Ensights Winter 2013

ensights into Enswo r t h S c h oo l

Winter 2013

Building a Stronger Community the natatorium chinese collaboration connecting the ensworth community

Contents Community

academics

2 Natatorium Opening

8 6th Grade Physics

6 Connecting Ensworth

10 Chinese Collaboration

18 Diversity Matters

12 English Papers Serve Community

20 For the Record 34 Events Gallery

48 Summer Grants Opportunities

faculty 14–17 Faculty News Faculty Focus

Athletics

Arts 23–27 Gift of Mama YeYe Fall Plays

alumni

28 High School Fall Sports

38–45 Events & Class Notes

32 Middle School Fall Sports

40 Robert Inman Tiger Classic

Copyrighted 2013 by Ensworth School. The Ensworth School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, or ethnic / 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. David Braemer, Head of School. Graphic Design: Mary Byrne Dailey & Tori Cameron; Lead Writer: Anne Stringham; Contributing Writers: Donnie Bryan, Allison Costello, Keith Crowe, Jasmine Davis, Caitlin Harris, Dina Marks, Rich Milner, Lauren Rupley, Grace Tseng; Photography: Tori Cameron, Mary Byrne Dailey, Robby Klein, Sanford Myers, John Picklesimer, Yearbook Staff

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Community Fosters Excellence Some believe that the efforts a school makes to create a strong sense of community come at the expense of initiatives that target traditional, hard measures of success, particularly those related to academic achievement.

This type of mind-set assumes that a school must somehow make a choice between being a nurturing environment and one that is inherently challenging, with the former providing a more enjoyable experience, while the latter provides an avenue to long-term success in a highly competitive world.

In reflecting on my own experiences as a student, a teacher, an administrator and a parent, it is clear to me that viewing an educational environment through this type of “either or� perspective is inherently short-sighted.

Nurture and challenge are not mutually exclusive concepts and I would assert that students are most likely to maximize their potential, academically and otherwise, when they feel supported and cared for as individuals. As a result, the efforts that we make as a school to build a strong sense of community serve as a catalyst for excellence, with students achieving at the highest levels because of the positive relationships they have with their teachers and their peers.

This dynamic is exemplified by an e-mail that I received over the holiday break from the parent of a current Senior. This student, who came to Ensworth in high school with experience at other independent schools, was struck by the degree to which she felt instantly welcomed and appreciated as a member of the Ensworth community. The purpose of the e-mail

was to thank the school for creating the nurturing environment in which this young woman could be intellectually challenged by a strong academic program and an exceptional faculty, which has allowed her to flourish. The fact that she gained early acceptance to the Ivy League college of her choice is a further illustration of the possibilities that exist when capable individuals are in situations that inspire them to use their talents to the fullest, a central tenet of the Ensworth mission.

As someone who is new to the community, the sentiments expressed by this parent are particularly poignant, as they validate so much of what my family and I have experienced in our short time at Ensworth. While the successes of the first half of the year are significant, touching on all areas of school life across both campuses, even more important is the understanding that none of these accomplishments could have been achieved in a vacuum. Providing a context that is conducive to the effective growth and development of young people is a core responsibility of any great school and that is why we are so intentional in our efforts to foster a strong sense of community at Ensworth, which, in turn, encourages the pursuit of excellence.

David Braemer HEAD OF SCHOOL

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Opens with a Splash Ensworth recently opened the doors of its brand new Natatorium designed as part of the original master plan for the High School campus. The Aquatics Program will create new opportunities for competitive swimming and diving, and offer fitness opportunities for both Ensworth and the larger community.

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Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Natatorium January 8 for a special Assembly program to open the new facility. Following a ribbon cutting ceremony, representatives of the four High School Houses took part in fun competitions and even got Head of School David Braemer in on the action when some seniors felt he needed to test the waters. That same week, the Natatorium was host to its first Middle and High School swim meets as well as team practices and fitness classes. “In addition to learning and enhancing important swimming skills, students will be able to take advantage of a water environment to improve conditioning and hone skills beneficial in other sports and in arts activities like dance,� says Christian Bahr, Aquatics Program Director.

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Pictured: The high school’s first swim meet in the Ensworth Natatorium Pictured above left: A relay race at the grand opening celebration

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Treading water during a girls-only swim fitness class

A key component in Ensworth’s curriculum is the Fitness Program. Each student participates in fitness as part of the regular schedule, with activities specifically designed to complement the individual’s interests as well as promoting overall health and fitness.

David Braemer says “The Natatorium is a wonderful addition to our campus and the Aquatics Program will enhance the Ensworth experience for our students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and the community as a whole. We are tremendously excited about working with many individuals and groups as we incorporate the Aquatics Program into the life of our School community.”

The Natatorium is a wonderful addition to our campus and the Aquatics Program will enhance the Ensworth experience for our students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and the community as a whole.

David Braemer, Head of School 4 ENSIGHTS

Swimmers take a breather after the diving competition

The new Natatorium features: • 50-meter COMPETITION POOL • Ten 50-METER LANES • 4-foot warm water INSTRUCTIONAL POOL • Four 1-meter SPRING BOARDS for diving • Two VIDEO SCOREBOARDS and AUDIO CAPABILITY throughout • OUTDOOR MEZZANINE TERRACE overlooking the campus for outdoor events • LAP SWIMMING, open lanes for recreational swimming before and after the school day • MASTERS SWIMMING PRACTICE for adults who wish to be given a directed swimming practice • LEARN-TO-SWIM, organized swim lessons for children • LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION

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The Ensworth Natatorium

Grand Opening Celebration January 8, 2013

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Connecting our Ensworth Community

F ROM HAR KN E S S TABLE S T O BRAN D VI LLAG E S Ensworth’s high school students hone their skills in analytical thinking and communication in classes set around large Harkness tables. One Tiger alumnus discovered the value of this learning method outside the classroom… and how the Ensworth community can provide valuable connections beyond the campus.

Miles Asafo-Adjei graduated from Ensworth in 2009 and chose Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, for college. A scholar-athlete during his high school days, Miles is completing his senior year at Cornell, playing varsity basketball while pursuing a major in communications with a focus in social influence and undertaking community service projects.

“During my time here I’ve become very interested in Marketing and PR. Basketball continues to be an important part of my life as I start my senior season. One interest that has continued to grow, and has even turned into a passion of mine, is my involvement in community service. The Service Learning Program and working Big E camps at Ensworth sparked my interest. My teammates and I have been involved in a number of community service projects that include packing food for starving children 6 ENSIGHTS

and helping out with Special Olympics. Combining my interest in Marketing/ PR, community service, and sports would make for an ideal profession.”

A link through the Ensworth community provided Miles with an ideal opportunity last summer — an internship at Nashville’s Bohan Advertising. As Miles chatted informally with Jill Johnson, Development Director for Major Gifts at Ensworth, about Miles Asafo-Adjei, Ensworth Class of 2009 his plans for the summer, he expressed interest in securing an internship in the field of marketing and public relations. Mrs. Johnson immediately shared Miles’ interest with Kerry Graham, current Ensworth Trustee and President at Bohan. Graham is also the parent of Avery Graham, Ensworth’s 8th Grade Class of 2002, and Maddie Graham, Class of 2010. Graham said he would be thrilled to connect with Miles.

The contact paid off, and Miles was offered a summer internship at the firm whose clients include companies from Texas to Florida, ranging from non-profits like the Frist Center for The Visual Arts and the Martha O’Bryan Center to public companies like HCA, Jos. A Bank, and Dollar General. Bohan describes its way of working as

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“brand villages” – multi-disciplinary mini-communities of specialists in various areas all focused together on the task for a particular client. “The product of this more informal and collaborative relationship is the kind of business insights, creative problem-solving and swift results that have become the new trademark of Bohan work in the last several years,” according to their website.

Miles was assigned to be part of the “village” challenged to develop social media communications for a Broadway-type show slated to play in Nashville. “The time was short to promote attendance at the show,” Kerry Graham says, “and more traditional ways of getting the word out were not likely to bring in the audiences that the show’s producers wanted.” Sitting in on meetings with the clients and the creative and logistics specialists provided real-time insights for Miles into how the process works.

Not just an onlooker, he was expected to contribute his ideas and energy to the conversation as well.

my ideas and views, but more importantly how to be a great listener. One of the most important things I learned at Ensworth is to be open-minded.”

Kerry Graham agrees that Miles was well equipped both to contribute to his summer projects and to learn from them. “Miles is an outstanding young man with a range of interests and skills, and we were glad to provide the opportunity for him to explore his interests and gain some workplace experience.”

“The strong sense of community that surrounds Ensworth is what makes it so unique.”

Miles credits his Ensworth experiences around the Harkness table with giving him the confidence and skills to participate in the social media strategy discussions. “Learning around the Harkness table taught me how to effectively express

Miles concludes, “I would definitely encourage Ensworth graduates to network with older alums, parents of alums, and anyone else inside the Ensworth community. The strong sense of community that surrounds Ensworth is what makes it so unique. The relationships that I built during my time at Ensworth are the reason I was able to experience an amazing summer with Bohan and learn important skills and lessons that I know will help me down the road.”

REACH OUT

“It was very interesting to see how an agency like Bohan is able to shape ad campaigns for some of the biggest and most influential companies, organizations, and restaurants in Nashville and in the country. Among other things, I helped work on a social media campaign for a musical that debuted in Nashville toward the end of the summer. [With our use of] Facebook and Twitter, the musical saw an increase in ticket sales. The mentoring that I received was extremely helpful. I was able to meet and interact with people from completely different parts of the agency and get a first-hand look at the collaboration that is essential to Bohan’s success.” Miles says.

“I was thrilled for both parties that I was able to be a ‘matchmaker’ of sorts,” Jill Johnson stated. “I’m so proud of Miles and the person that he is and knew that he would be an asset to Bohan. We all know how important it is to network during a job search, and there is also something to be said for being at the right place at the right time. Our plans at Ensworth include developing a system and process for making these types of connections happen often and easily for any of our graduates who are interested and ask for our assistance.”

If your business can offer internships or other career opportunities to young Ensworth alumni, or if you would be willing to serve as a career advisor to young alums, please contact: • Jill Johnson johnsonj@ensworth.com • Tiffany Townsend townsendt@ensworth.com

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ACADEMICS

8 ENSIGHTS

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Science Class Class of 2019

SWI M M I NG P O OL S C I E NC E For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction… ...better known as Newton’s Third Law of Motion.

And then there are some totally unexpected reactions…like using swimming pool for a science lab!

Sixth graders recently worked together at Ensworth’s Natatorium to collect data to support this scientific principle. Their engineering and problem-solving skills were put to the test as they designed and built boats out of unconventional materials and then launched them across the competition pool in the new Natatorium at the High School campus.

“We are so thankful to have this wonderful teaching resource for science,” says Keith Crowe, Red Gables Science Chair, “and we are looking at all areas of our science curriculum here in Grades P1-8 for ways to utilize this amazing gift to the school.” Looking ahead, Science teachers envision that this space will be used like many other spaces at Ensworth, both inside conventional labs and beyond: to extend student understanding of real world challenges.

- Keith Crowe, Science

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ACADEMICS

Chinese at Ensworth Class of 2017 & Class of 2024

CHINESE A Culture of Collaboration

This fall, the eighth grade Chinese students and first graders practiced conversation to build proficiency together in celebration of the first grade Pet Show.

Translation: “My Pet,” the title of an original story written by Ruth Puryear.

The story was written in Chinese using colors, adjectives and nouns that were familiar to the first grade audience.

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Teachers of foreign language are always looking for opportunities for their students to speak with people in the target language outside of class. This type of practice helps children build confidence, practice conversation skills, and apply vocabulary in new situations. This fall, the eighth grade Chinese students and first graders practiced conversation to build proficiency together in celebration of the first grade Pet Show. The first graders practiced conversing about their pets, and the eighth graders created storybooks, using new and familiar words and concepts. The eighth graders and the first graders learned a lot through this collaboration, but most importantly they had fun throughout the process!

Grace Tseng, the Middle School Chinese Teacher, began this process by reading the eighth graders the children’s story Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? in Chinese, demonstrating how language patterns and repetition can increase comprehension.

The students then brainstormed and created a list of useful words relating to pets. Next, the eighth graders got to independently create a children’s story by writing sentences and inserting cute images. After a first draft, students edited and wrote final drafts, using technology to complete their storybooks. Finally, the students presented their books in front of their classmates.

Caitlin Harris, the Lower School Chinese Teacher, was simultaneously working with first grade students. They

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Chinese Language Ensworth’s Lower School

practiced vocabulary about pets, self-introductions and greetings, simple adjectives, and using the word love. The students also roleplayed in Pet Show skits. In the skits, they introduced themselves and their pets, described the pet’s size and temperament (active vs. sleepy), and expressed their love for their pet.

They couldn’t wait to meet the eighth graders!

The project culminated with a visit from the eighth graders to the first grade classrooms. The younger students first listened to a student’s original story in Chinese as a group and answered questions to demonstrate comprehension. Then, they broke into small groups of two or three to speak with the eighth graders about their pets.

The eighth graders had a questionnaire to fill out about each first grader and his or her pet. The older students encouraged the first graders and guided them through the process.

Any extra time was spent practicing numbers and colors together.

This collaboration was a

big success. The students, both the eighth graders and first graders, enjoyed meeting each other and look forward to seeing each other in the halls. One first grader was excited that her eighth grade buddy saw her and said, “Ni hao.”

Not only did the activities

The primary focus of foreign language instruction at the early elementary level is the development and nurture of the essential linguistic skills needed for meaningful communication in a target language. Chinese classes meet twice during each schedule rotation for P1 thru 5th grades. These twenty-minute exposure-based lessons give students the opportunity to learn vocabulary and grammar through aural/oral activities. This develops their ability to listen, to speak, and to acquire language-specific phonetics and syntax.

surrounding the collaboration build proficiency and confidence, they provided an opportunity for students to make connections across grade levels.

Eighth graders enjoy working with their first grade buddies.

In Chinese, an eighth grader asks his first grade buddies about their pets.

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“My particular class chose to research the Sudanese refugee population in Nashville. The

“Researching the Kurdish

project, a refreshing break from

population in Nashville gave me

formal writing, allowed us to

an insight on a part of my city

not only explore a topic relevant

that I had no idea was so diverse.

to the cultural background

I loved this project because it

of Nashville, but also think

was something different and it

creatively about how to put

was focused on problems in our

that knowledge to good use.”

community—I felt like I could

— K AYC E B O E H M

really make an impact. I learned that we don’t need to look far to find someone to help.” ­— A S H A N T I C H A R L E S

World Studies Research Project Class of 2015

“I knew that Nashville had the Titans and country music, but I had no idea that we had more Kurdish refugees than any other city.” This is the kind of comment students made last spring as we began looking at how the world—or refugees from around it—came to call Nashville home.

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Each year, Freshman World Studies students take on a research project, a six-toeight week exploration of topics ranging from serial killers to economics. Last spring, we (High School English teachers Dina Marks, Lauren Rupley, and former faculty member Tara Shuman) decided on a collaborative approach.

In history, freshmen were learning about colonization and decolonization.

Based on that theme, the English research projects would explore real-life examples of modern resettlement in their own community, Nashville.

Students began researching refugee groups. What is the difference between a refugee and an immigrant?

Why did they have to leave their homes? Why did they choose Nashville? These questions led students to understand Nashville as a unique civic and economic center with diverse neighborhoods, places that they may not have visited before. As students began to understand the refugees’

ACADEMICS “After learning about the refugee groups, I felt closer to the Nashville community.

This project also prepared me for my service learning trip to a public elementary school where we met kids from some of the groups we were studying.” ­— E M M A S L O A N

“The Nashville refugee research project opened

lives in Nashville, and how they were different from those in their homelands, they began to pick up on the social issues that first and second generation immigrants face. They learned about adjusting to local schools, the difficulty of learning English, job training for non-English speakers, starting small businesses, health-care issues specific to refugees, after-school opportunities for kids, and the list goes on.

This learning didn’t stop there. Rather than writing a traditional research paper, we decided, in coordination with Service Learning Coordinator Greg Eubanks, to challenge students to develop projects that addressed their social concerns. They worked together in small groups to identify one pressing need of the displaced population and to propose a solution to that need. Ideas included creating refugee-specific charter schools, making and selling bracelets or cupcakes to raise money, collecting donations of cell phones, bus passes,

or cars, and babysitting services. The students dreamed big, and when they had a concrete plan, they shared their plans with their classmates in a formal presentation.

The final piece was the formal writing component.

Instead of the traditional research paper, each student was responsible for writing a grant proposal asking for his/her project to be funded. The result was a series of student proposals that not only were grounded in sound research, but also showcased our students’ passion for helping others.

Our ninth graders learned about practical, real-world research writing, and in the process, learned how to identify real needs and work towards viable solutions.

my eyes to the diversity of Nashville and made me look past the private school bubble I am engulfed in. I discovered a whole new culture that I thought could only be found half way across the globe.”

— A N DR E W C H R I S T I A N S E N

“I came to Nashville from California in 8th grade.

I was expecting nothing more than country men and southern belles. I learned we housed more Sudanese (African) refugees in Nashville than in any Californian city! Refugees are part of any thriving community no matter where you live.”

— R E AGA N CA LDW ELL

“I really enjoyed the Kurdish Project. It made me feel like I could make a difference in the community by doing something small but that in the end had a

— Dina Marks & Lauren Rupley, English

huge impact. It really introduced me to all kinds of service work and I had an amazing learning experience because of it!”

— S IO N A K A L I L

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FAC U LTY N E WS Middle School Math teacher Maria Wolfgang has been nominated to serve as a mentor for the WitsOn (Women in Technology Sharing Online) program whose purpose is to encourage women in Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Mrs. Wolfgang is excited to be one of a nationwide network of women in science, technology, engineering and math who will become online mentors for college students. Colleges participating include MIT, CA Institute of Technology, Cornell, Princeton, Stanford and U.C. Berkley as well as many others.

Brooks Corzine ’79, Middle School Dean of Students, was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at the University of the South (Sewanee). Mr. Corzine, a 1987 Sewanee grad, was a four-year letter winner in track and field. He was a 1987 All-American in the decathlon, and still holds the school record in the decathlon with 6452 points. Mr. Corzine also held the school record in the high jump until 2005.

Ensworth Technology Director Jason Hiett was interviewed in Ed Tech, a magazine for technology leaders in the education field. He returned to Ensworth this year after serving as Tech Director at University School in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Christian Bahr joined the Ensworth community this fall as Director of Aquatics, working in the Natatorium and with our Fitness Program. Bahr, 1998 graduate of SMU, where he majored in English and Medieval Studies while garnering All-American honors nine times as a swimmer.

Mr. Bahr comes to Ensworth from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, where he served as the assistant coach of one of the premier swimming programs in the nation.

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High School Visual and Performing Arts Chair Donnie Bryan recently taught six workshops at the Tennessee State Thespian Conference held in Memphis and served as a judge for the one act plays and scholarship finals at the Arkansas State Thespian Conference in Fort Smith.

Several Ensworth faculty presented workshop sessions at the Tenn. Association of Independent Schools conference Nov. 4-5 in Memphis. Sharing teaching ideas were Debbie Sandwith, Jean Bruce, Dean Schneider, Robin Smith, Linden Lantz, Chelsy Hooper. Cris Hempel was a part of the TAIS committee that planned the conference.

Ensworth Development staffers Bedell James, Jill Johnson, and Tiffany Townsend, along with Head of School David Braemer attended the Annual Conference for the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), held in Washington, D.C. January 13-15. This was the second consecutive year the Ensworth team has been invited to be conference presenters.

Faculty / Staff Babies

Christian Bahr (Courtney) Celia Ellen Bahr February 9, 2013 Justin Eoff (Courtney) Brodie Wade Eoff July 25, 2012 Maurice Hopkins (Jasmin) Jaxon Reese Hopkins July 7, 2012

Jonas Rodriguez (Anne Crockett Hale ’00) Douglas Hale Rodriguez “Hale” November 14, 2012 Justin Weatherby (Leah) “Allie” August 18, 2012

Faculty Focus Lower/Middle School

DR . E LLE N R E Y NOLD S on Life Skills Class “A community of learners where students feel encouraged to explore, to challenge themselves – and to feel comfortable as individuals and as part of a larger group.”

How do you create that sort of community with hundreds of students in Grades P1-8 at different ages and stages of development?

Dr. Ellen Reynolds, Counselor at Ensworth’s Red Gables campus, sees the Life Skills Program as a powerful tool in creating such an environment. Every student, from the youngest Tiger in Pre-First Grade to the Eighth Graders completing Middle School and getting ready to embark upon their high school careers, participates in the Life Skills classes. “Life is a journey filled with changes. Our program offers the opportunity to explore, embrace, and accept the changes on the journey from Pre-First through Eighth Grades,” Dr. Reynolds says.

Dr. Reynolds coordinates a diverse group of faculty members and a wide-ranging curriculum that changes and grows with the students’ ages and reflects the issues that students encounter as they mature. “In Pre-First grade,

we’re talking with children about the power of words to encourage or to hurt, and by Eighth Grade, we’re helping students explore areas such as human sexuality and relationships with peers and parents,” she says.

“I love that our teachers interact with children whom they may not teach otherwise, or may have taught in earlier grades. That promotes a real sense of community as teachers have the opportunity to get to know students in different contexts.” And students come to know that there are adults throughout the school who know and care for them as individuals.

“Teachers and students use consistent rules in Life classes,” Dr. Reynolds explains. Discussions are open and confidential in Life classes, designed to protect individual feelings, questions and ideas. No one may put down another person in regard to his or her questions or ideas. “The environment is a safe one,” Dr. Reynolds says.

“You can share your feelings and thoughts without feeling threatened.” Students receive a grade for effort and consideration and are expected to

complete homework as in any other class.

Life classes help build strong community in a number of ways. Chris Champion, Fourth Grade teacher, says, “I enjoy how our life class connects to our service learning. We spend a lot of time encouraging empathy, tolerance and respect which tie in well with our work with Harris Hillman School.”

Dr. Reynolds provides both an understanding ear when students come to her with issues and concerns and a trained, experienced resource for faculty and parents. She earned her B.A. and M. Ed. degrees at Belmont University and an Ed.D. degree at Vanderbilt University. Before joining the Ensworth community in 1999, Dr. Reynolds had worked as a high school teacher, development director and counselor.

She loves seeing her students grow and mature and stretch their horizons as they try new experiences within a caring community. The concepts and principles of Life Skills class continue in 9th and 10th grades.

“Our program offers opportunities to explore, to embrace, and to accept the changes on the journey from Pre-First through Eighth Grades”

LIFE SKILLS CLASS A proven program, created by a former Ensworth Middle School Head in the 1970s, “Life,” is designed to:

• Promote honest discussion and discovery about stages in academic, emotional, physical, and social development • Encourage each child to speak about his or her ideas • Promote an environment where questions are welcome • Provide a comfortable setting to grow together and to know that others are experiencing the same emotions, challenges, and growth • Support and enhance the objectives of the School’s mission statement

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Faculty Focus High School

DAVI D WH I T F I E LD on Seminar Building on the P1–8 Life Skills Class When 9th and 10th graders get their shcedules at the High School, they see the familiar classes, like Algebra, English, and History, but they also see something new, “Seminar” class. What is Seminar, and why is it a part of the Ensworth curriculum?

“Seminar is where students first learn to engage each other as high school students. It encourages students to think intelligently about choices and decisions that will affect them for a life time. In a very unique way it enables them to study themselves in the broadest social context,” says David Whitfield, Seminar Department Chair.

“Seminar encourages students to think intelligently about choices and decisions that will affect them for a life time.”

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“Seminar, in many respects, is the introduction to formal Harkness training at the High School. The Seminar curriculum at the ninth grade level is interdisciplinary and focuses on issues that are germane to teen life. Seminar teachers are encouraged to be resourceful, creative, and draw from various bodies of knowledge to engage the students.

In the ninth grade, students study cyber citizenship, principles of nutrition, media influences, risk, and drug addiction. The 10th grade curriculum builds upon the 9th grade experience but also adds a more formal healthy living component.”

Whitfield takes his life experience of being raised in a highly addictive family environment and uses it to positively change the lives of his students. He can honestly speak to the students about these issues from his first hand experience.

“When students complete the Seminar courses they have a much richer understanding of themselves in a social context.

They understand that being a teenager is a stage in one’s development. They understand how the decisions they make in one stage can greatly

influence later stages of life. They also have a better understanding of what constitutes healthy living.”

David Whitfield has been a part of the Ensworth community for the past six years. When asked what first attracted him to the position, he said “I was very attracted to the Ensworth Harkness method, elective system, and the stated commitment to being countercultural and diverse. I value the commitment to thinking outside of the box and forging our own identity in the school marketplace.“ In addition to being the Department Chair of Seminar, Whitfield also teaches African-American Literature and British Literature, as well as a history course he pioneered on Civil Rights. In the summer, he directs Kids Academy and Time to Rise, inc., programs he helped create.

Getting to know David outside the classroom • He enjoys classical literature, old films, traditional jazz music, and is a passionate boxing fan • His wife is an Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology • Originally from New England, he was a high school basketball star • He has a puggle (dog) named Celle • He lives in Murfreesboro

FACULTY

Faculty Focus High School

J I M M I LLE R on Project TALK Fostering Empathy & Kindness

When we refuse to assume, we make room to listen.

Martin Buber “Breaking down cliques begins with challenging our assumptions about each other,” says high school English teacher Jim Miller. That is the premise of the Project TALK seminar he sponsors to empower students to openly discuss diversity issues. Project TALK, which is an acronym for Talking, Acting and Listening for Kindness, was started in 2008 by Scholar-inResidence Rich Milner and has since grown to include the entire high school student body and Ensworth eighth graders.

Miller says the main goal of this seminar is to foster loving kindness and empathy. Project TALK creates forums where students facilitate small group discussions on what can sometimes be “touchy” matters. Students lead discussions on topics like interracial dating, honesty and inclusivity.

“We don’t expect students to leave a Project TALK session with any one opinion on a given topic. We hope that during a Project TALK session, our students feel empowered to speak, listen, to disagree and to grow from the conversation.”

Although Project TALK has spread to other schools, Ensworth is the only school that allows students to be facilitators without

any faculty in the room.

Miller sites Ensworth’s Harkness table and studentcentered learning approach as a major factor.

“Anytime people come together from disparate groups to listen openly and to speak earnestly, the fabric of community begins to knit.”

In addition to Project TALK, Miller teaches American Literature to sophomores and has designed junior/ senior electives in War Literature and Revenge Literature. Next year he hopes to offer a new course entitled The Tragedy of Genius, where students explore the relationship between exceptional people and their often-troubled lives.

“Anytime people come together from disparate groups to listen openly and to speak earnestly, the fabric of community begins to knit.”

Miller’s favorite things about Ensworth include the studentcentered learning model, the Harkness tables, the high school Vision Statement—and the chance to work in theater once again with his old high school buddy, Dave Berry.

Students talk about TALK: “Project TALK isn’t just about talking. Project TALK is about understanding why people feel the way they do regarding issues of diversity. It’s when you’re able to view difficult topics through the perspective of your peers that you gain insight into the problem at hand.”

“Project TALK has provided me the ability, along with the time, to facilitate meaningful conversations with my peers. Instead of debating “difficult” topics, we have all learned the art of positive dialogue and constructive disagreements.”

Blair Wilson ‘14

Doni Lehman ‘13 17 WINTER 2013

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much better than others. The Ensworth community has to decide whether they are open to broadening their knowledge about matters of diversity.

Are you willing to examine yourself in order to better know and understand diversity at Ensworth and beyond?

DIVE RS I TY MAT T E RS

by Rich Milner, PHD

The Ensworth community in 2013 is more racially and ethnically diverse than any time in the past.

Consider the following data from the Ensworth administration for a 10-year span in socio-economic and racial/ ethnic diversity: 2002-03: 4% of the students (26) received financial aid totaling $196,000 2012-13: 13% of the students (136) receive financial aid for a total of almost $1.9 million.

2002-03: 7% of the student body (41) were students of color 2012-13: 15% of the student body (161) are students of color.

We know that understanding, supporting and advancing diversity has to be about more than increasing numbers.

“Adding diversity” without a deep and systemic understanding of who we are and what we do will not lead to growth and transformation. Understanding why all of us should care about diversity is at the heart of the matter.

18 ENSIGHTS

Ensworth is a dynamic educational institution with world-class faculty, students, parents, and administrators.

But how does it get even better in light of the diversity in the community today and in the future? What can we do as an Ensworth community to ensure that all individuals and groups of people are included in what it means to be Ensworth Tigers?

Let’s ask ourselves:

Do you believe that you already know what you need to know and understand about diversity to successfully live and learn at Ensworth?

I do not believe that I already possess all the knowledge and understanding available in the world about anything, including diversity. I am constantly learning about myself, others, and myself in relation to others in order to gain new insights about how the world works: why so many people live in poverty, why gaps exist between White students and Black and Latino students on standardized tests, and why some schools are

Well-intentioned people may believe that understanding diversity is about building knowledge about other groups of people.

I suggest that deepening knowledge and understanding about diversity is really about understanding the self. How does my background influence how I experience the world and how I interact with others? What do I believe about diversity in society and education, and how do these beliefs matter in my daily life? How do the realities of my background and prior experiences show up in my interactions and relationships at Ensworth?

Do I understand myself in relation to other people at Ensworth and beyond?

Think about who you are in relation to others. How do your life experiences through music, sport, film, pop culture, service and worldview intersect with others? For instance, in what ways do teachers’ beliefs, preferences, and practices both inside and outside the classroom converge with or diverge from students?

Do I see the diversity at Ensworth as an asset or liability to the mission and success of the community?

While diversity may be seen as a challenge and people may focus on the negative attributes of groups “different” from themselves and their own groups, seeing diversity as an asset allows us to support each other. What unique strengths/assets do I bring into the Ensworth community? What do others

To read the full article, published in Ensworthy News, go to ensworth.com/about us/diversity

COMMUNITY

bring? How do both sets of assets diverge from each other yet make the community better?

Do you believe you have reached your diversity knowledge and understanding destination at Ensworth?

I view diversity awareness as journey, not a final destination.

Understanding and deepening knowledge about diversity is a process that really never ends. Learning about the self, another, the self in relation to others, and considering the many assets that people and groups bring to the Ensworth community requires that we constantly engage in a learning process. What else do I need to know about the varying cultural groups at Ensworth? How can I engage in experiences to learn more and to do more to make the community a welcoming environment for all?

Finally, think about what we all share in common: we all desire and need to be loved; we all must have food to eat; we all know what it means to be hurt and disappointed. It is through commonalities existing among us that we learn to empathize with others. It is when we don’t see shared commonalities that we judge and yearn for others to believe and practice in the same ways that we do.

With practice, we recognize that it is our diversity that lets us live and function in ways that contribute to humanity – a life impossible without our diversity.

AB OUT THE AUTHOR Rich Milner is Associate Professor

Ensworth Students & Faculty attend the NAIS 2012 Diversity Conference and People of Color Conference Students from Ensworth attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Houston, Texas December 6-8, while faculty members attended the People of Color Conference.

Hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), The Student Diversity Leadership Conference is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of upper school student leaders (grades 9–12) from around the country. Participants examine issues of social justice, develop effective cross-cultural communication skills, practice expression through the arts, and learn networking principles and strategies.

Now in its 19th year, The Student Diversity Leadership Conference encourages students to apply the leadership principles they develop within their own communities after the conference. www.pocc.nais.org

of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning and a

Three words to best describe my experience at the

founding Director of the Learn-

People of Color Conference: refreshing, rewarding, and

ing, Diversity, and Urban Studies

reinvigorating. Diversity is a concept that benefits all and

graduate program at Vanderbilt University. For the past five years, he has worked with Ensworth as a diversity consultant. His latest book is Start Where You are, But Don’t Stay There: Understanding Diversity,

this conference helped to encourage, confirm, and enable us to do so much more within the communities we serve.

PA SC HA SWE TT, High School Faculty Pictured above, back row: Jason Maxwell, Maurice Hopkins, David Braemer, Ashley Slay, Lemanski Hall, Tua Bultje, Jim Miller, Donovan Sheffield, Pascha Swett Front row: Emme McGlasson, PJ Settles

Opportunity Gaps, and Teaching in Today’s Classrooms (Harvard Education Press) .

Contact him at rich.milner@vanderbilt.edu

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COMMUNITY

FOR T H E R E C OR D .

ENSWORTH ARBORETUM The high school campus was awarded Arboretum status by the Nashville Tree Foundation. Almost 900 trees were noted in the original tree and site survey. Added to the site were 28 species of new trees and 20 varieties of shrubs as well as native grass and bioswale plantings. The school will use the arboretum as an educational and service-learning program for its student body and to provide community education via the 150’ greenway and conservation easement.

ROBOTIC TRASH CAN

Ensworth’s Middle School Robotics Team competed in the Tennessee First Lego League (FLL) state finals in December at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville.

The team competed against 59 other teams from Tennessee.

This year’s theme involved working with senior citizens to help make their lives better. The team developed a trash- can-moving robot to help senior citizens take their trash can back and forth to the curb. The team won second place in the Innovative Solution Award for their innovative trash can moving robot. Coached by Jonathan Reveal, the team members included Josh Howard, Webb Hunt, Brandon Lewis, John Smalley, Dilan Patel, Luke Mukundan, George Lloyd, and Iain Zwiebel.

ORANGE/BLACK CAPTAINS Class of 2017 Orange Team: Claire Cato & Thomas Estes Black Team: Julia Nahley & Frist Allen

IT’S HISTORY On December 13, David Chanaca’s World War II class tied history lessons together with service learning. His class interviewed World War II veterans and then made i-movies about their interviews. Their movies were presented to the residents of The Blakeford Assisted Living Facility in Green Hills. The event was titled, “A World War II Tribute to the Greatest Generation.”

DEBATABLE Seventh grader Ben Frigon was featured on Channel 4 News Bulger’s Beat discussing the Vice Presidential Debate. Ben was chosen to attend the debate in Kentucky and write an article for Scholastic News.

I HEART ENSWORTH Dr. Evelio Rodriquez conducted heart dissections (pig and elk hearts) with 7th grade students on January 15th. Dr. Rodriguez is a current Ensworth parent and is the Director of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Cardiac Surgery and Director of Arrhythmia Surgery at Saint Thomas Heart Hospital. The students used this dissection to study the structure of the heart, the pathway of blood flow, and to see how doctors can repair problems such as valve replacements and stints. Michelle Little, Middle School Science teacher, states, “As we study the organs and organ systems of animals, we make comparisons to the human organs and organ systems. It makes it more real and relevant for the students.”

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COMMUNITY

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION HONOREES Back Row: Rajiv Patel, Ben Perlin, Jack Sheridan, Katelyn McEvoy, Sarah Smith, Avery Bennett; Front Row: Talia Mayden, Doni Lehman

STUDENT GOVERNMENT Top Row: Talia Mayden, Doni Lehman, Houston Vick, Bobby Bethke, Lily Parrish, Will Dunn, Andrew Christiansen, Harrison Allen; Front Row: John Hudson Alarcon, Blair Wilson, Niah Charles, LynnWhitfield, Caden Scott; Not Pictured: Alec Holcomb, Alanna Foley, Abby Scanlan, Elgin Cato, Grace Wiley, Tim Crosby, Claire Joyce, Will Garside, Michael Buttarazzi

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ACHIEVEMENTS RECOGNIZED Fifty-eight Ensworth students earned recognition in the national AP test program in 2012.

These students include alumni who graduated in the Class of 2012 and current seniors in the Class of 2013:

National AP Scholar: Average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken and 4 or higher on 8 or more exams Class of 2012: Thomas Doochin, Lee Folk, Philly Krebs, Jake West

AP Scholar with Distinction: Average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and 3 or higher on 5 or more exams Class of 2012: Emily Barnes, Kate Barnes, Lauren Barnett, Katherine Cochran, Kean Devine, Thomas Doochin, Elizabeth Elcan, Lee Folk, Katie Fry, Alex Giger, Charles Glassford, Philly Krebs, John Mackowiak, Jack Masterson, Erin Miller, Miranda Mott, Wilson Patton, Matthew Peacock, Libby Rush, Parker Schooley, Nathan Watkins, Jake West, Wilson West Class of 2013: Rajiv Patel

AP Scholar with Honor: Average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and 3 or higher on 4 or more exams Class of 2012: Carol Allen, Hannah Cooper, Elam Mangum, Miller Morris, Matthew Oglesby, Kaitlin Rye, Rico Watson Class of 2013: Ben Perlin

AP Scholar: Scores of 3 or higher on 3 or more AP exams Class of 2012: Darrington Altenbern, Connor Binford, Rachel Bryan, Nan Bumpus, Benjamin Byrd, Mary Elizabeth Colton, Caroline Deaton, Callie Estes, Drake Evans, Ford Garrard, Anna Grainger, Erica Gray, Lizzie Hogan, Kate Hooper, Leah Rose, Zach Walker, Jim Wilkins Class of 2013: Avery Brooks Bennett, Ben Bishop, Joe Castignetti, John Clifton, Lauren Elcan, Doni Lehman, Molly Ralph, Helen Rue, Abby Scanlan, John Sheridan 21 WINTER 2013

COMMUNITY

FOR T H E R E C OR D .

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE & ANNUAL FUND MAJOR GIFTS TEAM

Front Row: Hill McAlister, Doug Christiansen, T.J. Wilt, Drew Crawford, Chad Greer, Clay Taylor, Frank Downey Back Row: Phil Krebs, Trisha Elcan, Ann Pruitt, Trudy Byrd, Edie Bass, Mimi DeCamp, Kathryn Brown, Hill Lenderman Not Pictured: Amy Christiansen, Bill DeCamp, David Dill, Linda Ewing, Joel Gluck, Kerry Graham, Sam Hazen, Janette Smith, Garney Scott

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR! The Ensworth Annual Fund is a critical component of the school’s budget and accounts for $1 million of our operating revenue.

Ensworth tuition does not fully cover the cost of educating a child at Ensworth and the School counts on Annual Fund support to close the gap which is currently approximately $2500 per student each year.

Without the dedication of our Annual Fund Chairs (Louise & John Bryan, Trudy & Will Byrd, Rosemary & John Dinkins), phonathon volunteers, Trustees, Development Committee and Major Gifts Team, it would be impossible to raise this necessary money each year. We sincerely thank these volunteers for their dedication, perseverance, and organization - but mostly we thank them for loving Ensworth so much.

A BIG TIGER THANK YOU

Jeanette Bradshaw For 35 years Mrs. Jeanette Bradshaw was the friendly face at the front desk and the voice on the phone at the Red Gables campus. She decided to retire after school ended last year, and we give her a big Tiger Thank You. On October 10, colleagues and family came together to celebrate her many years of service to Ensworth.

Adrienne Parker

Shirley Jenkins

Also receiving appreciation for her 20 years of dedication to Ensworth and for her support for two Headmasters was Shirley Jenkins. After serving as Assistant to the Head, she is enjoying arranging her own calendar for time with friends and family.

22 ENSIGHTS

Adrienne Parker was recognized for her 25 years of dedicated service to Ensworth last spring. She was the creative mind, designer and talented photographer behind Ensights magazine and many other school publications and graphic designs from auction invites to T-shirts and more. These days she is using her creative talents to make fused glass platters and bowls offered through art shows and local gift shops by her company, AMPglasswerks. Custom commissioned glass gifts are her specialty! She can be reached at ampglasswerks@gmail.com.

ARTS

THE GIFT OF MAMA YE YE

Endowment Gift brings African Dancer & Legendary Storyteller to School How does one former student’s love for the arts translate into current Ensworth students listening in fascination as an internationally-known musician, dancer, and story-teller shares her love of the arts of Africa? The intense rhythms and colors of the event seemed to be magic, but the experience was actually the result of an endowment fund established by family and friends of Ensworth alumna Claire McBride Bass to honor her memory and cherish her love for the arts. The endowment fund supports visiting artists or an arts speaker series at the high school.

Apetibii Yeye Iya Olori Oriyomi, known as Mama Yeye, highlighted an assembly program, interacted with dance, music and theater classes and taught a master class at the high school in early November. She also worked with musical theater participants as they prepared to audition for the spring musical, Once on This Island.

Mama Yeye takes her artistic inspiration from the variety of ethnic rhythms, tastes, sounds, and voices of the African Diaspora that have been part of her life, ranging from West Philly to Nigeria, New Orleans, New York City, Jamaica, and Atlanta, her new home base. An African dancer, choreographer, playwright, percussionist, and teacher, she delights in teaching

the arts of Africa because it is an opportunity to create positive change. She uplifts the Yoruba code or “ile iwa pele,” which means good character. She has presented master classes and workshops for colleges, universities, and theater conferences throughout the country.

Arts Department Chair Donnie Bryan declared “The opportunity for our students to observe, enjoy, and interact with an artist of Mama Yere’s creativity is a rare one and we are most grateful that it has been made possible.” If you would like to learn more about how your special passion can be shared with today’s students through the creation of an endowed fund, contact Bedell James at jamesb@ensworth.com.

23 WINTER 2013

ARTS

M I DDL E SCHOOL FA L L PL AY NOV EM BER 201 2 F R IST H A L L 24 ENSIGHTS

ARTS

“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast asleep. In dreams you will lose your heartaches. Whatever you wish for, you keep. Have faith in your dreams, and someday, your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true. ”

— Ci nderel l a , Cin d e rell a 25 WINTER 2013

ARTS

Metamorphoses H IGH SCHOOL FA L L PL AY OCTOBER 201 2 ENS WORT H T H E AT ER 26 ENSIGHTS

ARTS

“Let me die the moment my love dies.

Let me not outlive my own capacity to love.

Let me die still loving, and so, never die.”

— M a r y Z i m mer m a n , Metam o r ph oses 27 WINTER 2013

S T R l O o o P h c S S h L L Hig

2 1

0 2 FA

Fall Sports Highlights VOLLEYBALL The EHS Volleyball team advanced to the TSSAA State Tournament Quarterfinal Round. Many thanks to the returning seniors, Lizzy Allen, Alanna Foley, and Eva Landstreet. Congratulations on great volleyball careers which include the back to back State Championships in 2010 and 2011.

AWA RD S Becca Smith ’15 earned both 1st Team AllRegion Recognition and a 1st Team TSWA (Tennessee Sports Writers Association) All-State Award. Ashley Slay ’14 earned a 1st Team All-Region recognition.

GIRLS SOCCER 28 ENSIGHTS

The EHS Girls Soocer team advanced to the TSSAA playoffs against Father Ryan.

Congratulations to the senior soccer players

Dougie Dingess and Rachel Oldham on outstanding soccer careers at Ensworth.

AWA RD S Congratulations to Dougie Dingess ’13, a Furman commitment, who was named to the Division II-A A 2012 Girls Soccer All-Region Team and to Becca Rolfe ’14 named to the Division II-A A 2012 Girls Soccer All-Region and All-State Teams.

ATHLETICS

CROSS COUNTRY Emma Sloan and Sage Loh were named All State runners.

On the strength of her victory at the A.F. Bridges Invitational and 3rd place finish in the DII-AA State Cross Country meet, Emma Sloan was named to the Tennessean 1st Team All-Midstate in girls cross country.

AWA RD S Emma Sloan ’15 and Sage Loh ’16 received All-State honors in girls cross country.

GIRLS GOLF The Girls Golf Team finished one shot back of Baylor to take the DII-AA State RunnerUp spot at the state tournament in October at Willowbrook Golf Course. Their team score of 299 was the seventh best score in

the history of the girls’ state tournament.

Alexandra Farnsworth finished as the girls individual state runner-up. Maddie Williams finished fifth and Lindsay Miller placed sixth overall.

AWA RD S Alexandra Farnsworth ’14 was named Tennessean 1st Team All-Midstate and received the 2012 Tennessee Junior Amateur Player of the Year. Farnsworth’s achievements include second place at the Tennessee Girls’ Junior Championship and Tennessee PGA Junior Championship.

She won her second consecutive TSSA A DII-A A High School Golf Championship.

Farnsworth finished third at the AJGA Junior at TPC Southwind, second at the AJGA Kansas City and won her second consecutive Schooldays Tournament.

Be physically fit Develop confidence through individual effort Work effectively with others Ensworth Mission Statement

29 WINTER 2013

ATHLETICS

2

FOOTBALL

S ht T lig R h O ig S P ool H L L h Sch A F Hig

2 1 0

s

After defeating McCallie 37-7 in the quarterfinals and Montgomery Bell Academy 35-7 in the semifinals, the 2012 Ensworth Football team capped off the school’s first undefeated season with a 31-14 state championship victory over the Memphis University School Owls. With the perfect 13-0 record, the Tiger Football team is now ranked #9 in the latest USA Today National High School Football poll. The Tigers are the TSSAA DII-AA State Champions for the third consecutive year.

AWA RD S West Team Defensive MVP Award - Anthony Batey ’13 received the West Team Defensive MVP award at the Toyota East-West All-Star Game played December 8, 2012, at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN. Anthony and classmate Jay Heins ’13 were selected to play in this all-star game which picks some of the best players from across the state to compete. Anthony won the award for accumulating a team-high 10 tackles from his linebacker position.

30 ENSIGHTS

Tennessean Player of the Year – Corn Elder ’13 received the Tennessean AllMidstate Player of the Year Award. Joining Corn on the 1st Team All-Midstate were offensive linemen Xavier Forrest ’14 and Parker Wade ’14, and defensive lineman Michael Sawyers ’14. On the 2nd Team were linebacker Anthony Batey ’13, cornerback Rico McGraw ’15, and strong safety Justin Lloyd ’13. In addition, Andrew Bowers ’13 was named to the 3rd team at quarterback.

Ensworth Football Players receive All-State Recognition - The following players were named to the TSWA (Tennessee Sports Writers) All-State: QB – Andrew Bowers, RB – Corn Elder, OL – Parker Wade, Michael Sawyers, DL – Xavier Forrest, DB – Justin Lloyd, Donovan Sheffield ’15.

MR. FOOTBALL On Monday, November 26 Corn Elder, received the Division II-A A Mr. Football Back award for the second consecutive year and it was his third year as a finalist for the award. In addition, teammate Michael Sawyers, was a finalist for the Division II-A A Mr. Football Lineman award. Both of these young men had outstanding individual seasons, which were bolstered by the success of the team.

#3

STATE

P

T A E

CHAMPIONS

31 WINTER 2013

ATHLETICS

FALL S P ORT S

Middle School Highlights

Cross Country

Golf

The Ensworth cross-country team consisted of ten 6th graders, seventeen 7th graders and fourteen 8th graders for a total of forty-one runners. The Tigers competed well with each runner making strong improvements throughout the season. The HVAC finals were held at Harlinsdale Farm where the boys finished 4th, and the girls finished 5th. The Tigers were led by Connor Galvez, who earned 10th place with a time of 11:37, and Hailey Braemer, who placed 15th with a time of 13:33.

Led by 8th Graders Ross Smith, Weston Farris and Mac McRae, the Varsity team placed 5th overall in the HVAC.

AWA RD S Connor Galvez - HVAC 10th place, 11:37.90 Hailey Braemer - HVAC 15th place, 13:33.77 Boys finished 4th place and girls 5th place in HVAC.

Varsity Volleyball The varsity volleyball team included forty-one 7th and 8th grade girls. One varsity team and three JV teams competed against other HVAC schools. The teams participated in the Metro Play Day, BGA Middle School Invitational Tournament and the HVAC Tournament. 24 sixth graders played on four teams, and they participated in the USN Play Day. 32 ENSIGHTS

Corinne Parrish fired a 37 in the final tournament to become the 2012 HVAC Girls’ Champion. Joined by 6th grader Caroline Frist who placed 4th overall, the Tigers wrapped up their season with an impressive second place finish in the team division.

AWA RD S BOYS - 5th in HVAC GIRLS - 2nd in HVAC with 6th grader Caroline Frist placing 4th and 8th grader Corinne Parrish placing 1st as the 2012 girls HVAC CHAMPION.

ATHLETICS

A R E YOU K N OW N ?

The theme of the football team this year was “known”. We posed two questions: “At the end of the day what do you want people to say about you? What do you want to be known for?” The Tigers worked daily at becoming a better athlete, teammate and classmate in efforts to accomplish their common goal of being known as someone who thinks of others first and someone who gives his best effort in everything he does.

Football

Boys Soccer

The Tigers finished a hard fought season with an even 3-3 record with wins over Fairview, BGA and the Franklin Cowboys.

The theme of the year was “known.” We posed two questions: “At the end of the day what do you want people to say about you? What do you want to be known for?” The boys worked daily at becoming a better football player, teammate and classmate in efforts to accomplish their common goal of being known as someone who thinks of others first and someone who gives his best effort in everything he does. Some highlights of the year included a 50 yard kick off return for a touchdown

by Ben Wallace, a three score performance by Nicky Clifton against BGA and John Hill Wheliss’s courageous effort in throwing the ball all over the field in the first half against FRA before being knocked out of the game due to injury.

The Boys’ Varsity Soccer team had a great season of growth. It was a slow start as the team learned the game and understood its positions. Throughout the season, our effort and understanding improved while the boys were asked to continually try new positions. By the end of the season the team was playing our best soccer.

Each player had a better understanding of his role, as well as a mindset of putting others first. The results were a 2-0 victory in the HVAC tournament.

AWA RD S All-HVAC - Galen Elcan, Warren Zager, Frist Allen

Girls Soccer The Varsity Girls’ Soccer team included eighteen players in grades six through eight. The team enjoyed a great deal of success this year and ended the season with a 2nd place finish in the HVAC tournament. It was an exciting year for the Lady Tigers!

AWA RD S 2nd place in the HVAC tournament

33 WINTER 2013

COMMUNITY Mrs. Robert’s Grade 4 Play

Mr. Sherland’s Grade 3 Play

ENSWORTH EVENTS

LOWE R / M I DDLE S C HO OL Red Gables Campus Coach Bowers has fun with Pre-First Grade

34 ENSIGHTS

COMMUNITY Students cheer on the High School Football Team before the State Championship game

8th Grade Pancake Breakfast

35 WINTER 2013

COMMUNITY Service Learning Day

ENSWORTH EVENTS H IG H S C HO OL Devon Farm Campus

All-School Holiday Program and Grandparents’ Day 36 ENSIGHTS

COMMUNITY Student-Directed One Act Plays

Faculty (from both campuses) join students at the Winter Choral Concert

Rock Band Assembly

High School Grandparents’ Day

37 WINTER 2013

ALUMNI

ALU M N I E VE N T S HOMECOMING GAME & COMMUNITY TAILGATE

DC GATHERING Alumni from the 1970’s to 2000’s came together in Washington DC for a chance to network with other area alumni and meet new Head of School, David Braemer.

The Alumni Office will be planning more satellite events, so look for us visiting a city near you!

ALUMNI ART SHOW Featuring Olivia Daane ’84, Will Arthur ’00, Taylor Thomas ’08

38 ENSIGHTS

ALUMNI

YOUNG ALUMNI WINTER LUNCHEON Over 120 young alumni gathered on the high school campus on Wednesday, December 19th for a special winter luncheon.

Alums caught up with friends and faculty, enjoyed a lunch of favorites prepared by the kitchen ladies, and got a sneak peek at the natatorium before its official opening.

39 WINTER 2013

ALUMNI

Ensworth Alumni

C LAS S NOT E S Alumni Births

Alumni Weddings

Renard Francois ´86 (Mary) Gabriel Xavier Francois “Gabe”, August 18, 2011

Marcie Allen ´88 (Derek Van Mol)

Eric Hempel ´87 (Suzy) Augustus Anders Hempel “Gus”, August 3, 2012

Blair Davis ´94 (Andrew Stefanescu)

Dory deZevallos ´93 (Patrick Murray)

Meredith Perdue Kear ´87 (Mark) Justin Chandler Kear, January 31, 2012

Louise Riley ´96 (Matt Beasley)

Beth Davis Ehresman ´90 (Christopher) Holden Potter Ehresman, May 9, 2012

Parker Prevost ´02 (Mary Hancock)

Rebecca Russell Howard ´90 (John) River Abigail Howard, August 9, 2011 Libby Weaver Sieveking ´90 (Nick) Lila Catherine Sieveking, September 12, 2012 Jennie Rebecca Rogers Springer ´92 (Jarron) Gray Brantley Springer, February 24, 2012

Julie French ´02 (Kyle Strongin) Jessie Parker ´08 (Aaron Early)

In Memorium Marguerite Wallace McClure Averett ’63 Passed away May 12, 2012

Mary Beth Scherer Thomas ´92 (Russell) Andrew Myers Thomas “Andy”, October 18, 2012 Ashley Haury Travis ´93 (Josh) Aubrey DePaull Travis, November 30, 2012 Sybil Dianne Staley Holt ´94 (John) Olivia Dianne Holt, June 15, 2012 Stephen Choate ´95 (Kathryn) Grace Elizabeth Choate, February 2012 Shannon Shillinglaw McIntosh ´96 (David) Richard Stephen McIntosh July 22, 2012 John Stringham ´96 (Casey) Sarah Lauren Stringham, July 17, 2012 Elliot Pinsly ´97 (Jessica) Aidan Bailey Pinsly, April 23, 2012 Leslie Shaffer South ´97 (Eric) Charles Eric South, September 9, 2012 Daniel Gluck ´99 (Amanda) Reece Ella Gluck, January 31, 2013 Anne Crockett ´00 (Jonas) Douglas Hale Rodriguez “Hale”, November 14, 2012

40 ENSIGHTS

CLASS OF 1982 GATHERING Friends for almost 40 years, the Ensworth Class of 1982 gathered over Christmas to celebrate classmate Henrik Meng’s visit to Nashville on his way to his new job and home in Australia. (front row) Muffett Pickel, Harvard Reynolds, Rob Ikard (back row) Helen Drowota Close, Beau Wilson, Henrik Meng, Bonny Davis Block, Harris Gilbert, Devereux Cummins Pollock, Elizabeth Lane McAlister, Elizabeth Bass Lamar, Jimbo Hunt, and Morgan Wills

Ensworth Alumni

ALUMNI

C LAS S NOT E S

Class News by Decades

60 Jeff Comfort ’68 has been named the vice president of principal gifts and gift planning at the Oregon State University Foundation.

80 Elizabeth Bass Lamar ’82 has been elected to the board of directors of the Nashville Tree Foundation.

Olivia Daane ’84 climbed

70 J. McLane (Zanone) Layton ’70 lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Rusty and five children.

She is the founder and President of Equality for Adopted Children, an organization that advocates on behalf of adopted children and their families. She is also a Partner in the government relations firm of Tongour, Simpson, Holsclaw and Cooney.

Kathy Boehm ’78 received her Masters of Education from Lipscomb University.

She also earned an award for the Best Action Presentation in her class.

Brooks Corzine ’79 was inducted into the Sewanee Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame on September 7, 2012.

Mt. Kilimanjaro with “Climb for Conservation” as a member of the “Green Girls,” a women’s group that included Mariel Hemingway. The purpose of the climb was to increase awareness about climate, conservation, and species extinction, and to raise funds for the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary. climbforconservation.org

Luke Davis ’87 is at the University of California in San Francisco where he is a pulmonary specialist. Luke’s wife, Heidi, is a pediatrician and they have 6 month old twins. Luke has traveled regularly to Uganda to do research at a sister hospital in Kampala.

Anna Gray Anderson Hart ’87 is Head of a preschool in Marietta, GA, where she lives with her husband Justin and three children William, Nora, and Merrill.

90

Jay Knowles ’84 was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song. He wrote “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore” with Adam Wright, and Alan Jackson recorded it.

Alden Smith ’86 and current Ensworth student Keifer Thomas ’14 were included in a New York Times article, A School Distanced From Technology Faces Its Intrusion.

Alden Smith is the Director of the Mountain School in Vermont. http://www.nytimes. com/2012/11/08/us/vermontschool-cut-off-from-technologyfaces-its-intrusion.html

Jean Davis Brosnan ’91 is a nurse practitioner currently living in Berkina Faso in West Africa with her husband, Andy, and their 3 children.

Andy is currently serving as a military attache to the American ambassador in Ouagadougou, the capital.

the Land, which profiles six TN families who decided to preserve their land for future generations. 100% of the proceeds benefit The Land Trust for Tennessee.

TJ Wilt ’91 recently partnered with Allen Doty (previous owner) to buy Cumberland Transit, a biking and outdoor outfitter in Nashville. The store has been in existence since 1971 and is a staple on West End Ave in the Vanderbilt area.

Michael Eskind ’94 coached track and field triple jumper Amanda Smock at the Olympics in London. Amanda was the only American to qualify to compete in the Olympic triple jump. Michael, a former State Decathlon champion, has been coaching Amanda, longdistance, for the past 6 years along with her training partner, Shani Marks, whom he coached at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

He blogged about the experience at: destinationlondon12.blogspot.com

Kelleigh Bannen (Grossman) ’95 opened

Varina Buntin Willse ’91 authored the book Home to Us: Six Stories of Saving

for Luke Bryan in concert in October, had her Grand Ole Opry debut, and her music was featured on the CW show, “Hart of Dixie”. To find out more about Kelleigh’s music, visit her website at: kelleighbannen.com

41 WINTER 2013

ALUMNI

Ensworth Alumni

C LAS S NOT E S

Class News by Decades

Lisa Marie Picklesimer ’96 works for pediatrician Elizabeth Triggs ‘69 at Green Hills Pediatrics in Nashville.

John Peek ’96 has joined Asurion in Nashville as the Director of Risk Strategy and Analysis.

John Stringham, M.D., ’96 and wife Casey welcomed Sarah Lauren Stringham, born July 17, 2012. She joins big sister Caroline, 2. John is doing research as a part of his Surgery residency program at the U. of Colorado in Denver.

Andy Nelson ’97 co-owns Nelson’s Greenbrier Distillery with his brother, Charlie.

Their Belle Meade Bourbon has received multiple accolades and scored a 93 rating from The Tasting Panel magazine. greenbrierdistillery.com

Andrew Coulton ’97 is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Aquation water, an enhanced bottled water company based in Nashville.

He also founded Lovewater, a foundation that provides schools in lower income neighborhoods with advanced water filtration systems and educates children and their parents on the importance 42 ENSIGHTS

of clean drinking water and renewable, healthy lifestyles.

Elizabeth Ballard ’98 is studying for a Master’s degree in Social Work at NYU. She spent 3 years with Teach For America, teaching in the Mississippi Delta.

Additionally, she taught pre K in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Eliot Linton ’98 co-wrote a musical revue titled “Princeton’s Triangle Show” which toured this winter, including a performance in Nashville on January 31st.

Daniel Gluck ’99 is a Vice-President specializing in the buyouts of midmarket companies at York Capital Management, a New York hedge fund. Daniel and wife Amanda celebrated the birth of their daughter, Reece Ella Gluck, on January 31, 2013 in New York.

Alex Hall ’99 is attending the U. of Memphis School of Law.

00 Emma Harwell ’00 recently moved back to Nashville and is the Major Gifts Officer for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

Brittany Mitchell ’00 graduated in December with an International MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at U. of South Carolina.

Nelson Payne ’02 is now affiliated with Sotheby’s Real Estate in Jackson, Wyoming.

Dede Bearden ’08 is the Special Events and Marketing Mgr for the the Sexual Assault Center (SAC) in Nashville. Currently, she is working on the upcoming fundraisers, a run in April and the Madhatter Ball.

A certified yoga instructor, she teaches at Climb Nashville several days a week. In March, she will travel to Haiti in March for a mission trip with Caroline Hart ’09, another EHS grad.

Kat Braswell ’08

in Los Angeles and working in casting for reality tv at Casting Duo.

graduated from TCU with a nursing degree in December. She lives in Nashville and began work as an ER nurse at Centennial Hospital in February.

Will Freeman ’03 is a 2nd

Mille Chapman ’08

Diana Wallace ’02 is living

year law student at Vanderbilt University.

Edward Linton ’03 is a 1st year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania.

Massey Armistead ’08 graduated in December 2012 with a BA from the University of Alabama.

Harrison Ballard ’08 is the Social Media Coordinator at the Horton Group in Nashville.

graduated from Eckerd with a dual major in Literature and Creative Writing. She lives in New York City and works at Pearson, Inc.

Peyton Davis ’08 graduated from Vanderbilt University last spring with honors, double majoring in Economics and Philosophy. He was accepted to Officer Candidate School (Army). After Basic Training at Ft. Sill, OK, he began OCS at Ft. Benning, Columbus, GA. Last summer, Peyton spent a month in Kenya on a work project,

Ensworth Alumni

starting up a farm for the purpose of funding a rehabilitation home and feeding program for a group of street children.

Virginia Ann Ivey ’08 is interning with an advertising agency called The Richards Group in Dallas, TX.

Kevin (KP) McDermott ’08 graduated from UCLA in December 2012 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Film/Television. A member of the football team, he was a five time member of the Athletic Honor Roll and a two time member of the PAC-12 All Academic Team (2011, 2012). In his five seasons with the Bruins, he earned a scholarship as the starting long snapper and played in the 2011 and 2012 PAC-12 Championship Game. Outside of school, he spent his college summers interning at the William Morris Endeavor talent agency in Los Angeles. Currently he is training for the NFL draft and just participated in the Casino Del Sol Senior All-Star Football Game in Tucson, AZ.

Margaret Anne Moore ’08 is a Staff Assistant at the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.

C LAS S NOT E S

Kendall Morales ’08 was

Lucy Ralph ’08 Since

named “Hostess of the Year”

by Esquire magazine. She is manager and hostess at The Southern restaurant in Nashville.

graduating from the University of Mississippi in May 2012, she has been employed by the Tennessean as the Advertising Coordinator for a team responsible for clients in the entertainment industry.

esquire.com/features/fooddrink/best-new-restaurants2012#slide-27

Carolyn Murdock ’08 received her degree from the University of Virginia this past May. She is the co-founder of a company called Touchpoints, which helps organizations (school, not-for-profit, fraternity, etc.) update their alumni contact lists.

Molly Nesbitt ’08 graduated from the University of Virginia in May, and is working in Washington DC as an associate with Capital Alpha Partners, a research and consulting firm.

Macon Thornton ’08 graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in May and serves as College Campaign Director for Uhuru Child, a non-profit that helps fight poverty in Kenya. She helps encourage college students to raise awareness and funds on their campus throughout the school year and then travel to Kenya during the summer with the organization. uchild.com

Mary Allen ’09 released Annie Oldacre ’08 graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Advertising from University of Alabama in Spring of 2012. Now, she lives in Austin Texas and works for Keystone Media as a Media Buyer.

Jessie Parker ’08 graduated from Belmont in December with a BA in English with an emphasis in Writing and a minor in Design Communications She married Aaron Early in the summer of 2012.

ALUMNI

a 4 song EP on the internet entitled “The Lighthouse.” A single called “Cereal Bowl” will be released in the spring. Find out more about her music at: facebook.com/musicby maryallen

Francie Fisher ’09 is a senior in the Business School at Wake Forest, majoring in Business Enterprise Management with a focus on New Business Development and Entrepre-

neurship. She is President of Chi Omega. She is also President of the Nya Nya Project, a foundation that teaches sustainable life skills to grandmothers in Rwanda who have lost their children to AIDS and are raising their grandchildren. She is also Co-Chair of the 1834 Society, which encourages current students to donate to Wake Forest and engages them to give financially before they become alumni. Last summer, she worked in New York at Harper’s Bazaar magazine as an advertising intern.

Tyler Johnson ’09 was chosen as Auburn’s AFROTC program’s Wing Commander, highest rank in AFROTC.

Molly Rice ’09, a student at Ohio Wesleyan University, was one of seven students to travel, along with the University president to Delhi, India during spring break for the first International Academic Partners Program, a five-day program in conjunction with Lady Sri Ram College for Women. The program was entitled “Living the Gandhian Philosophy.” Read more on the OWU’s blog: blogs.owu.edu/connect2/2012/03/ 22/journey-to-india/

43 WINTER 2013

ALUMNI

Ensworth Alumni

C LAS S NOT E S

Class News by Decades

Katie Smalley ’09 is gradu-

Carson Potter ’10 just

Alex Callahan ’11 is study-

ating from Centre College in May and will be heading to law school at University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She has received a merit scholarship as a result of her GPA and LSAT scores.

returned to Northwestern after a semester abroad in London and lots of travel.

He worked in Silicon Valley last summer and will again this summer in computer engineering. He is also still actively playing music.

ing at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, majoring in Accounting and minoring in Theatre. She is a member of the Huttons Honors Program, Kelley Honors Program, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and she serves as a Kelley School Ambassador. She is also the Theta Phi Alpha Sorority Internal Vice President for 2013.

10 Sam Cooper ’10 Former Ensworth football stand-out Sam was named “Hard Hat Winner” twice during the 2012 season, for his performances in the Clemson v. Maryland game and the Clemson game vs. Georgia Tech. The “Hard Hat Award” is given to Clemson players who brought a blue collar work ethic to practice and the game each week.

Megan Crants ’10 has been consistently on the Dean’s List at Johns Hopkins in the field of cognitive neuroscience and clinical psychiatry.

Most recently she has been interning with Dr. Glenn Treisman at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Genny Mayden ’10 completed her second year on the University of Colorado Track & Field Team, placing 3rd in Pac 12 Championships.

44 ENSIGHTS

Chris Taylor ’10 transferred to Yale, where he plans on double majoring in Math and Philosophy. Last spring he had a philosophy paper entitled “Autotrophic Ethos in Mill’s Arboretum” published in the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal. He co-authored an Americas Barometer Insights report for the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) entitled “Mano Dura in the Americas: Who Supports Iron Fist Rule?”

He also attended the Carnegie Mellon Summer School for Logic and Formal Epistemology this past summer.

Peter Awad ’11 walked on to the Williams College Crew freshman year and spent his sophomore Fall rowing in the second varsity boat.

They placed 14th at the Head of the Charles in Boston, MA competing against first varsity boats. This past summer he attended The London School of Economics and attended some of the Olympic Games.

Lila Davis ’11 is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University majoring in English and Studio Art. She won a writing competition last spring, presenting her paper to faculty and students. Lila is planning an alternative spring break, going to Belize to help with a building project.

Carolyn Fisher ’11 is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University. She is majoring in Human and Organizational Development with a focus on Human Resources and a minor in Spanish. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and was elected to represent her class at the bi-annual Kappa Alpha Theta convention last summer in Tucson, AZ. She continues to work at the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Gift Shop, is a member of Nourish International, an organization that

raises money to fund sustainable projects in developing nations, Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, and the Ensworth Alumni Council. Last summer she interned for the Institute for Civic Leadership at Lipscomb University and Connexion Americas, a nonprofit organization that assists immigrants to Nashville assimilate into the community.

Edward Gore ’11, a sophomore at Fordham University, joined their Division I golf team this year. He is also interning at WFVU radio and released his own EP in mid-2012 that he wrote and recorded at Fordham.

Lindsey Reisz ’11 is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina, majoring in Marine Science. This semester she will have an internship at the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Columbia, SC , working in the hoofstock department, which includes elephants, giraffes, zebras and ostriches.

Mary Elizabeth Colton ’12 was selected to be a tour guide at Bucknell University and looks forward to giving her first tour this spring. She would love to show off her school to Ensworth students and families so please go by and see her if your plans take you to Central Pennsylvania.

ALU M N I FO C U S

MEG NELSON Founder of Acacia Avenue Designs Class of 2008

Kristen Hollis ’12 made

Females are valuable. This may be considered

the Deans List at TCU for the Fall Semester of her freshman year.

common knowledge to many in America. However,

Matt Peacock ’12 is on the Club Ice Hockey team for Boston College. He is also enrolled in the Honors program in the Carroll School of Management, the business school at BC.

Rico Watson ’12 earned the squad’s Newcomer of the Year Award as a freshman running back for Butler University. Butler won the Pioneer Football League championship for the 2012 season.

in most developing countries it is a fact that is ignored, hidden, and unheard of. Acacia Avenue Designs is trying to change this.

With a mission of empowering oppressed Ugandan women, AAD wants to enable them to find permanent employment and financial independence in the future.

The young women AAD works with were forced into prostitution as little girls. Because of this they have received Meg spoke to the high school students at an Ensworth very little schooling and therefore have no marketable skill assembly this fall with which to make a living. The government does not support them and many times their families are the ones who pushed them into the sex trade and would do so again if they returned home. They have no options. That is where AAD comes in.

At the most elemental level, AAD is a for-profit within a non-profit. This charity hires young women as beneficiaries for three years to make 100% organic Ugandan cotton shirts—the profits from sales are then fed back into the charity. In exchange for making these shirts the ladies receive a fair wage, tuition for vocational skills, a nutritious lunch every working day, and personal development and financial skill training. At the end of their three-year employment, they will receive a grant that matches the amount of wages they have saved, as well as job search assistance.

If you would like more information about Acacia Avenue Designs or if you are interested in donating please contact nelson.meg@gmail.com or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fromuganda.

45 WINTER 2013

Thanks to our Sponsors American Paper & Twine Carbine & Associates The Crichton Group Dale Inc Dr. Brent Moody, MD

OCTOBER 29, 2012 • THE GOLF CLUB OF TENNESSEE

Ensworth Class of 1986 Ensworth Grade 1 & 3 Parents Gibbons Golf Grand Avenue Limo Groove, Inc. HG Hill Realty Co. JJCA J. Michaels Clothiers McCarthy Jones & Woodard Nat Harris Family San Antonio Taco Co. The John Comfort Society Thompson Machinery Wills Company Wyatt Johnson

Winning Teams

Championship Team 1st place, 1st flight: Hibbie Barrier, Stuart Smith, David King, Brad Reese (pictured above) 2nd place, 1st flight: John Morrissey, Pat Srebnick, Jeff Wilson, Henry Geny 1st place, 2nd flight: Cooper Jones, Mac McFarland, Charlie Royse, Bill DeCamp 2nd place, 2nd flight: Bert Dale, Jackson Dale, Brye Dale, Andy Dale

Event Chairs Hill Lenderman '86

Wendell Harmer '84

Save the Date!

2013 TIGER CLASSIC

Monday, September 16, 2013

“I feel very fortunate to be affiliated with Ensworth as a former student and a current faculty member.

Ensworth has provided me with a strong education, life-long friendships, and a deep sense of belonging.

I am grateful for Ensworth, and my contributions will help Ensworth positively impact children for generations to come.”

Tish Picklesimer ('99)

P.E. Teacher & Ensworth Alumna

“I am a proud supporter of Ensworth because: it’s an opportunity to help toward enriching the academic experience of someone else. It’s an opportunity to make an investment toward supporting the hopes and dreams of others. It’s an opportunity to give back and show my appreciation. It’s an opportunity to express how invaluable the experience Ensworth has been.”

Antonia Scipio (with son, Tray Jackson '13) Current Ensworth Parent

WH Y I LOVE AN D S U PP ORT

Ensworth

“We have personally been a family blessed and benefited by the generosity of a lot of great people in the Ensworth community.

Their support through donations has allowed our kids to receive an excellent education. For us, it will always be an honor to contribute to our school and a privilege that will continue for life.”

Javi ('16), Tammy ('19), Ivonne & Javier Torres Current Ensworth Family

“I get great pleasure in giving to the Ensworth Annual Fund. The E Community gives back to me on a daily basis. I see the smiles and hear the kind words from the students and faculty each day as they enjoy lunch and share their time together.

It reminds me of the need to help preserve the “E Community” experience for generations to come.

I am blessed to be a part of Ensworth.”

Angela Pursley HS Kitchen Manager

“We moved from Tokyo to Nashville last summer.

We were looking for a school with strong academic standards and a welcoming community. We feel that we have found just that at Ensworth. As parents, we have felt a warm welcome as has Shona from her classmates. We appreciate the diligence, high standards and concern of the faculty for Shona’s progress and the administrative staff have been very supportive of us as a new family. We are enjoying Ensworth!”

Allan, Shona ('17), and Tina O’Bryant Current Ensworth Family

ENSWORTH.COM/GIVEONLINE 47 WINTER 2013

ACADEMICS

SUMMER at

ENSWORTH 2013

S U M M E R G RAN T S

Offer New Academic Opportunities

Sophomore Aislinn Murphy, a writer for the High School student newspaper, The Ensider, recently interviewed Dr. Sarah Buchanan, Associate Head of School, about an exciting new program that offers grants to students who want to pursue special academic experiences during the summer:

What started the summer grant program—why this year, who wanted to do it?

This year’s program is happening thanks to a generous gift from a donor who wanted to provide opportunities for talented, hard-working, and high-achieving students from Ensworth to pursue academic programs of their choosing.

For what programs are people applying for grants — ­ areas of study, locations?

The programs the students have applied to include:

How many people applied for summer grants?

There were forty Ensworth student applications.

• Washington University’s Pre-Med Intensive program

• The Oxford Tradition program in the U.K. • Gap Medics program in Thailand • AmeriSpan Study Abroad in Seville, Spain • Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference Broadcast • Journalism at Georgetown University

Who got the summer grants?

A total of 24 grants were awarded to the following students:

• Lawrence Technological University’s Motorsports program • Pepperdine University’s Musical Theatre Program • A Chinese immersion program in Zhengzhou, China

Grace Chang

Aison King

Arin Chapman

Sally Krebs

Casey Close

Mitchell Krueger

Shelby Crants

Alexandria Liggett

Sarah Crowe

Sage Loh

Anna Denson

Mathieu Loing

Caroline Elcan

Maria Schulz

Will Garside

Mary Claire Smalley

Gilchrist Green

Parker Wade

Mary Kate Hannon

Lynn Whitfield

Emma Hood

Blair Wilson

Gracie Johnson

Ashley Wines

• Savannah Summer Theatre Institute • Service Learning in Tanzania, Peru, and Costa Rica

How much in total funding was given as summer grants this year? $125,000 was awarded to students.

Anything you want people to know about summer grants?

These grants represent a rare opportunity for talented students to expand their individual understanding and experience of a personal academic passion. Our School motto, In Search of Truth, encourages and inspires all of us to do the same. Our entire community looks forward to hearing about the experiences that these students will have, and to being inspired to seek opportunities in the future.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ENSWORTH’S SUMMER PROGRAMS

ENSWORTH.COM

>

SUMMER

Mike Ireland with students dissecting a squid in Aquatic Ecology class

“As Department Chair it is an honor to hold this title but more importantly, it is exciting to know that the board and administration continue to find ways to maintain excellence in the science discipline. This fund will go a long way in supporting that mission.�

Mike Ireland, Charles T. Munger Science Department Chair

Charles T. Munger Science Department Chair Thanks to a generous donor, Ensworth is pleased to announce the establishment of an endowment fund for the support of the Ensworth Science Department. This fund will help the school recruit and retain the best and brightest science faculty, ensuring that students will be mentored by faculty members who are among the most knowledgeable in their field.

Excellence in teaching has always been a cornerstone of the Ensworth experience and the endowing of this department chair is a strong statement that exceptional teaching remains a top priority for the school.

To learn more about creating an endowed department chair or other endowment gifts, contact Bedell James at 615-250-8919 or jamesb@ensworth.com.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Nashville, TN Permit No. 2630

Ensworth

Ensworth School - 211 Ensworth Avenue - Nashville, TN 37205-1997

Scholastic ART AWARDS Gold Key Winners

“Dead Straight” McKenna Monk (’13)

“Basket Bliss” Stuart Singleton (’14)

Silver Key Winners: Sarah Carrol (’13) for her drawing, “Clink” Jane Anne Darken (’14) for her photograph, “Rust” Honorable Mentions: McKenna Monk (’13) for her photograph, “Making a Home” Jack Runyon-Hass (’15) for his photograph, “Overpass” Sarah Carrol (’13) for her drawing, “Self Bona Fide”

ensworth.com