St. Stephen’s will kick off a yearlong celebration of its 75th anniversary at the start of the 2025-26 academic year. From our humble beginnings in 1950 that were built on a bold vision of inclusivity to our continuation of the long legacy of academic excellence, we invite you to join us on campus as we celebrate our rich history from The Hill to the world.
Sep. 19
Spartan Loop and Still Water Foundation Aquatic Center
Sharon Sparlin, ssparlin@sstx.org or 512.327.1213 x 158
PHOTOS
COVER: Will Perkins ’25 rings the final bell
TOP TO BOTTOM: Casey Maina ’25 and Rex Lauryssen ’25 walk into the Chapel for graduation; Spartans on campus in 1961; Jake Bohrer ’31 answers a trivia question correctly during the Nation’s Day celebration
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
I am pleased to share that we have had another extraordinary year at St. Stephen’s. Our students have amazed me with their industry, engagement and talents, and our faculty and staff have guided Spartans once again in skillful, compassionate and artful ways.
One of the blessings of being head of school is that I have a front-row seat to see our students engaging in joyful living and rich learning together. In the week before graduation, I attended the chamber orchestra concert, the Apollo Percussion concert, a 7th grade civics fair, the senior independent projects presentations and the engineering regatta in which our students raced the kayaks they designed, engineered and built. If you measure the success of our community by the scope of programs that we offer, St. Stephen’s stands apart.
However, my favorite way to measure our school’s success is “one Spartan at a time.” While it’s important to view the school at the community level, it is as important to measure the success of St. Stephen’s by the ways each of our 700 students has grown during the year. I am grateful to have recently received a number of thank-you letters from parents of current students. In each account, there is evidence that our school is living fully into its mission.
One parent of a senior wrote to his child’s advisor, “I want to take a moment to personally thank you — not only for your crucial role as his advisor, but for being the composed, steady and unwavering presence he could count on throughout his journey. There’s no doubt that St. Stephen’s offers a rigorous academic experience — it’s exactly why we chose the school. To note, earlier today I was genuinely blown away by the work my son and his classmates presented in their Projects in Science and Technology class. The level of creativity, depth, rigor, intellectual horsepower and execution by high school seniors was both mindboggling and world-class. Through a very challenging academic curriculum, moments of uncertainty, and real emotional and physical challenges, you were always there. Above all, you showed an infinite amount of authentic compassion and consideration
without judgment. Your calm presence and positive influence will stay with him — not just as part of his education, but as part of his foundation.”
Another parent wrote, “All this year I have been waiting to find out whether my son would be able to feel at home at St. Stephen’s as himself. I am so happy to let you know that he has found himself. He was in two fine arts performances this weekend, and suddenly, there he was, actually more fully himself than I have ever seen. In some real sense, he actually grew taller over the past 24 hours. Thank you for building a school which cultivates individual growth. Maybe the most powerful gift a school can give to each student and to its community as a whole is the recognition that each and every person on The Hill matters. I’m so happy to tell you that my son feels that he matters, that what he thinks matters, that he can be someone, and that he belongs.”
As we look toward celebrating our school’s 75th anniversary this upcoming academic year, we will examine ways our school has grown and changed since our founding. What has been at our core since the beginning is the transformational experience students have as a result of the caring and committed faculty and staff. As you enjoy this edition of the Spartan, you’ll see examples highlighting the foundational learning and growth that both of these parents referenced in their letters. I am grateful that St. Stephen’s is a school where our students are known and loved individually, a community where our faculty and staff curate meaningful developmental activities that engage and inspire our students, and a place where our students come to know that they matter and where they are empowered to begin living lives that make a difference in the world.
All my best,
Chris Gunnin Head of School
Celebrating the Class of 2025
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School celebrated its 75th commencement on Saturday, May 24.
Parents, grandparents, friends and special guests convened on The Hill and virtually to celebrate a myriad of accomplishments. This year’s class of 123 graduates is a diverse representation of cultures that are reflected in students from the Austin area and eight cities across Texas; six U.S. states; and seven foreign countries — China, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.
From The Hill to the world, the entire St. Stephen’s community is excited to see what these graduates will accomplish in the next chapter of their lives.
Learn what’s next for the Class of 2025 on pages 10 and 11.
PHOTOS
TOP TO BOTTOM : Seniors line up for the graduation processional; Isabela Whiteley Bermeo ’25
THE BISHOP JOHN E. HINES MEDAL was awarded to Annabel Furlong. The Rt. Rev. Hines, founder of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, was a man of extraordinary vision and bold action. He started the school with the idea that the St. Stephen’s education would be used as “an enduring basis for moral decisions and would equip the student with content and satisfaction in both his or her academic and devotional life.” Furlong was described as a student whose consistent academic excellence is expressed in all facets of learning.
The William Brewster Medal and a Velberta Asher Towner Award in Performing Arts were presented to Casey Maina. The Brewster award was established in honor of the school’s founding headmaster in the 1960s. Brewster wanted a school where students learned by studying and by living in a community grounded in a Christian tradition of respect and concern for others. Each year a faculty committee chooses a recipient who, in the eyes of the committee, has made the greatest total contribution to the life of the school. Head of School Chris Gunnin said that Maina’s leadership “has touched many parts of our campus throughout her high school career, giving back to
those both within our community and beyond. On campus, she has given her time, energy and leadership skills to help shape inclusive spaces. As a member and co-leader of the student affinity group Unapologetic, Maina helped implement the first Girls Day Out for members of the group. She has quietly carried on the legacy of former Equity and Inclusion Director Yvonne Adams, standing up for equity, inclusion and belonging in all she does.”
A Velberta Asher Towner Award in the Performing Arts was also awarded to Audrey Wan, who has been performing since age three and is dedicated to the music and to the process, read Fine Arts Department Chair Liz Moon. The award is given in memory of Velberta Towner, a St. Stephen’s faculty member from 1958 to 1984. Known to the campus community as Bert, she was a longtime Fine Arts Department chair who built a program in which students could explore and excel in the arts. Wan was described as someone who offers a thrilling, high-level performance and someone who has plenty of musical things to say and “delivers every time.”
The Dobbie Leverton Fenton Medal was awarded to Rebecca Cole, who was described by Director of College Counseling Claire Fenton ’93, Leverton
The Bishop John E. Hines Medal
Annabel Furlong
The William Brewster Medal and the Velberta Asher Towner Award in the Performing Arts
Casey Maina
The Velberta Asher Towner Award in the Performing Arts
Audrey Wan
The Dobbie Leverton Fenton Medal
Rebecca Cole
Fenton’s daughter, as a “tireless activist, advocate, scholar and a force of nature, combining boundless enthusiasm with a deep commitment to making the world a better place.”
Inspired by the beloved teacher, advisor and friend who lived a life of compassionate service, the Fenton Medal was established in 2001. Leverton Fenton came to St. Stephen’s as an 8th grade boarding student and graduated in 1963. She returned to St. Stephen’s in 1968 to begin what would become a 33-year career at the school, teaching English and serving as a college counselor and mentor to hundreds of students. She also had a boundless belief in the ability of individuals to change the world for the better.
Fenton describes Cole as someone who “lives life in that same way — promoting the values of social justice.” Her energy is infectious, and she works to create an inclusive environment and to foster positive change. Whether she’s elbow deep in compost or discussing politics, culture and policy, she takes a hands-on approach to everything she does. “She leads by example,” read Fenton. “In so many ways, she strives to make the present and the future, at St. Stephen’s and beyond, better for everyone.”
Audrey Wan ’25 and Liz Moon
Rebecca Cole ’25 and Claire Fenton ’93
Casey Maina ’25 and Chris Gunnin
Annabel Furlong ’25 and the Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan
Diplomas With High Honors
Alexander Agrawal
Emmett Brewer
Rebecca Cole
Annabel Furlong
Charlie Hubbard
Ella Kim
Lainey Leslie
Joshua Natinsky
Isabela Whiteley Bermeo
Diplomas With Honors
Susannah Alter
Marygrace Beinke
Alina Bunch
Dawson Burrell
Cameron Carper
Jordan Carson
Chris Chang
Vivian Chatterjee
Miyako Chen
Julia Conkling
Kieran Desireddi
Vishal Dhruva
Felix Eugene
Lily Felger
Jackie Ge
Bryson Gibbs
Sophia Gong
Thomas Guan
Hana Hassibi
Honors
Steely Horne-Lalande
John Kang
Kevin Li
Michael Li
Lilian Liu
Anusha Mahbub
Humberto MarrufoZubaran
Evan McGinnis
Howard Mei
Simon Meyers
Libby Miller
Kieran MohindraGreen
Elliot Morrow
Gracie Morton
Susan Moseley
Suan Park
Yvonne Peng
Will Perkins
Zach Prager
Clara Rogers
AJ Seal
Paul Seo
Brandon Shaw
Jenevieve Tsai
Audrey Wan
Claire Wan
Leela Weisser
Watt Wilkinson
Leigh Wittliff
Jade Wong
Joyce Xiao
Eric Xu
Eshita Yadav
Jack Yu
Pearl Zhang
Wendy Zheng
Maxima Cum Laude
Audrey Wan
Cum Laude Society
Alexander Agrawal
Emmett Brewer
Aline Bunch
Chris Chung
Rebecca Cole
Annabel Furlong
Steely Horne-Lalande
Charles Hubbard
John Kang
Ella Kim
Adelaine Leslie
Kevin Li
Anusha Mahbub
Evan McGinnis
Liberty Miller
Kieran MohindraGreen
Joshua Natinsky
Zachary Prager
Paul Seo
Audrey Wan
Claire Wan
Leela Weisser
Isabela Whiteley
Bermeo
Eric Xu
Academic Leadership and Service Awards
The Catherine Elliott Montgomery Prize is awarded by a committee of teachers to the 12th grade student whose creativity, character and scholarship give promise of a contribution in history or the social sciences. The 2025 Montgomery Prize was awarded to Rebecca Cole
The Jan Hines Leadership Award is presented to those students who have made positive contributions to our school and worked tirelessly to make our community a better place. This year, the award was presented to Will Perkins, Charlie Hubbard, Paul Seo, Emmett Brewer, Bryson Gibbs and Gemma Willy.
The Spiritual Leadership Award is presented to the student of any faith tradition who has embodied the Gospel message “The way to greatness is through service.” This person embodies the philosophy of servant leadership, focusing on serving the needs of their community and their team members and fostering the growth and well-being of those they serve. The award was presented to Humberto Marrufo-Zubaran.
International Student of the Year
Howard Mei
National Chinese Honor Society
Marygrace Beinke
Graham Boles
Steely Horne-Lalande
Lainey Leslie
Nevita McCormick
National Latin Exam
Annabel Furlong
(magna cum laude)
National Latin Honor Society
Annabel Furlong
Will Perkins
Audrey Wan
Model UN
Rebecca Cole
Howard Mei
Service Learning
Distinction
Rebecca Cole
Yvonne Adams
Equity and Inclusion Leadership and Service Award
Casey Maina
Jay Dorrance
Health Leadership Award
Gemma Willy
Gabby Lassalle
Casey Maina
Jay Dorrance
Will Perkins
Charlie Hubbard
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Scholastic Art Portfolio Award: Gracie Morton, Leela Weisser
Scholastic Art Writing Award: Isa Whiteley Bermeo
National Gold Medal: Leela Weisser
PHOTO
Seniors pose for their final Class of 2025 group photo on graduation day
Book Prizes
Advanced Art History
Libby Miller
Advanced Calculus
AB
Annabel Furlong
Advanced Chinese V
Marygrace Beinke
Advanced Chinese VI
Steely Horne-Lalande
Advanced Chinese VII
Rebecca Cole
Advanced European History
Annabel Furlong
Advanced Latin V/VI
Annabel Furlong
Advanced Spanish VI
Bryson Gibbs
Advanced Spanish VII/VIII
Isabela Whiteley
Bermeo
Advanced Statistics
Emmett Brewer
Advanced Visual Studies
Yvonne Peng
Engineering
Claire Wan
English 12
Emmet Brewer
Environmental Science
Claire Wan
French IV
Alexander Agrawal
Independent Projects —
Computer Science
Joshua Natinsky
Linear Algebra
Paul Seo
Machine Learning/ Artificial Intelligence
Charlie Hubbard
Social Science Seminars
Libby Miller
Statistics & Selected Topics
Hana Hassibi
Theology
Alina Bunch
Web Development
Victor Quiroz-Ibañez
Fine Arts Awards
The Rev. Charles Abram and Virginia Sumners Music Award is presented annually to a member of the senior class who made the greatest overall contribution to music at the school. The 2025 Sumners Music Award recipient was Eric Xu
The Anne Dewey Guerin Award is awarded each year to the graduate who made the greatest contribution to the theater program. This year’s Anne Dewey Guerin Award was presented to Ella Kim.
The Rudolph H. Green Art Award is presented to a senior art student who has shown consistent personal growth and who looks for ways to improve their own craft while also pushing the intellectual boundaries of visual expression. The recipient of the Rudolph H. Green Art Award was Leela Weisser
AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Outstanding Potter
Alexander Agrawal
Outstanding Sculptor
Jolie Stough
Outstanding Chamber Ensemble Member
Audrey Wan
Outstanding Choral Student
Annabel Furlong
Dance Director’s Award
Kendall Miles
Outstanding Orchestra Director’s Award
Kevin Li
Outstanding Guitar Ensemble Member
Rafael Almazan
Outstanding Filmmaker Award
Lainey Leslie
Rex Gilliland
Outstanding Orchestra Soloist
Lilian Liu
Outstanding Piano Students
Audrey Wan
Alexander Agrawal
Outstanding Principal Orchestral Player
Thomas Guan
Excellence in Applied Arts Studio
Art
Eishita Yadav
Outstanding Vocalist Award
Humberto MarrufoZubaran
Technical Theatre Award
Gemma Willy
Susannah Alter
Yearbook Editor’s Award
Libby Miller
PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM : Retiring instructor Jim Woodruff delivers the faculty address; Susan Moseley ’25; Charlie Hubbard ’25 heads back to his seat after delivering the student address
Athletics Awards
The Don Cunningham Memorial Awards are presented to two Spartans who lettered in three sports in their senior year and demonstrated outstanding talent, leadership, dedication and sportsmanship. This year’s Cunningham awards were presented to Clara Rogers and Charlie Dugan.
The David Paschall Award was created to recognize and honor the outstanding accomplishments of students in both academics and athletics. To be eligible for the award, a student must earn a varsity letter during each term and maintain honor roll status during the fall and winter terms. The 2025 award recipients were Julia Conkling and Clara Rogers.
The Kristin Svahn Athletic Leadership Award is presented to two student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities throughout Upper School. The 2025 Athletic Leadership Award was presented to Donnica Armstrong and Charlie Hubbard.
The Academy Academic Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments of student-athletes both in the classroom and on the soccer field. To be eligible for this award, students must compete at a performance level within the St. Stephen’s athletic academies. These student-athletes must maintain honor roll status during the fall and winter terms. The 2025 award recipients were Dawson Burrell and Bryson Gibbs.
All SPC Award Winners
Baseball
Zach Prager
Basketball
Gabe Sahely
Cross-Country
Graham Boles
Audrey Wan
Field Hockey
Eleanor Evarts
Jadyn Houston
Golf
Claire Wan Lacrosse
Charlie Dugan
Soccer
Jack Jojola
Swimming and Diving
Lucy Middleton
Watt Wilkinson
Faculty and Staff
Recognition
Tennis
Kieran Desireddi
Emma Eggleston
Leela Weisser
Track and Field
Graham Boles
Volleyball
Charlie Dugan
Donnica Armstrong
At the end of the 2024-25 academic year, awards of excellence were presented to the following outstanding teachers and staff:
The Dean H. Towner Master Teaching Chair was awarded to Kerry Patterson, Middle School math instructor, and Kurt Oehler ’93, Upper School math instructor.
The Upper School Teacher Excellence Award was given to English instructor Andy Aceves.
The Staff Excellence Award was presented to Director of Custodial Services Tristan Brown
PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM :
Charlie Dugan ’25 during the graduation ceremony; Hana Hassibi ’25, Aubrey McDougal ’25, Isabela Whiteley Bermeo ’25 and Michael Garcia ’25; Leela Weisser ’25 hugs a fellow graduate while Mason Cox, International Program assistant, stands nearby
PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM: Leigh Wittliff ’25 and Katie Oddo ’25 celebrating their new alumni status; Ben Patrick ’25, Emmett Brewer ’25, Kevin Li ’25, Chris Chang ’25 and Simon Meyers ’25
Chris Gunnin and Kerry Patterson
Chris Gunnin and Kurt Oehler ’93
Krista Dillard P ’30 and Andy Aceves
Tristan Brown and Krista Dillard P ’30
Graduates
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS & ENROLLMENT
The St. Stephen’s College Counseling department is pleased to share the Class of 2025 snapshot of college applications, acceptances and enrollment.
Colleges in 25 states and four international campuses will enroll Spartan graduates
Students enrolling at service academies
NCAA athletes
Average
Matriculating out of state
Attending The University of Texas at Austin
Applied early (on or before 12/1) Early decision applicants
From The Hill to the World
WHERE THE CLASS OF 2025 IS ENROLLING
Arizona State University
Auburn University
Barnard College
Boston University (5)
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
Carleton College
Carnegie Mellon University
Catholic University of Louvain
Claremont McKenna College
Clemson University
Colorado College
Columbia University
Cornell University (4)
Dartmouth College (3)
Davidson College
Emerson College
Emory University (2)
Georgetown University (2)
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Illinois Wesleyan University
Johns Hopkins University (2)
Lehigh University
LeTourneau University
Macalester College
McGill University
New York University (5)
North Park University
Northwestern University
Oklahoma State University
Pitzer College (2)
Pomona College
Purdue University (5)
Queen’s University Belfast
Rice University
Sarah Lawrence College
Southwestern University
Stanford University (2)
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University
Tarleton State University
Texas State University
Trinity College
Trinity College Dublin
Trinity University (2)
Tufts University
United States Air Force Academy
United States Military Academy
University of California, Berkeley (2)
University of California, Los Angeles (2)
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Colorado Boulder (5)
University of Georgia
University of Houston
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (3)
University of Miami (2)
University of Michigan
University of San Diego (2)
University of Southern California
The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Austin (16)
The University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas at San Antonio (3)
University of Utah
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Washington University in St. Louis (3)
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Yale University
Middle School Closing Ceremony
St. Stephen’s celebrated its Middle School Closing Ceremony on May 30. Seventyfour 8th grade students were promoted to Upper School, and a number of awards were given across the Middle School division. High awards were presented to students, and English instructor Claire Zagrodzky ’16 won the Teacher Excellence Award. Head of Middle School Magnus Maccow and other division administrators presented dozens of awards and certificates. Head of School Chris Gunnin also delivered remarks.
“We gather to celebrate the accomplishments of our Middle School students who have engaged in the life of our community, who have invested themselves in our programs and who have embraced the ideals, values and habits of this community,” remarked Gunnin.
Several students received the highest Middle School achievement awards.
The Academic Hall of Fame Award, which is presented to students who achieve High Honor Roll status each term for the three years of Middle School, was presented to Maya Lawrence ’29 and Anna Yang ’29
Maya Lawrence ’29, Elizabeth McDaniel-Chang ’30, Madeleine Bischke ’31 and Isabelle Richter ’31 were recognized for their outstanding scholarship and for achieving the Highest Academic Standing in their class.
Named for the first head of the Middle School, the Priscilla Foster Award recognizes an inspiring student leader with a can-do spirit and desire to help others. Perry Waters ’29 was awarded the 2025 Priscilla Foster Award.
Amelia Conselman ’31 and Aleta Kavcic ’30 were recognized with the Citizenship Award for reflecting the highest traditions and core values of our school.
The Linda Douglass Spirit of Hope Award, which recognizes a student leader who exemplifies what it means to make a difference in the school community and beyond, was presented to Sophie Grossman ’30
The Spiritual Leadership Award was given to Caden Chen ’29
The Anne Teel Athletics Award was presented to Lyons Welp ’29, and the Hunter Paschall Athletics Award went to Will Heyer ’29
PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM: Fr. Ed Thompson and acolytes Luke Imsais ’31, Charlotte Elwell ’30, Brody O’Sullivan ’31 and Molly McGrew ’30 stand in front of the Chapel before the ceremony; Maya Osbakken Lawrence ’29 and Interim Middle School Dean of Students Miriam Murtuza, PhD
PHOTOS
1 The Class of 2029 8th grade picture
2 Finley Wilson ’29 and Lyons Welp ’ 29
3 A group of Middle School students after the ceremony
4 Vihaan Subramanian ’29, Laksh Kadam ’29, Liam Ware ’29, Vyan Vemuganti ’29, Smyan Sharma ’29, Caden Chen ’29, Jacob Baldwin ’29 and Allie Nelson ’29
5 Krista Dillard P ’30, Middle School English Instructor Claire Zagrodzky ’16 and Chris Gunnin
Withstanding the Test of Time
75 years of legacy, change and continuity -where
the past shapes what lies ahead
BY SHELLEY SALLEE, P h D, HISTORY DEPARTMENT CHAIR
“The coeducational idea sounds pretty darn good,” wrote a soldier in his response to co-founding Head of School Reverend William Brewster, who had sent him a letter soliciting a donation. This came at a time when the service member was encountering men who were treating women as “chattel.” Brewster “was aware of New England schools that had been single sex from the beginning and would never change,” and he also knew he must get others to believe in his bold vision. He wrote to everyone he thought might support a future school. When a trustee asked what they would do if “we do not get the 56 boarders,” Brewster responded that he was on his way to Lufkin and San Antonio, Texas, to talk to prospective families “the same way that a salesman does who believes in what he is selling.”
Brewster believed “that a Church school have in it both boys and girls of every economic and social group, that color of skin be no barrier, and that through constant common worship and emphasis on common purpose engaged daily by all, that a Christian atmosphere would prevail.” He did everything he could to put this vision into practice in what turned out to be the last few years of his life. His funeral was the first service in the new school Chapel.
When the school opened in the fall of 1950, the campus had a horse corral before it had a phone. The first class of Spartans recognized “it was a year of trial to see if coeducation would work out.” Fast-forward into the future, and in 2025, horses and rotary phones are considered vintage, and smartphones and artificial intelligence dominate the world’s landscape. The school’s 75th anniversary appears to celebrate change over continuity. The founders were pioneers. And they wrote, “To the future students, we pass on this challenge to live up to the ideals upon
which the school was founded.” The decades that followed are a testimony to the school’s continuity of meeting that decade’s trials while also trying to live up to its founding ideals.
1950s: Out of the Ashes of War
“That’s where I want it.” The late Elizabeth Brewster recalled her husband gazing across the Colorado River at “The Hill.” Brewster, influenced by Reinhold Niebuhr, the leading theologian known for his prophetic urging of intervention in Nazi Germany, had a big vision for a scrappy landscape. A new type of school community seemed to be what he felt the world needed when he declared St. Stephen’s would be “dedicated to the recovery of humans.” Brewster’s vision motivated him to join the Rt. Rev. John E. Hines, then bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Texas. They viewed a school that offered “intellectual honesty and curiosity ... the wrestling with social problems” as hope for the world.
To his son, Will Brewster ’51, and his friend Cliff “Toppy” Castle ’51, whom Brewster recruited from the Kent School in western Connecticut to be in the first junior and senior class, the vision surely looked different. They had given up ice hockey and crew to go to school on an overgrazed goat ranch where cedar choppers once lived.
Some boarding school etiquette traditions were transported. When girls boycotted wearing hats to chapel, they were reprimanded. Boys had better luck when they petitioned to be allowed “to wear clean Levi’s to school.” Yet coeducation in a boarding school introduced an egalitarianism ahead of its time, or at least ahead of the boys’ schools of New England. Robin Carter Kennedy ’59 recalled, “I never felt that you couldn’t
1959
1950s
On December 26, 1949, co-founders the
Rt. Rev. John E. Hines and Head of School Rev. William Brewster officially breaking ground on the St. Stephen’s Hill Country property
Administrator, Greek and Latin instructor Dean Towner riding a horse on campus
St. Stephen’s student yearbook staff working together on the 1959 Deacon yearbook
1966
1969
speak out and do what you wanted.” The late Ann Mills Weaver ’56 once noted that girls and boys often developed close, nonromantic relationships discussing “fine points” about religion and philosophy in the “smoking lounge.” It helped that both sexes were needed to fill teams. The 1952 yearbook reported, “No trophies were won in baseball, but both boys and girls participated with wonderful team spirit.”
Stories of student work crews hauling rock have grown as tall as some of the buildings. There was a clear sense for the small early classes that they were part of building something new.
The Army acquaintance who had expressed being “amazed at the number of fellows who have never known girls as people” could now see that at St. Stephen’s, Brewster’s reformist vision was working.
1960s Civil Rights: This
is what we do
Integration was a founding vision of Brewster and Hines, who marched beside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but it took a decade to begin. Before he died in 1953, Brewster wrote that in “church schools,” we should “insist” that “racial background is no barrier.” A visit to Austin, where a minister offered a Black family communion only to have no one else join them, had become a personal test for his church school to be different.
Born in South Carolina, Hines had been attacking racism since seminary and went on as bishop of Texas in 1955 to lead the diocese through racial integration of its institutions. Yet he and Brewster realized what they were up against.
The school found allies. Dr. Allen Becker became head of school in 1957 on the condition “that racial discrimination should be eliminated as an entrance criterion.” He led the fledgling school through desegregation, but it took the late
1972
Bertha Sadler Means, a congregant at St. James Episcopal Church in East Austin, who had led desegregation fights at the local skating rink and public swimming pools, to make it happen. Her daughter Pat Means King ’66 became the first Black graduate. Means and her husband, Dr. James H. Means Sr., helped recruit Theodore Smith, the first Black teacher at St. Stephen’s, to be head of the Math Department.
In the first years of integration, there were very few Black students, but from 1967 to 1975, the Anne C. Stouffer Foundation in North Carolina promoted “the integration of preparatory schools in the South,” and the Rio Grande Valley Scholars Program sought to connect Hispanic students to preparatory schools. St. Stephen’s partnership with these funds lifted the school closer to Brewster and Hines’ vision.
In 1972, when the school fielded a basketball team with five Black players and traveled with a cheerleading squad of six that included two Stouffer scholars and a Valley scholar, they decided to embrace being race rebels in the athletic conference. When the St. Stephen’s team entered the gym “led by a Black team member holding high a ball painted in alternating sections of Black and White,” Spartan fans were moved to tears, with one remarking: “This is what we do.”
While a few parents balked and a few donors withdrew support, students led. While the outside scholarships dried up in the mid-’70s, students continued to raise money for the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, which John McFarland ’68 and Clarke Heidrick ’68, P ’02, ’05, ’10 established to honor the slain leader. Rudy Green ’71, P ’07 of Fort Worth, who had never been to Austin and had always attended segregated schools, became the school’s first MLK Scholar. Later, as a trustee and Spartan parent, he helped raise funds for many more MLK Scholars.
“The Times They Are A-Changin” could
1970s
Pat Means King ’66 is the first Black graduate of St. Stephen’s
Students hugging each other in the pool for what became known as the love-in
The St. Stephen’s basketball team unifies in preparation for a game
Students gather under a welcome banner on The Hill
be heard from a dorm window. A love-in blossomed one warm spring day. Legend has it that a group of students, while meeting with school counselor Nadea Gizelbach, thought it would be great to get everyone to hug each other. They began entering classes and pulling friends outside to hug. Soon a large part of the student body ended up in the pool, hugging.
If James Hinton Sledd, Jr.’s 1969 graduation speech is any indication, the decade closed with Spartans engaging the social justice issues of their times as Brewster had imagined. Sledd, with passion about the concerns raised by the New Left and Black Power, issued a generational demand. He told students they “have the power to change things, and to give youth the direction it needs.”
Adults were trying. In 1968, after Gregory Hicks ’68, the school’s first Black boarding student to graduate, gave the senior address, the visiting chaplain played a Simon and Garfunkel song before his concluding graduation prayer:
May God give you a groovy life And may you find such a life By spending yours helping Him Make a groovy world for others. AMEN
1970s: A Chance to Be Yourself
Building St. Stephen’s in the ’70s involved self-expression, growth, creativity and tragedy. The 1972 yearbook page titled “A Chance to Be Yourself” suggests the period’s new challenges to authority. Yearbooks show students wearing the era in their expressive clothing choices, but whatever new rebellions arose, consequences followed. “If you got in trouble, you got to build a sidewalk,” Jim Crosby ’70, P ’00, ’02, ’05 recalled. On December 23, 1973, fire destroyed the Gillette Dorm. Faculty members in
apartments attached to the dorm lost everything. A parent sent Christmas ornaments to the faculty families, and another offered an Indian basket to help history teacher Kathryn Respess “start again her destroyed collection.” In the spring, construction began on a new library student center (later named Becker Library).
With a direct link back to the founding vision for the “recovery of humans,” the Japanese Exchange Program was established in 1973, and its first students were Yoshinori Yokoyama ’74 and Tsugunori Yasuda ’75. The program was initiated by the late Dean Towner, a Latin instructor and former U.S. Navy lieutenant who served in Okinawa and Japan as a translator and interpreter. He wrote, “These young men ... will not make war on each other, as my generation did.”
1980s: Tight Budgets and Growing Pains
“Budget: ‘Tight and getting Tighter,’” the 1987 trustee minutes sounded an alarm. Texas history and a pivotal stage of school history tested St. Stephen’s survival as a boarding school.
While the 1970s energy crisis dragged down the national economy, in Texas, by contrast, the Arab oil embargo fueled an oil boom. According to the Texas Tribune, West Texas locals “nicknamed two-seater Mercedes convertibles Midland Mustangs,” and into the early ’80s, the school’s dorms were packed.
The oil bust hit Texas in the 1980s, as did the savings and loan crisis. In 1987, the school year began with “25 empty beds” and was almost half a million dollars short. Deficits and a “decline in boarding” continued into the early 1990s. By 1991, the school body, primarily boarding students in its first two decades, had an
enrollment of 98 boarders and 162 day students.
With the Pennybacker Bridge completed in 1982, expansion of the Loop 360 highway also drove school trustees to undertake “the Davenport land trade” to stop a high-rise looming over the athletic fields and to “ensure the setting so critical to the school’s purpose and character.”
Additionally, hard times challenged efforts to increase diversity. Debate arose over whether the school “could afford scholarships.” Trustees ultimately preserved the integrity of the campus from developers and committed to scholarships.
In 1988, trustees took a leap of faith and hired architects for a campus site plan. That year, records show the school had a deficit of $418,000. Some of the first students who hauled rocks for the buildings and walls of the school, now as adults, converted that strength to carry heavy fiduciary responsibilities. Nancy Wilson Scanlan ’59 chaired a trustee committee focused on the “future of the Middle School,” with the question of whether it should exist and, if so, whether it should be expanded.
With the help of many generous
1982
Students register for classes at the start of the academic year
Firefighters battle a blaze at the Gillette Dorm, which was completely destroyed
The airport reception for Nick Palter ’76, the first American student from St. Stephen’s to attend Momoyama High School in Osaka, Japan
donors, including lead gifts from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation and the Episcopal Foundation of Texas, the school began plans for a new fine arts building and the renovation of the Ives and Freeman dorms, which were built as “temporary army barracks-type” dorms. The board instituted a cash-and-carry policy to have all funds in hand before construction began, even though that meant the fine arts building remained a dream.
1990s: Heading to Seoul Saves the Soul of St. Stephen’s
“If you don’t learn how to use chopsticks, you’re going to starve,” advised Sarah Todd, international program director to associate head of school for enrollment management Lawrence Sampleton before his first trip to South Korea. In a 1999 yearbook, Chul Ho Kim ’00 wrote about the day you first meet “big Mr. Sampleton.” Todd’s simple chopstick advice to her All-American University of Texas football star colleague to stay nourished could be a metaphor for
1990s
defining changes during the 1990s that helped revive the boarding program.
Head of School Frederick Weissbach’s charge to “save the boarding program” generated initiatives and the recruitment of a new generation of school leaders like Sampleton and Todd, who are still working at St. Stephen’s today. International boarding students were not the only new boarders. Weissbach initiated “interns,” and in 1993, Yvonne Adams, girls varsity basketball coach and later the school’s first director of equity and inclusion; Gene “G.P.” Phillips, director of residential life; and Athletic Director Jon McCain, who all grew into leadership roles, arrived. “We slept in dorm rooms,” Phillips recalled.
Tabor Academy student Daigo Satoh ’03 says the head of his school’s international office gave him the green light to transfer to St. Stephen’s because she was acquainted with Todd, who knew Satoh wanted to play year-round soccer. By the decade’s end, the school established tennis and soccer academies with a budding international program that positioned St. Stephen’s well for when China opened up to recruitment in the early 2000s.
A new generation of faculty created new programs. In 1994, science instructor Dr. Frank Mikan arrived and helped the school break ground on the observatory, getting students excited about studying star clusters, planets and galaxies.
Later in 1996, the Devil’s Canyon Wilderness Program provided more opportunity.
“Caving is like being on another planet,” said Alyssa Lowe ’98, former Devil’s Canyon Wilderness Program team captain. Today, the program is called the Devil’s Canyon Adventure Program, and under the guidance of robotics instructor Troy Lanier and Charlton Perry, director of outdoor education and land management, the program has evolved and expanded to include trips to the Rio Grande and elsewhere. Kim Garey, current associate head of school for academics and student programs, and her husband, Leadership Giving Officer Clay Nichols, who started the Theatre Focus program, became as immersed in boarding culture as their mentors Dobbie Leverton Fenton ’63 and Alan Fenton. Many new faculty came, created and stayed.
By fall 1996, when Sampleton became the director of Admission, enrollment soared to 538 students from 40 different towns and cities, 13 different states and 16 different countries. Boarding had increased by more than 50% since 1987. The admission team “became more selective,” and the “number of minority students more than tripled.” Transitions entailed a learning curve and controversy, but Sampleton notes that today “schools all over the United States would love to have the Soccer Academy because recruiting domestic boarders is hard, and our Soccer Academy has attracted so many.”
Boarding was back, but overall, the school needed more buildings. In October 1993, St. Stephen’s dedicated the Helm Fine Arts Center, and “Our Town” was the first play in the Temple Family Theatre. Fine Arts Chair Liz Moon remembers a colleague saying, “If we don’t build the fine arts building, we’ll have no credibility with donors.”
By 1993, a Middle School that had been on The Hill in a dilapidated building with a few dozen students had its own Gunn Hall, located in the converted dining hall. The Middle School division became foundational to the stability of the school, with plans to add 8th grade boarders and some of the school’s most enduring traditions like the 8th grade trip to Big Bend National Park. 1996
1999
Students enjoy using the
Sarah Todd begins her travels to Asia to meet students and their host families
One of the first Big Bend trips and establishment of the Devil’s Canyon Wilderness Program, renamed to Devil’s Canyon Adventure Program (DCAP)
10.5" refracting telescope in the new observatory
Development came at the cost of mounting debt, but the decade put the school on track for the future.
2000-2025: Children of Globalization
Former Head of School Bob Kirkpatrick recalls, “the early 2000s was a tough time for St. Stephen’s with a lot of financial issues.” But when Kirkpatrick joined the school in 2007, he did so harnessing hope and possibility. Kirkpatrick says he and then Director of Advancement Christine Aubrey rallied with the full board, staff, parents and the entire St. Stephen’s community to launch the $28 million Frame the Future campaign.
“We really wanted to usher in a period of growth and stability and the best way to do that was a successful campaign,” said Kirkpatrick. “We had done our homework and we knew we had the courage to do it. Frame the Future helped set the stage for what was possible.” The five-year campaign reached its lofty goal in just under four years, turning the school’s future financial tide in a better direction. The campaign allowed the school to build the dining hall, the student center and more.
“The community was incredibly resilient with lots of generosity and commitment,” said Kirkpatrick.
By the 21st century, a two-race system no longer defined U.S. society or St. Stephen’s. The school had diversity within its diversity. In 2010, Black students, led by Lynden Pindling ’09, grandson of the President of the Bahamas, and Ikem Leigh ’10, whose parents were working in Swaziland (now Eswastini), started a Black Culture Club and invited all students. It was a sign the school needed more leadership in the area of diversity
and inclusion. The late Yvonne Adams stepped up to be the school’s first director of equity and inclusion, helping the culture of the school keep pace with supporting students.
Globalization not only diversified the student population in wonderful ways, but it also boosted student interest in being global citizens. The Rev. Roger Bowen, a former Peace Corps volunteer and head of school, partnered with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti in 2003 to support St. Etienne, a school in Salmadère, in the remote Central Plateau of Haiti. As St. Stephen’s celebrated its 20-year partnership, Henry Sikes ’11 remembered: “It made me learn to love the person sitting next to me, whoever they are.”
“Going to Haiti and learning about Dr. Paul Farmer and his work at the Zanmi Lasante” is what “really got me interested in global health” and medical school, wrote Sarika Mullapudi ’17. While the school had a long tradition of study in Salamanca and León, Spain, and had various trips to Europe, options expanded. Before political turmoil made it too dangerous to take students to Nicaragua, El Salvador and Haiti, specialized trips, born out of St. Stephen’s relationships with people in those countries, developed.
Globalization brought new diversity and new expectations for learning and for staying connected to friends and family regardless of where they were in the world. No one expected that the children of globalization would face a pandemic test. Head of School Chris Gunnin, in Disney World over spring break, knew he had to make a tough call when officials closed the park. “At that time, I thought it took a lot of courage just to make the decision to close for two weeks,” he recalled.
Spartans had to ramp up their global
connectivity to stay together as a school community. No one had imagined virtual learning, but everyone figured it out. “Mine were befuddled,” wrote history and geometry teacher Christopher Colvin in the early days in a virtual department meeting where teachers shared ideas about how to make it all work.
Gunnin remembers how Chinese families sent masks and other supplies, and alumni and parents shared medical expertise and even access to a lab so that twice-a-week COVID-19 testing could take place and make in-person learning an option sooner than at many schools. Some international students could not go home for over two years. Sitting at her kitchen table in Lagos, Nigeria, new student Valerie Emioma ’22 met her advisor virtually on the first day of school in the fall of 2020. The children of globalization passed their hardest test.
Timeless
In an interview before he died, Bishop Hines said, “there isn’t any such thing as a riskless Christianity.” When he said that, he could not yet imagine that at a graduation ceremony would be parents who crossed oceans with buried fears of a generation who survived the Chinese Cultural Revolution or parents of every child relieved to be at a place that celebrates their child for being themselves. The school they created for the “recovery of humans” does its part by giving young people a place to be loved, to learn and to be known, regardless of the challenges of their era. May’s senior graduation speaker, Charlie Hubbard ’25, in his list of words about the school, included “timeless,” and it felt that way in the Chapel filled with generations gathered for the sacred hug of that rite of passage.
Partnership begins with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti to support St. Etienne, a school in Salmadère, in the remote Central Plateau of Haiti
Students walking together near the landmark Chapel embodies the timeless expression of St. Stephen’s history
A HEARTFELT GIFT EXPANDS THE HEART
OF THE HILL
A $500,000 gift from J.P. Bryan ’58 supports St. Stephen’s plans to expand the Chapel into a more welcoming space for future generations.
The gesture of giving is one of the most beautiful expressions of care and compassion that one can experience. And for those with a benevolent spirit like J.P. Bryan, Jr. ’58, giving can bring just as much and sometimes even more joy to the giver. Bryan, who recently committed St. Stephen’s $500,000 toward the Chapel renovation and expansion, expresses a feeling of that exact sentiment: joy. Bryan shares it was his deep faith and coming of age in the school’s earliest decade that led him to make this gift from the heart.
Bryan, a five-year boarding student who later became a successful Texas business and civic leader, acknowledges that during his time on campus, attending chapel frequently could feel like an “obligation” to students. Back then, St. Stephen’s seemed remote in the isolated hills outside Austin, and student activity and free time were limited. All students attended chapel in the morning and evening, the community
had a single TV with grainy reception, and students could only leave campus twice a week for trips into town. And that was only if faculty did not cancel the trips to reprimand students for breaking school rules, Bryan remembers. His close-knit class of only 36 students often had to make their own fun. In addition to Bryan’s studies, he was also a boxer and played football, basketball and tennis, and served as a dorm proctor.
Reflecting on why he decided to make a gift many years later, Bryan believes the Chapel became his true sanctuary and a peaceful place in the heart of The Hill that calmed his mind, body and spirit. From a hazy memory of the “repetition of prayers” and the “daily ritual of chapel,” those defining elements stand out in his mind. Most importantly, Bryan remembers the large wooden cross hanging over the altar that he says spoke louder than anything any adult ever said to him about faith.
J.P. Bryan ’58 at Reunion Weekend 2025
BELOW RIGHT: Bryan’s senior portrait from the 1958 Deacon
ABOVE: A packed chapel service on Parents’ Day 2024 BELOW: Future Chapel rendering by Volz & Associates, Inc.
Originally built in 1953 to seat 300 people, the Chapel’s architectural style remains a celebrated example of Fehr and Granger design. The building appears to rise naturally from The Hill — elegantly unembellished, as though it has always belonged there.
Bryan recalls the cross being “hard to ignore, and not only in your sight but in your psyche or in your soul.” Bryan says he remembers sneaking out of the dorm one night and finding himself in the Chapel. He recalls sitting in the front row and staring at the cross in contemplation. In hindsight, constancy was the comfort Bryan says he needed. Bryan’s gladness in giving is to pass on what he received. St. Stephen’s is no longer as isolated from the world, but the Chapel remains a place where students can find solace. The doors are always open for those seeking private comfort and relief from their burdens. It is also a sanctuary for those who desire to share personal struggles and joys with a community rooted in respecting the individuality and dignity of every human being.
As Bryan thinks about the hundreds of Spartans on The Hill who regularly attend chapel today, his advice is to adopt the building as their own sanctuary and find “messages that you can apply to your own life, because clearly, God did not intend for you to live a sorrowful life. He wanted you to have a joyful adventure of walking through life. It’s going to be full of trials and challenges, of course, but
He’s going to always be there for you; you just need to be available for Him.”
St. Stephen’s will celebrate its 75th anniversary throughout the 2025-26 school year and, in the fall, will publicly launch the boldest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the school’s history. Among the campaign priorities is a $5 million expansion and renovation of the Chapel that will preserve the aesthetics of this sacred space while allowing all Upper School students to gather inside. Bryan notes that his campaign gift to the Chapel honors the constancy of the building’s role at St. Stephen’s and his confidence that its expansion will ensure it remains a meaningful and more welcoming space for future generations of Spartans. Once the Chapel expansion and renovation project is complete, the cross above the altar will remain, and Bryan hopes all who continue to gaze upon it “aspire to grow in grace and knowledge.”
To learn more about making a gift to the Chapel renovation and expansion, please contact Director of Advancement April Speck-Ewer at aspeckewer@sstx.org or 512.327.1213 x 118.
STONE FOR THE SANCTUARY: BUILDING AN ENDURING FOUNDATION
As St. Stephen’s looks ahead to renovating and expanding the Chapel, one of the school’s first alumni says he and other early Spartans had a hand in building the Chapel, which entailed quarrying the stones for the school’s central place of belonging. The stone used on several campus buildings was quarried by hand from the vast landscape.
The Rev. Will Brewster ’51, who lives in Kittery Point, Maine, recently recalled his early days on campus. Will Brewster is the son of Rev. William Brewster, the first headmaster and co-founder of the school with Rt. Rev. John E. Hines, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Will, now in his 90s, recalls vivid details about coming to Texas as a boarding student from Kent School in Connecticut. His father needed students for the fledgling school in Austin, Texas, so Will and his Kent roommate, Conrad Derdyn ’52, both enrolled.
Even before St. Stephen’s opened its doors, Will lived and worked on campus. His dad hired him to quarry limestone, a Texas staple scattered across the entire state region, to be used in building classrooms, dorms and the Chapel. The property was still a scrubby goat farm encompassing 400 rocky acres dotted with cedar trees and stumps. The summers were much like they are today, hot and dry, as 1949 was the first year of the catastrophic Texas drought that would continue through the 1950s. In summers, the teenage Will hauled the stone he laboriously quarried to the campus construction sites on The Hill in the school’s open-bed Studebaker truck. Other students were sometimes recruited to help.
Will was taught to look for weathered rock that had an unbroken edge to use specifically in walls. “We were very careful when we broke the rock that we kept the unbroken edge. And that was a highly, highly prized part of the construction,” he said. Some of those original walls still stand on campus.
Today, Will remembers the Chapel as not only the site of the labor of his youth but also a sacred place of reverence. His father became ill and died in November 1953; his memorial service and interment was the first service held in the school Chapel. Nearby, Will’s late brother Peter is interred in the memorial garden just steps from the Brewster Memorial cross.
Head of School Chris Gunnin reflects on the importance of Will’s memories from his teen years. “The story of the construction with rock quarried on-site straight from the hillsides helps create a truly Spartan story as part of our history and heritage,” he said.
Now, through the comprehensive campaign, the school plans a thoughtful Chapel renovation and expansion as it looks to make a sacred space even more special.
“The current Chapel building is beloved by many of us in the community; for many, the building is sacred, not just in that it is our place of worship, but in that it reflects and embodies the rich history and heritage of our school’s founding and earliest years,” said Gunnin.
And the stone from the pioneers of St. Stephen’s still remains — simple, dignified and elemental.
Hear more from Woodruff on page 48
Honoring Our Spartan Retirees
The St. Stephen’s community bids farewell to three talented and devoted retiring faculty and staff members who have served the campus for a collective 83 years. Although their presence on campus will be missed, their inspiring legacy is long-lasting. The St. Stephen’s community celebrated each retiree during a special chapel service and wished each of these Spartans good health and great happiness as they embark on their next chapter.
JIM WOODRUFF began his threedecade tenure at St. Stephen’s on August 1, 1990, and has worn many hats during his impactful journey. From 1990 to 1995, he served as the director of development, and he later transitioned into academics as assistant and head of Upper School. Most noteworthy has been Woodruff’s 31-plus years in the classroom. He began teaching theology in 1991 and has served as the Theology Department chair since 1992. He has inspired hundreds and hundreds of intrepid theologians, as he calls them, leading them through the spiritual
autobiography process and sharing the compelling stories of so many colleagues. The Class of 2025 selected Woodruff as the 2025 faculty graduation speaker.
Through the years, students have enjoyed and appreciated Woodruff’s approach to theology, some commenting in their written evaluations that “he encourages seniors to think critically, reflect on their own lives, be interested in the lives of other people and get to know all their classmates.”
Woodruff is probably most known on campus for taking his class on walks and
having class near the Brewster Memorial Garden — he jokingly urges students to “walk like theologians” with their hands behind their backs while deep in thought, and he uses the school’s beautiful campus as his classroom.
MARTHA BLACK retired after 30 years of supporting prospective students and parents, most recently in the role of senior associate director of Admission.
During a chapel service in May, Lawrence Sampleton, the associate head of school for enrollment management and financial aid, spoke about Black’s three decades of service on The Hill. Black was first hired as an office assistant, and she later advanced to assistant director, associate director and then senior director. She has been instrumental in introducing more technology to streamline and improve office efficiency — moving from the old-school snail mail way of sending Admission contracts to prospective families to sending contracts digitally, speeding up response time.
PHOTOS LEFT: A recent picture of Jim Woodruff near the Brewster Memorial Garden; RIGHT: Jim Woodruff on campus in the 1990s
“The reason I’m using that as an example is because Martha was there with us every step of the way,” said Sampleton.
At the end of her special retirement chapel recognition, State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio P ’29, ’27, was in attendance to make a surprise announcement that one day prior (May 15, 2025), he passed House Resolution 1113. The special resolution “honors Black’s retirement as the senior associate director of Admission for boarding recruitment of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin in 2025, drawing a close to an exemplary tenure with the school that has spanned three decades.”
Fischer’s two daughters will attend St. Stephen’s in the fall of the 2025-26 academic year, and he said he was moved to pass the resolution.
“We always tell [our daughters] about gratitude and kindness. And that is how we felt from the very first time we spoke to you about considering this school and going through the application process,” said Fischer. “And we recall very vividly
that you Zoomed with us on a snow day from your house to talk to us about looming deadlines and things that had to occur with all due speed.”
Black has also been a huge advocate of Key Society, a group of Spartans who help introduce the campus to prospective students and families. Above all, she will be remembered for being nice to everyone, every day.
MISSIE THORP retired in September 2024 as St. Stephen’s bookstore manager and purchasing director. During her 18year tenure, the store she was in charge of moved locations several times, while Thorp’s genuine care and dedication to the faculty, staff and students on The Hill never wavered.
During a special chapel service honoring her retirement in fall 2024, English Department Chair Colleen Hynes, PhD, described the countless ways Thorp played a critical role on campus. Her initiatives ranged from supporting and equipping faculty and staff with what they needed
on a daily basis to stocking classroom and office supplies to making sure copy machines were functioning. Thorp anticipated the needs of the residential community, ordering odds and ends until that next Target run, keeping greeting cards on the rack and making sure there was plenty of Spartan spirit merchandise on the shelves. Hynes said some of the most important moments in the bookstore weren’t about paper clips or pens or bottles of Gold Leaf Tea.
“It’s the moments that Miss Thorp is connecting with all of us who come and go as part of our day. She has a smile and upbeat attitude even when the line is out the door on those sweltering, hottest August days when everyone gears up for a new year. And more than once since I’ve been writing or conferencing in [my office], I’ve heard her on the other side of the wall offering moral support and a listening ear to students who stopped by for Post-it notes but really needed a little TLC.”
PHOTOS
ABOVE: Martha Black outside the Admission office; TOP RIGHT: Colleen Hynes, PhD presenting Missie Thorp with a special gift at Thorp’s retirement chapel service in September 2024; RIGHT: Members of the Admission team with Martha Black at her special retirement chapel service
Thank You, Spartan Parents!
The St. Stephen’s Parents’ Association is the heartbeat of our vibrant school community — bringing energy, connection and support to every corner of campus life. In the 2024-25 academic year, parents took their mission to the next level, enhancing everything from academics and spirituality to social life, extracurriculars, residential experiences and family engagement.
Throughout the year, the PA rolled out a dynamic lineup of events and initiatives that brought joy, unity and a whole lot of school spirit. Whether it was surprising students with treats between classes, building connections at coffees and socials, or throwing unforgettable gatherings like the Spring Soirée, cultural celebrations and the Spartan Block Party — the impact was felt everywhere.
To the countless parents who gave their time, talents and boundless energy: Thank you. Your dedication this past year at St. Stephen’s was truly exceptional.
PHOTOS
1 Director of Outdoor Education Charlton Perry (back middle) leading parents on a campus hike
2 A group of 8th grade parents and students enjoying the annual Valentine’s Day breakfast
3 Bruckie Girma P ’27, ’26 and Jenny Hassibi P ’28, ’25 delivering gourmet coffee orders to faculty and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week
4 Katherine Leigh P ’28, ’26 and Annisa Chang P ’31 helping families capture photo memories on Grand Day 2025
5 Parents socializing at the Spring Soirée
6 PA President Krista Dillard P ’30 with Spring Soirée Co-Chairs Stacey Steele P ’32, ’30 and Andrea Perez P ’30
Thanking Our Outgoing Trustees
Michael Ybarra ’98
Krista Dillard P ’30
is the outgoing president of the St. Stephen’s Parents’ Association and also served on the Advancement Committee.
Dillard was an important voice and parent advocate on the board of trustees. Dillard and her husband, Bobby, are both dedicated community volunteers and parents to Bode and Ella ’30. We thank Krista for her countless hours of dedicated volunteering and supporting the school’s mission as well as her energetic leadership of our PA volunteers.
Christopher “Chris”
Oddo P ’25, ’24
has served on the board of trustees since 2019 and was a member of the Finance Committee. Ybarra’s unwavering commitment to the long-term sustainability of increased financial aid, access and affordability served as a powerful and consistent guiding force throughout his tenure as a trustee. His experience as a former boarding student and love of the St. Stephen’s residential life community informed his thoughtful analysis and interest in ensuring our boarding program remains healthy and vibrant. We thank Michael for his commitment to his alma mater and look forward to his continued presence on campus at alumni and school events.
Temple Webber III
has been a dedicated and generous member of the St. Stephen’s community, serving two separate terms on the board of trustees and
is the outgoing vice chair and previously served as the executive chair. He joined the board of trustees in 2019 and became executive chair in 2020. Oddo was instrumental in helping St. Stephen’s navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Oddo’s leadership, the board and St. Stephen’s were guided with steadfast commitment, courage and diplomacy. Oddo and his wife, Karey ’90, (comprehensive campaign co-chair) are the proud parents of two St. Stephen’s graduates: Katie ’25 and Harrison ’24. We thank Chris for his meaningful service to St. Stephen’s, which was rooted in his deep love for the school and belief in the mission.
supporting the school for many years through the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, where he serves as chair. He and his wife, Mary, are passionate believers in the value of boarding schools and the role of Episcopal schools. Webber played an integral role on the 2015-16 Head of School Search Committee that brought Chris Gunnin to St. Stephen’s. Webber’s background as a Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) school alum, parent and longtime trustee provided a well-rounded and thoughtful perspective. Despite residing in Houston, Temple stays closely connected to St. Stephen’s, bringing warmth, energy and enthusiasm to everything he does. His positive impact on our community has been both meaningful and lasting.
The Rev. Brin
Bon
joined the board of trustees in 2019, making meaningful contributions through service on both the Campus and Governance committees. Throughout her tenure, Bon offered a steady and thoughtful Episcopalian voice. Her rich experiences in both educational and ecclesiastical settings added a valuable perspective that deeply supported and enriched the Episcopal identity of our Diocesan school. We are deeply grateful to Brin for her faithful service to St. Stephen’s.
SSTX LIFE
Monument Walk and Nation’s Day
This impactful 6th grade unit that’s been led by Global Connections instructor Octavia Sadler for more than two decades, teaches Middle School students about other countries, expanding their global mindset.
PIRL Demo Day
Troy Lanier, electronics and robotics instructor and director of the Project Idea Realization Lab (PIRL) and computer science instructor Canon Ellis hosted a lab open house, inviting the community into an immersive experience observing 10 student inventions — all imagined, designed and built by a group of seniors during the 2024-25 academic year.
9
PHOTOS
1 Roman Republic monument designed by Isabelle Richter ’31 to illustrate a time when women had no official power or voice
2 A Dutch Revolution monument designed by Cate Condon ’31 for the Netherlands
3 A group of 6th graders perform at the Nation’s Day celebration
4 Dilan Vije ’31 and his classmates are eager to answer a trivia question during the Nation’s Day celebration
5 Charlie Hubbard ’25 explaining his Boca Chica North Model Rocket
7 Tianzi Liu ’25 at PIRL Demo Day with her automated lemonade machine
8 Steven Wen ’25 demonstrating his digital air hockey game
9 Director of Equity and Inclusion Marsha Elliott dances with Dance Repertory Theatre, a dance company from The University of Texas at Austin who performed for students
10 Dr. Sameer Yadav, ThD, an associate professor of religion at Baylor University, tells Spartans there is no better time than now for youth activism
Spartans Inspired to Lead the Way on MLK Day
The 2025 St. Stephen’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day theme of “Creating Community” amplified the school’s larger goal, mission and commitment to unify and grow together — and honoring and respecting the dignity of all humans. A series of guest speakers and performers inspired Spartans to carry out important civil rights and social justice work.
Happenings on The Hill
1 Upper School Chorale performs during Modern Voices 2025
2 Savvy Horne-Lalande ’27 competes in the mattress surfing competition at the winter pep rally
3 Joel Tornabeni GP ’28 and Keenan Hardy ’28 enjoy ice cream together in the dining hall on Grand Day
4 Dawn Okoro, a Nigerian American artist, delivered the keynote speech at the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards reception hosted by St. Stephen’s in January
5 (L to R) Minika Ani ’25, Hana Hassibi ’25 and Gabby Lassalle ’25 performing a contemporary dance in the Spring Dance Concert
6 Jaya Udezue ’28, Eline van der Valk ’26 and Anwyn Wang ’28 enjoying the 2nd annual Holi on The Hill
7 Edison Leigh ’26 reading his poem at the “Proteus” release party
8 Allie Nelson ’29 and Vihaan Subramanian ’29 perform “Much Ado About Nothing” during the Middle School Theatre
in
In her first year teaching on The Hill, 6th grade English instructor Claire Zagrodzky ’16 revived The Book Project, which she loved being part of as a student at St. Stephen’s. The long-standing tradition inspires and challenges Spartans to write an original short story containing essential key elements of a compelling narrative. “It really set me up for the rest of my St. Stephen’s career,” she explained.
Award-Winning Speakers Encourage Spartans at 2025 Literary Festival
Oscar-nominated director and Austin-based filmmaker Greg Kwedar was among the impressive group of 14 featured guest speakers for the 2025 Literary Festival, a biennial all-school celebration of writing. Student moderators led Q&A-style sessions catered toward Middle and Upper School students. The different genres of speakers included:
• Authors (young adult, true crime, short stories)
• Filmmakers
Screenwriters
• A reality TV show producer
• A podcast producer
• Nationally acclaimed journalists
virtually
14
Featured Guest Speakers
“If something feels like it’s pulling you in whatever direction and you feel it in your body, listen to the deeper engine of your soul and what it’s trying to communicate, because life is short.”
— Greg Kwedar Film
Director and Screenwriter
Middle School English instructor Claire Zagrodzky ’16 holding the book she wrote as a 6th grader at St. Stephen’s
(Row 1, L to R): Greg Kwedar, Nikhil Prabala ’15, Ashley Robin Franklin, Adrianna Cuevas, Katherine LambLegrand, Kate Winkler Dawson; (Row 2, L to R): Lauren Himmelvo, Jennifer Mathieu, Mari Mancusi, Jennifer Ziegler; (Row 3, L to R): Clayton Maxwell, Evan Griffith, James Macnab. Not pictured: Bryan Washington, who joined
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, St. Stephen’s track teams started their spring season on a newly resurfaced track at Denius Stadium. The community hosted a special ceremony where Middle and Upper School runners marked the occasion by jogging 200 meters through a red ribbon-style finish line.
Winter & Spring SPC
The Girls Varsity Soccer team capped off an incredible season by beating The Hockaday School (Dallas, Texas) 2-1 to win the SPC 4A Championship! We celebrate the competitive spirit and character of all Spartan athletes.
Watt Wilkinson ’25 showing off Spartans’ hardware at the Varsity Swimming & Diving SPC 4A Championship Meet
SPC 4A Champions
Girls Varsity Soccer
SPC 4A Runners-Up
Boys Varsity Cross Country
Boys Varsity Swimming & Diving
Girls Varsity Swimming & Diving
Boys Varsity Tennis
SPC 3A
Boys Varsity Lacrosse
Boys Varsity Swimming & Diving won 11 out of 12 events and set three SPC records!
Coach LaMont King starts the race on the new track
Athletic Director Jon McCain speaking at the track resurfacing celebration
Oscar Whiteley Bermeo ’27, Ben Patrick ’25 and Graham Boles ’25
Girls Varsity Soccer
Speak Up, Speak Out
For the first time in school history, St. Stephen’s hosted the “Speak Up, Speak Out” Austin Regional Civics Fair sponsored by the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at The University of Texas at Austin. Spartans also competed in the competition for the first time, thanks to Middle School history instructor Drew Smith. Two Middle School teams advanced to the UT State Civics Fair in April, with one team earning the Community Engagement Award for their “RAFT Tutoring” program concept, which pairs older students with younger students in underprivileged schools to offer free tutoring across a range of subjects.
Still Water Foundation Aquatic Center Opening Fall 2025
The Still Water Foundation Aquatic Center at St. Stephen’s is on track to become a premier swimming facility for Spartans and competitive swimmers. The Olympic-sized pool and aquatic center is perched on the highest point of campus, near the tennis courts, overlooking Lake Austin, and was made possible by an extraordinary $17 million gift — the largest in school history — from the Still Water Foundation.
1 Aquatic center under construction. Credit: RogersO’Brien Construction
2 Varsity Spartan swimmers signing the side of the pool
3 Aquatic center interior progress as of June 2025
LEFT: Winning team (L to R) Audrey Sileo ’29, Ellie de Montfort-Walker ’29, Athena Toba-Keith ’29, Allie Nelson ’29 and Anna Yang ’29. Courtesy: UT Austin/Victoria Soderman
RIGHT: Drew Smith speaking at the regional event in Gunn Hall
8th Grade
Big Bend Trip
Spartans embark on the unforgettable 8th grade camping trip to Big Bend National Park, where they explore the natural beauty of West Texas and the Chisos mountain range. Hiking, stargazing and team activities allow them to gain a deeper appreciation for nature, independence and camaraderie.
PHOTOS
1 A group of 8th graders pause while taking in the beauty of Big Bend
2 Finley Wilson ’29 paddling on the Rio Grande
3 8th grade boys in front of Balanced Rock in Big Bend National Park
4 8th grade girls hanging out in the tent they set up themselves
Miles hiked, collectively
Hours with no cellphones
$1.8MILLION GOAL EXCEEDED
$1,867,877
TOTAL RAISED AS OF JUNE 11
$111,900
INCREASE IN ALUMNI GIVING
THANK YOU 2024-25 VOLUNTEERS:
ANNUAL FUND PARENT CHAIRS
Hasmita and Sapan Shahani P ’30
PARENT CLASS CAPTAINS
Class of 2025
Charlie Cole and Sarah Garcia
Class of 2026
Rebecca Krauss and Lou Mabley ’86
Class of 2027
Greg McCaskill and Kate Thome
Class of 2028
Tavia Conkling and Alex Schoenbaum
Class of 2029
Ashley Bartram and Subu Jayaram
Class of 2030
Faiza Khan and Swati Nath
Class of 2031
Jeni Lowry and Avani Vije
GRANDPARENT CHAIRS
Dr. Eugene P. and Dianne Dies Schoch GP ’25
ALUMNI CHAIRS
Katherine Bailey Brown ’05 and T. J. Brown ’99
FACULTY AND STAFF CHAIRS
LaMont King P ’22 and Melissa Livsey P ’11, ’08, ’05
BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR
Debbie Gonzalez P ’24, ’21, ’20
1 Charles Stephens ’86, Joyce Christian, Ricky Green ’86, John Smither ’86 and Jonathan Quander ’89
2 Spartans competing in the padel tournament
3 Spartan author panelists: Jennifer Stayton ’85 (moderator), Madeline Rensbarger ’14, Nikhil Prabala ’15, Sallie Smither Crotty ’84 and Billy Magnuson ’00
4 English instructors Dr. Colleen Hynes and Jenneken Van Keppel at Classes Without Quizzes
5 Alumni Co-Chairs Liza Ayres ’14 and Louise McNutt Brazitis ’07 (missing Mallory Boyle ’04)
6 Jim Crosby ’70 singing in the annual Alumni Chapel
8 Head of School Chris Gunnin presenting the State of the School at the annual meeting of the Spartan Alumni Association
NEARLY 400 PEOPLE attended Reunion Weekend 2025, an annual three-day event hosted by the Spartan Alumni Association. Attendees spanned the classes of 1951 to 2024, and celebrations were planned for alumni with class years ending in zeroes and fives.
Big hit events included the parents of alumni reception, the former faculty reception and a classroom activity called Classes Without Quizzes led by current faculty.
For the first time, parents of the classes of 2015 to 2025 alumni attended a reception in the Helm Fine Arts Center lobby. Simultaneously, alumni gathered in Bowen for the Decades Happy Hour and the Taste of Austin event where local food trucks served pizza, burgers and ice cream.
Clarke Heidrick, Jr. ’68, P ’02, ’05, ’10, with wife, Catherine Heidrick; Louis Henna, Jr. ’64, P ’87, ’89, GP ’23, ’19, ’16 (2024 Founders honoree) and Marci Henna
The Founders Award for Distinguished Service honors an alum whose lifelong contributions to St. Stephen’s have been exemplary.
CLARKE HEIDRICK, JR. ’68 has served on the board of trustees, co-chaired the Frame the Future campaign and currently serves on the Chapel Committee for St. Stephen’s comprehensive campaign. He and John McFarland ’68 established the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship in 1968, and Heidrick was the recipient of the Brewster Award his senior year. A partner at McGinnis Lochridge, Heidrick has also led numerous organizations, including the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, the Shivers Cancer Foundation and the Austin Geriatric Center. His leadership extends to past roles as chair of both Central Health and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Heidrick’s service has earned him numerous accolades, including Austinite of the Year and the ADL’s Jurisprudence Award.
2025 Alumni Honorees
The Spartan Alumni Leadership Award recognizes an alum who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer leadership in service to St. Stephen’s and the Spartan Alumni Association.
JEANNETTE SCHALEBEN
COOK ’58 has been a dedicated volunteer since graduation. She has played a key role in planning class parties for the Class of 1958 and served as the Pioneer Spartan Representative on the Spartan Alumni Association Board from 2018 to 2021. For seven decades, she has been instrumental in reconnecting classmates and encouraging alumni from the late 1950s to attend Reunion Weekend and alumni events.
FRED MYERS ’71 has been a dedicated supporter of the school since his graduation. He served on the board of trustees from 1997 to 2003 and as a class representative, earning a nomination from 20 classmates. Myers and his wife, Jennifer, own Jennifer’s Inn and Gardens, which they have generously donated for numerous Spartan gatherings, including class parties and the Spartan New Year Party.
The Spartan Impact Award honors an alum whose leadership and work have made a significant impact on the community.
SALLIE SMITHER CROTTY ’84 is a writer, educator and mental health advocate. Her 2022 memoir, “Out of the Ashes,” shares her journey through debilitating depression, misdiagnosis and recovery, aiming to break stigmas around mental health. Through her writing and speaking engagements, she encourages others to seek treatment and find hope. A former St. Stephen’s Admission staff member, Crotty continues to inspire with her poetry, essays and advocacy. Her courage in sharing her story embodies the true Spartan spirit.
The Spartan Young Alumni Achievement Award honors a graduate from the past 20 years who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments and service.
ALEXANDRA ‘ALEX’ MAURO, M.D. ’07 is a physician in the United States Navy, serving military communities across the U.S. and overseas. After earning a premed and economics degree from Barnard College, she completed medical school at the Uniformed Services University. She has spent the past decade at Walter Reed Medical Center and military bases worldwide, recently becoming department head of her clinic in Japan. From studying Latin at St. Stephen’s to leading in military medicine, Mauro embodies the school’s mission of service and global impact.
Jeannette Schaleben Cook ’58, P ’86, ’89, ’92 and presenter Hank Ewert ’70, P ’98, ’05
Fred Myers ’71, P ’05
Sallie Smither Crotty ’84 with presenter Alice Nazro Nezzer ’87
Judith Bagley P ’06, ’07, the mother of honoree Alex Mauro, M.D. ’07, with presenter Louise McNutt Brazitis ’07
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Spartan Alumni Association Board
2024-25
Shannon Powers Flahive ’96, P ’31
President
Jane Dryden Louis ’69
Secretary
Liza Ayres ’14
Co-Chair, Reunion Weekend 2025
Amy Bieberdorf ’87
Alumni Co-Chair, Spartans Engage
Mallory Boyle ’04
Alumni Regional Representative — San Antonio
Louise McNutt Brazitis ’07
Co-Chair, Reunion Weekend 2025
Katherine Bailey Brown ’05
Alumni Co-Chair, Annual Fund
T.J. Brown ’99
Alumni Co-Chair, Annual Fund
Paul Byars ’07
Alumni Co-Chair, Spartans Engage
Maddie Renbarger ’14
Alumni Regional Representative — New York City
Benjamin Chan ’95
Alumni Regional Representative — Washington, D.C.
Hank Ewert ’70, P ’98, ’05
Former Faculty Representative
Indigo Giles ’20 Chair, Alumni Service
Ellen Jockusch ’70, P ’98, ’05
Pioneer Spartans Representative
Amanda Kushner ’08
Alumni Regional Representative — Dallas
Claire McKay ’71
Parent of Alumni Representative
Alice Nazro Nezzer ’87 Chair, Alumni Recognition
Jonathan Quander ’89
Alumni Regional Representative — Texas/Houston
Patricia Henna Rowe ’89, P ’16, ’19, ’23
Emeritus Member
Jennifer Stayton ’85
Emeritus Member
Michelle Geo Olmstead
Director of Alumni Relations
David Allen ’19
Alumni Engagement Officer
Thanking Our Outgoing Alumni Volunteer Leaders
Pioneer Spartans Representative ELLEN JOCKUSCH ’70 has devoted herself to strengthening alumni connections and preserving St. Stephen’s traditions. Through her tireless efforts and thoughtful leadership, attendance at the annual Reunion Weekend Pioneer Spartan Dinner has seen remarkable growth over the past four years. Jockusch will continue to serve on the Comprehensive Campaign Leadership Committee, focusing her passion and energy on garnering support for the Chapel expansion and renovation project.
T.J. BROWN ’99 and KATHERINE BAILEY BROWN ’05 have served as alumni co-chairs of St. Stephen’s Annual Fund for the past two years. Their thoughtful and strategic approach helped increase alumni support, raising over $450,000 in 2024-25. From personal thank-you’s to leading stewardship efforts on the Spartan Alumni Association Board, their leadership positively impacted the life of the school.
PAUL BYARS ’07 joined the Spartan Alumni Association Board in 2020 as the alumni chair of Spartans Engage.
Since then, he has played a pivotal role in creating meaningful opportunities for students to explore real-world career pathways through the alumni and parent mentorship program, and through engaging lunchtime panel discussions.
For over two decades, JONATHAN QUANDER ’89 has been connecting Spartans across the Houston area and hosting countless gatherings while simultaneously serving as class representative for the Class of 1989. From 2016 to 2022, Quander used his leadership and insight on the board of trustees, serving as chair of the Governance Committee and co-chair of the DEI Strategic Plan. Jonathan was honored with the Spartan Alumni Leadership Award in 2022, and in 2023 he officially joined the Spartan Alumni Association Board as its inaugural regional representative for Houston/ Texas. After two effective years in that role, Quander will return to the board of trustees, serving as executive chair, and be named an emeritus member in recognition of his enduring service, leadership and unwavering commitment to the alumni association and St. Stephen’s.
Spartans Engage Panel on Careers in the Arts
Spartans Engage Panel on Careers in Business
Transition to College Panel
LINDA LIU ’21 and CARSON MURTUZALANIER ’21 — both Stanford University graduates with high honors — each earned the J.E. Wallace Sterling Award for Scholastic Achievement, an award that recognizes the top 25 graduating seniors in Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences. The prestigious award, named after a former university president known for hiring top scholars to attract the best students in the country, is one of Stanford’s most selective recognitions of a student’s overall academic performance.
When Liu and Murtuza-Lanier learned they would receive the award, they were told to invite to a special luncheon two teachers who had the greatest impact on their academic success: their most influential secondary school teacher and their most influential Stanford academic advisor or other Stanford faculty or staff member. Murtuza-Lanier, a mathematics major, invited longtime and beloved St. Stephen’s Upper School physics instructor Frank Mikan, PhD, and Liu, a political science major, called Middle School culture and governance instructor Jin Chung.
“Mr. Chung was the first person I thought of,” said Liu, who arrived at St. Stephen’s as an 8th grade boarding student from Beijing, China. She says Chung, who was her teacher and advisor, helped set her up for success on The Hill and beyond.
“He really gave me a lot of guidance
Spartan Spotlight Spartan Alumni & Teachers Honored for Academic Excellence at Stanford Celebration
on how to make the most out of boarding school. There are so many great Upper School teachers [at St. Stephen’s] and Middle School teachers,” said Chung. “It’s a great testament to our school.”
Chung described Liu as a quiet student who never drew attention to herself and who had a true talent at an early age expressing herself and speaking up through her writing. He saw leadership potential, and he would find moments to encourage her to grow outside her comfort zone.
Mikan says he was not the least bit surprised when Murtuza-Lanier reached out to share the news about his incredible academic performance at Stanford and says he has always possessed “remarkable” qualities, including innate brilliance, an ability to produce excellent work and an exceptional attitude about learning. His probing questions in class went way beyond what Mikan expected.
“He wasn’t so interested in what would be on a test or even his grades,” said Mikan. “He was definitely deeply committed to finding out as much as he could on topics that piqued his interest,” said Mikan.
Stanford flew teachers from all over the United States and the world in for the luncheon, which took place the weekend before Easter.
Although Mikan was unable to attend the luncheon, he sent remarks about Murtuza-Lanier that were read by the
college dean.
“It would be great if you choose a scientific one since we really need bright capable folks like you to figure out how this wonderful but mysterious universe works,” wrote Mikan. “Your future looks bright as a supernova and the world will be a better place because of you. I wish you the best in all of your future adventures.”
Liu says it would take all day to explain how Chung and many other St. Stephen’s teachers taught her to strive for excellence and develop a habit of really trying to understand the class materials. She and Murtuza-Lanier are both pursuing a coterminal master’s degree in computer science at Stanford, a program that enables undergraduates to take classes toward the higher degree.
“It’s rewarding to see both grow as thinkers and as leaders at our school,” said Chung. “Their lives are living examples of our school mission statement in action.”
Middle School culture and governance instructor
Jin Chung gives remarks at the luncheon CREDIT:
Class Notes
We love to share what our graduates are up to and encourage alumni to share personal updates with us for our Class Notes pages. Find information on how to submit your class note below.
1950s
Will Brewster ’51 returned to The Hill in celebration of Reunion Weekend 2025. Will and his wife, Arlene, live in Kittery Point, Maine. (Picture 1)
Colin Phipps ’55 and his wife, Anne, met with Director of Advancement April Speck-Ewer for a Spartan lunch in Florida this past April. Colin established the Dr. Andre Derdeyn ’55 Financial Aid Endowment in honor of his lifelong friend Andre Derdeyn ’55, who passed away in 2021. (Picture 2)
Harris Husted ’56 lost his wife, Leska, to Alzheimer’s in June of 2024. He is now living at a Traditions retirement complex in Houston, which he writes “is OK, but not too lively after 9 p.m.!”
During Reunion Weekend 2025, the Spartan Alumni Association honored Jeannette Schaleben Cook ’58, P ’92, ’89, ’86 with the 2025 Spartan Alumni Leadership Award. (See page 35.)
1960s
Maynette More ’65 moved to Eagle Mountain, Utah, seven years ago after 30 quiet years in Austin. Maynette, a repeat cancer survivor, began weightlifting in the ’80s and has recently resumed training, with plans to compete in local and national competitions. She writes, “I’ll be better and stronger by the time of the competition. Since there aren’t many 77-to-78-year-old female powerlifters, I may be setting some records for my age group.” When Maynette is not working out, she leads a quiet life taking care of her two cats and two dogs. She closes, “Here’s to the reunion for those of us in our 70s and 80s.”
Thank you to Dianne Duncan Tucker ’65 for coordinating the 60-year reunion of the Class of 1965 class party.
SHARE YOUR NOTES
Online at sstx.org/alumni, select the “Stay Connected” box, or email your class rep (found on page 47), molmstead@sstx.org or dallen@sstx.org
Please include:
A 50-to-100-word blurb
• A high-resolution photograph, if necessary, JPG format preferred
The full names and class years of everyone mentioned
Spartan Magazine editors reserve the right to edit or omit any information submitted.
Brocky Brown ’68 and Mary stay comfortably busy offering their basement to Airbnb and Furnished Finder guests who visit their town of Speedway, the home of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Brocky and Mary sold their newspaper business but continue to be involved with the town’s activities. Their next project is to work with a team of eight historians to print a history book for the town’s 2026 centennial celebration. Mary is part of a groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research program, and they have plans to attend all the seminars possible. Brocky and Mary recently attended a reunion at a school in Cincinnati where
he taught and coached in the ’70s and ’80s, and Brocky loved hearing, “Mr. Brown! You’re here!” followed by wonderful hugs and reminiscing. He writes, “It was a joy-filled step back in time that helped me see a solidly positive future for us retired ’68ers.”
Molly Dougherty ’68 had an inspirational trip last fall to El Salvador for the first time in four and a half years. Sadly, a few weeks after she returned, her beloved husband of 33 years, Kip (Richard Pells), began to experience declining health. Sadly, he passed away of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on April 30. Thankfully, he died peacefully in his sleep at home.
Since her daughter and two grandsons moved in, life has gotten pretty busy for Margaret Halcomb ’68. The school years are filled with homework, sports, homework, Cub Scouts, homework, laundry, homework and travel. School breaks are very much appreciated! This summer, Margaret and her husband, Rick, are taking their grandsons to England. Her son and his wife live in London, and the grands are looking forward to seeing them. Then they will take a cruise to Norway, Scotland and back to England. This will be the first summer without a long camping trip. Margaret is feeling the same aches and pains she’s sure all her classmates feel, but thanks to Pilates, she is still balanced, limber and standing up straight. When not spending her time raising children, Margaret works with beads. Over the past 20-plus years, she has learned so much about making jewelry and is pleased to share, “my right brain hadn’t totally shriveled up after a left-brain career. Everyone is healthy and happy here and I wish the best to all my classmates.”
Colin Phipps ’55
Will Brewster ’51
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During Reunion Weekend 2025, the Spartan Alumni Association honored Clarke Heidrick, Jr. ’68, P ’02, ’05, ’10 with the 2025 Founders Award for Distinguished Leadership. (See page 35.)
Robert Henderson ’68 writes, “The winter cold finally lifted in northern Virginia, and while the cherry blossoms were short-lived, they were spectacular.” His wife, Leilani, is back in one of her favorite places, pruning the yard and garden back into that beautiful flow of nurturing colors and patterns. Their grandchildren are winding up the school year (Laila 1st grade, Wyatt and Maile preschool) and are excited for the soccer, art, nature and other camps and activities coming for the summer. Rob is helping old and new friends with finding new ways to support nongovernmental Organization (NGO) work that’s being constrained or eliminated by the federal government. He writes, “No big breakthroughs yet, but it’s creating some interesting opportunities and new ways of thinking about resources for civil society and community development.”
Greg Hicks ’68 says, “We continue in Seattle, and retirement has been happy. I had a project with a group of architects and community planners a while ago for the Architecture League of New York, and we are still doing cleanup and enjoying the aftermath. It was called American Roundtable and focused on communities around the country
experiencing stress of one kind or another, like an old New England mill town in the grips of opioid addiction, an African American community on Mobile Bay and a Rust Belt town in Ohio — that kind of thing. Our team had a look at a string of towns and tribal communities along Washington’s outer Pacific coast, all threatened by sea-level rise and tsunami. A beautiful place with real challenges. We had a wonderful photographer. Right now, I’m helping with an oral history project for Austin’s All Saints parish, and I’ve just wiped down my canoes for the new paddling season. I continue rereading [my] favorite things. We’re busy and content, though I envy John [McFarland ’68] the sight of that stupendous Cuero oak.”
John McFarland ’68 is holding down the fort in Austin while trying to move toward retirement with Clarke Heidrick, Jr. ’68, P ’02, ’05 and ’10. In early spring, John and his wife, Jill, took a church-sponsored Civil Rights Pilgrimage bus tour to Tulsa, Little Rock, Philadelphia (Mississippi), Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham for nine days. Rudy Green ’71, P ’07 and Joyce Christian joined them for part of the tour, which recalled lots of memories: “Vietnam, assassinations, riots, demonstrations, Woodstock, Black power.” John and Clarke went again to the College World Series in Omaha in June, taking a detour on their road trip to see the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas. Most recently, John went with a client to see his property near Cuero so he could see the “Hobbit oak” on his land. He writes, “Amazing. That’s me under the tree.” (Picture 3)
no cell service and no water. In April, we had the first wildfires of the season and evacuated again. In spite of these challenges, Duane is responding well to the medication he’s taking to slow the progress of his dementia. I have joined our branch of the NAACP, Red Wine and Blue and our local branch of Good Trouble. I use the 5 Calls app and keep very busy with political activities. I am heartened by the variety of progressive groups involved in politics here in our little Southern town. Love to you all, my adopted brothers and sisters!”
Since 2020, Tony Tichenor, M.D. ’68 has regularly briefed the class of ’68, and the Spartan community who sought an unbiased source on what the medical scientific researchers learned about COVID-19 protection, prevention and care. Tony is taking a well-deserved break from regular postings/emails but will continue to add to the Class of 1972 alumni archives at Princeton University, his alma mater. Many of his classmates express deep gratitude for this service to our community. The archived versions are available at https://www.princeton72.org/posts/tichenor.
1970s
Gaye Holcomb Evert ’70, Ellen Jockusch ’70 and class representative Dee Meador ’70, P ’00, ’04 organized the class of 1970’s 55-year reunion, including a celebration at Gaye’s home in Austin.
Ellen Jockusch ’70 has completed her term as Pioneer Spartans chair on the Spartan Alumni Association Board. Thank you, Ellen!
Greetings from Ellen O’Brien ’68 who writes, “Hello, all y’all. I love our beautiful environment here in western North Carolina! Hurricane Helene was an incredible experience and it resulted in an incredible response from various groups. Rebuilding continues in towns like Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. Our development took some hits, but the flooding was the biggest surprise and caused the most damage. We evacuated as soon as we could because we had no electricity,
During Reunion Weekend 2025, the Spartan Alumni Association honored Fred Myers ’71, P ’05 with the 2025 Spartan Alumni Leadership Award. (See page 35.)
Ginger Borron ’71, Ellen Jockusch ’70, Kathryn Miller Anderson ’71, P ’00, ’04 and Gaye Evert ’70 still love the Beatles! (Picture 4)
Tom Tuohy ’71 won the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) Outstanding Volunteer Award for the fall quarter 2024! The NAFCM represents over 36,000 members from 415 centers in North America, including the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Tom mediates a variety of cases including general, family and Texas Child Protective Services (CPS), and he mediates proficiently in both English and Spanish.
On May 6, Marschall Runge, M.D. ’72 released his second book, “The Great Healthcare Disruption: Big Tech, Bold Policy, and the Future of American Medicine,” offering an inside look at “the most significant transformation in medical care since the discovery of antibiotics.”
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John McFarland ’68 under his "Hobbit oak" tree
Ginger Borron ’71, Ellen Jockusch ’70, Kathryn Miller Anderson ’71 and Gaye Evert ’70
Henrietta Wright ’74 ran into Reyden Weis ’17 and Sydney Rudman ’17 at her daughter’s birthday party in Brooklyn, New York. (Picture 5)
1980s
Jeffrey Folmar ’80 is in real estate in Austin and keeps up with Missy Quinn ’80 and John Ratliff ’80.
Last October, Paul Hofheinz ’80 visited St. Stephen’s for the first time in decades — this time accompanied by his own kids. Paul writes, “It was a fun, meaningful visit. I understand and appreciate what St. Stephen’s did for me and my life much better now. It is easier to see how special it all is when you have kids of your own.” Paul operates a think tank in Brussels he founded 22 years ago. He writes, “We have been very successful over the years — something I attribute to luck and hard work and maybe a few good ideas here or there.” Paul has two boys who are dual citizens, thanks to his wife who is German. Paul has lived in Europe since 1986, when he arrived to study economics at the London School of Economics. Paul writes, “I’ll try to make the next reunion in April 2026. It would be lovely to see everybody and reconnect again.”
Mary Duckett Land ’80 is still in real estate covering areas in Lakeway, West Austin and Horseshoe Bay. She sold the Sotheby’s International Realty company she owned to the Sotheby’s affiliate in San Antonio. Mary writes, “Hard to believe we’re at 45 years! Time flies. Hopefully I can make the next reunion, as it would be great to catch up.”
The Class of 1980 would like to thank its Class Representative Peter Larkam ’80 for hosting a lovely party celebrating the class’s 45-year reunion. In April, Peter was able to get together for a few hours with Charles Robinson ’80 and Taylor Dudley ’80. Charles and his wife, Amy, have their own financial services firm in San Antonio, and Taylor is quite the repository of Austin and Texas political lore. Peter writes, “Fascinating and not likely ever to appear in formal journalistic channels — way too juicy! It was an enjoyable evening of many true tall Texas tales.” To his classmates, Peter writes, “I would love to see many of us get to SSES in person next spring. If that’s not possible for you, it would be wonderful to see you at an in-person gathering for our 50th. Please reach out if you enjoy event planning and we can begin building momentum between now and our 50th. I feel grateful to have been associated with each of you during our St. Stephen’s years! We all were truly fortunate to be able to attend SSES, and I think the 1980 class is doing quite a job carrying out the SSES mission of a ‘life of purpose.’”
Peter writes that he “trolled the web” and found social media news and photos of Mark Bauman ’80, Mike Gwynn ’80, John Ratliff ’80 and Laura Barrow ’80. He says, “Since I haven’t reached these classmates directly, I won’t speak on their behalf in print, but I shared some of their achievements with Charles and Taylor verbally. ... I’m hoping they see their names in print here and reach out directly with permission to tell some of their story!”
Gabrielle Mathieu ’80 and her husband still live in Switzerland. She practices traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, in their roomy flat in a turn-of-the century house in the town of St. Gallen. Their neighborhood still has many grand old houses, somewhat like Clarksville in Austin, but greener, since it’s rainy. They own a big plot in the community gardens five minutes away, and Gabrielle does lots of hiking in the summer, including some overnights in mountain inns in remote locations. She also works in a lab as a medical technologist. Gabrielle writes, “Some of you may remember Ms. Sinkin, our biology teacher, who also had a lab background. Retirement from the lab job is less than two years away; we’ll probably take a couple of weeks off from my practice after retirement and drive down to Corsica or some other warm place.” (Picture 6)
Missy Quinn ’80 is very good friends with Charles Warlick ’83, who just retired from St. Stephen’s, and Chris Caselli ’82, P ’27, ’30 and his wife, Dr. Colleen Hynes, who are both still teaching on The Hill. Missy went back to school (“my favorite thing — done it multiple times!”) again at age 50 and got her Master of Science in Social Work. She is now a clinical social worker in private practice and really enjoys the work. She is still in Austin, and still loves it. (Picture 7)
Clark Richards ’80 is a partner at Richards Rodriguez & Skeith law firm, along with his brother Dan Richards ’77, P ’14, ’16.
Julia Soper ’80 sent Peter Larkam ’80 her longform Christmas letter. Peter writes, “It describes a relentless whirlwind tour of activities. Bob, her husband, hit the jackpot in finding someone of Julia’s stamina and nursing skills to help him recover from a stroke event. Feel free to contact me directly for a copy of Julia’s long-form letter. It is amazing, as is she.”
David Westrup ’80 is still practicing law full time and teaching advanced business law at Carroll University, a small private university nearby. He still thinks fondly of SSES. (Picture 8)
Gabrielle Mathieu ’80
Henrietta Wright ’74, Reyden Weis ’17 and Sydney Rudman ’17
Missy Quinn ’80
David Westrup ’80
The Spartan Alumni Association honored Sallie Smither Crotty ’84 with the Spartan Impact Award during Reunion Weekend 2025. (See page 35.)
Brian McNulty ’84 and Ashok Sudarshan ’84 met up in the front range of the Rocky Mountains for some recreation and fellowship. This photo was taken at 8600’ after a hike near Conifer, Colorado. (Picture 9)
With the support of her classmates, Class Rep. Libbie Ansell ’85, P ’18 organized a wonderful 40year reunion party for the Class of 1985.
Jennifer Stayton ’85 will conclude her service this summer as executive chair of the St. Stephen’s board of trustees. She served in the role from 2023 to 2025. She will serve as vice chair for her final year of board service.
Ty Allen ’85, P ’17, ’19; Lou Mabley ’86, P ’19, ’23, ’26; Laura Scanlan Cho ’89, P ’19, ’23; Patricia Henna Rowe ’89, P ’16, ’19, ’23 and SSES parent Katherine Leigh P ’28, ’26 served on the Parent of Alumni Reception Committee this past academic year. The committee, chaired by Spartan Alumni Association Board member Claire McKay ’71, P ’98, ’05, coordinated the event and encouraged attendance. Their work led to over 50 parents of alumni attending this first annual get-together. Parents of Alumni: Mark your calendars for the next one, taking place on April 18, 2026!
After two years serving as the alumni co-chair of Spartans Engage, Amy Bieberdorf ’87 is transitioning into a new role on the Spartan Alumni Association Board. Next year, she will serve as the board’s first alumni regional representative for Austin.
This summer, Laura Scanlan Cho ’89, P ’19,’23 will join the Spartan Alumni Association Board as alumni chair of Spartans Engage. Laura and parent of alumni Robyn Gill P ’21, ’19, ’16 started
Spartans Engage in 2019. In partnership with the St. Stephen’s Parents Association, the initiative provides networking and career experiences for rising seniors.
1990s
In mid-June, Seema Lisa Pandya ’94 presented a new sculpture in the Narrows Botanical Gardens in Brooklyn, New York. She describes the installation, titled “Rain Taal,” as “a group of biomorphic sculptures that capture rainwater, delivering slow rhythmic drips onto resonant metal bowls before flowing into the garden bed. Drip rates are adjusted and composed to create rhythmic patterns, inspired by taal in South Asian music.”
This April, Ben Chan ’95 attended the Explorers Club Annual Dinner (ECAD) 2025 in New York City, an iconic gathering that honors trailblazers in science, conservation and exploration. The event featured astronauts, deep-sea explorers and conservationists from around the globe. In June, he’ll travel to Mongolia as assistant expedition leader for public relations of the Roy Chapman Andrews (the inspiration behind the Indiana Jones character) Legacy Expedition, retracing the legendary explorer’s early 20thcentury journeys across the Gobi Desert by camel caravan. Retrace their two-week journey on Instagram, Facebook and other platforms: @RCAlegacyCamelExpedition. Photo: In the Explorers Club Archives with Roy Chapman Andrews’ leather whip (circa 1920s). (Picture 10)
Stephen Driver ’95 is currently an assistant district attorney in Harris County and serves as the division chief over human trafficking and child exploitation. He and his wife, Ashlie, will celebrate their 25th anniversary in July. They have three children: Madeline, who just completed her senior year at Rider University; Travis, who completed his sophomore year at Baylor University; and Elise, who just completed her junior year of high school.
Jenny Roan Forgey ’95 joined Jackson Walker LLP as a senior counsel in their land use and real estate group.
Rhea Benbow Thomas’ ’95 first book, a collection of short stories, will be published this summer and is available for presale at https:// mainstreetragbookstore.com/product/let-birdsfly-rhea-thomas/.
Colin Clark ’96, Ramzi Khazen ’96, Jonathan Miles ’96, Shannon Powers Flahive ’96, P ’31, Chantal Sharif Beck ’96, Elizabeth Anne Sykes Rains ’96 and Kate Bentsen Henrichson ’96 gathered together as a class during Reunion Weekend 2025 in April.
T.J. Brown ’99 and Katherine Bailey Brown ’05 have completed their terms on the Spartan Alumni Association Board as Annual Fund cochairs. Thank you, T.J. and Katherine!
2000s
With the support of fellow class representative Aaron Albrecht ’00, Claire Browder ’00 hosted a lovely reception for her class’s 25-year party during Reunion Weekend 2025.
Rachel Katz ’05 organized a wonderful 20-year reunion for her class during Reunion Weekend 2025, bringing classmates together both on and off the St. Stephen’s campus.
Paul Byars ’07 will vacate his position on the Spartan Alumni Association Board, where he served as co-chair of Spartans Engage. Thank you, Paul!
Hiroki Tajiri ’07 traveled from Japan to Las Vegas to watch WWE’s WrestleMania, where he met up with classmates Tyler Carwell ’07 and Ike Wagh ’07 and shared a meal with Sho Sato ’08
(Picture 11)
Brian McNulty ’84 and Ashok Sudarshan ’84
Ben Chan ’95 In the Explorers Club Archives with Roy Chapman Andrews’ leather whip (circa 1920s)
Louise McNutt Brazitis ’07 will serve as vice president of the Spartan Alumni Association starting this summer. Louise served as chair of alumni recognition from 2020 to 2023 and cochair of Reunion Weekend 2024 and 2025.
Alex Mauro, M.D. ’07 was honored with the first Young Alumni Achievement Award during Reunion Weekend 2025. Learn more about Alex’s work on page 35.
2010s
Jim Old ’15 organized not one but two class parties during Reunion Weekend 2025 for the 10year celebration of the Class of 2015, including a Saturday night reception at the home of Anthony Jones ’15
Erika Komatsu ’18 produced her debut musical in Tokyo, Japan, with the theater company she co-founded, Hitsuji Biraki. The independent musical, “Hako no Naka,” ran for four shows over a weekend in November 2024. Erika enjoyed the production’s serious tone and is excited to work on a comedy next. (Picture 12)
Lauren Aung ’19, Veer Chauhan ’19 and Pria Gokhale ’19 traveled from all corners of the Northeast to meet up in New York City this winter. (Picture 13)
Travis Dowd ’19 ran and won his debut marathon at the 2024 BMW Dallas Marathon on December 15, 2024. His time was 2:26:08.
Ian Hutchison ’19, Will Dure ’19, David Lucid ’19, Ford Martin ’19, Wyatt Smith ’19 and Zach Routh ’19 took a ski trip together to Taos, New Mexico. (Picture 14)
2020s
Roman Rhone ’20 started a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in New York City called startswithus.; the initiative which aims “to empower busy young professionals to drive change, build community, and create opportunities” through communityoriented philanthropy and leadership events. Find more information at startswithusnyc.com or @ startswithusnyc on Instagram.
Despite being unable to attend Reunion Weekend 2025 in person, Lizzy Jones ’20 and Sophia Waugh ’20 organized their class’s five-year celebration, hosted by Kamdyn Lyon ’20.
Both Linda Liu ’21 and Carson Murtuza-Lanier ’21 earned Stanford University’s J.E. Wallace Sterling Award for Scholastic Achievement by finishing in the top 25 of graduating seniors in the School of
Humanities and Sciences. Awardees had the opportunity to invite “the most influential instructor of their scholastic career” to the awards ceremony luncheon in Stanford, California. Linda invited Jin Chung, and Carson invited Dr. Frank Mikan. Read more on page 39.
Ellie Gunnin ’22 received Trinity University’s Tiger on the Rise Award, which recognizes future Trinity alumni who are committed to being stewards of the university through leadership and service.
In April, Swarthmore University’s Sam Palmer ’22 and Haverford College’s Harrison Simms ’24 faced each other in the long-standing lacrosse “Hood Trophy Rivalry” between their schools. Swarthmore emerged victorious 16-5. (Picture 15)
Jack Mabley ’23, a junior at The University of Texas at Austin, was selected to become a member of the Texas Cowboys, the university’s oldest men’s service organization.
Charlie Hubbard ’25 and Casey Maina ’25 have been named class representatives for St. Stephen’s newest alumni!
FORMER FACULTY
Don Roth retired after a 17-year tenure overseeing the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis, in September 2023. Don and his wife, Jolán Friedhoff, continue to live in Davis, California, a wonderful college town. In retirement, Don continues to do volunteer work as a member of the boards of San Francisco Classical Voice, the Bear Valley Music Festival and the Alliance Francaise of Sacramento. The latter organization meshes with his main retirement project, working to attain some fluency in French many decades after his last French course as a college freshman!
Hiroki Tajiri ’07 and Sho Sato ’08
Erika Komatsu ’18 and her theater company, Hitsuji Biraki
12
Ian Hutchison ’19, Will Dure ’19, David Lucid ’19, Ford Martin ’19, Wyatt Smith ’19 and Zach Routh ’19 14
Veer Chauhan ’19, Lauren Aung ’19 and Pria Gokhale ’19
13
Sam Palmer ’22 and Harrison Simms ’24 15
Reading Recommendations
“Orbital” by Samantha Harvey
Jane Dryden Lous ’69 | “This novel is profoundly mind-bending and written with eloquence and grace. It begs the question of where home is for us earthlings and invites deep thought about the purpose and meaning of our existence relative to those we share the planet with.”
“Shelterwood” by Lisa Wingate
Claire McKay ’71, P ’98, ’05 | “This historical novel is about the exploitation of children in southeastern Oklahoma in the early 1900s who often fled from state-appointed ‘guardians’ and lived on their own in the woods, and were referred to as ‘elf children.’ The timeline moves between those events in 1909 and the story of a park ranger in 1990 trying to solve the mystery of human remains found in a cave on parkland.”
“The Huntress” by Kate Quinn
Alice Nazro Nezzer ’87 | “This historical fiction novel is about World War II, the decade following and the hunt for a Nazi war criminal who has immigrated to the United States to lead a new life. I enjoyed learning about Soviet female pilots and had to do some follow-up research ... about them.”
“The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhorn
Shannon Flahive Powers ’96, P ’31 | “This tender story based on the life of Marha Ballard, a midwife in the 1780s, is an inspiring account of the realities of being a woman (and mother), with the murder of an accused rapist taking center stage. I enjoyed this book so much that tonight I will begin “Code Name Hélène,” also written by Ariel Lawhon, which follows Nancy Wake, a Parisian socialite who becomes a spy in the French Resistance.”
“Goddess of Warsaw” by Lisa Barr
Mallory Boyle ’04 | “A very good World War II Warsaw Jewish ghetto uprising tale that starts out in Hollywood. Page-turner!”
“Field Notes for the Wilderness” by Sarah Bessey
Louise McNutt Brazitis ’07 | “I read this [spiritual] book with a moms’ group at my church and really enjoyed the author’s take on how our faith can evolve depending on different circumstances and [how we’re] navigating new chapters and phases of life.”
“Leonardo da Vinci” by Walter Isaacson
Paul Byars ’07 | “Walter Isaacson’s best book, and this is coming from someone who doesn’t know which way is up on a paintbrush.”
“As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow” by Zoulfa Katouh
Amanda Kushner ’08 | Amanda says this contemporary fiction novel about the Syrian refugee crisis and how our brains protect us from trauma “will make you cry, potentially more than once.”
“A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway
Liza Ayres ’14 | “I’ve been a Hemingway fan since my dad read “The Old Man and the Sea” to me and my sisters as a bedtime story in kindergarten.”
“Who Have Never Known Men” by Jacqueline Harpman
Madeline Renbarger ’14 | Madeline read this with her book club after it had a viral moment on “BookTok” (book TikTok) and absolutely loved it! The post-apocalyptic science fiction novel tracks themes of intergenerational friendships and how humans survive in hostile environments.
“Granite on Fire” by Kenneth Kesselus
David Allen ’19, Alumni Engagement Officer | “I don’t usually go for biographies, but this look into the life and career of St. Stephen’s co-founder (and 22nd presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church), Rt. Rev. John Hines, was fascinating.”
“Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel
Indigo Giles ’20 | “While a science fiction novel about the disastrous aftermath of a deadly global pandemic seemed like it might be a little too close to home, I found this story’s exploration of themes like connection, community and the importance of art to be charming and poignant. I loved the way all the story threads were neatly and seamlessly knitted together by the end!”
“The Small and the Mighty” by Sharon McMahon
Michelle Geo Olmstead, Director of Alumni Relations | “Thank you, Katherine Bailey Brown ’05, for the recommendation! This book tells the story of 12 remarkable yet unknown Americans who changed the course of history. I loved hearing these untold stories of perseverance and determination. It gave me hope for the future.”
What are you reading or have you enjoyed reading recently? Your recommendation could land in the next Spartan Magazine.
Thomas Mack ’56 passed away peacefully at home on July 24, 2024. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather full of warmth and love, Tommy will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Claire McInerney Mack; his three children, Thomas Michael (Carole), Donna Melissa Lombardo (Victor) and Melanie Raffa (David); and his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
George Sampson Nalle III ’63 passed away peacefully on January 9, 2025, surrounded by his children. After graduating from St. Stephen’s, George earned a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin and served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
A devoted family man, George was proud of his St. Stephen’s heritage, and his children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps on The Hill. Despite his long battle with Parkinson’s disease, his good nature and quiet generosity left a lasting impact on all who knew him.
George is survived by his children, Brian Nalle ’88 (Karen ’88) and Karey Nalle Oddo ’90 (Chris); his grandchildren, Caroline Nalle ’23, Garrett Nalle ’23, Harrison Oddo ’24 and Katie Oddo ’25; his brothers, Alan ’64 and William; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Carole, and other beloved family members.
Robert “Rocky” Burton McAshan III ’64 passed away peacefully at his home on February 18, 2025, surrounded by his family. Rocky was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jane Elizabeth Duke McAshan, who passed away on June 16, 2024. Rocky was born on April 18, 1946, in Houston, Texas. Despite contracting polio at age five and losing mobility in his legs, Rocky’s life was a testament to resilience, adventure and an
unyielding spirit. Known for his powerful upper body, golden voice and “never quit” attitude, Rocky pursued life with boundless enthusiasm — scuba diving, indoor skydiving at age 70, ziplining into his late 70s and even snow skiing. Although Rocky attended St. Stephen’s for only one year, he remained a loyal Spartan and frequent attendee of alumni events throughout his life.
Rocky and his wife, Jane, raised three children together — Beth, David and Robert. Later in life, his greatest happiness came from time spent with his five grandchildren — Evan, Kierra, Ashlyn, Rowan and Hallie. If you have memories of Rocky that you would like to share, email them to rockyandjanememorial@gmail.com.
Don Wreden, M.D. ’71 passed away peacefully at home on January 29, 2025, surrounded by love and care. Born in Raymondville, Texas, on September 5, 1953, Don overcame early health challenges by exhibiting a lifelong spirit of optimism. He grew up on his family farm, where he developed a strong work ethic and sense of adventure. Seeking broader horizons, he attended St. Stephen’s before excelling at Dartmouth College and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. His lengthy medical career included leadership roles at Sutter Medical Group and Sutter Health.
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2022, Don approached his illness with resilience and gratitude, embracing both medical and holistic care. Through it all, he remained a source of wisdom and encouragement to others. Don’s journey was one of deep fulfillment, and he departed this world knowing he was truly blessed.
Christian John Luhnow ’82, a man of immense generosity, passion and love, passed away on January 9, 2025, surrounded by those he loved. Chris touched the lives of so many through his warmth, adventurous spirit and deep connections with family and friends.
Chris’s journey took him from Mexico City to Austin, Stanford, Oxford and Wharton, ultimately finding a home in Los Angeles, where he pursued his entrepreneurial passions. His impact was felt in the dot-com world, in the luxury automotive industry and, most importantly, in the lives of those fortunate enough to know him. His kindness extended to all, from close friends to strangers, always remembering names, sharing laughter and embracing life wholeheartedly.
A memorial service to honor Chris’ life was held in April in Mexico City.
Kwasi Agbottah ’00 and his wife, Elizabeth Agbottah, tragically passed away in Detroit, Michigan. Kwasi was an exceptional scholar and artist. After graduating from St. Stephen’s in 2000, he went on to earn Phi Beta Kappa honors at Morehouse College and later pursued graduate studies at the University of Delaware. Though he began his Ph.D. journey, he ultimately followed a call to ministry and education. A gifted communicator, Kwasi was a poet, musician, visual artist and fluent Spanish speaker. As the proud son of a Ghanaian father and African American mother and activist, Kwasi held a deep commitment to global justice and civil rights.
Kwasi and Elizabeth were the proud parents of five beloved boys, ages 15, 13, 5, 4 and 2. The couple leaves behind a legacy of generosity, spiritual devotion and transformative service. Their impact lives on through their sons, through Kwasi’s words and music, and in the countless lives they touched.
Photo by Chris Caselli ’82
Alumni Class Representatives
Will Brewster ’51 brewsterwilliam34@gmail.com
Michael Hines ’54 poppyhines@msn.com
Colin Phipps ’55 colin@phippsfarm.com
Ruth Wilson Witten ’57 ruthwitten@aol.com
J.P. Bryan ’58 BryanJ@teai.com
Tom Romberg ’59 tromberg@me.com
Pat Fatter Black ’60 ggpat77@gmail.com
Steve Jolly ’61 stevejolly@mindspring.com
David Sanders ’62 rdavidsanders@msn.com
Julia Cauthorn ’63 julia@texancapital.com
Arthur Wright ’64 arthur.wright@tklaw.com
Dianne Duncan Tucker ’65 ddtuck@aol.com
Randy Parten ’67 jrparten@parten.com
Robert Henderson ’68 rehenderson@nvcc.edu
Josh Harrison ’69 JHarrisonLaw@aol.com
Dee Meador ’70 meadortx@yahoo.com
Kathryn Miller Anderson ’71 zjmiller1513@gmail.com
Darrell David ’72 darrell.s.david@gmail.com
Douglass Anderson ’73 dlalaw@hotmail.com
Ann Rhodes McMeans ’74 armcmeans@gmail.com
Dr. Mary L. Brandt ’75 mary.l.brandt@gmail.com
Dan Norton ’76 daniel@danielnorton.com
Robert Ettinger ’77 robert@ettlaw.com
Mark Tucker ’78 mrtucker@mindspring.com
Carroll Lively Reeser ’79 carroll@reeser.net
Peter Larkam ’80 peter@peterlarkam.com
Charlotte Stuckey Brigham ’81 charbrigham@gmail.com
Thomas Groff-Barragan ’24 groffthomasusa@gmail.com
Charlie Hubbard ’25 Charliehubbardjr@gmail.com
Casey Maina ’25 caseymaina@gmail.com
Get Social!
Connect with St. Stephen’s and your classmates online
LinkedIn Group St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Alumni
Private Alumni Facebook Group facebook.com/Groups/StStephensAlumniGroup
Follow St. Stephen’s on:
Facebook facebook.com/sstx.org
Instagram @SSTX_OnTheHill
YouTube @StStephensAustin
If you have not received emails from the Alumni Office recently, we may not have your current email address. Please send your information to dallen@sstx.org so you do not miss invitations to events and news about your classmates!
You are invited to volunteer and serve as class representative of the classes of 1966, 1975 and 2003. If you are interested, please contact Michelle Geo Olmstead, director of alumni relations, at molmstead@sstx.org.
A Daily Invitation for Great Adventure
Our campus is such a great place to walk. It offers an open invitation, every day, all day long. Why take students outside during a class? It can change things in a good way. Leaving the classroom or office and going on a walk is a great place for teaching, learning and taking care of the subtle business we struggle to quantify but that we feel inside. I like what Gary Snyder says in “The Practice of the Wild”: “Walking is the great adventure, the first meditation, a practice of heartiness and soul primary to humankind. Walking is the exact balance between spirit and humility.”
— JIM WOODRUFF RETIRING THEOLOGY INSTRUCTOR
Photos by Chris Caselli ’82
The first day of school kicks off a yearlong celebration of our 75th anniversary, and we are excited to welcome students and families back to campus for an enriching 2025-26 academic year.
Sunday, August 17
New Student Orientation, Dorm Move-In & Parents’ Association Back-to-School Event*
Monday, August 18
Student Activities & Upper School Club Fair*
Tuesday, August 19
First Day of School
*New days and times this year!
Visit our Back-to-School page for grade-level information and details. Check back frequently for updates.
sstx.org/back-to-school
Scan for summer reading lists, supply lists, information on fine arts private lessons, preseason sports camps and more!
6500 St. Stephen’s Drive Austin, TX 78746
St. Stephen’s is kicking off its 75th anniversary celebration in August. We invite you to join us as we celebrate our rich history from The Hill to the world. sstx.org/75-years
PARTING SHOT
When the school opened in 1950, St. Stephen’s was home to a horse corral before it had a phone. Read more on page 14.
