USJ - Ethos Magazine (Summer 2024)

U

ETHOS

232/240 McClellan Road Jackson, TN 38305

731.664.0812 • usjbruins.org

USJ’s Mission

We instill a passion for academic, artistic, and athletic excellence, while committing to personal integrity, mutual respect, and lifelong learning.

Identity Statement

USJ is a non-denominational, non-sectarian, college preparatory school dedicated to academic excellence and to our founding principles of faith, service, and scholarship. Based on a heritage grounded in Judeo-Christian values, we provide an educational environment where students of all ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds are valued and respected. The faculty, administration, and students are empowered to nurture and embrace the Judeo-Christian values and our operating principles. Through the fulfillment of our mission and adherence to these core principles and values, we prepare our graduates to be responsible and informed world citizens.

Welcome from the Head of School

Ethos means, simply, character. But this term speaks to so much more, namely the values shared by one’s community, the principles that unite people.

This spring issue serves as a reflection of our character, but also our aspirations. Within these pages, one can see many examples of teachers and staff who are pouring their lives into the lives of our children with the goal being to grow them to their fullest potential.

An environment that offers so much from the perspective of security, but one that within that sphere of protection allows for challenges that are integral for students to excel academically, compete in athletics and flourish as young artists.

A campus that serves as a visual exemplar of our mission of constant improvement.

Parents whose service, and sometimes sacrifice, provide the support necessary for our students to succeed.

Alumni who personally understand and appreciate the advantage an independent school education brings as well as what it means to truly leave a legacy.

And students who live out daily and benefit from the programs built on these values.

What a personal privilege it is to daily experience the culture of such a special place and to have this opportunity to share a measure of our ethos with you.

Go

Bruins!

Don Roe Head of School

ACADEMIC NEWS

From Reading Cafes to Genius Hours, the Lower School Media Center Inspires Young Readers

The Lower School Media Center stands as a beacon of exploration and curiosity, eagerly awaited by students each week. Designed to foster a love for reading, it offers a welcoming environment that is both comfortable and easy to navigate.

Divided into two sections catering to different age groups - Jr. Cubs for first graders and second to fifth graders - the Media Center ensures that its collection of books and seating arrangements are age-appropriate, nurturing a comfortable space for every student.

In the pursuit of continuous improvement, Lower School Media Specialist, Regina Sills, embarked on an extensive journey, visiting schools, engaging with librarians, and actively participating in online forums to gather a plethora of innovative ideas. Throughout the school year, the Media Center orchestrates various programs aimed at promoting literacy.

Among these initiatives, the ‘‘Reading Cafe’’ stands out as a popular success. Transforming the Media Center into a literary restaurant, Sills introduced an immersive experience where students were served different genres as ‘‘courses.’’ This creative approach not only broadened students’ literary horizons but also encouraged them to explore genres they may not have otherwise considered.

Another notable addition to the Media Center’s repertoire is the Genius Hour program, tailored for thirdto fifth-graders. This initiative empowers students to delve into topics of personal interest, honing their research skills and fostering a sense of ownership over their learning journey. Through projects presented in various formats such as posters, PowerPoint presentations, or videos, students not only deepen their understanding but also cultivate essential skills like proper citation and academic integrity.

Central to the Media Center’s mission is the coordination of semiannual Book Fairs. Beyond merely fundraising, these events serve as opportunities to enrich the library’s collection, replace worn-out copies, and support teachers in enhancing their curriculum. With meticulously chosen themes and engaging activities like ‘‘Family Night’’ or ‘‘Grandparent’s Day,’’ the Book Fair has become a cornerstone event, fostering a sense of community while igniting enthusiasm for reading among students.

Thorough research underpins every aspect of the Media Center’s programming, ensuring that themes are thoughtfully selected to captivate students and foster active participation. From instilling early literacy skills in early childhood students to nurturing technological literacy and research skills in older grades, each program is meticulously tailored to meet the evolving needs and interests of the student body.

As a result of these initiatives, Sills has witnessed a notable increase in student engagement with reading materials, particularly with the surge in the popularity of graphic novels among reluctant readers. The anticipation for new initiatives continues to grow, with plans to introduce video book reviews integrated with QR codes, enhancing accessibility and interactivity within the Media Center.

Looking ahead, Sills envisions further integration of technology, including the establishment of audiobook and ebook sections, and transforming the space into a hub for older students to study and conduct research. With innovation at its core, the future of the Media Center shines bright, promising even greater opportunities for student enrichment and academic growth under Sills’ dedicated stewardship.

Bruins in the wild

RIFA Food Drive

In September, SGA officers coordinated a school-wide canned drive on behalf of RIFA to help them fight hunger in Madison County. Each student was asked to bring in 50 lbs of canned food to help USJ reach their goal of 50,000 lbs.

Coat Drive

USJ Junior Ava Jerman organized the 6th Annual Schoolwide Coat Drive, successfully collecting and donating over 330 coats to students in Madison County.

Pumpkin Run

USJ students joined forces to raise money for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in October. USJ students Claire Russell (eighth grade) and Sam Alvey (fifth grade) served as co-captains and recruited other USJ students and families to participate in the Le Bonheur Pumpkin Run 5k on Saturday, October 14, at Le Bonheur Outpatient Clinic in Jackson.

Turkey Trot

Congratulations to our Lower School for being named the City of Jackson Hub City Heroes by Mayor Scott Conger. Students were recognized in November for supporting Area Relief Ministries through their Turkey Trot Fundraiser which raised more than $6,500. Our students are officially the youngest Hub City Heroes to date, and we are so proud of them all.

Empty Bowls

In December, National Art Honor Society (NAHS) members sold their own handmade pottery bowls to raise money for ComeUnity Cafe. Bowls were sold prior to the opening night performance of Godspell and attendees enjoyed soup before the show. Students raised $3,376 at the event which will provide approximately 345 meals for people in our community. ComeUnity Cafe’s mission is to serve organic, locally sourced, seasonal foods to all, regardless of means to pay. “Buy a Bowl. Eat a Meal. Feed our Community.”

Salvation Army

In December, Upper School students adopted 32 Angels from the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. Recognizing that every child deserves to feel the joy of Christmas, the Salvation Army Angel Tree program provides new clothing and toys to more than one-million children in need each year.

Beyond the Books: University School of Jackson’s Bruins Take in the World

Embarking on a journey beyond the traditional classroom setting, the University School of Jackson has been cultivating global perspectives and nurturing personal growth through their study abroad program for almost 3 decades. As we delve into the details with program advisor Jimmy Glosson, we will explore what makes this initiative a hallmark of the school’s commitment to preparing graduates to be responsible and informed world citizens.

The study abroad program at the University School of Jackson is designed with a clear vision — to offer Bruins a transformative educational experience that extends beyond textbooks and lectures. The primary goal is to broaden cultural horizons, foster global perspectives, and enhance personal and academic growth through immersive international experiences.

World Languages and Cultures Department Announces 2025 Study Abroad Adventure to London, Paris, and Barcelona!

In 2025, the World Languages and Cultures Department will embark on its second adventure since the pandemic--this time exploring London, Paris, and Barcelona.

In 2023, a group of almost 40, including both French and Spanish students, teachers, and parents and grandparents of USJ students walked the halls of castles in which French kings and queens spent vacations, stood in the throne room where Christopher Columbus asked Queen Isabella and King Ferdnand of Spain for support for his voyages, and came face to face with some of the most renowned art in the world.

With a successful track record spanning almost 30 years, the program is a well-established tradition at the University School of Jackson. Thousands of USJ students and their families have made some of their best family memories on these excursions. For some, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience; for others, it ignites a fire for exploration that can’t be extinguished; Trips are organized annually, each lasting two to three weeks, ensuring that students have a variety of opportunities to explore the world and enrich their educational journey.

The program’s diversity is reflected in its choice of destinations. Over the years, Bruins have explored Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The carefully curated selection of countries and regions aims to expose students to a variety of cultures, histories, and landscapes.

A thoughtful blend of cultural immersion and educational enrichment defines the program’s itineraries. Bruins visit historical landmarks, engage in community service projects, participate in language and cultural exchange programs, and explore natural wonders. Destinations have included local communities, bustling marketplaces, ancient ruins, and vibrant neighborhoods.

Bridging Theory and Practice: Lessons from Keli Gooch’s AP Psychology Class

From nurturing ‘‘babies’’ to delving into the intricacies of mental processes, Upper School teacher Keli Gooch inspires her AP Psychology students to explore the profound relevance of behavior in our world. Under Gooch’s guidance, AP Psych scholars grasp the interdisciplinary nature of psychology, seeing its applications in realms as diverse as business, marketing, healthcare, and sports. Indeed, psychology permeates every facet of human experience.

AP Psychology is considered a college-level introductory course into the world of behavior and mental processes. This comprehensive course traverses a broad spectrum of topics, from the mechanisms of neurotransmitters to the complexities of personality development and abnormal psychology. Divided into two halves, the curriculum initially delves into foundational principles such as historical perspectives, brain function, cognition, and developmental psychology. The latter segment delves deeper into motivation, personality, clinical studies, and social psychology.

The allure of psychology lies in its omnipresence. Each unit of study is accompanied by real-world application projects, enriching students’ understanding through practical examples.

For instance, during the Cognition/Perception Unit, students analyze logos to uncover how our brains and memories can distort visual information.

One of the more popular units amount students is the developmental unit. Students assume the role of caregivers for simulated ‘‘babies’’ over a week-long period. Ranging from newborns to teenagers, these lifelike dolls challenge students to comprehend the intricacies of cognitive and psychosocial development across the lifespan. Through this immersive experience, students gain insights into parenting styles, attachment dynamics, and the challenges of responsibility. This project extends beyond the classroom, with teachers and parents joining in to offer guidance and support.

Gooch employs projects not only to reinforce learning but also to cultivate confidence among her students, especially during the rigorous AP Psychology exams. She emphasizes that confidence in test-taking is a skill honed through a combination of content mastery, fluency, and practice. Despite the daunting array of terms and concepts, Gooch maintains that a balanced approach— incorporating terminology, practical application, and innovative projects— engages students effectively, fostering success both in the classroom and on the exam.

For Gooch, the ultimate goal is to infuse psychology with meaning, interest, and engagement, thereby igniting her students’ passion for the subject and equipping them with enduring knowledge for future pursuits. Indeed, the hallmark of our AP Psychology program lies in the creation of lasting memories intertwined with meaningful learning experiences.

When I Grow Up…

We asked some of our youngest Bruins about their plans for the future.

Milly Verdell, age 5

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be an artist.

Why? Because I just love to draw.

What does an artist do every day? She paints pretty pictures and draws.

What tools or equipment will you use in your job? I will need paintbrushes and paints.

Who will be your best friend at work, and what will you do together? Juliette and I will work together and make pretty pictures.

Wayde Kisner, age 5

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a builder with Thomas one day.

Why? We like to build things together.

What does a builder do every day? He builds houses and deer stands.

What tools or equipment will you use in your job? I’ll need lots of concrete.

Who will be your best friend at work, and what will you do together? Thomas will work with me and we will build constructions.

Vivian Harris, age 5

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A nurse.

Why? Because I want to be just like my mommy.

What does a nurse do every day? She takes care of people.

What tools or equipment will you use in your job? XRays and shots, lots and lots of shots.

Who will be your best friend at work, and what will you do together? Juliette, we will take care of people and hang out.

Bennett King, age 5

What do you want to be when you grow up?

NFL player

Why? Because I like football the best.

What does an NFL player do every day? Practice, because they have games every Sunday and Monday

What tools or equipment will you use in your job?

A helmet, pads, and pants

Who will be your best friend at work, and what will you do together?

Ronan, tackle each other and workout

Jack Everett, age 6

What do you want to be when you group up? Scientist, because I know too much about animals.

What does a scientist do every day? Discover things, make inventions, and make science.

What tools or equipment will you use? Screwdriver and a pumper… to drive on water and a hammer for wood.

Who will be your best friend? Elliana, we will make robotic arms together.

Abigail Carroll, age 6

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A doctor, I can help kids that are sick

What does a doctor do? Take care of people

What tools will you use in your job? Things that check ears, Telescope to check your heart, and lots of shots to help kids feel better.

Who will be your best friend at work? Scout, she will love to help me with sick kids

Upper School Students Inducted into Prestigious Academic Honor Societies

Since the school’s founding in 1970, academic excellence has stood as a cornerstone of the University School of Jackson’s mission. Positioned as the premier college preparatory institution in West Tennessee, USJ is committed to nurturing each student’s potential, beginning with a developmentfocused curriculum in pre-kindergarten and extending through to Advanced Placement courses in the Upper School. USJ takes pride in the significant representation of its students in various esteemed honor societies such as the Science National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, and the National English Honor Society. These societies have varying criteria, typically including rigorous requirements pertaining to GPA, enrollment in AP or honors courses, and engagement in volunteer activities.

The Science National Honor Society is a prominent scientific organization that engenders a new group of young thinkers who will be the future of industry, research, and scientific exploration for America. Faculty Advisor: Jane Ramer

The Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society inspires an interest in mathematics, develops strong scholarship in the subject, and promotes the enjoyment of mathematics in high school students. Faculty Advisor: Tina Plunk

Membership in the National English Honor Society is an honor bestowed on students selected for their accomplishments in the field of English and in overall academic achievement. NEHS provides recognition for past achievements, the nurturing of present interests, and encouragement for future success. NEHS is an organization for students who have experienced the power of literature, the pleasures of good writing, and the excitement of language studies. Faculty Advisor: Bridgett Clark

Golden and Lawrence Awarded

Heisman Scholarship

Congratulations to Adelaide Golden and Andrew Lawrence, USJ’s Heisman High School winners.

The Heisman High School Scholarship program extends the Heisman prestige to the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors by celebrating and rewarding outstanding male and female scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories happen not only on the field, but also in their schools and communities.

Science National Honor Society

Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society

National English Honor Society

USJ Welcomes New Honor Council Members Dedicated to Upholding Integrity

and Accountability

In early September, the University School of Jackson Upper School welcomed nine new members to its esteemed Honor Council.

Speaker Chester Evans

Senior Representatives

Amelia Freeman

Kendall Morris

Junior Representatives

Corben Howard

Blane Lafferty

Sophomore Representatives

Charlie Redden

Caroline White

Freshman Representatives

Sam Hines

Joshua O’Neal

Comprising two representatives from each grade alongside a speaker, the council upholds stringent standards for its members, requiring a minimum 3.5 grade point average.

The Honor Council emphasizes principles of trust, support, and integrity among students. The council’s role is to promote accountability among students and foster empathy within its ranks.

At its core, the Honor Council is dedicated to ensuring adherence to principles of honesty and integrity, while simultaneously nurturing character development within the USJ community. Any breaches of the Honor Code, such as lying, cheating, or stealing, are subject to investigation by the council. Cases are heard with utmost confidentiality, and after careful deliberation, the council recommends appropriate action to the administration.

Driver and Bates Nominated to Mayor’s Youth Council Class of 2025

USJ junior Ellen Driver and Ava Bates were sworn in by City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger on September 5th to join the Mayor’s Youth Council Class of 2025. This distinguished assembly consists of about ten high school juniors, with one representative selected from each high school. The council’s primary objective is to address community concerns. Through the MYC, local authorities strive to better reflect the community’s diversity and enhance services that impact the youth directly.

Junior Rotarians

Congratulations to our six Junior Rotarian nominees; Chester Evans, Anderson Preston, Claire Whybrew, Eady Davenport, Corinne Sullivan and Tripp Hooper.

As a Junior Rotarian, students learn how Rotary impacts the community. The club then selects one Junior Rotarian from each area high school to receive a scholarship. The scholarship recipients represent nine high schools in Jackson. Each student receives $2,000, which goes towards the college of their choice. The Rotary Club has been helping students pursue higher education through local scholarships for more than 22 years.

Balloons Over Broadway

Last fall, the magic of a parade filled our Lower School cafeteria thanks to our 3rd-grade class’s enrichment collaboration project, ‘‘Balloons Over Broadway!’’ Each team within the class channeled their inner parade float designer, constructing Macy’s Day-inspired creations using Dash robots in their art and STEAM enrichment classes. These weren’t your average bots – they were miniature marvels showcasing the students’ skills in science, technology, engineering, art, and math! The big day arrived, and with a buzz of excitement, the 3rd graders proudly paraded their robotic creations across the stage, transforming the cafeteria into a mini parade route for the day!

FACULTY NEWS

Teacher Spotlight - Keli Gooch

Keli Gooch is the Middle and Upper School Counselor. She is a licensed professional counselor & board-certified behavior analyst. Keli is thrilled to be at USJ this year! She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from UT Martin with an emphasis in psychology and education. She also just recently earned her graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. She may be new to USJ, but this is her 15th year in the field.

What inspired you to become a counselor?

I knew that I wanted to work as a counselor when I was 13. I watched Kathleen Turner’s movie “House of Cards” (1993) in which a young girl exhibits what is now labeled as selective mutism and is later diagnosed with autism after her father passes away. I was intrigued by the psychiatrist’s incessant search for answers. Unlike other fields, mental health happens to have a “stigma” associated with it. I am a huge advocate for therapy and have seen the benefits firsthand.

What counseling methods or techniques do you find most effective in engaging your students?

When I started in August, one of my first goals was to build relationships with students. I think it’s important that students see the counselor in all areas of the building, so I make a point to be visible (which explains why I’m not in my office much!)

I also created an Advisory ‘‘push-in’’ schedule for both US and MS so that I can visit classrooms with the goal of connecting and engaging with students. I always try to gain rapport with students first before taking a deep dive into hard topics.

What subject or area do you specialize in, and what is most fascinating about it?

I am a Behaviorist at heart and use a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis techniques when working with students. I am fascinated by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and plan to take several trainings next year on the subject. ACT techniques have been proven effective for students who struggle with anxiety, inflexibility, and perfectionism. I consider myself a lifelong learner and I am always reading or researching something new!

Can you share any innovative approaches or projects you’re working on with students?

I oversee advisory for both Middle School and Upper School. One of my goals is to incorporate a Leadership component in our social-emotional curriculum next year. We have so many talented students and I want to ensure that we are growing emotionally intelligent students!

Coach King and Dorthea Spates Bring Home the Mirror Ball for USJ

Each year community leaders are asked to display their best dance moves to help fundraise for the STAR Center. At the most recent competition, USJ’s very own Coach Byrce King and Dorothea Spates volunteered their time to compete in the charity event.

Coach King and Dorothea were choreographed by USJ faculty member, Erica Davidson and endured months of training and practice.

On October 26, the duo competed against a dozen other dancers in a packed house at the Jackson Fairgrounds. Throughout the night, dancers were judged by a panel of three judges on a variety of categories including choreography, technical skill, costume, and overall presentation.

To the delight of the crowd, Coach King and Dorothea’s hard work earned them not only the People’s Choice award but also the coveted Mirror Ball! Additionally, Dorthea was recognized for raising the most money for the cause.

The sold-out event raised more than $300,000 for the STAR Center.

The STAR Center provides services for education, employment, and independence for all ages and needs in West Tennessee and beyond. This could include helping a child communicate, helping someone get their first job, or helping the elderly stay in their homes. The STAR Center is dedicated to helping people with disabilities make their dreams a reality.

USJ Honors Beloved Art Teacher Kay Thomson

In the heart of every school, there is a space that transcends its physical dimensions. The space becomes more than a classroom, but a testament to the values, contributions, and enduring legacy of someone who has made a significant impact. USJ has had the pleasure of dedicating the Lower School Art Room to one of our esteemed former faculty members, Kay Thomson.

Kay Thomson served the USJ community for two decades. She taught Lower School Art at the U for more than 25 years. During her time teaching, she challenged her students to explore different mediums from drawing and watercolors, to hand-building pottery, weaving, and collage. Her goal was for each student to have an appreciation of art and basic skills in observation, creating, sharing, and completing a task.

Kay has cultivated a love of art in hundreds of USJ Lower School students over the course of her career, and it was only fitting to see her honored in this way. The Kay Gardner Thomson Art Room stands as a symbol of inspiration for students, guiding them toward the limitless possibilities of expression. Her dedication to promoting art as a catalyst for self-discovery resonates in the vibrancy of the room. Thomson’s impact extended beyond the paint and canvas; it’s a legacy that motivated creativity in the hearts and minds of all her former students.

“The art room dedication for Mrs. Kay is a celebration of a legacy that will forever enrich the USJ community,” Head of School Don Roe stated.

Thank you, and congratulations, Kay, on a career that impacted so many children.

Faculty Milestones

5 years - Holly Brown; Phillip Dunn; Nikki Freeland; Pam Hudson; Ryan Joyce; Jamie Pledger; Tina Plunk; Sally Rogers; Martha Sheffield; Dave Suber; Erin Wagner

10 years -Briamst Castro; Erica Davidson; Lisa Evans; Mary Claire Hancock; Billy Hight; Kyle Hopper; Shilpa Jiturkar; Holly Johnson; Bryce King; Shannon Scarbrough

15 years -Edgardo Trinidad; Shannon Whisenant

20 Years - Jim Hardegree; Sara Kazempour; Emily Morris; San Pearson

25 years - Sherri Brauss; Christie Golden; Anna McPeake; Carol Ryan; Shonda Vargason

40 Years -Lisa Cates

Back To School Breakfast

Provided By The Parents Club

Director of Athletics Update

The fall brought another memorable semester for the USJ Bruins. As a community, we experienced many thrilling victories as well as some painful defeats. Our teams, athletes, and coaches persevered through challenges, surpassed expectations, and found success both on and off the competition field/arena. As an athletic department, our coaches and staff worked to carry out the mission of the school and challenge our athletes to grow in their character, build community, and compete for championships.

Every sport made the state playoffs with four of those teams making the state competition in their respective sports. Up to this point in the year, we have had seven Bruin athletes earn the opportunity to and commit to play collegiate athletics, and we are looking forward to signing many more!

Our winter sports teams had successful regular seasons. The Lady Bruin basketball team was able to secure the regular season district championship and made an amazing post season run finishing with our first girls basketball state championship (more on that in the next magazine). Our boys basketball had an exciting season and fell just short of a regular season district title to finish second. We are very excited to see what in store for these two programs!

Our student athletes are committed to academic excellence as well as athletic excellence. The fall saw 65 of our student athletes with a GPA of 4.0 or above, and all fall sport teams post a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Thank you to all of the student athletes and their families, our coaches, our medical staff, our administration, our faculty, and the entire University School of Jackson community for being a part of the successes that this year has brought!

Derrick Pritchard

Football - The 2024 season saw the Bruins post a 7-5 record and advance to the quarterfinals in their first year in Division II-AA. The Bruins won their First Round Playoff game at home to finish the season with a 5-1 home record.

Girls Soccer - The Lady Bruins soccer team returned to their 5th consecutive TSSAA State Tournament. The Bruins finished as regular season district champions and the #3 seed in the region tournament. USJ Lady Bruins Soccer lost in the state semi-final and finished with a record of 14-4-2.

Volleyball - The Lady Bruins had a great season being regular season district champions and got to host the TSSAA DII-A West Region Tournament, finishing 3rd and advancing to the TSSAA DII-A State Tournament. They finished in the Elite 8 and completed their season with a 16-8 record.

Golf - The 2024 Bruin Golf team had a successful season including a victory in the FCA Invitational. The Boys Team was able to bring home the Region Championship and advance to the State Tournament. The Lady Bruins had a signature win at the Hornet Classic Tournament. Lady Bruin Josie Porter advanced to the State Tournament as an individual.

Cross Country - We were proud of everyone’s determination and work ethic. Everyone continued to improve throughout the season and set PRs. We congratulate Addy Kirkland and Miles Johnson for qualifying for the DII-A TSSAA State Championships and congratulate Miles on achieving All State status!

Boys Basketball - The Bruins finished the season 22-6, 2nd in the district regular season going into the region tournament. This team has been special to watch. Their tenacity, fight and discipline allowed them to rise above all their competitors. The culture of this program is based on respect and commitment which shows in each of their players and how they compete day to day. Each time this team stepped on the court they played their hearts out.

Girls Basketball - Lady Bruins are continued their post season playoffs by advancing to the state tournament, and bringing home the first State Championship title in our girls program history (more on that in our next issue).

College Signings

Ava Rose - Carson Newman, soccer

John Gregory Wilson - University of Tennessee at Martin, golf

Taylar Shands - Itawamba Community College, softball

Josie Porter - Union University, golf

Miles Johnson - Union University, cross country

Marshall Box - University of Tennessee - Knoxville, football

Recognition

The following upper school athletes earned additional recognition this year:

Football

• West Tennessee All-Star GameSam McMillin

• Noah Spencer nominated for Jackson Sun Athlete of the Week

• WNWS Player of the Week - Noah Spencer

• Nominated for Jackson Sun’s Top Fall Athlete - Noah Spencer

• Nominated for Jackson Sun’s Top Fall Athlete - Corben Howard

Girls Soccer

• THSSCA DII-A All-State: Mia Powell and Lilly Teague

• TSSAA DII-A West All Region: Lilly Teague and Reagan Whitledge

• TSSAA DII-A All District 5: Mia Powell MVP, Ava Rose, Ava Barham, Kenley Hines and Jaidyn Marquez

• Ava Rose and Mia Powell represented USJ in the TACA/ THSSCA All-Star Game

• Nominated for Jackson Sun’s Top Fall Athlete - Lilly Teague

Volleyball

• Lexi Krenis on making the TSSAA DII-A West All Region

• All-District honors Haynes Haltom (MVP & First Team), Lexi Krenis (First Team), Olivia Welch (First Team), Josie Carney (First Team) and Sophie King (Second Team)

• Lexi Krenis and Haynes Haltom made The Jackson Sun’s All-West TN Volleyball 2nd Team

Golf

• Lady Bruin Josie Porter advanced to the State Tournament as an individual

• Houston Brasfield, Anderson Fortune, JG Wilson & Josie Porter for being named to the All-West Tennessee boys and girls golf teams

• The Lady Bruins had a signature win at the Hornet Classic Tournament.

• Both Bruins and Lady Bruins teams won the Trojan Classic Tournament in Dyersburg.

• FCA hosted one of the largest tourneys of the year at Jackson Country Club. Bruins placed 1st overall and the Lady Bruins placed 2nd overall.

Cross Country

• Senior Miles Johnson and Freshman Addy Kirkland both finished top 20 and set new personal records in the TSSAA DII A State Championship

• Nominated for Jackson Sun Athlete of the Week - Addy Kirkland and Miles Johnson

• Named to All-West Region TeamAddy Kirkland and Miles Johnson

Girls Basketball

• Dynamix Hoopfest StandoutHaylen Ayers

• Nominated for Miss Basketball DII-A - Haylen Ayers

• TSSAA DII A All District 5 MVP Haylen Ayers, 1st Team Lilly Teague, Ava Barham, Ellen Driver

Boys Basketball

• Dynamix Hoopfest StandoutsHaylen Ayers, Mills Terry and Brady Smith-12/9/23

• Jackson Sun Athlete of the WeekBrady Smith Week of 11/20-25/23

• Nominated twice for Jackson Sun Athlete of the week-Brady Smith 11/20/23 & 12/26/23

• Jackson Sun Top 30 players in West TN going into the 2023-2024 High School Basketball season - Brady Smith 11/14/23

• West Tennessee 1/17/24 - Brady Smith Nominated for Mid-Season Player of the year

• 24 Jackson Area All Sports Athletes to watch 1/18/24-Brady Smith

• Nominated for Jackson Sun Athlete of the week-Mills Terry-1/8-13/24

• Hub City Classic 2023-24 AllTournament Team-Mills Terry, 12/30/23

• Scored 1000 points vs. JCM 12/28/23-Brady Smith

• Nominated for Jackson Athlete of the week-Mills Terry- 1/22/241/27/24

• Nominated for Jackson Athlete of the week-Mills Terry- 1/29/24-2/3/24

• Nominated Division II Class A Tennessee Player of the Year-Brady Smith

• Nominated Division II Class A Tennessee Player of the Year-Mills Terry

• TSSAA DII A All District 5 First Team Brady Smith and Mills Terry, 2nd Team Sam Keyl

Outdoor Classroom Dedicated to Lisa Cates to Honor Four Decades of Service

In the landscape of education, the concept of learning extends far beyond the traditional four walls of a classroom. In a heartfelt ceremony held on September 7, 2023, the University School of Jackson celebrated the completion and dedication of a new outdoor classroom, paying tribute to our beloved 40-year employee, Lisa Cates.

The event marked a significant milestone in USJ’s commitment to providing innovative learning environments to its students. The outdoor classroom, a visionary addition to the University School of Jackson’s campus, has been meticulously designed to foster experiential education, offering a dynamic space for students and faculty alike to engage with nature while pursuing academic endeavors. Lisa Cates has dedicated four decades of unwavering service, lending her expertise and passion to countless students and colleagues. The outdoor classroom stands as a testament to her enduring legacy and the profound impact she has had on the USJ community. During the dedication ceremony, Head of the School Don Roe, expressed heartfelt gratitude towards Cates for her unparalleled dedication and outstanding contributions.

‘‘In 1984, USJ won the lottery with the addition of Mrs. Lisa, and she has continued to make an impact on this community ever since. This outdoor classroom is a tribute to her enduring legacy and a testament to the values she embodies,’’ Roe remarked.

The event was attended by many guests, including students, colleagues new and old, members of the University School of Jackson Board of Directors, several of Mrs. Lisa’s family members and local community leaders, who joined in celebrating this momentous occasion. The outdoor classroom is poised to become a cherished space for collaborative learning, inspiring future generations of University School of Jackson scholars.

Closing Chapter of Imagine More Campaign Marks New Beginnings for USJ Campus Development

As the Imagine More Campaign winds down, so do the final projects. The Middle and Upper School gym foyer upgrades are all but complete with new flooring, a wall wrap featuring USJ athletes, recognition boards charting the successes of all of our boys and girls sports, and plentiful branding with oversized Bruin paws in multiple locations. The interactive kiosk is being installed and with it our rich history of academic, athletic, and artistic achievements. Marquees should also be installed in between the entrances at Blankenship Theatre by the beginning of the 24-25 school year.

As the campaign comes to a close, individual projects will still continue. The much anticipated Gratitude Garden will be planted along the main road into campus on the Great Lawn, in summer of 2024. The garden was made possible by the students - led by the Science Club - who raised money in May of 2023. The funds raised were generously matched, dollar for dollar, by Flint and Kelly Cox.

Also, on the horizon are upgrades to the softball field, which will include raised stadium-style seating, a new backstop (to mimic Overton Stadium’s), better line of sight by lowering the dugout roofs, and new fencing. A second outdoor classroom is also in the early stages of ideation.

The Imagine More Campaign generated more than $8.8 million, from 375 different donors and featured the completion of 22 projects. The culture of generosity at USJ continues to grow year after year. If any of the upcoming projects interest you, please contact Russ Ellis at rellis@usjbruins.org, or he will be happy to contact you.

Revamped Teleparty Exceeds Expectations

The Sixth Annual Teleparty officially became the “Teleparty Season” at the U in the Fall of 2023. With a revamped strategy, adding one night for simply calling Legacy Society Prospects, the event(s) saw both record dollars raised and a record number of gifts committed.

The three nights of calling resulted in 370 families from the USJ community contributing more than $198,000 to the Fund for Excellence - USJ’s Annual Giving Platform. At printing the Fund for Excellence has garnered support from more than 400 families, and has exceeded $350,000 for the 23-24 School Year - also a record!

The University School of Jackson takes pride in acknowledging the dedication, resilience, and time commitment demonstrated by our students and parents in striving to enhance our school’s standards. Furthermore, the achievements attained would not have been possible without the generosity exhibited by our donors. Your benevolence plays a crucial role in sustaining vital programs and fulfilling needs beyond the scope of standard tuition fees. We extend our heartfelt gratitude!

Additionally, we express our thanks to the Pugh family for graciously sponsoring dinner for our volunteers each evening from Zaxby’s.

It’s not too late to contribute! If you wish to make a donation to the Fund for Excellence, please visit https://usjbruins.org/giving/give-today.

LEGACY

Join the Legacy Society

With a $2,500 donation to the Fund for Excellence (FFE), Legacy Society members play an integral role in promoting a cohesive fundraising partnership that is in the best interest of the school and offers several unique benefits to donors.

Membership supports the FFE - USJ’s Annual Giving Platform, which is the most directly beneficial gift one can give to USJ, as it assists in keeping tuition reasonable and competitive, improves technology, and provides competitive salaries and continuing education opportunities for our faculty.

Legacy Society Benefits

A SuperBooster membership in the Bruins Club, which provides free admission for two to each regular home athletic event and a designated lot parking pass.

Holiday Mart Bronze Patron status, which includes two tickets to the Mart’s Preview Party, two tickets to the Sip and Shop event, and 10 General Admission Tickets to the Mart.

A Silver Level sponsorship for the Arts Guild, which includes a quarter-page ad in the sponsor booklet and four reserved seats for each theatrical or musical production.

Families will also receive a unique USJ Holiday Gift specifically designed for Legacy Society Members.

USJ Artists Leave Their Mark in Regional Competitions

A number of Upper School art students had the opportunity to highlight their talents in local shows. Students of Leah Hackett displayed work at:

Briarcrest Regional Art Contest and Exhibition (BRACE)

Eady Davenport, 4th place

Will Jordan, Honorable Mention

Josie Dougan

Jane Claire Ragon

Avani Prasad

Anna Badgett

Ben Alvey

Sadie Overton

West Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition

Eady Davenport, Ceramics

Josie Dougan, Ceramics

Will Jordan, Ceramics

Audra Sheffield, Mixed Media

Eady Davenport, Painting

Maggie Wright, Painting

Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards

Jenna Schultz

- Gold Key in painting for “Limelight” (on display at the Brooks Museum)

Abigail Preston

- Silver Key in sculpture for “Fractured Bowl”

Jenna Schultz

- Honorable Mention in sculpture for “Secluded Forest”

Maggie Wright

- Honorable Mention in mixed media for “Look! Cows!”

Abigail Preston

- Honorable Mention in painting for “The Smolder”

AP Student Art Gallery

Bailey Miller: “Microscopic Business Textures”

My passion for science has played a crucial part in inspiring my art portfolio theme: interpreting the beauty of everyday objects through a microscopic lens. The world contains more visual quality than the naked eye can see, a concept that deserves recognition. In this piece, I have taken seemingly insignificant parts of my mother’s catering business, including a cardboard packaging box, a glove, a towel, and a stainless-steel countertop, and applied exaggerated textures to them. For the stainless steel, foil was photographed. A small piece of each of these factors was placed under my microscope and analyzed. These elaborate textures perform beautifully on the page, illustrated with a lead pencil and blue colored pencil. These ordinary materials further establish the idea that even the most typical items can possess or create unseen beauty.

Lacie Atkinson: “Frances”

My art shows my fascination with people and their stories. This is Frances, whom I met in the French Quarter in New Orleans. I watched him by the St. Louis Cathedral, and something about him seemed different. Some fortune tellers had left, leaving trash behind, and Frances was the one to clean it up. There were people handing out food for the homeless, and he was the only one who gave the man a hug. I knew I had to talk to him. He had been in New Orleans for 10 weeks and was out of work because of Covid. He told me about his love of books, the certificates he had earned, the restaurants he worked at, and the ups and downs of his life, which I incorporated throughout this piece. I hope to have the viewer really see Frances through my portrait, and not just his circumstances.

Mia Powers: “Sewanee Memories Under the Sun with a Little Shade”

The objects I depict throughout my portfolio are imbued with important memories and experiences from my life. My brother attended Sewanee University, and every time I use this mug in the morning I think of him. The image is on the day he graduated from college as he was walking to the ceremony with his class and he stopped to hug me. I think of going to watch him play football in Sewanee and at the time it was so foggy we could not even watch the game. My brother, Powers, is 11 years older than I am and is the person I always go to when I need advice or a good laugh. I painted us in this mug with the illusion that we were swirling in the contents like the memory in my mind.

Audra Sheffield: “Studies of the Future”

Creating artworks that contemplate world issues is the focus for my portfolio. I wanted to show everyday problems as well as major worldwide “crises” I have dealt with in my lifetime. This piece is centered around the Covid-19 pandemic. The piece provides a futuristic view of the virus, specifically how history books will tell of this global disaster years from now. I used real articles published during 2020 to form a 3D magazine as well as incorporating hospital statistics to create a newspaper. The piece is meant to portray someone in the future studying the virus, trying to understand the toll it took on the world.

Eady Davenport: “Katelyn”

Focusing on hopes and dreams, color demonstrates the hoping/dreaming aspect, and black and white contrasts show reality. I illustrated the dreams and perspectives of a variety of people, hoping my viewers better understand those depicted in each. This piece illustrates the “dreaming big” nature of people with intellectual disabilities, a group of people that I have come to know well. This piece shows my friend Katelyn looking up at a pink butterfly. Katelyn is drawn small in black and white, signifying the reality that she is stuck in a world where dreams don’t always come true. However, Katelyn dreams big in all things, (metaphorically) seeing the world in color- only the possible. The giant crayon butterflies fly off the background of watercolor lines which work to draw the viewer’s eye to Katelyn’s line of sight. The butterflies symbolize Katelyn’s perspective that anything in life is possible if you can dream it! Through this process, I have learned to consider others’ points of view to illustrate their hopes and dreams!

Will Jordan: “Pile of Wishes”

I chose to depict a bunch of coins in a wishing well; each coin represents a child’s wish. When I was a kid, every time I saw a wishing well I would ask my mom for a coin to throw in it. The focus of my portfolio is how different materials interact and reflect light and color. This piece shows how the water transforms the light around the coins and how it distorts the coins. The metal is also very shiny so it makes a lot of cool highlights. This piece took me the longest out of any artwork I have ever done because of the amount of detail I chose to incorporate into the drawing. I used mechanical pencils and a shader because I was able to achieve the darkest parts and intricacies of the objects.

Caitlin Roemen: “Old Grey Couch”

My topic is the beauty of an imperfect family, the perfect found in the imperfect. I chose to focus my portfolio on this because my family means everything to me and even though we are far from perfect, everything seems perfect to me. This piece of my Dad and me just after I was born represents how no matter the ups and downs we remain father and daughter. Whenever I go back and look at this picture, I remember that despite our arguments and many changes through the years, we’re still the same two people who unconditionally love and support each other.

Madeline Craig: “We All Scream for Ice Cream”

I have chosen to explore my childhood memories looking for those that have been impactful in my character development. Looking back and revisiting these core memories allows me to understand them in their purest form. This piece shows a traditional summer vacation to Hilton Head where my family frequented the Salty Dog. Inevitably it would result in too much pizza and ice cream with my sister getting Superman ice cream all over her face. It’s the joy in the yearly experience with my family that I want to depict using bright paint and modeling paste to enhance the ice cream experience.

Ella Catherine Donnell: “Childhood in my Grasp” Childhood joy, capturing creativity and imagination in my artwork is the focus of my portfolio. When creating this piece, I wanted to invoke a sense of playfulness and joy through the colors and the theme. I loved playing with Barbies when I was little, and I wanted to incorporate them somehow into one of my projects. Barbie opened up a world of imagination and creativity for all little girls, teaching that they could be independent and creative. This piece was also super fun to create because of all of the different mediums in it. The clay hand was by far the hardest part of the piece. The printed background involved carving my own linocut plate and printing it multiple times, but I love how fun and playful it turned out. This piece fully captures the joy and imagination that Barbie is able to bring to all children.

Emma Robinson: “Natural Beauty” Architecture and nature inspired my portfolio pieces. I explored how nature can enhance architectural forms, as well as nature reclaiming those spaces. The beauty of the contrasting form intrigues me. I found this barn and was enchanted by the beauty in the breaking down of the architecture encouraged by the growth of natural elements. In this photograph, I wanted to demonstrate how perspective changes your view of things, particularly in architecture. This barn may not be the prettiest but the nature around it makes it beautiful. At first glance, all you see is a barn but the more you look at the photograph, the more you discover about it. I see a dark barn with nature bringing light to it. The cloudy atmosphere blends with the way the trees and brush look in the wintertime. When we take a moment to really look, there is so much to see.

Lower School Classes

Shine in Spectacular Performances, Bruins

Steal the Show!

Every Lower School class devoted countless hours mastering the lines, lyrics, and choreography for unforgettable shows. Mary Katherine Busuito and Leslie Scott’s dedication ensured the success of these performances, yet it was the Bruins who consistently exceeded expectations every time they graced the stage! The performances for each grade were as follows:

Jr. Kindergarten: “Pajama Party”

Kindergarten: “Lemonade”

1st Grade: “Littlest Reindeer”

2nd Grade: “Go West!”

3rd Grade: “Lights! Camera! Christmas!”

4th Grade: “Summer Camp”

5th Grade: “Destination Rock ‘n’ Roll”

Upper School Students

Inducted into Prestigious Artistic Honor Societies

USJ is committed to empowering every student to reach their fullest potential, whether they’re excelling in academics or showcasing their talents on stage. The institution takes pride in the significant number of students who earn selection into esteemed fine arts honor societies such as the Thespian Society, Tri-M Honor Society, and the National Art Honor Society. Each of these societies maintains distinct criteria, typically including rigorous standards related to GPA, enrollment in AP or honors courses, and commitment to community service through volunteer hours.

The International Thespian Society is an honorary group for high school theatre students and a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA). The mission of ITS is to honor student excellence in the theatre arts.

Faculty Advisor: Erica Davidson

The Tri-M Honor Society is a program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), which focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. Faculty Advisors: Jared Heldenbrand and Lisa Powell

The National Art Honor Society supports student members in their efforts to attain the highest standards in art scholarship, character, and service. Faculty Advisor: Leah Hackett

Band and Orchestra Students Showcase Talent on Campus and at All-West Competition

Our instrumental students have talent far and wide. Under the direction of band teacher Lisa Powell, the following Bruins received musical awards: Diego Montoya - All West Blue Band

Quad State Middle School Band Festival

USJ Middle School students were chosen to participate in the Quad State Middle School Band Festival at Murray State on November 20. Thousands of middle school band students from four states were nominated or auditioned. From the nominees, our students were selected to participate in a festival that included four different bands, with approximately 110 students in each band. All the bands performed at the end of day on Murray State’s campus.

Cade Anderson Landon McCord Kenslee Vaughn Lily Williams

Zoe Chia

Chloe Hudson

Madden Jones

Standing Ovation: USJ Choir Students

Shine in Recent Competitions

USJ’s choir students delivered outstanding performances at various recent competitions, showcasing their talent and dedication. Guided by Jared Heldenbrand, the following students exemplified excellence and proudly represented our school’s artistic department.

Tennessee All-State Honor Choir

Toni Tremblay, Diego Montoya, Noah Martin, Carmen Biggs, Ava Bates, Cade Jett, Aydon Isbell, Mary Caryl Gwatney

All Northwest Tennessee Honor Choir

Mary Blake Ferguson, Toni Tremblay, Diego Montoya, JW Johnson, Lexi Krenis, Annika Jerge, Kamryn DePriest, Hayden Hight, Cade Jett, Noah Martin, Anna Badgett, Carmen Biggs, Addy Kirkland, Ava Bates, Matt Murray, Aydon Isbell, Mary Caryl Gwatney, Ava Beller

University of Memphis Honor Choir

Toni Tremblay, Smith Berry, JW Johnson, Anna Badgett, Hayden Hight, Cade

Jett, Noah Martin, Carmen Biggs, Ava Bates, Matt Murray, Aydon Isbell, Mary Caryl Gwatney

Murray State University’s Quad State Honor Choir

Matt Murray, Cade Jett, Diego Montoya, JW Johson, Aydon Isbell, Kamryn DePriest, Annika Jerge, Mary Caryl Gwatney

Stellar

Theatrical and Musical

Performances Light Up the Stage

The Alibis

When eccentric billionaire J. Leslie Arlington is murdered, a clueless detective finds the suspects are all reluctant to admit their alibis . . . because they were all committing other ridiculous crimes at the time. Designed as a flexible build-your-own mystery, you can perform these plays in any combination and thread them together with optional interludes. You never know what’s coming next when your suspects include disgruntled chefs, teen detectives, and vengeful divas, but one thing’s for certain: Every alibi is absolutely absurd.

Godspell

This immensely successful rock opera needs little introduction, but when it was first produced on Broadway in 1971 it broke new ground in its stage treatment of the historical Jesus Christ. Based on the Gospel according to St Matthew, it deals with the last days of Jesus and includes dramatized versions of several well-known parables. And yet it is something more - a religious experience, a demonstration of joy, and a celebration of the family of man. The cast are conceived as clowns, improvising scenery and costumes, and using many wellknown theatrical devices- pantomime, vaudeville, and varied musical styles to interpret one of humanity’s greatest events.

Suite Surrender

Set in 1942, two of Hollywood’s biggest divas descend upon the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel with their legendary, long-running feud in tow. Everything seems to be in order for their wartime performance until they are somehow assigned to the same suite. Through mistaken identities, overblown egos, and double entendres this roller-coaster of a play is a hilarious riot and a love note to the classic farces of the 30s and 40s.

PARENTS CLUB

Letter from Parents Club President

“I would like to begin by thanking you for your help throughout the school year, especially during our annual Holiday Mart. We can accomplish the things that we do because of your selflessness, so please know that you are appreciated.

Relationships are important to the Parents Club. That’s why they work side-by-side with parents, teachers, and administration through class volunteerism and with other student support groups.

The Parents Club had a very busy fall, as we started a new tradition for our Lower School families by inviting you all to a Family Tailgate. I am very proud to share that all of our food, drinks, and games were provided by a few special sponsors and all of our dedicated room moms. The event was the perfect opportunity to connect with other families and to show our support for Bruins football!

I encourage you all to take part in the Parents Club, especially our volunteer opportunities. We need parents, grandparents, and ‘others’ to help during all of our events. If the signup details don’t make it to you, please feel free to contact me directly.”

Neila Scott President, Parents Club

What is the Parents Club?

The USJ community has a longstanding tradition of generosity. From 50 years of the volunteer-run Holiday Mart to the new Back-to-School Tailgate, the school has been fortunate to have parents dedicate their time and talents to serve the school.

The Parents Club is an organization for parents and guardians of USJ students. Governed by a board of parent volunteers, they offer assistance in each classroom via room parents and class representatives.

The history of the Parents Club dates back to 1970 with the creation of the USJ Mothers Club. It was created to foster relationships and volunteerism among USJ families. It existed to promote the academic life of the school, volunteer their time and talents as needed, raise funds for tools for a quality education, and promote the school in the community.

The organization provides volunteer and financial support to the school in many ways – in the classroom and through fundraising.

The Parents Club’s largest fundraiser, Holiday Mart, was introduced to Jackson in the early 1970s and has become a well-known annual community event. Growing each year, Holiday Mart provides a great opportunity for people to shop from hundreds of local merchants at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. For many, this is the kick-off to the holiday season.

Holiday Mart generates a significant amount of revenue that is given directly back to USJ. Through such fundraising, they support USJ’s Annual Fund and Technology Fund, Arts Guild, school libraries, Boys and Girls State, Capital Campaign, workshops for teachers, and many other areas. In 2022, this event raised approximately $185,000.

The Parents Club supports teachers throughout the year by volunteering on campus when needed, hosting monthly teacher’staff birthday breakfasts, and by planning numerous events during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Other exciting events from the past year include the lower school New Family Popsicle Party, Spooktaluar Book Fair, Senior Moms Luncheon and the Back-toSchool tailgate!

Relationships are important to the Parents Club. That’s why they work side-by-side with parents, teachers, and administration through class volunteerism and with other student support groups. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with the parents club, scan the QR code and a representative will contact you to see what might be a good fit.

Parent Volunteer Form

USJ Retires the Jersey Number of Super Bowl Champion Trey Smith

On October 13, USJ Alum Trey Smith returned to Carlock Stadium to retire his jersey number 73. The ceremony was held during halftime on senior night at the Bruin’s home football game against ECS.

During his time at USJ, Smith was a three-time AllState offensive lineman and was named Tennessee Mr. Football as the Division II-A Lineman of the Year in 2015 and 2016. The five-star recruit went on to play for the University of Tennessee, and is now currently playing for the NFL Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.

“It’s special. I’ve been at the University School of Jackson since I was in Kindergarten,” Smith told WBBJ. “It’s sort of a dream, you know ‘maybe my jersey will get retired one day.’ You never know if it’ll happen, but for it to actually come to fruition, I’m extremely grateful for it.”

After the ceremony, Smith tweeted, “It was an honor to come back home tonight to where it all began. #USJBruin.”

REUNIONS

USJ’s Class of 2013 had a wonderful turnout for their reunion, held the weekend of November 10 - 11, 2023, at the home of Trey and Catherine (Christie) Teel. On Saturday, the classmates enjoyed a tour of the Upper School and a shuttle bus tour of the campus. Several of these alumni couldn’t believe how much on campus had changed in just ten short years! (Picture below)

USJ’s Class of 1994’s class reunion is in the planning stages. Please contact Ashley Louviere Teague (ashleyteague70@gmail.com) or Brad Hayes (brad@hoythayes.com) for more information.

Homecoming

Homecoming is scheduled for October 4, 2024. Let our Alumni Director Elizabeth Atkins know if you will be able to attend.

IMPORTANT DATES OF THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

August 2024

7/31/24 – New Teacher Orientation

8/1/24 – Teacher Professional Development

8/2/24 – Teacher Professional Development

8/5/24 – Teacher Professional Development

8/6/24 – PD Day/ LS Parent Orientation

8/7/24 – LS/MS/US Student Orientation Day

8/8/24 – 1st Full Day of School

8/13/24 – MS/US Parent Orientation

September 2024

9/2/24 – Labor Day Off

9/3/24 – Late Start

9/24/24 – Parent/Teacher Conferences

9/25/24 – Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 2024

10/4/24 – Homecoming 10/11/24 – Q1 Ends 10/14–18 –Fall Break 10/21/24 – Late Start

November 2024 11/27-29 – Thanksgiving Break

December 2024

12/16-19 – MS/US Exams 12/19/24 – Q2 Ends

12/20/24-1/5/25 – Christmas/New Year’s Break

January 2025 1/6/25 – PD Day 1/7/25 - Students Return 1/20/25 – MLK Off 1/21/25 – Late Start

February 2025 2/14-17 – Winter Break 2/18/25 – Late Start

March 2025

3/7/25 – Q3 Ends 3/10-14 – Spring Break 3/17/25 – Late Start

April 2025 4/18-21 - Easter Break 4/22/25 – Late Start

May 2025

5/10/25 – Graduation

5/19-22 – Exams 5/23/25 – Admin Day

What’s New With Our USJ Alumni

CLASS OF 2005

1. Amy Page Trim (‘05) and her husband Rob Trim welcomed their fourth child George Edward Trim on August 7, 2023. George weighed 9 lbs 1 oz and measured 22.5 inches long. George’s siblings are his sister Caroline (1st Grade), his brother Jack (JrK), and his brother James Henry (2). The family resides in Lexington, Tenn. where both Rob and Amy are general dentists at their practice, Lexington Dental.

CLASS OF 2006

2. Laurel Meriwether Bateman (‘06) and her husband Jake welcomed their third daughter Ann Elise on January 13, 2024. Ann Elise joins big sisters Ayres (4) and Lottie (2). The family resides in Brentwood, Tenn. where Jake and Laurel both practice dentistry.

CLASS OF 2007

3. George Smith (‘07) and his wife Beth welcomed their third child, George Arthur Smith III, on May 14, 2023. He is the brother to twin sisters, Adaline (7) and Eleanor (7). The Smiths reside in Wilson, Ark., where George is a director for Indigo Agriculture, and Beth is a pediatric dentist.

CLASS OF 2008

4. Landon Shivley (‘08) and his wife Meera welcomed their first child, Arya Landon Shivley, on November 30, 2023. The family lives in Lexington, Ky. where Landon is a licensed clinical social worker for LifeStance Health and Meera works as a correctional psychologist.

CLASS OF 2009

5. Karter Atkins (‘09) and his wife Meredith Tucker Atkins welcomed their first child, Molly Elizabeth Atkins, on December 3, 2023. Molly weighed 8 lbs., 15 oz, and measured 22 inches long. The family lives in Jackson where Karter is a sales representative for Blankenship Heating & Cooling in Huntingdon, and Meredith is a registered nurse at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

CLASS OF 2011

6. Scott Melton (‘11) and Laura Bonds were married on November 4, 2023, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Ark., with an evening reception at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. The couple traveled to Fiji for their honeymoon. They now reside in Memphis, where Laura is an innovation communication & strategy advisor at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Scott is an account executive at Archer Malmo.

7. Russell Hollman (‘11), his wife, Holly, and daughter, Ava (2), welcomed another beautiful baby girl, Lily Jane Hollman, in December 2023. Russell and his family relocated to Jackson in November where Russell now works as a structural engineer for Williams Steel.

8. It was a Happy New Year’s Eve baby boy for Logan Wall (‘11) and his wife Claire Douglas Wall. Wells Douglas Wall was born December 31, 2023, weighing 5 lbs, 7 oz and measuring 19 inches. Logan and Claire are both songwriters in Nashville and write for BMG Music Publishing. Logan is also a producer and owns Good Boy Sound studio in downtown Nashville.

CLASS OF 2012

9. Sy Anthony (‘12) and Ashley Fleck were married on January 27, 2024, at The Press Room in Knoxville, Tenn. The couple had a dinner reception that followed their ceremony. The following week they traveled to Antigua for their honeymoon. Currently, the couple resides in Knoxville, Tenn. where they are both general dentists working in private practice.

10. Logan Hall Ray (‘12) and her husband Gage Ray welcomed their first child, Walker Max Ray, on September 12, 2023. Walker weighed 8 lbs., 6 oz, and measured 19 1/2 inches long. The family lives in Memphis where Logan is a senior project manager for RKA Construction, and Gage is a manager at Deloitte and Touche.

11. Shane Vargason (‘12) and his wife Ashlee Vargason welcomed their second daughter, Remielle “Remi” Marie Vargason, on December 11, 2023. Remi weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz, and measured 21 inches long. Shane, Ashlee, Rylee (1), and Remi live in Odenton, Md. where Shane is a nuclear engineer for the United States Navy in Washington, D.C., and Ashlee is a certified genetic counselor at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.

12. Sarah Howard Hornback (‘12) and her husband Clayton welcomed their first child, Paul Thompson Hornback, on October 26, 2023, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Ala. The family lives in Homewood, Ala., where Sarah works in marketing for International Justice Mission, and Clayton serves as a pastor at Homewood Community Church.

13. Bailey Howell (‘13) and Drew Wells were married on June 4, 2023, at Orion Hill in Memphis, Tenn. The couple traveled to the Dominican Republic for their honeymoon. They now reside in Memphis, where Bailey is a teacher at Briarcrest Christian School, and Drew is a clinical pharmacist at Methodist University Hospital.

14. Peyton Vaughan (‘13) married Celia Gatewood on December 16, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., at First United Methodist Church. A reception followed at the North River Yacht Club. The couple resides in Charleston, S.C., where Peyton is a urology resident at Medical University South Carolina (MUSC), and Celia is a production specialist and third-party buyer with Onward Reserve.

15. Kyle Clifton (‘13) and Alexa Jordan were happily married on December 9, 2023, in Rosemary Beach, Fla., followed by a reception. Kyle and Alexa now reside in Jackson, where Kyle works at his family business, The Pig House Barbecue, and Alexa owns York Laine Boutique.

16. It’s a destination wedding for Lauren Riddell (‘13) and Zachary Volz. These two were married at the Majestic Mirage in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on January 16, 2024, with a reception following on the beach. The couple stayed for an extended vacation at the resort for their honeymoon. They now reside in Georgia, where Lauren is a pediatric physical therapist, and Zach works in real estate in addition to running his own business selling sports memorabilia.

17. It’s a girl! Anna Garrett Terry (‘13) and her husband Austin welcomed a surprise gender reveal, Alice Nan Terry, who was born November 6, 2023, weighing 7 lbs 2 oz, 20.5 inches, in Jackson, Miss. The family lives in Jackson, Miss. where Anna is an occupational therapist for Performance Therapy, and her husband, Austin, does HVAC sales for Terry Service, Inc.

18. Ryan Garner (‘13) and Kaylie Wehner Garner (‘13) welcomed their first child, Brennan George Garner, on November 30, 2023. Brennan weighed 7 pounds and measured 20 inches long. The family lives in Jackson, where Ryan is a sales representative for Depuy Synthes, and Kaylie is an occupational therapist with Therapy and Learning Center. Brennan is the grandson of USJ Lower School teacher, Kim Wehner.

CLASS OF 2014

19. Meredith Maroney (‘14) and Ryan Franz were married on October 28, 2023, at Lambuth Chapel in Jackson, Tenn., with a reception following at Hub City Brewing. The couple traveled to Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, for their honeymoon. Meredith and Ryan make their home in Jackson, Tenn., where Meredith is an attorney at Rainey, Kizer, Reviere, & Bell PLC, and Ryan is a first-year resident with the University of Tennessee Family Medicine Residency.

20. Austin Rogers (‘14) and his wife Barrett Wright Rogers welcomed their first child, Turner Michael Rogers on December 21, 2023. Turner weighed 6 lbs., 2 oz, and measured 20.5 inches long. The family lives in Ridgeland, Miss. where Austin is a dentist practicing at Harmony Dental Care, and Barrett is a speechlanguage pathologist.

CLASS OF 2015

21. Samantha Sullivan (‘15) and Jake Yarmowich were married on January 31, 2023, at The Trillium Venue in Sevierville, Tenn., ringing in the new year with friends and family. The couple traveled to Playa Mujeres, Mexico, for their honeymoon. They now reside in Atlanta, Ga. where Samantha is an interior designer at Blur Workshop, a hospitality architecture and interior design firm, and Jake works in international freight forwarding at Flexport.

22. Congratulations are in order for Ben Brauss (‘15) and Alice Nelson, who were married at Sacred Heart Chapel in Fairhope, Ala, on February 10, 2024. A reception followed the ceremony and was held at The Venue in Fairhope. The couple resides in Bells, Tenn. Ben is Vice President at SEB Recycling, and Alice is a nurse in the Neonatal Department at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

CLASS OF 2017

23. Abbey Fleming(‘17) and Tyler Floyd were married on the beach in Gulf Shores, Ala. on June 9, 2023. The couple traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyo. for their honeymoon. They now reside in Mississippi, where Abbey is a veterinarian at Animal’s Choice Veterinary Clinic in Iuka, Mississippi, and Tyler is a veterinarian at Booneville Veterinary Medical Center in Booneville, Miss.

CLASS OF 2018

24. Baby boy Campbell Levi Schluter was born to parents Caitlyn Brown Schluter (‘18) and her husband Brodey on November 7, 2023, in Jonesboro, Ark. Campbell weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and was 21 inches long. Caitlyn is a fourth grade teacher at International Studies Magnet School, and Brodey is employed as an engineer at Southworth Products.

CLASS OF 2019

25. Best wishes to Kinsey Price (‘19) and Garrett Long, who were married on October 1, 2023, at Oak Grove Methodist Church in Scott’s Hill, Tenn. with a small reception to follow. The couple traveled to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for their honeymoon. They now reside in Scott’s Hill, where Kinsey is a registered respiratory therapist at Henderson County Community Hospital, and Garrett is a multi-craft maintenance technician at Young Touchstone in Jackson.

Alumni Spotlight: Jermane Bond, Ph.D.

Jermane Bond, Ph.D., (‘90) attended Old Hickory Academy (1986 as an 8th Grader) and was a part of the 1987 Old Hickory Academy (OHA) and Epispical Day School (EDS) merger and was the first African American to graduate from the University School of Jackson (USJ). Dr. Bond is former Director of Research of the Weitzman Institute and has recently joined the Board of Trustees at Lane College in Jackson, TN. He has 24 plus years of research experience in public health practice and is also former Assistant Research Professor, Department of Prevention and Community Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Dr. Bond, a social epidemiologist, has published widely in the areas of maternal and child health disparities, paternal involvement in pregnancy outcomes and men’s reproductive health. He has served on numerous task forces, editorial and advisory boards, including the American journal of Public Health, the Maternal and Child Health Section of the American Public Health Association, where in 2023 he was nominated as Chair-Elect, and the Community Engagement in Genomics Working Group of the National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genomics Research Institute.

Dr. Bond has three children (two daughters, Nande and Jhet, and a son, Kamau). Nande is a freshman at Northwestern University. Jhet (11th) and Kamau (7th) attend Georgetown Day School in the District of Columbia. Dr. Bond received a B.A. from Morehouse College, and a Ph.D. from Howard University.

Can you tell us about your path after leaving USJ? Did USJ prepare you for any specific challenges or successes that you’d like to share? As the first African American to graduate from USJ - I chose to attend an HBCU (Morehouse College). USJ prepared me for the academic rigor of Morehouse.

Are there any valuable lessons or insights you gained from your time at USJ that have stuck with you? The most valuable insight I gained from my time at USJ was from Coach Mickey Marley - who instilled in us that nothing was impossible and to pursue our dreams wholeheartedly.

In Memoriam

Anne Hazlehurst Garrard (OHA ‘84), 57, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023, after a valiant and courageous battle with cancer. Anne was born in Jackson, Tenn. to Dr. George Edward Hazlehurst and Aud Staumo Hazlehurst. She was the oldest of four children (brothers George Edward Hazlehurst and Rolf Gulbrand Staumo Hazlehurst, and sister Alicia Hazlehurst Payne). Known for being a loving wife, mother, sister, and daughter, a generous friend, and a world-renowned traveler, Anne made every moment something to celebrate for all those around her as she “squeezed the juice out of life.”

Anne was a 1984 graduate of Old Hickory Academy in Jackson where she met and later married her high school sweetheart John Vernon Garrard. In college, she proudly studied art history at Randolph Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Va. She spent her junior year abroad studying in Reading, England. It was this experience along with her love for art, antiques, and “pretty things” that led her to go back to England after graduation to continue her studies of 17th and 18th-century French and English antiques with Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London. She would frequently reminisce on her days in England over a cup of tea with her three daughters.

Upon returning to the States, Anne became a flight attendant for Delta Airlines - a job she was deeply devoted to for over 30 years until her battle with colon cancer required her to stop flying. It was her time spent traveling to Norway every summer to visit her mother’s family in combination with her time in England and backpacking Europe that inspired her to find a career where she could continue to explore the globe. Even after her diagnosis, she continued to fly for a short time saying to her fellow flight crews, “There is nowhere else I’d rather be.” Over the years, her job took her all over the world including Eastern Asia, South America, Africa, and back to her favorite place, London.

One of her last work trips was to Rome, where she spent her layover touring the Vatican. It was here on a walk that the clouds parted just enough to allow rays of light to glisten over the top of St. Peter’s Basilica, and she felt the Holy Spirit tell her, “You are not alone.” This experience gave her the acceptance, peace, and incredible grace to handle her diagnosis while becoming a beacon of God’s love for all those who knew her.

Like her father, Anne believed that travel was one of the most beneficial and educational experiences life had to offer. She continued to pursue her passion even while undergoing treatment. In recent years she visited Switzerland, Paris, Copenhagen, Italy, and Norway with family despite the unrelenting side effects of chemotherapy. Her passion for life was inspiring to everyone around her. When planning a trip to Norway just a few months ago, her sister questioned whether king crab fishing on a small rubber boat in the North Sea was the best idea and Anne responded, “I’ll be driving that boat!” Indeed, when that day came she handed over her walker and was the first one to climb onboard.

Anne and her beloved husband, John, were blessed with three beautiful daughters whom she is survived by: Anne Elizabeth of Jackson, Tenn. Mary Caroline and her fiance Neville Whitehead of Jackson, Miss. and Eleanor Hazlehurst of Jackson, Tenn. While she loved her job, her greatest calling was motherhood. She relished every moment and frequently stated that her three girls were her pride and joy. As her cancer progressed, there were several times she could have given up, but always said she would keep fighting for her girls.

Anne is also survived by her mother Aud, brother Edward and his wife Andrea, brother Rolf and his wife Mandee, sister Alicia and her husband Parker Payne, niece Sarah Hazlehurst, and nephews Yates Hazlehurst, Dane, Caden, Carter, and Declan Lochbaum and Gray Payne. She is preceded in death by her father Dr. George Edward Hazlehurst.

As part of her last act of service and in gratitude to all the staff, nurses, and doctors at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center where she received treatment over the last five years, Anne made an anatomical donation to further cancer research.

Timothy Rains Sills, Jr. (‘96), age 46, passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at the Jackson Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, TN. Tim was born on September 7, 1977, in Brownsville, Tenn. to Timothy and Carol Sills. He was a special agent for the ABC with the State of Tennessee. He was an avid outdoorsman who spent most Saturday mornings riding his four-wheeler down in the Hatchie Bottom, a place that he dearly loved. He was a simple man who will long be remembered as kindhearted, very frugal, and a loyal friend. He had several loves, the first being his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his family, his friends, old classic cars, working on his old trucks, his dogs, and aggravating his nieces, nephews, and his buddies. He had a green thumb when it came to working in his garden, where he achieved a certificate for being a master gardener. After his cancer diagnosis, he asked why me? He said we never know how much time we have left on this earth, but I now know my days are numbered, and I will use the remaining time to glorify God. He prayed that God would give him a platform to share his testimony.

He is survived by his wife, Dana Sills; his mother, Carol Beck Sills; one brother, Joe Wallace Sills (Amanda), all of Brownsville, Tenn.; one daughter, Lainey Maley (Jonathan) of Ridgeland, Miss.; two stepsons, Josh Smith (Caryle) of Munford, Tenn. and Taylor Smith (Lulu) of Brighton, Tenn.; one brother-in-law, Hunter Edwards (Dawne) of Covington, Tenn.; two nephews, Wallace Ford Sills, Stone Edwards; two nieces, Avery Grace Sills, Clara Rains Sills; one granddaughter, Etta Mae Smith and one granddaughter on the way May 5th, Bray Bryce Smith.

He was preceded in death by his father, Timothy Rains Sills, Sr.; his grandparents, Charles and Helen Lee, Bill Beck, Joe Wallace, and Peggy Sills.

James David Donnell (OHA ‘76), known to friends and family as Jim, peacefully passed away at Jackson General Hospital on December 20, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. Surrounded by loved ones, he transitioned to eternal rest leaving behind a legacy of warmth, kindness, and a passion for life.

Jim was born on April 6, 1958, in Dyersburg, Tenn. to Dr. and Mrs. James Harold Donnell. Preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Donnell of Trimble, TN, and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hall of Tatumville, Tenn., Jim is survived by his three siblings: Elizabeth Donnell Smith (Ron) of Jackson, Tenn., Richard Donnell (Sharon) of Knoxville, Tenn., and Robert Donnell (Joy) of Phoenix, Ariz., nephews Chase Donnell and Cole Donnell of Scottsdale, Ariz. He is also remembered fondly by his many aunts, uncles, cousins, and special friends Paula McGill and her family.

Raised in Alamo, Tenn., Jim’s formative years were enriched with a love for reading, genealogy, and history. He was a member of First Baptist Church Alamo, Tenn., and actively participated in the local Boy Scout troop, led by his father, Dr. Donnell. Jim graduated from Old Hickory Academy in 1976 and continued his education at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville and Murray State University.

Jim dedicated much of his professional life to the automobile and banking industry, eventually retiring as an internal auditor with Pilot Oil. Following his retirement, Jim pursued his deep-seated passion for travel by establishing a travel consulting business. This endeavor allowed him to explore numerous sites and destinations across Europe and the Middle East, bringing him immense joy.

A community-minded individual, Jim was a past member of the Jaycees, The Exchange Club and the Elks Club. His wide-reaching network of friends, including many from his high school days, played a significant role in enriching his life. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to all those who reconnected with Jim over the years. The Donnell family expresses sincere thanks to the compassionate caregivers who supported Jim throughout his journey, particularly in the last several months. Special appreciation is extended to those at Kirkland Cancer Center, Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, and the West Tennessee Healthcare Hospice for their exceptional care and unwavering support.

Jim’s memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. May he rest in eternal peace, surrounded by the warmth of the cherished memories he created with family and friends.

As a tribute to his father, Dr. James H. Donnell, who dedicated a significant part of his life training and teaching medical professionals, Jim chose to donate his body to medical research reflecting his family’s commitment to advancing medical knowledge and education.

A memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life was held in early 2024. In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests donations be made to a Cancer Research/Treatment or Animal Rescue organization in Jim’s honor.

William Stewart (Bill) Lawrence, founding member of the OHA school board passed away on July 16, 2023, after a lengthy illness.

Bill was born in Jackson, Tenn. March 4, 1929, to Samuel Matthews and Elizabeth Tomlinson Lawrence. He graduated from Jackson High School and Vanderbilt University. In 1952 he married the love of his life, Patricia Weaver Lawrence. He served his country as an agent in the U. S. Army Counter Intelligence Corp in Korea. Upon his return to Jackson, he joined his father and his brother in the family business, S. M. Lawrence Company founded in 1917. Under their leadership the company evolved from a local coal distributor to one of the top ten mechanical contractors in the state of Tennessee.

Bill was active in civic and benevolent causes. He worked tirelessly to promote Jackson and Madison County. He served as President of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson Rotary Club, and Jackson Vanderbilt Club. He was Treasurer of the Reelfoot Council of the Girl Scouts of America, board member of Youth Town of Tennessee, YMCA, and Tennessee Contractors’ Association. He was Chairman of the Board of the Jackson Airport Authority and served many years on the Board of Directors as well as the Executive Board of the former Second National Bank. For his work in the community, he received several honors including Jackson Man of the Year and Tennessee’s Volunteer Industrial Developer of the Year.

He was a 70-year member of First Presbyterian Church where he served on both the Diaconate and the Board of Elders.

Bill had a deep love of flying and flew extensively for S. M. Lawrence, Inc. After retirement he volunteered for Angel Flight, a non-profit organization that serves people in need of transportation. His recreational flying included soaring. He was an active member in the Memphis Soaring Society, a non-profit corporation organized to promote the art, science and sport of motorless flight where he served as President. During his term as President in 2003, he led the club as they purchased land and developed a new soaring airport in western Arkansas. The field there is identified by the FAA as Lawrence Field.

He was passionate about his family and spent many happy memories on the Tennessee River where the family gathered regularly. He had a lifetime love of hunting and fishing, playing cards, and reading. Bill was an avid fan of SEC sports, particularly Vanderbilt football and basketball. Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, his parents, his brother Samuel M. Lawrence, Jr., and his nephew, Charles H. Lawrence.

He is survived by his four daughters, Lynn (Jimmy) East of Bells, Tenn., Lucy Taylor of Knoxville, Tenn., Sally Jones of Jackson, Miss, and Amy (Charles) Walton of Mobile, Ala.. He will be remembered as “Papa” by seven grandchildren: Elizabeth (Adam) Nunley, Allison (Drew) Moore, Will (Shelby) East, Caitlin (Ben) Littlejohn, Rachel Walton, Emma Walton, and Luke Walton.

He was the proud great-grandfather of nine: Ayden, Wesley, Anna Craig, Smith, Miller, Lucy Kate, Walter, Wallace, and Isaac.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Memphis Soaring Society 2090 Old Oak Drive Memphis, TN 38119, First Presbyterian Church 1573 N. Highland Jackson, TN 38301, or your favorite charity.

Quincy Phelps Jones (‘99), age 42, of Nashville, Tenn., passed away at home on Wednesday, February 7. He was born Sept 22, 1981, in Jackson, Tenn. to Shirley Phelps Jones and Larry Jones. Quincy attended the University School of Jackson, graduating in 1999 before attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. He has resided in Nashville for 20 years.

One of Quincy’s most defining features was a lifelong curiosity and passion for learning. As a child, he spent hours taking apart electronics, engines, and computers and putting them back together to figure out how they worked. When he grew up, he leveraged that same earnest spirit of inquiry in his professional and personal endeavors.

In his final year at UT, he developed a software program to generate spec drawings for tilt-up construction applications and leveraged that into a career – first working for Jackson-based H&M Co. and Williams Steel, and eventually starting an independent software design and engineering firm, C4 Solutions, with his business partner, Barrett Gay. He cultivated an 18-year relationship with Burlison, TN-based Jay-Ton Concrete Construction Co. creating tilt-up panel drawings using their proprietary software.

One of his favorite projects at C4 was developing a virtual reality spray paint simulator and training aid for Jacksonbased Colormatch, a task which required him to combine his skills in mechanical, software, and electrical engineering, and for which he received a U.S. Patent in February 2021 along with his collaborators.

Outside the office, Quincy was a robotics enthusiast. He spent years designing, machining, and programming the Nomad, a robotic dog modeled after Boston Dynamic’s Spot.

He was always developing ideas to solve problems – from a robotic lawn mower to a digital golf swing analyzer–never to capitalize on them, but to make them open source and available to people who shared his passions. He was active in the Middle Tennessee Robotic Arts Society and was generous with his knowledge, exchanging robotic design and engineering processes with fellow members. He collaborated on ideas with makers around the world from Cambridge, MA, to Poland, to China, and beyond.

Quincy could be a man of contradictions. He was strong-willed but quiet, serious with a witty sense of humor, outwardly stoic but deeply caring. He had an overwhelming joy for life but was a curmudgeon when it came to traffic jams, Nashville’s lack of sidewalks, paper mail from the USPS, busy grocery stores, poorly written furniture assembly directions, mole tunnels in the lawn, seasonal allergies, clutter in his workshop, and most any other daily inefficiency.

He was a southerner with a distaste for cold weather, but snow skiing was one of his favorite hobbies. He avoided road trips at all costs, but his Tesla was his prized possession. Quincy had a love-hate relationship with golf –he loved the game and his long-time foursome, but a bad round could ruin his day.

Ever logical and well-reasoned, Quincy was an advocate for doing things smarter, not harder. He would be pleased to know that ChatGPT was consulted to add AI-level clarity to these thoughts.

Quincy was ahead of the pack on trends like Bitcoin, autonomous driving vehicles, and artificial intelligence, buying in years before they became mainstream. At any given time, he could be found listening to all manner of podcasts and loved engaging in meaningful conversation and debate on almost any topic, easily transitioning from discussions about outer space and aeronautics, politics and current events, to sports. He was a fan of Vols football, NBA basketball, UFC, and Formula 1 racing. He was begrudgingly the commissioner of his NFL fantasy league for many years but will now pass the torch.

Quincy has a kind soul, absolutely devoted to his family. He showed his love with his actions, always dependable and supportive, except when it came to ping pong. He’d have liked everyone to know that he could destroy his wife in a ping-pong match.

After more than six years together, Quincy married Sarah Filus Jones on June 12, 2021. Despite their deeply divergent view on naps (Quincy thought they were a waste of time), they managed to build a beautiful life together filled with caring and understanding, joy, laughter, and always love. They welcomed a son, Cameron Blaise, in November 2022. Quincy had never changed a diaper, but in no time, he blossomed into an amazing dad, active in every aspect of caregiving, master of bedtime, roughhousing extraordinaire, and giver of the best hugs. Quincy was so excited to watch Cameron grow, and his legacy will be kept alive every day through his son.

To his family, Quincy will be remembered as an ordinary hero, a person of integrity who had courage in his convictions and a beautiful heart. He will be dearly missed. In addition to his wife and son, Quincy is survived by his parents, Larry Jones and Shirley Phelps Jones of Jackson, TN, his sister Querida Jones Maso de Moya (husband Raoul Maso de Moya) of Charlotte, NC, a half-brother, Larry Jones Jr. of Sturtevant, WI, two half-sisters, Sandra Jordan of Atoka, TN, and Sheila Stone of Oak Creek, WI, and in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and family too numerous to list but not forgotten.

Please update your mailing and email address with us! To tell us your latest news or to recieve information about an upcoming reunion, please visit usjbruins.org/alumni or contact Elizabeth Atkins, Director of Alumni Relations at eatkins@usjbruins.org, or call her at 731-300-3687.