Fall 2013 | Windows Magazine

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PrePAred For BAttLe: Commencement 2013 FINe ArtS: A Year of "Firsts" CoMMUNItY: Students Give Back During Winterim

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WESTMINSTER S C HO O L S O F AUGUS TA

A Word from the Headmaster

WESTMINSTER WINDOWS a publication of Westminster Schools of Augusta Westminster Schools of Augusta 3067 Wheeler Road Augusta, GA 30909 706-731-5260 or wsa.net Steve O’Neil Headmaster Craig Johnson Academic Dean Joey Menendez Upper School Principal Brian Case Middle School Principal Sue Ames Lower School Principal Bill Wright Interim Director of Finance and Operations Carrie Brigham Director of Development Andrew Bryan Athletic Director Mike Freace Director of Student Life Aimee Lynch Director of Admissions Katie Tuck Director of Marketing and Communications Windows Editor Trey Keenan Windows Design and Layout Special thanks to contributing photographers: Theresa Bone, Carrie Brigham, Whitney Diehl, Mike Freace, Anna Glisson, Paul Owen, Jess Romer, Leisa Tebbs, Katie Tuck and Pete Wilson Special thanks to contributing editors: Haley Barinowski (’12) and Mary Elizabeth Goodell (’12) Windows is published as a service to our alumni, families and friends. Please submit questions, comments or news items to publications@wsa.net Cover: Kindergarten student Ella Carr shows her grandmother what she has been learning in school during Grandparents' and Grandfriends' Day on Feb. 15.

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WESTMINSTER >Learning for Life S CHOOLS OF AU GUS TA Tech Talk

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2013-14 Scholarship Recipients

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Faculty Focus: Leisa and Mark Tebbs

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Classroom Kudos

11

Back to School

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Prepared for Battle: Commencement 2013

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>Fine Arts A Year of “Firsts”

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Fine Arts Accolades

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>Athletics Athletic Spotlights

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Wildcat Wows

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>Community Students Give Back During Winterim

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Homecoming King and Queen Serve Others

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>Alumni 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner

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Alumni Spotlights

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News from the Alumni Association

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Alumni Notes

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>Around Campus School News

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Westminster Board of Trustees

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>Developing News Bridge Campaign and Westminster Fund Updates

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a gift for the teacher and our school. It often takes time and a lot of practice to master the art of hitting one’s sweet spot, but the subsequent rewards make it all worthwhile. Many of our faculty are now teaching children of alumni. As a result, they are able to regularly hear stories of how their teaching prepared their former students for college and served as a positive influence over the years.

A Word From The Headmaster

Westminster is blessed to not just have experienced teachers, but teachers with experience at Westminster. The faculty’s years of service to Westminster are evidence of a healthy and mature school where tradition continues.

At the same time, the faculty who have served Westminster the longest are Dear Friends, often our pioneers with innovation and A sweet spot is the place on a baseball bat, new initiatives. They provide examples golf club or tennis racket where it’s ideal to to others of continuous growth and improvement and serve as role models hit a ball, and when that object connects there, great things happen. Westminster’s and mentors to our younger faculty.

The teachers recognized this year have sweet spot is, and always has been, attributes that represent the broader academic excellence with an unwavering commitment to Christian faith-learning integration, and our teachers have always allowed us to connect with that sweet spot.

At the conclusion of every school year, I recognize faculty for their years of service to Westminster beginning with fiveyear awards and using multiples of five thereafter. My five years at Westminster pale in comparison to those who were recently recognized with 20 or more years of service (Kathy Buurma, Craig Ham, Julia Joiner, Sara Lawson, Randall Nichols and Susan Smith). These faculty and the many others recognized in previous years have dedicated their careers and lives to provide an excellent education to hundreds of students for God’s glory.

Years of service to Westminster are both

Westminster faculty and include: high expectations, high standards, subject expertise, focus on results, multiple talents, love for students and, most importantly, love for God. It’s because of our faculty that we’re able to connect with our sweet spot as we deliver an excellent education that equips students to live extraordinary lives for Jesus Christ.

Warm regards,

Steve O’Neil P.S. See page 32 for a full list and photos of our faculty members celebrating anniversaries at the end of the 2012-13 school year.

Randall Nichols and Susan Smith - 25 Years of Service WINDOWs - FALL 2013 | 3

Learning for Life

Tech Talk One of the goals of the Westminster strategic plan, Imagine 2020, is to provide opportunities for students to broaden and deepen their education. In order to accomplish this goal, improving technology in the classroom has been one of the school's priorities. Many strides have been made in this area over the past few years.

One of these accomplishments has been the acquisition of 25 iPads for use in the Lower School classrooms. This was largely funded by gifts to the Westminster Fund. The fourth- and fifth-graders have been using the iPads to conduct research and have become proficient in using their favorite classroom

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apps, like Brain Pop, Stack the States and Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?

“I enjoy[ed] using the iPad to see what we [were] learning through apps and pictures and learning from different resources,” said sixth-grader Callie Franks.

Mrs. Sandy Buchanan uses an iPad in her first-grade class to monitor classroom conduct. Using the Class Dojo app, she inputs positive and negative behavior points to determine who earns positive incentives.

In addition to using iPads, the fourth-grade classes now have a fun and practical way to utilize their burgeoning math skills. Thanks to a Science Teaching Tool Award grant from the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, former fourth-grade teacher Kathy Buurma was able to purchase six hand-held Garmin eTrex GPS units at no cost to the school. Students with the highest math test grades are rewarded with the opportunity to use the GPS units at recess to find a hidden cache on the playground.

“Excellence and fun have become a part of fourth-grade math. We're loving them and learning at the same time!” Miss Buurma said.

Many people do not associate technology with music, but Mrs. Sara Lawson’s music class has shown that the two can actually work in perfect harmony. In January, students in third through fifth grades began learning the Music Ace software on five new computers in the Lower School music room.

Students are able to practice their music keyboarding skills and have their progress sent electronically to Mrs. Lawson’s computer.

“The reaction of the students has been an overwhelming eagerness to be a part of music class!” Mrs. Lawson said.

The Middle and Upper Schools have seen a technology boon as well with the implementation of NCLab. This cloud-based computing system exposes students to the idea of virtual desktops and allows them to run programs in chemistry, physics, programming and 3D modeling.

“There is a huge demand for computing jobs.

NCLab gives students a virtual environment to explore the different aspects of this industry, beyond writing code, and will hopefully serve to pique their interest in computing careers,” said Mr. Craig Ham. Thanks to the generosity of our Bridge Campaign donors, several other technology

Learning for Life

improvements were made during the summer months. For the first time, a single wi-fi “cloud� across campus will allow for seamless wireless coverage throughout all of the buildings and grounds. Having instant and secure access to email, the internet and other information technology services will dramatically change the way our students, faculty, staff and campus visitors work, study and learn.

A classroom of Lower School students using iPads can now move down the hall and continue to stay connected to the internet, while Middle and Upper School students will be able to use laptops on the deck during a lab. Guest speakers, consultants and other special guests will also have strong, uninterrupted access wherever they are on campus.

Additionally, this infrastructure will set the stage as Westminster begins to explore the possibility of students bringing their own wireless devices to class or one-to-one computing for students in the near future.

Learning for Life

Other summer technology enhancements funded by Bridge Campaign dollars include: the acquisition of LabQuest data collection devices for Middle and Upper School science labs; probes to be used along with the LabQuest devices; document cameras for easy transitions between PowerPoint presentations and working of problems; photogate timers and ramp systems for Middle School science demonstrations; new projectors for the SmartBoards in the Lower School; and, new tablet computers for the Lower School.

Westminster will continue to focus on making the classroom an optimal learning environment for our students. With the world becoming ever more digital, technology will increasingly become another important tool in helping our students learn in the 21st century. ď Ž

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2013-2014 ScholarShip recipientS Virginia Jarrel Williamson Memorial Scholarship 2013-14 recipient: abigail owen

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 2013-14 recipient is Abigail Owen. Abigail, a third-grade student, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Owen.

rosemary lester Memorial Scholarship 2013-14 recipient: Bailey edmonds

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 2013-14 recipient is Bailey Edmonds. Bailey is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Josh Edmonds.

Barbara Moore pruitt Memorial Scholarship 2013-14 recipient: nicholas caron

Barbara Pruitt was the grandmother of three Westminster students. 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 2013-14 recipient is Nicholas Caron. Nicholas, a sixth-grader, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jon Caron.

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Learning for Life

cristina hope oliver Scholarship 2013-14 recipient: palmer Brigham 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 as a mother of two students, a college counselor and a strong supporter of the school's mission to be 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 2013-14 recipient is Palmer Brigham. Palmer, a junior, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Breck Brigham, Jr.

elliott edgars hamilton rivers Memorial Scholarship 2013-14 recipient: amber Davis The Elliott Edgars Hamilton Rivers Memorial Scholarship is presented annually to a rising sophomore, junior or senior enrolled at Westminster. The scholarship was established with seed money donated by Elliott’s friends and family and by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cary Rivers. Through this scholarship, the Rivers family desires to glorify God and remember Elliott as a boy who cultivated his passions for soccer, playing the piano and unabashed friendship. Elliott loved the Lord and pursued life with vigor.

This scholarship is intended for an established Westminster student who has applied himself or herself academically, participated in Westminster athletics and is growing spiritually through active involvement in his or her church.

The 2013-14 recipient is Amber Davis. Amber, a junior, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zelwin Davis.

Matthew clark Memorial Scholarship 2013-14 recipient: Kalon hightower 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 2013-14 recipient is Kalon Hightower. Kalon, a senior, is the son of Mr. Kishmir Hightower and Mrs. Tycee Wright.

Betty Gene lovingood Scholarship 2013-14 recipient: ellyn Baggs 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 pre-kindergarten teachers choose the recipient for this scholarship based on the following criteria: Christian witness, academic potential and general maturity.

The 2013-14 recipient is Ellyn Baggs. Ellyn is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Baggs II.

Learning for Life

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aquilla Smith and Dr. richard n. Moss Memorial Scholarships 2013-14 recipient: Donnyell Miller Miss Aquilla Smith was a founding board member of Westminster. The Aquilla Smith Memorial Scholarship was established at her death 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 2013-14 recipient of these scholarships is Donnyell Miller. Donnyell, a junior, is the granddaughter of Ms. Norma Miller.

John W. p. and cristina hope oliver Scholarship 2013-14 recipient: thomas Williamson Dr. Oliver was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Augusta for over 27 years. He was a founding member of the board of trustees of Westminster Schools on which he served 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 2013-14 recipient is Thomas Williamson. Thomas, a sophomore, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth Williamson.

Westminster honors Scholar 2013-14 recipient: ethan lowe 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.

Ethan Lowe is joining the Westminster class of 2017 as a Westminster Honors Scholar. Ethan is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Lowe and previously attended Merriwether Middle School in North Augusta.

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Learning for Life

Faculty Focus Students these days seem to be more stressed than ever. Between increasing homework loads, crazy extracurricular activity schedules and family situations that can sometimes pull them in every direction, it’s no wonder kids tend to fall into the traps of lethargy and overeating. Thankfully, we have Leisa and Mark Tebbs at Westminster to encourage our children to develop healthy lifestyles outside of the classroom and sports arena.

This dynamic husband-and-wife duo has invested a collective 40 years of teaching at Westminster, 22 years for Mark and 18 years for Leisa. However, their experience in health and sports reaches farther back than their time at Westminster.

Both of them attended Malone College in Canton, Ohio, on athletic scholarships: Leisa for tennis and Mark for basketball.

After graduation, they reunited at Sheridan Hills Christian School in Hollywood, Florida, where Mark was athletic director and basketball coach, and Leisa was physical education teacher, high school health teacher and girls varsity coach for volleyball, basketball and softball. After having dated briefly in college, they rekindled their romance in Florida and married shortly thereafter. After seven years at Sheridan Hills, God had other plans for the couple.

Leisa & Mark

Tebbs

“In 1991, David Hanks pursued me for the position of athletic director, head boys basketball coach and P.E. teacher at Westminster,” Mark recalls. “We weren’t sure we wanted to move to Augusta, but David asked me to try a year, and we have been here ever since!”

Westminster has certainly been blessed by their decision to stay here, and our students have been guided by their godly teaching, coaching and mentoring ever since.

Learning for Life

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Mark is currently assistant athletic director, head varsity boys basketball coach and Middle School health and physical education teacher, while Leisa teaches elementary health and physical education and coaches Middle School and varsity girls tennis.

“Having a healthy body and mind is so important in our society. Our young people are under so much stress that good nutrition, exercise and spiritual life are very important aspects in teaching our youth,” they said.

When not at Westminster, the pair often can be found working on their own physical and mental health by biking, playing tennis or working out at the gym together. They hope that students will be inspired by how they live their lives and be encouraged to develop some of these habits in their own lives.

“Leisa and I are very healthy and exercise daily,” said Mark. “Our students see our lives

and how we live and interact with them.

Hopefully this will help them as they grow up.”

While Mark and Leisa are passionate about their physical health, they also take the time to invest in their family life as well. With three adult sons – all Westminster alums – their life is anything but stagnant. Both Jared (’07) and Marcus (’09) are also graduates of the United States Merchant Marine. Jared is employed as a marine engineer with Rowen Company in South Korea, and Marcus is currently back home in Augusta. Matthew (’12) is beginning his second year at the University of West Georgia majoring in preengineering.

Mark and Leisa credit Westminster for where their sons are today.

“We knew that Westminster was where our boys would grow spiritually and develop into

fine young men,” Leisa said.

“Westminster gave our boys the right steps to pursue their college education and careers in life,” Mark added.

Both Mark and Leisa are quick to give God the glory for the path their lives have taken and the opportunity to make a positive impact on young minds.

“I am thankful God allows me to show Christ and minister to children,” Leisa said.

“Ministering to my basketball team and students on a daily basis is a blessing God gives me,” said Mark.

Westminster is blessed in return to have people like Leisa and Mark Tebbs investing in the lives of students by encouraging them to pursue healthy lifestyles - physically and spiritually. 

From Left to Right: Mark, Matthew (’12), Leisa, Marcus (’09) and Jared (’07)

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Learning for Life

Westminster placed first out of 28 teams to win the region Science Olympiad competition held in Atlanta at Emory on Feb. 23. This was the second time in 17 years that Westminster placed first in this competition.

Hope Patterson (’13) was named the 2013 STAR student from Westminster. She selected Upper School Latin Teacher Randall Nichols as her STAR teacher.

Seventh-grader Joe Berman won the Westminster National Geographic Bee on Jan. 11. As a top 100 performer on this statewide written geography test, he also competed in the state competition at Georgia College in Milledgeville on April 5.

Classroom Kudos Winter/Spring 2013

Eighth-grader Auvia Carter won the Westminster All-School Spelling Bee on Dec. 6. She went on to compete in the Augusta Independent School Spelling Bee on Jan. 31.

Senior Amy Chan and Hope Patterson (’13) won a letter of commendation and a book award, respectively, for their outstanding performance on the Latin Sight Translation Exam sponsored by the Classical Association of the Middle West and South. Hope was also one of only 20 students from around the nation to win a 2013 National Latin Exam Scholarship sponsored by the American Classical League.

Eighth-graders Ellie Lynch, Charis Puckett, Brandon Smith and Caroline Vickery qualified with outstanding scores for state recognition in the 2013 Duke University Talent Identification Program.

Fifth-grade student Ruth Ann Case won the Sweet Treats Invention Contest by BrainWorks Academy. Ruth Ann had an idea for a magnetic pencil and pad that the Academy found to be “very practical, useful and clever.”

Six students placed in the top 10 in Georgia, and three placed in the top 10 in the United States in the National French Contest in spring 2013. Meanwhile, on the National Spanish Exam, six students placed in the top 10 in Georgia, and five placed in the top 10 percent in the nation.

We also had a strong showing on the National Latin Exam, with 32 of our students placing in the top eight percent in the country.

Four Upper School teachers served as AP exam readers for the College Board this summer: Miss Lisa Cook, Mr. Craig Johnson, Mr. Randall Nichols and Miss Amy Turner. To be selected, teachers must have taught an AP class for three years and must complete a rigorous application process. This prestigious experience provides teachers with phenomenal professional development and collaboration opportunities.

Students in grades 10 through 12 during the 2012-13 school year performed very well on the 2013 AP exams. Out of 162 exams taken, 83 percent passed with a score of 3 or higher. Currently, Westminster offers 18 AP classes, a significant jump from 12 in 2006.

Congratulations to the 24 percent of ninth- and 10th-grade students who during the 2012-13 school year successfully completed their research projects to earn honors designation on their transcripts for Honors English 9 and Honors World Literature.

Learning for Life

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back to school

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Learning for Life

Learning for Life

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Prepared for Battle Commencement 2013

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Learning for Life

A time-honored tradition at Westminster, Commencement weekend is a celebratory time of recognizing God’s blessings on our school as well as the power of His presence in the lives of our graduating seniors. The 2013 Commencement ceremonies proved no different.

What did prove different, however, was the location of this year’s festivities. Traditionally held at First Presbyterian Church, the events were moved to First Baptist Church of Augusta because of renovations at First Presbyterian. Thankfully, the transition was executed without a hitch, and our students, families, faculty and staff enjoyed a memorable and sentimental weekend.

The weekend kicked off with the annual Baccalaureate service, where seniors led attendees in worship, and the Rev. George Robertson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, gave a brief sermon. Perhaps a new tradition at Baccalaureate, a faculty ensemble sang an Irish blessing to the soon-to-be graduates.

Several students also gave testimonies about God’s faithfulness through their years at Westminster. Caroline Powell reflected on a period of years where God used a terrible circumstance to draw her closer to Him. She challenged the audience to remember that even in the midst of what seems like an insurmountable trial, God has a bigger plan.

Jason Bailey also reflected on a rough patch of time he had during school.

Learning for Life

“I was so focused on trying to do what I was not good at that I forgot to focus on what I was good at,” he said.

He finally realized that God was calling him to pursue acting.

“It took me too long to see and use the gifts that God had bestowed on me. God has changed my life through Westminster’s drama program by showing me my full potential,” Jason said.

Drew Sladky spoke about his experience since he came to Westminster in seventh grade. Drew’s journey took him from a shy young man, unsure of his goals and place in life, to an enthusiastic leader, who found a very real relationship with the Lord through many at Westminster who took time to get to know, challenge and encourage him in many areas of his life. Finding his identity in Christ gave him confidence, which he feels has prepared him well as he attends Georgia College this fall.

Following the Baccalaureate service, the seniors and their families enjoyed a delicious dinner, after which faculty members gave an individual tribute to each member of the graduating class. The tributes showcased the rich breadth and talent of our seniors and demonstrated our faculty's love for the Lord and their students.

The culminating event of the weekend was, of course, the Commencement ceremony on Saturday morning. Attendees heard from

2013 Distinguished Alumni award winner Will Oliver (’89) (read more about him on page 24) and keynote speaker Matt Bennett, founder and president of Christian Union, as well as the Class of 2013 salutatorian and valedictorian.

During his speech, Salutatorian Wes Maddox encouraged his classmates to enjoy life, rejoice in the work God has given them, and through it all, honor and praise God. Valedictorian Hope Patterson warned the graduating class that while it may not seem like it, the world is at war not just on the literal battlefields, but in the classroom, in the government buildings, at home and within each person. She reminded them of God’s instructions in Ephesians 6:11 to put on the armor of God as protection against these assaults, but instructed them that this armor exists for another purpose as well.

“This armor does not exist solely to protect ourselves, but also to protect others,” she said.

“We are called to speak up for those whose voices cannot be heard; we are called to improve the world we live in; we are called to lead others to Christ.”

She added, “Westminster has prepared us to go to war on all these battlefields, and to accept the responsibilities that we have been given. Let us go out and win every war we fight, regardless of the battlefield!”

Congratulations to the Class of 2013! 

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Meet the Valedictorian...

Hope

Patterson College Plans Attend Harvard University and major in classics School Activities Varsity debate team, Junior State of America (chapter founder), Science Olympiad, National Honor Society, Beta Club

Awards and Honors National Merit Scholarship finalist; Maureen O’Donnell Book Award; Latin, National Junior Classical League; National Greek Exam Perfect Score; American Classical League; Governor’s Honor Program finalist Community Activities Boys & Girls Club of America (Dogwood Terrace) Read about Salutatorian Wes Maddox in this issue’s Athletic Spotlight (page 19). 

The Class of 2013 by the Numbers 43 156 69 51 20 10 85.9 1,730 $2.7

Number of seniors in the Class of 2013 Number of college applications sent Number of colleges or universities applied to by one or more students Number of colleges or universities that accepted one or more students Number of colleges or universities with one or more matriculations Number of states where this class will be attending in 2013-2014 Average cumulative numeric average of the Class of 2013 Average SAT score of the Class of 2013 Amount of scholarship money (in millions) offered to the Class of 2013

To see where the members of the Class of 2013 will be heading to college this fall, visit our Westminster Pinterest page at pinterest.com/wsawildcats and click on the Class of 2013 College Decisions board.

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Learning for Life

fine arts

A YEAR OF

firsts

By: Haley Barinowski (’12)

Westminster’s fine arts program took off during the 2012-13 school year, with numerous “firsts” to add to the record books.

Westminster’s “new and improved” Fine Arts Talent Show took place on Jan. 12. Middle and Upper School students were given the opportunity to perform any exhibition of their creative gifts, including singing, acting, dancing, gymnastics and even magic tricks.

John Bryant and Cleve Walker, announcers for local Christian radio station 88.3 WAFJ, acted as masters of ceremony for the evening.

Augusta celebrity judges, including Austin Rhodes, determined the winners of the cash prizes.

Aryle Pastore (’13) took first place for her vocal solo “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera, seniors Caroline Cain and Amy Chan won second place for their violin and piano bluegrass performance of “Orange Blossom Special” by Ervin Rouse, and third place was awarded to eighth-grader Katie Bell Fulcher for her gymnastics floor routine. The evening served as an enjoyable beginning to what will hopefully become a new tradition.

Marking a distinct place in Westminster history, the debate team took home the GISA AAA Public Forum State Championship on Jan. 19 for the first time. With team members Katy Brock, Jacob Criss, Caleb Herrin and Ivan Syritsyn set to return for the 2013-14 year, the Westminster debate team is sure to have another successful term.

Following on the heels of the debate team’s success, the literary team accomplished a “first” of its own by winning the state championship on March 21. Westminster placed in the top four in every event but one, finishing with a total of 48 points to take first place overall, well ahead of the second-place winner at 41 points.

Individual state champions Aryle Pastore (dramatic interpretation), Ivan Syritsyn (extemporaneous speaking), and Amalia Lee

(piano) were key players in Westminster’s overall victory. High participation of underclassmen could mean a promising future for Westminster’s next literary team.

For the first time, Middle and Upper School fine arts students were honored for their accomplishments at the inaugural Fine Arts Banquet on April 25. Awards were presented in the areas of chorale, debate and forensics, drama and visual art. Before the banquet, Josh Adams (’13), Westminster’s sole AP Art student during the 2012-13 school year, was featured in the AP Art Show, and a select number of his pieces were on sale. Because of its success, the Fine Arts Banquet will likely become a consistent part of Westminster’s spring celebrations.

The creative genius of Westminster’s students was well displayed in the first annual issue of Westminster’s literary-art magazine, Inscriptions. Chief Editor Elizabeth Daniel (’13) led the effort to compile studentcontributed short stories, poems, visual art and literature into a beautiful representation of talent that will continue to be published in future years.

Westminster is also proud to have added AP Music Theory to the curriculum this past school year. Seniors Caroline Cain, Jarred Hanner and Lawson Powers were the first AP Music Theory students, and their studies will prepare the way for future students.

Much of the credit for achievements in fine arts this year goes to Fine Arts Coordinator Amy Turner. After the exciting “firsts” and impressive achievements during the 2012-13 school year, we can only applaud and say, “On with the show!”  Mark your calendar for the 2014 Fine Arts Talent Show on Saturday, January 11. Check wsa.net for more information closer to the date.

Also, if you are interested in obtaining a copy of the Inscriptions literary magazine, visit the Upper School office to purchase one for $5.

fine arts

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For the first time in Westminster history, the debate team took home the GISA AAA Public Forum State Championship on Jan. 19. Public Forum team members were senior Katy Brock, junior Jacob Criss, senior Caleb Herrin and junior Ivan Syritsyn.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 Fine Arts Talent Show held on Jan. 12: First Place - Aryle Pastore (’13); Second Place seniors Caroline Cain and Amy Chan; Third Place - eighth-grader Katie Bell Fulcher.

The debate team was also named GISA AAA Policy State SemiFinalists at the Jan. 19 tournament.

Policy team members included Taylor Butler (’13), sophomore Colson Herrin, Wes Maddox (’13) and senior Ben Whitlow.

Fine Arts Accolades

Winter/Spring 2013

Congratulations to the Westminster literary team for winning the GISA AAA State Championship on March 21 – another “first” in school history!

Three 2013 Westminster graduates were recognized as National Honor Thespians in honor of their tireless work over the course of their Westminster theatre careers: Jason Bailey, Christopher Lamberts and Aryle Pastore.

Congratulations to the following students who won awards at the Agnes Markwalter Youth Art Competition sponsored by the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art in March: freshman Ysabel Velez, third-grader Ana Winters, secondgrader Jacob Gamlin, sixth-grader Kate Lynch and seventh-grader Caroline Campbell.

The sixth-grade choir and the seventh- through 12th-grade chorale earned a Superior and Excellent rating, respectively, at the Georgia Music Educators Association Choral Large Group Performance Evaluation in March.

41 percent of Middle and Upper School students were involved in one or more Fine Arts programs during the 2012-13 school year.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012-13 Fine Arts Excellence Awards: Aryle Pastore (’13) – Excellence in Music and Excellence in Forensics; Josh Adams (’13) – Art Spirit Award; Jason Bailey (’13) – Excellence in Theatre; Christopher Lambers (’13) – Excellence in Fine Arts.

Congratulations to the members of the inaugural AP Music Theory class for each earning a 5 on the 2013 AP Exam. Class members included seniors Caroline Cain, Jarred Hanner and Lawson Powers.

Subscribe to the Westminster Fine Arts blog at wsa.net/author/finearts to keep up with the latest music, theatre, debate and arts news.

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fine arts

Athletics

Maddox Serves up a Win for Westminster Much hard work and dedication is required to become the salutatorian of a graduating class at Westminster.

Some might say there would be no time for other endeavors. However, 2013 Salutatorian Wes Maddox proved not only to be a champion in the classroom, but also on the tennis court.

Wes beat The Heritage School’s number-one singles player to win the 2013 Georgia Independent School Association Class AAA individual state tennis title in April. After playing undefeated throughout the region and state tournaments, he won the match 6-3, 7-6 to bring home another state championship to Westminster. Wes is the

first individual state tennis champion for Westminster since University of Louisville tennis star Becca Shine (’10) last took home the title for WSA in 2010.

all-state debate member his senior year.

He was also a member of the Science Olympiad team for four years, helping the team to win a region championship his senior year.

Wes’ other tennis accolades include being named an All-Region and AllState tennis player multiple times as well as holding the title of region singles champion the past three years. After five years of playing tennis at Westminster, Wes will continue his academic and athletic career at Case Western Reserve University as one of the newest members of the Spartan tennis team.

The Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) also recognized Wes for his academic achievements and awarded him the 2013 Morris C. Johnson GISA Academic/Athlete Award. As one of only 10 GISA Region AAA student-athletes to be selected for this prestigious award, Wes was named among the best senior student-athletes in the association. To qualify for this award, a student-athlete must be in the top 10 percent of his or her senior class or in the top 10 of his or her class; have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 out of a possible 4.0; have scored at least 1900 on the SAT or 27 on the ACT; and letter twice in the sport in which he or she is nominated.

Wes is well-prepared for the rigors of attending a top-tier research university.

He studied French throughout high school and was ranked 10th in the nation for his performance on the National French Contest as a sophomore. As captain of the debate team since his sophomore year, Wes led his fellow debaters to a region championship and earned further individual recognition throughout high school for his skills, finishing as a National Forensic League Georgia

With the excellent academic and athletic preparation he received at Westminster, this champion is sure to serve up many more wins at the collegiate level. 

wes

maddox ATHLETICS

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2013 Male & Female 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 2013 recipients, Evan Downs and Nina McCallie. 

Male Athlete of the Year

feMale Athlete of the Year

(10th Grade)

(’13)

Evan Downs • Participated in four sports: crosscountry, basketball, track and golf.

• Participated in three sports: crosscountry, basketball and soccer.

Cross-Country Accolades

• Named as one of the WJBF Scholar Athletes of the Week.

• Named All-Region and won first place in the GISA Region 4-AAA meet.

• Named All-State and won fourth place in the GISA AAA state meet.

Track Accolades • Named All-Region and won first place in the two mile and 800 meters at the GISA Region 4-AAA meet.

• Qualified for the GISA state track meet in three events.

Golf Accolades • Named All-Region.

• Named All-State and was critical in helping the golf team to a thirdplace state finish (the highest finish in Westminster golf history).

Note: As a ninth-grader, Evan was the youngest male athlete to win this award in Westminster history!

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Nina McCallie

Cross-Country Accolades • Named All-Region and won first place in the GISA Region 4-AAA meet.

• Named All-State and won third place in the GISA AAA state meet.

Basketball Accolades • Named All-Region and helped take the team to the state playoffs.

Soccer Accolades • Helped the soccer team to the Final Four during the 2013 season.

• Named All-Region.

• Named All-State.

Note: Nina will be continuing her education at the University of Georgia and is interested in pursuing a career in communications or public relations.

ATHLETICS

Both our Middle School girls and boys soccer teams clinched the Augusta-Aiken Middle School Soccer Championship in April.

The varsity golf team placed third at the GISA AAA state meet, the highest golf finish in WSA history!

The varsity girls soccer team finished their season at the GISA AAA State Final Four with a final record of 11-3.

Wildcat Wows

Winter/Spring 2013

The varsity boys basketball team advanced to the GISA AAA State Final Four for the first time since 2005.

After winning the GISA Region 4-AAA Championship, the varsity boys soccer team went on to finish their season at the GISA AAA State Final Four with a record of 13-2.

Congratulations to our 32 studentathletes named GISA 4-AAA All-Region and our seven studentathletes named GISA AAA AllState. Find out who received these honors at wsa.net/athletics/years-in-review/

The varsity boys tennis team took home the GISA Region 4-AAA region championship and ended their season at the GISA AAA State Final Four. Wes Maddox (’13) went on to clinch the individual state tennis title for WSA for the first time since 2010.

Five members of the Class of 2013 signed to play college athletics this year: A.J. Lewis – basketball (Berry College); Wes Maddox – tennis (Case Western Reserve University); Tim Nabholz – baseball (Erskine College); Trey Newton – football (Berry College); Taylor Robertson – football (Berry College)

Varsity tennis coach Leisa Tebbs was named the GISA Region 4-AAA Tennis Coach of the Year.

Varsity boys soccer coach Mike Freace was named the GISA Region 4-AAA Soccer Coach of the Year and also received the gold medal for Most Outstanding Coach from the Augusta Sports Council.

Follow the Wildcats at wsa.net/author/athleticsblog to get the latest sports news and scores.

ATHLETICS

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Community

Students Give Back During Winterim

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community

While most Augusta-area high school students started the first school days of 2013 hitting the books, Westminster students hit the streets to serve those in need.

While it was easy to see the short-term benefits that Winterim provided to the Augusta community, the lasting impact reached far beyond these two days of service.

On Jan. 3-4, our 200 ninth- through 12th-grade students participated in the first-ever Winterim, a hands-on opportunity to serve others in the Augusta community. Students were split into teams and paired with a local nonprofit or charity. They worked directly with the homeless, provided food and shelter for those in need and were the hands and feet of God in Augusta and the CSRA.

“These ministries were thankful, but they need people who are consistently involved, not just a bunch of kids for a couple days,” Shayne said. “I know of students who were inspired by Winterim to go back and serve again and again.

Winterim didn't help Augusta by providing a lot of workers for two days… it helped Augusta by inspiring a few workers for a lifetime.” 

For 2013 graduate Shayne Rimer, Winterim was an eye-opening experience. “Before Winterim, I didn't realize just how much work needs to be done in Augusta,” he said. “I knew there were people here who need help, but I thought our city was well enough off. It turns out there is a lot more to be done than I would've thought.”

The goal was to immerse students into the world of service, with every student given the opportunity to provide for “the least of these” as instructed in Matthew 25.

“I first thought of Winterim last winter when I was looking at the Westminster Portrait of a Graduate,” said Westminster Director of Student Life Mike Freace.

“The first point is Westminster graduates understand the times and know what they should do. They seek Jesus Christ and follow His lead. With Christian minds they critically think about the world in which they live and work. They serve and influence their community and the world.

Based on this, we felt like we needed to provide an opportunity for our students to influence and serve . . . hence Winterim.”

Students performed projects at 12 locations throughout the Augusta community: Action Ministries, American Cancer Society, Bon Air Apartments, CSRA Humane Society, Family Promise, Fireside Ministries, Friendship Community Center, Georgia War Veterans Home, Girl Scouts, Golden Harvest, Goodwill and the Senior Citizens Council.

community

Hear what others had to say about Winterim: “The work these students performed was so needed and very much appreciated. These students did whatever was asked of them. The parents of these young men and women should be bursting with pride. Every student exhibited such wonderful manners and they were all so polite and helpful. It was obvious that every student put their whole heart into their work. This was a true labor of love.” – Resident of Bon Air Apartments “The students and teachers worked hard and did not complain about any of the tasks we asked them to do. We would love to have them back. They were very polite and a good group of kids.” – CSRA Humane Society representative “This event was a HUGE success!

It was my honor to be a part of it.

The kids were so well behaved and worked very hard at their tasks.

Thanks for organizing such a special two days for our kids.” – Parent chaperone “Thanks so much for a wonderful two days. Your kids are awesome.” – Fireside Ministries representative

Homecoming King and Queen Serve Others As part of their platform for Homecoming king and queen, candidates must propose a service project that they will organize if elected. 2012 Homecoming King Trey Newton and Queen Nina McCallie not only took their duties seriously, but went above and beyond the call of duty in their service to others.

For his service project, Trey collected around 500 gently used educational books to donate to Heritage Academy’s library. Between basketball, soccer and schoolwork, opening up the service project to the entire school would have been a challenge, so most of the donations came from friends and neighbors. Everyone who donated was happy to know that their books were going to Heritage.

Nina McCallie took a more public approach to her project. She organized a community-wide event called Breakaway from Brain Cancer in order to raise awareness of the disease and support for local brain cancer patients. The event was a casual fun run and bike ride on the Augusta Canal on March 17.

“Three years ago, my uncle was diagnosed with a stage four glioblastoma brain tumor,” Nina said.

“His life today is a testimony of hope and strength.

This was such a great opportunity for us to come together as a school and as a community to encourage cancer patients and their families who have battled against brain cancer.”

Donations totaling approximately $14,000 went towards care packages to be given to brain cancer patients at Georgia Regents University Cancer Center.

Westminster is proud of both of these students for the impact they made in our local community. 

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ALUMNI

2013 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner By: Haley Barinowski (’12) “Westminster graduates work well with others but are unafraid to chart their own course...

They are willing to take risks because they are confident in God’s calling and purposes.” While this statement is taken from Westminster’s Portrait of a Graduate, it could have just as easily been written directly about people like Will Oliver.

A Westminster graduate of the class of 1989 and the 2013 recipient of Westminster’s Distinguished Alumni Award, Will has excelled in multiple areas of his life, demonstrating the kind of character that Westminster strives to develop in its alumni.

From a young age, Will’s dream was to attend a service academy and become a pilot.

Will Oliver (’89)

“Some of our first dates were going to the Daniel Field airport watching planes (not so exciting for me), but he would sit there for hours watching,” said Will’s wife Marsha.

After Westminster, Will headed to the Naval Academy, well on his way to fulfilling his dream. He earned the grades to gain entrance into flight school and made his way through each subsequent phase of flight education.

“There are so many hoops to jump through, and, knowing what I know now, it amazes me that it actually happened,” Marsha said.

“Once he got to the Academy, he had to have the grades for service selection for jets; then each phase of flight school was dependent on grades and flying ability, not to mention lots of uncontrollable factors. Looking back, I can see the Lord's hand in it all.”

The Lord continued to bless Will with success as he went on to serve as an active duty pilot, requiring that he travel all over the world flying S-3 Navy jets, truly demonstrating his willingness to take risks because of his confidence in God’s calling and purposes.

Although he was already an impressive individual, serving our country with courage and boldness, Will also set himself apart in his squadron as one of the best pilots at landing on

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aircraft carriers.

He landed on seven different U.S. Navy carriers as pilot of three different types of Navy jets and executed over 400 landings throughout his Navy career, including 130 night landings.

He was eventually named as a Head Landing Safety Officer, earning the responsibilities of teaching students how to perform landings and communicating with pilots as they approached the carrier to land.

After Will completed his active duty service, he began working as a pilot for FedEx, the position he still holds today. His job allows him to continue to fly internationally, something he greatly enjoys.

Will is also successful in areas outside of his flying career, including writing, and he just completed a novel. His wife praises him as a great dad who is very involved with his children and their activities.

Will truly exhibits the dedication and perseverance that Westminster desires to instill in its students. For example, while he was employed by FedEx, he still fulfilled his commitment to the Navy, despite the rigorous schedule that maintaining both jobs required, and will retire this coming summer after 20 years as a reservist.

Westminster is very proud of this Wildcat and true “Portrait of a Graduate.” 

ALUMNI

Westminster & Princeton Alumni Reunite Following the 2013 Commencement ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. David Hanks hosted a lunch honoring 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award winner Will Oliver (see page 24 to read more about him). Also joining the celebration was Commencement speaker Matt Bennett, founder and president of Christian Union. The mission of this Christian leadership development organization is to bring sweeping spiritual and cultural transformation to our nation by discipling, mentoring and training future leaders at seven of the most strategic universities in America and building networks of Christian leaders in key cities.

Before founding Christian Union in 2002, Matt worked for Campus Crusade for Christ on Princeton’s campus in the early 1990s. During this time, Matt invested in the lives of four Westminster alumni who attended Princeton during that time: Sloan Oliver (’91), Dottie

(Hanks) Bryan (’92), John House (’93) and Elisabeth (House) Potter (’94).

These four Westminster and Princeton alumni returned to Augusta to reunite with their mentor and each other during this special postCommencement lunch. Also in attendance were Elisabeth and John's parents, Joanne and Cris House, as well as Will and Sloan's parents, Dr. and Mrs. John Oliver.

The reunion served as a joyful time of fellowship as Matt was able to see the fruit of his labors and the impact these alumni are having for Christ in the world around them.

Where are They Now? Sloan Oliver (’91) – Upon graduation from Princeton, Sloan earned an ROTC commission and served as an Army aviator for nine years.

He obtained an MBA from Northwestern University and is currently the director of strategic insights at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

Sloan, his wife, Heather, and their children live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dottie (Hanks) Bryan (’92) - Dottie worked with the Heritage Foundation in Washington, Johnson GISA Coaches Association AthleticAcademic Award.

2013 Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees

By: Haley Barinowski (’12) Each year, Westminster is privileged to induct selected individuals into the Athletic Hall of Fame. These alumni are recognized for their contributions to Westminster’s athletic program and their success in their individual athletic endeavors.

Congratulations to the 2013 inductees: Ann Elizabeth Pollard Lazari and Andrew Tyson.

Ann Elizabeth attended Westminster from 1991 to 2004. During her four years on the girls’ varsity soccer team, she was named Best Defensive Player for three years and team MVP her senior year. She served as captain for several seasons and received All-Region honors all four years and All-State multiple years.

As a senior, she was named to the All-City Girls’ Soccer Team and received the Morris C.

ALUMNI

Ann Elizabeth went on to attend Furman University, where she graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in health and exercise science and a minor in ancient Greek and Roman studies. She competed on the Furman club soccer team for four years and led the team as captain for two years.

D.C. following graduation from Princeton. She later worked with a foundation providing school vouchers. She, her husband, Rob, and their children live in Charlotte, North Carolina.

John House (’93) – John received his medical degree from Emory University and is a urologist in private practice. He, his wife, Suzi, and their children live in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Elisabeth (House) Potter (’94) - In July, Elisabeth completed a microsurgery fellowship at MD Anderson in Houston and has joined the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery in Austin, Texas. Her husband, Jeff, is also a Princeton graduate. 

Ann Elizabeth Pollard Lazari (’04) Andrew Tyson (’03)

Ann Elizabeth graduated from Georgia Regents University (GRU) with a Master of Business Administration in May 2013. She currently works at the GRU Cancer Research Center and plays soccer with the Augusta Amateur Soccer League. She is married to George Lazari and attends First Presbyterian Church of Augusta, where she is involved in its Medical Campus Outreach program.

Andrew Tyson attended Westminster from 2000 to 2003, where he excelled in baseball and basketball, earning All-Region in baseball, two years of All-Region in basketball and AllState in basketball. Additionally, he was named Best Defensive Player for the baseball team and Best Offensive Player and MVP for the basketball team.

Upon graduation, he received a scholarship to play both baseball and basketball for Southern Wesleyan University. Andrew then transferred to Augusta State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in education with a minor in business.

Andrew also earned a graduate degree in counseling and is currently a counselor and coach at Riverside Middle School.

Andrew is a member of Warren Baptist Church and is married to Kelly Segraves Tyson. In his free time, Andrew enjoys fishing, hunting, coaching and, of course, spending time with his wife.

As the newest members of the Hall of Fame, Andrew and Ann Elizabeth now join the ranks of Westminster’s athletic elite. 

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Writing Her Way to the Top BY: Mary Elizabeth Goodell (’12)

Westminster students are taught to think big, and for Virginia Dent (’07), it doesn’t get much bigger than working on a campaign for the presidential election. In 2012, Virginia worked as the press assistant to the national press secretary for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. She worked daily with numerous national print and television media outlets and was responsible for sending out the morning messaging email to the national press corps and entire campaign staff. She also staffed interviews for campaign advisers and members of Romney’s immediate family and even worked at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.

Before making it big on the campaign trail, however, there was Westminster, where Virginia first began to develop as a communicator.

Teachers like Dr. Blanchard encouraged her technical writing and solid communications skills, which she still utilizes today.

Making History on the Bench By: Haley Barinowski (’12)

From winning state championships to earning Ivy League acceptances, Westminster has built a reputation for preparing its students for success. In fact, Judge Carla Wong McMillian (’91), the first AsianAmerican member of the Georgia Court of Appeals, attributes her initial interest in pursuing a career in law to encouragement she received from a Westminster teacher.

Carla participated in speech and debate while a Wildcat, and Dr. John Bartlett, who started the debate team in 1987, encouraged her to put those skills to use in the legal field.

“I wanted to be a teacher,” Carla said, “but Dr. Bartlett thought I had the aptitude to be a lawyer and encouraged me to pursue the law instead.”

With Westminster as her springboard, Carla

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"My time at Westminster had a very important impact on my career path,” she said. “Specifically, the emphasis Westminster places on learning strong writing skills. In communications, the ability to write well is invaluable, and Westminster really challenges its students to grow in that area from an early age.”

Virginia Dent (’07)

Westminster was also the place where Virginia first exercised her gifts as a leader. As a cheerleader, she served as captain of both the junior varsity and varsity teams. Her senior year, she was student life prefect and was inducted into the Westminster Debate Founders Club, having been involved on the team for five years.

“At Westminster, you're encouraged to be involved in a variety of activities outside the classroom,” said Virginia. “The desire to be involved is something that stayed with me in college, and those experiences at UGA are what led me to Washington after graduation."

Following Westminster, Virginia went on to earn a dual degree in public relations and communications from the University of Georgia in 2011. After graduation, she moved to Washington D.C., where she was a press intern for Senator Johnny Isakson and later became the staff and communications assistant for the Senate Republican Conference. It was during this role that she was recommended for the job of press assistant to the national press secretary for the Romney presidential campaign. continued her education at Duke University and eventually earned a law degree from the University of Georgia. During Carla’s time as a law student, the Westminster community remained involved in her life as David Hanks connected her with a law firm over the summer, helping her to obtain her first experience in the legal field.

Carla married her husband Lance while in law school, and the two later moved to Fayette County, where Carla eventually settled down in her career as a lawyer in Atlanta at Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan.

After the 2012 presidential campaign ended, Virginia returned to Washington D.C. and is currently serving as the press secretary for Senator Deb Fischer. There she works diligently as one of the youngest press secretaries in U.S. Senate history, continuing to make Westminster proud to call her one of its own.  To read a letter from Virginia’s mother, Vera Lynn Dent, thanking Westminster's faculty for the impact they had on Virginia, please visit wsa.net/admissions/why-westminster

won a close election. She then made her way successfully through a round of applications and interviews, leading to her selection by Governor Nathan Deal. Carla was sworn in as an appellate judge on Jan. 24.

Westminster is proud to see an alumna making such a difference in her community and is excited to have had a part in laying the groundwork for her success. 

Carla had no intention of entering the judicial realm, but in 2010, two State Court vacancies from her county opened. Since a judgeship allowed her to work in her own community and remain at home with her two children more often, Carla took advantage of the opening and was appointed to fill the position, becoming Georgia’s first AsianAmerican female trial court judge.

She took ownership of the importance of her role to her community and strove to maintain justice among the people she served. This led to her nomination to the Georgia Court of Appeals in 2012 after she

Carla Wong McMillian (’91)

ALUMNI

Dear Alumni, Over the past few months, some of my old friends and classmates and I have been involved in setting up the Westminster Alumni Association. The purpose of the Alumni Association is to serve the school and its graduates by continuing to foster the relationships that have already been built through the years and help develop new ones through the common bond of our time at Westminster. You will see the information below from Laura (Bailey) Turrentine regarding the database we are trying to build in order to help alumni get in touch with each other more easily. If you have been out of the loop with the formation of the Alumni Association or have been busy, please know that there are many ways to get involved, including helping with a social event, serving on the board when members need to rotate off, and serving as a class contact.

Please contact me at owen.francis.long@gmail.com if you would like to get involved.

Also, for those who graduated in 2010 or prior, please join us for the "Old" Alumni Christmas Social at Teresa's Mexican Restaurant on Dec. 26. Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow, but feel free to drop by any time. A good time was had by all last year, so you won’t want to miss it this year.

Looking forward to hearing from you, Owen Long Class of 2004

News from

the Alumni Association

Westminster Alumni, With the upcoming installment of the Westminster Schools of Augusta Alumni Association, several alumni are working on improving communication between classes and the group as a whole. Our goal is to provide all alumni with a stronger network of connection in the hope of organizing chapters.

A Westminster Alumni Association survey is now available. The survey will provide the Alumni Association with your contact information and level of interest in volunteering. If you would like to complete the survey, please email LauraTurrentine@gmail.com.

We invite you to "like" the Westminster Alumni Association on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Please tag us with any updates so that we can share your news with the alumni network!

Alumni and the Westminster communications department are working to establish a private database through the Westminster website for alumni to contact one another easily for such purposes as relocation connections and job networking. Your efforts in completing the survey and connecting with us through social media are the first steps towards assisting us with the new database collections.

We look forward to keeping you better connected to Westminster Schools of Augusta.

Sincerely, Laura (Bailey) Turrentine Class of 2004

ALUMNI

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Alumni Notes 1980 Dr. David Carter (’80), owner of Carter Orthodontics in Augusta, holds dual appointments as associate clinical professor in the Department of Orthodontics at the Georgia Regents University College of Dentistry and the Division of Plastic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at GRU’s Medical College of Georgia. He is on the staff of Georgia Regents Medical Center, University Hospital and Walton Rehabilitation Health System and is a member of the American Dental Association, the Southern Association of Orthodontists and the Eastern District Dental Society.

He was elected as a Fellow in the World Federation of Orthodontists, and he speaks nationally and internationally for Ormco and Invisalign. David and his wife Linda have two sons, Brian and John.

1988

1993

After nearly six years of working across the state in the restoration business, Chris Lutz (’88), his wife, Christy, and their son, Slayton, have returned to Augusta. Not only is Chris happy to be closer to extended family, but also to be the general manager of the Augusta office of Southeast Restoration Group (SRG), based out of Canton. The Augusta branch is the sixth and newest location for SRG and celebrated its grand opening this past May.

Nikki Payne Shoemaker (’93) and her husband John recently moved south of Houston to Lake Jackson, Texas, for John’s new job. They have four children: Sarah Beth (7), Daniel (5), Rachel (3) and Mary (18 months), whom Nikki homeschools. Nikki is currently working on having her pharmacist license transferred to Texas.

Chris was selected for Leadership Columbia County (class of 2013-14), a program hosted by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and designed to expose business and community leaders to the opportunities and challenges facing the community while honing their leadership skills.

1995 Camille Bennett Wilson (’95) and her husband Beau welcomed their first child, Vivienne Vayle Wilson, on Jan. 17, 2013.

Vivienne weighed 6 lbs., 15 oz. The Wilsons live in North Hollywood, California.

Chris (’88), Christy & Slayton Lutz

1992 Brad and Laura Lee Rihl Joiner (’92) recently moved their family back to Augusta, where Brad is teaching Middle School history at Westminster, and Laura Lee accepted a position as an OB/GYN at Women’s Health of Augusta. They have three children who are all attending Westminster: Allison (11), Brad (9), and Cassie (7).

Vivienne Vayle Wilson

1999 Nathan Adams (’99) and his wife Jamie are pleased to announce the birth of their second child, Anna Elizabeth “Anna Beth” Adams, on Feb. 5, 2013, in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Anna Beth weighed 8 lbs., 6 oz. Nathan completed his master’s degree in strategic intelligence in July 2013, after which the family moved to their new assignment of 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in Anchorage, Alaska.

DR. DAVID CARTER (’80) Brad Joiner (’92)

Anna Elizabeth Adams

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ALUMNI

2000 Redding Cates (’00) and his wife Lina (Assad) Cates (’00) welcomed Dalia Crawford Cates into the world on Nov. 17, 2012. The Cates reside in San Francisco, California.

in Augusta. Proud grandparents are Kelly Hensley Farmer (’78) and Westminster board member Steve Farmer.

2005 Clifford Eckles (’05) married Lindsey Lantz on Jan. 12, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta. The couple lives in Augusta, where Clifford is the director of virtual outreach and information technology at First Presbyterian Church and Lindsey works at Christ Community Health Services.

Lindsey and Clifford Eckles (’05)

Dalia Cates' Baptism in Israel

Daniel Lassiter (’00) accepted a tenured teaching position in the linguistics department at Stanford University, where Daniel has been a postdoctoral researcher for two years in the psychology department.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in classical languages and linguistics from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in linguistics from New York University. Daniel and his wife Emma and their son Charlie (2) live in California.

Riley Kathryn Farmer

Andrew Richard Tyson (’03) married Kelly Brooke Segraves on Dec. 22, 2012, at Sacred Heart Cultural Center in Augusta.

Also participating in the ceremony was Westminster alumnus Jon Hillman (’02).

The couple lives in Augusta, where Kelly is employed by NeuroBehavioral Associates.

Andrew, who holds a graduate degree in counseling, is currently a counselor and coach at Riverside Middle School.

(Read more about Andrew on page 25.)

2001

2004

Daniel Burroughs (’01) and his law partner, Brandon Elijah, established a new law firm, Burroughs Elijah, LLC, in December 2012.

The firm, located off Stevens Creek Road in Augusta, focuses on estate planning, probate and long-term care planning. Daniel graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2011.

Will Boyd (’04) and his wife Catie announce the arrival of their daughter, Carter Heaton Boyd, on May 2, 2013. Carter weighed 6 lbs., 15 oz. The Boyds live in Augusta.

Shannon Harley (’04) married Andy Grayson March 23, 2013 at Lake Lanier.

They recently moved to Miami, Florida.

Amanda Middlebrooks Williams (’04) returned to her alma mater to teach Middle School math. Amanda is excited to also be Westminster’s new head varsity cheerleading coach.

Daniel Burroughs (’01)

2003 Matt Farmer (’03) and his wife Laura welcomed daughter Riley Kathryn Farmer on Dec. 31, 2012. She was 19 inches long and weighed 6 lbs., 8 oz.. The Farmers live

ALUMNI

Amanda Middlebrooks Williams (’04), back left

Keith Hearon (’05) is currently working as an intern for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at Lawrence Livermore Research Labs (LLRL) in Livermore, California. He travels frequently to College Station, Texas, to work with a partner in developing biomedical materials and finish up his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. He also is a National Science Fellow and a DHS Fellow. He will finish his studies in May 2014.

Allison Hood (’05) is the program coordinator for the nonprofit organization youthSpark in Atlanta. youthSpark works to fight child sex-trafficking and champion the well-being of children who have been abused. The Atlanta Journal Constitution quoted Allison as saying, “We wanted to look at prevention also so we can get to the root of the problem.” Visit youth-spark.org to learn more about Allison’s work and how you can help.

Watson Jones (’05) recently moved back to Augusta from Charlotte, North Carolina, to work at Jones, Jones, Davis & Associates, CPA, as a financial planner and tax consultant.

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Palmer Lawrence (’05) received her juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in May 2013. Palmer has accepted a fellowship position at Harvard University in the Immigration and Refugee Law Clinic that begins in the fall.

Palmer Lawrence (’05), second from right

2007

Sarah Smith (’07) returned to Westminster to join the Middle School English department. Sarah gradated from Georgia Regents University with a Master of Arts in teaching and received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and English from the University of Georgia. As a member of the Westminster faculty, Sarah hopes to offer students the same encouragement she received as a Westminster student and to equip them to not only communicate well academically and professionally, but also to defend their faith in an increasingly secular world.

2010 Mary Frances McGahee (’10) spent the summer of 2013 in Singapore as part of Campus Outreach’s Cross Cultural Project (CCP). Mary Frances and the rest of the CCP partnered with Campus Outreach ministries in Singapore to develop relationships with local college students. The team spent eight weeks learning about the Singaporean culture and sharing the love of God.

Sarah Smith (’07)

Chris Hearon (’07) graduated in May 2013 with a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Georgia. After graduation, Chris returned to Augusta to work as a pharmacist at Summerville Pharmacy.

Mary Frances McGahee (’10), second from right on bottom

2008

Chris Hearon (’07)

Thomas Rogers (’07) married Lauren Baggett on July 6, 2013, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Westminster classmate Lance Corporal Daniel Harris U.S. Marine Corps (’07) was a groomsman.

Lauren & Thomas Rogers (’07)

Savannah Carson (’08) married Brandon Foster on June 1, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta. Other Westminster friends in the wedding party included Maid of Honor Ginny Boone (’08), Bridesmaids Natalie Echols (’08) and Kathryn MacDonell (’08), Scripture Reader Caroline Ames (’08), along with students Caroline Campbell (seventh grade), William Campbell (fifth grade), Henry Campbell (second grade) and Charlie Campbell (pre-kindergarten).

The couple resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Rebecca Shine (’10) was named All-Big East Conference again this year for tennis. The All-Big East Conference team consists of 12 players from the conference’s 15 schools.

Becca finished the season 32-7 in singles and 26-8 in doubles. Becca has 81 singles wins after three years, with the 40-plus year university record being 102 career singles wins in four years. Becca was also accepted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national honor society for collegiate athletes that are high academic achievers.

Rebecca Shine (’10), left

Savannah (’08) & Brandon Foster with Westminster friends

2009 Mallory Lawerence (’09) graduated with honors from Georgia College with a Bachelor of Science in political science.

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ALUMNI

2012 During the summer of 2013, Haley Barinowski (’12) interned underneath Westminster’s director of marketing and communications, was the assistant coach for the Westminster Summer Programs cheerleading camp and traveled to Israel for three weeks on the ORIGINS (Our Resolve Is Giving Israel Never-ending Support) trip through Friends of Israel. Haley won the GOIsrael writing contest to receive a full scholarship for the trip. During her time in Israel, Haley served in a hospital in Rehovot, outside of Tel Aviv.

Mary Elizabeth Goodell (’12) was named to the spring 2013 dean’s list at Wheaton College. Mary Elizabeth is beginning her second year at Wheaton, where she is majoring in business/economics and is a member of the Wheaton College gospel choir. In addition to assisting with Westminster Summer Programs this summer, she also interned underneath Westminster's director of marketing and communications.

Lindsay Williamson (’12) spent the summer of 2013 studying at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Nadine Bassali (’08) and Kaitlyn Hadden (’11) traveled overseas to spend some time in Europe and visit with Westminster’s former French teacher Jordan Lambert.

Kaitlyn Hadden (’11), left; Nadine Bassali (’08), middle

lindsay williamson (’12)

Alyssa Cameron (’10), Haley Barinowski (’12), Mary Elizabeth Goodell (’12), Jay Hartmann (’12) and Anna O’Neil (’13) returned to Westminster to join the Westminster Summer Programs staff team.

Alyssa completed her third year as the Camp Wildcat coordinator with Mary Elizabeth as her assistant. Check out their Camp Wildcat blog at alyssacameron.wordpress.com to see all the fun they had this summer.

Haley Barinowski (’12)

Wildcat Packs Javona Douglas (’12), Anna Hearon (’12), Kelly McGahee (’12) and Catherine Zecha (’12) spent the summer of 2013 at Summer Beach Project (SBP) in Daytona, Florida, through Campus Outreach. SBP provides an opportunity for college students to participate in a summer of spiritual training that will prepare them to walk with the Lord for a lifetime. The students work full-time jobs while participating in weekly project-wide rallies, evangelistic outreaches, corporate worship, socials and discipleship groups.

Julianna Hutchins (’95), Julian Hutchins (’98), Mary Beth Hutchins (’01), Caroline Blalock (’06) and Evan Van Peursem (’06) traveled overseas in June 2013 with Medical Campus Outreach medical missions to care for the people of Trinidad. Westminster senior Will Newton also participated in the trip.

L to R: Will Newton, Mary Beth Hutchins (’01), Julian Hutchins (’98), Julianna Hutchins (’95), Evan Van Peursem (’06) & Caroline Blalock (’06) L to R: Kelly McGahee (’12), Claire Zecha (’12), Javona Douglas (’12) & Anna Hearon (’12)

ALUMNI

Jay Hartmann ('12), top; Alyssa Cameron ('10), bottom left; Mary Elizabeth Goodell ('12), middle right

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

WINDOWs - FALL 2013 | 31

Around Campus

boys experienced militia training and learned Latin. The girls experienced refinement training that included lessons in conversation and sewing and even had a period-proper tea.

A Season of New Traditions

Both training classes were under the direction of a trained schoolmaster and lady of genteel. The students sampled period-specific snacks and participated in 19th century dancing and crafts such as knot-tying, candle-making, copper-making and corn husk dolls. The crescendo to this day-long event was the reenactment of a revolutionary wartime evening reception.

While Westminster has time-honored traditions that date back many years, this spring saw the advent of many new traditions that we look forward to continuing.

The fifth-graders experienced a worldchanging time in history like never before with the inaugural Patriot’s Day event, which brought to life all that the students had learned about the American Revolution.

Students took part in gender specific classes as one would have done in the 1800s. In period specific costumes and persona, the

The Middle School students enjoyed several new traditions of their own this year. Carrying on the tradition of the Lower School Field Day, Principal Case instituted an annual Middle School field day to be named Duck Day in honor of the students’ favorite television show, Duck Dynasty.

Games included relay races, dodgeball and kickball. At the end of the school year, students were recognized for their achievements at their very own Middle School Academic Honors Assembly, which

also included the first-ever promotion ceremony for the eighth-grade students.

Not to be outdone, the Upper School students also instituted a couple of new events. To cap off a season known for giving to those in need, the students participated in the first-ever Winterim in January (read more about Winterim on page 23). They also had the opportunity to witness a ceremony normally held during Commencement weekend – the Senior Honors presentation.

In the hopes of inspiring underclassmen to strive for excellence through their senior year, the Senior Honors presentation was held during the school day for the first time this year.

The fine arts department established many traditions this spring as well, which you can read more about on page 17.

Traditions at Westminster serve to bridge the generations of Westminster students and alumni as well as give our students something to look forward to year after year. 

Faculty & Staff Celebrate Milestones At the end-of-year faculty/staff breakfast held on May 28, those who celebrated milestone work anniversaries during the 2012-13 school year were honored for their achievement.

Kathy Buurma, who celebrated her 30th year of teaching at Westminster, was officially recognized as the longestserving teacher in Westminster history.

She received a commemorative chair in addition to a silver plaque in celebration of the occasion. Miss Buurma retired from Westminster at the end of the school year to pursue God’s calling in her life to teach English at a school in Destino del Reino in Honduras.

Thank you to these hard-working and dedicated faculty and staff members for their love of Westminster, our students and the Lord.

32 | WINDOWs - FALL 2013

5 Years of Service

15 Years of Service

Angela Rogers, Elizabeth Meeks, Susan Kious, Carrie Brigham, Steve O'Neil

Debbie Nye, Renord James and Eric Newbrey

20 Years of Service

25 Years of Service

Julia Joiner, Sara Lawson and Craig Ham

Randall Nichols and Susan Smith

Around Campus

Meet our New Board Members Dr. Mike Watts Spouse: Mary Children: Kelly (’92), Nancy (’94) and Robert (’04) Church Affiliation: First Presbyterian Church of Augusta Thanks to a career in cardiothoracic surgery that brought him and his wife to Augusta in 1982, Mike has been a part of the Westminster community for the past 30 or so years. After sending three children through Westminster, he is proud to see the tradition continue with his four grandsons attending the school and his daughter Kelly serving as the school nurse.

If four Wildcat grandsons aren’t enough to keep him busy in his spare time, he enjoys spending time in the great outdoors through hunting and wildlife photography.

Mike is an active member of First Presbyterian Church where he serves on the Session as an elder. He looks forward to beginning a second term on the Westminster board as a representative of the Session.

championships. Recently, she chaired the Just Give Me Jesus Augusta revival team, and she currently writes a regular feature article for FAITH Magazine. She also serves as a leader in the Christian Medical and Dental Association Side By Side Ministry.

Mr. Scott Fitzgerald

While Blanche and her husband could have sent their children to a number of schools, they chose Westminster for its academic excellence and Christian commitment.

Church Affiliation: Stevens Creek Church

“We were especially interested in offering our children an opportunity to be involved with the fine arts, to take Latin and to have teachers who were truly experts in their fields,” she said. “We also felt that an environment where our children would be surrounded by Christian authority figures would nourish them as they grew into young adults.”

While her children were in school, she chaperoned field trips, volunteered at the Spring Festival and, with the help of a fellow parent, founded the Westminster swim team. However, she envisions her role on the Westminster board of trustees as being drastically different than the role she played while her children were in school.

“Now that our children are grown and gone,” she said, “my interest in the school is no longer that of a parent but that of a Christian and member of the Augusta community.

God calls us to advance Christ’s kingdom in our city, and one important way of doing that is to support ministries like Westminster Schools.”

Spouse: Missy Children: Sidney (fourth grade), Harrison (first grade) and Phillip (2 years old)

With a house full of little Wildcats and a successful financial management company to run, Scott Fitzgerald could have easily said he was too busy to accept a position on Westminster’s board of trustees. However, having felt God leading him to serve on the board, Scott is eager to begin his first term this fall.

Residents of the Augusta area since 1999, Scott and his wife, Missy, first heard about Westminster from various friends. After visiting the campus and meeting one-on-one with Director of Admissions Aimee Lynch, they were hooked.

“We decided to send our children to Westminster because of the spiritual component and how it is lived out daily, as well as the academics” Scott said.

When not working or spending time with his family, Scott enjoys golfing, working out and attending University of Georgia football games. 

Dr. Blanche M. Conger Spouse: Preston Children: Blanche (’03) and Preston (’07) Church Affiliation: First Presbyterian Church of Augusta A lifelong resident of the Augusta/Aiken area, Blanche has been involved in the local community and at Westminster for quite some time. She served as a Bible study teacher and ministry leader in Aiken for many years while also working as a USA swimming official and meet administrator for several Georgia state games and

Around Campus

From Left to Right: Dr. Mike Watts, Dr. Blanche Conger and Mr. Scott Fitzgerald

WINDOWs - FALL 2013 | 33

Westminster Schools of Augusta 2013-2014 Board of Trustees Officers of the Board Dr. Randy W. Cooper

Mr. Byrd (Rusty) P. McGahee

Mr. Charles (Charlie) E. Knox

Mr. Stephen (Steve) D. Farmer

Chair Chief of Surgery University Surgical Associates

Secretary Director of Compliance & Controls E-Z-GO Division of Textron Inc.

Vice-Chair Managing Director Raymond James

Treasurer Partner Cherry, Bekaert & Holland

Board of Trustees Dr. Eman Kaldas-Bassali

Dr. Emmanuel (Manny) Ngoh

Physician Internal Medicine Partners – Prompt Care & University Hospital/ Partner

Endodontist Augusta Endodontic Center

Mr. Bert Pollard

Dr. Blanche M. Conger Homemaker

Forester Pollard Lumber Company

Mr. Scott M. Fitzgerald

Mr. William (Will) L. Schafer, III

Partner Strategic Financial Management

President Master Buick GMC, Inc.

Dr. Charles Green

Mr. Eric R. Swierski

Physician Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Retirement Plan Specialist VALIC

Dr. Becky Mecredy

Dr. Michael (Mike) A. Watts

Retired Physician

Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgeon Augusta Cardiac & Thoracic Surgery

Mr. Byron Morris

Vice President/Owner Southeastern Equipment Company

Dr. Judi Wilson

Associate Professor Department of Teacher Education, Georgia Regents University

Ex Officio Members Mr. Steve O’Neil

Headmaster Westminster Schools of Augusta

Rev. John Franks

Dr. George Robertson

Associate Pastor First Presbyterian Church

Senior Pastor First Presbyterian Church

Emeritus Board Members Mr. David Hanks

Retired Attorney at Law

Mr. Tom Harley

Attorney Fletcher, Harley & Fletcher, LLP

Thank you to the members of the 2012-13 board of trustees who have rotated off the board: Mrs. Gina Adams, Mrs. Susie Baker, Mr. Sylvester Brown, Dr. Chris Vickery and Mrs. Pam Willis.

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Around Campus

If you have been on campus lately, you may have noticed some changes to the newly acquired property adjacent to Pamplin Hall.

This is one of three areas we are targeting through the first phase of the Bridge Campaign. Over $2.7 million was raised with the original goal of building a new academic Upper School building. Although short of our original goal to initiate the project, the board of trustees, with the support of our donors, approved several projects that stay true to the original spirit of the master plan and meet the needs of the school as outlined in our strategic plan.

Developing News

We continue to celebrate the generosity of our donors that has allowed us to meet a very important objective of the Bridge Campaign the acquisition of nearly four acres of adjacent property next to the Lower School along Wheeler Road. I am also grateful for the board’s decision to establish a designated fund using the board’s Bridge Campaign gifts to support a debt maintenance strategy.

With these two wins already under our belt, the board has worked hard to make certain that the remaining available dollars meet current needs while still pursuing the goals of our campus master plan. The board of trustees has essentially answered this question: With pledges and available gifts, which parts of the campus master plan can we accomplish in the short term? Three key projects have been identified.

1. New property development (four acres) to support Lower School and athletic needs, including recess, PE and afterschool sports.

2. Technology/Science - to invest in technology to support 21st century teaching and learning at all grade levels, and specific technology and equipment to support Middle

and Upper School science instruction. (Read more on page 4.)

3. Community/athletic space at the Middle and Upper Schools - to create new and enhanced space for lunches, chapels and student or parent gatherings while also enhancing athletic facilities. We are in the process of evaluating the structural integrity of the current community/athletic space (Building 600 - otherwise called “the gym”).

We plan to begin work soon to determine the best way to develop this space in the short term (phase one) and later as a community/ athletic center. Athletic enhancements could potentially include new court surface, new and/or expanded seating and locker room upgrades. In the short term, new and improved space will better support the fine arts.

The first and second projects have been completed and our students, teachers and families are benefitting daily from these improvements and additions. Plans for step three are close to being finalized, and I look forward to sharing these plans in the future. If you would like more information about these projects and how to support them, please feel free to contact me at cbrigham@wsa.net.

Gratefully,

Carrie Brigham Director of Development

THANK YOU! Our $320,000 Westminster Fund goal was met again this year thanks to your generosity. The Westminster Fund is the cornerstone of giving, and your gifts make an immediate difference to our students and faculty.

Along with meeting the goal, we had our greatest parent participation - 67 percent. Because we reached 65 percent parent participation, we received a matching gift of $10,000. We again celebrate with 100-percent faculty participation.

It’s not too early to consider your gift to this year’s Westminster Fund.

You can return the enclosed envelope or make a gift online at wsa.net/giving.

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Save the date for the 5th Annual

Young Alumni Christmas Social westminster classes of 2009-2013 please join us for dinner on december 18

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