Issuu

75th Anniversary of

New Mascot

Class of 2026

Celebrating the

Kinkaid

Kinkaid Book Fair

Welcomed

2025-2026

page

34 The Campaign that has forever changed the landscape, experience, and future of The Kinkaid School.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

2025-2026 Board of Trustees

Chair

Evan H. Katz

InterimVice Chair

Bethel M. Quander

Trustees

May 31, 2026

Dear Kinkaid Community,

After six years of proudly serving as your Head of School, I have decided to pursue other opportunities and priorities. This was a prayerful, difficult decision made squarely with my family in mind. I remember applying to Kinkaid seven years ago because, yes, my wife is a Houston native, but really because of Kinkaid’s stellar reputation and Margaret Kinkaid’s four Core Values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Kindness. That North Star made my tenure at Kinkaid immeasurably exhilarating, sometimes challenging, and above all, deeply meaningful.

I am proud of the well-defined legacy I leave at Kinkaid. Most importantly, I brought a fractured community together again, navigating the School through COVID-19 and social justice challenges as well as shepherding our community through a student suicide and the deaths of two Kinkaid students and one aluma in the Kerr County Flood. With regards to fundraising and infrastructure, I was at the forefront of Kinkaid’s historic ALL IN Campaign which has raised more than $200M, successfully balancing major construction on our campus for five years while delivering our full mission; in addition, the Kinkaid Fund set a record each of the six years I have been at Kinkaid. Programmatically, I led Kinkaid through our successful ISAS ten-year reaccreditation; created a Communication Department for Kinkaid, including strategic branding, messaging and marketing, weekly community newsletters (The Falcon

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

Flyer), and podcasts (The Perch) as well as a daily social media presence for Kinkaid, including my Head of School Instagram with almost 5,000 followers; introduced the thriving and impactful L.E. Simmons Family Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance, the Sheedy Family Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and the McGuyer Family Center for Wellbeing and Success; and most recently, led Kinkaid through a year-long (2025-2026) Strategic Plan process which will guide Kinkaid’s path forward for the next five years. Simply said, I’m leaving Kinkaid better than I found it.

Above these milestones, my relationships, mentoring, and collaboration with the talented senior administration team, the faculty, staff, students, and parents are what I will carry with me. I am so grateful to have served as your Head of School, and I will continue to pray for and cheer on our Kinkaid community from afar. Talons up, forever! With love,

Jonathan Eades Head of School, July 2020 - May 2026

Meredith Hopson Beaupre ’98 Brandt C. Bowden ’96 Jessica Kilbourne Brazelton Annette E. Brissett Stephanie Aliquo Cockrell Kenneth D. Cowan Edwin H. Frank III ’68 Ashley Morgan Hanna ’93 Michael Edwin Hanson Jr. ’00 Ed Harris, Ex-Officio J. Boyd Heath III Lisa N. Helfman ’93 Helena Papdopoulos Johnson ’82 Elyse Spector Kalmans ’87 Charles Berdon Lawrence Jr. ’96 Alicia Diane Lee ’98 Cecil J. Looke III Steven P. Mach Billy McCartney Michael K. Oldham Lavannya Raman Pandit ’92 Elisa Stude Pye John R. Rutherford Carlos A. Solé III Eno E. Ukpong Neil A. Wizel

Life Trustees

E. Staman Ogilvie Thomas M. Simmons William M. Wheless III

Life Trustees Emeriti

Linda Andrews John B. Beckworth O. Holcombe Crosswell Stewart Cureton Jr. Frances Hopper Jeter ’74 Mary Nell Jeffers Lovett ’63 Walter G. Mayfield ’81 Stuart Yudofsky

Trustees Emeriti

T. Dan Friedkin C. Berdon Lawrence Corbin J. Robertson Jr. David M. Weekley Eugene Werlin Jr. as of 6/15/26

2 02 5 – 2 02 6

THE KINKAID MAGAZINE IS A PUBLICATION OF THE KINKAID SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION: Ed Harris Head of School

Peter Behr Associate Head of School Goldie Arriola Director of Human Resources Krista Babine Head of Lower School Charlie Gramatges Head of Middle School Alex Spencer Head of Upper School Iris Bonet Director of Admission and Enrollment Management Laura Lomax-Bream Director of Center for Wellbeing and Success Peggy England Director of Strategic Communication David Holm Director of Athletics and Physical Education

FEATURES 6

The Nest Just Got Louder

75 Years of Stories: Celebrating Our Book Fair Legacy

Weighing AI's Environmantal Impact

ALL IN Campaign Transforms Campus Life

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS 58

Breaking Free: A Year of Creative Liberation

ATHLETICS

Falcons Continue to Soar into 2026

2025-2026 Season Recap

Prom 2026: A Night in the Big Apple

Honor Day Awards

22 @thekinkaidschool

Joanne Margraves Chief Financial Officer Bridget Hennessey Director of Advancement Mujidat Shotonwa Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

OFFICE OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION: Colten Boyles

CELEBRATING OUR SENIORS

Web and Social Media Manager Mike Marrie

Matriculations

Digital Media Manager

What I Would Tell My Freshman Self

Megan Snodgrass

Spotlight: Bontha Sisters

Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Kinkaid School

Content and Design Manager Photography contributed by:

ALUMNI NEWS

@kinkaidschool

Scott Lambert Director of Visual and Performing Arts

Vinnie Vrotny Director of Innovation and Technology

AROUND CAMPUS Space City Showdown! Kinkaid Field Day 2026!

Ed Jordan Director of Facilities

The Kinkaid School

David Shutts ’74

Design contributed by: Scott Crosier of Cloud 9 Creative

as of 6/11/26

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THE

O O H C S D I KINKA

ay D t Firs hool c of S

The Kinkaid School

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The Kinkaid School

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The Nest Just Got Louder! An Exciting New Leadership Opportunity for Upper School! C A R T E R M E S E R V E ’2 9

The History of Kinkaid's Feathered Friend

JOHN ROVELL Archivist and Librarian A new student leadership program has started in the Upper School, and this one is full of spirit. Organized under the Student Affairs committee of the Governing Council, Upper School students can now apply to be the longtime Kinkaid mascot, Freddy the Falcon. Freddy can be seen at events such as football games, pep rallies, Book Fair, Field Day, the art car parade, and other campus events. The new mascot program aims to boost interest in portraying Freddy among the high school students.

Applying to be Freddy the Falcon has become a formal process that includes an announcement to the student body. “Our mascot is the falcon, so having someone in the costume and starting a new tradition is a good thing to do,” Upper School Director of Student Life & Engagement Mrs. Erica Baker said.

The selection committee is looking for a student who is interested in becoming the mascot and who values school spirit. “We want someone who thinks about how they could use the mascot to boost school spirit and school pride,” said Mrs. Baker, adding that Kinkaid’s core values should also be represented. The name of the student who becomes the mascot would stay anonymous and through the application process, different students could become Freddy, giving multiple students opportunities to get in the costume.

“Sometimes people can act out towards that person," Mrs. Baker said. "Keeping Freddy anonymous also keeps the fun in it. It keeps things exciting and keeps students guessing who it could be.” The presence of Freddy at school events impacts both Upper School and younger students.

“When younger students see Freddy coming, it brightens their day and makes them smile. They love interacting with Freddy. It definitely increases excitement and enthusiasm, especially if we can get Freddy involved and interacting with people,” Mrs. Baker said. This article first appeared in Issue 2, Vol. 80 of “The Falcon,” Kinkaid’s student magazine.

The Kinkaid School

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The early mascots of Kinkaid were all statues. The first one that we have a record of dates from Kinkaid's first year at the Memorial campus in 1957. The unnamed Falcon statue was made by the female students and was painted gold. The freshmen boys were often asked to guard the Falcon for big games and were very devoted.

In 1979, Head of School John Cooper was gifted a new seven foot tall purple Falcon statue named Captain John. It became a mainstay of Kinkaid athletics for 7 years. In 1986, on the eve of the annual Kinkaid vs. St. John’s football game, some students from St. John's School broke into the student center, where Captain John was kept, to steal him as a prank. The statue was so large that they were unable to get him out of the doors and in the process broke one of his legs. The size of the mascot as well as the extent of the damage was such that Captain John was retired. His head was preserved and now lives in the Kinkaid Archives. After the retirement of Captain John, it was decided that costumes would be a better and more portable solution. The first photograph of our feathered friend’s costume is from 1994.

The most recent version of the mascot design before our current one begins to take shape the following year. In the 2010s, the mascot received the name Freddy the Falcon which is what he is known by today.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

20th Annual Alumni Leadership Day "It’s a privilege to participate in Alumni Leadership Day and reconnect with Kinkaid. The conversations with students are thoughtful and energizing, and it’s rewarding to play a small role in helping them explore what’s possible beyond Kinkaid." - Greg Labanowski ’13 - Manager, Global Innovation & External Partnerships, Nike

"I love returning for Alumni Leadership Day because it’s such a meaningful way to stay connected to the Kinkaid community and give back in a tangible way. I especially enjoy connecting with current students and serving as a resource for those navigating less traditional paths, particularly in the arts. As someone who was deeply involved in the arts at Kinkaid, I find it incredibly rewarding to share my experience and offer encouragement for what it can look like as they look beyond Kinkaid's four walls. Speaking to this year’s Arts & Entertainment panel, I thought it brought together a great range of perspectives, which made for engaging and insightful conversations amongst both the panel and the students. It’s also always the cherry on top of the day to reconnect with fellow alumni and see how the campus continues to grow, and I always look forward to participating in this event whenever I’m able." - Katherine Cunningham ’09 Associate Director of Signature Events, Houston Grand Opera “Alumni Leadership Day is always such a wonderful event because it truly showcases how amazing the Kinkaid community is. I remember being in the students’ same position as a senior, unsure of who I was or what I wanted to do. Coming back to share my journey, how I navigated college and post-grad life, and what led me to what I do now, and to offer advice was really meaningful. It speaks to how impactful Kinkaid is and how we continue to uplift and support one another across classes.” - Katelyn Gamble ’20 - Data Impact and Governance Intern, MD Anderson

“Alumni Leadership Day holds a special place in my heart — it's where I landed my first internship from a panelist who became a mentor and friend who I still keep up with today. Now in my sixth year participating, I'm continually impressed by how engaged and curious Kinkaid students are. It's truly a rewarding experience for everyone involved.” - Elizabeth Robinson Kendrick ’07 - Director, Enterprise Change Management, Phillips 66 “This was my first year coming back for Alumni Leadership Day. It was inspiring to meet so many high caliber students interested in pursuing a challenging degree career path in engineering. I really enjoyed telling my story, answering insightful questions, and generally being able to shed light on the different avenues an engineering degree can take you down.” - Will Arcidiacono ’11 - Vice President, EnCap Flatrock Midstream

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

L OW E R SCHOOL

Super Readers Take Flight

The Kinkaid School

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Halloween Parade

BUILDING COMMUNITY

UPPER SCHOOL

2025 Homecoming

Homecoming Court Miller Crosswell ’26 Dain Dakri ’26 Lucy Dannenbaum ’26 Cameron Dillon ’26 Grace Essalih ’26 Olivia Hamilton ’26

Harris Kirmani ’26 Daniel Krasny ’26 Victoria Oderich ’26 Courtney Whittaker ’26 Ethan Williams ’26 Humza Yousuf ’26

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

T R A DI T ION & T R I U M PH:

Kinkaid vs. St. John's 38-14 Kinkaid Victory

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

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The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

75 Y E A R S OF S TOR I E S :

Celebrating Our Book Fair Legacy

he 75th Annual Kinkaid Book Fair, held November 9th–11th, 2025, was a tremendous success! This year, Book Fair returned to its home in the Melcher Gymnasium and the fabulous new Athletic Complex, where the space was transformed into an exquisitely curated bookstore featuring a one-of-a-kind Kinkaid Boutique. More than 200 parent volunteers, beloved school librarians, and dedicated Kinkaid staff members helped bring this cherished school-wide tradition to life.

Book Fair kicked off on a Sunday evening with Family Night, where families enjoyed dinner catered by Moderno Tacos + Tex Mex and dessert graciously donated by CRAVE Cupcakes. Parents, grandparents, students, faculty, staff, and friends enjoyed three days of shopping among thousands and thousands of carefully curated books. This beloved community event promoted literacy

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

across all divisions while raising important funds for Kinkaid’s three outstanding libraries.

This year’s Book Fair featured an exceptional and diverse lineup of visiting authors. Lower School and Middle School students enjoyed special assemblies and classroom visits with acclaimed author Susan Hood. Upper School welcomed celebrated authors Marc Gregson and Celeste Connally, while Kinkaid faculty authors Kristen Bird and Angélique Jamail shared their literary talents with the community. We were also thrilled to host Kinkaid parent Karen Fang, Kinkaid parent and grandparent Jim Pierce, and alumni authors Anthony Gonzales ’91, Elizabeth Knapp ’92, Jehan Madhani ’11, Walker Peacock ’91, and Elizabeth Reed ’01 during this year’s festivities. In addition, Book Fair proudly showcased works by Kinkaid student authors Audrey Koo ’26

BUILDING COMMUNITY

T H E H I S TORY OF BOOK FA I R AT K I N K A I D

JOHN ROVELL Archivist and Librarian

The Kinkaid Book Fair has its roots in the tradition of “Library Week” started by Mrs. Kinkaid upon moving into the Richmond Campus in 1924. Students would bring books to school to sell to one another, and the proceeds would be used to buy books for the Kinkaid Library.

Mrs. Kinkaid was committed to students participating in providing books for their library. During this week, books on a variety of topics were studied in class, and discussions on the writing and printing of books were also conducted.

However, this tradition was discontinued during World War II due to paper shortages that made the buying of books expensive and difficult. There was not another book sale at Kinkaid until 1951, when John Cooper, with the support of parent volunteers, began the version of Book Fair that we know today. Book Fairs in the beginning were focused less on the fundraising aspect of the event and

Book Fair 1994

were more a chance to emphasize books and literacy. Books were furnished by local bookstores and department stores, and the events were arranged around themes such as 1966’s “Our Underwater World.” Students writing in the December 1951 issue of The Falcon stated, “Because of the success of the fair, we all hope it will become an annual project.” Years later, 74 to be exact, that hope has come to pass as the Kinkaid Book Fair has become a central community event and a prime fundraiser for our three libraries.

Book Fair 2011

John Cooper at Book Fair in the 1950s

and Anna Nguyen ’28. Their contributions highlighted the creativity and literary spirit that continue to thrive within the Kinkaid family.

Book Fair also hosted the 4th Annual Community Service Project supporting KIPP Journey Primary. A designated selection of 300 high-interest books were donated to support the KIPP Journey Primary library, helping to expand access to engaging, high-quality reading materials for young learners in the community. We were also thrilled to have the return of the Coffeehouse Stage, which featured Kinkaid artists throughout Book Fair. Performances—including a phenomenal flash mob—helped make the event a truly community-wide celebration.

Book Fair 1988

In honor of the 75th anniversary of Book Fair, we were also excited to host a special gathering for Past Book Fair Chairs and Past Kinkaid Librarians, who came together for a celebratory coffee in the Lawrence Family Alumni Center as part of this milestone year.

Chaired by Caren Schmulen Sweetland ’91, Theresa Le, and Stephanie Evans ’94, the 75th Annual Kinkaid Book Fair was truly one for the books. Thank you to the many volunteers, families, faculty, staff, and supporters who continue to make this treasured Kinkaid tradition such a special success year after year.

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

F ROM C L A S S ROOM TO COM M U N I T Y:

Learning Through Service, Growing Through Connection KACIE HORTON Upper School Director of Service Learning

“

My time on CSLC has been a collection of meaningful experiences. From my first event, playing basketball and frisbee with Afghan refugees, to leading projects and watching my peers create art with neurodiverse children, each opportunity has reminded me of the transformative power of service and the ways we can contribute to the broader community. CSLC has enabled me to spread our mission of service and leave an impact that will last long after I graduate. Lia Zitvar ’26

”

At Kinkaid, service learning is about building genuine relationships and learning alongside our community partners. In Upper School, we emphasize reciprocity: our students engage in meaningful exchanges where everyone learns and grows together. Our approach centers on interacting with and learning from community members. When students work directly with community partners, they develop skills and gain insights that deepen their classroom learning. The Community Service Leadership Council, CSLC, connects our students with organizations across Houston, creating experiences that are both impactful and transformative. We want our students to see themselves as active contributors to a better society. Service learning at Kinkaid is about discovering your role in the community and understanding that we all have something to offer and something to learn from one another.

Kinkaid students are forming real relationships, learning directly from community members, and discovering things about themselves and the world that transform how they show up in their lives. Any student can organize a service event at Kinkaid, and CSLC supports students in creating these opportunities. What we see time and again is that students develop new skills, a deeper understanding, and a genuine commitment to being part of the solution in building a better society.

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

“ ”

BUILDING COMMUNITY

5TH GRADE COMMUNITY SERVICE 2025-2026 This year, the 5th graders showed a strong commitment to giving back through several meaningful community service projects. In support of Depelchin Children’s Center, they assembled 144 grocery bags filled with food to help families celebrate Thanksgiving, ensuring many could enjoy a warm holiday meal. Continuing their efforts with Depelchin, the students also created 144 Valentine’s gift bags to brighten the day of children in Depelchin's care. Additionally, the class partnered with Small Steps Nurturing, where they designed and hand-crafted 256 ABC coloring books, combining creativity and service to support early childhood learning. Through these projects, the 5th graders demonstrated compassion, teamwork, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact in their community.

We are grateful for all of our Falcons who showcase our Core Values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Kindness outside of our gates.

K I N K A I D COM M U N I T Y PA RT N E R S

UPPER SCHOOL ACEing Autism Angela House Arab American Cultural & Community Center The Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA) Asia Society Texas Center Back to Eden BakerRipley Bayou City Art Festival Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Houston Public Library Foundation: Friends of HPL Book Warehouse Books Between Kids The Brookwood Community Camp For All Combined Arms Compudopt Czech Center Museum Houston Easter Seals of Greater Houston

Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary Education Française Greater Houston Fabric Forge Filipino Young Professionals of Houston Galveston Bay Foundation Generation One Gulfton Community Youth Orchestra Harris County Pets Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry Hermann Park Conservancy Hope Stone, Inc. SEARCH’s House of Tiny Treasures Houston Botanic Garden Houston Children’s Charity Houston Food Bank Houston Humane Society Chevron Houston Marathon - Athletes with Disabilities (AWD)

My favorite memory of CSLC was attending my first event, Bocce Ball. I really appreciated the opportunity to help those in need, even if it was just making one day a little brighter for them. That experience inspired me to become more involved in community service and sparked my interest in joining the council. Anna Busa ’26

Houston Parks Board Houston Pets Alive! Houston Tennis Association Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston John Fontaine Jr. Charity BrainAbouts Program KIPP Public Charter Schools Kolter Elementary School Letting Everyone Achieve Dreams (LEAD) Literacy Now Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM) Mark White Elementary School Memorial Park Conservancy Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Mission of Yahweh Montrose Grace Place MECA Houston (Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts)

Nehemiah Neighborhood Center Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry PAIR Houston (Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees) Plant it Forward Reach Unlimited Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services Small Steps Nurturing Center SoléAna Stables Special Olympics Special Pets St. Anne De Beaupre Church SBP - St. Bernard Project The Beacon The River - Theater Under the Stars (TUTS) The Texas Ramp Project The Westview School Tony’s Place Urban Harvest Westbury Community Garden

Wings to Win TX

MIDDLE SCHOOL Depelchin Children’s Center (5th) Small Steps Nurturing (5th) East Spring Branch Food Pantry Houston Food Bank Kids’ Meals Mission of Yahweh Undies for Everyone Turtle Island Restoration Network

LOWER SCHOOL Brighter Bites Citizens for Animal Protection Kids' Meals KIPP Public Charter Schools Small Steps Nurturing Center Tiger Trail Early Childhood Center, SBISD The Beacon

Faris Strong Giving is an important partnership between The Faris Foundation and The Kinkaid School. The Faris Foundation’s primary goals are to support childhood cancer research, provide creative arts programs at children’s cancer centers, and engage the public to build awareness around childhood cancer. A Forever Falcon, Faris Virani ’24 passed away in January of 2017 after a courageous battle with Ewing sarcoma. One of his wishes was for his Kinkaid friends to help children in the broader Houston community. The Foundation places their values – Faris’ words – into action through their work.

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

HOO C S D I A K KIN

g n i t a r b e l Ce Diverse Our ltures Cu THE

Culture Fest

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Night

Culture Fest

Holi and Basant Festival

The Kinkaid School

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BUILDING COMMUNITY

Holi and Basant Festival

Ramadan Luncheon

Middle School Jewish Heritage Club Seder Luncheon

Celebration of African American Heritage and Culture

Hispanic Heritage Night 2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

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CHO UPPER S

m i r e Int 6 2 0 2 rm

The Kinkaid School

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The Kinkaid School

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M E X ICO & MOROCCO

International Fair

Lead Chair Lindsay Schmulen

Mexico Chairs Sara Jane Howell, Alyssa Skarke

Morocco Chairs Yuemi An-Grogan, Lauren Griffin

The Kinkaid School

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BUILDING COMMUNITY

PROM 2026

A Night in the Big Apple Prom Chairs Kelly Beeler, Allison Crosswell

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The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

S PAC E C I T Y S HOW DOW N !

Kinkaid Field Day 2026!

Kinkaid celebrated the 101st Field Day on April 23, 2026. This campus-wide celebration remains a favorite tradition for students, parents, and alumni alike. This year’s Space City Showdown theme was a fun nod to our Houston roots of sports and space, and to the spirit of Kinkaid with its traditional activities such as the Purple v. Gold showdown at field events, the carnival on Kayem Family Falcon Green, and the calling of our Out-of-this-World Raffle by Head of School Jonathan Eades.

Field Day started with the Upper School lunch and carnival on the Kayem Family Falcon Green. Upper School students then paired with their Lower School buddies for the special procession to the field — chants of “Purple” and “Gold” filling the air! The showdown of field events between Purple and Gold was led by a Super Star friendly dance-off between Freddy the Falcon and Orbit the Astro. Thank you Molly Higby, Bobby Eggleston, and John Friday for all your behind the scenes help before and at Field Day. Each team ran, jumped, and potato-sacked their way to the finish line. When the cosmic dust settled, Purple pulled out a victory over Gold.

After the conclusion of the field events, families returned to the Kayem Family Falcon Green for some major league fun at the carnival. Booth chairs, parent volunteers, and Kinkaid’s incredible facilities team ensured that everything ran smoothly, with delicious treats provided by the Falcon Grill and other food and drink booths. From the Mini Claw Arcade, to the Raffle tent, to the life size Ball Park food/concession piñatas at the tables, each booth was full of fun and smiling faces. Congrats to our lucky MVP raffle winners! The 101st Field Day Space City Showdown was a grand slam stellar success! Special thanks to the 2026 chairs Dara Frankel, Francis Sharpe, and Raine Falik as well as all our All Star booth chairs, volunteers, underwriters, and the facilities team for their tireless efforts. Save the date for the next Field Day on Friday, April 23, 2027.

An excerpt from "Small Victories" Gretchen Merman '26 Student Poet Laureate 2025-2026

“Sweatbands and necklaces of plastic, beaded gold, And I wish that time would stop racing, That I could relish in these moments longer, Let them bake in the hot Texas sun To memorialize them, To print them onto paper like raffle tickets, To savor the cotton candy taste of “growing up.” But instead, I will exercise the lesson I learned some thirteen years ago, And I will stop staring down at my shoelaces So that I can see The victories, The dedication, And the impossible brightness of each future.”

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

BUILDING COMMUNITY

L OW E R SCHOOL

4th Grade Brings History to the Present

Art Car Parade 2026

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Weighing AI’s Environmental Impact S H A I V I MO PA RTH I ’ 2 7

nglish teacher Ms. Christa Forster opened her computer and navigated to Flint K12, an AI platform for schools.

“Create a fun and informative activity that helps students understand how to disclose their use of AI in an academic paper,” Ms. Forster typed.

The cursor on her computer screen blinked, and within seconds, four polished paragraphs materialized before her eyes.

Scenes like this have become part of daily academic life at Kinkaid as artificial intelligence has shaped the structure of learning. From refining essays to generating study guides, AI has transformed how teachers and students work, create, and think. However, as this seemingly magical technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, questions about its broader effect—particularly its environmental implications— have drawn global attention.

W H AT I T TA K E S T O POW E R A I

International organizations, including the UN Environment Programme, have begun warning that AI’s growth may come with a significant environmental cost.

In a recent report, the organization noted, “Governments are racing to develop national AI strategies but rarely do they take the environment and sustainability into account. The lack of environmental guardrails is no less dangerous than the lack of other AI-related safeguards.” The numbers tell a story about AI’s potential impact.

A 2025 report published by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute has stated that by 2030, the world’s nearly 11,000 AI data centers are projected to consume 1,050 terawatt-hours of electricity, which is about 12% of the total annual energy use in the U.S.

The Kinkaid School

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Behind every chat, essay draft, and image generation is a vast, unseen network of data centers, which are specialized facilities designed to house the high-performance infrastructure needed to power various AI models. To support the tremendous usage of AI tools, the computer servers in these facilities need to operate around the clock. As a result, the intensive levels of computation in the centers generate significant heat so systems such as liquid cooling are used to maintain temperature, which consumes large amounts of water.

This hidden demand can add up quickly. In regions already facing dry conditions, such as the western U.S., the strain is especially evident. For instance, a Google Data Center in Dalles, Oregon, used 29% of the city’s total water supply over the course of a year, sparking public concern and outrage, as mentioned in The Oregonian.

A study by The University of California, Riverside has estimated that by 2027, AI-related infrastructure may consume more water globally than the entire nation of Denmark, a country of six million people.

GROW I NG CONC E R N ON C A M PU S

While the data may feel abstract, the impact could be much closer to home than many realize because the technology driving consumption of environmental resources is in the hands of people every day through chat messaging, image generation, and search queries. In fact, AI’s environmental impact has come to the forefront of many discussions among student leaders, including those of the Upper School Sustainability Committee. “The Sustainability Committee has talked about the energy consumption and water usage of physical AI clusters,” said senior Julia Godinich, the committee’s co-chair. “The demand

BUILDING COMMUNITY for more cheap energy to be utilized for AI data centers could set back progress in decarbonizing the energy grid if we don't switch to cleaner energy sources.”

Tech companies, such as Microsoft, have even been experimenting with water-free cooling systems.

“It’s a relevant topic, and it’s actively shaping the world,” she said. “I know I might sound a little doom and gloom about AI, but it’s important to know the environmental cost of such a powerful tool that’s recently become a more integral part of our lives.”

Godinich had an opportunity to speak with Amazon Web Services’ Vice President of Global Services, Mr. Uwem Ukpong, during his leadership seminar at Kinkaid titled “Leading in a World Transformed by the Computing Revolution.”

The committee plans to present its findings to the Upper School this academic year, hoping to spark more conversation about “the ecological effects of AI to encourage responsible limited usage,” Godinich said.

Godinich’s perspective reflects a growing awareness among students of AI’s environmental costs.

“It concerns me,” senior Maithreyi Asthagiri said. “There is always a price to pay for innovation.”

OP T I M I S M F OR PROGR E S S A N D I N NOVAT ION

Still, some community members see the conversation from a different angle, noting AI’s capacity to evolve in comparison with other technologies.

“AI’s environmental impact isn’t negligible, but it’s not as large as some may believe,” said Mr. Vinnie Vrotny, Kinkaid’s Director of Innovation and Technology. Mr. Vrotny referenced a 2025 International Energy Agency study that compared the footprint of AI systems to other industries. The findings, he explained, said that while AI will increase power demand, its share remains smaller than other sectors such as manufacturing.

For example, the report shows that from 2024-2030, the increase in electricity demand by data centers may be 100 to 300 fewer terrawatt hours than the industries of other technologies, such as electric cars and air conditioning. Mr. Vrotny said he sees today’s concerns as part of a familiar technological pattern, noting that when the steam engine first appeared, it too generated large amounts of waste.

“Over time, we learned to use resources more efficiently,” he said. “AI is in that same early phase. We’re only three years out from ChatGPT’s release, so we’re still learning how to make it efficient.” He compared the current wave of enthusiasm to what technologists call the “hype cycle,” a curve that begins with inflated expectations, dips into disillusionment, and then rises into lasting productivity. “We’re at the upper edge of that curve,” Mr. Vrtony said. “Eventually, the technology will stabilize, and companies will learn to better allocate resources over time.”

Some signs of progress have already become visible. Developers have explored ways to make AI models more efficient by using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind in data centers to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

According to a statement on the company’s website from Mr. Steve Solomon, Microsoft’s vice president of data infrastructure engineering, new chip-level cooling solutions promise to “avoid the need for more than 125 million liters of water per year per [Microsoft] data center.”

During their conversation, Mr. Ukpong explained how companies like Amazon are investing in cleaner energy sources, such as nuclear power. He also highlighted new innovations in water conservation, such as using wastewater to cool servers and systems that recycle evaporated water within facilities. “There are solutions that exist to these problems, so it's only a matter of time before AI has a net positive effect on the environment,” Godinich said.

PR E PA R I NG F OR A N A I-DR I V E N F U T U R E

At Kinkaid, the conversation about AI is no longer just about curiosity regarding what the technology can do. Questions have arisen around how it should be used and what responsibility comes with its power.

To encourage that kind of critical thinking, Mr. Vrotny, along with Head of Upper School Ms. Alex Spencer and Director of Academics Ms. Crystal Fain, is helping develop a K-12 framework that weaves AI literacy, ethics, and morals into the curriculum.

“We’re defining the skills and understanding students need at each grade level,” Mr. Vrotny said, referring to a framework that will reach beyond individual classes. Assemblies, guest speakers, and interdisciplinary projects through the new Sheedy Center for STEM aim to give students a broader understanding of how AI intersects with ethics, the environment, and innovation.

Mr. Vrotny said he will also introduce an Interim Term course titled “Human Agency in the Age of AI,” which will focus on how technology shapes purpose, moral decision-making, and creativity. “This technology is part of something much bigger,” Mr. Vrotny said. “AI is not just a game changer for education. I think it’s going to be a societal game changer.” This article first appeared in Issue 2, Vol. 80 of “The Falcon,” Kinkaid’s student magazine.

Scan this QR code to read more from The Falcon

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

2026 Honor Day Awards LOWER SCHOOL AWARDS

2nd Grade Character Education Award Carlos Moore & Vivienne Lara

3rd Grade Character Education Award Henry Williams & Eiland Leavitt

John Cooper Award

Aydin Naqvi & Ellie Presley

Second Grade Character Education Award Recipients

Third Grade Character Education Award Recipients

Fourth Grade Character Education Award Recipients

Third Grade John Cooper Award Recipients

Fourth Grade John Cooper Award Recipients

Fourth Grade Glenn Ballard Award Recipients

4th Grade Character Education Award Hannah Wiener & Geer Blalock

John Cooper Award

Sofia Baxter & Keito Kalay

Glenn Ballard Award

Ivy Grogan & Grant Griffin

MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS 5th Grade Academic Achievement Award Daniel Webster & Olivia Huang

8th Grade Tom Penden Academic Achievement Award

Shubh Agrawal & Luna Perez Shen

Charles B. Sanders Jr. Award George Stouffer & Ellie Schmulen

Arthur E. Goddard Award

6th Grade Academic Achievement Award

Emma Jane Miller Award

Christopher Do & Vicky Spiliotis

Bailey Bickers

Leigh Weld Award

Visual and Performing Arts Award

Tiger Campbell & Abigail Chikelue

7th Grade Academic Achievement Award

Mason Saunders & Ellie Egan Andrew Peters

Greg Gephart Award

Jan Braden Award

Nathan Goodwin & Sofia Lakhani

Kat Otjen

Visual and Performing Arts Award

Chelsea Pope Collins Award

Jack Hanagriff Award

Sixth Grade Award Recipients

Jack Hanagriff Award

Luke Archer & Riya Kejriwal

Ky Wulfe & Melody Tang

Fifth Grade Award Recipients

Casen Curry

Charlie Leykum

Seventh Grade Award Recipients

Glenn Ballard Award Mary Allen Loocke

Johnny Leonard

Jan Braden Award Charlotte Vermillion

Eighth Grade Award Recipients

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

BUILDING COMMUNITY

The Margaret Gaffney Sheedy ’35 Golden Heart Award

The Margaret Gaffney Sheedy '35 Golden Heart Award, which will be presented annually, recognizes one Lower School student who exemplifies the quiet strength of empathy and the courage of kindness, noticing, and acting.

This honor is not necessarily for the loudest leader or the student with the highest grades, but for the student who notices. It honors the student who, like Margaret, "shows up" with a beaming smile and a helping hand before even being asked. Whether assisting a teacher in the classroom or ensuring a peer feels included during recess, the recipient of this award makes our school a warmer, more joyful place simply by being exactly who they are. The first ever Margaret Gaffney Sheedy '35 Golden Heart Award was given this year to second grader Cortland Reeves '36.

UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS ACADEMIC

The William S. Kilroy Computer Award

The Twelfth-Grade Social Sciences Award

Julia Pryor

Dante Agostini

The English I Award

The Damon Wells Award

Sanvi Pandit

Hudson Holton

The English II Award

The Kathryn Wade Geometry Award

Anna Nguyen

The Jeanne S. Alsup Award for American Literature Studies Riana Pliskin

The Junior Class of 1953 Award for English Jack Susman

The Callie B. Law Writing Award Ayla Patel

The Ninth-Grade History Award Alex Nasra

The Tenth-Grade History Award Chris Mo

Turner Ross

The Algebra II Award Sari Roseman

The Class of 1980 Mathematics Award for Precalculus Emily Mei

The Statistics Award John Patterson

The Calculus Award Emma Jacobson

The Malcolm Cravens Award Adi Kejriwal

The American History Award

The Four Year Math and Science Award

Jack Archer

Aiden Wang

The Mike Moncrief Debate Award

The Goettsche Physics Award

Ethan Fu

The Monroe Rust Biology Award Dylan Wang

The Chemistry Award William Raynes

The Advanced Chemistry Award Finley Colvin

The Papadopoulos Award for Biology Juliana Scheibner

Linda Miller Physics Award Henry Silva

The Four Year Science Award Jasmine Nguyen

The Herder Fellowship for Science Research Elizabeth Koo

The Lucette Topper Level Three French Award Madeleine Ayala

The Stone Award for French Language AP Mary Silva

Sophie Lighvani

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Academic Award Recipients

Visual and Performing Arts Award Recipients

The Schlumberger Award for French Literature College Level Cate Schmidt

The Spanish III Award

Athletic Awards Recipients

The 3D Art Award: Ceramics

The Acting Award

The 3D Art Award: Sculpture

The Technical Theatre Award

Emily Wang Peter Liuzzi

Savannah Petit

The Haynes Award for Spanish IV Isabel Cooper

The Francita Stuart Award for Spanish V Daniel Krasny

The Photography Award Isabel Werlin

The Filmmaking Award Michael Akin

The A.J. Carothers ’50 Award for Creative Writing

The Latin III Award William Hanna

Gretchen Merman

The Dorothy Rice Cooper Award for Latin IV/V

The Journalism Award

Hudsen Tellepsen

The Yearbook Award Ayala Presley

The Mandarin IV Award Alex Shaw

The Band Award

The Independent Study Award Andre Fadulu

Cameron Dillon

Adam Smith Award

The Orchestra Award

Dain Dakri

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

The Lauri Jones Shepler 2D Art Award Z Ostrosky

The Kinkaid School

Ian Goldstein

The Choir Award

CLEF

Shaivi Moparthi

2025 – 2026

Minhao Tang

The Dance Award Sahasra Thakkar

Lia Zitvar

Lana Tosic

The Tom Boyd Musical Theatre Award Irene Pletcher

Alexandra and Isabelle King Award Eli Mayer

The Adelaide Emily Lummis Scholarship in Theatre Stella Helander

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS AND ATHLETICS

The Elena Semander Scholarship for Arts & Athletics Alexandra Gordon

The Maby/King Award Gregory Otjen

ATHLETICS

The Cathy Merrill Award for Athletics Caroline Kubitza

The Dan Hart Award for Athletics Tanner Nyveen

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Citizenship Award Recipients

Margaret & William Kinkaid Award Recipients

Scholarship Award Recipients

The Levy Garrett Award

Ethan Williams and Courtney Whittaker

CHARACTER

The John Fontaine Memorial Scholarship

ALUMNI

Takori Bradford

Fife Famurewa and William Adeniyi

Sydney Marshall

The Alumni Award

ACADEMIC MERIT

9th Grade Dedication in Learning Award Bryce Goldstein

10th Grade Dedication in Learning Award Gabby Chastain & Collins Montgomery

11th Grade Dedication in Learning Award Kaitlyn Manning

Falcon Leadership Award The Amber Alexander Award Maithreyi Asthagiri

The Kendall Award for Community Service Lia Zitvar

The Class of 1978 Award for Ninth Grade Citizenship Nifewa Famurewa & Avery King

12th Grade Dedication in Learning Award

The Mark Lester Award for Tenth Grade Citizenship

Elizabeth Marshall

Alex Magid & Dylan Jett

9th Grade Academic Excellence Award

The Class of 1953 Award for Eleventh Grade Citizenship

Aman Mehta

10th Grade Academic Excellence Award Anna Savitz

11th Grade Academic Excellence Award Felix Riley

12th Grade Academic Excellence Award Abby Ahuero

Drake Johnson & Rosie Carr

The Class of 1975 Award for Twelfth Grade Citizenship Grace Essalih & Harris Lingle

The Kayem-Cooper Award Unaisah Saeed

The Margaret and William Kinkaid Award Morgan Tannery & Maureen Min

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

HOO C S D I A K KIN

g n i t a br nt e l e C re a P our teers! n Volu THE

t has been our honor and pleasure to serve as leaders of the Parents' Association during the 2025-2026 school year. Thank you to our hundreds of parent volunteers for your partnership. We are extremely grateful for all your thoughtful planning and countless hours that went in to ensuring successful events and programs for our children. We wish everyone a restful summer!

Jill Josephson and Sandy Sturm 2025-2026 Parents' Association Presidents

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

BUILDING COMMUNITY

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

BUILDING COMMUNITY

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

BUILDING COMMUNITY

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN

Building for the Next Century How Brandt Bowden ’96 helped steer a seven-year, campus-wide transformation ESHAAN MANI ’24

On August 14, 2025, a massive crowd gathered at Kinkaid to celebrate the new campus: modern facades of glass and steel, lush green courtyards, and beams of natural light streaming in. But the moment was really about something deeper, something less tangible: endurance. Behind the ribbon cutting laid nearly seven years of meticulously sequencing planning, negotiation, permitting, fundraising, financing, and construction against the backdrop of COVID-19, all compressed into a single unveiling. At the center of that process stood the architect-in-chief, Brandt Bowden ’96, an alumnus, a parent, a Trustee, and the chairman of the School’s Building Committee. “This project really started in June of 2019,” Bowden said. “We sat down and mapped out, here’s the path to get to the building being built.”

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN

Steve Mach, Ed Frank '68, Jonathan Eades, Brandt Bowden '96, and Neil Wizel at the signing of the "Authorization to Proceed with Phase II of Construction" - 2022

Harrison House Demolition - 2022

What followed instead was a seven-year, three-phase transformation of nearly the entire Kinkaid campus: 11 buildings, continuous school operations, pandemic delays, historic inflation, and a capital campaign that ultimately pushed past $180 million in construction costs. Through it all, Bowden, a member of Kinkaid’s Class of 1996, remained the project’s steady center of gravity. Bowden described the effort as the “most complex project” of his professional life. “It’s very different from, say, an apartment complex, where, after a while, you’re just stacking various units of the same design,” he said. “The share of the complex that is bespoke is minimal. At Kinkaid, only the classrooms could be ‘cut and pasted.’ Everything else needed to be designed in a bespoke manner, which was a significant challenge, but a welcome one.” ONE BITE AT THE APPLE Early in the process, Bowden and the building committee confronted a

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

Jonathan Eades, Brandt Bowden '96, Charles Lawrence '96, Leslie Doggett '75, and Evan H. Katz at the ALL IN Groundbreaking Ceremony - 2022

Lower School Administration Building Construction - May 2023

fundamental choice: whether to tackle campus needs incrementally or all at once. The more they studied the campus, the clearer it became that piecemeal fixes would only create new constraints.

“If we’re going to start taking buildings offline,” Bowden recalled, “we’re going to have to go through a two-year entitlement process with the city. It’ll get harder and harder the more times we go back to Piney Point. I realized we’re going to get one bite at this apple.”

The phrase stuck. So did the logic behind it. Once construction began, Bowden argued, institutional fatigue would set in—among trustees, administrators, parents, and neighbors alike. “If we finish phase 1 and just call it quits until some years later, nobody’s going to have the energy to pick up,” he said. “So let’s just do it all now.”

That decision reshaped the project’s scope. What began as a rebuild of the aging Upper School expanded to encompass athletics, administrative spaces, pedestrian

circulation, green space, and long-standing mechanical and infrastructure challenges.

We had a year of construction before we even talked about the high school,” Bowden said. “It’s a very complicated process.” DESIGNING FOR NEW REALITIES AND AESTHETIC EXPERIENCES As an alumnus, Bowden carried a deep affection for the campus he once knew. But sentimentality, he insisted, could not drive the design. The math alone made that clear. When Bowden attended Kinkaid, graduating classes numbered just over 100 students. By 2019, they had grown to around 150.

“Without doing anything, we needed at least 50 percent more square footage just to accommodate where we are with students,” he explained. “Then you realize the classrooms are so small they don’t comply with current building codes. So even with the same number of classes, you need 50 percent more room.”

ALL IN

Bowden Upper School - January 2024

Bowden Upper School - March 2024

Bowden Upper School - October 2024 2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN

CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS

The Bowden Upper School is 258,284 square feet, more than double the size of the previous Upper School, which was 100,991 square feet. In addition to this new building, improvements were made campus-wide. Middle School • Six new classrooms were added to the Middle School. • New classes include a science room and an expansion of the Nest Maker Space. Lower School • A remodel of the existing Lower School will add one homeroom per grade (Pre-K through 4th) and an expansion of the Lower School Health Clinic. Sarofim Dining & Learning Center • Sound proofing was added to the first floor of the Sarofim Dining & Learning Center. • On the second floor, the Barbara & Corbin J. Robertson Jr. Learning Center is now designed as a specialty space for Fifth Grade. Student Life Building • The second floor of the Student Life Building (SLB) now includes the new Mach Family Art Studios (Middle School and Upper School) and a new Digital Filmmaking classroom. • The SLB now houses the new Bookout Family Head of School Suite, Frank Family Conference Suite, and Belonging and Wellbeing Suite. • The Recital Hall in the Student Life Building is being renovated and expanded into the new Fondren Auditorium, which will nearly double its capacity through the addition of a balcony and expanded seating on the first floor. Ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought delays to construction companies, created a narrow window for Bowden to focus on Kinkaid’s planning process. With fewer projects on hand at The Hanover Company, Bowden could carve out time from his busy schedule for intensive design work.

“We basically had a standing meeting every Friday with the architects,” he said. “Three or four hours every Friday for three months, where I’d sit and say, ‘move this, move that, push here, pull there.’ I would not have had that much time to dedicate to this under any other circumstance.” He put four designs in front of the Board at one of their initial meetings and encouraged disagreement.

“I asked the Building Committee, ‘Here’s A, B, C, and D. Now vote for the scheme you love and the scheme you hate,’” he said. Over time, a design with a circular courtyard, spacious halls and daylighted

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

• The Commons is also undergoing renovations to revert closely to its old form and function. • The south side of the SLB has been renovated to create the new Lindamood Dance Studio. Athletics • The upgraded Athletic Complex now includes new locker rooms, coaches’ offices, an expanded wrestling room, the Gordon Training Room, the Don Sanders & Laura Moore Families Fitness Center, and the new Doggett Family Fieldhouse & Gymnasium. The Melcher Gymnasium is also undergoing a complete refresh. Lower School Administration Building • The Looke Family First Floor of the new Lower School Administration Building (LSA) houses expanded classrooms for Lower School co-curricular offerings (Art, Music, Science, and Spanish), student support services, the Morgan Big Room, and the Falik Family Movement & Wellbeing Learning Lab. • The Second Floor of the LSA Building houses the new Fontaine Family Admission & Enrollment Management Suite and new offices for most of the School’s administrative functions, including Advancement, Business Office, Facilities, Human Resources, and Strategic Communication. This list does not include all improvements made to campus. All construction is expected to be completed by August 2026.

classrooms, and a pedestrian-friendly spine through campus emerged.

“In June of 2020, the Board embraced the Building Committee’s bold vision with its expansive scope and monumental capital requirement,” he said. “And the Board has remained enthusiastically committed every day since.”

Bowden said he mainly prioritized one ratio in the construction of the School: how much of a building’s square footage actually serves students and teachers versus how much is simply circulation and dead space.

"OVER TIME, A DESIGN WITH A CIRCULAR COURTYARD, SPACIOUS HALLS AND DAYLIGHTED CLASSROOMS, AND A PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY SPINE THROUGH CAMPUS EMERGED."

“If you build a 500,000-square-foot building and only get 300,000 square feet of usable space, you built a lot of stuff you didn’t need,” he said. “If I can build 400,000 and get the same 300,000, I can spend the savings on things people actually care about.” Green space was also important to him: “We have a 64-acre campus essentially backing the woods, but our buildings were built so that the green space gets cut into. We wanted to make sure that students could make the most of the lush greenery we have. With the new courtyards created, the campus went from roughly 44,000 square feet of green space to 65,000 square feet.

“People walk in and ask, ‘Where did you find this real estate?’ My response is that it was always there,” Bowden said.

Additionally, Bowden was explicit about wanting visitors to feel the ‘magic of Kinkaid’ as soon as they entered the school.

ALL IN

Bowden Upper School Concrete Laying - 2024

Doggett Family Fieldhouse & Gymnasium Construction - May 2023

Lawrence Family Alumni Center - October 2024

Bowden Family: Jeb '98, Lane, Polly, Murry, Mary Kay, Brandt '96, Piper '31, Wells '34, Blye '32, Mayfair '35, Annabelle '30. Not pictured: Russell '28 and Riley '24

Don Sanders & Laura Moore Families Fitness Center at the Bowden Upper School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - August 2025

Brandt Bowden '96, Jonathan Eades, and Ken Cowan at Bowden Upper School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - August 2025 2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN “You want people to walk in that lobby and feel something special,” he said. “We are on display every day. We are telling families that this is a special place. You have college admissions officers rotating through these schools. You need to step into a place that blows your socks off.”

To this end, he worked with various design firms to make sure that each interior space felt intentional and special. “When I showed Mr. Scott Lambert, Director of Visual and Performing Arts, the finished plan and some renderings, his first reaction was ‘oh my gosh, this is One Kinkaid,’” Bowden said. “It’s grand, it’s historic, and the best part is you can walk straight through from the Lower to Upper School. Our campus is just as unified as our community, finally.”

MONEY, RISK, AND 100-YEAR DECISIONS As designs solidified, financial realities intruded. Initial plans, prepared before the pandemic, returned “40 percent more

expensive” due to increased cost of labor and materials.

"WE ARE TELLING FAMILIES THAT THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE. YOU HAVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICERS ROTATING THROUGH THESE SCHOOLS. YOU NEED TO STEP INTO A PLACE THAT BLOWS YOUR SOCKS OFF.”

Ultimately, the project’s construction costs reached approximately $184 million, which would need to be supported by a capital campaign with a fundraising goal of $200 million. Bowden was candid with trustees about the risks, including the need for construction loans and the long tail of fundraising. But he framed those risks in institutional terms. “These are 100-year institutions,” he said. “Make the 100-year bet.”

ALL IN CAMPAIGN CABINET CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS

William Leslie Doggett ’75 Evan H. Katz Charles Berdon Lawrence Jr. ’96

HONORARY CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS Polly & Murry Bowden Sandie & Kenneth D. Cowan Rolanette & C. Berdon Lawrence Carroll & Hugh Ray

CAMPAIGN CABINET MEMBERS Doug Aron ’92 Meredith Hopson Beaupre ’98 Brandt C. Bowden ’96 Julie Brown Stephanie Aliquo Cockrell Viviana Denechaud Ryan Devlin ’99 Brian Dinerstein ’95 Raine Falik Edwin H. Frank III ’68 Susie Golding Matt Gordon ’99 Ashley Morgan Hanna ’93 Michael Edwin Hanson Jr. ’00 J. Boyd Heath III Will Houstoun ’96 Marjorie Jacobe

The Kinkaid School

Franny Jones Cecil J. Looke III Steven P. Mach Billy McCartney Christine Robertson Morenz ’92 Brad Morgan ’96 Don Poarch Elisa Stude Pye Bethel M. Quander John Rutherford ’79 Jeff Sangalis Carl Schmulen Garry Tanner Virginia Simmons Williams ’06 Darryl L. Wilson Neil A. Wizel Dick Wynne ’79

2025 – 2026

Throughout the process, Bowden resisted the idea that the campus was “his” project. Instead, he framed his role as part of a long chain of stewardship. In interviews, he drew parallels to universities whose buildings bear the names of donors and trustees long gone. “You’re walking around campuses built by people who stepped up when the institution needed them,” he said. “I’ve been the beneficiary of other people’s contributions, so if I can play a small role in creating a better campus for others, I absolutely will take on that honor and responsibility.”

That theme anchored the most personal portion of his ribbon-cutting remarks, when he addressed students directly. “To the students, I am honored to hand this building to you,” Bowden said. “Please understand that your opportunity to be here is a privilege, not a right. Earn that opportunity daily.”

We invite you to go ALL IN for Kinkaid!

Today, we stand at a historic moment: the final stage of the ALL IN Campaign, the largest collective demonstration of philanthropic support in our history. Let’s finish this together!

We invite you to join us by making a gift now and being part of this defining moment for the School - shaping students today and for the generations to come. To make your gift, visit www.kinkaid.org/ALLIN or scan the QR code below. We are deeply grateful to those who have already played a meaningful role in the ALL IN Campaign - thank you!

Donors of $25,000 or more will be recognized on the permanent campaign donor wall in the Bowden Upper School. Please note: All Kinkaid Fund donors, starting in 2021-2022, will also be recognized as campaign donors. To learn more about the ALL IN Campaign, visit allin.kinkaid.org.

ALL IN He also described the campus as a “love letter” to his own children—a phrase that underscored how deeply personal the work had become after years of late-night decisions and high-stakes tradeoffs. A CAMPUS, REIMAGINED Today, the physical results are evident: a campus that feels more porous, more connected to its landscape, and better aligned with contemporary pedagogy. Alumni returning for the first time often struggle to pinpoint exactly what changed—only that the School feels more alive.

2020-2025 BUILDING COMMITTEE Brandt C. Bowden ’96, Chair Peter Behr Stephanie Aliquo Cockrell Kenneth D. Cowan Andrew Dillon Robert D. Duncan Jonathan E. Eades

“He said ‘It felt more like a living campus,’” Bowden recalled of an alumnus walk-through. “‘More modern but still steeped in the history of Kinkaid.’” That balance may be Bowden’s most lasting contribution. Rather than chasing architectural novelty, he pushed for a design that matched the School’s academic and cultural identity.

stepped back from the spotlight. The work, he suggests, now belongs to the community.

Edwin H. Frank III ’68 Joshua Godden Bridget Hennessey David Holm Ken Jett Ed Jordan Chris Kayem ’97 Charles Berdon Lawrence Jr. ’96 Palmer Letzerich ’90 Cecil J. Looke III Steven P. Mach

Robert Mann Joanne Margraves Tom Moore E. Staman Ogilvie John Putnam Phyllis Selber Edward M. Trusty Jr. Vinnie Vrotny Eugene Werlin Jr. Neil A. Wizel Lisa Wood

“Kinkaid was always special,” he said. “We just didn’t have the halls that matched it.” As construction winds down and students fully inhabit the new spaces, Bowden has largely

Central Park - December 2025

Sterling Reckling Design Lab

“My humble hope,” he said, “is that the quality of these new halls enhances the quality of the community that they house.”

For an institution measured in generations rather than quarters, that may be the ultimate metric of success.

Gathering on Social Stair in Smith Lobby

Dinerstein-Frankel Lux Café

Robotics Room 2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN

ALL IN Campaign Renderings

Upper School

Upper School Greenspace

Lower School Classroom

Athletic Complex

Lower School Classroom

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

ALL IN

Upper School Greenspace

Lobby

Student Commons

Alumni Center

Senior Commons

Lower School Administration Building

Learning Commons

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN

L.E. Simmons Family Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance BY DR. ED HARRIS

Director of the L.E. Simmons Family Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance

t has been an exciting year for the L.E. Simmons Family Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance. The Center expanded its course and program offerings to provide Kinkaid's students with more opportunities to learn and grow, and there will be even more new courses next year.

Each CLEF class and program is centered on the objective of educating enlightened capitalists, providing students with the skill set to succeed and lead in any field they choose because they have not only knowledge, confidence, and experience but also a sound moral compass grounded in Kinkaid’s Core Values and Adam Smith’s social virtues of prudence, justice, and beneficence.

THE LEADERSHIP SEMINAR WITH DR. RICHARD REEVES Juniors and seniors who met key program requirements were invited to participate in the last Leadership Seminar of the year with Kinkaid's 2025-26 Damon Wells Fellow, Dr. Richard Reeves. Dr. Reeves is the author of the bestselling book, Of Boys and Men: Why Modern Men Struggle, Why It Matters, and How to Fix It, and the founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men. He has also written and spoken extensively about leadership and advocated for the new alpha leader model. Dr. Reeves engaged students in powerful conversations about what they can do to achieve success today and develop the skills to lead in college and beyond. STUDENT JURORS IN THE COURTROOM Students took full advantage of CLEF's Career Development Program this year. More than sixty 10th, 11th, and 12th graders participated in the CLEF/Norton Rose Fulbright Mock Trial Program. Kinkaid students were jurors in eight mock trials that were put on by the firm for its young litigators. Students rendered verdicts and gave the attorneys valuable feedback on the style and substance of their presentations. More than 80 rising 12th graders are participating in the Summer Internship Program and almost all seniors participated in the Interim-Term Internship Program.

2025-26 Damon Wells Fellow, Leadership Seminar with Dr. Richard Reeves

More than 120 11th and 12th graders participated in the Leadership Seminar Program this year, and 25 seniors completed all the requirements to earn Kinkaid's Distinction in Leadership Honor. The students interacted with an extraordinary group of leaders in the program this year: Uwem Ukpong (AWS Web Services), Coach K.C. Beard (U of H Men's Basketball), Franco Silva '09 (The Dog Academy and Hubertus), Sandy Guitar (Texas Exchange for Energy & Climate Entrepreneurship), Claudia Aguirre (Baker-Ripley, Dallas Fed), Robert Martey (Kinkaid Track Coach, CEO, Warrior King).

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

CLEF will add three new courses to its curriculum next year. In addition to the Entrepreneurship Accelerator for 12th graders, CLEF will offer two semester-long courses, Fundamentals of Business and Investments for 11th graders and Essentials of Personal Finance and Financial Modeling for 11th and 12th graders. Going forward, taking Business and Investments will be the single prerequisite to applying to be a member of the Falcon Investment Managers.

Thanks to the dedicated commitment and tremendous support of the numerous leaders, business professionals, corporations, and organizations with whom CLEF partners, the Center is able to provide Kinkaid’s students with unmatched experiences in and out of the classroom. We look forward to even more in 2026-27. INCUBATOR STUDENTS PARTICIPATING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON'S REGIONAL PITCH EVENT Last year's pilot Entrepreneurship Incubator was scaled up and opened to all interested juniors and seniors. Thirty-six students

ALL IN took the course this year. 11th graders who receive financing from Kinkaid's Entrepreneurship Seed Money Fund in the final pitch event will be able to take the new Accelerator course next year, which is designed to help them get their products to market before they head to college. THE INAUGURAL SOCIAL INNOVATORS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS CLEF and Kinkaid's Service Learning Program partnered with UPenn's School of Social Policy and Practice and Schoolyard Ventures to offer 10th graders the opportunity to participate in the Social Innovators Program. The inaugural group of 35 students earned UPenn's Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship after successfully completing the 12-week elective program. THE INAUGURAL MICROECONOMICS CLASS With the successful addition of Microeconomics to the CLEF course offerings, students can now study both Macroeconomics and Microeconomics during 11th and 12th grade.

2026

L.E. Simmons Family Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance Distinction in Leadership Honorees

Kendall Adam Dante Agostini William Adeniyi Ellison Anderson Maithreyi Asthagiri Sophia Cubbage Lucy Dannenbaum Jack Deneke Alexander Donnelly Fife Famurewa Audrey Gutierrez Olivia Hamilton Parker Herleth

THE 2025-26 FALCON INVESTMENT MANAGERS Kinkaid's Falcon Investment Managers, which are sponsored by the Rutherford Family, completed a stellar year of sound stewardship and savvy investing. Assets under student management have increased from $100,000 to $143,000 in 24 months. The graduating Investment Managers beat the S&P 500 by 12 points.

The outgoing KFIM Executive Board gave a detailed report of the year's activities to Kinkaid's Endowment Board in April. THE 2026-27 FALCON INVESTMENT MANAGERS

Hannah Holmsten Jackson Holton Huxley Johnson Blake Kekish Ethan Le Harris Lingle Elizabeth Marshall John Patterson Beyli Shah Alex Shaw Paige Smart Henry Wise Sophie Zhou Lia Zitvar

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN

Sheedy Family Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics LARA CROSS

Director of the Sheedy Family Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

n its first year, the Sheedy Family Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics has invited students to see themselves not simply as learners of science and mathematics, but as explorers, innovators, and problem-solvers who will help shape the future. Walking through our beautiful new facilities, you might catch a Pre-Kindergarten class encountering robots for the very first time, taking their first steps in algorithmic thinking. Nearby, Lower School students are weaving together art, research, and science as they depict animal habitats, or bending over their first prototype designs for the Economics Fair. Out in the Quad, Middle School students are turning the sidewalk into a game board to explore integers, and inside the Makerspace, they are crafting "historical artifacts" that bring ancient cultures to life through modern techniques and even building the tools they'll use to conduct their own science experiments. Cross over to the Upper School, and you'll

find Middle and Upper School students working side by side at the hydroponic unit, while Anatomy students navigate the human body through the Anatomage virtual dissection table, and Marine Science students prepare for a service learning trip to Galveston. And at the far edge of what a high school student can accomplish, some of our most advanced researchers are seeing their work published in peerreviewed science journals. Together, these experiences are helping students understand STEM not simply as a collection of academic subjects, but as a way to lead, collaborate, and engage with the world around them.

"THE STEM CENTER HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN POSITIONING KINKAID AS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN THE THOUGHTFUL APPLICATION OF AI IN EDUCATION" That spirit of engaged leadership has found particular expression this year in the area

of artificial intelligence. The STEM Center has played a key role in positioning Kinkaid as a nationally recognized leader in the thoughtful application of AI in education — one where faculty use AI intentionally and only when it serves clear educational goals, and where students are guided by Kinkaid's AI Acceptable Usage Menu to approach these tools ethically and as genuine thought partners rather than shortcuts. In December, a group of faculty, administrators, and students brought this framework to an AI Symposium sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools, where attendees praised not only Kinkaid's policies but the students themselves — singling out their thoughtful engagement with complex ideas and their poise before an unfamiliar audience. During Interim Term, two seniors carried that sophistication into the professional world, interning with an investment firm and using AI to evaluate how emerging technologies might reshape the company's future business landscape. Experiences like these are preparing Kinkaid students to be more than skilled users of new tools; they are growing into the thoughtful leaders who will help determine how those technologies shape all of our futures.

INSPIRING EXPLORERS, INNOVATORS, AND PROBLEM-SOLVERS: STEM SHOWCASE 2026 When was the last time you drove a robot, built a model submarine, got up close with a tarantula, or even tried to outrun a T-Rex? These activities were just a few highlights of Kinkaid’s inaugural STEM Showcase. Bringing all three divisions together for an afternoon of curiosity, discovery, and innovation, the Showcase was a fun opportunity for the entire Kinkaid community to celebrate the work our students and faculty are doing every day in the STEM fields. Beyond all the fun activities, the real highlight of the day was the work presented by hundreds of our Middle and Upper School students. In addition to the displays by the students from ten entire courses, over 75 individual students shared the research and experiments they had conducted and artifacts they designed and built in our Maker Spaces, work that also created links with the arts, humanities, and business. More than anything, the Showcase demonstrated that all of our Falcons are leading the way into the future of STEM!

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

ALL IN

McGuyer Family Center for Wellbeing and Success BY D R . L AU R A L OM A X- B R E A M

Director of the McGuyer Family Center for Wellbeing and Success

he McGuyer Family Center for Wellbeing and Success began its work for the 2025–2026 school year on July 4 in collaboration with all four divisional counselors to support students and families through the devastating losses and trauma caused by the Hill Country flooding. We hosted grief support sessions for students and faculty parent information sessions on supporting children through trauma and loss, and we shared information about clinicians providing individual and group support across Houston. It was a summer and school year unlike any other, and counselors continued supporting students and families throughout the year. As the school year began in August, the Center, for the first time, intentionally involved the Upper School Student Wellbeing Advisory Board (SWAB) in the wellbeing rotation of Community Group. SWAB students selected Overwhelm and Perfectionism as the theme of the October rotation. They also identified Mindful Eating as an area of concern due to the rising prevalence of eating disorders nationwide. In February, the Center hosted separate student and parent panels featuring eating-disorder experts who discussed maintaining a healthy relationship with food and body image amid distorted online messages and misinformation.

Throughout the year, the Center partnered with Eduardo Torres of Pathways to Prevention to conduct focus groups with Middle and Upper School parents. These sessions informed a questionnaire tailored to Kinkaid families assessing concerns, observations, and perceptions related to student risk behaviors, including substance use and gambling. Mr. Torres presented the findings to parents in May, while Dr. Lomax-Bream shared results from the Authentic Connections survey administered to Upper School students in February. Key concerns included student overload and levels of substance use exceeding national averages, findings consistent with previous years.

The Center also partnered with the Office of DEI to bring Dr. Geoffrey Cohen of Stanford University, author of Belonging: The Science of Building Connection and Bridging Divides, to speak with faculty and parents in November. In partnership with the Office of Innovation and Technology, Evan Harris addressed Middle and Upper School students and parents on deepfakes in March. A collaboration with the L.E. Simmons Family Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance (CLEF) brought bestselling author Richard Reeves, Ph.D., to campus to discuss themes from Of Boys and Men.

These talks, surveys, and presentations helped the Center identify ongoing student challenges and provide practical strategies to strengthen belonging, encourage healthy relationships with food and body image, address the risks of deepfakes and substance use, and better understand and support boys and young men.

The Center’s work this year addressed a wide range of topics, each vital to the health, wellbeing, and success of the students, families, faculty, and staff who make up the Kinkaid community.

HOUSTON STUDENT WELLBEING CONFERENCE

Just after the close of the school year, the Center launched its first Houston Student Wellbeing Conference, welcoming 70 students from 12 Houston private schools. Students participated in sessions on natural alternatives to substance use, cultural considerations in wellbeing, healthy communication, stress management, mindfulness, suicide prevention, and team-building activities that promoted movement and connection. The conference empowered students to lead wellbeing conversations and initiatives within their own school communities.

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN

"The Legends" - Pat Cavanagh, Lisa Curry, Tom Moore, and CeCelia O'Connell

The Work of a Lifetime Mr. Tom Moore is ALL IN as He Finishes His 25 Years of Service to Kinkaid SLOANE BALL ARD ’27 AND SYDNEY MARSHALL ’27

Former Head of School Mr. Don North walked into Fountain View Cafe for an interview over breakfast in March 2001. Although he walked in expecting eggs, toast, and maybe a cup of coffee, he walked out with the next quarter century of Kinkaid’s advancement and its driving force: Mr. Tom Moore. Those who know Mr. Moore speak of him only in the highest regard, and across every corner of the Kinkaid campus, from the youngest Falcons to the oldest, his dedication, vision, and steady leadership has been felt. “'Transformative' is overused these days, sometimes dressing up impact that has been beneficial but not exceptional,” Mr. North shared. “Transformative is precisely the right word for Tom Moore’s impact on Kinkaid."

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

THE SHAPE OF A CAREER Over the course of his career at the School, Mr. Moore became central to the work of advancement, helping guide six major campus campaigns: “Building for the Next Century,” “Fields and Dreams,” “Tomorrow’s Promise,” “Building Together,” “Go West,” and most recently, “ALL IN.”

Alongside these campaigns came a series of initiatives that steadily expanded the reach of the Advancement Office. During his tenure, Mr. Moore helped grow annual giving through programs such as the Founders Society, the 1906 Society, and the Purple & Gold Society. He spearheaded the Sporting Clays Benefit and helped expand the Advancement Office itself to a team of 12, which includes alumni outreach and parent engagement. By 2019, he had overseen three capital

campaigns, annual fund drives, and special events that together raised more than $164 million in philanthropic gifts, an achievement documented in that year’s spring issue of The Kinkaid Magazine.

For many who worked alongside him, those numbers tell only part of the story. What stood out most was the role Mr. Moore played in making such efforts possible in the first place. “Tom Moore's impact, contribution, professional expertise, passion for Kinkaid, and love for our community is evident throughout our amazingly beautiful campus. Kinkaid is what it is today because of Tom and his leadership,” said Mr. Ken Cowan, who was chair of the Board of Trustees when they voted to launch the ALL IN Campaign.

ALL IN

“Working at Kinkaid has been a real blessing for my family and very rewarding personally and professionally. My wife Jenny and I are so fortunate our son Eddie '06 entered Kinkaid as an 8th grader when I started here in 2001. Following his graduation in 2006, Jenny enjoyed seven years as an Assistant Kindergarten Teacher and substitute teacher here. Jenny and I take great pride that my wonderful Kinkaid experience influenced our daughter Laura Moore Dols to follow in my footsteps and to see her excel as an advancement leader in Houston schools.

Jonathan Eades, Clark Ervin '77, and Tom Moore in DC - Fall 2022

Head of School, Mr. Jonathan Eades expressed a similar sentiment.

"Tom Moore is an institution inside our institution,” said Mr. Eades. “He is devoted to our School, and has consistently demonstrated a tireless work ethic and high integrity in all his actions. His impact over 25 years of exemplary service to Kinkaid is immeasurable.” Others point to the trust he built among donors, trustees, and families across the Kinkaid community.

“One of the things I thought was very revealing that our consultant once said, ‘If Kinkaid didn't have Tom Moore, they shouldn’t even attempt to do what they want to do,’” shared Mr. Ed Frank ’68, former chair of the Board of Trustees. “He was that important to its success. I think all of the previous success earned Tom so much respect that when Tom Moore calls or when Tom Moore says ‘do this’, people fall in line because they know it will work.”

Mr. Cowan echoed this observation of Mr. Moore’s grit.

“During my time as board chair, his steadfast leadership during some challenging times was absolutely amazing,” Mr. Cowan said. “His focus, mission, and priorities have always been: What can we do? What could he do to best serve Kinkaid and its entire community?” Colleagues who worked closely with Mr. Moore during multiple campaigns describe a similar balance of strategy and relationship-building. “I have known Tom for 15 years, and I have worked with him on multiple Kinkaid campaigns,” said Co-Chair of the ALL IN Campaign and Chair of the Board of Trustees Mr. Evan H. Katz. “On each one, Tom’s magic was on both sides of the ball — devoted to Kinkaid and to the benefactor. He always makes it a win for both sides. Tom has always been our master strategist, quietly navigating the social circles and generations of families

“Every morning, I looked forward to coming to campus to work alongside my School colleagues and watching our students excel on stage, in athletics, or in the classroom under the tutelage of our talented faculty and coaches. I am very proud the Advancement Team assisted our Administration, Board of Trustees, and volunteers in securing over $310 million in philanthropic support for the benefit of our students today and for years to come. Thanks to our generous community, Kinkaid’s campus has been enhanced and enlarged with beautiful facilities, and the School’s current and long-term finances have been strengthened. “I especially would like to thank my family for their love and acceptance of the long hours and sacrifices my work often required. I am so grateful to the entire Kinkaid community for supporting our marvelous School, the talented advancement staff, and me. I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside my successor Bridget Hennessey this past year and am very pleased how our community already is rallying behind her leadership.” Tom Moore Director of Advancement, 2001-2026

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN

“Tom’s presence has been felt in every corner of our artistic world— from the hushed reverence of gallery exhibitions to the electric energy of opening nights. He has borne witness to countless student triumphs: the trembling first notes of a young musician, the bold vulnerability of an actor finding their voice, the painstaking detail of a brushstroke brought to life. And in each moment, his support has been steadfast, visible, and sincere. “In a role often defined by forward vision and institutional growth, Tom never lost sight of the human, immediate, and deeply personal power of the arts. His legacy, therefore, is not only measured in milestones achieved, but in the countless evenings spent in darkened theaters and light-filled galleries— quietly championing the creativity that defines us.” Scott Lambert Director of Visual & Performing Arts

“Many of you know the legendary Tom Moore—but what you might not know is that for the past ten years, Tom has also been a legend in the weight room. A small but dedicated group of us met three mornings a week before school to work out, and in recent years we became the “Core Four”: Tom, Pat Cavanagh, Lisa Curry, and me—collectively known as The Legends. The name wasn’t about our athletic prowess so much as our longevity…we were the oldest, and somehow the last ones still showing up! “Tom isn’t just “ALL IN” when it comes to fundraising—he’s all in when it comes to living his life. He brings energy, conviction and heart to everything he does. For all of us who have had the privilege of knowing him, that may be his greatest legacy of all.” CeCelia O'Connell Third Grade Teacher

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

that are the Kinkaid community. He has been involved in and impacted nearly every area of our School.”

And that impact extended well beyond the work of advancement. An avid supporter of student life, Mr. Moore once coached basketball and golf and is still a familiar presence at arts performances and athletic events across campus. A BOLD UNDERTAKING While Mr. Moore played a central role in many of Kinkaid’s most significant campaigns, one effort stands apart in both scale and ambition: the ALL IN Campaign. For those who helped lead it, the project represented something far beyond a typical fundraising effort. It was, in many ways, a defining chapter in the School’s very history.

“All of the Kinkaid campaigns combined do not come close to matching the monumental history-making ALL IN Campaign,” Mr. Katz said. “The ALL IN Campaign was breathtaking in its size, scope, and generational impact. It was our gravity-defying feat that redefined the look and feel of our campus.”

Mr. Katz described the campaign as a turning point for the School’s future — one that reshaped both its physical campus and its academic possibilities. “It heralded a new era of programs that focus on math, science, business, history, and the arts,” Mr. Katz said. “It was our School’s genuine effort toward matching Kinkaid’s academic excellence with the state-of-the-art structures that rival the best of our nation’s colleges and universities.”

But the work that made the campaign possible began long before the public ever heard its name. As Mr. Katz explained, much of the groundwork had already been quietly set in motion. “I was one of three chairmen, including Leslie Doggett ’75 and Charles Lawrence ’96, of the ALL IN Campaign, and we worked with Tom on the fundraising,” Mr. Katz said. “But long before we began asking a single person for any kind of gift, Tom had already been strategizing with one of the

nation’s leading consulting firms that offer a suite of best-in-class fundraising services.”

According to Mr. Katz, Mr. Moore had already laid out the framework for what would become the School’s most ambitious campaign to date. “He had already orchestrated a comprehensive fundraising plan,” he said. “This was not just another fundraising plan. We were going to be elevating the School to a higher level.”

The vision behind the campaign was expansive. It included new academic and student-centered spaces designed to meet the evolving standards of the community.

“All new centers that speak to our 21st century needs – a first-class STEM Center, a Center for Wellbeing and Success, and a Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance,” Mr. Katz said. “We would also be adding on to the Lower School, building a new athletic facility, designing green space into every one of our new structures, and adding all new classrooms, labs, studios, offices, conference rooms, rehearsal spaces, workrooms, and study rooms.”

Beyond individual buildings, the campaign sought to create something more unified across campus.

“Kinkaid would finally have connectivity in physical terms,” Mr. Katz added. “The work would take years, but this campaign was going to make history.” At the heart of that effort was Mr. Moore’s ability to bring people together around a shared vision.

“Tom inspired us by saying that everyone who bleeds purple and gold would want to be a part of it,” Mr. Katz said. “He was right. This was our time.” PASSING THE TORCH The work of advancement has continued under the leadership of new Director of Advancement Ms. Bridget Hennessey. Over the past year, the two have worked closely together to bring the ALL IN Campaign to its conclusion while ensuring a thoughtful transition for the office he built.

ALL IN

“Tom Moore is a true gem, an institution inside our institution. His impact over 25 years of exemplary service to Kinkaid is immeasurable. Tom is devoted to our school, and has consistently demonstrated a tireless work ethic and high integrity in all his actions. Tom's "super power" is his emotional intelligence and special ability to connect with people. He makes everyone with whom he engages feel seen and valued.” Jonathan Eades Head of School

Tom Moore New Employees Article - Kinkaid Magazine 2001

“For more than 25 years, Tom Moore has made a remarkable impact on The Kinkaid School. Many in the community know him as the person who helped raise an extraordinary amount of support for the School— funding that helped build the impressive facilities and strengthen the programs that students benefit from today. His dedication and leadership have played a major role in shaping the Kinkaid campus and community.

“Those who know Tom well, however, also know he has another passion— golf. Tom is not just a casual fan of the game. For several years, he served as an assistant coach for the Kinkaid Girls’ Golf Team, helping with practices and attending as many tournaments as possible throughout the season. He has also been instrumental in keeping the boys’ and girls’ golf tournament, the Kinkaid Steve Lasher Tournament, alive and running smoothly by gaining support from the Lasher family for more than twenty years.” Bobby Eggleston PE Teacher, Golf Program Head, and Coach

Director of Advancment Tom Moore, Jeb Bowden '98, and Murry Bowden - 2016

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALL IN

“Those who have had the privilege of working closely with Tom know that his counsel was never given lightly — and was always worth seeking. He listened before he spoke, considered before he concluded, and cared deeply about getting things right. “What strikes so many people about Tom is the breadth and depth of his empathy. He is remarkably attuned to the people around him — genuinely concerned, genuinely present, and genuinely kind. He has made lasting connections with everyone — faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni alike.

“Twenty-five years is a long time. It is long enough to weather change, to build something lasting, and to leave a place genuinely better than you found it. Tom Moore has done all three, and Kinkaid is richer for every one of them.” Joanne Margraves Chief Financial Officer

E. Staman Ogilvie, Beverly Ogilvie, Jenny Moore, Matt Archer, and Tom Moore - 2023

For Ms. Hennessey, the experience has been both professional and deeply personal. In Mr. Moore, she said, she has found not only a colleague but a mentor whose approach to advancement has shaped her own over the 20 years they've known each other. “Tom Moore is the ultimate coach,” Ms. Hennessey said. “He has been a mentor and friend to me — and to so many others in Houston and beyond — for years.”

What Mr. Moore has emphasized most, she explained, is the human side of the work. “He taught me that advancement is, at its core, a human endeavor,” she said. “It’s about earning trust, listening intently, and articulating the School's aspirations and needs.” That philosophy remained central as she stepped into the role that Mr. Moore left behind in the transition.

“I intend to maintain that human-centric focus, ensuring decisions we make benefit generations of Kinkaidians to come,” Ms. Hennessey said. For her, the transition itself has been guided by observance and continuity —

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

qualities she sees reflected in Mr. Moore’s leadership as well.

“I viewed last year as a ‘listening tour,’” she said. “My priority was to ask questions and deeply understand the needs of our team and community as they got to know my leadership style.” Because both leaders share a similar emphasis on relationships, she said the handoff unfolded naturally.

“Mr. Moore and I are both relationshipbuilders at heart, which made for a steady handoff,” Ms. Hennessey said. “As we moved through the spring semester, our focus was on successfully completing the ALL IN Campaign, while looking to the future to ensure philanthropy at Kinkaid continues to thrive.” A LASTING PRESENCE For all the campaigns he has led and the milestones he has helped reach, those who know Mr. Moore don’t think of him by something tangible like the amount of money he has raised or the awards he has received. Instead, it is his quiet humility and magnetic sense of compassion that seem to encapsulate him best.

ALL IN

Tom Moore - 2005

Jennifer Moore, Laura Moore Dols, Eddie Moore '06, and Tom Moore at Eddie's 2006 Baccalaureate

For many families, that essence began the moment they first met him.

“Tom understands the importance of commitment to people,” Mr. Katz said. “He is a first-class gentleman with an inherent sense of what is right and what is good for our School. He has an appropriateness, loves his family, and has a genuine respect for all people. He has dignity and a confident calm.”

“I remember the time when we first met Tom, and it just felt like we were at home,” Mr. Cowan said. “We were part of the Kinkaid family, and he made us feel completely welcome. He was and continues to be a person of true authenticity as it relates to truly caring about each family and each person.” Over time, those relationships only deepened.

“As my kids matriculated through Kinkaid, he celebrated every milestone with us,” Mr. Cowan said. “He was there as if he was part of the family, and for that, we will never forget him.” Others described a similar feeling in their first encounters with him.

“Tom had a personality that the minute he met you, you felt like you could be his friend,” Mr. Frank said. For colleagues and volunteers who worked alongside him, that personal warmth was paired with a strong sense of character and principle.

Those values, Ms. Hennessey also said, are part of Mr. Moore’s lasting legacy at Kinkaid.

“He taught us that we don't just give to a school, we become a stakeholder in a community we love,” she said. “That spirit is his greatest gift to Kinkaid.”

In that same spirit, Mr. Eades spoke to the personal impact Tom had on him.

“I will never be able to thank Tom enough for, yes, his service to Kinkaid and incredible legacy,” Mr. Eades shared, “but personally, I'm also so grateful he was here for me when I was new to Kinkaid in 2020 by thoughtfully orchestrating opportunities for the community to get to know me, and vice-versa. He certainly deserves all the best with his wife Jenny in his retirement.”

That appreciation has been felt just as strongly among students. During the 2024–25 school year, the Upper School dedicated its yearbook to Mr. Moore. At the ceremony in Brown Auditorium, students celebrated him with a chorus of chants proclaiming him to be the “G.O.A.T,.” an acronym that stands for the “Greatest Of All Time”. For Mr. Moore, the recognition was significant.

“The yearbook dedication was very meaningful,” he said. “I care about the students and faculty in all aspects, and being involved has been a major part of my life for 25 years. I wake up in the morning and think about Kinkaid.” After 25 years of service, leadership, and dedication to the community he helped shape, one thing is clear — Kinkaid is stronger because of Mr. Tom Moore.

And for that, the entire Falcon community shares the same message. Thank you, Tom Moore, for all you’ve done for us.

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

LEADING OUR COMMUNITY

The People Behind the Place

Every school can point to its facilities, its programs, its results. What is harder to measure, and harder to replicate, is the quality of its people. Buildings go up. Programs launch. Campaigns conclude. These are the visible markers of a school's progress, and Kinkaid has had no shortage of them in recent years. But one truth keeps surfacing, and it is not a new one: it is the people at Kinkaid, and the relationships they build, that make this place what it is.

The data bears it out. In our 2026 Recent Alumni Survey, graduates from the past six years were asked to name the faculty and staff most instrumental to their growth at Kinkaid. The responses named 116 different people! Some alumni wrote "all of my math teachers." Others wrote simply that "my coaches were amazing." The breadth of that list, and the warmth behind it, are worthy of reflection.

What does this look like in practice? It is a teacher who knows a student's sport, her role in the winter play, her struggle with a particular concept, and shows up for all three. It is a coach who treats an injured athlete as a person first and a competitor second. It is a community that rallies, consistently and across divisions, and departments when one of its members is in need. It is leaders who are present in the hallways, at the games, and in the moments that matter most to students. These are not outlier stories. They are the pattern. The recent alumni survey provides other findings worth noting. Graduates credited Kinkaid with helping them develop the confidence to speak up, ask questions, and communicate effectively with the adults in their lives, skills that travel well beyond graduation. More than three-quarters reported feeling better prepared to lead than their college peers, and nearly all credited Kinkaid with teaching them how to balance competing demands at a high level. Many also pointed to the arts, to the particular

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

kind of discipline and collaboration that comes from creating and performing alongside others, as formative in ways that had little to do with a grade or a college application. The Three A's, academics, arts, and athletics are Kinkaid's framework. But behind every one of them is a person: a teacher who stayed late, a coach who noticed, a director who pushed a student to discover something in himself he did not know was there. That is what graduates carry with them. That is what makes Kinkaid, Kinkaid. Peter J. Behr Associate Head of School

LEADING OUR COMMUNITY

2026 FACULTY AND STAFF AWARDS

Columbiana Award for Excellence in Teaching

STEM Award for Excellence in Teaching

Georgia and Eddie Leonard Staff Excellence Award

Faris D. Virani Memorial Award

The Columbiana Award is our highest faculty honor, presented to the one educator who best embodies outstanding pedagogy, a capacity to inspire, and a relentless dedication to their craft. For her 16 years of dedication, her innovative spirit, and her unwavering commitment to the Kinkaid mission, we recognize Upper School English Teacher Christa Forster as the recipient of the 2026 Columbiana Award.

The Morey Family STEM Teaching Award honors a faculty member who demonstrates innovation and creativity in teaching STEM, develops student curiosity, adapts to meet individual needs, and serves as a living embodiment of the School’s core values. For his tireless commitment to STEM teaching, his steady, missiondriven leadership, and his constant drive inspire students in mathematics, we recognize Upper School Math Chair and Teacher Dr. Richard Parr as the recipient of the 2026 Morey Family STEM Teaching Award.

The Georgia and Eddie Leonard Staff Excellence Award is given to a member of the Kinkaid staff who quietly, but profoundly, contributes to the daily experience of the entire Kinkaid community. For his tireless, behind-thescenes dedication, his unwavering commitment to excellence, and his true embodiment of the very spirit of this award, we recognize Facilities Project Coordinator Carter Metclaf as the recipient of the 2026 Georgia and Eddie Leonard Staff Excellence Award.

The Faris D. Virani Memorial Award honors a faculty member who displays a positive, “go with the flow” attitude and embodies the inspiring, joyous spirit that made Faris so special. For her resilience, joyous dedication to our students, and unwavering positive spirit, we recognize Upper School Math Teacher and Coach Nadine Ghosn as the recipient of the 2026 Faris D. Virani Memorial Award.

Christa Forster

RETIREMENTS

Tom Moore

25 Years of Service

Richard Parr

Carter Metclaf

Nadine Ghosn

Ted Curry

15 Years of Service

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

LEADING OUR COMMUNITY

HONORING SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY E VA N H . K AT Z — C H A I R , B O A R D O F T R U S T E E S

Kinkaid's Board of Trustees elected Evan H. Katz to serve as Chair, effective May 05, 2026. Evan and his wife Nicole are the parents of Sam (Episcopal ’30), Alexandra (Kinkaid ’31), and Roxy (Kinkaid ’34).

Over the years, Kinkaid has benefited and thrived from the service of many dedicated volunteers. Among them is Steven P. Mach, whose commitment to the School and its community has been evident throughout his years of leadership. Steve came to the chairmanship of The Kinkaid School's Board of Trustees having already spent a lifetime in service. An Eagle Scout — one of Scouting's highest honors, earned early and recognized again with the Outstanding Eagle Scout Award in 2021 — Steve learned as a young man that leadership is not about title or position. It is about showing up, doing the work, and staying engaged when challenges arise. That lesson has guided him throughout his life. His record of civic engagement is remarkable. From co-founding the Chi Delta Tau Alumni Association

Foundation in 1993 to leading the Houston Symphony Society as Chairman of the Board, from his service on the Texas Public Safety Commission — where he has served as Chairman — to his decades of work with Family Services of Greater Houston, Steve has woven himself into the fabric of his native city with the quiet consistency of someone who never needed the credit. At Kinkaid, Steve has served as a trustee since 2019, becoming Chair of the Board in 2024. His term as Board Chair began as the $200 million ALL IN Campaign was wrapping up and during a challenging period for the School. Steve understood that institutions are strongest when people can disagree respectfully and work toward a common goal.

But what distinguishes him is something harder to quantify. It is the respect he commands from people across every room he enters. He expects a great deal from others and even more from himself. Throughout his years of service, Steve has been supported by his wife, Joella, and their children, Priscilla '20, Bennett '21, and Evelyn '24. Like many families of community volunteers, they have shared

With heartfelt appreciation, Kinkaid also recognizes the following Trustees for their years of dedicated service to our

The Kinkaid School

2025 – 2026

Kinkaid is a 120-year-old school shaped by generations of leaders, faculty, students, and families. Steve Mach now has added his own contributions to that legacy, helping to guide the School and its future.

Steve brings to everything he does the discipline of a serious financial mind — he has served as Vice President and CFO of Mach Industrial Group since 1992 — and possesses the steadiness of someone who has chaired boards, led campaigns, and navigated complexity across dozens of organizations over three decades.

s Steven P. Mach (2019-2026) concludes his service as Board Chair and his tenure on the Board of Trustees, the entire Kinkaid community thanks him for his exceptional leadership, steadfast commitment, and thoughtful stewardship of Kinkaid. We are profoundly grateful for all he has given to our School.

in the time and commitment that leadership requires. Their support has been an important part of his ability to serve.

Steven P. Mach

Chair, Board of Trustees, 2024-2026

community: Charles Berdon Lawrence Jr. ’96 (2020-2026), Cecil J. Looke III (2020-2026), Bethel M. Quander (2020-2026). Through your leadership, advocacy, and commitment to Kinkaid's mission, you have helped ensure a strong future for generations of students. Thank you for your extraordinary service and lasting contributions.

LEADING OUR COMMUNITY

KINKIAD OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT

SPORTING CLAYS BENEFIT

Tom Moore, Brian Ross '95, Bobby Eggleston, Jason Holton, and Chris Graf '94

Mike Mayfield and Tad Mayfield '81

Kristi Oldham, Stephanie Smith, Adrian Turner Ross '62, and Polly Bowden

Blake Helfman, Julia Coskey Cole '05, and Todd Moore '01

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

V I S UA L A N D PE R FOR M I NG A RT S :

Breaking Free: A Year of Creative Liberation

SCOTT LAMBERT

Director of Visual and Performing Arts

s the final notes of the spring concerts fade and the galleries are packed away for the summer, I find myself looking back on the 2025-2026 academic year with immense pride. If you were to walk through our Visual and Performing Arts halls on any given day, you didn’t just see and hear "art"—you saw and heard the process of becoming.

Throughout this year, our work was unified by a powerful theme: Breaking Free. Whether it was a student breaking free from the fear of a wrong note, a dancer stepping out of their comfort zone into choreography, or a painter moving past the "blank canvas" paralysis, this theme was the heartbeat of our studios. At Kinkaid, our guiding principle is to provide a student-centered curriculum that fosters collaboration and problem-solving. This year, our students lived that mission by breaking through their own perceived limits.

The Resilience of the Stage & Dance Floor

Our theatre and dance programs took us on a journey of liberation. The year began with the powerful fall productions of Decision Height and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, where students explored themes of persistence and the courage to break free from fear. This trajectory peaked in the Upper School musical, Once Upon a One More Time, as fairy-tale characters literally broke free from the stories written for them.

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In the Middle School, every 8th grader joined in the production of High School Musical, Jr., breaking free from individual interests to work as one collaborative unit. Our younger thespians found their voices in Everyone Gets Eaten by Sharks, Boat, and Hotel Escargot.

From our tremendous fall concert to pop-up performances at the 75th Kinkaid Book Fair, our dancers transformed the campus into a stage. Whether they were traveling to Chicago to learn from industry professionals or to Disneyland to dance down Main Street, or showcasing the technical brilliance and personal expression of the Choreography Projects, our students showed that movement is the ultimate way to break free from the constraints of the everyday. They moved beyond simple steps to explore storytelling through the body, proving that true liberation is found in both discipline and creative risk.

A Symphony of Growth: Band, Choir, and Orchestra The music program served as the pulse of campus, proving that harmony requires the courage to break free from the fear of mistakes. Our instrumentalists pushed technical boundaries, from the spirited October "Hauntcert" to the sophisticated Upper School and Middle School spring concerts.

The choral program focused on the vulnerability of the human voice. The Upper School Choir Pops Concert was a vibrant standout as students traveled Back to the 80s. Dressed in the bold styles of the decade, our singers broke free from classical structures to explore the high-energy versatility of pop and rock. This spirit of liberation continued into May with the Middle School Choir Concert, where younger vocalists stepped into the spotlight with newfound confidence. Finally, during the Margaret Kinkaid Holiday Celebration, over 500 musicians shared the stage, breaking free from the isolation of the practice room to become part of something much larger.

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

Vision and Voice: Visual Arts, Writing, and Film

Our artists, writers, and journalists used their media to explore what it means to be truly independent.

• The Galleries: Across six major exhibitions, including the Margaret Kinkaid exhibition and the poignant Senioritis show, students experimented with photography, ceramics, sculpture, drawing and painting, graphic design, and print making and mixed media.

• The Written Word: Our student journalists and writers broke free from traditional boundaries to share the Kinkaid story across multiple platforms. The Falcon kept us informed through six issues produced in both traditional print and digital versions, while the new Falcons in Focus Instagram account brought to life the people in our community. Meanwhile, our creative writers moved from the private page to the public stage during the Creative Writing Readings and the launch of the Falcon Wings print anthology. These voices were further amplified by our online creative writing journal, Falcon Quill, proving that our students’ insights are as diverse as the mediums they choose.

• Film & Digital Media: Our filmmakers captured the year through the lens, exploring the power of visual storytelling. Our Middle School students experimented with genre and tone, creating everything from suspenseful Halloween shorts to imaginative Super Bowl commercials. In the Upper School, student work reached wider audiences than ever— screening for the entire community during Field Day and playing to a full house at the ISAS Arts Festival. These moments, culminating in our own Upper School Film Festival, were true celebrations of creative liberation.

A Shared Journey

Our year wasn't contained within our campus. In April, a massive contingent of Falcons traveled to Dallas for the ISAS Arts Festival, breaking free from our local bubble to connect with a wider community of artists. As I look back, I am moved not simply by the standing ovations, but by who our students became along the way. They chose perseverance over comfort, discovering that "breaking free" isn't about the absence of struggle, but about the courage to work through it.

To our student artists: Thank you for your curiosity and bravery. To our faculty and parents: Thank you for protecting the space where this growth happens. The arts are not an “extra” at Kinkaid; they are the vehicle through which our students break free and find themselves. Applause!

2025-2026 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENTS Stephanie Ostrosky, Heather Lingle

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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

The Kinkaid School

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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

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AT H L E T I C S

The Kinkaid School

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AT H L E T I C S

FALCONS CONTINUE TO SOAR INTO 2026 D AV I D H O L M Director of Athletics and Physical Education | The Monteleone Chair in Athletics

want to begin by celebrating our seniors and our student-athletes for an incredible year in Kinkaid athletics. I am so proud of all of our student-athletes and the commitments they have made to our teams and community. We had a great year!

At the varsity level this past year, we celebrated Fall SPC Championships in Field Hockey and Football, along with a first-place finish for our Cheer team at the Houston Regionals. In the winter, Girls Basketball won another SPC title, Wrestling finished a strong second and had multiple qualifiers for the Prep Nationals, and Boys Basketball won the most games in a season since the 1988 team. In the spring, Boys Golf and Girls Tennis won SPC titles, Boys Lacrosse, Baseball, and Track and Field finished second in the SPC, and our Boys Lacrosse team won the Single-A State Championship. Truly, it was a great year to be a Falcon! Sixteen of our student-athletes will compete in their sport at the next level, and we have an impressive 41 four-year letter winners in this senior class. I am so proud of all of our student-athletes and their teacher-coach-mentors. It makes me continue to absolutely love sports and what sports can do for us and teach us.

"TRULY, IT WAS A GREAT YEAR TO BE A FALCON! SIXTEEN OF OUR STUDENTATHLETES WILL COMPETE IN THEIR SPORT AT THE NEXT LEVEL, AND WE HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE 41 FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS IN THIS SENIOR CLASS." There are so many reasons why I love sports. Sports have been part of my entire life: T-ball, youth wrestling and basketball, pickup ice hockey at the neighborhood city park, football, soccer, basketball, track—playing every sport imaginable throughout my school years. You could do that back in my days. There were no travel teams, no specialization, no adults organizing everything, every practice, or every event. Kids were simply being kids and learning through sports.

We would play our summer baseball games during the day, grab something to eat, and then go play basketball, seven-on-seven football, golf, or ultimate frisbee. Hacky Sack had not become a thing yet. We just played. We certainly competed and wanted to win, but it was all done on our terms, or mostly our terms. We picked teams, made mid-game trades, and, when one side dominated the other, we adjusted because we wanted to be evenly matched. It was fun that way.

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AT H L E T I C S When someone had to go home, we did not stop playing; we made adjustments. We called our own penalties, argued over whether a penalty had even happened, debated who did what first, and then realized that the more we argued, the less we got to play. We negotiated settlements. It was all done by us, kids and young adults, not others.

There was really something to be said for that. Sports provided the setting to teach us skills such as negotiating, compromising, adjusting to changing conditions, and learning to work together. For the most part, it was good stuff. Certainly not perfect. But sports and society evolve, and change happens. It is part of life. In 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments was passed. At the time, very little concern or debate revolved around gender equity in sports. However, over time, that seemingly small piece of legislation would have one of its greatest impacts on athletics. In 1971, roughly 295,000 girls participated in high school sports. Today, the number of girls playing high school sports exceeds 3.5 million. That is a staggering change over time. We are not completely there yet, but we continue to evolve and continue to change.

I have been a fan of Bob Dylan's music for some time now, and when I think of major changes, I often think of his song "The Times They Are A-Changin'." When I think of the state of college sports today, it is hard for me not to think of that song and the changes we are navigating in athletics. At the collegiate level, and this has an impact on our student-athletes, how they are recruited, and what options they may have, the change has been fast and monumental, essentially changing the entire landscape of intercollegiate athletics.

In intercollegiate athletics, several significant changes have all come together simultaneously. The first is Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). The second is the House settlement, which has enabled schools to share revenue and create systems that may allow athletic departments to provide significant compensation to student-athletes. The third is the transfer portal. All of these forces have collided to reshape sports and challenge the idea of amateurism and the role of athletics in the mission of the university. "The Times They Are A-Changin'," and student-athletes and collegiate athletic departments are having to navigate these changes. These changes will most certainly arrive at our doorstep in the not-so-distant future.

At this school year’s SPC athletic directors' meeting in San Antonio, we had a chance to listen to Dr. Lisa Campos, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletic Director at the University of Texas at San Antonio. As you may know, UTSA competes in Division I. They are not part of one of the four power conferences and have had to adjust their strategies to the changes that have come their way. It was interesting and refreshing to hear what guides them.

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AT H L E T I C S The resources they have are significantly less than those of the major conference schools, so they have had to focus on the types of student-athletes they want to recruit and the guiding principles they will follow to remain competitive. They have focused on developing their culture; a culture based on quality student-athletes who love playing the game and quality teacher-coach-mentors who lead, create a positive environment, and shape their athletic department and school community. It is their North Star, something they can hang their hat on. At Kinkaid, the student-athlete experience and the teacher-coach-mentor relationship continue to be our North Star, our guiding light. It is what inspires us at all times and remains constant as sports and society evolve and change.

For our seniors and their families, the idea expressed in Bob Dylan's chorus rings true, meaningful, and relevant. Change is happening in real time.

I always struggle at the end of the school year, when change means we will no longer have a particular group of student-athletes, our seniors, with us every day. We have watched them grow and develop. We have embraced them in victory and helped them hold their heads high in defeat. We will never be quite the same without them here. It is hard to imagine our teams without their presence. For parents and families, I do not have to tell you the emotions you are experiencing. I have lived these emotions as well. As the father of three Kinkaid graduates, I never thought I would miss saying, "Clean up your room," "Get off your phone at the dinner table," or "Would it kill you to turn off a light?" But when you are part of turning one chapter and beginning the next, you do miss it. At the same time, it makes you think of things that make you smile. Change happens, and there are so many things ahead that will be new, fun, and challenging for all of our student-athletes. While change is inevitable, we remain who we are. We look for consistency and direction. We focus on what continues to be important, and we double down on our foundational values. We are guided by our principles, and we follow our North Star. To our graduating seniors, while you are navigating your own changes, I think it is hugely important that you know what does not change.

What does not change is that you are prepared for the next chapter of your life. You will take with you great memories, stories, and friendships developed here at Kinkaid and through your athletic experiences. What does not change is that you have accomplished so much, and your legacy will live on. What does not change is that this is your home, and it always will be, and we want you to keep coming back. This is your Kinkaid.

What does not change is that you have a group of teacher-coach-mentors who care about you very much and always will. On behalf of Kinkaid Athletics, to our seniors, thank you. Thank you for giving us your very best, and thank you for letting us be a part of your journey. We wish you all the very best.

For our underclassmen, this message is not exclusive to our seniors. Change is coming, and in many ways, it is already here. Moving from ninth to tenth grade, from tenth to eleventh grade, and from eleventh grade to becoming next year's seniors comes with continued development, more responsibility, and more opportunities to be your very best. Embrace those changes. They are both challenging and rewarding. And while "The Times They Are A-Changin'," remember this because it is a constant:

It’s a Great Day to be a Falcon!

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STUDENT ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2025 - 2026

STUDENT ATHLETIC TRAINERS 2025 - 2026

Advisors

Victoria Gonzalez ’26 1 year

Steve Maas

Kacey Harvin ’26 3 years

Head Athletic Trainer

Stacey Marshall

Cynthia Griffing

Presidents

Ellison Anderson ’26 Morgan Tannery ’26

Assistant Athletic Trainers Jonathan Mayes Althea Wolfe

Vice Presidents Rosie Carr ’27

Sydney Marshall ’27

Sub Committee Leaders Maya Bernal ’27

Student Athletic Trainers

CHEER 2025-2026

Hudson Holton ’26

UCA Houston Regionals - Intermediate Performance Category

Evan Paris ’26

J.P. Whiteley ’27

SPC TEAM AWARDS 2025-2026

25-26 Members

MaRyiah Alfred ’27

Field Hockey, Football, Girls Basketball, Boys Golf, Girls Tennis

Sienna Bailey ’27

Lewis Brazelton ’28 Hayes Comarda ’28

HJPC TEAM AWARDS 2025-2026

Miles Comarda ’27

Field Hockey, Baseball, Boys Cross Country, Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis

Grace Essalih ’26

Kamdyn Flora ’27

Leighton Hinton ’28 Conlee Hodges ’27

ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENTS 2025-2026

Dylan Jett ’28

Ashley McTaggart

Sam Holm ’28

Katherine Jones

Lauren Hull ’27

Drake Johnson ’27

Shaan Lakhani ’27 Robert Lee ’28

HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEES 2025 - 2026

Shea Morenz ’28 Lana Nguyen ’28

Ellison Anderson Cross Country, Soccer, Track & Field

Madeline Peters ’28

Mayes Beeler Cheer, Basketball, Softball

Savannah Petit ’28

Grace Essalih Field Hockey, Lacrosse

Marisol Rascoe ’28

Huxley Johnson Cross Country, Wrestling

Sydney Reichman ’28

Kate St. Julian Soccer, Track & Field

Jackson Setrum ’26

Eli Mayer Cross Country, Track & Field

William Scott ’27

Courtney Whittaker Field Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse

Victoria Walton ’27

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Ethan Williams Basketball, Track & Field

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THREE SEASON VARSITY LETTER WINNERS 2025 - 2026

FOUR YEAR VARSITY LETTER WINNERS 2025 - 2026 Fourth Year

Ellison Anderson Soccer

Henry McFaul Lacrosse

Mayes Beeler Softball

Lindsey Morgan Field Hockey

Maithreyi Asthagiri Golf

Leah Bream Softball

Alexandra Citron Track Garrett Clark Wrestling Dain Dakri Soccer

Cameron Dillon Cross Country

Grace Essalih Field Hockey and Lacrosse Fife Famurewa Tennis

Nancy Claire Fertitta Tennis Kacey Harvin Softball

Jackson Holton Cross Country

Huxley Johnson Cross Country and Wrestling Audrey Jones Softball

Kate St. Julian Soccer and Track & Field Harris Kirmani Soccer

Caroline Kubitza Soccer

Eli Mayer Cross Country and Track & Field

Willaim Mitchell Golf

Jasmine Nguyen Tennis Tanner Nyveen Baseball

Jackie O’Donnell Field Hockey Trip O’Donnell Golf

John Patterson Swimming & Diving Peyton Price Soccer

Jackson Setrum Baseball Alex Stilwell Cross Country

Morgan Tannery Wrestling Jaxon Tidsbury Lacrosse Aiden Wang Soccer

Courtney Whittaker Soccer and Lacrosse

Ethan Williams Basketball and Track & Field Kyle Yang Golf

Humza Yousuf Soccer

First Year

Ellison Anderson ’26 Cross Country, Soccer, Track & Field Takori Bradford ’27 Football, Wrestling, Track & Field

Nate Chambers ’27 Football, Basketball, Track & Field

Ruben Hernandez Dailey ’29 Cross Country, Soccer, Track & Field Tegan Little ’29 Field Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse Gregory Otjen ’27 Football Wrestling, Lacrosse Warner Shaper ’26 Football, Soccer, Lacrosse

Blair Strachan ’27 Field Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse

Second Year

Nina Piazza ’28 Field Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse

Marisol Rascoe ’28 Cross Country, Soccer, Track & Field William Scott '27 Football, Wrestling, Track

Lillian Slania ’28 Volleyball, Soccer, Softball

Third Year

Maya Bernal ’27 Cross Country, Swimming, Track & Field Anya Somcio ’27 Cross Country, Swimming, Track

Victoria Walton ’27 Cross Country, Basketball, Track & Field Courtney Whittaker ’26 Field Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse

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AT H L E T I C S

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C E L E B R AT I N G O U R S E N I O R S

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2026

C E L E B R AT I N G O U R S E N I O R S

HONOR I NG T H E

SE N IOR C L A S S OF

Members of the Class of 2026 said their final goodbye to high school as they received their diplomas on Friday, May 22, in front of family, friends, and devoted teachers in the Doggett Family Fieldhouse & Gymnasium.

o kick off graduation week, the School hosted a Baccalaureate ceremony on Sunday, May 17, in the Brown Auditorium. Michael Berry delivered a heartfelt speech to the senior class and their families. Miller Crosswell ’26, the class-elected speaker recapped and reflected on experiences of the Class of 2026. It truly was a wonderful way to start the week of graduation.

“After spending my entire life at this school, I could not imagine a better class to grow up with. As Mr. Eades said, 'the people around you will one day be in your wedding. They will be who you call when you have your first child, or when a parent passes away.' There is nothing else like this community, and the people at this school will always be there for you.” MILLER CROSSWELL ’26 Baccalaureate student address

Graduation night couldn’t have been more perfect. The audience heard from Head of School Jonathan Eades, Governing Council President Lucy Dannenbaum ’26, Senior Class President Jack Susman ’26, and Head of Upper School Alex Spencer.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

“Kinkaid gave us an education that extends far beyond the classroom. Kinkaid gave us courage to take risks, confidence to believe in ourselves, and friendships forever, because friendships made here are ones that stick… I love you all very much, and I'm so very proud of each one of you, and I cannot wait to see you make a difference in the world. Class of 2026, we did it! Go Falcons!” LUCY DANNENBAUM ’26 Governing Council President

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Class of 2026 Matriculations Amherst College

Duke University

Princeton University

Texas Tech University

United States Naval Academy

Vanderbilt University

Baylor University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Rice University

The University of Mississippi

University of Denver

Wake Forest University

Auburn University

Fordham University

Austin Community College

Georgetown University

Boston College

Houston Community College

Boston University

Indiana University Bloomington

Bucknell University

Johns Hopkins University

Clemson University

Louisiana State University

Colby College

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Columbia University

Morehouse College

Cornell University

New York University

Dartmouth College

Northwestern University

Davidson College

The Kinkaid School

Pitzer College 2025 – 2026

Purdue University Reed College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Savannah College of Art and Design Smith College

Southern Methodist University Southwestern University Stanford University

Stephen F. Austin State University Texas A&M University

Texas Christian University

The University of Chicago The University of Iowa

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of Oklahoma

The University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Dallas

The University of Texas at San Antonio The University of the South Trinity University

United States Military Academy

University of California, Davis

University of Colorado Boulder University of Georgia

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Miami

University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh

University of Southern California

Vassar College

Villanova University

Washington and Lee University

Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Yale University

University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Virginia

University of Washington

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Members of the 2026 John H. Cooper Cum Laude Society Dante Agostini

Hudson Holton

Jackie O'Donnell

Liam Webster

Ellison Anderson

Audrey Koo

John Patterson

Kyle Yang

Abby Ahuero

Adi Kejriwal

Maithreyi Asthagiri

Daniel Krasny

Leah Bream

Saya Malek

Sophia Cubbage

Maureen Min

Cameron Dillon

Priyanka Nayar

Grace Essalih

Jasmine Nguyen

Fife Famurewa

Victoria Oderich

Class of 2026 Officers Lucy Dannenbaum Governing Council President

Ayla Patel

Henry Wise

Julia Pryor

Lia Zitvar

Unaisah Saeed

Warner Shaper Andy Shi

Jack Susman Aiden Wang

Harris Kirmani Governing Council Vice-President

students entered Kinkaid in Lower School

Jack Susman Senior Class President

students entered Kinkaid in Middle School

Ethan Williams Honor Council Co-President

students entered Kinkaid in Upper School

William Adeniyi Governing Council Senior Class Representative Fife Famurewa Honor Council Co-President

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C E L E B R AT I N G O U R S E N I O R S

Falcons Headed to the Next Level Seniors who have committed to playing a sport in college Harper Brown Field Hockey Davidson College

Jasmine Nguyen Tennis Johns Hopkins University

Carlton Walton Baseball Washington and Lee University

Grace Essalih Field Hockey Stanford University

Evan Rohde Golf Villanova University

Ethan Williams Track & Field Columbia University

Garrett Clark Wrestling Rochester Institute of Technology

Ava Golden Lacrosse Wellesley College

Matthew Guyton Baseball Johns Hopkins University Austin Jones Baseball Southwestern University

Jackie O’Donnell Field Hockey Stanford University

Catherine Rosser Field Hockey Duke University

Jackson Setrum Baseball The University of the South

Courtney Whittaker Lacrosse University of Denver

Andrew Wright Track & Field Washington University in St. Louis

Jaxon Tidsbury Lacrosse Savannah College of Art and Design

“I would tell my Freshman self to take advantage of every opportunity that your teachers or coaches offer you.” - Kavin Mukerji ’26

“I would tell my Freshman self to always push myself, no matter how hard it seems. Also, to involve myself in activities inside and outside of school, even if I was not sure I would like them.” - Ayala Presley ’26 “I would tell my Freshman self to make everything fun whenever possible!” - Ava Golden ’26

WHAT I WOULD TELL MY FRESHMAN SELF

“I would tell my Freshman self to work hard no matter what is thrown at you. Just because there is a setback doesn’t mean it won’t work out in the end. You are strong and you are amazing. God has a plan. Just follow His course.” - Harper Brown ’26

“To my younger self, I would emphasize patience and understanding, the importance of balancing both fun and work. That all works out for a reason, yet it’s still important to focus on your goals and work every day to achieve them. But it’s okay to have off days and feel unproductive, as long as you still have eyes on the finish line.” - Henry Wise ’26

“As a Senior, I would tell my Freshman self to be more outgoing and reach out to more people, also to get more involved with clubs, etc. I would also tell myself to enjoy the environment Kinkaid provides more and appreciate the opportunities and resources given. I would also say not to stress as much, focus on your friends and having fun. You can stress later.” - Taylor Edwards ’26 These quotes first appeared in Issue 6, Vol. 80 of “The Falcon,” Kinkaid’s student magazine.

Scan this QR code to read more from The Falcon

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C E L E B R AT I N G O U R S E N I O R S

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ALUMNI

MULTIGENERATIONAL KINKAID FAMILIES

Graduating students whose parent(s), grandparent(s), or great-grandparent(s) also graduated from or attended Kinkaid. Only those who graduated from Kinkaid have a year associated with their name. Kendall Adam, father Mark Adam ’94

Abby Ahuero, mother Alice Watson Ahuero ’96 Ellison Anderson, father Clarke Anderson ’97, grandfather D. Kent Anderson ’58

Andrew Aron, mother Joanie Goldstein Aron ’98, father Doug Aron ’92, step-grandfather Jack Lee ’68 Harper Brown, mother Erin Jones Brown ’96, father Wil Brown ’95 Jackson Chapoton, father John Chapoton, grandmother Sally Eastham Chapoton ’58 Olivia Chapoton, father John Chapoton, grandmother Sally Eastham Chapoton ’58

Miller Crosswell, father Miller Crosswell ’94, mother Allison Speed Crosswell ’92, grandfather David Crosswell, grandmother Tye Peckinpaugh Taft, step-grandfather Philip Taft ’68, great-grandfather Mark Crosswell, great-grandmother Elisabeth Holcombe Crosswell ’31

Lucy Dannenbaum, father Mark Dannenbaum ’93, grandfather Henry Head ’67 Gray Davis, father Thad Davis ’91

Cameron Dillon, mother Leisa Ladin Dillon ’95, grandfather Phillip Ladin ’64 Taylor Edwards, mother Nan Garrett ’89

Grace Essalih, mother Ellie Bullard Skelton ’94 Andre Fadulu, father Sunday Fadulu ’88

Nancy Claire Fertitta, grandfather Cadell Liedtke ’73, grandmother Marion Perryman Liedtke ’73, step-mother Alicia Thomas Fertitta ’91

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Millie Frankel, father Kevin Frankel ’97, grandfather Jimmy Frankel ’69

Sara Ghauri, mother Rana Rahman Ghauri ’89

Eliya Gibson, mother Nicole Nathan Gibson ’88 Audrey Gutierrez, mother Julia Dudley Gutierrez ’94 Jack Harper, father John Harper ’94

Kacey Harvin, father Billy Harvin ’97

Pierce Hicks, mother Donley McGuirt Hicks, grandfather Don McGuirt ’65 Austin Jones, mother Donya Davis ’88

Colin Josephson, father Michael Josephson ’93 Kathryn Khalil, mother Elaine Granmayeh Khalil ’92

Caroline Kubitza, mother Huntley Anderson, grandfather D. Kent Anderson ’58 Thomas Leman Jr., mother Jennifer Monday Leman ’88 Harrison Lingle, father R. J. Lingle ’94

Kate McWherter, mother Kelly Russell McWherter ’95

Lindsey Morgan, father Brad Morgan ’96, mother Lauren Roemer Morgan ’96

Jackie O’Donnell, father Kenny O’Donnell ’94 Trip O’Donnell, father Kenny O’Donnell ’94

Z Ostrosky, mother Stephanie Lerner Ostrosky ’88 Ellie Ott, father David Ott ’97

Evan Paris, mother Joslyn Welch Paris ’94, grandmother Jana Priest Paris

Gus Pielop, father Chris Pielop ’91 Caleb Pitts, father Sam Pitts ’92

Madelyn Pomroy, mother Maya Buryakovsky Pomroy ’96 John Patrick Reckling, grandmother Isla Winston Reckling, great-grandfather Harry Masterson ’28, great-grandmother Carroll Sterling Masterson ’28

Finley Ryman, mother Natalie Harrison ’92, grandmother Terry Davis Harrison ’67 Ross Saunders, grandmother Gayle Perry Saunders Cate Schmidt, father Tom Schmidt

Warner Shaper, father Penn Shaper ’92 Henry Silva, father Gene Silva ’92

Whitney Sturm, mother Sandy Selber Sturm ’91

Jonathan Sweetland, mother Caren Schmulen Sweetland ’91 Ben Turner, father Charles Turner ’92

Johnny Walters, mother Kate Marinis Walters ’95, great-grandfather Samuel Cruse ’33 Isabel Werlin, father David Werlin ’96 Henry Wise, father David Wise ’96 Laine Wise, father Philip Wise ’96

Maddie Wynn, father Taylor Wynn ’96

Yasmeen Younis, father George Younis ’90

ALUMNI

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ALUMNI

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:

Simi Bontha ’19 and Nina Bontha ’14

or sisters Simi Bontha ’19 and Nina Bontha ’14, entrepreneurship began at home — in conversations with their mother, Ritu, about the traditional Indian hair rituals they grew up with and the cultural practices that shaped their family. In the Bontha household, hair oiling was more than a routine; it was a ritual of care, connection, and heritage passed down through generations. Inspired by these moments, Simi and Nina set out to reimagine these time-honored Ayurvedic traditions in a way that fits seamlessly into modern life. The result was Le Védique, a family-founded venture rooted in culture, intention, and shared purpose.

“ ”

"Building Le Védique together has been a deeply meaningful experience for the sisters, allowing them to honor their heritage while creating something of their own." “Le Védique began as conversations at home with our mom, Ritu, around traditional Indian hair rituals and the lack of products that felt both effective and elevated,” the sisters share. “Having grown up with these practices, we wanted to create something that felt both personal and effortless for everyday routines.”

Building Le Védique together has been a deeply meaningful experience for the sisters, allowing them to honor their heritage while creating something of their own. Their journey reflects the power of family, culture, and entrepreneurship coming together — a reminder that the most impactful ideas often begin at home. Through their work, Simi and Nina embody Kinkaid’s mission to lead, serve, and contribute to the global community, sharing their cultural traditions while building something intentional and lasting.

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Scan the QR Code to hear from our alumni and see a glimpse of Kinkaid’s past

ALUMNI

Carol and Jim Frankel Use Bequest to Go “ALL IN” for Kinkaid

eing “ALL IN” for Kinkaid comes easy for Carol and Jim Frankel ’69. Not only does Jim credit his 13 years at Kinkaid with being the springboard for the rest of his life, he and Carol have sent all four of their children, Kevin Frankel ’97, Scott Frankel ’99, Lisa Frankel Lee ’03 and Leslie Frankel Weiner ’03 to Kinkaid and their ten grandchildren have followed suit.

extraordinary opportunities Kinkaid offers.

While a student, Jim was active in theater in Middle School and played four years of varsity soccer. Since graduating, he has remained closely connected through helping with the Phonathon, serving as a Kinkaid Fund grade captain and grandparents chair. “My 13 years at Kinkaid gave me an understanding of who I was and who I wanted to become as well as an appreciation of people from different backgrounds and values from mine,” Jim says.

“We appreciate the quality of educational experience that our children and, more recently, our grandchildren have experienced,” Jim says. “Kinkaid has delighted me in how each child can thrive and excel in whatever area of interest they have.”

Now, to ensure future generations of Kinkaidians enjoy the same opportunities, Jim and Carol have established a bequest in their estate plan boosting the ALL IN Campaign and supporting the School well into the future.

With their estate gift, Jim and Carol are helping future students receive the

Jim and Carol hope other alumni will join them in supporting Kinkaid’s future success.

“Kinkaid stands alone,” Jim says. “These significant gifts make the difference between just going to a school and gaining a world-class education.”

Estate Gifts from the Moss Family Inspire Lifelong Learning at Kinkaid

or Rebecca Moss, honoring her family’s deep commitment to The Kinkaid School is both a privilege and a responsibility. Representing the estates of her father, Gary “Brent” Moss ’65, and her uncle, Joseph “Barry” Moss, a beloved teacher and leader at Kinkaid for 44 years, Rebecca is ensuring their legacy of support continues through thoughtful estate gifts. The Moss family has already established the Barry Moss Distinguished Speaker Endowment Fund and the Joseph Barry Moss and Gary Brent Moss Fellowship in Humanities. “Barry was committed to the humanities, advancing education for teachers and students, and enabling exposure to cultures, history, and perspectives outside the classroom,” Rebecca explains. “These opportunities enrich the Kinkaid community

and embody the totality of what education is, a lifelong journey.” Now it is the family’s intention to include additional support, including a percentage of probate assets designated to sustain these programs and potentially expand opportunities, such as student travel experiences during academic breaks. Rebecca hopes their legacy inspires others to consider planned gifts of their own. “Is there a gap in opportunity or need that would benefit from small or large gifts from the greater Kinkaid community? ABSOLUTELY! Through donations of all sizes and scope, this provides opportunity to all for profound positive change and impact.”

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

ALUMNI

2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

On Friday, April 10, during Reunion Weekend, the Kinkaid Alumni Association honored outstanding alumni and non-alumni friends for their service to the School and community with the Presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Sameer Sheth, MD, PhD ’94 Distinguished Alumnus

Sameer Sheth, MD, PhD ’94 entered Kinkaid in sixth grade and later graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College, majoring in Physics and Astronomy & Astrophysics. Inspired by his parents’ careers as physicians, he pursued an MD/PhD at UCLA, where he developed a strong interest in neuroscience from both research and clinical perspectives. Drawn by the brain’s complexity much as he once was by deep space, he completed neurosurgery residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital before joining the faculty at Columbia University, where he launched his clinical practice and NIH-funded research lab. In 2018, he was recruited to Baylor College of Medicine and returned home to Houston. Sameer is currently Professor, Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair, Vice-Chair of Research, and McNair Scholar in the

The Kinkaid School

2025 - 2026

Department of Neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine, with joint appointments in Neuroscience and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and an adjunct professorship at Rice University. He directs the Gordon and Mary Cain Pediatric Neurology Research Foundation Laboratories at Texas Children’s Hospital and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, focusing on genetic and neuromodulatory therapies for refractory epilepsy. Clinically, Sameer specializes in epilepsy, movement disorders, and select psychiatric conditions, using surgical and neuromodulatory approaches to restore healthy brain function. His research centers on understanding complex brain circuits through direct neural recordings, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, to advance treatments for neurological and psychiatric disease. Sameer has served on NIH advisory councils, published over 300 scientific papers, and has been continuously NIH-funded since 2012; in 2025 he was the highest NIH-funded investigator in neurosurgery departments nationwide. He is especially proud of the accomplishments of his trainees and their future contributions to the field. Sameer and his wife Sarita have been married

for 25 years and are proud parents of their son Ronak, a Dedman Scholar at UT Austin, and their daughter Naina, a high school sophomore. He is deeply honored by this recognition and credits Kinkaid for providing the foundation for his success.

Ryan Beiermeister ’08

Distinguished Young Alumna Ryan Beiermeister ’08 entered Kinkaid in sixth grade and was known for her artistic creativity, intellectual curiosity, and leadership, particularly as a standout member of the debate team. Her success at Kinkaid laid the foundation for a historic collegiate debate career at Northwestern University, where she graduated summa cum laude in the top 5% of her class, earned departmental honors in Political Science and English Literature, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Competing all four years, Ryan and her debate partner, Layne Kirshon ’10, were named the nation’s top college policy debate team in 2012, and Ryan won the Top Speaker Award at the national championship, becoming only the fourth woman to do so since 1947. Driven by a commitment to social impact, Ryan built a career developing responsible technologies at leading global companies.

ALUMNI

She spent eight years at Palantir Technologies, rising to Senior Vice President and Head of Product for the government sector, where she earned multiple patents and helped create life-saving analytical software used by U.S. and allied agencies. Her work contributed to Palantir’s successful 2020 IPO and continues to support global security and humanitarian efforts. Ryan later joined Meta as one of the company’s youngest Directors of Product Management, leading teams across Instagram and Facebook on initiatives involving global elections, public health, youth safety, and disinformation, as well as overseeing charitable giving programs that enable approximately $1 billion in annual donations. She currently serves as Vice President of Product Policy at OpenAI, where she leads AI safety technologies and policies focused on responsible use and equitable global impact, including speaking at the 2025 Paris Peace Forum on democratizing access to AI safety tools. Ryan lives in San Francisco with her fiancé, Jesse, and remains deeply connected to her creative roots as a painter, avid reader, crossword enthusiast, and devoted Houston Astros fan (honoring her namesake, Nolan Ryan). She is forever grateful to her parents, Robin and Geoffrey, for the love and sacrifice that made her Kinkaid education possible and changed the trajectory of her life.

Judy Muir

Distinguished Honorary Alumna Judy Muir devoted more than four decades of her professional life to Kinkaid, shaping generations of students through her commitment to developmental fit, individualized education, and thoughtful preparation for life beyond high school. During 32 years as Director of Kinkaid’s Career Development Program, she placed more than 5,000 seniors in high impact internships around the world, transforming a small Interim Term Program into a nationally recognized model. She also served for 12 years in Kinkaid’s College Office, guiding hundreds of students and families through the college admissions process with empathy and insight. Under the mentorship of Headmaster John Cooper, Judy studied at the Gesell Institute of Child Development at Yale, launching a lifelong focus on aligning educational environments with students’ developmental readiness. At Kinkaid, she helped advance developmentally informed

placement, particularly in the Lower School, strengthening student confidence and long term academic success. Judy earned her undergraduate degree from The College of Wooster and graduate degrees from the University of Houston and Harvard University in Mind, Brain, and Education, later serving for nine years as a Teaching Fellow in Educational Neuroscience at Harvard. A national lecturer and published author, she has translated research into practical guidance for educators and families and has served on the National Advisory Board for the Fiske Guide to Colleges. Judy’s connection to Kinkaid is also deeply personal, extending across multiple generations of her family. She and her husband, Rob, are parents of Chad Muir ’88, Katrin Muir Lau ’90, and Lara Muir Laitala ’94, and proud grandparents of Grace Muir ’20, Prescott Lau ’22, Paysan Lau ’23, Watt Muir ’23, and Hale Muir ’27. Across her many roles at Kinkaid, Judy’s defining contribution has been her belief in individuality, helping students understand who they are, what they value, and where they will thrive. Now an independent educational consultant, she continues to guide families worldwide and remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to spend her life’s work in service to Kinkaid and its students.

Brandt Bowden ’96

active and generous volunteer, who has contributed his time to the Advancement Committee, the Sporting Clays event, the Golf Tournament, and Interim Term programming, where he taught an entire section on the campus transformation to a class of sophomores and juniors. Together with his wife, Mary Kay, Brandt is the proud parent of four, Russell ’28, Annabelle ’30, Blye ’32, and Mayfair ’35. A devoted Kinkaid parent, brother of Jeb Bowden ’98, and uncle to Riley Bowden ’24, Piper Bowden ’31, Wells Bowden ’34, Drewsie Willson ’28, and Clementine Willson ’34, Brandt’s connection to Kinkaid spans generations. Beyond his service to Kinkaid, Brandt is a seasoned executive with more than two decades of experience in the real estate industry. As Chief Executive Officer of The Hanover Company, he oversees capital, development, and construction efforts and plays a central role in shaping the firm’s corporate strategy. Under his leadership, Hanover has experienced significant growth, with Brandt overseeing the execution of approximately 8.7 billion dollars in apartment and industrial development. His professional expertise has been invaluable to Kinkaid as the School has navigated the transformational reconstruction of its campus. Through his leadership, service, and unwavering devotion, Brandt Bowden ’96 truly embodies the spirit of the Outstanding Service Alumni Award.

Outstanding Alumni Service Award Brandt Bowden ’96 entered Kinkaid in ninth grade and has remained a faithful Falcon ever since. Brandt exemplifies lifelong dedication to Kinkaid through his extraordinary service as an alumnus, parent, volunteer, and trustee. Brandt joined Kinkaid’s Building Committee in 2014 and subsequently became a member of the Board of Trustees in 2018. During his tenure, he has served on numerous committees, including the Head of School Search Committee, and has co-chaired the Finance Committee. Most notably, he has chaired Kinkaid’s Building Committee since 2019. In this role, Brandt has been instrumental in the success of the ALL IN Campaign and in the planning, entitling, and execution of Kinkaid’s campus transformation. His leadership, expertise, and deep commitment to the School have made a lasting physical impact on campus that will resonate for generations.

Family, friends, and colleagues contributed to videos about each honoree and their impact on Kinkaid and the wider community. You can view them on our website by scanning this QR code.

In addition to his trustee service, Brandt is an

2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

IN MEMORIAM

Eliza Lovett Randall ’50 (fs) September 8, 2025

Marlene Genitempo Van Eman ’56 January 9, 2026

Ray Miller Mason Jr. ’57 February 14, 2025

Lois Alba Plummer (Wachter) ’44 October 1, 2025

William Henry Hopkins Jr. ’59 January 14, 2026

Elizabeth Connelly McGreevy ’52 June 22, 2025

Cynthia Pyle Dixon ’72 October 19, 2025

Robin Gill Stanford ’46 January 26, 2026

Tobin Scott O’Donnell ’98 July 2, 2025

Cherylyn Joy Richard ’73 October 20, 2025

Rodica Oancea Gonzalez (f/s) February 8, 2026

Elizabeth Blackbird Bryan ’81 July 4, 2025

Gayle Donovan Perry Saunders (fs) October 26, 2025

John H. Leidler ’66 March 7, 2026

Chloe Madeline Childress ’25 July 4, 2025

Adelaide Emily Lummis ’11 November 11, 2025

Richard Barry Tenenbown (f/s) March 14, 2026

Margaret Gaffney Sheedy ’35 July 4, 2025

David Merritt Mims ’91 November 11, 2025

Winnie Elizabeth Hughes Jacobs ’68 March 20, 2026

Margaret Kirkham Baldwin ’55 July 20, 2025

Delorise Jackson Goode (f/s) November 24, 2025

Mary Catherine Cezeaux (f/s) March 21, 2026

Clayton Kenneth Campbell ’83 July 25, 2025

Lucy Clark Shaw ’63 December 26, 2025

David Evans Mumford ’82 April 1, 2026

Anne McCullough Shallenberger ’59 (fs) August 13, 2025

Wallace Stedman Wilson ’47 (fs) December 26, 2025

Lula Jane Curtin Reed (f/s) August 15, 2025

James R. “Chico” Cravens Jr. ’51 (fs) December 31, 2025

In Memoriam 2025 - 2026

The Kinkaid School

2025 - 2026

On the first anniversary of the devasting Kerr County Flood, The Kinkaid School remembers Chloe Childress '25, Margaret Sheedy '35, Elizabeth Blackbird '81 Bryan, and all of those who perished on July 4, 2025. Listings through June 3, 2026 (f/s) indicates a member of the Kinkaid faculty or staff (fs) indicates a former student of Kinkaid

Honoring the Senior Class of

2026

ONESCHOOL. O NE SCHOOL. MANY MANYGENERATIONS. M A N Y GENERAT G E N E R AT A T ION I O N S. One Lasting One Laassstting Legacy. Leeggacy.

Onnnee LLaaas O ast stittiiinnngg LLeeeg sst ega ggaaacccy y.. y The story continues with you.

For generations, The Kinkaid School has shaped leaders, thinkers, and citizens of character. That story is still being written by every student and by every member of our community who believes in the enduring power of a Kinkaid education. By including Kinkaid in your estate plans, you ensure that future students will experience the same opportunities that helped shape your own journey. A legacy gift is more than a financial decision; it is a lasting expression of gratitude and confidence in Kinkaid’s future. Continue the story. Create a lasting legacy at The Kinkaid School. Learn more at kinkaid.giftplans.org, or contact Lisa Wood, Assistant Director of Advancement, at lisa.wood@kinkaid.org or 713-243-5023.

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THE KINKAID SCHOOL

201 Kinkaid School Drive Houston, TX 77024

Parents of Alumni: If this publication is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office of the new permanent mailing address.