Archways 24 – Fall 2017

A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

GAME CHANGER The Athletics and Recreation Center

ARCHWAYS 24 | FALL 2017

by GEORGE

WE ARE ST. ANDREW’S! Seventy years ago, Betsy Wise Copeland attended St. Andrew’s School in its first year.

HER FATHER, SHERWOOD WISE, was one of the school’s founders. Betsy tells stories of her parents’ postwar dream for St. Andrew’s Church to build a school that offered an alternative to the 50-children-per-room reality of the Jackson public schools. A strong and vibrant communicant of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, she IS St. Andrew’s.

But not just Betsy. Over the 70 years since Betsy entered the very first class of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, both past and current students describe their school experience in similar, laudatory ways. They comment on the dedication and caring of their teachers, on the preparation they received not just for college but also for life, and on the sense of family and community the school embodied.

Members of the St. Andrew’s family especially focus on the intangible, non-brick-and-mortar aspects of the school that have been around for decades – the Honor Code that builds character and moral integrity, the undisputed excellence in academics that gives students more options than any other school in Mississippi, and the emphasis on service that shapes graduates’ lives long after they receive their diplomas.

Whether someone was in the very first class of St. Andrew’s back in 1947 or is a new student 70 years later in 2017, being a Saint has an eternal, lifelong impact. Students’ differences give each one a unique St. Andrew’s experience, and yet, over decades of time and for thousands of students, every single St. Andrew’s student is a Saint.

We ARE St. Andrew’s!

GAZING THROUGH ARCHWAYS

An arch is a support structure spanning an opening, an element that lends both beauty and strength. An archway is a passage beneath a series of arches – a path defined and supported by the strength of the arch.

This anniversary issue of Archways celebrates 70 years’ worth of passages, from the founding of the school in the St. Andrew’s parish hall in 1947 to the opening of the new Athletics and Recreation Center in 2017.

Over the past seven decades, St. Andrew’s has evolved from a small school with a vision of academic excellence to a nationally recognized educational leader. Many of the passages along the way have been exciting, like the unveiling of new facilities and welcoming outstanding new faculty members to our campuses.

Some have been bittersweet, like the retirement of beloved teachers and sending each year’s new graduates into the world beyond St. Andrew’s. While the milestones and memories cover many years and many areas, what every passage has in common is that they were all defined and supported by the strength of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School community.

As our community celebrates seven decades of milestones and memories and looks to the path before us, there is no doubt that for St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, the best passages are still to come.

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SETTING THE STANDARD FOR 70 YEARS

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IT’S A GAME CHANGER

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LEARNING HOW TO LEARN

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FROM GATOR TO SALES TO SAINT

ON THE COVER Student athletes Dickson Ray ’18, Madison Jones ’20, Lindley Grace Longstreet ’18, Hughes Boling ’18, and Larry Qu ’18 are ready to train, play, and celebrate in The ARC.

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ALUMNI UPDATES

contents 3

WORTHY OF MERIT

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GRADUATION 2017

BY THE NUMBERS

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

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THE ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL CHAPEL

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MEET ST. ANDREW’S NEW TRUSTEES 70 REASONS TO GIVE OPEN HOUSE MAY DAY

Editor Emily Gordon ’94

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ST. ANDREW’S WINS THE ALL-SPORTS AWARD (AGAIN) JOBS WELL DONE

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EYE ON ALUMNI

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THE TIES THAT BIND

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LOOKING BACK/ LOOKING FORWARD

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Archways Staff

and Contributors

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THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN BRING DOWN THE HOUSE

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Contributing Editors Elizabeth Buyan ’97 Stephanie Garriga Marlo Kirkpatrick Lauren McMillin ’10 Patrick Taylor ’93 Designer Alecia Porch Photographers Robby Followell Chase Richardson Patrick Taylor ’93 If you have a story idea or comment for Archways, please contact Emily Gordon, editor, at gordone@gosaints.org. © 2017 St. Andrew’s Episcopal School All rights reserved to copyright notice.

WWW.GOSAINTS.ORG

“SHE WAS REMARKABLE IN HER LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE.”

MERIT NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS JULIA JIA, ZACH BOBBITT, AND CHAPPEL PETTIT

ONCE AGAIN, ST. ANDREW’S HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS OF ANY SCHOOL IN MISSISSIPPI. THIRTEEN ST. ANDREW’S SENIORS – representing 14 percent of the senior class – were named National Merit Semifinalists. St. Andrew’s not only boasted the highest percentage of semifinalists in Mississippi, but also tied for the highest number of semifinalists; the tying school had four times as many seniors in the class as St. Andrew’s. • The school’s outstanding track record in producing National Merit Semifinalists is one more reason St. Andrew’s is the smart choice for academic excellence. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation also recognized Christian Wade as a Commended Student. • Congratulations to (back, from left) Destini Jimerson, Julia Jia, Larry Qu, Chappel Pettit, Parker Grogan, Emily Kruse, Warner Speed, Satwik Pani; and (front, from left) Joe Han, Charley Hutchison, C.J. Carron, Christian Wade, Zach Bobbitt, and Arko Dhar.

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GRADUATION

2017

“EACH OF US ALREADY has some sort of vision of where we want our lives to take us…Our visions are a reflection of our deepest passions, lifelong dreams, reasonable desires, and God-given talents and abilities…This journey here at St. Andrew’s is one that we have both shared and endured together – we have laughed together, cried together, struggled together, and finally grown together.

However, as we approach the ending of this journey, we must each begin to blaze our own trails. We are destined for success, and we each contain the power within to attain such. St. Andrew’s has equipped us all with the tools necessary and has instilled in us the essence of leadership, but now it is up to us. As you prepare to break away into your own unique pathway, don’t be afraid to follow your vision and blaze your own trail.” — Excerpted from a speech by Jayla Mondy, recipient of the Adele Franks Medal

“IN ORDER TO LEARN, to feel every moment this great life offers us, to understand what is taught to us, we have to open ourselves up to the world. Listen to your teachers, whether they be the people we literally call our teachers, these people standing in the front of the classroom every day, or whether they be a friend, a sibling, or a stranger on the street...I owe who I am to everything from overheard conversations about Sufjan Stevens to every used poetry book I have bought on a whim, from days spent staring out the window at Sneaky Beans to taking the long way home with my best friend just to talk a little bit longer. Tune into these moments, these tiny moments the world presents you, because the universe is knocking at your door, waiting and begging to be understood.” — Excerpted from a speech by Emma McNeel, 2017 recipient of the Trustees’ Medal for Academic Achievement

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF ST. ANDREW’S STUDENTS WERE RECOGNIZED ON HONORS DAY 2017. AMONG ALL THE ACCOMPLISHED STUDENTS THREE STAND OUT, MERITING SPECIAL RECOGNITION AS THE RECIPIENTS OF THE SCHOOL’S HIGHEST AWARDS. THE TRUSTEES’ MEDAL FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT • EMMA MCNEEL — Presented to the senior who has

maintained the highest GPA over four years, as well as a mature, responsible attitude toward learning THE ADELE FRANKS MEDAL • JAYLA MONDY — Presented to the senior who, in the view of the faculty, has

demonstrated the same qualities of leadership, initiative, and creative thinking exemplified in the lifelong achievements of St. Andrew’s founding headmistress, Mrs. Adele Franks SAINTS’ MEDAL FOR UNSELFISH SERVICE • JOSH LITTLE — Presented to the student who views his or her work in

terms of where that service will do the most good for the most people within St. Andrew’s and not in terms of personal gain or recognition

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MAY 26, 2017 WAS A DAY OF CELEBRATION AS THE 75 MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2017 MARKED THEIR COMMENCEMENT FROM ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL.

JAYLA MONDY ’17

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BY THE Class of 2017

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REVIEW THE YEAR IN

BOTH ST. ANDREW’S QUIZ BOWL TEAMS (A AND B) finished in the top 5 of the Murrah High School Invitational and qualified to compete in the NAQT National Quiz Bowl tournament in Atlanta last May. St. Andrew’s was recognized at the Murrah tournament for scoring the most overall points in tournament history and earning the highest number of points for an individual match. At the national tournament, the A Team placed in the top 32% of all teams in America.

ST. ANDREW’S WON ITS 26TH OVERALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP and its 6th consecutive Class 3A State Championship in boys cross country.

NICHE, ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST WEBSITES RESEARCHING K-12 SCHOOLS, once again named St. Andrew’s the Best Private School in Mississippi. St. Andrew’s was the only school in Mississippi that earned an A+ rating.

EIGHTH GRADERS EXPERIENCED THE CHALLENGES OF hunger, poverty, and environmental sustainability during an immersion experience at Heifer International’s Global Village in Arkansas. Students “lived” overnight in environments simulating conditions in nations worldwide, including developing nations, refugee camps, and slums.

ST. ANDREW’S RECEIVED A $500,000 GRANT FROM THE GERTRUDE C. FORD FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER.

ST. ANDREW’S JUNIOR ZACH BOBBITT EARNED A SPOT IN THE MISSISSIPPI LIONS ALL-STATE BAND. In 2017, the band travelled to Chicago and won the Lions International Parade Competition. The Mississippi Band has won the competition 33 times, including 14 of the last 18 years.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR

18% OF THE CLASS OF 2017 WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION.

ST. ANDREW’S STUDENTS SCORED A 3 OR HIGHER ON SOME 90% OF THE AP EXAMS THEY TOOK IN 2017.

38% of students who took AP exams were recognized as AP Scholars.

ST. ANDREW’S HOSTED AN EVENING WITH AWARD-WINNING STORYTELLERS RICHARD GRANT AND MARTHA FOOSE. Grant is the author of Dispatches from Pluto; Foose ’86 is a James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and a recipient of the St. Andrew’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

ST. ANDREW’S LATIN STUDENTS WON THE OVERALL SWEEPSTAKES AWARD FOR LARGE SCHOOLS AT THE MISSISSIPPI JUNIOR CLASSICAL LEAGUE CONVENTION.

ST. ANDREW’S SENIOR ARKO DHAR AND JUNIOR VIVIAN PRYOR WERE INVITED TO PRESENT THEIR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AT THE 2017 INTEL INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR.

CHARLEY HUTCHISON, CLASS OF 2018, WAS ACCEPTED INTO MIT’S RESEARCH SCIENCE INSTITUTE, one of the nation’s most prestigious international summer research programs. His project, Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Deeply-Supercooled Liquids, was named one of the top five papers of the program.

FIVE ST. ANDREW’S GRADUATES ARE CURRENTLY CADETS AT UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT. Another recent graduate is attending West Point Preparatory School.

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FOR THE 18TH YEAR IN A ROW, St. Andrew’s won the ClarionLedger’s statewide All-Sports Award. St. Andrew’s has won the award 23 of the last 25 years.

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T E S

E STAND H T G N A TI

For

RD

YEARS

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School • 1947 — 2017

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CHUCK YEAGER broke the sound barrier and Jackie Robinson broke the Major League Baseball color barrier. India became an independent nation, the CIA was established, and a UFO just might have landed in Roswell, New Mexico.

THE “HOWDY DOODY SHOW” premiered, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank was published, and audiences flocked to movie theaters to see a child star named Natalie Wood in “Miracle on 34th Street.”

BUT FOR MEMBERS of the St. Andrew’s community, 1947 is best remembered as the year St. Andrew’s Episcopal School welcomed its first students.

OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DECADES, what began with 45 students in the parish hall of St. Andrew’s Cathedral (then known as St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church) and a vision for educational excellence has since grown to more than 1,100 students on two campuses and a national reputation as a life-shaping experience.

Happy 70th, St. Andrew’s.

YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY, but the best is still ahead.

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1947

MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is founded by Sherwood Wise, Reynolds Cheney, Vincent and Adele Franks, and Minnie Lee Hill. Tuition is set at $25 per month.

SEPTEMBER 8, 1947

St. Andrew’s opens its doors to 45 students in first through fourth grades. The classroom is the parish hall of St. Andrew’s Church, the playground is a strip of grass between the church and the Lamar Life building, and the “lunchroom” rotates between LeFleur’s Restaurant, the Mary Frances Tea Room, and Tanner’s Orange Juice Stand.

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1948

St. Andrew’s adds a fifth grade.

Enrollment doubles to 101.

“THERE WERE ONLY NINE PEOPLE IN MY SIXTH GRADE CLASS. I remember lots of individual attention and a great feeling of family and love shared by staff and students.

We were all very special in the eyes of Headmistress Adele Franks. I also served as chairman of the first alumni association. Our first gathering was a picnic on the undeveloped grounds of what is now the Lower School.” — TIPPY LYELL ‘58, Lyell attended St Andrew’s from fourth through sixth grade, 1949-52. She is a parent and grandparent of graduates and a loyal supporter of St. Andrew’s.

1950

A growing St. Andrew’s moves into the former home of Marcellus Green on North State Street. The house is dubbed “Green Hall.”

1950

St. Andrew’s adds a sixth grade.

The Triangle Club, the original St. Andrew’s parents’ organization, is formed.

1955

The National Association of Parish Day Schools names St. Andrew’s a “model school” for hundreds of Episcopal schools nationwide.

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1956

The traditional May Day celebration is held for the first time.

“I WAS BEGINNING SCHOOL WHEN WE MOVED HERE. My parents weren’t from Mississippi and they were asking about area schools. Two couples that spoke with my parents about St. Andrew’s did not even have children, yet they spoke so highly of the education that I would receive here. St. Andrew’s was recognized in some circles then for what we are still known for today – academic excellence, outstanding faculty, learning as an enjoyable pursuit, and a close community of parents, friends, and volunteers.” — SUSAN LAWLER ‘75, Alumna and Early Childhood Music Teacher

“WHAT I LIKED BEST ABOUT COACHING WAS THE SCHOOL’S EMPHASIS ON THE ALL-AROUND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDENTS. I loved it when my players would run off the field and head to play practice or to a choir rehearsal. That exemplified the spirit of St. Andrew’s. I’ve seen the new Athletics and Recreation Center and it’s a beautiful facility. But it’s the faculty’s and the coach’s focus on the students that will always be the strongest part of St. Andrew’s athletics.” — ANDY MULLINS, From 1971-80, Andy Mullins served St. Andrew’s in a variety of positions, including history teacher, football coach, founder and coach of the tennis team, director of admissions, and college counselor.

“WE TOOK GREAT PRIDE BACK THEN IN BEING THE FIRST ST. ANDREW’S GRADUATING CLASS AND WE STILL DO TODAY. There were only 11 of us, and we all had nicknames. I still use mine today as part of my email address. My fondest memories are learning to water ski on our senior trip to the coast of Alabama and my first kiss the night of the homecoming dance in 1973 (no, it was not with another member of the class). There was such camaraderie among students, teachers, the administration, and the parents. We truly were like one big family.” — KAREN CRENSHAW SWENSON ‘74, Member

“OUR EARLY ADVENTURES ON THE NORTH CAMPUS out in ‘rural’ Ridgeland included cows mooing outside the windows and a skunk in the teachers’ lounge. I coaxed the skunk into a Xerox box with an apple and released him back into the wild.”

— MIMI BRADLEY, Bradley invested 41 years in

a career at St. Andrew’s, joining the school in 1973 as an administrative assistant. Bradley was named college counselor in 1985, a position she held until her retirement in 2014.

1963

St. Andrew’s purchases 14 acres on Old Canton Road and begins planning a new campus.

1964

St. Andrew’s adds a seventh grade.

of St. Andrew’s first graduating senior class

MID-1960s

The Episcopal Church consistently advocates for racial justice and equality despite the hostile climate of the day. The St. Andrew’s Board of Trustees officially votes to integrate the school in 1966, and the school’s first African American applicant is admitted.

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1965

St. Andrew’s adds an eighth grade, adopts green and white uniforms, and begins construction of a new campus on Old Canton Road.

1966

Fire destroys Green Hall.

Most of the school’s records and historic artifacts are lost.

Students finish the school year in the parish house of St. James’ Episcopal Church.

“MY FONDEST MEMORY OF ST. ANDREW’S CONCERNS MY TEACHERS. They were warm and nurturing. I learned grammar and arithmetic, but most importantly, I learned empathy from all of my St. Andrew’s teachers. Mrs. Franks, the headmistress, stands out in my memory. It was from her that I learned the meaning of ‘scapegoat’ and ‘taboo,’ the first complex words I knew. She ran what I remember as being called ‘character lessons’ that had a lasting impact on me and helped shape my liberal political and social views. Mrs. Franks and my teachers at St. Andrew’s laid a foundation of critical thinking that has been useful over the years.” — MAURY FONTAINE LUTIN ‘63, Attended St. Andrew’s from first grade through sixth grade, 1951-57, in the house on North State Street known as Green Hall.

“ST. ANDREW’S PROVIDED A STRONG, DURABLE FOUNDATION FOR THE REST OF MY EDUCATION, as well as teaching me lifelong intangible skills, such as problem solving, tenacity, respect for others, and personal responsibility for my actions. From what I see today, St. Andrew’s continues to emphasize diversity, treating others with kindness and respect, and responsibility to the larger community. When I hear the words ‘St. Andrew’s Episcopal School,’ the first thing that comes to my mind is excellence.” — MARTHA FONTAINE LAVALLA ’66, Attended St. Andrew’s from first grade

“I HAD MANY MEMORABLE TEACHERS, AS WELL AS THE CAFETERIA MANAGER, MRS. WELCH, WHO INSPECTED OUR PLATES. Not clean? No dessert…From a little boy’s perspective, I recall the fire escape coming from the upper window, long stainless steel slides with high, three-foot sides, and having to slide down them during regular fire drills. On the playground…third base was a large oak tree in which I left part of my skin after being hit from behind with a soccer ball, which drove my head into the tree. Fortunately, my family doctor was next door. He stitched me up and I was back at school the next day.” — JOHN E. “JAY” FONTAINE IV ‘69, Fontaine

through sixth grade, 1954-60, in the house on North State Street known as Green Hall.

attended St. Andrew’s from kindergarten through sixth grade, 1956-63, in the house on North State Street known as Green Hall.

“I LOVED THE OLD CAMPUS. THERE WAS AN OPENNESS ABOUT IT THAT WAS ALSO TRUE OF FACULTY AND STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS. We were ‘easy’ with each other. I taught Upper School students and we felt free to discuss anything and everything, a rare thing in most schools at that time. We trusted each other. Along those lines, I think the students knew if they told faculty something secret, it would remain secret. Students respected their teachers, but I think they also liked them.• “The new North Campus kept the open concept of the old school. Soon we were at home there, missing the intimacy of the smaller South Campus, but relishing the addition of faculty offices, more equipment in science classes, and still the open spaces we loved. I cherish memories of driving onto that campus in early morning and seeing the mist rising from Lake Sherwood Wise. Without a doubt, I looked forward to each day. I still keep in touch with faculty friends and my students. Needless to say, I love St. Andrew’s.” — BEE DONLEY, Donley taught English at St. Andrew’s from 1973-98, also serving as head of the English department and director of admissions. Donley is the parent of a St. Andrew’s graduate.

1966

The 1966-67 school year begins on the new campus on Old Canton Road, complete with a ninth grade.

1971

St. Andrew’s adds a tenth grade.

1972

St. Andrew’s celebrates its 25th anniversary and adds an eleventh grade.

1972

The first edition of the yearbook, Sanctus, is published.

1973

St. Andrew’s adds a twelfth grade and introduces high school soccer to Mississippi.

1974

The first senior class of 11 students graduates.

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1975

St. Andrew’s establishes a Japanese exchange program.

Creath Guillot is the school’s first Alpha Omega graduate.

“MY FONDEST MEMORIES CONNECT WITH STUDENTS, who I think taught me far more than I taught them. On my birthday, I arrived to find the classroom decorated and prepared for a party. I was told quite categorically by a member of the class, ‘We are going to have a party, Dr. Weeks, whether you like it or not!’ My students also provided a not so subtle suggestion that perhaps too much emphasis in a class discussion had been placed on the term ‘deconstruction.’ I found my desk meticulously woven with fish wire with a brief, handwritten note telling me I should try to, ‘deconstruct this.’ Happily, St. Andrew’s has always been able to attract some of the best and brightest young people who continue to impress me with their talents and enthusiasm about where they are.” — DR. CHARLES “BUBBA” WEEKS, Dr. Weeks helped launch and headed the St. Andrew’s Humanities Department from 1979-97. He serves as an Upper School substitute when he is not traveling the world on his bicycle.

1976

St. Andrew’s acquires an option on 75 acres of land in the rural area near Old Agency Road in Ridgeland.

Skeptics question the wisdom of building a campus so far out in the country.

1977

Uniforms for Upper School students are phased out.

1979

Students vote for Hannibal’s admonition to his troops, “We will find a way or we will make one,” as the St. Andrew’s motto.

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1979-83

The tennis and golf teams claim multiple state championships. Despite the lack of a baseball field, the baseball team wins four state championships and pitcher Chris Burgess ‘79 is featured in Sports Illustrated.

1981

St. Andrew’s becomes the first school in Mississippi to offer Advanced Placement courses.

1982

The Honor Code is adopted.

1985

1988

The Upper School moves to the new North Campus.

The North Campus gymnasium opens, offering new space for athletics but lacking air conditioning.

1987

St. Andrew’s becomes the first school in Mississippi with a Cum Laude chapter.

1989

The first Starry Night gala is held.

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1992

St. Andrew’s wins its first All-Sports Award.

1994

The Middle School moves to the North Campus. Enrollment tops 1,000.

“I REMEMBER HAVING MY MOM, BARBARA ADAMS; MY AUNT, OUIDA DAVIS; AND MY GODMOTHER, JULIA CHADWICK, AS TEACHERS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL and how I could not get away with anything. Highland Colony Parkway was built my freshman year in high school on the North Campus. Cows roamed in a pasture where the Renaissance shopping area is now. I also remember the construction of the Middle School on the North Campus. It made my grades drop because I was distracted by the noise (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it). We were the first and last class to have one of the classrooms designated as our senior lounge. We were allowed to paint on the walls and had couches to relax in between classes or during study halls. • “The growth of the school is absolutely incredible. I had a guided tour six months ago and was blown away by all the new additions. I also looked at the available curriculum and was amazed at the classes offered.

What hasn’t changed is the love former and current students have for St. Andrew’s.” — SCOTT ADAMS ‘95

“I REMEMBER WHEN ‘TECHNOLOGY’ WAS THE MIMEOGRAPH MACHINE. — CANDY COKER, Coker taught kindergarten at St. Andrew’s from 1984-2017 and is the parent of three St. Andrew’s graduates.

“MY FATHER SAID, ‘Are you really going to pay tuition to send your children to an integrated school?’ I put him on the St. Andrew’s newsletter list and over the years, he came to understand people from all walks of life.” — SANDRA HINDSMAN, Sandra taught science from 1982-2016 at St. Andrew’s, serving as chair of the science department for 20 years.

“ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCES WAS TEACHING THE CHILDREN OF MY FORMER STUDENTS.” — MARCIA COLLINS, Collins taught at St. Andrew’s from 1979-2013, teaching pre-K, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade.

She is also the parent of graduates.

1994

The Walker Resource Center is dedicated.

1995

The North Campus gains Internet access.

1995

St. Andrew’s original mission statement is adopted.

1997

St. Andrew’s celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The school fields Mississippi’s first high school lacrosse team.

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2000

The 1947 Society is founded to honor donors who contribute $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund.

2002

Following the successful Great Expectations capital campaign, the Center for Performing Arts opens on the North Campus.

2002

St. Andrew’s is the first high school in Mississippi to go wireless.

2003

The Touchstone Endowment is established.

2004

The first edition of Archways, the St. Andrew’s magazine, is published.

2005

St. Andrew’s receives a $1 million scholarship endowment from the Malone Family Foundation.

The following year, St. Andrew’s receives an additional $1 million.

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2007

St. Andrew’s celebrates its 60th anniversary.

2007

The school adds pre-K for three-year-olds and launches the Global Studies Program.

“ST. ANDREW’S HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHAMPION OF DIVERSITY. I happened upon my job at St. Andrew’s in 1984. I had been such a flag-waver for public schools because diversity was really important to me. When I saw the education St. Andrew’s offered and that the school was committed to diversity, I moved my children here.” — CANDY COKER, Coker taught kindergarten at St. Andrew’s from 1984-2017 and is the parent of three St. Andrew’s graduates.

“MY FAVORITE ST. ANDREW’S MEMORY HAS TO BE WRAPPING THE MAYPOLE. I still remember getting in line to see who was the tallest to shortest. We were then matched up with a boy in our height line. I remember thinking, ‘How gross!’ Now that my children have started Lower School, it’s a sweet memory I’ll share with them when they wrap the maypole. I’m already preparing myself for all the tears that will ensue!”

— RUBINA SOOD SETHI ‘07, St. Andrew’s assistant first grade teacher and current St. Andrew’s parent

“THE SCHOOL’S COMMON DNA THROUGH THE YEARS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT THAT BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN THE STUDENTS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BEING A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. St. Andrew’s is a place you love being a part of, and you’re thrilled that your children have an opportunity to be a part of it. It means so much to me to know that, just as I do, Isabelle and Warner will have that St. Andrew’s connection for the rest of their lives.”

— STEWART SPEED ‘82, Speed is the parent of a graduate and a current student and a former member of the board of trustees.

2008

St. Andrew’s creates the Arches to Excellence Merit Scholarship Program.

2009

St. Andrew’s launches the Campaign for Science and Art.

2011

St. Andrew’s presents the first Arts on the Green.

2011

The McRae Science Center and the Faulkner Studios for Art and Music open on the North Campus.

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2011

St. Andrew’s enhances its mission statement to better reflect the purpose of the school.

2013

Thebestschools.org ranks St. Andrew’s the #18 best private day school in the United States.

AN EVOLVING MISSION In 1995, St. Andrew’s unveiled its original mission statement, “To nurture a diverse community in the Episcopal tradition, encouraging spiritual growth, moral responsibility, and academic excellence.”

In 2011, St. Andrew’s enhanced its mission statement to reflect the critical roles that the arts, athletics, and service play in the St. Andrew’s educational experience.

“We realized that St. Andrew’s was already emphasizing art, athletics, and service, but our existing mission statement fell short in describing that,” says George Penick, head of school. “It didn’t fully explain who we are.”

An updated mission statement was developed with the input of St. Andrew’s families, students, faculty, and trustees.

The message has since become a part of everyday life at St. Andrew’s.

“These are more than just words on paper,” Penick says. “They express core beliefs that make St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.”

To nurture a diverse community in the Episcopal tradition, fostering spiritual growth, moral responsibility, academic excellence, and artistic and athletic pursuits, while preparing for a life of service to our community and the world.

2015

St. Andrew’s launches the Forward Saints capital campaign.

2016

The Early Childhood Center and The Discovery Center open on the South Campus.

2017

Seven St. Andrew’s students score perfect 36s on the ACT.

2017

St. Andrew’s celebrates its 18th consecutive All-Sports Award.

St. Andrew’s has won the award 23 of the last 25 years.

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2017

The Athletics and Recreation Center (ARC) opens on the North Campus.

2017

Niche, one of the world’s largest websites reporting on K-12 schools, again names St. Andrew’s the Best Private School in Mississippi.

GAME {forward saints}

IT’S A

CHANGER T H E S T. A N D R E W ’S A T H L E T I C S A N D R E C R E A T I O N C E N T E R

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ST. ANDREW’S ATHLETICS AND RECREATION CENTER (ARC) OFFICIALLY OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2017.

IN JUST THREE YEARS, ST. ANDREW’S unveiled the plan, raised the funds needed, and designed and built this 65,000-square-foot, $14 million, game-changing athletic facility. More than 1,000 students, parents, alumni, and friends were on hand for the grand opening celebration, which included a parade of student athletic teams and performances by the St. Andrew’s band, dance team, and cheerleaders.

ST. ANDREW’S STUDENT ATHLETES WILL NOW practice and compete in the finest high school sports facility in Mississippi. With space for general fitness classes as well as organized team practices, The ARC will support the health and wellness of every St. Andrew’s student.

THE ARC WAS THE FINAL PROJECT IN STAGE ONE of the Forward Saints capital campaign; stage one also included the Early Childhood Center and Discovery Center on the South Campus, both of which opened in 2016. With two more stages of the Forward Saints campaign in the works, there is still much more to cheer about ahead.

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THE ARC

“I HAVE ASKED MYSELF MANY TIMES, ‘IS THIS REAL?’ My goal when I became a coach here at St. Andrew’s was to build upon this program and create an environment that students would want to be a part of and that would represent the school well. This facility definitely helps in that regard! I am in complete admiration of the administration and board of trustees for their vision and the way they have carried out the Forward Saints campaign. Generations of St. Andrew’s students and faculty will be forever grateful for their leadership and for the generosity of the donors who have made The ARC a reality.” — BRIAN CRONIN, BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL COACH

“I’M EXCITED BECAUSE I’LL GET TO PLAY IN ONE OF THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE STATE AND LIKELY IN THE COUNTRY. Fans will be excited to attend games in this state-of-the-art facility, which will bring more energy to our already exciting games. The ARC is consistent with St. Andrew’s standard for excellence, of which our community can be very, very proud. I can’t wait for my team to win our first game in The ARC.” — GARRISON WADE, CLASS OF 2018, BASKETBALL PLAYER, PLAYER IN THE 2017 MISSISSIPPI NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR GAME

“THE ARC GIVES ST. ANDREW’S AN EVEN BETTER ALL-AROUND REPUTATION. Now, we’re not only known as the smart school, but also as the athletic school.” — PARKER GROGAN, CLASS OF 2018, CHEERLEADER, CAPTAIN OF THE SOCCER TEAM

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“I’M ESPECIALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE EFFECT THE ARC WILL HAVE ON THE OVERALL SCHOOL SPIRIT AT ST. ANDREW’S and on our school’s continued mission to serve the greater community. The homecoming pep rally in The ARC included students from the first through twelfth grades, all in one space. These types of all-school events will continue to connect the Fondren and Ridgeland campuses and foster strong bonds as students grow in their time at the school. Several future events are already on the calendar that will allow schools from across our state and region to use and compete in our first class facility.” — CHRIS WIGGS, ST. ANDREW’S BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENT

“THE NEW DANCE ROOM IN THE ARC has pushed the dance team to work harder and made us more focused. We are all so grateful to have our own room in which to practice.

I’m also really excited about having our pep rallies in The ARC. The new building brings more energy to every event.”

— VICTORIA MUNGAN, CLASS OF 2019, DANCE TEAM MEMBER

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“I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE PARENTS, ALUMNI, FACULTY MEMBERS, and everyone who has already donated to the Forward Saints campaign because without them, a building like The ARC would not be possible. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to play in a facility like this with some of my closest friends.

I am sure that the memory of my first game in The ARC is one I’ll never forget.” — KAMRYN DAVIS, CLASS OF 2018, BASKETBALL PLAYER

THE RUMBLE IN THE SOUTH, ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL ATHLETICS AND RECREATION CENTER

JANUARY 15, 2018

GET READY TO RUMBLE — The annual Rumble in the South is Mississippi’s premier celebration of high school basketball.

In 2018, this signature sports event moves from Mississippi College to the St. Andrew’s Athletics and Recreation Center.

• Organized by Mississippi businessman Oscar Miskelly, the Rumble in the South showcases Mississippi’s best high school basketball players and teams at a daylong event. Chosen by Mississippi sportswriters and sportscasters, the top public and private high school teams in the state are invited to the Rumble, which includes as many as eight games in one day. Held annually on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Rumble attracts as many as 6,000 basketball fans. • The January 15, 2018 Rumble will tip off in The ARC, marking the first time in the event’s 10-year history that it’s been held on a high school campus. • “The ARC is the premier high school athletic facility in Mississippi and one of the premier athletic facilities in the South,” Miskelly says. “Other schools in the state are anxious to see it and have the opportunity to play in it. The ARC is also a real investment in our community.

To have a facility of this nature in our area and to have St. Andrew’s be open to sharing it with our state is a great opportunity.”

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THE ARC

29

THE ARC

“OUR STUDENTS SEE THE INVESTMENT WE’RE MAKING IN THEM and they understand our expectation that they give their best effort to St. Andrew’s in return. I believe The ARC will also help us attract new students, who will see the long-term commitment we’ve made and realize the school best known as the academic leader is also the leader in athletics.”— BURNEY KING, GIRLS BASKETBALL AND FAST PITCH SOFTBALL COACH

“THE ARC ISN’T JUST A ‘REGULAR’ NEW FACILITY. It’s a cut above and better than anything in the state. Some 80 percent of Middle and Upper School students already participate in sports.

I believe The ARC will increase that percentage.” — ERIK SNYDER,

“I THINK MY FIRST GAME IN THE ARC WILL MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYER. The ARC is one of the nicest high school facilities in the South, and even at a collegiate level, some universities don’t have facilities like The ARC. The first game in the new facility will be special for St. Andrew’s, and also very special for me as a player.”— FLETCHER CLARK, CLASS

HEAD CHEERLEADING COACH

OF 2018, BASKETBALL PLAYER

“ST. ANDREW’S STUDENTS AND FUTURE STUDENTS HAVE MANY TALENTS IN ADDITION TO THOSE THEY CULTIVATE IN THE CLASSROOM. The ARC reminds students that they can have the whole package here at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.”— BRIAN CRONIN, BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL COACH

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“I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO ST. ANDREW’S HOSTING LARGE TOURNAMENTS IN THE ARC that will bring coaches and athletes from other schools to our campus. Other coaches are excited about playing in The ARC. They already like playing at St. Andrew’s because they know how well St. Andrew’s organizes and runs events. Now we have the best facilities in which to host them.” — MEAGHAN DENNEY, ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, VOLLEYBALL COACH

WITH THE OPENING OF THE ARC, ST. ANDREW’S HAS AN ATHLETIC FACILITY AS IMPRESSIVE AS ITS ATHLETIC PROGRAMMING. ST. ANDREW’S HAS WON THE CLARION-LEDGER’S STATEWIDE ALL-SPORTS AWARD

23 OF THE LAST 25 YEARS, INCLUDING THE LAST 18 YEARS IN A ROW.

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THE ARC

THE SAINTS SHOP HOURS Monday – Friday, 1PM to 5PM • Select Saturdays, 10AM to 1PM

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THE ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

GO FORTH INTO THE WORLD IN PEACE; BE OF GOOD COURAGE; HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD; RENDER TO NO ONE EVIL FOR EVIL; STRENGTHEN THE FAINTHEARTED; SUPPORT THE WEAK; HELP THE AFFLICTED; HONOR ALL PERSONS. LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD, REJOICING IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT. AND THE BLESSING OF GOD, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT BE AMONG YOU AND REMAIN WITH YOU ALWAYS. AMEN. SIGNATURE BENEDICTORY BLESSING GIVEN BY BISHOP DUNCAN M. GRAY, JR.

Rendering by Jack Allin ‘96 of Wier Boerner Allin Architecture.

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{forward saints}

HONORING THE MEMORY AND LIFE OF THE RT. REV. DUNCAN M. GRAY, JR.

The Episcopal Church lost one of its most influential leaders in 2016 with the passing of The Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray, Jr. A MAN OF extraordinary integrity who lived his life based on the Gospel, Bishop Gray was a courageous advocate for civil rights in the 1960s, and never wavered in his belief that all people should be treated with compassion, respect, and love. He was the subject of a book by Will D. Campbell, And Also With You: Duncan Gray and the American Dilemma. Bishop Gray was the seventh bishop of Mississippi, serving from 1974 until 1993. His father, the Rt. Rev. Duncan Gray, was the fifth bishop, and one of his sons, the Rt. Rev. Duncan Gray III, was the ninth.

In the months prior to his death, Bishop Gray had graciously agreed to serve as the honorary chair for a $1.5 million campaign to build an Episcopal chapel on St. Andrew’s North Campus. Bishop Gray believed in the important work being done at St. Andrew’s to educate future leaders in a spiritually grounded, diverse community. He also served as a Regent of the Corporation and parent of a graduate.

In recognition of Bishop Gray and all that he stood for and with the blessing of Bishop Gray’s children and the support of The Rt. Rev. Brian R. Seage, the St. Andrew’s chapel will be dedicated in Bishop Gray’s memory. His life and the chapel will forever inspire St. Andrew’s students to go forth and shine their light into the world.

“Bishop Gray truly was a great, gifted, and humble servant leader in the Episcopal tradition,” says Dr. Thomas Mills ’78, one of many people who suggested dedicating the chapel in Bishop Gray’s honor. “He was a powerful witness to the reconciling love, mercy, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bishop Gray’s story is exemplary and so worthy of sharing with present and future generations of students and the entire community of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.”

“Bishop Gray represented the kind of dedication and service to humanity we want our students to discover,” says the Rev. Kirk LaFon, St. Andrew’s chaplain. “We want our students to understand that the world is about more than just themselves and encourage them to use their gifts to benefit others. We want them to become people of integrity, honor, and respect. That is the kind of person Bishop Gray was. He represents the values we work to instill in every St. Andrew’s student.”

“Dad was very devoted to St. Andrew’s, both as bishop and as a parent of a student – me,” says Catherine Gray Clark ’80, Bishop Gray’s daughter. “He appreciated the unique ministry of St. Andrew’s, particularly its emphasis on equipping young people for service in the world.

It is from the chapel that this formation for service begins, so he would be pleased to see this new building as such a focal point for the campus, reflecting a school unashamed of its spiritual heritage and roots, and ready, in the words of one of his favorite hymns, to ‘Claim the high calling angels cannot share – to young and old the Gospel gladness bear.’”

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{forward saints}

“MY MOTHER WAS THE MOST UNCONDITIONAL LOVING INFLUENCE IN ALL OF OUR LIVES.” DONNA BARKSDALE

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“SHE WAS REMARKABLE IN HER LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE.” A PORTRAIT OF THE LATE LOIS KENNEDY GRACES THE MAIN LOBBY of Lois Kennedy Hall in the Early Childhood Center on the South Campus.

Painted by Baxter Knowlton ’92, the portrait is a tribute to one of St. Andrew’s most generous and faithful supporters and a reminder of the deep affection Mrs. Kennedy felt for St. Andrew’s.

“W

e lived on East Hill Drive, the next street south of the Lower School campus,” says Donna Barksdale, Mrs. Kennedy’s daughter and the parent of St. Andrew’s graduates Jay Sones ’92, Ken Sones ’93, and Megan Sones Clapton ’98. “My mother and father attended almost every event in which my children participated. At the end of Lower School for all three children, we had their entire grade walk down Old Canton Road to our backyard for a big party.

My mother was usually the one who prepared lots of the food and helped with every event. Most of my chil-

dren’s teachers knew my mother’s face as well as they knew mine.

“My parents were so important in helping form my children’s belief systems and attitudes, and my mother was the most unconditional loving influence in all of our lives,” Barksdale continues. “Anyone who knew her would agree. She was remarkable in her love and acceptance.”

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is pleased and grateful to have a building on the South campus that embodies Mrs. Kennedy’s love for young people and serves as a permanent reminder of her devotion to St. Andrew’s.

LEFT: JAY SONES ’92, MARTY CLAPTON, MEGAN SONES CLAPTON ’98, JIM BARKSDALE, DONNA BARKSDALE, JOSIE SONES (CLASS OF 2028), FORD SONES (CLASS OF 2030), SUZANNE SONES, GABE SONES, AND KEN SONES ‘93 Jay, Megan, and Ken are featured in the portrait with their grandmother, Lois Kennedy. Not pictured, Julienne Sones (Class of 2021)

37

MEET ST. ANDREW’S NEW

TRUSTEES PAUL CATHERWOOD ’85 “It’s an incredible honor to be asked to join the board. I’m looking forward to the interactions with my fellow board members and the administration of St. Andrew’s, and I’m thrilled that I can contribute in some way to the ongoing success of this incredibly vibrant community.”

TRUDY HIGGINBOTHAM MOODY “My husband and I are both very grateful for what St. Andrew’s has done for our girls and the positive impact it has made on our family. I‘m excited to have the chance to give back to the school.”

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Trudy Moody is president of Mercedes-Benz of Jackson and Mercedes-Benz of Collierville and serves on the national board for Mercedes-Benz USA. She and her husband, Ed, are the parents of three St. Andrew’s Lower School students, Anne and Christine (third grade) and Hayden (second grade). Moody is an avid quail hunter and enjoys time in the field with her family and their German shorthaired pointers. The Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission named Moody and her husband “Conservationists of the Year” for their management practices benefitting quail and other wildlife on their farm in Benton, Mississippi.

Paul Catherwood is vice president of corporate communications with Capital Group, a global asset management firm in Los Angeles, California. A graduate of Georgetown University, Catherwood taught humanities and coached football, baseball, and basketball at St. Andrew’s from 1989-1991. He was the 2017 recipient of the St. Andrew’s Loyalty Award, serves on the alumni cabinet of the Forward Saints campaign, and is a member of the St. Andrew’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He has also served on the board of LA Youth, a nonprofit that advocates for the rights of foster children. Catherwood is an avid tennis player and runner, but notes, “nothing could have prepared me for the endurance race that is parenting!”

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MARY PURVIS “I’m looking forward to being part of the conversation about the future of St. Andrew’s and serving with a group of individuals committed to the school’s continued growth and success.

It’s a gift to be part of this incredible community.”

players when they were in fifth and sixth grades. Russell is a trustee of Millsaps College and a member of the Millsaps M Club board, and has also served on the boards of Young Life Urban, an inner city Young Life group, and the McClean Fletcher Center, a grief center for children.

In his spare time, he shows cutting horses.

Mary Purvis is director of legal analysis and communication at the Mississippi College School of Law (MC Law). She and her husband, Alex ’94, are the parents of St. Andrew’s students Cate (eighth grade) and Jack (fifth grade). Purvis is the current SAPA chair-elect, a sustaining member of the Junior League of Jackson, and also serves on the MC Law Child Advocacy Advisory Board and the Child Welfare and Advocacy Committee of the Mississippi Bar Association. She has also served on the boards of the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association, Operation Shoestring, and the Mississippi Children’s Museum.

Purvis is proud to be married to Mr. St. Andrew’s 1994, who also happened to be the boy next door.

HAZEL WEATHERSPOON “My favorite quotation is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.’ As a member of the board, I will use any and all of my experiences to contribute in any way possible. I look forward to helping both maintain and raise our school community to even greater heights.”

Hazel Weatherspoon is a certified counselor for Contact Crisis USA and the National Suicide Prevention Line.

Weatherspoon also operates a group tour company, BW and Co. She and her husband, former pro basketball player Clarence Weatherspoon, have three children, including St. Andrew’s students Simone (tenth grade) and Bryant (third grade). Weatherspoon is a regular volunteer at St. Andrew’s and at St. Mary M.B. Church. Before relocating to Mississippi, she volunteered with the (Philadelphia) Sixers Wives Organization, Philadelphia Battered Women’s Shelter, Philadelphia Public Broadcast Service, New York Knick Family, and Miami Heat Wives. Weatherspoon was a charter member of the Women of the NBA Players Association. She enjoys serving as the family historian and travel coordinator.

DAVID RUSSELL “I’m excited to play a role in making sure St. Andrew’s remains the premier educational value in the State of Mississippi.”

David Russell is a registered petroleum geologist and the president of McGowan Working Partners, Inc., an oil and gas production company. The father of alumnus Stephen Russell ’10, Russell coached Middle School football during his son’s years on the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade teams and also coached the current senior 39

ZOOLOGY TECHNOLOGY ATHLETIC MAINTENANCE

EQUIPMENT

CURRICULUM UPGRADES

SUPER KIDS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

3-D PRINTER

ALL-SPORTS TRAINING STATION

PICNIC TABLES

CENTER LIBRARY

EARLY CHILDHOOD

EQUIPMENT

ARTS STUDIO

GRAPHIC

SCHOOL BUS MIDDLE SCHOOL

ARTS

UPPER SCHOOL MATH CLASSROOM UPGRADES

ACADEMICS

ATHLETICS

IN THE LOWER SCHOOL

GUIDED READING BOOKS

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

AS ST. ANDREW’S CELEBRATES ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY, HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MANY, MANY REASONS TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND.

IN HONOR OF THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR, please consider adding $70 to your planned Annual Fund pledge. Or, if it’s your first year to support the Annual Fund, you could begin with a $70 gift.

Your gift will allow St. Andrew’s to continue to set the standard for educational excellence for the next 70 years and beyond.

TO MAKE A PLEDGE OR A SECURE GIFT ONLINE, VISIT GOSAINTS.ORG/ANNUALFUND. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT ELIZABETH ALLEY, DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING, AT ALLEYE@GOSAINTS.ORG OR 601.853.6014.

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{annual fund}

JOE AND DOTTIE DONALDSON WITH THEIR DAUGHTER, MISSY DONALDSON, AND GRANDDAUGHTER, ADDIE LaROSE

JOE DONALDSON HAS HAD A connection to St. family when Missy enrolled her daughter, Addie LaRose, Andrew’s Episcopal School for almost as long as there in St. Andrew’s pre-K3. has been a St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.

“Missy really wanted Addie to go to St. Andrew’s,” In 1948, just one year after the school’s founding, Dottie says. “St. Andrew’s had been so good for her Joe’s parents chose St. Andrew’s for and she wanted that same experihis elementary education based on the ence for Addie. Joe and I had always “WE’RE ENCOURAGING school’s award-winning teachers, small known St. Andrew’s was the right classrooms, and innovative teaching choice, but that made us realize how ST. ANDREW’S FAMILIES methods. Joe’s fond memories as a St. deeply Missy appreciated her own St. TO CELEBRATE THE Andrew’s student include walking to Andrew’s education.”

SCHOOL’S 70TH the Mary Frances Tearoom for lunch, “Our granddaughter started at St. heading to the YMCA for gym class, Andrew’s in a bright, sunny classroom ANNIVERSARY AND and most of all, “my teachers, who with an award-winning teacher, small TO HONOR THEIR were of the highest quality.” classroom size, innovative teach In 1973, Joe and his wife, Dottie, ing methods, and as a bonus, a rabOWN CHILDREN’S chose St. Andrew’s for their daughbit named Henrietta,” says Joe, who ACCOMPLISHMENTS ter, Missy. Missy Donaldson ‘86 was along with Dottie is serving as the

BY DONATING TO a member of the first class to graduparent of graduates and grandparent ate from the new North Campus in co-chair of the 2017-18 Annual Fund.

THE ANNUAL FUND.” Ridgeland. During Missy’s years as “Through all these years, St. Andrew’s JOE DONALDSON a student, Dottie served as the presfinest qualities have been the outident of the St. Andrew’s Parents’ standing faculty and the school’s abilAssociation (SAPA) and also served on the St. Andrew’s ity to encourage the diverse talents of its students.

Board of Trustees.

“Every student at St. Andrew’s has benefitted from gen “That was the first board I had ever served on, and it erous donations made to the Annual Fund in the past,” was so impressive,” Dottie recalls. “Every decision was Joe continues. “This year, we’re encouraging St. Andrew’s made for the right reasons, with the best interests of the families to celebrate the school’s 70th anniversary and to students and the future of the school at heart.” honor their own children’s accomplishments by donating In 2010, the Donaldsons became a three-generation to the Annual Fund.”

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ANNE MOODY, CLASS OF 2027 AND ANNE RANCK

“SEEING CHILDREN WHO STRUGGLED BECOME CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO READ OUT LOUD IN CLASS IS PROOF THAT THIS PROGRAM IS A SUCCESS.” — ANNE RANCK, ACADEMIC LANGUAGE THERAPIST 42

to

LEARN THE ST. ANDREW’S LEARNING CENTER

ST. ANDREW’S UNDERSTANDS THAT EVERY CHILD LEARNS DIFFERENTLY. AS MISSISSIPPI’S EDUCATIONAL LEADER, St. Andrew’s enhances the learning process for all of its students, from providing extra challenges for gifted students to supporting students with learning differences.

LEARNING CENTERS ON BOTH the South and North Campuses help St. Andrew’s students in every division explore their individual learning styles, build on strengths, and address areas for growth. Five trained learning facilitators work with students who need help in specific subjects, want to improve their study skills, or need assistance catching up after extended absences. The Learning Centers also help transfer students make a smooth transition to St. Andrew’s.

“WE MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE and help them get where they need to be,” says Christine Selman, Lower School learning facilitator. “The most rewarding part of the job is getting to know our students so well. In order to know what they need and how we can help them, we first have to really get to know them. Helping our students tap into their skills, being there for their ‘light bulb’ moments, and seeing them succeed is the most rewarding part of the job.”

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“THE LEARNING CENTER HELPS CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES, AND THAT UNDERSTANDING CAN HELP PUT A CHILD ON A DIFFERENT TRAJECTORY. SO MANY PEOPLE SPEND SO MUCH TIME TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES AND FEELING BAD BECAUSE THEY DON’T. WE’RE IN A POSITION TO HELP OUR STUDENTS WITH THAT EARLY ON.” — HOLLIE MARJANOVIC, UPPER SCHOOL LEARNING FACILITATOR

MAKING ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES The Learning Centers also work one-on-one with students with diagnosed learning differences, including ADHD, language processing issues, and dyslexia. In many cases, help from learning facilitators makes all the difference in a child’s success.

“These students are very bright and creative. For them to see themselves as failures would be tragic,” says Lower School Learning Facilitator Helen Green. “St. Andrew’s has reached out and made a commitment to helping these students succeed.”

St. Andrew’s was an early leader in offering services for Mississippi children with dyslexia. In 1999, Green and fellow learning facilitator Anne Ranck, both then St. Andrew’s first grade teachers, enrolled in training programs focused on how to teach children with dyslexia. In those days, most schools in Mississippi simply labeled students with dyslexia as “slow.” Green and Ranck were among the first three teachers in Mississippi trained in the Orton-Gillingham method, an approach considered the flagship program in academic therapy for students with dyslexia, and were also among the first three teachers in Mississippi to become academic language therapists.

In 2004, Green and Ranck introduced the Orton-Gillingham method to students with dyslexia at St. Andrew’s and other Mississippi schools through dyslexia summer

clinics held on the St. Andrew’s campus. Over the past 13 years, St. Andrew’s has helped many students with dyslexia find success and confidence inside and outside the classroom. Today, St. Andrew’s Lower School students with dyslexia receive support through The Learning Center as part of their regular school day and may also opt for after school tutoring through The Learning Center.

“Seeing children who struggled become confident enough to read out loud in class is proof that this program is a success,” Ranck says. “And having a child who didn’t think it would be possible say to me, ‘Thank you for helping me learn how to read,’ is so rewarding.”

The support St. Andrew’s offers to students with dyslexia doesn’t end in Lower School. Fifth and sixth grade students with dyslexia can opt into academic therapy for dyslexia, a class for reading, writing, and speaking with dyslexia that takes place during the school day.

Seventh and eighth grade students with dyslexia can continue in a Learning Center program that teaches them to become their own advocates, building skills that will help them navigate Upper School, college, and their career fields.

“The Learning Center worked with a tenth grade student last year who had some issues with reading and writing related to his learning differences,” says Lynda Morse, Middle School learning facilitator. “At the beginning of his junior year, he requested a meeting with all of his teachers and told them, ‘These are my issues. What can we do?’

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LEARNING CENTER FACILITATORS (pictured clockwise from top left) SOUTH CAMPUS Helen Green Academic Language Therapist Anne Ranck Academic Language Therapist Dr. Christine Selman NORTH CAMPUS Lynda Morse Certified Academic Language Therapist Hollie Marjanovic

Students like that one, students who know themselves and can advocate for themselves, are our success stories.”

Another Learning Center success story is written every time a facilitator is able to help an anxious parent or guardian understand and address his or her child’s needs.

“The Learning Center, in harmony with the faculty, has changed our lives,” says St. Andrew’s parent Trudy Moody.

“In kindergarten, our daughter, Anne, was struggling with reading and math, even getting sick on the way to school every morning from anxiety. Her teacher suggested that we talk to Helen Green. We panicked and assumed we’d have to leave St. Andrews, but Helen reassured us that St. Andrew’s was set up to assist our daughter.”

After testing confirmed that Anne had dyslexia, The Learning Center provided tutoring for her after school.

“Anne’s anxiety and stress melted away almost immediately as Helen Green and Anne Ranck showed my Anne that she learned differently, that they could teach her

the way that her brain learned, and that she was just as smart as the other students,” Moody says. “Anne’s confidence in herself grew. Her morning anxiety diminished, and within the year, was completely gone.”

Anne Moody is now a happy, successful third grader.

The learning facilitators continue to support her with sessions during the school day and work with her teachers to make sure Anne stays on track.

“An additional layer of support from The Learning Center has been working with the Lower School’s guidance counselor, Chelsea Freeman,” Moody says. “Chelsea formed a group that includes older kids with dyslexia who offer support to the younger students. This has shown my daughter that St. Andrew’s will be there to support her in Middle School and Upper School. As parents, we cannot thank St. Andrew’s and The Learning Center enough for the support they have provided to our daughter and our family.”

A SHARED DIAGNOSIS An academic language therapist and former teacher, Helen Green brings impressive professional qualifications to her job as a learning facilitator, but it’s her personal experience that truly helps her connect with students with dyslexia.

Green is mildly dyslexic herself. • “I wasn’t diagnosed until I was in my 40s. That diagnosis explained a lot to me – for example, why I could read fast but had trouble with comprehension and why I had a poor sense of direction,” Green says. “I tell the St. Andrew’s children I work with immediately that I have dyslexia. They’re relieved to know that grownups can be dyslexic, too. It’s also reassuring to their parents. I can tell a parent who is worried about his or her child, ‘If it’s any consolation, I have dyslexia and I’ve held a job I love for almost 40 years.’” • Green did field one question from a student that still touches her heart. “One little boy asked me seriously and with great concern, ‘Is it contagious?’”

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“I COULD TELL RIGHT AWAY THAT ST. ANDREW’S WAS UNIQUE. The family atmosphere and the commitment to excellence both on and off the field are impressive.

I wanted to be a part of the growth and success that’s envisioned for St. Andrew’s.”

46

SAINT FROM GATOR TO SALES TO

MEET HEAD FOOTBALL COACH JOHNNY NICHOLS

THE SAINTS KICKED OFF the 2017 football season with a new head coach. Coach Johnny Nichols took over for David Bradberry, who retired following the 2016 season. His position is a dream job for Nichols, who had been coaching part time since 1992 while still working as a pharmaceutical sales rep.

“My sales career had been a good one, but I wanted to pursue my passion for coaching full-time,” Nichols says.

“I could tell right away that St. Andrew’s was unique. The family atmosphere and the commitment to excellence both on and off the field are impressive. I wanted to be a part of the growth and success that’s envisioned for St. Andrew’s.”

Nichols learned his energetic, fast-paced coaching style from one of the best. As a college quarterback, he played for legendary coach Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida and was part of the Gators 1991 SEC championship team. Nichols is excited to see the same

excitement and passion for the sport he felt as a high school and college player in his team at St. Andrew’s.

“On Friday nights, I get to see the culmination of all the hard work and hours these players and coaches have put in. The most rewarding thing for me is to see it all come together for these kids and the confidence they gain when they take the field representing their school.”

Nichols and his wife, Stephanie, have two children.

Their son, Jordan, is a senior at Mississippi State University and their daughter, Ally, is a sophomore at Ole Miss.

“We’re excited to be a part of the St. Andrew’s family,” Nichols says. “We appreciate the great kindness and support we’ve been shown by the St. Andrew’s students, parents, staff, and alumni. Making the playoffs for just the second time since we started competing in the 3A division was a great way to end the 2017 season.

Go Saints!”

WELL WISHES FROM THE NFL’S MVP — One of Johnny Nichols’ closest friends is former Dallas Cowboys star and NFL Most Valuable Player Emmitt Smith.

Nichols and Smith were teammates at Escambia (Florida) High School and at the University of Florida, served as groomsmen in each other’s weddings, and are still close friends today. When Nichols joined the St. Andrew’s team, Smith sent him a congratulatory basket overflowing with snacks (“You know we wouldn’t send each other flowers,” Nichols explained), along with a note expressing his wellwishes to Nichols and offering some advice to the Saints. • “I know you’re going to be a great head coach and inspiration to these young men,” Smith wrote. “We are both cut from the same mold – hard work, dedication, and teamwork. That’s what you are going to bring to these young men. To all of the young men under Coach Nichols’ direction: play as a complete unit, play as a team, and buy into the system. Good luck!”

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OPEN HOUSE

MEET KAREN HOUSE, ST. ANDREW’S DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

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THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP FAMILIES DISCOVER ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL PROMPTED KAREN HOUSE TO RELOCATE FROM LONDON, ENGLAND, TO JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. HOUSE JOINED THE ST. ANDREW’S STAFF LAST SUMMER AS THE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT. “I HEARD ABOUT THE OPENING at St. Andrew’s, visited the school’s website, and was impressed by what I saw,” House says. “There was a lot of information that pointed to St. Andrew’s as the best in Mississippi. Then I dug a little deeper, trying to decide if this was a school I’d feel comfortable promoting and introducing to families. The answer was yes.”

A native of Texas, House came to St. Andrew’s from TASIS, The American School in England, a day and boarding school with a student body representing some 58 nationalities. House worked in admissions at TASIS for 14 years, serving as director of admissions and enrollment management since 2009. She also brings experience as a former elementary school teacher in Louisiana and Texas.

House interviewed with St. Andrew’s several times via Skype prior to visiting both St. Andrew’s campuses.

She was impressed by St. Andrew’s programming and the new facilities she saw under construction, but what impressed House the most were St. Andrew’s people.

“They were open and receptive to new ideas and interested in hearing someone else’s perspective,” House says.

“I was excited about the Early Childhood Center and to see a school investing so much into students that young.

That spoke to St. Andrew’s vision. This school is looking toward the future.”

Since returning stateside and assuming her new role, House has focused on meeting St. Andrew’s families, growing accustomed to the culture and nuances of the school, and learning the connections between St. Andrew’s and the greater community.

“What I like the most about admissions is working with families. Every family is different. I enjoy learning each family’s story and finding out what we can do as a school to move their aspirations for their child forward,” House says. “Many times in admissions, you get to become a family’s first friend in a new place. You open opportunities for their child and help them find the right fit for their whole family. I’m looking forward to going into the community to build relationships with families here and to introduce them to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.”

KAREN HOUSE AND CLASS OF 2019 STUDENT ADMISSION TEAM MEMBERS, TUCKER SHELSON AND CLAY MORRIS

JUGGLING RESPONSIBILITIES — As director of admissions at an international school in London, Karen House fielded a few out-of-the-ordinary requests. One of the most unusual came from a student from Japan whose most pressing question was, “Where will I juggle?” • “At first, I wasn’t sure if I understood him correctly,” House says. “Then I pointed to some open spaces on the campus and said, ‘Well, there are many beautiful places here where you can juggle.’ He went on to juggle between classes, after school, at every opportunity. He even competed in a national juggling competition in Japan. I was glad I could help him with that.”

SMILE AND SAY CHEESE — During her two decades in London, Karen House missed a few quintessentially American things. At the top of her list? Tex Mex. • “Whenever friends came to visit, I asked them to bring Velveeta and Rotel.”

THE ST. ANDREW’S CONNECTION Karen House has four adult children, three living in Austin, Texas, and one in London, England.

One of her daughters attended St. Andrew’s – that is, the University of St. Andrew’s in Scotland.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS AND THE BRITISH RESERVE — Karen House and her family, including her four then-small children, relocated from Louisiana to England in 1996. House loved the 21 years she spent living in London, but acknowledges dealing with a bit of a cultural adjustment.

“I came from the South – Texas and Louisiana – and I was initially stunned by the British reserve.

When we moved in, not one neighbor came to the door to introduce himself or herself. When they saw us out on the street, no one spoke to us. At the time, I thought that was so rude. Then a friend explained to me, ‘British people would never dream of being intrusive.’ I introduced myself to them, and my neighbors turned out to be very nice. It was a life lesson for me in stepping outside of my own expectations.”

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COLE HOBBS-KIRMSE CLASS OF 2028

MADALYNN JOHNSON AND GAVIN GRISWOLD CLASS OF 2026

MAY DAY HAS BEEN A HIGHLIGHT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR ST. ANDREW’S LOWER SCHOOL STUDENTS SINCE 1956. EVERY STUDENT, TEACHER, AND PARENT LOOKS FORWARD TO THE ANNUAL FESTIVITIES, WITH FOURTH GRADERS ESPECIALLY THRILLED AS THIS JOYFUL CELEBRATION MARKS THEIR TRANSITION FROM LOWER SCHOOL TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE 2017 MAY DAY CELEBRATION, THEMED “A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A ST. ANDREW’S STUDENT,” SAW STUDENTS DANCING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE COURSE OF A FUN-FILLED SCHOOL DAY. NATHAN SCANLON CLASS OF 2030

OLIVIA RYKER CLASS OF 2028

HANNAH MIDGETT AND WILL FENDER CLASS OF 2027

CARTER HATHCOCK CLASS OF 2029

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MAY DAY KATHLEEN BURNETT CLASS OF 2025

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“THESE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, WHOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WILL SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION FOR UNDERCLASSMEN IN YEARS TO COME, REPRESENT THE BEST OF MISSISSIPPI IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP.”

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“MAGNIFICENT SEVEN” BRING DOWN THE HOUSE The Mississippi Legislature honors students’ perfect ACT scores THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE

Tests like the ACT and SAT have long been recognized as indicators of a student’s level of college preparedness. Some research indicates that these test scores may be a better indicator than students’ GPAs. According to Colin Dunnigan, St. Andrew’s director of college counseling, standardized tests are far from the only measure, as grades and strength of curriculum are typically the most important factors used in the college application review process. Dunnigan says, “The ‘Magnificent Seven’ are among the 0.136% of all test takers in the 2016-17 cycle to earn perfect scores, and their achievements in the classroom and beyond measure up to their fantastic scores.”

Dunnigan also points to scores on Advanced Placement exams as a reliable indicator of the school’s level of challenge and students’ achievement.

“Taken in a three-to-five-year snapshot in particular, AP scores are a realistic reflection of the ability of St. Andrew’s students to take on challenging work and succeed at a high rate,” Dunnigan says.

In 2017, 136 St. Andrew’s students sat for 318 AP exams. More than 87 percent of those tests were scored 3 or higher, the score required to earn college credit. Of the 136 St. Andrew’s students, 51 students scored a 3 or higher on three or more exams. Overall in Mississippi, less than 35 percent of AP tests were scored 3 or higher.

The State AP Scholars are the one male and one female student per state who score the highest on the greatest number of exams. Over the 24–year history of the program in Mississippi, St. Andrew’s has produced 40 of the 51 State AP Scholars.

“The fact that we have a success rate that is exceptionally strong over decades is a fantastic, objective measurement of the success of our teachers and students,” Dunnigan says. “AP courses measure the level of rigor and student engagement and show that our outstanding ACT and SAT scores are no fluke.”

THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE honored seven St. Andrew’s students who scored perfect 36s on the ACT. Representative Cory Wilson, who represents portions of Ridgeland, Madison, and Flora, introduced House Resolution 64 commending the seven students and St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.

Students Joe Han, Charley Hutchison, Julia Jia, Emily Kruse, Daniel Marsh, Peter Martin, and Allen Ryu were joined by Head of School George Penick for the reading of the resolution at the state capitol in March.

The resolution listed each student by name, along with a list of his or her honors and activities. “These Magnificent Seven,” it read, “whose accomplishments will serve as an inspiration for underclassmen in years to come, represent the best of Mississippi in academic achievement and leadership.”

House Resolution 64 also congratulated St. Andrew’s, noting, “these seven students are not an anomaly for St. Andrew’s Episcopal School…as for each of the last three years, over 50 percent of the graduating class has scored a 30 or higher.”

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{sports}

“ST. ANDREW’S HAS WON THIS AWARD YEAR IN, YEAR OUT THANKS TO THE MINDSETS OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AND COACHES.” DEWAYNE CUPPLES, ST. ANDREW’S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

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ST. ANDREW’S WINS THE

ALL-SPORTS AWARD (AGAIN)

FOR THE 18th YEAR IN A ROW, St. Andrew’s won The Clarion-Ledger’s statewide All-Sports Award.

St. Andrew’s has won the award for its class 23 of the last 25 years.

The award is based on a points system, with All Sports points awarded according to finishes in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) state playoffs.

“St. Andrew’s has won this award year in, year out thanks to the mindsets of our student athletes and coaches,” says DeWayne Cupples, St. Andrew’s athletic director. “Our students work hard and they want to be successful. They give it their all at every practice and until the last play of every game. This award is a recognition of that hard work and effort.”

SAINTS

ARCHERY BASEBALL FAST PITCH 8th in state 24-9, Division SOFTBALL Champions 7-10

SPRING SPORTS RECORDS

BOYS GOLF 3rd in state LACROSSE 4-6

TENNIS GIRLS TRACK BOYS TRACK South State AND FIELD AND FIELD Champions, 3rd in state 4th in state 2 Individual State Champions

YOUR SERVE, COACH DENNEY — Meaghan Schlueter Denney, St. Andrew’s volleyball coach, took on an added role this summer when she was named St. Andrew’s assistant athletic director. • A native of Texas, Denney was a high school volleyball standout and played for one year at Mississippi State University (MSU) until a broken hand forced her off the court. Denney managed the MSU team for the remainder of her college career. She holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s degree in sports management and also coaches club volleyball. Denney’s love of sports doesn’t stop when she’s off the clock; she and her husband, Derek, unwind by playing one-on-one basketball. • Denney joined the St. Andrew’s staff in 2014, previously serving as the Upper School registrar in addition to coaching the volleyball team. While she enjoyed her work as registrar, Denney is excited to focus on athletics. • “As assistant athletic director, I enjoy having more opportunities to watch all of the St. Andrew’s athletic teams practice and getting to know other athletes in addition to the volleyball players,” Denney says. “I’m excited that my office is now in The ARC. It’s an environment I love being a part of and it already feels like home there. And I have to confess, it’s great to be able to wear athletic clothes to work every day.”

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JOBS WELL DONE

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A GIFT IN HONOR OF RETIRING FACULTY OR STAFF, PLEASE VISIT GOSAINTS.ORG/HONOR

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ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL WISHES CANDY COKER, BETSY DAVIS, AND JUDY DAVIS well following their retirements at the end of the 2017 school year. These three dedicated professionals invested a combined 65 years in St. Andrew’s and its students. The school and generations of Saints are better for having learned under these creative and dedicated faculty members.

CANDY COKER Candy Coker spent 33 years as a beloved kindergarten teacher at St. Andrew’s. Coker introduced the idea of lofts to St. Andrew’s kindergarten, recruiting her husband, Billy, (who soon earned the nickname the “Kindergarten Husband”) to build the first one. Coker was instrumental in the design and planning of the new Early Childhood Center, which she calls “the icing on the cake of my tenure at this school I love so much.”

“I will sorely miss my colleagues and the collaborative, creative times we shared, always seeking new ways to capture the children’s sense of wonder and curiosity. And it goes without saying I’ll miss my children. So often the friendships they developed in kindergarten have ended up lasting a lifetime. To have been a part of that is simply an honor.”

and looking on as students discovered new worlds in the Lower School library.

“What I’ll miss the most are my colleagues at St. Andrew’s. I truly felt like we were a family. I’ll also miss the children’s excitement as they came into art or the library.

I was blessed to have worked at such an amazing school.”

JUDY DAVIS Judy Davis began her St. Andrew’s career working in admissions, then went on to teach third grade and math for fourth graders. She enjoyed getting to know her students personally and welcomed the challenge of helping each student succeed.

“I loved working with students who really needed and wanted help one-on-one. Getting to know them well and support them through their journeys was the most rewarding time I spent. Another highpoint for me was discovering how warm and gentle the people at St. Andrew’s are. I felt a closeness and a collegiality with faculty unlike any place I had worked before. I’ll miss walking in to the smiles and support of the students and faculty. There was no better place I could have imagined spending my days working than at St. Andrew’s.”

BETSY DAVIS Betsy Davis joined St Andrew’s in 1996 and served as a teaching assistant in the fourth grade, art, and Lower School library. Her fondest memories are of working on sets for May Day and the Lower School plays, providing guidance to enthusiastic children in art classes,

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK — There is one thing Candy Coker will not miss about teaching Kindergarten. • “Unexpected tummy aches!” Coker says with a laugh. “One year I had a case of hysterical nausea with three different children getting sick during our morning circle time. It was one of those Lucille Ball moments! I sat them all at the counter in the kitchen, gave them popsicles, and called their moms. One of the mothers commented, ‘Oh, that’s just Catherine. She gets sick whenever the cat coughs up a hair ball.’” • That squeamish student was Catherine Lowe ‘06, who apparently outgrew her delicate stomach – she is currently in residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

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EYE ON

ALUMNI

IF YOU’RE HOSTING OR WOULD LIKE TO HOST A ST. ANDREW’S ALUMNI GATHERING IN YOUR AREA, THE ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP. CONTACT DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AND PUBLIC RELATIONS LAUREN MCMILLIN ’10 AT MCMILLINLA@GOSAINTS.ORG.

1

2

3

5

4 1. Aritra Biswas ’13 leads an advanced STEM workshop on campus.

2. Tresa Barksdale Patterson ’92 presents to Upper School students.

3. Alumni and guest panelists at Upper School Career Day 2017 4. Elizabeth Fike Dorroh ’09 and Amy Miazza Brooks ’75 volunteer at the Jackson Zoo. 5. Former Faculty Luncheon at the Early Childhood Center

ALUMNI HOLIDAY EVENTS SAVE THE DATE • DECEMBER 23

SAVE THE DATE FOR ST. ANDREW’S ALUMNI HOLIDAY EVENTS. Annual alumni games include flag football, basketball, and soccer on the North Campus. Cap off your day visiting with friends and faculty at our annual holiday party later that night.

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GOING BACK TO SCHOOL — Alumna Lauren McMillin ’10 is back on the St. Andrew’s campus as the director of alumni and public relations.

Before returning to St. Andrew’s, McMillin worked with the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation as a development assistant. She has also worked in media and public relations with the Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers. As a graduate student, she gained experience with the National Football League, working on the public relations staff for the 2015 Pro Bowl, Super Bowl XLIX, 2015 NFL Combine, and 2015 NFL Draft. • McMillin is a magna cum laude graduate of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi and earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she completed internships with Vanderbilt University and the Nashville Predators hockey team. • “Returning to St. Andrew’s as a member of the staff is a dream come true,” McMillin says. “The school has made such an impact on me. It’s incredible to be back and be part of such an exciting time in the life of the school. The sense of family is so strong at St. Andrew’s, whether for current students, parents, faculty, or alums throughout the world. I’m most looking forward to keeping up and engaging with my fellow alums, as I know they deeply value St. Andrew’s and the bonds they formed here.”

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C

lass

notes

Please email future Class Notes to Lauren McMillin ’10, director of alumni and public relations at mcmillinla@gosaints.org.

Scott Albert Johnson

William Grunkemeyer

Patrick and Betsy Otis

Le’Spencer and Lauren Walker

August 2016. She was promoted to director of health pro1985 Erika Bryant, executive director of the Elsie Whitlow motion and prevention services at the Worcester County Stokes Community Public Charter School, a dual language Health Department in Snow Hill, Maryland. Crowell lives immersion charter school located in Washington, D.C., in Salisbury, Maryland, with her husband, Matthew, and founded by Bryant’s mother and named after her grand- two sons, Jackson and Sean Gunby. mother, has been selected to participate in the Charter 2004 School Growth Fund’s 2017-2018 Emerging CMO Leaders program. This program is designed to increase the num- Carrie Menist Grunkemeyer and her husband, Parker, ber of excellent charter school networks led by entrepre- welcomed a son, William Clarkson Grunkemeyer (“Will”), neurs with backgrounds similar to those of the students April 8, 2017. The family resides in London. and families they serve. Bryant will be a part of a cohort of 10 school leaders from around the country who are in vari- Steven Whatley married Rebecca Skelton on April 30, 2016 ous stages of growing their networks. She currently oper- at their farm in Brighton, Tennessee. Whatley is pursuing ates one campus with 350 students and will open a second an engineering degree and is in the Naval Reserves. His wife is a naval officer stationed at the navy base in Millingcampus in Washington, D.C. in 2018. ton, Tennessee.

1988 2005 Scott Albert Johnson performed as a featured guest artBetsy Peterson married Patrick Otis in Beaver Creek, Colist with the Boston Pops on May 27 at Boston’s Symphony Hall as part of the Harvard 25th Reunion Night at the Pops. orado, on July 1, 2017. Fellow class of 2005 alumni Kate The legendary Keith Lockhart conducted the evening’s Parker Bell, Katherine George, and Rebecca Brannan music. Johnson sang the lead vocals and played harmonica Vance served as bridesmaids. Betsy and Patrick reside in on “What a Wonderful World,” and also played harmonica Avon, Colorado, where Betsy works as the corporate and on “Hey Eugene,” a song by the genre-bending band Pink foundations development manager for the nonprofit Can Martini, featuring their lead singer China Forbes, who also Do Multiple Sclerosis. wrote the song, on vocals and piano. Johnson calls his performance with the Pops “easily the most amazing musical Le’Spencer Walker and Lauren Woodie were married experience of my life, especially because my wife and kids October 21, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They met were there, as well as many of my dearest friends.” Johnson as students at Philadelphia University, and they currently is associate director of college counseling at St. Andrew’s, reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota. while his wife Susan Margaret Barrett ’90 serves as assistant director of admissions. Their children Charlie, Benja2008 min, and Lily Margaret are in 6th, 5th, and 3rd grades.

David Muller passed the Louisiana professional engineering exam and applied for his professional engineering 2002 license from the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Katherine Crowell received her master of public health Land Surveying Board. Muller graduated from the Univerdegree from the University of Maryland – College Park in sity of New Orleans, and is employed as a naval architect 60

with MiNO Marine, LLC, a New Orleans-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm. He is an avid sailor and has sailed in a number of national/international regattas. In 2016, he was retained to crew on Stephen Murray’s Carkeek HP 40 sailboat, Decision, which placed first in its class in a regatta series hosted by the New York Yacht Club and second overall (first in class) in the inaugural Miamito-Havana SORC Regatta.

The Rev. Reynolds Smith Cheney II July 19, 1936 – July 10, 2017 The son of one of St. Andrew’s founders, Rev. Cheney attended St. Andrew’s and received his undergraduate degree from Millsaps College. He then attended Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduating with a master of divinity degree in 1961. He was ordained to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray, Jr. at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Jackson on June 16, 1961. From 1961-63, he served as curate to St. Matthew’s, Kosciusko; St. Mary’s, Lexington; Grace Church, Carrolton; and St. Clement’s, Vaiden in the Diocese of Mississippi. From 1963-68, he served as rector of St. John’s, Aberdeen and as priest-in-charge of St. Michael and All Angels, Amory, and Grace Church, Okolona. In 1968, he became rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Greenville, Mississippi, where he served for 13 years, and priest-in-charge of Redeemer from 1968-71. In 1981, he became rector of Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis, where he served until he retired in 2001. He was instrumental in establishing the Head Start program for the Delta region. He served for many years as chairman of the board for the Diocese of Mississippi’s camp and conference center in Canton and was the cofounder of its camp for handicapped children, a program that is ongoing. He was a long-time deputy to the Episcopal Church’s General Convention and served on many of its legislative committees, as well as serving six years on the Executive Council of the Church. He has also served in many leadership capacities in the Diocese of West Tennessee. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Stephanie Turnbull Cheney; his three children, Antoinette Bibb Cheney (Don DeRooy) of Memphis, Reynolds Smith Cheney III (Arden) of Columbus, Georgia, and Ruth Cheney Patton (Kurt) of Memphis; his grandchildren, Dorothy Cheney, Bauer Patton and Glover Patton, and his stepsons, Brian Helm (Susan) and Ben Helm (Mark Jones). He is also survived by his brother, William Garner Cheney (Martha) of Birmingham, Alabama; his sister, Winifred Cheney Barron (Pat) of West Point, Virginia; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews across the country. He was predeceased by his first wife, Allan Glover Walker Cheney.

Sarah Rose Parkinson married Lee Morrison on June 3, 2017 at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Jackson, Mississippi. The couple lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

2013 Isabella Auchus graduated summa cum laude this spring and was also Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Pennsylvania. In February, she was named a 2017 Dean Scholar. This honor is presented annually to students who exhibit exceptional academic performance and potential.

Aumbriel Schwirian was inducted into the honor society Phi Kappa Phi. The oldest multi-discipline honor society in America, Phi Kappa Phi honors the top 10 percent of college seniors. Schwirian graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Mississippi State University in May and is currently enrolled in the school’s veterinary medicine program.

IN MEMORIAM

John Mitchell Bower ’79 5/7/1961 – 1/11/2017 John Mitchell Bower graduated from St. Andrew’s in 1979.

Bower received his undergraduate degree from Belhaven University, where he held a soccer scholarship. Bower also earned an MBA from Millsaps College. In his youth, he was a competitive swimmer, enduro motorcycle enthusiast, and a pioneer of soccer in Mississippi. Bower was married to the former Bondee Hall. The couple had two sons, Brant Parker and Hunter Reid. Bower was an enthuAsher Tuck Katz ’12 siastic, attentive, and loving father who enjoyed travel1/28/1994 – 4/1/2017 ing across the country to watch and coach his boys in Asher Katz graduated from St. Andrew’s in 2012. He soccer. He also thrived in the outdoors, enjoying water attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi, skiing, snow skiing, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, and where he studied political science and was an active memboating. John was also a successful businessman, serv- ber of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a fraternal music society. ing as president and CEO of Pure Water Solution. He is Katz enjoyed cooking, snow skiing, and spending time with survived by his parents, Mandaville Bower and Dr. John his girlfriend, Katie Yoches, their dogs, Lady and Scamp, Bower (Edna Curry); his siblings, Anne Travis ’77 (Chris) and their bunnies, Oliver and Honey. He is survived by his and Paul Bower (Sarah); his wife of 34 years, Bondee Hall parents, Howard T. Katz and W. Cheryl Katz; grandparents Bower; his sons, Brant Bower (Mollie) and Hunter Bower Melvin and Estaline Katz, Gail and Ed Wilson, and Lena (Kate); four grandchildren, Landon, Lyric, Emerson and Ainsworth; sisters Jennifer Cook and Lily Katz ’16; and his Presly; and many nieces and nephews. brother, Kovi Katz ’14.

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THE TIES THAT BIND THE CLASS OF 2017 INCLUDED 27 MEMBERS WITH SIBLINGS OR PARENTS WHO ARE ALUMNI OR CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PATRON SAINTS (OR FORMER TRUSTEES), CORPORATION, OR FACULTY AND STAFF. 36% OF THE CLASS CLAIMS A TIE TO ST. ANDREW’S.

Nikhil Arora ’16, Neha Arora

Isabella Auchus ’13, Alex Auchus

Addie Bagot, Thomas Bagot ’13

McLean Boone, Lisa Boone (Faculty)

Chris Boyle, Carter Boyle ’15

Carolyn Brown (Faculty), Sam Brown

Jarian Cottingham ’13, Camera Cottingham

Anne Dulske (Regent), Boudreaux Dulske, Sarah Chase Dulske ’15, Luke Dulske ’14, David Dulske ’12

Morgan Dunnigan, Colin Dunnigan (Staff)

Lauren Friedrich ’14, Drew Friedrich

Hugh Goings ’15, Meredith Goings, Dolly Goings ’86, Wesley Goings (Patron Saint)

Nicholas Harvel, Mallory Harvel ’16

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Max Martin ’13, Axelinta Martin ’81, Peter Martin, Clara Martin ’09.

Not pictured is Sam Martin ’11

Noah McDaniel, Ray McDaniel (Staff)

Savanna McDonald ’11, Jaclyn McDonald

Bet McNeel ’15, Emma McNeel, Kate McNeel ’82

Scott Robertson (Regent), Pearce Robertson.

Not pictured are Alex Duckworth ’16 and Palmer Duckworth ’14

Udoka Robertson, Danielle Robertson ’14

Addison Sharp, Jackson Sharp ’15

Tanya Shenoy, Divya Shenoy ’10

Caroline Speetjens ’14, Andrew Speetjens, Karel Speetjens ’87

Tanya Tiwari ’07, Athena Tiwari, Sonia Tiwari ’10

Louis Watson ’84, Jamie Watson (Patron Saint), Emily Watson, Jane Ashley Watson ’15

Shannon Watt (Staff), Lewis Watt

NOT PICTURED: Emani Sullivan, Emmanuel Sullivan ‘13

Caley Watts, Grace Watts ’14

Daniel Yeh ’15, Sharon Yeh

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“I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE A FIRST GRADER TODAY – HOW EXCITED I’D BE TO SEE THESE FACILITIES AND KNOW THAT I WAS A PART OF ST. ANDREW’S.” DOLLY GOINGS

Mother and daughter Dolly Creekmore Goings ’86 and Meredith Goings ’17 on the changing St. Andrew’s campuses and what the school’s new facilities mean to them.

I ATTENDED ST. ANDREW’S from the first through sixth grades, when the entire school was located on the South Campus. I remember watching Upper School musicals in the South Campus auditorium (which seemed huge to me), attending football games on the old field when Dan Roach was a player instead of a coach, and the dreaded “green bench,” where students were sent when they got in trouble. I also have vivid memories of the commons, which I thought was gigantic.

Everyone ate together, from the first graders to the 16and 17-year-old “big kids.” I can vividly remember what we ate, where we sat, and occasionally, who threw up.

When St. Andrew’s acquired the property where the North Campus now stands, they put a tabletop model of what the new campus was going to look like on display at the South Campus. Everyone was so intrigued.

While so many of St. Andrew’s best qualities – emphasis on the arts and athletics as well as academics, the outstanding faculty, a commitment to diversity, service to the community – have remained the same, St. Andrew’s has kept up with new practices and trends in education.

The new facilities on both campuses are a physical symbol of St. Andrew’s position as an educational leader, a tangible sign of St. Andrew’s commitment to its students, its mission statement, and the greater community beyond the school’s campuses.

I can only imagine what it would be like to be a first grader today – how excited I’d be to see these facilities and know that I was a part of St. Andrew’s. – Dolly Goings ’86

I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN THE McRae Science Center opened. I was able to watch the construction process from my classes in the Middle School, and actually being one of the first students to get to learn in that building was an amazing gift.

I also watched the Athletics and Recreation Center being built during my senior year at St. Andrew’s. As a former member of the St. Andrew’s dance team, I’m a little sad – and okay, a little jealous – that I won’t be able to dance in The ARC, but I’m also so proud to see my school open a beautiful facility like this. Giving the dance team its own space shows that dancing is valued.

And when you know your sport – or your favorite academic subject or your artistic creativity – is valued, you’re inspired to work even harder.

When a first grader or Middle School student looks at the McRae Science Center, The ARC, or the new facilities to come, they are sure to feel that same inspiration to work hard and do their best. And even for students whose interests don’t lie in science or sports, these amazing facilities are sure to boost their school spirit. Every St. Andrew’s student and graduate can be even more proud of their school and what it means to the community.

Whenever I mention that I graduated from St. Andrew’s, someone says, “Oh, I saw those ACT scores, I heard about that new facility, I heard that St. Andrew’s gives back to the community.” St. Andrew’s has earned a reputation as a school that’s always looking for ways to encourage and enhance learning. I am so proud to be a St. Andrew’s alumna and so happy to see other students have that same experience. – Meredith Goings ’17, Freshman at Wofford College

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THANK YOU FORWARD SAINTS DONORS FOR MAKING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER AND THE ARC POSSIBLE. AS GIFTS AND PLEDGES ARE RECEIVED, ST. ANDREW’S WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH STAGE 2 OF THE FORWARD SAINTS CAMPAIGN. There is so much more we plan to do and there is still an opportunity for you to be a part of the greatest transformation in St. Andrew’s history.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT STAGE TWO OR TO MAKE YOUR GIFT OR PLEDGE, VISIT GOSAINTS.ORG/FORWARDSAINTS. STAGE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOL RENOVATION and 5TH GRADE LOFT DINING COMMONS RENOVATION

Architect Jack Allin ’96 of Wier Boerner Allin Architecture is designing the stage two projects.

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PAID

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