KnightTimes Fall 2020

FA LL 2020

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F PA C E A C A D E M Y

MORE THAN BOOKS

ADAPTING TO OUR COVID-19 NORMAL

Libraries for a New Generation

KNIGHTS RETURN!

C E LE B R AT I N G T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 0

GRADUATION

Thank you Pace Academy Castle Circle members!

The Castle Circle celebrates those who have arranged for a planned gift, also known as an estate gift, to Pace Academy.

We are pleased to recognize the following benefactors who have notified Pace of their planned giving arrangements. Their generosity will contribute to the school’s long-term financial viability, and help to ensure that Pace will offer an exceptional educational experience to all future generations.

Kathryn & Seth Adams

Bonnie & Jay Harris

Hilda & Pat Patrick

Sam Allen

Terry & Bill Hartman

Dana Rawls

Assaf Family

David E. Hawkins

Jean Robertson

Liz Price & Rick Blumen

Lisa & Nick Hoffman

Ruth & Garry Schaefer

Nell & Bob Chambers

Anne & Greg Kelly

Helen Smith

Margo & Greg Dexter

Cara Isdell Lee ’97

Michelle & Sam Soni

Sara & Brent Eden ’98

Katherine Rankin Maddux ’06

Ruth & Charles Wellborn ’83

Elisa & Bobby Ezor

Jenny & Miles Marks

Marguerite & Marshall Wellborn

Jack Sloan Flaum ’32 & Ryan Mollie Flaum (Abbey Flaum)

Juanita & Jack Markwalter

Melinda & Steve Wertheim

Mary Alyce McCullough

Jennifer & Steve Wray ’88

Stephanie & Austin McDonald ’97

Bob Yellowlees

Meredith Winitt Forrester ’95 Elizabeth & Fred Glass ’89

Are you a Castle Circle member?

Have you included Pace in your will or estate plan? If so, you are a Castle Circle member—and we hope you’ll let us know! If you’d like to confirm—or explore—Castle Circle membership, please contact DANA RAWLS in the Office of Advancement at 404-262-3534 or dana.rawls@paceacademy.org for information, or visit www.paceacademy.org/support-pace/planned-giving.

Please see the article by Pace parent and Planned Giving Committee member Abbey Flaum on page 26 for information on the benefits of using a beneficiary designation to make a planned gift.

The Class of 2020's commencement ceremony took place at Walsh Field on Aug. 1. Read about this unprecedented graduation program on page 46.

Follow Pace! facebook.com/ paceacademy

instagram.com/ paceacademy

twitter.com/ paceacademy

When the Pace Academy Class of 1967 gathered in the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School’s Woodruff Library to celebrate their 50th reunion and induction into the school’s Golden Knights Club, CHAD CARTWRIGHT ’67 brought with him a rubbing from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The impression bore the name of GLENN DUNCAN ’67, Cartwright’s classmate killed in Vietnam just three weeks into his deployment.

The rubbing and the story of a Pace alumnus lost in the line of duty sparked the interest of Creative Services Manager RYAN VIHLEN, who, in addition to his exceptional graphic-design skills, is an avid history buff. Vihlen began looking into Duncan’s life and expressed interest in preserving his story for the Pace community. You’ll find an excerpt of the beautiful piece on page 64 and the full article at www.paceacademy.org/knighttimes-features.

Duncan’s story is one of strength in the face of adversity, service to others and true courage to strive for excellence. He and the Class of 1967 left Pace at a time of national division and uncertainty, not unlike the Class of 2020.

And so, in this issue, we salute our newest alumni, who spent their senior spring Zooming into class and forgoing traditional celebrations and an ontime graduation to keep the Pace community safe. It was not what they had envisioned or hoped for, but they carried on.

Similarly, the Pace community has persevered this fall, adapting to COVID protocols, virtual learning and a reimagined campus. The following pages detail how our students, faculty and staff continue to create, connect, explore and excel—even in the midst of uncertainty.

CAI T LI N G O O D R I C H J O N E S ’00 D I R E C TO R O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

PACE CARES When our families and staff are in need, Pace Cares.

Contact us to deliver a meal: pacecares@paceacademy.org

GUES T WRITERS 966 W. Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 www.paceacademy.org

HEAD OF SCHOOL FRED ASSAF

DIVISION HEADS MICHAEL GANNON Head of Upper School

JILL RAWLS ’19 A sophomore at Northwestern University, JILL RAWLS served as managing editor for The Knightly News. During her time at Pace, she was a varsity cheerleader and gymnast, a member of the National Honor and Cum Laude societies, and a Sanford and Barbara Orkin Scholar. Outside of school, she volunteered with refugee organizations in the City of Decatur. She enjoys hiking, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

RYAN VIHLEN

GRAHAM ANTHONY Head of Middle School

RYAN VIHLEN came to Pace in 2013. As the school's graphic designer, he is responsible for the look and feel of Paceʼs printed collateral— including this magazine! He served as faculty

SYREETA MOSELEY Head of Lower School

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

adviser of Paceʼs yearbook program for seven years and has developed a keen interest in the schoolʼs history. He and his wife, Byrd, live in Smyrna with their adorable 2-year-old daughter, Penelope.

CAITLIN GOODRICH JONES ’00 Director of Communications, Editor OMAR LÓPEZ THISMÓN Digital Content Producer RYAN VIHLEN Creative Services Manager, Graphic Designer LELA WALLACE Digital Communications Manager

CONTENTS 06 NEWS 08 AROUND PACE A look at what’s happening on campus

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

08 SUMMER PROGRAMS & KEEPING PACE

FRED ASSAF

10 OUR COVID NORMAL Partnering with experts to make in-person school possible

GEMSHOTS PHOTOGRAPHIC www.gemshots.com LAURA INMAN

12 NEW FACULTY & STAFF LEADERSHIP

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

14 FACES OF PACE NIKKI MCCRARY, MEGAN TURNER and RYAN VIHLEN

HAYLEY SHOJI COATES ’12 DANA RAWLS

OUR MISSION To create prepared, confident citizens of the world who honor the values and legacy of Pace Academy.

To contribute ideas for the KnightTimes, please email Caitlin Jones at caitlin.jones@paceacademy.org.

16 FACULTY PROFILE NIRVANA SCOTT 18 TEACHING & CURRICULUM Progress on our Action Plan for Racial Equity 20 NEW TRUSTEES AMY AGAMI, DAN BROOKS, RONNIE BROWN, MARISA CHIN YEE and MCKITTRICK SIMMONS 24 NEW PACE FAMILIES 26 PLANNED GIVING CORNER 28 GEORGIA TAX CREDIT PROGRAM

4

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

32 ACCELERATE PACE 32 CONSTRUCTION UPDATES 34 DONOR VOICES 36 ALL IN THE FAMILY The BURRUSS/MILLS connection 38 ALL ABOUT PACE ARTS 38 MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAY 40 ALIVIA WYNN & THE PALEFSKY COLLISION PROJECT 42 ICGL The Isdell Center for Global Leadership’s Year of Global Health 44 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 46 GRADUATION Waving goodbye to the Class of 2020 in unprecedented fashion 52 MORE THAN BOOKS Inside the Woodruff and Soni Family libraries 56 ALUMNI 56 ALUMNI UPDATES 62 ALUMNI LEADERSHIP UPDATE 64 ONE KNIGHT IN VIETNAM The GLENN DUNCAN Story

Dear Pace Community, We’re doing it! As this magazine heads to the printer, we mark three successful months of hybrid learning. On any given day, nearly 98% of our student body attends school on campus, while others Zoom in from home classrooms. Regardless of a student’s setting or situation, our masterful teachers make it work.

Our COVID-19 normal has required much of students, faculty, staff and parents, and I am awed by the willingness to lean into the unknown, to choose creativity and resilience in the face of challenge and to abide by protocols that keep our community safe. It has not been easy.

COVID-19 and its associated adjustments have not dampened the energy, sense of community and forward momentum on campus, however. We completed the first phase of renovations in the Lower School classroom building and opened the Soni Family Library (page 52); structural steel now marks the outline of the new Kam Memar Lower School (page 32); and we are making progress toward the goals set forth in our Action Plan for Racial Equity (page 18).

In addition, our students are exploring the Isdell Center for Leadership’s strikingly apt theme of Global Health (page 42), creating and performing in innovative new ways (page 38) and, when it comes to athletics, outpacing the competition—look for coverage of our volleyball and cross-country state championships in our winter issue.

In times like these, our mission to create prepared, confident citizens of the world feels especially relevant, and I take great pride in the fact that our teachers understand the weight of that charge. Truly, they are heroes, and I am humbled to work alongside them. Thank you for supporting our community and helping us advance our mission.

Sincerely,

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

THE COVER Lower School students enjoy sunshine and fresh air during recess on the playground. Despite adjustments due to COVID-19, including a mask mandate, the Pace community continues to thrive. Learn more about how we've adapted on page 10.

THIS PAGE

FRED ASSAF

HEAD OF SCHOOL

In October, crews arrived to erect the Kam Memar Lower School’s structural steel frame. See page 32 for further updates on this monumental project.

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

5

NEWS What you ne ed to know

Romig Wins LITERARY GOLD EACH YEAR, students in grades seven through 12 apply for Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in 28 categories. In 2020, students across the country submitted nearly 320,000 works of art and writing to the program.

In the regional competition, senior LAURA ROMIG (below) earned three Gold Key awards in the poetry and flash fiction categories, as well as three Honorable Mentions.

Her short story, The Sum of All Things, advanced to the national competition, where it received a Gold Medal, awarded to the most outstanding works in the nation.

Middleton, Wideman Join

ADVANCING THE LIVES (ATL) COUNCIL THIS PAST SUMMER, amidst racial injustice and protests, Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Matt Ryan launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the Black community in Atlanta. Advancing The Lives (ATL) Of The Black Community aims to raise $2 million to “help improve the community for people of color in the city of Atlanta.”

Ryan kicked off the initiative with a $500,000 contribution and pledged to “really listen to the needs of the community and work with Black business leaders, sports figures, activists and local grassroots organizations to get guidance on how these donations can be most impactful.”

Among those selected to provide guidance are two Pace students: senior COLE MIDDLETON (above, right) and junior JAYLA WIDEMAN (above, left).

“This work is important to me because talking about the social injustices and oppressive systems in our country is necessary, but figuring out how people can physically dismantle these unjust systems is the key,” says Middleton.

Wideman agrees: “As a part of the Black community in Atlanta, I would like nothing more than to see it prosper,” she says. “I hope that [Advancing The Lives] can accomplish many things, but most of all I hope that we can achieve equal access to resources.”

Over the coming months, Middleton and Wideman will continue to participate in conversations with fund leaders as the group narrows its focus and determines its next steps.

6

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

Agolli TOPS THE LIST PREPVOLLEYBALL.COM, “the ultimate destination for ladies’ high school and club volleyball,” has selected freshman GRACE AGOLLI to its list of the top 150 volleyball players in the Class of 2024.

“The Top 150 player rankings are based on skill compared to other members of the graduating class, personal achievement and accolades, and impact on her team,” PrepVolleyball.com shares.

BAT TI S TA M Y ER S

Put your to work for Pace Academy.

ROM I G

THE NATIONAL Merit Scholarship Corporation annually honors outstanding high school seniors based on their performance on the PSAT. Seniors ISABEL BATTISTA, ASHLEY MYERS, LAURA ROMIG, HARLEY RYAN and ANTHONY SALAZAR were named 2021 National Merit Semifinalists, placing them among the highest-scoring test takers in Georgia. These seniors are now eligible to apply for National Merit Scholarships, which will be awarded beginning in March 2021.

In addition, seniors JACQUELINE CUNNINGHAM, SEAN GLENNON, MARY CHILDS HALL, JAMIE KORNHEISER, STEVEN MORRISROE, MARC ROSENTHAL and OLIVIA ULLMANN were recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars.

Commended Scholars placed among the top 50,000 scorers of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2021 competition.

RYAN

National Merit RECOGNIZES KNIGHTS

Pace Academy has come to rely heavily on the Georgia Private School Tax Credit Program to strengthen its financial aid resources. The program allows Georgia’s individual and corporate taxpayers to donate a portion of their state tax liability to a Student Scholarship Organization. The funds are then used for need-based financial aid at the independent school(s) of the taxpayer’s choice (Go Knights!). Pace depends on its entire family of parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff and other friends of the school to make this program a success.

This program does not cost the taxpayer anything—it is simply a redirection of taxes already owed to the state. When filing state income taxes, the taxpayer receives 100% credit for the amount of the contribution. Think of it as prepaying taxes already owed to the state and giving them to Pace!

Tax credits are limited based on the taxpayer’s filing status—up to $1,000 individual; $2,500 married filing jointly; $1,250 married filing separately; $10,000 for pass-through taxpayers from an S-Corp, LLC or Partnership; 75% of a C-Corp’s or eligible Trust’s total Georgia tax liability.

SAL A Z AR

NEWS

Please contact the Office of Advancement at 404-240-9103 or visit www.paceacademy.org/taxcredit to learn more about the program and submit your form before the Dec. 15, 2020 deadline.

 APPLY NOW FOR THE 2021 TAX YEAR AT WWW.PACEACADEMY.ORG/TAX-CREDIT

AROUND PACE A Look at What's Happening at Pace

U

nder the leadership of Director of Auxiliary Programs ZACH SLANEY, Pace Summer Programs embarked on an unanticipated adventure: operating camps in the time of COVID. “To make sure that we had all of the necessary procedures and protocols in place, we delayed the start of in-person camps this year,” Slaney says. “We also partnered with outside vendors to offer a wide variety of virtual camps for those who were not able to attend in person.”

Daily temperature checks, masking, social distancing and other healthy habits kept campers safe as they participated in art, theatre, athletics and academic camps, as well as specialty programs such as Amazing Robotics and the always-popular Danger Camp. In all, more than 600 in-person participants and 275 virtual campers took advantage of Pace Summer Programs’ 72 offerings, which also allowed school leadership to pilot COVID-related procedures prior to the start of school.

“We appreciate all of the camp families who helped make it another amazing summer at Pace,” Slaney says. “Planning for 2021 has already begun!”

r S um m e ms P rog r a

Keeping Pace’s 15th summer looked a little different than years past, but that didn’t stop Scholars from enjoying four weeks of robust academic and extracurricular programming.

The program for middle- and high-school students from under-resourced metro communities transitioned to a predominantly virtual format this year. Thirty-six Scholars tuned in for an online camp experience that focused on reading and writing and provided individual math tutoring from Pace Academy tutors and student counselors via Zoom to improve skills, comprehension and competency. In addition, hour-long virtual fitness sessions focused on using body weight and resistance to build strength.

“Even on Zoom, we strived to create a safe, welcoming environment for students while delivering a meaningful academic program,” says Keeping Pace Director MARTHA DOWNER-ASSAF. “We met students where they were and helped them move forward as individuals.” Testing was done to assess mathematical aptitude at the beginning and the end of the session, demonstrating nice gains attributed to one-on-one tutoring.

Keeping Pace concluded with two days of in-person activities on the Pace campus during which participants wore masks and practiced social distancing. In partnership with The Home Depot, Scholars learned gardening basics and took home their own Italian herb gardens. Other in-person activities included tennis, swimming, soapmaking and a viewing of Just Mercy, the film adaptation of the memoir the younger students read during the program.

“Despite this summer’s challenges, Keeping Pace Scholars made significant academic strides and forged meaningful relationships with their teachers and peers,” Downer-Assaf reports. “We’re looking forward to welcoming new and returning Scholars next summer—hopefully in person.”

A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER Ke eping Pace

8

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

Pace SUMMER PROGRAMS and KEEPING PACE adapt to accommodate virtual learning and health protocols.

AROUND PACE

Without large group gatherings, overnight class retreats, in-person parent orientations and campus visitors, the start of the 2020–2021 school year felt less frenetic than in years past.

Nevertheless, students, faculty and staff found creative—and COVIDfree—ways to foster community.

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

9

AROUND PACE

Knights Return Adapting to our COVID-19 normal

“In

consultation with medical professionals and following guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Pace Academy plans to begin the 2020–2021 school year in person on August 12.”

So began Head of School FRED ASSAF’S July 15 email to the Pace community. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and national uncertainty surrounding a return to school and the risk of community spread, Pace leadership determined that the Knights would gather on campus once again. Families could also elect a virtual-learning format for their children, if desired.

“Like the American Academy of Pediatrics, we understand that schools play a vital role in children’s development and overall well-being,” Assaf continued.

“Our goal is to maintain the health, safety and mental wellness of our entire community while providing the nurturing and academically rigorous school environment unique to Pace.”

In preparation for students’ return, the

10

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

school issued a comprehensive plan to minimize the risk of the virus’s spread.

As part of the plan (available at www. paceacademy.org/pace-health) students, faculty and staff committed to wearing masks except while eating and drinking, and the campus received a COVID-style makeover, complete with the installation of thermal temperature scanners at building entrances, the reimagining of classrooms and shared spaces, and the addition of two-way Zoom technology to allow students learning remotely to remain part of the on-campus experience.

Several weeks into the school year, crews erected a large tent in the Pace Gardens to provide covered outdoor space.

The Pace community eased back into the school year, taking the first eight days to adapt to new in-person protocols and virtual-learning procedures with a limited number of students on campus each day.

“Our phased approach allowed both students and faculty to become comfortable with our new way of life on campus and to work out some of the unanticipated kinks

that have come with learning remotely,” Assaf says.

At print time, approximately 2% of the student body attends school from home on any given day, and faculty have gone above and beyond to ensure a seamless experience for virtual learners, while Pace’s COVID response team—nurses MEGAN TURNER and ANNA GRETCHEN and Head Athletic Trainer PETE DEWAR—monitor health and wellness.

“I cannot say enough about our teachers, nurses, and facilities and IT teams,” Assaf says. “Truly, they are the heroes of the Pace community.”

Students agree. “My teachers have 100% prioritized safety in all of my classes,” says senior MARY CHILDS HALL. “Even if it takes an extra five minutes to wipe down desks before we can get to work, the teachers are willing to do so, so as to keep all of us on campus. Also, teachers frequently remind us to socially distance and do our part. It may seem a bit redundant sometimes, but it is helpful and makes me feel more comfortable to be at school.”

AROUND PACE

Dr. Kavita Kotte

“I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to share my perspective on how to create and maintain a safe learning environment.”

— Dr. Omar Jalil

Dr. Omar Jalil

Heather Dexter

Doctors On Call Thanks to our expert team: Dr. Shabnam Shah Physician at Emory University Hospitals Samir Bhatia CEO of SmartCare Medical Group

New habits and routines haven’t hampered the sense of community at Pace, reports Student Body President GUS THOMAS, a senior. “Although campus life isn't exactly the same as normal, the comradery among the students and faculty has not missed a beat.”

Given the arrival of flu season and colder temperatures, the viability of in-person school throughout the winter remains to be seen, but school leaders are confident in the protocols in place and, based on experiences during the first weeks of school, hopeful for continued success.

“Our community is taking the threat of COVID-19 seriously while simultaneously understanding the risks to students’ mental health and overall well-being that come with not being in school,” Assaf says. “As long as we can safely operate in person, we will. I’m encouraged and optimistic.” l

Heather Dexter CEO of Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital Dr. Omar Jalil Director of Hospital Medicine at Piedmont Hospital Dr. Michele M. Johnson Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery & Neurology at Piedmont Atlanta; Neurosurgeon at Atlanta Brain and Spine Care Dr. Julia Kaufman Attending Physician at Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates Dr. Raj Kothari Physician at Piedmont Heart Institute Dr. Kavita Kotte Medical Director and Physician at Eastside Medical Center, CMO of SmartCare Medical Group

Guiding the school’s decision-making regarding COVID-19 throughout the summer and into the school year has been a team of medical experts offering expertise to ensure that the procedures in place are effective, medically sound and aligned with current scientific findings.

“When Head of School FRED ASSAF asked if I would help, I jumped at the opportunity to share what we [at Emory Healthcare] had learned about creating the safest environment possible in the midst of COVID,” reports Pace parent HEATHER DEXTER, CEO of Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital. “One reason I was willing to help is that I had experts I could tap into and processes that we had already implemented that I was confident could be replicated in any organization. The most important reason I wanted to help was a selfish one, though: I wanted to make sure my 9-yearold son was walking back through those Pace doors into a safe environment.”

Other medical professionals within the Pace community felt similarly. “In addition to academics, I feel that a supportive, nurturing learning environment that cultivates the developing mind is enormously important to help our children grow into happy and caring adults,” says Pace parent DR. OMAR JALIL, director of hospital medicine at Piedmont Hospital. “If possible, the best way for this to occur is through interpersonal interaction and socialization in the school setting.”

In total, Assaf assembled a team of nine to consult on everything from face masks and air filtration to testing and temperature taking.

“As an English teacher and administrator, I never imagined that I would be charged with operating a school in the midst of a pandemic,” Assaf says. “Thankfully, we knew who to call.”

Thus far, mitigation efforts have proven incredibly effective, and school has continued to operate thanks to community adherence to COVID protocols. “For the most part, students, faculty and staff are following our guidelines to a tee,” reports DR. KAVITA KOTTE, a Pace parent and medical director at Eastside Medical Center. “That’s the amazing thing about Pace—the school cultivates independent and confident children who will most definitely be our future leaders.” l

Dr. Zobair Nagamia Chief Operating Officer at SmartCare Medical Group

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

11

AROUND PACE

Dr. Troy Baker /// DIRECTOR OF STUDENT LIFE /// After five years as director of Athletics, Troy Baker now shepherds the overall student experience and strives to create an environment that nurtures students’ holistic development by overseeing counseling, discipline, community-building and inclusion, as well as academic and nonacademic interventions. Baker, who began his career in the classroom, has a bachelor’s in education from Wright State University and a master’s in secondary education from Brown University. He earned a Doctor of Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College in 2015.

Heather Allen Bernes ’05 /// ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ///

Joanne Brown /// CHIEF EQUIT Y AND INCLUSION OFFICER ///

A Pace Lifer, Heather Bernes returns to her alma mater following a career in television in Los Angeles, where she was a two-time Emmy Award-winning producer for the CBS game show The Price is Right. Bernes is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Virginia and a member of the Pace Alumni Board. She is enjoying being back on campus and sharing her Pace pride with prospective students and families.

Joanne Brown, formerly Pace’s director of diversity and inclusion, will continue to work to ensure a diverse and inclusive school culture by supporting employee recruitment and retention and professional development; promoting culturally-relevant pedagogies, practices and programs; and fostering an equitable environment for all students. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Brown studied law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and spent two decades practicing law before launching a second career in independent school administration.

Eric Forslund

Anna Gretchen

Mac McCallum

/// DIRECTOR OF SPEECH AND DEBATE ///

/// LOWER SCHOOL NURSE ///

Eric Forslund comes to Pace from the Greenhill School, a debate powerhouse in Addison, Texas. A collegiate All-American debater at Arizona State University, Forslund coached the 2008 collegiate national debate champions and the 2012 high school national champions. He earned a master’s of communication at the University of Wyoming and—in an unrelated undertaking—attended Major League Baseball’s professional umpire school.

Starting a new job as a school nurse in the midst of a pandemic is nothing less than daunting, but Anna Gretchen has embraced the challenge. A former pediatric oncology nurse, Gretchen earned a degree in psychology from Rhodes College, attended nursing school at Union University and holds a master’s in nursing from the University of South Alabama. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

/// ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL ADMISSIONS, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID /// Associate Director of Middle and Upper School Admissions Mac McCallum adds financial aid to his list of responsibilities in the 2020–2021 school year. McCallum, who has taught Upper School history and coached varsity baseball at Pace, is a graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South and received his master’s in U.S. history from North Carolina State University.

He will begin work toward a master’s in independent school leadership at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College in 2021.

NEW LEADERS FOR THE NEW YEAR 12

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

Natalie Catlett

Pete Dewar

/// DIRECTOR OF DESIGN THINKING ///

/// HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER ///

A native of Brazil, Natalie Catlett comes to the Pace Lower School from Riverbend School in Boston, where she taught design and served as an education consultant for Creative Learning Company.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications design from Pratt Institute, a master’s degree in art education from Tufts University and a master’s in education entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. She is also the author and illustrator of three children’s books.

Pete Dewar’s experience working with athletes ranges from time on the sidelines with the Detroit Lions, the Washington Redskins and the Shenzhen Aviators (of the Chinese Basketball Association) to his most recent stint as head athletics trainer at Noblesville High School in Indiana, where he oversaw the daily care of 1,200 student-athletes across 26 sports. Dewar received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and his master’s from the University of Arizona.

PROUD PARTNERS Our 2020–2021 parent organization leaders PA R E N T S CL UB PRESIDENT Nicole Allen VICE PRESIDENT Elenore Klingler SECRE TA RY Kimberly Neville TREASURER Deanna Harris PA ST PRESIDENT Corey Hirokawa

A R T S A L L I A N C E

Zach Slaney

Chad Wabrek

CO-PRESIDENTS Angie Howell & Wendy Schmitt

/// DIRECTOR OF AUXILIARY PROGRAMS ///

/// DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS ///

PA ST PRESIDENT Mary Kelly Cunningham

Former Middle School computer teacher Zach Slaney has moved out of the classroom to lead the school’s efforts around summer programming and after-school care, in addition to coaching football, basketball and Middle School robotics. Slaney received a bachelor’s in psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master's degree in athletics administration from Ohio University.

Formerly associate director of Pace Athletics, Chad Wabrek now oversees 82 teams, strength-and-conditioning and physical-education programs, a talented coaching staff, state-of-the-art athletic facilities and a community of outstanding student-athletes. Wabrek holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Hobart College and a master’s in English from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College. His 26 years in education have included time as a teacher, coach, dean, department chair and athletics director.

SECRE TA RY Julie Carson TREASURER Jennifer Douglas-Ullmann

BOO S T E R CL UB CO-PRESIDENTS Mary & Ed Holmes VICE PRESIDENT Gabriela Carroll SECRE TA RY Mary Bready

Several familiar faces have assumed different responsibilities within the

TREASURER Buddy Blaha

Pace community, and we’ve welcomed new faces to leadership positions.

PA ST CO-PRESIDENTS Laurie & Hampton Mallis

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

13

AROUND PACE

Megan Turner /// MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL NURSE ///

Nikki McCrary /// ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL /// What do you do at Pace that falls beyond the scope of your job description?

Since 2002, I have been the unofficial candy provider for the Upper School, but due to COVID, that's on hold! More seriously, I am a part of the Faculty Diversity Committee and an adviser for BAAAD, the Upper School’s Black, AfricanAmerican, African Diaspora affinity group. Our families and students of color need support within this community, and it's important for me to provide that in any way that I can.

Why is Pace a special place to work?

The students make my day. We have some special ones here, and they can be a lot of fun. Getting involved with the affinity group, as well as my job as a Transitions faculty member, has helped me get to know the students better than just seeing them in passing. I really get to know their personalities.

Is there one particular memory or experience that defines Pace for you?

Former Head of Upper School LOLLY HAND took me to dinner for my birthday one year, and a few Pace moms who were volunteering at the Castle front desk at the time came to help me celebrate. We have been hanging out ever since, even though Lolly has moved away and their kids have graduated from Pace and college. We call our little group “The Castlettes.” I’m grateful for these long-lasting friendships!

14

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

How did you come to work at Pace?

I was an oncology nurse for 10 years, and then I took a break to raise my children. When my youngest child started kindergarten, I decided to put my name on the school nursing substitute list. I was fortunate to start working at Pace shortly thereafter.

Over the years, my job has expanded from a once-a-week commitment to a full-time position.

What do you do at Pace that falls beyond the scope of your job description?

My entire job description has changed this year with the onset of COVID-19. It has been challenging and rewarding to collaborate with colleagues and experts from within our Pace community who have generously given their time and knowledge to help review our protocols. My summer reading was full of CDC protocols, medical journals and all things COVID-19!

Why is Pace a special place to work?

I love the community of Pace Academy. I feel blessed to be a part of such a great group of families, faculty and staff!

AROUND PACE

How did you come to work at Pace?

My career at Pace began on August 6, 2013. I had graduated from SCAD with a MFA in graphic design the previous year and had been working with various companies on a freelance basis. I was in my late 20s and had enough life experience to develop a very specific idea of the kind of work environment that I was looking for. Instead of using my design skills to merely sell products, I desired to work at an institution that was having a positive impact on the world. When the opportunity at Pace presented itself before the 2013–2014 school year, it was exactly what I had been waiting for.

What do you do at Pace that falls beyond the scope of your job description?

I've become very passionate about preserving, organizing and sharing the photographic history of the school. I've probably dealt with a few hundred thousand photos. It's been a massive undertaking—I tell people that this is the biggest project of my life. I started within my first two years of employment by organizing the majority of our digital photos from the previous decade. Once the digital files were managed, I turned my attention to digitizing and organizing our physical photographic assets.

To me, there is something magical about rediscovering these slides and film negatives that have not been seen in 30 or 40 years. This work has the power to bring the school's history to life—it's almost like taking a ride in a time machine.

Is there one particular memory or experience that you've had that defines Pace for you?

My wife's health deteriorated soon after I was hired. Medical complications during her pregnancy in 2018 caused 99 days of hospitalization. As difficult as that year was for us, the outpouring of love and the tangible support we received made our suffering significantly more bearable. The prayers and the meals that came from all corners of this institution buoyed our spirits as we settled into our new life as parents. The school has always been so supportive of us through the multitude of challenges we have faced. I feel blessed to be part of such a caring community.

Ryan Vihlen /// CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER ///

FACES OF PACE

Get to know the Pace Academy staff members who make the business of school happen.

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

15

AROUND PACE

FA C U L T Y S POT L I G H T rior to officially joining the Pace Academy faculty in 2015, Lower School strings teacher NIRVANA SCOTT worked as a visiting artist alongside TARA HARRIS, then the school’s lone orchestra instructor, providing one-on-one lessons and coaching to specific instrument sections.

“I fell in love with the healthy, vibrant and curious Pace community,” Scott recalls. Her position at Pace became official in 2015 when Harris handed over her Lower School responsibilities to focus on the thriving Middle and Upper School orchestra programs.

Scott, a professional violinist and violist, arrived at Pace with extensive teaching and performance experience. She attended Georgia State University (GSU), where she studied philosophy and earned the University Scholar Award for viola performance. Through GSU’s Sound Learning program, Scott honed her skills working with elementary-aged students and designed curricula that used music to boost social and emotional growth—while also teaching the importance of diversity and inclusion. Orchestra residencies at Drew Charter School and a stint as an orchestra instructor with Crescendo Strings Academy rounded out her resume.

Since joining the Pace visual and performing arts department, Scott has dedicated herself to encouraging students to be creative while focusing on the fundamentals and taking part in meaningful performance opportunities. She also wants them to know that they belong.

That desire to foster a welcoming, inclusive environment in her classroom and school community led Scott to join the Faculty Diversity Committee in 2016. As the school strategically grew its programs around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), DEI coordinator roles opened in each division, and Scott was a perfect match to tackle the job in the Lower School. Now, she and the DEI team are working with faculty, staff, students, parents and alumni

16

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

to implement Pace’s Action Plan for Racial Equity, published in July 2020.

“My role as a diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator is incredibly rewarding,” Scott reports. “I learn new things every day. Most days, I read, study and have profoundly caring conversations with Pace faculty, staff and students.”

Scott’s most gratifying experiences have included helping coordinate and taking part in celebrations of events such as Black History Month, Diwali and Chinese New Year. She also loves welcoming visiting speakers and artists and participating in Read4Respect, an initiative of the AntiDefamation League that uses children’s literature to help students engage in discussions about name-calling and bullying. Throughout the fall semester, Scott, Director of Student Life DR. TROY BAKER, Lower School Director of Student Life KACY BRUBAKER and Lower School Counselor ASHLEY ZOMALT visited every Lower School classroom to facilitate Read4Respect programs. “Working with our students every day and encouraging empathy is incredibly satisfying,” she says.

Scott notes that her DEI work has also influenced her personal life. “I am a more thoughtful person, and I have learned how to look critically at myself,” she says. “Every day I am more self-aware, and this has made me a better teacher, advocate and person.”

Scott’s passion and skill for bettering communities is not limited to her work at Pace. For more than six years, she has volunteered with Chastain Horse Park’s Therapeutic Riding Program, which uses horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities to improve the overall wellbeing of children and adults with disabilities. In addition, Scott is part of The Junior League of Atlanta, where members devote themselves to community engagement.

Outside the classroom, you’ll find Scott performing with her internationally touring band, Little Tybee, and CoResonance, an innovative string quartet that also includes Tara Harris and her husband, Pace parent ANTON HARRIS. l

with contributions from JILL RAWLS ’19

NIRVANA SCOTT

AROUND PACE

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

17

OUR ACTION PLAN FOR RACIAL EQUITY:

TRACKING OUR PROGRESS MAK I NG S TR I DE S I N T H E AR E A OF T E AC H I NG & CU R R ICU LU M

“PACE ACADEMY is committed to eradicating racism and its legacy, and to dismantling any racial hierarchies within our school community. As an institution of learning, we have a responsibility to ensure that every community member feels supported, valued and safe.”

So begins Pace’s Action Plan for Racial Equity, a living document published in July 2020 that reflects our school community’s pledge to examine institutional practices, policies and procedures, and to implement meaningful changes in an effort to foster true racial equity.

Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer JOANNE BROWN and Director of Student Life DR. TROY BAKER are leading the charge, working alongside dedicated students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents and alumni to see that the action items detailed in the plan come to fruition.

“The overarching goal of our plan is to ensure that all students feel welcome and loved—from the time they enter Pre-First to when they walk across the stage at commencement and beyond,” Brown and Baker wrote in a September letter to the

18

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

community. “We understand that we, as a school, have much to do to realize the goals set forth in our plan… but we are incredibly encouraged by the progress we have made thus far.”

The Action Plan for Racial Equity focuses on six areas: Teaching & Curriculum, Our Community, Listening & Learning, Our People, Joining Our Community and Our Pledge. In upcoming issues of this magazine, we will report on strides made in each of these areas. First up? Teaching & Curriculum.

“Everything in our Action Plan for Racial Equity ties back to our mission to create prepared, confident citizens of the world,” says Baker. “To make sure that our students are truly set up for success in a global society, it’s our responsibility to teach from an antiracist and factual curriculum, to present multiple perspectives and to encourage critical thinking.”

Reviewing and assessing Pace’s curriculum and current practices is a tremendous task, one that school leaders recognize should be undertaken by a group of objective experts in the field. Therefore, the

Diversity, Equity (DEI) and Inclusion committee of the Board of Trustees has embarked on the process of vetting consultants.

A comprehensive review will require significant time, as will assessing its findings and implementing its recommendations.

“We understand the desire for immediate change, but we also want to be strategic and thoughtful in our approach,” Brown says. “Our community needs to understand that we’re on a never-ending journey. This is an endeavor that truly requires the courage to strive for excellence.”

There were, however, curricular changes in line with the Action Plan for Racial Equity that could be made with the start of the 2020–2021 school year. “We provided Lower School teachers specific DEI curriculum targets and resources for global and social studies,” Brown reports.

“Now we have a much more intentional path to introducing Black culture beyond just the history of bondage and enslavement.” In addition, Lower, Middle and Upper School faculty conducted an examination of the history and social studies curriculum to identify where they could better incorporate or introduce lessons

AROUND PACE

OMAR LÓPEZ THISMÓN, Upper School diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator, teaches the DEI unit of Transitions.

regarding ancient African civilizations and pre-colonialism.

In the Middle School, quarterly Discovery classes enrich students’ core academic studies, and this year, Engaged Citizenship: Race, Justice and Leadership was added to the Discovery offerings. The course introduces all sixth graders—approximately one third of whom are new to Pace—to the school’s DEI, Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) and character education programs. A team of faculty representing both the DEI and ICGL departments leads the class.

“Engaged Citizenship allows us to make sure that all Middle School students are on the same page as far as our community standards and expectations go,” Baker says. “But beyond that, it gives students a deeper understanding of why we commit to supporting the dignity and humanity of all people and why racial equity and social justice are important. Our goal is to provide resources and historical context and to cultivate new skills for engagement.”

Another Middle School Discovery course syllabus has expanded as well; the eighthgrade Holocaust Studies class has been

renamed Holocaust & Civil Rights and now incorporates the civil rights movement in preparation for the eighth-grade civil rights trip, which takes place in the spring.

In addition, representative texts such as New Kid, Ghost Boys, Brown Girl Dreaming and Before We Were Free are now part of our Middle School English curriculum.

In the Upper School, faculty added antiracist language to their syllabi to set community norms and classroom expectations, and the Upper School English curriculum changed even before school began. “Ordinarily we select different books at each grade level, but these are not ordinary times,” Head of Upper School MIKE GANNON wrote to students and parents in June. “In acknowledgment of profoundly distressing and hopefully transformational national events, the entire Upper School will read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.”

A 2017 National Book Award longlist selection, The Hate U Give tells the story of a 16-year-old Black girl who attends a suburban prep school and witnesses the shooting of her unarmed childhood friend by the police.

Upper School English courses kicked off with rich discussions around the issues raised in the book, which in turn laid the foundation for conversations about Pace’s Action Plan for Racial Equity. Throughout the fall semester, Baker and Brown met with every Upper School English class—allowing them to reach every Upper School student—to walk through the language used in the plan as well as its objectives.

“It is important that our students understand that Pace’s plan is not just something Troy and I put together,” Brown says. “It is something that as a community we have been working toward for years, and its creation involved all members of the Board and the administrative team. To be successful, its implementation has to involve each and every student. We want students to take ownership of the plan, to hold each other and our faculty and staff accountable, and to help us grow as a school community.” l Additional information on our progress is available at www.paceacademy.org/diversity-inclusion.

O T H E R D E I - R E L AT E D CURRICULAR OFFERINGS INCLUDE: • Read4Respect, a Lower School program that uses children’s literature to help students engage in discussions about preventing bullying and name-calling, respecting differences, understanding equity and valuing diversity • No Place for Hate, an initiative of the Anti-Defamation League that fosters a culture of respect and creates a safe, bully-free learning environment • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, a unit in our required ninth-grade Transitions class • The African-American Saga, an Upper School elective that follows African-American history from the African continent, through the middle passage, the Civil Rights era and into the present D I V E R S I T Y, E Q U I T Y & INCLUSION BOARD SUBCOMMITTEE AMY AGAMI SHAWN A ALEXANDRA BATES ​ JOSH BELINFANTE ’95 ALISON ​BROWN RONNIE BROWN ​ BRUCE CARROLL ​ MARISA CHIN YEE DANEEN DURR KEITH EVANS ​ MICHELE JOHNSON TED MCMULLAN BEA PEREZ DOUG SHANLEY-BALYEAT TONY SUNDERMEIER SARAH ZAMPELL ELIZABETH CORRELL RICHARDS Chair of Board of Trustees FRED ASSAF Head of School TROY BAKER Director of Student Life ​ JOANNE BROWN Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

19

AROUND PACE

“At Pace, the community is one of its most special parts.”

Board of Trustees Welcomes Five Members

A M Y AGA M I

AMY

Agami

Joining Pace Academy’s Board of Trustees seems a natural step for AMY AGAMI, whose deep connection to the school reaches back to childhood, when her parents brought her to the Fall Fair. “Even as an outsider,” she recalls, “Pace seemed like a warm, welcoming and happy place.”

Agami and her husband, RONNIE AGAMI, joined the Pace community in 2014, when they enrolled their son ZACH AGAMI ’27 in Pre-First. Their daughter, JILL AGAMI ’29, and younger son, NOAH AGAMI ’31, also came to Pace as PreFirst students.

Agami, a former educator, quickly became engaged in the Lower School, serving as a classroom volunteer and grade representative. She has been active in the Parents Club as well, and was to serve as co-chair of the 2020 Fall Fair until the pandemic upended plans. Nonetheless, her volunteer plate will remain full; in addition to her new position on the Board, she and her husband are one of three couples cochairing the Accelerate Pace capital campaign.

“I grew up in a house where giving back to the community was of utmost importance,” Agami explains. “At Pace, the

20

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

community is one of its most special parts.” She is excited to serve on the Board and for new opportunities to help “make our very special community even better,” she says.

Agami, who holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Tulane University and a master’s in teaching from National Louis University, has taught in independent schools in Chicago and Atlanta. Her love of children lies at the root of her philanthropic interests, which in addition to Pace, have included Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Atlanta Speech School, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta and The Weinberg Early Learning Center.

DA N

Brooks

DAN BROOKS, an attorney by profession, comes to his role on the Board with expertise as an investor who sits on the boards of five privately held companies. Beyond these qualifications, Brooks brings to the Board his passion for the Pace experience, more than a decade in the making—second only to his passion for his number one hobby, mountain biking.

Brooks’ love for Pace was kindled in 2009, when he and his wife, LISA BROOKS, enrolled the oldest of their three

AROUND PACE

children, SAM BROOKS ’22, in Pre-First. Their two younger boys, Middle School students MARLEY BROOKS ’25 and CASH BROOKS ’26, arrived as Pre-First students in the years that followed.

“The Pace community has welcomed our entire family with open arms and a warm embrace,” Brooks shares. “I want to return that kindness. Lisa and I have made lifelong friends, and the school community has been integral in building each of my three sons into young men that we are proud of.”

In joining the Board, Brooks looks forward to “participating in the process" and helping the community that has enriched his family. “It’s my responsibility,” he says. “I'm happy and honored to serve and do my best to make Pace the best it can be.”

It seems fitting that Brooks hails from the Volunteer State of Tennessee—he has volunteered countless hours supporting the sport of mountain biking. Most significantly, he founded the Georgia Interscholastic Cycling League, which now includes 1,000 student-athletes and 650 coaches on 70 teams across the state. In addition, his support has been integral to the successful development of Pace’s coed mountain biking club team, coached by Middle School

teachers JESSE MARSHBURN and SCOTT SHUPE. This fall, with appropriate safety measures, the team has been able to participate in competitions.

A graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy, an independent school in Nashville, Brooks received a bachelor’s degree from Sewanee: The University of the South where he graduated summa cum laude, then attended Vanderbilt University Law School. A position with the law firm King & Spalding brought him to Atlanta in 1998. Brooks is not the only volunteer in the family, however: “Lisa volunteers for just about anything,” he says.

RON N I E

Brown

As a member of the Pace Board, RONNIE BROWN offers the school a valuable—and far from everyday—set of skills.

A Cartersville, Ga., native, Brown is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Auburn University. Before joining Wells Fargo’s wealth management practice, he wrapped up a 10-year career as a professional athlete in the National Football League. A running back, he was the second pick in the first round of the 2005 Draft, scooped up by the Miami Dolphins.

Brown’s experiences have shaped his perspectives and beliefs. “As a former athlete, I am a firm believer in teamwork and the collective pursuit of achieving goals,” he says.

“Team members—through unselfish acts—work together to overcome adversity and challenges for the greater good of the group.” He sees this as a team’s “fundamental charge, which will yield positive and successful results.”

Brown and his wife, TAYLOR BROWN, became Pace parents when their son, RHYS BROWN ’31, enrolled in Pre-First.

In addition to the teamwork involved in raising their son and 4-year-old daughter, Reagan Brown, the couple is teaming up to lead the Accelerate Pace capital campaign with new Trustee Amy Agami and Ronnie Agami and Trustee JIM MASKE and DR. ALLYSON MASKE. In joining the Board, Brown says, “I am excited to further the Pace mission and to bring a different perspective to the Pace community in planning and promoting growth for all students.”

The Browns, who met in college, settled in Georgia to be close to both of their families.

Their appreciation for family and community contributed to their choice of Pace for their son. “We thought and continue to think that Pace presents a community environment that promotes

“I'm happy and honored to serve and do my best to make Pace the best it can be.”

DA N BRO OK S KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

21

AROUND PACE

“I am excited to further the Pace mission and to bring a different perspective to the Pace community.”

growth and leadership,” he says.

“In addition, it offers academic rigor and challenges children to become critical thinkers, while also helping them grow into compassionate and productive young adults.”

Brown also serves on the Board RON N I E BROW N of Directors for the Jason Taylor Foundation, focused on the personal growth and empowerment of South Florida’s children in need. Last year, Brown received special recognition as an Auburn alumnus when he was awarded the university’s 2019 Outstanding Achievement Award for the College of Liberal Arts.

MAR ISA

Chin Yee

“Growing up in a multi-racial family in Jamaica, and having had the opportunities from an early age to attend school and work in different countries and various cities in the United States, have shaped and taught me the value of multiculturalism and diversity. My experiences have inculcated in me a deep appreciation and passion for the rich and varied perspectives that different nationalities and cultures can bring as all unite and work toward a common purpose,” Trustee MARISA CHIN YEE explains.

Chin Yee, the mother of KAI CHIN YEE ’31, brings this passion to her Board position along with a desire to help Pace advance its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“My past experiences have given me the drive to address the societal issues that are part of Pace’s objectives,” she notes.

Although Chin Yee spent her childhood in Jamaica, she attended high school in Canada, then obtained a bachelor’s degree at Nova Southeastern University and a master’s of public administration at the University of Miami, both in Florida. She is a licensed CPA with years of experience at Deloitte, an additional asset to her role on the Board.

Chin Yee and her husband, DR. DAVID CHIN YEE, relocated from St. Louis to Atlanta when he was presented a job opportunity with the medical practice Georgia Retina. The couple was excited about living in a “diverse

“My past experiences have given me the drive to address the societal issues that are part of Pace’s objectives.”

M A RISA CHIN YEE

22

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

AROUND PACE

city and environment” with access to an international airport that offered “the flexibility to travel, especially back to Jamaica,” she says.

When exploring where their son should begin school, the Chin Yees were impressed by Pace’s “community feel and family atmosphere,” she says. “We also appreciated its academic reputation—and during the observation, they made Kai feel special,” she laughs. The couple’s younger child, daughter Maci Chin Yee, currently attends Atlanta Speech School.

Chin Yee has been an active volunteer in the community and at Pace, and is excited about this new opportunity to serve. She remarks, “As a family of color, we feel that it is important to be represented and to continue providing support to the community.”

“Pace has a very strong community and the ability to feel like a home to everyone,” she continues. “I hope that the school will continue to advance in this way as it continues to expand diversity and inclusion initiatives.”

MC KI T T R I C K

Simmons Jr. ’94

in positive ways—”to be additive,” he says. “Meredith and I both want to be ambassadors for Pace and help build the sense of community.”

Simmons, who has a bachelor’s degree from HampdenSydney College and an master’s from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, finds time in his busy professional schedule to volunteer and has served for a decade or more on the boards of Atlanta Youth Academy, Young Life Africa Expeditions and Theatrical Outfit.

He notes that while “Meredith is busy running our family circus,” she also volunteers: tutoring at a local elementary school, advising a tech startup company and serving on the leadership team of Kairos Church, which she helped found.

Both believe that Pace has grown and changed significantly since they attended. “It has evolved and improved in so many positive ways,” Simmons says. He adds that the couple’s goal is to contribute to Pace in “places where we can help.”

“Going forward, we hope Pace’s leadership will refine the values and traditions that add to the character of the school as well as its position as a leader among independent schools,” he says. l

Pace alumnus MCKITTRICK SIMMONS JR. ’94 brings a combination of business, investment and commercial real estate expertise to his role as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Simmons, who began serving on the Board’s Properties Committee last year, is the founder of Sweetwater Holdings Co., a privately held real estate investment and development company that has been a leader in branding and revitalizing Atlanta’s Upper Westside corridor.

Simmons and his wife, Pace alumna MEREDITH BAILEY SIMMONS ’01, are the parents of four: their oldest children, GREG SIMMONS ’26 and THATCHER SIMMONS ’28, are Pace Knights; their younger children, Bailey Simmons, 8, and Kitch Simmons, 5, attend Westside Atlanta Charter School.

The family appreciates Pace’s “smaller class sizes and the many opportunities for students to get involved,” Simmons says. “We are impressed with the quality of the faculty and staff, and our kids have had a positive and challenging experience.”

He observes, “The culture of a school is obviously built on the faculty, administration and families involved in the school over time.” By joining the Board of Trustees, Simmons hopes to contribute to the Pace culture

“We hope Pace’s leadership will refine the values and traditions that add to the character of the school.”

MC K I T T R I C K S I M M O N S KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

23

The following students and their parents joined the Pace community with the start of the 2020–2021 school year.

Welcome to the Pace Family!

AROUND PACE

PRE-FIRST London Allen

Jamie and Lance Allen

Ryan Alloy

Caleb Gibbs

Amy and Brad Gibbs

Noah Glade

Alexander Bader

Eli Gold

Jenny and Josh Glade

Madeline and Noah Bader

Kelly and David Gold

Olivia Belinfante

CHAFFEE BRAITHWAITE HEILMAN ’95 and Dave Heilman

KARINA KHOURI BELINFANTE ’95 and JOSH BELINFANTE ’95

Klaus Heilman

Austin Hooper

Thomas Mitchell Katherine and Greg Mitchell

Louise O

Tatyana and Sean O

Sade Olufade

Ann Igbre Olufade and Alfy Olufade

Nora Palmer

Jennifer and Jonathan Palmer

Satya Patel

Sneha Desai and Tarak Patel

KIMBERLY TUCKER HOOPER ’97 and Brian Hooper

Sophia Piduru

Jennifer and Steven Bodner

Cal Borenstein

Ariana Howard

Lindsay and Evan Borenstein

Krystle and Ryan Howard

Abigail Pickard and Jim Piekut

Will Bramwell

Holden Howell

Piper Bodner

Anna and Jeremy Bramwell

Ashley and Matthew Howell

Anna Kathryn Brune

Mary Louise Hutchison

Ford Butler

Bethany and Darren Butler

Jolene Chen

Yao and Alfie Chen

Ella Kate Chenevey Kim and John Chenevey

Serena Chintana Kavitha Reddy and Prashanth Chintanapalli

Harlow Cohen Shira and Austin Cohen

Catherine Curry

Amy and Ryan Curry

Zoe Davis

Kimberly and Cory Davis

Michael Dickey Ashley and Michael Dickey

Christian Fletcher Amber and Christian Fletcher

Jack Ford

MEGAN FOX FORD ’01 and Bill Ford

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

Jill and Todd France

Alisa and JASON ALLOY ’95

Carrie and Eric Brune

24

Morgan France

Mary Beth and DAVID HUTCHISON ’91

Thomas Johnson Stephanie and Matt Johnson

Ryan Jones

Katherine and Mike Jones

Aaron Kapur Christine and Rishi Kapur

AJ Lawrence

MINDY LAWRENCE and Matthew Lawrence

Eugene Lee

Soo and Seong Lee

Maisie Lowrie

Julie and Dan Lowrie

Avika Mahajan Swati and Anuj Mahajan

Layla McCall

Stephanie and Mac McCall

Charlie McDaid Colleen and Chris McDaid

Erica and Sarat Piduru

Alice Piekut

Willow Rice

Z. and Billy Rice

Bolton Ruth

Liz and Brent Ruth

Cooper Sapp

Kerri and Wes Sapp

Hannah Silverboard Lisa and Josh Silverboard

Noelle Sng

Kathryn and Mark Sng

Louise Sutton Meredith and Darrell Sutton

Catherine Thompson

Elizabeth and Garrett Thompson

Audrey Walford Stacey and Korrey Walford

Alex Walker

Liz and MATT WALKER

Rhea Wang

Ying and Hua Wang

Bennett Watters

Katie and WILLIAM WATTERS ’03

Ivy Weitzner

STACEY COHEN WEITZNER ’01 and Jordan Weitzner

Ward York

Kim and Travis York

AROUND PACE

FIRST GRADE

FOURTH GRADE

Emma Donohue

Ambika Bhatia

Paige Donohue Lauren Lorberbaum and Sean Donohue

Miles Drake Bettina and Geoff Drake

Maddie Greenwald Keri and Keith Greenwald

SECOND GRADE Elizabeth Graubart

Kavita Kotte and Samir Bhatia

Benjamin Graubart Olivia Graubart Emily and Noah Graubart

Mac Luber

Jill and Mark Luber

Mila Van Staden Jelena Andrin Van Staden and Vick Van Staden

Emily and Noah Graubart

FIFTH GRADE

Harrison Ha

Madeleine Finn

Andrea and Ian Ha

Henry Harmon Nicole and Clay Harmon

Nick Van Staden Jelena Andrin Van Staden and Vick Van Staden

Julie and Laurence Finn

Hailey Huang Jean Song and Paul Huang

Thomas Kamin

Lindsey and Josh Kamin

Arjun Nirgudkar

THIRD GRADE

Pranita and Amol Nirgudkar

Dean Brown

Jace Ward

Alison Brown

Bennett Goldner Molly Goldner Amanda and Andy Goldner

Chase Hammond Knox Hammond Angie and Kyle Hammond

Brooke Huang Jean Song and Paul Huang

Maddox Turner

Mary Kathryn and Trey Turner

Catherine Whipple Cara and Josh Whipple

Szion White

Jemeka and SHARMAN WHITE

Cullen Williams Alison and Josh Williams

Jasmine Jamieson

Emma Timberlake Allison and Brian Timberlake

SIXTH GRADE Nash Ausband Valerie and Brad Ausband

Sophie Flynn

Julie and Ryan Flynn

Jaxon Gasque

Keryl and Anthony Gasque

Clinton Goode

Ridgely Chastain Jennifer Buckley and Mark Chastain

Wyatt Childers

Laura and DAVID CHILDERS ’94

Lucy Fleming Shea and Chad Fleming

ALISON BERKOWITZ PROUT ’94 and Matt Prout

Carter Smith

Katherine Davis

Ryan Reiss

Holland Delley

Caitlyn Rocker

Rachel Denneen

Marvin Scott

Adrienne Durr

Katelyn Souza William Souza

David Fu

Priyanka Thotakura

Lawson Gowder

Cece Whitney

Ashley and Ben Smith

Jeffrey Stephens

Kim and Wayne Grant

Piper Guilbert Alexis and Shelby Guilbert

Mason Hade

Julianne Belaga and Eric Hade

Noah Halpern

Robin and Andrew Halpern

Wren Kincaid

Ann and Dave Kincaid

Lilly Kriethe-Reed Travis Reed and Michael Kriethe

Adelaide Locker Catherine and Mike Locker

Molly Luber

Jill and Mark Luber

Madeline Memar Diana and Bijon Memar

Jaden Middleton Andrea and Jerry Middleton

Neal Narula

Brittany Persily Caitlin Persily

Jenny and James Cannaday

Candace Castillo Dexter Woods

Yusong and Kraig Seichrist

Ava Grant

Carlin Beaver

Henry Cannaday

Josh Prout

Conner Smock

Lizzy Bauer

Genie and Todd Beaver

Dean CastilloWoods

ANNIE RICHARDSON GOODE ’98 and Jason Goode

Neha Shah and Anupam Narula

Lisa and Derek Bauer

Kaige Quinn Seichrist

Seth Persily and McCree O’Kelly Nathan Woodard

Maya Reiss

Wendy and Jonathan Reiss

Ella Reagan Roth Keri and Jim Roth

Julian Sanders

Julian Sanders Gabrielle Sanders

Madeline Sappington

Molly and Brian Sappington

Angela and Doug Smock

Kia and Jeff Stephens

Leah Tesema

Etenesh Geda and Benyam Tesema

Will Whipple Cara and Josh Whipple

SEVENTH GRADE

Daneen Durr Madison Durr

Mac Cannon

Uma Graz

Caleb Morris Kimberly and Eddie Morris

NINTH GRADE Makayli Anochie Annette and Fred Anochie

Gadit Bejar Raquel and Albert Bejar

Noah Benz

Julia and Derek Benz

Ross Bernath

Marthe Souza Mauro Souza

Jin Wang and Youzhong Fu

Chloe and John Abram

Kristin and Matt Hanna

Corretta Camp

Anne and Jeff Denneen

Cameron Abram

Bobby Hanna

Richlynne and Jeff Rocker

Noelle and Brandon Delley

Katie and Steven Turner Dirk Gowder

Jaclyn and Stephen Cannon

Wendy and Jonathan Reiss

Christine and Shel Davis

Akhila and Mohan Thotakura

Christina Whitney Andrew Whitney

Ashton Wiley

Angela Hickson

Aria and John Graz

10TH GRADE

Cece Hale

Melissa and Tim Hale

Caroline Cole

Erielle Harris Skyla Harris

Susan and Scott Cole

Briea Craft

Sharise Garland

Keisha Hines-Craft and Brien Craft

Jackson Hurd

Jen and Chris Hurd

Ben Friedmann

Vivian Kohn

Jami and Larry Kohn

Brett and Oz Friedmann

Avery Lipman

Jacob Greenwald

Paige Massey

Sara Hoderlein

Alexander Mazo

Jordan Loughran

Keri and Keith Greenwald

Andrea and Andy Lipman

Sandra and Stefan Hoderlein

Rachel and Michael Massey

Lee and Joseph Loughran

Dana and Eric Bernath

Melissa and Lewis Mazo

Jordan Bride

Zachary Meyerowitz

Cassandre and Larry Bride

Hevin Brown-Shuler Meek Brown

Will Cannaday

Jenny and James Cannaday

Lane Canova

Dea and Brian Canova

Jennifer and Adam Meyerowitz

11TH GRADE

Jake Miller Morgan Miller

Shamekia and Justin Bowick

Arden and Jeff Miller

LJ Moore

Careshia and Lamar Moore

Justin Bowick

MJ Morris

Kim and Eddie Morris

Makenzy Sloan

Jasmine Jamieson

Avi Narula

Neha Shah and Anupam Narula

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

25

AROUND PACE

Planned Giving Corner

The Benefits of Beneficiary Designations

26

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

by Abbey Flaum Pace Parent and Planned Giving Committee Member

ABBEY FLAUM is a shareholder of the law firm Cohen Pollock Merlin Turner, where her practice focuses on estate planning. She assists families and business owners with wills, trusts, comprehensive estate, tax and charitable planning, probate, trust and estate administration, business succession and pre-marital legal planning. She is grateful to have helped shepherd gifts from many of her clients to hundreds of foundations and charities, including Pace. Flaum is the very proud mom of Pace first-grader JACK FLAUM and Ryan Flaum, 4. She recently became a member of The Castle Circle, which recognizes Pace's planned gift donors.

AROUND PACE

• Joe names his two children as the beneficiaries of his IRA worth $200,000. After the payment of federal and state income taxes and estate taxes, however, Joe’s children might only receive as little as $60,000 from the IRA. If, instead, Joe names Pace Academy as the beneficiary of his IRA, the value of the IRA would not be subject to estate tax (thereby avoiding $80,000 of federal estate taxes), and Pace will not pay federal or state income taxes on the distribution. As a result, Pace would benefit from the full $200,000 of value in Joe’s IRA.

WHEN WE, AS ESTATE ATTORNEYS, talk about “estate planning,” we do not just mean putting a last will and testament or trust in place; instead, we look to holistically plan for your estate. An “estate” is not just the stuff of Lord and Lady Grantham on Downton Abbey; it is comprised of your accounts, real estate, retirement accounts, life insurance, business interests…all of your “stuff.” Estate planners plan for the management and disposition of your stuff, both during your lifetime and following your death. In that planning, one of the facts that typically surprises clients is that not all assets pass according to the terms of one’s last will and testament. There are various ways assets can pass to intended recipients.

The focus of this article is on one of these methods: beneficiary designations.

Chances are that whether or not you realize it, you own assets that will pass to others upon your death as a result of a beneficiary designation, which is a governing instrument naming individuals and/or institutions to receive an insurance or annuity policy, the funds of “payment on death” or “transfer on death” account, or a pension, profit sharing, retirement or similar benefit plan. Many people complete beneficiary designations when they first establish these types of assets and forget to review and update them as time passes and life’s circumstances change.

In the world of planned giving, where we determine the optimal methods to employ and the assets to use to support your most cherished nonprofits, naming charities as beneficiaries on your beneficiary designations can be a great, efficient, painless way to lend much-appreciated financial support to the institutions and causes you believe in. Note the following examples*:

• Jane owns a $300,000 life insurance policy. Her children are grown and financially independent, and Jane feels that naming Pace as the beneficiary of the policy would be a more meaningful use of the policy funds than leaving her children what Jane now considers to be “extra money.” By naming Pace as the beneficiary of her policy, Jane may allow her estate to avoid the payment of $120,000 of federal estate taxes associated with the policy—and she supports the Knights in a substantial and valued way.

• In the course of tax and charitable planning two years ago, Betty and Bill established a Donor Advised Fund (or DAF), a charitable investment account for the purpose of supporting one’s favorite charitable organizations. This year, Betty and Bill have had a drop in income due to the pandemic—yet they realize the causes they value need their support now more than ever. Since funds already contributed to their DAF cannot be used for anything other than charitable distributions, they decide that instead of dipping into their personal assets for this year’s Pace Fund gift, they will direct a distribution from their DAF. Wanting to further support Pace, they provide direction to their DAF to distribute whatever remains in the fund following their deaths to Pace for its unrestricted use. * Examples based on tax laws in place as of the date of this publication. If you wish to arrange a beneficiary designation for Pace, please list as the beneficiary Pace Academy, Inc., and use tax ID number 58-0706812.

Whether or not you realize it, you own assets that will pass to others upon your death as a result of a beneficiary designation.

The above examples are just a few of the arrows in the beneficiary designation quiver that can be used to support your favorite institutions and causes, perpetuate your charitable legacy and minimize estate taxes. Please consult with your estate planning attorney to explore the best options for your individual circumstances.

In addition, be sure to notify Pace’s Office of Advancement if you arrange a beneficiary designation (or other estate gift) to Pace, so that you are included in The Castle Circle, which recognizes all of Pace’s planned gift donors.

For additional information, visit www.paceacademy.org/ support/planned-giving, or contact DANA RAWLS at dana.rawls@paceacademy.org.

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

27

AROUND PACE

“We believe strongly that a family's financial circumstances should have no bearing on whether their child gets to realize the life-changing benefits of a Pace education.�

MAC MCCALLUM Associate Director of Middle & Upper School Admissions, Director of Financial Aid

28

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

Credit Where Credit is Due

THE IMPACT OF THE GEORGIA TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AT PACE

ace is a great school that provides a great education, and it’s been very important to our family,” Pace Academy grandparent STEVE SELIG says. “That’s why giving to the Tax Credit Program is a priority for me.” Since 2007, Selig has been a consistent Pace supporter intent on bettering the school that his six grandchildren—CARLY SHOULBERG ’16, LINDSAY FISHER ’17, JORDAN SHOULBERG ’18 and COOPER SELIG ’19, and seniors SAM SELIG and CASEY SHOULBERG—have attended.

Selig's annual participation in the Georgia Private School Tax Credit Program allows him to support Pace without an actual out-of-pocket donation. Through the program, Selig reallocates a portion of his taxes due to the state; instead of paying Georgia, he directs the dollars to Pace for financial aid. In this way, Selig—and the other individuals, couples and businesses participating in the program—can provide tuition assistance to independent school students with financial need; the participants in turn receive 100% of their money back in the form of a tax credit on their state income taxes.

Selig, who has participated in the program for over a decade, has strong

convictions about the importance of need-based aid. “Financial aid broadens the base of families able to attend Pace and increases the quality and diversity of the student body,” he says. “This is very important to Pace, and I am happy to support it.”

MAC MCCALLUM, associate director of Middle and Upper School admissions and director of financial aid, says, “Pace has long been committed to meeting each family's financial need so that a Pace education is affordable, regardless of means. Under that framework, the Tax Credit Program has enabled us to meet the financial needs of significantly more families—in fact, this year it comprises 27% of our overall aid budget.”

To date, over 100 Pace students in all three divisions have benefited from Tax Credit funds. Award amounts vary, but under current Georgia law a maximum of $10,957 can be allotted to any single student this year. In 2020–2021, 23 newly

AROUND PACE

WHAT TAX CREDIT PARTICIPANTS SAY “While working at Pace, I realized the importance of need-based financial aid for many talented and deserving students. Budgeted financial aid was never enough. The Georgia Tax Credit Program provides Pace with much-needed extra financial aid at no cost to the donor. By paying part of my Georgia income tax annually in the form of a Tax Credit contribution, I am helping students receive a Pace education who otherwise would not have that opportunity.”

JEAN HELD Former Pace Chief Financial Officer

“The money comes off your taxes so it’s at no cost to you, and it really benefits the school. One of our reasons for contributing every year is to ensure that students qualified to attend Pace receive financial aid when needed. This helps Pace to be the way it should be—an environment where all qualified students have the opportunity to attend.”

STEFANIE & JIM ELLNER Pace parents

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

29

AROUND PACE

DEBRA MANN

Like clockwork each fall, Tax Credit Program Manager DEBRA MANN reminds current Tax Credit Program participants like Steve Selig—and the entire Pace community—of the Tax Credit opportunity, which requires a short application to the Apogee Scholarship Fund, Pace’s partner Student Scholarship Organization (SSO).

SSOs, established

under Georgia House Bill 1133 in 2008, process participant applications and payments, then distribute the funds to the taxpayers’ specified Georgia independent schools.

Mann stresses that participating in the tax program differs from making a donation. “It’s truly no cost to the participant! It’s simply a prepayment of taxes already owed,” she says. “For Pace students and families with financial need, however, the impact of this ‘redirection’ of taxes is incalculable,” she says. “These funds make the Pace experience possible for many families for whom it would not otherwise be an option.”

Completing her 10th year at Pace, Mann is proud of the growth of the program and the difference it is making for Pace families. “We are grateful that so many in our community see the impact and set aside the few minutes required to complete Apogee’s application. In 2020, we had 456 participants—quadruple the number from 2008, Pace’s first year to receive tax-credit dollars.”

MAC MACCALLUM

STEVE SELIG

HELEN SMITH

PROGRAM DETAILS Any student who qualifies for financial assistance and joins Pace from a Georgia public school or in Pre-First is eligible for Tax Credit funding.

Tax credits are limited based on the taxpayer’s filing status—up to $1,000 individual; $2,500 married filing jointly; $1,250 married filing separately; $10,000 for pass-through taxpayers from an S-Corp, LLC or Partnership; 75% of a C-Corp’s or eligible Trust’s total Georgia tax liability.

30

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

DR. PAULA RODRIGUES PONTES

AROUND PACE

enrolled students received Tax Credit aid in varying amounts.

McCallum notes, “Students continue to receive aid so long as their families demonstrate need each year.” Consequently, the Business Office allocates aid for a student’s entire career at Pace, setting aside funds for all future school years for every recipient.

“All three divisions have been significantly impacted by the program, but none more so than our Lower School,” he shares. “In past years, Pace was only able to offer minimal financial aid to Lower School families because of limited resources and the total expense to fund tuition through graduation—however, as our pool of financial aid dollars has grown, this has changed.”

Upper School history teacher and Tax Credit Program participant HELEN SMITH recalls initially having questions about the program in light of public school budget cuts. However, she has come to view it as “a win-win-win situation.”

“The Pace community wins,” she says. “We are able to increase our pool of financial aid funds and help support a more diverse group of families and students in all three divisions. Gradually we are seeing diversity grow in so many ways—student talents, family backgrounds and experiences, formative cultures and lifestyles, and different worldviews.”

She adds, “Individual students win, as do their peers, teachers, sponsors and coaches. We are better for experiencing new views, new questions and new opinions.”

Smith believes the third winner is the participant. She explains, “We pay taxes to support the many needs of our wider society; the allocation does not always reflect our own values. This program gives

us control—we direct our funds to an institution we know and love.”

Many other Pace teachers and staff members recognize the value of financial aid and, like Smith, participate in the Tax Credit Program. Upper School Spanish teacher DR. PAULA RODRIGUES PONTES is especially passionate about the program and the importance of financial aid.

“I went to a private school in Brazil much like Pace,” Pontes explains. “My parents were only able to send me there because I had financial aid. When I came to the United States and enrolled at the University of Georgia, I was able to get my master’s and Ph.D. because I had an ‘assistantship’ with aid. So I know how important aid is, and when I reached a position where I was able to be the one helping, it was a no brainer. It’s easy to think this is only about helping others, but I am sure that the contribution made to our Pace community by those students is priceless.”

McCallum hopes “that the Tax Credit Program participants know how much of an impact their participation makes on our community.” He reflects, “Every time we celebrate a student's success and growth in the classroom, on the stage or on the field, it was made possible in part by this program. Tax Credit participation practically opens the doors to this school for many of our students, but it is the entire community that they have uplifted. I consider it a privilege to help represent a community that is committed to providing opportunity, access and life-changing relationships,” he says. l For more information, visit www.paceacademy.org/tax-credit or contact Debra Mann in the Office of Advancement at 404-240-9103 or debra.mann@paceacademy.org.

WHAT TAX CREDIT PARTICIPANTS SAY “When I first learned about the Georgia Tax Credit Program, my son and daughter were already students at Pace. I saw the program as a great opportunity to direct resources for other families wanting an option for an educational experience like Pace for their children. I have continued my commitment to the program after my two graduated in 2010 and 2012 both as a heartfelt thank you to Pace and as a hope that the program will enable others to benefit from being a part of the Pace family.”

RHONDA HICKSON Parent of Alumni

“I participate in the Georgia Tax Credit Program as a way to actively support the programs at Pace. I direct the dollars I am paying to the state of Georgia to the school, and it is easy!”

PAM TISDALE Parent of Alumni and Pace Employee

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

31

ACCELERATE PACE

CON S T R U C T ION U P D AT E

T

he end of summer and early fall brought heightened activity to the Pace Academy campus, particularly to the site of the future Kam Memar Lower School.

Crews completed the excavation of the building’s lower levels, which will house a 3,900-square-foot gym, accessible from the playground, as well as two large music classrooms to accommodate our thriving strings, band and choral programs.

Construction of the building’s complex reinforced concrete foundation wall system is now complete, and workers have begun to install the plumbing and electrical systems located under the building’s concrete slab. Installation of interior concrete slabs will soon follow.

In October, additional crews arrived to erect the Kam Memar Lower School’s structural steel frame, a precursor to roof and wall-system installation. As work progresses, the building’s shape will rise from the ground.

In addition to work on the new building, workers completed the first phase of renovations within the Lower School classroom building. Hallways received fresh coats of paint and new carpet, while the library, now named the Soni Family Library, underwent a total makeover (see page 52).

Next up? Planning for next summer’s renovations, which will include the addition of a commercial kitchen and an expanded cafeteria.

AS OF OCT. 1, New South Construction had placed more than 1,025 CUBIC YARDS OF CONCRETE at the site of the Kam Memar Lower School.

That equals the weight of…

32

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

83,025 suits of medieval armor

1,384

Volkswagen Beetles

319

African bush elephants

3.15

miles of sidewalk (a walk from Pace to Lenox Square mall)

ACCELERATE PACE

…and 110 TONS OF REINFORCING STEEL, equal to…

4,400 suits of medieval armor

73

Volkswagen Beetles

17

African bush elephants

F U N T S! FAC KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

33

DONOR VOICES

PA R E N T S ’ T H O U G H T S “The Accelerate Pace campaign is an opportunity to continue to create an excellent physical environment in which our students can thrive. It gives the greater Pace Academy community a chance to actively participate in the calling of our motto— To have the courage to strive for excellence. As the parents of Pace students, it’s an opportunity to practice what we preach.”

LISA and DAN BROOKS

Parents of SAM BROOKS ’22, MARLEY BROOKS ’25 and CASH BROOKS ’26

34

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

O N PA C E ’S GROUNDBR EAKING C A M PA I G N “It takes a village to raise a child,” the old adage goes. At Pace Academy, it takes that same village to raise the funds to build a school for that child.

To date, 108 members of the Pace community have contributed to Accelerate Pace, a $50-million two-phase capital campaign to build the Kam Memar Lower School and restore and renovate the Pace Castle.

Read on to learn why the Behl, Brooks and Heyman families have made gifts to Accelerate Pace and visit accelerate.paceacademy.org for more information about the campaign.

ACCELERATE PACE

“Our children both joined Pace Academy in Pre-First. The school immediately became an extended family for us all. As parents, we were thrilled to be encouraged to volunteer in the classroom and gain a real sense of the experiences the students were being immersed in—intellectual, social and emotional. It was clear that we were in the right place for the Behls.

While our children were in Lower School, there was the launch of the SHINE capital campaign. It was a simple decision for us to donate what we were comfortable with to an environment in which our children could thrive.

Today, years later, we are compelled to do what we can to support Accelerate Pace. Our personal drive is that students will continue to benefit from all that Pace offers and intends to offer. Growth is welcome, and we feel strongly that Pace’s mission and continued growth have been gifts to our babies, our family and countless others.”

RADHIKA and SANJAY BEHL

Parents of INDIA BEHL ’20 and KARGIL BEHL ’22

“We have watched Pace grow so much over the past couple of decades. The vision [Head of School FRED ASSAF] and the Board have articulated in the Accelerate Pace initiative will allow this wonderful evolution to continue with the right support. For students today and tomorrow, exciting years are ahead, and we are grateful to be able to help and be part of it in some small way.”

ERIN and JOHN HEYMAN

Parents of CHARLIE HEYMAN ’30

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

35

OUR STORY

Bob Mills and Tommy Burruss

36

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

ALL IN THE

FAM I LY Current and former Pace Academy students, parents, faculty and staff have seen many recent changes on campus: they’ve bid farewell to the Randall House, the former Lower School administrative building, and watched as the Kam Memar Lower School began to rise from the ground.

Upon the new building’s completion, passersby will notice Pace’s beautiful, sprawling campus and its impressive facilities. Upon closer look, however, it becomes clear that Pace’s true cornerstone is its families.

Funded by the Accelerate Pace campaign, the 36,500-square-foot Kam Memar Lower School, set to open in August 2021, would not be a reality without the financial contributions of all Pace families. However, two Pace families—the Burruss and the Mills families—have also had a hand in the building’s actual design, development and construction, and the families are soon to be connected by more than just their Pace experiences.

The story started in the fall of 2012, when CAROLINE MILLS ’15 met TOMMY BURRUSS ’14. “Tommy and I literally grew up together,” Caroline says. “I hadn't even turned 16 when we had our first ‘date’ in the Upper School library. Our friends sat both of us down at the same table and then lied about things they had to go do, so we were left there trying to figure out what to say to each other. We were so awkward!”

She adds, “During the day, I'd avoid eye contact with him when I spotted him walking in my direction, but I still searched for him in assembly in the mornings and on the lacrosse field in the afternoons. I had bright pink cleats and wore my brightest colors to try to get his attention.”

On a study tour to Cambodia with Pace’s Isdell Center for Global Leadership, Caroline and Tommy realized their relationship was the real deal. “I've loved him ever since, and it's truly a blessing that God put him in my life so early on. We've been through a lot together, and we are who we are today because of it,” Caroline says.

During his senior year at Pace, Tommy expressed an interest in pursuing a career in construction, and former Director of College Counseling GAVIN BRADLEY suggested he reach out to Pace parent BOB MILLS, president of UDS Development Services. Tommy quickly connected the dots and realized that Bob was his girlfriend’s father.

At the time, Pace was in the midst of planning the construction of the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School, which was completed in August 2014. Former Chair of the Board of Trustees TIM WALSH ’81 had contacted Bob, asking if he could provide guidance on the project, as Bob had spent more than two decades building educational campuses and student housing.

Bob ultimately assumed the project manager position and connected with Tommy, helping him B o b by Mills secure a summer internship with the Upper School contractor, New South Construction.

Tommy fell in love with construction. The end of his internship marked the start of his career in the field: he graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in civil engineering in 2018 and went on to earn his MBA in 2019, also from UGA. He officially joined New South that June.

Like the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School, the Kam Memar Lower School project is managed by UDS Development Services and contracted by New South Construction, meaning Bob and Tommy are working together once again. Bob notes that during the construction of the Upper School, he and Tommy didn’t have much direct interaction, but “on the Lower School project, we are in touch almost every day,” he says.

ACCELERATE PACE

For Caroline, it is special to see Tommy and her father working together, especially on a project at Pace, a place very close to their hearts. “Tommy and my dad have so many of the same qualities that make them both very successful in this industry, so they complement each other,” she says. “Tommy will always have my dad as a sounding board, but he has such d Tommy an e an aptitude and lin o ar C passion for what he does that I just enjoy seeing the rapport between the two of them.

They’re two peas in a pod!”

In April of this year, Bob became not only a colleague to Tommy, but also a father-in-law to-be, after Tommy popped the question.

He and Caroline plan to marry in October 2021.

“Tommy’s already part of the family,” Bob says, but he looks forward to making it official. Also part of the family are three additional Pace alumni: Bob’s son, BOBBY MILLS ’18, Tommy’s father, DAVID BURRUSS ’74, and Tommy’s twin brother, CHARLIE BURRUSS ’14.

For both Tommy and Bob, the passion for construction runs deep. “It’s never a day of work—every morning we get up and get to go have fun,” Bob says. He has passed his love for construction down to Bobby, a junior at Auburn University studying building science, who will be the fourth generation of the Mills family in the construction field.

Built by Pace families for Pace families, the new Lower School facility will stand as an emblem of the heart of Pace Academy.

—by JILL RAWLS ’19

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

37

IT’S TIME TO CALL THE HELP DESK

38

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

ALL ABOUT PACE ARTS

LIVE THEATRE presents a bit of a problem these days. Given risks associated with COVID-19, venues across the country and around the world have shuttered their doors; Broadway will remain dark at least until early 2021; and actors, designers, musicians, technicians and stagehands are out of work.

“Our hearts go out to the many artists and audiences impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Middle School Drama Director PATRICK CAMPBELL. “Fortunately, at Pace, we have the ability to be really flexible and creative when it comes to staging our productions. After canceling this past spring’s performances, we decided that this year, despite the challenges, we would find a way.

To kick off the Pace theatre season, Campbell needed to find a play in which the actors could perform while masked and socially distanced. It also needed to be funny. “Like, really funny,” he says. “The Pace Drama hashtag for the 2020–2021 year is #bringjoy, after all.”

After a summer of searching, Campbell selected Help Desk, a play by Don Zolidis, which takes a hilarious look at the often-absurd world of customer service calls. Pace’s production of the play was only the fourth ever, and Zolidis finished it in early August, in consultation with Campbell.

“The good thing about a play about people on the phone is that those people can be as far apart as you want them to be!” Campbell explains with a laugh. “So, regardless of whether it was going to be performed live in the theatre or on a virtual platform from students’ homes, this thing was happening.”

In a series of scenes featuring no more than three actors at a time, Help Desk covers the mishaps and miscommunications that occur when customer service calls spiral out of control. In his cast and crew, Campbell managed to involve 35 masked Middle School students—one of whom Zoomed in live to deliver her lines—and technical Director SCOTT SARGENT constructed two 10-foot revolving platforms that turned in perfect harmony to get actors on and off stage.

Following strict COVID protocols, parents of the cast and crew were invited to attend the performances in the Fine Arts Center. Others viewed the production via live stream. “Help Desk was an exercise in teamwork, adaptability and thinking outside the box,” Campbell reports. “The students achieved their goal: to bring laughter and smiles to a world that could use some right now.”

Campbell's students are already leaning in and preparing for their next big show, scheduled to take the stage in February.

Photography by CHRIS ALUKA BERRY

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

39

ALL ABOUT PACE ARTS

THROUGH THE COVID LENS LIFE CHANGED dramatically on March 13, when students left campus and, due to COVID-19, showed up for school virtually the following week—and the rest of the semester.

Upper School photography teacher JENNIFER WILSON, always endeavoring to “inspire students to take the time to really see the world around them and understand how powerful an image can be,” tasked her fledgling photographers with documenting the quarantine period one day at a time.

Students’ images—one for every day—reveal the details of life at a distance; parents, siblings and pets feature prominently, as do household items and scenes from nature.

Students assembled their daily photos in printed journals, designed using programs like Shutterfly, and shared them with Wilson and their classmates upon their return to campus in August.

“The project allowed photography to remain top-of-mind for students throughout the virtual-learning period," Wilson reports. "Hopefully it impressed upon them the importance of slowing down, noticing the beauty in the mundane and appreciating the unexpected.” l

40

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

TAKING ACTION THROUGH ART FOR 19 YEARS, the Alliance Theatre’s Palefsky Collision Project has brought together high-school students from across the city for a threeweek theatrical experience designed to explore a classic text under the guidance of a professional playwright and director.

This past summer, senior ALIVIA WYNN was among the 20 Palefsky Collision Project participants selected following an audition process. “I'm part of the Alliance Theatre’s Teen Ensemble, where I work with other teens to get a behind-the-scenes look around the Alliance,” Wynn says. “My friends told me about their time in Collision, and our group leaders encouraged me to try out. With everything being canceled because of COVID, I decided that it couldn't hurt to audition, so I did.”

Wynn and her fellow performers worked with awardwinning playwright and novelist Pearl Cleage to create and bring to life a virtual production entitled Dangerous Talk: A Back Then Journey to the Right Now. The project, based on author Kip Wilson’s novel White Rose, tells the story of Sophie Scholl and the student-led non-violent resistance group in which she was active in Nazi Germany. Sophie and her brother were ultimately executed for their involvement; she was 21.

“Sophie’s actions were courageous and necessary, but they didn’t topple the Nazi regime,” Wynn says.

“Her story helped me realize that everyone has their place in the movement for equality. We can’t all go down in the history books, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Whether you are organizing a protest or making sandwiches for the protesters, every action helps. For me, Collision was a way to take action through art.” l View Dangerous Talk: A Back Then Journey to the Right Now at www.alliancetheatre.org/content/ palefsky-collision-project.

ALL ABOUT PACE ARTS

MODIFIED MUSIC-MAKING

W

e’ve all heard the story of the Washingtonbased choir in which 52 of 60 choristers came down with COVID-19 in the days following a rehearsal. Since then, a study from aerosol researchers at Lund University in Sweden has shown that singing—particularly loud and consonantrich singing—can spread a large volume of aerosol particles and droplets into the surrounding air.

The news and subsequent findings worried Pace’s visual and performing arts department. “We were concerned that we would not be able to sing at all this year,” says Middle School chorus teacher DONNA POTTORFF. “However, our very tenacious and creative administrators worked hard to come up with a plan to allow us to sing: outdoor chorus!”

Since the start of school, Middle and Upper School choral groups have gathered for class on the covered patio adjacent to the Fine Arts Center’s main entrance. Sitting at least 6 feet apart,

students wear masks at all times, and hand sanitizer abounds.

Visual and Performing Arts Chair SEAN BRYAN says these new habits follow recommendations from school districts and universities that had successfully returned to class, as well as the Lund findings and other studies, which indicate that proper social distancing, good hygiene, adequate ventilation and face masks reduce the concentration of aerosol particles and droplets produced while singing, bringing levels down to those associated with ordinary speech.

When students have been unable to brave the elements, teachers have adapted, taking class inside and altering the day’s agenda to include small-group activities such as song-writing, dancing or experimenting with instruments.

“We’ve also added some fun outdoor games to our warm-ups each day,” Pottorff reports. “While singing outside definitely has its challenges, it also definitely has its perks!”

As temperatures cool, classes will move

Pace choral programs adapt to COVID protocols

indoors thanks to a newly installed HEPA filtration system in the Fine Arts Center.

All other COVID protocols will remain. “My students have been amazing,” Pottorff says. “They have taken wearing their masks very seriously. I find it absolutely unbelievable that I have not had to ask any student to adjust their mask or keep it on.”

Collaboration has been another COVIDrelated benefit. “Students continue to offer suggestions for how to improve things and how to make chorus more fun,” Pottorff says. “We are a team in making the most out of our circumstances. Simply said, I love my students and am constantly in awe of them!”

The group effort will pay off this holiday season as Pottorff and her students join forces with Upper School chorus teacher SUSAN WALLACE (pictured above) and her ensembles to create a festive winter wonderland on campus. “I cannot wait for everyone to see our chorus students in action as they bring holiday cheer to our community,” Pottorff says. l

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

41

ICGL: GLOBAL HEALTH

THE YEAR OF GLOBAL HEALTH

Never has an Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) annual global theme felt so relevant.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a public health crisis unlike any the U.S. has seen in a century, the Pace Academy community is digging into issues surrounding Global Health.

From Zooming with ICGL Visiting Scholar Dr. Richard Zane and other healthcare heroes, to reimagining personal protective equipment and stirring up hand-sanitizing solutions, here’s how Pace students, faculty and staff are grappling with The Year of Global Health.

From the FRONT LINES Over the summer, the Lower School ICGL faculty cohort produced a series of posters highlighting healthcare heroes in the U.S. and around the world. One of those posters came to life in September as Dr. Syra Madad, senior director of the System-wide Special Pathogens Programs at New York City Health + Hospitals, Zoomed in to discuss her work with fourth and fifth graders.

Madad shared with students the ways in which she and her team plan, prepare and practice their responses to epidemics, and how those responses vary based upon the disease. She emphasized the importance of “The Three Cs”— Communication, Coordination and Collaboration—when dealing with an outbreak.

She also detailed how her team attempts to intervene to ensure equity in tackling an epidemic.

“Racial, economic and social disparities can play a huge factor in the spread of disease,” Madad said. “We want to make sure we’re providing culturally competent care and giving people the tools and resources to protect themselves and their loved ones.” l

The DOCTOR is In

The Intersection of WASTE & GLOBAL HEALTH Seventh-grade STEAM & Design students combined their knowledge of Waste, last year’s ICGL theme, with what they have learned about Global Health to create an interactive and immersive coral reef exhibit. Students researched how a vibrant reef ecosystem affects the health of both people and planet, as well as how waste—plastic in particular— threatens that balance. Students brought their research to life in the Middle School Action Studio, laser cutting, 3D modeling, painting, sewing and sculpting a reef with found and recycled materials. Next step: installation! l

42

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

In early October, the ICGL welcomed 2020–2021 Visiting Scholar Dr. Richard Zane.

Zane, chief innovation officer at UCHealth and chair of emergency medicine at University of Colorado School of Medicine, conducted seven virtual sessions with students in the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools and discussed his experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re grateful to Dr. Zane for spending time with our students and answering their questions about COVID-19 and the future of medicine,” says ICGL Director TRISH ANDERSON. “Now we better understand the importance of science, leadership and collaboration as we tackle global health issues.” The ICGL team is hopeful that Dr. Zane will visit Pace in person later this year. l

PPE Progress

Helping HANDS What do you do when COVID concerns mean you can’t shake hands or you have to worry about germs on shared surfaces such as door knobs? If you’re like our second- and third-grade Design Thinkers, you find ways to fix those problems.

Using Design Thinking principles, second graders devised and then demon-

Over the course of the fall semester, Lower School Director of Design Thinking NATALIE CATLETT challenged fourth graders to reimagine the personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following conversations with healthcare workers, students identified common pain points, generated new ideas, determined criteria for their ideas, and experimented with materials, form and function to create prototypes of their new and improved PPE. l

strated contact-free ways to greet their classmates, while third graders invented door openers to prevent the spread of germs, fashioning prototypes of the devices before 3D modeling and printing their final versions. l

ICGL Council Leads the Way This year, the Upper School ICGL Student Council, a group of 10 student leaders charged with educating the Pace community about Global Health, is highlighting one health-related topic per month by sharing information and resources in assemblies, hosting hands-on activities and designing educational infographics to display throughout campus.

In September, Suicide Prevention Month, the council focused on mental health.

October’s theme was healthcare access, a topic informed by a conversation with Berneta Haynes, senior director of policy and access at Georgia Watch, an organization that advocates for the healthcare needs of vulnerable Georgia residents. In November, the council explored eradicating disease. l

BENDING the Arc Eighth-grade French students’ health unit included a viewing of clips from Bending the Arc, the story of three young health advocates’ fight for health equity, as well as a virtual visit from Jose Bien-Aimé, a Haitian medical student and translator. Students engaged with Bien-Aimé in both French and English in an effort to understand more about healthcare in Haiti and the Domincan Republic.

“My takeaway [from our conversation] is that people are suffering from things that are basic human rights,” one student remarked. “People shouldn’t have to worry about how much money they have or where they come from; everybody should get healthcare.” l A l t h o u g h i t ’s n o t y e t cl e a r w h e t h e r t h e ICGL will offer travel opportunities t h i s y e a r, L o w e r, M i d d l e a n d U p p e r School students are digging into Global Health at home. Follow @pace_icgl on I n s t a g r a m t o s e e h o w t h i s y e a r ’s t h e m e comes to life.

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

43

ICGL: GLOBAL HEALTH

Members of the Books for Africa club spend part of their weekends sorting and shipping books to African students of all ages. The organization strives to create a culture of literacy and provide tools of empowerment to the next generation of parents, teachers and leaders in Africa.

Ninth-grade Community Engagement Day went virtual this fall. With their Transitions classes, students volunteered with the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s pre-K reading program, created snack bags for Second Helpings Atlanta, made dog toys for Canine Assistants and assembled paracord bracelets for Operation Gratitude.

The ultimate frisbee team partnered with Project Diversity, an initiative of the Atlanta Flying Disc Club, to assist voters facing long lines at polling precincts during Georgia’s early voting period.

The Action Ministries club made to-go lunches for the Women’s Community Kitchen, which serves more than 20,000 meals each year to women and children experiencing homelessness.

ICGL ADVISORY BOARD

D r. K r i s h n a MUKKAMALA

WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS D r. K a v i t a KOT T E - B H AT I A

44

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

Mark JOHNSON ’94

William RICE

Ellen WHITNEY

ICGL: GLOBAL HEALTH

ICGL Council members, Social Innovation Fellows and other students worked with Pace parents DR. KRISHNA MUKKAMALA, DR. SHIVANI MUKKAMALA, DR. DAVID CHIN YEE and DR. AILENE KIM to assist Eye Love Atlanta and Grace Village Medical Clinic in conducting free eye exams for members of the Clarkston community.

As part of the ICGL’s partnership with the Atlanta BeltLine, Upper School students supported Historic Washington Park’s annual Jamboree by assembling festival-in-a-box kits for area residents.

THE ICGL ADVISORY BOARD is made up of Pace Academy parents, parents of Pace alumni or alumni with diverse professional backgrounds representing each of the ICGL’s five organizational pillars: Science & Technology, Culture & Arts, Social Entrepreneurship & Business, Service & Environmental Sustainability and Public Policy & International Relations.

This year, the ICGL Advisory Board is pleased to welcome five new members: DR. KAVITA KOTTE-BHATIA, chief

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UPDATE The COVID-19 pandemic has failed to slow the Pace Knights’ commitment to community engagement. From collecting hundreds of backpacks for the Agape Youth and Family Center and donating school supplies to The Ellis Center and Slater Elementary School, to cleaning up the Atlanta BeltLine and stocking the shelves at Bloom Closet and Meals on Wheels, students and families have remained engaged throughout the city.

medical officer at SmartCare Medical Group; DR. KRISHNA MUKKAMALA, a physician with Georgia Retina; MARK JOHNSON ’94, director of guest insights at Target; WILLIAM RICE, a sustainability development consultant; and ELLEN WHITNEY, director of the International Association of National Public Health Institutes U.S. Office. Whitney is serving as an expert in residence during the ICGL’s Year of Global Health.

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

45

CLASS OF 2020

46

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

CLASS OF 2020

a unique farewell for a one-of-a-kind class

hen the 114 members of the Class of 2020 arrived on campus for the first day of their senior year, they galloped into the Fine Arts Center wearing cowboy hats, bandanas and T-shirts announcing their “Rodeo” theme. For better or worse, the label was a harbinger of what would come; the seniors’ final months at Pace Academy were a wild, unexpected ride.

Following spring break, students returned to campus for just one week before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools across the country. Pace seniors spent their final days of class learning virtually. They had hoped to reunite in person prior to the end of the school year, but it was not to be.

Instead, the celebrations planned for May were postponed; a socially distanced honors day took place July 31, followed by an outdoor commencement ceremony on Aug. 1. Attendance was limited to graduates and their families, and those unable to celebrate in person tuned in via live stream.

“No one knows better than this group that the world is unpredictable and events that have major personal impacts on you are sometimes well beyond your control,” Head of Upper School MIKE GANNON told the Class of 2020 during his honors day address. “When we were last together in March, I asked you to show leadership, to be flexible, to sacrifice for the common good and to have faith. As you head into college in one form or another, do not lose sight of those four things. All crisis moments are different, but they all require those same things to survive.”

Fortunately, commencement speaker Judge CLYDE L. REESE III ’76 was able to adjust his schedule to accommodate the new graduation date. One of Pace’s first Black graduates, Reese shared a similar message of perseverance as he reflected on his time at Pace and his journey since. “I dove into every aspect of life at [Pace], but I was too young to realize and understand that in fundamental ways I would not and could not fit in,” he said. “There were times of loneliness, frustration and dejection…

But I took advantage of the tremendous education this school provided to me. I know some of you have felt the vacuum of never quite belonging. But you too have persevered.”

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

47

CLASS OF 2020

This generation, Reese believes, will be called to solve the problems past generations have created, as well as those they have failed to solve. This generation will tackle issues related to racial justice, climate change, global health and technology. “You will be the ones to answer these questions,” Reese said.

The Class of 2020 is up to the task and ready to overcome the challenges in its path.

“We should start treating the unexpected not as an obstacle but as an opportunity to better ourselves and make change,” Valedictorian AIDAN GANNON told his classmates.

“Even when we fail, which, trust me, we will, we should use the experience to grow…

The next time we are met with a situation we’re unprepared for, be it good or bad, let’s treat it as a chance to be better.”

Gannon closed his remarks with a message of hope: “When coronavirus shut down the country and put school online, Pace students and staff socially distanced, fundraised and made masks for healthcare workers. When our system of policing and criminal justice once again took the lives of innocent men and women of color, we protested, petitioned and donated. We’ve made progress, but we’re not done yet. That’s just what we’ve been able to accomplish in the past six months.

Who’s to say what we can’t do with the rest of our lives?” •

MEMBERS

COLLEGE ATHLETES

ACT AVERAGE

PACE ACADEMY LIFERS

The Class of 2020:

BY THE NUMBERS Seniors MAE SHIPPEN and MBITI WILLIAMS departed for summer training with the U.S. Naval Academy prior to graduation, so a separate commencement ceremony took place in June, complete with a drive-by parade of Shippen and Williams’ classmates.

48

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

CLASS OF 2020

“I fervently wish for you all to find your own best place in life. In the 40 years since I left Pace Academy, I have been up the mountain and down the river. One thing I have always had in my tool kit along the way is my diploma from this school. Now you have the same tool. It is valuable; keep it sharp, use it wisely and add to it.”

Judge CLYDE L. REESE III ’76 Graduation Speaker NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS

WILL ATTEND COLLEGES OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

COLLEGES IN 28 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

COUNTRIES VISITED THROUGH THE ISDELL CENTER FOR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

“Hold tight to each other. Maybe it’s because my father was a football coach that I have this view of the world, but oftentimes the only way forward is through. Grit your teeth, meet the challenge by going forward and through. I love you guys, and I’m proud of you.”

MIKE GANNON Head of Upper School

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

49

CLASS OF 2020

Senior Awards Arts Alliance George Mengert Lifetime Achievement Award Allie Appel, Emerson Barrett, Paul-Louis Biondi, Robert Cushman, Madison Edwards, Austin Fuller, Rhuna Gibbs, Jackson Gray, Harris Greenbaum, Tyler Kelly, Kellee Kindle, Blake Maner, Andrew Miller, Lauren O’Sullivan, Matthew Quintana, Nikki Rubin, Harrison Saini, Max Schiffer & Alan Tapper

English Department Award Kellee Kindle

Raymond Buckley Award George Adams & Sasha Ratliff

Frank D. Kaley Award India Behl & Aidan Gannon

Robert A. Yellowlees Award Anna Jordan & Maya Kaplan

George G. Kirkpatrick Pace Knight Award Paul-Louis Biondi & Virginia Hobbs

Salutatorian Sophie Lettes

Gladys Johnson Award Everett O'Gorman & Mae Shippen

Science Department Award Max Schiffer

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cup Sophie Lettes

Headmaster's Award Rhuna Gibbs, Lauren O'Sullivan,

Sydney Rushin Mathematics Prize Alan Tapper

Charlie Owens Letter Blanket Award George Adams, Sam Adams, Ada Jane Agolli, Klara Andra-Thomas, Paul-Louis Biondi, Molly Buffenbarger, Ben Caldwell, Dillon Carroll, Ben Crawford, Robert Cushman, Taylor Doucet, Evan Duncan, Lucy Ferry, Zoie Freier, Davis Futrell, Sam Harris, Quill Healey, Lenox Herman, Virginia Hobbs, Erin Hood, Connor Husk, Jack Jacoby, Rohan Jatar, Julia Konradt, Grant LeRoux, Sophie Lettes, Alexa Levine, Charlotte Little, Sandy Lum, Blake Maner, Jared McCall, Jack McCarthy, Meghan McMillin, Insha Merchant, Christopher Morocco, Andrew Neville, John O'Brien, Everett O'Gorman, Morgan Payne, Payton Payne, Will Rehmert, Blaise Reyes, George Robbins, Jason Rosenbloum, Nikki Rubin, Hayden Sample, Paula Sandoval, Neil Sashti, Rekha Sashti, Jay Satisky, Emma Shelton, Mae Shippen, Thomas Siegenthaler, Jimbo Smith, Bridges Spencer, Will Stratton, Emma Szwast, Jesus Tadeo Pineda, Dominique Turner, Jordan Upchurch, Francesca Vaneri, Tanner Walton, Reign Watkins, Claire Wierman, Mbiti Williams & Rachel Wray Computer Science Department Award John O'Brien Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award Ryan Kann Eagle Scout Recognition Connor Husk & Andrew Miller

50

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

Jesus Tadeo Pineda & Claire Wierman Hilton and Philippa Kort Service Above Self Award Molly Buffenbarger James De La Fuente Award Robert Cushman & Nikki Rubin Jim and Lesley Wheeler Scholar Athlete Award Sam Adams & Jordan Upchurch Kent C. Taylor, Jr. Award Klara Andra-Thomas, Zoie Freier, Harris Greenbaum, Lenox Herman, Andrew Neville & Matthew Quintana Lance and Shield Award Ben Crawford & Lucy Ferry Margery Russell Wilmot Spirit Award Evan Duncan, Sandy Lum, Hayden Sample, Will Rehmert, Sydney Thomas & Mbiti Williams Mike Gannon Award for Excellence in History Sam Harris Mike Murphy Courage to Strive for Excellence Award Brianna Thomas & Ben Tolliday Peter F. Hoffman Honor Scholarship Emerson Barrett & Quill Healey Ralph Lee Newton Literary Award Aman Hashim

Valedictorian Aidan Gannon World Languages Department Award Jackson Gray (French), Austin Fuller (Latin) & Virginia Heiser (Spanish) Pace Senior Citizens Allie Appel, India Behl, Paul-Louis Biondi, Molly Buffenbarger, Dillon Carroll, Emily Caton, Ben Crawford, Zoie Freier, Austin Fuller, Aidan Gannon, Quill Healey, Virginia Hobbs, Erin Hood, Connor Husk, Jack Jacoby, Rohan Jatar, Ryan Kann, Tyler Kelly, Julia Konradt, Finn LaMastra, Alexa Levine, Charlotte Little, Daniel Lucke, Jared McCall, Jack McCarthy, Insha Merchant, Alex Noel, Morgan Payne, Payton Payne, Josh Pickman, Nikki Rubin, Harrison Saini, Mae Shippen, Daniel St. Amand, Lauren Stebbins, Alan Tapper, Sydney Thomas, Ben Tolliday, Jordan Upchurch & Claire Wierman

Faculty Awards Given by the Senior Class Cum Laude Society Teaching Award Allison Tarvin Knight Capital Investment in Education Award Gus Whyte

CLASS OF 2020

Oh, the Places They’ll Go! The Class of 2020 has matriculated at the following colleges and universities: Auburn University (8) Ball State University Baylor University Boston College Bowdoin College Brown University Clemson University (5) Colorado School of Mines Davidson College (2)

Marshall University Middlebury College New York University Northwestern University Oberlin College Ohio University Pomona College Princeton University (2) Rhodes College (2)

Denison University Duke University (2) Elon University Emory University (2) Florida State University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology (4) Harvard College Howard University (2) Indiana University, Bloomington (3)

Rice University Santa Clara University Southern Methodist University (2) Spelman College Stanford University (2) Stetson University Temple University Japan Texas A&M University Texas Christian University (3) The University of Alabama (3) Tulane University Tuskegee University United States Naval Academy United States Naval Academy Preparatory School University of Alabama at Birmingham University of California, Los Angeles (2) University of Chester University of Chicago University of Colorado at Boulder University of Georgia (13) University of Miami University of Michigan University of North Georgia University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of San Diego University of Southern California University of Virginia (2) University of Wisconsin, Madison Vanderbilt University (2) Wake Forest University (7) Washington University in St. Louis (2) Wellesley College William & Mary Williams College Yale University

“Since you were young, we have asked that you have the courage to strive for excellence. It is what is needed now, more than ever. I am confident that you have internalized this call, and I congratulate you on a job well done.”

FRED ASSAF Head of School

“Light is only made possible through heat… It is a bizarre and magnificent fact in physics.

Conflict, friction and strife are all good things. No great scientific discovery, no sublime work of art, no penetrating philosophical insight, no political goal has ever been achieved without a sufficient amount of heat… [As our four years together come to a close], I hope you can more keenly sense which types of heat will produce light, and which will simply burn.”

GRADY STEVENS Dean of the Class of 2020

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

51

LIBRARIES

Libraries for a New Generation Inside Pace Academy’s Woodruff and Soni Family libraries

In

2018, Lee Rainie, director of internet and technology research at the Pew Research Center, addressed the Public Library Association’s annual meeting.

According to recent research, Rainie told attendees, people today seek personal enrichment, entertainment, knowledge and reference expertise in new ways, and they need and want access to technology through trusted institutions. He went on.

Learning is a social process and therefore, to succeed, libraries must employ pathfinders, curators and arbiters for trusted information, tech and data experts, master teachers who inspire lifelong learning, and visionaries for the knowledge economy.

Libraries must embrace the Internet of Things, become meeting places and test beds for innovation, close digital divides and advocate for free and open discussion.

The Pew Research Center’s findings were not news to Pace Academy Director of Libraries MATT BALL. “I’ve learned that to find out what people need and want, I just have to ask,” Ball says.

52

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

Since arriving at Pace in 2014 to open the new Woodruff Library in the Arthur M. Blank Upper School, Ball has reimagined the library experience and, with his team, made both the Woodruff Library, which serves Middle and Upper School students, and the Lower School’s Soni Family Library not only thriving academic hubs but sources of community, creativity, humor and fun.

“I always have our mission statement in the back of my mind,” Ball says and recites his mantra: “To create prepared, confident citizens of the world, Pace Academy libraries will provide services and resources that engage the mind, cultivate curiosity, nurture the imagination and enrich teaching and learning.”

Fulfilling that mission and cultivating a cohesive, consistent experience from Pre-First through 12th grade starts with knowing library patrons, so Ball and his team have made the libraries warm, welcoming places where the relaxed atmosphere encourages relationship-building amongst students and the library staff.

In the Woodruff Library, puzzles, LEGO sets, magnetic poetry and games scattered throughout the space ease stress and promote quiet collaboration. On its lower level where silence is not a requirement, students study and participate in group work while catching up with Librarian MARTY HAMBURGER and Library Assistant TIGER BROWN ’13. During lunch and recess, Middle School students grab books and head to the Kam Memar Reading Room for a midday reading break. A faculty book club meets virtually on Sunday afternoons, and students engage with the Woodruff Library on Facebook and Instagram.

In addition, Ball, Hamburger and Brown work to ensure that all Middle and Upper School students see themselves reflected in the resources available to them. The Woodruff Library houses sections devoted to graphic novels and new poetry, another to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Topical displays highlight Latinx authors, LGTBQ+ fiction and Isdell Center for Global Leadership themes. “We talk a lot

LIBRARIES

about what our teachers and students care about, what they’re thinking about at any given time,” Ball reports. “We curate our collection accordingly.”

Lower School Librarian CATHERINE LAMPLEY, who came on board in 2018, ascribes to the same philosophy. “My main role is to build community and to instill a love of reading in our students,” she says.

To accomplish her goals, Lampley gives students ownership of their reading lives, which in turn inspires confidence and excitement around literature. Every student maintains an account with Biblionasium, an online program that allows children to track their reading progress, share recommendations with friends and suggest books to add to the library’s collection. “The little ones particularly love it,” Lampley reports.

“They feel like it’s a form of social media.”

In addition, activities like First Chapter Frenzy, a Birthday Book Club and preCOVID Lunch and Listens—complete with flowers on the tables and checkered

tablecloths—expose students to new books and the sense of community that comes with a shared love of literature.

With the support of Lower School Library Assistant LAURA JACK, who handles much of the behind-the-scenes work related to circulation, Lampley also meets with every Lower School class once per week to teach library skills and share stories. “We want to make sure that every child is truly seen and known,” she says.

Maintaining those connections was especially important to Lampley when school moved entirely online this past March. She facilitated virtual Lunch and Listen sessions throughout the spring and summer and introduced Friday morning BINGO to keep Lower School students energized and engaged.

The Woodruff Library offered virtual programs as well. Office hours, afternoon meet-ups, writing workshops, online games and book clubs kept the library team connected to students prior to the resumption of in-person school. Ball also wanted to

ensure that students, faculty and staff continued to read in the midst of the quarantine period and had books shipped from Amazon directly to homes. “Authors are more willing to do virtual visits these days,” Ball says, so a steady stream of guest speakers continues to fill the library calendar.

With the advent of digital media and the ever-changing ways in which people consume information, there has been a great deal of talk about the future of libraries— are they, as an institution, dying?

Ball and Lampley firmly argue no; quite the contrary. Libraries are evolving in exciting ways, and adapting to shifting trends and new technologies—and Pace is at the forefront of that change.

“I had a fourth-grade class visit the library the other day,” Lampley reports.

“It’s like the kids were rushing the gates at a concert. They were so excited to come in, read and explore. If this generation of students is any indication, libraries are alive and well.” è

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

53

LIBRARIES

S POT L I G H T ON T H E

Soni Family Library In September, crews finished the first phase of renovations within the Lower School classroom building, part of phase one of the Accelerate Pace campaign.

Hallways received fresh coats of paint and new carpet, while the library underwent a complete makeover.

Now open to students, the Soni Family Library, named for Pace parents MICHELLE and SANDEEP SONI, includes quiet nooks for reading, designated spaces for small-group work, a video conferencing area and open shelving. Relocating the entrance has made the library a third-floor focal point, while adding new interior and exterior windows brings an elevated level of natural light into the space.

“It’s hard not to be in a good mood when you’re in the library,” reports Lower School Librarian CATHERINE LAMPLEY. “It’s so cheerful and bright.

With the new windows, we see more of nature and the beautiful blue sky. It feels like we’re in a treehouse. It’s such a happy place.”

"Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination.

They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life."

SIDNEY SHELDON writer and producer 54

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

LIBRARIES

T H E L I B R A R Y ’S

Traveling Troubadour

D I D YO U K N OW ?

• The average American adult has read 12 books in the past 12 months.

As part of his role, Librarian MARTY HAMBURGER oversees the Woodruff Library’s partnership with the Middle School— from curating the library’s growing collection of young adult fiction to teaching classes on research methods.

Hamburger also takes seriously his duty to foster a love of reading among Middle School students and, at the suggestion of Director of Libraries MATT BALL, launched the Library BookMobile to introduce students to new and/ or popular reading material. Once a week, give or take, Hamburger and a cart of books adorned with colorful decor make their way to the Inman Center rotunda during Middle School lunch and recess.

“We are always looking for more ways to engage Middle Schoolers in their library and make them aware of our services, especially as it can be a challenge during their busy days to get them across campus and into the physical space,” Hamburger says. “So, we take the library to them!

Furthermore, the rapport established around a cart of books can be very helpful as Middle School kids transition to the Upper School.”

A musician—he plays rhythm guitar and sings in the band Hot Tamale Ringwald—Hamburger decided to make his weekly outing a musical endeavor and brought along his guitar. Now Middle School students can enjoy Mr. Hamburger’s (masked) musical stylings while pursuing the latest titles and determining which to take home.

“While the actual number of checkouts ebbs and flows, at least 75 percent of those students that take advantage of the BookMobile don’t really use the actual library until they are freshmen. The BookMobile can be a great reminder that they enjoy reading!”

• 39% of Americans read print books only; 29% read both print and digital books; 7% read only digital books; 24% do not read books.

• Traditional activities like borrowing books or reading account for 64% of library usage, but attending classes, lectures or group meetings at libraries is becoming increasingly popular.

• Millennials (individuals ages 18 to 35) are more likely to have visited a public library in the past year than any other adult generation.

SOURCE: Library Usage and Engagement by John B. Horrigan, Pew Research Center Survey, 2016

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

55

ALUMNI

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

5

1

2

3

4

UPDATES [1] DON SCHWARTZ ’66 lives in North Carolina where he continues his “lifelong affair with watching large amounts of filmed entertainment.” An actor, journalist and personal historian, Don reviews feature documentary films for several online news sources, including From the Heart Productions, Cine Source Magazine and The Marin Post. In 2013, he published Telling Their Own Stories: Conversations with Documentary Filmmakers, available on Amazon. Don also cares for dogs and puts his acting skills to work as a standardized patient for medical and nursing schools.

[2] In July, ROB BIRDSONG ’00 opened Glide Pizza in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. When Rob moved back to Atlanta after 12 years in New York City, he found that he still craved the satisfaction of a quick hot slice of pizza. Now, he and his team serve large slices and giant pies out of a walk-up window along the Eastside BeltLine—and they’re receiving rave reviews.

“What sets this little takeout window apart?,” Mara Shalhoup and Myrydd Wells of Atlanta Magazine ask. “It’s the most New York-influenced of the lot, more Brooklyn

56

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

than Neapolitan… it is a very fine pie, especially when graced with the house-pickled jalapenos that come on the side.”

Glide Pizza, located at 660 Irwin St. NE, will soon roll out a delivery-by-ebicycle program in partnership with Edison Bicycles, another Atlanta small business.

[3] KIRK MCALPIN ’00 runs an Atlantabased woodworking business and recently completed a once-in-a-lifetime project in collaboration with the Atlanta History Center. The Tree Table, located on the History Center’s property adjacent to West Paces Ferry Road, was created entirely from a single 140-year-old oak tree salvaged from the property.

Kirk spent months crafting the wood by hand to form the 60-foot tree-shaped piece. Kirk has a passion for featuring unique local woods in his work and

enjoys creating furniture from scratch that will be cherished in people’s homes.

[4] JULIANNA RUE CAGLE ’03 was selected to the 2020 Class of Outstanding Atlanta. Outstanding Atlanta is the city’s premier honor for community involvement.

Formed in 1968, the organization annually recognizes 10 young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 for distinguishing themselves in their careers and service to Atlanta’s community. For over four decades, Outstanding Atlanta and its honorees have demonstrated extraordinary leadership.

Members hold key positions in business, politics, education, nonprofit organizations, volunteer and charitable endeavors.

KATIE WILSON ’03 and RENEE KLERIS ’04 self-published We Stand Together, Just Six Feet Apart.

Using sing-song rhymes and accessible language, the book gives children a basic understanding of why life has changed due to

ALUMNI

ALUMNI REUNITE

ON NFL GRIDIRON

7

It’s not often that graduates of a small school like Pace become professional athletes—and it’s even more improbable that two Pace alumni would face each other at the highest level of national competition. But that’s just what happened on Sunday, Oct. 4, when the New York Giants took on the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.

ANDREW THOMAS ’17 and SAMUEL SLOMAN ’16 made Pace history as the first Knights drafted by the National Football League, both in 2020. Andrew, an offensive lineman from the University of Georgia and a First-Team All-American, was selected by the New York Giants as the fourth pick in the NFL Draft.

The Los Angeles Rams selected Samuel as the 248th pick. A graduate of Miami University in Ohio, Samuel kicked for the Redhawks for four years, finishing his career as the 2019 MAC Championship Special Teams Player of the Game. Both Andrew and Samuel were influential in the Knights’ 2015 GHSA Class AA state championship.

Andrew started in the game on Oct. 4; Samuel made all of his field-goal and extra-point attempts, helping the Rams to a 17–9 victory.

8

[5] LACY BEDOL ’09 earned an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in May 2020 and will join Bain & Company's Atlanta office as a consultant in December 2020.

[6] GLENDREVIOUS HARRIS ’12 has been promoted to the rank of captain in the United States Marine Corps. He currently serves as the officer selection officer for Western New England and is stationed out of Amherst, Mass.

[7] HAYLEY KAHN ’12 has been honored as No. 3 on Yahoo Finance's 2020 HERoes Future Female Leaders list, which celebrates 100 emerging leaders making significant contributions to gender diversity at work.

Over the past four years, Hayley has

co-led Anheuser-Busch’s largest employee resource group, Women in Beer & Beyond.

Through the group, she has fostered a community for women and allies to connect, share and grow within an industry that has traditionally been more male-centric. She has organized a speaker series with female executives, networking events and coffee chats for colleagues to foster relationships, as well as recruited on college campuses to attract more women into the company.

Hayley is passionate about enhancing the portrayal of women in advertising.

Outside of Anheuser-Busch, Hayley founded The Supper Series, a speaker series that brings together brings women together over dinner to learn from female entrepreneurs across various industries, while raising money for the Food Bank For New York City. To date, Hayley has donated over 80,000 meals for those in need and interviewed inspiring women including Rebecca Minkoff, Lauren Bush Lauren and executives from Coca-Cola, SPANX and Anheuser-Busch. Hayley and her fiancé, Adam Levinson, live in New York City.

[8] SAM NAIL ’15 graduated from Macalester College with a degree in

Photo: Evan Pinkus, New York Giants

the Coronavirus and how, over time, things may slowly return to normal. Renee is a physician specializing in pediatrics and allergy/immunology, and Katie is an artist and illustrator. The softcover edition of the book is available through Amazon; the hardcover version can be purchased at Blurb.com. All proceeds benefit the charitable organization No Kid Hungry.

Photo: Sarah Snyder, LA Rams

6

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

57

ALUMNI

12 10

13

11

9

computer science and history. He lives in Houston where he works at NASA as a systems engineer on the Lunar Gateway project.

The Lunar Gateway will orbit the moon and is expected to serve a vital role in putting the first woman and next man on the moon. It will also play a role in manned travel to Mars.

[9] KEELEY HARRIS ’17 (pictured second from left) is president of The Sirens, the University of Richmond’s only female a cappella group, for the 2020–2021 academic year. “It has been both an exciting opportunity as well as an unexpected challenge due to COVID-19,” Keeley writes. “The Sirens have been such a supportive group throughout my collegiate experience, and I am so grateful to have a group like them on my campus!”

Last year, Keeley spent a semester in Cambodia learning about environmental issues and Buddhism in Southeast Asia. “It was such an incredible experience,” she writes, “I conducted research where I interviewed local Khmer people about their religious beliefs. My semester abroad was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

58

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

[10] RAINA WILLIAMS ’19 (pictured right) received the 2020 Ostrander Award for Excellence as a Supporting Actress for her performance in Hissifit at Rhodes College’s McCoy Theatre. The annual Ostrander Awards honor talent in the greater Memphis theatre community in a wide range of categories including acting, directing and backstage contributions in the college, community and professional divisions.

Raina, now a sophomore performance major in the University of Memphis’ Bachelor of Fine Arts program, is preparing for her role in The Story and the Teller, a new play about the impact of the 1878 Yellow Fever epidemic on African Americans and immigrants. A Zoom reading will take place in November, with a live production planned once COVID restrictions have been lifted.

[11] BRIANNA THOMAS ’20, a freshman at Spelman College, joined Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and was pinned by Pace Associate Director of Auxiliary Programs KAREN SOMMERVILLE.

MARRIAGES [12] ADAM CHAIKOF ’10 married Allison Shely at The View of DC in Arlington, Va., on Aug. 29, 2020. Upper School history teacher HELEN SMITH attended—albeit virtually. The couple lives just outside of Washington, D.C., where Adam is a senior research associate at American Bridge 21st Century, a Democratic super PAC, and Allison is a legal marketing coordinator for a sole practitioner.

[13] CLAIRE DILLON ENSOR ’11 married fellow Texas Longhorn and Atlanta native Dray Ensor on Aug. 8, 2020, at Atlanta’s Northside United Methodist Church.

An intimate family gathering at the Dillon home followed. Claire’s sisters, TESS DILLON ’14 and OLIVIA DILLON ’17, were

maids of honor. Additional bridesmaids included MACKENZIE BARRATT ATKINSON ’11, HALLIE CROSS ’11 and CAROLINE NIXON ’11. A celebratory wedding reception is planned for 2021.

ALUMNI

FACULTY & STAFF MILESTONES

15

[18] Fifth-grade teacher GREG BLYTHE and Kenzie Smernis Blythe were married on Sept.

26, 2020, at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta. A reception on the rooftop at Ponce City Market followed.

16

[19] Wyatt Christopher was born on Sept.

28, 2020, to Assistant to the Head of School KAITLYN GOLPHIN and CHRIS GOLPHIN, an Atlanta Police Department detective who, when off duty, monitors security at Pace and is known around campus as our beloved “Officer Chris.” Wyatt was 7 pounds, 5 ounces and 20 inches. The proud grandfather is Director of Facilities DAVE FORTIER; uncle WES FORTIER serves as director of maintenance.

17

14

[14] CAROLYN SCHAEFER MCNERNEY ’11 married Conor McNerney on Aug. 22, 2020, in Hyannis Port, Mass. Pace attendees included Matron of Honor LUCY SCHAEFER AYRES ’08, Matron of Honor COURTNEY SCHAEFER DEVEAU ’07, PATRICK DEVEAU ’05 and bridesmaid MEGAN KNOTT ’04.

Carolyn and Conor met at the University of Virginia and, after five years together, became engaged while living in London.

Their original June wedding was postponed due to the pandemic and rescheduled as a small family affair. They were married at St. Andrew's By The Sea, in Hyannis Port.

A family dinner at the Hyannisport Club followed. “We hope to hold a party with the rest of our family and friends on Aug. 21, 2021, at the Wianno Club in Osterville, Mass.,” Carolyn writes.

The couple lives in Denver where Conor works for a private equity firm, and Carolyn is an interior designer.

[20] Facilities team member and lacrosse coach NICK VERRILLI and athletic trainer MARIE VERRILLI welcomed Mark Logan Keith on Sept.

20, 2020. Logan weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20 inches long. He joins big sisters Aubrey, 9, and Kyndal, 3. “Logan can’t wait to cheer the Knights to victory!” the family says.

BIRTHS [15] SEAN WARREN ’99 and his wife, Summer, welcomed son Baylor Landon on Aug. 15, 2020. He joins older brothers Micah and Grayson. “All boys for us!”

Sean writes.

Sean continues to work with his siblings, BRETT WARREN ’97, ANDY WARREN ’01 and KASEY WARREN ’06. Due to recent COVID-related stay-at-home orders, their family swimming pool business has had a record year.

[16] JULIA WERTHEIM SCHNABEL ’04 and her husband, Michael, welcomed daughter Liza Cecelia on Dec. 6, 2019. She joined big brother Myles, 2. The family lives in New York.

18

20

19

[17] Jacob and CAMERON RICHARDSMITH ’05 welcomed Esther Lee on July 2, 2020. She was 8 pounds, 10 ounces and 23.5 inches. The family lives in Atlanta where Cameron is a manager of customer experience and catering operations

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

59

21 22

24

Have you liked or joined us yet?

www.facebook.com/paceacademy alumniassociation

23

www.instagram.com/ pace_alumknights www.linkedin.com/groups/160587

Need an old yearbook?

Was yours lost, damaged or destroyed?

We can send you a new copy!

Contact Ryan Vihlen for availability. ryan.vihlen@paceacademy.org

analytics for Delta Air Lines, and Jacob is a product marketer at FullStory.

[21] LARA GOODRICH EZOR ’06 and ZACK EZOR ’06 welcomed son Samuel Goodrich on July 22, 2020. Sam was 8 pounds, 13 ounces and 21.5 inches. The family, including dog Ruby, lives in Durham, N.C. Sam’s proud aunts, uncle and first cousins once removed include CAITLIN GOODRICH JONES ’00, PETE GOODRICH ’03, DANIELLE EZOR ’09, HALEY ZWECKER ’12, LINDSEY ZWECKER ’13 and MITCHELL ZWECKER ’17.

[22] MARY HIPP ROGERS ’06 and REID ROGERS ’07 welcomed daughter Palmer Francis on July 3, 2020.

IN MEMORIAM [23] ANTHONY MANIGAULT, father of ASATA MANIGAULT ’22 and a member of the Pace community since 2011, passed away on Sept. 15, 2020.

Anthony was a project manager at Summit Contracting Group and enjoyed a successful career in construction management for more than 20 years. He loved God and used his many gifts to serve those in need—for more than a decade, he drove

his church bus to ensure those without transportation could attend services.

Anthony and Asata shared a love of cars, especially Corvettes, and they often spent time together building and creating. His family will remember him as a wonderful father and “a beautiful soul.”

In addition to Asata, Anthony is survived by wife Melissa Manigault, daughter Hannah Manigault and Asata’s mother, DR. LEPORA FLOURNOY. [24] MICHAEL WAGONER, husband of DEBORAH CELECIA WAGONER ’84 and father of N ​ ORAH WAGONER ’22 and L ​ ILY

WAGONER ’19​, passed away on Aug. 21, 2020, after battling severe sepsis.

Michael, a technical engineer at Samsung Electronics, was a loving husband and father. He graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in engineering and a minor in music and, according to his family, could fix anything. “Michael enjoyed golfing, riding his motorcycle, playing his drums and making music with his friends,” his family writes. “He was an active volunteer at the Shepherd Center as well as with multiple animal-rescue groups… Michael loved a lot of things, but he loved nothing more than his two beautiful daughters, Lily and Norah.”

ALUMNI

WHEN PACE IS

A FAMILY TRADITION 1

5

Ten members of the Class of 2020 join our alumni ranks as legacies.

[1] CINDY GAY JACOBY ’83 and JACK JACOBY ’20 [2] QUILL HEALEY ’86 and QUILL HEALEY ’20 [3] JONATHAN LEVINE ’77 and ALEXA LEVINE ’20

2

6

[*] LAURA ALLEN NOEL ’84 and ALEX NOEL ’20 [4] RHONDA PECK O’GORMAN ’88 and EVERETT O’GORMAN ’20 [5] CHRIS PAYNE ’86 and MORGAN PAYNE ’20 [*] JOANN SHARP ’85 and ZOE WILLIAMS ’20 [6] BETH BRIDGES SPENCER ’81 and BRIDGES SPENCER ’20 [7] KAREN GREENBERG ST. AMAND ’81 and DANIEL ST. AMAND ’20

3

7

4

8

[8] STEVE WRAY ’88 and RACHEL WRAY ’20 * Not Pictured

HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE? E M A I L U S ! alumni@paceacademy.org

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

61

ALUMNI

Mr. PRESIDENT Frank Woodling ’05 takes the reins of the Alumni Board

For the past nine years, FRANK WOODLING ’05 has dedicated ample time, thought and energy to bettering the Pace Academy community from an alumni perspective. His journey began in 2011 with volunteer work for Pace’s Alumni Association, and since 2013, he has been a dedicated member of the Alumni Board. This year, his commitment becomes more extensive as he takes on the role of president.

Woodling’s ties to Pace run deep: his sister, CATHERINE WOODLING ’00, is an alumna; his mother, former faculty member EDITH WOODLING, taught at Pace for decades; and his late father, FRANK SMITH WOODLING, volunteered with the service learning—now community engagement—program.

“When my father died suddenly [in 1996], the Pace community supported me and my family, and dozens of students, teachers and administrators attended his funeral,” Woodling says. “For the Pace community's support of my family, I am eternally grateful.”

Becoming a leader among the alumni was a way for Woodling to give back to the community that had been so unwavering in its support.

Woodling earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia in 2009, then returned to Emory University in 2017 to earn an MBA. With nearly a decade of experience working in both marketing and finance, Woodling will now combine his communications skills and business insight with his love for Pace to guide the 17 Alumni Board members. “I look forward to helping fellow board members see their passion projects come to life, whether that be community conversations about social issues, networking opportunities or mentorship programming for current students and/or young alumni,” he says.

Woodling believes that the board’s future efforts “will be focused on engaging young alumni,” and notes, “We've been so lucky to have an amazing pool of alumni leaders and volunteers from the 2000s and earlier. We now need to build the pipeline of future alumni leaders from the 2010s and later.”

For Woodling, being president will be a “support function”: the board will design and execute alumni events and programming, and he will speak with the Pace administration and the Board of Trustees on its behalf. However, the role will not be free of challenges, especially those brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We have to quickly develop virtual programming, because the pandemic makes in-person interaction more difficult or impractical,” he says. According to Woodling, the other big challenge for the school and alumni community to tackle is creating a space where everyone feels included.

“We recognize that there is and likely always will be work to do to achieve our school's goal of creating a safe learning space for all students, regardless of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion or ability,” he says. “I look forward to this self-reflection and the resulting conversations and actions, as it will make our community stronger, more loving and more reflective of our global community.” l

62

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

BERNES HEATHER ALLEN BERNES ’05 is excited to return to Pace as an alumna. During her 13 years as a Knight, Bernes was involved in many realms of the community, as coeditor-in-chief of the yearbook, a service leader, a member of the swim team and a peer leader.

After Pace, Bernes attended the University of Virginia and then moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a producer for The Price is Right, winning two Emmy Awards for her outstanding contributions to the game show.

With two younger siblings at Pace, Bernes kept in contact with the school even when she wasn’t in Atlanta. However, after moving back to Atlanta in 2017, she began looking for more opportunities to become involved.

In the fall of 2019, Bernes received an email from the Alumni Office regarding Leadership Pace, a leadership development program. After participating in Leadership Pace, she stayed in touch with program facilitators and was excited to elevate her longstanding relationship with the school by joining the Alumni Board. “I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to continue on my journey from Leadership Pace, which really brought me back in and reconnected me to Pace,” she says.

Joining the Alumni Board coincides with another return to Pace for Bernes; this summer, she became a member of the Pace staff and now serves as associate director of Middle and Upper School admissions.

She’s excited to “give back to the school and community” through both of her roles and engage with others who love Pace as much as she does.

JOSPIN SCOTT JOSPIN ’08 credits his Pace experience with introducing him to his closest friends. A dedicated, service-oriented student and an athlete at Pace, Jospin served as a peer leader, played on the lacrosse team and led volunteer events at the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Regarding his return to Pace as a member of the Alumni Board, Jospin notes, “I want to improve the Pace experience for those who are coming up.” Specifically, he hopes to assist with the implementation of the school’s Action Plan for Racial Equity. “Since George Floyd's murder and the string of protests that followed, I've been processing the fact that Pace has not fostered an environment where students of color—along with those who have a socio-economic disadvantage—are fully accepted and feel comfortable,” he says.

“I want to help solve this problem and figure out how we can move forward as a community.”

After graduating from Pace, Jospin attended Tulane University and earned degrees in political science and Spanish.

His first job was as a consultant at Booz Allen in Washington, D.C., “primarily supporting the Federal Aviation Administration as it modernizes air traffic facilities around the country.”

Following his work for the consulting firm, Jospin sold compliance software to companies growing, manufacturing and distributing cannabis. Now, he is studying to earn an MBA from Emory University and working as an intern for a startup company building a global securities exchange.

WILSON After participating in Leadership Pace, VICTORIA WILSON ’10 became interested in continuing her involvement with the school through the Alumni Association.

When nominations opened for new board members, Wilson’s friend and former classmate GRACE SOUTHWORTH NADEAU ’10, already an active member, nominated Wilson to fill a spot.

Wilson describes her experience at Pace as positive and notes, “I also gained some lifelong friendships that I deeply cherish.” After Pace, she graduated from Boston University with a degree in mass communications and a minor in business administration.

Wilson’s career has allowed her to use her communications and marketing skills in a variety of companies, mostly small businesses and startups in the beauty and fashion industries. She has also explored digital marketing and currently works as a web development project manager. However, her knack for production spans beyond marketing— Wilson is also a freelance event producer who has worked with many companies, including BET, Google for Startups, Atlanta United and Hendrick’s Gin. For Wilson, coming back to Pace felt natural. “I’m very big on remaining connected to and investing either my time, talent or treasure in communities that I’ve been a member of to ensure their continued progress,” she says. She believes “representation is crucial to proper progress,” and, with her membership, she will help the Alumni Board “cultivate strong bonds within the existing Pace alumni community and increase the level of connection between alumni and current Pace students.”

Meet Our Newest ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS

—by JILL RAWLS ’19

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

63

One Knight in Vietnam The Glenn Duncan Story

—by Ryan Vihlen

In 1981, The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund contracted Atlanta-based company Datalantic to collate, re-case and typeset the 58,159 names that were to appear on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The iconic wall of reflective black granite was dedicated in November 1982 during a five-day ceremony that involved the procession of tens of thousands of Vietnam War veterans. The scene was visceral, emotional and occasionally seasoned with the sounds of impromptu patriotic singing and the shouts of protestors. Many of these pilgrims had tears streaming down their cheeks as they gazed upon The Wall for the very first time. They touched the cold granite and felt the names. They thought about their own sacrifices, and they thought about the deep and abiding tragedy of so many lives lost and so many families irrevocably broken. Amongst the vast sea of etched and sandblasted text was the name GLENN C DUNCAN.

GLENN CHRISTIE DUNCAN ’67 was born in the rural town of Baldwyn, Miss., on Feb. 13, 1949. The family called him “Butch,” and he was the first child born to PAUL WESLEY DUNCAN and EVELYN MARY (CHRISTIE) DUNCAN. In the mid 1950s, they moved into a small home in the Grove Park community of northwest Atlanta.

During the post-war period, the hilly neighborhood teemed with young families.

A childhood friend, Tom Temple, fondly remembers: “We roamed the local pine forest and built rafts to float down Procter

64

FALL 2020 ||| KnightTimes

Creek. Glenn and the boys on his street [Hortense Place] and Florence Place formed one circle of kids, while I lived on a deadend street with 19 kids. We had our own gang. We used to do neighborhood versus neighborhood football when we were third and fourth graders.” They attended Lena H. Cox Elementary and then West Fulton High School together. Tom remembers a particularly memorable experience during their eighth-grade year: “Our gym teacher was a rough and tumble kind of guy that thought that boxing—gloves and all—was a good

way to build character. One day, Glenn got picked as my match and we squared off. I was a tall, lanky kid with long arms, and Glenn was shorter and more compact. As I found, that was no disadvantage since he showed no fear and came right at me. A few right hooks to my jaw and I was ready to quit. Basically, he kicked my butt.”

Around 1964, the NAACP and other civil rights groups selected Grove Park as a target community for housing integration.

“Our parents' response became known as ‘White Flight.’ Our tight little group of friends were dispersed in many directions,” notes Temple. Glenn’s youngest sibling, Alan, remembers, “We moved out of Atlanta during some of the racial problems in the early sixties. My dad was a trucker.

He came in one day from a run, and we'd had a dynamiting in the neighborhood. My dad said: ‘That's it. I can't be on the road with this going on. We’ve gotta get away from here.’ So we moved to Smyrna.”

The Duncan family resettled in a onestory brick house just a stone’s throw from Campbell High School. The Parkmans lived two doors away, and the families became good friends. “Glenn was a couple years older than me. As was typical of the area and time, none of our houses had fenced-in yards, so all the kids played together out back,” recalls the Parkman’s oldest child, Breck. Glenn was an animal lover. He once saved the life of Breck’s dog, Tinker. On another occasion, he forcibly stopped a neighborhood boy who was hurting his collie—his fervent sense of justice brought forth anger when he witnessed wrongs being committed.

Industrious, dependable and fiercely loyal, Glenn took care of himself and he took care of his family. When he was only 14, he got his first job at Storyland—an amusement park set in the woods on Highway 41 near Akers Mill Road. He was also good with his hands and gave Mrs. Parkman several of his projects from shop class. She kept the wooden magazine rack next to her favorite chair and cherished it for years.

Glenn attended Campbell High with NORBERT GRUENER ’67. “We did everything together. We hung out all the time, double dated. You know, it's just one of those buddy movies. Whenever we were

ALUMNI

together, we were out there to have a good time.” Gruener recalls how they both ended up transferring to Pace Academy junior year: “I started dating SHERRY KALEY ’66, and her father [FRANK KAYLEY] was the headmaster. One day, Sherry's dad asked us if we wanted to go to Pace. They were looking for jocks.”

The Knights certainly needed all the help they could get—the Class of 1967 only graduated 18 students. “Back then, if you could walk and chew gum, you lettered,” chuckles Gruener. Glenn’s coach, BOB CHAMBERS remembers: “He was a good athlete. He was very quick, and at 5’ 11”, he could dunk the basketball easily. He had spring in his legs, and he was an excellent one-on-one defensive player—particularly outstanding. He also enjoyed track and field. We didn't have a track at that time, but we practiced at neighboring schools and up at Dobbins Air Force Base.” Because of transfer restrictions, Glenn was not allowed to play varsity his first year at Pace.

Compared to Campbell High, Pace was “a different world.”

The Duncan family was poor, and Pace was full of kids who were not. “There were times my mother had to choose between buying a bag of groceries or paying a water bill.

I watched her beg someone to turn our power back on because her older brother was flying through Atlanta and was coming to the house for dinner,” remembers Alan.

Despite this financial disparity, Glenn’s involvement in athletics and outgoing personality allowed him to immediately cultivate a network of friends. STEVE LEE ’67 remembers Glenn fondly: “Great guy. Always positive. He was just always happy and nice. I do remember that he didn't have any enemies. He never got into fights. He was a get along kind of guy and enjoyed hanging out with people. He just had a good heart.”

“For years we had a goalie—a fellow named Bob Battle. He got hurt and couldn't play. The whole team was down.

So, Bob Chambers selected Glenn, and he just nailed it. He was tall, fast, good hands and he just breathed life back into the team when he came out and we saw how well he could do. There couldn't have been a better pick,” says Lee. To be a goalie, you had to be tough, Gruener explains. “Free kicks: that's where they separate the men from the boys, because if that ball is coming at your head, you either duck it and knock that ball back or you completely drop so the ball doesn't hit you at all. Glenn was one of those guys that would stand there and take that shot.

And when that ball came for his head, he lowered it and shot that ball right back.”

Chambers also lived in Smyrna and frequently gave Glenn a lift home from practice.

They listened to the radio together, and Glenn spent many car rides elaborating on the nuances of the day’s popular music in a passionate attempt to indoctrinate his coach. He was especially fond of The Beatles. To this day, Glenn’s widow can’t hear Hey Jude without remembering the way he beat the drums out on the dashboard during trips home from Fort Benning.

You will not find Glenn pictured with the varsity basketball squad his senior year.

He played with the team during the first semester, but a poor grade in an academic class caused him to lose his athletic eligibility. He was embarrassed and surely felt that he was letting his teammates down.

Though he improved his grades enough to graduate on time, being prevented from participating in basketball and track in his final semester was a disappointing end

to an otherwise overwhelmingly positive experience at Pace.

Glenn was the very first person in his family to attend college. He enrolled at Georgia Southern College, but being far away from friends and family made him miserable. He despised the food so much that his mom would send him regular care packages with canned homemade stews. He quickly transferred to Kennesaw Junior College as a full-time student and started working at a service station in Smyrna.

Sometime in 1967, a family from Illinois rented the house between the Duncan and Parkman residences. Their daughter, Jennie Rae Corkill, was a year older than Glenn. His effervescent personality and great sense of humor was undeniably attractive to the girl next door. “He was so easygoing and easy to be with. He was so fun. He loved life,” she remembers affectionately. Breck Parkman witnessed the relationship blossoming: “She was pretty, and I’m sure every boy in the neighborhood had eyes for her. But she only had eyes for Glenn! I remember Glenn serenading Jennie. He played the guitar, and he liked playing it for her.” They’d sit on her front porch and talk and sing for hours. He wrote her a song called Little Brown Eyes.

After a couple of months, he proposed. She said “yes” immediately.

The young men of Glenn’s generation grew up while America’s involvement in Vietnam escalated. During his high school years, various events led to the full-scale Americanization of the war. Following events in the Gulf of Tonkin on Aug. 2, 1964, Congress approved the Southeast Asia Resolution, giving President Lyndon Johnson broad powers to conduct military operations without a declaration of war. The resolution passed without a single dissenting vote in the House of Representatives and was only opposed by two members of the Senate.

Just one third of Americans who fought in Vietnam were drafted. Until late 1969, local draft boards controlled…

Continue reading at www.paceacademy.org/ knighttimes-features.

KnightTimes ||| FALL 2020

65

966 W. Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 www.paceacademy.org

RECEIVING MULTIPLE COPIES? If you have received multiple copies of this publication, please contact the Advancement Office at 404-240-9103 or advancement@paceacademy.org to update your information.

T H A N K Y O U, PA C E FA M I LY !

The Pace Fund—Pace Academy’s highest giving priority—provides vital resources that directly support ALL students, faculty members and programs at Pace. We rely on the generous support of our parents, grandparents, alumni and friends to maintain the exceptional student experience so valued by our entire community.

In this unusual season, we need your support now more than ever. We are so grateful for your partnership in keeping Pace strong and prepared for the future.

For more information or to make a gift, visit www.paceacademy.org/support/the-pace-fund.