2023-2024 SAS Magazine

a m a g a z i n e f o r a l u m n i a n d f r i e n d s o f s a s . 2 0 23 /2 0 2 4

Service Learning

Running toward their future The commencement ceremony for the Class of 2023 marked a significant milestone, with students joyously commemorating their academic accomplishments and individual growth. As they approach the next phase of their lives, the celebration symbolizes both an end and a new beginning.

2 · St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Magazine · Fall 2023/2024 2019

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From the Head of School St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School Magazine

Looking for Possible

T

he movie Soul Surfer is the true story about a 13 year-old-girl named Bethany Hamilton who loses her arm during a shark attack, but she remains determined to pursue her dream of becoming a world-class surfer. Spoiler warning…she succeeds! My favorite part of the movie is when her father says to her, “Bethany, this isn’t going to be easy”, and her response is, “I don’t need easy. I just need possible.”

I’ve always loved the word “possible”. It’s not a fancy word, but it’s still a big word.

It’s big because it expands; it opens doors rather than closing them. When we say that something is possible to an SAS student, we’re saying “go for it”, “keep pursuing, keep dreaming”. They may be great at it…or maybe not. They may end up loving it…or maybe not. Either way, they’re definitely going to learn from it, and that’s the point!

The pages of this magazine are filled with students pursuing the “possible”.

They are taking university-level courses, playing sports they never thought they would play, performing on stage for the very first time, and stepping out of their comfort zones in a myriad of ways. Those of us who get to work with these amazing young men and women are incredibly blessed, and we’re thrilled that this magazine can provide the rest of our SAS Family with a glimpse of what’s happening on this wonderful campus!

Warmly,

Karl J. Sjolund Head of School

4 · St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Magazine · 2022/2023

Published annually by St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School Editor Leah Moore Photographer David Andrews Design Aaron Welch, Big A Marketing Head of School Karl J. Sjolund Director of Advancement Lesley Cole Director of Admission Robert Black Office of Marketing and Communications Leah Moore, Director 290 Quintard Road Sewanee, Tennessee 37375-3000 Phone: 931.598.5651 Email: lmoore@sasweb.org Special Thanks to Contributors: Cassie Allen, Stephen Brehm, Elizabeth Clark Duncan, Michael Short, Molly Short School Mission Statement Honoring its Episcopal heritage as an inclusive Christian community, St. Andrew’sSewanee School offers a superior college preparatory education to students, including those for whom such experiences might not otherwise be available, bringing them 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.

On the Cover Yellowstone National Park Wildlife Ecology Program

2023/2024

Share.

HELP US TELL THE SAS STORY. When you tell someone about your SAS experience, you help a student to find their way to us and help SAS to expand our family. Tell a child “you belong here”.

St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School Magazine Published annually by St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School

8 Campus News

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St.Andrew’s Sewanee

Care.

12 Sports Highlights

INVEST IN A CHILD. Your financial support helps to put SAS in reach of students for whom an outstanding education in a supportive and loving environment might not otherwise be available.

FEATURES

in 14 Research Yellowstone

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16 Cumberland Scholars Gear.

St.Andrew’s Sewanee

SHOW YOUR MOUNTAIN PRIDE. The SAS School Store offers a wide variety of t-shirts, hoodies, face coverings, camp chairs, mugs, blankets, and more.

with 21 Interview Rev. Rufus Van Horn

www.sasweb.org/store

ALUMNI

22 Class Notes 24 Alumni Activities

NOTHING:

A Tribute to the Forgotten BY THEO MICHAELS ’27 What is nothing? Is it something?

Is it the click of a button, pressing delete and watching it all melt away?

Is it an empty space where something once was?

In some cases that is true.

While in others the force that slams on the gas, pushing you into the unknown unk nkn no own wn with nothing but but your mind to defend yourself. yo ou urrsseelflf. lf.

A bit of rubber, perhaps.

Its only intent to make gone.

To belittle the strength of the sword and pen.

To reverse the work that took centuries to create.

The speed of gravity as the flesh collides with plastic, reversing hard work in mere moments.

This is where the strong sttro rong and the weak part. pa ar . art.

The strong take that step steep forward, f rwar fo ard, d, d, maybe they take someone so ome meone weak with them.

But most fall and burn in the fires lit by those before them.

Those who didn’t have what it took to go above and beyond.

What was there a moment before then becomes non-existent, to prove how fragile the world of story is, and, in turn, ours.

How frail the balance is.

Between their world and ours.

Those who took the leap but looked back, who gave into hunger, forever to be rolling a boulder up a hill only to have it roll all the way back down the moment you think you’ve won.

So, what really is nothing?

Is it an idea?

A placeholder for something that isn’t yet there?

Or is it the absence of determination, proving that you don’t have what it takes.

So maybe nothing is exactly what you think it is.

Whatever that is.

— Published in — The Mountain Mirror — Spring 2023 —

6 · St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Magazine · 2023/2024

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Stay up-to-date on the latest events: www.sasweb.org/calendar

November 27-December 5 In the Gallery: Tennessee Craft

On the National Merit Award What an amazing honor! Congratulations to Anja Dombrowski. Yea, SAS’s got the academics for students to excel! —Mark Kelly On Girls' Volleyball I’ve loved every minute of watching these wonderful and talented athletes play the sport! —Misty Holland McDougal About her son Looks nice…School was great for my son and he boarded 4 years there. He went to college at Loyola-New Orleans and actually finished his last class yesterday. St. Andrew's prepared him well. —D. Stacy Sims

On SAS Radio Station My favorite radio station EVER, and I have lived all over the country for 63 years! Always a radio listener from WLS Chicago (in Mississippi), to Texas, San Diego, Maine, Central New Jersey, and now here for retirement and only 3 miles from the school. I just wish I could hear them down the mountain outside Cowan. How many watts do you broadcast on and any future plans for expansion or are you limited? How about online?

—Mike Mattei Yes you can stream the station! audio-edge-qse4n.yyz.g.radiomast.io/b3cfd01f-6c56 The diversity and celebration of all, one of the reasons I love SAS! —Mary Mellon Clark

January 12-26 In the Gallery: Student Work

January 13 Mountain Top Wrestling Tournament

February 3-4 Winter Musical: Beauty and the Beast

February 19-23 Winterim

April 18 Earth Day Celebration

May 18-19 Commencement Weekend

May 28 SAS Summer Programs Begin

Katie Archambault Receives "Best of the Best" Accolade for Outstanding Contribution to the Independent School Libraries Profession During the recent Association of Independent School Librarians conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, held in early March, Ms. Archambault was honored with the prestigious Marky Award.

This award acknowledges her remarkable and significant contribution to the AISL organization for a long period of time.

Love SAS? Review us on Facebook or Boarding School Review. Your good words mean the world to us!

Campus News

Class of 2023

National Merit Recognition

New Seminarians

The 34 members of the St. Andrew’sSewanee School Class of 2023 were accepted to 114 colleges and are attending 26 different schools. Schools include Queen’s University Belfast, University of Puget Sound, Macalester College, The University of Tennessee Knoxville, Furman, and Sewanee: The University of the South.

Anja Dombrowski ’24 has been named as a Commended Student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Anja, a day student from Sewanee, placed among the top students who took the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The award is given to students whose PSAT scores are in the top 3-4 percent in the country. Anja has been a high honors student since her freshman year and joined the Cum Laude Society last school year. She is a past recipient of awards in Health and Fitness, Advanced Chemistry, and is a member of the Conduct Council. Anja has played on the Varsity Volleyball team for the past four years.

She also received the Volleyball Most Improved player award in 2020 and has been the athletic manager for the middle school volleyball team for the past two years.

Anja is currently taking a Chinese class at the University of The South.

Jocelyn Snider (left) is in her second year as a seminarian in The School of Theology at the University of the South. She came to the Mountain from the Diocese of Montana, where she was working with 4-H youth and agricultural programs at Montana State University Extension in Ravalli County. Jocelyn and her husband, Jeremiah, have two grown children, Emma and Ramsey. She was active with the church camp in Montana, where the family enjoyed many summer trips, and this past summer, she served as a hospital chaplain intern in Dalton, Ga. Jocelyn enjoys spending time in nature, at the library, knitting, journaling, and making new friends. She is excited that her field education is working with Mother Short and the students and staff at SAS! Alane Osborne (right) is a senior seminarian from the Diocese of Southern Ohio. She grew up in Lexington, Ky. and attended the University of Louisville where she got a degree in Music Therapy.

As a music therapist she worked with adults with developmental disabilities, using music to address social skills, motor skills, and emotional development.

She plays a variety of instruments. Alane is also a trained Stephen Leader with Stephen Ministries, and she has served on the Altar Guild, in the choir, and as a lector. She has two children ages 6 and 8, and she loves hiking, crocheting, cross stitching, reading, and watching sports.

Patrica Smith: American Poet September 25, 2023, SAS welcomed Patrica Smith, the 2023 recipient of the Aiken Taylor Award for Modern American Poetry, for a reading and questions in McCrory Hall.

Blessing of the Animals This service is an opportunity for us to show gratitude for all the beloved nonhumans in our lives.

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Commencement & Honor Day Awards Major Awards Recipients 2023 (L-R): Luca Malde, Day Student Award; Ryan Ostrowski, Head of School’s Award, Best Male Athlete Award; Verena Pate, Best Female Athlete Award; Amoriae McKinney-Bailey, Betty Guyear Condra Perseverance Award; Abbott Root, Sewanee Military Academy Memorial Merit Award; Annabett Bridgers, Boarding Student Award; Emily Bailey, Lulu Hampton Owen Service Award.

In the Gallery The SAS Gallery held a series of exhibitions in the past year featuring a diverse range of artists and artworks. Gallery events began with a faculty showcase of Elizabeth Bowie, SAS Art Gallery and Visiting Artists Coordinator, alongside pieces by faculty artists Fhae Long and Rafael Lomeli. Following this, we had the privilege of hosting Birmingham-based artist Paul Ware, whose portfolio can be explored at Paul Ware’s ArtBlink Profile.

In the lead-up to Christmas, we had the pleasure of presenting an exhibition of pottery by Ken and Melody Shipley.

Ken Shipley was Fhae’s college instructor. To find more information about their pottery creations, visit Shipley Pottery’s website.

Towards the end of the year, we had a weeklong showcase of the impressive works of senior artist Michael Pondgee, followed by a student art exhibition that featured emerging talent.

In the current year, we are highlighting our permanent collection, including the iconic bird picture. Presently, we are delighted to feature the remarkable works of Susan Harrison, an artist based in Johnsonville, Indiana. It’s worth noting that Susan Harrison was actually Elizabeth Bowie’s art teacher during her high school years. You can explore her artistry in detail by visiting Susan Harrison’s portfolio.

College Counselor Takes New Position at SACAC Bob MacLellan, the Director of College Counseling at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, has been named Treasurer-Elect of the Southern Association of College Counseling (SACAC). He was elected by the membership at the 2023 Annual Conference held this past April. Following a one-year term as Treasurer-Elect, Bob will serve a three-year term as Treasure of SACAC.

Open House The Open House drew families from various corners of the country. Among the attendees, the family that traveled the farthest had journeyed all the way from North Carolina, demonstrating their dedication to exploring educational opportunities. The event was made even more special by the warm and knowledgeable student ambassadors who led the tours, offering insightful perspectives and answering questions.

Karl Sjolund, Head of School, began the Open House with a welcoming address, where he shared the school's vision and commitment to providing an exceptional education. His words resonated with the attending families, reinforcing their sense of being part of a welcoming and forward-thinking community.

To conclude the event, the school provided refreshments for all attendees.

It was a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with each other and engage in casual conversations, leaving a sense of belonging within the school community. This Open House served as a memorable introduction to the school's campus, academics, and programs.

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Campus News

Compass Program St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School introduced a transformative initiative called Compass, which comprises a new advisory and grade-level weekly program.

Compass is thoughtfully designed to cater to the comprehensive needs of our students, encompassing their physical, spiritual, social, emotional, educational, and intellectual well-being. A primary focus within the Compass program is to foster a sense of belonging.

In addition to these core components, Compass incorporates aspects of civic engagement, community service, and leadership development. This holistic model integrates collective experiences and individual mentorship, empowering students to build resilience, form meaningful interpersonal

connections, and acquire essential skills for a life marked by health and joy. By actively nurturing a sense of belonging, Compass endeavors to cultivate a supportive environment, allowing students to establish a connection to their surroundings and a clear sense of purpose on their unique journeys.

To facilitate these objectives, Compass groups are thoughtfully arranged, with 9th and 10th grade students paired together, and 11th and 12th grade students forming their own groups in the Upper School. Each Upper School Compass group typically comprises 6-8 students led by one dedicated advisor.

Meanwhile, Middle School Compass groups are grade specific. As a bonding ritual, Compass groups enjoy lunch to-

gether on the first Friday of every month.

In specific instances, Upper School Compass groups have the opportunity to share a meal off-campus. Additionally, during Community Announcements, Chapel, and J-Block, Compass groups sit together in designated locations, fostering a sense of unity and community within our school.

PEAK After School Program

PEAK activities are optional for Middle School day students. Upper School Day students must participate in three PEAK activities in their 9th and 10th grade year and two in their 11th and 12th grade years.

Each year, Upper School students must complete at least one season of PEAK that requires physical activity. Students who have particular interests that require a significant level of commitment and dis-

cipline, that include competition or performance, and that the school does not offer may design a proposal and request approval for an independent PEAK activity. Any independent PEAK activity must meet a minimum of 8 hours per week, and students must keep a weekly log. Past independent PEAK activities have included dance, club sports, gymnastics, and horseback riding.

Performance, Exploration, Athletics, Knowledge (PEAK), our co-curricular program, takes place each school day from 3:40-5:30 p.m. Through the PEAK curriculum, students engage in competitive interscholastic sports, non-competitive physical activities, outdoor skills, and creative pursuits. PEAK provides students time and space to delve into their passions, to pursue their curiosities, and to fuel their competitive drive. PEAK focuses on the experience and encourages students to engage in healthy risk taking, to learn from failure as much as success, to seek lifelong learning, and to embrace challenge, strive for balance, and cultivate joy.

Students are expected to engage fully and consistently in the PEAK curriculum, and PEAK activities are listed on student transcripts. Students commit between six and 12 hours each week to their PEAK activity for the duration of our 12-week seasons. Boarding students must participate in one PEAK activity each trimester.

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Upcoming Faculty-led Trips for Upper School Students Marine Ecology in Belize In the summer of 2024, SAS students will travel to Belize for a nine-day marine ecology field science program with Ecology Project International. Students will spend the first half of the trip at the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S.) in the Maya Mountains where they will engage in neotropical bat surveys and herpetology studies.

The second part of the trip will be spent on Tobacco Caye, where students will explore the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest reef in the world, and collect data on coral reef health and conduct tropical fish population assessments. In addition to the field ecological studies, students will immerse themselves in Belizean culture. This opportunity is being led by associate head of school and academic dean, Mrs. Kelley Black.

Yucatán, Mexico During Spring Break 2024, from March 7-14, SAS students will travel to Mexico

to explore the Yucatán & Mayan Riviera.

This Spanish language immersion trip will include sight-seeing tours in Mérida, Uxmal, Valladolid, and Playa del Carmen. Highlights include guided visits to Chichén Itzá, Izamal, and a flamingowatching tour. This experience is being led by Spanish teacher Rafael Lomeli.

Zuni, New Mexico During Spring Break 2024, SAS students will travel to the high desert in western New Mexico to continue their service partnership with the people of Zuni Pueblo. SAS students will host a spring break camp for elementary-aged children and work on construction projects in the local area. SAS partners with Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, an indigenous-led non-profit organization that is focused on strengths-based enrichment for Zuni youth. While there, SAS students will also enjoy cultural activities, meet local artisans, and explore the surrounding landscape with visits

to Petrified Forest National Park and El Morro National Monument. This experience is being led by art department chair and Middle School Coordinator Rachel Malde.

Backpacking in the Appalachian Mountains Students will learn how to prepare for a cold weather backpacking trip before heading to North Carolina for a 4-day, 3-night trip in a wilderness area. All experience levels are welcome, though the conditions and terrain will make it both difficult and rewarding. An emphasis will be placed on group cooperation and support. Previous Winterim backpacking trips have taken students to the Joyce Kilmer/Citico Creek Wilderness areas in North Carolina, on sections of the Appalachian Trail near Asheville, North Carolina, and to Savage Gulf State Park in Tennessee. This experience is being led by our outdoor education coordinator, Mr. Michael Short.

Auxiliary Programs Director, Lizzie Duncan is pictured with Madeline Sumpter, Isabelle Patterson, and Thomas Billups from SAS class of 2023.

Earth Day On April 20, 2023, SAS continued the cherished tradition of Earth Day celebration on campus. Dr. Kristen Cecala, Associate Professor of Biology at The University of the South, served as our guest speaker, addressing the crucial topic of amphibian conservation. The day unfolded with morning workshops, a delightful picnic lunch, a mid-day thrift fair and art sale, and the afternoon Tri-Tree games. Workshops offered a range of activities, including caving, climbing, hiking, biking, painting, farming, and more. The students came together and celebrated and contributed to the well-being of our planet.

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Sports Highlights AUTUMN 2022 GIRLS SOCCER: All-District Players Varsity girls’ center back Sarah Grace Powell ’24 and goalie Ellie Jenkins ’24 were named to the TSSAA D-II A District 2 Team.

CROSS COUNTRY: District Champion Boys’ varsity cross country team is district champion and placed 4th in the TSSAA DII-A east regional meet.

AJ Clements ’23 led the team with a time of 17:40.91 followed by Kiran Malde ’26 in 18th place and Toby Van de Ven ’25 in 19th place. At the TSSAA high school state championship meet, AJ placed 22nd out of 76 runners in the varsity boys’ race.

Kiran Malde and A. J. Clements

GOLF: Regional Qualifiers Luca Malde ’21 and teammate Graeden Miller ’21 qualified for the TSSAA DII-A East Regional Tournament.

MOUNTAIN BIKING: Race Series Champion, Etc. For the second year in a row, William Schrader ’26 placed first in his riding category (9th Grade Boys’) in the Tennessee Interscholastic Cycling AsLuca Malde sociation Race Series. Several of his teammates also were top-ten finishers in the season race series: Rosa Thompson ’29 (4th in 7th Grade Girls) and Jane Shealy ’29 (9th in 6th Grade Girls), Grayson Clark ’28 (4th in 7th Grade Boys), Theo Schrader ’27 (10th in 8th Grade Boys), Cameron Crawford ’24 (4th in JV Boys), Jonte Wedig ’24 (10th in JV Boys), Libby Neubauer ’23 (8th in Varsity Girls), Elliot Benson ’24 (6th in Varsity Boys), Caleb Palmertree ’23 (7th in Varsity Boys), A.J. Clements ’23 (8th in Varsity Boys). Overall, the varsity high school team placed 10th and the Middle School Team placed 4th.

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WINTER 2023 BASKETBALL: All-District Honors Boys’ varsity basketball player Kyler Cantrell ’23 was named to the TSSAA DII-A 2 East All District Team. The Middle School Boys Basketball team finished the season with a 7-4 record in the Super Seven Grundy County league. Eighth graders Bryce Archambault ’27 and Harper Thompson ’27 were selected to the all-star game.

Kyler Cantrell

SWIMMING: School Records Fall Varsity swimmer Sarah Russell Leonard ’26 set three new school records: 200 Freestyle with a time of 2:09.47, 500 Freestyle with a time of 5:41.27, and 100 Fly with a time of 1:03.35. Jackson Frazier ’24 also set a new school record in 100 Breaststroke with a time of 58.18. The Varsity Team ended a successful season with eight qualifiers for the Middle Tennessee High School Swimming Association Regional Meet. Those swimmers were: Javier- Jimenez-Arellano ’26, Aidan Gruman ’26, Jackson Frazier ’24, Toby Van de Ven ’25, Sienna Barry ’25, Loulie Frazier ’25, Sarah Russell Leonard ’26, and Reese Michaels ’24. In addition, five of these swimmers (Jackson, Sarah Russell, Loulie, Sienna, and Reese) qualified for the state meet in eight different events.

WRESTLING: Strong Showing at State Tournament The Varsity Girls’ Wrestling team placed 10 out of 51 teams at the state meet: Verena Pate ’23 (record 21-3) placed 2nd in 126 weight class; Melanie Val ’24 (record 22-5) placed 4th in 114 weight class; Stella Wilson ’25 (record 15-10) qualified in 132 weight class; and Hadlee Hale ’24 (record 13-13) qualified in 138 weight class. Boys’Varsity team members Jonte Wedig ’23, Jack Hale ’25, Tom Karanja ’25, Eoin Pate ’26, and Thomas Billups ’23 competed in the TSSAA D-II A regional tournament.

Mountain Biking Team

SPRING 2023 TRACK AND FIELD: Six New School Records Set The Varsity and Middle School track and field teams had another spectacular season, setting six new school records: A. J. Clements ’23 in the 800m and 1600m; Kiran Malde ’26, Kyler Cantrell ’23, Micah Moody ’26, and A. J. Clements in the 4x800m relay; Malde, Moody, Clements, and Emmanuel Karanja ’23 in the 4X400; and Annabelle Close ’27 in the middle school shot put. At the TSSAA DII-A State Championship meet, Clements placed 3rd in the 800m race; and in the boys 4x800 relay, Clements, Malde, Cantrell, and Moody placed 5th.

TENNIS: Undefeated Performances, Etc. Middle School boys’ and girls’ tennis teams finished the season with winning records of 7-1. Catherine Barnett ’28 (#1 girls' singles player) went undefeated as did Martin Brodsky ’28 (#3 boys' singles players). In addition, Brodsky had an undefeated doubles record with three different partners. The fabulous #2 girls' duo of Addy Knight ’28 and Ella Matthews ’28 went undefeated, too. The varsity girls team ended the season 4-3. The girls’ team finished 5th in the district. Laura Crigger ’23 (#1 girls’ singles player), took third place in the District Individual Tournament, earning All-District honors and qualified for the TSSAA DII-A East Region Individual Tournament. The varsity boys’ team ended the season 1-6. However, they were contenders in every match. Over the course of the season, the boys’ team played 13 matches that ended 6-8 or 7-9. In the District Individual Tournament, Elijah Stark ’26 (#1 boys’ singles player) and Will Hernandez ’24, as well as the doubles teams of Grayson Cleveland ’24 and Lee Gottlieb ’23 and Cameron Crawford ’24 and Ronny Ishimwe ’23, all made it to the quarterfinal round.

80 % Percentage of SAS students who competed in athletics last school year.

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Yellowstone Wildlife Ecology Program June 2023

Students Conduct Field Research in Yellowstone

T

hirteen St. Andrew’s-Sewanee students along with Academic Dean/Science Teacher Kelley Black and Mathematics Teacher Margot Burns traveled to Yellowstone National Park in early June for a 9-day Wildlife Ecology Program with the Missoula, Montana-based organization Ecology Project International. The group engaged in several field science studies: collecting fecal samples from collared female bison for the Yellowstone Bison Team, conducting bear safety surveys for Yellowstone park officials, and collecting data on amphibian presence in Custer Gallatin National Forest’s Casey Lake for the National Forest Service. The main research focus was Yellowstone’s approximately 5,000 strong bison herd.

Students used telemetry to track collared female bison in the park and then waited patiently to collect fecal samples, which are analyzed to determine which grasses and other flora bison graze and their nutritional content. The research conducted by SAS students helps park biologists better understand the impact of bison on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and informs management, conservation, and preservation policies.

Each day in Yellowstone National Park offered its own delights, whether working among herds of massive adult bison and adorable red dogs, the name given to bison calves, spotting wildlife, including 21 bears, on scenic drives through the park, or trekking on foot off the beaten path. Hikes in the Hellroaring Creek, Beaver Ponds, and Trout Lake areas provided expansive mountain vistas, tumbling water, and sage and wildflower meadows as well as sightings of elk, mule deer, coyote, pronghorn antelope, marmots, muskrats, otters, osprey, hawks, and cutthroat trout. The group ventured into the park in the predawn

14 · St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Magazine · 2023/2024

hours for wolf watching in the Lamar Valley. Through scopes, the group was fortunate to spy two collared grey wolves on the move under Specimen Ridge and to hear some amazing stories on Yellowstone's most famous wolves from wolf expert, advocate, and author Rick McIntyre.

A trip to Norris Geyser Basin introduced the group to Yellowstone’s amazing geothermal features; the bubbling, spewing, gurgling, steaming landscape quickly reminds one of Yellowstone’s origins as a super volcano. Home base at the Eagle Creek Campground in the mountains above Gardiner offered views of Electric, Sepulcher, and Bunsen Peaks as well as the travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. As a completely unplugged experience, time at the campsite was spent cooking together, exploring the surrounding hills and streams, playing cards and games, reading books, and enjoying connecting with one another.

Rafting the picturesque class 3+ Yellowstone River was a fitting celebration on the final day of the adventure.

This trip marked the third SAS student group to travel to Yellowstone. Research conducted in 2016 and 2018 by SAS students contributed to the National Park Service’s 10-year study of bison migration, which was published in 2020 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

SAS students have also participated in research projects on leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica in 2017 and marine invertebrates in the Sea of Cortez in 2019. Academic Dean Kelley Black commented, “The Yellowstone field science program gives students the opportunity to connect authentically with bison and other animals in America’s first national park. Knowing that their research matters... that the data they collect is actually being used to inform policy to protect and preserve this amazing landscape and its organisms is so rewarding. I love being able to provide this experience to our students.”

Knowing that their research matters...that the data they collect is actually being used to inform policy to protect and preserve this amazing landscape and its organisms is so rewarding.

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Reflections on Our Senior CUMBERLAND SCHOLARS

O

ur inaugural cohort of Cumberland Scholars are all on track to complete their pathways and graduate with this new distinction. Ellie Jenkins, Cameron Crawford, Elliott Benson, and Jackson Frazier all enrolled in the program when it launched three years ago. Since then, they have taken required place-based electives such as Environmental Literature, Field Geology, and American Studies. They have also participated in PEAK programs (formerly APs or Afternoon Programs) that capitalize on our geography, including climbing, mountain biking, and adventure cycling.

They have also completed Winterim workshops with an emphasis on place, like winter backpacking or fly fishing, and attended at least one overnight trip each year. During fall break of their junior year, they embarked on a four-day retreat in North Carolina in order to learn basic first aid, leadership, and decision-making skills. This satisfied the Cumberland Scholar requirement called “Foundational Skills.”

Currently, all four students are taking a capstone course in order to prepare them for independent research next semester.

Their final two requirements are a “Technical Demonstration” of a skill they’ve acquired while at SAS and their capstone research project. For their technical demonstrations, they are currently writing proposals, designing lesson plans, and researching ways to assess the outcomes of their demonstrations. Their ideas are below: Ellie led a leadership workshop during our trip, spreadout over three sessions. She first introduced the concept of leadership and how many people misunderstand or misapply leadership styles. She emphasized the dynamic nature of leadership and how no person or situation can be explained by a simple diagram or contained within a box. Her first session was on the National Outdoor Leadership School model of leadership. Students completed an interactive exercise to determine their leadership style. Then, we discussed the strengths and weaknesses of each preferred style and applied them to scenarios. The following day, she introduced a different model of leadership that stressed situational

16 · St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Magazine · 2023/2024

BY MICHAEL SHORT

awareness. Student actors were employed to stage different scenes ranging from low urgency to high urgency. The Cumberland Scholars had to intervene in these scenarios and diffuse the situations. Finally, she solicited written feedback, which she will use to assess what the participants learned. She did an excellent job.

Ellie’s research project has been narrowed down to a deer survey on the SAS campus. We met with a university staff member to look at data from their annual deer surveys. Ellie has set up cameras on our campus to act as a control for their study, since they allow hunting and we do not.

Jackson taught students how to fly fish. He also gave students lessons on assembling and casting fly rods, then evaluated his participants while they practiced casting on the Nantahala River. One student caught a trout!

Elliott plans on hosting a climbing trip for middle school students as a weekend activity. He will teach them basic safety, crash pad placement, and spotting techniques. He will then demonstrate a variety of climbing moves. To assess his participants, they will use our climbing shed to design their own routes by following a rubric that Elliott will devise.

Cameron plans on demonstrating mountain biking skills.

He will do this in the spring by helping coach a practice of “Adventure Cycling.” His demonstration will focus on proper technique for cornering and rolling off drops.

Recently, we partnered with a university class and went electrofishing in Cowan to collect data from Boiling Fork Creek about species diversity. Jackson is hoping to use this data in his research, which will likely be focused on freshwater fish in the region. We are planning on going to the university library to dive deeper into finding and evaluating sources.

By Christmas, they will have robust research proposals, annotated bibliographies, and drafts of literature reviews that they will build upon independently next semester. At some point in the spring, they will publicly present their projects.

Caroline Neubauer ’26 said, “Cumberland scholars is a unique opportunity provided by SAS for students who have an interest in the environment and outdoor adventure. This program enables students to build their leadership skills through outdoor trips and service. Throughout this program students take outdoor and environmentally oriented classes and PEAK activities. During senior year, Cumberland Scholars eventually culminates in a capstone project of the student’s choice. The graduating class of this year will be the first Cumberland scholars, with many others in lower grades working toward this distinction. As a current participant, my favorite thing about this program is the blend of outdoor adventure and learning. I really enjoy being outdoors and this program offers many opportunities to do just that while learning about our natural surroundings.”

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Performing Arts

Take the Stage S

t. Andrew’s - Sewanee School is proud to announce its official membership in the International Thespian Society (ITS) and the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).

This achievement comes as a result of a charter granted to SAS, guided by our new theatre and music director, Dr. Will Eyerly.

It opens up exciting opportunities for students interested in musical theatre, acting, and technical theatre.

Membership in ITS is a prestigious honor and a recognition of outstanding academic performance and excellence in the field of theatre arts. Dr. Will Eyerly’s 25 years of experience and the chartering of four thespian troupes in Florida demonstrate his dedication to the theater and the arts.

These students will benefit not only from recognition on their high school transcripts but also from the chance to compete for honors and participate in state and national events.

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The involvement of both Upper School and Middle School students in Troupe #11474 is promising, and it’s great to see such enthusiasm from the student body.

Dr. Eyerly is also introducing a new dance program, which will be divided into short segments that will be combined into a final performance. He actively enjoys performing alongside the students, both musically and theatrically. The upcoming calendar promises a winter musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” and a spring play titled “Zink: The Myth, The Legend, The Zebra”. There are plenty of new and exciting developments happening in our Music and Theater departments.

The reimagining of the Christmas Revels tradition as a “radio show” format in “A Cumberland Christmas: Holiday Tunes & Traditions through the Decades” is a creative and inclusive way to celebrate the holiday season. The production will feature performances and participation from every grade level and will also honor traditions of other faiths and cultures. The entire production will be recorded for broadcast on WMTN 103.1, our student-run campus radio station, and shared with our listeners.

Spring Music Show

Creative Expression

On May 10, 2023, The SAS music department presented a show titled “We Are Family.” This dynamic performance showcased the talents of the Upper School music ensemble and the 6th and 7th-grade singers, focusing on music from the disco era. They performed chart-topping hits from iconic artists such as "Earth, Wind & Fire," "Fleetwood Mac," and even the legendary "Village People." It was an evening of high-energy singing and dancing that celebrated the spirit of musical unity.

The second "Creative Expression" performance of the year was held during the 45 minute J-Block (The "J" stands for "Joy") on Thursday, November 9th. Performing Arts Director, Dr. Will Eyerly, arranged 10 performances that included instrumental music performances, vocal performances from the contemporary pop and musical theatre genres, a hip-hop and modern dance performance, and two original compositions.

The majority of the performances were recital opportunities for students in the Middle School performing arts and Upper School music ensemble classes where students were showcasing pieces they were working on in class. Creative Expression performances are an opportunity for the SAS community to celebrate the growing and vibrant performing arts program at our school.

Robin Hood On May 5-6, 2023, The SAS Players presented an entertaining performance of Robin Hood by Larry Blamire. This rendition of the timeless tale skillfully wove together the diverse legends and ballads surrounding the outlaw folk hero, resulting in a hilarious, expansive, and action-packed drama. The cast featured characters such as Marian, a quick-witted shepherdess who was skilled with swords, and Robin who stumbled upon heroism by sheer happenstance. As expected from the legend, the story concludes with a satisfying and positive ending.

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Radio Station

WMTN

Scores Multiple Wins AT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL • • • RADIO COMPETITION • • •

WMTN

93.1 & 103.1, at St. Andrew’sSewanee School, captured two “bestin-show” awards November 4th at the national competition for high school broadcasting called “The Drury awards” held at North Central College in Glen Ellyn Illinois on Saturday, November 4th. The John Drury High School Radio Awards were created to recognize outstanding excellence in high school radio broadcasting. The awards are named in honor of award-winning ABC-Chicago news anchor, John Drury. Over 150 high school stations participated in the contest.

WMTN took home top honors in two categories-Best Radio Drama, and best Podcast. Additionally the students received a 2nd place win in the Best Talk Show category. The win for Best Radio Drama came for the show “The Lodger.” Students included Luke Baird ’23, Elliott Boyd ’23 Kendall Elder ’25, Thomas Billups ’23, Charlie Relford ’24, Cameo Smith ’24, and Reagan Vaughan ’23. Best Podcast honors went to Cameo Smith ’24 & Kendall Elder ’25 for their podcast titled “Sun & Moon, Episode 2.” The station also picked up a second place award for Best talk show for “Ask Elliot-holiday edition!”

Students included Elliott Boyd, Kendall Elder, Thomas Billups, and Luke Baird. Honorable mention also went to Kenneth Simmons ’22 for his show “Music out of Time” in the the category of Best Specialty Music Show.

WMTN faculty sponsor, J.R. Ankney was elated at the recent announcement. Ankney said “Our only goal for the first year was to enter and possibly secure one nomination. I was stunned when we received four national nominations, and am speechless that we managed to actually win in two of the most competitive categories, and place 2nd overall in a third category! 2023-24 station manager, Alex Colón ’24 said “ I’m so proud of the student team that contributed to the shows. It came together beautifully, and I know that we’re only climbing higher.” And former station manager Luke Baird-who in his own right was instrumental in getting the new station off the ground - said “WMTN is much more than a high school radio station. It’s a unique place where everyone can express themselves artistically, technically, and creatively. I’m excited to watch as WMTN radio continues on its journey!”

WMTN-LP has been on the air since 2004 at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, and has experienced a renaissance in the last two years. Currently WMTN is on the air twenty four hours a day broadcasting a variety of music, shows, and news. The station is on the air at 93.1 & 103.1 locally, and streaming live at www.sasradio.org. Future plans for the “Voice of the Mountain” include an upgraded signal with a new antenna which will reach even more local listeners, more local programming, remote broadcasting, and the inclusion of voices from the members of our mountain community.

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S

ince March of 2021, the SAS Chapel Program has enjoyed a vibrant partnership with The School of Theology’s Contextual Education program at the University of the South, which gives those training for ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church the opportunity to receive hands-on experience under the guidance of a mentoring priest. Since beginning this partnership, the SAS community has welcomed six seminarians from dioceses across the country.

In partnership with the Chaplain, The Rev. Molly Short, these seminarians have become integral parts of our school’s spiritual and emotional support for students, faculty, and staff.

The following interview was conducted in October of 2023 with The Reverend Rufus Van Horn. Father Rufus gave generously of his pastoral gifts as a seminarian at SAS from August 2021 through Commencement Exercises this past May, joining Mother Short in preaching weekly chapel services, offering pastoral care to students, and co-teaching confirmation classes. Father Rufus now serves as the priest in charge at Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Tunica, Miss.

An Interview with Rev. Rufus Van Horn

Contextual Education Partnership with the University of the South: School of Theology

What is your fondest memory of serving in the SAS chapel program?

My fondest memories are the lunchtime conversations I often had on Wednesdays following chapel. I loved those days that I got to sit with various students and interject myself into what they were discussing or plotting. Often those interactions turned out to be comfortable spaces for them to ask me questions about something we had done in chapel or to ask something about the Episcopal denomination or the Chrisitian faith. They definitely put my seminary education to the test. It was in these conversations that I felt we developed more meaningful and lasting connections.

How has your involvement with the SAS community shaped your vision of your ministry moving forward?

My vision of my ministry was expanded just by being selected to serve in the chapel program. I noticed SAS as an option for our contextual education early on, but ruled it out. I considered myself too old to connect with today’s students and, more practically, I thought it best to consider working with a small, rural parish since that would most likely be my first placement.

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit had other ideas for me! I followed that leading and joyfully accepted the offer to work at SAS with Mother Short. Those two years ministering with the staff, faculty,

and students at SAS opened me up to a whole new range of possibilities for my ministry. As many can attest, Mother Short was instrumental in helping me be more open to God’s possibilities and the gifts God has imparted to me. From my working with SAS, I was asked to serve as chaplain for two summers at Mississippi’s diocesan camp, Camp Bratton-Green. That opened further doors and built connections in the diocese that have been supportive as I begin my life as a priest in Mississippi.

In your opinion, What makes SAS students unique?

Hands down the kindness I noticed and received from the SAS students makes them unique among so many youth today. I have to confess I was a little wary of the authenticity of this kindness in my early interactions with students as I remembered my own high school days. Quickly, I realized that all of these students were, and are, sincere. I saw Mother Short and the SAS community at work teaching students to be kind and, perhaps just as important, creating opportunities and space for them to practice being kind. It was not just words, but a real expectation. I experienced that kindness most tangibly as the students crowded around me in the chapel in December 2022 prior to my ordination as a transitional deacon. Their prayers and their kindness helped calm my nerves during this momentous time in my faith journey.

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Class Notes

1950s

Douglas Newton SMA ’56 With his oil painting titled Triad, Douglas won the Director’s Choice award (second prize) in Gallery Omata’s online exhibit, Sweet Treats.

1970s

2000s

Jude L. Ziliak ’05 On November 13, 2022, Jude performed at the National Gallery of Art with early music ensemble Sonnambula. In A Portrait in Music: Sounding the Dutch Baroque, Sonnambula explores the exceptional music of the Low Countries during the 17th century. Taking Dutch and Flemish paintings as inspiration, the ensemble presents five sonic portraits of musical life.

Emma Zeitler ’16 Emma recently defended her master's thesis which explored how the season of fire disturbance influences hardwood tree population dynamics and dung beetle activity. She volunteered her time to speak about her research to SAS Cumberland Scholars. She will graduate from the University of Florida this December.

Matthew Mollica ’18 Congratulations to Matthew on his recent engagement to Adeline Chinery. The couple plan to marry next April, with SAS Chaplain Molly Short officiating.

Aubrey Black ’18 After graduating from Sewanee in 2022 and playing four years of collegiate golf, Aubrey is continuing to be close to the game, working on the golf staff at the Capital City Club in Atlanta.

Dean Rucker StA ’73 Dean was honored as a Distinguished Law Graduate of St. Mary's School of Law, San Antonio, Texas for 2020. Covid delayed the annual Distinguished Law Graduate Dinner until October 15, 2022 when the Distinguished Law Graduates for 2020 through 2022 were honored.

1980s

Elizabeth B. Croom ’83 Elizabeth, who serves as Deputy Legal Counsel for Technology and Innovation at the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts, is the 2023 recipient of the NCBA Government and Public Sector Section's Grainger Barrett Award for Excellence. The award honors ""an outstanding government or public sector attorney as an exemplar of the excellence, dedication and passion for justice of North Carolina's government and public sector attorneys."

Brian Jordan Alvarez ’05 FX has recently ordered a new series called English Teacher, a comedy creation by and starring Brian. The show revolves around a gay high school teacher in Austin, Texas, navigating the demands of both students and their parents in an evolving world where the rules are in a constant state of flux. Executive producers are Alvarez (Will and Grace, Jane the Virgin) and Paul Simms (Atlanta, What We Do in the Shadows).

Alexander Milford ’19 This year, Alex graduated from Belmont with a degree in Studio Art and he wrote his first book, Where We Go, which can be purchased on Amazon.

2010s

2020s

Noah McIndoo ’15 and Allison Bruce ’15 were married in All Saint's Chapel on the campus of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee on July 22, 2023. “We're so thankful to SAS for bringing us together.

We live in Chattanooga, Tennessee with our sweet dog Bonnie."

Zolon Knoll ’21 Zolon is loving Centre College in Danville, Ky. He's a junior, majoring in International Studies with a minor in German. He's swimming on the Centre Swimming and Diving Team and is looking forward to a semester abroad this spring in Strasbourg, France.

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Jenna Black ’21 is an English major and Asian Studies minor at Sewanee where she plays field hockey. Last semester Jenna was named to the NFHCA Academic Squad, the SAA Academic Honor Roll, and the University of the South Dean's List. This past summer Jenna had an internship in football operations at Vanderbilt University.

Pyunn Ntwari ’22 Pyunn, who is running cross country at Birminham Southern, was a big contributor in his team’s recent second place finish in the Huntington Invitational. Pyunn’s sister, Pierra, graduated last year and is now studying at The University of the South. His twin sisters Ketiah and Keziah are currently in their sophomore year at SAS.

Kenneth D. Simmons ’22 "I am doing well in school, and I have had an amazing summer. I got an internship with the Michigan Department of Transportation working with the Metro Region Bridge division. I work with them to inspect the bridges around the Detroit Metro area. The internship has offered me insight into my desired career path, and it has reinforced my interest in my Civil Engineering major.”

Alumni in Print

Gorilla by Lee Stockdale SMA ’70 Lee’s poem “My Dead Father’s General Store in the Middle of a Desert” won the United Kingdom’s National Poetry Prize earlier this year. The poem is included in Gorilla, Lee’s debut collection of poems which was recently published by Main Street

Rag Publishing Company. According to Joseph Bathanti, former North Carolina poet laureate, "At the heart of these poems is the speaker’s father’s death by suicide and the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Stockdale provocatively, often bril-

liantly, always hauntingly, conflates these two tragedies and, indeed, mythologizes them. Gorilla underscores the imagination’s dogged grip on survival, language’s alchemy in forging cosmos from chaos, how the spirit moves and bears witness.”

Reflections on Captivity: A Tapestry of Stories by a Vietnam War POW

by Porter Halyburton SMA ’59

SJ Is Back

On October 17, 1965, Navy LTJG Porter Halyburton was shot down over North Vietnam on his 76th mission and listed as killed in action. Oneand-a-half years later he was found to be alive and a prisoner of war.

Halyburton was held captive for more than seven years. Reflections on Captivity, is a collection of fifty short stories about this young naval officer’s experiences as a POW in North Vietnam. This book recounts difficult times but focuses more on the posi-

tive aspects—the humor, creativity, friendships, courage, and leadership of an amazing group of Americans and how they helped each other survive and even thrive. These vignettes demonstrate how the human mind, body, and spirit can adapt and find meaning in life in the most challenging circumstances. There are powerful lessons learned from this complex experience that continue to guide the author’s life to this day. Despite hardship, suffering, and long sepa-

ration, Halyburton strongly believes one’s quality of life is determined more by choices made than by circumstances, and the most liberating choice we can make is to forgive.

Reflections on Captivity furthers the reader’s understanding about the nature of captivity, race relations, human relations, aspects of the air war against North Vietnam, and highlights the importance of leadership, ethics, and devotion to duty in difficult times.

W

past May. According to Sarah Jane, “It’s really interesting being back here. A lot of the kids that were in middle school when I was a student at SAS are now in high school. Also, when I went to Sewanee, I took a lot of classes taught by my friends’ parents. Now, I’m teaching my former professors’ children, so it’s all kind of come full circle.”

Sarah Jane credits SAS’s Episcopal heritage as one of the things that drew her to the school, and that has kept her in the Sewanee community ever since. “I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church just prior to coming to SAS. During high school I was an acolyte and then I served as a Sacristan dur-

ing my time at Sewanee.”

The Rev. Molly Short, SAS’s Chaplain, was a big influence on Sarah Jane and her faith journey. Now, she has the opportunity to work with her as a colleague. “Mother Short was my first dorm parent at SAS. She respected me and invested in me when I was a student, which I am truly grateful for. She helped me start a bible study for junior and senior girls, and I even babysat for her! Now, we are on dorm duty on the same night in Harvey Hall. It’s been amazing to get to know her in this new way.”

We are truly honored to have Sarah Jane as one of our Father Flye Fellows and as an incredible role model for our students.

e have been overjoyed to welcome Sarah Jane, or “SJ” as the students know her, back home to SAS. She is one of our two Father Flye Fellows for the 2023-2024 school year and is currently teaching Literary Studies and Place-Based American Studies. She is also involved in SAS’s after school PEAK programming and is a member of our residential faculty.

Sarah Jane first came to SAS in the fall of 2016 from her hometown of Centreville, Ala. After graduating in 2019, she headed just down the road to The University of the South where she served as Chair of the University’s Honor Council while earning her B.A. in English this

2023/2024 · St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Magazine · 23

Alumni Activities

Alumni Weekend 2023 This past summer, alumni of many generations came home to the Mountain for a weekend of fun and friends. The St. Andrew’s and Sewanee Academy Classes of 1973 received their 50-year medallions, Fr. Bill Wade joined us to sign copies of his new book St. Andrew’s: Not Just Another School, we had our own private fireworks show on Saturday night, and then the weekend concluded with a spirited performance by the Rejoice! Choir during the Eucharist service Sunday morning. We can’t wait to see everyone again in 2024!

Distinguished Alumni & SAS Service Awards At alumni weekend this summer, alumnus and new Board of Trustees member Andrew Hard ’06 received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Andrew made important contributions to the field of physics as part of the team that discovered the Higgs Boson particle at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in 2012. Andrew now works at the forefront of machine learning at Google, where he is focused on BARD, Google’s artificial intelligence engine.

Our co-recipients of the SAS service award were Phil and Jerry White, who were recognized for their exceptional dedication to secondary education on the Mountain. Between the two of them, they taught for nearly nine decades at SAS and all of SAS’s parent schools. During this time, they made an impact on the lives of thousands of students, many of whom they continue to stay connected with today.

SMA March Row 1, L-R: Mike Flannes SMA ’69, Lee Chappell SMA ’63, Frank Rieger SMA ’68, Tommy Bye SMA ’63, David Smith SA ’73, Newt Molloy SMA ’63, Howard Lotti SMA ’71. Row 2: Richard Powers ’65, Eddie Latimer SMA ’68. Row 3: Ben Paty SMA ’70, Bob Gatling SMA ’68, Will Rodriguez SA ’73, John Woody SMA ’63, Harry Johnson SMA ’68. Row 4: Rob Utlaut ’85, P.R. Walter SMA ’63, Derek Wyatt SMA ’68, Bill Yarbrough SMA ’68.

The StA Class of 1973 Proudly displaying their 50-year medallions, from left to right: Pat Gahan, Dean Rucker, Victor Ridgley, Gay Lyons, Mark Kelly, Sarah Stapleton, Kent Westberry, Chip Spencer, and Chuck Watson.

The SA Class of 1973 L-R: David Brandon, Ben Bowers, Will Rodriguez, John Ashcraft, Frank Perry, Em Chitty, Bill Forrester, Margaret Haughey, Joe Bowman, Bill Courtney, David Smith, and John Gillespy.

35th Reunion for ’88

Back, L-R: Rob Mack ’88, Jon Robertson ’88, Jay Crutcher ’88. Front: Jamie Brown ’88, Malia Carlos ’87, Sarah Carlos (former faculty), Susannah Robinson Murdock ’88, Carol Robertson, Glynn Rushin Dakin ’88, and Wesley Clearman ’88.

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Alumni Weekend 2024 May 31 – June 2 Special celebrations for ’74 • ’99 • ’14 • ’19 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Advancement

St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School Welcomes New Trustees St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School is pleased to welcome seven members to the Board of Trustees following their election. Each is elected to serve a three-year term.

Eunice R. Colmore Duck River Known throughout Tennessee as a devoted leader and passionate volunteer for the Episcopal church, education, animal rescue, and community causes, Colmore returns to St. Andrew’sSewanee’s board having served three previous terms between 2008 and 2019. She concluded her most recent term as president of the board. When not volunteering, she breeds, raises, trains and places both Red and Gordon Setters. She received her bachelor’s degree in history and history of art from Western North Carolina University.

M. Jane Eaves Sewanee Since 1995, Eaves is a partner at Gonser Gerber, LLP, an industry leader in advancement consulting and professional development and the nation’s first firm founded specifically to provide comprehensive advancement services to nonprofit organizations. She is a founding member and former chair of the Development Council of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington and served as an adjunct faculty member of the Philanthropy and Development master’s program at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota for eleven years. Eaves holds a bachelor’s in history from The University of the South and completed additional studies at Oxford University, England.

Newton F. Molloy III SMA ’63 Murfreesboro Molloy retired as Assistant to the Treasurer for Information Technology with the Tennessee Department of Treasury in 2009. He currently serves on the board of directors for Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity and is past president of the board for Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford Foundation.

Molloy is a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Murfreesboro) and active with the Murfreesboro Tennis Commission. He received his bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, an MBA from MTSU, and is a graduate of The Sewanee Military Academy.

Andrew S. Hard ’06 Seattle, WA Hard serves as a software engineer for Google LLC where he works as a machine learning engineer and researcher on the Bard team. He is particularly interested in methods for building neural models that respect user privacy. He holds a PhD in high-energy physics from the University of Wisconsin and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago in 2010, after which Hard joined CERN in Geneva, Switzerland as part of the ATLAS Experiment’s successful search for the Higgs boson particle. He served as a Congressional and Senate Outreach Volunteer (20142015) where he organized meetings with Senate and Congressional offices in Washington D.C. to discuss fundamental research and science funding. Hard is a graduate of St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School and received SAS’s Outstanding Alumni Award in June 2023.

Dorothy H. Neale Memphis Neale had a 35-year career with IBM and was the Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs Manager at the time she retired. Neale implemented multiple programs around the world supporting green standards and expansion of global markets. She serves as a director for the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, is an Advisory Council member for the South Cumberland Community Fund, is Chair of Happy Feet Equals Learning in Danville, Ky., and is an Advisory Board member of Hope House Memphis. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Rhodes College.

Terence Shepherd StA ’79 Coral Springs, FL and S an Diego, CA Shepherd serves as News Director for KPBS, a public media company in San Diego, California.

Prior to joining KPBS last year, Shepherd served as News Director for eight years at WLRN News, the public media outlet of Southeast Florida, and 14 years as a business editor at the Miami Herald.

In 2021, WLRN News earned the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence among large-market radio stations. Shepherd is the past chairman of the Radio Television Digital News Association and a past president of the South Florida Black Journalists Association. He is a graduate of St. Andrew’s School, received a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Virginia, and an MBA in International Business from Florida Atlantic University.

Robert K. (Kent) Westberry StA ’73 Louisville, KY Westberry is a Senior Partner at Landrum & Shouse LLP with almost 40 years of criminal and civil litigation experience in federal and state courts. From 2004 to 2005, he served as President of the Kentucky Bar Association. He has also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. Westberry is a Fellow in the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the country’s most elite organization for criminal defense attorneys; membership is by invitation only to those attorneys who possess the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. He is a graduate of St. Andrew’s School, received his undergraduate degree from Centre College and his Doctor of Law (JD) from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law of Northern Kentucky University. His son, Andy Westberry, is a graduate of the SAS Class of 2009.

Scan here for more news and media.

2023/2024 · St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Magazine · 25

In Memoriam

Sewanee Military Academy John D. Naill SMA ’42 December 1, 2022

J. Scott Grigsby Jr SMA ’55 August 15, 2022

Leonard Tatum Hopson, Jr. SMA ’63 October 15th, 2022

Charles William Duncan, Jr. SMA ’43 Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022

Joseph J. Gee III SMA ’57 July 8, 2022

Harry C. Hitchcock III SMA ’64 January 10, 2023

Douglas W. Sanders SMA ’44 September 24, 2023

Mr. H Earl Webber, III SMA ’57 June 20, 2023

Thomas F. Taylor III SMA ’64 May 10, 2023

William H. Cuthbertson SMA ’47 March 5, 2022

The Rev. Stephen G. Alexander SMA ’58 August 23,2023

Hans Hudson SMA ’66 June 26, 2023

Col. Walter C. Stanton, Jr. (Ret.) SMA ’48 Nov. 5, 2022

Dr Joseph W. Yerger SMA ’58 August 4, 2023

Erik Charles Anderson SMA ’69 August 4, 2022

Richard G McGary SMA ’49 July 25, 2023

Frank Larry Majors SMA ’60 December 5, 2022

Stephen D. Barnes SMA ’70 March 29, 2023

Peachy Ridgway Gilmer, Jr., MD SMA ’50 June 18, 2023

John Richard Wright SMA ’60 July 22, 23

Barbara Lynn Fernander Schlichting SMA ’71 January 28, 2023

Henry Bass SMA ’53 March 17th, 2023

James John Meyers Jr. SMA ’61 August 21, 2022

Ann Marie Myers Romero SMA ’71 December 2022

Leonidas Cartwright McClurkin, Jr. SMA ’54 June 2nd, 2023

William Donaldson Watson SMA ’62 February 3, 2023

Reginald James Barlament Former Senior Army Instructor February 28, 2023

Frederic Murray Robinson StA ’52 September 27, 2023

Raymond Lee Prescott III StA ’58 March 10, 2023

Robert C. "Bert” Campbell, Jr. StA ’79 January 5th, 2023

Robert D. Clark StA ’54 May 5, 2022

Charles Jackson "Bucky" Mock, Jr. StA ’63 December 5, 2022

Melissa Oakley Smith StA ’79 July 21, 2022

Armand Legriel Chapeau StA ’57 July 31st, 2023

Arthur Dale Allen StA ’66 April 26, 2023

Daniel B. Zahner StA ’81 July 25, 2022

St. Andrew's School

Haynes M. Wilkes StA ’67 June 1, 2022

St. Mary’s School

St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School

Eden Bird SMS ’52 November 13, 2022

Zach Greene ’90 June 26, 2023

Brian Gillespy ’06 November 22, 2021

Patricia Greeter Nobles ’87 August 24, 2022

Alexis Berner-Coe ’13 October 23, 2023

F. Murray Robinson StA ’52 | 1934–2023 St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School offers thanksgiving to God for the life of F. Murray Robinson, who passed away on September 27, 2023. Murray served on the Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2011, twice during those years as president. A

highly regarded and beloved member of our SAS community, he is remembered by his fellow trustees for his thoughtful leadership, joyful heart, and passion for his school and ours.

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C

2024

ampus is active and busy with robust programming from May–August for both children and adults. SAS day camps for grades 1–6 offer sports immersion in basketball and soccer alongside our traditional Camp SAS, which provides wide-ranging fun throughout June. Our new two-week overnight experience It’s Better Than Camp! is in its fourth year and runs the second two weeks of July for ages 11–15. Shakerag Workshops for adults fills the campus for three weeks in June offering a variety of sessions, lectures, and demonstrations. Additional guests coming to campus in 2024 include the National Spelunking Society, Signature Lacrosse, and Biochemistry Literacy for Kids.

SAS CAMPS

Learn more about SAS summer programming online! sasweb.org/summer

May 28-31 Basketball Camp June 3-7 Camp SAS June 10-14 Soccer Camp

June 17-21 Camp SAS June 24-28 Camp SAS July 7-21 It’s Better Than Camp!

(Overnight)

SESSION I: June 5-8 Knitting Getaway SESSION II: June 9-15 Studio Workshops SESSION III: June 16-22 Studio Workshops

Registration is open.

Full details and course descriptions online: shakerag.org 2023/2024 · St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Magazine · 27

St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School 290 Quintard Road Sewanee, Tennessee 37375-3000 www.sasweb.org

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID CHATTANOOGA, TN PERMIT 78

Class of 2024 • Senior Farm Day

On October 11, 2023, the Class of 2024 came together for their annual Senior Farm Day, a tradition where students, accompanied by Farm Instructor Barry Dillon and senior sponsors, worked collaboratively on essential farm tasks. The primary focus of the SAS 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.

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