1953: Summer 2018

1953 T H E M A G A Z I N E O F S T. J O H N S C O U N T R Y D AY S C H O O L

Summer 2018

1953

2018

C E L E B R AT I N G 6 5 YEA RS

In February, Grade 5, Middle School, and Upper School Dance students traveled to The Times Union Center’s Jacoby Hall to see The Jacksonville Symphony and The Florida Ballet perform Aaron Copeland’s Appalachian Spring, choreography

by St. Johns dance instructor Heather Olschewske.

Contents Letter from the Head of School...................1 School News Briefs........................................2

Lower School................................................................................... 2

Middle School..................................................................................4

Upper School...................................................................................6

Parent Teacher League...............................................................9

Performing Arts ......................................................................... 10

Fine Arts .........................................................................................12 Athletics............................................................................................ 14

Faculty News................................................................................. 20

Graduation 2018........................................... 22 Annual Legacy Breakfast........................... 34 Spartans Golf Tournament.........................37 Enduring Legacy of Athletics .................. 38 Alumni Profiles ............................................40 Alumni Notes................................................44

On the cover: In February, the Girls Varsity Soccer team won their 7th consecutive Championship and 10th State Championship overall. (Photo courtesy Main Light Events)

1953: The Magazine of St. Johns Country Day School is published for the community twice a year.

The goal of 1953 is to tell the school’s stories and capture the history, traditions, values, and culture of St. Johns Country Day School.

Greetings, St. Johns Friends!

No occasion could be more thrilling or humbling than being given the chance to serve as Acting Head of the school where I have spent all of my professional life. When I arrived at St. Johns to teach French in 1975, little did I know I would be here as we celebrate the start of our 65th year. Today’s refined campus, extensive resources, and numerous academic and athletic programs make it hard to believe that plays and choral concerts once emanated from the gym stage, students trekked through the woods to get to North Field, we didn’t think twice about a gym with neither air conditioning nor wood flooring, and we brown bagged lunches from home each day. Teaching technology consisted of chalk blackboards, film strip projectors, vinyl records, and reel to reel tape recorders.

Purple-inked tests and quizzes diffused the scent of the mimeograph copier. My, how far we have come and how grateful we are for the administrators, trustees, teachers, alumni, and parents whose innovative foresight and support have reaped the rewards enjoyed throughout our history.

No matter the decade, one constant has been shared by all Spartans — the unique experience that is St. Johns. Captured here in the pages of the latest issue of 1953 are both longstanding and newly established traditions. Whether we are congratulating the newest St. Johns alumni, bidding adieu to longtime, muchloved faculty members, cheering the successes of our athletic teams, marveling at another triumphant production of St. Johns on Broadway, or pursuing new avenues of academic prowess, St. Johns Country Day School continues to bring together the highest standards in academics, the arts, and athletics in an atmosphere that truly prepares our graduates not just for college, but for life. The alumni accomplishments outlined herein are certainly testaments to that.

So to all of our more than 2,000 alumni and parents of alumni, I salute you, and hope to welcome you back on campus in the very near future as we celebrate the 65th anniversary of our school this year. To our current parents, welcome back! I look forward to a fabulous year of celebration and accomplishment. And to our new parents — welcome! You have joined a tremendous tradition of excellence and a family community that I know you will treasure as much as I have for so many years.

Best regards,

Mary Virginia Fisher Acting Head of School Head of Upper School & Academics

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SCHOOL NEWS BRIEFS Lower School News

Brotherhood Week Builds Friendships In February the Lower School celebrated Brotherhood Week by pairing students up with “brothers” and “sisters” across the grade levels.

Younger Spartans were paired with older and got together for reading, crafts, activities, and lunches together.

“Brotherhood week works to build relationships between younger and older students,” said Lower School

Guidance Counselor Diane Landers.

“It helps build confidence and a sense of responsibility in the older students while providing the younger students with solid role models and an idea of what they have to look forward to in the years to come. Brotherhood week definitely helps foster the sense of community we value and strive to promote here at St. Johns.”

Erik Williams ’25 with his trophy at the March District Spelling Bee, with Superintendent of Clay County Schools Addison Davis, far left, and the Clay County Board of Education.

Erik Williams ’25 Rises to District’s Top Speller

Grade 3 student Dominque Clark reads to her Kindergarten buddies, Mallory Badger, left, and Izzy Monsivais, right.

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Grade 5 student Erik Williams ’25 took area spelling bees by storm this winter, first beating out St. Johns Middle School competition to win the school spelling bee in December, and then taking first place at the District Bee in January, where he endured 59 rounds and more than 3 hours of competition. Advancing to the Regional Spelling Bee at the Florida Theatre in March, Erik, the only Grade 5 participant in the Bee, took 2nd place!

Way to spell, Erik!

School News Briefs

S 2018 Best All Around Lower School Girl and Boy, Grace Dunton ’25 and Tyrone Neal ’25

Lower School Recognition Assembly At the end-of-year Lower School Recognition Assembly, students received accolades for accomplishments in academics, the arts, athletics, and in character. Among these many awards were the Lower School Best All Around Girl and Boy. The 2018 re-

cipients of this honor are Grade 5 students Grace Dunton and Tyrone Neal.

At the conclusion of the recognition assembly, Grade 5 students “crossed the quad” to symbolize their elevation to Middle School. Congratulations, Class of 2025!

100 Days

Kindergarten students celebrated their 100th day of school this year by dressing up as centenarians, complete with gray hair, eyeglasses, and walkers. We should all look this good at 100 years old!

Lower School Spartans showed their spirit when the Jacksonville Jaguars went to the AFC Championship in January.

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School News Briefs Middle School News White Oak Conservation St. Johns’ collaboration with White Oak Conservation permeates the entire school, from our Lower School Spartans-- who start learning about animals, habitats, and conservation at an early age — right on up through Upper School where the AP Biology classes do a deep dive into a problem facing that year’s species.

But perhaps the grade that is most involved with White Oak is Grade 6, where they undergo an intensive, yearlong, cross curricular deep-dive into the selected animal through their math, science, English, and even art classes.

This year they studied the giraffe, and Grade 6 students learned about giraffe species, biology, habitat, and conservation problems. Students created public service announcement videos encouraging conser-

Grade 6 students share what they have learned about giraffes.

L-R: Colin Albright, Kody Daneault, Reese Davis, Sofia Conde, Aidan Bethea, and Jason Abboud.

vation, made ’zines (short graphic magazines) to advertise the plight of the giraffes, created amazing giraffe prints, and even made a life sized statue of a baby giraffe. To cap it all off, at the end of the year, students presented their work to faculty, family, and staff from White Oak Conservation.

MathCounts MathCounts is a fun and engaging competition in which Middle School students demonstrate their mastery of the application of mathematics.

Students compete for four rounds, working as a team, reasoning and working collaboratively. This year our St. Johns team took 9th place in over 60 schools. Grade 8 student Sean Gregson finished his final year of competition, placing 14th out of over 500 competitors. “Sean has been a member of our MathCounts team since he was in Grade 4,” said competition sponsor Mrs. Andrea Vallencourt, “and lucky for the other schools in Florida, his 4

scores were only eligible for Grades 6-8.” Other fabulous members of the 2018 MathCounts team included Grade 8 students Annalee Clay, David Denemark, Mary Beth Garrison, Finn

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Howell, Abby Mencner, Mia Morin, Robert Morris, Ariel Sauer, and Callum Steiner, and Grade 5 student Erik Williams, shown here with Mrs. Vallencourt at the competition in March.

School News Briefs

Grade 8 Re-Enacts Classic Trial Scene St. Johns students have been reading and discussing Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, for more than forty years. Generations of readers have learned empathy and compassion through the memorable characters Ms. Lee created, and those characters leave a lasting impact on all who identify with them. At St. Johns, Grade 8 students not only read the novel, but also re-enact the classic trial scene each spring. This Spring was no different and in May, Grade 8 presented the scene in the Performing Arts Center.

Because the book has been so widely read, St. Johns students have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions outside the classroom on the relevant issues raised in the story and reflected in contemporary society. The careful coordination of the St. Johns curriculum gives our students the historical perspective to recognize the parallels between injustice during the Great Depression (the era in which the story is set), the

Civil Rights era (during which the novel was written), and the world around them today. Making those connections through literature allow readers to share a common a point of reference as they approach circumstances and situations in their own lives.

To Kill a Mockingbird endures as a classic coming of age novel as it paints a vivid portrait of the loss of innocence that what is “right” does not always win in the end. However, at its heart the novel conveys a message of hope for the future, a hope that the young will be able to embrace differences rather than fear them, while helping to change others’ narrow-minded perceptions.

“The participation of every Grade 8 student in the presentation of the pivotal trial scene enables us to follow the wisdom of Atticus Finch himself,” said Grade 8 English teacher Mrs. Thea Burke. “That is, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.””

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School News Briefs Upper School News

Student Council Dodgeball Tournament In April the Upper School Student Council hosted a dodge ball tournament with a goal of fostering school spirit and camaraderie.

Students and faculty were encouraged to form teams.

Spirited crowd favorites, “You Can’t Teach This,” helped drive the friendly competition. Clockwise from left: Dr. Judibelle Román, Mr. Harrison Sepulveda, Mrs. Gayle Garrison, Mr. Josh Stern, and Ms. Sarah Beresik.

Not pictured: Mrs. Kim Hanson.

Unsung Spartan In 1987, the Orange Park Rotary Club established the Unsung Spartan Award, which is given each year to a rising St. Johns senior whose contributions to our school might otherwise go unnoticed. The recipient of the Unsung Spartan Atward is the member of the junior class who is always found working behind the scenes to make sure everything gets done and runs smoothly. This year’s Unsung Spartan is Jenny Pack ’19. Chosen by the Upper School faculty for invariably being the one who can be counted on to help out with any project and never seeks the spotlight, Jenny will receive a scholarship from the Orange Park Rotary Club next spring.

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Jenny Pack ’19 receives the Unsung Spartan Award at the Upper School Recognition Assembly in April.

Mr. St. Johns Competition in Support of the American Cancer Society

The annual Miss St. Johns pageant works to raise money for Best Buddies of Jacksvonille, the local chapter of an international organization working to create opportunities for friendships, employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The March 2018 pageant was a tremendous success, raised more than $3,000 for the cause, and crowned Julia Jones ’21 (above) Miss St. Johns 2018. Hearty congratulations to all of the contestants and particularly to:

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Congratulations to Mr. St. Johns 2018, Aaron Makar ’19 (right). The Mr. St. Johns competition, held in February, raises money in support of the American Cancer Society. Aaron (seen here in his “casual wear”) beat out tough competition at Saturday night’s competition. Congratulations and thank you to all the participants and a big shout out to:

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1st Runner Up, Nicky Glassman ’19 2nd Runner Up, James Wilson ’21 3rd Runner Up, Alex Dimmick ’21 4th Runner Up, Dawson Patton ’18 Mr. Congeniality (by participant vote), James Wilson ’21 People’s Choice (based on donations raised in his voting box), James Wilson ’21

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1st Runner Up, Rachel Thompson ’19 2nd Runner Up, Courtney Sage ’20 3rd Runner Up, Zoe Roberts ’20 Miss Congeniality (by participant vote), Emily Alpers ’20 Miss Fashionista (by participant vote), Courtney Sage ’20 Crowd Favorite (based on donations raised in her voting box), Bianca Horen ’21

Photo by Sheila Hodges ’20

Miss St. Johns Raises Funds for Best Buddies of Jacksonville

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Photo by Charlie Lu ’18.

School News Briefs

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School News Briefs Cum Laude Society Inducts Eight In April, the St. Johns Country Day School chapter of the Cum Laude Society hosted its 60th Annual Induction Ceremony, adding eight new members to the prestigious group.

The Cum Laude Society is modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, the collegiate honors society, and works to encourage and recognize true scholarship.

Existing members included Chapter Secretary Mr. Harrison Sepulveda, Chapter President Michael Beltz, Bishoy Abdelmalik, Zachary Buce, Abigail Chalfant, and Matthew

Korahais; and faculty members Cary Benefield, Mary Helen Cauthen, Leslie DeStefano, Mary Virginia Fisher, and Kristin Jackson. Newly inducted members include seniors Matthew

Drake, Amy Beth Raynard, and Lea Shah; and juniors Isabelle Amacker, Cian Jacob, Kamy Loustau, Tvisha Patel, and Nick Rogers.

15 Years of Friendship 2018 marked the 15th year of St. Johns’ international friendship with the Lycée St. Ambroise in Chambéry, France. The student exchange began in 2003 and is a highlight of Spartan French studies. In February, 13 students and 2 teachers visited St. Johns from St. Ambroise and spent a week with St. Johns families. Highlights included the French students’ excursions to St. Augustine, downtown Jacksonville, Universal Studios Orlando, Fernandina Beach and Kingsley Plantation.

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School News Briefs Parent Teacher League

Letter from the PTL President

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reetings, Spartans! look forward to welcoming the entire I’m excited to be able to introSt. Johns community to this fun filled evening. duce myself to you as your PTL Please join us for Coffee Talk with the President for the 2018-2019 school year.

St. Johns Leadership Team on September 5, after The Parent Teacher League is dedicated to flag raising in the Library. The first PTL meeting supporting our school in a variety of ways. of the year will follow immediately after. Can’t First and foremost, we want our children to make it? I understand. At your request, we will have the best experience possible! The PTL be having one evening meeting per quarter to sponsors events throughout the year such as accommodate the schedules of our members and socials for Lower, Middle and Upper School, allow for greater participation. A meeting schedGrandparents Day, schoolwide cookouts, and 2018-2019 PTL President ule will be posted on the PTL page of My School more. These events are opportunities to build Brandy Stasiak App, along with other important information. and strengthen our community and that is We have lots of opportunities available to something I am very passionate about. We also make sure support our students, no matter what your schedule. Your our faculty and staff “feel the love,” particularly during our time and talents are greatly appreciated and make a big teacher appreciation events. When we say we are a family at impact! Please, reach out to me any time at PTLPresident@ St. Johns, we mean it! sjcds.net. I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions, or As you may know, all St. Johns family members are autoto have you volunteer with us. With your help, our children matically part of the PTL, and we hope you will join us this are in for a year of making great memories! I wish you all the year as we embark on these exciting activities and events, best and a fabulous year. including our biennial PTL Gala and Auction, on Saturday, For the Spartans, March 9, 2019, at Sullivan Hall on Fleming Island. Please — Brandy Stasiak mark your calendars now and plan to join us for what is sure (Emma, Class of 2022) to be an evening of good food, music, and great friends. We

Thank You, PTL Volunteers!

In May, the Parent Teacher League hosted its annual volunteer “thank you” breakfast and presented two Volunteer of the Year Awards. Outgoing PTL President Heather Schultz offered her sincere appreciation and congratulations to two indispensable volunteers, Robin McMullen and June Stoeber. Thanks to Robin, June and all the other many volunteers, for your countless hours of hard work and dedication.

Whether you are a parent, former parent, grandparent, or friend, we appreciate all that you do for St. Johns and our students.

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School News Briefs Performing Arts News

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hat a busy year in the Performing Arts Department at St. Johns! St. Johns on Broadway was truly a standout, with numbers from award-winning Broadway shows including Cabaret, Shrek: The Musical, The Lion King, Hamilton, and many more. As is tradition, all students in Grades 1 through 5 participated, and, of course, first graders performed a song and dance with their seniors. Additionally, Symphonic Band performed while dancing with the dancers to “Cell Block Tango,� from Chicago. It was an amazing production, start to finish.

This coupled with Music Performance Assessments (MPAs), Pre-MPA concerts, the Spring Bands & Bells and Choral Concerts, and the Middle School Dance and Drama performance meant for a busy spring at the Performing Arts Center!

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School News Briefs

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School News Briefs Fine Arts

Lulu Nowicki ’23 won a Gold Key for her painting, Sitting Girl, inspired

by Henri Matisse.

Esan Patel ’18 won a Gold Key for his ceramic work, Deep Dive.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Congratulations to the nearly 40 Middle and Upper School students who were recognized in this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and to the 23 students selected for publication in the Spring 2018 issue of Celebrating Art, a juried publication and excellent display of our student works.

Additionally, Bhealor Young ’18 was honored as a Top Ten student in the Celebrating Art Spring 2018 publication for her ceramics piece, Waterfall (shown above).”

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This 3D printed logo by Connor Foster ’20 won a Gold Key Award.

School News Briefs

Brady Pargman

Trista McClaine

Mia Morin

Matt Drake

Concert on the Green Poster Contest Several St. Johns students were recognized for their submissions to the annual Concert on the Green poster contest.

In the Elementary division, Brady Pargman ’26 took first place and Trista McClaine ’26 won third place.

In the Middle School Division, Mia Morin ’22 was an honorable mention, and in the High School division, Matt Drake ’18 took third place with his watercolor, which is actually a portrait of fellow senior Matthew Korahais playing his favorite piece.

Congratulations, Spartan artists!

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School News Briefs Athletics A Banner Year in Athletics This year, St. Johns gave a shout out to each of its senior athletes with these vibrant banners, posted around the fields, in the gym, and even taken on the road. Congratulations, graduating athletes!

photo courtesy of…

Track & Field: Seven Spartans Advanced to State Meet In back to back events Jett Isley ’19 and Courtney Sage ’20 captured second place at the Class 1A, Region 1 Championships at Florida High in Tallahassee on April 25, 2018. Isley cracked 52 seconds in the 400 meter dash (51.96) and Sage ran 16.57 seconds in the 300 meter hurdles. Ben Kailes ’19 followed with a big personal record in the 1600, placing second in 4:31.03, just a stride behind the winner. All top four finishers advanced to the State Meet in May. Jett Isley ’19 and Matthew Stratton Courtney Sage had also earned a spot to State with a fast third-place fin- ’22 in a March mini-meet at St. Johns. ish in the 100 meter hurdles in 16.57 14

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seconds, and Juliet Moody ’23 slashed six seconds from her 800 best to place 4th with a 2:24.36 clocking.

Matthew Stratton ’22 earned a State berth after placing 6th in the 3200 meters in the meet’s first race of the day. His time of 10:17.27 bettered his old mark by 18 seconds and now ranks among Florida’s top 24. And Senior Connor Hale received an at-large berth to compete at State in the 110-meter high hurdles.

“We had 60 athletes competing in Track & Field this spring,” said Coach Jay Birmingham. “I couldn’t be happier with this vigorous and spirited participation!”

School News Briefs

Girls Basketball Heads to Regionals

Coach Yolanda and the team with their District Runners Up Trophy

What an amazing year for St. Johns Girls Varsity Basketball! With a very young team where over half the players were middle school students and the oldest players were just sophomores, the St. Johns girls varsity basketball team made it to the Regional Semi-Finals for the first time in 20 years, exceeding the expectations of many.

Four players were named to the All-County Team including Kinley Hall ’22, Kyla Hartwell ’20, Maggie Kent ’21, and Kendall Sage ’20, and Kent and Sage were also named to the All-Conference Tournament Team.

Individual Team Member Awards bestowed by Coach Yolanda Bronston include: ■■ MVPs: Kendall Sage and Kyla Hartwell ■■ Wonder Woman Award (most Play of the Game awards during the season): Maggie Kent ■■ Defensive Players of Year: Kyla Hartwell and Lea Hartwell ’20 ■■ Spartan Awards: Anna Kemp ’23 and Serenity Williams ’22 ■■ And the entire team won “Most Improved” after taking such tremendous strides this season.

“I am incredibly proud of this group of athletes,” said Coach Bronston. “They are an excellent representation of what a Spartan should be.

Look for even more successes from these ladies in the future!”

Assistant Coach Brandon Bass and Coach Yo with “rock” awards given to them by the team parents in February.

St. Johns Director of Athletics Traci Peacock Livingston ’90, Nick Rogers ’19, and Nick’s mother, Donna Rogers, at the Orange Park Rotary awards ceremony.

Nick Rogers ’19 Honored by Orange Park Rotary This spring, swimmer Nick Rogers ’19 was honored by the Orange Park Rotary Club as its Fall Athlete of the Quarter.

Rogers has been swimming on the varsity swim team since he was in Grade 6 and has served as the team captain for the past two years. He has qualified for the State Championships in both 2016 and 2017, and holds school records in the 100 butterfly and 100 breast stroke and is also on the medley and freestyle relay teams.

“We are very proud of Nick, said Director of Athletics Traci Peacock Livingston ’90 at the awards ceremony, “and of all he does both in the classroom and in our pool to always represent himself and St. Johns with the utmost respect and competitiveness.”

Congratulations, Nick!

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School News Briefs

Crew Team Rows to Success

St. Johns Crew had a robust season with five boats advancing to finals in the Florida Scholastic Rowing Association (FSRA) State Sweep Championships. The Men’s Freshman 4 — consisting of Christian Keiter ’22 as Stroke, Robert Morris ’22, Robert Maytin ’22, Luke Roberts ’22, and Addison Frisbee ’23 as the cox — took 7th in the state overall and 2nd scholastically. The team placed 4th overall at Districts and brought home 9 medals, including 6 gold, 2 silver, and a bronze.

Varsity Softball Takes District Championship

“St. Johns softball was 8-0 this year against district rivals, only allowing two runs the entire district schedule,” said Coach Deric Enter. The young Spartan team was lead by Bhealor Young ’18 and juniors Brianna Enter, Linsey Arnett, and Maddie Wilkes — all of whom received All State, All First Coast, or All County Team recognitions.

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Correction: In the Winter 2018 issue of 1953, we stated that Ben Kailes ’19 “ran the fastest 5000m time in St. Johns history.”

We should have said that Ben clocked the fastest 5000m time at a “State” championship, at 16:36.

Different courses vary in difficulty so naturally times are not comparable.

Christopher Holstein ’06 holds the record for fastest District time at 16:12.

We regret the error.

School News Briefs

6 Seniors Sign to Play On Six Spartan athletes signed to play sports at the college level this year, including:

Baseball: ■■

Troy Britts ’18 signed to play for Liberty University.

Softball: ■■

Bhealor Young ’18 signed to play for Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Cade Walden: Mandy Stoll Scholar Athlete

Troy Britts ’18 at bat in an early season game against Fleming Island High School. Photo by Madison Livingston ’19.

Bhealor Young ’18 signs to play for FSCJ at a home game in April.

Soccer: ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

Payton Crews ’18 signed to play for Texas Christian University.

Alisa Detlefsen ’18 signed to play for Troy University.

Abbey Newton ’18 signed to play for Louisiana State University.

Kirsten Pavlisko ’18 signed to play for Florida State University.

Additionally, homeschooled member of the Spartan Girls Varsity Soccer team Anna Carrico signed to play for Cedarville University.

Cade Walden ’18 is the 2018 recipient of the Mandy Stoll Scholar Athlete Award, given by the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association each year to honor senior male and female high school scholar-athletes in Florida. Requirements for the award are that the athlete must be a senior, must participate in a a minimum of two years of varsity athletics, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, and earn at least a 1200 or the SAT or a 26 on the ACT. Congratulations, Cade!

Spartan Girls Soccer players Anna Carrico, Kirsten Pavlisko, Payton Crews, Alisa Detlefsen, and Abbey Newton with coaches Brad Schmidt and Mike Pickett.

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School News Briefs

Girls Soccer Takes 7th Consecutive State Championship Girls Varsity Soccer charged into history this winter, taking their 7th consecutive Class 1A State Championship at Spec Martin Stadium in Deland and tying the Spartans with St. Thomas Aquinas, which also has seven championships. The win marks 10 state championships overall for Girls Varsity Soccer.

Going up against a much bigger defensive front

by Miami Country Day School, the Spartans took it in stride and scored within the first minutes of the game. “We saw that they were going to be physical with whoever came up the middle,” said

Coach Mike Pickett ’83, “so we put two of our bigger players up front — Maddie Moody ’21 and [homeschool player] Anna Carrico — to battle back and hopefully wear them down.”

The strategy worked and the 6-0 win in Deland brought the Spartans to the nation’s longest winning streak at 70 games and the nation’s longest unbeaten streak at a whopping 83 games without a loss.

The Spartans remain at the top of the USA “Super 25” girls winter soccer rankings, and caps the Top Drawer Soccer “FAB 50” girls winter rankings.

Newton Named 2018 Gatorade Florida Girls Soccer Player of the Year In June, Abbey Newton ’18 was selected as the Gatorade Florida Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The program recognizes the nation’s most outstanding high school athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement, and exemplary character.

Newton, who is headed into SEC play at Louisiana State University this fall, was thrilled at the news. “I feel elated and very blessed,” she said. “It is such an honor to be selected but more importantly to be recognized in the same category as previous winners that I have looked up to like Carson Pickett ’12 and Chelsea Burns ’15.”

Abbey has been invited to name a sports-based organization to which Gatorade will donate $1,000 in her honor.

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Group photo, above, by Claire Trammell ’20. Insets, clockwise from top left, photos by Maddy Rosenau ’18, Claire Trammell, Matthew Drake ’18, Charlie Lu ’18, Charlie Lu, and Claire Trammell.

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Faculty News

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his spring St. Johns said adieu to two longtime, beloved faculty members: Mr. Grover Howard and Mrs. Mary Helen Cauthen. Both announced their retirement before the start of the school year so although we had plenty of time to adjust, parting is still difficult! Both Mr. Howard and Mrs. Cauthen were honored at Spring Fling, which took place at St. Johns in April.

Mary Helen Cauthen

Head of Upper School Mary Virginia Fisher, retiring Head of Lower School Mary Helen Cauthen, and Headmaster Todd A. Zehner ’87, as Mrs. Cauthen is presented with a silver bowl commemorating her service to St. Johns.

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Mary Helen Cauthen is one of the members of the “Faculty 80’s Club,” as Mrs. Fisher mentioned in her emotional tribute, which doesn’t mean they are eighty, Mrs. Fisher was quick to point out — it means they were at St. Johns in the 80’s. Mrs. Cauthen came to St. Johns in 1988 after completing a term as the PTL President.

It was during this term, Mrs. Fisher noted, that the PTL gifted the school with the wrought iron front gates with the embedded “SJ.” Little did she know when she facilitated that gift to the school that she would pass through those gates for the next 29 years to bring “learning, loving, and teaching to our community.”

We wish Mrs. Cauthen the very best, as Mrs. Fisher said: lots of time with the grandkids and the family at the beach, lots of sand between the toes, and we look forward to seeing her around campus and particularly on Grandparents Day.

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We wish you the very best possible retirement, Mrs. Cauthen and Mr. Howard, and we will miss you both very much!

Grover Howard

Kicking things off in his tribute to “Howard,” as he calls him, Coach Mike Hilliard had to apologize, he said, as he thought he was to “deliver a roast” and that he did! He’s taught for a long time, said Mr. Hilliard, “actually, he’s taught for a long, long time.” In a tribute full of funny moments and warm recollections, Coach Hilliard made a heartfelt tribute to “the man you can call any time of the night and he’ll help you.”

Mr. Howard has been everyone’s favorite DJ, former track coach, and our math and computer science expert for 30 years. He’s contributed to countless productions of St. Johns on Broadway, both on the stage and in the sound booth, and will be greatly missed by one and all.

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Baccalaureate B accalaureate was held on Friday, June 1, 2018 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville. A beautiful ceremony that kicks off the events leading to graduation, the Baccalaureate service is a celebration of the senior class but also a time for reflection and contemplation over their years in school and what they have achieved.

The Invocation was delivered by Cade Walden, and Maddy Rosenau read the Lesson from Romans, calling on her classmates to love one another and to find ways to serve and help one another in love.

Continuing this theme, the Baccalaureate Address, “Love in Action,” was delivered by Clay County Court Judge Kristina Mobley. Kindness is love in action, she told the congregation, advising the seniors to always look for the good in others and in situations. “As you enter this new phase in your life,” said Mobley, “I hope you will look for ways to put love into action.”

The service was followed by a reception for seniors and their families, capped off with the viewing of the annual senior slideshow.

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Graduation O

n Saturday, June 2, 2018, the Class of 2018 crossed the stage as St. Johns students for the very last time, becoming the newest alumni of St. Johns Country Day School.

Michael Beltz, the first of the two senior graduation speakers, highlighted life lessons learned from the classes and teachers he has had at St. Johns: from computer programming, he learned to take things one step at a time. Calculus taught him that limits can’t stop him. Physics taught that some things in the world are just unexplained. Literature taught him to dig deeper even when he thinks he has it all figured out. Chemistry taught him that what you put in is what you’ll get out.

Madelyn Rosenau, the second speaker, recounted some additional life lessons, noting that adulthood doesn’t come with any warning or-- even worse-- a manual. But she noted that the Class of 2018 has achieved so much, tackled so many hurdles, that she knows they will succeed. “Over the years, we as the Class of 2018,” she said, “have taken the impossible and made it achievable. Through our time at St. Johns we have made the unconquerable look easy.”

With that indomitable spirit and optimism, the Class of 2018 crossed the stage and received their diplomas.

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Congratulations Class of 2018!

Bishoy Maged Abdelmalik Member, Cum Laude Society Member, National Honor Society

Kyleigh Emma Barber

Member, National Honor Society

Michael Joseph Beltz

National Merit Commended Scholar AP Scholar with Distinction Member, Cum Laude Society Member, National Honor Society

Richard Troy Britts

St. Johns student since preschool

Zachary James Buce

AP Scholar Member, Cum Laude Society Member, National Honor Society

Abigail Frances Chalfant AP Scholar Member, Cum Laude Society Member, National Honor Society St. Johns student since preschool

Payton Nicole Crews

Member, National Honor Society

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Alisa Rae Detlefsen

Wenzhe Lu

Victor Riley Dinkins

Luke Sherlock Mason

Member, National Honor Society

Matthew James Drake

Member, National Honor Society Member, National Honor Society

Member, Cum Laude Society Member, National Honor Society

Jaime Lee McDonald

Molly Opal Renee Gaver

St. Johns student since preschool

Emma Scott Goodbread Justin Michael Guyot Joseph Connor Hale

AP Scholar Member, National Honor Society St. Johns student since preschool

Anna Kay Harward Matthew Daniel Korahais

National Merit Commended Scholar AP Scholar with distinction Member, Cum Laude Society Member, National Honor Society St. Johns student since preschool

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Mitchell Shane McMullen Cody Holland Myers

St. Johns student since preschool

Troy Donald Myers

Member, National Honor Society St. Johns student since preschool

Abbegale Grace Newton

Member, National Honor Society

Avery Elizabeth Overman Esan Vipul Patel

Member, National Honor Society St. Johns student since preschool

Dawson Lee Patton

Kirsten Elizabeth Pavlisko Member, National Honor Society

Amy Beth Victoria Raynard Member, Cum Laude Society Member, National Honor Society

Jack Michael Richardson Madelyn Grace Rosenau Member, National Honor Society St. Johns student since preschool

Elizabeth Victoria Ryan

Amber Rose Tomlinson

Jack Liam Schultz

Member, National Honor Society St. Johns student since preschool

Lea Sapna Shah

Cade Allen Walden

AP Scholar Member, Cum Laude Society Member, National Honor Society St. Johns student since preschool

Kasey Mae Spencer

St. Johns student since preschool

Member, National Honor Society St. Johns student since preschool

Bhealor Claire Young Natalie Irene Zapp

St. Johns student since preschool

Devan Anslee Ruhl

St. Johns student since preschool

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Members of the Class of 2018 Who Attended St. Johns Since Preschool Richard Troy Britts Abigail Frances Chalfant Joseph Connor Hale Matthew Daniel Korahais Mitchell Shane McMullen Cody Holland Myers Troy Donald Myers Esan Vipul Patel

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Madelyn Grace Rosenau Devan Anslee Ruhl Lea Sapna Shah Kasey Mae Spencer Amber Rose Tomlinson Cade Allen Walden Natalie Irene Zapp

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Members of the Class of 2018 were accepted to the following colleges and universities: American University

New College of Florida

Belmont University

North Carolina State University

Berry College

Nova Southeastern University

Birmingham-Southern College

Oglethorpe University

Case Western Reserve University

Pace University, New York City

Columbia University

Palm Beach State College

Eckerd College

Pennsylvania State University

Elon University

Rollins College

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Rutgers University

Emory University

Santa Fe College

Emory University (Oxford College) Fairfield University (University College) Flagler College Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Institute of Technology Florida State College at Jacksonville Florida State University Georgetown University Hawaii Pacific University Hofstra University Jacksonville University Judson College Liberty University Louisiana State University National University of Ireland Maynooth McGill University Middlebury College National University of Ireland Galway

Samford University Savannah College of Art and Design St. Johns River State College Stetson University Tallahassee Community College Texas Christian University The University of Tampa Troy University University of Central Florida University of Florida University of Georgia University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of North Carolina at Asheville University of North Florida University of South Carolina University of South Florida, St. Pete University of South Florida, Tampa Valdosta State University

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Awards

2018 Graduation Valedictorian Award

Michael Joseph Beltz Edwin Paul Heinrich Award

Matthew Daniel Korahais Dora Helen Skypek Award

Michael Joseph Beltz

Stephen F. Russey Best All-Around Young Man

Matthew James Drake Esan Vipul Patel

Stephen F. Russey Best All-Around Young Woman

Madelyn Grace Rosenau Lea Sapna Shah The Roddey R. Fisher Award

Esan Vipul Patel

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Leadership Award Amber Rose Tomlinson

Computer Science Award Zachary James Buce

English Award Matthew James Drake

PTL Service Award Lea Sapna Shah

Carol A. Hart Math Award Michael Joseph Beltz

Captain Borries Cup Award Richard Troy Britts

Science Award Abigail Frances Chalfant

Linda C. Guswiler Athletic Award Payton Nicole Crews Abbegale Grace Newton

Art Award Bhealor Claire Young Spanish Award Matthew Daniel Korahais

Service Awards Payton Nicole Crews Emma Scott Goodbread Wenzhe Lu

Myrtle O’Shea Latin Award Bishoy Maged Abelmalik Matthew Daniel Korahais

Top Female Athlete Award Upper School Alisa Rae Detlefsen Kirsten Elizabeth Pavlisko

Cynthia C. Landry History Award Matthew Daniel Korahais

Top Male Athlete Award Upper School Cade Allen Walden

Drama Award for Technical Theatre Victor Riley Dinkins

I Dare You Leadership Award Bishoy Maged Abdelmalik

Music Vocal Award Amy Beth Raynard

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Senior - Grade 1 Buddies

I

n a year-end survey, more than half of the members of the Class of 2018 mentioned their Senior-Grade 1 Buddies as their favorite St. Johns tradition. They love the experience of getting to know a younger Spartan — of hanging out and having fun with their first graders on the playground, at flag raising, and at special events throughout the year. They describe the tradition as “sweet,” “unique,” and “priceless” — a great embodiment of the family environment and values that we cherish here at St. Johns. Not only that, the pairing is a great life lesson as well.

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n May, the Office of College Counseling hosted an Ice Cream Social for seniors and their Grade 1 buddies. Seniors wore t-shirts for the schools they planned to attend — and often their buddies were sporting them too! A good time — and ice cream — was had by all.

CLASS OF 2018

Fast Facts of 39 Number graduates

in $2.2 Received scholarship offers

MILLION

15

St. Johns students since preschool

17

Seniors eligible for over $631,000 in Florida Bright Futures Awards

2

National Merit Commended Scholar

6 AP Scholars 6 4,172

Received athletic scholarships Hours of community service performed

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Legacy Breakfast

E

ach spring, St. Johns is pleased to host a breakfast celebrating our many legacies — students who are children of alumni, and sometimes grandchildren of alumni! This year’s breakfast took place on Thursday, May 3, and we welcomed more than 30 alumni or former students and more than 70 of their children!

Katie Perkins Foster ’92 with her Spartans, Connor ’20, Liam ’23, and Finley ’32

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Four Dunton ’97 with daughters Grace ’25 and Evelyn ’29

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Jodie Spencer Hollingsworth ’86 with Wyatt ’26 and Lexi ’32

Emily Wood Meagher ’10 with Caylin ’30

Andrew Price ’02 with Davie ’32

Susan Timby Lindholm ’80 with Patrick ’19

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2018-2019 Legacy Students JJ (Jona) Gay Barber: Kyleigh Barber ’18 and Bonnar Barber ’23 Kade Bender ’01: Vaughan Bender ’30 Matt Costarakis ’87: Ainsley Costarakis ’25 Kristin Vitullo Davidson: Riley Davidson ’20 and Sawyer Davidson ’25 Ben Dinkins ’88 and Lisha Frick Dinkins ’88: Victor Dinkins ’18, Henry Dinkins ’19, and Josie Dinkins ’23 Sandy Ellmaker Dinkins ’84, and Matt Dinkins: Caroline Dinkins ’19 Four Dunton ’97: Grace Dunton ’25 and Evelyn Dunton ’29 Susan Elliott ’88: Lillian “Jolie” Outtara Katie Perkins Foster ’92: Rentz “Connor” Foster ’20, Liam Foster ’23, and Finley Foster ’32

Jodie Spencer Hollingsworth ’86: Wyatt Hollingsworth ’26 and Lexi Hollingsworth ’32 Brad Jackson ’98 and Kristin Hodge Jackson ’00: Lewis Jackson ’32 Frances McKellar Jackson ’92: Arden Jackson ’23 and Ava Jackson ’23 Sara Beth Guswiler Johnson ’91: Jenny Johnson ’24 and Emily Johnson ’28 Michelle Abrisch Laird ’94: Courtney Laird ’23 and Will Laird ’26 Jenna Williams Lawrence ’10: Lorelai Lawrence ’31 and Landon Lawrence ’32 Jeff Lewis ’89: JD Lewis ’22 and Josh Lewis ’25 Susan Timby Lindholm ’80: Patrick Lindhom ’19 Traci Peacock Livingston ’90: Madison Livingston ’19

Gayle Simpson Garrison ’94: Mary Beth Garrison ’24 and Jane Garrison ’25

Laura Dinkins Maierhoffer ’85: Meredith Maierhoffer ’19 and Abigail Maierhoffer ’23

Janna Tamargo ’93: Emma Goodbread ’19

William Mason: Luke Mason ’18

Kelley Lewis Hall ’84: Grayson Hall ’20 and Kinley Hall ’22 Virginia Hall ’84: Grant Cassady ’25 Robert Heinrichs ’97: Adrian Heinrichs ’26 and Torrin Heinrichs ’24

Anne Clay Wilhelm McNulty: Jack McNulty ’23, Grace McNulty ’25 and William McNulty ’27

Emily Wood Meagher ’10: Caylin Meagher ’30 Bob Montgomery ’58 (grandfather): Lane Montgomery ’19 Sjoukje Witkamp Mooneyham: Jack Mooneyham ’23 and Luke Mooneyham ’28 Haley Morgan ’97 and McCall Cauthen Morgan ’97: Charlie Morgan ’25 and Caris Morgan ’28 Tracy Frick Page ’87: Max Arnold ’21 Aime Culton Peterson ’89: Lilly Peterson ’20 and Luke Peterson ’25 Andrew Price ’02: David Price ’32 Mike Punya ’88: Alyssa Punya ’20 Addie Rivers: Michael Wyatt ’19 Brad Schmidt and Katie Gibbs Schmidt ’93: John Schmidt ’32 Anna Campbell Starks ’00: Charlotte Olmstead ’29 Allison McClow Vogt ’96: Tripp Vogt ’23 Monica Wheeler ’88: Austin Wheeler ’21 Brad Wimberly: Nylah Lauderdale ’25 Todd Zehner ’87: Cade Zehner ’21

Britt McTammany ’87 (dad), Mary Jo Cotney McTammany ’60 (grandmother): Olivia McTammany ’23

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HONOR

2017-2018 Annual Fund

the past.

INVEST

in the future.

Thank you to the many alumni, parents, faculty members, grandparents, and friends of St. Johns who contributed to the 2017-2018 annual fund! Your gifts allow the school to make campus improvements and strengthen programs for our students and teachers, and we truly appreciate your support.

The full 2017-2018 Annual Giving Report is available at sjcds.net/agr.

Thank you to all the many generous donors for your support of the 2017-2018 Annual Fund.

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Section Header

12th Annual St. Johns Spartan Golf Tournament

T

hank you very much to all the sponsors and golfers who attended the 12th Annual St. Johns Spartans Golf Tournament in support of St. Johns’ athletic program. Hearty congratulations to First Place Winners Larry Campbell, Dale Lewis, Steve Toloczko, and Keith Gentry; and Second Place Winners Bill Sellinger, Billy Sellinger, Colton Liddell, and Rasheen Mathis.

We hope everyone had a great time, and we look forward to seeing you again next year!

A huge thank you to all who contributed to the success of the Golf Tournament!

Lunch Sponsors:

■■ Hodges

Management

Group ■■ Williams

& Rowe Company, Inc.

Gold Sponsor:

■■ St.

Johns Investment Management Company

Beverage Sponsor:

■■ Family

Dentistry, Dr. Stephanie Mapp

Hole Sponsors:

■■ Accident

Lawyers, P.A., John Fagan ■■ Aiosa Orthodontics, Dr. Loria Aiosa

■■ The

■■ The

■■ Bee

Bailey Group Amazed Designs ■■ Bumble Bees Face Painting ■■ G. Charles Cauthen, CPA ■■ The Dobbertien Family ■■ Edward M. Ellison ■■ Rod and Mary Virginia Fisher – In Memory of Larry Pickett ■■ Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Beth Kailes ■■ Keatings Communications ■■ Ryan Kelly – In Memory of Jack Kelly ■■ O’Steen Automotive Group

■■ Phoenix

Pecoraro Family Wood Products, LLC ■■ Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, Inc. ■■ Remax Specialists Property Management ■■ The Sage Group ■■ SJAC ■■ Travis Cummings for State Representative ■■ Turf Doctor Landscaping and Lawn, LLC

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the 13th Annual St. Johns Spartans Golf Tournament, Friday, April 26, 2019, at the Eagle Harbor Golf Club.

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Top: Baseball was the first varsity sport offered at St. Johns.

Middle: A new athletics era began in the spring of 1977 when Lynee Bagwell — St. Johns’ first “coed” athlete — joined the school’s new track & field team. Front row: Don Christoffers, Nick Weber, Mark Cornett, Lynne Bagwell, Jimmy Carter, Richard Graber, Team Sponsor Mr. Pfoutz. Back row: Charlies Watkins, Michael McFadden, Mike Weaver, Doug McQuaid, and Philip Williams.

Bottom: Also new in the spring of 1977, the tennis team with Sponsor Mrs. Joyce Tabor.

Front row: Annie Laurie, Monica Esquivia, Windy Nichols, Kathryn Seigler, Mike Hoff, Bonnie Laurie, Charlies Ellmaker, Bobby Hoff, Kay Blitch. Back row: Marshall Seigler, Marvin Wilhite, Richard Brooke, Davis Ely, Bill Sheffield, and Louise Weber.

The Enduring Legacy of

ATHLETICS

A

thletics were always important to St. Johns’ founding headmaster, Dr. Edwin P. Heinrich, from his early days in the German school system.

He even wrote and published a book on German-style school gymnastics.

St. Johns Athletics philosophy is mens sans in corpora sano: that for a person to function best, both mind and body ought to be cultivated, engaged, and taught. No doubt the Latin would please Dr. Heinrich just as much as the ideal itself.

Soon after his arrival in the United States from Germany, Dr. Heinrich found himself developing a sailing program and coaching crew at the McDonough School, near Baltimore.

It didn’t take long after the founding of St. Johns before athletics joined the curriculum as a great way to raise spirits and burn off energy, from the youngest students through the Upper School. Baseball was the first competitive team sport, started in the spring of 1958, with soccer, tennis, and vol-

leyball following quickly. Intramural sports were also very popular with both boys’ and girls’ touch football teams.

The tradition begun by Dr. Heinrich has never wavered. Since his time, St. Johns has focused on nurturing well-rounded men and women, comfortable in scholarship, ideas, and the arts, and also in athletics. They are together the building blocks of good character, the highest aim of our school, and the key to an effective life.

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Alumni Profiles

Alumni Profiles

O

ne need only look at the amazing accomplishments of our more than 2,000 alumni to know that a St. Johns education prepares students for college and beyond.

This issue, 1953 interviewed three students whose paths have led them to careers in athletics. It’s fascinating to see the various routes these St. Johns Spartans have taken to get where they are today, and that you don’t necessarily have to be an athlete to have a career in sports!

Alex Herndon ’11 Like so many other St. Johns Alumni, Alex Herndon ’11 says that the first word that comes to her mind when she thinks about St. Johns is “family.” She met her best friends as well as her fiance, Sean Bowles ’11, while a student at St. Johns and she has continued to feel like a part of the family.

Alex was described as “inquisitive and questioning” and yet “she is nevertheless famed for her thoroughness of preparation.” Well known by both teachers and fellow students as a hard worker, Alex was also incredibly well liked because of her friendly personality, willingness to jump in and help in any situation, and her thoughtful and insightful contributions to class discussions. This combination of master organizing skills and friendly outgoing nature have made her incredibly successful in her current role as Member Experience Specialist for the Jacksonville Jaguars. She credits her AP US History and AP Spanish teachers -- former Headmaster Greg Foster and Janice Jackson, respectively-- with helping her learn how to work hard and think deeply.

“St. Johns absolutely prepared me for college and the real world,” she says, “and I feel that I learned how to maintain a good balance between work and other 40

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activities.” Alex loved going on the St. Johns trip to Spain and the chance to speak the language and learn the culture in a real hands on experience. But her favorite memories are of spending time with friends on the deck, in the Senior Room, and in between classes.

As a student at St. Johns she played sports, but never imagined that she would have a career in sports.

After graduating from St. Johns she went to the University of Florida and, over the years she changed majors a few times, not really sure what she wanted to do. She ultimately chose Recreation and Event Management because she always loved sports and was intrigued by the hospitality side of the industry. She interned with the Jaguars Guest Services Department in her final semester at UF and then was offered an entry level Ticket Sales position before transitioning into her current role as Member Experience Specialist.

Alex says that “sports offer people an escape from their daily lives.” Sports teams are like a family, just as St. Johns is like a family. People go to sporting events to spend time with friends and family and to take part in a collective experience.

A huge challenge facing sports teams today is that the at-home viewing experience has improved so much, it’s harder to lure the fans to the stadium.

Teams must find a way to provide an exceptional stadium experience in order to increase the draw. Alex loves making sure that Jaguars fans have the best experience possible when attending games.

To current students hoping to go into a sports related career, Alex recommends pursuing as many volunteer opportunities and internships as possible in order to gain experience and make connections. She also says that students should be aware that in most cases, you have to work your way up and that not only should you take jobs that are different from where you ultimately want to be, but you need to do your best in those early jobs.

So, be sure to keep an eye out for Alex the next time you’re at a Jags game!

Michael James ’02 It will come as no surprise to anyone who taught or went to school with Michael James ’02 that the passion and joy with which he approached solving complicated problems as a student has continued into his career. He was described as one of the most dedicated scholars that St. Johns has ever seen, and yet also “the ubiquitous school supporter, the irrepressible fan, an eloquent advocate and munificent friend.” Even with all those accolades, Michael is humble, generous, and never self-aggrandizing.

Starting St. Johns as a Kindergartner, Michael says he truly believes that St. Johns is a “family” and feels thankful for the “opportunity to meet and grow with people, to share experiences and to have a tight-knit community that does indeed feel like a family.”

Michael worked diligently on creating a school experience for himself that was challenging and rigorous. Each year in Upper School, he would sit down with Mr. Rod Cox over the summer to look over the schedule and figure out creative ways to get the classes he wanted in order to be able to squeeze the most out of his Upper School experience. Michael says that through that experience, he learned “the easiest way to convince people to do things differently is to convey the genuine passion you have and tireless effort you’ll expend to turn a complaint into a positive business outcome for the organization.”

During the summer, Michael would attend various university summer programs. He was the first St. Johns student to take the AP test in all three languages offered - French, Latin, and Spanish. To date, only one other student has achieved this linguistic feat. He has fond memories of the Latin Forum trips and remembers Miss Perkins demanding nothing but the best in both the classroom and in extracurricular pursuits.

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Alumni Profiles

One of Michael’s fondest and more formative St. Johns memories is not exactly the most pleasant. He was on the varsity basketball team his senior year and while “on the surface, the 0-18 campaign might seem eminently forgettable, there was a streak of defiance in that group that I loved.” During a game against Arlington Country Day, St. Johns was down about 60 points at the half. The other team’s athletic director said that St. Johns was being “embarrassed” and they should play the second half with a running clock. But the Spartans didn’t want any pity or hand outs and continued to play their hearts out. Michael says it was easily his favorite team ever. He believes that “sports have a tremendous capacity to transcend differences and bring people together” which ignited a passion in him that he would come to realize after college.

All of his hard work at St. Johns paid off and he went on to Harvard to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. “But it should really say Journalism, as I spent more than a full-time job’s worth of hours each week at the school newspaper” he says. In his junior year at Harvard he had an internship with the National Football League (NFL). It got him thinking about a career in sports. But after graduating from Harvard Magna Cum Laude in 2006, he followed the path of many of his classmates and spent a few years getting worked to death in private equity in New York City.

Then he decided to pursue his passion. Michael went to work for the NFL on the Collective Bargaining Agreement. From there he moved to the National Basketball Association where he works in a very unique role as the Associate Vice President of Team Marketing and Business Operations Strategy and Analytics Team Lead. For the past seven years, “I’ve spent my days helping our 30 NBA teams solve business problems through a strategic lens, leveraging an analytical toolset.” He believes that the tools that he learned at St. Johns have helped him immensely in his current position. “One tool that really stands out to me is the necessary relationship between boldness, even borderline brashness, and uncompromisingly hard work.”

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He has little esteem for “this is how we’ve always done it” and is constantly challenging the system to try to find new and innovative ways to solve problems. He loves the role that the NBA plays in promoting fitness through basketball and continuing those wellness pursuits into adulthood and beyond.

All in all, Michael’s story is a tremendous example for current St. Johns students: Fully engage in everything you do. Pursue your passions. Don’t be afraid to push the envelope and try new things. All great advice that any of us could live by.

Carson Pickett ’12 Arguably St. Johns most successful professional athlete, Carson Pickett ’12 has already traveled the world, played on three different professional soccer teams, and been featured in countless news stories. Being selected as the fourth overall draft pick in the National Women’s Soccer League in 2016 reflects Carson’s standing as one of the best female soccer players in the United States. And yet, with all that success, Carson remains a St. Johns girl at heart.

While soccer is a huge part of her life story, her St. Johns story paints a much broader picture of a smart, hard working, creative, and compassionate young woman. Teachers and coaches tell countless stories of her courage and kindness. Carson is remembered as always standing up for the underdog, defending a student who was being picked on, and befriending students who felt like they didn’t belong. She was known for her merciless work ethic, eschewing all excuses, and offering tireless effort and support to any-

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one in need. That compassion and dedication seems to be innate in her character, but her physical challenges of being born without a left forearm have strengthened and solidified those traits within her. Carson has mentioned in interviews that she was grateful for the St. Johns “bubble” that is sometimes talked about. At St. Johns, Carson didn’t have to explain her arm to her classmates or worry about receiving stares. She tirelessly worked and achieved success in the classroom, on the tennis courts, on the track, in the pool, and of course on the soccer fields, and she was liked and respected for all of these things.

After graduating from St. Johns in 2012, Carson went on to play soccer at Florida State University where she was a 4 year starting defender and helped lead the team to its first NCAA Championship in 2014. She was drafted by the Seattle Reign, then was loaned to the Brisbane Roar in Australia for the 2017 - 2018 season. This spring she began playing a little closer to home for the Orlando Pride, where our local Spartans will look forward to seeing her live in action a little more often!

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Alumni Notes

Alumni Notes 1960s

▲ Arthur Lyle ’69 recently attended a Varsity Baseball game at St. Johns. He had not been on campus for over 40 years and said that he was impressed and overwhelmed by the changes. “All the woods that used to have those big garden spider webs across some of the trails up to the ‘upper field’ are used up by all the expansion...It is all so beautiful! I was particularly surprised to see the St Johns Crew building. We did not have all those different sports. It was great to be there and see all the growth that St Johns has been able to put together.”

1970s Jim Townsend ’75, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European Policy and NATO was honored at a ceremony at the Romanian Embassy in Washington D.C. where the Romanian Ambassador bestowed on Townsend the most prestigious distinction of the Romanian State.

“We thank Jim Townsend for his outstanding dedication and extraordinary effort to Romanian-American relations.” said Romanian Ambassador George Cristian Maior. Jim was also awarded The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 3rd Class from the President of the Republic of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid.

1980s ▼ Still young at heart, some members of the classes of 1983 and 1984 visited Disney World together. Allison Brundick Crutchfield ’84, Tara Lusk Kivett ’84, Dr. Vanessa Bowles Beasley ’84, Sandy Ellmaker Dinkins ’84, Michael Crawford ’84, and Nancy Wooden Moodie ’83.

▲ Cindy Huckins Archibald Purcell ’64 is the president of Huckins Yacht Corp. and recently celebrated the 90th anniversary of the company that was co-founded by her grandfather, Frank Huckins. The weekend celebration included an overnight party with more than 15 Huckins’ Yacht owners on Black Creek and then a dinner party at the Huckins plant off Lakeshore Drive.

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1990s Christie West Hanson ’91 and her company, Vendetta Music Group was mentioned in a Forbes Magazine article about the Harvard Music Entrepreneur Conference where she will be one of the featured speakers.

Amy Collins ’94 recently took a job as Development Director for WRBH Reading Radio for the Blind and Print Impaired in New Orleans, LA. Amy will also continue her work as a freelance writer and building her “small fiction empire.”

2000s Davey Wood ’06 recently went to work as a recruitment consultant for Spencer Ogden, a global energy, engineering and infrastructure recruiter based in Orlando.

Kate Heller Jolley ’06 was selected by the Jacksonville Business Journal for their 40 Under 40 list for her business success, leadership skills, and community involvement. She also came by St. Johns and spoke during our Career Fair presentations. It was so great for our students to hear from one of our own alumni!

Sam Booth ’09 graduated from FSU with two bachelor’s degrees in 2014, one in Environmental Studies and the other in Geography. He graduated with a Master of Science in Geographic Information

Alumni Notes Science (GIS) also from FSU. He has worked at the Florida Department of Elder Affairs as an intern creating maps for their statewide healthcare programs, as a contractor working at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP); and he was an Environmental Specialist managing cleanup sites in FDEP’s Petroleum Restoration Program.

He recently started a new job here in Jacksonville at LG2 Environmental Solutions, Inc. as Environmental Scientist/ GIS Specialist where he will be working on a range of projects including GIS/mapping projects, wildlife surveys, wetland studies, environmental site assessments, wildlife relocations, and several state/federal environmental projects. He works with Ethan Bright ’09.

▲ Jessica Tuohey Pezzotti ’05 was recently chosen as a 2018 Fellow for the Tory Burch Foundation. The 1- year Fellowship includes: 3-Day Workshop at Tory Burch, a $10K Grant for Business Education, and the opportunity to pitch for a $100,000 grant investment. Jessica is the Founder & CEO of Custom Beer Handles, a tap handle manufacturing company for the craft beer & beverage industry.

2010s

▲ Austin Franklin ’12 was back on campus to speak to the Upper School about the power of a positive attitude and taking challenges and turning them into opportunities. He discussed his new book, Wake, Rise and Smile: Four True Stories and One Remarkable Idea Which Encourage Us to Rise Above Life’s Disadvantages, and signed copies of the book for students and faculty afterwards. ▲ Ethan Bright ’09 married Erica Wood in April. His sister Ellie Bright ’14 was one of the bridesmaids and Jackson Gardner ’09 and Alex Wester ’08 were groomsmen.

Attendees included Matt Gray ’09, Jack Moran ’09, Matthew Korahais ’18, Chloe Davis ’20, and Ali Korahais ’20.

After playing for the professional soccer team the Brisbane Roar in Australia, Carson Pickett ’12 was named as a Defender on the W-League Team of the Season by Professional Footballers Australia. She will continue playing soccer professionally a little closer to home, for the Orlando Pride.

▲ Jordan Robbins ’10 married Kevin Rechcigl in May. Wedding party members included Philip Robbins ’08, Parker Robbins ’20, Caroline Robbins ’13, and Marit Evans ’10. Other St. Johns family included former student Marleigh Gibbs Gulliford, Alumni Walker Mason ’08, Georgia Libert Mason ’08, Amy Cowie Buckley ’09, Bonner Jones ’09, Brooke Butterworth Bloch ’10, Lucy Bolt ’10, Emily Wood Meagher ’10, Natalie Shaykh ’13, current students Diana Shaykh ’19, Jackson Powers ’20, and Alexa Radford ’21. Jordan also came and spoke during St. Johns’ Career Fair this spring and shared about her work as a fundraiser for the American Lung Association.

J.P. Steinmetz ’12 finished his first year of law school at Stetson University College of Law. This summer he is interning at a transactional law firm in downtown Jacksonville.

Alex Herndon ’11 and Sean Bowles ’11 recently got engaged and are planning a December wedding.

Austin Engelbrecht ’12 is in law school at Florida State University College of Law. This summer he is a Summer Law Clerk at the Wicker Smith law firm.

Caroline Weber ’12 is in law school at the University of Mississippi and is a Summer Associate at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

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Alumni Notes Natalie Torres ’13 works as a Legal Assistant for the Detained Children’s Program at Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition. She graduated from Harvard University in 2017 with a B.A. in Social Studies with a minor in Latino Studies and a focus field in Inequality, Social Structure, and Culture in America. She was on the Senior Class Executive Committee, a member of the Crimson Key Society, and a design editor for the Harvard newspaper.

▲ Megan Rogers ’14 graduated from the United States Naval Academy. Members of the St. Johns family in attendance included her brother, Nick Rogers ’19, her first grader, Brady Bridger ’25 and his family, and former headmaster Ed Ellison, himself a former Marine. Megan will report to Quantico, VA for United States Marine Corps basic school and then will go to Pensacola for flight school.

Sarah Nguyentran ’14 graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Entomology. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Public Health also from the University of Florida.

and infection control. While at USF, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, the Pre-Med American Medical Student Association, the USF Cheerleader Appearance Team, and the Order of Omega Greek Leadership Honor Society. In addition to holding leadership positions in Tri Delta, she also volunteered at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge on campus. She plans to continue at USF in the Medical Masters program this fall, and will begin assisting in one of USF’s research labs this summer.

Kirby Powers ’15 was selected as one of the “25 under 25” for the Muma College of Business at University of South Florida.

She is a USF track and field student athlete and maintains a 4.0 GPA. She twice has been named to the All-Academic list of the American Athletic Conference and will graduate in December with a bachelor’s degree in management. Kirby is an intern at Investors Title and Settlement Services, working with both banking and real estate officials. She also participates in a mentoring program that helps college athletes transition from campus life into careers and volunteers with the Paralympic Sports Club of Tampa Bay. Scott Goldstein ’15 interned on the show At Home with Amy Sedaris in the summer of 2017 and returned to New York City this summer to work on the show, this time as an Art Production Assistant.

Jackson Connor ’15 is studying marketing with a concentration in sports management and works with the football team at the University of South Florida in recruiting and administration.

▲ Raquel Sanford ’14 graduated in May from the University of South Florida Honors College with the degree of bachelor of science with a major in biomedical sciences, and minors in biomedical physics

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Parker Bryant ’15 interned this summer at Marineland in the Education Department and worked with the summer camp programs on conservation and environmental issues.

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▲ Merrick Isley ’14 graduated May 23, 2018 from the US Air Force Academy as a Distinguished Graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was selected to attend ENJJPT (Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training). Merrick finished 39 of 984 in his class. He was a Distinguished Graduate, Captain of USAFA’s soaring aerobic team and received The Leroy Homer Award from his squadron as the most outstanding cadet. Leroy Homer was a 1987 USAF graduate who was one of the pilots who died on September 11, 2001.

Hailey Buerger ’15 interned with a sports marketing agency in Tampa this summer working with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Rays. They sent her to Cannes, France for the 2018 Cannes Film Festival to network and work on an ad campaign for the agency.

▲ Katie Gordon ’17 worked in a paid research position this summer in the Materials Science NanoNYC REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, in the Chemistry department at Columbia University. She learned common synthetic chemistry techniques, including synthesis of nanocrystals and how to characterize them.

Libby Coen ’17 is on the Cross Country team at Florida State University.

Alumni Notes

Spring Fling 2018 As the sun set one Friday evening in April, the lights sparkled in the trees and the St. Johns family gathered from near and far to celebrate. Current and former faculty and alumni ranging from the class ’62 to the class of ’17 visited with each other retelling old stories and hearing new ones, and everyone sat around tables on the deck enjoying the music provided by DJ Grover Howard.

Mary Virginia Fisher started the presentations with a funny but touching tribute to Mary Helen Cauthen and her 29 years of service to St. Johns. Mike Hilliard proved that he may have missed his calling as a stand up comedian when he had everyone laughing about stories of “Howard” as he calls him, our favorite DJ, Math and Computer Science expert, Grover Howard, who is retiring after 30 years at St. Johns.

Finally, Todd Zehner ’87 presented the Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award to Dr. Vanessa Bowles Beasley ’84 for her continued dedication to education and her remarkable career in academia. Vanessa is currently a tenured professor as well as the Dean

of the Martha Rivers Ingram Commons at Vanderbilt University.

Every year people say that Spring Fling is their favorite event of the year. If you haven’t come before, please try to join us next year. We would love to see you!

This year, St. Johns is proud to celebrate the 65th anniversary of its founding.

The very first opening exercises took place at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, September 14, 1953 at the school’s first, temporary location at the corner of Highway 17 and Kingsley Avenue. From these beginnings, the school we know and love has grown and today we are proud to have nearly 2,200 alumni around the nation and across the globe.

Please make plans to join us as we celebrate the history­­— and the future — of our great school at Founders Day, Friday, September 14, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Come back, take a tour, and rejoin your St. Johns family as we celebrate the many accomplishments of our alumni, students, and school.

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Alumni Notes Memories of Rabun Calhoun Chappell April 1917 – January 2018

By Calhoun Chappell ’70

I didn’t just love her; I liked her, too. How could I not? No matter what my age was, she respected me for myself. The same was true of her other students, and that high regard made growing up so much easier for me and my two brothers. That’s because all three of us went to St. Johns, and we were among the many students who were privileged to call her their teacher. But my brothers and I were even more fortunate than most St. Johns students, because Rabun Calhoun Chappell also was our mother.

Make no mistake: she meant business, and she didn’t tolerate any foolishness. Every year, she told her seventh and eighth grade students that she would catch on quickly to any mischief they’d make, because she’d made the same sort of mischief when she was their age. Her students took heed, and there were no shenanigans in her class.

But there *was* a lot of learning going on and even today, some 50 years later, those lessons are remembered. One of my oldest friends at St. Johns, recently said to me, “Calhoun, your mother taught me to LOVE reading!”

But there was so much more to my mother than her no-nonsense attitude and gift for teaching. Her loves included her family, philosophy, current events, traveling, music, and sports of all kinds — especially

tennis, which she took up after she retired from teaching. She was also very giving of her time and other resources, whether to her local Methodist church, to community affairs or to PEO, a philanthropic organization that supports the efforts of women to fulfill their potential.

She also had a wicked sense of humor. She was quick to remind her sons that “growing old is not for sissies.” And during her late-in-life tennis-playing years, she would show up on the court wearing a shirt emblazoned with one of her favorite sayings: “Age and treachery will always win over youth and skill.” Needless to say, younger players proved her right, to her considerable delight.

She and my father showed us the importance of education, manners, art, theater, architecture, history, the sciences and the importance of appreciating those who are different from ourselves. And her sense of humor remained with her until the very end: a manager at her retirement community told my family that even the afternoon before her death, “Mrs. Chappell had the entire staff in stitches” laughing with her.

What a wonderful mother, teacher, giver and — above all — lady she was. Her family loved her, her friends loved her, and her students and associates loved her. And we all miss her.

In Memoriam Alumnus Gary “Bill” Furnish ’05 in December.

Rabun Chappell, longtime English teacher and mother of Stan Chappell ’67, Calhoun Chappell ’70, and John Chappell ’71.

William “Billy” Sladek ’85, brother of Nonie Sladek Larson ’84 in February.

Charter student in the very first grade 8 class at St. Johns, Carolyn Taylor Adams Gilbert, daughter of Helen Brown Adams, who hosted the first interest meeting about St. Johns on April 4, 1952.

Dale Eggers, former Varsity Basketball coach, member of the St. Johns Board of Trustees, and father of Rory Eggers ’87 and Kyle Eggers ’89.

Ginger Sapp, mother of former student Judson Sapp and Jennifer Sapp ’90.

Anthony Franklin, father of Austin Franklin ’12.

Pamela Wright Lusk, mother of Tara Lusk Kivett ’84.

Walter John Parks III, father of Walter Parks ’76.

Betty G. Armstrong, mother of Paula and Paul Armstrong ’71.

Rabun Chappell, center, with Ed Heinrich, left, Betty Osborne (right), and (front row) Dot Heinrich and Helen Palmer.

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S T. J O H N S C O U N T R Y D AY S C H O O L M A G A Z I N E

Alumni, please send your updates for Alumni Notes to Director of Alumni Relations Gayle Garrison at ggarrison@sjcds.net.

SUMMER 2018

Published by: St. Johns Country Day School Mail: 3100 Doctors Lake Drive

Orange Park, FL 32073-6997 Phone: (904) 264-9572 Email: info@sjcds.net Web: sjcds.net Acting Head of School: Mary Virginia Fisher mvfisher@sjcds.net Director of Alumni Relations: Gayle Simpson Garrison ’94 ggarrison@sjcds.net Director of Communications: Regan Minners rminners@sjcds.net

Thank you to the 2017-2018 Board of Trustees Officers: Tanya Powers, President Rick Gregson, Vice President Andrew L. Glassman, Treasurer Angela DeMonbreun, Secretary Members: Dr. Mark A. Dobbertien Gerri Duffey Lewis “Four” Dunton, IV ’97 Margaret Rood Gibbs Daniel W. Hodges Dr. Carissa J. Kostecki John B. Linge, Jr. Marla Matson-Quattrone Robin McMullen Jonathan C. Montgomery, Immediate Past President Dr. Arjav Ted Shah Michael R. Spigel Richard C. M. Wilson

Trustee Emeritus: Dr. Steven B. Kailes Robert Liguori Sharon J. Suggs Headmaster Emeritus: Stephen F. Russey Ex Officio: Todd A. Zehner, ’87

Save the Date!

Contact Director of Alumni Relations Gayle Garrison at ggarrison@sjcds.net for more information on these upcoming events: ◆◆ Founders Day: Friday, September 14, 2018. Please join us as we honor the 65th anniversary of the founding of St. Johns. ◆◆ Homecoming Tailgate Party & Football Game, Friday, October 26, 2018: Come “back home” to St. Johns and join us for a classic Homecoming Tailgate Party.

St. Johns Country Day School 3100 Doctors Lake Drive Orange Park, FL 32073-6997

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ORANGE PARK, FL NON-PROFIT CORP. PERMIT NO. 58

This photo, “Sundae Fun Day,” by Matt Drake ’18, was the winner of the 2018 Chalice yearbook staff annual photo contest. Congratulations, Matt!

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