Spring/Summer 2021
A Letter from the Head of School James Milford Board of Trustees 2019-2020
Dear Maclay Community, Of all the summers our community has been looking forward to, I believe this one makes the top of everyone’s list. After a remarkably challenging year where all were asked to dig a little deeper than usual, the promise of a change-of-pace and a semi-return to a level of social interaction has been welcomed to say the least. As we have been enjoying the different pace, in many ways, it is not slower. Central to our long-term success is the expansion of our auxiliary programs. Our Summer Camp program is a great example. With close to 200 options over the ten weeks of summer, there is a wide variety of camps that match the wide variety of interests we see in our community. As we are now fully into our summer session and looking back on the year, I must give praise to the faculty, students, parents, volunteers, alumni, and all supporters who helped make the 20-21 year successful. It was a long year of masks, plexiglass, distancing, quarantining, and pallet loads of disinfectant. However, there are so many things to celebrate as well. This year has seen explosive growth in our enrollment to levels we have not seen in decades, and the summer programs, with over 1,200 individual campers, is certainly not letting the campus rest. Our teams have been working hard to be above the ordinary when it comes to the programs we deliver. I’m very proud they are seeing the benefits of that hard work. Over the last few years, the iTHINK program has helped us adjust into a mission-focused program where we are finding ways to develop each students talents and interests, so they can feel fulfilled and successful. While we were daily navigating the pandemic, our Board of Trustees stayed focused on our strategic planning process, and I am excited to see the vision coming together for a Maclay that makes an impact in the community in a real way. As we continue leading the way into our second half-century as Tallahassee’s premiere Independent PK3-12 school, I thank you once again for being a part of our team. Our internal theme over the last two years has been “All Hands In.” That is the only way we remain successful and the only way we thrive. Thank you for putting your hands in! Please enjoy the stories within this celebratory printing of the Virtu. It has been a hard year with its set of challenges, but we chose not to give up or give in. Go Marauders, James
Members: Sarah Bascom Sally Bradshaw Kimberly Crowell (‘99) Bonnie Davenport (‘98) Michelle Douglas Kiki Dunton Ted Frazee (‘98) Murray Moore, Chairman (‘83) Diana O’Bryant Alfredo Paredes Ananth Prasad Lori Rosenberg Chris Rumana Matt Thompson Kyle Ulrich Ben Watkins, III (‘75)
Executive Committee: Murray Moore Chair
Ted Frazee Chair Elect
Ben Watkins, III Treasurer
Kiki Dunton Secretary
Spring/Summer 2021 | Volume 13 | Issue 19
Table of Contents
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10 16
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2 | 1 School 1 Community 3 | Covid 4 | Lower School News 6 | Middle School News 8 | Upper School News 10 | Seniors 2021 12 | Community Service 14 | The Arts 16 | Athletics 18 | Advancement 25 | Alumni Affairs
Cover Photo: Kaitlyn Dressel Contributors: Kim McWilliams, Caroline Higdon, Debbie Hurley, Morgan Lewis, Cameron Barton, Deborah Mayer, Lauren Fantle, and other friends of Maclay Graphic Design: Mamatey Graphic Design We make every effort to provide accurate information about the Maclay Community, and apologize for any errors or omissions. If you have story ideas for Virtu, please email: news@maclay.org.
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1 SCHOOL 1 COMMUNITY Students Celebrate Marauder Madness Students participated in Marauder Madness Week by dressing up and playing breaktime games. The Community Service Club also held a coin drive to benefit the Student United Way and ended up raising $1,400. The Seniors won the Powder Puff game, which was postponed from Homecoming Week!
Teacher Appreciation Week Teacher Appreciation Week this year included a coffee truck, The Frothers Daughter, which came to the Maclay campus as a treat for faculty and staff along with a BBQ lunch one day. Guidance even provided an afternoon of planting. Thank you to our Maclay Parent Organization (MPO) for organizing this special week for our widely loved administration and faculty.
Retired Teachers Sip and Tour In lieu of the annual Retired Teachers Luncheon, Maclay hosted the retired faculty for a Sip and Tour at the new Beck Family Innovation Center.
Decision Day The One School events may have been limited this year, but it was a treat to be able to hold our senior parade on Decision Day outside for all our students to celebrate the seniors. 2
COVID A Year to Remember COVID taught us a lot of things this year – mostly that we are stronger together as a community. Through uncertainty and change, we learned to be resilient and flexible. We also learned how grateful we are to have supportive parents and exceptional teachers who care about our students. We took away new appreciations for our outdoor classroom spaces and our beautiful 100-acres; we learned that a hybrid learning model opened new doors and new opportunities; we learned that you CAN smile with your eyes!
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LOWER SCHOOL NEWS Kindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of School Kindergarten students paraded through campus to celebrate the 100 days of school and to practice their counting. Both online and in-person students got to participate, as they all decorated t-shirts with 100 things.
Market Days The 1st graders participated in a creative cross-curricular segment called Market Days. Students were charged with planning their own store, creating an item to sell, and were then given ‘money’ to buy, trade, or bargain. It was a great chance to learn about goods and services, practice math with purchasing, and tap into their very creative side of product development.
Kutter Repeats as Tropicana Champion Fifth-grader Emmie Kutter represented Maclay on January 30th in the county speech competition and won the Leon County 4H Tropicana Speech Contest. She also served as the emcee because she won the county competition last year as well. Emmie advanced to regionals in April with her speech entitled, “You Gotta Be A Llama”.
Manners, Please! Third Grade students had their annual Manners Luncheon where they dressed in their best to rehearse proper table etiquette. Mr. Milford and Mr. Van served as the maître d’ while students enjoyed an excellent lunch prepared by Marauder Meals.
3rd Grade Egg Drop Third-grade students hosted their annual Egg Drop Project at the Beck Family Innovation Center. The drop is a great way for our students to bring the STEM concepts to life and test their creations to not crack the egg. 4
Spanish Plays Lower School students worked on their Spanish skills acting out short story plays on the stage in Langford Hall.
Lower Schoolers Meet Big-Name Author Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students had the pleasure of virtually visiting children’s author Annie Burrows (Ivy + Bean, Iggy series) and illustrator Sam Ricks.
5th graders Meet with Mayor John Dailey Fifth grade students had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with Maclay Alum and Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey as part of their citizenship unit. Mayor Dailey answered questions about the impact of COVID on our community, new parks coming to Tallahassee, and other topics.
Living History Museum First graders impressed again this year with their Living History presentations. The students selected, researched, and presented a historical character virtually for parents and classmates.
Harris named Director of Lower School Mrs. Bentley Harris was named the Director of Maclay School’s Lower School Division. Harris has taught 2nd and 5th grade students here at Maclay and has also served as the Lower School Dean. After a comprehensive national search, Maclay Head of School James Milford announced Mrs. Bentley Harris as the next Director of Maclay School’s Lower School Division. Harris has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from College of Charleston and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from University of Charleston. She was a classroom instructor for ten years including teaching Pre-K 3 at The O’Quinn
School in James Island, SC before returning to her high school alma mater at Maclay School (Class of 2000) where she taught 2nd and 5th grades. In 2012, Harris became Maclay’s first Lower School Dean under then director Marty Kiser and continued under the direction of Susie Baker-Lapp until earlier this year. During one of the most challenging times in the school’s history, a pandemic, Harris was asked to take the position of Acting Director of Maclay Lower School and has served with distinction since then. Mrs. Harris shared, “I am so proud of our Lower School faculty, staff, and families, who have rallied around each other and our students to provide an uninterrupted education throughout this extraordinary year. Together, we will continue to build on Maclay’s legacy of providing an unparalleled experience for our youngest learners. To say I am humbled is an understatement. “
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS Middle School Space Project
Middle School Participates in Capital Regional Science and Engineering Fair Several Middle School students took advantage of the opportunity to participate in the Capital Regional Science and Engineering Fair. 7th grader, Nishi Bhanderi, placed first in her category of Behavioral and Social Sciences and received a special award from The Office of Naval Research, as well as advanced to the State Science Fair. Her project dealt with how having a purpose affects times in running a set distance, and she was later featured on the on-line education company, Coursera’s, Instagram feed. Diya Patel placed second in the category of Cellular/Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with a project dealing with amounts of DNA in organic versus non-organic strawberries, Suhani Gawde placed second in the category of Plant Sciences. Belen Rambana, Caroline Couch, and Evie Romano also competed in the Science Fair.
Each year, Maclay’s inspired 6th Grade students launch into discovering all things space-related. The research and creative projects culminated with a grand exhibit showcased in the library during the Celebration of the Arts. Mrs. Kutter led the way exploring the history of the Space Race. Students research important milestones of the Space Race and create political cartoons. Together, the class told the story with a powerful Space Race timeline. Mr. Dickson’s classes wrote STEM-inspired poetry, and Ms. Barton’s students explored Space Science benefits for humanity. These unique opportunities allowed our 6th grade students to dig deeper into exploration and discovery through an authentic learning experience.
Middle School Astronaut Challenge Our Middle School Student Astronaut Challenge Team ended their time together with impressive accomplishments. After making it into the final competition, the team placed 3rd overall in the Engineering Challenge and placed 1st in Patch Design.
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8th Grade End of Year Celebration The Middle School Administration and teachers put together a fun end-ofthe-year celebration that included games, a cookout, music party, and a lot of class bonding as part of the official send-off to Upper School.
8th Grade History Fair The 8th grade class participated in the National History Day Contest. Congratulations to Collins Barton and Megan Vegas (1st place) and Jamie Maloy and Easton Steffen (3rd place) in the State competition.
7th Grade “Trip” The 7th Grade Washington DC trip looked a lot different this year. Due to the COVID travel restrictions, the Middle School team came up with a fun yet educational alternative for our 7th graders. The students started the day off with a virtual tour of the Supreme Court, followed by group activities and a virtual tour of the Spy Museum. Guests from the FSU Reservation came to campus to coordinate games and team bonding activities. After a barbeque dinner, students set up their individual tents on the practice field and watched a movie on the big screen. Everyone enjoyed the campfire, s’mores, music, and flashlight tag games later in the evening.
Middle School Spelling Bee Hawa-Larai Hurrana won the Middle School Spelling Bee and advanced to the regional championship. Congratulations to our finalists Ethan McIntyre, Melody Yu, Diya Patel, Sophie Lombard, and Megan Vegas! 7
UPPER SCHOOL NEWS 47th Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament Juniors Nirmay Bhanderi and Collin Roberts competed in the high school ethics case competition hosted by the Rutland Institute for Ethics at Clemson. The competition teams consist of two high school students who propose a solution to an ethical dilemma in front of a panel of judges. Roberts and Bhanderi prepared a ten-minute presentation and showed it to the panel virtually from Maclay’s iTHINK lab. After being named one of four finalists, the pair presented again in the afternoon and were named winners of the 2021 Case Competition.
Body Image Workshop Becky Patterson visited with the freshman class for a Body Image Bootcamp. She discussed exercise and nutrition, but she also addressed issues surrounding social media, providing great advice for all students.
Upper School Celebrates International Women’s Day Maclay Upper School and Spectrum Club hosted the International Women’s Day on Campus, encouraging faculty to wear purple while Spectrum Club students handed out stickers.
Senior Countdown Dinner Maclay Seniors celebrate their last 84 days at Maclay with former teachers and administrators. Students were treated to a catered dinner, watched a slideshow of their classmates through the years, and ended the night with cupcakes by the Oak Tree. 8
Holocaust Survivor Visits In honor of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Maclay Upper School welcomed Holocaust survivor Roland Levi. Freshman had been reading Night by Elie Wiesel and Mr. Levi spoke to freshman students virtually about his experiences and journey.
Adulting Bootcamp This year, Maclay Upper School launched the first Senior Bootcamp. The morning included rotating sessions presented by professionals from the community followed by the always popular Chick-fil-A lunch. Topics were financial literacy, health and nutrition, personal safety and self-defense, legal advice for 18+, and other great advice for a successful transition to college.
Head of School Challenge
It was the first year for hopefully a new tradition on campus - the Head of School Challenge! All Upper School students were shown a ‘surprise’ video from Mr. Milford in Homeroom class on March 31st. The surprise? All Upper School students would proceed to their designated areas to compete as a homeroom in 20 Minute-toWin-It games. The Challenge lasted two hours and was a fun, school spirit event for students and teachers and concluded with a free lunch and, of course, prizes for the winning homerooms including most spirited and most points!
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SENIORS Maclay Students Shine in Best and Brightest Competition Congratulations to our Best & Brightest Seniors who were honored May 12th at the Best & Brightest Awards program, now in its 16th year. Those selected are influential young leaders in academic excellence and commitment to service. Annette Lu (Art) Mateus Bitencourt (Athletics) Nick Cicchetti (Business) Britton Robinson (Career) Ella McConnell (English and Language Arts) Veronica Marshall-Kirk (Journalism) Michael Sweeney, 2nd place (Leadership) Ramsay Grant (Public Speaking) Spencer Gibbs, 1st place (Science & Health) Dani Paredes, Honorable Mention, (Social Sciences) Katy Merritt, Honorable Mention (Technology) Sonu Patel, 1st place, (World Language)
Senior Mothers Luncheon Maclay Parent Organization (MPO) celebrated the mothers of our senior students by organizing a luncheon at Goodwood. Moms got to socialize as they watched a slideshow of their sons and daughters, and then they received a gift bag.
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GRADUATION 2021
81 seniors were accepted to 98 different colleges & universities in 24 different states • They are attending 36 different colleges & universities in 12 different states •
• Seniors received $11,070,149 dollars in merit scholarship, an average of
$136,000 per senior
4 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, 2 offered college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships. • 31 seniors pursued a concentration of Core Science, Computer Science & Engineering, •
BioMed, Art and Inspiration, Business & Entrepreneurship
• Total Community Service Hours:
12,588
11 seniors attending an Honors Program • 7 student-athletes headed to college to play a sport • 98% were accepted into their top 1st or 2nd choices • 28 Charter Members (12 years or more at Maclay) • 8 Legacy (children of alumni) •
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COMMUNITY SERVICE
Dance Marathon Raises Over $75,000
Maclay’s Upper School Dance Marathon club raised a total of $75,327.03 during the 2020-2021 year. Congratulations to all “dancers” and participants, including our Middle School, who held a mini-marathon again this year.
Food Waste Drive
Upper School Students Make Sure No Child Sleeps on the Floor Upper School hosted a Community Service Week this year which included collected donations for the non-profit organization, Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). Once all the donations were in, our students were able to donate five sets of bedding to Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
Students brought in 333 pounds of food waste goods, beating Leon High School in raising a higher amount of food. The Upper School also won a dress-down day for their success.
EAGLE PROJECT IS A BIG HIT 12
Two junior students in the Upper School, Duel Yearty and Stuart Higdon chose Maclay Middle School as the beneficiary of their Eagle Scout Project. Middle schoolers now have the pleasure of enjoying their “gaga ball ring” during break time, which was a huge hit with the students.
PB&J Drive Maclay partnered with WCTV and Leon County Schools again this year to collect PB&J for the area food bank to assist with providing sandwiches for students this summer while school is out of session.
Maclay Community Service Club Raises $1,400 for Student United Way During the March Marauder Madness Week, the Maclay Community Service Club held a One School Coin Drive to benefit the Student United Way in Tallahassee. Student representatives Teresa Morgado and Isabel McDaniel had the opportunity to attend the “reward” ceremony for 4th grade which included the presentation of Krispy Kreme donuts. Teresa and Isabel talked with the winning 4th grade classes about the many services the United Way provides to our community. Overall, Maclay collected over $1,400 in the drive.
Healthcare Thank You Jr. Beta delivered cute bags filled with Hershey’s Kisses and heart shaped lollipops for healthcare workers in the COVID 19 unit at TMH. The Middle School Club wanted to say “Thank You” to our community heroes.
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The
ARTS
Art of the Box Tallahassee leaders and KCCI Community Catalysts unveiled the latest installment of Art of the Box at Maclay. The project is part of the ongoing community-wide initiative to transform utilitarian boxes into public art.
Maclay sophomore Olivia Schroeder’s “Acorns to Oaks” piece is displayed on the traffic control box on the intersection of Maclay Road and Meridian Road, following a schoolwide call for art submissions. Maclay parents Chris and Susanne Dudley sponsored the box.
Members of KCCI including director and Maclay parent Betsy Couch, Mayor John Dailey and several commissioners and community leaders joined the event in Langford Hall.
Chalk Walk 2021 Art students of Maclay portray their skills in the 2021 Chalk Walk around campus.
Maclay Students Shine in Local Art Contest Upper School students Emma Messer and Sarah Caulley Soto participated in the Black & White Nature Photography Student Competition. Messer placed first with “Trefoil of Winter,” and Soto received an honorable mention for “Pride of the Savannah.” Middle School students Kareem Dawoud, John Fletcher Butler, and Sarah Cannon also placed along with Lower Schooler artists Blythe Lewis, Aubrey Benners, and Finley Boland. 14
“The Art of Gratitude” Week The COTA (Celebration of the Arts) themed “The Art of Gratitude” was a fun and active week for all our students from PreK through Upper School. The appreciation week kicked off on Monday with sidewalk chalk art and messages of appreciation left on the doors of teachers’ rooms. Each day, the Library Lawn was active with pop-up concerts and events like Company’s performance of “Clue,” the Americana Band, and strings and orchestra performances from all ages. Later in the week, Lower School teachers met parents in the drop-off line holding posters with “thank you” messages written on them. Guidance hosted an afternoon of do-it-yourself planting for teachers, and faculty were treated to a canvas painting event in the Cartee Gym.
Maclay Theatre Students Shine Once Again The Magic Tree House The Lower School plays looked a little different this year, virtually, but nonetheless, our 3rd-5th graders got a chance to shine on the outdoor stage.
Congratulations to our Upper School Company for their success at the 2021 Florida Thespian Virtual State Festival. The troupe participated in 12 events and received four Superior, five Excellent, and three Good ratings.
Lower School Dance Company Wraps Up Their Season The Marauder Dance Company’s winter season wrapped up during the spring. The MDC practiced Fridays starting in January and during the Lower School Enrichment classes. 15
ATHLETICS Girls Basketball The girls basketball team ended their season with a record of 7-11. They were district runner-up and made it to regional semifinals, where they lost to Andrew Jackson. The team scored a total of 561 points during their season. Top scorers on the team were senior Avery McGinley (174) and 8th grader Lauren Guyer (167). McGinley was also selected and competed in the FACA All-Star Basketball game for the North squad.
Boys Basketball The boys basketball team made it into the district playoffs and finished with a successful season. The team was defeated in the district final game away at Florida High. The boys will miss seniors Dozie Okaroji, Jackson Brown, and Zach Cunningham in the coming season but have some rising talent including All Big Bend Honorable Mention Blaise Wallace.
Girls Soccer The girls soccer season ended on the night of the regional championship with a record of 10-7-1. They scored a total of 54 goals throughout this season, with help from top scorers and All Big Bend recipients Ramsay Grant, Grace Reichelderfer, and Katelyn Dessi.
Boys Soccer The boys soccer team had another successful 2020-2021 season with a record of 14-2-1. The team was ranked 6th in the nation, 1st in the state, and 1st in the 2A bracket before a season-ending loss to state champion St. John’s Country Day in the regional playoff match. The game went into double overtime and five penalty kicks, which led to the Marauders being kicked out of the playoffs. The team was led by seniors Mateus Bitencourt and Broedy Poppell, juniors Ryan Daunt, and Colin Willet, and sophomore RJ Hosay. Coach Andy Warner receive All Big Bend Coach of the Year honors and was inducted in to the FHSAA Hall of Fame.
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Boys Lacrosse The Boys Varsity Lacrosse team advanced all the way to the regional championship at Bolles after winning the district championship. The Marauders took a loss of 13-14 at this match ending their successful season with a 13-6 record. Coach Justin VanTassel was named Big Bend Coach of the Year and junior Everett Thompson Player of the Year. Thompson and Senior Garrett Donahue were also named to the 2021 US Lacrosse High School Academic All-Americas Team.
Varsity Tennis Maclay varsity tennis team had a successful season under the leadership of veteran seniors. First year coach Mary Phillips Smith was named All Big Bend Coach of the Year. The girls team captured the city championship and were led by Madison Perkins and Emily Macri and the boys were led by Nick Cicchetti and Michael Sweeney.
Track The girls track team won the district and regional championship and ended the season in 6th place at the state meet. The team was led by sisters Mary Clayton and Sarah Caulley Soto. The boys team had a strong field competition squad this year led by James David Milford who won the district for javelin.
Baseball The varsity baseball team advanced to the regional semifinal game before completing their season at 19-6. Brothers Ryder and Broedy Poppell along with Ryker Chavis were named to the All Big Bend team.
Softball The varsity softball team continued to build under second year coach Randall Trusell. Ashlyn Gooch was named to the All Big Bend team. One of the best highlights of the season was the pink out game dedicated to cancer survivors and their families.
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ATHLETIC SIGNINGS Baseball player, Broedy Poppell, signed his letter of intent with Florida A&M University to continue his athletic career.
Daniella Streety signed her letter of intent with Oglethorpe University for soccer and track & field.
Dylan Vielhauer, signed his letter of intent with Embry Riddle to play college baseball. Lacrosse player, Stone Foster, signed his letter of intent Leo Rutledge signed with TCC for Cross Country with Flagler College to play at the collegiate level. and will continue his running career across town.
Soccer player, Drew Daunt signed with Belmont Abbey to play soccer. Daunt, a two-time FHSAA State Finalist, was a Maclay Captain for the 2020-2021 season.
Paredes and Sweeney Named FHSAA Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Michael Sweeney and Daniela Paredes were named to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team, a recognition program that honors 24 graduating student-athletes who excel in both athletics and academics. Sweeney was later named Florida’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the state of Florida.
Andy Warner Inducted into Hall of Fame The Florida Athletic Coaches Association held its 45th Annual Hall of Fame induction on January 9th in Daytona Beach. Five outstanding coaches were inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame including Maclay School’s longtime soccer coach Andy Warner. Warner’s soccer career has spanned over 40 years. He came to Maclay under a one-year commitment in 1990 and 30 years later amassed 465 wins, four state championships, and six runner-up finishes while leading the Marauders. 18
ADVANCEMENT George Evans “G.E.” Light Valedictorian Scholarship The 2021 Dr. George Evans “G.E.” Light Valedictorian Scholarship was awarded to the two valedictorians from the class of 2021, Ella McConnell and Michael Sweeney. The scholarship recipients were able to gather with the Light Family to meet and share a bit about their future plans ahead in their collegiate journey. This is made possible thanks to the generosity of Dr. & Mrs. Robley & Jeanne Light and the many donors to this endowed fund. This scholarship recognizes the lasting impact that Dr. George Evans “G.E.” Light had on Maclay’s academic trajectory. Known for his humility and kindness as much as he was for being a remarkable academic leader, Dr. Light was a shining light at Maclay School, graduating as Valedictorian of the class of 1981.
Additional donations made by:
Dr. & Mrs. Robley J. Light Mrs. Marion Wilson Isaac Barchas Ann Covington Bethany D. Cullen Monica Estes
Jacob B. Forrester Four Seasons Florist of Waynesville, Inc. Pamela K. Haskins Marsha M. Henson Karen Herron Dorothy Holroyd
Lee Howard Jeanette Koelling Little Switzerland Book Exchange LLC James N. McKell John C. McWhorter Bryan M. O’Neill
Dr. & Mrs. William E. Parrish The Pearson Family Max Riggins Scooter’s Records Phillip Seawright Joanna Sechler Linda K. Smith
The Maclay Auction is back, and we are more excited than ever to welcome our community back to campus for this special evening where we come together to support our faculty and school. The 2022 Auction, A Night To Be Inspired will be held on campus in the Webster Center and on the plaza of that facility. For Underwriting and Sponsorship Information, please visit maclayauction.com. Thanks to chair, Lisa Jackson and her committee who have already gotten some wonderful plans and details underway for what promises to be an unforgettable evening! 19
ADVANCEMENT Softball Enhancements Thanks to the generosity of dedicated donors, our softball facilities benefitted from an update enhancing the player experience at this facility. Through the generosity and support of these families, our softball program now has a new batting cage complete with turf and lighting, a new scoreboard for games, and an upgraded sound system. Prior to the upcoming softball season, the fencing at the facility will also be updated. Thanks to the many families who support our excellent softball program, with special thanks to Sally & Mark Rosser, and the Firman Fund, and the Phipps Family.
Pheasant Shoot In February, the Baseball, Softball and Tennis teams hosted a pheasant shoot to benefit these three athletic teams. This day-long event provided an opportunity for groups to come together for this unique experience hosted by the Gainey Family at the Dogwood Hunting Preserve. Through the generosity of the participants and supporters of this event, these teams are able to purchase enhanced equipment and fund needs specific to their individual sports that will have a long-term benefit for these programs. Special Thanks to the Gainey Family and Wm. Lamb and Sons for their support of this event in addition to the many families who purchased bales and contributed to make this day possible.
A Lasting Legacy Special thanks to the Class of 2020 who gifted the school with a beautiful mosaic seal inlaid in the Transou Family Upper School Foyer of the Beck Family Innovation Center. This intricate addition adds great character to this space and creates a special sense of arrival for this innovative facility. Thank you to this class for making this possible!
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BFIC Gallery The Beck Family Innovation Center Gallery has hosted two new exhibitions this spring.
In the Company of Collectors This exhibition highlights the remarkable and varied shell collection that the Upper School Science Department maintains and pairs these natural specimens with the work of Louise Allderdice Travers, whose love of shells and the natural world started this collection and inspired her to create beautiful and intricate shell decoupage pieces. Ms. Travers’ unique and distinctive pieces are on loan from the private collection of the Davenport family. These illustrative pieces not only highlight the natural beauty of each shell but give them new life in her engaging and intricate assemblages. This exhibition will be on view through October of 2021.
Two Regimes Two Regimes is a historical exhibition featuring the paintings and accompanying journal entries of a Mother (Teodora Verbitskaya), who wrote about her life from 1920 to 1945, and her daughter Nadia Werbitzky, a professionally trained artistwho painted from memory depictions of their experiences during World War II in Russia.
Inspiration Gallery This Summer, a new gallery space was created on campus. The Inspiration Gallery is located at the entry to the Upper School Administrative Offices in the Beck Family Innovation Center and features Upper School Art & Design Student Work. The first exhibition in this gallery features the beautiful artwork of Maria Boulos (10th grade).
GIVING DAY Giving Day Showing our love for Maclay! Maclay held its first virtual Giving Day on Feburuary 18th. Individuals from all corners of our community came together to demonstrate their collective impact and show their love for Maclay during this virtual event for the Maclay Fund. Donors were given an option as to which area of impact they chose to support with their gift. Through the generosity of the 114 donors who game together in support of the school this year, the following areas benefitted from the generous support of our community:
Faculty Support Outstanding faculty and staff are the heart of the Maclay experience. These individuals continued to innovate, collaborate, and connect with our students in new ways to ensure consistency in uncertain times. Through the Maclay Fund, faculty and staff participated in specialized trainings and professional development focusing on differentiating instruction, implementing assessment tools, and developing a new STEM and Humanities curriculum in the Middle School. The Lower School contracted with an Education Specialist to be on site each day to support and work with our faculty, engaging with them on learning differentiation, social and emotional development, and providing new insights to support our students and families.
Active Learning Spaces
Limitless Creativity, Unrestricted Growth Maclay is special to each member of the community, both past and present. Through the leadership and support of the Maclay community, we were able to provide abundant opportunities for our students and faculty. During Giving Day, the community showed their love for the programs, people, and progress that is most meaningful to them by making a gift that will be put to immediate use in the areas of most significant need throughout the year. 22
In an effort to further enhance the Maclay experience for learners of all types, the school is working towards an ambitious goal to convert all classrooms to Active Learning Spaces. The classrooms offer a personalized educational experience for students to learn and adjust their furnishings to meet their needs while also offering flexibility for collaboration and conversation. The support through this area of impact in the Maclay Fund provided new furnishing systems for six classrooms and the collaborative space in Langford Hall.
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Outdoor Classrooms The Maclay Fund supported much needed modifications to our campus as we created outdoor classroom spaces that enabled students to be enjoy a change in learning environment, observe the natural ecosystems we are surrounded by, and provide the opportunity to instruct safely in-person on our beautiful 100 – acre campus. These enhancements and outdoor seating and gathering spaces will have a lasting impact on our campus and the usability of the beautiful spaces we are surrounded by.
Technology Upgrades Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual adaptations to the classroom, events, and on campus activities enhanced the way our Maclay faculty, staff and students interacted with technology and one another. These enhancements brought our community closer together in an unusually distant year and provided the opportunity for our parents and families to connect with the experiences occurring on campus throughout the year. New technology additions included upgraded cameras and recording equipment, iPad mounts, and accessories for recording and livestreaming events.
Alumni Class Challenge Congratulations to the Class of 1998! One component of the giving day festivities included a challenge to our alumni classes to see which class would have the highest overall participation from graduates on this day. The class of 1998 led this challenge both in overall number of class participants and the total dollars raised by any graduating class. This class received a bonus matched contribution from a pledged donor towards the area of impact of their choice. The class of 1998 chose Support for Faculty and Staff for this additional gift. Thank you to all of our alumni who joined us to share their collective impact and show their love for our dear Maclay!
Save the Date for
Giving Day 2022 February 17, 2022 As we look ahead to Giving Day 2022, we are looking forward to adding more alumni challenges, power hour challenges and opportunities to connect with one another throughout this day of giving. Keep an eye out for additional details as the date nears, and if you are interested in helping or sharing the love for Maclay, contact the Advancement Office at (850)893-8465 or eagrella@maclay.org. Thank you to our community for your wonderful support of this new initiative!
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Your Gift Can Create The Maclay Fund is the leading vehicle for our community’s shared spirit of generosity uniting each member. Because of each gift, our faculty and students continue to benefit from abundant opportunities to be inspired, determined, and unstoppable.
Join us
as we imagine the incredible possibilities that unfold when we unite in support of our students and our school by making a gift to the 2020-2021 Maclay Fund. WAYS TO GIVE: One-time gifts, recurring gifts, and pledges can be made in the way that’s most convenient for you. Gifts are tax-deductible. ONLINE: www.maclayfund.com STOCK: For gifts of stock, please call the Advancement Office at (850) 893-8465 MAIL: Maclay School, 3737 North Meridian Road Tallahassee, Florida 32312 PLANNED GIVING: For planned giving opportunities, please call the Advancement Office at (850) 893-8465 THROUGH YOUR GENEROSITY, THE 2020-2021 MACLAY FUND MADE POSSIBLE: Technology upgrades in classrooms and across campus to make our community accessible in the new ways we gather and learn Active Learning spaces with updated furnishings that promote collaboration, concentration, comprehension, and participation Outdoor classroom spaces for safe and inspiring instruction on our beautiful 100-acre campus Enhanced benefits and support to faculty as they continue to innovate, collaborate, and connect with students Fiscal flexibility to remain nimble in our response to new challenges
Thank you!
FALL 2021 - ALUMNI EVENTS
AUGUST OCTOBER
August 25 - Alumni Association Board Meeting
October 11 - Robert C. Webster Friends of Maclay Golf Tournament | Capital City Country Club October 15 - Alumni Parade and Tailgate October 15-16 - Homecoming & Reunion Weekend including 2020 classes due to cancellations. Celebrating the Classes of:
1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2010, & 2011. Details on the alumni webpage. October 16 - Distinguished Alumnus | Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon - 12:30pm - www.maclay.org/HOF October 17-18 - Leadership Maclay All Alumni are welcome to apply. Application Deadline:
September 1
www.maclay.org/leadershipmaclay
NOVEMBER
November 10 - Dedication Day November 17 - Alumni Association Board Meeting 25
ALU MNI AFFA IRS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Alumni Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2021 Friday, October 15
Saturday, October 16
1:40 pm
11:00 am
Homecoming Parade – Alumni Floats
Alumni, alumni children, and Hall of Fame Honorees Meet in front of the school to join the fun and ride on the floats
2:00 pm
Pep Rally
Webster Center
5:30-7:30 pm
Alumni Tailgate Gathering
In front of Beck Family Research Center All Alumni, alumni families, alumni parents, current & retired faculty welcome Complimentary food and beverages
7:00 pm
Varsity Football Game Alumni admitted free
8:30 pm
ALL Alumni Social
Island Wing Company on Market Street All classes and All Alumni A great opportunity for alumni to locate each other and start their weekend Food complimentary
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Campus Tour for all alumni
Meet in front of school
12:30 pm
Distinguished Alumnus & Hall of Fame Luncheon
Langford Hall in the Beck Family Innovation Center Ticketed event - all are welcome to attend
Evening
Class Events
Class Reunion details: www.maclay.org/Reunions
Alumni Association Board of Directors 2021-2022 Officers: Richard Cassedy ‘04 President Niki Cotton Bishop ‘84, LM ‘19 Ginny Boggs Yearty ‘92 Treasurer
Members: Caroline Hunter Borms ‘05 Jason Gassett ‘97, LM ‘19 Nat Higdon ‘92, LM’19 Liz Morales Hunter ‘08 Patrick Hurley ‘99, LM ‘19 Beth R. Lewis ’93, LM ‘19 Cecilia Cola McMullian ’88, LM ‘19 Kohl Minter ‘17 Adam Montgomery ‘98 Dylan Rivers ‘96 Jonathon Romero ‘10, LM ‘19 Jenny Moore Singletary ‘07 Tia Hunt Smith ’94, LM ‘18 William Smith ‘02 Kevin Strange ‘04 Jacqueline Long Webster ‘93 Mayo Woodward ‘88, LM ‘18
A LU MNI AFFA IRS ANNOUNCEMENTS
The third Leadership Maclay Retreat will take place in Fall 2021 in conjunction with Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2021. During the retreat, selected participants will obtain a behind-the-scenes view of the School, participate in discussions on the internal and external forces that affect the School’s direction, and learn about opportunities that lie ahead for Maclay. Attendees will also participate in discussions with senior school administrators and take part in generative discussions about the future of Maclay. Leadership Maclay, provides an opportunity and forum for alumni to connect with the school and one another. To date 44 alumni have participated in the program, traveling from 7 states and representing 24 graduation classes. For more information and the application form: www.maclay.org/leadershipmaclay All Maclay alumni are invited to apply. Application Deadline: September 1, 2021
Robert C. Webster Friends of Maclay Golf Tournament October 11th at Capital City Country Club Teams and Sponsorships available. Call the Alumni Office visit www.maclay.org/golf Benefiting the Alumni Legacy Endowment 27
ALU MNI AFFA IRS ANNOUNCEMENTS M A C L A Y
Hall of Fame Class of 2021
Distinguished Alumnus and Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon Saturday, October 16, 2021, 12:30 pm Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at www.maclay.org/HOF Distinguished Alumna: • Jennifer Parker LaVia, Class of ‘81 • Lee Williams, Class of ‘12 Multi-Sports, Football and Track & Field • Kara Newell Mathias, Class of ‘02 Cross Country and Track & Field • Neil Sheppard, Coach • 1973 Boys Basketball Team
Coming this fall the New Maclay Alumni Portal We are launching a new Maclay Connects portal to connect you with other alumni • Update your contact information • Look for a classmate • Volunteer and give back 28
• Posts Internship or Job opportunities for other alumni or students • Connect with alumni in a new city • Connect with alumni about your college or industry
A LU MNI AFFA IRS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Maclay Alumni Artists We want to connect with you! As we continue to expand and grow the opportunities for artistic engagement and interdisciplinary connections on campus, we invite our alumni artists and creative professionals to connect with us and share a bit about your work. Through our Fine Arts program, we are hoping to connect our students with our alumni artists in as many meaningful ways as possible. Whether you are a musician, literary artist, visual artist, or work in another medium, we would love to hear from you!
Connect by email: alumni@maclay.org or call the Advancement Office directly (850)893-8465
In Memoriam ~ Spring/Summer 2021 Frances “Michelle” Fountain January 21, 2020 Class of 1983
Laura Elizabeth Bishop February 8, 2021 Brunswick, GA Class of 1998
Byron R. Underwood April 2, 2021 Tallahassee, FL Class of 1973
Anne Ausley Lee Heaton April 12, 2021 Tallahassee, FL A Maclay School Founder
Jan Michael Bridges January 29, 2021 Tallahassee, FL Maclay Board of Trustees 1991-1996
Russell J. Camarda March 5, 2021 Tallahassee, FL Maclay Upper School Teacher of History
Payne H. Midyette, Jr. April 4, 2021 Tallahassee, FL Maclay Board of Trustees 1968-1973
Daniel “Scott” McFarland April 23, 2021 Tallahassee, FL Class of 1999
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ALU MNI AFFA IRS BIRTHS Amelia Louise Stewart November 18, 2020 Ban (’97) and Allison Blanton (’99) Stewart Montgomery, Alabama
Hannah Julia Robinson January 7, 2021 Bryan (’04) and Lydia Deane (’05) Robinson Savannah, Georgia
Rowan Austin Willis February 5, 2021 Logan and Kelli Rosser (’13) Willis Tallahassee, Florida Mila Rose Hancock February 8, 2021 Gavin and Gabby Bradshaw (’11) Hancock Orlando, Florida
Aurora Aaliyah Knowles January 19, 2021 Clayton (’01) and Sheila Knowles Tallahassee, Florida
Foster Clayton Falls February 21, 2021 Clay and Jenn Alford (’02) Falls Dallas, Texas Joins big sister Channing (6) & big brother Ford (4)
Evva Katherine Escobar January 21, 2021 JT (’14) and Susannah Escobar Tallahassee, Florida
Rory Elizabeth Scully January 27, 2021 Brian and Ashley Carr (’07) Scully Livingston, New Jersey Joins big brother Connor (2 ½)
Eleanor Hunter Dargan January 30, 2021 Westley and Lora Rose Hunter (’01) Dargan Dallas, Texas
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Tatum Louise Behrman March 6, 2021 Todd (’05) and Meagan Behrman Pensacola, Florida
Ford Reynolds Scott February 1, 2021 Taylor (’12) and Ryan Scott Marietta, Georgia
Todd “Cameron” Hunter III February 27, 2021 Todd (’03) and Mycah Hunter Tallahassee, Florida Joins big sister Lively (3)
Grayson Elliott Guzzo March 23, 2021 Cory (’05) and Libby Guzzo Tallahassee, Florida Emerson Rose Cage April 5, 2021 Greg and Kalil Conway (’05) Cage New York, New York Lyndon Slade Combs April 18, 2021 David Combs (’05) and Lauren DiMartinoCombs (’05) April 18, 2021 Joins big sister Raylan (3½) Olivia Devi Lancaster May 14, 2021 Chase (’05) and Emily Lancaster New York, New York Gavin Henry Escobar May 17, 2021 George (’16) and Ellie Stubblefield (’16) Escobar Chattanooga, Tennessee
Miles Benjamin Smith March 2, 2021 Logan and Sarah Giddens (’17) Smith Tallahassee, Florida
Ava Noelle Romero June 18, 2021 Jonathan (’10) and Rebecca Romero Tallahassee, Florida
A LU MNI AFFA IRS WEDDINGS
Bliss Wilson (’16) and Anthony Colao March 13, 2021 The Ball House and Cottages at Southwood Tallahassee, FL Maclay Bridesmaids: Prophecy Wilson (’19), Satori Wilson (?), Season Wilson (‘?), Morgan Wood (’?) and Allie Suber (’16).
Steven Caster (’07) and Taylor Kaufman January 9, 2021; Palma Ceia Golf & CC Tampa, FL Maclay Groomsmen: James Caster (’09), Giles Langford (’07), Jordan Anderson (’07), and Todd Hatcher (’07).
Brecken Gomer (’94) and Robert Graves February 16, 2021, Quincy, FL
Sarah Bishop Hyde (’10) and Ryan Manning April 17, 2021, Tallahassee, FL Maclay Bridesmaids: Chandler Russell (’10) and Carol Frances Shaw (’15) Maclay Groomsmen: Sam Hyde (’11) and Jack Hyde (’17) Maclay Alumni Relationships: Mom, Sally Shaw Hyde (’82)
Hanna LaVia (’10) and Lucas Hoffmann May 8, 2021 Primland Resort, Meadows of Dan, VA Maclay Alumni Relationships: Mom, Jennifer Parker LaVia (’81); Brother, JT LaVia (’15)
Alex Koenig (’06) and Michelle Medrano December 31, 2020 Tallahassee, FL
Kira Pettit (’08) and John Bradford May March 13, 2021, Quincy, FL
Clark Stewart (’78) and Larry Tromly January 30, 2021 Tallahassee, FL
James Caster (’09) and Kristen Woodiel April 17, 2021 Baton Rouge, LA Best Man: Steven Caster (‘07) Maclay Groomsmen: Theo Meros (’09) and Sandy Teaf (’09)
Greg Jaggears (’14) and Savanna Saunders February 20, 2021 Thomasville, GA Maclay Groomsmen: John Zoll Hogan (’14), Wynne Casteel (’14) and Jeff Jaggears (’12). Maclay Friends in Attendance: Chase Schaum (’14), Will Courreges-Clerq (’14).
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ALU MNI AFFA IRS CLASS NEWS Class of 1975
Class of 1979
Celebrating 45 Years with a Grand Reunion in October!
Class of 1976 Marking 45 Years – A Big Celebration with the Class of ‘75! Mark Harrison, 29-year Student Activities Coordinator at Salem High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, announced his retirement from the educational field to faculty & staff effective August 1st, 2021. This ends a 41-year run as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He received the distinguished Virginia High School League Lifetime Achievement Award in March of 2020. Mark characterized his career in saying that every effort to advocate on behalf of students, coaches, advisors, & staff was manifested many times over through the years, and that the day he choose to go in service to the field was a great decision, hoping others will continue to follow the lead.
Class of 1977 Remember this? Mrs. Broome’s 4th grade class visited the Governor’s Office. Thanks to Susan Starr Coleman’s father, the occasion was made possible.
Class of 1986 Reunion Year – the 35th. Mark your Calendar! Susan Hutchison-Johnston retired from NASA in January 2021 after a 37-year career split between the Kennedy Space Center and Johnson Space Center. The highlight of her career was working on console talking to the astronauts regarding science experiment tasks during STS-99 for the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission to map the topography of all land masses. She ended her career at the Johnson Space Center responsible for all the conditioned assets (refrigerators, freezer and incubators) on the International Space Station (ISS) to support science research and led cargo loading logistics for science experiments bound for ISS on SpaceX and Northrop Grumman launches.
Class of 1980 Reunion Year – the 40th (one year later, but a lot to celebrate)!
Class of 1981 Reunion Year – the 40th
Class of 1985 Our 35 Year Reunion is around the corner! Reunion planners had a great time on a Sunday afternoon at Lake Iamonia Fish Camp. Fran Sandon reports: “There were 12 of us there. Charles and Roxanne Robinton were there as well. Philip (Sandon) and
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Frank (Shaw) - both alums - were also present! It was fun. We were planning and chatting and just having fun gathering. These dear friends are reminders of how our wonderful Maclay bonded us all so tightly together!”
Class of 1990 Reunion Year – the 30th (one year later, but a lot to celebrate)!
Class of 1991 Reunion Year – the 30th – Hope to see Everyone!
Class of 1992
Entrepreneur Hadi Boulos is making a lasting mark on Tallahassee with the multiresidential properties he is building, along with a townhouse/commercial project, and homes in Carrabelle. The Tallahassee Democrat called him “The Man Behind the Golden Logo” in a recent article that showcased Hadi’s vision and highlighted that he is the third generation of his family to be involved in development. You make us proud, Hadi! Have you heard what Kevin Wilson is up to these days? May 26, 2021: Hey, Class of 1992! Hope you’re doing well! So, around the holidays last year, I started an internet radio station. I haven’t done any broadcasting in the last few months, but THIS Saturday at 8PM EST I’ll be hosting a “Classic Rock Saturday” show, and I’ll
A LU MNI AFFA IRS CLASS NEWS be joined by our fellow classmate, John Ratowski! Hope you can join us! It should run until about 10PM EST. See you then! The themes of Kevin’s programs varies each week and he loves to get requests from listeners to help develop his playlists. Check it out and join Kevin! You can listen to DJ Kevin’s Radio Rewind on Live365.
Class of 1993 Willy Leparulo married Xiaoling Huang in 2015 and they continue to make their home in Tallahassee. A beautiful addition to their family is their 2-year-old daughter Mia Huang Leparulo
Class of 1998 Congratulations to Ebs Burnough on his debut into the world of filmmaking as a first-time director. His first project is a documentary on Truman Capote entitled “The Capote Tapes” which reexamines the literary and personal accomplishments of the author. Wishing you great success with this endeavor, Ebs!
Class of 2000 Reunion Year – the 20th (one year later, but a lot to celebrate)!
Class of 2001 Reunion Year – the 20th!
Class of 1995 Reunion Year – the 25th (one year later, but a lot to celebrate)!
Class of 1996
Reunion Year – the 25th! News to share from David Winchester: David was recently elected President of the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. He has also taken a position with the Veterans Health Administration in Washington as a Senior Medical Adviser for the Access office working to develop and implement programs that maximize Veterans’ ability to access health care promptly, either within the VA or in the community. Congratulations, David!
Congratulations to Henry Hunter! On March 1, 2021, The Pioneer Baseball League issued a press release from Spokane, WA: The Pioneer Baseball League today announced the addition of Henry Hunter as Vice President of Business Affairs. Hunter, formerly having served as Director of Business and Legal Affairs with the Washington Nationals and as General Counsel with prominent Washington, DC lobbying firm, theGROUP, will assume responsibility for the Pioneer League’s business development, legal and new media efforts as the league transitions into its newly formed status as an MLB Partner League. Hunter is also an Adjunct Professor of Sports Law at Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies.
Class of 2004 Congratulations to Kimmy Stewart Hogan for competing in Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. 2020-ish Dancing with the Stars fundraising event. Kimmy took first place and the People’s Choice Award! Over $50,000 was raised for Legal Services of North Florida.
Whitney Snow: “Well, it’s my birthday week and I couldn’t think of a better way to start it than starting my new position at Young Actors Theatre! YAT has always been my second home and I’m thrilled to be the new Director of Strategic Engagement. It’s a dream come true to work in the place that has shaped so much of my world AND to get to do it with my best friend, Sarah Doolin Roy! Here’s to coming “Home Again!” Adam Kaye and his sister Lily Kaye (Class of 2001) are tireless advocates for the visual and performing arts in Tallahassee. They are co-owners of Railroad Square Art Park which serves as Tallahassee’s “Art District” and the creative haven for many Tallahassee artists and other creative businesses. Tallahassee’s CRA Board has approved the funding of $1.8M for the TLH ARTS INC. performing arts theater to be built in Railroad Square Art District. A recent offer of support for the arts from the BoyntonKaye family: “My mother, Nan Boynton founded Tallahassee’s Art District in the late 1970’s. Today would have been her 70th birthday. (May 13th, 2021). Lily (my sister) and I are offering to donate the site/land for this facility to the public as a birthday gift to our mother’s memory.”
Class of 2005 Todd Behrman is back in Florida. He shares with us: “So after two deployments out of Norfolk, VA with HSC-11 (Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 11) on board the USS Harry S Truman, I’m now stationed at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Pensacola, FL. I am an Instructor Pilot flying the T6-B Texan with VT-6 teaching the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps Aviators.”
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ALU MNI AFFA IRS CLASS NEWS Class of 2006 Andrew Mannheimer has been promoted to Senior Lecturer at Clemson University!! His family is extremely proud of the hard work and dedication he has put into his craft, his students, and the courses and content he teaches every day and the Maclay family is proud, too – Congratulations, Andrew!
Class of 2007 After two and a half years with the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Jordan Anderson is joining the Tallahassee law firm of Anderson & Hart, P.A. This represents the culmination of a life-long dream of getting to practice law and helping fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. From Jordan: “As an added bonus, I get to work for and learn from my dad, Paul Anderson.”
Class of 2008 Carolina Sánchez-Hervás: I started my own translation company called CSH Translation in 2014 in Miami, FL. I started the business with the 5 languages I speak, English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Russian, but we provide translation in over a dozen languages for individuals and companies around the world. For the last two years, we have been named the #1 Foreign Language Provider in South Florida by the Daily Business Review, which is a leading publication founded in 1926 in South Florida that focuses on law, real estate and business topics. Her company provides translation for many Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon, Exxon Mobile, Delta Airlines, American Express and several hotel and fashion brands such as Barceló Hotels & Resorts, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Fendi and others. Website: www.cshtranslation.com
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Congratulations to Courtney Hinkle! Courtney graduated from Georgetown Law on May 23, 2021! We wish you great success in your law career, Courtney.
Class of 2009 Will Liner studied Forestry at Auburn University and works at Florida Forest Service. “After a lot of hard studying, I’m really excited to say I passed the Board Certified Master Arborist exam! This is a credential I’ve wanted to earn since I first started in arboriculture and one I’ve been working towards for several years. I’m really proud to have reached this point.” Way to go, Will! Liz Landers is a political correspondent for Vice News based in Washington, DC with extensive experience traveling to all corners of the country covering political stories. She worked for CNN for more than four years, where she was an embedded reporter in the 2016 election with both Senator Bernie Sanders and Vice President Mike Pence, documenting and breaking news on the presidential campaign for more than a year and a half. Liz went on to cover the White House and Capitol Hill for CNN before starting with Vice News as a correspondent in spring 2019. She has broken numerous stories and conducted sit-down interviews with top Trump officials, many of the Democratic presidential candidates, and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. On March 11, 2021, Liz was promoted to Chief Political Correspondent. Congratulations, Liz!
Class of 2010 It’s Time to Celebrate with a 10 Year Reunion! Congratulations to Mallory Bennett Brown! Mallory is now a partner with the Tallahassee law firm of Thompson Crawford Brown & Smiley.
Class of 2011 It’s your 10 Year Reunion – Everyone Mark Your Calendars! Sarah Casteel Dean shares the press release for her new business: Greenville, S.C. -- Southeastern fine artist and graphic designer, Sarah Casteel Dean, Maclay High School class of 2011, has launched a storybook greeting card company called The Midnight Post. The collection offers hand-illustrated greeting cards printed on linen cardstock in a myriad of categories such as affection, birthday, comfort, congratulations and gratitude. Dean discovered her affinity for graphic design while working on Maclay’s yearbook, The Marauder, where she started as a staff photographer. Faculty advisor Deborah Mayer taught her foundational design principles and introduced her to Photoshop, InDesign and other technological design tools. “I had never even taken an art class in high school,” Dean explained, “but Mrs. Mayer saw something in my work. She encouraged me to develop my photographic and graphic design skills. She even suggested that I attend Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where I ultimately earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She has been an amazing mentor.”
A LU MNI AFFA IRS CLASS NEWS The Midnight Post offers a classic collection of traditional greeting cards as well as a line featuring storybook characters. The company’s fall collection includes wrapping paper and gift tags. The hand-crafted cards are printed on linen paper and retail for $5.00. They may be purchased in select stores nationwide or on the corporate website at www.themidnightpostshop.com We wish you great success, Sarah! Lindsey Peppers Boomer recently earned her MBA from FSU on March 24th – Congratulations, Lindsey! She has moved to Charlotte, NC where she started a new job at the Toyota Performance Center.
Class of 2012 A big shout out to Laura Catherine McCrary – she did her undergraduate studies in the Classics at Georgetown University and has just graduated from Cardozo School of Law with her J.D. She has accepted a job with the Unaccompanied Minors Program at Catholic Charities Community Services in New York City.
Class of 2013 She’s a California girl! Katherine Kirby has moved to San Francisco where she has taken a job with the investment office of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Maggie Miller. J.D., LL.M. graduated from the University of Florida’s Levin School of Law in May 2021. On June 1, she started her career as a tax attorney with the Scroggin & Company, P.C. law firm in Sandy Springs, GA.
Congratulations to Emily Ostreich! Emily graduated from Emory University School of Law in May 2021.
Congratulations to Dr. Trey Angerer! With his family in Boston, MA to celebrate with him, Trey graduated with his degree in dentistry.
Congratulations to Olivia Hunter!! Olivia graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law School in May 2021.
Class of 2015 Temi Omotayo graduated from FSU with a degree in Speech Language Pathology. She is currently working on her Masters degree in this same field – way to go, Temi!
Class of 2014 Greg Jaggears is a Robotics Software Engineer for Amazon in Boulder, Colorado. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Auburn University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. The Class of 2014 has several new attorneys to congratulate and we wish them success in their legal careers: Congratulations to Hannah Brewer Marshall! Hannah graduated from FSU College of Law in April 2021.
Class of 2016 Exciting news for Bliss Wilson Colao. Not only is she a newly wed, but she has been accepted to the University of Florida College of Medicine. She starts in August! Congratulations to Lewis Langford! Lewis graduated in May with a master’s in finance from Vanderbilt University!
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ALU MNI AFFA IRS CLASS NEWS Class of 2017 Many graduations to celebrate! Dylan Leoni (’16) and his brother Jacob Leoni (‘18) have co-founded a new business called Leoni & Sons LLC. It is a real estate investment, acquisition & development company in Tallahassee. Congratulations to Max McKinley – he graduated University of North Florida as Summa Cum Laude in May and he’s still playing baseball!
Chad Minter, along with his dad, brother Kohl, and Max Stanish, has co-founded a local seafood company called Stanish and Minter Oyster Co. They strive to grow and provide the highest quality oysters to Tallahassee and surrounding areas. The oysters can be ordered online: https://www.stanishminteroysters.com/ Matthew Burhans played his first Whiskey Jam in March, and he said it was definitely one to remember. In April he played for the first time at a rodeo with David Medlin. His musical pursuits continue as he did a livestream with Levi Hummon and plays for Hayden Ty Coffman. He posted that there is plenty to come this summer, so check it out!
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Anne Kirby graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Furman University in May 2021 and has plans: “After graduation, I’m planning to take a service year doing community health work before going back to school to get my Master’s in Public Health with a focus on Health Equity. I plan to use the skills I learned in the Communications studies major to effectively communicate with and advocate for individuals in order to improve the overall health and well-being of marginalized individuals.” Libby Dixon graduated from Furman University in May 2021 with a B.S. in Biology and a focus on conservation and preservation of wildlife, nature, and the environment. During her senior year Libby published an article in the Greenville newspaper pertaining to a study she conducted about the Reedy River. Check it out:https://greenvillejournal.com/ news/new-study-reveals-private-land-isa-major-cause-of-failing-stream-banksin-greenvilles-sc-ecosystem/ Beyond Furman, Libby plans to work in the conservation field before pursuing her M.S. in Conservation Biology. “I believe that the field of conservation is important because it not only focuses on protection of animal and plant species, but also positively benefits and creates a healthy environment for humans.”
On May 2nd, Daniela Schneider said “today I graduated from my dream school!” Daniela earned a B.A. in International Comparative Studies from Duke University. She is moving to Washington, D.C. where she will be working for the Washington Wizards as a Marketing Coordinator. Anna Kaji graduated from George Washington University with a B.S degree in Neuroscience. She is currently a Surgical Support Technician I at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and simultaneously a research trainee at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. Jake Mazziotta graduated from Virginia Military Institute with a major in mechanical engineering and was commissioned as an Army Engineer officer. Upon completion of the Engineer Basic Officer Leadership Course in Missouri, Jake will be stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Tacoma, Washington for his first duty station. Congratulations, Jake, and wishing you all the best in your military career – thank you for your service! Makenzie Thomas graduated with honors from Loyola University Chicago with a B.S. in Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience. After graduation, she stayed in Chicago and has joined the Neurology and Psychiatry team at Tempus Labs, running their mid-west region genome sequencing tests, where they work to match their patients with personalized medical treatment for their mental health journey.
A LU MNI AFFA IRS CLASS NEWS Meagan Wilkins “This week, I am graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication and Information Communication Technology and a minor in Business. After graduation, I will be moving to Cincinnati to work at Accenture as an Analyst in the Consulting Development Program!” Mary Frances Daniel is a proud 2021 graduate of Rhodes College. Having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Educational Studies, she is continuing her studies at Rhodes as she pursues a Master of Arts in Urban Education. Upon her graduation next year, she plans to head to the classroom! William Sundberg graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida State University with a degree in Commercial Entrepreneurship. Congratulations, William! Rebecca Morales also graduated Magna Cum Laude in spring 2021 from Florida State University with her B.S. degree in English Education. In the fall, she begins her studies for a M.S. in the same field being on track to finish in Spring of 2022. Way to go, Rebecca!
J.D. Gardner proudly graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in May. His major was Business Management with a Project Management emphasis. After graduation he took time to travel including New York and Colorado plus a trip to Tanzania with a college student led group where he helped build a school. The bonus was going on an excursion to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro! Kohl Minter graduated with a B.S. degree from FSU’s College of Business. He, is a co-founder and owner of a family seafood business called Stanish and Minter Oyster Co. Their oyster farm is located in Oyster Bay, Florida (near the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge). With Magna Cum Laude honors, Chas Dudley graduated in April from Florida State University. He completed his studies with a double-major in Finance and Marketing. Congratulations, Chas! Congratulations to Emilee Thompson! Emilee graduated from FSU in the spring 2021 with her degree in Elementary Education. She is now back at FSU pursuing her Masters in Practicum and Curriculum with another graduation next spring. From there, she plans to get a teaching job in Kindergarten or 1st grade.
Nikki Mauldin recently graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with majors in Religion and Women’s and Gender Studies. “I’m so excited to move to the West Coast to start the next chapter of my life!” With a double major in Business and Spanish, Madison Cherry graduated from Emory University with high honors. She will be starting a consulting job this summer – way to go, Madison! Congratulations to Ilsa McCrary! Ilsa graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. degree in Elemenatry Education. In the fall, she will begin her teaching career as a 3rd grade teacher! Congratulations to Anne Jackson McClure! Anne Jackson graduated from Auburn University in the spring.
Class of 2018 Parlin Escobar graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida State University in spring 2021. Congratulations, Parlin!
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ALU MNI AFFA IRS Class of 2019 Alex Secreast is a rising junior at Auburn University where she is majoring in Finance. Enhancing her studies at Auburn, Alex has a job this summer at Prime Meridian Bank in Tallahassee as a Credit Associate.
In addition to many jaunts to St. Teresa Beach during the pandemic year, Maya Ausley has expanded her travel adventures. Not only did she make a trip to Savannah, GA to visit her sisters but she ventured further with a road trip across country. The travel bug bit and she is spending the summer in Hawaii on the North Shore of Oahu – lucky girl!. She has transferred to FSU in order to pursue a degree in Commercial Entrepreneurship at the Jim Moran College and will begin the two-year program this fall.
Cody Paddack is in the Honor’s Program at University of Florida, and she will be starting the combined BA/MA program in Political Science this Fall 2021. She is working as a public policy intern this Summer for the Dumbarton Group & Associates in Washington, DC. Cody is also a member of the Florida Cicerones, serving as an official UF Ambassador, and a member of Delta Zeta Sorority.
GET INVOLVED WITH ALUMNI AFFAIRS! Transform
Celebrate
Engage
Connect
OFFER YOUR PERSPECTIVE
ENJOY REUNION WEEKEND
FOSTER COMMUNICATION
SHARE YOUR NEWS
We’re looking for passionate alumni to share their ideas and insight on how we can improve our program and better serve our alumni community.
Join us as we celebrate Homecoming /Reunion Weekend in the Fall with a variety of events open to all alumni. Watch for more details.
Volunteer as a Class Agent and help your classmates stay connected through alumni happenings.
We want to know what you’ve been up to. Tell us about your adventures and accomplishments.
Learn more at www.maclay.org and click alumni Debbie Hurley, Alumni Relations | dhurley@maclay.org | 850.893.8465 38
Rock Your Sox Maclay Alumni! With each alumni gift of $35 or above to the 2021-2022 Maclay Fund, you will receive a special pair of commemorative Maclay Socks created exclusively for our alumni. We hope this small token will keep a piece of Maclay close to you and that you will feel how grateful we are for your support and friendship as an important piece of our Maclay legacy. #RockYourSoxMarauders Donate today at www.maclayfund.com and start rock’in your sox!
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P hilanthropy AT WORK
s we look back on the resilience of the Maclay community this year, we are so very grateful for your support that laid the foundation for the success and growth of our students and school. Because of your gift to The Maclay Fund, we have been able to make immediate and much needed improvements to the Maclay experience enabling students and faculty members to learn and fully engage each day. Join us as we take a look at some of the meaningful ways your gift has impacted our community at Maclay. Thank you for the important part you have played in making these opportunities possible. Gratefully, James Milford Head of School TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual adaptations to the classroom, events, and activities enhanced the way our Maclay faculty, staff, and students interacted with technology daily and will have a long lasting impact. Contributions to The Maclay Fund provided the support needed to purchase new technology allowing for a seamless transition to the Concurrent Virtual Classroom model. The technology purchased included upgraded cameras and recording equipment, iPad mounts, and accessories for recording and livestreaming events.
FACULTY SUPPORT Outstanding faculty and staff are the heart of the Maclay experience. These individuals continued to innovate, collaborate, and connect with our students in new ways to ensure consistency in uncertain times. Through the Maclay Fund, faculty and staff participated in specialized trainings and professional development focusing on differentiating instruction, implementing assessment tools, and developing a new STEM and Humanities curriculum in the Middle School. The Lower School contracted with an Education Specialist to be on site each day to support and work with our faculty, engaging with them on learning differentiation, social and emotional development, and providing new insights to support our students and families.
OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS The Maclay Fund supported much needed modifications to our campus as we created outdoor classroom spaces that enabled students to be exposed to different learning environments, observe the natural ecosystems we are surrounded by, and allowed for safe in-person instruction on our beautiful 100 – acre campus.
ACTIVE LEARNING SPACES In an effort to tailor the Maclay experience to learners of all types, the school is working towards an ambitious goal to convert all classrooms to Active Learning Spaces. The classrooms will offer a personalized educational experience for students to learn and adjust their furnishings to meet their needs. The Maclay Fund supported new furnishing systems for six classrooms and the collaborative space in Langford Hall.
Maclay School 3737 N. Meridian Road Tallahassee, FL 32312 850.893.2138 www.maclay.org
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE
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