Hutchison Magazine | April 2019

T H E S C H O O L M AG A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 1 9

Charting a

COURSE BRITTANY TRIMBLE ’08

“When I found out that I got a pilot slot, that’s when I realized that path was going to be the most challenging and also bring me the most joy.”

– Captain Brittany Trimble, F-16 Pilot, United States Air Force, Hutchison Class of 2008. Read more about her story on page 12.

Photograph by WOWwoman.com

CONTENTS FEATURES

ALUMNA PROFILE

12 Charting a Course

28 Amy Sebes ’84

How alumnae found their ways into unique careers and fulfilling lives

24 Capturing Time and Place Around the World Hutchison ninth grader Isabella Smith ’22 wins a Young Travel Photographer of the Year award

34 Passing the Baton A conversation with Ann Marie Crump, retiring lower school head and honorary alumna, and incoming head Katharine Duerr Kent ’95

Living in the world and making a difference

GIVING TO HUTCHISON 32 Dabney Coors ’69 Celebrating 30 years of giving to Hutchison

37 2018 Tennis Round Robin

A B OV E : Middle school girls watch as they test a building on a shake table, simulating an earthquake. After a unit on tectonic plates and earthquakes, middle school girls use the engineering design process to build a two-story building out of craft materials.

Earthquake engineering concepts are introduced in the classroom before the build. Each building must withstand a 10-second earthquake, both small and large, on a shake table. This year, the girls are using Sketchup, a digital design program, to create 3D images of their buildings, which will be printed on the school’s 3D printer.

ALUMNAE NEWS 38 Alumnae Award Honorees 39 Reunions and Gatherings 44 Marriages, Births & Adoptions

O N T H E C OV E R Captain Brittany Trimble, Hutchison class of 2008,

has been a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force since 2012. She is an F-16 combat pilot who recently moved from her assignment in Japan back to the United States to become a flight instructor.

Cover image: Mariah Hollister Photography

46 Professionally Speaking 47 Class Notes D E PA R T M E N T S 3 News from Hutchison 8 Fine Arts Theatre Productions 56 Exploring the World’s Classroom Hutchison | 1

M E S S AG E | F R O M T H E H E A D O F S C H O O L

dear friends, n our classrooms, it is a given that our girls are learning English, history, math, and science.

Our classrooms, along with our theater, art and dance studios, libraries, farm and lake, and athletic facilities, are also places to explore new possibilities,

MISSION

hone talents, and dream about what you can do with

Hutchison School is dedicated to

all of that knowledge and skill once you get out into

a c a d e m i c exc e l l e n c e a n d t o t h e

the world.

a n d spirit a s it edu cates young wom e n

p a ra l l e l d eve l o p m e n t o f m i n d , b o d y, fo r s u cce ss i n co l l e g e a n d f o r l i ve s o f

The alumnae featured in this issue charted their courses by casting about, trying on new personas,

integrity and responsible citizenship.

Dr. Kristen Ring

succeeding, and even failing sometimes. They’ll be the first to admit that all those experiences made them richer. They didn’t necessarily know right away what they wanted to be when they grew up, but where is the wonder or joy of discovery in a scenario like that? Through drive and determination, each woman discovered her calling.

If you want to see the wonder and joy of discovery in action at Hutchison, turn to page one and witness the amazement of our girls as they simulate an earthquake.

Turn to pages eight and 10 to see the stories of our theatre performances come to life. And don’t forget the last page in the magazine, where our girls explore the wilds of the Gulf Coast to experience marine life up close. There’s no doubt that some of these girls were inspired during these different experiences and have begun charting their courses. We will be reading about them in another 10 years.

Warmly,

Kristen Ring, Ed.D. President and Head of School

H U TC H I S O N M AG A Z I N E

A L U M N A E D I R E C TO R

DESIGNER

APRIL 2019

M a r y A u b r ey L a n d r u m S t a f f o r d ’ 10

B a r b a ra H i m b e r

mstafford@hutchisonschool.org HEAD OF SCHOOL D r. K r i s t e n D. R i n g

H u t c h i s o n M a g a z i n e i s p u b l i s h e d by CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

t h e H u tc h i s o n Co m m u n i c a t i o n s O f f i ce .

L o r i G u y, M a x M a d d o c k , G a b r i e l l e E X E C U T I V E E D I TO R

P r ew i t t

P l e a s e f o r wa r d a d d r e s s c h a n g e s t o : H U TC H I S O N S C H O O L

L o r i G u y, S t ra t e g i c C o m m u n i c a t i o n s D i r e c t o r

P H OTO G R A P H Y

1 74 0 R I D G E WAY R OA D

lguy@hutchisonschool.org

B ra n d o n D i l l , M a r i a h H o l l i s t e r,

MEMPHIS, TN 38119

G a b r i e l l e P r ew i t t , N i c k S i m p s o n ,

o r t w h i t e @ h u t c h i s o n s c h o o l .o r g

E D I TO R

I s a b e l l a S m i t h ’ 2 2 , a n d va r i o u s

Max Maddock,

Hutchison constituents

Senior Communications Director mmaddock@hutchisonschool.org 2 | Hutchison

news

F R O M H U TC H I S O N

Gold Key Writing winners: Kristin Nunn ’22, Juliana Judge ’22, Millie Mencke ’20, Eve West ’21, Zoe Ford ’23

Artists & Writers Win Big at Scholastic Awards At this year’s Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards, Hutchison girls won more total awards than any other independent school with an impressive 75 awards. Of those 75, 13 girls received 17 Gold Keys: Annsley Barton ’19, Lawson Bolton ’22, Caroline Erb ’22, Genevieve Geno ’22, Anne Grinder ’19 (two Gold Keys), Amellia Hausmann ’21, Michelle Lee ’19, Izabella Moore ’22, Madison Morris ’20, Caroline Seamons ’20, Sydney Shy ’20, Isabella Smith ’22 (three Gold Keys), and Nora Tillmanns ’19 (two Gold Keys). In writing, 36 Hutchison girls earned Scholastic Awards at the regional competition. Five girls received Gold Keys: Zoe Ford ’23, Juliana Judge ’22, Millie Mencke ’20, Kristin Nunn ’22, and Eve West ’21. All Gold Key winners will compete nationally with results to be released later this spring.

Artwork by Anne Grinder ’19 Silver Dreamer

Left: artwork by Nora Tillmanns ’19 Baobab Cloud Earrings Above: artwork by Genevieve Geno ’22 Backbend Above right: artwork by Annsley Barton ’19 David Hutchison | 3

N E WS | F R O M H U TC H I S O N

Senior Athletes Sign Letters of Intent Seniors Grace Anne Dunavant, left, and Micaela Dusseault, right, signed letters of intent to play college sports. Dunavant will play tennis at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Dusseault will play soccer at The University of Mississippi.

Junior Sting Clinics Kick Off a Great First Year The Junior Sting Clinics, a new partnership between Hutchison athletics and Infinity Fitness, received tremendous praise from participants during its first year in session. Our fall and winter clinics welcomed more than 380 girls between the ages of 3 and 10 for seven sports: volleyball, soccer, golf, cross country, dance, bowling, and basketball. This spring, we will host clinics for lacrosse, tennis, and track and field.

Athletics Earns TSSAA Sportsmanship Award Hutchison’s athletics department earned the state’s highest award for sportsmanship, the A.F. Bridges Divisional Award from the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). Bernard Childress, Executive Director of the TSSAA, stated, “Being recognized for one of these awards

as a school or individual should be seen as one of the highest honors in high school athletics in our state. Those who receive the awards truly reflect what high school athletics should be about, and that’s good sportsmanship and good citizenship.”

Hutchison Athletics: Matt Nelson, Jill Allen, Eryka Jenkins, Kelly Parsons, Catherine Chubb, athletics director, Heather Jordan, and Thomas Jones 4 | Hutchison

N E WS | F R O M H U TC H I S O N

TAIS Awards Lifetime Honors

Above: Richard Martin, executive director of TAIS, with Dr. Annette Smith and Ellis Haguewood Left: Mary Lee Wesberry with Scott Wilson, president of the TAIS board of directors

The Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS) honored Dr. Annette C. Smith, our retired head of school, and Memphis University School Headmaster Emeritus Ellis Haguewood with the Sawney Webb Award. This special recognition is reserved for administrators who have made outstanding contributions to the world of independent school education. Additionally, Mary Lee Wesberry, AP biology and AP environmental science teacher, received the Hubert Smothers Award, which honors teachers who have had extraordinary impact on their students.

History Teacher Awarded Educator of the Year Upper school history teacher Rachel Mattson has been selected as a 2019 Belz-Lipman Educator of the Year, an award sponsored by the Tennessee Holocaust Commission. The award recognizes outstanding educators who excel in the teaching of the Holocaust.

She will participate in a professional development trip to Poland this summer to visit Auschwitz and other concentration camps in the area.

Rachel Mattson, right, Belz-Lipman Educator of the Year

Hutchison | 5

N E WS | F R O M H U TC H I S O N

Varsity Basketball Team Closes Out Historic Season

Our varsity basketball team finished its season by reaching the state semifinals for the second time in school history. The team had a record of 7-1 in the region and won the regional championship. Five players earned Division II-AA West Region honors, including Maxine Engel ’21 as player of the year.

Seated: Bailey McNamara ’21, Nia Drayton ’21, Madison Neal ’22, Madison Moore ’19, Sophia Mansour ’21, Rachel Perry ’22, Madison Fisher ’22 Standing: Kiya Brown ’21, Kaia Barnett ’21, Maxine Engel ’21, Coach Thomas Jones, Carmyn Harrison ’21, Maddie Prather ’21, Manager Grace Goughnour ’21

6 | Hutchison

Eighth-Grader Records Album at Memphis Studio Brooke Fair ’23 released a six-song, self-written EP, “All Queens Wear Crowns” in November 2018. A natural writer and storyteller, Fair began writing music in third grade and learned to play the ukulele in sixth grade. Her music can be found on iTunes, Spotify, and other major music services.

Lower School Teacher Races in NYC Marathon Early childhood and lower school music teacher Rachel Randall competed in the New York City Marathon and finished with an amazing time of 3:22.

When Mrs. Randall isn’t teaching choir, she leads running clinics for lower school girls.

what is @kristenring1972 tweeting?

Dr. Kristen Ring, head of school, is often out and about on campus and in the community. Here’s some of what she’s shared about Hutchison on Twitter. Be sure to follow her!

#HutchisonStrong Hutchison | 7

F I N E A R T S | T H E AT R E

8 | Hutchison

Photographs by Nick Simpson

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Hutchison’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was presented during the 50th anniversary of the original show by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. This is the second time the show has been presented at Hutchison, the first during the 1993–1994 season. This production, however, was an allfemale cast. There were 27 cast members, made up of upper and middle school students, as well as 14 lower school girls for the children’s choir. An additional 16 girls worked backstage and led several technical crews—stage management, lighting, sound, props, costumes, scenic, and running crews. The stagecraft production class, which included 15 students, helped construct and paint the set.

The show was directed by Jay Rapp, with music direction

by Leiza Collins, costume design by Anne Marie Caskey ’80, scenic design by Marques Brown, and lighting design by Louisa Koeppel.

Hutchison | 9

10 | Hutchison

F I N E A R T S | T H E AT R E Photographs by Nick Simpson

The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 For the winter production, Hutchison chose a show based on film noir movies and comedies of the 1940s called The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, written by John Bishop and first performed in 1987. The musical provided a chance for girls to explore farce and comedic timing in the style of the 1940s. They also got to stretch and try out different character types that encompassed both comedy and mystery genres. The all-female cast was made up of 14 upper school girls and had a technical crew of 13 girls. Sally Crow ’19 designed the show’s lighting, and Betsy Grimes ’22 designed the sound. The show was directed by Anne Marie Caskey ’80.

Hutchison | 11

There is value in an education, but what do you do with the accumulated knowledge and experiences from high school, college, and beyond? How do you realize a dream? For these alumnae, they listened to their hearts, found value in learning from people who went before them, made a plan, and acted. It was all part of

CHARTING 12 | Hutchison

The future belongs to those who believe

in the beauty of their dreams.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

COURSE Hutchison | 13

Brittany Trimble ’08

by Max Maddock

Taking Flight

D

uring her senior year at Hutchison, Brittany Trimble ’08 started charting her course.

She emailed a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force and said something along the lines of: “I hear you’re a fighter pilot, and I would like to be one. Please help me.”

Trimble admitted her note was a bit more formal than that. But that was the gist.

“She was an F-16 instructor at the time, and she responded and laid out some possibilities,” Trimble said. “Just getting that email and talking to someone who was female and who had done it before let me know that it was an option.”

Like most people, Trimble didn’t know then where she would end up, but she had a vision that she couldn’t ignore.

INSPIRATION FROM AN EARLY AGE Trimble’s father had been a fighter pilot in Vietnam, and although he’d retired from the Air Force by the time Brittany was born, he continued to fly as a pilot for FedEx. The photos and model airplanes around the house made an impression on the younger Trimble.

Her father hoped she would matriculate to the Air Force Academy, where she applied and was accepted, but she decided that a four-year degree of her choice, along with the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), was the route she would take. She wanted to keep her options open.

She attended Tufts University in Boston, starting as an international relations major before switching to a pre-med track and ultimately landing on biopsychology as her major.

14 | Hutchison

Mariah Hollister Photography

CHARTING A COURSE

Left: Molly Crenshaw ’08, Carey Madison Moore ’64, and Linda Marks ’63 H H uu tt cc hh ii ss o o nn || 11 55

CHARTING A COURSE

Hutchison allowed me to figure out who I was without a lot of the external pressures of changing who I was to impress someone.

She still thought about becoming a pilot, though. Hanging in

Eventually, Trimble applied for pilot training and took the

her dorm room was a picture of a fighter jet, but she wasn’t

test. “When I found out that I got a pilot slot, that’s when

100 percent sure she could see herself in the pilot seat. She

I realized that path was going to be the most challenging

had no experience flying and described an ROTC flight in a

and also bring me the most joy.” Trimble credits her dad and

Cessna as “kind of slow.” It was a big commitment, too; once

her ROTC commander for guiding her in her decision. Both

one signs on to be a pilot in the Air Force, there’s an obliga-

sat down with her and talked her through the process, their

tion for a minimum of 10 years.

experiences, and the pros and cons.

“If you haven’t been immersed in that culture by moving

“Exposure to different ideas and working professionals

around with the military or by flying airplanes your whole

helps a lot,” Trimble said about trying to chart a course. She

life, how do you know it’s for you? That’s the question I

believes talking to people and getting as much information as

struggled with.”

possible are key steps, as opposed to just searching Google

16 | Hutchison

for answers. “If you’re putting yourself out there, if you are

Trimble said she’s never struggled with being one of the

trying to experience the things that you will be doing, that

few women, or only woman, in a squadron. Since Trimble

will help you.”

started at Hutchison in kindergarten, she had plenty of time

Nevertheless, she admits, her decision also took a leap of faith.

to build her confidence. “Hutchison allowed me to figure out who I was without a lot of the external pressures of changing who I was to impress someone. It allowed more time for me

SHOWING UP AND FLYING Today, she’s addressed as Captain Trimble, or, when she’s in the cockpit of a fighter jet, by her callsign “Blitz.” She’s

to figure out who I was in a smaller context. By the time I went to college, I knew exactly who I was.”

What hasn’t Trimble done yet? She hasn’t been deployed

been a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force

to an active combat zone yet, which would allow her to test

since 2012 and is one of the elite few to be chosen to fly the

all of the skills she’s trained on for years. She also must plan

F-16. “Now I’m part of the community that back then I had

a wedding. “That seems more stressful. I’m not qualified to

starry eyes looking up at.”

do that.”

How do you go from no experience as a pilot to piloting

Soon, Trimble will be training others to fly F-16 jets. She

a jet that can climb to 40,000 feet and exceed the speed of

had been stationed in Japan until this past February, when

sound?

she moved back to the United States with her fiancé, also an

That’s another interesting story. Of course, there are

Air Force pilot. This year, she will complete several training

several years of fundamentals classes, simulation flights, and

courses to become an F-16 basics instructor at Holloman Air

learning to fly other planes such as the T-6 and the T-38. You

Force Base, much like the lieutenant colonel she reached out

train, and you train, and you train. There is a two-seat version

to only 11 years ago.

of the F-16 used for initial training flights that allows for an experienced pilot to be on board, but as luck would have it, when Trimble took her first F-16 flight, the two-seaters had been taken off line. Her first flight in an F-16 was solo; the instructor was in a separate jet.

“My story is a huge testament to the Air Force’s capability to train pilots,” Trimble said. “They took me, someone who had no basic understanding of flying and no background in general aviation, and got me to the point in about three years where they were trusting me with a multi-million-dollar platform.”

The views and opinions expressed by Brittany Trimble are her own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the Air Force.

CHARTING A COURSE

Frances Dornette Schafer ’66

W

Blazing a Path for Women in Law

hen Frances Dornette Schafer ’66 saw the movie

her. “I made sure that I

On the Basis of Sex, about the trials and tribulations

was prepared for every

of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s early

meeting I had, and

career, it rang true to her. Although Ginsburg’s struggle to

they eventually came

be hired as an attorney took place almost a decade and

to respect me,” Schafer

a half earlier, Schafer faced similar difficulties when she

said. “Taking that job

started looking for work as an attorney in the early 1970s.

was one of my biggest

“When I graduated from Cornell Law School in 1973,

challenges.”

I was trying to find a job in the Midwest,” Schafer said.

It was an important

“They were not ready for women lawyers at all. Firms on

takeaway from Schafer’s

the two coasts were hiring women, but there were people

career. “As long as I did

in Cincinnati law firms telling me that they couldn’t afford

my work, worked really

to hire someone who didn’t meet clients, and of course, they couldn’t have a woman meeting a client.”

Schafer persisted, though, and was hired on with the

hard, and was always prepared, I didn’t have any problems.” She recalled working with one man who had a reputation of not dealing well with

IRS in its Cleveland office. Most of the people who worked

women. “It wasn’t that. He didn’t deal well with people who

for the IRS were accountants, but attorneys in its estate

were not prepared or ready to talk to him,” Schafer said. “He

and gift tax group were needed. She was the first woman

and I got along great. I learned so much from him, and it was

ever hired in the Cleveland office.

an unfair characterization.”

She stayed in Cleveland for four years but knew that

Schafer was also flexible and resilient. Working at the

there would be more opportunity in Washington, D.C., so

IRS for 30 years, she went through several reorganizations,

she transferred to the IRS’ national office. “There were

during which she learned how to adjust to new roles and

people I worked with in Cleveland who were still doing the

become an expert on different areas of the tax law. “A lot

same thing after 30 years, which was fine,” Schafer said. “I

of people at the IRS are pigeon-holed in one particular tax

just did so many more things and learned so many more

code section. I’ve been lucky to learn a lot of different things

areas of the tax code by moving to the national office.”

about a lot of different areas.” During her career, she served

There were more women in Washington, Schafer

as an IRS representative on certain issues giving speeches to

admitted, but there were still times when she had to prove

the American Bar Association and the American Institute of

her capabilities. At one point, when a section chief job

Certified Public Accountants.

came open that meant a promotion, Schafer decided to go for it. The position would oversee four branches. Schafer applied for the job, as did the four branch managers, who

GAINING STRENGTH FROM HUTCHISON Schafer didn’t start at Hutchison until the ninth grade, but

were all men. Because she hadn’t come up through the

she said those four years were crucial to helping shape the

ranks as they had, there was tension. The job also dealt

woman she would become.

with areas of the tax law that Schafer wasn’t familiar with.

“Hutchison is where I learned how to write,” Schafer said.

Nevertheless, Schafer got the post, but it took some

“That skill has been critical with every job I’ve had and has

time for her to earn the trust of her direct reports. And she

made such an important difference in my life.” She remem-

had to buckle down and learn the tax law that was new to

bered Robbie Hawkins, who taught her English and Latin.

18 | Hutchison

Schafer talks with students during a visit to Hutchison’s campus.

Schafer is a strong advocate of an all-girls education.

She recalled that while she was doing her undergraduate work in political science and math at Sweet Briar, a women’s

she decided to take the LSAT and scored well. That’s when she set her sights on law school.

After she retired from the IRS, Schafer spent six years at

liberal arts college in Virginia, she worked on the technical

KPMG and three at Grant Thornton, after which she retired

sets for the theater. If they needed to use the saw to

in earnest. She still works on tax law, though, editing a book

make something, they did it because there weren’t any

called Income Taxation of Fiduciaries and Beneficiaries,

men around. “Being in an all-female environment, both at

published by Wolters Kluwer. She’s particularly proud of tax

Hutchison and then at Sweet Briar College, I felt like I could

regulations she wrote that will be on the books for a long

do anything.

time as interpretations of various Internal Revenue code

“That attitude helped me through law school where I felt like I could do just as well as a man could, and also throughout every job I’ve ever had, because I didn’t have to

sections. One of her personal goals, which she hit two years ago, was to visit all 50 states.

She also returns to Hutchison frequently as part of the

second-guess myself. I knew I was as good as anybody else,

National Alumnae Board (NAB). “I think the purpose of

and I think that’s something women don’t necessarily get if

the NAB is to show the girls that there’s a life outside of

they go to a coed school.”

Memphis and that there are colleges outside of those in the

Schafer’s drive also helped her chart her course. During her junior year in college, while many of her friends were

South. I enjoy coming back and seeing everything that’s going on and talking with the girls.

spending a year abroad, she attended Denison University in

“I’ve always felt that if you work really hard and are

Granville, Ohio, to take several courses that were not offered

prepared, people will realize that you can do the work and

at Sweet Briar. She took astronomy, psychology, econom-

give you more opportunity. You’re better off asking for more

ics, and, somewhat prophetically, a constitutional law class

responsibility to do something that you may fail at. If you

taught by a local attorney. She loved the law class and

fail at it, you’re going to learn from those failed experiences,

knowing that political science wouldn’t be easily marketable,

but you may succeed and be on to the next level.”

Being in an all-female environment, both at Hutchison and then at Sweet Briar College, I felt like I could do anything.

Hutchison | 19

CHARTING A COURSE

Sophie Stubblefield Bracewell ’05

Discovering a Skill for Guiding Others T

hey say the fastest way between two points is a

“You have to be able to really listen and support people

straight line, but ask most people, and you’ll often

through what are often very big transitions in their lives and

hear that the courses they charted after college weren’t

careers.”

linear. It might require changing course or even a change of location.

Sophie Stubblefield Bracewell ’05 had a passion for

A S E TBACK ACTUA LLY LE A DS TO GA I N S After she had more experience under her belt, Bracewell

art and always wanted to be an art teacher. In fact, her first

started applying for recruiting positions at larger companies.

job after graduating from the University of Georgia with a

She applied at Google and a recruiting agency, among others.

degree in fine arts was as an art teacher in Washington, D.C.

The Google job didn’t come through, but she took the job

When Bracewell decided to explore other career paths, she was looking for an adventure and a change of location as well. She had her mind set on San Francisco, although she

at the agency and added to her experience and skills. She learned fast and was promoted.

“At the time, it was disappointing to get turned down at

only knew one person who lived there and had visited just

Google,” Bracewell said, “but, looking back, it was actually

once. She committed to spending a year in a new city, and

beneficial because I was able to get in-depth training and

made plans to move before securing a job or a place to live.

move up much faster than I would have at Google.”

“I figured it out one day at a time and along the way was

She then spent two years back in Washington, D.C.,

able to build a life and a career that I’m proud of,” Bracewell

where she worked for a high-growth tech company that

said. “But of course, that didn’t happen quickly or easily. Over

nearly doubled in size during the two years she was there.

the course of eight years, there were plenty of mistakes and

“It was high volume and lots of learning,” Bracewell said.

questioning whether or not I was making the right decisions.”

“I hired 70 people for all types of positions: engineering,

Bracewell is not only still in San Francisco, she works as a

product management, sales, marketing, e-commerce,

User Experience (UX) Design Recruiter for one of the largest

operations, finance, and design. That was a great period of

tech companies in the world—Google.

learning because I worked on so many different types of

Before Google, she got her start in the Bay Area working at an art gallery and doing a studio internship with an artist.

She then transferred to a startup with a small team where she gained experience doing a little bit of everything, from

jobs, many of which I hadn’t been exposed to before.”

She missed San Francisco, though, and applied again at Google. This time, she was hired.

Her specialty is in recruiting for user experience (UX)

general office work to planning events and designing the

design. “UX is essentially about incorporating the needs and

office space. One day, one of the founders remarked out

experience of the user into the design of a product,” Brace-

loud “we need someone to run this hiring meeting.” She

well explained. “It’s not only about how a particular product

jumped at the chance.

looks, but how it works and the feeling that it evokes. It

It was a simple twist of fate. She found that the recruiting and hiring process was the work she enjoyed the most. “I like working with people and being an internal advocate

means that not only should our products be aesthetically pleasing, but also useful, accessible, and delightful.

“I was interested in this niche because it essentially

to guide them through the hiring and interview process,”

applies human psychology to design,” Bracewell said.

Bracewell said. “Interviewing can be an uncertain and stressful

“Those were two of my favorite subjects in school, and I’ve

time, and I found that there is an element of teaching and

looked for ways to continue learning about them in different

counseling in the recruiting process that I enjoy,” she added.

career paths that I’ve explored.”

20 | Hutchison

I always learned the most at jobs where I was given a lot of responsibility that I didn’t necessarily feel ready for, and I think that can be the best way to learn.

Bracewell acts as a liaison between internal teams at Google and YouTube that need to hire designers, and the designers trying to navigate the interview process for such a large tech company.

“I always learned the most at jobs where I was given a lot of responsibility that I didn’t necessarily feel ready for, and I think that can be the best way to learn. Don’t let failure discourage you. Treat it as a learning opportunity.”

She encourages Hutchison girls to stay open and explore as much as possible. “There’s no way to be aware of all of the jobs that exist, and the job market in general is changing very quickly.

The jobs that will be available 10 years from now will be different from those that are available today.”

“When I was at Hutchison, I didn’t know anything about UX or recruiting or what either of those jobs entailed,” Bracewell said. “I didn’t plan on moving to California or working for Google.

I landed here through listening to my gut and, of course, working hard. It’s important to set goals and work toward them.

However, it’s okay if those goals change and evolve over time. I think that’s inevitable.”

Alessandra Corona ’09

H

Creating the Next Product You’ll Use ow many times have you picked up a banana

sail boats. Immediately I said, ‘Okay, this was

and acted like it was a phone? Probably a few

made for me.’ ”

times at least. Now, how many times have you turned that

She admitted that in addition to her artistic

idea into a children’s toy that was manufactured and sold at

skills, she was pretty good at math, too, and

stores nationwide and online?

industrial design uses both.

Alessandra Corona ’09 came up with that very idea

To get as much experience as she could,

one day when she was working for a toy brand called

she first moved to New York and worked for

Bright Starts. She and her fellow industrial designers were

a company called Quirky that crowdsources

stumped for new ideas when Corona picked up a banana

inventions and makes them realities. She then

and pretended to call another designer. A light bulb went off

moved back south to Atlanta to design toys

and after some research, she was surprised to find that a toy

at Kids II for the brands Bright Starts and

banana phone hadn’t been invented yet.

Baby Einstein. She created and produced

Her boss didn’t think it would fly, but she persisted, and

as many as nine products for the

retailers loved the idea, so the banana phone became a

market while she was there.

reality. “It was one of those projects where it was a long

Completing a triangle in her

shot, and it ended up being really successful.”

moves, she ended up in Chicago

Who says dreams don’t come true?

where she worked for Paris

(Go ahead … we’ll wait while you google ‘Bright Starts

Presents, designing make-up

banana phone’ and add it to your cart.)

Corona, who came to Hutchison in the ninth grade, was passionate about art and loved learning from Gwen English

brushes and cosmetic accessories for the EcoTools and Real Techniques brands.

“I thought when I studied industrial design I was going

and Anne Davey. “One of my favorite things about being at

to be creating power tools, but I ended up designing some-

Hutchison was the art department,” Corona said. “I took AP

thing that was really girly and awesome. I had so much fun

drawing and AP sculpture. There was a lot that I got to do

designing those.”

at Hutchison that I don’t think I would have had access to at other schools.”

She admitted that it was because of English’s recommen-

A N E W A DV E N TU R E BEGI N S During 2018, Corona took some personal time to reflect

dation that she tried the summer program at the Savannah

on what she had accomplished, the work she was currently

College of Art & Design (SCAD). “I fell in love with SCAD

doing, and envisioned what she wanted to do next. She

when I did that. I never applied to any other colleges,

had promised herself that if she wasn’t learning anything

because SCAD offered me a scholarship right after the

new, she would move on. She considered applying for new

summer program, which was great. Hutchison prepared me

positions, but then realized there were products she wanted

for SCAD.”

to start producing. She knew she had the skills she needed,

Corona was originally going to major in architecture, but one of her advisors was studying industrial design. “There are many paths you can take in industrial design, like user

so she took the leap and started her own industrial design consultancy called Big Bright in October 2018.

Only a few months in, Corona already has a handful of

experience design or service design, but I really like the

clients, including some in Memphis, and is gathering busi-

consumer products angle. When I went to SCAD, I saw that

ness partners for one of the products she wants to launch.

they were designing vacuum cleaners and infant toys and 22 | Hutchison

“One of the best things about Hutchison was that it

CHARTING A COURSE

taught me how to learn,” Corona said. “I also got comfortable not understanding something and having to figure it out, which has been incredibly important in my career. Being able to say, ‘I’ve never designed a make-up brush before, but I’m going to move to Chicago and figure it out.’ ” She’s also held her own in a male-dominated industry where women make up less than 20 percent of industrial designers. “I went from being at an all-girls school to being one of the only women in my industrial design courses, which is probably why I thought I was going to be designing power tools,” Corona said.

“I’ve been out of college for five years, and I already have over a dozen products that have made it to market. With the cosmetic brushes, it’s actually 50 or more,” Corona added. “It’s cool to go into a Walgreens or be in Paris and see my products.

“I think Hutchison empowered me as a woman to believe that I could start my own business, and I think other people that I went to college with maybe didn’t have that confidence.

But I needed to get these pockets of experience, like working with manufacturers in China, in order to be able to start my own business.”

By charting her own course, Corona has proven that she can.

One of the best things about Hutchison was that it taught me how to learn. I also got comfortable not understanding something and having to figure it out, which has been incredibly important in my career.

Hutchison | 23

24 | Hutchison

capturing time and place around the world

N

Isabella Smith ’22 Wins Prestigious Photography Award

inth grader Isabella Smith was named the 2018 Young Travel Photographer of the Year, an international

competition founded by professional photographer Chris Coe and his wife and business partner, Karen Coe. The competition invites amateur and professional photographers from 142 countries to submit their works to be judged. In 2018, more than 20,000 images were submitted.

Smith discovered that she can tell stories of the places she visits through the images she captures. Her vibrant images were taken during her trip to Morocco.

Here are her award-winning images, plus some other incredible images she’s captured during her travels.

We asked her a few questions about her work.

Where were the winning images, shown on this page, taken?

In the city of Chefchaouen, the Blue City, in the northwest of Morocco. It’s known for the blue-washed buildings in its old town. It was interesting to see all of the beautiful colors there. It also felt like there was a different culture there than in other parts of Africa.

What drew you to photography?

My mom has always had a big camera, and I thought it looked like fun. We went on one trip, and I asked if I could take some pictures, and I fell in love with it then. I was 11 years old when I started taking photos.

Have you had formal training, or did you learn on your own?

My mom taught me how to use the camera, but I’ve mostly learned on my own. I’ve taken some one-day classes, for instance, to learn about long-exposure photography.

Hutchison | 25

26 | Hutchison

How do you decide what to take a photo of?

I’m pretty artistic, so when I go somewhere, I like to capture the moment and make it look pretty. I like trying to make the picture, trying to capture what’s around me. It comes naturally to me. I know the basics of how to take a picture, like the rule of thirds and composition, and I use that to make my pictures.

What about travel photography interests you?

Do you plan to continue to study photography?

I like being able to capture a different culture. I’ve been to a

Photography will always be something I do. I don’t know if it

lot of different places in Europe and Iceland, and some places

would be my main focus. I hope it can become a job, but it’s a

in South America and the Galapagos, which was my favorite.

really competitive field, so I don’t know how easy that will be.

Besides travel photos, what else do you like to take photos of?

Where would you like to travel to next?

I take photos of animals, portraits, and travel. I don’t take

taking photos. Going back now, I think I could take some very

landscapes much, but I do take photos of nature sometimes.

different shots.

I’d like to return to Iceland because I went there before I was

Hutchison | 27

ALUMNA PROFILE | AMY SEBES ’84

Living in the World and Making a Difference

by Max Maddock

Wherever she lives in the world, Amy Sebes ’84 tries to make a difference in the lives of the children she’s met, especially girls and young women.

“From all of the experiences that I’ve had over the last three decades, I know that education is the key,” Sebes said. “In particular, it’s the education of women that needs to be addressed. That is how our world is going to get better.”

Sebes knows this because she’s tutored

than $5.50 a day. About a quarter of the

children in the world’s third-largest slum in

planet’s people, or around 1.9 billion, make

Mumbai, India, helped women who were

do on less than $3.20 a day, and 10 percent

former political prisoners in Burma (now

scrape by on less than $1.90 a day.”

Myanmar) transition out of prison life,

“It’s quite unbelievable to think about if

and assisted female victims of trafficking

that’s not your world when you step outside

in Albania. Throughout all these instances

your house,” she added. “That’s the world

and others, both internationally and in the

that we live in, and so many people are

United States, Sebes has witnessed first-

living in very desperate circumstances.”

hand how education changes people’s lives.

Her life’s work has been as a teacher.

DOING SOMETHING,

After graduating from Hutchison, Sebes

EVEN IF IT’S SMALL

received an undergraduate degree in psychology from Stanford

Sebes and her family are currently living in the

and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts. She’s taught in

Washington, D.C., area where she is working with teens in

six U.S. states and five countries. The peripatetic nature of

danger of dropping out of school. And while that problem

her life is due to her husband Tom’s work as a diplomat at the

presents itself frequently enough in the U.S., she recalled that

State Department. Their posts have sent them to live in places

in India, where her family last lived, only one out of 100 girls

where extreme poverty, political upheaval, and even modern-

enrolled in school complete grade 12.

day forms of slavery are taking place.

In each location they’ve lived, Sebes has felt compelled to

“There’s no way that when we were in India, I could get every girl to go to school,” Sebes admitted. “What I could

get involved. “You can’t live in these places and see the kinds

do is work toward the education gap and the gender gap in

of things that you see and not do anything,” Sebes said.

education in India.”

Staggering statistics bear out Sebes’ experiences. Accord-

Sebes and her two daughters, Bette and Emmie, regularly

ing to a World Bank report released in October 2018, “Almost

visited Dharavi, the world’s third-largest slum, in Mumbai,

half the world’s population—3.4 billion people—live on less

where nearly one million people live in a one square-mile

28 | Hutchison

Find what it is that you really care about, and you will find a way to address that. I believe that when people follow their passions, the world gets better.

said. To write the curriculum, she first had to talk with the survivors and find out what might have helped them avoid being abducted. After she wrote the curriculum, the Albanian educators adapted it and decided the best way to utilize it.

As she talked to survivors, Sebes learned that they were traumatized and in various stages of post-traumatic stress disorder. She realized they wanted to regain two things most of all: dignity and hope. To continue this work, she founded an organization called the Association of Albanian Girls and Women (AAGW), created by and for victims of human trafficking in Albania. “The purpose of AAGW is to assist trafAmy Sebes ’84 with husband Tom Vajda and daughters Bette and Emmie Vajda at the Taj Mahal in India

ficking survivors in Albania by providing job training and job placement programs so they can find employment, transition out of the shelter, and live independently. Additionally, we are

radius. They ran a summer camp, tutored children in English

helping to prevent trafficking in Albania and to educate the

and history, and taught arts and crafts. They also showed

public about trafficking.”

them how to ride bikes and swim.

Sebes said the model for how AAGW is run was based on

“The way you don’t get overwhelmed is to do something

her experience at Hutchison. “When I was in high school, we

to work against the poverty or lack of education or whatever

were empowered to make important decisions. We had the

the problem is,” Sebes said. “Otherwise, you would just throw

time and space to have discussions, to think for ourselves, to

up your hands and say, ‘well, I can’t do anything; this is too

take leadership roles, and to engage in a democratic vote. And

huge of a problem.’ You have to understand that doing some-

that’s exactly what our model is for AAGW. Our beneficiaries

thing, even if it’s small, is better than nothing.”

are also our organization’s members and leaders,” she explained.

When she and her husband were stationed in Albania in 2003–2004, there were no English-speaking high schools for

“The survivors play a role in the decision-making of AAGW.” Of the organization’s biggest success stories is the fact

her to teach in. Nevertheless, she found a way to get involved.

that one of its earliest members was elected to be the first

She was aware that teenage girls in the country were the vic-

president of the organization. Since then, she’s gone on to

tims of trafficking, and because she had experience working

have a successful professional life, a daughter, and is an

with girls, she volunteered at an organization that was trying

AAGW board member. “She, more than anyone else, knows

to address the needs of trafficking survivors.

the best way to spend our funds to help these women,” Sebes

“One way that they said I could help was to write anti-

explained, “because she’s the only one who really knows what

trafficking curriculum for Albanian schools to help girls

it’s like to have been trafficked, to be in this position, and to

from getting sucked into the trafficking network,” Sebes

try to start over again and figure things out from scratch.”

Hutchison | 29

THINK GLOBALLY,

creating its own scholarship fund.

ACT LOCALLY

Sebes, along with classmates Julie Bancroft, Ivy McPherson Hayes,

Sebes credits Hutchison with her passion for doing good work

Kim Dolan Johnson, Ellen

in the world. “I was inspired by

Gannaway Lail, and Michelle

the teachers I had and even the

Nelson Miller, want the scholar-

chapel talks I heard. The older

ship to benefit a highly capable

girls were role models for me. I

student who wouldn’t otherwise

was fed intellectually, spiritually,

be able to attend Hutchison.

“I’ve been given so much, so

and emotionally. I had such wonderful teachers at Hutchison

I want to give back. However,

that I became a teacher because of

you can never truly give back,”

them. I had been given the gift of

Sebes clarified, “you only can give

a great education, and I wanted to

forward. Hutchison is one way to

give that to other people.”

do that. On a broader scale, the world needs more accomplished

She added that she’s grateful for her travels around the world

women. The world will be a

because they’ve given her a

better place than it is now when

global perspective and opportunities she never expected. She stressed, though, that there’s plenty of work for Hutchison girls and alumnae to do in their communities.

“You don’t need to go to Albania to find need. There’s

more women are making decisions that affect our world.”

She recalled that when she was in India, people would often come up to her and beg. “I originally thought of it as, ‘they’re asking me to give them something,’ but I realized that

great need in Memphis, and one can look around the corner

when people came up to me and begged, they were giving

and an opportunity will present itself,” she said. “I think it’s

me something that was much more valuable than anything I

best for people to find out what issues they care most about.

could have ever given them. They were giving me the oppor-

Is it the environment? Is it education? Is it sexual harassment

tunity to be a better person.

in the work force? Find what it is that you really care about,

“When students do service projects, it’s important, but we

and you will find a way to address that. I believe that when

often think that we’re simply providing a service to someone.

people follow their passions, the world gets better.”

However, the people we are serving are offering us the opportunity to experience personal growth as a human being.”

PAYING FORWARD

Sebes and her 1984 classmates were inspired by the recent

For more information about the Association of Albanian Girls and Women, visit www.aagw.org.

story about the Class of 1982 and its ongoing scholarship fund. The Class of 1984 is currently in the planning stages of

When I was at Hutchison, we were empowered to make important decisions. We had the time and space to have discussions, to think for ourselves, to take leadership roles, and to engage in a democratic vote.

30 | Hutchison

Hutchison is dedicated to educating girls and empowering young women. With a gift to Hutchison, you help provide opportunities beyond what tuition alone could ever support.

The Challenge Is On! Hutchison is on a mission to build a $15 million Financial Assistance Endowment. An anonymous donor has issued a once-in-a-lifetime, $5 million challenge gift, matching 50 cents for every dollar for any new gift this school year directed to Financial Assistance.

A Hutchison education is transformative.

Give the gift of a Hutchison education.

Amplify your gift by checking the Financial Assistance circle on your gift envelope.

Donate today at

hutchisonschool.org/give

Hutchison | 31

G I V I N G TO H U TC H I S O N | DA B N E Y CO O R S ’ 6 9

Celebrating 50 Years and a Storied History with Hutchison Dabney Coors ’69 remembers how

need-based scholarship assistance each

her mother, Jeanne Parham Coors ’42,

year to deserving and qualified girls.

gathered flowers in hers and others’

“I think it’s important to give to what

gardens to deliver to Hutchison on

we believe in,” Coors said about why she

Union Avenue for the annual May Day

gives consistently. “Other than my family,

festivities. “My mother was such a sup-

Hutchison has had a defining impact on

porter of Hutchison and served as an

my life.

example to all of her daughters.”

“The question has been asked many

Coors has three sisters who attended

times, ‘So who influenced you most in your

Hutchison—Jeanne Coors Arthur ’63,

life?’ The answer is always one of your

Cristy Coors Beasley ’67, now deceased,

parents and then a teacher,” Coors said.

and Cary Coors Brown ’76. (Coors said

She said the two teachers who left a lasting

her father, Dr. George Alcorn Coors,

impression on her were her math teacher,

often joked that he was the only

Marily Hughes, who passed away in

man who paid 51 years of tuition for

February, and Pat Newberry Kelly, an

Hutchison School.) In addition, her

honorary alumna. “If I had to point to one

nieces, Cristy Beasley Cass ’93,

person in my life who helped me develop

Huxley Brown Maury ’04, and Amelia

my voice, it would be Pat, and we are

Brown ’10, all attended Hutchison.

friends to this day.”

Giving consistently to Hutchison

Coors said that even though the class

has been a priority for Coors for 30

of 1969 has lost several members, she is

years. Since this year marks the 50th

amazed at how their friendships have

reunion year for her class, she decided

endured for 50 years. One of her best

she wanted to do something a little bit

friends is Christina Wellford-Scott ’69, who

more to honor her alma mater.

currently teaches English at Hutchison.

That’s why she decided to make a planned gift in her will to the school and direct it to the financial assistance

“She is one of the smartest people I have Top: George Alcorn Coors, M.D., and Jeanne Parham Coors ’42; above, Dabney Coors ’69

challenge. The challenge was made by an anonymous donor who wanted

ever known, and when it comes to critical thinking, Christina is fantastic,” Coors said.

She encourages others to give back this year during the financial assistance chal-

to create a substantial endowment for financial assistance. For

lenge for two reasons: “First, if you can give a gift and have it

each dollar raised by the school, this donor will match it with

doubled or tripled, then certainly you want your money to go

50 cents up to $5 million.

further,” she said. “Second, if you have received an education at

Coors’ gift will be further amplified because it will be added

Hutchison, and if you are a viable member of your community,

to her parent’s estate gift to establish the Jeanne Parham ’42

then a great responsibility for your personal success is due to

and George Alcorn Coors M.D. Scholarship Fund to support

your education at Hutchison. Give back so that you can afford

Hutchison’s scholarship and financial assistance needs. A por-

others the same education that you received.”

tion of the income generated by the endowed fund provides

32 | Hutchison

She has Big Plans.

Do You? Each year, we graduate girls for success in a complex world. You can help.

We keep planned giving simple because the world is complicated enough.

Please consider a legacy gift for Hutchison. A simple paragraph added to your will is all it takes.

For more information about making a planned gift, or to inform us that you have already made a legacy gift to Hutchison, please contact Elizabeth Boggan, Development Director, at (901) 507-2465.

Hutchison | 33

34 | Hutchison

PA S S I N G T H E B ATO N | A N N M A R I E C R U M P & KAT H A R I N E D U E R R K E N T ’ 9 5

A Lifelong Relationship and Mentorship A Q&A WITH ANN MARIE CRUMP & KATHARINE KENT

A

t the end of the 2019 school year, Lower School Head Ann Marie Crump will retire. She has devoted an incredible 44 years to Hutchison as a kindergarten teacher and administrator, first as the head of early childhood and then of lower school.

Crump is also an honorary alumna of Hutchison. She has influenced generation after generation of girls who have passed through her classrooms.

While we are sad that we won’t see Ann Marie every day, we are happy that she will have time to spend with her husband and grandchildren. Filling her role as lower school head will be Hutchison alumna and current second grade teacher Katharine Duerr Kent ’95, who has 19 years of teaching experience, nine of those at Hutchison. She has a daughter, Lillian Kent ’25, in sixth grade at Hutchison and a son, Nelson.

We sat down together with them to discuss their unique relationship, their love of teaching, and what makes the Hutchison lower school program so remarkable.

How long have you known each other?

Why does Hutchison feel like home?

amc:

“Home is where the heart is,” and my heart is here. It is such an inspiring learning environment for the girls, and such a wonderful place to work. The teachers are dedicated; they take the girls under their wings and nurture them. Every child matters, and focusing on individual growth in each girl allows us to function as a family. We know that no two girls are exactly alike.

We celebrate that.

kk:

Having attended school here for so many years, this truly was my home. My closest friends are my lifelong friends I made at Hutchison in kindergarten. My goal professionally was always to come back here. I was at two other great schools, but I would always compare the experience to Hutchison because my experience here was extraordinary.

An interesting coincidence is that this year’s senior class is the first class of fourth graders I taught at Hutchison. It has been a joy to watch them grow up and develop into strong young women ready to take on the challenges of the world.

Ann Marie Crump: I had the privilege of being Katharine’s kindergarten teacher. It makes me so proud to think that I had a part in her growth and to see how she turned out as a wonderful person and an educational leader. Katharine is also a great mother. I couldn’t be more excited for her to become lower school head because she loves this school, and she’s a profoundly impactful educator.

Katharine Kent: I’m very excited about becoming lower school head, but it’s bittersweet to see Ann Marie go. She has supported the lower school faculty 100 percent. She is accessible and knowledgeable. I know I’ll be crying when she leaves, but I’ve learned so much from her, both in the classroom as a student and as a teacher.

What makes Hutchison’s lower school so unique?

amc:

We are dedicated to the development of the mind, body, and spirit of each individual girl. Our academic program is exceptional, and our girls are challenged. However, we are not a “one size fits all” program; we meet girls where they are and grow them. Our girls are happy because we make the learning journey joyful. They are naturally inquisitive, and we engage that curiosity and stretch their learning.

kk:

Because we skillfully differentiate learning, our girls develop confidence as they learn. They become increasingly willing to take on complex, challenging content because they trust their teachers and they trust the learning process.

Hutchison | 35

We teach our girls from a very young age to have “voice and choice” in the learning process, and this increases their level of engagement and interest. This allows us to continuously increase the level of challenge without frustration. It is an exciting and fun way to learn.

amc:

Our lower school teachers are constantly learning and growing too.

We have visiting scholars who visit the school, consult with our teachers on best practices, and provide feedback on lessons within the classroom.

Our teachers are eager to learn and be their best. They recognize that by modeling lifelong learning and a growth mindset in their own work, the girls will benefit.

kk:

Our visiting scholars encourage us to try new things and provide real-time feedback. We study the research and implement proven pedagogy with the support of an instructional expert. We get to be the teacher and the student!

Because we have the expectation to continuously learn, our classrooms are never stale or static.

amc:

That’s the joke: You can’t pull out your lesson plan book from the year before and expect to deliver the same lesson in the same way. It is a new group of girls, and each teacher needs to be agile enough to adapt.

kk:

Additionally, we can often tailor the lessons to what the girls are interested in. We were having a debate one day about what tool was the best to measure the hallway— a measuring tape or yardstick. We went into the hallway and tested it out. They were determined, they wanted to do it, they were invested in it, they were excited. We were able to master the math standard in a way that was fun for the girls. Our classrooms are multi-sensory, active learning environments. We know what standards we have to meet, but learning doesn’t need to be boring!

amc:

I am so proud of our exemplary core academic program. From literacy to math, our girls are performing exceptionally well. But we also incorporate hands-on creative learning through our innovation lab, our farm, the visual and performing arts, etc. It is a pretty remarkable program.

36 | Hutchison

Was it difficult to give up the classroom and become an administrator?

amc:

Dr. Annette Smith was a great mentor to me and gave me the opportunity to move from teaching to administration. When she asked if I would become the head of the early childhood division, I said, “Do you really think I can do that?” I went home and discussed it with my husband and he said, “It’s not that you can’t do it, it’s if you want to do it.” I thought it would be hard because I’d miss the girls so much, but I realized I was not losing 12 little girls but gaining all the girls. I just had to learn to think differently. I had to be able to think about the big picture.

kk:

I considered that too, because my first thought was I’m going to miss the girls the most. However, in this role, I will be around them all and have the freedom to go in and help teach a small group, if I can be helpful. Also, I need those hugs just as much as the teachers! I am excited to engage in strategic conversations about the lower school of the future. We are not a school that sits still, and we are always thinking about what our girls need to be prepared for their futures. That is exciting work.

amc: kk:

One of the things I enjoy the most is going into the classrooms and reading or going in simply to greet the girls. I will miss that.

Like Ann Marie, I never thought being the head of lower school was my path. I participated in Hutchison’s Leadership Institute last year, which was eye-opening and encouraged me to think through the lens of an administrator, not simply as a teacher. It was excellent for me to read the research articles and have thoughtful professional discussions and collaboration with the other teachers from MUS and Hutchison in the program.

Ann Marie, what will you do with all of your free time?

amc:

I have two little granddaughters, 5 and 3.

The five-year-old, Marel Crump, is here in kindergarten in the class of 2031. I want to be able to pick them up in the carpool line and take them out for ice cream. I’ll join a yoga class and just slow down. And maybe finish a cup of coffee in the morning.

201 8 T E NN I S R O U N D R O B I N THE ANNUAL HUTCHISON TENNIS ROUND ROBIN took place on October 22 at the Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center.

Thank you to all participants who came out to play to support Hutchison athletics. The proceeds from this event help fund student athletic needs not covered by the school’s operating budget and sustain the excellence of our athletic programs.

Congratulations to Anne Saunders, our overall winner of the 2018 Tennis Round Robin!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR: P R ES EN T I N G S P O N SO R

G O L D S P O N SO R S

Hutchison | 37

alumnae award honorees 2019 Distinguished Alumna Award BRITTANY TRIMBLE ’08 In conjunction with our 2002 Centennial celebration, Hutchison presented the first Distinguished Alumna Award to recognize and celebrate Alumnae who are making a difference in the world through exceptional professional achievement, singular artistic creation, and selfless and visionary service. This year’s award recipient is Brittany Trimble ’08. Trimble serves as a Captain in the United States Air Force as an F-16 pilot. She has been a commissioned officer in the Air Force since 2012.

Anne Marie Newton Walker ’47 Philanthropy Award OLIVIA BRINKLEY SPRUNT DOWELL ’70 Created in recognition of Anne Marie’s passion for, and service to, her alma mater, The Anne Marie Newton Walker ’47 Philanthropy Award is presented to an alumna who advances philanthropy to Hutchison through personal giving and serves as an inspiration to the larger community to give. This year’s recipient is Olivia Brinkley Sprunt Dowell ’70, trustee of the Brinkley Foundation.

Olivia and her family’s foundation have given generously to Hutchison for over 20 years to capital improvements, creating the Sprunt room, the annual fund, endowment, and most recently, financial assistance with a gift to this year’s challenge grant. Olivia and her husband Jack are positive advocates throughout the Hutchison community, inspiring others to join them in supporting the school.

38 | Hutchison

G AT H E R I N G S | R E C E P T I O N F O R F O R M E R FAC U LT Y & S TA F F

Olivia Sprunt Dowell ’70, Peggy Poynter McPherson, honorary alumna, Jack Dowell, and Billie Ann Williams

Lucy Wunderlich Wesson ’74, Laura Dearman, and Sally Witte

Glenda Pera, Caroline Schaefer ’08, and Pat Newberry Kelly, honorary alumna

Dupree Robb McDonald ’97 and Alice Van Netta Hong Lin and Ting Ting Davis

Olivia Sprunt Dowell ’70 and Annie Jones

Kristen Ring and Alex Wellford

Vicki Koehn, Ivy Bryant Phillips ’05, and Mary Monaghan

Sherry Blumberg, Hadley Hury, and Jess Roberson

Leslie Daniel and Julie Wilson Hutchison | 39

A L U M N A E G AT H E R I N G S | CO L L E G I AT E R E U N I O N & A LU M N A E V I S I T

Back row: Kate Grace Cunningham ’17, Daisye Rainer ’17, Brinkley Raby ’17, Lydia Fisher ’17, Lele Popwell ’16; front row: Ariel Bulloch ’17, Caroline Rogers ’17, Stewart Nichols ’17

Hannah Chandler ’18, Anna Murrey ’18, Kristen Ring, Jianna Plescher ’18, Maeji Brown ’18, Katy Nair

Lele Popwell ’16, Caroline Wade ’15, Megan Tillman ’15, Fatima Jamil ’15, Katherine Fleck ’15

Brinkley Raby ’17, Lydia Fisher ’17, Lauren Colpitts, Mary Aubrey Landrum Stafford ’10 EMILY BOONE RUCH ’47 and daughter Boo Ruch visited with fifth-grade girls and spoke about her book, “Grab Bag Years.” The book follows Eliza, a 10-year-old who lives in Memphis during World War II. The character is based on Ruch’s personal experiences during war.

Ruch was part of the last class that graduated under Miss Hutchison. She attended Duke University and majored in English. She said she has always enjoyed writing and was the only female editorial writer for the campus newspaper.

The girls asked what advice she would give to aspiring writers. “You need to write every day, for 10 minutes a day,” Ruch said. “You will find that you get better and better.”

40 | Hutchison

A L U M N A E G AT H E R I N G S | G O L D E N B E E S O C I E T Y

Bobbi Morley Dodge ’49 and Betty Riggan Padgett ’60

Class of 1960: Ann Clark Quinlen Harris, Betty Riggan Padgett, Sandra Garner Ireland, Lida Black Bross, Lillian High Trotter, and seated, Emily Holloway Walker

Phoebe Taylor Miller ’59, Frances Crawford Catmur ’65, and Jeanne Jacobs Sutherland ’67

Frances Dillard James ’48 and Martha Gulledge York ’47

Stella Orgill Blocker ’55, Meredith Gotten Pritchartt ’53, Betty Chalmers Peyton ’54

Stephanie Spickard Dollahite ’67, Gaye Gillespie Henderson ’67, and Lida Black Bross ’60 Class of ’65 members with Dr. Kristen Ring: Dale Meanley Lozier, Dr. Ring, Sarah Russell Haizlip, Debby Owen Schadt, Frances Crawford Catmur, and Laurie Fraser Stanton

Hutchison | 41

los angeles

A L U M N A E G AT H E R I N G S | R E U N I O N S

L to R, Back row: Elizabeth Boggan, Hutchison development director, Kayla Parker ’13, Kristen Ring, head of school, Mary Aubrey Stafford ’10, Ginger Williams Bricken ’96, Kathy Loving ’91, Elizabeth Gary ’91, and Amy Iverson Adams ’92; front row: Katie Daniel ’14, Amanda Miller ’14, Sarah Morris Brower ’95, and Dorothy Oehmler ’14

Above: Kristen Ring and Kayla Parker ’13 Above right: Kristen Ring and Sarah Morris Brower ’95 Right: Kathy Loving ’91, Elizabeth Gary ’91, and Ginger Williams Bricken ’96

42 | Hutchison

san francisco Celia Economides ’97, Anne Kirkpatrick ’77, Chanda Ho ’97, Millicent Roberts Stilwell ’89, Kristen Ring, Sequoia Taylor ’04, and Shirley Condon ’72

1970s reunion Hutchison alumna held a ’70s Decade Party at the home of Selden Early Popwell ’79.

Right: Ellen Raines Hendry ’77, Barbara Crain Williamson ’77, Missy Nichols Rainer ’77, Beth Humphreys Moore ’77 Below: Mary Jehl Kenner ’73, Katy Collier Creech ’76, Sloan Towner Germann ’78, Margaret Milnor Mallory ’72, Ellen Raines Hendry ’77, Lee Stewart Bowen ’72, Selden Early Popwell ’79, Melissa Moore Faber ’79, Carroll Shannon Nenon ’72, Susan Weaver Thomas ’79, Beth Humphreys Moore ’77, Ann Camp Lee ’79, Missy Nichols Rainer ’77, Margaret Collier Steffner ’79, Jeanne Bowen Hollis ’75, Katie Grosvenor Hutcheson ’79, Laurie Braden Hudson ’73, Louise Crump Turley ’78, Missy Earp McGowan ’79, Weezie Callier Calandruccio ’75, Mary Adamson Edwards ’78, Peggy Garrott Peters ’78, Lucy Wunderlich Wesson ’74, Ruthie Stewart Taylor ’74, Elizabeth Todd Glassell ’74, and Julie Fletcher ’76

Hutchison | 43

where? Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Gulf Coast, Alabama

the world’s classroom E XC I T E D. F E A R L E S S . E N G AG E D. C U R I O U S .

CO U R AG E O U S . A M A Z E D. S U P P O R T I V E .

During a four-day, field-learning class trip, seventh-grade girls did not let cold, mud, or slime deter them from fascinating new adventures.

While on a research vessel, they examined fish caught in an otter trawl net and plankton caught in a plankton net. They participated in a scavenger hunt at the Estuarium, which focuses on the estuary habitats in the Mobile Bay area, and discovered the wonders of salt marsh ecology. The girls built remote-operated vehicles to compete against each other in the pool, handled preserved specimens from a variety of different marine phyla, dissected squid, and used squid ink to write short notes.

They witnessed firsthand all the things they learned about in their classroom—habitats, ecosystems, taxonomies, abiotic and biotic factors, the engineering design process, and the differences between fresh, salt, and brackish waters, as well as the zones of the oceans.

Yes, some clothing might have become irreversibly dirty along the way, but the memories created will not soon be forgotten.

who?

7th-grade girls

what? practicing in the field what they’ve learned in class 56 | Hutchison

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J O I N T H E S U M M E R F U N • M AY 2 8 —A U G U S T 9 , 2 0 1 9

Summer at Hutchison ... because imagination doesn’t take a vacation Flavors of Memphis Cooking Class, Bugs and Birds, LEGO Robotics, and Lion King-themed Costume Design—our unique coed summer programs offer something for everyone.

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