Summer 2010 | windows magazine

Windows SUMMER 2010

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WINDOWs - SUMMER 2010 | 1

Inside This Issue 2

A Word From The Headmaster

3

Helping Hands for the Next Step

4

Commencement 2010

5

What’s Next for the Class of 2010?

6

Service Awards

7

In Her Own Words

8

The Class of 2005: Five Years Later

9

A Thoroughly Modern Production

12

School News

16

Alumni News

17

Distinguished Alumni and Hall Of Fame

18

Snapshots of Westminster Life

19

Developing News 2 | WINDOWs - SUMMER 2010

A Word From The Headmaster Dear Friends, Relationships matter, especially the relationship between teacher and student.

I was reminded of this at the year-end ceremonies and celebrations including the Prep School Athletic Banquet, Baccalaureate, Senior Honors Night and Commencement.

Our faculty know, love and serve our students while, at the same time, setting high academic standards and providing excellent college preparation. In fact, it’s the faculty’s love for students that motivates them to help their students do their very best.

During the Prep School Athletic Banquet, Dio Cheatam ('92) and Daniel Hancock ('97) were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame, and after receiving their respective awards, both expressed admiration and thanks to the faculty.

Daniel Hancock spoke about how the academic foundation that was laid at Westminster prepared him for success at the U.S. Naval Academy. He also said that the faith, integrity, and character he developed while a student at Westminster was integral to who he is today as a man and an officer.

He went on to tell how a close friend, another Academy graduate, lost his life and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. During a time of great sorrow, a small Westminster contingent went up to Arlington to show love and support to Lt. Hancock. A few days later, I heard that a Westminster student in attendance at the Hall of Fame induction remarked that she wanted the same type of school experience along with the same depth of relationships with teachers.

At the 27th Baccalaureate and Commencement, Westminster graduates shared testimonies and gave speeches that had the same relationship thread running through each of them. One student spoke of the investment a teacher made in his life.

Another student spoke about the love and compassion of a fourth-grade teacher during a time of great need and later shared about another teacher who ignited a passion in her for language and service.

Although Senior Honors Night is a perennial late evening, it’s worth every minute. Faculty members speak on behalf of every graduating senior giving each a personal tribute. Yes, there are roasts and words of jest, but much more toasting. Some faculty shed tears through their tributes while others did their best to stay stoic, but all felt and expressed great love.

It’s always difficult to say goodbye to a graduating class. The emotions that parents feel in saying goodbye to their college-bound children are comparable to the feelings faculty experience. Because of this, it was a great joy to see so many of our most recent alumni, the Class of 2010, return to Westminster in the evening after Commencement to cheer the Girls Soccer Team on to a victory in the GISA State Quarterfinals. They were back where they belong, at their alma mater. And just like the words in a marriage vow, we’re together “until death do us part.”

Warm regards,

Steve O’Neil

Students from the Class of 2011 gather on the chapel steps at Duke University

Helping Hands for the Next Step Where to attend college is the biggest decision most high school seniors have ever encountered.

After 17 to 18 years of knowing the next step, suddenly a student must decide on a school and begin considering a major that will impact the rest of his or her life. It is a geographic decision as it oftentimes involves a move to a new city.

It is also a decision to place oneself under the teaching of a school of thought.

Director of College Counseling, Alex McCallie, enjoys the process of getting to know students and families as they prepare for what comes after high school graduation. Though he has worked in various capacities at Westminster, he is currently the Director of College Counseling and a seventh grade Bible teacher. Mr. McCallie enjoys the opportunity to interact with students in the seventh grade classroom. “The more I know them, the better I can serve them,” he commented.

Those who know Mr. McCallie comment on his caring demeanor and genuine interest in people.

As they get to know him more, they understand how well he is prepared for his current work at Westminster. A product of a preparatory school education himself, he graduated with a B.A. from Davidson College and both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. Prior to moving to Augusta, he worked in the admissions office at Davidson so he knows what colleges expect.

Mr. McCallie meets with students and parents

to educate them about college options, the admissions process, trends, procedures and testing. He advises and supports seniors as they go through the process and helps students and families aspire realistically to make wise choices.

“I appreciate the opportunity to come alongside parents and students to help them search for the school that will fit them best -- and where they will be able to maximize their potential: academically, socially and spiritually,” said Mr. McCallie.

To help with the decision process, Mr. McCallie leads the Junior Class College Trip each fall.

The trip allows students to gain a clear picture of what it takes to get into a competitive school before they enter their senior year. Last year, the trip included visits to Davidson College, Wake Forest University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Elon University and Duke University.

Students were encouraged to hear that all of their hard work at Westminster will pay off if they apply themselves.

"After I came back from the college trip, my expectations were higher,” said junior, Chandler Norris. “It sets a goal and a standard of where you need to be, because those places talked about how high their standards were. I have to do my best in my classes if I want to get into one of those colleges."

Mr. McCallie teaching seventh grade Bible Class

For others, campus tours provided a fresh perspective.

"The information sessions were helpful, but ultimately, the tours made the difference by giving you a feel of your surroundings, the type of people who are there, the facilities, and whether or not you can see yourself there,” junior, Maggie Snyder commented. “It's funny because I have always wanted to go to UGA, which is huge in comparison, but that is why it was so great to realize that I could be happy at a smaller school. It was great to see the variety."

Mr. McCallie enjoys watching the Lord guide students through the decision process. “Seeing the way God opens and closes doors as students prayerfully seek Him is one of the best parts of my job,” he noted. Making suggestions about majors and colleges is more than just part of his job, it serves as a reminder to him that what teachers and administrators do makes a difference. “It is wonderful to see how God uses all of us in the process.” ■

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Commencement

2010

by Sarah Day Owen

Commencement for the Class of 2010 was a celebration of accomplishment and friendship that was focused on faith.

Valedictorian McCamy Pruitt thanked her teachers, who believed in her and her class. Her experience prepared her faith for the secular world that doesn’t always believe as she does, she said.

“Westminster has a huge impact on who we are as we walk across the stage,” she said in her valedictory address.

She thanked friends individually, describing them as compassionate, caring, and as good listeners. She also acknowledged her classmates as a whole, saying, “I think that it’s amazing that I can use the terms friends and classmates interchangeably.”

As the new graduates prepare for the next step of life, she encouraged her classmates to remember that God loves them.

“He has promised that He will never give us a trial that is too hard,” she said.

She quoted Isaiah 58:11, which reads “The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a wellwatered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

For many students, commencement was the culmination of many memories made since elementary school. Salutatorian Robert MacDonell recalled many in his salutatory address, from Bible class final to pirate and ninja antics.

He also spoke about the daily prayers, chapel and learning how other philosophies compare from a faith-based perspective. Viewing things from a Christian perspective in a Christian-based learning environment, he said, helped him not compartmentalize God. Looking back on his time at Westminster, he described his experience by quoting Proverbs 27:17. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

He thanked his teachers for their character and willingness to help.

“You have sharpened both our minds and our faith and prepared us for the road ahead,” he said.

The Class of 2010 has come a long way from kindergarten, he said. He quoted Joshua 1:9 in closing: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Headmaster Steve O’Neil presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to Carla Wong McMillian ('91). (See page 18.)

“Westminster will always be your alma mater,” he said.

The alumni award is intended to inspire new graduates to distinguish themselves as alumni and represent the mission and values of the school.

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Mrs. McMillian, a partner in an Atlanta law firm who also volunteers her time with victims of domestic violence, cited Matthew 5:13-16. “I urge you to continue to be the salt and light,” she advised the new graduates.

What’s Next for the Class of 2010?

Auburn University Jennifer Norland, McCamy Pruitt

T. March Bell, an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, gave the commencement address. He encouraged the class to continue with their faith and remember the transcendent moral absolutes they were taught at Westminster as they go out into the world and do what is right.

Augusta State University Chris Nabholz, Josh Nichols, Heather Rivers Belmont University Parker Rhodes College of Charleston Emily Mecredy

“You’ll need a transcendent moral basis,” he said.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Peter Merrill

Dr. George Robertson, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church, gave the benediction to commencement. Christ began his good work in the new graduates, he said, and He will continue that work.

Furman University Alyssa Cameron

As the new graduates recessed from the ceremony and tossed their caps in the air, a cheer was heard in the sanctuary.

Georgia College and State University Mary Frances McGahee, Jim McPhail, Rebecca Wickes

The new graduates will move on to the next phase of their education, but many said their education at Westminster has prepared them for the next challenges ahead.

Georgia Southern University Dean Rhoden Mercer University Sarah Walters

Head Prefect Will McCartney said the past years prepared him for his future at the University of Georgia.

“My faith has really grown over the years,” he said.

“I got to see what a Godly woman is like,” she said of her teacher and mentor Aimee Lynch.

Vanessa Gutierrez only spent one year at Westminster, but it made a difference, she said.

Coming from a secular school, she was grateful for the Christian environment of Westminster and the way she saw the body of Christ in her senior class. The encouragement of her teachers, peers and parents encouraged her to follow her dream of pursing pre-med at the University of Georgia.

“It made me believe it’s possible,” she said. ■

Northland International University Katelyn Matthai Presbyterian College Meagan Snyder University of Alabama Joshua Coleman, Maggie Wilson University of Georgia Michael Bone, Garrett Brandenburg, Charles Cates, Vanessa Gutierrez, Aaron Harris, Cassie Hartmann, Emily Hood, Robert MacDonell, Will McCartney, Drew Speese, Charlotte Thornton University of Louisville Rebecca Shine University of South Carolina Katelyn Rimer

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Service Awards

Thank you to our many employees who have served us faithfully for more than ten years.

The Westminster employees joined to celebrate the end of the school year and the longevity of many faculty members on May 27. Mrs. Barbara Volpitto, Mrs. Deborah Joiner and Mrs. Monica

Boyd were all honored as they are each retiring with more than 20 years of service to Westminster. They were each presented an Aroma Tique Fragrance Lamp with the

Westminster logo to commemorate their time at the school. Faculty and staff members with a minimum of 10, 15, 20 or 25 years of service were also recognized at the event.

25 Years of Service Barbara Volpitto (25)

20 Years of Service Laurie Faulkner (20) Deborah Joiner (20) Cindy Norris (20)

15+ Years of Service Sue Ames (19) Kennard Major (19) Mark Tebbs (19) Mary Weidman (19) Kent Hood (18) Michael Merwin (18)

Craig Ham (17) Sara Lawson (17) Jeannie English (15) Ramona Story (15) Leisa Tebbs (15)

10+ Years of Service Julie Wiggins (14.5) Alex McCallie (13.5) Marsha Cantrell (13) Renord James (12.5) Eric Newbrey (12) Debbie Nye (12) Jane Blanchard (11) Many faculty members were also recognized at the end of the 2008-09 school year for 25 and 20 years of service. Though they were not recognized this year, we appreciate the years of service by Kathy Buurma (26), Craig Johnson (23), Randall Nichols (22), Susan Smith (22), Janice Esposito (21), Mary Donnan Heppert (21) and Susan Tostemar (21).

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Retiring with more than 20 Years of Service Barbara Volpitto (25) Monica Boyd (21) Deborah Joiner (20)

Theresa Bone (11) Isaiah Burch (11) Angelia Carson (11) Mary Nell McElmurray (11) Janet Haburchak (10) Paul Owen (10) Matt Rich (10)

In Her Own Words

Mrs. Thornton reading with her students.

Maryanna Thornton

Second-grade teacher, Maryanna Thornton transitioned from being a Westminster parent to a Westminster teacher last fall. She tells of that transition and her thoughts after her first year back teaching, in her own words.

After living in Colorado Springs, Colorado and teaching fifth grade there, my husband Jay and I decided to move back to our hometown of Augusta, where I started my real estate career.

During this time, our son Liam, 7, who is currently a first grader at Westminster and our daughter McClure, 3, were born. After nine years in real estate, I ventured back into the classroom at Westminster.

Before starting as a teacher at Westminster, I was a parent of a Westminster student. As my son started as a T-K student, it didn't take long for Jay and me to realize we had made the right decision about this school. I remember taking the Westminster Day School tour and being so impressed with the beautiful art displayed on the walls by the students, each grade level's expressive pieces of writing (as well as the neat penmanship!) and how well-behaved the classes

were as they transitioned down the halls.

It just felt right. After much prayer and thought, my husband and I could feel God's guidance in this decision and we haven't regretted it one bit.

I knew something was special about this school as a parent, but I never knew the whole picture until I became a second-grade teacher at Westminster! I never knew my child was being prayed for by all the teachers. I never knew that the teachers met each morning in the library for devotion, praying for our children and asking God to use them as a vessel that day in the classroom. I never knew what was involved in the prayerful selection and placement of new staff and faculty. And I never knew all the work that went into assuring my child receives the best spiritual and academic education.

But I do now.

Being a teacher at Westminster has opened my eyes even more to the mission of our school.

We are a Christ-centered school and are built

upon a Rock. Our academics and curriculum are outstanding and we continue to persevere, prepare and equip our school for even more excellence.

This is an exciting time to be at Westminster as a parent and as a teacher. Knowing that my son and daughter will receive an unbelievable education on the foundations and principals of our Lord Jesus Christ is such a gift and a blessing to my husband and me. It is a privilege for me to be called a teacher at Westminster, and it is such an honor that I have the chance to worship, teach, pray and grow in the Lord with a group of kids each day.

The vision that our administration, staff, teachers, faculty, board and parents have for this school is so exciting. It confirms my feelings that we are at the right school at the right time.

I know that God is at work here and as we submit to Him, keep Him as our center, and give Him all glory, He will continue to bless our school. â–

It Figures Notable numbers from the 2009-2010 school year‌

2 Home JV Football Games 3 Sections of First Grade 13 Seniors Received Early Action Acceptance to UGA 64 New Students Enrolled so far for the 2010-2011 School Year 100 Percentage of the Class of 2010 That Received College Acceptances 331 Inquiries Received by the Admissions Office this Year 545 Students Finished the Year at Westminster, 11 More Than Began on August 1 1898 Average SAT Score for the Class of 2010 $1,700,000 in Scholarships Offered to Members of the Class of 2010

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The Class of 2005: Five Years Later In 2005, George W. Bush was president, Brittney Spears was making the news, Kelly Clarkson songs were topping the pop charts, skinny jeans were something from the ‘80s and bermuda shorts were just coming back.

It doesn’t seem like too long ago but to the

Westminster graduates from the Class of 2005, the whole world has changed.

Westminster graduated 43 seniors in May of 2005 with 100 percent college matriculation.

Those students went off to schools like the

University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Wake Forest University and even the University of Washington. Today many students from this class are in varied aspects of the workforce and some are continuing with higher education.

Mary Charles Coleman

Mary Charles Coleman attended Westminster from pre-K through high school graduation. She then entered the University of South Carolina to study Early Childhood Education. She completed her bachelor’s degree in May 2009 and began teaching the next fall.

Last August, Mary Charles returned to Westminster Schools of Augusta as an alumna and a first grade teacher. “If I wanted to grow and learn as a teacher, I thought there would be no better way to do that than to sit at the feet of those who taught me,” said Miss Coleman.

What did you participate in while you were in college? I was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and was involved in a Bible Study as co-chaplain. I also volunteered with the Ronald

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McDonald House and Relay for Life.

Where are you now? In Augusta, Georgia, teaching at Westminster Schools of Augusta.

How did being a student at Westminster prepare you for college? I didn’t realize how much Westminster prepared my mind academically and my heart spiritually. I was able to handle all the new transitions and changes that came with college life with great ease. I knew how to study and be diligent with my time. I also knew how to make new friends that encouraged me toward Christ. My teachers at Westminster instilled values and beliefs that have continued to stay with me.

What is something that you know now that you wish you would have known while you were in school at Westminster? I wish I would have known how the teachers pray for each student daily and how hard they worked in order to better prepare me for college. I knew they were concerned about my academics, but I didn’t know how invested they were in my life. Being a teacher at Westminster is more than a job. It is my ministry, and I feel so privileged to have this opportunity to give back to others what I have been given. ■

Aaron Adams received his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Georgia College and State University in May of 2009 and began the first year of the M.D. program at Mercer University last fall.

Aaron was a member of the State Championship soccer team during his senior year at Westminster and is thankful for his lasting friendships from his time in high school. He received the HOPE scholarship, the Outstanding Academic Achievement Scholarship and the Watson Brown Scholarship during his undergraduate education.

How did you decide on your course of study? I really enjoyed Mrs. Smith’s AP Chemistry course.

It was by no means easy but I found it fascinating to see how ordered and ingenious the tiniest of particles interact with one another in order to produce the intricately balanced building blocks of life.

student when I got back. The next spring I was accepted to Mercer’s School of Medicine.

How did Westminster prepare you for college?

How about for your current studies? I tell people this a lot – I didn’t study for the first year and a half of college – literally. I was more prepared than any of the other students in every one of my classes.

Aaron Adams

When I was accepted to medical school some of the first people I called were Mrs. Joiner, my third grade teacher who was so patient and kind to me while I was going through a dark time in my life and Mrs. Smith, who opened up the world of science to me as a place where God is glorified and not defamed. A few other teachers were instrumental in molding and shaping me so that I am able to do what I’m doing now. ■

What are you doing now? I am finishing up my first year of medical school and preparing for a medical mission trip to Honduras this summer.

What made you decide to do that? I went on a medical mission trip to Trinidad and Tobago over Christmas break of my junior year of college.

The trip had such a huge impact on me that I enrolled in an MCAT prep course and began taking the necessary prerequisites for a pre-med This past semester I have also been helping coach the Augusta Junior Rowing Club. It has been great to get plugged back in to First Presbyterian Church, in to MCO (Medical Campus Outreach, a Christian ministry at MCG) specifically and be a part of the Bible study in my class.

Ivan Stojanov Ivan Stojanov has had an interest in dentistry since high school. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and began dental school at the Medical College of Georgia the next fall.

“It’s neat how God gives each of us interests and talents that we can use for his glory,” said Mr. Stojanov.

What were you involved with in college? I was on the rowing team and served as the team captain my senior year. I also spent a bit of time with the pre-dental club at UNC and did a few service projects with them.

What are you doing now? I just finished my first year of dental school and returned from a dental/ allied health mission trip to Peru. Classes resume in June.

What made you decide to do all those things? I love the sport of rowing and want to share the things I have learned during my rowing career with rowers who are just starting in the sport. I hope to be an encouragement to them.

It was also really important to me to be involved in MCO. I knew my time in dental school would be a busy few years and since the Bible tells us that where our treasures are, there our heart will be also, I want to keep my treasures in the right place.

How did the Christian education at Westminster impact you? Well of course it was very beneficial for my Christian walk. If you want to be good at something, you surround yourself with likeminded people who also want to be good at that task and with elders and authority figures who can guide you and encourage you in that endeavor. In that manner, the nurturing and teaching I got from the Westminster community was an encouragement to me. ■

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A Thoroughly Modern Production

The Westminster Schools of Augusta gym was transformed into New York City in late April as the Fine Arts Department presented "Thoroughly Modern Millie". The 1920s set included two levels of performance areas positioned 15 feet above the stage and a working elevator.

Students wowed the audience with humor, bellowing voices, timely tap dances and boisterous swing moves.

A departure from the fairy tales of recent performances, Millie is a period piece that had the capability to stretch and grow the young performers at Westminster.

“It was a challenge,” said Fine Arts Chair Mr. Paul Owen. “Many students had to learn to speak with a New York accent while still speaking clearly. Only two or three students had experience

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in the types of dancing we performed, and our character development had to be seamless.”

Moreover, the cast was riddled with illness to the point that the first practice with every cast member present occurred just two days before the first public performance.

Even with various challenges, the audience called the performance the “best ever” and “favorite show.”

Though every member of the cast and crew was exhausted in the end, Mr. Owen was proud of the way the students rose to the occasion to provide the audience with an outstanding performance.

“On the night of the first performance, there was a moment at the end of the first act when I was able to see the reactions of the audience as they saw Millie watching Jimmy and Dorothy,” said Mr. Owen. “The audience was fully engaged – completely within the story and forgetting where they were.

That’s when I knew we’d done our job.” ★

Past Spring Musical Performances Though it has been a consistent part of the Westminster experience since the early 1990s, the making of the Spring Musical is no small feat. It begins each November when the show is announced. Sketches for the set begin and auditions are held in December.

Without an auditorium, the Upper School gym serves double duty and is affectionately deemed the “gymatorium” during the spring months. Because it is still basketball season when the students return to school in January, the cast conducts rehearsal in the cafeteria. They remove all the tables and chairs each night to make room for a practice area, then replace them before they leave. In March, the stage is expanded and the set is constructed within the room. A week before the show opens, the curtains, lights and side stages go up and the dress rehearsals on stage begin. ■

Year

Musical

Director

1992 Annie Mary Weidman 1993 Oklahoma!

Mary Weidman 1994 Brigadoon Mary Weidman 1995 The Sound of Music Mary Weidman 1996 Bye Bye Birdie Pam Matson 1997 You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown Tracy Williams 1998 Once Upon a Mattress Tracy Williams 1999 Oliver Tracy Williams 2000 The Boyfriend Tracy Williams 2001 Fiddler on the Roof Tracy Williams 2002 The Pajama Game Tracy Williams 2003 Godspell Anna Grace Carter 2004 Annie Anna Grace Carter 2005 Cinderella Anna Grace Carter 2006 The Sound of Music Graham Hillard 2007 The Wizard of Oz Paul Owen 2008 Beauty and the Beast Paul Owen 2009 Once Upon a Mattress Paul Owen 2010 Thoroughly Modern Millie Paul Owen

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School News Summer 2010 Meet Women in Engineering On March 27, eighth grade students Mallory Walters, Claire Zecha, Amy Chan and Lauren McGahee participated in "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" hosted by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, in partnership with the CSRA section of Society of Women Engineers.

The day-long event was by invitation only. The ladies participated in hands-on educational activities and met female engineers. All four Westminster participants received recognition during the day.

Bonhoeffer Takes First House Cup The House Cup Competition started in September with the vision of the student life prefects, McCamy Pruitt and Katelyn Rimer.

High school students were divided into four houses that they will remain in during their tenure at Westminster. Throughout the year, houses were awarded points for participation in school activities, fundraising and house competitions. Each house competed to earn the "House of the Month" title by achieving the most points during the preceding month.

All of the houses did a great job this year and together earned 3,356 points. The winner, Bonhoeffer House, earned 951 points during the school year.

Swamp Studies

The house cup is on display in Miss Ebersole's room and will remain there until next year's house winner is announced. The house masters, Miss Bragdon, Miss Ebersole, Coach Freace, and Mr. Rich, are extremely proud of each house for their participation and support of this new tradition.

“Field Day was a great success this year with lots of fun and competition,” said Day School P.E. teacher, Leisa Tebbs. Fifth-grade students performed a parachute program during the opening ceremony. Then prayer, the pledge to the flag and a torch bearer kicked-off the games.

Tennis, Anyone?

The Westminster Schools of Augusta girls and boys Varsity Tennis Teams won the region runner-up designation for the 2010 season.

Rebecca Shine won the Girls Singles Region Championship for the fourth consecutive year before securing her third Championship at the State level.

Members of the Westminster Girls Tennis Team went to the State Tennis Tournament in Macon on April 19 as did Boys Team member, Wesley Maddox. He represented Westminster as a third seed in the Boys Singles at State. Rebecca

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Field of Play

Students competed in many events, including 50-, 100-, 200- and 400-yard dashes, a baton relay, a water balloon toss, bocce ball toss, a soccer shoot-out, a frisbee throw, a softball throw, the broad jump, a tennis challenge and a basketball shoot-out. Blue and white teams competed against each other but the white team won in the end.

The AP Biology students went to Phinizy Swamp on a field trip organized by the Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy for a lab on testing water quality. Students extracted water samples while wearing hip waders, then tested the samples for several environmental factors, including dissolved oxygen. Students learned about factors that make water suitable for fish and other living things and how these factors can change.

“We do this trip every year and it is a big favorite with students. They always tell me they remember this lab better than the ones we do at school,” said Mr. Hall, AP Biology teacher at Westminster.

Shine was the number one seed for Girls Singles with Maggie Snyder securing the number three seed position. The doubles teams of Charlotte Thornton - Sarah Walters and Sabrina Rush – Hannah Ardrey represented the number three and four seeds respectively.

Inaugural Picnic After Field Day, the middle and high school students joined the elementary school on the soccer field for the first annual All School Picnic.

“We ‘buddied up’ by grades so that eighth grade

was with the first graders, ninth grade was with the second graders, and so on,” commented prefect Emily Mecredy. The food services staff made bag lunches for each student and the Upper School students carried the lunches to the younger children. Mr. Owen played music over the loud speaker and after lunch the students joined together to dance to the “Cha Cha Slide.” “It was hot out but everyone had a lot of fun,” said Mecredy.

Students Defeat Faculty The Westminster seniors faced a formidable faculty contingent this year, according to faculty member, Mr. McCallie. “The faculty came out strong and won the first game. The seniors, however, picked up the pace and came back to win the next two games and the match, much to the delight of the Upper School student spectators.”

Mr. Merwin added, “The lead-up to the faculty versus the seniors volleyball game came with a lot of hype and boasting from both sides… [but the seniors] carry bragging rights for the coming year which, no doubt, will be transferred to the rising seniors.”

Art Draws Recognition Grace Halverson, a junior, won the statewide 2010 Georgia Farm Bureau art contest. The contest was open to Georgia students in grades 9 through 12. They were asked to submit 8 ½ x 11 artwork in either black ink or soft pencil. The art needed to represent modern agriculture in the student’s county or Georgia as a whole. The Westminster student won the district and state competition and $350 in cash prizes. Grace's drawing (below) will be placed in the Farm Bureau’s annual calendar which is distributed throughout Georgia.

After the game, the seniors ran to through the soccer field sprinklers to a waterslide on the baseball field, as has been a school tradition for many years. Senior parents prepared the water slide and lots of food for the seniors to finish off their last day of classes at Westminster.

One parent who was watching the festivities commented, “I don’t know of another school that has such a fun tradition as ours.”

Annie Speese, Cara Smith, Kelly Smith, Kerrie Edmondson and Nina McCallie received the All-Region designation and Mike Freace was named the Region 4AAA Coach of the Year.

Art is Elementary The Day School has some talented artists who are already winning some pretty prestigious awards and recognitions. Caroline Gibbs placed third in the third through fifth grade category of the Agnes Markwalter contest with her weaving. Kindergartners Jack Tabb and Claire Peacock were both merit award winners in the Kindergarten through second grade category.

Friday Night Lights Westminster will begin a new tradition in the fall with the addition of GISA AA varsity football. The soccer field is undergoing a 10 yard extension this summer to allow for home games on campus next fall. On March 23, the Westminster community gathered to meet Chris Jones who will serve as the head football coach and direct the Sports Academy program. He was selected from a pool of 100 applicants and will teach science and Bible classes in addition to his responsibilities in athletics. WRDW, NBC Augusta, and The Augusta Chronicle featured stories on his arrival. To see progress of the field expansion this summer, please visit wsa.net.

Stellar Soccer Season The Varsity Girls Soccer Team finished the regular season undefeated in the Region and in Georgia to emerge as as State Runners-Up and GISA Region 4AAA Champions. Annie Speese achieved a new record for Westminster as she broke the 100-goal mark this season. She also broke the school record for goals in a season for the second consecutive year and was named The Augusta Chronicle Player of the Year.

Fifth Grade Promotion The Fifth Grade Promotion took place on May 25 in St. Andrew's Hall at First Presbyterian Church. Reverend Paul Volpitto spoke, the students sang their class hymns and recited scripture. After awards were given, Upper School Principal Craig Johnson welcomed the students to the middle school. Students then took a class picture on the church steps and attended a reception with their parents. This reception traditionally is hosted by the fourthgrade parents. Friends, family and students all shared a sweet time together to close their years in Pamplin Hall.

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School News

Continued from page 13

Jazzing Up History

A Major Speaker

Kindergarten Celebration

The fourth and fifth grade students performed the musical “We Haz Jazz” on May 24. Each fifth grader impersonated someone who helped create or perform jazz in the 1920s or 1930s.

Performers dressed in costumes to represent the era.

Major General Perry Smith spoke with Upper School students about leadership, loyalty and humility at chapel on May 11. He also addressed U.S. History and geography classes later that day. Having met more than fifty recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, he shared many of their stories with our students. Major General Smith is a teacher, an author and a commentator for radio and television. Moreover, he has helped local Augusta causes such as the Kroc Center and St. Paul’s River Room and serves on the Congressional Medal of Honor Committee.

He retired after serving 30 years in the U.S. Air Force.

On the morning of May 25 in the Day School Gym, young students were officially promoted from kindergarten to the first grade at the Kindergarten Celebration. The students performed songs, poems and verses to give parents a glimpse of all they learned this year in class. A reception in the gym followed the performance.

The fourth-graders were modern-day "rockers" who had an encounter with these figures of the past. The jazz musicians recounted, both in words and song, how jazz was born in America and how that process occurred. It was pure fun!

Batter Up Campus visitors may have noticed something new on the Westminster landscape near the baseball field this spring. The Baseball Fieldhouse was complete and open for baseball season. This concession and storage building is another asset to our school and would not be possible without the help of some wonderful supporters. The Westminster Varsity Baseball Team placed fifth in the region and Michael Bone was nominated for the All-Region designation.

Kinder Cubs Host African Market On the afternoon of May 19, the Kinder Cubs hosted an African Market. It began with students reciting a poem for their parents. The children then took their places in the market on the breezeway while Mrs. Esposito explained the barter system to parents and gave them items with which to barter.

After about 30 minutes, everyone returned to the classroom and "toy" items were distributed to the children to keep. This event is a perfect way for parents to be involved in one of the learning experiences that Kinder Cubs receive in Westminster’s innovative program.

Art Project Gets Sticky In April, Upper School Art teacher, Mrs. Hornsby had the Upper School sculpture class take on a creative project called Tape People.

Students wrapped individual body parts in tape, sticky side out, then rewrapped them with the sticky side in to reinforce the shape.

Individual pieces from all different students were joined together to make tape people.

These collaborative sculptures were displayed in varying poses on the Upper School deck.

The Right Chemistry Three Westminster AP Chemistry students, Michael Bone, Robert MacDonell and Emily Mecredy participated in the CSRA American Chemical Society screening exam in March.

This exam is used by the local ACS section to screen students to take the National Chemistry Olympiad test. All three seniors placed in the top 5 scores on the exam and were offered the opportunity to take the National Exam.

14 | WINDOWs - SUMMER 2010

Preparing for the Future

Stepping Into Art

Service With a Smile

As members of the Westminster Class of 2020, the second-grade students put together a time capsule to be opened the year they graduate.

Development Prefect Emily Mecredy worked with the second grade teachers to organize the project. Students included a copy of the newspaper and Windows Magazine among other items. The time capsule is buried on campus.

Seventh-grade art students designed and constructed concrete stepping stones this spring to create a walking path between the deck and ARC at the Upper School. Each stone's unique design has a symbol relating to Westminster.

The Art classes are always looking for ways to enhance our school with new creations.

On April 20, Westminster seniors helped sort and pack 18,588 pounds of food at Golden Harvest Food Bank. A Service Day project has become a tradition for the senior class at Westminster, and the students chose to assist the hungry in the greater Augusta area with their time. Mr. Steve O'Neil, Mr. Alex McCallie, and Mr. Mike Freace accompanied the students and assisted with the work.

Running for the Finish Line The Westminster track team had another strong season with five students qualifying for the GISA State Championships. Those students included Patrick Moseley, Parker Rhodes, Michael Montesclaros, Nick Newsome and Drew McCartney. At the Region Track Meet, Patrick Moseley finished third in the 200-meter and second in the 100-meter while Parker Rhodes finished second in 200 meter and third in the 400-meter and the 4x400 relay team took home second place and was named The Augusta Chronicle Player of the Year.

STAR-Studded Accomplishment In addition to being the STAR student for Westminster, Robert MacDonell was named Richmond County’s STAR Student and Mr. Randall Nichols the county’s STAR Teacher at a luncheon hosted by the Augusta Kiwanis Club on Monday, March 22. Robert and Mr. Nichols were guests at a dinner honoring regional STAR students and teachers. The Augusta Chronicle published an article on the pair in the March 23 edition.

In The Swing The Westminster Boys Golf Team comprised of Patrick Moseley, Akwonwi Ngoh, Chandler Norris, Thomas Mehrhof and Rodney Wendt won the Region Championship. Patrick Moseley and Thomas Mehrhof were also AllRegion Selections and Mehrhof won the Low Medalists designation.

Student Leadership Team Expands The Student Leadership team has evolved once again for the 2010-2011 school year. Under the leadership of Mike Freace, prefect positions were added to assist with leadership in Athletics and Fine Arts. These two prefects will work with the directors of the respective areas to promote those components and coordinate with the Prep School houses. Additionally, the Head Prefect has taken oversight of service. Welcome to the 2010-2011 Student Leadership Team!

Head/Service Prefect: Natalie Walters Academic Prefect: David Robeson Student Life Prefects: Annie Speese and Kaitlyn Hadden Chapel Prefect: Becca Thompson Fine Arts Prefect: Maggie Salley Athletic Prefect: Thomas Mehrhof

Literary Team Shows Stuff The Westminster Schools State Literary team had a strong showing at the State competition in Valdosta on March 18.

Maggie Salley State Runner-Up in Girl's Solo Ashley Strother and Joyce Schuster State Runners-Up in Duo Interpretation (Acting) Garrett Brandenburg 3rd Place in Spelling Robert MacDonell 3rd Place in Argumentative Essay Aaron Harris 4th Place in Personal Essay

Please check wsa.net for information regarding accolades. The Awards and Honors Archive is located at www.wsa.net/site/awards.htm.

McCamy Pruitt 6th Place in Rhetorical Essay

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Alumni News Spring 2010 Class of 1998

Julian Hutchins ('98) is a 2002, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a 2007 graduate of the Medical College of Georgia. After completing his Internal Medicine residency at MCG in June 2010, he will begin practicing Internal Medicine at Southern Family Medical Center in Augusta.

While in school and residency, he participated in various medical mission trips with Medical Campus Outreach/Mission to the World.

The mission work most recently took him to Cambodia but he has also served in Trinidad, Mexico, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Ecuador, the Philippines and Kenya.

and theological education. The McCanns are expecting a third child to join their daughters Lucy and Ellie in November.

May, Lauren graduated from Georgia State University College of Law with her Juris Doctorate in Law.

Class of 2002

Class of 2005

Sam Adams ('02) received his Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Georgia Law School in May.

Class of 2000

Libby Gates ('00) married Patrick Daugherty on Saturday, February 27, 2010, at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta. Other Westminster alumni participating in the ceremony included Carrie Gates ('04) and Cullen Rodgers-Gates ('96). Libby and Patrick live in Augusta.

Sam Adams (center)

Derek Curry ('02) graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 2006. He currently works for Rhodia Inc. in Spartanburg, S.C., as a process engineer and helps coach Upward Basketball. He is married to Jennifer Curry.

Class of 2003

On December 12, 2009, Lauren Haburchak ('03) married Jim Tindall Meadows. Other Westminster graduates participating in the ceremony were Kathryn Haburchak Brown ('00) and Ginny Thornton Merrill ('03). In Mrs. Patrick Daugherty

16 | WINDOWs - SUMMER 2010

Kevin Curry ('05) received his bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Augusta State University in May 2010. While in college, he was involved with Campus Outreach and helped coach basketball at Westminster Schools of Augusta. Kevin joined the Coast Guard in 2008 and will attend officer candidate school in August 2010.

Miriam (Lentz) Scogin ('05) is married to Glen Scogin ('03) and graduated in December 2008 with a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of South Carolina. She works in the business office of USC and is an active volunteer with junior high girls in the youth ministry at Lexington Presbyterian Church, near Columbia.

Class of 2007

Dustin Curry ('07) is studying Criminal Justice with a minor in Latin at the University of Georgia. He anticipates graduating with his bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2011 and then plans to serve in the armed forces.

Mary Hester Hill ('07) spent three months in Italy last spring with the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy program. She and 19 other Auburn University students traveled to various parts of Italy with the program.

Studying abroad allowed her to accomplish an International Studies minor and take classes such as History, Art History, Philosophy, Italian and Culture while in Italy.

Lindsay Wall McCann ('00) and her husband, Sean, serve as part of a church planting team with Mission to the World in Honduras. The team is involved with various activities including English classes, kids clubs, medical clinics

Lindsay McCann with her family

Rafy Bassali ('05) completed his Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Carolina with double majors in Investment Finance and Real Estate in 2009. He currently resides in Augusta, where he buys and renovates real estate and manages several rental properties. He is also working toward his Master of Business Administration at Augusta State University.

Mr. and Mrs. Meadows

The Alumni News provided is submitted by alumni and friends of Westminster. Send your Alumni News to Carrie Brigham at cbrigham@wsa.net.

2010 Distinguished Alumni Award Student representative for Westminster. Her STAR Teacher was Mr. Craig Johnson. Her closing statement from her senior last will and testament was, “To Westminster, I leave my thanks for caring for me for 13 years.”

Carla Wong McMillian (center in navy suit) with her family at the 2010 Commencement.

The purpose of the Distinguished Alumni Award is to recognize and honor outstanding alumni who have represented the mission and values of Westminster in their work, life and communities.

The recipient of the 2010 Westminster Distinguished Alumni Award, Carla Wong McMillian ('91), was presented the award at the twenty-seventh commencement ceremony for Westminster Schools of Augusta Carla graduated from Westminster in 1991 as the valedictorian. While at Westminster, she was the editor of the yearbook, a member of the debate and math teams, and the STAR

Carla went on to Duke University, where she graduated in 1995, magna cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. While at Duke, she was active with Campus Crusade for Christ and an editor for the Duke Review.

She graduated third in her class from the University of Georgia School Of Law in 1998 and was a member of the Editorial Board of the Georgia Law Review and a Woodruff Scholar, a full-tuition scholarship. She also clerked for the Honorable William O'Kelley of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Carla is currently a partner with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP, in Sutherland’s Atlanta

Hall of Fame The Westminster Hall of Fame was established in 2007 through the WSA Athletic Council.

The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor past students who have made outstanding contributions to Westminster’s athletic program, to maintain connection between alumni and the Westminster community and to establish school pride in athletics.

Any student athlete, team, coach or community individual who has made an impact on WSA athletics can be nominated for the Hall of Fame. New inductees to the Hall of Fame are recognized at the annual sports banquet.

Westminster welcomed two new members to the Hall of Fame on May 6, Dio Cheatam and

office. Her practice focuses on franchise and dealer litigation and counseling; accountants’ and professional liability defense; and other complex business litigation.

Other professional accomplishments include her selection as a Georgia Super Lawyer, and a Rising Star in 2007 and 2010.

Carla is the oldest of five children, all of whom are Westminster graduates. She is married to Lance McMillian, a professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. They live in Tyrone, Georgia, and have a son James, 6, and a daughter Emily, 2. They are long-time members of Dogwood Church in Tyrone and have served in a number of capacities including leading a small group Bible study in their home and teaching Sunday School.

Carla also serves on the Board of Directors of the Partnership Against Domestic Violence, a non-profit organization serving women, children and other victims of domestic violence in Fulton and Gwinnett Counties.

Carla has remained engaged with Westminster and was a speaker at Westminster’s kickoff for the Campaign for The Next Century in the late 1990s. Congratulations, Carla! ■

Dio Cheatam (right) and Daniel Hancock (left) were inducted to the Hall of Fame at the annual sports banquet.

Daniel Hancock.

Dio Cheatam ('92) was captain of the Boys Soccer Team for three years and a member of the first soccer team to achieve more than eight wins in a season at Westminster. Dio currently lives in Alpharetta, Georgia with his wife and daughter. He is the President and CEO of Alpharetta Magazine.

Daniel Hancock ('97) was on the first basketball team at the school to qualify for a AAA State Playoff game. He was a starter

on the team for five years and compiled more than 1,000 points in his career. Daniel was also involved with baseball and cross country while at Westminster. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he is a Lieutenant in the Navy and works in the Prospective Engineer Office on the USS Farragut DDG 99. ■

WINDOWs - SUMMER 2010 | 17

Snapshots of Westminster Life

18 | WINDOWs - SUMMER 2010

Developing News Our students are learning from your example as they also give back to their school. Examples of this include the Pre-K students who made and delivered stuffed bears to patients at the MCG Health Children’s Medical Center, and our Upper School students who rallied to raise enough money to make certain a school in Kenya was able to drill a well so other children could have water. The Class of 2010 recently announced that their senior gift will be a recycling program – what a wonderful way to give back to the school and the community!

It It doesn’t take long to realize that Westminster is a community of givers. As we look back over the school year I am thankful for all who have given of their time, talents and treasure. A great example of this was seen in the hard work of this year’s Auction committee. With countless hours and creative juices galore, Jessica Blanchard and Lisa Forrester led a top-notch team of volunteers to transform the home of Charlie and Kimberly Knox into the Surfin’ WSA paradise.

Great food, fun and fellowship were enjoyed by all.

The event brought in more than $63,000 for the Westminster Fund to support the programs and projects of the school.

Although the event itself is excellent, the preparation is my favorite part. This team works tirelessly to bring you an unforgettable night. But they do so with servant spirits, working together to support the school and build community.

The Auction is only one example of the generosity of our Westminster family. Many of you volunteer in your child’s classes, performances, athletic events and a myriad of other places. You also continue to contribute financially to improve the school with unrestricted gifts to the Westminster Fund.

Generous gifts to the Westminster Fund have come in all shapes and sizes. We have received clear, Ziplock bags full of change from a student’s piggy bank and gifts from more than 75 percent of this year’s graduating class to benefit the Westminster Fund.

At Westminster we are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us. The men and women who gave sacrificially to make Westminster the school it is today understood they were investing in future generations in addition to those attending Westminster at the time. I know they would be proud of your efforts. It is exciting to see you and the students of Westminster doing the same and giving to support our mission – to glorify God by providing an excellent education that equips students to live extraordinary lives for Jesus Christ.

Westminster Windows

a publication of Westminster Schools of Augusta.

Westminster Schools of Augusta 3067 Wheeler Road Augusta, Georgia 30909 706-731-5260

Steve O’Neil Headmaster

Craig Johnson

Upper School Principal

Sue Ames

Day School Principal

David Anderson

Director of Finance and Operations

Carrie Brigham

Director of Development

Mike Freace

Athletic Director

Aimee Lynch

Director of Admissions

Erin Kirchhoff

Director of Marketing and Communications Westminster Windows Editor

Sarah Childers

Communications Coordinator

Trey Keenan Gratefully,

Carrie Brigham For more information on the many opportunities to give to Westminster, check out our website www.wsa.net.

Westminster Windows Design and Layout Special thanks to the following contributing writers: Carrie Brigham, Sarah Childers, Erin Kirchhoff, Steve O’Neil, Sarah Day Owen and Maryanna Thornton.

Thank you also to the contributing photographers: Robb and Edra Adams, Carrie Brigham, Erin Kirchhoff, Aimee Lynch, Brian Martin, Alex MacDonell, Alex McCallie, Andrea Newton, Amy Owen and Sabrina Rush.

Westminster Windows is published as a service to our alumni, families, and friends.

Please submit questions, comments, or news items to publications@wsa.net.

Cover: Incoming kindergarten student, Catherine Farr and Alyssa Cameron ('10) enjoy Westminster's first All School Picnic.

Photo by Amy Owen

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First Day of School August 9 Opening Convocation August 12 FIRST HOME GISA VARSITY FOOTBALL GAME August 27 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Curtis Baptist School Wildcat Connection August 27 Homecoming Friday, Oct 1 Homecoming Game Saturday, Oct 2 Fall Festival - Alumni Lunch Reunions for classes of '05, '00, '95, '90, '80 Young Alumni Christmas Social December 20