St. Mary's Magazine Spring 2024

Eighth grader Kamryn Keith impresses as an emerging star on the Varsity Volleyball team, winning All-Region honors. Learn more about the accomplishments of our fall and winter teams on page 24.

Editor

Ainsley Willis, Assistant Director of Communication

Contributors

Courtney Shove ’96 Design

Gabrielleschi Creative Photography

Lisa Buser P’14, Brandon Dill

Class Notes Editor

Courtney Taylor Humphreys ’01 P’32’34

Director of Communication

Jennifer Parris

Social Media & Athletics Coordinator

Sarah Walker ’16

Communications Advisor

Whitney Plumpton

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

The

OF SCHOOL

Albert L. Throckmorton

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dear Friends, HEAD

Timothy E. Davis, Jr. P’20’22, Chair

Susan Whitten Graber ’86, Vice Chair

Joelle Rogin P’25’27, Treasurer

Roberta Kustoff P’24, Secretary

Wendy Pritchartt Ansbro ’79 P’09

James H. Barton, Jr. P’25

Jeffrey Block P’24’26

Susan Roberts Colpitts ’75

Mikara Davis

Michele Ehrhart P’27

James R. Jenkins P’25

Lawrence Jensen P’05’10 G’32’34’36’38

Hallie Dinkelspiel Label ’94

Frances Kirkland Lawhead P’30’31

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

Elvira R. Ormseth P’24

Lisa Breazeale Roberts ’85 P’12’18

Monica Skipper P’21

Mary Katherine Stout P’29

Jennilyn Jennings Utkov ’77

David Visinsky P’26’29

Hallie McNeill Ward P’25

At Large Members

Linda McNeil

Ex Officio Members

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

Anna Snyder Rojas ’01 President

Elizabeth Middlecoff Allen ’91

Essie Arrindell-Williams ’98

Morgan Beckford ’06

Jenay Gipson Boggs ’06

Lynn Bledsoe Buhler ’67

McKenzie Aiken Crisp ’85

Madge Logan Deacon ’69

Elizabeth Cashman Dickinson ’86

Beth Brown Dunn ’79

Lida Kruchten Ewald ’13

Courtney Ellis Felts ’96

Whitney Baer Foster ’00

Hayley Bower Gerber ’01

Grayce Gordon ’10

Austin Hasenmueller ’12

Angie King Keesee ’72

Kristen Thompson Keegan ’90

Sharlene Sidhu Keithley ’96

Emma Less ’13

Kate Smith Mallory ’07

Kelly McCracken ’84

Bethany Mays Owen ’93

Polly Klyce Pennoyer ’02

Jekka Ashman Pinckney ’78

Patti Person Ray ’65

Amy Reinhardt Robinson ’00

Jenny Jones Savage ’99

Jordan Upton Schieffler ’12

Tricia Hood Thomas ’90

Falconer Robbins Warren ’05

Ex Officio Members

Gigi Gould ’70, Alumnae Relations Manager

Albert L. Throckmorton, Head of School

“Today’s world needs St. Mary’s alumnae more than ever.” With those words, we launched the Light, Life, & Legacy Campaign in January. As you will read, St. Mary’s continues to launch young women into successful futures and provide girls with an unparalleled educational experience. Tomorrow’s world needs our alumnae, too. We see more and more each day that we must prepare students for lives that will not look like ours.

To better meet the demands of tomorrow, we must balance tradition and innovation. This year, we have the opportunity to reimagine Moss Hall—the oldest building on our campus. This stately home has not kept pace in accommodating our growth and goal to serve girls’ futures. The historic building was built as a home and never designed for students. In August 2025, thanks to generous donors, a new 9,000-square-foot Moss Hall will preserve the past and imagine a brighter future.

The center of Moss Hall has always been the library. At St. Mary’s, we remain dedicated to the foundational skill of learning to read. Each girl’s remarkable journey begins with this basic skill. Learning to read is fundamental to success in academics and life. We will demonstrate that commitment with a new home for reading called “Liza’s Library.” The love of reading Eliza Fletcher personified will be remembered and celebrated in this new vibrant center for learning for Early Childhood and Lower School students.

After learning to read, students read to learn—an essential activity for discovery and growth. In Lower School, students expand their curiosity about the world, its stories, history, and opportunities. Understanding how things work instills in students the mindset of an engineer solving a problem. When they encounter a setback, it’s not a cause to fear failure but an opportunity to return to the scientific method, to reiterate, and to invent.

More than any other area, our science and technology offerings grow and evolve because we are preparing students for fields we can’t fully imagine. Our campaign creates three new spaces to support this ever-changing curriculum—a science room and a makerspace as part of Moss Hall and a new science lab in the Upper School. By relocating some offices to Moss Hall, we can also open up space on the South Campus for four new classrooms to support enrollment demand while maintaining appropriate classroom sizes.

We are excited to be in this moment. We are here because of the remarkable leadership and generosity of our alumnae, families, and friends. I hope you enjoy reading the stories of success and aspiration and will be inspired to help us build St. Mary’s future.

Light and Life,

Albert L. Throckmorton Head of School

A Brighter Future for Girls

In January, we announced Light, Life & Legacy, a $10 million capital campaign to transform the historic Moss Hall, elevate learning areas, and increase classroom space.

The campaign reinforces St. Mary’s commitment to engaged and holistic learning, small class sizes, and meaningful student-teacher relationships. The renovation of Moss Hall creates spaces specifically designed to support learning, fuel curiosity, and encourage imagination. A new makerspace and science classroom will allow for hands-on learning and experimentation, while Liza’s Library will be a welcoming space where students can discover the joy of reading. On South Campus, we will introduce four new classrooms and a science

lab to accommodate a student body with evolving needs, interests, and aspirations. Construction begins this summer and will be completed by fall 2025.

As a leader in girls’ education, St. Mary’s understands the importance of providing our students with the necessary tools and opportunities to succeed now and in the future.

“This investment ensures that today’s remarkable girls have the spaces and resources necessary to become tomorrow’s leaders and world changers,” said Head of School Albert Throckmorton. “Thanks to generous donors and friends, St. Mary’s can continue to offer a premier educational experience to girls of all ages.”

The historic Moss Hall will transform into a center of collaboration, exploration, and learning with a new library, makerspace, science classroom, and nursery.

Where Bright Futures Begin

Iconic Building Provides a Place for Girls to Grow, Learn, and Thrive

Since 1975, Moss Hall, the iconic stately home at the center of St. Mary’s North Campus, has served as a backdrop for generations of stories. Ask any St. Mary’s alumna, and you’ll hear tales of earning the right to walk up the grand staircase for second grade, story time on the lawn, and Bobbie Goforth’s delightful drawings.

Built in 1950, Moss Hall served as the family home of Lillian and Morrie Moss. St. Mary’s purchased the house and the surrounding land in 1975 and moved the Lower School from the Church of the Holy Communion’s campus.

Over the next 49 years, Moss Hall and the surrounding property transformed into the present-day Early Childhood and Lower School Campus, serving nearly 400 students ages 2 to fifth grade. Now, it’s time for a new chapter in the story of Moss Hall.

In 2025, the doors will open to a reimagined Moss Hall with a new library, makerspace, science classroom, nursery for faculty and staff children, and office space for Lower School administration and Admission staff. As part of the project, the original first and second floors will be renovated, the staircase will remain, and additional space will be added, transforming the 72-year-old building into a

9,000-square-foot center of collaboration, exploration, and learning.

“While Moss Hall has served St. Mary’s well, time has taken a toll on the building. The structure needs significant repairs to make the building safe and functional for a school setting,” said Head of School Albert Throckmorton. “We are grateful for visionary donors who are helping St. Mary’s reimagine and elevate this learning space for our students.”

Moss Hall may change, but everything it represents remains.

“The classroom upstairs on the north side of Moss Hall was my little bit of heaven for many years,” said Cherry Falls, a Lower School teacher from 1977 to 2020.

“I remember how we used to have creative writing time on the fire escape that wound from our room to the ground,” Falls said. “The girls scattered on the steps—some leaning on the bars, some dangling their legs through them. Their imaginations soared as they looked out on the Moss Hall grounds to write stories and poems.”

The building has undergone many changes through the years: classes and classrooms have rotated, offices have been added, and new buildings have been erected around it. Through it all, the familiar historic home has been the place where generations of St. Mary’s girls have been educated, inspired, and nurtured.

The facade, marked by four white columns and a porch, is the symbol of St. Mary’s Lower School, and once you step inside, you are engulfed with the warmth of those who have made their mark there. Its iconic image doesn’t simply define Moss Hall; it is defined by the people, like Falls, former Head of Lower School Virginia Pretti, and former Administrative Assistant Bobbie Goforth, who called it home for decades.

The renovation of Moss Hall will create 9,000 square feet of space for girls to collaborate, explore, and learn.

Kathleen McElroy, the Lower School Art Teacher for 32 years, recalls the moment she first stepped inside.

“The first person I encountered when I walked into Moss Hall in 1988 was Bobbie Goforth, who welcomed me with her radiant smile and cheerful greeting. She was, as always, juggling many tasks: typing up the daily bulletin, answering the phone, and keeping Virginia Pretti happy with her many requests, all while busily tending to little girls with tummy aches and anxious parents in need of reassurance,” she said.

Like the women she admired, McElroy became an enthusiastic advocate for her students, dedicated to displaying their art throughout the building and diligently preparing for annual art shows and Class Days.

“It certainly ‘took a village’ to mat and exhibit the hundreds of drawings, paintings, collages, and clay sculptures, but the excitement and enthusiasm of our girls and their proud parents made the effort worth it,” McElroy said.

Former St. Mary’s trustee and parent Julia Chesney McDonald ’96 is still proud that her artwork was selected for the invitation to the 1986 art show. “Art was always my favorite subject, and Mrs. [Anne] Anthony was a remarkable art teacher,” she recalled.

McDonald spent her formative years, from senior kindergarten to third grade, in Moss Hall. “I have such terrific memories there,” she shared.

When reflecting on her time in Moss Hall, what stands out the most to McDonald were the teachers who made her experience special.

“I adored my teachers—Mrs. [Susan] Batchelor and Mrs. [Sue] Williams for Senior Kindergarten, Dr. [Mary] Pullen

for first grade, Ms. [Camille] Deaderick for second grade, and Mrs. [Debbie] Kuykendall for third grade. One of my favorite memories is from first grade when we’d have visits from Mrs. [Patty] Rottering for French. That’s where I began developing my love of the French language, which I studied for all four years of high school.”

The faculty and staff who worked in Moss Hall and made a daily, dedicated effort to provide each girl with an exceptional learning experience are the muses for the building’s transformation.

As part of the Light, Life, & Legacy campaign, Moss Hall will undergo updates to ensure it can remain a fixture in the lives of St. Mary’s students. The campaign honors the legacy of beloved faculty and staff and their commitment to helping students receive an exceptional educational experience.

A reimagined Moss Hall will include:

• Liza’s Library

• Makerspace

• Science classroom

• Newborn and toddler nursery for faculty and staff children

• Art gallery

• Outdoor learning space and patio

• North Campus Gobble Shop

• Upgraded faculty workroom and meeting space

• Consolidated administrative offices and workspace

• Security enhancements

St. Mary’s Lower School thrived under the leadership of Virginia Pretti, for whom Moss Hall’s iconic porch is named. Pretti celebrated her retirement in 2008 with former teachers Libba Schatz, Anita Pohlman, and Gwenice McLaughlin.

MOSS HALL MEMORIES

Beloved Lower School Teacher Cherry Falls was a fixture in Moss Hall and on North Campus for 43 years.

The Class of 2035 dances in front of Moss Hall to mark the end of senior kindergarten.

Members of the Class of 2030 celebrate their senior kindergarten graduation.

The Class of 2027 marks First Grade Class Day with a snapshot in front of Moss Hall.

Built in 1950, Moss Hall served as the family home of Lillian and Morrie Moss. St. Mary’s purchased the home and the surrounding land in 1975.

Where Stories Come to Life

Liza’s Library Aims to Foster a Love of Reading and Learning

Louise Chandler Biedenharn ’01 was surprised when her third grader Dorothy Biedenharn couldn’t put down a book about World War II. Dorothy was fascinated by the story of adversity and resilience set in 1940s Germany.

In hopes of keeping that spark going, Biedenharn asked Director of Libraries Catherine Smith Denman ’06 for recommendations of ageappropriate historical fiction and adventure books. Denman gathered a stack of books to pique the third grader’s interests and open her up to similar stories of friendship and survival.

the sort of experience that children will remember forever and helps them fall in love with learning.”

Denman, alongside Librarian Caryn Brannen, has created an environment in the North Campus Library where imagination flourishes and curiosity is nourished. By 2025, this special place will be transformed into Liza’s Library, a brand new space enhanced with innovative and flexible design compatible with the latest technology. The 4,500-square-foot library is named in memory of Early Childhood Teacher Eliza Fletcher and honors her commitment to supporting young readers and inquisitive students.

“A love of reading is tied to a love of learning,” Denman said. “Having a welcoming, inspiring space that the girls want to come to during their foundational years of learning to read sets them up to be lifelong readers and learners. It teaches them that reading is important enough for the school and its supporters to invest in a library space just for them.”

“St. Mary’s librarians, who have known Dorothy for years, are fostering my daughter’s love for reading. The focus is not on what third graders ‘should’ be reading but what Dorothy would love and would benefit from reading,” Biedenharn said. “This kind of individual attention from a dedicated teacher is just

Liza’s Library was designed for all stages of young readers. One portion will have low, front-facing shelving, allowing younger students to find books more independently. Students will be able to flip through books like records at a record shop and easily view the covers. There will be flexible seating spaces and tables that can be rearranged to accommodate independent study and collaborative learning.

Director of Libraries Catherine Denman ’06 says her goal is to help girls fall in love with learning and reading.

The librarians will continue to collaborate with classroom teachers as they develop lesson plans and build cross-curricular projects. The space is designed to be easily re-configured to serve multiple purposes throughout the day. A typical day at the library may begin with junior kindergarten students enjoying lively story time on gardens, reinforcing their science lessons about seeds and sequencing skills. Soon after, second graders arrive to research birds as part of the collaborative unit on flight, resulting in each girl creating a kite. The day could then end with an afternoon book club or faculty meeting.

“The library is one of the busiest places on North Campus. It’s a lively place filled with songs and questions. For years, my office was right down the hall, and I loved witnessing the joyful learning that happens there,” said Associate Head of School Hilary Davis Robinson ’90.

While fostering a love of reading is the first objective of St. Mary’s early childhood library program, so much is built on that foundation. As part of the library curriculum, students learn research skills, from how to use an index and copyright issues to searching databases and citing sources.

“As the girls enter Middle School, it is my goal that they will have experience with a variety of resources and databases so that they feel prepared for the projects they will be assigned,” Denman said.

Students will be able to access countless online resources and more than 10,000 books in the new library. With the support of the librarians, students will learn to navigate digital resources on a large monitor and to use their iPads to access them independently.

In the library, girls will discover:

• More than 10,000 books that inspire with tales of courageous heroines and celebrations of friendship

• Access to thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, and online learning resources representing diverse characters and narratives

• Opportunities to meet authors both in person and through virtual conversations

• Flexible seating spaces for both independent study and collaborative learning

• Small group book clubs that nurture empathy and curiosity

Liza’s Library

Honoring the light and life of our beloved teacher, colleague, and friend

When Eliza “Liza” Wellford Fletcher became a teacher at St. Mary’s, the first thing she did was create a large paper tree in her classroom. The tree reminded her of growing up on the land that became the Marlene R. Shaw Early Childhood Center at St. Mary’s. Liza wanted her classroom to be a place where girls felt loved and nurtured. Fletcher struggled to learn to read as a child, her mother Adele Orgill Wellford ’77 shared. When Fletcher became a teacher, she had a special place in her heart for the students who also took a little longer to develop strong reading skills. Fletcher would often spend her planning time in the library pouring over books to find the perfect stories to delight her students. She also enjoyed picking out books to take home to her two sons.

“Liza loved teaching and took pride in helping kids be their best. She always connected with the children who were struggling to read,” said husband Richie Fletcher. “Liza had a defiant hope in Memphis and in her students. I hope and pray Liza’s Library is a place where girls are inspired to be a light in our community.”

The new library in Moss Hall will honor Fletcher’s legacy and commitment to teaching young students to read. Like Fletcher’s classroom, the library will feature a tree welcoming students into the space. Liza’s Library will be a place where girls will become confident readers and grow into remarkable young women.

Eliza Wellford Fletcher 1987-2022

The new library is designed to accommodate young readers at all stages and incorporates flexible spaces for both independent study and collaborative learning.

Where Curiosity Fuels Discovery

Campaign Adds New Science Classroom, Makerspace, and Laboratory

Allison Martin Nolen ’98 still remembers a high school physics lesson about torque. Her teacher took the class outside to see the real-world application of torque by changing the tire on a car. Nolen says she believes her teacher was setting up his St. Mary’s students for success—not just in the ability to change a tire in a jam, but in showing the girls how to use science to solve real-life problems.

Today, Nolen is a pediatric oncology nurse at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. As part of a highly selective two-year fellowship program, Nolen is researching ways that bedside nurses can help minimize anxiety and pain for children undergoing cancer treatment.

She is interested in whether aromatherapy, which has been helpful in other settings, could be another support option for pediatric oncology patients.

“Kids with cancer often develop an altered sense of smell or taste from their treatments,” Nolen said. “If effective, aromatherapy may help pediatric patients feel more comfortable in the face of an anxiety-inducing procedure.”

researcher, I retained the curiosity fostered at St. Mary’s and the determination to pursue answers.”

In 2025, thanks to generous donors, St. Mary’s students will have three new classroom spaces that foster their curiosity as they apply science to real-world challenges.

“Our students are not afraid to take chances as they get older because they’ve always been allowed to take chances.”

Carrie Ruhland, SK/First Grade Science Teacher and North Campus STEAM Coordinator

Nolen credited the science curriculum at St. Mary’s for helping her develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills—something that’s stayed with her in the 25 years since she graduated.

“St. Mary’s instilled in me the drive to dream big,” Nolen said. “Though I didn’t initially picture myself as a

The new North Campus makerspace will give students a hands-on learning environment where they can explore, experiment, design, and build. Filled with a variety of tools, materials, and technology, the new makerspace will help students bring their ideas to life. Carrie Ruhland, SK/First Grade Science Teacher and North Campus STEAM Coordinator, says the makerspace is a safe space to be curious.

“We don’t care if the girls make a mess. It’s all part of the process. We want to free girls up to have those big ideas. Our students are not afraid to take chances as they get older because they’ve always been allowed to take chances,” Ruhland said.

Along with a new makerspace, Lower School students will have a new state-of-the-art science classroom with 1,100 square feet of space to explore scientific concepts and engage in hands-on learning.

The Light, Life, & Legacy campaign also includes the addition of a science laboratory for high school students. The multi-use physics lab will have a dual prep area, multiple workstations, safety measures, and equipment storage. Students will have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge, develop practical skills, and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts in this new space.

“In Upper School, students complete experiments to

A new makerspace and science classroom will give girls the space to question and discover with hands-on, engaging activities.

The

reinforce concepts learned in the classroom. Using basic lab skills provides a low-risk opportunity for girls to apply concepts and practice problem-solving skills using different types of data,” said Science Department Chair Rose Dunlap. “Adding a new science lab to the Upper School allows our faculty to incorporate more hands-on learning experiences, which will prepare students to excel in college-level science classes.”

“Science is the most rapidly changing academic field,” says Head of School Albert Throckmorton. “We have alumnae working in fields that didn’t exist when they were students at St. Mary’s. It’s time to update these spaces so our students can continue to gain the skills to tackle complex problems, collaborate with their peers, and adapt to unexpected results.”

The new makerspace will encourage students to develop their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Various tools, materials, and technology will allow students to bring their ideas to life.

new Upper School science laboratory will be a dedicated space for students to participate in hands-on learning. In the new lab, students will have enhanced opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge, develop practical skills, and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts.

Where Possibilities Unfold

New Classrooms Accommodate Expanding and Diverse Upper School Course Offerings

Upper School students have eight new elective classes to choose from when creating their 2024-2025 schedules. Upper School faculty will offer courses like AP Computer Science, AP African American Studies, Honors Chemistry II: Advanced Topics, and AP Studio Art. These courses represent a wide variety of electives that reinforce St. Mary’s core curriculum in math, science, English, world languages, history, and fine arts.

“As we encourage students to build their academic schedules based on their passions and interests, we’re continuing to add engaging elective courses to the hallmark curriculum,” said Upper School Head Lauren Rogers, Ed.D. “This year, we’ll add four new science classes that push girls to see the world around them and embrace the future.”

Upper School parent Anna Wallace said she was excited to see St. Mary’s offer new semester-long electives because it allows girls to explore a subject they might not have otherwise considered and truly customize their educational experience. Wallace particularly noted the new honors chemistry course because it supplements the Advanced

Placement course St. Mary’s offers.

“Honors Chemistry II won’t have to follow a prescribed curriculum, as with AP classes. This course will allow the girls to do a deep dive into the areas that interest them and allows the teacher to revise parts of it every year to reflect the ever-changing landscape of science,” Wallace said.

Adding elective courses and maintaining small class sizes creates a need for more classroom space. As part of the Light, Life, & Legacy campaign, St. Mary’s will add four classrooms on the South Campus in the fall of 2025. Moving a few administrative offices to Moss Hall opens up square footage on the second floors of Garrott Hall and Buckman Performing and Fine Arts Center for additional classrooms.

The Upper School will add a diverse selection of electives for the 2024-2025 school year, including AP Studio Art.

As part of the Light, Life, & Legacy campaign, the South Campus will add four new classrooms, allowing St. Mary’s to maintain small class sizes while expanding the course offerings available to Upper School students.

Visionary Donors PropelForwardSt. Mary’s

Alumna Makes $1.5 Million Gift to Support Endowment

While flipping through a magazine from her son’s high school, a St. Mary’s alumna was drawn to an article about a man who gave a sizable gift to his alma mater. She then picked up the phone and called Alumnae Relations Manager Gigi Gould ’70.

“What possibilities could my gift unlock for St. Mary’s?” she asked.

Gould shared how St. Mary’s was preparing for future generations by building an endowment that supports financial aid, funds campus improvements, and allows the school to create innovative programs.

In response, the alumna anonymously gave the school a $1.5 million gift, the largest single donation from an alumna in St. Mary’s history. She designated the gift to support the

school’s endowment and the transformation of Moss Hall.

“This alumna wanted to ensure that the same high-quality education she received would be available for students today and for years to come,” said Gould. “She has shared that she hopes her gift will inspire other alumnae to dream big about what their financial gifts could make possible for students.”

The donor was particularly interested in the endowment, a permanent, self-sustaining funding source for the school. When a donor makes a gift, the entire amount is invested, along with other donations. Annually, a predetermined portion of the account’s income is pulled from the fund and spent to support programs and fully fund the school’s yearly operating budget.

Gifts to St. Mary’s endowment ensure that generations of students have access to a high-quality education.

Gift

Donor makes gift to establish fund.

How an Endowment Fund Works

Invest

St. Mary’s invests the gift along with others so funds can grow.

Grant Portion of the growth is used to meet school needs.

This academic year, St. Mary’s granted more than $1.6 million in need-based financial aid to 170 students. Nearly 20 percent of the student body receives aid averaging about $10,000 per school year.

“We recognize that a St. Mary’s education is an investment, and a robust endowment makes St. Mary’s a possibility for many families who otherwise couldn’t afford the tuition. Donors bridge the gap for many students,” said Nicole Hernandez, Director of Admission and Financial Aid.

Investments in the endowment also help St. Mary’s expand its unique classroom and extracurricular offerings. In recent years, St. Mary’s has expanded its robotics program from the Lower School to include students in 6th through 12th grades. Also, new engineering classes in the Upper School allow students to design solutions to real-world problems while following industry practices like prototyping, cost analysis, and risk assessment.

“A strong endowment ensures that St. Mary’s can respond to emerging trends and challenges in education,” said Carrie Vaughan, Director of Philanthropy. “Donors guarantee that St. Mary’s girls are prepared to impact the world through whatever path they choose.”

To learn more about giving to the endowment, visit www.stmarysschool.org/endowment or contact Carrie Vaughan, Director of Philanthropy, at 901-537-1424 or cvaughan@stmarysschool.org

Investments in the endowment help St. Mary’s offer financial aid, expand course offerings, and provide professional development for faculty.

St. Mary’s Annual Operating Budget

YOU can make the Light, Life & Legacy campaign a success!

Ways to Help:

• Give a one-time, transformative gift

• Pledge your support and choose to make payments over two to five years

• Make introductions to contacts who may be interested in supporting the project

• Host an event at your home to share more about the campaign

Recognition Opportunities:

• Meaningful donor recognition opportunities are available throughout Moss Hall and South Campus.

• Donors who contribute $5,000 and above will be included on a beautiful donor wall inside Moss Hall.

• Named space opportunities are available to recognize gifts of $75,000 and above.

Learn More: Visit www.stmarysschool.org/capital-campaign or contact Carrie Vaughan, Director of Philanthropy, at 901-537-1421 or cvaughan@stmarysschool.org

Honoring a Trailblazer

For Anna Douglas Piper ’23, it was eye-opening to learn about the decades-long struggle for disability rights in America.

“I had never thought about the struggle to gain access to spaces I am gaining entry into automatically,” Piper said. “You come across curb cuts, ramps, audible crosswalk signals, and never think about how hard some people had to fight to get others to see these structural changes as necessary to people’s daily life—as a worthy change.”

Over the last year, St. Mary’s students and faculty across South Campus dove deep into these issues as part of a campus-wide lesson on disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann. Heumann, widely regarded as the “Mother of the Disability Rights Movement,” was paralyzed as a child after contracting polio. Because she relied on a wheelchair for mobility, Heumann was labeled as a “fire hazard” and denied admittance to school and was later denied the opportunity to become a teacher, launching a life-long fight for access and equality. Her leadership and advocacy were instrumental in developing monumental disability rights legislation, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lesson spanned multiple semesters, engaging

South Campus students study the legacy of a disability rights pioneer

members of the St. Mary’s community across divisions. Upper School students enrolled in Facing History and Ourselves and Global Issues courses read Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, Heumann’s memoir. Faculty and staff were also invited to read the book as an all-community read. For their summer reading, Middle School students read the young adult version of the memoir Rolling Warrior

Last spring, Upper School students participated in a weekly book club to discuss the book. During their meetings, Mary Quay Wilson ’26 shared how “things like uneven sidewalks make it a lot harder to get places for people with disabilities.” Wilson, who uses crutches, was inspired by Heumann’s story and the impact she made.

Students in the Facing History and Ourselves book club gathered weekly to discuss Being Heumann, sparking meaningful conversations about identity, belonging, and justice.

“The book club helped me go deeper into what people have done in the fight for equality for disabled people,” Wilson said. “It showed us who has gone before us to help try and get equality for all.”

Heumann, who passed away last March, inspired meaningful conversations on campus about identity, belonging, and justice.

The study of Heumann’s legacy continued into the beginning of this school year when faculty and staff gathered to discuss Being Heumann and how to ensure learning environments are accessible and inclusive. This September, Upper School students facilitated discussions on Rolling Warrior in the Middle School. Students and faculty heard from Dr. Charles Hughes, Director of the Lynne and Henry Turley Memphis Center at Rhodes College in Chapel. Dr. Hughes reflected that Heumann’s relentless fight led to lasting structural and social changes that made the world more

welcoming not only for those with disabilities but for all people. “Accessibility is for everybody. Building an accessible world

Empowered to Ask Complex Questions

Lessons from Seventh Grade Drive College Professor and Author

Almost every Friday during her seventh grade year, Elizabeth Jemison ’04, Ph.D., would meet the rest of her Facing History and Ourselves class in Rose Theater to watch documentaries chronicling the Civil Rights Movement in Memphis and the 1968 sanitation strike.

As a self-proclaimed “nerd,” she enjoyed delving into these historical events’ deeper context and implications. Still, she and her classmates could not help but notice that the documentaries predominately featured men. So, they asked their then history teacher, current Director of St. Mary’s Community Fund Susan Whitten Graber ’86, “What were

Elizabeth Jemison ’04

the women doing during this time?”

“Rather than saying we don’t have the film for that or let me try to find a movie featuring women, she bought a video camera,” shared Jemison. Led

by Graber, the students created a documentary featuring the voices and viewpoints of women. “She gathered a group of 15 students and helped us research, identify, and interview different women, including wives of sanitation workers and people involved in different aspects of the movement.”

How Graber encouraged her students not only to ask questions but to find answers left a lasting impact on Jemison, who now encourages students of her own as an Associate Professor of Religion at Clemson University.

“It was incredibly empowering to ask those questions and get a response of, ‘Let’s go research this history. Let’s ask the women of that time what their

Elizabeth Jemison ’04, Ph.D.

Dr. Charles Hughes from Rhodes College spoke at South Campus Chapel, reflecting on disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann’s relentless fight for structural and social change.

isn’t just about putting a ramp in, or having an ASL interpreter, or having access to medical care—it’s not just about making accommodations. To build an accessible world, we must make room for all of us,” Dr. Hughes shared. We encourage you to view Dr. Hughes’ full Chapel talk on YouTube using the QR code on the right.

“Accessibility is for everybody. Building an accessible world isn’t just about putting a ramp in, or having an ASL interpreter, or having access to medical care—it’s not just about making accommodations. To build an accessible world, we must make room for all of us.”

Dr.

Charles Hughes, Director of the Lynne and Henry Turley Memphis Center at Rhodes College

Learning about Heumann’s life allowed students, faculty, and staff to hear voices not often present in traditional stories—which is why Global Education Director John Nichols thought sharing Heumann’s story was important.

“When deciding to make this book a signature program for our community, we came back to our school’s commitment to inclusivity,” said Nichols. “Disability is an often overlooked component in the conversation about inclusive spaces, and Judy Heumann’s life and work beautifully capture the importance of making spaces and organizations positively

transformational for all involved.”

In his courses, Nichols aims to share underrepresented voices and push his students to consider a wide range of perspectives, a pillar of St. Mary’s commitment to belonging.

“Our school mission tasks us with helping each of our students realize their full potential,” added Nichols. “To honor that mission, we must educate ourselves, reflect on our progress, and ensure we are removing barriers that could hinder a student’s ability to realize that potential.

Judy’s work is one tool—of many—to help our students on that journey.”

Continued from page 15

experiences were like,’” Jemison said.

“Imagine if you could only learn about science through a textbook and how limiting that would be,” said Graber. “Students become passionate about science by experiencing it through lab experiments. With history, the connection comes from having students ethically reflect upon people’s choices and actions and understand why those decisions were made,” she added.

Jemison, a historian of American religion, has made a career of researching and asking questions, focusing on the relationships between religion and race, gender, and politics during the 19th and 20th centuries. She published her first book, Christian Citizens: Reading the Bible in Black and White in the Postemancipation South, in 2020.

Jemison was the featured speaker at the Facing History and Ourselves annual benefit for the Southeast region in Memphis last fall. She shared that

her interest in exploring the complex role of religion in American society can be traced back to her seventh grade Facing History and Ourselves course. The curriculum, as taught by Graber, empowered her to “think about history and its moral obligations in the present.”

“The power of teaching with Facing History and Ourselves material and methodology is that we are hearing from the people who experienced the history speak for themselves, instead of students getting that information through a secondhand source, like a textbook. Whether through documentaries, firsthand written accounts, or interviewing the historical actors in person—as we did for the Civil Rights documentary project—students understand history to be a living, breathing phenomenon. And they hear the echoes of how that history connects to their own lives today,” said Graber.

Jemison aims to emulate the

environment of her seventh grade class at Clemson, where she challenges college students to think differently and more broadly about the complex history and traditions of religion in this country.

“We often think of our history classes as memorizing dates and names,” Jemison said. “I make a point of not asking my students to memorize dates. I want them to think instead about how these stories are complicated. Who gets to tell the stories we hear? Whose voices are not in our stories? And why?”

And just as Graber and other teachers at St. Mary’s did, Jemison pushes her college students out of their comfort zone to help them find their own voice.

“My teachers at St. Mary’s didn’t just teach—they mentored,” she said. “They cared about the kind of person you were and how you were finding your way in the world. They cared about the big questions you brought to the classroom.”

Scan the code to view South Campus Chapel featuring Rhodes College Professor Dr. Charles Hughes.

2023-24 Awards and Honors

National African American Recognition Award

Congratulations to National African American Recognition Award recipients Phoebe Jenkins ’25, Mila Szatkowski ’24, and Saniya Young ’24. Through the National African American Recognition Program, the College Board honors students who perform well on the PSAT/ NMSQT, PSAT 10, and AP Exams.

Mock Trial

The Mock Trial team had a strong showing at their first international competition, the Empire Mock Trial in Chicago. Empire is an invite-only, three-day competition that featured 32 teams.

Two St. Mary’s teams were awarded honorable mention, placing 8th and 9th overall in the competition. Zoe McMullen ’24, Caroline Hunt ’24, and Krithika Vaidyanathan ’26 were recognized as best witness, with McMullen and Hunt tying for 7th place and Vaidyanathan placing 5th. Hunt also earned 5th place in best attorney.

National Merit Scholarship Awards

Six St. Mary’s seniors were recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars: Ella Curlin, Lily Hirsch, Emmie Infeld, Maggie Kustoff, Elizabeth MacQueen, and Celia Poag. These students scored in the top 3-4% of PSAT/NMSQT test-takers.

Congratulations to National Merit Semifinalists Averie Howell ’24 and Caroline Hunt ’24. They placed among the top 1% of 1.6 million high school juniors taking the PSAT/NMSQT.

St. Mary’s Celebrates the 2022-23 Academic Leaders

Congratulations to the following students who finished at the top of their class in 2023:

HIRS Symposium

Thirteen students in St. Mary’s Honors Independent Research Study (HIRS) program and a participant in the St. Jude High School Student Summer Fellowship presented their final projects to an audience of St. Mary’s and Memphis community members.

The HIRS program allows students to complete college-level research over six months while making meaningful connections within a field that interests them. This year, students tackled various research topics, including studies in gambling, the relationship between AI and medicine, and behavior therapy for teenagers.

Visit www.stmarysschool.org/HIRS to view the student presentations.

Valedictorian Hannah Kerlan

Salutatorian Angela Roberts

Salutatorian Fia Arbelaez

CAMPUS NEWS Events

Founders’ Day Honors

Sister Hughetta

St. Mary’s second annual Founders’ Day celebrated the school’s legacy, perseverance, and resiliency. In September, we honored Sister Hughetta Snowden, who assumed the leadership of St. Mary’s following the death of Sister Constance and the other Sisters of St. Mary during the yellow fever epidemic. Sister Hannah Winkler, CSM, a member of the Sisters of St. Mary in Sewanee, TN, served as the guest speaker. Sister Hannah spoke about the legacy of the Sisters of St. Mary and Sister Hughetta’s sacrifices. Our community was captivated by her sense of humor and storytelling ability.

“I hope that by remembering Hughetta’s example, we can all be inspired to just do the next right thing,” said Sister Hannah. “That is what Sister Hughetta did. Each day, she strived to listen to what God was telling her to do and who next to serve—and just quietly and bravely did it without giving up.”

St. Mary’s also honored the first Young Alumna Award recipient, Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12. This annual award recognizes a recent graduate who has attained distinguished achievements in a professional or volunteer capacity during her first 15 years after graduation. Read more about Cummins on page 30.

¡St. Mary’s está en España!

Over fall break, 24 Upper School students traveled to Spain for an immersive week-long trip as part of St. Mary’s Global Education curriculum. The trip, led by Upper School Spanish Teachers Grady Harbor and Sarah Kerst and World Language Department Chair Pat McFadden, took the students on a tour of central and southern Spain, starting in Toledo with stops in Córdoba, Sevilla, and Granada before reaching their final destination of Madrid. The itinerary allowed students to learn through new experiences, embrace local culture, and step out of their comfort zone.

“I wanted to go on this trip because it seemed like an amazing opportunity to learn more about a different culture,” shared Mollie Wexler ’25. “I have also enjoyed taking Spanish these last few years and was really interested in being fully immersed in a country where Spanish is the main language.”

Sister Hannah Winkler, CSM Alumnae Board members President Anna Snyder Rojas ’01 and Patti Person Ray ’65 with Young Alumna Award recipient Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12

Events

Daddy Donut Day

In September, junior kindergarten girls had a “sweet” morning with their dads, granddads, or other loved ones. These special guests visited classrooms, enjoyed treats and coffee, and received special art projects crafted by the students as a keepsake from the day.

Trivia Night

The inaugural St. Mary’s Trivia Night was a huge success, thanks to the 29 teams who showed off their knowledge and creativity. Parents, teachers, alumnae, and friends came dressed up in themed, fun attire, ready to compete in the trivia competition and support the St. Mary’s Fund. Congratulations to the winning team hosted by parents Louise ’01 and Jay Biedenharn.

Family Community Night

At St. Mary’s Community Night, students and families of all ages came to South Campus dressed in their best blue and white to cheer on our Upper School athletes, watch the Lower School play, and enjoy local food trucks. It was a delight to have our Turkey families and friends on campus to support our students and celebrate our wonderful community.

8th Grade Trip to DC

In October, eighth grade students traveled to Washington, DC. The students visited several monuments, the African American History and Culture Museum, and the Holocaust Museum. They also enjoyed a tour of the Capitol. A highlight of the trip was riding the metro to the Kennedy Center to see the play Shear Madness.

CAMPUS NEWS Events

Grandparents Day

Before Thanksgiving break, our first and fourth graders celebrated one of our favorite days of the year, Grandparents Day. Students taught their grandparents and special friends about the Bridge to Caring, St. Mary’s character education program, through a musical program. Students also took the special guests to their classrooms to show off what they learned this year. We are thankful for those who traveled from all over the country to enjoy this cherished day.

Christmas Pageant

In December, St. Mary’s celebrated one of our most beloved and oldest traditions— the Christmas Pageant. Second and third grade students, dressed in cassocks and cottas, sang traditional carols in front of beautiful Christmas tableaux. Members of the senior class who have been at St. Mary’s for 12 years or more portrayed scenes of well-known pieces of Christmas artwork. It was a beautiful and moving performance that set the tone for a meaningful holiday season.

Theater Upper School

In the fall, Upper School students presented a mysterious performance of And Then There Were None, a play based on the novel by legendary author Agatha Christie. This thrilling play, masterfully performed by our talented students, kept the audience guessing until the very end.

Lower School

Fourth and fifth graders took us underwater with the Lower School musical Finding Nemo KIDS. This musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie made a “splash” in the Buckman Rose Theater.

CAMPUS NEWS Faculty & Staff

Apple Award

St. Mary’s honored Senior Kindergarten Teacher

Teila Walker with the Apple Award in November. Established by Lizzie Apple ’14, the award recognizes St. Mary’s community members who inspire students by being kinder than necessary.

Talented Turkeys

Members of St. Mary’s faculty and staff are showcasing their talents as part of Theatre Memphis’s 2024 lineup. Admission Coordinator & North Campus Registrar Sherronda Johnnson ’82 starred as Lena Younger (Mama) in A Raisin in the Sun in January. South Campus Band

Director Nathan McHenry stars as Gerry Goffin in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in March, and Director of Plays Taylor Ragan ’07 will star as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie in Steel Magnolias in April.

Welcome Ben Jordan

In January, Ben Jordan, Ph.D., joined the Upper School faculty as a History Teacher and Mock Trial Coach. Jordan recently served as a Professor of History and Political Science at Christian Brothers University. Dr. Jordan attended Bard College, earning a bachelor’s degree in history. He later earned his Ph.D. from the University of California-San Diego. Jordan is also the author of Modern Manhood and the Boy Scouts of America: Citizenship, Race, and the Environment, 1910-1930.

Taylor Ragan ’07

Nathan McHenry

Sherronda Johnnson ’82

Leading the Way in Independent Education

Members of St. Mary’s leadership team lend their expertise to the independent and Episcopal school communities.

Head of School Albert Throckmorton currently serves as trustee and treasurer for the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). He is also the vice president of the Heads Collegiate Forum and will become the group’s president in July.

In late February, Throckmorton and Director of Communication Jennifer Parris presented “Tragically Prepared: Using Your Core Values to Lead Your Community Through Loss to Recovery” at the annual National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) conference. Throckmorton and Parris also contributed an article to the fall issue of Independent Schools Magazine

Head of Upper School Lauren Rogers, Ed.D., and Ahmed Najm, Ed.D., Director of Faculty and Program Development at The Brearley School, presented “Building Better Boards” at the NAIS conference. Rogers and Najm researched independent school governance and trustee engagement for their capstone project at Vanderbilt University. In January, they led an afternoon governance workshop with the Klingenstein Center’s Heads of School Fellows cohort at Columbia University’s Teacher College. They also have a forthcoming article, “Made to Measure,” that will be published in the spring issue of Independent School Magazine.

Director of Technology Jordan Park was recently named president-elect for the Memphis Association of Independent Schools technology organization MAIS-TEC. He will assume leadership of the organization next school year. In February, Park hosted member schools at St. Mary’s for a discussion on AI and data privacy regulations.

North Campus Chaplain Mary Henry Thompson was invited to serve as a consultant to Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, GA. Thompson worked with two other leaders from Episcopal schools to audit Holy Innocents’ religious studies and chaplaincy programs from early childhood through high school.

Lauren Rogers

Jordan Park

Albert Throckmorton Jennifer Parris

Mary Henry Thompson

CAMPUS NEWS Athletics

Cross Country

Varsity Cross Country had a fantastic season. These runners shined on the course at each meet, finishing in first place at the Regional Championship. With this win, the team earned the opportunity to compete in the State Championship.

Middle School Cross Country followed in the footsteps of the Upper School team. They excelled in the championship meet, winning first place. In the state meet, the team finished 13th.

The Lower School Cross Country Team had two students qualify for the State Championship, Francis Holman ’31 and Anna Reed Holman ’32. All of these young athletes showed growth and development throughout the season.

Volleyball

Varsity Volleyball finished third in the region and qualified for the State Championship. Multiple players achieved All-Region First Team honors, including Kamryn Keith ’28, Carroline Robinson ’24, and Lila Johnston ’25, with All-Region honorable mention recognition for Shelby Williams ’24 and Ejeme Ataga ’27.

Lower School Cross Country

Varsity Cross Country

Middle School Cross Country

Ella Alpe ’25

Tennis

Golf

The Varsity Golf Team worked hard all season. Hana Barber ’25 finished second in the Regional Championship and competed in the State Tournament as an individual. She was also selected to the Daily Memphian Girls All-Metro Golf Team.

Middle School Golf also finished the season as Shelby League Champions, with several St. Mary’s golfers at the top of the standings. Anika Kharbanda ’29 finished second after a two-hole playoff. Anya Gupta ’29 finished in third place, and Jada Lin ’29 finished fourth.

Middle School Tennis had a great year. Doubles partners Amelia Kiersky ’29 and Lawson Kemmer ’28 finished as the Shelby League Doubles runners-up. The team went on to compete in the State Championships, where they finished in third place.

Soccer

Multiple Varsity Soccer players earned All-Region recognition this season. Laurel Lund ’24 and Bronwyn Saatkamp ’24 were named to the All-Region Team, while Emma Thompson ’26 and Savannah Miller ’27 were recognized as honorable mentions. Saatkamp was also named to the All-State Team and the Daily Memphian All-Metro Soccer Team. Lund and Miller were also selected for the Daily Memphian All-Metro Team.

Our Middle School Blue Soccer Team remains a force to be reckoned with. They finished the season as Shelby League Champions for the second consecutive season. These Turkeys are unstoppable!

Varsity Soccer Middle School Blue Soccer

Middle School Tennis

Middle School Golf

CAMPUS NEWS Athletics

WINTER

Bowling

Turkeys scoring “turkeys!” Varsity Bowling had a great season. Most notably, they notched a big win against Hutchison with an impressive Baker Game score of 197. The five accomplished bowlers from the Class of 2024, Hannah Burt, Lydia Glomski, Kennedy Graham, Katie Hill, and Sophie Jordan, will be missed next year.

Swimming

Our Turkey athletes dove headfirst into the swim season and blew other schools out of the water. Middle School Swimming practiced their strokes, starts, and turns all season long to ultimately win the County Championship.

The Varsity Swim Team also had a great season. Thirteen swimmers competed in the County Championship, placing fourth in the county and first among independent schools. At the meet, Riley Stewart ’24, Claire Chauhan ’25, Quinn Ferebee ’26, and Adrianna Porter Meachem ’24 qualified for the State Championship.

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

Varsity Bowling

Varsity Swimming

Basketball

All of our Turkey basketball teams have shown impressive dedication and improvement throughout the season.

Congratulations to the Middle School Blue Team, who finished first in the county, earning the title of Shelby League Champion. The Middle School White Team also excelled in the tournament, ending the season as runners-up in the league. The 5th and 6th grade teams made their mark on their league, exhibiting tenacity and spirit all season. Varsity Basketball notched a big win against rival St. Agnes in January.

Saturday, April 13 6:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s Episcopal School

Kick off your heels and put on your sneakers for a night of sparkles benefiting St. Mary’s! The St. Mary’s Sneaker Soirée is a one-of-a-kind party and fundraiser featuring delicious food, full bars, live music, a 360-degree photo booth, and an incredible silent and live auction. Guests are invited to attend the event in their favorite sneakers and dressy cocktail attire!

Middle School Blue Basketball

Middle School White Basketball

Hosted by The Parents Association

SMS

1847

Ashley Graflund ’21 Sets Her Sights on the Sky

Since Ashley Graflund ’21 took a field trip to the Memphis International Airport in ninth grade, she’s known exactly what she wanted to do. The Air Force Academy cadet is a selfproclaimed “plane geek” with dreams of flying.

“I desperately want to fly. That’s one of the reasons I chose the Air Force,” she said.

Her passion was fueled by the seemingly fated field trip to the airport for Naval Air Orientation, where students are introduced to opportunities in the United States Armed Forces. She was inspired to take a deeper look, and as a young student already interested in flight, she figured out she was a great fit for the Air Force.

Now in her third year at the Air Force Academy, Graflund

spent last summer in California as an engineering intern at Northrop Gruman, working on flight tests and evaluation for the B-21 bomber plane. She recently earned her jump wings. “It was so much fun. We were 4,500 feet above ground level, jumping out of a plane,” Graflund said of the experience.

After graduation, Graflund hopes to be placed as a pilot in the Air Force. She also hopes to enroll in test pilot school and has further ambitions to join NASA as an astronaut.

Graflund credits St. Mary’s for encouraging her to pursue her passion to fly.

“My teachers, especially Dr. Dalton Lyon (Upper School History Teacher) and Ms. Marilou Mulrooney (former Eighth Grade English Teacher), pushed me to be whatever I wanted to be,”

Ashley Graflund ’21 credits St. Mary’s for providing her with the support and confidence to attend the Air Force Academy and pursue her dream of flying.

“St. Mary’s prepared me really well for college, especially the busy college life I have—taking 24 credit hours each semester and doing all these sports. I wouldn’t have been able to successfully manage my time without the skills I learned in Middle and Upper School.”

Ashley Graflund ’21

Graflund said. She recalls sitting in Dr. Lyon’s classroom, discussing her future and where she would attend college.

It was because of the support and encouragement of the staff at St. Mary’s that Graflund felt assured in her decision to attend the Air Force Academy. “St. Mary’s gave me the confidence to go on a different path,“ she added.

“I’m definitely not having the traditional college experience like my St. Mary’s classmates, but it’s been a great experience and has provided me so many opportunities. I got to meet the President, and I’ve been able to talk one-on-one with the leaders of this country,” shared Graflund.

When she’s not in the sky or the hangar, you can find Graflund competing in various athletic events. After a stellar career at St. Mary’s in trap and fencing, Graflund continued her athletic career with the Air Force. She is an active competitive trap shooter, skier, and fencer. She is a member of the Air Force fencing team and helped found the Air Force trap team.

With the Air Force trap team, she earned first-place finishes in two West Coast Championship events and a second-place finish in an All-Academy competition. She has also placed first in five Amateur Trap Association events.

Graflund also has a decorated career in the Maccabiah Games, an international sports competition for Jewish athletes. After an appearance in the 2019 European Games, Graflund competed in the World Games in 2022, finishing second in team foil and team sabre, as well as fifth as an individual in foil. In 2023, she competed in the Winter Games in skiing, finishing fifth in slalom and third in giant slalom.

Between competitions and her academy coursework, Graflund maintains a busy schedule. However, the ability to balance rigorous academics and athletics is a skill she mastered at St. Mary’s.

“St. Mary’s prepared me really well for college, especially the busy college life I have—taking 24 credit hours each semester and doing all these sports,” said Graflund. “I wouldn’t have been able to successfully manage my time without the skills I learned in Middle and Upper School.”

Graflund is an active and decorated competitive trap shooter, skier, and fencer. The ability to balance rigorous academics and athletics is a skill she mastered at St. Mary’s.

St. Mary’s Honors

Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12

FIRST YOUNG ALUMNA AWARD RECIPIENT RECOGNIZED FOR EXHIBITING EXTRAORDINARY COMPASSION

As part of Founders’ Day celebrations, St. Mary’s announced the first recipient of the Young Alumna Award, Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12. The award recognizes an individual who graduated in the last 15 years and has attained distinguished achievements in a professional or volunteer capacity. The award was established in honor of the Sisters of St. Mary, young women who selflessly served St. Mary’s and the city of Memphis through the yellow fever epidemic.

For the last seven years, Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12 has dedicated her career as a nurse to comforting patients while providing the highest level of care. Cummins knows that patients are often in their most vulnerable state during a hospital stay or doctor’s visit and are in need of extraordinary empathy and compassion.

Her approach to patient care is heavily influenced by her time at St. Mary’s, where she learned the importance of respect, responsibility, thankfulness, kindness, self-control,

honesty, courage, and cooperation—the eight characteristics that comprise the Bridge to Caring. As a St. Mary’s lifer, the Bridge to Caring is deeply ingrained in Cummins.

“I still live and breathe it,” she said of St. Mary’s signature character education program. “I use it every single day. I use it every day at work with my patients and my coworkers. I use it in my own relationships outside of work.”

Cummins is a nurse practitioner at Sutherland Cardiology in Memphis. After attending college and working

in Texas, she recently returned home and is thrilled to be back near the place that has meant so much to her past and future. “The teachers and the people who work there make St. Mary’s what it is,” said Cummins. “Everyone encourages you to find yourself and see how you fit into this world.”

Within the walls of St. Mary’s, Cummins developed a strong sense of self, which she relied on when deciding where to go to college. She knew she was interested in attending Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth but had to select a specific college to apply to within the university. Motivated by her desire to help others, Cummins took a chance and applied to the TCU School of Nursing. A decision that she says changed her life.

Not only did Cummins meet her now husband, Sam, as a student at TCU—she also found her calling in the field of nursing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2016 before beginning a nursing residency program at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, where she spent several years as a nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU).

“I’ve learned that nursing is so much more than helping people. It’s about the deep relationships you develop with your patients. In the ICU, I took care of one or two patients on a 12-hour shift, working multiple days in a row. I learned about their lives and families and built a unique relationship with them,” said Cummins.

“As a provider, the best thing I can do for patients is to listen to them. Listen to their concerns and thoughts and find out what I can do to best serve them and help them reach their goals.”

These lessons proved crucial in 2020 when health care systems worldwide faced the immense

challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The ICU where Cummins worked was no exception, as she and the staff worked through the isolation, uncertainty, and heartbreaks of treating patients with an illness they had not yet seen.

important for me to make them feel as comfortable as possible.”

When reflecting on the experience, Cummins most appreciates how the health care community came together to fight for their patients.

“I try not to dwell on the darkest moments of it and instead think about the moments when we saw success. I remember the joy we felt as a health care team when that happened and how we held on to those special moments.”

In December 2020, Cummins and her coworkers experienced one of those special moments when the COVID-19 vaccine arrived at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, and Cummins became the first recipient of the vaccine in Tarrant County, Texas.

At a time when her work became more demanding and taxing, Cummins’ determination prevailed as she simultaneously worked to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at TCU. She began the program in June 2020 and graduated in May 2023.

“It was really tough,” Cummins recalled. “In the beginning, there was so much fear because we didn’t know what it was,” she said. “I still think about the patients I saw during that time and the family members I talked to. I think about my coworkers and all the different health care workers across the world who were in the middle of it.”

Yet, Cummins remained steadfast in her dedication to her patients’ care.

“When patients are lying in a hospital or sitting in an exam room, I understand the scary and vulnerable position that they are in. It is really

As Cummins begins a new phase of her career as a nurse practitioner at a cardiology clinic, she admits that she will miss several aspects of her life in the ICU.

“You spend days and weeks caring for and supporting patients who are so sick. One of the neat things is when they return months later, and you barely recognize them because they look so good. I love seeing that and knowing I had a part in their recovery. It’s such a rewarding profession.”

Now, she is embracing her new role at the cardiology clinic.

“I‘m excited to be on this side of patient care and to help prevent them from having to see someone like me in the ICU,” she said.

Chandler roberts Cummins ’12

– First recipient of the Young Alumna Award –

From Alabama to Ireland,

St. Mary’s alumnae gathered together across the world.

In the fall, 29 “Turkey Travelers” ventured to Ireland for the biannual alumnae trip. During the 10-day trip, alumnae, parents of alumnae, and former and current faculty explored the Emerald Isle, traveling around Galway, Killarney, Dublin, and Bunratty. Planning is now underway for the October 2025 trip.

Head of School Albert Throckmorton, Emily Friedman ’75, Caribeth Robinson, Angie Rose ’75, Lou Kerns, Susan Roberts Colpitts ’75, Norm Colpitts, and Marinell Throckmorton enjoy dinner in Ireland.

Courtney Shove ’96, Laura Glenn, Heather Hendry, and Gigi Gould ’70 catch up during the alumnae trip.

Alumnae and Council of Advisors members attended a reception at the home of Tricia and Chip Dudley: Hallie Peyton ’82, Sarah Willmott Cowens ’82, Allison Garrott Braswell ’88, Albert Throckmorton, and Margaret Frazier Gardner ’85.

Audrey Bourland Hurst ’03, Kate Smith Mallory ’07, and Annie ’39, Abby Yandell Talbot ’03 and Winn ’36 enjoyed a playground party for alumnae and their daughters.

Alumnae gathered at the Christmas Pageant and reception: Jekka Ashman Pinckney ’78, Christmas Pageant Chair Lynn Hitchings Albano ’77, and Susan Whitten Graber ’86.

The 2023-24 St. Mary’s Alumnae Board led by President Anna Snyder Rojas ’01; Front: Jekka Ashman Pinckney ’78, Kate Smith Mallory ’07, Bethany Mays Owen ’93, Tricia Hood Thomas ’90, Patti Person Ray ’65, Rojas, Amy Reinhardt Robinson ’00, Jenny Jones Savage ’99, and Jenay Gipson Boggs ’06; Back: Austin Hasenmueller ’12, Elizabeth Cashman Dickinson ’86, McKenzie Aiken Crisp ’85, Angie King Keesee ’72, Courtney Ellis Felts ’96, Grayce Gordon ’10, Madge Logan Deacon ’69, Lynn Bledsoe Buhler ’67, Kristen Thompson Keegan ’90, and Kelly McCracken ’84; Not pictured: Elizabeth Middlecoff Allen ’91, Essie Arrindell-Williams ’98, Morgan Beckford ’06, Beth Brown Dunn ’79, Lida Kruchten Ewald ’13, Whitney Baer Foster ’00, Emma Less ’13, Sharlene Sidhu Keithley ’96, Polly Klyce Pennoyer ’02, Jordan Upton Schieffler ’12, and Falconer Robbins Warren ’05

Author Elizabeth Schatz Passerella ’95 led a Learning for Life Book Club for her second book. Attendees included Amy Rhodes and Mattie Rhodes ’14.

Alumnae gathered in Birmingham at the home of Victoria Lee Morris ’08, including Caroline Culpepper ’17, Ellen Clark ’14, and Maddie Droke ’14.

Lauren Coleman Robinson ’03 and Hallie Bourland Wagner ’95 catch up at the Birmingham alumnae gathering.

~ 1970 ~

CRISTINA BRESCIA MICHTA

Heartfelt greetings to all from the way cool Class of 1970! These lovely ladies are busy with their wonderful families, volunteer work, and enjoying life! Susan Hall Wilson writes that she and husband Bubba celebrated their golden anniversary in October with their sweet family at Owen Brennan’s brunch. Linda Stratton Hancock is on the congregational care team at church and loves making cards for shut-ins and friends. She and husband Cary enjoy time with their grandchildren Luke (6) in Memphis, and Nathan (15) and Hannah (10) in Fairhope, AL. They’re looking forward to a family gathering in Destin. Gigi Gould continues to enjoy her work at St. Mary’s and spending time with her four grands, who are growing up much too fast! Two of them live around the corner from Gigi, and the other two live in Atlanta. Gigi feels indeed blessed. Denise DuBois Taylor is thoroughly enjoying her retirement. Numerous trips this year included a wonderful two weeks traveling with her brother and sister-in-law in France and the UK. This was highlighted by visiting some of her family’s ancestral locales, including Hylton Castle in northern England (built by her 15x great grandfather in 1390.) She and husband Sledge visited their son Will and spouse Ray in Minneapolis. Will (Ph.D. ’22 in Physics from Brown University) is a software developer, while Ray is pursuing her Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Minnesota. Kathy Baker Penn visited her mother (retired St. Mary’s teacher Presh Baker Gill) this summer and saw

Susan Hall Wilson and Gigi Gould. Kathy and husband Bob celebrated the wedding of their youngest daughter Caroline in Austin, Texas in September. They traveled to Morocco with family in November. Cristina Brescia Michta continues to enjoy life in beautiful Bavaria. She stays busy volunteering on the USA military base, at the Chapel, school, and the library.

~ 1972 ~

ANNE REMMERS PHILLIPS

Extending our deepest sympathy to Dawn Bonner O’Connor for the loss of her mother. She was spurred to research her family ancestry and traced it back to Revolutionary War veterans, Jamestown, the early colony governors through European royal families, and Roman emperors! Heartfelt sympathy for Lee Taylor Boyd, who lost her brother,Van. This year, she cared for him and 136 girls at Nakanawa Camp, where she took the opportunity to swim and canoe. This triathlete walked the Camino from Porto, Portugal to Santiago, Spain—no surprise her granddaughter is a champion hunter/jumper. Melinda Fields plays the accordion in the Balkan Fields Band, grows organic food in CT, and looks for a young farmer to take over the business. Food enthusiast Angie King Keesee presented her dissertation at Trezevant Manor, titled “Green Onions: Kitchen Design and Food Ways in Mid-Century Memphis.” She is hungry for photos and favorite recipes featuring the 1960’s. Karen Adelson Strauss’ three children are married, and she has

four grandchildren. She describes her home in Park City, UT as a “mountain experience of outdoor life where occasionally a moose appears outside her living room window.” Musette Sprunt Morgan is still involved in an outdoor Leadership Center designed for all youths in Israel and supported by Israel’s Ministry of Education. The participants have pivoted to help others with loss and emotional trauma. She received the best Christmas gift ever when daughter Musette came from snow-covered Milwaukee with her two grandsons. Her son Worth ended eight years dedicated to Memphis City Council. She recommends to us all, “Eat more pickles!” Jane Gordon Simmons, “The Pickle Lady,” sells pickles all over the city as a delicious present any time! Twenty years in “her art making skin,” Jennifer Wilde Lovejoy exhibited at Virginia Tech’s Perspective Gallery and closed a show in Blacksburg,VA, with sales! Suzanne Hauser Schlittenhart discovered Christy Ragan ’82 on tour to Keukenhof Gardens in Amsterdam. “Small world!”

Sue Anne Turpin Davis ’74 and husband Scott with new granddaughter Astoria

On the Rhine River Cruise through Germany, France, and Switzerland, she marveled at churches, the Van Gogh Museum, and the storks in Strasbourg. Ashley Moore Remmers visited the charming Village of Cooperstown, NY, where May Bartlett Leinhart (Meg Jemison Bartlett’s daughter) and family introduced her to the summer opera, the Glimmerglass Festival, on beautiful Lake Otsego. Christine Mayer Todd moved close to the library and continues her service at Calvary Episcopal. I discovered she dubs as a Paris travel agent. With Ashley, I (Anne Remmers Phillips) attended the opera “Madame Butterfly” in Vienna and toured the Alsace Lorraine on a barge and parts of Paris on a bike guided by Pierre. Currently, I am employed by Grace St. Luke’s as the Outdoor School Naturalist. Jackie Pentz Watkins celebrated 45 years with husband Randy on an Alaskan cruise. Well timed, as afterwards, Randy had foot surgery, and they adopted another mischief cat! Mandy Richards McCarthy celebrated her 2nd anniversary with husband Pate. They travel from dual residences in Knoxville and Florida, visit grandchildren, and chase fireflies. Well-read, she recently shared the children’s book Bug’s in My Hair with me.

~ 1974 ~

DESI FRANKLIN

The big news for the Class of 1974 is that plans are underway for our 50 year graduation celebration on April 12-13. None of us can quite figure out how we got to be this old. Kathy Bell Adams is heading up the plans for a party during Alumnae Weekend 2024, so be on the lookout for details. Cheryl Cape West

CLASS NOTES

has a new granddaughter, Amelia, born in August. She is happily offering her babysitting services. Sue Anne Turpin Davis is another Class of ’74 alum with a new grandbaby. After several precious grandsons, she now has a granddaughter, Astoria, born in December. Sue Anne and her husband once again spent over a month in France exploring Brittany and Normandy. They enjoyed seeing friends and places from previous trips and exploring new adventures. Donna Osborne Bradley continues working in higher ed as the special assistant to Eureka College’s president, responsible for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is looking forward to a vacation in

July 2024 to the Turks and Caicos and hopes to see everyone during Alumnae Weekend. Susan Page Tranby and her husband are completely retired now after selling their lakeshore resort in Vermont. Susan was worried about how to fill all the time—which lasted about one minute. They spent much of 2023 helping their daughter renovate her new home. Shout out to Anna Puckett Paccone, who reached out for my current address for her Christmas cards. Anyone else still have the time and patience to send Christmas cards? Not me, either. I’m super impressed. Sally Fri (always the adventurer of our class who up and moved to New Zealand

Class of 1976 friends Josie McNeely Walker and Jan Valentine Wigyul visit the grave site of Constance and her companions at Elmwood Cemetery on The Martyrs of Memphis Day.

about six years ago) just celebrated her first wedding anniversary with husband Peter. She is finding fulfillment in tutoring refugees in English. She is also super excited that all of her possessions, which had been in storage for several years, finally arrived at her home recently. Sally is happily unpacking all the boxes. As for me, I’m still lawyering and enjoy spending time with my granddaughter, Eleanor, who is almost three (and her parents). Eleanor is a sweet, smart, and loving little girl who definitely knows her own mind. Wonder where she got that? My 2023 travels included London and, once again, France, with Christine Mayer Todd ’72 and husband Carroll. We managed to be in Burgundy during harvest time, which was memorable. We paid to pick grapes at one chateau. They said we were hired. It was a great trip!

~ 1976 ~ ALLISON BROWN COATES

Hi friends! Theresa Alissandratos Schnepf and Nancy Muse enjoyed reconnecting in New York City. Nancy has returned from seven months in New York working for a nonverbal communication researcher, preparing her papers for an archive. That sounds so unique! Even after not seeing each other for several years, they were astonished at how the years just fell away. Martha Flowers’ son, Buckner, passed his Air Traffic Control Officer Aviation Certification Training after his September wedding. She loves her new daughter-inlaw! AND Martha is getting a son-in-law, too! Austin Hassenmueller ’12 is getting married in January. Congratulations to all of you! Virginia Donelson Curry has a house to sell in Memphis if anyone is looking for a new home.

Virginia and Ed are almost done with their move to their cottage in Monteagle Sunday School Assembly. The peace and quiet with many new friends has been a joyous time! Recently, I helped “backstage” with the Christmas Pageant. I did not attend SMS in my early years, so I wasn’t involved, but I do remember watching the performance from a pew with wonder and awe. During this season, I hope you have a memory with wonder and awe too! Love to all!

~ 1980 ~

CHALMERS PEYTON VALENTINE

The Class of 1980 is moving onward! A little over a year ago, Helene Norcross Rayder decided to come back to Memphis. Helene recently retired as legal counsel from Lincoln Financial and is spending some time back in Memphis with family and friends.

Helene headed to Morocco for the holidays with daughter Virginia. Also, Helene bought a home right across the street from Dorothy Halliday Butler Dorothy sneaks in and out of Memphis to see family. Her family is still in the NY/NJ area and doing well. Dorothy remains in touch with Gaye Gould Greer, and they often get together when they can. Margaret Stone

Graham and I recently attended the SMS Christmas Pageant. The show was great, and the tableaux scenes are still the same! Margaret is spending a lot of time in Monteagle during the summers and keeping up with her grown sons, Nelson and Garrett. Margaret keeps up with Molly Francis Roberts. Molly and Marty are living in Oxford and continue to love it. Susan McCaull

Schaefer has recently become a grandmother. Both daughter Carrie and son Thomas had baby girls recently. Amy Clifton Anderson is still in Marietta but planning a Colorado wedding for daughter Meredith in 2024. Amy and Josie Gilliland Williams, along with some Furman friends, joined me for a long weekend in Arkansas, and we had a great visit. Josie and husband Russ are in Greenville, SC, but are embarking on a lake house project soon—so they will have a nice getaway spot in close proximity. Melissa Bateman Ryder writes that they are all doing well in New York. Her mother recently died at the age of 98. Wow! I always think of Mrs. Bateman as the travel agent extraordinaire! I literally happened to see Grace Bingham Ott, Jennifer Jones Abston, and Lucia Saunders Dillon earlier in 2023. Lucia’s mother, Lila, passed away, and they were visiting. Despite a sad occasion, they all are doing really well. Molly Pitts Adams

Amy Clifton Anderson ’80 and husband David at Dún Aonghasa in Aran Island, Ireland

continues as the powerhouse executive at Fanatics, spending time between California and Seaside, FL. She is also planning a wedding for daughter Kate. I think that is it for any news! Steve and I are in Memphis and Greers Ferry Lake most of the time. Over COVID, I started beekeeping, and 2023 was an exceptional year for honey. My best to you all, and PLEASE write or send pictures with some updates! Kathy Welch Campbell, are you back in your house after the 2022 hurricane situation at Sanibel?

~ 1982 ~

OLIVIA BRUCE HURLOCK

Angela Reed Yakel has been busy! She writes: “It’s been a big year of changes for us, and I haven’t had to study so hard since my days at SMS. We traded city life for a country spot on the surface

CLASS NOTES

of the sun, just north of Houston. I am learning animal husbandry and pasture management. Best. Diet. Ever. I went to work for a start-up that is developing radiology AI and establishing centers of excellence. It’s a long way from Mrs. McWhorter’s computer basics class. It is the most impactful work I have ever done, and deeply meaningful, after my own experience and what Candy went through. So be sure to get checked, and make sure your radiologist is fellowship-trained. It matters more than you know.” Sherronda Whitmore Johnson continues to headline the local theater stages. Her most recent appearance was the amazing role of Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun at Theatre Memphis in January 2024. My news is that I have a new SMS alum friend up here in Massachusetts! I spotted an SMS turkey sticker on a car and left a note, and soon received an email from Jennifer

Ruffin ’21, a junior at Wellesley College. We had a great conversation about SMS, Memphis, living in the northeast as a Southerner, and the world ahead for her. I look forward to seeing lots of her before she graduates. Lastly, our heartfelt condolences to Sarah Willmott Cowens on the loss of her father, Pete Willmott, who was such a wonderful supporter of our class and the whole SMS community.

~ 1984 ~

VANESSA ALLEN DOBBINS

Kim Patterson Walpert continues to practice neurosurgery in Athens, GA, as she broadens her horizons with a fellowship in integrative medicine to help care for patients. She also founded Real Wellness & Aesthetics in Arlington, TN with sister Karen Patterson Williams ’87, launching a new business

Members of the Class of 1982 gather at Theatre Memphis to see Sherronda Whitmore Johnson perform in A Raisin in the Sun: Hallie Peyton, Mary Kavanagh Day, Sarah Willmott Cowens, Johnson, Catherine Robilio Womack, Elizabeth Simpson Alrutz, Lee Anne Johnson Roehm, Lisa Moore Cook, and Andrea Weiss Tomes.

CLASS NOTES

and new direction for her medical career. Kim and her husband enjoy being empty-nesters as one son pursues a flight career and the other owns a media company. Alison Potts

Hollewand enjoyed a visit to Oregon, where she shared fun times with Molly Brown and Ally Burr-Harris. Alison continues to travel with husband Mike, exploring South Australia. Daughter Izzy completed her second year at university, where she is studying international relations and economics. Anne

Crocker Hefter and husband Mike continue to live between Lyme, CT and New York City, but recently returned to DC to celebrate her mother’s 97th birthday with the entire family. She and Samantha Grilli Long plan to visit Italy to trace Sam’s family roots. Merri Leigh Masters Johnson recently completed her fourth year of teaching

at the Texas Women’s University School of Physical Therapy. She was honored to be selected by the second-year students to be the faculty speaker at their White Coat Ceremony. Son Charlie is applying for colleges focusing on music/french horn performance and is spending a great deal of time with auditions and applications. Son Jack is on the pre-med track at Trinity University and finds time to perform the tuba at school concerts. Cathey Turner Alexander has been having fun ticking off bucket list items. She and the family visited Costa Rica and spent time hiking in rainforests, ziplining, sloth touring, and watching monkeys. Soon after her return, they adopted two Goldendoodle puppies who keep them busy and on their toes. And to top off her year, the family “experienced” Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando to partake in Glynn’s bucket list adventure. Next, they are off to The Sphere in Las Vegas to see U2. My husband Martin and I ran into Carrie Jaeger Carpenter, who relocated to East Memphis and is loving retirement. She keeps busy with the kids’ activities, games, and homework, running errands with her dad, and visiting her mom in memory care. She and Steve are involved with starting a new Anglican Church in Memphis, while Steve continues to be the director of the Salvation Army Kroc Centers in the southern territory. They visit Knoxville often to see two of their daughters and give hugs and snuggles to their

grandbabies. She says grandparenting is the best. Looking forward to our 40th reunion on April 12-13. Hope to see you there.

~ 1986 ~

JEAN VAUGHAN MCGHEE

Kay Seessel Rawlings and her family made a big change and moved from Seattle, where she has been for nearly three decades, to permanently relocate to Steamboat Springs, CO. They are enjoying small mountain town life and would love for anyone to reach out if they are in the area. Susan Whitten Graber is now a grandmother three times over with the arrival of Conner earlier this year. Susan’s son Anthony and his wife have given Susan a handful of grandchildren to entertain and spoil.

St. Mary’s is extremely fortunate to have Susan serving as the next chairman of the St. Mary’s Board of Trustees. I am so proud of Susan and thrilled for the St. Mary’s community. The Class of ’86 knew 40 years ago that we had a wise leader in our midst. Elizabeth Bowers Farrar now has both a grandson and a granddaughter to spoil. Daughter Anne had son James in January, and son Will had a daughter this summer. The first weekend in December, Leigh Gordon Wright’s daughter, Allie, got married in Tuscaloosa. Traci Sherman Keller, Liz Whitsitt McEwan, Irene McDonnell Ayotte, and I were all able to attend and had the immense pleasure of getting to spend time with Mr. Gordon while watching Dr. and Mrs. Sherman dance the night away.

Irene and Leigh are both enjoying life as empty nesters and are both traveling frequently. Traci was listening closely to the empty nest conversation as her next

Jennifer Ruffin ’21 and Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86 spoke to new faculty and staff about what St. Mary’s means to them.

chapter will begin in August when her younger son Luke goes away to college. Liz is still working as a physical therapist and sees both of my parents every week. It is comforting to know that someone else is looking out for my parents on a weekly basis. Liz’s oldest son, Hastings, has moved to Dallas and works for KPMG. Elizabeth Cashman

Dickinson and I see each other frequently to swim, needlepoint, and share news of our children. Elizabeth is also navigating life as an empty nester; she travels to her family home in Bluffton regularly, volunteers at church, and keeps her yard in tip-top shape.

Elizabeth has taken landscaping classes at the University of Mississippi and is always willing to share valuable advice. Elizabeth also serves on the Alumnae Board at St. Mary’s. Sadly, Mary Helen Pender Moore lost her father in September; she has been making

frequent trips to Memphis to comfort her mom. With both of Mary Helen’s children attending the University of Tennessee, she and husband Rick are relishing the freedom of being empty nesters. There are so many members of the Class of ’86 that have entered a new phase of life without children at home. I am going to give a shout-out to those of you who, like me, are still driving little people to practices and games each day. My daughter, Carmen ’27, is a freshman at St. Mary’s, where she is active on the soccer and track teams. She comes home many days entertaining me with the events that unfolded in Chapel or the lunchroom. My older daughter Ellie ’18 and I were fortunate enough to travel to Egypt earlier this year. We dined with Jeanne McCullough Lewis and her husband while we were in Cairo. Jeanne chose a perfect spot that overlooked the Nile River and the lights of Cairo.

~ 1988 ~ ANNA MCQUISTON

Katherine Florendo and her kids recently vacationed on the Oregon coast, walking on the beach and hiking in the mountains to celebrate her oldest graduating college with a degree in East Asian cultures with an emphasis in Japanese. She took her youngest to see the M72 tour, including seeing Metallica—twice. When not traveling, she is renovating her home and looking forward to completing the punch lists. After becoming an empty nester in August, Emily Ragen Smith started a new job at Gravatt Camp and Conference Center in SC. Her title is Finance Manager, but she gets to do a little bit of everything from helping in the kitchen to facilitating team development on the low ropes course,

Class of 1987 members gather for an impromptu reunion hosted by Gigi Gaerig McGown. Front: Anne McCarroll McWaters, Karen Patterson Williams, Virginia Reed Murphy, Gigi Gaerig McGown, Cindy Cates Moore, and Kim Justis Eikner; Back: Ruth Cheney Patton, Suzanne White Howell, Fontaine Taylor Albritton, Janie Barnett, Ann Driscoll Prince, Anne Townes Daw, Courtney Morris Monaghan, and former student Liz Gilliland

and she loves it! Melissa Ridgley Biondi writes that Michela is going to Lehigh University and has a spot on the crew team there. Mary Lacy Bell sold her house in Central Gardens and bought a cute cottage near the University of Memphis, not far from where Ramie ’13 lives. She loves her job at Hope House and that she gets to do more and more outreach in the community. She does art every day with clients and witnesses the healing benefits and the community building that takes place. She writes, “I am living my best life.” Emily Piovarcy Carlson is also an empty nester. While her boys are enjoying college life, she and Mark stay busy at work, dining out with friends, and visiting colleges. Frances Coughlin Fenelon writes that Nora started at the University of Colorado and has been rooming with her best friend since third grade. Nora is pursuing a major in genetics and taking an elective on vampires. Nev is a junior at the University of Washington and is still loving it despite the Seattle weather. Frances enjoys her job at Community Health Systems as VP and Associate General Counsel. She says, “I’ve got great colleagues and clients, and the work is always interesting.” As for me, I am busy enjoying Caroline’s ’24 senior year at St. Mary’s and all of the traditions. I started a new job last summer as the Executive Director of the MidSouth Development District. It is challenging and exciting, and I am working harder than I ever have before—but I am loving every minute of it.

~ 1990 ~

MELISSA KRAMER TARANTO

Anne Copper DiFronzo’s 17-yearold daughter, Sofia, is a junior in high school and excited to think about colleges. Ten-year-old twins Dominic and Olivia keep her busy in Virginia just outside Washington, DC. Anne would love to see everyone who happens to be in the DC area. Allison Mallory Morris has moved into her idyllic new French Farmhouse in New Paltz, NY after a year of renovation. She enjoys getting settled while 9th-grade twin daughters Marley and Mallory keep her busy with volleyball and tennis games. We are saddened to share the passing of Pam Petit Zanone, mother to Alexis Zanone. Pam was the always gracious hostess, both at Horseshoe Lake and at her Memphis house. Alexis continues her travels, most recently in London.

Missy Kramer Taranto’s daughter Jessica (16) celebrated her bat mitzvah in November, and Evie (19) is transferring to Athens, GA in January. Husband Scott is King LXXI Sparta in Mardi Gras this year, so come on down to New Orleans and celebrate with Mary Anne Kish Seibert’s daughter, Zoe (sophomore at Tulane), and Elizabeth Robbins’ daughter, Sophie (junior at Tulane). Beth Kreamer West is enjoying living in Orange Beach with her family.

~ 1994 ~

KATHRYN LEIGH DEROSSITT

Mary Evelyn Stevens Fore’s daughters, Evie ’25 (junior) and Margaret ’27 (freshman), enjoy the SMS traditions we loved, such as the Christmas pageant and Mr.Valentine. Daughter Eleanor (7th grade) is at Grace St. Luke’s. Husband Dan is practicing general and bariatric surgery. Mary Evelyn stays busy with school and church commitments before afternoon pick-ups. Sigrid Longsworth’s daughter Ila (15) is in high school, and Lux (21) is finishing her degree at the University of Tennessee. Daughter Ava (17) is a senior doing Dual Enrollment at Cleveland State, where Sigrid teaches. Her mom is vibrant at 83, traveling between her farm in Gallaway, TN and Cape Coral, FL. Missy Alpert Lurie and family moved into a house in Germantown so her daughter, Lila, could walk to Riverdale Elementary. Her husband builds and sells houses. Some friends moved into her new neighborhood, creating an amazing village of friends. Missy is still going strong at Kaufman Shoes. Jamie Morano Re continues at the VA in health policy and coordinating with

Class of 1995 friends Lisa Mulrooney Coombs and author Elizabeth Schatz Passarella at the Passarella’s Learning for Life book club

entities on diseases. She is up for a professorship of medicine. Husband Sergio excels at Microsoft, and son Alex is a budding architect, programmer, and chess player. They will celebrate his 8th birthday with family in Argentina over the holidays. Sarah Gross Little and family live in Michigan, relocating with her husband’s firm. Daughter Sophia, 10th grade, is on the ski team. Son London won Rookie of the Year for his football club team. Son Cecil went to the state robotics competition. Helen Burr continues to live in Vigo, Spain, where her daughter is in high school. Her youngest daughter loves swimming. Helen works as an English teacher and is starting a choir. Virgina Ralston Jaramillo and family enjoy their home and renovation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The kids enjoy their schools, friends, and sports. Sarah Cole-Turner Vincent is a speech teletherapist and works in area schools. Daughter Caroline enjoys theater, ballet, and voice. Son Ben works in a bookstore and plays guitar and games. Husband Hal is wrapping up his semester teaching. Sarah Lacy is busy with her bookstore in Palm Springs. Daughter Eli loves dance, and daughter Evie loves jiu-jitsu. She loves having “tweens” and learning carpentry. Danielle Shelley Coolidge’s oldest son is 16 years old, 6’4”, and plays basketball at ECS. Her youngest is 10, at Bodine, and loves chess. Danielle loves to try new Memphis restaurants with Claire Grant Edith Ritterband Goody works at a synagogue as office manager and is really enjoying it. Her daughter is beginning her preparations for her bat mitzvah next September. Edith has just been cast as Jack’s mom

CLASS NOTES

in Into the Woods at her synagogue. Hallie Dinkelspiel Label’s company, Expect Equity, launched in October. The company incubates under-represented public equity managers. Her kids are busy with activities, and husband Justin stays busy investing in early-stage companies. I continue to work as an attorney and have completed four years of research I hope to publish soon.

~ 1996 ~ JAIME NEWSOM

Thank you so much to everyone who sent an update. Mamie Tinkler was showcased this fall at the Topps Gallery, her first solo show in Memphis since 2011. She also had a solo show at New York City’s Ulterior Gallery in April that was reviewed by The New York Times. Congratulations, Mamie! She lives in NYC with husband Dave Moodey and dog Chewy. Courtney Shove had sad news to share: “Heather and I lost our beautiful, spunky mom to pancreatic cancer on April 1, and it’s been hard letting that reality sink in. It’s all so surreal. In October, for the third year in a row, we organized the ‘Sherry Up for Sherry’ team for the Kosten Foundation Kick It 5K, which raises money for pancreatic cancer research.” We are so sorry for your loss, Courtney. This fall, Courtney traveled to Ireland with St. Mary’s and loved the overcast weather and lush green pastures. She is proud of her nieces, Claire and Jane, who are both in high school, with Claire graduating this May. Natalie Nussbaum hit 20 years with her employer, Elevance Health. She has held a variety of roles over the years, spanning the finance, actuarial valuation, and corporate strategy teams. Gwyn

Fisher is settling into her new role of Chief Economic Development Officer with the Greater Memphis Chamber. After almost ten years with the State of Tennessee (covering two governors), she is enjoying delving into a new challenge. Gwyn and Peter bought a house near Chickasaw Gardens during the pandemic, and they’re enjoying slowly renovating and bringing her back to life. She is also traveling a lot for work and fun, including visiting Laura Ray Logue in Tucson. Bernice Chen and her family had a fun trip exploring the Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion National Parks in August. Her children are keeping them busy with activities, so you can usually find Bernice and her husband on the basketball court or the soccer field cheering the kids on. Bernice also lives close to her sister, Judy Chen Lee ’98, and sees her and her family often. Bernice was able to catch up with Andrea Martin Armani and Leslie Forell Boyle recently when Andrea was in San Francisco for a conference. After over ten years in Chicago, my family decided it was time to take on a new adventure. So in August, we took a leap and moved to Lisbon, Portugal. We are adjusting, exploring, and working on learning Portuguese, which is proving to be a challenging task. But we are enjoying our new home and loving all of our visitors.

~ 1998 ~ LAURIN MADDUX

We have a lot to celebrate this time… including some new little ones! Erin Wade and husband Kyle welcomed Theresa “Tess” Marie Ogles in February. I have had the opportunity to meet

Tess, and she is one precious little girl! Tess recently met her new best friend, Milo, son of Elisabeth Callihan Elisabeth and husband Will welcomed Milo, in August. Elisabeth writes that she is really taking her senior superlative, “most likely to be late,” to a new level by having a first baby in her 40s. Meg Kinnard Hardee certainly has something to celebrate—she just completed her two-year immunotherapy clinical trial at MD Anderson. She is staying “insanely busy” on the campaign trail and travels to DC and Iowa often. On the home front, things are also busy with a high school senior and middle school cheerleader. Nupur Sidhu Bal was just appointed by the Governor to serve on a panel reviewing child support legislation. What important work and an exciting opportunity! Amy Sellers has exciting news on the work front. She has a new job as VP of Marketing at Rad Power Bikes. Her company is the largest U.S. e-bike company. In addition to a busy career, she is also enjoying

attending all the fun school activities for her daughter,Vivian, who is in kindergarten this year.

~ 2002 ~ POLLY KLYCE PENNOYER

As always, it was a delight to hear from folks who are living their best lives as the big 4-0 bears down on all of us. To my sisters-in-arms who have already crossed to the second half of life, I hope you will join me in deeming our hard-won gray hairs and battle scars to be beauty marks in celebration of our ongoing persistence. To those for whom a “Big Birthday” still awaits, we look forward to your arrival on these glorious shores. Unfortunately, there still seem to be emails to respond to on this side. Christina Adney Mable reports from Memphis that life is pretty sweet with three big kids in her family—a stepdaughter in a dental hygienist program at Tennessee Tech, a son who is a junior at CBHS, and a stepson who is a sophomore in high school. She has compensated for her relatively emptier-nest status by getting a kitten named Alfredo and hosting a family Thanksgiving for the ages. Anna Coplon Suen is marking another chilly winter in Wisconsin (where her husband just got tenure—congrats, Garret!) by daydreaming about her family’s next travel adventure. Son Brandon (8) is quite the adventure companion, and they have been doing lots of fun travel recently, including Japan and Austria this summer. Meanwhile, in Florida, Lindsey Coates Horvatich is making the most of “Faux Winter” and has started her own therapy practice. She and her husband Tim are making

the most of his Disney employment, and she is glad to get back to Memphis regularly to see folks, including her brother, Sam, and his family—especially her adorable nephew, Charlie! Melissa Lawson Romero is also braving another cold winter in Colorado, where she has just made partner at her law firm (CONGRATS!). Her husband, Carlos, is teaching kindergarten, and their two girls—Soledad (6) and Etta (10)—are both avid ski-team participants. And in similar climes, Leslie Guinn Jerkins has written in from Idaho, where she has been managing an endless home renovation (Godspeed, the end is in sight!), two tween girls (Juliette and Molly), and a cross-country-fiend third-grade boy (George), the beginnings of a new phase to her work life with some corporate recruiting, and an extremely impressive reading habit. Kate Thornton Wooldridge celebrated her 40th with an 80s-themed surprise party (similar to Lindsey’s decade-themed bash, actually); she and her husband Andy are still in Nashville, where they are keeping busy with their three boys—Luke (3rd grade), Noah (1st grade), and Ben (3)—and continuing to practice medicine. Nicole Osborne Steck describes life in North Carolina as “chaotically busy” as she shepherds two active kids through a rigorous sports schedule (Braden loves soccer best, and Chloe is a gymnast) while also killing it at work. Nicole, you make us all proud! Michelle Goldwin

Kaufman writes from Memphis that she was thrilled to attend a recent Facing History event chock full of SMS connections, including Elizabeth Jemison ’04 as speaker and Shari Ray in attendance (my mom was also there— she said it was great!). Michelle has

Alumnae catch up at the Dallas-Fort Worth area gathering: Liz Mitchell Branning ’91, Lauren Lazar ’04, and Carly Fritts ’98.

been busy with recent public speaking engagements, including an alumnae Chapel talk at SMS and speaking at her son’s school about how to speak to kids about difficult subjects. Max (7) is totally into sports, and daughter Nora (5) is showing interest in all things engineering and artistic—with a heavy dose of caretaking and empathy on the side because she is, of course, Michelle’s kid. Naree Chan reports that she and her family are just back from an amazing multi-generational Thanksgiving trip to Cambodia, complete with some amazing family portraits. Back home in CA, she is still practicing public law on behalf of the city of Oakland. Valerie Hartmann is happy to have left her job with the Department of Defense after 11 years and is now staying home with her two boys—Tyler (4) and Jacob (3). She certainly has her hands full right now. Lisa Mabry Smith’s big news is the arrival of her third son, Jack Mabry Smith, born in October. His two big brothers, Harrison (4) and Hank (2), are delighted he is here. The whole family decided what they really needed was more carrying capacity

on land and sea—so Lisa upgraded to a minivan, and the whole family is enjoying that Gulfport life on their new boat. She marked her 40th in the throes of motherhood with a 4-week-old baby. Lisa, we salute you and hope you get a proper celebration at some point! This summer, Lisa was delighted to arrange a meetup with Elsa Monge DeGroot and her kids in Sandestin. Their group further descended upon Nicole’s family vacation in 30A for the day—what a reunion! Elsa and her family also

welcomed a third baby this fall; baby Teddy arrived in November. Congrats to Team DeGroot. Wendi Muse writes that the highlight of their days is daughter Harriet (3) and her fantastically outdoorsy childhood courtesy of their local forest school. In NYC, it feels like all of the plates are about to be spinning at full speed—our oldest,Victoria (9), is in 4th grade (at the closest analog to SMS that I could find up here), our middle, Cooper (4) has just finished the kindergarten admissions process (a whole ordeal), and James the Baby (2), a freight train of enthusiasm and poor judgment who will be extremely ready for 3K next year. I am still working in bank regulation for the state of New York. This was more or less a pure policy job until the banking crisis of last March when my department closed a bank (Signature) two days after Silicon Valley Bank went down. It was a pretty wild few weeks, but I mean it when I say I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. My family is now mostly settled into our never-moving-again apartment, and we would be DELIGHTED to see anybody who is passing through the city. Pre-pandemic, we had a couple of fun SMS events for the NYC local crowd, and I’m hoping to get some more of those on the calendar for the coming year. If you are in or near town, please let me know!

~ 2006 ~

MAMIE KOSTKA FINCH

From coast to coast and beyond, the Class of 2006 continues to excel and amaze! Elize Mercer Hewitt and her husband Sam welcomed their first son, Henry Townes, while Kimberly Johnson Radant had two baby boys,

Jenny West ’06 ran the Queenstown Half Marathon in New Zealand.

Class of 2006 friends: Elliott Machin Cooper, Kristi Ryan, Elise Herron, Chandler Ford, and Katie Camille Friedman

John and James, in July. Kimberly is loving life as a stay-at-home mom in Oklahoma. Morgan Robbins married Mark Paul in Palm Springs in May with St. Mary’s girls Chelsey Diffee Currie, Jenay Gipson Boggs, Evie Lyras, and Margo McCawley ’05 there to celebrate. The couple honeymooned in Italy after the celebration. At home in Los Angeles, Morgan works at a casting company, and she’s gearing up for a busy 2024 season. Evie is also in the entertainment industry in LA, producing trailers for movies and TV that have earned her industry awards for her work.

CLASS NOTES

Neelam Khan Ali is busy juggling life as a full-time physician and mom of a toddler. She was elected president of the Georgetown Clinical Society, serves on the Medical Alumni Board for Georgetown University School of Medicine, and mentors medical students and dermatology residents in the DC area. Katie Camille Friedman still works at Brita as a product development scientist, supporting municipality business and contaminant strategy. She and husband Sunny still live in the Bay Area but had a fun year of travel to Europe, Japan, and Ohio to

visit family. They visited Rachel Johnston-White in the Netherlands and Melissa Tsui in Dallas, TX. Melissa and her husband Kyle are expecting their first child in the spring. Melissa is a critical care pharmacist at Methodist Charlton Medical Center in south Dallas. Together, they started a small gaming business, OpenWorld Gaming, where they’ve done summer programming for the city of Dallas. They’ve also gotten caught in the pickleball craze! Another Dallas resident, Lizzie Harris, is a wholesale insurance broker and is celebrating her future with her fiance, Thomas! Jenny West continues her love of travel, visiting new places and running half marathons all over the world. At home in Charleston, SC, she runs a team of account executives at an advertising agency. Aasiya Mirza Glover lives in New York City with her husband and two kids and works at Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann. They spent Thanksgiving in Memphis, where she saw Catherine Smith Denman, Jenna McNair, Frances Leslie, and Erica Marchbanks. This October, Aasiya and Jenny West enjoyed seeing Morgan Beckford perform! Morgan wrapped up her first year with Silkroad and joined Boston’s New Gallery Ensemble Concert Series as a soloist for their season opener at Longy School of Music. In March, she is excited to spend a week at SMS as the Louise T. Archer ’40 Artist-In-Residence, where she will focus on vocal music by Black composers! Speaking of SMS… Back on the homefront, our favorite book-worm Catherine Denman Smith is now Director of Libraries at good ole St. Mary’s!

Class of 2008 friends take on NYC: Estes Gould Hughes, Sarah Wortham Nielsen, Mary Greer Gorman, Jenny Guyton, and Edie Miller.

~ 2008 ~

KATELYN AMMONS BARNETT

MARGARET LIDDON EMLEY

EDIE MILLER

Hello to the wonderful Class of 2008! It is a joy to hear wonderful news and milestones of our classmates, and this year is no exception. Mary Catherine Holliday had an exciting Thanksgiving as her partner of 12 years, Matthew Crysup, proposed at his family’s home in Saltillo, MS. Congrats, Mary Catherine! Ariel Mason Kelly continues to practice labor and employment law in Chicago and was recently honored as one of the National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. Rachael Holley became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (in Colorado) and obtained the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist certification. She recently had brunch with fellow SMS 2008 Denverites Christina Carson Sirus and Meg Fowler Edie Miller is prioritizing travel with a trip to Portugal this year. At home in Memphis, she enjoys decorating her home and spending time with her dog, Rosie. Jess Zafarris, née Jessica Farris, is the author of the etymology books Words from Hell and Once Upon

a Word, as well as a public speaker and social media personality who discusses word origins and publishing. She is also a journalist and content director in the advertising, marketing, social media, and communications space. Jess has written and led editorial strategy for organizations including Adweek, Writer’s Digest, and PR Daily. She lives in Connecticut with her spouse, dogs, cat, and turtle. Ayana Fletcher-Tyson still loves teaching Class II at the Brearley School in New York City. She spent her summer vacation traveling through the South of France and Switzerland. Margaret Liddon Emley welcomed a second son, Thomas, this fall. Before his arrival, she and her husband enjoyed a quick but wonderful getaway to the South of France and spent the rest of the summer trying to stay cool at the lake or the pool.

~ 2010 ~ MARY FRANCES STREET

Sahar Mokhtari Moshref moved to Denver, CO and has enjoyed reconnecting with Allie Pryor, Elise Heuberger Reecer, Irene Makapugay, and Allison Connell. Allie Pryor recently moved to Jackson Hole, WY with her girlfriend and is enjoying a blissful mountain life when not working as a nurse in the emergency department. Callie McCool recently moved to Nashville, TN to start work as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University. Carey Segal Channing just finished touring the country with Hamilton the Musical and is expecting her first child this spring. In addition to her work at St. Jude,

Nica Cabigao Graunke recently joined the Board of Directors for My Town Miracles, a local non-profit aimed at alleviating barriers and burdens for Memphis Youth. She’s also enjoyed experiencing St. Mary’s through her daughter Natalie’s ’38 and husband Ben’s (MS History Teacher) eyes, as well as serving as Secretary on the SMS Parents Association Executive Board.

~ 2012 ~

ELLERY AMMONS

CHANDLER ROBERTS CUMMINS

Melissa Byrd was promoted to Senior Manager of Fundraising Events at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and is currently living in Long Island, NY. Renee Yang married Khoi Pham in July and moved to the Bay Area. Neely Sammons moved back to Memphis after six years in Miami Beach and founded the insurance brokerage firm Salus Benefits Group. She is happy to have recently married her best friend in her parents’ backyard. Grace Bethell Carlton gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Margaret, in September. Chandler Roberts Cummins moved to Memphis with her husband last summer and is enjoying her new job as a nurse practitioner for Sutherland Cardiology. Jordan Upton Schieffler recently received her real estate license to begin selling real estate in Memphis with Ware Jones. Amritha Kanakamedala got engaged to Arun Sundaresan on the Amalfi coast. They will marry in August after her July graduation from ophthalmology residency. Ellen Mitchell Warnock married Jay Warnock in May at Grace St. Luke’s Church. Ellery Ammons

Caitlin Smith Bowron ’08 with host Victoria Lee Morris ’08 at the Birmingham alumnae gathering

was promoted to Senior Associate at development advisory firm Brailsford & Dunlavey and began a master’s program in urban & regional planning at Georgetown University.

~ 2014 ~

NATALIE MEEKS

It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since this class was all together. Time flies! Natalie Meeks is loving her life in Nashville. She started a new job in October doing design for local event planner Sarah Blair Event Design. She got engaged in November. Natalie and Hunter can’t wait to get married in May. Martha Upton recently moved to Los Angeles after five years in NYC and just launched her own company, Tita. Laura Kate Hamilton graduated cum laude from American University Washington College of Law. She passed the DC bar and is working as an associate in the capital markets practice at Clifford Chance. This summer, she got engaged to Cameron

Lakin after 10 years together. They will be getting married in Florence, Italy in June 2025. Elizabeth Alexander left Nashville and now lives in San Francisco, working for Stanford Medical Center as a medical ICU nurse. Bailey Archey is working for US Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi in Washington, DC. She uses her veterinary degree to advise the Senator on animal agriculture, food safety, and wildlife issues. Elle Prosterman Hartness moved to Chattanooga this past summer. Elle is still practicing counseling, and she and Ralston are loving life there with Mallie, who turned 1 in October. Maddie Droke is still practicing audiology in Birmingham and is also engaged to William Briscoe. They are getting married in March and will live in Birmingham. Ellen Clarke is now a private wealth advisor at Somerset Advisory in Birmingham. She got engaged to John Bradford at the end of October and is getting married in September.

~ 2018 ~

OLIVIA NIELSEN KEITH ELLIS PREST JULIA PRESTON

Sabrina Spence is in the second year of her master’s of fine arts program at the University of Memphis, where she serves as Event Coordinator for The Pinch Journal. Sabrina also teaches freshman composition at the UofM. Evie Laney and Lucy Chancellor are graduating with their master’s in speech-language pathology from the University of Memphis in May 2024. Chelsey Chen moved to Philadelphia this summer to begin the MD-PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania. She has been in the medical school phase so far but is setting up research rotations for the spring and summer. She is excited to pursue her graduate studies in genetics and epigenetics with a research focus in cancer. Erin Jewell will be graduating with her Masters in Public Health (MPH) degree in December from UofM. She has also accepted an Administrative Fellowship position at Duke Health Integrated Practice (DHIP) in Durham, NC, starting in July of 2024. In this position, she will train with leaders and executives of the Duke Health Specialty clinics to gain experience and expertise in healthcare administration. Sneha Sharma is living in New York and working as a legal analyst at Forbes Media Acquisition. She is also searching for a cute dog to foster. Olivia Nielsen is living in Memphis, working with family, and finishing her degree at the University of Memphis. Paige Nielsen is the Communications and Fundraising

Members of the Class of 2012 celebrate Young Alumna Award recipient Chandler Roberts Cummins: Austin Hasenmueller, Neely Sammons, Cummins, and Jordan Upton Schieffler.

Director at a small nonprofit in Jackson, WY. She is applying to law school for the fall of 2024. Paige is looking forward to another winter skiing in Jackson and getting back to school next fall to focus on restorative and rehabilitative justice. Keith Ellis Prest is the Social Media Specialist at ALSAC-St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a focus in sports and fitness, campaigns and events, partnerships, and merchandise. Sam McCann works as an Administrative Intern and Visitor Services Associate and helps in planning art education programming at Neue Galerie New York. Anna Scott is graduating from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing in December 2023 and has accepted a job offer at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in the Cardiac Care Unit.

~ 2020 ~

SARAH BRATTON GABRIELLA COULOUBARITSIS

Eleanor Belvin graduated from Hofstra University from the Honors College with distinction, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Music with a concentration in music business. She will be working in New York after graduation. Madison Brode was selected as one of the 2024 Marshall Scholars, the first recipient from Mississippi State. The prestigious award annually provides 50 American students with graduate-level study in the United Kingdom. Ginny Bratton is a fourth-year midshipman at the United States Naval Academy. She was selected to begin flight training to become a Naval Aviator.

~ 2022 ~

MAGGIE ROSENBLUM

ALEXANDRA TOULIATOS

Mishi Ali has been working as an editor for her school’s fashion magazine, The Manor. In October, she represented The Manor at a red carpet event, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, where several early gala screenings of upcoming films were held, including Priscilla, Saltburn, and Origin. She interviewed Ava Duvernay, director of the feature film, Origin, and she has also been able to

work with Karla Marinez De Salas, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Mexico Nora James Eikner performed in Blood Pact, a student-written play by Frances Mary McKittrick. She played Harper, an 11-year-old girl who is obsessed with dancing and friendship bracelets. Nora James also performed and opened a neo-futurist-inspired show where she, alongside her colleagues, wrote, directed, and performed the short play.

Ayushi Gaur began research with the H.O.P.E. (Hypothesizing Onehealth Pollution Effects) Research Lab,

Class of 2019 friends join speaker Joy Jackson at Chapel: Madison Motley, MacKenzie Camp, Jackson, Anna Alexander, and Ananya Maholtra ’20.

studying microplastic contamination in fish and dolphins. She has continued her work with Roots and Shoots, the youth program of the Jane Goodall Institute, where she assisted the Charleston location on Dr. Goodall’s US tour. In addition to her marine biology studies, she has furthered her training in ballet and modern dance, performing at donor events and mainstage concerts at the Sotille Theatre. Ryleigh Johnson has been serving as an Honors College Ambassador at The University of Mississippi connecting with and touring prospective students. She has also continued her work with Camp Kesem, a national nonprofit for children impacted by parental cancer, where she is now serving as Director. Amal Panjwani conducted research through the Emory University School of Medicine on the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), a neuroinvasive virus infecting 70% of the human population. Amal and her group have combined a variety of biophysical tools, along with chemistry and virology, to ultimately provide new insights into how we can more effectively combat this virus and

CLASS NOTES

support vaccine development. Maggie Rosenblum has continued her role in Carolina Mock Trial and served as a co-captain this year. She held workshops for new members and prepared them for their first collegiate tournament held in Knoxville, TN. Alexandra Touliatos served as a nonprofit consultant for The Oklahoma Group, where she worked alongside her team to provide pro bono consulting to a local environmental nonprofit. She also participated in RBC Capital Markets’ LGBTQ+ Sophomore Insights Program on the Global Investment Banking track,

where she was able to visit their New York City headquarters and network with industry professionals. Caroline West served as an orientation leader for the new William and Mary freshmen and is secretary of her living facility. She has continued her involvement in her music sorority, Nu Kappa Epsilon, where she previously served as Service Chair and is now serving as the Director of Equity and Inclusion. Caroline has also begun her plan to obtain her master’s in elementary education through William and Mary’s expedited program.

Olivia Bruce Hurlock ’82 spotted an SMS bumper sticker on Jennifer Ruffin’s ’21 car at Wellesley College. She left a note, and they later met for lunch.

Members of the Class of 2023 returned to campus to speak with junior and senior students about their first semesters of college: Emery Lindy, Sofia Arbelaez, Anna Douglas Piper, Charlie LaMountain, and Eva Ogbeide.

MILESTONES

Marriages

Deborah Abernathy ’71 to Dillard Brown,

September 26, 2023

Lauren Lazar ’04 to Ran Gregson, May 20, 2023

Lindsey Randall ’04 to Stephen Counce, October 13, 2023

Susan Schwarz ’04 to George Stavropoulos, December 2, 2023

Camille Wingo ’04 to Adam Christopher, March 11, 2023

Heather Nadolny ’05 to Josh Whisenant, November 11, 2023

Morgan Robbins ’06 to Mark Paul, May 12, 2023

Divya Moolchandani ’08 to Brad Schavio, October 8, 2023

Caroline Frisch ’11 to Ryan Kashfian, May 28, 2023

Margaret McClintock ’11 to Spencer Cosgrove,  November 11, 2023

Ellen Mitchell ’12 to Jay Warnock, May 20, 2023

Neely Sammons ’12 to Nate Utkov, October 14, 2023

Renee Yang ’12 to Khoi Pham, July 1, 2023

Rachel Chu ’13 to Joseph Mooradian, October 7, 2023

Grace Bettis ’13 to Zach Sample, July 29, 2023

Births/Adoptions

Milo Thomas Crabb to Elisabeth Callihan ’98

August 8, 2023

Miller Lenley Dunn to Royce Miller ’01

April 14, 2023

Theodore “Teddy” Briggs DeGroot to Elsa Monge DeGroot ’02

November 13, 2023

Jack Mabry Smith to Lisa Mabry Smith ’02

October 4, 2023

Caroline Pearce Brenner to Elizabeth Stevenson Brenner ’04

March 14, 2023

Katherine Smith Burke

Molly Page Burke to Martha Ferguson Burke ’04

September 24, 2023

Shepherd Erasmus Vernon to Zoë Kahn ’04

April 9, 2023

James Elijah Stockdale Rosenberg

Benjamin Harding Schwartz Rosenberg to Ashford Carney Rosenberg ’04

July 20, 2023

Kiran Holbrook Sarkar White to Supriya Sarkar ’04

February 18, 2023

Henry Townes Hewitt to Elize Mercer Hewitt ’06

October 1, 2023

John Robert Radant

James David Radant to Kimberly Johnson Radant ’06

July 1, 2023

Perry Anne Rushing to Lindsey Edwards Rushing ’06

October 27, 2023

Finley Louise Reynolds to Cameron Colcolough Reynolds ’07

November 7, 2023

Deborah Abernathy ’71 and Dillard Brown

Heather Nadolny ’05 and Josh Whisenant Neely Sammons ’12 marries Nate Utkov and celebrates with Jordan Upton Schieffler, Chandler Roberts Cummins, Ellen Mitchell Ossorio, Neely Sammons, Hannah Morehead Mageean, Grace Bethell Carlton, and Camille Vaughn Patterson.

MILESTONES

Robert Heard Stokes to Linley Prosterman Stokes ’07

November 2, 2023

Thomas Robert Emley to Margaret Liddon Emley ’08

September 6, 2023

Molly Madden Pohl to Memory Madden Pohl ’08

December 5, 2023

James Knox Crooks to Alex Fountain Crooks ’10

July 30, 2023

James Cabigao Graunke to Nica Cabigao Graunke ’10

November 22, 2022

Connor Nicholas Rosati to Kendall Hennessy Rosati ’10

December 1, 2023

Davis Wright Thompson to Mary Stevenson Thompson ’10

October 14, 2023

Mallie Lynn Wagoner to Katie Danehy Wagoner ’11

February 3, 2023

Miles Swift Hawkins to McKenzie Franklin Hawkins ’11

April 14, 2023

Charlotte Winfree Ivy to Morgan Van Dyke Ivy ’11

June 29, 2023

Margaret Parrish Carlton to Grace Bethell Carlton ’12

September 18, 2023

John Ford Serdakowski to Meredith Taylor Serdakowski ’12

November 17, 2023

Court Russell Ewald to Lida Kruchten Ewald ’13

December 2, 2023

Professional Updates

Cissy (Flo) Sights Sares ’75

Retired from the Englewood Library in Colorado after 22 years

Lindsey Edwards Rushing

Laurie Lamar ’75

Retired after 23 years as an independent User Experience Designer/Researcher

Maysey Craddock ’89

Solo exhibition in Larkspur, California at Sarah Shephard Gallery from November through January

Elizabeth Robbins ’90

Pursuing a master’s degree in nursing from Midway University in Kentucky

Camellia Koleyni ’91

Appointed to the American Academy of Family Physicians Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness in Family Medicine

Gabrielle Rose ’95 2000 U.S. Olympian swimmer, qualifies for the 2024 Olympic Trials at age 46

Libby Lawson Foster ’99

Appointment to Associate Judge in Juvenile Court in Austin, Texas

Camille Wingo Christopher ’04 Senior Commercial Marketing Manager, AutoZone

Christine Ruby Coveny ’04

Youth Programs Coordinator, Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Elise Addington Dugger ’04

Provider Engagement Analyst, Clinical Informatics, HCA Healthcare

Sisters Neelam Khan Ali ’06 and Saira Khan ’03 enjoy a family celebration.

Susan Hall Wilson ’70 and her husband John Charles Wilson celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

’06 holds her daughter Perry at home in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

MILESTONES

Ashley Edge Adams ’08 visits

Lindsey McAlpin-Pinegar ’04 Partner, HCA Florida West Women’s Health Teaching Faculty, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Victoria Luke Morich ’04 Senior Director Multi-Year Strategy, Coca-Cola North America

Clare Patterson ’04 American University of the Caribbean, Clinical Medicine Excellence Award

Atina Stavropoulos ’04 Texas Young Lawyers Association, President’s Award

Darlon Wakefield ’04 Administrative Coordinator, Surgical Services Department, Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis

Jessie Walker Wiley ’04 Director of Development and Communications, Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Elizabeth Batchelor Calkins ’05 Editor of an English language textbook published in Japan

Caitlin Clark ’07 Board-certified internal medicine physician by passing the American Board of Internal Medicine certification exam

Ariel Mason Kelly ’08

Selected to the National Black Lawyers Top 40 under 40

Nica Cabigao Graunke ’10

Director of Clinical Operations at St. Jude Research Hospital

Callie McCool ’10

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University

Morgan Van Dyke Ivy ’11

Area Director,Young Life Memphis

Ellery Ammons ’12

Promoted to Senior Associate at development advisory firm Brailsford & Dunlavey

Melissa Byrd ’12

Senior Manager of Fundraising Events, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12 Nurse Practitioner, Sutherland Cardiology

Jordan Upton Schieffler ’12

Licensed Real Estate Agent for Ware Jones

Caela Rhea ’13

Received license in independent counseling and working as a Licensed Professional Counselor

Anna Taylor Wilhaucks ’13

Neurocritical Care Nurse Practitioner at Baptist Memphis

Karsen Springfield ’19

First-year dental student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and serving as class treasurer

Postgraduate Degrees

Sarah Carter ’04

Doctor of Nursing Practice, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Lauren Lazar ’04

Master of Business Administration, Healthcare Leadership and Management, University of Texas at Dallas

Bailey Wilson ’07

Master of Business Administration, George Mason University

Anna Taylor Wilhaucks ’13

Doctorate in Nursing Practice in Adult Gerontology Acute Care, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center

In Memoriam

Anita Beaty ’64

Katharine Phillips Huffman ’61

Julia Newsom ’79

SAM MIRZA

March 10, 2010November 16, 2023

We remember 8th grader Sam Mirza. She was an involved member of the Speech Club and Model UN.

Memory Madden Pohl ’08 and daughter Molly in Austin, Texas.

Imagine the best summer ever.

at 2024 FOR GIRLS AND BOYS – PK - 12TH GRADE academics | college prep | athletics | arts | leadership | community

TO READ CAMP DESCRIPTIONS & TO REGISTER ONLINE, VISIT

www.stmarysschool.org/summer

Lower School students show off their most spirited blue and white attire at a pep rally kicking off a new tradition, the Blue and White competition.

— Run Home to St. Mary’s —

Alumnae Weekend 2024

Friday & Saturday | April 12-13

No matter how far you’ve roamed, St. Mary’s will always be home. Alumnae Weekend 2024 promises to be a marathon of laughter, reminiscence, and the rekindling of sisterly bonds.

Register today.

www.stmarysschool.org/alumnae-weekend