Windows | Fall 2015

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FALL 2015

FOR THE GLORY OF GOD: Commencement 2015 DÉJÀ VU: Back-to-Back State Championships for Varsity Boys Soccer COMING SOON: Knox Hall

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

WESTMINSTER SCHOOLS OF AUGUSTA

WINDOWS a publication of Westminster Schools of Augusta Westminster Schools of Augusta 3067 Wheeler Road Augusta, GA 30909 706-731-5260 or wsa.net Westminster seeks to glorify God by providing an excellent education that equips students to live extraordinary lives for Jesus Christ.

STEV E O’ N EIL Headmaster CRAIG JOHN S ON Academic Dean and Interim Upper School Principal BRIA N C A S E Middle School Principal SU E A MES Lower School Principal JAN E B R OWN Director of Finance and Operations CARRI E B R IG HA M Director of Development ANDREW B RYA N Athletic Director MIKE FR EA C E Director of Student Life AIMEE LY N C H Director of Admissions K ATIE TU C K Director of Marketing and Communications Windows Editor T REY K EEN A N Windows Design and Layout

Special thanks to contributing photographers: Aiken Standard, Rod Bayliss, Biltmore Estate, Branch Carter, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Jackie Hernandez, Amy Owen, Connie Reynolds, Katie Tuck and The Augusta Chronicle Special thanks to contributing writers: Haley Barinowski (’12), Mary Elizabeth Goodell (’12), Leila Knox (’14), Ethan Lynch (’16), Abbey Robertson (’16) and Sarah Saxon (’12) Cover: Meggie Phelan (’19) and Olivia Wahl (’19) are all smiles during a spring Middle School track meet.

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A Word from the Headmaster

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L E ARN IN G FOR L IFE The Price of Freedom

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Faculty Focus

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2015-16 Scholarship Recipients

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For the Glory of God

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Classroom Kudos

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F I N E ARTS The Sound of Music

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Calling All Friends of Fine Arts

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Fine Arts Accolades

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ATHL E TICS Déjà Vu

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2015 Individual State Champions

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2015 Westminster Athletes of the Year

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A Home Run for Westminster Baseball

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Athletic Logo Receives Makeover

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Wildcat Wows

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C OMMU N ITY

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AL U MN I 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner

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2015 Westminster Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees

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Alumni Notes

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AROU N D CAMPU S

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DE VE L OPIN G N E WS

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A WORD FROM THE HEADMASTER Dear Friends, At the 2015 Commencement ceremony, it was a tremendous privilege to present Daniel Finch (’89) with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Each year, the award is given to honor an alumnus or alumna who represents Westminster’s mission and core values in their work and community. (Read more about Daniel in our Alumni Spotlight on page 23.)

Daniel’s career thus far has been impressive, but more importantly, his integration of Christian faith into his work is particularly noteworthy. Since 2002, he has served at Messiah College in Pennsylvania as an art professor of painting and drawing. His own art has been exhibited extensively across the country and abroad, and his works have been featured numerous times in the national publication New American Paintings. Very recently, he completed a large mural for the Susequehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that expresses beauty, hope and optimism for the capital’s future.

Daniel is a Christian, a professor and an artist, but he does not draw lines of distinction that separate these roles and identities. Rather, he seeks to unify them.

This integration of faith, work and life is what Westminster seeks to develop in all its graduates. We do not believe a dichotomy exists between sacred and secular, or for that matter, faith and reason. For a Christian, everything in God’s economy is deeply sacred.

A Christian’s calling, regardless of vocation, is to bring the light of Christ into every part of work and life. In a recent publication, Daniel addressed this essential truth: There is a very real and practical aspect to the kind of work that I do as it relates to the transmission of the very Gospel itself. It has allowed me to be welcomed into secular exhibition venues, publications, and speak to secular audiences. The world of contemporary art is almost universally hostile to Christianity, seeing it as outdated, limiting, and patriarchal, among other things. In the process of pushing Christians out of academia, and the arts in particular, they have simply replaced the good news of Christ with the existentialist yoke of secular humanism. In doing so, topics such as beauty, truth and meaning are generally avoided. Contemporary art has become a kind of alternative religion for atheists.

I’ve been blessed with many experiences in public university art departments as a visiting artist, whether critiquing a group of work from a specific class or speaking individually with students during one-on-one visits in their studios. When talking with young artists regarding their work, the conversation usually progresses from questions of beauty and meaning to eventual dialogue concerning the source of meaning itself. Being able to raise this issue in an environment that rejects traditional

ideas of beauty, and laughs at the possibility of ascertaining real, fundamental meaning is a rare privilege. In an area where Christian voices are desperately needed, I have almost always been welcomed and heartened by dialogue with young artists who hunger for their work and lives to have meaning outside of the secular studio bubble.

These words capture Westminster’s prayer and great hope for our graduates - that they would be the Christian voices desperately needed in a dark world that needs Christ’s light. Envision a city, a nation or world where Christians are truly the Gospel of Matthew’s “salt and light”- salt and light who are intellectually prepared, who do not compartmentalize Christian faith from work and life, and who have an unwavering commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ over all of creation. That’s our vision, and by God’s grace, it’s happening!

Warm regards,

Steve O’Neil Headmaster

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LEARNING FOR LIFE

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM: CELEBRATING OUR COLONIAL HERITAGE

“What many schools were finding is that a lot of students don’t understand the value of freedom,” said Angelia Carson, the fifth-grade teacher’s aide who has been a big part of Patriot’s Day for the last three years. “They don’t really have a concept of how important the flag is, because they don’t know how hard it was to start a new nation. They just think that we were in England, moved here and then started a new country. They miss the sacrifice that freedom requires.”

The students begin studying the curriculum before Christmas break and continue for BY: MARY ELIZABETH GOODELL (’12) six weeks before the Patriot’s Day festivities at the end of January. The curriculum incorporates both social studies and writing “BOOM!” A forceful blast was met with components. Three West Point professors eager shouts of wonder this past January as wrote the social studies textbook. While most Westminster fifth-grade students participated history books include a few paragraphs on in the third annual Patriot’s Day. The center the Revolutionary War, this textbook offers a of all the excitement was the firing of a canon unique glimpse into the life of the colonists. by local Revolutionary War re-enactors to In their writing classes, students practiced show students what it would have been like to writing in a journal using language from the be alive when our country was born.

18th century to gain a better grasp on the colonists’ experiences.

A few years ago, Westminster parent Susie Baker presented a new curriculum to the After weeks of study, students wear colonialschool that she discovered called “Why style clothing to school and participate in America is Free.” This educational program a day of historical activities like copper provides an in-depth look at how Americans designing, blacksmithing, candle-making and lived during the Revolution and why they even period dancing. The boys learn Latin fought so passionately for their new nation. and participate in militia training, while the

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girls study refinement under ladies of genteel, practice sewing and enjoy a proper tea. These activities emphasize how different life was then.

“It was cool, because we got to do what they got to do,” Anna Ruth Owen (’22) said.

“I’d never played cricket before,” said Lillian Hornsby (’22). “It was fun, but hard, because we were all wearing dresses. I especially liked the canons. They were so loud.”

It takes more than 40 parent volunteers to organize and operate Patriot’s Day at Westminster, and these volunteers also dress and talk to reflect the Revolutionary period. Some parents also work behind the scenes before the big day, putting in long hours sealing event invitations with wax and collecting supplies.

“It really takes all of the parents’ involvement to make it run smoothly,” said Mrs. Carson, as she flipped through her massive organizational binder. “Every year we’re blessed with tons of volunteers and a couple of parents who participate again even after their child has gone on to Middle School.”

After the exciting activities of the day, the experience continues in the evening with a reenactment of a wartime reception at the Baker household. Parent volunteers play the roles of various colonial characters, including

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an indentured servant, a military officer and a continental solider. Each room of the house is set up to tell a different story about the era and to make the students feel as though they are living in history. To top off the experience, no electricity is used during the evening. In true colonial fashion, candlelight illuminates the interior of the house, and the food served comes from recipes that were used during that time.

“By the end of the reception, you can really tell that the students get it. They understand so much better where they come from,” Mrs. Carson concluded.

The program has received raved reviews, with more and more parents wanting to participate each year. Teachers hope the “Why America is Free” program and Patriot’s Day will continue to be part of the fifth-grade curriculum for years to come, so that every student has a chance to cultivate a deeper appreciation for what it truly means to be an American. 

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FACULTY FOCUS: JENNI SHAVER BY: SARAH SAXON (’12)

In 1985, she met her husband, Chad Shaver. Their mothers introduced them after meeting in Bible Study Fellowship. Several memorable years later in 2009, Mrs. Shaver decided to step away from the working world to spend time raising the two newest additions to the Shaver household: Emma (5) and Elliot (4).

Mr. and Mrs. Shaver knew that they wanted their children to attend Westminster. Having grown up in the CSRA, Mrs. Shaver had always noticed something a little different about Westminster students – something of which she and her husband wanted their children to be a part.

If you give Mrs. Shaver a library, she’s going to ask for furniture. If you give Mrs. Shaver furniture, she’s going to ask for books. If you give her books, you are bound to see her do amazing things.

Perhaps she found her inspiration within the pages of the children’s book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, or in one of the countless articles she read on how to develop a great library for elementary school students.

Mrs. Shaver came to Westminster in January of 2014, and she has continually sought to improve the library experience for each Lower School student. While Mrs. Shaver may be relatively new to Westminster, she has her roots in Augusta.

After growing up in the CSRA and graduating from Greenbrier High School, she attended Emmanuel College in Franklin, Georgia.

She received her degree in early childhood education in 2002. She then went on to receive her Master of Education in integrating technology into the classroom from Walden University. As for Mrs. Shaver professionally, she has taught children of all ages during her years in both Columbia County and Richmond County schools as well as in Oklahoma.

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While preparing to send her children to Westminster, Mrs. Shaver began going through some interviews of her own. She joined the Westminster family as the Lower School media specialist and computer teacher in January of 2014 and has contributed significantly to the Lower School media center ever since.

Mrs. Shaver began a restoration process at the media center, and the first step was to sort through the thousands of books that, at the time, filled the expansive space. When she began, 15,000 books lined the aged shelves of the library. Mrs. Shaver believed that some of these books weren’t being read because they might have been outdated, or simply because it was overwhelming for students to find the kind of book that most interested them. She worked many days and long hours to put the most relevant, exciting reading material on display for Westminster students.

After feeling more confident that students would be able to easily find books to read, Mrs. Shaver initiated some furniture changes.

The new, colorful, soft pieces that now adorn the library create an inviting atmosphere, beckoning children to come read for enjoyment.

In addition to the core changes in the media center, Mrs. Shaver adopted a new automated library catalog system, which takes just

moments to use and improves the accuracy of inventory tracking. She has also revamped computer education for Lower School students, even for those as young as first grade.

She hopes that introducing programming opportunities through Code.org and Google’s CS-first program will help students succeed in the digital world.

She’s also added some interactive displays to encourage student participation. Children have had the opportunity to vote for their favorite books, try to guess a teacher’s favorite book and take part in the October book fair.

Children of all ages can enjoy this comfortable literary environment. Pre-K through secondgraders visit the media center for story time each week and have the opportunity to check out books to take home. Students even learn about basic library skills every other week to build the foundational skills necessary to help them as they continue to frequent the library during sequential years of study.

Third-grade through fifth-grade students come to the library for a short time each week as well, always taking with them some bit of knowledge as they depart.

“My desire is that the students of Westminster Lower School will have the skills they need to find any information they want, whether that be in print or digital media,” Mrs. Shaver said.

Though she was late in learning to read as a child, Mrs. Shaver loves getting lost in a good book. She still enjoys reading children’s books and aspires to read every book at the library.

She is an invaluable asset to Westminster’s Lower School students, and she truly leads by example in all that she does. 

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2015-16 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS VIRGINIA JARREL WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 2015-16 RECIPIENT: ISRAEL AYETTEY

Virginia (Ginny) Jarrel Williamson was a student at Westminster from kindergarten through seventh grade. During her academic career, she demonstrated particular talent and distinguished herself as an excellent student. Ginny's death in December 1981 was a great loss to her family and friends. The Virginia Jarrel Williamson Memorial Scholarship was established in 1983 in memory of Ginny's life and achievements. It is awarded each year on the basis of scholarship, achievement and Christian citizenship.

The 2015-16 recipient is Israel Ayettey, a third-grade student and son of Captain and Mrs. Ebenezer Ayettey.

BETTY GENE LOVINGOOD SCHOLARSHIP 2015-16 RECIPIENT: CHLOE ACKLEY

The Betty Gene Lovingood Scholarship is presented annually to a rising kindergarten student at Westminster. It was established at Mrs. Betty Gene Lovingood’s retirement in 1989 in honor of her 15 years of teaching at Westminster. Mrs. Lovingood is known for her love of children and her commitment to preschool youngsters at both Westminster and First Presbyterian Church.

The Lower School principal and prekindergarten teachers choose the recipient for this scholarship based on the following criteria: Christian witness, academic potential and general maturity.

The 2015-16 recipient is Chloe Ackley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven J. Ackley.

ROSEMARY LESTER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 2015-16 RECIPIENT: MICAH FRANKLIN

Rosemary Lester was a Middle School English teacher at Westminster who loved the Lord and her students. The Lester family and their friends established this scholarship in her memory and for God’s glory. The scholarship is awarded to an eighth-grade student who loves literature, applies himself or herself in the English classroom and is sensitive to spiritual issues.

The 2015-16 recipient is Micah Franklin, son of the Rev. and Mrs. Scott A. Franklin.

BARBARA MOORE PRUITT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 2015-16 RECIPIENT: ASHLEY BALL

Barbara Pruitt was the grandmother of three Westminster students and alumni. The Barbara Moore Pruitt Memorial Scholarship has been established in her memory to assist a student while attending Westminster. It is awarded to a student who shows that he or she is serious about his or her studies, demonstrates a desire to learn and performs up to his or her capabilities.

The 2015-16 recipient is Ashley Ball, a sixth-grader and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger L. Ball.

CRISTINA HOPE OLIVER SCHOLARSHIP 2015-16 RECIPIENT: ABBEY ROBERTSON

The Cristina Hope Oliver Scholarship was established by the Women in the Church of First Presbyterian Church in honor of Cristina Oliver. Mrs. Oliver invested years of her life at Westminster Schools as a mother of two students, our college counselor and a strong supporter of our mission as a Christian college preparatory school. The recipient of this scholarship is decided by a competitive essay contest. To be eligible for this scholarship, the student must be a member of First Presbyterian Church, a rising junior or senior, in good academic standing and of good character.

The 2015-16 recipient is senior Abbey Robertson, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. George Robertson.

MATTHEW CLARK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 2015-16 RECIPIENT: REAGAN SALVADOR

The Matthew Clark Memorial Scholarship is presented annually to a rising junior or senior at Westminster. The scholarship was established by the friends and family of Mr. and Mrs. John Clark in memory of their son, Matthew. Their desire is to honor God and remember Matthew as a boy who loved life and the Lord.

Selection is determined by a committee composed of the headmaster and the Clark family. The Clarks have asked that the scholarship be awarded to a junior or senior who applies himself or herself academically, participates in athletics and is growing spiritually.

The 2015-16 recipient is senior Reagan Salvador, the daughter of Ms. Libby Salvador and Mr. Bruce Salvador.

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AQUILLA SMITH AND DR. RICHARD N. MOSS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS 2015-16 RECIPIENT: WILS MEEKS

Miss Aquilla Smith was a founding board member of Westminster Schools. The Aquilla Smith Memorial Scholarship was established through a gift from her estate. Her generous support in earlier years provided the resources necessary for Westminster’s preservation and subsequent growth.

The Dr. Richard N. Moss Memorial Scholarship is presented annually to a rising junior or senior who is interested in science or medicine, is a good student and has demonstrated a desire to help others. The scholarship was established by the Moss family and friends of Dr. Moss in the medical community who desire to remember him as a caring physician. Selection is determined by the headmaster and the science department.

The 2015-16 recipient for both of these scholarships is senior Wils Meeks, the son of Mrs. Elizabeth Meeks and Mr. W. Clinton Meeks III.

JOHN W.P. AND CRISTINA HOPE OLIVER SCHOLARSHIP 2015-16 RECIPIENT: EMILY MILLER

Dr. Oliver was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Augusta for more than 27 years and a founding member of the board of trustees of Westminster Schools, serving throughout his pastorate in Augusta. Both Dr. and Mrs. Oliver labored tirelessly on behalf of Westminster, its mission, its students, and families. The late Mr. J. Bland Goodwin, Elder Emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church of Augusta, graciously established this scholarship to honor their love for Westminster and their commitment and sacrifice in service there.

From the inception of the school, Mr. Goodwin observed Westminster’s faithfulness to its mission. He was impressed to see Westminster graduates serve Christ in college, life, leadership and service. This scholarship is awarded to a rising student in seventh through 12th grade who demonstrates diligence in coursework; effort beyond the expectations of the teacher; interest and initiative beyond the required course expectations; particular interest and engagement in a field of study; a cooperative and teachable spirit and is an inspiration and encouragement to others in the pursuit of quality academic inquiry.

The 2015-16 recipient is junior Emily Miller, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Miller.

MICHAEL J. CAVE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 2015-16 RECIPIENT: SETH ROBINSON

Michael Joseph Cave was the grandson of Dewey Cave, the chairman of the founding board of Westminster. Like his grandfather, he had a radiant smile and loved people. While a student at Westminster, Michael was quick to make a friend and give a word of encouragement. His life made a positive impact on those he encountered.

This scholarship is awarded to a student who positively serves and influences their community, sets an example for others, enjoys life and is industrious. They are not afraid of hard work, are approachable and others seek out their company.

The 2015-16 recipient is senior Seth Robinson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Robinson.

WESTMINSTER HONORS SCHOLAR

2015-16 RECIPIENTS: MADELEINE BAKER AND DUNCAN CROWDER The Westminster Honors Scholarship program was developed to provide the Augusta area with a prestigious, merit-based scholarship award to enable outstanding ninth-grade students to attend Westminster for the Upper School program. To be eligible for scholarship consideration, each student was required to be enrolled in eighth grade somewhere other than Westminster, be nominated by an adult outside the student’s family, submit a complete application for admission and complete an on-campus interview along with group testing. Recipients demonstrate academic excellence, a strong work ethic and internal motivation.

Madeleine Baker and Duncan Crowder are joining the Westminster Class of 2019 as Westminster Honors Scholars. Madeleine is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Baker and previously attended Episcopal Day School. Duncan is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Crowder and previously attended Paul Knox Middle School in North Augusta.

An endowed scholarship is a gift that creates a permanent legacy for Westminster students. Endowed gifts are placed in a permanent fund, and a portion of the income earned from that fund provides scholarship assistance to students, both on the basis of need and merit. Contributions can be made to existing endowed scholarships at any time, and all gifts are 100 percent tax deductible.

To make a gift to a scholarship or for information on how to establish a new scholarship, contact Carrie Brigham, Director of Development, at 706-731-5260, ext. 2334.

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FOR THE GLORY OF GOD: COMMENCEMENT 2015

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Given the academic challenge and high expectations for all, graduating from Westminster is quite an accomplishment and one of which to be proud. Years of studying, sports practices, drama rehearsals and other cocurricular activities culminate into this final celebration of the seniors’ achievements. The Commencement festivities for the Class of 2015 proved to be a sweet celebration as these students formally moved on from the school’s hallowed halls to the world beyond.

The weekend began with the annual Baccalaureate service, where the seniors led the attendees in music and worship, followed by a message from First Presbyterian Church Pastor George Robertson. The highlight of the evening was listening to testimonials from three seniors about how God impacted their lives at Westminster.

in different ways,” he recalled. “They did not quote Bible verses in conversation every five minutes, but they, with their faith, were powerful representatives of God nevertheless…

Their strong, sometimes quiet, sometimes not, faith showed itself through their mercy, encouragement and their shining hope.”

Charley Gu wrapped up the Annalaura Cranford shared her struggle senior speeches with balancing the rigors of a Westminster by testifying about education with a demanding ballet schedule.

God’s influence in “I remember feeling very overwhelmed, his life, even before he and wondered if I was succeeding in any became a Christian part of my life,” she said. “I felt that my while attending schoolwork affected dance, and that the Westminster. He physical exhaustion from dance affected my credited several schoolwork.” members of his family in China for After realizing she needed to cast her cares introducing him to on the Lord, as instructed in the Psalms, she Christianity when began to let God sustain her through her he was young, difficult high school years and continued to nurture her relationship with the Lord during and praised God for placing the both her triumphs and defeats. right people and Annalaura said she desires to continue to circumstances in dance during her college career, a decision she front of him to lead also struggled with, exclaiming, “I am excited him to the cross. to find out what God has in store for me!”

“God has always Ivan Syritsyn shared how through the been with me from encouragement of his mother, grandmother my birth, putting and faculty in the Westminster fine arts me in a Christian department, God provided a means of hope environment to him during the dark times of personal in an atheist country,” he said. “He struggle at home. brought me to Westminster, and ultimately “I once was told that God never wastes his guided my life in such a way to where I children's pain. This is quite true, for my became a Christian. I am thankful to share experience allowed me to connect with others my testimony with you, and I hope that my with whom otherwise I would not have had message can strengthen your faith.” any meaningful connection,” he said.

Following the Baccalaureate service, the He encouraged his classmates to seek hope seniors and their families shared dinner and in the Lord during the difficult times that listened to faculty members give individual may lie ahead, but to especially look for those tributes to each member of the graduating people in their lives who God may be using in class. The tributes demonstrated the rich various ways to provide hope. breadth and talent of the class and the faculty’s love for the students.

“All through my time, the people who were an inspiration for me showed their faith

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The grand event of the weekend was the Commencement ceremony on May 16. Attendees heard from the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award winner Daniel Finch (’89) (read more about him on page 23) and keynote speaker Major General John Grinalds, who served as the 18th president of the Citadel and is also a Westminster grandparent.

Salutatorian Jon Gibbs shared fond memories about his classmates during his 13 years at Westminster and encouraged the Class of 2015 to pursue what they love, to give all

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glory to the Lord and to strive to make a change in the world.

“Because of our faith, seniors, the world is going to hate us,” he said. “My challenge to you is to let the hatred from the world all the more motivate you to have a positive impact upon it each and every day. When we understand that the world is going to hate us for our beliefs and respond with increased determination, the Lord uses this opportunity to unfold his plan for our lives in this temporary home.”

He concluded with two verses from 1 Corinthians, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”

Like Jon, Valedictorian Brielle Smith also encouraged the class to pursue their deepseated passions while in college, but to be wary of the temptation to lose sight of their roots and forget their true identity in Christ.

a challenge to the seniors, “I encourage everyone, those who do call themselves Christians, and those who do not, to put your beliefs to the test and allow God to reveal Himself in a way that makes His love and presence irrefutable and unavoidable. Then, you will not only know what you believe, but why you believe it, and in doing so, experience a supernatural love ‘that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from.’”

She concluded by reminding them that their future success is not based on the approval of the world, but upon their worth in Christ.

“By defending God’s truth, even when you are the only one standing, you will achieve the greatest success known to mankind: the approval of the Creator of the universe.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2015 as they seek to glorify God in their future endeavors! 

In order to strengthen their faith and relationship with the Lord, she presented

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THE CLASS OF 2015 BY THE NUMBERS 42 Number of seniors in the Class of 2015 171 Number of college applications sent 82 Number of colleges applied to by one or more students 62 Number of colleges that accepted one or more students 27 Number of colleges with one or more matriculations 13 Number of states where this class will be attending college in 2015-16

MEET THE VALEDICTORIAN BRIELLE SMITH

MEET THE SALUTATORIAN JON GIBBS

COLLEGE PLANS

COLLEGE PLANS

Attend Johns Hopkins University and major in neuroscience

Attend the Honors College at the University of Georgia and major in biology or chemistry

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Science Olympiad, Math Club, Latin Club, Women’s Choral Ensemble, District Honor Chorus, One-Act Play, Spring Musical, Forensics Team, Debate Team, Track and Field, Cheerleading, Junior Class Vice President, National Honor Society, Beta Club, The Rally Club

Cross Country, Soccer, Spanish Club, Coffee Club, The Rally Club, Science Olympiad, National Honor Society, Beta Club, Latin Club, Student Leadership Team, Math Club, Men’s Choral Ensemble

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Peer Tutoring, Goodwill Volunteer, Vacation Bible School Volunteer

WHAT SHE VALUES MOST ABOUT WESTMINSTER “The thing I value most about Westminster is the faculty and staff 's investment in the lives of the students. Not only, do they want us to succeed academically, but they truly support us in our extracurricular activities and spiritual lives.”

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COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Children’s and Middle School Ministry, Hope for Augusta Bible Club, Tutor

WHAT HE VALUES MOST ABOUT WESTMINSTER “What I value most about Westminster is the character that the school builds within all its students. Westminster purposefully creates a very rigorous academic standard and even more purposefully uses its teachers and faculty to push its students to meet these standards, instilling character traits of hard work, drive and perseverance along the way. I also value the family aspect of Westminster, in that it is an honor to graduate from a school whose mission is to equip students to live extraordinary lives for Christ and to join the ranks of alumni who have gone on to accomplish extraordinary things in life for the kingdom of Heaven.”

87.32 Average cumulative numeric average of the Class of 2015 1781 Average SAT score of the Class of 2015 COLLEGES THEY WILL BE ATTENDING Agnes Scott College Aiken Technical College Auburn University Baylor University Clemson University East Georgia State College Full Sail University Furman University Georgia College Georgia Military College Georgia Regents University Georgia Southern University Johns Hopkins University Kennesaw State University Lee University Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg Presbyterian College Savannah College of Art and Design St. John’s College Temple University University of California Davis University of Colorado Boulder University of Georgia University of South Carolina University of South Carolina Aiken Valparaiso University Wheaton College View photos and videos from the 2015 Commencement weekend at wsa.net/about/equipped-forexcellence/commencement/

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Congratulations to teachers Caroline Whitcomb and Ashley Shaw for winning “innovative teaching mini grants” from Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.

Bronson Tharpe (’19), Tommy O’Neil (’19), Maddie Wildes (’19), Brandon Shiley (’18) and Charis Franklin (’17) placed in the Georgia Regents University/ Comcast Young Writers Contest.

Brandon and Charis also earned awards in the Morris Museum of Art Combining Voices Literary Competition.

Amber Davis (’15) was selected for the Georgia Regents University African-American Academic Achievement Award.

CLASSROOM KUDOS SPRING 2015

Congratulations to Aaron Reynolds (’15) for being named Westminster’s 2015 STAR student. He selected Upper School science teacher Susan Smith as his STAR teacher.

Chase Chiswell (’20) and Taylor Edmonds (’20) earned state recognition in the 2015 Duke Talent Identification Program.

Sarah Margaret Farr (’19) won the annual Middle School National Geographic Bee in January.

Brielle Smith (’15) was awarded The Augusta Chronicle's 2015 Best and Brightest Award.

Palmer Brigham (’15) was named 2015 Youth of The Year by the Exchange Club of Augusta.

Westminster’s two inaugural Science Bowl teams competed well at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah Regional Science Bowl held at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. Team 1 finished second in its division, and Team 2 placed second in the Brain Teaser and won a cash prize.

Westminster Upper School students placed first in several categories at the regional National History Day Competition at Georgia Regents University, including senior group exhibit, senior individual paper and senior individual website.

Emily Rogers (’17) placed second in the Rotary Club of Augusta’s annual speech contest.

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FINE ARTS

THE SOUND OF MUSIC The hills of Western North Carolina were alive with the sound of music in February as the newly-auditioned Westminster Advanced Chorale Ensemble shared their melodious voices with the residents and visitors of Asheville. During a two-day trip, chorus students carried the love and beauty of Christ to those who may not experience Him otherwise.

We asked two members of the group to share their personal experiences from the trip. As you’ll see, the power of Christ in the music not only impacted the audiences, but the singers as well.

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Abbey Robertson (’16) “It’s freeeezzzziiiinnnggggg!!!!” I screamed as I, along with the rest of the Advanced Chorale Ensemble members, sprinted across the Biltmore front lawn. Holding up our dresses and fighting the wind, we took shelter behind the restrooms to the right of the estate. “‘Road Home,’ everyone! First verse, please!” shouted Mrs. Elder. The tiny hallway was filled with 24 “oo’s.”

“Remember to round your mouth. Great work everyone - let’s go!” Mrs. Elder exclaimed, and back into the February Asheville wind we went to enter through the towering Victorian front doors.

If I were to describe this ensemble in one word, it would be “flexible.” Not only did we have to audition at the beginning of the semester to become a member of the group, but we also held strong in several stretching situations. Only meeting twice during the school week, we took advantage of windows of time to rehearse during the trip, taking precautions not to over-practice.

Mrs. Elder had us tweaking different parts of songs on the bus, before each of the

three performances, in the breakfast room at the hotel and behind the bathrooms at the Biltmore, to name a few odd rehearsing locations.

The Ensemble performed four times in four different locations, including a mini-concert for our parents the Saturday before we left.

Each time, we improved significantly on at least one of the songs. It being February, several of us were dealing with sick and strained voices. Despite these setbacks, we sang on.

First stop: Central United Methodist Church.

There we learned the importance of focus regardless of surroundings (one man danced expressively to our Swahili song “O Sifuni Mungu”), and we sang our best rendition yet of Paul Basler’s “Gloria.”

Next stop: Brooks-Howell Home. There we learned the impact that our voices can have on others. The elderly men and women were so grateful, from grinning and singing along during the performance to thanking us at every turn afterwards. We then boarded the bus to the Biltmore and fine-tuned the Thomas Tallis anthem “If Ye Love Me.” Last stop: the Biltmore House, a.k.a. the

FINE ARTS

reason that all 24 of us had auditioned for this trip in the first place. Taking our place in the Winter Garden, we delivered our optimum presentation of each song.

The audience consisted of visitors touring the estate as well as the estate’s employees.

We exited the garden, changed out of our uniforms, and finished the day with a tour.

Not having taken part in a Chorale trip before, I became aware of the extensive preparation that goes into an overnight, multiple-performance, out-of-town expedition.

Although perfection was not reached until the last performance, the Advanced Chorale Ensemble improved notably. Uniting together, the first auditioned Advanced Ensemble Chorale of Westminster applied the skill of adjusting to the various surroundings to bring it all together at the final location. On the winter trip, singing became more than a fine arts requirement - it was a blessing.

Ethan Lynch (’16)

I also gained a deeper realization of the meaning behind the music that we sang and meticulously practiced every week in class.

Performing in different locations and in front of different audiences allowed the Chorale to experience how the atmosphere affects the music. For example, singing the first night at a relaxed evening church service in jeans and T-shirts resulted in a much lighter mood than the nursing home and Biltmore House performances the next day, which were sung in full concert attire.

Performing at the church felt like home to most of the Chorale members who regularly sing in Sunday services. However, it was a unique experience to eat and fellowship with the congregation, many who were homeless, before we sang with them. It was also a very comfortable venue in which to sing, knowing that most in the audience would understand the meaning of the lyrics we sang.

When I first auditioned for Advanced Chorale, I thought only about my fine arts credit being fulfilled and the Monday I would miss school for the Biltmore House Chorale trip. To my surprise, I finished the school year Singing at the nursing home was the most with cherished memories from the Chorale rewarding performance for me personally. trip.

The looks on the faces of the elderly men

and women alone were worth the long drive.

Never before had I seen such an incredible reaction of thankfulness before in my life.

Men and women, many in tears, were revived and rejuvenated with the sound of our voices.

Performing in a chorale soon became an honor and a pleasure, rather than a way to earn credits and miss a few classes.

Performing in the Biltmore House was an experience that I will remember for years to come. The beautiful scenery and delicate floral arrangements in the glass-domed greenhouse where we performed were matched with resounding acoustics and a natural reverb which made our voices seem to travel through the whole house. Here, our songs sounded regal and professional rather than sentimental, while still retaining their original purpose: to praise God. Every performance included a new audience and atmosphere, which added a dimension to the music that the Chorale experienced for the first time together. We learned that preserving the original meaning of the lyrics, and praising God through them, could happen in several distinct venues. 

CALLING ALL FRIENDS OF FINE ARTS! Westminster continues to be blessed by seeing our students excel in the fine arts. The Friends of Fine Arts (FOFA) organization is critical to this program’s success. Last year, FOFA funded drama costumes, the choral trip to the Biltmore Estate, the AP Art Show and the Fine Arts Banquet. FOFA also provided critical labor for the Evening of Theatre, the Talent Show and the Spring Musical. With a strong team of parent officers, ambitious plans are in the works for the 2015-16 school year.

FINE A RTS

Please consider supporting the Westminster fine arts by becoming a member of FOFA. Your prayers, financial support and helping hands are greatly appreciated!

For more information on membership, please type “FOFA” in the search bar in the upper righthand corner of wsa.net. 

WINDOWS - FALL 2015 | 15

Claire Zhang (’16) was selected as one of 12 winners in the sixth annual Southern Teachers Student Art Contest for her artwork “On the Way” (see photo below), which will appear in a widely-distributed calendar this academic year.

Congratulations to Kirsten Holten (’26) and Caroline Robertson (’21) for winning awards at the Agnes Markwalter Youth Art Competition sponsored by the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art.

Forty Middle School chorus students won a Superior rating in the Carowinds Music Festival in April.

FINE ARTS ACCOLADES SPRING 2015

Six AP art students were juried into the Women’s Art and Design Exhibition at Brenau University in February. Summer Hall (’15) was awarded a scholarship and a cash prize.

Six students performed in the Sixth-Grade Statewide Honor Chorus in February in Tifton: Mary Grace Apostol (’21), Benjamin Bayliss (’21), Maya Davis (’21), John David Kassner (’21) and Hadden Peel (’21).

CRAZY FOR YOU

“ON THE WAY”

16 | WINDOWS - FALL 2015

Congratulations to our literary team for tying at second place in the state literary competition. Ivan Syritsyn (’15) was the region and state champion in international extemporaneous speaking for the third straight year.

Six students performed in Athens with the GMEA All-State Chorus in February: Michael Axel (’17), Sarah Banta (’19), Evan Downs (’16), Kayla Green (’20), Mary Garrett McLeod (’17) and Luke Yarid (’19).

Congratulations to Eliza Epps (’20) and Marisol Zayas (’20) for winning the 2015 Westminster Talent Show.

WE HAZ JAZZ

FINE ARTS

ATHLETICS

DÉJÀ VU: BACK-TOBACK STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR VARSITY BOYS SOCCER BY: LEILA KNOX (’14)

Smith (’18) set the school record for goals against average at .303. The team had 17 wins, four losses, no ties and scored 101 goals this season.

Westminster completed this stellar season by not only winning a second state championship, but also by earning the sixth region championship in a row.

"We didn’t rely on one person, but rather a real team effort made up of really good guys who had a ton of fun together,” said Coach Mike Freace. “There is always pressure to win back-to-back championships, but our team tried to focus on small things that we could do every day rather than the state championship. Those take care of themselves."

This past May, the Westminster boys soccer team defended their state title against Deerfield-Windsor School in the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) AAA state championship game held at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans.

Westminster prepared for the championship game by playing (and beating) area schools in the GISA and Georgia High School Association, such as Richmond Academy, Aquinas, Evans, Greenbrier, Augusta Christian and Augusta Prep.

This year's team included six players who scored in the double digits throughout the season: Michael Almond (’15), Seth Robinson (’16), Jannie Nel (’17), Drew Woods (’17), Jon Gibbs (’15) and Zach Kimbler (’15). Jannie Nel was the leading scorer, with 17 goals this season, and Drew Woods led the team with 16 assists. Brandon

ATHL E TICS

This year's team was especially impressive, holding a 16-game winning streak with 14 shutouts.

gracious in winning and how to give all you’ve got for a common goal. Most importantly, we hope we’ve taught our players how to honor the Lord in the way that they compete and go about winning." 

2015 GISA VARSITY BOYS SOCCER HONORS MICHAEL ALMOND (’15) All-Region and All-State BENJ O’NEIL (’16) All-Region and All-State SETH ROBINSON (’16) All-Region and All-State

Winning a state championship is always an exciting accomplishment, but as Athletic Director Andrew Bryan pointed out, it is not the most important goal that the coaches set for their athletes.

NOAH LEE (’17) All-Region and All-State

“I'm proud of the coaches and student athletes for accomplishing such a great achievement,” said Coach Bryan. “Our goal each year with all sports is to do a lot more than to get rings, but to shape the lives of student-athletes.

DREW WOODS (’17) All-Region and All-State

Coach Bryan said that competing at the highest level and winning championships are unforgettable, but that’s not what’s most important.

JANNIE NEL (’17) All-Region and All-State

CALE MCLARNON (’18) All-Region COACH MIKE FREACE Coach of the Year (Also named The Augusta Chronicle’s All-Area Boys Soccer Coach of the Year)

“We hope our athletes will learn character, integrity, how to compete well, how to be

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2015 INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS Our 2014-15 athletic teams racked up a number of state championships, but Westminster also took home numerous state titles in individual sports categories as well. While these accomplishments tend to fly under the radar compared to the team championships, we want to recognize these outstanding student-athletes for their hard work, determination and proven athletic prowess.

his passion are the same,” said his mom and Westminster varsity swimming coach Lynn Fulcher. “I believe, for Westminster, he represents commitment to excellence with humility. As his mom and coach, I've celebrated with loud cheers for him many times. Yet I don't recall ever seeing even a fist pump from Joshua after a race…just a handshake extended across the lane rope to his nearest competitor.”

Because of his aquatic accolades, the Augusta Sports Council named Joshua a “Rising Star” at the 24th annual Greater Augusta Medals for Excellence in Sports (G.A.M.E.S.) Awards. He was also awarded “Most Valuable Player” for boys varsity swimming at the Westminster athletic awards banquet in May and was named GISA All-State for the second year in a row.

MARY GARRETT MCLEOD (’17) AND CAMERON FRANK (’17) DOUBLES TENNIS With only two regular season doubles matches under their belt prior to the region tennis tournament, the odds of first-time varsity player Mary Garrett McLeod and three-year varsity veteran Cameron Frank taking home a championship were slim to none. However, this dynamic duo not only beat the odds, they also made Westminster

history by taking home the first region and state titles for the girls doubles tennis program.

Both girls began the 2015 season playing singles, but after several matches, varsity girls tennis coach Leisa Tebbs saw the potential in them joining forces to play doubles.

“Cameron and Mary Garrett complement each other well on and off the tennis court,” said Coach Tebbs. “I felt they had a better chance of helping the team and individually for themselves to win at the region and state levels.”

With little time left in the season to prepare for the upcoming tournaments, the girls worked hard to perfect their skills and transition from individual to team play.

“Their work ethic was commendable,” said Coach Tebbs. “They allowed Coach [Mark] Tebbs and I to work with them on doubles strategy to prepare them for highly competitive doubles on the state level.”

In addition to their record-setting region and state wins, Cameron and Mary Garrett also earned GISA All-State honors and won the Coach’s Award at the 2015 Westminster athletic awards banquet. 

JOSHUA FULCHER (’17) SWIMMING Joshua Fulcher is no stranger to the water, having learned how to swim at three years old in his backyard pool. He began swimming competitively at age five and has been a member of the Westminster varsity swimming team for three years. During the 2015 season, he played a key role in taking the Wildcats to an overall third-place state finish, the best in Westminster history. Along the way, he achieved three individual state titles of his own in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle, which he also won in 2014.

“I believe Joshua is becoming an accomplished swimmer because his God-given talent and

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AT H LE T I C S

2015 WESTMINSTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR Each year, Westminster recognizes its most outstanding male and female athletes with the Athlete of the Year award. This award is presented at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet in the spring and is based on a point system that includes participation and high levels of performance. Being recognized at the GISA region and state levels also factors into consideration.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2015 RECIPIENTS,

TYRA KIMBLER AND MICHAEL ALMOND

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:

TYRA KIMBLER (’17)

MICHAEL ALMOND (’15)

CROSS-COUNTRY ACCOLADES

FOOTBALL ACCOLADES

Named All-Region

Team captain

Named All-State and helped the team win the state championship for the first time in Westminster history

Awarded Best Offensive Player Named to the Greater Augusta Sports Council All-Area Football Team as a kicker Named All-Region

TRACK ACCOLADES Named All-Region and won the region championship in the 200- and 400-yard dashes State runner-up in the 200- and 400-yard dashes

SOCCER ACCOLADES

Named All-State Named to the Carolina Panthers All-Area Team Named Georgia Kicker of the Year Named second team All-American punter Committed to the University of South Carolina as a kicker and punter

Named All-Region Named All-State

SOCCER ACCOLADES Named All-Region Named All-State

ATHL E TICS

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A HOME RUN FOR WESTMINSTER BASEBALL The 2015 season was a memorable one for the Wildcat varsity baseball team, with an appearance in the state playoffs for the first time since 2006. Although the Wildcats did not make it past the first round, they finished out their season with a 12-7 record, which Coach Keith Romer attributed to good pitching (4.4 ERA), great defense (.927 fielding percentage) and timely hitting (.450 on base percentage).

Michael McCraith (’15) and Josh Woods (’16) were given GISA All-Region honors, with Michael also receiving All-State Honorable Mention. Michael will go on to play baseball at Wheaton College in Illinois for the 2016 season.

“This was a great group to work with,” said Coach Romer. “They had outstanding leadership, a hard work ethic and great chemistry. Four of our nine regular starters were new to the school/program, and

20 | WINDOWS - FALL 2015

ATHLETIC LOGO RECEIVES MAKEOVER Michael is the only starter that we are losing.

Although it is a big loss, we have a great nucleus in place for future success.”

The team looks forward to another notable season in 2016 as they anticipate several members of the 2015 undefeated, city champion Middle School baseball team moving up to join the varsity ranks.

“With the core group returning and the addition of several members of our undefeated Middle School team, along with other transfer students, the future of Westminster baseball looks very bright,” said Coach Romer. 

After more than two years of research and discussion, the athletic department has selected a new Westminster Wildcat athletic logo.

“Although the ‘WSA Athletics’ logo has served us well, we wanted to bring our brand more in line with the school’s wellknown ‘W’ logo as well as promote our athletic department locally and regionally by emphasizing our school name,” said Athletic Director Andrew Bryan.

The logo will be rolled out during the fall 2015 sports season. 

AT H LE T I C S

Catherine Paulk (’16), Abbey Robertson (’16), Anna Robertson (’16), Anna Plunkett (’15) and Tyra Kimbler (’17) earned GISA soccer All-State honors. Sibley McCallie (’15) and Mary Michels (’18) were named All-Region. The varsity girls soccer team took home the GISA Region 4-AAA title and won second place at the state tournament.

Westminster welcomes Kendra Sue Finch (’94) as our new varsity cheerleading coach and Tucker Blackmon as our new girls varsity soccer coach.

Evan Downs (’16) earned first place in the 800-yard, one-mile and two-mile runs at the GISA Region 4-AAA track meet.

He and Nygl Eaddy (’16), who placed second in the 100- and 200-yard dashes, were named GISA All-Region.

In addition to Tyra Kimbler (’17), Emily Rogers (’17) also won GISA All-Region honors in varsity girls track and placed second in the two-mile run at the Region 4-AAA tournament.

WILDCAT WOWS

Chris Plummer (’15) was named boys tennis singles champion at the GISA Region 4-AAA tournament and earned All-Region honors.

He was also a recipient of the 2015 CSRA Tennis Association Scholarship Award for Excellence.

Kylie Duckworth (’18) won second place in girls tennis singles at both the GISA Region 4-AAA and the GISA AAA state championships. She also was named GISA All-Region and All-State.

Varsity girls basketball coach Greg Wilson was named The Augusta Chronicle’s All-Area Independent Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

Amber Davis (’15) was named The Augusta Chronicle’s All-Area Independent Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She also was named GISA All-Region and All-State.

Sam McCartney (’15) was presented with the Scholar Athlete award from WJBF News Channel 6.

In addition to Amber Davis (’15), Nygl Eaddy (’16), Steven Lambert (’16) and Zakira Goldsberry (’17) were named GISA All-Region in basketball.

ATHL E TICS

SPRING 2015

The varsity golf team placed second in the GISA Region 4-AAA tournament, and Evan Downs (’16) earned All-Region honors.

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COMMUNITY

FOURTH-GRADERS GIVE BACK TO GOLDEN HARVEST Instead of giving each other Christmas gifts last December, the students in Mrs. Nye’s and Mrs. Shelley's fourth-grade classes pooled their money to feed children in need.

They participated in Golden Harvest Food Bank’s BackPack program, which provides nearly 2,500 children at risk of hunger with a supply of easy-open, nutritious foods for the weekend. In addition to making a monetary donation, the two classes also visited the food bank, where they helped pack and box over 1,200 bags of food.

component of our school culture,” said Mike Freace, Westminster Director of Student Life. “We want our students to realize and to gain confidence in the fact that this is part of God’s calling and purpose for their lives.

We want our students to see the needs of others and act upon them… to see service as a lifestyle instead of an act.”

including Restmaster Beds, Pollard Lumber Company and East Georgia Fence and Construction.

Students performed projects at the following locations this year: Family Promise, Augusta Canal, Hope House, Goodwill, Fireside Ministries, Ronald McDonald House, Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, Child Enrichment Center, Hope for Augusta, New Hope/Bridge Ministry, Crisis Care Pregnancy Center, Washington Commons, Elmcroft and Hahn Village.

KINDERGARTEN KINDNESS

The Hahn Village Winterim project was an especially meaningful project to the student team that served there.

UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS IMPACT THE CSRA THROUGH SERVICE On Jan. 6 and 7, our 200 Upper School students participated in the third annual Winterim, a two-day hands-on opportunity to serve others in the Augusta community.

Students were split by advisory groups and paired with a local nonprofit or charity. They had the opportunity to work directly with the homeless, provide food and shelter for those in need and be the visible provision and love of God in the CSRA. These practical experiences gave every student the opportunity to provide for “the least of these” as instructed in Matthew 25.

“Our desire is for service to be a foundational

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During the fall 2014 semester, the boys advisory group led by Coach Freace began to think about how they might give back to the community. They decided to directly impact individuals in need by using their gifts of building and landscaping.

Gail Graham, grandmother of Michael Almond (’15), heard about the group's desire and was able to put them in touch with someone working with the Aiken Housing Authority’s Hahn Village, which serves primarily single mothers in the Aiken area.

The group found out that Hahn Village had suffered a bedbug epidemic that destroyed many of the beds within the village. So, the boys built 30 wooden beds onsite and took them to the families in need. The students worked hard at obtaining mattresses and were directly involved with the building of each bed. The group partnered with a number of companies to make this project happen,

In addition to building beds, the group also provided landscaping services in the housing complex, such as planting flowers and mulching.

Each year, the kindergarten classes participate in a service-learning project to benefit sick children at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. The students spend a morning at the Build-A-Bear Workshop creating oneof-a-kind bears and later deliver the bears to patients at the Children’s Hospital. This year, they also delivered bears to families at the Ronald McDonald House, which moved right next door to the hospital. This goes to show that even the smallest of Westminster students can share love and kindness to others in the community.

SUPPORTING ONE OF OUR OWN In April, Steven Lambert (’16) heroically averted tragedy when he jumped from his second-story bedroom window to call 911 and wake his parents after their home caught fire. The Upper School faculty, staff and students rallied together and collected more than $1,400 to help the family recover from the extensive damage. The Augusta fire department and Mayor Hardie Davis also honored Steven’s heroic efforts by presenting him with an official certificate of recognition for outstanding valor.

Westminster is proud of Steven for his quick thinking and faith in the Lord, as well as our Upper School family for banding together to take care of one of our own. 

C O M M U N I TY

ALUMNI 2015 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD WINNER: DANIEL FINCH (’89) BY: HALEY BARINOWSKI (’12) God’s work in human lives is often compared to a painting, a work that is difficult to decipher when the observer views it up close and in progress. The colors sometimes seem out of place, the brush strokes confusing, until they are placed in the context of the completed work.

trapped somewhere between the happy-clappy emotionalism of the televangelists on one hand and the relativistic moral murk of the secular humanists on the other. All I knew is that I wanted neither.”

At this spiritual crossroads, in the throes of wrestling with life’s deepest questions, Daniel entered the halls of Westminster for the first time. He only spent three years here, but those years were utterly life changing.

“While I may not know the exact hour, by the time I left Westminster, I was a believer in the life, death and resurrection of Christ…that one day I would not just be allowed, but welcomed into the presence of God, led by my brother, Christ,” Daniel said.

He was strongly influenced by faculty members such as Craig Johnson, whom Daniel accompanied on a trip to the Soviet

Due to difficult childhood circumstances as well as a natural bent toward skepticism, Daniel’s spiritual life as a high school student consisted mostly of questioning.

“If I could’ve articulated my worldview at this point (and I could not),” he said, “it was

AL UMNI

Just this year, after spending some time as an associate professor, he was promoted to the status of a full professor. His work has been featured in numerous exhibits. Most notably, he was commissioned in 2014 by the Susquehanna Art Museum and the Historic Harrisburg Association to paint a public mural.

As he has gained experience, he has risen in the ranks of the art world, receiving recognition in multiple publications, such as New American Paintings, The Augusta Chronicle and The Sun Herald.

As a Christian who is integrated in the art world, Daniel has the rare opportunity to bring elements of his faith into his career and vice versa. Although Daniel’s work is not directly Christian in nature, he believes that elements of God can be revealed regardless of the subject matter of his art.

No one understands this principle better than this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Daniel Finch (’89).

His artistic accomplishments are certainly award-worthy, but beyond that, Daniel is excellently applying the knowledge and experience acquired at Westminster, something school leaders aim to provide to each student who receives a diploma. His spiritual journey through high school and the way he continues to utilize the wisdom he gained inspires the Westminster community to offer praise to the One who transformed his life.

Daniel’s family relocated to South Augusta from Maryland when he was in third grade. He spent some years in the Hephzibah school system before entering Davidson Fine Arts Academy to cultivate his natural artistic abilities. However, at the beginning of his sophomore year, his parents decided to enroll him in Westminster, a choice that would have a profound impact on the rest of his life.

on to the University of Georgia to earn his master’s degree in fine arts with a concentration in painting and drawing. He stayed on at UGA as an adjunct professor, which prepared him to receive his next position as an assistant professor of painting and drawing at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, where he is currently employed.

“My work is at once both deeply personal, superficially secular, and flows from a vantage point that continually sees the grand figure of Christ against the backdrop of our civilization’s various machinations, including art-making,” Daniel said.

“What we are is going to be visible in our art, no matter how secular the subject may be.”

Union; Eric Ferwerda, who taught biology and simultaneously defended intelligent design; and Leighann (Benge) Walther, who presented to her students the uniqueness of Christianity among other religions.

The understated spiritual themes in Daniel’s work have allowed him to gain access to secular art departments and, therefore, have meaningful conversations with students about the deeper things behind art.

For Daniel Finch, although the Lord’s painting is not yet completed, one can already see the Despite the huge impact of Westminster, it was way He has blended the events together to only the beginning. create a beautiful picture. Daniel, his art, After graduation, Daniel completed the and his testimony are an encouragement and Augusta State University Italian Studies an excellent example to the Westminster Program in Ferrara, Italy, and earned his community of the importance of a Christian bachelor’s degree in fine arts from ASU (now education and its relevance beyond graduation.

Georgia Regents University). He then went 

WINDOWS - FALL 2015 | 23

BENNETT FORD (’02)

2015 WESTMINSTER ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES The Westminster Athletics Hall of Fame was started in 2007 to recognize former students who have made outstanding contributions to Westminster’s athletic program, along with helping to establish a tradition in school pride.

For 2015, Westminster is privileged to induct Bennett Ford (’02) and Taylor Ellison (’04) into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Bennett Ford was a four-year starter in soccer, basketball and baseball during his Westminster athletic career. A very talented soccer player, he was a member of the 2000 and 2001 state championship soccer teams, was named All-Region and All-State his senior year and was awarded Most Valuable Player.

TAYLOR ELLISON (’04)

Bennett is one of the few Westminster basketball players to achieve membership in the “1,000 Point Club.” He was an All-Region basketball player his senior year and was named Best Offensive Player twice during his Westminster career. He also excelled on the baseball field, earning Best Defensive Player honors his sophomore year and was chosen as Male Athlete of the Year as a senior in 2002.

After graduating from Westminster, Bennett attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and remained in Atlanta, where he works in information technology consulting. He attends Buckhead Church, is involved with an Ironmen men's Bible study with other Westminster alumni, volunteers with La Amistad after-school program and competes as an amateur golfer. He and his wife, Katy, have a daughter, Ellie (3), and are expecting another daughter in August.

“My challenge to current student-athletes is to not let athletic or academic achievements become an idol in their lives,” said Bennett.

“I want to encourage them that God blesses us with things like athletic and academic accomplishments so that we can bless other people.”

Like Bennett, Taylor Ellison also played soccer, basketball, and baseball while a student at Westminster. An outstanding soccer player,

24 | WINDOWS - FALL 2015

Taylor was a member of the 2001 state championship soccer team and named AllRegion and All-State as a senior in 2004. That same year, he was named All-Region in both basketball and baseball, earning Best Defensive Player honors in basketball and Best Offensive Player honors in baseball. Because of his excellence in all three sports, Taylor was named 2004 Male Athlete of the Year.

where he is completing a vascular surgery residency at Louisiana State University.

One of his fellow student-athletes and teammates said, “Taylor was one of the most popular and respected teammates and competitors in the seven classes that I saw and played with.”

Congratulations, Bennett and Taylor! 

Taylor graduated from the University of Georgia in 2008 and the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University in 2012. He currently lives in New Orleans,

A LU M N I

2000

ALUMNI NOTES

Kathryn (Haburchak) Brown (’00) and her husband, Nick, welcomed baby boy Hudson Oliver on March 4. He weighed 8 lbs., 5 oz. and measured 21 inches long.

1980 Congratulations to Kay Lovingood (’80) on her retirement after 27 years as the music teacher at Martinez Elementary School.

Although she will no longer be teaching, Kay will continue making music by singing, playing tuba and composing and arranging music. She also looks forward to having more time for her work as a gourd artist, creating bowls, lanterns, vases and birdhouses out of hard-shell gourds. Find her creations on Facebook at Kay’s Off Her Gourd.

Congratulations to Mary Ellen Stebbins (’04) for being named a 2014 Young Designer to Watch by Live Design Online, an award that recognizes up-and-coming young designers in theater. Mary Ellen lives in New York City, where she is a designer for theater, opera, dance and site-specific events. Her next project is "Song Cycle" at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, where she is a member of the Encounters Ensemble led

by Matt Aucoin.

HUDSON OLIVER BROWN MARY ELLEN STEBBINS (’04)

2001 Congratulations to Katherine (Mohney) Duello (’01) and her husband, Daniel, on the birth of their daughter, Camilla Sadie, on May 27. Welcoming Camilla home were new grandparents Stan and Bau Mohney and her namesake, Camilla Davis.

2003 KAY LOVINGOOD (’80)

1997 Mimi (Coleman) Grinalds (’97) and her husband, Allen, welcomed their sixth child, Edwin Fulcher Grinalds, into the world on Jan. 14. Edwin weighed 7 lbs., 12 oz. and measured 20 inches long. Siblings Allen (10), Charlie (8), Porter (7), Mimi Barrett (4) and Southy (2) are enjoying getting to know their new brother.

Joseph Morris (’03) graduated from the University of Georgia in 2010 with a double major in wildlife management and fisheries management and in 2012 with a master's degree in forestry. He recently moved back to Augusta and started Jones and Morris Consulting Company, where he manages/consults for private lands for timber, wildlife and fisheries.

He married Hardi O’Neill on August 22 at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta.

2005 Mary Charles Coleman (’05) married Mark Christopher Snoddy at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta on Nov. 1, 2014.

Westminster alumni in the wedding party included her sisters – Mimi (Coleman) Grinalds (’97), Katherine (Coleman) Johnson (’00) and Sarah Coleman (’07) – and friend Mallory (Farmer) Click (’05).

The couple is living in Nashville, Tennessee, while Mark finishes his orthopedic residency at Vanderbilt University.

2004 Ann Elizabeth (Pollard) Lazari (’04) and her husband, George, welcomed their first child, Sara Ann Estelle, on April 29. She weighed 7 lbs., 12 oz. and measured 20.5 inches long.

MARY CHARLES COLEMAN (’05)

EDWIN FULCHER GRINALDS

AL UMNI

ANN ESTELLE LAZARI

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Andrew Kennedy (’05) showed his school spirit as the mascot for Michigan Tech this past spring.

2009

2011

In May 2015, Preston Story (’09) accepted a full-time position as project manager at CDM Smith, an industrial construction firm in Orlando, Florida. CDM has projects across the nation, and Preston’s first job is in West Palm Beach.

Akonwi Ngoh (’11) graduated from Wheaton College this past spring with a bachelor’s degree in business/economics and a minor in computer science. Prior to graduating, he worked as a software developer in the suburbs of Chicago and studied international business at a business school in France. Akonwi currently works as a software developer at Thoughtworks in Chicago.

ANDREW KENNEDY (’05)

2006 Ben Hastings (’06) was voted Paramedic of the Year for Aiken County EMS. He recently received his paramedic certification in critical care and became an instructor in the Center for Operational Medicine at Georgia Regents University.

PRESTON STORY (’09)

2010

BEN HASTINGS (’06)

2007 Katherine Boone (’07) graduated on May 8 from the College of Dental Medicine at Georgia Regents University with a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. She will participate in a one-year general practice residency at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. Katherine has stayed plugged into the Westminster community by serving as the assistant girls varsity soccer coach for the past four years.

KATHERINE BOONE (’07)

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Aaron Harris (’10) graduated from the University of Georgia in May 2014 and has completed his first year in the School of Physical Therapy at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Before beginning graduate school, he served as a youth intern at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta during the summer of 2014. Aaron is spending the summer of 2015 working in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and plans to visit Europe before returning to Belmont in the fall.

Parker Rhodes (’10) graduated from Belmont University in August 2014 with a major in entrepreneurship. He has returned to the Augusta area to work with NewFire Media as an assistant account executive and strategist. Parker also continues to pursue his passion of discovering old and new music and works as a part-time disc jockey, a job he has dabbled in since being an eighth-grader at Westminster.

AKONWI NGOH (’11)

In February, David Robeson (’11) was voted Homecoming King at Georgia College.

He graduated this past spring and will be attending Auburn University in the fall to pursue a doctorate in inorganic chemistry.

DAVID ROBESON (’11)

PARKER RHODES (’10)

ALUMNI

2012 Elizabeth Gay (’12) completed the prenursing program at the University of Georgia and is now a senior in the College of Nursing at Georgia Regents University’s Athens campus. She has served as class president and president of the Student Government Association and is involved in many other campus organizations. She will be graduating in spring 2016 with degrees in nursing and Spanish and will be pursing a career as a critical care nurse.

While attending Clemson University, Ali Zimmerman (’13) created a non-profit website with the goal of spreading love, hope and encouragement through handwritten letters. The website is built on the foundation of reflecting Christ and spreading His light by enabling anyone to anonymously sign up to receive a handwritten letter while also allowing people to become letter writers themselves. Fellow Clemson student and Westminster alumnus Shayne Rimer (’13) created the program for the website. Visit the page at wanderercomehome.com.

WILDCAT PACKS Victoria (Folley) Hulsebus (’00), Becca (Veazey) Scogin (’00), Mary Neil (Hanks) Stroud (’00) and Rachel (Veazey) Temple (’95) (pictured below from left to right) reunited to run the Kiawah Island Marathon in December.

ALI ZIMMERMAN (’13)

2014 ELIZABETH GAY (’12)

2013 Jose Rosaldo (’13) is a biology pre-med student minoring in chemistry at Georgia Southern University, where he was instrumental in colonizing a chapter of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He has been involved with toxicology research since his freshman year, and he and his team have been published in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology on the subject of profiles of select hepatic insulin signaling pathway genes in response to two aminoanthracene dietary ingestion. Jose also had the opportunity to present at the 54th Annual Society of Toxicology Conference on the Diabetic-Like Effect in Adipose Tissues of Progeny Exposed to 2-Aminoanthracene in Utero.

ALUMNI

Westminster History Department Chair Glenn Bell caught up with Brenton Durkee (’14) while on a trip to New York City this past spring. Brenton attends New York University and works in the school’s theatre department. He also attends small groups at Timothy Keller’s church and enjoys living in the Big Apple.

Madison Roberts (’96) and Robert Watts (’04) coordinated the first event of the Atlanta Chapter of the Westminster Alumni Association in March. Those in attendance were John Cates (’03), Will Hudson (’01), Ansley (Brannen) Nixon (’01), Ginny (Thornton) Merrill (’03), Morgan Purvis (’02), Madison Roberts (’96), David Shoffitt (’02), Colin Smith (’99), Mary Neil (Hanks) Stroud (’00) and Robert Watts (’04). The Alumni Association looks forward to hosting another one soon!

ATLANTA ALUMNI REUNION

BRENTON DURKEE (’14)

Alumni, we want to hear from you! Submit information regarding general updates, births, marriages, vocational information and service involvement to Carrie Brigham at cbrigham@ wsa.net. You may also use our online form at wsa.net/community/alumni

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AROUND CAMPUS

EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT LEADS TO OUTDOOR CHAPEL Coming back from the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, many people noticed a subtle addition to the Middle/Upper School side of campus. Tucked away in the wooded area in front of Building 400 stood a new custom-built outdoor chapel.

PROM KING AND QUEEN

• Fine Arts/Communication: Carlos Zayas (’16)

As part of his work toward becoming an Eagle Scout, Jewitt Kitchens (’18) chose to construct a wooden outdoor worship area on Westminster’s campus. Along with his troop, family members and a few friends, Jewitt spent the long weekend hard at work constructing the pews, podium and a large cross that serves as the centerpiece of the project.

Congratulations to Amber Davis (’15) and Charley Gu (’15) for being chosen queen and king at the 2015 Westminster Prom held in April at St. Paul’s River Room.

“I feel this outdoor chapel will be a great addition to our campus and allow chapels, classes, advisory groups and any number of other events to take place in this wooded area,” said Eric Newbrey, Westminster’s director of facilities and grounds. “I am grateful for Jewitt’s dedication to this project and hope that everyone will give him their thanks and full support.”

The SLT is focused both on selection and development of leaders. This particular team oversees the big picture of life at Westminster, • Head/Chapel: Benj O’Neil (’16) and past experience is a key qualification for members. Each undergoes leadership • Chapel: Michael Hitchcock (’17) training and is assigned an adult mentor to • Service: Justin Gaffney (’16), Caroline Head provide support throughout the year. This is an invaluable relationship as SLT members (’16) cultivate their leadership skills.

• Student Life: Seth Robinson (’16)

We thank Jewitt for his dedication to both Westminster and the Eagle Scout program and look forward to holding many functions outdoors for years to come!

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2015-16 STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM Congratulations to the 10 students selected for the 2015-16 Student Leadership Team (SLT).

• Athletics: Noah Lee (’17) • Admissions/InReach: Abbey Robertson (’16), Elizabeth Carter (’17) The SLT is a group of juniors and seniors chosen to work cohesively as a team to help lead the student body.

• Student Life/Middle School: Catherine Paulk (’16)

AROUND CAMPUS

FACULTY & STAFF YEARS OF SERVICE AWARDS At the year-end faculty/staff breakfast on May 27, those who celebrated milestone anniversaries during the 2014-15 school year were honored for their achievement. These hard-working and dedicated employees are appreciated for for their love of Westminster and their service to our students and the Lord.

A special tribute was also paid to Mrs. Sara Lawson, who retired after 22 years of faithful service to Westminster’s Lower School music program.  20 YEARS OF SERVICE: RAMONA STORY & LEISA TEBBS

15 YEARS OF SERVICE: PAUL OWEN & MATT RICH

10 YEARS OF SERVICE: AIMEE LYNCH & DWIGHT REDICK (NOT PICTURED)

22 YEARS OF SERVICE (RETIRING): SARA LAWSON

5 YEARS OF SERVICE: MISSY SMITH, DESTINY PIPPIN, KELLY HITCHCOCK, DAWN MCCRAITH, SANDY BUCHANAN, BRAD JOINER, ANDREW BRYAN, LULU JOHNSON & LARRY ALBEA (NOT PICTURED)

AROUND CAMPUS

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our campus and marking the beginning of a transformation on the Middle and Upper School side.

DEVELOPING NEWS For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

Hebrews 3:4 In 2011, the board of trustees moved forward with a plan to build much needed buildings on the Westminster campus. Although the exact placement and design of our first new permanent building since Pamplin Hall saw several evolutions, the goal was always the same – to provide Middle and Upper School facilities that better reflect our mission and serve our students, families and community.

May 5 was filled with excitement as the dirt was turned, symbolizing a new era on

Many came out to celebrate the official groundbreaking ceremony for our new 20,000-square-foot building to replace the existing Building 300 (also formerly known as the A Building). During the event, the many donors who have made this project come to life were thanked, and attendees found out that the building will be named Knox Hall. The Knox family has supported not only the building, but also numerous other projects and programs with their financial contributions, time and talents. We are grateful for all they have done over the years to support Westminster and for the exemplary manner in which they serve.

There are also many others who have made generous contributions with their gifts, time and expertise. However, our main purpose at the groundbreaking was to thank the Giver of every good and perfect gift. The Lord has certainly sustained, guided and protected us through what often seemed to be a very long road, but our hope was always in Him. The scripture at the top of our ceremony program was Hebrews 3:4. Although many have worked tirelessly and given much, this verse is a great reminder that, in the end, He is the one in control. The Lord is the rock on which we build this new structure and the foundation for all we do at Westminster.

As we say goodbye to Building 300, we remember the sacrifice that so many made more than 40 years ago. Their gifts were multiplied beyond the provision of bricks and mortar. They set the stage for more than 900

alumni to receive an excellent Westminster education – a gift that has equipped them to live extraordinary lives for Jesus Christ in Augusta and throughout the world. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, and may we continue to be good stewards of all that He has given us, allowing Him to continue to use our hearts and our hands to build his kingdom.

If you were unable to join us on May 5, you can see the video and photos of the ceremony and watch a live video feed of the construction as it progresses at wsa.net/ bridgecampaign/.

Gratefully,

Carrie Brigham Director of Development

KNOX HALL FAST FACTS SIZE

20,000 SQ. FT. STORIES

2 FIRST FLOOR

CAFETERIA, KITCHEN, PERMANENT STAGE, FACULTY LOUNGE, SEATING FOR UP TO 400 SECOND FLOOR

5 CLASSROOMS, MEDIA CENTER/LIBRARY, CONFERENCE ROOM

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DEVELOPING NEWS

KNOX HALL GROUNDBREAKING - MAY 5, 2015

DEVELOPING NEWS

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WESTMINSTER

SEPTEMBER 18-19, 2015

HOMECOMING WEEKEND Alumni • Students

Alumni Tailgate

Food, Fun, Fellowship

Homecoming Football Wildcats vs. Edmund Burke

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Parents • Community

Alumni Reunions Classes of 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, 1990 AND 1980

Alumni Picnic Family and Friendship

For more information, visit wsa.net/homecoming