St. Mary's Magazine Fall 2023

FALL

A Timeless Recipe

Crafted with care, St. Mary’s recipe for success stands the test of time

Fifth grade students hit the pool to test the robots they created in science class. Students spent months designing and building a robot that could float and move across the water. Read more on page 11.

44

Editor

Ainsley Willis, Assistant Director of Communication

Contributors

Hollie Brown, Kat Gordon ’00, Piper Gray ’04, Olivia House ’18 Design

Gabrielleschi Creative Photography

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

Class Notes Editor

Courtney Taylor Humphreys ’01 P’32’34

Director of Communication

Jennifer Parris

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

Social Media & Athletics Coordinator

Sarah Walker ’16

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 mission of St. Mary’s Episcopal School is to provide a superior educational experience for girls which will encourage and enable each student to reach her individual potential.

On the Cover: Riya Veluswamy ’31 and Adelaide Denman ’33 at Muddy’s Bake Shop owned by Kat Gordon ’00

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Albert L. Throckmorton

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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

Albert Mosley

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 ’77

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

Dear Friends,

This spring, we began building St. Mary’s next strategic plan. While we’re in the early stages of this process, we’ve already gathered feedback from a community survey and begun reviewing academic outcomes.

This process affords us the opportunity to invest our time in thinking about what makes St. Mary’s unique. What qualities do we want to preserve? What do we need to invest in for the future? How do we ensure the legacy of our founders is preserved yet remains relevant to future generations of students? How can we be good ancestors of this institution?

Strategy is important, and so is school culture. But as the renowned management guru Peter Druker said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” To successfully build and implement an effective plan to guide our institution forward, we must retain St. Mary’s nurturing and supportive learning environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and motivated to thrive.

St. Mary’s hosted 30 West Tennessee teams for the VEX IQ Robotics Competition in January. Students designed robots that moved disks from dispensers and into scoring zones. Our students brought home several awards, including the Judges Award and the Excellence Award, the highest honor presented in the VEX IQ Challenge.

As you’ll read in this magazine, there is something magical that happens at St. Mary’s. It can be hard to quantify, but you know it when you see and experience it. It is present in proud moments when a student delivers her senior speech in Chapel or an elementary student leads her parent-teacher conference. You feel it when fifth graders celebrate their robot completing an underwater obstacle course or when a Middle School student articulates how community service has changed her view of the world.

These are the things we will continue to invest in to ensure St. Mary’s remains a place where academic excellence matters, where girls build the character that enables them to serve as effective leaders, and where a sense of wonder is nurtured and celebrated.

When these magic ingredients—academic excellence, character, leadership, and wonder—combine, girls and women are prepared to change the world.

Light and Life,

Albert L. Throckmorton Head of School

Crafted with Care St. Mary’s recipe for success stands the test of time

For over 176 years, St. Mary’s has been refining the art of educating girls. Much like a treasured family recipe, the tried and true method for providing an exceptional educational experience has been passed down through generations and perfected over time. Expertise and understanding of how girls learn allowed St. Mary’s to craft a dependable, winning recipe known for nurturing girls and developing leaders.

Like an artisan who expertly crafts with care, St. Mary’s employs innovative techniques and ingredients

of the highest quality: a heaping scoop of academic excellence, a cupful of character, and a large dollop of leadership, folded together with a whisk of wonder.

When combined with inquisitive girls and passionate educators, the ingredients truly shine, adding layers of depth and flavor to the St. Mary’s experience. This magical combination is the key to St. Mary’s specialty: well-rounded, thoughtful young women prepared to make a difference in the world.

Taylor Phillips ’34, Jayne Claire Bernardi ’34, and Elizabeth Andring ’35 at Muddy’s Bake Shop

EXCELLENCE

A Confidence-Building Foundation

Propels Students to Academic Success

Julia Levine ’35 stood next to her teacher and proudly held her red folder. She read from her journal, “The book made me feel happy. The two little rabbits ran away. Hoppy went to go find his rabbit friends.”

When she was done, hands shot up across the room. Senior Kindergarten Teacher Teila Walker called on her classmate, who said, “I really like how you colored that rabbit. The pink inside the ears is pretty.”

The girls don’t know it, but this experience is the foundation for life beyond St. Mary’s. From this early experience onward, St. Mary’s girls build confidence and develop their own voices through reading, writing, and speaking in every grade level.

In Senior Kindergarten, girls learn the basics of public speaking through a weekly reading journal presentation. After reading a story with their parents, students write a journal entry about the story, draw a picture, and then present it to the class. As members of the audience, students learn proper listening etiquette and are encouraged to ask questions about the story.

“The journal presentations are a first step in learning to speak and present to others,” said Walker. “The project not only teaches girls basic presentation skills, but it also fosters a love of literature and an ability to share original ideas about the stories they read.”

As students move through the Lower School, girls learn to

make claims based on solid reasoning, cite evidence to justify their thinking, and explain how their selected evidence supports their reasoning. In 5th grade, Literature Teacher Jesse Osias teaches a strategy called “oral writing,” which transfers to their written responses.

“We ask students to answer questions in complete sentences, using part of the question in their answer,” Osias said. “If you are conscious of answering this way while speaking, you are more likely to respond this way when writing.”

One of the first projects in 5th grade asks students to consider, write down, and share their hopes and dreams for the school year.

“Even though many of the girls have known each other since St. Mary’s Place, this writing project provides an incredible opportunity for openness and vulnerability, allowing all students to connect with one another in a new way,” Osias said.

Osias hopes that the project instills in students an openness to others’ perspectives, a characteristic further developed by engaging in “accountable talk.”

“The strategy of ‘accountable talk’ encourages students to piggyback off of their peers’ ideas when they agree and to be respectful when they don’t,” Osias said. “The girls know they can let their voices be heard while learning to create space for others to be heard.”

In Middle School, teachers foster independence and encourage self-advocacy through writing. In addition to a literature class, 6th and 7th grade students take a grammar course dedicated to the mechanics of the English language. Students also simultaneously learn writing processes and techniques in their history and science classes.

Senior Kindergarten students like Julia Levine ’35 learn the basics of public speaking through weekly reading journal presentations.

“By the time our girls get to 8th grade and beyond, students are equipped with grammatical knowledge and a strong foundation of writing skills that prepare them for multiple types of writing,” said 8th Grade English Teacher Claire Zagrodzky.

Beyond writing, girls are encouraged to seek challenging opportunities, from solving complex problems to holding in-depth discussions.

“We challenge students academically by creating spaces for them to discuss and write about issues intellectually,” Zagrodzky said. “This ultimately results in students being able to articulate their own beliefs while being open to differing opinions.”

When students reach Upper School, the curriculum emphasizes developing their voice, and teachers push them to think about how they relate to the world around them.

“Throughout high school, students write commentary and opinion essays about the literature they read. This helps them find their voice,” said Shari Ray, Upper School English Teacher and Department Chair. “In the English department, we talk a great deal about voice and audience, which comes into play when seniors choose topics for senior speeches.”

As early as junior year, Ray encourages students to “pay attention to the stories around them” in preparation for their senior speech. “My favorite moment is after much brainstorming, pre-writing, and deleting, the student finally finds the story that she wants to tell and the right words in which to tell it,” said Ray. “You can see it on her

A Heaping Scoop of Academic Excellence

Encouraging Girls to Grow in Confidence

When Michele Loden started teaching at St. Mary’s 10 years ago, she remembers being surprised at how many of her students were anxious about higher-level math classes. Otherwise confident girls were suddenly worried when they walked into her pre-calculus class.

“My mission became: How can I help girls reduce their anxiety and recognize they can be excellent at math?” said Loden, who serves as Math Department Chair.

“Every teacher in our department constantly evaluates themselves, their curriculum, and how they teach it. We are looking for ways to improve to help our students learn more efficiently and deeply and hopefully grow their self-confidence in math along the way,” Loden said.

Using multiple physical senses in classroom learning makes a big difference. “We are systematically helping the girls talk about the math, visualize it, represent it algebraically with a symbol or a mathematical model, and be numerically accurate with their work,” Loden said.

This technique helps students approach the problem using four different vantage points and ultimately grow in confidence. Also, teachers will pause a lesson so students can work with a peer partner to unpack the instruction in more detail. This pause helps the students articulate their learnings and identify where they need more support.

Loden recognizes that excellence looks different for each girl as they approach a variety of majors in college.

“For the students going into medical and STEM fields, I want these girls to have the skills necessary to walk into those college classes and be the leaders,” Loden said. “For the girls going into business, my goal is for them to be exposed to calculus so they can feel comfortable in that class. For our students going into the humanities, I want those kids to have the understanding and confidence to get through a college algebra class and be excited that they never have to take a math class again.”

Noorie Sekhon ’35 explains her journal writing while Senior Kindergarten Teacher Shelley Kuykendall Herzke ’90 looks on.

Upper School math teachers use innovative teaching techniques to help students learn efficiently and deeply to grow their self-confidence.

face when she comes to that moment—relief, joy, success—and it is pretty great.”

For a St. Mary’s senior, finding their story is the first step of a process that includes multiple rounds of drafting, editing, meetings, and rehearsals with Ray, all leading to the moment they share their voice with Middle and Upper School students, faculty, and staff in Chapel.

As a student, Elizabeth Schatz Passarella ’95 was set on being a writer, something her teachers encouraged her to pursue. After a career writing for magazines like InStyle and Real Simple, Passarella recently published her second book of nonfiction essays, It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway: And Other Thoughts on Moving Forward.

Passarella says the tedious work of diagramming sentences and learning the rules of grammar as a Middle School student was foundational to becoming a creative writer.

“You can’t bend the rules, be creative, and find your own style unless you know the rules backward and forward by heart,” she said.

Just as importantly, Passarella is grateful that St. Mary’s taught her that her voice mattered and provided space for her to shape it.

“Before you can talk about skills, you have to gain the confidence to know what you have to say is important,” Passarella said. “At St. Mary’s, you learn that the story you have to tell is worthy.”

CHARACTER

Student-Led Fireside Chats Rooted in Respect

Sydney Shanker ’24 said reading rapper Kanye West’s antisemitic comments on social media “was eye-opening.”

“I didn’t realize how often these things were said by the same person and shoved under the rug because of who he is,” Shanker said. “The only reason it was brought to my attention was that it affected me.”

Last fall, Shanker and fellow Jewish Student Association leader Lea Thomas ’23 organized one of a series of fireside chats for fellow Upper School students. The girls felt it was important to talk about the rise in antisemitism because “the normalization of hatred leads to violence,” Thomas said. “The more we know about the people around us, the more we can prevent hatred from spreading.”

Fireside chats provide a space for Upper School students to have honest and challenging conversations about issues impacting them. The ability of 14- to 18-year-olds to hold courageous and respectful discussions is rooted in St. Mary’s character development program, the Bridge to Caring. As part of the signature program, students learn to define eight key character traits (respect, responsibility, thankfulness, kindness, self-control, courage, honesty, and

Upper School English Department Chair Shari Ray encourages students to “pay attention to the stories around them” in preparation for their senior speech. Georgia Carls ’23 shared how her grandmother taught her to make ravioli and permitted her to make mistakes.

Middle School students are encouraged to seek challenging opportunities, from solving complex problems to holding in-depth discussions.

Cup Full of Character Students Identify Positive Character Traits in Peers

cooperation) and identify the traits in themselves and others.

Lauren Rogers, Head of the Upper School, said she enjoys watching students lead “balanced, open, thoughtful conversations” about local, national, and international topics.

“All the conversations are through the students’ voices. Faculty attend, but adults are not the leaders of the conversation—they are supporters and witnesses,” Rogers said.

The Bridge to Caring character traits are on full display during a fireside chat. Sara Ottinger ’23 remembers feeling nervous about being vulnerable as she co-led a conversation in response to an off-campus example of hate speech directed at people who identify as LGBTQIA+.

Ottinger and her co-leaders felt it was important to discuss ways language can be harmful and how to support those who are targeted.

The highlight of North Campus Counselor Lauren Mitchell’s week is presenting the Caring Turkey award to Lower School students on Tuesday mornings. Each week, a student from grades 1-5 is recognized by her teachers or peers for demonstrating one of St. Mary’s Bridge to Caring character traits: respect, responsibility, thankfulness, kindness, self-control, honesty, courage, and cooperation.

“I love incorporating the Bridge to Caring into the curriculum because it gives girls an opportunity to shine and look for the best in others,” she said. “Students leave Chapel with the charge to not only live the traits in their daily lives but also with the understanding that it’s equally important to recognize and celebrate those traits in their peers.”

Lower School students are recognized weekly for demonstrating one of St. Mary’s Bridge to Caring character traits: respect, responsibility, thankfulness, kindness, self-control, honesty, courage, and cooperation.

Fireside chats provide a space for Upper School students to have honest and challenging conversations about issues that impact them.

“Being able to lead a conversation like that where my peers were just as incensed and uncomfortable showed me that this community really does have my back,” she said. “I’ve participated in many fireside chats. From gun violence to racism, the topics are broad and incredibly nuanced. It’s important for me to go, especially if these are ideas that I disagree with, because it makes me challenge my thinking. If I only accept my version of things, I’m living in an echo chamber.”

Assistant Chaplain Rainey Ray Segars ’05 says she’s grateful for the opportunity to attend these student-led conversations and watch the girls practice civil discourse.

“We want our girls to have not only a good academic education but also a strong ability to express their opinions and to receive the differing opinions of others with humility, curiosity, and respect,” Segars said.

This exposure to different ideas and religious traditions is woven into St. Mary’s curriculum, especially through daily Chapel for Middle and Upper School students and weekly Chapel for younger students.

As an Episcopal school, St. Mary’s is committed to an environment in which Christians and non-Christians can affirm together God, who transcends all creeds and religions. Faculty and staff, along with guest speakers, reinforce each community member’s responsibility to treat others with respect and kindness.

For Shanker, fireside chats are an opportunity to focus on an issue and not the politics involved through an honest and respectful conversation that ultimately helps students better understand one another.

“We welcome all opinions,” Shanker said. “We wouldn’t want someone to feel like they can’t share their opinion. Our conversations focus on what we can do to better our community.”

LEADERSHIP Students Learn to Lead by Serving

Seventh grader Neely Thompson stood in front of the nearly 30 professionals serving on the MIFA Board of Directors and confidently talked about food insecurity. If she was nervous,

MIFA’s Chief Development Officer Anna Kathryn Word and Director of Impact & Communications Ellen Whitten talked to 7th grade students about the causes and impacts of poverty.

After learning about how MIFA meets seniors’ needs, students collected items to assemble birthday bags for Meals on Wheels participants.

it didn’t show.

Katie Piper ’28 shared with conviction ways students can take action to alleviate poverty in Memphis.

Kate Wexler ’28 assuredly talked about how she plans to serve the community because of what she learned at school.

With poise, Lyla Furlong ’28 demonstrated how volunteering can give students a sense of purpose.

These four Middle School students were invited to MIFA to share the impact of the organization’s partnership with St. Mary’s through the Community Connections course.

A Large Dollop of Leadership Students Lead Parent-Teacher Conferences

Every spring, Lower School students flip the script. Instead of traditional parent-teacher conferences, students guide the one-on-one conversations with their parents and teachers. Student-led conferences are an opportunity for girls to grow in their confidence and manage their academic growth.

“These conferences help students get comfortable with goal setting at an early age. It allows for self-reflection and awareness so students can take ownership of their learning, make it more meaningful, and develop life-long skills,” 2nd Grade Teacher Mary Clayton Garavelli said.

Teachers help students prepare for these conversations by creating a portfolio, modeling the conference, and then role-playing with another student. Garavelli says she loves seeing how proud the girls are when they can communicate their strengths and goals to their parents.

Middle School Counselor Andrea Peredo said, “It’s amazing to watch our girls step up as leaders after the presentations from MIFA. Once they are aware of the needs in our community, they want to be part of the solution.”

Every 7th grade student takes Community Connections, a quarter-long service class designed to help students understand the needs of their community, grow compassion and empathy, and develop as leaders.

The adults in the room were impressed.

“Our board was absolutely astounded by our partnership and the girls’ experiences,” said Anna Kathryn Word, MIFA’s Chief Development Officer. “The board was so enthusiastic and immediately wanted to know how they could help—one offered to provide a poverty needs assessment and present it to the class, and another offered data maps and budgeting curriculum.”

During their 7th grade year, girls rotate through a series of four quarter-long classes—the Community Connections course, financial literacy, art, and world religion.

“The 7th grade curriculum was designed to help the girls step out of their own bubbles. The year of 7th grade can be hard; the classes give girls a moment to get outside of their heads and see the world around them. This series also helps girls as they begin to discover their individual potential and talents,” Middle School Head Katherine House said.

Service has long been part of the curriculum in the Middle School. House and Counselor Andrea Peredo decided to redesign the program two years ago to focus on working with a long-term partner, so both the nonprofit and the students would benefit from the experience.

“My feeling was that we were quite the burden on the people we were trying to serve,” House said. “They had to come up with things for us to do. The goal is to ask a local nonprofit what they need and what we can do. Our partnership with MIFA has been a wonderful experience that has given girls a peek at Memphis, the issues that face our city, and how

they can help.”

The course syllabus, built with MIFA’s guidance, includes acknowledging the complexity of stereotypes and bias, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and types of services and nonprofits. Leaders from MIFA come to the class to talk about Meals on Wheels and other emergency assistance programs for families.

“Our conversations with the students have raised important questions about poverty, homelessness, hunger, and the trauma and bureaucracy of poverty,” Word said. “At the end of each session, we were able to remind the students that they are the next generation of volunteers and donors—and that they will be able to influence policy and actions that will help the next generation thrive.”

The students also plan and implement a service project in collaboration with MIFA. These projects have included making birthday bags for seniors, delivering and packing meals, and organizing sock drives.

“It’s amazing to watch our girls step up as leaders after the presentations from MIFA,” Peredo said. “Once they are aware of the needs in our community, they want to be part of the solution.”

Fifth Grade Teacher Erin Lyttle Do ’98 watches Carys Hoggan ’30 and Alicia Anand ’30 learn to solder metal pieces before they can build their underwater robot remote control.

“During our work at MIFA, my classmates and I learned the value of teamwork and cooperation. We would have never completed the number of boxes that we did without working together. The same could also be said for service on a larger scale. I have learned that much more could be done with a foundation of collaboration and partnership.”

Lyla Furlong ’28 shared with the MIFA Board of Directors

WONDER

Lower School STEM Curriculum Shows Students What Is Possible

Ellis Weston’s robot moved quickly across the pool in a straightforward direction. But then the robot stopped moving. Weston ’30 and her two team members pulled the robot out of the water to see what was wrong.

“Our zip ties kept breaking, and our motors kept falling down. We were tugging on the wires too much,” Weston said. The girls quickly repaired the zip ties, and the robot was back in the water.

Malone Chapman ’30 was thrilled when she saw how her team’s robot floated in the water. They had perfectly calculated the robot’s buoyancy.

“I knew we could do it, just not as well as we did!” Chapman said.

Every May, 5th grade students take a field trip to a pool to test underwater robots they built over the course of 10 weeks.

During the spring, 5th grade students tested the underwater robots they built over ten weeks. The project is the culminating assignment in the comprehensive Lower School STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum.

The project is the culminating assignment in the comprehensive Lower School STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum. Girls learn how to solder, strip wires, build electrical circuits, and waterproof motors. But most importantly, they learn how to get their hands dirty, make mistakes, and problem-solve. It’s all part of a sense of wonder woven into the curriculum at St. Mary’s.

“We offer girls a safe space to be curious, test out their ideas, and make mistakes along the way,” said Carrie

sms recipe

SK-2nd Grade Science Teacher and STEAM Coordinator.

Ruhland,

“As students get older and do more complex projects, they are not afraid to tackle new challenges because they have always been allowed to take chances.”

The STEM curriculum is strategically designed to build on skills year after year. As students learn about the engineering design process and increase their skill set, they also grow in their solution-oriented mindset.

“We scaffold the projects starting in 1st grade with fairy tale engineering leading up to water robots in 5th grade. Each year a project introduces new age-appropriate tools and skills that build upon each other until we get to the 5th-grade project, which is very

Third-Fifth Grade Science Teacher Mekea Johnson says she enjoys watching girls confidently solder and strip wires as they build robots.

As part of St. Mary’s STEM curriculum, girls like Alicia Anand ’30 learn to try new things, make mistakes, and problem-solve.

“Creating the space and time to work through the steps of questioning, discovering, and learning builds persistence and determination. In this hands-on process, I want my students be open to unlocking new passions and talents.”

Mekea Johnson, 3rd-5th Grade Science Teacher

Whisk of Wonder Questions Drive Scientific Discovery

Does music help you remember facts when you’re studying? What’s the most effective waterproof mascara brand? Is there a connection between exercise and concentration? Through Independent Study projects, Middle School students find the answers to questions like these.

Science teachers guide students through a quarter-long research project designing and conducting experiments. It starts with a testable question and research paper. Each girl develops a

intense,” said Jessica Lancaster, North Campus Curriculum Director.

Each grade spends dedicated time in the North Campus Makerspace, a magical place filled with cardboard, wood, fabric, hinges, popsicle sticks, zip ties, wire, glue guns, power drills, and more. Students “shop” the room for supplies as they tackle their projects. Teachers are on hand to guide students through material selections and how to use the tools.

In first grade, students solve a problem from a fairy tale that often incorporates the use of simple machines. The next year, students learn about the principles of flight by building a kite featuring a bird of their choosing. Third grade students learn about gravity and slope by building a Roman aqueduct. Fourth grade students develop their own inventions through a Shark Tank project that involves a field trip to Lowe’s and a pitch to judges.

“In 5th grade, we got a lot of freedom in the Maker Space,” said Chapman. “I was really cautious in the

procedure to test her question, then performs an experiment and collects data. Students draw conclusions from their data and present their findings to their peers.

“I love mentoring 6th grade students through their first Independent Study process. Students grow their appreciation for scientific advancement and experimenting. The project allows them to cultivate a deeper understanding of STEM topics that interest them,” said Rachel Giampapa, 6th Grade Science Teacher.

beginning. It took time to get used to all the tools, but now I’m more confident using different tools.”

As Lower School girls build confidence and technical skills, they also learn to overcome challenges that arise throughout the engineering process. St. Mary’s teachers are intentional about building patience and grit in their students from an early age. Girls are encouraged to find solutions with the help of their peers—rather than asking an adult for help.

“When girls encounter an obstacle, we want them to take a step back, think things through with their partners, and then test out an idea to solve it,” said Lancaster. “We guide them along the way, but we want the girls to understand that they can solve these problems without getting the answer from the teacher.”

Special thanks to writer Olivia House ’18 and stylist Kat Gordon ’00 for their work on this article.

Middle School students spend an academic quarter working on a research project that starts with a testable question and research paper and ends with a summation of their findings and presentation to their peers.

Congratulations to

The 63 members of the Class of 2023: Earned acceptances to 157 colleges

Matriculated to 45 different colleges in 23 states

the class of 2023

79% are attending out-of-state colleges

29% are enrolled in honors colleges or in special scholar programming

Cathedral Award

Eva Ogbeide

Spirit of St. Mary’s Award

Hayden Hedges and Fia Arbelaez

Faculty and staff are excited about our graduates’ next chapter.

Hats off to the Class of 2023!

Tabor Novak Award

Grace Jones

Alumnae with their graduating relatives: Gretchen Wollert McLennon ’93 and Leah Balkaran; Judy Klitzner Lindy ’57 and Emery; Mary Kavanagh Day ’82 and Oakley; Holly Walters Craft ’83 and Katie; Heather Nichols Rasch ’88 and Sara Ottinger; Stephanie MacIntosh Shy ’89 and Gracie; Courtney Morris Monaghan ’87 and Ellie; Ginny Robinson Burbank ’93 and Margo

Mary M. Davis Loyalty Award

Michelle Jun

Hazlehurst Gold Cross Award

Faculty and staff with their graduating daughters and granddaughters: ECC PE Teacher Wendy Gallik and Peyton; Director of Libraries Jeanine Akers and Maggie; Head of Lower School Marcisha Brazley-Keith and Kaela; US Art History Teacher Nancy Prillaman and Kate; Director of Buckman Arts Center Cindi Younker and Sophie; US Science Teacher Hal Roberts and Angela

Anna Douglas Piper

Ellen Feild Todd ’81 Award

Leah Balkaran

Alumnae with their graduating sisters: Juliana ’17, Fia, and Isabella ’15 Arbelaez; Ayushi ’22 and Naisha Gaur; Sidney ’19 and Ruth Ann Seale; Anna Rose ’18 and Charlotte LaMountain; Kai ’22 and Kaela Keith; Maya ’21 and Kayla Gurley; Mary Elise ’16 and Caroline O’Brien; Lelia ’17 and Grace Jones; Amal ’22 and Shifa Panjwani; Hibah ’16 and Maha Virk

Mela Ford, Grace Jones, and Madison Burt

The Class of 2023 celebrate as they exit Church of the Holy Communion.

Alumnae mothers with their flower girl daughters: Mary Austin Mays Smith ’03 and Phoebe Diane ’36; Michelle Pao Levine ’95 and Julia ’35; Amina Dilawari ’95 and Noora ’36; Louise Chandler Biedenharn ’01 and Lucia ’35; Sarah Matthews Pietrangelo ’01 and Margaret ’35; Courtney Taylor Humphreys ’01 and Annie ’34; Carey Faber Campbell ’03 and Dottie ’35; Anne Morgan Brookfield Morgan ’99 and Mary Brooks ’32; Jenny Jones Savage ’99 and Penny ’35; Blair Carter Tait ’04 and Mary Mason ’35; Catherine Smith Denman ’06 and Adelaide ’33

Grayson Finks and flower girl Penny Savage ’35

Callie Wittmann and Lea Thomas line up with fellow graduates.

Sisters Ainslee and Emery Taylor ’26

Annie Gowen, Gracie Shy, Director of Athletics John Bartholomew, Elaina Santos, and Strength and Conditioning Coach Claire Betti

Kaela Keith and flower girl Jade Roberson ’35

Keyona Hooker, Rachel Larkins, Assistant Chaplain Rainey Ray Segars ’05, Margo Burbank, and Darla Suitt

Caroline O’Brien, Elaina Santos, Ruth Ann Seale, and Maha Virk

Ellie Monaghan, Shifa Panjwani, Erin Roy, and Eva Ogbeide

Riley Gilmore and flower girl Emilia Whitten ’35

Anna Douglas Piper and Katie Craft

Maggie Akers

Fia Arbelaez Emerson Baer

Leah Balkaran Stella Blen Margo Burbank

Oakley Day Grayson Finks

Mela Ford

Peyton Gallik

Naisha Gaur Riley Gilmore

Ava Jalenak Sofia Jalenak

Grace Jones

Michelle Jun

Kaela Keith Hannah Kerlan

Ellie MonaghanCaroline O’BrienEva Ogbeide Sara Ottinger Shifa Panjwani

Elaina Santos Ruth Ann Seale

Julia Van Hoozer

Gracie Shy Camille Smith Gabby Smith

Lea Thomas

Maha Virk Elizabeth Wen

Allie Burkhart Madison Burt Georgia Carls Aislinn Choo Grace CiaramitaroKatie Craft

Annie Gowen Kayla Gurley

Cameron HartHayden Hedges

Keyona HookerHaniyah Ismail

Alexandra Lafferty Charlie LaMountainRachel Larkins

Emery Lindy

Meghana MadasuArden Miller

Anna Douglas PiperKate PrillamanAngela Roberts

Erin Roy

Mia Soefker Reese Suddarth Darla Suitt Ainslee Taylor Amaya Taylor

Callie Wittmann Amor Williams

Erika Ross

Sophie Younker

BUILDING BLOCKS

A growing robotics program provides opportunities for young girls to thrive in STEM

For Lilly Coggin ’26, participating in the 2018 VEX Robotics World Championship was exhilarating, fulfilling, and eye-opening. “I remember thinking it was the absolute coolest thing ever, and let’s be honest, it was,” says Coggin.

Coggin, along with Ivy Carls ’26 and Caroline Chandler ’26, were the first St. Mary’s team to attend the worldwide competition. Then fourth graders, the students led the way for the budding robotics program to blossom into a formidable force in the competitive robotics arena.

Thanks to these girls’ enthusiasm and early success, VEX robotics has taken off at St. Mary’s. Since the first appearance, St. Mary’s has sent numerous teams to the World Championship, including three in 2023.

At the 2023 championship, Middle School students Mia Federico ’29, Riya Kumar ’29, Kylin Menard ’29, and Sloan Webster ’29 received one of the competition’s high honors, the Create Award. Out of 700 teams from 80 countries, St. Mary’s students were recognized for their use of creative engineering design solutions to one or more challenges during the competition. “We were

Above, the fourth-grade team of Ivy Carls ’26, Lilly Coggin ’26, and Caroline Chandler ’26 were the first St. Mary’s team to attend the VEX World Championship in 2018. Below, now entering tenth grade, students from St. Mary’s first world competition team credit the robotics program for opening their eyes to opportunities for girls in STEM.

so honored to receive the Create Award because it proved we had the skills and teamwork to create a great robot that worked for us and could do well in the competition. Having our work recognized in front of hundreds of teams from all over the world was an amazing experience,” shared Federico.

Leading the way

In 2017, Applied Technology and Innovation Coordinator Meagan Michael launched the robotics program at St. Mary’s, starting in the Lower School with VEX IQ competition teams. Coding and robotics had long been part of the Lower School curriculum, laying a foundation for the new after-school program.

In the second year, Carls, Chandler, and Coggin advanced through rounds of local and state competitions, earning the opportunity to attend the 2018 World Championship, competing against teams from across the world. Now entering the tenth

grade, members of St. Mary’s first VEX World competition team are still in awe of the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“It was incredibly inspiring, especially for girls our age who were eager to take their place in the STEM world. I learned so much from being able to participate in this event, and it certainly solidified my love of STEM,” said Coggin.

Kumar, a 2023 participant, shared a similar sentiment, “Being at the World Championship was a phenomenal feeling for our team. We experienced so many cool things, including working with international teams from China, Egypt, and Spain. It was so cool to see that VEX was worldwide.”

Developing key skills

The robotics program has expanded to South Campus, now available to grades 4-12. In the more advanced competitions, students use metal components to build their robots, and teams are

Under the guidance of Applied Technology and Innovation Coordinator Meagan Michael, 6th graders Sloan Webster, Mia Federico, Riya Kumar, and Kylin Menard excelled in competition last school year. The team ended the season strong, winning the Create Award at the 2023 VEX World Championships.

given more freedom in their design.

Under the guidance of Michael, students meet after school and during lunch breaks, working in teams to build and test a robot for competition. Robotics students gain valuable critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they use the engineering design process to design, produce, test, and improve their robots for each competition.

The teams must keep track of their ideas and progress in an engineering design notebook they submit for judging during competitions, where they explain their design process and choices. This year alone, St. Mary’s VEX teams documented more than 250 pages in their engineering design notebooks, detailing each

change they made to their robot throughout this season.

In order to be successful in competition, students must exhibit excellent organizational, planning, project management, and leadership skills, while being able to compromise and work in a team.

“VEX showed me that if you work hard, it will pay off. My team worked so hard and spent any free time we had critiquing our robot until it was the best it could be,” shared 2023 winner Menard. “In the beginning, we all had great ideas. So we created a robot using everyone’s ideas. We were able to work well together because we believed in each other and focused.”

Chandler also recalls how the cultivation of these skills propelled them during the 2018 competition. “We had to work with an ‘alliance’ team that we were randomly assigned to each round. In one round, we were assigned a team where only the coach could speak English. We learned how to communicate and work together even with the boundaries of language in the way,” she said.

Opening the door

Competing with the robotics program allows students to learn and explore STEM fields at an early age, opening their eyes to what is possible for girls.

Participating in VEX has further fueled interest in robotics and STEM for students like Webster and Carls. “I thought robotics would be fun, but I didn’t realize how much I would like it. I really like doing the competitions,” said Webster. She also looks forward to the advanced challenges offered by high-school-level competitions. “In the

The competitive robotics program has thrived at St. Mary’s. Participants like Briana Brown ’29, Leah Tate ’29, and Ella Federico ’29 gain valuable critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills.

Upper School competitions, you get to work with metal pieces. I think that will be even cooler.”

“Being around so many people my age with the same interests as me made me feel like this is what I want to do. I plan to continue doing VEX and pursue engineering in college,” shared Carls.

After five years, VEX Robotics at St. Mary’s continues to grow and evolve.

Michael’s students are the first to credit her passion and drive for the growth of the program. “Our amazing sponsor Mrs. Michael is our biggest supporter. We couldn’t reach any of our goals without her, and she always encourages us to use every opportunity as a learning experience,” said Coggin.

Michael’s vision for the program has opened the door for girls across campus to take part in a unique experience while developing key skills beyond science and engineering.

“There’s a spot for everyone on the team, whether you’re an engineer, an artist, a designer, a programmer, or anything else that sparks your interest,” said Coggin. “I will forever be proud to say that I’m part of such an incredible program full of extraordinary people.”

2023 VEX Robotics Awards and Honors

8th Grade

Abigail Brown, Esme Larschan, and Thea Larschan

• Excellence Award and Amaze Award at local competition

6th Grade

Briana Brown, Anika Kharbanda, Sahana Mudigoudar, and Leah Tate

• First Place in Teamwork Division, Build Award, and Design Award at local competition

• Innovate Award at state tournament

Mia Federico, Riya Kumar, Kylin Menard, and Sloan Webster

• Excellence Award at local competition

• Fourth Place in Teamwork Division at state tournament

• Create Award at World Championship

Interested in getting involved with VEX Robotics?

New classes will be available in fall 2023. Lower and Middle School students must complete a VEX Robotics application and sign up for the After3 program. Upper School students must sign up for Robotics Club and attend an informational session.

The robotics program has expanded to South Campus, allowing Upper School students like Tracy Zhang ’25, Kim Huang ’25, Lucy Roberts ’26, and Florence Yu ’26 to participate and compete.

CAMPUS NEWS

2022-23 Student Awards and Honors

Early Childhood

Senior Kindergarten families celebrated moving on to Lower School with a special program and performance in front

Lower School

Lila Phillips Gould Award: Rachel Davis ’30 2023 award recipient Rachel Davis with her family, including her aunt and Associate Head of School Hilary Davis Robinson ’90

of Moss Hall.

The Class of 2029 is headed across the street to begin Middle School. Good luck to these students as they take on 6th grade.

Middle School

Hats off to the following Middle School students who were recognized at Class Day.

Vicki Ladyman Award: Evans Rogin ’27, Ejeme Ataga ’27

Joyous Christian Living Award: Kate Witherington ’27, Lauren Ehrhart ’27

Carmine B. Vaughan Award for Service: Lucy Lyon ’27

Gilmore Lynn Award: Suri Ghodadra ’27

Mary Paoli Award: Hannah Loden ’27

Geoffery C. Butler Award: Amal Ahmed ’27

Ellen Feild Todd ’81 Award: Kate Wexler ’28

Joyce Gingold Art Award: Parsons Gray ’29

Palmer Adams Burt ’99 Art Award: Kate Massey ’27

Anne Westmoreland Garrett ’79 Award: Lucy Pai ’27

Upper School

Congratulations to the following Upper School students who were recognized at Class Day.

Patti Person Ray ’65 Citizenship Award: Charlotte Hernandez ’26, McCall Ward ’25, Emily Smith ’24, Lillian Nazarova ’24, Naisha Gaur ’23

Betty Lou Stidham Award: Leah Balkaran ’23

Community Service Award: Angela Roberts ’23

Donna Osborne Bradley ’74 Award: Eva Ogbeide ’23

Vicki Ladyman Athletic Award: Sadie Dattel ’26, Leighton Visinsky ’26

Lawrence Lobaugh Sportsmanship Award: Grace Ciaramitaro ’23

Sumner Baker Athletic Award: Kayla Gurley ’23, Emery Lindy ’23

Best All-Around Athlete: Erin Roy ’23

Award of Excellence: Leighton Visinsky ’26, Claudia Ribeiro ’25, Emmie Infeld ’24

Drs. Raghavia and Indira Nimmagadda Intellectual Curiosity Award: Charlie LaMountain ’23

Congratulations to the Class of 2027! This impressive group of 8th grade students is headed to Upper School.

Sixty-three members of the Upper School were inducted into the National Beta Club. The National Beta Club promotes the ideals of academic achievement, character, service, and leadership.

Upper School

Congratulations to our National Merit Finalists, Naisha Gaur ’23 and Charlie LaMountain ’23. Students who score in the top 1% of PSAT/NMSQT test-takers qualify as National Merit Finalists.

St Mary’s welcomed 43 new members into the National Honor Society. The National Honor Society was founded in 1921 to recognize and encourage academic achievement, scholarship, character, service, and leadership.

Mays Writing Contest

Congratulations to the 2023 winners of the Mays Writing Contest, the school’s annual fiction-writing competition for students in grades 1-12. The student committee created a prompt inspired by our all-school summer read The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. The prompt asked students to write a fictional story about an unlikely friendship where the friends overcome a conflict. Students of all ages produced beautiful stories exploring the power of friendship and community. The annual contest is sponsored by the Mays family, whose continued, generous support of the writing contest encourages students to pursue creative writing and storytelling.

2023 Mays Writing Contest winners: Walks Ruhland ’34, Lola Fienup ’33, Louise Jacobs ’32, Meera Satpute ’31, Malone Chapman ’30, Kylin Menard ’29, Mayra Arshad ’28, Brooke Brown ’27, Stella Pitzer ’26, Kate Wolfkill ’25, Katie Hill ’24, Aislinn Choo ’23

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

Youth in Government Conference

St. Mary’s students shined at the 2023 Youth in Government Conference (YIG), earning several accolades and leadership positions. The conference, organized by the YMCA of Middle Tennessee Center for Civic Engagement, allows Upper School students hands-on experience in a mock state government. Students can serve as senators, representatives, justices, lawyers, department commissioners, lobbyists, or press corps members.

Lily Karnes ’24 will lead the conference in 2024 after being elected Governor. Nine other St. Mary’s students will serve as officers next year: Reeya Sharma ’24, Emily Larkins ’25, Naomi Betapudi ’25, Sarah Moon ’24, Sarah Mae Fields ’25, Caroline Hunt ’24, Kate Wolfkill ’25, Ashlynn Ostner ’25, and Maya Iyengar ’25.

Several teams and individuals were recognized for their outstanding work, including Charlie LaMountain ’23, Anna Douglas Piper ’23, Mila Szatkowski ’24, MC Hitt ’26, and Allan Golden ’26 as Outstanding Statepersons, and Izzie Cochran ’25 as Outstanding Press.

Three teams were awarded Best Bill: Charlie LaMountain ’23 and Angela Roberts ’23; Anna Douglas Piper ’23; and Ivy Carls ’26, Day Galbreath ’26, and Krithika Vaidyanathan ’26. Competing in the Supreme Court, the team of Maya Iyengar ’25 and Natalie Smith ’25 won Outstanding Brief.

Cum Laude Society

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

Class of 2023 inductees: Anna Douglas Piper, Shifa Panjwani, Grace Jones, Michelle Jun, Charlie LaMountain, and Margo Burbank (not pictured)

National Book Awards

Class of 2024 inductees: Elizabeth MacQueen, Emmie Infeld, Anum Raza, Isabel Isaacs, Averie Howell, Maggie Kustoff, and Rebecca Schweitzer

Across the country, colleges and universities have established book awards to recognize the accomplishments or characteristics of high school juniors that mirror the mission and values of their institutions while acknowledging excellence in a subject area, creative talent, or service to their community. Thirteen members of the Class of 2024 received book awards.

Congratulations to: Bianca Dishmon (University of Rochester), Caroline Garrett (Washington & Lee University), Averie Howell (Dartmouth College), Caroline Hunt (University of Rochester), Lily Karnes (Yale University), Maggie Kustoff (University of Virginia), Elizabeth MacQueen (Hollins University), Bronwyn Saatkamp (University of Rochester), Mary Paige Scott (Rhodes College), Rebecca Schweitzer (Brandeis University), Brennan Seltzer (University of Rochester), Sydney Shanker (University of Pennsylvania), and Saniya Young (Tulane University).

CAMPUS NEWS Events

Women’s History Month

Every March, St. Mary’s celebrates Women’s History Month by honoring an extraordinary female in Memphis with the Cynthia D. Pitcock Women’s History Award. This award was established in 2002 to honor those who have made historically significant contributions to the community and our collective civility. The 2023 recipient was Elaine Lee Turner. Turner and her family were leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and dedicated to desegregating Memphis. As founder of the Heritage Tours and Director of Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum and W.C. Handy Home & Museum, Turner is passionate about preserving, honoring, and teaching Black history, especially local history.

Tennessee Junior Classical League Convention

Middle and Upper School Latin students had an excellent showing at the Tennessee Junior Classical League state convention in Knoxville. St. Mary’s finished second overall in the small school division. In addition, Ella Curlin ’24 was elected as Historian, and Elizabeth MacQueen ’24 was elected as President.

Tinker Fair

Early Childhood students turned trash into treasures during the Tinker Fair. Senior Kindergarten, Junior Kindergarten, and Pre-Kindergarten students demonstrated their creativity by crafting imaginative structures and objects from recycled materials. Students built dollhouses, unicorns, and castles made from discarded materials like cardboard boxes and paper towel rolls.

Mock Trial State Competition

During spring break, the Upper School Mock Trial team competed in the State Mock Trial Competition at downtown Nashville’s historic Davidson County Courthouse. Both St. Mary’s teams finished in the top 10. A few students received notable individual awards, including Zoe McMullen ’24, who finished in third place for Best Witness for the Defense. Camille Smith ’23 and Kate Wolfkill ’25 were also recognized as team MVPs.

St. Mary’s Community Fund

St. Mary’s Community Fund (SMCF), the student-run grant-making organization founded in 1998, awarded $40,000 in grants to six nonprofits that serve children. The 2023 grantees were Carpenter Art Garden, Girls on the Run Memphis, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis Child Advocacy Center, Porter-Leath, and STREETS Ministries. SMCF members led and executed the grant process from start to finish, including raising money, reviewing grant applications, and conducting site visits. The students also engage with the nonprofits as volunteers.

Maker Fair

Lower School students had a blast tie-dying SMS headbands, making sensory dough, creating bird treats, and many other activities during the annual Maker Fair. A tradition in its eighth year, the Maker Fair is a large-scale show-and-tell event where students teach each other how to create something. The Maker Fair allows students to explore, create, learn, and lead while working together to complete fun and challenging activities.

Springfest

The arrival of spring brings one of St. Mary’s most cherished traditions, Springfest, where the Upper School selects a junior to serve as Queen, and the 6th grade chooses a classmate to serve as Princess. Students are asked to identify a peer who represents the ideal qualities of a St. Mary’s girl: kindness, compassion, positivity, involvement, hard work, and leadership. For 2023, students selected Mary Paige Scott as Queen and Sarah Taylor Stout as Princess.

The Sound of Music

In the spring, Performing Arts Teacher Taylor Ragan ’07 led a cast and crew of Upper and Lower School students in St. Mary’s production of The Sound of Music. The talented cast delighted the audience for six performances. In addition to the cast, the production was a success thanks to the hard-working stage crew. These dedicated students managed the scene changes, lighting adjustments, acoustics, and more.

Junie B. Jones, The Musical

Do you ever wish you could go back to the simplicity of first grade? Members of the Middle School cast of Junie B. Jones, The Musical took audiences down memory lane through the eyes of a rambunctious first-grader.

CAMPUS NEWS Faculty and Staff

Each year, St. Mary’s recognizes employees for their hard work and dedication through faculty and staff awards. At the close of the school year, seven remarkable individuals were awarded for their commitment to St. Mary’s students. These women are creative, empathetic, and hard-working, and we are thankful for their devotion to our students.

2022-23 Faculty and Staff Awards

Nanette Quinn Outstanding Teacher Award Stephanie Poje Lower School Learning Specialist

Gold Cross Award Nancy Prillaman Upper School Art History Teacher Apple Award Becky Maddux Junior Kindergarten Teacher

Creative Teacher Award Gretchen Carstens Middle School Latin Teacher

Ellen Feild Todd ’81 Staff Award Jeanne Ross Assistant to Middle School Head

Fannie Warr Award Jean McMahon Early Childhood Academic Support Associate

Gilmore Lynn Award Jenny Madden Director of Auxiliary Programs

Nancy Prillaman Retires

At the end of the school year, we said goodbye to a longtime member of St. Mary’s faculty. Upper School Art Teacher Nancy Prillaman retired after 27 years of service. This year, Nancy received the Gold Cross, the most prestigious award granted to faculty and staff. Prillaman was excited to “graduate” with her granddaughter Kate ’23.

Lauren Rogers Earned Doctorate from Vanderbilt University

This spring, Head of the Upper School Lauren Rogers received her doctoral degree in education leadership and policy. “I decided to enroll in the program to study systems of learning, more specifically, to delve deeper into the theories of improvement science,” shared Rogers. “I was lucky to work with over 800 independent school leaders to research my capstone project.”

Rogers had the opportunity to present her findings at Vanderbilt and to the National Association of Independent Schools executive leadership team.

Beverly Brooks Recognized as Outstanding Young Alumni Director of College

Counseling Beverly Brooks was honored by The College of Wooster in June. Brooks recieved the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which recognizes an alumnus with notable early-career achievements and service to the College.

Welcome New Directors

This year, several of our divisions and departments will welcome new leadership.

Nikki Davis, Director of Belonging

We welcome Nikki Davis as St. Mary’s Director of Belonging. Davis is an experienced educator, counselor, and coach who strives to create a space where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Davis has master’s degrees in sociology and teaching from the University of Memphis and a bachelor’s degree in general studies and psychology from the University of Kansas, where she played basketball.

Before joining St. Mary’s, Davis worked at St. George’s Independent School as Director of Counseling; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator; and Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach. She previously served as a Middle School math teacher and team lead.

“I believe my personal and professional experiences have prepared me to do amazing work at St. Mary’s. I feel honored to be a part of a school committed to creating and maintaining an environment where all community members feel valued and respected,” shared Davis.

Davis will lead programs and outreach that sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community. She will collaborate with the Belonging Task Force of the school’s Board of Trustees and chair the faculty and staff Belonging committee.

Christina Block, Director of Early Childhood

Experienced educator Christina Block has been tapped to serve as the new Head of the Early Childhood Program. Block has nearly 20 years of experience working as a speech-language pathologist with early childhood-age children, serving the last eight years as the Director of Learning Support at St. Mary’s. Block worked closely with parents, teachers, and administrators to develop plans to support students and help them reach their intended educational goals. Block is committed to high standards, challenging curriculum, and innovative learning. She is well-versed in how girls learn and recently co-led the project to redesign St. Mary’s Pre-K literacy curriculum.

“As the new head of the Early Childhood Center, it is my job to carry on the tradition of excellence while also looking to current best practices and future growth to start our St. Mary’s students off with the strongest possible foundation,” shared Block. “I look forward to partnering with our caring and talented faculty as we support our children’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being.”

Block is the mother of Josie ’24 and Amelia ’26.

Catherine Smith Denman ’06, Director of Libraries

After three years as North Campus Librarian, Catherine Smith Denman ’06 was named Director of Libraries. Denman has 11 years of experience as a school librarian. She received a bachelor’s degree in classical studies from Millsaps College and earned an MLIS (master’s of library and information science) from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Denman has brought enthusiasm, creativity, and a wealth of literary knowledge to our North Campus Library. “I am thrilled to lead the libraries where I learned to love reading and research, continuing the history of St. Mary’s robust library program,” said Denman.

Denman is the mother of Adelaide ’33.

Jordan Park, Director of Technology

Former Help Desk Specialist Jordan Park has assumed the role of Director of Technology. Park has been at St. Mary’s for three years and is known for his friendly, helpful approach. He’s eager to work with teachers as they incorporate technology into the classroom.

An educator at heart, Park has six years of teaching experience at international schools in Indonesia, Afghanistan, and Bolivia. He received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Memphis. He has also earned a CompTIA Network+/Security+ certification and is an Apple Certified Technician.

“We have spent the last few years modernizing our technology and practices at the school. Now, I’m excited to lead and develop our school into a pioneer and model for other independent schools in our use and training of technology as a tool,“ said Park.

Mark Hooper, Director of Security

This summer, Mark Hooper began his tenure as St. Mary’s first Director of Security. Hooper has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, emergency management, and school security. Hooper’s sole focus will be maintaining a safe and secure environment for students, families, and employees. He will work with school administrators to continue implementing the comprehensive security assessment from our safety partner Defend Systems.

Before joining St. Mary’s, Hooper served as Director of Campus Safety at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School. He previously worked as a Federal Air Marshal, a Special Agent with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy.

“I’m looking forward to joining such a distinguished place of learning and working with the amazing individuals at St. Mary’s. I’m excited to contribute to such an accomplished school by enhancing the security program,” said Hooper.

This new position is part of St. Mary’s commitment to ensuring campus safety. St. Mary’s, with the support of donors, will replace and enhance perimeter fencing and gates on the North Campus, reinforce strategic doors and windows on both campuses, and provide extensive training for our faculty and staff.

CAMPUS NEWS Athletics

Track & Field

The track and field teams took full advantage of the new Lackie Track to train for successful seasons. The Varsity Team finished in third place in the region. Bronwyn Saatkamp ’24 had an impressive showing at the Region Pentathlon. She took home first place and qualified for the State Championship. Additionally, two pole vaulters represented SMS at the State Championship. Amalia Shapiro ’25 tied for fifth place, and Emmie Infeld ’24 placed seventh.

Congratulations to the Middle School team, who finished the season as Shelby League champions. The Varsity Team will be lucky to welcome these athletes to their team in the future.

Tennis

The Tennis Turkeys showed off their skills on the court all season long. The Varsity Team went on to compete in the Regional Championship. The team placed third overall, and the doubles team of Ellie Monaghan ’23 and Erica Ormseth ’24 finished fourth.

Varsity athletes Isabella Tamburrino ’25 and Claudia Ribeiro ’25 earned the opportunity to compete in the USTA Southern Tennessee Junior Championships.

Amalia Shapiro ’25

Varsity track practice

Middle School League Champions

Upper School tennis practice

Evie Fore ’25

Isabella Tamburrino ’25 and Claudia Ribeiro ’25

Lacrosse

What an amazing first lacrosse season on the new Southard Field! Thanks to the new turf field, our teams could play rain or shine. Several players had standout seasons. Varsity players Annie Gowen ’23, Elaina Santos ’23, Josie Block ’24, and Leighton Visinsky ’26 were selected as 2023 All-Region Team athletes. Santos and Visinsky were also named to the 2023 All-State Team and were honored as Commercial Appeal Best of the Prep nominees. Block, Visinsky, Emily Poindexter ’26, and Amelia Block ’26 were selected to represent Tennessee at the American Select lacrosse tournament in Delaware. Visinsky was also chosen to play for the Tennessee USA Lacrosse National Tournament Team. Congrats to these athletes!

Middle School Golf

The St. Mary’s golf program has a bright future ahead following the success of the Middle School Team. The team excelled on the course this spring, achieving an undefeated season. They continued their impressive play into the post-season, finishing first in the District Tournament.

Elaina Santos ’23

Leighton Visinsky ’26

Anika Kharbanda ’29, Anya Gupta ’29, and Jada Lin ’29

Coach McCalla, Coach Bartholomew, and Madison Jefferson ’30

In the spring, St. Mary’s recognized longtime servant-leader Bill Vaughan with the distinguished honor of Trustee Emeritus. This designation is conferred upon those who demonstrate exemplary service to St. Mary’s through outstanding leadership, service, and support that transcends ordinary trusteeship. During his time of service to the school,Vaughan has established himself as a trusted advisor and voice of reason. His commitment and enthusiasm are an example to all.

Vaughan served on the Board of Trustees from 1995-2001 and 2010-2016, bringing his expertise to a lengthy list of committees, including Executive, Trustees and Governance, Finance, Head of School Search, and campaign steering for the Athletic and Wellness Center.Vaughan currently sits on the St. Mary’s Council of Advisors. In 2016, he received the James Brinkley Taylor Jr. Award in recognition of his meritorious service as a trustee.

“Bill has always been ‘ALL IN,’

serving in every way possible to ensure that St. Mary’s endures and thrives for all the girls today and for the future,” said former Head of School Marlene Shaw. “I see Bill in a blue superhero costume emblazed with the motto ‘Light and Life.’”

Vaughan and his family have long been synonymous with St. Mary’s. His wife, Carmine, has been a leader and advisor for St. Mary’s, as well. She was a beloved teacher in Lower School for 21 years and received both the Outstanding Teacher Award and the Gold Cross. She also served as a trustee from 2002-2008.

The Vaughans are members of the Church of the Holy Communion. They have been pivotal partners throughout the years as liaisons between the Church and the School in fundraising, governance, and diplomacy.

“Bill is among the very few people whose dedication and discretion are so deeply trusted on both sides of this campus that he can help us find our way through

challenging situations,” shared Rector of Church of the Holy Communion The Reverend Sandy Webb. “Very few people will ever know the true impact that Bill Vaughan has had on Holy Communion, on St. Mary’s, and on the people he has supported in leading each,” he added.

The Vaughans are proud parents and grandparents of former and current turkeys: daughters Leigh Vaughan Jaimes ’88 and Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86 and granddaughters Ellie McGhee ’18 and Carmen McGhee ’27.

“The Vaughans’ collective service and philanthropy illustrate leadership, loyalty, longevity–and love. Their giving of advice, time, treasure, and talent is the kind of example that motivates and teaches others to give,” shared Head of School Albert Throckmorton.

Vaughan joins four treasured members of the St. Mary’s community in receiving this honor: Tom Garrott, Barbara Hyde, Brooke A. Morrow ’74, and Mike Rose.

Bill Vaughan honored as TrusTee emeriTus

St. Mary’s honored former trustee Bill Vaughan for years of dedicated service with Trustee Emeritus status. Vaughan was joined by wife Carmine, their family, and Head of School Albert Throckmorton to celebrate.

FRANCES KIRKLAND LAWHEAD, MD

Frances Kirkland Lawhead, MD, is board-certified in dermatology and micrographic dermatologic surgery and partner at Memphis Dermatology Clinic. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Department of Dermatology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). Lawhead graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville as a Whittle Scholar in the Honors Program. A member of Alpha Omega Alpha, she completed her medical degree, internship, and dermatology residency at UTHSC, followed by her fellowship in Mohs surgery and procedural dermatology at the University of Florida. She is a diplomate of the American Academy of Dermatology and American College of Mohs Surgery as well as a member of the American and Tennessee Medical Associations and the Tennessee and Memphis Dermatology Societies. Lawhead has served on St. Mary’s Athletic Task Force since 2020. She is an active member at Idlewild Presbyterian Church and has volunteered as a girls’ youth basketball coach since 2018. Lawhead and her husband, Jake, are the parents of Sadie ’30 and Iris ’31.

LISA BREAZEALE ROBERTS ’85

Lisa Breazeale Roberts ’85 is a community volunteer committed to improving the lives of children and families. She currently serves on the board and executive committee of Samaritan Counseling Center and on St. Mary’s Alumnae Board. Roberts has served as President of the Junior League of Memphis, President of St. Mary’s Parents Association, a member of the Vestry at Church of the Holy Communion, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Baby Rocker at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, and a part of the University of Richmond President’s Parents Leadership Council. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Duke University. Roberts and her husband, Ken, are the parents of Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12, Evelyn ’18, and their late son Jackson.

MICHELE EHRHART

Michele Ehrhart, the CEO of Hart Communications, is a seasoned communications and marketing executive with experience leading reputation management for a global Fortune 50 company. Throughout her three-decade career, she led teams of professionals to deliver award-winning communications campaigns. Ehrhart has a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications from Austin Peay State University and an MBA from the University of Memphis. She currently serves on the board of the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Foundation. Ehrhart and her husband, Ryan, are parents of Lauren ’27 and Brady.

DAVID VISINSKY

David Visinsky is a Managing Director at Stifel Financial Corporation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Southern Methodist University and an MBA at Vanderbilt University. Visinsky is an active member of Church of the Holy Communion and currently serves on the Diocese Finance Committee. He has served the Diocese for many years as an executive committee member, treasurer, and clerk. Visinsky and his wife, Kendall, are the parents of Leighton ’26 and Carter ’29.

Upper School teachers Nancy Prillaman, Dalton Lyon, and Andrea Fletcher have been working with students to photograph and document historically significant buildings in the city for the Memphis Legacy Project.

Documenting Memphis History

For

more

than eight years, St. Mary’s

Upper School students have chronicled the restoration of local historic buildings for the Memphis Legacy Project. A brainchild of Upper School Art History Teacher Nancy Prillaman, the project’s goal is to document the restoration of neglected sites in Memphis through photos and notes. After discussions with a friend, Prillaman was inspired to capture digital images of historic buildings to ensure that the images and records of the transformations would not be lost to time.

The Memphis Legacy Project launched in October 2014 and is led by Prillaman, History Teacher Dalton Lyon, and Art & Photography Teacher Andrea Fletcher. The first project was documenting the abandoned Sears warehouse as it was developed into the multi-use complex Crosstown Concourse. Students photographed the building before, during, and after construction to create a timeline of the development.

Students have also documented the transformation of the Tennessee Brewery, the ongoing restoration of the historic Clayborn Temple, and the Mid-South Coliseum. Not only are the students witnessing historical transformations as they happen, but they are also diving into Memphis’ history, learning about the buildings and their importance to the city.

“Most of the girls would never have gone to the

Tennessee Brewery before or after it was renovated. Many didn’t know much about the rich histories of the Coliseum and Clayborn Temple,” said Prillaman. “I hope the girls will have a broader and deeper knowledge and appreciation of Memphis and our history,” she added.

This impressive collection of photographs serves as a public resource and learning tool now and in the future. Scan below or visit stmarysschool.org/memphis-legacy-project to view the Memphis Legacy Project.

As part of the Legacy Project, students visited the Clayborn Temple to take photos of the ongoing restoration of the building. Students learned about the rich history of the Downtown church, including how the church served as a hub for leaders and activists during the Sanitation Workers’ Strike of 1968. The Clayborn Temple pastor created the “I AM A MAN” signs with his printing press, birthing the signs that have become a worldwide symbol of human rights and human dignity.

Students have documented the transformation of Crosstown Concourse and the Tennessee Brewery, as well as the ongoing restoration of the historic Clayborn Temple and the Mid-South Coliseum for the Memphis Legacy Project.

Brandon Garrott Morrison ’83

by Piper Gray ’04

Years after her own graduation in 1983, Brandon Garrott Morrison is clear-eyed about what makes her long-standing relationship with St. Mary’s so special. It’s not just one thing, of course.

It’s not just the traditions and memories, many of which are likely still palpably familiar to her fellow alums: elaborate dance productions and participating in the Christmas pageant, student-teaching as a teenager for the third graders, learning that the new school mascot was changing to a turkey, or the lifelong friendships forged with girls she sat side by side since kindergarten.

It’s not just her familial ties either, although those deepen the affiliation; her daughters Allie Morrison ’08, Ruthie Morrison Vaughan ’09, and Jane Morrison ’15

all graduated from St. Mary’s, as did her niece. Morrison can also recount that her brother was one of the few boys who attended the school during its brief period of co-education.

But as anyone who listened to the 2023 Outstanding Alumna’s Chapel talk during Alumnae Weekend recalls, what makes St. Mary’s such a distinctive place is how, as Morrison believes, it supports the students’ individual potential and teaches them how to honor and exercise their freedoms.

St. Mary’s encourages a strong work ethic, but here girls also

learn, as she did, that “it’s the little things. We have the choice whether to hurt somebody’s freedoms or not.”

“As I got older and had my own children, I began to reflect on what I want their children to experience,” she says. “It’s not just being the smartest, most brilliant doctor, but being kind, and the value system that comes along with that.” She chalks this belief up to her firm Christian faith. She also saw it mirrored daily at school by teachers who left a memorable impact like Mrs. Judy Morgan, who instilled a love of French, and Mrs. Faith

Leonard, who

Brandon Garrott Morrison ’83 was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Alumna by School Historian Patti Person Ray ’65. Morrison is the Family Office President of MBA Corporation, a member of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, and a former Chair of St. Mary’s Board of Trustees.

As a student at St. Mary’s, Morrison was selected as May Day Queen and awarded the Gold Cross at graduation.

energized her natural inclination for numbers.

Remarkably, the quote Morrison selected to accompany her senior portrait in the Carillon perfectly captured this belief and is almost prescient about her entrée into local politics as a member of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

Choosing a senior quote has always been a weighted endeavor for any future 12th grader. Still, Morrison remembers approaching it with a particular thoughtfulness and focus, sitting on her bedroom floor and dutifully searching for something that “expressed her hope to find her place in the world.” The quote, attributed to an Anglican priest, remains resonant: “We are too fond of our own will. We want to be doing what we fancy mighty things, but the great point is to do small things, when called to them, in a right spirit.”

“It just resonated with me because I am the strong-willed type, and sometimes my personality type struggles with control,” she laughs, “but in public service, I have realized that there is very little I can control or change.”

After raising her five children and participating in countless organizations and boards throughout the city and beyond, Morrison started considering how to be more meaningfully involved in the Memphis community. In 2018, she began serving on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, successfully earning reelection in 2022.

Running for office and getting involved with local government was perhaps not the most natural next step for Morrison. “I didn’t take a single political science class,” she says. “I wasn’t sure if it was a calling, but I wanted to see if I could make a difference in some way. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like you are, but you must live one day at a time.”

Public service is a daily bid to connect with colleagues and reach an effective

strategy. It is also where the promise of progress can be diminished as a result of difficult collaborations and unforeseen challenges. Despite this, Morrison remains

understands that sweeping changes and progress don’t always coincide with grand actions.

“If we build stronger streets, stronger homes, stronger neighborhoods, we have a stronger city,” said Morrison.

Just as Morrison reminded the students in Chapel, she knows that every day is filled with small moments and bigger opportunities to exercise our freedoms and satisfy our own will, potentially at the expense of others.

St. Mary’s is where Morrison learned to act with kindness and discipline and to face failure with integrity and faith. St. Mary’s is where she learned that “what we practice moment by moment matters.”

invigorated by Memphis’s potential and the attendant challenges to help communities across town. Improving the livelihood of a city’s worth of residents sounds daunting, but “again, it’s starting small.” Morrison

Brandon Garrott Morrison ’83 was joined by her family during Alumnae Weekend: Allison Garrott, Allison Garrott Braswell ’88, Jane Morrison ’15, Joe Morrison, Allie Morrison ’08, and Ruthie Morrison Vaughan ’09.

Brandon Garrott Morrison ’83

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

Three Short Years, a Lifetime of Influence

Ginny Waller Zanca ’76 expresses her gratitude by giving back

by Emily Tipton, Director of Annual Giving

Three strong threads run through Ginny Waller Zanca’s ’76 life: family, church, and St. Mary’s Episcopal School.

Zanca was less than enthusiastic when her parents decided to move her to St. Mary’s for her sophomore year of high school, following years of encouragement from her grandmother, Virginia Finch Waller, Class of 1928.

“I came to St. Mary’s kicking and screaming!” Zanca recalled.

However, she quickly found her footing and began to understand why her grandmother had such fond memories of St. Mary’s.

“My classmates welcomed me and made me feel as though I had been there since day one, which speaks to who they were and who they remain today.”

Zanca was also thrilled to discover that St. Mary’s provided her with an opportunity to participate in organized athletics for girls. She thrived as a four-sport athlete,

Above, Ginny Waller Zanca ’76 (middle) credits her three years at St. Mary’s for a lifetime of positive impact. Zanca and her family give to the St. Mary’s Fund to express their gratitude. From left to right: Laura Lynch, Nelie Zanca Lynch ’03, Ben Lynch, David Zanca, Ginny Waller Zanca ’76, David Lynch, Peter Zanca, Elizabeth Sharpe Zanca ’05, Henry Zanca, and Annie Zanca

competing in soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball. For Zanca, known by her teammates as “Big Wally,” it was “a dream come true.”

She even appreciated the academics at St. Mary’s, sharing that the teachers and curricula kept her challenged and engaged.

Despite only attending for three years, Zanca credits St. Mary’s for having a lifelong impact. In three years, she developed confidence and grew as a student, athlete, and individual while establishing strong, lasting friendships.

After graduation, she matriculated to the University of North Carolina, where she majored in economics. She then attended Emory Business School for her MBA in finance and accounting.

While at Emory, Zanca met her husband, David. Following graduation, the two started jobs at large accounting firms in Atlanta, GA.

When their daughter, Nelie Zanca Lynch ’03, was born, the couple moved to Memphis to be close to family, and then they welcomed their son, Peter. The family briefly relocated to Orlando, FL, for David’s career. During that time, Zanca left her exacting job at First Tennessee in corporate finance to serve as a full-time parent.

It was on the sunny Florida courses that Zanca picked up golf as a hobby, eventually becoming a regular participant in women’s golf competitions. Her new hobby ultimately led to volunteer leadership roles with the United States Golf Association and Tennessee Golf Association.

Zanca says that from the moment Nelie was born she knew exactly where she would attend school. When Nelie enrolled at St. Mary’s, Zanca was impressed with how the teachers demonstrated a strong understanding of the needs of each girl just like they did with her and her grandmother.

“How extraordinary the teachers were,” Zanca said. “They understood that each girl learned in her own way. They met students where they were and made the tools available.”

For Zanca, St. Mary’s is a place where three generations have grown and flourished. She has illustrated her appreciation for the school through 39 consecutive years of giving to the St. Mary’s Fund, which supports the school’s annual operating budget to ensure that every girl has what she needs to reach her individual potential.

Zanca has also given back to St. Mary’s by serving on the Alumnae Board and Board of Trustees, where she worked to promote giving among alumnae.

“We want alumnae to realize that we are the sustainers and constant thread of the school,” she said.

To Zanca and her family, supporting the school they love is a way of expressing their gratitude. Nelie and her husband Ben, as well as Peter and his wife Elizabeth Sharpe Zanca ’05, are also proud St. Mary’s donors.

“My children understand that none of us got here by ourselves,” Zanca said. “They understand how important it is to invest in something you believe in.”

These days, Zanca and her husband relish being full-time grandparents to their four grandchildren.

When asked what she is most grateful for about St. Mary’s, Zanca quickly replied, “The extraordinary community. The recognition that the individual is important to the whole. That is what sets St. Mary’s apart.”

Emily Tipton joined St. Mary’s in the spring of 2023 as the Director of Annual Giving. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee and over 12 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and communications. Tipton is the mother of Dottie ’38.

“My children understand that none of us got here by ourselves. They understand how important it is to invest in something you believe in.”

Ginny Waller Zanca ’76

Your gift directly supports superior academics, expert faculty, arts, athletics, leadership, and service-learning and enables St. Mary’s to invest in technology, expand co-curricular offerings, improve campus facilities, and enhance security measures.

Great to see YOU!

We had a great time getting together with dallas-forth worth area alumnae. We’d love to reconnect with St. Mary’s friends in your area. Contact Gigi Gould ’70 at ggould@stmarysschool.org to schedule a gathering in your city.

Ramey Bourland ’17, Director of Auxilary Programs Jenny Madden, and Lilly Russell ’17

Taylor Fisher Morrison ’04 and Elizabeth Harris ’06

Lauren Bowden Matteson ’06 and Amy Wadsworth Anderson ’94

Alumnae at the Dallas-Fort Worth event

Hannah Morehead Mageean ’12 and Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12

Dallas-Fort Worth host committee: Chandler Roberts Cummins ’12, host Chloe Lackie Zingaro ’03, Albert Throckmorton, Ellen Clark Moore ’73, Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner ’66, and Lauren Lazar ’04

Miles Kueffner Achilli ’05 and Katie Brown McWhirter ’16

Lauren Lazar ’04 and Amy Crawford Céspedes ’04

Welcome Back

The 2023 Alumnae Weekend’s theme, “Birds of a feather flock together!” aptly describes the fun and successful spring reunion weekend. As alumnae returned to campus to remember their experiences and to see the new buildings and amenities, joy was visible everywhere. The weekend kicked off with Friday Chapel, where alumnae joined Upper School students to hear from the 2023 Outstanding Alumna Brandon Garrott Morrison ’83.

The weekend also included a fiesta on Friday night in the new Athletic and Wellness Center on South Campus, a family playground party on Saturday morning, and city-wide celebrations hosted by alumnae at their homes on Saturday evening.

The weekend was a wonderful opportunity for alumnae to reconnect, reminisce, and make new memories together. St. Mary’s alumnae are always welcome back home! Please save the date for the next Alumnae Weekend on April 12-13.

The Class of 1983 celebrates its 40th reunion: Bonnie Bolton Lopez, Susan Crosby McCloy, Joan Mauldlin Hurst, Therese Kavanagh Despeaux, Cissy Bruce Jackson, Karen Koonce Weesner, Laurie Osborne Moody, Holly Walters Craft, Cynthia Hodges Cobb, Julie Harris Knox, Allison Wellford Parker, Posey Saunders Cochrane, Brandon Garrott Morrison, Angela Taylor, and Lea Powell Jacobson.

Class of 1963 friends celebrate their 60th reunion: Donna Lansing Copp, Patty Ozier Riffel, Jacqueline Whiteleather, Jenny Emison Ewing, and Asimoula Alissandratos.

Members of the Class of 1973 celebrate their 50th reunion. Back: Peggy Wilson Lawrence, Olivia Montgomery, Susan Cloninger Pfahl, Milner Stanton, Ginger Hicks Smith, Lawrie Canale Peyton, and Terry Maguire Elzinga; Front: Beth Brady Belcher, Frances Vaughan, Libby Hughes O’Connor, Anne Gray Wagner, Vickie Stahl Millar, Sarah Peeples Hodges, Annie Armour Morgret, Laura Hobson

Members of the Class of 1988 celebrate their 35th reunion. Back: Emily Ragen Smith, Frances Coughlin Fenelon, Heather Nichols Rasch, Beth Gowen Gillespie, Mary Lacy Bell, Leigh Vaughan Jaimes; Front: Kelli Pettijohn Johns, Catherine Denton Wilfong, Taylor Uhlhorn Laird, Jenny Dyer Pepper, Stephanie Wexler, Cathy McCormick Wilson, Anna McQuiston, Moriah McStay Lee

Members of the Class of 1968 celebrate their 55th reunion. Back: Chris Wright Wilson, Mary Helene Lee Uhlir, Pam Joyner Evans, and Libby Wetter Witherington; Front: Elinor Baker Jones, Lucy Pontius Underwood, Marilyn Muirhead, Sarah Hathorn O’Dell

Birds of a feather flock together!

The Class of 1998 celebrates its 25th reunion: Back: Meggan Wurzburg Kiel, Lauren Webb Mitchell, Nupur Sidhu Bal, Sally Self Helms, Elisabeth Callihan, Erin Wade, Katie Broer Parr; Middle: Patience Chambliss Wiggins, Laurin Maddux; Front: Jane Aldinger, Essie Arrindell

The Class of 2003 celebrates its 20th reunion. Back: Nelie Zanca Lynch, Lizzie Gill Foreman, Julia McMillen, Jessica Scott, Laurence Goodwin, Audrey Bourland Hurst, Yakima Dennis Bremseth; Middle: Carey Faber Campbell, Chloe Lackie Zingaro, Margaret Ann Klinke Mays, Brianna Winsett, Louise Schumacher Timmons, Saira Kahn; Front: Lanier Yeates, Anna Taylor Halton, Anna Schwarz Shabtay, Anne Taylor Tipton Manning, Mary Austin Mays Smith

The Class of 2018 celebrates its 5th reunion. Back: Kiara Norris, Lauren Davis, Allison Hesselberg, Paige Nielsen, Erin Jewell, Olivia Lawrence, Evelyn Roberts, and Isra Ahmed; Middle: Maryanna Couloubaritsis Storino, Grace Sammarco, Olivia Nielsen, Alizeh Saeed, Claire Daniel, Lucy Chancellor, Hattie Fogarty, Evie Laney, Mary Ashley Bateman, and Elsie Morrow; Front: Julia Preston, Sabrina Spence, Mallory Macdonald, Anna Scott, Olivia House, Keith Ellis Prest

Allie Morrison, Cristen Garrett Cain, Edie Miller, Victoria Lee Morris, and Colleen Schuetz Freeman; Front: Kelly Turner and Estes Gould Hughes

The Class of 2013 celebrates its 10th reunion. Back: Anna Utley, Catherine Moore, Landon Hopkins, Anna Peeler, Alexa Fila Berard, Olivia Stevens, Kim Taylor Freeman, McKenzie McClanahan, and Bhavya Jha; Front: Francie Saunders, Dakota Beasley, Emma Less, Dia Bowden, Maggie Norman, Zoe Van Deveer, Hannah Stein Hammer, Mary Egan Clark, Lucy Newton, and Lida Kruchten Ewald

Class of 2005 friends catch up at the family picnic: Elizabeth Batchelor Calkins, Assistant Chaplain Rainey Ray Segars, Elizabeth Sharpe Zanca, Emily Templeton Gray, and Catie Jane Berger Myers

The Class of 2008 celebrates its 15th reunion: Back:

~ 1963 ~

DONNA LANSING PLUMER

The class of 1963 writes in support of classmate Sara Sorsby Dennis (Outstanding Alumna 2003). She and her husband are helping their daughter, Bright, in rearing her 16-year-old twin girls and 15-year-old boy. Bright is dealing with breast cancer and blindness. At the end of one of the twins’ softball games, their coach said, “Even though your mom can’t see, she feels it’s important to come to your games to support you, even as she fights cancer. So I’m giving her the team softball for inspiring us all.” We invite you to pray in support of Sara and her family: “O Lord, my God, I cried out to you for help, and you healed me.” Psalm 30:2 ~

1965 ~

ELLEN RUMSEY BELLENOT

Patti Person Ray is enjoying being the School Historian. She planned the first Founders’ Day and is at work on the next one in September. She’s teaching St. Mary’s history in adult community classes. Drum roll, please…she’s updating Mary Davis’ book A Remarkable Journey to cover the next 25 years. She’s honored and excited, and we’re fortunate. Marion West Hammer lives in Charlotte, NC, close to her daughter, Elizabeth, SIL Thomas Cook, and their four children, including tiny twins. She’s reveling in six adorable grandchildren and is substituting at Charlotte Country Day School. Lucy Minor Glasebrook and husband Richard are splitting their time between Palm Beach, Greenwich, and their Sea Island home. Richard’s working, and Lucy’s doing everything. Son Taylor and wife Erin have 6- and 7-year-olds. Daughter Morgan recently married Jeff and has a new daughter. Lucy’s wonderfully, gloriously busy being a grandmother. Julia Malone topped us all by marrying her neighbor Neill Archer Roan in 2021. He cooks! They’ve gutted and remodeled an apartment with a view of the National Cathedral. I’ve

seen pictures; it’s spectacular. Their terriers get along as well as they do. They’re happy as clams who’ve never heard of chowder. Joyce Burkett Scruggs and her husband Danny also split their time between Nashville and Westerville, OH. They’re celebrating their 57th (!) anniversary. Their children and family cruised to Alaska, where she and Danny renewed their vows. It was fabulous. She’s teaching Precept Bible Studies and mentoring women. She is glorifying God. Kathy Sweeny Bertram has finally retired from her practice which she loved. She’s planning on going to the Newport Jazz Festival with medical school friends. Her life partner, Jack, has melanoma; the next round of treatment will be closer to home.Yay! She’s an avid walker cheered on by their German Shorthaired Pointer, who’s 9 going on 18 months. So much energy! Liz Pryor MacEachran has retired and has been saying “Yes” to just about everything. Recently she’s pushed boards, committees, and clubs aside to coach girls’ high school tennis. After raising three boys, the girls are a hoot! New Hampshire tennis starts with shoveling the courts, followed by wind and rain. She’s also clearing her walking trails of downed trees. Sally Pace Gingras and Paul are also time-splitters. They winter in Palm Beach, FL and very sensibly leave Florida’s summer for the Rockies just down the road from Susan Foster.

After 100 inches of snow, Susan Hoefer Foster welcomes springtime in the Rockies with its concomitant moose, deer, birds, and occasional mountain lion and bear.

Yes, they’re careful. Needless to say, the children and grandchildren love to visit! Ellen Rumsey Bellenot is pottering along happily, playing with polymer and paper, and writing gratitude daily on Facebook. My news is available in mind-numbing detail there. Steve finally retired from FSU, and he’s cooking. Life’s darned good.

~ 1967 ~

BETTE WEST BUSH

Lynn Bledsoe Buhler says that whoever said that 90% of life is maintenance knew what they were talking about because her life is spent with “(1) friendship maintenance, (2) equipment maintenance (body and soul), and (3) home maintenance.” She sounds like me! Jeannie Whitman Esdaile across the pond spent four days with her sister Nancy Whitman Manire ’64 in Paris during the garbage strikes and riots, but they took 60,000 steps visiting their favorite museums.You go, girl!! Jeannie sounds like one active lady, which I highly admire: she still works with Chichester Cathedral and is now on a fundraising committee called the Chichester Cathedral American

Camille Hughes LeMaster ’58, Libby Hughes O’Connor ’73, and Peggy Lawrence Wilson ’73 at Alumnae Weekend Chapel

Patrons. Their first event will be on American Thanksgiving in November with American hymns, etc. She says that if you plan a trip abroad next fall, please let her know. I have her contact info. She also still volunteers on the Pulsborough Parish Council and loves getting outside with her cocker spaniel, Elvis. She’s been thinking about getting a puppy since Elvis is now 8 years old. Libba Mann Harbin sent news right after I turned in the class news last year. She has visited all three daughters: first Margaret and family in Bedford, NY, for Easter 2022, then Lindsay and her boys in Dallas for Memorial Day 2022, and finally Rebecca in Atlanta. She commented about how glad she is that the pandemic is over. I am glad, too, Libba! Finally, I heard one more time from Anne Hyde Dale saying that she loves living in the mountains of NC with trees and blue skies. Lou Archer Slater has battled cancer again but “has come through the rye” like the trouper that she is. Her dear husband John kept us posted on the Caring Bridge, and her daughter Alexandra and son Bennett kept her spirits up along with husband John, especially Bennett’s three beautiful little girls. Anyone, please let me know if you would like to “do” the class news because I don’t do a very good job! It’s time for a fresh look from the Class of 1967.

~ 1969 ~ CONNIE LOVELESS FRIEND

Thanks to all who sent in news and updates. Carroll Lafleur Blair reports she has made the big move to New Mexico to be near her son but is back in Memphis, at least for now. Shannon Wilson Haffner has also moved to Rugby, TN, near Knoxville, to live with son Howard. Jean Phillips Lorton has also moved but not quite as far as Shannon and Carroll. She and husband Orlan are downsizing. They sold their house in Nashville, moved to an apartment, and are loving it. Their granddaughter Kyla is graduating from high school this year. Congrats, Kyla. Many

of you are also doing a lot of traveling. Janie Hicks Jeter has been on a kayaking trip to Cedar Key, FL. She reports husband Sheldon has retired from GA Tech but is working independently on a solar energy project. Janie is doing her part for the environment and has purchased an electric car. Olivia Young Fisher gets the prize for the most miles traveled. She ventured to Uganda, mainly to see the gorillas, and while there, did several day trips on the Nile. May finds her on her annual girlfriends hiking trip to some islands off the coast of Spain and then to meet her husband in Portugal. She says if any of us are in the vicinity of Jackson Hole this summer, to look her up. Candy Keirns-Bitensky has finished her stint with the Shelby County Health Department and is working as a freelance medical interpreter. Anne Short Born sends greetings from Beaufort, SC, where she continues to be involved in genealogical societies and Bible studies. Nora Heflin Williams reports her 10-year-old granddaughter Kella has written a book! It’s called Jacqueline Greene and the Distressed Poetess and is based on the true story of the dognapping of Elizabeth Barrett’s beloved pup Flush just before her elopement with Robert Browning. Mrs. Curry would be so proud! And best of all, her book has already sold 90 copies at her school! I am continuing to enjoy retirement, finally. Covid and school closures decided it for me. Son Joey is getting married in December, and he and his intended just bought a house just a few blocks from St. Mary’s. Wedding plans, lots of pet sitting, and not-so-fun dental surgeries will keep me close to home this summer. I do have a trip planned to Dune Allen, FL, with my sister Robbie ’76 and my cousin Beverly (who was my flower girl at graduation). I am trying to talk my siblings into one more extended trip to Spain next spring. I still need to see Barcelona! I’ve been to Spain 5 times and have yet to make it there. I hope all of you are well and enjoying life. I love hearing from you all! Keep me posted on your news and updates.

~ 1971 ~

CAROLYN COCKROFT

From the responses I received, we all wish we could have our reunion again (especially me since I missed it!). The time just goes by too quickly. Deborah Abernathy will be headed to Tuscany at the end of September to get married to Dillard Brown, “a sweet and patient man.” Deborah “cannot believe I have waited this long.” Deborah will keep her last name. Judi Hoffman is moving to retired status from St. John’s United Methodist Church on June 30, 2023. Her fourth grandbaby is due “any minute.” Ann Vandeventer Ince took her first pickleball clinic in May with her grandson Tanner, age 12. She and her husband Paul celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 24, although it feels like yesterday to her. Since our class reunion, she has really enjoyed being in touch with Jeannie Schelhorn and Elise Dann and checked in on our “California babes,” Cathy Olim and Sara Jones, with all the terrible weather the state has been having. Fortunately, their area has not been impacted. Christie Stratton Moody traveled in May with daughter Gwyneth, husband Daniel, and granddaughters Aviva,7, and Jazzy, 5, to rendezvous with son Devin and his fiance Nicole in Guadalajara, Mexico. They visited cousins there and a great-uncle whose wife is Mexican. They spent time on the coast to go to the beach and surf. They will be off to Hawaii in September for the wedding of Devin and Nicole, who live in Honolulu. Christie enjoys gardening, dancing, and making her glass art, which was featured at an exhibit at our reunion last year. As of this writing, she was looking forward to a visit with sister Linda Stratton Hancock ’70 and husband Cary. As for me, my husband Chris Brown and I joined sister Alice Cockroft Oates ’67 and her husband Jack on a cruise in May last year through southern France. We soaked up the sun rays that inspired Van Gogh and other artists dazzled by Provence’s beauty. We are planning

another cruise in 2024 with Alice and Jack to the Scottish Islands. Chris and I continue our music ministry with our church and plan to give a concert on the Pohick Church fairgrounds in July. I still treasure my volunteer time with King Street Cats, a no-kill cat shelter in Alexandria,VA, and my pastoral care ministry with the Community of Hope International.

~ 1973 ~ SARAH PEEPLES HODGES

Frances Vaughan speaks for all of us in saying all pre-reunion jitters evaporated as we re-connected at Milner Stanton’s beautiful new home in Chickasaw Gardens. Kudos to her and Olivia Montgomery for masterminding the 50th reunion weekend and to Lawrie Canale Peyton for the lovely hostess gifts. We dearly missed laying eyes on each and every member of the Class of 73. Ellen Clark Moore writes from London, where she and her husband are exploring plans to integrate more remote work from Europe into their future. Two years ago, they relocated from Winnetka, IL, to Dallas, TX, where four of their soon-to-be six grandchildren live. Harriet McGeorge was off racing horses, and Nell Dickerson opted for a nephew’s wedding in SF (Check out her wildlife and still-life photography at nelldickerson.com). Bron Gayna Schmit was MIA claiming a total shoulder replacement after falling on a New England, New York to Halifax fall foliage cruise. Ever the overachiever, she took on a total kitchen renovation during her convalescence. Susan Cloninger Pfahl (IG: @pfahlarchitects) shows no signs of slowing down or cutting back on projects in Charlotte, NC. Terry Maguire Elzinga continues to be involved in church and missions but has retired from architecture and transitioned back to riding horses. Beth Brady Belcher also retired this summer after 31 years as a Special Ed teacher. In June 2021, Laura Hobson Sargent retired as CEO of Faith Medical Center in Nashville (modeled after the Church Health

CLASS NOTES

Center in Memphis). When not swimming with her three grandchildren (4 and under), Virginia Withers Buchanan is helping her daughter relocate her antique and design business to NOLA (IG: @finchhattonhome). After 30+ years in a four-bedroom house, Ginger Hicks Smith downsized and moved down the street. She has been instrumental in relocating Methodist archives from Lake Junaluska to Emory’s Theology Library and helps staff the production team for the annual UMC North GA conference. Anne Armour Morgret drove her pediatrician daughter and a menagerie (which included a Great Dane) from East Tennessee to a new job in Portland, OR. They connected with Anne Gray Wagner, who extends an open invitation to hike and kayak in the Pacific Northwest. Vickie Stahl Millar and her husband Rich continue to explore historic sites and national parks. Debbie Caldwell Halvis reports husband Jim is doing much better, and they recently added Daphne, a rescue Sheltie mix, to their household. Molly Hudson Calvo earns a special commendation for caregiving her ex-husband. Libby Hughes O’Connor is applying her master gardening skills around the yard. Peggy Wilson Lawrence, also a gifted and passionate gardener, is writing a memoir. Mme Secrétaire (moi-même) is signing off from Sinai (May) en route to Istanbul, Turkey, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan (June). To quote Frances Vaughan again, rekindling “the good memories of our friendships has been a joy.” ~

1975 ~

LAURIE WALPOLE

The Class of 1975 has been busy enjoying the springtime. I just returned from a few days in Memphis to attend a family gathering and got together with two of our classmates! Betsy Olim’s spirited puppy Delilah took the two of us for a walk, and then Betsy and I enjoyed a delicious Mediterranean dinner. Betsy and husband Stevy Levy enjoyed a trip to

Vietnam last fall, and they loved it. This year they’ll focus on visiting sons Dylan in NC and Eli and wife Lisa in Boston. I also spent a lovely morning at the home of Mary Walt Minor. She’s a Master Gardener and is busy traveling and enjoying kayaking in Shelby Farms. Thanks to Penny Spiegelman Register-Shaw for coming up with the great idea of having Ted Talks for our class. We had the first one a couple of months ago, with Penny teaching us all about K-pop bands. Penny completed the Kentucky Derby half-marathon in April, her first half-marathon since the pandemic. Daughter Sophie is finishing her master’s degree in psychology, sociology, and public policy from the University of Denver. Whitney Jones DeVine is looking forward to her Ted Talk in December, as she’s speaking on her new interest: near-death experiences. Whitney loves being completely recovered from her surgery a year ago and her own near-death experience. She and husband Craig are enjoying their grandson, 9-month-old Tanner. Angie Rose is, as usual, making the most of the great outdoors. She’s been a Master Gardener in Hardeman County for eight years and is now enrolled in the TN Naturalist course for certification later this year. She absolutely loves it, recommends it to everyone, and only wishes she had done it 30 years ago. Jennifer Jones is looking forward to doing a dance performance, only three months after knee replacement surgery! If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is. She worked on it and made it happen. Jana Fletcher Markowitz became a grandmother this year when daughter Julie Markowitz Warheit ’07 gave birth to Sydney Allison. In addition to buying really cute baby clothes, Jana is teaching an MBA class she created called Strategic Foresight and Managing Change at Christian Brothers University. Jill Jemison Margolin recently chaired a MUS theater reunion honoring George Elder, who was the director there from 1969 to 1977. They had a full weekend of talks, dinners, a viewing of the current MUS play, and a celebration in Hyde Chapel. I remember Jill in those

productions in high school, and she was fabulous! As usual, I’ve been inspired by all our classmates’ activities. Have a great summer, everyone!

~ 1977 ~

JANEY BUTLER NEWTON

Our dear Adele Orgill Wellford lost her daughter Eliza Wellford Fletcher this past year. Liza was a beloved teacher at SMS, wife, and mother to 2 young boys. We grieve with Adele at this unbearable loss. Our deepest sympathy goes to Adele and her whole family. We thank God for Eliza’s life and for God’s provision of comfort to Adele in the midst of the pain. We love you, Adele. ~

1979~

ELIZABETH BROWN DUNN

Lenelle Morse loves her new spot in the world. She is out on the west coast,

soaking up all its beauty. She is so happy to be with her grandchildren, Nora, 3 1/2, and Toby, 1 1/2. She says she has found her musical tribe! Beth Mayhall Sherr just finished her semester at SUNY Delhi! She is back in New York and is writing a play with Irene Orgill Smith. Please make plans to come for our 45th reunion in 2024!

~ 1981 ~

CAREY STANTON

Claudia Broeker Egger started leading international tours this past year. She led lucky groups to Spain and Morocco with upcoming trips to Scotland and Ireland. Claudia is the Director of Ministries at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in El Paso, TX. Daughter Cassie lives in Seattle, and daughter Dominique celebrated her Ph.D. at the University of Texas in Austin this spring. Our family recently celebrated our youngest daughter Jill’s graduation from the

University of Tennessee. We moved her to Atlanta to begin work at Children’s Scottish Rite Hospital. It was great to hear from Ashley Uhlhorn Fricano and Cindy Willmott Belisle, who both offered to help Jill in her new city. I look forward to seeing Cindy and Ashley when we visit later this summer. I also love hearing how their daughters have all grown up together in Atlanta. Margaret Salmon Bright and her family recently celebrated the marriage of her youngest daughter Ella. Madera Dickerson Beckham, Nathalie Manire Willard, Katherine Lucas Hall, and I joined the festivities, which included an ’80s-themed dance party. Madera lives in Nashville to stay close to her two sons, Wesley and Jack. Nathalie and husband Tim traveled from their home in Lewes, DE, where Nathalie works at the Cape Gazette. Katherine’s daughter Kay is studying environmental biology in Panama this summer, and son Luke is at Clemson.

Members of the Class of 1978 celebrated their 45th reunion. Front: Cindy Bagwell Carmack, Jekka Ashman Pinckney, Debby Waltz Hays, Laura Vookles; Middle: Carese Clarke Bott, Louise Osborne Lauber, Miriam Atkinson Smith, Sunita Sheth, Tracy Walko Balton, Pam Hyde Bell, Lisa Francis Turner, Carole Klein, Tabitha Francisco McNabb, Kate Wellford Gould; Back: Stephanie Riggs Markham, Katie Tully Dickinson, Ann Chaney, Eleanor Berry Bingham Mallory, Andrea Gilliom Anderson, Kathy Edmonson Riley, and Kathy Daniel Patterson

Katherine says Mary Tully Dicken is enjoying her two granddaughters, Maurey and Libby, in Memphis. Michelle Zanone Smith and husband Buzz are in Memphis and anticipating the birth of two grandchildren this summer. Anne Harvey Whipple’s son Felix made Memphis his home and works for Memphis Entertainment. Anne says, “It’s really great to see our hometown—which is a lot cooler now!— through his eyes.” Anne and husband Tim are rocking along in Northern Virginia, with younger son Kai in college. This is a milestone birthday year for most of us. Here’s hoping our many collective celebrations, travels, and paths cross soon.

~ 1983 ~

BONNIE BOLTON LOPEZ

Susan Crosby McCloy has returned to Memphis and feels lucky to be caring for her mother. She is still teaching online in China from 3-9 AM! She is eager to connect with any classmates

who may be in town. Elise Kilpatrick Atkins is sorry to have missed our reunion but expresses her thanks for all of us. We missed you, too, Elise. Kathryn Carpenter Swords continues to teach art at Ensworth School in Nashville. Daughter Sara lives in Boston, where she researches regions of the brain that underlie language processing at MIT. Son John graduated from Vandy and lives in D.C. and works in finance. Joan Mauldin Hurst lives in Northern Virginia and continues to work on agricultural trade issues at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. She has recently been promoted to Deputy Assistant USTR.You make us look good, Joan! Our lovely reunion hostess, Holly Walters Craft, is finally an empty-nester. Daughter Katie ’23 just graduated from SMS and heads to Ole Miss in the fall. Son Collin has finished his first year at Duke and is very happy. Lela Bellows Simpson-Gerald cherishes her SMS friendships and is grateful for our time together at the reunion. Cissy Bruce Jackson travels

between Birmingham and Washington while splitting her time between a D.C. law firm and a D.C. think tank. Husband Steve still practices law with the Birmingham firm he joined after law school. Daughter Sarah Frances begins law school this fall. Son Will is a land manager with a timber company in Evergreen, AL. In May, Brandon Garrott Morrison welcomed her second granddaughter, born in Houston to daughter Ruthie Morrison Vaughan ’09. First granddaughter Monroe was just six months old when she attended the presentation of Brandon’s Outstanding Alumna Award at Alumnae Weekend. We are so proud of you, Brandon! Therese Kavanagh Despeaux lives in Memphis with husband Landon. She has one child in Memphis and two in Chattanooga. Therese is a regional Commercial Director at Bluebird Bio, a Boston-based biotech company that develops gene therapies for benign hematologic conditions. Bisha Sisk Harrington continues to serve as Chief of Staff for Thrive, a local nonprofit that provides spiritual, emotional, academic, and physical needs to at-risk youth in Knoxville. Bisha also co-leads a Bible study for over 200 women at her church. She is thrilled to have daughter Lauren Harrington Stubblefield ’11 closer since she moved to Nashville with husband Seth and son Judah (2.5) last summer. Catherine Trippeer Jameson still cares for horses on her small boarding farm in Ft. Collins, CO, where she has her own miniature horses, dogs, cats, and almost 30 chickens! She loves being a grandmother to twin boys (9) and their brother (2), who live near Nashville. Catherine has seen Michelle Anderton Groves twice this year. Michelle still has her home on Lookout Mountain in Georgia but enjoys living in Tampa with husband Paul, three horses, and therapy dog “Memphis,” who visits schools, rehab centers, and assisted living facilities to spread love. Lisa Page May has two new Bichonpoo puppies and co-owns Data Facts, a background screening

Lisa Breazeale Roberts ’85, Brandon Garrott Morrison ’83, Albert Throckmorton, and Joe Morrison at the Alumnae Weekend Friday Fiesta

company headquartered in Memphis. She lives in Chattanooga and is the Executive VP of this women-owned company. Daughter Maggie graduated from UofM with a master’s degree in mental health counseling. Lisa’s son and his wife also live in Chattanooga.

~ 1985 ~ IVY WILROY CARAVATI

Lisa Breazeale Roberts joins the St. Mary’s Board of Trustees and the board of Samaritan Counseling Center, which provides city-wide mental health services. After recovering from achilles surgery (and dragging her foot and scooter to a concert), she will spend weekends with Ken at their farm in Maine. With a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from TCU, Chandler moved to Memphis with husband Sam. Evelyn loves New York and her work at WeWork. Trecia Knapp’s husband Bruno retired and enjoys healthy living in Sonoma, CA, with dogs, a cat, and a pool. Trecia travels for work and pleasure and spends time in CA and their home in TN. Zenja moved to Sonoma from Hawaii with Compass Realty, and Gayla (working for Kate Spade) and husband are in NYC. In Minnesota, Nancy Dilts and Dan are adjusting to empty nesting and have an anniversary trip to France. She cele-

brates the 10-year anniversary of Nancy Dilts Wardrobe Consulting. Grace finished her freshman year at Georgetown in the School of Foreign Service. Colleen Kavenaugh Pucknys focuses on providing clean, healthy food and supporting regenerative farming with her company Zego and partnerships. Liam has a Ph.D. in economics from UMD; Kelsey is graduating from the University of Chicago and moving to NYC to work for JP Morgan; and Evie finished her first year in the opera/ vocal program at Lawrence Conservatory. Amala Barnett has been in India for two years focusing on Disability Inclusion and Rights through the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Civil 20 working group, part of the G20. She seconds the importance of regenerative farming–and bees. Jeanne Marie Fenster loves working for WRB and running. Sam graduated with a master’s degree in history/ Jewish studies; Menashe will graduate from UMass Amherst and is studying for the MCAT; Naftali is majoring in civil engineering; and Binyamin is undecided about a major. Tino Sage reports that her portable bar equipment company bounced back after Covid (albeit with the added complexities of remote workers) and that wife Kristi won an Emmy (congratulations!!) for Centaurworld, an animated Netflix show. Tino and Kristi enjoy travels to Europe and Canada but still love SoCal. In Louisville, KY, Carrie Mook Bridgeman and son Ben work with adults with intellectual disabilities to enable them to live in their own homes, know neighbors, and have friends and community involvement. Ben helped unionize a local coffee shop chain, and husband James works with Subaru. Kara Kilpatrick Preston’s son Thomas heads to UT, and Julia is enjoying time in Maine before work. Margaret Frazier Gardner’s daughter Miriam has enjoyed freshman year at Auburn, and Frazier will be a MUS senior. I enjoyed seeing Beeland Dill Voellinger and godson Will in North Carolina and Virginia. Beeland’s daughter Bee graduated high school in

Charlotte, NC and will attend Savannah College of Art and Design. I continue to focus on the farm, travel, and family/friends. In Tampa, Charlie works for a music-booking startup; Sid works in Denver for a 3D software company, SketchUP; and Thomas just graduated with a degree in statistics. Glynn Field Dean was named partner at Gerber Taylor investment consulting firm in Memphis, and her son Adam just finished his second year of law school at Ole Miss. He will intern for Harris Shelton. Glynn’s farm life is in full swing, complete with a calf with a metal hip plate! Thanks to the class of ’85 for staying connected!

~ 1987 ~

ALLISON TONKIN

We have celebrated many SMS graduations recently! Kim Justis Eikner’s Nora James ’22 received the Mary Davis Loyalty Award at SMS graduation last year and followed in Kim’s footsteps to Northwestern, where she had an amazing freshman year! In Washington, DC, Senate Democratic Media Center video producer Brooks works in the same building as his girlfriend. Last year, Kim performed in a small successful drama and then a big family comedy. After “stepping” off a sofa on

Jeannie McCullough Lewis ’86 and Jean Vaughan McGhee ’86 enjoy dinner with a view of the Nile in Cairo, Egypt.

Evelyn Roberts ’18 and Lisa Breazeale Roberts ’85 enjoy a mother-daughter moment in New York City.

opening weekend, Kim fractured her foot in four places and inspired a radio piece on taking “break a leg” too seriously! This year, she had a great time reprising the Memphis-born Kathy Bates role in the stage play of Misery. Gigi Gaerig McGown said Ryan’s ’22 SMS graduation was so beautiful, especially with lifelong friend Nora James. Ryan continues studying at Savannah College of Art and Design while rising Lausanne sophomore Thomas enjoys soccer and tech in plays. Gigi appreciates the challenge as Mid-America Apartments Chief Litigation Counsel. Now after Ellie’s SMS graduation, empty nesters Peter and Courtney Morris Monaghan look forward to visiting Ellie at UT, where Tom will be a senior after studying abroad in Rome last year. With a nursing degree from TCU, daughter Stuart ’18 works in the St. David’s Medical Center ICU in Austin. From Cleveland on a brief hiatus from pickleball and lake time, Janelle Zarecor Ranieri works in a marketing department at a beer/wine distributor. John III is excelling after two years at Boulder. Lucy works in hospital administration at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens after graduating from Dartmouth with a degree in economics/biology. After 15 years of pediatric palliative nursing care practice, Karen Patterson Williams is opening a wellness and aesthetics clinic in Arlington, TN. Her youngest, Addi (15), is a junior national honor society inductee and elite volleyball player. Her other five children are also well, working in medical sales, nursing, real estate development, construction, and aesthetics from Knoxville to North Mississippi. Karen’s four grandchildren call her by her SMS nickname KP! Marshaling again for the NYC Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club at the front of the Pride March, directing traffic with her trusty pink parasol, Mary Louise Mooney likens the experience to herding Harley-riding cats. Bikers, editing work, mustard making, and fabulous home renovations have kept ML busy, including the most elegant part of her abode, the Clåssï Cør-

nere. Now Microsoft Vice President of Product, Gail Borod Giacobbe joined the board of Heritage Financial Corporation, working to bring more diversity to the corporate boardroom. She and Antonio are proud of rising 11th grader Marcus and rising Cornell sophomore Isabella. Celebrating five years of owning their company CarePatrol of East Tennessee, Patrick and Beth Reynolds Bowen feel lucky to help seniors and their families find living communities. Son Tom (16) completed 10th grade and works as a restaurant host. UT student Ella (19) studied abroad in Milan and enjoyed traveling. Beth said she was a great tour guide in Milan and Rome for them, though sadly not crossing paths with Missy Huettel Carter, who was there visiting her son Gus who interned in Sydney, Australia last summer. Missy’s Joe now works in securities/ bonds in Charlotte and lives with MUS best friend Baugh Doster, Jill Sartelle Street’s son! Continuing a break from pandemic-spawned Bali life, Janie Barnett packed Seattle belongings into a pod and headed to Memphis for family time. Raising Bali dog Buddy is an impractical yet heart-filling experience. Paula Jernigan now directs two Pittsburgh hospital sleep labs along with her prior inpatient and outpatient

responsibilities. The bees, chickens, dog, guinea pigs, and yard eat up what “spare” time Paula and Andrew have left after work and kid activities. Josh begins high school, and seventh grader Libby continues her plans of world domination. The family looks forward to an Italian culinary trip with native chef friends, followed by a presumed prolonged food coma! Pathologist Kurt and Pediatrician Ruth Cheney Patton are proud of Grace-St. Luke’s valedictorian Glover who just completed MUS ninth grade. After graduating from MUS, where he was a four-year letterman for managing the Varsity basketball team, Bauer plans to continue managing at the University of Arkansas. Laura Halle Nunnally has accepted another board position, Membership Programs Chair, with the Forward Arts Foundation in Atlanta, where she plays pickleball when she can. Her rising TCU senior Anna is interning in Dallas commercial real estate. Lizzie has loved working in healthcare technology PR in NYC for the last two years. In Birmingham, after longtime art world success and looking for more quality family time, Nancy Moore Dyson sold her gallery when Lilly was 3, now a National Honor Society inductee last year as a sophomore. Nancy recently celebrated 29 years with Robbie, owner of Happy Catering Co. Here in Salt Lake City, Andras and I continue radiology work. Our Alana-Tokaj wine family business continues to grow. Chip loved school, captained his soccer team, and became the Utah first-grade chess state champion!

1989

COURTNEY MORRIS WILLIAMSON

Greetings from the Class of 1989! May is a busy time of year for everyone as the school year wraps up, but I still have a few updates to provide. Maysey Craddock is doing well and recently took a vacation in Perdido Key to get a little rest before her solo exhibition. It opens on June 1 in New York at the Sears Peyton Gallery, on view until

Heather Pearson Chauhan ’91 was honored to be on the cover of the Memphis Flyer recently. Her medical practice, Exceed Hormone Specialists, continues to grow.

June 30. Lara Babaoglu Reynolds has also been taking some amazing trips! She and her husband started 2023 with a dive trip to the Philippines, specifically the Visayas, Southern Leyte, and Malapascua. She was able to have close encounters with both whale sharks and thresher sharks. After a short rest at home, she headed to Deer Valley for some skiing.  In July, they will be going to Mexico for some more diving. Most of my trips rotate between Memphis, Birmingham, and Auburn to visit my parents and two boys. I would love to connect with each of you!

~ 1991 ~ CAMELLIA KOLEYNI

Hello, wonderful classmates. I know it has been a particularly rough few years for the world, and for many of you, it might have been tougher than usual. I hope all of you and your loved ones are doing well. On a positive note, Heather Pearson Chauhan has lots of exciting news to share. Son Reid graduated from MUS and will attend Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, where he was recruited to play basketball. Congratulations to Reid! Heather’s daughter, Claire ’25 (16) will start her junior year at SMS this fall. As Heather put it, she will not have to “carry around the massive English anthology tome or have Ms. Gill for ‘Girls, are you ready for your moment of truth?’ ” Claire is still a competitive swimmer for the Memphis Tigers and practices in the very newly renovated version of the same pool that Heather swam in during high school! Last but not least, in Chauhan news, Heather was chosen to be on the cover of the Memphis Flyer earlier this year, and her medical practice, Exceed Hormone Specialists, continues to grow after nearly nine years. Continuing with good news, Christine Raub Hennes celebrated 15 years as staff counsel with Liberty Mutual this year and continues to compete in triathlons. She will go to Scotland this summer with her mom and sister to celebrate her mother’s birthday. The last bit of Christine’s news

is that she adopted a rescue labrador retriever dog named Archie, who is 2 and “a handful, lol,” as she put it. Please share some pictures of him one day, Christine! Finally, I am as excited as ever to continue teaching my health disparities course at Vanderbilt while also doing clinical work with refugees and immigrants. My focused pursuit of issues related to health equity and global health has allowed me to continue serving as a mentor for Vanderbilt public health students (in global health), be involved in other related activities, and continue collaborating with others with the same interests.Vineet and I also are fortunate enough to spend time with our wonderful families, who continue to support us in all that we do. When we are not working, we enjoy traveling, watching Nashville soccer plus hockey, and going to concerts. Thank you, always, for your news. Please keep in touch!

~ 1993 ~

KRISTEN MISTRETTA WILSON

I love that we had such a great group for our 30th reunion this past spring! Sam Petrie shared that she and her

husband Chris eloped in Snowmass, CO in December 2021. They were married by friends on their skis on the mountain. We wish you all the best, Sam! Carrie Evans Benitone shared that she and Trevor are down to two kids in the house. James wrapped up 7th grade, and Elizabeth finished kindergarten. Banks is going back to Alabama to start junior year. Ella ’22 is going back to Loyola Chicago for sophomore year. Carrie is still selling houses and transitioned to Ware Jones last April 2022. Trevor is still developing business at Adams Keegan. Summer travels include watching James play lacrosse and meeting up with Banks, who’s working in Idaho. Alexia Fulgham Crump shared that she is still at the DA’s office but moved back to criminal court from juvenile court in January. Her daughter Catherine ’34 will be in second grade at St. Mary’s in the fall. She’s looking forward to a family vacation to Italy over fall break. Catherine and her cousins are going too and will get to experience their first trip to Europe together. Catherine also just went to her first concert, Taylor Swift, in Nashville. They had an amazing time, except

Member of the Class of 1993 celebrate their 30th reunion. Back: Kate McQuiston Bush, Bethany Mays Owen, Lisa Bratton Chiles, Alison Simmons Boyd, Leigh Weinberg Abbay, Amelia Treadwell Howard, and Ginny Robinson Burbank; Front: Alexia Fulgham Crump, Carrie Evans Benitone, Katie Moran Lindenschmidt, Christian Turner, Kim Lupo, Gretchen Wollert McLennon, Juli Elam Hurdle, and Allison Keltner Musick

for dad, who had a mini panic attack on song 22 when he realized it was only halfway over. Leigh Weinberg Abbay shared that her youngest son,Van, just graduated from MUS and that she and Rob are excited to enter the “empty nest” phase of their lives! Van is going to the University of Texas in the fall, and their oldest son, Bo, will be a senior at the University of Arizona. Time flies! Ginny Robinson Burbank shared that her daughter Margo ’23 graduated from St. Mary’s this spring. Kim Lupo shared that she and Deb are having a great spring in Northwest Arkansas. They just finished a big landscaping project, and now Deb is off looking for her next remodel project. They’re planning a trip to London in August. Kim still loves working for Walmart and appreciates the impact she can have on the lives of their 2.4M associates. Mindy Kronenberg shared that she loves spending time with her sisters as often as possible. Her sister Becky ’99 is in Memphis, and Mindy is planning a trip to see her sister Erica ’02 in Brooklyn. She’s looking forward to a visit

with her niece and nephew, Miles and Lenora! Kathryn Brookfield shared that her children, who are 12, 14, and 15, are doing great, and her oldest will officially be driving solo by the end of summer. He also is the newest member of the Chick-Fil-A family, working at a brand-new store in Atlanta. Her other two are deep into travel lacrosse and travel volleyball and are certainly keeping her on her toes. Kathryn is still working in oncology with immunotherapy and absolutely loves it! She visits Memphis when she can to see her sister and family. Alison Simmons Boyd shared that she is still living in Denver and working for FedEx. Her son Mason is finishing up 5th grade, and daughter Katherine is finishing 2nd grade. They had a great ski season and have spent the spring bouncing from soccer to football to gymnastics. She shared that it was great to spend their spring break back in Memphis to attend our 30th reunion and spend time with classmates! As for me, Kristen Mistretta Wilson, I continue to live in Charlotte, NC, with my husband Jake and three sons Jacob (7th), Alexander (6th), and Matthew (1st). I love our crazy little life full of the boys’ sports. We love to head to the beach or the mountains in NC when we can. Sending love from the Class of 1993!

~ 1995 ~ CARRIE SUE CASEY

Salutations! The most important news is the release of Seessel’s Lemon Butter Pie recipe. Thanks to Simone Kiersky Coyle for sharing this Holy Grail. Kudos to Leigh Walker, who purchased a home! She works at Cigna and is excited about her annual Mexico trip. Allison Roberts wrote from Queensland after two years in the US and trips to Fiji and New Zealand. She continues wild bird rehab and plans to read Katherine Crone Wilson’s romance novel Just A Fling soon. She did not, however, plan on sitting on a prickly pear. Romance novelist Kath-

erine did a book signing at Novel in Memphis and was on Channel 3 and the Catholic Bishop of Memphis’s Facebook page. Did he read it? My fervent prayer is “Yes.” Elizabeth Schatz Passarella launched her second (!) book It Was An Ugly Couch Anyway at Novel in Memphis. My mom attended and saw Dhevi’s and Murff’s moms, among others. Big congratulations, y’all! Elizabeth saw Calder Britt Clark in Charleston when their kids shot Nerf darts at each other. Calder and I met in Charlotte, NC, to make ugly faces, discuss early middle age (EMA), and walk to restaurants. Ashley and I plan to road trip to Calder’s mountain house to harass her husband Chauncey with rat faces until he deserts the property. Sonia Torry is excited about a European river cruise on the Danube, which includes Budapest (to be pronounced “Booda-pesht”).

Elizabeth Richardson Fitzgerald continues teaching gifted 9th graders in Shelby County and curates excellent Instagram videos she shares with me. Tricia Graue has been traveling to Memphis a lot for a client and enjoys it! Hallie

Bourland Wagner, Vanessa Buch, Blair Bobo Geer, and Murff Oates Galbreath convened at Vanessa’s in Tucson for snoozing and cacti photos galore. (“Boni plural for bonus.” Name that teacher.) Further, Hallie’s sister Merrill played pickleball with Lee Davidson Holt. We are ever on-trend it’s the hottest sport. Hallie’s family spent her husband’s sabbatical in France, and her youngest (4) is fluent in “bonjour” and “croissant,” the two most important words. She saw SMS alum Nancy Perry Gautier ’66, too (cue “It’s A Small World”). Hallie and Kathryn Wiseman hung out at Elizabeth’s book tour stop in Birmingham. Kathryn’s new puppy Poppy is 100% mini schnauzer and 200% trouble. Kat heads to Disney World and Prague soon. Speaking of dogs, Murff’s chocolate labradoodle Moose eats kids’ sandwiches, but she loves him anyway. Daughter Day ’26 finished freshman year at SMS, complete with initiation and band and

Alexia Fulgham Crump ’93 with her daughter Catherine ’33 and sister Elaina Fulgham ’89 at the Picnic on the Playground during Alumnae Weekend

choir tour to NOLA. Murff’s family heads to D.C., Grizwald-style, and are staying with me in RVA and catching up with Ashley Goldstein Allen in our Nation’s capital! Ashley’s son Carter is pursuing his solo flying license (!) and will be a high school junior. He’s driving, too super relaxing for Ash. Daughter Isla (12) is artistic and may rival me as most dramatic. (I dissent.) Their family did a wonderful trip to Abu Dhabi (cue “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. I will make music a theme here.) They also got a male parrot named Joyce. (Cue Jimmy Buffet song.) Ashley and Elizabeth Cochran Hill visited me last June, and we laughed so hard my abs were sore. Ashley and I head to see Lizard in Hotlanta soon. I had cucumber margaritas in D.C. last fall with Ashley, Dhevi Kumar Broecker, and Olivia Ralston, who was visiting from London. She remains both hilarious and a great confidant. Dhevi is at Microsoft, leveraging AI to accelerate clinical trials in pursuit of healthcare equity amazing! She sees St. Jude pop up as a leader in this space so hat tip to Amina Dilawari, a Senior Director there. Dhevi saw Katherine Hasen Le Denmat at Hall Cannon’s LA wedding, where they got simultaneous blowouts. Dhevi visited Liz Jenkins and her little guy Oliver and was Liz’s “plus one” at the 34th Annual GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Awards. Liz, their Board Chair, is a strong (and gorgeous) advocate. When Vanessa visited Schatzy in NYC, they saw Sarah Trosper Olivo, now head of training and education at Lumate Health and creator of the “College Is Fine” podcast about young adult mental health. Sarah Carlson Landers starts college visits for their youngest before the empty nest adventure begins. (Note: I have a preschooler.) Ann Wood Ray’s eldest finishes college soon, and her other two head into 8th and 9th grade! To continue the bird theme (Allison, Ashley), Ann ordered hens in the mail and made me google the word “broody.” Coops

Hendsor Castle, Hensington Place, and Clarhens House are bumpin’. If you’ll be my Dixie chicken, I’ll be your Tennessee lamb. In Nashvegas, Kristen Boswell Amonette celebrates her 20th year of law practice. Daughter Isabella is in college! Her little boy heads to 9th grade and her girl to 6th grade. Look her up if you go to Nashville trust me, she will pick you up in a shiny, highly air-conditioned vehicle looking blonde and beautiful, and you will feel young again. As for me, the faster I go, the behinder I get. Parenting is a long, strange trip but also fun and hilarious. I have nose wrinkles. Why? My eldest Isabelle (11) plays piano and is dramatic but organized with legs like a giraffe; son Hank (9) scales fences and sheds and leaves piles of dirt in the tub; and Bertie (5) is filled with tenacity and sass. She plays the violin, and I’m taking lessons again too. I went to Niger for a women in peacekeeping conference I helped organize a welcome return to international work. Text, call, or write! I am proud of our continued care for each other, our hometown, our communities, and our world.

1997 ~

HOLLYE FERGUSON STIGLER

These annual opportunities for updates seem to come around so quickly. I’ve

heard the phrase “time is a thief” many times lately as the school year comes to a close, and I find I’m feeling it more acutely myself this year. Many of our kids are making their way into high school and approaching college decisions…that certainly “tells” time in a significant way. Melissa Ohsfeldt writes that her business is going well, and her family is having lots of fun in Nashville. She recently saw Clare Levy Clarke and Anne Spence Lucas at their St. Mary’s Nashville reunion. Adrianne Gray Bugg also had a chance to catch up with some fellow SMSers, connecting locally with Carrie Sue Casey Hanback ’95 and Marion Forsyth Werkheiser. Paige Frazier recently relocated to Greenville, SC, and accepted a promotion to General Manager of the Cliffs, a private network of golf clubs in the Upstate of SC and Asheville. Congrats Paige! If any of you find your way to Birmingham, I’d love to see you. Don’t forget to hold April 2027 in your mind for our next class reunion—never too early to save the date!

~ 1999 ~

KELLY BUCKNER DALLAS

Let’s start with big congratulations to Lillian Askew Everdell, who welcomed her third daughter Lucy

Chair of the Outstanding Alumna selection committee Patti Person Ray ’65, Alumnae Board President Anna Snyder Rojas ’01, Outstanding Alumna Brandon Garrott Morrison ’83, Asst. Alumnae Weekend Chair Jenny Jones Savage ’00 and Alumnae Weekend Chair Amy Reinhardt Robinson ’00

Darling Everdell in April! Charlotte and Hayden are proud big sisters, and they are all still enjoying life in San Francisco. Ashley Gaillard Clark is also still living in San Francisco with her husband, Ron, son Oliver (9), and dog Jameson. She just had her fiveyear anniversary working for the Libra Foundation, a progressive family foundation based in San Francisco that funds organizations led by and for people of color who are transforming the criminal justice system and advancing environmental and climate justice and gender justice. She just recently had the chance to see Sidney Hawkins Gargiulo, who also lives in the Bay Area. Annie McLaren Neufeld is still in Pasadena, CA, and recently moved on from her job at the church after 14 great years. She’s now on a sabbatical of sorts, figuring out what’s next. She has been at home with her youngest daughter, who goes to kindergarten next year, and loving this season with her two girls. Hilary Dinkelspiel Dona is still living in Austin, TX. Her sons Wilder (4) and Scout (2) love their Spanish immersion school. They had a chance to go to Colorado this winter for the kids to go skiing for the first time. She is looking forward to running her first post-kids marathon this summer outside of Seattle. Anne-Morgan Brookfield Morgan enjoyed coaching 6th-grade volleyball at SMS. Both of her girls had great school years at St. Mary’s and will be in 4th and 7th next year. She is enjoying her 20th year at Eli Lilly! I actually have some big news to report this year. My family and I are moving to Greenville, SC, this summer for my husband’s job. It is hard to leave Memphis, but we are excited for a new adventure in a beautiful place! We had a nice lunch with the St. Mary’s girls in town before my move. I loved seeing Jenny Jones Savage, Meg Parker Prewitt, Palmer Adams Burt, Courtenay Adams, Caroline Palazola Conrad, and Melissa Reedy Buchanan. They are all doing well! We are all looking forward to our 25-year reunion next year. Hope everyone plans to come!

~ 2001 ~

LAUREN ANDERSON STONE

As Sarah Veazey Finney said, is “in denial of turning 40” a life update?! We are all feeling it this year! Sara Beth Dike Frye is still in Dayton, where she was recently promoted to a higher level of responsibility in her position in Acquisition Program Management for the Air Force. She and her husband survived their first year being parents of a middle schooler! It’s been dramatic at points but fun. Patrick (11) joined the orchestra and is learning to play the cello. He also competed in Science Olympiad, plays baseball and tennis, and is a navy belt in Taekwondo. He keeps them busy! Katie Runyan moved to Vancouver, WA, last year to be closer to her sister, who also lives there. Katie’s daughter, Naomi, is excited to welcome and live near her baby cousin due this August! Joni Gossett has done some golfing this year and is moving onwards and upwards from her divorce last year. She hopes we can have some local get-togethers again soon! Hayley Bower Gerber just wrapped up co-chairing The Harding Art Show in Nashville. The juried show featured works by over 90 artists

from across the country and grossed over $1 million in sales. The show has been Hayley’s heart and soul over the last year. Hayley also enjoyed spending time in FL with Susan Bucker Rose and Daphne Trainor Bahl earlier this year. Old friends are truly the best friends! Speaking of old friends, Kate Metcalf Sullivan became a (step)grandmother and the new president of the Central Gardens Association this year and is looking into what other hobbies those of a certain age ought to have. Forming a knitting circle, perhaps? Jenny Maddux Stenberg had a great year moving from being a classroom teacher to the PDS Librarian and teaching several SMS class of ’01 little boys, including my two, Anna Snyder Rojas’, Courtney’s, and Jenny’s own! She says, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any boy book recommendations! Her main goal is to be as much like Penny Bower as possible. Courtney Taylor Humphreys’ big news is that their 4th child, Lucy, was born in March. She says it’s been really amazing to have some older helpers in Tucker, Heloise, and Annie, as she and McKee are just re-learning what it’s like to have an infant! They continue to enjoy Midtown hangs with their around-the-corner neighbors Jay and

Class of 2003 members: Nelie Zanca Lynch, Nicole Dennis Bremseth, Laurence Goodwin, Saira Khan, and Mary Austin Mays Smith at the family picnic during Alumnae Weekend

Louise Chandler Biedenharn and Jenny and David Stenberg, who are just a few blocks away. Having two (and now a third future) St. Mary’s turkeys has been such a joy. After attending 1st and 3rd grade Class Days, Courtney had so many sweet memories from her one year in the Lower School, including our 4th grade Class Day, dressing up as a mouse and kicking around a block of cheese. I also enjoyed another year at SMS Lower School with Mary Evelyn ’37 in PK, taught by fellow alum Walton Allen Webster ’00. It truly is such a special place!

~ 2003 ~ LAURENCE GOODWIN

Time flies! We celebrated our 20-year class reunion this spring. From Chapel to tours of campus to parties in the evenings, we had a wonderful time catching up and getting reacquainted over the weekend. It was so great to see everyone who came, and we missed all of you who couldn’t make it. We loved seeing so many of our teachers on Friday, including Mrs. Ray, Dr. McFadden, Doc Millen, Mrs. Madden, Mrs.

Bower, Mrs. Prillaman, Ms. Garratt, and Ms. Hogan, and being shown around by student tour guides. Huge thanks to Carey Faber Campbell for hosting our class party and to Audrey Bourland Hurst for making all the fabulous arrangements. Special props to Lizzie Gill Foreman, who had the foresight to bring the Carillon (and 2003 MUS yearbook) to our class party on Saturday evening. I’m happy to report our senior quotes have stood the test of time.

~ 2005 ~

SARAH ATKINSON BALL LAUREN WIYGUL RILEY

Rainey Ray Segars is still the Assistant Chaplain at St. Mary’s. She loves teaching classes in the Upper School, and she loves daily Chapel as much as ever. Husband Coleton is a head pastor at a church in East Memphis. They are thankful for both the meaningful work and the short commute. Son Teddy (7) is starting 2nd Grade and is GSL’s happiest Saint. He claims that he can climb any tree higher than any other kid at GSL (still unverified). Lauren Wiygul Riley just completed her 13th year of teaching. She loves being at PDS with her three boys. Neal successfully graduated from the nursery in May and will officially begin PDS

in August as a Young Knight. Lauren is looking forward to traveling to Boston this summer with PDS to participate in the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero program. Laura Montague Haltom and family are moving back to Memphis this summer after living in Georgia for the last three and a half years! Her husband, Drew, is planting a new Anglican church in the city, and after taking a break from working, Laura has accepted the role of Director of Finance and Accounting at Service Over Self. Their kids, Graham and Jude, are excited to live close to grandparents and cousins again!

~ 2007 ~

CAITLIN COLCOLOUGH WILLIAMS

Helen Akers is getting married to Sean Strasburger on August 12, 2023, in Austin, TX! Julie Markowitz Warheit had her daughter, Sydney Allison Warheit, on February 9, 2023. She came 11 weeks early but has grown into a happy, healthy, perfect baby! Rachael Brown Nolan is running the NYC marathon this November and hoping to be back in Memphis for Anna Bearman’s wedding in December and would love to catch up with anyone if they are around in either city!

Jenay Gipson Boggs ’06 and her daughter Reagan join other alumnae families for the Upper School production of The Sound of Music.

Alumnae Chapel speaker Hanna Gordon Oysel ’08 with sister Grayce Gordon ’10

~ 2009 ~

BAILEY BETHELL FOUNTAIN

The class of 2009 has had another exciting and eventful year! Aubree Penney oversees accessibility strategy and daily activities for a first-of-its-kind exhibition on the National Mall this summer. Sam Baumstark Daza welcomed a daughter, Hope, in January. Lindsey Driver Pagni was promoted to Senior Marketing Manager at Greystar Real Estate and is celebrating six years at the company. Melissa Johnson Pippin is finishing her second year of anesthesiology residency in Jackson, MS. She and her husband welcomed their first child, Seth, in February. Claire Riley recently met up with Natalie Jacewicz Kern in Dublin as she explored Ireland! Claire’s travel company, Duende Travels, is entering its third year, and she’ll be traveling up to Svalbard near the North Pole this summer to learn about expedition travel. Wallis Tosi Steiner had a particularly eventful year! She and her husband, Josh, were married on Zoom in April 2020 but finally celebrated their wedding in person in Austin,

TX, in August 2022. They welcomed a daughter, Acie Clementine Steiner, in September 2022! Wallis and Josh opened a new wholesale bakery, Hive, in January 2023 and will be opening a retail bagel/bakery/coffee shop in the fall of 2023. Leah Bearman Pinkston continues to work as a mental health therapist in Memphis. She and her husband love chasing after their two daughters, Dottie (3.5) and Ari (2). Sophie Page Lintner just completed her tenth year teaching 5th grade! She is excited for the summer at home with her 14-month-old son, David. Ruthie Morrison Vaughan welcomed a daughter, Annie, in April.

Elizabeth Ansbro Thompson married Jeffrey Scott Thompson Jr. in a beautiful ceremony with a lively reception in January.

Rebecca Schaeffer Anthony, Rachel Aiken Daigle, Bailey Bethell Fountain, Eliza Leatherman, Karen Stein Robbins, Jillian Smith, Kate Smith Mallory ’07, and our former classmate Betsy Odland were some of her bridesmaids. Karen Stein Robbins will be moving back to Atlanta this summer with her husband Gordon and daughter Rebecca (2). Gordon will join Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, and Karen will continue to lead the Brand Marketing Department at SPANX. Jordan Reeve moved back to Nashville, TN in the fall of 2022 to take on a new position as a Credit Support Manager at Caterpillar Financial. She has plans to represent Caterpillar as a committee member on the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Emerging Talent Council and is helping lead their Emergence Conference this summer. Jordan will celebrate 10 years with Cat later this summer!

~ 2011 ~

MEG CORNAGHIE ALLYSON PATTERSON DALTON

Allie Williams Borovik had her second baby, Zadie Loudin Borovik, at home on January 22, 2023. Allie is excited to move to Vermont with her family in August. Meg Cornaghie matched in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis and will begin next year. Allyson Patterson Dalton is thrilled to have bought her first home in Houston, where she will move with her husband in the summer. She still enjoys her work in management consulting. Teresa Hendrix Daniel was promoted to manager of the Digital User Experience team at FedEx and loves spending time with her precious toddler Adam. Becca Rineheart Howard was promoted to assistant studio manager at Orangetheory in Indianapolis and just adopted an adorable dog Dolly with her husband. Shelby Chambliss Pascal welcomed her first child Kathryn Louise, “Katie Louise,” on May 10 and will be a first grade teacher at St. Mary’s next year! Maria Zoccola recently signed with literary agency, Aragi, Inc. Her first book, Helen of Troy, 1993, a poetry collection reimagining the Homeric Helen in the hills of Tennessee in the early nineties, is forthcoming from Scribner/Simon & Schuster in spring 2025.

~ 2013 ~

EMMA LESS

Thanks to everyone who made it to our 10-year class reunion this April! It was so wonderful catching up with everyone, and we missed everyone who couldn’t make it. Emma Less was recently promoted to the Senior Development Manager at the Overton Park Shell and is excited for the Overton Park Shell’s Concert Season to start soon! Elianna Landau Greenberg got married to Jeremy Greenberg in Memphis this March. She also will graduate this summer with her MBA

Class of 2018 members Mallory Macdonald, Olivia Lawrence, and Anna Scott ’18 celebrate their five-year reunion.

from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University after focusing on marketing and strategy. Elianna and Jeremy will be moving to Portland, OR in late June for her to start as a strategy manager at Nike in the fall!

Ariyan Nicole “Nikki” Cox Tate also just married Sylvester Tate II in Memphis this May after being together since seventh grade. That’s 15 years together! She’s also currently completing her third year of medical school in Chicago and will graduate next year with her MD. Dia Bowden just graduated with her master’s in health sciences from Meharry Medical College. She was accepted into Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s master’s program with a specialty in primary care pediatrics. She will be moving to Nashville this fall! Maggie Norman also graduated with her master’s in applied developmental psychology from George Mason University. She is also moving to Nashville this fall to begin Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s master’s program with a specialty in psychiatric mental health. Bhavya Jha graduated with a master of public administration with concentrations in energy finance and policy from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. At graduation, she also received the Isaac Anderson Rauch Award for Excellence in a Capstone Project for a research project focused on waste-to-energy opportunities in Nigeria and Morocco. Bhavya will stay in NYC to join Rabobank as an Associate with the Renewable Energy Project Finance team for The Americas.

~ 2015 ~

MICHELLE CHU EMMA FARRIS

Liza Curran is living in Dallas and coming up on year three there. She is starting a new career in financial advising and is excited to welcome a nephew into the world in October 2023.

Chelsea Chin got married on March 25 to attorney Max Atchity at the Dallas

Arboretum and Botanical Garden with Lynley Matthews as a bridesmaid. Chelsea still works as an ER nurse. Abbie Warr is a Speech Language Pathologist with Le Bonheur school-based therapy. Abbie has a cat named Butter. Mary Thompson is a student at Hunter College in New York City, where she is working on her master’s degree in art history while managing social media for Artist Legacy of the Modigliana Initiative. Lynley Matthews graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School. She will start her general surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas this summer. Liza Alrutz married Hamadi Abdeljaoued on May 6th. She lives in Chicago and works full-time at Northwestern University as the Assistant Director for Graduation and Senior Year Experiences. Michelle Chu lives in Los Angeles and works in development at Bento Box, an animation studio. Katherine Harwell works at the Appalachian Regional Commission on Community and Economic Development. She is also engaged, and the wedding will be in April 2024. Emma Farris will pursue her J.D. degree at

Tulane Law School this fall. In November 2022, she published a chapter in Spanish on state fragility in Latin America with the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences. She will publish a chapter in English on US sanctions in Venezuela and Nicaragua in May 2023. Maggie McAtee will be moving to Greenville, SC in August. She has accepted a job in youth ministry and looks forward to being in a new city. Ashton Terry Marceau has started work in Cochrane, Ontario as an Educational Assistant at the Cochrane Public School. She loves to take her dog hiking, fishing, and hunting.

~ 2019 ~

FAITH BRADLEY ARABELLA MCGOWAN

It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since the Class of 2019 graduated from St. Mary’s! With college graduation on the horizon for many, there are many exciting updates to share. Maddie Jenks graduated from Tennessee in May 2022 with a bachelor’s in political science and English. Last September, she began working for Pilot Travel Centers in their Knoxville corporate office as the Government Affairs Coordinator. Maddie is also in graduate school and will receive her master’s in public policy from UTK this December. Emily O’Toole will begin a master’s of accounting program at Vanderbilt this fall. Emily Richards will graduate with her master’s of accountancy, concentrating in taxation, from the University of South Carolina in August. She is moving to Baton Rouge and is beginning her career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Arabella McGowan graduated as a history major with government and English minors from Dartmouth and will move to New York City next year to work in consulting at Altman Solon. Lindsey Fields will also be moving to New York to attend Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Sara Fraser plans to use her degree in environmental studies from Colgate

Eesha Gudiseva ’20, Ole Miss Senior Class President

next year after traveling in the south of France this summer with friends. Madison Motley is graduating with degrees in political science and psychology from Tulane. Next year, she plans to take a gap year working at The DP law firm in Atlanta and applying to law school. Pooja Talati graduated from Tulane University with bachelor’s degrees in cell and molecular biology and international relations with a minor in Italian. She also currently works as an intern at the Tulane Office of Undergraduate Admissions and as assistant to the Deputy Director of the New Orleans Health Department. Next fall, Pooja will return to Memphis to start medical school at the UTHSC College of Medicine along with Hadiyah Qureshi Hadiyah graduates from Rhodes with a major in neuroscience and minors in health equity and religious studies this spring. Also in Memphis, Karsen Springfield graduated from Christian Brothers University with a degree in biology and will begin dental school at the UTHSC in July. Joy Jackson has recently taken up pottery in her free time. She also plans to explore some national parks before starting a Ph.D. program in biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech next year. Emma Harkavy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Tulane University in December with a bachelor’s in psychology. She will begin working towards her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in August. Catie Lockhart finished her term as the president of the Eta Eta chapter of Delta Gamma. She will be doing research at the FDA Dauphin Island Sea Lab on ciguatoxins and pathogenic Vibrio in seafood for the summer while also working as a medical assistant. Megan Tang will take her extra Covid athletic eligibility to finish her degree in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science and a minor in nutrition. While shadowing at a physical therapy clinic, Megan will prepare either for her doctorate in physical therapy or to play professional golf.

CLASS NOTES

~ 2021 ~

MIRIAM GARDNER LIZZIE MOODY RIA PATEL

Margaret Couloubaritsis has been cooking new recipes with her roommates and playing tennis for Kappa Alpha Theta’s tennis team. Sophie Droke has enjoyed working at Oxford Floral and looks forward to serving as Tri Delta’s local philanthropy director. Evie Fowler just completed her second year at Belmont University in Nashville, studying songwriting and music business. Evie is the Vice President of the Belmont Songwriting Association and a Towering Traditions Orientation Leader. She also spent the last year working in creative administration and publishing at Banner Music. In her free time, Evie enjoys co-writing songs and playing songwriter rounds around town! Miriam Gardner just finished

her sophomore year at Auburn University. Miriam is the Vice President of Merchandise for her sorority. She looks forward to spending time in Memphis before she studies abroad in Rome, Italy this summer! Kate Kiameh was elected student government secretary and presented her research on Syrian refugees and informal healthcare in Lebanon. In the summer, she is interning at Zuma Law. Neeley Mathes has enjoyed working at OrangeTheory in Fort Worth, Texas. She loves TCU and is excited to live in Fort Worth this summer. Lizzie Moody started working at Duke Regional Hospital as a nursing assistant in the neurology and oncology unit. Ansley Skipper enjoyed competing for Virginia Mock Trial again this year, winning three individual awards, four tournaments, and placing fourth at the National Championship Tournament here in Memphis. Chloé Webster recently ran in the University of Oregon’s student government elections and will serve as Student Body President for the 2023-2024 academic year. Ellie Bridges Greenfield just finished her first semester at the University of Southern California, where she is studying Environmental Studies, Spanish, and Philosophy. This summer, she will spend several weeks in Costa Rica for yoga teacher training, and she is super excited to begin teaching yoga in the fall!

Maggie Rosenblum ’22 at the America Mock Trial Association Regional Tournament at Wofford College with her Outstanding Attorney Award

MILESTONES

Marriages

Julia Malone ’65 to Neill Archer Roan, June 12, 2022

Laura Hobson ’73 to Br yan Sargent, May 22, 2021

Sam Petrie ’93 to Chris Manchuk, December 27, 2021

McKenzie Carson ’06 to Zachary Lee Fleming, March 25, 2022

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

Victoria Lee ’08 to Stuart Morris, March 4, 2023

Elizabeth Ansbro ’09 to Jeffrey Scott Thompson Jr, January 14, 2023

Elianna Landau ’13 to Jeremy Greenberg, March 19, 2023

Ariyan Nicole “Nikki” Cox ’13 to Sylvester Tate II, May 20, 2023

Mary Katherine Harris ’14 to James Rose, April 22, 2023

Miles Schaeffer ’14 to Matt Sullivan, May 27, 2023

Liza Alrutz ’15 to Hamadi Abdeljaoued, May 6, 2023

Chelsea Chin ’15 to Max Atchity, March 25, 2023

Births/Adoptions

Theresa “Tess” Marie Ogles to Erin Wade ’98

February 9, 2023

Lucy Darling Everdell to Lillian Askew Everdell ’99

April 24, 2023

Lucia Marion Humphreys to Courtney Taylor Humphreys ’01

March 26, 2023

Mydelle “Delle” Elizabeth Buckner to Collin Wilson Buckner ’05

February 10, 2023

Ezra Harrison Hunsicker to Barbara Phillips Hunsicker ’05

February 15, 2023

Evelyn Clothilde “Tillie” Jumet to Elizabeth Menke Jumet ’05

May 12, 2023

Sonny Makowsky Jacobs to Ellen Makowsky ’06

January 7, 2023

Liam Anthony Lanigan to Madeline Smith Lanigan ’06

April 4, 2023

Lucy Cristina Steele to Katherine Fockler Steele ’06

February 8, 2023

Peter Martin Lindsey to Kate Foster Lindsey ’07

June 11, 2022

Sydney Allison Warheit to Julie Markowitz Warheit ’07

February 9, 2023

Rosemary “Rosie” Susan Cain to Cristen Garrett Cain ’08

February 9, 2023

Cora Philomena Hosack to Sloane Metcalf Hosack ’08

March 22, 2023

Morgan Robbins ’06 and Mark Paul

Victoria Lee ’08 and Stuart Morris

Chelsea Chin ’15 and Max Atchity

MILESTONES

Hope Baumstark Daza to Samantha Baumstark Daza ’09 January 18, 2023

Seth Colliver Pippin to Melissa Johnson Pippin ’09 February 8, 2023

Anne “Annie” Katherine Vaughan to Ruthie Morrison Vaughan ’09 April 30, 2023

Zadie Loudin Borovik to Allie Williams Borovik ’11 January 22, 2023

Kathryn Louise Pascal to Shelby Chambliss Pascal ’11 May 10, 2023

Martha Byrne Schieffler to Jordan Upton Schieffler ’12 January 16, 2023

Professional Updates

Carol Gilliland Jordan ’82 Begins sabbatical year in August 2023 for international travel and adventures

Catherine Robilio Womack ’82 Named in Castle Connolly 2023 Exceptional Women in Medicine

Mary Lacy Bell ’88 Art Therapist/Outreach & Prevention Educator at Hope House Memphis

Pidge Colbert Macdonald ’88 Opened Polished Concierge, a Memphis-based concierge business with a second location in Santa Rosa, FL

McKenzie Carson ’06 Partner at McGuireWoods LLP

Katie Camille Friedman ’06 Senior Scientist at The Clorox Company - Brita R&D

Aasiya Mirza Glover ’06

Associate at Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP

Nikki Jones ’06

Teacher of Theology and Philosophy & Deputy Housemaster at Shiplake College

Ellen Makowsky ’06 Brand Director at Naked Cashmere

Jordan Reeve ’09

Moved to Nashville, TN for a new position as Credit Support Manager with Caterpillar Financial

Bhavya Jha ’13

Received the Isaac Anderson Rauch Award for Excellence in a Capstone Project, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs

Emma Less ’13 Promoted to the Senior Development Manager, Overton Park Shell.

Postgraduate Degrees

Mary Lacy Bell ’88

Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy, University of Memphis

Dia Bowden ’13 Master in Health Sciences, Meharry Medical College

Elianna Landau Greenberg ’13

Master in Business Administration, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University

Bhavya Jha ’13

Master in Public Administration, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs

Maggie Norman ’13

Master in Applied Developmental Psychology, George Mason University

Nicole Sanford O’Malley ’14 Doctor of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine

Adira Polite ’14 and Keila Nicole Mumphord ’14 celebrate graduation from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Stuart Monaghan ’18 celebrates her recent graduation from the nursing school at Texas Christian University.

MILESTONES

Theresa Green ’14

Juris Doctor, University of Minnesota

Adira Polite ’14 and Keila Nicole Mumphord ’14 Master of Divinity from Emory University Candler School of Theology

Lynley Matthews ’15 Doctor of Medicine, University of Tennessee

Stuart Monaghan ’18

BUCKMAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 2023-2024 SEASON

In Memoriam

The Huber Marionettes | Sunday, September 17, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

An Evening with Maggie and Mark O’Connor | Friday, September 22, 2023, 8:00 p.m.

Underwater Bubble Show | Thursday, October 26, 2023, 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Sons of Mystro | Thursday, November 2, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

Liz Story | Friday, January 19, 2024, 8:00 p.m.

Trace Bundy | Friday, January 26, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

Trout Fishing in America | Friday, February 9, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

Stray Cat’s Lee Rocker | Friday, March 1, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

Fairytales on Ice Presents: Peter Pan and Wendy Thursday, April 4, 2024, 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.

The Tannahill Weavers | Sunday, April 7, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

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

Nursing degree from Texas Christian University Nursing School

Jamie List Hoemann ’73

Ivy Grace Tinker ’14

FIERCE

At St. Mary’s Episcopal School, we know girls. We know how they learn best. We know what motivates them. We know how they tackle challenges in the classroom and in life. A St. Mary’s education goes beyond academics. We help girls grow into young women of integrity, compassion, and confidence.

Come join the tradition. Call 901.537.1405 or visit stmarysschool.org to schedule a visit.

For AP Chemistry Teacher Rose Dunlap, teaching chemistry is about practice, application, and hands-on demonstrations. Dunlap employs a flipped classroom approach where students read and watch lectures prior to class, allowing them to spend their class time working through practice problems, discussing lab demonstrations, and performing experiments.