St. Andrew’s Sewanee School
Not all Classrooms have Walls A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF SAS
2024–2025
This issue of the magazine highlights the stories of the 2024–25 school year. We are pleased to give you an up close and personal look at the daily activity in our new Outdoor Learning Complex, made possible by our generous supporters.
From the Head of School Dear Friends, Each new school year at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee brings with it a sense of renewal, and 2024–2025 was no exception. As you read through our magazine, you’ll see that our students explored boldly—whether through independent study projects, Winterim, or a spring break trip to Costa Rica. They continue to embrace new and creative ways to learn. Last year also featured exciting moments in the arts. We were fortunate to host Broadway actor Kristen Stokes, who spent several days on campus mentoring our theater students, and we had our first “Battle of the Bands” competition. We welcomed new faculty, launched new COMPASS projects, and continued to benefit from our strong partnership with the University of the South. Through it all, we’ve remained grounded in our mission—to inspire students to lead lives of honor and loving service to God and others. By the time you are reading this, we will have kicked off the 2025–2026 school year by welcoming familiar faces back to campus and bringing new students into the fold. Our community is also celebrating the opening of our new 3,600-square-foot Outdoor Learning Complex (OLC). Designed primarily for outdoor adventure programming, the OLC features a mountain biking pump track and a bouldering wall, which will be put to good use by our mountain biking team, climbers, and adventure education students alike. These spaces will challenge students physically, foster leadership and confidence, and deepen their connection to the Mountain that we all call home. Thank you to all who supported us last year—through your gifts to our record breaking SAS Fund, attendance at gatherings, participation in alumni events, or simply by staying connected. Your belief in the work we do here is critical to our ongoing success, and we remain grateful as we move through each day of the new school year. Enjoy the magazine!
St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School Magazine Published annually by St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School Editors Tracy Randolph & Lucy Rudman Photography Lucy Rudman, Julius Welch Design Allie Cahoon (’08) Head of School Karl J. Sjolund Director of Advancement Jo Lind Weaver Director of Enrollment Robert Black Marketing & Communications Tracy Randolph - Director 290 Quintard Road Sewanee, Tennessee 37375-3000 Phone 931.463.2118 Email trandolph@sasweb.org Special Thanks to Contributors Cassie Allen, Stephen Brehm, Elizabeth Clark Duncan, Molly Short, and Will Eyerly Mission Honoring its Episcopal heritage as an inclusive Christian community, St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School offers a superior college preparatory education, bringing all students to a richer spiritual, intellectual, social, physical, and aesthetic awareness so that they might lead lives of honor and loving service to God and others. Vision St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School inspires students to live lives of active curiosity, lifelong learning, and loving service. We challenge our students to fulfill their greatest potential while teaching them how to cultivate balance and joy.
Warmly, Karl J. Sjolund Head of School
On the cover: Mountain Biking teammates wait for a turn on the pump track, part of SAS’s new Outdoor Learning Complex, which also includes a climbing gym for the Climbing Club. Read more about it on page 16. Photo by Julius Welch.
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FEATURES
CONTENTS
16 Simply Amazing
6 New Faces
SAS Outdoor Learning Complex
8 Campus News
22 Down to Earth
12 Awards
SAS Secondary Arts Education Cultivates Shakerag Workshops
24 Service in the Clouds
14 Senior Moments 20 Arts & Performing Arts 28 Board of Trustees
Spring Break in Costa Rica
29 Class Notes
26 Stray Fossa
30 Alumni Weekend
An Ocean Apart, SAS Band Still Makes Music
32 In Memoriam Contents | 5
New Faces
Jo Lind Weaver was named Chief Development Officer in January. With more than twenty years of development experience with independent schools and other educational endeavors, Weaver has a proven track record of strategic planning and implementation of development objectives. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Aquinas College. Charles Houston Beaumont (’95) joins our faculty as learning resources coordinator and mathematics teacher. Beaumont has more than 20 years of experience as an exceptional education teacher, developing and implementing individualized education plans (IEPs) to help students maximize their success. A long-time resident of the mountain, Beaumont also has experience as a wilderness counselor and an Episcopal summer camp director. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in multidisciplinary education. Margo Cloniger brings her extensive teaching experience in arts and literacy to the Humanities faculty as an English teacher. She is passionate about student voice, experiential learning, storytelling, and personal narrative. Certified as a Montessori educator, she holds a 6 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology and sociology from UNC Asheville. Cloniger is also an experienced home-school educator. Larson Heitzenrater (’19) joins the faculty full-time as Associate Admissions Counselor and Varsity boys’ basketball head coach. Larson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Wofford College and brings sales and management experience to his role. For the past two years, he has served as head coach of the Middle School boys’ basketball and soccer teams. Rob Zeitler will now serve as the head coach of the Middle School boys’ basketball team. Michael Kochinski is our Father Flye Fellow, teaching mathematics and adventure education and assisting with mountain biking, climbing, and cycling. A graduate of the University of the South, Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and has worked in animal husbandry with the Foothills Wildlife Research Facility in Fort Collins, Colo., and as leader of the reforestation crew with EcoForesters in Asheville, N.C. Photo: Charles Houston Beaumont, Margo Cloniger, Larson Heitzenrater, and Michael Kochinski (Jo Lind Weaver not pictured).
Save the Date
Stay in Touch
OCTOBER 8
Blessing of the animals OCTOBER 6 & 13
Admissions Preview Day OCTOBER 18-21
Fall break
NOVEMBER 11
Admissions Preview Day NOVEMBER 22-30
Thanksgiving break DECEMBER 10
Cumberland Christmas DECEMBER 19-JANUARY 5
Christmas break
JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 1
Play: A Midsummer Night’s Dream FEBRUARY 9-13
Winterim What a great shot of a place that holds some special memories. I can smell the frankincense from here in Colorado.
Follow SAS and join the conversation! “SAS is the most beautiful boarding school campus in the world.”
FEBRUARY 16
Admissions Preview Day MARCH 4-15
Spring break MARCH 26
Day of Giving APRIL 5
Easter
APRIL 22
Earth Day MAY 1-3
Musical: Alice By Heart
“I’m grateful for the memories I made with my friends when I was at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee. Will never forget that place.” Also on Youtube @StAndrewsSewanee and sasweb.smugmug.com
MAY 17
Commencement MAY 26
SAS Summer Start MAY 29-31
Alumni Weekend JUNE 17 -20
Shakerag Workshops Stay in Touch | 7
Campus News
Advanced Chemistry Class Field Trip
Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet Jericho Brown Reading
One of the benefits of our close relationship with the University of the South is the annual visit of the Sewanee Review’s Aiken Taylor Award for Modern American Poetry. We had the distinct honor of welcoming Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown to campus last fall for a reading. After two incredible introductions from Malia Carlos, holder of our Fort Chair in Writing, and Zhuri Price(’25), Brown read from all three of his poetry collections, answered student questions, and hung back to chat with our community members. Brown’s most recent published collection, The Tradition, was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award and the winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Special thank-you to Kate, Birdie, Luke, and Eric at the Sewanee Review, to humanities faculty Tracy Randolph and Kinion Asmus for coordinating his visit, and to Jericho Brown himself for sharing his poems, his incredible mind, and his infectious joy with our community.
Dr. Terry’s Advanced Chemistry class attended the 75th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Atlanta. Recent alumna Onawa Henson (’24) took a break from Tennessee Tech to attend the conference and present the research she began with Anja Dombrowski (’24) at SAS during their Advanced Chemistry class in 2023. Dr. Terry and the students attended poster sessions and presentations with scientists, recruiters, and students from regional universities, the American Chemical Society, and the American Association of Chemistry Teachers. Students found inspiration from the conference for a final project in Advanced Chemistry in the spring. This trip was made possible by the generosity of SAS alumna Ashley Carr (’05), the Vicar at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Atlanta, who allowed the class to stay in their fellowship hall. We also thank St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta for allowing us to park the SAS bus just a few blocks from the convention center.
Tri-Tree Activities
On April 1, the community gathered for a school-wide game of Ships & Sailors, which is like “Simon Says,” but much more complicated. Pink, green, and yellow t-shirts filled the gym, as students competed for the #1 spot and points for their tree. 8 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
Cumberland Scholars Fall Retreat
Over Fall Break, 12 upperclassmen traveled with our Outdoor Education and Place-based Learning Coordinator Michael Short to the beautiful mountains of North Carolina for the annual fall retreat. The trip included hiking, cooking, hair-braiding, game-playing, fire-building, and, per the requirements of our Cumberland Scholar distinction, a lesson and situation-based scenarios on Wilderness First Aid. Working in pairs or in groups, our students responded to the needs of our 12th grade “victims,” whether that was a broken leg, altitude sickness, or a bike crash. The trip ended with a sunset hike, rounding out a relaxing, beautiful weekend in nature.
Photo Credit Luis Wayenegger (’26)
Chattanooga Lookouts
On Friday, August 30, Mrs. Close, International Student Coordinator, and Dean Phillips, Dean of Students, took a group of 14 students to a Chattanooga Lookouts game for an American cultural experience. Among the group were 10 who had never been to a baseball game before. From the moment the vans left campus, students enjoyed each other’s company by providing a driving soundtrack, collecting stress relief baseballs prior to entering the stadium, explaining the game to others, catching fly balls, getting autographs, and navigating the concessions. The smell of hotdogs, sausages, and popcorn only added to the overall atmosphere. Following the game, fireworks lit up the sky, and Mrs. Close and Dean Phillips tried to tire everyone out by encouraging them to run the bases. Many of them did.
Campus News | 9
Campus News
Field Trip to the University Archives
SAS celebrates Engineering Week
In February, the Tennessee Society of Engineers celebrated Engineering Week at the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) by inviting several high schools in the vicinity to send students for an engineering design competition. SAS students Sam Weintraub (’26), Mark Rogers (’27), Thomas Kessen (’26), and Eli Matthews (’26) entered the competition in Tullahoma. They formed two teams of two and were given a scenario of moving ping pong balls through an obstacle course without touching them; the project was designed to simulate the movement of radioactive materials. The SAS team of Kessen and Matthews placed second overall in the design competition, winning a $75 gift card each! Congrats, y’all, and we’re so glad you had the opportunity to compete and show off your skills. 10 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
The SAS Place-Based American Studies course took a trip next door to the University of the South’s archives to check out historical documents, maps, and photos related to Sewanee’s very own Ely Green and his autobiographical book, Ely. Set in Sewanee, Tenn., at the turn of the 19th century, the titular character Ely recounts his early life in Sewanee as a black boy, son to a white father and a black mother and the turning point that led him to his own racial awakening at nine years old. Examining the University’s archival documents from the late 1890s and early 1900s allowed the class to contextualize Ely’s narrative in the historical landscape in which he grew up. Afterwards, Dr. Woody Register, founding director of the University’s Roberson Project on Race, Slavery, and Reconciliation, took the class to the University cemetery and spoke on the team’s efforts to gather information and learn about the lives of the Black people buried in the graveyard. Thank you to the University Archives and Dr. Register for being such gracious and informative hosts.
MLK Day: On Jan. 20, SAS students and faculty observed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Seven “teach-in” classes related to the civil rights movement and service activities were offered during the day. Several students also participated in reading excerpts from a speech by Dr. King during morning announcements.
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Jake Owensby Speaks at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee’s Bishop Reynolds Forum
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Jake Owensby, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana and chancellor of the University of the South, visited campus as our 2025 Bishop Reynolds Forum speaker. Many students joined him for lunch. The community then gathered in McCrory Hall, and Madelyn Ryan (’25) introduced Rev. Owensby, who delivered a lively talk, weaving in stories from his own life to address jobs versus vocations, difficult conversations across belief lines, and loving and accepting oneself as a creation of God. Students asked thoughtful questions, and Rev. Owensby sincerely and lovingly connected with our community.
Visit from Author Christina Soontornvat
In the fall, we welcomed author and current parent Christina Soontornvat (Elowyn ’28, Aven ’31) to campus to present her book, All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team. The book combined on-the-ground interviews with in-depth research and a first-hand account as she watched the original events unfold in Thailand while visiting her family. She took us through the struggles and triumph of the team with an excellent presentation, images, and diagrams of the cave, pictures from her interview trip and the boys’ communities, and even a selfie with the soccer team themselves. Soontornvat also spoke on growing up Asian-American and not seeing her face represented in the books she read. She shared her lifelong love of reading and stories and her journey to becoming a best-selling author with more than 25 books published and available for purchase. Campus News | 11
Awards
WMTN Station Wins Award! Early during spring break, a small group of our WMTN DJs traveled to New York City for the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference. The students attended numerous conference sessions led by industry professionals, including a keynote session featuring Al Roker of NBC’s Today! Three of our DJs, Zhuri Price (’25), Sam Weintraub (’26), and Griff Wilson (’26), were nominated for awards, which is an honor in and of itself. Although Wilson was unable to make the trip, his fellow DJs cheered loudly when he was announced as the winner in the Best Station ID category! Our radio DJs returned excited to put the ideas they learned at the conference to use at WMTN and look forward to returning to NYC next spring with hopes of bringing home more awards.
National Merit Scholar Award
Class of 2025’s Toby Van de Ven was named a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program! He was presented with a Letter of Commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in recognition of his achievements. Van de Ven, class valedictorian, is now a freshman at Williams College. Congratulations all-around!
National Latin Scholars
Our Latin students took the National Latin Exam (NLE) and nine students’ scores surpassed the national averages of 18 countries, earning certificates and medals at four levels of proficiency. Congrats to the following students: Summa Cum Laude: Karen Badgley (’25) Maxima Cum Laude: Sasha Kuriachaia (’25) Ally Syler (’26)
Cum Laude: Brendan Ellison (’29) Myah Dejean (’26) Claire Christopher(’29) Theo Michaels (’27) Ella Johnson (’27)
Magna Cum Laude: Ella Matthews (’28)
For information on the achievements of our International Thespian society, check out our Arts & Performing Arts page. 12 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
FALL ATHLETIC AWARDS
WINTER ATHLETIC AWARDS
SPRING ATHLETIC AWARDS
MVP
MVP
MVP
Toby Van de Ven (’25, Cross Country) Charley Buckner (’25, Volleyball) Andrew Gallaway (’25, Golf) William Schrader (’26, Mtn Biking) Elisabeth Perkins (’25, Soccer)
Stella Wilson (’25, Wrestling) Toby Van de Ven (’25, Swimming) Tom Karanja (’25, Wrestling) Alejandro Miranda (’25, Basketball) Keely Kendrick (’26, Basketball) Annabelle Close (’27, Basketball) Sarah Russell Leonard (’26, Swimming)
Ketiah Inganji (’26, Tennis) Lily Crigger (’26, Track & Field) Thomas Kessen (’26, Track & Field) Max Grubbe (’26, Tennis) Toby Van de Ven (’25, Soccer) Keziah Ingeli (’26, Tennis)
Coaches Award
Coaches Award
Coaches Award
Mark Rogers (’27, Golf) Taylor Wells (’25, Cross Country) Ivy Moser (’25, Volleyball) Emilie Leathers (’25, Volleyball), Margeaux Pierson (’25, Soccer) Jack Hale (’25, Mtn Biking)
Riley Rozell (’28, Swimming) Jack Hale (’25, Wrestling) Hatch McNabb ’25, Basketball) Elijah Stark (’26, Basketball) Julia Sumpter (’25, Wrestling) Sarah Maleak (’25, Basketball) Loulie Frazier (’25, Swimming)
Sarah Maleak (’25, Track & Field) Maggie DesJarlais (’25, Track & Field) Gabin Mugisha (’25, Soccer) Andrew Gallaway (’25, Tennis) Tom Karanja (’25, Track & Field) Vie Virkhaus (’26, Tennis)
MIP
MIP
MIP
Ed Smith (’27, Cross Country) Maggie Mayo (’28, Volleyball) Brody Scales (’27, Mtn Biking) Gus Sherrill (’27, Golf) Asher Kavur (’29, Cross Country) Keziah Ingeli (’26, Soccer)
Thomas Kessen (’26, Wrestling) Ayden Allen (’28, Swimming) Sam Cloniger (’25, Basketball) Leah Moody (’28, Swimming) Arabella Mitchell (’27, Wrestling) Savannah Blosser (’29, Basketball)
Briley Meador (’26, Tennis) Leonora Pate (’28, Track & Field) Lowell Brainerd (’26, Soccer) Henry Boyle (’27, Tennis) Mason Sparacio (’28, Track & Field)
awards | 13
Class of 2025 1
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Senior Moments 1. Farm Day
While the rest of the school tackled a morning of testing, the Class of 2025 came together for their annual Senior Farm Day! Accompanied by Farm Instructors Fhae Long and Matt Sparacio, the students worked collaboratively on a variety of essential farm tasks. The primary focus of the St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Farm Program centers around sustainability, with a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly practices. These sustainable land practices include hand tilling, soil quality improvement, crop rotation, inter-planting cover crops, and companion planting, all designed to create a self-sustaining ecosystem. A total of forty seniors took part in activities such as turning over rows to prepare them for planting in the spring, weeding, and mulching. These activities not only contributed to farm maintenance but also served as a valuable learning experience for students, helping them discover their unique leadership styles through hard work and a team-building exercise. 14 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
2. Chapel Talks
Every year, we have the pleasure of listening to Senior Chapel Talks, where members of the graduating class share their journey to find faith, acceptance, and belonging. We heard about finding God in camp friends, the Sewanee Angels that guard the Mountain, about the hard choice to leave family, hometowns, and home countries to board here, and more. We are so proud of their work and grateful for their courage in sharing their stories.
3. Art Show
Another beautiful part of Commencement Weekend is our end-of-year art show, where we fill the gallery with the beautiful works of our upper school artists. If you weren’t able to see the show last May, join us this year!
4. Mugging
On May 1, we officially inducted the Class of 2025 into the SAS Alumni Society via the annual tradition of “Senior Mugging.” After hearing from Nicole Hidalgo-Jordan (’04) each senior was awarded a mug featuring their classmates’ names, so that 5, 10, or 15 years down the line, they can drink their coffee or tea and think of the amazing time they had here on the Mountain.
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5. Science Celebration
The week before Commencement, our seniors were celebrated and awarded for their years of scientific study at SAS. With classes like Archaeology, Geology of the Cumberland Plateau, Advanced Physics, and more, we are so proud of our students for tackling the tough courses, learning out in the field, and always going above and beyond as scholars.
8. T-shirt day
On Friday, May 2, all of our seniors sported the t-shirt or sweatshirt of their college of choice. Congrats to all of our seniors on their post-SAS plans!
9. Cumberland Scholars
On Tuesday, May 6, and Thursday, May 8, we had a special, seniors-only Creative Expression ceremony. We were entertained by poems, solo musical acts, a dance performance, and group musical acts, including two performances that, together, might have just included the entire class. It was an honor to celebrate the talents of our seniors one more time.
This year, two seniors graduated with the prestigious Cumberland Scholars honor, after taking their required place-based classes, sharing a technical demonstration, and conducting a research project over the course of their senior year. Emma Wockasen, who studied soil nutrients at our organic farm, and Loulie Frazier, who set up trail cams to capture bobcat distribution, wowed the faculty and staff with the depth of their research presentations, having worked toward this honor since their freshman year. Hamilton College (Wockasen) and Hanover College (Frazier) are so lucky to have you.
7. Christmas Pageant
10. Retreat
6. Creative Expressions
To celebrate the advent season and start the break off right, we held our annual Christmas Eucharist featuring a Christmas pageant performed by our amazing senior class. How many wise men, shepherds, angels, and unconventional nativity animals do you recognize?
In April, the senior class retreated to the Fall Creek Falls area of Tennessee. Together, they cooked for one another, cleaned for one another, and had an absolute blast playing four-square, building bonfires, and hiking to a wild waterfall. Senior Moments | 15
SAS Outdoor Learning Complex: It’s a typically hot August day at SAS. Mountain Biking teammates and members of the climbing team have traded their school-day dress for clothing more appropriate to an afternoon of tackling the trails on their bikes and mastering maneuvers on boulders. This year, they’re enjoying a sophisticated new space to gather, train, tune their equipment, and hone their skills. We celebrated the opening of the new 3,600-square-feet Outdoor Learning Complex with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 26 during Family Weekend, thanks to the generosity and hard work of our donors and community. This state of the art facility elevates SAS’s already strong outdoor education and adventure programming, long embedded in the school’s ethos.
Shredding–and we don’t mean on the guitar
Since its launch in 1998 through the dedication of long-time coach Speed Baranco, the SAS Mountain Biking team has enjoyed consistent growth and success in competition, and students of all ages and experience have been exposed to the sport. In the beginning, Baranco and former physics teacher John Owsley started the afternoon program with three participants. It grew steadily, relying on parent and teacher volunteers, and Baranco became more involved with getting the SAS team to competitions. Finally, in 2012, Tennessee was added as a member of NICA—the National Interscholastic Cycling Association—and a year later, mountain biking became an official varsity sport at SAS. “I think the sport is here to stay,” said Baranco, who is now the team’s assistant coach. “The national momentum is huge. What SAS has put into the new facility is incredible. Cycling will
continue to be a viable, sustainable activity here. It’s a lifetime activity.” Eleven middle schoolers and 15 varsity students make up this year’s teams. As of Oct. 2, SAS held fifth place overall in the state. The team has welcomed hundreds of other cycling teams to compete on the 13 miles of trails within the Tim Graham Trail System. A typical race brings together as many as 35 teams. Mountain Biking Head Coach Amy Neubauer first joined the staff as a volunteer coach in 2018, when her daughter Libby (’23) joined the team. The biking team and the climbers shared their “humble shed” for training and storage until this year. She’s excited about the advantages offered because of the Outdoor Learning Complex. “We have a wide range of ages and abilities, from students who have never biked before to athletes who train year round,” said Neubauer, who has personally enjoyed mountain biking for the last ten years. “It’s always a joy to watch the improvement over the course of a season for those new riders. Additionally, this year we have three varsity girls racing! Last year, we had no girls on the varsity team and for the few years before that, only one each year.” That same accessibility is available to all SAS students, who may want to learn basic skills without competition, through participation in our Outdoor Adventure: Cycling PEAK program, which meets in the spring and is open to both middle and upper school. Over the years, under the guidance of Outdoor Education and PlaceBased Learning Coordinator Michael Short, the school has expanded the trails, making the program more beginner friendly and more exciting for competition.
“With the support of dedicated volunteer coaches, we are able to accommodate every skill level. Everyone can race and each rider is celebrated for their accomplishments.” - AMY NEUBAUER, HEAD COACH 16 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
SIMPLY AMAZING
Two mountain biking team members cycle the new pump track that flanks the Outdoor Learning Complex. SIMPLY | 17
Reaching their peak St. Andrew’s-Sewanee’s co-curricular programming, formerly known as Afternoon Programs, was renamed PEAK a few years ago, an acronym for Performance, Exploration, Athletics, and Knowledge, which describes the diversity of co-curricular activities students engage in. For the climbing team, the moniker is especially appropriate. Climbing has, like mountain biking, exploded in popularity both at SAS and all over the country. What began several years ago as a student-led climbing club after dinner on Monday nights in a small shed with two walls has quickly grown into a program that, until now, had to be capped because the facilities simply couldn’t accommodate all interested students. Now, it’s a PEAK activity open to eighth grade and up, meeting three times a week during the winter trimester. The new bouldering walls are sure to build on this momentum, increasing the team’s competitiveness and exposing more students to the joys and challenges of climbing. 18 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
Designed and built by climbing professionals, the room features walls of varying angles to accommodate all skill levels and climbing styles. Color-coded hand-holds (“geos” and “volumes”) create epic climbing adventures that more closely resemble actual rock formations–and can be easily changed. According to Short, co-sponsor of the team, “These features will help all students expand their skills while actually rewarding climbers who aren’t simply using brute strength. They add a gymnastic element to the climbs.” Jeff Christopher, math teacher and assistant coach of the climbing team, said, “With modern gym climbing today, most people get into climbing indoors and then eventually make their way outside. What’s good about our program is that students get to go climb outside almost immediately. Our program is not gym- and competition-focused. Though we compete and climb in gyms, we are primarily focused on outdoor climbing goals.”
Outdoor Learning Complex Short agreed, emphasizing, “Our goal is to get students outside or to try something new. I’m not aware of any other secondary school campus in the U.S. that has the physical features we have. “Now, with several bolted routes on campus and this state-of-the-art facility, our experienced climbers will become even more proficient, and new climbers can more easily learn the basics and continue to improve. I like to think of climbing as a PEAK-plus. Students can satisfy their afternoon requirements, but they can also take advantage of extra practice sessions as well as extra weekend trips or competitions.” A bonus for the climbers: Alex Tucker (’09), who works for SCARPA, an international, high performance boot maker, contacted Short to ask if the team could use new climbing shoes. The answer was an emphatic yes, and each climber soon had new SCARPA climbing shoes to use in the new space. Thanks, Alex! “Most people think just about the physical aspect of bouldering,” Christopher said. “The mental aspect is just as important, and it can be the hardest aspect for most students. In short, climbing requires you to deal with failure, strengthen your mental fortitude, solve problems, and develop physical fitness. Developing these skills will benefit anyone in their life!” Neubauer echoes Christopher’s sentiments, saying that while few people become professional mountain bikers or climbers, these sports teach skills that are essential for life. “Our primary goal is to give students the skills and confidence for a sport they can continue well after they graduate from St. Andrew’s-Sewanee,” Neubauer added. “Because the bottom line is, riding a bike is just fun!” In 2019, SAS made a commitment to “capitalize on our unique geographic assets.” Situated on the southernmost tip of the Cumberland Plateau, SAS is surrounded by breathtaking bluff views, protected woodlands, thousands of acres of state and natural forests, and all the biodiversity that comes with this remarkable beauty. This past year, we honored our second group of Cumberland Scholars, seniors who meet the demanding requirements for this placedbased, environmental distinction over the course of three–four academic years.
In addition to the PEAK climbing team, Outdoor Adventure: Cycling meets in the spring and is open to middle and upper school. Mountain Biking, a competitive team, meets in the fall and is also open to all students. Year after year, SAS students enthusiastically enroll in geology and study the campus’s landforms. Eighth graders engage in a wetlands unit every year, and writers and artists of all grade levels reflect and work outside, ensconced in the serenity of the campus and inspired by its beauty. The new Outdoor Learning Complex will support SAS students and faculty as they continue to embrace the campus as a unique place to live and learn. Students making use of the new indoor climbing walls. With changeable hand-holds, new custom routes can be designed for different degrees of dificulty.
Outdoor Learning Complex | 19
Arts & Performing Arts
SAS Thespians Represent at the Regional, State, and National Levels Griffey at the Songbook Academy
For the second year in a row, SAS actors, led by Performing Arts Director Dr. Will Eyerly, performed at the TASTE and Tennessee State Thespian Conference at MTSU on January 18. The play, Izzy Icarus Fell Off the World featured the hard work and talent of Dylan Bruscato (’28) as Izzy, Eliza Griffey (’26) as Paige, Kendall Elder (’25) as Dove, and Luke Bostelman (’25) as Mr. Ackerman, Izzy’s dad. In total, 19 students performed and participated in master classes and workshops taught by theatre professionals. The troupe continued their amazing work through 11 video submissions adjudicated by theatre professionals and rated on a scale of poor to superior. All of our entries received either “Excellent” or “Superior”. In late June, six students represented St. Andrew’s-Sewanee in Thespian Troupe #11474 at the International Thespian Festival at Indiana University. More than 5000 students from more than 500 schools from across the globe attended the festival. In Solo Musical Theatre, Griffey and Elowyn Pate (’28) received high “Excellent” ratings. Amelia Pond (’26) and Bruscato earned top “Superior” awards in Costume Design and Solo Acting Performance, respectively.
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Eliza Griffey was, once again, chosen from hundreds of applications nationwide for the prestigious Songbook Academy summer music program! Hosted by 5-time GRAMMY nominee Michael Feinstein, Songbook Academy is a weeklong summer intensive that immerses young performers in America’s musical heritage and helps them develop as artists under the guidance of Broadway stars and other entertainment professionals and music educators.
Kat Carpenter Performs at Carnegie Hall
SAS Junior and top-notch musician Kat Carpenter (’26) auditioned and was accepted into an international music program that involved several days of rehearsal, culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City with some of the best young musicians from throughout the world. Dr. Eyerly nominated Carpenter for this incredibly selective program. Carpenter continues to shine locally, where they wow us with their trombone skills in chapel and their mandolin skills during Creative Expression. They also played alongside college students for the University’s most ambitious production yet—Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812—which ran in Fall 2024.
THE LIGHTNING THIEF The SAS Players took the stage last winter and wowed audiences with three performances of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Earlier that winter, they’d worked with special visitor and coach Kristin Stokes who joined them for three days of rehearsals during Tech Week. Stokes, the actress and musician who originated the role of Annabeth Chase (Percy’s loyal friend) on Broadway in the musical, had previously worked with Performing Arts Director Dr. Will Eyerly on a musical production at his former school. Lucia Polansky (’30) (in stripes upper left) played our Annabeth Chase and, despite feeling intimidated, said, “She was so nice, and she had deep knowledge of the show... Ms. Stokes really helped me understand what motivated Annabeth, what her goals were and what she wanted.” Stokes also worked closely with our Percy Jackson, Dylan Bruscato (’28). Both are pictured above in the lower right corner during a rehersal.
“Her notes for me were a lot more about singing,” Bruscato said. “Her coaching will continue to help me with my vocals.” Eliza Griffey (’26), (in sunglasses upper right) who played the role of Sally Jackson, Percy’s mother, hopes to attend a performing arts college or university and pursue a career as a performer. “It was great to work with someone who is currently working professionally in the field I want to be in,” Griffey said. “She told me that if I work hard, stay true to myself, the work will come.” Stokes was equally delighted to work with our students, “This talented group of students worked with great focus and dedication during their final stages of rehearsal and I couldn’t be prouder of all the hard work they put into their production.” She also thanked Dr. Will, saying, “A big thank you to Dr. William Eyerly for his hospitality and for bringing me in to work with his awesome students for three days!” Arts & Performing Arts | 21
Down to Earth SAS Secondary Arts Education Cultivates Shakerag Workshops For the last twenty-two years, the end of a school year has signaled the beginning of Shakerag Workshops, an offshoot of the school’s visual arts program. From its beginning in 2004, Shakerag Workshops has tripled in size and now boasts 15-16 classes each summer, from textile arts to painting to sculpture. Following the end of the 2024-2025 school year, SAS welcomed our current clay teacher and four former SAS clay teachers to campus during the 2026 Shakerag Workshops. They reflected on the robust art program at SAS and how that led to the Creation of Shakerag Workshops which, like SAS, cultivates a strong sense of community among students.
From the beginning In 2001, Claire Reishman, Burki Gladstone, and Merissa Tobler, all SAS pottery teachers at the time, enrolled in a clay class at Arrowmont School for Arts and Crafts. SAS had just completed a remodel of its academic building, which included a beautiful new clay studio, art studio, and gallery. Their visit to Arrowmont inspired them to propose creating and hosting a similar summer arts workshop program for adults on the school’s campus. After another year of planning, the program was launched and continues to grow, thanks to the de22 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
termined, passionate arts educators. Also part of the founding team were Rachel Malde (current Arts Department chair) and Christi Teasley (’83 and former SAS Art faculty member). Kinion Asmus (current Humanities and Art History teacher) is also a long-time member of the leadership team. Each year, participants travel from all over the U.S. and beyond to enjoy Shakerag Workshops. Seventy percent of this year’s attendees were repeats. Shakerag also provides full scholarships to educators each year and has done so for more than a decade. Many participants arrive with no art experience, while others are long-time art enthusiasts, educators, and makers.
A lasting legacy Margaret Wilson (’16), who taught pottery for two years at SAS and now manages her own studio, Stone Gold Pottery in San Francisco, says she initially didn’t like pottery when she enrolled in the SAS class. “I didn’t know what it meant, really. But I learned that with practice, my work got better, and it became a safe space for me. “Since that time, I have made an effort to make the studios I manage, including my time as an instructor at SAS, spaces that are first and foremost places that people
feel very comfortable and safe in, and where they can learn, grow, and fail without judgment.” Reishman, for many of her 50 years as an SAS clay teacher, also taught English and served as Dean of Academics. Gladstone taught World History and was a lead house parent. Both remarked that while some students might have imagined pottery as an easy A, they quickly realized that was not the case. “Burki (Gladstone) first had students look at pots from the past, using those as references for their own work,” Reishman said. “They learned the significance of pottery to the past, how it changed the way people lived.” Gladstone added, “I required them to write about and present their own work, and to research and make presentations about others’ work,” skills that, she noted, are essential in college, no matter one’s area of study. Tobler, a former long-time SAS pottery teacher, said, “I got tired of hearing students say they had no talent. I told them I didn’t either.” Fhae Long, in her fourth year as SAS clay teacher, said, “Pottery class provides a balance and a different kind of thinking for some of the students, compared to their other classes, but they are still learning time management, developing confidence, and coming to understand that their work won’t always be perfect. It takes practice and dedication.”
These fine pottery teachers, along with other SAS arts teachers past and present, have fashioned a lasting legacy of arts education at SAS, from school year to school year and for three weeks each June with Shakerag Workshops. “Our alums, whether they ever took an SAS art class, should really consider coming to Shakerag Workshops because it’s so much fun!” Gladstone said. “As adults, they can enjoy our beautiful campus again, get turned on to new ideas and interesting people, eat delicious locally-based food, and nurture their curiosity and creativity, which they learned the value of at SAS!”
Photo Caption: Margaret Wilson (’16), Burki Gladstone, Claire Rieshman, Merissa Tobler, and Fhae Long reunited at SAS during Shakerag Workshops in June. Opposite page: Kiran Malde (’26) works on his pottery during a regular school year class. Down to Earth | 23
Spring Break in Costa Rica
SERVICE IN THE CLOUDS Monteverde, Costa Rica, March 8, 2025. SAS spring break is under way. Around the small area known as Santa Elena, ten eager SAS students tumble out of bed at their various temporary homes. They will either say “good morning” or “buenos dias” to their host families, and they may be served a breakfast that’s a bit different from their usual fare back home. After breakfast, they all come together to take on their day—as one community helping another. These students, from rising sophomores to seniors who were just two months shy of graduation, joined Art and Spanish teacher Rafael Lomeli and his wife Kira Lomeli (’12), upper school English teacher, for a spring break of service at the Cloud Forest School. While there, the tasks were plentiful. “The students worked diligently on impactful projects at the Centro de Educación Creativa (Cloud Forest 24 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
School),” Mrs. Lomeli said, “from painting playgrounds to rebuilding bridges, and much more.” Jack Hale (’25) and Kieran McCrorey (’25) were both hosted by the same family. Hale recalled that one evening he and McCrorey returned from an outing, and the nuclear host family had grown into an extended family. The two quickly joined them in a rousing game of Uno. “I really enjoyed getting to know the host family,” Hale said. “Sometimes the language barrier was challenging, but the youngest son knew enough English to properly insult Kieran and me. He was hilarious.” Students were not required to be Spanish speakers to apply for the trip. Arabella Mitchell (’27) and Annabelle Close (’27) were with the Cruz Miranda family, whose English, Mitchell said, was perfect. “That was lucky for Annabelle and me because we have taken several years of Latin. We ate as a family each night. Getting to know the people was my major reason for going.”
Close added, “Living with our host family didn’t feel awkward. We played video games with Franco, who is four, and had a lot of detailed conversation about differences in culture.” About the service SAS students provided, Close added, “The school only has a couple of maintenance staff, so they needed and appreciated our help.” Amelia Pond (’26) said she entered the experience knowing very little about the Cloud Forest School and was definitely pushed out of her comfort zone. “This trip pushed me to try new things, which really helped my confidence,” she said. “Navigating communication and connection through differences like language and culture is something that I believe everyone should experience. I’m so glad I tried to speak in Spanish as much as possible because my skills developed a lot even in just one week.” Mitchell recalled that playing with the schoolchildren was nostalgic for her. “At the school, we played soccer and basketball with the kids. They loved watching and playing with us, “ she said. “I remember when I was a kid, seeing older kids do anything made me admire them because they were bigger and older than I was. I know exactly how those kids felt watching us as I had been there not too long ago myself.” The Lomelis built in time for fun, too. They ziplined and toured the Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. They rode horses to a hot spring and visited a butterfly garden. “While staying with local families, the students made a lasting impression, earning praise for their respect and kindness,” Mrs. Lomeli said. “It was the perfect blend of service, adventure, and connection.” Spanish Professor Sam Johnson is already planning to lead a trip for SAS students in 2026, to continue building a strong relationship with the Cloud Forest School. Spring Break in Costa Rica | 25
Stray Fossa: An ocean apart, S Our 2022 magazine featured an article about Stray Fossa, an Indie rock trio (two of them brothers) who have been friends since elementary school and attended SAS together. At that time, the band had just released its second album, Closer Than We’ll Ever Know, which they described as a “cautious shift toward anticipation,” a nod to the uncertainty and isolation of the COVID years. Now, three years later, Stray Fossa has released a new album, Blossomer, which the band refers to as “a study in growth.” Fitting, not only the title, but the fact that the album is the band’s debut production with Broken Palace Records, created by brothers Nick Evans (’10) and Will Evans (’12). Part of the album was recorded in SAS’s recording studio in McCrory Hall for the Performing Arts. Also fitting because the Evans brothers both live in Germany while Zach Blount (’12), the band’s third member, is U.S.-based. Stray Fossa continues to demonstrate the grit and can-do spirit they demonstrated as students and musicians at SAS and now as working professionals who make and perform music on the side. Blount, who lives in Salem, Mass., works in behavioral health. Nick works in environmental policy, and Will is now writing and producing full time. Given the physical distance between these lifelong friends and bandmates, their passion for and commitment to their music is essential. “Distance comes up a lot in our songs, maybe because we’ve been an ’international band’ for some time now, or because we were apart for six years after SAS before we dropped everything to start Stray Fossa in 2019. I’m not exactly sure,” Nick said. Will added. “Back in those days, we struggled to figure out what we wanted to be creatively. Going separate ways after high school, we had developed different tastes and approaches to writing.” “It was like being put in a room and told, ’now, become a band again,’ ” Zach said. “It doesn’t really work that way.” In July 2024, the trio met up in Sewanee to record Blossomer, in what the band calls a “make-shift studio” in Will and Nick’s childhood home, a space where they played together many years ago. “It’s funny, the sessions for Blossomer were, in my opinion, some of the most collaborative and creatively 26 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
fulfilling we’ve ever done even though we hadn’t been in the same room together to create music together for two years,” Nick reflected. All three remarked on their recording time in St. Andrew’s-Sewanee’s studio that year. “Recording in the SAS studio was a great experience,” Will said. “You can hear the results on the album track ’I Was There,’ which features a string section that was tracked there. We would have loved to have had that when we were students, and probably would have hogged it.” Blount recalled his time as a WMTN radio show host during his high school years. “My show was a World Music Session; each show focused on music from a different part of the world. Back then we would pre-record our shows in the station and save them so they could be added to the rotation over the next week or so. My show and some of our friends’ shows stayed on rotation for a couple years after we graduated, in addition to more
t, SAS band still makes music
Photo from Stray Fossa
recent recordings. It was funny to tune in to see who was on air years later.” While Stray Fossa has so far only toured in the U.S., they have plans to play in Europe soon. Additionally, they each enjoy collaborating with others and the impact that has on their own music. “Constraining the creative endeavor to just one artist or project gets old fast,” Will said. “We definitely want to prioritize more Stray Fossa collabs in the future. And on the label side, it’s been a great chance to obsess over other artists’ music. We’ve been working with an artist from Northern Australia called Altai, who has one song that features me on bass/drums and Nick on guitar. It’s a real honor when other artists - especially ones you admire trust you to help bring their music to the finish line.” No doubt these three talented and committed artists will keep pushing their own finish line further, expanding their horizons and broadening their vision.
Check out Blossomer here! www.strayfossa.com/blossomer Album art: Melissa Santamaria Photo from Stray SAS Fossa BAND | 27
New on the Board of Trustees Dr. Richard Bagby is a retired orthopedic surgeon and an alumnus of The McCallie School, Davidson College, and Emory University School of Medicine. A past parent (Rick III ’97 and Lara Nguyen ’93), he has also served on the Winchester regional planning commission for 30 years and volunteers at Good Samaritan food ministries. He is an avid pickleballer and mountain bike rider. Dr. Bagby and his wife, Anne, live in Estill Springs, Tenn.
Paige Moore is director of marketing for her family’s business, Prescott Bottling and Distributing Company, in Tullahoma where she grew up. She also owns the Sundrop Shoppe & Luncheonette, a restaurant in Tullahoma. Previously she has served on the board of directors for Blue Monarch and for CASA Works of Tullahoma. Christened in the St. Andrew’s Chapel, Prescott has close family ties with the school: her father, David Prescott (’58), her uncle Ray Prescott (’57), her daughter Caroline (’17), and son Robert(’20). She and her husband, Trent, live in Cooley’s Rift and enjoy traveling, volunteering, and Volunteer football.
Michael E. Hollingsworth II, (SAS ’88) a partner with Atlanta law firm Nelson Mullions, is co-head of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group and its Investment Management Group. He graduated magna cum laude in 1996, receiving his J.D. degree from Samford University Cumberland School of Law. He also received a B.A. in political science from Tulane University. He previously served on the SAS board. Father of Margaret and Michael III, he and his wife, Rebecca, live in Atlanta but spend some time in Manchester, Tenn., where his family owned a sporting goods store.
Dr. Bruce Baird, D.D.S., is a 1969 graduate of Sewanee Military Academy and a past parent (Erin and Lauren ’00, Matt ’97 ). Retired from his dental practice, he has previously served as SAS board president. Currently, Baird is the president of the Housing Sewanee board and the dental director for Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic. He and his wife, Sandy, live in Sewanee where they enjoy birding, reading, and cycling, among other activities.
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28 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
Class Notes 1950s
1990s
John Varela, St. Andrew’s School 1953 In 1995, John retired from the MITRE Corporation after 35 years of working on systems for Air Traffic Control. He writes, “Still playing golf, but stopped keeping score a couple of years ago.”
Danny Basehart, SAS 1993 Danny made the mountain his permanent home in 2019 and got to work fixing up a 1936 log cabin in Tracy City. Basehart got married in June 2022. His daughter, Audrey, is recently engaged and will soon be graduating from UT Chattanooga.
1960s
Anthony Reid Gaustad,St. Andrew’s School 1968 Anthony has returned to work at the Ceramic College of Alfred University, his alma mater. With a team of faculty, students, and community members, Anthony is optimizing technologies for clean drinking water and clean indoor air to improve in-home conditions in Africa and Southern Asia.
1970s
Edward “Ed” Bradshaw, SMA 1970 After retiring from his 41 year career as a surgical PA, Ed is returning to his undergraduate degree of plant ecology and his “roots” with a recently awarded Master Gardeners Certificate.
Jennie Hinson Bross, SAS 1993 Jennie had an amazing time at her class’s 35th Reunion. “We missed those who could not attend, but had the best time with those who were there.”
Lawson Bordley, SAS 1991 - Lawson is continuing his work for the Federal Aviation Administration as a civil engineer in the great state of Alaska. He loves the diversity, the scenery, the temperature, the snow, the moose in their yard, and the airplanes that are everywhere.
2000s
Kyler Moppert, SAS 2004 Kyler has owned a hunting lifestyle/ apparel brand since 2015. In 2019, he quit his corporate job to operate his business Surcee Designs full time. You can find his hats in Cabela’s catalog!
2000s
Katie West (Taylor), SAS 2004 Katie and her husband, Thomas, recently opened their own mobile veterinary practice primarily focused on horses and livestock located in Cumberland Furnace, Tenn.
Jesse-Katharine McKee, SAS 2008 Jesse-Katharine and Robert McKee just welcomed their first baby - Shepard Council McKee. They live in Sewanee, where Robert owns Woody’s Bicycles, and Jesse-Katharine works for the Sewanee Fund. She writes, “We can’t wait for Shepard to be at SAS one day!”
2010s
Lucas Crossland, SAS 2013 In January, The Rev. Lucas Caine Crossland became the 12th rector of The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Rock Hill, S.C.
Please send us your story or news! Use the form at: sasweb.org/alumni/update-your-information
Class Notes | 29
Alumni Weekend 2025 As always, alumni from far and wide returned to the Mountain to reconnect with friends and make new memories. A full weekend of activities were planned, including our yearly medallion ceremony, a Friday night bonfire, and Sunday Eucharist. And as always, there was plenty of great food and even better company.
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1. Congratulations to the StA and SA Classes of 1975 for making it back to the Mountain to receive their 50-year medallions! 2. StA ’75: Stephen Haynsworth, Bart Trescott, Nickie Peardon, Clifton Lewis, Joe Marlowe, Paul Wilcox, John Sims, Teri Boswell Gannon, Mike Kossman, Lad Rack 3. SA ’75: Scott Hammon, Clay Yeatman, Leslie Nicolle, Bert Gilchrist, Suzanne Cahoon, Tim Barger, Sonshine Ashcraft
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4. Class of ’90: Johnny Herbert, Cynthia Hollingsworth Brasher, Katy Bass Smith, Leah Robinson Bailey, Jeanie Hinson Bross, Garth Haugen, Hosanna Banks, Aaron Brockett
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5. Class of ’04: Katie West, Isaac Arnold, Hamilton Shook, Jade Barry, Rachel Cunningham-Espinoza, Nichole Hidalgo Jordan 6. Class of ’05 Third row: Elise Dudley, Chatham Morgan, Second row: Ally Petrilla, Amy Grace Dunsire, Allston Fishburne First row: Rachel Obermiller, Davella Fudge, Arlett Franco, Janet Armour-Jones, Rachel Kravitz 7. SMA Class of 1965 It was truly inspiring to see so many members of the SMA Class of 1965 back on the Mountain to celebrate their 60th reunion! Many thanks to reunion leader Garth Lovvorn for his hard work pulling together this incredible group of SMA cadets. From L to R: Doug Vanderbilt, Helmut Knee, Ken Hillyer, Joe Campbell, Shelley Sansbury, Bruce Duncan, Garth Lovvorn, David McCuen, Brooke Dickson, Will Hayley, Lee Tolley, Joe Arnall, Richard Powers
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8. It wouldn’t be Alumni Weekend without a visit from the Whites! Here is Jerry White catching up with R.T. Moore from the SMA Class of 1971. 9. Old roommates Charles Watson and Sam Poore, both from the StA Class of 1971, greet each other at Alumni Weekend. 10. Alumni from many generations try their hand at the wheel during a pottery class with former clay instructor Claire Reishman in the SAS Clay Studio. 11. Garth Lovvorn from the SMA Class of 1965 leads the cadets as they march from Quintard Hall to All Saint’s Chapel, just as they did every Sunday morning when they were students in school on the Mountain.
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Distinguished Alumni Award 11
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Head of School Karl Sjolund presented Aaron Brocket (’90) with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Brocket is currently serving his fifth year as mayor of another mountain town out west, Boulder, Colo. Brocket first entered public service in 2010 as a member of the city’s Planning Board and was elected to the City Council in 2015. In his time on the City Council and as mayor, he has focused on climate change, housing, transportation, economic vitality, social justice, and racial equity.
SAS Service Award
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Sjolund also presented Margaret Woods with the SAS Service Award. Woods formerly served as President of the SAS Board of Trustees and helped lead during the challenging COVID years. She is also a member of the planning team for Shakerag Workshops, which kicks off right after Alumni Weekend every summer on campus. Her ties to the Mountain reach all the way back to the beginning of last century, when her grandfather attended SMA and graduated as a member of the Class of 1917. She is also the great aunt of current SAS students Lucia (’30) and Mae (’32) Polansky.
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Alumni Weekend 2026 set for May 29-31
Mark Your Calendars>
As always, all alumni are welcome! We will hold special celebrations for all classes ending in six and one. If you are interested in serving as a reunion leader for your class, email sasalumni@sasweb.org. We can’t wait to see back on the Mountain! Alumni Weekend 2025 | 31
In Memoriam Sewanee Military Academy Charles G. Mullen, Jr. SMA ’38 June 3, 2025
Clyde “Hodo” Strickland SMA ’58 July 2, 2025
Tom Alexander SMA ’63 March 18, 2015
Kenton S. Coe SMA ’48 December 29, 2021
Edwin R Koberg SMA ’59 October 15, 2024
Richard Claude Cole SMA ’63 November 8, 2024
Herbert Edward Smith, Jr. SMA ’48 April 15, 2025
John “Kirk” Kirkland Michaux SMA ’59 April 12, 2025
James T. Batchelor SMA ’64 September 10, 2024
John Howard Alexander SMA ’50 August 26, 2023.
George Russell Sumner SMA ’59 February 24,2025
Julian McPhillips SMA ’64 April 2025
Jan Ernst Winter SMA ’50 December 25, 2024
John A. Adair Jr. SMA ’60 February 20, 2025
Iverson “Bo” Brownell SMA ’65 March 10, 2025
William Neel Pickle SMA ’51 May 23, 2025
Albert Chip Edward Carpenter, Jr. SMA ’60 January 24, 2025
Douglas W. Cameron SMA ’65 May 22, 2025
Woolridge W. “Bubba” Davis SMA ’52 January 23,2025
John Maynard Evans SMA ‘61 August 26, 2025
Carl M Howard SMA ’67 April 17, 2025
John D Peyton SMA ’53 August 20, 2024
Douglas Manship SMA ‘62 September 17, 2025
George R. McMahon SMA ’67 May 22, 2025
David Swan Rozendale SMA ’53 March 24, 2025
William Voris “Bill” King SMA ’62 May 13, 2025
William “Bill” A Settoon, Jr. SMA ’67 August 26, 2025
Charles A. Mercer SMA ’54 November 1, 2024
Frederick “Rick” E. Rehfeldt SMA ’62 April 9,2025
Hunter W Gray SMA ’69 August 7, 2024
Richard Everard Meade Nichol, Sr. “Dick” SMA ’57, September 28, 2024
Charles Witsell Jr. SMA ’62 June 28, 2025
Daniel “Dan” James Rodgers Toulon SMA ’69 January 11, 2025
Richard Porcher “Dick” Horne, Sr. SMA ’58 November 11, 2024
Terrell Alexander SMA ’62 April 11, 2013
Sewanee Academy
St. Mary’s School
St. Andrew’s School
Valerie Aiko Igarashi SA ’72 June 14, 2024
Ruth E Caruthers SMS ’43 October 9, 2023
Dr. Theodore “Ted” Griggs StA ’49 November 7, 2019
Esther Fasick Little SMS ’50 August 2023
Lawrence D. Meyer StA ’51 September 6, 2024
Margaret ’Peggy’ Byrd Barnes SMS ’57 January 2,2025
Joseph “Joe” Winston Alligood StA ’52 April 1, 2025
Mary Michael Beaumont Foster SMS ’65 November 2, 2024
John Harris StA ’57 December 2023
Anne Trabue Buttrey SMS ’66 August 21,2024
Thomas A. Houston, Jr. StA ’59 May 31, 2025
Betsy Lou Davidson Cameron SMS ’66 March 12, 2025
Stephen Partridge Kennard StA 59 April 13th, 2025
Steven Arnold SA ’75 December 12, 2019 Keith Bilane SA ’75 April 9, 2004 Thomas Franklin Reese SA ’76 August 23, 2024 Robert “Brian” Thomas SA ’77 March 28, 2024 Stephanie Milder SA ’82 January 2, 2019
St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Sean A. O’Neill SAS ’97 August 8, 2024 John Greenough Wilson SAS ’97 October 13, 2024
Louis Charles Angermeyer StA ’61 May 27, 2025 Paul Brinson StA ’67 December 2, 2024
Thomas Perrie Jr. SAS ’02 March 2024
K. Mark Guerard StA ’70 July 20, 2025
Jon Mark Wert SAS ’22 November 10, 2024
John D. Fowler StA ’74 September 3, 2024 William “Bryant” Elmore StA ’75 January 13, 2015
32 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
Special Tribute
Douglas Cameron Oct. 29, 1947–May 22, 2025
Doug Cameron, age 77 of Sewanee, passed peacefully on May 22, 2025 with his loving family surrounding him. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ann Templeton Cameron, his siblings, his children and their spouses, and by five grandchildren. Doug was born on October 29, 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to the late Dr. Ruth Anders Cameron and Benjamin Cameron, Ph.D. Doug grew up in Sewanee, graduated from Sewanee Military Academy in 1965 and then Harvard University in 1969. As friends and colleagues alike have noted, Doug always had a warm smile and made everyone feel seen. He was full of stories and loved to listen to and play music. His “kindness and humanity were unparalleled.” In all his varied activities, Doug was always a compassionate teacher and scientist. He taught both science and the humanities as a secondary school teacher, including at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. He was the head of a summer school program there that brought together students from many different cultures. That work was recognized when he was named a “Hero in American Education” by Readers Digest. He coached soccer at both the high school and college levels and coached the canoe team at the University of the South. Doug spent his summers over more than 40 years teaching girls at Camp Merrie-Woode in North Carolina to paddle canoes and kayaks on whitewater and to sail. A dedicated outdoorsman and wildland conservationist, he was involved as a racer and organizer with whitewater racing, which earned him induction this past March into the Southern Appalachian Whitewater Hall of Fame. In his retirement, Doug switched to sailing and joined Watertribe, building boats and competing in races for hundreds of miles in Florida and North Carolina. This May, Doug had just completed 12 years of service on the Land Trust for Tennessee, an organization responsible for protecting more than 137,000 acres of wildlands. In the 1980’s he was the Executive Director of the Governor’s Commission on Tennesseans Outdoors. He participated and supported the creation of hiking trails in Sewanee, including laying out the Perimeter Trail, demarcating the University domain, and the creation of The Mountain Goat Trail. He founded the outing programs at SAS and at the University of the South.
Doug was a dedicated public servant. He was an EMT (Captain) and taught emergency medicine basic courses and outdoor rescue all around the country. He was a volunteer firefighter for his hometown department serving for more than 50 years, most of them as Assistant Chief or Chief. He served on the Sewanee Community Chest and was active working for Housing Sewanee. Doug served on numerous other Boards and organizations serving local, state, and international communities supporting social welfare. Some of these include Blue Monarch, Cloud Forest School Foundation for the school in Costa Rica, the Sewanee Utility District, and Templeton World Charity Foundation. When he was diagnosed with cancer last year, he shared a Wendell Berry quote which provides insight into how he looked at the world. “We must learn to acknowledge that the creation is full of mystery; we will never clearly understand it. We must abandon arrogance and stand in awe. We must recover the sense of the majesty of creation, and the ability to be worshipful in its presence. For it is only on the condition of humility and reverence before the world that our species will be able to remain in it.” He graced this world with a heart full of love and a commitment to serving wherever a need emerged. Doug will be deeply missed. His legacy runs deep and wide.
Text condensed from full obituary, found here: In Memoriam | 33
Chapel at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee by William Schrader (’26) The white stone chapel, quiet on the campus, Its red roof warms when the air is still. No glass of color, loud, or bright. Just morning sun and mountain light. Its walls hold silence, calm and bare, Yet something sacred and old lingers here. The old wooden benches, a whispered hymn, The echo of a chapel is loud. The gold, bronze, and silver candlesticks shine. This place is a prayer within our reach. It stands in peace, both firm and free like the trees around. A heart of stone beside the ginkgo tree.
34 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
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SHAKERAG OFF SEASON: NOV 10-13, 2025 & MARCH 6-9, 2026 at St. Mary’s Sewanee SESSION II: JUNE 7-13, 2026 SESSION III: JUNE 14-20, 2026 at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee
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Chapel at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee | 35
St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School 290 Quintard Road Sewanee, Tennessee 37375-3000 sasweb.org
Class of 2025 36 | ST. ANDREW’S-SEWANEE MAGAZINE • 2025
Graduates earned acceptances at 115 different colleges and universities throughout the United States and are attending 36 different colleges and universities this year.