St. Andrew’s Sewanee
Capitalizing on our Unique Geographic Assets
Our Aspirational Vision
To be the Episcopal day and boarding school of choice in the Southeast for college-bound students seeking challenge, balance, and joy in a welcoming, grace-filled community.
The Outdoor Education Complex
“This facility represents SAS’s firm commitment to our signature outdoor programs and is directly tied to our goal of capitalizing on our unique geographic assets. For a school filled with students who love the outdoors, it’s hard to imagine a more exciting facility for us to build. We have some of the best climbers and mountain bikers in the South, and this new complex is certain to attract even more athletes to our wonderful campus!”
– Karl J. Sjolund, Head of School
Complex Details
• 3,600 sf Facility
• Bouldering & Climbing Areas
• Mountain Biking Hub for Middle School & Varsity Teams
• Bike Storage Towers
• “The Lab” (Local Area Bike shop for on-site maintenance)
• Paved All-Weather Outdoor Pump Track
• Camping Gear Storage Areas
• Outdoor Learning Coordinator’s Office
“As a climber, who is also a boarder, I love that the on-campus facility offers more variety in climbs so that I can strengthen and develop my skills even further”
– Sophomore Boarding Student from Middle Tennessee
Reaching Toward Greater Heights…
SAS Mountain Lion Climbers participate in the Interscholastic Climbing League (ICL) which provides a competitive climbing program for middle and high school students in the greater Chattanooga area. Student climbers participate in six organized meets each year at the three Chattanooga climbing gyms.
• SAS’s Outdoor Adventure/ Climbing program is one of the most popular on campus, consistently reaching maximum enrollment each year.
• The SAS Climbing Club finished at #3 in the 2020 ICL competition with 5 climbers finishing in the Top 20, including First Place.
Tennessee Scholastic Cycling Championships
…and Shredding New Climbs, Chutes, and Chunders
• #1 Ranking 2019 Junior Varsity Girls
• 8 Currently Ranked in the Top 10
• #3 Ranking Among 2021-2022 TICL NICA Mountain Biking Teams
• #1 Ranking 2023 Varsity Boys
Introduced in 1998, SAS’s Mountain Biking program is one of the oldest in the South and provides a wide range of experiences for students of all ages and abilities. The SAS racing team includes experienced riders who compete against schools in the Tennessee NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association). Boys and girls compete in separate divisions with categories for middle school, freshmen, sophomore, junior varsity, and varsity riders. Students wishing to learn basic skills—and enjoy riding the trails without competing—participate in Adventure Cycling as part of our PEAK programs. There are 13 miles of trails within The Tim Graham Trail System.
Defining Our Sport
Shred v. to ride a trail with particular fervor, passion, speed, skill and/or style
Climb n. any uphill section of trail
Chute n. an especially steep downhill section of trail
Chunder n. an especially rough section of trail
Pump v. a technique used to increase speed on a mountain bike without pedaling, involving pushing the bike into the ground at appropriate moments in a particular manner.
“The SAS outdoor program gave me a second family and made me a stronger person, mentally, and physically. It provided me with opportunities to become more connected to my surroundings, including people and places that I wouldn’t have grown closer to without the program. I challenged myself, conquered my fears, became more confident and rooted in my own identity, and learned to help others do the same. SAS introduced me to an outdoor community that I will be part of for a lifetime. My favorite memories include watching the sun dip over the hills at the end of climbing practice, backpacking along beautiful ridges, and having the chance to mountain bike with new people.”
– SAS Alumna, Class of 2021
The Tim Graham Trail System
Two members of the team will race in the Tennessee Nationals in March 2024 followed by the US Pro Cup in April and the US Nationals in July.
Thank You For Leading the Way!
We are honored to acknowledge the following members of the SAS community who, through their deeply generous commitments to this campaign, have charted the course to current success:
Dan and LeeAnn Backlund
Dave and Kitty Beecken
Kurt (’08) and Dana Beecken
Johnny (SMA ’66) and Katherine Bratton
Jim (StA ’65) and Martha Boyd
Ric (StA ’74) and Marina Dillon
Merritt (SA ’80) and Anne Dyke
M. Jane Eaves
Doug Ferris and Dot Neale
Jay and Laurie Fisher
Roy (StA ’63) and Carol Hancock
Michael (’88) and Rebecca Hollingsworth
Robert Johnston ’94
Louis Jung SMA ‘64
Henry and Donna Lodge
Martha (’93) and Charley McLendon
Newt (SMA ’63) and Charlotte Molloy
Nancy Morris
Louie M. and Betty M. Phillips Foundation
Elliott Puckette ’85 and Hugo Guinness
Steve Rhodes
Doug (SMA ’66) and Cathy Simpson
Lynn Smith
The Tucker Foundation
Rob (’85) and Margi Utlaut
Doug and Sandra Warner
Rich and Bronwyn Westling
John (’83) and The Honorable Ann Wheeler
Phil Woodlief
Campaign Leadership
Campaign Steering Committee
Henry Lodge, Chair
Lee Ann Backlund
Andrew Dinsmore ’02
Newton F. Molloy III SMA ’63
Robert T. Utlaut ’85
John M. Wheeler ’83
Philip Woodlief
Honorary Chairs
C. Bruce Baird SMA ’69
James R. Boyd StA ’65
Eunice R. Colmore
Martha Rhodes McLendon ’93
Rev. William S. Wade
Doug Warner
Margaret Cartinhour Woods
COL Robert T. (Rob) Utlaut ’85, USA, Retired
President
Philip K. Woodlief
Vice President
Andrew Ruffner ’86
Treasurer
Jay Motley ’98
Secretary
Board
of Trustees 2023–2024
Dan Backlund
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt
Kelley Black (Ex Officio)
Mishoe Brennecke
Eunice Colmore
M. Jane Eaves
Jay Fisher, Jr.
Andrew Hard ’06
Henry Lodge
Newton F. Molloy III SMA ’63
Dot Neale
Elliott Puckette ’85
Terence Shepherd StA ’79
Karl J. Sjolund (Ex Officio)
Kent Westberry StA ’73
The Rev. William S. Wade
H. Katharine Sheeler StA ’81
(Honorary)
Site of new Outdoor Learning Complex
St. A ndr e w ’s
Se wa nee
Our School Prayer
O God, who through the love and labor of many, has built upon this mountain a goodly heritage, and has crowned our school with honor and length of days, we give thanks for past achievements and future hopes accomplished in our midst; but chiefly do we offer gratitude for the gift of your son Jesus Christ, who is the cornerstone of our life together, and the revealer of all truth. May we, and all who follow after us, maintain a zealous quest for learning and wisdom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
God be with you ‘til we meet again!
