lessons that I will use in my

in HR with Adecco. She began the

future career. One of my favorite projects

application process through the ESJ

all summer was being put in charge of

website and proceeded to go through

the intern community service project for

several interviews at Adecco before

which I organized a day for the interns

being hired. She worked in several areas

to go to North Florida School for Special

of HR including Employee Relations and

Education. This was one of the most

Compliance. The staff and her immediate

fulfilling parts of the internship for not

supervisors were wonderful mentors and

only me but, for all of the interns. The

gave her a fair amount of responsibility.

connections I made from my time with

Kara thoroughly enjoyed her summer at

The Adecco Group are a network that I

Adecco and appreciated the opportunity

will stay in contact with throughout my

to learn and work with a caring and

career. ~ Jack

supportive staff. ~ Robin Virtue, parent of alumni Grant ’13 and Kara ’15

Jack Rains ’17, Rich Thompson, current ESJ parent and Regional Head of Human Resources North America, UK and Ireland at The Adecco Group, Kara Virtue ’15 and Danny Voss ’15.

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Winter 2018

ALUMNI

Kacie Jevic ’16, Chip Stroud, Assistant Athletic Director, and Lilly Moore ‘17 in the Episcopal Athletic Department.

“

Working as an intern in the athletic office at ESJ gave me a front row seat to what happens behind the scenes of Episcopal athletics. I was privileged to be able to interact with such welcoming

“

This summer I had the pleasure of interning at Episcopal as a Strength and Conditioning coach. During this time I was able to work alongside

and kind people, within the athletic

coaches that had previously coached me

department, who are committed to

during my time at Episcopal, helping

providing Episcopal with the best athletics experience possible. I really valued being able to participate in the

improve their student-athletes’ skills and strength for the upcoming school year.

smaller, day-to-day, tasks that I know

This internship was such an enriching

work for the greater good of the student

experience because it gave me a first-

body’s various athletic programs, teams,

hand experience that cannot be found

and events. Being an Episcopal alumna, I

in a classroom. This internship also gave

gained a greater appreciation for my time

me the opportunity to grow as a coach,

spent in sports at ESJ and the effort that I

allowing me to run workouts and teach

know went into ensuring my satisfaction

the athletes how each exercise would

and enjoyment.

better their skills. I am proud to now look ~ Lilly

at this school year’s teams and know that I had a part in making their season great. ~ Kacie H

ESJ

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ALUMNI

ALUMNI

Career Launcher is a resource for alumni transitioning from college to career. The goal of this program is to help young alumni by providing internship opportunities and career resources exclusively to Episcopal alumni. If you have internships available at your place of employment, please contact Heather Newman Johnson ’90, Director of Alumni Relations at 904.396.5751 x 1104 or johnsonh@esj.org.

The Career Launcher program is yet another way in which Episcopal’s Alumni Association fulfills our motto: Students for a Short Time…Alumni for a Lifetime.

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Winter 2018

Beards are the First Three-Generation Episcopal Family The Beard family is the first family in Episcopal history to have three generations of students attend the school. Franklin ‘70, Russell Jr. ’96 and Russell III ’24 recently shared their experiences on campus with The Magazine of Episcopal. All three responded that math was their favorite class, and all three were heavily involved in sports – soccer, track, tennis (Franklin); baseball, basketball and football (Russell Jr.); and cross country, baseball and basketball (Russell III).

In some ways, life on campus has changed between 1970 and 2018, but in the most important ways, it hasn’t changed at all.

TME: One memory I have of eating lunch is...

The Magazine of Episcopal (TME): Students today would be surprised to learn that...

TME: One thing I love about Episcopal is:

Franklin: That guys had to wear a coat and tie every day. The first event ever held in the Buck Center was my graduation.

Franklin: How accepting it was of everyone.

There were groups of friends but everyone was generally very accepting of one another.

The school’s spirituality was part of that, and I felt it throughout campus.

Russell Jr.: I didn’t have an email address during my time at Episcopal.

Franklin: The cafeteria was in the Alumni Gym. Russell Jr.: The smell.

Russell III: They just changed the menu and it is really good!

TME: When I was a student...

Franklin: When I was a student, there were no lights on the football field, and there was no baseball field or softball field.

Russell Jr.: The Bowling Alley was in center field and we wore ties and pants every day.

Russell Jr.: The influence of faith on the experience and community.

Russell III: The loving and caring community.H ESJ

55

ALUMNI

Episcopal welcomed several hundred alumni and their families back to campus for Homecoming on November 2. The alumni barbeque and reception included food from The Bearded Pig, owned by Michael Schmidt ’96. Additional photos are on the school’s Flickr account.

56

Winter 2018

ALUMNI

ESJ

57

58

Winter 2018

ALUMNI

ESJ

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Winter 2018

Episcopal Alumnae Form Group to Support ESJ Women This year the Alumni Association has created an affiliate alumni group for all women who are graduates of Episcopal.

The organization is meant to be a platform to connect Episcopal women with each other.

“Our plan is that this will be a purposeful, powerful, and inviting group that encourages positivity and growth,” said Ashley Helmick ’07, the group’s founder.

“All women who have graduated from Episcopal are welcome to be a part of this group, so we can grow it on campus and in our community.”

The goal of the women-only organization is to support, encourage and mentor female students and alumnae. The group will be for networking, service and educational leadership, and will develop connections between ESJ and alumnae, alumnae and each other, and students and alumnae.

The first alumnae event was held October 4 at Riverside Liquors, and more than 30 women from a wide range of graduating classes gathered to talk and network, and discuss the group’s goals. The theme that has developed for the group is WINGS: Women Inspiring Networking, Growth, and Service.

“Having a women-specific group or council that provides opportunities for the alumnae and students to instill positive values within our community and serve others together should stand out in Jacksonville and beyond. This group would allow us to build each other up in a world that can be challenging for women, and allow us to further spread our wings and seek opportunities in a trusted and caring environment,” shared Ashley. H

ESJ

61

EPISCOPAL SCHOOL of JACKSONVILLE

JOIN US FOR TWO SPECIAL EVENTS AT EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF JACKSONVILLE!

OPEN HOUSE

January 15, 2019 . 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Munnerlyn Center for Worship and Fine Arts Prospective students and parents welcome. Come and go as you please no formal program. Visit with administrators from all areas of campus life.

Tour ESJ’s campus with a current student.

6 TH GRADE PARENT PREVIEW January 17, 2019 . 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Munnerlyn Center for Worship and Fine Arts A comprehensive overview of 6th grade at Episcopal to include: Academics, Arts, Athletics & Spiritual Life Presentations; Campus Tour; Q&A with Students, Faculty and Administrators RSVP by January 11 to admissions@esj.org

62

For more information or to schedule a personal tour, contact the admissions office at 904.396.7104 or admissions@esj.org.

Winter 2018

ALUMNI

2018-2019 ALUMNI CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

Episcopal is grateful to its team of Alumni Class Representatives who serve as liaisons between the school and their class. The primary responsibility of the Alumni Class Representative is to contribute their time, thought and energy to the lasting connection between their classmates and Episcopal. If you are interested joining our team of Alumni Class Representatives, please contact Heather Newman Johnson ’90, Director of Alumni Relations, at alumni@esj.org.

1971 Mary Tucker Fouraker Patty Anderson Ubbens 1972 Brad Berg Julia Sonntag Daze Whitney Oren 1973 Craig Hamilton Alan Moore Becky Vodrey 1974 Skip Booth 1976 Lanier Drew Wendy Dickinson LaPrade Kristy Olson Miller 1977 Francine Andia Walker 1978 Alison Montgomery Bartz Cyndy Ira Reynolds 1980 Sherry Smith Hieb Whatley Law Jim Moseley 1982 Rick Alexander Cris Scott Tennant 1983 Jane Loop Pomar 1985 Raymur Walton Rachels

1986 Julie McFall Batson Annie Hughes Goldfield Laura Green

1997 Brooks Fraleigh Cannon Tasha Nickodem Stevens

1988 Heather Rainey Moseley

1998 Charles Chunn Kyle McClung Julie Wiggins Sorenson

1989 Jeff Bryan Shannon Shea 1990 Jennifer Stopiak Hayes Katherine Donahoo Nott 1991 Liza Barnett Emmet Darren Glenn Cristi Peterson Skeels 1992 Cara Freeman Bowyer Amy Burrows Perkins

1999 Jorge Oliver Kevin Vaughn Emily Humphries Wise 2000 William Milne Eddy Oliver Graham Riley 2003 Beth Anne Frost 2004 Baker Berg

1993 Mary Burke Baker Carmen Sacerio Chartrand

2005 Carley Glasser Leigh Elizabeth Black Israel

1994 Mary Lanier Cook Kerri Cannon Napoleon John Naugle

2006 Lesley Marchman Gittings Darren Zeigler

1995 Anne-Marie Forbes Hulsey 1996 Tiffany Kidd Post

2007 Justin Davis Ashley Helmick Stacy Byrd Thomas Katharyn Smith Woods 2008 Peter Blumeyer Brad McCollum

2009 Corey Jackson Emily Lewis 2010 David Drew Lee Haramis Deanna Thornton Nick Walker 2011 Francesca Mantay Mickey Simmons 2012 Keegan Ball Tracy Thompson Mary Dudley Lee White 2013 Elizabeth Daw Caroline Oakley Cutler Renard Phoebe Stephens 2014 John Michael Currie Natalie Lewis Richie Mullaney Sid Yarlagadda 2015 Lawrence Sims Collin Walker 2016 Laurel Lee 2017 Davis Cury Caroline Still 2018 Danielle Corbin Turner Riggs Emily Teems

ESJ

63

ALUMNI

Alumni Events Alumni enjoyed several get-togethers this year in different cities and for different oncampus events. The Alumni Association thanks all who attended. We hope to see you at an event soon! Upcoming events are listed on the Episcopal website under Alumni/Events.

NEW YORK The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, hosted New York City-area Episcopal alumni at the Yale Club for a cocktail reception on July 12.

BOSTON New England-area alumni enjoyed an alumni event at the Harvard Club of Boston on July 19.

JUMBO SHRIMP Young alumni enjoyed a Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp game together on August 9.

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Winter 2018

ALUMNI ORLANDO The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, and Martha Greene welcomed Orlandoarea Episcopal alumni at Bulla for a cocktail reception on September 29.

NASHVILLE Episcopal welcomed Nashville-area alumni for a gathering at The Mockingbird on October 11.

ALUMNI ROWING EVENT Alumni enjoyed getting back out on the water during an alumni rowing event at the Walton Boathouse on November 3.

WINE AND CHEESE Alumni and parents of alumni enjoyed a reception before the premiere of Striking 12 on November 8. The event was held on the Munnerlyn Center patio, overlooking the pond.

CLASS OF 2013 Members of the Class of 2013 caught up at Kickbacks Gastropub in the private Belgian Bar Basement on King Street on November 23 over the Thanksgiving holiday for their fiveyear reunion.

ESJ

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203

TOTAL GIFTS

SURPASSING GOAL OF 184 GIFTS

WHY EMMIE STOKES ’13 GIVES TO EPISCOPAL: Episcopal fostered a love for learning and achieving - in the classroom, on the stage, around my community, and beyond. From the age of 12, I was constantly challenged by

38 FACULTY, STAFF, & COACHES GIFTS MADE IN HONOR OF

my peers and teachers to be a better version of me. I am the person I am today because of the Episcopal community, and I will always be grateful.

BRING IT HOME FOR HOMECOMING ALUMNI

ALUMNI GIVING CAMPAIGN

BY THE NUMBERS

WHY RICHIE MULLANEY ’14 GIVES TO EPISCOPAL: My grandma used to tell me

14

FIRST TIME DONORS

that there are two things in life that nobody can take away from you: your faith and your education. The Episcopal experience uniquely provides students with both of these transformative gifts. I give back to ensure that future generations are afforded this special opportunity.

DONATIONS RECEIVED FROM

13 STATES

4 COUNTRIES

ALUMNI Classes of 1970s

’77

’89 David Duval was Chosen as U.S. Ryder Cup Vice Captain by Jim Furyk this summer. ’97

Kristen Negaard O’Brien has stepped away from 41 years of rowing coaching to relocate with her Mike Tanner ’71, Francine

husband, George, on a

Walker ’77, Sharon

work assignment in the

Jay Klaitz recently starred

Middleton ’77, and Mark

Lake District of northwest

as “Bart” in Gettin’ the

Mahon ’75 were together

England, where they will

Band Back Together, a

this year at The Florida

“count quaint British life

musical performed on

Bar Board of Governors

and ardent travel among

Broadway this fall. Jay

meeting in Amelia Island.

our blessings for the next

has a master’s degree in

Fourth Circuit Chief Judge

several years,” she shares.

fine arts from the Institute

Mahon welcomed the

They will eventually

at Harvard University /

members of the board,

return to their home in

American Repertory Theater

including Mike and

Connecticut.

/ Moscow Art Theater,

Sharon (who serves as one of two non-lawyer

and bachelor’s degrees ’78

in theater, religion, and

members). Francine

economics from Bucknell

is the Bar’s Director of

University. Jay’s Broadway

Communications.

credits include Rock of Ages, Lend Me A Tenor,

’76

and High Fidelity. TV credits include recurring roles on Jessica Jones, (Netflix), Vinyl (HBO), Instinct (CBS), John Morse was named

The Get Down (Netflix),

USA Swimming’s 2018

Kevin Can Wait (CBS), and

Developmental Coach of

guest starring roles on

the Year, an award given

Law & Order SVU (NBC),

to the coach or coaches

Limitless (CBS), Elementary

Timothy F. Glover’s

with the most 18 & Under

(CBS), and many more.

sculpture was featured

swimmers on the National

in an artist’s talk series

and National Junior Team.

at Splendora Gardens

John is a coach for The

in Cleveland, TX, in the

Nashville Aquatics Club.

summer of 2018.

ESJ

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ALUMNI ’99

’08

Mason Sabo received

Dr. Lauren Yerkes, a licensed

Meghan Green ’08 visited

a bachelor’s degree in

clinical psychologist, spoke

her brother Joshua

physics from USC and

to students at Episcopal

Green ’07 in Germany

is the Service Manager

this fall about peer

this summer. Josh is a

at Camachee Cove Yacht

pressure. Her presentation

captain in the U.S. Army.

Harbor.

was tied to the Health,

Meghan says “Josh and

Safety, and Well-Being

I both studied German at

’10

program’s first quarter

Episcopal. He majored in

Caroline Sabo completed

theme of Self-Care. Lauren

German at the Citadel and I

her master’s degree in

taught students how to

minored in German at Elon.

building construction at

recognize different types of

‘Frau Pritchard’ inspired

Auburn University and was

peer pressure, handle peer

our love for learning a

hired by Barton Malow.

pressure on the spot, and

language so much so that I

The Braves Stadium in

prepare for peer pressure

was an exchange student.

Atlanta was one of her jobs

by planning ahead. Lauren

Last week, after 12 years, I

with the firm, and she has

is a practicing psychologist

met up with my exchange

recently relocated to the

in Jacksonville Beach.

student! It was amazing.”

Melbourne area to take on more responsibility. Today

’03

Taylor Mullaney graduated

she is project engineer of

Matt Michel graduated in

from Northwestern

several main endeavors in

2016 from the University

University in 2018. Her

the Southeast.

of Florida’s Levin College

graduate degree was in

of Law with a joint degree:

law and journalism (JD

a Spanish Ph.D. and a J.D.

and MSJ).

He is currently working at the University of Florida

Zoe Brose married Carson

as an Adjunct Lecturer,

McKendree ’10 in May 2018

Department of Spanish &

at the falls in Snoqualmie,

Portuguese.

WA.

’06

’09

Kelby Siddons has been

Caila Moed has been

cast as Margaret Leavitt in

accepted to University of

Silent Sky, being produced

Oxford for her MBA and

by Theatre Jacksonville and

will be attending next fall.

performed January 11-27 in

She will also be rowing

Carson McKendree married

San Marco.

while there.

Zoe Brose ’08 in May 2018 at the falls in Snoqualmie, Washington. Carson is a captain in the U.S. Army in Tacoma, WA.

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Winter 2018

ALUMNI ’13

German studies. During

competing at the National

Julian Gomez received

her time at Smith,

Championships. While at

his degree in mathematics

Monica spent a year

Episcopal, Haley was swim

from Loyola University in

abroad, studying at the

team captain and a

Chicago in 2017. He started

University of Hamburg.

four-time letterman.

studying applied statistics

Monica is completing

at Loyola University this

a Fulbright Fellowship

Emily Galant moved to

fall. He plans to graduate

in Kaiserslautern at the

Atlanta following her

with a master’s degree

Technical University

college graduation for a job

from Loyola in 2019.

of Kaiserslautern. She

with Mars Chocolate.

intends to remain in Libbie Sabo graduated

Germany to earn her

Hannah Ellisen works for a

with honors from Clemson,

master’s degree in

small public relations firm

all while competing

microbial ecology from the

called PlugPR!

collegiately with shooting.

University of Cologne as a

Libbie was a national

DAAD Scholar.

champion in Lady Skeet

Madison Yauger is headed to Chicago for graduate

and MVP her senior

’14

school at Northwestern

year for her team. She

Haley Brown was

where she received a

is applying to school to

presented All-American

scholarship. She is earning

become a physician’s

awards at a Berry College

a master’s degree in

assistant and is a certified

Swimming and Diving

journalism from the

EMT.

meet on September 29. At

Medill School.

the 2018 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving

’16

National Championships

Laurel Lee was on the

in Indianapolis last March,

staff with Youth Works this

Haley finished thirteenth in

summer at Red Lake Indian

the 100 freestyle, earning

reservation where ESJ

All-America Honorable

students served during a

Mention honors from the

mission trip.

College Swimming and Monica Wilson met up with

Diving Coaches Association

’18

ESJ’s Dr. Kate Pritchard,

of America. Haley is the

Allison H. Henderson is

Director of Curriculum, in

first person in the history

a first-year student at the

Hamburg this summer.

of Berry College to earn

University of Florida this

After graduating from

All-America Swimming

fall, where she plans to

Episcopal, Monica studied

honors. Haley was also

major in criminology and

at Smith College in

recognized as a Scholar

minor in Spanish.

Massachusetts where she

All-American by achieving

double-majored in

a grade point average

biological sciences and

higher than 3.50 and

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ADVANCEMENT

The Clements Tennis Center at Episcopal’s Knight Campus was the location for the second annual JingleBall Tennis Tournament on Monday, December 10. The tournament kicked off the holiday season with Christmas themed food, beverages, auction items, and tournament prizes. Episcopal’s Tennis Program Director, Coach Dede Allen, led a group of women in a fun round-robin format tournament followed by lunch. The event was chaired

by Kerri Cannon Napoleon ’94 and Beth Poe. Kerri’s son, Ryan, and Beth’s son, Collin, are both in eighth grade at ESJ. The proceeds from JingleBall are used to support the operations of the school and assist in fulfilling the school’s mission. H

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ADVANCEMENT

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THE CELEBRATION COMMITTEE INVITES YOU TO

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T H E

EPISCOPAL FUND

2018 - 2019

What will you support?

We ask that you participate in The Episcopal Fund and designate your unrestricted gift to the area that means the most to you. Whether it’s $50 or $50,000, collective donations to The Episcopal Fund make an immediate impact on our students, our faculty, and our campus.

$50 $150 $500 $1,000 $2,500 $5,000 $10,000

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ONE YEAR OF POTTERY CLAY FOR TWO STUDENTS

Making a difference Here are some examples of how donations of all sizes can make a real and immediate difference for Episcopal’s students and teachers. These examples are just some of the many ways your gift improves

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ADVANCEMENT CORPORATE SPONSORS - PLATINUM

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ADVANCEMENT CORPORATE SPONSORS - GOLD

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ADVANCEMENT CORPORATE SPONSORS - BRONZE

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Winter 2018

ADVANCEMENT CORPORATE SPONSORS - BUSINESS

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END NOTES EPISCOPAL MOURNS THE LOSS OF JIM WINSTON Episcopal Founder and longtime benefactor James Horner Winston died on September 19, 2018, at the age of 84. “Jim Winston’s influence on Episcopal School of Jacksonville is immeasurable,” said The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School. “I was able to thank him just before he died for everything he did to create the great school we have today.”

The story of Episcopal and Jim Winston began when Jim, a young man who had recently retired from the Navy, went to work for real estate developer Wilson Munnerlyn. This was in the late 1950s, around the same time the Diocese of Florida was considering the possibility of an Episcopal school on the waterfront property bequeathed to St. John’s Cathedral by Mary Packer Cummings.

Many years later, this relationship between Wilson Munnerlyn and Jim Winston would benefit Episcopal in a transformational way.

In the mid-1960s, The Very Rev. Robert R. Parks embarked on the fulfilment of the vision for an Episcopal high school on Cummings’ estate. Jim’s first wife, Mary, served on the Planning Committee.

Despite substantial gifts to build the school from philanthropist Jessie Ball duPont, the school struggled in its earliest years to pay off its construction loans. When Jim’s daughter, Kimmie, was enrolled at Episcopal, Jim joined the Board of Trustees

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in 1970 and served until 1976. During his tenure on the Board, Jim fought to keep the school afloat by giving the school a condominium building that he coowned with fellow Episcopal parent Blake Jackson—the Park Lane in Riverside—and selling floors to his friends and colleagues so that the school could profit from the sales. He served as a trustee again in 1985 until 1989.

The school’s largest ever single gift would not have happened without Jim Winston. His long relationship with his former employer Wilson Munnerlyn and his wife, Jane, led to the Munnerlyns’ decision to make a planned gift to the school in memory of their son, who had died as a child. Jim stated that he was aware that Jane “wanted a place to put her memories” of her son, and Jim convinced them that Episcopal would be a fitting recipient.

The Munnerlyns’ planned gift was announced in the 1990s and was estimated at that time to be valued at $4 million. The campus was named for the Munnerlyns’ son when the gift was announced. When the gift was realized in 2003 after the death of Wilson Munnerlyn, the estate was valued at $9 million, the largest ever gift to a Florida independent school at the time.

Jim was also responsible for bringing Episcopal its longest-serving Head of School, Charley Zimmer. Jim was the

END NOTES

Episcopal Founder Jim Winston (1933-2018)

Jim Winston and Wilson Munnerlyn, left, and Headmaster Jack Dwyer and Jane Munnerlyn, right.

valedictorian of his class at Virginia Episcopal School, where he was serving on the Board during the time that Charley was the headmaster there. When Episcopal launched a head of school search, Jim’s relationship with Charley led to Charley’s willingness to consider the move. Charley served as Head of School from 1996-2005 and again from 2012-2016.

In the Journey to Greatness capital campaign, Jim created the school’s first endowed faculty chair in memory of Mary Winston’s father, Leo Burgman.

The Burgman Chair of English, currently held by Dean of Faculty Marta Pauly, is a position of honor for an Episcopal teacher.

Through the years, Jim brought families to the school, provided tours himself, and engaged Episcopal’s leadership in

conversations with other leaders in his vast network of friends and associates.

His loyalty to Episcopal was demonstrable, effective, and transformational in every way.

Jim supported Episcopal with incomparable loyalty, giving each year at a leadership level to the annual fund. For his service to the school, Jim was named a Trustee Emeritus, the highest honor Episcopal can give to one of its former trustees. In 2016 as part of the school’s 50th anniversary celebration, Episcopal dedicated its Head of School office in Jim’s honor and held a reception attended by his many friends and his wife, Jeanne.

There seemed no better place or time to recognize Jim for his impact on Episcopal School of Jacksonville. H

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END NOTES

ALUMNI

In Memoriam FOUNDERS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ronald Talbot Buckingham Episcopal Founder Ronald Talbot Buckingham passed away on Tuesday, September 11. A funeral service was held on Monday, September 17, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Ronnie was also a member of the Episcopal Board of Trustees from 1979-1981. Ronnie is survived by his wife, Catherine, their children, Bill Buckingham ‘78 and Dabney Buckingham ‘80, and their grandchildren Catherine ‘09 and Chris ‘11.

Bruce Douglas Former member of the Episcopal Board of Trustees Bruce Douglas passed away on June 16 in Jacksonville Beach. He was born on November 9, 1934, in Douglaston, New York. He served on the school’s Board of Trustees from 1979 to 1980 and again from 1994-1999. He is survived by his wife, Susan, his children Bruce (Merri), Chris (Jen), Jamie ’78 (Diane), Meghan Douglas Weaver ’99 (Chris), and Erin Douglas Lewis ’01 (Ramsey), fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A celebration of life was held on July 20 at Palms Presbyterian Church.

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Napoleon Brewer (“Lee”) Corbin Jr. ’70 died on July 23 in Jacksonville. He was born on November 5, 1951. Lee was a graduate of Jacksonville University and had a long career in real estate and property management, most recently as president and principal of Jacksonville Real Estate, LLC. Lee was a member of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, where he served as a member of the Vestry and the Altar Guild, and as a leader and teacher of the weekly Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study. He also served as a youth advisor for Urban Young Life.

He is survived by his son Napoleon Brewer Corbin III (“Brewer”). A service was held on July 27 at Holy Trinity Anglican Church.

William (Bill) E. Sandberg ’71 passed away on August 13 at his home in Jacksonville.

James (Jim) T. Jones ’72 died on May 3. He was a professor at the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. Jim graduated from the University of Virginia in 1975 and then attended law school at Duke University.

He is survived by his wife Kathi Jones, and his daughters Jennifer Jones and Shirley Jones. A memorial service was held at the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in the Allen Courtroom on Monday, May 14.

Yvonne Grand ’87 died on May 12, 2018.

She was born on September 22, 1969.

She obtained a BA cum laude from Tufts University in 1991, a Doctor of Law from Cornell University in 1996 and an MBA from Cornell in 1998. She was Director of Americas and Global Customer Service in Corning Environmental Technologies where she worked for 18 years. A

END NOTES

memorial mass was held at Saint John the Evangelist on May 18. She is predeceased by her sister, Mokie Grand ’89.

Buck Zechariah Privett ’96 passed away on September 10. Buck was born on August 29, 1977 to Park Dean Privett and Clydene Dumas Privett in Jacksonville. Funeral services took place on September 22, at Arlington Park Funeral Home Chapel. Interment was in the Arlington Park Cemetery following the funeral service with military honors being presented.

Tyrone O. Gayle ’06 died on October 25 at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. Tyrone was born on November 12, 1987, in Toronto, Canada. At Episcopal he was a member of the track team. Tyrone continued to run at Clemson University, from which he graduated. Tyrone worked for several top Democrats, including Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia in 2012, and as a spokesman for the 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton. In addition to his wife Beth Foster Gayle, Tyrone is survived by his father, Dr. Michael O. Gayle; his mother, Ann Gayle; and his sister, Dr. Tamara Gayle Blackwood.

At the time of his death, he was the Washington press secretary for Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).

Services were held in Jacksonville and in Washington, D.C. FACULTY AND STAFF Jim Carlton Haywood passed away on August 9 at McGraw Hospice in Jacksonville. Jim was a founding member of University of North Florida (UNF) and served as the Vice President of Administrative Affairs.

He then served as Business Manager of Episcopal for almost 20 years. Jim

is survived by his wife of 60 years, Esther; sons, Mark (Judy) and Rick (Tariea); daughters, Cheryl and Donna (Brad); 11 grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren. A memorial service was held at Palms Presbyterian Church on August 16.

James (Jimbo) E. Deming passed away on July 4. He was born January 6, 1951 in Rome, NY. Jimbo, as most knew him by, worked with the City of Atlantic Beach for more than 25 years. He was a dedicated member of his church, Palms Presbyterian. He was a strong supporter of the arts and worked with IATSE in Jacksonville, and spent many hours on the Episcopal campus supporting its Fine Arts programs and Eagle Arts camp. Jimbo is survived by his wife, Sally, ESJ’s former Director of Fine Arts, and his son, Casey ’07. A celebration of life was held at Palms Presbyterian Church on August 25.

Mary L. Hartley died November 14. She was born on October 23, 1951. After graduating from Wolfson High School, she attended Southern Methodist University. She married Richard E. Hartley in 1976 and is survived by Rick, her son, Andy, and her daughter, Mary Catherine ’01. Mary served on the board of the Junior League of Jacksonville and was an active member of many community organizations.

Professionally, she was the Program Director for Gateway Girl Scout Council and the Training Assistant Director for Northwest Georgia Girl Scout Council.

Mary retired from Episcopal School of Jacksonville after serving as Registrar for almost 15 years. A service was held in the Davis Chapel at Episcopal on Saturday, November 17.

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END NOTES

I am honored, in this edition of The Magazine of Episcopal, to bring you the stories of alumni who have served our country. As the sister, daughter and granddaughter of five veterans, these stories are among some of the most special I have had the opportunity to share with you.

Recognizing those who have served has always been a part of the lives of many of us in the Episcopal community. Our faculty and staff are veterans; our students go on to service academies and ROTC programs; our parents or grandparents served in one branch of the armed forces or another.

With Jacksonville a hub for the Navy at Mayport and NAS, with Blue Angels and other aircraft thrilling us with flyovers regularly at football games, honoring those who have served is part of the fabric of our lives here in Northeast Florida.

Episcopal seeks to do the same. Through

Earlier this year, in search of a photo, I dug up an old album that was my grandmother’s. On one of the pages is pasted a telegram, sent just after D-Day, from my grandfather to my grandmother.

It reads simply, “Everything fine, darling, except the whiskey. Lots of Love.”

I laughed and cried while reading it.

Laughed, because I could hear my grandfather’s voice saying just that. And cried, because while my grandfather and two of his brothers came home from World War II, the fourth brother did not. He was lost on a submarine in the Pacific that has never been found.

This is my family’s story of service. What is yours? Please share it with me!

supporting student clubs and volunteer opportunities that help veterans, and by hiring “trailing spouses” and seeking out students whose parents are newly stationed in Jacksonville, Episcopal is working to broaden the breadth and depth of our community by actively reaching out to those in the service. We know their experiences and stories can only enrich our lives.

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Meg Scheu Sacks sacksm@esj.org

FRONT COVER Seniors Rhyan Reid, Julia Downes, and Margaret Gibbs enjoy Back to School Bash in September. Hosted by Eagle Ambassadors, the event welcomed new Upper School students to campus with games, dancing, and color wars.

The proceeds from the event benefitted Warriors’ Wings, an Episcopal student club which supports Wounded Warrior Project, a Jacksonville-based non-profit dedicated to providing services for veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

4455 Atlantic Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Photo: Jesse Brantman for Laura Evans Photography