Titan Trail (Fall 2020)

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TITAN TRAIL

together

FROM THE

HEAD OF SCHOOL The fall air brings so much: memories flood our thoughts and hint at the promise the future holds for us. Autumn in school is a time to look forward to a new year, new challenges and the wonder found in the world. While this year is like no other, I see this sentiment alive and well in our students, faculty and staff. As we returned to campus in August, despite unprecedented circumstances, emotions of joy, gratitude, optimism were evident everywhere.

Along with multiple challenges which we have faced, there has arisen a powerful motivation to meet them all head on and accomplish these goals together as a community. We have shown our commitment to tackle racism and build inclusivity in our work to reopen school. We have opened school with extensive safety measures in place and embraced a return to the ordinary cadence of our school days, with a few unusual additions. Most importantly, we are together.

MISSION STATEMENT: Our charge is to challenge Trinity students to discover their paths, develop their talents and strengthen their character within a dynamic academic community.

Looking back on the last few months, I have become increasingly grateful not only to my colleagues, our students, and our Trinity families for standing shoulder to shoulder together to make our opening a reality but also to the opportunities present in the challenges we face. Meeting challenges builds character, strengthens us and defines us.

Within these pages are a summary of how we have met those challenges. The issue serves as both a historical document and record of what the school community faced, but more importantly an acknowledgement that despite these challenges, Trinity will continue to thrive and grow for the better. Our commitment to being life-long learners puts all of us on a path to growth. We have proven ourselves in the spring and there is a sense of promise for how our community will meet the future together.

Robert A. Short Head of School

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TITAN TRAIL ADMINISTRATION

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Robert A. Short Head of School Lee Sprague Associate Head of School Brian Phillips Head of Campus Life Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00 Head of Community Engagement Anna Prillaman Athletic Director Anne Hurt Director of Development Margie Vaughan Snead ’85 Director of Admission Joseph M ­ onaco Director of Operations BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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20 FEATURES

28 www.trinityes.org The Titan Trail is published twice yearly by Trinity Episcopal School’s communications and development offices.

Development: Communications: Anne Hurt David Ready Director of Development Director of Communications & Marketing Julia Bowling Malcolm Bell Alumni and Annual Giving Associate Marketing & Communications Specialist

Photography: David Ready, Katie Pullman, Bridget Hazel Photography, Malcolm Bell, Candid Color, Allison Minehart, Laurie Pierce, Elizabeth Kelley, Ella Browder-Jones, Jenny McQueen, Hillary Grotos, Alice Phillips, Julie Urena, Ali Moriarty, Stefanie Jochman, Jen Gorey, Mallory Ballard, Adam Banwarth, Adam Lonon, Christy Darlington, Eudora Nordt

06 SLIVER STARS

Chet Childress

Hillary Wood Grotos ’77 08 TOGETHER 12 Open for Business 13 Commitment to Listen, Learn,

and Change 20 2020 Graduation 28 Live from Studio B 29 SENIORStudio

SECTIONS 02 Around the Courtyard 04 Faculty News 05 Trinity Welcomes 14 Athletics 18 Philanthropy 26 Extended Essays 27 Mission Moments 30 Class Notes

Jeff D. Elgin, Chair Charles T. Hill Jr. ’98, Vice Chair, Treasurer Leesa Witty Gregory ’93, Secretary Lisa J. Acquaye Beth Williamson Ayers Cynthia L. Coleman Chris Ellis ’81 Kyle W. Hendrick ’05 Kelly Johnson, Trinity Parents Association Representative David C. Kearfott ’94 Elizabeth Kelley, Faculty Representative Matthew Majikes Gayle C. Marget Anne McCray Robert T. Methven John G. Mills ’90 Mary-Beth L. Nash Jennifer M. Parker Ann Marie Petrucelli William Isler Sanderson ’94 Charles Randolph Sullivan ’83 Tracy Teal John T. Willett ADVISORY BOARD Mary Bliley J. Read Branch, Jr. Otis L. Brown Milton Cerny Swannee Goodman Ericson ’75 Carol Estes-Williams Daniel Allen Gecker Kathy Graziano Mary Jane Hogue Stephen E. Hupp Joseph C. Kearfott Kelly J. O’Keefe W. B. Perkinson, Jr. Martha V. Singdahlsen Gary E. Thompson Henry I. Willett, Jr. Richard Thweatt Wilson, III Charles F. Witthoefft

AROUND THE

COURTYARD “DEAR EDITOR” From the importance of recycling to thoughts on the current political climate, 11 students from Ms. Reid’s English class found their letters to the editor published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The letters crafted coherent arguments and used rhetorical strategies to support them. “The main thing with the letter is finding something that they care enough about to write in support of it,” said Ms. Reid.

“That’s my favorite part of the assignment — seeing their opinions come to life in a public forum.”

TITAN’S CROSSING The American Society of Civil Engineers held a contest last winter at the Science Museum of Virginia, welcoming schools from across the state. Trinity’s Science Society built “Titan’s Crossing,” a bridge out of popsicle sticks and glue, over three Sundays in January. In their first time at the event, the Science Society placed 3rd!

FESTIVE FOR FILM

“SPANISH SCRABBLE” Every year, members of Trinity’s Spanish language club host a Spanish Scrabble tournament. The tournament featured students from every grade and proficiency level looking to have fun and learn more about the language.

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In an effort to explore cultural themes through cinema, Trinity hosts an International Film Festival each February. Students in the International Film Festival club select the films, staff the screenings and promote the event to their classmates during Morning Meetings. This year’s festival included selections filmed in Mandarin, Hindi, French and Arabic.

ROCKIN’ ROBOTICS Right before spring break, the Trinity robotics team took a trip to Haymarket, Virginia for their first district competition of the year, where “Team 539” took home 3rd place in a pool of nearly 40 teams around the state of Virginia.

CHICKEN ‘N’ WAFFLES Molly Sanyour’s ’01 ceramics students took a break from throwing plates and bowls to practice styling photo shoots to showcase their work with a chicken and waffles lunch. After photos and videos were taken, everyone dug in to their food props!

CONGRÈS FRANÇAIS A group French students attended the Congrès Français at Midlothian High School in March to immerse themselves in French language and culture. While there, Lucie Speck ’20 and Layal El-Ayoubi ’23 placed 1st and 2nd respectively in their competitions!

“GREETINGS, EARTHLINGS” To celebrate Earth Day, student leaders and faculty sponsors from Trinity’s SEA (Students for Environmental Action) Club collaborated on a series of video clips about how to be environmentally minded while staying at home.

Students shared tips on building vegetable gardens, growing from seeds, capturing rainwater, raising bees and making compost The videos were assembled by club sponsor Michael Stratton ’02 and shared at Virtual Morning Meeting on April 21 and April 23.

VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT Ella Browder-Jones ’21 refused to let social distancing keep her from making a difference in her community. Jones, a Spanish 4 Honors student, created an online teaching resource filled with video instruction and corresponding worksheets for those who speak Spanish or those who know none.

MCCRACKEN ME UP During a virtual Morning Meeting in late May, David McCracken ’20 was chosen as the recipient of this year’s highly coveted Cornmaster Award. Here are a few corny jokes delivered during his acceptance speech: “I have many musical friends, too. In fact, one of my friends told me the other day that he had to go to the optometrist — Yeah, he said he couldn’t C-sharp.

What do you call a hen that counts her own eggs? — A mathemachicken!

I have a relative who says he went to college for four years and learned nothing. Although, he says it’s probably his fault. He was a double major.

Psychology and… reverse psychology.”

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NEWS FA C U LT Y

NEW FACULTY Trinity’s new part-time French teacher is Aparna Harger. Aparna received her BA from Wake Forest University and spent a year living and working in the Auvergne region in France. She has been a teacher in Henrico County for 8 years, including in the IB Middle Years program.

ork and later her master’s in art education from Adelphi University.

Angela McMurtry retired from Trinity this spring after 14 years, much of which as Trinity’s front office manager. McMurtry first learned about Trinity when she was looking for a high school for her son, Jason, who became a member of the class of 2000.

Her daughter, Holly, graduated in 2007. Many Titans over the years have relied upon Ms. McMurtry’s dutiful transcriptions of every Morning Meeting announcement. “I will miss Morning Meeting and all the fun announcements and all the special events at school,” she said. “It has been fun working with my sister, Robin, in the office… and all the faculty and staff.”

Currently recovering from knee surgery, McMurtry looks forward to spending more time with her 95-year-old mother, seeing friends, traveling and relaxing.

FACULTY PUBLICATIONS Dr. Dan Geary, Trinity’s director of college counseling was published again in the Link for Counselors magazine, this time with a cover story entitled “Building a College Bound Culture: A Critical Step in College Prep.”

Chris Mercer, Spanish teacher, published his latest book, ¡YANGA!, in June to favorable reviews from Spanish-language educators. Based on true events, the book tells the story of an African prince sold into slavery who leads an enslaved uprising in Mexico. “I am hoping that teachers around the world will use the story of Yanga to introduce anti-racist and anti-white supremacy units and lessons into their classroom curriculum,” says Mercer.

“This book will also be used widely in IB Schools and classrooms (along with my other books) that were specifically developed with the IB Mission, Vision and Learner Profile in mind.”

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FACULTY AND STAFF IN NEW ROLES Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, head of community engagement, will coordinate the school’s substantial diversity initiatives this year. A former school counselor and 2018 alumna of Leadership Metro Richmond’s Quest program, Weiler says she is approaching this role with humility and commitment to listen, learn and bring change (read more about these ongoing initiatives on page 13).

After two years as Trinity’s Green program coordinator, Malcolm Bell is now the school’s marketing and communications specialist, where he helps promote the school to all audiences through video, social and other new media.

FACULTY MILESTONES English teacher Joey Nuckols and wife Stuart Raper Nuckols ’04 welcomed their second daughter, Martha Mae, on April 3, 2020.

Isa Dunaway was sworn in as a U.S. citizen in Norfolk on Thursday, August 27.

25 years at TES: Hillary Wood Grotos ’77 and Chet Childress (see profiles on page 6)

TRUSTEE TRANSITION The Trinity community appreciates the dedication and leadership of the members of the Board of Trustees who recently completed their terms of service June 2020. Leaving the board are Susan Aprahamian, E.G. Allen III ’84, and Rupa Somanath Murthy ’95.

We would like to welcome newly elected members, Anne McCray and Todd Willett. Kelly Johnson will serve as the Trinity Parents Association representative to the board as its new president.

Serving as officers for the coming year are Jeff Elgin, chair; Charles T. Hill, Jr. ’98 as vice-chair and treasurer; Leesa Witty Gregory ’93 as secretary.

TRINITY WELCOMES… FEBRUARY 27

Helen Mays Richmond Youth Programs Coordinator at Side by Side “The youth I work with... do an amazing job blowing up [the social] script, and allowing space for people to actually be their authentic selves.”

MARCH 26

Rachel Pater Founder of The Richmond Story House Rachel Pater led an in-studio workshop for Jenny McQueen’s photo class. Through storytelling exercises to pair with a photo assignment, Pater was able to make the virtual session very creative and engaging.

FEBRUARY 28-29

Abigail Spanberger US Congresswoman On the weekend of February 28 and 29, 2020, Trinity’s Model UN Club hosted a full-scale simulation Model UN conference. Over 140 student delegates from Trinity and eight other area schools were on-campus for the event.

The keynote speaker at Friday’s opening ceremonies was first-term US Congressman Abigail Spanberger, who represents Virginia’s 7th District in the US House of Representatives. A Henrico native, Spanberger had coincidentally just run into her own high school government teacher for the first time since her election to Congress. “It was really powerful, because I remember sitting in [his] class talking about politics and debating ideas and talking about civic engagement and world events... where I felt that I could have an opinion,” said Spanberger. “That was part of the foundation that later made me inclined to run for office, and I think that it helped build the skill set that I bring to Congress now.”

Recalling that she, too, participated in Model UN as a student in college, Spanberger lauded the conference’s participants for their interest. “It’s important because everything in life is diplomacy. Your relationship with your siblings, parents, spouse, friends, college roommates, it’s all diplomacy,” she said. “Being able to engage in an activity where you are putting yourself in the shoes of another country, and viewing something through the eyes of a foreign diplomat, it’s an incredible exercise in thinking beyond yourself.”

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Silver Stars: Celebrating 25 years at Trinity!

CHET CHILDRESS

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COLLEGE COUNSELOR

native Richmonder, Chet Childress grew up playing in corn and soybean fields in Hanover County that are now giant subdivisions and shopping centers. “I enjoyed ‘country living’ as a kid, but I’m definitely more of a city person,” he says, noting that New York and London are two of his favorite travel destinations. Sometimes he will take a day trip to New York just to see some theatre, listing “Something’s Rotten, War Horse, Jersey Boys, and of course, Hamilton” as his top shows.

Before discovering Trinity in 1995, Childress taught English as an adjunct professor at both the University of Richmond and VCU. “The people were very friendly,” Childress recalls of his introduction to teaching at Trinity, teaching 9th grade English and creative writing.

“Lynne Tulou, the English dept chair, really took me under her wing,” Childress recalls. “The transition from teaching college freshmen to high school freshmen was a big one. She was there to help me and reassure me that everything I was doing was okay.” His favorite subjects to teach? “Shakespeare, especially the sonnets.” Favorite plays? “As You Like It,” “King Lear,” and “Macbeth.” Childress also enjoyed teaching non-fiction, including literary essays, news writing and advertising copywriting.

Carrie Belt Rogers ’00 was one of Childress’s earliest students and went on to a career as a freelance writer. “I think about the grammar and syntax lessons I learned from Mr. Childress nearly daily and credit those lessons with my success as a business and marketing writer,” she says. “He is absolutely the best English teacher on the planet (hyperbole, but true).”

Childress says Trinity has helped him grow personally and professionally. “I’ve had so many opportunities to do new and different things I would not have otherwise,” he says. Working closely with former English teacher Katie Best, the pair designed a program called English Studies, which looked where incoming students were developmentally and taught courses to try to catch everyone up.

“I like being involved in a school that is all about saying yes,” he says.” When he had the idea to revive the journalism program, he approached then-Head of School Tom Aycock with a wish list of computers and software “I thought, what the heck, I’m gonna ask for the world,” says Childress, “and, well — he delivered everything.”

Cranking out issues of the Synecdoche student news magazine and recalls working closely with student editors like Mark Hiner ’00, Jack Mooney ’02 and Catherine Seward Allison ’01. “It was fun because when you work with kids in a smaller group that way, you get to know them.”

The rapport he built over years with small groups of budding writers was an ideal springboard to the next chapter of Childress’s tenure at Trinity: college guidance. “As a college counselor, I still ‘teach’ writing, helping students write their college essays,” he says. Now in his 14th year as a college counselor, Childress is perhaps best known to both students and employers all over greater RVA as the coordinator of “Junior Work Week.” Grounded in a career counseling theory, the program gives students a better understanding of who they are, what they like, what their interests by partnering them with a host employer for a week in March.

“Countless times, employers will email or call me back and say, ‘you know, I was a little reluctant to take on a high school student, but your student was better prepared than a lot of the college interns I take,’” he says with pride.

Childress says he hopes students will appreciate him as dedicated, committed, supportive and a good listener. With so much of his work devoted to preparing students for the future, he appreciates when students return to Trinity years later. “As educators, we don’t often get to see what happens [to students] afterwards; we are all works in progress,” he says. “But for someone to come back and say, ‘hey I’m doing great and I really appreciate what you did for me,’ those are the memories that teachers hold onto. They really are special.”

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Silver Stars: Celebrating 25 years at Trinity!

HILLARY WOOD GROTOS ’77 ADMISSIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

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lthough the 2019-20 school year marks her 25th as a staff member, for Hillary Wood Grotos ’77, the Trinity experience began when a member of Trinity’s second 9th grade class in 1973.

“There was no grass, and cutup cardboard boxes were placed on the ground to make a path from the Academic building,’ she recalls.

“There was a lot of school spirit, even then. I was a cheerleader all four years and a member of the Pep Club, too. The community spirit was alive and well even then!”

Despite being an active and interested alumna following her graduation in 1977, she confesses: “I actually never thought I’d be involved in education as an adult. Ending up working at Trinity was a ‘right place right time’ event!” In the winter of 1994, a friend told her of an opening for a director of alumni and development.

With encouragement from then-faculty-member Will Towles and former trustee Virginia Totten, she applied and was hired by thenHeadmaster Tom Aycock. “Certainly not for my experience!” she jokes, “but I did bring valuable knowledge of the school’s history to the administration.” After three years in that combined role, the positions were split, and Grotos focused specifically on alumni and special events. At that time, says Grotos, the major event of the year was the annual auction, with which she remembers having great help from parents like Wendy Williams. “We always had a blast decorating for a whole week before all of the Auctions which were held during the later years in the Gym with a total transformation!” she recalls. One year, the theme was “The Wizard of Oz,” and parent Maryanne Markunas procured “a huge glittered red shoe from a theater company and it was our centerpiece!”

In 2002, Grotos moved from alumni and development over to admissions, but her work managing special events for the whole community has continued. Whether it’s Jazz Fest, Grand Illumination, Oyster Roast, Admission Open House, “Titan for a Day” or Titan Night, any guest who has set foot on campus for an event over the past two decades has been the beneficiary of Grotos’ hospitality and attention to detail.

“To the great benefit to our school was the great warmth she displayed to everybody,” recalls Aycock. “When parents, students, faculty came in, she had a tremendous warmth in her personality.

It was so in keeping with our philosophy and culture. She made everybody feel welcome.” Aycock also commented on Grotos’ great

versatility and dependability over the years. “She never got rattled,” he says. “She just went to work and calmly got the job done.”

Grotos, too, describes herself as a team player. “Trinity has been a wonderful place to grow,” she says. “The sense of community is ever present, rolling up our sleeves to help out a co-worker or student in need. We wear many hats here and that is what makes the environment like a family.”

What’s the most rewarding part? “I love getting to know prospective families and ‘selling the school’ to them,” she says. “For me it is an easy sell, because I am very committed to our mission and the community aspect of our school. It is very rewarding when the students end up coming!”

One of her favorite memories of her time on staff was a “going away” party for the trailer which housed the faculty lounge and business office before Morgan Hall was constructed. “Those of us who had been here for a long time said farewell during a fire pit that evening,” she recalls, “telling funny stories about velvet paintings of dogs and Elvis that hung on the walls!”

When not at Trinity, Grotos enjoys spending time in the mountains and at the beach collecting shells. “I also enjoy gardening and making beaded jewelry,” she says. “Photography has also been something I have enjoyed since college.” And any family gathering for her is like a mini Trinity Reunion. Five of her six children graduated from Trinity and two of her son-in-laws are also Titans. “We are one big Titan family!”

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Teachers and staff find resilience, inventiveness, creativity to maintain academic continuity in a time of turmoil While students enjoyed an extended spring break through Wednesday, March 18, teachers and staff began busy preparing for a transition to distance learning. “While we recognize that no online platform can replicate the Trinity experience,” wrote Sprague to families that week, “our goal is to maintain as much teaching, learning, continuity and community as possible during this unprecedented circumstance.”

ADAPT AND OVERCOME Distance learning began Monday, March 23 and continued through the end of the school year in late May. A screenshot from Trinity’s first-ever Virtual Morning Meeting on Monday, March 23, 2020

As Trinity teachers and students left campus on March 6 to begin Spring Break, little did anyone realize they would not be returning for nearly six months. Although administrators had met several times to make contingency plans for the potential spread of the novel coronavirus (at that time seemingly limited to the Seattle area) and study guidance about the possible need to close school for limited periods, few if any were prepared for the speed at which the landscape would change over the second week of March 2020.

“It was tough,” said Lee Sprague, Associate Head of School.

“Although we had been strategizing before spring break about possible plans, everything changed quite quickly. Additionally, it was clear that we had to come up with [a new daily schedule] that would be comfortable to students, suit their needs and their teachers’ needs, and be as flexible as possible.”

By the end of spring break, Sprague had already sketched out what would become an entirely new modified daily schedule — one that could provide times to work both independently and collaboratively — and a plan for continuity of instruction that would guide something Trinity had never before attempted: teaching and learning entirely online.

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Sprague said the main goal was to maintain continuity. “Teachers focused quickly on what was essential, and continued to teach their students day after day,” said Sprague. “Students continued to feel that teachers cared about them and their success.”

• Students in Marcus Jones’ ’00 IB Global Politics class chose a country in the bottom half of the Human Development Index (HDI), identified intransigent issues, and developed solutions that could bring the country into the top half of the HDI. • Students in Julie Davi’s Spanish classes collaborated on a Latinx Spotify playlist.

• Students in Alice Phillips’s IB Higher Level Biology made the most of being stuck at home by raiding the pantry to conduct “kitchen labs,” or experiments using household appliances. One group measured the effect of salt on pasta cooking, another potato chip grease smooshed on graph paper, and a third group grew bean sprouts in plastic baggies.

Together

BEHIND THE SCENES HEROES

• In Ali Moriarty’s advanced art class, students took distorted Snapchat selfies and created drawings in the medium of their choice. Moriarty says the feedback on the project was so positive, she’s going to continue teaching it in the future.

• Students in Kasie Kemp’s 9th grade physics class researched, designed and built Rube Goldberg machines, using staircases, textbooks, cups, notebooks and whatever else wasn’t; nailed down, to demonstrate the three laws of motion and six different types of simple machines.

• Julie Baroody Urena’s ’81 IB French students met in their kitchens one week for “Parents, Pups and Omelettes” as part of their study of the culture of Paris. Students and their families made omelettes together, while practicing their culinary French.

“It was inspirational to see teachers rise to the challenge,’ said Sprague. “The vast majority of them had never done any online teaching before, and they quickly learned the technology, how to encourage discussion, and how to check in with each student.

Many teachers started their classes by letting students have some time to talk with each other as they recognized how important it was for them to ‘see each other.”

“This situation emphasized something I already knew about Trinity but can more deeply appreciate: faculty here cares deeply about both their students and their teaching,” Spraue said. “They modeled creative problem solving to students every day and then spent the summer honing their craft.”

“We are so grateful that Trinity is ‘doing school’ the way they are doing it,” wrote one parent about the spring 2020 academic adaptations. “The structure and sense of normalcy that has come from Trinity’s schedule has been a lifesaver.”

Achieving all of this could not have been possible without the skill, creativity and endless availability of the entire Technology Department. While Kyle van de Kamp ’12 installed new software and oversaw the Ring Central platform, Laurie Pierce made sure that every teacher was well equipped to use the tools at their disposal.

All the while, José Santiago was researching the best practices in educational technology, and Nathaniel Paul ’14 made sure that every student’s laptop was running at peak performance. On any given day, they might all have to trade hats to keep the school’s remote technological engine humming — and their adaptability and teamwork under pressure were a model for every Titan to emulate.

“Migrating the entire school to Virtual Learning from a technology perspective was extraordinarily challenging and rewarding,” said van de Kamp. “While in person only instruction relies heavily on technology, the transition to virtual learning wouldn’t have been so smooth without our extremely flexible teachers, and their willingness to learn.”

Some things just came together at the right time, as well, Sprague acknowledges. For example, the school had already purchased RingCentral to replace the aging analog phone system. The package also happened to come with a Zoom-based video-conferencing platform ready to go. Van de Kamp recalls training all 600 community members in short order before school resumed. “Working in large group sessions of 100+ students was exciting, and fun to watch students interact in such a large group virtually,” he says.

What’s one particularly proud moment from the spring that stands out for van de Kamp and the rest of the technology staff? “Being one of the first schools/businesses to discover a major compatibility bug between RingCentral and a recent Apple security update which impacted hundreds of our users, and working with Apple, RingCentral, and Zoom engineers during all hours of the day until we discovered a fix,” he said.

“The technology team here is gifted and dedicated. They worked incredibly long hours to support students and teachers,” Sprague said. “I think living through the pandemic is showcasing some of our strengths: we can be flexible and adjustable in a time of challenge, and our community is central to that strength.”

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Together

Faculty, parents and students rise to the challenge of building and maintaining community during a global pandemic Less than 24 hours after Trinity’s headlong dive into distance learning, the governor of Virginia announced that schools across the state would shutter through the first week of June. Head of School Rob Short met with student leaders the next morning to help them process the realization that no one would return to campus for the rest of the school year: “We will be filled with many different emotions — sadness, frustration, anxiety, disappointment,” he told them. “When you’re disappointed in something, it means that you care deeply. And our community does care deeply. This is something to be proud of.”

To illustrate the lasting power of adaptability and resilience during historic times, Short wrote to families again early in the spring explaining why students saw him each morning at the same table for virtual Morning Meeting. “Right now, I am sitting at my grandmother’s table from her home in Suffolk, England during World War II,” noting that it was the target of heavy bombing during the war. “They were tough times, and she was not much older than our current students. But when she spoke of these times later in life, she remembered them fondly and with pride. The adversity shaped her in wonderful ways, and she became more appreciative of the simpler things in life.”

But Short was just one of countless teachers, parents and student who rose to the unprecedented challenges of the spring to maintain Trinity’s greatest asset: community.

On March 25, Brain Griffen, school chaplain, hosted the first of what would become weekly “Five-Minute Chapels,” featuring a short scripture reading and some calming words of encouragement.

“During this time that we are fragile, we have to handle each other with care,” Griffen said in that first installment. “We have to treat

each other with more kindness and patience than we have before.”

Connecting his talk to the shared T.I.T.A.N.S. value of “toughness,” Griffen also encouraged resilience. “Everything is going to be okay.

We’re going to get through this together, as Titans always do. We’ll make it.”

PARENTS RALLY SUPPORT To acknowledge weeks adapting their teaching to distance learning, while simultaneously balancing the demands of family, Trinity teachers were given a special thank-you gift from the Trinity Parents Association (TPA) in mid-April. “We would like to treat you and your family to dinner!” said the note sent to faculty. Volunteers from the TPA’s Hospitality Committee gathered orders and organized the delivery of family-style meals to dozens of homes. Each meal arrived with a beautiful painting by Genevieve Johnson ’21 with the inscription, “Teachers plant the seeds that last a lifetime.”

A few weeks later, parents of seniors joined forces to produce and deliver 117 signs, proclaiming “A Trinity Senior Lives Here!” to every

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Together front yard in the senior class. Members of the class of 2020 emerged from their quarantines — a bit shaggier than when last seen — to show their gratitude and pose for a few photographs. The yard signs helped bridge the gap and distance and provide a communal way of celebrating.

Parents also turned to their keyboards to write encouraging messages of support for faculty and administrators. “Thank you so much for your attention to the seniors especially. I’m so proud of [them] for handling this like they have...they will be closer for it...” wrote one parent. “You make Trinity a very special place and a place I am proud to say my daughters attend.”

Another wrote: “Your kind, thoughtful, insightful, loving, encouraging words have meant so much... to our family, and have brought me to tears each time. And smiles! You have gone above and beyond to make this experience as positive as possible for the students and their families.”

STUDENTS REFLECT, CONNECT AND PROJECT Longing for familiarity of the Trinity campus, five students (Mason Forness ’22, Gareth Lockwood ’21, Annabelle Porner ’22, Anne Kinsey Wash ’22, and Emery Lauer ’22) teamed up over several weeks to painstakingly recreate an online version of the school on the Minecraft platform. “I’ve always loved the way the buildings around campus are designed and thought that they would be cool to recreate,” said Forness. “I’m hoping that people will enjoy walking around the virtual campus and maybe even call some of their friends to hang out with them.”

of them for continuing to work hard considering the circumstances,” said Nordt. “And for keeping their head up during a time like this of such uncertainty… we’re going to have learned a lot of valuable lessons that we can use for the rest of our lives.”

In the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jillian Allen described the loss of traditional year-end events like Senior Chapel. “Missing Senior Chapel hurts the most, she said. It was a special school event where the seniors got dressed up, their parents were invited, and they all gathered together to celebrate their accomplishments, look at photos of themselves over the years and hear from speakers.” Speaking for so many of her peers, Jillian added, “I just miss being on campus and seeing my friends.”

Later in the spring, aspiring student leaders participated in the first-ever all-virtual school election. Speaking to students in Morning Meeting via video, eventual SGA president Jessica Moore ’21 offered a message of hope for the future. “I believe that a community is only as strong as the individuals within, which is why we need different individuals from different backgrounds to contribute to the whole,” she said. “In these times, it’s really hard to feel like the strong community that Trinity has always had, but I know in the fall when we all return, we will be stronger than ever.”

Five students collaborated in the spring to create a virtual version of the Trinity campus using Minecraft.

Two Titan seniors, Jillian Allen ’20 and Eudora Nordt ’20, represented Trinity well in local media in May, each of them speaking from the heart about the unique disappointments and challenges that their class has faced. Nordt was asked by CBS 6 anchor Bill Fitzgerald what she would say to her classmates if she could. “I’m really proud

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OPEN FOR BUSINESS

With safer facilities, robust technology, academic creativity, and community vigilance, Trinity launches into a successful 2020-21 school year In a summer missive to member schools, Donna Orem, president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), summed up the situation for every institution in the country: “Lacking a crystal ball, we can’t predict the future, but we can prepare for multiple possible futures.”

For Trinity this meant enabling facilities to handle constantly evolving public health restrictions related to COVID-19. Classrooms were cleared of more than half of their desks and other furniture.

Contractors began work on renovating the two cramped bathrooms in the main Academic Building, enlarging them, removing doors, raising ceilings, adding all contactless facilities and improving airflow. HVAC systems were equipped with Rene-Halo systems throughout the campus, combining UV light, zinc oxide and dual ionizers that help to destroy bacteria, fungi, spores, and viruses on room surfaces and in the air.

But facilities were just the first step. A Reopening Task Force of 16 faculty and staff met weekly via videoconference to consider what reopening school under a global pandemic would mean for health and safety, academics, technology, communications and school life. An academic group working closely with teachers proposed a modified daily schedule in early July. To minimize the number of students in a given classroom or building, the student body was assigned to one of two groups — one on campus and one off campus, with each group switching places every two days.

This Parallel Model of instruction meant teachers would teach the half of their students in the classroom with them — as well as the other half participating at home via videoconference — at the same time. Preparing for this fall required nearly round-the-clock work from Trinity’s talented team of technology professionals, installing iPads, rolling cameras and other infrastructure needed to keep everyone online and connected.

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After an extended Faculty Work Week and Orientation Week for all students that emphasized new safety rules and procedures, Trinity opened its doors for the first day of classes on Monday, August 31, 2020.

“I’m so happy to be back in the classroom with our students,” said Diane Vaughan Monaco ’81, math teacher in mid-September.

“Parallel instruction has its unique challenges; encouraging everyone to participate, making sure we’re all seeing the same thing in the classroom and at home, and juggling the technology is all new. But each day it gets easier!”

With visitors not allowed on campus, and limitations to the sharing of food and other items, traditions like the Back to School Cookout had to be postponed or canceled altogether. However, one of the oldest fall traditions of all, the Freshman Class Retreat, was able to continue thanks to the counselors of Camp Horizon, who traveled to Richmond and facilitated two days of bonding and socially distanced team-building games at nearby Robious Landing Park.

The need to be creative, adaptable and resilient has also extended onto the athletic fields, which sat empty and perfectly green for much of the spring and summer. Although practices officially began the second week of September, the leagues in which the Titans compete had agreed not to begin competition until October 1 at the earliest, and even then, only with the two sports deemed “low risk” (cross country and tennis). “Guiding students to develop their talents and strengthen their character through physical activity and competition is an important component of our mission,” Athletic Director Anna Prillaman and Head of School Rob Short wrote in a joint letter to families. “Therefore, even if competitive opportunities become more limited this fall, Trinity is committed to providing ways for students to engage in physical activity that emphasizes a team experience.”

COMMITMENT TO LISTEN, LEARN AND CHANGE Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 2020-2021

TRINITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VIRGINIA CENTER FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES (VCIC)

Students gather in the Speight Alumni Room on September 25, 2020 for the inaugural meeting of the student-led Black Alliance organization. Though centered around issues affecting the Black community, the group is open to all students.”

The events of the summer of 2020, within the city of Richmond, across the country and around the world, put a spotlight on issues of racial injustice in the United States. The deaths of George Floyd and others at the hands of police spurred institutions all over the country to reflect and ask whether issues of systemic racism were hindering their ability to truly fulfill their mission and allow every member to feel a sense of belonging.

On June 2, Head of School Rob Short wrote an open letter to the community condemning racism in all its forms and pledging to listen and respond to these issues. “We are encouraged by the momentum we see and feel a great sense of urgency to create a real and sustained difference at Trinity,” Short wrote. “Our journey is not a short one,” he wrote in a follow up message in July. “Over the coming months and years, we will continue to learn, change and put into place initiatives, programs, and frameworks that will support our mission of lifelong learning.”

With the added challenge of being separated as a community throughout the summer, faculty and staff met by videoconference to talk through feelings, ideas and next steps. Additionally, administrators met with Black alumni from a range of graduation years to listen to their stories and experiences as Trinity students.

These discussions were candid and sincere; while they expressed an overall love of the school, Black alumni also shared painful memories from their unique perspective on how their experiences were impacted by racism within the community.

Partnering with Trinity in this ongoing work is the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC). Established in 1935, VCIC works with schools, businesses, and communities to address prejudice in all forms and create equitable learning environments. VCIC’s program will have a broad scope to include students and faculty, as well as the Trinity Board of Trustees.

• August 12: A half-day training session with all faculty and staff focused on building a culture of respect and trust, emphasized the primary importance of each student’s sense of belonging, and gave teachers the tools to find teachable moments, especially during moments of cultural insensitive or racial bias.

• September 1: The Trinity Board of Trustees’ annual halfday fall retreat focused on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion with facilitation by VCIC. Board members shared their own experiences from the corporate setting and expressed a desire to make a difference.

• October 8: whole-school virtual assembly on the theme of “The Head” (theoretical understandings of prejudice and inclusion, “The Heart” (explore one’s own feelings, experiences, and emotions) and “The Hands” (developing concrete tools, skills, and strategies to make real and measurable change in the school community).

Beginning this fall, students have a Black Alliance organization on campus. This group is student-generated and seeks to create collective consciousness in order to make change within the school culture. While this initiative is centered around the Black community, allies are welcome and encouraged to join.

Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, head of community engagement, is coordinating these efforts and initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion. An alumna of Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR)’s Quest program (’18) and Trinity’s long-time representative to the Virginia Diversity Network, Weiler brings years of experience to bear in this area. Nonetheless, she says: “I enter this work from a place of humility — I have A LOT to learn… I am committed to continuing to learn and grow and to support, empower, and celebrate each of our students, families, faculty and staff.”

Working in collaboration with Weiler is a newly formed DEI Committee, comprised of 19 faculty and staff. “In my previous work as a school counselor, my work was based around listening and learning,” said Weiler. “In terms of our DEI work at Trinity, my goals this year are based in large part around listening and learning. This work will not happen in a silo and is very much a collaborative process.”

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ATHLETICS M

illions of teenagers across the country have seen seasons canceled and opportunities lessen in the blink of an eye. Athletes at Trinity were no exception as they have had to make major adjustments to their everyday lives since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Aycock Stadium was empty and the doors to the Estes Athletic Center were closed, Trinity athletes found ways to stay together, active and motivated. Yes, some opportunities were lost, but these students’ ability to find positives in the most adverse situations is one of the many things that makes the Trinity community so strong.

“At first, I was really disappointed because obviously I wanted to play lacrosse for my junior season, but I also wanted to be a part of the team,” said varsity football and lacrosse player Daniel Eliasek ’21. As reality started to kick in, Eliasek quickly realized that his time at Trinity had mentally prepared him for what was to come and that the quick transition to virtual learning enabled him to take his focus on self-discovery and personal development.

Around the Athletic Department, the approach was simply “control only what you can control.” When Trinity closed its doors and moved to all virtual learning, most anticipated that athletic competition would be in jeopardy. So Director of Athletics Anna Prillaman swiftly began to find ways for program heads to keep their teams engaged and motivated, even something as simple as a video to encourage students to go out and get active during weeks and weeks of lockdown. “It was important from the beginning to remain engaged with our student-athletes,” said Prillaman. “We took various action steps to ensure they knew how much they mean to us and that we, as coaches and athletic staff, were still here to support our athletes’ needs.”

Prillaman created videos with at home workout suggestions, held virtual team meetings, hosted a virtual signing day, created an endof-year athletics celebration video, and remained available to chat with Trinity student-athletes if they needed assistance in any way.

Games weren’t the only thing lost in the process. Junior baseball athlete Matthew McRaney ’21 was looking forward to the bonds and friendships that would be formed throughout a season.

“Personally I missed my seniors the most. With this being my first

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ONWARD TITANS! year at Trinity, I made many new relationships and became really close with a lot of people, especially some of the seniors on the baseball team,” said McRaney. “I was very excited to play a season with these new guys because they all carried great energy on and off the field and I knew it would be an extremely fun season.

With the majority of Trinity’s students at home due to stay-at-home orders, many spring program heads used platforms such as Google Classroom, Zoom, and GroupMe to stay in constant contact with one another. Cate Monaco ’21, a field hockey and lacrosse player, mentioned that her head coach made sure her team had lots of fun activities to do during the spring months. “Coach Snead really organized a good transition into some normalcy,” said Monaco. “She communicated to players through email and a big GroupMe chat, sending uplifting messages and ways we can get some work done at home.”

Strength and Conditioning Coach Adam Banwarth knew that times would be tough, but if students could stay on a tailored workout routine then maybe it would provide hope, happiness, and normalcy.

“The goal for our workouts when we began quarantine was to get kids active. My idea was to provide workouts that our students and faculty could perform while at home,” said Banwarth. As access to Trinity’s first-rate athletic equipment and facilities was lost due to campus being shut down, Banwarth had to quickly develop a plan for at-home workouts. “Those included lots of body weight circuit type training that occasionally included home equipment such as chairs, broom sticks, shovels, buckets, basketballs and even swing sets,” he said. “As a staff, we wanted to do our best to keep kids physically fit so that if and when we came back to school they wouldn’t be extremely deconditioned.”

Social media activities and challenges became very popular in the Trinity community while on stay-at-home orders. Adam Lonon, varsity girls head basketball coach, curated a “Pass Left Challenge” video on TikTok that featured every member of the varsity girls basketball team. “During the pandemic, we felt it necessary to offset the rigors of online learning, so we used basketball in a remote environment as an outlet to remain balanced, have fun, and continue team camaraderie,” said Lonon. “The ‘Pass Left Challenge’

Athletics

Students and coaches find ways to stay together, active, and motivated

embodied [the sense] that, even apart, we could find a way to have fun, support one another, and represent the idea of ‘Team.’” Lonon emphasized that he wanted the girls to engage with one another in a unique way, and tying social media and sports did just that.

This unprecedented time also gave coaches a chance to refocus and commit to being lifelong learners in their sport. “You can never be comfortable with your knowledge base or the game will pass you by. But this time allowed me to look at things differently. I found new resources for coaching information and new ways to grow my own knowledge base in new different ways,” Margie Vaughan Snead ’85, girls lacrosse coach, said. “I put turf carpet down in my driveway and set up a mini field to keep my own daughters on track. I couldn’t expect my players to be growing their game at home if I wasn’t doing it myself.”

In midsummer, restrictions started to loosen and student-athletes as well as coaches were finally allowed back on campus. “When

we started back with workouts in July … The excitement felt a lot like at the beginning of the school year,” said Banwarth. “All the kids who showed up seemed motivated and eager to get back to work.

There was lots of chatter and banter among friends who may have not seen each other in some time.”

Empty campuses, stay-at-home orders, virtual learning, loss of competition were all a huge part of the spring for Titan students and coaches, but somehow the entire community found ways to flip the difficult time into a positive opportunity. “Whether there was competition or not, each program had a plan in place to ensure athletic growth. This was done via film sessions, team building, strength and conditioning workouts, social distanced skill sessions, leadership training and more,” Prillaman said. “Although the spring did not go the way any of us would have wanted, by simply rethinking how we go about doing things, we were able look back on that time with pride that our Titan community was able to remain there for one another.”

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Athletics

VIRTUAL SIGNING DAY Four seniors recognized in football, baseball and soccer In Trinity’s first-ever virtual signing-day ceremony, parents, family, faculty, coaches and students gathered virtually through videoconference — along with nearly 100 other students and guests — on the morning of Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Late April is a traditional time for seniors to sign their national letters of intent, and these four Trinity seniors joined student-athletes nationwide as they officially committed to competing in intercollegiate athletics next year: • Jackson Hanback ’20 (football) — Bridgewater College • Blake Loughran ’20 (baseball) — Shenandoah University • Abby Mayes ’20 (soccer) — Hood College • Lauren Park ’20 (soccer) — Wellesley College “These are unique circumstances,” said Athletic Director Anna Prillaman, noting that she wanted each athlete to focus on the future in a positive light. “There’s a very good chance you have not had your crowning athletic achievement yet... I know things seem a little bit daunting now, but there are still a lot of positive things to

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come. As you guys look toward the future, be excited about it. You are ready. You have put in a lot of work... I am so excited for what the future holds for you.”

Coaches then shared words of praise, appreciation and anticipation of more great things to come for the group of Trinity student leaders and their extended families who have committed so much time toward the pursuit of excellence both on and off the playing field.

These seniors join 14 others that have committed this year to playing NCAA athletics. This includes both those who have participated in public signing ceremonies and those who have not. All will represent Trinity while competing at the intercollegiate level — with a commitment to hard work, discipline, character and respect for community.

For a complete list of current Trinity alumni college athletes, please visit trinityes.org/athletics

Athletics

HEADLINE MAKERS been able to have those bus rides or trips to tournaments where we can spend more time together, have fun and compete at hopefully a high level and do well.”

EN GARDE!

PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

Sydney Whiting ’20 was named Richmond Times-Dispatch SportsBackers Scholar Athlete of the Month in February. A few months later, she was nominated for the Lexus of Richmond Leadership Award, recognizing outstanding athletic and academic achievement. An IB Diploma recipient and a captain of Trinity’s swimming program, Whiting became one of only 30 scholar athletes to receive a nomination. Headed to Notre Dame in the fall, Whiting finished her career at Trinity as an All American both in the water and in the classroom.“She is not only a fast swimmer but a great teammate… and an integral part of keeping the team together,” said Tim Johnson, Trinity swimming head coach. “So while she certainly holds all these accolades, times and records, Notre Dame is getting a really great person, and those are few and far between.”

In late February, NCB 12 Sports reporter Marc Davis profiled Justin Dabney ’21 and his fearless lunge into the world of competitive fencing. “Dabney is more than just a talented and skilled athlete,” said Davis “He’s also a straight-A student and hopes to be a plastic surgeon.

He’ll continue to fence for the time being, perhaps in college as well, and knows that the skills he’s sharpening now on the strip will translate to the game of life.”

“It helps you overcome a situation that you know if you want to get this result you have to figure it out on your own. It’s not going to come any other way,” said Dabney. Dabney won his first tournament this past fall and has competed in a Junior Olympic qualifier.

FOUR-PEAT

On Saturday, February 22, the boys basketball team clinched the Prep League Championship for the 4th year in a row!

FORE!

The Richmond Times-Dispatch published a long profile on Trinity’s Cole Pollard ’22 in late August, chronicling his growth as a golfer and explaining how transferring from Goochland High School — plus the cancellation of the spring 2020 season — meant that he will have not played competitive golf since the fall of 2018. In the spring of 2021, Pollard will get to finally compete on a Trinity team whose oldest players, he said, are juniors. “It’s just made me more excited because I have good relationships with some of my new teammates and through our practices, but it was just only practice,” Pollard said. “I haven’t

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Detailed Stats from Titans for Titans Giving Day: May 27 was certainly one for the Titan record books. Alumni came out in force during Trinity’s first ever Giving Day to increase financial support for families who are currently in need. With 157 total gifts and $18,051 raised, Titan alumni surpassed both goals for the day before 6 p.m! Alumni were able to see progress towards the goal in real time on a Giving Day webpage, which added to the excitement and competitive spirit throughout the day.

“Our alumni time and time again step up to show their support for the Titan community. These gifts were especially meaningful given the unexpected and difficult end to the school year for our students, particularly our seniors,” shared director of development, Anne Hurt.

Eight alumni ambassadors were integral to the success of the day.

They rallied their classmates, shared videos on social media and personally made a gift in support of their alma mater and current students.

“We support our alma mater because we appreciate everything Trinity gave us, we stand with Trinity’s core values and we believe in Trinity’s future. And in terms of gift giving, we always want to be #1!”, shared Chris Ellis ’81 whose class had the most gifts during Giving Day this year.

YOU did it, Titans! Together we can accomplish amazing things.

Thank you for always supporting, believing and caring. Now let’s do it again May 26, 2021!

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157 total gifts (117 goal) $18,051 ($10,000 goal) 25 first-time donors 1981 class with the most gifts 6:32 a.m. time of first gift 11:34 p.m. time of last gift Thank you to our fabulous 2020 Giving Day Ambassadors!

Chris Aycock ’99 Owen Ayers ’15 Susan Snead Bowling ’79 Margaret Dodson ’13

Chris Ellis ’81 Laura Godwin ’10 John Mills ’90 Robbie Shields ’97

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK I guess it is true what they say about the best-laid-plans…

COVID-19 has put a kink in, well, just about everything. In the spring, we made the exciting announcement about the addition of a sports turf field in Aycock Stadium. Due to the unfortunate circumstances presented by COVID-19, we were unable to finish the project over the summer as originally planned. However, we are thrilled to announce that construction will begin in November and completed in February. Even more exciting is that our student athletes will have the opportunity to compete on the new field this academic year! Our fall programs will begin their abbreviated seasons in February with spring programs to follow beginning in March.

We are grateful to our leadership supporters who have given a total of $625,000 towards our $1 million project goal.

You can help us finish this project for our student athletes. In a year where so much is uncertain, the generosity of the Titan community is something we can always rely upon. #TogetherTitans To add your support to the turf field project, send your check to Trinity with “turf field” in the memo line, or give online at trinityes.org/give by choosing Capital and indicating “turf field” in the remarks section.

TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL MULTI SPORT FIELD

For more information, contact: Anne Hurt / Director of Development / (804) 327-3154 / annehurt@trinityes.org

Turf Field Plans for Aycock Stadium

Girls Lacrosse

Field Hockey

Boys Lacrosse

Football

PHONE: 843-936-6023 Summer 2020 FAX: 843-410-5712 INFO@SPRINTURF.COM 146 FAIRCHILD STREET, DANIEL ISLAND, SC 29492

“A turf field will definitely help us have more consistency on a surface that is faster than grass.”

— Cate Monaco ’21, varsity field hockey and lacrosse

A few updates about the project: Trinity’s new sports turf field will include a wood infill versus synthetic material.

This upgrade provides a field surface that is safer for athletes and one that is more environmentally friendly. The wood infill offers a cooler surface and is less abrasive which decreases the likelihood of injuries.

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2020 VISION

S

Graduation for the class of 2020 proves again why they are a class like no other

pring for the Trinity class of 2020 was like no other, as the entire community rallied to support this years’ seniors with creative tributes and new ways to celebrate. The restrictions around COVID-19 presented unique challenges for the school.

How to acknowledge, celebrate and honor the class of 2020 while maintaining safe distancing under state guidelines, while also coming together to celebrate traditions cherished by all.

Jones acknowledged the seniors’ unprecedented challenges and encouraged them to be resilient and focus on what they can control.

“Developing character is at the heart of Trinity’s mission and you all have it,” he said. “I have seen you demonstrate your toughness and resilience in training and in athletic contests, I’ve seen you grind through difficult problems, papers and labs, and I witnessed you work tirelessly to create beautiful music, art, and poetry.”

Jones concluded: “You are a class that gives me tremendous hope for the future. Many people are asking right now when things will go back to normal. Class of 2020, do not settle for going back to life as normal, but create a world that is better.”

Initial plans to host a full graduation ceremony in early August proved to be too ambitious, as positive cases of the coronavirus continued to rise in Virginia as the spring progressed. On June 20, the school hosted a Presentation of Diplomas on campus featuring a car parade and an outdoor stage between the field hockey and baseball fields (in a nod to graduations of yore).

The first floor of the Wright House was converted into a makeshift TV studio to broadcast the Senior Celebration live on Youtube, Saturday, May 23

Not knowing what the summer would bring, the decision was made to combine the best traditions of Baccalaureate and Senior Chapel, along with a speech from the graduation speaker, into a first-ever live-streamed “Senior Celebration” on Saturday, May 23. Broadcast live on the school’s nascent YouTube channel, the event featured a production value and process never before attempted by the school. Interspersed with Head of School Rob Short’s live remarks and introductions were prerecorded Senior Slideshow and speeches

by Chaplain Brian Griffen and the speaker elected by the class of 2020, Marcus Jones ’00, history teacher.

With an introduction that showed him “getting the call” from Short, Jones spent days “training” and rewriting his speech to a jock jam soundtrack before channeling the movie “Rocky” by triumphantly scaling a giant outdoor staircase.

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Five alphabetical shifts of 25 cars each processed through the senior parking lot, surrounded by festive banners and faculty and staff seated on the field hockey field. Five families at a time could exit their cars and proceed to a socially distanced waiting area by the stage. As Associate Head of School Lee Sprague read each name, graduates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas from the Head of School, who wore a prototype of the first-ever cloth face mask printed with the Trinity shield.

Upon arrival, each graduate received a care package with a handwritten note from a teacher, two graduation programs and a class photo combining each graduate’s headshot into a 117-person grid (see page 23). Published simultaneously on YouTube were prerecorded speeches by Sophie Bruns ’20, valedictorian, and Bryn Shannon ’20, salutatorian.

“My advice to you is to hold your relationships tightly — from your time here at Trinity to your future adventures,” said Bruns. “Know why these relationships are important to you. Why you value them.

Know what about them has shaped you, molded you, and formed you into who you are today.”

“Trinity encouraged me to take risks and gave each of us the freedom to fail,” said Shannon. “We have also made friendships that will last our entire lives. But, the most important aspect of this place that I want to celebrate is the Trinity faculty and staff. Trinity isn’t only great because our teachers are good at their jobs, but because they care about our success in both class and in life.”

Watch the Senior Celebration and valedictory and salutatory addresses at trinityes.org/classof2020

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ACADEMIC AWARDS SENIOR SCHOLARS Sophie Macrae Bruns, Valedictorian Bryn Shannon, Salutatorian Jillian Jones Allen Dylan Singh Dhindsa John Alline Kenzakowski Grace Isabelle MacDougall McCall Elizabeth Phillips Caroline Grace Schuster Lucie Stanton Speck Sydney Claire Whiting SENIOR CLASS AWARDS

Senior Class Award Caroline Margaret Kiefer John Alline Kenzakowski Athlete of the Year (Female) Sydney Claire Whiting Athlete of the Year (Male) Henry Cornelius Coleman III Bill Davies Award Bailey Sherwood Hobbs Mollie Flynn Schuma Jalen Deondre Smith

Head of School Award John Alline Kenzakowski

Dale Travis Sportsmanship Award Andrew Joseph Edward Arnold, Caroline Margaret Kiefer Lauren YooRim Park

Leadership Award Lela Backes Creamer Carter Wayne Hugate

Founders Award James Ward Nelson

Titan Award Griffin Justice McCray

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Grady Richeson Memorial Award Carter Wayne Hugate Griffin Justice McCray Kenley Scott Morriss

Richmond Times-Dispatch Scholar/ Athlete Award Atesh Ben Camurdan Sydney Claire Whiting Ann Randolph Jonas Scholarship Susan Taylor Gray Bethany Award for Service Claire Marie Gorey Bishop’s Award for Character and Integrity Abigail Faith Knight Eudora Kelly Nordt Brad McNeer Memorial Scholarship Sophie Macrae Bruns DAR Good Citizenship Award Griffin Justice McCray Laura Kelley Memorial Scholarship Haven Kyra Atkins-West Page Mauck Award Bryn Shannon

Social Studies Sophie Macrae Bruns Visual Arts (2-D) Caroline Margaret Kiefer Visual Arts (3-D) Sofia Grace Wolfe Visual Arts (Photography) Madeline Grace Schleicher Eleanor Mae Thompson-Burr

Trinity Community Service Award Bailey Catherine Roberts DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS

English Lela Backes Creamer Mathematics David Joseph McCracken Performing Arts (Drama) Ronald Linwood Bell III Lydia Elena Osborne Performing Arts (Music) Atesh Ben Camurdan Religion Emma Lee Pettus Science Jay Andrew Sabharwal

Emily Huffman McLeod Scholarship Quentin Trai Ferguson Chatham University Book Award Grace E. Woolwine F. Norton Hord Memorial Scholarship Nicole Dhindsa

World Languages (French) Lucie Stanton Speck

George Washington Book Award Calder Stephens Sprinkle

World Languages (Latin) Griffin Justice McCrae

Harvard Prize Award Elisa Madigan

World Languages (Spanish) Jillian Jones Allen Dylan Singh Dhindsa

Mount Holyoke College Book Award Catherine Xiang Monaco

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Ralph White Environmental Stewardship Award Marina Nicole Eichenberger

Hugh O’Brian Award Kayla Joanne Quigley Estelle Chong

Randolph College Book Award Kate Morgan Hurlbert

Freshman Scholars (top 10) Claire Jane Elizabeth Arnold Colin Esdall Layal Samar El-Ayoubi Augustine Gregory Brynn Guerette Haleigh McPeak Sage Parker Ann-Sidney Shelton Ragsdale Caroline McDuffie Roberts Lucy Elizabeth Rowe

Randolph College Classics Award Rebecca Marie Short

Sophomore Scholars (top 10) Sophia Aprahamian Henry Clarke Bruns Henry Bacheler Burt Estelle Chong Ryder Walling Hewitt Graham Wesley Lang Kayla Joanne Quigley Ashley Sadie “Morgan” Stalker Aliza Kathleen Switzer Anna Caroline Tetterton

Saint Michael’s College Book Award Lauren Davi

Junior Scholars (top 10) Nicole Dhindsa Graham Guerette Genevieve Marie Johnson Ella Ryan Kirksey Elisa Madigan Catherine Xiang Monaco Annie Downing Nash Rebecca Marie Short Calder Stephens Sprinkle Grace E. Woolwine

Wellesley College Book Award Jessica Moore

Randolph-Macon College Book Award Genevieve Johnson Richmond Panhellenic Award Annie Downing Nash Sewanee Book Award Rebecca Marie Short

St. Lawrence University Book Award Zarteasia Tionna Destiny Gregory UVA Jefferson Book Award Emily Carol Field UVA John Merchant Book Award Nicole Dhindsa

West Point Leadership Award Shawn Michael Riley William & Mary Leadership Award Madeleine Rae Brooks Williams College Book Award Graham Guerette

T I TA N T R A I L 23

TALENT AND AMBITION PROPELS THE CLASS OF 2020 From Maine to Georgia and from California to Massachusetts, the 117 graduates of the class of 2020 will attend colleges and universities in every region of the country, accepting offers of admission at 60 different colleges and universities in 26 states.

The class of 2020 validates the belief that each student should strive to achieve at the highest level and discover their own path.

After submitting an average of seven applications (more than 820 in all) each student decided upon the school that best fit their needs, following the established Trinity tradition of choosing as school that’s “the right fit”. According to Dr. Daniel Geary, director of college counseling, “each student is encouraged to identify and develop their talents and interests so that they may achieve at the highest level and attain success in life.”

Trinity students continue to select colleges and universities that seek their unique talents and empower them to accomplish their dreams. Among the recent graduates, 67 students (57%) will attend public or private colleges in Virginia, with Virginia Tech, James Madison University, William & Mary, The University of Virginia and the University of Richmond as the most frequent in-state destinations. The 51 students (43%) attending out-of-state will matriculate to schools across the country including Georgia Tech, Swarthmore, The University of Michigan, The University of Vermont, Clemson, Northeastern, Duke, American University, Penn State, Tulane, The University of Notre Dame and many more. According to Geary, the class of 2020 was a talented and ambitious group of students with the intelligence to achieve at the highest level and the courage to follow their own path.

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES CLASS OF 2020 American University Appalachian State University Art Academy of Cincinnati Ball State University Bennett College Boise State University Bridgewater College Brigham Young University Christopher Newport University Clarion University Clemson University Coastal Carolina University Colby College College of Charleston College of William & Mary Dickinson College Duke University East Carolina University Eastern Mennonite University Elon University Emory and Henry College Fayetteville State University Ferrum College Fordham University Furman University Georgia Tech Gettysburg College Guilford College Hampden-Sydney College Hampton University High Point University Hollins College Hood College

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James Madison University Liberty University Longwood University Louisiana State University Loyola of New Orleans Loyola University Maryland Mary Washington University Maryland Institute College of Art Massachusetts College of Art and Design Meredith College Morehouse College Muhlenberg College NC State University New York University Norfolk State University North Carolina A&T North Carolina State University Northeastern University Old Dominion University Oxford College of Emory University Parsons The New School Penn State University Pratt Institute Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte Radford University Randolph College Randolph-Macon College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Roanoke College Roger Williams University

Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art Design Seton Hall University Sewanee Shenandoah University Southern Virginia University St. John’s University (NY) St. Joseph’s University St. Mary’s College, Indiana SUNY–Albany Susquehanna University Swarthmore College Temple University The Music Institute (Los Angeles) The New School (NY) Tulane University UNC–Ashville UNC–Charlotte UNC–Greensboro UNC–Wilmington UNC–Pembroke Union College University Lynchburg University of Mary Washington University of Kentucky University of Miami University of South Carolina University of Tennessee Knoxville University of Virginia University of Alabama University of Cincinnati University of Colorado Boulder University of Delaware

University of Georgia University of Kentucky University of Lynchburg University of Maine University of Mary Washington University of Maryland University of Massachusetts–Lowell University of Michigan University of Notre Dame University of Rhode Island University of Richmond University of South Carolina University of Tampa University of Tennessee University of Texas University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Wisconsin–Madison Villanova University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Military Institute Virginia State University Virginia Tech Virginia Union University Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Weber State University Wellesley College Williams College Wofford College

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS Ty Ackerman Weber State University Jillian Jones Allen* University of Virginia Jade Marie Alvarez University of Virginia Lane Alexander Anderson Randolph Macon College (gap year) Andrew Joseph Edward Arnold* Washington and Lee University Emma Cooper Ashley* James Madison University Haven Kyra Atkins-West Longwood University Donald Dray Bailey Clarion University Kayla Marie Bavaro Starting a small business Jacob Frederick Baxter John Tyler Community College Ronald Linwood Bell III James Madison University Garrett Casey Bemberis Wofford College Nicholas Arrington Both Randolph Macon College Sophie Macrae Bruns* College of William & Mary Atesh Ben Camurdan* Swarthmore College Lauren Jane Crick Coffey* James Madison University Henry Cornelius Coleman III Duke University Caitlynn Lee Collins* Elon University Thomas Penn Craven James Madison University Lela Backes Creamer* College of William & Mary John Daniel DeMarino Jr. Virginia Commonwealth University Catherine Lee DeSouza* University of South Carolina Dylan Singh Dhindsa* Northeastern University Zachary James Dip J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Gabrielle Nicole Echard Clemson University Marina Nicole Eichenberger* Virginia Tech Nicholas Brian Failon* College of William & Mary Alexander Scott Fargis Radford University Mariel Joy Gecker Old Dominion University Claire Marie Gibbons* University of Colorado Boulder

Isabella Anne Golden James Madison University Lola Rose Goodpasture* Colby College Julianna Elise Goradia* University of Georgia Claire Marie Gorey* University of South Carolina Susan Taylor Gray James Madison University Luke William Grogan Christopher Newport University Peyton Wallace Guise Guilford College Kristy Rabih Hamze Queens University of Charlotte Jackson Hurt Hanback Bridgewater College Theresa Ann Haney Union College Ryan Matthew Healy Christopher Newport University Virginia Garnett Patterson Hester Christopher Newport University Bailey Sherwood Hobbs Virginia Tech Carter Wayne Hugate Virginia Military Institute Mario Jermaine Jackson Jr. Bridgewater College Chloe Marie Jepson* Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Blake Anthony Keller University of Tennessee John Alline Kenzakowski* University of Virginia Caroline Margaret Kiefer* St. Mary’s College (IN) Abigail Faith Knight Southern Virginia University Rachel Diane Kraft Longwood University John Baldwin Larus III Virginia Tech Martin Joseph Lomax Michigan State University Blake Thomas Loughran Shenandoah University Josef Trent Love Morehouse College Kathryn Shaye Lucas College of Charleston Grace Isabelle MacDougall* Dickinson College Virginia Rowe Martin Virginia Tech Abigail Lynn Mayes Hood College Jack W. McCarthy Virginia Commonwealth University

Ethan Brewer McCool University of Tennessee David Joseph McCracken Clemson University Griffin Justice McCray College of William & Mary Michael David McGonegal University of Lynchburg Chad Alexander Melton Randolph College Kenley Scott Morriss James Madison University James Ward Nelson Longwood University Corianne Elizabeth Nichols University of Richmond Eudora Kelly Nordt Virginia Tech Deirdre Zara Norman Virginia Tech Lydia Elena Osborne Christopher Newport University Lauren YooRim Park* Wellesley College Mary-Catherine Petrucelli Roanoke College Emma Lee Pettus Virginia Tech Lillian Frances Phillips The Musicians Institute (CA) McCall Elizabeth Phillips* Tulane University Charles Edward Purrington III UNC Charlotte Seth Albert Rhodes Virginia Tech Maya Kaye Rios J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Bailey Catherine Roberts University of Delaware William James Roberts Roanoke College Kendrick Malik Robinson Bridgewater College Jay Andrew Sabharwal* Virginia Tech Jason Lee Sbertoli James Madison University Madeline Grace Scheicher* Virginia Tech Mollie Flynn Schuma College of William & Mary Caroline Grace Schuster* University of Virginia Henry Hale Landry Seward University of South Carolina Bryn Kellen Shannon* Georgia Institute of Technology Jeremy Joel Singleton University of Richmond

Burke Wellman Smith Boise State University Jalen Deondre Smith Clarion University Lucie Stanton Speck* University of South Carolina Christian Compton Sprinkle* University of Georgia Callie Marie Srader Ball State University Randolph Andrew Sullivan* Randolph Macon College Avery Elizabeth Sutro James Madison University Lilly Kathleen Sutton* Virginia Commonwealth University Daniel Doak Talley V Virginia Commonwealth University Emma Graves Thompson Old Dominion University Eleanor Mae Thompson-Burr Dickinson College Nicholas Vincent Totaro American University Lauran Brooke Turner* North Carolina State University Jackson Reid Vallejo Virginia Commonwealth University Ainsley Ford Voeks* University of Michigan Frances Jane Watt* University of Vermont Jarrett Ryan Wells University of Cincinnati Sydney Claire Whiting* University of Notre Dame Millie Lamar Whitmore Elon University Mason Powell Willett Elon University Matthew Robert Williams Randolph Macon College Sofia Grace Wolfe* College of William & Mary SadĂŠ Elizabeth Woods Virginia Commonwealth University JaNiece Eileen Woodson James Madison University Olivia Jane Woolman James Madison University Emily Olivia Woomer* Penn State University Matthew Phillip Young Virginia Tech

*Indicates IB Diploma Candidate

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EXTENDED

ESSAYS The seniors in the IB Extended Essay program were honored for their achievement in Morning Meeting on Wednesday, April 15 and Friday, April 17. Two copies of each essay will be published — one for the student and one for the school to keep on display for posterity.

The Extended Essay is a component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. In no fewer than 4,000 words, students complete an independent, self-directed piece of research, akin to a college-level thesis.

“The Extended Essay is such a unique learning opportunity — one that is open to all Trinity students,” said Head of School Rob Short. “By doing original, independent research and sharing their published findings with the world, students learn to think and write creatively and critically. It is a rich process that prepares them so well for college and beyond.”

The Ultimate Escape: How the Suicides of the Five Lisbon Sisters Lead to the Isolation and Spiritual Death of their Neighborhood in Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides

Evaluating the Extent to Which the Polluting Industries in Hopewell, Virginia, Outweigh the Potential Benefits of Transitioning to a More Environmentally Focused Economy

Jillian Jones Allen

Dylan Singh Dhindsa

The Sears Bankruptcy: An Investigation of Efficiency and Profitability in 21st Century Business

The Impact of Solar Panels Affect the Sahel’s Albedo

Andrew Joseph Edward Arnold

The Effect of Age on False Memory Emma Cooper Ashley

An Analysis of the Involvement of China, Russia, and the United States in the Current Venezuelan Crisis Sophie Macrae Bruns

Analyzing the Acoustical Quality of My School Theatre Atesh Ben Camurdan

The Effect of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccination Rates on the Number of Measles Cases Reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lauren Jane Crick Coffey

The Effectiveness of Colorimetry for Detecting a Simulated Poison in Common Beverages Caitlynn Lee Collins

Marina Nicole Eichenberger

The Ethics of Using Ketamine to Treat Severe Depression Through a Lens of Robert Veatch’s 1972 Patient Physician Models Nicholas Brian Failon

The Effect of Water Temperature on the Filtration Rate of Eastern Oysters Claire Marie Gibbons

To What Extent do Economic Benefits of Tourism in the Yellowstone National Park Outweigh the Dangers of the Natural Hazards?

Lola Rose Goodpasture

A Breath at a Time: The Effects of Weekly Exercise on Carbon Dioxide Production Julianna Elise Goradia

Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis: The Causes and Management of the Defiant Disease Claire Marie Gorey

“A People Without A History”: the Role of the Internal Weakness of the Abyssinian Empire on the Expansion of the Oromo

An Analysis of How Chinua Achebe Reveals Gender Equality in Things Fall Apart

Lela Backes Creamer

Chloe Marie Jepson

Kiribati Republic’s Fate: Sea Wall Or Migration

American Football: An Examination into the NFL and Their Use of Monopoly Power through Governmental Regulation and Subsidies

Catherine Lee Henriques DeSouza

John Alline Kenzakowski

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Her Place at Home: The Impact of World War II-Era Propaganda on Women in the United States Labor Force Caroline Margaret Kiefer

Charlotte Brontë’s Use of Fairy Tale Archetypes and Tropes in Jane Eyre and Their Effects Grace Isabelle MacDougall

The Effect of Perfectionism on Competition Anxiety in College Level Athletes Lauren YooRim Park

The Effect of SPF on Protection from Sun McCall Elizabeth Phillips

The Influence of Wernher von Braun on Rocket Development in the United States in the Period After World War 2 Jay Andrew Sabharwal

The Environmental, Political, and Economic Impacts of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Catalysts of the American Civil War Randolph Andrew Sullivan

“I do not think that I will ever love anyone like that again”: How James Baldwin’s Impacted the Gay Community Through Giovanni’s Room Lilly Kathleen Sutton

Taking Advantage of a Broken System: The Privatization of Prisons in America Lauran Brooke Turner

The Extent To Which the Amount of Sleep Correlates with a Female High School Senior’s Anxiety Ainsley Ford Voeks

Okonkwo’s Self-Destruction and the Fall of Igbo Culture in Things Fall Apart Frances Jane Watt

Venezuela’s Self-Destruction: The Rise of Populism And the Demise of Democracy Sydney Claire Whiting

Genetic and Environmental Factors Causing Anxiety Disorders

The Uighur Genocide: How and Why the Chinese Government is Covering Up One of the Most Destructive Genocides in History

Caroline Grace Schuster

Sofia Grace Wolfe

A Study of Richmond, Virginia’s Development Due to the Urban Heat Island Effect

The Effect of High Fat Diet on the Brain Reward Thresholds in Comparison to the Reward Thresholds While Taking Morphine

Madeline Grace Schleicher

Bryn Shannon

L’influence de Coco Chanel sur la mode et la culture des femmes françaises au début du XXe siècle Lucie Stanton Speck

The Historical Context of the Emergence and Evolution of Epicureanism Christian Compton Sprinkle

Emily Olivia Woomer

MISSION MOMENTS Traditionally at the end of the spring, when the entire school gathers for a special chapel in honor of the senior class, a select group of seniors shares words of reflection and advice for younger Titans. As this year’s Senior Chapel was upended by the coronavirus pandemic, School Chaplain Brian Griffen arranged for four seniors to share their wisdom via video.

Jillian Allen ’20 “At Trinity our volleyball team was a family. I’ve never met a more supportive group of people, and they’ve become my lifelong friends. On senior night it really hit me. I don’t know if I would have the same Trinity experience without my volleyball family. I became a better leader. I learned that making mistakes is okay, because we always pick each other up, no matter what. Being part of a team was an amazing experience I will never forget. Because we won together and we lost together. We never blamed each other for mistakes, and we stuck together until the very end.”

Andrew Arnold ’20 “I decided to say ‘yes.’ That has allowed me to experience a variety of things that I will cherish and remember for years to come. That includes making some of my best friends on the varsity soccer team, events like Telescope Night for the Science Society, and emceeing Cabaret on a night I will never forget with my best friend... I implore you to say ‘yes.’ ...every day in Morning Meeting, opportunities are thrown out there.... And it is so easy to sit there and say ‘no these aren’t for me,’ but I implore you to take another look and maybe say yes to something because you never know what path that will lead you down and what that will teach you about who you are.”

Griffin McCray ’20 “Do not place emphasis on any one day, whether it is your senior night or your prom, to be the best day ever. Instead, live every day at Trinity to the fullest. Make the most of every opportunity you are given and every friendship you make. And I cannot wait to come back to Trinity over the next few years and see what you all accomplish.”

Caroline Schuster ’20 Form relationships with your teachers and advisors. We are so lucky to have faculty that not only want to help us learn in the classroom but are also eager to know us personally... These relationships are one of the things I am most grateful for throughout my high school experience.

Photoss from top to bottom: Jillian Allen ’20, Andrew Arnold ’20, Griffin McCray ’20, Caroline Schuster ’20

CLASS GIFT Inspired by a need to fill the gaps left by the loss of so many cherished traditions last spring, Eudora Nordt ’20 created an Instagram channel to honor her fellow seniors. She designed a beautiful template to share a photo of each senior along with their college destination and intended major. “This will be a chance to celebrate each senior’s accomplishments through social media,” said Nordt. Check out @tes.classof2020 to see this loving tribute to each senior.

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LIVE FROM STUDIO B Trinity launches streaming platform to share compositions and performances by student musicians If you’ve found yourself tapping your toes each morning as you wait for Virtual Morning Meeting to begin, then you can thank a group of talented Trinity musicians who have been composing, recording and producing music for a brand new online streaming channel, TESRadio.

From the orchestral sounds of Atesh Camurdan ’20 to the saxophone ramblings of David McCracken ’20 to rock ’n’ roll by V Talley ’20, TESRadio spotlights some of the best original compositions and performances by this year’s Titans. Hosted on SoundCloud, the site is available to be streamed anywhere.

The inspiration for the streaming platform goes back to the first days of the pandemic. When Trinity first began its distance learning program, Brian Rollins shared a photo of himself setting up shop in the music loft above his house, a spot he dubbed “Studio B.” He and his students were able to continue playing and analyzing music, thanks to collaborative software and the powerful MacBook computers that every student has through Trinity’s one-to-one laptop program.

“While it’s not quite business as usual, we’ve all managed to continue moving forward in our various pursuits,” said Rollins. “The IB music classes are busy analyzing and composing music, many of the seniors in that class are also preparing to present their recitals from their homes, thereby incorporating some additional recording skills into their class experience. They also are able to continue their compositional efforts unimpeded, thanks to the inclusion of compositional software on their school laptops.”

Rollins also continued to work with students to produce virtual collaborative performances. “The students will play along with the template, recording their individual parts and then share these back to me,” he said. “I’ll then stitch together the individual files to make a composite fullband performance, hopefully resembling what we would have presented to the public back on March 19.”

Check out TESRadio now at

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trinityes.org/arts/performances

SENIORSTUDIO

Mid-May is the traditional time for Trinity’s annual Spring Art Show, as students, family and guests fill the Estes Athletic Center to enjoy hundreds of pieces by talented student artists. This year, the visual arts department collaborated to present SENIORStudio, an online art gallery highlighting the creative work of the class of 2020.

View the complete gallery, along with an introductory statement by each artist, at:

trinityes.org/arts T I TA N T R A I L

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CLASS

NOTES

HOMECOMING 2020 POSTPONED Over the summer, the school made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 ’0s & ’5s Alumni Reunions (originally scheduled for the weekend of October 31) to a later date. While this will be disappointing to all alumni, the decision was made in the interests of the health and safety of our entire community — faculty, staff, parents, students and alumni — during these unprecedented public health challenges.

We hope to be able to gather and celebrate the Classes of ’0s and ’5s in the spring. Contact Alumni and Annual Giving Associate Julia Bowling (juliabowling@trinityes.org) if you have any questions or would like to serve as a Class Chair.

Class of 1976

Bruce Meyer ’76 surprised the development staff in February when he sent in his 1970s Trinity varsity baseball jersey. Thanks for the great surprise, Bruce!

Class of 1978

Tom Duke ’78 writes: “I am the proud Grandfather of three smart, beautiful, fun and creative granddaughters: Audrey (12), Arya (7), Devan (1 year 3 months). Early last year I was promoted to senior associate principal at Wendel. We cover all disciplines of architecture, engineering, interior design, energy, landscape architecture, transportation, waste water management and construction management. I continue as needed to do pro-bono services for Side By Side providing professional services for

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DUKE

MEYER

architecture and design. I have also made jewelry as an artist for the last 30 years and continue to do art shows when time allows.

My happy oasis is my river place on the Potomac River so I am there as much as possible when I am not spending time with my adorable granddaughters.”

Class of 1988

Melinda Sandkam ’88 writes: “I’m excited to be pursuing a library and information science master’s through online studies at University of Tennessee. Pursuing the degree has brought me back to Virginia to be with family.”

BROWN

Class of 1981

NUCKOLS

The Trinity community is grateful for the remarkable recovery from COVID-19 by local physician and alumnus Jeff Brown ’81. An in-depth article by Eric Kolenich in the Richmond Times-Dispatch details Brown’s experience battling the virus. “I’m incredibly grateful I got the care that I got, both from the shift-to-shift bedside nursing and staff and from my physicians,” Brown said.

Class of 2004

Stuart Raper Nuckols ’04 and husband Joey welcomed their second daughter on April 3, 2020. Big sister Lena was very excited to meet Martha Mae.

Class of 2005

Sarah Goldstein Taylor ’05 writes: “My husband and I purchased a tiny farm in Powhatan. We are enjoying country life while raising our two kids, Easton (5) and Tegan (3), 9 ducks, 10 chickens, 4 cats, 2 dogs, 2 rabbits, and 10 goats! We love keeping up with Trinity!”

VIRTUAL ALUMNI GATHERINGS Trinity’s held its first-ever virtual alumni event on April 21, 2020. About a dozen alumni (representing every Trinity decade) gathered in virtual space on Tuesday, April 21 to hear an update from Head of School Rob Short and share their own experiences adjusting to work and school online.

Alumni gathered virtually again on June 4 for the annual Green, White and Brew! While guests couldn’t try Rob Short’s homemade brew this year, each participant brought their favorite drink of choice on screen with them. Cheers!

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class Notes

TICKLE

JOHNSON

YOUNG

Class of 2007

Nika Bejou ’07 writes: “I graduated in 2007 from Trinity and then to VCU for undergrad and Western New England University for pharmacy school. I did two years of pharmacy residency training at Yale and specialized in infectious diseases. I am now a board certified infectious diseases specialist (BCIDP) and work as a medical science liaison at Janssen. I still work part time at Yale and am actively involved with infectious diseases research. My significant other, Rahul, is a transplant pharmacist and we have an adorable golden retriever named Cyrus.”

Class of 2009

Rebekah Hupp Martin ’09 writes, “The Martin family moved to Lexington, Virginia this summer because I start as an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering this fall at the Virginia Military Institute.”

2020 has been an exciting year for Philip Tickle ’09 and his family, thus far. Philip and Chelsea happily welcomed their first child, Michael Sutherland, on April 23. In May, despite the school and college closures, Philip finished his master’s in education from the University of Richmond, including a Pass with Distinction Award for his comprehensive exam. Finally, in July, they celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary!

Class of 2010

Caroline Lewandowski Altier ’10 and her husband welcomed their first child, Madison, on June 8, 2020.

Class of 2014

Tyler Johnson ’14 was featured in the Richmond Times-Dispatch in March for his training plans amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The non roster White Sox player stayed busy and in shape by working out at “public parks and open fields around Glendale, Arizona.”

Class of 2015

Kathryn Young ’15 began working at CBS19 News in Charlottesville in January 2020 as a news reporter after graduating from Washington and Lee University in May of 2019.

In an interview on April 22 on ABC 8 during the exciting leadup to the NFL Draft, reporter Natalie Kalibat called Jack Freudenthal ’15 “one of the best stories in college football, going from walk-on as a freshman at Wake Forest to team captain as a fifth-year senior.”

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ALUMNI BOOK CLUB WITH FRANCIS DECKER Alumni joined English teacher Francis Decker virtually on October 7 for Trinity’s first-ever alumni Book Club!

“I chose Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng because it meets at that strange intersection of great writing and great television. The book was adopted as a series on Hulu earlier this year and I thought its popularity might help foster curiosity about the book. I like to teach books that ask the reader to make ethical decisions that don’t have an easy answer, Little Fires Everywhere certainly qualifies.” — Francis Decker Mark your calendars for the rest of this year’s Book Club meetings: • January 14 (book title TBD) • March 18 (book title TBD) • May 6 (book title TBD)

class Notes

If there is one thing that’s for sure, the Titan community loves to stay connected with one another.

The new Titan Connections online career directory is the newest way to do so!

No matter the industry you’re in,

DEAR SENIORS

In a blog post en titled “Dear Sen iors” last spring, Ellis Mumford ’16 thoughtfully artic ulated the comm on emotions of so m any college and high school sen iors during these unprecedented disruptions to sc hools around the worl d.

we’d love to feature you.

Fill out your career networking information on the Alumni page of the website trinityes.org/arts or send it to alumni relations associate Julia Bowling at juliabowling@trinityes.org and let the connecting begin!

Class of 2016

Avery Archibald ’16, like many college seniors, had their year end abruptly due to COVID-19. To make light of the heartbreaking situation, Archibald created a Tik Tok dressed in her cap and gown picking up her diploma from the UPS delivery driver. Amanda Tarkington ’16 recorded the viral video which was later featured in JMU’s newspaper along with TMZ.

Class of 2017

Bizzy Hyatt ’17 is a teaching assistant for Frost Montessori School in the Toddler Room.

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class Notes

COURAGE IN Leadership It was no surprise to the Trinity community when Henry Coleman ’20 took to the stage at a racial injustice protest at Duke University on August 27.

As a Trinity student, Coleman was a charismatic leader in the classroom, on the basketball court, and was elected Student Government Association President his senior year. His peers and teachers described him as a passionate learner and a good listener. At the protest outside of Cameron Indoor Stadium, he shared his own experiences as a Black man and spoke out against the racial inequality happening across the country today. He stated, “We will demand change. We will demand justice. We will gain equality. We will be great.” Hundreds of students listened in person while thousands of people viewed online. His speech has since reached over 140,000 views on Instagram

.

—Photo by Reagan Lunn/Duke Athletics

SPORTS EQUALITY Robert de Wolff ’12 and Bryant Drayton ’12 were recently featured in Richmond Inno regarding the rebrand of their company SEQL, formally known as STAC. Begun as “a pathway for student-athletes and college coaches to connect,” said Drayton, they would like the company to grow from a recruiting platform to “building an athletic community.”

“SEQL, which derives from Sports Equality, represents a platform to elevate the next gen athlete,” said Drayton. “Every athlete now has the opportunity to promote their name, image and likeness through this platform. They will learn the value of being a marketable athlete, while never allowing someone’s analysis tell their story.”

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class Notes

ONE TO WATCH Josef Kuhn ’19, a freshman at Belmont University in Nashville, recently released his first single, “Ahead,” on Acrophase Records and was featured on Ones to Watch by LiveNation. The site called it “a breezy track built for effortless backyard days, and listening to it will easily be the best three minutes of your day.” —Photo: Tyler Krippaehne

PRO MOVE Congratulations to Zane Lewis ’16 on becoming the first Trinity Titan to reach the NFL! Lewis signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals following the 2020 NFL Draft in April and has since been acquired by the New York Jets and is currently on their practice squad.

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In Sympathy The Trinity community offers its condolences to the families of the following people who have recently passed away.

We apologize for any unintentional omissions.

As of September 10, 2020.

Thomas Ebeling, father of Steve Ebeling ’12, died on January 1, 2020.

Bronwen Zwicker ’00, sister of Vicki Zwicker ’97, died on March 4, 2020.

Stephen Byrd ’79 died on March 20, 2020.

Billy Stevens ’78 died on April 13, 2020.

Robert Jacobs, husband of former Trinity faculty member Liz Jacobs and father of Richard Jacobs ’82 and Katherine Jacobs Cockerham ’87, died on April 21, 2020.

Janie Clark, mother of Catherine Clark ’86 and Elizabeth Clark ’00, died on May 11, 2020.

Sundra Faber, mother of Beth Faber ’75, Christine Faber Shuman ’76, Aileen Faber Cooke ’79, died on May 17, 2020.

Former Trustee Chair Richard Sage, father of Kathy Sage Oden ’78, Ansley Sage Gift ’81, and Laura Sage Stewart ’86, died on May 21, 2020.

Elizabeth Burks, mother of Steve Burks ’79 and Sharon Burks Pastore ’81 and grandmother of Roy Burks ’10, died on May 25, 2020.

Christine Garrison Guise-Wright ’94, sister of Drew Garrison ’98 and mother of Peyton Guise ’20 and Davis Guise ’23, died on June 6, 2020.

John Wood, father of Hillary Wood Grotos ’77 and Rachel Wood Russell ’80 and grandfather of Lya Zeno Sinclair ’02, Kristen Grotos Spain ’03 (Josh ’00), Clair Zeno Carpenter ’05 (Will ’05), Falor Zeno ’08, and Tappe Grotos ’15, died on June 9, 2020.

Randolph Totten, husband of former Trustee Chair and Advisory Board member Virginia Totten and father of Fitz Totten ’91 and Caroline Totten Gary ’94, died on June 22, 2020.

Captain Michael Ott, husband of Shawn Chatfield Ott ’84, died on July 10, 2020.

Francis White, father of Liz White ’77 and Mindi White Carter ’78, died on July 23, 2020.

Amanda Jones, mother of Laura Jones ’84 and Will Jones ’87, died on August 16, 2020.

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Brian Rollins Trinity Band and Music Director Trinity Parent pictured with son Matthew ‘22 and daughter Magovern (behind the camera: spouse Beth Murphy Rollins)

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