Highlander Magazine - Summer 2021

SUMMER 2021

The Highlights: Eighth-Grade Trip

The Shows Go On

'ESSENTIALS' Project

From cave explorations to Hill Country

Highlander theater students deliver

Artist Sarah Wilson '92 recognizes the

school with a memorable trip.

"Oliver" in spite of pandemic hurdles.

workers in larger-than-life project.

hikes, eighth graders finish off middle PAGE 10

impressive performances of "Evita" and PAGE 34

courage of front-line female essential PAGE 72

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MAKING MEMORIES

FEATURES

20

5 6 9

Note from Our Chaplains

10

Eighth-Grade Trip Builds Community

15 16

COLLEGE BOUND

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Get to Know Ms. Roybal, our new Head of Lower School

Jacob Family Gives Back to SAS and Austin This Year's Work in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

WE ARE SCHOLARS

20 22 26

YOUNG AUTHORS

Board of Trustees Report

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Applying to College During a Pandemic Upper School Awards First-Grade Authors Present Fiction and Nonfiction Books Eighth Grade Puts in Work at Project Citizen Civics Fair

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FINE ARTS ACHIEVEMENTS

WE ARE ARTISTS

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34 STUDENTS PRODUCE 'EVITA,' 'OLIVER'

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42

Making Musicals in Trying Circumstances A Year in the Arts at SAS

WE ARE ATHLETES

50 53

Steven Garcia Leads By Example Highlanders Boast Three NCAA Division I Athletes

WE ARE SERVANTS

54 58

Two Juniors Raise Money for Cancer Research Community Pitches In After Storm

GRADUATION

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Eighth-Grade Graduation

62 66 70 71

Class of 2021 Commencement Senior Awards Class of 2021 Graduates College Choices of 2021 Grads

ALUMNI NEWS

72 'ESSENTIALS' INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT

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Sarah Wilson's Work Looms Large Over Austin Alumni News

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear St. Andrew’s Families, As you look through the photos and stories in our Summer 2021 Highlander Magazine, I hope you feel the same sense of pride and gratitude that I feel for our teachers, our school families, our administration and our incredible students.

We learned a lot this year. We worked hard together – for our students and faculty and for each other – and it shows. This year, our students learned in a variety of ways and places: at home, in the classroom, on the stage, in our Chapels, on the fields and courts and on countless Zoom calls.

Praise be to God for technology, for without it – and our tireless IT team – we would not have been able to support our Home Learning Program and provide safe programming for our whole community.

Thank you all for your strength, resilience and faith this school year. Special thanks to our school Health Services Team led by Amanda Boardman, our Parent Advisory Committee and Board Task Force – they truly carried us through some very complicated challenges. Our faculty proved time and time again their devotion to our students, and I am so proud of their ingenuity and commitment. What a year it has been!

I wish you a happy, healthy remainder of your summer and best wishes to our most recent Upper School graduates, who will be embarking on their college careers in a few weeks. After eight years as Head of School, I will also be moving on from St. Andrew’s this summer. There is much good work ahead and I believe our school is well-positioned to continue leading the way.

Faithfully,

Sean Murphy Head of School, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

Administration Head of School, Sean Murphy Head of Upper School, Ben Courchesne Head of Middle School, Alice Nezzer Head of Lower School, Kama Bruce Chair of Board of Trustees, Jason Near St. Andrew’s Lower and Middle School 1112 31st Street, Austin, TX 78705 St. Andrew’s Upper School 5901 Southwest Parkway, Austin, TX 78735 Mission Statement The mission of St. Andrew's Episcopal School is to provide an enriched academic program within a Christian environment emphasizing the fulfillment of each student's potential.

Statement of Purpose St. Andrew’s seeks students of character and intelligence from diverse ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The school strives to help young people achieve their potential not only in intellectual understanding but also in esthetic sensitivity, physical well-being, athletic prowess and moral decisiveness so that they may lead productive, responsible lives, not only for themselves, but also for their community.

Diversity Statement of Purpose St. Andrew’s sees diversity as an integral element of community and education, and a vital facet of our mission, core values, and Episcopal identity. We believe that community diversity manifests in many ways, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, family composition, and physical ability. In our commitment to attracting, fostering, and celebrating all aspects of diversity, St. Andrew’s aims to create an intentional environment of equity and inclusion.

We recognize that this work is constantly evolving as we address the changing needs of a diverse community and as we educate our students to engage with a diverse world. We believe that our strength and resilience as a community stem from our commitment to respect the dignity of every human being as a child of God. Core Values COMMUNITY ­— Based on trust, traditions, communication, appreciation, and support SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION — ­ To develop moral behavior HIGH EXPECTATIONS ­— Reflected in both the knowledge base and behavior of the faculty, staff, students, parents, and board members CARING, CELEBRATION, AND HUMOR ­— Fostered by kindness and collegiality Statement of Nondiscrimination St. Andrew’s Episcopal School admits qualified students regardless of race, color, nationality, ethnicity, religion, physical disability, socioeconomic status, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, ethnicity, religion, physical disability, socioeconomic status, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation in the administration of any policies or programs generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

LETTER FROM OUR CHAPLAINS

"Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and God's love is perfected in us."

1 John 4:11-12 The K-12 Chapel theme for the

2020-2021 school year was “Building Beloved Community.” Rooted in Scripture, the idea of a beloved community is God’s hope for creation and relationship. Beloved is a theological concept that is rooted in this idea of “let us love one another because love comes from God.” It’s a recognition of people being divinely loved - each and every person being divinely loved. This essential formation of our beings as being loved changes the way we understand, move, and shape the world around us when we keep it at the forefront of our understanding of ourselves and each other.

A beloved community is one where all people understand that they are beloved and that their neighbor is beloved, too.

Recognizing this belovedness allows for transformational communities devoted to love, mercy, reconciliation, and justice.

Becoming a beloved community is an aspirational mindset. God’s love allows us to live in love, and only when a community is truly doing and pursuing that can a beloved community become tangible. In so many ways, the past year allowed us to explore in Chapel what it means to reach for this type of community not just in word, but in deed. We aspired to be a community that cared deeply for each other by tending the sick, soothing the suffering, giving rest to the weary, and shielding the joyous, all for the sake of God’s love.

From daily videos from Mrs. Brandon and Questions of the Day during “Chapel

The Rev. Whitney Kirby, left, and Ashley Brandon

on the Screen” at the Upper School to welcoming guest speakers and theologians, finally gathering together in person again, and Eucharist for the graduating class of 2021, this has been a pilgrimage year in the wilderness that we have only survived because of each other.

As we head into a season of much-needed rest and restoration, I’ll leave you with two questions we asked every member of our community (students, faculty, and staff) this year: What are the attributes of a community where you have felt beloved?

How will you make St. Andrew’s a beloved community where those are our attributes, too? The year has ended, but our service to a beloved community at St. Andrew’s continues. Thanks be to God!

The Rev. Whitney Kirby Upper School Chaplain

Ashley Brandon Lower and Middle School Chaplain

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 5

Board of Tru Dear St. Andrew’s Community, We are in Year Three of the implementation of our school’s fiveyear Strategic Plan, and we are so pleased to report that the efforts toward our Six Goals are very much in progress: 1. Ensuring Programmatic Excellence 2. Enhancing Facilities 3. Strengthening Financial Sustainability 4. Investing in the Athletics Pillar 5. Increasing Diversity and Inclusion 6. Elevating the Way We Communicate While this school year was like no other in history, the Board remained focused on supporting St. Andrew's administration and faculty as we navigated COVID-19 and its implications to our students, teachers, facilities, families and future.

Despite the disruption of COVID-19 and the additional work the pandemic response required, all six goals of our Strategic Plan are being realized in the following ways: 1. Ensuring Programmatic Excellence: Our Home Learning Program was designed and implemented in a matter of weeks in the spring of 2020 to accommodate the shift in virtual learning due to COVID-19. New technologies were implemented, new professional development provided, and expanded methods of teaching and learning were created to support St. Andrew’s academic expectations. In addition, current Lower School Head Kama Bruce will be transitioning into a new role as our Assistant Head of School to guide our Directors of Curriculum and Instruction in their devoted work to continue K-12 alignment and strengthening our academic program. Katy Roybal will join St. Andrew’s leadership team in July as the new Head of Lower School.

2. Enhancing Facilities: COVID-19 forced us to rethink classroom space – indoor and outdoor – and amplified our need for bigger and better facilities, especially on our Lower School campus.

St. Andrew’s is in the final stages of hiring an architecture firm to formalize the Master Site Plan, which includes re-imagining the Lower School classroom facilities, the addition of an Upper

6

School Gym, the consideration of t improvements to the Upper School anticipate being able to share thes forward to enhancing our facilities o

3. Strengthening Financial Susta to strengthen the Endowment Fund of more than $16M, in partnership (a subcommittee of the Board of Tr management of our revenues and a strong admissions season and an fundraising this school year.

4. Investing in the Athletics Pilla pillar of priority for the School, and administrative and structural chang personnel. In March, St. Andrew’s football coach Rick Reetz as the ne Football Program Director and Upp graduates from our Class of 2021 a will pursue their sports in colleges States. The addition of an Upper S will further improve opportunities fo

5. Increasing Diversity and Inclu and Belonging (DEIB) efforts are a school mission, and as such, the S improving diversity in our student b our Board of Trustees. This is refle in diversity year-over-year. Our DE leadership at each campus and div Statement of Purpose was created “St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is c community of learning that embrac and honors the dignity of every hum continue in this space, which also i and we are proud of the progress s

6. Elevating the Way We Commu continues to evolve and improve, in Andrew’s new website. With COVID

ustees Report

the Middle School location and l campus and facilities. We se plans in late 2021 and look on both campuses.

ainability: St. Andrew’s continues d, which has a current balance with the Investment Committee rustees). We continue the wise expenses, and we experienced nother record-breaking year of

more important than ever before and St. Andrew’s adopted new technologies to assist with parent-teacher engagement, classroom communication, and community-wide communication. Opportunities like virtual Town Halls, webinars, virtual meetings and more were developed to keep the SAS community proactively informed as we progressed through the virtual, and then on-campus, school year.

Moving forward, many of these technologies will be available (like Zoom) to allow our full community to engage with special events and meetings: Parent Association meetings, for example, will be hosted in person but also via Zoom so that we can stay as inclusive as possible.

ar: Athletics continues to be a since 2018, there have been ges to the Athletics Program and announced the hiring of veteran ext 5th through 12th grade per School Faculty member. Eight are D1 and D3 NCAA athletes and and universities across the United School Gym in the Master Site plan or our athletic programs.

We are incredibly grateful to St. Andrew’s faculty, administration, Board of Trustees and families and feel very optimistic about the school year ahead. Special thanks to our Parent Advisory Committee, who helped us navigate COVID-19 throughout the entire year. Their expertise and thoughtful counsel has been invaluable.

As you will see in this magazine, despite enormous challenges, we persevered. We are fulfilling the implementation of our strategic plan, we were able to return to campus safely, and we have graduated our seniors, who had an incredibly successful season of college admissions. We are a blessed community and we thank you for your faith and support.

usion: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion an important component of our School remains focused on body, our faculty and staff and ected in successful increases EIB team expanded to provide vision, and a new Diversity d to better reflect our intention: committed to building a beloved ces diversity, champion’s justice, man being.” More work will includes academic programming, so far.

unicate: Communications ncluding the 2020 launch of St. D-19, communication became

We would like to extend a special note of gratitude to Head of School Sean Murphy, who is departing St. Andrew’s this summer.

He spent eight faithful years serving St. Andrew’s; establishing a kindergarten program, strengthening our Episcopal Identity and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging programs, hiring a world class faculty and staff and paving the way for improved curriculum, programming and thoughtful learning experiences. He leaves behind a legacy of which we are all proud, and we thank him for his service and devotion to St. Andrew’s.

Sincerely,

Jason Near

President, Board of Trustees

Amy Paddock Vice President, Board of Trustees

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 7

The St. Andrew’s Fund supports each and every one of our St. Andrew’s students, in the classroom and beyond. This year, more than ever, your gifts made a difference as we supported teachers and students rising to the extraordinary challenges they faced.

Thank you so much for supporting students and teachers—we are so grateful for you.

Thank you so much for your donation to the St

Andrew’s Fund! Your kindness and generosity towards the community is very much appreciated. Because of your donation, students have access to materials and methods that allow them to reach their full potential academically and individually.

My experience at St. Andrew’s helped me discover who I am, and provided me with experiences and opportunities to help me reach my full potential. I have been exposed to many influential and impactful individuals who have guided me throughout my high school years, and the valuable lessons I have learned can be applied both inside and outside of the classroom. The unique arts program at St Andrew’s gave me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and thrive through select choir, musical leadership positions, and VIVA Arts Club. Not only have I developed and expanded my interest in the performing arts, I have been able to explore many areas of study that were less familiar to me. I’ve learned about the history of art, interconnectedness of religion, influential writers, and accomplishing science experiments I never imagined could be possible!

The education, teachers, resources, environment, and fellow peers at St. Andrew’s helped shape me into a well-rounded individual, prepared to take on the next chapter in my life, college. I love that St. Andrew’s is full of individuals that take on challenges, express new ideologies, and have a willingness to take action. The people around me at St. Andrew’s have truly inspired me in more ways than I could count, encouraged me to be the best version of myself, and instilled in me the confidence to make my own path. I am so thankful that even after I graduate, the sense of community I feel and lessons learned will live on.

The community at St. Andrew’s is a very special place. I sincerely thank you for your donation that allows the community to continue to be the best it can be. I am so grateful that other St. Andrew’s students will experience the same resources, encouragement, and enduring community support made possible in part from your donation. Know that you have impacted the lives of many students that will change the world!

Lindsay Borgerding '21

Getting to know Ms. Roybal New Head of Lower School

Katy Roybal will be joining St. Andrew’s as the new Head of Lower School this

summer, and we wanted to find out a little more about her!

What excites you the most about joining the St. Andrew's community?

Ms. Roybal: Visiting the school this spring, there was such warmth amongst the faculty and a genuine feeling of caring for one another, I felt at home right away.

Visiting classrooms and observing play, I witnessed a highly engaged and joyful student body. I am excited for my family to be joining the community.

Tell us a little bit about your family.

Ms. Roybal: My husband Jeremy and I are the proud parents of four boys, CJ (31), Isaac (21), Eli (19), and Gabriel (10). We also have a sweet dog named Benson.

Our home has gotten much quieter with the two big boys being away at college (both in the Pacific Northwest).

We have a loving extended family of grandparents and aunts and uncles that provide much love, support, and guidance.

What were your impressions when you first walked in the Lower School campus?

Ms. Roybal: I was so honored to get to visit in person. It has been such a challenging and COVID centric year, it felt so refreshing to be in a learning space and to see first hand the teachers and students digging into their work and enjoying one another. I loved witnessing children being enthusiastically greeted by multiple members of the faculty and staff. This is a space of joy.

From a theoretical or philosophical standpoint, what is the most important thing we should be doing as educators in this day and age?

Ms. Roybal: Put children in the center of their learning.

Ms. Roybal with her husband Jeremy (right), dog Benson and sons (left to right) Gabriel (10), Eli (19) and Isaac (21)

Value them for the unique individuals that they are and find ways to ensure they feel seen and connected to their learning.

What are some of your hobbies?

Ms. Roybal: I love reading (and listening to books!), traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with loved ones.

What is your favorite food?

Ms. Roybal: I love Lomo Saltado, a Peruvian dish. My dad makes it the best.

What are you most looking forward to about living in Austin?

Ms. Roybal: I cannot wait to visit many of the places I have heard a lot about but have not gotten to visit yet. I am looking forward to visiting the downtown library and seeing some great live music. I think the pace of life will suit our family well.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 9

Buildin

Eighth Grade Cl

The eighth-grade trip to Big Bend

MAIN PHOTO AT RIGHT: Cooling off in the Frio River.

TOP PHOTO: Students learned how to pitch a tent at their campsites.

MIDDLE PHOTO: Eighth graders enjoying some down time at the park.

BOTTOM PHOTO: Students at the peak of one of their many hikes.

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WE ARE SCHOLARS

the Middle School experience. It’s a time to unplug, spe and teachers, and connect with the outdoors. For a wh a trip would be able to occur this school year. After man from Nurse Boardman and Mr. Murphy, the Middle Sch Though the campsites at Big Bend were still closed wh them, they pivoted and began to plan their trip to Zube

The eighth graders’ days were full of outdoor adventure

ng community

lass bonds on trip to Concan

d

is always a treasured part of end quality time with classmates hile, it was unclear whether or not ny discussions and final approval hool team began to plan their trip. hen the team needed to reserve ers River Camp in Concan, Texas.

es like hiking, kayaking, and

swimming in the Frio River. Ms. Marks and Ms. Sykes worked tirelessly to create tons of other activities for the students to enjoy while on the campsite. “We did house games, one where there were four different watermelons that they had covered in Vaseline. When we were in the river, we had to pass the watermelon to each other and get it to the other side of the river -- it was really, really funny,” said Sonia Singh ‘25.

When it came time to feed everyone, there were eighth graders who stepped up and volunteered. Zain Osborne ‘25 said, “I was on the Food Team and my favorite part of the trip was making all the meals. It was fun to have that responsibility of putting

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 11

Mr. Ballard led a group in a visit to a cave, which was the highlight of the trip for many students.

Eighth-Grade Trip everything together for everyone.” The Food Team was made up of 12 volunteers who helped to make every meal and feed the students, teachers, and parent chaperones on the trip. Having this team in place was an important lesson in responsibility for the students -- eighth grade volunteers ended up loving being trusted with such an important piece of the week.

Though the trip was a blast, it wasn’t without its challenges. “There was a storm that flooded a lot of people’s tents. It was downpouring for about twenty minutes and some of them collapsed. On this trip, it was more your responsibility to take care of things, like making the food and pitching your tent. If you didn’t pitch the tent correctly, you were going to get wet,” said Zain.

Collapsed tents led to opportunities for problem-solving, and the eighth graders returned from the trip even stronger and more self-sufficient.

After an unusual school year, being together as a grade outside of the classroom was especially meaningful. “I definitely feel closer to my class as a result of the trip,” said Caroline Simmons ‘25. “I got to hang out with people 12

TOP PHOTO: The Food Team helped keep tripgoers fed and energized throughout their time in Concan.

BOTTOM PHOTO: One of the group's hikes in Concan.

The Concan trip was all about class bonding and team-building.

Students enjoyed swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding in the river.

who I pass in the hallway every day but who I don’t know very well. I really got to spend time with everyone. There was lots of down time doing activities and opportunities to hang out with people I normally don’t.” “It was nice to see everyone laid-back and seeing a different side of students and teachers.” added Brooks Tolany ‘25.

“For a lot of other class trips, you take kids to a place where people run programming for you and provide food and shelter and activities,” said Tim Moore, MS Dean of Students. “We didn’t have any of that. We’ve done the Big Bend trip so many times that we can kind of go on autopilot, but we had to plan everything on this trip from scratch.”

On the last night of the trip, the class came together to reflect on the middle school experience.

Moore recalled one day of the trip where the forecast predicted massive thunderstorms in the afternoon, so the groups did all of their hiking that morning when it would normally have been spread throughout the day. “Then of course, it didn’t rain a drop, so we had about seven hours of free time and during that time, not one person came up to me saying they were bored. They just hung out, fished, played spike ball. It was really great to be together.”

Students went to each photo and wrote positive attributes that describe their classmates on each photo. “It was a really cool way to appreciate one another,” said Mr. Moore. The entire class then gathered in a huge circle so their teachers could share about the class. “This class is such a special, incredible, unique, and kind group of kids.

We shared those things with them and they shared it with each other too,” added Moore.

On the last night of the trip, students shared about their middle school years-- what they learned, what they appreciated, and what their fears were for next year as they enter high school. Students empathized with their classmates and offered listening ears while reflecting on both their middle school journeys as well as their eighth grade year. Afterwards, they moved to another activity: a display of photos of each eighth grader in the class.

Middle school students and teachers left Concan with so many great memories. “You get back and you feel like you know these kids in a whole new light -- it makes a huge difference in the classroom or on the court,” said Moore. “We didn’t think we’d be able to do anything this year, so there were a lot of positive spirits. The adults and the kids were all so happy. Everyone came away with big smiles on their faces.”

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Giving Back Jacob Family Steps Up for St. Andrew’s and Austin Communities Ryan and Anne Jacob joined the St. Andrew’s

community two years ago when daughter Colby Jacob ‘27 started in the 5th grade. They knew immediately they wanted to make a difference within the St. Andrew’s community, and have made incredibly impactful gifts each year to both the St. Andrew’s Fund and the Financial Aid program. Most recently, they led the Financial Aid charge with a generous $250,000 matching challenge, helping to more than double the fundraiser's original goal. But the Jacobs have not only been generous to the St. Andrew’s community; they’re initiating philanthropic change across Austin.

This spring, after they had rallied the St. Andrew’s community to support Financial Aid, Anne heard that the annual Angelman Syndrome Foundation walk in Austin wasn’t going to happen as planned. Angelman Syndrome, a rare neuro-genetic disorder, is a cause close to the Jacobs’ heart— their son Grayson, 2, was recently diagnosed with the disorder. The AS Foundation Walk is an event with locations across the country and an important fundraiser that helps support affected families with therapies and resources. Anne, not one to shy away from a challenge, dove in to organize and promote the Austin walk, making sure that it was a success.

Not stopping there, Ryan and Anne Jacob also pledged a $500,000 donation to The Arc of the Capital

Oliver, Anne, Colby, Ryan and Grayson Jacob (left to right)

Area this May. The Arc is a nonprofit organization that promotes and protects the human rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, which includes individuals with Angelman Syndrome. Their transformative gift will go a long way toward supporting children similar to Grayson and their families. Just like Anne and her work with the AS Foundation, Ryan is not content to limit his involvement to donations and also volunteers as the vice president for The Arc of the Capital Area Board of Directors, a generous commitment of both time and energy.

At St. Andrew’s, we emphasize the importance of the Servant pillar to our students, both within the St. Andrew’s Community, in the Austin area, and across the globe. Ryan and Anne exemplify this pillar in every way. They have made a strong commitment to give charitably to our school and the community, but also invest their own time and talent to involve and motivate others across Austin. We are so grateful and proud to have their family be leaders in our St. Andrew’s Community and know that they will continue to do great things for SAS and beyond.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 15

This Year's Work in Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging: Building the Beloved Community

Ms. Kenny talks with 1st graders about creating a Beloved Community.

By Priya Kenny | Lower and Middle School Co-Director of DEIB

During this admissions season,

I was delighted to help our wonderful admissions team in interviewing families who have students that would like to attend St. Andrew’s. At the end of every interview, families have the opportunity to ask their own questions. They are mostly logistical in nature: “What is the schedule like?”; “What is the average tenure of a teacher?”; “What kind of food will my child be eating?”.

I’m usually ready for these questions and have notes prepared (and during this Zoom-heavy year I’ll also confess to scrambling to check the website for a few).

One family had several questions on our work on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), and as we wrapped up they delivered one last question that had me flummoxed: “When will this work be complete?”

Silence. And then more silence. And then some more which got a little bit awkward. I finally sputtered out with, “Never, it’s never complete, I don’t have a checklist of when we have arrived” St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 17

Priya Kenny teaching faculty about the identity molecule.

Our Year in DEIB Work While the family seemed satisfied, my answer has bothered me ever since.

who work in Episcopal Institutions (and, indeed, was our chapel theme for the 2020 -2021 school year).

Practically, I doubt this work will be complete in my lifetime, either in our society or at St. Andrew’s, because we are in, and of, our greater society and while we like to think of our campus as an island of grace and understanding, the problems and inequities that exist beyond our grounds are not shed at our gates.

In a document released this year, the church said,:

But of course, I am not the first person to grapple with this question of what the conclusion of this work would look like. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., a trained pastor, called the end “reconciliation.”

“The end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the Beloved Community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opponents into friends. ... It is this love which will bring about miracles in the hearts of men.”

“Beloved Community” is a familiar phrase to those of us 18

“Jesus laid out the fundamentals for any who would follow him when he said, “The first [commandment] of all is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:29-31). The Beloved Community is the body within which we promote the fruits of the spirit and grow to recognize our kinship as people who love God and love the image of God that we find in our neighbors, in ourselves, and in creation.”

It is also a concept we reach to in our own and new diversity statement, which reads: “St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is committed to building a beloved community of learning that embraces diversity,

champions justice, and honors the dignity of every human being.”

At St. Andrew’s, of course not everyone is Episcopalian and we strive to provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for people of all faiths, or none. But we do draw on our Episcopal identity to set our course, and I think these principles can be understood and honored by all. Our DEIB program seeks to support our children who do not look like, speak like, or have the same faith of many of their classmates.

And because St. Andrew’s tries to grow the whole person in our students, not just the academic mind, our program also seeks to prepare all our students to have the language and understanding to interact with the wild tapestry of individuals they will encounter in their adult lives, to personally treat them with dignity, and to insist that others treat all persons with dignity, including themselves.

With that in mind, here are some of the accomplishments of the DEIB program this year: ■ We created dedicated chapel programming for K - 8 that increases visibility of underrepresented and marginalized identities to help our students have a better understanding of families and individuals not common in many of their daily lives.

■ We increased the visibility and cohesiveness of FOCUS (Families of Cultural Understanding), our group for all families that wish to take a more active role in reconciling the differences and barriers between different kinds of peoples in our community.

■ We designed and taught DEIB lessons to Lower School classes using the Learning for Justice curriculum standards.

FOCUS chair, Monica May, and her daughter Alexis May talking about Hispanic Heritage Month on Zoom.

■ We expanded and elaborated our affinity group programming.

These are just some of the initiatives that we have made progress on this school year. As always, this work can’t be boiled down to this checklist and the progress on these initiatives will always be ”in progress”.

"Our Favorite Day of the Year" was one read-aloud that Ms. Kenny recorded for chapel.

■ We helped implement a WARAG (White Anti-Racist Affinity Group) for white members of our community who wished to be more proactive in their lives about racial reconciliation.

■ We developed an onboarding model for new faculty members that especially affirms and supports faculty of color to address retention rates.

■ We hosted DEIB and allyship development trainings for faculty, staff and parents.

To go back to MLK, if and when there is full reconciliation of all God’s children and the redemption of all our hearts, I do think I could close up shop and move on, maybe go back to teaching Middle School Science (my former job). Until then, St. Andrew’s will continue preparing our students for a moral life in a troubled world, and to proactively work on helping all our community members shed the scar tissue that impedes our ability to recognize our common kinship and to see and love the image of God in our neighbors, ourselves, and in creation.

The work of our department continues to grow from the silos that it started from with the goal being that every part of our St. Andrew’s community will be viewed through this lens.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 19

From the College Counseling Office Applying to college during a pandemic

This fall there were so many, many things we

simply did not have answers for regarding the year for the seniors. Will we have Spring Formal? We don’t know.

Will graduation be like my brother’s a few years ago?

Well, probably not quite like that but maybe also not quite

?

like last year’s joyful yet very unique car parade. Will we get into college even though we have pass/fail grades, truncated resumes, no standardized test scores and we haven’t seen any college campuses? This question was actually a relief because we had an answer. YES! Yes, you will! Of that, we were 100% sure. And they did.

We asked our seniors: What are some words you would use to describe your college search process?

■ "My overall college process was both rewarding and stressful. Choosing the college I felt fit me like a glove overwhelmingly made up for any stress associated with the process."

■ "Stressful, exciting, rewarding."

■ "Tedious but gratifying."

?

What is something you learned about yourself during the college decision process?

Seniors pose with the colleges their peers are attending at the Senior Grill Out.

■ "I had never worked so hard on something before. It was a lot of work but I now know I am capable of that."

■ "I have different interests and there is no 'perfect school.' " ■ "That I know what I want and should follow my gut."

?

If you were going to offer advice to the Class of 2022 about their college decision process, what would you say?

■ "You’ll end up where you’re supposed to be."

■ "Start early. Do as much as you can as early as possible."

■ "Ask for help if you need it."

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Enjoying lunch al fresco after planting the first wildflowers in the brand-new Alumni Wildflower Garden.

Jumping for joy at Senior Grill Out!

Seniors celebrating the colleges they will soon be attending.

And while it’s tempting to focus on the end result, for the Class of 2021

Analicia Castillo and Aaliyah Gutierrez-Cano enjoy the Senior Carnival.

especially, we mustn't forget the journey.

What we saw this year was the creativity of students in the face of setbacks, the resilience of students in an everchanging world, and the kindness of students as they looked out for one another, whether it was through wearing masks or reaching out to a friend about whom they were worried. These attributes are some of the biggest gifts they have to offer their next communities and are some of the skills that will help them navigate life. Congratulations, Class of 2021 - we are so proud of you!

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Upper Scho

11th GRADE AWARDS Science Awards

Fine Arts Awards

Michaela Mgba, Cecile McWilliams, Julia Cotlar, Ella Parker, and Krista Drako

Michael Barrow, Mackenzie Soldano, Emma Bien-Lambeth, Bray Stratton, Jenna Schneider, Avery Wayne, and Luke Weaver

History Awards Cecile McWilliams, Daphne Nguyen, and Kavya Srinivasan

Math Awards Josh Gilbert, Julia Cotlar, Johnny Bennett, Alejandra Vidaurri, Daphne Nguyen, and Luke Weaver

English Awards Cecile McWilliams, Laney Goodrum, Johnny Bennett, Alejandra Vidaurri, and Elle Garcia

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2019ARE WE GRADUATION SCHOLARS

Language Awards Cole De Giacomo, Cecile McWilliams, and Bering Edwards

Religious Studies Awards Vivien Champ, Ella Parker, Michael Barrow, and Sabrina Kalmans

Presidential Service Awards Mackenzie Soldano and Mia Tobias

ool Awards

10th GRADE AWARDS Science Awards

Fine Arts Awards

Katie Bradley, William Sykes, Annie Li, Morgan Harrison, and Beau Diede

Karsten Lyle, Ariana Gutierrez-Cano, Arwyn Heilrayne, Meredith Shaw, Jake Gooch, Annie Li, and Katie Bradley

History Awards Mark Greenberg, Lucy Ward, and William Sykes

Math Awards William Sykes, Annie Li, and Morgan Harrison

Language Awards Emma Kim, Lucy Ward, Meredith Shaw, and William Sykes

Religious Studies Awards Nadia Hsu and Ines Martinez

English Awards

Presidential Service Awards

Meredith Shaw, Nadia Hsu, Karsten Lyle, and William Sykes

Mark Greenberg, Morgan Harrison, Naomi Remington, and Sophia Singh

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Upper School Awards

9th GRADE AWARDS Science Awards

English Awards

Anna Belle Moncrieff, Kara Killeen, and Pruett Fedorowicz

Allison Flores, Kara Killeen, Finley Ahearn, and Bella Benke

History Awards

Fine Arts Awards

Kara Killeen, Matt Gilbert, Kacie Jagger, Ava Walrath, Pruett Fedorowicz, and Anna Belle Moncrieff

Grayson Coffin, Grant Drake, Sofiya Herter, Finley Ahearn, Elle Foster, Caroline Cotlar, and Ava Walrath

Math Awards

Language Awards

Matt Gilbert, Bella Benke, and Ava Walrath

Kara Killeen, Pruett Fedorowicz, Scout Tuttle, Jack Blaha, Owen Almy, and Rory O’Hara

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116,000+ HEALTH CHECK-INS

200+

6,137

GALLONS OF HAND SANITIZER

COVID TESTS

COVID by the Numbers

The 2020-2021 school year was a challenge for us all, but it also gave us so many opportunities to show our commitment to community. When we look back, it's almost too big to process. Instead, we would like to share a few numbers that help illustrate the enormity of what we've overcome together.

Thank you to everyone who helped us keep students safe and learning this year.

In gratitude,

Amanda Boardman, Director of Health Services ■ Anne Kim, Lower and Middle School Nurse ■ Kathryn Kidd, Upper School Nurse

LOWER SCHOOL

194,576 HOURS OF ZOOM MEETINGS

SPENT 6 WEEKS IN HOME LEARNING 30 WEEKS IN PERSON LEARNING

10,000+

MIDDLE SCHOOL

KN95 MASKS DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS*

UPPER SCHOOL

* in partnership with Texas Department of Emergency Medicine

SPENT 7 WEEKS IN HOME LEARNING 30 WEEKS IN PERSON LEARNING SPENT 8 WEEKS IN HOME LEARNING 29 WEEKS IN PERSON LEARNING

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First Grade Authors Present Fiction and Nonfiction Books

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This year, our first graders made their debut as authors, writing both fiction and nonfiction books throughout the year as part of their curriculum.

In February, the students wrote books on topics that interested them, writing about everything from frogs to how to play Mario Kart!

These books were intended to educate the reader on the topic at hand, which involved lots of research and several drafts of their teaching books. The first graders presented their books to faculty, staff, and fellow students. The students also created QR codes to hand out so people could also read the books digitally. Fellow students were able to read each other’s books and add feedback, compliments, or questions for the author.

Later on in May, the first grade authors moved onto narrative writing, building on the skills they honed during the writing of their teaching books. First graders presented original fiction books like The Little Lizard, Shark Boy and Shark Girl, and The Three Explorers. Many students even recorded themselves reading their own books and displayed a QR code next to the book so audiences could hear the audiobook.

We are so proud of the creativity and new skills displayed by these students during their first grade year!

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Lucy Bowles presents her project.

Eighth Grade Puts In Work at Project Citizen Civics Fair Project Citizen is a hugely important part of the eighth grade year, an

experience that leads our middle schoolers into high school with the heart of both a scholar and a servant.

During their final trimester, all eighth grade students undertake an experiential project aimed to encourage civic engagement. Students select an issue of concern to them and, incorporating their previous coursework at St. Andrew’s, are asked to become experts on their topic, create an actionable plan to improve or solve their issue, and present that plan to the community. They do this by

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connecting with local community members, interviewing local civic leaders, and much more.

On May 5, eighth graders presented their projects at the Civics Fair, which spanned a staggering array of topics.

Both students and faculty were so proud of the research and work that went into these projects, and the eighth graders gained a valuable understanding of their lives as active, engaged, and well-informed citizens. On the next pages, you’ll find the topics that each eighth grader focused on -- ask them about their topic when you see one of these students!

Andrea Osteicoechea talks to Steven Garcia about her Project Citizen topic.

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ABOVE: Sloan Golson with her project on sleep deprivation in students.

BELOW: Eighth graders sharing their research and knowledge in Dell Hall.

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Civics Fair participants and projects Representation in Children’s Literature - Lucy Bowles ■ Austin’s Land Development Code - Elis James ■ Insulin Affordability - Parker Hall ■ The Effects of Pay to Play Sports - Liam Metschan ■ Bacteria and Pollution in Shoal Creek - Laila Antonini ■ Gentrification in Austin - Annika Rathouz ■ Treatment of Immigrants in Texas Detention Facilities - Nia Trevillion ■ When School Is Out: Child Hunger in the Summer Aydan Key ■ Women In Tech - Andrea Osteicoechea ■ Rural Healthcare in Texas - Maximus Nguyen ■ Genetic Research for Heart Disease - Martina Faini ■ LGBTQ Bullying and Suicide - Bea de Montfort Walker ■ Lack of LGBTQ Education - McAlpine Kirkland ■ Medical Marijuana - Brooks Tolany ■ Sleep Schedules’ Effects on Student Stress & Academics - Sloan Golson ■ Student Mental Health Issues During COVID Giulia Faini ■ Preventative Care for Colon Cancer - Joseph Emmett ■ Improvement of Children’s Literacy - Sofia Wesbecher ■ Storage of Renewable Energy - Xander Gilson ■ Homelessness in Austin - Caroline Goldman ■ The Effects of Chronic Wasting Disease in Texas Andrew Nelson ■ Transportation Mobility in Austin - Wyatt Torres ■ Segregation in Austin - Coco Malina ■ Supporting Austin Musicians - Ava Hanners ■ Cybersecurity Issues with Companies in Texas Collin Hayes ■ Access to Mental Healthcare Support in Texas Carrie Beth Hempfling ■ Euthanization in Texas Animal Shelters - Emme Orchid ■ Rising Cybersecurity Threat During the Pandemic Nate Howard ■ Cost of Non-Allergenic Foods - Major Jaimes ■ Are Schools Effectively Preparing Students for Their Future? - Grace Berry ■ COVID’s Effects on Special Education Students Zain Osborne ■ Blue-Green Algae & Zebra Mussels in Lady Bird Lake - Zaina Khattary ■ Triploid Grass Carp in Lake Austin - Luke McGrath ■ Food Insecurity in Austin, TX - Ashton Knisely ■ Pay to Play Sports for Lower-Income Families Max Chasen ■ Mental Effects of Imposter Syndrome in the Workplace - Cassia Lee ■

Stock Market Manipulation - Marcus McWilliams The ADHD Iceberg - Bo Carpenter ■ Gerrymandering: What To Do - Luke Paddock ■ Lack of School Choice in Lower-Income Districts Rase Mast ■ Animal Homelessness in Austin - Finn McGehee ■ Cryptocurrency & Security - Michael Willi ■ Unequal Access to Technology in AISD During COVID-19 - Harper Luthy ■ Dreamer Experience in Texas’ Schools Cawthra Burns ■ Effects of Social Deprivation on Adolescent Development - Jake Near ■ Mental Health Education in Schools Caroline Simmons ■ Affordability of Organized Youth Sports - Luke Dial ADHD Students - Kaitlyn Zimmermann ■ Child Sex Trafficking in Texas - Fiona Nield ■ Disabled People & Unemployment in Austin Megan Dempsey ■ Food Insecurity in Texas - Hiram Burns ■ Addressing Animal Cruelty in the United States Hannah Bailey ■ Mental Health Issues for Female Adolescents Josie Powers ■ Gentrification in Austin - Cole Preston ■ Mental & Emotional Abuse in Gymnastics Abigail Simonds ■ Banned Books - Marguerite Shelton ■ Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness - Elisabeth Shanks ■ Cognitive and Developmental Disabilities - James Hill ■ Education on Chronic Illnesses in Children Lark Adrian ■ Effects of COVID on Austin Music Scene Townes Lawrence ■ Brain Injuries in Youth Sports - Roland Sims ■ Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Assault and Survivor Experience - Sonia Singh ■ Alternatives to Standard PET Plastics - Alex Stumpf ■ Management of Austin Landfills - Matthew Sykes ■ Eating Disorder Recovery Centers - Emerson Lee ■ Texas Water: Quality and Rights - Julia Caramelli ■ Gaming Addiction - Abel Castillo ■ COVID & Impact on Local Bars - Aiden Weinheimer ■ Lack of Pediatric Rheumatologists in the US Arden Seifert ■ Funding for Prostate Cancer - Adelle Greenberg ■ S.L.M.P (Student Lunch Nutrition and Production) Aidan Embestro ■ ■

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The Show Must Go On Putting On Musicals During a Pandemic Photography by Peggy Keelan

Putting on a spectacular musical is a feat in itself, but try putting one on while also examining different mask models for sound quality and fog levels! Masks were only one of the many challenges faced

by Middle and Upper School Theater Directors Jason Kruger and Rick Garcia as they put on their respective spring musicals with their talented casts.

Cast members of "Oliver."

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Emily Mulva and the cast of "Evita."

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WE ARE ARTISTS

Cast members of "Evita."

The Show Must Go On From academics to athletics to fine arts, COVID-19 presented all kinds of conflicts to how life at St. Andrew’s typically operates. “It was an endless series of challenges, but I was so proud of what our kids managed to do,” said Kruger. The annual musicals in both Middle and Upper Schools are always an impressive spectacle, made all the more impressive this year considering the circumstances. In the month of April, the middle school cast put on Oliver and the Upper School performed Evita, both on the steps outside of the Dell Fine Arts Center.

Not only were the performances done outdoors, but they were done in a completely different configuration than what any performers were used to. Actors are trained to play to an audience “full front,” or facing the audience. In these performances, the audience was in a semi-circle formation so performers had to perform diagonally on the steps in order to play to them.

“Necessity is the mother of invention, and the circumstances forced us to be creative,” Kruger said.

When they couldn’t use the state-of-the-art facilities at the DFAC, which allow performers the opportunity to do all kinds of special effects, the directors got to work on figuring out how to create a spectacle outdoors.

Kruger and Garcia worked with professional union stage carpenters to build out an elaborate set on the porch of the Dell Fine Arts Center, to be used in both Oliver and

Evita. The team built up towers, bridges, and platforms on the porch to emulate the dynamic feel of a theater set.

Special care had to be taken to light the massive outdoor stage and provide a wash of color to set specific moods in different moments of the show.

Naturally, masks were a part of the performance. With cast members’ mouths covered with a mask, the directors saw a problem -- it was jarring to an audience when a voice projected but an audience could not tell where it was coming from. Kruger and Garcia transitioned to clear masks, but then noticed the difference in the sound quality that resulted from the plastic masks. Clear masks also fogged up from so much heavy breathing from singing and dancing. After experimenting with several different kinds of clear masks, the directors finally landed on suitable ones for the lead roles that didn’t fog as much and allowed for clear sound quality.

The extent of what the cast and crew of these two musicals could accomplish during a pandemic is truly remarkable. Resilience, adaptability, and creativity were abundant among this group. Their perseverance to keep the arts alive and well during this unusual school year is something to be admired. Congratulations to every single talented person who helped make these shows a reality!

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FROM TOP LEFT: Eugenia de

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e la Garza Montfort in "Evita", cast members of "Oliver," cast members of "Evita", cast members of "Oliver," cast members of "Evita."

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A Year in the Arts Our St. Andrew’s artists went above and beyond this school year, showing off their unique talents and persevering through a challenging year. From Lower School plays to visual art exhibitions at the Upper School, here’s a look at just a fraction of what our incredible students and faculty were able to accomplish during a school year like no other.

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The "SAS Proud" wall mural project spearheaded by Rebecca Harrell.

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Lower Schoolers in the Spring Performance Festival.

The year wrapped up for Lower School visual arts with a beautiful installation that celebrated the points of pride throughout a challenging school year. The “SAS Proud” mural was the brain-child of art teacher Rebecca Harrell, who had all Lower School students write something they were proud of on a Post-it note whose color corresponded with that student’s grade level. She then used the colorful notes to craft a beautiful rainbow mural that celebrated so much that our students had accomplished this year. Faculty and Staff contributed what they were proud of to the black notes that made up the letters “SAS PROUD”.

In celebration of performance and the springtime, the Lower School hosted a Spring Performance Festival featuring the work of Third, Fourth and Fifth grade actors and musicians. The Amphitheater was transformed into a world in the clouds, as fifteen performances spanned the course of a week for audiences of students and families alike. Third graders performed stories from various cultural traditions in A Story Extravaganza, which included an original Gamelan-inspired musical piece created under the direction of Mrs. Bourland.

Fourth graders brought the world of Roald Dahl to life in their spectacular performance of The BFG. Fifth grade Theater students celebrated the theatrical tradition of ancient Greece in their adaptation of The Odyssey by 44

WE ARE ARTISTS

Lower Schoolers in the Spring Performance Festival.

Lower Schoolers in the Spring Performance Festival.

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Mr. Mayers's World Music Percussion group, The Hairy Potatoes.

Gregory Falls. Students dedicated the performances to all those who have worked "behind the scenes" to keep them safe and healthy during the last year. Fifth graders in World Music Percussion performed their Springtime Around the World Concert. Mr. Donald's group, the Green Pickled Goblins, and Mr. Mayers's groups, the Hairy Potatoes and the Wonky Donkeys, performed.

The students in Mr. Donald’s class performed the music for the 4th grade production of The BFG, while Mr. Mayers's classes played the music for the 5th grade production of The Odyssey.

In the Middle School, Mr. Donald's Dingos and The Uncle Drews, and Mr. Mayers's group, The Savage Shreks, performed in their Springtime Around The World concert. Seventh grade World Music Percussion performed a Silent Film Concert 46

WE ARE ARTISTS

Mr. Mayers's World Music Percussion group, The Wonky Donkeys.

where they composed, rehearsed and performed an original soundtrack to the movies Sherlock Jr. & The Lost World. Eighth grade Advanced Percussion Ensemble performed along with the Middle School Band in their end of year Spring Concert.

In addition to performing as the

percussion section with the band, they also performed their own percussion ensemble piece titled "Drum Jam." St. Andrew’s had 3 Middle School students earn a spot in the Region Band. Major Jaimes '25 on euphonium and Alex Stumpf '25 and

Upper School Choir, Rock Band, Orchestra, and Theater students.

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Wyatt Torres '25 on clarinet. Several Middle School students performed at the Texas Private School Music Educators Association Solo and Ensemble Festival, with many students earning Superior ratings of 1st division. Arun Somaney ‘27 on flute, Nina Urban ‘27 on clarinet (1st division), Daniel Antonini ‘27 on trumpet (1st div), James Dalton ‘26 on trumpet (1st div), Enzo Hsu ‘26 and Xander Jenkyn ‘26 on trumpet duet (1st div). Congratulations to these outstanding musicians!

Major Jaimes, Alex Stumpf, and Wyatt Torres, who all earned spots in the Region Band.

Our Upper School artists truly flourished throughout an unusual year, churning out theater performances, musical arrangements, visual art exhibitions, and so much more, all in new and unique ways. In visual arts, students worked both in person and at home to create innovative process-driven sculptural work and sketchbook entries. Two major projects of the year were shields created to enhance the fall theater performances as well as 12 foot tall Kierans made from stacked papiermache which stand outside the art room as a reminder that “we have passed this way.” The work of visual arts culminated with a gallery exhibition on April 21 where our talented artists were able to showcase their work from the year. The exhibit showed pieces from a variety of mediums, with all kinds of imagery being explored.

In filmmaking, thirteen selected film students were awarded grants to attend the Young Filmmakers Program at the Austin Film Festival. Nicholas DeBalko’s '21 film “Quarantine Knight” was screened at the festival as part of the Young Filmmakers Film Program -- hundreds of films were submitted and Nicholas’s was one of ten to be selected for competition. Avery Wayne '22 organized and hosted a virtual film screening at St. Andrew’s as part of the ConnectHER’s International Day of the Girl Film Event. After the event, Avery coordinated and facilitated the film discussion with audience members.

In music, our Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Rock Band, and Select Choir, along with 48

WE ARE ARTISTS

Raquel Garcia '21 with one of her pieces.

students from our Master Keys Piano Club, all performed in their annual Winter and Spring Concerts. Some students were home learners and some were learning in person, but each artist worked closely with a professional videographer to bring music to our community. Rock Band and Jazz Band collaborated at the end of the

Visual art by Upper School students.

school year with an effort known as Project Alchemy, where members of both bands combined to form two totally new bands. Band members were able to try out new instruments and push their creativity, while also recording and performing songs with their new bands.

Like most things at school, theater had to completely shift gears when we returned back to in-person learning, but our performers took the changes in stride. The Senior Directing class produced four productions -- Eugenia de la Garza Montfort '21 with The Lyons, Guy Crickmer with Lady Windemere’s Fan, Shelby Pomeleo-Fowler '21 with a radio production of Prometheus, The Godfather, and Christian Brown '21 with Six Women Wearing The Same Dress. Acting 1-2 class performed What I Did Last Summer outdoors in the sculpture garden. Students were happy to take on the challenge of theater during a pandemic, and executed their productions with all kinds of creative safety measures in place.

Our emphasis on the arts is one of the things that makes

Rommel Eclarinal assists film students Nicholas DeBalko and Annie Li.

St. Andrew's special, and a pandemic couldn’t stop our dedicated team of fine arts faculty and students from creating art. From theater to music to visual arts, we couldn’t be prouder of everything they have accomplished throughout this year.

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Walking the Walk

By Josh Blumenthal | Associate Athletic Director

When prospective families step foot onto either of the St. Andrew’s School campuses, they often are greeted by Steven Garcia ’02.

The Director of Middle School Admissions/Assistant Director of Upper School Admissions and Head Varsity Baseball Coach can most certainly walk the walk and talk the talk around both the campuses (and diamond).

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A member of the school's inaugural graduating class, he has taken the same courses, played on the same fields, and now years later, continues to give back to the place he has called home for over a quarter of a century.

“Steven truly embodies the spirit that is St. Andrew’s School,” said Director of Sports Medicine Abby Elliott.

“His competitive yet caring nature has been a blessing unto all that know him, and I am personally lucky to call him a great friend.”

As a mentor and coach to countless numbers of families and baseball players, his exceptional efforts were recognized with the awarding of the prestigious Lucy Collins Nazro Faculty Service Award in 2019.

On the admissions front, Steven helps lead prospective families through the application process, creating a professional and warm atmosphere for all.

As a former assistant coach and current head baseball skipper since 2010, he has sent numerous players on to the NCAA level, including three professional baseball players (Sam Selman ‘09, Scott Politz ‘15, and Andrew McInvale ‘15).

When asked, his former players most often agree on the wonderful experience they received with him in their corner.

“I met Steven Garcia for the first time when I was a freshman at SAS, and he was in his first year in the

admissions office and helping out with the baseball team; 16 years later he still greets me every time with his big smile and a 'hey buddy,' ” said San Francisco Giants Pitcher Sam Selman ’09. “His office became a safe haven from the school day and a place to unwind and tell jokes or vent about high school. I am so thankful that he took time out of his day to make mine a little better. It is his warm personality and genuine care for people that makes SAS a wonderful place,” he added.

“Coach Garcia has truly been a father figure for me, and someone who continues to have a lasting impact on my life,” added current Haverford College baseball player Chase Samuels ’20.

With Garcia at the helm, more accolades will surely continue to come the school’s way, as well as hopefully some more professional baseball tickets to boot.

“His office became a safe haven from the school day ...It is his warm personality and genuine care for people that makes SAS a wonderful place.”

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Highlanders Boast Three NCAA Division I Athletes, Tie All-Time School Record

By Josh Blumenthal | Associate Athletic Director

Cammie Guttell '21

Women’s Beach Volleyball Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Fort Worth, TX

For just the third time in the history of St. Andrew’s, the athletics department boasted three NCAA Division I signees during the 2020-21 school year.

The National Letter of Intent (NLI) signings, which occurred during a live Upper School Chapel this past November, featured three recent graduates from the class of 2021. In addition, two of the three signees were among the first-ever SAS alumni to compete in their sport at that specific collegiate level.

In addition, the following student-athletes also signed NCAA celebratory letters, and will compete at the Division 3 level this fall.

Cade Kilbride '21

Men’s Lacrosse Lafayette College Leopards Easton, PA

Kristin Fowler '21 (Swimming at Trinity-SA)

Trenton Jackson '21 (Basketball at Southwestern)

Becker Jackson '21 (Soccer at Centre)

★ Sawyer Staloch '21 (Lacrosse at Emerson)

Congrats student athletes!

Lauren Lietzke '21 Women’s Volleyball Marist College Red Foxes Poughkeepsie, NY

Gehrig Zimmerman '21 (Basketball at Gordon)

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Students of the Year Two juniors raise money for cancer research and earn coveted title When SAS student Rico Beuerlein ‘22 first heard about the Student of the Year program through Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), he wasn’t quite sure what he was signing up for. But after the year-long effort with his partner and fellow Student of the Year candidate, David Greskovich ‘22, they and their teammates raised nearly $200,000 for leukemia and lymphoma research, earned the Students of the Year title, and learned more than they could have ever imagined.

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Team Picture Front Row L t

e: Back Row L to R: Mr. Booth, James Jackson, Rico Beuerlein, David Greskovich, Cole De Giacomo, Ben Ingram-Eiser to R: Lindsay Kayser, Annie Goldman,Caroline Anderson, Parker Short, Arman Rokhsaz. Missing from photo: Kendall Hall

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SAS Juniors Raise Nearly $200K For Leukemia and Lymphoma Research Rico found out about the program, in which nominated high school students across the country spend six to eight weeks fundraising in honor of a local patient battling blood cancer, via a family friend, and Rico quickly asked David if he’d like to be his teammate. They began working on their campaign just as COVID-19 was forcing quarantines across the globe in the spring of 2020, and after a short hiatus during the summer, got to work in earnest when they returned to school in the fall. Their first step was to recruit a team of students who were hardworking, focused, and could help them reach their goals. They found ten SAS students for their team—all classmates from the Class of 2022—and quickly began setting up meetings with potential sponsors, generating ideas for networking, and laying the groundwork to bring in as many donations as possible as soon as the sevenweek fundraising period started.

When asked about what they learned in the process, they both noted that communication skills and organization were some of the most valuable skills they developed and honed. This process forced them to put systems in place to be as efficient as they could be, and work through trial and error to find the best ways to communicate. Rico noted the importance of staying on top of his email inbox and how much more difficult that was than he’d ever realized (we can all relate, Rico!).

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WE ARE SERVANTS

donors. Creating clear processes and time management were both something they learned a lot about throughout, while balancing their school work, other responsibilities, and the countless hours they spent working on their campaign.

Their hard work paid off; they reached their original goal of $50,000 early in the fundraising period, and extended their goal only a couple weeks into fundraising. They ultimately ended up needing to extend their goal five more times, and surprised even themselves with their total of $188,498 raised in only seven weeks. They quickly realized that time, dedication and perseverance were going to be their keys to success, with Rico noting that “it’s kind of cliche, but you’ll only get out of it what you put into it.” During a year where in-person events and face-to-face meetings weren’t an option, they had to be focused, organized, and dedicated to get where they wanted to be. St. Andrew’s is incredibly proud of the commitment Rico and David, as well as their ten teammates made to this difficult yet rewarding process.

There is no doubt the skills they developed will prove valuable to them throughout their lives. But by far the most rewarding part of the process for both Rico and David was knowing they were able to help so many people with the money they raised. “Winning is obviously great, but seeing the effect [we’ve made] on the people who have been affected by blood cancer and their

With their fundraising initiative, Rico and David raised awareness for blood cancers like leukemia, the most common form of cancer in children and teens.

gratitude was pretty special,” David said.

Early on, one person in particular had become a focal point of their campaign. Mr. Booth, an Upper School math teacher of 12 years, has a son named TJ who had recently been diagnosed with lymphoma. When David and Rico learned this, they immediately decided to run the campaign in TJ's honor.

The 29 teams in the Central Texas chapter raised a total of $973,382 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, with Rico and David’s team accounting for 19.3% of the total, and earning them the Students of the Year title. With this honor also comes college scholarships,

as well as the opportunity to attend a cancer research symposium in New York City later this year.

When reflecting back on their campaign and the year of work they put in, David and Rico are humbled and grateful for all they’ve learned and those they’ve been able to help. The experience has given them a taste of how rewarding volunteering and helping others can be and they both plan to explore other ways they can help moving forward. As they move into their senior year at St. Andrew’s, we are so proud and grateful to have such outstanding members of our beloved community.

Congratulations, Rico and David!

“Winning is obviously great, but seeing the effect [we’ve made] on the people who have been affected by blood cancer and their gratitude was pretty special.”

David Greskovich

A Student of the Year winner, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS)

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Julia Villareal '26 and Addy Zimmerman '27 help out at a volunteer event after the winter storm.

'Look For The Helpers' Aid During Winter Storm Uri From suffering a power grid failure

to frozen pipes and lack of running water, Texans had never faced a winter weather crisis like Winter Storm Uri. Residents all over the state were stuck in freezing homes and often searching desperately for food and water, left with little guidance on when the situation would improve.

Throughout this crisis, the bond our school has built was felt. Friends offered extra firewood, a warm bed to sleep in, or just a listening ear to acknowledge a stressful time. Even as we suffered ourselves, our hearts broke watching the suffering of our neighbors. St. Andrew’s Chaplains Ashley Brandon and Whitney Kirby offered resources to the community, identifying places to volunteer for emergency food and water distribution as well as direct relief organizations that needed donations.

Even when the snow had thawed, our SAS community helped neighbors in need. Many students and faculty 58

Jacob Sela '27 and Melissa Sela at the volunteer event.

Beatrice de Montfort Walker '25, Zain Osborne '25, and Sonia Singh '25 alongside Mayor Pro Tempore Natasha Harper-Madison and Chaplain Ashley Brandon.

members volunteered at a massive emergency food, water, and supply distribution event put on by the Austin Texan Musicians group at the Millenium Youth Center. Students sorted items and loaded cars with essential supplies for those who were still affected by power outages and other lasting effects from the storm. At the distribution event, students were able to meet Mayor Pro Tempore Natasha HarperMadison, who had recently spoken in Chapel. After volunteering, HarperMadison spoke to the students on the importance of being a servant leader in their community.

Community and solidarity is wonderful to have during good times, but critical to have during a crisis. The winter storm -- though

The St. Andrew's campus blanketed in snow after Winter Storm Uri.

devastating in its destruction and long-term effects -- revealed to us the goodness inherent in humans, a goodness that we can often overlook.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 59

The Class of 2025 Congratulations to the Class of 2025 who celebrated their graduation from middle school in Nazro Hall on May 26.

We’re so proud of this outstanding group of 8th grade students and wish them all the best as they begin their high school careers.

The Class of 2025 India Lark Adrian* Laila Jehangir Antonini* Hannah Taylor Bailey Grace Lolita Berry Lucy Tweedy Bowles* Cawthra Reed Burns Hiram Latham Burns Julia Brooke Caramelli John Bohman Carpenter Abel Castillo Max Bennett Chasen Quentin Minquan Zhu Day Beatrice Elizabeth De Montfort Walker Megan Eloise Dempsey Luke Christopher Dial Cannon Dunaway 60

2021 GRADUATION

Aidan Angelo Embestro Joseph Emmett* Giulia Faini* Martina Faini* Alexander Edward Gilson Caroline Jane Goldman* Sloan Caroline Golson* Caroline Adelle Greenberg Parker Ross Hall* Ava Jane Hanners Collin Hayes Carrie Elizabeth Hempfling James Chandler Hill Nathan Whittaker Howard Michael Jaimes Lewis Samuel James

Aydan Key Zaina Noel Khattary Ann Mcalpine Kirkland Ashton Michael Knisely Townes Chapman Lawrence Cassia Rose Lee Emerson Reese Lee Harper Jomarie Luthy* Coco Marie Malina Rase Alexander Mast Julia Jones Matthews James Finnegan McGehee Luke Barry McGrath* Blakeley Marsha McMurrey* Marcus Ross McWilliams* William Michael Metschan

Commencement 8th GRADE AWARDS Outstanding members of the eighth grade class were honored with the following awards:

Faculty Medal Xander Gilson

Costas Medal Luke McGrath

Grooms Medal Lucy Bowles and Sonia Singh

Athletes of the Year

Jacob Whitney Near Andrew Phelan Nelson* Maximus Quangvinh Nguyen Fiona Gwynne Nield Emerson Elizabeth Orchid Zain Matthew Osborne Andrea Carolina Osteicoechea Luke Weber Paddock Josephine Reagan Powers Cole Ford Preston Annika Siri Rathouz* Amelia Jane Schwartz Arden Rada Seifert Elisabeth Moody Shanks Marguerite Joy Shelton* Caroline Blake Simmons*

Abigail Simonds Roland Schoppaul Sims Sonia Priya Singh* Alexander Stumpf Matthew Joseph Sykes* Brooks David Tolany Wyatt Thomas Torres Nia Nyanga Trevillion* Margot Ann Tully Aiden Weinheimer Sofia Wesbecher Michael Joseph Willi Kaitlyn Ann Zimmermann *with distinction

Grace Berry, Cannon Dunaway, Luke Dial, and Caroline Simmons

Kay Hart Service Award This award is given for outstanding

commitment to community and service

Parker Hall

Community Steward Award This award is given for exceptional servant leadership at St. Andrew's

Marguerite Shelton St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 61

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Class o M

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After a year filled with uncertainty about how

next days, weeks or months would go, it was only fitting that just hours before the Class of 2021 commencement ceremony was scheduled to begin, it was unclear if it could happen as planned. The night before, a strong storm swept through Austin, scattering hundreds of chairs, damaging audio visual equipment, and making the status of the ceremony feel oddly familiar: unknown.

But in true St. Andrew’s spirit, faculty, staff, board members, parents and friends all came together to ensure that the Class of 2021 could have the celebration they deserved.

In a beautiful outdoor ceremony on the evening of May 29, families, friends, faculty and staff gathered on the football field of the Southwest

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Parkway campus for the much an for the Class of 2021. They heard their classmate Charlie Welland ‘2 graduates as they crossed the sta

The warm, breezy evening conclu and an impressive fireworks show Association. In a year that has be small amount of stress, we are so and determination shown by this c their next steps, and hope they’ll k successes as they begin their nex

For photos and the recording of th class-of-2021

of 2021 C

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nticipated commencement ceremony d from faculty member Linh Tran, 21, and cheered on each of the 94 age and received their diplomas.

uded with a gorgeous Texas sunset w generously provided by the Parents’ een full of questions, “pivoting,” and no o proud of the hard work, resilience, class. We wish them all the best in keep in touch about their joys and xt adventures.

he ceremony visit www.sasaustin.org/

The Class of 2021 processes to the stage to the cheers of family and friends.

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Clockwise from top left: 1) Senior speaker Charlie Welland addresses his class. 2) Jake Garcia is all smiles with his new diploma. 3) Shelby PomeleoFowler, Eugenia de la Garza Montfort, Nina Jourdan, Kristin Fowler, Tristan Gallagher, Helen Chapin-Eiserloh, Alec Perry, and Thomas Daniel. 4) Guy Crickmer receives his diploma from Sean Murphy. 5) Faculty speaker Linh Tran addresses the crowd in her speech.

ABOVE: Senior boys enjoyed conversing with bagpiper Mike Olsen before the ceremony!

BELOW: Seniors singing the traditional hymns as part of the graduation ceremony.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 65

Senior A DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS The History Awards Stephen Andrulis and Madeline Sweany

The English Awards Evelyn Berry, Josephine Dowd, and Camryn Evans Stephen Andrulis and Madeline Sweany

The Packwood Math Awards Cade Kilbride and Emma Schmidt

The Science Awards Jack Havemann, Caroline Parker, and Bunny Pease

The Mandarin Language Awards Raquel Garcia and Kristin Fowler Evelyn Berry, Josephine Dowd and Camryn Evans

The Spanish Language Award Aislin Lyman

The Latin Language Award Emma Schmidt

The Warren Dickson Music Awards John Burrows and Caroline Parker Emma Schmidt and Cade Kilbride

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2019 GRADUATION 2021

Awards

The Visual Art Award Zach Bernard

The Drama Award Eugenia De La Garza Montfort

The Technical Theater Award Jack Havemann, Caroline Parker, and Bunny Pease

Christian Brown

Theater Production Award Guy Crickmer

The Kethan Kumar Filmmaking Award Nicholas DeBalko Emma Schmidt, Aislin Lyman, Kristin Fowler, and Raquel Garcia

Caroline Parker, Christian Brown, Eugenia De La Garza Montfort, John Burrows, Guy Crickmer, and Zach Bernard

The Religious Studies Awards Annabel Briggs, Camryn Evans, and Trenton Jackson

Trenton Jackson, Camryn Evans, and Annabel Briggs

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 67

PILLAR AWARDS

The Scholar Awards Evelyn Berry and Josephine Dowd

This award is given to a senior for outstanding academic achievement, passion for learning, and pursuit of excellence.

The Artist Award Sawyer Staloch

Living life creatively and pursuing a fine art with passion, this student has shown the tremendous growth and intention required for following an artistic path.

The Athlete Awards Cade Kilbride, Trenton Jackson, and Millie Sunshine

This award is given to that senior whose dramatic impact on the Athletics program and model sportsmanship has inspired their teammates and fans.

The Scott Field Bailey Servant Awards Maria Tobias and Emma Schmidt

This honor, named in memory of one of St. Andrew’s founders, is reserved for that senior whose dedication, selflessness, and deep concern for others best exemplify the St. Andrew’s ideal that its students lead productive and responsible lives in their community.

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GRADUATION AWARDS The Hilary H. Carlson Award Lauren Lietzke

By charting a path of dramatic growth throughout their individual high school journey, this senior exemplifies the tenacity and composure of the founder of the Upper School.

The Lucy Collins Nazro Award Christian Brown

Created to honor the former head of school, in recognition of her love of this school and her ability to unite and inspire others, this award goes to that remarkable senior who contributes in thoughtful ways to improve the life of the St. Andrew’s community.

The Cornerstone Award Camryn Evans

Established to commemorate the pioneering Class of 2002, this award recognizes that outstanding senior whose principled audacity and original thinking push the school to be a better version of itself.

The Saint Andrew Award Trenton Jackson

St. Andrew's fosters a sense of each person's belovedness and the desire to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being.”

The winner of this award embodies the spirit of our school’s foundation.

The Faculty Prize Cameron Guttell and Louise Lerner

This award is given to that student whose curiosity, positive energy, and supportive attitude consistently improve the classroom experience for fellow students and for teachers, regardless of discipline.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 69

Class of 2021 Grayson Ceballos Albright

Ashwin Gupta

William Timothy O’Brien

Stephen Duchon Andrulis

Alexis Monique Gutierrez-Cano

Kathryn Ann Odama

Bailey Jordan Bartee

Cameron Shayne Guttell

Zachary Okayli Masaryk

John Howard Bellingrath

Oneida Ikaze Habarurema

Caroline Elizabeth Parker

Zachary Luke Bernard

Jake Scott Harper

Lucas James Parker

Evelyn Caruth Berry

Jack David Havemann

Jude Lawrence Parrish

Catherine Claire Biggar

Hannah Renee Hayes

Emily Madison Stuart Pease

Lindsay Meredith Borgerding

Sofia Josefina Huston

Colton John Pepe

Robert Buford Botkin

Avery Eileen Ingram

Alec Christopher Perry

Annabel Mckenzie Briggs

Benjamin Carter Jackson

Alexander Joseph Pinkerton

Christian Elijah Brown

Trenton Amon Jackson

Shelby Mark Pomeleo-Fowler

Malcolm Holton Burns

William Becker Jackson

Theodore Pierce Richard

John Weltmer Burrows Iv

Eli Bryan Johnson

Melina Victoria Ruelas

Jake Shea Callahan

Lila Claire Josey

Samantha Gaye Santa Cruz

Aidan Hiro Canada

Nina Renee Jourdan

Emilia Danielle Luongo

Analicia Marisol Castillo

Cade Patrick Kilbride

Schmidt

Helen Katherine Chapin-

Lillian Faith Kruger

Ethan Dean Young-Ku Shaffer

Eiserloh

Maddox Menno Kunik

Hawken Drake Sharples

Ava Gail Clark

Ethan Nicholas LeBlanc

Leonardo Silva

Liam Mann Cohagan

Louise Remick Lerner

Kern Singh-Rehani

Guy Baker Hollon Crickmer

Lauren Elaine Lietzke

Sawyer Patrick Staloch

Thomas Houston Daniel Jr.

Aislin Blair Lyman

Jackson Cole Stout

Eugenia De La Garza Montfort

Avery Lynch

Camille Riddling Sunshine

Nicholas Alexander Debalko

Aidan Cole Madoff

Madeline Lane Sweany

Sophia Arabella Delconte

Jack Crawford Malone

Rayyan Asif Syed

Josephine Marie Dowd

Fabiana Martinez

Maria Anne Tobias

Camryn Cecilia Evans

William Stanton McDonald

Kate Laughlin Vandergriff

Kristin Taylor Fowler

Vera Oksana Milam

Avery Weinheimer

Tristan Reid Gallagher

Emily Elizabeth Mulva

Charles Royer Welland

Jacob Thomas Garcia

Nina Isabel Naples

Josephine Yoon Yung Willman

Raquel Teresa Garcia

Cole Joseph Nascone

Thomas Conrad Wissemann

Sofia Alejandra Gonzalez

Montserrat Inés Nieto

Gehrig Scott Zimmerman

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College Choices of 2021 St. Andrew's Graduates American University

Southwestern University

Austin Community College

St. Edward's University

Bard College

St. John's College

Belmont University

Texas A&M University

Berklee College of Music

Texas Christian University

Boston University

Texas State University

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

The George Washington University

Carroll College

The University of Texas at Austin

Centre College

The University of Texas at San Antonio

College of Charleston

Trinity University

Colorado School of Mines

Tufts University

Colorado State University

Tulane University

Emerson College

University of Arizona

Georgetown University

University of Arkansas

Gordon College

University of California - Los Angeles

Holy Cross College/University of Notre Dame

University of California - San Diego

Gateway Program

University of Chicago

Lafayette College

University of Colorado at Boulder

Lamar University

University of Denver

Marist College

University of Georgia

Miami University - Oxford

University of Michigan

Middlebury College

University of North Texas

New York University

University of Oregon

Northeastern University

University of Southern California

Northwestern University

University of St. Andrews

Oberlin College

Vanderbilt University

Ohio State University

Washington University in St. Louis

Oregon State University

Wesleyan University

Pace University

Wheaton College

Pratt Institute Rice University

(some schools have multiple attendees)

Sewanee: The University of the South

(some students are taking a gap year)

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 71

Essen

Sarah Wilson '92 puts essential A When COVID-19 forced

the world into lockdown in March of 2020, Sarah Wilson ‘92, a multimedia storyteller, was one of the many people whose work was not considered “essential”, bringing it to a grinding halt.

With her work on pause, and sheltering in place with her family, Sarah spent a lot of time thinking about people who hadn’t,

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or rather couldn’t, stop working, w were calling “essential workers”. S about women essential workers, were also mothers. She thought a health and the health of their child the food service workers putting i public safety workers balancing in

ntials

Austin workers in the spotlight

what media and news outlets She thought particularly knowing that many of them about the nurses risking their dren to care for sick patients, in incredibly long hours, or ncreased work demand with

increased needs at home. It was on women that increased unpaid care work in lockdown, such as children homeschooling or elderly family members needing assistance, seemed to be falling.

As she considered all of these challenges, Sarah said, she became “especially grateful for the workers that are keeping

Sarah Wilson's '92 ESSENTIALS installation

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 73

our community safe and moving forward. I started to think about the women workers, many of whom were juggling responsibilities at home while facing this public health crisis due to their essential work.

Inspired by these women, I felt an overwhelming need to recognize their courage.”

After much thought about how to recognize these women, Sarah conceived of a project she called ESSENTIALS, which was to be an interactive public art project honoring front-line women workers in Austin. These women would be photographed (in a safe outdoor setting), and then those portraits printed and pasted larger than life on different buildings around the city.

Sarah received initial funding from the Dougherty Arts Center and Austin's Museums & Cultural Program’s ArtsResponders: Social Practice Responds to COVID-19, and put out a call for nominations of women essential workers in Austin.

have been installed and can be found at five participating locations throughout Austin, at Perry Lorenz, the AFL-CIO, the Native Hostel, AgavePrint, and the future site of The Linden Residences. ESSENTIALS also has an online presence that can be found at sarahwilsonphotography. com or on Instagram @essentialsatx.

Of the more than 100 nominees she received, Sarah selected 15 women to photograph for ESSENTIALS. As of May 2021, 12 of the 15 portraits

The Essentials Project caught the attention of many as the nearly twostories-high portraits began to pop

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up around Austin. You can find media coverage of the project in Austin Monthly, The Austin Chronicle, Peta Pixel, KVUE, KXAN, KEYE, and Fox 7 News. Once she completes the final three portraits, Sarah hopes to continue to grow the project, bringing it to other towns in Texas, the U.S., and around the world. SAS is proud to have alumni like Sarah using their talents to support these hard-working members of our community.

Sarah Wilson '92 poses with two portraits from her "ESSENTIALS" installation.

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ALUMNI NEWS ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

SPRING/SUMMER 2021

Martha Pincoffs ‘92 has been busy with

her podcast, 3 Righteous Mamas, and recently featured two fellow SAS alums: Jenna Bush Hager ‘96 and Sarah Wilson ‘92.

Jenna Bush Hager ‘96 was featured on episode 25, in which she told her story about growing up in the spotlight, and talked about her St. Andrew’s experience while her father, George W. Bush, was Governor of Texas.

“We went to a lovely middle school that was also my mom’s idea,” Jenna said.

“St. Andrew’s where...it just was really small and inviting, and it’s like, no matter who you were you felt comfortable.”

Jenna, who is the co-host of the fourth hour of the TODAY show, also recently interviewed St. Andrew’s own Gilbert Tuhabonye, pictured above, whose running club she joined while attending the University of Texas. Gilbert’s portrait was painted by George Bush as part of his new book, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.

The following episode of 3 Righteous Mamas featured Sarah Wilson ‘92, who was invited to speak on how art builds empathy. Sarah is a professional photographer, who has taken on assignments such as prom at the Texas School of the Blind and Visually Impared, the 2011 wildfire in Bastrop, TX, and the aftermath of the murder of James Byrd, Jr. in Jasper, TX. Her most recent project, Essentials: Portraits of Austin’s Essential Women Workers, consists of 19-foot-tall portraits you can find on the sides of buildings in downtown Austin. (See story on pages 76-79.)

“I think it's about our shared humanity, but it’s also about everything that’s so different about all of us. How amazing it is that we’re so different, that somehow that brings us all together.”

Look up 3 Righteous Mamas anywhere you get your podcasts!

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ALUMNI NEWS

Emily Dix ‘08 is heading

to Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH to be an Assistant Professor of Psychology.

Sydney Burrell ‘10 recently

moved back to Austin after 10+ years in California. Welcome back!

Mary Alice Sherman ‘12

writes, “On April 18, 2021 I got engaged to my long-term boyfriend, Sam Moon. We met on a blind date in London four years ago while I was living and working there.

I'm now living in Austin, TX and working as an Account Manager for Archipelago Analytics.”

Flo Clemons ‘09 writes that she and fellow alum Adair Cummings Belisle ‘09 are embarking on an exciting new project together! “We are opening a Wine Bar and Bottle Shop - Pecos Provisions - in the heart of Tarrytown. We are so excited to share this news with the SAS community.

Right now, we are in the crucial period of fundraising for and further developing this project and are looking forward to opening our doors to the neighborhood in December 2021!”

Here they are in 2009, and more recently with Merritt Bury ‘09!

Tori Harrison ‘08 and her

wife Rebecca welcomed their first child, Elliot Ruth “Ellie” Harrison on February 17, 2021 during the historic snow storm in Austin.

Here’s a photo of the happy family on their first Mothers’ Day!

Emma Hine ‘09

Taylor Mezaraups ‘09 received

her Ph.D. in PsychologyCognitive Science from the University of Texas at Austin. Her coauthored article, titled Allometric Scaling Laws for Temporal Proximity in Perceptual Organization, will be published in Psychological Review later this year.

launched her debut poetry collection, Stay Safe, in January 2021.

Her work received the Kathryn A. Morton Prize and was published by Sarabande Books.

Her book launch was celebrated by Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn.

Trace Turner ‘13 writes,

“I will be directing an outdoor production of Roger’s and Hammerstein’s, The Sound of Music, at the foot of Mt. Helena in Helena, MT as part of Grandstreet Theater’s Summer Season.”

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 77

Elisabeth Foster ‘15

will be attending American University in the Fall to pursue a MA in International Affairs with a concentration on Global Governance, Politics, and Security.

Daniel Buffington ‘16

writes, “My business partner & I are building, leasing, & selling teardrop trailers in Colorado.”

Check out www.Terracraftoutdoors. com for more information!

Sarah Buffington ‘16

graduated from UT with a Master of Science in Marketing degree in May 2021.

Sophie Dolan ‘16 graduated from Wellesley College in May of 2020 and began working at Bloomberg LP in NYC.

Caroline Graves ‘16 writes,

“I will be graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Government and a B.S. in Public Relations. This summer, I will start working for Google as an Ads Support Strategist.”

Taylor Thompson ‘17

graduated from University of Virginia in May 2021. During the Valedictory Exercises, Taylor was awarded the Community Service Award as a fourthyear architecture student. In addition to this huge honor at UVA, Taylor was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award at St. Andrew’s Day in 2019 for his devotion to service.

An article in UVA Today wrote, “Serving as the president of UVA’s Habitat for Humanity Club since 2018, Thompson has pushed for affordable housing units within the Charlottesville community and on a national scale by working at both the U.S. and international branches of Habitat. He has also represented UVA on Capitol Hill and has lobbied senators for the implementation of affordable housing.”

Taylor celebrated this prestigious award, and his graduation, with his family, including sister Kyla ‘20 (wrapping up her first year, also at UVA) and Katelyn ‘23.

After a successful collegiate baseball career at Liberty University, Andrew McInvale ‘15 has been called up to the minor league New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Elizabeth Ketner Winterroth ‘04 was named on Austin Monthly’s Top Docs for Kids list in April of 2020, under the General Pediatrics category.

The list is created from peer nominations from physicians in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties.

Ashley Voticky Langer ‘04 writes, “My husband Greg

Kendall Sealy ‘11 won District Teacher of the Year in the Lake Travis Independent School District.

Cameron Pepe ‘15

just completed his Masters in Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech, after completing his BS, making him a “Double Jacket” with a 4.0 in each! He is starting a job as a Product Manager for Apple in Austin.

and I welcomed our baby girl, Dawson Marie, on February 23, 2021. Mom and dad are beyond thrilled with our new bundle of joy.

Big brother Brice loves helping take care of his new sister and showering her with love.”

Jacob Marcus ‘20 is attending Northwestern University.

Camille Pinkerton ‘17 will be continuing her

education at Grand Central Atelier in Brooklyn, NY, where she’ll be studying drawing and oil painting.

At Rice University, Adrian Almy ‘19 directed and wrote for Hello Hamlet!, a prerecorded rendition available for streaming on the Weiss Tabletop Theater YouTube Channel. Teddy Gilman ’20 played Ophelia.

Austin’s Radio Coffee and Beer, owned by Jack Wilson ‘02, won Best Coffeeshop in the Austin Chronicle’s Best of Austin Readers Poll for the 5th year in a row!

Jackie T. McFadden ‘80

is working as the Communications Director for St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wimberley, TX.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 79

Emily Dyer Simons ‘03

welcomed her 4th child, and first baby girl, Archer Evelyn Simons on December 15, 2020.

Lily Kincannon ‘17 and Emma Collins ‘18, pictured here in 2020, met for a picnic in Forsyth Park, Savannah. Lily and Emma have been fortunate to share a few happy moments together during the pandemic as Lily continued her Carnegie Mellon courses remotely, and Emma has visited her sister Julia who's attending the Savannah College of Art and Design. Emma is studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh.

Bass-baritone Gabriel O’Shaughnessy ‘17 graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a degree in vocal performance in May 2021.

In May, Kate

Zapalac ‘14

graduated from Duke University with her MBA and a Master of Management Studies.

Kyle Quick ‘10 and his fiance, Brittany, were married at Hotel Van Zandt on June 5th.

Michael Fitzpatrick ‘10 writes, “During late 2020, Alec Garza ‘10 started Evolution Private

Investment Collective, and I was his first hire. Our firm makes private markets more accessible by providing institutional quality investment opportunities for financial advisors and their clients. Alec is the Managing Partner and I lead Business Development and Investor Relations. Prior to founding Evolution Private Investment Collective, Alec spent 6 years at a multi-family office in Denver, CO where he was Director of Investments, responsible for all due diligence and portfolio construction. Prior to relocating to Denver from Los Angeles - where I had lived for 10 years - I spent time as a management consultant at PwC and Lead Merchant Acquisition for Uber Technologies. At present, our firm manages just shy of $100m across two funds for 70 families, and this year we are keenly focused on developing new relationships with financial advisors in Colorado, Texas, and the western United States. If this isn't enough evidence of the strong SAS alumni network, then I would also highlight that one of our fund investments is managed by Pennybacker, an Austinbased real estate fund, where Brett Zimmerman ‘10 is Vice President of Investments. Also, while I was at Uber Technologies, I worked alongside Lindsey Lansky ‘10 for a little under 2 years.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Sophie Mesches ‘17 graduated in

Walton Schmidt ‘17 graduated magna

May from TCU with a BS in Early Childhood Education/ Special Education.

This Fall, she will pursue a Master's in Special EducationLow Incidence/ Severe Disabilities on academic scholarship at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education.

Aileene Rosales ‘16

welcomed a baby boy, Andrew, on September 8th 2020!

cum laude with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an Aerospace concentration, as well as minors in Math and Italian Studies, from Hofstra University in May 2021. He’s also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Italian Honor Society.

Gabriel A. Kennedy ‘18 will be entering his senior year at Southern Methodist University this Fall. As a triple major, he will earn degrees in finance, economics, and public policy. In addition to his academic work, Gabriel has been a Division I athlete, competing in SMU’s men’s swimming team and earning two academic allconference awards. His presence at the Hilltop has also included being the founder and executive chairman of the SMU chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity and participating in a variety of service, fund-raising activities, and diversity-based organizations.

This summer, Gabriel will be heading up to New York City, where he will enter FTI Consulting's prestigious internship program within the Mergers & Acquisitions practice. He hopes to utilize this opportunity to guide and inform his plans for post-graduate studies and develop a career in the field of finance.

Mackenzie Henson ‘17

Christian Erben ‘17 graduated Cum

Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Southwestern University.

graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Civil Engineering and a concentration in Construction. She has accepted a position as Project Engineer with Saunders Construction in Denver.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 81

Marsha Russell's Farewell Celebration

After 20 years of service to St. Andrew’s, our alumni community celebrated the retirement of Marsha Russell. Alumni logged into a Zoom room full of Marsha’s former students, colleagues and friends, to hear and give toasts to “their Queen”. They were surprised with a lecture from Marsha herself on lessons she has learned from art. Thank you to our Toasters: Matt Kelly (US English Teacher, College Counselor), Elita Gao '18, Lily Kincannon '17, Chongchao “Robbie” Li '16, Annika Ostrom '16, Maria Alzaga '15, Will Beuerlein '14, Quinn McCall '10, Emily Dix ‘08, Daniel Cantilo '06, Lacy Alana '04, Lauren Dill '04 (US Latin & History Teacher), Caroline Pinkston '04 (Former US Faculty Member), Veronica Putney (US Spanish Teacher) and Susan Kemner Reed (Former US Faculty Member).

Julia Barcenas ‘17

graduated from The University of Texas - Austin on May 22, 2021 receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree In Communication Studies.

Alumni Volunteer Day

On March 27, alumni gathered for the first time on campus in over a year for a volunteer day with Director of Outdoor Education, Greg Mele. The project? Building a new Alumni Wildflower Meadow, where future generations of alumni can plant wildflower seeds. This project laid the groundwork for our Class of 2021 to be the first to plant seeds in the meadow. A big thank you to Kyle Fadal ‘05, Kyle Quick ‘10, Nick Osella ‘13, Madeleine Mele ‘15, Laine Porter ‘15, Sara Buffington ‘16, Anna Jackson ‘20 and Will Snider ‘20 for coming out. There will be more chances to volunteer in Fall 2021, so make sure to keep alumni@sasaustin.org up to date with your contact info!

Ryan Bishop ‘08 writes, “I'm blessed to

be finishing my chief resident year at the UTSW Pediatric Residency Program, and I've matched to Baylor School of Medicine for Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship. My brother, Travis Bishop ‘11, is a 1st year Med-Peds resident at Baylor as well, and my sister Rachel Bishop ‘11 is in her first year of physical therapy practice in San Antonio after finishing an orthopedic PT residency at Methodist Houston. We're thankful to have come through the SAS educational system!”

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ALUMNI NEWS

Dane Powell ‘03 and his

wife Teresa welcomed their first child, Maya (5 lb 2 oz), on May 18, 2021.

Over $1,000,000 Raised For Financial Aid in Spring Fundraiser In many ways, St. Andrew’s

annual Gala for Financial Aid is our most important event of the year. It’s a night to gather for great food, music, and dancing, but more importantly, it’s a night to raise funds for our Financial Aid program, which directly supports our deserving students. Every year, the Gala raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for tuition assistance, and while we had hoped 2020 would be the only year we had to go without a traditional in-person gala, the decision was made to cancel the 2021 Gala based on conditions in Austin at the time.

Though the gala itself was canceled, the need for tuition assistance was greater than ever, so the Fundraising Committee pivoted.

Instead of a traditional silent and live auction, the committee chose to raffle off not one, but twenty-five amazing items at affordable price points so that everyone could participate. The mega-popular Free Tuition Raffle from last year was brought back with great excitement, and items like a new XBox and a weeklong stay at a beautiful Cinnamon Shore beach house were also raffled off. After a few weeks of selling raffle tickets, the fundraiser would culminate with an outdoor concert for families by The Spazmatics, complete with food trucks and announcements of the raffle winners during the show.

Hearing the new plan for this year’s fundraiser and noticing the need for tuition assistance, St. Andrew’s

families stepped up to the plate to give. With the generous support of Ryan and Anne Jacob, who gave a $250,000 gift, and Brian and Adria Sheth, who also gave a $250,000 gift, along with every single other contributor, our community was able to raise over $1,000,000 for financial aid this year, a staggering success.

Though weather prevented the concert from going on as planned, the incredible amount raised for Financial Aid was the best way to

end a rollercoaster of a school year.

Save the date for our rescheduled Celebration Concert with The Spazmatics taking place on August 29, 2021. All previous RSVPs will be honored. We hope to see you there! Thank you to each and every person who donated to this cause, ensuring that bright, motivated, and talented students have access to a St. Andrew’s education, no matter their financial situation.

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St. Andrew’s Episcopal School 1112 West 31st Street Austin, Texas 78705