St. Mary's Magazine Fall 2024

Windswept Adventures and Literary Evenings

Shari Ray, Chair of the English Department

Ireland in the springtime is windy and wild and green and utterly magnificent.

On our first afternoon, our small company stood twenty-one strong atop the grand Cliffs of Moher where we hiked for several miles along slim edges of the world. Later, on the Isle of Inishmore, we perched like Celtic defenders at the edge of a 300-foot cliff at Dun Aonghasa, a prehistoric stone fort dating from 1500 BC, and a few days after that we danced in the rain in Derry at the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Each evening we ate our dinners together reading the poetry of Yeats and Heaney and Joyce. Traveling with students is a pleasure like none other—their eagerness to learn and love a new place reminds me of why I began teaching in the first place.

The Global Education Department offers adventures of a lifetime for students.

Each year, our Middle and Upper School students embark on incredible travel experiences, exploring international or domestic destinations. Girls are immersed in the rich history and vibrant culture of each location through curated and unforgettable journeys.

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St. Mary’s Scores with Lower School Sports Expansion 10 Morgan Beckford ’06 Returns to St. Mary’s to Make Some Noise 14 Cong ratulations to the Class of 2024

The Power of Questions

Campus News

Meet our New Trustees

Sneaker Soiree

42 Paws & Purpose: Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86 Named Outstanding Alumna

Alumnae Weekend 64

Classnotes & Milestones

On the cover: Isabella Cheng ’33 is one of 70 girls on the Lower School Swim Team.

Director of Communication

Jennifer Parris

Communication Manager

Sarah Walker ’16

Communication Advisor

Whitney Plumpton P’34’36

Social Media Coordinator

Grace Sammarco ’18

Contributors

Julie Bielskis ’89, Piper Gray ’04, Cam Hart ’23, Jeff Hulett, Shari Ray, Ainsley Willis

Design

Rachel Gabrielleschi

Photography

Wendy Adams P’25, Lisa Buser P’14, Brandon Dill

Class Notes Editor

Courtney Taylor Humphreys ’01 P’32’34

Director of Admission & Financial Aid

Nicole Hernandez P’26’27’33

Director of Philanthropy

Carrie Vaughan P’20

Director of Annual Giving

Emily Tipton P’38

Alumnae Relations Manager

Gigi Gould ’70

St. Mary’s Communication Department communications@stmarysschool.org | 901.537.1426

St. Mary’s Episcopal School 60 Perkins Extended Memphis, TN 38117 stmarysschool.org

our mission

St. Mary’s Episcopal School provides an unparalleled educational experience that challenges and supports each girl as she discovers her unique purpose and reaches her individual potential.

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Albert L. Throckmorton BOARD

OF TRUSTEES

Susan Whitten Graber ’86, Chair

James H. Barton, Jr. P’25, Vice Chair

Joelle Rogin P’25’27, Treasurer

Anne-Morgan Brookfield Morgan ’99 P’29’32, Secretary

Jeffrey Block P’24’26

Susan Roberts Colpitts ’75

Mikara Davis

Amina Dilawari ’95 P’34 ’36

Michele Ehrhart P’27

Dorcas Young Griffin P’18

James R. Jenkins P’25

Lawrence Jensen P’05’10 G’32’34’36’38

Roberta Kustoff P’24

Hallie Dinkelspiel Label ’94

Frances Kirkland Lawhead P’30’31

Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86 P’18’27

Bethany Mays Owen ’93

Lisa Breazeale Roberts ’85 P’12’18

Jennilyn Jennings Utkov ’77

David Visinsky P’26’29

Hunter Witherington P’27 ’28

At Large Members

Linda McNeil

Ex Officio Members

Timothy E. Davis, Jr., Past Board Chair

The Right Reverend Phoebe Roaf

Bishop,The Diocese of West Tennessee

The Reverend Alexander H. Webb II Rector, Church of the Holy Communion

Richard Williamson, Senior Warden, Church of the Holy Communion

Albert L. Throckmorton, Head of School

Trustees Emeriti

Thomas M. Garrott III P’83’88 G’08’09’15’22*

Barbara R. Hyde P’17

Brooke A. Morrow ’74

Michael D. Rose P’95*

Bill Vaughan, Jr. P’86’88 G’18’27

*Deceased

ALUMNAE BOARD

Emma Less ’13, President

Elizabeth Middlecoff Allen ’91

Morgan Beckford ’06

Jenay Gipson Boggs ’06

Lynn Bledsoe Buhler ’67

Clare Levy Clarke ’97

Elizabeth Cashman Dickinson ’86

Elizabeth Brown Dunn ’79

Lida Kruchten Ewald ’13

Courtney Ellis Felts ’96

Gigi Gould ’70

Kristen Thompson Keegan ’90

Angela King Keesee ’72

Sharlene Sudhu Keithley ’96

Polly Klyce Pennoyer ’02

Kate Smith Mallory ’07

Anne Taylor Tipton Manning ’03

Kelly McCracken ’84

Allison Keltner Musick ’93

Lauren Pate ’12

Jekka Ashman Pinckney ’78

Patti Person Ray ’65

Helene Norcross Rayder ’80

Amy Reinhardt Robinson ’00

Jennifer Jones Savage ’99

Jordan Upton Schieffler ’12

Katherine Fockler Steele ’06

Patricia Hood Thomas ’90

Austin Hasenmueller Topham ’12

Ex Officio Members

Gigi Gould ’70, Alumnae Relations Manager

Albert L. Throckmorton, Head of School

Dear Friends,

The end of a school year provides a brief moment to consider what we have accomplished and ask: How? Why? What next? Reflecting on the numerous year-end events I’ve attended, a recurring theme emerges: “St. Mary’s begins with the end in mind.” St. Mary’s Place begins with foundational skills that shape the academic path of our seniors. The activities of August shape the community we become over the course of a school year.

Beginning with the end in mind permeates every aspect of our work and requires us to be inquisitive, always asking the right questions. This spirit of curiosity has led us to where we are today — a 177-year-old leader in girls’ education.

This year, our board and administration embarked on a significant journey-the strategic visioning and accreditation process. These two activities are not just tasks but essential tools that underscore our commitment to accountability and growth. They provide us with the opportunity to renew our curiosity and evaluate the outcomes. At the governance level, our trustees strive to be “good ancestors” for future generations, “planting trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” This strategic foresight is what engages us and propels us towards our vision of educational excellence.

As we begin to envision the next steps for St. Mary’s, we can see the fruits of work nearly a decade ago. Knowing that new athletic facilities and expanded student programming were overdue, we began with that same curiosity and responsibility. I remember asking parents about their expectations, and the most common reply was, “Why shouldn’t every aspect of St. Mary’s have the same level of excellence as academics?” This is a testament to the shared responsibility and vision of our community. We now see the benefits of that curiosity and are thriving from that purposeful planning.

As you will read in this magazine, our athletic opportunities have extended to include students as early as the first grade, and new programs and facilities have conditioned our student-athletes for success. Our Athletic and Wellness Center, with the new Southard turf field and track, provides the environment for health, growth, nutrition, and competition. The year the facility opened St. Mary’s won the state championship in lacrosse. Similarly, in our first year of partnership with the new Leftwich Tennis Center, we concluded our tennis season with a championship-winning home match against Harpeth Hall.

Winning isn’t everything, but thriving is. Accordingly, our new strategic vision directs us toward excellence, student well-being, and financial sustainability. The health of mind and soul and body is not only a prayer but a model of interdependency. We see how students first see their potential and explore their purpose as they pursue opportunities in athletics, global travel, music theater, and community service. Girls often deepen this discovery as they meet the alumnae who return to campus and share how they discovered their life purpose with us.

Finally, all these pieces fit together to fulfill our mission of providing unparalleled education and continuing to challenge and support each girl in discovering her purpose and reaching her potential. With that end in mind, we celebrate the end of another school year and look with hope toward the next.

Light and Life,

Albert L. Throckmorton Head of School

In August, Francis ’31 and Anna Reed ’32 Holman joined St. Mary’s Lower School cross country. By October, the sisters were competing in the state meet.

While the sisters enjoyed recognition for their performances and set personal records, their mom, Mary Helen Holman, says cross country served as a meaningful entry point into St. Mary’s athletics and

St. Mary’s SCORES BIG with Lower School Sports Expansion

an opportunity for their family to connect more deeply with the school community

“I will brag on the coaches because I believe that all the girls felt encouraged,” Holman said. “In Chapel each week, Coach [Mickey] Pitts recognized girls for their personal best record, which is a great way to look at the sport of cross country. It’s not about who wins; it’s about improving.”

Francis ’31 and Anna Reed ’32 Holman with Coach Mickey Pitts at the state cross country meet.

The Holman sisters now have their sights on soccer and basketball for next season as well, and their parents will be cheering them on alongside other Turkey parents.

“My girls enjoyed being with their friends, and cross country meets were a great time to see other parents, too,” Holman said. “We’d stand shoulder to shoulder at the finish line cheering for all the girls.”

Five years ago, St. Mary’s intentionally began growing Lower School athletic offerings to provide students with new extracurricular opportunities and strengthen community engagement.

The swim team is open to students starting in first grade while the lacrosse and cross-country teams are open to students beginning in third grade. As fifth graders, girls also have the opportunity to try out for the Middle School golf, soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams.

During the 2023-24 school year, more than half of Lower School students, 115 in total, participated in Turkey athletics.

The program is delivering positive results. For young girls, early exposure to team sports cultivates athletic skills and instills the lifelong values of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline. The program also establishes a pipeline for Middle School sports teams, ensuring a seamless transition as students move to South Campus. Additionally, through the Lower School athletics programs, Upper School students serve as coaches and learn to lead and mentor the younger athletes.

Ultimately, the program fosters community engagement, drawing families together in support of St. Mary’s athletic teams and building a sense of unity and pride that resonates beyond the confines of the school grounds.

Early exposure to team sports cultivates athletic skills and instills the lifelong values of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline.

Beginning in third grade, students can join the cross country team.

“With the campuses being physically divided, it’s always great to see all the kids together. I just love seeing the little ones look up to the Upper School students,” Assistant Athletic Director Kendall Visinsky said.

Students Become Teachers and Coaches

Caroline Garrett ’24, a varsity swim team member, says she loves serving as one of the coaches for the Lower School swim team. While the season is short, with just two meets in February and March, the younger swimmers’ progress is incredible. Garrett primarily works with first graders, focusing on strokes, diving, and relays, but she says the students learn more than swimming.

Each swim meet requires about 15 volunteers, and the Middle and Upper School swim team members are eager to help.

“I think the program has bridged the campuses in such a sweet way,” Garrett said. “To see the different grades interacting and rooting for each other is so special.”

Visinsky, who also coaches the Lower School Swim Team, says older students become stronger athletes when they coach younger children.

“We’ve noticed that as our older girls serve as coaches, they grow more aware of what makes athletes successful,” she said. “They refine their technical skills, learn to communicate more effectively with their teammates, and perform better under pressure.”

At Visinksy’s request, St. Mary’s alumna Kiara Norris ’18 also joined the coaching roster. Norris swam at Fordham University, earning a degree in political science and a minor in Mandarin Chinese. After college, Norris continued her passion for the sport by starting a swimming program at the school where she taught. She now works for the YMCA of Memphis.

Assistant Athletic Director Kendall Visinsky and Kiara Norris ‘18 coach girls to try their best each time they get in the pool.

As a St. Mary’s Swim Coach, Norris loves the rewarding feeling of giving back to her alma mater. “We teach the girls it’s important to try each time they get in the pool, and we always have fun!”

She added, “I love that there are so many Lower School athletic teams for SMS girls now.”

Coming back to campus, Norris was amazed by the Athletic and Wellness Center. “The new facilities at St. Mary’s were under construction when I was still a student, and when I finally saw them, they were as impressive as the facilities at Fordham University,” Norris said.

Increasing Athletic Opportunities for Young Athletes

Investments in the Lower School athletics program have benefited the SMS community and created more opportunities for young athletes in the Memphis area.

Five years ago, when Director of Athletics John Bartholomew started coaching Lower School lacrosse, the Turkeys competed against themselves. Now, nine schools have joined the league, and St. Mary’s is proud to host several

Saturday matches during the spring season. St. Mary’s coaches have advised other local independent schools as they’ve built their own elementary lacrosse programs.

“It has paid dividends for the whole city with upwards of 200 kids playing in grades three through five,” Bartholomew said.

Visinsky also led efforts to create swim team opportunities for local elementary students. She organized and ran a league for students from St. Mary’s and more than 15 local schools. COVID-19 and limited pool space in Memphis caused the league to scale back.

Visinsky found that she had enough Turkey swimmers to

St. Mary’s hosted a series of elementary lacrosse games on Southard Field this spring for local independent schools.

run a program just for St. Mary’s girls. This year, nearly 70 students participated in friendly competitions with their classmates.

St. Mary’s also partners with the Church of the Holy Communion (CHC) by sharing McNeill Gymnasium and Southard Field. This partnership has made both organizations strategic with their athletic offerings. Many Lower School students participate in CHC soccer and basketball leagues, while St. Mary’s offers lacrosse, swimming, and cross country. It’s a win-win for both organizations.

Bartholomew also sees how the expansion fosters a strong sense of belonging and enthusiasm within the community.

“Growing school pride was a huge element of our plan,” said Bartholomew. “Now Lower School girls get to be Turkey athletes before they reach Middle School, and girls and their families feel even more connected to the school and community.”

The proof of the program’s positive impact on Middle School athletics is visible through the seven of 14 teams that brought home Shelby County championships.

As a member of the Middle School cross country, track and field, lacrosse, and basketball teams, Ella Federico ’29 appreciates the opportunities she had to learn about different sports in Lower School. There, she discovered her love of lacrosse.

Federico said, “Lacrosse is a very technical sport. Playing on a Lower School team allowed me to develop skills I’ve used

in Middle School.”

Sarah Taylor Stout ’29, a former Lower School cross country athlete, says these teams taught her to “practice determination and hard work” while giving her “a glimpse of what it feels like to compete in a meet and be part of a team.”

In Middle School, Stout was part of the cross country,

So many Lower School girls, like Mary Knight ’32 and Lila Jensen ’34, were interested in Turkey Swimming, that the school hosted its own program. This year, nearly 70 students participated in friendly competitions with their classmates.

Lower School student-athletes like Olivia Cardenas ‘32 are building school spirit and strong community bonds long before they enter the athletic program in Middle School.

basketball, and track teams. Stout points out the people who make each season memorable.

“We are so blessed to have amazing coaches. They are so supportive, great role models, and they always give great advice on how to improve,” Stout said. “I also love my teammates. They make sports so much more fun. When I’m having a rough day or we are having a hard practice, they get me through it with smiles, hugs, and positive attitudes.”

“Now Lower School girls get to be Turkey athletes before they reach Middle School, and girls and their families feel even more connected to the school and community.”

John Bartholomew, Director of Athletics

Federico agrees. “The coaches at St. Mary’s are such good role models and have taught me to have grit and push harder,” she said.

Jenna and Mitch Bartkiewicz couldn’t wait to be part of the Turkey athletics program. With three daughters in the Early Childhood program, they still have a few more years before all their girls can participate. So the couple, who are former teachers and college swimmers, decided to coach the Lower School swim and cross country teams.

“It was Mitch’s idea,” said Jenna Bartkiewicz. “He really wanted to launch a triathlon team, so Coach B asked us to coach cross country and swim.”

And the Bartkiewiczs see the progress girls make throughout the season. “It’s more about participation and personal growth than anything,” said Mitch. “One time, the Upper School cross country team was outside doing church hills [running the incline in front of the Church of the Holy Communion]. I saw the little ones looking on in awe, making the connection that could be them one day,” said Mitch.

Jenna can’t wait for next season to watch her children grow at St. Mary’s.

“This is our first year at St. Mary’s, and we love it,” she said. “You know you’ve chosen the right school for your kids when they ask about when they go back during spring break.”

The Lower School lacrosse team is open to girls in third through fifth grade. The team is a great way for student athletes, like Penny Cardenas ’32, to learn technique and form in a fun environment.

During the 2023-24 school year, more than half of all Lower School students, 115 in total, participated in Turkey athletics.

Full Circle Coaching

Josie Block ’24 grew up around lacrosse, both playing and watching her dad coach. Jeffrey Block just finished his 21st year coaching the 7th and 8th grade teams at Memphis University School.

“I have learned how to cheer louder and be more willing to push myself on the field even if I make mistakes.”

Josie Block ’24, Lower School Lacrosse Coach

“I have watched him for years coach a sport that he loves,” Block said. “To be able to coach the 3rd-5th grade teams this year has been a full-circle moment for me.”

Block knows the impact older players can have. “When I was in fifth grade, I thoroughly enjoyed the

days when the high school girls would come to practice and spread their love and appreciation of the sport,” she remarked.

As a result, coaching younger athletes has changed how Block plays the game when the varsity team takes the field.

“I have learned how to cheer louder and be more willing to push myself on the field even if I make mistakes,” Block said. “I have also learned that practice really does lead to improvement.”

She’s proud of how far the little Turkeys have come this year. “The girls have worked so hard this season, and watching them improve and become more confident in their abilities is one of the most satisfying parts,” she observed. “I want these younger girls to love lacrosse as much as I do.”

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Morgan Beckford ’06

Morgan Beckford ’06

Returns to St. Mary’s to Make Some Noise

Morgan Beckford ’06 still remembers the fifth-grade assignment where she had to write a paper about what she wanted to be when she grew up. For Beckford, the answer was clear—she wanted to be an opera singer.

“I wrote about seeing a production of Aida and thinking that’s what I want to do,” she said.

After graduating from St. Mary’s, Beckford studied voice at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Maryland-College Park and began performing across the country as an opera singer–fulfilling the dream she had as a young

Beckford designed a curriculum highlighting works by Black composers and showcasing a repertoire often unsung and celebrating music that uplifts women.

St. Mary’s student. Beckford’s career journey brought her to Boston, where she lives and works as a nonprofit administrator and performer, and back to St. Mary’s as the 2024 Louise T. Archer ’40 Artist in Residence.

The residency program brings a nationally recognized artist to St. Mary’s to work with students every year. Beckford is excited to share the art form she fell in love with at a young age with the students at St. Mary’s.

“I spent my 15 years at St. Mary’s making all kinds of noise,” laughed Beckford. She remains grateful to her teachers, who encouraged her to explore her noisy interests, cultivate her talents, express herself, and try new things.

for activism and spreading a message,” she added.

Upper School students also learned an uplifting version of the spiritual “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” and a piece by Robles on the principles of Kwanzaa that encourages improvisation.

As part of the residency, Beckford spoke and performed in Chapel services, hosted a captivating concert for the community, and taught music classes across divisions

As part of the residency, Beckford spoke and performed in Chapel services, hosted a captivating concert for the community, and taught music classes. Beckford designed a curriculum highlighting works by Black composers and showcasing a repertoire often unsung.

“I want to introduce the girls to different types of choral music written by Black women and celebrate music that uplifts women,” she said.

In Middle and Upper School classes, Morgan shared works by notable Black female composers B. E. Boykin, Zanaida Robles, and Rosephanye Powell, including a powerful piece by Robles called “No Fairy Tale Here.” The song is inspired by the life and activism of Ida B. Wells, capturing her fury and determination to put a spotlight on the horrors of lynching through her writing.

Beckford broke down the piece with the students and examined the intricacies and intentionality of its composition. “I wanted to show them how music can be such an effective tool

“These works feature improvisation and aleatoric singing, which is when you are given the guidelines of the music, but you perform it in your own time. This provides opportunities for the girls to express themselves, step away from the notes on the page, respond to what’s happening in the room, and just make music together,” she said.

In Lower School classes, Beckford discussed the significance and tradition of spirituals, teaching students about call and response. The students practiced a call-and-response version of “Wade in the Water.”

“As I progressed in my career, it became important to me to use music to support communities rather than to perform for the sake of performance.” Morgan Beckford ’06

Through teaching and educational programming, Beckford discovered a new way to express her love for music. She serves as Silkroad Connect Director at Silkroad, a music-driven nonprofit founded by Yo-Yo Ma. She has a decade of experience in music and arts education, including roles at the Community Music Center of Boston, Memphis Music Initiative, and Opera Memphis.

Although her career has shifted, Beckford still regularly performs. She is currently a staff singer at Trinity Church Boston.

“As I progressed in my career, it became important to me to use music to support communities rather than to perform for the sake of performance,” Beckford said.

Through her various experiences, Beckford found passion in helping students learn and grow in their art by working with them to explore their interests, much like her teachers at St. Mary’s did for her.

She appreciates how Dr. Rhendle Millen (former US Band Teacher) and Julie Millen (US Choir Teacher) let her spend countless hours in their rooms honing her craft and sometimes just “making noise.”

harmonizing legacy

Family’s Gift Expands Artistic Offerings to Students

The Louise T. Archer Artist in Residence was made possible through the generosity of the Archer family in memory of alumna Louise Thompson Archer ’40.

“Music was very important to our mother and she was a big fan of opera. When I was a girl I remember how much she enjoyed listening to the live broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera every Saturday afternoon on the radio,” said Nell Archer ’79.

As a strong advocate of arts education, the Archer family wanted to provide students with opportunities to interact with artists of diverse disciplines and learn about their craft.

“Our mother would be very pleased that the residency named after her brought such a talented vocal artist and scholar to St Mary’s to share her passion and extensive knowledge of African American women composers. Morgan’s dedication to her craft and her commitment to expanding the students’ cultural awareness was a huge gift to the community,” Archer said.

The Louise T. Archer Fund is one of over 50 funds in the St. Mary’s Endowment portfolio. Each fund is established to support a donor-designated goal, and, as a result of sound investment practices, the Endowment also provides regular, annual distributions to support the school’s mission. To learn how you can make an impact at St. Mary’s, contact Director of Philanthropy Carrie Vaughan at 901-537-1424 at cvaughan@stmarysschool.org.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, 2024 Artist in Residence Morgan Beckford ’06 returned to St. Mary’s to share her passion for opera and choral music with the community

“Any chance I got, I was in the choir and band rooms. I would go to the room with one of my really good friends, who was a pianist, and we would work through sheet music from an opera aria. We also performed a few wonderfully terrible duets on tuba and baritone sax,” she said.

Now, as adults, Beckford and friend Katie Camille Friedman ’06 are intentional about finding time to make music together when they’re in the same city.

Former Director of Plays and current Director of Auxiliary Programs Jenny Madden beamed with pride when discussing her former student. “One of the highlights of being a teacher here is

watching your students share their talents,” Madden said. “Having her here for the residency was truly special.”

Beckford added, “Jenny Madden was very much a mentor to me. I always looked to her for advice and feedback. I’m so honored that she asked me to come back and be St. Mary’s Artist in Residence.”

Scan to watch Morgan’s performance at St. Mary’s.

Congratulations to

The 74 members of the Class of 2024: Earned acceptances to 179 colleges

Matriculated to 53 different colleges in 28 states and Italy

the class of 2024

88% are attending out-of-state colleges

30% are enrolled in honors colleges or special scholar programming

class of 2024

Valedictorian & Hazlehurst Gold Cross Award

Maggie Kustoff

Salutatorian & Spirit of St. Mary’s Award

Averie Howell

Honor Student

Emmie Infeld

Cathedral Award

Sydney Shanker

The Class of 2024 celebrates the conclusion of graduation.

Hats off to the grads!

The Class of 2024 cheers for each classmate, including Brie Voldeng, as she left the commencement ceremony.

class of 2024

and

Faculty and staff with their graduating daughters: Director of Counseling Amy Poag and Celia; South Campus Nurse Caroline Williams and Shelby; Director of Auxiliary Programs Jenny Madden and Chloie; Assistant Controller Katty Griffin and Clare; Head of ECC Christina Block and Josie; Chief Financial Officer Lynn Isaacs and Izzy

Board of Trustees members

their graduating daughters: Jeffrey Block and Josie; Elvira Ormseth and Erica; Roberta Kustoff and Maggie.

Tabor Novak Award

Josie Block

Ellen Feild Todd Award

Sophia Sandoval

Kennedy Graham, Saniya Young, Rian Tyler, and Adrianna Porter Meachem

class of 2024

Nurse Caroline Williams and daughter, Shelby, embrace after graduation

Alumnae mothers with their flower girl daughters: Jenny Jones Savage ’99 and Penny ’35; Abby Yandell Talbot ’03 and Winn ’36; Mary Austin Mays Smith ’03 and Phoebe Diane ’36; Laura Jennings Yacoubian ’05 and Lizzie ’36; Nicole Dennis Bremseth ’03 and Charlotte ’36; Mary Jensen Nease ’10 and Nora ’36; Lucy Foster Stevens ’10 and Mary Lane ’36; Blair Carter Tait ’03 and Mary Mason ’35; Emily Templeton Gray ’05 and Charlotte ’36; Carey Faber Campbell ’03 and Dottie ’35; Jessie Walker Wiley ’04 and Jane ’35; Lauren Anderson Stone ’01 and Mary Evelyn ’37; Audrey Bourland Hurst ’03 and Lainey ’38

Caroline Holtzclaw with her mother

Anna McQuiston ’88 and aunt Rev. Katherine McQuistion Bush ’93

Rebecca Schweitzer and her flower girl, Alaina Baker

Alumnae with their graduating sisters: Sarah and Stella Blen ’23, Anna and Katherine Harwell ’15, Anna and Lily Smith ’19, Lilly Belle and Olivia Longsworth ’21, Izzy and Laura Isaacs ’21, Lily and Maeve Karnes ’22, Clare and Caroline Griffin ’22, Ella and Lillian Curlin ’21, Shelby and Mary Caldwell Williams ’21, Kat and Emily Rogers ’21, Reeya and Sneha Sharma ’18

class of 2024

Flower girl Paxton Fairless with her senior, Anna Harwell

Bronwyn Saatkamp, Kat Rogers, Caroline Holtzclaw, Carroline Robinson, and Lauren Massey

Stella Weng peeks from behind flower girl Charlotte Bremseth and senior Zoe McMullen

All smiles waiting to process into the chapel!

Ellis Rougeou and flower girl Presley Averwater

Brie Voldeng, Julia Jabbour, Sophia Sandoval, Josie Block, Eliza Herman, and Ellie Royal pose for a selfie.

Lots of hugs for Saniya Young

Raina Becker Sarah Blen

Josie Block

Hannah Burt Khaki Callan Hannah Chatellier

Lacy FerrellCaroline GarrettLydia GlomskiKennedy GrahamClare Griffin Anna Harwell

Averie HowellEmmie Infeld

Isabel Isaacs Julia Jabbour Sophie Jordan Mary-Kate Kalodimos

Elizabeth MacQueenChloie MaddenLauren MasseyAdriana McDonald Zoe McMullen Sarah Moon

Adrianna Porter MeachemAnum RazaCarroline RobinsonKat Rogers Ellis Rougeou Ellie Royal

Reeya Sharma

Sydney Shanker

Virginia Skipworth Anna Smith Emily Smith Riley Stewart

Class of 2024

Kelsi Cowles Ella Curlin

Isabel CyriacJulianna Damron Bianca DishmonMia Engelberg

Lily Kate HeardSofie Herbstrith Eliza Herman Katie Hill Lily HirschCaroline Holtzclaw

Lily Karnes Maggie KustoffClaire Ledbetter

Alice Lee Lilly Belle LongsworthLaurel Lund

Rosamond Mullinax

Soraya NazorErica Ormseth Celia Poag Kennedy Polk

Rebecca Schweitzer

Jourdan RussellBronwyn Saatkamp

Sophia Sandoval

Mary Paige ScottBrennan Seltzer

Lillian Nazarova

Brie Voldeng

Mila SzatkowskiIzzie Tonkin Rian Tyler

Shelby WilliamsSaniya Young

Not photographed: Caroline Hunt and Scarlett Putnam

The Power of Questions Curiosity Guides Re-Accreditation Process

From the earliest stages of learning, St. Mary’s nurtures curiosity. Students are encouraged and empowered to explore, ask questions, and seek new knowledge. Asking questions fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills and empowers students to be active participants in their education.

In 2023, St. Mary’s launched a two-year re-accreditation process which led administrators, board members, faculty and staff, alumnae, and students to apply this same curiosity to planning for the future of our 177-year-old institution. The process began with reexamining the school’s mission statement, formalizing the community’s values, and updating the strategic goals. In October of 2025, a Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) accreditation team will visit campus.

2023, Mary Kavanagh Day ’82 P’23, who is a Partner with Tradewind Group, led the Board of Trustees and school administration through a brainstorming and visioning meeting using this

alma mater.

“St. Mary’s gave me the confidence to become an expert in this field and lead teams throughout the country in this process,” Day said. “I feel like I have come full circle. I am using the very skills St. Mary’s instilled in me to help give back to St. Mary’s, professionally.”

As a foundation for this planning, SAIS administered an online survey for parents, students, faculty, and staff in the spring of 2023. Then, in the fall of

our mission

St. Mary’s Episcopal School provides an unparalleled educational experience that challenges and supports each girl as she discovers her unique purpose and reaches her individual potential.

community feedback.

Day says she was honored to have the opportunity to use her professional strategic planning skills to support her

From there, a smaller working group was tasked with reviewing the school’s mission statement, creating a community values statement, and developing a strategic plan framework. Four St. Mary’s staff members, four trustees, and one former trustee began working in October and held eight 90-minute work sessions.

Monica Skipper P’21, a retired FedEx marketing and communication executive, said the group had the challenge of explaining the school’s “ineffable essence” by updating the mission statement.

“As an organization develops new offerings or grows past where they started, the ideas and words that make up its mission, value, and brand should evolve as well,” Skipper said. “Our

OUR COMMUNITY VALUES

Academic

Excellence

We encourage intellectual curiosity and spark a lifelong love of learning.

BelongingHonor

We foster an inclusive community where we value the uniqueness of each person.

strategy is: Be, Do, Say. First, know who you are. Then, ensure your actions align. Finally, communicate who you are with your stakeholders.”

The task force researched how other schools and brands have articulated their mission and decided to formalize the values St. Mary’s community members intrinsically know. By listening to constituents who consistently identified similar traits of St. Mary’s, the task force articulated five core values: academic excellence, belonging, honor, Episcopal identity, and courage.

The task force balanced the attributes that have made St. Mary’s the best school for girls in Memphis since 1847 and the qualities that keep the school on the cutting edge of education. Similar to the civil debates that enrich

We hold ourselves and each other accountable to act with strong moral and ethical character.

Episcopal Identity

We are led by God’s love to support spiritual growth and to be knowledgeable and respectful of each other's beliefs.

classroom conversations, the task force was encouraged to have candid discussions and share differing viewpoints.

Susan Whitten Graber ’86, chair of the Board of Trustees, says her role as chair of the task force was to create

Courage

We have the confidence to take risks and to persevere.

a collaborative space where all group members felt free to express their views.

“Those occasions where our opinions diverged made us look inward,” Graber said, “and led to some of the best conversations we had. The initial

differences forced us to think through why we felt a certain value or description was important to include.”

After the task force created solid drafts of the revised mission statement and community values, Day led five focus groups including students, parents, faculty and staff, and alumnae. More than 100 people

volunteered their time to offer feedback. Hilary Davis Robinson ’90, Associate Head of School, said she was impressed by how many people were eager to contribute to this process.

“It was important for us to have diverse groups so that we could understand the needs, expectations, and experiences of different segments of the school community, leading to a more comprehensive and

inclusive review process,” Robinson said. “I could see group members adopt a sense of ownership and engagement, as they saw their views and concerns being considered in shaping the school’s foundational statements.”

In May, the Board approved the revised mission statement, newly articulated community values, and the strategic plan outline. Faculty and staff members are building the tactics for the strategic plan over the summer and fall, before the final plan is shared with the community in January 2025.

strategic task force members

Nikki Davis, Director of Belonging

Mary Kavanagh Day ’82 P’23, Partner Tradewind Group, former member of the Board of Trustees

Michele Ehrhart P’27, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the University of Memphis, member of the Board of Trustees

Kat Gordon ’00, Owner of Muddy’s Bake Shop, former Board of Trustee member and chair of Alumnae Board

Susan Whitten Graber ’86, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Director of the St. Mary’s Community Fund

Nicole Hernandez P’26’27’33, Director of Admission & Financial Aid

Anne Morgan Brookfield Morgan ’99 P’29’32, Executive Sales Representative for Eli Lilly & Company, member of the Board of Trustees

Jennifer Parris, Director of Communication

Hilary Davis Robinson ’90 P’17, Associate Head of School

Monica Skipper P’21, retired FedEx marketing and communication executive, former member of the Board of Trustees

CAMPUS NEWS

2023-24 Awards and Honors

Lower School

Lila Phillips Gould Award

Congratulations to Alexandrea Partee ’31, the 2024 Lila Phillips Gould Award recipient, photographed with the family of Lila Phillips Gould, former second-grade teacher Heather Hengen Hendry and Director of Alumnae Gigi Gould ’70.

The Class of 2031 is headed across the street to take on Middle School.

Celebrating a milestone! The Class of 2031 is all smiles as they complete Lower School and get ready to move to 6th grade on the South Campus. Here’s to new adventures and endless possibilities!

Middle School

The Class of 2028 is ready to take the next big step. Upper School, here they come!

Congratulations to our Middle School award recipients who received honors on Class Day. These awards celebrate their hard work, dedication, and exceptional talents in academics, arts, athletics, and service.

Vicki Ladyman Award: Kamryn Keith ’28, Isabelle Boyd ’28

Joyous Christian Living Award: Mary Kirksey Griffin ’28, Mathilde Wesson ’28

Carmine B. Vaughan Award for Service: Nisha Mawani ’28

Gilmore Lynn Award: Macy Elams ’28, Wesley May ’28

Mary Paoli Award: Addie Phillips ’28

Geoffery C. Butler Award: Lyla Furlong ’28

Ellen Feild Todd Award: Claire Do ’29

Joyce Gingold Art Award: Adiba Hossein ’28

Palmer Adams Burt ’99 Art Award: Ellis Weston ’30

Anne Westmoreland Garrett ’79 Award: Anika Kharbanda ’29

CAMPUS NEWS Awards and Honors

Upper School

In May, we celebrated the exceptional achievements of Upper School students. This year’s honorees have distinguished themselves through academic and athletic excellence, leadership, service, and character.

Patti Person Ray ’65 Citizenship Award: Lucy Lyon ’27, Elizabeth Scott ’26, Emma Spillyards ’25, Rebecca Schweitzer ’24

Betty Lou Stidham Award: Kelsi Cowles ’24

Community Service Award: Rebecca Schweitzer ’24

Donna Osborne Bradley ’74 Award: Jourdan Russell ’24

Vicki Ladyman Athletic Award: Ejeme Ataga ’27

Lawrence Lobaugh Sportsmanship Award: Maggie Kustoff ’24

Sumner Baker Athletic Award: Shelby Williams ’24

Best All-Around Athlete Award: Bronwyn Saatkamp ’24 Award of Excellence: Hannah Loden ’27, McNaron Gray ’26, Lily Mirza ’25

Drs. Raghavia and Indira Nimmagadda Intellectual Curiosity Award: Lily Karnes ’24

This year, 76 members of the Upper School were inducted into The National Beta Club. The National Beta Club promotes the ideals of academic achievement, character, service, and leadership. Beta Club

Freshman inductees

Sophomore inductees

Junior and senior inductees

Mays Writing Contest

Congratulations to the 2024 winners of the Mays Writing Contest, the school’s annual creative writing competition for students in grades 1-12. This year’s prompt asked students to write a vignette, a miniature narrative, about a moment they–or a fictional character–experienced one of the traits of St. Mary’s “Bridge to Caring,” the school’s character education program. These stories explore thankfulness, self-control, honesty, responsibility, kindness, courage, and cooperation within our St. Mary’s community and beyond. The annual contest is sponsored by Diane and Kit Mays and their daughters Bethany Mays Owen ’93 and Mary Austin Mays Smith ’03. We appreciate their continued support of the writing contest and encouraging our students to pursue creative thinking and storytelling.

To view the winning stories, scan the code below or visit stmarysschool.org/mays-writing-contest.

National Merit Finalists

Congratulations to our National Merit Finalists, Averie Howell ’24 and Caroline Hunt ’24. Students who score in the top 1% of PSAT/NMSQT test-takers qualify as National Merit Finalists.

Cum Laude Society

Congratulations to the new inductees of the Cum Laude Society. This national organization recognizes students of highest academic achievement who have demonstrated good character, honor, and integrity in all aspects of their school life. We proudly honor the juniors and seniors who have reached this impressive accolade.

Class of 2024 inductees: Josie Block, Caroline Garrett, Erica Ormseth,

Class of 2025 inductees (not pictured): Lydia Ford, Eshaal Hassan, Kim Huang, Maya Iyengar, Lily Mirza, Wallis Rogin, and Kate Wolfkill.

2024 Mays Writing Contest winners: Eliza Hardin ’35, Patton Kilgore ’35, Alisa Aman ’34, Dani Turner ’34, Victoria Hernandez ’33, Ari Hooks ’33, Olivia Cardenas ’32, Grace Zoghbi ’32, Ellen Gilless ’31, Francis Holman ’31, Meredith Muscari ’30, Eleanor Parr ’30, Campbell Cates ’29, Shreya Manne ’29, Mayra Arshad ’28, Kate Wexler ’28, Ruba Elabiad ’27, Georgia Ann Hernandez ’27, Casey Jang ’26, Leighton Visinsky ’26, Parker Hedges ’25, Tracy Zhang ’25, Lacy Ferrell ’24, Isabel Isaacs ’24

Carroline Robinson, Kat Rogers, Ellis Rougeou, and Brennan Seltzer.

Awards and Honors

National Book Awards

Across the country, colleges and universities have established book awards to recognize the accomplishments or characteristics of high school juniors that mirror the mission and values of their institutions while acknowledging excellence in a subject area, creative talent, or service to their community. This year, 13 members of the class of 2025 received book awards.

Youth in Government Conference

St. Mary’s students shined at this year’s Youth in Government Conference (YIG), earning several accolades and leadership positions. The conference, organized by the YMCA of Middle Tennessee Center for Civic Engagement, allows Upper School students hands-on experience in a mock state government. Students can serve as senators, representatives, justices, lawyers, department commissioners, lobbyists, or press corps members.

For the first time at an in-person YIG Conference, St. Mary’s had a student serve as governor. YIG Sponsor Dr. Lyon shared, “Gov. Lily Karnes ’24 was bold, confident, empathetic, and relentless.” Her fellow officers awarded her the conference’s highest honor, the Servant Leader Award, and the YMCA leaders selected her to attend the nationwide Conference on National Affairs.

A number of students were elected to serve at next year’s conference. Maya Iyengar ’25, Natalie Smith ’25, and Kate Wolfkill ’25 will serve in the Supreme Court as Associate Justices. In the legislative components, Naomi Betapudi ’25 and Emily Larkins ’25 will serve as officers again, Naomi as Blue Lieutenant Governor and Emily as Speaker Pro Temp in the Red House. Allan Golden ’26 won the election to be Speaker of the House in the Blue component. Several individuals won the Outstanding Delegate Award, including Ivy Carls ’26, Day Galbreath ’26, Lillie Ireland ’26, Ellie Midha ’26, and Amal Ahmed ’27. Mollie Ginn ’27 and Cayden King ’27 also won an Outstanding Bill Award.

Congratulations to: Hana Barber (University of Rochester), Ali Barton (Hollins University), Naomi Betapudi (Yale University), Lydia Ford (Washington & Lee University), Eshaal Hassan (Brandeis University), Kim Huang (University of Rochester), Maya Iyengar (Dartmouth College), Katie Lam (University of Rochester), Emily Larkins (University of Rochester), Eve Pai (Rhodes College), Wallis Rogin (University of Virginia), Mollie Wexler (Tulane University), and Kate Wolfkill (University of Pennsylvania)

CAMPUS NEWS Events

Maker Fair

Lower School students had a blast making spin art with old bicycle wheels, creating guitars out of tissue boxes and paper towel rolls, and piecing together pi-shaped puzzles during the 9th annual Maker Fair. This fun-filled Lower School tradition offers an opportunity for students to spend the morning exploring, creating, learning, and leading.

Robotics at Saint Francis Hospital

Students in the Engineering class visited Saint Francis Hospital Memphis this spring to learn how robots are used in medical care. Physicians, including St. Mary’s parent Urologist Rowena Desouza, MD, along with medical device experts showed girls how they use surgical robotic tools such as the Da Vinci, MAKO, and MAZOR, to improve patient care. Another St. Mary’s parent, Endocrinologist Malini Gupta ’91, MD, welcomed the St. Mary’s group to Saint Francis.

Cynthia D. Pitcock Women’s History Award

Every March, St. Mary’s celebrates Women’s History Month by honoring an extraordinary female with the Cynthia D. Pitcock Women’s History Award. This award was established in 2002 to honor those who have made historically significant contributions to the community and our collective civility. The 2024 recipient was Dr. Lara Kriegel ’86. A professor of history and English at Indiana University, Kriegel has taught British history, Victorian studies, and cultural history. Kriegel has shared that her fascination with the past and passion for research stems from the curriculum at St. Mary’s, a foundation that continues to inform her scholarship and teaching today. Dr. Kriegel is pictured with Jourdan Russell ’24 and Chair of the History Department Dr. Dalton Lyon.

Mock Trial State Competition

Both Upper School Mock Trial teams finished in the top 10 at the State competition. Students Lily Karnes ’24 and Helen Dunlap ’25 were named MVP of their teams. This marks the team’s fourth consecutive District championship victory and their second consecutive 5th place finish at the State level.

CAMPUS NEWS Events

Springfest

The arrival of spring brings one of St. Mary’s most cherished traditions, Springfest, where the Upper School selects a peer to serve as Queen, and the sixth grade chooses a classmate to serve as Princess. Students are asked to identify a peer who represents the ideal qualities of a St. Mary’s girl: kindness, compassion, positivity, involvement, hard work, and leadership. This year, Mollie Wexler ’25 was selected as Queen, and the sixth grade class chose two princesses, Finley Cannon ’30 and Eleanor Parr ’30. Queen Mollie selected Pages Greer Liberman ’36 and Audrey Lazarov ’36 to escort her down the aisle. Daisy Echols ’35 and Nora Nease ’36 escorted 2023 Queen Mary Paige Scott ’24 down the aisle.

Real World 101

Each spring, St. Mary’s seniors spend a day shadowing across the city. Dozens of St. Mary’s community members volunteered to host these students at organizations including the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Novel, and the Overton Park Shell. Averie Howell ’24 spent the day with pediatric surgeons Dr. Regan Williams and Dr. Alexander Feliz at Le Bonheur. She scrubbed in on three surgeries, allowing her to see what a workday is like for a surgeon. Elizabeth MacQueen ’24 shadowed Dr. David Portnoy at West Cancer Center, learning more about cancer treatments and giving her a new perspective on the medical field.

A Beary Fun Picnic for Pre-K

Pre-K girls celebrated their unit on bears with a teddy bear picnic. Girls brought a snuggly teddy bear to school and spread out on picnic blankets in the Gilmore Lynn Room. The students enjoyed a delicious treat of cinnamon sugar toast that they decorated to look like bears. Head of School Albert Throckmorton read the girls the story, “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” by Jimmy Kennedy. He even brought his own teddy bear, Professor Bear.

St. Mary’s Community Fund

This year, St. Mary’s Community Fund (SMCF) awarded $30,000 in grants to five Mid-South nonprofits that serve children. The 2024 grantees were Girls on the Run Memphis, Memphis Athletic Ministries, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Dorothy Day House, and Community Legal Center. SMCF members led and executed the grant process from start to finish, including raising money, reviewing grant applications, and conducting site visits.

Campus-Wide MIFA Service Day

This year, St. Mary’s built on its long-standing partnership with MIFA (The Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association) by hosting an all-campus family service day for students of all ages and their families. Through St. Mary’s partnership with MIFA students become engaged with the local community by learning more about the challenges facing our city, such as homelessness, food insecurity, and health inequity.

Theater

Upper School Shines in “Legally Blonde”

This spring, Director of Plays Taylor Ragan ’07, Musical Director Julie Millen, Technical Director Leigh Ann Evans, and Stage Manager Adriana McDonald ’24 led a cast and crew of Upper School students to bring “Legally Blonde the Musical” to life on the Buckman stage. Students contributed to the production by making props, painting set pieces, creating dance routines, and working backstage. Audiences enjoyed following the journey of Elle Woods, played by Lacy Ferrell ’24, as she tackled stereotypes and navigated scandal in pursuit of her dreams.

Middle School Ventures Under the Sea with “SpongeBob”

The Middle School transformed the Buckman stage into Bikini Bottom for their vibrant production of “SpongeBob the Musical.” The talented cast and crew delivered a fantastic performance, bringing this dynamic, all-singing, all-dancing show to life! Mary Kirksey Griffin ’28, Neely Thompson ’28, and Mila Thakker ’29 held the lead roles.

CAMPUS NEWS Faculty & Staff

Retirees

Two incredible women joined the long list of treasured St. Mary’s retirees. Congratulations to 2nd Grade Teacher Gwen Collier and Learning Specialist Stephanie Poje on their retirement. Both women were recognized with the Fannie Warr Award, which is given to that special individual who, like Fannie Warr, demonstrates a high degree of loyalty, unselfish service, and love for St. Mary’s Episcopal School.

Ms. Collier taught a variety of ages during her 21 years at SMS and concluded her tenure as a 2nd grade teachure. Ms. Collier is known for her quick wit, passion for reading, and deep commitment to St. Mary’s girls.

Ms. Poje developed the Lower School Learning Support Program 25 years ago. During her time at St. Mary’s, she has helped countless students, families, and colleagues on their academic journeys.

Beverly Brooks Honored by SACAC

Kelly Cook

While attending the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) annual conference in March, Director of College Counseling Beverly Brooks received the Larry West Award, the highest award from the organization. The honor recognizes those who demonstrate longevity of service to SACAC, leadership, outstanding contributions to the admission counseling profession, and dedication to students. Congratulations to Beverly, a deserving recipient who provides thoughtful guidance to the students at St. Mary’s with infectious energy, enthusiasm, and dedication.

This Spring, Lower School Art teacher Kelly Cook’s work was featured in the Memphis 2024 exhibit at Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Cook created visual representations of conversations between her and her subjects. She engages in a meticulous, creative process to capture her subjects’ stories.

“For my work, I interview volunteers from the community. During our conversation, they are photographed and filmed. I select two or three poses from those images and cut their shape onto a piece of wood,” Cook shared.

“The wood-cut poses are then clamped, attached, and painted in watercolor as if it were one moving image. I work this way so that I can replicate the person’s mannerisms, expressions, and the way in which they tell stories.”

Gwen Collier

Stephanie Poje

Beverly Brooks

Faculty & Staff Awards

Each year, St. Mary’s recognizes employees for their hard work and dedication through our faculty and staff awards. At the close of the school year, five remarkable individuals were awarded for their commitment to St. Mary’s. Hats off to these creative, empathetic, and hard-working employees.

St. Mary’s Participates and Leads Global Education Benchmark Group

St. Mary’s has a history of being a leader in the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG). In fact, over the past two years, St. Mary’s has been one of 22 schools that have shaped a global dialogue program connecting hundreds of schools and thousands of students with their peers across North America and in more than 25 countries around the world. Upper School Teacher and Global Education Director John Nichols and Hana Barber ’25 have served on committees that have shaped the curricula of these virtual student dialogues, developed and facilitated dialogues, and—most recently— contributed to a new publication entitled Intercultural Dialogue: A Field Guide for Educators & Schools.

Faculty and Staff in the Arts

This year, three of our faculty and staff showcased their talent on the Theatre Memphis stage. Middle and Upper School music teacher and band director Nathan McHenry starred as Gerry Goffin in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Director of Plays Taylor Ragan ’07 portrayed Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie in Steel Magnolias, and North Campus Admission Coordinator and Registrar Sherronda Whitmore Johnson ’82 performed as Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun. Bravo!

This spring, three St. Mary’s faculty members attended the GEBG Annual Conference in Montreal. Mr. Nichols, Upper School Global Education Coordinator and science teacher Courtney Gillespie, and Middle School Global Education Coordinator and history teacher Ben Graunke attended a variety of sessions, connected with other global educators, and learned ways to strengthen global education at St. Mary’s. Mr. Nichols also spoke as part of a panel discussion: Partnering for Intercultural Competance on how dialogue unites global efforts to improve our world.

Apple Award Jacinta Miller Administrative Assistant to Early Childhood Head

Ellen Feild Todd Staff Award

Lynn Isaacs Chief Financial Officer

Gold Cross Award

Gigi Gould ’70 Alumnae Relations Manager

Nanette Quinn Outstanding Teacher Award

Dalton Lyon Chair of the History Department and Upper School History Teacher

Creative Teacher Award

Huikai Karol Middle School Science Teacher and 8th Grade Team Lead

Faculty and Staff supported Sherronda at her play.

CAMPUS NEWS Athletics

Meet Tango!

In 1976, guided by the input of Upper School students, the Turkey became St. Mary’s mascot. This spring, the Student Council decided it was time to name the Turkey. Voting was open to students of all ages, parents, alumnae, and faculty. Nearly 1,000 St. Mary’s community members cast their ballot, and “Tango” won by a clear margin. Former Lower School Music Teacher Nancy Miller and Former Head of School Marlene Shaw made the iconic “Turkey Tango!” song and dance a St. Mary’s tradition.

Lacrosse

The two Middle School Lacrosse Teams had stellar seasons! The Blue Team made an impressive run to the semifinals of the Regional Tournament. A big shout-out to our five Varsity Lacrosse players who earned spots on the Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association All-Region Team— Amelia Block ’26, Josie Block ’24, Sophia Sandoval ’24, Charlotte Stakem ’25, and Leighton Visinsky ’26. We are proud to have these dedicated athletes represent our school.

Adding to the excitement, Leighton and Amelia were also named to the TGLA All-State Team. What a fantastic honor for these talented lacrosse players!

Blue Team after defeating ECS.

White Team celebrates a big win against Hutchison.

Seniors Sophia Sandoval, Eliza Herman, Emily Smith, Chloie Madden, Lily Kate Heard, Caroline Holtzclaw, and Josie Block jump for joy to celebrate a great season.

Golf

Our Middle School Golf Team dominated this spring, remaining undefeated all season. The athletes started strong, clinching 1st place in District and Regional tournaments.

Capping off the season with a remarkable achievement, this unstoppable team won the inaugural Middle School Tennessee Golf State Championship! Competing against schools from across the state, from public to private and big to small, the team brought home the gold. The State team included Anika Kharbanda ’29, Anya Gupta ’29, and Jada Lin ’29. Jada earned the title of low medalist and received All-State honors. Anika was named to the All-Region team.

Tennis

Our Upper School Tennis Team had an outstanding season, honing their skills at their brand-new home, Leftwich Tennis Center. These dedicated athletes gave it their all this spring, earning numerous accolades. The team triumphed as Regional runner-up and advanced to the quarterfinals of the State Tournament after an exhilarating victory over Harpeth Hall. A special shout-out to Izzie Tonkin ’24 and Claudia Ribeiro ’25 for their incredible performance in the individual Regional Tournament, where they secured 2nd place in doubles and advanced to the State semifinals. Congratulations to our amazing team on a phenomenal season!

Tracy Zhang ’25, Isabella Tamburrino ’25, Dua Akbar ’27, Claudia Ribeiro ’25, Erica Ormseth ’24, and Izzie Tonkin ’24 at the State Tournament.

Ms. Caroline Goodman cheered on Claudia Ribeiro ’25 and Izzie Tonkin ’24 in the State Tournament.

Low Medalist Jada Lin ’29

State Champions Jada Lin ’29, Anya Gupta ’29, and Anika Kharbanda ’29, with Coach Jeff McCalla

CAMPUS NEWS Athletics

Track and Field

Our Middle and Varsity Track and Field teams had impressive seasons! The Middle School team shattered expectations, achieving a combined 80 personal records this spring and securing 3rd place overall in the Region.

Varsity athlete Bronwyn Saatkamp ’24 placed 3rd in the Region Pentathlon and advanced to the State Pentathlon. Congratulations to all our incredible athletes for their hard work and amazing accomplishments!

Our

Follow @athletics_sms on Instagram for all the latest news and updates on our Turkey athletes.

Bronwyn Saatkamp ’24 shows off her bronze medal.

strong throwers: Anna Kay Bell ’27, Aaliyah Sharif ’27, Martha Mitchell ’27, Ejeme Ataga ’27, and Allan Golden ’26

The relay team of Ella Federico ’29, Sarah Taylor Stout ’29, Leah Tate ’29, and Wesley May ’28 celebrates a victory.

St. Mary’s Graduates Further Athletic Careers in College

Congratulations to the two members of the Class of 2024 who have committed to continue their athletic careers in college! Adrianna Porter Meachem ’24 will swim for Bryn Mawr College, and Raina Becker ’24 will play volleyball at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Director of Belonging Nikki Davis Named Varsity Basketball Coach

St. Mary’s is thrilled to announce that Director of Belonging Nikki Davis will join the athletic department as the Head Varsity Basketball Coach.

As a former player with over 17 years of coaching experience, Davis brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to St. Mary’s basketball program. “I want my student-athletes to feel challenged, loved, and supported on and off the court,” she shared. “My passion for helping others and developing strong relationships is what keeps me giving back to a sport that has given so much to me.”

Davis played at the University of Kansas, where she was a four-year starter and named Female Athlete of the Year by the university in 2002. At Kansas, Davis was recognized for her achievements beyond the basketball court, receiving Jayhawk Scholar honors, Academic All-Big 12 team, and the Arthur Ashe National Courage Award.

Adrianna Porter Meachem

Raina Becker

Nikki Davis

AMINA DILAWARI ’95 P’34’36

Amina Dilawari is an experienced marketing professional who oversees initiatives that support fundraising and brand awareness. She currently works for the University of Memphis and previously served as the Senior Director, Creative and Content Strategy at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dilawari holds a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Memphis and a bachelor’s degree in Literature from American University. She has served on St. Mary’s Alumnae Board and was a Veritas College Preparatory Academy founding board member. Dilawari uses her marketing skills to support other community nonprofits, including the Memphis Music Foundation and ArtsMemphis. Dilawari and her husband, Erik Morrison, are the parents of Nadiya ’34 and Noora ’36.

DORCAS YOUNG GRIFFIN P’18

Dorcas Young Griffin started her career with Shelby County Government in 2007, serving in several capacities of leadership, including public health coordinator, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program manager, and Director of the Division of Community Services. She has been the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Shelby County Government since January 2024 and recently received Mayor Lee Harris’ Shining Star Award in recognition of her decades-long service to Shelby County. Young Griffin is a native Memphian and a graduate of East High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Memphis. She is working on her Ph.D. in Urban Affairs at the University of Memphis. Her daughter Alexis Jamison is a 2018 graduate of St. Mary’s.

JEAN VAUGHAN MCGHEE ’86 P’18’27 Church of the Holy Communion Representative

Jean Vaughan McGhee is an active Church of the Holy Communion member, serving as chair of the Church’s Endowment Committee. She previously served on the Vestry, led multiple fundraising efforts, and mentored young congregants preparing for confirmation. McGhee and her husband Shawn own Hollywood Feed, a popular pet store chain. Under their leadership, Hollywood Feed’s retail operations have expanded to 180 stores in 19 states since 2006. McGhee has held multiple roles at Hollywood Feed, spearheading efforts to grow the business, including creating a line of private-label dog treats and toys. McGhee was selected as St. Mary’s 2024 Outstanding Alumna. In 2021, McGhee was honored as a Super Woman in Business by the Memphis Business Journal. McGhee is an involved community leader and committed supporter of animal rescue efforts, including those of the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County, Memphis Animal Services, Tunica Humane Society, and Sunny Meadows. She served as class secretary for the Class of 1986 for nearly 40 years. McGhee attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, earning a bachelor’s degree in physics. McGhee is the mother of three children, including Ellie ’18 and Carmen ’27.

BETHANY MAYS OWEN ’93

Bethany Mays Owen, MD, is a board-certified internist and Medical Director for West Tennessee at IVX Health. She attended St. Mary’s for 14 years and then the University of Richmond as a national merit scholar, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She continued to the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, serving on the Honor Council and the medical school’s Admissions Committee. While at UT, she received the prestigious Cannon Scholarship for scholastic excellence and outstanding patient care. She furthered her medical studies through a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and then worked at Mays and Schnapp Pain Clinic until 2020. An active alumna, she has served twice on the St. Mary’s Alumnae Board and is proud to support the Mays Writing Award at St. Mary’s, which her parents established. She enjoys being involved with her church, volunteering in youth ministry, and singing and playing piano for worship services. Owens and her husband, Keith, MD, are the parents of sons Bennett, Sanford, and Feild.

HUNTER WITHERINGTON P’27 ’28

Hunter Witherington is a Managing Partner of SSM Partners, a growth equity firm that invests in software and tech-enabled services companies across B2B and healthcare. He serves as a board member for portfolio companies KEEPS, Kukui, and Quire and has served as a board member or observer for many former investments. Before joining SSM in 2004, Witherington spent several years in investment banking with Stephens Inc., working on M&A, private placements, and public offerings for middle-market companies across numerous industries. He received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Vanderbilt University, where he graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Witherington also serves as a board member and investment committee chair for the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation and previously served as a board member at Presbyterian Day School. Hunter and his wife Molly are the parents of Kate ’27, Rainer ’28, and Hunt.

Many thanks to our outgoing members of the Board of Trustees:

Wendy Pritchartt Ansbro ’79 P’09, Elvira R. Ormseth P’24, Monica Skipper P’21, Mary Katherine Stout P’29, and Hallie McNeill Ward P’25

Jeffrey Block Awarded the James Brinkley Taylor Jr. Award

Congratulations to Jeffrey Block P ’24’26, the James Brinkley Taylor Jr. Award recipient. This award honors a trustee who, like Jim Taylor, gave sacrificially of their time, talent, and resources to St. Mary’s. In his eight years of service on the Board of Trustees, Block is known for his unwavering commitment to ensuring St. Mary’s financial stability and longevity.

“Jeffrey is the personification of fiduciary oversight, strategic insight, and generative foresight. He has treated the school finances as if they were those of his own company and the CFO as his partner,” said Head of School Albert Throckmorton. “Jeffrey’s business acumen and unwavering fiscal responsibility were instrumental in setting St. Mary’s on the path to effectively manage and diligently pay down the school’s debt.”

Every other year, the St. Mary’s Parents Association plans and hosts an auction event to raise support for essential school needs, including capital projects and the St. Mary’s Fund.

Held in the Athletic and Wellness Center Dining Hall on April 13 as part of the 2024 Alumnae Weekend activities, the Sneaker Soiree invited parents, alumnae, faculty, staff, and friends to dress up in their cocktail attire and sneakers to socialize, celebrate, and support the school.

The 2024 party was a true celebration and success! Through the live and silent auctions and thanks to the generous support of the Presenting Sponsor Southern Security and Great Gobbler Sponsors ProTank and the He Family Foundation, the Sneaker Soiree raised vital funding to benefit the St. Mary’s Fund!

Carol Fields and Anna Snyder Rojas ’01, 2024 Auction Chairs, made sure the Sneaker Soiree was a memorable party!

SMS parents Lillian and Phil Lammers and other guests enjoyed dancing on the light-up dance floor to music provided by a live band and late-night DJ.

Over 400 alumnae, parents, faculty, and staff attended the Soiree, including (left to right) Nick Averwater, Eric Efron, Edie Efron, Mark Levine, Michelle Pao Levine ’95, and Ashley Averwater.

Fourth-grade parents, including (Back Row) Lisa Ansley Clapper ‘00, Michele Howard-Flynn, Kelinda Batiste, Anna Snyder Rojas ’01, Carol Fields, Grace Jensen Knight ‘05, ( Front Row) Sarah Montgomery Prudhon ’00, Margaret Thompson, and Brooke Bernhardt showed up to support St. Mary’s.

Guests, including Jeni Linkous, Jenna Goode, and Amanda Wilson, enjoyed a delicious raw seafood display and martini bar on the outside patio.

St. Mary’s Assistant Director of Auxiliary Programs Brianna Morrow and her husband, Bradley Morrow, enjoyed the celebration.

St. Mary’s Faculty Spouses, Ryan Trimm and Richard Hehn, helped make the event a fun and delicious experience for guests with food provided by Chef Trimm’s Across the Board Catering and drinks from Hehn’s Natalie’s Liquor Warehouse

Guests, including Kathy Wexler, Karen Ullman Pai, and Christina Block were delighted to follow the dress code of sneakers and cocktail attire.

St. Mary’s Parents, Kristy and Stephen Gipson and Mary and John Pelliciotti enjoyed the party’s outdoor area.

Many alumnae were in attendance including members of the Class of 1999 (Laura Freeman Rouse, Erin Bower Jarrett, Allison Davies, Courtenay Adams, and Brittany Blockman) who gathered to celebrate their 25th reunion.

PAWS & PURPOSE

Hollywood Feed Co-owner

Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86 named Outstanding Alumna 2024

TBY PIPER GRAY ’04

his year’s Outstanding Alumna Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86 epitomizes the multidimensional excellence that St. Mary’s nurtures in its students. After her formative years at St. Mary’s, where she thrived as a “STEM girl,” McGhee went to the Georgia Institute of Technology, becoming one of just two women to earn a physics degree at the time.

Cut to the present day in Memphis, where she and her husband, Shawn, own Hollywood Feed, a chain of 180 pet stores across 19 states. Throughout her tenure, McGhee has held multiple roles at Hollywood Feed, spearheading efforts to grow the business, including creating a line of private-label dog treats and toys.

In 2021, McGhee was honored as a Super Woman in Business by the Memphis Business Journal.

Running Hollywood Feed is a natural role for McGhee since she’s a lifelong animal lover and committed supporter of animal rescue efforts, including those of the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County, Memphis Animal Services, Tunica Humane Society, and Sunny Meadows. Shawn and Jean share

their house with three rescue dogs—Z-Bo, Moose, and Saint—and three adopteed cats, Robert, Chevy, and Boo.

Fresh from delivering remarks at the chapel ceremony, McGhee hopped a flight to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago. It should come as no surprise that her first stop off the plane was to the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid, a recommendation from Anne Fisher, former art history teacher and head of the Upper School.

“I completed all the math and science classes that St. Mary’s had to offer, and yet when I think back on what gave me that full experience and still gives back to me now it was art history,” McGhee said. English classes, too, stand out as key experiences that make her “world a little rounder,” she said.

Making the experiences of those around her a little more round, intentional, and full has marked McGhee’s career, in and out of the professional realm. At Hollywood Feed, she is committed to helping her fellow female employees thrive.

“I think when you go to St. Mary’s for 14 years, supporting each other as women in the workplace or in the classroom is built into your DNA. It’s who you are,” she said.

What that looks like on the daily: keeping a lookout for younger, less experienced workers, building those relationships with them, and identifying areas where they can gain confidence. “The only way

we’re going to be more successful is to support one another,” McGhee said.

“It’s on me because I can’t assume that

a younger, less experienced worker is going to necessarily come forward to me and say, ‘Gosh, I’m not feeling great about this. What do you think?’ So I keep my eyes

open for it and then address it with them: Why are you feeling that way? What can we do to make you feel more confident? Because I think you can do this,” she said.

Jean credits her time at St. Mary’s for helping build her confidence while learning the importance of encouraging others.

This deep-rooted belief in the potential of women has kept her ties with St. Mary’s strong. She served as class secretary for almost 40 years—an impressive tenure she jokes is “like a Supreme Court appointment.” Her daughters, Ellie ’18 and Carmen ’27, carry on the tradition of being a St. Mary’s Turkey.

From her back window, McGhee is able to keep an eye on St. Mary’s, and the school is never far from her mind. Her house backs up to Southard Field and often is a place where SMS friends gather.

“Not a week goes by that some girl doesn’t trot over because she had to be dropped off early for school or a student needs 30 minutes before her mom can come. So they just come over here, and I get to see them all,” she said.

Not only are the women of Hollywood Feed beneficiaries of her attention but so are the St. Mary’s students outside her back door.

Outstanding Alumna Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86 with her extended family including left to right Carmen ’27, Bill Vaughan, Ellie McGhee ’18, Jean, Shawn McGhee, Carmine Vaughan, Tess McGhee, Michael McGhee, Leigh Vaughan Jaimes ’88

Piper Gray ’04 is a freelance writer, editor, and brand consultant based in New Orleans after many years in New York City. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and Spanish from Furman University.

Jean Vaughan mcghee ’86 – 2024 Outstanding Alumna –

Alumnae Weekend

During a beautiful April weekend, over 300 alumnae from all over the country “Ran Home to St. Mary’s.”

The weekend began with Friday Chapel honoring Outstanding Alumna Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86 and milestone graduation classes. After the service, alumnae gathered to catch up and reminisce with friends and former teachers. Attendees also got to check out some of our new and improved facilities and learn about what’s happening on campus during tours led by student ambassadors.

The festivities continued Friday evening with class gatherings all over the city. On Saturday, alumnae families reunited on North Campus for a Picnic on the Playground, where they enjoyed lunch, a bounce house, face painting, and sweet treats.

We are already looking forward to the next Alumnae Weekend. Please save the date for the 2025 Alumnae Weekend on April 3-5! We can’t wait to see you there.

1st Row: Alumnae Weekend Chair Jenny Jones Savage ’99, Outstanding Alumna 2024 Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86, Assistant Alumnae Weekend Chair Anne Taylor Tipton Manning ’03 2nd Row: Alumnae Board President Anna Snyder Rojas ’01, Outstanding Alumna Selection Chair Bethany Mays Owen ’93

Classes of 1969 and 1964 celebrating their 55th and 60th reunions: 1st Row: Candy Keirns-Bitensky, Julie Bonds Greene, Karen Haglund Terre, Anne Stepp Beale; 2nd Row: Pam McNeely Williams, Sue Sprunt Stoudemire, Sally Dabbs Shroyer, and Nancy Whitman Manire ’64. ’64 ’69

Class of 1974 celebrating their 50th class reunion: 1st Row: Kristi Hoffman Jones, Robin McLaurine Davis, Ruth Gordon White, Sally Minor Cook, Pam Brady Ray, Cindi Acree Marshall; 2nd Row: Janet Shivley Hess, Beth Williford Carson, Mary Hills Baker Powell, Susan Page Tranby, Chris Cowan Norris; 3rd Row: Holly Hyde McDonald, Donna Osborne Bradley, Kathy Bell Adams, Cheryl Cape West

Class of 1984 celebrating their 40th reunion: Vanessa Allen Dobbins, Kim Patterson Walpert, Kelly McCracken, Anne Crocker Hefter, Samantha Grilli Long, Leslie Darling, Kelly O’Shields Klinke

Class of 1979 celebrating their 45th reunion: 1st Row: Jan Lettes Zauzmer, Anne Golwen Brand, Lenelle Morse 2nd Row: Nancy Smith Douglas, Gina Barron Huck, Beth Mayhall, Corinne Johnson Frick, Irene Orgill Smith, Beth Brown Dunn 3rd Row: Wendy Pritchartt Ansbro, Robin Radar Stein, Jeanne Cross Thurman, Jane Tillman Germany

Class of 1989 celebrating their 35th reunion:

1st Row: Tedie Sanford Cole, Emily Mallory, Mary Pritchartt Muscari, Rebecca Fisher; 2nd Row: Julie Bielskis, Elaina Fulgham, Ellen Roberds, Shannon Wulff Shearon, Erin Kenny Walter, Missy Voehringer Rakers, Ashley Moore Durant; 3rd Row: Maysey Craddock, Brooks Turley Klepper, Andra

Eggleston, Ashley Saxon Abraham, Mary Elizabeth Treadwell Pittman, Katie Morris Monaghan, Erin Moran Lynch, Angel Sands Gunn, Courtney Morris Williamson

Class of 1994 celebrating their 30th reunion: 1st Row: Amy Wadsworth Anderson, Carolyn Porter Cates, Jessica Johnson Webb, Kathryn DeRossitt, Leigh Wilson Jacobs; 2nd Row: Mary Evelyn Stevens Fore, Virginia Ralston Jaramillo, Sarah Cole-Turner Vincent; 3rd Row: Katherine Dudley Gray, Shani Armstrong Andre, Mary Denton Sensing, Carrie Shelton Bush, Hallie Dinkelspiel Label, Jamie Morano

Class of 2009 celebrating their 15th reunion: 1st Row: Jordan Reeve, Reagan Bugg, Melissa Johnson Pippin, Claire Riley, Rebecca Schaeffer Anthony, Catherine Vaughn Bunker; 2nd Row: Austin Nichols Boukli, Leah Bearman Pinkston, Wallis Tosi Steiner and daughter Acie, Bailey Bethell Fountain, Eliza Leatherman, Karen Stein Robbins

Class of 1999 celebrating their 25th Reunion:

1st Row: Virginia Falvey, Brittany Blockman Pelletier, Sidney Hawkins Gargiulo, Erin Bower Jarrett, Laura Freeman Rouse, Melissa Reedy Buchanan, Rebecca Fones Rhea, Jenny Jones Savage, Courtenay Adams; 2nd Row: Caroline Palazola Conrad, Nancy Liddon

Billings, Meg Parker Prewitt, Kelly Buckner Dallas, Anne-Morgan Brookfield Morgan, Allison Davies, Erica Smith, Palmer Adams Burt

Class of 2004 celebrating their 20th reunion:

1st Row: Lori Goldstein, Martha Guinn Carter, Taylor Fisher Morrison, Elise Addington Dugger, Lauren Arnold Bell; 2nd Row: Darlon Wakefield, Blair Carter Tait, Morgan Lobe, Supriya Sarkar, Brittany Johnson Hernandez, Elizabeth Stevenson Brenner; 3rd Row: Jessie Walker Wiley, Sarah Carter, Jennifer Soun, Elizabeth Jemison, Ellen Coleman, Sasha Castroverde, Piper Gray; 4th Row: Mary Washington, Lucy Harris Collins, Lauren Lazar

Class of 2014 celebrating their 10th class reunion: Mary Harbert Stromberg Morgan, Hannah Buser, Mary Katherine Harris Rose, Ellen Clarke, Keila Mumphord

Class of 2019 celebrating their 5th reunion:

Mia Wilson, Chloe Guerra, Faith Bradley, Lindsey Fields, Lily Smith, Karsen Springfield, Arabella McGowan, Snehi Vaghela, Joy Jackson, Kaitlyn Jang, Emmaline Rogers, Sidney Seale, Anna Alexander, Pooja Talati, Maddie Jenks, Catie Lockhart, Langston Myers, Jessie Shutzberg, Madison Motley

Happy to see you again!

Alumnae and families enjoyed a reception and Upper School production of “Legally Blonde” the musical.

Emily and Dottie ’38 Tipton, Anne Taylor Tipton Manning ’03 and Eleanor ’34, Jenay Gipson Boggs ’06 and Reagan, and Katherine Fockler Steele ’06

Turkeys take Denver

Cynthia Pitcock History Award

The 2024 St. Mary’s Cynthia Pitcock History Award was presented to Dr. Lara Kriegel ’86. Fellow members of the Class of 1986 came to chapel to support their friend on her accomplishment.

Alison Simmons Boyd ’93 hosted over 20 Denver area-based alumnae this summer for our Denver Area Alumnae Gathering. Former Turkeys enjoyed catching up about life milestones and reliving memories of their time at St. Mary’s!

Contact Alumnae Relations Manager Gigi Gould ’70 at ggould@stmarysschool.org to organize a gathering in your city.

1st Row: Jean Vaughan McGhee, Lara Kriegel, Susan Whitten Graber, Liz Whitsitt McEwan; 2nd Row: Sissy Roberds Carpenter, Elizabeth Cashman Dickinson, Mary Royer New, Mirm Kriegel ’90

Alexia Fulgham Crump ’93 and Catherine ’34 with Julia Chesney McDonald ’96 and Janie ’31

Meg Fowler ’08, Grace McNatt ’09, Shelby Deeney ’04, Lori Goldstein ’04, and Elizabeth Stevenson Brenner ’04

Nancy Whitlock Hubbs ’62 and her daughter

Denver host committee with Albert Throckmorton: Sara Fraser ’19, Shelby Deeney ’04, Meg Fowler ’08, Jenny Goforth Hock ’80, hostess Alison Simmons Boyd ’93, and Sharlene Sidhu Keathley ’96.

Olivia Grace Wolfe ’11, Lily Smith ’19, Sara Fraser ’19, and Albert Throckmorton

1963

DONNA LANSING COPP

The Class of ’63 is delighted to be alive and kicking as we approach the next decade. Traveling and the joys of grandchildren are common themes among us. Tina Heslip Ciliberto shares a recent highlight: a joyful trip to San Francisco with her son and family to watch a Giants game at Oracle Park. She humorously notes that until their ancient cat passes away, more travel adventures are on hold. Sara Sorsby Dennis proudly reports surviving the challenge of bringing twin granddaughters to their senior year, with their brother close behind. In even better news, her daughter’s stage four breast cancer has gone into remission, defying a grim prognosis from two years ago. Asimoula Alissandratos notes, mostly for our amusement, that upon recently boarding a plane in Chicago, a young man asked if she was 75 (so she could leave her shoes on), “and I thanked him for the compliment after confirming I was.” Jenny Emison Ewing is finally recovering from a bulging disc and preparing for summer visitors, swimming in the river, and a family trip to Scotland. Joyce Wilkerson Kaplan enjoyed a magical trip to a friend’s ranch in TX with her husband, Jon, for the eclipse, followed by a few days in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. They also plan to travel to NM and Colorado, their old stomping grounds. Patty Ozier Riffel expresses gratitude for her recovery from triple heart bypass surgery last fall. She recently attended her grandsons’ graduations from the University of Arkansas, one in Bio-Med and Computer Science and the other in Civil Engineering. The Pocahontas, AR Methodist Church Youth Group hosted an Eclipse Pasture Party, the prime spot for eclipse viewing,

CLASS NOTES

and they were happy to have Donna Lansing Copp and husband join them for this special event.

1965

ELLEN RUMSEY BELLENOT

Patti Person Ray and husband Barry have had a life immersed in St. Mary’s and MUS. Barry’s finally retired and they’re celebrating with a cruise. Patti, as school historian, is completing the book covering the 25 years following Mary Davis’ St. Mary’s history. Patti’s also the chair of Founders’ Day. Wes is a Team Security Specialist for the Grizzlies; Trey is now on the Board of Directors for Memphis Heritage. Joyce Burkett Scruggs and her adored husband Danny are celebrating their 58th anniversary momentarily. She’s still teaching Bible studies in both OH and Nashville. They have three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren and they’re all Grand. She reports that her life is full (clearly) and that she counts her blessings daily. Kathy Sweany Bertram finally hung up her stethoscope two years ago and is spending quality time with quality friends and family. Her daughter lives close enough to visit frequently and her sister lives right there in Cookeville. I’ll chalk that up to virtue rewarded. Kathy and her wonderful life partner have been together for 22 years, and “Life is Good”. Susan Hoefer Foster is in MT waiting for it to stop snowing and for Sally Pace Gingras and husband Paul to arrive. The snow’ll be gone and Sally will be there by the time you read this. Their houses are five minutes apart. Sally wisely hightails it out of Palm Beach in the summer. Wisely, indeed. She reports that MT still beautiful and that Bozeman’s growing too fast.

Marion West Hammer is enjoying a busy life in Charlotte, NC, with the four granddaughters (7, 4, 2, and 2) presented to her by daughter Elizabeth and husband Thomas. At Easter, she had a reunion in Memphis with sister Bette West Bush ’67, sons Al and Dan/wife Linsey and grandsons Caleb (14) and Luke (8), as well as brother Axon West/ wife Ann and niece Brittain West ’07, daughter of brother Roy/wife Cheryl Cape West ’74. That’s a boatload of SMS! Julia Malone is still the next best thing to a newlywed. She declares marriage to be a wonderful institution. She and Neill Roan live on the 10th floor with their terriers Nellie and Isla, who have taken on the role of protectors vis-a-vis the ravens who are taken with the balcony. Who can blame them with its view of the National Cathedral? There is laughter and photography, and she still plays tennis. The many-hatted Liz Pryor MacEachran is leading a full life. She’s coaching high school tennis in NH. She’s the Emergency Management Deputy with a traffic cone and a 5-foot stop sign in her car. She lives in a small town on a big farm and is quite happy. Ellen Rumsey Bellenot is “artsying” and writing. She’s still tremendously fond of Steven, her favorite husband, and her two daughters. The grandkids are actual goats; they don’t have to be educated.

Alice Cockroft Oates ’67 and husband Jack in Glasgow, Scotland

~ 1967 ~

BETTE WEST BUSH

Our class is older but okay. Lee McGeorge Durrell and partner Colin are busy “fixing up an old house” on the island of Corfu, as Lee also works to get everything ready for Gerry’s 100th birthday in 2025, including collecting some of his writings to be published in December. Janie Allen Till and husband Bob took several trips back to Greece in 2023, including a trip in November for the 50th Anniversary of the Greek Bible College. They still live in Denver, where they enjoy multigenerational living. Alice Cockroft Oates, along with husband Jack and sister Carolyn Cockroft ’71 and husband Chris took a trip to Scotland in May where they toured the Scottish Isles. Anne Hyde Dale and husband Jaime, took a trip to Berlin in September 2023 to watch daughter Elinor’s wife, Sarah, run in a marathon and cheer her on. They had lots of fun, and this May took a civil rights tour of Selma, AL. We are all invited to Black Mountain, NC, where she and Jaime live. Lynn Bledsoe Buhler, who now describes herself as the “old lady in tennis shoes,” had knee replacement surgery but also enjoyed her trip to Ireland with St. Mary’s last fall with Patti Person Ray ’65 and Gigi Gould ’70. She recommends St. Mary’s trips to all. ~ 1969 ~

CONNIE LOVELESS FRIEND

Thanks to those who sent in news and updates. Janie Hicks Jeter reports she had a fun week kayaking in Cedar Key, FL, and that she is loving her electric car. Got a nice long note from Anne Short Born as she and her husband were traveling to TX to witness her stepson being promoted to Brigadier

CLASS NOTES

General. Wow, congrats! Anne is continuing her work with genealogy and getting involved in the Heritage societies. Anne also has a new job as her church’s historian. She is thankful both her children are living nearby in Bluffton, SC (she’s in Beaufort). She closed her note with the sweetest message which I am going to quote here. “Although I was only at St. Mary’s for a year, I am so grateful for the nicest group of girls in my life. The culture was supportive and encouraging, and you all made an impact on my life going forward.” I agree with you, Anne, about the culture at St. Mary’s. I, too, am grateful I was able to be a part of the SMS community as was my daughter. Love the school so much. I pass by the school often, and it conjures up some very happy memories. I, myself, had a pretty nice year. My son married his lovely sweetheart in December and it was the most beautiful and most fun wedding ever! I am planning a trip this summer with my children and siblings to MI to celebrate my younger brother’s and his wife’s 70th birthdays. Condolences to Jean Phillips Lorton on the passing of her sweet sister, Katharine Phillips Huffman ’62. I worked with Katharine in the children’s program of Community Bible Study from 1988-2000 and loved her dearly. And, more recently, she was in my Bible study core group, and we had a chance to reconnect and spend some time together. It was nice to see Jean

at the funeral and also Julie Bonds Greene, Karen Haglund Terre, Sally Dabbs Shroyer and Madge Logan Deacon. Hope to hear from some of you in the future. Stay well and God bless.

~ 1971 ~ CAROLYN COCKROFT

Debbie Abernathy is adjusting to married life. She retired in July and is looking forward to her next adventure. Julia Sprunt Grumbles and husband Bill are enjoying their lives in Chapel Hill and Highlands, NC. Julia says Chapel Hill is a wonderful college town and Highlands is a lovely and “cool” mountain setting. Julia still serves on a few boards, gives an occasional lecture, volunteers for organizations, and mentors a handful of students and young professional women. Judi Hoffman retired in July. Her husband Matt Dennis and she are moving to live in a brownstone in Brooklyn, NY, with youngest daughter, her husband, and their one-year-old daughter because, as Judi says, “Only a grandchild would make us move out of Memphis.” My husband Chris and I had a fantastic cruise through the Scottish Isles of Orkney, Skye, Mull, Lewis, and the Shetlands. My sister Alice Cockroft Oates ’67 and husband Jack were also on the trip, and Alice and I were able to spend a lot of quality time together. The Scottish Isles are magnificent, each one with its own distinct character. Chris and I continue to play music together at Pohick Church and are looking forward to performing with our band at the Church’s Country Fair in October. I also am active in our pastoral care program and volunteer every Tuesday at a no-kill cat shelter.

Carolyn Cockroft ’71 and her husband Chris Brown at Eilean Donan Castle in Skye, Scotland

~ 1973 ~

SARAH PEEPLES HODGES

The class of ’73 is full of reading, writing, riding, travel and grandkids. Milner Stanton reports weekly golfing with Olivia Montgomery Ellen Clark Moore is playing tennis and enjoying outdoor workouts in Dallas, near daughter Margaret and her four grandchildren. She and Libby Hughes O’Connor recently returned to Vanderbilt for the 50th reunion of their pledge class. Ellen was gifted a honey bear of Libbee’s Honey, an avocation of Libby and husband Tim. Terry Maguire Elzinga is not only back in the saddle but impressively showing one of her two horses in Eventing (stadium jumping, cross country jumping, and dressage). When not volunteering at The Dixon, Harriet McGeorge has been dabbling in a Thoroughbred Horse racing syndicate. Vicki Stahl Millar and husband Rich recently returned from a falconry class at the Greenbrier. Virginia Withers Buchanan spends most of her time in NOLA working with her daughter in the antique and interior design business and helping with their three-year-old granddaughter. Their houses are near Magazine Street within walking distance of each other. Anne Gray Wagner recently practiced her construction project management skills refinishing her wood floors. She also stays active by regularly walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, practicing yoga, playing mahjong, volunteering for STEAM events as well as reading for pleasure and participating in a small book group. Beth Brady Belcher, also two years retired after 35 years of teaching, keeps busy with her church and loving on her five granddaughters (and grandson due in October). Bron Gayna Schmidt has a close-knit social life

CLASS NOTES

with neighbors, trying new restaurants, going to plays, playing Trivia at several pubs, and playing mahjong. She also attends the monthly neighborhood book club and weekly Bible studies at a community church. Follow Nell Dickerson, Wildlife Photographer, on FB and IG. She completed her fifth trip to Africa and her first to India. Her fiction, films, and photographs are written and visual narratives about the importance of protecting the Earth’s endangered species.Visit Peggy Wilson Lawrence at peggywilsonlawrence.com to view her writing, speaking, and editing accomplishments and availability. Carol Richardson Hunter is a member of the Scholarship Committee of the Garden Club of America. This year GCA awarded almost $500,000 for scholarships in areas including native plants, medicinal botany, and urban forestry. Ginger Hicks Smith continues to volunteer for Delta Delta Delta and on the boards for her church and the North Georgia Conference of the UMC as well as on their Commission on Archives and History for the Southeastern Jurisdictions. Her recent volunteer work included processing records of the Every Saturday Club founded in 1894. The records, including minutes back to the founding meeting and more than 100 study papers over 130 years, are ready for researchers at the Atlanta History Center. Teaching English, most recently in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, continues to be my preferred mode of travel. I get to see the usual landmarks and usually have some off-the-beaten-path opportunities with students and local teachers.

~ 1975 ~

LAURIE WALPOLE

Kate Bruce is having a busy spring. Daughter Annie was married on May 18 in a lovely but rainy outdoor wedding at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee with Kate’s dad as the officiant. Annie and her new husband Jay are psychology professors at Middle Tennessee State University. Kate started a phased retirement this fall, teaching only one semester a year at University of North Carolina Wilmington. She can’t completely retire yet because she and husband Mark were just awarded a three-year grant from National Institutes of Health to study animal (rat) cognition. Betsy Olim treated us all to a Ted Talk on How Classic Films Can Make You Feel Better. It was really fun, and of course, Betsy knows her stuff, as she was watching old movies from 5th grade when she was supposed to be doing homework. Son Eli is producing multiple comedy shows in the Boston area, where his wife will begin pursuing a biomedical PhD program at Boston U. in the fall. Son Dylan continues to manage multiple film festival accounts, including Sundance. Betsy and husband Stevy plan to attend the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh in August. Laurel Drake is a doctoral

Class of 1979 friends at the Alumnae Weekend Picnic on the Playground: Gina Barron Huck, Jan Lettes Zauzmer, Beth Brown Dunn and Jane Lettes

student in math education at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, proving it is never too late to complete one’s education. She graduates in May of 2026. Thanks for being an inspiration, Laurel! She says she had to miss Betsy’s Ted Talk because she had a paper due. Ah, just like at St. Mary’s! Whitney Jones DeVine is enjoying grandson Tanner, volunteering at church and other places, and working per diem as a hospice nurse. She’s also exploring “woo-woo” stories, which I had to google. I recently spent a week in Memphis and was able to visit with Betsy (of course we went to a movie) and also Mary Walt Minor, who had just returned from a trip to Yellowstone. Nora Wingfield Tyson is still loving her life in Arizona. She’s serving her 7th year on the Vanderbilt Board of Trust and is playing a lot of golf. Robin Bartusch Goertz reminds us that our big 50th reunion is next year on April 3-5, 2025.Yikes! Hope to see everyone there!

~ 1977 ~

JANEY BUTLER NEWTON

Laura Sanderson Healy was in Memphis recently to celebrate her mother’s 99th birthday. That’s a lot to celebrate! Laura has recently enjoyed being in Naples and Ft. Lauderdale with husband John and friends from William and Mary. John, daughter Lucy, and Laura also spent time in London where they used to live. They enjoyed old friends and all the wonderful things that London has to offer. Lucy lives in Los Angeles and has worked at an art gallery in Beverly Hills and at a talent agency. Jane Daily Duell celebrated a big birthday with her family in St Augustine, FL. Lily Jane came from Santa Monica, and Anna and her husband came from Ft. Myers with their three children. Son

CLASS NOTES

Peter stayed behind in St Louis for work. Sounds like a wonderful birthday celebration with family including precious grandchildren.

~ 1979 ~

BETH BROWN DUNN

What a wonderful 45th reunion weekend! We all had so much fun being together! The years melted away and we loved sharing our memories together! Chapel was very special for our class this year. We presented the Anne Westmoreland Garrett Award. Mrs. Gill was a big hit at chapel too! Irene Orgill Smith and Wendy Pritchartt Ansbro hosted a beautiful dinner on Friday night. They had Sara Davidson Wellford ’78 recreate recipes from our class cookbook from 1978 and 1979. The food was absolutely incredible, and they truly did not leave any small detail out for our weekend together. Every reunion, we go to the Dixon and walk in the gardens. Saturday night dinner at Robin Rader Stein’s home was so wonderful and fun. We Skyped Nell

Archer in NY. Nell came down to Tupelo to go to Julia Newsom’s funeral service in March. She did a beautiful job celebrating Julia’s life and love for others. Barbara Stevenson and Jeanne Thurman Cross were able to attend too. Julia was a light and star to us all. She was so excited and happy to be with us a few years ago at the reunion. The days fly by and our lives are full with family, lots of grandchildren, and dreams of travel. These “sisters” of mine are exceptional. I am grateful to be a part of the last class of the “Red Hot 70s” Thank you Corinne Johnson Frick and Melanie Fisher Rice. Looking forward to our 50th reunion.

~ 1983 ~

BONNIE BOLTON LOPEZ

Eppie Lunsford-Ozen and hubby Ergon are in London with daughter Emily (23) who teaches belly dancing! Son Ellis works in film in Istanbul. They closed their recording studio there after 14 years, and now Eppie is singing opera! She reported seeing

The Class of 1979 enjoying their 45th reunion party.

Karen Griffith Sowell recently in London. Karen’s daughter, Linda Kate, just graduated from NYU Law. Julie Harris Knox announces the arrival of her first grandson. Daughter Megan gave birth to baby Conner who joins his 4-year-old sister. Daughter Ellie was expecting her third child at press time. She has two girls ages 2 and 4. For Julie’s 59th birthday, she and hubby Robbie went to VT where she loved visiting a golden retriever farm. Margaret Jones Fraser and hubby Hugh have begun the “third third” of life with both children gone. Daughter Sara ’19 enjoys the outdoors and her work in Denver for an environmental non-profit. Son Will is a junior at University of CO and studies electrical engineering. He enjoys hiking, skiing, and tinkering in his workshop. Catherine Trippeer Jameson is grateful for the support of Margaret, Lela Bellows Simpson-Gerald, Allison Wellford Parker, Posey Saunders Cochrane, and Cissy Bruce Jackson upon the death of her father following a car accident and lengthy ICU stay. Shortly after, her mother fell and needed surgery and rehab for a broken femur. Thankfully she is healing nicely. Meanwhile, life is good in CO, and Catherine’s three grandsons are thriving. Gee Loeb Sharp has had her own gym for 10 years and trains even men! She and Gene have two pit bulls and four cats. And just like my own mother, she regularly feeds the raccoons and possums at her backdoor! Gee says she prefers the woods, animals, and sweat to dresses, people, and TV! Shannon Finnegan is still enjoying life in Sun Valley, ID. She and husband Mike Burchmore met up with their three kids in Portugal after their youngest finished his study abroad program in Lisbon. Aidan is a senior at Wharton in Philadelphia. Tess works at Trinity College Library

CLASS NOTES

in Dublin, Ireland, and Tara works on Capitol Hill. Elise Kilpatrick Atkins enjoys seeing classmates on periodic trips to Memphis for neuro rehab. She celebrates one child’s graduating from college, another’s being in med school, and one in NYC. Brandon Garrott Morrison welcomes her third granddaughter, Jane March Morrison. Holly Walters Craft works in the diagnostic space in oncology while son Collin is a junior at Duke, and daughter Katie ’23, a Kappa Delta pledge like her mom, is a sophomore at Ole Miss. Bisha Sisk Harrington is Chief of Staff at a non-profit ministering to at-risk youth in Knoxville. Son Jake and wife Ella have five adopted sons and live in Colorado. Daughter Lauren Harrington Stubblefield ’11 and husband Seth live in Nashville with one son and one on the way. Son Caleb is engaged and pursuing his MBA while his fiancé finishes med school. Liza Johnston loves her SMS classmates and her work as a licensed professional counselor in Georgia.

~ 1985 ~

IVY WILROY CARAVATI

Lisa Breazeale Roberts’ daughter Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12 daughter, Lisbeth “Libby” arrived 6 weeks early in March. After five weeks in the NICU, she is thriving at home in Memphis. Sam is a FedEx Investor Relations advisor; Chandler is a nurse practitioner. Evelyn ’18 loves NYC and works in sales. Lisa volunteers with Samaritan Counseling and is a St. Mary’s trustee. Lisa and Ken love Maine and their farm. McKenzie Aiken Crisp’s daughter Catie graduated with honors and is working. Philip, Catie, Cole (Catie’s BF), and McKenzie went to London, Paris, and Normandy in March. Drew lives in Murfreesboro with wife Kelsey. Philip is the comp-

troller for Serra Auto Group. McKenzie enjoys sewing, crocheting, knitting, and reading, but still battles long-haul Covid. Margaret Frazier Gardner reports that her family is doing fine, although sadly her father Jim Frazier passed away in November at the age of 90. In the Glynn Feild Dean family, Adam graduated from Ole Miss Law School, lives in Jackson MS, and works for Phelps Dunbar. Glynn is Sr. Investment Analyst and Partner at Gerber Taylor. Benjamin manages the farm and “takes care of the critters.” In New Orleans, Anne Thrasher Lloyd added a specialty food storefront and coffee bar to her Nolavore catering business; during summer she hosts cooking camps for 8-13-year-olds! Husband Matt works for Annunciation Construction. Son John finished his first year at College of Wooster, where he plays lacrosse, studies biology, and economics, and is considering PT. Eliza (HS senior) studies Culinary Arts at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and is a vocalist at the School of Rock. Elizabeth Barnett bought property on Maui—3+ acres and a house she’s rebuilt! It’s a big move for her, as she’s been happily renting on the island of HI for 8 years. Betsy will return soon to her volunteer work in India on Civil 20, where she wrote policy around gender and disability. Heather Kirkpatrick Wheat has lived in TX for over 40 years and worked six years at the same law firm. Son Rory graduated from USMMA and served as an officer in the Coast Guard in NOLA. Although Type 1 Diabetes challenged his career path, he now works for the Coast Guard as a civilian, is engaged, and moved from NOLA to Houston. His fiancee is aptly researching “the social implications of living with a chronic illness.” Reagan Grace studies Political Science at Allegany. Nancy Dilts reports in the

CLASS NOTES

Dilts/Phillipon family that Grace attends Georgetown and will intern in DC before studying abroad in Strasbourg, France. Nancy Dilts Wardrobe Consulting celebrated 10 years. Husband Dan’s book The Farmer, The Gastronome, and The Chef will be out soon. Nancy and her sister enjoy their family lake home in Michigan. In beautiful MI near Nancy, Tino Sage has bought a house in Traverse City. Tino’s business has exceeded pre-pandemic numbers, she has opened a warehouse in Nashville, and her employees live in VA, RI, TN, CA, and AK. Emmy-winning Kristi works on animated shows with many wonderful, funny actors that she loves. Trecia Knapp Tapolsky’s daughter Galya (34) and husband Nuno are moving to Portugal. Galya will work remotely for Kate Spade. Zhenya (33) works remotely for Compass Real Estate’s Philadelphia office. Real Estate keeps Trecia busy; she has co-founded RECompaninon.ai, which uses AI technology to transform the way agents do business. Husband Bruno is involved in the company. For her

children, Colleen Kavanagh has one investment banker in NYC, one PhD student at U of MD, and one budding opera star at Lawrence Conservatory. Colleen and husband celebrated their 30th anniversary. For Zego, Colleen received USDA grants to build a purity-verified gluten-free organic grain supply chain. She will run the facility with profits for farmers, brands, and facility staff. Jeanne Rae Fenster’s oldest son Sam will receive his Ph.D. at University of Denver in religious studies. Menashe starts grad school at U Penn in molecular biotechnology–after travels to London, Prague, and Barcelona. The twins are working summer jobs and gearing up for last year in college. Kara Kilpatrick Preston’s son Thomas loved his freshman year at UT Knoxville. Julia ’18 is leaving her nonprofit in Maine (Best Buddies) for grad school in education in Charlottesville. As for my (Ivy Wilroy Caravati) family, they are spread from Denver (Sid--skiing, software sales, taking full advantage of CO) to Nashville (Charlie–entertainment business management and many concerts) to Richmond (Thomas–insurance and playing and watching any/ all sports). Chip and I are grateful for travels, spending time with extended family, and returning to our farm home base (even with an algae-covered pond). I’m grateful for this class of ’85! Blessings to you all.

~ 1987 ~

ALLISON TONKIN

Gail Borod Giacobbe enjoys her new role as Vice President of the data infrastructure organization at Google and volunteering as

a trustee for the University of Washington’s Henry Art Gallery. With Marcus beginning NYU, she and Antonio are becoming empty nesters. Gail had reconnected with Catherine (Roach) Roche in Seattle, at SMS, through fourth grade when her family moved to Seattle. Pulmonologist Paula Jernigan volunteers to improve women’s health accessibility at all socioeconomic levels. She enjoys time with Andrew. 10th grader Josh loves playing electric guitar and competed in the ultimate frisbee state tournament; eighth grader Libby competed in rowing nationals in Sarasota! Paula is now Board Vice President for the Pittsburgh Glass Center, one of the largest publicly accessible facilities in the world for glassmaking, with a nearly complete expansion of $16 million. The family travels to Kenya and Tanzania! Outpatient physical therapy clinical director Shearon Barbee Craig feels blessed and busy with three grandkids in under two years and a “bonus” granddaughter (5). After attending a summer session in Oxford at the British American Drama Academy, Flip and Kim Justis Eikner’s Nora James ’22 begins Northwestern junior year as a theater major, in Washington, D.C. Brooks continues to work with Senate Democrats as a video producer. In Birmingham, Robbie and Nancy Moore Dyson celebrated their 30th anniversary. With daughter Lilly beginning Rhodes, Nancy will visit Memphis more frequently! Karen Patterson Williams sees continued wellness clinic growth. She celebrated her fourth grandchild. Daughter Darci got married outside Lakeland. Her older son got married in Jackson Hole. Working at an elementary school, Lauren Moran Waddilove remarried in 2021 to Charlie Zellers, inheriting two stepsons for five boys total! From oldest to youngest, Taylor

Gail Borod Giacobbe ’87 with former SMS ’87 classmate Catherine Roche in Seattle

works in London, David teaches English in Japan, and Matthew is a sophomore at Kennesaw State University. Jay and Kristina Schultz Weir’s Charlie begins at Mississippi State University. Jake was invited to share his experience of transitioning from childhood as a LeBonheur patient to Mississippi State Division I athlete. Kristina celebrates surviving breast cancer for 24 years and ovarian cancer for six years! Laura Halle Nunnally’s Anna graduated from TCU! Lizzie loves her NYC PR/Marketing job. They celebrated the wedding of sister Clare Henry Halle Brown ’84’s son Henry. Janelle Zarecor Ranieri’s Lucy, now engaged, will pursue a Masters in Healthcare Administration or Data Health Sciences. John III loves senior year at CU Boulder. Janelle returned to Superior Beverage Group marketing department. Beth Reynolds Bowen’s family celebrated Ella’s one-year-early UT graduation in Costa Rica! She plans UT graduate school for CPA. Tom begins high school senior year. Beth and Patrick celebrated 29 years. Gwynne Keathley and Randy have enjoyed settling into their new home in Park City, UT. Andras, Chip, and I love spending time with them! We quit our radiology jobs of 16 years and took Chip out of 2nd grade for a month to travel Europe! In Hungary, Chip finally met Andras’ family in person, and we spent time at our Tokaji vineyards/ winery. After visiting French wineries, we returned to new remote radiology jobs from our Utah home.

~ 1989 ~

EMILY MALLORY

The last ladies of the 80s had a fun-filled 35th reunion! No matter the number of years one attended St. Mary’s, anyone who had been part of the class of ’89

CLASS NOTES

was welcome. A group went to Chapel on Friday morning, which brought back a flood of memories. After Chapel, some visited with one of their favorite SMS teachers, Mrs. Carmine Vaughan. A campus tour revealed impressive physical and programmatic changes since this class cruised the SMS halls. The new dining hall has windows and sunlight! Reunion organizers Ashley Saxon Abraham and Mary Pritchartt Muscari hosted a lovely party at Mary’s house on Friday evening. At least 20 classmates came and spent hours reconnecting, sharing stories from SMS days, and laughing until their bellies ached. There is a class of ’89 group text where people stay in touch. If you want to join the group, email Emily at emilymallory@yahoo.com. Many thanks to Ashley and Mary for organizing the reunion! We are looking forward to gathering again for our 40th and hope even more classmates will come. Another huge thanks to Courtney Morris Williamson for serving as our class secretary for many years!

~ 1991 ~

CAMELLIA KOLEYNI

Sincere condolences to Alison Taylor Nooks. Her father passed away peacefully in January 2024, but she said, “We give thanks for a life well lived.” She and her family are thankful for all the support that they have received. Sending you much love, Alison! Alison, Kirk, and their kids are otherwise doing well. Daughter Anniston completed her first year in graduate school at UGA, and the twins Konnor and Kaydence completed sixth grade. Husband Kirk is one year into his new role as CEO and President of the Council on Occupational Education (COE), which is one of the 60 accreditors in the U.S. His organization accredits technical colleges in TN. Alison is excited about publishing her first two books this July– one is an inspirational journal, and the other is a children’s coloring book. Both will be available on Amazon by the end of July.Vineet and I are doing well. We love Nashville, though I must admit it

Class of 1989:

1st Row: Rebecca Fisher, Ashley Saxon Abraham, Shannon Wulff, Mary Elizabeth Treadwell Pittman

2nd Row: Missy Voehringer Rakers, Emily Mallory, Courtney Morris Williamson, Julie Bielskis, Mary Pritchartt Muscari

has grown and continues to grow so rapidly that it is hard to keep up with all the changes (mostly positive)! I continue working at Vanderbilt while Vineet continues his work as a radiologist. Spreading awareness about health disparities plus teaching and mentoring students continue to be some of my main passions. We have also been incredibly fortunate to spend time with both of our families, take various trips over the past year or so (Costa Rica, the Mediterranean, California, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Indonesia, and a couple of other places), and have friends like Josepha Kaufman, Heather Haboush-Jarrahy and Rachel Kiefer McNally visit Nashville! As always, I love hearing from all of you (whether or not you have “official” news to share), and I would be excited to see you in Nashville or anywhere else!

~ 1993 ~

KRISTEN MISTRETTA WILSON

Anna Scott Thorsen lives in Nashville with her husband and two daughters. Anna works as a Dyslexia Advocate and volunteers as a surrogate parent for students with disabilities in the foster system. Anna’s oldest daughter just graduated high school and is heading to the University of California - Davis this fall. Her youngest is a rising senior who is very involved as a stage manager in her high school. Courtney Mainardi Burger shared that twin daughters Ellie and Lexi are rising seniors and have committed to play field hockey at Brown and Georgetown, respectively. William is a rising 9th grader and will enjoy overlapping with the girls for a year in high school. He plays football, basketball, and golf. Her family is heading to Europe this summer to escape the Houston heat, and they will also spend time with her

CLASS NOTES

parents in South Carolina. She misses Memphis and hopes to get back soon to see friends! Kim Lupo shared that she and Deb adopted their third baby (Rosie - miniature poodle rescue), survived their first Northwest Arkansas tornado, and are busy planning an epic 50th birthday vaca to Croatia. She is still loving Walmart and the impact they are making for their associates and communities. She gets back to Memphis two to three times a year and would love to connect with folks next time in town. Amelia Treadwell Howard and Nathan are about to become “empty nesters!” Anna Laura graduated from ECS in May and is heading to the University of Arkansas this fall. George will be a junior at U of Arkansas, so having them there together will be so much fun. In September, their first trip as empty nesters will be to visit Lee Raines Buchmann and her husband Paul in Bozeman, MT! Bethany Mays Owen shared that she and Keith are well. Keith is still a pediatrician, and Bethany works part-time as Medical Director for West TN for IVX Health.

Their oldest, Bennett, just graduated from MUS and is headed to UVA in the fall. Keith is thrilled about being back in Charlottesville since he went to medical school there. The twins, rising juniors at MUS, are newly named Student Ambassadors and true Southerners who love hunting and fishing whenever possible. They also play varsity lacrosse and just finished the season with a state championship! It was the first time all three of her boys were on the same team, which was really special (especially for their mom!). Bethany has enjoyed being back at SMS serving on the Alumnae Board and can’t wait to welcome Allison Keltner Musick who will also join this fall! Life continues to be busy and full, and she’s just trying to manage the chaos as best she can while enjoying the ride! Aparna Murti Givens shared that she and Preston are well. Son Karthik is starting third grade. He is all boy, but she loves being his mama, and he is the apple of his grandad’s eye. Preston and Aparna continue to work for Methodist Primary Care group; Aparna says they owe their sanity to

The Class of 1994 having a great time at their 30th reunion.

regular workouts at Orange Theory. As for me, Kristen Mistretta Wilson, I’m still in Charlotte with Jake and our three boys. They are rising 9th, 8th and 3rd graders in the Catholic schools. Our life is full of sports, particularly basketball, travel and, for me, volunteering at their schools. We recently took the boys to the National Parks in UT and AZ to see some of America’s natural beauty and highly recommend it.

~ 1995 ~

CARRIE SUE CASEY

Hi team! We are middle aging, armed with all sorts of tools, including bird banding, Hawaii trips, the launching of private practices and children, and the OLYMPIC TRIALS AT AGE 46 GABRIELLE ROSE YOU ARE AN ICON AND ALSO HUMBLE SO I’LL TRY NOT TO GUSH TOO MUCH. Some Midwest scoop: Dr. Sarah Carlson Landers, ever the trailblazer, is empty nesting. Her son moved to TX, one daughter is graduating from college and moving to W.I., and another daughter is heading to K.U. for college. Sarah’s working part-time and learning how to “just be.” On the East Coast, two of Ann Wood Ray’s three sons are taller than her. Cameron is in college, and Britton and Dillon are in high school. She reports some slicking back of the hair — Drakkar Noir, anyone? Ann still works for primary care clinics; her chickens remain big egg producers. She’s looking forward to a trip to FL and her annual trek to Memphis! Lee Davidson Holt and Kevin remain involved in Memphis through church and the Campus Elementary School. They do one sport per kid per season, and Dorothy (9) enjoys neighborhood parties with Murff Oates Galbreath’s daughter, Mary Abbay. Dorothy is a self-declared

CLASS NOTES

Harry Potter expert, and she reads the books to her brother Charlie (7), who enjoys a stick-on mustache — as he should. Kathryn Wiseman visited Elizabeth Cochran Hill in Atlanta and plans to go back to see The Rolling Stones (and have brunch with Liz, of course). Kathryn is going to the U.K. with her parents for her next trip. Speaking of travel, Hallie Bourland Wagner and Martin’s 15th-anniversary trip to Paris featured food, walking, and biking! Her oldest starts middle school, and her youngest starts K soon - all three in school is a life-changer. For Calder Britt Clark, destination wedding design continues to dominate her professional life — and she went viral on TikTok for her needleworking. On brand! Calder and Chauncey summer in Linville, NC, where they see Murff Oates Galbreath, Calder’s sisters (former SMSers), and Calder’s EIGHT grand-nieces and grand-nephews (from her nieces including Cameron Colcolough Reynolds ’07 and Caitlin Colcolough Williams ’07! Calder sees Ashley Goldstein Allen in D.C. regularly, which involves Joyce, a basketball-playing bird. Dr. Sarah Trosper Olivo and I joined them once and marveled at Ashley’s son Carter’s driving, though our antics traumatized him. Sarah is still loving Nashville life. During a recent NYC work trip, she saw Elizabeth Schatz Passarella’s new apartment and caught up with her. Elizabeth is parenting a teenager, a tween, and a kindergartener. When not writing for The New York Times and New York Magazine, she’s seen many SMSers: Vanessa Buch joined her, and her husband Pass to see U2 in Vegas. She saw Olivia Ralston at Harvard’s 25th reunion (her husband was in Oli’s friend group). I saw her during an NYC trip with my husband and son Hank (just before I realized I had mixed up the

timing for Hamilton tickets). Murff, Hallie, and Blair Bobo Geer met in Florida for their annual girls’ trip. Elizabeth and sister Holland Schatz Burns ’91 also took their mother Libba Schatz to England for an 80th birthday trip! Katherine Arnold Zenus looks forward to her month-long sabbatical after 20+ years at Jackson Spalding in Atlanta, with plans for Nantucket and Vail. Her blended family of five kids between the ages of 13 and 19 is as eventful as she’d imagined, and teaching her 15-year-old how to drive has been “quite the test.” I bet! Gwen McVean Coffey’s eldest daughter, Ella finished junior year at the University of Texas, and her son Thomas, finished freshman year at Texas A&M. Her youngest, Caroline, just finished sophomore year at St. Agnes. Gwen still enjoys her work as social ministry director at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Natasha Heflin Davis’s girls are in 6th and 9th grade, and she remains active in Amelia’s Girl Scout troop as co-leader and Treasurer at the Service Unit Level. Natasha’s bookkeeping business is going strong, and spring break in Hawaii was wonderful. The best news: daughter Tessa wants to be a vet, so Natasha is now familiar with goat “showmanship.” Tessa got 7th place in the goat game Mushy Tushy. I am beside myself. The goat theme continues with Katherine Hasen Le Denmat in Houston, where she joined the Lamb & Goat Committee as a volunteer for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest in the world. Pro tip: volunteering means access to event concerts (“mutton bustin’” is a mustsee!). They saw 50 Cent, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, and the Jonas Brothers. Lily, her oldest, heads to University of Oklahoma. Pierce (15) travels playing soccer, and Anne Kate (11) is in middle school. They plan to visit Paris for the Olympics! Gabrielle

Rose is a testament to everything good I can think of: determination, grace, humility, and strength. She is the oldest swimmer on record to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis (June of 2024). To say we are all rooting for you and proud of you no matter the outcome is an understatement. Simone Kiersky Coyle’s son Evan (15) is a high school freshman, and daughter Elise (13) is in 7th grade. Elise (whipsmart - like mother, like daughter) is a Swiftie. Simone and Will celebrated their 18th anniversary - congrats! Simone is on her second stint as a law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for Judge Coral Wong Pietsch, the first Asian-American woman to reach the rank of general in the U.S. Army. So awesome. Allison Roberts has a job teaching in the Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Ornithology Program at Charles Sturt University! Her bird-banding adventures have taken her to fascinating places. She’s spending the American summer in the U.S., visiting family and friends in L.A., Memphis, and N.C. Also, her 12 acres on the Gold Coast of Australia remain home to Python Pete, who hibernates on the roof. I cannot. Congrats to

CLASS NOTES

Sonia Torrey for launching her private counseling practice in Memphis! Sonia was a great support in the face of some recent family stresses. Preaching to the choir, but what a testament that we pull together to comfort and celebrate nearly 30 years on. I am still doing women, peace, and security work and hope to ramp that up as my kids (and my jowls) mature. I’ve been lucky enough to see Elizabeth P, Ashley, Calder, Sarah O, Olivia, Dhevi Kumar Broecker, and Patricia Graue at different times during the past year, and welcome the chance to see any of you whenever we can make it happen. If any of you have a cure for children bickering, what is it?

In closing, stay strong, get your mammograms, and remember - your body is just the burrito for your soul.

~ 1997 ~

HOLLYE FERGUSON STIGLER

The pace of life is so fast that I want to remind y’all right away that we have a reunion in three years! It’s time to go ahead and save the time in late April 2027 for our THIRTY-year reunion. Can you believe that? It seems like a long time away, but time... Speaking of time, many of us are reflecting on how time flies in life as a parent with many of our kids in high school and starting college searches. Ashley Futrell Anderson has started looking at schools with her son Luke and recently got to see Abby Taylor Frazer and her family when they traveled nearby for a college tour. Ashley founded a Christmas market in Greensboro about 10 years ago, and it has grown over the years into a big holiday community event. Maybe we should all be planning a December trip to North Carolina to check it out! Clare Levy Clarke wrote that she also got to catch up with Abby and her family when they

celebrated Clare’s oldest daughter’s Bat Mitzvah a few weeks ago. Congrats as well to Clare for recently being named to the St. Mary’s Alumnae Board. We are proud of you, Clare! I’ve been reminiscing a lot about SMS recently as I’ve traveled home to Memphis a lot this spring. Also, my oldest daughter just completed her first year of high school. Is anyone else still trying to recite the Canterbury Tales prologue? I also loved the Memphis and St. Mary’s references in Elizabeth Schatz Passarella’s ’95 latest book, It Was An Ugly Couch Anyway. Lots of memories, for sure! Hope to see you all for the reunion and maybe even on the college trail before.

~ 1999 ~

KELLY BUCKNER DALLAS

It’s still hard to believe the class of 1999 celebrated our 25th reunion! It was so much fun to see so many ’99-ers this spring. Thank you to Jenny Jones Savage and Melissa Reedy Buchanan for organizing such a fabulous weekend! Sidney Hawkins Gargiulo and Brittany Blockman Pelletier win the prize for traveling the farthest. Sidney flew

Class of 2001 friends Hayley Bower Gerber, Daphne Trainor Bahl, and Susan Buckner Rose visiting New York City

Class of 2001 friends: Courtney Taylor Humphreys, Lauren Anderson Stone, and Jenny Maddux Stenberg.

in from San Francisco, and Brittany from Boise, ID! Other out-of-towers who came to Memphis were Nancy Liddon Billings, Laura Freeman Rouse, Erin Bower Jarrett, Allison Davies, and Rebecca Fones Rhea, who made the trek all the way from Oxford. Everyone seems to be doing so well! It was great to be back together. In other news, Libby Lawson Foster is enjoying her new role as an Associate Judge in the juvenile court in Austin, TX. Libby says it can be challenging but very rewarding and allows her to have more flexibility with her two children, Etta (5) and Rowan (7). Lillian Askew Everdell lives in San Francisco with her three girls and is looking forward to a trip to Memphis this summer. Courtenay Adams has big news this summer. She is finally moving into her newly built home after a tree fell on her home back in February 2022! We’re so excited for you, Courtenay! I know you are going to love it! Anne-Morgan Brookfield Morgan has enjoyed serving on the St. Mary’s Board of Trustees. She keeps busy with her two St. Mary’s girls, Anne Elise ’29 and Mary Brooks ’32, and plays her new hobby, mahjong. As for us, we have had a great first year living in Greenville, SC. We miss our friends and family in Memphis and look forward to visiting this summer. Please let us know if you’re ever in the Greenville area!

~ 2001 ~

LAUREN ANDERSON STONE

We have a few fresh faces to introduce to the class! Victoria Corder and family welcomed Paul Vance Langelier in January. Big brother Charles is obsessed and loves reading to little Pauli. Ashley Ayres Bryant, Josh, and proud big brothers Mac and Cole welcomed long-awaited baby sister Frannie in May.

CLASS NOTES

Congratulations,Victoria and Ashley! Courtney Taylor Humphreys and her crew celebrated the first birthday of their sweet Lucy, and she reports that the whole family is just obsessed with her. In fact, she may never walk because she gets carried everywhere she wants to go! Courtney says it has been pretty special watching the three older kids, Tucker (12), Heloise ’32 (11), and Annie, ’34 (8), take care of their baby sister. The Humphreys family was sad to move from midtown in the fall but are now right around the corner from St. Mary’s. Anna Snyder Rojas and her crew are moving to Little Rock this summer. Anna says they never thought they would leave Memphis, but life likes to throw you curves. She can’t believe her daughter, Jane ’32, will not be graduating from SMS. Best of luck to the Rojas family on their new adventure! Nishta Mehra reports that the past year has been a period of big change for her too. From getting divorced to dealing with chronic migraines and navigating the healthcare system, Nishta is proud of how she has managed it all. In addition to working as a nanny and enjoying many sweet baby snuggles, Nishta has been writing a lot. She is working on a new book of essays and publishing weekly at her Substack, Omnivore of the Human Experience. Shiv is now somehow a tween and has turned Nishta into a dance mom! They both got to see Kate McCalla and Tyler when they were in Baltimore a few months back. They visited a favorite spot for crab cakes, which did not disappoint. Hayley Bower Gerber enjoyed an incredible weekend in New York City with Susan Buckner Rose and Daphne Trainor Bahl this spring. Getting to visit classmates in other cities is so special! Another special St. Mary’s experience I was fortunate to have this spring was watching my daughter, Mary

Evelyn ’37, be a flower girl at graduation, wearing the very dress I wore as a flower girl in 1987. She had a wonderful time and is excited to participate again next year with her senior kindergarten class. Listening to the seniors speaking at graduation about the community of St. Mary’s and counting down the “lasts” of their experiences together at school brought tears to my eyes. In some ways, it feels like only yesterday we were in their shoes!

~ 2003 ~

LAURENCE GOODWIN

We seem to be in babyland here in the Class of 2003 with little ones appearing left, right and center. Congratulations to all the new mamas and mamas-tobe in the class. Mary Milton Kelly Thuston married Robert on New Years Eve in 2022 and welcomed her son Palmer exactly one year later. She lives in New York City with her family where she has been for the past 10 years. Stephanie Dunavant Loftin and husband Taylor welcomed baby Cori in April. They’ve just moved as well, so lots to juggle! Congratulations to Joelle Pittman Elliott and husband Evan on the birth of their baby boy Locke in February. Big sister Izzie adores “her baby”. Lanier Yeates’s son Teddy was born at the end of May. She and the whole family are looking forward to spending some time in LA during her maternity leave before heading back home to NYC. Carmen Carson Gorospe’s second daughter Lucy was born in December. Her older daughter Clara turned 5 in March and has been the best big sister, always wanting to help and to hold Lucy. So sweet. Abby Yandell Talbot also had a second daughter, Frances, in October. Her older daughter Winn ’36 was a flower girl in May, along with Nicole Dennis

Bremseth, Carey Faber Campbell, Audrey Bourland Hurst, and Mary Austin Mays Smith’s daughters. Wonderful to see our class’s babies carrying the flag, so to speak! Michelle Ralston Morris celebrated her 40th(!) in Oaxaca earlier this year and recently spent some time in Memphis visiting with Lauren Coleman Robinson, Lizzie Gill Foreman, Audrey, Mary Milton, and Mary Austin. Having been in Memphis myself in April, I can attest there’s no place like home and nothing like spending time with friends from St. Mary’s. As we hurtle towards new babies, milestone birthdays, and the inevitable changes life brings, though we are far away, grown-up, and changed in so many ways, we’re still bound by the friendships we built at SMS. As Michelle said so well in her email this round of class notes, “Cheers to our ‘Light and Life’ spirit that many of us embody as we approach the top of the hill and celebrate life.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!

CLASS NOTES

~ 2005 ~

SARAH

ATKINSON BALL

LAUREN WIYGUL RILEY

Last November, Barbara Phillips Hunsicker and her family moved from AL to the Tampa area of FL as her husband Dave accepted a call to be senior pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Dunedin. While they miss their friends in Huntsville, they are enjoying this fun opportunity to live just minutes from the beach. Barbara also adds, “In true nerd form, I’ve taken up birding as a new hobby and am enjoying sharing my bird photography on Instagram @barbsnbirds.” Kirsi Tuomanen-Hill married Sameer Khan on November 18, 2023. She became Christian and joined the Catholic Church, receiving her First Communion and Confirmation on April 7, 2024. She and Sameer live in Austin, TX. Grace Jensen Knight writes, “I’m starting my 10th year at SMS this fall which is hard to believe. It’s really fun to get to see lots of ’05 daughters there!” The Knight kids are busy with sports and are doing well. Katie Brookoff’s latest:

“This weekend, I did live-drawings of people and the bagels in their lives for the opening of a new bagel store, and I’m gearing up for the fall when I’ll be selling my art at my 4th NYC Bagelfest! (Also I actually have a job but a gal can dream about a day when I never have to work because I am paid a bajillion dollars to just eat bagels).” Katie is counting down the seconds to our 20th reunion! Sarah Atkinson Ball ran into Elizabeth Batchelor Calkins and Emily Templeton Gray at Bellevue’s (infamous?) giant indoor playground, and Sarah’s mom managed to get a picture of the whole group, seven kids included!

~ 2007 ~

CAITLIN COLCOLOUGH WILLIAMS

The class of 2007 has welcomed lots of sweet babies recently! Allie Stephens Eick welcomed her first daughter, Kitty, after three boys on March 25th. Virginia Dickinson LaSala also welcomed her first daughter, Mary Kate, named after two SMS alumnae! Suzanne Ray Margello also had a baby boy, Sam, in December! Rachel Brown Nolan just started a new job teaching sewing lessons at the Irish Wheelchair Association, and she loved seeing Hallie Flanagan and her family on their recent trip to Ireland! Caitlin Clark took a solo trip to London and saw the Harry Potter movie set. She also got board certified in Internal Medicine last year and is still working as a Hospitalist in Tupelo. Jasmine Bolton got engaged and is moving to MI where her fiancé will be joining the Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology Department at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor as an assistant professor. They are moving in the fall and planning a February 1st wedding!

2005 classmates Elizabeth Batchelor Calkins, Emily Templeton Gray, and Sarah Atkinson Ball (and all of their kids)

~ 2009 ~

BAILEY BETHELL FOUNTAIN

We had a fun group together for our 15 year reunion in April! Jordan Reeve coordinated our crew for the weekend. We enjoyed chapel and campus tours then dinner graciously hosted by Reagan Bugg. Reagan still practices veterinary medicine and surgery at The Pet Hospitals in Memphis. In January 2024 she was promoted to Medical Director of her clinic as well as Regional Doctor Mentor for 12 hospitals. Brandon O’Brien Jankovsky gave birth to Andrew Cape Jankovsky on October 5, 2023! Brandon was promoted to Vice President Marketing and Strategic Alliances, Discovery Education. She has been with Discovery for nine years now focused on workforce readiness resources. Ruthie Morrison Vaughan has a one-year-old daughter, Annie, and is expecting her second child in August! Ruthie completed her fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology and will be starting a job at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX. Bailey Bethell Fountain welcomed Collin Davis Fountain Jr. (Davis) last August. Christine Petrin graduated from Georgetown’s combined residency in Internal Medicine & Pediatrics where she served as Chief Resident. She is moving to New York with her husband where she will provide primary care to adults and children in the East Harlem community with a faculty appointment at Mount Sinai Hospital. Leah Bearman Pinkston recently transitioned to working as a mental health therapist for Clover Counseling, Inc. Her two daughters will be starting at SMS in the fall in PK and JK! Wallis

CLASS NOTES

Tosi Steiner stays busy running around with a toddler, working on product development for KAD and helping husband Josh with his booming downtown bakery — the Hive! Karen Stein Robbins had a lot of big life events over the past year. She and her family moved to Atlanta in August 2023 and welcomed twin girls (Annie and Caroline) in November. Karen is juggling three kids under 3 along with her newly promoted role as Director of Product Marketing at SPANX. Natalie Jacewicz Kern got a job as a professor of environmental law at the University of San Diego, where her husband will also be a law professor. She feels sentimental about leaving NYC/the East Coast but is excited to spend a lot more time with sea lions and become a snob about avocados. Alexandra Baker enjoys success as a Memphis-based painter. She has been published in Vanity Fair London, British Vogue, and Suboart Magazine (an international fine art publication). She has an opening at St. Mary’s own Buckman on November 8, 2024 from 5-7pm. The show at Buckman will run from November 1December 16, 2024. Check her website for updates and information www.alexandrabakerfineart.com Grace McNatt was promoted to Senior Paralegal at DaVita Inc., where she is also serving as the 2024-2025 co-chair of the legal department’s Onboarding Committee. Grace was also ecstatic to have Meg Fowler ’08 join DaVita’s Denver legal team in 2023! Melissa Johnson Pippin matched in Critical Care Fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis for July 2025. The women of our class are doing truly amazing things!

~ 2011 ~

MEG CORNAGHIE ALLYSON PATTERSON DALTON

Catherine Bolich got engaged to Lt. Samuel Lacinski in December, and they are eagerly planning their wedding for January 2025 in Queenstown, New Zealand. They have recently relocated to NV, and Catherine founded her own company to provide retail media consulting for brands on Amazon and Walmart. Meg Cornaghie is graduating from orthopedic surgery residency at University of Arkansas and will be moving to St. Louis in July for a pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship at Washington University. She also got engaged! Lauren Harrington Stubblefield and family are loving Nashville as she continues to work as a senior manager at Houzz while husband Seth finishes Neurology residency and fellowship at Vanderbilt. They were overjoyed to welcome baby Summer on May 27. Son Judah (4) is thrilled to be a big brother to sweet Summer. Eliza Hendrix is working as an Occupational Therapist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and absolutely loving it! She loves being able to spend time with

Class of 2009 friends Reagan Bugg and Jordan Reeve at their class reunion party

friends, family and her two cats. Anna Morten, Lucy Wade Shapiro, Margaret McClintock Cosgrove, Mary Peeler and Whitney Wortham Priester enjoyed a fantastic trip to St. John together this spring. They saw incredible wildlife both while snorkeling and driving on the wrong side of the road. They thought they would lose Mary to the snorkel life, but she had to get back to the States for her wedding in September. Mary Peeler is finishing her Ob/Gyn residency this summer and moving to Chapel Hill to do a fellowship in Maternal Fetal at UNC. Maria Zoccola’s first book, Helen of Troy, 1993, a poetry collection reimagining the Homeric Helen in the hills of TN in the early nineties, is forthcoming from Scribner/Simon & Schuster in January 2025.

~ 2013 ~ EMMA LESS

It’s been a busy few months for the Class of 2013! The first of several new babies born, Elizabeth “Wallace”Vann was born to Callie Wallace Vann and husband Keaton on December 5th, 2023 in Nashville. Sims Peters

CLASS NOTES

Tuten and Meg Peters Patterson ’16 were there for her baptism this spring. Speaking of, Sims got married to Sam Tuten at the Tennessee State Museum this April! Hannah Stein Hammer and husband Evan are living in San Antonio. Hannah is teaching Kindergarten at a school she loves in Alamo Heights ISD. Their baby girl, Rosie Rush Hammer, was born on January 16th. Lily Yant Hurt and husband Ben welcomed a baby boy, William “Wally” Charles Hurt on January 23rd! Hopping over across the pond, Alexa Fila Berard, Emily Rosenthal and Anna Peeler are all living in London! Landon

Hopkins is still living in NYC and is working at Liberty Mutual as a Fine Art Insurance Underwriter. Landon has also enjoyed getting to travel a bit more since joining Liberty, including going to London in October 2023 and was even able to add on extra days to visit Amsterdam with Alexa, Anna, and Emily! Landon and Anna Lauren Hopkins Simonson ’10 just got back from a trip to Scandinavia, with the highlight being, of course, seeing Taylor Swift! Emma Less also got a chance to see Alexa, Emily and Anna for dinner during a recent trip to London. She loves being on the St. Mary’s Alumnae Board with Lida Kruchten Ewald and is excited to serve as Alumnae Board President starting this summer! Ariyan Nicole “Nikki” Cox Tate graduated Cum Laude with her Doctor

Lucy Newton ’13, Emma Less ’13, McKenzie McClanahan ’13, Kim Taylor Freedman ’13, Lida Kruchten Ewald ’13, Zoe Van Deveer ’13, and Maggie Norman ’13 at Kim’s baby shower

Gathering at the wedding of Grace Bettis Sample ’13

Back row: Jennie Van Deveer, Zoe Van Deveer ’13, Penny Bower, McKenzie McClanahan ’13, Paula Hopkins, Sandra Pitts, Cyndie Fogarty and Emma Less ’13; Front row: Lucy Newton ’13, Lida Kruchten Ewald ’13, Judy Brundige, Barbara McClanahan, Jennifer Kruchten, Janey Butler Newton ’77, Angela Less, Nancy Adler, and Maggie Norman ’13.

of Medicine from St. George’s University School of Medicine on June 1st. She’s coming home to complete her combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics (Med/Peds) at UTHSC! Kim Taylor Freeman also graduated in May with her Certificate in Orthodontics and Master of Dental Science from UTHSC. She is happy to finally be done with school! That’s not all for Kim, as her baby girl, Louise Mia Freeman, was born on March 15th! Olivia Stevens just finished up her second year serving as a mental health therapist in the D.C. public school system. She loves exploring her new neighborhood, Capitol Hill, playing pickleball and checking out all the museums and fun happenings in D.C. Mackenzie Isom is also still living in D.C. and is working as the IT Manager for The Washington Spirit, D.C. Women’s professional soccer team!

CLASS NOTES

~ 2015 ~

MICHELLE CHU

EMMA FARRIS

Abbie Warr is channeling her inner pep club spirit into playing kickball with Pride Sports Memphis. She is also trying to learn how to play the banjo (for the third time). Emma Farris is pursuing her JD at Tulane University Law School and was recently elected Vice President of the Maritime Law Society. Emma will be working in-house at Ingram Barge Company for eight weeks this summer and will spend the last few weeks of the summer working for federal magistrate judge, the Honorable Annie T. Christoff, in Memphis. Jane Morrison is pursuing her JD-MBA at Vanderbilt Law School and will spend her summer in New York working for Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP as a summer associate. Mary Jane McCaghren passed her CFA L3 exam. For those that do not speak “finance” fluently, Mary Jane is now a Chartered Financial Analyst, which means that, in the world of investment analysis, her credentials meet the gold standard. Ashton Terry Marceau is working as an Educational Assistant at the public school in Cochrane, Ontario. She is now officially a Canadian Permanent Resident. This summer, she plans to spend a lot of time hiking, fishing and camping with her husband and dog. Mary Thompson is still a student at Hunter College in New York City where she is working on her Masters of Arts in Art History. Michelle Chu continues to work in TV development at Bento Box Entertainment in Los Angeles. She has also been directing an hour long comedy show starring her friend EJ Marcus. The show I Can Show You has been on tour in several cities in recent months.

~ 2019 ~

ARABELLA MCGOWAN FAITH BRADLEY

Karsen Springfield is a DDS Candidate in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry Class of 2027 and works as a content creator on TikTok where she is known as “The Tooth Fairy”. After graduating in May 2023, Abbie Ryan moved back to Memphis and now works at Smith+Nephew as a Global Associate Product Marketing Manager. She also volunteers as a Young Life leader for TN19. Liv Gamble graduated in May from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism. She recently accepted a full-time position as a planning editor for The New York Times, where she spent the fall as a contractor. She is beyond excited to spend this next chapter in New York City alongside her springer spaniel, Prince. Emily Richards is living in Baton Rouge working at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a tax accountant & will become a licensed CPA in July. She is getting married to Mason Williams (MUS ’18) at the Church of the Holy Communion in June. Maddie Jenks moved to Houston, TX and was recently promoted to Sr. Specialist government affairs focusing on fuels, renewable fuels, alternative energy for Pilot travel centers. Langston Myers is currently living in Chicago working as a Research Assistant for the National Study of Innovative Treatments for Substance Use Disorders before getting her PhD in Human Development and Family Science with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy at Ohio State in the fall. Arabella McGowan recently moved to New York City where she is working in consulting for a firm specializing in tech, media and telecom. Bella Zafer

Meg Peters Patterson ’16, Callie Wallace Vann ’13, Wallace Vann, and Sims Peters Tuten ’13 at Wallace’s baptism

is currently living in Denver where she is Chief of Multimedia Production for a creative agency she has been growing for the past year. She also works freelance filming, photographing and doing set work for various commercial projects in the area.

~ 2021 ~

MIRIAM GARDNER

ELIZABETH MOODY

RIA PATEL

Evie Fowler is a rising senior at Belmont University in Nashville where she studies songwriting and music business. Evie is the president of the Belmont University Songwriting Association, as well as an intern at Black River Publishing on Music Row. In her

CLASS NOTES

spare time, she enjoys volunteering for Belmont’s Office of Administration as a Bruin Recruiter and writing songs with her friends around town. Evie plans to stay in Nashville following her graduation in May 2025. Ellen Parker is living in Franklin, TN, learning how to live independently. She has enjoyed learning how to cook and budget. Laura Isaacs started following her path of becoming a high school or college teacher and is also interested in doing political theory research! This summer she is working as Assistant Head Counselor at St. Mary’s Day Camps. Chloe Young is continuing her role as president of SMU’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. This summer, she will be interning with HeadBox, an event management

company in London, working alongside the public relations team. Chloe is also continuing her pursuit of a Dance Performance degree. Neeley Mathes is looking forward to her last year at TCU before applying to graduate school for physical therapy. Lizzie Moody works as a nursing assistant at Duke Regional Hospital. She also enjoys volunteering in the UNC Pediatric Playroom and Cardiometabolic Lab. Margaret Couloubaritsis is majoring in Business communications with a minor in entrepreneurship at Baylor University. She was involved in Kappa Alpha Theta where she coordinated events and made content for their social media and enjoys being active in the Ducks Unlimited Organization and the Hellenic Society. She is currently interning for a company in Washington, D.C. that involves project management and marketing. Miriam Gardner is studying Apparel Merchandise at Auburn University. She serves as the merchandise coordinator for Alpha Delta Pi. Miriam looks forward to working at Paris Fashion Week in the fall and is hoping to move to New York City after graduation. Sophie Droke is enjoying her time at The University of Mississippi majoring in Integrated Marketing and Communications. She is a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority where she

The Class of 2019 gathers for their 5th reunion.

served as the Local Philanthropy chair this past year. She also works as a floral/ event assistant at Oxford Floral and will be graduating in May 2025. In April, Ansley Skipper and the Virginia Mock Trial team won the college mock trial National Championship, making her an Intercollegiate All-American! She’s spending the summer in Virginia as a Communications Fellow for Senator Tim Kaine’s reelection campaign. Jennifer Ruffin is entering her senior year at Wellesley College as a Data Science Major. She currently serves as the President of the Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. This summer, she is a Chase Leadership Development Summer Analyst for JP Morgan Chase & Co. in Plano, TX. She looks forward to her last year of college exploring Boston, enjoying her friends and securing a job that makes her happy! Chloé Webster has spent this past year serving as the University of Oregon’s Student Body President, leading the student government in advocating for student basic needs on campus and lobbying for higher education at the state and federal levels. After a busy year, she is excited to travel abroad to the UK, France, and Italy, including a three-week leadership program at the University of Oxford.

CLASS NOTES

~ 2023 ~

CAMERON HART

RUTH ANN SEALE

Grace Ciaramitaro broke the freshman record and was third all-time in the 200 backstroke. She was named on the Vanderbilt SEC roster and nominated for Female Newcomer of the Year across all Vanderbilt athletics. Naisha Gaur served as an Eco Representative with the Center for Sustainability Education, managing her dorm’s compost bins and promoting sustainable initiatives on campus. She also performed in the Dance Theatre Group’s fall and spring performances as a performing member. She was awarded the American Chemical Society’s 2024 Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry. Cameron Hart enjoyed taking a course on the First Amendment at Emory University’s School of Law. She looks forward to working as a research assistant, focusing on an edition of Henry VI: Part III for Cambridge Shakespeare Editions. Grace Jones finished her first year at Wake Forest University and enjoyed participating in Reformed University Fellowship and playing on the club lacrosse team. Alexandra Lafferty started on a

new research project that looks at bird stress levels in the microbiome of their large intestines. She has also joined a sorority at Auburn University, Kappa Kappa Gamma, along with a national honor society, Phi Sigma Pi. Rachel Larkins just finished her first year at the University of Puget Sound. She has spent time exploring the PNW by snowshoeing and backpacking in the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier. Within the honors program, she is studying biology and earth and environmental science. This summer she plans to do research in collaboration with Dr. Diamond at Rhodes College and the Memphis Zoo. Erika Ross joined the business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, and holds two leadership positions in her sorority as part of the Panhellenic Delegate Committee and the Continuous Open Bid Committee. She plans to serve as a Resident Assistant in her sophomore year. Ruth Ann Seale served as Vice President of Joan C. Miller Residence Hall’s Community Council and Dory Restaurant’s Social Media Manager. Lea Thomas is the Secretary of Homeland Club and Co-President of Social Events at Chabad. She had two articles published in the University of Arizona’s The Daily Wildcat.

St. Mary’s AlumLink is more than a directory! Join today to:

Miles Schaeffer Sullivan ’14, Ellen Cowens Harrison ’14, Sophie Droke ’21, Maddie Droke Briscoe ’14, Natalie Meeks Lyles ’14 and Hallie Katz ’14 at Maddie and William Briscoe’s wedding on March 16, 2024

Meeks Lyles ’14 and Hunter Lyles

4, 2024

MILESTONES

Marriages

Mary Milton Kelly ’03 to Robert Thuston

December 31, 2022

Kirsi Tuomanen-Hill ’05 to Sameer Khan

November 18, 2023

Lizzy Holt ’08 to Matt Walker

March 16, 2024

Christine Petrin ’09 to Flynn Zaiger

November 4, 2023

Austin Hasenmueller ’12 to Dan Topham

January 27, 2024

Sims Peters ’13 to Sam Tuten

April 13, 2024

Maddie Droke ’14 to William Briscoe

March 16, 2024

Natalie Meeks ’14 to Hunter Lyles

May 4, 2024

Births/Adoptions

Paul Vance Langelier to Victoria Corder ’01

January 23, 2024

Frances Mills “Frannie” Bryant to Ashley Ayres Bryant ’01

May 8, 2024

Theodore “Teddy” Yeates Ko to Lanier Yeates ’03

May 24, 2024

Cordelia Natalie Loftin to Stephanie Dunavant Loftin ’03

April 9, 2024

Palmer Robert Thuston to Mary Milton Kelly Thuston ’03

December 31, 2023

Lucy Ann Gorospe to Carmen Carson Gorospe ’03

December 15, 2023

Frances Lively Talbot to Abby Yandell Talbot ’03

October 24, 2023

Ellis Katherine Musice to Hillary Edwards Musice ’05

February 1, 2024

Charlie Jerome Jacobs to Ellen Makowsky ’06

May 7, 2024

William Hayes Matteson to Lauren Bowden Matteson ’06

March 16, 2024

Elijah Kai Cheung to Melissa Tsiu ’06

March 29, 2024

Katharine Francis “Kitty” Eick to Allie Stephens Eick ’07

March 25, 2024

Mary Katherine “Mary Kate” LaSala to Virginia Dickinson LaSala ’07

February 23, 2024

Samuel “Sam” James Margello to Suzanne Ray Margello ’07

December 29, 2023

Esme Luisa Dietche to Amanda Castroverde ’08 January 26, 2024

Takamori Salvador to Yuni Graham Cowan ’08 February 11, 2024

Jacob “Jake” Henry Hollenberg to Molly Himmelstein Hollenberg ’08

April 24, 2024

Kirsi Tuomanen Hill ’05 to Sameer Khan, November 18, 2023

Natalie

at their wedding on May

MILESTONES

Bodhi Kaneria Shetty to Nayha Patel Shetty ’08 April 20, 2024

Collin Davis Fountain, Jr. to Bailey Bethell Fountain ’09 August 16, 2023

Andrew Cape Jankovsky to Brandon O’Brien Jankovsky ’09 October 5, 2023

Abigail Louise Pagni to Lindsey Driver Pagni ’09 December 22, 2023

Annie Bette Robbins and Caroline Davis Robbins to Karen Stein Robbins ’09 November 2, 2023

Meredith McManus Thompson to Elizabeth Ansbro Thompson ’09 March 19, 2024

Summer Scott Stubblefield to Lauren Harrington Stubblefield ’11 May 27, 2024

Margaret Parrish Carlton to Grace Bethell Carlton ’12 September 18, 2023

Lisbeth Kay Cummins to Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12 March 9, 2024

Peyton Louis Kinsley to Brooks Wingate Kinsley ’12 February 13, 2024

Harris Lee Patterson to Camille Vaughn Patterson ’12 February 12, 2024

Rosie Rush Hammer to Hannah Stein Hammer ’13 January 16, 2024

Louise Mia Freeman to Kim Taylor Freeman ’13 March 15, 2024

William “Wally” Charles Hurt to Lily Yant Hurt ’13

January 23, 2024

Elizabeth “Wallace”Vann to Callie Wallace Vann ’13

December 5, 2023

Henry Oliver Baumgardner to Camille Cowart Baumgardner ’14 February 19, 2024

Professional Updates

Jane Carr ’96

New York Press Club Award for Journalism in the Online Commentary category. Co-edited “The Case of Lizzie Borden and Other Writings: Tales of a Newspaper Woman,” the first volume of collected works of Elizabeth Garver Jordan (18651947), a journalist, editor, suffrage activist, and fiction writer

Catherine Ferguson Conger ’02

Lower School Chaplain for Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, SC

Margarett Frisby Brown ’08

Promoted to Executive Director of Internal Communications for Commercial Banking (CB) Regulatory Functions and Managing Editor of CB Intranet and Featured News at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Jessica Farris Zafarris ’08

Published Words from Hell, a humorous examination of naughty and nefarious words; Co-host of the podcast “Words Unravelled”; Content director for Ragan and PR Daily

Reagan Bugg ’09

Promoted to Medical Director of The Pet Hospitals as well as Regional Doctor Mentor for 12 hospitals

Natalie Jacewicz Kern ’09

Environmental Law Professor at the University of San Diego

Brandon O’Brien Jankovsky ’09

Promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Alliances, Discovery Education

Molly Himmelstein Hollenberg ’08 with husband Dan and son Jake

Camille Cowart Baumgardner ’14 and son Henry

Rosie, daughter of Hannah Stein Hammer ’13 and granddaughter of Robin Rader Stein ’79

Grace McNatt ’09

Promoted to Senior Paralegal at DaVita Inc., where she is also serving as the 20242025 co-chair of the legal department’s Onboarding Committee

Karen Stein Robbins ’09

Promoted to Director of Product Marketing at SPANX

Lauren Pate ’12

Transitioned into tech at Hewlett Packard Enterprises in the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Austin Hasenmueller Topham ’12

Program Advisor for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway at ALSAC, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Lucy Newton ’13

Project Management Advisor in the Properties Project Development Group at FedEx Express

Julia Hirt ’18

Asset Wealth Management, Goldman Sachs

Olivia House ’18

Clinical Research Coordinator, Semmes Murphey Foundation

Erin Jewell ’18

Administrative Fellow, Duke Health

Ellie McGhee ’18

Senior Vice President of Merchandise & Marketing, Hollywood Feed

Postgraduate Degrees

Jenna McNair ’06

Master’s in Social Work, University of Memphis

Margaret Liddon Emley ’08

Master of Business Administration, Vanderbilt University, Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence

Jessica Farris Zafarris ’08

Master’s in Journalism, University of Colorado Boulder

Christian Pearl Bradley ’12

Master of Business Administration, MIT Sloan School of Management

Kim Taylor Freeman ’13

Certificate in Orthodontics & Master in Dental Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Ariyan Nicole “Nikki” Cox Tate ’13

Doctor of Medicine, St. George’s University School of Medicine

Lucy Chancellor ’18

Master’s in Speech Pathology, University of Memphis

Evie Laney ’18

Master’s in Speech Pathology, University of Memphis

Adalyn Meeks ’18

Master’s in Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University

Margaret Liddon Emley ’08 with sons William and Thomas at graduation from Vanderbilt Executive MBA program

Evie Laney ’18 and Lucy Chancellor ’18, University of Memphis graduation

Liz Story (rescheduled from 2023) - 08.09.24

Joan Osborne - 09.12.24

Artrageous - 09.20.24

Fisk Jubilee Singers - 10.24.24

TAIKOPROJECT - 11.07.24

The Sporkful Podcast - 01.16.25

Alison Cook Beatty Dance - 01.31.25

Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band - 02.28.25

Alex Cuba - 03.30.25

Jackopierce - 04.06.25

For more information and to purchase tickets, leap to: buckmanartscenter.com

You are our light.

We are grateful for your support to St. Mary’s Episcopal School. Your generosity brightens our LIGHT and strengthens the LIFE of our school community.

ThaNk you. View the 2023-24 Annual Report

One of St. Mary’s most cherished May traditions is Lower School Class Day, where each grade performs an hour-long recital featuring dance and musical numbers. Class Day is the culmination of a year of fine arts instruction, allowing the girls to showcase their artistic growth.

“Some academic subject areas allow students to show growth weekly or even daily. The arts are unique in that they need ‘time on the instrument,’ meaning the only way to grow is by spending large amounts of time practicing the art,” said Lower School Creative Movement Teacher Mary Elizabeth Washburn. “It may appear that things

Lights, Camera, Class Day!

don’t change much from week to week, but the girls are making incremental progress. Class Day is an excellent opportunity to show how the incremental improvements add up to monumental change in the girls’ art from year to year.”

Throughout the year, girls work on vocal and instrument techniques and discover new rhythm patterns and various organizational forms used in creating music. They also learn important skills needed for performance, like body posture, facial expression, and vocal articulation.

“As we approach the spring semester, I begin thinking about where each grade excels. I prepare for each grade’s

individual programs by learning which elements appeal to their personalities and to their skills,” said Lower School Music Teacher Terri Theil.

Both teachers witness the social-emotional benefits of practicing and performing as a group.

“Practicing as a group teaches our girls to work as a team. For example, to dance in unison with just a glance or a breath can feel like magic. This type of communication carries over into everyday life; the student naturally starts to see these nonverbal cues around them, increasing their social-emotional intelligence,” says Mrs. Washburn.

We celebrated the Class of 2024 at St. Mary's 139th Commencement in May. Congratulations to the 74 deserving graduates. This impressive class earned acceptance to 179 universities and will move on to 53 different colleges and universities in 28 states and Italy. Read more on page 15.