Titan Trail (Spring 2024)

TITAN TRAIL

MID-YEAR IMPACTREPORT SEEINSIDE

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

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.

Community doesn’t happen by accident.

The community that unites Trinity students, parents, teachers and alumni is the result of decades of intentional dedication, enthusiasm and creativity. As you read this issue of the Titan Trail, I hope you will also appreciate the many facets and results of this work.

In the special recognitions of English teacher Francis Decker’s 25th year at teaching at Trinity (page 10) — along with science teacher Pauline Crowling’s 80th birthday (page 7) — we celebrate two “Titans of Teaching” in the truest sense of the words. Their commitment to excellence in the classroom is still paying dividends for generations of Trinity students.

Please also note the special section highlighting the contributions of our nascent “Parent Pathways” program (now in its second year) in coordination with our tireless volunteers from the Trinity Parent Association (page 14). These programs have demonstrated the enduring impact of the school and parents working together in partnership.

In the alumni section, please take note of the international correspondence from our young alumni in France (page 44) — as well as an intergenerational adventure in Chile brought about by a mutual love for field hockey and family heritage (page 45). These stories, like so many others, demonstrate Trinity’s growing global footprint.

But the centerpiece — both literally and figuratively — is this year’s mid-year philanthropic Impact Report, which details the ways, both large and small, in which parents, alumni and friends have come together to ensure that the community we cherish will be here for generations to come. My sincere thanks go out to everyone who has contributed this year to our philanthropic campaigns.

The common thread through all of these features? People who are united in their commitment to an institution they believe in. Indeed, community doesn’t happen by accident, and we are grateful for all of the Titans who have made it a reality.

Rob Short Head of School

TITAN TRAIL

ADMINISTRATION

Robert A. Short, Head of School

Mary Jordan, Head of Employee Life

Brian Phillips, Head of Campus Life

Maria Bartz, Head of Student Support and Academic Program

Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, Head of Community Engagement

Alyssa McBride, Director of Development & Alumni Relations

Anna Prillaman, Athletic Director

Margie Vaughan Snead ’85, Director of Admission

David Ready, Director of Communications & Marketing

Joseph Monaco, Director of Operations

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Chris Ellis ’81, Chair

Cynthia L. Coleman, Vice Chair

Randy Sullivan ’83, Secretary

Lisa J. Acquaye

Sourya El-Ayoubi

Henry D.W. Burt

Richard Flaherty

Kyle W. Hendrick ’05

Charles T. Hill, Jr. ’98

R. Braxton Hill IV

David C. Kearfott ’94

Anne McCray

Jana McQuaid

Rebecca A. Muminovic ’93

Clay C. Reynolds

Ann Roberts ’80

Tia Walker

Todd Willett

Sam Williams ’08

ADVISORY BOARD

Development:

Alyssa McBride

Director of Development & Alumni Relations

Sarah Herbert

Assistant Director of Development & Alumni Relations

Sam Mickens

Leadership Gifts Officer

Photography:

Communications: David Ready Director of Communications & Marketing

Breanoh Lafayette-Brooks Digital Marketing Manager

David Ready, Breanoh Lafayette-Brooks, Tom Woodward, Kyle van de Kamp ’12, Bridget Hazel Photography, Ned Trice, Amy Chaplin ’88, Cynthia Chinworth, Wendell-Powell Studio, TESPN, Carter Tyree, Adam Lonon, Alex Freed ’25, Rick Hamlin ’96, Kristin Keeney, Dylan Norvell, Elizabeth Kelley

Contributing reporter (pages 29-31): Alex Freed ’25

Contributing reporter (page 34): Carter Tyree

Mary Bliley

J. Read Branch, Jr.

Otis L. Brown

Milton Cerny

Swannee Goodman Ericson ’75

Carol Estes-Williams

Daniel Allen Gecker

Stephen E. Hupp

Joseph C. Kearfott

Kelly J. O’Keefe

W. B. Perkinson, Jr.

José Santiago

Martha V. Singdahlsen

Richard Thweatt Wilson, III

Charles F. Witthoefft

AROUND THE COURTYARD

RISE AND SHINE!

This year, a new Trinity tradition was born: Senior Sunrise Breakfast. Seniors wore their class shirts, enjoyed many breakfast options and had time to soak up the sunrise and make wonderful memories with their friends before being presented to the student body at Morning Meeting.

NEW SPORTS MEDIA CLASS

Titans have seen a lot of familiar faces around campus this year thanks to Trinity’s new Sports Media class elective taught by Rick Hamlin ’96. Guest speakers including Lane Casadonte from WTVR CBS 6, Riley Wyant from NBC12, Preston Willett ’11 from CBS 19 in Charlottesville, Billy Shields ’93 from VPM WCVE 23 — as well as many more — have come to campus to share their insights on broadcast media and give practical advice about the business of broadcasting. Exposure to so many professional insiders sets up our students for success even before college.

DIGGING IN THE DIRT

Students in the brand new Archaeology elective took to Dunn Courtyard to dig for clues about unknown, miniature civilizations. Groups created their own archeological sites in large, portable tubs — burying objects in several layers, and writing a backstory to be revealed over time through the artifacts buried within. The groups then swapped bins, excavating another group’s project without knowing anything about it — and reconstructing and interpreting the civilization through the creation of an archeological record.

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

In the last moments of summer, the Trinity Science Society held their annual Telescope Night event on campus. Guided by seasoned astronomers from the Richmond Astronomical Society, students and staff were able to observe planets, moons, star clusters, Starlink satellites, the International Space Station and distant galaxies. Students were even able to download an app that can identify stars and constellations by holding their phone to the sky.

FUN FABRIC FRIDAY

The Trinity tradition of Fun Fabric Friday continues. Teachers Chris Markunas, Sarah McDermott and Elizabeth Kelley sported their cool threads on the First Friday of the new school year.

A NEIGHBORLY RIVER REFRESH

Community engagement and time outdoors are both aspects of campus life that are unique to Trinity. The class of 2028 participated in a morning river cleanup at the James River’s Pony Pasture park to promote good citizen leadership and compassion for the world around them.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS ONE MILE FUN RUN

The cross country team had a blast running with the Special Olympics of Virginia local Richmond Chapter for the One Mile Fun Run on Trinity’s track. Each member of the Trinity team was paired with a member of the Special Olympics team to mentor and encourage throughout the race. Participants received a medal, teeshirt and snacks for their hard work!

STORYTIME

Titans in Kristine Keeny’s communications class went to read stories to St. Michael’s Episcopal School kindergarteners. This exercise was not only entertaining and sweet, but it provided an opportunity for students to practice voice tone and inflection in their speech patterns

GOING BACK IN TIME

Each year in September the Museum of Culpeper partners with Luck Stone Quarry to provide public access to view the dinosaur footprints created over 215 million years ago! Members of the Science Society (student club) and other like-minded students were able to travel to the site to examine the fossils first hand and learn more about the amazing world of paleontology.

HAPPY FALL Y’ALL

It was an amazing day for getting into the spooky spirit with the annual pumpkin carving contest! Students and clubs came together in Dunn Courtyard to carve and craft the perfect pumpkin for a chance to win a prize. Awards were given for most creative, best carved pumpkin and best in show.

TITAN TRAIL

OH SAY CAN YOU SEE?

The Trinity TriTones were invited to sing the National Anthem at VCU’s first home basketball game this year. Their harmonies were even broadcast over ESPN and they were welcomed back to sing at the Siegel Center another two times during the season.

SAFETY FIRST!

Director of Security Chris Hugate gave a campus tour to Richmond Fire Department Company 25 in November to help them get to know our campus in case of a future emergency. Being proactive is an important step as we continue to keep our Titans safe each day. We are so appreciative of our local authorities, and throughout the year you may see other first responders around Pittaway as we continue to review our emergency response plans.

MODEL BEHAVIOR

Trinity students participated in Model UN at Steward School and William & Mary this year. Three students worked in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) addressing real-world issues of climate change, waste management and resource conservation. Two members of the delegation participated in a crisis committee working on a scenario called “World War Z” that saw the rise of a zombie virus! Committees were sequestered on a floating boat, trying to save humanity from demise.

ENGINEERS IN THE COURTYARD

In the fall, students tried their hand at conquering an obstacle course of items using a hydraulic arm to pick up and deposit items. Fluid mechanics vocabulary were introduced in this activity along with conversations about how hydraulics are used in everyday life.

Students found that working the levers effectively required concentration and stamina. Our Innovation Lab sponsored this activity and gave all students an opportunity to explore the science and technology used in daily operations.

WHEN I SAY CHRISTMAS, YOU SAY

Christmas Quiz Bowl is a time honored Trinity tradition that includes trivia, candy, trophies and a lot of holiday cheer! Thank you to our master of ceremonies and Trinity Chaplin, Brian Griffen, for another successful Quiz Bowl!

FIRST IN CLASS

Farrah Berry ’25 Wins 2024 Women in STEM Award from FIRST Chesapeake Robotics League

In recognition of her leadership, teamwork and passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), Farrah Berry ’25 was named the recipient of the Women in STEM Award at the recent FIRST Chesapeake Robotics breakfast hosted by Leidos HQ in Reston, VA on February 6, 2024. Berry joined seven other semifinalists from the region (Maryland, DC, Virginia and North Carolina) in highlighting the vital role women play in shaping the future of technology and innovation. The award included a $1,000 college scholarship.

“Farrah's application stood out for several reasons,” said Shelly Stoddard, Director of FIRST Robotics, Virginia. “First, her maturity and poise were impressive and what I like to call 'old people wisdom.' Second, Farrah is such a multifaceted young person. She plays basketball, loves school, does outreach and advocacy for women in STEM and the list went on. Overall, she stood out for being a true representation for all the core values and more that FIRST Inspires promotes. We are proud to have her represent FIRST Chesapeake as a Women in STEM Scholarship winner!”

Berry is a co-captain of Titan Robotics Team 539, representing Trinity in the FIRST robotics league competitions. In 2023, the team brought home a first place banner from the March 2023 district competition in Portsmouth, VA. Cynthia Chinworth, coach of the Trinity robotics team also accompanied Berry to the awards ceremony. “Farrah is one of those unique students who has an innate understanding of her strengths and weaknesses and her steady approach to her work allows her to generate exceptional

results,” said Chinworth. “Farrah’s interests are broad and she is leaning towards a degree in Aerospace Engineering. It is such a joy to be a part of Farrah’s journey because she truly is interested in the world around her and her dedication is inspiring.”

In her application, Berry wrote of her desire to share her passion for STEM and robotics with other students at Trinity through her involvement with clubs like the Science Society, Motor Sports Club, Mathletes and classes in game design. “In these events, I also encourage other students to join the FIRST community with us so that they too have a chance to be involved in a tech-based organization that has the vision to make a positive impact on the world,” she wrote.

FACULTY NEWS

LIFELONG LEARNING

Nikki Carroll, Latin teacher and head of the World Languages Department, completed a doctorate of education (Ed.D.) in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership from the College of William & Mary in December 2023.

Dr. Carroll embarked on this academic journey in the summer of 2021 and, after an intense and fulfilling two and a half years, she defended her dissertation in the winter of 2023. The process involved two intensive summer institutes and a commitment to one weekend a month in Williamsburg for in-person classes. Courses ranged from program evaluation to data-based decisions, educational law and social justice in education.

The focus of Dr. Carroll's dissertation, titled "A Comparison of the College Success of International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidates and Course Candidates," shows her investment in Trinity's academic philosophy. Drawing on data from Trinity's graduating classes spanning from 2014 to 2022, she explored various aspects of college success, including acceptance rates, enrollment rates, retention rates, graduation rates and time to college graduation for both International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma candidates and students who took one or more IB courses.

"I loved the process of researching for my dissertation,” she said. “It was fulfilling and exciting to find answers to questions members of the Trinity community have always had.”

Cheri Bradby, Spanish teacher, completed her master’s in Spanish language teaching in January 2024. A longstanding goal that recently became a reality thanks to technology and a supportive community, Bradby’s journey is, in her word’s, “a dream come true.”

“I have always wanted a master's in Spanish but life doesn't always agree with our timing,” she said. “Access to technology afforded me this opportunity as I was able to complete all of my coursework online

versus in-person which was not an option for me as a mom, wife and full-time teacher. I am blessed to have had the best family, friends, colleagues and students who were of great support during this time. I can't thank them all enough for their patience, love and support.”

Her thesis, titled "La Motivación y Desmotivación de los Aprendientes de Herencia Hispana al Aprender el Español en Nivel Secundario/ Universitario," delves into the motivation and demotivation of Spanish heritage language learners at the secondary and university levels. This exploration sheds light on the unique challenges faced by learners, providing a valuable resource for educators seeking to enhance their teaching methodologies.

Cheri's son unknowingly played a crucial role in inspiring her thesis topic, being a heritage language learner himself. Her desire to support and motivate him during his language-learning journey fueled her commitment to understanding and improving the experiences of other heritage language learners.

“I have learned so much during this process and plan to continue to implement all that I have learned into my daily classroom instruction," Bradby says.

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Anna Prillaman, Director of Athletics, was awarded the Athletic Administrator of the Year for Independent Schools in April 2024 by the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (VIAAA), a support arm to the Virginia High School League (VHSL). “Anna was selected at the annual meeting of the Past Presidents Council and it is richly deserved,” said Bob Stratton, VIAAA Executive Director. “No matter the award, it's always an honor when colleagues, external or internal, take the time to give you a pat on the back at a job well done,” said Prillaman.

FACULTY MILESTONES

Mallory Ballard, school counselor, welcomed a new baby girl on October 31, 2023. At 8 lbs., 19 inches, Baby Lucy joins the Ballard Family with her father Brent and big sister McKenna.

Daniel Fisher, science teacher, welcomed baby Maeve Annalise Fisher on February 11, 2024. She weighed 7 lbs., 8 oz. and was 22 inches in length.

Christy Darlington, science teacher, celebrated the birth of her first grandchild, Callum Michael Gilbride, on November 28, 2023.

Kelsey Schaefer-Holt ’11* was married to Nicolas Holt at Fairview Farm in Powhatan, VA on October 14, 2023.

Hillary Wood Grotos '77* and husband Karl welcomed their 11th grandchild on February 19! Thomas Falor Zeno, Jr. was born to parents Falor '08 and Sara in Richmond, weighing 8 lbs., 6 oz. He joins big sister Savannah who is 4.

(*see photos in Alumni Class Notes)

BALLARD

FISHER

PERPETUAL DEVOTION

80th birthday celebration honors Pauline Crowling’s decades-long love of teaching and learning

Wednesday, October 18 was a uniquely special day at Trinity, as students, teachers, alumni and distinguished guests threw a surprise party to celebrate Pauline Crowling’s 80th birthday. A chemistry teacher and role model for intellectual curiosity, contagious enthusiasm and love of science, Crowling has been a fixture on Trinity’s campus for more than 45 of the school’s 51-year history.

Crowling’s day began with a “Happy Birthday!” serenade at Morning Meeting and the unveiling of commemorative tee shirts emblazoned with the mantra “Trinity — powered by Pauline Crowling for 45 years.” Students and faculty signed a huge birthday card, gathering at lunchtime in Dunn Courtyard to enjoy cupcakes and watch Crowling demonstrate one of her favorite chemistry experiments, “elephant toothpaste.” Local media coverage included a morning shoutout from WWBT Channel 12 and glowing profile from WTVR CBS 6 reporter Cameron Thompson.

colleagues.” Reflecting on the past five decades, Crowling recalled that when she graduated from college it was still unusual for women to find professions in STEM-related fields. She is proud of the wider opportunities now available to women — due in no small part to teachers like her inspiring students to pursue careers in science.

Former students like Sage Timberline ’11 recalled the “surprise and delight'' they felt in her chemistry classes. Kay Ferris Schlembach ’80 called Crowling a “ball of positive energy.” Others remembered the joy and anticipation of going into her classroom each day. Many like Kent Pankey ’81 loved the sense of humor she used to manage pranks and hi-jinks from even the rowdiest of classrooms.

Named Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) in 1989, Crowling was also the head of the Science Department for several years in the late ’80s and early ’90s. No longer teaching a full load of chemistry, she is still substitute teaching, helping in the front office and coaching the school’s Battle of the Brains team. In addition to science, she has a passion for music, which she instilled in her son, Patrick, and daughter, Kathy, both guitarists, and she is also a mainstay performer in Trinity’s annual Cabaret music revue.

“I don’t feel elderly,” she said. “There’s no reason why I need to stop. It gets you up and out of the house and talking to students and

But most of all, there were messages of gratitude for sparking a passion for science and for learning, like Lindsay Wheeler ’00, now a chemistry professor at the University of Virginia. “When I tell people what I do, they usually cringe and say 'I hated chemistry in high school',” Wheeler wrote. “I am always proud to say that I had a knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and amazing high school chemistry teacher who, unknowingly, helped put me on the path that has led me where I am today.”

Len Norman ’89 put it succinctly, when he wrote: “You set the example for what a great teacher should be — a competent professional who meets their students where they are and elevates them up from there with compassion and understanding.”

If you would like to add your recollections and birthday wishes to the list, please email communications@trinityes.org.

TRINITY WELCOMES…

SEPTEMBER 14

Liz Pearce

Partnership & Outreach Manager, Congressional Hunger Center

“Among people your age between 11 and 25, about 30% are facing food insecurity every day.”

SEPTEMBER 18

Rev. Junee Godsey

Rector, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church

“The Eucharist is important to me, because we are made of bodies. Our bodies feel, touch, see, hear, taste, smell. The Eucharist involves our whole bodies in the actions of standing and kneeling, praying and opening our arms, then, of course, eating… it helps us become incorporated, made one body through Christ."

SEPTEMBER 20

Nancy Toscano

President & CEO, UMFS

“When you’re feeling a little low, when you’re feeling like life is just not cooperating, and you’re having a pity party, go to Kroger, and get a tube of cookies and bake them. Bring them over to our campus and give them to our kids. I promise you, it will change your perspective."

SEPTEMBER 22

Christy Hemsworth

Richmond Animal Care and Control Foundation

“Our task is two-fold. We have officers in the field who are taking care of bad people who are doing bad things to animals, and we have a shelter where we house those animals and move them on their way.”

OCTOBER 4

Megan Angstadt

ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation

“Between six and seven children are diagnosed with cancer every week in Virginia. We are honored to be one of the resources to be there for these families. We can only do what we do because of amazing community partners like you.”

JANUARY 10

Rev. Andie Rohrs

Associate for Pastoral Care, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

“To use Trinity’s tagline, you are the light when you discover your path, which is really about deciding how you will use the gifts God has given you to add more light to the world… look for the light in the big and the small ways that it appears. And be the light in a world that desperately needs it.”

FEBRUARY 21

Greg Olsen

Sports Commentator and Former NFL Tight End

“The greatest growth in all of our lives comes in the moments we are most uncomfortable. We crave comfort, but it doesn’t allow us to challenge ourselves. You can't wait to be good at something before you try it.”

FEBRUARY 26

Hadley Miller

Former School Rep., Fellowship of Christians in Universities & Schools (FOCUS)

“We’ve learned that it takes incredible risk to truly see other people and to allow yourself to be seen. But I think it’s worth it. It’s what we want more than anything else.”

A CALL TO KINSHIP

In celebration and acknowledgement of November as Native American Heritage Month in the US, Trinity welcomed to Chapel on Monday, November 6 the Rev. Dr. Bradley Hauff, the Presiding Bishop’s Missioner for Indigenous Ministries for the Episcopal Church.

Hauff led the assembled students through an Episcopal liturgy that included prayers from Native American churches and a scripture reading from the Book of Ruth. “Forgive us for the colonialism that stains our past,” he said in his opening prayer. “Heal us of this history. Remind us that none of us were discovered, since none of us were lost, but that we are all gathered within the sacred circle of your community… Call us to kinship.”

Rev. Hauff began his homily by sharing some meaningful phrases in his native Lakota language. He said that Lakota people greet one another with the words hau mitakuyepi, which means “hello relatives,” and they conclude their prayers with the phrase mitakuye oyasin, which means “all my relatives.”

“To the Lakota, as with virtually all Indigenous people, everything exists in a state of relationship: people, animals, fish, bird, insects… the wind, mountains, stars and planets of the Cosmos,” he said. “To Indigenous people, the Universe is a living being, alive and well… the Earth and Cosmos our relatives. They are not possessions to exploit.”

“It’s important that we are reminded that the Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth,” he said, reiterating that all people are related to each other and to all of creation. “Honor the Earth by taking care of the Earth. If we take care of the Earth, the Earth will take care of us.”

GABRIEL’S REBELLION

Gabriel Prosser, an enslaved person born in Virginia in 1776, planned and nearly succeeded in leading a rebellion against Virginia’s economy of forced labor in 1800. To commemorate this moment in the history of both our city and country, Richmond’s Public Art Commission is commissioning a permanent public art installation for the start of the city’s Slave Trail just east of downtown along the James River.

In a class project grounded in both local and national history, students in Jamie Suhre’s 10th grade history class read “Come August, Come Freedom,” a book about Gabriel’s Rebellion by Richmonder Gigi Amateau. Like the author herself, students analyzed primary and secondary sources, many of them from the Library of Virginia, to write a document-based essay. Finally, the students worked in groups to develop a proposal for the Slave Trail memorial to Gabriel’s Rebellion, using the city’s prompt to “showcase Gabriel and his legacy as part of a broader narrative of institutionalized slavery in America and demonstrate historical accuracy.”

At the conclusion of the unit, Amateau visited Trinity to hear the students’ proposals and share details about her own research process. Students heard and sang a song about Gabriel's Rebellion written and performed by visiting musician Nancy Rives

REDEFINING AMERICAN SOUND

Damien Geter is on a quest to “redefine the American sound,” as he described his artistic goals to students in IB Music class in a January visit to Trinity. As composer-in-residence for the Richmond Symphony, Geter infuses classical music with various styles from the Black diaspora. His growing body of work includes chamber, vocal, orchestral and full operatic works. He has been commissioned by Virginia Opera to create a new opera called “Loving vs. Virginia,” a musical telling of the famous Supreme Court decision in 1967 striking down a Virginia state law that violated the 14th amendment to allow interracial marriage in the Commonwealth.

Geter spoke to students about his creative process, answered questions regarding the future of classical music and offered professional advice. “Opera is in a renaissance era now, the classics are the foundations to new art,” he said. “I’m excited about the future of orchestra, as more representation is brought to the artform.”

Using creative influences from Luther Vandross, The Commodores and Anita Baker, he visualizes a new opera on stage using staging cues to help him write sections of music. His professional advice for musicians, “Be nice to everyone you meet,” he said. “You never know how your influence will affect others and don’t be afraid to network to get your art seen and heard.”

AMATEAU RIVES

THIS CHARMING MAN

Over 25 years in the Classroom, Francis Decker Challenges Students to Think, Write and Laugh

Oh, there’s more

to life

than

books,

you know But not much more, not much more…

The lyrics from the song “Handsome Devil” keep coming back to English teacher Francis Decker, some four decades after they were recorded by the iconic English alternative rock band The Smiths. “If I were to get a tattoo, it would probably be that line,” says Decker. First-time visitors to Decker’s classroom are immediately awed by the variety of classic movie and rock posters from the past few decades. From Morrissey and The Smiths to the Big Lebowski and Public Enemy, the walls of room D-4 in the Academic Building could be a self-guided tour of the most influential cinematic, musical and literary icons of the last 50 years.

But it's the books that matter. Stacked behind Decker’s desk and lectern is the treasured collection of a voracious reader. Raised in a rural part of King William County, about an hour northeast of Richmond, Decker’s love of literature was formed almost out of necessity. “We didn't have cable, I never had an Atari. Our TV could get four channels, and this was before VCRs,” he recalls. “In the bright blue days of October. It's too cold to be outside. So you sit by the fire and you read.

think write laugh

I worked my way through a lot of Mark Twain. Leon Uris and Stephen King. My father used to say, ‘If you sit around and watch TV all day, you've wasted your day. If you sit around and read a book all day, that’s one of the best days you’ll ever have.’”

Indeed — “There's more to life than books you know, but not much more.”

BACK TO THE OLD HOUSE

When Francis Decker first arrived at Trinity in 1999, the building now known as Morgan Hall was still under construction. “The faculty were all in trailers,” he recalls. In his first faculty meeting, then headmaster Tom Aycock announced with relief that there would be 230 students coming that fall, which meant the school had “made budget.”

No novice to the classroom, he had already taught at Mechanicsville High School, Virginia Union University, J. Sargent Reynolds, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Still, his first year was a challenge. “When you teach college, you might teach five times a week,” he says. “Five times a day was a big change for me. I was physically worn down.”

Ultimately, it was Trinity’s unique combination of creative freedom and student gratitude that led him to fall in love with teaching. “The kids

here were so polite and so kind,” he remembers. “I had never had anybody thank me for my teaching [before].”

In college, he thought he wanted to be a psychologist before going back to VCU for his master’s in literature in 1996. (This year, Decker is teaching a psychology elective at Trinity, just like he did in 1999.) “That first year, one of my student’s parents was a doctor, and he brought in a rubber model of a brain. I put a sticky note inside, saying ‘YOU ARE HERE.’” The brain model — and the note — have stuck; they remain a fixture on his desk for curious students to decipher.

The bulk of Decker’s workload has been devoted to 11 Honors and the IB junior year, where he has built a reputation as a sought-after guide for the IB Extended Essay as well as a master instructor of the craft and structure of essay writing. “When given a writing assignment, our graduates are not intimidated like their peers,” says Head of School Rob Short, noting Decker’s influence. “They immediately know what to do.”

He credits his master’s adviser, Catherine Ingrassia, a British literature scholar at VCU, with inspiring his teaching philosophy. “Everything I teach is something that would also be taught in college,” he says. “If you approach kids as responsible and as adults, and as people who can make good decisions, you elevate the entire classroom.”

HOW SOON IS NOW?

“When I think of Francis, I think of stories,” says Betsy Reid, Head of the English Department and Decker’s hallmate for 10 years. “Not just the stories he reads and analyzes with his students, but those he tells… Instead of teaching the same novel from the 1800's every fall, Francis spends a lot of time thinking about new books that students will enjoy and learn something from. He truly loves sharing the craft of storytelling with his students.”

The list of books he has taught over the years includes a few of the classics — Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Faulkner, Gabriel Garcia Marquez — mixed with the modern — “Never Let Me Go” by Kuazo Ishiguro, “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy, “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin. “Advanced readers like a challenge,” says Decker. “When they’re challenged with something, they begin to like it.”

His biggest literary pet peeve? Formulaic, lazy thinking. “This guy’s bad, and that guy’s good? No. What if they're both bad? What if two people compete with each other and neither wins?” For Decker, postmodern superheroes like Batman and the flawed protagonists of Ernest Hemingway echo the plays of the Ancient Greeks. “I like stories where there is no hero. Everyone does something horrible. We’re all guilty.”

REEL AROUND THE FOUNTAIN

Outside of the classroom, Decker calls Morning Meeting the best reflection of the Trinity spirit — setting the tone and allowing students and faculty alike to take pride in the variety of interests represented. “It’s not like the squawk box of [a traditional high school’s] homeroom and dull fade out and walk through your day,” he says. “Here, Morning Meeting is fun and open, a way of relating to everyone. I don't know anything about robotics, or sewing — but I love hearing about them.”

For Decker, it’s the moments of silliness — where the foibles of humanity protrude, and teenagers respond with grace — that have made for his fondest memories. Like the time when he led a senior

trip to a bowling alley, and a student who had never bowled before accidentally threw a ball through the ceiling. Or the time he vouched for a group of students to see a remake of “Dawn of the Dead.”

“At Trinity, kids are allowed to be silly and goofy, and they’re not torn down for that,” Decker says. “As faculty, we are kind of given a license to be kids again too. It's a pretty rewarding experience as an educator and human. It's why I'm glad that my son is here.” Decker has been married to Colleen Curran, writer and editor for the Richmond TimesDispatch, for 18 years, and together they have two boys, Henry ’26 and future Titan Augustus “Gus” (7th grade).

HAND IN GLOVE

“At the end of the day, after essays have been graded and tests have been written, Francis loves literature and loves his students and wants those two to overlap in a meaningful way,” says Maria Bartz, Head of Student Support & Academic Program. “I hear from students all the time that they really learned how to read in his class — how to find meaning between the lines, how to fall in love with a story, and how to appreciate an author's impact.”

“He is the person that truly made me fall in love with literary analysis which is what I ended up minoring in at William & Mary,” says Isabella Anderegg ’17. “His dedication to the strange and odd books pushed me further into the depths of Modernist plays, movies, and of course literature.”

“We always looked forward to his English class because of his rampant sarcasm, his unmatched passion for teaching, and his very distinct and contagious laugh,” Ella Roberts ’17 and Grace English ’17.

Other alumni will remember one of his three rollicking graduation speeches, each delivered with trademark sardonic wit. In 2017, he left graduates with some deceptively simple advice to “just dance,” before descending into the crowd, doling out high fives to the beat of “Buggin’ Out” by A Tribe Called Quest. “He was the cornerstone and go-to teacher and mentor for my class,” remembers Will Michael ’17

THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT

Among faculty from the early 2000s, he will forever be revered for his hilariously sarcastic minutes of the weekly faculty meetings. That sense of humor has carried Decker through two and a half decades as a teacher and colleague. “You will hear Francis before you see him,” says Bartz. “His laugh is infectious and is guaranteed to make everyone smile during MM or in the hallways.”

“Anyone who knows Francis knows his big laugh that can go from a single ‘HA!’ to a long, high-pitched ‘HAHAHA,’” says Reid. “He's quickwitted and smart, with the comedic timing of a professional comedian.”

“What I love about Francis is that he has the ability to bond with anyone from any culture,” says Short. “He has such a knowledge of humanity that comes from his love of literature. He loves being a student of human nature. That's why kids end up loving his class.”

If The Smiths were right — and there really isn’t much more to life than books — then for the hundreds of students who have had a front row seat in room D-4 over the past 25 years, Francis Decker has made every bit count.

TREASURED BONDS

For over 30 years, Trinity has sent its entire freshman class on a three-day retreat in the mountains of western Virginia. This favorite school tradition brings together over one hundred 9th graders from dozens of different middle schools across the Richmond region, uniting them as a class through the establishment of Titan values. With the guidance and support of the staff from Camp Horizons in Harrisonburg, Va., students participate in group and individual challenges, obstacle courses, field games, swimming, ziplining and much more. They learn to trust each other and to take care of the world around them through wilderness skills and environmental impact lessons.

GREAT EIGHTS

Trinity is the only independent high school in Virginia that includes an 8th grade. That unique group of 30 or so 8th graders enjoyed a fittingly unique three-day outdoor adventure and class bonding experience in the mountains of Southwest Virginia at Wilderness Adventures at Eagle Landing in Newcastle, VA.

“The 8th Grade Retreat offers students a chance to bond in an environment that is a change from the norm and thus a challenge,” says trip leader and science teacher Ned Trice. “They bond by adapting to and overcoming the challenge together. They sleep in tents, eat by the campfire, and travel by walking through a cave and paddling a canoe. Each is different from the norm and offers an opportunity for growth as a group.”

PARENT PATHWAYS

Communications and Programming for Trinity Parents —

By Betsy Reid

On any given school day, you’ll find Trinity parents on campus volunteering in countless ways: handing out Senior Treats, working in the Titan Closet, and managing concessions in Estes gym. For special events, parents are everywhere: The Back to School Picnic (burgers and dogs for 500 people, anyone?), The Homecoming Oyster Roast, and the After-Prom Party just to name a few. But as much as parents lend a helping hand to support Trinity on campus, we know that the real work of parents is happening at home. Shuttling their Titan to every practice and event, supporting the day-to-day challenges of school coursework, and of course, helping their students grow from every challenging experience.

With new technologies and ways of communication, it can be harder than ever to know how to help our students, and Parent Pathways was developed as a way to best support our Titan Parents as they navigate these challenges. In every eNews publication, there is a Parent Pathways section announcing programming just for parents. Recent programs have included a talk with Brenda Conlan, Prevention Specialist; Matt Bitsko, Director of Summit Emotional Health, and a virtual program with The Social Institute, a leader in the conversation surrounding social media. Parents had the opportunity this year to read the book "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers" and come to

campus for a discussion and reflection session. One parent who attended the book session commented, “Connecting with parents and faculty who care about the well-being of our children…shows a school commitment to educating and caring about the whole child.”

In addition to programming and speakers, Parent Pathways aims to communicate to parents all of the different ways we can support their Titan. Check out the series of Parent Pathways podcasts: You’ll hear bite-sized interviews with faculty and staff offering suggestions to parents on topics like managing stress, handling the college admission process, and understanding the IB Diploma Programme. For our new parents and senior parents, we have held informational sessions that end with a social on campus — a great way to forge parent relationships that last well beyond your student’s graduation.

In my work with the TPA, I’ve been able to attend meetings and planning sessions with the parents who become the boots on the ground for our volunteer army at Trinity! It has been an honor to see how much of our parents’ hearts are in this community. There is a place there for every parent, and every parent can find a place.

As we move forward in discovering more about how we can support our parents, I welcome your ideas. From socials to programming to volunteering, we are committed to supporting you! Keep watching the eNews for more opportunities with Parent Pathways!

(top left) The Parent Pathways Podcast features Chet Childress, Director of College Counseling; (above) Parents Sarah Elliott and Lisa Schuster at the book discussion for "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers"; (right) Matt Bitsko, from Summit Emotional Health, presents to parents on teenage brain development.

THE HEARTBEAT OF TRINITY VOLUNTEERS

— By Sarah Elliott, TPA President

The Trinity Parent Association is the heartbeat of volunteers on campus. Every parent is automatically a member of our organization simply by being a mom, dad or caregiver of a Titan!

The TPA has a long-standing tradition of building a robust parent community on and off campus. We organize parent socials, provide volunteer power on campus, and host a multitude of events to enhance the Titan experience. The TPA hits the ground running beginning in August. In 2023, the parents involved in our Used Book Sale, school-wide Back to School Picnic, and other volunteering efforts had logged in several thousand hours by mid-September!

We are always looking for parents to join our TPA Board, act as committee chairs, or attend our monthly meetings to learn more about ways to get involved. Be sure to follow us on Instagram

(@trinity_parentsassociation) for up-to-the-minute photos and announcements that you won’t want to miss.

By volunteering and engaging in TPA opportunities, you are enhancing the Titan experience for every child on campus. Please reach out directly (tpaboard@trinityes.org) if you would like to learn more about leadership or volunteer positions within the TPA.

THE ARTS PICTURE PERFECT

Seven Titans recognized for exceptional photography by Scholastic

Seven Trinity artists have been recognized in the annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, described as “the nation's longest-running, most prestigious educational initiative supporting student achievement in the visual and literary arts.”

All of this year’s honorees were recognized for their work in the medium of photography. Nearly all of the photographs were produced on Trinity’s on-campus state-of-the-art large-format digital printer.

“I am so proud of my student's accomplishments,” said Tom Condon, Trinity photography teacher. “The winning works displayed a diverse range of themes… including lens-based images, experimental projects and cameraless photographic art. I encourage my students to explore various forms of photographic production, hoping they'll discover a mode that is both rewarding and exciting for them.”

Work that achieved Gold and Silver Key status was on display at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond in early February.

Trinity’s 2024 Regional Scholastic Art Award Winners:

Veronica Humphreys ’27 — 1 Honorable Mention, Photography

Sam Nedeff ’25 — 1 Honorable Mention, Photography

Ellie Johnson ’24 — 1 Silver Key Award, Photography

Sarah Benedetti ’26 — 2 Gold Key Awards, both for Photography

Ella Holloway ’25 — 2 Honorable Mentions, 1 Silver Key, and 1 Gold Key Award, all awards in Photography

Grace Marcus ’25 — 1 Honorable Mention, 2 Silver Key, and 1 Gold Key Award, all awards in Photography

Emily Krickus ’24 — 2 Honorable Mentions, 2 Silver Key, and 3 Gold Key Awards, all awards in Photography

“Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients,” reads the official award description from Scholastic. “Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.” Recognizing exceptional artwork by students in grades 7–12 throughout the U.S. Scholastic provides the largest source of creativity-based scholarships for middle and high school students."

Wider Exposure

From the photography darkroom to the rapids of the James River, Thomas Clarkson ’24 finds creative ways to view and explore the world

—By Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00

"Traditional drawing and painting weren’t my passions, but Mr. Condon showed me that there is so much more to art. Trinity made me an artist.”

—Thomas Clarkson ’24

Thomas Clarkson ’24 is a bit of an anomaly: a photographer who does not use a camera; a passionate outdoorsman who competes in full-contact boater-cross and SUP-cross (stand-up paddleboard) races that require strength, toughness and a no-holds-barred attitude; an aspiring architect who also loves biology and environmental science. Perhaps this is why pursuing a divergent avenue in the photo studio proved so appealing to this dynamic senior.

Clarkson creates photograms, which are pictures produced with photographic material, in this case photographic paper, and exposing it to light. Clarkson was first introduced to this method by photography teacher Tom Condon during his sophomore year. “Mr. Condon challenged us to push ourselves outside of traditional photography,” says Clarkson. “He taught us about photograms, and I learned to use the different chemicals and the enlarger to create art. I knew then that I wanted to pursue IB art.”

Clarkson worked side-by-side with Condon figuring out how different materials like cardboard can control how much light hits the photo paper in the darkroom. For Clarkson, this is a constant evolution and experiment. “You don’t know how it will turn out until you put it in the chemicals and see what happens,” he says.

Clarkson loves the abstract nature of photograms and sees each piece as an evolution. “I get ideas as I look at the paper,” he said. “None of my pieces have a ‘this-world’ aspect to them. It is almost as if I am painting with light.”

This fall Clarkson fulfilled a milestone that typically takes artists much longer to achieve: he is part of a professional gallery show at Gallery 263, a nonprofit gallery committed to advancing contemporary art, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is by far the

youngest artist in the show, which is juried and open to the public. In a fortuitous twist, the show opened on Clarkson’s birthday, October 12.

As he continues his senior year, Clarkson is reflective about how Trinity has shaped his journey. “Traditional drawing and painting weren’t my passions, but Mr. Condon showed me that there is so much more to art,” he says. “Trinity made me an artist.”

In addition, Clarkson has been a major force in Trinity’s Outdoor Program, which he says has given him a physical outlet. “Traditional sports were not my passion,” Clarkson says. “Kayaking has been a great challenge and another way to see my progression. The water is different every time you are on it.”

Clarkson is a true testament to the self-discovery so common among Trinity students, and it has been a joy for Condon to support from the photo lab. “Seeing his excitement about what he creates brings me so much joy,” says Condon. “I am even more thrilled when I see the sparks start to fly while he learns new processes. I am truly looking forward to seeing what he does [in the future]. He makes my job so rewarding.” That, indeed, is a bright light.

Read more Titan profiles by Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00 in her regular, online "Connections" column at www.trinityes.org/connections.

GREAT PERFORMANCES

Advanced regional ensembles include eight Titan musicians

Eight Trinity musicians were selected to participate in four prestigious regional musical ensembles this winter.

Ana Forster ’27 (violin) and Bobby Magnus ’27 (cello) were accepted into Central Regional Orchestra, a string orchestra open to grades 7-9. They performed with other students from the region at Randolph-Macon College on February 9 and 10. Central Regional Orchestra is held each year as a way to challenge and showcase talented and motivated string players in the area. The auditions are open to 7th, 8th and 9th graders in Richmond, Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield public and private schools, as well as homeschooled students.

Sylvie Dow ’25 (harp) and Isaac Atkins ’25 (trombone) were accepted into District Band. They gathered, rehearsed and performed with other talented students from the region at Hanover High School February 1-3. “Isaac has been playing for a year and half and earned the top seat in District Band — that's incredible,” says Erin Flynn, strings and chorus teacher. “It is highly unusual for schools to teach new orchestral instruments in high school, but it's something we do routinely here at Trinity.”

Abby Miller ’26, Claire Bowersox ’25 and Carter Erwin ’24 earned acceptance into District Chorus and performed with students from the region February 8-10. They also became eligible to audition for All-State Chorus on February 8.

Elizabeth Ray ’25 (violin), Sylvie Dow ’25 (harp) and Isaac Atkins ’25 (trombone) became eligible because of their acceptance into Senior Regional Orchestra or District Band to audition for All State Orchestra at JMU on February 24.

“I always say that our ensembles are small but mighty, and our representation at District Band, District Chorus, SRO and CRO are huge indicators of that,” says Flynn, noting that Trinity is “overrepresented” in these prestigious ensembles. “In some ways, our small size helps to get these students prepared for these auditions. I think it speaks to the dedication and work ethic of our students and our unique ability to tailor our instruction to meet their goals.”

early 30 students and six chaperones traveled to New York City during the first week of September for a threeday exploration of the city’s museums and galleries. The group visited the Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art, and a small group made it to the Guggenheim. They walked through Central Park and explored parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, while some students enjoyed a live theater show on Broadway.

A favorite Trinity tradition for nearly 15 years, the trip has included visits to Chicago and Philadelphia in the past. This was the first year that the trip focused on sites in Brooklyn. “At the Brooklyn Museum, we attended an amazing exhibit of the influence of Picasso's women on contemporary artists,” said Amy Chaplin ’88, Head of the Visual Arts Department.

“The NYC trip is vital to the IB art program because it highlights the importance of seeing art in real time rather than in a book or on screen,” said Chaplin. “It allows the students and instructors to bond over a common interest, inspires the students by being in the city that is considered the capital of the art world.”

BIG ART IN THE BIG APPLE

IB Visual Arts Continues Annual Trip to New York City

CABARET 2023:

Saturday, November 18

The theme for this year’s Cabaret, Trinity’s annual musical review, was “ELEMENTAL,” a homage to the classic 4 states of matter: Fire, Water, Earth and Air. “These elements have perpetually inspired song writers, not only by referencing them in their song titles and lyrics but often fundamentally setting the mood of the tune itself,” said music director Brian Rollins. Selections from this year’s lineup included “I See Fire,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “Holy Ground” and “After the Storm.”

FULL DISPLAY

Winter Art Show showcases original student works across nearly a dozen categories

Students, parents and guests enjoyed the return of the annual Winter Art Show to the Perkinson Arts Center on Thursday, December 7, featuring hundreds of original works of art produced by Trinity students across nearly a dozen categories of media. From paintings and drawings and photographs, to sculpture and ceramics, to mixed media and video, all levels of student progress were represented. Professional artists judge the works in ten categories according to technical skill, content, display and overall creativity.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

BEST IN SHOW

Thomas Clarkson ’24

2D DEPARTMENT AWARD

Lila Clarkson ’25

3D DEPARTMENT AWARD

Laila Talibi ’24

PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT AWARD

Mary Clare McDade ’27

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Adeline Clark ’27

Tehran Nelson ’25

James Graef ’27

PARTICIPANTS.

ANALOG PHOTOGRAPHY

Cooper McCormack ’26

Grace Marcus ’25

Darielyz Romero ’26

PAINTING

James Woodward ’24

Britsia Hernandez ’26

Mary Grace Kurtz ’24

DRAWING

Alex Giesen ’24

Caleb Watson ’25

Nora Rufe ’25

MIXED MEDIA

Magovern Rollins ’25

Rockira Harris ’25

Sisi Mileski ’24

FUNCTIONAL CERAMICS

Mia Watkins ’24

Alexa Linton ’25

Brooke Bailey ’24

NONFUNCTIONAL CERAMICS

Grady Williams ’24

Baker Mahoney ’25

Brydan Kelley ’24

NEW MEDIA (CINEMATOGRAPHY)

1st - Alaina Golliday ’27

2nd - Carmen Jackson ’25

3rd - Colton Knight ’27

Honorable Mention Evan Mackey ’27

Breakfast with the Titans

In second annual event, supporters come together to celebrate and bolster Trinity’s dynamic academic community

On March 1, nearly 200 supporters gathered for the second annual “Breakfast with the TITANS.”

This free, one-hour fundraising breakfast showcased the school’s mission while inviting the community to help invest in Trinity’s financial sustainability. The Breakfast brings together Trinity’s philanthropic community to steward and build passionate and sustaining supporters.

Twenty volunteers served as table hosts by personally inviting guests who came from all circles of the Trinity community: founding families, alumni, current and past parents, trustees and faculty and staff. Student emcees Sarah Burris ’24 and Katey Loker ’24 kicked off the program by sharing their enriching and character-building Trinity experiences — everything from IB essays to falling in a creek during history class. The TriTones, Trinity’s acapella group, led by Sadie Hollaway ’24, regaled the audience with their stirring version of the national anthem

which they have performed this year at multiple basketball games for both VCU and the University of Richmond. After Sarah gave the invocation, guests enjoyed a continental breakfast and the opportunity to visit with other guests.

The voices of our youngest alumni were heard in a video that captured their answers to the question: “How has Trinity enriched your life?” Rob Short, Head of School, following the video, remarked how proud he was that “When each of those young alums were asked to reflect on Trinity — about its impact on their lives — they didn’t immediately speak of their chosen path — their college acceptances or scholarships or areas of study — they spoke of the dynamic academic community at Trinity.”

The theme of dynamic academic community continued throughout the testimonials from alums Lorin Johnson ’16 and Tyler Johnson ’14 who shared their incredible journeys at Trinity and since.

“Being a part of the Trinity community has enriched my life in more ways than one. I was empowered to try and try again. Through these experiences, I developed relationships with people who have vastly different backgrounds from me. I developed a work ethic that helped me personally and professionally. I was given support and encouragement from people who just wanted the best for me... Thank you, Trinity, for the love and support; I’m truly proud to be a Titan!” — Lorin Johnson ’16

—continued on page 27

MID-YEAR IMPACT REPORT

The Community of Philanthropy at Trinity phi·lan·thro·py

Origins: Phil (Greek) – to love; Anthropy (Greek) – humankind It’s all about LOVE!

Trinity has a great culture of generosity. We are blessed with support from parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty/staff, Trustees, former parents, former faculty and community groups. We are incredibly grateful and honored to be a part of this generous community. Thank you for being a part of The Community of Philanthropy at Trinity

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE LOVE!

The Development and Alumni Relations Team:

• Alyssa McBride, Director

• Sarah Herbert, Assistant Director

• Sam Mickens, Leadership Gifts

TRINITY’S PHILANTHROPY BY THE NUMBERS

So far this school year, we’ve seen a record-number of participants in philanthropy. From July 1, 2023 - February 29, 2024:

100%

Faculty/staff participation

100%

Trustee participation

150 Titan Society member households

420 Legacy Society Members

(part of a family with more than one generation of Titans)

63%

Current total parent participation

510 Giving Day donors

GIVING DAY 2023

92% Giving Day alumni class participation

WINNERS OF THE ALUMNI CHALLENGE: Parents rose to the challenge with the highest overall participation on a giving day!

22%

Class of 1981 participation

$5,080

Class of 1998 giving

268

Grandparents Day attendance

403

Parents, alumni, faculty & friends attended the annual Oyster Roast

73.9%Class of 2028 participation

72% Class of 2027 participation

$174,000

Grandparent giving year-to-date

107 Alumni Reunion attendees

Thank you to all our donors! To see the full list of donors from July 1, 2023 - February 29, 2024, visit www.trinityes.org/annualreport or scan the QR code. We count on your support each year. Please know that it is participation that is key – a gift of any amount is greatly appreciated.

YOUR DONATION DOLLARS AT WORK!

Gifts to the Trailblazer Fund (annual giving) touch every student on campus by bolstering our programs, supporting our faculty, enhancing our campus and ensuring that Trinity is a place where students find belonging.

ATHLETICS

“Last fall we received three half/squat racks, 12 Olympic training bars, 11 landmine attachments, and over 3,000 pounds of new weights. The addition of the squat racks is incredibly helpful because it increases the number of athletes we can fit in this space at one time. It has allowed us to fit more in-season teams into the weight room during their preferred lifting slot and helped with the overall flow of our workouts.

Our student athletes benefit from the improved time efficiency in this space, as it allows them more time to focus on academics on days they workout. Additionally, it provides more space for faculty and staff to have the opportunity to work out after school while students are in the space as well.

Having a robust Strength & Conditioning program helps prevent injuries for our athletes. But the weight room is not just a place for varsity athletes; many students participate in Strength & Conditioning to fulfill the yearly activity credit requirement.

The weight room improvements have helped provide all of our students the ability to walk into any fitness facility, feel comfortable and pursue healthy habits.”

Adam Banwarth, Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Strength & Conditioning

ARTS

“Earlier this year the photography program received a new darkroom sink and a class set of digital cameras which have dramatically impacted the speed of student learning and the quality of their work.

This has improved our facilities and inspired our students to explore their creative potential with newfound enthusiasm. The work coming out of the darkroom is so much better than was possible in the past. The recent success of Thomas Clarkson ’24 is proof of the impact your actions have had!

The new collection of classroom cameras has been an absolute game-changer. Instructing the class with one model shared by all has made it so much easier to teach our students how to use their cameras effectively. Having a consistent model for them to learn from has streamlined my teaching process, allowing us to focus more on the creative aspects of photography. The practicality and convenience it offers have significantly enhanced the overall learning experience for my students.”

Tom Condon, Visual Arts Photography Teacher

“Trailblazers create paths for students to discover.”

ACADEMICS

We strive to prepare students for the demands of a rapidly evolving future. This year we installed 20 new Epson BrightLinks projectors in classrooms in the Academic Building, ceramics studio and photo lab. These projectors integrate the utility of a whiteboard and projector, turning any surface into an interactive learning area. The new projectors are twice as bright as the previous projectors, some of which were over 10 years old. This new brightness allows students even in the back of the room to see easily. The new projectors use lasers, resulting in much less maintenance and requiring no light bulbs. High quality speakers were also installed with the projectors to enhance the learning experience. These classroom tools help teachers increase student engagement and productivity and improve students’ presentation skills.

TUITION ASSISTANCE

As an IB World School we know that when a wide array of perspectives and experiences are shared, the stronger we grow as a community and the better equipped our students are to step out into the world. The Trailblazer Fund supports the cultivation of a dynamic and diverse community where over 45% of Trinity students received tuition assistance this year. This support makes the Titan community accessible to students who would not be able to attend Trinity otherwise, making Trinity a place that emphasizes belonging and a student's character over financial ability.

To learn more about the Trailblazer Fund and ways to participate, contact Sarah Herbert at sarahherbert@trinityes.org or 804.672.7929

FACULTY/STAFF SUPPORT

We strive to hire the best teachers and administrators for our school — experienced educators who not only are invested in the success of students in the classroom but who pour themselves into the Trinity community. The Trailblazer Fund helps make Trinity an attractive place for faculty to work by providing robust professional development opportunities. As new teachers join Trinity, any who teach an International Baccalaureate (IB) class are required to attend IB professional training. This training takes four days and is often held at locations across the country or even abroad. Since COVID, the training expenses have increased to almost $5,000 per training. Additionally, all teachers who teach IB classes are required to attend the training every five years to stay current. Trailblazer Funds ensure Trinity maintains the highest levels of certification and training.

BUILDING AN ENDURING LEGACY

Elizabeth and Steve Edwards

Thanks to the generosity of Elizabeth Edwards (Annie Edwards Robertson '07) and grandparent (Cody Gray '15), Trinity has a new endowed scholarship, the Edwards-Flannagan Scholarship. Established in early 2024 by Elizabeth Flannagan Edwards, the Edwards-Flannagan Scholarship will serve as a true endowment within the Trinity Episcopal School Endowment Fund, intended to provide a permanent source of scholarship funding for Trinity. The scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates robust involvement in Trinity's diverse offerings – from the arts and athletics to clubs and academics.

The scholarship is named in memory of Steve Edwards and Warren Flannagan, Jr. Steve, a Trinity parent (Annie Edwards Robertson '07) and grandparent (Cody Gray '15), served as a valuable Titan football coaching staff member. The Edwards-Flannagan Endowed Scholarship recognizes what Steve cherished most about our community: racial, social, economic and geographic diversity and the importance of hard work. He celebrated each student's unique potential. The scholarship recognizes individuals who embody Steve's unwavering commitment to Trinity's philosophy of integrating life into learning and learning into life.

Warren was a talented artist and carpenter with a generous heart and a kind soul. He would have thrived in Trinity's supportive, nurturing environment, where every student's talents, skills and interests are celebrated. The scholarship recognizes individuals who embody Warren's acceptance and respect of individuality.

Mrs. Edwards will present the scholarship to its first recipient at the May 2024 Awards Assembly. Her generosity not only provides a legacy for the memories of Steve and Warren, but a significant and lasting legacy for Trinity and its students.

To learn more about The Edwards-Flannigan Scholarship and ways to contribute, contact Alyssa McBride at alyssamcbride@trinityes.org or Sam Mickens at sammickens@trinityes.org.

Elmer and Betty Dunn

Earlier this school year, Elmer Dunn, father of Jim Dunn ’75, Kirk Dunn ’78, and Julie (Dunn) Beck ’79 passed away. Elmer and Betty Dunn were significant donors to the Future Pathways campaign, resulting in the naming of Dunn Courtyard in 2008. The courtyard continues to be the heart of the Trinity campus and serves as the epicenter of Titan activities such as Pach’s Place, the Oyster Roast, the Grand Illumination, senior snack and much more. Elmer and Betty Dunn are pictured here with then Head of School Tom Aycock at the courtyard dedication.

—"Breakfast" continued from page 22

“Being a part of the Trinity community has enriched my life in more ways than one,” shared Lorin, now the Director of Graduate Support for Anna Julia Cooper School. “I was empowered to try and try again. Through these experiences, I developed relationships with people who have vastly different backgrounds from me. I developed a work ethic that helped me personally and professionally. I was given support and encouragement from people who just wanted the best for me. I can still walk through these halls and speak to several staff members across different departments, staff members who continue to congratulate me on my road to success. Thank you, Trinity, for the love and support; I’m truly proud to be a Titan!”

Tyler Johnson, a retired professional baseball player now seeking a master’s degree in public health, also reflected on his time at Trinity with gratitude, recalling the words his father told him when he was dropped off on the first day of school: “Don’t look back on your time here wishing you did more.”

“I lived by that academically and athletically,” said Tyler. “And if you piece together all I have done over the past 14 years, you’ll see that work… From student leadership, clubs, extracurricular involvement, athletics to the facilities and amenities, Trinity provides ample opportunity to ‘Discover your Path,’ as they say. I was able to transfer this into my involvement in several clubs here and at South Carolina as well as into collegiate leadership positions, and professional leadership positions. And this practice allowed me to excel in the classroom and on the athletic field.”

Guests enjoyed music performances by the TriTones, orchestra trio, and jazz band. At the conclusion of the program, Kelly O’Keefe, Trinity parent (’06, ’03, ’01) and former trustee, invited guests to support the mission of the school through one-time gifts and multi-year pledges in support of the Trailblazer Fund (annual giving). Nearly $100,000 was raised in new gifts and three-year pledges.

Special thanks to Breakfast Sponsor Lara and Chase Hill ’98 for underwriting the costs of the Breakfast.

2024 TABLE HOSTS

Lisa Acquaye

Trustee, Trinity Parent (’18, ’24)

Tom & Kae Aycock

Former Head of School, Trinity Parents (’94, ’99)

Maria Bartz

English Teacher / Student Services Coordinator

James & Karen Dameron

Trinity Parent (’28)

Chris Ellis ’81 Chair, Board of Trustees

Lauren Flood

Trinity Parent (‘17, ’19, ’23)

Braxton Hill

Trustee, Trinity Parent (’23, ’23, ‘28)

Elizabeth Kelley

Science Teacher / IB Coordinator, Trinity Parent (’19, ’21, ‘25)

Tad & Liz Meyer

Trinity Parent (’26)

Sam Mickens

Leadership Gifts Officer/

Head Football Coach

Joe & Diane Monaco ’81

Dir. Business Operations & Math Teacher, Trinity Parents (’22)

Annie McDade

Trinity Parent (’27)

Jana McQuaid

Trustee, Trinity Parent (’23)

Clay Reynolds

Trustee, Trinity Parent (’25)

Ann Roberts ‘80 Trustee

Rob Short Head of School

Jennifer Smith-Slabaugh

Trinity Parent (’22)

TRINITY PARENTS ASSOCIATION: Faith Cranston ‘92

Trinity Parent (’24, ‘26)

Tia Walker

Trustee, Trinity Parent (’23, ’24)

For more information about being a Table Host, guest or sponsor at next year's Breakfast, contact Alyssa McBride, Director of Development at alyssamcbride@trinityes.org or 804.327.3154.

VOLLEYBALL

HEAD COACH: Steve Vanhuss (6th season)

CAPTAINS: Kaitlyn Watkins ’24, Campbell Cash ’25

W/L RECORD: 8-13 Overall, 3-9 in LIS (4th)

COACH’S REMARKS: Kaitlyn Watkins ’24 was MVP, Jaelyn Thurman ’25 was Most Improved Player, and Mac Corso ’24 won the Titan Award which is given to the player who best exemplifies our team values: effort, attitude and team.The team has a bright future with seven returning players, all who saw significant playing time this past year.

BOYS SOCCER

HEAD COACH: Brian Phillips (28th season)

CAPTAINS: Hayes Sheppard ’24, Seth Mileski ’24, Jack Cranston ’24

W/L RECORD: 10-7-7 Overall, 2-1-2 VPL (advanced to 2nd round of state tournament)

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All VPL: Hayes Sheppard ’24, Seth Mileski ’24

All-State (2nd Team): Hayes Sheppard ’24

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: A regular-season win over St. Christopher’s, where a number of players stepped up to replace injured players; after losing 2-0 to St. John Paul the Great to start the season, the team notched their best overall performance of the year on a 4-0 win in the playoff rematch.

COACH’S REMARKS: Though generally inexperienced, each player fully committed to the team and there was a season-long ethic of hard work and dedication to improvement that resulted in steady growth and development and another winning record. With a large graduating class that included eight starters from the last year, this year's team embraced the values and traditions of the program. Each and every one of our seniors were important contributors throughout the season and they maintained an ongoing legacy and ethos that the underclassmen will look to uphold.

TENNIS

HEAD COACH: Alicia Raymond (5th season)

CAPTAINS: Catherine Pollard ’24, Gabby Strickler ’24, Emily Krickus ’24

W/L RECORD: 14-6 Overall, 6-4 LIS (3rd), advanced to state semifinals

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-LIS: Susanna Whitehead ’26 (Player of the Year)

All State: Vie Updike ’25, Susanna Whitehead ’26

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: Gabby Strickler’s’24 win against Collegiate at the No. 4 singles to start the year; Caroline Avery ’26 and Sarah Rowe ’26 had nearly perfect season at No. 2 doubles; Susanna Whitehead ’26 beat Collegiate at LIS in the No. 1 spot; won against No. 2 seed Collegiate at LIS; the first win over St. Catherine’s (LIS 1st round) in nearly 40 years.

COACH’S REMARKS: Varsity tennis had some new players on the team, as well as returning seasoned players. The girls came to practice every day ready to perform and put in the work to have one of the best showings of TES tennis in almost 40 years. While tennis can be seen as an individual sport, we are one team and support each other, past, present and future! It was great to see alumni show up throughout the season supporting past teammates and welcoming new ones to the team as well. The future of Titan Tennis looks bright!

FOOTBALL

HEAD COACH: Sam Mickens (12th season)

CAPTAINS: Zahir Rainer ’24, Will Rosen ’24, Cooper Gardiner ’24, Jay Williams ’24

W/L RECORD: 7-4 Overall (VISAA state runner-up), 3-0 VPL (VPL Champions)

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: Trey Grant ’24 set school record for all-time rushing yards; team earned second-straight VPL title; reached third-straight state title game

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All VPL: Davion Brown ’26 (Co-Player of the Year); Taegan Logan ’25, Trey Grant ’24, Cooper Gardiner ’24, Ryan Mitchell ’24, William Rosen ’24, Cameron Walker ’24, Bowen Knight ’24, Jay Williams ’24, Deuce Edwards ’25, James Woodward ’24, Zahir Rainer ’24

VPL Coach of the Year: Sam Mickens

All-State (1st Team): Davion Brown ’26, Trey Grant ’24, Ryan Mitchell ’24, Zahir Rainer ’24, Brennan Ridley ’24, Cameron Walker ’24, Jay Williams ’24

VPL

CHAMPIONS

FOOTBALL 2023

All-State (2nd Team): Deuce Edwards ’25, Cooper Gardiner ’24, Taegan Logan ’25, Khalid Rainer ’27, William Rosen ’24, James Woodward ’24

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: Advancing to state finals by defeating Flint Hill on a 38-yd field goal by freshman Evan Goldschmidt.

COACH’S REMARKS: Our team goal was to win the VPL and qualify for the state playoffs. We achieved both. The 2023 Trinity football team showed a lot of resilience and toughness throughout the season. This group of seniors are leaving our program better than when they began as freshman four years ago.

FIELD HOCKEY

HEAD COACH: Margie Snead ’85 (24th season)

CAPTAINS: Darcy Kopsinis ’24, Shepard Ramsey ’24

W/L RECORD: 15-5 Overall (1st place LIS) (state runner-up)

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: Avery Johnson ’26 was selected to the USA U16 Junior Women's National Team and the USA Junior Women's Indoor Team.

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All LIS: Karsin Beatty ’25, Lilah-Grace Logan ’26, Ellie Johnson ’24, Avery Johnson ’26, Darcy Kopsinis ’24, Shepard Ramsey ’24

All State: Karsin Beatty ’25, Ellie Johnson ’24, Darcy Kopsinis ’24, Shepard Ramsey ’24

All Metro: Karsin Beatty ’25, Avery Johnson ’26, Ellie Johnson ’24, Darcy Kopsinis ’24, Alexa Murphy ’25, Shepard Ramsey ’24

NFHCA and Max Field Hockey All South Region: Karsin Beatty ’25

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: Home win against Collegiate to finish 1st in the regular season conference games

COACH’S REMARKS: We had great senior leadership and wonderful team synergy. The girls worked hard, enjoyed playing with one another and played as a team. They were a joy to coach. We have a wonderful group of underclassmen and we are already looking forward to the type of season that they will put together come fall. Their energy is contagious and it already looks to be a fun and eventful season.

CROSS COUNTRY

HEAD COACH: Ellis Mumford ’16 (2nd season)

CAPTAINS: Olivia Sibley ’24

POSTSEASON: 4th in LIS

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All LIS: Kailyn Harris ’24

All State: Kailyn Harris ’24

COACH’S REMARKS: The team this year was very focused on bringing the boys and girls teams together into one team with a shared identity, culture and traditions. We wanted to support each other and improve both as individuals and a team. We tried to show the TITANS attributes of tough, intentional and sincere every day! Family is always a motto for the cross country team — running asks you to challenge yourself more than you ever have before and put yourself out there by being vulnerable in pursuit of scary goals. Family supports each other while holding each other accountable. Having the two teams combined as one built a sense of excitement and expanded the community around the sport. So excited to see how the program continues to build and embrace both hard work and fun.

BOYS BASKETBALL

HEAD COACH: Andrew Blazar (3rd season)

CAPTAINS: Alex Chaikin ’24, Trey Coles ’24

W/L RECORD: 6-4 in VPL (3rd place); 16-13 overall (lost in first round of state tournament)

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-VPL: Alex Chaikin ’24, Mason Patrick ’25

All-State (2nd Team): Alex Chaikin ’24

RECORDS/MILESTONES:

Alex Chaikin finished the season with 1,261 career points (8th all-time for Trinity).

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

Winning the Travis and also beating Collegiate at home in overtime

COACH’S REMARKS:

Our goals were to win big away games, win the VPL tournament, and make the state tournament. We wanted to out-prepare and out-work our opponents and play team basketball. We won at Woodberry, at Collegiate, and made the state tournament, but we fell short on winning at St. Chris and winning the VPL Tournament. With a similar record to the previous season, I felt we competed more consistently this year, and we were right there with everyone we played. We had a great group of kids that worked together to achieve our goals. We as a program look forward to taking the next step of winning the VPL and advancing in the state tournament.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

HEAD COACH: Marcus Jones (20th season)

CAPTAINS: Lilly Versen ’24, Olivia Sibley ’24, Stephon Woodson ’24, Nathan Sims ’24 W/L RECORD: 4th place LIS (girls); 6th place VPL (boys); 7th place VISAA (girls); 6th place VISAA (boys)

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

Cooper Gardiner ’24 was the Prep League and State Champion in the shot put; Nathan Sims ’24 was Prep League and State Champion in the 500m; The Girls 4 x 200 Relay Team of Lucy Versen ’26, Ashlyn Nelson ’27, Layla Wintsch '26, and Lilly Versen ’24 were State Champions; Lilly Versen ’24 was LIS Champion in the long jump; Lucy Versen ’26 was LIS Champion in the 55m. Lilly Versen '24 earned VISAA All-State Honorable Mention in the 55m.

RECORDS/MILESTONES:

Cooper Gardiner ’24 set a school record in the shot put (51’9”); Nathan Sims ’24 set a school record in the 500m (1:06.64); The relay team of Lucy Versen ’26, Ashlyn Nelson ’27, Layla Wintsch '26, and Lilly Versen ’24 set a school record in the 4 x 200m (1:48.14); Lucy Versen ’26 set a school record in the 55m (7.29)

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

Kailyn Harris (1600m), Eli Jordan ’25 (High Jump), Stephon Woodson ’24 (Long and Triple Jump), and Matthew Waidelich ’26 (1600m, 3200m) were all major contributors at the league and state meets.

COACH’S REMARKS:

Because of some unfortunate illness at the end of the season, the boys team dropped five spots in the state team rankings. The girls finished four spots higher, though, moving from 11th in 2023 to 7th in 2024. Seeing those athletes, who are all seniors and have worked so hard, elevate and win championships is something that is very memorable. I was encouraged by a lot of the young talent that came out this season. We will graduate one of the best classes of track athletes we've ever had but the returners are motivated and we're excited to watch their development.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

HEAD COACH: Adam Lonon (7th Season)

CAPTAINS: Farrah Berr y ’25, Alexa Linton ’25, Lulu Antal ’24

W/L RECORD: 6-17 overall 0-10 in league play; 6-17 overall

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-LIS: Adina Asuelimen ’27

COACH’S REMARKS:

Our goals this season were to continue to create a culture where the seniors and juniors were running the program along with instilling character and hard work into our girls by learning how to win the right way. Despite finishing the season on a tough 0-13 streak, the memorable moments were early in the season — during our initial 6-4 run — where you truly saw the potential of some of our new young players. Although we underperformed, we have talent to build on in future years.

SWIM & DIVE

HEAD COACH: Tim Johnson (6th season)

CAPTAINS: Collin Lyons ’24; Will Rosen ’24; Brooke Bailey ’24; Marcy Mortimer ’24

W/L RECORD: Boys: 2nd place in VPL; 2nd Place in VISAA

Girls: 3rd place in LIS; 4th place in VISAA

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-VPL: Patrick Puzon ’25 (50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle), Swimmer of the Year

All-State: Patrick Puzon ’25 (50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle)

RECORDS/MILESTONES:

Patrick Puzon ’25 broke the VPL record in the 50m Freestyle and the 100m Freestyle

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

In the Hanover Hawk Invitational, out of 30 teams, Trinity were the only independent school team and finished 7th overall, despite not being at full strength.

COACH’S REMARKS:

The boys’ goal was to finish in the top three at VPL and states. We accomplished both and finished 13 points away from a state title. They took a definite step forward and took several top teams by surprise. If it weren't for a few bad breaks on the second day of champs, we would have been state champs. With only four seniors graduating, none of whom were finalists at states, the future is bright. For the girls, it was about proving to themselves they could swim fast and strong. A very small team, the girls steadily improved over the season and out-performed their expectations by finishing 3rd in conference and 4th in the state. They made sure to make their presence known.

HEADLINE MAKERS

Hall of Fame Game

For the second game of the 2023 season the Titan football team traveled to Akron, OH to play their first contest in the state, facing Archbishop Hoban, ranked 27th in the country at the time. Before the game, the team toured the Pro Football Hall of Fame in nearby Canton, an experience that Head Coach Sam Mickens called both educational and transformative for the team. “Witnessing them make connections between players of old, the equipment they used, and how the game has evolved over time was truly awe-inspiring,” he said. “It shed light on how football has changed in many ways yet remained unchanged in its core values. The trip and the experiences will stay with me forever.”

Tag Team

Goalie is a position where only one can be on the field at a given time, but Alexa Murphy ’25 and Avery Johnson ’26 teamed up this season to make field hockey opponents think twice before trying to score on either. Splitting time at the position, the dynamic duo combined for nine shutouts, each earning Richmond TimesDispatch All-Metro honors for the season. The girls had to lean on each other for support and learn to support from the sideline when the other was in the cage.

Mr. 200

Brian Phillips notched win No. 200 as boys head soccer coach on November 3, defeating St. John Paul the Great 4-1 in the first round of the VISAA state tournament. The game featured a hat trick

from Hayes Sheppard ’24 and another goal from Ben Gravely ’25. Phillips has coached the team for 28 years, since the 1996 season, after assisting Page Mauck from 1986-1995. Excluding the shortened 2020 season, Phillips’ remarkable run of seven straight 10-win seasons helped him reach the magic number.

Running away from the competition

Kailyn Harris ’28 has become the only 8th grader this season to notch a league top-25 finish in cross country. The top runner in her grade in both the League of Independent Schools (LIS) and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA), she finished 6th and 12th in those leagues respectively.

Outcoaching Himself

The reigning record holder in the shot put for indoor track at 47’5”, Trevor Taylor ’17 now works with younger throwers as an assistant coach for the winter and spring track teams. At one of the first meets of the year, December’s miniinvitational at St. Christopher’s, Cooper Gardiner ‘24 threw 48’4”, setting a new TES record, passing the mark set by his own coach.

Millennium Mark

Alex Chaikin ’24 joined the 1,000-point club this season, scoring his 1000th point against Life Christian Academy on January 24 in a 68-47 Titans’ win. He finished the game with 23 points, his 18th 20-point game of the season. At the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, Chaikin reached 1,263 points, good enough for 8th on the all-time Trinity scorers list. A three-year varsity player and senior captain, Chaklin has committed to play at Lafayette University next year.

Athletics SIGNING ON

Parents, family, coaches and students gathered in the Estes Athletic Center on November 8 and February 7 to celebrate sixteen Trinity seniors as they signed their national letters of intent to compete in intercollegiate athletics next year. Coaches reflected on their individual experiences with each athlete, shared words of praise and encouragement and also expressed their appreciation for what each senior contributed to their team and school community.

FALL 2023

NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNEES

Samantha Aisenberg (equestrian) South Dakota State University

Darcy Kopsinis (field hockey) College of William & Mary

Ellie Johnson (field hockey) Davidson College

Catherine Pollard (lacrosse) George Mason University

Julia Pollard (lacrosse) George Mason University

Nathan Sims (track & field) University of Rhode Island

Mia Watkins (field hockey) Hood College

Grady Williams (golf) College of William & Mary

WINTER 2024

NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNEES

Cooper Gardiner (football) US Naval Academy

Trey Grant (football) Virginia State University

Ryan Mitchell (football) University of Pennsylvania

Zahir Rainer (football) University of Minnesota

Brennan Ridley (football) US Naval Academy

Cameron Walker (football) Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jay Williams (football) North Carolina A&T State University

John Woodward (football) Middlebur y College

ON, GREEN, BLUE AND WHITE!

In a celebration of all things Trinity, Titans of all ages enjoy a festive Homecoming Week

Take a ton of Trinity tradition. Add a sizable spoonful of student spirit. Sprinkle in class competitions, reunion regalia, and top with family, friends and fun. From the first ingredient to the finishing touches, Homecoming Week 2023 had the recipe for success.

For alumni and parents, a new event was added to the week's schedule this year: Titan Night at Virago Spirits. Hosted by Trinity family Vicki and Brad Haneberg, the event welcomed about two dozen parents, alumni, faculty and guests to connect and build Titan spirit heading into the weekend’s events.

On Friday evening, alumni, parents and friends gathered under the big tent in Dunn Courtyard for the annual Oyster Roast. Parents connected with fellow “classmates” with the help of the Trinity Parents Association and color coded leis for each grade. Special thanks to this year’s music sponsors, the band McVizzy, whose rootsrock ramblings kept toes tapping though the evening. Band members included Aaron Israel ’88, Paul Sprenkle ’88 and James Bruno ’88, all celebrating their 35th Trinity reunion together. The oysters were provided generously by Drew Lucas ’98 and Tuckahoe Seafood.

Reunion class alumni from the ’3s and ’8s got a head start in the Academic Commons and the new Dawson Commons — reconnecting with friends, thumbing through old yearbooks and posing for reunion class photos. The prize for the largest turnout went to the class of

2018, celebrating their 5th reunion. Coming in a close second was the class of 1983, marking their 40th.

The following morning, multigenerational Trinity families were invited to strengthen their bonds with the school at the inaugural Legacy Family Lunch prior to the Homecoming football game. There are now 58 current students with family ties to Trinity. Following the luncheon, alumni from the class of 1982 hosted a rededication of the Laura D. Kelley ’82 Memorial Garden, located in Howerton Plaza, between the Perkinson Arts Center and the Estes Athletic Center. The class celebrated a successful replenishment of the scholarship fund created in her honor four decades ago.

Prior to the 1:30 p.m. kickoff, families gathered around Aycock Stadium, and the youngest alumni from the class of 2023 returned to pick up their copies of The Shield yearbook, hot off the presses. Despite on-field challenges and a tough Rock Creek Christian opponent in the football game, the student section stayed active, led by the spirited tunes from the inimitable TES Pep Band, led by Trinity Athletic Hall-of-Famer Brian Rolllins.

Special thanks to the volunteers, staff, attendees and student leaders who teamed up to make 2023 Homecoming Week the best ever. Go Titans!

DAWSON COMMONS

Newest building on Trinity campus dedicated in memory of Dawson family’s “spirit of hospitality”

On the evening of Tuesday, October 4, alumni from the classes of 1975 through 1985 gathered to dedicate the new Dawson Commons building located behind the Academic Building. A welcome addition to campus, the building has significantly increased the amount of study and social space for all Trinity students. It was dedicated “In memory of Bob and Sally Dawson,

who personified the community spirit of hospitality, service and dedication embodied by all Trinity founding families.” Representing the Dawson family, Bob Dawson, Beth Dawson McAlhany ’85 and Amy Dawson Zoller ’82 thanked those in attendance as well as the support of those from the founding families who made the building's completion possible.

GRAND TOUR

a musical program and speeches from student leaders, as well as spend valuable time with their grandchildren in the courtyard. Students were able to take their grandparents on a tour of the school to give them a glimpse into what a typical day is like for our Titans. Our Trinity Parent’s Association was on hand to provide hospitality with coffee and pastries in the morning and lemonade and cookies in the afternoon.

The annual event, hosted by the Development Office, welcomes grandparents of all grades. Next year's Grandparents Day will be Thursday, September 19, 2024. Details and invitations will be sent in August.

CLASS NOTES Alumni

Class of 1981

Katherine Hoffman ’81 wrote: “I am currently leading a non-profit arts-based business incubator with a focus on digital makers (animators, designers, filmmakers, etc.) I'm also a traditional Appalachian musician and a consultant who promotes Appalachian arts and culture through performances, lectures, and other media.”

Class of 1985

Richard Campbell ’85 was elected to the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond in 2022 after serving 16 years as a Judge in the Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. This past year he published his first book “Gettin’ Kinda Itchie: The Groups That Made The Mamas & The Papas.”

“It is an untold prequel that tells the fascinating stories of the pregroups of The Mamas & The Papas from 1958-1965, before they hit it big,” he writes. “My book is based on 4 decades of interviews, collecting and research. I actually began researching and collecting on the group in the early 1980s when I was at Trinity. We’ve been blown away by the response. The book was No. 1 Top New Release in Americana and in Folk and Traditional Categories.”

Class of 1991

Jennifer (Boynton) Lynch ’91 wrote: "This summer, my family and I traveled to Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA and next summer we are planning a European adventure. I taught preschool last school year and switched to Bon Air Baptist preschool this school year and really love it!”

Class of 1993

After a dozen years in Canadian television news, Billy Shields ’93 has moved back to Richmond and is now working for VPM News as a multimedia journalist for its weekly TV news magazine Focal Point. In addition to his duties behind the camera, on occasion you can

see him anchor the show sometimes for Richmond’s public broadcaster. He now lives in Church Hill, volunteers at Commonwealth Catholic Charities and spends his free time sailing out of the Rappahannock River. He always enjoys reconnecting with alumni and can be reached at billyshields2@yahoo.com.

Class of 2008

Will Massey '08 married Mallary Gum on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at the Country Club of Virginia with several classmates from Trinity in attendance: Ben Stevenson ’08, Nathan Cohee ’08, Will Massey ’08, Chris Avellana ’08, Chris Keck ’08, and Ned Massey ’10. All were groomsmen, and Ned was the best man. Robert WarnefordThompson ’08 was also in attendance as a guest but was not pictured.

SHIELDS

CAMPBELL

MASSEY

Alumni

Thomas Falor Zeno '08 and wife Sara, welcomed their second child, Thomas Jr., on February 19, 2024.

Class of 2010

Connor Bradley ’10 and his wife, Jackie welcomed their first child, Clayton James Bradley,to the family on September 17, 2023.

Marvin Whitley Kern '10 married Charlotte Estes Hupp at The Estate at River Run in Maidens, VA on September 16, 2023.

Andrew Sarlo ’10 and Lee Lee Watkins ’10 welcomed their second son, James Henry Sarlo, to their family on Friday, February 26.

Class of 2011

Kelsey Schaefer-Holt ’11 was married to Nicolas Holt at Fairview Farm in Powhatan, VA on October 14, 2023. Kyle Schaefer ’15 was the best man, and her cousins, Alaina ’27 and Olivia ’24 Golliday were in attendance.

ZENO

KERN

SARLO

BRADLEY

SCHAEFER-HOLT

Class of 2012

Mary Beth (Lawerence) Vingi ’12 wrote: "I got married to William Vingi on November 11, 2023 in Charleston, South Carolina. We met in college at Wake Forest University. Olivia Hargett ’12 was maid of honor, Peyton Wood ’12 and Ciara Balzer ’12 were bridesmaids!"

Chris Kapsak '12 and his wife, Karrie welcomed their first child, Cassie Bell Kapsak, on January 14, 2024, weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz.

Class of 2013

Special thanks to Margaret Dodson-Cordrey ’13, from the YWCA of Richmond, who spoke in Chapel on Monday, October 23 on the theme of authentic storytelling and self-discovery. “Take a deep dive into what makes you… you!” she told students. “By living authentically, we can give our real selves to the world and know that we have done what we could to share our passions, fears, values and dreams — and the freedom that comes with it.”

Class of 2015

Andy Chess ’15 (aka Wowuh) had a song drop on Spotify on October 25, 2023 called "Too Fast".

Class of 2019

On January 23, Armando Bacot ’19 returned to Trinity to see the boys basketball team take on Benedictine. The UNC Tar Heels star sat for an interview with former coach Rick Hamlin ’96 on the TESPN livestream broadcast and posed for selfies with Titans in the crowd. A few weeks later, he was featured in a Jeopardy answer: “Part of the NIL deal of UNC basketball star Armando Bacot Jr. was a part on this Netflix show set on a N.C. island chain.”

Class of 2023

Blake Whitaker '23 is in Nashville, attending Belmont and playing guitar for an up-and-coming songwriter named Anslee Davidson. The song he recorded with her is “Be Mine” and is now on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

DODSON-CORDREY

WHITAKER

BACOT

KAPSAK

WEARING IT WITH PRIDE

With a little help from Titan Nation, Carter Hugate ’20 was first runner-up in the 2024 Southern Athletic Conference's Mascot Challenge. Many of Hugate’s 16,000 votes came from those who remember him as the Trinity Titan mascot from 2018 to 2020 while a student at Trinity.

Now a senior at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), he has continued in that same spirit as "Moe," the VMI mascot, for the last four years. At every game, he has a line of young fans waiting to meet him — and he has made special appearances throughout the community of Lexington, Va. As adventurous as he is enthusiastic, he has jumped out of airplanes and repelled out helicopters while wearing the “Moe” mascot costume.

While at VMI, he has risen to the rank of Regimental S9 Captain in the Regimental Command Staff. He is a Captain on the Combat Shooting Team and helped launch a sports network totally dedicated to all sports at VMI called KEYSN (Keydet Sports Network). Over his career as a Keydet, Hugate also had the privilege of mentoring fellow Trinity alum, Parker Woolwine ’23. Academically, his hard work and dedication to his curriculum in Civil Engineering has landed him a position in the Army Corp of Engineers upon graduation.

ALUMNI BOOK CLUB

English teacher Francis Decker led a virtual Alumni Book Club on December 5, 2023, in which the group discussed “My Sister, the Serial Killer: A Novel” by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Alumni gathered virtually again on March 7, 2024 to discuss “Bright Young Women” by Jessica Knoll. Alumni joined in from across the country to share their perspectives on the text.

To learn more about these virtual alumni events please contact development@trinityes.org.

COLLEGE

ROAD TRIP

This past fall, Sam Mickens from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, along with various Trinity faculty members, visited Titan alumni at Christopher Newport University, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia to take them out for lunch and hear about their college experience. They discussed things like the transition from high school to college, future plans and how Trinity helped prepare them for this next step.

Titans in France

One of Trinity's greatest strengths is the lifelong bonds that are created in the classroom among students and faculty alike. When five separate young alumni happened to be spending part of the last year in France, of course they reached out to their former French teacher, Julie Urena, to share their gratitude and a few updates. Thank you, Madame Urena!

Adam Dingman ’13 currently resides in the student district in Nanterre, just outside of Paris, France. He is in the second year of his master's program in Economic Diplomacy and International Business Development at HEIP (Hautes Etudes Internationales et Politiques). Adam's professional role, aligned with his studies, involves marketing and communications at Hopscotch Sopexa, an Agroalimentaire consultancy group. In this capacity, he focuses on communication strategies to attract new clients internationally and supports them in executing diverse marketing campaigns on a global scale. Notably, his classes are almost exclusively conducted in French. Upon completion, Adam will receive a "RNCP" title, a certification conferred by the French government.

Shraddha Harikumar ’19 is presently residing in Marseille, France, a prominent port city along the Mediterranean Sea. Engaged in the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF), she serves as an English teaching assistant. Her weekly commitment involves instructing for 12 hours at both middle and high schools. During her leisure time, Shraddha explores Europe, frequents the gorgeous beaches along the Riviera, and embarks on hikes around les Calanques – the scenic rocky limestone cliffs and coves surrounding Marseille. Additionally, she enjoys reading and writing at local cafés and attends concerts for entertainment.

Katie Hayes ’18 is an English language teaching assistant in ÉvryCourcouronnes, France, a suburb to the south of Paris. She spends 12 hours per week teaching at two primary schools. In her free time, Katie enjoys taking the train into Paris and delighting in the rich cultural landscape the city has to offer. In addition to exploring Paris,

she has taken trips to several lesser-known French cities, including Avignon and Colmar, both cities rich in medieval architecture. In the coming year, Katie plans on pursuing her masters in developmental psychology, and has applied to several programs in Paris, from which she is waiting to hear back.

Ellie Madigan ’21 is spending the spring semester in Paris, France, where she is enrolled at the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle—Paris III. A French and Economics double major at William & Mary, she took French throughout her four years at Trinity and hopes to continue her studies through a career in academia. She has particularly enjoyed visiting the city's many museums, exploring various open-air markets and vintage shops, and wandering through the diverse neighborhoods in her free time. After studying Parisian history and culture during many years of language classes, the semester is truly a dream come true!

Like Shraddha, Kaleigh O'Toole ’19 is an English Language assistant, teaching in primary schools through the TAPIF program (Teacher Assistant Program in France). Her current placement is in Nantes, France, situated in the Northwest region of the country. Nantes, known for its large university presence along the river, shares a vibe similar to Richmond. During her free time, Kaleigh enjoys various activities that enrich her experience in France. She enjoys attending concerts, writes and shoots short films, frequents local cafés for leisurely moments, and explores her adventurous side through rock climbing in Bretagne, France.

Alumni

DREAM TEAM

When Rosita Torres-Ambrogi ’88 heard that the 2023 Field Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup was to be held in Santiago, Chile, she was ecstatic. “I was born there and left for the USA when I was 6 years old,” she recalls. “I have my whole family in Chile.”

A former field hockey player for Trinity and coach for over 20 years, Rosita sensed that this could be an opportunity to take her lifelong passions for field hockey and her Chilean heritage and “roll them into one.” As a member of the USA Field Hockey Association, she says she is always looking for ways to be more involved. Little did she know how much of a family experience it would turn out to be.

Because of their language skills and knowledge of the game, they were both put in front of the camera to interview players and coaches and offer commentary during game broadcasts. “I often thought about what it would be like to be on the other side of the microphone,” said Teresita. “I also loved watching and analyzing the game play and then getting to use what I saw to ask interesting questions. It was great to see the different coaching styles, strategic game decisions, and the unique vibes of the different teams.”

A highlight for Rosita was seeing the inauguration of the fields at Claudia Schüller Stadium, named for the late goalkeeper for the Chilean national team. Rosita was also invited to play in an adult club league in Santiago and help again in any upcoming tournaments.

“The icing was getting to know my birthplace, its people, food, and customs/culture on my own,” she said. “The cherry on top was getting to know the USAFH family. It was special because I was able to share the unique history of Santiago and all its precious architecture and stories that I grew up hearing. I was able to share the history of my birthplace and make it a unique experience for the girls and the coaches.”

For Teresita, the trip was a priceless learning experience. “It taught me that I am smarter and stronger than the doubts caused by uncertainty,” she said. “It gave me new friends, new perspectives,

"The icing was getting to know my birthplace, its people, food and customs/culture on my own."

—Rosita Torres-Ambrogi

’88

After a few networking dead ends, she decided one day to send an out-of-the-blue email to the International Federation of FIeld Hockey. “Hi! I was wondering if you would need a volunteer for the Jr WC in Chile. I was born in Santiago and currently live in the USA. I speak fluent Spanish and English, coach field hockey and would love to help out in any way possible.”

Then, when she told them that her daughter, Teresita AmbrogiTorres ’17, was an assistant coach for the Randolph-Macon field hockey team, they soon became a bilingual dream team. Rosita was named the Team USA Field Hockey attaché, while Teresita was tapped for a similar role for Team Japan. Initially a bit hesitant about fulfilling such a demanding role, Teresita eventually decided that the “experience would be worth the uncertainty and fear of what-ifs.”

and new memories! I am so thankful and proud of my mom for putting herself out there, and I am so happy that I didn’t listen to the ‘what ifs’ and told myself ‘why not’!”

HOST STORIES

This year, several Titan alumni answered the call to give back to the Trinity community and make an impact on students' lives. Junior Work Week, our career exploration program, took place February 26 - March 1, 2024.

Students use the program to identify a career interest in a field they think they would love. Trinity partners with many hosts around the Richmond community to give Titans an array of opportunities to explore. Over 100 students were placed in real-work locations ranging from healthcare to education and business to entertainment. This year, five employer hosts were Trinity alumni:

John Mills ’90, Release the Hounds Marketing Agency, hosted David Jennings ’25

Nadia Khoury ’15, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Center, hosted Zile Golos ’25.

Ronnie Worley Wohlford ’05, Worley Associates Architects, hosted Isabella Diossa ’25

Meredith Hubbard ’93, Mary Munford Elementary School, hosted Ann Tanner Mullins ’25

Phillip Tickle ’09, St. Michael’s Episcopal School, hosted Isaac Atkins ’25.

Thank you to our Trinity alumni for giving students the opportunity to understand your career field and discover their path.

If you would like to participate as a Host Employer for Junior Work Week 2025, please reach out to development@trinityes.org

HOOPS HANGOUT

It was great to connect with alumni from every decade at the annual Alumni Hoops Hangout on Friday, January 19. Trinity alumni and their families enjoyed light refreshments in the Speight Alumni Room before watching a thrilling overtime finish to the boys basketball game versus Collegiate.

WARM WELCOME

It was such a special treat to welcome back to campus nearly 50 young alumni for our IB Diploma Conferral and annual Young Alumni Luncheon on Friday, January 5. Graduates of the IB Diploma Programme from the class of 2023 received their official IB diplomas, then stayed to celebrate with other alumni from the classes of 2008 through 2023. Among the common topics of conversation: how well prepared they are for college and life; and their gratitude for the support of their friends and teachers from Trinity.

In Sympathy

The Trinity community offers its condolences to families of the following people who have recently passed away. We apologize for any unintentional omissions. As of February 28, 2024

Lorraine Abernathy, mother of Claire Buie ’78, Melissa Abernathy ’80, and Alison Abernathy ’83, passed away on April 18, 2023.

Mike Bannon, father of Michael Bannon ’16, passed away on January 11, 2024.

Ann Bellemore, grandmother to Ryan Carpenter ’18 and Mo Carpenter ’21, passed away on February 8, 2024.

Harold L. Cole, III ’79, brother of Kathie Cole Rushin ’77, Tom Cole ’82, and Andy Cole ’90, and father to Hayden Smith ’18 and Carthen Smith ’19, passed away on December 26, 2022.

Harold Lewis Cole, Jr., father of Kathie Cole Rushin ’77, Tom Cole ’82, and Andy Cole ’90 passed away on March 6, 2023.

Mary Dickson, mother of Charlotte Dickson ’76 and Hearon Dickson ’80, passed away on October 7, 2023.

Beth Dierauf ’85 passed away on November 11, 2023.

Elmer Dunn, father of Jim Dunn ’75, Kirk Dunn ’78, and Julie (Dunn) Beck ’79, passed away on February 4, 2024.

John Gobble, father of former faculty members Sarah Elliott and Eric Gobble, and grandfather of Davis Elliott ’24 and Abbie Elliott ’26, passed away on April 23, 2023.

Richard "Dick" Harman, named to the TES Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 as a "contributor", passed away on May 18, 2023.

Peggy Heflin, former Trinity faculty member and mother of Will Heflin ’02, passed away on September 12, 2023.

Megan Hunter ’17, sister to Brandon Hunter ’15, passed away on December 7, 2023.

William L. Jennette Jr., grandfather of Lily Jennette ’23, passed away on May 4, 2023.

Doris Smith Radcliffe, mother of Richard Radcliffe ’76, Steve Radcliffe ’77, Cynthia “Cindy” (Radcliffe) Blanton ’79, Bronwyn “Bronnie” (Radcliffe) Lewis ’82, Alison (Radcliffe) Wheeler ’86, and grandmother of Bryan Wheeler ’17 and Mark Wheeler ’19 passed away February 24, 2024.

Edward “Rip” Harris Radcliffe, father of Richard Radcliffe ’76, Steve Radcliffe ’77, Cynthia “Cindy” (Radcliffe) Blanton, ’79, Bronwyn “Bronnie” (Radcliffe) Lewis ’82, Alison (Radcliffe) Wheeler ’86, and grandmother of Bryan Wheeler ’17 and Mark Wheeler ’19 passed away March 2, 2024.

Joan Fraser Rexinger, mother of Robin Lutz ’79 and grandmother of Carter Mayberry ’10, passed away on April 4, 2023.

Marion Chalmers Richeson, mother of Grady Richeson ’77, Parke Richeson and Scott Richeson, passed away on December 11, 2022.

Barbara Robinson, mother of Janet Kemp ’87, passed away on January 21, 2023.

Fred Robinson, father of Janet Kemp, ’87, passed away on July 2, 2023.

Matthew Salomonsky ’14, son of Stephen Salomonsky ’80 and brother of David Salomonsky ’10, Erin Salomonsky ’11, and Madeline Salomonsky ’18, passed away on September 12, 2023.

George Scott, father to Anne Carter ’91, passed away on October 25, 2023.

Danny Shreve ’84, sister to Amy Shreve Rohle ’79, son to Caroline Shreve (former Trinity substitute teacher), boyfriend of Jill Geary Collins ’84, passed away on October 6, 2023.

George Smith, Jr, father of Sarah Smith Philip ’93, passed away on March 22, 2023.

Mike Walters ’82, brother to Denise Burchett ’77 and John Walters ’80, passed away on October 7, 2023.

Congratulations to the winners of the alumni challenge: the class of 1981, with 22% participation; and the class of 1998, with a total of $5,080 raised.

“Choose

Your Own Adventure” Day of Giving Shatters Records

On November 2, Trinity held its 5th annual giving day inviting donors to embark on a journey of empowerment, growth, and limitless possibilities as they were asked to "Choose Your Own Adventure."

Match and challenge gifts were offered to help bolster our fundraising efforts unlocking larger gifts for meeting goals. Challenge goals included raising $10,000 during the month leading up to Giving Day, joining the Titan Society with a gift of $1,000 or more, young alumni giving, first-time alumni giving, and becoming a monthly donor. Additional incentives were offered to help meet our parent participation goals and overall participation goal. Torey Burston ’12, Michael Stratton ’02, and Rick Hamlin ’96 (all current Trinity faculty members) were all pied in the face on Friday to celebrate exceeding our goal of 400 people giving, and Teeny Tiny Farm Petting Zoo has been invited back on campus right before finals to celebrate over 50% of parents giving.

The 24-hr giving day kicked off with a 400 donor participation goal where donors could choose to give towards the five main pillars of our Trailblazer Fund — athletics, arts, academics, faculty/staff development, and tuition assistance. We were blown away again by the generosity of our parents, grandparents, alumni, students, faculty, and friends of the school as 510 donors gave an unprecedented $121,342.00 on Giving Day.

THANKS TO THOSE WHO OFFERED MATCHING AND CHALLENGE GIFTS:

Henry Burt and Mitzi van der Veer, parents of Bacheler ’22 and Radcliffe ’24

Chris Ellis ’81

Leesa ’93 and Gordon Gregor y parents of Augustine ’23

Kyle ’05 and Elizabeth Hendrick Erin and Mike Kuhla, parents of Grayson ’18, Garrett ’22, and Garnet ’27

Rebecca ’93 and Almedin Muminovic, parents of Kaleb ’22,Kenan ’25, Aidin ’27

Dami and Chris Snyder, parents of Logan ’24 and Marin ’27

Chuck and Judy Zondorak, Grandparents of Sonnie ’24 and Polly ’27 Kayer

Parents rose to the challenge with the highest overall participation on a giving day! Leading the way was the class of 2028 with 73.9% participation and the class of 2027 with 72% participation.

SAVE THE DATE for the 2024 Giving Day: OCTOBER 24, 2024