Images Magazine Summer 2021

IMAGES THE SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL MAGAZINE I SUMMER 2021

THE SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021

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2020-21 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mrs. Mary Sprague Chair Mr. West Beaver Vice-Chair Mrs. Tracey Cannon London ‘88 Secretary Mrs. Stephanie Pendleton Treasurer Mr. Kef Wilson Head of School Mr. George Barrow ‘96 Mr. Daniel Bradley, Jr Mr. Christopher Cay ‘92 Mr. Daniel Cohen Mrs. Meredith Dulany ‘92 Mrs. Liz Glass ‘89 Mrs. Kathie Harlander Mr. John Helmken II Mrs. Amy Henneman ‘86 Dr. Lorna Jackson Mr. Adam Kaminsky Capt. Lux Lakshman Mr. Scott Lauretti Mr. Bud Mingledorff ‘64 Ms. Tammie Mosley Mr. Jon Pannell ‘96 Mrs. Meb Ryan

c/o SCDS 824 Stillwood Drive Savannah, GA 31419 Email: rhodes@savcds.org Images is published bi-annually by the Communications Department of The Savannah Country Day School.

Director of Communications Allison Rhodes Communications Specialist Kate Caparisos Art Director Stacy Claywell Thatdesigngirl.net Photographs courtesy of Paul Camp, Darryl Reynolds, John Carrington and by submission.

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Contents

06 AROUND CAMPUS 12 ATHLETICS 20 FINE ARTS 24 FEATURE 32 C LASS OF 2021 40 LEGACY FAMILIES

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42 ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT 46 CLASS NOTES

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A message from the Head of School

Dear Country Day Community: This issue of Images magazine highlights the resiliency and resolve of our Country Day community despite the many obstacles presented this year by the Covid pandemic.

From classroom spaces and curriculum to morning health checks and lunch, every detail of a school day was scrutinized and reimagined. I hope you enjoy the feature article that illustrates the first-person accounts from a handful of Hornets. What we were able to accomplish this year was nothing short of extraordinary. It was a true team effort that combined the hard work and determination of our faculty and staff, the cooperation of our students, and the support of our parents. I am grateful to all.

I am equally grateful for the outpouring of financial support we received from our community this year. Our annual fund, which was jump-started by an incredibly generous matching gift of $100,000, raised over $750,000 this year and helped offset the unbudgeted costs (e.g. reconfiguring existing spaces to create additional social distance, cleaning supplies, and personal protective equipment, as well as enhancements to our technology) associated with reopening campus and operating efficiently and safely. Meanwhile, some incredibly generous gifts to our capital campaign enabled us to reach our fundraising goal necessary to break ground on a new Upper School STEM building. As I write this, construction is underway for the new state-of-the-art building, which is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2022.

In closing, I would like to congratulate the members of the class of 2021 as they head off to a diverse array of colleges and universities. For better or worse, they will not likely forget their senior year of high school, but they leave us well prepared for whatever the future holds. I am excited to see what they will do with the extraordinary foundation they built at Savannah Country Day. Sincerely,

Kef L. Wilson Head of School

MISSION STATEMENT The Savannah Country Day School seeks to prepare students of academic and personal promise to meet with confidence, imagination, and integrity the challenges of college and of life. In partnership with supportive families, we strive to cultivate in each student the desire and the discipline to grow in wisdom, to lead lives of personal honor, to appreciate beauty, to pursue physical well-being, and to serve others with a generous, compassionate spirit.

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AROUND CAMPUS

Country Day Breaks Ground on STEM Building On June 8, Country Day hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Mingledorff Hall, the new Upper School STEM Building. Donors, trustees, and friends of the school were in attendance as Head of School Kef Wilson and campaign co-chair Christopher Cay made remarks.

Construction began immediately, and the 32,000 sq. ft. building is expected to be completed in the fall of 2022.

With the opening of this new building, the Upper School quad will undergo more change with the renovation of Minis Hall for eight new humanities classrooms. Livingston Hall will then be converted to house student services such as Learning Support, Counseling, and more. The Upper School campus renovation is the initial phase of Country Day’s $20 million “Invest in Excellence” campaign to improve campus facilities and better meet the needs of students.

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Mini-Mester Another successful mini-mester is in the books! While some of our Middle School students explored the fascinating and dynamic ecology of the Georgia coastline, most students immersed themselves in experiential learning on campus! From yoga to fencing, culinary adventures, sailing, choreography and everything in between, mini-mester is a unique opportunity for our Middle School students to explore something new and fun while interacting with students from other grade levels. Mini-mester encourages our students to be life-long learners and believe that self-initiated learning can be powerfully persuasive and lasting.

STAR STUDENT Congratulations to Sowah Adjei ‘21, the 2021 Region STAR Student! Sowah earned the highest score on the SAT in a single sitting among all high school seniors in greater Savannah. He selected Upper School Math Department Chair AJ Goldman as his STAR Teacher. Sponsored locally by the Kiwanis Club, the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Savannah’s highest achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development.

An Evening with Wendy Mogel In February, Country Day welcomed (virtually) Dr. Wendy Mogel, clinical psychologist, parenting expert and NY Times best-selling author, as this year’s Schmidt Lecture Series speaker. Dr. Mogel delighted over 100 members of the Zoom audience — comprised of Country Day parents, faculty, staff and friends — with her disarming candor, quick wit and signature use of cutting-edge psychological research. In her talk, she tackled a wide array of parenting-related topics, including digital citizenship and social media, the benefits of summer sleepaway camp, avoiding “helicopter parenting,” and helping our children manage their emotions— from the cradle all the way through high school. Dr. Mogel’s latest book is Voice Lessons for Parents: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Listen.

Additional books include The Blessing of a B Minus and The Blessing of a Skinned Knee.

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AROUND CAMPUS

Cum Laude Induction Congratulations to our newest Cum Laude Society inductees. Founded on the model of the collegiate honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, the Cum Laude Society was founded in 1906 to recognize the scholastic accomplishments of students in secondary schools. Country Day is honored to host a chapter of the Cum Laude Society, one of only eight in the state.

From left to right: Haley Avino, Amanda Chen, Vivienne Drake, John Neely, Dalton Spivey, Langston Bass, Fina Dooley, Alexis Almeida, Chatri Rajapaksha, Julia Tomus, Ashley Frym, Olivia Carney, Ethan Myers, Gray Grayson, Alston McCaslin, Luke Vasquez, and Louise Mercer.

SCDS Prioritizes Faculty Health & Wellness From yoga and strength training to cooking classes and tie-dye parties, the Faculty Wellness initiatives offered something for every teacher. The classes were organized to recognize the enormous effort that the SCDS faculty put into making this year possible and provided an opportunity to unwind and explore new interests with collegues. Director of Counseling Meg Haston enthuses, “Our faculty and staff have worked so hard this year, and while yoga doesn’t mitigate the stressors of this academic year, I hope that these offerings show our faculty and staff that we value the practice of self-care that we want to make space for it, and fund it, here on campus.”

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Rethinking How to Serve the Community Despite COVID-related restrictions, student volunteers persevered and came up with inventive ways to serve our larger community. When Emma West Mixon and Izzy Gonzalez were unable to work with the Ronald McDonald House’s Adopt a Meal program due to on-site cooking restrictions, they tie-dyed and sold masks to raise money for the House. The Red Cross Club, run by Manasi Jain and Landon Stone, remained committed to the cause by reviewing COVID parameters and creating smaller and safer blood drives. Tech Time, a service program that assists senior living residents with electronics, such as phone and computer literacy, pivoted from in-person consultations to creating a library of easily accessible, educational YouTube videos for residents.

MATHCOUNTS Congratulations to Middle School students Ramon Barboa ‘25 and Emma Gordon ‘26 on qualifying for and participating in the State MATHCOUNTS competition in May. The Georgia MATHCOUNTS competitions are presented by the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers (GSPE). With a decline in students entering college to major in engineering and/or technology fields, GSPE has become a strong advocate and host of the Georgia MATHCOUNTS competitions to encourage students at the middle school level to strive for excellence in math and science.

Interact Club Lends a Hand on The Little School Playground The Upper School’s Interact Club, modeled as a junior Rotary, set its sights on our own Little School for a very “hands-on” service project. Over the final weeks of school, club members dedicated their extra time to a restoration and beautification project of The Little School’s playground, starting with a hand and fingerprint art installation that is sure to brighten up the playground for years to come!

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AROUND CAMPUS

SCDS Students Earn Top Scores on National Spanish Exam Earlier this spring, Upper School Spanish students participated in the National Spanish Exam, a program of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. In addition to many high scorers at the national level, 12 Savannah Country Day students were individually recognized by the Georgia chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese for earning one of the top six scores in this state for their level. Please join us in congratulating all of these students on these prestigious honors and achievements. !Enhorabuena! Highest scores in Georgia: Pawaan Patel (level 2) and Chatri Rajapaksha (level 5); Second highest scores in Georgia: Sowah Adjei (level 5) and Sofia Pablo (level 2); Third highest scores in Georgia: Mason Howington (level 3-tie), Maria Miller (level 3-tie), Roni Rosales (level 2); Fourth highest scores in Georgia: Henry Berg (level 2) and Fina Dooley (level 4); Fifth highest score in Georgia: Maison Miller (level 3); Sixth highest scores in Georgia: Natalia Dascombe (level 4-tie) and Fiona Wilson (level 4-tie)

Hornet Retirees

Mock Trial Team Competes in the Final Round of State The Upper School Mock Trial team had an outstanding season and advanced to the final round of the State Mock Trial Competition. The team picked up several accolades, including Kylie Williams ‘21 with two Outstanding Attorney awards, Carson Gay ‘22 earned an Outstanding Attorney award, and Paige Parsons ‘23 won two Outstanding Witness awards. Faculty coach Keith Muller led the team, and volunteer attorney coaches, John Northup ‘92 and Samantha Fassett, gave generously of their time and have been excellent mentors to the students.

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Best wishes to these longtime faculty and staff as they enter retirement. These four amazing Hornets have collectively accumulated over 90 years at Country Day. Angela Denmark: 23 years Lower School Assistant Teacher Judy Walker: 27 years Lower School Learning Support Shirley Mitchell: 26 years Housekeeping Paul Foley: 15 years Lower School Learning Support

Celebrating Campus Grounds This year saw the rollout of two campus initiatives highlighting Country Day’s extraordinary campus and extensive tree canopy. The Campus Tree Directory was created as an online database and resource, providing species’ names and information for over 1,700 tagged trees. Teachers and students can simply enter a code found on the tree’s unique tag to learn more about each individual tree.

In addition, a smaller project quietly took shape this spring—the clearing and marking of Country Day’s 1.5-mile campus trail. Members of the Upper School’s TREE Club (The Real Environmental Enthusiasts) recognized the need to mark the wooded trail that borders the campus footprint. With yellow blazes placed every tenth mile, our teachers and students can identify and make use of the campus trail as another outdoor learning space.

Alumnus Donates in the Name of Faculty Member When Waldo Bradley ‘00 entered his junior year at Country Day, he acknowledges that he was not a diligent student.

That changed when he entered Adam Weber’s physics classroom. “Mr. Weber’s physics classes were transformative for me,” said Waldo. “The way he taught was engaging and thought-provoking to the point that, at the time, I didn’t even realize how hard he was challenging us.”

Waldo made a commitment of $50,000 to the Invest in Excellence campaign. Instead of placing his name on a classroom, Waldo has named a science lab in the new Upper School Stem Building ‘The Adam Weber Physics Room’. “I ended up performing on a level academically that I never had before,” said Waldo.

“The confidence I gained instilled a newfound approach and appreciation for applying myself, which carried me through the rest of high school, college, and into the real world.”

In June, Waldo returned to campus to visit with Mr. Weber and thank him for the impact on his life. “This is the most rewarding part of teaching,” said Mr. Weber. “It is wonderful to see former students and hear their stories.”

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ATHLETICS

2020-21 ATHLETIC AWARDS

Ken Simpson Sportsmanship Award:

Connie Houston Spirit Award:

Katie Palmaccio ‘21 and Alston McCaslin ‘21

Amelia Wylly ‘21 and Paul Mosley ‘21

In an era where moral and ethical behavior can seem less important than winning in high school, these two athletes display the greatest respect for their opponents, officials and teammates.

They have both proven that they know how to win well and lose with class.

This award is given to two individuals who have contributed the most to the atmosphere of our school. They have been a constant support for all of our teams, whether by participating on the playing field or cheering in the stands.

Bill and Charlene Saunders Most Versatile Athlete Award: Olivia Carney ‘21 and Kenny Odom ‘22 This award is given in respect to leadership, work ethic and athletic ability in various sports for this past year. The Saunders developed the athletic program at Savanah Country Day School, and Saunders Gym and Saunders Field are named in their honor.

Lillian Belzer and Gray Grayson were crowned Mr. and Miss SCDS during the basketball senior night festivities. Mr. & Miss SCDS is voted by both faculty & students, and the recipients best demonstrate the spirit of SCDS in terms of their good character, positive attitude, strong academics and exemplary extracurricular involvement.

Congratulations to Erik Brown ‘21 on surpassing the 1,000-point milestone on January 16 against visiting Aquinas High School. Brown ended the season with 1,168 career points and is the sixth male basketball player in Country Day history to reach 1,000 points.

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Basketball Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams had fantastic seasons and won their Region 3A Private Championships. The boys had an 18-11 record and advanced to the Elite Eight round of the Class A Private State Playoffs. The girls’ team went 18-5 during the regular season and advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the State Playoffs. Region accolades went to 1st Team Erik Brown, Gray Grayson, Olivia Carney, and Abby Nicholson; 2nd Team Ethan Myers, Catherine Goodman, and Amelia Wylly; Honorable Mention Timo Moeller, Paul Mosley, and Robert Spaulding. The Savannah Morning News named Erik Brown and Abby Nicholson to the All-Greater Savannah Basketball 2nd Team. Honorable Mention accolades went to Gray Grayson, Ethan Myers, Timo Moeller, Olivia Carney, Catherine Goodman, and Amelia Wylly. In addition, Erik Brown and Abby Nicholson were named to the GHSA Class-A Private All-State Team for Regions 1-4.

Boys’ Basketball Awards

Girls’ Basketball Awards

Offensive Player of the Year – Erik Brown

Screen and Score Award – Abby Nicholson

Defensive Player of the Year – Paul Mosley

Ball, Deny and Help Award – Catherine Goodman

Passion Award – Ethan Myers

Coaches’ Award – Olivia Carney

Purpose Award – Robert Spaulding

Love of the Game Award – Amelia Wylly

Positivity Award – Gray Grayson

Hornet Award – Anna Pollak

Effort Award – Timo Moeller

Scholar Athletes – Varsity: Olivia Carney, Catherine Goodman, Kat Johnson, Abby Nicholson, Anna Pollak, Grace Wilson, Fiona Wilson, Anna Wollenburg, Rachel Wollenburg, Amelia Wylly. JV: Gracie Daters, Anna Loren Dekle, Alex Kaminsky, Eliese Latham, Julia McGoldrick, Anna Claire Pankey, Olivia Wells, Rachi Wilson

Ultimate Hornet Award – Ethan Myers Captains – Erik Brown, Ethan Myers Scholar Athletes – Varsity: Noah Carney, Gray Grayson, Hawkeye Hrones, Timo Moeller, Ethan Myers, William Whitfield. JV: Phil-Anthony Ajayi, Gabe Kaminsky, Sawyer Tarr, Leiden van Abshoven, Eoin Wilson.

Head of School Award – Olivia Carney, Amelia Wylly

Head of School Award – Gray Grayson, Ethan Myers

Basketball Cheerleading Awards Captains – Emma West Mixon, Reese Ritchie, Kendall Yarber Initiative Award – Mia Goldberg, Peyton Lewis, Sloan Mullins Scholar Athlete – Lily Barton, Brooke Coulter, Molly Fountain, Liv Hecht, Sara Hiltzheimer, Annie Lelos, Peyton Lewis, Emma West Mixon, Sloan Mullins, Ellie Neil, Reese Ritchie SUMMER 2021 • 13

ATHLETICS

Baseball Hornet baseball had a 20-win season and finished as the Region Runner-up in 3A Private. They advanced to the Elite Eight round of the GHSA State Class A Private Playoffs. Cole Meyer was selected as the GHSA Region 3A Private Offensive Player of the Year by the region coaches. Cole Meyer, Cade Garola, Barry Kleinpeter, and Roman Smith were selected to the 1st Team All-Region, and 2nd Team honors were given to Ryan Beamon, Luke Everett, and Ty Schneider.

Savannah Morning News honored the following players with an inclusion on the All-Greater Savannah Team: 1st Team Cole Meyer, 2nd Team Barry Kleinpeter and Cade Garola, and Honorable Mentions Roman Smith, Luke Everett, Ty Schneider, and Ryan Beamon.

Senior Cole Meyer hit four homers during the playoff games to set a new school record for single-season home runs with 14.

Baseball Awards Hitter of the Year – Cole Meyer Co-Pitcher of the Year – Roman Smith & Cade Garola Rookie of the Year – Dalton Brown Teammate of the Year – Rooster Bing School Record Hit by Pitch – Ty Schneider School Record of 14 Home Runs in Season – Cole Meyer Scholar Athletes – Ryan Beamon, Jon Day, Leiden van Abshoven 1 4 • SAVC D S .O R G

Golf Awards MVP – Reed Lotter Rookie of the Year – Andrew Messalle Scholar Athletes – Reed Lotter, Lane McCullough, William Whitfield

Golf Varsity golf had an outstanding season, finishing tied for 2nd with Brookstone School in the GHSA Class-A Private State Golf Championship. The team went 15-1 during the season, highlighted by second-place finishes in both the City Championship and the Area 2A Private Tournament.

Reed Lotter had an exceptional season, including an appearance in his first PGA-sponsored event, Korn Ferry Tour’s Club Car Championship at The Landings Club. He was also named to the All-State GACA 1st Team.

Savannah Morning News honored the following golfers with an inclusion on the All-Greater Savannah Team: 1st team Reed Lotter, 2nd team Landon Durham and Andrew Messalle, and Honorable Mention Connor Cohen and Lane McCullough. In addition, AJ Goldman was named the Savannah Morning News Boys Golf Coach of the Year.

Swimming Despite fewer meets than usual due to Covid restrictions, the Varsity swim team had a memorable season that concluded with a combined first-place finish at the Hornet Invitational. At the GHSA State Class 1-3A Championship Swim Meet, Yenna Park took fourth place in the 100m breaststroke and eighth in the 200m freestyle. Yenna was named to the Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah 1st Team.

Swimming Awards Most Valuable Swimmers – Yenna Park, Logan Lin Most Improved Swimmers – Blake Huennekens, Jackson Mondy Coaches’ Award – Katie Horne, Landon Stone Captains – Lucas Miller, Blake Huennekens ACE (Attitude, Commitment, Effort) – Maria Miller, Justin Gaouette Positivity Award – Anna Bunger, Pericles Lelos Hornet Spirit Award – Lucas Miller Sportsmanship Award – Alston McCaslin Scholar Athletes – Carey Bass, Annie Berman, Anna Bunger, Justin Gaouette, Katie Horne, Pericles Lelos, Alston McCaslin, Mary Page McCaslin, Lucas Miller, Maria Miller, Anna Mondy, Jackson Mondy, Ellie Neil, Yenna Park, Leilee Pishva, Jordan Ruben, Landon Stone Head of School Award – Jack Vaught SUMMER 2021 • 15

ATHLETICS Boys’ Soccer The boys’ soccer team went 12-2-2 for the season, clinched the Region 3A Private Championship, and hosted Atlanta International in the Elite Eight round of the GHSA Class-A Private State Playoffs. The Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah Boys Soccer Team included David Gilpin and Liam Horne on the 1st Team, Harry DeWalt on the 2nd Team, and Madden Gerlach, Zach Bueno and Max Iezzi as Honorable Mentions.

The Region 3A Private coaches selected David Gilpin as the “Player of the Year” for boys’ soccer. First Team honors were given to Harry DeWalt, David Gilpin, Madden Gerlach and Liam Horne. William Barnes, Zach Bueno, Hawkeye Hrones and Max Lezzi were named to the 2nd Team All-Region.

Boys’ Soccer Awards Guerry Beam Award – Liam Horne MVP – David Gilpin Unsung Hero – Madden Gerlach Player Development – Zach Bueno Captains – David Gilpin, Liam Horne Scholar Athletes – Brayden Allen, Langston Bass, Carson Cook, Owen Elkin, David Gilpin, Ross Goodman, Brayden Heiges, Hawkeye Hrones, William Lovett, Roni Rosales, Eoin Wilson Head of School Award – David Gilpin, Owen Elkin

Girls’ Soccer Girls’ soccer finished 9-7, third in the region and made the opening round of the GHSA Class-A Private State playoffs. Amina Okumu scored an impressive 19 goals in just 12 matches. The Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah Girls Soccer Team included Amina Okumu on the 1st Team, Olivia Carney on the 2nd Team, and Haley Avino, Grace Wilson, and A.C. Davis as Honorable Mentions.

The Region 3A Private coaches selected Haley Avino, Olivia Carney, Amina Okumu and Grace Wilson to the 1st Team All-Region for girls’ soccer. Second Team honors were Emily Buerger, Anna Claire Davis, Catherine Goodman and Fiona Wilson.

Girls’ Soccer Awards Guerry Beam Award – Olivia Carney MVP – Olivia Carney Coaches’ Award – Katie Horne Most Improved – Emma Best Captains – Olivia Carney, Amina Okumu Scholar Athletes – Phil-Isabelle Ajayi, Hayden Anderson, Greer Hollis, Julia McGoldrick, Rachi Wilson, Selene Zhao, Haley Anderson, Ella Barrow, Emma Best, Emily Buerger, Olivia Carney, Taylor Conley, Gracie Daters, Anna Claire Davis, Molly Fountain, Catherine Goodman, CeCe Hargrove, Haley Hiltzheimer, Edie Levit, Anna Claire Pankey, Lauren Sparks, Ella Stone, Fiona Wilson, Grace Wilson Head of School Award – Olivia Carney 1 6 • SAVC D S .O R G

Tennis Both teams enjoyed success on the court, with the boys’ team finishing with a 15-6 record while the girls’ team an even better 15-4. The boys clinched the Region 3A Private Championship before advancing to the Sweet Sixteen round of the GHSA State Class A Private Playoffs. The girls kicked off the season with a runner-up finish at the Jekyll Jam and concluded the season as the Runner-Up in the Region 3A Private and the Sweet Sixteen round of the State Playoffs.

All-Region 1st Team honors included Nico Dascombe, Jake Felser, Wilson Player, Claudia Birthisel, Mya Felser and Carmen Mandel.

All-Greater Savannah honors included Lamar Kirkley as the Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year and Wilson Player as the Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year. Wilson and Claudia Birthisel were selected to the 1st Team, and Chase Huggins, Jake Felser, Henry Berg, and Skye Horn were named Honorable Mentions.

Boys’ Tennis Awards

Girls’ Tennis Awards

MVP – Wilson Player

MVP – Charlton Strong, Katherine Ezelle

Captains – Wilson Player, Victor Zheng

Most Improved – Anna Wylly

Most Improved – Chase Huggins

Scholar Athletes – Lily Barton, Emiline Baxter, Mary Anne Bennett, Banks Bradley, Anna Conley, Katherine Ezelle, Mya Felser, Izzy Gonzalez, Sara Hiltzheimer, Skye Horn, Alex Kaminsky, Annie Lelos, Ella Lowery, Carmen Mandel, Maison Miller, Sofia Pablo, Mary Sheehan, Charlton Strong, Eliza Stubbs, Anna Wylly

Scholar Athletes – Henry Berg, Chase Huggins, Pericles Lelos, Henry Moretz, Wilson Player, Lawson Zhou

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ATHLETICS Girls’ Track Awards MVP – Reese Ritchie Rookie of the Year – Eva Beauchamp Coaches’ Award – Anna Pollak Most Improved – Sydney Hoye ACE – Sarah Jane Schulze Captains – Reese Ritchie, Emmeline Taylor Scholar Athletes – Alexis Almedia, Eva Beauchamp, Anna Bunger, Brooke Coulter, Anna Loren Dekle, Fina Dooley, Sydney Hoye, Sophie Jaakkola, Eliese Latham, Ericka Ann McKeever, Emma West Mixon, Anna Pollak, Reese Ritchie, Sarah Jane Schulze, Emmeline Taylor

Track and Field Both the boys’ and girls’ Track & Field teams had great seasons, concluding with an outstanding showing at the GHSA Class-A Private State Championship Meet. Kenny Odom, Paul Mosley, Alex Wynn, and Johnathan Jackson took first place in the 4x100m with a new school record of 42.50. Other State meet results included Kenny Odom 2nd in the 100m, 3rd in the 200m and 4th in the high jump; Paul Mosley 6th in both the 100m and 200m; Alex Wynn 7th in the high jump.

Reese Ritchie broke the school record in the 300m hurdles with a time of 49.64 during the season.

Savannah Morning News honored Kenny Odom with an inclusion on the All-Greater Savannah 1st Team. In addition, teammates Johnathan Jackson, Paul Mosley, and Alex Wynn were named as Honorable Mentions.

Boys’ Track Awards MVP – Kenny Odom Rookie of the Year – Ned Henneman Coaches’ Award – Johnathan Jackson Most Improved – Cole Gensheimer ACE – Alston McCaslin Captains – Johnathan Jackson, Alston McCaslin Scholar Athletes – Aden Adjei, Sowah Adjei, Reagan Carlson, Cole Gensheimer, Ned Henneman, Tristan Lantham, Alston McCaslin, Landon Stone, Ethan Wheelock, Alex Zhang Head of School Award – Sowah Adjei, Alston McCaslin 1 8 • SAVC D S .O R G

Lacrosse In the program’s second year as a GHSA varsity sport, the team showed progress and had several big wins. They finished third in the area and advanced to the first round of the State Playoffs. The Area 8 Class A-5A All-Conference honored 1st Team Arden Watson (Attack) and John Austin (Defensive Midfield). Second Team All-Conference were Ian Jones (Defense) and Lucas Miller (Face-Off Specialist) with Honorable Mention to John Neely (Defense), Trey Celaya (Attack) and Kevin Georgescu (Attack). The Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah Boys Lacrosse Team included 1st Team Arden Watson, 2nd Team John Austin, Lucas Miller, and Ian Jones, and Honorable Mentions Kevin Georgescu, Trey Celaya, and John Neely.

Lacrosse Awards Erik Johnson ACE Award – Vaibhav Patel Offensive MVP – Arden Watson Defensive MVP – Ian Jones Most Improved – John Neely Scholar Athletes – John Avino, Sam Bueno, Justin Gaouette, Kevin Georgescu, Ian Jones, John Neely, Vaibhav Patel, Preston Stone, Sawyer Tarr, Jack Vaught Head of School Award – Vaibhav Patel, Jack Vaught

Middle School SPAL Championships Basketball: 5th Grade and 7th Grade girls: SPAL Basketball Champions 5th/,6th grade boys and 8th Grade girls: SPAL Runners-up Soccer: Girls’ Gold team and the boys’ team: SPAL Champions

New School Records: 7th Grade 100m: Josh Washington (11.61) 7th Grade 200m: Chris Frazier (23.84) 7th Grade 400m: Kendrick Joshua (55.76) 7th Grade 800m: Stephen Cannon (2:13.03) 7th Grade long jump: Kendrick Joshua (18’3”) 7th Grade 4x100m: Kendrick Joshua, Josh Washington, Chris Frazier and Stephen Cannon (48.62) 7th Grade 4x400m: Chris Frazier, Josh Washington, Kendrick Joshua and Stephen Cannon (4:06.25) 6th Grade 400m: Amirah Brahim (1:03.89) 6th Grade 400m: Chris Wynn (1:05.84) 6th Grade 800m: Chris Wynn (2:39.35) 6th Grade high jump: Chris Wynn (tie 4’7”) 5th Grade 4x100m: Anders Northup, Justin Washington, William Rhodes, and Gabe Bosch (1:01.22)

Harris Stone was selected as the 2021 DeWitt Award honoree as the 8th Grade female “Athlete of the Year” for private schools. Harris is a three-sport athlete competing in volleyball, basketball and soccer while being a Middle School scholar all three years. Congratulations, Harris!

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FINE ARTS

In the Spotlight Despite Covid-related restrictions, the Upper and Middle School drama departments declared, “The show must go on!” ...safely, of course! In early April, the Upper School delighted three masked and socially distanced audiences with a wildly creative and entertaining production, “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind,” which featured 30 two-minute plays, all performed randomly based on audience selection. In May, the Middle School presented “The Complete History of Theatre (Abridged),” a fun, irreverent comedy filled with theatre jokes.

Regional Literary Competition On Saturday, April 10, 10 SCDS students competed in the GHSA (Georgia High School Association) 2021 Regional Literary Competition. All represented our school extremely well, which made for a lengthy deliberation from the judges! In the music categories, our boys quartet (Michael Doyle ‘21, James Strength ‘22, Ben Templeton ‘24 and Lane McCullough ‘22) won first place, Michael Doyle won boys vocal solo, Ava Hall ‘21 won girls vocal solo, and, in extemporaneous speaking, Chris Jenkins ‘21 won the international category. The other students who competed were Anna Wylly ‘22, Laura Taylor ‘22, Alex Kaminsky ‘23 and Kendall Yarber ‘22.

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Scholastic & Congressional Art Awards Congratulations to our students honored with Scholastic and Congressional Art Awards.

SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS: Abby Nicholson ‘22, Gold Key & Silver Key Fina Dooley ‘22, Gold Key Lauren Sparks ‘22, Gold Key & Silver Key Anna Wollenburg ‘22, Honorable Mention Michael Federowicz ‘22, two Honorable Mentions Vivian Huang ‘21, three Honorable Mentions CONGRESSIONAL ART SHOW: Abby Nicholson ‘22, photography Michael Federowicz ‘22, photography John Neely ‘22, pottery Truc Mi Hoang ‘21, 3D printed design Vivian Huang ‘21, photography (Honorable Mention)

Country Day 2020-21 Fine & Performing Arts Awards Hoke Bouchillon Scholarship: Pericles Lelos ‘22 The National School Orchestra Award: Ridge Chang ‘21 and Alston McCaslin ‘21 Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Chris Jenkins ‘21 and Connor Brown ‘21 The National School Choral Award: Michael Doyle ‘21 Proscenium Award: Jacob Barid ’23 and Alexis Almeida ‘22

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FINE ARTS

“1 2 Angry Jurors” Cast & Crew Stack on the Accolades The Upper School Drama Department’s one-act production of “12 Angry Jurors” — a thought-provoking play centered around the themes of justice and reasonable doubt — received rave reviews and accolades this spring. The cast and crew took first-place honors at the Regional Competition, along with three All-Star Cast members and best actress Kylie Williams ‘21! They took home third-place at the very competitive GHSA State Competition, with Silas Johnson ‘24 and Aidan Eyth ‘23 receiving All-Star Cast honors.

In April, the cast and crew participated in the Georgia Southern High School One Act Play Festival and came away with awards for “Best Play” as well as “Best Actor” for Aidan Eyth ‘23. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of “12 Angry Jurors” for dedicating themselves to a challenging and ultimately meaningful piece of theatre!

Arts Ensembles Shine The Performing Arts Ensembles closed out the year with several incredible concerts that showcased the dedication and talent of our students! It was the final SCDS performance for the members of the class of 2021: Ava Hall, Michael Doyle, Wilson Player, Sarah Palmer, Chris Jenkins, Connor Brown, Jack Vaught, David Byck, Blake Huennekens, John Austin, Vaibhav Patel, Sowah Adjei, Lucas Miller, Alston McCaslin, and Ridge Chang.

Lower School Strings Performs Al Fresco

World Strides Performing Arts Virtual Music Festival

The dedication and creativity of our faculty never wavered throughout this unusual year. In mid-May, strings teacher Paula Swart and her team created a week-long outdoor concert series for her youngest musicians and their parents to enjoy, which was a welcome respite for both students and parents alike.

Bravo to our Upper School choir on their second-place finish (a Silver Award) in the World Strides Performing Arts Virtual Music Festival that was announced in an online awards ceremony in mid-March. The choir competed with schools from New Mexico to New York state.

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Middle School Arts Showcase In early May, Middle School artists spread out over campus and presented an afternoon of fine and performing arts! Visual artists hosted a colorful and creative gallery throughout Pape Hall while drama, orchestra, jazz band and chorus performed in Jelks Auditorium and Triol Hall.

Students Establish Black Art History Competition In mid-April, Upper School students Leyla Patel ‘23 and Phil-Isabelle Ajayi ‘23 organized and curated a fantastic and educational Black Art History Competition, in which submitted pieces showcased both artistic ability and a deeper understanding of the multitude of contributions from the Black community.

The winners of the competition included Brayden Heiges ‘23 (1st place), Sydney Hoye ‘24 (2nd place) and Sophie Jenkins ‘23 (3rd place).

SUMMER 2021 • 23

FEATURE

An Unprecedented School Year Throughout the 2020-2021 academic year, SCDS responded strategically, responsibly and thoughtfully to meet the needs of the Country Day community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

By any measure, The Savannah Country Day School’s 2020-2021 academic year posed a number of major challenges due to the COVID19 pandemic.

After extensive planning over the summer, classrooms opened in mid-August with a revised daily schedule, reconfigured learning spaces, stringent new health procedures and sanitation protocols, and a cohort model to accommodate both a hybrid online and an in-person format for Middle and Upper School.

After five weeks, Country Day returned fully in-person.

However, virtually everything about campus life – from sports practices and educational technology to fine arts performances and senior year traditions – had to be reinvented.

By taking a strategic, structured approach to safety throughout the pandemic, school officials ensured that students would still have the opportunity to learn and grow, despite the challenges the pandemic posed.

The ultimate goal was to put safety first without compromising the quality of the overall educational experience at Country Day. Faculty and

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staff made countless adjustments, and the school provided counseling support to anyone who needed extra help during an especially challenging time. Communication was key to ensuring that everyone understood the new expectations of campus life during the pandemic and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

SCDS also created a Physician Advisory Board – which included local doctors, school nurses and administrators – to provide relevant data, share best practices and communicate the latest recommendations from medical and public health experts. The Physician Advisory Board offered information that helped school officials make important decisions to keep Country Day as safe as possible.

Although the school year was defined by hardship, the SCDS community united, rallied and persevered, providing the high-quality, holistic educational experience that defines the “Country Day difference.” In the end, students, faculty, staff and parents worked together during an unprecedented time, putting safety first and making the SCDS community stronger than ever.

By Allison Hersh For Images

Kef Wilson Head of School “We had a powerful commitment to run the school safely and to make it as stress-free as possible for the students to stay on campus. We couldn’t have done that without the support of the parents and the entire SCDS community. Everyone did their part and trusted us.

It was a herculean task to run a school during the pandemic, but I really feel like we didn’t miss a beat in terms of teaching and learning. This experience actually enhanced teaching and learning and gave us new skills and new tools we can use in the future.”

Candice English ‘07 Middle School History Teacher “Throughout the pandemic, everyone on campus pitched in with one goal in mind: providing our students with a safe and effective learning community. The sense of community and service to each other is what has supported the success of this school year at SCDS. It is something that our entire community should be proud of.

I’ve been impressed by the servant hearts of the teachers and staff, the forward thinking of our nurses and leadership team and the grace that has been extended from all parties throughout this pandemic. The success of this past year should be considered one of the best achievements in our school’s long history.”

Liz Storey-Pitts Kindergarten Teacher “We all knew it was very important for the students to be back in the classroom and SCDS took time and created different task forces to help make decisions on how to do it effectively and safely.

It made me rethink everything in our classroom.

I feel that any year—especially one like we had this year, where you take time to reevaluate the way you do things—makes you a better, stronger teacher.”

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Ramon Barboa ‘25 Middle School Student “Taking classes online at SCDS throughout the school year definitely made me more independent. I was an independent learner before, but being on Zoom has made me more independent.”

Katie Palmaccio ‘21 High School Senior “The biggest lesson I learned is that you honestly never know what is around the corner, so just try and make the best of the situation presented. This year, we weren’t able to participate in some of the traditions that the past seniors were able to, but the school did their best to ensure we still had a great senior year. I feel that not only myself, but the entire class of ‘21 has grown from this experience. We have all grown closer as a class and learned to appreciate the small gestures.”

Joan Strother Director of Information Literacy & Services “One of the biggest challenges last summer was preparing our classroom and network technology for the fall school year. We had to plan for cohort learning, hybrid learning and classroom learning, and that involved choosing new technology for the classroom, purchasing equipment and integrating it into our SCDS network.

When students had network issues at home, we sometimes made house calls to help them troubleshoot their problems with their network carrier.”

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Lindsey Goldberg, M.D. ‘01 Member of SCDS Physician Advisory Board, SCDS Alumna and Parent “The Physician Advisory Board met weekly on Zoom calls with the headmaster and the school nurses to share the latest scientific and medical research.

We all brought different perspectives and worked together to make sure we kept the school updated about the latest COVID recommendations from various medical and public health groups.

SCDS had a very structured, strategic, organized response in a time when everything else felt chaotic.

The school wanted to do what was best for everyone on campus, no matter what.”

Jim Collis Athletic Director “Our ultimate goal was to keep our school open and our athletic teams playing. We occasionally had to stop playing due to contact tracing, but always followed our nurse and medical advisory team’s decisions.

Coaches had to make sure that students understood their decisions would have a direct effect on the outcome of our seasons.”

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Julie Goodman Lower School Spanish Teacher “As a World Language teacher, I was especially worried about the challenges of teaching while wearing a face mask. How would my students be able to see or mimic mouth movement to pronounce new sounds or hear me clearly? I was grateful that the school provided me with a hands-free microphone which was perfect for amplifying my voice. I also showed pre-recorded videos so the students could model how to properly enunciate. The use of technology in the classroom was very helpful to overcome some of these challenges.”

Ariane Wright Upper School Science Teacher “Work-life balance was hard, and being technical support, teacher and curriculum designer was a challenge, but coupled with periodic quarantines as a parent of two young children made it even harder. I’d have everything planned out for the coming week, then my two-year-old would spike a fever, and everything needed to be adjusted for me to work from home with my kids. The unpredictability of it all was a huge challenge.

The faculty, as usual, impressed me at SCDS. Teams of us worked through the summer putting together trainings, videos and attending conferences (virtually, of course), to ensure that this year we were prepared for whatever came our way.”

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Meg Haston Director of Counseling I’ve been so impressed this year by how adaptable our faculty has been. Teachers learned new tools and strategies, and we have continued to do great work under very difficult circumstances. I was reminded of our collective resilience – students, families, faculty, staff and leadership. We showed up every day, confronted new challenges and kept moving forward.”

Kate Bailey, RN, FNP Head Nurse “Our community is strong. I am grateful that the SCDS athletic staff, administration and faculty can join efforts and support our students and parents through something bigger than we could have understood this time last year. I am honored to work and serve in a community that embraces challenges and supports each other through it all.”

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Rich LaRossa Director of Operations “Navigating the pandemic has been a team effort. We are lucky to have such a large campus. One of the Upper School buildings has some extremely small classrooms which could not accommodate any type of distancing between students. Some of them are barely 350 square feet. By looking at the campus as a whole, we were able to identify and repurpose some rooms in the Lower School, build out new rooms in a modular building, and knock down a wall or two in the Upper School to eventually be able to fit all students with a four-to-six-foot distance between them. We also invested in individual desk shields for all three divisions, temperature-scanning poles and a diverse range of cleaning products.

In a constantly evolving environment like a pandemic, there is no ‘correct’ answer to any given question. With teamwork, we were at least able to develop ‘best’ answers for our campus.”

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13 temperature scanning stations

8 on-campus vaccine clinics

151 covid tests administered before prom

139 touchless forehead thermometers

9 members of the Physician Advisory Board

1,325 portable desk shields

37 weekly Covid updates emailed to the school community each friday

77 iPad stands purchased for classroom use with hybrid learners

426 vaccine inoculations provided during the multiple on-campus clinics

DJ Queenan Director of Fine & Performing Arts “From a performing arts perspective, being face-to-face and actively engaging with the students is absolutely irreplaceable.

Growth came from rethinking everything we did. Vocal work, staging, proximity of students to each other and the audience all came into question.

Flexibility became the go-to mode of operation. I also took more time to take the pulse of the kids. Helping students grow and become the best people they can be is what it is all about!”

SUMMER 2021 • 31

Dear Class of 2021, I could begin this letter by highlighting your laudable admissions results (that will come later) that speak to your talent and academic industry as well as your willingness to stretch yourselves through the college process to follow roads not often taken among our community. The usual suspects are well-represented–state flagships and name brand privates–but there are also a number of schools that received your applications and returned offers of admission that do not typically make our Profile. I admire your willingness to color outside the well-worn lines of the college search to seek the best environment for you, despite the myriad viral-generated hazards before you.

Last spring, colleges shuttered as we sheltered at home during the heart of the college visit season. You rescheduled, and then rescheduled again, your standardized testing sites and dates. You endured Zoom meetings ad nauseum with your counselor and teachers and college representatives. You navigated our entirely new college admissions platform and managed to submit your applications on time. You embraced virtual tour offerings, a poor substitute for the in-person visit, and made difficult decisions, not only about where to apply but, in some cases, even where to enroll, based upon this imperfect instrument.

And yet, despite all of these obstacles, the 71 members of the Class of 2021 were admitted to 133 colleges and

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universities in 31 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and the United Kingdom. In addition to impressive geographic reach, these colleges span the spectrum of selectivity (in what was a hyper-selective admissions year), range from giant publics to small privates, are found in rural, suburban and urban settings and include some of the most prestigious art and music schools in the country. But perhaps most impressively, almost twenty students in this class will matriculate at institutions next fall that have not enrolled one of our graduates in the five years I have been back at Country Day. We rarely see this audacious degree of collegiate intrepidness in a “normal” year, much less one with as much upheaval as the last.

So, Class of 2021, you will never forget your senior campaign and Ms. Berger and I (as well as all of your instructors and coaches) will recall with approbation your daily example of perseverance. We (and you) knew you would be ready for the academic challenges awaiting you at the next level, but no one could have predicted how much the extraordinary circumstances of our world and your responses to them have honed your maturity. You are ready for anything.

Sincerely, Chris Beckmann ‘79 Director of College Counseling

SUMMER 2021 • 33

The Savannah Country Day School Class of 2021 will attend: Sowah Adjei

Jaden Coulter

Lauren Lee

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

University of Alabama

Louisiana State University

Lillian Allen

Michael Doyle

Jack Licata

Berklee College of Music

Georgia College

Landon Durham

Siyan Lin

Gap Year–High Point University

University of California San Diego

Denison University

John Austin Georgia College

Jack Ballard

Owen Elkin Georgia Institute of Technology

Hannah Lowry

Gap Year–Louisiana State University/University of South Carolina

Lucas Everett

Ryan Beamon

Ashley Frym

United States Military Academy

University of Georgia

Lillian Belzer

Rachel Frym

Bryn Mawr College

University of Georgia

Caroline Bernstein

David Gilpin

University of Mississippi

Auburn University

Connor Brown

Gray Grayson

University of Alabama, Huntsville

University of Georgia

Erik Brown

Ava Hall

Georgia State University

University of South Carolina

Anna Bunger

Jinyou Han

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Case Western Reserve University

Cecilia Burton

Truc-Mi Hoang

Oxford College of Emory University

Augusta University

David Byck

Auburn University

Lily Nash/Valedictorian

Ruihan Huang

Oxford College at Emory University

Auburn University

Olivia Carney Georgia Institute of Technology

Ridge Chang Emory University

Qizhou Chen University of Toronto, Mississanga

Andrew Cobb Georgia College

Connor Cohen Georgia College

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Georgia Southern University

Liam Horne

Rhode Island School of Design

Blake Huennekens Kennesaw State University

Johnathan Jackson

Flagler College

Ayesha Malik University of Central Florida

Keyin Mao Wake Forest University

Alston McCaslin United States Naval Academy

Louise Mercer Texas Christian University

Coleman Meyer Auburn University

Lucas Miller Clemson University

Paul Mosley Lynn University

Ethan Myers University of Alabama

Kaitlyn Palmaccio Wofford College

Sarah Palmer

Xavier University of Louisiana

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Manasi Jain

Vaibhav Patel

Mercer University

Mercer University

Christopher Jenkins

Wilson Player

Gap Year–The New School

University of Georgia

Nathaniel Johnson

Joseph Prosky

Kennesaw State University

Whittier College

Anders Rahimi University of Tennessee

Madelyn Reddan University of Virginia

Zihan Shi University of California, Riverside

Daniel Sims Georgia Southern University

Landon Stone University of Georgia

Liza Summerell University of South Carolina

Chester Thorson Clemson University

Carter Tomberlin Kennesaw State University

Magnolia Tran Mercer University

Luke Vasquez Kennesaw State University

Jack Vaught University of Georgia

Kylie Williams Swarthmore College

Eamon Wilson Tulane University

Amelia Wylly Georgia College

Qiaoqi Xue University of Wisconsin, Madison

Ziyue Zhu/Salutatorian University of Southern California

Mitchell Ziegler Georgia Southern University

SUMMER 2021 • 35

The Class of 2021 was admitted to the following colleges and universities: Agnes Scott College (1)

Gonzaga University (1)

Albany State University (1)

High Point University (1)

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1)

American Musical and Dramatic Academy (1)

Howard University (1)

Seton Hall University (1)

Kennesaw State University (9)

Appalachian State University (1)

Keuka College (1)

Sewanee: The University of the South (1)

Auburn University (9)

LaGrange College (1)

Augusta University (2)

Lehigh University (1)

Belmont University (1)

Louisiana State University (3)

Benedict College (1)

Loyola University Chicago (1)

Berklee College of Music (1)

Loyola University New Orleans (3)

Boston University (3)

Lynn University (2)

Bryn Mawr College (2)

Manhattan School of Music (1)

California College of the Arts (1)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1)

Case Western Reserve University (1)

Smith College (1) Southern Methodist University (1) St Lawrence University (1) Stony Brook University (1) Swarthmore College (1) Temple University (1) Texas Christian University (1) The New School (1) The University of Alabama (13)

Mercer University (11)

The University of Tampa (2)

Clark Atlanta University (1)

Michigan State University (1)

Clemson University (9)

Middle Georgia State University (1)

The University of Tennessee (Knoxville) (6)

Coastal Carolina University (1)

Tulane University of Louisiana (1)

Middle Tennessee State University (1)

United States Military Academy (1)

Colorado State University (Fort Collins) (1)

Mississippi State University (2)

United States Naval Academy (1)

Montana State University (1)

Denison University (1)

Morehouse College (1)

University of Alabama at Birmingham (2)

Drexel University (1)

New York University (1)

East Carolina University (1)

Northeastern University (2)

Elon University (3)

Oxford College of Emory University (2)

Colgate University (2) College of Charleston (5)

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach) (1) Emerson College (1) Emory University (2) Fashion Institute of Technology (1)

Parsons School of Design at The New School (1) Pennsylvania State University (Main Campus) (3) Piedmont College (1)

Fisk University (1)

Pratt Institute (Main Campus) (1)

Flagler College (1)

Purdue University (Main Campus) (1)

Florida Institute of Technology (1) Florida Southern College (1) Florida State University (5) Fordham University (1) Furman University (2) Gardner-Webb University (1) Georgia College (8) Georgia Institute of Technology (Main Campus) (4) Georgia Southern University (10) Georgia State University (5) Gettysburg College (2) 3 6 • SAVC D S .O R G

Queen’s University (1) Rhode Island School of Design (1) Rollins College (1) Rutgers University (New Brunswick) (1) Saint Louis University (1) Samford University (1) Santa Clara University (2)

University of Alabama in Huntsville (1) University of Arizona (1) University of California (Davis) (3) University of California (Irvine) (3) University of California (Los Angeles) (1) University of California (Riverside) (1) University of California (San Diego) (3) University of California (Santa Barbara) (2) University of Central Florida (1) University of Colorado Boulder (5) University of Connecticut (1) University of Denver (1) University of Georgia (17) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1)

Sarah Lawrence College (1)

University of Massachusetts (Amherst) (1)

Savannah College of Art and Design (4)

University of Miami (3)

University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) (1)

University of Toronto, Mississauga (1)

University of Mississippi (4)

University of Virginia (Main Campus) (1)

University of North Carolina at Asheville (2) University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1) University of North Carolina Wilmington (1)

Washington University in St Louis (1) Wesleyan University (1)

University of Washington (Seattle Campus) (2)

Whittier College (1)

University of Wisconsin (Madison) (3)

Wofford College (2)

Valdosta State University (1)

University of Oregon (1)

Vanderbilt University (1)

University of South Carolina (9)

Vassar College (1)

University of Southern California (1)

Villanova University (1)

University of St Andrews (1)

Wake Forest University (1)

William and Mary (1) Xavier University of Louisiana (1) Young Harris College (1)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (3)

SUMMER 2021 • 37

The Class of 2021 was offered over $5 million in scholarships—exclusive of the HOPE Scholarships. Bold lettering indicates accepted scholarships.

Sowah Adjei

Seton Hall University Scholarship

Ayesha Malik

University of Georgia One UGA Scholarship

Florida Southern University Watson Scholarship

Mercer University Merit Scholarship

Washington University Scholarship

Owen Elkin

University of Central Florida Merit Scholarship

Lily Allen St. Lawrence University Presidential Diversity Scholarship Denison University Alumni Award Sewanee Ecce Quam Bonum Award

University of Miami President’s Scholarship

Alston McCaslin

University of Georgia Charter Scholarship

United States Naval Academy Tuition/Fees

Gray Grayson

Air Force ROTC Type 1 Scholarship

Auburn University Heritage Scholarship

Louise Mercer

Jack Ballard

Clemson University Merit Scholarship

Texas Christian University TCU Scholar

Keuka College Gold Scholars Award

Villanova University Merit Scholarship

Paul Mosley

University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazer Distinction Scholarship

Vivian Huang

Lillian Belzer

School of the Art Institute of Chicago SAIC Creative Honors Scholarship

Fordham University Loyola Scholarship, Fordham Tuition Award Bryn Mawr College Presidential Scholarship

Connor Brown University of Alabama in Huntsville Academic Merit Scholarship

Anna Bunger University of South Carolina Capstone Scholarship University of Minnesota National Scholarship & Presidential Scholarship

California College of the Arts Creative Achievement Award

Parsons School of Design Merit Scholarship

Johnathan Jackson Fisk university Merit Scholarship Xavier University of Louisiana Merit Scholarship Benedict College Charity Scholarship Florida Institute of Technology Panther Academic Grant/Robotic Scholarship

Manasi Jain

National Institute of Oilseed Products (NIOP) Scholarship

University of South Carolina Academic Scholar Superlative Scholarship Award

Jaden Coulter

Drexel University A.J. Drexel Scholarship

University of Alabama Crimson Legends Scholarship

Landon Durham Rollins College Centennial Scholarship High Point University High Point Scholarship

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Lynn University Merit Scholarship/Academic Merit Scholarship Samford University Marion Scholarship/ Davis Scholarship/ Merit Scholarship

Ethan Myers Auburn University Heritage Scholarship/ Engineering Clemson University/ Merit Scholarship University of Alabama Elite Presidential Scholarship/ Engineering

Lily Nash Bryn Mawr Presidential Scholarship University of Miami ‘Canes Achievement

Vaibhav Patel Mercer University Academic Merit Scholarship

Wilson Player

Mercer University Merit Scholarship

University of South Carolina Capstone Scholarship

Christopher Jenkins

Clemson University O/S Tuition Scholarship/ George H. Dunkleburg Scholarship

The New School Performing Arts Scholarship Loyola University of New Orleans Loyola Scholarship/ Crescent Scholarship

Joseph Prosky Whittier College J. Whittier Scholarship/ Theater Talent Scholarship

Noly Tran Mercer University Academic Merit Scholarship Furman University Bell Tower Scholarship

Eamon Wilson University of Miami Presidential Arch. Scholarship/ Pres.

Scholarship Tulane University Academic Recognition Award University of Oregon Apex Scholarship Mercer University Academic Merit Scholarship University of Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship

SUMMER 2021 • 39

Legacy Families

Edwin Byck ‘84, Melinda Byck, Powell Jones, Amanda (Byck) Jones ‘96, Clark Jones ‘33, David Byck ‘21, Peggy Byck, Ellen Byck, and Adam Byck ‘18.

Not pictured: Elle Byck ‘10

Joe Stewart, Allison Palmer ‘15, Sarah Palmer ‘21, Jonathan Palmer ‘18, and Beth (Windom) Stewart ‘88 Jack Wylly, John C. Wylly, III, Julia Wylly, Susan Wylly ‘90*, Amelia Wylly ‘21, Anna Wylly 22, Margaret Bowden Wylly ’65, and John C. Wylly, Jr. ‘59

Joe Mercer ‘83*, Louise (Oliver) Maner ‘55, Margaret Mercer ‘18, Louise Mercer ‘21, Caroline Mercer, and Ana Mercer 4 0 • SAVC D S .O R G

Peter Scardino ’63, Barrie Myrick Bradley ’63, Lillian Belzer ’21, Cecilia Belzer ’18

Lisa McCaslin, Mary Page McCaslin ‘22, Alston McCaslin ‘21, Pam McCaslin, and Jay McCaslin ‘85*

Truman Nash, David Nash, Lily Nash ‘21, and Mindy Nash ‘93

Sarah Catherine Gilpin ‘26, Caroline Gilpin ‘19, Liz Gilpin ‘91, David Gilpin ‘21, and David Gilpin ‘91

Not pictured: Cole Meyer ’21 and Dana (Collins) Meyer ‘90 Liza Summerell ‘21 and Taylor (Stone) Summerell ‘93 *Class Associate SUMMER 2021 • 41

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT: SCOTT PIERCE ‘85

Savannah healthcare provider transforms business to provide COVID-related testing and vaccinations in a time of need.

Scott Pierce ‘85 and his wife, Amy, are the owners of Coastal Care Partners, a nurse-managed aging services company whose mission is to help people remain at home despite end-of-life health care issues. The business grew out of Scott’s struggle to manage his father’s care remotely. He kept thinking there had to be a better way. When he and Amy realized there wasn’t one, they decided to create one. Scott managed the business side, and Amy, a registered nurse, handled care management. Over four years, the business has grown to employ over 100 people and handles every aspect of aging-life needs as well as concierge medicine. They also own My Nurse Now, a mobile urgent care service.

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There were multiple SCDS connections that helped bring the vaccine to Savannah and then eventually to Country Day. Can you explain how that happened?

Dr. Jason Conley (parent of Anna and Taylor, class of 2023), pharmacist and owner of Village Walk and Lo Cost Pharmacies, is responsible for starting the vaccination clinic at Village Walk. In early November 2020, he told me he was doing all he could to get the vaccine. He applied for it, invested in the freezer needed to store it properly, and secured space for the clinic. The Lewis family donated the space that formerly was the Hallmark Store. But as it got closer to delivery time, Jason realized he could use some help rolling it out, and Amy and I immediately volunteered to be part of the effort. I had recently purchased some technology that enabled online scheduling so I built out www.healthyskidaway.com where people could sign up for the vaccine. Amy scheduled the clinical volunteers to assist with administering the shots and running the clinic. We had an amazing turnout of retired doctors and nurses, many of them part of the SCDS community, who wanted to help! January 12, 2021, was our opening day, and we vaccinated about 60 people. It was very emotional; there were tears of joy and relief.

Since then, we have vaccinated more than 12,000 people at that location, and our volunteer partnership with Jason continues. We help schedule some of his events, and he houses our vaccines in his ultra-cold freezer.

You put together the first on-site vaccination clinic in Savannah at Country Day. What did it mean to you to be such an integral part of keeping our community safe and knowing that it was helping keep kids in school?

We were excited about the first teacher clinic, the brainchild of Kate Bailey, SCDS School Nurse and wife of Marc Bailey ‘90. Until that point, no one had vaccinated specific groups outside of places like nursing homes and long-term care communities, so it was definitely uncharted territory. We all wanted to vaccinate all educators, but being able to start with the most vulnerable population of 65+ let us ease into it. About three or four days after the media publicized our Country Day event, we got a call from the lead nurse for all of Chatham County Schools applauding the event and eager to work with us to start vaccinating their 65 and older teachers. It was a great feeling knowing that Country Day was the trailblazer for this. We got a lot of “thank yous” from the teachers, and that meant a lot.

SUMMER 2021 • 43

In 2016 my dad got sick and I met Amy, both of whom were living in Savannah, and I realized it was time for another change -- a move home and a new business. Amy was a nurse with Hospice at the time, so she understood the dilemma I, and many other families, faced with managing care for your loved ones. Addressing that need led to the birth of Coastal Care Partners in 2017.

Leaving one career for another and starting a business requires confidence and some of mine came from Country Day. There were many times we were put on the spot and required to stand up in front of the class to speak or present, and I think that has served me well.

What do you appreciate about Country Day now that your children are students?

I loved my time at County Day. I ran track and played basketball for Coach Kirkley. My senior year I was All-City Basketball. Those are great memories. I made so many friends that I still keep up with today; many of their children are in school with my children.

As guidelines have shifted, we’ve gone on to offer vaccinations to all teachers and students 12 and older, and we even helped with Covid testing before the Junior-Senior prom this year. Helping the kids get back to normal and fun things like prom was meaningful.

Some people don’t like change, but you seem to embrace it, and it’s led to an interesting career path.

Can you elaborate?

The summer before 9th grade, a family friend mentioned I should consider Country Day. We talked about it as a family and decided it would be a good fit, but I don’t remember it being a huge deal. It was a really easy transition. The same could be said for my entry into journalism. My dad joined WJCL in 1972, so I basically grew up at the TV station. I worked there during summers in high school, and then when I was a junior at Georgia Southern, I anchored Statesboro’s first local newscast, Northland 3 Cable News. After graduation, I went to work as a reporter and then an anchor at WJCL. The nights and weekends started to wear on my family, though; my wife at the time was also working full time, and we had young children. Just as I was thinking about a career change, I met Hart Williford, and he kept talking about HO Systems. When I expressed, an interest, he made me a job offer. That’s how I got into the world of software and technology. That experience led to another great opportunity in Atlanta at Ingenius Med, a startup medical technology company.

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And my class had such a great variety. There were kids going to top schools and others that took time off to go travel. The fairly small class size meant you knew everybody, and I think that’s why we connected so deeply. At the time, I didn’t always appreciate the teachers, but I think they prepared me very well.

Mrs. Harper’s 300 words a week certainly helped my vocabulary!

I tell our kids they’re lucky to go there. It’s not only a great school, it’s a great environment. There are so many activities and choices. I think Country Day really takes it to the next level in terms of challenging kids to think in ways that expand their minds.

SUMMER 2021 • 45

class notes

1936 Pape alumna Elizabeth (Mercer) Hammond passed away peacefully on January 11, 2021,­­­at the age of 102.

1955 Our goal is for alumni to get involved and stay connected.

If you have recently moved or relocated, please update your address by visiting savcds.org/alumni. For more information, please contact Amy Pinckney, Director of Alumni Relations, at 912.961.8849 or pinckney@savcds. org. And don’t forget to follow the Hornet Alumni network on social media. @SavannahCountryDaySchoolAlumni scds_alumni Savannah CountryDay-Alumni

WE ARE READY TO CELEBRATE YOU! We are thrilled to welcome our amazing alumni back for the 2021 Hornet Homecoming and Alumni Weekend on October 22-23.

Country Day is doubling down for twice the fun for our first-ever double reunion year, with a bigger-thanever celebration of reunion classes ending in 0s, 1s, 5s, and 6s as well as all Hornet Alumni!

Whether you are returning to campus for Hornet Homecoming or gathering as a class off-campus, you’ll be surprised at how quickly the years have slipped away and pleased to hear about what’s happening at Country Day today!

We plan to share updates via email, social media, and on savcds.org/alumni as they become available.

In the meantime, follow us on Facebook and Instagram to find throwbacks and flashbacks of much simpler days.

Help build the momentum for your upcoming reunion by joining your Reunion Committee!

Reunion volunteers are the key to a fun and successful event. Alumni have the best insight into the kind of celebration their classmates would enjoy, making a real difference in the quality of the experience. Whether calling friends to invite them to reunion events or assisting in planning your party, alumni involvement is what makes it a great occasion for everyone.

For more information about becoming a volunteer for your Reunion Committee, email Amy Pinckney ‘85 at pinckney@savcds.org.

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Pape alumna Louise (Oliver) Maner celebrated her sixth grandchild’s graduation from Savannah Country Day on May 22. Louise Mercer ’21 joins third generation Hornet alumni, Margaret Mercer ’18, Isabelle Maloney ’12, Oliver Maloney ’11, Camille (Mercer) Lyon ’09, and McCay (Mercer) Crumley ’07.

1959 Dale Thorpe writes, “Cornelia (McIntire) ‘Connie’ Hartridge passed away this winter. Connie was a class associate having attended Pape and Savannah Country Day until 11th grade. In addition, Gordon Saussy Varnedoe, husband of Catherine (Ehler) Varnedoe, died this spring. Catherine was a class associate attending Pape and Savannah Country Day when she was in Savannah.”

1963 Barrie (Myrick) Bradley is coming home! Barrie and her husband Jerry moved to Bluffton at the end of May, and they are looking forward to seeing a lot of old SCDS friends. Also, granddaughter Lillian Belzer ’21 just graduated and is off to Bryn Mawr in the fall.

Barrie shares: “We are so proud of her!”

1964 With much sadness, the Class of ’64 reports the death of John Victor on May 15, 2021, in Savannah.

Myrtle Heery writes, “My son Jamie and his bride Michelle (originally from Nashville), who live in California, have chosen a destination wedding in Savannah in late June! I will be hosting, along with my Savannah family, a ‘Welcome to Savannah’ dinner for out-of-town guests the night before the wedding at Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park. I have shared with Collins Quarter that, in 1951, my kindergarten class from Pape School would sometimes eat our brown bag lunches in Forsyth Park! They would love to have a photo of that time, so if anyone has a photo, please send it to the Collins Quarter. I am thrilled to be returning to Savannah with my California family.”

1968

1972

The class of 1968 mourns the loss of Barbara (Bacon) Creaser. She was an elementary school educator in Chatham County for 40 years, and honored in 1992 as teacher of the year. She is remembered for her kind-hearted and caring personality.

Carol (Fulenwider) Elliott ‘68, Lynn (Fulenwider) Franke ‘65, Catherine (Fulenwider) Futrell ‘75, in Dallas Texas Arboretum.

Lucy (McIntire) Hitch reports that her son Jim ‘99* and his wife Summer had their second daughter, Rosemary.

Lucy’s daughter Sarah ‘95, with husband and three children, live in Winchester, England. Lucy got to visit recently after a two-year absence!

Judy (Reagan) Huckaby has combined her love of children, art, and years as a counselor to produce children’s books about life-impacting issues, like fear and self-worth. Check out the central character in The Huckabirds. www.huckabirds.com Julian Quattlebaum is still working from the comfort of his home as an environmental lawyer in the Los Angeles area. His son Julian IV, having recently graduated from Emory Law School and now working for a class action firm, shares the home office space with him (along with their companion Robert Bunny).

Debbie (Solana) Rauers writes, “We have a first grandchild, a grandson named John Jacob Rauers, who lives in Austin with his parents Jacob and Ashley Rauers.”

Kathy (Calhoun) Woods loves being back in Savannah. She and her dog Lucy are enjoying exploring the walking trails at Skidaway. Kathy says, “Come join me!”

Classmates Susan (Amburghey) Donahue, Barbara (Craighead) Crotzer (back), and Nelle (Straight) Hall with friend Linda Howard (front) reunite in April during their visit to Nelle’s.

1977 RUNNERS UP March Madness – Alumni Edition The class of 1977 took second place in the March Madness alumni spring fundraiser, benefitting the SCDS annual giving campaign. This class put forth a tremendous rally for gifts in the final days with 54% of the class participating.

Sally (Altman) Bradshaw writes, “My mother Ann Altman passed away on November 18. Mom and Dad were great supporters of SCDS. Our granddaughter Eleanor Brigdon will start pre-K in the fall. She will be joining big brother Hunter ‘32 as a Hornet. Hunter was recently named baseball player of the week for Chatham County!”

1980 Andrew Feiler’s new photography book has just been published, A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America. The introduction is by Congressman John Lewis. The accompanying exhibition is up through the end of 2021 at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.

Additional stops include Charlotte, Memphis, Nashville, Richmond, and New Orleans.

Lisa “Mouse” Straus writes, “After spending four years exploring more of America in our lovely fifth wheel (while spouse Randy Lagman continued as a senior solutions architect for Motorola Solutions), we have finally called it quits and retired. We fell in love with Colombia when we visited two years ago. After a great deal of planning and a tremendous amount SUMMER 2021 • 47

of downsizing, we packed up what was left, cleared both dogs for travel, and moved. We are falling in love with our destination city of Manizales, perched high in the Andes. Despite Covid restrictions, we’ve found the people to be incredibly kind and welcoming. So far, retirement IS all it’s cracked up to be!”

Louise (Howard) Williamson writes, “My twins are graduating in May from UNC. Shepard is going on to nursing school at Emory, and Bo will be moving to Dallas and doing breast cancer research at the University of Texas Southwestern for the next two years and will then apply to medical school. Oldest son Charlie seems to like Richmond, Virginia and has just purchased a house. Husband Sandy is the Chairman of the Board at Captech, but at the same time is semi-retired. I’ve been volunteering (working) for the last nine years at Thrifty Sisters, a resale store that donates all of its profit to The Little Sisters of the Poor home here in Richmond. When and if we ever get to have our 40th reunion, I hope that everyone in the class of 1980 shows up, especially since we were too lame to have a 35th reunion!”

1983 Jennifer (Jackson) Salopek started a new job as a senior writer and content strategist with CVS Health.

1984 After more than 30 years in Atlanta, Louise Mulherin has moved back to Savannah with her husband, Jeff Culley. She continues to work as a public relations consultant and looks forward to reconnecting with old friends and classmates on the coast!

Jane (Vaden) Thacher writes, “Our oldest, Jack Thacher ‘17, graduated in June from University of Denver with a double major in International Business and Spanish. One week after graduation, he started with Fidelity Investments in Denver. How did we get so old??”

1985 The Class of 1985 would like to extend their condolences to the family of their classmate Brett Herrin, who passed away on March 17, 2021. While Brett was always independent, there was nothing more important to him than family and friends. Brett will be remembered for always looking to help and support those closest to him.

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1986 The Class of 1986 would like to extend their condolences to the family of their classmate Adam Goldsmith, who passed away on March 15, 2021. Adam is remembered as a generous, witty and dedicated individual who was a fierce lover of his family and very loyal to his abundance of friends.

Jerry Tillinger ‘86 welcomed new granddaughter, Ever Cecilia Accettullo Hokit, born January 18, 2021, in Seattle, Washington.

1988

Beth (Windom) Stewart ‘88 writes, “My oldest child, Allison Palmer ‘15, made me a parent. My middle child, Jonathan Palmer ‘18, made me a boy parent.

But my youngest child, Sarah Palmer ‘21, will make me an empty nester! SCDS has served them well in very unique ways. Allison is a teacher in Florida, Jonathan is pre-med at UGA, and Sarah will be pursuing her love of performing/acting/singing at UNC School of the Arts. Thanks, SCDS! I guess I will now stay busy with running my COVID vaccine clinic and making my College Student First Aid Kits. And yes, I may squeeze in some ‘me time’!”

1997 Ben Levy and The American College of Gastroenterology organized Tune It Up: A Concert to Raise Colon Cancer Awareness on March 31.

This free virtual concert featured Katie Couric, Lisa Loeb, Rufus Wainwright, Tim Reynolds, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops, violinist Hilary Hahn, Maddie Poppie (American Idol Season #16 winner), Kerry Ellis (starred in Queen’s “We Will Rock You” musical in London plus “Wicked” on Broadway), Kermit Ruffins (New Orleans jazz trumpet), and many others. You can still watch: https://gi.org/concert/

1998 Zachary Lamb writes, “Last summer (in the height of pandemic lockdowns), my family and I moved from the Boston area to California. I am just wrapping up my first-year teaching in a faculty position in the Department of City and Regional Planning at UC Berkeley. While the teaching has been all remote so far, settling in to California life has been great.

In fact, with life starting to move back towards something like normal here, we brought a bit of low country life to Berkeley with a recent backyard shrimp boil.”

1999 Richard Braithwaite writes, “My wife, Jaime, myself, and our two kids, Summit (6) and Eli (8), have recently settled in Lilongwe, Malawi, where we are teaching English. Jaime is heading the funding and continual growth of Climb Malawi, a non-profit designed to promote rock climbing and other outdoor activities in Malawi. We love living in the warm heart of Africa!”

Amy Conyers, pictured with twin brother Joseph Conyers, writes, “First trip home since Christmas 2019 and happy to see all the new developments downtown!”

Zvee Geffen was promoted to Director of Licensing for the Major League Baseball Players Association earlier this year. In his new role, Zvee will oversee the PA’s group licensing program across all business verticals. He’ll be responsible for implementing growth and marketing strategies to generate new revenue opportunities for Major League Baseball players. His group is often hiring for paid interns and encourages recent college grads with applicable experiences to reach out!

Copal: The Significance of Copal to the Maya and Garifuna People of Belize is Mary Ellen McKee’s original, never-before-published research. Drawing from interviews, firsthand experience, and research, Mary Ellen weaves a thread through centuries in the Yucatan, creating a pattern of copal use in early and current Maya ceremonies and offering a glimpse into this important, ancient culture. AVAILABLE ON: Amazon, AppleiBooks, BarnesandNoble.com, Shop.BookLogix.com, jollyfoundation.org.

Mary Ellen inspired the creation of The Jolly Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) private, non-profit organization created to support and protect the environment with a particular interest in the protection of the sea turtles and land conservation, to support the arts, and to support brain injury. To learn more, visit JollyFoundation.org.

2000 Abigail (Rountree) Croft is living in Atlanta with her husband Peter and their two-year-old daughter, Cecilia. She is still working in the ER as a physician assistant and loving it. Abigail says: “Please get your COVID vaccine!”

Ashley (Strickland) Freeman was promoted from Senior Food Stylist to Culinary Producer for Delicious Miss Brown on Food Network. Season 5 premieres in July of 2021.

Juggling two boys quarantined at home, Brent Johnson was the lead engineer in designing an emergency use ventilator for the COVID-19 pandemic.

FDA approved in June 2020, the ventilator was a collaboration between Charlotte, North Carolina-based BioMedInnovations and Berkley, California-based Lawrence Livermore National Labs with manufacturing partners in NASCAR local to North Carolina.

2002 Rhett Willis writes, “After three years of fellowship in Salt Lake City, I moved back to Charlottesville, Virginia and opened my own private cosmetic plastic surgery practice, Charlottesville Plastic Surgery.

Practicing plastic surgery and running a business has been exciting and rewarding! Find us on social media!”

2003 Country Day proudly welcomed Sali (Sumer) Christensen as the Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2021. Sali, the founder and CEO of Argent, a stylish but functional women’s work-wear label, spoke about the background of her label and offered her advice to the graduation class. While in the Savannah area, Sali also met with a group of rising ninth graders to discuss her unique career path.

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2003 continued

2009

Caroline (Baker) Haddow’s son, Hudson, and Lizzie (Sprague) Grimsley’s ‘04 daughter, Mary, are in the same class at Cathedral Preschool in Atlanta.

2005

Christian B. Demere has been named the chief executive officer of Colonial Group, Inc., succeeding his father, Robert H. Demere, Jr. ‘66, who had been in the position since 1986. Colonial Group has continued to operate as a privately held business since 1921. Pictured: Houston Demere, Robert Demere ‘66, and Christian Demere ‘09

2011 CHAMPIONS March Madness – Alumni Edition. The Class of 2011 emerged victorious, with 60% of classmates making a gift to The Fund for Country Day! Ben Adler graduated from UC Berkeley this May after completing his JD and MBA. He will take the California Bar Exam and begin work at a law firm, Gunderson Dettmer, in Silicon Valley this fall.

We remember and honor our friend Michael Mamalakis and the role he played in the lives of so many Hornets. The Hornet Family will miss our greatest fan! Mary Mamalakis writes, “On May 20, 2021, we celebrated the life of my brother, Michael. He was fiercely loyal, determined, loving, caring, hilarious, and my biggest cheerleader and protector. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from all who knew and loved him. He was the best boy in the whole wide world and I’m so lucky to be his sister. May his memory by eternal.”

“And now these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love.

But the Greatest of these is Love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

2006 Alex Brown returned to campus for a tennis match as the head tennis coach for Our Lady of Mercy on Friday, April 16. Coach Lamar Kirkley shares, “I coached Alex in tennis and cross country during his time here. The boys’ team won the region championship and advanced to the GHSA State Final Four all four years of his high school career.” Alex writes, “I know Country Day has been blessed by you [Coach Kirkley] in so many ways. I hope I touch lives in the same way you influenced mine.”

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Liz Lafranchise graduated from the University of South Florida Morsani School of Medicine and will be moving back to Georgia to complete her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia.

Ruben Ramos has become an Associate Broker and formed a team in partnership with Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty of Savannah, Georgia. Alongside Allie Anderson McGinty ‘15*, the Savannah Fine Homes group specializes in matching families with their dream homes throughout the Lowcountry.

2012 Scott Beauchamp graduated from Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy on April 23. Scott received his Doctor of Pharmacy and has been hired on as a pharmacist with Walgreens in the Birmingham, Alabama area. Scott is currently studying for the practice and law boards for licensure.

2013

2014 Alexander Fleming writes, “After graduating from Georgia Tech with my M.S. in mechanical engineering, I am now working at Deloitte. I wouldn’t be where I am without SCDS!”

2017 Kate Templeton graduated from The University of Georgia in May with a B.S. in Health Promotion & Behavior with minors in Music (Voice) and Spanish. She will return to UGA in the fall to start her Masters of Public Health and will graduate in May 2022.

Audrey Bromstad and Savannah Bock ‘13* share the story behind their cookbook, our kitchen: at home.

“Our paths first crossed briefly as 6th graders at Country Day, but collided five years later when we found ourselves in the same study abroad program as high school juniors in Zaragoza, Spain. What bonded us together was our love for the places we both considered home, Savannah and Tybee Island, and our obsession with using food as the key to understanding new places and cultures. We are now both 26 years old and have been connected at the hip ever since!”

Our cookbook is a love letter to the place we call home. We poured our hearts and souls into creating, testing, and photographing each recipe in the book, focusing on local produce, fresh seafood from our Tybee creeks and ingredients likely to already be in our refrigerators and pantries. For more delicious content, follow our Instagram account: @ its.ourkitchen. To buy the book: audreybromstad. com/shop/; Asher + Rye; E Shaver Booksellers; The Cottage Shop

Sarah DeVaro is pictured here with her brother David DeVaro ‘18 and parents Josepha and John DeVaro at her recent graduation from the Emory School of Medicine. Sarah will now be moving to Charleston to continue her medical training in ophthalmology at the Medical University of South Carolina.

2020 On February 20, 2021, Kenneth Reedy returned to Country Day to sign his letter of intent to play football at West Point. Kenneth was a standout player at Country Day and received high accolades for the 2019-2020 season, including Player of the Year Region 3A East.

Audrey Pastorek, a freshman swimmer at Villanova, recently helped Villanova women’s swim team capture their eighth-consecutive Big East Championship by winning a gold medal in the 200-yard backstroke.

Audrey also added points for her team with a fourth-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard IM. Congratulations, Audrey! *denotes Class Associate

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Births

Caroline (Coakley) McDermott ’02 and Corey McDermott welcomed Margaret Graham “Maggie” McDermott on December 17. She is the happiest baby, and is thrilled to be joining big brother James (‘34) as a Hornet at The Little School in the fall!

Morgan (Roberts) Caldwell ’09 and Maclain Caldwell are thrilled to welcome their daughter, Caroline Laura Caldwell. She was born on May 4, weighing 7 pounds and 5 ounces. Caroline will be starting at The Little School in August.

Caroline adds, “Maggie’s cousin John Aloysius “Jack” Coakley was born on November 25 in Jacksonville, Fla. to my brother John Coakley ‘02 and his wife Alice Anne.”

Katie (Ratterree) Johnson ’07 and her husband Hays welcomed a daughter, Sadie Katherine, on December 1, 2020.

Betsy (Kingston) Myers ’01 and her husband Trey welcomed John “Kingston” Myers into the world on April 18, 2021. Big brothers Owen ’33 and Rivers ’35 are thrilled!

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Kendall (Gardner) Ratterree ’05 and Joe Ratterree ’02 joyfully welcomed their second child, James Robert Ratterree, on March 7, 2021.

Francie (McMath) Todd ’05 and her husband Hall welcomed their twin boys, Barrett and Hall, on March 19, 2020 in Greenville, S.C.

Lea (Reeves) Stevens ’05 and Scott Stevens welcomed with joy their first child, Thomas Ripley Stevens, on October 24, 2019. “Rip” is an energetic and precocious 18-month-old who currently loves being a “Ladybug” at The Little School. Lea and Scott will welcome their second child, a girl, in November 2021!

Caroline (Holland) Weimar ’03 and her husband Bill welcomed their third child, Grace Summerford Weimar, in Atlanta on April 5, 2021. Big brothers Jack and Henry are already protective of their little sister.

Candice (Aaron) English ‘07 and her husband Jarred English welcomed their second daughter Shelby Louise English on June 2nd, 2021. Big sister, Reagan ‘36, is over the moon and has been a great helper!

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marriages

Kate (Sadler) Andrews ’09 married Charlie Andrews on April 10, 2021 at St. John’s Church in Savannah, followed by a reception at The Oglethorpe Club. Fellow classmates, Katherine (Monsees) Bennett ’09, Camille (Mercer) Lyon ’09, Kathryn (Groover) Pross ’09, and Taylor (Edgar) Williamson ’09 were among the bridesmaids. Kate’s first cousin and fellow SCDS alumna Jane Eliza Chisholm ’11 was the maid of honor. Kate and Charlie now live in Charlotte, N.C.

Louis Brody ’11 married Katherine Flax on December 31, 2020 in Richmond, Va. with a belated celebration on May 22, 2021. His brother, Daniel Brody ’05, was the best man. Fellow alumni, Kelley Compton ’11 and Ryan Sandler ’10 were among the groomsmen. Katherine and Louis reside in Savannah.

Maddie (Clifton) Chappell ’12 met Henry Chappell while in college at Emory University. They were married on January 18, 2020.

They feel so incredibly lucky and grateful for the celebration with all of their friends and family right before the pandemic.

Nevin Ergul ’12 and Amelia (Sheehan) Bostwick ’04 were bridesmaids. Maddie and Henry just purchased their first home in Atlanta and not too far from Emory where it all started.

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This past New Year’s Eve, Jennings Hughes ’11 closed out the decade marrying the love of his life Savannah Saltsman. Joe Guardino ’11 served as officiant for a ceremony in Atlanta witnessed by family and friends, including groomsmen Dylan Guggenheim ’11 and Hunter Bowman ’11. The couple exchanged vows before an evening of dinner and dancing, honeymooned in Mexico, and now live happily in Decatur, Ga.

Landry (Rushing) Melville ’16 married Alex Melville on Valentine’s Day this year. Landry has been working as a middle school science teacher at The Habersham School and will start a new job next year with Hancock Day School as a physical education teacher.

Oliver H. D. Maloney ’11 married Ansley J. Widener on September 26, 2020 in Augusta, Ga. Oliver was humbled to have many fellow SCDS alumni present at the ceremony and reception. Ansley and Oliver currently reside in North Augusta, S.C., pursuing their respective careers as a nurse in the Doctor’s Hospital Burn ICU and as an account executive for a software firm. They both look forward to moving to and raising a family in Savannah in the not-too-distant future.

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Christopher Owens ’10 married Annette Farmer on April 17, 2021 in Lexington, Ky., Annette’s hometown, at First United Methodist Church with the reception at The Carrick House. Fellow classmates, Ryan Sandler ’10, Ben Scuderi ’10 and Cord Glaize ’10 were among the groomsmen, and Elizabeth Owens ’12 among the bridesmaids.

Chris and Annette reside in Atlanta, Ga.

Katherine Sanders ’13 and Cord Helmken ’13 were married on November 7, 2020, at St. John’s Church in Savannah. Their first dance after the ceremony was Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine,” which was the first song they ever danced to together at the SCDS homecoming dance in the fall of 2010. Cord and Katherine now reside in Greenville, S.C., where Cord began his general surgery residency after graduating from the Medical College of Georgia in May 2021. Katherine is continuing her career as an occupational therapist in Greenville.

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Morris Watson ’11 married Shannon Newsome on March 14, 2020 in Augusta, Ga. He graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in May and moved to New Orleans. Morris is finishing his first year of residency in urology at Ochsner Medical Center while Shannon is also at Ochsner as a nurse in the operating room.

Leanna (Degenhart) Weinstein ’01 and Jacob Weinstein planned to be married on July 18, 2020 at the Farm at Old Edwards in Highlands, N.C. Due to the COVID pandemic, the couple were instead married in Savannah on that same day at Whitefield Chapel at Bethesda, surrounded by immediate family. On May 1, 2021, the couple had a belated celebration at the Farm at Old Edwards with the wedding party and additional family members in attendance. Fellow classmates Betsy (Miller) von Trapp ’01, Emily (Kehoe) Cameron ’01, Sarah (Sipple) Allman ’01, Carol (Ross) White ’01, Leonora (Victor) Lesesne ’01, Margaret (Gunkel) Scott* ’01, and Elizabeth (Eichholz) Yoches* ’01 were among the bridesmaids, while Leanna’s brothers Jay Degenhart ’99 and Blake Degenhart ’07 were among the groomsmen (*unable to travel due to COVID).

Leanna is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the University of Georgia School of Law, and Jacob is a graduate of Washington & Lee University and Vanderbilt Law School. Leanna and Jacob are both partners in the Corporate Group of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP and reside in Nashville, Tenn.

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ANNUAL GIVING HAS A RECORD YEAR AND TOPS $750,000!

Initiatives of both Giving Day and the Alumni “March Madness” competition led The Fund for Country Day to surpass the all-time SCDS annual giving record. Many thanks to our team of dedicated parent and alumni volunteers led by co-chairs Carson and Corde Wilson ‘94 on a successful campaign!

Throughout the year, gifts were received along with messages of heartfelt thanks to our faculty and administration for making this year of in-person learning possible. In addition, we are extremely grateful for the $100,000 kick-off gift from Beverly and Tracy Young, which helped alleviate a portion of the unbudgeted Covid-19 related expenses incurred to ensure in-person learning.

Remember, your gift to The Fund for Country Day ensures that every Hornet has extraordinary moments, limitless opportunities and unparalleled experiences. THANK YOU to each and every supporter!

For more information, please contact Ann Lerch, Director of Annual Giving 912-961-8822 or alerch@savcds.org.

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T H E F U N D FO R C OU N T RY DAY

THANK YOU The Fund for Country Day surpassed

$750,000

Over the last 5 years, the number of alumni donors increased by

35%

105

individuals made a first-ever gift

1,115 donors made a gift

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The Savannah Country Day School 824 Stillwood Drive Savannah, Georgia 31419-2643

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