Hallways Fall 2019

HALLWAYS A PUBLICATION OF THE HARPETH HALL SCHOOL

FALL 2019

Our Voices Ring with Happiness

Honoring the Class of 2019 P. 34

Why an All-Girls School Is a Good Thing P. 22

Reflections on Reunion 2019 P. 43

FOUNDERS SOCIETY

Spotlight Raleigh Anne Blank Gray ’03

If

life is an hourglass, the people, places, and experiences that make us who we are, are the sand. Sifting through time, making their impact, then settling, buried below whatever comes next.

In my hourglass, Harpeth Hall is one of the largest, most impactful grains, having left an indelible mark, never truly settling, somehow always coming to the surface. Few of my memories, failures, or successes, do not begin at Harpeth Hall. You can say I have garnered my intense want to transmit this world “not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to (me)” from my amazing mother, Peaches Blank, but you can also point directly to our Step Singing pledge to know these traits were reinforced when wearing the plaid.

Innumerable opportunities would have passed me by were it not for the education I earned at Harpeth Hall. I was a stronger participant in student government at the University of Virginia because I was taught the importance of active leadership at Harpeth Hall. I was a more diligent classmate at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management because of what I cultivated in Harpeth Hall’s classrooms. Throughout my career at ESPN, Twitter, and Wasserman, I have applied the lessons I learned as a soccer-playing, track-running Honeybear, to be a more dedicated teammate and friend.

It is for these reasons, and more, that including Harpeth Hall in our estate plans was one of the easiest conversations I have ever had with my wonderful husband, John, of two years. He understands the importance of this place and knows that, regardless of where we live, I will forever be tied to the hilltops of dark magnolia green. I consider my status as an alumna of Harpeth Hall a great privilege of my life — one I am proud to sustain for others, even when my hourglass runs out of sand.

Raleigh Anne Blank Gray ’03 Harpeth Hall National Advisory Council Member If you are considering a planned gift to Harpeth Hall, please contact Susan Moll, Director of Advancement at 615-346-0087 or moll@harpethhall.org.

CONTENTS In This Issue: FEATURES

3 Going Beyond Curriculum 10 Exceptional Educators 22 Why an All-Girls School Is a Good Thing 27 New Trustees 28 The Investiture of Jess Hill 30 Celebrating the Class of 2023 32 Step Singing 34 Honoring the Class of 2019

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43 Reflections on Reunion 2019 34

56 Class Notes 66 Sallie Read Hicks Tribute

DEPARTMENTS

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2 Observations 3 Accolades 12 Athletics 19 Visual Arts 20 Performing Arts

CONGRATULATIONS BEARACUDAS!

28 12 18

On the Cover:

The graduating class of 2019 sings their alma mater, arm in arm on Souby Lawn.

Katherine Coode ’16, Helen Weaver ’16, and Claire Heflin ’16 returned to campus to join the Communictions team over the summer. Each one contributed in significant and meaningful ways to the many publications and projects that were developed, including this edition of Hallways.

HALLWAYS STAFF Suzannah Green, Editor Lauren Finney, Designer Photographers: Peyton Hoge, Jerry Mucklow, Michael Strasinger, and Uchida Photography Hallways is published twice a year by The Harpeth Hall School 3801 Hobbs Road, Nashville, TN 37215 HarpethHall.org This magazine is printed on FSC certified paper made up of 50% recycled content including 25% post consumer waste.

FALL 2019

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HEAD OF SCHOOL OBSERVATIONS 2019

In

the midst of educating and engaging our students, it is important that we take time to consider one of our greatest assets — our community. Harpeth Hall’s community, composed of strong young women and all those who support them, is a powerful part of our story both yesterday and today.

Our fall issue of Hallways is a celebration of our deepest bond, which “old girls with the new girls share.”

The connections, friendships, and bonds formed across our current and past classes are essential to gaining a fuller understanding of the value of a Harpeth Hall experience and diploma.

In this issue of Hallways, you will read about the power of reuniting with classmates years later, still laughing at old stories while sharing a continued respect for each other’s paths and a love of learning. You will also read a story about the reverence and appreciation of a Ward-Belmont alumna for a diploma received many years later. All of these stories illustrate the power of our community and the place it holds in our hearts.

In building and nurturing our community in 2019 and 2020, we place importance on gathering in the Frances Bond Davis Theatre each week as we provide an opportunity for every girl to participate fully in the life of the school. She stands up and asks questions, steps up to the podium and makes announcements, and gives her 8th or 12th grade speech on a topic of interest.

Each time we gather in that space, our younger students watch and learn from our older students. Our collective memories are formed, and our values as a school are cultivated and upheld.

When speaking to our graduates last spring, I reminded them that no matter how busy they become, they must tend to their relationships with friends and family. As we take time out of our academic day to come together and tend to our community, we must not take for granted the underlying strength of our vibrant and present community of over 700 interested girls and young women. This August, our newest school leaders, the class of 2020, created a palpable energy and enthusiasm as only seniors can do on the first day of school. Each girl in the room left feeling valued and excited to be a part of something larger than herself.

For over a century and a half, we have broken through the expectations of a “good” school and provided something unique.

Our founders were bold enough to give girls and young women an education consistent with what boys and men of their day were offered. This progressive idea far exceeded expectations of the day.

Today, we move beyond the expected once again by challenging our students with a world of innovative and self-directed deep

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dives into topics of interest. Our Global Scholars program, our SEEK initiative, our innovative pedagogy, and rich curriculum are brimming with opportunities for our girls to push the limits of formal instruction. Students engage in research, lead discussions, and present their findings of newly discovered understanding and knowledge to classmates, faculty, and experts in the field.

Our girls are given an open-ended challenge, and they are rising in ways not expected of others, but routinely expected of a Harpeth Hall student.

Studying and learning new things in this place continues to inspire us. Valuing the good work and dedication of our girls is and always has been what binds our strong community together.

Jess Hill Head of School

ACCOLADES

7th and 8th grade SEEK Scholars (Students Engaged in Extending Knowledge)

Going Beyond Curriculum

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t Harpeth Hall, students are provided a strong academic foundation and the tools to enrich their understanding of a complex and ever-changing world. With the aid of supportive teachers and mentors, students foster relationships, build skillsets, and participate in scholastic programs that will help them thrive in college, their careers, and in their lives.

The SEEK (Students Engaged in Extending Knowledge) and Global Scholars programs aim to inspire students of all ages to ask questions and to pursue a greater understanding of the world around them.

Through these research-based projects students are given the opportunity to follow their curiosity, stretch in their abilities, and choose to address topics not necessarily studied in-depth within the curriculum. These pursuits are the embodiment of our school’s mission in action to develop “responsible citizens who have global perspectives and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world.”

The Middle School SEEK Scholars Program is open to seventh and eighth-grade students who wish to pursue independent study in an area of their choice. The program is designed to encourage a student to explore a topic or subject of interest guided by a mentor. A SEEK Scholar may choose to delve deeper into a subject introduced in class or explore an area not included in middle school courses.

In the Upper School, students may choose to apply to the Global Scholars Program, a co-curricular opportunity that encourages independent and group inquiry concerning challenges in our world today. In the spring of their sophomore year, students explore major universal themes such as regional conflict, climate change, mental health, and environmental sustainability. They build global awareness and competence around these topics by engaging in a variety of

In her Global Scholars project, Millie Kirkland ’19 asked the question, “Is the Monroe Doctrine still alive?” activities including student-directed discussions, presentations by expert speakers, and written reflections. Students are pushed beyond their familiar geographic and cultural boundaries to develop the leadership skills necessary to become effective and responsible global citizens.

The Global Scholars Program culminates in the senior year with a capstone project about a topic of interest chosen by the student scholar.

Supported by a faculty mentor, these student-directed capstone projects are rooted in research, analysis, and creativity.

The SEEK and Global Scholars programs encourage cross-cultural connections and interdisciplinary modes of thinking to help students develop knowledge, empathy, and the capacities with which to act.

2018-19 SEEK PROJECTS

• “Musical Composition Using Classical and Modern Influences,” Julia Allos ‘23

• “The Evolution of Military Aircraft Technology,” Isabella Baldwin ‘23 • “A Short Story Based on the Colonization of Australia,” Josey Beavers ‘24 • “Saving the Nashville Crayfish Through Phytoremediation,” Sarah Braam ‘24

• “Japanese Woodblock Printing,” Lilly Cashen ’24 • “Immigration Then and Now (1890 - 2019),” Priyanka Chiguluri ‘23 • “Using Photography to Create Change,” Aarthe Govindaswamy ‘23 • “The Impact of 3D Printing on Bionic and Prosthetic Limbs,” Bella Guillamondegui ‘23

• “Learning with Down Syndrome,” Rachel King ‘23 • “Historical Fiction - Catastrophes in American History,” Lucy McNally ‘23 • “Winston Churchill’s Impact on Britain During World War II,” Amanda Pensinger ‘23

continued on page 68 FALL 2019

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ACCOLADES

Cum Laude Inductees

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his past spring, 19 students were inducted into the Harpeth Hall chapter of the Cum Laude Society. The purpose of this scholastic organization is to recognize academic accomplishments while also celebrating excellence, justice, and honor.

Cum Laude President Mohini Misra ’19 spoke about her fear of failure and how she manages it, while World Languages teacher Mr. Benny Abraham, recipient of the 2018 Lulu Hampton Owen

Chair for Excellence in Teaching, gave a touching and powerful speech about his love and motivation for teaching Latin.

Afterward, Mrs. Hill and Dr. Echerd introduced the new Cum Laude members and presented them with certificates.

2019 INDUCTEES

Juniors: Margaret Claire Beuter, Katherine Rose Dovan, Ainsley Rein Hanrahan, Hannah MacKenzie Higgins, Melissa Langley King, Ingram Pennebaker Link, Alexandra Eleanor Massey, Sarah Elizabeth Parks, Meghna Chandni Ramaiah Seniors: Alexandria Clareese Anderson, Emily Clay Beach, Mia Cosette Brakebill, Claiborne Parke Fowler, Helen Adair Griffith, Caroline Miller Kirkland, Margaret Ella Nelson, Olivia Margaux Olafsson, Anna Scout Robbins, Charlotte Mikell Taylor Faculty: Benjamin Curtiss Fulwider

Youth Legislature

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group of Harpeth Hall 7th graders attended the Youth Legislature Conference for middle school students in May 2019. The conference offers younger students an introduction to the Tennessee Legislature. While the one-day conference is simplified compared to the larger-scale high school versions, the students benefit from the same valuable educational opportunities when drafting and debating bills.

Led by Middle School Social Science Teacher, Cathy Richarde, the girls performed well and were recognized for their achievements.

Madeline Bell ’24 won the Outstanding Statesperson award.

Amelia Alexopoulos ’24, Madeline Bell ’24 and Taylor Perkins ’24 won an award for Outstanding Bill and had their anti-vaping law passed by the House and the Senate.

Josey Beavers ’24, Davern Cigarran ’24, Ruthie Gaw ’24, and Anaya Singh ’24 also convinced the legislature to pass their law banning corporal punishment in public schools.

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Youth Legislators (back row L to R): Ruthie Gaw ’24, Anaya Singh ’24, Davern Cigarran ’24, Taylor Perkins ’24; (front row L to R) Josey Beavers ’24, Amelia Alexopoulos ’24, Madeline Bell ’24.

ACCOLADES

National Scholastic Awards

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hirteen students from the state of Tennessee were chosen as winners of National Scholastic Writing awards in 2019. Nine of those thirteen writers are Harpeth Hall students. One of our nine students was awarded a Gold medal, one of only two writers to receive this honor in the state of Tennessee. Harpeth Hall is very proud to announce and congratulate the following students:

Scholastic Writing Award winners (back row L to R): Kathryn Jenkins ’19, Janet Briggs ’21, Jane Flautt ’19, Cole Hastings ’19; (front row L to R) Quinlan Cyr ’21, Caroline Seehorn ’23, Josey Beavers ’24, Olivia Finlayson ’24 Not Pictured: Haviland Whiting ’20

Olivia Finlayson (7th grade) Gold medal — Poetry category

Haviland Whiting (11th grade) Silver medal — Poetry

Josey Beavers (7th grade) Silver medal — Short Story

Jane Flautt (12th grade) Silver medal — Poetry

Caroline Seehorn (8th grade) Silver medal — Critical essay

Cole Hastings (12th grade) Silver medal — Critical essay

Janet Briggs (10th grade) Silver medal — Critical Essay

Kathryn Jenkins (12th grade) Silver medal — Poetry

Quinlan Cyr (10th grade) Silver medal — Poetry

Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized the vision, ingenuity, and talent of our nation’s youth, and provided opportunities for creative teens to be celebrated.

Through the Scholastic Awards, teens in grades 7–12 from public, private, or home schools can apply in 29 categories of art and writing for their chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited and published.

115 TOTAL

Scholastic Awards were given to

78

Harpeth Hall students at the regional level.

25 ENTRIES

received regional Gold Key awards and advanced to the national competition.

9 NATIONAL MEDALS were awarded: one gold and eight silver.

Learn more Nineteen Harpeth Hall art students in grades 7-12 received recognition at the regional level.

Five entries received Gold Key awards, six received Silver Keys, and 21 received Honorable Mention.

about student accomplishments at HarpethHall.org/news

FALL 2019

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ACCOLADES

Upper School End-of-Year Awards BOOK AWARDS

ATHLETIC AWARDS

Rhodes College Book Award

Outstanding Athlete Award

Janet Briggs

Ophelia Pilkinton

Wesleyan College Book Award

Pat Moran Sportsmanship Award

Sinclair Walker

Alexa Clare Anderson, Meredith Hollins

University of Chicago Book Award

Susan Russ Competitors Award

Katie Dovan

Ella Nelson, Ellie Smith

George Washington University Book Award

Emmons Woolwine Scholar-Athlete

Jessie Wills

Mohini Misra

Harvard University Book Award

Leadership Award

Alex Massey

Madeline Cummings

Hollins University Book Award

Spirit of Sport

Haviland Whiting

Raegan Coleman

University of Pennsylvania Book Award

12 Season Award

Ingram Link

Meredith Hollins

Princeton University Book Award

DEPARTMENT AWARDS

Ellie Frist Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal

Prim Wiphatphumiprates University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award

Outstanding Choral Student

Nina Petro Outstanding Instrumental Student

Sewanee: The University of the South Book Award

Outstanding Thespian

Claiborne Fowler

Gaby Viner

Margaret Ann Whitton

University of Virginia Jefferson Book Award

Outstanding Techie

Alex Walsh

Sarah Grace Kennady

Washington and Lee University Book Award

Cindy Crist Art Purchase Award

Sarah Parks

Emma Clark Luster

Wellesley College Book Award

Marnie Sheridan Art Award

Yale University Book Award

Meg Beuter

HALLWAYS

Margaret Pugh

Reese Graves

Keona Dordor

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Honor Dancer Award

Meredith Hollins

10th Grade: Devon Campbell, Sarah Cook, Quinlan Cyr, Grace Lee, Gretchen Walsh

Susan Souby Spirit of English Award

Chen Jaymin Prize Chinese Award

Olivia Olafsson

Holland Strang

Souby Hall Award

Lucie L. Fountain French Award

Scout Robbins

Olivia Leu

English Award

Spanish Award

Jane Flautt

Millie Kirkland

History Award

Cum Laude Award

Olivia Olafsson and Sarah Tolbert

Bianca Sass

Spirit of Science Award

CLASS SPIRIT AWARD

SENIOR AWARDS

9th Grade: Betsy Rogers

Idanelle McMurry Award

10th Grade: Georgia Elder

Bianca Sass

Helen Mullins Manning Mathematics Award

11th Grade: Rebecca Viner

Patsy White Bradshaw Citizenship Award

Kathryn Jenkins and Mohini Misra

12th Grade: Tess Herzog

Jolie Guinn Pickens Science Award

Caleigh Dennis

Math Award

Olivia Leu Ottarson Latin Award

Emily Beach Mary Varina Frazer Latin Award

Jane Flautt

ELIZABETH POPE EVANS AWARD

9th Grade: Ramsey Bottorff, Scout Dahir, Brooke Lytle, Sabrina Russell, Eleanor Taylor

11th Grade: Meg Beuter, Ainsley Hanrahan, MacKenzie Higgins, Evy Knouse, Sarah Parks 12th Grade: Annmarie Allos, Caleigh Dennis, Jane Flautt, Olivia Leu, Mohini Misra

Kate Pittman Susan McKeand Baughman Award

Charlotte Taylor Director’s Award

Olivia Holden Head’s Award

Ophelia Pilkinton FALL 2019

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ACCOLADES

Faculty Appreciation

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very spring, Harpeth Hall celebrates and recognizes its outstanding faculty for their commitment and dedication to the school.

The 2019 assembly featured a lively and animated speech by Kate Pittman ’19 who began, “I believe in the power of teachers.”

She praised every department and group on campus for being “the people who constantly strive to make this school be better.” Pittman continued, “I know of no other school whose classrooms pulse with such vivacious energy from both its students and its teachers as this one does. The walls of the English hall are plastered floor to ceiling with colorful posters and encouraging words.

Science labs are bursting with life, and the math wing buzzes with wonder. History discussions carry into the next class or break, because they contain material that genuinely interests the students. Language lectures push us not to memorize, but to understand. Our Performing Arts department evokes our deepest emotions. Wellness coaches make us stronger both physically and mentally, and we have a Fine Arts building that never ceases to amaze. These classrooms, filled with energetic, life-long learners ready to instill their knowledge of the world to the next generation are what I think I will miss most next year.”

Praise for faculty and staff continued in the remarks from Board of Trustees Chair, Jane Berry Jacques ’72. She first read Harpeth Hall’s Core Purpose statement: “Our Core Purpose is to nurture a sense of wonder, to cultivate a will and facility for learning, and to promote cultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and service to others. The pursuit of these goals will inspire students and faculty to combine knowledge with goodness and reflection with action.”

“This is done every day at Harpeth Hall,” Jacques said, “not only by the faculty and staff being honored today; but also by every teacher, staff member and administrator on this campus. I thank each and every one of you for what you mean to this school. The love of learning instilled here today is quite magical.”

Director of the Middle School Judi O’Brien and Director of the Upper School Armistead Lemon recognized faculty and staff “who have made long-term commitments to Harpeth Hall, and who have provided continuity, strength, and wisdom.”

Harpeth Hall Faculty and Staff Celebrating Anniversary Milestones 10-YEARS Nicola Bullard, Assistant to the Head of School Bekah Hassell, Middle School Science Teacher Meggie Lucas, Department Chair, Middle School Social Science Jacquie Watlington, Winterim and International Exchange Program Director Julie Zhu, Middle School Chinese Teacher 15-YEARS Tracy Campbell, Director of Annual Giving 20-YEARS Jennifer Adams, Director of Community Support and Inclusion 25-YEARS Polly Linden, Department Chair, Upper School Math 8

HALLWAYS

RETIRING

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o formally recognize his retirement and to thank him for his service to Harpeth Hall, Mrs. Hill asked Dr. Jack Henderson to come to the stage.

“For 22 years, Dr. Jack Henderson has served as a beloved Upper School history teacher, extraordinary coach, trusted mentor and colleague.

Known for his dynamic teaching and creative wit, Dr. Jack brings history to life for his students while making time to connect with each of them on a personal level. Hundreds of Kate Pittman ’19 and Dr. Jack Henderson Harpeth Hall students will fondly remember his vibrant storytelling, his signature vocabulary words, his map quizzes, and his unforgettable Winterim class on the Kennedys. More importantly, they will remember a teacher who believed in them, who saw their strengths, appreciated their quirks, and who helped them find a love for history.

“Vibrant and full of energy, Dr. Jack will continue to pursue his passions, including writing novels and spending time with his grandchildren. It is hard to imagine our Upper School hallways without Dr. Jack’s Tigger-like quick hops, sharp wit, and big smile. We will miss him tremendously, but most of all, we are thankful for the privilege of knowing, working with, and learning from him.”

ACCOLADES

Harpeth Hall Technology Program Receives Recognition

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eing a nationally recognized leader and innovator in girls education is a central goal of each division and department at The Harpeth Hall School. The leadership and intentionality of Harpeth Hall’s Library and Technology program, led by Molly Rumsey, Director of Information Services, was recognized recently

by EdTech Magazine in the article “K-12 Districts Keep Students Safe with Web Filters and Monitors.” The article’s author discusses

the importance of internet safety in K-12 schooling while highlighting the effective ways that Harpeth Hall maintains device security. Harpeth Hall Technology Director, Justin Dover, is featured as an integral person in this process. The article praises the specific programs Harpeth Hall uses to ensure internet safety without squelching student curiosity. Dover explains Harpeth Hall’s recent shift to cloud-based platforms that make it easier to filter inappropriate content from the school’s computers.

Not only is Dover concerned with the security of Harpeth Hall’s devices, but also with the safety of its students. As he states in the article, “They’re getting these machines because we want them to be able to experience and explore, but we also know that a couple wrong clicks could send an innocent student down the wrong path.” While schools provide students with laptops to expand the nature in which they learn, it is also important to adapt technologies that mitigate the risks related to these advancements.

Dover is well aware of this, and EdTech’s article portrays the many positive steps that Harpeth Hall’s technology department is taking to ensure student safety on the web.

Harpeth Hall Technology Director, Justin Dover

Learn more The full EdTech article is available at HarpethHall.org/news FALL 2019

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ACCOLADES IN TEACHING EXCELLENCE

Exceptional Educators Three Harpeth Hall teachers were recognized in 2019 for their commitment and dedication to helping each student reach her highest intellectual potential.

HEATH JONES PRIZE FOR THE PROMISE OF EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

Amy Emerson—Middle School Science Teacher Although she has only taught at Harpeth Hall for two years, Amy Emerson is already an integral member of the Harpeth Hall community. Before joining the Middle School as a 5th Grade science teacher, she was frequently spotted on campus working as an administrative assistant in the Upper School, coaching soccer, and substitute teaching. She is most well-known for her innovative spirit, creative thinking, and passion for lifelong learning. In her classroom, students learn about the different environmental components that comprise our universe as they start to explore and ask questions about the world around them. She is hands-on both in and outside of the science lab, best exemplified by her installation of hydroponic greenhouse units in her classroom and enthusiastic dedication to Harpeth Hall’s school garden. Her intellect, authenticity, and humor make her a beloved figure to students and colleagues alike.

“I hope that students leave [my classroom] with a willingness to make mistakes and try new things. I want students to have both a sense of humor about their mistakes and confidence that they can acquire the skills to overcome challenges. I hope to instill a sense of wonder about the world and a desire to play a role in caring for it.” — Mrs. Amy Emerson This prize is dedicated to A. Heath Jones, teacher and academic dean at Harpeth Hall from 1984 to 1996.

It is awarded 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.

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EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

ELLEN BOWERS HOFSTEAD CHAIR IN THE HUMANITIES

Lisa Keen—Upper School Science Department Chair Mrs. Keen brings a unique dynamic to the Science department that aids each student in discovering and developing her interest in the sciences.

For sixteen years and counting, she has made science accessible and relatable through hands-on activities, interesting labs, and entertaining lectures. She has also helped expand course offerings within the department, adding classes such as AP Physics, a STEM Engineering course, Anatomy and Physiology, and a STEM Honors Research course.

In and out of the classroom, she is encouraging, engaging and eager to share her knowledge and time. Mrs. Keen truly embodies what it means to be a successful woman in STEM. “In the end, I want them to know that success from my class is less about the retention of content and more about the thinking process. It is about problem-solving from several different approaches. It is like learning in three dimensions and being able to tackle a situation from several different vantage points. That is a skill that must be practiced, and it is not easy. Over time, this way of thinking critically will serve them well in any learning opportunity.”— Mrs. Lisa Keen This award was established by James W. Hofstead in loving memory of his wife, Ellen Bowers Hofstead. Mrs. Hofstead was a 1934 graduate of Ward-Belmont Preparatory School, and a 1935 graduate of WardBelmont Junior College. The Chair is awarded for a period of three years.

Candidates must 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.

LULU HAMPTON OWEN CHAIR FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

Bonnie Moses—Upper School Social Science Teacher For the past eighteen years, Social Science teacher Bonnie Moses has been a role model and figurehead within the Upper School. She seeks to spark the joy of learning within each student, as well as an appreciation for how the lessons of history inform the future. A stalwart supporter of students becoming engaged and informed citizens, she led the charge to introduce an AP Government course to the Upper School curriculum and is heavily involved in the activities of the Women in Government club. Her devotion to teaching and bringing history to life is evident and the care she holds for her students, fellow faculty and staff is palpable.

“A favorite college professor instilled in me the importance of teaching history in an interactive way that consistently demonstrates its relevance. I want my students to learn that history is not about memorizing events and dates, it is about understanding the problems, issues, and trends that have shaped, and continue to shape, our world.”— Mrs. Bonnie Moses This recognition established through a bequest from Lulu Hampton Owen 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.

FALL 2018

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CONGRATULATIONS BEARACUDAS!

BACK TO BACK

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2017 – 2018 • 2018 – 2019 SWIMMING AND DIVING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

12 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES SINCE 2001

22 REGION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES 1998 – 2019

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HARPETH HALL COLLEGE ATHLETES NON-VARSITY COLLEGE ATHLETES

ALEXA CLARE ANDERSON ’19 Washington University CROSS COUNTRY

CAROLINE DANIEL ’17 Belmont University CROSS COUNTRY

ELLA NELSON ’19 University of Virginia SWIMMING

LAUREN BARS ’17 University of Mississippi VOLLEYBALL

BAILEY FLYNN ’16 Texas Christian University SWIMMING

OPHELIA PILKINTON ’19 Yale University SWIMMING

MICHELLE BIESMAN ’16 University of Chicago TRACK & FIELD

JULIA JANE ESKEW ’18 University of Virginia SWIMMING

KATHRYN RISNER ’19 Marion Military Institute TENNIS

LILLA CATON ’18 University of Massachusetts ROWING

JORDYN LESH ’17 Tulane University TRACK & FIELD

CLAIRE SMITH ’17 Washington and Lee University CROSS COUNTRY & TRACK

ANNA GRACE COLE ’17 Fordham University ROWING

ELLIE LOVING ’17 University of Tennessee ROWING

MARGUERITE TROST ’18 University of Washington ROWING

MADELINE CUMMINGS ’19 Sewanee: The University of the South TENNIS

KATE MABRY ’18 Sewanee: The University of the South SWIMMING

SYDNEY WEBBER ’16 Carnegie Mellon University SOCCER

GRACE ANNE HOLLADAY ’17 Washington and Lee University CHEERLEADING CALLIE JANE SIMMONS ’16 University of Mississippi CLUB LACROSSE ABBY SPARROW ’16 Duke University CHEERLEADING KATE SULLIVAN ’17 Clemson University WATER SKI TEAM

JULIA YAKUSHI ’19 Southern Methodist University SWIMMING

MAKENZIE MASON ’17 University of Florida LACROSSE

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HAILEY FOX ’18 Dartmouth College CHEERLEADING

WASHINGTON MONTANA

MAINE NORTH DAKOTA

MINNESOTA VT

OREGON

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WISCONSIN

SOUTH DAKOTA

IDAHO

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NEW YORK

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WYOMING

NEBRASKA

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NEVADA COLORADO KANSAS CALIFORNIA

WEST VIRGINIA

INDIANA

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NEW JERSEY MD

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ILLINOIS

UTAH

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TENNESSEE OKLAHOMA NEW MEXICO

ARKANSAS

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H H H TEXAS

DELAWARE WASHINGTON, D.C.

VIRGINIA KENTUCKY

ARIZONA

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PENNSYLVANIA

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MASS

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ALABAMA MISSISSIPPI

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NORTH CAROLINA SOUTH HCAROLINA

GEORGIA

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LOUISIANA

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FOLLOW HARPETH HALL ATHLETIC NEWS @ HHATHLETICS ON TWITTER AND HarpethHall.org FALL 2019

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ATHLETICS

TRACK & FIELD

2019 TENNESSEAN SPORTS AWARDS The Tennessean Sports Awards recognizes and honors the top athletic accomplishments in Middle Tennessee High School Sports. Congratulations to Alex Walsh for winning 2019 Girls Swimmer of the Year and all of our nominees for their outstanding achievements.

Harpeth Hall had eight different athletes nominated across three different categories.

GIRLS SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

• Alex Massey • Ella Nelson • Ophelia Pilkinton • Alex Walsh WINNER • Gretchen Walsh

GIRLS LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR • Stefanie Chiguluri • Leelee Denton • Walker McKnight

GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR • Alex Walsh

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ATHLETICS

TRACK & FIELD The varsity track & field team won the TSSAA Middle Region Championship including first place finishes in eight separate events. They finished their season strong, earning second place in the TSSAA DII-AA State Championship Meet.

LACROSSE The 2019 varsity lacrosse team had a record breaking season. The Honeybears stayed undefeated for the first 11 games, earning them the highest national ranking in program history (9th). They went on to finish the season as TGLA State Runners-Up after a hard fought game with Ensworth.

LACROSSE

FALL 2019

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FACILITIES

HARPETH HALL CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF NEW ATHLETIC COURTS AND FIELDS

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s the new school year begins, construction activity on the northwest corner of campus comes to an end, and Harpeth Hall celebrates the opening of new tennis courts and athletic fields. This expansion project was made possible through Harpeth Hall’s acquisitions of properties on Hobbs Road and Johnstone Court in prior capital campaigns with a vision of expanding the northwest side of campus. In January of 2018, Harpeth Hall’s Board of Trustees approved this project, and work began in June 2018, to clear and prepare the properties for use as additional space for athletics and wellness.

After the close of the 2019 spring season, more work began on the transformation of fields, and after a few short months, the dust has settled and new grass has taken root.

The Hobbs Road entrance to campus is now adorned with the green grass of the new field that can be used for multiple purposes and is large enough for a competitionsize soccer or lacrosse field. Utilizing the land on the northwest corner allowed for a new regulation size softball field that now has proper drainage and orientation. Four new tennis courts also were constructed as part of the project, and now all of the athletic facilities on campus are

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located in close proximity to the Athletic and Wellness Center, which just celebrated its fifth year on our campus.

In addition to the new athletic amenities, Harpeth Hall has beautified the new part of campus by adding trees and shrubs to serve as a buffer for neighbors, and has added fences to cordon off fields. Security lighting has been installed for added safety.

“We are so fortunate to have the full use of our 44 acre campus for our girls. Now we can accommodate our athletic teams and competitions more easily as well as our wellness and physical education program for 5th through 12th grades,” said Jess Hill, Head of School.

Karen Sutton, Harpeth Hall Director of Athletics, shared her enthusiasm for the project, “The addition of the fields and tennis courts immediately impacts our students, as their involvement in athletics and wellness continues to grow.

Adding a beautiful green space at the Hobbs Road entrance enhances the aesthetics of the campus and provides valuable space for our students.”

We are grateful for all the individuals who helped make these improvements possible.

Hobbs Road Campus Entrance

Johnstone Ct.

Relocated Softball Field

NEW Regulation Field for Soccer and Lacrosse Games (Current Softball Field)

Detenti on Pon d

Four NEW Tennis Courts

Athletic & Wellness Center

New Northwest Corner of Campus

Recent Aerial Photograph Hobbs Road Campus Entrance

Johnstone Ct.

Relocated Softball Field

NEW Regulation Field for Soccer and Lacrosse Games (Current Softball Field)

Detenti on Pon d

Four NEW Tennis Courts

Athletic & Wellness Center

Architectural Rendering

FALL 2019

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SUMMER

at Harpeth Hall

H

aving fun at Harpeth Hall is not limited to the school year thanks to the many summer programming opportunities available on campus. This past summer, girls gained new skills including chemistry in the Princesses and Potions camp and music composition in the Music Theory camp, honed their athletic abilities in All Sports Day Camp and, most importantly, made lifelong friendships!

During the wonderful STEM Summer Institute and our wide range of academic, athletics and arts camps, 671 campers visited Harpeth Hall in June, July and August, with a total of 1,110 registrations. In 2019, the Summer Camp program introduced 16 new camps this year while 14 camps were at full capacity with waitlists. Campers came from 38 different zip codes; 9 states including California, Texas, Washington, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, Louisiana and D.C.; and over 55 different schools.

Thank you to all our families for another fun-filled summer of learning at Harpeth Hall.

We hope you will join us again next year!

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VISUAL ARTS

Hats, Coco Smith ’21

Marilyn, Olivia Klindt ’19

Girl, Camryn Lesh ’20

Breadth Work, Elizabeth Brown ’22

Hendrix, Emma Clark Luster ’19

Apple, Katie Dovan ’20

Turban, Grace Scowden ’20

Texture Exploration, Sarah Tolbert ’19

Gold Leaf Girl, Catherine Ryan ’21

Bird, Macy Richards ’21

Visual Arts ANNUAL SPRING STUDENT ART SHOW FALL 2019

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PERFORMING ARTS

Spring Orchestra Concert

Spring Choral Concert

Spring Orchestra Concert

Spring Choral Concert

Spring Choral Concert

Spring Orchestra Concert

Performing Arts SPRING 2019 20

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PERFORMING ARTS

One Acts

Photo cutline

Spring Dance Concert

Spring Dance Concert

Spring Dance Concert

Spring Dance Concert FALL 2019

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by Lily Clayton Hansen Lily Clayton Hansen is a freelance writer. This article was first published by lifestyle blog StyleBlueprint and is reprinted here with permission for our Harpeth Hall community.

Whyan All-Girls School

In

Is a Good Thing

a world where women are increasingly pursuing leadership roles, it’s critical to have environments where they are both supported and shown firsthand that it is possible to take

control of their own lives and careers. Nashville’s college preparatory all-girls school, Harpeth Hall, provides exactly that kind of guidance and ecosystem for young girls and women. As Head of School Jess Hill explains, “There is never a reticence in terms of our students raising their hands in the college classroom after they graduate because they’re used to carrying the day.”

According to the National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS), the benefits of an all-girls academic environment are many, among them being “a girl can comprehend her value and her capabilities in ways that have nothing to do with how she looks or whom she dates. Not only is she not in a bubble, she’s utterly free to do anything and everything she wants. She can experiment and explore, trying out new things and trying on new identities.” In terms of hard facts, NCGS cites one highly impressive statistic: Nearly 100% of girls’ school graduates go on to college.

(Find additional research on the NCGS website ncgs.org.)

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FEATURE

The Harpeth Hall School is proud of its 154-year-old history.

Jess, who is funny, sharp, and self-deprecating, was first hired at Harpeth Hall 24 years ago as a math teacher in the upper school, a position she held for a decade. The power of an all-girls environment was apparent to her from the beginning after attending and teaching at a co-ed school in Atlanta, Georgia. Her observation was that, due to an all-girls environment, the girls felt empowered and viewed as individuals. “I realized immediately how different each of the 16 girls was in my classes,” she explains.

to her. “We began with a vision to offer girls equal academic experiences to boys, which at the time was revolutionary, and those progressive and innovative roots are still present today,” she explains.

Most recently, Jess has been implementing ways to shift what is now culturally called the “confidence gap,” which she first became aware of after she and a group of Harpeth Hall teachers read an Atlantic Magazine article on the topic.

Serving on committees throughout After doing some research, the years helped Jess see that while they discovered that the five she loved the classroom, she also inhibitors their students liked seeing the school through struggled with were larger lenses. Since becoming perfectionism, sensitivity Head of School in 2018, she has to criticism, fear of failure, worked hard to create a community language of self-doubt and where each girl is embraced comparison, the latter of which for her unique qualities. “The is increasingly threatening with common thread between our the popularity of social media.

Girls are encouraged to participate, be vocal and speak their mind, students is they are excited about To tweak the culture, Jess posted an ask that is less intimidating among same-sex peers. learning,” she explains. Jess, who is signs with the word “perfect” proud of the school’s 154-year-old history, never rests on her slashed out to remind students that risk-taking took higher priority laurels but is rather resolute in finding ways to improve the than success. Her goal is that once they enter the working world academic system. With the city of Nashville constantly in flux, the they will be less afraid to ask for raises or be real with their peers legacy values of Harpeth Hall have become even more important in regards to their failures. Whether it is the Winterim program FALL 2019

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FEATURE

where students attend job internships and study abroad, or the Global Scholars Program in which they conduct independent studies, lead discussions and present capstone projects, Jess wants the students of Harpeth Hall to graduate prepared for the real world.

Similarly, Ellen Green Hoffman, Vice President and financial advisor at First Tennessee Bank, agrees that an all-girls academic environment has been instrumental in her success. Since graduating in 2004, Ellen has chaired reunions and served on the Young Alumnae Council to stay engaged. As she also currently expects a daughter, she has been reflecting on how taking gender out of the equation allowed her to focus on herself.

Seeing women in leadership roles during her formative years eliminated any doubts that she could also one day find herself in a highperforming position.

“I always believed that I was meant to do great things and make a difference in society because of my education at Harpeth Hall,” she explains.

During Ellen’s senior year, she obtained an internship at a bond-trading desk on Wall Street, which gave her direct experience in different work environments. She attributes the positive feedback she received from her superiors as giving her the confidence to work on Wall Street during the financial crisis at age 22. “Once I arrived, I knew I could do it,” she says. She had full faith that she would thrive.

She was praised for her poise and ability to try on different perspectives, which she believes was woven into the culture at Harpeth Hall.

“In classroom discussions, everyone’s opinion was not only asked for but also respected,” she says.

Likewise, Crissy Wieck, Senior Vice President of Sales for Western Express, who graduated in 1996, cherishes her education at Harpeth Hall — perhaps because her family sacrificed so their daughter could attend what they deemed to be the best school in Nashville. “During my developmental years at Harpeth Hall I witnessed women making communities better,” she says.

She applauds the bonding experience of attending an all-girls school that resulted in many lifelong friendships. Crissy becomes sentimental when recalling a birthday party she attended long ago.

Of the 24 girls who were present, she still sees ten regularly. She also addresses the shock she felt while attending Maryville College 24

HALLWAYS

in East Tennessee to see that she was the only female student to voice her opinion. “While self-expression was foreign to the other women, it was familiar to me,” she says.

Crissy explains, the servant leaders at Harpeth Hall demonstrated their power in subtle ways. By watching them, she learned how to listen, collaborate, and communicate with others, which has been vital to her own success. She understood early on that there is no right answer, but rather a right way to discuss.

Along those same lines, Kristen Barrett, a Jefferson Scholar at the University of Virginia where she is also an English major and

FEATURE

drama minor, has fond memories of the Harkness discussions at Harpeth Hall, where teachers gave the class control and calculated who spoke. “Those conversations reminded everyone to be cognizant of not being a hog or a log,” she explains, a mindset that has parlayed perfectly into her college lectures.

Kristen, who was home-schooled prior to attending Harpeth Hall, is appreciative of how she was able to focus on her personal development in an all-girls setting. She credits Harpeth Hall with boosting her academic and emotional intelligence. Very active in theater, Kristen also had the opportunity to connect with her female classmates and develop friendships with the boys at Montgomery Bell Academy. Keeping her priorities straight while still interacting with young men taught her how to healthfully navigate both platonic and romantic relationships as an adult.

Jennifer Adams, Director of Community Support and Inclusion, who was hired 21 years ago at Harpeth Hall, wanted to work there so badly that she commuted between Nashville and Birmingham, Alabama, her first year. Today, in her current role, her goal is to create a community where the girls can grow up at a proper pace and explore the many facets of their personalities. “The great thing about Harpeth Hall is that students think it is cool to do well at school,” she says. In the all-girls environment, Jennifer has seen her own daughter, a senior, come out of her shell. She speculates

this stems from the emphasis on leadership defined by doing the right thing in every situation rather than trying to be a hero. From classes like Life-Balance that teach girls practical skills for conflict resolution, to the way in which Harpeth Hall students are taught, every tactic is meant to help knowledge stick. “When they get into a situation post-graduation, we want them to say, ‘I have this knowledge in my back pocket and know what to do here,’ ” she says.

“There is growing research on brain development in boys and girls and the way they learn,” Jennifer continues. “Harpeth Hall teachers are experienced at teaching in an all-girls culture and planning lessons and projects specifically for how girls learn best.

Cumulatively the teaching faculty bring more than 1,300 years of experience at Harpeth Hall, ranging in tenure from year one to more than 30 years of teaching at the school. Additionally, faculty and staff are offered professional development opportunities specifically for teachers and administrators in all-girls schools.”

Lastly, as Wellesley L. Wilson, Director of Admission and Financial Aid, explains, the school wants to make their academic program accessible to anyone regardless of their economic status.

Her team is responsible for the recruitment and retention of students, and she ensures that in the Harpeth Hall Admissions process, finances are not a part of the equation thanks to their FALL 2019

25

Wellesley L. Wilson, Director of Admission and Financial Aid, says that Harpeth Hall wants to make its academic program accessible to anyone regardless of their economic status.

“need blind” financial aid program, which means anyone who wants the full Harpeth Hall experience has a fair shot at receiving it. “Our goal is to make sure that anyone who wants to be here feels encouraged to apply,” she explains, citing a number of funds that cover tuition, textbooks, uniforms, and laptops.

However, it is still meeting families individually that keeps Wellesley reminded of the purpose behind her job. As demonstrated by the “Whole Girl” admissions process, her team thinks about what each student’s experience will be like at Harpeth Hall from a holistic perspective by paying attention to her mental wellness and academics. Spending quality time with both the student and parent is how Wellesley understands, from a bird’s eye view, how to best serve them. “The highlight of my day is talking with a 9-year-old and learning what is top of mind for her,” she says. In these deep dives, 26

HALLWAYS

she also learns how to better serve the entire Harpeth Hall community.

Her discovery is that students want an environment in which their opinions matter. While most families are attracted to Harpeth Hall for the academic rigor, they are often delighted to witness the breadth of knowledge gained beyond the classroom.

Speaking to the academic sisterhood of Harpeth Hall, Wellesley concludes: “Being specified in our approach both academically and emotionally is a true gift.”

Lily Clayton Hansen is a freelance writer, three-time author and public speaker.

Melanie Patterson Blank ’82

Lauren Melkus ’96

Matthew “Matt” Miller

Dana Deaton Verner ’95

Emily Cate Tidwell ’75

New Trustees Melanie Patterson Blank ’82 Melanie graduated from Harpeth Hall in 1982. She graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

Melanie is a consumer banking executive at Regions and has been with the bank for nearly 20 years.

She is currently the Executive Vice President for Consumer Banking and leads Regions’ Middle Tennessee retail network of more than 90 branches. Melanie has served on the Alumnae Annual Fund Committee, Distinguished Alumna Selection Committee, and as her Reunion Class Chair. Her Harpeth Hall nieces are Margaret Cook ’18 and Sarah Cook ’21.

Her sister-in-law is Raleigh Anne Blank Gray ’03.

Lauren Melkus ’96 Lauren graduated from Harpeth Hall in 1996. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston College with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and marketing and a graduate of the Fordham University School of Law. A resident of New York City, Lauren is currently President of The Melkus Family Foundation.

Prior to law school, Lauren worked as the Child Support and Visitation Coordinator at The Doe Fund. From 2000 until starting with The Doe Fund, Lauren worked in music and sports marketing at Track Entertainment and SFX respectively. Lauren has served as Co-Chair of Maloto’s Junior Board supporting Maloto in Africa, as an Executive Committee Member of the Associates Council of the Children’s Aid Society and is the

Chair of the International Human Rights Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Lauren served on Harpeth Hall’s National Advisory Council for six years and is now an Honorary Member.

Matthew “Matt” Miller Matt graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Distinction from University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and later earned an M.B.A. with Honors from University of Texas at Austin.

Matt is a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor at Merrill Lynch and is a global financial planner with over 25 years of capital markets experience. He is a member of the Private Banking and Investment Group’s national leadership team and was recognized on the 2019 Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list and on the 2018 Barron’s “America’s Top 1200 Advisors: State-by-State” list. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Matt was a Managing Director of UBS, with senior leadership assignments in the United States, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. He also managed UBS’s Greater China ultra-high net worth private banking effort. Matt and his wife Sanders have served on the Annual Fund Major Gifts Committee. The Millers have two children: daughter Kate ’21 and son Jackson. Their Harpeth Hall niece is Cari Johns Isham ’03.

Dana Deaton Verner ’95 Dana graduated from Harpeth Hall in 1995. She is a 1999 graduate of Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs and Public

Policy. Dana worked in health policy in Washington, D.C. before matriculating to Vanderbilt School of Medicine where she earned her M.D. in 2004. She completed her residency and fellowship training in general and child psychiatry at Vanderbilt Medical Center, serving as chief resident in her final year of training. Following training, Dana worked at the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital as an attending physician on the child and adolescent inpatient unit and at the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2013, she was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical honor society. She began private practice in 2014 and co-founded her current practice group Green Hills Family Psych in 2018. Dana has over 14 years of experience working with children and adults of all ages with a variety of mental health needs.

Dana has served on the Head’s Young Alumnae Council, the Distinguished Alumna Selection Committee, as Reunion Class Chair, and on the Alumnae Annual Fund Committee. She and her husband Shawn have four children: sons Hank, Bo, and Charlie, and daughter Ella Rose.

Dana’s Harpeth Hall sisters are Heather Deaton Arthur ’92 and Missy Deaton Corrigan ’93.

HONORARY TRUSTEE Emily Cate Tidwell ’75 Emily graduated from Harpeth Hall in 1975. She received a Bachelor of Science in both biology and pharmacy and a Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of North CarolinaChapel Hill where she also completed a post-doctoral fellowship. She worked in

drug development for Glaxo Pharmaceuticals, HCA, and ClinTrials Research.

Emily served on the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2019 and was Board Chair from 2014 to 2018. She served as Vice Chair and chaired the Trustees and Governance and 2013-14 Head of School Search Committees. She served on the 2018-19 Head of School Search Committee and numerous committees for all aspects of Harpeth Hall school life. She served as Alumnae Board President-Elect and President and was an ex-officio member of the Board from 1996 to 1998.

Emily was Reunion Overall Chair, Reunion Class Chair, on the Distinguished Alumna Selection Committee, and Alumnae Gift Chair and Reunion Gift Chair for the Alumnae Annual Fund. She served as an ex-officio member of the National Advisory Council.

Emily and her husband Crom were Overall Chairs for the 2011-12 Annual Fund and also served as Current Parent Class Chairs and on the Major Gifts Committees for the Annual Fund.

Emily is the great-niece of Dorothy Cate Frist ’30 for whom the first floor of the middle school is named. Her sister is Cathy Cate Sullivan ’73, and her sister-in-law is Percie Tidwell Snider ’68.

Emily and her husband Crom have three children: daughters Cate Tidwell McLeane ’08 and Warner Tidwell ’13, and son, Crom Tidwell, who graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in 2016. Their Harpeth Hall niece is Blythe Cate ’09.

FALL 2019

27

Jess Hill THE INVESTITURE OF

SEVENTH HEAD OF SCHOOL

ore than 1,200 members of the Harpeth Hall community filled the Athletic and Wellness Center on the morning of Friday, March 29, 2019 in celebration of the installation of Jess Hill as the seventh head of The Harpeth Hall School. The audience included students, trustees, faculty, staff, current families, alumnae, parents of alumnae, grandparents, and the family and friends of the Hill family. Also in attendance were the Heads of School of 17 schools, three past Heads of Harpeth Hall, and representatives from Vanderbilt University and Sewanee: The University of the South, both Mrs. Hill’s alma maters.

Led by a female bagpiper, the Board of Trustees and Harpeth Hall faculty processed into the gymnasium in academic robes.

Harpeth Hall students were featured prominently in the morning investiture ceremony, which included performances by the upper school Chamber Choir and the 7th and 8th grade orchestra. Students gave tributes to Mrs. Hill from the Middle School and Upper School, and welcoming remarks were shared by representatives of Harpeth Hall trustees, alumnae, faculty, and parents.

educator I know (and I know a lot of educators) embodies several specific characteristics that every girl should aim to develop.”

Following Dr. Damour’s remarks, Board Chair Jane Berry Jacques ‘72 presented the charge from the Board of Trustees: “Mrs. Hill—for many years, you have embraced, upheld, and helped articulate the ideals set forth in our Mission and Core Purpose. You have played an integral part in leading our students and teachers to achieve at the highest level, and you are the ideal educator to continue our mission of providing the best education possible for girls in Nashville.

You are a collaborative, strategic, optimistic, and compassionate leader who possesses an unsurpassed strength of character. You are committed to instilling confidence in young women and equipping them for success at Harpeth Hall, in college, and in their lives.”

In accepting the charge to lead Harpeth Hall, Mrs. Hill thanked all the speakers and attendees, and she addressed the students directly in the following excerpt: “Connection is one of those words I tend to use often. We can’t do it alone.

Girls, you are at an age when you are struggling to be fiercely You have played an integral part in leading our students independent. I applaud you for that and I encourage you in that endeavor. I hope at and teachers to achieve at the highest level, and you are the same time you will remember the the ideal educator to continue our mission of providing moments that have woven you into the fabric of our school, not the bricks and the best education possible for girls in Nashville. mortar, fireplaces, and lawns and gardens, An important part of the investiture is the keynote address but into this space where we come together and celebrate that frames the qualities and qualifications of the person the strength, character, intellect, challenges, depths, and being honored. Chosen for this important speech was accomplishments of girls every day. Today, we have paused Dr. Lisa Damour, acclaimed teen psychologist, New York to mark this time when we are all beginning a new and Times best-selling author, and friend of Mrs. Hill. exciting chapter in Harpeth Hall’s history together. I need you. I can’t go it alone. Together, we will build and preserve In her remarks, Dr. Damour spoke about the importance of educating girls, “[There are] important qualities that we should this space where a community of truth is practiced.” help cultivate in girls—qualities that will fortify them for whatever comes their way. Here, in particular, is where Jess comes in,” she continued. “Jess, as much as any

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Congratulations Mrs. Hill! It was a wonderful day of celebration for The Harpeth Hall School community to mark the beginning of your service as the Head of School.

Jess Hill with Board Chair Jane Berry Jacques ’72

Dr. Lisa Damour with Jess Hill

The Hill Family (L to R): Noni Hill ’12, Moe Hill, Jess Hill, Morey Hill ’08 MBA, Becca Hill ’07 FALL 2019

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Honor Day

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2023

O

n May 24, 2019, the 50th annual Honor Day at Harpeth Hall celebrated ninety-one eighth-graders who successfully completed the Daugh W. Smith Middle School program. Honor Day is a special tradition that began in 1969 to recognize Harpeth Hall’s first eighth-grade class. Fifty years later, the Class of 2023 has become a part of this tradition, marking a milestone in both their education and Harpeth Hall’s history.

Eighth-grader Christiane Morton, chosen by her class to be Honor Day speaker, brought laughter to the audience as she shared anecdotes about the many fun memories she made with her classmates this year.

A year in which she said she made a promise to herself to talk more . . . “but not just talk, but to be confident in me.”

After thanking the outstanding middle school faculty, Christiane concluded her remarks, “I want to end this speech by thanking the Class of 2023 for giving me the best middle school experience I could ask for, for giving me confidence throughout my years here, and for letting me and other girls not be afraid to use our voice. You are the most supportive, humorous, and caring group of girls I have ever met.”

AWARD RECIPIENTS Carol Clark Elam History Award

Priyanka Sara Chiguluri

Daugh W. Smith English Award

Natalie Kathleen Apodaca Head’s Award

Gracie Elizabeth Sloan Director’s Award

Ava Michelle Cassidy and Parker Isabelle Strang

Elizabeth Hausman Community Service Award

Caroline Leigh Hardy Honor Day Speaker

Christiane Marie Morton Lindy Sayers Award

Mary Virginia Sullivan Louise Wills Algebra I Award

Nora Francesca Fenelon

Most Outstanding Athlete Award

Anna Catherine Echols and Isabelle Marisol Guillamondegui Patty Chadwell Award

Caroline Georgia Ford Polly Fessey Award

Hallie Emilia Graham SPIRIT AWARDS Fifth Grade

Sarah Elliott Porter Sixth Grade

Clara Scott Harden Seventh Grade

Josephine Ray Beavers Eighth Grade

Christiane Marie Morton STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS Stewardship Chair

Mary Austin Meacham Student Activities Chair

Mary Virginia Sullivan Service Learning Chair Madeline Austin Meyer Environmental Issues Chair

Amelia Monet Olafsson Athletic Chair

Caroline Georgia Ford

HONOR EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Katherine Maree Brewer Virginia Anne Callen Ava Michelle Cassidy Lorelei Honor Christopher Mary Phebus Foley Isabelle Marisol Guillamondegui Caroline Leigh Hardy Ann Atkins Linley Virginia Riley McDaniel Mary Evelyn Roper Sarah Martin Sachtleben Caroline Elizabeth Seehorn Rori Necole Stewart Anne Louis Todd INTRAMURAL CLUB CAPTAINS

Ariston Nora Francesca Fenelon Hallie Emilia Graham Eccowasin Mary Virginia Counter Haven Watkins Healy Angkor Pauline Nicole Bailey Lucy Clark McNally Triad Rachel Mary King Alice Kirkland Wilbanks FALL 2019

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STEP SINGING

StepSinging CLASS OF 2019 On Sunday, May 26, Harpeth Hall’s delighted families, cheerful students and members of our talented faculty filled the Ann Teaff Quadrangle for the 2019 Step Singing Celebration. Mrs. Jess Hill, Head of School, welcomed the 2019 Lady of the Hall court, including Sarah Grace Bellardo, who was crowned Harpeth Hall’s Lady of the Hall for 2019.

The Class of 2019 performed a touching rendition of Jessie James Decker’s ballad Roots and Wings; the class of 2020 sang You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home by Miley Cyrus. The Lady of the Hall spoke about the power of music and art to transform lives and signify emotional journeys while Dr. Jack Henderson, affectionately known as “Dr. Jack,” spoke about his decision to “graduate” alongside the class of 2019 after 22 years of teaching at Harpeth Hall. He encouraged the seniors to take on the humble spirit and collaborative nature of Abraham Lincoln, his favorite historical figure.

The 2019 Step Singing ceremony was a beautiful celebration honoring the contribution of the junior and senior classes to the life of the Upper School.

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STEP SINGING

Keep studying, keep learning, and keep growing. Don’t stop growing at the moment your education has reached an end. — DR. JACK HENDERSON

Lady of the Hall

and her Court Lady of the Hall

Sarah Grace Bellardo Senior Class Representative

Olivia Margaux Olafsson Junior Class Representative

Keona Elorm Dordor

Sophomore Class Representative

Grace Sanghee Lee

Freshman Class Representative

Olivia Katherine Bevins Eighth Grade Herald

Rori Necole Stewart Seventh Grade Herald

Anne Mason Hart

Sixth Grade Crownbearer

Lucy Elisabeth Callen

Fifth Grade Crownbearer

Claire Ann Meredith Flower Girls

Amelia Lancaster Averbuch and Ella Rose Verner

FALL 2019

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GRADUATION

Commencement HONORING THE CLASS OF 2019

The Harpeth Hall Class of 2019 received their high school diplomas during Harpeth Hall’s 68th Commencement. Proud friends, families, and faculty gathered on Souby Lawn to celebrate the 99 graduates.

Graduating senior Zora Young spoke about the Class of 2019’s close-knit nature and the highlights of their years together. Young ruminated on the support she and her classmates received from each other and the Harpeth Hall community at large, saying, “There are not enough words to describe the immense love and encouragement that permeates throughout this campus. In the simplest way, Harpeth Hall is like the book you don’t want to put down and never will.”

Jess Hill, Head of School, reflected on the bond between the 99 young women and their countless accomplishments, both individually and as a group. She encouraged them to “embrace the challenge, savor the ordinary, and remember that you are nobody but yourself.”

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GRADUATION

FALL 2019

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GRADUATION

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We have incredibly diverse opinions and interests.

These differences have brought our class closer together due to the immense gratitude we all share for being a part of this community. — Cole Hastings ‘19

FALL 2019

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GRADUATION

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GRADUATION

FALL 2019

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GRADUATION

Senior Awards

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Katie Wray Valedictory Award

Second Honors

Third Honors

Jane Elizabeth Flautt

Mohini Kavya Misra

Annmarie Noor Allos

The CLASS OF 2O19 consists of 99 young women who

GRADUATION

received offers of admission to 150 colleges and universities and will attend 57 schools in 24 states plus Washington, D.C., Australia, and Ireland.

Andie LaGrone

Bianca Sass

University of Sydney (Australia)

Amherst College

Olivia Leu

Maclin Satz

Pomona College

Amherst College

Leah Allen

Hannah Lund

KK Savage

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Annmarie Allos Dartmouth College

Alexa Clare Anderson Washington University in St. Louis

Nealy Anderson University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Emily Beach University of Chicago

Sarah Bellardo Rhodes College

Julia Berman Southern Methodist University

Lilly Grace Blakely University of Georgia

Lilly Bradshaw Pepperdine University

Mia Brakebill Rice University

Eleanor Brown Southern Methodist University

Gisele Campos Fordham University

Caroline Christian George Washington University

Browning Clark University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Raegan Coleman University of Cincinnati

Madeline Cummings Sewanee: The University of the South

Caleigh Dennis University of Pennsylvania

Candler Dodd Southern Methodist University

Karalyne Dube Elon University

Anne Earthman Auburn University

Ellie Edwards University of Michigan

Chloe Ferrell University of Georgia

Hannah Clair Fisher Tulane University

Jane Flautt

Claiborne Fowler Centre College

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Ana Gonzalez

Emma Clark Luster

Natalie Simoneaux

University of Chicago

Tulane University

Southern Methodist University

Helen Griffith

Maddie Maradik

Catherine Smith

Emory University

Auburn University

University of Virginia

Jolie Guinn

Jacqueline Maxwell

Ellie Smith

Clemson University

Tulane University

University of Virginia

Maddie Harlan

Grace McCullough

McCauley Smith

Texas Christian University

Tulane University

Auburn University

Grace Harris

Zenab Mchaourab

Katelyn Smith

Auburn University

University of Georgia

University of Missouri

Natalie Harrison

Sophie McKenzie

Caroline Spindel

Southern Methodist University

Dickinson College

Lehigh University

Cole Hastings

Molly Milam

Gracie Stambaugh

Wake Forest University

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Wake Forest University

Mary Caroline Hayles

Mohini Misra

Katie Stark

Austin Community College

California Institute of Technology

University of Southern California

Meghan Herlitzka

Logan Moore

Lillian Stowe

University of Georgia

University of Miami

New York University

Tess Herzog

Megan Murphy

Holland Strang

Rhodes College

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)

Olivia Holden

Ella Nelson

Kiley Tarantin

Miami University

University of Virginia

Wake Forest University

Emily Hollins

Olivia Olafsson

Charlotte Taylor

University of Georgia

Tufts University

Georgetown University

Meredith Hollins

Nina Petro

Ann Chapman Tirrill

Auburn University

Lipscomb University

University of Colorado at Boulder

Kathryn Jenkins

Mary Haden Pickel

Natalie Tirrill

Duke University

Auburn University

Southern Methodist University

Sara Emma Kahane

Ophelia Pilkinton

Sarah Tolbert

University of Mississippi

Yale University

Northeastern University

Gabby Kapanka

Kate Pittman

Maddie Warren

Lafayette College

University of Alabama

Southern Methodist University

Abby Keeble

Presly Plowman

Rachel Watson

Miami University

Pepperdine University

University of Arkansas

Sarah Grace Kennady

Caroline Powers

Katerina Werkhaven

Loyola University Chicago

Elon University

University of Alabama

Katie Kennedy

Margaret Pugh

Grace Whitehouse

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

George Mason University

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Bonner Kirkland

Emma Reynolds

Margaret Ann Whitton

Washington & Lee University

Fordham University

Loyola University New Orleans

Millie Kirkland

Kathryn Risner

Julia Yakushi

Georgetown University

Marion Military Institute

Southern Methodist University

Olivia Klindt

Scout Robbins

Zora Young

University of Georgia

University of Virginia

Reed Kress

Jacqueline Ryan

University of Mississippi

New York University

Southern Methodist University

Brandeis University FALL 2019

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REUNION LUNCHEON

SENIORS AND THEIR ALUMNAE MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS

Almost Alumnae LUNCHEON

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Carrington with ’89 classmates at Reunion

The More Things Change…

Reflections on Reunion 2019

by Carrington Nelson Fox ’89

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Reflections on Reunion 2019

This

past spring when members of the classes ending in ’4 and ’9 gathered for Reunion, there was ample nostalgia for saddle oxfords, plaid kilts, and a curious amphibian graveyard haunted by the cadavers of dissected frogs. But while the buffet lines at Reunion were rich with recollection, the tone of the weekend was surprisingly forward-looking.

The main theme of my conversations with fellow alumnae was Change. I had changed.

My friends had changed. We were adjusting to change, prepping for change, or finally admitting that we longed for change — in careers, expectations, or attitudes. The appetite for and an openness to change was electrifying. On a weekend I expected to be saying, “Remember when?” the prevailing question was actually “What’s next?”

When I last wore plaid, my perspective was a little different. I was looking forward — forward to college in the fall. But to an eighteen-year-old, a four-year undergraduate education was a seemingly interminable arc, whose bend I could not see from Souby Lawn. I had a new college sweatshirt, but no plan for life beyond college.

So thirty years later, I felt a little sheepish answering this question posed to the five members of the Reunion Alumnae Panel: “Thinking back to when you graduated from Harpeth Hall, what did you envision for your future then and how did that vision play out for you now?”

I don’t know if I expected to marry an MBA boy and move around the corner from my parents — both of which I did — but one thing’s for sure: I did not envision enrolling in technical college at age 46, to study Building Construction Technology with a bunch of 19-yearolds. But that’s exactly what happened a couple years before my thirtieth high school reunion.

After an art history degree from Princeton, an MBA from Vanderbilt, and almost two decades in journalism, I enrolled in the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Nashville to learn to build things.

For sixteen months, I climbed up ladders and into dumpsters, learned 44

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Carrington Nelson Fox joins other alumnae on the Reunion Panel. to cut rafters and solder copper, and won a gold medal with my classmates in a statewide carpentry competition. My children gave me a circular saw for Mother’s Day, I started building Little Free Libraries and garden gates, and I was named the 2018 Outstanding Technical Student of the Year in Tennessee—for which I won a car! When I graduated from TCAT Nashville, I joined the Wills Company Design/Build/Handyman firm. In construction school at age 46, I changed the course of my life, and I had the time of my life doing it. Needless to say, I didn’t see that coming when I was wearing plaid.

I wasn’t the only participant on the Reunion Alumnae Panel to be caught off guard by my career path. Elizabeth Ann Stringer ’99, a former PhD candidate in Neuroscience, recounted her emotional decision to detour from the linear path of academia into the innovative start-up culture of a healthcare firm. Her plan to become a scientist led instead to some “wretched soul-searching times” before ultimately arriving at her current entrepreneurship. “My best lessons in life have been the failures,” Elizabeth Ann said, and her frank story about her setbacks prompted a lot of conversation on the panel about the need to be flexible, to adjust expectations as career and life don’t follow the best laid plans.

After the Alumnae Panel, happy hour in the Patton Visual Arts Center bubbled with countless stories of unexpected changes in career and life, happening at all stages and ages. My ’89 classmate

FEATURE

Ellen McGuire Vick, a veteran Carrington at home of pharmacy regulation law, had recently launched a mail-order and capacity for change inspire me business making jams with daily. Even though I see many of local produce in North Carolina these friends on a regular basis, the (JellenJams.com). Meanwhile, focused festivity of Reunion — after decades as a Pilates particularly the Alumnae Panel — instructor, classmate Paige provided a rare frame in which to Ferragina Bainbridge had acknowledge and celebrate our recently recommitted to her various milestones. The predomiwriting by launching a new blog. nant theme of Reunion Weekend And it was not just Class of may have been “What’s next?” but ’89-ers who were finding the most frequent refrain I heard themselves in uncharted was was, “We should do this territory. Honeybears of all more often.” eras were launching in new Suddenly, I wished I could have a directions. Noni Nielsen ’93 The appetite for and an openness to change do-over on one question from the had just retired from banking Alumnae Panel. When moderator and was diving into real estate was electrifying. On a weekend I expected Ann Wyatt Little ’04 asked panelists, and home renovations at the to be saying, “Remember when?” the prevailing “How did Harpeth Hall help to same time she was becoming prepare you for life beyond the chairman of the Nashville Tree question was actually “What’s next?” plaid?” I had answered something Foundation. Our beloved along the lines that our high school English teacher Margaret Renkl had instilled a sense of confidence. That was true. But there’s more was publishing her first book, Late Migrations, while former math to it than that. Because even the strongest self-confidence needs teacher Jess Hill had recently become Head of School. My dear encouragement and reaffirmation, certainly more often than every friend Holly Conner ’84, was a new mom, and cookbook author thirty years. In the afterglow of the Reunion Alumnae Panel, I Nicki Pendleton Wood ’79, who helped me find my first job in realized that much of my own confidence comes from connecting journalism, had gone back to school to study radiography. Nicki’s with the alumnae around me, not just friends from the Great Class email signature reads “Mammography and Food Writing.” of 1989, but the broad network of smart, fearless women who make While these women aren’t all my classmates, my connection to all up the Harpeth Hall community. of them weaves through Harpeth Hall, and their extreme curiosity

Reunion Panel photo cutline

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REUNIONREUNION PANEL ALUMNAE

Panelists: Ann Wyatt Little ’04, Phoebe Carver Lane ’09, Merrie Morrissey Alexander ’69, Carrington Nelson Fox ’89, Elizabeth Ann Stringer ’99, and Alison Smith ’79

T

hank you to the over 400 alumnae who participated in Reunion 2019, returning to Harpeth Hall from across the country. Adelaide Davis ’79, our overall Reunion Chair commented, “there was ‘feel good’ spirit threaded through those who came back to our alma mater. Whether it was a gleeful rekindling of the past, a breathy ease in the present, or an exuberant outlook for the future, the positivity was evident. There was indeed joy amongst the deep magnolia green at Honeybear Homecoming 2019.”

A special thank you to the alumnae who served on the Reunion Panel on Saturday, May 4. The moderator was Ann Wyatt Little ’04, and the panel featured Merrie Morrissey Alexander ’69, Alison Smith ’79, Carrington Nelson Fox ’89, Elizabeth Ann Stringer ’99, and Phoebe Carver Lane ’09. Moments after and into the next several weeks, attendees continued to rave about the panelists. The Beyond the Plaid panel video and Reunion 2019 photos are on the Reunion page at HarpethHall.org.

Thank you also to those Reunion alumnae who contributed to the Annual Fund. Each of your gifts adds to the ongoing excellence of Harpeth Hall. We are thrilled to report the Reunion Class with the highest percent participation this year was the Class of 1994 who celebrated their 25th Reunion with 67% participation. In addition, the class with the highest number of donors to Harpeth Hall was the Class of 2009 with 55 classmates giving back. And finally, the class with the largest number of alumnae coming back for Reunion was the Class of 1979 with 65 classmates attending.

A final thank you to our overall Reunion Chair Adelaide Davis ’79 and to ALL the Reunion Class Co-Chairs, for their pre-planning efforts on the class parties and overall contributions to Reunion 2019. From the Milestones Society Luncheon on May 3 to the Winterim in May classes, from the inspiring and often hilarious Alumnae Panel to every class party, the “Bear Buzz” is that a grand time was had by all!

4’S AND 9’S BE SURE TO SAVE THE DATE FOR YOUR NEXT REUNION – MAY 3 – 4, 2024!

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ALUMNAE REUNION

Reunion Cocktails on Campus

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ALUMNAE REUNION

Milestones Society

LUNCHEON HONORING CLASSES OF 1954, 1959, AND 1964

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48HALLWAYS

ALUMNAE REUNION

50 th Reunion Brunch CLASS OF 1969

WASHINGTON, D.C.

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ALUMNAE REUNION

1954

1959

1974

1994 50

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1979

1999

ALUMNAE REUNION

1964

1984

1969

1989

2004 FALL 2019

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ALUMNAE REUNION

2009

2014

REGIONAL EVENTS

LOS ANGELES, CA 52

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WASHINGTON, D.C.

ALUMNAE EVENTS

Ward-Belmont and Milestones Society COFFEE

Harpeth Hall is an outstanding school for girls thanks to the women who have come before us, from Ward Seminary, Ward-Belmont, and the early years of Harpeth Hall.

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ard-Belmont and Milestones Society alumnae were welcomed back to campus on Thursday, March 28, to connect with each other and meet Harpeth Hall fifth graders interested in learning about their school experience.

“You have provided the firm foundation for a strong Harpeth Hall today, and this event gives us an opportunity to thank you,” Head of School Jess Hill said as she welcomed the group and provided a school update.

Millie Kirkland, Class of 2019, and third generation Harpeth Hall student, spoke about what attending Harpeth Hall has meant to her and her family.

“It’s not just the classes nor the incredible faculty. Harpeth Hall is a tradition . . .

It’s the tradition of girls who want to learn and who feel inspired to be the best they can be. It’s the combination of these factors: friends, faculty, and classes,” Kirkland said. “I’m thankful for . . . Harpeth Hall for serving as a link between the past and present and the future to come,” she concluded.

Grace Stumb Barbieri, Class of 2010, a fourth-generation Harpeth Hall graduate and currently Harpeth Hall’s Middle School History and Social Sciences Teacher, introduced the 5th grade Oral History Project. The eager and excited 5th grade students joined the alumnae and immediately dove into interviewing them for their project. Armed with notebooks and pencils, they took copious notes, asked questions, and listened intently to the stories of those who came before them.

The event concluded with the singing of both “The Bells of Ward-Belmont” and the “Harpeth Hall Alma Mater.”

“It has been a pleasure to honor you and thank you today,” Mrs. Hill said in closing.

Millie Kirkland and her mother Edith Trost Kirkland ’88, grandmother Annie Orr Trost ’57, great aunts Ruth Orr Napier ’63, Gardner Orr Smith ’54, and Alice Orr ’59.

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ALUMNAE

Adelaide Grace Davis ’79

HONORED WITH THE LOUISE “DEDE” BULLARD WALLACE AWARD

he Harpeth Hall School honored exceptional alumna leader, Adelaide Grace Davis ’79, with the prestigious Dede Bullard Wallace Award at the annual Leadership Dinner on September 12, 2019 in Bullard Gymnasium.

The award is named for Louise “Dede” Bullard Wallace ’53, a member of the original student body at Harpeth Hall who helped establish our school spirit through her enthusiastic engagement in all phases of campus life. Likewise, Adelaide has poured her heart into Harpeth Hall and into building strong alumnae ties to one another and back to the school.

Adelaide’s Harpeth Hall roots date back to Ward Seminary where her great grandmother, Florence Cavert, was a member of the Class of 1907.

Additionally, her two grandmothers, Adelaide Shull Davis and Grace Cavert Stumb, attended Ward-Belmont. Adelaide’s mother, Florence Stumb Throughout, Adelaide has been focused on connecting Davis, attended Harpeth Hall with the Class of 1955. When it was time for Adelaide and her alumnae to their alma mater and inspiring alumnae sister Gigi to attend middle and high school, there to remember the friendships they formed and the was no doubt where they would go. At Harpeth Hall, Adelaide quickly built friendships, bonded teachers who had a profound impact on them. with beloved teachers like Ginger Osborn, Steve Kramer, and Janet Hensley, just to name a few, found her niche on Balancing her business and family commitments, Adelaide has been the badminton team, and was class president during her senior year. a devoted volunteer for Harpeth Hall since 1990 when she served “Though I was not a stellar student, championship athlete, or her first term on the Board of Trustees. Adelaide served as Alumnae masterful artist, Harpeth Hall gave me a box of tools that prepared Board President in 2008-09 which included a two-year ex officio me confidently for life beyond the plaid kilt.” Adelaide said. term on the Board of Trustees, a one-year term on the Distinguished Alumna Committee, and a one-year term on the National Advisory Following Harpeth Hall, Adelaide attended Vanderbilt University, Council. She served another six years on the Board of Trustees from majored in Art History, and graduated in 1983. She went on to build 2012 to 2018. Adelaide has been a longtime volunteer for the Annual a business as well as a family of four children: two daughters, Janie Fund, serving as Alumnae Gift Chair in 2000-01, 7th Grade Parent Hannon ’11 and Davis Stevens ’17, and two sons, Will Hannon, who Class Chair in 2005-06, and the Overall Chair for the 2016-17 graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in 2008 and is married Annual Fund. Most recently she served as the 2019 Reunion Overall to Mary Julia Bressman Hannon ’08, and Ro Stevens who graduated Chair. Adelaide has a long history of saying YES to her alma mater. from Franklin Road Academy in 2016. She owned and operated Duly Noted, a stationery manufacturing company, and The Paper Place, a stationery retail store. She also consulted with Buchanan Ink for seven years. Gifted with a delightful sense of humor and a keen observer of the ironies in life, just as her father the late William Lipscomb “Buzz” Davis, Jr. was, Adelaide is the creator of and head writer for laugh.write whose tagline is “laugh every day, then write about it (preferably with a pencil).” Adelaide’s passion for writing became ever more important to her during and following her battle with breast cancer ten years ago.

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Throughout, Adelaide has been focused on connecting alumnae to their alma mater and inspiring alumnae to remember the friendships they formed and the teachers who had a profound impact on them. Adelaide knows that alumnae support is vital to the long-term success of Harpeth Hall, and her leadership of the Annual Fund and Reunion has had a tremendous impact. Alumnae participation in the Annual Fund has steadily increased over the past five years, and overall annual giving has increased significantly as well. As a member of the Founders Society, she is also a strong advocate for planned

TO BE DESIGNED WHEN LEADERSHIP DINNER PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE

Adelaide as Honeybear

(L to R): Janie Hannon ’11, Florence Stumb Davis ’55, Adelaide Davis ’79, Ro Stevens, Mary Julia Bressman Hannon ’08, Will Hannon, Davis Stevens ’17

giving. Through her trustee role on the M. Stratton Foster Foundation Board, Adelaide has helped to provide scholarship funding for Harpeth Hall students who demonstrate financial need. Further, Adelaide has been involved in many facets of Nashville life as a Board member of the St. Thomas Foundation, Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae Chapter which named her Theta of the Year in 2010, the YMCA Camp Widjiwagan which named her Volunteer of the Year in 2002, the Downtown Rotary Club, and the Oak Hill School.

In her many roles at Harpeth Hall, Adelaide always speaks from her heart, and she makes everyone laugh when she dons the BEAR suit and becomes the Honeybear.

In fact, no one wears the Honeybear costume quite like Adelaide, and during the 2019 Reunion, the Honeybear actually visited each class party from the Class of 1969 celebrating their 50th Reunion to the Class of 2014 in their 5th Reunion.

When Board Chair Jane Berry Jacques ’72 presented Adelaide with the Dede Bullard Wallace Award, she said, “Adelaide’s impact on Harpeth Hall as an alumna, a past trustee, an alumnae board president, an Annual Fund leader, and as a Harpeth Hall mother, daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter is tremendously positive.

She is the definition of loyalty and love. Thank you, Adelaide, for remaining steadfastly devoted to your alma mater and for adding so much joy to our lives.”

Adelaide with students

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INTRODUCING

Harpeth Hall

Connect

HER

Steering Committee

Margaret Renkl and Jess Hill

The

Harpeth Hall Alumnae Relations Office is excited to launch Harpeth Hall ConnectHER. In recognition of the power and importance of our alumnae community, HHConnectHER provides programs and initiatives that foster connections between alumnae and with the school. Building upon the foundation of the Alumnae Career Connections programming and traditional annual events, HHConnectHER seeks to provide a new platform for alumnae to network and to strengthen relationships with fellow alumnae that empower and support one another post-graduation from Harpeth Hall.

Margaret with Mary Britton Thompson Cummings ’93 and Dr. Art Eckerd

Formed in early 2019, the HHConnectHER Steering Committee has designed a series of events for the 2019-2020 year that enhance current alumnae programs at Harpeth Hall. These programs include an alumnae book club, networking groups, mentorship curriculum, and much more.

HHConnectHER held its official launch event on August 6th in the McMurry Center: a Book Talk and Signing with former Harpeth Hall faculty member and New York Times opinion writer Margaret Renkl.

Her book, Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss, illustrates an unusual and captivating portrait of a family—and of the cycles of joy and grief that inscribe human lives within the natural world. The event included an alumnae reception before the book talk where Margaret signed books, and alumnae visited with each other and with Margaret. Head of School Jess Hill introduced Margaret, her dear friend and colleague, to kick off the event. Margaret gave a 56

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Anne Nicholas Weiss ’98 and Leigh Fitts ’91

combined reading and talk including slides of art by her brother, Bill Renkl, and old family photos. The event was a celebration of storytelling, bringing together Harpeth Hall alumnae to connect over shared interests, and a celebration of the success of a beloved former teacher.

Many thanks to our HHConnectHER Steering Committee for their bold leadership and constant support throughout the planning process.

Co-Chairs: Leigh Fitts ’91, Anne Nicholas Weiss ’98 Committee: Allison Wills Brooks ’82, Julie Riven Dretler ’89, Noni Nielsen ’93, Kate Sherrard Chinn ’93, Jennie Stevens Witherspoon ’94, Holly Whetsell Coltea ’94, Meredith McDonald Stewart ’96, Katie Koban Braddy ’00, Megan Casey ’00, and Warner Tidwell ’13

For more information about HHConnectHER visit HarpethHall.org/alumnae/connecther

WE NEED YOUR NOMINATIONS! NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR HARPETH HALL’S 2020 ALUMNAE AWARDS

Harpeth Hall strives to recognize the extraordinary achievements of our alumnae with a variety of awards. From leadership and organizational ability to outstanding service, these recipients deserve recognition from their alma mater.

Harpeth Hall/Ward-Belmont Distinguished Alumna Award Established in 1993, 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, serving as an example for other women and having attained unusual success in highly competitive fields; and/or are nationally recognized for vision, skill, and commitment to make things happen.

Alumna Spirit of Service Award The National Advisory Council (NAC) established the Alumna Spirit of Service Award to recognize and celebrate outstanding service by a Harpeth Hall/Ward-Belmont alumna. The recipient of the award is a woman who has gone above and beyond the call to serve her community and the world 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.”

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 have left a lasting impression of achievement and excelled within the school’s athletic family.

For more information

and to find nomination forms visit HarpethHall.org/alumnae/awards FALL 2019

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Class Notes

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After enjoying a wonderful life showing American Saddlebred horses and winning many championships, Amie Boyd Marks ’50 has moved to a retirement residence in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

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Oak Hill School recently selected Marie Dodson Maxwell ’64 to serve on its Board of Trustees for the next four years.

Carmine King Jordan ’65 returned to campus on April 5, 2019, to receive the 2019 Alumnae Spirit of Service Award at an upper school assembly for her work creating and expanding The Exceptional Foundation in Birmingham, Alabama. She shared with students her life’s journey to improve and to escalate the special education programming in the Mountain Brook City Schools. She also discussed The Exceptional Foundation’s work to provide social and recreational opportunities for mentally and physically challenged individuals.

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honored two Harpeth Hall alumnae music business veterans, Bebe Allen Evans ’71, and her niece, Marcie Allen Van Mol ’92, at its 12th annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. The museum annually presents the forum to recognize music industry leaders who continue the legacy of Louise Scruggs, a formidable businesswoman and trailblazer who set new professional standards in artist management.

The Council on Aging (COA) of Middle Tennessee will honor Sallie King Norton ’71 on October 28, 2019, as one of its 28th Annual Sage Awards honorees for her work and her volunteerism with various organizations across Nashville such as the West End Home Foundation, the Purpose Prep Charter School, and The Hermitage.

Sallie previously served as the Director of Alumnae Relations at Harpeth Hall and the Director of Reunion at Vanderbilt University.

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Successful international consultant Margaret Napier Morford ’73 returned to campus on April 29, 2019, as the recipient of the 2019 Harpeth Hall/Ward-Belmont Distinguished Alumna Award. She is the Founder and CEO of The HR Edge, Inc., an international management consulting and training company that works with big-name businesses and C-suite executives of Fortune 500 companies. Margaret spoke to the students at an all-school assembly about her eight rules for career success.

Beverly McCarter ’76 is an award-winning certified architect/designer of immersive 3D Learning Environments (virtual worlds), as well as a certified facilitator of selforganizing systems for complex environments. Her work focuses on utilizing immersive 3D learning environments to tackle Wicked Problems (problems related to complex human interactions), critical thinking, and the psychology of the avatar. She has worked with United States Army Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC), National Defense University (including Pentagon leadership), Smithsonian Institute, and Innovative Decisions, Inc., and more.

She has co-authored the book “Leadership in Chaordic Organizations” (Complex and Enterprise Systems Engineering), co-authored the chapter “Emergence of SoS, Socio-Cognitive Aspects” in M. Jamshidi (Ed), System of Systems EngineeringPrinciples and Applications, as well as authored technical articles in these fields and given numerous presentations on virtual environments and complex dynamics.

Amy Alderman ’78 is the Reservations Manager for The Bushcamp Company in Zambia, South Africa. She lives and works at Mfuwe Lodge, which was recently voted as one of the top 100 hotels in the world

by Travel + Leisure, and she often gets the opportunity to meet many of the interesting and distinguished guests, including Gloria Steinem.

Amy Alderman ’78 with Gloria Steinem

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Alumna author and professor Beth McPherson ’84 recently published a new book entitled “Broadway, Balanchine, and Beyond: A Memoir.” She worked with former New York City Ballet soloist Bettijane Sills on her autobiography.

Beth is the new Director of Dance at Montclair State University and was promoted to Full Professor effective September 1, 2019.

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Leigh Fitts ’91 received an appointment to The Metropolitan Historic Zoning Commission. The Metropolitan Historic Zoning Commission is an architectural review board that reviews applications for work on properties that are within a Historic Overlay. Its nine volunteer members, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Metro Council, include representatives from zoning districts, the Metropolitan Planning Commission, the Metropolitan Historical Commission; architect(s), and other citizens of Davidson County.

Helena Lamb ’91 advanced from Assistant Director to Director for a spring episode of the hit sitcom Modern Family.

Ginna Maxwell Rauls ’92 has transitioned to a new position at the nonprofit Southern

CLASS NOTES

leading Western lifestyle brand delivering travel ideas, home design and gardening inspiration, and recipes that celebrate the West and its bounty.

Mary Stengel Bentley ’03 recently completed a two-story, 1600 sq. ft. mural in the lobby of a brand new office building in Waltham, MA for tenants, Simpson, Gumpertz, and Heger.

The building, also known as 20 CityPoint, was developed by Boston Properties.

Katie Moran Bostrom ’94 Elizabeth Bradbury McAlpin ’04, Naomi Limor Sedek ’92, Huntley Rodes ’03, and Mamie Nichols Murphy ’07 Reins Center for Equine Therapy as their Community Engagement Director.

Naomi Limor Sedek ’92 received her MBA from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management in May alongside fellow Harpeth Hall alumnae Huntley Rodes ’03, Elizabeth Bradbury McAlpin ’04, and Mamie Nichols Murphy ’07.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honored two Harpeth Hall alumna music business veterans, Marcie Allen Van Mol ’92, and her aunt, Bebe Allen Evans ’71, at its 12th annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. The museum annually presents the forum to recognize music industry leaders who continue the legacy of Louise Scruggs, a formidable businesswoman and trailblazer who set new professional standards in artist management.

Honkonen. She runs development and marketing for gopitchwire.com, which offers custom sound for commercial and creative projects across the United States. With more than a decade of experience working with large-scale corporations and nonprofits, Christina also continues to provide corporate marketing and PR services.

Between consulting and entrepreneurship, she sings “Choo Choo” with her 5-year-old son Grayson and blows bubbles with new baby Emery.

Ellen Fort Wallace ’02 is the new Food Editor at Sunset Magazine. Sunset is the

Huntley Rodes ’03 received her MBA from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management in May alongside fellow Harpeth Hall alumnae Naomi Limor Sedek ’92, Elizabeth Bradbury McAlpin ’04, and Mamie Nichols Murphy ’07.

Elizabeth Bradbury McAlpin ’04 received her MBA from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management in May alongside fellow Harpeth Hall alumnae Naomi Limor Sedek ’92, Huntley Rodes ’03, and Mamie Nichols Murphy ’07.

Amy Dixon ’06 returned to Harpeth Hall as an Upper School Counselor in August.

After earning her masters in counseling from Vanderbilt University, Amy has been at Kipp Academy as their school counselor since 2014.

Katie Moran Bostrom ’94 launched her oil-based skincare line called Annie James Products online in June. She has been making her products for the last 13 years and decided now was the time to sell them online.

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Michelle Gaskin Brown ’01 accepted a new job in June working for Amazon as the Manager of Public Policy, overseeing the company’s public policy and advocacy efforts in Tennessee. Michelle previously worked at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce as a leading lobbyist.

Christina Connally Honkonen ’02 launched Pitchwire, a sound production and music licensing company, with her husband, Matt

Harpeth Hall alumnae and friends honor Bebe Allen Evans ’71 and Marcie Allen Van Mol ’92 FALL 2019

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CLASS NOTES

Olivia Christians ’07 is involved with the Joyful Heart Foundation and their national committee, GenerationJOY. This committee consists of next-generation advocates committed to increasing awareness in their communities about Joyful Heart and their work. Joyful Heart’s mission is to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and end this violence forever. Olivia wrote a blog post for Joyful Heart, highlighting the incredible work of the Nashville Sexual Assault Center. A fellow Harpeth Hall alumna and 2015 Spirit of Service Award recipient, Lisa Hooker Campbell ’78, introduced Olivia to this organization.

Mamie Nichols Murphy ’07 received her MBA from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management in May alongside fellow Harpeth Hall alumnae Naomi Limor Sedek ’92, Huntley Rodes ’03, and Elizabeth Bradbury McAlpin ’04.

Mamie was also featured as one of Poets & Quants for Executives’ Best and Brightest Executive MBAs of 2019.

Lauren Riegle ’07 won the Developing Leader of the Year Award at the NAIOP Awards on March 7, 2019. NAIOP is North America’s largest and most prestigious commercial real estate organization.

Grace Douglas ’08 was an associate producer on season 3 of Youtube’s Original series, “Mind Field” that was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Educational Series this year. She also was an associate producer on season 3 of CNN’s “United Shades of America,” which won another “Outstanding Unstructured Reality Programming” Emmy last fall.

Lacy Broemel ’09 moved to St. Louis to pursue a Masters of Social Work at Washington University.

Madeleine Byrd ’09 is currently completing her residency in pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston.

Kathleen Fletcher ’09 is pursuing a Masters of Education Policy and Management this fall at Harvard University.

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(L-R) 2011 Classmates Julia Ann Meadows, Suzanne Gill, Meredith Lang, Eleanor Hudson Callaway, Caroline Maloy, Janie Hannon, Caroline Allen Elizabeth Floyd ’09 returned to Harpeth Hall joining the Communications Department as the Communications Manager. Elizabeth comes to us from Capital Concerts in Washington, DC, where she has served as Digital & Social Media Manager since 2016. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Studies from Elon University.

Kalen McNamara ’09 completed the requirements for professional licensure and is now working as a Project Architect at Michael Hsu Office of Architecture in Austin, Texas.

Law and Disability Law. She will be working as a fellow at Disability Rights Advocates after taking the bar this summer.

Meredith Lang ’11 has passed all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst exams and may be awarded her charter upon successful completion of her required work experience. She recently moved to Boston, MA, where she works for Falcon Investment Advisors, a middle market mezzanine and private equity fund.

Jasmine Miller ’09 graduated from Stanford Law School with a joint degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Education. She is now a legal fellow at Youth Law Center in San Francisco, working on special education and juvenile justice issues.

Anna Spoden ’09 will be the Director of Instruction at New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math and Science III and will finish her master’s degree in educational leadership at Hunter College in December.

Sara Stengel ’09 recently moved to Chicago in September and started a job in the Pediatric ICU at Lurie Children’s Hospital.

10

Rosie Bichell ’10 recently graduated from Harvard Law School with a concentration in both Immigration

Lexi Mossman ’11 and her parents Lexi Mossman ’11 received the Vail Valley Partnership’s Member of the Year Award for her company MountainFit in May. Aneesa Anderson ’12 moved to San Antonio, Texas at the end of summer to pursue her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at UT-San Antonio.

CLASS NOTES

Caroline Grace Williams ’13

Abby Sparrow ’16

In August, Caroline Hawkins ’12 moved to Jinga, Uganda to work as a preschool teacher with HEAL Ministries. HEAL is a ministry that focuses on empowering vulnerable, abandoned women and children in a Christcentered program that teaches sustainability and family preservation. Caroline credits her desire to return to Uganda and HEAL Ministries to her Harpeth Hall Winterim experience when she served as an intern for three weeks.

Department at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She recently started a new job as program assistant for Medical Alumni Affairs at Vanderbilt.

Aidan Nettles ’13 graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Roehampton in London, England. She will be heading back to Tuscaloosa, AL to join the dance faculty at the University of Alabama.

Caroline Grace Williams ’13 was crowned Miss Ohio 2019 on June 15. She represented Miss Montgomery County after previously being Miss Oxford two years ago. Caroline Grace’s platform is Caroline’s Crisis Call, know the FACTS of calling 911. Her performance of the Italian aria, “O Mio Babbino Caro,” won the first round of preliminaries in the talent portion. She will go on to compete in the Miss America pageant in 2020.

Jane Winsett ’13 was awarded a Fulbright grant to teach English in Kosovo for nine months.

Wallen Dean ’14 is pursuing a program called JET, Japan Exchange and Teaching Program where she will be teaching English for a year in Niigata, Japan.

Elena Carro ’14 graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Kentucky and worked in the Pediatric Infectious Disease

Brianna Bjordahl ’15 graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Environmental Studies in May. She received the Outstanding Graduate in Biology Award, the Outstanding Graduate in Environment Studies Award, and the Elizabeth M. Oliphant Prize for the top female graduate representing the sciences. Brianna is currently pursuing a four-month internship with St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge south of Tallahassee in Florida.

Sophie Cudd ’15 graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Southern Methodist University in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in English with distinction and an Ancient History minor. She also was awarded the Outstanding Scholar of 2019 in the SMU Hyer Society. Sophie began working in July at Creative Artists Agency in Nashville in the fairs and festivals department.

A new Fordham Univesity Cum Laude graduate, Gracie King ’15 is the recipient of a full scholarship to LSU Medical School in New Orleans in their MD-PhD program.

Paul Robeson Players President at the University of Virginia, Kristen Barrett ’16 ran the “12-Hour Play Project” celebrating Black History Month at the University of Virginia featuring the theme “Afrofuturism” in February. The 12-Hour Play Project involved writing, directing, rehearsing, and performing a series of plays in 12 hours to help explore different topics

Helen Weaver ’16, Katherine Coode ’16, and Claire Heflin ’16 related to the African-American experience at UVA. Kristen also was named of the English Department’s Wagenheim Scholars for the 2019-2020 year. She received the Wagenheim Prize for the best undergraduate literary essay for her paper entitled Understanding Human Nature in Geoffrey Hill’s “A Précis or Memorandum of Civil Power.”

The Communications Office welcomed back to campus Katherine Coode ’16, Claire Heflin ’16, and Helen Weaver ’16 as summer volunteer interns.

The Sewanee Purple recently featured Tess Myers ’16 in an article entitled “Tess Myers Strives to Break the Norms of Psychology through Research.” The article focuses on her work as a summer research intern at the Centerstone Research Institute in Nashville, specifically in their Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program. It also mentions Tess’s Eagala Equine Specialist certification to combine her two passions: horseback riding and therapy.

STAY CONNECTED! More than 12,000 Reasons to Stay in Touch Harpeth Hall’s social media sites have more than 12,000 participating members. Join us and stay connected with alumnae from around the globe.

FALL 2019

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CLASS NOTES

Duke University’s Economics Department wrote about Abby Sparrow ’16 entitled “Student Voices: Junior Economics Major Strives for Balance in Her Academic, Professional, and Personal Life.” It discusses her love of math and reasoning behind her desire to pursue economics while maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Abby is a member of Duke University Cheerleading and Vice President of her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi.

Missouri are outfitting their classrooms.

Her article was originally published in the Columbia Missourian.

Claire Smith ’17 was recently named as one of 23 Washington and Lee University athletes with a perfect 4.0 GPA! Claire runs cross country and track for the Generals.

Marguerite Coombs ’18 served as Head Counselor at Camp Riva-Lake this past summer. She loved reconnecting with many Harpeth Hall students/campers who attended the camp located in Winchester, TN!

College of Charleston recently featured an internship spotlight on Whitley Taylor ’16 and her Public Relations internship in Nashville at ReviveHealth. ReviveHealth is a communications agency geared toward elevating and improving health care. Taylor is majoring in communication with a minor in leadership, change, and social responsibility.

Eliza Trost ’16 participated in a summer internship in Colonial Williamsburg, learning about eighteenth-century metalworking. She also used her adept acting skills to captivate tourists’ imaginations the same way the acting piqued her interest years ago.

Margaret Gaw ’18, Lady Frances Hamilton ’18, Taylor McDermott ’18, and Bushra Rahman ’18 returned to campus on May 9 to speak about college life with the Class of 2019 at the annual Alumnae Panel.

Olivia Rose ’18 and Grace Miller ’18 completed the Chattanooga Triathlon on June 23, 2019. Olivia completed it with her father, and Grace finished it with her mother and aunt.

Grace Miller ’18 and Olivia Rose ’18 Vivian Herzog ’17, a sophomore and Walter Williams Scholar at the University of Missouri Journalism School, published an article for The Associated Press entitled “Columbia teachers use crowdfunding for classroom supplies.” The article discusses innovative ways teachers in Columbia,

The Advancement Office welcomed back to campus Emily Vandewater ’18, Lady Frances Hamilton ’18, and Cole Hastings ’19 as summer volunteer interns.

1955 • 1960 • 1965 • 1970 • 1975 • 1980 • 1985 • 1990 • 1995 • 2000 • 2005 • 2010 • 2015

SAVE THE DATES! FRIDAY, MAY 1 AND SATURDAY, MAY 2

HONEYBEAR HOMECOMING REUNION 2020 62

HALLWAYS

CLASS NOTES

Cameron Taylor Bentley

Ann Arden Blocker

BIRTHS Lee Crabtree Lentz ’96 daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Lentz, on March 6, 2019 Beth Sherrard Fernandes ’97 daughter, Taylor Elizabeth Fernandes, on December 7, 2017 Megan Youngblood ’98 daughter, Roux Eliot Youngblood, on July 17, 2019 Karen Jones Kung ’98 son, Jacob Austin Shiang Kung, on June 23, 2018 Katy Adams Blocker ’01 daughter, Ann Arden Blocker, on October 10, 2018 Suzanne Brown Bryant ’02 daughter, Margaret Anne Bryant, on February 22, 2019 Amy Warner Greathouse ’02, daughter Warner Elizabeth Greathouse on July 17, 2019

Margo Anne Bryant

Murray Alice Douglas

Christina Connally Honkonen ’02 daughter, Emery Elizabeth Honkonen, on December 3, 2018 Mary D. Bartoe Oldacre ’02, daughter Caroline Carson Oldacre on June 9, 2019 Mary Stengel Bentley ’03 daughter, Cameron Taylor Bentley, on November 27, 2018 Clair Crozier Lawson ’03 daughter, Emma Dale Lawson, on April 3, 2019 Ashton Alexander ’04 daughter, Kathryn Harper Kline, on March 23, 2019 Tara Herbert ’04 daughter, Murray Alice Douglas, on January 1, 2019 Kim Hogg Massey ’04, daughter, Tori Evelyn Massey on July 27, 2019 Hayley Phipps Robinson ’04 son, John “Jack” Phipps Robinson, on January 7, 2019

Katheryn Reese Garvey

Abby Rudd Sights ’05 son, Jack Emery Sights, on April 28, 2018 Kathleen Ambrose Kestermann ’06 daughter, Frances Hill Kestermann on July 21, 2019 Sarah Norton Ross ’06 son, Caleb Norton Ross, on May 28, 2019 Casey Robinson Horton ’07 daugher, Lillian Vann Horton, on March 18, 2019 Mamie Nichols Murphy ’07 daughter, Elizabeth Gray Murphy on July 24, 2019 Kate Corcoran Sias ’07 son, William “Will” Henry Sias III, on November 27, 2018 Elizabeth Belk Snyder ’08 son, Richard “Rich” Hart Snyder, on February 18, 2019 Ann Francis Garvey ’09 daughter, Katheryn Reese Garvey, on April 4, 2019

Warner Elizabeth Greathouse

Lillian Vann Horton

Kathryn Harper Kline

Frances Hill Kesterman

Emma Dale Lawson

Tori Evelyn Massey

Elizabeth Gray Murphy

Jack Phipps Robinson

Jack Emery Sight

Caleb Norton Ross

William Henry Sias

Rich Hart Snyder

We welcome photos in our Class Notes, Marriages and Births sections.

We prefer high resolution, 300 dpi jpegs. Email your digital photos to Alumnae Relations Manager Whatley Hamilton at whatley.hamilton@harpethhall.org.

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63

CLASS NOTES

Ruthie Huggins Lowney

Meredith Was Kocher

Anna Spickard Armstrong

Emily Decker Geyer

Grayson Temple Schmidt

Amanda Rehorn Henderson

MARRIAGES

64

Katie Campbell Welsh ’77 to Victor Serrano of April 9, 2019

Deirdre Zimmerman ’09 to Mark Raymond Walsh on May 25, 2019

Anne Elizabeth McIntosh ’96 to David James Tachek on June 29, 2019

Anna Spickard ’10 to Jake Armstrong on March 30, 2019

Ruthie Huggins ’00 to Matt Lowney on June 15, 2019

Olivia Coble ’10 to Theadore Jonathan Hicks on June 8, 2019

Liz Edwards ’01 to Drew Jordan on July 21, 2018

Mary Allyn Johnson ’10 to Jonathan Price on June 15, 2019

Laura Becca Alden ’03 to Nicolas Russell Sullivan on October 13, 2018

Mary Daniel Smith ’10 to Drew Danieley on May 18, 2019

Katie Best ’08 to Thomas Alexander Hardy on June 22, 2019

Margot Henderson ’11 to Joshua Henderson on July 27, 2019

Jade Garcia ’08 to John Parker Foote on July 21, 2016

Kendal Herring ’11 to Daniel Todd Peterman, Jr. on June 1, 2019

Clair Christofersen ’08 to Patrick Hennessy on June 8, 2019

Elaina Mishu ’11 to Taylor Williams on March 30, 2019

Frances Phipps ’08 to Carl August Grote IV on September 8, 2018

Emily Decker ’12 to David Geyer on May 25, 2019

Mary Lu Noah ’08 to Troy Cartwright Dixon on April 28, 2018

Ellen DeWitt ’12 to Colin Quinn on August 10, 2019

Lauren Bounds ’09 to John Anderson Gallagher on July 13, 2019

Morgan Hutton ’12 to Galen Campbell on July 21, 2019

Abby Popham ’09 to Matt Hogue on April 28, 2018

Amanda Rehorn ’12 to Joseph Todd Henderson on August 26, 2017

Meredith Was ’09 to Alexander Philip Kocher on May 11, 2019

Grayson Temple ’12 to Peter Schmidt on September 22, 2018

HALLWAYS

CLASS NOTES

Olivia Coble Hicks

Kendal Herring Peterman

Morgan Hutton Campbell

Elaina Mishu Williams and 2011 classmates

Clair Christofersen Hennessy and 2008 classmates

Mary Allyn Johnson Price

Mary Daniel Smith Danieley and 2010 classmates FALL 2019

65

Sallie Read Hicks 1929 - 2019

On

May 18, 2019, the day before Sallie Read Hicks’ 90th birthday, Harpeth Hall’s Head of School Jess Hill arrived at Sallie’s house for a surprise 72 years in the making. Despite attending Ward-Belmont, Sallie never officially received a diploma due to a disability that prevented her from completing her final Biology Lab necessary for graduation. Having been born with congenital cataracts and developing glaucoma shortly thereafter, Sallie had no vision in one eye and very limited vision in her other eye, which made school extremely challenging for her.

When Jess and other leaders at Harpeth Hall heard her story, they knew they had to make it right. They created a replica 1947 Ward-Belmont diploma complete with all of the signatures that would have been on the original document and packaged it in an official embossed Harpeth Hall sleeve just for Sallie.

66

HALLWAYS

In a small surprise ceremony attended by her family, Sallie Read Hicks officially graduated from Ward-Belmont.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it or that it would [mean] so much,” Sallie reflected on holding her diploma for the first time.

“This is such an honor for me,” Jess told Sallie, “If you were going to school here today, we would be able to offer accommodations that would help you complete your work.”

Harpeth Hall is where each student realizes her highest intellectual ability in the sciences, the humanities, and the arts, and discovers her creative and athletic talents. Harpeth Hall’s mission is to ensure that students like Sallie Read Hicks receive

a quality education. Harpeth Hall meets the diverse needs of our students by being responsive, respectful and accepting, by diminishing and removing exclusionary obstacles as much as possible.

Sallie Read Hicks passed away less than two months later at home on July 13, 2019.

Sallie was known and loved by many for her exceptionally gracious and generous spirit. With the help of Joseph Davis, Sallie recounted many of her favorite memories in a book recently published under the title A Year of Thanksgivings, in which she provided a unique and intimate record of her experiences and challenges of her years.

Sallie is survived by her six children Judy Hicks Ison ’69, Catherine Hicks Obolensky, George Hicks, Susan Thetford Hicks ’78, Sallie Talley, Robin Hicks Dahl Owens ’79 and their families. She also leaves behind 12 grandchildren, including Harpeth Hall graduate Octavia Obolensky Melly ’07.

CLASS NOTES

IN MEMORIAM Margaret Young Milam ’40 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away August 17, 2019. Margaret loved music and gardening and was a charter member of St. George’s Episcopal Church.

She is survived by three sons, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mildred Walsh Burns ’41 of Shelbyville, Tennessee, passed away February 28, 2019. She was a graduate of St. Cecilia and Ward-Belmont College.

Dorothy Dorris Pouder ’41 of Hilton Head, South Carolina, passed away September 14, 2018. She is survived by her daughter, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth “Libby” McCarley Greer Shoulders ’41 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2019. Libby was a charter member of Downtown Presbyterian Church, an avid tennis player, and a Vanderbilt basketball fan.

She is survived by her two sons, her daughter Emmy Greer Leftwich ’70, and four grandchildren including Ellie Beahm ’14.

E’Lane Kirkpatrick Bobo ’44 of Clarksdale, Mississippi, passed away February 4, 2019. She is survived by four sons, thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Elsa Killingstad Davis ’44 of Brownsville, Texas, passed away August 3, 2018. She is survived by three daughters, one son, her step-children, four grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

Annella Creech ’45 of Hermitage, Tennessee, passed away February 21, 2019. She was a Director of Christian Education in the Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Church. Annella is survived by nieces and nephews.

Joan Kampmeier Medwedeff ’45 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away January 10, 2019. She spent over 20 years in the library at Harding Academy which now bears her name. Joan is survived by her daughters Carol Medwedeff Grosvenor ’73 and Linda Medwedeff Mello ’75, one son, three granddaughters, two grandsons, and five great-grandchildren.

Milbrey Jackson Black ’46 of Atlanta, Georgia passed away July 29, 2019. She spent her summers directing Camp Riva-Lake in Winchester, TN. Milbrey is survived by one son, four daughters, nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Patricia “Patt” Wylder Rempel ’46 of Denver, Colorado, passed away on May 9, 2018. Patt worked as a nurse and enjoyed travel with her husband Warren. She is survived by one daughter, one son, and multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Sallie Read Hicks ’47 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away July 13, 2019. Sallie enjoyed travel, antiques, architecture, and fine art. She is survived by one son, five daughters, including Judy

Hicks Ison ’69, Susan Hicks Thetford ’78, and Robin Hicks Owens ’79, 12 grandchildren including Octavia Obolensky ’07, and nine great-grandchildren.

June Brown Doak ’51 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away January 21, 2019. She is survived by one son, one daughter, a grandson, and many nieces and nephews.

Martha Ann Barrick Caldwell ’52 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away May 12, 2019. Martha Ann enjoyed horseback riding, sailing, skiing, and owned a children’s clothing shop.

She was a member of the first Harpeth Hall graduating class.

Martha Ann is survived by her two sons, daughter-in-law Paige Thomas Caldwell ’85, five grandchildren including Casey Caldwell ’14 and Sara Kennon Caldwell ’17, and one great-grandson.

Katherine Macey “Bebe” Graham ’53 of Ft. Payne, Alabama, passed away April 9, 2019. Bebe volunteered her time to numerous charitable organizations. She is survived by one son, two grandsons, nieces and nephews.

Edith McNeill Ayers ’61 of Destin, Florida, passed away July 5, 2019. Neill enjoyed traveling, was an avid New Orleans Saints fan, and loved animals. She is survived by her sister Cathy Tyne Jackson ’74, her nephew, and cousins.

Joy Bramblett Adams ’67 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away August 13, 2019. For almost 40 years she was the office manager for her husband and son’s dental practice. Joy is survived by her husband, son, daughter, Elizabeth Adams Cox ’95, and five grandchildren.

Ellen Lackey Colter ’67 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away February 22, 2019. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Reid Colter Tevis ’95.

Susan Shockley ’75 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away July 21, 2019. Susan was the curator for the Parthenon Museum and had degrees in fine arts. She is survived by her two daughters, her two sisters Sharon Shockley Cape ’78 and Sandie Shockley Stegall ’84, and nieces and nephews.

Patricia Justine Settle ’79 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away July 16, 2019. Tricia had a creative career in home design, architecture, visual merchandising, and set design. She is survived by her mother, her sister, Betsy Settle Brittain ’76, and nieces and nephews.

Jeanie McNeilly Simmons ’79 of Savannah, Georgia, passed away March 12, 2019. She was a preschool teacher at her church. Jeanie is survived by her husband, three daughters, sister Beth McNeilly ’85, three grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

FALL 2019

67

ACCOLADES

Going Beyond Curriculum

• “The Effects of Culture, Social Practices, and Economics on Cardiac Health

2018 -19 SEEK PROJECTS continued from page 3

• “The Effects of the Arab Spring: A Case Study of Four Arab Countries and

in Japan, India and Mexico,” Jacqueline Maxwell ‘19

• “Blending Ancient and Modern Styles in Residential Architecture,”

Their Governments,” Zenab Mchaourab ‘19

Alston Riddick ‘24

• “Political Insurgence and Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,”

• “Interior Design with the Brain in Mind,” Presley Schick ‘24 • “Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Through Poetry,”

Megan Murphy ‘19

• “The Impact of Tourism on Iceland’s Natural Landscape,” Olivia Olafsson ‘19 • “The Effects of Language Barriers on Immigrant Populations Throughout

Scarlett White ‘24

• “The Anatomy of Songwriting,” Sophia Williams ‘23

the World,” Catherine Smith ‘19

• “Children’s Healthcare and the Importance of Immunizations in Burundi

2018 -19 GLOBAL SCHOLARS

• “The Theory of Longevity + Blue Zone Happiness,” Leah Allen ‘19 • “A Study of Coral Reef Destruction and the Effects It Has on Our Oceans,” Eleanor Brown ‘19

• “Gender Inequities in Education Around the Globe,” Browning Clark ‘19 • “A Study of Malnutrition in Guatemala,” Helen Griffith ‘19 • “The Curative Effects of Art Therapy on Child Soldiers in Central Africa,” Meghan Herlitzka ‘19

• “Is the Monroe Doctrine Still Alive?” Millie Kirkland ‘19

and South Africa,” Gracie Stambaugh ‘19

• “Globalization and Language: The Increasing Interconnection of Our World and What It Means for Language,” Charlotte Taylor ‘19

• “Environmental Justice,” Sarah Tolbert ‘19 • “Girls Education in Rwanda, India and Nicaragua,” Ann Chapman Tirrill ‘19 • “Global Climate Change: Causes, Effects and Solutions,” Madeleine Warren ‘19

• “The History Behind Poverty: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nicaragua and Afghanistan,” Zora Young ‘19

SAVE THE DATE! TENNESSEE LOCAL FOOD SUMMIT AT HARPETH HALL DECEMBER 6-8, 2019

“Celebrating & Growing the Local Food Movement” gathers some of the nation’s top agricultural, sustainable community, food movement, health and wellness and farming experts to examine our local food movement and systems.

Hosted by Jeff Poppen, the Barefoot Farmer, Jeff has spent the last 40 years growing his own food and wants to share his vision of a sustainable local food movement that benefits farmers, agricultural systems, the environment, local chefs and consumers.

· · · ·

Community Economics Farming Health/Wellness

· · ·

Urban Gardening, School Gardens Food/Beverage Land

·

Local Food Author session, presented by the Nashville Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier

For more information, visit: www.tnlocalfood.com

68

HALLWAYS

2018-19 Annual Fund

Donors set a new record!

$1,721,259

. . . a wonderful gift for our girls

“

At Harpeth Hall, we are taught that we all have a voice, and we are encouraged to speak with confidence and conviction. We have the support of our school community that truly values the contributions that women can make to our society, and that is such a wonderful gift for our girls.

— MEGHANN McCONNELL MYERS, CLASS OF 1998

We are thankful for the meaningful contributions of our 2,621 donors and our 2018-19 Annual Fund team led by Chairs Jody and Mary Britton Thompson Cummings ’93, the Leadership Team of division chairs, and more than 140 committee members!

PARENT CHAIRS

MAJOR GIFTS CHAIRS

PARENTS OF ALUMNAE CHAIRS

Misty and Kolin Holladay

Matt Wiltshire and Crissy Wieck ’96

Kay and Walter Lang

ALUMNAE CHAIR

GRANDPARENT CHAIRS

FACULTY CHAIRS

Kate Sherrard Chinn ’93

Sallie and John Bailey

Amy Mulron and Emy Noel Sanderson ’98

REUNION CHAIR

Adelaide Grace Davis ’79

Support the 2019-20 Annual Fund online at HarpethHall.org under Giving or Venmo @HarpethHallSchool Questions? Please contact Tracy Campbell, Director of Annual Giving, 615-346-0083.

”

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAID Nashville, TN Permit No. 1857

The Harpeth Hall School

3801 Hobbs Road Nashville, Tennessee 37215

2020 HARPETH HALL

alumnae

exhibit

CALLING ALL ALUMNAE ARTISTS! The 2020 Alumnae Art Exhibit is February 9 – April 3 on the Harpeth Hall campus in both the Marnie Sheridan Art Gallery and the Patton Visual Arts Building. The Opening Reception will be held on Sunday, February 9. Previous alumnae exhibits have featured outstanding artists representing classes from multiple decades. Artwork has included paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, and mixed media.

Details about the exhibit are available at HarpethHall.org/alumnae/artexhibit

For more information

contact Scottie Fillebrown Coombs ’78, Director of Alumnae Relations, coombs@harpethhall.org or 615-346-0090