The Shield - Fall 2023 by saintmaryshall

Volume XVIII, Issue I – Fall 2023

A PUBLICATION OF SAINT MAR Y’S HALL

In this Issue:

Presidents, Pompeii, and Pilgrimage 30 Penguins, to Our Roots 38 Returning Hoops 40 Historic

and more!

CLASS OF 2023 144th Saint Mary’s Hall Commencement May 26, 2023

U.S. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

STATES AND D.C.

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGES

ZIP CODES

“LIFERS”

Commencement Speakers

Class President Sofia El Hajj Moussa gives commencement speach

“Over the years, we have blossomed and grown, but we’ve grown together, through rain or shine, through good and bad days, through AP tests and English essays. We have been a class who knows how to speak up for what is right and positively adjust to changing times. We have redefined the true meaning of the words dedication, persistence, and perseverance…There are no limits to what we can achieve, and we have proven that when we support each other and work together, we can accomplish whatever we set our minds to.” — Sofia El Hajj Moussa, Class President

Len Miller Head of School

Ricardo R. Reyna Chair, Board of Trustees

Dr. Elizabeth Stockdale Head of Upper School

Dr. Fredricc Brock Chaplain

Sofia El Hajj Moussa Senior Class President

Fall 2023

Awards and Recognition

Medal Recipients Presented to students who have excelled in the following areas:

FINE ARTS Aly Khanmohamed Visual Arts Award

Longevity Recognition Affectionately known as “Lifers,” this recognition is presented each year to students who have attended Saint Mary’s Hall for 12 or more years:

Patrick Lang Visual Arts Award

Jonathan Tubb

Adele Davidson

Laurel Miller

Max Davis

Miley Hamilton Media Arts

Elliot Strauch

Sofia El Hajj Moussa

Aly Khanmohamed

Anna Albrecht

Catherine Remington

Grace Phillips

Bailen Ganeshappa

Julia Garcia

Andy Leavitt

Helena Hanor

Rene Reyna

Daniela Sala

Luz Elena Chapa

Patrick Lang

Henry Zachry

Ferzine Sanjana

ENGLISH Anna Albrecht WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES Delaney Dwyer HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Jonathan Tubb

Daniela Sala Performing Arts Award

MATHEMATICS Grace Ogden

SENIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD Aaron Escobedo

SCIENCE Jonathan Tubb

SENIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD Julia Garcia

School Awards BISHOPS’ CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP CUP Sofia El Hajj Moussa

JAMIE ARMSTRONG BENNETT AWARD Mike Mayberry

Seniors By the Numbers 7

COLLEGE ATHLETE SIGNEES for soccer (1), golf (1), baseball (2) lacrosse (2), and track & field (1)

Sports

56 9 11 1

Academics TAPPS ALL DISTRICT HONORS TAPPS ALL STATE HONORS TAPPS ACADEMIC ALL STATE HONORS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN SWIMMING

6 2 1 4

NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS VALERO ALAMO BOWL SCHOLARS NATIONAL HISPANIC SCHOLAR EAGLE SCOUT RANKINGS EARNED

6 10 1 43

NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED SCHOLARS NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN RECOGNITION AWARD PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS

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Winter 2023

CLASS OF 2023

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES Agnes Scott College (1/1) Allegheny College (3) American University (2) American University of Paris (1) Anglo-American University, Prague (1) Arizona State University (4/1) Augustana College (1) Austin College (1) Bard College (1) Barnard College (1) Baylor University (3/1) Belmont University (2) Blinn College (2/2) Boston College (2) Boston University (3/2) Brown University (1) Bryant University (1) California Polytechnic State University (1) Case Western Reserve University (4/1) Centre College (1) Chapman University (3/1) Clark University (2) Clemson University (1) Colgate University (2/1)

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College of Charleston (1) Colorado Mesa University (1) Colorado School of Mines (1) Colorado State University (3/1) Columbia College Chicago (1) Connecticut College (2) Cornell College (1) DePaul University (2/1) Dickinson College (1) Drake University (2) Drexel University (3) Duke University (3/1) Elon University (2) Emerson College (4) Emory University (1/1) Florida International University (1) Florida Memorial University (1) Florida State University (1) Fordham University (3/1) Fort Lewis College (1) Franklin & Marshall College (1) George Washington University (2/1) Georgia Institute of Technology (2)

Gettysburg College (1) Gonzaga University (1) Goucher College (1/1) Guilford College (1) Hamilton College (1) Hampton University (1) Hendrix College (1) High Point University (1) Hobart and William Smith Colleges (1) Hofstra University (3) Houston Christian University (1) Howard University (1) Illinois Wesleyan University (1) Iowa State University (1) Kalamazoo Valley Community College (1/1) Kansas State University (1/1) Kenyon College (1) Lafayette College (1/1) Lawrence University (2/1) Lewis & Clark College (1) Louisiana State University (2) Loyola Marymount University (1) Loyola University Chicago (3)

Marist College (1) Mercer University (1) Michigan State University (1) Millsaps College (1) Mount St. Mary’s University (1) Muhlenberg College (1) New York University (3) North Carolina State University (1/1/) Northeastern University (4/2) Northwestern University (2/1) Occidental College (1) Oklahoma State University (1) Our Lady of the Lake University (1) Pace University (2) Penn State University (2) Pepperdine University (1) Pratt Institute (2) Purdue University (2/1) Queens University of Charlotte (1) Quinnipiac University (1) Reed College (2) Regis University (1) Rhodes College (4)

Rice University (4/1) Rockhurst University (1) Rollins College (1) Saint Edward’s University (1/1) Saint Louis University, Madrid (2/1) Saint Mary’s College of California (1) San Diego State University (1) Santa Clara University (2) Savannah College of Art and Design (5/1) School of Visual Arts (1/1) Schreiner University (1) Scripps College (1) Sewanee: The University of the South (2) Southern Methodist University (9/3) Southwestern University (7/2) St Philip’s College (1) Stanford University (1/1) Syracuse University (1) Temple University (2/1) Texas A&M University (7/1) Texas Christian University (6/1)

Texas State University (3/1) Texas Tech University (1) The New School (1) Trinity College Dublin (1/1) Trinity University (11/1) Tufts University (1) University of Alabama (1) University of Arizona (4) University of British Columbia (1) University of California, Berkeley (1) University of California, Davis (2) University of California, Irvine (1) University of California, Santa Barbara (1) University of California, Santa Cruz (1) University of Colorado Colorado Springs (1) University of Colorado Boulder (4) University of Dallas (1) University of Denver (3) University of Edinburgh (1) University of Florida (2/1)

University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (1) University of Houston (3) University of Iowa (1) University of Lynchburg (1) University of Maryland (1/1) University of Miami (3) University of Michigan (1) University of Mississippi (5/1) University of Missouri (1) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1) University of North Texas (1) University of Northern Colorado (1) University of Notre Dame (2) University of Oklahoma (1) University of Pennsylvania (2/2) University of Pittsburgh (1) University of Redlands (3/1) University of Rochester (1) University of San Francisco (1) University of South Florida (1) University of Southern California (1/1)

University of Tampa (1) University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (1/1) University of Texas at Arlington (1) University of Texas at Austin (25/6) University of Texas at Dallas (2/1) University of Texas at San Antonio (7/2) University of Vermont (1) University of Virginia (2) University of Waterloo (1) University of the Incarnate Word (3) Ursinus College (2) Vanderbilt University (1/1) Villanova University (2/1) Washington University in St. Louis (1) Wentworth Institute of Technology (1/1) Western Washington University (1) Wheaton College (1) Willamette University (1)

(Number of Students Accepted / Number Attending)

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Five Years of Graduates 4

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Fall 2023

European Colleges

Hawaiian Colleges

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A Message from the Head of School Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends of Saint Mary’s Hall, Within this issue of The Shield, you will find the vibrancy that we have the privilege to witness each day on our beautiful Starcrest Campus. This vibrancy is the fruit of our dedicated faculty inspiring a student body that seizes every opportunity before them. That we take pause to honor our faculty—as you will see in these pages—is one way we lift up one of our most important assets. It is also a moment to learn and appreciate how deep their dedication is to our students. Teaching— and teachers—are at the heart of Saint Mary’s Hall. I also invite you to immerse yourself in the inspiring stories of lives lived by our alumni. Our alumni are critical to helping us secure the best future for our School. They model for our current students lives of fulfilment, ambition and compassionate impact on the world. The remarkable journeys of our alumni open up worlds for our students by showing what is possible when prepared with a Saint Mary’s Hall education. And they teach us what it means to give back to an institution that set them up for lives lived fully. Also noteworthy in this issue are the voices of our students. Student voices reverberate on our campus each day. Students share with each other their own rich experiences inside and outside of the classroom, and their hunger for learning make them a joy to teach, mentor, and guide. As they engage with our faculty in co-creating learning experiences, they do so with authenticity and responsibility. It is, indeed, the people that make Saint Mary’s Hall special. I hope you enjoy hearing their voices and stories. With best wishes from campus,

Len Miller Head of School

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In This Issue 1

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2023

FIVE YEARS OF GRADUATES

AROUND THE HALL

FEATURED STORIES

Penguins, Presidents, Pompeii, and Pilgrimage

36 38 40

Reflections of Belonging Returning to Our Roots Historic Hoops

Healthy to be Educated, and Educated to be Healthy

SMH ALUMNI

HONORING ELAINE SEIDEL HINDS ’43

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

IN MEMORIAM

About The Shield The Shield is a publication of Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, Texas, and is published annually for parents, alumni, and friends of the school. We would like to thank parents, students, faculty, and staff for contributing information and photography used throughout the magazine. If you have any questions or comments about The Shield, or if you would like to submit an idea or information for a future issue, please contact us at editor@smhall.org. Saint Mary’s Hall is a private, coeducational, college preparatory school and admits students of any race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national/ethnic origin.

On the cover:

The Class of 2023 celebrates on College T-Shirt Day.

Director of Communications Angela Rabke

Director of Alumni Relations Nancy Lee Archer ’16

Contributing Writers Nancy Lee Archer ’16 Molly Bruni Penny Miller

Dr. Amy Pozza Angela Rabke Justina Vidall

Photography Kemp Davis Ozzy Jamie Robin Jerstad Kimberly Flores

Mauricio Ortega-Rios Angela Rabke and other contributors

Design Robot Creative With special thanks to Molly Bruni

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The Marvelous Mrs. Mayberry Joins Legacy Society M

ay 2024 saw the retirement of two legendary educators at Saint Mary’s Hall: Lower School Science Teacher, Bitsy Mayberry, and her husband and Assistant Head of Middle School, Mike Mayberry. Mrs. Mayberry was inducted into the Legacy Society during a touching

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faculty and staff gathering to honor her 25 years of service to Saint Mary’s Hall. The entire Mayberry family was on hand to celebrate, including daughter and SMH Director of Admission Programs and Marketing Morgan Mayberry ’05, their son Matt Mayberry ’99, and

their grandchildren, Kylie, Gunner Smith ’32, and Matthew. Mr. Mayberry, who retired after 24 years at SMH, continues to be a presence on campus as a substitute teacher. We wish both Mr. and Mrs. Mayberry a delightful retirement, and are grateful for their years of service.

Around the Hall

2023-2024 Board of Trustees OFFICERS Elise R. Boyan Chair

Emily M. Jones Vice Chair

James (Jim) Greenwood Treasurer

Emilie H. Petty ’01 Secretary

Melissa Garcia, M.D. At-Large Officer

Ricardo R. Reyna

Immediate Past Chair

TRUSTEES Nikisha Baker Kenneth Bethune ’01 Alumni Board President

SMH Board of Trustees As we bid farewell to the outgoing members of our dedicated Board of Trustees, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the following trustees for their tireless service to Saint Mary’s Hall:

Muralidhar Beeram, M.D. Carla Alvarez Brozovich ’01 Katherine E. David ’96 Karen Lee Zachry

We also extend a warm welcome to our incoming Trustees, who began their terms at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year:

Jay Bullock Parnak Charkhchi Easton McNab ’11 Flor Richards

Jay Bullock Parnak Charkhchi Paige Cheatham ’14 A.B. Cruz III Yashika Dooley, M.D. Houston K. Frost, Ph.D. ’99 Samuel (Jason) Glast Fabiola Kaase Claudia Kypuros, Ph.D. Easton McNab ’11 Soad L. Michelsen, M.D. Flor Richards Benjamin E. Tubb, M.D. TRUSTEES EMERITI Edward H. Austin, Jr. Ronald J. Herrmann Connie McCombs McNab

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Founders’ Day Celebrates Our Bold Legacy I

f you want to know the history of the Saint Mary’s Hall legacy, Head of School Len Miller says to go back to the very beginning. SMH was founded in 1879, a time of immense growth and societal change throughout the United States and especially the Western Frontier. The women’s suffrage movement was in full swing, but state delegates had repeatedly struck down resolutions to amend the Texas Constitution to enfranchise women.

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So, opening a school for the purpose of educating and empowering them? “It was a bold idea,” Miller says, smiling. “Founding an all-girls school dedicated to rigorous intellectual education and pursuit of knowledge in the 1870s, post-Civil War on the Texas frontier, was perhaps a radical idea at the time.” Miller explains that this bold idea—the pursuit of knowledge and seeking of education in the

face of controversy—has propelled SMH through nearly 150 years, including moving to four different campuses and surviving world wars, depressions, floods, and, most recently, COVID-19. “One of our legacies is that we have weathered difficult times,” Miller says. “That can only happen when a community unites around a bold idea: a commitment to the timeless core values of education and pursuit

Founders’ Day 2023 WILL BE HELD ON

November 16! Head of School Len Miller delivers remarks at Founders’ Day 2022.

of knowledge, and educating people the very best we can so that they can go out into the world and make a positive impact.” A treasured tradition since 1998, Founders’ Day celebrates this bold legacy and the people who have given their time, talents, and treasures to build SMH into the School it is today. Various awards, such as the Master Teacher awards, recognize past and current contributors to SMH’s history.

“Founders’ Day is a moment to take time as a community to recognize those who have come before us,” Miller says. “This School has benefited from almost 150 years of giving by others of their time, their care, their heart, and their philanthropy.”

that they get to come here every day because many people who preceded us put a lot of work into this School,” Miller says. “They learn that they have an opportunity to give back as well, starting now and then in the long term.

SMH faculty, staff, and students attend the ceremony, which is held in the Ancira Events Center.

“This day recognizes that we benefit from the legacy of others,” Miller continues. “And I hope the students start to think about what their legacy is going to be.”

“This is a moment for the students to learn gratitude and recognize

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Around the Hall

Celebrating Master Teachers

ome of the awards bestowed at Founders’ Day are for that year’s Master Teachers. Established in 2002, the Master Teacher Awards honor one faculty member from each division and one “at large” faculty member based on written nominations from the SMH community. At Saint Mary’s Hall, a Master Teacher is defined as someone who has “distinguished themselves through exemplary service to the school community and extraordinary performance leading to the progress of their students.” The four Master Teachers awarded for the 2022-23 school year are Jane Viccellio (Lower School), Jennifer Cordova (Middle School), Nick Polito (Upper School), and Jenny Graf (At-Large).

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The Shield

QUICK FACTS Current Role: Form 5 Language Arts Teacher At SMH Since: 2018

Jane Viccellio Lower School Master Teacher

orm 5 Language Arts Teacher Jane Viccellio loves to teach her grade because it represents a crucial transition in a student’s life—the move from Lower School to Middle School. As such, Viccellio incorporates thoughtprovoking books into her curriculum to encourage impassioned class discussions that let students develop their own opinions. “One of my jobs is to help the students find their voice and use their voice regularly,” Viccellio says. “I’m preparing them for those bumpy moments of middle school where they need to be brave to say the right thing when somebody’s being mean or to try a new sport or club. If I can make them feel brave just in this little space of my classroom, well, middle school’s going to be that much easier.”

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Education: Bachelor of Behavioral Science - Hardin-Simmons University; Master of Curriculum and Instruction - University of Texas at Tyler

Viccellio has taught two grade levels in Lower School, and it’s no surprise that many students have clamored to learn from her twice. One said, “She always helped me when I had trouble. Whenever someone needed help she helped them individually, and that’s one thing I loved about her. She was always so relatable, and that helped in learning. I had such good times with her. ” Viccellio has been described as incredibly caring and inspirational to both students and colleagues. One teacher said, “She has incredible passion, talent, and mastery of her material. She has inspired children with her passion toward language,

her unwavering love, and her support for her students. Her work ethic, compassion, high standards, and lifelong commitment to learning is shown everyday.” Viccellio’s commitment to her students goes beyond the classroom, if that wasn’t apparent already. “As a teacher, I’m going to read the books and teach the topics, but I’m also going to build the students as people so that they walk away a better version of themselves than where they started,” she says. “These are going to be our future leaders, so why wouldn’t I try to build good character into them?”

“I feel like who I am as a teacher matches the mission of Saint Mary’s Hall. ‘Know and be known’—that’s who I am. I love getting to know who the kids are as people. Teaching here was the first time I felt like I had met kindred spirits who believed in not just teaching your content or being an expert of your curriculum, but in teaching the whole child.”

Around the Hall

Jennifer Cordova Middle School Master Teacher

n any given day in the classroom of Form 8 Math Teacher Jennifer Cordova, you might find students launching water balloons, engineering toothpick bridges, or building spaghetti towers. Math is tough, Cordova says, but learning doesn’t have to be. “I was always excited going to math because it was always a fun class,” one student shared. “Mrs. Cordova has so many creative lessons. I tend to struggle with math, but this year I really saw lots of improvement.” “I try to make a pretty interactive classroom,” Cordova says. “We do a lot of scavenger hunts, card games, mazes, escape rooms. Math is a hard subject to teach because there’s plenty that love it, but then there’s plenty that don’t love it. So sometimes if you

make it a game, they feel like it’s not so much math, and then they actually do learn.” One parent said, “Our son has flourished as a mathematician under her caring and expert teaching. In a subject he previously found a difficult challenge, he now feels confident because of the skills and positive mindset she expertly weaves through every class. My husband and I are forever grateful for her kindness and her desire for each of her students to shine!” Cordova believes teaching must extend beyond a fun classroom, though, especially in the middle school years.

“The students are changing in middle school,” she says. “They’re growing, they’re finding themselves. It’s not easy for them. So it’s important for middle school teachers to have that safe space and to be there for the kids.” Many students shared that Cordova’s classroom is their safe space. One said, “When I first entered her room at the beginning of the year, I was immediately greeted by this teacher, a teacher that I didn’t know was going to change my entire school experience. Being in her class taught me lessons on patience, helping people, and overall made me a better person.”

“I love having the choice in my curriculum at Saint Mary’s Hall to do outside projects and experiments and bring the real world to the classroom. I have so much freedom here to be able to mold a love for, or at least an acceptance of, math in the students and to show how math applies outside of the textbooks and worksheets.” QUICK FACTS Current Role: Form 8 Math Teacher and Middle School Curriculum Leader At SMH Since: 2019 Education: Bachelor of Science Texas State University

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QUICK FACTS Current Role: Upper School Physics Teacher and Upper School Ultimate Frisbee Coach At SMH Since: 2019

Nick Polito Upper School Master Teacher

ne student said that Upper School Physics Teacher Nick Polito was “the first teacher I’ve ever had who made me enjoy this type of class.” Polito thinks the key to that enjoyment starts not with the material, but with the classroom. “I’ve always wanted my classroom to be a welcoming and inclusive environment,” he says. “A lot of students build up in their minds that they’re not a math or science person, and then they’re in this class that is a science class spoken in the language of mathematics. For a lot of them, that’s a really daunting, terrifying thing. I try to get that mindset out of their way so they can realize that physics is accessible to everyone—and I think a lot of that comes from being comfortable in here.”

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Education: Bachelor of Science - Trinity University; Master of Arts Trinity University

Polito’s teaching style is known to be engaging and effective. A student shared, “Every class was filled with immersive learning. He took the time to demonstrate each subject we learned in multiple ways so that every different kind of learner in the room could be able to process the material.” “Some people want to read, some people want to be told something, others want to experience it themselves,” Polito says. “I try to have all of those different experiences as part of the class—a sort of ‘throw spaghetti against the wall’ approach— in hopes that something resonates with each student.”

Students often take Polito’s course on the recommendation of their peers. One student shared, “This teacher, simply put, is an incredible teacher. I chose to take his class from the great reviews I heard from former students, and I am so glad I did.” Another said, “Mr. Polito was funny, interesting, and gets you involved. He explained everything thoroughly, was always available, and continues to be the best mentor for me. You can tell he cares about all of his students and genuinely loves physics.”

“I love the relationships teachers can build with students at Saint Mary’s Hall because of the small class sizes. I feel like I get to know the students better and can form stronger relationships, and I can give a lot more one-on-one help to the students that really need it. I also appreciate that I have the flexibility and the trust of the administration to have a lot of autonomy over my classroom.”

Around the Hall

Jenny Graf At Large Master Teacher

indergarten Teacher and Head Cheer Coach Jenny Graf spends her days with both the littlest and the biggest of Barons. Graf starts her mornings in Room 6 with her kindergarteners, a grade she loves teaching because of the “blossoming growth” of the students over the course of the year. One parent shared, “She is the perfect balance of having passion for teaching, kindness, setting expectations, and providing a classroom where each child feels loved and included.” “I’m very big on community and family in our classroom,” Graf said. “I want the students to know that we’re our own little family. We’re a community—we support one another, and we’re there for one another.

It’s a safe space for everyone to have fun while they’re learning and not be afraid to ask questions.” A colleague shared, “Mrs. Graf is a standout teacher. I was fortunate to observe her classroom this year, where I witnessed how masterful she is with instruction, engagement, classroom management, and organization. She’s also an amazing colleague, and she boosts morale to the faculty and staff around her as well as with her students.” Once her day with her kindergarteners ends, Graf heads to Upper School to coach Varsity Cheerleading. “I like mentoring my student-athletes by helping them to get perspective and

see the big picture,” she says. “When you’re in high school, everything is so big, and when something upsetting happens, it can often feel like your world is falling apart. I like to be there for them to help them navigate that social, academic, and extracurricular balance that you have to maintain in high school. It’s teaching them how to be young adults and how to function in life.” From Lower School to Upper School and everywhere in between, Graf is known for her constant smile, energy, and spirit. “This teacher deserves to be recognized and feel special,” one parent shared, “because that is truly how she makes every student in her class feel.”

“I love the culture and community at Saint Mary’s Hall, and I love the support that I get from my colleagues and from my administrators. I feel appreciated and I feel seen. I’m able to do so much with the students because of the smaller class sizes and the creative freedom I have as a teacher.” QUICK FACTS Current Role: Kindergarten Teacher and Upper School Cheer Coach At SMH Since: 2018 Education: Bachelor of Science - Texas State University

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REPOST Social Media Moments A collection of highlights from Saint Mary’s Hall social media in 2023.

May 2, 2023 Mr. Cassie’s H-Block class successfully produced the first ever Baron Grand Prix last week! Students designed and built four creative derby carts that sped through campus to the delight of our student and faculty fans. It was for the win!

🧀🧀🧀

🏆💜

February 24, 2023 Bravo to all of our amazing Montessori and kindergarten dancers for a *beautiful* performance this afternoon! A perfect way to end an exceptional week at the Hall. #KidsAtTheHall #teachusdelightinsimplethings

May 6, 2023 “Under the Sea,” our Lower School Dance production, was mesmerizing! Congratulations to the entire cast of characters for bringing the stage to life during multiple performances last week!

January 27, 2023 …and THAT is how you wrap up a week! Thank you to our Upper School Fine Arts Council for putting on a fabulous Talent Show, and congratulations to the dancers, singers, chefs, music makers, and magicians who took the stage. Bravo!

#Bravo #KidsAtTheHall #teachusdelightinsimplethings

#KidsAtTheHall #TeachUsDelight #TheHallWay

March 10, 2023 Happy #Friyay! Our officers (AND our officers for the day) wish you a safe and delightful spring break. #KidsAtTheHall #TheHallWay

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💜

Around the Hall

September 20, 2023 Congratulations to Leonora Leykum ’24, who is one of only 22 students in the entire world to earn a perfect score on the AP English Language and Composition exam! She is pictured here with her APELC teacher, Mrs. McDonald, who shared, “Leonora is a rare talent in this world, and we’re all very proud of her.”

June 28, 2023 Our top-notch security team is a constant presence on campus during both the school year and the summer, and make time to support our School during their time off, too! ICYMI, several of our officers ran in our inaugural Run for the Hall 5K last spring, winning medals in their respective categories. Congratulations, and thanks for everything you do to keep us safe!

Leonora, when asked if there was a secret to her extraordinary performance, offered that “taking feedback and using it to improve instead of just moving on” is an important part of her learning process. @collegeboard #KidsAtTheHall #KnowAndBeKnown

September 30, 2023 Generations of Saint Mary’s Hall students have celebrated the beginning of fall with Fiesta - friends, treats, bouncy houses, a foam pit, lots of disappearing ink, face paint, cascarones, maybe a goldfish or two, and of course, a dunking booth make for a truly delightful Friday afternoon. Big thanks to all of the helpers! #teachusdelightinsimplethings

#KnowAndBeKnown #SchoolSafety #SanAntonio #independentschool #TheHallWay

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Six Seniors Participate in 2023 Arts Mentorship Program W

hen Emma Carter ’24 accepted a position at Artpace this summer through Saint Mary’s Hall’s second consecutive Arts Mentorship Program (AMP), she knew she would be gaining exciting professional experience in arts management, but she didn’t imagine she’d actually be making art. In addition to the grant writing, research, photography, public relations, and installation work she did, Carter was

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Emma Carter ’24 drips wax for an art piece during her summer at Artpace. Photo courtesy of Artpace San Antonio.

delighted and surprised to find herself sitting on the gallery floor, making art with internationally celebrated artist Ryan Takaba. In a painstaking four-week process, Carter was asked to drip wax according to Takaba’s specifications, working with him to bring his artistic vision to life in the form of a room-sized chandelier composed of wood and wax, titled Sound Shatters the Illusion.

Carter, who is grateful for this unique collaboration, admits that she learned a lot about not just the artistic process, but also making art under a strict timeline, something she had not before considered. “Being involved in this process gave me a first-hand view into what it is like when an artist works under strict deadlines and encounters unexpected roadblocks,” she says. “We had to accomplish a lot, quickly, and there was not any extra time.

Around the Hall

We had to do it right, yet also be flexible when things were not going in the right direction.” Regardless of the challenges the team faced, Carter’s success earned her a mention in the Artpace catalog, a testament to her dedication and a rare honor for a high school student. Like Carter, Elissa Mason-Bizzell ’24 gained real-world experience in the arts this past summer. Officially assigned to the McNay Art Museum’s Education team, Mason-Bizzell focused on the upcoming opening of Dreamland, an exhibition marking the 30th anniversary of filmmaker Tim Burton’s 1993 stop-motion animated film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Mason-Bizzell spent much of her time digging through archives, learning about the history of feature length animated films from around

the world so that she could present information to patrons while “connecting them to it in a modern setting.” Mason-Bizzell researched Burton alongside subjects like claymation, zoetrope, and other image-making advancements. She grins broadly when describing how her research ignited in her a passion for curatorial work. “There is just something about learning about stuff you have always known about, but never really known about,” she says. “When you first start researching a topic, it’s like a mystery, and it slowly unfolds out. I have always been fascinated by books like Sherlock Holmes and movies like Clue. In a lot of detective shows, you always have the eccentric detective who knows a bunch of random facts that eventually come together for the big reveal. When I research, I feel exactly like that.”

2023 AMP Students Emma Carter ’24 and Elissa MasonBizzell ’24 were part of a group of highly passionate and arts-interested rising seniors selected by SMH faculty to participate in this year’s AMP. An expanded version of last year’s program, this year’s slate of partnering organizations included a performing arts component through the Wonder Theatre. Students are also required to participate in a journal and photographic record-keeping project that culminates in a paper and presentation to our larger community, all of which illustrate their learning outcomes. As SMH continues to prepare our students for college and beyond, community partnerships play a vital role in helping our students focus their passions, learning about not just themselves but the changing world around them.

The following students participated in the 2023 AMP program: Emma Carter ’24 Artpace Sofija Dudhia ’24 Wonder Theatre Sasha Glast ’24 Wonder Theatre Sofia Junaidi ’24 The Contemporary at Blue Star Emma Martin ’24 Ruiz-Healy Gallery Elissa Mason-Bizzell ’24 McNay Art Museum Elissa Mason-Bizzell ’24 (far right) found her passion for curatorial work during her time with the McNay Art Museum.

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Research Scholars Will Carter ’24, Eashaan Malladi ’25, and Nico Zavala ’24 prepare their lab station for work with bacterial cultures.

Research Scholars Rohith Siddabattula ’25 and Emily Ton ’25 practice with bacterial cultures.

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Research Scholar Will Carter ’24 with his Daphnia experiment.

Research Scholar Emily Ton ’25 demonstrating her skill with a micropipette.

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Summer with the Scholars T

his past summer, ten Saint Mary’s Hall students participated in the Science Research Scholar program. The program, which began in 2020, provides students with the opportunity to work side-by-side with scientists and researchers as they learn about the human endeavor of scientific research, foundational laboratory skills, how to evaluate results using statistical analysis, and how to plan, implement, perform, and communicate research findings. The ten scholars selected were Will Carter ’24 , Ephraim Cho ’24, Eashaan Malladi ’25, Ria Mehta ’24, Rohith Siddabattula ’25, Emily Ton ’25, Saviandra Trevino ’25, Maggie Vietas ’24, Cici Yang ’24, and Nico Zavala ’24. SMH Science instructor and Science Research Scholar Program Sponsor, Justina Vidal, shares her experience of the summer: “Ten research scholars anxiously arrived at our two-week intensive summer camp, ready to dive in for a crash course of all things science research. The air was hot and thick like soup, fogging our lab goggles and making our hair frizz. We began the course exploring bias in science and the importance of examining multiple factors in experimental design including race, gender, BMI, age, and socioeconomic status. Failure to account for these things in experimental design can be catastrophic as research progresses.

Our ten research scholars then learned aseptic technique and the importance of avoiding cross contamination, washing hands thoroughly, and maintaining bacterial cultures fastidiously. We started with GloGerm powder and progressed to more exciting cultures like E. coli, and S. marcescens, carefully transferring bacterial cultures from tubes to plates, Gram staining, and peering at the results under the microscope. Ten research scholars began painstakingly creating artwork with micropipettes and agonized over mixing colors correctly to get exactly the picture they wanted. They learned how to steady their hands and ever so carefully pipet exactly 14 microliters into one specific spot in their petri dishes. Later, our ten research scholars would design their own experiment with Daphnia magna, a water flea, where they examined how different stimuli affected the heart rate of the Daphnia. Ten research scholars became very attached to their Daphnia and cheered as only a Baron scientist can when they saw changes in response to stimuli. Some particularly resilient Daphnia seemed impervious to everything we tried.

We began learning how to read scientific papers, carefully breaking down diagrams, graphs, and figures and exploring abundant new vocabulary. Eventually, we picked a favorite article and presented it to the group for our Journal Club. We will present four more articles by the time the school year is done. At the end of our two weeks, ten research scholars stood ready to take their first lab practical. We took the morning to practice our skills one more time and review our notes and then began a nearly flawless ballet of rotating lab stations to demonstrate skill in Gram staining, sterile technique, and microscopy, and we micropipetted a picture of the earth, painstakingly mixing and pipetting entire continents 14 microliters at a time. Our ten research scholars emerged with a résumé and cover letter in hand, ready to meet their mentors at the UT Health Science Center, St. Mary’s University, and Southwest Research Institute for the next step of this journey. We have learned so much, and we are eager to learn even more!”

Along the way, ten research scholars learned to write a résumé and cover letter, and I was reminded of how daunting it was to write my first resume and cover letter so many years ago.

“We have learned so much, and we are eager to learn even more.” — Justina Vidal,

—SMH SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR AND —SCIENCE RESEARCH SCHOLAR PROGRAM SPONSOR

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2022-2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards T

he creativity of Saint Mary’s Hall students has once again been recognized on a national scale as they secured accolades in the prestigious 2022-2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This annual competition celebrates the artistic and literary endeavors of young talents across the United States and has a long history of identifying the most promising artists and writers in the country. The awards encompass a wide array of artistic mediums, from painting and sculpture to poetry and prose, and reflect the diverse creative talents and exceptional dedication of SMH students. Whether through thought-provoking essays, evocative paintings, or mesmerizing sculptures, the students’ work demonstrated their unique perspectives and an extraordinary depth of expression.

Sonnet for Her by Emma Carter ’24

SMH writers Helen Trottmann ’25 and Kate Van Zandt ’23 were selected as national silver medal winners. Additionally, exceptional SMH artists, writers, and poets garnered 11 regional Gold Keys, 22 regional Silver Keys, and 42 regional Honorable Mentions.

For a comprehensive list of awards, visit small.org/ScholasticAwards23

Sophomore Year Melodrama by Alex Riebe ’23

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Unfortunate Tradition by Syla Muldowney ’26

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Triple Plates by Leo Cheong ’23

Dozens of SMH Students Nationally Recognized For Service

n a remarkable display of dedication to community service, 48 Saint Mary’s Hall students were recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) across multiple categories. The students cumulatively won 26 Gold Awards, 8 Silver Awards, and 12 Bronze Awards. The Gold Award winners demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment and service to their communities, contributing a minimum of 100 hours (or 250 hours if they are over the age of 16) of volunteer work within a year. The Silver Award recipients committed a minimum of 75 hours (or 175 hours if over 16), while the Bronze Award winners contributed a minimum of 50 hours (or 100 hours if over 16) of volunteer service. The PVSA is a symbol of the School’s dedication to instilling a sense of empathy, leadership, and civic duty in its students, nurturing both academic excellence and social responsibility.

Congratulations to the 22-23 PVSA award winners, whose efforts have made a tangible difference in the lives of many.

Gold Awards Tanzeel Ali ’25

Jonathan Largoza ’23

Sohan Bhakta ’26

Sophia Nelson ’25

Lucile Bell ’26

Edward Briggs ’27

Alexander Dentchev ’24 Ben Holder ’26

Sophie Holder ’24

Alexandra Holmgreen ’25 Graham Hopkins ’26 Jason Huang ’26

Riya Jampana ’26

Eleanor Jones ’25

Megan LaMoy ’26

Nicholas Morgan ’26 William Ogle ’25

Mazreen Sanjana ’26

Genevieve Seeligson ’25 Rohith Siddabattula ’25 Adrian Sorensen ’26

Abigail Sorensen ’26 Kathryn Tubb ’26

Kate Van Zandt ’23

Sophie Williams ’26 Ellie Wyche ’25

Silver Awards Venkaya Dutta ’25

Ria Mehta ’24

Evan Liu ’26

Chloe Serot ’24

Sabrina Esmail ’24 Harini Logan ’26

Austin Meyer ’26 Emily Ton ’25

Bronze Awards Cage Campbell Cage ’24

Aarya Shah ’24

Annie Herff ’26

Elliot Strauch ’23

Avani Gunuganti ’24 Sophia Junaidi ’24

Hudson Moore ’25 Cypress Rabke ’25

Peyton Soltis ’25 Preston Thill ’25

Ines Wallisch ’24

Josie Williams ’24

Lower School Emily Ton ’25 volunteering at Camp Camp

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Alexander Blanco ’30 Bronze

Aazil Jafferali ’34 Silver

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Form 5 Celebrates Transition to Middle School at Camp Champions

ate last spring, the class of 2030 spent two nights away at Camp Champions as a culminating experience to cap off their time in the Lower School and connect them as a form level before the end of the school year. From fishing and kayaking to ropes courses and climbing walls, students worked together to conquer all kinds of challenges. For many, it was their first time to sleep away at camp. Met by a team of enthusiastic counselors, students raced down water slides, swung off rope swings into Lake Marble Falls, and navigated high ropes. “What a great way to end our year!” said Jane Viccellio, Form 5 Teacher. “My teammates, [Form 5 Teachers] Rachel Boster and Kim Scott, kept saying to each other, ‘This right here is why we love to teach!’”

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SMH Bestows Blue Ties on the Class of 2024

ore than 80 years ago, in the classrooms and dorm rooms that occupied the French Place campus, Saint Mary’s Hall students dreamed of enhancing their legacy and strengthening their relationships with each other and their beloved school.

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Ideas were exchanged, conversations were held with administrators, and students were empowered to implement new programs and initiatives that continue to connect our student and alumni bodies from our founding in 1879 to today. The fall of 1940 saw a new tradition introduced to the SMH Upper School: the presentation of blue ties to the senior class. From its inception, the blue tie serves as an emblem of being a senior, a privilege and honor that is to be carried with great pride and reverence for those who have gone before you and those who will come after you. Within the Episcopal Church tradition, the color blue represents hope, confidence, anticipation, and expectation— adjectives that likewise describe the

sentiments of becoming a senior, realizing your responsibility within the student body, and establishing your SMH legacy. In the 1944 La Reata, Dorothy Sutherland Chittim ’44 reflected on the meaning of the blue tie and the desire for the Class of 1944 to leave their mark on their school: “The talk and planning for the future give to us a new seriousness in endeavor and a new pleasure in every phase of our life at school. While we stroll around the grounds or lounge on the lawn as Spring brings the time for farewell closer, we grow more conscious and proud of the ideals for which our blue ties stand— purety of mind and truth of heart. We hope that when we go we shall not only take with us the spirit and ideals

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of Saint Mary’s Hall, but that we shall leave behind some dignifying imprint of ourselves, some ennobling vision.” The vision and imprint left behind by students, teachers, and administrations who founded SMH in 1879 serve as powerful examples of the ties that bind generations of graduates together: leading with heart, serving with dignity, reaching new heights, and raising the bar for success. As we fast forward 83 years to the Blue Tie Parade and Ceremony that was held on August 18, 2023, the Class of 2024 joined the long blue line of fellow SMH graduates. Students, current and former teachers, alumni, parents, grandparents, siblings, and special friends gathered in the Upper School Circle to begin this momentous celebration as the senior class hurled water balloons into the crowd from trailers, boats, and truck beds and were met with equal resistance by faculty members equipped with their own aquatic ammunition. Students of all ages reveled in the pomp and circumstance of this event, dreaming of their own Blue Tie Parade. After the Blue Tie Parade concluded, the senior class made their way to the Ancira

Events Center for the Blue Tie Ceremony. Anticipation built as the seniors took their seats on the stage, only moments away from receiving their blue tie. Brandon Seale ’00 served as our 2023 Blue Tie Alumni Speaker, imparting wisdom to the senior class and reflecting on his own time as an SMH student. Seale shared a snapshot of the Class of 2000’s tactics for ambushing the student body with water balloons during the Blue Tie Parade, ending with a reflection on the significance of tradition and a reminder of the responsibility of leaving behind a legacy. Seale encouraged the senior class to recognize their position on campus and decide how they want to be remembered.

We were proud to have the following alumni present a blue tie to their senior:

Alumni relatives of the Class of 2024 were invited to bestow a blue tie on their family member(s) during the Blue Tie Ceremony. While the act of passing your blue tie to your family member celebrates the generational connection of SMH graduates, those who are the first in their family to receive their blue tie have the privilege of beginning their long blue line.

Sam Berman ’13

Lynne Morris Barnett ’54 Jean Morris Stevenson ’56 Nancy Hill Martin ’57 Kathleen Reilly Carter ’85 Laura Reilly ’86 Robin Dresser Hooks ’87 Luci Leykum ’89 Gerardo Zavala ’92 Juan Carlos Zavala ’93 Caroline Cook McAllister ’96 Jessica Muse Vietas ’96 Nadia Nayar ’10 Jesus Aleman ’11 Aubree Lee ’14 Meera Karkar ’18 Zayd Shamieh ’18 Maddie Carter ’19 Berni Gomez ’19 Kate Ayers ’20 Shilpa Gunuganti ’20 Vivek Beeram ’21 Eli Greenberg ’21

“Traditions are moments. They are occasions for remembrance, but they are also occasions, sometimes, for us to decide what to leave behind.”

Michael Karkar ’21

—Brandon Seale ’00

Sofia Mauri ’22

Cailan Baker ’22 Benjamin Bankler ’22 Ally Carter ’22 Alex Glast ’22 Berzhia Mizani ’22 Camille Serot ’22 Lara Weissmann ’22 Nikki Winter ’22 Sofia Zavala ’22 Adele Davidson ’23

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PENGUINS, PRESIDENTS, POMPEII, AND PILGRIMAGE

Four teachers receive 2023 grants from the Peggy Pitman Mays Fund for Teacher Excellence

ver the summer, school is out—but learning is still in. And while that sentiment may make students grumble, for four Saint Mary’s Hall teachers, this summer was a chance to travel the world, chase their passions, and bring it all back to the classroom. Rachel Moczygemba, Mark Remington, Raoul Nicoll, and Lourdes Saks received grants from the Peggy Pitman Mays Fund for Teacher Excellence, named for Saint Mary’s Hall alumna and former teacher Peggy Pitman Mays ’53. Established in 2008, the program has allowed more than 75 teachers to study a variety of course-related topics around the world that all benefit one thing— the SMH student experience. From penguins and presidents to Pompeii and pilgrimage, meet the four 2023 grant recipients of Peggy Pitman Mays Fund for Teacher Excellence.

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Nerding Out in New Zealand Penguins, Form 1 Teacher Rachel Moczygemba explains, are the perfect teaching tool: They are simply adorable, which gets her young students actually excited about and interested in learning. So, Moczygemba knew she wanted to visit Antarctica to bring back knowledge for her students’ major, multidisciplinary unit on the flightless bird. But unfortunately, warm summers in North America are (very) cold winters in Antarctica.

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“Antarctica is not exactly known for being hospitable during its winter,” she says, smiling. “So, I had to pivot. New Zealand is just as penguin-heavy as Antarctica is. They’re just not the ‘ice and snow’ type of penguins that we usually think about.” During her 19 days in New Zealand, Moczygemba not only observed hundreds of penguins, but also traversed rainforests, camped on a sheep farm, flew in a prop plane, hid in bushes, kayaked with seals, and tagged along with a conservationist performing health checks on nests.

“I nerded out like crazy,” she says. “I never would’ve thought I would get to experience the things that I teach in class all the time. It’s something that will forever shift the way I think about what we do in our classroom, and I’m so unbelievably grateful to have had the opportunity to go and expand my learning and represent St. Mary’s Hall across the world.”

Presidential Passion in the Midwest Mark Remington, AP U.S. History Teacher and Director of Upper School Student Activities, is a proud Civil War historian and American history geek. “I am fascinated by the presidents,” he says. “The beauty of this grant is that it allows us to pursue something about which we’re passionate—and I love the presidents. I love American biographies.”

Remington drove across the midwestern United States to get an inside look at the lives of Abraham Lincoln, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman, and Herbert Hoover. He toured their presidential museums and libraries, visited their childhood homes, and paid his respects at their gravesites.

bring those personal stories about the presidents back to class to really give my students a more complete picture of them. “I’ve just got to watch out that I don’t turn into too much of a nerd, though, and bore them,” he says, laughing.

“One of the big things about this trip was learning more about the presidents as people, not as presidents,” he says. “I’m a big storyteller, and the students love those little tidbits. So, my hope is to

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Intellectual Recharge in Italy After 24 years at Saint Mary’s Hall watching dozens of other teachers travel the world, Middle School Latin Teacher Raoul Nicoll finally got the courage to apply for a summer grant for his own dream trip: an Italian exploration of the Roman ruins he’d only ever read about with his students. Nicoll toured the famous cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, visited preserved art in the homes of wealthy

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Romans, tiptoed around the cave of the Sybil, sailed by the emperor Claudius’ seaside villa, peered into Virgil’s tomb, and even tasted wine made from the original grape varieties the Romans used. “This trip was an invaluable experience for me as a teacher,” he says. From the impassioned conversations with fellow Latin teachers to the nightly Latin text readings and all of the sightseeing in between, “this experience is one that enriches everything I’m doing in the classroom.

“This trip was a total refill of my teaching battery,” Nicoll continues. “It made me feel tremendous enthusiasm for getting back and sharing some of this with the kids. The Mays summer program is wonderful in that it really provides teachers with a recharge more than a holiday would. It’s an intellectual recharge, a recharging of their enthusiasm for their subject.”

Reflective Steps in Spain Middle School Spanish Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator Lourdes Saks traveled to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, where Spanish teachers from all over the world convened for a program with the University of Santiago de Compostela. “I wanted to push myself to do things that are a little bit out of my comfort zone, which is what we ask our students to do in the classroom every

day,” she says. “It was an opportunity to not only extend my knowledge of the Spanish language, but to immerse myself in the history and culture of northern Spain. Learning from other professionals, admiring the art and architecture, reading the literature, hearing the music, and experiencing the beauty of the area have transformed the way I will teach my classes.” Saks ventured way out of her comfort zone when she spent two days meditatively walking part of the Camino de Santiago, a renowned

pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. “One of the things that really called me to study in Santiago de Compostela was the opportunity to do this walk to reflect on who I am as a teacher and the impact I have on my students,” she says. “Being in the classroom allows me to spark curiosity in these young minds and inspire them to make learning a lifelong journey.”

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REFLECTIONS ON BELONGING By Dr. Amy Pozza, Upper School Social Studies Teacher

As teachers, much of our internal world outside the classroom is devoted to thinking about what will happen inside the classroom. Even when our computers are closed, our minds are open. We extensively read to deepen our understanding of the world, look to our colleagues for inspiration, and generate many ideas of how a lesson might unfold. Once we are in the classroom, the lesson comes to life, born out of the mixture of teacher and student energy, diverse ideas and perspectives. After 16 years of teaching, I had a new experience with that process this year. Last August, we attended a professional development training. In the span of 20 minutes, we were provided the most impactful teacher orientation session that I’ve experienced as an educator. We were asked to remember that moment in our educational journey when we felt like a light turned on—the moment that we felt connected to something that we were learning and gave us a sense that we belonged right where we were. For many of us, that moment probably came in college. Then, we were challenged to think about what we could do that year to try to create that moment for our students. At the end of the session, we were given a long strip of lined paper on which

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to write a “belonging” statement, something that reflected our vision for what we wanted our students to experience in the classroom. “Belonging is…”

I sat there for several minutes and thought about my own experience of when I started to feel like I belonged in an academic community. How could I create that feeling in the classroom? Then, it hit me, and I wrote my mission statement for the year: “Belonging is empowering students to make a contribution.” I had no idea the degree to which that opportunity would present itself over the nine months that followed. A short while later that August, I was approached at meet-the-teacher night by parents who said that their daughter had come to them in tears one night after reading a passage in one of the Form 9 Global Studies textbooks. The reading was a historian’s framing of the origins of Hinduism and its connection to patriarchy. The tears were driven by confusion, anger, and indignation. The student did not recognize her religion or her culture in the textbook account. I wondered how many other students have had this experience in class but just did not say anything.

Thankfully, this student, Rusham Goyal ’25, did say something. She and another student, Helen Trottmann ’25, brought their concerns to their teacher, Mr. Bret Bigelow. Mr. Bigelow, who was also the department chair at the time, encouraged Rusham and Helen, helping them find additional reading and resources to better understand and interrogate the flawed narrative in the textbook. The Upper School Speech Teacher, Mr. Terran Duhon, helped Rusham write an Original Oratory on the subject. And Mr. Bigelow, along with current department chair Mr. Adrian Viccellio encouraged and assisted them in drafting a letter to the textbook publisher calling for changes. By the time Rusham and Helen came to me in Form 10, they had spent a year talking, reading, and writing under the encouragement and guidance of SMH faculty. But, more work needed to be done. Our field of history, and the humanities more broadly, has never been more open to new voices. Having presented at the World History Association annual conference in the past, I knew the culture of the organization was welcoming and driven by intellectual curiosity.

“Belonging is empowering students to make a contribution.” — Dr. Amy Pozza,

—UPPER SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER

Professors from around the world would be open to hearing what these students had to say. I have presented about student work before in teaching presentations at conferences, but this time, I didn’t want to just speak on their behalf. Instead, I invited them along. In collaboration with my former mentor and colleague, Dr. Anne Hardgrove, who is an Associate Professor at UTSA, I submitted a panel proposal in which I would be the chair and Dr. Hardgrove, Rusham, and Helen would present papers on the topic of teaching about South Asia in world history courses. I had not brought high school students to a national conference before, and I had not even seen high school students at such a venue, but I felt compelled that this was something we should try. Rusham and Helen rose to the occasion. They further developed their ideas with additional research and reading, after which they each drafted essays for a 10 minute academic presentation and, perhaps most importantly, convinced their

parents to take them to Pittsburgh in the middle of June. At the end of the school year, they were busy with AP exams, dance recitals and debate tournaments, but when we met over Zoom two weeks before the conference, their final drafts were written. Rusham and Helen arrived on Saturday morning in professional attire with their papers printed and pre-rehearsed. As they sat at the front of the large lecture hall and delivered their presentations, I felt a deep sense of pride and satisfaction. They were making a contribution. And, they belonged. A few hours later, I was sitting at a table between sessions when a university professor came up to me and said that Rusham and Helen’s presentations were just as good, if not better, than any other he saw at the conference. Dr. Hardgrove said it was one of the better panels on which she has ever participated and that she was amazed that they were already thinking and writing at a graduate student level. Finally, the president of the World History Association

wrote in an email to me that it was a pleasure to have Rusham and Helen attend, and to please tell other teachers because they want to hear more student voices. As I enter this academic year, with many more hours ahead of thinking about and planning what will happen inside the classroom, the mission statement prompted by Dr. Powell continues to guide me. I want students to experience a sense of belonging in my classroom. What that looks like may vary for each student. Not everyone needs to engage in academic research and write a paper in order to make a contribution to important conversations. And, maybe that moment happens in another teacher’s class rather than mine. At Saint Mary’s Hall, I am surrounded by colleagues, who are constantly thinking, planning, learning, reading, and connecting with others. Through this experience, I learned that my most important contribution is in elevating the voices around me. I belong when I facilitate the belonging of others.

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RETURNING TO OUR ROOTS Saint Mary’s Hall faculty receive grants to promote sustainability and outdoor education

hen O’Neil Ford designed our 60-acre Starcrest campus in the 1960s, his vision underscored the importance of outdoor spaces. Courtyards are interwoven with architectural structures, hallways are unenclosed, and ample green spaces permeate the campus. Lower School students even used to walk through a beloved “forest” to reach other campus destinations. Outdoor spaces were, according to veteran SMH Science Teacher Brian Kaestner, designed to be an important part of not just the beauty of the Saint Mary’s Hall

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campus, but also the “educational experience of students and faculty alike.” Over the years, we have become stewards of Ford’s vision. Leading us forward are Kaestner and fellow Science Teachers Patti Nicoll and Kristen Polito, who received grants last spring from the Eco Scholars Program of San Antonio’s Solid Waste Management Department and Office of Sustainability. The seed money will launch a trinity of sustainability efforts under their direction, including creating an outdoor learning space, planting native plants and a food forest, and enhancing our recycling efforts. Kaestner proudly calls this trio of efforts the School’s “most significant

2023 Planting Day activities including the beautification of Lower School gardens.

outdoor education initiative in over two decades.” A focal point of Kaestner’s vision is an outdoor education center that will serve as an immersive space integral to community events and the student learning experience. “One of the lessons we learned from COVID-19 is that we are healthier—physically, emotionally and spiritually—if we are outside,” Kaestner says. “The center will allow collaboration across disciplines and grade levels, and we will include botanical, paleontological, architectural, and archeological themes specific to our campus as well.” Whereas Kaestner describes himself as an expert in “biochemistry and building,” Polito earned a Master of Arts in education with an emphasis

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on using garden spaces as outdoor classrooms. She brings expertise to not only teaching and learning, but also native planting and gardening. “The agroforest plot will provide our community with the intentional integration of fruit and nut trees that easily grow and produce food,” Polito says. “A dry creek bed can manage water drainage, and there will be standing boxes for vegetables raised in organic soil. All the plantings will serve a purpose and work together to create a sustainable ecosystem where edible food grows all year long, within a particular growing pattern, to be supported and enjoyed by the community. We could even have homegrown salsa served in the dining hall!” Patti Nicoll has been working with the Environmental Club to implement a new campus-wide single stream recycling program. She explains that paper fibers, metals, plastics, and other containers can be collected together, as processing systems are designed to handle a fully commingled mixture of recyclables, with materials being separated for reuse at a materials recovery facility. “This is a much easier system for us to participate in and has the benefit of reduced collection costs,” Nicoll says. “Conserving now means we can sustain ourselves for the future.” Designed to benefit all students in our PK-12 community, these initiatives are being embedded into the SMH curriculum in an intentional way. Students worked with Kaestner to map over 70 planting spaces on campus using satellite views, which will also help inform the strategic removal of invasive species, the process of soil enrichment, and the

re-establishment of native species. Using an adaptive materials reuse approach, they have been repurposing sandboxes and risers to make additional planters for vegetables. Scannable signs made by Matt Montez, Educational Technology Coordinator, explain these happenings. Students in Botany, AP Environmental Studies, the life sciences, various clubs, and Health and Wellness gardening blocks will especially benefit from the hands-on learning and critical thinking opportunities that abound. Experimental plots and methods will allow students to problem solve and understand what flourishes on campus and why. But the learnings these outdoor spaces provide can be adapted to any form level. “For younger students, lessons can be about extending kindness to the space you inhabit and the people and creatures you share it with,” says Jane Viccellio, Form 5 Teacher. Each Lower School form will have planting days and adopt a planter with native vegetation, including succulents and even a butterfly garden. Viccellio’s Form 5 students will comprise a Green Team that will learn from local experts and then lead their Lower School peers. Jacob Knabe has earned his Master Naturalist Certification and is serving as the K-5 STEM lead teacher. His background working for an ecological restoration company has given him

a unique ability to help students and faculty understand the need for biodiversity and the full process behind these initiatives. “Our campus has its own ecosystem,” Knabe says. “It is a great learning space with lots of potential where we can bring back local flora and fauna and feed pollinators, while working to identify non-native species as well as needs to ensure plant survival.” He is particularly excited by how these efforts highlight the food web and the importance of plants in the life cycle, as taught in Lower School science. Kaestner reminds us that initiatives like these are what make SMH an innovative educational leader, especially as we “prepare students for the challenges of the coming decades.” Yet Kaestner also recognizes that these three projects “simultaneously combine to reinvigorate the original intent of our O’Neil Ford campus.” He highlights Isabel Howard ’07, who wrote her undergraduate thesis on O’Neil Ford. “Ford embarked on a journey to build schools based on freedom, creative activities, and, most importantly, ‘learning by doing,’” Howard writes. “Ford believed wholeheartedly that all people should go through life looking at every experience and every object with the curiosity of a child, learning to take delight in simple things.” Luckily for our community, Kaestner and his dedicated colleagues are doing this every day.

“This is our most significant outdoor education initiative in over two decades.” — Brian Kaestner,

—SMH SCIENCE TEACHER

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Saint Mary’s Hall Brownies cheer on Baron Girls Basketball at their State send-off. Photo courtesy of Lynita Mills ’75

Historic Hoops Women’s Varsity Basketball makes Baron history with run to state semifinal

hen you join a sports team, you become part of something bigger than yourself. You carry with you the legacy of those who have gone before you, and you set the standard for those who will come after you. While the life lessons and skills learned in practices and games can be used for the rest of your life, it is the friendships among teammates and coaches that keep one another connected when the sport cannot be played any longer. This year, the Saint Mary’s Hall Women’s Varsity Basketball Team accepted the charge to demand excellence on and off the court, instill a love of the game in each other, and demonstrate what it means to be part

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of a successful team. A historic season that proved to be like no other for SMH Women’s Basketball began in November 2022 and came to an end at the TAPPS 5A State Tournament in March 2023. The road to State was fought with tenacity, grit, and determination, accompanied by tremendous support from classmates, teachers, family, and friends. At each game, the cheers got louder, the chants got longer, and the bond between teammates became stronger. Lynita Mills ’75, former SMH Women’s Varsity Basketball and Field Hockey player, attended the regional playoff game vs. San Antonio Christian School at Alamo Heights High School on February 17. Mills offers her reflection on the game that sent this team to State as well as the State Send-Off hosted at Saint Mary’s Hall on February 22:

Lynita Mills ’75 with SMH Basketball Coach Matt Hayes.

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“As soon as I entered the gym, I encountered HUNDREDS of loud and passionate supporters of SMH, dressed in purple and white, screaming, jumping, and waving shiny purple poms-poms. We never had hundreds of supporters at our games, but I had to keep reminding myself that that was about 50 years ago, and times have changed. For one thing, the Mighty Barons now play full court. The last time I saw the Barons play (in 1975), we were forced to play a half-court, 6-on-6 game. With the wind sprints that Coach Tommy Clemons used to make us run and our motivational practice music, I know that we could have run full court, too. However, while watching the Barons win regionals last Friday, I flashed back to 1972-75 and wondered how in the world we had the energy, consistency, and commitment to practice five days a week, month after month, year after year. Then I realized that it must have been about the joy we found in each other as a team and the love that we had (and have) for our Coach Clemons.

What an awesome display, indeed. At the State tournament, the Barons fought hard but fell to three-time State finalist Houston Second Baptist in the semifinal. This incredible run to the State tournament marks the deepest run for Baron Women’s Basketball. It is extraordinary to watch a group of individuals come together to set new records for themselves and the School.

For the send-off, the weather was perfect and prematurely summerlike that day. The grape bubblegum fragrance of mountain laurel trees permeated the air as I approached the guard gate. This type of celebration had never been done at the school before! The whole campus was buzzing with high energy and excitement as we gathered to celebrate the Girls Basketball Regional Champions! Upper, Middle, and Lower School students, the Head of School, faculty, administrators, coaches, staff, and bouncing, sash-wearing Brownies were all assembled throughout the redesigned Upper School Circle. Staff passed out purple and white pom-poms, bullhorns, and loud, purple cowbells with “GO BARONS!” emblazoned on them. The supporters lined both sides of the path leading from the top of the Circle to a huge charter bus that was waiting to take the team to Waco, Texas, for the State semifinals. The anticipation was palpable as we waited for the team to appear.

Along the way, the Barons captured District, Area, and Regional titles, and Julia Garcia ’23 and Beya Chase ’26 were named to the TAPPS 5A All-Tournament Team. When asked about his thoughts on this season, Coach Matt Hayes shared, “This is a fantastic group of kids and a special team to make history with, and we’re far from done. While it didn’t end the way we wanted it to at State, it

Finally, Coach Matt Hayes and the team arrived at the top of the Circle. The fans went bananas! They screamed, shook pom-poms, and clanged the cowbells. Coach Hayes started off the team’s procession to the bus. He moved through the crowd with lots of swagger while giving high fives, fist bumps, and handshakes to the cheering supporters along the way. One by one, the other team members followed suit with the same enthusiastic response from the fans until they all boarded the Waco-bound bus. What an awesome display of student participation, school pride, and enduring school spirit!”

was still a storybook and historic season, and with only one graduating senior, we will be back.” The future for this team and program is bright. Their camaraderie on and off the court, their distinguished love for the game, and their persevering spirit are inspiring, and we wish them well in the upcoming season. Go Barons!

The Shield |

Healthy to be Educated, and Educated to be Healthy Melissa Baumholtz bridges academics and health and wellness to support holistic student education

urse Melissa Baumholtz has been taking care of SMH students since she first arrived on campus in 2015. While she and Nurse Eileen Petter still ensure that the day-to-day health needs of our students are met, Baumholtz’s 2020 promotion to Health Services Coordinator has empowered her to think more strategically about how to best care for our community in the 21st century. Much of Baumholtz’s days are spent building bridges between academic life and health and wellness practices. Baumholtz works across departments and within the leadership team to manage related policies, professional development and training, off-campus programming, curriculum for health classes, and the launch of relevant campus-wide initiatives. As she puts it, “The nurse’s office is not an island. We are members of a larger administrative team that includes a

| Saint Mary’s Hall

very robust group of professionals. We collaborate and share our experiences to advocate for the best ways to take care of our community.” One example of this collaboration is the recent initiative in which all full-time faculty, staff, and seasonal coaches were certified in the American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED course and the American College of Surgeons STOP THE BLEED® program. The training sessions, led by Baumholtz, Petter, Head Athletic Trainer Phil Rogers, and Methodist Health personnel, began last year and culminated this past August with 235 individuals officially certified. Although Baumholtz hopes to offer the same training to interested students in the future, this first step recognizes the time our students spend with SMH personnel not only on campus, but also traveling to offcampus destinations for academic, athletic, and other co-curricular enrichment activities. “Chaperones now have life-saving skills to bring with them on the road,” Baumholtz explains.

While the State of Texas requires every school to have one automated external defibrillator on campus and one person trained to use the AED, SMH has exceeded this benchmark with the installation of eight units, including a mobile one for our security team, and the training of all full-time personnel to use the equipment. STOP THE BLEED® kits can also be found in all classroom and in several campus locations. “It’s just about being prepared,” Baumholtz says. “Times are changing, and it’s critical that we are prepared for all types of emergency situations.” This attitude has put SMH and Baumholtz on the forefront of best practices. She is part of several professional organizations, serving as a mentor to other schools and team leaders looking to strengthen their own health and wellness programs. Baumholtz’s collaborative approach to health and wellness reflects the SMH commitment to providing the best educational experience to every one of our students. Education research has long proven that the precondition to deep learning is a sense of well-being, and SMH prides itself on a holistic education that takes the mental, physical, and emotional health of our students all into account. As Baumholtz loves to say, and as a sign hanging in the School Nurse’s Office states, “Students must be healthy to be educated, and educated to be healthy.

Featured Stories

All full-time SMH faculty, staff, and seasonal coaches were certified in the American Heart Association First Aid CPR AED course.

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Saint Mary’s Hall

ALUMNI

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More than 150 alumni reminisced with old friends, shared selfies, and walked their old halls at Alumni Reunion Weekend 2023.

Alumni

SMH Develops Inaugural Alumni Board

n July 2021, Nancy Lee Archer ’16, Director of Alumni Relations, began working with Kenneth Bethune ’01, Alumni Association President, to define the purpose, mission, and goals of the Saint Mary’s Hall Alumni Association. Over the next two years, they convened the Alumni Association Task Force, which consisted of alumni who studied and summarized the hopes and wishes of SMH alumni, sought opportunities for alumni programming growth, and researched nationwide best practices for fostering alumni connections and school support. The Alumni Board officially launched on July 1, 2023, two years after its work began.

We Are Proud To Announce the Inaugural SMH 2023-2024 Alumni Board Members Parker Atherton ’97 Kenneth Bethune ’01 President

Emily Seale Buescher ’98 Katie Kinder DeBauche ’07 Secretary

Alexandra Flaherty ’15

Toyja Kelley ’94 John Luke Mannix ’16 Caroline Cooke McAllister ’96 Breanna-Lynn Montalvo ’13 Francisco Pergola ’12 Allison Reyes ’06

Jacob Roos ’18 McLean Russell ’07 Heather Welder Russo ’96 Jessica Campos Serna ’90 Vice President

The Shield |

Alumni Gatherings

Welcome Back Barons Luncheon

Class of 2023 Alumni Luncheon

n January 4, we welcomed our college-aged alumni back to campus to reconnect with their teachers and fellow classmates. Guests enjoyed catching up over Mexican food in the Peggy Pitman Mays Dining Hall and visiting with their teachers and coaches around campus. After lunch, Len Miller, Head of School; Ellen Deitrich, Assistant Head of School for Academics and Dean of College Counseling; Jim Bob Womack, Assistant Head of School for Advancement; and Nancy Lee Archer ’16, Director of Alumni Relations, hosted the Head of School Roundtable, where the young alumni discussed the SMH student experience, their preparation for college, and any advice they have for teachers and administrators, all of which will help inform our programming initiatives and curriculum offerings across campus.

o celebrate the accomplishments of our most recent graduates, their parents, and their teachers, the Alumni Office hosted the second annual Class of 2023 Alumni Luncheon. Director of Alumni Relations Nancy Lee Archer ’16 reminded graduates that they are joining the long blue line of alumni who possess a love of learning, an eagerness to push the envelope and advance education, the ability to be a pioneer, the charge to serve your community, and the desire to foster friendships that last a lifetime. Seniors were officially welcomed into the Alumni Association by Kenneth Bethune ’01, Alumni Board President, who expressed his excitement for the Class of 2023 to join the ranks of over 4,000 alumni and encouraged these graduates to remain connected to their alma mater. Head of School Len Miller echoed these sentiments by congratulating the Class of 2023 and proudly sending them off to begin the next chapter of their lives at their respective colleges and universities.

2023-24 Alumni Events If you’d like more information about regional events, contact Nancy Lee Archer ’16, Director of Alumni Relations, at narcher@smhall.org. SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

Alumni Event in Austin, Texas at The Grove–Downtown SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Alumni Event in Dallas, Texas at Sixty Vines

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Alumni Event in New York City, New York at The Penn Club of New York NOVEMBER 16, 2023

Founders’ Day

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

Alumni Lacrosse Game DECEMBER 29, 2023

Alumni Soccer Game at Saint Mary’s Hall J A N U A RY 4 , 2 0 2 4

Welcome Back Barons Luncheon at Saint Mary’s Hall J A N U A RY 6 , 2 0 2 4

Alumni Basketball Event at Saint Mary’s Hall MARCH 19, 2024

Alumni Event in Houston, Texas MARCH 20, 2024

Alumni Event in College Station, Texas M AY 3 - 4 , 2 0 2 4

Alumni Reunion Weekend

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Alumni Reunion Weekend

e celebrated with over 150 alumni during Alumni Reunion Weekend on May 12-13! Alumni traveled from Colorado, California, Arizona, Tennessee, Minnesota, Idaho, New York, Maine, Virginia, Ohio, Washington, Louisiana, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and even Mexico to reconnect with friends and teachers. The weekend was filled with reminiscing, laughter, and rekindling of friendships from days as students at SMH. On May 12, we hosted the Alumni Reunion Party in the Marrs and Verna McLean Library Complex, where alumni reconnected with former teachers and each other. During the evening, alumni became students once again and joined Upper School Science Teacher Brian Kaestner for an O’Neil Ford architectural tour of campus. Kaestner took alumni on a crash course tour of Ford’s mid-century modern architectural style and the

influence of Ford’s work on the SMH campus. The Class of 2003 received a special surprise, opening their time capsule they put together during their graduation 20 years ago. On May 13, we hosted the 50th+ Reunion Celebration for alumni celebrating 50 years or more of graduation from Saint Mary’s Hall. We began the morning with an Alumni Remembrance Service led by Chaplain Dr. Fredricc Brock and music provided by Middle School and Upper School Vocal and Instrumental Music Teacher David Waterland. Nancy Lee Archer ’16, Director of Alumni Relations, led a candle-lighting ceremony to honor the legacy and memory of alumni and teachers who had passed. The service was followed by a campus tour led by Len Miller and Jim Bob Womack. The tour concluded in an Upper

School History classroom, where Miller invited alumni around the Harkness table to ask questions, tell stories, share ideas, talk about reflections, and enjoy the same kind of discourse provided in Upper School classes. The reunion festivities concluded with a brunch in the Marrs and Verna McLean Library Complex, where we celebrated and toasted to the longevity of Saint Mary’s Hall and the legacy of the Class of 1973.

DON’T MISS

Alumni Reunion Weekend May 3-4, 2024 Honoring Class Years Ending in 4 and 9

The Shield |

Honoring the Life of

Elaine Seidel Hinds ’43

n the fall of 1936, 11-year-old Elaine Seidel Hinds ’43 stepped onto the French Place campus and began her first year as a student at Saint Mary’s Hall. For nearly 87 years, Hinds maintained a strong relationship with her alma mater not only as an alumna, retired staff member, Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, Board of Trustees Member, and Alumni Council Member and President, but also as a mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt of students who attended and graduated from SMH. Hinds’ brother Kurt Seidel, son Lane Redburn Sr., and grandson Lane “Everett” Redburn Jr. attended SMH, and her sister Gretel Seidel Ekbaum graduated in 1951. Hinds’ love for SMH was unwavering, and her legacy will continue to impact our school for generations to come.   When Hinds entered Upper School, she dove into extracurricular activities and served as a member of The Senate, the Spanish Club, the Book Club, the Latin Club, the Current Events Club, and as a P.E. Aide. Hinds then took on stronger leadership roles as the Business Manager of La Reata and President of the Book Club during her senior year. In addition to her academic pursuits, Hinds was likewise recognized for her athletic endeavors as an All-Star Player in both Newcomb and Volleyball as a member of the Elliott Team. With her strong involvement in student life, it is no surprise that Hinds would devote the remainder of her life to supporting and strengthening her alma mater.   After graduating from SMH in 1943, Hinds spent the next three years as a member of the Residence Staff. Although she was not an official employee of the School from 1946 to 1955, Hinds dedicated her time to compiling alumni records in an effort to keep graduates connected to their school.

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Alumni

In 1955, Headmistress Beatrice McDermott invited Hinds to join SMH once again as a member of the office staff. Over the next 17 years, Hinds served as a friend, colleague, and mother-like figure to many students, faculty, and staff alike. Hinds touched many lives in the classroom, residences, and many other facets of student life until her official retirement from the school in 1972. The legacy and impact of Hinds’ tenure as a staff member is best captured by the 1969 La Reata Dedication in her honor: “Among all of the faculty and staff of our school is one person who can always be counted upon to answer a question or listen to a problem. This person is Mrs. Hinds, who through her years here as a member of the office staff, has become well-loved by girls and faculty alike. Being one of the few people in this school who can call everyone by name, she gives a sense of individuality to the girls both old and new. One always feels comfortable talking to her whether on business or just a social visit, and no problem is too trivial to evoke her help. It is to this invaluable and everdependable friend that, in this year of stress and change, we dedicate the 1969 La Reata.” In true Elaine Hinds fashion, she could not stay away from SMH for too long. Under the leadership and direction of Board of Trustees President Mrs. Alice Kleberg Meyer, Hinds revived and re-oriented The Shield to appeal to all constituencies in the SMH community in 1974. She worked tirelessly to gather alumni updates, tell stories about SMH history, and, most importantly, keep the development office up to date with alumni contact information. In recognition of her devotion to SMH, Hinds was bestowed with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1980

and invited that same year to become a member of the Alumni Council of which she eventually became President.   She then continued her service to SMH as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1984, where she focused her energy on preserving and maintaining SMH school records and artifacts. Hinds worked with alumni, faculty members, and administrators to catalog and preserve the history of our school, as told through photos, articles, and memorabilia. Through these efforts, Hinds fostered relationships with many generations of graduates. To further touch the lives of many members of the SMH community, Hinds began sending sympathy notes to the families of alumni who had passed away. When asked why she started writing these notes, Hinds shared, “In times of sadness, a note of sympathy from a friend or someone you haven’t heard from in years means so much. After all, it takes only a moment to put pen to paper.” And so, she comforted friends near and far.   When reflecting upon Hinds’ legacy and service to SMH, Tommy Clemons, a lifelong friend and former colleague of hers, remarks:   “Elaine Hinds’ contributions to Saint Mary’s Hall were so numerous, and it is difficult to narrow them down to a couple. Clearly, the painstaking care she dedicated to saving, retrieving, and preserving the extensive collection of memorabilia that will be displayed in the future will possibly be her greatest legacy. The collection is so symbolic of her 80-plus years of contribution to the school.

But on a more personal note, graduation was such a special time for Elaine. I remember this special part of the school year like it was yesterday—my first SMH graduation as a part-time faculty member. It was the Spring of 1969 and the first graduation ceremony to take place on the new Starcrest campus. The event was outdoors on the large playing field beside that tall statuesque tree behind the tennis courts. There was a large temporary black curtain installed by the courts where the girls lined up before processing down an aisle in their beautiful long white dresses, each with a large bouquet of longstem red roses.   And, no question, Elaine was in charge of the entire ceremony with the able assistance of Ruth Helms and Polly Dawson. Elaine knew exactly what each person’s role was and what was going to happen for the entire event to be a spectacular remembrance for each graduate, their parents, and their guests. Not to mention future graduates looking ahead to when they’d process as orchestrated by Elaine.” Elaine Seidel Hinds ’43, who remained a close friend, colleague, and SMH supporter for decades, passed away on November 14, 2022. Hinds will be remembered as a fierce advocate and staunch proponent of SMH. We are eternally grateful for her devotion to our school and community.

Alumni Class Notes

Do you have great news to share with your fellow SMH alumni? Maybe you landed your dream job, got married, have a new addition to your family, or have another exciting story to share. Tell us about it! Visit www.smhall.org/alumniclassnotes and fill out the online form to update your contact information and tell us about your life updates.

1950s & ‘60s

2000s

Roxana “Roxie” Catto Hayne ’57 and Ruthie Bowman Russell ’66 were named 2023 West Texas Woman of the Year by Texas Borderlands Research Institute. Hayne is passionate about ranching, wildlife, and land conservation, continuing the ranching tradition instilled by her grandfather Alfred S. Gage. Hayne and her family have placed a strong emphasis on conservation initiatives in the West Texas region. Russell inherited her love of West Texas and strong conservation values from her grandmother, Verna McLean. Russell has served in leadership roles in multiple conservation-focused organizations including Texas Wildlife Association, Borderlands Research Institute, Devils River Conservancy, the Llano River Watershed Alliance, and the San Antonio Advisory Board of The Nature Conservancy. Russell and her husband, Johnny, manage multiple ranches across the state of Texas, further devoting her life to conservation of the land she loves.

Jessica Lall ’02 was awarded the Champions for Change Award from the Weingart Center on April 3, 2023. The Champions for Change Award is presented to individuals who “have made a significant impact on their community through their work in philanthropy, social justice, or education.” Lall began her role as the Managing Director of Downtown LA CBRE in January 2023, having previously served as the CEO and President of the Central City Association of Los Angeles for the past six years. Lall graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Political Science & Social Science with an emphasis in History.

1990s Tommy Calvert ’98 represented Bexar County at the Historic First White House Juneteenth Celebration Concert. Calvert is the Bexar County Commissioner for Precinct 4 and represents over 500,000 residents in Bexar County.

50 Ø

Alumni, have we heard from you lately?

[1]

William Russell ’02 finished his 11th Texas Water Safari, “the world’s toughest canoe race,” in June 2023. The Texas Water Safari is a grueling 265-mile, non-stop race from San Marcos, Texas, to Seadrift, Texas. Racers contend with numerous dams and log jam portages, alligators, snakes, poison ivy, sleep deprivation, extreme heat, and even the distraction of hallucinations that have often caused contestants to jump out of their boats and run into the woods. Not only is it a test of endurance, but also of a tough, “never quit” mindset.

This year, Russell and his team led the race until the very end, when they hit extreme conditions in San Antonio Bay. He has successfully finished 11 safaris and has five overall wins. Russell has also won the Yukon River Quest, Missouri 340, and Tour du Teche and has completed numerous other endurance races across the Americas, including: Nissan Ocean to Ocean in Panama; Ruta Maya, Belize River Challenge; Catalina Crossing Outrigger Championship; Ausable River Canoe Marathon; General Clinton Canoe Regatta; and Leadville 100-mile Run “Race Across the Sky.” Fox Aven Convey ’08 (formally Kady Monroe) is an artist, herbalist, yoga teacher, mental health therapist, and social justice activist. During the pandemic, Fox began a volunteer herbalism project, Herbs for Activists, with ten other herbalists supporting the Black Lives Matter movement in Portland, OR. Herbs for Activists offered herbal medicine and care packages to BIPOC and racial activists in solidarity while marching alongside them in protest. This organization was able to offer herbal products to thousands of activists over two and a half years of service.

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2 Fox is currently completing a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. There, she began a mutual aid project called The Council for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CEDI)—a student and alumni-led grassroots organization formed out of the need for change at Antioch. CEDI’s mission is to drive anti-racist action and propel systemic change across Antioch campuses and programs in order to advance Antioch’s commitment to racial, social, economic, and environmental justice. Antioch University advertises itself as a social justice anti-racist University. Recently, CEDI launched a petition demanding that the university implement 8 anti-racist directives in order to change the culture at Antioch. So far, the petition has led the university to change its mission statement to include racial justice. The group continues to fight for 7 additional directives. [2]

Allie Cortes Shepherd ’09 and Adam Shepherd welcomed their daughter, Lucia Marie Shepherd, on November 21, 2022.

2010s Hannah Viroslav ’11 completed her undergraduate degree in Literary Studies at Vanderbilt University and went on to receive her MD from UT Southwestern in Dallas.

Hannah completed her residency in anesthesiology, where she was Chief Resident during her final year. Hannah has since moved to Boston to complete her Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she was chosen for the Chief Fellow position and trains as a Clinical Fellow in Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School. John Boyan ’13 served as the speaker for the 12th Annual National English Honor Society Tea. Boyan spoke with students about the importance of writing in all aspects of their lives, both personally and professionally. When asked about advice he would offer to his younger self, Boyan shared that he would focus on what you can control, take the difficult moments in life and put your best foot forward, do things that are interesting to you, don’t let fear or perception hold you back, and, most importantly, enjoy the moment. Boyan graduated from Harvard University in 2017 and is the President of Sam’s Italian Foods in Maine. McKenna Kinder ’14 spoke with Upper School students as the Women’s History Month speaker for the Student Equity Collective. Kinder told students about her collegiate experience at Schreiner University and shared the journey she took to create her business, The Kinder Influence.

Kinder also provided insight into the creation of your own personal brand and walked students through crafting a message that resonates with a target audience. Carson Kessler ’15 joined The New York Times’ Investigations Desk in June 2023 as a 2023-2024 fellow. Kessler graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Journalism and English and a minor in Social and Public Policy. She then continued her educational pursuits at Columbia Journalism School, where she graduated with a M.S. in Journalism. She has established herself as a reputable journalist in New York City reporting for The City, Fortune, and Vice, and, most recently, completed an investigative business reporting fellowship at ProPublica. On February 9, Saint Mary’s Hall Upper School Dancers were invited to a unique behind-the-scenes experience with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Our dancers were invited by Andrea Sala ’16, who is the Stage Manager for the renowned company. Our students were able to attend the dress rehearsal at Bass Concert Hall in Austin and see the company take the class prior to the performance. Our team had a great time observing the professional theater world and enjoyed catching up with their fellow Baron.

The Shield |

[3]

Tate Cervera ’17 married Harrison Ray on May 20, 2023, in San Antonio. Ben Zeller ’19 graduated summa cum laude with a major in Global Business and a minor in Spanish from Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. During his time at Georgetown, Zeller was a member of the board of the Georgetown International Relations Association. There, he served as the Executive Director of NAIMUN LIX, the largest student-run Model UN Conference in the world. Most recently, Zeller was named a Fulbright Scholar. He is moving to Mexico City for a year, where he will work at a Mexican or multinational company that engages in trade with the United States and will take MBA courses at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México. “I’ve spent the past four years in classrooms learning about international trade from a very U.S.centric perspective, so, I’m grateful and honored to have the opportunity to engage in international business from new perspectives, to improve my Spanish, and to become a better citizen of North America,” he says.

2020s Jennings Stuart ’21 spoke with the National Art Honor Society last winter.

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She presented her experiences as a graphic design student at Savannah College of Art and Design. Stuart answered questions about her college experience and gave students insights on what to expect after graduating from SMH.

My summer primarily consisted of evaluating scripts/books for potential future projects, meeting with emerging writers/directors, assisting with projects currently under production, and facilitating the successful release of our movie, Barbie. When I was not working, I was spending my free time exploring all that Los Angeles has to offer—a rich comedy/arts scene, fantastic foods, beaches, hiking, and meeting new friends from my SMH and Harvard communities. I look forward to returning to SMH soon to share my experience here in California as well as my first year at college, and I miss y’all back in Texas! The breakfast tacos here are just not the same...”

Kathleen Benson ’22 was hired as a Summer Intern for Heyday Films, a British film studio founded in 1996 by producer and Harvard alumnus David Heyman. The studio is best known for producing the Harry Potter film series as well as movies like Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Gravity, Paddington, Marriage Story, and, most recently, Barbie. Benson shared this reflection on her path to securing an internship in Los Angeles: “At SMH, [4] Jack Fisher ’17 (not pictured), Andrew I fell in love with performing and Fisher ’22, and King Kleberg ’22 artistic creation through the robust are the Co-Founders of Bad Burrow Speech & Debate and Theater Works, a handmade leather goods shop programs, and I have continued in Bryan, Texas. cultivating those interests in college Aly Khanmohamed ’23 was presented by writing/directing/acting in shows with the Exceptional Senior Award and joining a multitude of arts (ESA) from Representative Chip Roy organizations. I wanted to use this (R-TX-21). ESA winners display summer as an opportunity to explore high levels of character, leadership, the professional life of a producer integrity, and diligence, which are whose primary job is the planning, evident through their philanthropic coordination, and management of a activities, academic success, and movie’s writing, casting, directing, and reputations among peers and teachers. editing, as well as finances, marketing, Khanmohamed is one of 42 high release, and distribution. After cold school students across Texas’ 21st emailing a few Harvard alum with my Congressional District to be presented CV and cover letter, I interviewed for with this award. David and his team and was given a summer position at their Los Angeles office.

These marble plaques outside of the Upper School Library have inspired generations of students with their timeless ideas. 1910

1911

1912

1913

1914

To be rather than to seem

Know the time, recognize the opportunity

If you want, you can

Seize the Day

Not to be served, but to serve

The Shield |

In Memoriam

Trustees

Faculty & Staff

Community Members

Barbara (Hunter) Foster

April Cox Groos

Stuart Adam

Phillip (Phil) L. Hadley, Sr.

Kim (Kab) Alan Ballantyne

Mother of Hugh Kindersley Foster Jr. ’85, Jennifer ( Jenny) Foster Walton ’88, and Elizabeth (Gage) Woodard ’82 March 5, 2023

W. W. (Bo) McAllister III

Father of Walter (Will) McAllister IV ’91 July 22, 2023

Alumni

Upper School English Teacher, 1970-2006 August 10, 2023 Head of School, 1993-1998 December 7, 2022

Connie Love White Montessori Teacher January 18, 2023

Geraldine Schmid ’42

Carland Nicholson ’58

Barbara Altgelt ’47

Dale (Tucker) Dorn ’60

née Geraldine Harman December 29, 2022 née Barbara Wheless April 27, 2023

Kathryn Sawtelle ’48 née Kathryn Young June 27, 2023

Annie Mae Carrington Fawcett ’49 née Annie Mae Funk May 22, 2023

Sally McClure ’49 née Sally Hamlin Garrett February 27, 2023

Ann Buckley ’50 née Ann Wells January 9, 2023

Ann Hudson ’53

née Carland Crook June 7, 2023

February 22, 2023

Hallie Margaret Pinson ’61 January 6, 2023

Margaret (Sherrie) Binkley ’64 née Margaret (Sherrie) Sherwood Matthews December 28, 2022

Karen Cole ’67 January 1, 2023

Sally Gorham ’67

née Sally Paine Thompson February 24, 2023

Rolly Robert Steen II ’70 March 15, 2023

née Ann Frasher February 3, 2023

Lawrence (Larry) Biedenharn ’75

née Ruby Anita (Runita) McCurdy November 25, 2022

Beverly “Bev” Nix Coiner Jr. ’03

Ruby (Runita) Gaston ’55 Sue Hosterman ’57 née Sue McCurdy December 30, 2022

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July 25, 2023

March 25, 2023

Sara Hayden ’10 July 30, 2023

Father of Madison (Maddie) Adam ’16 May 26, 2023

Husband of Mary Kennedy Ballantyne ’80 December 11, 2022

Ann Elizabeth Barshop

Mother of Bruce Barshop ’71, Steven Barshop ’73, and Jamie Barshop ’75 February 19, 2023

Carlee Jean (Corky) Gladwin Benson Grandmother of Claire Benson ’18, Curtis Benson ’21, and Kathleen Benson ’22 November 29, 2022

Lance Blanks

Father of Riley Blanks Reed ’09 and Bryn Blanks-Lewis ’12 May 3, 2023

Barbara Ann Schonning Bohall

Grandmother of Sofia Prestigiacomo ’20 February 16, 2023

Clifton (Clif) Joseph Bolner

Grandfather of Stephanie Marie Prost ’06 and Camila Bolner ’30; Great-Grandfather of Emerson Bolner ’31 and Hunter Bolner ’34 January 10, 2023

Bonnie Brooks

Grandmother of Leigh Brooks ’35 May 12, 2023

Willis Brown

Grandfather of Claire Brown ’21 August 12, 2023

Bartlett Cocke Jr.

Sister of the late Catharine (Tinka) Cocke Tarver ’49 September 2, 2023

Lisa Stieren Cox

Mother of Heather Stieren Hardeman Galvano ’99; Sister of Amy Stieren ’87 and Wendy Stieren Wirth ’78 July 12, 2023

Fall 2023

Dr. Anatolio Benedicto Cruz Jr.

Grandfather of Anatolio (Ben) Benedicto Cruz IV ’23 and Ana Cruz ’25 May 21, 2023

Charlotte Darden

Mother of Michele Reed Smith ’90 March 19, 2023

Lawrence DeVeau

Mona Klahn

Grandmother of Haley Riordan ’13 and Patrick Riordan ’17 June 24, 2023

Henrietta Martha Polan Landsman

Grandmother of Mark Blair Levin ’06 and Matthew Adam Berler ’07 April 22, 2023

Grandfather of Elise Evans Isaia ’04 July 8, 2023

Charles Harrison Marcus

Mother of Robert (Rob) M. Duffey ’98 December 30, 2022

Billy “Red” McCombs

Thelma L. Duffey

Oleva Cornelison Evans

Grandmother of Elise Evans Isaia ’04 March 15, 2023

Harry Meade Flavin Father of Elizabeth (Liz) Flavin Crawford ’90 November 28, 2022

Dr. Nandkishore Gurram Father of Neha Gurram ’12 July 17, 2023

Warren (Speedy) Bryan Hart II

Grandfather of John ( Jack) Wright ’16 and Emery Wright ’18 February 15, 2023

John William Hayes

Father of Hayden Reese Hayes ’18 January 17, 2023

Roger Chilton Hill Sr.

Father of Stacey Lynn Hill ’89; Grandfather of Marian Louisa Hill ’16 and Martita Francis Hill ’22 December 19, 2022

Anne Jordan

Grandmother of Margaret Koehler ’21 June 9, 2023

Son of Courtney Solcher Marcus ’91 March 20, 2023

Grandfather of Arthur Carson McCombs Rubey IV, Charles Hamblin McNab ’99, Sita Shook McNab ’02, Anna Shields Turner ’02, Ian McCombs McNab ’04, Chloe Smith Odio ’08, John Joseph Shields ’09, Easton Nivon McNab ’11; GreatGrandfather of Stella McNab ’25, Charles (Wylie) McNab ’27, and Ewan McNab ’29 February 19, 2023

Keith M. Orme

Husband of Patricia (Pat) Vigeon Orme ’56 June 9, 2023

William Kenneth Powell

Grandfather of Amy Heard Farish ’09 December 13, 2022

Adelfa Moas Rosende

Grandmother of Carlos Rosende ’08 and Pablo Rosende ’12 July 13, 2023

Jacqueline (Jackie) Jacobson Spalten

Grandmother of Kaitlin West Orem ’02, Courtney Spalten Hunt ’10, and Jackson ( Jack) Pope Spalten ’14 January 13, 2023

Sue Watson Strickland Mother of Keil Strickland ’98 May 9, 2023

William Albert Swinney

Grandfather of Sarah Swinney Rice ’98 April 20, 2023

Dr. Marc Tufts Taylor

Father of Marc Tufts Taylor Jr. ’01, Joshua ( Josh) Hendrick Taylor ’03, Bart Lee Taylor ’05, and Paul Whitney Taylor ’08 November 19, 2022

Mary Handy Parker

Jimmie Victor Thurmond Jr.

Sidney Payne

William (Bill) Wyatt Jr.

Mother of Mary Parker ’80 and Josephine ( Jo) Parker Cervantes ’82 June 19, 2023 Grandmother of Charles Noble IV ’08 August 29, 2023

Philip Brant Peacock

Husband of Sallie Steves Peacock ’61 March 24, 2023

Grandfather of Lacey Marguerite Thurmond ’11 April 5, 2023

Grandfather of Henry Wyatt ’18, Taylor Wyatt ’21, Cypress Rabke ’25, and Meriwether Rabke ’27 July 11, 2023

Bradley Shane Phillips

Father of Justin Bradley Phillips ’13 and Hayleigh Rose Phillips ’16 April 7, 2023

This list contains information received from November 1, 2022 to September 25, 2023.

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