Hallways: Making a Splash (Summer 2024)

HALLWAYS

Making a Splash!

John and Carol Cobb Rochford ’61

Carol Cobb Rochford ’61 enrolled in Harpeth Hall in its first decade of existence at the urging of her family’s longtime next-door neighbor, Mary Elizabeth Cayce.

Miss Cayce was a faculty member of Ward-Belmont, and when the school closed in 1951, she was instrumental in garnering support to found an educational preparatory school for girls to succeed the shuttered women’s college. A member of the original board of trustees, Miss Cayce was the one who suggested that the new school be named Harpeth Hall. She also suggested that young Carol attend.

“I entered a completely unfamiliar environment and was basically shy and unsure of myself at 14 years old. They instilled in me a sense of self-confidence and the belief that, if I could dream it, I could achieve it.”

That legacy continued as daughters, Elizabeth and Dianne, and granddaughters, Caroline and Katherine, received the same outstanding education and developed lifetime friendships. This year, on May 27, Carol and her husband, John, attended Harpeth Hall’s 73rd commencement ceremony and were filled with joy for Caroline Luttrull ’24, who walked down Souby Lawn as part of the third generation of their family to graduate from the school.

“I look back on my days at Harpeth Hall as, for the most part, a time of innocence. It was a nurturing environment in which my fellow classmates and I, now my longtime and dearest friends, grew to young womanhood,” Mrs. Rochford said. “Here, I was instructed by the most qualified and dedicated teachers, the majority of whom followed Susan S. Souby, the first headmistress, from Ward-Belmont.”

Those teachers included Martha Gregory, the first school librarian and a freshman English instructor, who was also the author of Harpeth Hall’s alma mater; Billie Pyle Kuykendall, a “dynamic” senior English teacher; Sephronia Eggleston, who taught world and American history; and Francis Ewing, who “was able to make my least favorite subject, math, almost enjoyable,” Mrs. Rochford recalled.

John has his own Harpeth Hall story, having served on the board of trustees from 1987 to 1993 and again from 1995 to 2001. He explained, “When I served as a trustee, Harpeth Hall had a miniscule endowment, and during a board and new parents dinner at the home of Britton and Norris Nielsen, the discussion centered around how to best get the school on a stronger financial footing. At that point, we realized the importance of annual giving and endowment. And now that our grandchildren are Harpeth Hall students, our passion for seeing the school prosper has only grown.”

Together, Carol and John decided to include Harpeth Hall in their estate plans. “As we see it, the Founders Society is critical to the school’s mission, and we are proud to be part of that society. Tuition and annual giving are essential to immediate needs, but when circumstances allow, the funding of a legacy gift ensures the future of the school.”

The Founders Society recognizes individuals who have included Harpeth Hall in their estate plans. If you are considering a planned gift to Harpeth Hall, please contact Associate Director of Advancement Beth Sherrard Fernandes ’97 at 615-301-9295 or beth.fernandes@harpethhall.org.

John and Carol Cobb Rochford ’61 with daughters Dianne Rochford Kirby ’82 and Elizabeth Rochford Luttrull ’92 and granddaughters Caroline Luttrull ’24 and Katherine Luttrull ’26.

2 Observations from Jess Hill

Winterim Highlights 26 Polly Linden’s Stroke of Greatness 28 World Record Moment 30 Five Alumnae Compete in Olympic Trials

4 Inside the Hall: Middle School

6 Inside the Hall: Upper School 8 Celebrating 10 Years of Global Scholars 13 Cum Laude Society 14 Eighth Grade Career Day 18 Faculty Awards and Milestones

20 Scholastic Art and Writing Award Winners

22 College-Bound Artists Design Their Futures 24 Harpeth Hall Athletes Compete at Next Level 34 Winter and Spring Athletic Highlights

CELEBRATIONS

36 Upper School Awards Day

38 Almost Alumnae Luncheon 40 Middle School Honor Day 42 Step Singing 46 Graduation

HALLWAYS STAFF

Jessica Bliss, Editor

Lauren Finney, Designer

58 Ward-Belmont and Milestones Society Coffee

59 Regional Alumnae Events

60 Reunion 2024 Photos ALUMNAE NEWS

50 Distinguished Alumna: Bennett Manning Brady ’61

52 Spirit of Service: Sue Fort White ’73

56 New Trustees

67 Class Notes

74 Births

76 Marriages

78 In Memoriam Alumnae, Past Faculty, and Past Trustees ATHLETICS & THE ARTS

Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09, Editorial Staff

Rory Fraser, Staff Photographer

Contributing Writers: Annie Linley ’23, Nora Wang ’21, and Lauren Wynn ’24

Contributing Photographers: John Amis, Peyton Hoge, Wade Payne, Alan Poizner, and Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

Cover photos of Gretchen and Alex Walsh: Courtesy of University of Virginia — Mike Lewis and Jack Spitser

Hallways is published twice a year by:

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OurOlympians, Gretchen and Alex Walsh, have left an indelible mark on all of us. We want to emulate everything about them — their pure athleticism in the pool, their poise and cool under pressure, their confidence and discipline, not to mention their humility and kindness. We understand that they are not one-dimensional, which makes us admire them more. Gretchen and Alex are sisters and daughters, friends and students. They are bright and funny, sometimes vulnerable, and always human. We are immensely proud that they are Harpeth Hall alumnae and that they will forever be introduced with the word Olympian after their names. Not everyone can make that kind of splash in the world, but Alex and Gretchen’s accomplishments can motivate us. Through their example, we are led to be more courageous when we know it is our turn to do the next hard thing. That hard thing may be voicing an unpopular opinion or having a moment of clarity or understanding in the classroom as a student or as a teacher. It could be admitting we have been wrong and taking the time to make it right. It could be living honorably in a world that is pulling us in another direction. We continue to be inspired by so many of our alumnae who are making their own waves, such as our Spirit of Service award recipient Sue Fort White, who is featured in this issue of Hallways. Sue is working to support and counsel victims of child abuse and their families. Our students, swimmers, and colleagues also are inspired by the dedication and expertise of Polly Linden, our varsity swim coach of 30 years. In this Hallways, you can read more about Polly, who has led our swimmers to 12 state championships while teaching AP calculus, chairing the upper school math department, and solving the multi-dimensional puzzle of over 400 individual schedules each year.

We also have the good fortune to be inspired daily by the courage and commitment of our students who are holding the bar high. Some are doing research in labs at Vanderbilt or winning the state lacrosse championship for the third year in a row or producing art and creative writing for our award-winning Hallmarks publication. They are exploring solutions to worldwide issues through our Global Scholars program, which marked its 10-year anniversary this year. They also are learning to listen more closely to each other and claim curiosity over judgment as they move from debate to dialogue in classroom discussions.

Head of School Jess Hill holds the Olympic Torch from the 1984 Games in Los Angeles during a recent educational conference in Colorado. Alumna Tracy Caulkins Stockwell ’81 won three gold medals at the 1984 Games, launching Harpeth Hall’s swimming legacy.

At Harpeth Hall, we swim in the deep end of academics, arts, and athletics. We don’t shy away from hard things. When we inevitably stumble, we know we are surrounded by trusted student-teacher relationships, inspirational role models, and hundreds of sisters on campus and thousands of alumnae connections beyond campus.

What does it mean to make a splash, even when you are a mere mortal and not an Olympian? It means finding purpose and seeking the confidence to make meaningful contributions to our own communities.

Jess Hill Head of School

“We continue to be inspired by so many of our alumnae who are making their own waves.” — Jess Hill

2024 Spirit of Service honoree Sue Fort White ’73

2024 Distinguished Alumna Dr. Bennett Manning Brady ’61

Coach Polly Linden and Gretchen Walsh ’21 at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials

Empowering tomorrow’s leaders through BizTown’s engaging learning experience

Frombehind her desk in a bright and colorful office decorated with photos of adorable puppies and kittens, 6th grade student Julia Dahl was excited to start her new job as the CEO of Mars Petcare Adoption Center. Like anyone applying for a job, Julia spent weeks researching, writing an application, and completing interviews before she got the news that the position was hers.

As the CEO, Julia had a big day ahead of her. In addition to her duties running the center and making the big decisions that affect the success of the company, Julia was set to be interviewed by fellow Harpeth Hall 6th grade student Lexy Perkins on PBS. Julia worked

hard to perfect her speech to wow the audience and gain support and donations for the non-profit adoption center.

While it seemed like a great deal of responsibility to hoist onto the shoulders of a 12-year-old, it was all in a day's work for students at Junior Achievement’s BizTown.

Each year, 5th and 6th grade students roleplay in BizTown’s hands-on simulation of a miniature town, taking on positions as employees, consumers, and business owners to gain valuable insights into financial literacy, teamwork, and decision-making.

“BizTown is an engaging educational experience for our girls,” middle school math teacher Camille Bridges said. “The purpose

is to empower young girls with practical knowledge in economics, business, and civic engagement. BizTown aims to inspire confidence and foster essential life skills in our middle school girls, encouraging them to explore their potential as active members of this miniature society.”

The process began with an application. The girls received a list of jobs and were asked to examine their strengths and match them with positions that interested them. The students then applied for jobs ranging from town mayor to mail carrier to journalist to radio DJ. After crafting their applications, they were interviewed by faculty and staff members, allowing the girls to practice key skills,

Running toward the 2024 Olympics

Withthe eyes of the world turning to Paris this summer, Olympic fever heated up in Harpeth Hall’s middle school. Dividing into teams representing France, the Philippines, Tanzania, and Argentina, students went head-to-head in athletic competitions throughout their P.E. classes such as speed skating (in tennis shoes), basketball, hockey, and swimming (on scooters) to determine which country would amass the most gold medals and claim their spot at the top of the podium.

The 8th grade took its Olympic spirit a step further through an interdisciplinary project that tested the girls’ creativity and ability to think outside the box. After researching the flag, culture, history, and the past Olympic achievements of the country they represented in the Middle School Olympics, students were sent to the Design Den to turn a pair of plain white shoes into footwear that could represent their country on the Olympic stage. In the end, Uruguay was victorious and was crowned the winner amid loud cheers during a middle school meeting this spring. The girls are excited to see their countries in action at the summer 2024 Olympics!

including speaking to adults, making eye contact, and talking about their strengths. After they were “hired” for their job assignments, it was off to BizTown to dive into what it is like out in the “real world.”

For every student, no matter her job, BizTown was an engaging learning experience.

Sixth grade student Anna Evan, sales manager for BizTown’s Slim and Husky’s pizza shop, learned how important it is to work with others to get a job done, especially when there is a mealtime rush.

Meanwhile, 6th grade student Teagan Brown, CEO of Dollar General, learned valuable skills such as writing checks, paying bills, and managing employees. One 5th grade student, who would prefer to stay anonymous, learned the importance of watching her speed after she was presented with a ticket for walking too fast through the town’s streets while seeking donations for her non-profit.

“In the realm of math, (at BizTown) students engage in hands-on financial transactions, budgeting, and calculating profits,” Ms. Bridges said

“Science comes into play as students explore the scientific aspects of certain businesses, such as understanding the principles behind food production or energy consumption.

“History is incorporated through the exploration of economic systems and the evolution of business over time. (Students also) engage as democratic members of society through the (BizTown) mayoral election.

“Lastly, English skills are honed as students communicate, collaborate, and write reports or advertisements for their business, and write friendly letters to each other (that are, of course, delivered by the town's delivery driver),” Ms. Bridges said.

Above all, Ms. Bridges hopes that students left BizTown better able to see the connections between what they are learning in each of their academic disciplines and the real world.

“My hope is that each girl has fun, and in small ways, makes connections that are memorable and valuable through this holistic learning experience.”

Build a Bear: middle school students build their own toys

Thiswinter, 7th grade students turned Harpeth Hall’s Design Den into a toy workshop where they became the creators, builders, and marketers of a brand new toy. Under the guidance of science teachers Elsa Davids and Aniya Bryant, students embarked on a project that combined creative engineering design, collaborative work, and practical application of their knowledge of electricity and circuits to a toy of their own creation.

Each team of designers was assigned a specific circuit component – such as LED lights, vibrating motors, or buzzers – and was challenged to integrate it into a real-life toy design. The results were truly impressive: one group illuminated a toy sink with three LED lights to teach young children how to wash their hands, while another group designed a shoe that buzzes when laces are tied correctly using two buzzing motors. The creativity and ingenuity of these young inventors was inspiring, and we are eager to see what else they can achieve!

Total Eclipse of the Hall

Looking

up to the sky, Jesse Harwood is fascinated by the unknown.

“Space is infinite. There are countless things we have never discovered, and we are waiting for future generations to explore them,” Jesse said. “The thought of being a part of something literally infinitely bigger than yourself is overwhelming, but also the most rewarding.”

The desire to be part of something bigger is what led Jesse to take Leslie Chamberlain’s Winterim class, “Guided by the Stars,” in 2022. Inspired, Jesse and her fellow club representatives revived Harpeth Hall’s Astronomy Club. Now, two years later, the club has 19 members who could not wait to celebrate the most astronomical day of the year on April 8, 2024.

“A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun,” upper school science teacher Dr. Chamberlain explained ahead of the eclipse. “From Nashville, students will be able to look up (with their eclipse glasses) and see the sun

obscured by the moon — it will look like a bite taken out of the sun. The amount of sun 'missing' will increase over the course of an hour or so.”

Nashville last experienced an eclipse of this scale in 2017, when the moon completely covered the sun, plunging the city into a brief darkness. In 2024, Nashville experienced 95% totality, meaning a small crescent sliver of the sun was still visible while the moon hid the rest.

Putting ink to paper in Chinese

The Chinese symbols appeared on the scrolls in thick, inky brushstrokes, and with each sweep of their hands, students practiced an old tradition of creating decorative Chinese calligraphy. Every element of the project was handmade. Students used saws and the lathe in the Bullard Bright IDEA Lab to create the wooden supports for the scrolls. They sewed the fabric and attached the rice paper that they would write on. They created a woodblock name seal using a laser printer to seal their scrolls. After completing construction and practicing writing four-character idioms in traditional characters, they were ready to put ink to paper and create their intricate calligraphy art. Through the project, teacher Julie Zhu hopes that students walk away with an appreciation for the widespread usage of four-character idioms and the beautiful artistry of calligraphy, all while gaining practical, hands-on skills in Harpeth Hall’s makerspaces.

Ashley Maliakal, 1st Place, Behavioral & Social Sciences — Grand Prize Winner

Anna Bowman Fletcher, 1st Place, Cellular and Molecular Biology — Grand Prize Alternate

Lily Bowen, 1st Place, Computer Science

Lily Wang, 3rd Place, Medicine and Health

Madeline Bell, Honorable Mention, Medicine and Health

Julia Miller, 3rd Place, Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering

Despite not experiencing 100% totality, “it is still a rare celestial event that a small percent of the world will get to experience,” Jesse said. Which is why, in October 2023, the Astronomy Club met with the Student Council, Dr. Chamberlain, upper school math teacher Jennifer Webster, and Upper School Dean of Students Kate McGowan to plan an all-school educational event and celebration on the day of the eclipse.

In the weeks leading up to the event, the Astronomy Club and Dr. Chamberlain worked with the upper school and the middle school to get everyone excited. They hosted club meetings dedicated to learning about past eclipses, what happens during the event, and what students could expect during the April eclipse. Dr. Chamberlain, Jesse, Astronomy Club Vice President Lillian Yarbrough, and club member Lily Bowen visited the middle school with props and telescopes to teach students about the eclipse.

When the big day came, students filled the lawn for an all-school picnic, musical jamboree, and celebration of the rare astronomical event. Girls ate Moon Pies, Sun Chips, and Starbursts. They took photos in front of an eclipse-themed backdrop and looked at the sky through a solar

telescope set up by a Harpeth Hall parent. They listened to students perform “Total Eclipse of the Heart'' during the jamboree. They visited the Astronomy Club’s educational booth to learn more about the science behind the eclipse. They decorated their arms with temporary sun tattoos and the sidewalks with celestial chalk drawings, all while waiting for the sun to disappear under the cloudy April sky.

As the moon began its takeover, students cheered anytime the sun peeked out through the clouds, hoping the overcast sky would clear by peak totality a little after 2 p.m.

Like magic, it did.

At 2:04 p.m., the clouds parted and, through safety glasses provided by the school, students, faculty, and staff watched as the sun was reduced to a small wink of light.

For Dr. Chamberlain, the eclipse was a chance to show students the importance of pausing to take in the world around them.

“I hope students learn to look,” Dr. Chamberlain said. “Noticing sights and sounds, all the changes in the air, and how animals behave can help connect you to your surroundings. It's an exciting and mystifying shared experience that can bring people together.”

And, she added, “there's always something interesting to notice in the sky and the world around us — no need to wait for an eclipse.”

Harpeth Hall scientists excel at the Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair

“Comparing Deep Learning-Based Long-Read Variant Callers in Difficult-to-Map Genome Readers.”

“Profiling Endocrine Cell Transcription Factor Expression During Human Postnatal Pancreas Development.”

These are just two of the award-winning projects presented by Harpeth Hall Honors STEM Research students at the 2024 Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair (MTSEF) this spring. For 70 years, the MTSEF has been the premier STEM competition for middle and high school students, allowing budding scientists, mathematicians, and engineers to present highly researched projects across 17 categories. At this year’s fair, 96 individual and team projects were presented for judging by students from 24 counties across Middle Tennessee.

Harpeth Hall junior Ashley Maliakal was awarded 1st place in the behavioral and social sciences category and an overall grand prize win of the entire fair. Throughout the year, she worked with a doctor from the endocrinology department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to research and test her hypothesis regarding the “Chronic Developmental Manganese Exposure Affects Behavioral Phenotypes in Dopamine Transporter in Mutant Mice.”

“When I found out that I was a grand prize winner at MTSEF and an ISEF ’24 finalist, I was absolutely shocked, elated, and grateful all at the same time. To know that my research in behavioral neuroscience was impactful enough to share at such a prestigious international fair is an honor,” Ashley said.

For junior Anna Bowman Fletcher, the opportunity to participate in the Honors STEM Research program was a chance to gain hands-on experience in a real science lab.

“I wanted to build on the labs I had completed in my biology, chemistry, and Winterim classes because it was one of my favorite parts of science class, and I love the application of what we learn through labs,”

Anna Bowman said. “I wanted to do lab research to grow in my understanding of lab tests, procedures, and experimentation.”

Anna Bowman earned 1st place in the cellular and molecular biology category and was named the grand prize alternate for her project “Characterization of New Alleles of spg1, an Essential Gene that Encodes a GTPase that Controls Cell Division.”

In May, Ashley traveled to Los Angeles, where she presented her research along with 1,700 students from across the world at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

“During ISEF in May, I got to connect with other high school researchers from across the world, receive feedback on my research during the fair, and learn about the variety of STEM opportunities from the most prominent experts,” Ashley said.

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

Celebrating 10 years

harpeth Hall senior Shaffer Dale was participating in an online international relations course led by Georgetown University when she heard about the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS).

First signed in 1959, the ATS currently regulates international relations in Antarctica between the 12 countries that were politically active in the continent in 1957-58: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Russia (the Soviet Union at the time), the United Kingdom, and the United States. When enacted, the ATS established the continent as a military activity-free zone and designated the area as a scientific preserve.

Through her class at Georgetown, Shaffer participated in a simulation with her classmates to evaluate the effectiveness of ATS. If students felt that the treaty proved ineffective, they devised an alternative approach from the perspective of an international politician. This project introduced Shaffer to Antarctica’s geopolitical issues and solidified her interest in exploring the topic for her Global Scholars capstone at Harpeth Hall.

“Antarctica is a region that is not often explored by students in the Global Scholars program, so I wanted to educate my community about the politics that go on regarding the polar continent,” Shaffer said. “I’ve known for a long time that I’ve wanted to major in something global-related in college, and this program has helped me narrow my interests to choose the right path for me.”

Founded in 2014, Global Scholars encourages Harpeth Hall students to think beyond the geographic and cultural boundaries of the familiar to develop the leadership skills necessary to become effective and responsible global citizens. This year, the program celebrates 10 years of expansive thinking and learning.

“Our goal is to promote global competence, but really what we mean is investigating the world, learning about different challenges, thinking about how people approach those challenges, and even sometimes offering solutions,” program co-founder Elizabeth Allen said. “We want to raise the understanding that the problems that we face are as much local as they are global. Students can find them in our backyard, and they can find them in other places across the world.”

To join the program, students must have at least a 3.0 GPA, complete an application process, and receive support from two faculty members. Throughout the program, Global Scholars collect “action badges” when they take global-focused classes, participate in a club such as Model UN, learn more about a global issue in the Nashville community, and more. Sophomores attend speaker sessions and student-led discussions about international issues, including healthcare, education, regional conflict, climate change, and mental health. In their junior year, students lead these sessions, encouraging classmates to engage in meaningful conversations. The program concludes in senior year with an independent research project on a topic of the scholar's interest. In addition to conducting research and analysis, the capstone project requires the student to create an authentic product related to her topic that may be presented to the school community or a broader audience.

Shaffer Dale presents at the 2024 Global Scholars Expo

of global scholars

Global Scholars was founded partly in response to students who graduated from the Scholars Engaged in Extending Knowledge (SEEK) program in Harpeth Hall’s middle school. In SEEK, 7th and 8th grade students work with a faculty mentor or an expert in the field to research and produce a project on a topic not covered in the middle school curriculum. Over the years, students’ SEEK projects have covered a wide range of topics from “Digital Real Estate in the Metaverse” to “Creating an Enrichment for Red Pandas at the Nashville Zoo.”

Ms. Allen found that when students came to the upper school from SEEK, they were still yearning to better understand the world around them. A group of Harpeth Hall teachers began planning a co-curricular program that would allow students to investigate the world, learn about global challenges, and consider the different approaches entities take to address challenges.

The academic council approved Global Scholars in the fall of 2014, and by the following spring, the program had its first cohort. Harpeth Hall middle school math teacher Keely Hendricks ’16 was one of the eight members of that founding cohort of scholars.

Ms. Hendricks first joined the program to increase her awareness and understanding of global events so that she could better participate in the conversations around her.

“It’s one thing to turn on the news, and it's another thing to really digest that news with your peers and to form your own opinions,” Ms. Hendricks said. “I wanted to understand what was going on in the world in a safe place and in a place where the point was to learn not to form an opinion right away.”

During that first year, scholars met once a month. In meetings, students picked a topic that interested them and presented it to their peers for further discussion or engaged in discussions with expert speakers. Ms. Hendricks’ capstone was a Spanish documentary featuring Mexican immigrants in the Nashville community.

“My biggest takeaway from the program was learning about microcosms of the world and very specific issues,” Ms. Hendricks said. “So you're learning about larger truths, but through smaller topics that have very human interest at heart. And I think that's a great way to go about understanding the world, taking it in small bites.”

Since its early years, Global Scholars has evolved. In 2024, 31 students completed a Global Scholars capstone and showcased their projects at a mini-academic conference on campus that mirrored collegiate and professional research conferences. Harpeth Hall students were grouped into thematic sessions to present to classmates. In addition, students practiced their public speaking skills with a poster session at the annual Global Scholars Expo in the Bullard Bright IDEA Lab.

“To me, the continued and growing interest in Global Scholars keeps speaking to the fact that this is something the students are looking for,” Ms. Allen said. “This is not a graded program. All they get at the end of this is to stand at the expo to talk about their project to their peers and their teachers, and they get a certificate. That’s it.”

The students who participate in the program genuinely do so because they are interested in exploring more about the world around them.

Over the last 10 years, students have explored the environmental effects of the Chernobyl disaster, the legal and ethical debate of art repatriation, preventable pediatrics hearing loss in sub-Saharan Africa,

Keely Hendricks ’16 (far right) and members of the first global scholars cohort.

cultural differences in OB-GYN healthcare in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, electric aircraft and sustainable aviation fuel, the curative effects of art therapy on child soldiers in Central Africa, designing classrooms for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and so much more.

Graduates who participated in the program attribute their college success and careers to Global Scholars.

As a Global Scholar, Anna Clarke Harrison Paxton ’17 spent a year researching the history and evolution of HIV and AIDS in the United States and on a global scale. Under the guidance of Dr. Marie Martin, a health policy professor at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine, she worked to better understand the social response and cultural implications of the outbreak, receiving an introduction to the world of public health.

Though she originally joined the Global Scholars program because she was curious and knew it would help bolster her resume, in reality, it became so much more.

“I couldn’t have seen that it would provide a chance for me to explore questions and curiosities outside of the classroom setting,” Ms. Paxton explained. “It was an extra learning experience without any pressure for an exam or a ‘grade,’ which meant that I got to learn for the sake of learning, and that was so inviting and refreshing. It was a community of people who wanted to learn ‘just because,’ and that is such a special environment.”

After graduating from Harpeth Hall in 2017, Ms. Paxton studied health policy and management at the University of North Carolina. She is now pursuing a dual master's in public health and international education policy at Vanderbilt, where she works with Dr. Martin once again. Her master’s in public health, specifically global health, focuses on a holistic view and understanding of diseases like HIV/AIDS and how the world can be better prepared to respond to and treat epidemics through education, research, data collection, and response.

“My initial interest and then completion of my Global Scholars project was a micro-version of what I am now interested in and studying in school,” Ms. Paxton said. “It was dipping my toe into the world of global public health and was a stepping stone towards my studies now.

“Global Scholars taught me how to converse about things I was passionate about and taught me how to communicate with adults who had worlds more experience and knowledge about what I was passionate about. Through Global Scholars and my mentorship with Dr. Martin, I’ve learned how to enter a room of more experienced individuals and absorb information and ask questions out of curiosity and a willingness to learn, which is a lifelong skill.”

While not all students in the Global Scholars program discover career-defining interests, Ms. Allen hopes they will walk away with the confidence to ask questions and independently seek answers, trust their academic abilities, and open their minds to different cultures worldwide.

Global Scholars allowed Shaffer to gear her learning experience toward her passions. Something, she said, that appeals to a lot of students.

“I think that sometimes it can be hard for every student to find their interest within the high school curriculum. Many people benefit greatly from the opportunity to choose what they are learning about,” Shaffer said. “It also helps people realize that the world is so much bigger than the bubble we live in. People all over the world are so different, yet also so similar, and I think that is an important lesson to learn.”

Anna Clarke Harrison Paxton and the 2017 cohort.

global scholars through the years

3 schools (Harpeth Hall, MBA, and Ensworth)

Each year, members of Harpeth Hall’s upper school student diversity leadership group, BELONG, challenge each other to think about what inclusion looks like not only within the school community but also without. Several years ago, club leaders began the early stages of designing an event to bring together students from Nashville-area schools and foster inclusivity and dialogue beyond their school walls. This year, that vision became a reality as Harpeth Hall students joined peers from Montgomery Bell Academy and Ensworth to create a student-led and student-centered conference.

The daylong event, hosted on Harpeth Hall’s campus, was a multiracial, multicultural gathering of student leaders with a focus on self-reflection, relationships and community, and fun. Each school invited guest speakers to lead learning and discussion. Harpeth Hall English and math teacher Ellen Sevits joined alumna Devin Graham ’15 to talk about radical kindness in a heightened political climate. Ensworth English teacher Jim Miller led a discussion on leadership, building connections, and making a meaningful difference, and Ensworth students contributed with a session focused on interracial relationships. MBA student affinity group leaders hosted a panel discussion “through a minority lens.” The day included outdoor games and activities that solidified the bonds between the schools.

Here is more about the experience from Harpeth Hall senior Lauren Wynn, who partnered with classmates Jamisyn Larkin and Lauren Collins to plan and lead the event.

When BELONG, our student-led DEI board, and our affinity groups, considered our upcoming goals, we decided we wanted the work we had done during the first semester to culminate with an event outside of the school day dedicated to coming together to share experiences.

We were aware of conferences Harpeth Hall students have attended in the past, like Tearing Down the Walls and the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference. These events have a similar mission of allowing diverse groups of people to have a space to connect and engage in conversations. We wanted our version to be exclusively student-led and student-centered. With these goals and ideas in mind, Jamisyn Larkin, Lauren Collins, and I met with Harpeth Hall’s Director of Equity and Inclusion, Mrs. Hopkins, and brainstormed ways to make our vision come to life.

14 faculty/ staff

63 students

Inaugural Student Diversity Conference at Harpeth Hall brings together Nashville independent schools

Eventually, we landed on a daylong conference centered around student engagement. We also decided we wanted to extend this conference beyond our Harpeth Hall community. We reached out to different affinity groups and leadership councils at Montgomery Bell Academy and Ensworth to see if they would be interested in helping plan and attend the conference. Both schools quickly responded expressing interest, and we began our planning process.

For the next month, we met once a week with the student and faculty representatives from MBA and Ensworth via Zoom, planned how we wanted the conference to run, and decided what we wanted each attendee to take away from this experience. Each school planned its own breakout session ranging from topics like establishing interracial relationships to politics through a minority lens, and student leaders made sure that each session’s topic promoted conversation and kept everyone engaged. By our last meeting, we had also solidified our general session speaker as Dr. Jim Miller, an Ensworth teacher, who would start off the day by speaking to us about better ways to be a leader, building connections, and effective ways to make a change.

The conference attendees ranged in age, gender, and school which filled each group with different perspectives and allowed each person to take away something different. After our last breakout session, each school’s group met up and debriefed about what they learned and wanted to take back and implement in their own school. In our Harpeth Hall group debrief, we discussed the importance of diverse collaboration and the importance of being proactive. We felt that while having conversations on topics like DEI is important, our main goal as a school should be to ensure proactivity and take the necessary steps to make meaningful change.

Though this was a pilot event, by the end of the day, we could all understand the importance and decided that we would like it to become an annual conference. Not only was each student who attended from Harpeth Hall able to meet new people outside of our school community, but we were also able to engage in important conversations and learn from shared experiences.

Personal essay by Lauren Wynn ’24

With spirit and purpose in the splendor of spring Harpeth Hall’s Cum Laude Society inducts 23 new members

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

2024 INDUCTEES

Juniors

Lillian Bromfield Bowen

Lucille Avery Farringer

Elizabeth Pinner Lefler

Ashley Anne Maliakal

Reagan Corinne Nisbet

Cailin Margaret Rork

Ava Stewart Rumsey

Ariadne Christina Vidalakis

Lily Grace Wang

“O Harpeth Hall, O place beloved.”

These six words are the opening refrain to Harpeth Hall’s alma mater, but for upper school English teacher Kristen Meltesen, these words (written by another Harpeth Hall English teacher, Martha Corwin Gregory, over 70 years ago in a classroom in Souby Hall) hold the heart of what makes the school so special — this place.

Throughout her educational journey, each stepping stone taught Sarah the power of listening, how to ask questions, and built up her leadership abilities. Looking at her fellow members of the Cum Laude society, Sarah remarked that each of the girls on stage in the Frances Bond Davis Theatre followed her own stepping stone-filled path, and each found her way to being recognized for her excellence, justice, and honor.

Margaret Elizabeth Winston

Elizabeth Jean Draper Witherspoon

Seniors

Amelia Kalliopi Alexopoulos

Linden Barlow Yu Alldredge

Josephine Ray Beavers

Madeline Rebecca Bell

Lillian Chang Cashen

Davern Elizabeth Cigarran

Katherine Hobbs Franklin

Margaret Elizabeth Grobmyer

Alexandra Pei-Ming Phillips Hu

Anna Grace LeMarbre

Mary Susan Shivers

Isabel Grace Willers

MEMBERS IN COURSE

Students

Gracen Elizabeth Bailey

Lillian St. Clair Bartholomew

Sarah Carter Braam

Madison D Chung

Courtney Camille Couden

Olivia Judson Finlayson

Macon Elizabeth Fowler

Sarah Douglas Hinds

Isabel Reagan Johnson

Zina Flavia Vidalakis

Faculty

Arthur Reeves Echerd, Jr.

Ben Curtiss Fulwider

Keely Ann Hendricks

Jennifer Jean Jervis

Michele Lynn O’Brien

Jacqueline O’Keefe Powers

Rebecca Hopkin Smith

Legare Davis Vest

Robert English Womack

“Harpeth Hall offers us the opportunity to experience awe each and every day,” Ms. Meltesen, the 2023 Lulu Hampton Owen Chair for Excellence in Teaching honoree, said in her Cum Laude assembly address.

“Amid the bustle and din of our world, Harpeth Hall gives us the gift of slowing down to see the awe in others, ourselves, and the world.”

The awe extends to “o place beloved.” As a designated arboretum, Harpeth Hall’s campus offers students lush trees and flowering gardens as places to study and read, relax between classes, and eat lunch with friends. When April blooms, Souby Lawn fills with students.

“Spring is the most magical time on campus,”

Ms. Meltesen said. As she looked out at the audience of girls, she added, “You are in the spring of life,” with so much potential ahead.

“Because of this place, your life is full of promise,” she said. “…Because of this place, because of Harpeth Hall, because of this community, you will live a life of purpose.”

For senior Sarah Braam, president of the Cum Laude Society, the path toward her purpose started in pre-kindergarten as she learned the ABCs.

“Education, learning, and everything that comes with it is all about stepping stones. Words cannot come without letters. Sentences without words. Paragraphs without sentences. Speeches without paragraphs,” Sarah said.

On that beautiful April day, Harpeth Hall’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society inducted 23 students. Since its inception in 1906, the primary purpose of the Cum Laude Society has been to recognize scholastic achievement of students in secondary schools. The students honored showed excellence in their academic success and displayed strength of character.

“I imagine long after we’ve left Harpeth Hall, awesome memories of this place will lift our spirits, offering a source of light even on the darkest days,” Ms. Meltesen said. “Years from now, you’ll close your eyes, and in your mind's eye, you’ll find yourself lounging on Souby Lawn on a gorgeous spring day, laughter floating through the air, the heat of the sun on your face, music blaring from the senior patio, the scent of magnolia blooms filling the air, and once again, you’ll feel the magic of Harpeth Hall.”

Harpeth Hall 8th grade Career Day embraces collaboration over

competition

as alumnae share insights on celebrating success Bears don’t compare.

This can often be heard in the halls, classrooms, speeches, and assemblies, but it is so much more than a catchy phrase. It is a way of thinking that each student takes to heart, encouraged to celebrate her peers’ successes as if they were her own.

So, no, bears don’t compare. They collaborate.

Career Day serves as one of the best examples of the collaborations that form between Harpeth Hall girls and the graduates they become. During the annual event, alumnae from many different professions return to campus to talk about their career paths, their struggles, their accomplishments, and the turns that life sometimes took as they pursued their passions.

This year, during 8th grade Career Day, the returning alumnae had a particularly important message to share with students: you will always benefit from collaborating with and celebrating your peers and from finding a mentor or community to help guide you.

Tori Tucker Alexander ’03, owner and lead designer of Alexander Interiors, sat on a career day panel for entrepreneurs and business owners. Ms. Alexander has built her business with great success from the ground up. Even so, she shared with students how easy it can be to feel intimidated by others’ work. As an example, she spoke about her fellow Career Day panelist, Katie Harwell Gibson ’07, owner and lead designer of Katie Gibson Interiors.

“Katie is such an incredibly talented interior designer. When I look at pictures of her work, I think ‘That is incredible, I could never do that,’” Ms. Alexander said. “And here is my choice at that point. Do I feel insecure and jealous, or do I celebrate her? Do I view her as competition or take the approach that we can all only benefit from each other? I chose the latter path a very long time ago, and I am so glad I did.”

The theme of collaboration and celebration was echoed throughout the afternoon. In the panel focused on real estate, Denton Whitson Kerrigan ’06, senior program manager of property portfolio at Tennessee Valley Authority, and Lauren Riegle Mitchell ’07, broker at JLL, discussed how they were able to work together to find commercial real estate space.

“The relationships that Harpeth Hall provides are so important,” Ms. Mitchell said. “It doesn’t matter how old or how young someone is at Harpeth Hall, you are going to have a relationship with them. They are going to one day pick up the phone and have a conversation; they will take a meeting with you. Because you have that bond of Harpeth Hall, people understand that you are competent, that you are caring, trustworthy, curious. That is the most valuable thing that Harpeth Hall could ever provide, no matter the generation.”

At the end of the day, Interim Director of the Middle School Mary Lea Bryant ’72 reinforced the importance of these connections. She pointed out to students that when they graduate, they join a community of women who will always be willing to talk, answer questions, or serve as mentors. Career Day is one example of that bond.

“You see the sisterhood here? You see how these women have for years used the Harpeth Hall network?” Ms. Bryant said. “The Harpeth Hall sisterhood goes for a lifetime. …[The alumnae you heard throughout Career Day] are great examples of this sisterhood. They are great examples of taking risks.”

And of supporting and celebrating each other’s successes.

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

CAREER DAY WORDS OF WISDOM FROM HARPETH HALL

“As a woman in the field, to just get your foot in the door, you have to speak a little louder and fight a little harder.”

— Ava Boney ’17, A&R manager at Big Loud Records

“The world of education is always changing and evolving over time. There are so many new ways to teach and learn. So that’s really cool to bring to your classroom.”

— Katie Gallagher ’05, coach for TGlearn, an educational consulting firm

“Ask for the opportunity. Ask to be in the room. Harpeth Hall teaches you to ask and to engage. The eight years that I spent at Harpeth Hall I was so empowered going out into college and the real world. I knew that I could accomplish anything I wanted to. I was confident in what I was taught.”

— Liza Hach ’14, owner and realtor at The Hach Group

“Growing up and throughout Harpeth Hall, the arts set my soul on fire. I went to college and had an advertising and PR major. All of my internships were working in music. I realized that working with music and being close to music gave me a similar feeling to being on stage. It was the thing that kept my soul on fire . . . empowering yourselves to figure out what you don’t like is just as important as figuring out what you do like.”

— Anna Kathryn Groom ’15, brand partnerships agent at Wasserman Music

“A huge part of the job is observing, listening, and trying to piece together what is happening in that person’s life. As a counselor, you have to be accepting and open-minded.”

— Kristin Wamp Hibbett ’06, therapist and owner of Midtown Nashville Counseling

“[Coming from Harpeth Hall], I felt more prepared than everybody. I found that I knew how to work smarter than other people. Harpeth Hall instilled [the merit of] hard work, but also how to study, how to be prepared, the kind of thing that other people just did not get from their school. It is invaluable.”

— Denton Whitson Kerrigan ’06, senior program manager property portfolio at Tennessee Valley Authority

“I love the unpredictability of thinking on my feet, acting in the moment, and working with medical residents — teaching and helping them become leaders. Just as you learn at Harpeth Hall, asking questions, speaking up, and making your voice heard have served me well.”

— Kaitlin Ray ’07, emergency medicine physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

“Not knowing what you want to do in life as a career is totally fine. Just explore what interests you and you will find that a lot of what you like can lead to a career.”

— Leslie Kimball Satchfield ’10, therapist for Evolve Counseling Associates

“I have been able to work with incredible mentors and powerhouse female role models, and that is really important to achieving career goals.”

— Sarah Zimmerman Jordan ’07, project marketing manager at Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp

“As a deeply introverted person, it was so helpful to have chances at Harpeth Hall to share my opinion, develop a viewpoint, and learn additional ways of seeing situations. Now, as a lawyer, I am able to consider how other people may interpret what I write.”

— Katie Sloan ’95, vice president-deputy general counsel at Compassus, a provider of home-based care services

From a NASA research laboratory to an Italian mozzarella farm,

Each year, Winterim takes Harpeth Hall students beyond the bounds of the classroom. They explore realms as far away as the cosmos and experience the heart of cultures oceans away.

Winterim has been a cornerstone of the Harpeth Hall experience for over half a century. This year's three-week program featured internships and academic experiences that spanned the globe, offering students an opportunity to discover new interests, explore careers, make professional connections, and study places unknown.

From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the vibrant energy of Bridgestone Arena, our students share what they accomplished, learned, and experienced during Winterim 2024.

Tara Howard, 12th grade | Academic Travel

Tara traveled to Italy for Winterim as a part of an academic trip. While in Italy, Tara visited a mozzarella farm to learn about cheese production, wandered through ancient Roman ruins, and learned more about Italian art, architecture, and history.

“I loved the culture and the attitude of the Italians,” Tara said. “There was never one person who didn't want to help. My favorite part of the trip was the Vatican. I am in AP Art History, so seeing so many of the Art History pieces was a highlight. My biggest takeaway was being appreciative of all the art we see. Not only in museums but in the streets, too. It ranged from fountain sculptures to graffiti, and all of it was incredibly done!”

Louisa Wang, 10th grade | On-Campus Classes

Louisa Wang joined her 10th grade classmates for the on-campus Winterim experience. She selected classes that fit her interests, including Screenwriting, Maker’s Toolkit, Musical Theatre Workshop, and The Chinese Cultural Revolution. Her most memorable experience was when she performed in a masterclass with Broadway actress Susan Egan during the Musical Theater Workshop. She also enjoyed the creative process of her screenwriting class.

“One of my biggest takeaways from my Winterim experience was the importance of working with peers and getting constructive criticism,” Louisa said. “I learned so much when I was in a supportive environment with lots of sharing my work. One example of this was in my screenwriting class, where almost every single class we got to share our projects and even sometimes cast people to read as our characters. I received so much advice on how to move my story forward and make it more interesting, and that completely transformed it from an idea to a working draft and storyline.”

Liza

Nelle Meltesen, 10th grade | On-Campus Classes

Liza Nelle Meltesen participated in on-campus classes during Winterim 2024. The Welcome to Deutschland class gave her the opportunity to examine the richness of Deutsche kultur (German culture) through a variety of lenses: film, art, literature, music, dance, history, geography, and, of course, food. It also inspired her to learn more about the student exchange program at Harpeth Hall. Another class, Not Your Grandma’s Quilt, was a hands-on experience where students learned to sew and contributed art pieces to a quilt that was gifted to two Harpeth Hall

students explored new frontiers during Winterim 2024

faculty members in celebration of their soon-to-arrive son.

“My biggest takeaway from my Winterim experience is to continue doing the activities I enjoy even when I feel like I don’t have the time during the school semester,” Liza Nelle said. “I found that doing those activities is helpful to maintaining balance, so I was happy that Winterim left me with both a stronger belief in this idea as well as new exciting activities to do.”

Sophie Sellers, 12th grade | Internship

Sophie completed an internship with the Nashville Predators hockey team during Winterim 2024. Her favorite experiences were game days when she was able to work alongside others in her department, Guest Experience, to problem solve and ensure fans had the best time at the game.

“Winterim opened my eyes to a new career I could see myself pursuing,” Sophie said. “Winterim is truly a time of self-discovery, and through interning with the Nashville Predators, I have learned so much about myself and what it means to be a woman working in sports. After working in an office environment, I now know my preferences, and I will be able to search for a job in the future that best suits me.”

Cecilia Mbow, 11th grade |

Internship

Cecilia spent her winterim interning with Judge Jim Todd in the Tennessee General Sessions Court, where she was able to make connections to start building a network in the career field she hopes to pursue.

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

Shaffer Dale, 12th grade | Internship

Shaffer Dale traveled to Japan for global economic development internship experiences with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Japan Office, Arc Times, byFood, and the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation. During her time in Japan, she gave a presentation titled “Advancing the Relationship Between Tennessee and Japan” to the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and the city of Kamakura.

“The entire presentation process was so rewarding. I enjoyed researching, meeting people who work in the industry, getting feedback, making edits, practicing with my host, and learning how to present without letting the language barrier get in the way,” Shaffer said. “I am very proud of how hard I worked, and I know that experience will stick with me. After spending time with some newspaper companies, I am much more confident in my decision to major in journalism in college. I have also decided to take Japanese in college. I hope to live in Japan for a couple of years when I am older. The people were so kind, the city was so safe, and everyone I met made me feel so welcome. It was truly one of the best experiences I have ever had.”

“For me this Winterim experience confirmed that I would like to pursue a career in the legal field. Seeing so many legal processes first hand made me even more interested in this professional field as a whole and I can’t wait to continue to learn more about it!”

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

When senior Annie Lea Choate was asked what her favorite part about Harpeth Hall was, she did not hesitate to enthusiastically respond with “the faculty!”

In fact, in a survey of the entire Harpeth Hall community last year, students overwhelmingly answered that question the same way, while teachers nearly unanimously responded with “the students.”

This mutual respect in itself is a part of what makes Harpeth Hall so special. The appreciation and care between teachers and students create an environment where learning is at the heart. Where else do students go out of their way to thank their teachers after each class?

“Harpeth Hall would not be the same without your compassion, knowledge, and dedication,” Annie Lea said addressing the faculty.

“You are the foundation of this community. Because of you, Harpeth Hall is a special place for current students and alumnae — who all want to come back just to see you. . . . Our faculty is a constant source of support and encouragement. Regardless of what is happening on campus or in the world, you believe in us — helping us to grow and flourish. I remain in awe of you.”

Each spring, during what is known as the students' favorite assembly, faculty members are honored with words that capture and reflect the impact each educator has on Harpeth Hall.

“I can think of no better occasion than this time together to honor all our teaching and non-teaching faculty members who are the heart and soul of our school,” Head of School Jess Hill said. “Each year, this

Harpeth Hall faculty are ‘lighthouses’ guiding students in learning and life

gathering is a celebration of all of you and a reflection of our community and our values as a school. To all our faculty and staff — I thank you. You exemplify strength when required and always compassion when needed.”

During the assembly, Ms. Hill recognized three faculty members with the school’s highest awards for teaching.

Middle school math teacher Keely Hendricks ’16 received the Heath Jones Prize for the Promise of Excellence in Teaching. Upper school social studies teacher Ben Fulwider was presented with the Ellen Bowers Hofstead Chair in the Humanities. Middle school English teacher Clark Harwell ’90 was honored with the Lulu Hampton Owen Chair for Excellence in Teaching.

Director of the Upper School Frances Fondren-Bales and Interim Director of the Middle School Mary Lea Bryant ’72 joined in honoring faculty and staff members who have been at Harpeth Hall for 10, 15, 20, and 30 years. Ms. Hill also recognized upper school science teacher Hannah Bond and Middle School Dean of Students Traci Keller, who would be retiring after the 23-24 school year. With each name called, the theatre erupted into applause, cheers, and standing ovations, especially among the senior class, who were just over 30 days away from graduation.

“As we move to our next chapter, we will take what we have learned into the real world. The world can be a scary place. Uncertainty and tragedy have shaken our peace,” Annie Lea said to all of the faculty gathered in the theatre. “But as we weather the storms of life, you will always be our lighthouse — guiding us to shore. Thanks to you, the real world doesn’t seem so scary. Because of this place, our ‘o’ place beloved,’ we know we can do anything.”

Heath Jones Prize for the Promise of Excellence in Teaching

Keely Hendricks received the Heath Jones Prize for the Promise of Excellence in Teaching. This prize is dedicated to A. Heath Jones, a teacher and academic dean at Harpeth Hall from 1984 to 1996. Harpeth Hall awards this prize annually to a full-time teacher who has had five years or less of classroom experience and who has taught at Harpeth Hall for two years or more.

A Harpeth Hall graduate, past Lady of the Hall recipient, and Morehead-Cain Scholar at UNC at Chapel Hill, Ms. Hendricks returned to campus two years ago to teach math in the middle school. “Colleagues describe Ms. Hendricks as ‘adaptive, enthusiastic, and approachable’ with a classroom that radiates a welcoming atmosphere where students feel valued,” Ms. Hill said. “Students find her warm and creative.” One of Ms. Hendricks’ students said, “She is very talented at what she does and teaches in ways that are interactive, fun, and challenging. Math used to be something I didn’t enjoy, but now I love math!” Ms. Hendricks embodies our mission and vision at the highest levels..

Ellen Bowers Hofstead Chair in the Humanities

Ben Fulwider received the Ellen Bowers Hofstead Chair, an award established by James W. Hofstead in loving memory of his wife. Mrs. Hofstead graduated from Ward-Belmont Preparatory School in 1934 and Ward-Belmont Junior College in 1935. This recognition is awarded for a period of three years. Recipients of the Ellen Bowers Hofstead Chair demonstrate a high level of distinction in learning and teaching, have earned an advanced degree, and have made a full-time commitment to Harpeth Hall for a minimum of five years.

Dr. Fulwider has taught history in the upper school since 2016. “He is passionate that our girls have strong skills in reading and processing non-fiction writing, knowledge of the history of our country, and curiosity about our current world,” Ms. Hill said. In the classroom, his ability to adjust his teaching style and lesson plans allows students to not only comprehend, but also engage with, his dense AP history subject matter. A student of Dr. Fulwider said, “He is a great teacher who clearly loves to have fun and teach history at the same time, making class fun and engaging.” He goes above and beyond the call of duty to enrich the learning and academic environment of Harpeth Hall and is committed to helping the school turn out intellectually prepared and curious students.

Lulu Hampton Owen Chair for Excellence in Teaching

Clark Harwell received the Lulu Hampton Owen Chair for Excellence in Teaching. This recognition is awarded annually to an outstanding member of the Harpeth Hall faculty who demonstrates excellence in scholarship, an unusual ability to communicate with students, excitement about teaching and learning, a commitment to the moral and intellectual development of students, and dedication to the life of the school. The appointment is for one year and carries with it honor, remuneration, and a Harpeth Hall chair which serves as a symbol for this award.

Ms. Harwell “leads with joy in everything she does, and she wants to bring that joy and love of literature and writing to all of our middle school English classes,” Ms. Hill said. A graduate of Harpeth Hall, Ms. Harwell’s love of the subject matter, willingness to use creative approaches, and good humor are only a few of the reasons her students connect with her so well. Outside of the classroom, she has taken on many roles, including serving as English department chair and a member of the head of school and division director search committees. Next year, she will be the faculty representative to the Harpeth Hall Board of Trustees. Ms. Harwell “goes the extra mile to pull in the resources girls need to be successful,” Ms. Hill said. “But it is her deep love and passion for the school that informs much of what she has done here already and that we hope she will continue to do for many years to come.”

Retiring

This year, two faculty and staff members retired after decades of service to our school. Head of School Jess Hill and presented them with a special gift representative of the school’s gratitude.

Hannah Bond, upper school physics teacher, returned to campus 12 years ago to join the science department after she graduated from Harpeth Hall in 1982. Prior to teaching, Ms. Bond worked as a thermal engineer, a spacecraft systems engineer, and as a manager for GE. She earned her MBA at NYU, and her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering MIT. One student shared that “Ms. Bond . . . really believes in me . . . . She makes me believe that I can do the work, and it makes me feel good about myself.” Ms. Hill remarked that Ms. Bond has “lit a passion for engineering” in our student body and that her “positive impact on our girls and our community” will be missed.

Traci Keller has been a huge part of the forward growth of the middle school and in the breadth of programs created or advanced during her tenure as the middle school dean of students. “She co-created the middle school leadership program and defined what leading means for specific grades in order to bring our mission to life for all our students,” Ms. Hill said. In addition, Ms. Keller has been a community builder among middle school students with the creation of the 5th-8th Bear Families and all-middle school activities. “Perhaps no one has left more of a mark on the middle school in recent years than Ms. Keller,” Ms. Hill said. “You will be missed, but the legacy you leave us ensures that you will always remain a part of Harpeth Hall.”

Harpeth Hall congratulates our faculty and staff on these career milestones

10 years

Claire Gonzalez, upper school world languages teacher

Sinclair Kelly, associate director of Winterim

Kylene Lee, director of athletics

Emy Sanderson, upper school English teacher

Shari Shephard, registrar and database/ website administrator

15 years

Nicola Bullard, assistant to the head of school

Bekah Hassell, middle school science teacher

Meggie Lucas, middle school social sciences teacher

Jacquie Watlington, Winterim and international exchange program director

Julie Zhu, world languages teacher

20 years

Tracy Campbell, director of annual giving

30 years

Polly Linden, upper school math teacher

This year’s Scholastic Art and Writing Award winners ‘practice radical authenticity’

Junior Abby Lara touched her brush against the canvas, ready to fill every inch of the blank white space with color. The first line of paint led to another and then another until the face of an older man looking off into the distance emerged against a bold yellow background. For Abby, every brushstroke was intentional to help practice the skills in her artistic toolbox.

“I created my piece with the objective of gaining a better understanding of different brushstrokes and color, as before I struggled to incorporate a fluent style and color scheme in my artwork,” Abby said of her painting, “Old Times Sake,” which was recognized with a Silver Key in this year’s Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. “It feels great to be recognized for my work, especially for something that I am proud of and that I worked on with so much intention.”

Each year, Harpeth Hall students submit original works to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition, which for nearly a century has “inspired bold ideas in creative teens” throughout the country. Young writers and artists can submit pieces in various categories to showcase their original work. These categories include comic art, memoir, personal essay, painting, photography, and poetry. In the 2024 awards, 49 Harpeth Hall students garnered over 57 awards.

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

English teacher Ellen Sevits sees girls building confidence in their original thoughts and ideas and encourages them to show themselves in their writing.

“Practice radical authenticity,” she tells them. “In other words, be yourself when you write, and be yourself boldly. Whether you are analyzing literature, putting words to personal experience, reporting on your community, or building a fantastic new world, don't worry about what might win; instead, lean head-first into what piques your curiosity and feeds your writer's soul.”

Abby attributes her growth as an artist to the Harpeth Hall program.

“Mrs. (Susie) Elder has helped me develop my own skills and improve my work since I was in middle school,” Abby said. “She encouraged me to embrace an expressive style and to bring personal meaning into my work.”

Likewise, senior Lilly Cashen, who won a Gold Key and three Silver Keys in the 2023-24 Scholastics competition, has felt encouraged by the art faculty throughout her time at Harpeth Hall. Lilly’s Silver Key winning work, “Losing My Marbles,” was also recognized with a “Best in High School” honor at the 16th Annual Middle Tennessee Regional Art Exhibition.

“The Harpeth Hall art department is delighted to highlight the incredible talents of our students in the visual arts,” said Ms. Elder, chair of Harpeth Hall’s visual arts department. “Whether they participate in our program, submitted for Scholastic, or won one of these awards, we applaud all Harpeth Hall students for sharing their creativity with the world.”

Hallie Gibson, Sunlit Pages

Sophia Baldwin, Morning Shower

Abby Lara, Old Times Sake

ART AWARDS

Gold Key

Lilly Cashen, 12th grade

Sara Mac Wallace, 12th grade

Kelly Aquino, 11th grade

Annamaria Bacchetta, 11th grade

Sophia Baldwin, 11th grade

Emaline Cash, 11th grade

Ellery Cook, 11th grade

Hallie Gibson, 11th grade

Addie Hardy, 10th grade

Marley Warren, 9th grade

Silver Key

Lilly Cashen, 12th grade, 3 Silver Keys

Chloe Gray, 12th grade

Anaya Singh, 12th grade

Annamaria Bacchetta, 11th grade

Mae Eads, 11th grade

Hallie Gibson, 11th grade

Abby Lara, 11th grade

Madison Goodman, 10th grade

Lilly Kapanka, 10th grade

Olivia Decastro, 9th grade

Audrey Harris, 8th grade

Honorable Mention

Sophie Hong, 9th grade

Meghan Abrams, 11th grade

Ellery Cook, 11th grade

Sophia Baldwin, 11th grade,

2 Honorable Mentions

Mae Eads, 11th grade

Catherine Tatro, 11th grade

Addie Hardy, 10th grade

Suki Junge, 10th grade

G. H., 9th grade

WRITING AWARDS

Gold Key

G.H., 9th grade

Josephine Hinds, 12th grade

Sophie Hong, 9th grade

Allyson Mao, 10th grade

Evie Moore, 11th grade

Katherine Thomas, 11th grade

Silver Key

Amelia Alexopoulos, 12th grade

Tilly Anderson, 11th grade

Lilly Bartholomew, 12th grade

Lucy Farringer, 11th grade

Erin Fikri, 10th grade

Ariadne Vidalakis, 11th grade

Emma Grace Wray, 10th grade

Honorable Mention

Emery Corey, 8th grade

Emerson Entrekin, 11th grade

Conner Folk, 11th grade

Evelyn Frist, 11th grade

Jesse Harwood, 11th grade

Sophie Hong, 9th grade

Kelty Jones, 10th grade

Ashley Maliakal, 11th grade

Charlotte Mikos, 10th grade

Ella Murphy, 9th grade

Adelaide Nelson, 10th grade

Anna Brooke Ozburn, 10th grade

Rebecca Settle, 9th grade

Lizzie Wimberley, 9th grade

Emaline Cash, Keeping Watch

Mae Eads, Submerged in Curiosity

Lilly Cashen, Early Bird Gets the Worm

Anaya Singh, Wedding Day

Sara Mac Wallace, Lacy

Fine Arts College Day Celebrates Harpeth Hall Seniors’ Artistic Achievements

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

Foras long as senior Sara Mac Wallace can remember, she has been passionate about creating art.

“The decision to pursue visual arts in college wasn’t a hard one at all,” Sara Mac said. Whether it is through a brush in her hand or her voice on the stage, art has defined her life. It was her multidisciplinary interests that inspired her AP Art and Design portfolio, where she used music to inspire the storytelling of each artwork. In the fall, she will continue her artistic journey at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

“Everything about the school is inspiring, and I can tell it will further my artistic ability,” Sara Mac said. “SCAD has so many incredible opportunities for their artists. They set you up with incredible jobs, scholarships, and working artists to prepare you for ‘the real world.’ All of the possibilities were exciting and drew me in.”

On May 15, the Harpeth Hall community gathered at Fine Arts College Day to recognize four seniors who are continuing to follow their arts passions after graduation. The ceremony honored senior performing and visual artists who are going on to pursue the arts at the collegiate level and have been admitted to their program of study through portfolio submission or audition process, including Sara Mac, Eden Powell, Abby James Witherspoon, and Chloe Graham.

Throughout her junior and senior years, Sara Mac used her Winterim experiences to first complete an independent study with textile artist Lexie Millikan and then to travel to Europe for an immersive academic travel experience. Her trip abroad took her through museums and studios across the continent, further cementing her artistic passion and setting her up to build a portfolio that she would use to gain admittance into SCAD’s illustration program.

“I can’t wait for art to be my main focus and truly something I can work on, craft, and hone to an even more impressive skill. I always love a challenge, and I love to grow. I am excited to think about where my art might lead with so much focus given to it,” Sara Mac said.

Like Sara Mac, fellow visual arts senior, Eden Powell, knew from an early age that the arts would inspire her future.

“My dad is an architect, and I grew up around that scene and lifestyle and just always loved it,” Eden said. Her Winterim experience made her path clear. During junior year, Eden interned with a Danish architecture firm in Brooklyn, New York, called Bjarke Ingels Group.

Eden felt right at home with the environment of the firm and knew she wanted to pursue sustainable architecture and design. She furthered her studies through a Global Scholars capstone project focused on combining the modern ideals of Danish and Japanese architecture. In the fall, Eden will grow her architecture skills at the University of Tennessee's College of Architecture and Design.

All four of the students celebrated during Fine Arts College Day credit Winterim for helping them develop their craft and prepare them for college. In addition to Eden and Sara Mac’s experiences, Abby James Witherspoon took a deep dive into film and television production for her independent internships with producer Orlee Rose Strauss and media company Hello Sunshine, and Chloe Graham spent her junior year interning at Blackbird Studios and returned senior year to complete an independent study where she recorded her debut single, “Records.”

“I learned, over the course of the three weeks, to gain the confidence that, even as an 18-year-old, I can be taken seriously in this industry,” said Chloe, who will be joining the songwriting program at Belmont University. “It was really neat to see how my determination and passion shone through to allow me to be treated as a professional client of the top engineers and contacts in the industry during my session at Blackbird Studio.”

Abby James, who will attend Loyola Marymount University’s prestigious School of Film and Television in the fall, agrees that Winterim allows students to experience the real world of their art and offers them the chance to make connections that will support them throughout their future careers.

“I am so thankful for the Harpeth Hall Winterim experience, it is one that is unmatched and has launched my career at an early age,” Abby James said. “I have been given the opportunity to realize my potential in the workforce and gain confidence. I hope that every Harpeth Hall girl uses the Winterim experience to its fullest potential because if you do, we can become a force to be reckoned with.”

From film to architecture, Harpeth Hall celebrates the talent, hard work, and dedication of the four members of the Class of 2024 who are pursuing the fine arts in college and beyond.

Chloe Graham Belmont University | Songwriting

Eden Powell

University of Tennessee | Architecture

Sara Mac Wallace Savannah College of Art and Design | Illustration

Abby James Witherspoon

Loyola Marymount University | Film and Television Production

Spring Signees

Sarah Reynolds

United States Air Force Academy (D1) | Track and Field

Annie Lea Choate

Queens University of Charlotte (D1) | Swimming

Gracen Bailey

Emory University (D3) | Swimming

Courtney Couden

Middlebury College (D3) | Swimming

Lilly Caldwell University of Rochester (D3) | Tennis

With an ace, a hurdle, and a big splash, Harpeth Hall athletes commit to competing at the collegiate level

Itis hard to imagine Harpeth Hall’s swim team setting more records than they already have.

The perennial state competitor and two-time national championship squad holds historic marks for some of the fastest high school swim times in the country. Plus, Bearacuda alumnae include two Olympic medalists and several future hopefuls. The list of achievements is long.

Still, when Annie Lea Choate, Gracen Bailey, and Courtney Couden signed commitments this spring to continue their athletic careers in college, they helped set yet another milestone for a storied Harpeth Hall swimming program.

“Having already celebrated (senior swimmer) Maggie Petty (a University of California-Berkeley commit) in the fall, that makes four senior swimming commits in the class of 2024,” Harpeth Hall swim coach Polly Linden said during this spring’s senior athlete celebration. “Having been at Harpeth Hall for 30 years, I can safely say that this is a record.

“Today, we applaud these girls for their commitment to their sport which has been unwavering. They have spent more hours at the pool than they probably want to calculate, with some of those hours being logged well before sunrise. Needless to say, these girls have been the cornerstone of our team for the past four years.”

With the notable achievement, the swimmers joined track and field athlete Sarah Reynolds and tennis player Lilly Caldwell in their commitment to continuing their careers at the next level.

By Jessica Bliss

Sarah Reynolds Air Force Academy Track and Field

“Sarah’s leadership on and off the track has been nothing short of exceptional,” Harpeth Hall track coach Jim Romero remarked, recounting Sarah’s record-breaking performances and her indelible impact on the Harpeth Hall athletics program. Sarah is currently the school record holder in the high jump.

She holds the second fastest time ever in the 100-meter hurdles at Harpeth Hall, along with the second-highest point total in the pentathlon at Harpeth Hall all-time. Sarah’s 300 hurdle time ranks 5th all-time, and her triple jump mark ranks 4th all-time.

With school records in hand and a legacy of excellence to uphold, Sarah’s decision to join the Air Force Academy is a testament to her commitment. Sarah will join another Harpeth Hall alumnae and track athlete, Anna Lindsley ’23, at the Academy, continuing Harpeth Hall’s legacy of graduates enrolled in one of the nation’s five U.S. military academies. Among them are four Harpeth Hall alumnae at the U.S. Naval Academy — lacrosse player Leelee Denton ’20, engineer Reese Graves ’20, pentathlete Annie Taylor ’20, and world-class riflery team member Isabella Baldwin ’23.

“Sarah Reynolds will end her high school career four weeks from today on the track of MTSU and will hand off the baton to the next athlete, who will then pursue and work toward chasing the marks

that Sarah has set during her time in our program,” Coach Romero said.

Annie Lea Choate

Queens University of Charlotte | Swimming

Annie Lea’s loyalty to her team and fierce competitiveness earned her widespread admiration. Coach Linden spoke of Annie Lea’s stellar performances in the pool, punctuated by her tenacious spirit and unwavering dedication. Annie Lea grew up cheering on her older sister on the Harpeth Hall softball field. With a family legacy of Honeybear pride, “It’s no wonder she bleeds Magnolia green,” Coach Linden said. Annie Lea’s decision to join Queens University of Charlotte signals a new chapter in her athletic journey.

Gracen Bailey

Emory University | Swimming

Courtney Couden Middlebury College | Swimming

Courtney has been an invaluable part of the Harpeth Hall swimming and diving team for the past four years. “In my mind,

Athletes who were celebrated on NLI Signing Day in November

Liza Brown

When Gracen Bailey came to Harpeth Hall and joined the swim team as a junior, it quickly became clear to Coach Linden that Gracen is never happy with “good enough.” It shows in the pool and the classroom. “Gracen’s commitment to excellence has been unwavering,” Coach Linden said. With numerous accolades under her belt, including All-Region and All-State honors, along with Academic All-American accolades, Gracen’s decision to continue her swimming career at Emory University is a testament to her relentless pursuit of greatness.

Columbia University (D1) | Lacrosse

Taylor McCall

William & Mary (D1) | Lacrosse

Charlotte Myers

Dartmouth College (D1) | Lacrosse

Maggie Petty

University of California-Berkeley (D1) | Swimming

Gigi Williams

University of Wisconsin-Madison (D1) | Rowing

Kate Morad

Loyola Marymount University (D1) | Rowing

Courtney is the ultimate team player,” Coach Linden said. She always willingly does what is best for the team, and, in Courtney’s case, that often meant swimming the longest, most arduous, and least coveted events in a meet — the 200 IM, 200 freestyle relay, and 500 freestyle relay. “While Courtney is a strong middle-distance swimmer, she has also worked hard to develop her sprint speed in order to strengthen our relays (and also perhaps to convince her coaches that she is not, in fact, a distance swimmer),” Coach Linden said. “Whatever the distance, we always knew we would get Courtney’s best.”

Lilly

Caldwell

University of Rochester | Tennis

When Lilly envisioned her future after Harpeth Hall, she always had one goal in mind. “Lilly was going to be a collegiate tennis player, and that was that,” Lilly’s Harpeth Hall faculty advisor, Robert Womack, said. “And here we are today.” Lilly’s passion for tennis is unmatched, Mr. Womack said, recounting her countless hours of dedication and impressive accomplishments on the court. With a top-15 USTA ranking and a relentless drive to succeed, Lilly’s decision to continue her tennis career at the collegiate level shows “she will not rest until her personal and team goals are met,” Mr. Womack said. “Her love of the sport of tennis is palpable and will continue to be such a driving force behind her growth on the court.”

Stroke of Greatness Polly Linden’s

Harpeth Hall swim coach Polly Linden stood on the pool deck, her eyes trained on the water as a group of her swimmers cut swiftly through the aquamarine surface, leaving competitors in their wake.

The energy escalated with each split time that flashed up on the enormous scoreboard at the University of Tennessee. Lap by lap, it became increasingly clear that the four Harpeth Hall swimmers competing in the 200 medley relay could break a national record. Harpeth Hall spectators and teammates watched in anticipation as each second ticked by. Then, without warning, the scoreboard went black. As the final swimmers touched the wall, the Harpeth Hall relay team handily clinched the state title win but how fast had they gone? The humid room filled with thick suspense.

”It was as if time stopped,” Coach Linden remembers, reflecting on the unforgettable moment. “We all stared at the scoreboard, waiting for it to light back up.”

When it did, cheers erupted. Not only did swimmers Alex Walsh ’20, Ella Nelson ’19, Alex Massey ’20, and Gretchen Walsh ’21 win the event by nearly 10 seconds, but the four swimmers combined for a time of 1:38.77, setting a new National Independent High School record in the 200 medley relay.

Coach Linden knows how to ignite that kind of spirit in her swimmers and her students.

For 30 years, she has led the swim team at Harpeth Hall, but her commitment spans far beyond the pool deck. She is a teacher, department chair, mentor, and confidant. She organizes the class schedule for every student in the upper school and cares very deeply about service, sponsoring multiple co-curriculars focused on making a meaningful difference in our community, including ActNow, Harpeth Hall’s largest club.

“She is a force,” Director of the Upper School Frances Fondren-Bales said of Coach Linden. “One who everyone holds in high esteem due to her work ethic, her willingness to chip in with programs big and small, and her dedication to

Legacy

at Harpeth Hall

By Jessica Bliss

supporting girls until they succeed before school, after school, and every single minute while they are at school.”

The seconds, minutes, and years have ticked by at a rapid pace. This spring, Coach Linden announced that she would be stepping away from the pool deck, retiring as head varsity swim coach at the close of the 2023-2024 school year. But her time at Harpeth Hall is not done. She plans to get involved in new areas of the school and continue to illuminate the futures of students to come.

Rising Above: The Making of a Coach

Coach Linden came to Nashville to be a math teacher. She was two years out of college and, in her words, mostly “underemployed.” Her mom sacrificed a lot for her education, so she knew she could not turn down a job offer. Still, Nashville was far from home, and she had hesitations. She found comfort in the familiar, knowing that Harpeth Hall was similar to the girls school she attended in Connecticut. In fact, she wore the same Campbell plaid when she was a student. So, she settled into her new position in Nashville. In her first year at Harpeth Hall, at age 24, she taught five math classes, was head coach of the swim team, and was assistant softball coach. By her second year, she was the head coach of both softball and swimming.

Before she arrived, Harpeth Hall girls who wanted to swim had to go the club route. Coach Linden swam for Division III Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She knew Harpeth Hall had an Olympian in Tracy Caulkins Stockwell ’81, who won three gold medals at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

“ One doesnothave to be the besttobethei r best . ”

Coach Linden, through her leadership, team building, and push to succeed, created an opportunity for future Harpeth Hall girls to follow closely in Ms. Stockwell’s wake.

“She believed in us,” said Leah High ’99, “and we had a good time along the way.”

Building Self-Belief

Under Coach Linden’s direction, Harpeth Hall’s swim program celebrated remarkable success. Her teams won 12 Tennessee State Swimming and Diving championships. She was named TISCA coach of the year three times (2002,

2005, 2007), and MTHSSA coach of the year twice (2010, 2018). She led Harpeth Hall swimmers to 25 consecutive region championships from 1998-2022, and Harpeth Hall claimed the national high school championship in 2018 and 2019.

But titles and trophies mean little compared to the trust she built with her swimmers. She believed in every one, and, in turn, they believed in themselves.

“I think the most rewarding part of being a coach would have to be seeing and helping the girls become the best version of themselves, whether as an athlete or teammate or leader,” Coach Linden said. “One does not have to be THE best to be their best.”

For Bunny Stream Hempel ’99, that confidence in her inspired something she never thought possible. Because of a congenital defect, Ms. Hempel was told she would never be able to swim competitively. For four years, she worked on her breaststroke in the “slow lane,” with Coach Linden encouraging her. By senior year, Ms. Hempel qualified for Midstate competition.

“It’s one of my proudest achievements,” Ms. Hempel said, “and I thank Polly for never giving up on us and always being amazing.”

Cuda Family Forever

While the pool always brought extraordinary achievements, reflecting back, Coach Linden’s swimmers and Polly herself say some of the best memories came on the journey.

Megan Murray ’02 and Lauren McCarthy ’02 remember singing Christmas carols down the lanes, and listening to Eye of the Tiger on repeat driving to meets at McCallie.

“I feel like when people ask me why I love Harpeth Hall so much, a lot of it is because of Polly,” Megan said. “We had so many friends on the swim team and had the best time.”

Rides to and from meets were always filled with cheers, stories, and even the occasional bus malfunction. Once, the bus ran low on gas on the way back from Chattanooga, and the girls summoned their “inner MacGyver” to try to pick the locked gas cap so they could fuel up and get home. Another time, one of the two team buses blew a tire near an exit in Bell Buckle, and all the girls piled in one vehicle and had a “dance party,” which meant singing at the top of their lungs for the rest of the trip.

“No one probably remembers the results of that meet,” Coach Linden said, “but I am quite sure every one of them remembers that drive back to Nashville.”

And that, she said, is indicative of what it means to be a swimmer at Harpeth Hall. “Our swim team is a family, lovingly referred to by the girls as the Cuda fam. Whether they were on the team in the 90s or today, they are all members of the Cuda fam, a competitive, supportive, fun-loving family of Harpeth Hall swimmers/divers.

“ . . . What makes these times so memorable is that the girls always make the best of it and love nothing more than a good story,” Coach Linden said.

A Legacy of Excellence and Commitment

The story they will love to tell best is that of Coach Linden’s legacy at Harpeth Hall. She always pushed girls on and off the pool deck.

There are not many AP calculus teachers who create a learning environment like Coach Linden’s. One current Harpeth Hall student told Ms. Fondren-Bales she would attend two of Coach Linden’s classes back-to-back if allowed. “She just makes math so interesting,” the student said earnestly. Coach Linden has girls up and doing math, growing in confidence, and ready to dominate the AP exam. And they do dominate, averaging a 4.92 out of 5 over the last decade on the challenging BC Calculus exam.

“A proud graduate of women’s college, Polly understands the value of our girl-focused environment,” Ms. Fondren-Bales said, “particularly in STEM classes. She strives to help our girls move confidently into the world, knowing that they are math people no matter what profession they choose to pursue.”

She also strives to show the girls the importance of being good people.

For Coach Linden, service is as fundamental as schoolwork and she models that in all she does, working closely with student clubs to engage with and support the local community. By participating in activities such as meal preparation for families experiencing homelessness and writing cards for patients and nurses at Vanderbilt, the girls learn that even small acts of kindness can have a significant impact. Through these experiences, Coach Linden hopes to instill in her students a lifelong commitment to making a meaningful difference in their communities.

For the last 30 years, Coach Linden certainly has made a difference at Harpeth Hall as an educator and coach.

“We are so grateful for all the time, and effort, and care” that Coach Linden put into the swim team, Kate Mabry ’18 said.

While this race may have ended, the scoreboard still glows bright.

The Polly Linden Scholarship Fund

For thirty years, Polly Linden has been a master teacher, devoted swim coach, and vital leader of the Harpeth Hall upper school. She cares deeply about her students, athletes, colleagues, and the success of our school. She sets high expectations for her students, swimmers, and department members and challenges them to achieve extraordinary results, whether on AP Calculus exams, at regional and state swim meets, or in building a strong math curriculum and smart upper school schedules. With her undergraduate degree from Smith College and a master’s from Columbia, Polly understands the value of our girl-focused environment and inspires confidence in math skills, respect for the environment, and commitment to service. In 2024, Emily Vandewater ’18 and Sydney Vandewater ’21 established The Polly Linden Scholarship Fund to express thanks from generations of students for Polly’s devotion to Harpeth Hall. This endowed fund provides tuition assistance to a girl demonstrating financial need.

Emily Vandewater ’18 and Sydney Vandewater ’21 honored Polly Linden with a scholarship fund in her name in May.

In a remarkable 24 hours, Gretchen Walsh ’21 sets world record at Olympic Trials, qualifies for Paris Olympics

By Nora Wang '21

AsGretchen Walsh ’21 dove into the water for the 100-meter butterfly semifinal race at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, the goal was simple advance to the final. But as her arms circled in symmetrical, powerful strokes, and her legs propelled her forward with remarkable speed, it became clear that something extraordinary was happening.

When she touched the wall, Gretchen had set a new world record.

After the race, Gretchen felt all the emotions you’d expect: shock, elation, and gratitude. In the hours that followed, a new emotion crept in.

“I was definitely nervous,” she said in a press conference at the trials. “I just had a lot of what-ifs going through my head . . . coming off of breaking a world record and then thinking, ‘I need to do that again, or I might miss the team.’”

Nearly eight years had passed since Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjöström set the last record for the 100 fly at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with a time of 55.48 seconds. On the world stage, Gretchen’s 55.18-second race meant everything. She beat the former mark by nearly half a second and became the second Harpeth Hall alumna to set a world record, following in the path of three-time gold medal winner Tracy Caulkins ’81 arguably the best female swimmer of all time.

But in the trials, just one race would decide it all, and it was not the semifinals. Only two swimmers would make the Olympic team in the event, and her top competitors included Regan Smith and Torri Huske, both of whom earned medals in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Even as Gretchen made history, she knew the biggest challenge was yet to come.

During the 24 hours before the finals in the 100 fly, Gretchen mentally prepared by meeting with her confidence coach and reminding herself that all she needed to do was “execute,” she said, repeating the mantra she had been telling herself “[the] entire time.”

A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

Gretchen’s history of executing under pressure reaches back before the trials and three years of record-breaking swimming at the University of Virginia. At just 13 years old, Gretchen was the youngest competitor in the 2016 Olympic Trials.

In the years that followed, she continued to excel, becoming the national high school record holder in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle and winning gold medals at the 2019 Junior World Championships. As a student at Harpeth Hall, Gretchen joined her sister Alex Walsh ’20 and fellow Olympic hopefuls Alex Massey ’20 and Ella Nelson ’19 as they led the swim team to consecutive National Championships in 2018 and 2019.

Gretchen didn’t just contribute to the legacy of Harpeth Hall’s swim team. She graduated third in her class despite countless hours of training and frequent trips for national and international competitions. More importantly, she was and continues to be well-loved by her coaches, teammates, and classmates.

On her signing day in 2021, Harpeth Hall varsity swim coach Polly Linden described Gretchen as “gracious” and “humble,” a “math wiz with a welcoming smile and a passion for the environment.” These qualities keep the Harpeth Hall community deeply invested

in her swimming journey. As Gretchen ascended the starting blocks for the finals of the 100 fly in the 2024 Olympic Trials, Honeybear Nation was watching. She knew what she had to do: execute.

Three years earlier, Gretchen missed her qualifying shot. Her sister, Alex, earned a silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley in the Tokyo Olympics, while Gretchen watched on television from thousands of miles away in their family’s Nashville home.

As she reflected on her swimming journey, Gretchen reminded the world that an athlete’s path to success is never linear. Gretchen discussed the disappointment of the 2021 Olympic Trials, which pushed her to train her confidence just as much as her swimming. By rethinking her mindset, she transformed the pressure of outside expectations into a positive driving force.

“I realized that it’s important to listen to people when they have faith in you and confidence in you and not let that become a weight on your shoulders. It’s important to take what people say and really believe in it, especially your family, coaches, and friends. They are the people who know you best,” Gretchen said. “They are going to be the ones who are there every step of the way and telling you, ‘Gretchen, you can do this, you are capable more than you will ever know.’ ”

Over the past three years, Gretchen blazed to the front of the pack. This past March, she broke four NCAA records as she helped the University of Virginia to its fourth consecutive team title. Meanwhile, in her four years at Virginia, Alex led the Cavaliers by winning 19 total NCAA individual and relay championships. That all set the stage for the 2024 swim season. This time, the sisters had a goal go to the Olympics. Together.

RISING TO THE OCCASION

“Just hugging Alex after that race, it was just a full-circle moment,” Gretchen said. “Back in 2021, watching Alex make her first-ever Olympic Team was a dream come true for me as a sister. I’ve never been so proud. And just to have that feeling be reciprocated . . . I think that says a lot about our relationship. We definitely rely on one another. We relate to each other. We support one another. And, at a high-level, high-stakes meet that’s so stressful, it's nice to have a sibling on the deck just there to even give you just a smile or nod that, ‘You’ve got this.’”

Gretchen’s new status as an Olympian and the fastest swimmer in the world in the 100 fly crowned a lengthy list of successes that led to her victory. And the achievements kept coming.

A few days later, Gretchen finished third in the 100-meter freestyle to be named to the Team USA 4 x 100 relay team and she wrapped up the trials with a second place finish in the 50-meter freestyle, qualifying her for a third event in Paris.

As Gretchen took her mark and listened for the starting beep in the 100-meter butterfly, she kept her mind focused 55.31 seconds later, her spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics was secured.

The first thing she did after her win was reach over the lane lines to hug second-place finisher Torri Huske and third-place finisher Regan Smith. A few minutes later, as she slipped behind the privacy draping in Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium away from the eyes of the ecstatic crowd, Alex ran to her from around the corner, arms outstretched.

Then, in the final days of the trials, Alex kept her end of the bargain as she earned a repeat bid in the 200-meter individual medley, qualifying for her second Olympic Games. In July, the sisters set out for Paris, France side by side.

“Going with Gretchen is just a dream come true,” Alex said. “I had so much confidence that she was going to be able to make the team. . . . More than anything, I’m just really happy to have this whole experience with her, because it is once in a lifetime.”

It may not have gone exactly as planned but for Gretchen, it seems, sometimes reaching achievements in an unexpected order can lead to being the best in the world.

TheWalsh family’s house shook from the screams and celebration in July of 2021 as Nashville swimmer Alex Walsh stretched her fingertips to the wall in a pool thousands of miles away in Tokyo. The then-19-year-old swimmer, a 2020 graduate of Harpeth Hall, achieved what she had dreamed of since she was a girl. She claimed a medal in the Olympic Games.

With a time of 2:08.65, Alex finished second in the 200-meter individual medley Olympic finals and clinched the silver. At that moment, she became an elite athlete with international recognition, and still, she paused only a moment. Just enough time to catch her breath before beginning again the 2024 Games and a new goal already on her mind.

“My teachers at Harpeth Hall always told me that I could succeed in school, swimming, and other extracurriculars without sacrificing one or another as long as I worked for it. This mindset taught me how to manage my goals in all aspects of my life, which is a big reason why I thrive as an elite athlete,” Alex said in the days following her Olympic finish in Tokyo.

She has not been alone in her pursuits. This summer, Olympic energy again reverberated through the Harpeth Hall community.

Five alumnae Ella Nelson ’19, Alex Massey ’20, Alex Walsh ’20, Gretchen Walsh ’21, and Maggie Petty ’24 cut through the cool water at top speeds as they competed for a spot on Team USA at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Two of those swimmers, sisters Alex and Gretchen, qualified for the Summer Games, with Gretchen also setting a new world record in the 100-meter butterfly.

“Making the team was the biggest goal, but getting a world record was absolute insanity,” Gretchen said during her post-swim interview.

Before they were Olympic hopefuls, Ella, Alex Massey, Alex Walsh, and Gretchen helped Harpeth Hall win back-to-back Swimming World National Championships and five straight MTHSSA Middle Region Championships.

Alex Massey went on to swim at Yale, and the three others joined the swim team at the University of Virginia. Maggie carried on the Bearacuda legacy with a successful high school swim career that led to her signing with the University of California-Berkeley, where she will swim next season.

All five athletes have made big waves in their swimming careers thus far. This summer, as the group sustained the Harpeth Hall Olympic spirit, the legacy continued.

“All five women put on an incredible show of confidence, strength, and poise in the pool,” Harpeth Hall Head of School Jess Hill said, “and our school couldn’t be more proud.”

Five Harpeth Hall alumnae swimmers make a splash at 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials

By Jessica Bliss

Alex Walsh ’20

Surpassing her former University of Virginia teammate Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh — an eight-time NCAA champion and Olympic silver medalist — now holds the record for the most titles in ACC history with 26 career titles. Following her 2024 Olympic Games appearance, she plans to return to UVA for a fifth year of eligibility in 24-25. In her time with the Cavaliers, Alex:

• Won the silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

• Became a three-time gold medalist at the 2022 FINA World Championships

• Concluded 2024 ACC Championships with 26 career first-place finishes (individual and relay) — the most in league history

• Won three individual championships in the 2024 NCAA Championships — 200-yard IM, 400-yard IM, and 200-yard breaststroke, swam on three relay teams that won titles — 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard medley, and 400-yard freestyle

Gretchen Walsh ’21

Gretchen, who swims for the University of Virginia, had a record-breaking NCAA season. In addition to being named NCAA champion in her three individual events (50 free, 100 fly, and 100 free), she set NCAA records in all three events. She also clinched American records in the four fastest events in college swimming: 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, and 100 back. Her recent accomplishments include:

• Set a new world record in the 100-meter butterfly at the 2024 Olympic Trials

• First qualified for the Olympic Trials in 2016 at the age of 13 — she was the youngest out of 1,500 swimmers

• First swimmer to break the 45-second mark in the 100-yard freestyle (2024 NCAA Championships)

• First swimmer to break the 48-second mark in the 100-yard butterfly (2024 NCAA Championships)

• Set meet, pool, ACC, American, NCAA, and U.S. Open record in 100-yard freestyle (45.16) at 2024 ACC Championship

Ella Nelson ’19

Ella took advantage of an extra year of eligibility granted to all NCAA athletes who had a competitive season affected by the pandemic. In her five years at UVA, she was a staple and consistent point scorer in meets with top finishes for the Cavaliers. Ella completed her college career with four NCAA team titles. In 2021, Ella participated in the Tokyo Olympic trials. In 2023-24, Ella:

• Set personal best in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:04.29) at ACC Championships

• Finished first in the 400-yard individual medley (4:03.80) at ACC Championship

• Finished second in the 200-yard IM (1:54.21) at ACC Championships

• Was a part of the first-place, ACC championship record, 800-yard freestyle relay (6:46.28) at ACC Championships

Alex Massey ’20

Alex qualified for the 2024 Olympic Trials in the 200-meter butterfly. As a member of the Yale University swim team, Alex has been integral to the team's success. Since joining the Bulldogs team, Alex’s achievements include:

• Setting the pool record for Yale in the 200-yard backstroke, 200-yard medley relay, and 800-yard freestyle relay

• Receiving the All-Ivy award (4 times), the Heaton High Point team award, Harry Burke award, and the MacLeish Sportsmanship and Loyalty Award

• Competing in the 200-yard medley relay team that took second in the Ivy Championship

• Finishing first in the 200-meter butterfly at the Southeastern LC Championships

• Finishing first in the 200-yard butterfly at the ECAC Open Championships

• Placing first at the SE NAC Southeastern Championships in the 200-meter butterfly

Maggie Petty ’24

Maggie is the latest Honeybear to qualify for a swimming Olympic Trials. Earlier this year, Maggie committed to swim for the University of California at Berkeley, where her brother also swims. Maggie was a member of the Harpeth Hall Bearacuda team and also a member of the Nashville Aquatic Club. While at Harpeth Hall, Maggie:

• Earned NISCA Swimming All-American honors in 2023 and 2024

• Finished first in the 50-yard freestyle at the TISCA State Championships

• Finished second in the 100-yard freestyle at the TISCA State Championships

• Placed eighth in the 50-meter freestyle at the Speedo Junior National Championships

From teammate to lifesaver: Harpeth Hall alumna’s quick action in shark attack saves former Yale swimmer

By Annie Linley ’23

Eye care and vision treatment are Dr. Sophie Pilkinton’s passions. The 2015 Harpeth Hall graduate is training to be an ophthalmologist and is currently a resident in Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s program. But her talents in medicine extend beyond the eyes, and in one specific instance, those skills helped save a life.

In May 2023, Dr. Pilkinton and her close friend Ali Truwit, both graduates of Yale University, were celebrating their continued friendship with a trip to Turks and Caicos. A snorkeling expedition, which was no physical challenge for the two former Bulldog swimmers, took them to a reef in the turquoise Caribbean waters. Seemingly out of nowhere, a shark surfaced from the depths and attacked the girls, claiming Ms. Truwit’s left ankle as the two sprinted through the water back to the boat.

As Ms. Truwit was urgently driven to shore and airlifted to Miami, Dr. Pilkinton’s quick thinking and medical training came to the forefront. With calm precision, she applied a tourniquet to Ms. Truwit’s injured leg, stemming the blood flow and ensuring her friend's survival.

Their shared history as former Bulldog swimmers played a crucial role in the harrowing ordeal. The dramatic incident also underscored not only Dr. Pilkinton’s dedication to her field but also the profound impact of her skills outside the clinical environment.

Ms. Truwit, who later spoke on the Kelly Clarkson Show, credited both their athletic background and Sophie’s medical expertise for her survival. "Swimming was the first thing that saved my life, and the second was my teammate Sophie," she said.

The remarkable story of friendship, quick action, and medical prowess highlights the exceptional character and training of Dr. Pilkinton, a proud 2015 Harpeth Hall graduate.

This summer, Ms. Truwit competed in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Her remarkable recovery and advancement to the highest levels of competition for athletes with disabilities are truly inspiring, and all her former teammates, including Dr. Pilkinton, are incredibly proud of her.

HARPETH HALL Honeybears!

UPPER SCHOOL

BOOK AWARDS

Hollins University Book Award

Ava Rumsey

Harvard University Book Award

Lily Bowen

University of Pennsylvania Book Award

Lily Wang

Princeton University Book Award

Elizabeth Lefler

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal

Ariadne Vidalakis

Tulane University Book Award

Addison Heywood

University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb

Honorary Science Award

Ashley Maliakal

Yale University Book Award

Draper Witherspoon

Twelve-Letter Athletes

Jenny Lott and Taylor McCall

ATHLETIC AWARDS

Emmons Woolwine Scholar–Athlete Award

Presley Schick

Pat Moran Sportsmanship Award

Jenny Lott

Susan Russ Competitors Award

Taylor McCall

Outstanding Athlete Award

Charlotte Myers

DEPARTMENT AWARDS

Outstanding Choral Student

Sadie Osenga

Outstanding Dance Student

Kaytlin Small

AWARDS DAY

Outstanding Instrumental Student

Madison Chung

Outstanding Theatre Student

Kate Franklin

Outstanding Technical Theatre Student

Sari Shaffer

Marnie Sheridan Art Award

Sara Mac Wallace

Souby Hall Award

Presley Schick

Cindy Crist Art Purchase Award

Lilly Cashen

Susan Souby Spirit of English Award

Mary Alice Pierce

English Award (academic award)

Sarah Hinds

History Award

Davern Cigarran

Spirit of Science Award

Zina Vidalakis

Pickens Science Award

Shreya Priyadarshi

Helen Mullins Manning Mathematics Award

Lily Bowen

Math Award

Macon Fowler

Ottarson Latin Award

Elizabeth John

Mary Varina Frazer Latin Award

Sarah Braam

Chen Jiann Min Award

Davern Cigarran

Lucie L. Fountain French Award

Madison Chung

Spanish Award

Amelia Alexopoulos

Cum Laude Award

Shreya Priyadarshi

CLASS SPIRIT AWARDS

9th Grade

Rebecca Settle

10th Grade

Bayona Fletcher

11th Grade

Jori Winfrey

12th Grade

Isabel Johnson

ELIZABETH POPE EVANS AWARD

9th Grade, Emma Cropsey, Elizabeth Eyler, Carlisle Gambill, Zoe Green, Sophia Huddleston, Cora Meyer, Ella Murphy, Ruby Mae Russell, Aza Scheele, Sophie Steele, Molly Uden, and Thalia Vidalakis, 10th Grade

Zoe Eveland, Kelty Jones, Neko Mannes, Allyson Mao, and Lane Tyler Williams

11th Grade

Lily Bowen, Lucy Farringer, Ashley Maliakal, Ariadne Vidalakis, and Draper Witherspoon

12th Grade

Madison Chung, Courtney Couden, Olivia Finlayson, Macon Fowler, Sarah Hinds, and Zina Vidalakis

SENIOR AWARDS

Idanelle McMurry Award

Isabel Johnson

Patsy White Bradshaw Citizenship Award

Sarah Braam

Susan McKeand Baughman Award

Sarah Hinds

Director’s Award

Josey Beavers

Head’s Award

Josephine Hinds

LADY OF THE HALL AND HER COURT

Lady of the Hall

Mason Hart

12th Grade Representative

Lauren Wynn

11th Grade Representative

Kate Day

10th Grade Representative

Kimber Corbitt

9th Grade Representative

Freya Heard

Almost Alumnae

LUNCHEON honors family and traditions

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

Harpeth Hall is part of the foundation upon which Jennifer Braden Myers’ family was built.

Her grandmother and great-grandmother attended Ward-Belmont. Her mother, her aunt, her sister, and all her girl cousins went to Harpeth Hall. She was a member of the Class of 1988, and when her daughter walked down Souby Lawn in May as part of the graduating Class of 2024, it marked a fifth generation of alumnae.

“We all feel so connected to this place,” Dr. Myers said.

Yet, even with the school in the fabric of her family history, it wasn’t until she was a medical school resident that Dr. Myers truly understood how Harpeth Hall shaped her. She was working a late-night shift in the ER, passing time in conversation with the attending physician, when she mentioned she was from Nashville.

“Then, I know where you went to high school,” he replied. “I’m married to a Harpeth Hall graduate, and you can spot you all from a mile away.” He commented that Harpeth Hall women tend to be confident, intelligent, hardworking, and driven. She understood then the enduring importance of her alma mater not only in her own family’s history but for so many young women.

“It is infinitely valuable to be taught at a school which has as its singular focus to educate girls,” Dr. Myers said as she addressed the 108 soon-to-be graduates and their mothers and special guests at the annual Almost Alumnae luncheon in May. For the seniors, May’s graduation closed one chapter of their lives and started another. Dr. Myers is confident the Class of 2024 is ready. Harpeth Hall, she reminded the girls, has fully prepared each and every one of them to take on the challenges college presents.

“Harpeth Hall is not an easy school. You have worked hard and likely, and even hopefully, had some moments of failure and times of resiliency through your time here,” she said. “I think a place like Harpeth Hall challenges you to push yourself and make mistakes. Life from henceforth will throw you curveballs, and having some experience with challenge, failure, and perseverance will be incredibly valuable.”

And, she told the girls, the Harpeth Hall community will continue to support them. Whether they are the first in their family to attend Harpeth Hall or part of a tradition, graduation doesn’t mark an ending but a continuation of a deepening connection.

“Your journey as part of the Harpeth Hall community is really just beginning,” said Ellen Green Hoffman ’04, Harpeth Hall’s alumnae board president. “You will soon be part of an alumnae network consisting of over 5,000 alumnae across the country and around the globe.”

Dr. Myers encouraged the seniors to mentor the generations of Harpeth Hall students who will follow them. This community is filled with women who are eager to help foster the careers of their fellow Honeybears, she said.

Senior Karis Elgy, president of the Class of 2024, treasures that woman-centric community spirit.

“Every woman here, whether it be an alum, teacher, staff member, a mom of the Class of 2024, or all of the above, you have modeled and instilled in all of us the power to self-advocate and the ability to be confident, whether we know the right answer or not,” Karis said to her classmates and their guests at the luncheon.

“These women have all supported us through our trials and tribulations and have allowed us to stand on their shoulders in hopes that we reach and strive for more. And it is because of them that we will be ready and prepared to not only uplift ourselves but also the new girls we will be encountering in the coming years.”

The Class of 2024 is the foundation of today and the future.

Alumnae Mothers, Grandmothers, and Daughters

Harpeth Hall’s Class of 2028 embodies true sisterhood

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

Sisterhood

is a concept often heard at Harpeth Hall. From the youngest 5th grade Honeybears walking through the halls with their arms around each other, to the oldest dancing together outside of the senior house, the close bond our students feel can be seen each and every day on campus.

“Sisterhood was a concept my classmates and I did not understand until getting to know the Class of 2028,” 7th grade student Ani Kate Bashian said. “My classmates and I quickly learned the type of sisterhood we would be getting from the Class of 2028. Yes, they are sisters, but to better explain, they are the much older, cooler, wiser sisters. They demonstrate everything a younger sister would need to learn, such as finding ways to allow leadership, knowledge, enthusiasm, and honor to exist.”

The 92 ‘cooler, wiser’ sisters who make up the 8th grade class participated in Middle School Honor Day, one of Harpeth Hall’s most enduring and beautiful traditions. The event marks the passage from middle school to upper school, and this year celebrated the Class of 2028, who successfully completed the Daugh W. Smith Middle School program.

Ani Kate’s reflection of the Class of 2028 as a close-knit unit was echoed throughout the program in speeches by Interim Director of the Middle School Mary Lea Bryant and 8th grade speaker Fina Welhoelter.

“We are a diverse group of performers, athletes, artists, academics, and leaders who come together with kindness and respect for those differences,” Fina said. “Honor Day may mark the end of this chapter, but it is also the beginning of a whole new book filled with laughter, success, and plenty of unforgettable moments that lie ahead. Since those first awkward moments of 5th grade, we’ve laughed, learned, and grown together. Today, let's celebrate the sisterhood we formed, the memories we’ve made, and the incredible journey ahead of us.”

This journey begins in the fall, as the Class of 2028 crosses Souby Lawn to start 9th grade in Harpeth Hall’s Hortense Bigelow Ingram Upper School. Over the next four years, this special class will experience convocations and Winterim, Southern Word Week and club song competitions, winter formal dances and prom build, athletic celebrations and artistic performances, Step Singings, and, one day, graduation. There is so much ahead for these bright young women, and they know that their sisterhood will only grow stronger.

“You are courageous, fiercely inspiring,” Ms. Bryant said. “You’ve excelled in your activities outside the classroom. You are goal-driven, outcome-focused, natural and confident leaders, and you are fun. You are thoughtful and curious and passionate.”

During Ms. Bryant’s interim year as director of the school, she watched the 8th grade class rise to and take on any challenge. They spent the year cheering on their classmates’ successes as if they were their own. As leaders, they guided the middle school with kindness and thoughtful leadership.

“You have our gratitude and our admiration, Class of 2028,” Ms. Bryant concluded. “It is going to be a joy to watch you take on the challenges of high school. All the qualities to succeed up there are already in place for you.”

As the Class of 2028 moves to the upper school, Ani Kate knows the class will absolutely “crush it” in high school. Although their fun-loving spirit will be missed in the middle school, the “upper school will be lucky to find out there's nothing better than having the Class of 2028 as sisters.”

AWARD RECIPIENTS

Carol Clark Elam History Award

AnnaLeigh Frances Cooper

Daugh W. Smith English Award

Olivia Grace Stahl

Director’s Award

Emery Elyse Corey

Elizabeth Hausman Community Service Award

Mira Swieca Brockman

Head’s Award

Luna Valentine Kear

Honor Day Speaker

Serafina Florence Welhoelter

Lindy Sayers Award

Georgia Lynn Wolter

Louise Wills Algebra I Award

Katelynn Liu

Most Outstanding Athlete Award

Olivia Grace Asalma Akatue

Patty Chadwell Award

Frances Dovie Brown and

Mary Elliott Graf

Polly Fessey Award

Julia Marie LaFreniere

LADY OF THE HALL ATTENDANTS

5th grade Crownbearer

Tatum Rebecca Schick

6th grade Crownbearer

Sarah Elizabeth Agnew

7th grade Herald

Emma Elizabeth Randolph

8th grade Herald

Jane Elizabeth Cowan

SPIRIT AWARDS

5th grade

Lillian Barbara Farley

6th grade

Lucy Jane Grow

7th grade

Jordan Catherine Bentley

8th grade

Anne Wilson McKnight

STUDENT COUNCIL

OFFICERS

Stewardship Chair

Harper Annalise Mobley

Athletics Chair

Frances Dovie Brown

Public Purpose Chair

Louisa Ellen Ekiss

Student Activities Chair

Anna Kessler Moran

Environmental Issues Chair

Emma Reagan Pope

Honor Education Committee

Elise Josephine Amara

Adel Hesse Ambrose

Mary Helen Bess

Avery Grace Cary

Eleanor Worth Causey

AnnaLeigh Frances Cooper

Elizabeth Walters Griffin

Isla McKay Hartmann

Graci Ellyn Hodges

Katelynn Liu

Zoe Melissa Johnson

Abigail Kullock

Alessandra Ezabella Navori

Lisa Grayson Proctor

Charlotte Amelia Roth

Olivia Grace Stahl

INTRAMURAL CLUB CAPTAINS

Angkor

Olivia Grace Asalma Akatue

Anna Byrns Ragle

Ariston

Lucinda Anne Oliver

Rhyan Kennedy Renee Sanders

Eccowasin

Emery Elyse Corey

Caroline Virginia Young

Triad

Violet Ambrose Krumwiede

Anne Wilson McKnight

Melodies of the heart:

Harpeth Hall’s 2024 Step Singing ceremony celebrates community connection

Under the blooming magnolia trees that stand proudly across Harpeth Hall’s campus exists something even more beautiful: a community of young women who exemplify the school’s mission to think critically, lead confidently, and live honorably.

“Here at Harpeth Hall, we are a community of joyful, educated students, as well as a supportive, welcoming faculty and staff, where everyone serves a purpose and supports each other through all times of life,” this year’s Lady of the Hall, Mason Hart, said at the 2024 Step Singing ceremony.

“A community is there to love and support you no matter the situation, and finding that type of love is something that we must all hold onto once we have it — and I have found it here,” Mason said. “Whether it is the Harpeth Hall community, or communities in Nashville, our country, or whichever college you will soon call home, communities are the foundation for the fellowship, support, and love between us.”

On the eve of graduation, the senior class celebrated their community as they gathered to pass down the leadership of the school to the junior class. The special ceremony carried on the beautiful singing tradition started by the women of Ward-Belmont nearly a century ago. The ceremony also honored the Lady of the Hall, the highest honor given to a member of the senior class, and representatives from each Harpeth Hall class.

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

Standing together in the Athletic and Wellness Center, the Class of 2024 passed on their leadership of Harpeth Hall by singing Chris Stapleton’s “Friendship.” Senior class president Karis Egly announced that the seniors would be making a donation to The Olivia Fund, a special fund designed to help students and their families with expenses that are important to an inclusive school experience but are not covered in financial aid grants for tuition.

The juniors accepted leadership of the school with their song, “Wide Open Spaces,” by The Chicks. Then, the Class of 2025 pledged to transmit Harpeth Hall better, greater, and more beautiful than it was transmitted to them.

To close the ceremony, Nick Oschman, upper school history teacher and the faculty speaker chosen by the senior class, shared that the habits the class has built over their years at Harpeth Hall — “the work of being knowledgeable, interesting, and interested people,” were never meant to serve them for just their time at the school, but rather to prepare them for the world outside of it.

“It’s in the name,” Dr. Oschman said. Harpeth Hall is “a preparatory school. You aren't supposed to think critically, lead confidently, and live honorably for the culture of Harpeth Hall; the culture of Harpeth Hall was designed so you will think critically, lead confidently, and live honorably in the midst of the world.

“This place is a stepping-stone. So that out there, when someone tells you to oversimplify, generalize, essentialize, you think critically. So that out there, when no one else is willing to take on the onus of leadership or make a principled stand, you lead confidently. So that out there, when the wrong way is the easy way, you live honorably anyway. So that out there, when the world tells you that it’s simpler to be apathetic, that injustice isn’t your concern, that your dreams are too ambitious, you ignore them and stay

Lady of the Hall

and the 2024 Court

Lady of the Hall

Anne Mason Hart

Senior Representative

Lauren Marie Wynn

Junior Representative

Kate Irene Day

Sophomore Representative

Kimber Harlowe Corbitt

Freshman Representative

Freya Ruby Heard

Eighth Grade Herald

Jane Elizabeth Cowan

Seventh Grade Herald

Emma Elizabeth Randolph

Sixth Grade Crownbearer

Sarah Elizabeth Agnew

Fifth Grade Crownbearer

Tatum Rebecca Schick

Flower Girls

Anne Fleming Young Clayton, Caroline Rucker Homans, Catherine Chandler Oldacre and Maria Lucile Wiltshire

interested. And I know you will because you have shown us day in and day out the kind of people you are.”

Dr. Oschman encouraged the seniors to go out and remain curious and interested in the world around them. He reminded each girl that Harpeth Hall was only ever meant to be their first “place beloved,” not their last.

While the senior class was just hours away from processing down Souby Lawn in white dresses to graduate from their first

“place beloved,” Mason Hart knew this was not the end of the beautiful community the class has built over the last eight years.

“Class of 2024,” Mason said. “We are about to embark on one of the biggest changes we will experience in our lives, and I know that we are perfectly equipped for this change because we are a class of joy, life, and love — and, importantly, community. This is not a goodbye, but a thank you and an ‘until we meet again.’”

Senior Awards

The Class of 2O24 will attend 58 colleges and universities across the country.

Amelia Alexopoulos

Boston College

Linden Alldredge

Vanderbilt University

Jane Altman

The University of Alabama

Mae Bacurin

North Carolina State University

Gracen Bailey

Emory University

Lilly Bartholomew

University of Virginia

Josey Beavers

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Madeline Bell

Vanderbilt University

Cate Bourbeau

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sarah Braam

Boston College

Liza Brown

Columbia University

Lilly Caldwell

University of Rochester

Lilly Cashen

University of Richmond

Baker Cheek

University of Kentucky

Annie Lea Choate

Queens University of Charlotte

Madison Chung

Princeton University

Davern Cigarran

Dartmouth College

Mary Teal Cline

Auburn University

Lauren Collins

Howard University

Courtney Couden

Middlebury College

Witt Culpepper

Auburn University

Second Honors

Madison Chung

Katie Wray Valedictory Award

Sarah Hinds

Third Honors

Courtney Couden

Shaffer Dale

Texas Christian University

Eva Rose Daniel

Tulane University

Gigi Dave

Texas Christian University

Marit Davis

The University of Alabama

Morgan Dawson University of Mississippi

Natalie DiMaria Northeastern University

Mary Dillon

University of Georgia

Karis Egly University of Denver

Anna Grace Farner

Auburn University

Olivia Finlayson

Colorado College

Evelyn Fish

University of Oregon

Lilly Fitzgerald

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Macon Fowler

Clemson University

Kate Franklin

Auburn University

Carly Frist

The University of Texas at Austin

Josie Garrison

University of Mississippi

Ruthie Gaw

Pepperdine University

Chloe Graham Belmont University

Chloe Gray Pace University

Margaret Grobmyer

Wake Forest University

Charlotte Hagood

University of California

Santa Barbara

Helen Harrington

Washington and Lee University

Mason Hart

Auburn University

Eliza Heflin

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Josephine Hinds

Texas Christian University

Sarah Hinds

University of Virginia

Anna Li Hornsby

Auburn University

Tara Howard

University of South Carolina

Alex Hu

University of Georgia

Mary Lee Hyde

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Michelle Ikejiani

University of California

Los Angeles

Elizabeth John

Wake Forest University

Isabel Johnson

University of California

Los Angeles

Sydney Johnson

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Corlin Jones

University of Louisville

Anna Kerr

Wake Forest University

Ashley Knight

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Amelia Kremer

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Sophie Landry

University of California Berkeley

Jamisyn Larkin

Louisiana State University

Anna LeMarbre

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Kate Lenderman

University of Mississippi

Jenny Lott

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Caroline Luttrull

Sewanee: The University of the South

Nia Maddux

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Ivey Mayes

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Taylor McCall

College of William & Mary

Sophia Mendoza

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Macy Mertz

Southern Methodist University

Julia Miller

University of Michigan

Kate Morad

Loyola Marymount University

Grace Moran

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Charlotte Myers

Dartmouth College

Mabry Neuman

University of Mississippi

Brenna Paisley

Miami University

Lauren Payton

The University of Alabama

Taylor Perkins

Boston College

Maggie Petty

University of California Berkeley

Mary Alice Pierce

Sewanee: The University of the South

Loren Plosa

College of William & Mary

Lainey Porter

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Eden Powell

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Shreya Priyadarshi

East Tennessee State University

Mimi Proctor

Southern Methodist University

Lila Jane Pulliam

University of Mississippi

Sarah Reynolds

United States Air Force Academy

Alston Riddick

Davidson College

Blair Rodzewicz

University of Miami

Presley Schick

Auburn University

Sophie Sellers

Northeastern University

Meredith Shih

The University of Southern California

Mary Susan Shivers

Southern Methodist University

Anaya Singh

University of Michigan

Kaytlin Small Spelman College

Lexi Stewart

Boston College

Sullivan Strobel

Tulane University

Alexis Turner Oberlin College

Ava Van Dyke

Tulane University

Zina Vidalakis

Stanford University

Sara Mac Wallace

Savannah College of Art and Design

Izzy Willers

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Caroline Williams

Sewanee: The University of the South

Gigi Williams

University of Wisconsin — Madison

Abby James Witherspoon

Loyola Marymount University

Lauren Wynn

University of Miami

Through kindness and intellectual humility, Harpeth Hall’s 2024 graduates ready to leave their mark

KBy Jessica Bliss

indness has served as a touchstone for the Class of 2024. From opening convocation to the final bell, this year’s seniors experienced the power kindness holds in enriching interactions and strengthening community.

As the girls sat on Souby Lawn one final time to celebrate commencement from their place beloved, the theme resonated once again. Head of School Jess Hill addressed the gathered audience, offering the graduates two timeless pieces of advice: approach the world with curiosity and intellectual humility — and prioritize kindness in all interactions.

“We talk a lot around here about confidence,” Ms. Hill said. “I stand by that, and I hope we have instilled confidence in all of you. But tonight, I want to lift up its sister — intellectual humility. The two are not mutually exclusive. I would argue that it takes great confidence and courage to keep an open mind. Some may think it shows a lack of moral conviction, but I believe it means you realize your knowledge and understanding are incomplete.”

Even Dr. Echerd doesn’t know everything, Ms. Hill joked. Although, she added, he probably comes close. “But here is the thing — he realizes, like all of your teachers, that

what we know is only a fraction of what there is to know about this world. And sometimes we think we know things we don’t. We have to walk out of the rooms where everyone agrees with us and venture into territory where people disagree with us.”

Ms. Hill urged the graduates to approach the world with an open mind and a compassionate heart. She also encouraged them to take time to reflect on opportunities for growth.

From songs to T-shirts to TV series, the phrase “no regrets” often surfaces at significant milestones, a reminder to live life to the fullest. But, Ms. Hill said, “If we are ones to reflect at all on our actions and lives, I’m not sure it is possible not to have any regrets.” To live life without regrets doesn't mean you never make a mistake, Ms. Hill said, and it doesn’t mean you never fail. “Mistakes are useful, and we shouldn’t regret all of our mistakes — we learn from them.”

There is one regret, however, that Ms. Hill believes is one to avoid — the regret of not being kind. Drawing from personal anecdotes and insights, Ms. Hill reflected on opportunities to talk to someone who looks like she needs a friend, sit by

someone who is having a hard time, and listen and hold someone’s hand. To the Class of 2024 she said: “You have shown all of us with your actions and words how to be kind.”

The graduates have shown that and much more. From academic accolades to artistic endeavors to athletic triumphs, the Class of 2024 has left an indelible mark. Thirty-one graduates participated in Global Scholars, curious about the world. The seniors adeptly defended and prosecuted in mock courtrooms and filled the world with art, using a bold and colorful palate and performing beautifully on stage. The class also showed up as “fierce competitors” on the field — claiming a third-consecutive state title in lacrosse and earning state runner-up honors in soccer, cross country, rowing, riflery, and track and field.

In the fall, the 108 newest alumnae will pursue their ambitions at 58 colleges across the country, including flagship universities, private liberal arts colleges, military academies, HBCUs, and arts conservatory programs. But, Ms. Hill said, “You are much more than these numbers.”

The Class of 2024, she said, is sensitive and supportive, adventurous and high-spirited, and ready to take on the next challenge. “Approach the world with curiosity and intellectual humility,” Ms. Hill said, “and always step into kindness whenever possible. You will never regret it.”

With these guiding principles, senior Lauren Wynn delivered a reflection on the Class of 2024’s collective journey. Eight years ago, with a plaid skirt that hung below her knees and socks pulled up so high that they nearly met the skirt’s hem, Lauren walked into Harpeth Hall among the girls she would soon call classmates. She recounted with humor and nostalgia the series of "firsts" that marked her classmates’ transition from nervous 5th graders to confident leaders. Expressing gratitude to those who supported her and her classmates throughout their time at Harpeth Hall, Lauren acknowledged the sacrifices made by parents, the dedication of teachers and staff, and the transformative influence of classmates. She reflected on the challenges posed by the global pandemic and how the Class of 2024 persevered, embracing new experiences and forming enduring bonds of friendship and sisterhood.

For all of her life, Lauren has lived by her family motto: “We are not porch people.” Her family embraces the spirit of adventure and eagerly anticipates the opportunities that lie ahead. She found the phrase fitting inspiration for the Class of 2024. The graduates carry with them the lessons learned at Harpeth Hall: to think critically, lead confidently, and live honorably. They learned the value of resilience, determination, and leadership from their teachers and each other, preparing them to take on the future with confidence and kindness.

“We,” Lauren said, “certainly are not porch people.”

“Approach the world with curiosity and intellectual humility,” Ms. Hill said,

“and always step into kindness whenever possible. You will never regret it.”

NUCLEAR PIONEER

Harpeth Hall honors

Dr. Bennett Brady as the 2024 Distinguished Alumna. Her career in mathematics and nuclear safety sets a benchmark for Harpeth Hall graduates, showcasing a lifelong commitment to leadership and purpose-driven science.

By Jessica Bliss

Theaccident began about 4 a.m. on a late March morning in 1979 when a water pump stopped working and the Unit 2 nuclear reactor on Three Mile Island shut down.

As alarms rang and warning lights flashed, confusion broke out across the plant on the island in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River. In the ensuing hours, a series of equipment and instrument malfunctions, human errors, and mistaken decisions led to a release of radiation and the most serious nuclear accident in United States history.

Though minuscule in health consequences, the incident on Three Mile Island had widespread and profound effects on the American nuclear power industry. Helping ensure that a failure like that never happened again was Bennett Manning Brady. A Harpeth Hall graduate from the Class of 1961, Dr. Brady pursued

a career in STEM before it was the building block of girls education. She earned multiple degrees in mathematics and specialized in statistics early in her career.

Not long after the incident on Three Mile Island, Dr. Brady took a job with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). There, she applied her mathematical and statistical background to a goal she pursued for the rest of her career — bringing nuclear energy, a clean, non-fossil fuel, to households in a safe manner.

For her work as a trailblazing mathematician, Harpeth Hall honored Dr. Brady as the 2024 Distinguished Alumna, an award that recognizes alumnae who have achieved professional excellence and who are trailblazers, displaying extraordinary leadership and organizational skills, making significant contributions to health, welfare, cultural, or civic affairs, and serving as exemplary figures for other women.

“Particularly given the day and age that we were in, for her to choose to go into physics and then the NRC, that not only took solid intelligence — though she could hold her own — but it also required a lot of patience and dedication on her part,” classmate Judy Shanks Denton ’61 said. “She has been a very together person. I’m very proud of her.”

SETTING THE STANDARD

Dr. Brady's journey from Harpeth Hall’s classrooms to the corridors of statistics and research in Washington, D.C., is a testament to the school's ethos of leading with purpose.

The daughter of a schoolteacher and a civil engineer, she was secretary of the Honor Society (what is now the Honor Council) at Harpeth Hall and served as treasurer of the senior class. Milestones yearbook’s “future forecast,” predicted she would be “making an automatic shift sports car.” Even then, it was clear Dr. Brady was on a path to make a difference in STEM.

She graduated from Harpeth Hall in 1961 and spent a summer studying at the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico before enrolling at Agnes Scott College, and later transferring to Vassar College. There, she excelled in mathematics, becoming the top student in her class and a Phi Beta Kappa inductee. Her academic prowess led her to Cambridge University as a Fulbright scholar from 1965-1966. During her summer break in 1967, she worked as an analyst for the U.S. Air Force in Washington D.C., followed by the completion of her graduate studies in mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Brady’s illustrious career began at Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young) as she pursued her doctorate from George Washington University, but she swiftly transitioned to a focus on operations research, applying mathematical approaches to enhance policy and decision-making. Her career in federal service spanned over five decades, during which she served on the President’s Commission on Federal Statistics and held significant roles at the Office of Management and Budget and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

At the NRC, Dr. Brady was instrumental in the aftermath of the Three Mile Island accident. She employed sophisticated statistical methods to prevent future nuclear mishaps. Her work helped set the safety standards for nuclear reactors across the United States, contributing to an era without similarly serious nuclear incidents. “Bennett is soft spoken but strong,” Beth Bowers Vaughan ’79, a civil engineer whose connection with Dr. Brady formed as they both pursued STEM careers working in a “man’s world.” “She

Dr. Brady's journey from Harpeth Hall's classrooms to the corridors of statistics and research in Washington, D.C., is a testament to the school’s ethos of leading with purpose.

knows how to gain the attention of a room with a witty remark or a smart statement, and it does not come across as trying to dominate.

“Thanks to women like Bennett, others of us had more doors opened to us in the math and science careers. While many women could finish the coursework, fitting in and succeeding in the workforce is another story. You don’t learn how to do that in school. It’s tough, and I’m glad that Bennett set the standard for us.”

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Brady has maintained a strong connection to Harpeth Hall, serving on its National Advisory Council and exemplifying the school’s mission of living honorably and leading confidently. She resides near Washington, D.C., where she enjoys time with her family, including her two sons, Dr. Roscoe Brady Jr. and Owen Brady, granddaughters, Elinor and Beatrice Wittmann-Brady, and her rescue cats, Spencer and Toby. She was married to Dr. Roscoe O. Brady for 44 years before his death in 2016. A renowned biochemist and recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, among many honors, he was a tremendously supportive partner as they pursued their careers in science. Together, they were gracious hosts of Harpeth Hall alumnae gatherings at the Cosmos Club.

Dr. Brady’s recognition as Harpeth Hall’s 2024 Distinguished Alumna underscores her remarkable contributions to both her field and her alma mater, embodying the school’s vision of empowering women to lead lives of impact and purpose.

SILENT VOICES, RESOUNDING IMPACT

Spirit of Service honoree

Sue Fort White ’73 has dedicated her career to lifting up Nashville’s most vulnerable individuals

Thirty-six years ago, a staff member at the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee approached Sue Fort White ’73 with a very unusual project. She handed Mrs. White a folder that was two inches thick and said, “This is information about an African American woman named Diane who is serving 182 years plus life as an accessory to an armed robbery at a pharmacy in rural Tennessee.”

Mrs. White looked at the staff member and said, “Why are you bringing this to me? I don’t know anything about criminal justice.”

She responded: “You always fight for the underdog. The ones who don’t have a voice.”

Mrs. White agreed to look at the file, but it wasn’t until almost a year later that she woke up in the middle of the night struck by this message: “You won’t feel free until you start working for her freedom.” For the next decade, she joined forces with Harpeth Hall classmates, friends, and Nashville community leaders to advocate for a commutation of Diane’s sentence after 22 years in prison.

That is the epitome of who Mrs. White is. She has dedicated her life to the overlooked and most vulnerable individuals in the Nashville community. Her commitment to social justice began early in her career and has been the driving force behind her extensive work in the nonprofit sector. Over the past three decades, she has mobilized resources for underserved populations, including victims of domestic violence, teens

By Jessica Bliss

and families in crisis, children in foster care, and families affected by child sexual abuse.

As the current executive director of Our Kids, she has spent more than 17 years at the helm of an organization that provides medical evaluations and crisis counseling for children and families struggling with child sexual abuse. She is a recognized leader and mentor with the unique ability to be both a visionary and tactical leader. Her work has impacted countless lives, and her commitment is unwavering. All this has led Harpeth Hall to honor Mrs. White with the 2024 Spirit of Service award.

“I have accomplished nothing alone,” Mrs. White said. “I am built for collaboration and community, and I am so blessed to do really important work with such smart, brave, dedicated people. … It is not about me, it’s about we.”

Foundations of Service

As a child, Sue Fort White always felt safe and loved.

She spent her childhood in the Oak Hill neighborhood in a home with a large backyard that was bordered by a bridle path and a creek. She and her siblings spent most of their time outside, splashing in the water or playing touch football, badminton, softball, and croquet.

She attended Harpeth Hall, graduating in 1973, and as she looked out into her future, she saw a life of service. She deeply appreciated her time and education at Harpeth Hall. She was challenged, she worked hard, and the values instilled in her as a student served as a foundation for her career.

“As I reflected on my time at Harpeth Hall, I can honestly say that this place is the place I first experienced true community and sisterhood,” Mrs. White said as she spoke to current students during an all-school assembly this past spring. “It’s where I learned how to write and how to communicate persuasively. This place prepared me for everything.”

Her academic background, with a doctorate in human development counseling from George Peabody College for Teachers, which is now part of Vanderbilt University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology and literature from the University of Tampa, equipped her with the knowledge that not every person walks through life feeling secure and cared for.

“Figure out what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs most are people who have come alive.”

That was all she needed to launch into a career of addressing the wrongs of society. “Purpose,” she said, “cannot be overstated for me.”

Mrs. White’s early career focused on advocacy and leading efforts related to social justice. In 1992, she started as a fund development specialist with Oasis Center, a Nashville-based organization that offers myriad services to youth in crisis. She galvanized the donor base, helped create youth leadership programming, and launched initiatives to mobilize community support for youth services. She also led the first capital campaign to build an emergency shelter.

In 2001, as the executive director of The International Bridge, she conducted a diagnostic assessment to identify the need for social service collaboration for immigrants and refugees. Her role as the family-to-family coordinator for the Department of Children’s Services from 2003 to 2006 further solidified her reputation as a leader in mobilizing community resources to support children and families.

In 2006, Our Kids hired Mrs. White as its executive director. The position allowed her to use everything she learned in life and school to uplift others.

“The things in my life are deeply rooted in the concepts of community, voice, courage, and hope,” she said. “And when I look back at my days at Harpeth Hall, all of those things began in those years here. I am so grateful.”

A Career of Advocacy

Child sexual abuse is a complex and confusing issue, Mrs. White said, and the prevalence is epidemic.

Statistics show that 1-in-4 girls and 1-in-7 boys will experience some form of child sexual abuse before age 18. In 95% of the cases, the perpetrator is someone known and trusted. This dynamic can create intense distress. Children are often confused and afraid to tell. That is why child sexual abuse is the most underreported crime, Mrs. White said.

She has focused her career on mobilizing resources so that children and families have a chance to heal. She believes in the idea that the community stands at the intersection of crisis, opportunity, and hope. “It’s really important to build hope,” she said. “It’s really important to keep pouring into that vessel. … There’s a whole lot of work to do in this world, and from my perspective, everybody needs to discover a real passion.”

In her almost two decades with the organization, Mrs. White’s leadership has transformed Our Kids into a national expert in the evaluation of child sexual abuse. The organization’s trauma-informed, multidisciplinary model involves nurse practitioners and social workers evaluating each child and family, with staff providing 24/7 call coverage every day of the year.

Sue Fort White (center) with colleagues and Harpeth Hall classmates.

Sue receiving an award from the YWCA

Sue and her husband Steve and son Jesse visiting Diane

Child sexual abuse happens in every neighborhood and every community, Mrs. White said. It is never the child’s fault, and, she added, children are resilient when they get the support and services they need. They come to understand that the shame and guilt of abuse never belong to the child; those emotions belong to the perpetrator.

Under her direction, Our Kids has grown to serve 47 counties in Middle Tennessee, with four satellite clinics and a patient volume of more than 850 children annually, making it one of the largest clinics of its kind in the country. Collaboration is a cornerstone of Our Kids, with strong partnerships with the Nashville Children’s Alliance, Metro police, and the Department of Children’s Services, as well as relationships with hundreds of law enforcement personnel, child advocacy center staff, and medical providers throughout Middle Tennessee.

“She tells the story of collaboration in this community when we have a difficult issue,” said Sharon Roberson, president and CEO of the YWCA. “She works in the area of child sexual abuse, and that is so heavy, but she knows how to bring the police department, she knows how to bring the community. She doesn’t care about what party you are affiliated with. She knows that she wants to save every child from suffering in this community, and that takes heart, and that’s the spirit of Sue Fort White.”

“It is not about me, it’s about we.”

Transforming Lives Through Leadership

Mrs. White’s impact extends beyond her professional achievements. She has served on the Prevent Child Sexual Abuse statewide task force and the leadership group for ACE (All Children Excel) Nashville, a collective impact effort focused on preventing adverse childhood experiences and mitigating their effects.

She also played a pivotal role in advocating for domestic violence victims at the YWCA and tirelessly worked, along with Harpeth Hall alumnae Susan Duvier Bass ’73, Anne Davis ’73, and Amy Grant ’78, to secure the release of Diane, a woman serving an excessively long sentence in prison.

“It was smart, compassionate, fair-minded people who came together to make that happen,” she said.

Today, Mrs. White urges others to find their passion and actively engage in meaningful endeavors to effect positive change. She has led a life guided by a quote from author and theologian Howard Thurman, and she inspires others to do the same. “Don’t ask what the world needs,” she quoted, “Figure out what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs most are people who have come alive.”

CALL for NOMINATIONS!

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR HARPETH HALL’S 2025 ALUMNAE AWARDS

Harpeth Hall strives to recognize the extraordinary achievements of our alumnae with a variety of awards. From leadership and serving as an example for other women to outstanding service to excellence in athletics, these recipients deserve recognition from their alma mater.

Harpeth Hall/Ward-Belmont

Distinguished Alumna Award

The Harpeth Hall/Ward-Belmont Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes graduates who have achieved wide recognition for professional excellence and leadership. Candidates for this award are women who are trailblazers, display extraordinary gifts of leadership and organizational ability, are moving spirits in health, welfare, cultural, or civic affairs, have achieved wide recognition for professional excellence and leadership, serve as an example for other women, and have attained unusual success in highly competitive fields. Distinguished Alumna Award candidates may also be women who have been nationally recognized for vision, skill, and commitment to make things happen.

Athletic Hall of Fame (Awarded every four to five years)

Established in 2013, the Harpeth Hall/ Ward-Belmont Athletic Hall of Fame honors notable alumnae athletes, coaches, and administrators who have demonstrated outstanding athletic ability by competing or coaching at the state, national, or international level. Through their good sportsmanship, citizenship, and character, these outstanding women left a lasting impression of achievement and excelled within the school’s athletic family.

Alumna Spirit of Service Award

The Alumna Spirit of Service Award recognizes and celebrates outstanding service by a Harpeth Hall/WardBelmont alumna. The recipient of the award is a woman who has gone above and beyond the call to serve and who embodies Harpeth Hall’s mission to “develop responsible citizens who have global perspectives and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world.”

Award candidates are women who demonstrate an innovative approach to solving a problem or meeting a need, show a high level of commitment to their project, make a meaningful impact on the people or community they serve, inspire others through outreach and education, exhibit visionary and empowering leadership, and teach and mentor others interested in making a difference through service.

Holly Sears Sullivan '90 2023 Induction

Lissa Bradford '81 2018 Induction

Florence Stumb Davis '55 2023 Induction

New Trustees 2024-2027

Harpeth Hall salutes board of trustees members whose terms concluded at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Thank you to Jane Allen, Greg Hagood, Amit Misra, and Chris Whitson for your many years of trustee service. We welcome the following new trustees beginning in 2024-2025 and congratulate new honorary trustee Jane Berry Jacques ’72.

Dr. Rick Abramson is a physician leader with over 20 years of experience across the clinical, business, and policy dimensions of health care. He is a board-certified radiologist with a background in data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. He currently serves as the chief medical officer of annalise.ai, headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Previously, he served as the chief clinical strategy officer at Covera Health, the HCA corporate vice president of the Radiology Service Line, associate professor of radiology/vice chair for innovation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and co-founder and principal of Partners in Imaging Enterprise LLC. He earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He did his residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship at John Hopkins University. He also holds a Master of Health Care Delivery Service from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. He is married to Dr. Vandana Abramson, who is a professor of medicine (hematology/oncology) at Vanderbilt and is the co-leader of the Breast Cancer Research Program, where she holds the Donna S. Hall Chair in Breast Cancer. The Abramsons have a Harpeth Hall daughter, Annika ’29, and a son, Alex, who attends Montgomery Bell Academy.

Harry Allen is the executive vice president for financial excellence and CFO of Belmont University. He is a co-founder and vice chairman of the board of Studio Financial Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned bank subsidiary Studio Bank. Prior to helping launch Studio Bank, he was the director of nonprofit banking and community investment of Avenue Bank (acquired by Pinnacle Bank), and he has also served as vice president of finance and administration for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. He is a member of the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He is currently the treasurer of the Nashville Public Education Foundation and is a past president of the Rotary Club of Nashville. He serves on the Community Foundation of

Middle Tennessee board, was the founding board chair of Purpose Preparatory Academy, board member of the Center for Nonprofit Management, and member of Leadership Nashville’s alumni board. He earned his undergraduate degree and Master of Business Administration from Belmont. His wife is Chandra Allen, who is the program director at The West End Home Foundation. The Allens have two Harpeth Hall daughters, Noelle ’29 and Naomi ’31, and a son, Noah at Percy Priest Elementary school.

Sacha Engel Bone ’93 served on Harpeth Hall's faculty as our founding summer camp director from 2011 to 2016. Her Harpeth Hall volunteer roles include: Annual Fund Major Gifts Committee chair, Annual Fund Alumnae Gifts Committee, 2023 Reunion chair, Head’s Young Alumnae Council co-chair and member, and founding Sunday on Souby chair. She serves on the national board of Beyond Differences. She earned her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. Her husband is Charles Robert Bone, former president and CEO of Bone McAllester Norton and current managing partner of Spencer Fane LLP. The Bones have three Harpeth Hall daughters, Margaret ’20, Anne Carlen ’22, and Simmons ’26, and a son, Henry, who attends Montgomery Bell Academy.

Travis Messina is a healthcare executive. He is currently the CEO of Regent Surgical Health and was the founder of Contessa Health, which is now a part of Amedisys. He has served as chief investment officer for Martin Ventures and as vice president development for Vanguard Health Systems. Prior to his career in healthcare business, he worked as an associate at Signal Hill Capital and at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his Master of Business Administration from the Owen Graduate School of Business at Vanderbilt University. His wife is photographer Paige Rumore Messina ’99, and his sister-in-law is Haley Rumore Dale ’98. The Messinas have two Harpeth Hall daughters, Victoria ’29 and Wren ’31.

George Vidalakis is co-founder and president of VFP Associates, which was started in 1998 to manage a private fund of funds and develop direct investments in commercial real estate in the Intermountain West. He has also worked for McKinsey & Company and as an engineer for Apple Computer and Procter & Gamble. He served as a member of the Stanford University Department of Mechanical Engineering’s advisory board for 10 years and was involved in various capacities in both the engineering and business schools. He served on Katherine Delmar Burke School’s board of trustees as secretary and led the audit, risk management, and security committees. He is currently serving as president-elect of the Harpeth Hall Parents Association’s Dads Network and will serve as president in 2024-25. He earned his undergraduate degree, Master of Science, and Master of Business Administration from Stanford University. His wife is Laura Vidalakis, who is a CPA, has a Master of Business Administration from Berkeley, and previously worked at Ernst & Young, Banc One Capital, and SKS Investments. The Vidalakises have four Harpeth Hall daughters, Zina ’24, Ariadne ’25, Thalia ’27, and Kyreni ’29.

Barby Speight White ’83 earned a Bachelor of Arts in both English and French at Vanderbilt University after graduating from Harpeth Hall in 1983. After several years as a special needs education teacher, she spent six years in the corporate work/ family balance field in Washington D.C. She has since worked as a teacher, in event planning, in business development, and as a community volunteer. Barby has served in numerous roles at Harpeth Hall, including Alumnae Board secretary, Annual Fund current parent chair, Annual Fund class chair, Annual Fund Major Gifts Committee member, and Reunion class chair. Her Harpeth Hall family members include her sister, Lindy Speight Thompson ’85, her stepmother-in-law, Dudley Brown White WB ’49, who is an Honorary Trustee, her mother-in-law, Govan Davidson White WB ’48 (deceased), her sisters-in-law, Margaret White Ratcliff ’65 and Betsy White McDonald ’69, and her aunts-in-law, Margaret White Greenlee WB ’38 (deceased) and Elizabeth Davidson Clark WB ’46 (deceased). Her husband, Govan White, is the managing partner and co-founder of Covenant Capital Group. The Whites have a Harpeth Hall daughter, Molly White Viola ’11, and two sons, Davidson White and Richard White, who graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy.

Honorary Trustee: Jane Berry Jacques ’72 served as a Harpeth Hall trustee from 2003-2008 and from 2010-2022. She was vice chair from 2005-2009 and 2016-2018, and board chair and president from 2018-2022. She served on the 2013-2014 and 2018-2019 head of school search committees as well as the advancement, campaign leadership, executive, strategic planning, transition, and trustees and governance committees. She chaired the alumnae committee for The Campaign for Harpeth Hall from 2000-2005, and she co-chaired The Next Step Campaign from 2005 to 2015. Jane also served on alumnae-related committees, including the Distinguished Alumna selection committee.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science from Vanderbilt University. She was the college counselor and dean of students for Harpeth Hall in the 1980s. Jane has held numerous positions in the community, including the Junior League of Nashville president and Friends of Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt president. Her husband, Jack, is a past Harpeth Hall trustee and co-founder of Iroquois Capital Group. Her sister, Helen Berry Holland ’82, taught math in the Daugh W. Smith Middle School. The Jacques have a daughter, Lindsay Jacques Irving ’06, and a son, Matthew Jacques, who graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in 2004 and is married to Anna Mayo Jacques ’03. Her niece is Allison Holland ’13.

WARD-BELMONT AND MILESTONES SOCIETY COFFEE

REGIONAL EVENTS

Chapel Hill

Austin

Dallas

HARPETH HALL TODAY

PANEL DISCUSSION “Beyond the Plaid”

COCKTAILS ON CAMPUS

50 th REUNION BRUNCH

Class Notes

Cynthia Stow Yancey ’67 has retired after 51 years as a conservator of paintings. She now enjoys duplicate bridge, gardening, and working with the Nashville Dog Training Club.

Grace Paine Terzian ’70 gathered with many members of the Class of 1970 pictured below at the home of her sister, Anne Paine ’67, during Grace’s trip to Nashville.

Gayle Dunn Hurley ’74 and her husband, Ed, are finally fully retired and are enjoying lots of free time to connect with friends and classmates. Ed was a minister at South Highland Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, for 22 years. They will keep Birmingham as their home base but hope to begin regular visits to Nashville in January 2024.

Cathy van Eys Fuchs ’74 is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She has been on the faculty since 1998 and serves as the director of the Child and Adolescent Consult-Liaison Service. Her clinical research focuses on pediatric delirium. She was awarded the Bixler-Johnson-Mayes Chair.

Lynn McCullough Prakas ’75 was awarded the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award by the Barbara Knight Foundation. The foundation strives to promote awareness of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), the vital need for bone marrow donors, and to provide financial and emotional support to AML patients.

Mimi Wallace ’75 and The Wallace Group, where she is senior vice president of wealth management at UBS, were named Best-inState Wealth Management Teams by Forbes again this year. Mimi is proud of the work they are doing for their clients to help them achieve their financial goals. She is honored to be part of such a dedicated and talented team offering the global resources of UBS. Mimi’s team includes fellow Harpeth Hall alumna Ellen Green Hoffman ’04.

Keith Maddin ’76 launched a new business venture, Firefly Forts, that was featured in NFocus magazine and StyleBlueprint. The company is known for creating space for magical outdoor memories, not only for kids to hang out and play, but for adults to escape the house to a dedicated workspace or entertainment area.

Amy Grant Gill ’78 received the Swan Ball’s highest honor, the Swan Award, and was recognized for her artistic and philanthropic achievements at Cheekwood’s Swan Ball in June. Throughout her prolific career in music — including six Grammy awards and 26 Dove awards — Amy has remained centered on giving back to the community, supporting organizations such as the Nashville Rescue Mission, St. Jude Children's Hospital, The Red Cross, Compassion International, Second Harvest Food Bank, MusiCares, The Nashville Symphony, and establishing the Helping Hands Foundation.

Suzanne Watts Henderson ’83 joined Interfaith America after two decades as a professor of religious studies. Interfaith America is a national nonprofit fostering interreligious understanding and cooperation in civic spaces. Suzanne will lead its Faith & Health sector. She also serves as Scholar-in-Residence at Christ Church Episcopal in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she and her husband, Bob, enjoy an empty nest season marked by hiking, golf, skiing, and lots of travel.

Grace Paine Terzian ’70 with members of the Class of 1970

JoAnna Howe Ficken and 1978 Girls

Lissa Bradford ’81 was inducted as the 56th member of the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame by the Tennessee Golf Foundation in March. Lissa has a golfing resume that spans five decades, starting with her being one of the top junior and amateur golfers in the state. As a Harpeth Hall senior, she won the TSSAA state championship in 1981.

Class Notes

At the University of Alabama, she was team captain from 1984-1986 and was named Southeastern Conference Academic All-American as a senior. She also won the 1983 and 1985 Tennessee Women's Amateur championships and qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1983. She began her career as assistant pro at Springhouse Golf Club at Opryland and Belle Meade Country Club. Since 1995, she has served as senior director of junior golf for the Tennessee Golf Foundation at Golf House Tennessee, where she has developed a nationally recognized

Elizabeth Hightower Allen ’85 is a contributing editor at Outside magazine, where she has spent 20-plus years editing award-winning features and writing columns and book reviews. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she edits books and articles about public lands, memoir, and adventure, and serves on the advisory board to Writers on the Range. She has edited the book “First & Wildest, The Gila Wilderness at 100” about America's first – the world's first – designated wilderness, which was founded 100 years ago.

Jacqueline Saturn Dakar ’86 was awarded this year's MUSEXPO's acclaimed International Music Person of the Year Award. She is the president of Virgin Music

junior golf program. Lissa also served as the women’s golf coach at Belmont University from 2001 to 2020. She is a longtime active member of the Tennessee Section PGA and PGA of America. She has served on numerous committees and boards throughout her career in golf, including the TPGA Growth of Game committee, NCAA Women's Golf committee competition liaison, USGA Regional Associations committee, Tennessee School for the Blind golf program, Special Olympics golf rules official, PGA Magazine 41 Leaders Platform, and more. Her awards and recognitions include: 2019 PGA Kim Evans Award, 2019 Tennessee Section PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award, 2018 Harpeth Hall Athletic Hall of Fame, 1998 PGA National Junior Golf Leader Award, and the 1997 and 1998 TPGA Junior Golf Leader Award.

Group North America and EVP of global artist relations. During the event, Jacqueline was featured in a one-on-one keynote interview with respected music business journalist Shirley Halperin and also honored at a special MUSEXPO awards luncheon.

Olivia Daane ’88 opened a new business, Cocoonandhive.com. Olivia has been a part of the Global Solution committee for the U.S. State Department for years, and she partnered with the Psipsikas brothers and their FDA-certified and award-winning Nanobionic tech. Olivia's wellness wear line, LIVBionic, provides healing, performance, and recovery benefits including helping those with Reynaud’s. She lives in Aspen,

Mimi Wallace ’75 and The Wallace Group

Colorado, and continues to paint, with her latest art showing at Art Basel Miami Beach Art Week.

Nancy Wood Stabell ’88 was featured in the Nashville Post's 2024 In Charge List. Leaders rotate into this esteemed list every year. According to the Nashville Post, “the In Charge list represents people to call on to make the city the best it can be.”

Kate Sherrard Chinn ’93 was honored by the Tennessee Titans as a 2023 Playmaker. This recognition honors women who have made a significant positive impact on their community. Kate dedicates herself to several boards, including the United Way of Greater Nashville, the Nashville Public Education Foundation, and Harpeth

Elizabeth Hightower Allen ’85 edited the book “First & Wildest”

Kate Sherrard Chinn ’93

Hall School. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Nashville class of 2022, where she worked with a group of peers in the city to address Nashville's most important issues. Kate is a partner at MP&F Strategic Communications.

Emily Hatch Bowman ’94 was appointed to the board of the Friends of Franklin Parks (FOFP), a nonprofit organization that supports the city's public park and trail system.

Robinette Weiss Gaston ’94 made a big career switch after 20-plus years in the corporate world. She joined Zeitlin Sotheby's International Realty this year and is excited to serve her hometown community.

Elizabeth Adams Cox ’95 joined the Harpeth Hall Advancement Office in April 2024 as the alumnae relations manager. Elizabeth previously worked in the business office at St. Paul Christian Academy for seven years. Prior to that, she worked for Caterpillar Financial Services.

Lola Blackwell Chambless ’97 is a professor of neurological surgery and radiation oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the neurosurgery residency program director. She received the George S. Allen Chair in neurological surgery.

Dr. Rachel Glick Robison ’97, along with her colleague Dr. Leonard Bacharier, will lead the food allergy clinical research center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as part of a seven-year, $5-million

award from the Consortium for Food Allergy Research. VUMC is one of 10 organizations in the consortium. CoFAR strives to prevent and treat food allergies as well as understand the biological mechanisms that cause them. Rachel is an associate professor of pediatrics within the division of pediatric allergy, immunology and pulmonology. She and Dr. Barcharier are eyeing red meat allergy, or alpha-gal syndrome, as the first study subject.

“CoFAR is really the epitome of food allergy research in the United States and to be a part of the 10 sites to carry out this work really puts Vanderbilt in a higher echelon for food allergy research,” Rachel said.

Cate Connery Bury ’99 received a silver medal in the Professional Photographers of America 2024 International Photographic Competition.

Kelleigh Bannen Grossman ’99 was named one of Billboard’s 2024 Country Power Players for her role as host of “Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen” and “The Kelleigh Bannen Show,” both on Apple Music Country.

Bahar Azhdari ’00 was named to the Nashville Business Journal's Women of Influence list for 2024. The women on this list are leading top companies and nonprofits, supporting their communities, and inspiring those coming behind them. They are trailblazers, entrepreneurs, top executives, and leaders of nonprofits. Bahar was also selected as the president of the Nashville Bar Association for 2024.

With over 2,500 members, the NBA is the largest metropolitan bar association in Tennessee.

Katie Howell Fayard ’00 and Audrey Ball Guest ’02 co-chaired The Harding Art Show 2024. Since its inception in 1975, The Harding Art Show has become one of the largest and most profitable fine art exhibitions in the Southeastern United States. It showcases over 75 talented artists from around the country whose works are representative of various styles across multiple mediums. Harpeth Hall alumnae Courtney Weaver Robers ’97 and Ally Byrd Freeman ’00, along with past faculty member Dorris Wasserman, were among the show’s artists.

Emily Clark King ’02 is a double-boarded doctor with degrees in general pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology. She lives in Claremont, California, with her husband and four children.

Ellen Green Hoffman ’04 and The Wallace Group, where she is a senior wealth strategy associate at UBS, were named Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams by Forbes again this year. Ellen’s team is led by fellow alumna Mimi Wallace ’75. In her role as Harpeth Hall’s Alumnae Board president, Ellen welcomed the Class of 2024 as the school’s soon-to-be alumnae when she spoke at the Almost Alumnae Luncheon in April.

Kate Davis Lemmons ’04, Elizabeth Stewart DeJesus ’04, Tara Herbert ’04, Kara Bevilaqua Board ’04, Amy Baron

Kelleigh Bannen Grossman ’99

Kate Davis Lemmons ’04 and classmates

Sarah Zimmerman Jordan ’07 and fellow classmates

Montgomery ’04, Emily Williard Nardone ’04, and Lauren Dagley Coy ’04 enjoyed reconnecting while vacationing in Seaside.

Class Notes

Mary Lindley Carswell ’05 is co-chairing the 2024 Goodwill Impact Awards Luncheon on Sept. 12, 2024. Each year, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee celebrates the employees and clients who have achieved success through perseverance and the power of work, as well as community partners who help advance Goodwill’s mission of changing lives through education, training, and employment.

Kate Gregory Ericksen ’05 was recognized as the Executive and Physician Recruiter of the Year for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Sarah Zimmerman Jordan ’07 and fellow classmates Kaitlin Ray, Caroline McDonald Hutchins, Sophie Sanders, Caroline Hallemann, Mary Lindsey Krebs, Emily Thompson Lippincott, Sally Anne Harrell, and Reed Pankey Scholtec enjoyed a group trip to Seaside, Florida, last July. At the wedding of Ginny Perkey ’07 in May, not only were there a number of her Harpeth Hall friends and classmates in attendance, the officiants were none other than Harpeth Hall faculty members Denise and Joe Croker. Ginny is a data scientist with 2U in Brooklyn, New York.

Lauren Quinn Barnacastle ’08 is the new director of development at Childcare Resources in Birmingham, Alabama. It is a nonprofit organization whose mission is making quality care and education of children happen by providing information,

education, and assistance to families, providers of child care, and the community. As Central Alabama's only child care resource and referral agency, Childcare Resources was created as the outgrowth of a child care task force convened by the United Way of Central Alabama in 1984 to address critical child care needs identified in Jefferson, Shelby, and Walker Counties, with Blount County added to the service area in 1988.

Willa Fitzgerald ’09 is starring in Netflix's first-ever procedural medical drama series, building a world-class team of doctors at Miami's top emergency center. From creator, showrunner, and executive producer Zoe Robyn (“The Equalizer”) and showrunner and executive producer Carlton Cuse (“Lost,” Tom Clancy's “Jack Ryan,” and “Locke and Key”), “Pulse” will follow the staff of Miami's busiest Level 1 trauma center as they navigate medical emergencies and their equally complex personal lives. Willa Fitzgerald (“The Fall of the House of Usher” and “Strange Darling”) and Colin Woodell (“The Continental: From the World of John Wick”) will play the hotshot leads.

Bradley Moody Mims ’09 was named Teacher of the Year at Riverside Elementary School in Columbia, Tennessee, where she has taught for 10 years and currently teaches third grade.

In memory of Margaret Lowe ’12, the Miles for Margaret 5K Race achieved huge success in its eighth year when it was run on the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Virginia, in April. Race proceeds benefit the Pi Beta Phi Literacy Programs, The Geordie Center, and Camp Kesem, organizations that were very important to the “Marvelous Margaret.”

Sarah Mulloy ’14 earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience from University of Minnesota Medical School in January 2024. Her thesis studied the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol use disorder and defended her dissertation titled, "Different Patterns of Acute and Chronic Alcohol Activation of the Mesopontine Tegmentum Across Cell-type, Sub-region, and Sex."

Brianna Bjordahl ’15 received her Master of Science in tropical biology and conservation from James Cook University in Cairns, Australia, in December. Currently, Brianna works as the conservation biologist for the northwest region for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, where she manages habitats and species in the area.

Sophie Pilkinton ’15, a former Harpeth Hall Bearacuda and Yale swimmer, played a pivotal role in saving Yale teammate Ali Truwit’s life after a shark attack in 2019. Truwit, a promising athlete, lost her foot and part of her leg but remained determined to

Ginny Perkey ’07 wedding

Margaret Lowe ’12 Memorial

continue swimming. Sophie’s quick thinking and application of a tourniquet halted the bleeding. Truwit’s journey, from facing devastating injuries to training for the Paralympic Games, serves as a testament to resilience and the power of the Yale swimming community’s support. Sophie earned her medical degree from University of Tennessee Medical School and is currently an ophthalmology resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Claire Tattersfield ’15 was selected as Harpeth Hall's 2024 Carell Writer-inResidence. An assistant editor at Viking Children's Books and Flamingo Books at Penguin Young Readers, Claire is the author of the children's picture book “Cupig.” After finishing college as editor-in-chief of her school's satire paper, Claire found that her skills in writing short-form satire translated phenomenally to writing picture books, and that is how “Cupig” was made. In January, she hosted storytime at Parnassus Books. Claire lives in Brooklyn, New York, and this is her first book.

Corinne Gibson ’16 graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School, where she valued the clinical training and the relationships she formed. She was president of the Medical Student Executive Council and the Student Government Association Council. She also served on the UTHSC Advisory Board. She is currently in her residency program in anesthesia.

Eliza Hawkins ’17 graduated in August 2023 from Vanderbilt School of Nursing, where she earned an advanced practice registered nursing degree and a Master of Nursing. She is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with the Metro Community Health Center in New York City.

Marguerite Coombs ’18 graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a master's degree in speech-language pathology. She received the Kim Diemert Award for a graduating graduate student who demonstrates the qualities of patience, caring, compassion, and commitment to those who are critically ill.

Raegan Coleman '19 graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She will continue her education in the physician’s assistant (PA) program at Trevecca Nazarene University.

Ella Nelson ’19, a former Harpeth Hall Bearacuda and standout swimmer for the Virginia Cavaliers, was recently featured in SwimSwam Magazine and was praised for consistently showcasing her prowess in the pool throughout her career. Ella’s remarkable performances in events like the individual medley and breaststroke have cemented her status as a top-tier athlete. Her contributions extend beyond individual accolades, with Nelson playing a crucial role in Virginia's relay successes and earning four team titles.

Grace Whitehouse '19, who is pursuing her master's degree in transportation engineering, was awarded a $5,000 Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship to analyze women's travel behaviors on public transportation. Grace hopes to recommend how transit services

Corinne Gibson ’16

Claire Tattersfield ’15

Walker McKnight ’20

can improve service times, station cleanliness, and safety concerns. The fellowship is for students pursuing degrees in transportation-related disciplines. Following graduation, Grace will work with STV Incorporated.

Alex Massey ’20 was accepted into the Yale Graduate School of Health while attaining her undergraduate degree. The dual program in healthcare management only accepts two or three Yale undergraduates each year, and she will be a five-year graduate with both undergraduate and master’s degrees from Yale.

Recent Washington and Lee University graduate Walker McKnight ’20 was featured in an article in the university's magazine, The Columns. Her family's legacy at W&L dates back 101 years to her great-grandfather, French Rayburn McKnight Sr., who graduated from the university in 1923. Walker majored in cognitive and behavioral science and minored in studio art along with playing lacrosse as a DIII athlete.

Ellie Seehorn ’20, a computer science and sociology double major and statistics concentrator at Grinnell College, received the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for 2024. She was one of 508 new scholars selected from a total of 1,353 nominees from colleges and universities around the country. Ellie is dedicated to accessibility research, aiming to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science with a focus on human-computer interaction and accessibility. Her summer research experiences underscore her commitment to accessibility, which has been historically under-researched. At Carnegie Mellon, she focused on integrating Individualized Education Program goals into adaptive learning tools for special education. Her work at the University of Washington involved tactile graphics for the blind/ low-vision community. This summer, conducting research with the Human-AI Lab at the University of Michigan on the development of DIY assistive technologies for blind/low-vision individuals. At Grinnell, Ellie is also a dean's list recipient, National Merit Scholar, peer educator in the

Class Notes

in the HONS 1000H seminar. She is looking forward to growing her teaching and leadership skills through lesson planning and collaboration with her fellow HTAs.

Madeline McGrew ’21 was elected president of the Panhellenic Executive Board at Southern Methodist University. Also, she will serve as the product marketing and social media marketing intern for Mary Kay in Dallas, Texas, this summer.

computer science department, founding member of the Grinnell Chapter of Girls Who Code, and president of the Women and Gender Minorities in Computing organization. She was elected member of the Computer Science Student Educational Policy Committee and program coordinator for Computing Peers United organization. In addition, she has worked for the Disability Resources Office since her first year.

Alex Walsh ’20, a former Harpeth Hall Bearacuda and swimmer at the University of Virginia, has achieved a remarkable milestone in collegiate swimming. Surpassing her former teammate Kate Douglass, Alex now holds the record for the most titles in ACC history with 26 career titles. Her consistent success in the conference, highlighted by a perfect record in her last three ACC seasons, reflects her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. Her impact on the Virginia team and the broader swimming community is undeniable. Alex also recently announced her decision to return for a fifth year at Virginia. Alex is an eight-time NCAA champion, 13-time First Team All-American, World Champion, All-ACC Academic Team honoree, ACC Academic Honor Roll ember, and 2022 Olympic silver medalist. She will compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Martha Downey ’21 is a rising senior at the University of Georgia and has been selected as an honors teaching assistant for the fall 2024 semester. In this position, Martha will lead a class of first-year honors students

Fiona Muldowney ’21 is a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority at the University of Mississippi and will be serving as the director of academic excellence for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Eliana Schneider ’21 was accepted into the Speech-Language Pathology 4 + 1 program at Syracuse, where she will earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Gretchen Walsh ’21, a former Harpeth Hall Bearacuda and University of Virginia swimmer, completed a record-breaking NCAA season. Beyond being named NCAA champion in her three individual events, Gretchen also set NCAA records in all three events. She currently holds the NCAA and American records in the four fastest events in college swimming — 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, and 100 back. Gretchen was named ACC Swimmer of the Year, ACC Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year, CSCAA Swimmer of the Year, and

Madeline McGrew ’21

recently received the 2024 Honda Sports Award for swimming and diving. The Honda Sports Award is given annually in the United States to the best collegiate female athlete in each of 12 sports. Gretchen will compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Nora Wang ’21, who has completed her junior year at the University of Pennsylvania, participated in the Family of Color Community Panel for the admission office at Harpeth Hall.

Holly Powell ’22 is the president of the Delta Iota chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Puget Sound.

Jordan Whitehouse ’22 was one of few juniors selected for the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Honor Society at Birmingham-Southern College.

Isabella Baldwin ’23 received the Peggy Feldmann Award in April from the U.S. Naval Academy Athletic and Scholarship Programs. This award recognizes the female

Academy athlete with the greatest athletic achievement and inspired team leadership in a given academic year. Winning this award as a freshman wonderfully reflects the preparation and coaching Isabella received from Harpeth Hall and her coaches, Jim Abernathy and Mike Carter.

Vee Counter ’23, Avery Hassan ’23, Mary Meacham ’23, Lailah Rucker ’23, and Sarah Martin Sachtleben ’23 took part in a virtual panel discussion with the senior class to answer questions about the transition to college. This discussion provided plenty of wisdom for the Class of 2024 and was full of laughter.

Anna Lindsley ’23 completed her freshman year at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. She was accepted into the academy's Martinson Honors Program last year before reporting for basic cadet training at the end of June. This is the first time the Academy invited cadets to join the program before arriving, asking only 25 students of

the 1,000 accepted freshmen. Anna is majoring in aerospace engineering and was recruited to compete on the academy's Track and Field Division I team. She competed across Colorado during her freshman year, breaking her personal records. She competes in jump and sprinting events. This summer, Anna will complete one of the academy's airmanship programs — parachuting — providing her an opportunity to earn her Airborne Wings. She will also complete the academy's combat survival training with all of the academy's rising sophomores.

London gathering brings students and alumnae together during Winterim

This year marked a return to Winterim travel abroad for Harpeth Hall students. Embracing this opportunity for experiential learning, 23 intrepid members of the Class of 2024 joined chaperones Joe Croker, Denise Croker, and Jackie Powers on a delightful trip to England. Our resumption of overseas travel also brought the opportunity to reconnect with young alumnae living in Great Britain. Harpeth Hall hosted two dinners in London, which allowed members of the Class of 2024 to meet and hear the experiences of some of our amazing, young alumnae who are working or studying in England and Scotland. Alumnae participants

included Lizzy Asad ’18, Maya Misra ’18, Gavi Abelow ’18, Gracie Pope ’16, Amna Asad ’14, and Adelaide Morphett ’13. The first dinner took place at Maroush, a Lebanese restaurant in the Earl’s Court area of London, and was such a success that we organized a second gathering at Shoryu Ramen in Kensington. Our current students were inspired by the adventurous tales of these impressive young women, and they also learned many practical details about the diverse paths that led our alums to experience life abroad.

(left to right) Denise Croker, Lizzy Asad ’18, Gavi Abelow ’18, Adelaide Morphett ’13, Jackie Powers, and Joe Croker

(left to right) Jackie Powers, Amelia Alexopoulos ’24, Madeline Bell ’24, Anna Kerr ’24, Shreya Priyadarshi ’24, Linden Alldredge ’24, Joe Croker, Gracie Pope ’16, Amna Asad ’14, Maya Misra ’18, and Lizzy Asad ’18

(left to right) Gracie Pope ’16, Joe Croker, Lizzy Asad ’18, Amna Asad ’14, Maya Misra ’18, Denise Croker, and Jackie Powers

ALUMNAE BIRTHS

Kelleigh Bannen Grossman ’99 daughter, Mary Grant Grossman, on Dec. 1, 2023

Frances Lewis ’01 daughter, Arden Lewis Orshak, on Jan. 11, 2024

Elizabeth Stout Creed ’02 son, Ethan Thatcher Creed, on Dec. 10, 2023

Emily Clark King ’02 daughter, Hope Carol King, on Jan. 4, 2024

Lindsay Owens ’02 son, Alfred “Alfie” Owen Gertsema, on Aug. 12, 2003

Sara Isenhour Washburn ’03 daughter, Adelaide 'Addie' James Washburn, on Feb. 12, 2024

Annie Brooks Hickerson ’05 daughter, Lucy Elizabeth Hickerson, on Dec. 15, 2023

Mary Susan Sinclair-Kuenning ’05 son, Jackson Ray Flanagan, on Jan. 4, 2024

Katie Shaub Thackston ’05 son, Charles Aroman Thackston II, on Feb. 15, 2024

Margaret Walker Clair ’06 son, Philip Horatio Clair, on Feb. 1, 2024

Meg DeLozier Ferguson ’06 son, Benjamin “Buster” DeLozier Ferguston, on Jan. 9, 2024

Denton Whitson Kerrigan ’06 son, Hartwell Hunt Kerrigan, on March 30, 2023

True Claycombe Pfeifer ’06 son, McLane “Mac” George Claycombe Pfeifer, on September 15, 2023

Sarah Zimmerman Jordan ’07 daughter, Mary Katherine Rose Jordan, on April 22, 2024

Lauren Riegle Mitchell ’07 son, Weldon Stafford Mitchell, on Feb. 26, 2024

Mamie Nichols Murphy ’07 daughter, Britt Barnum Murphy, on Nov. 7, 2023

Kathleen Geer Petro ’07 daughter, Annie Herrington Petro, on Sept. 5, 2023

Christina Mishu Rosean ’07 son, Andrew Theodore Rosean, on Feb. 19, 2024

Mary Tek Sykes ’07 daughter, Edith Rose Sykes, on July 25, 2023

English Taylor ’07 son, David Peach Cowgill, on Oct. 22, 2023

Annie Tipps ’07 son, Lewis Edward Pagonis, on Jan. 9, 2024

Ellie Maloy Austin ’08 son, William Robert Austin, on Nov. 16, 2023

Alex McLure Colvin ’08 daughter, Kathryn “Kate” Anne Colvin, on Nov. 27, 2023

Tobi Lee Erwin ’08 son, William Asher Erwin, on Feb. 13, 2024

Glory Beveridge Herring ’08 son, Alexander James Herring, on May 2, 2024

Caroline Prince ’08 daughter, Adaira Charlotte Erke, on Nov. 17, 2023

Sarah Dolan Kaldor ’09 daughter, Harper Hughes Kaldor, on Dec. 16, 2023

Caroline Mack ’09 daughter, Emily Brooks Simmons, on March 10, 2023

Hannah Claybrook Gibbs ’10 son, Walker Anderson Gibbs, on March 14, 2024

Mabry Jackson Parchem ’10 daughter, Louise Arlene Parchem, on Feb. 12, 2024

Lexi Gregg Sestak ’10 daughter, Austin Joy Sestak, on June 21, 2023

Emily Weikert Smith ’10 son, Wyatt Douglas Smith, on Sept. 18, 2023

Carly Rolfe Symington ’10 daughter, Virginia Gayle Symington, on Nov. 25, 2023

Katie Martin Taylor ’10 daughter, Mary Jo Taylor, on March 21, 2024

Sara Brown Fleishman ’11 daughter, Eleanor Inez Fleishman, on Nov. 19, 2023

Molly White Viola ’11 daughter, Alice Elizabeth Viola, on Jan. 24, 2024

Molly Claybrook Newell ’12 daughter, Callan Grace Newell, on Dec. 8, 2023

Becca Jacques Smith ’12 daughter, Mary Barrett Smith, on May 5, 2023

Catherine Andrews Burkholder ’13 son, Stroud King Burkholder, on Nov. 16, 2023

Liza Southwick Zuckerman ’13 son, Baker Griffin Zuckerman, on Sept. 29, 2023

CiCi Rutherford Young ’14 son, James Rutherford “Ford” Young, on Feb. 7, 2024

Jackson Ray Flanagan

Adelaide “Addie” James Washburn

McLane George Claycombe Pfeifer

Philip Horatio Clair

Baker Griffin Zuckerman

Charles Aroman Thackston II

William Robert Austin

William Asher Erwin

Wyatt Douglas Smith

Mary Katherine Rose Jordan with sisters Maggie and Mackenzie

Mary Barrett Smith

Lewis Edward Pagonis

Eleanor Inez Fleishman

Britt Barnum Murphy

Benjamin “Buster” DeLozier Ferguston

Austin Joy Sestak

Andrew Theodore Rosean

Karin Adams Barro ’77 to Gordon Wynn on June 1, 2024

JoAnna Jones Howe ’78 to Kenny Ficken on March 23, 2024

Ann Wyatt Little ’04 to Mike Vacek on Oct. 14, 2023

Claire Nuismer ’06 to Landers Deon Gaines II on Feb. 4, 2024

Ginny Perkey ’07 to Steven Desiena on April 27, 2024

Sharlene Rivers ’07 to Milton Zinn on July 15, 2023

Caroline Mack '09 to Evan Simmons on April 9, 2022

Bridget Bailey ’10 to Mary Liza Hartong ’12 on April 6, 2024

Meredith Lang ’11 to Matthew Robert Gorham on May 4, 2024

Cara Moses ’11 to Tucker Bettis on April 13, 2024

Leslie Rolfe ’13 to John Hazen on May 4, 2024

Jordyn Johnson ’13 to Graham Richartz on Sept. 16, 2023

Ellen Matthews ’13 to Alex Brent Chumbley on Sept. 3, 2023

Delaney McBride ’13 to Cole Mellen on May 5, 2024

Mary Eugenia Hunt ’14 to Clay Smith on March 23, 2024

Sammy Flynn ’15 to Michael Larkin on Feb. 17, 2024

Ansley Murphy ’15 to Camp Geary on May 11, 2024

Briley Newell ’15 to Arik Maurice Maurell on Oct. 21, 2023

Carly Henderson ’16 to Jake Jacobson on April 13, 2024

Anna Clark Harrison ’17 to Asher Paxton on March 9, 2024

Rachel Hagan ’17 to Avery Tate on May 27, 2023

Meredith Lang

Cara Moses

Anna Clark Harrison

Ann Wyatt Little

Mary Eugenia Hunt

Briley Newell

Claire Nuismer

Mary Liza Hartong and Bridget Bailey

Ginny Perkey

Martha Bryan Foreman WB ’38, of Nashville, passed away April 3, 2024. Martha was a community volunteer and member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She is survived by three sons, one daughter, Jane Foreman Jackson ’73, nine grandchildren including Allyson Foreman ’00 and Janie Jackson Ward ’07, and eight great-grandchildren.

Edith “Deedee” Houston Weaver WB ’42, of Atlanta, passed away April 27, 2024, at the age of 99. Deedee worked at Pierre Deux and also sold antiques. She is survived by one daughter, one son, and several grandchildren.

Mary Jane Stuckey Baxter WB ’46, of Naples, Florida, passed away Jan. 15, 2024. Mary Jane is survived by her husband, three sons, seven grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Mary Anne Hailey Kirk Capeci WB ’46, of Nashville, passed away Dec. 13, 2023. Mary Anne was an accomplished artist and singer and taught voice lessons. She is survived by two daughters, step-children, three granddaughters, nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.

Mary Ann “Tommie” Hibbett Andrews WB ’47, of Nashville, passed away Dec. 21, 2023. Tommie enjoyed landscape design and was an avid golfer, bridge player, and community volunteer. She is survived by two daughters, one son, two granddaughters, and one great-granddaughter.

Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Holton Lunn WB ’48, of Shreveport, Louisiana, passed away Jan. 18, 2024. Betsy was involved in many community organizations and loved using her journalism degree to work on community newsletters. She is survived by her daughter, son, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Gloria Louise Cherry Maxwell WB ’48, of Nashville, passed away Dec. 21, 2023. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Joan Jester Berry WB ’49, of Houston, passed away April 7, 2024. She was a longtime member of Bethel Church. Joan loved interior decorating, baking, traveling, and was involved in the community. She is survived by one son, two daughters, two grandsons, and one granddaughter.

Myrtle Ann Meiers Archer WB ’50, of Nashville, passed away Dec. 2, 2023. She was involved in many community organizations and always reached out to serve others. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Archer Davis ’75, her son, her granddaughters, Kate Davis Lemmons ’04 and Laura Davis ’07, two grandsons, and three great-grandchildren.

Abbie Alexander Dryden WB ’50, of Tucker, Georgia, passed away April 17, 2024. She enjoyed cooking, bridge, gardening, and was a member of Embry Hills United Methodist Church. She is survived by five children, 10 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Martha Houston Reid Hammond WB ’50, of Corinth, Mississippi, passed away Nov. 4, 2023. Martha and her husband ran a successful clothing business in Corinth and were very involved in the community. She is survived by three daughters, one son, 11 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Jean “Sissy” Morris Long WB ’50, of Memphis, passed away Dec. 24, 2023. Sissy was a graduate of Sweet Briar College, the University of Texas, and the University of Memphis. She was a teacher, author, and community volunteer. Sissy is survived by two sons, one daughter, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Amie Boyd Marks WB ’50, of Shelbyville, Tennessee, passed away March 4, 2024. Amie was a beloved figure in the American Saddlebred and Tennessee Walking Horse community. She is survived by three sons, one daughter, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Mary Virginia Nash Watson WB ’50, of Greenville, Mississippi, passed away Feb. 5, 2024. She was chairman of the Mississippi Cotton Women's Committee, which promotes USA-made cotton clothing nationwide. Mary Virginia was a patron of the arts and a community volunteer. She is survived by two sons, two daughters, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Carolyn “Fifi” Hunter Anderson ’52, of Nashville, passed away May 1, 2024. Fifi taught elementary school and was later an interior designer and accomplished painter. She is survived by two sons, one daughter, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Sally Duke George ’52, of of Chicago, passed away Dec. 3, 2023. Sally taught elementary school and enjoyed traveling. She is survived by one son, three daughters, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Margaret “Peggy” Casparis Groos ’53, of Nashville, passed away April 7, 2024. Peggy was a graduate of Vanderbilt University and a lifelong learner and community volunteer. She is survived by her husband, four children, including Margaret Groos Sloan ’77 and Katie Groos Nelson ’80, seven grandchildren, including Ella Nelson ’19, and daughter-in-law Jane Linebaugh Groos ’82.

Ellen Russell Sadler ’55, of Nashville, passed away Dec. 24, 2023. Ellen graduated from Vanderbilt, taught elementary school, and was an accomplished artist. She was involved in many community organizations. Ellen is survived by her three sons, three step-children, 10 grandchildren including Libby Harwell Mecklenborg ’10, four great-granddaughters, and her sisters Kay Russely Beasley ’52, Lee Russell Brown ’60, and Carolyn Russell ’64.

Sara Avalyn Berry Swain ’56, of Peoria, Illinois, passed away Jan. 13, 2024. She taught elementary school, and her later interests included gardening, interior design, and singing in the church choir. Avalyn is survived by her husband, three daughters, one son, and eight grandchildren.

Louise Davis Dozier ’57, of Franklin, Tennessee, passed away March 2, 2024. Louise was a charter member of the Church of the Resurrection. She is survived by her son, daughter, grandson, niece, and nephew.

Betty Tippens Baker ’59, of Homewood, Illinois, passed away Dec. 17, 2022. She had a career as a children's librarian and was involved in many community organizations. She is survived by her husband, one daughter, one son, three grandchildren, one brother, and her sister, Jenny Tippens Dickinson ’68.

Gloria “Glo” Creagh Frye ’59, of Gray, Tennessee, passed away Jan. 23, 2024. Glo was an athletic and competitive tennis player throughout her youth and adulthood and active in her community. She is survived by her husband, four sons, one daughter, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, her sister, Char Creagh Creson ’54, two brothers, and many nieces and nephews.

Caroline Trabue Reed ’61, of Nashville, passed away Jan. 12, 2024. Caroline graduated from the University of Mississippi, worked for the State of Tennessee, and was a community volunteer. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Trabue Quaedvlieg ’85, one grandson, one granddaughter, two sisters, one brother, and nieces and nephews.

Susan Sudduth Dodson Hiller ’62, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away Sept. 1, 2023. After selling Medical Office Management Systems (MOMS), the business she co-founded in 1982, Susan devoted herself to her family and her passion for volunteer life — grief counseling and volunteer hospice visits — and to being the lead pastoral care volunteer for her church. She served on the boards and as president of Wildwood Park for the Arts and Little Rock Wind Symphony and as a board member of Arkansas Hospice. She is survived by her husband, her brother, her daughter and son-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Gayle Dearborn Vance ’63, of Nashville, passed away Feb. 15, 2024. Gayle founded Signature Companies, a successful dry-cleaning company. She was a community volunteer and founding member of St. George's Episcopal Church. She is survived by her husband, sister, Virginia Dearborn ’68, one son, two daughters including Sarah Roberts Hart ’90, and six grandchildren including Mason Hart ’24.

Martha Hailey DuBose ’64, of Wartrace, Tennessee, passed away Jan. 25, 2024. Martha was a gifted writer who worked in journalism and advertising. She is survived by one brother, three sisters, two daughters, and three grandchildren.

Anne Ambrose Dodson ’68, of Spring Hill, Tennessee, passed away April 26, 2024. She had a career in banking and enjoyed spending time in the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly. She is survived by many cousins.

Julia Webber Gildemeister ’69 of Nashville, passed away Dec. 22, 2023. Julia graduated from Salem College and received an MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. She worked in politics and banking and was the human resources manager at Harpeth Hall from 2006-2012. She was then the executive director of the Rooftop Foundation, helping to prevent homelessness. Julia is survived by her husband, her son, daughter, mother, and sister India Webber ’77.

Mary Susan Berry Kennedy '74, of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away May 17, 2024. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Southern Methodist University, and the University of Memphis, she was a professor at Columbia State Community College for 40 years and was involved in many community organizations. She is survived by her husband, daughter Berry Kennedy '04, son, sister, Amanda Berry Moody '80, three brothers, three grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Ellen Howard Bentz ’75, of Charleston, South Carolina, passed away March 25, 2023. She practiced law in Charleston her entire career. Ellen is survived by her brother and sister and many close friends.

Christine Elizabeth “Beth” Sargent ’75, of Nashville, passed away April 13, 2024. Beth was active in the Nashville Ballet and First Presbyterian Church communities. She is survived by her brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and many relatives.

Jill Gutmann Massey ’79, of Franklin, Tennessee, passed away Jan. 14, 2024. She was an active member of Church of the City where she served on staff. Jill is survived by her husband, two sons, one daughter, and a brother.

Teresa Parrish Smith ’80, of Orlando, Florida, passed away Nov. 11, 2023. She had a career in sales and later in elder care. Teresa is survived by her husband, son, and brother.

Julia Beckwith Lawton ’81, of Hermitage, Tennessee, passed away Dec. 22, 2023. She graduated from Belmont University where she studied accounting. Julia is survived by her daughter, brother, and nieces.

Jan Johnston Dixon of Franklin, Tennessee, passed away Dec. 24, 2023. Jan graduated from David Lipscomb University and earned her master's in education for guidance counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She worked as a guidance counselor at two high schools, including Harpeth Hall, from 1977-1979. She was a community volunteer and founded Matters of the Heart, an organization that supports medical students, residents, and young faculty who are facing the demands of rigorous medical training. She is survived by her husband, two sons, five grandchildren, two brothers, and nieces and nephews.

IN MEMORIAM — Past Trustee

Julia Webber Gildemeister ’69 of Nashville passed away Dec. 22, 2023. Julia graduated from Salem College and received an MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. She worked in the Harpeth Hall Business Office from 2006-2012. In her role as the human resources manager, she provided invaluable support to all faculty and staff. Julia is survived by her husband, her son, daughter, and sister, India Webber ’77.

James Edgar Dalton, Jr. (Jim), 81, of Nashville, passed away on June 12, 2024. Jim served on the Harpeth Hall Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2016 and was an active member of the Harpeth Hall parent community with his wife, Sandy, for 17 years from 2003 to 2020. Ever the Virginia-born gentleman, Jim had a highly effective way of offering sage advice while on the Harpeth Hall board from his decades of experience as a successful healthcare executive.

With a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Randolph-Macon College and a Master of Hospital Administration from Medical College of Virginia, Jim’s first professional role was assistant administrator of Lynchburg General Hospital. He then took on the role of administrator of Princeton Memorial Hospital in West Virginia, leading the construction of and transition to the new Princeton Community Hospital. After serving in multi-facility management roles in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee with Humana, American Medicorp, HCA Management Company, Hospital Corporation of America, and HealthTrust. Jim became president and CEO of Quorum Health Group.

In addition to his tenure as a Harpeth Hall trustee, Jim served on the boards of the Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Nashville Health Care Council, US Oncology, Select Medical Corporation, Universal Health Real Estate Investment Trust, AmSouth Bancorporation, and Randolph-Macon University. He also served in leadership positions with the Federation of American Hospitals and the American Hospital Association and was a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Jim was devoted to his family and attended countless school events with his wife, Sandy, for their five Harpeth Hall daughters, Caitlin Anthony ’07, Marliese Dalton ’15, Meredith Dalton ’15,

Jesse Weaver Van Volkenburgh of Nashville passed away March 19, 2024. Jesse graduated from St. Mary's College in Kansas and obtained her master’s and Ed.D. degrees from Peabody College. She taught at Cathedral School and at Harpeth Hall from 1969-1973. She practiced as a counselor, taught English as a second language, and later volunteered with Helping Holy Land Christians at St. George's Episcopal Church. She was considered an expert in the treatment of pain and lectured at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She is survived by her sister, Liz Van Volkenburgh ’69, and nieces and nephews.

Dalton Walsh ’15, and Gabrielle Dalton ’20. Other beloved family members include sister Patricia Anderson, children

Amy Fitzgerald (Bill), Lynn Senter, Ashley Flippin (Brad), Ryan Dalton (Alison), and grandchildren, Tyler, Aidan and Lilah Fitzgerald, Sydney and Lauren Senter, Henry, Matthew and Dalton Flippin, and James, Slater, and Paige Dalton.

Morgan