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The Hill | Spring 2025

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T H E MAG A Z I N E O F G R E E N H I L L S C H O O L

SPRING 2025

Excelling Together

The Power of Service Learning at Greenhill


GR EENHIL L MISSIO N In a diverse and inclusive community, Greenhill prepares and inspires students to lead authentic, purposeful lives.

GR EENHIL L VISIO N We see our students joyfully reaching their full potential. We see our school thriving as an academically excellent, diverse, inclusive, and connected community. We see our world made more hopeful because of the Greenhill community.

GR EENHIL L CO RE VALUES Excellence | Integrity | Compassion | Courage

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ON T HE COVER Eighth-grade students assemble bean soup jars to be distributed between Metrocare's Housing & Homeless Services Department and The Stewpot, a Dallas organization serving individuals experiencing homelessness.


Contents CAMPUS CURR E NTS Hark Remarks

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GST Campaign Update

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Campus Moments

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Academic Highlights

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Design & Innovation

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Hornet Highlights

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Arts Highlights

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Employee Awards

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Inclusive Community

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F E AT U RE

E XC E LLING TOGETH E R

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The Power of Service Learning at Greenhill Campus Enhancements

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ALUM NI

Greenhill School 4141 Spring Valley Road Addison, Texas 75001

greenhill.org

Alumni President Letter

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Alumni Common Threads

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Alumni Awards

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Turning Points

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In Memoriam

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Why We Give

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Greenhill Fund

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Fulton Society

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It is the policy of Greenhill School to administer its educational programs, including admission and financial aid, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national or ethnic origin, or disability.

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A History Lesson Earlier this semester, I had a brief visit from Molly Fulton Seeligson ‘60, Greenhill Lifetime Trustee and daughter of Greenhill founders Bernard and Helen Fulton. Visits with Molly always leave me inspired and edified; our school has no greater or more enthusiastic cheerleader than Molly, and she often comes to campus with important artifacts or anecdotes from our history. This time, she shared a copy of a 1968 article written about her father by the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce. It proved to be quite a gift. The article is striking in many respects. First, the picture of Bernard is…headmasterly. He stares confidently at the camera, pen in hand, no doubt in the midst of outlining his vision of the

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Greenhill of the future. His eyes are warm and caring, and yet I feel he is staring right at me; he has me pinned and wriggling on the wall. The author describes him as “well-dressed, magnetic, [and] quietly sophisticated,” a “dynamo” with a voice “that crackles with enthusiasm and vigor.” I was not surprised to see him described that way – stories of Bernard’s “rizz” are legendary – but the characterization still felt discordant. For me, Bernard is a mythic figure from our history, an impenetrable legend and someone who, like Tennyson’s Ulysses, has “become a name.” Undoubtedly, Bernard will always be first among Greenhill legends, but this view of him obscures the truly compelling person he was. In 1968, Bernard had not yet become “The Founder;” he was an energetic (and magnetic!) young man building his career and raising his family, carving a worldclass school out of the hardscrabble North Dallas landscape. Over their long careers, he and Helen worked tirelessly to ensure that Greenhill would have the future that is now our present.


Even more seductive than mythologizing our founder is to look back on those early years from our modern vantage and to reckon that Greenhill’s future was always certain. It is instructive for us in so many ways. If Bernard could step out of that picture and into 2025, I hope he would be proud of the school he started. Here, on the cusp of our 75th anniversary, I hope he would marvel at the sight of the MPAC and the STEM building, would rush the court after an SPC championship win, would be thrilled by the quality of education our students receive each day. And I hope he would be proud that, in the most important and fundamental ways, Greenhill is still the same school he and Helen founded in 1950. I suspect that Bernard would congratulate us (and challenge me to a footrace, which I would lose.) But with all the love in his heart, he would also warn us that the future is not certain. And the work to prepare and inspire young people to live authentic and purposeful lives is more imperative than ever before.

To be the school we want and need to be requires our vigilance. This year’s annual theme, Excelling Together, which you can read more about in the pages that follow, feels timely for the Greenhill community. Working together, we continue to fulfill our mission, sustain Bernard and Helen’s inspiring vision, and lay the foundation of our students’ future. I am thankful for the opportunity to do this important work alongside all of you, just as I know Bernard felt deeply grateful for the initial faculty members, employees, students, and families who committed to bringing this incredible school to life. My best,

Lee J. Hark Head of School

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CAMPAIGN Phase Two: Maximizing the power of teamwork. Strength. Agility. Goal-setting. Teamwork. The lessons learned in athletics go beyond sports performance. They also contribute to a successful, well-balanced life. As outlined in the Growing Stronger Together Strategic Plan, Greenhill School will strengthen our athletic program by expanding and enhancing our athletic facilities, which will give our student-athletes room to grow, practice, and perform at their best.

The scope of our athletic enhancements will include the following projects: Athletic Performance Center Includes an expanded High-Performance Center, locker rooms for outdoor sports, a team meeting space, and a new concessions area. Community Celebration Space & Redesigned Gathering Areas Updated walkways and gathering spaces will flow between the new athletics facilities and the Phillips Family Athletic Center, creating a vibrant area for families to gather during athletics events. A Regulation-Size Turf Field 10 New Tennis Courts

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CA M PA I G N G I V I N G STORY

Rohini & Nikhil Mehdiratta Alina ’32, Raina ’34 The sense of community and the inclusive environment at Greenhill ensure that our daughters are thriving both academically and socially. We believe that hard work and perseverance are central to success and hope to pass along these values to our daughters. We want them to learn to push through challenges while maintaining a positive attitude and to lead with integrity. We want our daughters to know that success is not just about achievements but also about staying true to who you are and treating others with empathy and respect. We want to give back to the community that has already given so much to us. We are committed to Greenhill’s success and well-being. Donating and giving back is a fundamental part of our spiritual beliefs as well. In doing so, we help teach our daughters about generosity, empathy, and civic responsibility. By giving to the Growing Stronger Together campaign and the Greenhill Fund, we can help support the vision and mission of the school and ultimately see our world become a more hopeful place because of this community.

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Following the completion of the Rosa O. Valdes STEM + Innovation Center at the end of the 2023–2024 school year, Greenhill began preparing to break ground for the upcoming Athletic Performance Center and other athletic enhancements. The construction fences went up on campus in January 2025, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The event, held within the Phillips Gym, represented a culmination of strategic planning and institutional commitment to comprehensive student development. Head of School Lee Hark articulated the foundational philosophy behind the new facility. “We know that strong athletic and fitness programs are essential for healthy, well-balanced lives,” Hark said. “Greenhill has a part to play in helping our students learn how to be healthy; how to compete relentlessly and fairly and with good sportsmanship; how to learn how to be a great teammate. These facilities are another step forward in Greenhill’s commitment to developing well-rounded, confident, and high-achieving students and to pursuing excellence in all areas of school life.”

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Head Football Coach KJ Williams and Head Girls’ Volleyball Coach Tatiane Deibert represented the coaching staff. Williams stressed the importance of teamwork and Greenhill’s commitment to excellence. Deibert, who has spent 15 years coaching at Greenhill, said, “In this job I have seen students transform from hesitant learners into confident, driven individuals. Students that have struggled with physical, emotional or social skills have found their passion, their people, and their purpose in sports."


“These facilities are another step forward in Greenhill’s commitment to developing well-rounded, confident, and high-achieving students and to pursuing excellence in all areas of school life.” —Lee Hark

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The ceremony also featured remarks from student leaders who underscored the transformative potential of athletic engagement. Boys’ basketball captain Dillon Watt ’25 said, “The reason I value basketball is because it has truly made me a better individual. The same passion and effort I invest into basketball has made me a more well-rounded and diligent student. The discipline and perseverance I develop on the court translate directly into the classroom, helping me stay focused, push through challenges, and strive for improvement in everything I do.” Girls’ basketball captain Chloe Nguyen ’25 further emphasized the leadership capacities cultivated through athletic participation and the broader implications of athletic engagement. She said, “The leadership qualities and collaborative mindset I developed on the court have shaped the way I approach the classroom and will serve as the foundation for my future success in life. Greenhill’s new sports facilities aren’t just physical spaces—they are symbols of growth, opportunity, and legacy. They are where Hornet athletes will develop as individuals before they leave The Nest, just as I have.” While the groundbreaking ceremony represents a milestone in the Growing Stronger Together Campaign, it also reinforced Greenhill’s commitment to providing comprehensive educational experiences that prepare students to lead authentic, purposeful lives. Director of Sports Performance Jessen Houston said, “We are a school that is cemented in welcoming everyone to our community, which is our home, no matter how comfortable or uncomfortable it is. We are a school that always finds a way to make things work, and we will continue to take strides towards the process of improvement. This new space provides increased capacity for us to do so, so I am bursting with joy and excitement to continue this purposeful work."

“Greenhill’s new sports facilities aren’t just physical spaces­—they are symbols of growth, opportunity, and legacy. They are where Hornet athletes will develop as individuals before they leave The Nest, just as I have.” —Chloe Nguyen '25

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CA M PA I G N G I V I N G STORY

Pinar Korkmaz & Angelo Pereira Aurelio ’30 Greenhill is more than just a school or a campus for us. Our world revolves around it literally, and we cherish what the school offers us as a family. If we cherish and value something, then naturally our instinct is to do our part to preserve and grow it. We recognize that Greenhill needs funds to maintain the wonderful campus, attract the best staff, and invest in the future that benefits our kids. We have seen how our campus has been transformed by the Growing Stronger Together Campaign. The new STEM + Innovation Center and how students are using it for classes, activities, and networking, further strengthens our commitment to continue giving as Greenhill embarks on additional projects to improve our sports facilities.

To learn more about the Growing Stronger Together Campaign, please scan the QR code or contact Aaron White, Chief Development Officer, at whitea@greenhill.org. 9


Campus Moments For details on moments like these and many more, visit our social media channels and www.greenhill.org/news for the latest and greatest happenings! Facebook.com/GreenhillSchool

@GreenhillSchool

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL | We welcomed new and returning Hornets as the school year kicked off with energy and excitement. The First Day of School set the tone for a year of learning and Excelling Together!

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FOUNDERS DAY | On Founders Day, we gathered to celebrate 74 years of Greenhill by honoring those who've made an impact on our community, reflecting on our history, and celebrating with friends.

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HOMECOMING | Homecoming was a night to remember! From spirited cheers to reconnecting with alumni, we celebrated what makes the Greenhill community so special.

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PRIMER PIE DAY | The 21st Annual Primer Pie Contest was a sweet success! Our Primer students showcased their creativity and shared delicious pies in this beloved Greenhill tradition.

HE ART OF THE HILL | Heart of the Hill brought our community together for meaningful connections across all divisions.

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HALLOWEEN | The Halloween Parade was a spook-tacular highlight of the day! Seniors wowed us with their creative costumes during the contest, adding even more spirit to the celebration.

HORNE T NIGHT | Hornet Night was a blast! Our community came together to cheer on our student-athletes, showing off that Greenhill spirit while having an unforgettable time. 14


GR ANDPARENTS ’ & SPECIAL FRIENDS ’ DAY | Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day was filled with love and laughter as our students shared special moments with their loved ones.

HOLIDAY SING-ALONGS | The Holiday Sing-alongs were the perfect way to wrap up the semester! Our students joined together in song, spreading holiday cheer before the December break.

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Academic Highlights

Debate In the fall semester, the Greenhill Speech and Debate Team participated in 25 tournaments, qualified 32 students for the Texas Forensic Association State Tournament, won 16 top speaker awards, and qualified eight debaters for the National Championships. A total of 107 students – including six Middle School students and 39 ninth-grade students – competed at least once.

Latin League In October, 18 Middle School students competed in the first round of the inaugural Latin League competition. The students were grouped into four teams (two junior varsity and two varsity), and each team won its first match. In the second round, our JV teams competed against each other, with the Purple JV team – Max Carona ’30, Beck Fuller ’30, and Zayla Yousuf ’30 – winning. Both Varsity teams advanced to the third round, where the Purple Varsity team – Evan Huang ’29, Aarav Mehta ’29, Rishaan Jain ’29, Anderson Tsao ’29, and Evan Tu ’29 – won.

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Quiz Bowl In October, Greenhill hosted two Quiz Bowl invitationals. At the Middle School Invitational, Greenhill A – Blake Clark ’29, Cam Dawson ’30, Evan Huang ’29, and Adam Tawil ’29 – won the tournament. At the Fall Invitational, Greenhill A – Maya Jagsi ’26, Henry Lipnik ’27, Kate Ponnambalam ’26, and Ayan Thombre ’26 – competed in the Gold Group and earned a fourth-place finish. In November, 40 Middle School students competed in the Spartans Middle School Invitational. Greenhill B – Ella Bogdanow ’31, Cam Dawson ’30, Beck Fuller ’30, Miles Hulme ’29, and Aarav Mehta ’29 – won the Middle School division, and Greenhill E – Yusuf Ashraf ’31, Everett Davies ’31, Spencer Hanu ’31, Chait Mohan ’31, and Simon Weinstein ’31 – won the Elementary division. In January, four Quiz Bowl teams competed at the Cistercian High School Spring Invitational, where Greenhill A – Ayan Thombre ’26, Henry Lipnik ’27, and Tomal Khan ’28 – earned a first-place finish with a near-perfect record of 10-1.

National Merit Scholarship Program This year, Greenhill had 10 seniors named semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The semifinalists represent less than one percent of the U.S. high school seniors, including the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Greenhill’s semifinalists were: Ali Agha ’25, Neha Bachu ’25, Saida Bidiwala ’25, Jonaki Bose ’25, Ishaan Kandoth ’25, Varun Mukund ’25, Elizabeth Nassi ’25, Pranav Sreenivas ’25, Aditi Vikram ’25, and Sherry Zhang ’25. Greenhill also had 17 seniors named as commended students in the program. Commended students are recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Greenhill’s commended students were: JJ Arbuckle ’25, Andrew Cai ’25, Shreya Chhaya ’25, Sydney Chien ’25, Prabath Girish ’25, Fern Hignite ’25, Lyna Kamgang ’25, Alden Kendall ’25, Evelyn Kwei ’25, Aneesh Mootha ’25, Chloe Nguyen ’25, Ella Ou-Yang ’25, Amanda Park ’25, Kaavya Sampath ’25, Arjun Subramanian ’25, Harris Xie ’25, and Henry Zhong ’25.

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D ESIGN & I N N OVAT I ON

Robotics: FIRST Tech Challenge

At the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, the Greenhill Robotics team – Hornet Robotics 9045 – didn’t know what the FIRST Tech Challenge would be, but that didn’t slow them down. They started laying the foundation of a successful season by training new team members and developing the skills of returning members.

FIRST Tech Challenge is a student-centered program that gives young people a unique and stimulating experience. Each year, a new dynamic challenge is proposed, requiring teams to design, build, test, and program robots that must perform a series of game tasks autonomously and under driver control. This year’s challenge, announced in September, is Into the Deep. Two teams form an alliance, and during the 2-minute and 30-second competition, they are tasked with collecting and placing blocks into a predetermined zone or baskets or hanging blocks with a hook on a structure’s rungs. Teams earn points based on the number of blocks successfully placed in the arena, and the alliance with the most points wins. At the competition, four students make up the drive team, with one as a guide or advisor, two as operators and controllers of the robot, and one as the scoring manager (the person who adds the clips to the blocks).

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To meet the challenge, Greenhill’s team is divided into three sub-teams in charge of a different aspect of the robotics process: programming, designing, and building. Each sub-team has a team lead who manages and teaches their members. “We all have to come together to work, and it wouldn’t be possible without everyone involved to excel,” said Team Captain Vedant Subramanian ’26. “The only time we see progress is if we are all involved and working together.” That mindset led the team, coached by Joe Meagher and Taylor Reynolds, to advance to the Semi-Area Championships after finishing third at the tournament. The team also won the Design Award, which celebrates the team that demonstrates industrial design principles, striking a balance between form, function, and aesthetics. “The unique challenges this competition poses to solve are similar to problems in the real world of engineering,” said Meagher. “Students are learning tech skills that will help them now and later in life.” Congratulations to all the team members: Kaden Castillo ’25, Sahith Chintapalli ’27, Niam Ghelani ’27, Ayan Jain ’27, Kiran Karthik ’27, Aarav Nesargi ’28, Raj Reddy ’27, Tej Sachdeva ’27, John Sewak ’27, Vedant Subramanian ’26, Sydney Terrell ’26, and Tiger Zhao ’28.

“The only time we see progress is if we are all involved and working together.” —VEDANT SUBRAMANIAN ’26 TEAM CAPTAIN

Junior Pitches Invention at MIT Isa Tanner ’26, wants to redefine the world of hydration for elite athletes. She’s creating a water bottle, called Lyte2O, capable of providing a customized mix of electrolytes that meets an athlete’s needs in real time. And she’s one step closer to reaching her goals after presenting her idea at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (SSAC) March 7–8. The MIT SSAC provides a forum for professionals and students to discuss cutting-edge trends in analytics and business to foster innovation in the global sports industry. Isa, the only high school student selected to present this year, pitched her Lyte2O product and business idea at the Startup Competition & Trade Show. She also had a booth at the trade show alongside ventures founded by professionals and college students. “I have always been fascinated by the world of sports, from watching Boston Celtics games to seeing my player stats on Trace after the end of a soccer game, and this conference helped me realize that there are endless possibilities for innovation in sports,” shared Isa. While she did not win the singular $10,000 prize, she did make valuable connections with people in the industry. She even met Greenhill alum Josh Rubel ’22 during the tradeshow! He attended the conference as a student and sought out her booth after learning about her participation in the event via Greenhill’s social media channels. Isa first began developing her product and business concept during her Design Thinking to Open Entrepreneurship (DTOE) course last year. She then pitched at Greenhill’s What’s NEXT Competition, where she was awarded $3,000 to help further her work through an independent study this year. She said that her pitch at the conference felt like a manifestation of her hard work and Greenhill’s Design and Innovation program. “I am incredibly proud of how I pitched and presented my product at the MIT SSAC,” she shared. “I was most worried about the questions the venture capitalists would ask me after my pitch. However, I think I answered them well, and their questions sparked some ideas for Lyte2O's future—which I'm really excited about!”

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Hornet Highlights Highlights of the fall and winter varsity athletics programs.

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Recap of Fall and Winter Seasons Thank you to the Greenhill community for supporting our student-athletes during the fall and winter seasons! At the end of the fall season, girls volleyball finished third place in the conference. Boys volleyball came in fourth, and both volleyball teams earned the SPC North Zone Team Sportsmanship Award. Our football team had an impressive season, almost making it to the championship game, and earning the SPC 3A Team Sportsmanship Award. Our field hockey team finished in sixth place.

a Greenhill boy since 2017, and his sister Lilly Williams '27 took eighth. Congratulations to our boys basketball team for winning the Winter 2025 SPC Championship! Girls basketball and boys soccer earned second place in the conference. Boys and girls swimming secured a third-place finish. Girls soccer finished seventh.

Our cross country teams had standout performances from two runners finishing in the top ten. Chris Williams '25 placed third in 4A, the highest finish by

Boys Basketball SPC Champions At the SPC Winter Championships, our boys basketball team won the SPC Championship for the first time in 26 years! The Hornets entered the championships as the third seed and defeated St. Stephen's Episcopal School (70-45), St. Mark’s School of Texas (60-58), and defending champions Episcopal High School (79-65).

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SPC Award Winners 2 0 24 FALL Field Hockey

2 0 24 –2 0 2 5 WIN T ER Boys Volleyball

Boys Soccer

Boys Swimming

All-SPC: Noora Qureshi ’27

All-SPC: Alden Kendall ’25

All-SPC: Liam Fagelman ’25,

All-SPC: JJ Arbuckle ’25,

All-Zone: Lauren Harrington ’25

and Collin Cannon ’26

and Amanda Park ’25

All-Zone: Charlie Buonamici ’25

Walter Fagelman ’27,

Max Backover ’27,

Hayden Miller ’28, and

Oliver Ferris-Rojas ’27,

and Aaron Stein ’25

Noah Piper ’25

All-SPC: Kaden Castillo ’25,

Girls Volleyball

Girls Soccer

Girls Swimming

Trey Davis ’27, and

All-SPC: Kendall Johnson ’26

All-SPC: Raelyn Young ’27

All-SPC: Jordan Arbuckle ’28,

Bryson Watt ’25

and Jackie Dishman ’26

Cross Country*

All-Zone: Anaya Dubé ’28 and Jordy Wilkofsky ’27

Football*

All-SPC: Chris Williams ’25 and Lilly Williams ’27

Girls Basketball

and Zachary Geller ’26

Avery Lonergan ’26,

All-SPC: Diya Jain ’27 and Ava John ’27

Boys Basketball All-SPC: Jaxson Thompson ’26,

*Note: Football and cross country did not have All-Zone awards this year.

College-Bound Student Athletes On College Signing Day, November 13, the Greenhill Athletics Department recognized two senior Hornet student-athletes who have committed to furthering their athletic and academic careers in college next year. Congratulations to the following: ZOE GILLEN-MALVEAUX Volleyball at Duke University ADAIR MOSES Equestrian at Southern Methodist University

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Bryson Watt ’25, and Dillon Watt ’25

Sasha Wai ’26, and Brynn Zawadzki ’25


On February 15, the Athletics Department recognized 15 senior student-athletes who have committed to furthering their athletic and academic careers in college next year. Congratulations to the following: JJ ARBUCKLE

Swimming at Tufts University WILL BLACK Football at Pitzer College ASHA BLEWETT Lacrosse at Oberlin College KADEN CASTILLO Football at Oklahoma Baptist University TAYLOR CHON Fencing at Harvard College VIVIAN FRANKLIN Basketball at California Polytechnic University

GARRETT KOERNER Football at Johns Hopkins University

CAMPBELL SIMS Volleyball at Hamline University

AMANDA PARK Field Hockey at Cornell University

GEORGIA THURMOND Volleyball at Clarkson University

NOAH PIPER Football at Yale University

DILLION WATT Basketball at U.S. Military Academy at West Point

COOPER RABIN Baseball at Grinnell College GABE SHILOH Cross Country at Grinnell College

HENRY ZHONG Golf at University of Rochester

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Arts Highlights Greenhill students continue to excel in fine arts across all divisions.

Band Greenhill band members earned top honors in TPSMEA All-State and North Region Bands, as well as ATSSB/TMEA All-Region Bands.

Drumline Award Greenhill Drumline earned a Superior rating at the TPSMEA Drumline Contest.

Cultural Arts Committee Thanks to the Cultural Arts Committee, Untitled by Dallas-based artist and fabricator Ryan Goolsby is now on display on the second floor of the Rosa O. Valdes STEM + Innovation Center.

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Blue Print Gallery Twelve art students had their work displayed in the seventh annual Dallas Young Artists Exhibition.

Dance The Upper and Middle School dancers showcased their artistry last semester, kicking off an exciting new chapter for Greenhill Dance.

YoungArts Awards Austin Cohen ’25 was named a Winner with Distinction in the national YoungArts Competition.

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Kindergarten Painting Kindergarteners let their creativity shine, painting with confidence and joy in every stroke.

Mamma Mia! From 'Super Trouper' vocals to dazzling choreography, Mamma Mia! showcased the incredible talent of our Upper School performers.

Nutcracker Greenhill’s youngest performers shone brightly in the 74th annual Kindergarten Nutcracker, a tradition that never fails to inspire.

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Orchestra Awards Congratulations to Amanda Ye ’28 for earning a spot in the Texas Music Educators Association’s Sinfonietta Orchestra. Eighteen Greenhill students participated in the Region 20 Orchestra auditions.

Pops Band The Pops Band Concert brought music and magic to the new amphitheater in the Quad, creating an unforgettable evening as the sun set.

Winter Choir Concert Greenhill's choir brought the season to life with their show Cold Snap, an unforgettable concert of winter music and festive spirit.

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Employee Awards RUST Y JAGG ERS A D ASTR A AWARD WINN E RS The Rusty Jaggers Ad Astra Award recognizes professional excellence and outstanding service at Greenhill School. Previously known as the Faculty Leader Award, the Rusty Jaggers Ad Astra Award is named in honor of Rusty Jaggers, a former Greenhill parent and Board Chair and current Lifetime Trustee. During her many decades of dedicated service to the school, Rusty has established a legacy of celebrating Greenhill employees and advocating on their behalf. She has worked tirelessly to encourage their continued learning and shine light on their accomplishments. Over the course of Greenhill’s history, few have done more than Rusty to support and value Greenhill’s employees.

T H E P E N N Y NICHOLSON AWA RD WINN E R Named in memory of an esteemed Greenhill colleague who served the business office for 15 years, the Penny Nicholson Award is given to a staff member who exemplifies such qualities as genuine love for Greenhill, selfmotivation, humility, and many other extraordinary qualities of Penny Nicholson.

Alina Salgado Advancement and Parent Relations Associate Alina joined Greenhill in 2018 as the Donor Relations Associate before shifting into the Advancement and Parent Relations Associate role in 2023.

I am from a little island that swims in blue—a place where mi casa es tu casa, neighbors are family, and strangers pose no danger. It is a land where African drums and Spanish guitars meet in perfect harmony, creating melodies that are irresistible to the feet. At the age of sixteen, with the courage of the brave mother who cradled me, I left Cuba. The journey to find a home in a foreign land, a sense of belonging, and a quest for validation—are mere compartments in this traveler’s backpack. Yet, by the luckiest twist in the road of my life, at the corner of Spring Valley and Midway Road, there lay my green island again. As your Advancement and Parent Relations Associate, I support the Advancement Team in its mission to fund the dreams of our school. This is done by partnering with amazing parent volunteers to create both grand events and small, everyday moments that support students, teachers, and families. At Greenhill, I have found purposeful work for future generations, respect for uniqueness, acceptance of all people, pride in service, joy, and laughter. But most importantly, I have found a family that now embraces my own. Only you, Greenhill School, could give this Cuban so much joy! Only you, Greenhill School!

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Amy deBorst Director of Financial Aid Amy joined Greenhill in 2002 as the Advancement Assistant. She moved to the Admission Office in 2003, where she filled the role of Assistant Director of Admission for three years before moving to the Associate Director of Admission position. She took on a second role in 2004 and concurrently began serving as the Director of Financial Aid. After moving to the Business Office in 2019, Amy has worked exclusively as the Director of Financial Aid.

It is truly an honor and a humbling experience to be chosen as a recipient by my peers for this award, and I am grateful for the continued support of Greenhill’s leadership and Board. I truly feel blessed to be able to do what I have come to love. From our founding, we have been a school for families from all walks of life, and our financial aid program allows us to help continue that tradition. Graduation is one of my favorite events – watching with pride and joy as “my” students walk across the stage – knowing the obstacles they have faced, the sacrifices their families who love them have made, and knowing how proud those families must be of their child’s graduation. It’s a true privilege and joy to share in a family and student’s journey — and one that I will be forever grateful to be a part of and I look forward to being able to continue to bloom and grow.

Gretchen Pollom Middle School Science Teacher Gretchen joined Greenhill in 2018 as a Middle School science teacher. She currently teaches seventh-grade science and acts as a seventh-grade advisor. In addition to teaching, Gretchen is a Master Naturalist and a Summer Enrichment Grant participant.

As a Middle School science teacher and one involved in Greenhill’s sustainability program, I have the unique opportunity to not only engage with students in the classroom but to foster a deep connection between our students and the natural world around them. But more than that, sustainability is about teaching responsibility—both for the Earth and for one another. Through Greenhill’s sustainability initiatives, we work together as a community—faculty, staff, students, and parents—to take real, meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future. It’s about making choices that ensure the long-term health of our environment and the well-being of our school community. Together, we are shaping future generations to be not only learners but also leaders—individuals who understand their place in the world and the importance of preserving it. I am excited to continue this journey, to continue pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve, and to honor Rusty Jaggers’ legacy of reaching for the stars.

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CO M M I TMENT TO

Inclusive Community D EA R G R EENHILL COM M UNITY, My journey at Greenhill began as a student. I had the joy and privilege of exploring, stretching, failing, and growing alongside my peers with the support of caring adults. The student experience continues to serve as the primary lens through which I consider the impact and direction of our equity and inclusion efforts. At Greenhill, we see teaching and learning as a journey with many possible paths. A question I often receive is how my work fits in the larger picture of being a Greenhill student, how it adds value to the Greenhill experience. To me, helping students find their path and giving them the tools they need is equity in action. Helping students see a connection between themselves and our community in and out of the classroom is inclusion at work. Helping students find their purpose and sense of self creates belonging. Our commitment to inclusive community is simply a commitment to our mission, which prioritizes an educational experience that centers students and their search for a life of authenticity and purpose. As a leader, I always come back to one question: “How do we best support our students?” This question is at the heart of the action planning process underway. Through this process, our community is taking a moment to reflect on our legacy, clarify and communicate our philosophy, and identify our path forward. At this point, I have spent more time as a Greenhill employee than a Greenhill student. And yet, I have found two experiences are core to being on either side of the desk: experiencing joy in teaching and learning and feeling a sense of belonging to a community. This is what I hope my work brings to every Greenhill Hornet. Be well, Monsie Muñoz ’05 Director of Equity & Inclusion

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H E LLO, GRE E NHILL! My name is Dr. Derek Porter, and I am an educator who puts relationships first. Voice, agency, and accountability are at the heart of how I seek to build trust and are hallmarks of my professional career. I began my professional journey at the Washington Jesuit Academy in Northeast D.C., a school with 12-hour days and an 11-month academic year due to its mandatory summer enrichment program. While there, I taught seventh and eighth-grade history and also served as the arts director, organizing student-inspired talent shows and even creating a student mixtape that was featured on the local news. After matriculating to Yale Divinity School, I accepted a role at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, VA, where I developed a new approach to World Geography for the sixth grade. The class, titled Global Thinking, featured a thematic curriculum that emphasized human dignity.


The well-received course led to additional leadership opportunities, including leading professional learning sessions for the International Boys' School Coalition and joining the Center for the Study of Boys as a faculty research coordinator. Through these experiences, I discovered a passion for teacher improvement via the metacognitive cycles of action research, making it the focus of my dissertation and subsequent works. Currently, I serve as the Associate Director of Equity & Inclusion at Greenhill. Identity-based work is inherently relational. As a new member of the community, I am investing in fostering environments and protocols that empower each of us to exercise agency. At Greenhill, we have the opportunity to nurture spaces where we can all listen with a posture of curiosity, for this is the only way each member can feel known, heard, and respected.

CREATING SPACES IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN LEARN about themselves and others is core to building an inclusive community. In our classrooms we create that environment through welcoming rituals, community agreements, and mindfulness practices. Beyond the classroom, students, families, faculty and staff connect with each other through various spaces and events supported by the Office of Equity & Inclusion.

Affinity Spaces Student affinity spaces are places of connection, exploration, and celebration in Middle and Upper School. With guidance from adult sponsors, these student spaces foster collaboration, leadership, and growth for members and the larger community. During orientation in August, student leaders discussed why they decided to get involved in their affinity groups. From divisional activities to community-wide celebrations, our student leaders offer windows into their lived experiences for the larger Greenhill community. They reflected:

From this space of authenticity and trust, I continuously seek to support policies that will institutionalize Greenhill's Commitment to Equity and Inclusion, which states in part:

“We believe that the route to an

inclusive community is equity— all of us creating the conditions

where each has what they need to

“I feel like affinity spaces build confidence for members by allowing them to develop their sense of self.”

participate fully in the life of the School and has the opportunity

toreach their deepest potential.” This participation needs no gatekeepers. Instead, I affirm a vision of collective stewardship where we, together, own the responsibility of caring for the wellness and outcomes of one another. My office is located in the Middle School, where I am currently focusing my energy on inclusive language, affinity groups, and the physical sharing of space to embody a building where everyone has voice, agency, and an authentic sense of belonging. Dr. Derek Porter Associate Director of Equity & Inclusion

“Affinity spaces create visibility and safe spaces for identities that can be marginalized in our society.”

“I feel a sense of duty to maintain spaces that have been so important for students and others, and to continue to build those spaces for future students.”

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Adult Sponsor Testimonials WHILE STUDENT VOICE IS THE DRIVING FACTOR IN THE CREATION OF AFFINITY SPACES, ADULTS ARE KEY partners in supporting and guiding student leaders. Adult sponsors of affinity groups provide operational and interpersonal scaffolding for groups. Their goal is for members of their affinity spaces to gather in safe, comfortable, student-centered spaces. The time and attention they volunteer to these groups helps prepare members to be productive, resilient members of their affinity groups and the wider school community. Without the involvement of adult sponsors from all corners of our school community, we would not be able to support such a robust offering of affinity spaces. These spaces allow for leadership skill-building, intergenerational celebration, and lots of joy! Our adult sponsors share reasons why they continue to support these spaces for our students.

“I appreciate the opportunity that the affinity group gives me to connect with and support students in a way that being in my office does not afford me the ability to do daily, and having it centered around our faith makes it even more special. It fills my own cup in a lot of ways, so to speak, and I hope my presence shows the students they have adults on campus who understand them and are there to support them. I feel that affinity groups are important spaces for students to connect and build community/ relationships, and I am honored to be a part of that space for our group.”

— Amy deBorst, Director of Financial Aid Christian Student Coalition

“I think it is important to have a support group of people who might not only look like you but can also relate to you on a deeper level based on shared experiences.”

— Michael Haskins, Upper School Science Teacher Multiracial Affinity Group

“I am involved in supporting these spaces because they allow students to celebrate their identity joyfully, to grapple with their struggles in a shared, safe community, and to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of themselves and their community.”

— Jenn Jarnagin, Upper School Latin Teacher LGBTQ+ Affinity Group “Working with Greenhill’s Jewish Affinity Group is incredibly fulfilling because I get to support students in building a thoughtful and welcoming space where they can explore their heritage and culture. The group’s pluralistic nature makes it especially meaningful, as it allows students to come as they are and engage with Judaism in their own way and time, creating a community that embraces their individual journeys.”

— Jenny Fisher, Director of College Counseling Jewish Affinity Group

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“One reason I am involved with student affinity spaces is to provide a mirror to students who share my racial heritage and the set of historical experiences that accompany being Black in America. My goal is to lift, encourage, and demystify the gnarly adolescent journey.”

— Derek Porter, Associate Director of Equity & Inclusion Middle School Black Student Union


Action Planning SCHOOL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE understood for decades that a diverse and inclusive community enhances problem-solving abilities, creates opportunities to stretch our perspectives, builds selfconfidence, and drives innovation. These practices help prepare our students to reach their full potential as learners, professionals, and members of society. Creating an inclusive community requires continuous reflection, learning, and action. To continue our growth, we partnered with MehtaCognition, a leadership and management consultancy firm that supports K-12 schools, to begin an action planning process for equity and inclusion efforts at Greenhill. Greenhill has a longstanding relationship with MehtaCognition, and they have a deep understanding of our community. Between the spring and fall of 2024, they gathered, reviewed, and shared information about the perspectives of the community related to E&I through a parent survey and on-campus focus groups. The community reinforced that the School’s commitment to equity and inclusion has created an environment unlike any other in Dallas, one that continues to attract families. Compared to peer schools, the diverse community found at Greenhill is unique, and our families understand its value. While we have much to celebrate, the feedback also highlighted the following opportunities for growth:

• Offering greater clarity around definitions, efforts, and desired outcomes.

• Articulating the connection between E&I efforts and our mission.

• Prioritizing inclusion and belonging. Equipped with this information, we are working on an action plan that offers clarity, connection, and direction for the Greenhill community. The process began in the spring of 2025 and is led by a task force that includes faculty, staff, trustees, parents/guardians, and school leaders. Members of the task force are part of one of four subcommittees that are focused on specific areas of interest. The plan will be refined over the summer and presented to the Board of Trustees for approval in the fall of 2025. A general timeline is on the right, and we will continue to share updates to the community throughout the process.

General Timeline SPRING 2024 On-campus E&I Focus Groups with MehtaCognition

SUMMER 2024 Need-finding process and report to Administration Team by MehtaCognition

FALL 2024 Share out of findings and next steps to families by Head of School Lee Hark and Director of Equity & Inclusion Monsie Munoz '05

SPRING 2025 (January - May) Creation of “E&I Action Plan”

SUMMER 2025 Refining “E&I Action Plan”

FALL 2025 Bring to Board for approval, create working groups, and prepare for implementation

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THE P OWER OF SERVICE L E ARN IN G AT GRE ENHI LL At Greenhill School, the spirit of service learning and community engagement is more than just a tradition—it's a way of life.

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While Greenhill students excel in academics, arts, and athletics every day, the service learning program is an intentional, structured approach that integrates meaningful community engagement with academic learning. The program is designed to provide students with opportunities that directly connect to their classroom studies, allowing them to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts while also making a positive impact on the community. Director of Service Learning and Community Engagement Jessica Chu said, “We want to foster a culture of empathy, community, engagement, and action. Through hands-on experiences, students not only develop a deeper understanding of societal needs but also cultivate essential skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership. Reflection is a vital component of this process, as it encourages students to process their experiences, recognize the meaning and significance of their contributions, and understand the impact of their actions.” Through various initiatives, students from all grade levels come together to make a meaningful impact on their community and beyond.

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F E ATU RE

FO CUS ING ON FO O D IN SECURITY Middle School's Approach to Service

Service in the Middle School looks a little different. Rather than jumping from cause to cause, Middle School students have focused on a single theme: food insecurity. The journey began in September—Hunger Action Month— with a kick-off event featuring a speaker from Lovepacs, a nonprofit organization that provides snacks and meals to food-insecure students. Following an educational service lesson in October, Middle School students made 2,135 snack bags and decorated128 Lovepacs boxes for food-insecure students and families in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch and eastern Lewisville school districts. Eighth-grader Abe Glazer has learned a lot about how important service is to the community. He said, “No

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matter who you are or what situation you are in, everyone deserves a chance to thrive, and it is important to include everyone in a community. This year, I learned that one in five children in Texas go hungry every year, which is a shocking amount. When I found out that Texas is one of the most food-insecure states in America, I was feeling really down until I learned how we could help.” The momentum continued in January when students assembled 455 bean soup jars, creating approximately 2,275 servings that were equally distributed between Metrocare's Housing & Homeless Services Department and The Stewpot, a Dallas organization serving individuals experiencing homelessness.


Glazer continued to reflect on what he learned this school year. He said,

“I think service is important because not everyone gets the chance to thrive like we do, have the opportunities that students at Greenhill and other privileged schools get. This doesn’t mean that they are inferior to us, it just means that we have an opportunity to help them have the chance to thrive in life and feel safe and secure.” For some Middle School students, this focused approach to service has sparked an interest in addressing broader systemic issues. They are looking at how they can minimize food waste on campus, and exploring ways SAGE (Greenhill's food service provider) might partner with nonprofits to reduce waste. As the academic year progresses, Middle School students will participate in additional service lessons and activities, with plans for a project in collaboration with the Middle School Service Board.

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LEARNING MATH, COMMUNICATION, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING WHILE SERVING OTHERS Third Grade's Love Bug Project When third-grade teachers Karen Dzialowski and Hannah Harkey designed their service-learning project, they wanted to incorporate multiple learning objectives while making a meaningful community impact. The result was the Love Bug bookmarks project, which raised an impressive $1,574 for the Meals on Wheels Pet Food Program, a program that supports the continued health of older adults and their companion animals. Students created and sold bookmarks for $2 each to the Greenhill community, learning valuable lessons along the way.

“We learned about the value pets bring to people's lives, especially for seniors who might be isolated,” explains Dzialowski. “Students studied budgets, distinguishing between essentials and non-essentials in monthly spending, and calculated how much pet food costs each month for different faculty members.”

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The project incorporated multiple learning areas: financial literacy through supply and demand concepts; communication skills through advertising and customer interactions; and public speaking when eight students presented at Preschool and Lower School assemblies to promote the sale and announce final earnings. A special dimension was added when a Meals on Wheels volunteer—a third grader student's grandfather—visited to discuss his experiences delivering meals to seniors, helping students understand the human connection behind their fundraising efforts and how different generations can excel together in service to the community.


E XC E L L ING AC ROSS G EN ERATIO N S Library Mentors Program New this school year, the Library Mentors program pairs "All the kids were very different, so I had to learn how to ninth and tenth-grade students with Lower School classes work with each of them in various ways,” shared Harley during library time. The program serves multiple purposes: Silberman, a ninth-grade student who worked with a supporting the library, fostering cross-divisional relationsecond-grade class. “My favorite moments were when ships, and promoting literacy. the kids were listening to the Lower School Librarian Mrs. Martin read a book, and they all had huge smiles on their For the younger students, the presence of Upper School faces.” mentors adds excitement to library time. The mentors help with shelving books, assisting children in finding appropriate reading materials, and occasionally leading classes or reading aloud to students.

Charlotte Faems, a tenth-grade student who mentors a second-grade class, was so enthusiastic about her first-semester experience that she immediately requested the same class assignment for the second semester. Faems spoke on a realization she had while working with the Lower School students. She said, “I was reviewing some papers and found myself comparing second-grade work to fourth-grade level work. I saw how much the group of second-graders I was working with were going to grow over the next few years. Sometimes it’s hard to see growth at such a minuscule level—growth is much easier to see in hindsight—but every interaction and experience plays a role in shaping a person. Knowing that I could be one of these small interactions for these students makes me feel special.”

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STU D E NT INIT IATIVE Treats for Troops: Halloween Candy In the early morning hours of a crisp November day, Middle School students collected boxes of Halloween candy as part of Treats for Troops, an initiative that sends comfort to military personnel serving overseas. Treats for Troops was started by current seventh-grade students Calais Kia and Brady Arnold last school year as a Middle School service activity. This year, they joined forces with the Middle School Service Club and expanded Treats for Troops to include the other three divisions. Kia was excited that the rest of the school was interested in being involved in Treats for Toops. She said,

“I am very grateful to the service club for their help this year. It makes me so happy to see that others want to help out with an initiative that Brady and I started last year.” And together, they excelled. With the help of the Middle School Service Club, the initiative expanded to include

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Preschool and Lower School divisions, resulting in an impressive 358.2 pounds of donated candy. Upper School students contributed by writing appreciation cards for veterans—325 of which went to students at UTD's Military and Veteran Center, with the remainder accompanying the candy shipments through the nonprofit Soldiers' Angels. Arnold reflected on the success of Treats for Troops, “Service is about giving back to the community, rather than just something to do. Treats for Troops was about giving soldiers the chance to feel like they were back at home and to give them a break from their grueling daily lives.” This collective achievement exemplifies Greenhill's philosophy that service, like learning, thrives when the community works together. Across all four divisions, students are engaging in thoughtful, intentional service that combines classroom learning with real-world action, demonstrating how collaboration amplifies impact.


CROSS-DIVISIONAL COLLABORATION Heart of the Hill One of Greenhill's most beloved traditions is Heart of the Hill (HOH), which brings together students from all divisions into cross-divisional groups. In December, HOH groups participated in a service project coordinated by the Upper School Service Board. During the HOH gathering, students made 60 fleece tie blankets and more than 800 encouragement bracelets for Metrocrest Services, a nonprofit providing assistance to families in North Dallas suburbs. The activity proved particularly successful in fostering meaningful interactions across age groups. Many faculty members reported enjoying the encouragement bracelet activity in particular because the younger students were teaching the older students how to do it, when activities typically are led by older students.

a thought-out plan and impeccable organization to properly execute. It was truly the greatest privelege to watch kids of all ages smile and unite for a central cause of helping the community." The activity was so well-received that Primer classes asked for additional materials to continue making bracelets after the HOH gathering concluded, ultimately creating at least 30 extra bracelets for donation.

Eleventh-grader Tara Alim, the Upper School Service Board committee leader who helped organize the event, said, "This project was demanding and extensive, requiring

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F E ATU RE

E XCEL L ING B EYO N D CAMPUS United to Learn Teen Fellows For Upper School students seeking deeper engagement with educational equity issues, the United to Learn (U2L) Teen Fellows program offers a structured opportunity to make a difference in Dallas ISD schools while developing their leadership skills alongside peers. Now in its second year, the Greenhill chapter of U2L is a highly competitive program. This year, 12 students were accepted to the program and committed to twice-monthly service activities from October through May. One session each month features an advocacy lesson on topics ranging from educational opportunity gaps to literacy achievement, while the other involves service at George W. Bush Elementary School.

transforms the traditional service model into a collaborative partnership where both schools excel together.

Another U2L Teen Fellow, tenth-grader Jenna Stenberg, said, “I have learned many valuable things from my time as Students at Bush are assigned to "houses" at the beginning a U2L Teen Fellow. I learned about the empathy interview process and was able to put it into practice at Bush Eleof the school year. Greenhill students were assigned to mentary. By exploring this process, I learned how to conhouses as well, so they are able to work with the same group of Bush students every month, allowing them to see verse with a person and help them cultivate ideas, without taking over the process and taking away their educational the Bush students learn and grow. Eleventh-grader Helen experience. Learning about these processes has informed Reed said, “One of my favorite moments from volunteerhow I will conduct myself in future service projects.” ing with the U2L program this year was when the Bush students sorted us into their houses. They’re all so proud The U2L partnership extends beyond the Teen Fellows of their individual houses, and it was amazing to see how program, with three eleventh-grade Greenhill students joyous they were to have us as part of their houses. I am a serving on the U2L Teen Board, creating additional leaderproud member of Altruismo!” ship opportunities and strengthening the commitment to This year, Greenhill students are helping Bush Elementary educational equity in Dallas. students implement their own service project, funded by a service learning grant the school received. This approach

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A CU LTUR E OF EXCELLIN G TO G ETHER From Preschool to Graduation Service learning at Greenhill is characterized by intentionality, reflection, and authentic connection to curriculum and community needs. The common thread through each initiative is the understanding that greater impact comes when students work together. From Preschool through graduation, students continually engage in meaningful service together. Starting in prekindergarten, the "Change with Love" initiative introduces the youngest Hornets to the values of compassion and service, demonstrating how, even at a young age, they can make a powerful impact and be a force for good in their communities. This commitment to collaboration continues throughout Lower, Middle, and Upper School. For example, ninthgrade students partner with Children's Hunger Fund for a dedicated service day, where they tackle childhood food insecurity through hands-on teamwork while strengthening reflection skills and empathy. This progressive approach ensures that service isn't just something Greenhill students do—it becomes part of who they are as community members and global citizens.

said Jessica Chu, Director of Service Learning and Community Engagement, "Through service, students develop a sense of purpose, empathy, and leadership. These experiences not only shape them into engaged and compassionate citizens but also equip them with the confidence and skills to address real-world challenges throughout their lives." Through thoughtful reflection, intentional action, and meaningful connection, Greenhill students are learning that the true value of service extends far beyond the hours logged or the items collected. It's about building a more compassionate, equitable, and connected community—one Love Bug bookmark, bean soup jar, or mentoring relationship at a time.

"One of my favorite parts of Greenhill's vision statement is 'we see our world made more hopeful because of the Greenhill community.' To me, service learning is an experience that instills lifelong lessons. It empowers students to take initiative, recognize their ability to make a meaningful impact, and create positive change in their communities."

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Campus Enhancements At the start of this school year, students returned to see some updated spaces on campus. In the heart of campus, the Foote Quadrangle received an inspiring redesign. It includes a new amphitheater, which provides areas for socializing, performing, and gathering. In Middle School, students entered a completely renovated Levy Middle School building, with new spaces for student support, student socializing, and redesigned classrooms and faculty workspaces.

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Sixth-grade hallway in the Levy Middle School


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A LU M N I PR ES I D E N T ' S L E T TE R

D E AR GRE E NHILL ALUMNI, As president of the Alumni Board, I want to send a big hello to all of you. Whether you roamed Greenhill’s halls decades ago or more recently, we all share a special bond with this amazing community. This has been an inspiring year for our alumni network. Seeing old friends reconnect during reunions and hearing about the incredible things you're all doing makes me so proud to be part of this group. Your journeys — filled with achievements, resilience, and positive impact — are a great reflection of Greenhill's mission to inspire authentic, purposeful lives. The Alumni Board is here to help keep those connections strong. Whether through fun alumni events, volunteering opportunities, or simply reconnecting with old classmates or teachers, we’re all about building up and giving back to the school that gave us so much. If you’re ever looking for a way to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your fellow alumni. Together, we can strengthen Greenhill’s legacy for generations to come. Thanks for helping make Greenhill so special. I look forward to seeing many of you during Alumni Weekend in April—it’s going to be a blast! Warm regards, LEE SZOR '03 President, Greenhill School's Alumni Board

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Alumni Association Board

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Lee Szor ’03 President Sohail Yousuf '98 Vice President/Governance Chair Nick Macknight '06 Alan Sostek '11 Advancement Co-Chairs Elizabeth Bodzy '10 Service & Community Courtney Capshaw '06 Sammy Kurz DeVito '07 Programming Co-Chairs Laura Ley Staub '01 Immediate Past President

BOARD MEMBERS Aaron Brown '01 Alan Sostek '10 Asad Meghani '10 Caazena Hunter '99 Clint Golman '12 Courtney Capshaw '06 Elizabeth Bodzy '10 Elizabeth Fields Asen '09 Jared Sandler '07 Katie Broder '10 Kent Siri '01 Kevin Phillips '11 Laura Ley Staub '01 (non-voting) Lauren Mahomes Cerney '08 Lee Szor '03 Mandy Skibell Hanu '94 Mark Huffman '09 Mark Wettreich '98 Matthew Jones '14 Matthew Udomphol '07 Meredith Jeanes Lyons '08 Natalie Jacobs '06 Nick Macknight '06 Ravi Narula '14 Regina Merson '99 Samantha Kurz DeVito '07 Sohail Yousuf '98


Alumni Common Threads AUGUST 2024 ALUMNI VOLLEYBALL MATCH The annual alumni volleyball game was a showdown for the ages! Former players from four decades took on the varsity boys team—and claimed victory once again! Coach Keith Nannie kept things lively from the bench, heckling and cheering on his former players. It was a great night of competition, laughter, and reminiscing.

SEPTEMBER 2024 SENIOR BREAKFAST Homecoming Week kicked off with this special tradition, where seniors proudly received their coveted Greenhill sweatshirts. Alumna Elizabeth Fields Asen ’09 delivered an inspiring speech to the Class of 2025, reflecting on her Greenhill journey and sharing words of wisdom for the year ahead.

HOMECOMING Homecoming brought that signature Greenhill spirit, and the energy was off the charts! Alumni and families enjoyed dinner provided by Babe’s Chicken, exciting volleyball, field hockey, and football matchups, and a packed alumni social at the Tom Perryman Alumni Center—all capped off with a Hornets football victory!

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OCTOB ER 2024 NEW YORK ALUMNI REUNION The Big Apple was buzzing with Hornet pride as we caught up with nearly 100 alumni across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Highlights included lunch near NYU, an exclusive visit to the Whitney Museum with Scott Rothkopf '95, the Alice Pratt Brown Director of the Whitney Museum, and an update on campus happenings from Head of School Lee Hark. Over food and drinks, we shared memories, laughed about old traditions, and celebrated how much Greenhill continues to shape lives, even years after graduation.

N OVEMBER 2024 ALUMNI HOLIDAY PARTY We kicked off the holiday season in style with 150+ alumni, Greenhill Legends, and friends gathering for festive bites and cheer at Sidecar Social in Addison. A huge thanks to the Greenhill Alumni Board for hosting this annual favorite!

JANUA RY 2025 SEATTLE ALUMNI REUNION After nearly 20 years, Greenhill made a long-awaited return to the Seattle and Bellevue area, reconnecting with alumni in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. The excitement was palpable as graduates from across the decades came together to reminisce, network, and hear the latest updates from campus. From swapping stories about favorite teachers to sharing career updates, it was a wonderful reminder of how strong our Hornet connections remain—no matter the distance!

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FEBRUARY 2025 BLACK HISTORY MONTH BREAKFAST The Greenhill School Black History Month Breakfast united current students, alumni, parents, and families in a powerful celebration of community and connection. Organized by the Black Student Union, the event featured an inspiring alumni panel that shared personal stories, highlighted Black excellence, and reinforced the strong bonds within the Greenhill community.

F E B RUA RY 2025 AUSTIN REUNION Greenhill alumni in Austin enjoyed a day of connection and community on February 10, 2025, with two vibrant gatherings. The afternoon began with a casual meetup at Lucky Lab Coffee, followed by an evening event at Lazarus Brewing. Highlights included networking opportunities and a special school update from Head of School Lee Hark, reinforcing the strong bonds of the Greenhill community across Texas.

MARC H 2025 LOS ANGELES & SAN FRANCISCO REUNIONS What a blast for Greenhill alumni out West! In early March 2025, graduates from San Francisco and Los Angeles got together for some serious catching up. The San Francisco crew grabbed dinner at Beretta, where Head of School Lee Hark dropped by with the latest school scoop. Meanwhile, LA alumni kept it cool with a casual lunch at Hugo's and an evening hangout at The Hideout. Talk about a perfect chance to swap stories, reconnect with old classmates, and show some Greenhill pride!

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Alumni Awards Distinguished Alumni Award The Distinguished Alumni Award celebrates those who have achieved prominence in their fields, demonstrating personal and professional excellence while upholding Greenhill’s mission by leading authentic, purposeful lives. This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Scott Rothkopf ’95 and Priya Krishna ’09.

Scott Rothkopf ’95 was recently appointed Alice Pratt Brown Director of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Rothkopf’s notable career with the Whitney began in 2009 as a curator, and he has held numerous leadership roles, including Chief Curator. With a deep dedication to the art world, Rothkopf has curated more than a dozen acclaimed exhibitions, such as Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror and Jeff Koons: A Retrospective, while also publishing extensively on contemporary art. An accomplished scholar, he holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in art history from Harvard University and has shared his expertise as a guest critic, lecturer, and panelist at many prestigious institutions.

Priya Krishna ’09 is a celebrated journalist, New York Times interim restaurant critic, and bestselling author of Indian-ish and Priya’s Kitchen Adventures. A graduate of Dartmouth, she has appeared as a judge on MasterChef and hosts On the Job, a New York Times YouTube series that examines labor in the food industry. Through her work, Krishna is passionate about giving more people the opportunity to tell food stories and uplifting voices that are often overlooked in culinary storytelling. Her contributions to food journalism have made a lasting impact, and we are honored to highlight her achievements.

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The Greenhill School Alumni Board announced the Alumni Award recipients for the 2024-2025 school year. Each year, exceptional individuals whose remarkable contributions and dedication embody the Greenhill mission and core values are recognized. These awards celebrate alumni achievements, honor the legacy of excellence, and encourage and inspire future alumni.

Alumni Service Award The Alumni Service Award, established in 2020, recognizes graduates for exceptional service and unwavering commitment to Greenhill School. This year’s Alumni Service Award honoree is Kathryn Hamm ’87.

Kathryn Hamm ’87 exemplifies extraordinary loyalty and dedication. As the Chief Operating Officer of The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Hamm oversees strategic operations and partnerships. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a Master of Social Work from the Catholic University of America. Her diverse career includes roles as a school counselor and coach, as well as contributions to diversity and inclusion in the wedding industry. Hamm’s impact extends far beyond Greenhill, but her love and dedication to her alma mater remain steadfast. Even while living in Washington, D.C., Hamm has remained deeply engaged with Greenhill School as a dedicated career day speaker, classroom panelist, athletic supporter, and advocate for the school community. Hamm generously shares her expertise serving on an alumni panel for Greenhill’s eighth-grade students during their annual, week-long immersive learning trip to Washington, D.C., enriching their experience with valuable insights.

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A LU M N I

Turning Points 1

2

WEDDIN GS

1 2 3

4

5

6

Andres Ramirez-Aguilar ’09 and Jane Eleanor Santa Cruz October 5, 2023 Lauren Butowsky Sheppard ’13 and Benjamin Sheppard February 18, 2024

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Sarah Daniels ’11 and Will Gietema ’11 October 18, 2024 Lindsey Maxwell Moore ’20 and Grayson Moore November 16, 2024

Gabrielle Wootton ’03 and Mabel Viviana Sanchez Cortes March 11, 2024

BIRTHS Lucy Anne Fairbrook January 17, 2023 Rachel Liberty ’07 and Dustin Fairbrook Kylie Morse July 5, 2024 Courtney Webb Morse ’08 and Ryan Morse

7 5

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3

Maddox Mark Raccasi April 8, 2024 Michelle Van Rooyen ’09 and Andrew Raccasi

6 7

Miles Knox Freedman June 27, 2024 Blair Goldman Freedman ’09 and Eric Freedman Sadie Ilana Davidson January 7, 2025 Stephanie Arbetter Davidson '08 and Alex Davidson Colin Andrew Moore February 11, 2025 Erin Henderson Moore ’01 and Kellen Moore


In memoriam Joseph Acosta

December 24, 2024 Father of Joseph Acosta ’90

M'Lou Bancroft

September 10, 2024 Mother of Sam Bancroft ’95 and Sara Bancroft ’99

Jim Baron May, 19, 2024 Father of Kate Baron ’04 and Zak Baron ’07, former board member

Carole Bernstein November 20, 2024 Mother of Mark Bernstein ’81 and Greg Bernstein ’86

John Bickel October 30, 2024 Mother of David Bickel ’83

Norm Bleicher June 23, 2024

Scott Ginsburg

Lawrence ‘Lonnie’ Pollock, III ’73

May 26, 2024

February 8, 2025

Former Trustee

Bennett Goodman December 29, 2024 Grandfather of Stacey Goodman ‘06

Robert Shapiro October 21, 2024 Grandfather of Ryan Lieberman ’13 and

Arti Gupta October 2024

Molly Stewart

Abraham "Sonny" Hershman

June 5, 2024 Mother of Robb Stewart ’75 and Duff Stewart ’79

January 13, 2025 Grandfather of Scott Judson ‘09, Margot Hershman ’10, and Jake Hershman ‘17

Alfredo Jimenez

Faustino “Tino” Torres

December 30, 2024

Greenhill Legend

Father of Marcella Jimenez ‘12

Kelle Larson Lowe ‘93

Tony Canton September 2, 2024 Father of Boughty Canton ’91

Jose Cisneros June 30, 2024 Father of Victoria Cisneros ‘25

Barbara Crooks February 16, 2025 Mother of Beverly Crooks Wildasin ’83 and David Crooks ’87

Gordon Frank December 15, 2024 Father of Cindy Frank Birne ‘75 and grandfather of Scott Birne ‘11

Jim Fuchs

July 22, 2024

Kenneth Larson

Lynn Switzer Bozalis '82

former student Rachel Bozalis

Blake Lieberman ’14

Mother of Tanisha Gupta '17

Father of Zac Bleicher '99 and Noah Bleicher ’01

Mother of Thomas Bozalis '23 and

Lonnie Pollock IV ’06, grandfather of Sam Pollock ’38

and Jeffrey Goodman ‘05

August 7, 2024

March 5, 2025

Brother of Carolyn Pollock ’75 and Richard Pollock ’77, father of Kimberly Wolff ’02, Tracy Pollock ’03 and

Grandparent of Jake Goldberg ’13,

Torres joined the Facilities and Operations Services team in 1979. In his 45 years at Greenhill, Torres poured his heart into the school that he loved. and was known for his strong work ethic, his joy in working outdoors, and his talent in cultivating the athletic fields on campus.

Kelsey Goldberg ’14, Clay Goldberg ’17,

Photo credit: John Derryberry

Father of Lee Larson ‘92 and

Sandra Luskey December 26, 2024

Clegg Goldberg ’31, Kase Goldberg ’33, and Jax Goldberg ’37

Guillermo “Bill” Montero ‘79 October 7, 2024 Sister of Silvana Montero ’80

Ann Jarrett Nelson ‘61

Fannie Viroslav July 15, 2024 Mother of Erika Viroslav Cohen ’84 and Andres Viroslav ’90

Karma Gardner von Burg ‘88

July 2, 2024

October 6, 2024

Kevin Norton

Mary Therese Tschumy Costa “Terry” Weathers

May 9, 2024 Father of Eryn Norton ‘08, Nicole Norton Watson ‘10, and Julia Norton ‘14

December 9, 2024 Mother of Kevin Costa ’77

Carol Hamilton Patterson ‘64

Rhea Wolfram

August 28, 2024

January 16, 2025 Former faculty member

September 7, 2024 Father of Ryan Fuchs ’98 and husband of former faculty member Lisa Fuchs

Only Greenhill Alumni related to the deceased are listed. We do not typically list non-Greenhill-related relatives.

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Why We Give

AN G ELA & HESAM HOSSEINI What attracted your family to Greenhill? Our decision to join Greenhill was primarily influenced by its stellar reputation within the community. Friends spoke highly of the School, and we were particularly drawn to its emphasis on diversity in all aspects. The emphasis on balance—physical health, academics, and socialemotional well-being—was a perfect fit for our family. Zoe ended up starting in first grade , followed by Leo in kindergarten and Milo in pre-K. Each child joined earlier than the previous one because we were so impressed with Greenhill. What are your current family values and priorities? Balance is key for us. Each of our children is unique, and we value a school and community that supports their individual interests, accelerates their strengths, and helps them in areas they need to improve. We want to expose them to a variety of disciplines so they can discover their passions. The Middle and Upper School programs at Greenhill, especially the focus on STEM and real-world applications, are very appealing and promise a bright future for our kids. What skills and values have contributed to your success, and how do you hope to instill these in your children? We place a high value on education and real-world experience—being hands-on, not just theoretical. Empathy and social-emotional skills are also crucial, ensuring that it's not just about how you perform at work or in other settings, but how you treat others. We've seen these values being nurtured in our young children at Greenhill, which is wonderful. How have the teachers at Greenhill impacted your family? Our experience with every teacher at Greenhill has been outstanding. Their level of care and communication has been exceptional, consistently exceeding our expectations. They are extremely knowledgeable and adept at working with young children, always providing thoughtful and innovative solutions—something our children have really benefitted from.

Hesam & Angela Hosseini are parents to third-grader Zoe ’34, first-grader Leo ’35, and pre-kindergartener Milo ’38. Hesam is the CEO of Match.com and Angela serves on the board of Educational First Steps.

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What inspires you to give to Greenhill? Greenhill has been an incredible school for our family, and we wanted to give back. The School plays a vital role in the local community, and we want to see its impact grow. Additionally, the new STEM initiatives resonate with us. We value classroom learning but also the importance of applying what you've learned in real-life situations. The new curriculum and workspaces at Greenhill are impressive, and we are excited to support this vision.


MA

ERENC

E

Greenhill Fund

IFF

YOU

2024–25

KE A D

The Greenhill Fund is an important giving priority and the first gift we ask of our community. Annual giving by our alumni, faculty, families, and friends provides unrestricted funds that make up 5% of the entire school budget. Every gift is an investment in Greenhill’s future and supports all areas of school life—academics, arts, athletics, and design & innovation. Our thanks to those who have already made their gift this year and to our incredible team of volunteers. Make your gift today by visiting GreenhillFund.org or use the QR code below. Go Hornets!

We are grateful for our 2024–2025 Greenhill Fund Volunteers! BOA R D C HAIR Roy Kim ’88

D EV ELOPMEN T CO MMITTEE CHAIR Michael Waldman ‘98

G R A DE CA PTA INS Heather Arnold Jia Dou Kristin Engberg Clayton Frenzel Michelle Garza ‘95 Katie Herrmann Angela Hosseini Naveen Karim

Mili Khanderia Clayton Lougée ‘03 Amanda Martin Sandy Millimet Nidhi Sharma Cinco Sorrow Geetika Tiwari

GR EENHIL L FUN D CHAIRS Chris Barjum Stephanie Stone

Questions about Greenhill Fund? Contact Robert Clements, Director of Annual Fund & Major Gifts, clementsr@greenhill.org, 972-628-5681.

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TH E FU LTON S OC I E T Y Greenhill alumni, faculty, parents, and friends who support the School with gifts large or small in their estate plans are welcomed into The Fulton Society. We would be glad to welcome you as our newest member.

Spotlight:

Michelle and Warren Park Ethan ’37, Emma As a family, we made a very intentional choice to make Dallas home and Greenhill was instrumental in shaping that decision. The Greenhill community has become a core part of the fabric of our everyday life, and we believe Greenhill also provides the best environment to build our kids’ academic and emotional foundation. As we were doing our estate planning, it only felt natural to include Greenhill in our estate plans.

Contact Us Diana Kao, Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving, at kaod@greenhill.org or 972-628-5683 Learn more online at https://www.greenhill.org/planned-giving

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Greenhill Board of Trustees 20 24 –20 2 5 O F F I C E RS Roy S. Kim ’88 Lori Whitten Kenji Hashimoto

T RUST E E S Debby Ackerman Cheryl Alston Chris I. Clark '89 Lenore Diamond Ian Edmonds Michelle Frymire Louis Gennarelli Lee J. Hark, ex-officio Lauren Harris Darlise Harrison Karen Johnson Cate Khan Nauman Khan Kathleen Kirby Todd Lemkin Lester Levy, Jr. '79 Doug MacMahon Kamini Mamdani David Muller Hardeep Sehgal Boaz Sidikaro Artie Starrs Rajesh Swaminathan

Lee Szor '03 Vaughn Vennerberg II Michael Waldman '98 Meredith Wallace '97 Clifford Weiner Linda Wimberly Bing Xie

The Hill in print is published once a year by the Communications and Advancement Offices. Please look for our digital annual report in the fall.

COMMU N I CAT I ON S Kerry Shea, Director of Marketing & Communications Autumn Bernhard, Website & Digital Communications Specialist Sara Ellis, Digital Content Specialist Mashal Noor ’12, Creative Director

ADVAN CEMEN T Aaron White, Chief Development Officer Robert Clements, Director of Annual Fund & Major Gifts

FOR M ER BOA RD CHA IRS ELECTING TO SERV E EX-OF FIC IO

Amanda Garman, Director of Parent Engagement & Community Events

Holland P. Gary '93, Trustee since 2011

Alina Salgado, Advancement & Parent Relations Associate

David L. Johnson '67, Trustee since 1987

Kristy Joiner, Advancement Services Associate Diana Kao, Director of Major Gifts Katie Young, Director of Alumni Relations

H. Ronald Nash, Trustee since 1987 Bruce Sostek, Trustee since 2009

LIFETIM E TRUST E E Rusty Jaggers, Trustee since 1994 E. Pierce Marshall, Jr. ’86, Trustee since 1996 Molly (Fulton) Seeligson ’60, Trustee since 2009 Daniel T. Phillips, Trustee since 1997

COMMEN TS? STORY I D EAS?

Contact Mashal Noor noorm@greenhill.org 972.628.5488

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Be sure to visit www.greenhill.org for the latest school news, photo galleries, sports scores, and more! For an online version of this magazine, visit www.greenhill.org/thehill


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4141 Spring Valley Road Addison, Texas 75001 greenhill.org

If you received duplicate copies of The Hill magazine, or a copy for your child who has established a separate or permanent address, please let the School know by emailing us at joinerk@greenhill.org.

Join the Celebration! Greenhill School is celebrating its 75th anniversary during the 2025–2026 school year! We look forward to celebrating our history and embracing our future throughout the year. Keep an eye out for event announcements, history spotlights, and trips down memory lane. SAVE THE DATE September 11 - Founders Day October 24 - Homecoming November 19-21 - Fall Musical: Disney’s Descendants: The Musical November 21 - Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day

STAY CONNECTED

greenhill.org/75-years

facebook.com/GreenhillSchool

instagram.com/GreenhillSchool


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