George Walton Academy - Bulldog Magazine 2022

TODAY. TOMORROW. learning leading

best year

LEARNING TODAY SO THEY CAN LEAD TOMORROW

As we kicked off the new school year, I couldn’t help but marvel at the enthusiasm and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff to making this the best year yet.

Planning, preparing, and innovating did not take a break over the summer. We heard about students who were interning or taking part in academic, athletic, and arts camps. Teachers also took the time to review and enhance their coursework, strengthen their skills, and many even offered summer camps to help enrich the lives of our students. Our administrators and staff could be seen rolling up their sleeves to help with campus improvements and engaged in strategy and planning sessions to ensure this school year delivers on our mission to prepare students for college and for life.

I noticed a renewed energy as both the students and the teachers returned to campus. There is a spirit of collaboration and support for one another that is refreshing and inspiring. Each day, I see students helping and encouraging one another. Students of all ages are comfortable approaching their teachers with questions and aren’t

afraid to express their ideas. We’ve seen that confidence benefit our recent graduates as they tell us the life skills they gained at GWA served them well when they moved on to college and careers.

That’s our goal. To prepare our students to learn today so they can lead tomorrow. It’s the heart of our mission and the focus of all that we do each day at GWA.

It’s our honor to partner with parents to provide an outstanding educational experience for each student. Thank you for joining us in the journey to support young people as they strive each day to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Gary Hobbs Head of School

learning TODAY. TOMORROW.leading

It’s more than just a catchphrase or a tagline. Learning today and leading tomorrow is part of our mission at George Walton Academy.

GWA students are encouraged to explore and try new things, discover their gifts and talents, ask lots of questions, and let their imaginations soar. This often leads to creative innovations and the passionate pursuit of new endeavors. Teachers and advisors foster this spirit of selfdiscovery with internships, mentorships, and exciting class projects.

Junior and seniors have the opportunity to spend several weeks in January as interns in fields they are considering for future professions. From veterinary hospitals,

Mia Smith, Dean of Students Matt Reynolds, Alex Zahradnik and Judge Robert Mumford - Mia and Alex spent their Winter Term interning at the Rockdale County Courthouse.

George Walton Academy provides challenging instruction, engaging experiences, and global perspectives designed to inspire lives of intellectual curiosity, integrity, and purpose.

law firms and courtrooms, to pharmacies, accounting firms, and marketing agencies, students have the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a variety of industries.

strategies, and managing distribution. These dedicated entrepreneurs have set up a system to seamlessly take online orders and deliver beverages to students, faculty, and staff. Offerings include specialty coffee drinks, smoothies, tea, frosty lemonade, milkshakes, and hot chocolate. Sales have been robust and customers are raving in their reviews of this new student startup.

As part of GWA’s business and marketing class, students developed and operate their own coffee shop. The Java Dawgs project allows students to gain experience working with suppliers, managing inventory and sales, developing marketing

Talented artist Sarah Blackstone launched her own business by taking on commissions from local families for painting custom pieces. She credits art teacher Mr. Jameson with providing valuable advice and guidance as she has pursued this business venture and creative outlet. “I have learned how to price my work fairly for myself and get my artwork out into the world. It has been a wonderful experience learning from Mr. Jameson and pushing my art one step further,” said Blackstone.

Artist Sarah Blackstone applies her talents honed in her art classes to create custom pieces for local families.

Damaris Winters and Carter Payne pour coffee in their work with Java Dawgs, a student-run coffee shop created as a part of the business and marketing class.

GWA provides opportunities for students to strengthen their problem-solving and critical thinking skills while they build confidence and the ability to self-advocate. Many projects help students learn how to collaborate and work as a team as they bring concepts from a simple idea to the launch of a business.

Graphic design students created unique restaurant concepts like the Hang 10 Beach Bar, Cuddle Cat Café and Chad’s Diner. After choosing a name for their business, they designed the logo, made a menu, and developed overall branding for the restaurant. They put together slide presentations for the class and shared their plans for the

the restaurants. Students wrote a script and planned out production details including costumes and props and then filmed on a green screen with equipment in GWA’s Mac Lab.

business and all aspects of the dining experience. To take the project one step further, they filmed a commercial for one of

Rhiannon Williams, class of 2022, launched her own photography business and benefited from the knowledge and help of GWA’s photography teacher Brian Cole to understand how she should price her photography products and services. She has enjoyed photographing friends and new clients, building her business into a growing enterprise that allows her to express her

creativity. “As a photographer, I’m always searching for beautiful moments occurring in everyday life and view each photo shoot as an opportunity to capture those moments and share them with the world. This creativity has led me to many adventures and has given me the chance to collaborate with some truly talented individuals.”

It’s inspiring to see the imagination and determination of these young entrepreneurs as they begin to make their mark in the business world. Their entrepreneurial experiences demonstrate how learning today will enable them to lead tomorrow.

To Contribute to the 2022 - 2023 Annual Fund, use this QR code.

Cooper Treadaway films a commercial as a part of the restaurant design project for graphic design class.

Rhiannon Williams displays some of her photos during the spring art show. She runs her photography business using some of the skills and artistry learned in her photography classes.

PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF

“I think overall the quality of teachers and the relationship I had with them at GWA were very meaningful. Aside from the course material and lessons they taught me, their mentorship and friendship led me to want to do well in every aspect of school and personal life.”

– JARRETT CHAI

In 2020, NASA launched Perseverance Rover to Jezero Crater, Mars to seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith for possible return to Earth. Class of 2012 alumnus Jarrett Chai was part of the team who helped successfully get the mission off the ground.

A graduate of Georgia Tech, with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, Jarrett has been working for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at NASA since 2017. As part of the Perseverance Rover team, he designed ground support equipment, reviewed and created technical drawings, and managed the manufacturing process of flight and

non-flight equipment. When asked about his job, Jarrett replied, “I specialize in propulsion systems and pressurized vessels, but I also regularly work with other types of hardware such as electrical and mechanical systems.”

Perseverance Rover landed on Mars on February 18, 2021. It is a one ton, sixwheeled Mars rover the size of a compact car. Using images from navigation cameras placed around the rover, as well as imagery from orbital satellites such as NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, scientists and mission operators work together to drive Perseverance to promising science areas. If a spot seems interesting, Perseverance collects a sample, seals it in a small tube, and leaves the tube on the surface for a return to Earth at a later date. “It was a bit surreal to have had a hand in certain components during ideation and fabrication. On the other hand, it’s a bit nerve wracking. If something goes wrong, I hope it doesn’t come down to my components!” said Jarrett. Perseverance Rover continues to be operational on Mars.

learning TODAY. TOMORROW.leading

Currently, Jarrett is part of the Europa Clipper mission set to launch in late 2024. Europa Clipper will conduct detailed reconnaissance of Jupiter’s moon Europa and investigate whether the ice moon could have conditions suitable for life. “It is the first of two missions to Jupiter’s moon Europa. I’m most involved with radiation analysis of hardware that are proposed to fly on the mission. I design and manage the manufacturing of testing equipment going into JPL’s particle accelerator. Designs can range from simple jigs to assemblies that require supercooling and rotation while under a vacuum.”

When asked what it is like working in the aerospace industry, Jarrett replied, “I think the aerospace industry is unlike any other industry you can find. The challenges and goals you work towards are incredible and each project tends to be unique and a one-time deal. Trying to dig for some dirt has a different feel to it when you know it’s meant to happen on another planet. The industry can be tough though. The aerospace industry tends to be small, and many people will rotate between the same handful of companies as contracts and funding ebb and flow with mission demands.”

While a student at GWA, Jarrett was involved in marching band, debate team, literary team, cross country, theater club, Beta Club, and National Honor Society. When asked how GWA helped him on his path to success, Jarrett replied, “I think overall the quality of teachers and the relationship I had with them at GWA were very meaningful. Aside from the course material and lessons they taught me, their mentorship and friendship led me to want to do well in every aspect of school and personal life. I’m not sure who still teaches at GWA, but I received a positive influence from all the teachers and staff at GWA.”

When he isn’t working on the next NASA project headed into space, Jarrett runs marathons, competes in weightlifting competitions, and goes hiking locally and at national parks. Currently, he resides in Pasadena, California.

so much to SEE AND LEARN

middle school learning journeys

George Walton Academy believes in the power of learning beyond the four walls of a classroom. This philosophy is demonstrated through the middle school class trips that each grade level embarks upon every spring.

Eighth graders enjoyed a class trip adventure that covered points of interest and opportunities to engage in Tennessee and Georgia. Starting in Chattanooga, students explored the Tennessee Aquarium, the Challenger Space Center, and the Chickamauga Battlefield as they learned about important events in both science and history. Their educational journey continued as they boarded the Incline Railway for a trip to Lookout Mountain and Rock City. Their next stop was New Echota and the start of the Trail of Tears. They visited Etowah where they climbed mounds created by Native Americans and were

Middle school takes learning on the road with class trips that enhance their educational experience.

able to relate them to the Native American myths they had studied. The class made a final stop at the Tellus Museum to observe a planetarium show and a dinosaur exhibit, completing a three-day excursion into realworld experiences and reflections on historic sites and events.

As a culmination of their research and reportwriting unit on Washington, D.C., seventhgrade students visited our nation’s capital to synthesize their class-based learning with real-life experiences and exposure. Students visited the monuments, memorials, and museums they researched, which shed light on a variety of historic and current-day points of view. Highlights of the trip included a stop at Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the monuments, memorials, and museums surrounding the National Mall.

Sixth-grade students traveled to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for three days at Space Camp, where they were immersed in all things science and space. While there, students participated in a simulated space mission, built and fired their own rockets, and explored the history of space exploration. They toured a replica of the International Space Station and learned how astronauts survive in space and how they spend their time. The simulators that replicated different aspects of space travel were the highlight for most students.

These educational journeys not only reinforce lessons taught in the classroom, they spark imagination and creativity as students begin to envision possible college majors and future careers.

“During our trip to Chattanooga, I really enjoyed visiting the Tennessee Aquarium. And seeing the Native American sites and battlefields really brought history to life.”

– WILLIAM FERGUSON, EIGHTH GRADE

middle school learning journeys

– CORRIE BETH NOLL

FOR THE LOVE of literary

When I took the position of piano instructor at GWA in 2014, part of my duties included “accompanying literary vocalists.” To be perfectly honest, I had no idea what Literary was. I also had no idea that Literary would become one of the greatest joys in my life.

Literary encompasses many aspects of the humanities; drama, writing, music, and public speaking. Throughout the school year, high school students practice and prepare to compete against other high schools in our region, and if they’re successful enough, state. There are countless hours spent writing essays, practicing vocal parts, setting scenes, researching international and national topics, and encouraging one another to never give up.

Throughout the years, our literary team has gone through the natural ebb and flow of life. We’ve seen success and defeat, but the last school year we were able to achieve Region Champs, and many of our students competed at the state level and brought home third and fourth place prizes at the state competition.

What is important to know about Literary is that it is a team of students who compete for the love of what they do. They receive no extra credit, no class credit, and many have minimal experience in their competition area other than Literary itself. They go above and beyond what is expected. They root for one another like I’ve never seen before, and they are truly the best of what GWA has to offer.

Corrie Beth Noll Piano Instructor

“They root for one another like I’ve never seen before, and they are truly the best of what GWA has to offer.”

REGION CHAMPS

Congratulations to our George Walton Academy Literary team on being named Region Champs at the 2022 Region Literary Competition!

Students who qualified to compete in the State Championship are first-place winners:

Jack Boyer—Boys’ Soloist

Allison Carter—Girls’ Soloist Zelig Miller, Michael Mealor, Mac Geoffroy, and Jack Boyer— Boys’ Quartet

Alex Hutchison and Ana Cordero— Duo Interpretation

Taylor Grossman—Rhetorical Essay Anna Swope—Personal Essay

Also, huge congratulations to our second-place students, who worked so hard at their performances and helped to clinch the Region title: Elizabeth Pope— Dramatic Interpretation

Michael Chick—Argumentative Essay Allison Carter, Elizabeth Pope, Ana Cordero—Girls’ Trio Cassie Culver—Domestic Extemp Jackson Harrison— International Extemp Jack Boyer—Humorous Interpretation

Thank you to our coaches, Corrie Beth Noll, Paula Gerhardt, and Tricia Fissette for your work with our students.

literary team region champs

Benjamin Eady

LEADING TOMORROW

from GWA’S LITERARY TEAM to WASHINGTON, D.C.

you do opens just as many (if not more) doors than if you meticulously plan and social climb your way to some desired goal.”

Benjamin says his crowning achievement at GWA was the Literary team’s victory at state his senior year. He was also on the cross country and soccer teams (saying “I played” may be too generous), National Honor Society, Beta Club, Spanish Club, and was senior class president on the student council.

While he was in college, Benjamin Eady (GWA ‘14) set his sights on the nation’s capitol and put plans in place to make it happen. “I was a Political Science and International Affairs double major at the University of Georgia, and I always knew that I wanted to live in Washington eventually. Upon graduation, I began looking for jobs, sending out my resume to any company, Linked In connection, or passing acquaintance that would hear my plea for work. A company working with the Army Partnerships Program at the time responded, offered me a job, and brought me to DC in August 2018. I have since changed jobs, but have been living and working in the district ever since.”

Benjamin is an Energy Policy Analyst which involves supporting policy development and programmatic support for the Air Force Energy Program. “The day to day varies wildly, ranging from coordinating important tasks across Department of Defense offices to responding to requests for information from Congress,” said Benjamin. “The work is fast-paced, but incredibly interesting and engaging.”

“I first moved to DC because I wanted to be near “the room where it happens,” with little specific agenda for how to accomplish such a feat. Since moving here, I have found that simply leaning into what you are doing at the moment and putting your best foot forward in all that

When asked about what made GWA memorable to him, Benjamin replied, “The people and mentors along the way definitely shaped me into the man I am today. While friends like David Arrue, Casey Carrell, and Ben Phillips certainly made the days shorter, teachers throughout the school created spaces for us to learn and grow and evolve without fear of embarrassment or mockery.

I specifically think of teachers like Mr. Zack Farmer, who also coached me in cross country. His world history class my freshman year completely blew my mind. He forced us to reconcile with difficult topics in our collective history–something that students at a school founded the same year the Supreme Court forced integration in Walton County sorely needed. We didn’t just come to a “correct” or “wrong” or “left” or “right” answer; rather, we wrestled with complex issues to try and find some common ground amongst incredibly varied opinions.

I’d also be remiss not to mention Ms. Karen Barrett, Mr. Jeff Lalaian, and Mrs. Jo Taylor who all took the time to create personal relationships with their students and impressed upon us all how critical it is to both

meet folks where they are while still calling them to a higher standard.

I would not be where I am now without all of these people that encouraged me to question and inquire into the nature of things, bucking tradition and leaning into truth. That’s something from which we can all learn, whether in Monroe, GA or Washington, DC.”

In addition to his busy schedule in DC, Benjamin is a member of the Georgia State Society and is involved in the UGA alumni network in the area.

learning TODAY. TOMORROW.leading

the WONDERFUL WORLD of KINDERGARTEN

By Sherre Cown K4 Instructor

37 years of service to GWA - and still going strong

When people ask me what makes GWA’s “preschool” so special, I turn around and ask them “how much time do you have?” First of all, let me be clear, there are tons of good programs out there, I just believe that ours is better. As my grandmother would say, “the proof is in the pudding,” or in our case, the results. Allow me to explain.

We have a wonderful K3 program that was designed specifically to teach, guide, inspire, and encourage children in a safe, child-friendly, imagination-soaring environment. With two teachers, not one, the children are guided through a world of numbers, letters, phonics, fine motor skills, shapes, and colors. With two teachers, there is ample opportunity to work one on one with each child to help them succeed. In our program, children are able to explore the world of academics, play, art, Spanish, music, bible, and books. The teachers foster independence and encourage

students to develop self-help skills that lay the foundation for a strong, successful academic career. This approach continues into K4.

Now onto the K4 program! In our world, every day is an adventure, every day is something new. If you have a four or five year old, you know how inquisitive they are and how they just can’t stay still for very long. We welcome both! We learn through movements, role-play, silly songs and exercise. They question everything. We love this. We want the children to want to come to school, even on the weekends. But first, we have to make a connection. Once this is done, the fun begins. Our program takes letters and

gives them a purpose. Students learn upper and lower case letters, phonics, print, rhyming, beginning sounds, ending sounds, vowels, consonants, and words. In math, they learn their numbers, print, adding, subtracting, shapes, measuring, and counting by 1’s, 5’s and 10’s to 100.

We have monthly units that are broken down into weekly topics that capture the children’s interest and imagination. During this time, we supplement our program with art, books, geography, and science. Children, by their very nature, want to learn. We give them the freedom and guidance to do so. Just like the K3 program, we have

two teachers in the class. This gives us the opportunity to work one on one with each student. Our children are inspired to explore the world of books, PE, Spanish, music, and bible. We work with each child to help them grow in all areas of development: social, emotional, physical and academic.

There is so much more that I could say about both programs but I have to stop somewhere. Let me close by saying that we are NOT a preschool program. We are so much more! The teachers are dedicated, supportive, loving, and understanding. We are here for your child and for you. We are family and we welcome you!

“We work with each child to help them grow in all areas of development: social, emotional, physical and academic... We are here for your child and for you. We are family and we welcome you!”

– SHERRE COWN

| the wonderful world of kindergarten

STUDENTS COLLEGES EPIC DAYS

Laura Nabors Associate Director of College Counseling

A group of rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors kicked off the summer of 2022 with a trip to colleges and universities across North and South Carolina. This adventure was a perfect blend of insight into university academics, and student life, mixed in with evening fun, and many naps on the bus. It seemed most students were nervous

about the trip upon departure but relaxed when we were treated to a cool dessert at the ’55 Exchange, a student-run business enterprise that designs, manufactures, sells and serves Clemson’s world-famous ice cream. At Furman University, students were impressed with the small class sizes and the beautiful lake. We stopped next at Wofford, Home of the Terriers. Students then enjoyed a night of go-karts and arcade games at Frankie’s Fun Park. The boys might have outscored the girls in a round of laser tag, but who can really say? But, Owen Jones did win a Nintendo Switch!

Day 2 started early at High Point University. The HPU student guides did a fantastic job with a golf-cart tour of campus. Their facilities were spectacular and pristine, complete with a fine dining lab, 1924 Prime Steak House, where students develop life skills including business etiquette and understanding of global cultures and cuisine. Our next stop was Wake Forest University, which also provided a nice lunch in one of their dining halls. We then completed a driving tour of Elon University and capped off the day with peanuts and Cracker Jacks at a Winston-Salem Dash minor league baseball game.

On the morning of Day 3, we were dropped off at Cameron Indoor Stadium where we received early entry to the Duke Basketball Museum. We then toured the iconic Duke University Chapel. Photos do not adequately capture its magnitude and

beauty. Our next stop was right up the road at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus with a stop at the Makerspace, a 3D printing lab open to students of all majors, and the Old Well. Next, we headed to Raleigh to tour NC State, where our group met Dereck Whittenburg of their 1983 National Championship basketball team. You may spot a cameo of some GWA Bulldogs in his upcoming documentary. Our day wrapped up with some recreation on the sands of Myrtle Beach.

Our final day of the epic college tour took us to the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina. These schools are pretty different from each other - they each have their own take on school colors (maroon vs. garnet), environment (downtown Charleston vs. Columbia), and undergraduate enrollment size (10,000 vs 27,000).

Our feet were exhausted after trekking many miles across 11 campuses but as a college counselor, my heart was energized by the students’ discussions, excitement, and curiosity. Over 1,200 miles on the road and I can’t think of a better way to spend a week with George Walton students. Their future looks bright, full of college options and opportunities.

Junior Sarah Digby’s quote sums up the week pretty well – “We were able to visit schools of all different sizes and opportunities, which was very beneficial in deciding what type of college I want to go to. I learned that I gravitate towards bigger schools and was very intrigued by the study abroad programs that many schools had to offer. Overall, I had a great time on the trip with my friends and I was able to learn a lot about many different colleges that I did not know before.”

“I loved the college tour because it showed me schools I never really had an interest in and I actually ended up loving them! I am applying to at least three of the 11 schools that we toured! I also loved the fun activities with Mrs. Nabors, Mr. Terrell, and the people I got closer to because of the college tour. 10/10 recommend.”

– SARA BRYAN, SENIOR

Carolina college tour

CLASS OF 2022 COLLEGE DESTINATIONS

Trae Adkins - University of North Georgia

Austin Allred - Georgia Southern University

Carsyn Baker - University of Georgia

Emma Barley - Georgia State University

Angus Bateman

Mia Berry - College of Charleston

Sarah Blackstone - Georgia College & State University

Will Bowick - Jacksonville State University

Julian Brown - Valdosta State University

Aaron Carter - University of North Georgia

Allison Carter - Baldwin Wallace University

Michael Chick - Georgia Institute of Technology

Caroline Conner - College of Charleston

Ana Cordero - University of North Georgia

Saylor Cornelius - College of Coastal Georgia

Cassie Culver - Oglethorpe University

Amelia Dolvin - University of Georgia

MK Dopp - Georgia Southern University

Charlie Duke - Western Carolina University

Garrett Edwards - University of Tennessee

Lily Eubanks - Auburn University

Hunter Exline - Kennesaw State University

Laythan Folgman - Georgia Southern University

Kilissa Gasaway - Kennesaw State University

Mac Geoffroy - University of North Carolina

Jocelyn Gonzalez - Gwinnett Technical College

Brady Gray - Georgia State University

Taylor Grossman - Georgia Institute of Technology

Will Herren - University of Georgia

Noah Hicks - California Institute of Technology

Alex Hutchison - University of Georgia

Tim Jackson - Anderson University (Indiana)

Avery Jesel - University of Alabama

Kennedy Johnson - High Point University

Nick Johnson - Georgia Southern University

Garrett Kirby - Kennesaw State University

Jake Lance - Georgia Southern University

Matt Lazenby - University of Georgia

Mason Lee - University of Tennessee

Conner Lemke - Georgia Gwinnett College

Nicholas Lo - Kennesaw State University

Graham Lucas - Georgia College & State University

Karrigan Malcom - Georgia Southern University

Camille Malcom - Georgia Southern University

Madison Marable - University of Georgia

Reagan May - University of Georgia

Hannah McDonel - Georgia Southern University

Nicholaus McDowell - University of North Georgia

Breena McGraw - Columbia University

Alex McMunn

Vic Meinert - United States Army

Emmie Mitchell - University of Georgia

Jake Moore - University of North Georgia

Abel Moreno - University of North Georgia

Anslee Parrish - Piedmont University

Reagan Peppers - Georgia Southern University

Teagan Phillips - Georgia Southern University

Elizabeth Pope - Brenau University

Nathan Purvis - University of North Georgia

Aidan Rainey - Georgia Military College

Eugene Rawl - University of Georgia

Joey Rockmore - University of Georgia

Ella Rowan - Georgia Institute of Technology

Hadley Schnieders - Louisiana State University

Dylan Shusterman - College of Coastal Georgia

Delaney Sims - Alfred University

Andrew Staples - Kennesaw State University

Perry Jake Stone - University of Mississippi

Charlie Stout - University of Georgia

Anna Swope - Georgia Institute of Technology

Taylor Tinsley - University of California Los Angeles

Cooper Treadaway - Georgia College & State University

Grace Watts - University of Georgia

Dominic Williams - University of North Georgia

Gavin Williams - Kennesaw State University

James Williams - University of North Georgia

Rhiannon Williams - Berry College

Gracie Wood - Samford University

Abby Wright - Auburn University

SCHOOL AWARDS

Valedictorian - Noah Hicks California Institute of Technology

Salutatorian - Anna Swope Georgia Institute of Technology

Hearn Medallion - Noah Hicks

Socratic Award - Anna Swope

Vires Acquirit Eundo AwardAllison Carter

Beta Club Student of the YearGracie Wood (Teacher: Mrs. Kellie Watts)

National Honor Society Student of the YearNoah Hicks (Teacher: Mrs. Melissa Page)

SCHOOL & COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

GWA Cure Dawgs Scholarship - Charlie Duke and Elizabeth Pope

Hudson Family Foundation Scholarship - Allison Carter

Monroe Junior Service League - Carsyn Baker

Walton County Foundation Scholarship - Allison Carter

Coach Mike Head Memorial Scholarship - Will Herren

Dr. Lavinia Wood Memorial ScholarshipReagan May

Gary & Rita Kennedy Memorial ScholarshipMeridyth Dopp

Barrelle Roofing Scholarship - Austin Allred

Rotary Service Above Self Scholarship - Charlie Stout

American Red Cross Blood Service ScholarshipMeridyth Dopp

Walton Electric Trust ScholarshipsWill Bowick, Austin Allred, and Anna Swope

Atlanta Journal Cup Award - Noah Hicks

Youth Leadership Walton - Will Herren, Reagan May, Emmie Mitchell, and Ella Rowan

Youth Leadership Walton Alumni ScholarshipWill Herren

Daughter of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award - Kennedy Johnson

Eagle Scouts - Aaron Carter and Reagan May

ACADEMIC AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

STAR Student - Mac Geoffroy (Teacher: Mrs. Kellie Watts)

Class of 2022 Competent ToastmastersMichael Chick, Mac Geoffroy, Taylor Grossman, Will Herren, Noah Hicks, Avery Jesel, Matthew Lazenby, Graham Lucas, Camille Malcom, Emmie Mitchell, Aiden Rainey, Eugene Rawl, Dominic Williams, and Gracie Wood

GHP State Finalists - Breena McGraw and Anna Swope

Honors Inquiry Program - Breena McGraw and Allison Carter

National Merit Scholarship Letter of CommendationNoah Hicks, Breena McGraw, and Anna Swope

ATHLETIC RECOGNITION

Bulldog Award - Hannah McDonel and Noah Hicks

ALL-STATE

Athletic - Mia Berry (Cheer), Amelia Dolvin (Cheer), Caroline Conner (Softball), Taylor Tinsley (Softball), Charlie Stout (Swimming), Perry Jake Stout (Wrestling)

Literary - Allison Carter, Mac Geoffroy, Alex Hutchison, Elizabeth Pope

Band - Will Bowick

COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC/ FINE ARTS SIGNINGS

Austin Allred - Georgia Southern University, Band

Emma Barley - Georgia State University, Band

Mia Berry - College of Charleston, Cheer

Will Bowick - Jacksonville State University, Band

Julian Brown - Valdosta State University, Band

Caroline Conner - College of Charleston, Softball

Charlie Duke - Western Carolina, Band

Taylor Grossman - Georgia Tech, Twirl

Noah Hicks - Cal-Tech, Basketball

Tim Jackson - Anderson University (Indiana), Lacrosse

Anslee Parrish - Piedmont University, Softball

Delaney Sims - Alfred University, Volleyball

Charlie Stout – University of Georgia, Swimming

Taylor Tinsley - UCLA, Softball

Gracie Wood - Samford University, Band

Congratulations to the Class of 2022

What’s on the Horizon?

SUCCESS

STORIES START HERE

TAYLOR GROSSMAN

Georgia Institute of Technology

“Throughout my time at GWA, I learned the importance of building relationships, especially with your teachers and classmates, because those are the people who are going to help you out when you need it. As I take on college, even though it’s on a much larger scale than the GWA community, I’m going to try my best to make friends in all my classes and talk with my professors and TAs.”

In last year’s Bulldog magazine, we highlighted six students who demonstrated the GWA experience of preparing students academically, athletically, artistically, and socially for success in college and beyond. One year later, we take a look at where they are headed and how GWA prepared them for their next step in life.

CHARLIE STOUT

University of Georgia

“I attended GWA since kindergarten and I feel confident that the school provided me with a foundation that will allow me to succeed at the next level. Go Dawgs!”

BREENA MCGRAW

Columbia University

“GWA’s broad variety of rigorous classes and dedication to allowing students to pursue their academic passions prepared me for the freedom that comes with college, and helped me learn crucial time management skills. I now feel well prepared to further explore and develop my interests, and I am confident that I can handle the workload that comes with studying at a top college.”

TAYLOR TINSLEY

University of California, Los Angeles

“Not only has GWA prepared me to be successful in the classroom, but my social skills grew tremendously throughout my senior year. Being a role model to younger students and sharing my story to teachers and staff members made me more confident in my voice. GWA has prepared me to be my ‘best me’ as I step into my next phase of life.”

DOMINIC WILLIAMS

University of North Georgia

“George Walton did a great job at preparing me for the next chapter by showing me how important it is to have support. I learned how to have a strong work ethic which has allowed me to thrive. I learned about the pros of teamwork and leadership as well as good time management. All these things will allow me to thrive as I begin college and the next chapter of my life.”

CLASS OF 2022

KENNEDY JOHNSON

High Point University

“GWA taught me great communication skills and how to build connections with people. This is the most valuable skill I can take with me to college and beyond because I never know who I may come into contact with and how they can help me in life.”

EMMA BARLEY

Georgia

State University

“Going to George Walton helped me figure out what I wanted to study in school. I was given opportunities in art and music that I wouldn’t necessarily have elsewhere. I was able to explore sculpture through independent study and music in the George Walton Academy Marching Band. I also gained leadership skills as a drum major that helped set me apart from other college applicants. My college experience so far has been wonderful due to connections I made while attending George Walton.”

the power of PROSTHETICS

INSPIRING OTHERS TO STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE

By Josh Jameson Upper School Art Instructor

Our goal in the art department is to break the norms by expanding the classes and opportunities we offer. With new materials and processes available to students, we can present rare training in fields that have been overlooked by traditional art room teachings.

With last year’s exceptionally talented senior class, the concentrations were broad, showcasing a diverse display of art forms. Senior Emma Barley’s focus was film pre-production and special effects. In collaborative crossover with the theatre department, we gave added dimension to the actors’ spirited performances in the tale of Aladdin with life-like facial prosthetics: a caricatured vilified nose for Jack Boyer’s character of Jafar, and fantastic blue pointed ears for Ana Cordero’s portrayal of the Genie.

Made from silicone, the facial appliances were custom sculpted by Emma and myself on life castings taken of her classmate’s faces. The silicone mimics the flex of real human skin, and once applied to the actor’s face it moves fluidly with their movements of expression as an extension of the actor. After the pieces were molded and cast, Emma meticulously applied and blended them on the actors before curtain call. The results were stunning, and actors were allowed a deeper connection with their character performances.

“Having the ears on made me feel so complete as the Genie,” said Ana Cordero. “I was prepared for the part, but the ears took me to the next level. They were super comfortable, and I barely noticed they were there. I’m super into stage makeup, so having a life-casting was such a cool experience. Overall, anyone going into theater should definitely get hyped up if they are told they can do prosthetics. I know I loved it.”

“The privilege of using a nose prosthetic for a character like Jafar allowed me to connect to the character and find my element with ease,” said Jack Boyer. “I had never played a villain before Jafar, and the nose allowed me to further disconnect from the way I usually act, utilizing a new array facial expressions, further embracing the new challenge and personality.”

Coming from a background of special effects, I know first-hand how difficult it is to absorb these techniques; they simply aren’t available in a traditional classroom setting. Emma has an insatiable interest in the work and is a natural for the craft; having the opportunity to teach her these techniques has been a true joy. “I’ve loved learning the process of making and applying prosthetics and I can’t wait to continue expanding my knowledge into college,” said Emma.

gwa fine arts

learning so much through MUSIC

LOWER SCHOOL MUSIC

Creativity, imagination, and boundless energy are the key ingredients that bring lower school music classes to life! Students enthusiastically embrace all the opportunities to get up and out of their seats to make music (and fun memories!) in these special classes led by Debbie Dyer who has been teaching at GWA for more than 22 years. Each one of her lessons is designed to inspire a lifelong love for music and learning. And if you want to enjoy a show that will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face, be sure to attend this year’s lower school music performances!

exploring MIDDLE SCHOOL art

Megan Sims Fine Arts Department Chair

Although I have taught classes in lower and high school through the years, my main role is in middle school, and what a fun place it is to be! We have expanded the middle school arts by adding a variety of new courses. In addition to general Studio Arts, Drawing and Painting classes, middle school students can now choose to take introductory courses in ComputerAided Design and Video Production. These classes offer an additional creative outlet for our students beyond the traditional art class. They are introduced to the world of digital design with the use of TinkerCAD and have opportunities to create and print objects on our 3D printers. Video Production introduces students to the world of movie-making. Students learn the basics of filming, editing and producing videos. We are proud to offer such a variety of creative opportunities for our students and are always looking for ways to grow.

Students often say to me, “I am not an artist, I can’t draw.” But I know that everyone has the potential to be an artist, and art is so much

more than drawing. Art is individuality, requires effort, patience and curiosity. Art comes in many forms. I strive to create a kind and collaborative classroom that allows students to feel comfortable creating and discussing their own work and the work of others. They learn to be resilient in their effort and that mistakes are not final; they are instead an opportunity.

The Visual Arts classes, be they Drawing, Painting, Video Production or CAD, are project-based. We focus on learning both skills and techniques and then we advance to applying those skills creatively. Students learn with and from each other. Collaboration is encouraged as every student has something valuable to offer.

I am so excited to take on my new role as Fine Arts Department Chair. I believe we have one of the most amazing art programs around! I am proud to be able to say that not only have I been a part of this program for the past ten years as a teacher, but as a parent for the past thirteen. My daughter Delaney (2022) recently graduated with a Fine Arts Diploma Distinction and my youngest daughter, Cidella (2024) has enjoyed being part of the Performing Arts Dance and Drama Programs at GWA for years. I am committed to continuing the tradition of excellence by offering students opportunities to experience a variety of creative endeavors beyond the typical art classes offered in most schools.

ART SUPERSTARS

GWA artists received outstanding accolades and awards at the High School Student Art Reception at the Monroe-Walton Center for the Arts. Breena McGraw, Delaney Sims, and Alex McMunn received offers of $6,000 in scholarships from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and Rosalyn Chapman received a $14,000 scholarship to the ‘Rising Star’ program that is offered for five weeks over the summer. These four talented artists were among nine Walton County students who were awarded scholarships - an impressive showing indeed!

Blakeney Sewell was selected as a 2022 Governor’s Honors Program finalist in Music (Brass).

GHP is a prestigious and competitive summer program that gives participants the opportunity to spend four weeks at Berry College with other gifted and talented Georgia high school students while working on instructional and cultural enrichment activities.

GWA Director of Bands Christian Smith commented, “We are so excited and proud of Blakeney in making GHP! She is a tremendous talent and has an amazing work ethic that has really led her to achieve so many great opportunities this year. Blakeney also was 2nd chair French horn in the Georgia All-State Band. Her hard work and dedication are really paying off and I know she is a great representative for GWA and our band.”

SPOTLIGHTING performing arts

GWA Performing Arts provide an opportunity for musicians, dancers, and actors to showcase their talents and have their well-deserved moment in the spotlight.

from THE CLASSROOM to the CONCERT HALL

When she first picked up a saxophone in her sixth-grade band class at GWA, Caroline Halleck never imagined it would take her across the globe and spark an international career. As a student she embraced marching band and her love for music was evident on her senior page in the yearbook when she answered the question, “what is the one thing you cannot live without?” She responded with, “My saxophone. I couldn’t live without making music.”

Following her graduation from GWA in 2013, she continued to nurture her love for music and the saxophone and received a bachelor’s degree from The University of Georgia in saxophone performance. She later completed her master’s degree in music at the F.A. Bonporti Conservatorio di Trento/Riva del Garda in Italy where she studied with Marco Albonetti. Today she is still in Italy and is currently in a chamber music program at the Fondazione Accademia Internazionale di Imola “Incontri col Maestro” with plans to finish by this December.

Caroline is a freelance musician and has performed in world-renowned festivals such as the Spoleto Festival dei due Mondi and with prestigious music associations such the Amici della Musica, Associazione Musicale Etnea and Fondazione Gioventù Musicale d’Italia.

In addition to her educational pursuits and freelance work, she is a founding member of The Mestizo Quartet that travels and performs. “I, along with other saxophonists from Costa Rica and Israel, created the group,” Caroline said. “Mestizo is a word from Spanish that translates to a person coming from a mixed cultural background, so we felt it described our quartet perfectly! We have been mostly based in Italy as a result of Covid, but we have performed from Sicily to the Alps for a variety of music festivals and cultural associations in cities including Rome, Florence, Bologna, Naples, Cremona and Messina. We missed several tours in the U.S. and Israel in 2020 due to the pandemic.”

Currently she is making plans for several projects, including a duo with pianist Alexandra Tchernakova, performance collaborations with Italian artist Allesandro Roma, and recordings and performances with the Bologna-based music collective, Camerata degli Ammutinati. Caroline plans to stay in Italy to continue her work as a freelance musician and teacher. “The life of a freelancer can be quite challenging. It requires so many different skills and sometimes you have to create your own place and market in the world of traditional jobs. However, now that I’ve begun, I cannot see myself doing anything else.

I believe music, art and culture are so important, now more than ever. We look to the arts to remind ourselves of our humanity - what makes us human - what our experience in the world is and what it means. I’m excited to be a small part of that.”

This long journey to success started with a small seed planted at GWA. “I think the most important lessons I learned at GWA were how to be a self-starter and to always be curious to learn more. I learned all the skills I needed to be independent, disciplined, and creative. I began playing piano at an early age and then began saxophone in the sixth-grade band with Mr. Smith and Mr. Sneath. At the time, I had no idea I would still be playing all these years later.”

When she isn’t playing saxophone, Caroline enjoys traveling and hiking. “I live close to the Apennine Mountains in central Italy, outside of Bologna. Italy is such a diverse country and there are so many beautiful places to visit, so I am still soaking up all the culture I can.”

From the 2013 Résumé, the GWA yearbook.

Caroline Halleck

leading and COMPETING

Mark Whitley Athletic Director, Associate Head of School for Athletics

This past year was a great one for GWA Athletics. As part of our five-year plan, we challenged every sport to go the extra mile to lead our sports teams to the playoffs. Not only did every sport make it to the playoffs, several also went deep and two played for State Championships.

In the fall, both softball and volleyball had outstanding seasons. Volleyball made it to the third round, which was a first in school history, while the Lady Dawgs on the softball diamond advanced to the finals and took Wesleyan to three games before finishing runner-up in Single A Private.

In the winter, both basketball teams advanced to the playoffs with the boys team making it to the sweet sixteen against a tough Heritage team from Newnan. I might add, had we not had significant injuries during the game, we would have completed that victory and advanced to the final four. Swimming had their best year in many years, both individually, and as a team. GWA had the most swimmers in a long while in both MS and HS, and had several groups on the awards stand including Charlie Stout, (our UGA signee) winning another individual state crown. In wrestling, Perry Jake Stone finished fifth in the state.

In the spring, five of the six teams advanced to the playoffs with our girls tennis team squaring off against our rival Wesleyan and falling to the Lady Wolves in the final match of the year. That loss was the only loss of the year for our Lady Dogs as they set a school record for wins in a year. Congrats to all!

Here’s the rest of the story: With all of the success we experienced, it helped George Walton Academy in the

Director’s Cup standings for the year. The Director’s Cup takes all the sports that a school competes in, and awards points for the place each sport finishes. At the end of the year, the points are totaled and schools see how they match up in their classification in both their region and in the state. This past year in the Region, we were second

overall behind Athens Academy. Our girls’ sports actually finished first in the overall standings in the region. The school as a whole, which includes the boys’ teams, finished in the Top 10 of all schools in Single A Private in the State. Most of the schools ahead of us in the standings were schools that are twice our size in enrollment. I think it is

HAYNES WALDO CLASS OF 2018

For most students, time in college is filled with coursework, fun, and the occasional job to provide a little cash for weekends out. That may be true for the average student, but class of 2018 Haynes Waldo isn’t your average student. During his time at the University of Alabama, he not only juggled all his studies and was in a fraternity, he also earned his real estate license. That effort led him to launch WalHen, a full-service real estate company with his friend, Smith Hendricks in September of 2021.

one of our greatest accomplishments in quite some time.

Now, where do we go from here? We enter a new era, but not an unfamiliar one, as we head into a new association - GIAA. (Georgia Independent Athletic Association) So, how do we approach this new chapter? I have challenged

Alabama. When he isn’t busy with his business, he is involved with the Church of the Highlands in Tuscaloosa and has been volunteering with JH Ranch Outback in West Alabama. He also loves playing golf and spending time with his new dog.

“GWA taught me to think and dream big and equipped me with a toolkit to become involved in a new town, acquire a job, and then later start my own company.”

– HAYNES WALDO, CLASS OF 2018

“Covid was a pivotal moment for me during my time at college,” said Haynes. “After being out of the house for two years, I was in my groove with my life away at college. I came home for a week or so and was getting antsy and realized I needed to get a job. I quickly realized that nobody hires at the start of a global pandemic. Growing up around the mortgage business with my father, I always had a passion for real estate. One great thing about real estate is that you get to work for yourself and not even Covid can stop you. After working under the top agent in the state of Alabama and learning the ins-and-outs of the business, I was ready to break out on my own.”

Haynes and his company partner don’t just help people buy and sell homes; they are a one-stop-shop for any real estate needs. “We closely work alongside investors because we are in a college town. This opens many great investment options from game day short-term rentals to condo portfolios, du/triplexes, and even multifamily apartment buildings.”

Haynes graduated from the University in May. He is staying in Tuscaloosa fulltime and offering WalHen services to people searching for homes all over West

Haynes gives GWA credit for some of his success. “GWA taught me to think and dream big and equipped me with a toolkit to become involved in a new town, acquire a job, and then later start my own company. There are definitely a few teachers that impacted my experience at GWA. Coach Harcourt showed passion in every single thing he did and that opened my eyes to the importance of doing what makes you happy. Whether it is a daily activity or work, Coach taught me to have a positive outlook all the time and to enjoy life.”

“Also, Coach Head made a huge impact on my life. The way he preached “Life is bigger than the textbook” has impacted me during my time at school. I realized that I came to Tuscaloosa for the University of Alabama but used my time here to get connected and build so many new relationships and friendships and even start a company. Also, his daily lessons of life such as ‘Don’t steal. Don’t cheat. Don’t lie. Don’t whine. Don’t complain. Don’t make excuses,’ has always stuck with me in my professional life because if you follow these six principles and strive for greatness, you will ultimately succeed.”

While Haynes always had a gift for connecting with people, he even gives GWA a little credit for some sales skills building. “The yearly fundraising campaign and Jeanie Beach helped me too, because she let me run point on the fundraising calls early on in my time as a student (I think starting at sixth grade) and this allowed me to become more confident as a salesperson and with making cold calls!”

our coaches, teams, and parents to renew our commitment to excellence in athletics at GWA. Making it to the playoffs, while a worthy goal, is not where we want to rest on our laurels. No, we want Region Championships and State Championships in all sports. We want to continue to add so many new banners in the Nicholson Center

that we have to add a whole new line item in our budget. We want our number of participants in all sports to grow for the benefit of our athletic program, which in turn should grow our entire school. This year, we have added several new coaches who will also be teaching. I am proud to say we have 62 coaches that coach our

MS and HS athletes. When I arrived at GWA, not many of the coaches were actually in the building. Of that 62, we now have 38 teaching in the building, (61%) which is huge! We believe Great Teachers make Great Coaches. The future looks bright for GWA Athletics!

Anslee Parrish Piedmont College SOFTBALL

Caroline Conner | College of Charleston | SOFTBALL

Mia Berry | College of Charleston | CHEER

Taylor Tinsley UCLA SOFTBALL

Charlie Stout UGA SWIM

Taylor Grossman Georgia Tech TWIRL

Noah Hicks Caltech BASKETBALL

Delaney Sims | Alfred University | VOLLEYBALL

TOGETHERbringing bulldogs

Elizabeth McDonel

Director of Dawgs 360

Parental involvement and volunteerism at GWA are longstanding traditions. From the ice cream social to teacher appreciation week, GWA families are actively involved in the life of the school. As you develop a connection to GWA, your support is a meaningful way to improve the student experience and deepen your relationship with other families.

Dawgs 360 supports students by engaging in “fun”-raising projects, providing a forum for families, faculty, and students to interact through community events on and off campus.

With a Dawgs 360 membership, families enjoy admission to all athletic competitions, day field trips for students and chaperones and 10% off regular-priced apparel in the Dawg Shop. We encourage and welcome extended families to join. Please see the school website for membership information. We encourage you to join and make a difference in enriching the GWA experience!

BROUGHT TO YOU

BY DAWGS 360:

Ice Cream Social Boo Hoo Breakfast

Tailgate Parties School Used Uniform Sale Teacher Appreciation Week Dawgs Unleashed Class Parties Faculty Events

OUR FAVORITE traditions

It’s Great to be a Bulldog! While George Walton Academy is grounded in rigorous and relevant college-preparatory academics, there is so much more to the GWA experience. Everyone has their favorite tradition whether it’s the Christmas Tree Presentation, Dawgs Unleashed, Homecoming, or Grandparents Day - students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni have countless opportunities to gather together and create special memories that last a lifetime.

HELPING OTHERS find their path

Claudia Ramos

Class of 1996

When you speak with Claudia Ramos of the Class of 1996, it is apparent that she has a gift for setting others at ease. As a full-time mental health clinician with Novant Health, she works for the Employee Assistance Program to provide counseling support to employees and their family members. As a long-time behavioral health clinician in the health care industry, she has had her skills tested during COVID as she works with health care workers who need assistance dealing with stress from the pandemic.

Based on her COVID experiences, she decided to establish her own company to expand on her own needs as well as the increased calling she felt to help others. “I founded Vida Coaching and Consulting in 2021 because I realized that some people did not need longterm support. Some just needed life coaching and improved health and wellness through better understanding and life improvements,” said Claudia. While she continues with her fulltime position at Novant Health, her coaching and consulting firm allows her to expand her love of helping others. “I have been in the profession of helping people for years and wanted to take it a step further. I like to guide people with understanding their purpose while achieving goals in health, wellness, growth, development, and relationships. Some people don’t need a therapist. They just need someone to

help them meet their wellness and daily goals. They need a cheerleader for them.”

While it has been more than 25 years since she was a student at GWA, Claudia fondly remembers some of the teachers who were cheerleaders for her. “I appreciate the example that Coach Don set for all of us. He was always positive, and he motivated us. My art teacher, Mrs. Mayes, was also always supportive. Not only was her art class educational, but she made me look forward to art and her classroom was so comforting.” And while a few teachers were known for being a little bit scary, they inspired students to do their best. No one wanted to let them down. “Mrs. Thigpen knew her stuff, and when you finished her class you had a good solid understanding of math, but students didn’t want to mess with her!”

Spanish teacher Norma Torres was very special to Claudia. “When I first came to GWA, I already spoke Spanish, so the school created a separate Spanish course for me. Mrs. Torres crafted special assignments for me since I already had the language skills. As a minority at GWA, I appreciated her helping me look at things from a Latino perspective. I did feel unique, but my teachers embraced and supported me.”

Claudia has taken the inspiration of the many cheerleaders from her past and

channeled it into her own approach to others. She helped establish Aventureros Latinos, a volunteer group whose members are initiated via hiking adventures in the Carolinas. Anyone is welcome to join them. Their goal is to promote diversity and inclusion with the Latinx community and they are welcoming to all who want to come together to enjoy adventures outdoors and beyond. “So far, we have close to 1,000 followers on Instagram and Facebook as others look to join our community to enjoy nature, exercise, meet people, support one another, and make connections with different cultures.”

As a pioneer in the group, Claudia not only leads hikes, but also participates in hikes in other areas outside the Carolinas to bring back her experiences to the group. “I did a hike in Guatemala and was able to bring back my experiences and energy to share with other members.”

As an employee, a business owner and a volunteer, Claudia is helping others find their path on their individual journeys towards health and wellness.

learning TODAY. TOMORROW.leading

Class of 1973

Maria Meadows Burdett retired from her position as Director of Report Writing and Quality Control with Southern Research in Birmingham, Alabama. Moved to Wakefield, Rhode Island and lives minutes from the beach!

Class of 1976

Mary Carmichael McMorrow has worked as a pharmacist for 40 years and now works parttime for an independent pharmacy.

Class of 1980

Mary Glenn Landt recently moved back to the Landt family home in Oxford, Georgia. She works for Peraton, Inc. and is a Real Estate Agent with Karafotias Realty in Decatur, Georgia.

Class of 1981

Melanie Williams-Pazol recently moved back to Monroe and built a house on her parent’s farm. Her parents are Bill and Margaret Williams, who were faithful volunteers in the early years of the school. She is looking forward to reconnecting with her classmates.

Becky Towler Slagle is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and manager of the NP group at Texas Children’s Hospital – The Woodlands, Texas.

Class of 1983

Jeanie Sorrells Beach moved into a part-time HR position with GWA after 23 years in full-time development.

Class of 1985

Lauren Bennett Turner left her “jack of all trades” position with Jackson County Schools and moved to Orange Beach, Alabama. She now volunteers with the Coastal Resources of Orange Beach and enjoys being near the beach.

Class of 1989

Carl Jordan was selected as Teacher of the Year at Villa Rica High School for 2022 and was Star Teacher for the 2020-21 school year. He currently serves as Fine Arts Department Head at Villa Rica High School and visual arts liaison for Carroll County Schools.

Class of 1998

Adam Shumaker and his wife Magnolia welcomed their first child Amelie in July 2021.

Class of 1987

Amie Ward Cumming retired from Newton County Schools with 30 combined years as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and district administrator. She now works for the Georgia Department of Education as a Research and Evaluation Specialist.

Class of 1993

Jason Fitch will be relocating back to the Monroe area after almost 20 years serving in the pastoral ministry in Washington State. He will be operating his father’s chicken farm. He looks forward to attending GWA football games this fall.

Class of 1995

Tony Jones returned to England after attending GWA and played professional basketball in England and Spain until 2006. Currently is a Physiotherapist with the Liverpool Football Club.

Class of 1997

Yates Austin is a founding member of the Advanced Visualization group at WithersRavenel.

Jon Swarner left Georgia Tech after 27 years to start a new position with Ametek, Inc. as a Manufacturing Engineer.

Jennis Watson recently started a consulting firm for which she provides nonprofit management and bookkeeping services.

Class of 1999

Jessica Clary is the Director of Student Media at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Class of 2000 Courtni Sale Karshagen was promoted to President at E2E Benefits in Duluth, Georgia.

Class of 2001

Cayce Myers is the Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor in the School of Communication at Virginia Tech. He published a book, “Money in Politics: Campaign Fundraising in the 2020 Election.”

Published by Rowman

and Littlefield, the book discusses campaign fundraising by 2020 presidential candidates during the primary and general election.

Class of 2003

David Eakes became a Senior Software Engineer for Kaiser Permanente’s digital division and relocated to Douglasville, Georgia.

Joanna Parrish was promoted to Senior Marketing Director with API out of Atlanta. She resides in Cumming, Georgia.

Tarianna Stewart is an experienced biomedical scientist and intellectual property (IP) professional. Her current efforts are directed toward the

Class of 2004

Jessie Jordan Fincher is a Georgia Metro Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Ted Kinney was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in the Navy in September 2022. He graduated from Naval Postgraduate School in September 2021 with a Masters of Electrical Engineering. He is currently a Masters of Business Administration candidate at Arizona State University. He started a new role as a Department Head and Program Manager at the Nay Experimental Dive Unit in Panama City Beach, Florida. His son, Ryker Kinney was born March 13, 2022.

Class of 2005

Celest Lindsey joined Reeves Young as their first Talent Acquisition Manager in Oct. 2021.

Class of 2006

Michael McDaniel was promoted to Firefighter Lieutenant in January 2022.

Class of 2008

Kylee Knop Vargason and her husband Mitch welcomed their son Brooks Lee Vargason on March 30, 2022.

Class of 2009

Bartlett Benton was named a Rising Star in the field of personal injury by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2021. Only 2.5% of lawyers

development and licensing of existing IP from IBM Research to established companies and investors. She is a board member for Spruill Center for the Arts, Georgia IP Alliance and National Council on Patent Practicum. She has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Biological and Biomedical Sciences from Morehouse School of Medicine.

Hugh Williamson was promoted to manage the Amazon Web Services deployment team that builds fiber infrastructure in North and South America. He currently lives in Seattle, Washington, with his fiancé, Nicky, and their giant puppy, Gumbo.

in Georgia receive this honor. He is an attorney at Benton and Benton in Monroe, Georgia.

Sarah Gregg is a practicing commercial real estate and public finance attorney at a national law firm.

GWA alumni class notes

LEADING TOMORROW

Kristopher Lewis was promoted to Manager of the Methodology Oversight Team at Vanguard. He is currently working on his MBA and CFA.

Lindsey Maxwell Robinson was a recipient of Georgia Southern University’s “40 under 40” alumni award in 2021. She is the Manager, Federal Relations at Aflac.

Merrill Loggins-Taylor works in forensic mental healthcare at Central State Hospital and was recently promoted to Behavior Specialist 2 with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities.

Class of 2010

Alison Murphy Korte is a Veterinary Technician at Banfield Pet Hospital. She is a married mother of three-year-old twins and an awesome 14 year old that she adopted into her life at 6 years old.

Cody Mauldin was promoted to senior distributor executive for Molson Coors in Seattle, Washington.

Class of 2011

Jake Bettis and his wife Katie Bender Bettis (GWA ’11) welcomed their first child Beau Bradford Bettis on March 8, 2022.

Brett Eckles recently started a new position as the Design Quality Engineering Manager for Asensus Surgical leading the Quality Engineering team in developing surgical robotic systems. He relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jennifer Partain is engaged to marry Casey Adams on March 25, 2023.

Class of 2013

Madison Allen Collins recently became a parttime tree farmer and a part-time photographer.

Kelly Delchamps moved to Atlanta, Georgia in October and is a therapist in a private counseling practice.

Allison Sims Mathis married Matthew Mathis in October 2020.

Annelise Norman graduated in May from UGA with a PhD in English.

Kelsi Nguyen Shubert and her husband Casey Shubert (GWA ’13) welcomed their daughter Emmy Gray Shubert on March 8, 2022.

Class of 2014

Camille Beach was promoted to Cellar Specialist at Creature Comforts Brewing Company.

Hannah Cole joined the University of Georgia Wesley Foundation as an Associate Director.

Anna Millians Hunt and her husband, Billy, welcomed their daughter Everly Faith Hunt on April 14, 2022.

Class of 2015

Mackenzie Britt accepted a position with Capgemini as a Salesforce B2B Business Analyst.

Caleb Morris is starting law school at the University of Georgia.

Class of 2018

Kate Hutter graduated from Georgia College and State University with a B.S. in Middle Grades Education and started teaching middle school math at Jasper County Middle School in August.

Izzy Ott is working toward a future career as a middle school teacher. She traveled to New Hampshire over the summer to be a camp counselor at Camp Cody for the second year in a row. She taught archery.

Class of 2020

Ben Howard just completed his second year as a business student at Georgia Tech and went on a study abroad trip to Oxford, UK. He served as a student assistant this past year in the business school.

in memory of...

team won the National Championship in 2011. He was an avid tennis player, playing several times a week until his recent illness.

Roy loved his Lord and Savior, his family, his friends, his country, his cows, Republican politics, Kentucky basketball, University of Georgia football, playing tennis, and repeating his litany of jokes.

ROY NUNNALLY

ROBERTS, Sr.

December 13, 1940 –March 30, 2022

GWA Founder Roy Nunnally Roberts, Sr. passed away on March 30, 2022 at Piedmont Walton Hospital after a brief battle with cancer. His legacy lives on due to his dedication to George Walton Academy.

Roy was born December 13, 1940 in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of the late Clara Knox Nunnally Roberts Williamson and the late James McMullan Roberts. He was the grandson of the late Alethea Felker and Josiah Roy Nunnally and the late Susan McMullan and Colonel Orrin Roberts.

A graduate of Northside High School Class of 1958, Roy was a standout athlete who had college scholarship offers in multiple sports. His favorite sport was basketball, however, and he accepted an offer to play for the legendary Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky. Roy started as a junior and senior, earning Academic All-SEC recognition and All SEC Tournament, while

serving as a team captain. He was credited by Coach Rupp as being one of UK’s all-time best defensive players. He graduated from Kentucky with honors.

While at Kentucky, he met and courted Suzanne Polk of Nashville, Tennessee. They were married on August 31, 1963, and moved to Nunnally Farms in Monroe where he operated a registered Hereford cattle operation until his death. He also was involved in the management of Nunnally Lumber Company and worked for a time with the Department of Agriculture.

Roy was very involved in the Walton County community. He was one of the “Dirty Dozen” founders and longtime Board of Trustee members of George Walton Academy. He later volunteered to coach the girls and boys basketball teams at George Walton, where his boys team won back-to-back state championships in 1989 and 1990. Additionally, he started the first Ducks Unlimited chapter in Walton County.

In 1996, Roy was elected to the Walton County Commission. In 2001, Roy was elected Chairman of the Walton County Republican Party, a position he has held since that time. Under his leadership, the Walton County GOP meetings became a “must stop” for political candidates. The annual GOP barbecue the Roberts hosted at Nunnally Farm was one of the largest political events in the state, drawing crowds of 500 or more. He always used the occasion to tell his repertoire of jokes and to sing a couple of his favorite songs.

Roy was in the inaugural class of Leadership Georgia. He was appointed to the board of the Stone Mountain Memorial Association in 2011, and he continued to serve on that state board until his death. Roy was a member of the First Methodist Church of Monroe and worshiped at Bethel Baptist Church in Good Hope.

Roy continued to participate in athletics his entire life. He loved to play basketball, and his Senior 65 and over

In addition to his parents and grandparents, Roy was preceded in death by his stepfather David Sanford Williamson and his brother William Nunnally Roberts.

He is survived by his devoted wife Suzanne, his brother James McMullan Roberts Jr. (Susan), and his loving children: Anne Knox Roberts Hodges (Allen), Marjorie Tate Roberts le Roux (Andre), Roy Nunnally Roberts Jr., and Marshall Polk Roberts (Shannon). He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Suzanna Harris Hodges, Alethea Felker Hodges, Allen Marshall Hodges Jr., Anne Knox le Roux, Jacobus Hendrik le Roux, Lily Tate le Roux, Roy Nunnally Roberts III, Mary Elise Roberts, Grayson Evelyn Roberts, and Reese Clara Roberts.

The family suggests that those who might wish to make a memorial donation consider doing so to Bethel Baptist Church in Good Hope or George Walton Academy in Monroe. Mr. Roy Roberts, Sr. is pictured with his son Roy Roberts, Jr. who currently serves as GWA’s Board Chair.

Every year the Advancement team works to identify school needs and pair them with possible outside funding from grant organizations. This year GWA set a record with grant awards totaling almost $95,000 to invest into our students and programs. Grant organizations are vital to meeting our mission of providing challenging instruction, engaging experiences, and global perspectives designed to inspire lives of intellectual curiosity, integrity, and purpose. To highlight some of the foundations who supported our programs:

The Walton County Health Care Foundation supplied exercise equipment to our new Human Performance Program. GWA purchased two rowing machines and two air dyne bikes, and a vertical jump measuring device. This equipment had an immediate impact on our students. Coach Holly Atkinson explained some of the benefits, saying, “This equipment gives us flexibility to meet our students’ needs. Students who may have balance and coordination issues can safely use the rowing equipment for warm up, training, and improved cardiovascular fitness. Other students have used the air dyne bikes to return to play and maintain their cardiovascular endurance while recovering from lower body injuries.” This equipment is part of our initiative to foster longterm health and wellness for our students.

your WISH is GRANT ed

The Walton County Health Care Foundation provided additional funding for increased clinic needs due to the pandemic. Nurse Libba Ford said, “The grant allowed the school to purchase medical supplies to better protect our employees and students throughout the Covid

surges we experienced this year. It also enabled the clinic to purchase muchneeded PPE for our nursing staff, and diagnostic tools for student and staff medical examinations. This helped us keep students on campus and in class for the school year, with minimal interruptions to the planned attendance schedule.”

This year GWA upgraded equipment on campus thanks to the support of The Walton County Foundation. “This foundation matched gifts from other generous donors and paid for half of the purchase of two new athletic scoreboards on campus,” said Jeanie Beach,

Director of Advancement. “We had two scoreboards that were so old you could not properly see the scores. Now we can celebrate our teams and provide equipment that our student athletes deserve with these funds.” The foundation provided funds to purchase new, greener, interactive boards for our classrooms. Not only do these boards have higher resolution and brighter panels, allowing teachers to keep on lights when teaching, they also save the school money by being more energy efficient and no longer require bulb replacements.

In addition to the equipment upgrades, The Walton County Foundation also provided funding to purchase new percussion instruments. These higher quality percussion pieces will allow students to perform at their fullest potential,” said Band Director Christian Smith. “They provide much better sound than the previous

equipment we had available.”

The Herbert and Marian Haley Foundation along with The Frances Wood Wilson Foundation supported the sustainable living greenhouse and helped strengthen our STEAM offerings. GWA also received funding from The Schoff Foundation and The Charles M. Walker Foundation to support financial aid and our Go Beyond campaign respectfully. Rounding out the year, The Walton EMC School EmPowerment Grant supported the lower school with a gift to purchase a leveled library to help build reading proficiency.

“Grants are an important component for funding the many programs that make GWA special,” said Mr. Gary Hobbs, Head of School. “Participation in our Annual Loyalty Fund is vital because it sends a message to grant organizations that we as a community are willing to make investments into the school. Some grant organizations look to participation rates for determining awards and award amounts. We are thankful to these foundations for having a real impact on our students. They are truly investing in the future.”

Red & Black Partners - $2,500

Analytical Forensic Associates

Angela Hutchins-Howard, M.D. - Zaman Pediatric Center

Ashley Hills Pet Center, Inc.

Atkinson Ferguson, LLC

Briscoe Air Crawford & Boyle, LLC

Curb Appeal Professionals

GARS Incorporated

Georgia Insulation

Gray Orthodontics

The Graceful Manor Senior Care Home

Meadows Funeral Home & Crematory

Mike McKinney and Blue Ice Events

Nehemiah Construction

O’Shucks

ProComm Telecommunications, Inc.

Profit Resources, Inc.

Rogers Concrete Construction, LLC - Robin Pledger

Sherri Wilson - Tracy Cousineau Real Estate

Southern Traditions Landscaping

Silver Partners - $1,500

American Tree Care Baker Group

Brand and Britt Insurance Agency

Britt’s Home Furnishings

Brown Oil Distributors

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

Bryan Heating & Air Burman Printing Carmichael’s

Donna Sisk - Malcom & Malcom Realty

Elena De La Rosa Photography

Freeman Outdoor Lighting Pinnacle Bank

Little Caesars – Monroe McDonald’s

McGriff Insurance Services

MG Law – Michael Geoffroy Minicozzi Law

New London School of Driving

Premier Cleaning, Inc.

The Prince Group

Kalen Vanderhorst - ReMax Legends Revive Salon

State Rep. Bruce Williamson

Summit Fire & Security Synovus

Watercolors Custom Pools

Aspire

Paw Prints Partners - $750

Baccus Exterminators, Inc.

Chariot Medical Transport Services, LLC

EF High School Exchange Year

Kevin Melvin, CSRM, CBIA - EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

Coleman Fisher - Farm Bureau Insurance

The Joint Chiropractic

Kim Swope - Keller Williams Realty

McDaniel-Tichenor House

Monroe Downtown

Peach State Federal Credit Union

Premier Packaging Products

Rustic Roots - Reclaimed Wood for the People

Scotteez Spiritwear & Graphics

Shannahan Law Firm

One Bulldog Drive Monroe, GA 30655

PREVIEW DAYS

Thursday, November 3, 2022 (Pre-K3, K4, K5)Thursday, December 1, 2022

OPEN HOUSESunday, February 5, 2023 - 2 p.m.Sunday, April 16, 2023 - 2 p.m.

Individual tours & student shadow days are scheduled by appointment throughout the year

GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY