The Sentinel: Edition I, Winter 2023

THE SENTINEL

THE STUDENT MAGAZINE OF HAMMOND SCHOOL

WINTER 2023

EDITION I

Select Ensemble Takes Italy

Select Ensemble Sings at McMaster Inauguration

Holiday Concert

Return Concert

Faculty Spotlight: John McCormack '97

Senior Spotlight: Adela Mikell

Samira Khalil '24 Scores Her Thousandth Point

Meal Packaging Event Feeds Thousands

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: An Actress' Look Into Hammond's Fall Play

Record Number of Grandparents Visit Campus

Tree Lighting Ceremony

Cum Laude Society Induction

National Merit® Recognition

National Honor Society Induction

Senior Spotlight: Luke Weinbach

Seniors Hear Back From Colleges

Senior Athletes to Play at the Next Level

Japanese Educators Visit Hammond

Kelsey Asbille '09 Returns to Campus

Ben Tracy Speaks On Digital Citizenship

Alumni Spotlight: Blake Weinbach '21

Students Sound Off: Musings from Hammond Students

Plastic Baby Figurines Scattered Across Upper School

A Reflection On Cross Country

A Hummingbird Hassle

Senior Spotlight: Evan Todd

Looking Ahead

A Note from the Editors

Cheereaders stand on the sidelnes during a Hammond football game Sophomores Sopha White, Zamam Lone, Daren Um, Natale Bouknght, Harper Evans and Christina Rizos smilng together

Students cheer on the Skyhawks during a home footbal game

Students smile together during Hammond s away basketball game at Heathwood Hall

Senor Josh Prioleau talks to lower school students whie vounteerng at Fall Fest

Student fans gather for a pcture during Hammond s away basketball game at Heathwood Hall

SELECT ENSEMBLE TAKES ITALY

Hammond's signature choral group embarks on weeklong concert tour

uditioned choral group directed by Steven Hillard, embarked on an 8-day concert tour of Italy over winter break This trip was initially planned for the 20202021 school year but postponed because of COVID-19 restrictions, making choir members even more excited to experience international touring, something none of them had done while in the choir Senior Maggie Watson elaborated on this, saying, “I was most excited about the amazing places we would get to sing and the amount of people we’d be able to perform for!” The 44 touring students were joined by pianist Lucinda Shields, a longtime accompanist for the choir, as well as Eben Trobaugh, middle school choir director and assistant director of IT, who played the djembe drum during multiple numbers

Students were scheduled to leave for Rome from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on December 26, spend four days in Rome, and spend another four days in the region of Tuscany, staying in rural villas with excursions to Florence and Pisa The direct flight to Rome was delayed four hours before spending several hours on the tarmac Passengers were then informed that, since the flight crew had “clocked out” (spending more than 24 successive hours awake), the aircraft would be deplaned and the flight delayed until the next day

Most of the touring students, their chaperones, and several Hammond families, were forced to spend the night and the following day in the Atlanta airport before the plane departed for Rome, nearly a day behind schedule As a result, the group lost a full day of touring the city Students generally found these delays very unpleasant; junior Chase McKain described it as “quite literally the worst experience I have ever had in an airport ” But many found a silver lining in these unanticipated hours spent together.

Freshman Wyatt Kosciusko said that, in the airport, he “got to learn more about my friends and we fooled around together I changed my outlook on some of them.” Senior Mary Margaret Mann said that her experience “showed me how strong our group was even before spending over a week together As some of us left our little area in the gate to use the restroom or get a meal, everyone around would always offer to watch our belongings or come with us, so nobody was alone.”

Hours after arriving, the group toured St Peter’s Square and performed during mass in the immense basilica Many students noted St Peter’s as the highlight of the trip: Kosciusko describes it as “the most beautiful thing ever ” Others said their Vatican experience was overshadowed by exhaustion and lack of sleep, and that they experienced the highlights of their trip later After a day spent seeing the sights of Rome, including the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon, the group gave its first full concert at St Paul’s Within the Walls, an Episcopal church along Rome’s Via Nazionale, which freshman Caroline Cason described as “so worth the wait ” Watson said of this performance, “I’ll never forget how shocked we all were when we could hear ourselves in the echo and Mr Hillard started crying ”

The next day, the group journeyed to Tuscany, where they stayed at a family-owned ecohotel in the town of Impruneta, 15 kilometers south of Florence Choir members sang at a mass and informal performance at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Florence, a small church dating back to the 11th century Many found this experience incredibly moving: the church’s English-speaking priest translated his sermon about family so that choir members and their families could understand, and Select Ensemble alumni were invited to the front to sing the group’s signature song, “Total Praise,” at the end of the performance Weinbach comments, “I never thought I’d get the chance to sing next to my brother [a 2021 alumnus] on the international stage, and this opportunity brought me to tears "

"I'll never forget how shocked we all were when we could hear ourselves in the echo and Mr. Hillard started crying."

Maggie Watson '23, on the choir's rehearsal at St Paul within the Walls

TOP: Freshmen Sulivan Epps Anne Garside Madge Miler Libbe Wlliams and Wlliam Gilespie hang out in the Atanta airport BOTTOM: Juniors Ryan Barnes and Robert Malanuk and seniors Leon Chen and Luke Weinbach pose in front of St Peter s Baslica Photos courtesy of Steven Hilard

TOPLEFT: Choir members listen to ther tour guide at the Colosseum in Rome TOPRIGHT: Seniors Maggie Watson and Mary Margaret Mann pose wth gelato in Rome BOTTOM: Chor members enjoy dinner together at their vilas in Impruneta Photos courtesy of Steven Hllard

Madge Miller '26, on making friends during the tour

Travelers also enjoyed several hours of free time exploring Florence, which many others consider to be the highlight of their trip Junior Rollins Reed described how she enjoyed Florence the most because of “all the beautiful streets and museums and churches ” McKain elaborated on how Florence “had the best shopping” and that “the overall history and architecture was so interesting.” After an authentic Italian New Year’s Eve celebration at the ecohotel, where choir members performed several impromptu numbers for the locals present, the group made a day trip to Pisa. The next day, they gave their final public performance at the Basilica of the Holy Trinity in Florence, which attracted a large crowd of Florentine locals as well as families traveling with the choir The choir journeyed back home on January 3, traveling from Florence to Atlanta via Amsterdam without delay before boarding a bus back to Hammond

Choir members are keen to mention travel problems, which included lost luggage as well as flight delays, as a challenging part of the trip Junior Preston Swarat candidly said that “Delta decided they weren’t done vexing me” and that “not having my clothes wasn’t fun ” Others noted the trip’s taxing physical toll: junior Lauren Asbill commented on how “adjusting to being on the go all the time was challenging ” Senior CJ Davis elaborated further, saying, “The non-stop action of the trip definitely exhausted me but it was well-worth it. Trying to stay hydrated and keep my voice healthy as well were vital ”

TOPLEFT: Sophomores Chandler McNair and Peden Brabham share a augh during the New Year's Eve dinner in Impruneta TOPMIDDLE: Senior Evan Todd channes Mchelangelo s Davd at the Academia Museum in Florence TOPRIGHT: Junors May and Robert Malanuk take a New Year's Eve selfie MIDDLELEFT: A group of Select Ensembe men enjoy the New Year's Eve dinner in Impruneta MIDDLE: Seniors Campbell Wall, Brendan Kane, and Mchael Atchison stand in front of the pllars in St Peter s Square MIDDLERIGHT: The Ensembe and alumn sing "Total Praise" at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Forence BOTTOMLEFT: Director of Choirs Steven Hllard and accompanist Lucinda Shelds take a selfie in front of the Pantheon n Rome BOTTOMMIDDLE: Choir members sing and dance during the New Year s Eve dinner BOTTOMRIGHT: Junior Lauren Asbil waves while ridng a carouse n Florence BOTTOM: Hilard and the Ensemble take a picture after ther fnal concert in Florence Photos courtesy of Steven Hillard

Ultimately, these obstacles did not overshadow the choir’s experience Numerous members mentioned how their hours of practice paid off in their tour performances: Mann described how “the most rewarding part of the trip was listening back to our performances and seeing how all the weeks of preparation paid off ” Many also noted the connections they formed with Italian locals on the trip, some of whom heard the choir performing in one venue and came to another venue to hear them sing again. Freshman Annie Garside particularly noted the connection the group formed with their tour guide, Donatella; Garside said eagerly, “Donatella was outstanding and I loved her so much ”

Furthermore, the choir strengthened their relationships with each other McKain describes how “even when on the bus going to a different city, we were always playing games and having fun ” Many also noted the new friendships they forged while on the trip: Davis said, “The meal times, bus rides, and tours gave me the opportunity to get to know everyone much more deeply and I feel closer to the group because of it.” Freshman Madge Miller said further, “I grew closer to my friends and became friends with people I wouldn’t even talk to at school on the trip.”

After a trip packed with experiences, Select Ensemble members returned to Columbia with new friendships, new memories, and a new perspective on our world.

WATCH: The Select Ensemble sings City Caled Heaven (arr Josephine Poeintz) wth senior Kaycee Tompkins as soloist at St Paul s within the Walls in Rome Vdeo courtesy of Elizabeth Cannon

“I grew closer to my friends and became friends with people I wouldn’t even talk to at school on the trip.”

TOP: Senior Eliza Daves juniors Rolins Reed Lily Meetze and Sade Meacham, and senior Kaycee Tompkins enjoy geato in Rome BOTTOMLEFT: Seniors Mchael Atchson and Aexander Garside look back at the Trev Fountain in Rome Photos courtesy of Steven Hllard

SINGS AT MCMASTER INAUGURATION

Hammond's Select Ensemble was invited to sing at the second inaugural exercises for Governor Henry McMaster in downtown Columbia on January 11. The choir, which also sang at McMaster’s 2019 inauguration, was the only group singing at the inaugural prayer service held at First Presbyterian Church prior to the main event. They sang alongside groups from Irmo High School, the Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and the University of South Carolina during the inaugural ceremony at the South Carolina State House, performing two numbers from their Italy tour. Both ceremonies were broadcast on statewide television and live-streamed online.

According to director of choirs Steven Hillard, several state legislators called Hammond's front office to praise the Ensemble's performances and its professionalism during the day's events Alto Kaycee Tompkins ‘23, who sang a solo in one of the choir’s numbers, “City Called Heaven,” was praised for her performance on social media by State Rep Marvin Pendarvis (D-North Charleston)

HOLIDAY CONCERT

Two weeks before their Italian concert tour, the Select Ensemble joined the seventh grade and faculty choirs in a concert of holiday favorites at the Bank of America Theatre on December 9 The concert, entitled Peace, Peace, was the first holiday concert open to the public since 2019, as only the families of singers were able to attend the 2020 and 2021 events due to COVID-19 The choirs were accompanied by Lucinda Shields on piano, Eben Trobaugh on the djembe drum, and strings players hired from outside the Hammond community

Like in the Select Ensemble’s tour program, the concert began with the South African gathering song “Tshotsholoza” with tenor Drew Springs ‘23 as soloist. However, the programs of music sung at the holiday concert and on tour were largely separate, requiring the choir to prepare over twenty pieces of music over the course of the fall semester

RETURN CONCERT

After returning from Italy, the Select Ensemble performed its program of tour music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Columbia on January 22 Though this concert is traditionally held in Hammond’s Dorothy Walker Chapel following Select Ensemble tours, director of choirs Steven Hillard wanted the concert to take place at the Cathedral to allow for a larger crowd while giving attendees an authentic taste of the choir’s Italy performances, which were held primarily at large, historic churches.

The Cathedral was nearly full with families and friends of singers, faculty and staff, and even alumni and former parents The crowd notably included Governor Henry McMaster, at whose inauguration the choir performed a week earlier, and his wife, Peggy. Their daughter, Mary Rogers Herskowitz ‘07, sang in the Select Ensemble while she was at Hammond.

Tenor CJ Davis ‘23 was injured in a severe car accident shortly after returning from Italy and was unable to perform during the concert Though bound to a wheelchair, CJ took a front-row seat He was greeted with a standing ovation from the audience as he entered the Cathedral and sang along to many of the choir’s numbers

“The young lady from the [sic] Hammond School who just sang at the Governor’s Inauguration.

Wow! You DID that!”

State

Rep Marvin Pendarvis (D-North Charleston),

@Rep

Pendarvis (Twitter)

The senior cass sings "Have Yoursef A Merry Lttle Christmas" durng the concert

The choirs sing together during the concert

The choir sngs durng the return concert

JOHN MCCORMACK

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

John McCormack '97 has been a teacher at Hammond School for around 14 years. An accomplished scholar and academic, he is the faculty advisor for Ornithos and was inducted into the Cum Laude Society earlier this school year Ornithos is a compilation of creative works submitted by the students from artwork to writing and photography McCormack was born in Paris, France but grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Later, in the middle of high school, his family relocated to Columbia, South Carolina where attended Hammond. After graduating from Hammond, he attended the University of Virginia for his undergraduate degree and later did his graduate work at the prestigious Columbia University in New York City

At Columbia, he studied poetry and had the classic “artist in New York” experience. He was surrounded by intellectuals, famous writers, and was inspired by people and mentors he admired. McCormack remarks about how his experience at Columbia was a byproduct of his academic journey, but it was not the sole goal of his scholarship He recommends this approach to all students: that your academic journey should not revolve around a grade point average or big-name college, but around a genuine curiosity and interest. For McCormack, being able to keep this philosophy and face the realities of work that comes with pursuing an education helps provide balance.

This mentality made him a prime candidate for the vacant English department seat in the Cum Laude Society that was left after Dr Paul Ragan’s retirement. When asked about his initial response to being chosen, he said, “Horror followed by surprise and being flattered.” He remarks about how he is not one for awards, but this one held a lot of meaning Being chosen and respected by his colleagues and students was impactful for him as a teacher and academic

McCormack says that one of his proudest accomplishments as a teacher is the connections with students he meets, even after they leave Hammond He says that being a mentor to students reminds him of how valuable his job is He also takes great pride in how he has been able to build up the Ornithos publication to the compilation of student work that we know today. The creation of the book provides a community between him, the students, and the publisher and gives students a great professional experience. It is also a nice full circle moment for McCormack, as he was a part of Ornithos while a student at Hammond

"He [McCormack] recommends this approach to all students: that your academic journey should not revolve around a grade point average or big-name college, but around a genuine curiosity and interest."

ADELA MIKELL

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

ok Editor-in-Chief and Dance on Co-Chair, Adela Mikell is ly a leader

ame to Hammond in fourth grade er brother, and her sister joined e year so they could all be at nd together She danced, rating in ballet, for ten years until ered an injury that halted her Adela, an optimist, views it as a g in disguise: “I was able to put my he water of a bunch of different In the past few years, she has nnis, soccer, and golf She has nce in the latter sport due to her love of golf, something she does with her parents

She doesn’t take golf too seriously, though Instead of focusing on championships, Adela looks back at the friends she’s made along the way She is thankful that Hammond’s golf team is all levels combined because she was able to spend time with sixth graders and seniors alike She also appreciates how Hammond allowed her to join any sport she wanted “and not have to be perfect at all of it ” Adela describes herself as shy when she was younger: “even in middle school, I hadn’t really come out of my shell yet.” However, in high school she got involved in her “favorite thing Hammond offers:”

Dance Marathon

Every other year, Dance Marathon holds an eight-hour long dance party to raise money for the children’s hospital Last year, over $62,000 was raised. So, while Dance Marathon has helped kids, it’s also helped Adela come out of her shell and make new connections with her peers and teachers: “I think I just kind of found Dance Marathon as my way to get involved And from there I started getting involved in more and more things ” As she became more and more involved, her inner extrovert emerged, and she was able to connect with enough people to be voted homecoming queen

As the yearbook editor, Adela has worked to make the 2023 annual unforgettable She was the only junior on the staff last year, so, per tradition, she knew she would be the editor the next year With help from Ms Hansberry, the yearbook faculty advisor, and last year’s editors Sarah Haselden '22 and Peyton Vidrine '22, Adela was taught all the ropes to ensure “a smooth transition ”

She is incredibly thankful for the honor of being the editor, and also for “being able to go around and document so many important things from everybody’s lives that they’ll go back and look through when they’re older ”

When asked why she does so much, Adela responded she “hates saying no to anything ” While being a so-called ‘people-pleaser’ can be difficult, Adela views it as a blessing in disguise “People will rely on me to do stuff and I’ll make time for that.” For example, this past summer, while most were enjoying the last days of the vacation, Adela worked on painting signs to welcome everyone back to school

While Adela is always ready to take on a new challenge, she has struggled with public speaking As the senior representative for the Alumni Council, Adela was worried she would “mess up,” but relieved when she discovered the meetings were more of a conversation than a presentation She describes how she prefers to “say whatever [she] think[s] should be said” and “play it by ear” than read something written down, perhaps due to her genuine nature. Nevertheless, Adela overcame her fear for her senior speech earlier in the year.

Adela plans to attend either Wofford College or Clemson University, most likely the latter She applied to Clemson as an agricultural business major because of the possibilities she sees in the program: “I like the idea that I can do two things in the form of one major I could do business and I could do agriculture So later in life, I can either combine those two things or I can do them separately ”

However, in 2022, Adela attended Palmetto Girls State, a competitive program that introduces high school-aged girls in South Carolina to government. She was appointed to be on the Supreme Court at Girls State and found an interest in politics As of now, she’s “somewhere between agricultural business and law ”

Her advice to future seniors is to “try it ” She looks at the positive side of peer pressure, like at the club fair when she “feel[s] so pressure to sign up for different clubs ” Even if she isn’t as involved in some clubs as she is in others, she enjoys having a “small role ” However, she also encourages finding one club to get super involved in, like Dance Marathon, “that one thing that makes you go crazy inside ”

"Of course, I'm just going to step up and do it because I hate saying no to anything, and I want to be able to provide people with what they need from me."

Samira Khalil '24 SCORES HER THOUSANDTH POINT

Samira Khalil recently scored her 1000th point in basketball, a difficult feat to accomplish, particularly during a player's junior year

Samira has been playing basketball for 13 years and transferred to Hammond in 2021 Upon joining, she instantly clicked with her teammates, who she names as some of her biggest supporters and teachers “My teammates this year especially have been super supportive,” Samira comments In fact, her team calls her the “Drill“, part of a metaphor in which every member of the team is a tool from a toolbox This metaphor was created by her coach, another one of Samira’s strongest supporters

The team made it to playoffs but lost to Northwood Academy Samira says one of her goals for next year is to make it farther in the playoffs

Looking into the future, Samira plans to play basketball in college She says another one of her goals is to get ready for this step up in her career

Samira’s accomplishment is a good reminder of Hammond’s presence on the court and will hopefully build an even more supportive student body for the girls’ basketball team next season

Meal Packaging event feeds thousands

Director of Service Learning Anne Fowler '90 teamed up with a group of high school students to set up a school-wide event to help the community. Harvest Pack, a cooperation that helps host meal packaging events for companies and schools, aided Fowler and the students in transforming the lower school gym into a workshop.

With hundreds of pounds of oats, sugar, cinnamon, as well as some elbow grease, over 50,000 meals of fortified oats were packaged. Teachers and students from the lower, middle, and upper schools worked together to make this event happen. With a student-designed playlist and upper school "table leaders" to instruct groups of 1012 people, boxes were shipped out across the country, with some going to houses in Hammond's own neighborhood.

When not at work, students helped junior Anna Katherine Adams transform plastic bags into crochet beds and old t-shirts into dog toys. Some upper school students spent time on the playground, where kids from all grades bonded.

Khali poses wth her poster during the game in whch she scored her thousandth pont Photo courtesy of Hammond Schoo (Instagram @hammondschoo)

THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE:

An actress' look into Hammond's fall play

No performance is perfect, and performers saw the most challenges come from learning lines, long work hours, and stage fright. Dottie King, who played one of the unicorns, said, “The most challenging part was getting up on stage in front of so many people, but I realized after opening night that it’s normal to be nervous." She added, "I loved the excitement of the shows! It helped me learn to be patient and step in and be a leader. It helped me overcome my fear of stage fright.” But all the hours paid off immensely with the performance.

Personally, I was happy with the performance because the play was a big addition to a Hammond student's already hectic workload; with that in mind, any play executed in time deserves a round of applause. Ensemble member Elizabeth Cannon said, “We did have some hardships in the play, but we overcame them in the end, and it made me grow and advance my love for theater and my acting abilities as an individual.”

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by the Hammond drama department under the direction of Linda Khoury was an authentic tribute to the beloved classic by C S Lewis, bringing to life the magical world of Narnia with sets, costumes, and actors The actors brought sincerity to their performances and got the audiences involved with the story. One of the stars, senior Evan Todd, who played Peter Pevensie, said that he "loved being able to share the stage with the other Pevensies at all times, and build the chemistry and relationships we shared on and off the stage."

As one of the actors, I felt that the cast was full of fantastic performers but even more incredible people. They all share a love for the arts and care for their fellow actors. Arguably the best part about the show was the chemistry between the actors. Even when the production felt rough, we all stuck together and worked it out as a team. Mr. Beaver, played by sophomore Creighton Cook, said, "I like acting. I loved the cast and hanging out with them. I loved the result; it was far from perfect, but you could tell we were all just having fun. I got to know some seniors way better and made new memories with older friends."

Evan Todd '23, on his personal highlight of the play experience

"I loved being able to share the stage with the other Pevensies at all times, and build the chemistry and relationships we shared on and off the stage."

Freshman Annie Garsde and sophomore Chandler McNair pose for a photo backstage

ABOVE: Senor Mary Grace Trobaugh, sxth grader Bates Trobaugh, sophomore Creghton Cook, and seventh grader Elzabeth Anne Trobaugh smie on stage BELOW: Leads senor Evan Todd sophomore Ali Dorrngton freshman Willam Gilespe and freshman Anne Garside durng curtain cal

The ensemble was a particular highlight of the show. They acted with enthusiasm and portrayed their characters with depth. The ensemble enhanced the magical aspects of the story Lauren Asbill, who played Mrs Bear, said, "I wanted to participate in the play because I enjoy the atmosphere between the characters and the people in the cast "

We had many freshman actors; for some, this was the first play they had done with Hammond theater William Gillespie portrayed Edmund Pevensie, and I felt that he did an unbelievable job with his first time acting in a significant role William taking on a lead role in a theatrical production, especially for the first time, is no easy feat It requires hard work, dedication, and talent to bring a character to life on stage William commented, "I like having fun and meeting new people I liked being a big part in the play because I was seen on stage a lot "

director, Linda Khoury, brought out the story's ting, and characterizing actors effectively, ghting and sound, and paying attention to every production

orked very hard behind the stage and up in the ng sets and moving large pieces is tedious. The und cues and lights must be perfected, and I felt w did a wonderful job with it.

n, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was a hat showcased the talents of the students and g the audience with a sense of wonder and enchantment that lingered long after the final curtain had closed.

“The most challenging part was getting up on stage in front of so many people, but I realized after opening night that it’s normal to be nervous."

Dottie King '25, on challenges faced during the play

Leads sophomore Al Dorrington and freshman Annie Garside pose backstage

Sophomore Chander McNar fixes her makeup backstage

Sophomore Eizabeth Cannon junior Caroline Rich and junor Liy Meetze pose backstage

number of grandparents visit campus

Hammond welcomed over 850 grandparents to campus on November 11, a crowd that surpassed previous records of attendance after the event was not held due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. The day’s festivities began with a program in the lower school’s fitness center, which featured performances from lower and middle school choirs and the Select Ensemble, as well as remarks from head of school Andy North, student body president Luke Weinbach ‘23, and Grandparents’ Committee chair Johnny Folsom.

Following the program, grandparents linked up with their grandchildren, who showed them around Hammond’s campus. Grandparents were able to meet their grandchildren’s teachers and enjoy labs, mock lessons, and other tastes into their children’s classroom experiences. A luncheon for grandparents and grandchildren in Fawcett Indoor Stadium wrapped up the morning.

Student body president Luke Weinbach '23, in speech during Grandparents' Day assembly

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Hammond’s annual tree lighting ceremony was held at Fawcett Indoor Stadium on December 2 before a packed house of students, faculty, staff, and families of pre-kindergarteners and seniors. In this time-honored Hammond tradition, seniors assist pre-kindergarteners in hanging an ornament on a Christmas tree, which the seniors and pre-kindergarteners had created together which the seniors and pre-kindergarteners had created together the day before The ceremony featured remarks from head of school Andy North and performances from Hammond’s concert band and Select Ensemble

At the conclusion of the ceremony, student representatives from each division drew names of faculty members who will travel to the 2023-2024 country of study, Australia, as well as alternates who will take their place if the original choices cannot travel.

Fourth graders Yousuf El Geneidy and Pressley Osborne drew Emily Frantz (Traci Waite as alternate); middle school president Emma Thompson ‘27 drew Chris Braciszewski (Sara Zumbro as alternate); student body president Luke Weinbach ‘23 drew Sentinel advisor Santiago Azpurua-Borras (George Simpson as alternate)

“Truth be told, grandparents are the coolest people on the planet. And I believe this is a fact worthy of recognition."

TOP: Sophomore Kirby Johns with grandmother BOTTOM: Sophomore Noah Goddard with grandparents Photos courtesy of Hammond School (Instagram, @hammondschool)

UPPERLEFT: Luke Weinbach lfts his pre-kindergartener to hang an ornament on the tree LOWERLEFT: Jackson Osborne and pre-kndergartener after hangng an ornament on the tree RIGHT: Drew Springs lifts his pre-kindergartener to hang an ornament on the tree Photosc courtesy of Hammond Schoo (Instagram @hammondschool)

LAUDE SOCIETY induction

Induction into the Cum Laude Society in the fall of senior year is Hammond’s highest academic honor, bestowed on seniors whose cumulative grade point averages are in the top ten percent of the class One faculty member from each department is also eligible for induction. Seniors Rucker Brannon, Raymond Cao, Alexander Garside, Simon Lumpkin, Aiden Maragh, Evan Todd, and Luke Weinbach, alongside faculty member John McCormack ‘97, were inducted in a ceremony on November 22

Alumna Taylor Doggett ‘16, who currently works as Communications Director for Rep Mark Takano (D-CA) on Capitol Hill, spoke to inductees during the ceremony Doggett candidly described how she still has not found her exact “why” in life, but encouraged inductees to “do what drives you, and the rest will follow ”

NATIONAL MERIT® RECOGNITION

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships Approximately 1 5 million high school students, primarily juniors, enter the program each year by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Around 50,000 students with the highest Selection Index (calculated by doubling the sum of Reading, Writing and Language, and Math test scores) qualify for recognition in the program These students are notified in the fall of their senior year that they have qualified as Commended Students or Semifinalists Semifinalists can advance to Finalist standing in the competition through further evaluation of academic performance and standardized test scores

Seniors Raymond Cao, Alexander Garside, Madeline Martin, Luxi Qin, Evan Todd, and Price Wilson were recognized as Commended Students. Simon Lumpkin and Luke Weinbach were recognized as Semifinalists

NATIONAL honor society induction

44 sophomores, juniors, and seniors were inducted into Hammond’s chapter of the National Honor Society during a ceremony on January 17. Inductees must have a grade point average of 4 0 or higher, must have a clean disciplinary record, and must demonstrate leadership, service, and character through an application process The Society’s president, Maggie Watson ‘23, spoke to the candidates during the ceremony, congratulating them on their accomplishment and encouraging them to uphold the society’s ideals throughout their high school career

Because COVID-19 restrictions canceled induction ceremonies for the two previous groups of inductees, current members were invited to take part in the procession during the ceremony and to attend a reception in the Innovation Center alongside inductees and their families

TOP: Director of College Counselng Caroyn Stoddard, Upper School Head Jody Lumpkin '96, Doggett, Head of School Andy North, and scence teacher Michae Rce BOTTOM: McCormack, Lumpkn Todd Garsde Wenbach Cao Brannon and Maragh Photos courtesy of Hammond School (Instagram @hammondschool)

Cao Todd Qin Wilson Martin Lumpkin Garside and Weinbach Photo courtesy of Hammond Schoo (Instagram, @hammondschool)

Watson eadng the new nductees in the oath durng the inducton ceremony Photo courtesy of Hammond School (Instagram, @hammondschoo)

LUKE WEINBACH

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Hammond student body president, baseball player, singer, and so much more, Luke plays a role in almost everything going on at Hammond.

As president, Luke strives to represent everyone, “[get] to know a lot of people and [be] kind to them,” and, of course, “to make the world a better place ” He wants to make it possible for everyone to be able to patriciate in every activity they want to be a part of and “still enjoy [their] high school experience ”

Luke plays baseball in the springtime, an activity he has been doing for four years, with the most recent years being on the varsity team He has also been in all 7 of Hammond's productions that have taken place while he has been in high school, 4 plays and 3 musicals Last year, Luke starred as Gomez in The Addams Family, and this year, he is starring as Ren McCormack in Footloose In the plays, Luke recently portrayed Mr Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and played Mr Green in Clue in 2021 He never thought he would grow up to love performing but was inspired by his brother, Blake ‘21

He recalls how his brother “was put in drama class completely by accident in seventh grade He started acting, and he loved it ” The happy accident wasn’t only lucky for Blake, but also for Luke:

“I was coming to all the shows and watching him, and I saw that this stuff is really cool ” This little bit of serendipity led Luke to join the drama department, and he has no regrets “I would not have it any other way. I absolutely love being in that theatre ” To add, Luke sings year-round in the Select Ensemble and the more exclusive Seven at Seven.

His love of music was manifested during Covid when he joined a band with his brother and best friend, Hap Shull, called Blake Weinbach and the Twins When Luke’s brother graduated, the group found more students to join: Frank Robinson, the band’s drummer, and Evan Todd, the band’s singer The group, formerly the Hap Shull Experience, played at last year’s Dance Marathon and later renamed themselves Forest Drive They recorded their first album this past summer, called Reflections, and played at a charity event for the Jedd Foundation, a suicide prevention organization

On top of his extracurricular endeavors, Luke is also a star in the classroom He was named a National Merit Semifinalist and was later honored as a National Merit Finalist for his performance on standardized tests his junior year He is also a member of the Cum Laude Society, a honor bestowed solely on the top ten percent of the senior class, and served as a junior marshal ast last year's commencement, denoting him as one of the top four students in the class

As of February 3, he has been accepted to the University of South Carolina's Honors College, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Illinois, and UNC Chapel Hill He received the highest score in the state during his sophomore year for the National Spanish Exam. He explains that Spanish is “historically one of [his] best and one of [his] favorite subjects ” He did a research project with the Astronomy and Physics department of the University of Oklahoma in the summer of 2021 in which he engineered a “pretty cool” quantum scale optical device.

To combine his love of STEM and the humanities, he plans to double major in linguistics and computer science in college He is natural language processing, the way computers understand and use language, where these topics intersect. He isn’t focused on a career, but simply wants to pay attention to the topics that interest him Luke says, “I’m just going to study the things… I want to study and see where it takes me ”

Luke’s advice to the future upper school students of Hammond is “try.” He explains that everyone he knows is capable of “achieving any sort of goal they want The problem is they usually don’t apply themselves ” He suggests to learn and study not because it is useful in your career, but because it’s a valuable asset: “think of it on a more macro level What are you learning about being human?”

"My goal is, at the end of the day, make the world a little bit of a better place.

That's what I'm here for."

COVER: Luke speaks during assembly Photo courtesy of Luke Weinbach TOP: Merritt Brazel

Mils

Eizabeth Cannon '25 Weinbach Walker Wllams '23 and Kaycee Tompkns '23

producton of The Addams Family Photo courtesy of Mils Owen (@ milsowen, Instagram) MIDDLE: Becca and Andy North, Head of Schoo, with Weinbach and Lbby Tompkns 23, both candidates for homecoming honors

Photo courtesy of Nettie Phiips BOTTOM: Luke Wenbach, Blake Weinbach 21, history teacher Lizzy Culer 03, Sarah Adams 17 and Rebekah Adams 19 folowng a performance at NoMa Warehouse

SENIORS HEAR BACK FROM COLLEGES

The senior class has been accepted to University of Alabama, Appalachian State University, Arizona State University, Auburn University, Barton College, Baylor University, Belmont University, Berry College, Birmingham-Southern College, Brevard College, Campbell University, College of Charleston, Charleston Southern University, The Citadel, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, Elon University, University of Florida, Florida

Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida State University, Furman University, University of Georgia, Georgia College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampton University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, James Madison University, University of Kentucky, Lees-McRae College, Mars Hill University, University of Maryland, Mercer University, University of Miami,

SENIOR ATHLETES TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL

The Class of 2023 has already been accepted to 69 colleges and universities across the United States (as of March 10). Many of these seniors applied under an early action application plan, allowing them to learn of their admission decision as early as October. A few even went a step further, applying early decision (ED), a binding agreement that commits an applicant to attending a college and paying full tuition if accepted.

University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Midway University, University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, University of Missouri, Newberry College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Northeastern University, Oakwood University, Oklahoma State University, University of Oregon, Presbyterian College, University of Rhode Island, Rhodes College, Roanoke College, Rollins College, University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina (Aiken), University of South Carolina (Beaufort), University of South Florida, Spelman College, St Andrews University, St John’s College (Annapolis), Stetson University, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Texas Christian University, Utah State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, West Texas A&M University, Winthrop University, Wofford College, and The College of Wooster

Several seniors in the Class of 2023 have signed letters of commitment to continue their athletic endeavors at the university level.

Amelia Lee will ride western equestrian at Midway University.

Briana Pinasco will play soccer at the University of South Carolina. Dylan Richardson will play baseball at Coastal Carolina University.

Landon Verano will play lacrosse at Mars Hill University.

These student-athletes were recognized during signing ceremonies at Fawcett Indoor Stadium in November and February

Data courtesy of Carolyn Stoddard

BranaPnascoonsgnng

japanese educators visit hammond

On December 8, Hammond hosted a small group of school administrators from Japan, who visited as part of the U S State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program on citizen diplomacy These administrators met with staff at schools throughout the Southeast to discuss how American high schools help students pursue higher education. At Hammond, they participated in an open discussion with upper school head Jody Lumpkin and college counselors Kathryn Daniels and Carolyn Stoddard, as well as junior (and Sentinel editor-in-chief) William Grantland, where they covered a variety of topics surrounding secondary education and college admissions in the United States and Japan.

KELSEY ASBILLE '09 RETURNS TO CAMPUS

Kelsey Chow '09, known professionally as Kelsey Asbille, visited Hammond on February 11 as visiting artist for the Christopher Gadsden Wells '11 Endowment for the Arts. Now in its tenth year, the Endowment was begun following Wells' death and annually brings an artist to campus for educational enrichment to honor his legacy as a passionate student-artist

Asbille began the day with an upper school wide assembly in an interview format with student body president Luke Weinbach. Weinbach asked Asbille questions from a list made by Hammond students with questions ranging from career advice to Asbille's favorite actors After her interview, Asbille spoke to smaller groups of students in a more laid-back setting.

Asbille herself has acted from an early age, with her first big role being Gigi Silveri in One Tree Hill Some of her other early roles include Mikayla from Disney's Pair of Kings and Tracey Stewart in Teen Wolf Recently, Asbille has starred in Wind River, Fargo, and Yellowstone

BEN TRACY SPEAKS ABOUT DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

On January 24 and 25, Ben Tracy, the founder of Safe Social Network, shared his story about the value of digital citizenship and safe social media use during sessions for parents, upper school students, and middle school students in the Bank of America Theatre Safe Social Network is a platform that provides guidance about digital etiquette to parents and youth

Tracy was invited to Hammond as part of an administrative push to promote student wellness through opportunities like annual guest speakers. He began the Network after he was fired from his job in the office of former Illinois governor Bruce Rauner when Tracy’s past offensive social media posts resurfaced During the assemblies, Tracy shared the story of his ouster, using it as a launchpoint to discuss the value of good digital conduct

How animals are invading the school and what we can do to stop it

College counselors Kathryn Daniels and Carolyn Stoddard with the visiting Japanese administrators and a representative from the Columbia Council for Internationals Photo courtesy of Hammond School (Instagram, @hammondschool)

TOP: Asbile and the Wels family Photo courtesy of Hammond Schoo (Instagram @hammondschool) BOTTOMLEFT: Asblle instructing a TV acting cass at one of her three sessions with Hammond students Photo courtesy of Hammond School (Instagram, @hammondschoo) BOTTOMRIGHT: Simms Oiphant 09, Asbile, and Margaret Deans Grantz 09 Photo courtesy of Hammond School (Instagram @hammondschool)

LEFTANDRIGHT: Tracy talkng to mddle schoo students Photo courtesy of Hammond School (Instagram, @hammondschoo)

He’s a song writer, music entrepreneur, guitar teacher, and popular Columbia-area country singer Folks from South Carolina to California know him as the “Adios Corona” guy Here at Hammond, we know him as Blake Weinbach, class of 2021

“I’m so proud of Blake,” says tenth grade history teacher and guitar club sponsor Mrs Lizzy Culler “I remember him coming to guitar club as a ninth grader, enjoying the music around him, often singing, but rarely playing a guitar. Now he is organizing songwriters’ shows, recording his second album, and embracing music as his passion and career ”

And in a way, it all started at Hammond, or at least the Zoom version of Hammond that came about in 2020: “We had just gotten out of school and been quarantined for like seven days, and I was just really bored,” Blake remembers with a smile His ingenious remedy for boredom was to write a funny song about the Coronavirus

After an hour or two of composing, it was finished, recorded, and uploaded to social media “Adios, Corona, see you later my dear, I don’t know if you’ve heard this yet but you’re not welcome here!” he sings to the camera in the four-minute video (that’s still accessible on his Facebook page)

The song went viral, and the complimentary texts started rolling in. Then Patrick Davis, nationally acclaimed songwriter and country recording artist, reached out The two South Carolina musicians became fast friends and talked for about two hours on their first phone call Davis continues to serve as a mentor and coach for Blake as he works out his own songwriting chops The two even performed together last August at a Gamecock kick-off event at Steel Hands Brewery

The rollercoaster of 2020 changed the trajectory of Blake’s life goals and passions At the beginning of the school year, he had been focused on playing golf as his ticket to college scholarships But Covid ruined the spring golf season, and right before an important June game where college scouts were scheduled to watch him play, he was exposed to the virus and had to pull out of the competition Then as soon as he recovered from Covid, he got mono and had to cancel a July tournament as well But Blake has no regrets: “As cheesy at it sounds, it was meant to be that way.”

Right before that fateful string of illnesses, Patrick Davis invited him to be the opening act for a run of upcoming shows “As soon as I did that, I fell in love with it It’s an interesting story because while I was falling in love with music, golf was going the opposite way for me ”

Today, Blake is a student at the University of South Carolina, majoring in business by day and performing by night often in country music showcases that he creates, produces, and hosts himself Meanwhile, his courses at USC are teaching him about the complexity of the music industry, specifically the relationships between artists, managers, promoters, and performance venues He’s been putting those lessons to use in a series of entrepreneurial ventures over the past couple of years that bring together up-and-coming songwriting talent from across the region

BLAKE WEINBACH ALUMNI

"This community of young artists now relies on one another, often performing together across the southeast,” Mrs Culler said of the numerous “Songwriters in the Round” shows that she’s attended “Blake is too humble to take credit for it, but it was his invitation and his heart that drew them all to NoMa Warehouse,” where six sold-out shows have taken place over the past two years, with notable attendance by many in the Hammond community

“I have a lot of singer-songwriter friends, so I just decide which two I want to bring down for the day,” he says of the three-act shows that sometimes feature other Hammond grads including Georgia Berry '21, Sarah Adams '17 and Ross Moore '17

Blake recruits the performers, then arranges for a stage to be brought into the venue, promotes the show through email and social media, manages all the money, sets up chairs and merchandise the night of the event, and takes the lead on stage behind the mic “At the beginning, it was a little rough because I’d never done it before But I love it I love the stress of it I feel like It’s really unique when you can love the good and the bad of something ”

“Lord knows I don’t have it all figured out yet,” he insists But it’s clear to all who know Blake that he’s on a very healthy learning curve “I’m college student, and at the end of the day my family is going to make sure that I’m not on the street right now! I won’t have that opportunity for very long ”

He also expresses gratitude for how Hammond helped prepare him for success: “I just think that the community here is so cool, and you really don’t realize it until you get out. It’s cool to have that community where everyone is supporting each other You can be on the guitar or on the football field and everybody is going to treat you the same ”

It’s no surprise that Blake has been back on campus so many times since he graduated, not just to perform at the fall 2020 Dance Marathon and a faculty professional development meeting, but also to support The Sentinel by sitting for an interview during our summer journalism workshop in 2022

What advice would Blake give to current high school students as they pursue their own hopes and dreams? “Pay attention to what you enjoy!” he says “It could be taking pictures, it could be playing an instrument, it could be doing some sort of social media thing, but if you really find something that you enjoy, why not chase it?”

The latest news from Blake comes to us from Nashville, where he’s currently recording his second album This new project promises a few surprises: he’s now playing with a bigger band, and his current sound has a “rock/blues/Southern-rock flair to it that captures a bit of the old soul in me! I could not be happier about the direction that this music has taken me ”

“It’s cool to have that community where everyone is supporting each other. You can be on the guitar or on the football field and everybody is going to treat you the same.”

TOP: Weinbach singing at a concert Photo courtesy of Blake Weinbach LEFT: The abum cover for Wenbach s 2021 EP, Long Way

Home Photo courtesy of Bake Weinbach MIDDLE: Weinbach Mackenzie Bryce and Ross Moore '17 of MackMartin following a performance at NoMa Warehouse RIGHT: Wenbach performing at a graduation party in 2021 Photo courtesy of Blake Wenbach

STUDENTS SOUND OFF

MUSINGS from hammond's student body

Plastic baby figurines scattered across campus

plastic babies is during Mardi Gras, when cutting the King Cake. However, at Hammond, it’s not rare to find the small figurine in a pencil pouch, hidden in a desk, or even at the bottom of your backpack.

For months, teachers have been plagued with finding these babies everywhere. In Dr. Ruehlen’s classroom, the symbol of luck is hidden under decorations and wedged into candles.

The question has been asked: who brought these babies here, and why?

Junior Lauren Asbill theorizes that the culprit may be someone in the AP Language class. When the Honors British literature class, which is also taught by Mr. Simpson, read A Modest Proposal, Simpson asked for the delinquent to donate some babies for a prank. The babies were placed on his desk the next day.

However, as these babies are also in Dr. Ruehlen’s room, the culprit must be in AP Language and one of Ruehlen’s classes, either AP US History or AP Government.

An upper schooler who prefers to stay anonymous is fed up with the babies: “It’s funny every once in a while, like when you see them in a tree or on a desk or melted in candle wax, but otherwise, I would not care if it disappeared.”

Both this student and Anna Katherine Adams, another junior, believe that the miscreant is not an upperclassman, but a freshman

Will the figurine felon end their rule? As of Fat Tuesday, the babies haven’t gotten any less common, nor any more common The answer remains unknown, and the culprit remains on the loose.

Soph

ON CROSS COUNTRY

Because I’ve been running cross country since 6th grade, it’s safe to say that I know it well I’ve been there for the traditions, the practices, the races, the culture, and everything else it has to offer To me, cross country isn’t just for physical education credit or even staying healthy Cross country to me is a way to hang out with friends and push yourself in a supportive and laid-back atmosphere, and I keep doing it despite the hard work because of these benefits that bring me such joy While I assume other sports provide this sort of happiness, it is cross country that is truly one of my passions

What I hope a lot of people realize that running isn’t always torturing yourself every day. While the workouts are painful and sweaty and sometimes way to hot, especially here in South Carolina, the effort is often worth it. Not only can you usually feel yourself becoming a better runner every run, but the satisfaction of completing a workout and knowing you tried your best is often enough to make your day. According to Darien Um, one of our better runners, he “keeps doing it to see his progression from year to year,” and he calls cross country “challenging but simple.” I have observed this description to be true. While our coaches push us to our limits as coaches should, they also are funny, casual, and all-around great people Our head coach is the admired (and feared) George Simpson, our British Literature teacher and a wonderful motivator Throughout my years I have seen Coach Simpson change many people running lives including mine, through his toughness but also through his dad jokes and constant jests at everyone Our assistant coaches through my years have also been laid back, as they have all been college or law school students Our latest one is Joey “Dr Stone” Stone, and he has been a very upbeat and friendly, especially in his contribution to one of our now favorite pre-practice activities: deathball, a monstrous hybrid of dodgeball and tips that has carried over into long distance track. Among other fun breaks from the usual running are relay races in which teams compete to complete a workout in the fastest time, rock-paper-scissor challenges, ultimate frisbee days (the crowd favorite), and even a slippin’ slide once.

“Not only can you usually feel yourself becoming a better runner every run, but the satisfaction of completing a workout and knowing you tried your best is often enough to make your day.”

For me, the main reason for my attraction to cross country has been the team environment Everyone on the cross country team is encouraging to each other because we know that this makes people faster, which motivates you to go faster, which improves the overall team Even those who are inexperienced can find support from teammates Zamam Lone, who started running this year, says the atmosphere is “very nice and welcoming. I’ve never run before and wasn’t the best, but everyone kept cheering me on and helping me.” I remember when I was running my first time-trial in sixth grade, when the older runners who ran much faster than me still cheered me on. Despite the monotony of running on South Campus all the time, running with your friends, old and new, speeds up time. 40 minute easy days, and even 6 mile long runs, do not seem so dreadful or grueling when you have people to talk to. The atmospheres of these runs are super casual, but the runs are very important, so we encourage ourselves to group up even on weekends; I find that it is never hard to find company for them However serious races can be, you can count on experiencing the best atmosphere of any days of the season; there’s nothing more motivating than every Hammond parent and idle runner screaming at you to “GO FASTER!” That type of motivation makes you momentarily ignore the pain, and it makes a 5K feel shorter than it really is This is why all runners enjoy the sport so much Just like in a sprint to the ball, or a serve, or a dash to first base, we seek the thrill of the race: its adrenaline, the feeling of being locked into the run, the “runner’s high.” All this is possible because of wonderful coaches and teammates who create an atmosphere that keeps us happy and an environment that grows and shapes runners for the better. If you are looking for a sport to try out, please think about joining Hammond cross country.

A hummingbird hassle

n Center (IC) is one of vagant buildings

Glass windows surround the 30,000 square foot area, complete with a sci-dome, three glass cubicles, a makerspace containing a 3D printer and other tools, and two glass garage doors.

In the warmer months (which, for Columbia, is April through December), faculty will open these grand doors Students will sit outside in red rocking chairs or couches while warm air rushes in the building. The humid air can have expensive effects, as Hammond needs to spend money cooling the IC back down to its normal temperature.

And warmth isn’t the only thing sneaking in the IC Bugs and birds attracted to the glass will fly into the building and become trapped. In Mr. Rybarzyc's classroom, located on the second floor of the IC, hornets build nests on the awnings visible from the windows. Birds have also gotten stuck in the IC, and often die when trapped for too long

During exam week last May, a crow got stuck. It panicked and flew into the windows before collapsing on the floor. Luckily, once exhausted, Mr. Stanbery was able to pick up the bird and release it.

The most common visitors are hummingbirds, who are notoriously attracted to red, Hammond’s school color

Most of the flowers hummingbirds feed on are red, so naturally, they are attracted to it. Because of all the red decor at Hammond, hummingbirds are especially susceptible to flying into the IC and getting stuck. Sadly, most die once trapped, either from crashing into windows, suffering heart attacks from stress, or starvation due to their high metabolism.

Luckily, these birds are harmless, but some are worried they could be a distraction. In the fall and spring, it's become a daily occurrence to see and hear hummingbirds while in class at the IC. The windows allow students in almost every classroom to be able to watch as the helpless birds fly around.

Students and teachers alike are teaming up to help the hummingbirds; Rachel Barney, a junior at Hammond, picks up hummingbirds that have collapsed on the floor of the IC and releases them, while Biology teacher Mr Rice has fed some that were brought to him in an attempt to nurse them back to health However, hummingbirds will often fly to the ceiling of the IC, which is out of reach

Will we cease to accidentally trap our wildlife this spring, or will our red-loving friends be destined to continue their tragic fate? One thing’s for sure nothing will change without action

Stanbery with crow

Photo courtesy of Aden McKewan

Mae Ruby Throated Hummingbird, a common speces of hummingbird n South Carolina Photo courtesy of Brian Kuvete

EVAN TODD

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

When Evan Todd came to Hammond, he didn’t anticipate being so widely involved

Transferring from Blythewood High School his sophomore year, he says that Hammond’s continued in-person learning during the COVID pandemic made him capitalize on his desire to move schools “After about three months of doing virtual, I knew it wasn't for me. I would always look for a reason to try to move schools ”

Sophomore year, Evan was on the baseball and sporting clays teams, was a leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and played with the guitar club He is a longtime singer, and always “secretly, deep down, liked musicals and liked plays and theater ” But he never foresaw participating in the arts at Hammond “I remember coming in sophomore year, and people asked me why I didn't do Select Ensemble, and I kind of, like, laughed in their face What do you mean? It's lame ”

Ultimately, though, Hammond’s choral and drama programs drew Evan in He’s sung with the Select Ensemble since junior year, took on a supporting role in last year’s production of Clue, and played the lead role of Peter in this year’s production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe The arts aren’t Evan’s only new endeavor since he came to Hammond: he was chosen to serve on the honor council his junior year, and also for the Hammond Leadership Council his senior year

Off campus, Evan sings and plays alongside three of his classmates in Forest Drive Band, which formed as a successor to Blake Weinbach and the Boys after Weinbach graduated from Hammond in 2021 While watching one of the former band’s performances, Evan describes being “so jealous of Blake ” He says, “I kinda weaseled my way in and said, hey, guys, we gotta jam sometime I sing I play guitar We gotta figure this out.”

After performing at Hammond’s 2022 Dance Marathon, Forest Drive (then the Hap Shull Experience) was invited to perform at the University of South Carolina’s Dance Marathon later that year It was then, Evan says, that “we [the band] realized that we have really good chemistry and we should try to write our own music ” Working for an entire summer, Forest Drive released a full-length album, Reflections, on September 30, 2022, a moment Evan describes as “one of the proudest moments of my life ”

How am I going to enjoy it?”

Asked about the hardest part of his Hammond experience, Evan candidly describes how Hammond’s high academic standards made for a tough adjustment One instance in Dr Ragan’s honors American literature class exemplified it: “I had never received below a 96 on an essay at Blythewood I come over and I get a C+ on Dr Ragan's first essay, and I just freak out ” But Evan worked diligently and saw himself adjust: he cites “being able to see my progress in writing” as a rewarding aspect of his time at Hammond His induction into the Cum Laude Society, an honor bestowed on the top tenth of students in the senior class, is no small feat, either

Evan’s personality converges an enthusiastic love of life with intentionality, depth, and a remarkable maturity He describes his parents’ work ethic, exemplified in a family mantra of “we don’t do lazy and we don’t do stupid,” as a guiding force in his life, alongside a “live in the moment” mentality. “Really, I try to wake up and realize that I only get to live today, today So how am I not going to be lazy? How am I not going to be stupid? How am I going to enjoy it?”

As student body vice president, homecoming king, a Cum Laude inductee, a senior leader in FCA and guitar club, and a member of the selective Honor Council and Hammond Leadership Council, it’s pretty clear that Evan Todd has fulfilled this mission. He will be attending Baylor University in the fall, majoring in biology on the premedicine track His parting advice to Hammond students is that “it's important to realize that the best way to respond to failure is just to work harder and do better and just, don't take it personally.” He adds, “Enjoy every single second of wherever you are you get to choose how much fun you have and so choose to have the most fun ”

"I try to wake up and realize that I only get to live today, today.

So how am I not going to be lazy? How am I not going to be stupid?

COVER: Evan performs at Hammond s 2022 Dance Marathon Photo courtesy of Evan Todd TOP: Todd and Luke Weinbach 23 perform during the Unversity of South Caroina s 2022 Dance Marathon Photo courtesy of Evan Todd (Instagram @ evantodd) MIDDLE: Todd and Adela Mikel '23 join together as homecoming king and queen while Rucker Brannon '23 and Nettie Phiips '23 applaud Photo courtesy of Adea Mikel (Instagram @adeamikell) BOTTOM: Todd and Luke Weinbach '23 together at the start of the school year

LOOKING AHEAD

A sneak peek into our spring edition

footloose actors prepare for show

On March 17, 18, and 19, Hammond's drama department will present Footloose, the spring musical, with senior Luke Weinbach as Ren McCormack, senior Kaycee Tompkins as Ariel Moore, and Walker Williams as the Reverend Shaw Moore Actors have found choreography challenging in the dance-heavy production Spring sports, sickness, and even a bat in the Bank of America Theatre have disrupted rehearsals, but Hammond students will pull off an amazing performance

PROM PLANS RAMP UP spring sports in full swing

The prom committee has started meeting more frequently to plan this year's junior-senior prom with a meteor masquerade theme The event will be held at the Founders' Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium the evening of April 22, with dinner provided by Southern Way Catering and dancing to follow.

The 2023 spring sports season has brought exciting new developments For the first time in years, boys' track and field has a chance at a state championship A growing softball program is taking advantage of new fields Girls' soccer is hoping to finally clench the state title after two years as the runner-up

NOTES FROM THE EDITORS

I remember looking at the cover William put together and just being shocked I must have pulled up the picture 20 times to just admire it I was stunned because I could already see it, and even more stunned as it progressed and came together And as the pages came together it was like building something more than a magazine The stories, the pictures, it was making moments

And these moments, these little bits and pieces of Hammond, mean so much to us. Hours have gone into perfectly showing the Hammond experience, and it wouldn’t have happened without late nights, coffee, and William Grantland.

William’s dedication to ensuring the survival of the Sentinel is honestly astounding. With all the other things he does, the fact that he can put together an entire magazine, and do an amazing job, is remarkable.

Since you’ve gotten this far, I’d also like to thank you. Thank you for taking a chance. For making our work pay off. Thank you for trusting us with your moments.

Natalie Engh Assistant Editor

It feels weird to be writing this: our staff has been working on this thing for weeks, and yet I had a lingering feeling that it wouldn't actually be finished. It's almost felt too good to be true. Needless to say, I'm thrilled at how this collection of student perspectives has come together over the past weeks. Those late, caffeinefueled nights seem to have paid off.

I'm immensely grateful to Natalie (who is being way too kind in her letter); she has been the perfect partnerin-crime over the past weeks. Ms. Crabb and Señor bet on our plan to reincarnate this thing and have given a supportive yes to so many grand ideas. And none of this would've come together without the writers and spotlights who gave so generously of their time, participating in interviews, writing articles, and completing surveys to help us out.

By reading this, you (yes, you!) deserve the biggest thanks. Doing this work for the Hammond community is a privilege, and I'm inexpressibly grateful for your trust and support And if you're a student who thought this whole thing was cool, you should totally help out with our spring edition You won't regret it

William Grantland Editor-in-Chief

WINTER 2023 STAFF

WILLIAM GRANTLAND

Editor-in-Chief

NATALiE ENGH

Assistant Editor

iSABELLA AGUiLAR

ALi DORRiNGTON

Staff Writers

WYATT JOYE

Guest Writer

SANTIAGO AZPÚRUA-BORRAS

CARYN CRABB

Faculty Sponsors

FRONT COVER: Sophomore Elizabeth Cannon and senior Eliza Davies pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Cannon (@elizabeth cannon, Instagram)