Montgomery Academy Visions 2016-2017

Th e M o n t g o m e r y A c a d e m y

2016-2017

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Welcome from the Head of School Jay Spencer

Hello, and welcome to the latest issue of Visions magazine!

If we haven’t met yet, I look forward to meeting you when you are back on campus.

Montgomery is a wonderful city and MA is a fabulous school! I have enjoyed spending much of my first year getting to know faculty, students, members of the Board of Trustees, alumni, and many of the current and past parents and others associated with this great institution.

I am impressed particularly by the enthusiasm shown for the school by alumni I meet, whether they graduated within the past few years or in the 60s.

Last fall, I met individually with more than a dozen members of the class of 1966, the first graduating class in the school’s history. They were about to celebrate their 50th reunion and I wanted to hear their stories, tell them how much I appreciated the part they played in the school’s history, and invite them to celebrate the reunion with us in October. I am pleased to say that six of the 17 living members of the class were present at the reunion and a seventh “FaceTimed” in from Vancouver, British Columbia for a couple of the events. They had a marvelous time reminiscing and I was honored to be a part of their celebration.

I have called this first year my year of observation. I think it is important to understand the culture and traditions of a place like MA, and to honor the hard work that has gone into making this school what it is today. Most, if not all, of you had a part in that rich history, and I thank you for the role you played. Many of you also continue to play a role, whether as a board member, a faculty member, a parent, or even a loyal fan and supporter on the sidelines. I appreciate each and every one of you.

With observation also comes change. One of the changes I have announced for next year is the moving of the 5th grade from the Middle School campus to the Lower School campus.

I am excited to say that long-time teachers Gene Johnson and Debbie Kranzusch have embraced the change and will be setting up shop on Perry Hill Road next year. Other changes include the addition of an instrumental music program, several new Advanced Placement courses, and the addition of Chinese as a language option in the Middle and Upper Schools.

In every area, I intend to continue the pursuit of excellence that has made The Montgomery Academy stand out for decades. I look forward to meeting, or at least hearing from, as many of you as possible as I do my best to continue to help The Montgomery Academy sustain and advance its excellent reputation.

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Second graders Kelsey Dodd, Will Kitchens, William Marks,

Whether back here on campus or wherever you are, when we meet I will likely ask you to tell me your stories of your time at MA. Everyone has a story and I love to hear how this school has influenced lives for six decades.

Chappell Williams and Tara

Jay Spencer

Samant await pick-up in the

Head of School

Lower School carpool line.

Photo courtesy of Elmore DeMott.

Table of Contents

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3

Meet Jay Spencer, Head of School

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Upper School Students Visit Italy

Academic Highlights 10

10 AP Scholars

12 Service Projects

Update on the Arts 14

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2016 Theater Productions

18 Speech & Debate 19 MA Chorus

MA Athletics 20

20 Girls Tennis

21 Girls Soccer 23 2017 All Star Athletes

24 Alumni 24

36 44

Alumni Weekend

26 Class Notes 34 Alumni Council 35 The National Advisory Board

36 Eagle Day 38 Grandfriends Day Class of 2017 40

40

Awards Night

42 About the Class 44 Commencement

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M I S S I O N

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The Montgomery Academy develops leaders committed to honor, scholarship, service and the pursuit of excellence.

Head of School

Jay Spencer

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2016-2017

ALUMNI COUNCIL 2016-2017

jay_spencer@montgomeryacademy.org Mr. Ronald C. Brown ’92 President

Alex Carothers ’98 President

Mr. E. Temple Millsap III ’74 Vice President

Alan Bishop ’06

Mr. David G. Borden Secretary-Treasurer

Liza Cardinal ’08

Dr. J. Cade Armstrong

Anne Tyler Bushman Crider ’09

Mrs. Amelia G. Barnes

Will Cunningham ’00

Mr. Owen W. Aronov

John Dunn ’03

leigh_barganier@montgomeryacademy.org

Mrs. Anita M. Barrera

Taylor Ramsey Dunn ’04

Mrs. Leura G. Canary

Josie Haas Eskridge ’87

Director of Development

Mr. Alexander H. Carothers ’98

Cameron Martin Farr ’95

Dr. Stephen L. Davidson

Libby Young Fitzpatrick ’91

Mr. John H. Foshee ’00

Rachel Gandy ’10

Mr. Mike Jenkins IV

Austin Huffaker ’92

Mrs. Krystal L. Mims

David Hughes ’88

Mrs. Tamika H. Reed

Bo Jinright ’95

Mrs. Emilie H. Reid

Laslie Jones ’04

Dr. Doug Robertson

Ed Klingler ’96

Mr. J. Peter Selman

Rick Marks ’87

Mrs. Roly Singh

Catie McRae Murphy ’00

Mrs. Kathryn B. Slawson

Jim Rives ’82

Dr. Rodney T. Smith

Lanier Roton ’99

Mrs. Debra D. Spain

Davis Smith ’93

Mrs. Shannon G. Speir

Anne Wilkerson Tippett ’82

Dr. Laurie J. Weil ’68

Ty Tyson ’03

Associate Head of School

John McWilliams ‘96 john_mcwilliams@montgomeryacademy.org

Director of Communications

Leigh Barganier

Carolyn Peddy Bryan ‘75 carolyn_bryan@montgomeryacademy.org

MA Fund & Alumni Programs

Rachael Saucer Gallagher ‘03 rachael_gallagher@montgomeryacademy.org

Director of Admissions & Marketing

Susannah Cleveland

susannah_cleveland@montgomeryacademy.org

E meri t u s M e mb ers Mr. John A. Caddell

Gibian Goolsby Waits ’00 Burton Upchurch Ward ’86

Mr. W. Inge Hill, Jr. ‘67 Mr. William K. Upchurch III Mr. James N. Walter

3240 Vaughn Road Montgomery, Alabama 36106

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Member National Association of Independent Schools

The Montgomery Academy admits students of any

(334) 272-8210

race, religion, national and ethnic origin to all the rights,

MONTGOMERYACADEMY.ORG

privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or

V I S I ON S

made available to students of the school.

A school day in the life of

Jay Spencer.

Jay Spencer joined Montgomery Academy as the Head of School in June 2016, and he has been busy ever since. From student and parent meetings, to football and basketball games, across the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools, he has gotten to experience many of the aspects that make up “the MA Difference.”

Jay took a break during a busy day to answer a few questions for us and to provide a look at a “day in the life” of Montgomery Academy’s eighth Head of School.

Questions for Jay What’s one reason you’re excited to be at The Montgomery Academy?

The phrase “the pursuit of excellence”

the current situation is already so good. The

What are your immediate goals for MA?

challenge is to explain that change is

necessary for the organization to continue to

excellence in every area.

improve.

resonated with me from the very begin-

What’s the biggest issue facing education today?

ning. I am excited to be a part of such a

great school with a strong history and

is to provide the appropriate education

future!

for every student. As a country we have

In a broader sense I think the challenge

bought into the myth that every child

Review academic programs to ensure Create an academic support program to

make sure we meet all students where they are.

Begin an instrumental music program.

Review and update faculty salaries and

benefits to attract and retain the best faculty.

should go to college. That is neither realistic

What is your proudest academic accomplishment?

nor practical. We need for all citizens to

be well-educated (through high school) in

plishments of which I am proud. The first

order to continue to excel as a country, but

was completing my master’s degree the

as a society we are not making that happen

same year I completed my bachelor’s

in many of our public schools, through no

degree. The second was having an article

What challenges do you see?

fault of the many excellent educators who

published (in Spanish) in the Chilean Naval

serve in that capacity. I have an idea that

War College Review.

In your opinion, what are MA’s greatest strengths?

In addition to fantastic students, MA

has an extremely talented and passionate faculty and an engaged and committed parent population.

An institution with such a long history of

excellence can have a tendency to become

there may be a future opportunity for us

complacent. Change is not always easy for

to partner with public school educators in

families to understand when it seems that

some way as we pursue a common goal.

There are two very different accom-

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What are some causes that are important to you?

voted for her (also unopposed) and then

inations for the next position. I didn’t care

Education and justice and equity.

Tell us something most people don’t know about you.

I think most people know by now that I

met the Queen of England so that probably doesn’t count any more. Maybe people don’t know that I have directed several short plays, including “The Lottery” and “The Still Alarm.”

raised my hand when they called for nomwhat it was; I just wanted to see more of this delightful creature. That’s how I ended up as the Corresponding Secretary, and here we are together almost 30 years later!

Pi, at Vanderbilt in 1988. I was not paying much attention because I was thinking about the soccer game I was playing in right afterwards. We were electing officers

hop on any plane going anywhere if they

service.

think my favorite might be when we flew to Germany, rented a car, drove to Paris, spent two nights, and then returned home. There are no guarantees and the destinations are unknown until right before departure, so these trips are always an adventure.

If you had to describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?

was running for president so I voted for

suppose it mattered much but it seemed like the right thing to do. Next was the office of Vice President and the most beautiful girl I had ever seen stepped up and said she wanted to run. I sat up in my seat and

Longest serving Head of School in the

world – died in office after decades of

for the next year and I knew the girl who her. Since she ran unopposed I don’t

Committed.

to see places in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. I

for the Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta

What is one word that best describes you?

benefit: I can go to any Air Force Base and

taken advantage of this benefit many times

We were both at the induction ceremony

me), or Brian Regan.

What would you want for your epitaph?

As a military retiree, I have a fabulous

have space available. My family and I have

SNL Celebrity Jeopardy (I know that dates

Tell us the story of how you and Kristin met— we’ll ask for her version, too.

What is always guaranteed to make you smile?

Tell us about your favorite family vacation.

What was your favorite subject in school?

Math, hands down.

My wife, Kristin. She keeps me sane.

I love what I do.

Previously, you were a commander in the Navy, have you ever gotten sea sick?

It gets pretty rough for a submarine on

the surface as it is designed for underwater travel. Many of my shipmates were seasick but I just went to sleep when the boat started rocking heavily.

Jay’s FAVORITES Movies?

The Princess Bride, Facing the Giants Books?

Which of your parents are you most like and why?

Lessons Learned

Hobbies?

My father. He is 6’4” and probably

weighs less than I do.

Going to theater productions, playing piano and board games

decided right there that I wanted to try to go

If you could live in a book, TV show or movie, what would it be?

Sports Teams?

out with her sometime. I enthusiastically

MA, Vanderbilt

I always wanted to be (or at least meet)

Mr. Spock from the original “Star Trek.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be?

group “String Theory” perform in person and I was captivated.

Do you speak any foreign languages?

Aprendí español cuando viví en Chile in

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flying.

To date, favorite meal served in the MA cafeteria?

They are all good. If I had to pick one I guess it would be tacos, but that’s only because tacos are my favorite.

2001. I also studied Latin for 5 years, Greek

WHAT IF

for 2, German for 4, and Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and American Sign Language to

You could meet one person from history or the present? Who would it be?

varying degrees.

Senator John McCain

How tall are you?

You could travel anywhere in the world? Where would you go?

6’5”

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London, or wherever the Air Force plane is

I would love to learn to play the cello. I

have had the pleasure of watching the cello

Kristin and Jay on their wedding day.

Vacation spot?

Who is the most influential person in your life?

Antarctica, since it is the only continent I haven’t visited.

Questions for Kristin Your favorite recipe?

Skillet Coq au Vin from “Southern Sideboards” (a cookbook from the Junior League of

thrown over his shoulder for his upcoming soccer game. I could tell that afternoon that he was much more than a typical engineering student and was very worth getting to know better!

Jackson, Mississippi that Jay’s mother gave

Tell us a little about each of your children:

me shortly after we were married).

Your favorite holiday tradition?

For years we would watch the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” during the weekend after Thanksgiving to officially begin the Christmas season.

Jackie graduated summa cum laude

at Elon University, majoring in Special Education and Elementary Education and minoring in Spanish. She spent her junior year of high school abroad in Zaragoza, Spain and a semester during her sophomore of college in Costa Rica. Next year she will

How long have you and Jay been married?

be travelling back to Spain to study as a

26 years

Fullbright Scholar.

Colin is a senior at Purdue University,

What are your favorite things about Jay? He is a

majoring in Electrical Engineering. He was

man of integrity. He has a quick wit. He is an

a National Merit semi finalist. He enjoys

early riser who accomplishes more by lunch

playing soccer and is teaching himself to

time than I do all day some days. He brings

play the guitar. He has had to learn to cook

me coffee in bed every morning.

this semester as he is living off-campus for

Where did you grow up?

Carmel, Indiana What are some of your hobbies?

the first time in an apartment with two of his friends.

Matt is a senior in high school at The

Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He

Bike riding, baking, sewing, reading, travel

enjoys playing varsity water polo and has

What do you love about Montgomery?

this fall. He is studying Arabic and won the

Southern hospitality and the mild climate

academic award in that subject this fall.

What do you love about MA? That my husband has a place he loves to work and my son has a place he loves to go to school (and that I don’t have to pack a lunch

begun learning some wood-working skills

David is in 7th grade at MA. He enjoys

soccer, archery, and violin. He is helping to train his new puppy, Bailey, that we adopted from the Humane Society.

for either one of them!).

Do you have a favorite vacation spot? What travel destination is on your bucket list?

My favorite spot is the lakes region in New Hampshire where my family gathers every year at my brother’s lake house. Australia and New Zealand are on my bucket list. I like to think I would want to accompany Jay to Antarctica if he were to have that opportunity, though I’m not sure there is any outerwear warm enough to convince me that I would make it through the trip.

Tell us the story of how you and Jay met.

During our first Tau Beta Pi (engineering honor society) meeting at Vanderbilt, I was

Adopted puppy, Bailey

A Day in the Life of Head of School Jay Spencer 7:00 A.M. Board of Trustees Advancement Committee meeting 8:00 A.M. Daily agenda discussion with John McWilliams, Associate Head of School (we talk a lot!)

8:30 A.M. Check status of Upper School Experiential Learning Week with Andy Roth, Upper School Dean of Students, and Scott Morris, Upper School History teacher 9:15 A.M. Lower School Hill Campus visit: Culture Study follow up with Lower School faculty, then pop in a classroom to see what’s happening in 2nd grade 11:00 A.M. Board of Trustees Finance Committee meeting 12:30 P.M. Lunch in Hill Hall (it’s Taco Day—my favorite!)

1:00 P.M. Back to the office to return phone calls and emails (and eat a handfull of Peanut M&Ms as an after lunch snack) 1:30 P.M. Drop in on Cindy Ackerman’s 6th period AP Calculus Class (what a fun flashback!)

2:20 P.M. Stop by Director of Communications Leigh Barganier’s office to talk about website redesign 3:00 P.M. Meet again with John McWilliams to recap the day 4:30 P.M. Cheer on the Eagles at the Middle School Boys Basketball game in Bear Field House (we win with a buzzer sounding three pointer!)

6:00 P.M. Conduct a “Straight to the Source” parent meeting in the Aronov Leadership Center (this gives me an opportunity to talk directly to parents about any questions or concerns they may have)

struck by a charming, funny, handsome, and smart young man who had his soccer cleats

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d a o r b A p i r T Fall 201b6y Teresa Pittman

Forty-four students and six chaperones spent ten days in Italy over Thanksgiving break.

Instead of turkey and dressing on Thanksgiving Day, we enjoyed an authentic pizza dinner and while we all missed being home for Thanksgiving, we experienced the trip of a lifetime.

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ur trip began with the flight landing on the short airstrip in the waters around Venice.

We experienced Venetian

life: a cab ride down the canals, gelati, a glassblowing demonstration of the world-famous Murano glass, shopping on the Rialto Bridge, a visit to St. Mark’s Church, and dodging the pigeons in St. Mark’s Square.

The next stop was Florence where

we saw Michelangelo’s David, visited the Duomo and the Church of Santa Croce, saw just a few of the many works of art in the Uffizi Gallery, had more gelati, shopped in

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the street markets and leather stores, and

all returned home with memories that we

rubbed the nose of the boar–a tradition to

will cherish forever, having seen first-hand

ensure that a person will return to Florence

so many of the sites that we discuss in the

one day.

classroom and having experienced for just

a few days life outside of the world here

The next day was a travel day as we

headed down the interstate past Rome to the

in Montgomery. Many of the students now

coast south of Naples. We stopped in Orvieto,

have plans to return to Italy some day to

a small town from the Medieval past, to see

study or to spend more time in some of their

another era of Italian history.

favorite places. The students were so grateful

That evening we arrived in Sorrento

that their parents invested in this trip, which

and strolled through the streets enjoying

broadened their children’s horizons and

the sights and sounds of this resort town,

as an addition to the regular classroom

and, of course, more gelati. The next day

experience.

we traveled by ferry over to the Isle of Capri where we enjoyed a relaxing lunch overlooking the beautiful Bay of Naples.

That night, back in Sorrento, the students learned the traditional Italian dance, the Tarantella.

The next morning, we toured the

ancient city of Pompeii, where we were all impressed both with the level of the Roman civilization and the intensity of the volcanic disaster. On the way to Rome, we were able to drive part of the way up Mount Vesuvius and then hike the rest of the way to the top of the volcano. We will never forget looking to the left to see down into the volcano and looking to the right to see the valley, miles below.

Finally, we arrived in Rome, where

we enjoyed more pizza, pasta, and gelati.

We spent time at the Vatican, seeing the magnificent Sistine Chapel and then visiting Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Colosseum was quite impressive, and the Forum reminded everyone of the Roman legacy. The Pantheon represented geometric perfection. We tossed coins into the Trevi Fountain to determine our future. We saw the unusual spectacle of the bones of the Capuchin monks on display in the crypt below their church. The last night, after a dinner of burgers and fries at the Hard Rock

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Cafe, we visited the area around the Spanish Steps which was filled with people and exclusive shops. Afterwards, everyone was ready to head for home the next day.

We all now truly understand the motto

of the American Council for International Studies (ACIS): “Travel Changes Lives.” We

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“Italy was the most fun trip I have ever been on at MA. Not only were we able to learn about the history and culture of Italy, but we were able to travel the countryside as a group and bond with our friends. I loved being able to go on such a fun and educational trip while being surrounded by amazing teachers and friends.”

—Ford Cleveland, Class of 2017

“I was beyond impressed when I saw the itinerary before [the group] departed and even more so now that [my child] is home and sharing her experiences. The trip is a once in a lifetime experience to see as much as possible in a relatively short time frame.”

—Rob Pirnie, parent, Class of 1992

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“I loved Italy so much! My favorite place that we went was Capri and eating lunch while looking out over the water. It is something that I will never forget.”

—MaryRen Stevenson, Class of 2017

“Having the opportunity to participate in this educational journey was wonderful! I looked forward to it knowing that it would be a “working holiday” but the chance to see these historical sites first-hand made it even more enjoyable. Whether you know the language or not, this is something I would recommend for the history, art, and Biblical lover in all of you. Visiting the Vatican was dear to my heart, especially being Catholic. I learned so much more than I anticipated.”

—Christine Watkins, faculty chaperone

“[The trip extended] these children’s educations by exposing them to such a fantastic cultural experience.”

—Jimmy Dockery, parent

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from AROUND the ACADEMY

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Forty-six students at Montgomery Academy earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement

Eleven students qualified for the AP Scholar

Program® (AP®) provides willing and

with Honor Award by earning an average

academically prepared students with the

score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken,

opportunity to take rigorous college-level

and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of

courses while still in high school, and to

these exams. These students are: Taimoor

earn college credit, advanced placement,

Arshad, William Chandler, Emily Ernest,

or both for successful performance on

Victoria Hughes, Justin Jones, Elsa

the AP Exams.

Leonard, Ellen Park, Olivia Rush, Caroline Sellers, Emma Slawson and Lindsey

About 18 percent of the more than 1.9 million students worldwide who took AP Exams

AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION

Warwick.

performed at a sufficiently high level

Fourteen students qualified for the AP

to also earn an AP Scholar Award. The

Scholar Award by completing three or

College Board recognizes several levels

more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher.

of achievement based on students’

The AP Scholars are Issey Behr, Conner

performance on AP Exams.

Broach, Cari Budny, Mollie Beth Dill,

Two students qualified for the National

Lindsey Ferraro, Emma Franklin, Jenny

AP Scholar Award by earning an average

Jeon, Gyungmin Kim, John Koo, Ford

score of 4 or higher on a five-point scale

Mozingo, Griffin Payne, Annie Ramsey, Ann

on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or

Vivian Spencer and Bo Torbert.

higher on eight or more of these exams.

Of this year’s award recipients at

These students are JeongWoo Kim and William Moore.

Twenty-one students qualified for the

Montgomery Academy, twenty are

AP SCHOLARS WITH HONOR

sophomores or juniors. These students have at least one more year in which to

AP Scholar with Distinction Award by

complete college-level work and possibly

earning an average score of at least 3.5

earn a higher-level AP Scholar Award.

on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

These students are Jack Barganier, Michael Butler, Margaret Canary, Ford Cleveland, Collin Darwish, Dora Eskridge, Henry Hamlett, Mary Braden Hendon, Ellie Herron, Scotland Kemper, JeongWoo Kim, Anna Kate Lindsey, Allen Millsap, William Moore, Anna Peeples, Gabbi Pohlman, Elizabeth Robertson, Claudia Ann Rutland, Wilkie Stevenson, Gracie Trulove and Talya Whyte.

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AP SCHOLARS

Two Students Named National Merit Finalists at Montgomery Academy The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has recognized seniors Dora Eskridge and Ellen Park as semifinalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Semifinalists were chosen by virtue of their performance on the 2015 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Of the 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools who took the qualifying test, approximately 16,000 students were recognized as semifinalists. The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors, and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

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NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST Ellen Park

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NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST Dora Eskridge

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Breakout Coding Sixth grade students celebrated “The Hour of Code,” a series of activities designed to introduce students to the concepts behind computer coding. Not only do students learn more about how computer languages work through these exercises, they also learned more about logic and breaking down complex tasks into smaller steps! The students participated in a BREAKOUT EDU experience that required the students to engage in developing their critical thinking, logic and problem-solving skills AND...they had a lot of fun as well!

KL IN GE N ST E I N S U M M ER INST IT U T E

Immersive Programming and Professional Development Middle School faculty member Sarah Fitzpatrick Bryan ‘11 was accepted into the 2017 class of the Klingenstein Summer Institute. This two-week program allowed her to dive deep with other early career teachers in the areas of curriculum and instruction, diversity, collaboration, and innovation. She met 74 other brilliant educators (like herself) and built a cohort of diverse colleagues that she will keep for years to come. She teaches Sixth Grade Mathematics at the Academy.

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The beautiful weather on November 4 provided the perfect backdrop for Montgomery Academy’s first ever

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Welcoming the Inaugural STEAMfest

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STEAMfest. With the focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math, children preschool through 6th grade were able to choose from nearly 30 activities throughout the Lower School building. The event, which was free of charge and open to the community, was the first of its kind for MA. Some of the activities included virtual reality, a cardboard arcade designed and built by second graders, a marble roller coaster, displays about water quality from Sarah Housley’s sixth grade, suminagashi (marbling paper) art, a graffiti wall, paper airplanes and much, much more. Area organizations participating were the Montgomery Zoo, the Alabama Wildlife Federation, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Foomatic Makerspace, Auburn Robotics and Vizitech USA. With over 400 people in attendance, MA’s STEAMfest proved to be a success and set the stage for many more to come!

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S AV E T H E D A T E

STEAMfest 2017 October 28th at 10am

N E W TRADI TI ON

Homecoming Day Schoolwide Service Project Montgomery Academy partnered with the Montgomery Food for Kids Backpack Program by conducting a food drive during Homecoming Week to collect needed food items. Students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade setup assembly lines to work together to pack the bags and were able to directly impact over 750 students in the Montgomery area who struggle to have enough food to eat when they aren’t at school.

The Montgomery Food for Kids Backpack Program is a grassroots organization working to break the cycle of generational poverty by ensuring that children have enough food to eat, even when not at school by sending a bag of food home with eligible children each Friday.

Each bag includes two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks and two fruits/vegetables.

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Aronov Leadership Center

Dedication

This fall, the Aronov Leadership Center opened on The Montgomery Academy Vaughn Road campus. The Center was made possible thanks to the commitment, generosity and leadership of the Owen Aronov family. The Center, aligned with the Academy’s mission of developing leaders committed to honor, scholarship, service and the pursuit of excellence, will serve as a dedicated space for educational seminars, academic ceremonies and honor society inductions. It also provides a meeting space for leaders of the school such as the Board of Trustees, Alumni Council, Parents of the Academy (POA) and student leadership groups. It is outfitted with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, which was donated by the Class of 2016, allowing for seamless presentations.

Rexann Herrick Retirement Reception

Pictured at the ribbon cutting are Owen and Loree Aronov and their children Josie, Class of 2023, and Aaron, Class of 2027.

Left to Right Dinah McLemore, BeeLee Tullos, Rexann Herrick, Allison Gore, Frances Smith, and Cliff Huckabee

If you know the Herrick family, then you

know that they are very involved in music.

Both Mrs. Herrick, her husband, Dennis, as well as their children have music degrees.

In addition to their passion for music, the family has also become very involved in technology—music and technology. What a great mix!

Lower School included teaching Music

Thirty years spent educating children and

and Technology. While teaching

helping them to become confident, life-

music, Mrs. Herrick grew the Eagleaires

long learners—a career well spent!

program, increasing participation and

Fellow teacher and friend Cliff Huckabee

expanding their performances to festivals statewide. In technology, Mrs. Herrick was instrumental in the implementation of Smartboards and iPad carts at the Lower School. Even after her transition to Technology, she still supported music

Mrs. Herrick has enjoyed a 30 year

by accompanying numerous programs—

teaching career that spanned from Tokyo,

the Thanksgiving Play, the Christmas

Japan to Montgomery, Alabama and

Pageant, and the Kindergarten Play.

included teaching music and technology.

Whether teaching music or computer,

Mrs. Herrick’s 22 years at the Academy’s

Mrs. Herrick’s main focus was the children.

“She was willing to help and serve wherever needed.

She motivated her students to do their very best and was also a great mentor to many new teachers at the Academy.” said of Rexann,

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Update Arts ON THE

Upper School production of “Curtains”

traveler (Michael Butler ’16) with his wife and daughter (Madison Hall ’16, Brianna Bonner ’16) are the innocent victims of a political tug-of-war about espionage. Their sanctuary is not much of a refuge, for the ambassador is absent and his son (William Moore ’16), now in charge, has been expelled

2016

PRODUCTIONS

from a dozen countries and the continent of Africa. Nevertheless, as they carefully and frantically plot the family’s escape, the

“D

ambassador’s son and the caterer’s daughter on’t Drink the Water”—madcap comedy, social commentary or both? The more things

change, the more they stay the same. It seems like only yesterday the Cold War was a memory. Yet with the return of Russia as an aggressive player in places like Syria and Crimea we are faced with rising tension between nations. And so the Upper School produced this frenetic farce which originally appeared on Broadway in 1966.

might even have time to fall in love.

The set featured former Head of School Vivian Barfoot’s desk in the role of the

DON’T DRINK THE WATER A Cold War Comedy

CURTAINS

A Musical Comedy Whodunit

Ambassador’s seat of power, and the embassy was staffed and attacked by a cast featuring members of the class of 2016: Jay Back, Bella Berrera, Kyla Cole, Dylan Mills, Madeline Roth, and Claudia Ann Rutland.

James Chambers ‘18, Caroline Deale ‘19 , Will Hamlett ‘19, Maria Gamble ‘18, Lindsey Ferraro ‘17, Lauren Muller ‘18, Roma Pirnie

Under the guise of “spy games” we have a

‘19, Annie Ramsey ‘17, Martha Glen Sease ’18,

family trapped in the American Embassy

Sidney Thomas ‘19, Casey Whitt ‘19, and Max

behind the Iron Curtain during their first

Zink ’18, rounded out the international cast of

trip to Europe. A caterer and reluctant

characters.

DOWNTON ZOMBIE

A spoof of the high class manners of popular PBS show “Downton Abbey”

10 WAYS TO SURVIVE THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

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15

Update Arts ON THE

Putting On A Musical Can Be Murder!

return his affection. Meanwhile, secrets are surfacing, the production numbers in “Robbin’ Hood” are rewritten, rehearsed and rewritten again, and the body count is rising. Can Cioffi solve the case, save the show, and get the girl without getting offed himself?

The cast featured members Class of 2016: Michael Butler, Bella Barrera, Jay Back, Kyla Cole, Anne Morgan Cousins, Caroline Cochren, Mollie Beth Dill, Mary Braden Hendon, Henry Hoffman, Annabel Roth, Madeline Roth, and Claudia Ann Rutland.

The high stepping, harmonizing ensemble

Margaret Leonard and Margaret Ann Allen in “Curtains”

included Margaret Ann Allen ’17, Lindsey

I

Ferraro ’17, Darry Elizabeth Freeman ’17, Will n the spring of 2016, the Upper School produced “Curtains,” a musical comedy whodunit. Set in 1959, the musical tells

the story of a play within the play involving the opening night death on stage of the

Hamlett ’19, LuLu Herrick ’18, Mimi Hope ’18, Margaret Leonard ’18, Alice McGowin ’17, Annie Ramsey ’17, Martha Glen Sease ’17, Jack Wagstaff ’17, Meg Walker ’18, Dison Williams ’17, and David Wilson ’18.

leading lady.

“Robbin’ Hood of the Old West,” a bad Western adaptation of the “Robin Hood” story, is premiering in Boston and the egregiously untalented leading lady is a triple threat: she can’t sing, act, or dance (or remember when to say her lines). To the relief of everyone, she is murdered during her opening night curtain call. The entire company comes under suspicion, and Lt. Frank Cioffi (Ford Cleveland ‘17) of the Boston Police Department is called in to solve the homicide. Believing that the murderer is connected to the show, he seals off the building until the killer is caught.

Cioffi, a theatre fan and amateur actor, becomes more involved with saving the show than solving the case and finds himself falling for one of the actresses, Niki (Madison Hall ’16), and she seems to

16

V I S I ON S

Left to Right Jack Back, Annabel Roth, Jack Wagstaff, Mollie Beth Dill, Claudia Ann Rutland, and Madison Hall

Update Arts ON THE

“They’re Coming to Get You, Barbara . . . ”

various methods for dealing with the zombies ran the gamut from the practical– Run Really Fast–to the ridiculous–Romance the Zombies.

The two shows featured over 60 actors, some of whom made their Wilson Theater debuts as a slew of survivors, a horde of zombies, and a “Thriller” dance company at the curtain call. With a crew of ten and many parent and faculty volunteers, the Middle School play was a real community effort. And, in the end, isn’t that the only way we will survive the impending global zombie menace?

W

ith the Middle School play falling on Halloween weekend, the students

presented two short, one-act plays about zombies in an old-school creature double-feature.

The first play of the evening, Wade Bradford’s “Downton Zombie,” was a spoof of the high class manners of popular PBS show “Downton Abbey,” and comically answered the question, “How would the upper-crust and their put-upon servants deal with an unfolding zombie apocalypse?” While capturing all the drama and love triangles of the source

Top Sadie Sease and Zoe Zink

material, this play was an opportunity for

Above The “Thriller” Zombies

the talented cast to show off their comic

Left Jeb Tucker, Zoe Zink, Elle Hughes, Mary Evelyn McLemore, and Eli Jernigan

timing and their British accents.

The second show, “10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse,” by Don Zolidis, was a comic presentation in which two narrators (Mary Virginian Huffaker ’21 and Macon Jones ’21) tried to instruct the audience on how to live in a “Walking Dead”-esque world gone mad. Their

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Update Arts ON THE

MA’s Speech & Debate chapter achieved a total of 300 or more degrees last year and has now ranked among the top 4% of schools nationwide earning membership in the Association’s prestigious Societé de 300.

Montgomery Academy Speech & Debate earns recognition from the National Speech & Debate Association The Montgomery Academy Speech & Debate Team has earned significant recognition from the National Speech & Debate Association. Students earn points and degrees in the National Speech & Debate Association honor society based on competitive and service-related activities, ranging from the Degree of Merit with 25 or more points to the Degree of Premier Distinction with 1,500 or more points.

MA’s chapter achieved a total of 300 or

Left to Right Michael McNair '04, Z Jones '09, Bernie Brannan '03, Laslie Jones '04, Jay Spencer, Jay Rye, Claudia Ann Rutland '16, Fred Blackmon '97, Jordan Montiel McBride '94, John McWilliams '96, and Burgin Matthews '96

more degrees last year and has now ranked among the top 4% of schools nationwide and earned membership in the Association’s prestigious Societé de 300. This milestone is remarkable because it demonstrates outstanding commitment to teaching students essential life skills–including communication, research, listening, writing and organization.

The National Speech & Debate Association commends Montgomery Academy’s Speech & Debate Coach Jay Rye’s leadership of an active speech and debate program.

Jay Rye Selected for Alabama Speech & Debate Associations Hall of Fame Congratulations to Speech & Debate Coach

Alabama to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

The following is a statement from Hall of Fame member Dr. Kenny Barfield of Mars Hill Bible School in Florence: The voting for the 2016-2017 Hall of Fame has been completed. Based on the returned ballots, I am pleased to inform you that the overwhelming majority of ballots by coaches and former honorees have invited Mr. Jay Rye of The Montgomery Academy to be inducted as a member of the Alabama Speech and Debate Association’s Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will occur at the Mountain Brook High School Speech & Debate Tournament in February. Jay will become the 11th coach to be elected for induction into the Alabama Hall of Fame.

a total of 16 State Championships, the most in the history of Alabama since the State Tournament began in 1956. At the national level, he has coached 156 students to the National Tournament over the past 24 consecutive years with numerous students receiving awards in Debate, Congress, and Individual Events highlighted by a 4th place finish in Prose Interpretation in 2015 and the National Champion in Dramatic Interpretation in 2006. He has served as the District Chair of the Deep South District since 1999 and became the first coach from Alabama elected to the National Speech & Debate Association’s Board of Directors, initially as the first alternate in 2010 and as a full member in 2014. Through his efforts, Alabama has hosted the National

Jay Rye! Jay will be inducted into the

As a former competitor for Mountain Brook

Tournament in 2009 & 2013 and will host a

Alabama Speech & Debate Association’s Hall

High School and the University of Alabama,

third time in 2017.

of Fame in February and is only the 11th

Jay Rye has coached at The Montgomery

coach in the history of Speech & Debate in

Academy since 1991. Jay’s teams have won

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V I S I ON S

Chorus captures the stage MA

Middle School Chorus Performs at Alabama Music Educators Association State Conference The Fifth and Sixth Grade Chorus were selected to perform at the 2017 Alabama Music Educators Association State Conference at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on January 20. The Chorus is under the direction of Meg Griffin. This is a great honor for our music program for this group to be invited to perform!

Upper School Chorus Places First in National Competition The Upper School Chorus competed in the Heritage National Choral Competition in New York City at Riverside Church. The Upper School earned First Place and the Chamber Chorus earned Third Place in the 2A Division for Concert and Chamber Choirs. Schools from California, New York, Tennessee, Michigan, Delaware, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts competed–a total of 29 choral ensembles. The Upper School Chorus average score was 96/100 and the Chamber Ensemble average score was also 96/100. This is the first time that the Upper School Chorus has earned First Place honors, three consecutive years (2015 New York, 2016 Seattle, 2017 New York). Congratulations to these students for their hard work and dedication under the direction of Dr. Damion Womack!

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Academy

ATHLETICS The Girls Tennis team captured its third consecutive State Championship and 9th title in 10 years.

tournament by winning the section

Deale, Lucy Chapman and Martha Ernest.

tournament with close competition from

Coach Smith attributes this strong season

Houston Academy. At the state tournament,

to having an amazing group of dedicated

after the first day the team had a 20-point

athletes and three senior leaders in

lead in front of second place Bayside. The

Elizabeth Robertson, Sellers McConnell and

The girls completed the year with a

Eagles’ championship run was highlighted

Kate Dockey. The seniors finished their MA

record of 8-1, undefeated in their section

by strong performances throughout the

Tennis careers with an impressive win at

with impressive wins over all our local

lineup, with four players bringing home

States and Sectionals.

teams. The team qualified for the state

individual state titles: Kate Dockery, Caroline

by Coach Tracy Smith

Left to Right Coach Tracy Smith, Lucy Chapman, Mary Morgan Powell, Elizabeth Robertson, Caroline Deale, Kate Dockery, Sellers McConnell, May Sharma, Martha Ernest, and Shelby Slawson

20

V I S I ON S

“..I’d never seen a team more focused and locked in

than I have with this group, and I won’t soon forget it.”

This year, the 2017 Girls Soccer team extended the program’s tradition of excellence by adding a sixth state championship trophy to the case in Bear Field House.

Trinity 3-0, playing eventual 7A state

weeks of the season was phenomenal

champions McGill-Toolen to a 2-0 loss, and

and a testament to how hard the girls

crushing Bayside Academy 10-2. The real

pushed themselves in training, workouts,

season changing performance, however,

and in games. In both the semifinal game

came in our next game versus defending

and championship game, we held our

7A state champions Vestavia Hills High

opponents scoreless while tallying eight

Fueled by their semifinal loss last year

School. Having held the offensive-minded

total goals.

Rebels to a scoreless tie throughout most of

During the playoffs, I remember thinking

the game, we conceded what would have

to myself that I’d never seen a team more

been the go-ahead goal at around the 70:00

focused and locked in than I have with

mark. In a remarkable display of what our

this group, and I won’t soon forget it. These

entire team embodied all year long, we

girls set smart, achievable goals, tracked

fought until the bitter end, earning a corner

their skills throughout the season, made

kick with less than ten seconds on the

time for reflection, and harbored a familial

clock. Maggie Chambers played a beautiful

bond that enabled us to achieve success.

ball into the six and, after a few anxious

When I think back on this team in time, I

seconds, junior center back Austyn Barnes

certainly will recall a talented group, to be

scored the equalizer just before the horn

sure. But I think what will stand out the

sounded for full time.

most in my memory is that they worked

Invigorated by this result, from here on out

hard, treated each other the right way,

we went on an eight game winning streak

and enjoyed the experience of playing

where we scored 47 goals and only allowed

the beautiful game with a 100% positive

in the seventh round of penalty kicks, the team quietly kept that feeling of disappointment in their minds as motivation to improve during each training session and each game. With the majority of the roster returning this season, as well as the addition of three new seventh grade players, the foundation of the team remained true, and the four seniors (Elizabeth Robertson, Maggie Chambers, Shelton James, and Dora Eskridge) aided in maintaining the traditional high standards of the team.

The early games yielded some disappointing results, as we struggled to score goals while remaining solid defensively. After recording three ties,

four against. The mental focus and resolve

attitude. Go Eagles!

our players demonstrated in the last six

Coach Stuart Bonner by

two losses, a penalty shootout win over area opponent Houston Academy, and a torn ACL, we could have easily have been disheartened moving into the middle third of the schedule. But with the return of some key players after the conclusion of basketball season, the team found some scoring success and rattled off four victories, allowing zero goals-against in a stretch of five games, and took home the championship trophy at the Knights of the Round Table tournament before Spring Break.

Returning from such a long lapse between training and games can be mentally tough as well as physically taxing. But right out of the gate we maintained the momentum we had established before the break beating

Back Row Left to Right Reese Kelso, Austyn Barnes, Cayla Williams, Elizabeth Robertson, Dora Eskridge, Shelton James, Margaret Head, Maylon Davis, Brooke Horne, Alex Budny, Coach Stuart Bonner, Manager MaryRen Stevenson, Coach Rachel DeRose, and Coach Erin Katz '12 Front Row Left to Right Kate Harris, Isabel Drumwright, Mead Robertson, Tara Katz, Maggie Chambers, Susannah Blunnt, Virginia Meacham, Leighton Robertson, and Mary Weldon Armstrong

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21

Two Basketball Players Hit 1,000 Point Mark Senior Garrett Sanderson began his career at Montgomery Academy as a junior after moving to Montgomery from Nashville. Garrett has played a vital role in the continued success of our Boys Varsity Basketball team. According to his coach, Anthony McCall, “After losing the city’s all-time leading scorer, Garrett enrolling at MA was a dream come true for me.

Every game since his arrival he has been a real stat stuffer, often leading our team in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals. He’s a gym rat who’s been fun to coach.” Garrett eclipsed the 1000-point mark for his career during the team’s season opening game against Keith High School.

During his run to 1000 points, Garrett has competed against some stiff competition. In ad-

dition to eclipsing the 1000 point mark, Garrett helped lead his team to a 19-10 record last year and the area’s regular season championship. He was first team All-Metro and selected to play in the AHSAA North/South All-Star Game.

Senior Jade Brooks has played on The Montgomery Academy’s Girls Varsity Basketball team since eighth grade, and has been a starter each year. According to her coach, Barry Fencher, “Jade has been a dream come true to me as a basketball coach. She has helped make MA girls basketball one of the most successful programs in the state.” Jade eclipsed the 1000-point mark for her career during the team’s regular season game against Brewtech in February.

During her run to 1000 points, Jade has competed against some heady competition. In

addition to eclipsing the 1000 point mark, Jade has helped her team win area championships; advance to four State Regional Tournaments; finish as Regional Champions three consecutive years which led to Final Four appearances including last year’s State 3A Runner-up. She has been selected to multiple All-Tournament teams. In addition she was named Central Region MVP and All-State last year.

2017 All Star Athletes From Left to Right Austyn Barnes-Soccer, Caroline Kirkham-Volleyball, Will FranklinCross Country, and Andrew Harris-Soccer.

Each student-athlete selected for the teams are nominated by their respective head coach and selected by a committee at the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

22

V I S I ON S

Brittany Tucker Bethea '06, Mark Bethea '06, David, Jenny, Chris Bethea '02, and Laura Forrest Bethea at his induction into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.

David Bethea Inducted into Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame

Coach Bethea has been Montgomery

compiled a 191-81-3 record. He currently serves

Academy’s Varsity Boys Tennis coach

as Physical Education Department Chair

since 1985 and has carved a niche in state

Varsity Boys Tennis Coach David Bethea was

annals that includes 14 state championships,

one of twelve major contributors to prep

nine state runners-up, 32 sectional

athletics in Alabama that was selected from

championships and an overall 878-145 head

an outstanding field of 50 nominations for

coaching record. He also served as MA Boys

induction into the 27th class of the Alabama

Basketball coach from 1986-90 compiling

High School Sports Hall of Fame in March.

a 33-36 record and has served as Middle

Congratulations to Coach Bethea on this

School Football coach since 1979. His football

outstanding and deserving honor!

teams have won 19 city championships and

Coach Bethea is a 1973 graduate of Huntsville’s Butler High School. He received his degree from the University of North Alabama in 1977 and earned a Masters from South Alabama in 1979.

Coach Gordon Celebrates 1,300 Wins Montgomery Academy Volleyball Coach Julie Gordon was recently recognized for her 1300th career victory by the American Volleyball Coaches Association at their national conference in December.

Congratulations to Coach Gordon on this national recognition!

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23

Weekend 2016 Alumni Weekend 2016 was held on October 14 and 15. With over 200 people in attendance Friday night, the Tent Party offered alumni and their families a chance to catch up with old friends and reminisce with their former teachers and coaches.

Golden Eagle Club The

M

embers of the Class of 1966 were the first students to graduate from The Montgomery Academy and in

2016, they became the first members to join the Golden Eagle Club. The Golden Eagle Club is a distinct honor at MA created to recognize those who have reached their 50th reunion.

Left to Right Bill Cunningham, Ron Head, Leonard Seawell, Bill Lightfoot, Rick Murchison, and Peggy Shertzer Van Court

In preparation for this milestone, a slideshow titled

“The Montgomery Academy: Then and Now” was created that showed while a great deal has changed, so much still remains the same. The drama department is still producing

still alive and well. In 1966 and 2017, the pursuit of excellence remains the Academy’s driving force.

amazing plays, but instead of performances in the Hill

Hall “Cafetorium”, they are now held in the state of the art

believe that they day had actually arrived. We greeted it with

To quote their “Class History” in the 1966 Torch & Key, “We couldn’t

James W. Wilson, Jr. Theater. While basketball and tennis

mixed emotions - relief and fear, happiness and sadness, nostalgia

were some of the early sports offered, now students can

and anticipation. As we walked in procession through the familiar

also participate in football, volleyball and baseball. Students

breezeways, memories, faces, and scenes flashed through our minds.

still use textbooks, however advances in technology have

Teary-eyed, we surveyed our hallowed grounds and the sympathetic

transitioned classroom learning to also include interactive

faces of friends and families. But in our hearts we knew we could

learning via iPads. Traditions like Eagle Day, Homecoming

never leave any of it behind. The Montgomery Academy, its history,

and white dinner jackets and dresses at Commencement are

the students, the faculty, the work, the joy would always be ours.”

1986

LA

F

LA

C

SS O

UNIO

SS O

UNIO

N

SS O F

C

RE

1991 RE

N

1996 N

UNIO

LA

C

SS O

UNIO

F

C

RE

1981 RE

SS O

1976

N

UNIO

LA

LA

F

RE

C

SS O

F

LA

F

C

...alumni from the classes of 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006 traveled far and wide to return to campus.

2006 N

RE

UNIO

N

Class of 1976 Back Row (L-R) Philip Mangum, Wendy Brooks Crew, Tom McVay, Mary Helen Macon Martin, Brad Kent, Risa Berlin Ziman, Bill Bryan, Theresa Pearson Dunn, Frank Wilson, Sue Keith Brown, Melanie Hamner Halvorson, Win Johnson Front Row (L-R) Kelly Bowling Babb, Karen Fitzpatrick, Beth Thompson Trevor, Becky Gordy Lehmann

Class of 1996 Back Row (L-R) Robert Hughes, Lauren McRae Foshee, Kevin Rapp, Carol Reese Vucovich, Bert Morris, Elizabeth Williams, Andy Head, Mary Halsey Maddox, Ed Klingler, Ansel Kohn Cline, Paulk Turner, John McWilliams, Katherine Bear Rogers, David Kemp, Charis Williams Lewis, Burgin Mathews, Estee Knudsen Morrison, Brice Johnston Front Row (L-R) Elizabeth Williams Hale, Erin Tatum Fillers, Legare DeCaro, Laurie Avant Smith

Class of 1981 (L-R) Hollie Johnson Harmon, Lee Sanders, Marti Chambers Rice, Molly Lindsey Powell

Class of 2006 Back Row (L-R) Dexter Hobbs, Trey Foxhall, Sim Penton, Mark Bethea, Trey Holtsford, Brittany Tucker Bethea, Beth Brantley, Christina Karst Camp, John Burns Paterson, Zack Hutto, Simpson Fletcher Hutto, Philip Moody, Mallory Herman, Thomas Sellers, Nancy Beth Wilson, Miland Simpler, Alison Goodwyn, Britney Crawford Sellers, Hill Lubin, Bill Butler, Tazewell Jones Front Row (L-R) Huntley Chapman, Jennie Hackett Sellers, Lanier Smith Hoyt, Julia Ann Starke

Class of 1986 Back Row (L-R) Leigh Ann Williamson Bradshaw, Neil Lundberg, Elmore Inscoe DeMott Front Row Ben Sims Class of 1991 Back Row Robert Gaines Front Row (L-R) Ellen Luckett Baker, Jennifer Paddock Smith, Libby Young Fitzpatrick, Laura Harper Thomas

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25

CLASS NOTES KEEPING UP with our ALUMNI

In Memory of

Dr. Richard Gordon Vinson

High School and then from Huntingdon College, majoring in math and English. He and his wife, Betty Jean Bolling, married in 1955.

Richard received his Master’s degree from Florida State University and his PhD from The University of Alabama. He and Betty had two children, Richard Bolling Vinson and Julia Katherine Vinson.

Richard Gordon Vinson passed away December 3, 2016. He was born on November 18, 1931 in Prattville, Alabama, to Gordon and Mary Katherine Stewart Vinson. He is survived by his brother, Larry.

Richard graduated from Autauga County

[ 1970 ]

In 1961, Richard became the chair of the math department at Huntingdon College. Between 1961 and 1969, Richard taught adjunctively at Florida State in the summers, did a television show for Alabama Public Television demonstrating innovative math teaching strategies, taught calculus to high school students at The Montgomery Academy, and served in various capacities for the Alabama chapter of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. In 1969, Richard became chair

Laura Moore Hislop was recently named

Forrest Stuart received his PhD

the University’s 50 most outstanding graduates over the past 50 years. Laura was chosen for her work with Jessica’s Haven, a center she developed in 2008, which offers a rescue and haven for dogs while providing vocational and social opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

September 15, 2016. Frederick attended Auburn University where he received a degree in Agriculture. He loved animals and was gifted at raising chickens. He was preceded in death by his sister Dina Mason Moore. He is survived by his brother Hugh F. Pickett III of Mobile, AL.

26

V I S I ON S

Richard loved reading, enjoyed hearing music of many sorts, and enjoyed making things and undertaking construction/remodeling projects that Betty thought up. He liked to bake, especially Christmas cakes and cookies.

He loved his children, grandchildren Richard, Jennifer, David, Garrison, and John, and his great-grandchildren, Joseph, Cora, and Iris.

[ 1984 ]

Top 50 at Fifty, an award recognizing

Fitzpatrick, passed away on Thursday,

At Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, where they were members for more than 40 years, Richard and Betty were both active members, serving in multiple capacities from Sunday School teacher to the older adult bus driver.

[ 1976 ] to Auburn University at Montgomery’s

Frederick Pickett, 64, a resident of

of the math department at the University of South Alabama, where he stayed until his retirement.

in Educational Leadership (Higher Education) from Clemson University in 2016. Forrest is currently the Associate VP for Enrollment Management and Director of Financial Aid at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.

Daniel Lindsey and his family were honored as one of the Montgomery Family Guidance Center’s Families of the Year for 2016. The award spotlights families who have demonstrated service to their church and community.

Daniel and his wife, Genie, are proud parents to four children, Anna Kate (MA Class of 2017), Trey (MA Class of 2019), Ridge (MA Class of 2021), and Judson (MA Class of 2022).

[ 1985 ]

[ 1992 ]

[ 1997 ]

Denise Blake Greene and Jerry Weisenfeld

Mary Bridges and her husband, Bill Wilson,

were married on June 4, 2016. The happy

welcomed their newest addition, Louisa,

couple lives in Montgomery, Alabama.

on February 17, 2017. Mary, Bill and Louisa

[ 1995 ]

where Mary is working on her dissertation

William Gordon has been named a partner in the Atlanta office law firm Hall Booth Smith, P.C. He and his wife, Garman, have

currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee, for her PhD in History at Vanderbilt.

[ 1998 ]

two daughters, ages two and four, and they live in Atlanta, Georgia.

[ 1996 ] Paulk Turner and Melissa Starr were Thomas Judd Byrne, age 49, passed from this world into a more peaceful place on Monday, March 6, 2017 at the home in which he grew up. He was the beloved son of the late Dr. Thomas King Byrne, Jr. and Martha Kirklin Byrne.

Judd earned a Masters of social work

from AUM. He enjoyed old movies,

married on June 18, 2016. The newlyweds currently live in Birmingham, Alabama.

Katherine Bear Rogers and her husband, Gayle, proudly announce the birth of their son, Clyde, on August 19, 2016. Clyde joins big brother, Jack, who is four and big sister, Millie, who is two.

Alan, joyfully announce the birth of their

music, spending time with close,

daughter, Sara Turner, on July 27, 2016. Sara

personal friends and Alabama football.

Jennifer Turner House and her husband,

Turner joins big sister, Ella Mae, who is

He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth

two. The family resides in Birmingham,

Ann Dugan and nephews, James Joseph

Alabama, where Jennifer teaches pre-

Dugan, Jr., Michael Thomas Dugan and

calculus at Vestavia Hills High School.

Brendan Starr Dugan of Rye, NY. He is also survived by his aunt, Patricia

Alicia Marshall Culler and her husband,

Byrne of Birmingham, AL.

Rob, welcomed their daughter, Katherine Victoria, on September 7, 2016.

[ 1986 ]

Bert Morris and his wife, Sommer,

David Hanchrow serves as Chief

on August 28, 2016. Ford, Bert and Sommer

Investment Officer for Bristol

live in Montgomery, Alabama.

welcomed their first child, Samuel Buford,

Development Group overseeing site selection and acquisition, as well

David Kemp and his wife, Ashley, proudly

as market and financial feasibility

announce the birth of their fourth child,

analysis. The company just opened

Charles Elias, on August 29, 2016. Charlie

Park 35 on Clairmont – a luxury

joins big brothers, Will and Harry, and big

community near downtown

sister, Mary Whitman.

Birmingham.

Ross Beshear and his wife, Katherine, welcomed their daughter, Ruth Brevard, on September 26, 2016. Ruthie, Ross and Katherine currently live in Birmingham, Alabama.

James Hawk and Jillian LePage were married on January 21, 2017, in Montgomery, Alabama. The couple currently resides in Montgomery, where James works for ServisFirst Bank.

[ 1991 ] Wilbur Hill and his wife, Malin, proudly announce the birth of their son, Wilbur Sensing, on October 3, 2016. The Hill family resides in Montgomery, where Wilbur is an architect at Brown Studio.

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27

CLASS NOTES KEEPING UP with our ALUMNI

to take full advantage of the gift of each day—both the pleasures of everyday life and memorable occasions and special experiences. They packed a lot of living into

[ 2000 ]

a compressed timeframe. As one friend said, “They have given me the gift of instruction in how life is to be appreciated.”

Margaret Knudsen Rawson and her husband, Josh, welcomed their second daughter, Julia Louise, on October 3, 2016.

Julia joins big sister, Jane, who is two.

Parker Hall and his wife, Molly, welcomed their daughter, Ellis Amorette, on November 4, 2016. Parker, Molly and Ellis currently live in Birmingham, Alabama.

Celeste May Pitts and her husband, Greg, welcomed their newest addition, Tanner, on February 16, 2017.

Meghan Dorand Roberts and her husband, Ben, welcomed their son Owen Wesley in May 2017. Owen joins his three big sisters, Amelie, Sophia, and Elianna.

Blair duQuesnay and her husband, Henry Wyatt Nathaniel Smith was born on May 9, 1982 in Savannah, Georgia, and passed away at his home in Washington, D.C., with his family by his side on December 11, 2016.

In between he lived life with gusto, making every day count.

He spent much of his childhood in

Montgomery, Alabama and then returned to Georgia for college. After graduation from his beloved University of Georgia, he came back to Alabama to earn a master’s degree at Auburn University. First in Atlanta and then in Washington, D.C., he derived great personal and professional satisfaction from his career in commercial real estate.

Wyatt’s interests were many and

eclectic. He loved music, both as a listener and as a musician himself, playing guitar in several bands. He was a bourbon and wine aficionado and a fly-fishing enthusiast.

Travel was a real passion. He travelled widely but always maintained that no city topped Rome.

Wyatt recently married the love of his

life, Ellie, who survives him. They were devoted to each other and certainly knew

Clay, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Robert Clay, on February 16, 2017. Blair, Henry Clay and Bobby currently reside in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Betsy Crum and Rob Davis ’02 welcomed their daughter, Elizabeth Barton, on March 14, 2017. Barton joins big brother, Cole, who is three.

[ 2001 ] Drew Weil and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their daughter, Sloane, on September 29, 2016.

Sloane joins big brother, Campbell, who is

Mary Margaret Kemp Moore and her husband, Zach, are the proud parents of new daughter, Elizabeth Aslan, who was born on November 19, 2016. Aslan joins big sister, Neilee, who is three.

Elizabeth Bloom Williams and her husband, Taylor ’03, welcomed their daughter, Frances Elizabeth, on December 19, 2016. Frances joins big brother, Charles, who is two.

Ashleigh Holloway and Andrew Richard were married on April 22, 2017. The happy couple currently lives in New York, New York.

[ 2003 ] Spearman Cobb and his wife, Jordan, announce the birth of their son, Ray Spearman “Spears” Cobb III, on August 17, 2016. Spears joins big sister, Simmons, who is three.

two.

Torey Elmore and Jennifer Ardis were married on November 19, 2016, in Montgomery, Alabama. The happy couple currently resides in Montgomery, Alabama.

Brannon Bradford Barragan and her husband, Rodrigo, welcomed their daughter, Giovana, on March 4, 2017. The family currently resides in Montgomery, Alabama, where Brannon teaches at Loveless

Emilie Reid Parker and Burns Parker welcomed their second daughter, Emilie

true love. He is also survived by his loving

Academic Magnet Program.

parents, Michael and Shelley Smith, and his aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as an

[ 2002 ]

enviable group of wonderful friends.

Emily Dunavant Antoniak and her husband,

Weldon Doe and his wife, Becca, welcomed

Artur, welcomed son, Arek Henley, on August

their son, Weldon, on October 11, 2016.

13, 2016. Arek joins big sister, Evie.

Weldon joins big sister, Abigail, who is three.

Once Wyatt and Ellie learned he had

cancer, they very intentionally determined

28

V I S I ON S

Hobbs, on September 11, 2016. Emilie joins big sister, Sarah Hampton, who is three.

Thomas DeBray and his wife, Leighton,

Katie Taliaferro Brown and her husband,

Nancy Stewart Litwak and her husband,

welcomed their son, Whitaker Ragland,

Joseph, welcomed Polly Madeleine on

Brian, are proud to announce the birth of

on October 28, 2016. Whit joins big brother,

March 2, 2017. Polly, Katie and Joseph

their daughter, Ann Rosalind, on February

Harry, who is two.

currently live in Carrollton, Georgia.

27, 2017. Annie, Nancy and Brian currently reside in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Jacob Segall and his wife, Sara, welcomed

Will Jackson and his wife, Maryanna,

twin sons, Max Varon and Louis Ralph, on

welcomed their second daughter, Anne

Michael Gaby and Amanda Shaw Morrison

February 16, 2017. Max, Louie, Jacob and Sara

Hollinger Martin, on March 17, 2017. Anne

were married on March 3, 2017, in Mobile,

currently reside in Brooklyn, New York.

Hollin joins big sister, Libba, who is two.

Alabama. The happy couple currently

Jessie van Dyke Stringer and her husband,

Steve Reneau and his wife, Olivia,

Woody, welcomed their second daughter,

welcomed their son, Grantham Lawrence,

Torrie Miller Matous was tapped as

Taylor Eloise, on April 12, 2017. Taylor joins

on April 7, 2017.

Alabama 2nd District U.S. Representative

resides in Montgomery, Alabama.

big sister, Lucy, who is two.

Martha Roby’s Chief of Staff. Torrie

Polly Smith and Jeffrey Finn were married

previously worked in Washington, D.C. as

Worth Stuart graduated from Virginia

on May 20, 2017, in Rosemary Beach,

Senator Richard Shelby’s Communications

Theological Seminary on May 18, 2017,

Florida. The newlyweds currently reside in

Director.

receiving a Master in Divinity. Worth’s

Charlotte, North Carolina.

ordination to the diaconate was on June

[ 2005 ]

3, 2017, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Taylor Fendley and Chappell Stewart were married on May 20, 2017, in Birmingham, Alabama, where the newlyweds currently reside.

[ 2004 ]

Kathryn Mangum and McCaleb Dobbs were married on April 16, 2016. The couple

Ashton Seip received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado Law School on May 13, 2017, in Boulder, Colorado.

Ashton will practice law in California.

currently resides in Auburn, Alabama.

[ 2006 ]

Katherine Williams Shaw and her

Brittany Tucker Bethea and Mark Bethea

husband, Bobby, welcomed their son,

joyfully announce the birth of their son,

Leland, on July 29, 2016. The family lives in

Micah Lewis, on September 4, 2016. Micah,

Dallas, Texas.

Brittany and Mark currently live in

Meagan Robichaux and her husband,

Montgomery, Alabama.

Ryan, welcomed their second daughter,

Ann Hughston Davis and Win Blair were

Julia Bernadette, on May 9, 2016. Julia joins

married on September 24, 2016. The happy

Forrest McConnell and Julie Herward

big sister, Libby, who is two.

couple currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

were married on November 19, 2016, in

Ellen Marable Wagner and her husband,

Cole Wise and his wife, Emily, welcomed

Matthew, announce the birth of their

their son, Boyd Herron, on November 10,

daughter, Abby, on August 18, 2016.

2016. Boyd joins big sister, McKinney, who

John Crawford Freeman and Andrea

is two.

David were married on January 21, 2017.

Washington, D.C., where the newlyweds

Amanda Weil Sokol and her husband,

The happy couple currently resides in

Kevin, welcomed their second daughter,

Emily Dozier Smith and her husband, Mic,

Charlotte Rossi, on February 16, 2017.

are pleased to announce the birth of their

Charlotte joins big sister, Evie, who is two.

daughter, Isabelle Ann, on December 15,

Sarah Simpler Glover and her coworker,

currently reside.

Birmingham, Alabama.

2016. The family currently lives in Billings,

Britney Crawford Sellers and Philip Sellers ’02 welcomed their son, Philip

Montana.

Lightfoot “Skip”, on May 25, 2017. Skip,

J.T. Malatesta, authors of the article “A Clear

Philip and Britney live in Montgomery,

and Present Danger: Mitigating the Data

Walter Parker and his wife, Caroline,

Alabama, where Philip is an attorney at

Security Risk Vendors Pose to Businesses”

welcomed their son, Tyson, on December

Rushton, Stakely, Johnston & Garrett, P.A.

were recently selected to be published

26, 2016.

and Britney is a program director with

nationally in The Sedona Conference

Envision 2020.

Journal, Volume 17, Number 2. Sarah is

William Rhodes and his wife, Meagan,

an attorney in the Birmingham, Alabama

welcomed their son, William “Slade” Rhodes

office of Maynard Cooper and Gale, P.C.

IV, on February 6, 2017.

2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7

29

CLASS NOTES KEEPING UP with our ALUMNI

[ 2007 ]

Joseph Ashley is currently employed with

Talma McConnell, III; his brother, Forrest

Lockheed Martin in Atlanta, Georgia. Last

Talma McConnell, IV, and sister-in-law,

fall, he was accepted into their Leadership

Julie Herward McConnell; his maternal

Development Program which began this

grandfather, Forrest Stanley Jenkins; his

January.

paternal grandparents, Jane Woolfolk McConnell and Forrest Talma McConnell,

Emma Armstrong and Paul Brooks were

Colin Schloss and Yao Chong were

Jr. He is preceded in death by his maternal

married on September 17, 2016, in Candler,

married on January 7, 2017, in London,

grandmother, Ethel Barry Jenkins. He

North Carolina. The happy couple currently

England. Colin works in the London office

also leaves behind his aunts, Jill Jenkins

resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, where

of Applied Predictive Technologies, a

Sherman (Eric), Jennie McConnell Stowers,

Emma is a nurse at University Medical

Washington, D.C. area software company,

and Patricia McConnell Moorehouse (John);

Center.

as Principal, Data Management.

his uncles, Stanley Todd Jenkins (Beryl) and William Gray McConnell (Heather);

Mark Montiel and Michelle Jones were

Meredith Fuller and Jon Sparks were

and cousins, Sara Moorehouse, Laura Kate

married on February 4, 2017, in New Orleans,

married on April 8, 2017. The newlyweds

Frazier, Caroline Lawson Moorehouse,

Louisiana, where the newlyweds currently

currently reside in Birmingham, Alabama.

Heather Sellers McConnell, Mary Jane McConnell, Jennifer Sherman Weeks,

reside. Mark practices law at Rabalais Unland, LLP.

Lindsay Doctson and Kyle Moore were

Julianne Leigh Sherman, Jamie Sherman

married on April 15, 2017, in Montgomery,

Wyatt , Stanley Todd Jenkins, Jr., Donald

Thomas Tyson and his wife, Bradshaw,

Alabama. The happy couple currently

Craig Jenkins, Stephanie Jenkins Hegemon,

welcomed their daughter, Ann Culver

resides in Birmingham, Alabama.

Heather Jenkins Mains , Lalena Jenkins Pollitt , Joshua Allen Jenkins, Steven Edward

Smith, on April 22, 2017. Ann Culver, Bradshaw and Thomas currently reside

Emily Bailey and Barrett Manning were

Thayer, and Jenifer Faye Thayer. His uncle,

in Montgomery, Alabama, where Thomas

married on May 6, 2017, in Montgomery,

John Walter Stowers, Jr. also preceded him

is a project manager for the Alabama

Alabama. The newlyweds currently reside

in death.

Department of Commerce.

in Birmingham, Alabama.

Brent Crabb and his wife, Sarah, welcomed

member of the Forensics, Cross Country, and

their son, William Carey, on May 4, 2017.

Glenn Poundstone Sylvest and Glenn Sylvest ’98 welcomed their second child,

William, Sarah and Brent currently live

daughter, Crawford Chapman, on May 12,

Youth in Government Programs throughout

in Birmingham, Alabama, where Brent is

2017. Crawford joins big brother, Bobby,

high school, and experienced many

Trading Divisions Manager at ProEquities.

who is two.

wonderful expeditions on Moondance

[ 2009 ]

Adventures. He graduated from Southern

Andrew was a 2009 graduate of The

Montgomery Academy, where he was a

[ 2008 ] Scott Shinbaum and Anna Morris were

Philanthropy Chair from 2011-2013.

of Business Development at the Talladega

Superspeedway.

expressions of love, joy, and loss, and his enthusiasm for music and musicians was a topic of most conversations. Andrew shared

Montgomery, Alabama. Hannah and Fred

this deep passion with the world through

Bowman currently reside in Montgomery,

the successful website he proudly founded,

John Andrew McConnell, 26, passed away

Alabama, where the newlyweds currently reside.

in Arlington, Virginia on Wednesday, December 28, 2016.

Born on March 9, 1990, Andrew was a native of Montgomery, Alabama and resident of Washington, D.C.

He is survived by his parents,

Jennifer Jenkins McConnell and Forrest

30

V I S I ON S

Music was the key to Andrew’s view

of the world. Through music, he found

Hannah Smith and Fred Bowman Bear were married on June 18, 2016, in

married on October 8, 2016, in Montgomery,

cherished his years as a member of Sigma his fraternity brothers. He served as SAE

Alabama. Scotty is currently the Manager

Martha Sasser and Stuart Bonner were

Methodist University in Dallas. At SMU, he Alpha Epsilon and his relationship with

married on May 14, 2016, in Birmingham,

Alabama.

Golf teams. He was very active in the YMCA

livemusicdaily.com, and his ‘dream job” at Villain and Saint in Bethesda, MD. In these endeavors, he believed deeply in building relationships based on trust and plain dealing. Through his hard work and efforts, Andrew made tremendous contributions to the live music industry in the Washington, D.C. area.

Andrew was a kind soul with an

Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for his

infectious smile and a warm heart,

special report, “5 Years Later: Challenges and

never without a quick joke or a humble

Changes Since April 27, 2011,” a feature about

laugh. He deeply loved his family and

the Tuscaloosa tornado aftermath.

numerous friends, all of whom will surely remember his fierce loyalty and

Will Hester and Anna Lynd Hagood were

compassion. He was never shy to speak

married on May 20, 2017, at the Hester’s

out when he saw wrongs in the world,

farm in Grady, Alabama. The newlyweds

and had an unmatched, innate ability to

currently reside in Montgomery, Alabama.

befriend and care for others, traits that

[ 2010 ]

cannot be taught. Unafraid to converse with any one, he always went out of his way to make people feel welcome and included. Andrew’s irrepressible nature, boundless exuberance, and sweet demeanor made the world a more exciting and better place for almost

Rachel Hall Wolnski and her husband, Joseph, welcomed their son, Anders, on July 10, 2016.

Jeffrey Ashurst and Rebecca Cofield were

[ 2012 ] Miah Brooks was named Female Athlete of the Year at Millsaps College where she played basketball.

Hannah Cowart and Hayes Martin were married on March 4, 2017, in Montgomery, Alabama. The newlyweds currently reside in Pensacola, Florida, where Hannah works at Studer Group.

[ 2013 ] Hendrick Adams was accepted into The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Medicine.

Georgia. The newlyweds currently reside in

[ 2014 ]

Birmingham, Alabama.

Lilla Bea Granger was elected Chief

Julia Steinhilber and John English

[ 2011 ]

Justice of the Samford Student Government

Babington were married on July 16, 2016,

Taylor Turner was the recipient of

in Montgomery, Alabama. The happy

FringeNYC’s 2016 Overall Excellence

couple currently resides in Atlanta,

Award in Acting for his role in The Illusory

Georgia.

Adventures of a Dreamer. Winners were

twenty-seven years.

married on August 20, 2016, in Atlanta,

selected by an independent panel of over 30

Association.

Lillian Roth was the 2017 recipient of the William P. Bloom Award, which is one of The University of Alabama’s six Premier Awards. The Bloom Award is given each year to a junior who has improved relations

Abigail Smith Santana founded Ela

industry professionals. Taylor also recently

Pedala, a clothing company offering

wrapped filming on a new mystery

cycling and athletic attire for women

television series called The Cobblestone

with the motto, “pedaling in style.”

Corridor which aired October 2016 on CPTV,

[ 2015 ]

Abigail currently resides with her

a PBS affiliate in Connecticut.

Ken Ward was elected Vice President of the

among different groups on campus.

College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University.

husband, Miguel, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ken also serves on the Board of Directors for

Mary Hendon DeBray and Justin

the Clean City Commission in Montgomery,

Yelverton were married on September

Alabama.

10, 2016, in Montgomery, Alabama. The happy couple currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama.

z Save the Date

Evan Broder and Abby Calametti were married on October 22, 2016, in Evan graduated from the University

Sarah Fitzpatrick and Mathews Bryan ‘09 were married on November 19, 2016, in

of Alabama at Birmingham School of

Montgomery, Alabama. The newlyweds

Medicine, where he served as Class

currently reside in Montgomery, Alabama,

President. The happy couple currently

where Sarah teaches 6th grade math at

resides in Jackson, Mississippi, where

Montgomery Academy and Mathews works

both Abby and Evan are completing their

in the IT Division at ALFA.

Point Clear, Alabama. In May 2017,

residencies

Elizabeth Ann Brown and Carter Matthews William McLain was nominated by the

were married on November 5, 2016, at her

National Academy of Television Arts

family home in Pike Road, Alabama.

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2017

October 13 & 14 Celebrating the classes of

1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007

and Sciences Nashville Chapter for a 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7

31

In Memory of

John Houston Tatum

John Houston Tatum Jr., 69, of Montgomery went to be with his Lord and Savior on August, 14, 2016. He is preceded in death by his parents; John H. Tatum Sr. and Mary Louise Tatum. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mirenda Tatum, one son; Seth Tatum (Ashley) and a daughter; Erin Fillers (Mark), 4 grandchildren; David Fillers, William Fillers, James Fillers and Emily Tatum, a brother; George Tatum and sister; Pam Tatum, several nieces and nephews.

John H. Tatum, Jr. Eagle Walk Dedication October 14, 2016, was a special day as members of The Montgomery Academy community remembered Coach John Tatum with the dedication of the John H. Tatum, Jr. Eagle Walk. Members of the Tatum family, former students and players, friends, fellow coaches and teachers gathered prior to the Academy’s Homecoming football game for the ceremony. Montgomery Academy Head of School Jay Spencer, St. James Head of School Larry McLemore, Academy Board of Trustees President Ronnie Brown ‘92, MA Alumni Council President Alex Carothers ‘98 and MA Athletic Director Anthony McCall shared stories of the impact Coach Tatum had on everyone around him. Following the speeches, members of the Tatum family were asked to walk through the archway, officially opening the John H. Tatum, Jr. Eagle Walk.

32

V I S I ON S

In Memory of

Robert Schoenhof Weil Founder

Robert Schoenhof Weil

Montgomery, American Cancer

Year (1948). He especially enjoyed

passed away October 25, 2016.

Society and St. Margaret’s

his membership in The Thirteen,

He was born November 29, 1919,

Hospital. Additionally, Mr. Weil

being its longest serving member

in Montgomery, Alabama. He

cared greatly about education,

of over 50 years.

attended Lanier High School and

serving on the boards of Wheaton

graduated from Culver Military

College, Dartmouth College Alumni

Academy (1936), Dartmouth

Council, Huntingdon College,

College (1940) and Harvard

Auburn School of Business, Auburn

Business School (1942). Upon

University at Montgomery and

graduation from Harvard, he

the Montgomery Academy. He

served as an officer in the US

also served on the boards of the

Army from 1942-46, after which

Hood Museum at Dartmouth, the

time he joined the family cotton

Boston Symphony Orchestra,

company, Weil Brothers-Cotton,

the Alabama Symphony, the

Inc. rising to the position of

Montgomery Symphony Orchestra,

Chairman of the Board, which

the Montgomery Business

he shared with his brother,

Committee for the Arts and the

Adolph Weil, Jr. He held a

Montgomery Museum of Fine

number of leadership positions

Arts. He received a number of

in the cotton industry including

honors including induction into

President of the American Cotton

the Alabama Academy of Honor,

Shippers Association. He was

Honorary Doctorate from Auburn

very active in the Montgomery

University, Citizen of the Year from

community, serving as campaign

the Montgomery Advertiser, Alexis

chairman of the United Way and

de Toqueville Society Award from

various leadership roles with

United Way, induction into the

the Community Foundation,

Alabama Business Hall of Fame,

Chamber of Commerce, Salvation

the Sidney Lanier Hall of Fame

Army, Leadership Alabama,

and the Montgomery Jaycees

Leadership Montgomery, One

Outstanding Young Man of the

He is predeceased by his

parents, Adolph and Rossie Weil, his brother, Adolph Weil, Jr., sisters Carol Rothschild and Helen Jane Uhlmann and wife of over 66 years, Virginia Loeb Weil. He is survived by children Virginia A. Weil, Rosalind W. Markstein (Danny) and Robert S. Weil, II (Sheila) as well as grandchildren Nicholas W. Langman, Andrea R. de Laperouse, Daniel H. Markstein, IV, Virginia M. O’Hara, Robert S. Weil, III and Ruth C. Weil as well as 8 great grandchildren and caregivers and close friends Willie Mae Davenport, Rosetta Powell, Viola Jackson, Derrick Hendrix, Sherree Davis, Angela Jones and the wonderful people at Home Instead.

2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7

33

187th Performs Auburn Football Game On October 22, 2016, Montgomery Regional Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing performed the pre-game flyover to kick off the Auburn vs. Arkansas football game.

Piloting one of the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircrafts was Captain Bart Smith ’03. Bart, fellow 187th Fighter Wing member, 2nd Lt. Shernovius Bennett ’09, and six other members of their crew were recognized during the third quarter, where the announcer praised the wing and the crowd of more than 87,000 gave them a standing ovation.

Top: Dora Eskridge was honored as 2017 Homecoming Queen—a title her mother, Josie Haas Eskridge, also recieved in 1986!

Photo courtesy of Auburn University Photographic Services

Alumni Council 2016-2017 Left to Right: Lanier Roton ‘99, Rachel Gandy ‘10, Alex Carothers ’98 – President, Cameron Martin Farr ‘95, John Dunn ‘03, Josie Haas Eskridge ‘87, Rick Marks ‘87, Gibian Goolsby Waits ‘00, Alan Bishop ‘06, Laslie Jones ‘04, Ed Klingler ‘96, Anne Tyler Bushman Crider ‘09, Liza Cardinal ‘08, Catie McRae Murphy ‘00 and Jim Rives ‘82

34

V I S I ON S

Not pictured: Will Cunningham ‘00, Taylor Ramsey Dunn ‘03, Libby Young Fitzpatrick ‘91, Carol Hendrix ‘02, Austin Huffaker ‘92, David Hughes ‘88, Bo Jinright ‘95, Davis Smith ‘93, Anne Wilkerson Tippett ‘82, Ty Tyson ‘03 and Burton Upchurch Ward ‘86

The National Advisory Board

After several months of planning during the 2013-14 academic year, The Montgomery Academy National Advisory Board

was created with alumni from across the nation. Under the guidance of co-chairs, Richard Hardegree ’86 and Lewis Gayden ’87, the board was charged with a goal of assisting the Head of School in maintaining and enhancing the quality and excellence of the Academy by sharing their insights into their overall educational experiences and current trends in their professional environments.

The National Advisory Board held is inaugural meeting in the Fall of 2014 when they were fortunate enough to collaborate with

Donna Orem the Chief Operating Officer of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Ms. Orem, who was subsequently named President of NAIS, shared current trends in independent schools similar to the Academy often citing specific data relevant to the Montgomery area. To assist the Board in relating this information to the current Academy environment, there were presentations made by Academy leadership, faculty, and students on the mission, programs, and accomplishments of the school.

Since the first year, the National Advisory Board has convened for a multiday meeting in the fall where they continue to deepen

their perspectives with meetings with students, faculty, and administration. These lead to engaging group conversations on a wide variety of timely topics that are applicable to the Academy school and future. Through the information interchange fostered by the NAB, the Board strives to not only enrich the Academy, but also bring best practices from other similar schools.

Bo Adams ’89

Alison Prestwood ’75

Chip Cox ’93

Ellen Brooks ’69

Gary Tsai ’01

John Thompson ’69

Lewis Gayden ’87

Lori Calvasina Sussman ’96

Rachel BillingsleaRichmond ’93

Ralph Greil ’66

Richard Hardegree ’86

Robert Hollar ’82

David Treadwell ’95

Will Fitzpatrick ’85

2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7

35

Cardinal Wins Congratulations to the Cardinal team on their win this year!

E A G L E D AY

2017

GRANDFRIENDS DAY The Montgomery Academy Lower School welcomed hundreds of grandparents and special friends for Grandfriends Day on April 14, 2017. The program began with the entire Lower School student body on stage performing a variety of songs all about their Grandfriends and the special role they have in their lives.

Grandfriends then visited the classrooms and were treated to guided tours of the school by their special little ones. This year’s grandfriends traveled from all regions of the country to join us for this incredible day!

Grady Pate

Kori & Kayla Billingslea

38

V I S I ON S

Harland Sahota & Henry Wootten

Lizzy Lynn Taylor

Jackson Williams

Alistair Perrin

Cates Gilbreath

Calvin Suneson

Thomas Arrington

Emery Nixon

Avery Prosser

Scott Carothers

2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7

39

UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS NIGHT May 24, 2017

The Eugene Lee Crouch Unselfish Service Award Eugene Lee Crouch, after his retirement from the military, taught English at the Academy and served

D E PA R T M E N TA L E X C E L L E N C E

Faculty Awards for Character These awards are presented by the faculty in

Marjorie J. Dubina Award for Excellence in English

recognition of the importance of moral and

Barbara Anne Ramsey

of The Montgomery Academy. These awards

Clinton Wade Segrest Award for Excellence in Mathematics

Yulin Jeon

ethical development in the educational objectives recognize students who have demonstrated outstanding personal character, exemplary behavior, and a sincere regard for the rights of others.

9th grade

Technology

Saxon McKay Main Martha Cameron Ernest

Garrett Scott Sanderson Science

10th grade

Clifford Wayne Cleveland III

Atwood Bullock Rush III Lucy Meriwether Chapman

Latin

Bradley Carl Westhauser

11th grade

his death in the late 1970s. He was a no-nonsense, hard-nosed disciplinarian but was very popular with his students, going above and beyond the call of duty in order to help his students succeed. Mr. Crouch was active in student service projects that reached beyond the bounds of the school. This award recognizes that student who has given the most of himself or herself to others and to the ideals of the Academy.

Michael Kelly

The James David Smith Award for Character The James David Smith Award for Character is given by the Class of 2002 to honor their friend, David Smith, a member of the class of 2001, who died trag-

Talya Ulla Whyte

Keefe Nicholas White Caroline Hasty Kirkham

Spanish

12th grade

and is given to that senior who, through a vote of his

Samuel Neill Hudson Dora Gunter Eskridge

or her peers, is felt to best exemplify the strong moral

French

Justin Andrew Jones History

Art

Emily Braswell Ernest Drama

Barbara Anne Ramsey Speech & Debate

Yun Hoe Koo Music

Barbara Anne Ramsey Health & Physical Education

William Douglas Seabury Robertson

ically during his freshman year at college. This award commemorates David’s “true to yourself” character

character, sense of responsibility, and standards of conduct that The Montgomery Academy tries to instill

Anna Kate Lindsey

as the English Department Chair for many years until

in all of its students.

Head of School Award for the Pursuit of Excellence This is awarded annually by the Head of School to

Dora Gunter Eskridge

members of the graduating class whose integrity,

The Betty Trawick McCutchin Award

attitude and commitment–regardless of achieve-

This award received its initial funding from the Class

ment–seem to represent best the Academy’s

of 2006, many of whose members flourished within

original and enduring value: the pursuit of

the Lower School environment that was the product

excellence. In short, the award is intended to

of Betty McCutchin’s vision. Mrs. McCutchin, Director

honor not just the destination, but the quality of

of the Lower School from 1979 until her retirement

the journey.

in 2000, believed deeply in the promise of healthy,

So Jeong Park Talya Ulla Whyte

balanced, hardworking children whose development could be built upon a foundation of certain key values: perseverance, motivation, personal responsibility and integrity. This award is given annually by the Head of School, Associate Head of School and the Division Directors to that senior who has, over the course of his or her career at the Academy, best

Sewanee, The University of the South and

Junior Class Book Awards

Yale University have asked that our school select two students to receive a book award. The recipients of these awards were chosen based on their academic performance, character, and contributions

Sewanee Book Award

Austyn Elizabeth Barnes

embodied those values.

Lindsey Hannah Ferraro

Yale Book Award

Frederick Somers Tippett

Faculty Award for Excellence

to extracurricular and/or community life.

The Faculty Award for Excellence is the highest honor given by the Academy. The faculty selects

Joseph David Mooty Award for Sportsmanship in Athletics Samuel Neill Hudson

40

V I S I ON S

Male Athlete of the Year

Female Athletes of the Year

Keefe White

Elizabeth Robertson Kayla White

that student who is most outstanding and deserving on the basis of character, academic achievement, scholarship, dependability, and loyalty.

Samuel Neill Hudson

The McLemore Award for Excellence in Teaching This award, given in honor of Mr. Price C. McLemore, a member of the Board of Founders of The Montgomery Academy, is presented annually to an outstanding teacher. This teacher is selected by his or her peers and the recipient is a representative of the Academy’s ideal of pursuing excellence in teaching.

This teacher instills in his or her students not only knowledge, but also a love of learning, exemplifying the best of the profession.

Denise Wentworth

The Vivian Raley Barfoot Award for Excellence in Leadership

S

ince 1969, The Montgomery Academy has honored academic excellence by awarding membership in the Cum Laude Society to its highest-achieving students.

On April 13, the Academy honored its most accomplished scholars with a ceremony to induct new members.

Cum Laude membership is earned by the top 20% of the senior class and the

top 10% of the junior class each year. Cum Laude is thus more selective than the

The Vivian Raley Barfoot Award for Excellence in

better-known National Honor Society, which awards membership to all students

Leadership recognizes the exceptional qualities of

whose grades fall within a certain range. Only three schools in Alabama have

leadership within the MA community that char-

Cum Laude Chapters.

acterized Vivian Barfoot’s distinguished career at

The Montgomery Academy: courage, compassion, dedication, and coordinating the needs of others.

M. Clark Sahlie ’84

Along with parents of the new members, Upper School students and faculty

attended the ceremony in Bear Field House. Qualified members of the junior and senior classes received pins and certificates. MA Science teacher Ashley Belcher was the speaker:

The program was followed by a reception for seniors inducted as juniors last

spring and for new Cum Laude members and their parents.

The President of the Montgomery Academy chapter of Cum Laude is Scott

Richburg; the Secretary is Cindy Ackerman.

FACULTY & STAFF YEARS of SERVICE RECOGNITION

Juniors inducted were Austyn Barnes, Maddie Brazil, Kevin Doh, Martha Glen

Sease, Brown Simmons, and Fred Tippett.

Senior inductees were Lindsey Ferraro, Justin Jones, Gyungmin Kim, Annie

Ramsey, Emma Slawson and Talya Whyte.

Seniors who were inducted last year inducted were Ford Cleveland, Dora

Eskridge, Yu Jin Jeon, Anna Kate Lindsey, So Jeong Park and Elizabeth Robertson.

FIVE YEARS

TEN YEARS

Brooke Bishop ’04 Gary Nelson Greg McCall

Leigh Barganier Ellen Bell ’89 Stephanie Hill

FIFTEEN YEARS

TWENTY YEARS

Amy Forrest Val Forster Scott Richburg Peggy Vainrib

Caroline Sease ’91 Jodi Nelson Denise Tinney Anthony McCall

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

THIRTY YEARS

Linda Hummel Bobbie Woodard

Ana Baker Susan Riley

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The Class of 2017 of The Montgomery Academy claims numerous accomplishments in the classroom, in the arts, in the sports arena, and in the community. Comprised of 59 students, the Senior Class celebrates the recognition of 25 students in the National Merit Scholarship Program and the Advanced Placement Scholars Program. Since joining the Upper School in the Fall of 2013, members of this class have played key roles in interscholastic athletics, capturing 13 State Championships, while also contributing to local, state and national recognition in the visual and performing arts including our Upper School Chorus’s first place honors in national choral competitions for three consecutive years, our Speech & Debate team’s recognition as being in the top 1% in the nation, and our AP Studio Art program’s recognition by the College Board.

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V I S I ON S

Attendances Margaret Ann Allen Auburn University

Lucile Hardwich Longshore University of Alabama

Thomas Spencer Andreades University of Alabama

Heather Sellers McConnell Wofford College

Woodley Hannon Bagwell III Auburn University

Alice Adams McGowinn Auburn University

Tasnim Begum University of Alabama at Birmingham

James Rutherford Mozingo University of Alabama

Isadora Allene Behr University of Alabama

George Wilbur Norrell Jr. Auburn University

Judkins Durr Blount Jr. Birmingham-Southern College

So Jeong Park University of California, Los Angeles

Jade Nicole Brooks Millsaps College

Jacob Daniel Parker University of Alabama

Laurel Dunn Buettner Auburn University

Griffin Thomas Payne Southern Methodist University

Margaret Anne Chambers Auburn University

Norma Carroll Penton Birmingham-Southern College

Clifford Wayne Cleveland III University of Virginia

Alexandra Adams Pierce College of Charleston

Robert Landon Crane University of Alabama

Barbara Anne Ramsey Sewanee: The University of the South

Madeleine Maclou Dillon University of Alabama

Elizabeth Howell Robertson University of Virginia

Katherine Sandra Dockery Texas Christian University

Garrett Scott Sanderson Harding University

Emily Braswell Ernest Auburn University

Caroline Leatherbury Sellers Auburn University

Dora Gunter Eskridge University of Virginia

Lindsey Rebecca Sharman Auburn University

Lindsey Hannah Ferraro University of Alabama at Birmingham

Emma Rushing Slawson Texas Christian University

Emma Scott Franklin University of Alabama

Jalen Calvin Smith University of Alabama at Birmingham

Darry Elizabeth Freeman University of Alabama

Campbell Wright Spain Sewanee: The University of the South

Caroline Dowe Gallahar University of Alabama

Ann Vivian Spencer Auburn University

Winston Chandler Gautney University of Alabama

Mary Neill Starke University of Alabama

Samuel Neill Hudson Auburn University

Mary Renfroe Stevenson University of Alabama

Madison Lucy Hughes Auburn University

Maureen Dormin Stevenson University of Alabama

Shelton Olivia James University of Alabama

Helen Wallace Taylor University of Alabama

Yujin Jeon University of Alabama at Birmingham

Emily Caroline Tolar Auburn University

Justin Andrew Jones Georgia Institute of Technology

Jack Huffman Wagstaff Auburn University

Michael Rogers Kelly Samford University

Kayla Nicole White Metropolitan State University of Denver

Gyungmin Kim University of California, Berkeley

Talya Ulla Whyte University of Alabama

Yun Hoe Koo Auburn University

Christopher Dison McClure Williams Jr. University of Alabama

Anna Kate Lindsey University of Virginia

William Byrne Wilson II Texas Christian University

George Mason Little Millsaps College

Acceptances Auburn University

Highpoint University

Southern Methodist University

University of Glasgow

Baylor University

Louisiana State University

Texas Christian University

University of Louisville

Berry College

Metropolitan State University of Denver

University of Alabama

Birmingham-Southern College Boston University Clemson University College of Charleston Duke University Furman University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgetown University Hampden-Sydney College Harding University

University of Mississippi

Millsaps College

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Mississippi State University

University of Arkansas

University of North Texas

New York University

University of California, Berkeley

University of South Alabama

Oklahoma State University

University of California, Davis

University of South Carolina

Purdue University

University of California, Irvine

University of Tennessee

Rhodes College

University of California, Los Angeles

University of Virginia

Samford University

University of California, San Diego

Washington & Lee University

Sewanee: The University of the South

University of Denver

Wofford College

Spring Hill College

University of Georgia

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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2017 2017

COMMENCEMENT

Presented

by G A RY TS A I ’01 A D D R E S S

A D D R E S S COM MENCEMENT

G

Presented by G A RY TS A I ’01

ood evening. And congratulations to the Class of 2017! This will sound clichéd but I remember sitting in that seat, even though it was 16 years ago, and feeling antsy and wanting the speaker to hurry up so I could get my diploma. I promise I won’t be too much of an obstacle and will keep this relatively short.

When I was asked to be the commencement speaker this year, I was extremely honored. I was ecstatic. Then I was terrified. What would I say to a group of young women and men so eager to move on to the next stage in their lives that would be interesting to listen to and be relevant? What did I wish someone had told me when I was sitting in that spot?

But a lot has changed since I graduated in 2001. So the more I thought about what to say and trying to draw from personal experiences, the message became clearer. So much is happening around us that I’m still learning every day. And even though my experience will be very different from yours, there’s a common theme.

So the message I want to share today is “don’t have a plan”. Now, before I start scaring the parents and teachers that have worked so hard to teach you so many things and undoubtedly planned for this moment, I’m not saying to just wing it in life or to absolutely never have a plan but to be understanding of change, and to be more adaptable, to be flexible to what happens around you. Change is constant no matter where you are or what you do. And even the rate at which change is changing, is changing! In such a world it’s not a good idea to have fixed plans. And believe me, MA has laid the foundation for you to be prepared for the challenges and changes that are ahead of you.

My message may not be anything new. But it’s something to definitely keep in mind as things continue to develop for you personally and professionally.

Before I continue, I don’t think I would be a good son if I didn’t acknowledge my

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V I S I ON S

CLASS OF 2017

parents who gave my brother and I the ability to change with our surroundings.

They let us be who we wanted to be - to see what we would become on our own with our surroundings. I’ll be honest that I’ve been stereotyped to be that Asian doctor or engineer. But my parents didn’t have a set plan for us and gave us the freedom to explore our options.

I also wouldn’t be a good husband if I didn’t acknowledge my wife Melissa who has been with me on our journey the last 10 plus years, navigating the many changes that have come at us from New York to Alabama and now to California, especially the last few years with our own family. Life changes with kids, as I’m sure all the parents here will agree.

I attended Kindergarten at MA in 1988 and graduated in 2001 as a 13-year senior. After I graduated MA, I went to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania enrolling in the architecture program. If I had gone in with a plan of doing everything by the book, I don’t think I would have graduated because I

wouldn’t be able to find solutions outside the box.

In fact, one of the first things we learn in design studio is to study the site. In architecture there is no set solution or design. Every site presents unique conditions and provides its own inspirations to arrive at an appropriate solution. We don’t live in a cookie cutter society and just like each of you with your unique talents and skills, you bring something different to the world. You can’t go into a project with a pre-set design, or a plan, because it simply won’t work.

After I survived the 5-year architecture program at CMU, I was offered a position with an architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox in New York City. And I had to apply that same approach, working on many projects around the world. Everything was looking good. I was going to change the physical world one building at a time. I was set on architecture.

Guess what? 2008 happened. The Great Recession as it’s now known.

Now I could have been stubborn and kept to the “plan” of being an architect, toughing it out. But that would have been a mistake. After all, no one knew how long the Recession was going to last or what would even happen afterwards.

While many can argue to stay the course and there is merit to that, you have to take opportunities as they present themselves.

And there was an opportunity at home.

I moved back here to Montgomery and joined our family business REGITAR USA supplying auto parts to the global aftermarket. With locations in Taiwan, China, the UK and Brazil, I dabbled in each department – sales, purchasing, the warehouse even. And those experiences eventually led me to oversee aspects of operations on a company level. Even in my current role, we constantly have to adapt to changes with our customers, market demands, regulations, and so on.

From there, with the growth of REGITAR, we expanded West and I am currently living in California in a similar role. So in a span of a few years,

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2017

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

way no doubt, but you succeeded. I hope that gives you the confidence and parents the comfort that these young women and men are capable of absolutely accepting challenges and succeeding in their own way.

If you think about it, you all have been adapting throughout your years at MA. Each grade presented new changes. New classrooms. New teachers. New courses.

New personalities. And each time you had to learn, adapt, and overcome these changes. Your teachers made sure of it.

Speaking of teachers, it’s important to mention all of you were taught by very caring, intelligent teachers. I know because some of the same teachers that taught you, taught me over 16 years ago, which by the way, if anyone’s looking for the fountain of youth, apparently it’s here teaching at MA! I’m sure many of you have been asked at some point in your lives: what do you want to be when you grow up? And I’m sure recently and even now, what do you want to study in college? Well, I don’t know what all the answers you had but I can tell you, it’s OK if you don’t know.

Top Talya Whyte recieves her diploma from Ronnie Brown '92 while John McWilliams '96 and Jay Spencer look on.

Left Margaret Ann Allen Right Jalen Smith

I went from Design Architect to Chief Operations Officer. Not as sexy of a title but just as important. And I’ve learned to find other ways to change the world and to lead others.

“Don’t have a plan.” Rely on your MA education. No one can predict the future or what changes you will encounter. But you can be prepared. You have a great foundation moving ahead. I know this because the fact you all are sitting here shows to me that you accepted the MA challenge when you enrolled, you took it head on, without a few bumps along the

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V I S I ON S

“Don’t have a plan.” Right now you should be learning. Learn what you like.

What are you interested in? Be curious.

Have fun; that’s when you’re good at something. The important thing is to get out there and do stuff instead of waiting to be taught. It’s not so important what you work on, so long as you’re not wasting your time. Work on things that interest you and it’ll increase your options.

There’s nothing wrong with “following your dreams” and “not giving up.” I’m sure you’ve heard it plenty of times from parents and teachers. I know what they mean, but this is not the best way to put it, because it implies you’re supposed to be bound by some plan you made early on.

Now, that’s not to say you shouldn’t ever be stubborn or hard-headed when you need to but you can’t narrow your focus to where you miss out on much bigger or better things in life. So often we get

2017 stuck on a goal and do all we can to head straight towards it that any wrinkle causes us to make decisions that may backfire.

Of course, I’m sure it was not an easy path for some of you. And just like in life, there will be obstacles. There will be ups and downs. There will be changes that you have to navigate and make decisions. Hard decisions. Decisions you won’t like. But by having the understanding that change happens, you’ll ultimately be better for it.

“Don’t have a plan.” But if you find yourself in a situation where your surrounding doesn’t change, be the change agent. Try something different. There are jobs you can’t learn about because no one is doing them yet. Create those jobs and positions that don’t exist. When I graduated, iPhones didn’t exist. There was no Facebook, Instagram, Twitter – none of these existed; and no one knew any of those changes were coming. And yes, the world did exist before iPhones and social media.

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

In closing, hopefully that was relatively short, again I want to say how incredibly humbled and honored I am to be sharing this moment with you and to again congratulate you on your achievement.

There is an uncertain future ahead but I remain confident knowing that our future is in good hands. You all are ready to take on these changes and continue the pursuit of excellence. So to everyone sitting out there, take a look: these are our future leaders and they look great!

Thank you!

Maggie Chambers, Ford Cleveland, and Landon Crane recess after the ceremony

And most importantly, don’t be afraid of failing. Look to your left and to your right; look out in the audience. You have an incredible support group around you to help you through any change, good or bad, so don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to try and fail. And fail again.

“Don’t have a plan” and you’ll be all right.

Above Ann Vivian Spencer, May May Starke, MaryRen Stevenson, Helen Taylor, and Maureen Stevenson smile as they await the ceremony

Ken Dyess attended his 50th consecutive Montgomery Academy Commencement ceremony this year! He is pictured with alumni over the years.

Left to Right Daniel Lindsey '84, John McWilliams ‘96, Rachael Saucer Gallagher ‘03, George Sellers ‘14, Lee Grant Sellers ‘84, Carolyn Peddy Bryan ‘75, Arthur Sellers ‘12, Ken Dyess, Caroline Sellers ‘17, Ronnie Brown ‘92, Josie Haas Eskridge ‘87, Bill Eskridge ‘87, Bill Bryan ‘76, and Charles Speaks ‘16

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Gary Tsai

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

G

ary attended The Montgomery Academy from Kindergarten through 12th grade. While at the Academy, Gary participated in numerous activities in and out of the classroom. He was a member of the Student Council, serving as Secretary-Treasurer his Junior year and then Class President his Senior year; he was inducted into the Spanish Honor Society and served as the President of the Spanish Club; he was inducted into Mu Alpha Theta while placing in math competitions locally and nationally; he was inducted in the Cum Laude Society. On the field, he played Junior Varsity and Varsity Football, Varsity Baseball, Cross Country and Track and Field.

After graduating from MA in 2001, he attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His main focus was architecture through their 5-year program but after four and a half years, received his Bachelor of Architecture degree, with minors in Architectural History and Technology and Policy in 2005. He was also a Resident Assistant for his 4th and 5th years.

In 2006, he moved to New York City where he began his career with the architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox. Starting as an entry design architect, he quickly progressed through the firm assisting the lead architect and eventually overseeing construction administration. His projects included the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Residences in the CityCenter Las Vegas complex; a mixed-used tower in Doha, Qatar; podium entrance of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in Tokyo, Japan; and various smaller projects and competitions in Manhattan.

However, as the economy entered into a recession, Gary took the opportunity to move back home to Montgomery, Alabama in 2009 to work for the family business, REGITAR USA Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of automotive electronics to the aftermarket. While not directly related to his undergrad studies and previous employment in architecture, he was able to utilize his skill set and experience and currently is Operations Manager, overseeing key departments of REGITAR. As the company grew and plans for continued expansion, he moved to Los Angeles, California in 2013 to set up another distribution center for REGITAR. He currently is still involved with operations in Montgomery but on a limited role.

Gary lives in South Pasadena with his wife, Melissa, and three sons, Austin, Bryant, and Hudson.

He enjoys spending time with family and traveling to places near and far.

Eagles Soar Wings DON’T

Tuition is not enough. It’s your gift to the MA Fund that helps us keep our standards higher, and provides our students with so much more than just a basic education. So we’ll ask you the question that we ask our students every day: Can you give just a little more?

For information about tax-deductible donations, call Carolyn Peddy Bryan ‘75 or Rachael Saucer Gallagher ‘03 at 334-272-8210 or visit www.montgomeryacademy.org.

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