The Ridge, Fall 2018 by Blue Ridge School

THE

RIDGE FALL 2018

GREETINGS FROM ST. GEORGE

s we near our 110th Anniversary, Blue Ridge School is in a time of positive transition. Blue Ridge School 2020, the Strategic Plan written by School leaders and Trustees back in 2014, charted an ambitious course of growth. Each year since, as goals within the Plan have been accomplished, the School has become stronger. School growth relies upon important sources of strength. This version of The Ridge speaks to some of those sources: Our great alumni, many serving and leading the Board of Trustees, are our foundational source of strength. Blue Ridge School thrives because of alumni such as Dickie Brawley ’68 whose 2018 Distinguished Alumnus Award is the feature of an article on page fifteen. You’ll read on page three how members of the Alumni Leadership Council such as Parker Douglas ’98 have made possible a new Fitness Center on campus. Blue Ridge School has endured because of its longest-term source of strength, the New York Auxiliary. The histories of the School and the Auxiliary are intertwined, as you’ll read on pages thirteen and fourteen. Students continue to thrive because of another central source of strength, our teachers and staff. The contributions of long-term educators such as Dan Dunsmore and Tony Brown are featured on page ten. The impact and upside of newer teachers are

shown in the article on page seven about Michael Herring. Finally, the dedication to innovation in the classroom and ongoing professional growth is exemplified by Marcia Kozloski; you’ll learn more about her Summer Research Grant in Spain on page eleven. In 2019, Blue Ridge School will go through both the accreditation process of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools as well as the strategic planning process, the writing of Blue Ridge School 2025. In order to achieve the next growth phase, the School will rely not only on the steadfast sources of strength that have lifted us to the present position of success, but new sources must emerge to push us higher. Blue Ridge School is healthy. Boys are thriving here. Teachers deploy their incredible talents in devotion to our mission. Campus life brims with activity. Facilities and the beautiful School grounds are cared for lovingly by expert staff. It is from the present position of strength that we set our sights higher. No better term captures our goal than “Mission Permanence.” What financial and curricular base will

be required so that we who care so much about Blue Ridge School may preserve our mission in perpetuity? We want Blue Ridge School to serve generations upon generations of boys to come. Achieving mission permanence may not be something we can accomplish in the time frame of one five-year Strategic Plan. Yet it’s the bar we set and sources of strength like you will help us get there. Baron Strong!

TRIP DARRIN

Blue Ridge School Headmaster

TABLE OF CONTENTS WHAT’S UP ON THE RIDGE

TERRY FOX RUN

NEW FITNESS CENTER

NEW FACULTY HOUSING PROJECT

PAGE 3

BEING BARON BROTHERS PAGE 5

LEGACIES AT BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL

LACROSSE AS CRAFT AND CULTURE:

A PROFILE OF COACH HERRING

BY JACK CHARBONEAU ’20

PAGE 7

CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS PAGE 10

DAN DUNSMORE AND TONY BROWN

LEARNING ON EL CAMINO

PAGE 11

MARCIA KOZLOSKI’S SUMMER RESEARCH GRANT

NEW YORK AUXILIARY’S 110TH YEAR

PAGE 13

2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS DICKIE BRAWLEY ’68

PAGE 15

HOMECOMING 2018 PAGE 17 IN MEMORIAM PAGE 20 A STORIED HISTORY PAGE 22

BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION:

THE BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL MISSION:

Mr. William “Trip” Darrin III, Headmaster Mr. Franklin Daniels, Associate Headmaster for External Affairs Dr. Kevin Miller, Associate Headmaster for Academics & Operations Mr. Vinton Bruton, Assistant Headmaster for Co-curricular Programs

We focus on helping boys reach their potential through

THE RIDGE:

personalized, structured, innovative learning practices in a college-preparatory, all-boarding community. Blue Ridge School admits qualified young men of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded

Mr. John Dudley, Director of Marketing & Communications Editor

or made available to students at the School. Blue Ridge

Mr. Dan Dunsmore, Chair of the English Department Principal Writer

its educational policies, admission policies, financial

Ms. Hilde Keldermans, Graphic Designer

WWW.BLUERIDGESCHOOL.COM

School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of assistance and loan programs, athletic and other administered programs.

WHAT’S UP ON THE RIDGE

ABOVE: CHRIS KNIGHT ’20 TRIES OUT THE NEW CLIMBING WALL.

FITNESS AND ACTIVITY CENTER

lue Ridge School has an amazing new facility for weight training, cardio exercise, and rock climbing thanks to the generosity of many alumni and friends. The new fitness and activity center is located in the former wrestling room in the field house; the wrestling room has been moved to the former weight room.

heavy weight racks, dumbbell racks and weights, plus elliptical machines and treadmills. It also includes an additional 1,500 square feet of flex space for group exercise and mobile equipment, such as battle ropes. The most striking addition is the installation of a two-story, indoor climbing wall, including a single-story bouldering section.

The facility includes over 2,400 square feet of floor space for new

The creation of the fitness center was led by generous gifts from Parker

TERRY FOX RUN

Douglas ’98, The Alumni Leadership Council, the 2017/18 Parent Council, and The Walton Family Foundation. Athletics Director Bryan Puckett says, “Athletics and personal fitness have always been an integral part of the Blue Ridge student experience. This new facility will allow us to grow our team sports and encourage a life of healthy activity for our students.”

ess than two months after arriving for the first time at Blue Ridge School, Junior Jack Charboneau of Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, planned and coordinated an event that raised nearly $500 for cancer research. Jack’s hometown is known for also being the hometown of Terry Fox, a young man who raised millions of dollars for cancer research. Fox’s life was forever altered when he was diagnosed with cancer as a teen and needed to have his right leg amputated. He decided to run on a prosthetic leg

NEW FACULTY HOUSING

uring the October meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the final plans for the construction of six new faculty housing units, including two duplexes and two stand-alone homes. These units will be built behind the Gibson Chapel near the two units built in 2015. Having faculty live on campus is part of what makes the boarding school experience so effective and increasing the number of faculty living at Blue Ridge School has been a part of the school’s 2020 Strategic Plan. BRW Architects has developed a site plan that creates a Faculty Commons with a general U shape and a generous common area in the middle. The buildings echo many architectural elements found around campus, such as exposed rafter tails on the eaves, field stone, and red roofs similar to those on Gibson Memorial Chapel and Battle House. Construction is expected to begin in December and be completed during the summer of 2019.

across Canada to raise awareness for cancer victims and to raise money for cancer research. Sadly, Fox’s cancer returned and claimed his life before he completed the Terry Fox Marathon for Hope, but not before raising millions of dollars and the admiration of his fellow Canadians. As a young boy, Jack attended Terry Fox Primary School and has partici-

ABOVE: ARCHITECTURAL SKETCHES OF: FACULTY COMMONS; SINGLEFAMILY HOME, AND DUPLEX FACULTY HOME

pated in Terry Fox Runs for the past 15 years. He wanted to continue that tradition and quickly set out to hold Blue Ridge School’s inaugural Terry Fox Run. During assembly one morning, Jack shared Terry Fox’s story and his plan for a run just days later. Inspired by Terry Fox’s goal of raising one dollar for every Canadian, Jack set out to raise one dollar for every person at Blue Ridge. We are excited

that he raised more than double his goal, and more than 100 students and faculty participated in the run. If his first months are any indication of the kind of student he will continue to be, Jack Charboneau will surely have a lasting effect on Blue Ridge School.

BEING BARON BROTHERS LEGACIES AT BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL 2018-2019

SEATED LEFT TO RIGHT: MAURICIO LOPEZ ’20, LIAM MORAN ’21, AND EDWIN ROBINSON ’21. STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: ALEX DILLARD ’19, BRYCE DILLARD ’20, ALEJANDRO LOPEZ ’20, MOSES MORAN ’19, ZACH NEUMANN ’19, PRESTON NEUMANN ’21, COLBY BOYD ’19, ROBERT BOYD ’22, AND HENRY ROBINSON ’19.

hen you ask students what makes Blue Ridge School such a special place, a word you often hear is “brotherhood.” It’s no surprise that the students form so close a bond that they feel like brothers. All of the students are boarding, so they learn to live with one another in the dining hall and in the dorms. They compete on sports teams together. They study together. They see one another on their good days and their bad ones—at their worst and at their best. The Baron brotherhood forms a strong bond. What is it like, though, for actual brothers to be at Blue Ridge School together? This is an exciting year because we have an unusually large number of legacies on campus—sons and grandsons of alumni, cousins and nephews of alumni, and many broth-

ers of alumni. Also included among this number are six sets of brothers (including one pair of twins) on campus together. Though these pairs have this in common, their experiences are quite unique. Some participate in programs together; others rarely see one another. For some the experience has strengthened their bond; for others being at Blue Ridge School together is much like their lives back home. Coming to Blue Ridge gave Colby and Robert Boyd a chance to finally live apart. The brothers shared a room growing up in Prospect, Kentucky, and finally having a different roommate is something both of them seem to be enjoying. Robert, a sophomore, says with a laugh, “It’s a lot like home. He never comes to see me unless he needs something.”

Colby, a senior, takes the jab in stride adding, “If I’ve been off campus and brought back some food, I’ll share with him. Overall things haven’t changed much with him being here. He’s just someone to look out for.” Alex and Bryce Dillard of Spotsylvania, Virginia, have a similar experience. Though they are closer in age (a senior and a junior, respectively), they rarely see one another outside of the dining hall. Nonetheless, Bryce gives his brother credit for easing the transition to life on campus: “Having my brother here with me gave me a kick-start to broadening my social circle. I learned from him what to expect from being a Baron.” While the Boyds and the Dillards are happy living their separate lives, Henry and Edwin Robinson of Alexandria, Virginia, enjoy spending time

“The best part about having my brother with me at BRS is just having family on campus. It’s like you never left home.” - Moses Moran ’19

LEGACIES AT BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL 2018-2019 SONS OF ALUMNI:

together, and they see one another often. Edwin, a sophomore, says they have a lot in common, and he knows he won’t have the chance to see his brother regularly when Henry goes to college next year. Edwin also values their existing bond saying, “If you have a problem and you don’t want to talk about it with your friends or your teachers, you can always go to your brother.” Reliance on family is even more important when you are far from home. Twins Mauricio and Alejandro Lopez came to Blue Ridge School from a city in Mexico’s Yucatan region. Alejandro says they often have meals together and go to the gym, but the best part about having his brother with him on campus is having someone he can talk to about issues in their home country. Distance from home has been a big factor for Zach and Preston Neumann of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. They both admit that they fought with each other a lot back home, but that has stopped at Blue Ridge. Preston, a sophomore, says going to boarding school together has brought them closer together. “Now I have a much better relationship with him, and I learned that we share more in common than I knew about before.” Zach echoes his brother’s feelings, saying, “The best part about having a brother at Blue Ridge is being able to have someone you can really trust

and can rely on to have your back when you need it. I have become closer to him and would even go as far as to consider my brother as a friend to me because Blue Ridge has brought us closer than we ever would have at home.” That brotherly bond is quickly evident between Moses and Liam Moran of Butler, Pennsylvania. Moses, a senior, says he was excited to learn that his brother would be coming to BRS because they would be playing lacrosse together. He says, “The best part about having my brother with me at BRS is just having family on campus. It’s like you never left home. You rarely get homesick because you get to see someone from your family every day. My brother and I are super close now. We are each other’s best friend.” Liam could not agree more but admits they might be a unique case: “Some people might not want to be with their brother at a boarding school, but I love having my brother here. It is awesome! If my brother were not here at BRS with me I don’t know what I would do. I am very thankful that I have an amazing brother, and I love him very much.” Being a Baron brother is undoubtedly special, but, if these students are any indication, it does not compare to being the brother of a fellow Baron.

Adam Rudolph ’22 - Rudy Rudolph ’96 Sanders Walker ’22 - Neil Walker ’94 Colby ’19 and Robert ’22 Boyd - Morton Boyd ’86 St. George Donovan ’20 - Anthony Donovan ’80

CURRENT BROTHERS (BOTH ARE ENROLLED): Moses ’19 and Liam ’21 Moran Zachary ’19 and Preston ’21 Neumann Henry ’19 and Edwin ’21 Robinson Alex ’19 and Bryce ’22 Dillard Mauricio ’21 and Alejandro ’22 Lopez Colby ’19 and Robert ’22 Boyd

BROTHERS OF ALUMNI: Tristan Adams ’19 - brother Jacob Adams ’18 Blake Koenning ’22 - brother Trace Koenning ’20 Selby Morgan ’20- brothers Connor ’16 and Jacob Morgan ’15 Caleb Werner ’19 - brother Jacob Werner ’16 Cayden Williams ’21- step-brother Myles Jones ’18 Ryan Wills ’21 - brother Tyler Wills ’18 Vincent Wade ’22- brother Evan Wade ’16

NEPHEW OR COUSIN: Cole Kennedy ’21 - uncle attended Abdullah Al Saud ’19 - cousin attended Angus Middleton ’19 - uncle attended Levi Moss ’20 - cousin attended Spencer Pruett ’22 - uncle and cousin attended, grandfather Dick Hall was a trustee Dylan Strasser ’20 - uncle attended Tianlin “Tim” Wang ’22 - cousin attended Tate Whitmer ’22 - uncle attended

LACROSSE AS CRAFT AND CULTURE

A PROFILE OF VARSITY LACROSSE HEAD COACH MICHAEL HERRING by Jack Charboneau ’20

aking a recipe for a winning team is not an easy task. You need your dry ingredients (in this case, the players). Then comes the wet ingredients, the systems implemented, the decision to be offensive or defensive. Then you mix everything together with a wooden spoon, which is the coach. Next is the most important part—the baking process where everything starts to truly come together and the identity of the team is forged. After it cools, the product is ready to be shown off and to use what it has been given. Blue Ridge School Varsity Lacrosse

Head Coach Michael Herring is no stranger to this process. He lives it every single day. Herring came from the lacrosse hotbed of Syracuse, New York. As the son of a college professor at Syracuse University and a literacy teacher in the city, the writing was on the wall for him to become a Syracuse supporter. He grew up with some of the best college lacrosse and basketball ever played. During his childhood, Herring lived and breathed everything Syracuse.

His love of lacrosse comes not only from the fact that Syracuse was one of the best programs in the country, but also because of his ancestral roots. He is a member of the Onondaga Nation (Eel clan), which has a history of producing many talented lacrosse players. Lacrosse is an essential part of life for Native Americans

in up-state New York, and for Herring it is no different. They value the game and are thankful for “the creator” (god-like figure) for the game he allows us all to play. Herring’s playing career was a very successful one,

“A culture of appreciation allows for both excellence and dealing with adversity.” - Michael Herring

and that included a stop at Christian Brothers Academy where he compiled an impressive high school career. From there, Herring was recruited to play NCAA Division I lacrosse in the Ivy League at Dartmouth College in Andover, New Hampshire. Four years later, he graduated with an A.B in Education. After an unlucky bounce with the Manhattan banking firm Goldman-Sachs, Herring started teaching in the private-school system with short stints at the Maple Brook School and the New York Military Academy. He is forever grateful for those opportunities as it was also where he met his eventual wife Deborah. Next up for Herring was a twenty-two year stint at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts. For sixteen years he was the varsity lacrosse and basketball coach at Nobles, developing both of his programs into New England powerhouses. Coach Herring won the state title twice for lacrosse and says, “I will cherish my time at Nobles for the rest of my life.” Herring attributes a lot of his success to his coaching influences: Bobby Knight of the Indiana Hoosiers; Dick Whitmore, one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time at Colby College; and Roy Simmons, Jr., the multiple-championship winning lacrosse coach at Syracuse University.

“Bob Knight was my biggest influence because of the way he ran his practices.” After watching at what the time was a standard VHS tape of a Bobby Knight coaching clinic, Herring became inspired to explore the craft of coaching as he continued to try to find ways to challenge his players, coaching staff, and himself to make practice a great and efficient place. He also attributes Bob Knight’s intensity in both the games and practices to be some of his inspirations for coaching a high-level team today. The choice to leave Nobles was tough but at the same time a seamless decision for Coach Herring and his wife. They had raised all three of their kids at Nobles and had memories that would last them a lifetime. But there were also some reasons to look for a change of scenery. Both of their sons were attending or going to be attending school in the mid-Atlantic and the south. At the time, son Mikey was a sophomore lacrosse player at the University of Virginia; Jonathan was graduating from Nobles and preparing to attend the drama program at Sewanee in Tennessee. A longing to see both of his sons perform—whether on the field or on the stage—fueled Herring to look for new opportunities. With the luck of the draw, Michael and Deborah found themselves with jobs as lacrosse coach/English teacher and math teacher at a small boarding school just a few miles from the heart of Charlottesville. “It was a blessing for the whole family.”

The task ahead was a challenge, a big challenge. Michael was to change the culture of the whole lacrosse program here at Blue Ridge School. How was he going to do it? The answer for Michael was simple—to adopt a “culture of appreciation.” A culture of appreciation isn’t so much a strict list of how to play lacrosse but more of an attitude. “If you wish to be a successful part of the culture of appreciation, you must be thankful and grateful for everybody — your fellow teammates, coaches. You must say ‘thank you’ to your teachers after every class, thankful for the people in the business office, SAGE Dining, and most of all thankful for the janitorial staff that looks after us every single day.” “A culture of appreciation allows for both excellence and dealing with adversity.” Herring noted that it is very important to maintain this culture when the program is on the rise because eventually team members will have their backs against the wall and can rely on the idea preached to them every day. Another important part of the culture of appreciation is the idea of “touching base.” Cam Kewley, a potential allstar defenseman and captain for the 2018-19 season, says touching base is simple: “It’s a positive reinforcement of the culture of appreciation. This comes full-circle to the team every time it’s together. By touching base with a calm, reassuring fist pump and looking into each other’s eyes, every single player, coach, and manager is reassured that everything will be okay

2018 VIC LACROSSE CHAMPIONS

STANDING FROM LEFT: ASSISTANT COACH PATRICK CURTIN, SAM BENNETT ’20, CHARLIE KING ’19, SHANE FORD ’18, BALLARD EARLEY ’18 ANDREW LANDMAN ’20, ADAM THISTLEWAITE ’21, RHYS RODRIGUES ’18, MOSES MORAN ’19, LIAM MORAN ’21, KEEGAN KOZACK ’20, LOGAN MARSHALL ’19, ASSISTANT COACH CHUCK PACE, AND HEAD COACH MICHAEL HERRING. KNEELING FROM LEFT: BRYCE ADKINSON ’21, CHRIS KNIGHT ’20, ICEYSIS LEWIS ’20, JOEY SZABO ’19, CONNOR MODD ’18, TYLER EWEN ’18, SPENCER CADIEUX ’18, LEVI MOSS ’20 AND CAM KEWLEY ’20.

because everybody has your back.” This is a cornerstone to Herring’s culture of appreciation. When asked what he was most proud of after his first season as the head varsity lacrosse coach at Blue Ridge School, Herring said that it was implementing the culture of appreciation around not only the lacrosse team but the whole Blue Ridge community. An incredibly exciting season awaits Herring’s Barons as they look to defend their V.I.C. Conference title and also make a serious dent in the picture of VISAA Division I Lacrosse. With arguably one of the toughest schedules in the state, the Barons will be playing some of the best teams not only in Virginia, but also in the nation.

as Coach Herring continues to have a major impact in the recruiting game. When recruiting players, he puts a specific emphasis on players who are citizen-scholar-athletes. He seeks young men who will support the culture of appreciation, and he also hopes that the culture he has established will be very appealing to potential recruits.

The Barons will be primed to compete with these challenging teams

When writing this article, I can’t help but think of the first time I talked to

After all is said and done, he wants most of all for the School, the Board of Trustees, the alumni, and the faculty to be extremely proud of the program he his building. Coach Herring also wishes for his players to be recognized by the faculty members as being some of the finest kids they have ever met.

Coach Herring. It was a very gloomy day in February in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. We had set up a call early in the morning. I was so nervous to be talking to this coach from a school I had never heard about before. After peppering him with questions for almost an hour and a half, I could tell there was something waiting for me in St. George, Virginia. Now that I am here, I can feel and see all that he is talking about, especially the culture of appreciation, which is evident every single minute I’m here at Blue Ridge. Calling that strange coach on that gloomy morning has changed my life forever, and I will be forever grateful to call Michael Herring my coach.

CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS

Two outstanding members of the faculty are celebrating 20 years of service to Blue Ridge School. DAN DUNSMORE

TONY BROWN

an Dunsmore is best known for his role as a teacher at Blue Ridge School, having taught in the Fishburne Learning Center, English as a second language, and in the English Department where he is now chair. However, he has served the community and students in a variety of ways, including director of the annual fund, alumni relations, and summer programs. Dunsmore has been the editor of the literary magazines Pegasus and Fortior. He has also been a writer and editor for Blue Ridge School’s magazine, The Ridge. In 2018 he was the winner of the Golden Apple Award for Teaching. He is a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee and earned his master’s degree in Secondary English Education from Georgia State University. He may be best known at Blue Ridge School as the successful head coach of Squire basketball, an enthusiastic group of entry-level players.

uring his twenty years at Blue Ridge School, Tony Brown has served 15 of those as dean of students. Headmaster Trip Darrin says, “That is one of the hardest roles at a boarding school, yet Tony Brown does it with equanimity and positivity year after year.” He also has served as director of summer programs and taught in the Fishburne Learning Center. Brown was the founding director of Blue Ridge School’s Outdoor Program, initiated the development of the School’s 15mile hiking and biking trail network, and he started the BRS mountain biking team. His devotion to serving others extends well beyond the gates of Blue Ridge School. Brown has worked tirelessly for the food pantry, Tuesday Table, GRACE, Habitat for Humanity, and World Bicycle Relief. In recognition for his work, in 2010 he was the winner of the Golden Apple Award for Teaching and in 2018 he was named a Hometown Hero.

Dan Dunsmore and Tony Brown both arrived in St. George in 1998 and continue to shape the lives of young Barons.

LEARNING ON EL CAMINO

SUMMER RESEARCH GRANT

by John Dudley, Marketing & Communications Director

eteran foreign languages teacher Marcia Kozloski spent three weeks in Spain this summer participating in Programa de Formación de Profesores Lengua y Cultura el Camino de Santiago, an international professional development program at the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. The opportunity was made possible through Blue Ridge School’s Faculty Summer Research Grant. The School started the grant to fulfill its Strategic Plan goal of recruiting and retaining exceptional faculty.

The Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimage routes leading to the burial site of St. James in the Galicia region of Spain. Since the 9th Century, Christians have traveled the 1,500-km pilgrimage trail, which is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ms. Kozloski says the benefits of the program were two-fold: she learned about the history, literature, and culture associated with the centuries-old Camino de Santiago; and she learned many new teaching tools she can incorporate into her classes

and share with her colleagues at Blue Ridge School. “The classes were very good. They use a lot of technology. They use memes to teach everything from history to math.” She says she learned about engaging students by using parody and music: “They use trap music—not rap music, but trap music. I had never heard of it before.” Additionally, she says she exchanged ideas with her fellow students, who were experienced teachers from around the world—Mexico, Vene-

“With my students we can use the Camino de Santiago to learn about history, geography, literature, economics, the ruins, the legends, the symbols. There are so many interesting things.” - Marcia Kozloski, Chair of the Foreign Languages Department

MARCIA KOZLOSKI IN SANTIAGO, SPAIN

zuela, South Korea, and the United States. “I have some project based learning (PBL) programs ready for my classroom, and I am working on a program for my colleagues. With my students we can use the Camino de Santiago to learn about history, geography, literature, economics, the ruins, the legends, the symbols. There are so many interesting things.” Ms. Kozloski is from Brazil, and she teaches both Portuguese and Spanish at Blue Ridge School. This

MARCIA AT THE ROYAL PALACE IN MADRID

program gave her an opportunity to improve her Spanish fluency through foreign-language immersion. “The classes were all in Spanish. I had to write in Spanish. I didn’t hear a word of English while I was there. It was very good for me.”

boys change, too. We are there with them every day. We get to figure out how each student learns. I love this school because they let us be flexible. If I want to incorporate more music, I can add more music. As long as we teach, we can be creative.”

Ms. Kozloski is starting her 18th year at Blue Ridge School and is chair of the Foreign Languages Department. She says one of the joys of teaching at Blue Ridge School is facing new challenges every year. “I love a challenge. I change my classes every year. I give new tests every year. And the

While her colleagues are anxious to learn how they too can incorporate new teaching tools into their classroom, the students are likely more interested in hearing about Ms. Kozloski’s new interest in trap music.

110 YEARS OF SUPPORTING BRS

THE NEW YORK AUXILIARY

olite, society ladies are not regularly recognized for their courage. However, the women of the New York Auxiliary for Blue Ridge School should be. The Auxiliary is comprised primarily of women who have left the comfort and security of their homes and families in the South to find opportunity (and often love) among the throngs of New York City. Many Auxiliary members were born and raised in the rolling hills of the Piedmont of Virginia and North Carolina only to thrive in the concrete jungle. All the while, these new, New York socialites remembered their southern roots. Since 1909, through two world wars, the Great Depression, and multiple cultural changes, the women of the New York Auxiliary have held an annual fundraiser for Blue Ridge School.

The New York Auxiliary for Blue Ridge School is the longest-running, continuous fundraising event of its kind in New York City. When other organizations have faltered or failed,

the Auxiliary has persevered — undaunted for 110 years. As times have changed, the New York Auxiliary has changed where it allocates its funds and how it raises them. Until 1924, supporters of the Auxiliary gathered for a “Silver Tea,” an afternoon reception at a private home. Those tea parties later became evenings of dinner and dancing. Auxiliary member Holly Hunt has been instrumental in creating memorable Blue & White Balls over the years. She says, “I chaired the Ball during the Year of the Dragon and my co-chair Kelly Harris and I enjoyed going down to Chinatown to pick out table décor. Kelly had lived in Hong Kong in the 1990s, as had my mother in the 1960s so the theme was near and dear to our hearts.” Now those formal balls are becoming a lively night of cocktails and casino games at Manhattan’s funky club The Doubles. Ellen Marsteller, a Richmond transplant and Collegiate graduate who is among the Auxilia-

ry’s newer members, says, “We want to attract a younger crowd this year, so we’re planning an event that will be sexier, a little edgier than the traditional Auxiliary ball.” Katie Anderson, an Auxiliary member who graduated from Charlottesville’s Covenant School, echoes that sentiment: “The old, gala ball with tuxedos and gowns has fallen from the New York social atmosphere. Events are more casual now, so we want to create an event that’s still fancy but not rigid. Naturally we want to support Blue Ridge School, but we want people to have fun while doing so.” So the evolution of the New York Auxiliary continues as its members courageously create a fundraiser for the 21st century. This year’s Blue & White Bash will be held on January 26, 2019, and the New York Auxiliary extends a sincere invitation to the entire Blue Ridge School community. If you are interested in joing these steadfast supporters of Blue Ridge School for an evening of fun, call 434992-0585 for details.

MORE THAN A CENTURY OF SUPPORT

FROM BROADWAY TO THE BLUE RIDGE

hrough wars, depression, and the aftermath of terrorist attacks, the women of the New York Auxiliary have remained committed to raising funds for Blue Ridge School. The practice began in 1909 with Mrs. Harriette Mayo and continues today. Elizabeth Copeland Norfleet says in her book Blue Ridge School: Samaritans of the Mountains, “It all began when Mr. Mayo called on Mr. Battle, a young North Carolina lawyer, who was rapidly making his mark in New York City. It was, however, Mrs. Battle who was instantly attracted to the cause of Virginia mountain children. She immediately inaugurated her life-long crusade on their behalf.” The annual gathering began as a Silver Tea, an afternoon reception where attendees placed their donation in a bowl as they entered and the proceeds went to the School. Later the tea parties became bridge parties. In the 1920s the annual fundraiser became a formal ball. The devotion of the New York Auxiliary grew among its members, particularly Mary Garland Allen Gregg, one of its founders. Mrs. Gregg’s support for the Auxiliary and Blue Ridge School did not go unnoticed; she was one of the first two women to serve on

the School’s Board of Trustees. Her daughter also was an active member of the Auxiliary and serves as a chair of the Ball. Her granddaughter Alexandra Gregg Smith, who has been a member of the Auxiliary for more than 20 years, served as chair of the Ball six times, and serves as the Auxiliary’s representative on the School’s Board of Trustees. During its 110 years of the service to Blue Ridge School, the Auxiliary has raised money for scholarships, building projects, and operating expenses; whatever the School has needed. A central reminder of this devotion is the New York Auxiliary Student Center, a hive of student activity. Mrs. Hope Tate, a member of both the New York Auxiliary and the Board of Trustees, says, “The Auxiliary has raised money for all sorts of things, even coal for the furnaces and food for the boys. In the early days, it was just about keeping the school alive.” The Auxiliary has been a leading contributor to modern needs, such as the construction of the Baron Athletic Complex. However, the members of the Auxiliary also have used their influence to affect societal change at the School. When they allocated their fundraising to scholarships for minority boys from New

ALEXANDRA SMITH, HOLLY HUNT, JACKIE DIDIER, LINDSAY BRICE, AND KELLY HARRIS HAVE ALL SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE BLUE AND WHITE BALL, THE NEW YORK AUXILIARY’S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL.

York, they effectively integrated Blue Ridge School. When the Board of the Blue Ridge Industrial School recognized the need for dramatic change to ensure survival, it was New York Auxiliary member Mrs. Mary Garland Allen Gregg who paid for a feasibility study that led to the transformation into a boarding school for boys. Following that decision, the Auxiliary promptly contributed $34,000 in a matching gift to the building fund. As Blue Ridge School enters the 21st century steadfast in its mission of “helping boys reach their potential through personalized, structured, innovative learning practices,” the New York Auxiliary too remains steadfast in its role as a counselor and guardian of Blue Ridge School.

2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD “Dickie restored trust, a spirit of collaboration, and working camaraderie among the Board of Trustees and management team. He has been an outstanding mentor to me and—above all—I consider him a dear friend.” - Headmaster Trip Darrin

HEADMASTER TRIP DARRIN PRESENTS THE 2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD TO DICKIE BRAWLEY ’68.

lue Ridge School presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest honor given to one of its graduates, on October 5, 2018, to Marion P. “Dickie” Brawley III ’68. Mr. Brawley served as a member of the Blue Ridge School Board of Trustees from 1997-2016, with three of those years (2013-16) as chairman. He is also the parent of a Blue Ridge School alumnus, M. Porter Brawley ’00. Under Brawley’s leadership as chairman, the School made many strides, including tripling the annual investment in facilities and grounds, launching a sustainability initiative that invested more than $1 million in energy infrastructure, doubling the

School’s annual investment in marketing, adding six miles of single-track hiking and biking trails to the School’s network, building a sanctuary garden, launching a new trustee orientation program that significantly increased engagement, and raising more than $2.7 million from more than 200 donors to build the Baron Athletic Complex. Headmaster Trip Darrin says, “Dickie restored trust, a spirit of collaboration, and working camaraderie among the Board of Trustees and management team. He has been an outstanding mentor to me and—above all—I consider him a dear friend.” Brawley says, “It was a true honor to be recognized as the Distinguished

Alumnus of Blue Ridge, but for me the best part was seeing how well Blue Ridge is doing on all fronts. If I contributed a small piece to the success of Blue Ridge while on the Board, it is even more satisfying to witness how much further the Board, the faculty, the administration, and the students have exceeded our successes. I am very proud of Trip and his team and the remarkable achievements they have made during their tenure.” “I think I speak for the great Class of 1968,” added Brawley, “when I say we were all impressed with the new football field and other improvements on campus, but most of all the positive spirit we witnessed. We look forward to returning to our school in the

PREVIOUS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI HONOREES William E. Woodroof, Jr. ’84 William E. Ramsey ’83 James L. Jessup, Jr. ’69 S. Clark Jenkins ’66 Dr. William S. Carver II ’75 Lt. Col. John Mitchell Bell ’84 ABOVE: DICKIE BRAWLEY ’68 AND HIS WIFE JOANIE

mountains of Virginia which provided so many happy memories.” Brawley has a distinguished history of service to Blue Ridge School. As a student he was a member of the Honor Council and was a Senior Prefect. He was also a member of the football, soccer, and lacrosse teams. Prior to becoming Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he served on many Board committees, including Finance, Advancement, Nominating, and Buildings & Grounds. Brawley is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College. He earned his MBA from The American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). He has worked for

four decades in the financial services industry and is senior partner of The Brawley Wealth Management Group. He is the devoted husband of his wife Joanie, who went to seminary to become an Episcopal priest after raising their children. When he’s not working, spending time with his family, or visiting Blue Ridge School, Brawley enjoys bird hunting and building copies of 17th-18th century furniture, including a grandfather clock as a wedding present for his son Porter and his wife. Blue Ridge School is known for graduating “doers,” men who go out into the world and spend their lives in service to their family, their community, their industry, and their fellow man. Dickie Brawley is a shining example of a Blue Ridge education in action.

Douglas H. Lees III ’68 Todd E. McFarlane ’86 David B. Lee ’79 Thomas J. Payette ’80 William S. Magann ’67 Julian P. Van Winkle III ’69

HOMECOMING 2018

CLASS OF 1968’S 50TH REUNION FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: HENRY FREEMAN, ALLEN FOARD, WALLY THOMAS, GEORGE HAMMOND, JOHN DANIEL, JIM ARNOLD, DICKIE COOKE, DICKIE BRAWLEY, BUFORD KING, RICHARD WADDELL AND BARRY WRIGHT

LEFT TO RIGHT: CHRIS PATERNO ’88, HOLT TRICE ’88, DUTCH SIERSEMA ’88, AND GRAEME LANG ’88.

LEFT TO RIGHT: THOMAS POWELL IV ’86, WILLIE NELSON ’86, AND BURKE EARLEY ’86.

COACH DON WOODWARD AND MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1998 FOOTBALL TEAM.

LEFT TO RIGHT: PARKER DOUGLASS ’98 AND CURT WEAVER ’95.

LEFT TO RIGHT: STEVE LEMAY ’88, JAMES WOODS ’88, AND ROB VINSON ’88.

LEFT TO RIGHT: DUTCH SIERSEMA ’88, HOLT TRICE ’88, JIM NIEDERBERGER, CHARLIE SUTER ’88, HUGH PLUMB ’88, JOHN BUCKEY ’88, AND JOHN BOWMER ’88.

LEFT TO RIGHT: ERIC STRASSER ’08, TRENT PARRISH ’08, AND DANIEL DESENBERG ’08. 18

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

FALL PARENT WEEKEND SPONSORS

THE WERNER FAMILY LAFAYETTE INN DARCY AMACHER, D.D.S. CHRISTIAN and LANI ARSENAULT KENNETH and NANCY BARNHART MYLES and LESLIE CULHANE AARON DANOS, JR. VIKKI KALITISI WALLACE and TAMMY KOENNING ENID MENDLESON JOHN and NANCY PATTERSON

IN MEMORIAM DR. BURR NOLAND CARTER II

Dr. Burr Noland Carter II, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Blue Ridge School, passed away on August 25, 2018. He was the son of Alice Blair Carter and Robert Hill Carter; the husband of Sally Place Carter; and the father of four children, Marian Worcester Carter “Polly” of Palm Desert, California, Burr Noland Carter III “Nick” of Richmond, Virginia, Edward Hill Carter “Ned” of Charlottesville, VA., and Sarah Carter Grey (Schuyler) of Denver, Colorado. Carter was born November 10, 1925, in Richmond and contracted paralytic polio of both legs at two years old. He spent six months at Johns Hopkins Hospital in rehabilitation and had a miraculous recovery with no residual symptoms. He graduated early from St. Christopher’s School in 1943 in order to enroll in the University of Virginia’s Navy ROTC program during World War II. Eight months later, he enlisted in the Naval Aviation Program in Pensacola, Florida, and was actively in the final stages of Flight Training School when the war ended. He was discharged from Flight Training School and returned to UVA as a pre-med student. At UVA, he was President of the Student Council, a member of the “Z”

Society, Pika, St. Anthony’s Hall, and the University Boxing and Baseball Teams. In June of 1950, Dr. Carter married Sarah “Sally” Lothrop Place of Greenwich, Connecticutt. Dr. Carter began his surgical career in 1958 in Richmond. He accepted a teaching position at what is now VCU Medical School, helped establish the Vascular Clinic there while being one of the assigned surgeons at Sheltering Arms Hospital. Shortly thereafter he helped form Surgical Associates of Richmond. Dr. Carter felt special empathy for all of his patients and made an extra effort to make their confinement as comfortable as possible. He served as President of the Virginia Surgical Society, President of the Southern Society of Clinical Surgeons, and was a member of the American College of Surgeons. He loved teaching, and was named as Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery at VCU Medical School. Dr. Carter was also on the Advisory Board of the Beirne Carter Immunology Center at

KIMBALL L. MISKOE ’66

Kimball L. Miskoe ’66 of Rhinebeck, New York, passed away on July 21, 2018, at his home after a long battle with dementia. Kim was born July 17, 1946, in Sydney, Australia, to the late William I. and Dorothy (Fitch) Miskoe.

the University of Virginia. Dr. Carter’s love and appreciation of history, and especially family history, inspired him to collect decades upon decades of family correspondence, diaries, and notes; coupled with unending research to write a two-volume book, A Goodly Heritage, a history of the Carter family in Virginia dating back to 1635. He served as President of the Virginia Historical Society and on the Boards of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (Preservation Virginia) and Historic Christ Church in Lancaster County. His life was more than being a doctor, husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He was a deeply faith-based man who found solace in churches where he had community and residential affiliations. He loved sports, the out of doors and his many friends. He was dearly loved and will be missed by many, especially his appreciative family.

At Blue Ridge School Kim ran cross country and track, played soccer, was a Prefect, and even was a student driver. He spent his career as an illustrator and graphic designer with a particular passion for animation. Kimball married Laura Wasserman on September 7, 1996, at Sepasco Lake, Rhinebeck, New York and Laura continues to live at the home they shared. Kim will be remembered by all who knew him well for his kindness, his love of obscure music, his impish sense of humor, and his insatiable enjoyment of the outdoors “after spending 33 years in NYC.”

WILLIAM “BILLY” MOORE ’79

EDWARD “COLEY” COLSTON NEWTON V ’89

William “Billy” Moore ’79 of Glen Burnie, Maryland, passed away July 3, 2018, from complications due to heart and lung disease. Billy was born in Kenmore, New York, August 12, 1956 to John R. and Alice A. Moore. His family moved to Severna Park, Maryland and in 1965 he attended Folger McKinsey Elementary School and Severna Park Junior High School. He participated in the Greater Severna Park Athletic Association, locally known as The Green Hornets, playing football, lacrosse, and wrestling. He was a member of the Cape Arthur and North Cape Arthur Swim Teams. From the 8th-11th grades he attended Wroxeter in Arnold, Maryland, and he attended 12th grade at Blue Ridge School. In high school, Billy excelled at football, lacrosse, and wrestling achieving national recognition for both wrestling and lacrosse while being a good student. He continued his education at the University of Richmond on scholarship as a wrestler, attended Anne Arundel Community College, played box lacrosse, and finished at the University of Maryland in 1981 where he earned a B.S. in Accounting. He was a comptroller at Indian Creek School, Crownsville, Maryland.

Driven by a youthful and exuberant passion for all things athletic, Billy will be remembered with love and awe for the way he competed. Once his playing days were over he coached both wrestling and lacrosse for Anne Arundel County youth and high school athletes. He remained active for many years enjoying a variety of outdoor activities, water and snow

School football teams for his championship level play on the offensive and defensive lines.

Edward “Coley” Colston Newton V ’89 died at his home in Lyells, Virginia, on July 11 after a three-year long battle with melanoma. Coley is survived by his wife Katherine Scates Newton; son Edward C. Newton, VI “Lee”; mother Jane C. Matney (John); father Edward C. Newton IV; brother John T. Newton (Shannon); sister Cynthia Newton and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Coley was born at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and he spent most of his youth in the Tidewater Region and the areas of Hague and Kinsale in Westmoreland County, Virginia. After graduating from Blue Ridge School, he attended Ferrum College before joining the Army. He played varsity football at both Blue Ridge and Ferrum. For several years he was voted onto the All-Independent

Joining the Army as a private, Coley rose through the ranks to Master Sergeant in the Infantry, graduating Ranger School and earning his Master Parachutist Badge. He held leadership positions as a Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Jump Master while serving in the 101st and the 82nd Airborne Divisions. In 2006, he joined the War on Terrorism, deploying in 14 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them as a member of the Asymmetric Warfare Group while on active duty and then as a contracted Operational Advisor. Coley was an avid and able hunter and fisherman. A natural with firearms, he was an excellent marksman with rifles, pistols, and shotguns. His outdoor skills enabled him to be a renowned waterfowl, turkey, and deer hunter. His angling skills landed many trophy-sized fresh and saltwater fish. The Northern Neck Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution surprised Coley in May by awarding him the SAR’s Heroism Award. He said afterward that it was the greatest honor he ever had.

WILLIAM “BILLY” MOORE ’79 CONTINUED skiing, rock climbing, repelling, camping, and spelunking to name a few. Billy loved animals—especially dogs— and one was always a part of his life whether it was his or not. Although

he may have travelled and stayed short times in other places, and had a variety of jobs after he left Indian Creek School, he always considered Anne Arundel County, especially the Severna Park, Arnold, and Annapolis area as home.

A STORIED HISTORY

everend George Mayo founded the Blue Ridge School in 1909 as an Episcopal mission school. Almost sixty years later, Hatcher Williams repurposed the facility as the boys’ prep school it is today.

WHO’S INSIDE?

Hatcher Williams Jim Niederberger John Young Randy Ruffin Carl Frye Bill Davis John Parrott Kevin Miller Ed McFarlane Frank and Dolores DeAngelis - and any more….

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Hurricanes and Tornados Humor and Tragedy The Early Years Divining Rods Fire Engines Sports stories and Championships Buses in the Snow - and much more….

Having graduated from Blue Ridge in 1966, Peter Holland went on to serve the School as as a member of the Board of Trustees in 1991, and in 1999 Peter became the School’s Alumni Director, a position he filled until 2007. He rejoined the Board of Trustees in 2011. Peter decided to cull the stories and events he encountered over the years and write this book.

PHOTO OF PETER HOLLAND ’66 BY DICKIE COOKE ’68, COOKE PHOTOGRAPHY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

These are some of the stories and the people who made Blue Ridge what it is today. If you were a student at Blue Ridge, a parent of a BRS boy, or a teacher or coach at this beautiful remote boarding school campus in Virginia, you’ll love reading these recollections. You’ll learn something about the School as well as laugh or maybe become inspired. So sit down and settle in for a trip back to St. George, through the stone gates to this special place. If you’re interested in reserving a copy contact Blue Ridge School at 434-9920502.

BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL 273 MAYO DRIVE ST. GEORGE, VA 22935

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