Fall 2018 Magazine

INDIAN SPRINGS A M AG A Z I N E F O R A LU M N I A N D F R I E N DS O F I N D I A N S P R I N G S S C H O O L

FA L L 2 0 1 8

Experiential Learning Springs continues to develop new opportunities for students to create, build, collaborate, problem-solve—and imagine.

PAG E 1 6

D AV I D O H ’ 8 7

on a mission page 30

VISIT OUR NEW S WA N S T U D I O page 8

I N A U G U R A L YO U N G ALUM ON THE RISE page 38

INDIAN SPRINGS MAGAZINE

HEAD OF SCHOOL

DR. SHARON HOWELL

MISSION STATEMENT Guided by our motto, Learning through Living,

Indian Springs School fosters a love of learning and creativity, a sense of integrity and moral courage, and an ethic of participatory citizenship with respect for individuality and independent thought.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS

Tanya Yeager DEAN OF STUDENTS, DIRECTOR OF SUMMER PROGRAMS

Janae Peters DEAN OF FACULTY

Dr. Bob Cooper

EDITOR

Mindy Keyes Black GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Ellen S. Padgett CONTRIBUTORS

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Susan Emack Alison

Leah Taylor

Gary Clark

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION & FINANCIAL AID

Kathryn D’Arcy

Christine Copeland DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Karen Downs

Mindy Keyes Black

Stewart Edmonds

DIRECTOR OF & STRATEGY & SPECIAL PROJECTS

Peggy Fleetwood

Lauren Wainwright ’88

Anabel Graff

DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE ADVISING

Brett Levine

Amelia Johnson DEAN OF ACADEMICS

Dr. Tanya Hyatt ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Greg Van Horn

Art Meripol Michael Sheehan Abigail Shepherd ’19 Quez Shipman Jaye Vlachos ’18 Lauren Wainwright ’88

BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2018-19

Alan Engel ’73, P ’03, ’12, Chair, Robert Aland ’80 Gail Andrews P ‘03, Janet Perry Book P ’04, ’09 Myla Calhoun P ’11, ’13, Emma Embry ’05, P ‘20 Joe Farley ’81, P ’14, ’16, Jerolyn Ferrari P ’20 Clara Chung Fleisig P ’13, ’16, Braxton Goodrich ’93 Kyung Han ‘85, Ben Hunt ’82, Leo Kayser III ’62 Jimmy Lewis ’75, P ’11, ’11, Ellen McElroy ’78 Catherine McLean P ’03, ’06, ’11, Randall Minor ‘99 Eli Phillips, Scott Pulliam ’85, P ’16, ’17 Lia Rushton P ’09, ’11, John Simmons ’65, P ’96 Hanson Slaughter ’90, P ’20, ’22, Fergus Tuohy ’96 Elise Frohsin ’88, P ’20, Ex Officio, Parents Association Annie Damsky ’98, Ex Officio, Alumni Council

At Indian Springs School, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint. If you would prefer to receive Indian Springs magazine or other school communications electronically, please let us know by emailing us at indiansprings@indiansprings.org.

Rachel Wallace Graham Yelton COVER PHOTO Graham Yelton INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL publishes Indian Springs magazine twice a year, in fall/winter and spring/summer. Printed by Craftsman Printing, Birmingham, Alabama.

CLASS NOTES classnotes@indiansprings.org ADDRESS CHANGES addressupdates@indiansprings.org

©2018 Indian Springs School. All rights reserved. 190 Woodward Drive, Indian Springs, AL 35124 | Phone: 205.988.3350 Website: www.indiansprings.org

NOTICE OF NONDISCIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS Indian Springs School, an independent school nationally recognized as a leader in boarding and day

education for grades 8-12, serves a talented and diverse student body and offers its admission to qualified students regardless of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Located in Indian Springs, Alabama, just south of Birmingham, the school does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.

CAMPUS NEWS

Niche ‘Best Private High School’ for Sixth Year Indian Springs is honored to be recognized as No. 1 on Niche’s list of Best Private High Schools in Alabama for 2019. Rankings, which were released for the start of the 2018-2019 school year, are determined by average SAT/ACT scores; rankings of the colleges that graduates attend; the percent of seniors who go to four-year colleges; student culture and diversity; the ratio of students to fulltime teachers; and parent and student experiences.

This is the sixth consecutive year that Indian Springs has topped the Niche list.

Springs Introduces New Campus Map

Fall 2018

Indian Springs was delighted to roll out a new campus map (complete with swan detail!) in September in time for the 2018-19 admission season.

Printed copies are available in the Armstrong Administration building. You can also find the map online on the Campus page of the school’s website (www.IndianSprings.org), under the About tab.

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‘LANDSCAPE LABORATORY WITH AN OLMSTED BROTHERS HERITAGE’

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N 1950–51, just before Indian Springs opened its doors, Carl Rust Parker, a partner with the acclaimed Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm, visited to sketch out the site plan for the new campus.

While the plan, which recommended small buildings with strong visual connections to the lake, was not fully realized during the school’s formative years, recent campus renovations created in response to the school’s current Campus Master Plan are realizing the Olmsted Brothers’ original concepts. An article in the June issue of Landscape Architect & Specifier News celebrates the ways that the updated campus integrates the native landscape, including lake views and native plants, into the student experience—creating real-life “landscape laboratories”—while also incorporating innovative stormwater management practices and honoring the Olmsted Brothers’ original vision. The project received Silver LEED certification in 2017.

Landscape Architect: CARBO Landscape Architecture, Baton Rouge, La.; Architect of Record: ArchitectureWorks, LLC, Birmingham, Ala.; Design Architect: Lake | Flato, San Antonio, Texas.

Indian Springs

Reprinted with the permission of Landscape Communications, Inc., from the June 2018 issue of Landscape Architect and Specifier News.

Carl Rust Parker (second from right), a partner with the famed Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm, visited in 1950–51 to help create the site plan for the Indian Springs School campus.

The Olmsted Brothers were sons of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of Central Park

HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT: Indian Springs students and faculty voted ov erwhelmingly las t spring to revise the school’s Constitution to mandate that ele cted student Comm issioners of Prot ection take on the addi tional role of promoting envir onmental protection, mos t notably by leading campu s recycling efforts.

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CAMPUS NEWS

HIGH MARKS

BELOW: Will Davis ’19, Sarah Niles Simmons ’19, Will Smith ’19, Kendall

Owens ’19, and Spencer Robinson ’19

NINE SENIORS NAMED 2019 NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS, COMMENDED STUDENTS Nine Indian Springs School seniors have been named semifinalists or commended students in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program based on their achievements on the 2017 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Semifinalists are Will Davis ’19, Sarah Niles Simmons ’19, Will Smith ’19, Kendall Owens ’19, and Spencer Robinson ’19, and commended students are Abigail Shepherd ’19, Jack Markert ’19, Luke Molbak ’19, and Krishna Josyula ’19.

Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and include the highest-scoring entrants in each state. These students have a chance to compete for about 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $31 million to be offered next spring. Commended students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of the more than 1.6 million students who entered the competition. They will receive letters of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Congratulations to all!

Springs Students Claim Top Awards at 2018 UAB Programming Challenge INDIAN SPRINGS STUDENTS claimed nine top-ten individual awards in two divisions and the first-place team award at the 2018 University of Alabama at Birmingham High School Programming Challenge. This was the team’s second year to compete in the competition, which invites talented Alabama high school students to demonstrate their computer programming skills by attempting to solve eight problems in a three-hour period. The solutions, which must be coded in Java or C++ or Python, are subjected to multiple tests through a rigorous computerized scoring system. Points are earned for every test the solution passes.

The winning team and individual category winners received a $400 cash award, and runners-up won $200 and $100. Awards were made possible by the academic publication groups MIT Press, Pearsons, and Taylor and Francis.

Congratulations to the entire team and coaches William Belser and Dr. Jonathan Gray!

Team Honors FIRST PLACE

TWO SENIORS EARN PERFECT ACT SCORES Two of our National Merit honorees, Kendall Owens (above) and Jack Markert (left), earned a perfect 36 on the ACT! About one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the test achieve a perfect score. Four Springs students have achieved perfect ACT scores since spring 2016.

| Indian Springs School ($400)

Upper School (Grades 11-12) Individual Awards FIRST PLACE | Spencer Robinson ’19 ($400) SECOND PLACE | Tenniel Miao ’19 ($200) THIRD PLACE | Richard Wohlbold ’19 ($100) TOP TEN

| Valentino Lim ’18

Lower School (Grades 9-10) Individual Awards THIRD PLACE TOP TEN

| Dylan Le ’20 ($100)

| Jack Swanner ’21

Fall 2018

TOP TEN | Gio Garza ’20

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ABOVE: Abigail Shepherd ’19, Jack

Markert ’19, Luke Molbak ’19, and Krishna Josyula ’19.

TOP TEN | Jocelyn Lyu ’20 TOP TEN | Mike Jiang ’20

Miao ’19 Places Third in National Philosophical Essay Contest Springs student Tenniel Miao ’19 won third place in the national 2017–18 Plato High School Essay Contest for his essay “A Contextual Theory of Truth.” Miao, who is passionate about philosophy, spends much of his time outside of class studying epistemology, or the theory of knowledge. His winning essay addresses the definition of truth as it relates to a “conceivable world.” He explains, “When we encounter vague concepts such as truth, knowledge, and freedom in our ordinary lives, we can take the dictionary definitions for granted, but in philosophy, we must evaluate them carefully. The contextual theory is useful even if we disregard our world altogether; we can use it to discuss literature, mathematics, scientific models, and hypothetical universes with deductive certainty. By defining truth with respect to a conceivable world, the contextual theory integrates the absolute and relative aspects of truth in our intuition without introducing inconsistencies.” His essay will be published in Issue 18 of Questions: Philosophy for Young People, the official journal of Plato, an organization that promotes the teaching of philosophy in K-12 classrooms across the country.

LEFT:

Talent Search participants met up with members of Springs’ Volleyball Team for lunch at the Pizitz Food Hall on competition day. Go Springs!

Team Honors | 11th Grade Team | 12th Grade Team SECOND PLACE | 10th Grade Team FIRST PLACE

MATH CLUB TEAMS SHINE AT 2018 UAB MATH TALENT SEARCH SPRINGS’ MATH CLUB MEMBERS claimed two team and six individual honors at the 2018 UAB Math Talent Search in October. The two-hour, 10-question written test incorporates algebra and geometry skills, emphasizing reasoning ability. Students from 12 schools competed.

Individual Awards SECOND PLACE | Clary Lee ’22 SECOND PLACE | Bruce Zhang ’20 THIRD PLACE | Aeacus Sheng ’21 THIRD PLACE | Jocelyn Lyu ’20 THIRD PLACE | Jack Markert ’19 FOURTH PLACE | Tenniel Miao ’19

Indian Springs

Math Team photo by Chris Tetzlaff

FIRST PLACE

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ONSTAGE

PERFORMING ARTS

NOW SHOWING:

SWAN STUDIO

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With a name harkening to London’s Elizabethan-era Swan Theatre, Springs’ newly completed studio space promises a world of possibilities for performance arts at Springs.

WAN STUDIO IS A CONTEMPORARY,

Fall 2018

experimental alternative to its Town Hall neighbor, the John Badham Theater. Seating up to 70, its minimal design and theater-in-theround layout eliminate the “fourth wall,” placing performers and audience members in the same interactive plane.

The studio’s risers, designed by Director of Theater Arts Dane Peterson and constructed as part of an Eagle Scout project by recent Springs graduate Noah Walton ’18, are modular and can

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be arranged in various configurations around, and as part of, the performance floor.

The adaptable auditorium and intimate audience size offer limitless opportunities for budding performers with meaningful human stories to share. Created for the next generation of Springs playwrights, filmmakers, actors, dancers, singers, and musicians, Swan Studio, says Peterson, is “a place for learning, rehearsing, and growing—but most of all, a place for students to feel seen and heard.” —Rachel Wallace

MEET NOAH

Indian Springs

After working behind the scenes on numerous productions, Noah Walton ’18 stepped into the spotlight with an Eagle Scout project dedicated to Springs Theatre. Read about the modular risers he constructed for the new Swan Studio at www.

IndianSprings.org/noah.

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ONSTAGE

PERFORMING ARTS

SPRINGS ONSTAGE

Throughout the year, Springs students take the stage to entertain, inspire, and share their talents through the performing arts.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Heather Khamis ’19, Joey Zhu ’22, and Carter Dunaway ’22 play

townspeople who explore the cave where Bat Boy is discovered; Meredith, played by Cate Dawson ’20, attempts to tame Bat Boy, played by John David Haws ’20; The ensemble performs “Another Dead Cow”; A local offers a sacrifice to Bat Boy; Townspeople huddle in fear of Bat Boy, a creature who might be killing off their cattle; John David Haws ’20 stars as the main character, half boy and half bat.

THEATRE

BAT BOY

Fall 2018

W

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ITH A BEAT-DRIVEN ROCK

score and cast of zany characters, Springs’ winter musical, Bat Boy, brought down the house with its tragicomic tale of a half boy, half bat discovered in a West Virginia cave. Based on a 1992 tabloid story and directed and staged by guest director Tawny L. Stephens, the show provided a compelling metaphor for the dangers of prejudice and intolerance.

CHOIR

SPRINGS’ CHORAL DIRECTOR, CHOIR NAMED AMERICAN PRIZE WINNERS DIRECTOR OF CHORAL MUSIC Andrew Dibble was awarded first place in the

2017–18 American Prize in Conducting (High School Chorus Division), and the Indian Springs School Concert Choir won second place in Choral Performance (School and Youth Division).

The results were announced in June. Dibble was one of two finalists for the conducting award; the choir was one of seven finalists for its category in the national performing arts competition.

Congratulations to all!

CHOIR TOUR 2019: LOS ANGELES FEB. 13–17 FOR THE FIRST TIME in its

history, Indian Springs’ 110-member Concert Choir will travel to the West Coast to tour Los Angeles and San Diego! Mark your calendar to join us for these special performances during Choir Tour 2019:

CHAMBER CHOIR PERFORMS AT NAIS ANNUAL CONFERENCE was honored to sing for a crowd of more than 4,000 educators in March at the general session of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference in Atlanta. The choir, the only group invited to sing at the event, performed “Nyon Nyon” by Jake Runestad and “How Can I Keep From Singing?”

by Matthew Culloton.

CHAMBER CHOIR ENTERTAINS SCOTTISH AUDIENCES THE INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL CHAMBER CHOIR captivated

audiences across Scotland in June during the group’s 10-day international tour as part of the American Celebration of Music in Scotland. Led by Director of Choral Music Andrew Dibble and accompanied by pianist Dr. Hye-Sook Jung, the 33-member group performed works such as Andrew Miller’s ethereal “Alleluia Incantation” and Dan Forrest’s beautiful arrangement of “The Nightingale” at historical venues from St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh to Chapel Royal at Stirling Castle. The choir concluded its tour with a concert at Broomhill Hyland Church for Glasgow’s popular West End Festival. Visit www.youtube.com/experienceiss to enjoy the choir’s performances of Andrew Miller’s “Alleluia Incantation” at St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh.

Thursday, February 14 11:00 a.m.

California Baptist University, Riverside, Calif.

BENEFIT CONCERT

Friday, February 15 7:00 p.m.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Coronado, Calif.

Indian Springs

INDIAN SPRINGS’ CHAMBER CHOIR

MASTERCLASS

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AT H L E T I C S

G O S P R I NG S !

CAMPUS NEWS

Fall 2018

WOMEN’S TENNIS

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Tennis champion Peyton Miller ’20 defeated top players from Oak Mountain High School, Briarwood Christian School, and Helena High School to claim a No. 1 singles victory at the Shelby County High Schools Tennis Tournament in March. Springs’ Women’s Tennis Team placed second in the area and advanced to the AHSAA 1A–3A state championship in April, where Miller claimed a second No. 1 singles victory as well as a No. 1 doubles victory with teammate Emma Storm ’19. For her skill and sportsmanship, Miller was named to AL.com’s 2018 All-State Women’s Tennis Team.

Congratulations to Peyton and the team!

LEFT: State champion Peyton Miller ’20 is known for her dedicated work ethic and kind personality, on the tennis courts and in the community.

BELOW: Emma Storm ’19 and Peyton Miller ’20 pose with Indian Springs School Tennis Coach Boo Mason after claiming the 2018 state championship title in No. 1 doubles.

WOMEN’S SOCCER SPRINGS’ WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM advanced to the state

semifinals in May after defeating Houston Academy 6–2 in the second round of the state playoffs. For their outstanding accomplishments during the 2017–18 season, five of the teams’ star players received metro and state recognition. Madeleine Davis ’18, Ada Cohen ’18, Virginia Hunt ’21, and Logan McFadden ’18 were chosen for the 2018 Birmingham All-Metro Women’s first team, and Caroline Ritchie ’19 for the second. Davis, Hunt, and McFadden were named to the Alabama High School All-State Women’s 1A-3A first team, and Cohen to the second. Congratulations to the team!

CONGRATULATIONS TO 2017–18 WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM

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Captain Logan McFadden ’18 and Women’s Soccer Head Coach Hunter Gray! McFadden was named B-Division Player of the Year and signed to play Division I Women’s Soccer at Lipscomb University, where she is the first freshman to be named Atlantic Sun Conference Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Year! Gray was named B-Division Coach of the Year and celebrated his 21st area championship in 26 years of coaching at Springs.

MEN’S SOCCER SIX MEMBERS OF SPRINGS’ MEN’S SOCCER TEAM received

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county, metro, and state recognition for their excellent performance during the 2017–18 season. Donald Wilson ’19 was selected for the 2018 All-Shelby County first team, and Nicholas Bryant ’18 and Patrick McGuire ’18 for the second. Justin Chapman ’18, Matthew Dale ’20, and Jim Tozzi ’20 received honorable mentions. McGuire and Wilson were chosen for the Birmingham All-Metro Men’s first team, and Bryant for the second. Chapman, Dale, and Tozzi were named honorable mentions.

McGuire and Wilson were selected for the Alabama High School All-State Men’s first 1A-3A team. Wilson also played in the 2018 North-South Soccer All-Star match during the 22nd annual AHSAA Summer Conference in July. Congratulations to the team!

1. (From left) Virginia Hunt ’21, Madeleine

SPRINGS UNSCRIPTED: ATHLETICS

To see the new Indian Springs athletics video featuring baseball and basketball player Max Yeager ’21, visit www.IndianSprings.org/ athletics.

Indian Springs

Davis ’18, Ada Cohen ’18, Logan McFadden ’18, and Caroline Ritchie ’19 received 2018 All-Metro honors. 2. B-Division Player of the Year Logan McFadden ’18 celebrates with B-Division Coach of the Year Hunter Gray. 3. Donald Wilson ’19 and Patrick McGuire ’18 were named to the All-State team. 4. (From left) Moritz Miller ’20, Justin Chapman ’18, Nicolas Bryant ’18, Coach Rik Tozzi, Patrick McGuire ’18, and Ethan Getman ’18 pose on Senior Night.

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CAMPUS NEWS

S T U D E N T S P OT L I G H T

POWERFUL DRIVE

By Anabel Graff

Fall 2018

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TUDENT GOVERNMENT, Judiciary, Chamber Choir, Women’s Golf, Black Student Caucus, Peer Mentoring— senior Nadia Lane’s extracurriculars focus on representing and serving the Springs community she loves.

That may be one reason she enjoys her time on the golf course. “Golf has taught me that you have to take care of yourself first. I’m the type of person who always looks out for everybody else. But golf is a ‘you’ sport. It’s helped keep me on track.”

But even through golf, Lane has found ways to give back. On the day we meet for this interview, she plans to volunteer at a camp for black students who don’t have training programs at their schools.

“I just feel like if we can have a place like Springs that’s so great for everyone, then predominantly black institutions can too. Now, I don’t know what good I can do, but I’m going to try my best.”

Let’s just say Lane’s already performing well above par.

On the course, the club that helps her play her best is her driver, the most powerful tool in her bag. “It’s also the foundation for how your hole is going to go. If you have a good foundation—a good drive—then everything will be all right.”

In life, Lane’s “driver” is her family, especially her dad. “Sometimes he’s really annoying, but I always realize it’s for the best,” she says.

The Springs value that’s her foundation?

Infinite Respect. “Respect is one of the top things a community needs in order to be successful,” Lane says. “I try to respect everyone’s views, even if I don’t agree with them—both inside and outside of school. I feel that it’s important to do this so that no one feels excluded from the community we’ve created.” This ethos is evident in how she leads as a senior class representative with classmate Lisa Hobdy ’19. Lane confesses it was a spontaneous decision to run, but she knew she wanted to make an impact on her community before she graduated.

Whatever she chooses to dedicate her time to, it’s evident that Lane does so with care and respect.

Determined on the golf course and engaged in the classroom, Nadia Lane ’19 has big goals and high standards for herself and for Springs.

“Nadia is one of those special students who brings light and energy wherever she goes, and to whatever she’s doing, which is amazing given the sheer number of activities and efforts to which she contributes,” says Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell. “She also takes seriously the idea that she is a role model for younger students, and her leadership among seniors reflects that awareness.”

Lane hopes to attend college on a golf scholarship. Her dream is to enroll at a historically black college or university (HBCU) in order to encourage other black women to play, as well as bring more attention to the sport.

Currently (as of our meeting), she’s the only member of the Girls’ Golf Team, so she hopes to extend this participatory call to Springs students as well. “This school is all about involvement.”

(As, obviously, Lane is too.) “So if you think you have any interest at all, come try it!”

At college, Lane wants to study pediatric surgery. She remembers her dad told her when she started playing that even if golf didn’t become a career, it would help her in life. “I knew that golf would open a lot of doors for me professionally. It would be a way to make connections.” Her intended course of study is another reason that she’s so excited about her classes this semester, including Anatomy and Physiology (“which I’m in love with”). “One thing about being at Springs is that I realize how privileged I actually am. My dad was in the military, and he’s a firefighter. And to sit here and think about what my dad did, and what my grandfather did, is really powerful.”

I remind her about what she said earlier about her dad, and her drivers.

“He really is! Honestly! But don’t tell him I said that.”

NADIA’S THOUGHTS On Advice to Other Springs Students: Enjoy every single moment at this school.

As a senior, I keep thinking, “I’m really going to miss this!”

On the Teacher at Springs Who Most Inspired Her: She’s never been my advisor, but Ms. Jacobs.

She’s, like, such a mom.

She made sure that I stayed on top of my world history but also made sure that I was OK in general. That really meant a lot to me. All the teachers here are like that, but Ms. Jacobs especially.

On Golfing with her Dad: He plays golf, but he’s not good. Don’t put that in the article. Actually, put that in the article.

On Black Female Golfers She Admires: It’s really hard being one of a few that play a sport. So every now and then, I find someone who plays the sport who is a black female and I get so inspired. There’s this girl, Lakareber Abe, who plays golf for Alabama. And I have her personal contact info so I can ask her for advice.

There’s another girl named Alex Foster, who played for Huntingdon.

They’re both amazing.

On the Williams Sisters: Serena Williams and Venus Williams are like me and my sister, D’aria ’21. I’m the Serena! Even when everyone else is doubting me, I’m trying to prove them wrong.

I know they’re wrong. I just have to show them.

On a Way for Springs’ To Up its Golf Game: The Makerspace should build a couple holes.

Wait, actually, I would be so mad if they did that because then I wouldn’t be here to play it. I guess I’ll have to come back.

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Indian Springs

Photo by Graham Yelton

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Influenced from our formative years by American educator John Dewey’s progressive theories about learning through experience, Indian Springs continues to promote personalized learning as we give our passionate students the tools to create, collaborate, problem-solve—and imagine.

By MINDY KEYES BLACK Photographs by GRAHAM YELTON

“ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IS THAT THE RESULT IS NEVER QUICK. YOU NEVER GET EXACTLY WHERE YOU THOUGHT YOU’D END UP. THERE IS A LOT OF BACKTRACKING, REDOING, REVISING. IT MAKES YOU LOOK AT OTHER THINGS IN YOUR WORLD DIFFERENTLY—UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS EASY.. —William Belser

from a common 3D printing plastic. “Though the project is related to a variety of classes, the hands-on-ness of it encourages you to wield concepts in a new way,” he says. “I figured I would use trigonometry at some point, but who knew it would be to make fitting gears?”

EDUCATING ‘THE WHOLE PERSON’

ABOVE: Evan Dunbar ’20

applied concepts from engineering, 3D design, math, and art to design a three-gear clock

EVAN DUNBAR ’20 HAD JUST FINISHED

mechanism as part of an

a 3D model of a small dining set for an independent study with William Belser ’80, chair of Springs’ Computer Science and Engineering Department, when the two agreed it was time for Evan to try something more complex. Curious about how gears work, Evan decided to make a clock.

Over the next three months, he tackled the task by applying concepts he had learned in engineering, 3D design, math, and art classes.

“I started by designing half of a gear tooth, then doubling it to make one whole tooth, and then using an option in Autodesk’s Fusion 360 [CAD software] to mirror it around a central point,” says Evan. “Obviously, math was involved in finding the correct tolerances and sizes of parts, but it was also used to calculate the angles of the complex radial symmetry of the gears. There is also a degree of art to the design—I was focused on functionality, but my design at least had to be elegant.”

Seventy-one versions later, Evan had his final product: a three-gear clock mechanism made

independent study with Computer Science and Engineering Department Chair William Belser ’80.

The gears are made from PLA, a common 3D printing plastic. “Even though it is simple for a clock, it took a long time to design all the parts, and I went through 71 versions from beginning to end,”

Fall 2018

says Dunbar.

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Since the school opened its doors in 1952, Indian Springs has provided students with opportunities to put knowledge to use and to learn by exploring, doing, and reflecting—an integral part of Learning through Living. Influenced in its formative years by 20th century American educator John Dewey’s philosophy of experiential education, the school continues, as Springs’ founding director Dr. Louis E. (“Doc”) Armstrong phrased it, to engage “the whole person, not just the intellect” in creative learning.

“Learning is by participation in creation,” said Armstrong. “How do you define creativity in the learning process? It’s a process of fusion. When you see a fact over here and another fact over there and then see a relationship between the two facts, then you’re being creative. It’s your creation. It’s a process you’re going through of giving new structure, new patterns, and new arrangements to facts and ideas.”

Alumnus Henry McHenry ’68 recalls spending months as an Indian Springs School freshman “examining the features and processes on a square meter of territory we chose somewhere on the campus” and writing up the findings for Bob Moore’s science class.

“Though each individual had his own square meter, we felt like collaborators, among ourselves and with the teacher, expanding our knowledge of ourselves through engagement with the world,” he says. “In an ordinary education, we’d have been reading about the attributes of earth and the processes it sustains, about how other people had decided to investigate it and what they’d found out. … But that’s not the same as choosing what to look for in examining a tiny plot of land, outdoors, day after day, in the rain or the sun.” ]

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Indian Springs

Photos by Graham Yelton

“

“FOR AP ART, I AM USING BLENDER 3D RENDERING SOFTWARE TO MAKE A SCENE OF A DOUGHNUT ON A PLATE. IN THE MAKERSPACE, I AM WORKING ALONGSIDE OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE SIMILAR PROJECTS SO I CAN ASK FOR ADVICE AND OPINIONS. I LOVE THAT THE ART BUILDING HAS A MORE ORGANIZED TECHNICAL AREA NOW ALONG WITH ITS ANALOG COUNTERPART.

—Spencer Robinson ’19

“

ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS THAT SPRINGS PROVIDES IS THE ABILITY TO WORK ON INDEPENDENT PROJECTS LIKE THIS WI-FI MAPPER, SOMETHING THAT I WOULDN’T HAVE LEARNED FROM A TRADITIONAL CLASS. THE DEVICE MEASURES THE SIGNAL STRENGTH OF THE WI-FI NETWORKS AROUND YOU, SHOWING YOU WHERE TO GO TO RECEIVE THE BEST SIGNAL, OR HOW TO IMPROVE THE NETWORK. AS YOU WALK AROUND, THE DEVICE RECORDS YOUR CURRENT LOCATION ALONG WITH THE SIGNAL STRENGTH OF EVERY NETWORK THE DEVICE CAN DETECT. THIS DATA IS LATER TURNED INTO A MAP THAT LETS YOU VISUALIZE WHICH AREAS HAVE THE STRONGEST SIGNAL.”

TOP: Ben Standaert ’20

shows William Belser ’80 a heat map illustrating the Wi-Fi signal strengths superimposed on an aerial image of the Indian Springs School campus. Warmer colors indicate the highest signal strength. ABOVE: Ben holds the batteryoperated minicomputer and GPS that he used to record locations and corresponding Wi-Fi signal strengths for the map.

EXPANDING THE TOOLBOX

The school’s founding impulse remains equally relevant to students today, says Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell. “A makerspace, or design studio space, is a resource that most schools recognize as a necessary complement to more traditional class or seminar rooms, so I’m very glad we’ve been able to make creative use of a previously unused space on campus to provide that for our students at Springs. Our teachers have been open to thinking about how they

—Ben Standaert ’20

might take advantage of it, and some are already doing so. As we experiment and start using the space, our hope is to understand better how to integrate hands-on experience and making into our curriculum in every discipline. This could mean anything from building instruments, to making physics problems happen in real time, to making machines that will help us measure things in science class.”

This fall, Indian Springs’ Art, Math, and Computer Science and Engineering faculties teamed up to create a new Makerspace so that Springs students of all ages and interests have a dedicated place to design and build. At one time used for storage and a garage, the converted southeast wing of Springs’ Art Building now houses worktables, saws, computer technology, and a host of other tools and materials for projects in engineering, robotics, electronics, 3D design and printing, programming, woodworking, metalworking, gardening—or a combination of these.

“Springs’ Makerspace carries with it a culture that promotes a different kind of learning,” says Howell. “This is learning that is self-organized, social, and student-owned; that is the product of play, experimentation and authentic inquiry, where our students truly can achieve the ideal of experiential education.” ]

Indian Springs

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TOP LEFT: Kadie Jacobs ’19 creates a two-piece sculpture in a 3D Design class

held in Springs’ new Makerspace. BOTTOM LEFT, BELOW TOP: Shelby Connor ’19 sketches on a drawing tablet in the Makerspace digital art lab. BELOW BOTTOM: Whit McDaniel ’19 explores positive and negative space in 3D design. OPPOSITE: Virginia Gray ’20 considers how to construct and deconstruct her sculpture.

Fall 2018

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COMING INTO AP ART THIS YEAR, I HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED ON CREATING A LARGE PORTION OF MY PIECES DIGITALLY, USING ONLY MY LAPTOP AND A SMALL DRAWING TABLET. THE MAKERSPACE, HOWEVER, PROVIDES THE ROOM NEEDED TO TAKE ON LARGER SCULPTING PROJECTS, AS WELL AS ALLOWING SPACE FOR THE DIGITAL ART LAB. ABOVE, I AM WORKING WITH THE CINTIQ TABLET ON ONE OF MY TAROT CARDS, THE HERMIT. BECAUSE OF THEIR SIMILARITIES TO DRAWING ON PAPER OR CANVAS, CINTIQS ALLOW FOR AN EASY TRANSITION FROM TRADITIONAL ART TO DIGITAL. HAVING ACCESS TO SUCH A DEVICE AND SPACE OPENS UP ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR SEASONED ARTISTS AND BEGINNERS ALIKE.” —Shelby Connor ’19

“

“I’M WORKING ON A CONCEPTUAL PROBLEM-SOLVING PIECE FOR 3D DESIGN THAT REQUIRED US TO CREATE A PIECE OF ART USING ANY FLAT MATERIAL (SIZED WITH A 2:3 RATIO), BUT WE COULD ONLY MAKE ONE CUT ACROSS (EDGE TO EDGE OR CORNER TO CORNER). WE FOCUSED ON SPATIAL OCCUPANCY, RHYTHM, GRADIENT, AND LINES WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING A TWOPIECE SCULPTURE YOU COULD DECONSTRUCT AND PUT BACK TOGETHER INTO ITS ORIGINAL RECTANGLE. THE ABILITY TO WORK IN NUMEROUS MEDIUMS AND INVESTIGATE ALL OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL DEMANDS WAS AWESOME. NOW WELL INTO THE SEMESTER, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE OF THE CLASS, I HAVE BEEN PUSHED, FRUSTRATED, AND REWARDED

BY A SUBJECT I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE CHALLENGED BY. —Virginia Gray ’20 ]

BUILDING NEW SKILLS

“It’s an incredibly flexible workspace that opens up a world of possibilities for our students to play, innovate, and pursue topics they’re curious about,” says Art Department Chair Clay Colvin ’95, whose AP Studio Art class recently used the Makerspace to explore how to develop an idea first in paper, then cardboard, then plywood.

The applications go far beyond any one class or subject area, says Colvin. When Director of Choral Arts Andy Dibble asked for help creating paintedbranch decor for the 2018 Holiday Concert, Grounds Supervisor Justin Wheeler collected branches on campus, and a team of students painted and installed them on the Concert Hall stage as part of a fall Development Day project. Said Dibble, “It was a wonderful example of collaborative learning that invited students beyond the choir to participate meaningfully in our home holiday performance.”

The workspace is also teaching students how to use new technologies. From their arrival, says Colvin, Springs eighth graders now can learn to use Fusion 360 and SketchUp modeling software to explore 3D design and printing techniques as part of their “art wheel” rotation. By spring 2019, all Springs students will also have access to the Adobe Creative Cloud software including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro.

CONTENT, REIMAGINED

“People tend to think of academic subjects as separate containers, but innovation really happens

OPPOSITE, FROM TOP LEFT:

Jing Wang ’19 creates a

maquette, or preliminary model, of a project

studying construction with flat shapes; a

diorama showing depth

by Kadie Jacobs ’19;

tools and student art on

display above Makerspace workbenches.

when we allow these containers to open and mix,” says Computer Science and Engineering Chair William Belser. “Our students working on 3D projects, for instance, are actually applying concepts in math, science, and engineering. They can’t be done in silos. By its nature, the new space is giving them a chance to discover how all these concepts come together.”

To Math Teacher Dr. Jonathan Gray, who last May created a model to show students that the “fastest” route between two points is not necessarily a straight line, experiential education brings learning to life. “Students might learn in history class about an ancient civilization making pottery, and then they can actually come to the Makerspace and make pottery in that same kind of form,” he says. “They are reliving history by taking part in the kinds of projects that transformed civilization. In world languages, when French Teacher Dr. [Jonathan] Horn ’75 is studying the Eiffel Tower, his class can consider its construction—it’s one thing to see the Eiffel Tower, but it’s another thing to actually understand the engineering of it.”

Experiential education remains relevant because it teaches students not simply to recycle information they have learned, but rather to “immerse themselves

in the notion of what they’re studying.”

For Evan Dunbar, having the space to experiment and the faculty mentors to guide him has taught him that creativity is about taking what you know and building on it. “There’s something to be said for the experience of the process,” he says. “To go back and figure out what you’ve done wrong and how you can make it better improves self-reflection and prepares you for the next step.” g

Indian Springs

“

HERE I AM TAKING A PICTURE OF A WOOD SCULPTURE I MADE IN 3D DESIGN. OUR PROJECT WAS TO TAKE A FLAT PLANE AND MAKE A 3D SCULPTURE WITH ONLY ONE CUT. I DECIDED TO MAKE SOME SHARP GEOMETRIC CUTS THROUGH THE WOOD SO IT WOULD STAND UP AND SUPPORT ITSELF. WE GET TO WORK WITH MANY MATERIALS IN THE MAKERSPACE—FOAM CORE, WOOD, CLAY… . IT IS NICE TO HAVE THE FREEDOM IN A SPACE LIKE THAT TO CREATE WHATEVER WE’RE FEELING. ON THIS DAY I WAS FEELING THE COLOR PURPLE.” —Graham Holder ’19

“I ABSOLUTELY LOVE WORKING IN THE NEW DIGITAL ART SPACE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT FLOODING THROUGH THE WINDOWS AND THE CALM ATMOSPHERE INSIDE. THIS SEMESTER I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AN INDEPENDENT STUDY WHERE I’M STUDYING HOW TO DRAW LANDSCAPES AND ARCHITECTURE. WORKING INSIDE THIS ROOM HELPS ME BE MORE CREATIVE AND WORK WITH EFFICIENCY. I’M NOT NEW TO WORKING WITH DIGITAL ART PROGRAMS; HOWEVER, LEARNING TO WORK WITH THE LARGE-SCALE TABLETS IS A NEW EXPERIENCE THAT NOT ONLY IS ENJOYABLE BUT WILL HOPEFULLY ALSO PREPARE ME FOR FUTURE CAREERS IN THE ART WORLD. —Olivia Pope ’21

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Discover 10 Great Reasons To Support Springs Today (We have 305 others as well.)

We asked 10 current students what they value most about Springs. Their answers will inspire you. Whether you are an alum, parent or grandparent, or friend of the school, your unrestricted gift to the Indian Springs School Annual Fund makes a difference in the lives of these and each of our 315 passionate students. Please include Indian Springs in your end-of-year giving this holiday season! Your important support of the 2018–2019 Annual Fund ensures our ability to meet the day-to-day needs of our students, faculty, and staff. Springs flourishes thanks to you.

VISIT WWW.INDIANSPRINGS.ORG/MAKEAGIFT TO DONATE TODAY!

LEADING

JOHN SLAUGHTER ’20 • 11TH GRADE • MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL

“The academics at Springs challenge me every day, but it is the people and culture here that have allowed me to thrive as an individual. I value my roles in the choir and in judiciary and student government because they encourage me to be more connected with the school community. I am also really enjoying my intellectual history elective, where we are studying John Locke and his contributions to the modern American political system.”

ENGAGING

WILLIAM MARSHALL ’21 • 10TH GRADE BOARDER • BIRMINGHAM, AL

“Springs has given me opportunities I never could see myself having a few years ago and has encouraged me to travel outside my comfort zone. There is free space for expression of thought that is unparalleled anywhere else. I love the boarding community here. I also enjoy singing in the choir, doing experiments in chemistry class, and working in the garden—the best job ever.”

CREATING

EMMA WANG ’20 • 11TH GRADE BOARDER • XI’AN, CHINA

“Springs has allowed me to explore my interests and realize that writing is my passion. I’ve been able to learn about and practice many different kinds of writing in my classes, and even to start a new writing club with one of my friends. As an international student, I appreciate Springs’ close-knit community (something that’s hard to find in most schools), and the diversity of student voices. It has made me a more open-minded person.”

SHARING

MAYU NAKANO ’23 & YUJI NAKANO ’23 • 8TH GRADE • BIRMINGHAM, AL

“I love the community here—Springs teaches you how to contribute, and how to challenge yourself academically. There are a lot of classes I look forward to taking, but right now I am really enjoying 8th grade history because we discuss things instead of just memorizing.”— Mayu “I really like 8th grade history too because the teacher is so enthusiastic. I think I’m going to grow a lot at Springs because Fall 2018

students are so involved in the community. The atmosphere is great for meeting new friends, and I’m thinking about trying out

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for tennis.”— Yuji

EXPLORING EXPLORING

MELIS MELISGOKKAYA GOKKAYA’21 ’21• •10TH 10THGRADE GRADEBOARDER BOARDER• •KÖRFEZ, KÖRFEZ,TURKEY TURKEY

“My “My favorite favorite class class this this year year is AP is AP European European History History because because wewe areare learning learning how how thethe world world became became thethe world world wewe know know today, today, step step byby step. step.

I’mI’m also also active active in in thethe Model Model United United Nations Nations Club, Club, and and I enjoy I enjoy playing playing onon Springs’ Springs’ Varsity Varsity Volleyball Volleyball team. team.

I always I always enjoy enjoy taking taking part part in in individual individual sports, sports, butbut volleyball volleyball teaches teaches meme how how toto make make decisions decisions and and actact in in a group a group of of people.” people.”

INNOVATING INNOVATING

VICTORIA VICTORIAKINDALL KINDALL’21 ’21• •10TH 10THGRADE GRADE• •FULTONDALE, FULTONDALE,AL AL

“I “I started started a Junior a Junior United United Nations Nations Assembly Assembly Club Club at at Springs Springs this this year year soso that that 8th8th graders graders here here cancan experience experience what what I gained I gained from from taking taking part part as as a middle a middle schooler. schooler.

I’mI’m also also active active in in Model Model UN—Indian UN—Indian Springs Springs opens opens mymy mind mind toto world world issues issues and and challenges challenges meme toto think think critically critically about about how how toto solve solve them. them.

The The community community encourages encourages meme in in a way a way that that only only Springs Springs cancan do.” do.”

ACHIEVING ACHIEVING

WILL WILLMILLER MILLER’21 ’21• •10TH 10THGRADE GRADEBOARDER BOARDER• •VESTAVIA VESTAVIAHILLS, HILLS,AL AL

“I “I cancan gogo into into any any class class with with a smile a smile because because I know I know thethe teachers teachers truly truly care care about about what what they’re they’re teaching teaching and and about about whether whether wewe understand understand it.it.

I get I get toto gogo toto school school with with people people who who areare engaged engaged and and excited excited toto learn, learn, and and who who truly truly care care about about what what I have I have toto say,say, and and that’s that’s a blessing a blessing only only Springs Springs students students cancan understand. understand.

Outside Outside of of thethe classroom, classroom, I enjoy I enjoy playing playing basketball basketball and and baseball baseball and and exploring exploring ourour beautiful beautiful campus.” campus.”

SOLVING SOLVING

WILL WILLSMITH SMITH’19 ’19• •12TH 12THGRADE GRADE• •MOUNTAIN MOUNTAINBROOK, BROOK,AL AL

“I’ve “I’ve really really taken taken anan interest interest in in Linear Linear Algebra Algebra and and APAP Physics Physics CC (Mechanics)—they (Mechanics)—they areare challenging challenging courses courses that that explain explain many many technical technical aspects aspects of of mathematics mathematics and and thethe laws laws of of thethe universe. universe.

MyMy favorite favorite extracurricular extracurricular activity activity is Scholars is Scholars Bowl, Bowl, which which plays plays toto mymy strengths strengths as as someone someone who who loves loves toto consume consume knowledge knowledge and and understand understand more more about about thethe world.” world.”

GIVING GIVING BACK BACK MELIS STEPHEN STEPHEN ZHENG ZHENG ’21’21 • 10TH GRADE GRADE BOARDER BOARDER • •SHANGHAI, SHANGHAI, CHINA CHINA EXPLORING GOKKAYA ’21 • 10TH 10TH GRADE BOARDER KÖRFEZ, TURKEY “Springs “Springs is aisgood a good fitthis fit forfor me—I me—I love love thethe atmosphere, atmosphere, teachers, teammates, teammates, and and numerous numerous activities activities to dig dig into into mymy interests. interests.

“My favorite class year is AP European History teachers, because we are learning how the world becameto the world we know today, step I play Iby play soccer, soccer, but I also I also really really love love taking taking part part in in theater theater productions productions and and capturing capturing moments moments around around campus campus forfor myImy step.

I’mbut also active in the Model United Nations Club, and I enjoy playing on Springs’ Varsity Volleyball team. always enjoy photography photography One One of of my my favorite favorite Springs Springs traditions traditions is how Development is Development Day, Day, which which lets us give back back to thethe community.” community.” taking partclass. inclass. individual sports, but volleyball teaches me to make decisions andlets act in us agive group ofto people.”

INNOVATING

Please Pleasehelp helpus usreach reachour ourgoal goalofof$650,000. $650,000.

VICTORIA KINDALL ’21 • 10TH GRADE • FULTONDALE, AL

“I started a Junior United Nations Assembly Club at Springs this year so that 8th graders here can experience what I gained from taking part as a middle schooler. I’m also active in Model UN—Indian Springs opens my mind to world issues and challenges me

to think critically about how to solve them. The community encourages me in a way that only Springs can do.”

“Indian “Indian Springs Springs continues continues toto enable enable students students toto discover discover courage, courage, purpose, purpose, and and thethe joyjoy of of Learning Learning through through Living.

Living.

This This

and and your your important important support. support.

Thank Thank you you forfor thethe many many reasons reasons that that you you give give back back toto Indian Indian Springs.”

Springs.”

ACHIEVING

WILL MILLER ’21 • 10TH GRADE BOARDER • VESTAVIA HILLS, AL

DR. DR.SHARON SHARONHOWELL, HOWELL,HEAD HEADOF OFSCHOOL SCHOOL “I can go into any class with a smile because I know the teachers truly care about what they’re teaching and about whether we understand it. I get to go to school with people who are engaged and excited to learn, and who truly care about what I have to say, and that’s a blessing only Springs students can understand. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy playing basketball and baseball and exploring our beautiful campus.”

Indian Springs

happens happens not not byby accident accident butbut instead instead through through thethe constantly constantly evolving evolving efforts efforts of of talented, talented, passionate passionate faculty faculty and and students— students—

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CAMPUS NEWS

FA C U LT Y S P O T L I G H T

LAUREN WAINWRIGHT ’88

HER ROAD LESS TRAVELED LED BACK TO SPRINGS

Alumna Lauren Wainwright ’88 returned to Springs in fall 2017 after successful careers spanning corporate law, private equity, theatre production, and postsecondary education. At Springs, she teaches classes in American Government and Constitutional Law/Civil Rights. She also advises student government and directs strategy and special projects. We asked Lauren to tell us about herself.

Q: How did your unique career path lead you

Q: What do you do as Springs’ new Director of

Strategy and Special Projects?

A: The title is a mouthful, I realize! In short, I help devise strategy and long-range plans for Springs, and I execute Springs’ vision for educational innovation. At the same time, I also promote new opportunities for Springs and facilitate special projects related to strategic initiatives. It’s probably easier to explain with some examples: I led the strategic planning process for Springs’ 2019–22 plan, which the board approved in September, and will soon start coordinating execution of the plan’s various goals; I collaborated with faculty members Clay Colvin ’95 and William Belser ’80 to create the school’s new Makerspace; I helped choir director Andy Dibble build a partnership between Springs and Opera Birmingham, which brings opera artists to campus, provides master classes for the choir, and allows Springs students access to rehearsals and performances of Opera Birmingham’s season; I worked with outside counsel and national experts on secondary school policies to update the Read ‘N’ Heed to include state-of-the-art policies around nondiscrimination, inclusivity and gender identity, harassment, sexual misconduct, and bullying; I am teaming up with the Art and Creative Writing Departments to set up an artist residency program; and I am working with students to bring an Indian Springs TEDx to campus in the next year.

ABOVE: Lauren in the 1987 Khalas yearbook;

and posing last April with fellow “Squeaky Crew” members Elise May Frohsin ’88, Aye Unnoppet ’88, and Alison Goldstein Lebovitz ’88 around their Springs Eternal paver

back to Springs?

A: When I graduated from Springs, my goal was to get my master’s in classics and return to Springs to teach Latin. Life happened instead, and I ended up in law school, having decided I wanted to teach law rather than Latin. But then debt happened, and I realized I couldn’t afford to teach. I got a job at a large firm in New York called Sullivan & Cromwell, and I ended up being a private equity lawyer for 12 years, first at S&C and then at Goldman Sachs.

Gradually I forgot about my desire to teach. The work was always an intellectual challenge, but it was never terribly fulfilling—the Investment Company Act of 1940 does not lend itself to rhapsodic expressions of vocational glee, as shocking as that isn’t—so I quit Goldman and applied to drama school. (Like you do … ) I got into Yale School of Drama and earned an MFA in theatre. I moved back to New York to run a theatre company and produce plays offBroadway, while also commuting to Yale to teach law classes there.

That’s what I was doing when I met Sharon at Springs’ New York alumni reception. The reception was on the night of a blizzard; I almost stayed home, but overcome with uncharacteristic nostalgia, I decided to trudge from Brooklyn to Midtown anyway. I arrived with 15 minutes left in the event, lightly frosted from the knees down and unable to feel my nose. I met Sharon, and

“I tried my hand at a ton of extracurricular activities, and had a great time being not great at lots of them. I was pretty good at soccer, but basketball proved I had the manual dexterity

Fall 2018

of an oyster; I definitely tortured some student-concert audiences with B-52s covers and

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a pas de trois with my friend Aye and a rubber monster named Lobet.” — ­ Lauren Wainwright ’88

manual dexterity of an oyster; I definitely tortured some student-concert audiences with B-52’s covers and a pas de trois with my friend Aye and a rubber monster named Lobet; and my most lasting impact in choir was getting a gaggle of us irretrievably lost in the middle of Philadelphia.

My friend Alison got the nickname “Squeaky” in our 8th grade civics class. We can’t remember if it was Chuck, Sam, or John Michael who coined the name, but Alison, who has a fairly deep voice, was sick one day and answered Ms. Conerly’s question with a weirdly chirpy squeak. She was “Squeaky” thereafter, and our friend group became the “Squeaky Crew.” We bristled at the name at first, because each one of us was mouthy, brassy, and opinionated—no squeaks allowed—but eventually we reclaimed it as high irony. And now it is carved in stone at Springs!

Q: How did Indian Springs shape your views

about education?

A: Springs’ embodiment of Learning through Living had the greatest lasting impact on me. We were given the opportunity to try new things—whether new subjects, new ideas, or new activities—and we understood that it was in the occasional failure that we learned. It taught us resilience, and that being confronted with change or a new challenge was simply an opportunity to learn. Learning through Living also allowed each of us to find our voice at Springs and to use it. You can’t learn if you never participate, and we became vocal advocates for what we wanted in our community and were accustomed to debate. I think these ideas ground a Springs culture that is so important to maintain.

several prestigious alums from the sixties, while standing in a puddle of my own thaw. Sharon and I stayed in touch after the event, and one day she said, “Why don’t you come back to Springs and teach?” The more I considered it, the more it made sense—I realized that so much of the person I had become was because of Springs, that this place was truly special. I was also truly impressed with what is going on at Springs; I wasn’t sure how a recovering lawyer with a theatre degree fit into that vision, but I was willing to trust Sharon. So I said yes. Several months later, I moved my life back to Birmingham after 30 years away. Teaching at Springs was my original dream. I’m not teaching Latin of course—the only thing I can do with my classics major now is translate school mottos—but I am teaching government and law, and I am having the time of my life. I’ve made a few large

leaps in my life, but this one feels the best. I often wonder what I would be doing now if I had stayed home during that blizzard.

Q: What were you like as a Springs student?

How did you and your friends become known as the “Squeaky Crew”?

A: I was driven as a student, probably more than was healthy. I was interested in so many things and wanted to go as far as I could in each one. During summers I took classes at UAB in American History and Latin. Sometimes I would come home late, after soccer or play practice or yearbook, and wake up at 4 a.m. to do my homework. Outside of academics, though, I was able to lighten up some. I tried my hand at a ton of extracurricular activities, and had a great time being not great at lots of them. I was pretty good at soccer, but basketball proved I had the

what excites you most about what lies ahead for Indian Springs?

A: I am particularly excited to start working on our strategic plan goals. During the planning process, we heard from over 1,000 members of the Springs community about what they valued in Springs—the outstanding faculty and academic rigor, students’ freedom and responsibility, the diversity and strong sense of community—and the plan we created out of that feedback will focus our energies and enhance what makes us unique and valuable. We want to increase personalized learning opportunities for our students, from independent studies to internships to online and university courses; we want students to master not just knowledge but also skills, and to be able to transfer skills and knowledge to unique situations, not simply regurgitate them on a test; we want to be intentional about maintaining Springs’ unique culture and integrating our core values into campus life. Given the pace of change today, we know we are training students for jobs that do not yet exist; it’s exciting to think about the ways we prepare our students with the resilience and flexibility of mind to succeed.

Indian Springs

Photo by Graham Yelton

Q: As an alumna and now faculty member,

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A L U M S P OT L I G H T

DAVID OH ’87

ON A MISSION

By Mindy Keyes Black

Fall 2018

F 30

or DAVID OH ’87, who spends his days thinking about how to get to worlds where no one has gone before, innovation is the ultimate team sport.

Oh led the operations team that successfully flew and landed NASA’s Curiosity Rover on Mars in 2012 using a groundbreaking landing system.

His next undertaking: to design a spacecraft that reaches Psyche, the largest metal asteroid in the solar system. Oh is the project’s lead systems engineer and engineering technical authority for the mission, which he and his teammates believe

Six years after leading the operations team that landed NASA’s Curiosity Rover on Mars, David Oh ’87 is serving as lead systems engineer for a new mission to send a spacecraft to explore Psyche, the largest metal asteroid in the solar system.

Missions like these, says Oh, start with “a team of dreamers and believers.”

“Over the course of the Space Age, we have explored worlds made of rock, gas, and ice, but we’ve never seen up close a world made of metal.” ­ —David Oh ’88

will shed light on how planetary cores are formed.

“Psyche is unlike any other world that we have explored,” says Oh. “Over the course of the Space Age, we have explored worlds made of rock, gas, and ice, but we’ve never seen up close a world made of metal.”

Scientists, including principal investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton of Arizona State University, theorize that Psyche was once a forming planet that collided with other bodies; the collision stripped off its rocky mantel, leaving just the metal core made of iron and nickel. The Psyche mission will send a spacecraft to orbit the asteroid to give scientists an opportunity to study it, test their theory about its origins, and see what they can learn about the formation of other planetary cores, including the Earth’s.

Oh, an MIT graduate who credits Indian Springs with laying the foundation for his career by teaching him “to be self-reliant and think critically,” says that missions such as the Curiosity Mars Rover and Psyche succeed because of the ability of hundreds of people to collaborate across dozens of fields of expertise.

“It starts with being a team of dreamers and believers,” says Oh. “Ideas evolve as the team comes together to develop an idea and turn it into something that is testable. The power here is that by working together, the team creates a mission architecture, which includes not only the design of the spacecraft but the design of the ground system, the instrument package, a management plan, and a cost estimate to determine if the mission is feasible.”

It was teamwork that made it possible for the Curiosity Rover to decelerate from 20,000 kilometers per hour to 0 km per hour—autonomously deploying a heat shield, a parachute, a rocket pack, and the innovative “Sky Crane” soft-landing technique—in 7 minutes to land safely on Mars, says Oh. “It had to go perfectly,” he says, “so when we got the telemetry that showed a successful landing, we and the rest of the team were absolutely thrilled. It was the happiest day of my professional career.”

With a launch date set for August 2022, teamwork will be key to the Psyche mission as well.

“For Psyche, one of the most important challenges

At Right, Above: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Arizona State Univ./Space Systems Loral/Peter Rubin.

At Right, Below: ©Brian van der Brug, 2012, Los Angeles Times. Reprinted with permission.

ALUMNI & FRIENDS

ABOVE: This artist’s-concept illustration depicts the spacecraft of NASA’s Psyche mission near the mission’s target, the metal asteroid Psyche.

is that to get into orbit around the asteroid we have to use electrical propulsion,” says Oh. “The ion thrusters that Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) used in the past are obsolete, so for this mission, JPL has partnered with Space Systems/Loral (SSL), a commercial satellite manufacturer, to use the Hall thruster technology they use on their high-powered Earth orbiting communication satellites. It is a unique public-private partnership that brings together the strengths of both organizations and combines JPL’s expertise in deep space avionics and software with SSL’s commercial power and propulsion systems.”

For Oh, who was born in 1969, the year that American astronauts landed on the moon, being “part of the great human spirit of exploration and innovation” is a privilege. “We can understand this universe that we live in,” he says. “We can explore it, we can learn about it, and we can be a part of something that is much bigger than just us and just this planet.”

Indian Springs

The artwork was created in May 2017 to show the five-panel solar arrays planned for the spacecraft. The spacecraft’s structure will include power and propulsion systems to travel to, and orbit, the asteroid. These systems will combine solar power with electric propulsion to carry the scientific instruments used to study the asteroid through space. The mission plans a launch in 2022 and an arrival at Psyche, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, in 2026. BELOW: David Oh ’87 inside the Spaceflight Operations Facility for NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

N OT E WO R T H Y

FROM LEFT: John E. Horne (representing

Senator John H. Sparkman), John M. “Buddy” Heacock ’58, Dr. James H. Mason, and Dr. Ken Wells (president of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge) on May 5, 1958, at the U.S. Capitol

GENE HAWKINS ’59

SIXTY YEARS AGO:

1958 FREEDOM FOUNDATION AWARD DR. JAMES DAVID MASON ’62 was cleaning out family papers when he came across materials related to Springs’ submission to the 1957 Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

James’ father, the late Dr. James H. Mason— one of Indian Springs’ founding faculty members—taught here 1952–59 and in 1957 oversaw the school’s application for the award. In May 1958, Indian Springs received a principal school award, the foundation’s highest award for schools, in recognition of outstanding classroom programs on teaching good citizenship. The teacher-student team of Dr. Mason and Buddy Heacock ’58 received a George Washington Honor Medal; a “Freedom Library” of books, films, and other teaching aids; and a three-day educational tour to Valley Forge, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Thank you so much, Jim, for donating these materials to the Indian Springs School Archives—participatory citizenship remains a pivotal part of Springs’ important mission!

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CLASS OF 1959 Gene (“Hawkeye”) Hawkins ’59, MBA, has been recognized in the Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives series and Forbes Magazine’s Continental Who’s Who registry for his dedication, achievements, and leadership in the field of financial analysis. In July, the publishers honored him with a photo on the 22-story Reuters Sign in the heart of Times Square in New York City. A widely regarded investment theorist with expertise in quantitative investment research and analysis, Gene served as president of Investment Analytics from 1984 until his retirement in 2017. In this position, he drew upon 40 years of experience working as a financial analyst on Wall Street, both as an employee of several brokerage firms and as head of his own consulting firm. Gene has authored numerous articles and research papers relevant to the stock market on both the practical and theoretical sides of the industry. He launched a career in the financial sector after receiving a B.A. in economics from The University of the South and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Early in his professional life, he served briefly as a senior security analyst with Drexel Harriman Ripley and as a financial analyst with Lehman Brothers. From 1973 to 1981, Gene was a senior investment officer with the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company. Following a brief stint as a financial analyst with Lynch, Jones & Ryan, he

ELISE FROHSIN ’88, RAJIV SINGH ’86, LAUREN WAINWRIGHT ’88, AND ALEX CLARK ’86

established Investment Analytics in 1984.

He continues to share his knowledge through the management of Paradox Investments, a website designed to provide a new perspective on issues surrounding modern portfolio theory, the efficient market hypothesis, and the capital asset pricing model.

M.D. Smith ’59 has published a book titled Reflections of Judy and M.D. Smith, available for sale on Amazon. Containing more than 90 stories, the book features recollections from M.D.’s childhood in Mountain Brook—including an incident with eggs and a cop car—as well as from his college years and later adulthood.

M.D. and his wife, Judy, wrote Reflections partly at the behest of their children, who were encouraging them to compile their stories in one place.

CLASS OF 1986 Classmates Rajiv Singh and Alex Clark each happened to be in Edinburgh in June when a friend of Singh noticed a poster promoting a performance by the Indian Springs Chamber Choir at Canongate Kirk, a stop on the choir’s summer tour of Scotland. Rajiv and Alex decided to meet up at the concert, where they reconnected with Springs alumnae and choir chaperones Elise Frohsin ’88 and Lauren Wainwright ’88. continued on page 34

ABOVE: Sipiwe Moyo ’01 talks with Springs students in the new Swan Studio. Moyo

shared insights into acting, auditioning, and bringing stories and characters to life.

FOR SIPIWE MOYO ’01, ACTING IS ‘LIKE PAINTING A PICTURE’ WHETHER SHE IS AUDITIONING for a role on stage or screen, the key to success, says actress Sipiwe Moyo ’01, is believing in herself. “I have to believe that I can do anything,” she told Springs students during a recent visit to campus. “As an actor, when you’re auditioning you have to think of yourself as a solution to a casting problem.

It’s not about getting your lines exactly right.

It’s more about giving your take on who this character is. In a way it’s like painting a picture— yes, you have to stay within certain guidelines, but what colors you use, and what strokes you use, that’s all up to you.”

Moyo, whose credits range from the title role of Henry V to characters in Limitless, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, and The Blacklist, tried other pursuits since graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. But she kept coming back to acting: “It’s what I love to do—I couldn’t live without it.” A longtime fan of the award-winning Netflix series Orange is the New Black, she landed the role of Adeola for Season 6 in 2016. “It was the first time I had seen a show with that many women of different colors and sizes portrayed,” she recalled. “While the show

characterized their lives in prison, it didn’t vilify them but rather showed their backstories and what led them there—I loved it.”

The show highlights “heavy, hard themes,” she said, but her character—a Nigerian woman who has been arrested for felony—has quite a few comedic moments. By coincidence, the day she auditioned for the part was also the day that Moyo also mustered the courage to take her first stand-up comedy class. “Since I was 5 I wanted to be a stand-up comedian like Eddie Murphy,” she said. “I’ve played African characters in shows before that are in severe circumstances like civil wars, genocides, all extremely important stories, but here was a chance to play an African person using humor and some levity.”

To prepare for the role, she hired a dialect coach. “As an African-American woman, representation is very important to me,” she said.

“If I play someone that looks like they could live in my body, I want to do the best job I can so that others who identify with me can feel as if their story is being told with integrity and heart.”

But the role did come with a particular challenge: Moyo’s character keeps pet rats in her

vent. “I don’t like bugs or squirmy things, so while these were high-end rats, they were still rats,” she said. “My character calls them ‘her children,’ so I had to spend time with them to feel like they weren’t the same rats I see in the subway.” During filming for episode 4, Moyo opened the grate to the vent, and where she expected to find four rats, there were only three. “The fourth rat was hanging off the grate—I just dropped the grate on the ground. The rats’ handlers were afraid I’d injured the animals. What about me?! Once I got over that embarrassment, I think it pretty much comes across that I like the rats, but if you look closely in one shot, you can see one of my eyes twitching.”

She encourages Springs acting students to pursue what they love and learn all they can. “The more you study, the more you learn, the more you can bring to your stories and your characters.”

Inspired by the variety of TV shows and films available today, she hopes to try her hand next at writing. “There are so many stories yet to be told,” she said. “I think I have a unique one to tell—like you all do. The key is figuring out how to keep being creative while still living your life.”

—Mindy Keyes Black

Indian Springs

Meet Fan Favorite Adeola from Season 6 of ‘Orange is the New Black’

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

N OT E WO R T H Y

J.W. CARPENTER ’97 ELAINE LURIA ’93:

SPRINGS’ FIRST ALUM ELECTED TO CONGRESS ELAINE LURIA ’93 WON Virginia’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives during the Nov. 6 general election, becoming Springs’ first alum to be elected to Congress. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Navy commander, Luria retired from the Navy in 2017 after a 20-year career as a surface warfare officer and nuclear engineer. She deployed six times, conducting operations in the Middle East and Western Pacific on destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Owner of a small family business, Mermaid Factory, she centered her congressional campaign around a simple philosophy: Be good, do good work. Says Rep.-elect Luria, “I am honored to once again answer the call to serve our country and look forward to representing Virginia’s Second District in Congress.”

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CLASS OF 1994 Birmingham-area OB-GYN Dr. Jesanna Cooper ’94 spoke about Alabama’s maternity care system at the 2018 March for Moms in Washington, D.C., in May. Passionate about improving the health of mothers and babies in underserved areas, she works to increase access to care and improve outcomes across the state.

CLASS OF 1995 Hulu announced a new TV series based on John Green’s novel Looking for Alaska, based on his own years at Indian Springs. The show will be executive-produced by Josh Schwartz, known for creating the beloved teen drama The O.C. Charlie Plummer and Kristine Froseth will play Miles and Alaska. “This has been (over!) 13 years in the making, and I am so excited,” John tweeted in October. In other John Green news, this fall he also released four of his books—Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and The Fault in Our Stars—in a new mini format, designed to be read using only one hand. They’re about the size of a smartphone, made with paper as thin as onion skin, and the spine is horizontal rather than vertical.

“It really only takes a second to get used to,” he told The Washington Post. “I’m shocked by how readable they are.”

JOHN GREEN ’95

LEFT, BACK ROW:

Eddie Davis ’02, Courtney Denson ’03, Sean Abu Wilson ’03, StephenCockrell ’02, D.G. Pantazis ’03.

FRONT ROW:

Karima Wilson ’99, Miho Kubagawa ’03, Sara Kim ’03

CLASS OF 1997 J.W. Carpenter ’97, Executive Director of the Birmingham Education Foundation, received the 2018 Servant Leadership award from the Vulcan Park Foundation in November as part of the fifth annual Vulcans Community Awards. The awards honor Birmingham-area citizens who exemplify civic pride, leadership, and progress in five award categories. Since joining BEF in 2013, Carpenter has worked to expand opportunities for Birmingham City School students by facilitating partnerships with hundreds of area businesses and community partners. The nonprofit has grown to connect more than 5,000 students last year to skill-building, career, and college opportunities that include paid internships, ACT prep, and job shadowing. A new initiative supports students in their first year out of high school by ensuring that they have the network and resources they need to be successful, with a vision of supporting them for up to five years after high school. A graduate of Boston College and Georgetown University Law Center and former litigator with Walston, Wells, and Birchall, LLP, Carpenter left law practice to pursue his passion for education, serving prior to BEF as founding executive director for Teach For America Alabama.

He serves on the boards of A+ Education Partnership, Hispanic Interest Coalition of

WILSON WEDDING

Alabama, and the Blackburn Institute at the University of Alabama.

CLASS OF 2003 Sean Abu Wilson ’03 married Amalia Viti on June 23 at Lake Chalet in Oakland, Calif. Stephen Cockrell ’02 served as officiant for the ceremony, and a handful of close friends and family from Springs were in attendance. The couple currently lives in New York City, where Sean is a Lead Data Science Instructor at Flatiron School and Amalia works as a Senior Web Engineer with Lyft.

CLASS OF 2004 Lake Trechsel and his wife, Dr. Alicia Hall, welcomed their first child, baby boy Skyler Glenn Trechsel, on Sept. 4.

CLASS OF 2009 Betsy Stewart ’09 and Lucas Durst were married on Aug. 25 at Martha’s Vineyard.

The Dursts will reside in New York City.

Betsy is a management associate at Citigroup. Lucas is a financial associate with The Durst Organization. continued on page 36

ABOVE (L to R): Carlee Duggan Lewis ’09, Allison Moore ’09,

Sara Gail Prudenti ’09, Indian Springs Tennis Coach Boo Mason, Jackson Stewart ’04, Dr. Mell Duggan ’76, Betsy Stewart Durst ’09, Janet Perry Book, Evan Pantazis ’09

STEWART-DURST WEDDING

Indian Springs

Stewart-Durst wedding photos by Jocelyn Filley Photography

BABY SKYLER, SON OF LAKE TRECHSEL ’04

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

N OT E WO R T H Y

THANK YOU, OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS …

Indian Springs School is grateful to these dedicated individuals whose terms on the Board of Governors drew to a close in spring 2018: Libby Pantazis P ’03, ’06, ’09 Chairman, 2012–18 Rusty Rushton ’74, P ’09, ’11

Rob Henrikson ’65 Michele Reisner P ’18 President, 2017–18 Parents Association

… AND WELCOME, NEW BOARD MEMBERS! The school is also delighted to announce these new appointees to the Board: Alan Engel ’73, P ’03, ’12 Chairman Jerolyn Ferrari P ’20 Braxton Goodrich ’93

Kyung Han ’85 Jimmy Lewis ’75, P ’11, ’11 Randall Minor ’99 Lia Rushton P ’09, ’11

Elise Frohsin ’88, P ’20 President, 2018–19 Parents Association

ABOVE: Members of the

Fall 2018

Board of Governors at the September 2018 Board meeting. LEFT: To honor Libby Pantazis, who served as Chairman of the Board from 2012 to May 2018, the doors of all Indian Springs School faculty homes are being painted “Libby Pantazis yellow—the yellow of sunlight and canary feathers and irises,” Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell announced in May.

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CLASS OF 2010 Sunney Poyner, who is currently studying law at UCLA, has led the effort to start the nation’s first disability law journal, which will publish its inaugural issue in spring 2019. Sunney, who was inspired to start the publication after taking a disability law class, will serve as the journal’s founding editor-in-chief. “The fact that we’re the first student-run disability law journal I think speaks volumes about how there is increased attention but how there is so much more to do,” says Sunney.

“As a nation, we have a history of marginalizing people with disabilities, and I think that has been reflected in the law.

People with disabilities have so many different interactions with the law, and the law touches them at so many points, often not necessarily in the easiest or best way.

One of our goals is to publish scholarship that really discusses the vast array of ways that law touches the lives of people with disabilities because it is such a vast and diverse experience, and I think lawyers need to know more about that.”

CLASS OF 2016 Mira Walker performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 with the National Honoured Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in July as part of the 2018 International Summer Music Academy in Kiev.

CLASS OF 2017 Elizabeth Hunt, currently a sophomore at Grinnell College, was named Midwest Conference Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week in September after recording her first solo shutout of the season as keeper.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Ansel Elgort

and Suki Waterhouse in a scene from Jonathan; director Bill Oliver ’86 works with Elgort; actress Patricia Clarkson on set; the official movie poster ALUM SPOTLIGHT

BILL OLIVER ’86: A PASSION FOR FILM CREATIVE PASSIONS CAN EMERGE at any time, and for Bill Oliver ’86, his began at Indian Springs.

Founder of the school’s film society and co-editor of the yearbook, he didn’t really imagine a career in movies. Instead, as he explains it, “I just knew I loved photography, and had a passion for film.”

Pursuing these passions led him to Princeton— and the university’s film society—then to a job with an independent producer, before enrolling in the Whitney Independent Study Program. And there, he produced his first film. More formal film studies followed: “I received a Master’s in Cinema

Studies from NYU, then an MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute, and all the while I was writing screenplays and trying to get my first feature off the ground.”

Now you could say that Oliver’s first feature is, literally and figuratively, off the ground. He has cowritten and directed Jonathan, a stellar, subtle, sci-fi thriller starring Ansel Elgort, Patricia Clarkson, and Suki Waterhouse. The film, which debuted at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival last spring, opened in wide release in November.

Oliver keeps his Springs experience close,

working at a desk with a picture of his friend and mentor Helen Payne, who taught French here from 1975 to 1997, above it. When asked what value he most appreciates from his time at Springs, he speaks of Payne fondly: “She taught us that in order to live fully we have to be attuned to the world around us. She was able to live her life this way; she inspires me every day.” Oliver, too, is an inspiration, in his quiet persistence, his commitment to craft, and the beauty of moments like those in Jonathan that he is able to share with us today. —Brett Levine

Indian Springs

Meet the Director of the Feature Film ‘Jonathan’

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N OT E WO R T H Y

MEET SPRINGS’ INAUGURAL YOUNG ALUM ON THE RISE

THE INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL ALUMNI COUNCIL has named Shaina Shealy ’06 as the inaugural Young Alum on the Rise, a recent graduate whose accomplishments poise her to leave an enduring mark in her field and community. Shaina graduated magna cum laude from The George Washington University in 2010 and earned her master’s in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Master of Journalism degree from the University of California Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. She now works as a freelance reporter and story producer for WNYC’s Snap Judgment. Last spring, she traveled to Myanmar to report for Snap Judgment, Teen Vogue, and NPR.org through a grant from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.

Callen Bair Thistle ’01 asked Shaina about her work as a journalist, her passion for connecting with people through cooking, and the ways that her experience at Springs helped her learn to push herself beyond her comfort zone.

gym and putting it in the hands of some of the best personal trainers in the country. We sit in a circle on the floor or couches, identify weak spots in the story, and give suggestions on how to make the story work, including questions to ask in following interviews. I came to Snap from the lonely wilds of freelancing, where I was constantly second-guessing the quality of my work and confused about how to make it better. I’m totally in awe of the collaborative story process— each interaction I have with a coworker about a story makes me a better producer, writer, and editor.

No matter what I’m doing though, I’m always, always on the hunt for stories. So if you know someone with a strange, true tale or a voice that should be heard, hit me up! I’m specifically looking for stories from Alabama.

Q: Tell us about a day in the life of a radio producer.

A: My job is to make stories from start to finish: I pitch ideas, book and conduct interviews, write and edit scripts, and cut tape. So there’s no such thing as a typical day. I spend some days in the field or studio recording interviews, others hunched over my computer listening to tape, and others sifting through magazine archives for potential stories. My favorite days at Snap Judgment are when I get to bring a story to a “group edit,” which is when all the producers gather to give feedback on a first story draft. It’s like taking the story to a

Q: Tell us about some experiences from your time at Springs that shaped who you are today.

A: The supportive Springs community encouraged me to push myself beyond my comfort zone in so many ways. I remember walking into a town hall meeting

Fall 2018

SHAINA SHEALY ’06

38

in eighth grade and being so overwhelmed with the volume of people in the room that I had to leave because I thought I was going to throw up. I was terrified of being in front of people. At some point, though, I decided to make Springs my playground.

I remember setting goals like walking from the town hall to the dining hall by myself and raising my hand in Dr. Cooper’s class.

Then, the goals became crazier, like making announcements at town meetings and trying out for the one-act plays. My parents later admitted that when I told them I tried out for the one-acts, they were nervous that if I got a part, I wouldn’t be able to do it. I got the part and was fine. I even joined the choir (though I mostly lip-synced the entire time). The height of it all was when I joined the Cross Country team and was the slowest runner in the group.

In no other world would I have joined a running team, but at Springs I could run at whatever pace I wanted without feeling bad about it. I’ve been running (slowly) since then.

I was also involved in clubs like Heritage Panel, which was where I learned how to talk to people with different life experience and perspectives. Participating in clubs and serving on Judiciary and other parts of Student Government was totally revolutionary for me. It was the first time adults not only trusted me to make decisions and took my ideas seriously, but also gave me the tools to bring them to life. Junior year, Natalya Belotserkovskaya ’06 and I were selected to codirect Washington Day Camp, a weeklong summer camp for young kids at Springs.

We came up with the entire week’s activities and managed other students. Senior year, Allen Hunter ’06 and I planned Development Day, and John Green ’95 was at the top of our list for speakers. I sent him a cold email, and when he responded, I ran out of my room in the dorm

Photos by Jessica Bal

ALUMNI & FRIENDS

circle to tell my friends. I remember driving to the airport with Allen to pick up John, giggling, and feeling like … is this real? Those experiences set me on a path of trusting my ideas even when they seem far-fetched, and seeking support to bring them to life.

Q: What’s next for you?

A: Short term: I traveled to Myanmar this year thanks to a grant from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. I spent about a month there, reporting stories on how vulnerable groups like women and girls are using Facebook.

Long term: Sometimes I think I know what I want, but I’m often wrong. In this moment, I’m pursuing a career in public radio, but I’ll consider whatever doors open along the way.

Q: What advice would you offer to current Springs students?

A: Do things that make you uncomfortable! The community is there to help you succeed, and the risks of failing are extremely low. If I could run on the Cross Country team, you can do anything.

Q: Do you still have connections or involvement with fellow Springs alumni and/or the Springs community? Tell us about those.

A: My classmates from the Class of ’06 are still my closest friends and the people I call when I need support and encouragement. They are incredible women living all over the world pursuing bold careers in therapy, tech, business, law, and medicine. I’ve also loved reconnecting with teachers from Springs at alumni gatherings and on social media—it’s so cool to see what’s happening at Springs these days. It’s also exciting for me to see Springs alumni as professional role models, like Daniel Alarcón ’95, whose career in public radio inspires me to think more creatively about the possibilities in our field.

WE WELCOME YOUR NOMINATIONS! Visit www.IndianSprings.org/page/ alumni to nominate an alum for our next Outstanding Alum or Young Alum on the Rise Award! The Outstanding Alum Award honors Springs graduates who have made outstanding contributions to their fields and/ or communities. The Young Alum on the Rise Award recognizes accomplished individuals who have graduated from Indian Springs in the past 15 years and who have made interesting and/or significant contributions to society during that time.

Springs 2018 winning team: Keir Cooper ’98, Dr. Mac LaCasse, Dr. Bob Cooper, Joshua Rutsky ’89, and Kevin Tavakoli ’98

Conversation Continued: Shaina loves to cook. Visit www.IndianSprings. org/page/alumni to read more from Callen’s recent Q&A with Shaina.

Last spring, Shaina Shealy reported a story on oyster mushrooms in Kigali, Rwanda with the International Women’s Media Foundation’s African Great Lakes Initiative. Photo by Jessica Bal.

FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, and by a margin of just two points, Indian Springs won first place at the “Battle of the Brains” trivia contest/ fundraiser hosted jointly by the Indian Springs School Alumni Council and the Altamont School Alumni Association. Claiming the championship belt were: Keir Cooper ’98, Dr. Mac LaCasse, Dr. Bob Cooper, Joshua Rutsky ’89, and Kevin Tavakoli ’98. “It’s always exciting to win, and it was fun to repeat,” said Cooper.

“It was a very close match this time around, but we pulled it out.” Eighty percent of the funds raised at the event were split evenly between the two schools’ alumni associations, with the remaining 20 percent going to the winning team’s school. Congratulations, and go Springs!

Indian Springs

SPRINGS WINS 2ND ANNUAL TRIVIA CHALLENGE

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

N OT E WO R T H Y IN MEMORIAM

Indian Springs’ Khalas yearbook, in 1961 and 2018

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

ORIGIN OF SPRINGS’ KHALAS YEARBOOK DAVID DARBY ’61 wrote in to reflect on the naming of the Indian Springs yearbook, the Khalas, after seeing a photo of it in a recent issue of Indian Springs magazine. “I was Commissioner of Education in the fall of 1960 when we decided we should have a school annual,” he writes. “Joe Raines, also of the class of 1961, agreed to edit the annual. A family friend, father of Harry Brown ’60, had recently had a visitor who told us that ‘khalas’ was the word for friend. That sounded both neat and exotic, so we decided to call the annual Khalas.”

Seeing the photograph sparked David to explore what more he could learn about the origins of the word khalas. “In an 1834 Hindi-English dictionary the term does mean a sincere friend,” says David. “But in an 1864 dictionary the meaning is liberation, or ‘let loose.’ In Arabic it most usually means the end, quit, or ‘enough already’! But in Sikh usage from the Arabic derivative of ‘khaalas,’ it means freedom. So I leave it to newer generations of Springs students to further parse the school’s mysteriously named annual.

For seniors, it may well mean enough already, let me out, freedom, remembrance of good friends, or several of those things, depending upon your Springs experience!”

ALUMNI John Worrell Poynor ’58 died at home on Oct. 6. After graduating from Indian Springs School, he attended Washington and Lee University and The University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. He joined ENT Associates of Alabama and practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital for 47 years, up to one week before his death, and served his country as a medical doctor in the U.S. Air Force.

Committed to education, he also served and supported the institutions that greatly impacted his life, including Indian Springs.

Medicine and art were his passion. He advised numerous college and medical school applicants. He served on the Mountain Brook Library Foundation, the board and committees of the Birmingham Museum of Art and the board of Highlands School. He was a member of the Cathedral Church of the Advent and a past vestry member and junior warden. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Frank Bouchelle Poynor ’62. He is survived by his wife, Nancy McCall Poynor; his brother Wilmer Smith Poynor III ’56 (Carol); his niece, Helen Poynor Crabtree (Reaves); two nephews, Wilmer Smith Poynor IV ’80 (Elizabeth) and Hamilton Perkins Bouchelle Poynor (Kim); and great-nephews and -nieces.

Richard (“Rick”) Wheeler Crosby ’59, a classmate who stayed a bachelor all his life and loved to travel to visit friends, died Oct. 2, 2017, in Pozos, Mexico. He had begun to spend time in Pozos a few years ago after retiring from his job as administrator of Webster University’s extension division in Beaufort, S.C. He was very much his own person, who always enjoyed what he was doing, said his sister, Ruth Grayson. After graduating from Indian Springs School, where his father, Dick Crosby, served as Associate Director 1951–71, he attended Amherst, where he majored in American studies. He taught political philosophy at Colgate from 1965 through 1979, while earning a Ph.D. in government studies from Cornell in 1970.

He retired around age 70 and a couple of years later settled in Pozos, an old silver mining town northwest of Mexico City. He loved to travel and especially enjoyed time in New Zealand, Wales, and South Africa.

In his later years, he continued to maintain a condominium on Santa Helena Island in South Carolina. He is survived by his sister, two nieces, four great-nieces, and a greatnephew.

Robert Buckner “Bob” Watson ’59 died on Feb. 23. A native of Montgomery, he attended Huntingdon College after graduating from Indian Springs. He spent the last 27 years of his life in Pell City, Ala., where he was involved in many aspects of the community as a father, a successful small-business owner, and a member of New Hope Baptist Church. Bob loved people and never met a stranger. He was a friend to many and a great encourager to all. He is survived by his devoted wife of 27 years, Patsy Ingram Watson; his children, Robert B. Watson, Jr. (Allison Newton); John W. Rea (Sonja); and Jennifer Rea Moses (Shea); grandchildren, Elisabeth Marie Rea, Emily Grace Rea, John William Rea, Jr., Evelyn Joy Rea, Eleanor Jane Rea, Kathryn Rea Moses, and Julianne Margaret Moses; sisters-in-law, Ann P. Watson, Sarah Ingram Stewart (Glover), Margaret Ingram Bearden (Lawrence), Mary Jim Campbell (Don), and Ann Ingram Arnett (Don); six nephews, four nieces, and numerous extended family members.

Jose (“Joe”) Fernandez Nonidez III ’62 died April 7 in New Site, Ala. Born in New York City, he was a longtime employee of Norfolk Southern Railway in Atlanta.

“He liked two things: Latin and Trains,” said his caption in Indian Springs’ 1962 Khalas yearbook. For Joe, both became lifelong passions. He held a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in history from Emory University and was a partner in Nonidez Properties. He also spoke Spanish fluently, loved animals, and was active in Civitan International Druid Hills Civitan Club and the Indian Springs School Alumni Council.

He is survived by his brother William K. Nonidez of Birmingham; many friends and neighbors; and his beloved dog, Rexford Tugwell. Indian Springs was honored to receive a nearly $1 million bequest from Joe. Learn more about his enduring gift, at right.

Frank Bouchelle Poynor ’62 of Dallas died May 22 at age 73. After attending Indian Springs School, Frank graduated from the University of Alabama and served proudly in the United States Army, where he was awarded a Bronze Star and was later honorably discharged. Survivors include his brother Wilmer Smith Poynor III ’56 (Carol); and companion and friend Robin Stewart.

David W. Mullins Jr. ’64 died Feb. 26 after emergency heart surgery in Naples, Fla. He worked as a finance professor at Harvard, served as a senior Treasury official under President George H.W. Bush, and was vice continued on page 42

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Joe Nonidez III ’62 in Indian Springs’ 1962 Khalas yearbook and with Gray Plosser ’63 at an alumni gathering celebrating the Campaign for Springs Eternal in June 2014 at Lake Martin

IN MEMORIAM: JOE NONIDEZ III ’62

AN ENDURING GIFT JOSE (“JOE”) FERNANDEZ NONIDEZ III ’62, who died April 7 in New Site, Ala., was a devoted Indian Springs alumnus, remaining involved with the school throughout his life through his participation on the Alumni Council and through his generosity to the Annual Fund and the Campaign for Springs Eternal. “He would do anything for Indian Springs—he was totally committed to the school,” recalls classmate Frank Samford ’62. Joe’s love for

Indian Springs will not be forgotten: He included the school in his estate plans, naming Springs as the beneficiary of a nearly $1 million gift made through his Individual Retirement Account.

As a result, Joe’s bequest will bolster the school’s endowment and academic programs. In his honor, Indian Springs will memorialize Joe’s generous planned gift by naming classrooms 9–12 the Nonidez World Languages Wing.

CREATE A LASTING LEGACY BY INCLUDING INDIAN SPRINGS IN YOUR ESTATE PLANS.

A testamentary bequest involves naming

from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).

Indian Springs as a beneficiary in your last will and testament.

These “qualified charitable distributions” from an IRA must be made by December 31 and count

Testamentary bequests cost you nothing now, and

toward Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

may be in the form of general residuary bequests

up to $100,000 per account owner per year.

or specific bequests to a program, initiative, or area of study that is important to you.

For donors older than 70½, IRA rollover gifts are attractive because they provide an exclusion

Not only can your bequest help ensure that the

from gross income for income tax purposes. For

mission of Indian Springs School endures for

those who don’t itemize deductions, the potential

future generations, but it may also be beneficial in

benefits are even greater.

estate planning, as charitable gifts are deductible in their entirelty from your taxable estate.

Naming Indian Springs as the beneficiary of a retirement account (IRAs, 401k and 403b Plans) is an attractive option for estates of any size.

Retirement assets are subject to both income tax and estate tax. A distribution of retirement assets to the estate of a decedent subjects those assets to income tax and potentially estate tax.

Naming Indian Springs as the beneficiary of retirement accounts allows those assets to pass as a charitable donation to the school, free and clear of all potential tax liability.

Please contact the Office of Advancement (205.988.3350) to discuss your intentions so that we may help you explore the myriad ways that a planned gift of any size may fulfill your charitable objectives with regard to Indian Springs School.

205.988.3350 • plannedgiving@indiansprings.org • www.indiansprings.org/plannedgiving

Indian Springs

In 2015, Congress authorized charitable gifting

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

N OT E WO R T H Y

chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. He received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University and then earned a doctorate in finance and economics at MIT. David helped clean up after the widespread collapse of savings and loan institutions in the late 1980s and steered the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in the early 1990s. In 1988, he became assistant secretary for domestic finance at the Treasury, where his chief duty was overseeing a bailout and cleanup of savings and loan institutions caught with billions of dollars in uncollectable loans. While at the Treasury, he met Mary Ann Gadziala, a lawyer working for the department; they married in 1994. That year, he was recruited to become a partner at Long-Term Capital Management. He later served as chief economist at Vega Asset Management. In retirement he had homes in Greenwich, Conn.; Naples; and Alexandria, Va. He golfed, walked long distances, worked out regularly, and had a passion for cars. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; and a brother, Gary Mullins.

Fall 2018

John E. Flemming, Jr. ’70, died at his home in South Carolina on Jan. 30. After graduating from Indian Springs School and Birmingham-Southern College, he completed medical school at Tulane University. John practiced family and emergency medicine in Birmingham and other Alabama cities, as well as in Texas and South Carolina. He is survived by his wife, Lilith; brother George (Cathy); sons John III and Frank; stepdaughters Lila and Savannah Cotran; and granddaughter, Summer.

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Jyoti “Jimmy” Singh ’88 passed away on Oct. 28 of congestive heart failure, a consequence of his decades-earlier treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Jimmy was born in Sheffield, England, and lived in many places, including Lucknow, India; London, England; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Memphis, Tenn.; Clearwater, Fla.; and Roanoke, Va. His true home, however, was Birmingham.

After graduating from Indian Springs School, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UAB. He was a licensed airline mechanic and worked in commercial aviation as an avionics specialist. Jimmy was also a voracious reader, a great cook, and a craftsman who could create or fix just about anything, from sculptures to complex machines. He loved to discuss ideas and facts, and never hesitated to voice his opinion.

Inheriting his natural abilities from his dad, Jimmy was an effortless athlete and a talented musician who would pick up and play many instruments, from pig whistle to piano, but his passion was the guitar and he played

it on most days. A devoted and beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend, he will be deeply missed by those who knew him. He is survived by his mother, Shashi; sister, Mona ’85 (Trevor); brother, Rajiv ’86, and nephews, Akash and Vihaan.

Elan Strange ’10 died July 12 after a fiveyear battle with synovial sarcoma. After graduating from Indian Springs, Elan attended the University of Alabama and completed his master’s degree coursework. Creative and inventive, thoughtful and disciplined, he was passionate about science, research, and playing guitar, the latter of which he taught himself to do while a student at Springs. He cherished his relationships with others and wanted to give back in every way he was able. Among his writings, Elan left this quote for his family: “Happiness and purpose are not attained by amassing for oneself what the world has to offer, but by sharing what one has to offer with the world.” Survivors include his mother, Eve; father, Kyle; and sisters, Amory ’12 and Ann. As a tribute to Elan’s love of gardening and Indian Springs’ Fertile Minds Learning Garden, Elan’s family graciously established the Elan Laxer Strange ’10 Garden Fund in his memory; donations will benefit the Fertile Minds Learning Garden.

FAMILY & FRIENDS Judy Abroms OCTOBER 18, 2018

Mother of Jim Abroms ’72 (Louise) and grandmother of Michelle Levin ’98 (Jon), David Abroms ’01, and Sarah Kunin ’04 (Abe) Judy and her husband, Hal—who have been passionate supporters of Springs for many years—created the Andy Abroms Memorial Scholarship Fund in 1997 in memory of their son Andy, who was a member of the Indian Springs School Class of 1977. During the past 20 years, the endowed fund has enriched the lives of more than 300 Indian Springs

students, allowing them to attend meaningful and intellectually challenging summer programs across the country and around the world. The Abroms family’s ongoing support also helped make possible Springs’ new classrooms and recent campus updates.

Indian Springs looks forward to celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Abroms Scholarship Fund during Alumni Weekend 2019.

Neila Cantey Brantley APRIL 9, 2018

Daughter of longtime administrator Frank Cantey (Mildred) Warren Caris APRIL 4, 2018

Grandfather of Henry Bernard ’14 and Miriam Bernard ’15 Dale Woodson Farrior JANUARY 30, 2018

Uncle of Dean of Academics Dr. Tanya Hyatt and brother of longtime staff member Janie Hyatt David Alvin Fleetwood MARCH 5, 2018

Father-in-law of Advancement Associate Peggy Fleetwood Patricia Forrester Horn APRIL 15, 2018

Mother of Randolph Horn ’83 (Francoise); grandmother of Peter M. Horn III ’07 (Natalie Sharkey) and Tennyson Horn ’10; aunt of Jonathan Horn ’75; and great-aunt of Julia Horn ’11 and Kettler Horn ’14 Mary Joyce Bostick Jennings MARCH 10, 2018

Wife of former choral director John Jennings Robert Wilson Johns, Ph.D. MAY 27, 2018

Faculty member (history) from 1958 to 1967 Mary Louise “Bitty” Orcutt Mason MARCH 16, 2018

Mother of Tennis Coach Boo Mason Mollie Virginia Pittman MARCH 30, 2018

Daughter of Dr. William “Bill” Pittman ’70 (Kathy); niece of Craig S. Pittman ’74, Jerry B. Pittman ’76, and Donald S. Pittman ’78; and cousin of Grace Pittman ’09 Marilyn Quarles FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Mother of Leigh Darryl Quarles, M.D. ’71 (Anne) and grandmother of Scott Deason Quarles ’05 (Whitney) Helen Margaret Jean Richards JUDY AND HAL ABROMS

AUGUST 6, 2018

Mother of Dr. Bruce Richards ’73 (Dr. Sherrie Richards)

MICHELLE LUO '10

BELOW: The popular Art Selfie feature of the Google Arts &

Culture app reveals how a picture of your face resembles a historical painting.

ALUM SPOTLIGHT

MICHELLE LUO ’10: AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY Meet the Product Manager of the Google Arts & Culture App computer science. Working with the Google Arts & Culture team allows her to continue exercising both her technological background and creative side, and she encourages others to follow their passions as well.

Her advice to Springs students is “always be exploring, especially experiences that can push you beyond your comfort zone. Sometimes intimidating experiences can also be incredibly rewarding. For example, moving to Paris without knowing a single person here was pretty scary, but it has been a great opportunity to learn about myself, to work on some cool and interesting projects, and to expand my world perspective.”

Currently, Luo and her team are continuing to make improvements to the app, launching Art Selfie worldwide and working to make four million photographs taken by LIFE magazine, most of which were never published, available for viewing, among other projects.

Q: What did you hope to accomplish with this app, especially with young people, and do you think you were successful?

A: The aim of Google Arts & Culture is twofold. First, it gives access to art and culture to everyone, everywhere. Second, we are working with the cultural sector to help them share and preserve cultural content and create exciting cultural experiences with the help of

technology online and in the museums.

The Google Arts & Culture app is an immersive way to experience art, history, culture, and world wonders from over a thousand organizations worldwide for free on iOS and Android. For example, imagine you’re learning about Louis XIV in Dr. Cooper’s class. With Google Arts & Culture, you can visit Versailles to walk around in the Hall of Mirrors or browse the menus of a royal meal.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: At Google Arts & Culture, we are always exploring new ways to bring together art and technology. Recently, we launched Art Selfie worldwide. Thanks to the collaboration of our partner institutions, we have also more than doubled the number of artworks previously available so you can be matched with tens of thousands of portraits. Another recent project from our team is “Please Feed the Lions,” an interactive public sculpture in Trafalgar Square in London. When you “fed” the lion a word, that word was expanded instantly into a line of poetry lit up inside the Lion’s mouth, accompanied by a choral roar.

—Abigail Shepherd ’19, Editor,

The Woodward Post

Indian Springs

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD

have had a chance to find their doppelgänger in a famous work of art thanks to the Google Arts & Culture app. Since the app launched earlier this year, more than 78 million selfies have been taken through its popular Art Selfie feature, says product manager Michelle Luo ’10. “We were honestly quite surprised that it became as popular as it did,” she says. “We built the feature as an experiment for people to connect with and discover pieces of art they might not have otherwise, so we are delighted to see so many people enjoying their matches.”

The app aims to connect people to art and culture through high-resolution images of artwork in 1,500 partner museums all over the world. Luo played a significant role in the development of the app, working closely with software engineers, product designers, and many others on her team in Paris, France.

Since her days at Indian Springs, she has enjoyed being “at the intersection of art and technology.” Luo appreciated Springs’ emphasis on interdisciplinary studies. “Springs is very encouraging of exploring areas that you are passionate about and building your own path.

I loved that I was able to take classes like music ensemble and music theory while at the same time I was able to take two math classes a year.” As an undergraduate at Harvard, she built upon that foundation, performing ballet while majoring in

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

LASTING TIES

Alumni Weekend 2018 INDIAN SPRINGS WAS DELIGHTED to welcome more than 300 alumni and their family members home April 19–22 to reunite with classmates, catch up with faculty, visit the campus, and reminisce about their days at Springs. Highlights included the annual Alumni-Faculty Reception, reunion parties for classes ending in “8” and “3,” the presentation of the Outstanding Alum Award to clinical psychologist and social activist Lara Embry ’87, and special festivities honoring the 50th reunion of Springs’ Class of ’68.

Fall 2018

2018 Outstanding Alum Lara Embry ’87

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Billy Mack Stinson ’59, Charles Robinson ’59, Jerry Lanning ’59, William Fowler III ’59

CLASS OF ’93 REUNION PARTY

ABOVE: Class of ’78 reunion party; LEFT: Rachel Hirsch Schneider ’03 and Alumni Council

President Annie Damsky ’98

Lydia Burn, Sam Burn ’88, John Michael Bodnar ’88, Athletic Director Greg Van Horn

Alison Goldstein Lebovitz ’88, Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell, Director of Strategy and Special Projects Lauren Wainwright ’88, Parents Association President Elise May Frohsin ’88, Aye Unnoppet ’88

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2018 PHOTO GALLERY See all photos from Alumni Weekend 2018 at: www.indianspringsschool. smugmug.com/Alumni

CLASS OF ’03 REUNION PARTY

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2019

Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell, Faculty Emeritus Mac Fleming

Board member Hanson Slaughter ’90, Amanda Adams ’79, and Johnny Creel ’79

We look forward to welcoming you home!

Indian Springs

APRIL 25–28

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

LASTING TIES

Directors’ Dinner 2018

Fall 2018

INDIAN SPRINGS KICKED OFF Alumni Weekend 2018 by thanking more than 125 alumni, parents, and friends for their commitment to the school. “Thank you for recognizing how important annual giving is,” said Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell. “Your generosity includes not only treasure but also time, talent, energy, and thoughtful involvement.” The event, held April 19 at the Southern Museum of Flight, also honored outgoing Chairman of the Board Libby Pantazis for her service and contributions to the school since 2001. “Libby’s joyful, ebullient, candid, and generous enthusiasm for her work, her world, justice, and Indian Springs School has been stunning and inspiring to me,” said Howell.

“The pleasure of working with Libby on both fun things and incredibly difficult ones comes, for me, from the deep respect I have for her as a strong woman, a strong leader, and a creative, passionate, just person. It knows no bounds.”

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FROM TOP LEFT: Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell

welcomes guests to the 2018 Directors’ Dinner.

Outgoing Chairman of the Board Libby Pantazis speaks with Board member Gail Andrews and Ben Cohen ’68. Tom ’60 and Diane Gamble with Board member Catherine McLean. Margaret and Bruce Alexander.

Eric and Sharonda Childs Fancher ’03 and W.C. Bass ’97

Dr. Glenn Fleisig and Board member Dr. Clara Chung Fleisig

Outgoing Chairman of the Board Libby Pantazis with former Chairman Bill Slaughter ’56

Kent Haines ’03 and Andrea Engel Haines ’03, Emily Hess ’01 and Bob Levine

Frank Samford ’62, Barbara and Bill Viar ’62

See all photos from our 2018 Directors’ Dinner at: www.indianspringsschool. smugmug.com/Alumni Tom Howell, Janet and Joe Simonetti ’75, Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell, Diana Slaughter

Your commitment keeps Springs strong!

Indian Springs

DIRECTORS’ DINNER 2018 PHOTO GALLERY

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

Celebrating Our Newest Graduates SEVENTY-SIX SENIORS became Indian Springs School alumni on May 25 at the school’s 64th Graduation Exercises held on the Town Hall lawn overlooking Springs’ iconic lake. Speakers celebrated the lessons they have learned during their time here and the people—faculty, family members, and fellow students—who have made those lessons possible. Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell told graduates and more than 750 attendees what an honor it has been to spend the past two years with “these inspiring students.” “You will always own what you did and said and accomplished here,” she said. “I hope you will always recognize the soul and happy genius of this place as you yourselves take to the open road to become who you will be. Springs will abide here and will always be your home.”

“Springs is not just about our rigorous academics, delicious brownies, or the bell on top of the dining hall. It teaches us how to be humans. Humans who care deeply about each other and the community here and beyond.”

—YUNFEI “CHER” HU ’18

“For the first time we won’t be able to say ‘ See you next year.’ This time, goodbye means something different.”

—SPRING 2018 MAYOR NATHAN FISHER ’18

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CLASS OF 2018 COLLEGE MATRICULATIONS

Photos by Quez Shipman

“That’s what’s special about Springs. Even if you just plan on going with the flow, you get dragged into a whirlpool of participation. You do things without really thinking, but over time, you become passionate about contributing something.” —FALL 2017 MAYOR MARK ROMERO ’18

]

c Faculty Emeritus Ma 18 20 the ted sen Fleming pre Awards ss ne are Aw l ua irit Sp Peter Scalise ’18. to Bela Patel ’18 and ates in memory Given by their classm ss ’63 and rni Fu y of Allan Le Vo , the awards ’68 s rtu Ka rry Ba rt Robe dignity, of s tie ali honor the qu d humanitarianism, an ss. ne are aw l spiritua

“While I was aimlessly walking, I came across many breaths of Indian Springs that reaffirmed my decision to be here. It was the place that piqued my interest but the people that made me stay.”

—BELA PATEL ’18

Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell presented the 2018 Leadership Award to Peter Scalise ’18. The award is given by the faculty in memory of Charles Jordan McDavid Jr. ’58 on the basis of exemplary leadership and character exhibited through participation in student activities.

Sewanee: The University of the South Southern Methodist University Spring Hill College The University of Alabama The University of Alabama in Huntsville The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tufts University Tulane University University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of North Alabama University of Oxford University of Pennsylvania University of Puget Sound University of South Alabama University of Southern California University of Washington Villanova University Virginia Tech Wesleyan University

GRADUATION 2018 PHOTO GALLERY Enjoy all photos from Graduation 2018 at https://indianspringsschool. smugmug.com/Students Congratulations to all our graduates and their families!

Indian Springs

Head of Sc hool Dr. Sharon Howell pre sented the inaugu ral Libby Pa ntazis Awar to Mark Ro d mero ’18. T he award w established as in spring 20 18 in honor outgoing C of hairman of the Board Li Pantazis P ’0 bby 3, ’06, ’09.

Recipients be selected will by th basis of exem e faculty on the plary dedic ation, joy, and pas sion in serv ice to the scho ol.

Auburn University Boston College Bryn Mawr College Centre College College of William and Mary Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University Earlham College Eckerd College Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College Haverford College Kent State University Lipscomb University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Maryland Loyola University New Orleans Mills College New York University Occidental College Oxford College of Emory University Pennsylvania State University Pitzer College Pomona College Princeton University Purdue University Queen’s University Rhodes College Rice University Samford University Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art and Design

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

NOTES FROM COLLEGE Ambitious and inspired, the Class of 2018 set their sights far and wide for college. Seventy-five students matriculated to 62 different colleges and universities, including two outside the United States. Here, we check in with a few members of the class to see how their experiences at Springs have prepared them for college life. —Amelia Johnson

Amy Li

Mark Romero

Amy is majoring in Health and

Mark is considering majoring in biology or chemistry and following the premed track at UPenn. He has been enjoying participating in his dorm’s study of infectious diseases residential program, the Penn Alzheimer’s Buddies group that sends students to spend time with dementia patients every week, and the Penn Philippine Association cultural club.

Human Sciences and minoring in Cinema-Television for the Health Professions at the University of Southern California. This fall, she has joined the Pre-Pharmacy Society, Christian Challenge, and Trojan Tennis Club. She also gives tours to prospective students as a USC Admission Ambassador.

I really appreciate how Springs establishes an environment that encourages students to reach out to teachers and advisors whenever they need help and to take advantage of resources available.

As a result, now in college, I’m not afraid to ask my professors for help because Springs has taught me to be proactive on my own education, and at a large college like USC, proactiveness is crucial. I also appreciate how Springs emphasizes critical thinking and writing skills, as my writing course teacher commented a couple of weeks ago that I must have had “really great writing teachers in high school.”

A couple of things that I learned from Springs that I’ve really been appreciating as a college freshman are the necessity of managing my time and the importance of adventuring outside my comfort zone. Really, those two things are very deeply connected because effective time management allows me to consider interesting opportunities around me, take risks, and develop myself at my own pace.

Sonia has not yet declared her major but is taking French 313, Philosophy 101, Art History, and English 101. She is enjoying the French program and plans to be involved in Sewanee’s French House.

Evan has not yet declared his major at Princeton but is currently taking Calculus II; Intro to Ancient Philosophy; Classical Mythology; and Musical Instruments, Sound, Perception, and Creativity.

Extracurricularly, he is taking jazz piano lessons and playing Ultimate Frisbee and has joined the Classics Club.

Springs has prepared me very well for Sewanee. The Learning through Living motto has taught me to take chances by voicing ideas that I have in class without second-guessing myself. By learning through living in my day-to-day life as a college student, I am a lot more comfortable in putting myself out there. Moreover, the academic rigor of Springs has made the college workload a lot less overwhelming. I feel like my workload is doable, and thanks to Springs, it gets done with quality.

The most important insight that I took away from Springs is that it’s up to me to take control of my own education. Springs taught me that if I am interested in something, it’s up to me to find or create that niche for myself. I started the Jazz Club because I wanted an outlet to learn more about jazz, and found time to pursue Music Theory with Dr. Jung even though it didn’t fit in my schedule. I feel fortunate that Springs is a place that really encourages and facilitates its students’ exploration of individual interests.

Fall 2018

Sonia Gueye

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Photos by Gary Clark

Evan Brandon

Peter plans to major in math at Dartmouth, where he’s currently taking a math course, Intro to German, and a freshman writing seminar focused on selected works from the Western Canon. He has joined the Glee Club, Outing Club, and Coffee Club. He’s also considering getting involved with the Dartmouth Woodsmen’s team, a lumberjack team that competes against other Northeastern school lumberjack teams. (“I swear it’s a real thing!” says Peter.)

My Springs education greatly reduced the difficulty of transitioning to college. The rigor of courses and emphasis on writing at Springs minimized the academic aspect of the transition, and the amount of freedom Springs trusts its students with allowed me to develop the necessary discipline to stay on top of my academic and extracurricular obligations.

Honestly, I think winter here may be the only thing where my experience at Springs won’t help me.

Alice Zhang Alice attends Oxford University and is a member of the Oxford Law Society. This fall, she and a friend are preparing to try out for the beginners ballroom dance team! She has also signed up to try clay pigeon shooting (“but I doubt that that’s going to go very far,” she says.)

The law and ethics electives at Springs greatly prepared me for my degree in law, as it gave me exposure to foundational texts in Western legal thinking and helped me get accustomed to covering large amounts of material in a short amount of time, while picking out what is important.

Carter Gache Carter is a freshman at UC Berkeley, where he is majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He has been accepted to the Berkeley Hyperloop team, which develops scale models of a system that “will most likely change the way we travel here in the United States in the next decade or so,” says Carter. He is also involved in the UAV Club, a student organization dedicated to providing a central resource for unmanned aerial vehicle development and flight at UC Berkeley.

I would say for starters that the culture at Indian Springs has a very similar environment to Berkeley. I know many people experience culture shock when moving here; however, due to my time at Springs I was quite comfortable. I believe that is in part because of the culture of free thought, the pursuit of excellence, and the mindset that learning does not occur just in the classroom that Indian Springs fosters. Furthermore, all the technology-based courses I took at Indian Springs have proved to be invaluable. Every class I have taken thus far has required me to use my computer science skills. From coding in Python, to logging into a server via the terminal line, Dr. Gray and Mr. Belser’s class material has all been very relevant. I would be in a drastically different spot if it weren’t for their teaching.

Indian Springs

Peter Scalise

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

CLASS OF ’68 50TH REUNION PARTY

CLASS OF ’68 MARKS ITS 50TH REUNION WITH A SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Fall 2018

By Martin Damsky ’68

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I HAD BEEN IN SCHOOL WITH FRIENDS for nine years—from nursery school—when my parents said to me, “You should apply to Indian Springs.” While I was a good student, my first reaction was, “I don’t want to; I want to stay with my friends.” But they encouraged me to give it a try, I received a boarding scholarship for my 10th grade year, and from the start, I found that Indian Springs was a good environment for me, as it has been for so many others.

CECILIA MATTHEWS Looking back, I would say without hesitation that AND MARTIN Indian Springs was the single most formative experience DAMSKY ’68 of my life. The school taught me to think creatively. It instilled confidence in me. Because of its small size, even though I’m not a great athlete, I was able to play on the Basketball Team.

I served on Student Government as a Commissioner of Services. (In those days, that job included driving trucks into town to take fellow students to doctor’s appointments.) I learned to write—to be concise and to draw on an ever-expanding reservoir of knowledge—and, most importantly, I learned to edit myself. This helped me all through college, of course, but also through my career as a businessperson.

As it still does today, being a boarding student completely enmeshed me in the life of the school. When I went to Penn for college, while some around me were crashing and burning, I felt prepared both academically and from the standpoint of being able to think, live, and function independently. Thirty years later, the same held true for my daughter, Annie, who is now serving as Alumni Council president. Her ongoing attachment to the school mirrors my own. I’m convinced that her 2½-year-

old daughter will be tearing up the place one day.

Of the 42 members of Indian Springs’ Class of 1968, 28 alumni and the widows of two graduates gathered last April to celebrate the class’s 50th reunion. We wanted it to be much more than a 15-minute conversation at a reunion party, so we attended the Thursday night Directors’ Dinner as a group; we gathered with Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell for a Friday morning 50th reunion panel discussion; we toured the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute together Saturday. And before our 50th reunion brunch on Sunday, we honored the members of our class who are no longer with us by planting memorial trees outside Town Hall.

After seeing one another and spending the weekend reminiscing, we were all ready to re-enroll. It was obvious that there is a deep-felt and emotional attachment for this special place that endures through the years.

For our class, this commitment also meant coming together to create the Class of ’68 Scholarship Fund. The fund will ensure that future students will have the opportunity that many of us had: to attend Indian Springs on scholarship. We are aiming for at least $250,000 and have so far raised $207,500 with gifts ranging from $250 to $25,000. And we’re not giving up—we’re exploring bequests and looking at making annual contributions to reach our goal.

My hope for the Class of ’68 Scholarship Fund is that it sets a new norm for Indian Springs’ 50th Reunion Classes: a 50th Class Gift that reflects each class’s deep appreciation for the excellent start that Indian Springs has given us and, with our help, will continue to provide for years to come.

50 Years Later: Members of the Class of ’68 Henry McHenry, Bob Lipson, Robert Loeb, and Frank Morring formed a panel during Alumni Weekend 2018 to share thoughts about what Springs was like in 1968, and how the school has both changed and stayed the same. BELOW LEFT: John Mayo ’68, Tim Knight ’68, Jim Randall ’68, and Bob McDonough ’68 at the 50th reunion party. BELOW RIGHT: Ben Cohen ’68, Martin Damsky ’68, Bob Lipson ’68, and Frank Morring ’68 at the 2018 Alumni-Faculty Reception.

“Looking back, I would say without hesitation that Indian Springs was the single most formative experience of my life.”

­—Martin Damsky ’68

Photo by Michael Sheehan

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During this special season and throughout the year, we are grateful for your support.

Thank you for including Indian Springs School in your year-end giving. www.IndianSprings.org/makeagift