Ensworth Ensights Summer 2021

ENSWORTH SCHOOL ENSIGHTS

ENSIGHTS I N S E ARC H OF T RU T H

SUMMER 2021

SUMMER 2021

LOOKING FORWARD Ensights_Summer2021_Cover.indd 6

7/28/21 9:49 AM

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2021-2022 President Will Morrow Vice President Jennifer Frist Treasurer Bruce Crosby Secretary Jim Bowen Legal Counsel John Jacobson Special Advisor Bruce Moore Kathryn Brown Stuart Brunson Gerard Bullock

In Search of Truth ENSWORTH Mission Statement Ensworth is a kindergarten through twelfth grade, coeducational independent school. The School promotes academic excellence and inspires students to be intellectually curious, to use their talents to the fullest, to be people of integrity, and to be contributors to society.

Daphne Butler Raja Clark Beth Courtney Amanda Farnsworth Ben Freeland Craig Goguen Chad Greer Brock Kidd Emily Kurtz Deb McDermott Neal Patel Yvonne Ralsky Josephine Smithwick Jamee Thompson

Administrative Team David Braemer Head of School Ricky Bowers Associate Head and Director of Athletics Heather Caponi Head of Lower School Rebekah Capps Director of Enrollment Management Nowell Hesse Head of High School

Above & Front Cover: Students sign the beam for the new Lower School building

Stephaine Walker

Jason Hiett Director of Technology

Head of School David Braemer, ex officio

Bedell James Director of Advancement

Vision Statement

Co-President Ensworth Parent Association Elizabeth Gerken, ex officio

Whitney Johnson Director of Finance and Operations

We envision a school community dedicated to following the highest principles with the greatest love, as characterized by moral integrity, intellectual vitality, discipline, compassion, humor, and joy.

Co-President Ensworth Parent Association Barbara Smith, ex officio

Darwin Mason Head of Middle School

President-Elect Ensworth Parent Association Amanda Graff, ex officio

Bobby Mirzaie Director of Curriculum and Instruction

President Ensworth Alumni Board Anna Russell (Kelly) Friedman ’97, ex officio

Tiffany Townsend Director of Marketing and Communications

National Advisory Council Lauren Elcan ‘13

David Whitfield Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion

Ensights_Summer2021_Cover.indd 1

ENSWORTH

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion In order to realize the goals of our Mission and Vision, Ensworth must actively strive to be a diverse and inclusive community of learners that engages collectively In Search of Truth. The presence of different perspectives and life experiences plays a vital role in the development of our students, enhancing classroom and extracurricular experiences in meaningful ways. As a school, we are committed to cultivating an environment in which all members of the Ensworth community experience a true sense of belonging and are empowered to be active participants in the life of the school. These efforts are essential if we are to foster the growth of all students in line with their potential, and to equip them for lives of purpose that extend far beyond their time at Ensworth.

7/28/21 9:49 AM

3

18

62

Contents ACADEMICS

COMMUNITY

ARTS

FACULTY

3 Covid Innovations to Keep

7 Managing Risk

40 High School Spring Play

44 Retirement Tributes

8 New Lower School Building

18 Graduation Speech Excerpts

42 High School Musical

48 Meet Darwin Mason 49 Faculty Profiles

10 College Counseling

20 Graduation & Closing Exercises Photos

62 Alumni in the Arts 64 Scholastic Art Awards

52 Faculty Bookshelf

16 Capstone Scholars 17 College Statistics 22 For the Record

54 Faculty News

26 Parent Association 30 Lower/Middle School Events Photos 32 High School Events Photos

ATHLETICS 34 Middle School Athletics 36 High School Athletics

ALUMNI 55 Alumni Class Notes 60 Alumni Profiles 62 Alumni in the Arts

Paper: Chorus Art Silk - 70 lb Text and 80lb Cover; 30% Post Consumer Waste, 100% Recyclable, EFC Chlorine Free

Ensights_Repaired.indd 1

Copyrighted 2021 by Ensworth School. Ensworth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin in its admissions or its hiring policies. Ensworth is a member of NAIS, CASE, SACS, SAIS, and the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools.

ENSIGHTS is a bi-annual publication of Ensworth’s Office of Institutional Advancement.

EDITORIAL STAFF Tiffany Townsend (Editor), Michelle Andrade, Paul Downey, Olivia Fitts DESIGN Mary Byrne Dailey CONTRIBUTING WRITERS David Berry, David Braemer, Ruby Cortner, Paul Downey, Olivia Fitts, Bedell James, Anne Stringham, Terri Schulz, Tiffany Townsend PHOTOGRAPHY Renee Allen, Mary Byrne Dailey, Paul Downey, Tim Jones, John Picklesimer, Mike Strasinger, Kirby Wiley

7/28/21 10:14 AM

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Looking Forward Schools exist at an interesting intersection of past, present, and future. We look to the past for traditions that affirm our guiding principles and to learn from the lessons, both positive and negative, that come from experience. In regard to the present, we value the unique opportunities that we have each and every day to positively impact our students and our community. As for the future, there is the excitement that comes with knowing that great institutions are constantly improving, and that our best days should always lie ahead. It is in this spirit of development that this edition of Ensights focuses on our efforts to look forward as a school and, in particular, the strides we are making in terms of program, place, and people.

In a truly Ensworthy manner, our community was able to thrive in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and to use the past year as a springboard to future opportunities. Many of the programmatic modifications we were forced to make last year are factoring into our future planning. Whether it is in our use of classroom technology, the structure of our daily schedule, or how we connect our two campuses, the evolution of our programs has been shaped, and in some cases, accelerated, by the past year. As a result, we are poised to take advantage of our learnings from what was a truly unique experience to be an even stronger school going forward.

From a facilities standpoint, progress continues with the third and final phase of construction on the Red Gables Campus.

Having broken ground on a new lower school building this past November, we are on track for its completion in December, and we plan to take advantage of this facility when we return from the winter holidays. This building, which will house third through fifth grades in addition to new administrative

Ensights_Repaired.indd 2

offices, along with major renovations to existing lower school classrooms, will create tremendous new opportunities for our students and faculty as we look to the future.

We are also excited to welcome Darwin Mason back to Ensworth as our new Head of Middle School. His intimate knowledge of Ensworth as a former faculty member and current parent, combined with his exceptional leadership experience at area schools, will serve as a catalyst for the continued development of our middle school program. Darwin, along with Heather Caponi as Head of Lower School and Nowell Hesse as Head of High School, create an effective team of academic leaders across each division, all of whom are relatively new to Ensworth.

Their collaboration will further unite our school with the goal of maximizing the student experience across the entire kindergarten through twelfth grade experience.

Our focus on being a forward-looking institution reflects the fact that education is an aspirational endeavor and that schools should always be committed to growth and development. By taking advantage of the opportunities that exist for improvement, we model the expectation that we have for our students and enhance their experience now and in the future. This is the type of dynamic that makes Ensworth an exceptional school and ensures that we will thrive regardless of what challenges lie ahead, just as we have always done.

David Braemer HEAD OF SCHOOL

7/28/21 10:14 AM

LO OKI NG FORWARD :

Covid Innovations to Keep

Ensights_Repaired.indd 3

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

Covid Innovations to Keep Although few people want to continue living under the restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, intrepid educators at Ensworth have learned that going back to the way they used to do things is not always the best course of action.

COLLABORATION AT THE LOWER SCHOOL At the Lower School, the teachers of “Specials”—Chinese, Spanish, art, library, science, technology, and music—have stepped up collaboration in recent years. The restrictions brought about by the pandemic only served to strengthen this teamwork.

In 2019, music teacher Heidi Wolter, librarian Leslea Gaines, and Chinese teacher Caitlin Harris devised a cross-disciplinary project called “Mosaic” for their professional development. Grade 3 students combined lessons from Chinese, music, art, and library to create the stop-motion animated story of Ye Xian, a traditional Chinese folk tale similar to the Western world’s Cinderella. Mrs. Harris explains that, in Chinese, the students focused “mostly on the story of Ye Xian using high-frequency words to tell the story, and expressing emotion through interjections and patterns.” In music class, Mrs. Wolter had her students choose Chinese folk songs to record as the score using xylophones and percussion instruments. In art, students learned about and painted rich backdrops in Shan Shui Hua, a style of Chinese landscape painting. With audio recording and video editing by Terri Schultz and the tech team, the final product consisted of short segments with each student performing the narration and character animation.

In the first year of Mosaic, students and teachers could meet whenever and wherever was convenient and in close proximity to one another, but restrictions brought on by the pandemic changed that. Instead of the students traveling to the library or music and art rooms, they had to remain in their homerooms, with the Specials teachers coming to them. But after seeing in the previous year how much interdisciplinary study helps learning come alive for students, the teachers doubled down on collaboration.

“After COVID and year two of Mosaic and the Peace Project, teachers are more committed than ever to explore interdisciplinary learning,” says Mrs. Harris.

“The classroom teachers got to see and enjoy all of the Specials teachers coming into their room, so they could watch those teachers in action, and vice-versa, the Specials got an up-close view of classroom units.”

This year, they were able to produce another Mosaic video telling the story of the Chinese mythological figures of Houyi and Chang’e, as well as an even more far-reaching collaborative project.

4 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 4

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS The Peace Project brought together the Lower School students like no previous collaborative project for the Specials teachers.

Students across several grades produced pieces of art, music, and dance, and all Red Gables students and faculty were able to experience the campus-wide walk-through exhibit. The peace theme also had a practical use. “We thought bringing peace into our curriculum in this difficult year would be a perfect way to enrich our curriculum and develop a sense of community,” Mrs. Harris explains.

The Lower School students have also taken notice of how much the collaborative atmosphere has transformed learning.

“Every time we’re all together,” remarks Mrs. Gaines, “all you hear the kids say is, ‘I love that all of our Specials teachers are working together.’ What an opportunity for us to be able to get together and work with these kids across our disciplines.”

MINECRAFT IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL In Middle School, students have the opportunity to learn in the Makerspace Innovation Course that incorporates basic coding skills, design thinking curriculum, and 3D design projects. The class involves building and working through problems in a very hands-on, collaborative way.

Jenny Krzystowczyk, Technology Integrationist and Innovation Lab Instructor, explains how her usual way of conducting class was not going to work this year: “In years past, students would use materials like cardboard, hot glue, paper, and other materials to complete design challenges. With COVID-19 came the reality that sharing materials wasn’t going to work. In came Minecraft EDU.” “There is often a misconception when incorporating gaming and virtual worlds into education,” she explains. “Rest assured that Minecraft is a challenge for most students and one they

overcome while learning how to code, build, and collaborate.

Hearing students switch from saying ‘I have never done this,’ to ‘Mrs. K. come see what I built!’ is fantastic!”

This year, students used Minecraft EDU to work on projects such as constructing ancient villages, designing the perfect acoustic room, creating environments for honeybees, and learning about coral reef habitats. Mr. House’s annual Trojan Horse project in Latin class, which would have been canceled due to COVID restrictions, was also brought to life by Minecraft EDU. Students designed their own physical model of a Trojan Horse and presented them to generals (Ensworth faculty) in a Shark Tank-style pitch.

“Students are not only thinking, like the Greeks at Troy, about how to overcome ancient city walls and defenses,” Mr. House describes. “They are now designing and building Troy itself. The level of creativity, collaboration, and thought I have seen from using Minecraft has opened my eyes to greater possibilities for this project than I could have imagined previously. That these opportunities have been born from adapting to our new COVID-19 reality is a powerful lesson for all students and educators.”

“That these opportunities have been born from adapting to our new COVID-19 reality is a powerful lesson for all students and educators.”

Trey House

Introducing Minecraft has also let some students, who would not otherwise shine, take leadership roles. “We have some amazing coders and Minecraft builders who really helped other students in a way that they never had before,” Jenny explains. “All of a sudden, we had new experts in the classroom.”

2021 SUMMER | 5

Ensights_Repaired.indd 5

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

MINOR CHANGES WITH BIG IMPACT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL Teachers and administrators at Ensworth’s High School are steadfast in continually assessing the best ways that students can thrive, but they have the wisdom to see how small changes across multiple areas can have a significant impact. Although these gradual innovations might not be cover-worthy for education journals, measured adjustments can have longerlasting benefits for adolescents.

With the sweeping modifications to campus when students returned to school in August 2020 came the necessity to pivot in several operational areas. Changes to foot traffic patterns meant that getting from one place to another would take longer, having a cascade of consequences in several routines, including morning drop-off. Although much of the high school education world has not adopted the practice, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that high schools start after 8:30 a.m. The AAP explains that “a substantial body of research has now demonstrated that delaying school start times is an effective countermeasure to chronic sleep loss and has a wide range of potential benefits to students with regard to physical and mental health, safety, and academic achievement.” Since enacting this change in August 2020, the High School has seen these benefits, enjoying an easier morning for everyone with less stress for the community and reduced traffic, both inside and outside the gates.

Similarly, modifications to lunch locations forced the administration to eliminate the requirement that students only eat lunch and snack in the dining hall. As a consequence, clubs and other extracurriculars had more opportunities to meet. Teachers and sponsors learned how to take advantage of spaces in different ways, such as utilizing the Quad for Prom and Rock Band and Encore concerts.

And when faculty were forced to communicate 100% electronically during remote learning in the Spring of 2020, teachers and administrators assessed which communications channels were the most effective. Students began to receive a greater number of emails from their teachers, so some faculty began to mix in other forms of communication such as pre-recorded video for communications and even instruction. This reduces what educational psychologists call “cognitive load” for the students, freeing them up to consume information asynchronously and at their own pace. In this way, Ensworth’s adolescents can learn information in chunks with each lesson building a firm foundation for advanced concepts, a technique known as “scaffolding.”

Doug Magee, Associate Head of High School, explains how the school chose primarily to focus on tools students and faculty already use such as TigerNet, the online learning management system. “We did a lot to organize academic resources for our classes in online spaces to make them accessible to students regardless of learning context,” he recalls. “A lot of work went into the design of this experience.”

“Resources and assignments should help students apprehend content and develop skills efficiently,” he explains. “This takes a lot of coordination across a robust academic and extracurricular program. In the long run, high-quality online presence supports the culture of on-campus learning. We are using our learning management system and integrated resources to build a more cohesive experience for the student.”

In this way, Ensworth educators across the K-12 continuum used the negative experience of the pandemic to create a net positive for current and future students.

Paul Downey ’92 Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

6 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 6

7/28/21 10:14 AM

COMMUNITY

Managing Risk Ensworth’s Efforts to Keep our Campuses Safe

A

n ever-increasing issue challenging Independent Schools is appropriately managing risk while maintaining the warm and open community that we all value and appreciate. Yet, headline-grabbing crises involving independent schools in recent years have shone a spotlight on the importance of engaging in a robust enterprise risk management (“ERM”) process.

In early March 2020, just before COVID-19 began the global shutdown, the Board of Trustees held its annual retreat to discuss ERM, among other topics of strategic importance for Ensworth. The Board welcomed Pete Talbot from EAB, a consulting group for K-12 schools, who facilitated a conversation around their ERM research as summarized in The Institutional Risk Management Playbook: Developing a Comprehensive Process to Manage Risks at Today’s Independent Schools. At the direction of the Board, CFO Whitney Johnson then drafted a comprehensive Risk Management Policy, following the framework recommended by EAB’s Playbook, and put Ensworth’s ERM process into motion.

Simultaneously, the Ensworth Leadership Team was thrust into an ERM intensive course as the global pandemic forced school online following Spring Break in 2020. While much of the pandemic planning was reactive to new and unknown challenges, the spring and summer of 2020 offered a real-life “crash course” to test Ensworth’s crisis response and risk management and direct a more proactive and robust ERM process moving forward.

A key component of launching Ensworth’s ERM process was the creation of a new Facility and Risk Analyst position to focus specifically on campus risk and safety and work with the Business Office and Facilities teams across both campuses. Ensworth was fortunate to have a recent faculty member, Gloria Kemp, return to Ensworth in October 2020 with a wealth of pertinent knowledge from her studies at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, where she earned her

B.S. in Homeland Security with a concentration in emergency management. In her new role, Gloria focuses on the areas of risk management and crisis planning and serves as chair of a newly formed ERM Task Force charged with implementing the Board-approved ERM policy. Ensworth’s ERM Task Force meets regularly throughout the year and consists of faculty and staff representing a broad array of departments, positions, divisions, and experiences.

As a result of Gloria’s early research and the work of the ERM Task Force, it was determined that bringing Ensworth’s primary security functions in-house would be an important first step. Accordingly, AJ Calvert joined Ensworth in July 2021 as our new Director of Security. AJ comes to Ensworth with fifteen years of combined military and law enforcement experience, most recently working in leadership roles as a School Resource Officer with Decatur Township School District in Indiana. Along with a wealth of security and school knowledge, AJ has a demonstrated history of developing positive relationships with colleagues, students, and citizens while approaching each situation with alertness, compassion, and concern. AJ’s security expertise will partner well with Gloria’s direction of the ERM Task Force to provide structure and protocols for risk identification, risk assessment, risk controls and risk monitoring and reporting.

Ensworth has made tremendous strides in our ERM process over the past year, which will be continuously refined and improved through the work of the ERM Task Force and two new employees with the expertise and commitment to ensuring and formulating the best long range plan for keeping our campuses, faculty, and students safe.

Bedell James Director of Institutional Advancement Whitney Johnson Director of Finance & Operations 2021 SUMMER | 7

Ensights_Repaired.indd 7

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

Looking Ahead:

The New Lower School Building This summer, the activity on the Red Gables Campus has been a bit atypical. Instead of lines of cars, backhoes and forklifts have occupied the hookup lanes. The playground has become a quiet field - a blank canvas awaiting new equipment. The halls that would usually house groups of summer campers have been filled with generators and scaffolding. Soon, however, the sounds of drills and saws will be replaced with the sounds of students’ joy and delight.

beautiful new and remodeled spaces for our K-5 students and their teachers. Our goal is to create a flexible and adaptable environment that inspires community while attending to individual learning styles. We’ve selected furniture that will give teachers the freedom to re-arrange the classroom depending on the lesson or project of the day, whether that requires collaboration in a group or independent work.”

When teachers can facilitate multiple learning activities that When school starts this fall, students in kindergarten and offer students different experiences and perspectives on a first grade will walk into renovated and refreshed classrooms subject, each child is able to discover the pathway to learning that will be outfitted with modular furniture that makes the most sense to them. Under designed for flexibility and creativity. Then, this model, students maximize their potential “Our goal is to at the end of the first semester, students in at their own pace and have ownership in the create a flexible Grades 3-5 will be able to move into their learning process. Grade 3 teacher Jennifer and adaptable home in the new Lower School building.

McGee notes, “The new building will be a environment that modern use of space to meet the needs of The plan for the Lower School building and inspires community our modern curriculum. Small groups of additional campus updates was informed students can work with ease, teachers can while attending by a facility-needs assessment performed create interactive lessons, and teachers can

by Blanchard Group, an architectural conference with students while other students to individual firm that specializes in master planning are productively working.” learning styles.” for independent schools. Administrators also traveled to other independent schools The new K-3 science lab and expansive across the country to observe the synergy of math/science classrooms for Grades 4 and Heather Caponi their facilities and programs. The resulting 5 will enable enhancements to the current blueprint includes 40% larger classrooms curriculum and allow students to do a deeper with maker areas, new modern science labs, immersive World dive into concepts with more comprehensive experiments. K-3 Language classrooms, expanded Aftercare space, a new Science teacher Andrew Bond is looking forward to the new playground, and the completion of the loop road. The plan opportunities the larger labs will provide. “As the Lower School offers dynamic and flexible spaces designed to augment the science lab moves toward project-based learning, a larger implementation of our curriculum, inspire collaboration, and classroom space will allow students to learn about and research enrich the community as a whole. a topic in one area of the classroom and build their creations in a makerspace area in another part of the same classroom. In my Head of Lower School Heather Caponi shares, “The current classroom, there isn’t enough space for the students to construction of the Lower School building will offer us have two separate areas to learn and create.”

8 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 8

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

“I am excited about the future of the Lower School science programs,” says Grade 5 teacher Karin Prentice. “Due to our space constraints, we were limited in what we could accomplish in a science class. For example, all of the science labs had to be ‘done in a day’ labs since there were no spaces to store materials overnight. These beautiful spaces will allow for multi-day or multi-week science experiments and explorations.”

After years of utilizing the classroom-on-a-cart model, the Lower School World Language teachers will now have a dedicated space of their own. No longer limited to resources that can easily be carried from classroom to classroom, the teachers will be able to create spaces that reflect the culture of the language and provide an immersive experience for students. Caitlin Harris, who has been teaching Chinese in the Lower School since 2011, will be moving into a new role as Lower School Interdisciplinary Learning Coordinator/World Language Chair. “The dedicated World Language spaces will offer an inspiring and immersive environment for the Lower School students and language teachers,” says Harris. “I envision a learning space that sparks curiosity through visuals and realia and supports students’ use of Chinese and Spanish through intentional use of the space. Skits and relevant language practice can take place in a ‘cafe,’ an ‘airport,’ or even on ‘The Great Wall’ that have been created and imagined in these dynamic language rooms.”

The new and renovated spaces will bolster Ensworth’s four pillars of curriculum: immersive learning, personalized support, real-world relevance, and collaboration with peers. “We are working to develop cultural competence in our students and to give them skills that are applicable in multiple contexts,” says Bobby Mirzaie, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. “Our goal is that our students learn to communicate in diverse ways and to diverse audiences, to apply knowledge to new situations, to develop a level of adaptability, and to become independent learners.”

The development of these skills begins in the Lower School, and the new campus enhancements ensure an environment where students can cultivate both a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience, setting a solid foundation for growth and learning throughout their K-12 journey. As we celebrate the doors opening on these new spaces, we look forward to the doors that will open to new possibilities for all of our Lower School students and faculty.

Tiffany Townsend Director of Marketing & Communications

2021 SUMMER | 9

Ensights_Repaired.indd 9

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

FINDING the right

COLLEGE FIT Students are matched with their college counselor at the beginning of freshman year and stay with the same counselor throughout their high school career. Seven seniors share their experience with the program and how it helped them find the right college fit.

MAX BUNTING

Santa Clara University How many years have you been at Ensworth?

I’ve been at Ensworth approximately 5.5 years. I came in seventh grade from Oak Hill, then did one semester of boarding school as a sophomore.

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?

I’ve been in chess club, played soccer and lacrosse, and was on the swim team. I’ve also been on the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Students of the Year team for Ensworth for two years.

Each high school has a team, and they compete over a 7-week period to see who can raise the most money. I was a member last year, and I took a leadership role with William Vreeland this year.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the past four years.

Mr. Anthony was incredibly helpful with all of the questions I had and made things very clear. I could email him with a question, and he would tell me to swing by his office and he would help me out. I wanted to apply to top schools, which I knew would require a lot of APs. He helped me in planning which courses to take. I am happy we started freshman year instead of just getting into the planning process junior year, so it didn’t feel as overwhelming.

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?

In the beginning, I was interested in learning archaeology and anthropology, and I was set on that until winter of this year.

However, I didn’t apply to colleges thinking that I was looking

for a school with those programs. For a long time, I was set on St. Andrews in Scotland because of the community feel and the way the education system is structured, and I knew a lot of people there.

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?

I chose Santa Clara off of my gut feeling, which is what makes me feel confident in going there. I was originally against the idea of going to California, but people I knew thought I would love Santa Clara, so I applied last minute. I was going to tour the University of Denver and just went a little further west. Right when I set foot on campus and talked to some students there, I knew it was where I wanted to be. It happened very naturally. In considering colleges, you have to look at the facts along with your gut instinct. Touring the schools was the most important element in helping me make my decision.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?

I feel like Ensworth is so broad and open to different things. I appreciate the diversity of the community and the variety of interests. I feel like I have met so many different people than I would have at other schools. I also love the teachers here; you can tell they love their job. The teachers aren’t just teaching to give you facts, but to give you a better understanding of life and the world. They are more like friends and mentors.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

Definitely keep your grades up. I didn’t try as much as I should have my freshman year, and that affected my GPA. I wish I had put in the same effort during freshman year as I did later. I would also participate in as many different extracurriculars and clubs as you possibly can. All of these things sound so cliche, and yet, they are true. And get to know as many people in your grade and in other grades as you can; I wish I had gotten to know more people sooner.

10 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 10

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

MADDI E HAND University of Alabama at Birmingham How many years have you been at Ensworth?

I have been at Ensworth for three years; I came sophomore year from Lipscomb Academy.

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?

I played on the tennis team my first two years and then ran cross country this fall. I was part of the Outdoor Adventure club my sophomore and junior year and participated in a few other clubs throughout the years. I’ve also worked during the summer/fall sessions with the kids’ tennis camps. Outside of Ensworth, I have worked a lot with Cheatham County Animal Control as well as the Buddy Up Tennis Organization, which pairs kids who have special needs with tennis players.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years.

My counselor Mr. Phillips was awesome. The first two years, he helped me with my course load and determining which courses would best prepare me for senior year. I took a lot of APs, and he helped me even out the APs in terms of difficulty.

He was very helpful throughout the whole college process. I think I went to see him every morning for the first month and a half of this past school year.

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?

I didn’t have a particular college of interest, but I’ve always wanted to go into healthcare; I will be majoring in nursing.

Mr. Phillips helped me find courses that would best prepare me and enable me to get a lot of transfer credits for going into a healthcare program and STEM-centered major.

SALWA DAOUK

Vanderbilt University How many years have you been at Ensworth?

I have been at Ensworth since pre-first grade, so 13 years.

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?

I chose the University of Alabama at Birmingham, because out of all the colleges I was considering, it is the newest, and it is in the middle of downtown with a few different hospitals surrounding the campus. There will be so many opportunities for me in terms of internships and field work. I can begin floor work in the hospitals as soon as freshman year. I applied to 11 colleges originally and picked all of them for different reasons, as I wasn’t sure which criteria were most important for me. I ended up choosing UAB because it has the best program for my major, and that’s more important than all of the other factors, to find a school that suits my future best.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?

Overall, Harkness has been most valuable.

Before coming here, I didn’t really speak up in class at all. Harkness helped me learn how to communicate my ideas with other people and brought joy into discussing intellectual ideas. I feel like I can express myself better without needing to rehearse what I want to say 30 minutes before going into something. The classroom experience here is a lot better, and I love that all classes are challenging in different ways. There’s never a down day; you’re always learning something new. You discover new things about what you already knew, because you are looking at things from different angles all the time. Someone will ask a question that will cause you to look at something differently.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

I would say to pick something you want out of high school and go for it. What I picked was to push myself academically and get lots of credits for college. That was my main goal, to learn as much as I could. But at the same time, don’t let the grades and numbers dictate how you feel about yourself. That’s what Ensworth taught me: that number in the gradebook doesn’t reflect your effort. Learn how to measure success in your own terms—we all value different things—you should find what you value and measure yourself based on that.

At Ensworth, I have served as co-president of the Tearing Down the Walls club, which seeks to promote diversity and inclusion on campus. We organized Ensworth’s MLK and Black History assemblies, various events, and our summer conference. I also was on the first head committee of the Boundaries alliance. This committee aims to encourage healthy boundaries among the student body and make sure that everyone feels respected and safe at school through an annual week-long assembly program. I was also a part of the leadership committee for Project TALK 2021 SUMMER | 11

Ensights_Repaired.indd 11

7/28/21 10:14 AM

that helped foster difficult conversations among students.

Outside of school, I am involved in various leadership roles surrounding social justice issues with organizations such as the Tennessee Immigrant Refugee Rights Coalition, The American Muslim Advisory Council, Mixedlife Media, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Aside from those, I am also a second degree black belt in karate and enjoy playing volleyball!

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years.

At first as an underclassmen, conversations with my college counselor revolved around creating the “four year plan” and structuring my academic interests within high school. Around junior year, the conversations evolved to be more about specific schools or majors to pursue and look into. Throughout senior year, I would make frequent trips to the college counseling office. Mr. Anthony helped me answer every single question I had throughout the entire process. He definitely simplified the process and helped me make a plethora of difficult decisions along the way.

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?

Initially, my vision for what I wanted to study was different than the major I ended up applying for. I shifted from an international relations track to a history and law track.

Ever since freshman year, my top school had always been Vanderbilt, so that did not change. Once I found a program within Vandy that I was really interested in called “Law, History, and Society,” I knew I wanted to go down that path.

With that in mind, I began applying to other schools that offered similar programs.

CAROLINE GRACEY University of Georgia How many years have you been at Ensworth?

I have been at Ensworth since fifth grade, and lived in England during my sophomore year, so I will have completed seven years here.

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?

During high school, I played softball and was part of Model UN and Service Club. I also have a job outside of school where I work a couple of days a week.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?

The most valuable part of the Ensworth experience has been the incredible support network of teachers. They are incredibly qualified, caring, and encouraging. I have met some truly amazing educators and mentors at this school that I will never forget.

These teachers have helped me grow academically and seek opportunities to pursue these interests in and outside of the classroom—and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?

Something about growing up in Nashville and seeing Vanderbilt everywhere prompted my interest in the school. I remember saying I wanted to go to Vanderbilt when I was much younger.

Obviously, then I wasn’t entirely sure why, but as I grew older, I found appealing qualities in Vanderbilt that I wasn’t able to see in any other school I applied to. First, I wanted to stay close to home, and Vanderbilt’s campus was perfect for that. Second, the school’s culture of inclusivity was something that felt comforting and welcoming to me. Third, I wanted another challenging academic environment like Ensworth where I could push myself to explore all my academic interests. These three reasons incentivized me to put Vanderbilt as my top choice and apply Early Decision 1.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

I would tell incoming freshmen to try new things and join a variety of clubs. I would encourage anyone to become as involved as they can in an area that they love being involved in, whether that is theater, sports, academics, etc . This is the time to pursue interests and really discover what you’re passionate about. I’d discourage anyone to just get involved haphazardly and do things that they don’t care about just to put on a college application. It’s ok to want to be a good candidate for a competitive school, but it means so much more when all the work is genuine rather than for show. I would say to follow what feels right to you and take it and run with it.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years.

My college counselor is Mr. Whitehill, and he is the best counselor I could have asked for while at Ensworth. He helped me so much over my years here, and I am so grateful for all he does. Mr. Whitehill was always present in my high school career, even from the beginning of freshman year when we planned out what my next three years might look like. He was especially helpful after sophomore year in my transition back to Ensworth by making sure I could take all the classes I needed to meet my graduation requirements.

During junior year, he helped me make a few course changes that

12 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 12

7/28/21 10:14 AM

benefited me in my course load, and this past year, we had many meetings about my college applications. I emailed him countless times for advice, and I always received honest and complete answers that helped me so much in the process. I really don’t think I could have done it all without him.

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?

Going into the college application process, I had a very vague idea of what I wanted out of a college. I knew I wanted to study International Business, but other than that, I was unsure. Mr. Whitehill helped me consider the main differences between colleges and what I did and did not like about some I had previously visited. From that information, we came up with a list of schools that had what I was looking for, but were still plenty diverse in what type of experiences they offered.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?

The most valuable part of my Ensworth experience has been learning time management and organization. This year was hectic taking AP classes, doing college applications, playing sports, and more. Learning how to balance this while still enjoying my final year has been the best lesson of my four years in high school.

ZION WYNN Rhodes College How many years have you been at Ensworth?

I came to Ensworth in seventh grade from Meigs Magnet Middle School.

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?

I’ve played football and basketball, and I’ve run track since seventh grade. I was in chorus, advanced chorale, band, and chamber singers. I’ve also been involved with Tearing Down the Walls and Project TALK. Outside of Ensworth, I’ve worked on special projects with Nashville Humane Association and Turnip Green Creative Reuse.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years.

When I started high school, I was stone set on which schools to consider, or at least, I thought I was. My counselor Mr. Phillips knew I had big ambitions, so he pushed me to take several classes and diversify what I

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?

I ended up choosing to attend the University of Georgia for many reasons. I was accepted into the Honors College and the school has a reputable business school, so I knew that with that, I would be able to have a successful academic experience.

Georgia also has a great atmosphere where it is easy to have fun while still maintaining good grades. I can’t wait for game days and Georgia football! Finally, when I visited campus I got a feeling I never had when visiting any other college campus.

It’s hard to describe, but when you get it, you know that this is the right place to be.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

I would say to not be overwhelmed by everything that is thrown at you about the future. It is definitely important to come in with a plan for what you want from high school, but plans change and you never really know what might happen, so don’t obsess over the future and miss out on the present. Just make sure you work hard each year while still having fun and enjoy your time here while you can.

was going for. As we approached senior year, he kept reminding me of my GPA and let me know about scholarships that were available. He made sure I wasn’t just taking the easiest classes, and that I was challenging myself with APs, so colleges would really consider my applications. He was very helpful in getting me to my final decision.

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?

As a freshman, I was very interested in writing, and I wanted to pursue that for a career, and I really wanted to go to the University of Southern California. I also knew that I wanted to run track and go to a college that was pretty far away. So I came into the process with the idea that I needed to have certain grades and scores, so, when the time came, it would be a no-brainer for me to be accepted there. It definitely changed as time went on, and as I was exposed to new things. I ended up applying to 22 colleges; some of those colleges were recruiting me for athletics, and I applied after they approached me. Some of the colleges were thrown into the mix to see what kind of scholarship I could get. Others I was very ambitious in applying to, such as Penn, Vanderbilt, and University of Chicago; I was trying to push the envelope. Going into the process, North Carolina A&T and LSU were my top two schools.

2021 SUMMER | 13

Ensights_Repaired.indd 13

7/28/21 10:14 AM

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?

I will be attending Rhodes College. I was accepted at both of my top schools and most I applied to, whether they were ambitious or not. With Rhodes, I was immediately enamored of the campus—it is beautiful. And there are so many service organizations around the city I can connect with for internships and service opportunities. I will also get to compete in college athletics, and it’s a small enough community where I will know the people, and my professors will really care about me. When I was visiting, the people I met, my future peers, felt like a family, just like at Ensworth.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?

The most valuable thing has been the relationships I have built with both my teachers and my classmates. The teachers are like secondary parents to me; they check in on me and my grades to make sure I am staying on track. They let me know about opportunities they think I would be interested in, and they’ll tell me if they think I am not putting forth my best effort. My classmates have become like my brothers and sisters; even if I don’t know them personally, I know there is a mutual care for

one another. I never hear anyone shoot someone else down; it’s always praise and encouragement. I think that’s really beautiful. The community is our biggest selling point, and it’s hard to understand unless you are here.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

I would tell them to definitely use their resources. There are so many teachers available to help you. And you’ll need help, so lean on your advisor when you don’t know something. They are there for you, and they are there to listen. Also, try new things.

Ensworth has so many different programs and opportunities— gaming chess, math club, robotics, beekeeping, sports, acting— you never know when you are going to find that thing you really love and want to do.

VANESSA FRIGON The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania How many years have you been at Ensworth?

9 years What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?

I am the founder and President of W.I.S.E. (Women in STEM @ Ensworth), which I started because I wanted to give girls with STEM potential a community in which they can garner support and respect to help them turn their Ensworth years into a good head start for a future STEM career. I am also the President of the Service Club, which I love because its mission is to connect students to our community and foster life-influencing opportunities to help others. Outside of Ensworth, I am an AI (artificial intelligence) research intern at Healthcare in 3 Dimensions, where I help develop a predictive analytics tool to correlate cost and outcomes based on patient-level and network-level factors that are profoundly influential to a patient’s journey.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years.

Mr. Whitehill is the best! I was very lucky to have him in

my corner. He always gave me accurate, helpful, and honest advice. I wouldn’t have been able to manage all the stress or navigate the complex application process without him.

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/ programs of interest?

I realized that some colleges allow you to take rigorous business courses as an undergraduate, which appealed to me greatly. However, I also wanted the academic freedom to explore arts and sciences. Thus, I was aiming for a top undergraduate business program with plenty of curriculum flexibility and interdisciplinary strength. I found it in Penn. Next year as a Joseph Wharton Scholar, I will be able to pursue a Wharton concentration in Business Analytics with a minor in Data Science from Penn Engineering. I will also take advantage of global opportunities, mentorship, and leadership training.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?

Ensworth teaches you how to work well with others, and I believe this ability is one of the most important requirements for success.

14 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 14

7/28/21 10:14 AM

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?

When my parents took my older brother to look at colleges, they let me come, too. Even though I was just a middle schooler, I knew right away on the tour of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, that it was everything I wanted. I could study all the ways STEM and business intersect; my professors would be innovators and leaders in their industries, and my super-talented classmates would come from all over the world. Discovering my dream school so early gave me ample time to plan how I would try to show Penn that I could thrive at Wharton. I am very grateful that my plan worked. I am beyond excited to start.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

Believe in yourself, no matter what. Don’t let people’s opinions, whether good or bad, determine your destiny. Make your own life happen and enjoy the journey.

LIAM FRUMKIN Duke University What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?

I have been involved in fall/spring plays, musicals, student government, model UN, drum lessons, math club, tennis, jazz band, and playing music in the pit.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years.

The first time I met with Mrs. Stewart, it was a mandatory “get to know you” meeting freshman year. By the beginning of junior year, I started going to see her of my own accord.

I highly suggest going to see college counselors as soon as possible. At first, I didn’t realize how much of an advantage it is that Ensworth offers this, and I wish I had taken more advantage of it. Junior year is when I started the process of vetting colleges. Whenever I was unsure of something, I would stop by Mrs. Stewart’s office. She would have time for me whenever I needed her. She literally knows everything; she has all of the answers to all of the questions.

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?

When I first met with Mrs. Stewart, I knew that I wanted to do something with business and that I didn’t want to go to a massive school, but that’s all I had. Based on my interest in business, Mrs. Stewart suggested ten schools, and by junior year, she helped me narrow it down to five. After visiting the colleges, I would go back and debrief with her about what I liked and didn’t like, and then she would give me very specific recommendations based on my feedback. We narrowed it down much faster than I thought. I didn’t like the structure of the schedule at U Penn—that’s when Mrs. Stewart recommended Wash U and Duke, which became my top two.

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?

I liked the flexibility that Washington University and Duke both offered. You are not stuck in a business major; you have the ability to get a well-rounded education, then get an MBA. After talking through my options with Mrs. Stewart, I decided to just apply to Duke, and I applied Early Decision.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?

The most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for me was the connections that I was able to make with my teachers.

At Ensworth, my teachers not only became my mentors and role models but they also became my friends. No matter what, I always felt comfortable going to see a teacher, whether to talk about homework, talk about our days, share insights, or catch up. Ensworth helped me realize how valuable studentteacher relationships are. My good relationships with my teachers allowed me to enjoy each class, love learning, and be excited to come to school every single day. I plan to stay in touch with many of my teachers because they all have changed my life for the better. I am not sure what I would do without them.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

I would advise incoming freshmen to NOT BE SCARED. Sure, high school might seem like a huge step up from middle school, but, really, it is just another stage of life with an unfathomable amount of opportunities at your fingertips.

Don’t be scared to put yourself out there. Don’t be scared to meet new people. Don’t be scared to reach out to teachers.

Don’t be scared to try something new. Don’t be scared to be yourself. High school goes by way faster than you think. You can never have those four years back. Have fun. Don’t let yourself get too sucked into the anxieties of school. Make the most of each day.

2021 SUMMER | 15

Ensights_Repaired.indd 15

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

-2021-

Capstone

Scholars

Ensworth’s Capstone Program is exemplary of experiential learning; students are given the opportunity to engage in an extensive exploration of a passion or interest that is above and beyond academic courses and extracurricular involvements—though it is often the product of weaving multiple inspirations into one. To participate, a student investigates, proposes, and gains approval for a specific research project in Grade 11, and will conduct the research and presentation of their findings over the course of their senior year.

Kylianne Broughton

Liam Frumkin

Max Bunting

Caroline Gracey

The First Year in Office of Each Candidate

Chinese Traditional Tales Written for Chinese 1, 2, and 3 Students

Salwa Daouk

Claire Haley

Ben Smitherman

Chloe Edwards

Caroline Humphrey

Sachi Srivastava

Spoken Word Poetry

Investigation of Hive-Specific Genetic Identity in Campus Honeybee Populations

Vanessa Frigon

Claire Humphrey

Ella Talerico

Jacqueline Frist

Anna Lapre

William Vreeland

School Choice Within a Pandemic: A Study of Educational Funding and Quality in Nashville

Who Were the First Americans?

Immigration - Analyzing Policies and Humanizing Stories

The Ongoing Economic Crisis of Venezuela

Expanding Financial Inclusion in the US: FinTech Solutions for the Unbanked

The Evolution of a Growing City

Teaching Kitchen Outreach; “Startups: Failures, Successes, My Own”

Political Polarization and Bias in the Media

The Role of Epigenetics in Mental Health Disorders

Analyzing the Gender Pay Gap

Amelia Mullis

Untapped Potential: How Economic Policy Can Correct Our Environmental Crisis

Chloe Rollins

Economic Feasibility and Physics Behind Alternate Methods of Space Travel

Writing a Feature Length Play

Money Management in the Film Industry

16 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 16

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

C lass of 2021

70

Matriculating to

118

different colleges & universities

in

31

Students

S t a t e s , D .C . , & Canada

86%

45%

Attending college outside of Tennessee

3

U.S . P res i d e nt i al S ch olars No m i n ees

Attending college outside the Southeast U.S.

6

National Me rit S ch olars

4

National Me rit C omme nd ed Sch olars

1

Nati o n al Hispa n i c Schol a r

C l a ss of 2 0 21 st u d e nts a re m a t r i c u l a t i n g to th e fol l o wi n g s ch o ol s : American University Arizona State University Auburn University Baylor University Belmont University Boston College Brown University Butler University College of Charleston Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University East Tennessee State University Fisk University Fort Valley State University Howard University Indiana University (Bloomington) Lehigh University

Louisiana State University McGill University Mercer University Miami University (Oxford) Muskingum University Northeastern University Pace University (New York City) Princeton University Rhodes College Samford University Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art & Design Sewanee: The Univ. of the South Southern Methodist University St John’s University (New York) Syracuse University Texas A&M University Texas Christian University

The Ohio State University Tulane University of Louisiana University of Alabama University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff University of California (Berkeley) University of Colorado Boulder University of Dayton University of Denver University of Georgia University of Memphis University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Mississippi University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania

University of Southern California University of Tennessee University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington Utah State University Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Washington University in St Louis Western Kentucky University

2021 SUMMER | 17

Ensights_Repaired.indd 17

7/28/21 10:14 AM

COMMUNITY

C lass of 2021

Graduation Speech E XC E R P T S Kelile Southwell, Class Speaker A f ter a yea r of wea ring ma sks, helping teachers with technology, standing on dots, and forgetting to fill out SchoolPass Questionnaires, we did it, a nd today, 118 Enswor th tigers ea rn their stripes. After these four years, no longer can our parents hit us with that “back when I was a kid” speech because when they were kids they, in fact, did not go to school in a pandemic.

Now, we have our own stories to tell when we’re all old heads at someone’s cookout.

As a class, it is evident we are talented in many ways that extend beyond the classroom and into many areas.

Just not into the area of planning senior pranks. For the future of this class, I have high hopes with 19 Capstone

Scholars, 19 Service Scholars, 12 Athletic Signees, six National Merit Scholars, and three US Presidential Scholar Nominees. I have no doubt that we are one of the most, if not the most, talented and capable classes to ever walk the campus. Such an abundance of talents and abilities is rare and is worthy of celebration. As I look into this crowd, I am confident that I am looking at future CEOs, movie producers, doctors, Olympians, actors, and everything in between. I name all these different roles because greatness takes on many forms.

Greatness has no age, gender, or race, and what makes one person great may not make someone else great. In the words of the contemporary Canadian Philosopher and musician, Drake, “Mike never tried to rap like Pac, and Pac never tried to sing like Mike.” So as we move on to greater things, class, I urge you to think about what makes you great, not your peers.

Liam Frumkin, Elected by the Senior Class My actual number one memory: St udent Spea ker Ser ies.

Earlier this school year, I shared my struggles with my eating disorder with all of you.

I had no idea how you guys would react. Honestly, I was scared to go to school afterwards. I am so incredibly grateful for all of you. You not only treated me completely normally, but also supported me, shared with me, and got me through some tough times. Every day I battle my disorder, but it is so much easier to win the fight with you guys there with me.

As we go into college, I do want you guys to know that if you want to wear some memory foam Skechers, then you wear some Skechers. If you want to get up on a weirdly placed balcony and sing, knock yourself out. If you want to shove a staple in a door….well, don’t do that. Most of all, though, know that everything is easier with people by your side. Writing this speech showed me how I could not have done any of this alone. I got through school by observing, learning, and working with you guys. Getting to this point was definitely a team effort. Thank G-d I had such a good team. I wish you guys all the best and thank you all so much for the amazing memories together.

18 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 18

7/28/21 10:14 AM

COMMUNITY

William Vreeland, Student Government President Much of my high school experience was shaped by the pursuit of things that I was afraid of, public speaking being just one of them. As we collectively enter into a new chapter of our lives, there will be moments when we all have to make big decisions. When considering your options, I urge you to not shy away from something simply because it scares you. Would you make a different decision if you were not afraid of rejection, uncertainty, or the unknown? Now, leaving high school, one of our most valuable assets is our youth. Your destiny is not set, and there is still time to choose your path through life. Think

long and hard about your values, what you want out of a career, relationship, or friendship, and before you lock in a large decision, always consider the choice you would have made if you weren’t afraid. I urge you all - every member of the absolutely awesome class of 2021 to always ask yourself “what would you do if you weren’t scared?” Then do that.

Ensworth Class of 2021, you are an amazing group of people, and I can not wait to see what comes of us. You are talented, hard-working, ambitious, and passionate, and I will miss more than anything getting to see your friendly faces on campus. It’s been a great four years, but this is only the beginning for us all.

“After these four years, no longer can our parents hit us with that ‘back when I was a kid’ speech because when they were kids they, in fact, did not go to school in a pandemic.”

Kelile Southwell

Jacqueline Frist, Elected by the Senior Class I know I cannot be the only one wondering what our motto, “In Search of Truth,” even means. What is this big truth we are searching for? Is it the secret ingredient that makes E-cookies taste so good? Is it the answer as to what lurks inside the bell tower? Or maybe it’s the identity of the person who left that poor, half-eaten sandwich on the locker room floor during sophomore year? Well, I’ll tell you this: the truth we are in search of is not always what you think. This past year has unearthed a lot of needed reflection for myself; in turn, I thought about what this maxim truly means to us as students. Initially, I perceived that the truth we needed to discover was our plans for college. I thought the truth could be found in the pages of our textbooks. I will admit that I merely saw our school motto as a surface-level encouragement to study hard; in reality, that does a disservice to the genuine meaning of the statement. The truth is—well, I

can’t exactly tell you what the truth is. There can’t be one answer when there is no question in the first place. That’s how life works: you can only find answers when you are willing to ask yourself what you are looking for. [..] I feel that I have discovered my truth, for now. I say “for now” because truth works in ways that we don’t always expect. The “truth” Ensworth was in search of twenty years ago is different from what we search for now.

Nevertheless, the mission statement remains the same. It is timeless. The motto will never change to “In Discovery of Truth” – we will always continue to be in search of it.

Life always gives us more to learn from. That is why I can’t tell you all what the answer to our motto is, because that is your truth. Our mission statement implores us to constantly reach for a greater understanding of ourselves and of others. We survived high school, gritted through every test, and made it to graduation. These little victories in life, however small, are yet one step closer to understanding ourselves. And so, we continue our search for truth.

22002211 SSU UM MM MEER R || 1199

Ensights_Repaired.indd 19

7/28/21 10:14 AM

COMMUNITY

CLASS OF 2021 GRADUATION Saturday, May 29, 2021 • Frist Campus 20 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 20

7/28/21 10:14 AM

COMMUNITY

GRADE 8 CLOSING EXERCISES Tuesday, May 25, 2021 • Red Gables Campus 2021 SUMMER | 21

Ensights_Repaired.indd 21

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

FOR T H E R E C OR D Middle School National Spanish Exam

Middle School Chinese Awards

The World Languages Department at the Middle School would like to congratulate the three top scorers from each grade on the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) or Chinese Proficiency Test, Level 1.

Grade 8: Thomas Armstrong, Lily Bowen, Tess Staelin Grade 7: Stefano Boschi Asbun, Ilyana Bachmann, Caroline Greer

Student Government Leaders Elected

Congratulations to President Genevieve Schaefer ’21 and Vice President Karim Daouk ’21 who will represent the High School student body during the 2020-2021 school year. Lanie Dyke ’22, Katherine Sales ’23, and Dean Ralsky ’24 were elected as Class Speakers

Grades 7 and 8 students recently sat for the Level 1 of the National Spanish Exam with many receiving honors for their performance.

Grade 8, Silver: Dax Martin Grade 8, Bronze: Diana Barrett, Maggie Burke, Sonia Keller, Lux Paine, Grant Rehm Grade 8, Honorable Mention: Jonah Biller, Owen Campbell, Avery Dahle, Anna Claire Damp, Roman Dixon, Oscar Elam, Dylan Friedman-Almond, Sophie Gill, Kate Haney, Mack Mahlendorf, Kathryn McLaren, Luca McTrusty, Owen Moeller, Lachlan Newell, Dev Patel, Will Polkowski, Emery Smith, Landon Sullivan, Halle Vickery, Ryleigh Wilson, Veronica Wong Grade 7, Bronze: Frances Duvall Grade 7, Honorable Mention: Cate Barfield, Mason Brunson, Cameron Herring, Julia Linn

Olympic Trials

Evan Petty ‘21 qualified in April ’21 for the US Olympic Trials in the 100 meter Backstroke, swimming the long course event in 55.76. Evan will join the Golden Bears to swim for University of California, Berkeley, in the fall of 2021.

for their classes.

CARA Encore Nomination

Encore, our high school contemporary a cappella ensemble, was nominated for The Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARA) best solo for their rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Fall in Line.”

Grade 8 Presidential Debate

Congratulations to Elise Mason, who won the Grade 8 Presidential Debate advocating for Dwight D. Eisenhower as the best president in U.S. Hisory.

Cum Laude & Bar Pin Awards

To view a complete list of 2021 high school academic awards, visit the Ensworth Blog: www.ensworth.com/barpins

22 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 22

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

Book Awards

Each year colleges and college alumni groups recognize outstanding students throughout the country with book awards. This year, Ensworth juniors were honored for their excellence in various fields of endeavor by fifteen colleges and universities.

The Harvard Prize Book: Lanie Dyke

Presented annually in more than 2,000 high schools around the world to recognize outstanding students in their next-tograduating class who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and achievement in other non-academic areas.

The Hollins Book Award: Phoebe Kyriopoulos

Recognizes an outstanding junior who has demonstrated sustained academic excellence and possesses a special interest in English and creative writing.

The Princeton Book Award: Genevieve Schaefer

Recognizes a junior who displays excellence in the areas of academics, extracurricular activities, and community service, as well as a strong desire, either through words or actions, to change the world for the better.

The Vermont Citizen Scholar Book Award: Scout Halligan

The Rhodes College Book Award: Trey Gray

Awarded to a junior student who has demonstrated exemplary community service coupled with a commitment to leadership and helping others.

The St. Lawrence University Book Award: Braden Peets

Recognizes an outstanding high school junior who has displayed a significant commitment to community service.

The Tulane University Book Award: Owen Shaffer

Students selected for the award embody the university’s motto, “Not for one’s self, but for one’s own,” and have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, and public service, in their respective communities.

The Jefferson Book Award: DJ Weinstein

Presented by the University of Virigina Club of Nashville to a junior who best represents the Jeffersonian ideals of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship.

Awarded to deserving junior year students who have demonstrated both outstanding dedication to scholarship inside the classroom and impressive duty to citizenship outside The Saint Michael’s Book Award: AC Oeser Awarded to a student of high academic success and exemplary the classroom. community service involvement, whose accomplishments embody St. Mike’s commitment to intellectual achievement, social justice, The Randolph College Book Award: Emma Noonan issues of peace and concern for others.

Recognizes an outstanding high school junior who displays excellence in academics and leadership.

The Yale Book Award: Marshall Wilt

The Rensselaer Medal: Karim Daouk

Established in 1916 with two purposes: to recognize the superlative academic achievement of young men and women, and to motivate students towards careers in science, engineering, and technology. The Rensselaer Medal recognizes an outstanding junior who has distinguished himself/herself in mathematics and science.

Awarded to the student at Ensworth who shows the greatest intellectual promise, as evidenced by actual achievements and demonstrated potential; who, by activities at school and in the community, has demonstrated a broad range of interests and accomplishments; and who is of outstanding personal character.

Service Scholars

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 Service Scholars! Service Scholars engage in an extension of his/her senior Service Learning project. The extension consists of an academic component as well as additional service hours. Below is a list of Service Scholars and their research topics.

Kylianne Broughton The Ballot Ballet: Voter Engagement in the Face of Voter Suppression Jessica Bryan Cheatham County Animal Control Salwa Daouk American Civil Liberties Union Addison Francis Nashville Humane Association Jacqueline Frist Nashville Humane Association

Lainey Garside Miracle Network Ensworth Dance Marathon & Time to Rise Claire Haley What Factors Impact Tennesseans’ Access to Healthcare Nell Harris Food Insecurity and Academic Achievement: The Effect of Covid-19 on At-Risk Children Lindsey Hollomon Miracle Network Ensworth Dance Marathon & Time to Rise

Hayden Horn Aiding Underserved Groups in the Nashville Area during the Covid-19 Pandemic Brooke Hughes Ending World Hunger Ian Jaffe My First Book Project Anna Lapre Solving Cat Overpopulations with Community Cat Programs Bridget Monaghan Cheatham County Animal Control

Anna Munson Thistle Farms Elizabeth Saltsman Second Harvest Food Bank Emma Sitarich Spreading Sunshine Sachi Srivastava Achievement Gaps, Housing Displacement, and Cultural Barriers: Three Lesser Known Stories of a Pandemic William Vreeland Time to Rise, Time to Rise Meals

2021 SUMMER | 23

Ensights_Repaired.indd 23

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

FOR T H E R E C OR D

National Merit Finalists

Six members from the Class of 2021 were named National Merit Semifinalists, Brooks Bradbury-Fawns, Jacqueline Frist, Nell Harris, Claire Humphrey, Anna Lapre, and Noah Lucy. In addition, Brooks BradburyFawns, Jacqueline Frist, and Sachi Srivastava were recognized as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholastic Award.

Middle School: Head of School Award

The Head of School Award, given to students who have earned a place on the Head of School list in all four marking periods of their eighth-grade year, was presented to: Thomas Armstrong Elli Baker Jonah Biller Lily Bowen Mimi Bowen Wynne Braemer Rush Buntin Sebastian Cabrera Gutierrez Owen Campbell Braxton Gunn Brenna Hanbury Leah Jackson Elizabeth Larson

Dax Martin Elise Mason Lizzie McWilliams Lachlan Newell Will Polkowski Grant Rehm Emery Smith Tess Staelin Niamiah Taylor Grace Thompson Selin Weitkamp Veronica Wong Jana Yassin

James N. Brown Award

The James N. Brown Award, given to students who have earned all As in Effort and Consideration throughout their sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade years, was presented to:

Grade 5 Book’em Collection

Thank you to our generous community who contributed to a record-breaking Grade 5 book collection drive for Book’em. More books were collected this year than ever before, amounting to over 44,500 books donated in the last 11 years.

MathCounts Honors

In January, all Middle School students competed in the school round of the National MathCounts Competition. Students who ranked in the top ten went on to compete in an online Chapter Competition: eighth-graders Thomas Armstrong, Lily Bowen, Dax Martin, Lizzie McWilliams, Lux Paine, Will Polkowski, Niamiah Taylor, Jana Yassin, seventh-grader Julia Grace Linn, and sixth-grader Caroline Cox. Additional congratulations go to Thomas Armstrong ‘25 and Lily Bowen ‘25, who qualified to compete in the next level of the competition in the MathCounts Invitational, where they both once again scored in the top eight and qualified to compete at the state level.

Thomas Armstrong Elli Baker Jonah Biller Lily Bowen Mimi Bowen Wynne Braemer Sebastian Cabrera Gutierrez Amber Clark Avery Dahle Anna Claire Damp Brenna Hanbury Kate Haney

William Hull Claire Kurtz Elizabeth Larson Dax Martin Elise Mason Lizzie McWilliams Will Polkowski Grant Rehm Niamiah Taylor Selin Weitkamp Veronica Wong

Miss Basketball

Jaloni Cambridge ‘24 was named Miss Basketball for Div II AA. She was also named to the 12-member United States team that will compete at the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.

24 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 24

7/28/21 10:14 AM

ACADEMICS

August 18 First Day of Class (see calendar for orientation schedules) ENSWORTH

September 13 Robert Inman Tiger Golf Classic

2021 IMPORTANT DATES

October 1–2 Homecoming Weekend & Alumni Reunions October 3 High School Preview Day October 14–15 Fall Break

Visit ensworth.com to confirm dates and for more information

November 24–26 Thanksgiving Break December 18 Winter Break Begins (through January 4, 2022)

House of Truth Wins the Devon Cup

From Homecoming Week to Spirit Week, our Tiger Houses have competed in various activities throughout the year. House points were awarded for competitions including Dress Days, Powder Puff Football, House Dodgeball, and Dining Hall Clean-Up. Designed to promote school spirit and build connections among the grade levels, each of our four Tiger Houses is led by two senior captains who were selected by the members of their houses at the beginning of the school year.

House Captains Elected for 2021-2022 House of Integrity

House of Truth

MH Wall, Kenneth McKinley

Edie Bass, Sam Horn

House of Morality

House of Vitality

Kamil Collier, Toby Wilt

Middle School Geography Bee

Congratulations to Middle School Geography Bee winner Will Polkowski ’25!

Lillian Lewis, Charles Ingram

Congratulations to the House of Truth, led by 2020–2021 Captains Gabby White and Max Keller, for the Devon Cup championship win this year.

Scholastic Arts Awards

Congratulations to ten High School students for receiving high honors at the 2021 Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Competition.

Gold Key Award Winners: Audrey Campbell, Rachel Fielding, Jacqueline Frist (four Gold Keys), Anna Munson, Owen Shaffer, Sachi Srivastava Silver Key Award Winners: Salwa Daouk, Jacqueline Frist (five Silver Keys), Nhi-Ha Le, Lillie Waddell Honorable Mention: Audrey Campbell, Sara Daugherty, Owen Shaffer (three Honorable Mentions), Sachi Srivastava (three Honorable Mentions), Lillie Waddell (two Honorable Mentions) See more award winning artwork on page 64 2021 SUMMER | 25

Ensights_Repaired.indd 25

7/28/21 10:14 AM

COMMUNITY

Build Our Community

| Support Our School

| Educate Our Parents

THE POWER OF ENSWORTH PARENTS If last year taught us anything, it taught us that Ensworth parents show up! In a year when showing up wasn’t easy, we found creative ways to show up time and time again to support our school, our incredible faculty and staff, our children, and one another.

This year we get to SHOW UP IN PERSON again, and what a FUN year it will be! We are so excited about coming together for the fabulous events the Parent Association has planned, including: • New Parent Welcome Breakfasts • Uniform Swap & Sales to get your Tigers outfitted • Fall Parent Gatherings • Parent Education events • All-School Tiger Trek Tailgate • Fiction with Friends Book Club • Parenting with Purpose Series • Homecoming Dinners for our Freshmen (and Sophomores too!)

• Tiger Night 2022 • Super Saturday There are many meaningful ways to get involved on campus, both big and small, and we would love to have you join us. Be on the lookout for a SignUp Genius with opportunities to volunteer for a variety of committees, including Faculty & Staff Appreciation, Tiger Night, Library, New Parent Welcome, Arts Council, Uniform Swap & Sale, Senior Activities, Lost & Found, and Parent Education.

Looking back at last year, we appreciate more than ever how our supportive and diverse community of parents has made us collectively stronger and more resilient. We cannot wait to see everyone this fall and we encourage YOU to volunteer, attend Parent Association events, have FUN, and support our wonderful school.

ELIZABETH GERKEN & BARBARA SMITH 2021-2022 Co-Presidents - Ensworth Parent Association

Save the Dates!

HOMECOMING DINNERS (For Grades 9 & 10) October 2, 2021

TIGER NIGHT/ AUCTION February 12, 2022

TIGER TREK TAILGATE October 8, 2021

SUPER SATURDAY May 7, 2022

Join us on October 8, 2021 for a new Tiger Trek Tailgate tradition! We’ll gather on the Red Gables Campus for dinner, festive fun, music, games and E swag before we walk over as a community to support our Tigers on the football field as they face off versus MBA. Mark your calendars; more details coming soon!

26 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 26

7/28/21 10:14 AM

COMMUNITY 2021–2022 PARENT ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS Co-Presidents Elizabeth Gerken & Barbara Smith

FACES of the

President-Elect Amanda Graff

Meet Roochita Mathur and husband and wife team Aashish Shah and Roseann Rogers! Chairs of the Parent Association’s New Parent Welcome Committee, these dedicated and enthusiastic parents are leading the charge in welcoming new parents to our Ensworth community with open arms. In addition to providing an outlet for meeting other new parents through coffees, cocktails, outdoor walks, and more, the Committee also helps parents find volunteer opportunities and get involved with the PA. In 2021-2022, the New Parent Welcome Committee will be more important than ever as our new parents (from last year and this year) join us for IN-PERSON events and get to volunteer ON-CAMPUS. So, without further ado, let’s learn more about our fearless committee leaders!

Secretary Sara Perry Treasurer Teresa Broyles-Alpin Treasurer-Elect Jason Bates Parent Education Chair Shanna Belott Parent Education Chair-Elect Julie Dretler Communications Chair Nancy Keen Palmer Communications Chair-Elect Katie Robinson

ROOCHITA MATHUR

Lower School/Middle School New Parent Welcome Committee Chair Roochita is a busy mom of three who loves making new friends, traveling the world, and reading for her book club. She works with her husband, Abhishek, on their family’s various business ventures and serves as the Co-chair of Philanthropy for EveryOneHuman, a non-profit dedicated to restoring dignity and freedom for survivors of extreme human exploitation.

When you were a new Ensworth parent, what made you feel welcome in the community?

We were lucky to enjoy a wonderful Kindergarten year and are still close friends with a lot of the families we met in that first year! The parent gatherings gave us a great opening to meet other parents and cultivate those friendships.

What do you hope to accomplish in the next year? My goal for the coming year is to ensure that each new family knows they have a place in our community. I would also love to help make up some of the missed events from last year for the 2020 Kindergarten class to give them the benefit of the full Ensworth experience!

What brought you to Ensworth? I grew up in Nashville but moved away for 12 years to NYC. My husband brought us back south for work and was the one who encouraged me to look into private schools.

Despite my initial insistence at sending the kids through the Brentwood schooling system where I attended school, I quickly fell in love with so much that Ensworth had to offer—from all the resources my kids have available to them to the welcoming community on every level. Four years in and we haven’t looked back since!

Immediate Past President (Acting) Katie Porterfield

Fundraising Chair Ruth Coppeans Fundraising Chair-Elect Kathy Dorr Lower School Rep Corinne Kidd Lower School Rep-Elect Amanda Tolbert Middle School Rep Stephanie Bailey Middle School Rep-Elect Jessica Amden High School Rep Jennifer Borden High School Rep-Elect Alagra Morris Arts Council Chair Larissa Polkowski Arts Council Chair-Elect Kate Scott New Parent Welcome Chair LS/MS Roochita Mathur New Parent Welcome Chairs HS Roseann Rogers & Aashish Shah Auction Liaisons Rebecca Shah & Stacey Vallejo Volunteer Coordinator Chair Shannon McIntosh Volunteer Coordinator Chair-Elect Susan Weathersby

Roochita & Abhishek Mathur with Syon (Grade 4) & Niam (Grade 2)

At-Large Reps (5) Lori Glenn, Jasmin Hopkins, Trish Mixon, Sam Patel, Chris Schickling 2018 SUMMER | 27

Ensights_Repaired.indd 27

7/28/21 10:14 AM

COMMUNITY

FACES of the ROSEANN ROGERS & AASHISH SHAH High School New Parent Welcome Committee Chairs Roseann, Aashish, and their son Nikhil, know what it’s like to be new. They relocated from Houston last year when Nikhil was entering his sophomore year. Aashish was recruited to Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare, and then joined HCA Corporate. Roseann, an Emmy winner, known as “The Buzz Lady” for her arts and entertainment television news features, joined iHeartMedia-Nashville in Strategic Partnerships & Brand Marketing. Ironically, Roseann now works in the same building where she began her broadcasting career while still in college. The couple enjoys hiking in Percy Warner Park and, as huge Titans fans, they can’t wait to get back in the stands to cheer on their team!

What was your experience as new Ensworth parents?

Our first year at Ensworth was really about seeking out opportunities to connect. It was very important to us to be involved in the school just as we have been in Houston so we took a very deliberate and bespoke approach to connecting with fellow parents. We reached out and met with parents, hosted (socially distanced) dinners and got involved with fundraising. We are grateful for those fellow parents who took us under their wings and helped us connect. It was also amazing how many non-Ensworth parents introduced us to their Ensworth friends—a clear testament to the school’s reputation and culture. Of course, we also participated in several PA new parent events, including a breakfast and walk at Percy Warner Park. All in all, it’s been a great year of learning. We are looking forward to being the HS New Parent Welcome chairs and helping new parents and families integrate into the Ensworth community.

Roseann Rogers, Aashish Shah, and Nikhil (Grade 11) What made you feel welcome in the community?

Without a doubt, there were two people who really made the greatest impact in welcoming us to the Ensworth community. First was Ann West, the Director of Admissions.

We would have been lost without her. She was a constant supporter and resource for us throughout this first year at Ensworth. She helped connect us with other Texas families as well as giving us the ins and outs of the school. We joked that she was our guidance counselor at Ensworth! Second was Head Baseball Coach Jason Maxwell. He welcomed us as baseball parents. Because he spent time in Houston, we had a shared background. Most importantly, we saw the time and effort he spent making Nikhil feel welcome and providing him with guidance.

As the High School New Parent Welcome Chairs, what are you most excited about next year? We’re so excited to serve in this role. We certainly appreciate what it’s like to move into a new community and school. We hope to make parents and students feel connected to the Ensworth family and establish new relationships. We are looking forward to bringing people together and helping parents connect through social and networking events.

Thank you for a successful

TIGER NIGHT! 2021 Virtual Auction

CHAIRS Ari Dowdy, Katie Cameron, Kari Tierney

28 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 28

7/28/21 10:15 AM

COMMUNITY

CHAIRS Georgette Eftekhari, Kailey Hand, Allison Smith

Ensworth’s 2021

SUPER FRIDAY

Red Gables Campus

TIGER NIGHT & SUPER FIRDAY Even in 2020–2021, our community found creative ways to hold time-honored traditions, including an incredibly successful virtual Tiger Night that raised more than $240,000 in net revenue to support our school and a revamped Super Saturday, held at school on Friday to keep our Tigers safe (and it also included the most spirited balloon display our school has ever seen!).

2021 SUMMER | 29

Ensights_Repaired.indd 29

7/28/21 10:15 AM

COMMUNITY A

E

B

ENSWORTH

Lower/Middle School

EVENTS Spring 2021 F

D

C

PICTURED A, B, C, D, E, F Field Day G Beam Signing for new LS Building H Grade 8 Pancake Breakfast I, J, K, L Teacher Appreciation Parade 30 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 30

7/28/21 10:15 AM

COMMUNITY G

I

J

H

K

L

2021 SUMMER | 31

Ensights_Repaired.indd 31

7/28/21 10:15 AM

COMMUNITY A

B

ENSWORTH

High School

EVENTS Spring 2021

C

PICTURED A Encore Concert B Rock Band Concert C Spring Dance Concert D Legacy Luncheon 13-Year Students E, F, G Spirit Week H, I Spring Day J, K Prom

D

32 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 32

7/28/21 10:15 AM

COMMUNITY E

F

G

H

I

J

K

2021 SUMMER | 33

Ensights_Repaired.indd 33

7/28/21 10:15 AM

ATHLETICS

34 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 34

7/28/21 10:15 AM

ATHLETICS

2020

|

2021

MIDDLE SCHOOL WINTER/SPRING HIGHLIGHTS GIRLS’ VARSITY BASKETBALL

• HVAC Champions • 8-1 season • Outstanding players: Nori Jamison ’26, Gabi Bullock ’26, & Emery Smith ’25 and Brenna Hanbury ’25 for defense.

BOYS’ VARSITY BASKETBALL

• HVAC Champions • Outstanding players: Landon Sullivan ’25, Ethan Utley ’25, Justin Hopkins ’26, Jonah Biller ’25, Sam Haley ’25, Jack Watts ’25

6TH GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

• HVAC Basketball Runner-Up • Outstanding players: Hollis Jacobs as point guard, Eleanor Denbo and Makaylah Batten as leading scorers, and Ella Meade Poe and Caroline Watts for rebounding.

6TH BOYS’ BASKETBALL

• HVAC Jr. Division Champions • Undefeated season • Led by Harrison Hampton, Warner Hart, Daniel McGugin, Cutler Smith, Dain Clark

BOYS’ SWIMMING

• 6th - 200 medley relay: Alex Aplin ’27, Elliott Darr ’26, Cameron Herring ’26, Owen Moeller ’25 • 6th - 200 free relay: Elliott Darr ’26, Cameron Herring ’26, Alex Aplin ’27, Lee Atwood ’26 • Elliott Darr ’26: 6th- 200 free, 3rd- 100 fly • Alex Aplin ’27: 6th- 100 free, 9th - 100 breast • Cameron Herring ’26: 16th - 100 free

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

• HVAC Champions • 400 free relay broke a record with a final time of 3:58.82 (Leah Jackson ’25, Lizzie McWilliams ’25, Alex Glenn ’26, & Mac Spurrier ’27) • Leah Jackson ’25: 1st - 200 free; 100 back • Lizzie McWilliams ’25 1st - 50 free; 3rd - 100 fly • Alex Glenn ’26 2nd - 200 IM & 100 breast • Gracie Corn ’25 5th - 50 free; 3rd - 100 breast • Sidney Tompkins ’25 6th - 50 free; 7th - 100 free • Audrey Bailey ’26 11th - 50 free; 9th - 100 free • Hayden Cherry ’26 13th - 50 free; 11th - 100 free • Sydney Johnson ’26 13th-100 free; 16th- 100 breast • Mac Spurrier ’27 6th -50 free; 4th- 100 breast • Zoey Rushing ’27 6th- 100 fly; 5th- 100 breast • Elsa Staelin ’27 8th - 200 IM & 5th 100 back • Caroline Cox ’27 16th - 100 free • Allanah Wong ’27 12th - 100 back • 1st - 200 medley relay

SOFTBALL

• Standout players: Mia Thompson ’25,

Leah Jackson ’25, Gabbie Snell ’25, Niamiah Taylor ’25

GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD

• Fourth place in HVAC Finals Individual medalists: • Caroline Watts ’27 – 3rd - high jump • Gabi Bullock ‘26 – 2nd - 100m hurdles • Lily Bowen ’25 – 2nd - 1600m run • Tess Staelin ’25 – 3rd - 400m dash • Selin Weitkamp ’25, Elli Baker ’25, Lilly Bowen ’25, and Eleanor Denbo ’27 –3rd - 4 × 800m relay • Gabi Bullock ’26, Coco McGehee ’26, Lizzie McWilliams ’25, & Tess Staelin ’25 – 3rd - 4 × 200m relay

BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD

• Second place in HVAC Finals • Ethan Utley ’25 - 2nd - shot put & 2nd - discus • Sam Haley ’25 - 2nd - long jump, 3rd 100m dash, 3rd - 200m dash • Grant Rehm ’25, Mack Mahlendorf ’25, Braxton Gunn ‘ 25, and Jonah Biller ’25 – 2nd - 4 × 800m relay • Justin Hopkins ’26, Jackson Reid ’25, Logan Miller ’25, and Jack Tompkins ’26 – first place in the 4 × 200m relay • Justin Hopkins ’26, Jackson Reid ’25, Logan Miller ’25, and Sam Haley ‘25 – 2nd - 4 × 100m relay • Jackson Reid ’25, Braxton Gunn ’25, Edward Duncan ’26, and Jack Tompkins ’26 – 2nd - 4 × 400m relay

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

VARSITY BASEBALL

• Led by 8th graders William Hull,

Lachlan Newell, Jack Watts, and 7th graders Aiden Nick, Cameron Obee, and Blake Surratt.

• HVAC Champions • Led by 8th graders Sophie Gill, Kate Haney, Elise Mason, Grace Prentice, and Grace Thompson

BOYS’ LACROSSE

5TH AND 6TH BASEBALL

• 5th graders led by Shep Porterfield, Hines Porterfield, Corbin Clintsman, and Gage Bullock.

• 6th grade team led by Cutler Smith, Dan McGugin, and Cael Tierney

• Standout players: Owen Campbell ’25, Rush Buntin ’25, Justin Nozko ’26, and Logan Rehm ’25

2021 SUMMER | 35

Ensights_Repaired.indd 35

7/28/21 10:15 AM

ATHLETICS

HIGH SCHOOL

36 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 36

7/28/21 10:15 AM

ATHLETICS 2020

|

2021

HIGH SCHOOL WINTER/SPRING HIGHLIGHTS SWIMMING & DIVING:

• Swimming & Diving State Team Results: Combined Boys & Girls Team 3rd (Girls team 4th, Boys team 5th) • MTHSSA All Region Team - 1st team: Emily Harris ‘22, Anna Jackson ‘22, Jake Mason ‘22, Rob McCall ‘21 • MTHSSA All Region Team - 2nd team: Julia Mason ‘24 • Regional Diving Champion: Clark Akers ‘21 Girls State Meet Medalist • 500 Free: Emily Harris ‘22 - 3rd, Anna Jackson ‘22 - 4th, Julia Mason ‘24 - 7th, Brooke Hughes ‘21 - 12th • 400 Free Relay - 5th place: Olivia Solimine ‘23, Emily Harris ‘22, Julia Mason ‘24, Anna Jackson ‘22 • 200 Free Relay - 15th: Julia Mason ‘24, Brooke Hughes ‘21, Remi Schimmel ‘23, Sydney Strnad ‘24 • 200 Medley Relay - 6th: Olivia Solimine ’23, Brooke Hughes ’21, Emily Harris ’22, Anna Jackson ’22 •200 Free: Emily Harris ’22 - 4th, Anna Jackson ’22 - 6th, Julia Mason ’24 - 8th •50 Free: Olivia Solimine ’23 - 9th Boys State Meet Medalist • Diving: Clark Akers ’21 - 8th, Hunter Haney ’23 - 12th • 500 Free: Jake Mason ’22 - 2nd • 100 Backstroke: Rob McCall ’21 - 2nd • 400 Free Relay - 5th: Rob McCall ’21, Will Materazzi ’21, Patrick France ’21, Jake Mason ’22 • 200 Medley Relay - 3rd: Rob McCall ’21, Patrick France ’21, Jake Mason ’22, Noah Lucy ’21 • 200 IM: Jake Mason ’22 - 2nd • 100 Butterfly: Rob McCall ’21 - 5th

BOYS’ BASKETBALL:

• Malik Dia ’22: Division II-AA Middle Region Team, Tennessean All-Midstate Team , TSWA All-State Basketball Team

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:

• Division II-AA Miss Basketball: Jaloni Cambridge ‘24 • Division II-AA Girls’ Championship All-Tournament Team: Kamil Collier ’22 • Division II-AA All Middle Region Team: Jaloni Cambridge ’24, Kennedy Cambridge ’22, Kamil Collier ’22

Ensights_Repaired.indd 37

• Division II-AA Middle Region MVP: Jaloni Cambridge ‘24 • Tennessean All Midstate Team: Jaloni Cambridge ‘24 • Tennessean Sports Writer Association (TSWA) All-State Basketball Team: Jaloni Cambridge ‘24, Kennedy Cambridge ‘22

GIRLS’ TENNIS

• Middle Region Champs • 11-1 for the season • Anna Chambers ’21 and Riley Collins ’22 : All-State finishing as Doubles State Finalists in State Tournament • Individual State Tournament qualifyers: Avery Smith’21, Anna Chambers ’21, Anna Brock, Riley Collins, and Hadley McCormack

BOYS’ TENNIS

• 2nd in the Middle region • Hank Trondson ’23: All-State, Singles State Finalist • Individual State Tournament qualifyers: Hank Trondson ’23, Eli Schuh ’24, Owen Irving ’23, Karim Daouk ’22, John Morrow ’22, Thomas Armstrong ’25

BOYS’ SOCCER

• TSSAA Division II-AA All-Region: Anthony DeCamillo ’21, Chris DeCamillo ’23

BASEBALL

All Region: Dax Braemer ’21, Devin Obee ’21, Andrew Yu ’21; Honorable Mention: Kenneth McKinley ’22

SOFTBALL

• All-Region Team: Lilly Hartle ‘21, Sarah Herbert ‘21, and Avrey Hunt ‘24 • Honorable Mention All-Region: Caroline Gracey ‘21, Anna Belle Needham ‘23, and Rachel Thompson ‘21

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

• Finished 4th in the State • 6-0 in the region • All-region team: Lucy Butler ’21, Grace Hasselbeck ’24, Adelaide Mason ’22, Helen Thompson ’23, Meredith Whitson ’24

• All-state team: Lucy Butler ’21, Grace Hasselbeck ’24, Adelaide Mason ’22, Meredith Whitson ’24

BOYS’ LACROSSE

• Jim Dismukes ’21: D2 All-League Team & TSLA Regional All-Star team

GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD

Division II-AA State Champions Girls Individual State Champions: • Gianna Bullock ’21: Pentathlon, long jump, high jump, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles • Jacqueline Frist ’21: pole vault Girls Individual State Runner-ups: • Erica Douglas ‘23: 100, 200 • Claire Haley ’21: Pentathlon, 300 hurdles • Sullivan Brown ’24: Long jump, triple jump • 4x200 relay (Arianna Webb ’21, Aliyah Batten ’23, Claire McGehee ’22, Erica Douglas ’23) • 4x100 relay (Claire Haley ’21, Aliyah Batten ’23, Arianna Webb ’21, Erica Douglas ’23) Girls School Records broken: • Gianna Bullock ’21 (300 hurdles) • Jacqueline Frist ’21 (pole vault) • Erica Douglas ’23 (100m) • Most points scored (166) at the State Championship Meet in Girls’ Team History

BOYS’ TRACK & FIELD

Boys Individual State Champions: • Roland McGhee ’22: long jump, 300 hurdles, 200 Boys Individual Runner-ups: • Jonathan Kelly ’21 (high jump) • 4x200 relay: (Mark Smith ’23, Toby Wilt ’22, Shamar Porter ’23, Sammy Taylor ’23) Boys School Records Broken: • Roland McGhee ’22 (Long Jump, 200, 300 hurdles) • 4x100 relay (Mark Smith ’23, Shamar Porter ’23, Toby Wilt ’22, Roland McGhee ’22) • 4x400 relay (Toby Wilt ’22, Sam Horn ’22, Sammy Taylor ’23, Roland McGhee ’22) • Most Points Scored (90.33) at the State Championship Meet in Boys Team History •Great 8 Meet Record: 4x400 relay (Toby Wilt ’22, Sam Horn ’22, Sammy Taylor ’23, Roland McGhee ’22) 2021 SUMMER | 37

7/28/21 10:15 AM

ATHLETICS

GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD

Division II-AA State Champions

38 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 38

7/28/21 10:15 AM

ATHLETICS 2020

|

2021

H I G H S C H O O L AT H L E T I C S ROBERT INMAN AWARD for ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION Robert Inman, a coach and teacher at Ensworth for 33 years, instituted the ideals of Ensworth participation. Mr. Inman coached four athletic seasons for over 30 consecutive years and positively influenced the lives of thousands of students.

The following seniors participated in at least 11 athletic seasons and received the Robert Inman Award for Participation: Gabby White

Toleo Malone

The following junior participated in at least eight athletic seasons and received the Robert Inman Award for Participation: DJ Weinstein

COLLEGE SIGNINGS Dax Braemer Washington University in St. Louis Baseball

Jonathan Kelly Fort Valley State University Basketball

Evan Petty UC-Berkeley Swimming

Gianna Bullock University of Oregon Track & Field

Toleo Malone Muskingum University Football

Andre Turrentine Ohio State University Football

Bryce Edmondson University of Memphis Football

Rob McCall Southern Methodist University Swimming

Zion Wynn Rhodes College Track & Field

Patrick France Washington & Lee University Swimming

Devin Obee Duke University Baseball

Andrew Yu Duke University Baseball

2021 SUMMER | 39

Ensights_Repaired.indd 39

7/28/21 10:15 AM

ARTS

40 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 40

7/28/21 10:15 AM

ARTS

E NS WO RTH p res e n ts

It’s Something for Sure

BY E LLA TA LE RICO ’21

- &The Ha p p y P rince

BY OSCA R WILD E

H IG H SC HOOL SPRING PLAY April 29–May 1, 2021 Over the course of a career, theatre artists only have so many opportunities to collaborate in the creation of a new work for the stage. To create something from nothing. A play— a story—that literally did not exist before they brought it into being.

The same is true of audiences. Most of the plays, dances and classical concerts we attend are re-stagings (and sometimes reimaginings!) of work devised years ago, often centuries ago. And I will be the first to say that I love the act of keeping the classics alive. But that is not what we are here to do tonight.

The two plays that you will see tonight are new. They have never been performed before. They have never been seen before.

And you are a vital part of their first performance. Of everything that you will see and hear tonight, the only thing that existed prior to the beginning of this process was a little-known, 4-page Oscar Wilde story. A story that our Guest Artist, Brian Hull, adapted into a theatrical script, which we have in turn worked to envision and bring to fruition on stage.

Everything else you see tonight was made here by us. Ella Talerico’s original play, It’s Something for Sure, was written over the course of this school year as a part of her Capstone independent study. That script was brought to life over the past six weeks by her friends, classmates and teachers. We made this.

During a year where our lives have been burdened by profound limitations, your students and friends have found a way to create—to bring life to this community and to the world. They have ensured that this hard season has borne fruit. How could I possibly be more proud?

David Berry Director

Ensights_Repaired.indd 41

2021 SUMMER | 41

7/28/21 10:15 AM

ARTS

42 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 42

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ARTS

ENSWOR TH prese nts The Drowsy Chaperone is an ideal musical for the moment we find ourselves in. We fell into it somewhat accidentally, not being able to secure streaming rights for our first choice. But I’m glad we did. At the show’s core, a Man in a Chair sits alone in his apartment, finding joy in listening to his favorite musical. As the characters spring to life before him, he visits those old friends. And who among us has not turned to art for entertainment, for connection, and even for company, in these isolating times?

I understand when journalistic lists place artists in an “unessential” column, but I also know how important art is to each and every one of us—how it entertains, how it teaches, how it keeps us healthy (mentally and emotionally), how it helps us feel less alone. While we could not be together for this year’s musical, I hope we can still celebrate the talents of this delightful cast and crew. May we, like the Man in the Chair, find comfort, acceptance, and love in art!

Shawn Knight

T h e D ro wsy C h ape rone

Director

H I G H SC H O O L MUS ICA L March 4–6, 2021

2021 SUMMER | 43

Ensights_Repaired.indd 43

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY ACADEMICS

From All Sides: Dedicated Educator Sees Ensworth from Many Perspectives A RETIREMENT TRIBUTE TO:

Sarah Buchanan

BY A NNE STR INGH A M

Remember the ancient tale about the blind men who are asked to describe an elephant? Each one examined a different part of the elephant—trunk, legs, tail – by touch and described the animal as long and snake-like, thick and tree-like, skinny and rope-like. Well, one long-time educator has an in-depth knowledge of Ensworth like few others could attain—from a broad range of perspectives gained over the past 32 years. You could say that Dr. Sarah Buchanan knows the reality of the animal – the Ensworth Tiger of course, not an elephant! – from its head to its tail.

School that has provided summer service learning trips around the world for Ensworth’s middle and high school students since 2005. Recognizing faculty continuing education as essential to providing an excellent student experience, she has continued her own academic journey, following up her B.A. in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University with a Master’s in Mathematics and, ultimately, a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from Vanderbilt. She taught as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt from 2006 to 2011.

As Dr. Buchanan concludes her time at Ensworth, it is astounding to consider the many roles she has played, the numerous hats she has worn, and the myriad ways in which she has helped to make Ensworth the teaching and learning environment it is today. Dr. B began her career at Ensworth in September 1989 in the Pre-First Grade (now Kindergarten) classroom, helping the youngest Tigers get off to a great start. She later became Lower School Division Head with responsibilities for faculty and students in Grades Pre-First through Fourth.

Her perspectives on the programs and people of the school community were deepened by the enrollment of the three sons she shares with husband Bob Buchanan, giving her the parent-of-Tigers experience. The Buchanan alumni include Buck ’91, John ’92, and Edward ’97.

From teaching to recruiting faculty to helping guide faculty and curriculum development to overseeing the admissions program for Ensworth’s thirteen grades, with healthy doses of scheduling, service learning, and parent communications, right down to crosswalk greeting in the mornings, Sarah Buchanan’s involvement across Ensworth’s many aspects is incredible.

But beyond the titles and responsibilities, it is Sarah’s dedication and sincere care and concern for the people of Ensworth—students, teachers, staff, alumni, and families—that have distinguished her career.

As the school continued to grow and serve more students and their families, Dr. Buchanan’s roles likewise expanded.

Her most recent service has been as Associate Head of School and Director of Enrollment Management, overseeing K-12 Admissions and Financial Aid. Along the way, she has served as a team member or co-chair of numerous school accreditation teams for the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and has delivered many presentations at SAIS conferences. She has provided leadership and coordination for Ensworth’s own self-studies and accreditation events, as well.

Dr. Buchanan led a faculty development program in Beijing, China in 2008 as the school began the addition of Mandarin into the World Languages curriculum and developed a partnership between Ensworth and the World Leadership

Former Head of School Will Moseley: “Sarah is a true professional in every sense of the word. She is one of the most talented, dedicated, and inspirational educators I have ever known, and I am grateful to have had the privilege of working with her. Her contributions begin with her unconditional love for Ensworth, enhanced by her can-do attitude and willingness to take on all challenges and opportunities, and capped by her unwavering commitment to the kids.

Ensworth is truly a better place as a result of her many years of service.”

Former Headmaster Kirk Walker: “The first time that I met Sarah, I could tell that she was smart and insightful. I soon learned that she also had an intuitive sense of people (both children and adults) as well as a generous heart.

Whatever tasks she was asked to do, her gifts always shone through. Her spirit and her efforts always made Ensworth better.”

Rebekah Capps, Director of Admissions K-8: “Sarah’s loyalty and deep love of Ensworth motivated her to care for

44 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 44

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY this place in a way that made it better. She was never afraid to push for improvement because she believed in our program and its potential. As a colleague, Sarah always had my back.

She offered support, gave honest feedback, and allowed me the freedom to do my work to the best of my ability. Her departure will leave a void that is hard to fill. I am forever thankful for her friendship and guidance.”

Former Head of Lower School Bruce Libonn: “Pity the poor school without Sarah Buchanan on the faculty…who willingly undertakes any job that needs to be done…who carries the institutional memory of the school as lived experience and uses it to calmly face any and every challenge in the life of a vibrant community…whose door is always open to colleagues who need to vent, express a question or concern, or seek advice on how best to help a student in need.

My own family’s first firm step toward the adventure of life in Nashville, a place where we knew no one, came through a call on a Saturday afternoon in wintry Connecticut. When I answered the phone, I was astonished to hear Sarah ask if I had any questions or concerns about Ensworth and say that she would be happy to discuss them. I remember thinking ‘What kind of school is this, where someone calls - on a weekend – to follow up? It’s the kind of school I want to join.’

Sarah’s service to Ensworth, to its children and its adults, has often been quiet, offered in ways that not everyone may notice. I have no doubt that this pleases her. She has been content to be a strong support behind the scenes. Those of us who have worked closely with her know, however, the depth of that strength and support for this place that she loves. I am so grateful to have had the chance to know her, to work with her, and to call her my friend.”

Ricky Bowers, Associate Head of School and Athletic Director, spoke about Sarah in an end-of-year faculty meeting, gathering descriptions of her from several long-time colleagues: “Sarah will get the work done…Give it to Sarah…

Sarah can do it … Sarah will do it.”

Boss Lady-Always positive and present Might show up at any trip just to be supportive

Loyal, devoted, committed…Inspirational educator Unwavering commitment to the kids…Unconditional love for Ensworth Selfless team player, consummate utility fielder, jack of all trades Takes care of everyone…Kind Unflappable, Wise, Tireless, Devoted Steady, Steadfast, Solid, Selfless Sounding board, respected confidante Sarah gives…Below the radar…Does not want the credit Ricky Bowers continued: “Without Sarah’s love and care and humble demonstration of the Ensworthian kindness, I really wonder how things would be different. She was living our Vision Statement before we wrote it. I know personally of examples of what are likely thousands of behind-thescenes acts of ‘the highest principles with the greatest love.’

So, Sarah, on behalf of all of us you have loved and cared for in your own private, intentional, humble, and generous way, we thank you, we appreciate you, we love you, and we will most certainly miss you.”

Head of School David Braemer : Schools are about people and great schools are about great people. Suffice it to say, Sarah Buchanan is one of those great people. Every major initiative at Ensworth in the last 32 years has been positively impacted by Sarah through her vision, commitment, and leadership. Even more significant than what she has accomplished during her tenure at Ensworth is how she has gone about doing it. With grace, humility, and a strong sense of purpose, Sarah has modeled ideals that are core to who we aspire to be as a school. In the process, she has served as a daily reminder to all of us about what it means to be intellectually curious, to use one’s talents to the fullest, to be a person of integrity, and to be a contributor to society.

Without question, Ensworth is a more caring, more engaging, more inspiring school because of Sarah, and I know that I am a better educator, leader, and person as a result of the time I have spent working with her. I cannot thank Sarah enough for all that she has done for Ensworth and for all of us who have had the privilege of being her friends and colleagues.

2021 SUMMER | 45

Ensights_Repaired.indd 45

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY ACADEMICS

A RETIREMENT TRIBUTE TO:

Mary Perkins

BY RU BY CORTN ER

Mary Surratt started at Ensworth in 1995. Like so many of us, Mary started as a sub, but in science, drama, and computer.

I don’t know if you’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing Mary in action. I wasn’t at Ensworth yet, but I can only imagine her commanding three ships: science, drama, and computer. For Mary is a force to be reckoned with.

sort of decoration for all to see are there for appearance’s sake, and this is not Mary. If we look at the origins of the architecture behind using “cornerstone” as a metaphor, the reason we call them cornerstones is because they offer meaningful and lasting support. They are the stones that lie at the corner of two walls and unite them. That’s Mary. If anyone can unite and bring people together, it’s Mary.

When it was apparent that she could do all three of those disciplines and well, science snatched her up. That was 26 years ago.

Her care and support of this place, and most importantly, the people assembled in it, was clear to me from the moment I arrived here years ago.

Before I went into teaching, when someone said “school,” I thought of a building. Kind of like in early Christianity, the word “church” didn’t refer to a building, it referenced the people who belonged to that particular Christian community, translated from the Greek, “ekklesia” or “people assembled.”

A school is also more than a building. It’s the people assembled in it. Teachers, parents, administrators, maintenance staff, kitchen staff, grounds crew, cleaning crew—the list goes on—make it ready for the students. We spend years in college getting degrees or going to technical schools so we can create meaningful curricula and stay current on best practices to make this place safe for our students.

When I think of our school and the people assembled in it day in day out, and the people who have helped build it, who are they?

Well, Mary is definitely one of the cornerstones of this middle school.

What kind of cornerstone? Modern cornerstones—the ones we see prominently displayed on buildings with a date and some

When I first met Mary, it was 19 years ago when I came to Ensworth from Los Angeles. Mary quickly welcomed me by going out of her way to invite me to dinner.

I also saw how dedicated Mary was to her students, especially her advisees, speaking to students who needed a pep talk, hug, or a firm talking-to. Mary is, in my opinion, the best advisor we have in this division. She relates so well to the members of our community because she is not afraid to have hard conversations with the students, parents, teachers, and administrators. I can’t think of anyone who cares about Ensworth and the people in it more than you, Mary.

Mary STILL cares, even though she is retiring. We went to lunch a few days back, and she is still thinking about ways to improve the advisory program, science curriculum, and she’s still worried about some of her students. THIS is why Mary is a cornerstone of the Ensworth Middle School.

Mary, you are leaving mighty big shoes to fill, Sister, and we wish you the best in your next adventure.

46 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 46

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY

A RETIREMENT TRIBUTE TO:

Barb Daugherty

BY TERRI SCHULZ

When I met Barb just a little over 30 years ago, she was Miss Railsback. We both taught math, we both lived in Bellevue, we both had children in the same Ensworth class, so we had connections there, and became friends right away. Over the years when Barb gave me rides to or from work or at conferences, we have had many fun conversations centering around hobbies, family, faith, and school. So, we have been friends and colleagues for a long time.

Barb has given loads of time and care to her Ensworth students.

My daughter was lucky enough to have her for a math teacher, and I asked her, out of curiosity, “Do the children understand Mrs. Daugherty because she really talks fast?” And I’m from the north, so I get it, but how does that go over?

My daughter said, “They get used to it pretty quickly, and, Mom, they really love her. There are always kids around her.” And she was right.

As I’ve observed over many years, Barb always has a group of children around her. And this is why she is super-enthusiastic. She has tons of energy. She loves puzzles and challenges. She gave her time to Destination Imagination after school. And she plays with the kids. They just love that. On the numerous fifth grade trips, Barb loved to hike with the kids or participate in the group-building activities with them. She’d ask them lots of questions, not because she was chaperone, but because she was genuinely young at heart and loved them so much. At night, I’d lay in my bunk with the timer and announce lights out, and Barb would say, “Could I just play one more card game with them?” So, she’d plop in the middle of the f loor with them and play cards and laugh and enjoy every minute. They loved it. So, I’m in bed rolling my eyes, but she made the better choice. She gave her time and enthusiasm to those kids, and it was so much more meaningful to them—the kind of moments they will remember and cherish.

Barb was the same way at school, willing to reach out to give to the kids that energy and care and extra time. Although she often released children a little late from class, she sensed what they needed and was willing to stop and take that time, which was also her planning time, to offer help. Her focus was on that child and finding snippets of extra time for what a child needed.

When I was in middle school, my math teacher offered his lunch time every day for math practice and questions. We brought our lunch, gathered, and sat around to work on math. We took our free time to do this because he was so kind and so helpful and made that time so relaxed. I remember that. It was so valuable and meaningful to me. I know that dozens of Barb’s students will remember her fondly in this way, too.

Barb and her husband, Jim, have raised three wonderful children: Alex, Joshua, and Sarah, all Ensworth students. Sarah graduated this spring, in fact! Jim has been dogging Barb for several years now to retire along with him, and now they will be enjoying new ventures together. They will hike and take neighborhood walks and be able to spend more time with their long-time Bridge club friends. Barb will probably continue to sing for her church choir. She would sing at every faculty holiday sing, and beautifully sings our school alma mater at the annual closing exercises. Barb, when my kids and I would drive off the Ensworth campus on the last day of school each year, we would unroll the windows and belt out the Ensworth alma mater in celebration. I bet if you were driving me home today, we could do that!

Thank you to a dear friend and colleague. Your friendship means so much. We all thank you for your kind spirit and the love you have given to these children and to our Ensworth community.

Cheers!

2021 SUMMER | 47

Ensights_Repaired.indd 47

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY ACADEMICS

Get to Know Ensworth’s New Head of Middle School:

Darwin Mason

How did you get into teaching/education?

Actually, I have been working in education my entire life. I come from a family of educators.

My father is a retired school administrator and was employed in public education for more than 30 years; my mother is a retired school administrator and college professor, and my sister is a school counselor. I began my teaching career at 16 years old in the two-year-old class at a daycare where my mother was an administrator. I guess you could say education is in my blood.

What are the ways in which working in education is so rewarding?

The reward is in the giving. Education is replete with opportunities to give. For the last 20 years, I have been able to “pour into” people from diverse backgrounds. In addition to basic education, I have been able to share knowledge, mentoring, and coaching.

Each time I give, I am inspired to give a little more because giving is the ultimate gift. Winston Churchill said it best, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” I also add the concept of giving and pouring until my “cup runs over.” What’s left in my “saucer” is what I share with others!

Tell us about your personal education.

I attended Southwestern Christian College and received my bachelor’s degree in music vocal performance and psychology from Fisk University. My master’s degree is in administration and supervision from Tennessee State University, and my doctorate in Learning Organization and Strategic Change from Lipscomb University.

I continue to seek these higher degrees because I consider myself a “life-long learner.” I feel the need to stretch myself intellectually as well as prepare myself to engage my academic and occupational peers. I consider the acquisition and application of information the highest form of communication.

What were your first impressions of Ensworth when you joined the community?

I was elated to be a part of the community. I use the word community with intention because that was and is the most attractive element of The Ensworth School. Let me take a minute to dissect the word “community,” and you will see why I am proud to be a part of it. Within the word community are two words commune, a group of people living together and sharing position, and unity, defined as being joined as a whole. You see where I’m going don’t you?

Ensworth is a unified group of people who have the common goal to give their best to every child. I am pleased to be a part! My children and my wife have become a part of that community, so for us, Ensworth offers a “family affair,” so to speak. We feel comfortable here!

What experiences did you have when teaching at Ensworth that made you want to return?

I had the tremendous opportunity to teach and be an advisor to creatively intelligent children during the four years I taught at Ensworth. I am still connected with many of those students. They have allowed me to be a part of their lives. The lifelong connection is special and evidence of what makes Ensworth unique. Who would not want to return to a place like this?

Tell me about some of the challenges of working with middleschool-aged children. In what ways are these years so pivotal in a child’s development?

I believe middle school children provide you with opportunity after opportunity to walk with them on their path to maturity. Those opportunities are only a challenge if you cannot recognize they are often disguised in a variety of packaging. Working with middle school students is not a neat and tidy experience. It is unpredictable and ambiguous. You must know that as a leader and embrace ambiguity while setting clear parameters. Once you have embraced the unique culture of middle school, you realize it is rich with opportunities to be a life-changing agent for adolescent children.

48 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 48

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY

FACULTY PROFILES A Closer Look at Ensworth’s Faculty & Staff

Paolo Guazzini Middle School Spanish Teacher

What do you think makes Ensworth unique?

Ensworth is unique because of the community. I have never known a school where generations of alumni come back with such enthusiasm. They are excited to be back, and they are excited for their children or grandchildren to be here, which demonstrates the love and care that is being fostered on these campuses.

What inspired you to become a teacher?

In many ways, I have always been teaching. I started in high school coaching eighth grade soccer and teaching 2-4 year olds to swim at a summer camp. In college, I had an internship at the Children’s Home in Winston Salem, North Carolina. When I was completing my first master’s degree at Barry University, I was the assistant service learning coordinator and covered undergrad classes when needed. I did not focus on the idea of teaching until I arrived at Nashville and was working at Family and Children’s Service, a local nonprofit, assisting the Latinx community navigate the healthcare system. These moments allowed me to witness an empowerment that only comes through education, and it was at that moment when I understood what I really wanted to do.

What drew you to Ensworth?

For the past six years since arriving in Nashville, I had heard about Ensworth from friends and acquaintances who either attended in their childhood or simply knew of the school’s reputation. Either way, Ensworth was always spoken about in such high regard, it was a no-brainer when the opportunity arose to teach here. My wife and I always heard about the relationships and community formed at Ensworth, which are qualities that we value most since it is community that shapes us and helps us grow.

How will the new, immersive World Language classrooms for Lower School also benefit the MS program?

The new World Language classrooms will provide an incredible opportunity for the teachers to showcase all of their talents. The Lower School World Language teachers have been amazing throughout this year as they were moving around and taking their classrooms on their carts. Having their own rooms will allow them to shine even more, which inevitably will allow the students to be even more engaged and spark a curiosity to acquire a second (or third) language as they move on to middle school.

What is your favorite Ensworth tradition (or a favorite Ensworth memory) and why?

My favorite tradition is the reading buddies program that connects our seventh graders with the first graders. This is such an amazing opportunity for the seventh graders to serve their younger peers, and the little ones will always remember their cool reading buddy.

List 3-5 fun facts about yourself that people might not know.

• I am a fan of futbol/calcio/soccer.

• I speak three languages (Spanish, Italian and English) and can order a sandwich in French.

• I am left-handed. All left-handed people immediately will notice a fellow lefty.

2021 SUMMER | 49

Ensights_Repaired.indd 49

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY ACADEMICS

Kate McGlasson Dean of Academic Support & High School Math Teacher

What inspired you to become a teacher?

In college, I was a business major and then worked in banking for five years. Pretty soon, I knew I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life. I was married and watched my husband’s passion for flying, and I craved a similar vocation. I had always thought about teaching but was not certain how to make it happen. I lived in Kingston Springs at the time, and I called the elementary school and asked if I could substitute. They had a first grade class that needed a sub for two days, and after the first day, I knew that wasn’t my calling, but I gained so much respect for elementary education teachers. A week later, I subbed for a senior English class, and I realized “these are my people.” After getting my Master’s from TSU in secondary education, I took a job at Cheatham County Central High School teaching math and learned so much from the opportunity.

What drew you to Ensworth?

Now that I’m here, I can speak to the fact that it was the vision of the inaugural team. I was the math chair at Harding Academy, and representatives from Ensworth called the middle school head and asked if they could come and talk to the eighth grade about the possibility of a new high school. They brought pizzas and fed the students in my math room, and I sat there and listened to them talk about this vision for a new school. Nothing had been built yet, but I thought that if what they described really worked, it could be amazing. Ensworth got an incredible group of Harding students for their inaugural class. Three years later, my son, Clayton, came to Ensworth for many of those same reasons. By then, I was already thinking of returning to high school. I think it’s healthy to make changes in your career and challenge yourself.

As an eighth-grade teacher, I encouraged students to take risks and challenge themselves, but if I didn’t lead by example, it seems inauthentic. Nothing like this school had ever existed in Nashville before. Ensworth wanted to do things differently; before we ever laid a brick, we put time and energy into who we wanted to be with a devotion to community, diversity, love, humor, and joy. The overarching goal of being the best you can be without comparison or detriment to others is challenging in today’s world.

What do you think makes Ensworth unique?

I think it was that original commitment to be Ensworthian, to be different, to be bold about it, and not to be afraid of it. We weren’t trying to be like everyone else; we were going to try

to be ourselves and trust that if we did that and did it well, we would have something special. Also, we teach self-advocacy; we encourage students and parents to be their own best advocate and self responsible, because those are skills that are so needed in today’s world. We help students discover what kind of learners they are and challenge them to do their own personal best, not to measure themselves in relation to others.

What lessons have you learned from COVID that you will continue to implement moving forward?

We probably overuse the word community, but it is the one thing that broke my heart this year, that we weren’t really able to experience the true Ensworth community. In the beginning, when we couldn’t cheer on teams or share in our amazing arts performances, I struggled with trying to live out the joy that comes from watching students, who might not love math but know that I love watching them succeed in their extracurricular passion, and it simply helps us build trust. Teachers embracing technology and finding ways to create collaboration and communication despite the obvious barriers, singers learning to project through a mask, athletic teams practicing with limited contact….despite the challenges, we undoubtedly know that we are better together than we were at home.

What is your favorite Ensworth tradition (or a favorite Ensworth memory) and why?

One of my favorite traditions is graduation.

We end just like we start. Graduates walk to the same music that they were greeted by on their first day. There are no outside speakers, only students who have been selected by their peers to address their families and friends and not based on a GPA. There are no individual awards, no accolades, no special diplomas. The whole ceremony is literally about the graduates; it is very Ensworth. I get to hand the diploma to the Board of Trustees president as they award them to each senior, and there are times when I hand over that diploma that I know everything that’s gone into it. And in many cases, it’s a lot. It can be a very emotional experience. It takes me back to remembering them as freshmen, going through the tunnel of faculty on their first day and everything in between. It begins and ends with that: welcoming them and then sending them out into the world.

List 3-5 fun facts about yourself that people might not know.

• I love to hike and flyfish.

• There’s nowhere I’d rather be than with my family.

• I was born and raised in Nashville. I attended Oak Hill, St. Cecilia, and Harpeth Hall.

• I wasn’t a very good student myself, which is one of the reasons I do what I do!

50 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 50

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY

Kelly Goorevich Grade 5 Teacher

What inspired you to become a teacher?

I think I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher. I come from a long line of teachers and professors, so the work of educating has always been a family conversation. As a child, I used to play teacher and spent hours designing projects for the neighborhood kids when we played school. What I love most about teaching is that teaching and learning are interdependent. One does not exist without the other.

What drew you to Ensworth?

I had an opportunity to visit Ensworth before moving to Nashville from Toronto, Ontario. The smiling and enthusiastic children were a draw. It was crystal clear that Ensworth students loved and respected their school and were engaged learners and welcoming individuals. The campus was beautiful, and everyone greeted each other by names with smiles.

Ultimately, though, it was the Lower School faculty that drew me in. This community of professionals is talented and inspiring.

They are compassionate, professionally driven, and committed to improving their craft, developing their knowledge, and supporting the lives of young people and families. They are gifted educators, committed to preparing students to be successful both in and out of the classroom. I feel so fortunate to work among them.

How has fifth grade evolved/changed since you have been here?

When I first started at Ensworth, there were four homeroom teachers, and our program was structured very much like the

fourth grade program: math and science taught together and English, writing, and history taught together. After David Braemer’s first year at Ensworth, he expanded our fifth grade, making us an entry year. We added an additional class, bringing our program to five homeroom teachers. As teachers, we were empowered to create a fifth grade program that became a bridge between Lower School and the Middle School program. At Ensworth, the fifth grade is still part of the Lower School, which is unusual in Nashville, and we have created a dynamic program designed to prepare and transition our Lower School students for Middle School. Fifth grade students have three to four academic subject teachers, six Specials, and physical education.

What do you think makes Ensworth unique?

One thing that makes Ensworth unique is its commitment to innovation in teaching, balanced by a long standing history of traditions.

What is your favorite Ensworth tradition (or a favorite Ensworth memory) and why?

Land Between the Lakes is my favorite fifth grade tradition at Ensworth. Each spring, the fifth grade boards our coach busses and heads out to Dover, TN for three days of outdoor learning, community building, and fun. Students sleep in bunk beds, canoe, hike through the woods, fish, and enjoy hours of fun. After campfires and s’mores and star gazing, we return to Ensworth to an enriched community. While we’ve missed the last two years at Land Between the Lakes because of COVID, we will return to LBL the first chance we get.

List 3-5 fun facts about yourself that people might not know.

• I am the youngest of four children and an identical twin.

• I grew up in Buffalo, NY (go Bills!) and have lived in five states, Italy, and Canada. I still call Buffalo home. As a Buffalo girl, I love the snow. TN thinks they know snow, but they don’t know snow.

• I am a level one Crossfit trainer.

• I love traveling, eating, and cooking. I’ll try just about any food, and I love cooking Asian foods, particularly sauces.

• I may be the worst baker in TN. Once I made chocolate chip cookies with salt instead of sugar.

2021 SUMMER | 51

Ensights_Repaired.indd 51

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY ACADEMICS

FAC U LTY B O OK S H E LF

What did the Ensworth faculty read this summer?

ROBERT HERRING

CECILIA WANG

Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

World Language Chair; Spanish-HS

By Ty Seidule

As a lifelong Southerner and native Virginian, I was well acquainted with the Lost Cause and the veneration of Robert E. Lee. However, this book drives home how deep-rooted and insidious both were and continue to be to this day. In what at times reads like a searing confessional, the author exposes the Lost Cause and Lee as the racist propaganda and traitor that they respectively were. That the author is a W&L alum, distinguished army officer, and West Point professor makes it all the more compelling.

TREY HOUSE

Latin Teacher - MS

Exhalation: Stories

By Ted Chiang

This is the second collection from Mr. Chiang, who had one of his previous stories turned into the movie “Arrival” in 2016. These 9 stories are rooted in science fiction, but what sets this collection apart for me is the humanity brought to each tale. Whether using time travel or the possibility of alternate universes as a framing device, Mr. Chiang consistently takes the reader on a journey that allows us to grapple with what it means to be human and the ways we should live our lives. One of the best books I have read in some time.

Chinese Teacher-HS

By Peter C. Brown

I am currently reading a book called Make It Stick . It talks about learning science, and I find it very inspiring as a teacher when I am thinking about how to design my instruction and help students actually “learn” the knowledge and develop the skill of learning.

HEATHER CAPONI Head of Lower School

The Premonition: A Pandemic Story

By Michael Lewis

Highly recommended to me by Sarah Buchanan, The Premonition: A Pandemic Story is Michael Lewis’s dramatic retelling of the multiple failures leading up to the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. Readers may anticipate a great deal of political finger-pointing, but Lewis weaves a remarkable narrative about a small group of medical scientists who studied and understood the severity of a potential viral outbreak and how they had tried to warn about the dangers of infectious diseases for years. Regardless of your political affiliation or views surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, this true story will fascinate you as it reads like a modern-day thriller. Lewis leaves you contemplating how deeply dangerous it is that we have allowed almost every aspect of our lives to become so deeply politicized, but more than that, the reader is left with respect and awe for the small group of experts who worked underground as a team to try to save lives.

52 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 52

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY

DEBBIE SANDWITH Librarian - MS

The Four Winds

By Kristin Hannah

I have just finished reading The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. This is an amazing book by the same woman who wrote The Nightingale. The Four Winds is the story of Elsa Martinelli and her two children trying to survive on a farm in west Texas following the Great Depression and in the midst of the Dust Bowl. It is a story of a mother’s love, courage, and the determination she has for her children to live the American dream.

FAC U LTY

Summer R E ADI NG

JIM MILLER

English Teacher -HS

The President’s Daughter: A Thriller

By James Patterson and Bill Clinton I teach “literary” fiction all year. I love it, but it is often angsty and exhausting because Western culture privileges tragedy over comedy. I don’t really get why. When I get to the summer, I want literary junk food!

I’ve gotten to an age where I don’t believe in consuming only the indie cool bands and rejecting the “sellouts.” Let your literary Milli Vanilli love fly proudly and unapologetically.

LINDSAY PARRIOTT

College Counseling and Academic Affairs Office Manager/HS Registrar

The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush’s Post-Presidency

By Jean Becker

I love learning more about our modern presidents. This is a delightful read about 41’s life after the White House, full of stories that are funny and awe-inspiring. I especially liked the chapter about his “Odd Couple” friendship with Bill Clinton.

Deep Kindness: A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness

By Houston Kraf t

“Deep Kindness requires the messiest type of work—the kind that acknowledges that I am both the root of the problem & the potential source of the solution.” Houston Kraft, Deep Kindness

2021 SUMMER | 53

Ensights_Repaired.indd 53

7/28/21 10:16 AM

FACULTY ACADEMICS

FAC U LTY N E WS

RETIREMENTS

NEWS

Sarah Buchanan Associate Head of School; Director of Enrollment Management

Director of Finance & Operations Whitney Johnson presented in a national conference on May 6, 2021 titled “Design the Right Endowment Spending Policy for Your School.”

32 Years at Ensworth

Barb Daugherty Grade 5 Teacher

Bryan Van Vleet won National High School Strength and Conditioning Association (NHSSCA) Tennessee strength and conditioning coach of the year, and he accepted the award at their national conference this summer.

33 Years at Ensworth

Mary Perkins Middle School Science Teacher 25 Years at Ensworth

BIRTHS Will Sutherland (Kelly)

Charlotte Larken Sutherland

Jason Maxwell was named this year’s “Mr. Baseball” by the Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association, also coaching the USA Baseball 18U team this summer.

February 3, 2021

Ross Lyons recently was accepted into cohort 6 of the Educators Cooperative.

The Cooperative brings together teachers from Nashville private, public, and charter schools to collaborate and share best practices in teaching and learning and nurture a professional community of educators on behalf of all Nashville’s students. Kristin Paine and Doug Magee are also members.

Ellen Reynolds is beginning Mindfulness Teacher Certification through Mindful Schools and looks forward to sharing mindfulness throughout our community.

Elias Salazar and Jim Aveni both won certificates of appreciation from the YoungArts Foundation for their work with Esther Okai Tetteh ‘21 who was a winner in the National YoungArts Foundation’s SingerSongwriter national competition.

IN MEMORY

Bev Anderson

Kindergarten Assistant; Aftercare (15 Years at Ensworth)

Sept. 11, 1947 - Dec. 30, 2020

Mary Ella Burke

Librarian

(35 Years at Ensworth)

April 21, 1939 - June 4, 2021

Halleen Liles

Ginna Corts

Barbara Griffin

(2 Years at Ensworth)

(37 Years at Ensworth)

High School Nurse

Aug. 10, 1948 - Feb. 15, 2021

Matthew Plumb

Bookkeeper

High School Art Teacher

Oct. 31, 1938 - Feb. 1, 2021

July 27, 1968 - Sept. 4, 2019

(29 Years at Ensworth)

Librarian

(5 Years at Ensworth)

Oct. 6, 1932–July 8, 2021

Fluff

Ensworth’s therapy dog Passed away on June 5, 2021

54 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 54

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ALUMNI

Ensworth Alumni C LAS S NOT E S WEDDINGS

BIRTHS

Reagan Major ’15 to Eli Harris December 31, 2020

Patrick and Sally Jackson Ryan ’97 Catherine Frances Ryan on December 10, 2020

Janie McNamee ’09 to Andrew Shachat January 16, 2021

Caroline and Lee Noel, Jr. ’00 Lee F. Noel III on August 4, 2020

Matt Reed ’09 to Grace Murray February 27, 2021

Michael and Molly Margadonna ’08 Marcus Arthur Margadonna on March 10, 2021

Addison Armistead ’12 to Naomi Newton March 6, 202

Patrick and Lizzy Clippard Scaglione ’08 Olivia Fox Scaglione on March 15, 2021

Sydney Mayfield ’09 to Cameron Johnson April 3, 2021 Cody Tollison ’10 to Kat Bibee April 17, 2021 Carlyle Scarola ’12 to Kevin Golden April 24, 2021 Carolyn Fisher ’11 to Ben Eisemann May 8, 2021 Eleanor Spruill ’10 to Jonathan Cabrera May 22, 2021 Tavarres Jefferson ’09 to Katie Bennett May 29, 2021 Kristen Hollis ’12 to Christian Carpenter May 29, 2021 Smithy McClain ’10 to Adalgisa Gracia May 29, 2021 Kerry Oakley ’08 to Nola Douglas June 12, 2021 Tricia Kelley ’08 to Charlie Crocker June 12, 2021

Shailer and Will Netterville ’09 Caroline Chapel Netterville on February 25, 2021 Mark and Mandy Williams Johnson ’11 Esther Joy Johnson on April 7, 2021 Robert and Natalie Held Nickerson ’08 William Robert Nickerson on April 6, 2021 Will and Cate Wiley Lane ’03 George Warren Lane on April 22, 2021 Allison Trickett ’10 and Wes Gallagher ’09 Mary Reed Gallagher on April 30, 2021 Jonathan and Lili Wallace Maki ’09 Nellie Gray Maki on May 4, 2021 Caitlyn and Spencer Foote ’09 Stanley “Townes” Foote on May 27, 2021 Blanton and Kat McCabe Winship ’08 Merritt McCabe Winship on June 10, 2021 Jon and Taylor Francy Plump ’08 Francy Reed Plump on June 12, 2021

Elizabeth Cox ’14 to Taylor Barnes June 12, 2021

Daniel McFadden ’10 and Tiffany Ryle Emerson Rose McFadden and Malachi Kirby McFadden on June 29, 2021

Mary West ’11 to James Snover July 10, 2021

Michael and Taylor Thompson Becker ’09 Perry Rivers Becker on July 9, 2021

Morgan Whitson ’16 to TJ Dixon July 11, 2021

Photos on pages 58–59 2021 SUMMER | 55

Ensights_Repaired.indd 55

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ALUMNI

Ensworth Alumni

Seth Feman ’93 has been

Faith Nicole Sanford ’08

organizing an art exhibition that will begin a four venue tour this summer including the Frist Art Museum in spring 2022. The exhibition focuses on the life and career of abstract artist Alma Thomas (18911971) who spent 35 years as an art teacher in Washington D.C.’s public schools. An early proponent of progressive educational techniques, Thomas created an innovative art curriculum that used art to integrate her students’ core subject areas. When studying this aspect of her life, Seth was often reminded about his time at Ensworth in Mrs. Pickel’s art classes.

started a new job at Shelby County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney.

Read Ezell ’02, a student at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management co-founded a non-profit organization called Moving Nashville Forward that is piloting a guaranteed basic income for the North Nashville zip code of 37208.

Richard Bowers ’09 and his art were featured on a recent episode of Tennessee Crossroads on Nashville Public Television.

Zach Walker ’09 performed with The Weekend during this year’s SuperBowl halftime show. In Zach’s words, “This experience was such a surreal one! I’ve been blessed to get down on pretty big stages and screens to this point… But nothing I’ve done has compared to the energy and anticipation of the crowd, the feeling of accomplishment, and the level of support I’ve received from performing at SBLV. I count it an even greater blessing to be recognizable in the madness.”

Janie McNamee Shachat ’09 started a new position as Director, Clinic Operations at

C LAS S NOT E S

Ochsner Health in New Orleans.

Rachel Smith Weir ’11

Spencer Foote ’09 started a

started a new role as Executive Director of HEAL Ministries in Nashville.

new position as Talent Buyer at LEO Events.

Sterling Gittens ’08 and Will Gittens ’10 co-produced two records with John Legend. They are a production duo who have been producing and writing for some of the biggest names in music.

Brittany Jenkins ’11 is on the Netflix series called Marriage or Mortgage. When asked about her experience, she replied, “The show was about picking one or the other. We actually did both, built a custom home and had our wedding at Reba’s former home! Everything has been wild since the show has aired. I feel so blessed for all of the amazing opportunities that we are receiving, and honored to share my life with the world.”

Paul Caudill ’11 started a new position as Channel Strategist at The Buntin Group.

Claire Kirchoff ’13 was selected in 2020 as a Fulbright international grant recipient to teach and study in Nepal.

Unfortunately, the pandemic interrupted her travel plans. In the fall of this year, Claire will begin her new position as the Director of Student Counseling at Fountain Valley School, a boarding school in Colorado.

Chase Kregor ’13 started a new position at Slack working as a data analyst within the business operations department. He is helping assist in the merger between Slack and Salesforce, helping integrate the two companies’ instances of Salesforce.

Abby Perkins ’13 is an associate in Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani’s Denver office. She is a member of the Professional Liability Defense

Continuing the Ensworth Tradition

SENIORS WITH ALUMNI PARENTS 56 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 56

AKERS Clark Akers ‘71 Clark Akers ‘21

BASS Jim Bass ‘82 Orin Bass ‘21

BROTHERS Jay Brothers ‘80 Laura Grace Brothers ‘21

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ALUMNI practice and insurance group.

Prior to joining Gordon & Rees, she was a law clerk for Denver District Court Judge Morris B. Hoffman for 1½ years.

writes for sports blogs covering the Titans and Real Madrid and is the host of a weekly sports Podcast called Happiness Hedge.

Hope Sanford ’13 took on

Briana Middleton ’16 stars

a travel nurse assignment in Maryland for 13 weeks to help with the COVID-19 vaccination project.

Jack Alcott ’15 completed his BFA in Acting at University of North Carolina School of the Arts. In 2020, he made a guest appearance on NBC’s The Blacklist and had a starring role in Showtime’s limited series The Good Lord Bird. Jack has a starring role in Showtime’s upcoming revival of the Dexter series debuting in late 2021. He splits time between New York and Nashville.

Kendall Downey Cox ’15 began working with Sara Ray Interior Design as an interior designer.

as the female lead, Louie’s stepsister, Tilly, in the upcoming Beauty and the Beast prequel series to the 2017 live-action film which will appear on Disney+ as an eight-episode limited musical series. The movie’s Luke Evans and Josh Gad are reprising their roles as Gaston and LeFou (Louie) in the series.

Brock Ochsenreiter ’16 was named Big Ten Co-Golfer of the Week during the month of April, taking home the title in the Boilermaker Individual with a 7-under 209. It marked his first career tournament title. He shot a 69 and 68 in the first two rounds, respectively, his best round since October 2018.

Jada Dotson ’17 was named

serving the Red Gables Campus as Grade 5 Intern, is going to play professional football for the Potsdam Royals, defending champions of the Eurobowl.

to the Miami University spring 2020-21 President’s list, representing the top 3% of undergraduate students within each division. She is earning a B.S. in Kinesiology & Health.

Ben Sundock ’15 has a degree

Tyra Gittens ’17 is heading

PJ Settles ’15, after a year

in sports journalism from the University of Alabama and is working for Sportsblog.com, a Nashville-based company. He

DISMUKES Jim Dismukes ‘88 Jim Dismukes ‘21

Ensights_Repaired.indd 57

to the Tokyo Olympics where she will be competing for her home country of Trinidad and Tobago. She attained the

FRIGON Kim Bueno Frigon ‘80 Vanessa Frigon ‘21

Olympic standard in the long jump at the 2021 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships while competing in the Heptathlon with a leap that was 6.96 meters (22ʹ10ʺ).

Tyra is the current NCAA titleholder in the Pentathlon and Heptathlon. Her first place finishes also earned her the 2021 NCAA National Field Athlete of the Year award. Her latest victory came when she scored 6,285 total points in the Heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Track Finals at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene. She holds the collegiate record in the Pentathlon with 4,746 total points and has the 3rd best score in collegiate history in the Heptathlon with 6,418 total points. The event includes 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, the 200m, long jump, javelin throw, and the 800m.

Henry Byrd ’18 continues to thrive both on and off the field for the Tigers, but this time, for Princeton. He was named to the Academic All-Ivy team for the fall 2020 term, and, although the league did not play any games due to pandemic, Henry earned many accolades in his first two seasons for the Tigers.

In 2018, he was the recipient of the Donold B. Lourie Award as the top offensive

FRIST Billy Frist ‘85 Jacqueline Frist ‘21

freshman. The same year, he helped Princeton record its first perfect season in 54 years and an outright Ivy League championship, playing in all 10 games. Last season, he started at left tackle and earned second-team All-Ivy League, helping Princeton finish 9-1.

Send us your news!

Keep in touch with your classmates and let them keep up with you.

Send your latest news, moves, and photos.

Stop by! We’d love to have you back on campus sharing your passions and professions. Whether it’s for assembly, an individual class, or anything in between, contact the alumni office to discuss.

Contact: alumni@ensworth.com

ROLLINS Robert Rollins ‘83 Chloe Rollins ‘21

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ALUMNI

Ensworth Alumni

Tricia Kelly ’08

C LAS S NOT E S

Carlyle Scarola ’12

Addison Armistead ’12 Tyra Gittens ’17

Emerson Rose & Malachi Kirby McFadden Zach Walker ‘09 at Super Bowl Halftime Show

Carolyn Fisher ’11

Cody Tollison ’10

Caroline Chapel Netterville

Brock Ochsenreiter ’16

Will Gittens ’10 & Sterling Gittens ’08

Eleanor Spruill ’11

Reagan Major ’15

Richard Bowers ’09

Elizabeth Cox ’14

Catherine Frances Ryan

Henry Byrd’18

Stanley Townes Foote

Continuing the Ensworth Tradition

SENIORS WITH ALUMNI PARENTS 58 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 58

SALTSMAN Lisa Crosslin Saltsman ‘80 Elizabeth Saltsman ‘21

THOMPSON De Thompson ‘87 DeWitt Thompson ‘21

WALLACE Tim Wallace ‘83 Benji Wallace ‘21

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ALUMNI

Ensworth Alumni

Janie McNamee ’09

Esther Joy Johnson

Kerry Oakley ’08

Smithy McClain ’10

Francy Reed Plump

Lee F. Noell III

Tavarres Jefferson ’09

C LAS S NOT E S

Marcus Arther Margadonna

Mary West ’11

PJ Settles ’15

George Warren Lane

Mary Reed Gallagher

Merritt McCabe Winship

Perry Rivers Becker

Kristen Hollis ’12

Matt Reed ‘09

Sydney Mayfield ’09

Olivia Fox Scaglione

Nellie Gray Maki

Homecoming & Reunion Weekend Friday, October 1

Saturday, October 2

Homecoming Football Game Ensworth vs. Antioch

Reunion Parties for class years ending in 0’s, 1’s, 5’s, 6’s

Homecoming Tailgate & Dinner at 5:30p.m.

Football Game at 7:00p.m.

Ensights_Repaired.indd 59

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ALUMNI

PROF I LE S The passions and professions of our alumni ​represent the lasting impact of our school’s mission statement. Read on to see h ​ ow a handful of E ​ nsworth alumni a ​ re using their talents to the fullest to be positive contributors to society.

Alumni Focus:

ELAM MANGUM FRE E MAN ’ 1 2 Founder and Principal at Ojas Partners

was in!) has stuck with me to today as I am building the culture for my own company in a reputation-based business.

Tell us a little bit about your journey since graduating from Ensworth.

After Ensworth, I left Nashville for college in Los Angeles. During my sophomore year, I had the opportunity to study for the entire school year in the heart of Washington, D.C. The opportunity to live (and explore!) both coasts laid the framework and turned out to be super instrumental to what I am doing now - Urban Retail Commercial Real Estate Advisory & Brokerage.

How did Ensworth help prepare you for college and beyond?

Ensworth puts a strong emphasis on strategic thinking and interpersonal communication skills. While I have not re-read hardly any of the manuscripts and texts that we studied in high school, the analytical skills Ensworth instilled through the Harkness method has served me well through college and into my career.

What are some lessons you have learned in the past year that you will continue to use/apply moving forward?

Ensworth taught me the importance of community. High school is one of the most vulnerable times in one’s life as there are new pressures and lots of change, but the emphasis that Ensworth put on culture building and living with integrity (also the name of the house I

What advice would you give to a young alum who is interested in a career in Commercial Real Estate?

It is easy to be intimidated because there is a specific stereotype of the types of people that work in Commercial Real Estate. Don’t let the fact that you might feel like a minority in commercial real estate (or any industry for that matter) hold you back if you find the subject matter interesting. Furthermore, there are lots of different directions you can take in Commercial Real Estate, so don’t let the fact that math is not your strong suit, for instance, limit you. Most of the principles and concepts can be learned, and anyone with passion for the subject matter and a strong work ethic can have a fruitful career in the field.

60 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 60

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ALUMNI

Alumni Focus:

JAC KSON R OL AND ’ 0 9 Display Exploration Engineer at Apple

Tell us a little bit about your journey since graduating from Ensworth.

I graduated from Ensworth in 2009 and attended Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. It was the only school I applied to and applied as Early Decision. My undergraduate degree was in Imaging and Photographic Technology, which combined photography with computer technology. After graduation, my first job was at a small software company called Imatest in Boulder, Colorado, where I worked for three years. While there, I worked on imaging technology as well as international standards development. I was part of the PC42 group, IEEE P1858 that was published a few years ago. I was able to make wonderful connections in the industry and was eventually recruited to join Apple in 2016. The past three years, I have been on the Display Incubation Team at Apple, which is responsible for exploring and developing new technologies and features focused on displays.

How did Ensworth help prepare you for college and beyond?

Before I attended Ensworth, I was homeschooled. Ensworth helped me learn how to better connect with individuals and grow socially. Ensworth fosters learning in a way that works for a variety of students, and the Harkness tables encouraged interactive discussions rather than lectures, which is something I find especially valuable.

What are some lessons you have learned in the past year that you will continue to use/apply moving forward?

I’ve learned a few things about myself through the experiences of the past year. First, I do not like working from home. I now have a greater appreciation of the positive energy that comes from being in a work environment with other people in the sense that you can bounce ideas off one another, rely on one another, grow from one another...the list goes on. It is critical to have other perspectives available in the technology industry. Ultimately, the people I work with are amazing, and I appreciate being able to leverage the talents of those individuals.

What advice would you give to a young alum who is interested in a career in Technology?

I am currently a mentor with a program at Apple that is an Engineering Technology Camp, where we bring in high school students from across the country for one month of learning about intensive technology. The most important characteristics of an engineer are curiosity and an interest in solving problems. You need to have a go-getter instinct instead of sitting back and letting someone else figure out a solution. Having the mindset to be curious, take on the challenge, and learn how to solve problems well. Lastly, when you are job searching, don’t only apply for the jobs that you think you are qualified for, because half the time people who are hiring (especially in the technical engineering roles) don’t even know exactly what they are looking for. If you prove your worth, they will find a job for you.

A social network for E N S WO R T H A LU M N I

Connect

with the Ensworth Engage community

Find

job & internship opportunities

Register & access

online events

Watch for an email from the alumni office with information on how to register.

2019 SUMMER | 61

Ensights_Repaired.indd 61

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ALUMNI

ALUMNI IN THE ARTS Two recent Ensworth alumni have experienced incredible breakout years in their young acting careers.

Jack Alcott ’15 and Briana Middleton ’16 have found rare success right out of the gate as they have each landed multiple network and Hollywood projects.

Last year, Jack was chosen by Ethan Hawke to play Hawke’s son in Showtime’s John Brown miniseries, The Good Lord Bird. This year, Jack is back on set for Showtime starring in the reboot of the network’s hit series Dexter.

B R I A N A M I D D L E TO N ’ 1 6

Meanwhile, Briana was chosen by George Clooney to feature in his upcoming film, The Tender Bar, which shot this spring. This summer saw her starring in Netflix’s new horror flick, The Last Will and Testament of Charles Abernathy. Perhaps most exciting for some is Briana’s recently announced project for Disney+. She will play the female lead in a new Beauty and the Beast prequel series, effectively giving Ensworth our very own Disney princess... or as Briana says: Disney heroine.

On one hand, it’s unfair to expect success of this caliber from any young actor, no matter how talented they may be. On the other hand, for those of us who know Jack and Briana and who had the opportunity to enjoy their work on Ensworth stages, their success comes as no great shock. We saw and valued their potential a long time ago.

62 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 62

J A C K A LC OT T ’ 1 5

Jack and Briana have both stayed active in their relationship with the Ensworth theatre program visiting classes and helping with shows. Watching them cultivate relationships with our current students has been a joy.

With that in mind, we thought it would be nice to offer a glimpse into a recent Zoom discussion that Briana and her former teacher, Ensworth Director of Theatre David Berry, had with Mr. Berry’s Acting 3 class.

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ALUMNI

DB: Welcome back to the Blackbox!

We are so excited for you and so proud of you. Briana, you made a movie with George Clooney! What was that like?

BM: He’s a great director. I mean, he’s

an actor, too, so working with him as an actor is super easy. He understands the process of an actor. His set is an easy-going set to work on. It’s quick, too. It’s not like we’re doing 120 takes of something; I think we did five at most. How easy going he is, and how relaxed he is, is just a testament to how much he trusts the people that he’s working with. And when I realized that, I realized, “Oh, he’s not worried about me. I guess he trusts me, and I can just do the work that I’ve been doing.”

Walking away from that experience, I thought, “Oh, I bet the directors who are really great to work with are the ones who make you feel like they are not worried about you, and they’re not worried about the project, and they just trust everyone that they’ve brought along.” And that frees you up so much to relax and do your thing and just play.

DB: You’ve certainly gained a wealth of training and experience since leaving Ensworth. That said, are there lessons, values, or principles that you continue to carry with you from your time in the Ensworth theatre program? And in particular, was there anything that was helpful when it came to transitioning into working as an actor in college and in the professional world?

BM: You, Berry, and the program at

Ensworth really shaped my values as an artist. For me, coming into Ensworth as mainly a singer, I was thinking: “Oh I’m going to do musical theatre; I think I’m just going to be a musical theater person.” When I came in as a freshman, acting felt really far away from me, like I couldn’t do it. I thought, “I’m not an actor; I’m not good enough for that.” And the way that Berry talked about acting made it feel

so much closer and more accessible, and I realized that the skills that I had, the things that I was interested in, and the things that I felt wired for were geared towards acting. Looking at it from a storytelling mindset just changed my view of it so much. I think that when I went to college, it grounded my work in a way that was really comforting and ultimately healthy. Everyone has their own connection to this work and why they do it, but I think the way that I learned and the way that we talked about storytelling, acting, theatre and film in this program set me up to be a true artist, to ask questions and be curious, and look at the world in different ways.

DB: The next question is about your

DB: OK, these guys have a few

journals in college as a grade. I still have an acting journal. I’ve kept every acting journal since the one I had in high school. It’s so, so helpful.

questions. The first one is about how you go about getting an agent and getting started professionally.

BM: So, it’s one of those things where

you get connections from the good work that you do, whether that’s someone seeing you in a casting room and talking to someone about you, or even a friend talking to someone about you. So, it can be through a couple of different avenues: it can be through a showcase, word of mouth, or other people that you auditioned for. Ultimately, if someone believes in you, and if you’re a hard worker, and you’re a good person, and you’re good at what you do, then I believe that travels.

DB: You do something and people talk—maybe not about the finished project—but about working with you.

BM: Right. That’s how I got this

opportunity. I auditioned for something last year; it was a Netflix series, and I got really, really far on it, and then it didn’t happen. But then when this latest film came up and I was up for network approval, I was told, “They approved you really quickly; they’ve known your name for a long time.” So even if something doesn’t happen and you don’t get the gig, that’s not the end of it. It will come back around if you did good work.

process when working on a role.

BM: My process is in process! I always

reread the script a lot, as many times as I can. What I definitely do every time is literally just write down everything that my character does. Then I’ll ask, “OK, what’s happening here? What is this story about in this moment? What does my character want?” I just try to keep looking at my script as much as I can.

DB: Sounds like you’re saying it comes down to Ensworth style closereading and your acting journal.

BM: Heck, yeah! You have acting

DB: So, turning back the clock, are there projects from your time on stage or in class at Ensworth that were particularly impactful for you or that you continue to carry fond memories of?

BM: The show that will always stick

out to me is our production of The Fantasticks my junior year. Working on that with the group we had was so fulfilling. I cackled and cried. The things that show says are so simple while being so huge. I believe that taught me, no matter the scale of the work I’m looking at, to always dig for the deeper, more instinctual messages.

Because even the art that seems so singular and far from our own personal experience was made to evoke things in us that are universal.

DB: Finally, where can we tune-in (or log-in) to see your work?

BM: Don’t look for me on social media,

because I’m not there. I jumped ship.

But, you will be able to find my work on streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Disney+.

2021 SUMMER | 63

Ensights_Repaired.indd 63

7/28/21 10:16 AM

ARTS

S CHOLAS T IC ART S AWAR D S 2021 Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Competition

Top left: “Black Lives Matter” by Anna Munson ’21, Bottom left: “The Elders” by Sachi Srivastava ’21, Right: “Rain” by Rachel Fielding ’22 (additional award winners listed on page 25)

64 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS

Ensights_Repaired.indd 64

7/28/21 10:16 AM

Thank you

Thank you to Everyone for making the 2020-2021 Ensworth Fund a huge success!

Together, we raised more than $1.3M in support of Ensworth’s people and programs, providing vital resources that allowed us to thrive during this truly remarkable year.

Thank you to Danna and Mike Ryan for their leadership as the 2020-2021 Ensworth Fund Chairs!

Thank you to our current parents who answered the January Parent Participation Challenge and earned the entire school a pizza party.

Congratulations to the Class of 2009 who won our first Young Alumni Cookie Challenge with 37% of the class contributing.

Ensights_Summer2021_Cover.indd 3

7/28/21 9:49 AM

PAID

Nashville, TN Permit No. 2630

Ensworth School 211 ENSWORTH PLACE NASHVILLE, TN 37205-1997

SUMMER 2021

Congratulations, Class of 2021!

Ensights_Summer2021_Cover.indd 4

ENSWORTH SCHOOL ENSIGHTS

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

7/28/21 9:49 AM