Porter-Gaud Magazine 2017-2018

PORTER-GAUD magazine 2017-2018

PORTER-GAUD magazine 2017-2018

Publication Staff Art Direction/Photography/Layout

Brink Norton, Director of Digital Media and Publications Content Management

Jennifer Lorenz, Director of Strategic Communications Research and Development

Kathryn Sherrod, Director of Annual and Major Gifts Katie Heath, Director of Alumni Relations Special Thanks

Jenny Albright, Alex Werrell ‘09, Dr. Tom Westerman

ON THE COVER

The statue of The Reverend Doctor Anthony Toomer Porter, commissioned by the Porter Military Academy Alumni Association, now stands at the front of campus.

ON THE LEFT

Students in the fourth grade practice marching on Patriot Day, a culminating experience for the “Why America is Free” curriculum.

Porter-Gaud Magazine is published for the benefit of alumni, students, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends of Porter-Gaud. All content, including articles and photographs, is property of Porter-Gaud School, unless otherwise stated.

Any person or entity wanting to use or reproduce, in part or whole, any portion of this publication must do so with permission only.

300 Albemarle Road Charleston, SC 29407 843.556.3620 portergaud.edu

[table of contents]

4

16

8

28

The Other Other Wesley Moore

4

Alex Werrell ’09 shares stories of English teacher Wesley Moore.

Lars Runquist ’19: Laos – A Deeper Look

8 Lars Runquist ’19 tells of a life-changing service trip to Laos.

Continuing Education

12

Our alumni impact the lives of students through careers in independent schools.

Noah Steyer ’18

12

44

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FEATURES Saying Thank You 18 Faculty Feature 19 Founder’s Day 20 Sesquicentennial Events 21

16 Noah Steyer ’18 uses the Richards Award to help school children in Ghana.

Pieces of History 24

Our Story: A Porter-Gaud Timeline

The First One 32

23

A look back at the last 150 years through a timeline that catalogs significant dates in our fascinating history.

Khris Middleton ’09

Middleton ’09 starts a fund with a $1 million pledge to help make Porter-Gaud a reality for 28 Khris underserved youth.

The Fortson Family

Halloween Highlights 34 The Cyclone Fund 35 Cyclone Notes 36

30 John and Dee Fortson share what philanthropy means to their family.

The Highlight Reel 42

Celebrating Diversity

Parting Shot 46

44

Q&A with a group of dedicated parents who started a movement to address issues of diversity, racial unity, and inclusion.

Reunion Information 47

THE OTHER OTHER WES MOORE

BY ALEX WERRELL ‘09

“Death is recession-proof,” Wesley Moore explains, which is why he owns stock in his friend Jake the Snake’s funeral home conglomerate.

I caught up with him at Chico Feo, where he has assembled an Algonquin Round Table on the edge of America. Deadheads, dreadheads, tallboys, and poets all linger under the palmetto trees and by the citronella candles, eager to hear from Wesley, their favorite raconteur, ethnographer, poet, and teacher.

The mere mention of his name to his friends or to a former student conjures the sacred river Alph, flinging up a torrent of anecdotes, fond recollections, and snippets of poetry. His students recall the non-fiction Southern Gothic of Moore’s childhood—great aunts, alcoholics, serial killers, and alligators—and how he demonstrated the differences between iambic pentameter and dactylic hexameter with an épée. They remember his puppet shows and when he, rocking back and forth violently in sunglasses, performed Milton’s dictation of Paradise Lost. An element of Folly seems always to loom in his students’ memories: the mounds of heroic verse praising the Sand Dollar Social Club or how the man who requires you to recite Chaucer can also teach you how to surf.

What the Lake District was to William Wordsworth, Folly Beach is to Wesley Moore; the spirit and essence of the place have become inextricable from the man. The beach and saltmarsh form part of his personality and even inform the way that he reads books and teaches. Take Madame Bovary, for instance, which he enjoys teaching from a Marxist perspective: “Emma constructs a personality through acquisition,” he says about Flaubert’s title character. “I think we might be less materialistic than we were—but maybe that’s because I live at Folly Beach.” One particularly startling juxtaposition bubbles to the top as a way to paint Mr. Moore: for a solid portion of my sophomore year, he drove from the Folly salt marsh to Porter-Gaud in a ’64 Volkswagen Bus—listening to James Joyce’s Ulysses.

Like a cigar roller in Havana, Mr. Moore enjoys listening to works read aloud. “I love sounds more than anything,” he says—and that love for listening is a large part of what pulls him towards literature, poetry, and teaching. Rather than lush visual worlds in which characters interact, Mr. Moore sees a vacuum when he reads. His imagination is whisked away by the rush of sound instead. He hears the language of the book or poem—not just the dialogue, but the narration, the description, and the footnotes, too. Mr. Moore, like the Son of Sam, is gifted with the ability to hear that which others simply can’t: hoof beats and cannons in “The Charge of the Light Brigade” for instance, or the comically cacophonous trochaic octameter of “The Raven”.

And so it comes as no surprise that music is a major part of the fourdimensional Wesley Moore educational experience. Drawing upon the wisdom of both Dr. John and Dr. Johnson, Mr. Moore incorporates music into his classes as a type of connective tissue between books or compelling segues into questions. “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” for instance, supplemented The Miller’s Tale, Chaucer’s raunchy tale familiar to sophomores nationwide, while the chaotic discord of Stravinsky accompanies “The Waste Land”. For “The Sixties,” his new seminar linking the history and literature of that tumultuous decade of war and peace, hope and assassinations, a world too much with us and a world beyond our own, Mr. Moore divided the decade into musical movements like an anthropological symphony. To Mr. Moore’s

ears, there is an entire history encoded in Elvis’s adaptation and appropriation of Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog” a decade prior, and the records of Bob Dylan (“nee Zimmerman,” as he writes), Pete Seeger, and Joan Baez provide equally rewarding insights into the mind and mood of an era.

DJ Moore, dub poet, shares that love for music with his students.

Receiving a Moore-curated mixtape is an honor akin to a house-elf receiving an article of clothing; it is an intimation of immortality.

Every senior in his advisory received a mixtape customized to his or her own interests and personalities. Wes Gangi kept his CD, with “Spill the Wine” and “Beast of Burden,” until it became too damaged to play. One of the few discs I have left is covered with Mr. Moore’s familiar scrawl: “PROCUL HARUM” in red Expo marker. Mr. Moore gave it to me for recalling the dying words of Richard III he had shouted out months prior while looking for the television remote: “A clicker! A clicker! My kingdom for a clicker!”

His classroom is always buzzing with the voices of Mississippi John Hurt, Tom Waits, or Bob Zimmerman, and his living room, overlooking the salt marsh, so golden in the soft light of evening, fills with sound like a cathedral. But Mr. Moore is always sure to remind students about the importance and the beauty of silence. Boxed in blue ink at the top of my notebook are his instructions for reading poetry: “Don’t think that you can read “To a Skylark” in five minutes because it’s two pages. Take the time to read it properly.” During our study of “The Eve of St. Agnes”, Mr. Moore insisted that we find the shade of a tree away from the madding crowd to “contemplate our sins and listen to the poem”.

In the quiet shade of the tree, most of us listened to the poems and heard Mr. Moore’s booming performative voice—a voice he describes as a “beautiful Lowcountry baritone,” which you might imagine of some sonic lovechild of Charlton Heston and Senator Fritz Hollings.

The voice of poetry is an essential aspect of the art for Mr. Moore.

Thinking back to his favorite teacher, Professor Jack Ashley at USC, he fixates upon his professor’s voice: “He had Paradise Lost more or less memorized, and would recite it in this great speaking voice.” (Another memorable aspect Mr. Moore noted was Professor Ashley’s penchant for the aesthetic: “He had a real skull in his house. A human skull.”)

And that is a quality that Mr. Moore has shared with his students, for many of my classmates joke that it is still Mr. Moore’s voice they hear when they read Eliot or Yeats, Wordsworth or Pope, whom he describes in class as “four feet and six inches of bone-crunching fury.”

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THE OTHER OTHER WES MOORE Mr. Moore’s son Ned brought home the terrifying puppet he’d made in Ms. Gibson’s sixth-grade art class, Mr. Moore knew genius when he saw it. Named after a blind saxophonist—who renamed himself Rahsaan when he heard the name in a dream—Rahsaan descends from his lofty perch to oversee Wordly Wise bees and coronate the champions. (Speaking of Wordly Wise, George Slotin remembers a particularly rough vocabulary quiz; surveying the looks of despair, Mr. Moore told his class: “If each of you gets a one-hundred, I will teach you how to fly!”)

It was Mr. Moore, after all, who helped make poetry so vivid. In his class, Keats’ nightingale comes to life and swoops around the room—in the form of a balding surfer from Folly Beach flapping his arms and screaming, “My tree! My tree! Hot DNA! Hot DNA!” And it was Mr. Moore who intoned his adaptations of famous verse, like “Horton the Insurance Actuary Hears a Who” and gave South Carolina’s own Pee Wee Gaskins his rightful place in the poetic constellation through his reworked rendition of “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”: Whose corpse this is I ought to know Cuz I’m the one what killed it so.

I hope no one come ‘round here To watch me in the lake it throw.

My common law wife must think it queer I ain’t been home in over a year; Them chains sure make a body sink fast, But this here good feeling don’t never last.

“What muse could have inspired such verse?” you might ask. Well, it was Gaskins hisself, who once picked up a teenaged Mr. Moore who was hitchhiking to the beach.

Mr. Moore is a witch doctor. He takes the lifeless and animates it; poems, plays, and novels come alive with sizzling excitement.

Students enter his classroom looking spent like an old spark plug and emerge refreshed. Memories of his class are impossible to separate from memories of his classroom, the place of that magic. Decorated carefully and in accordance to Feng shui, the classroom has nearly taken on a life of its own over the years. The decorations—windup nuns who spit sparks and swing rulers, timelines of geologic progression and chordate evolution, Kongo face masks, an old Wofford trustee chair, and “signed first-editions” of Plato, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Faulkner—have become as much a part of his teaching as the books themselves. His fake art, Photoshop creations like “Mr. Moore in Le Café de Nuit” and “The Scream,” covers the walls, and each piece has some connection to literature. Collages, for instance, are the way that Mr. Moore visualizes the way that World War I destroyed the Victorian and Edwardian world and led to Modernism: ancient women gathering true scattered, shattered pieces in vacant lots. On top of a bookshelf, Rahsaan the papiermâché deity has a mythic genesis and an even a cult following. When

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Over the years, Mr. Moore has taught generations of students from seventh to twelfth grade. Of that panorama, he most enjoys teaching English 8, English 10, and AP Literature because they provide such an interesting cross-section of the student body. He has a different persona for each group. Entering a classroom full of eighth graders, for instance, he informs them that he is an alien, and that his home is on the planet Eulipia in a galaxy far, far away. His mission? “It’s a model of McCarthyism,” he explains, “but I tell them that I am here to infiltrate the earth because humans are so stupid that they build golf courses in deserts - even though water is a finite resource. I am here to indoctrinate them into an awareness of the world around them—a kind of Buddhist awareness.”

The mandala in his classroom, like Rahsaan, acts as more than a decoration. The first lesson each year in each of his classes is one about expectations, about how to interact with the texts in front of us and the people beside us. The Bodhisattva Ideal, enlightenment through self-awareness and awareness of others, forms the bedrock of class discussions: in an atmosphere of openness, students feel unabashed at participating in conversations or interpreting difficult texts. (It is a red flag worth noting, then, when Mr. Moore announces that he’s not in a Buddhist state of mind. “Class, I’m in a Protestant mood this morning” rings out like a tornado siren, and students know to be like little Puritans and sit up straight.) Mr. Moore’s insistence upon mindfulness fosters a camaraderie around learning not just about books or poems, but about yourself and others.

For many of his students, Mr. Moore’s class is a clean, well-lighted place. School can feel brutal and unforgiving to any student, let alone those who travel to the beat of a different drum or who have not yet found their footing amid the complex social terrain. That world of worry seems to dissipate in Mr. Moore’s classroom. Megan Hickey remembers how much it meant that, at an age when eccentrics and oddballs might otherwise feel crowded out, Mr. Moore praised individuality: “He gave me so much confidence my sophomore year.”

His ability to conjure up an environment and a sense of comforting inclusion is a rare gift, indeed.

Mr. Moore delivers his speech for the English Award at Commencement in his signature white suit and fedora.

Long before she was in his English classes, Blakely Blackford was in Mr. Moore’s seventh grade study hall. “I passed a note to a friend (per usual),” she writes, “and Wesley caught me.” As Mr. Moore was walking her to Coach Clark’s office, Blakely began to sob: the mere thought of a detention mortified her! Of that moment, Blakely most vividly recalls Mr. Moore’s facial expression, how his annoyance mitigated by and beginning to give way to calmness and sympathy. His sons were in Lower School then, Blakely explains, and her tears must have struck a chord: “Walk around the school yard twice,” he told her, “and act like you received a detention when you come back to the room.”

The Bodhisattva Ideal informs more than just Mr. Moore’s classroom policy. It plays a large part in his own literary philosophy. “Literature,” he explains, “provides a wealth of vicarious experience—so much more than what you encounter in your ordinary and humdrum life.”

Books, in other words, broaden and magnify our own empathy. In Hamlet, Mr. Moore’s favorite play, the title prince agonizes over a performance, marveling at how the actor could conjure such emotion about a tragedy that was not really his own: “What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, that he should weep for her?” The actor, like Mr. Moore, recognizes the humanity in even the fictional. Though books transport us sometimes to where we want not to go, they leave us richer and nobler for having gone; Joan Didion claims that novels are “about things you’re afraid you can’t deal with.” Mr. Moore points to the works of Thomas Hardy as an extreme extension of vicarious experience—the seemingly bottomless misery of the title character in The Mayor of Casterbridge, for instance—and remembers reading Dickens as a child: “I read Great Expectations as an eighth grader. When Magwitch died, I remember lying on my little bunk bed weeping—that sort of sardonic sounding sobbing.”

The value of literature lies partly in its ability to do just that.

His power to take literature personally does not stop at the classroom door, and a student’s access to it does not end with commencement.

You Do Hoodoo?, Mr. Moore’s blog, holds a collection of his thoughts on subjects ranging from etymology and linguistics to his rewriting of Dante’s Inferno. Literature informs his life and the way that he sees, and his ability to connect what he has read to the world around us shines through each post—and brings new life and new interpretations to old works. Upon reading about President Trump’s Muslim refugee ban, for example, Mr. Moore’s thoughts turned to one of Flannery O’Connor’s short stories: “The Displaced Person”, about a Polish refugee who seeks to find a new home after World War II in the backwoods of Georgia. But by the end of the story, he writes, “xenophobia and bigotry triumph over charity as the displaced person—the one good man to be found in that collection called A Good Man is Hard to Find’—is done away with.”

Mr. Tom Evatt, Dr. Bill Slayton, Mrs. Erica Lesesne, Mr. Moore This internalization of the external forges a personal connection with art, an act that has much in common with the Romantic poets he has taught to so many students. In addition to the Romanticism essentials —what anyone wishing to become a member of the Sand Dollar Social Club needs to know, such as the correct way to pronounce Lord Byron’s “Don Juan” (“dawn joo-an”) or how Wordsworth defined poetry in the preface to Lyrical Ballads —he taught us about emotional honesty. He taught us that the betrayal of our hearts was “a sordid boon,” and that our emotions were complex and even contradictory: as Shelley comes to understand from the skylark, “our sincerest laughter / with some pain is fraught.”

Since the death of Judy Birdsong, who was always a shimmering presence in class discussions and about whom he spoke so lovingly, Mr. Moore has turned to reading and writing for comfort. His late friend Tommy Evatt, an English teacher at Porter-Gaud, described great artists as “no strangers to heartache,” and it is from poets and authors such as Emily Dickinson and Flannery O’Connor, those who plunge to the depths of human feeling, that Mr. Moore seeks wisdom.

Their incantatory power, as he teaches his students, transcends both life and death: “So word by word, and line by line, / The dead man touch’d me from the past, / And all at once it seem’d at last / The living soul was flash’d on mine.”

The poetic connection between the skylark and Judy Birdsong is no accident, for birdsong, as the poet realizes, is the music of love and of life: “If we were things born/ Not to shed a tear,/ I know not how thy joy we ever should come near.”

Mr. Moore taught me how to listen to it, and for that I am eternally grateful.

All good literature is moral, he says: “It reflects humanity and life the way they are. Good people are ultimately better off spiritually than bad people.” He emphasizes the spiritual aspect—pointing to Desdemona and Iago as examples of transcending the mere physical— and reiterates that all good literature teaches us something about the way that the world works. After pausing for a moment, Mr. Moore expands his original claim: it is the function of not just literature specifically, but of art in general. Like a cultural anthropologist, Mr. Moore likes to think of civilizations as supported by music, painting, and literature—each of which supplements and reinforces the others.

An example of Mr. Moore’s Photoshop Art, portraying a younger version of himself as Charlie Chaplin.

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‘19

LARS RUNQUIST

8

LAOS: A DEEPER LOOK The Vietnam War, decades later, is considered one of the most impactful conflicts in human history. While many know the impacts the war had on the United States and Vietnam, many are unaware of the effects the conflict had on neighboring countries such as Laos. As a result of the surplus of unexploded ordnance the United States possessed, the military was ordered to drop the explosives over the rural regions of Laos: an area now referred to as the “Ho Chi Minh Trail”. Along the Ho Chi Minh trail, millions of unexploded ordnance lay beneath the soil, creating an extreme hazard for the citizens of rural communities. Since the end of the Vietnam War, over 20,000 people have been injured or killed by the explosives the United States left behind. Despite the efforts Laos has put into cleaning and containing the hazardous explosives, the threat of encountering a cluster bomb remains a grave reality to the farmers of Laos, whose job requires tampering with soil, allowing for the possibility of detonation. During my time in Laos, the effects of these unexploded ordnances were clear: it wasn’t uncommon to see men, women, and even young children with missing or disfigured limbs. Discussing the overall opinions and thoughts of the Ho Chi Minh trail with the locals, I discovered many Lao citizens still resent the United States for the damage we imposed on rural communities.

While traveling to the villages that exist alongside the country’s vast rice fields, I was cautiously optimistic about the service the villagers were receiving from American students: is service being done through 3rd party business meaningful, or is the service merely self congratulatory? I spent the first two weeks of my journey pouring concrete for the local school’s foundation, which was a back breaking task but fairly rewarding in terms

of the advancing progress I could witness. Day by day, I slowly witnessed the foundations of the school become modernistic and sanitary, delighting the nearby kids of the neighboring village. Another key aspect of my travels to Laos was the cultural practices surrounding southeast Asian Buddhism and Animism. As I expected, many of the traditions and social norms in Laos were based around courtesies taught by Buddhism. Within every major Lao city I visited, there was a Buddhist temple about every ten blocks; However, I did see a couple Christian churches. Throughout my studies of Buddhism, I learned that many followers believe in three main virtues: patience, thoughtfulness, and tolerance. The followers of Buddhism judge no one but themselves and respect everyone regardless of their character.

Overall, I had a very emotionally conflicting opinion about my time in Laos. While I had learned a lot about the culture, I was disappointed with the aid and political discourse within the country. The people, while optimistic and cheerful, were often subjected to poor working conditions caused by their cripplingly stale economy. The children of Laos were fairly malnourished, and their parents were often slow-moving due to the stress their body had endured during their time working in the rice fields.

Many citizens were disfigured from the bombs left behind by the United States, often disabling them from working. As a result of the agricultural-based economy, disabilities often banish one to a life of poverty and starvation, since most jobs require strenuous labor. Reflecting on the experience in totality, the juxtaposition between the hardships of my personal life and the lives of the Lao people allowed me to gain a new perspective for personal growth: life is indeed too short to be selfish.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION ALUMNI LEADERS AMID THE INDEPENDENT EDUCATION LANDSCAPE

At one point in your life — if you are lucky — an inspiring educator will change the way you see the world. All of the educators in this article have done that, in various ways, for students, teachers, and lifelong learners.

They’ve anticipated the challenges and opportunities of today’s educational landscape, developed progressive initiatives for their students, and inspired other teachers to give the best of themselves in the classroom.

While the influencers in this article cover lots of educational ground, they also share one fundamental characteristic — they are Porter-Gaud alumni. And though their pathways are uncommon, they all share the drive to inspire curiosity and a love of learning in their students and teachers.

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MARCIA SMOAK YOCHUM ’91

Dean of Students and Science Faculty, Virginia Episcopal School

“Embracing failures along my life’s journey has greatly influenced me in my Dean of Student role. It is a constant motivator to push myself and empower my students.”

Porter-Gaud was also where Marcia discovered a passion for physics inspired by teacher Ray Miller as well as an appreciation for art.

“If I hadn’t tried art in high school, I wouldn’t have the appreciation I have now. Plus, so many of my classmates, now good friends and artists, were very creative. Their creativity had a great influence on me. I chose to explore creativity in my science mind.”

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia Episcopal School (VES) is a small, globally diverse educational community dedicated to excellence in student engagement, innovative learning, and faculty support and growth.

The vision for every VES graduate is to be self-aware, curious, innovative thinkers and producers. They are mindful leaders who serve with courage and compassion, are focused on community, and ready to continue their personal growth in a dynamic world. And all the while they are navigating the trials and tribulations of being a teenager.

This is where Marcia Yochum steps in. Marcia is VES’s dean of students. In her fourth year in the role, she is continuously

After college, Marcia worked at National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) engineering lasers for altimetry and later for Lucent Technologies.

When her husband was offered a position at Sweet Briar College, Marcia made the shift into teaching. She joined the physics department at VES and started the school’s first robotics team.

“I missed the hands-on engineering,” says Marcia. “It is such an opportunity for students to see their creativity at work and to see themselves as creators.”

Marcia believes the same holds true when working with teenagers.

“Expressing creativity and problem-solving carries through every day for me. You have to be creative because the world is always changing and there is almost always something new coming up to address ­— that is what makes education dynamic and exciting.” advising, mentoring, and empowering her students to seek out opportunities for growth.

And sometimes, she says, opportunities come in the form of mistakes.

“When students make mistakes in high school, they grow as individuals. It’s hard for them to see it. As Dean, I continually reinforce that I believe in them, and it is not a judgment of character, but a potential for growth.”

Marcia believes the expectation for perfection has grown in today’s society and is a significant source of stress for our kids today. It’s why Marcia feels her work is more important than ever.

“I believe in healthy risk-taking, in building avenues of selfexpression, and I encourage my students to try lots of things.”

One of Marcia’s very own experiences with failure came in the 8th grade when she arrived at Porter-Gaud. She struggled in McKeester Stewart’s Latin class, and it was the first time she had ever failed. But instead of accepting defeat, she embraced it.

Marcia’s collaborative leadership style creates an environment where students and faculty feel empowered to “care to confront” and to live into expectations.

“My job is to create and reinforce the structure and to empower and inspire faculty and students to live into mission and values.

Yes, there are boundaries and enforcing rules and policies, but I am always developing, encouraging, and involving. I love what I do.”

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CONTINUING EDUCATION ERIK KREUTNER ’84

Head of School, Mason Preparatory School Erik Kreutner took a unique pathway to become the Head of School at Mason Preparatory School in Charleston, S.C. Erik attended Porter-Gaud for high school and was president of the science club and a member of the junior engineering team (JETS). His love of science was ignited by Porter’s great science teachers like Bill Young and Bill Gwynette.

Today the head’s job at independent schools across the country has become more complicated, with growing demands of time and talent. Pressures and challenges come in all forms from trustees, parents, competition for first-rate teachers and students, and maintaining the school’s sound financial health.

For Erik, he developed an administrative structure that lets him efficiently function as “planner in chief,” devising productive strategies to address complex challenges.

In his tenure as head, Erik has made great strides working with his board of trustees to establish Mason Prep’s Kindergarten program, which required the construction of new learning space for their youngest learners, starting a Foundation to ensure greater financial sustainability, as well as expanding financial aid and diversity.

Another influence to Erik’s success at the helm is he has experienced Mason Prep as a student, a parent, a teacher, an administrator, and head of school - each of these perspectives has given him even more appreciation of how well Mason Prep fulfills its mission.

“Mason Prep’s emphasis on respect, integrity, and personal responsibility creates a unique atmosphere within our school that permeates everything that we do. This atmosphere allows each child to thrive while working toward his or her unique potential rather than toward externally imposed expectations.”

After graduating from Porter-Gaud in 1984, Erik set out to pursue pre-med at Duke University and later attended the Medical University of South Carolina. But during a medical rotation at the county hospital, Erik had a change of heart about medicine.

When a position opened up at Mason Prep for a middle school science teacher, Erik jumped at the chance to return to his alma mater to teach and coach. By 2000, Mason Prep’s Board of Trustees encouraged him to become the school’s technology director.

For Erik, Mason Prep’s size (serving students K-8th grades) also leads to more personalized interactions and relationships with students.

“We don’t have division heads, so when we have a field trip or a class trip schedule, I go. I look forward to the 7th grade trip to North Carolina and the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. each year. I get to know our students and our wonderful families.”

But Erik is most proud of his teachers.

“That’s the importance of good teachers. I realized this from my time at Porter-Gaud and other schools. I am very proud of the teachers we have hired in my time here, and I hear it a lot from my parents and alumni just how exceptional our teachers are.”

Technology was exploding at the time. Laptops were coming into the classroom, schools were expanding their networks, and schools’ processes were becoming more dependent on technology. It was an exciting time in technology,” says Erik.

While technology director, Erik started work on his master’s degree in education administration in 2010 and later became the interim head. He was made head of school in 2012 and received SCISA’s Rookie of the Year award in 2013.

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He says Mason Prep thrives on the sound traditional school model, but he is always encouraging his teachers to think progressively. Over the years, he has seen the results in the classrooms in the STEM areas, cross-discipline learning, and implementing design process thinking.

“That’s the importance of good teachers. I realized this from my time at PG and at other schools. I am very proud of the teachers we have hired in my time here, and I hear it from my parents and alumni all the time just how exceptional our teachers are.”

FRANCI PEARLMAN BELL ’94 Head of School, Cooper School

When a friend called her about applying to a new school opening in West Ashley, Franci Bell was skeptical. She had just left practicing law with her father to return to the educational field.

“When I started, we had 13 kids, and now we have over 100. It is gratifying to be a part of the journey of our school. We are like the little engine that could.”

The Cooper School provides its students with exposure to the range of human endeavor - from the arts, to literature, math, and the humanities. A deep respect for children as innovators and explorers, curious scientists and mathematicians, imaginative authors and artists, and engaged change makers who have valuable ideas and theories that they express with purpose, meaning, and joy is what drives learning in their classrooms.

Franci says her goal and the goal of her teachers is to cultivate kids who are curious, love learning, and who will grow into adults who are supportive and confident.

“We are building strong, independent young people, who know how to navigate the world in kind, intentional, compassionate ways. Education is the journey of a lifetime - it is not just school. “ Franci admits she did not see herself in education when she attended Porter-Gaud for all 12 years, but the strong relationships she formed with her teachers provided positive influences.

“I want to be as instrumental in each child’s life as my teachers and other adults in my life were for me. I hope that we can provide that for our children here at the Cooper School - strong, creative, and influential adult figures.”

Franci and The Cooper School founder, Kate Shorter, forged an immediate connection over their educational backgrounds, and Franci started as a first-grade teacher. She went on to hold almost every position at The Cooper School - from a teacher (2nd grade, 4th/5th grade combined) to admissions to assistant director.

Throughout her tenure, she learned the inner workings of the school.

“One of the best incubators for leadership is a small school because you must learn everything, do everything, and you have to be the boots on the ground everywhere,” says Franci.

Franci leads The Cooper School the same way her staff leads in the classroom - as lead learners and guides.

“I share when I make a mistake. I am very comfortable saying I don’t know how to do something. I am also very hands-on and collaborative. Everything we do here is intentional - where the children eat lunch to where plants are located - it is all mapped out as a team. There is an enormous amount of support and oversight here. I am firm about living our mission, and I ask that my staff do it this way, but I will always help them get from point A to point B.”

“We want to be at the forefront of best practices and research in elementary education. I believe our project-based approach is how children learn best throughout their lifetimes.”

“How I got here wasn’t a direct path. My path has varied - from small business to even law school - and yet, all of these experiences taught me how to think a certain way and to reframe things in a particular way. It has been an interesting and invaluable road to where I am today.”

Now in her second year at the helm of The Cooper School, Franci is proud of the school’s growth.

As the educational landscape shifts in Charleston and offers parents more public and charter school options, Franci believes independent school still provide more choice and opportunity for students, and she hopes more independent schools will join the market.

“Our traditional city is changing, and more and more people from around the country are moving here. The Cooper School has defined a niche that clearly now exists. All of us in independent schools must continue to provide families with a better definition of who we are, what we intend to do, and our role in their children’s lives.”

CONTINUING EDUCATION JABARI SPRUILL ’96

Middle School Head, Trinity Episcopal School Jabari Spruill and his mother, Dr. Ida Spruill, moved to Charleston so she could pursue her nursing career at the Medical University of South Carolina. Over the years, Jabari attended several public schools downtown, and then transferred to Porter-Gaud in the eighth grade.

“My experience at Porter was rewarding and challenging. As the only black student in my class, and one of only four or five black students in Upper School, I struggled initially, and it was lonely at times,” says Jabari.

But when basketball season started, Jabari finally got his first taste of community. In addition to making life-long friends like teammate David Draisin, Jabari developed strong relationships with his coaches.

“Randy Clark and John Pearson had a great influence on my life.

They were huge figures for me.”

After graduation, Jabari thrived at Oberlin College majoring in African-American studies and education. In 2001, Jabari returned to Charleston and ran into his mentors - Randy Clark, now MS principal, and Coach Pearson. They talked Jabari into joining the PG coaching staff and teaching 6th grade South Carolina and U.S. history.

“Bill Slayton, Allyn Bruce, Vaughn Mazursky, Tom Horton, and Sue Chanson were amazing teachers in my life. It was a powerful experience to be a student and then to be a colleague.”

After several years of teaching, Coach Clark encouraged Jabari to pursue leadership. Jabari took a leap of faith and moved to Iowa City to receive his master’s degree in education administration from the University of Iowa.

spirituality through the reason, acceptance, and service found within the Episcopal tradition. Trinity embraces the richness of diversity by encouraging students to be socially-conscious and civically-engaged ambassadors of grace, honor, and respect in the world. Trinity Episcopal School is the only K-8 independent school in Uptown Charlotte.

“As Head of the Middle School, I know every single one of these kids and their families. This is my sixth year at Trinity, and the kids that started here my first year are now about to enter middle school.”

Because Trinity is such a small community, Jabari is always in classrooms, at sporting events, joining teachers’ meetings, and continuously seeking feedback and input from his students, teachers, and parents.

“The decisions we make as leaders are a big deal. It is essential to be on the pulse of the community, listening, and communicating these ideas and decisions proactively.”

“My greatest strength as a leader is building relationships. I understand the power of building empathy and understanding the life experiences of others, which is a tenet of every great Episcopal school. I believe in the mission of Trinity. It is similar to the mission of PG, and it has meshed who I am as a person and an educator.”

“When I was finishing up, PG Board of Trustees Chair Dwayne Green was thinking about expanding diversity efforts at Porter, and I was offered the position of director of community outreach and associate director of admissions.”

Jabari loved the role and the work. Then Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte, NC called.

Trinity was restructuring the organization and administration of its lower and middle schools. In 2012, Jabari was hired as the first head of the Middle School.

As part of its Episcopal school identity, Trinity (K-8) nurtures

14

One example is Jabari’s introduction of a student-led honor council in the Middle School.

“It was something I remember from PG and it stayed with me.

Our students take charge of it. They discuss issues of honor code and integrity, then I get involved in discipline issues.

There is greater buy-in from the students. It has been a great pride point for the school.”

Jabari has also been instrumental in the school’s diversity initiatives, earning Trinity a reputation in Charlotte for being one of most diverse and inclusive school communities.

PAUL OBERMAN ’84

Head of School, Robert M. Beren Academy After graduating from Porter-Gaud and Drew University in New Jersey with an aptitude for math and computer science, Paul Oberman set out in search of a lucrative career he would love.

A year into life as a software consultant, Paul began sending resumes to boarding schools across the country. Teaching would be where Paul would find his niche.

“I fell into a job at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut teaching computer applications and programming classes. I used a lot of my intro to computers class from PG with my Choate students, including my final hangman project,” says Paul.

Paul enjoyed the boarding school environment. It provided an opportunity to be a coach, a teacher, a mentor, and an older brother figure. In a boarding school, he says, you see the best in kids in one form or one role or another.

my faith, celebrate the Jewish holidays, to pray in school, and expand my leadership experience. “

In 1994, Paul left the New England prep school for Atlanta and its growing Jewish community. He landed a position teaching at Marist, a Catholic high school, ironically. At Marist, Paul taught math and computer science before pursuing his Ph.D. at Emory University in educational psychology.

In June 2017, Paul accepted the head of school position at Robert M. Beren Academy in Houston, Texas. Robert M. Beren Academy is a Modern Orthodox day school that adheres to standards of academic excellence and exemplary moral conduct as it prepares its students to become self-confident, compassionate, practicing Jews as well as committed citizens and life-long learners.

Paul says he had every intention of returning to teaching when he received a curious offer from one of his old Choate friends, who was now running the Upper School at Pace Academy in Atlanta: Would he be interested in running a middle school? Paul could not resist the challenge.

At Beren, Paul initiated faculty-led committees focused on such topics as the daily schedule and professional development. To date, he has put more than 12 committees together to ensure faculty and students’ voices influence school decision-making and vision.

“Building a middle school program is a fascinating process. It’s tough, and I made my beginners’ mistakes at Pace Academy thinking I could do it all myself, but I found that approach was unappreciated and even resented by the teachers. “

While his first moves at Beren focused on new internal infrastructures, an external force would inaugurate his first three months as head. Hurricane Harvey.

“I have always felt I accidentally fell into the administrator role. I never intended to be a headmaster, but I learned very quickly how important a collaborative leadership style and empowering students and faculty is to your school’s success.”

Ever since Pace, Paul has committed himself to making sure his teachers and students play a role in how a school runs.

After a short teaching job in California, Paul returned to Atlanta to get married and served as assistant junior high coordinator at the Paideia School, before serving as principal and head of school at the Yeshiva School, and principal at Atlanta Jewish Academy.

“Lately, I am enjoying the Jewish day school environment,” says Paul. “It is a wonderful personal opportunity for me to honor

Dumping more than 30” rain over a three-day period in Houston, Hurricane Harvey’s flood damage impacted more than a quarter of Beren’s families. Families and faculty members are still displaced today.

“It’s been a scary time here, but the amazing thing was seeing the groups of students respond and partner with our adults in rescuing people or unloading supply trucks coming to Houston from across the country. I saw the best in everyone in our school community. I guess you could say it’s the silver lining of this tragedy. It gives me hope for what we can accomplish together in the future.”

15

NOAH STEYER

‘18

RICHARDS AWARD WINNER, SERVICE LEADER

When it was announced he was the 2017 recipient of the James T. Richards Memorial Award, senior Noah Steyer set out to go somewhere no one from Porter-Gaud had ever been before.

“I wanted to go somewhere exotic, the road less taken.

I wanted to use this opportunity to do something very different,” says Noah.

Noah knew he’d made the right choice the moment he stepped onto the jetway in Kotoka, Ghana.

“I will never forget the heat for the first time, and the intensity of the sun. It was hot, humid, and beauty was everywhere.”

Along with seven other high school students from across the country, Noah traveled to the town of Dtiza, a rural farm community of 10,000 in Ghana, Africa, for a 14-day endeavor with Dream Big Ghana and Africa Home Lodge to build ecocomposting toilets.

Yes, Noah had traveled 4,968 miles to build toilets in the hot, African sun.

16

One of the main problems facing communities in Ghana and most communities all around Africa is the lack of toilets. The eco-composting toilets improve poor levels of health in the community, drive down the spread of cholera, and generate a high-quality fertilizer that helps to enhance community crop yields.

The trip this summer combined Noah’s interests in public health, international community, and a deep-seeded drive for helping people. Noah and his teammates spent mornings building eco-composting toilets and afternoons on cultural immersion trips.

Toilet construction consisted of stacking cement blocks, digging trenches for the compost chambers, plastering, and painting the cement structures. Over the two weeks, the team built two toilets - each toilet supporting 45-90 people in the village instead of thousands.

“The work was grueling and exhausting,” says Noah. “But every time we finished a structure, the reactions of the Dtiza community members were unforgettable.”

In the afternoons, the team participated in cultural immersion adventures including visiting schools, meeting the local village chief, talking with the nurses who run a local health clinic, pulling in the nets with local fisherman, touring old slave forts on the coast, and even witnessing a traditional African funeral.

One of Noah’s indelible memories was an afternoon at a local private school. Noah was struck by the conditions. The chalkboards were falling apart and there were no walls - it was a shack.

“We spent the afternoon teaching the kids games, and afterwards we gave them a soccer ball. They were ecstatic. It was really poignant to see the power of one soccer ball.”

Pulling in the nets with local fisherman early one morning was another highlight.

“We barely caught anything, and it was tough to see their disappointment. For me, I was also struck by the realization that 70-100 people were relying on this one net for food - that moment stays with me today. “ “The entire trip was eye-opening and humbling,” says Noah.

“It taught me about what I really need in life. For the entire trip we didn’t use lights, we didn’t have flushing toilets, and we took bucket showers. You really see what you need to be

comfortable. I was still comfortable without all the luxuries - it was invaluable to me.”

While Ghana will always be the highlight of service experiences for Noah, he would have never known his true potential in service if he hadn’t come to Porter-Gaud in the ninth grade.

When Noah arrived at PG, he dove head first into PG swimming, as well as the Honor Council, but he feels it’s his service opportunities that have defined his PG experience. Community Service Director Ms. Gretchen Tate encouraged him to volunteer with Meeting Street Academy as a ninth grader, and Noah was hooked. He quickly became a leader of the MSA program, and now serves as one of five senior leaders of PG’s Community Service program.

“Ms. Tate has had a tremendous impact on my life. She introduced me to service at PG, encouraged me to get involved with MSA, and now, she is constantly advising me on how to be a better service leader. She is just amazing.”

Looking ahead, Noah hopes to pursue medicine or meteorology to continue to answer the call to serve. Whether he is warning people before a storm or helping people to become healthier, Noah Steyer will leave his world a better place.

Photos by Noah Steyer ‘18

17

SAYING “THANK YOU” Alumni Stephen ‘02 and Preston Wendell ‘97 announced a $100,000 gift to the reNEWal Campaign in honor of Upper School English faculty member, Dr. Bill Slayton.

Preston started at Porter-Gaud in the ninth grade and recalled Dr. Slayton’s encouragement and support through the difficult transition to a new school.

At a surprise dedication ceremony attended by students, faculty, and staff before holiday break, Stephen and Preston named the second floor collaborative learning space in the new Upper School for Dr. Slayton.

“Porter-Gaud is an amazing place to learn and that is because of teachers like Dr. Slayton and Mr. Wesley Moore,” shared Preston.

“The impact the Porter-Gaud teachers and community had on my life is invaluable and continues to pay dividends even today.”

“Dr. Slayton is a teacher who creatively, intelligently, and uniquely connects with his students in whatever circumstances or setting,” said Stephen. “We were lucky to have him as a teacher, and we will never forget the positive impact he has had on our education and our lives.”

Today, Preston is an emergency physician with TeamHealth and serves as the medical director for Trident Health and Colleton emergency departments. He received his B.S. from Wake Forest University and attended medical school at MUSC. Preston currently lives in Mt Pleasant, S.C. and sits on the Porter-Gaud Board of Trustees.

Stephen Wendell ‘02 is a principal with Mountain Shore Properties and serves as Chief Operating Officer and General Council for Reality Sports Online in New York. He received his B.A. from Princeton University, where he also played baseball, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia’s School of Law. Stephen had Dr. Slayton for his freshman and senior years at Porter-Gaud.

“This gift is for Dr. Slayton and all the teachers here,” continued Stephen. “You cannot comprehend just how much they prepare you for college and for life in writing and in reading comprehension. Thank you for all you have done for me and for our family.”

18

“We are grateful for Stephen and Preston Wendell’s foresight and vision in making this gift. It embodies our mission and the lifelong impact our teachers make in their students’ lives,” said Head of School, D. DuBose Egleston, Jr. The Wendell’s gift ignited a surge in donor giving during the final weeks of December to Porter-Gaud’s reNEWal Campaign.

The Foundation received more than $500,000 dollars in new gifts and pledges, plus $305,000 in pledge payments. Seven of the 10 reNEWal donors are current parents, and three are PorterGaud alumni. The E.E. Ford Foundation also made a substantial gift to the school in December.

MEET DR. TOM WESTERMAN Upper School History Faculty Member and School Archivist

Be Kind. Be Curious. Work Hard. This is the motto Dr. Tom Westerman asks of his students and of himself as a teacher and colleague. In his fourth year at Porter-Gaud, Tom currently teaches 11th Grade United States History and a History of U.S. Foreign Policy senior elective.

Through primary source-centered investigation, interactive lessons, and wide ranging discussions, Tom encourages his students to use their imagination and take risks when encountering new or difficult information to help them better develop their knowledge about the past. By presenting to students many different voices from the past, Tom works to build their ability to empathize with people of different backgrounds and perspectives in both the historical record and in today's diverse and changing society and culture. A favorite exercise of students year after year is the Cuban Missile Crisis simulation, in which students take on the roles of President Kennedy and members of his Executive Committee on the brink of nuclear war.

"As teachers, I think every one of us in the history department is interested in helping our students investigate the past, imagine life from a variety of perspectives, empathize with those who came before them, and respect those who may see the past or the present differently.

We encourage lively, respectful debate and dialogue about things that happened long ago or in the more recent past, and when we can, we try to bring history to life with hands-on learning, archival materials, debates, and simulations."

Outside the classroom, Tom is the school's archivist, helps advise the Model UN Club, and is an academic advisor to 13 students. His is also cocultural liaison with Jen Rader for the new PG Engage initiative. Starting this year with the class of 2021, PG Engage is a four-year graduation requirement that provides opportunities for students to attend events within Charleston to earn cultural credits in each of three categories: culture, speakers, and citizenship. Students are required to attend three events per year.

As the school archivist, Tom has been instrumental in documenting the major milestones of Porter-Gaud's 150th anniversary, constructing the expansive archives showcase in the lobby of the Upper School, as well as organizing the new archives room of the Porter Military Academy, now located off the lobby in the Middle School.

Prior to teaching at Porter-Gaud, Tom taught history at Brooklyn College, the University of Connecticut, and at Adelphi University. In 2010, he served as a fellow with the Belgian American Education Foundation in Belgium, where he completed an eight-month archives research project at the Royal Archives in Brussels. Tom holds his Ph.D. in U.S. history and a master's degree in history from the University of Connecticut. He attended the Honors College at Adelphi University where he earned his BA in history.

FOUNDER’S DAY October 23, 2017

20

150TH CONVOCATION August 25, 2017

CYCLONETOWN August 25, 2017

21

Pieces of

History

School Spirit Porter Military Academy had a full athletic program which included football, basketball, baseball, track, swimming, and tennis.

Over the years, its farm-boy boarding students consistently won football championships year after year. At the time of the merger in 1964, the school adopted the colors of garnet and grey.

Uniform / sword Today’s dress code is a far cry from the original all-wool uniforms worn by the cadets. These parade uniforms are preserved and on display in both our Archives Room and Upper School Building. The swords would accompany the cadets on parade, as they practiced their lessons from their Military Science classes.

Prussian Helmet From one cadet school to another. The legend goes that the family of a former head of school was traveling through Prussia in the 1880s when a Prussian cadet gave them this cap to bring back home. Likely from the reign of Kaiser Frederick III, the predecessor of Kaiser Wilhelm II who reigned during World War I. This helmet is a favorite among World History teachers to liven up discussions of Europe’s march to war.

Porter’s Cross A chalice, paten, and cruet used in St. Timothy's Chapel on the old campus are still used in the weekly Eucharist service.

The gold cross held aloft at the head of the procession at our Christmas service of Lessons and Carols was carried by crucifers in the nineteenth century. The school nurtures and encourages the faith of its students. Each division has regular chapel services, and older students, as well as faculty, may attend a early-morning weekly Eucharist, reminiscent of how the school day began during in Dr. Porter’s time.

Organ Pipe / Hurricane Hugo On September 21, 1989, the old St. Timothy’s Chapel was severely damaged by Hurricane Hugo; the roof collapsed, the organ was ruined beyond repair and the stained glass windows crashed into the streets. The day after the hurricane passed, Dr. James B. Edwards, then president of MUSC, decided to save the chapel, rather than clear the site. Dr. Edwards gave Porter-Gaud School one of the pipes from the historic organ in memory of Dr. Anthony Toomer Porter.

Desk Desk used by students at the Watt School in the 1940s. The Watt School (grades 1-3) was founded in 1931. Classes took place first in Mrs. Watt’s dining room, and later in a small schoolhouse in her backyard at 170 Broad Street.

Check for $125 Today, Porter-Gaud is the combination of four different schools: Porter Military Academy, Gaud School for Boys, Watt School, and The O’Quinn Schools of Porter-Gaud on James Island and Mount Pleasant. In 1948, William Steen Gaud sold Gaud School for a sum of $125.86. Since then, The Gaud School’s humanities curriculum was combined with the science and engineering capacity of PMA, creating a rigorous curriculum with the creation of Porter-Gaud School in 1964.

“The Rev” Statue Back in the 1990's, Tom Ilderton '57, a charter member of the Porter Military Academy Alumni Association, had the idea to create a bust of Dr. Porter. The intent was to keep PMA's history and founder ever-present on campus. The idea of a bust became a full statue, which triggered almost two decades worth of fundraising and planning.

The PMAAA commissioned a statue of Dr. Porter by Charleston sculptor, Scott Penegar, and designed a 6,000 pound pedestal engraved with the school's history. Over 20 years later, our campus is blessed to have this gift from the Porter Military Academy Alumni Association and PMA alumni, which represents the four schools that make up Porter-Gaud and honors our founder, Dr. Anthony Toomer Porter.

Led On! The Rev. Dr. Anthony Toomer Porter’s memoir. Published just four years before his death in 1902, the book covers his life, pursuits, and educational philosophy, between 1828 and 1898. Porter was born to a wealthy plantation family, left it behind to become an Episcopal priest, served as a chaplain during the Civil War, founded an orphanage for free blacks after the war, and founded the Holy Communion Church Institute, the forerunner of Porter Military Academy and today’s Porter-Gaud School. We have a number of First Editions in our new Archive Room on campus.

WATCH Magazine Launched in 1914, WATCH was the student literary magazine.

More than 100 years later, the publication features the best student work from around the campus and includes news stories, interviews, editorials, reflections, short stories, poems, and submissions from the visual arts. Available in both print and digital formats, the periodical is issued twice a year (one each semester) in a regular magazine format, and once a year as a literary journal, the WatchWords (published in mid-Spring) with winning entries from the school’s annual poetry and short fiction contest.

Lessons and Carols In 1968, Ben Hutto organized a boys’ glee club, which sang for the first time in what has become part of Porter-Gaud’s Christmas tradition, a service of Lessons and Carols modeled after the yearly service at King’s College, Cambridge.

A HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL January 31, 1828

Anthony Toomer Porter is born in Georgetown, S.C. - the son of a plantation owner, lawyer, and state legislator.

1854-55

Porter is appointed rector and later ordained a priest of the Church of the Holy Communion in Charleston, SC.

December 9, 1867

Porter opens the Orphan Home and School Association of the Church of the Holy Communion. First session includes 425 boys and 125 girls in day school. Monthly tuition is $.50 and/or farm produce and livestock.

1881-1882

Dr. Porter adds two swimming pools and a gymnasium. He starts the first football program in South Carolina.

December 19, 1879

March 30, 1902 Death of Dr. Porter

January 28, 1886

School’s name changed to The Porter Academy.

Gaud School for Boys is purchased from William Steen Gaud for $125.86.

1954

1908

U.S. Arsenal property transferred to Holy Communion Church Institute for $1.00 a year.

1948

Gaud School for Boys opened in downtown Charleston. The small boys school serves 4th8th grades and has a reputation for academic excellence to rival the New England preparatory schools.

1967-1968

Porter-Gaud integrated when Richard Holmes became the first African American student enrolled.

PMA faces financial distress and must temporarily eliminate the boarding department and high school and operates as grades 1-8.

October 1967

1959

Upper School choir begins under direction of Ben Hutto.

Chaplain Charles Furlow helps bring soccer to the Lowcountry.

Centennial celebrated.

Spring 1969

Fall 1976

Gwynette Auditorium, St. Timothy’s Chapel, and WATCH Tower dedicated.

The bell in the WATCH Tower is from Dr. Porter’s original campus. The bell was found in Summerville, SC, in a storage closet, and was returned to campus.

April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865 During the Civil War, Porter serves as chaplain of Washington Light Infantry.

Porter has a vision at his son’s grave to start a school for children left orphaned and unschooled by the Civil War.

January 8, 1880

Porter takes possession of the Arsenal property at 167 Ashley Avenue. Military drills begin including morning reveille and dress parades. Broad curriculum includes Greek to woodworking.

1891

Name unofficially changed to Porter Military Academy following the acquisition of arms and military equipment from the U.S. Government.

1900

Charles Colcock establishes the most advanced high school chemistry and physics program in Charleston at PMA.

1922

The Boll Weevil destroys cotton crops thus causing a drastic decline in the economy and a loss of many boarding students.

1931

Mrs. Anne Watt, opens the Watt School for boys and girls in 1st-3rd grades in a small schoolhouse on Broad Street in downtown Charleston.

William Washington retires.

Members of the Washington family have been a part of campus life since the birth of the school.

1961

PMA graduates its first class since 1954.

PMA merges with the Gaud School for Boys and the Watt School to form Porter-Gaud School; Berkeley Grimball is appointed Head of School.

Porter-Gaud becomes coeducational when 35 girls entered in the 1st through 3rd grades.

1975-1976

First girls admitted to Upper School; May 1976 first girls graduate. First school in SC to have open admission policy.

Cyclone volleyball team wins its first SCHSL title in 1983.

To date, they have won a total of twelve state championships, including the last eight consecutive years in SCISA.

October 1999

First Wang computer purchased. By 1983, the school has dedicated computer labs and courses.

2000

Athletic Hall of Fame established with inaugural class of 4v4 recipients.

Category 4 Hurricane Hugo decimates Charleston, campus sustains major damage, students out of school for three weeks.

April 28, 1980

The Center for the Arts is dedicated. Porter-Gaud’s Arts program blossoms under the leadership of Ben Hutto.

reNEWal, largest capital campaign in school's history is launched to build three new buildings: Upper School, Performing Arts Center and Chapel.

Porter-Gaud receives designation of South Carolina School of Character - the only school in the state with this distinction.

August 2017

The New Upper School Building opens.

2017

Porter-Gaud Sesquicentennial

1975

First-ever state championship is won by Porter-Gaud boys’ tennis team. Their 20 championships since 1975 is the most by any Porter-Gaud team.

August 2016

Fall 2002 1989

Porter-Gaud School opens at 300 Albemarle Road - a gift from the Seaboard Atlantic Coastline Railroad.

The former campus was sold to MUSC.

Porter-Gaud approaches Linda O'Quinn about a merger with her 35-year old preschool.

December 2016

Community Service program established. Today, students serve more than 40 non-profits locally, nationally, and internationally.

1977-1978

1965

2008

1983

Middle School Building dedicated to Major Ted Richardson, long-standing MS principal.

1972-1973

1964

October 25, 1867

1993

1985

Student literary magazine WATCH was first published.

Newspaper Porter Grits and the Polygon yearbook begin in 1920.

AP courses added by all departments in Upper School.

Today, we offer more than 21 AP class options.

Campus footprint doubles in size. The Science and Technology Building and Wendell Center are dedicated.

1914

1920

1982

2004

Porter-Gaud adds kindergarten program and first grade building is dedicated.

A HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL January 31, 1828

Anthony Toomer Porter is born in Georgetown, S.C. - the son of a plantation owner, lawyer, and state legislator.

1854-55

Porter is appointed rector and later ordained a priest of the Church of the Holy Communion in Charleston, SC.

December 9, 1867

Porter opens the Orphan Home and School Association of the Church of the Holy Communion. First session includes 425 boys and 125 girls in day school. Monthly tuition is $.50 and/or farm produce and livestock.

1881-1882

Dr. Porter adds two swimming pools and a gymnasium. He starts the first football program in South Carolina.

December 19, 1879

March 30, 1902 Death of Dr. Porter

January 28, 1886

School’s name changed to The Porter Academy.

Gaud School for Boys is purchased from William Steen Gaud for $125.86.

1954

1908

U.S. Arsenal property transferred to Holy Communion Church Institute for $1.00 a year.

1948

Gaud School for Boys opened in downtown Charleston. The small boys school serves 4th8th grades and has a reputation for academic excellence to rival the New England preparatory schools.

1967-1968

Porter-Gaud integrated when Richard Holmes became the first African American student enrolled.

PMA faces financial distress and must temporarily eliminate the boarding department and high school and operates as grades 1-8.

October 1967

1959

Upper School choir begins under direction of Ben Hutto.

Chaplain Charles Furlow helps bring soccer to the Lowcountry.

Centennial celebrated.

Spring 1969

Fall 1976

Gwynette Auditorium, St. Timothy’s Chapel, and WATCH Tower dedicated.

The bell in the WATCH Tower is from Dr. Porter’s original campus. The bell was found in Summerville, SC, in a storage closet, and was returned to campus.

April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865 During the Civil War, Porter serves as chaplain of Washington Light Infantry.

Porter has a vision at his son’s grave to start a school for children left orphaned and unschooled by the Civil War.

January 8, 1880

Porter takes possession of the Arsenal property at 167 Ashley Avenue. Military drills begin including morning reveille and dress parades. Broad curriculum includes Greek to woodworking.

1891

Name unofficially changed to Porter Military Academy following the acquisition of arms and military equipment from the U.S. Government.

1900

Charles Colcock establishes the most advanced high school chemistry and physics program in Charleston at PMA.

1922

The Boll Weevil destroys cotton crops thus causing a drastic decline in the economy and a loss of many boarding students.

1931

Mrs. Anne Watt, opens the Watt School for boys and girls in 1st-3rd grades in a small schoolhouse on Broad Street in downtown Charleston.

William Washington retires.

Members of the Washington family have been a part of campus life since the birth of the school.

1961

PMA graduates its first class since 1954.

PMA merges with the Gaud School for Boys and the Watt School to form Porter-Gaud School; Berkeley Grimball is appointed Head of School.

Porter-Gaud becomes coeducational when 35 girls entered in the 1st through 3rd grades.

1975-1976

First girls admitted to Upper School; May 1976 first girls graduate. First school in SC to have open admission policy.

Cyclone volleyball team wins its first SCHSL title in 1983.

To date, they have won a total of twelve state championships, including the last eight consecutive years in SCISA.

October 1999

First Wang computer purchased. By 1983, the school has dedicated computer labs and courses.

2000

Athletic Hall of Fame established with inaugural class of 4v4 recipients.

Category 4 Hurricane Hugo decimates Charleston, campus sustains major damage, students out of school for three weeks.

April 28, 1980

The Center for the Arts is dedicated. Porter-Gaud’s Arts program blossoms under the leadership of Ben Hutto.

reNEWal, largest capital campaign in school's history is launched to build three new buildings: Upper School, Performing Arts Center and Chapel.

Porter-Gaud receives designation of South Carolina School of Character - the only school in the state with this distinction.

August 2017

The New Upper School Building opens.

2017

Porter-Gaud Sesquicentennial

1975

First-ever state championship is won by Porter-Gaud boys’ tennis team. Their 20 championships since 1975 is the most by any Porter-Gaud team.

August 2016

Fall 2002 1989

Porter-Gaud School opens at 300 Albemarle Road - a gift from the Seaboard Atlantic Coastline Railroad.

The former campus was sold to MUSC.

Porter-Gaud approaches Linda O'Quinn about a merger with her 35-year old preschool.

December 2016

Community Service program established. Today, students serve more than 40 non-profits locally, nationally, and internationally.

1977-1978

1965

2008

1983

Middle School Building dedicated to Major Ted Richardson, long-standing MS principal.

1972-1973

1964

October 25, 1867

1993

1985

Student literary magazine WATCH was first published.

Newspaper Porter Grits and the Polygon yearbook begin in 1920.

AP courses added by all departments in Upper School.

Today, we offer more than 21 AP class options.

Campus footprint doubles in size. The Science and Technology Building and Wendell Center are dedicated.

1914

1920

1982

2004

Porter-Gaud adds kindergarten program and first grade building is dedicated.

’09

KHRIS MIDDLETON NBA STAR, PHILANTHROPIST

Former Porter-Gaud basketball star Khris Middleton, currently a member of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, has pledged $1 million to the school over the next five years to support scholarships for underserved and minority students in the Charleston area.

The Middleton Scholars program will provide full or partial tuition and educational expenses for local high school students to attend Porter-Gaud starting in the 2019-20 school year. The Middleton Scholars program aims to increase diversity at Porter-Gaud by awarding scholarships to high-achieving underserved and minority students.

“The goal of my scholarship is to provide funding for a diverse group of students, who without help would not have the financial means to attend Porter-Gaud,” said Middleton, who attended there from grades 8-12. “I dedicate much of my success to what I learned inside and outside the classroom at Porter-Gaud, and I want to give that same opportunity to other kids in Charleston.”

James Middleton made a decision early on in Khris’ formative middle school years to provide his son with any and all advantages, academically and athletically, that was possible. “It was the best decision we ever made for our son,” Middleton said. “He assimilated into the Porter-Gaud culture immediately and he thrived. It wasn’t easy. He studied very hard and he worked very hard, but he accepted the challenging curriculum headfirst.

Middleton hosts his annual Khris Middleton Basketball Camp every summer at Porter-Gaud, allowing boys and girls from ages 9 to 17 an opportunity to learn basketball and life skills.

“This gift reflects the kind of person Khris Middleton is. It is yet another example of Khris and his family giving back to assist students in the Charleston community,” said PorterGaud basketball coach John Pearson.

And his giving spirit doesn’t stop there.

James Middleton says his son is also heavily involved in the Big Brother/Big Sister program in the Milwaukee area. Last Sunday, he hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for area mentors and kids in the local program.

“Khris has a spot in his heart for those less fortunate, the kids especially,” James Middleton said. “Second to basketball, that is his drive. He wants to help others less fortunate. I think Porter-Gaud opened his eyes to the spirit of giving. It’s part of the Porter-Gaud experience, to give back and to help others. It’s why he is who he is today and that’s why giving this scholarship was so important to him.

Reprint from David Shelton of the Post and Courier, November 2017.

“He loved his experience at Porter-Gaud, as a student and as a basketball player. He has talked many times of how coach (John) Pearson shaped him as a player and was always grateful to his teachers. He knows what a blessing it was for him.”

While at Porter-Gaud, Middleton was named the South Carolina Player of the Year for basketball as a junior and senior, and was a McDonald’s All-American nominee. He attended Texas A&M, where he played basketball and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. He was the 39th pick of the Detroit Pistons in the 2012 NBA draft. He was traded to the Bucks in 2013 and re-signed with the team in 2015. This season, Middleton is averaging 18.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while emerging as a leader for the Bucks.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing Khris on campus interacting with students and campers over the past few years,” said Porter-Gaud head of school D. DuBose Egleston Jr. “With his encouraging words and gentle spirit, it is clear just how much he cares about the success of young people. We are profoundly grateful to Khris for his gift.”

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THE FORTSON FAMILY

PARENTS, CHAMPIONS FOR PHILANTHROPY

John and Deirdre “Dee” Fortson’s philanthropic spirit was sparked by duty and a love of country. John, a 1989 West Point grad, served active duty in the United States Army for more than seven years, with Dee by his side, in Germany, Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

After the military, John pursued an M.B.A. at Duke University and Dee secured hers at UNC Chapel Hill. By 1998, John moved into investment banking with Merrill Lynch, which took the couple to New York, London, and Chicago. All the while, Dee climbed the corporate ladder as a branding and marketing director with Fortune 100 brands such as Nabisco, Kraft, Nestle, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, and Sara Lee.

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“We worked very hard through those years. We were building extensive experience, business networks, and a good life for ourselves,” says Dee.

In Chicago, the high-powered couple’s work-life balance shifted when they decided to have children. When Jack ‘24 and Matt ‘25 were born, Dee stepped back from working full-time in brand management to raise the boys.

“Once we had children, we got involved in the lifeblood of our community. I was involved in the boys’ preschool and in our church, while John got involved in the USO.” As the Fortson boys grew older and attended North Shore Country Day School outside Chicago, Dee also became a dedicated member of the school’s Parent Association and Board of Trustees. John became board chair of the USO in Chicago.

“Volunteering with the USO just made sense to us with our military connection,” says Dee.

When John’s new job brought the family to Charleston in 2016, the Fortsons once again sought ways to serve in their new community.

“It was a big move for us,” says Dee. “Charleston was an opportunity to reset our lives, and I knew in order to connect with the community, we needed to be engaged in it.”

Every Thanksgiving, the Fortsons served Thanksgiving dinners to more than 1,500 sailors during the day. As early as they could, they involved their young boys.

When Matt and Jack were five and six, they were able to serve hot chocolate and Girl Scout cookies to keep the sailors occupied before dinner - that’s where the boys got their start in philanthropy. And by the time they were nine and ten, the boys were serving dinner and cleaning up tables.

The Forstons first got involved with the South Carolina Aquarium.

When they arrived in Charleston, Dee took the boys to a turtle release on isle of Palms on a whim and the whole family was enchanted. They have participated in multiple turtle releases and been involved with the turtle rehabilitation hospital over the years. Dee is also working with the Aquarium to develop strategic marketing plans to build an Aquarium that is more than an attraction and to help it become a hub of the Southeast’s conservation movement from sea level rise to plastics and pollution. .

Porter-Gaud School also was a natural fit. Dee jumped headfirst into serving on the Parents Guild steering committee and was instrumental in founding, along with fellow parent Nicole Chao, the Parent Connection. The mission of the Parent Connection is to build a supportive and inclusive community in Grades 1-6, strengthen and grow parent relationships, increase connections at the grade level amongst parents, and support the mission of Porter-Gaud.

“We felt like it was important to jump in early and support reNEWal for the school’s future growth, but we also wanted to support the school here and now.” Dee Fortson “It became our family tradition and we looked forward to it together as a family every year. “

This 2017-18 school year, Dee was tapped to the Porter-Gaud Foundation Board. The family’s belief in mission and vision of the School inspired a leadership gift (of $150,000) to the reNEWal Campaign, as well as to the Cyclone Fund.

“We felt like it was important to jump in early and support reNEWal for the school’s future growth, but we also wanted to support the school here and now. The Cyclone Fund fills the gap each year in the School’s annual operations budget. Porter relies on the Cyclone Fund to make ends meet each and every year, which is typical for every independent school we have been involved with. We want to make an impact each day in the lives of our children, but also look to the future and want to make the school a better place for children and families to come!”

For the Fortsons, love of country ignited a love of school and community with effects that will be felt in Charleston and at Porter-Gaud for years to come.

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THE FIRST ONE

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY WINS THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP IN SCHOOL HISTORY 32

THE TEAM: (left to right) Margaret Ritter, Chloe Elebash, Bryce Marion, Emma Grice, Jasmine Smith, Connor McMahon, Ella McElveen.

NOT PICTURED: Kimber Keene, Eleanor McLoud, Ellen Nirenblatt, Mary Claire Parker, Madison Sharrett. THE COACHES: Head Coach Hugh Knight ’97 and Assistant Coach Tom Keyser.

Girls Cross Country: The girls’ varsity team also turned in six of seven lifetime personal records at state, which was enough to make them the fastest girls’

team in Porter-Gaud history--and also the first-ever state championship team in program history. Four runners (Bryce Marion, Chloe Elebash, Connor McMahon, and Jasmine Smith) placed in the top ten at the state meet to seal the win.

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HALLOWEEN

CARNIVAL OCTOBER 27, 2017

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OUR STUDENTS GO ABOVE & BEYOND!

YOU CAN TOO! To see who has already gone all in for the Cyclone Fund, visit

PORTERGAUD.EDU/ALLIN

CYCLONE NOTES

EXCITING NEWS FROM OUR ALUMNI

Class of 1967

Lucius Fishburne ‘67 opened a counseling practice in Walterboro, SC. Lucius earned his undergraduate degree in English at The University of the South, at Sewanee, Tenn., followed by a brief stint in the Marine Corps at Quantico, VA. He received his master’s degree in counseling and then became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC). His practice focuses on addiction recovery and relapse prevention as well as other life issues that may compromise the harmony of individuals and couples.

Conference. In 2014, she received the William Richardson Davie Award for service from UNC’s Board of Trustees. In January of this year, she published, Own It, a career playbook for women that delineates new rules for success. (Photo credit: Ray Black III)

Class of 1974

Jimmy Hagood ‘74 was recently featured in the Charleston City Paper for his take on farming in Charleston and the ever-present fear of hurricanes. Jimmy’s property, Lavington Farms, is located in Green Pond, SC where he grows heirloom Charleston gold rice. He reminds us that it was two back-to-back hurricanes in 1910 and 1911 that ended rice growing in South Carolina. Thankfully, this year the crops were safe from harm, and Jimmy says, “Our crop is the best it’s been”.

Class of 1975

Chris Tucker ‘75 was recently selected by Harris Corporation to serve as their Vice President for Middle East Operations. He will be based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Previously, he was Harris’ VP for International Business Development and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) based in Washington, DC.

Class of 1983

Sallie Krawcheck ‘83 is CEO and Co-Founder of Ellevest, a digital financial advisor for women launched in 2016. Recently, Sallie received the Distinguished Service Medal Citation from the University of North Carolina’s General Alumni Association. At UNC, she served on the Board of Visitors, the UNC Foundation Investment Board and the Global Leadership Council and joined committees focused on investments, global leadership, and development. A member of the Morehead-Cain Central Selection Committee periodically since 2001, she has been the keynote speaker at the foundation’s finalists banquet and at its alumni forum. She addresses oncampus events such as the Carolina Women’s Leadership

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Class of 1985

Elizabeth Krawcheck Rodgers ‘85 is senior vice president, regional relationship manager, with responsibility for leading the Synovus Trust team across South Carolina.

Rodgers was previously with Wells Fargo for 17 years, most recently as senior fiduciary advisor for the Mid-Atlantic region of Wells Fargo Private Bank. Elizabeth earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and her law degree from the University of South Carolina. She entered the Trust industry as a new business officer with South Carolina National Bank/ Wachovia in 1993.

Class of 1987

Vic Rawl Jr. ‘87 has joined Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani as an attorney and comanaging partner of the Charleston office. Previously, he was with McNair Law Firm. He focuses his practice on class-action, construction, healthcare, commercial, and business litigation.

He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Wofford College, a master’s degree in international business studies from the University of South Carolina, and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Class of 1988

Greer Shilling Polansky ‘88 ran her third NYC marathon on November 5, 2017. This is the ninth marathon she has run including multiple races in Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Miami, and San Diego.

Class of 1992

Marc Marchant ‘92 is principal at LS3P and head of the regional firm’s Charleston office. LS3P is an architecture, interior architecture and strategic visioning firm providing services nationwide from their offices in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina and Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington, North Carolina. Marc was recently featured in an article in The Post and Courier about the building boom in Charleston and in South Carolina in general.

Class of 1993

Brett Bluestein ‘93 and his wife Bess have two children; Libby who is in Kindergarten and Jack who is in the 4’s, both are attending the O’Quinn School in Mt. Pleasant. Brett is a Wealth Strategist with U.S. Trust and Bess is the Upper School Learning Specialist at Porter-Gaud. Brett graduated from the College of Charleston, the University of South Carolina School of Law, and New York University School of Law. He and his family live on Sullivan’s Island.

Charlton Wieters ‘93 and his wife Liz welcomed their second daughter, Olivette “Olivia” Smith Wieters on July 25, 2017. Olivia joined her sister, Cookie, who is now two years old.

Ed Vaughan ‘88 has joined Synovus/NBSC as their Charleston market executive and commercial banking manager with responsibility for the bank’s commercial and industrial business in coastal South Carolina. Vaughan is located at the bank’s Charleston office at 158 Meeting Street. Vaughan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of the South (Sewanee) and his MBA from the Citadel. He is also a graduate of the South Carolina Bankers School.

Class of 1994

Class of 1989

Rachel Kronick Rothbart ‘89 is Director of Career Services at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. Rachel is married to James Rothbart, who is the Vice President for Business and Legal Affairs at Twentieth Television. They have two children, Hayley who attends Harvard-Westlake School and David who attends El Marino Language School.

F.B. Del Porto ‘94 and Anthony Del Porto ‘02 play in the Southern Flavor Bluegrass Band in addition to their daytime careers. Southern Flavor Bluegrass Band is comprised of F.B. Del Porto, lead & rhythm guitar, lead & harmony vocals, Anthony Del Porto, bass, lead & harmony vocals, Kevin Gore, banjo, and George B. Del Porto mandolin, lead & harmony vocals. They specialize in tight family harmony (blood harmony, as they say in the mountains), doing a mixture of traditional and progressive bluegrass music on all acoustic instruments. Southern Flavor has played for events at Porter-Gaud before and played at the Charleston Music Hall for the Grass at the Hall event as a part of Piccolo Spoleto.

Class of 1990

Emily McDaniel Barrett ‘90 and her husband Andrew adopted their first son, Henry Austin Barrett.

Henry was born last December and the adoption was finalized in the spring here in Charleston. Emily is an adoption attorney with Lowndes & Barrett, LLC, a small firm that focuses solely on adoptions.

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CYCLONE NOTES

EXCITING NEWS FROM OUR ALUMNI

Class of 1995

Colin Penney ‘95 is a producer and production manager for MTO, a firm that produces 30-minute children’s show for numerous television networks. Prior to joining MTO, Colin worked for an Italian advertising production company and got famous American actors to do commercials primarily aimed at the European markets. Colin lives in North Hollywood, CA. Kenton Barham Youngblood ’95 was promoted to Director of Development at the College of Charleston. Previously, as a Senior Development Officer for the School of the Arts and the Northeast Region for more than 4 years, Kenton has consistently been one of the College’s top frontline fundraisers in all relevant metrics (to include closing at least $1M+ level commitment every year). In addition to her bottom-line production, Kenton has organized and executed highly successful donor events with the President and other campus leaders. She also has served as a mentor for other development officers and Institutional Advancement colleagues.

Class of 1997

Kelly Chambers ‘97 works for SONY Pictures as the key costumer for The Goldbergs, a comedy TV series on ABC about a 1980’s family in Pennsylvania. Kelly has been in Los Angeles for almost 20 years. Apart from her work life, she is advancing her improv and acting skills at the Conservancy Program with The Second City. Kelly had great fun at the 20th PG reunion last Spring. She and fellow classmates, Colleen Thompson, Will Fogle, Brian Adams and Ashley Holbrook have formed a book club as a way to stay in touch.

Class of 1998

Mary Cutler ’98 and Charles ’98 Baarcke welcomed their son, Harrison Randolph Baarcke on September 25, 2017. Harrison weighed 8 pounds and 8 ounces and joins his very excited big brothers, Charlie (6) and Jack (3).

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Hal Frampton ‘98 joined Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani as an attorney and partner. He is based in the Charleston office. He concentrates his practice in employment and litigation matters.

Previously, he was with McNair Law Firm. He has a bachelor’s degree from Furman University, a master’s degree from the National University of Ireland and a law degree from Yale Law School.

Brad Kalinsky ‘98 graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2008 and then completed his Internal Medicine residency and Nephrology fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He is a board certified diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Nephrology. This past year, his wife Amanda and her family were the focus of Gina Kolata’s book, “Mercies in Disguise” which documents her family’s battle with Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker, a disease that killed her father at 56 and may take her life her by 55. Amanda is also in the medical profession as a nurse. The couple has three children; Ava (6), Cole (6), and Tatum (4).

Class of 2001

Jean McDowell ‘01 married Patrick Martin on June 10, 2017. Jean is a supply chain specialist, and Patrick is an English teacher at Wando High. The couple was married at Grace Church Cathedral and were led by a bagpiper to a reception at the Riviera Theatre. They honeymooned in Isla Mujeres, Mexico before returning to their home in Park Circle in Charleston.

Class of 2002

Allison Kapp Jacobson ‘02 - See Joseph Jacobson ‘03

Reverend Ginger Litman-Koon ‘02 and her husband Kris had twin girls, Stella Magnolia and Virginia Iris, born on November 8, 2016. Ginger recently moved back to Charleston to accept a position as pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant, alongside her husband.

Class of 2003

Nikola Budisavljevic ‘03 is currently Head of Ecommerce Strategy at Blue Acorn. He graduated from Duke University in 2007 with a degree in History, received his Juris Doctor from The University of South Carolina School of Law in 2010, and a Masters in Business Administration from The University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business in 2012.

Allison ‘02 and Joseph ‘03 Jacobson are the owners of Black Wood Smokehouse (the old MED Deli), located in the South Windermere Center. Both have been in the food and beverage industry for a decade; Allison on the catering and business side and Joseph as a chef. This is the couples’ first restaurant, and it offers local and seasonal items, including take out and catering services.

Mark E. Owens ‘03 is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce. Owens, 32, will replace Gayle Anderson, 67, who is retiring after 21 years as head of the local chamber.

Drew Mather ‘05 is an OBGYN at Palmetto Health Richland. He attended the Unversity of South Carolina School of Medicine where he met his fiance, Hannah Purcell. Hannah also attended USC School of Medicine and is now an anesthesiologist. The couple is set to marry on March 24, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia.

Davis Mersereau ‘05 is Vice President of Business Development for Sharkbanz, living in Southern California. He and Nathan Garrison ‘05 are seeing steady growth with their Sharkbanz product sales, and their firm is now helping promote an all-natural sunscreen product called Hippo Sweat.

Class of 2006

Harvey Brockinton ‘06 married Allison Mabry on July 20, 2017 at the All Saint’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, at the very same altar where the bride had been confirmed. The reception was held at the Piedmont Driving Club. Fellow Porter-Gaud alumnus, Hutson Dodds ’06 was a groomsman.

Class of 2007

Charles Carmody ‘07 is the manager of Charleston Music Hall. He was featured in The Post and Courier where he was credited with reviving this music venue from being little used to being “a cornerstone of the music scene”.

Class of 2008 Class of 2004

Parker H. Lee ‘04 recently joined the team at The Bank of South Carolina, where he works alongside a number of fellow PG alums including Perry Trouche and Gene Walpole. Parker lives in Mt. Pleasant with his mastiff pup, Nixon.

Justin Hare ‘05 was ordained on November 29, 2017 at Old St. Andrew’s Church. He will be serving at the Anglican Church of Christ the Redeemer in Clemson and will be doing campus outreach ministry. Justin graduated from Duke University in 2009 where he was on the varsity golf team. Afterwards, he entered a year-long youth ministry internship program with the Diocese of SC, during which he met his wife, Molly. He then became the youth minister at St. Michael’s Church.

Justin was also recently featured in Carolina Compass.

Justin and his wife, Molly, have two children; Graceanna and Lawrence.

Richard Blake Pearce ’08 married Margaret Olivia Gibson on November 11, 2017, at Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Margaret received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from North Carolina State University. She received her Master in Business Administration from The University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business. She works as a Trust Officer for a private bank in Charlotte. Richard received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in finance and real estate, from The University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business. He is a Portfolio Manager for a private wealth management firm in Charlotte. After a honeymoon to Saint Lucia, French West Indies, Maggie and Richard now reside in Charlotte. There are four PG graduates that were in the wedding, with many more in attendance (3rd from left, Robert W. Pearce III ’06, middle left Richard Pearce ’08, middle right Robert W. Pearce, Jr. ’76 and right Louie Hassell ’08).

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CYCLONE NOTES

EXCITING NEWS FROM OUR ALUMNI

Class of 1995

Colin Penney ‘95 is a producer and production manager for MTO, a firm that produces 30-minute children’s show for numerous television networks. Prior to joining MTO, Colin worked for an Italian advertising production company and got famous American actors to do commercials primarily aimed at the European markets. Colin lives in North Hollywood, CA. Kenton Barham Youngblood ’95 was promoted to Director of Development at the College of Charleston. Previously, as a Senior Development Officer for the School of the Arts and the Northeast Region for more than 4 years, Kenton has consistently been one of the College’s top frontline fundraisers in all relevant metrics (to include closing at least $1M+ level commitment every year). In addition to her bottom-line production, Kenton has organized and executed highly successful donor events with the President and other campus leaders. She also has served as a mentor for other development officers and Institutional Advancement colleagues.

Class of 1997

Kelly Chambers ‘97 works for SONY Pictures as the key costumer for The Goldbergs, a comedy TV series on ABC about a 1980’s family in Pennsylvania. Kelly has been in Los Angeles for almost 20 years. Apart from her work life, she is advancing her improv and acting skills at the Conservancy Program with The Second City. Kelly had great fun at the 20th PG reunion last Spring. She and fellow classmates, Colleen Thompson, Will Fogle, Brian Adams and Ashley Holbrook have formed a book club as a way to stay in touch.

Class of 1998

Mary Cutler ’98 and Charles ’98 Baarcke welcomed their son, Harrison Randolph Baarcke on September 25, 2017. Harrison weighed 8 pounds and 8 ounces and joins his very excited big brothers, Charlie (6) and Jack (3).

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Hal Frampton ‘98 joined Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani as an attorney and partner. He is based in the Charleston office. He concentrates his practice in employment and litigation matters.

Previously, he was with McNair Law Firm. He has a bachelor’s degree from Furman University, a master’s degree from the National University of Ireland and a law degree from Yale Law School.

Brad Kalinsky ‘98 graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2008 and then completed his Internal Medicine residency and Nephrology fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He is a board certified diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Nephrology. He and his wife have three children; Ava (6), Cole (6), and Tatum (4).

Class of 2001

Jean McDowell ‘01 married Patrick Martin on June 10, 2017. Jean is a supply chain specialist, and Patrick is an English teacher at Wando High. The couple was married at Grace Church Cathedral and were led by a bagpiper to a reception at the Riviera Theatre. They honeymooned in Isla Mujeres, Mexico before returning to their home in Park Circle in Charleston.

Allison Kapp Jacobson ‘02 - See Joseph Jacobson ‘03

Class of 2002

Reverend Ginger Litman-Koon ‘02 and her husband Kris had twin girls, Stella Magnolia and Virginia Iris, born on November 8, 2016. Ginger recently moved back to Charleston to accept a position as pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant, alongside her husband.

Caroline Pascal ‘14 will join the Peace Corps as she kicks off her career improving maternal and child health around the world. Caroline majored in public health at the University of South Carolina. In an article recently published by USC, she said she first knew she wanted to be a public health major when she was a sophomore at Porter-Gaud. Caroline’s sophomore English at PG had been assigned to read Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof. “That book sparked my initial interest in public health by introducing me to the huge ongoing global health crisis of maternal mortality and other health-related problems that women and children have to face every day,” Pascal says. “I knew that I wanted to help solve these problems, but did not really know how. My public health program has allowed me to understand the complexities behind health problems in our society and has given me the tools required to address and mitigate these problems.”

Julia Whitten ‘15 is a Junior at UNC Chapel Hill majoring in English.

Next semester she is looking forward to teaching a class at college.

Occasionally, she sees fellow Porter-Gaud classmates and UNC students Parker Rink ‘15, Travis Barnett ‘15, Robert Cochrane ‘15, and Molly Phillips ‘15.

Derrick A. Main ‘17 is a student Intern Videographer and Video Editor for the Clemson University Football Team.

Benjamin Edwards ‘15 is in his third year at the University of Pittsburgh where he is enrolled in their Mechanical Engineering program and is active in campus ministry.

GW Jilich ‘15 is currently studying Computer Science at College of Charleston and seeking a job in cyber security.

HONORING A FOUNDING FATHER

HIGHLIGHTREEL Swimming: The boys’ and girls’ varsity swim teams kept their unbeaten streak alive, with both squads turning in a third consecutive undefeated season and winning back-to-back-to-back state titles for both teams. Coach Michael Walsh’s team will bring back coMVPs Elysse and Kaila Pardus on the girls’ side and coMVPs Daniel Kassis and Willem Goedecke for the boys, so they hope to be able to extend the streak again next fall.

Girls Tennis: Coach Charlotte Hartsock’s varsity girls’ tennis team played an incredibly challenging schedule this season, squaring off against public school championship contenders Wando, Bishop England, Academic Magnet, and Oceanside along with their SCISA schedule. The Cyclones swept perennial powerhouse Ashley Hall to claim the SCISA state championship.

Volleyball: The varsity volleyball team equaled the longest championship streak in Cyclone history by defeating Ashley Hall to win their eighth consecutive SCISA state championship (tying the 1991-98 boys’ varsity soccer team). Coach Megan Crouch’s squad was anchored by six seniors, all of whom have been 12-year Cyclones and all of whom have played together since 6th grade. Anna Rhett Allen became the Cyclones’ career leader in assists and Lauren Tapp set the career record for digs--both amazing accomplishments in a program this historically strong.

Boys Basketball: The Cyclones boys’ basketball team completed one of the most impressive seasons in Porter-Gaud history. The Cyclones held a spot in the top 20 nationally, earning invitations to several high-profile tournaments, including the Chick-fil-a Classic and the Roundball Classic, winning the latter. Two players, forward Aaron Nesmith and guard Josiah James, were ranked in the top 20 nationally at their positions. Aaron Nesmith also won the Gatorade Player of the Year for South Carolina and the Lowcountry Player of the Year. Aaron, Josiah, and Jake Lanford were named All-Lowcountry, and John Pearson was Coach of the Year.

The Cyclones dominated their opponents, finishing the season 25-2, with their only losses coming to nationally ranked teams, capping the season with their third-straight SCISA AAA state title.

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Cross Country: For Coach Hugh Knight’s cross-country team, the numbers don’t lie. The boys’ varsity team had six of seven runners notch lifetime personal bests en route to a region championship and 4th place at the SCISA state meet.

Football: The Cyclones varsity football team had a lot of new faces this year, losing ten out of eleven offensive starters to graduation. Coach Rick Reetz molded the young squad into contenders who overcame injury and adversity to bounce back and advance to the state semifinals. The Cyclones fell to eventual state champion, Hammond.

Girls Golf: This was only the 2nd season for girls’ varsity golf as a stand-alone team. Our young squad, led by Coaches Hutson Dodds and Hope Walters, placed 6th at the rain-shortened SCISA state championship match in October.

Cheerleading: Although the varsity cheer team is seen most often on the sideline of football games, they also compete in their own right in the Gametime Dance division of SCISA. Under the leadership of first-year head coach Christy Christmas, the Cyclones turned in their best performance of the year at the state finals, placing third overall.

Girls Basketball: Our varsity girls team played tough through a roller coaster season with several close matches in league play and a strong finish in the regional playoffs. Returning players Becky Van Kirk, Halle Kilburn, Elise Pearson, and Makenzie Burke will make for an exciting 18-19 season.

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CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Members of the newly-formed Diversity and Inclusion Parent Alliance answer a few questions about who they are and what their goals are for increasing diversity and inclusion at Porter-Gaud.

How long has your family been at Porter-Gaud? If you moved to Charleston, where are you from?

Erica Waring: This is our family’s second year at Porter-Gaud.

I am originally from Los Angeles, CA and my husband is from Charleston.

Angela Johnson: We have been a part of the Porter-Gaud family for 8 years. My eldest son, Ethan started in first grade, and he is currently in 8th grade. My younger son, Hunter is in 5th grade. And my daughter, Victoria is in 10th grade. We moved to Charleston from Boston. My two oldest children were born there.

However, I am originally from Louisville, Kentucky.

Tara Hock: We have two daughters, Elliott and Alice Graham.

Elliott is in the 5th grade and Alice Graham is in the 3rd. We’ve been at PG since Elliott was in the first grade. Brad and I have lived in Charleston since 1987.

Brian Champlain: We are enjoying our second year at Porter very much. Originally from Ohio (mom) and Rhode Island (dad).

Elizabeth Smith: This is our 17th year in Charleston. I am from South Carolina, my husband is from Birmingham, AL but we moved here from Venice, Italy.

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What three adjectives describe your family?

Erica Waring: Loving, Busy, Athletic.

Angela Johnson: Busy, curious and creative.

Tara Hock: Our family is close, kind, and engaged.

Brian Champlain: Loving, learning, and growing.

Elizabeth Smith: This is a tough one, and I polled the family close-knit, curious, and inclusive.

Why did you take lead in initiating this group?

Erica Waring: Diversity has always been at the forefront of my decision-making when it comes to my children’s education. I believe it is extremely important to the growth and development of all children to experience students from diverse ethnic, cultural, family, socio-economic, and religious backgrounds. I knew that the world my children would grow up in would require of them the ability to acknowledge and respect differences amongst their peers. I worked hard to expose them to people who had different belief systems, different views of the world, and different perspectives on life. I was sure to have them

play with students with special needs and disabilities so that they would learn to embrace everyone without judgment and limitations on someone else’s abilities based on what is seen.

I believed initiating this group would help other PG parents learn how to do some of those same things. I believed that we, as parents, have a tremendous opportunity to learn from one another so that ALL of OUR students at PG will grow to become better citizens who respect and appreciate differences instead of shying away from, fearing, or judging. We still have a golden opportunity to shed some of the ills of our own upbringings as parents and show our children a new way of thinking.

What is the Alliance's purpose and what successes and challenges have you experienced?

Erica Waring: The Diversity & Inclusion Parent Alliance’s mission is to help students and families embrace and celebrate cultural differences, develop awareness and empathy, and recognize and appreciate the unique nature of our school community.

Our “Diversity Dialogue” events were well-supported by PG parents. We have encouraged a safe space for dialogue and understanding. The truth is we ALL need to be a part of these conversations. Doing so only helps all PG students, faculty, and staff.

Tara Hock: Porter-Gaud has the opportunity to be a leader in our community in this area. If the school makes it clear to the student body that it is a place that embraces and celebrates the diversity that exists in our country and our school, then PorterGaud students will go out into the world with that foundation.

They will then be able to address these issues as successful adults.

Angela Johnson: I chose to be a part of this group because I love Porter-Gaud, and I want to be a part of helping our school community live up to its full potential. Every student should be able to attend school each day feeling comfortable and accepted regardless of cultural differences, or diversity of thought or circumstances. As parents, we play an essential role in teaching our kids to respect others and to embrace each other's differences.

Tara Hock: After the shooting at Mother Emanuel, I was feeling helpless and concerned about the continued racism I saw around me. Being a part of this group seemed like something concrete that I could do to actively work on areas of our world that were concerning me.

Brian Champlain: Last year, at one of the first Parent Connection meetings, we began to form smaller sub-groups. I glanced over at the Diversity & Inclusion group and noticed that it was indeed diverse, but seemed to be lacking severely in the white male department. Hmm, I thought, that doesn't seem right. Everyone should be thinking explicitly about these things -- not just those that are forced, through the structure of our society, to do so.

Elizabeth Smith: I did not take the lead, but was thrilled to join from the beginning. I think this is a great time to be part of the Porter-Gaud community, we have a more diverse student body than we have had since I have been involved with the school (17 years), and we want every family that is a part of this community to feel included and accepted. It is rare to find a high-tuition, private school in the south that has a lot of diversity. If we truly want to be a progressive and global school we need to strive to understand and embrace the differences in our community.

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PARTING SHOT

“The Rev” standing strong in the January snowstorm.

Photo by Nancy Egleston.

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS ALUMNI WEEKEND 2018 April 27-29

FRIDAY, APRIL 27 – 6:30PM

All-Alumni Party | The Head of School’s House | 205 Albemarle Road Alumni are free. Guests are $15. Register online at portergaud.edu/alumniweekend

SATURDAY, APRIL 28 – 2:30PM Alumni Soccer Game | Singleton Field

Contact kdouglass@portergaud.edu if you want to play on the alumni team.

SATURDAY, APRIL 28

Reunion Parties for Classes ending in 3 and 8.

Contact your class representative for times and locations.

SUNDAY, APRIL 29 – 10AM

PMA Chapel Service – All Alumni are welcome Old St. Timothy’s Chapel - 181 Ashley Avenue

Join PMA Alums as they hold a chapel service on their old campus.

For more information, contact Katie Douglass at kdouglass@portergaud.edu.

300 Albemarle Road Charleston, SC 29407

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 27-29 - Alumni Reunion Weekend May 24 - Baccalaureate May 26 - Commencement

NON-PROFIT US Postage PAID Permit # 1297 Charleston, SC