The Ridge of Blue Ridge School, Winter 2023

RIDGE THE

WINTER 2023

In This Issue: Coaching at Blue Ridge School • Aamir Simms on Parisian Basketball • Students Embrace the New Library

HEADMASTER TRIP DARRIN GREETINGS FROM ST. GEORGE

Teamwork, perseverance, practice, preparation - there are so many parts of athletics that are also fundamental characteristics of being a good student, man, father, and citizen. That is why all of our students are required to participate in some form of athletics at Blue Ridge School. Though we expand our definition of athletics to include our unique outdoorsmen and outdoor program in addition to conventional high school sports, the lessons are the same.

Because athletics are so important to our mission, it is equally important to have qualified coaches leading those teams. In the following pages, you will hear from some of our many talented coaches. They will share what is important to them, what makes a good team and player, and why coaching at Blue Ridge is so satisfying. Cade Lemcke, our veteran varsity basketball coach, continues to be an outstanding mentor to dozens of his former players. One of those players is Aamir Simms ’17, who had a tremendous career at Blue Ridge and Clemson University and now plays professionally in Paris, France. John Holt ’06 shares Aamir’s story of perseverance and love of the game.

Newer Blue Ridge coaches Dom Starsia and Clint Alexander already had established reputations in their sports of lacrosse and football when they took over our programs. Coach Starsia is a Hall of Fame college lacrosse coach with multiple NCAA national titles to his credit. In the following pages you will learn why he stepped away from retirement to take on the new challenege of coaching high school players. Coach Alexander’s passion and drive served him

well at another all-boys boarding school in Virginia. Now he brings that enthusiasm to Blue Ridge.

Blue Ridge School’s own leadership has a new coach, so to speak. Robb Sasser III ’82 has begun his term as Chair of the Board of Trustees. Robb is a proud alumnus who has long served the School with his time, insight, professional experience, and financial resources. As Head of School, I am excited to work more closely with him to execute the Board’s vision for our future. To that end, the Board and administrative leader team have been hard at work considering potential revenue streams, our academic profile, and the physical needs of our students and community through an extensive campus master plan. With Robb’s guiding hand, Blue Ridge is poised to have many years of continued success in financial stability and fundraising, as well as attracting and retaining outstanding faculty and students.

In honor of one particularly outstanding faculty member, we recently had the distinct pleasure of formally dedicating the John B. Young IV Library. We were joined by students, many retired faculty, John’s extended family, and some of John’s former students. Prior to the ceremony, John was joined by Jim Niederberger and Carl Frye to share stories from their careers at Blue Ridge School. If you have not yet seen the video, I encourage you to watch it on Blue Ridge School’s YouTube page. Their stories offer humorous and heartfelt

perspectives into life on campus.

Meanwhile, campus is as beautiful as ever thanks in part to two new additions: the Hall of Leaders beside Battle House and the Shook Family Patio at the new Williams Dining Hall. These public spaces provide attractive environments for students, parents, and alumni to gather for meals and events. Gathering as we do fosters the relationships that make Blue Ridge School such an important and successful school. I enourage you to return to campus as soon as you can to witness all of our improvements and to stoke the fire of your own bond with Blue Ridge.

Go Barons!

BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION:

Mr. William A. “Trip” Darrin III, Head of School

Mr. D. Franklin Daniels, Jr. P’23, Associate Head of School for External Affairs

Mr. Vinton Bruton, Associate Head of School for Operations

Ms. Amber Wilkins, Dean of Faculty

Mr. James Douglas, Dean of Academics

THE RIDGE:

John Dudley, Editor/Graphic Designer/Photographer

Josh Palubicki, Director of Enrollment Communications/Contributing Photographer

John Holt ’06, Contributing Writer

Elaine Alexander, Contributing Photographer

Andrew Shurtleff, Contributing Photographer

THE BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL MISSION:

We focus on helping boys reach their potential through 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 or made available to students at the School. Blue Ridge School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial assistance and loan programs, athletic and other administered programs.

Photo credit: Elaine Alexander

SIMMS LIKE OLD TIMES

AAMIR SIMMS ’17 REFLECTS ON HOOPS JOURNEY

By John Holt ‘06

When Aamir Simms revisits May 27, 2017, several thoughts cross his mind. The joy of jumping in the Blue Ridge School lake alongside his ‘17 Baron brothers. The accomplished feeling being named the recipient of both the John L. Trimmer Citizenship Award and the Frank Pendleton Athletic Award. The fulfillment of receiving his high school diploma from Headmaster Trip Darrin.

During Simms’ three years in St. George, numerous he achieved many feats. Possessing a relentless drive for excellence, he was awarded over a dozen NCAA Division I basketball scholarship offers, captured two Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division II basketball state championships (2015 & 2017), and was also recognized as the 2017 Central Virginia Boys Basketball Player of the Year and 2017 VISAA Division II State Player of the Year.

Yet when conversing with others about what stands out most from Simms’ time at BRS, it has nothing to do with the skills he presented on the court, but rather his staying true to being himself.

As English teacher Dan Dunsmore shared in a social media post during Simms’ senior year, “What I want everyone to know about this guy has nothing to do with his height or his basketball skills. From day one, he has been one of the funniest, most kind, most friendly, most respectful, hardestworking students I’ve ever taught. He has even stretched himself by being a member of our mountain biking team last spring and this fall (giant on a bicycle). It is for these reasons we’ll miss Aamir on our campus next year. Much respect, young man.”

MODEL STUDENT-ATHLETE

Following Simms’ graduation from Blue Ridge, he embarked on his next chapter

at Clemson University. There, over the course of the next four years, he would make a name for himself both on and off the court.

On the hardwood, he led Clemson to a pair of NCAA Tournaments, was twice an All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) player and famously led the Tigers to their first-ever win at North Carolina in 2020 (ending a 0-59 streak in Chapel Hill).

Ranking the win over UNC as his top collegiate moment, in that game, Simms led Clemson in five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals), and knocked down a three-pointer with 3.5 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime. The clutch shot silenced 20,000-plus fans and will forever be discussed amongst the Clemson faithful in the future years and generations to come.

Three days later, another highlight occurred when Simms produced a career-high 25 points to go along with nine rebounds and five assists in a Clemson 79-72 upset win over No. 3 Duke.

Following the game, former Duke Head Coach and Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski said, “Simms was spectacular tonight in how he controlled the game.”

In the classroom, Simms became

a three-time All-ACC Academic Basketball team member and as a senior, was honored as Clemson’s second-ever Skip Prosser Award Winner – given to the ACC’s top scholar-athlete in men’s basketball.

“Aamir is a tremendous student-athlete and a great ambassador for not only our basketball program, but for Clemson University,” Clemson Head Coach Brad Brownell said at the time of Simms’ distinguished recognition. “It’s been a pleasure to witness his evolution as a player on the court and student in the classroom these last four years. To earn the ACC Skip Prosser ScholarAthlete Award is such a high honor. Coach Prosser was an outstanding teacher and coach and there isn’t a better representative for this award than Aamir Simms.”

MILESTONE MOMENT

On May 6, 2021 – nearly four years to the day of his Blue Ridge graduation –Simms joined his older sister, Taijaina, in becoming the second member of his family to ever receive a college degree. For a number of reasons, he described the triumph as the greatest thing he’s ever done.

“Being African American alone sets the odds against you, the moment you take your first breath,” Simms said. “Coming from New Jersey, from Essex County, as an inner-city kid and adjusting to moving down south for my adolescent

“Blue Ridge placed me in a position to be successful in various ways,” Simms said in October 2022 reflecting on his BRS experience.

years, then private school, then Clemson, the challenges always proved greater than the reality of the world I live in as a black man!”

Simms stated that his mother, Lateasha Jones, constantly reminded him growing up that individual basketball accolades didn’t matter. What did

matter, however, was Aamir earning his degree.

“Getting my degree simply put me on the right side of the statistics of my people and also left the doors open for more to follow,” Simms said.

Clemson was Simms’ only official college visit during high school, and he lists no regrets on his decision in becoming a Tiger today.

Something that made an impact from his visit was Brownell and his coaching staff informing him that if he committed to the Tigers, he would become an All-ACC player by his junior year. In 2019-20, Simms’ junior season, he was named a Third Team All-ACC

“Living here has been a dream come true for my lifestyle and I can’t thank God, my agents, and my team enough for this opportunity.”

selection.

“They kept to their word,” Simms said.

ADVANCING TO THE PROFESSIONAL RANKS

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Simms joined the New York Knicks’ Summer League squad before spending his first professional season as a member of the Knicks’ G League affiliate, Westchester Knicks.

Following a solid rookie campaign, he felt his best path forward was to take his talents overseas. In July, he signed with Paris Basketball of the National Basketball League (LNB) Pro A. Former NBA assistant coach Will Weaver is leading the French capital’s club as its head coach, while the roster features five American players, including 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Jeremy Evans.

“Living here has been a dream come true for my lifestyle and I can’t thank God, my agents, and my team enough for this opportunity,” Simms said. “The fans are energetic and the atmosphere each game is electric, you really get to connect with the fans on a surface level and I truly appreciate that!”

While residing in another country has been a new and beneficial experience, there also have been challenges. Nowadays, Simms is the furthest he’s ever been from family, friends and Luna, his American pit bull terrier who he describes as “the most beautiful creature this world has given us.” In addition, he’s had to learn a new language, adapt to a different time zone, currency, culture, lifestyle and more.

“There have been times where I felt as though I was alone in this process and turned to my faith to get me up,” Simms said. “I would not be having this conversation if I didn’t put God at the forefront on a daily basis! My faith and belief in HIM has led me to this point and platform where I am today! I have not always had the strongest faith,

but that’s the beauty in my relationship with God, having that opportunity, that same 24 hours every day to strengthen it and have a want for it!”

CONTINUED EVOLUTION & GROWTH

At just 23 years old, Simms has clearly experienced more than most his age.

There have been highs and lows, fans and critics, believers and doubters.

Yet through it all, he’s tried to remain the same funny, driven and unique soul those closest to him know.

“I feel as though I bring a different type of energy to whatever surrounding I’m in,” Simms said. “I like to think outside the box, simply be myself and explore different avenues than my peers.”

Those viewpoints made Simms the perfect fit as a Blue Ridge School student and have made him an acclaimed Baron alum today.

As his first professional year overseas continues, whenever times get difficult, he thinks back to something Brownell, his college coach, regularly emphasized.

“Embrace the suck,” Simms said. “Meaning when life gets tough, instead of sulking and complaining about the situation, embrace the adversity and it will bring the best out of you.”

Simms’ life journey has defined that mantra, and the example he’s displayed in maximizing his potential couldn’t make the Blue Ridge School family prouder.

“It’s about love,” Simms said in 2017. “It’s about caring for one another. That’s the biggest thing I learned here.”

John Holt ’06 is the Public Relations & Content Writer at Good Shepherd Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas. He can be reached at jlholt3240@gmail.com.

While at Clemson University, Simms (left) got the opportunity to take the court against his Blue Ridge School teammate Mamadi Diakite ’15, then at the University of Virginia.

FROM THE SIDELINE

THREE BRS COACHES REFLECT ON THEIR PROFESSION

It’s no surprise that athletics is a big part of student life at an all-boys boarding school. Sports are an excellent way for boys to use their almost limitless energy. Rivalries build school spirit. And boys compete in nearly every aspect of their lives. In addition, athletics provide educators the opportunity to teach lessons in teamwork, perseverance, practice, trust, responsibility, and much more. Unlike some academic classes and character education programs, where it may take months or even years for students to see the value in their work, athletics allow boys to see results from their efforts more quickly. Coaches can point out a necessary adjustment during halftime that may result in winning the game. Effective coaches can reinforce the lessons of a broad educational program in a way that resonates with boys, making their role particularly important at Blue Ridge School.

Every student is required to participate in an afternoon activity at Blue Ridge School. Most of these activities are sports, though they also include drama, outdoor programs, outdoorsmen, art, and others. Blue Ridge School alumni are quick to name coaches from decades past who had a significant effect on them and the community. This year, we have accomplished and respected coaches leading our three marquee sports programs: basketball, lacrosse, and football. These three coaches have distinguished themselves in different ways, have different talents, and use different styles, but they all share the common goal of teaching their players to be more than just good athletes. Yes, they love their sport and they love sharing their sport with boys. But those sports

are metaphors for life and how to succeed as a person as well as a player.

Baron varsity basketball has a locker room curriculum before practice that encourages thoughtful discussion. For example, during the 2021-22 season, the team tackled the question “What does it mean to be a man?”

Lemcke likes to include non-basketball related activities when the team leaves campus for away games. Last season the players met Blue Ridge alumnus Tristan Wright ’95, founder of Lost Boy Cider, and they talked about the challenges and rewards of running a small business. Also, under Lemcke’s leadership, the senior members of the varsity basketball team are expected to participate in the School’s annual winter musical.

VARSITY BASKETBALL

Cade Lemcke has been the Head Basketball Coach since 2014. Previously he was an assistant coach at Longwood University. He’s a graduate of the University of Virginia and played basketball for the Cavaliers under Coach Peter Gillian.

“Coach Cade” as he’s known around campus believes in the coaching philosophy made famous by Joe Ehrmann, that it should be “transformational not transactional.”He seeks to build relataionships with his players that extend beyond the buzzer of a single game and positively influence young men for years to come.

He believes that basketball is simply a tool to teach boys to be great men.

Lemcke regularly fields phone calls and text messages with former players, including Aamir Simms ’17 of Paris Basketball and Mamadi Diakite ’15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He advises former players on college decisions and life choices, too.

Many fans gauge a coach’s success by wins and losses but Lemcke says “We don’t know if we’re successful until five to ten years later.”

VARSITY LACROSSE

No one ever expected Dom Starsia to coach at Blue Ridge School. After decades as a successful coach at the highest levels of college lacrosse, the Hall of Famer was enjoying retirement in Albemarle County. He is the former head men’s lacrosse coach of both Brown University, his alma mater, and the University of Virginia where his teams won four NCAA national championships. It is no stretch to say that Starsia, who was inducted into the

Basketball Head Coach Cade Lemcke P’23

USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2008, is a legend in the sport.

Despite his legendary status, he chose to leave retirement and take on the challenge of coaching high school lacrosse at Blue Ridge School. Naturally coaching high school students is different from coaching Division I college athletes. “I learned that I had to slow down and not take things for granted.” That includes teaching players aspects of the game that they might not know.

lacrosse piece of it is going to take care of itself.”

As much as it means to the boys to be coached by a legend of the sport, Starsia also appreciates the opportunity to be a part of their lives. The days spent on fundamentals during the off season, preparing for games, and grinding out practice on the hot turf creates a bond among the coaches and players. “You get invested in the kids’ lives. You can’t help but wonder what will come next for them. I try to prepare them for all aspects of life through what we do here.”

FOOTBALL

Clint Alexander may be the “new kid on the block,” but he is no stranger to high school football, not even football at an all-boys boarding school. He coached for 25 years at Woodberry Forest and shepherded many players to college and professional football. Fall 2022 was his first season as football head coach and he is thrilled to build the program with great players who are also leaders off the field.

playing football as well as being part of a culture that values the three pillars of his program: unselfishness, discipline, and leadership.

“I believe player development is critical. This is why I built a staff of ten kidcentered coaches and asked them to put the welfare of our players ahead of winning. Winning will become the result of the love and time our staff puts into our team. We teach and encourage each other, and with this trust meaningful

What’s great about Blue Ridge? “You can almost see these guys improve right before your eyes. At a place like Blue Ridge, boys this age need a little mentorship and so you feel like you’re actually doing some good and watching these guys mature as athletes but equally importantly off the field has been very satisfying … and caught me by surprise actually. After 42 years as a college coach, I’m used to a crowd that’s a little bit older and these guys are in the prime part of their lives when they’re getting ready to develop as young men.”

Dom has a list of non-negotiables: tell the truth and never retaliate. “I try to convince young men to develop the qualities that will make them good leaders. If I can get them to demonstrate the characteristics of toughness, selflessness, and resiliency, the qualities that I would say define good leaders, the

“I’m going to go out and recruit guys who are great young men and want to play football. They need to be a great person, a great student, and a great fit on our campus. They have to know when they come in here that they are part of something bigger than they are. I want you to be great in the dorms. I want you to be great in the hallways and in class.”

Coach Alexander believes the game extends well beyond the clock. He leads strength and conditioning during the winter that will provide his players - as well as players from other sports - with a foundation to help prevent injury and grow toughness and speed. He teaches the boys proper lifting and has created many different workouts for a variety of goals. “I don’t care if you get your scholarship in football or lacrosse. You are prepared for college. You know how to lift. You know how to practice. You know how to be a leader.”

Finding the right players for his team also means finding students for Blue Ridge School, students who are excited about

relationships are established that will last long after our time together ends.”

Knowing that Blue Ridge is a small school, Alexander is looking for as many multi-sport athletes as he can find. Not only does it benefit more programs, but it also keeps students engaged. As students move through the school year, they progress from one supportive and excited team to the next, giving boys access to community and mentorship.

Alexander is off to a great start, putting together a competitive team with talented student-athletes. And he’s just getting started. “Our focus was on character and boys who would make an impact on our campus in every facet, not just athletics. We found outstanding young men from all over the world. We created a team that grew to love each other.”

Football Head Coach Clint Alexander Lacrosse Head Coach Dom Starsia

HAPPENING ON THE RIDGE

GRADUATING THE CLASS OF 2022

After two years of unusual commencement ceremonies - one postponed and both socially distanced - the graduation of the Class of 2022 was both exciting and comfortably familiar. At the end of May, families gathered lakeside on campus to celebrate the achievements of a brotherhood composed of diverse young men from 11 states and 8 foreign countries.

As Blue Ridge School alumni can attest, boarding school is as challenging as it is rewarding. Each of the graduates overcame personal adversity, as well as those of their common boarding experience: learning to live and learn away from family, living with a roommate and in a dormitory, developing independence and selfsufficiency, and much more.

Study Body President Derek Godwin of Durham, North Carolina, shared with the crowd and his classmates that he was reluctant at first to embrace Blue Ridge. He said, “I didn’t want to make the most of this experience due to my guilt from leaving my friends and family behind. As I got settled at BRS, I slowly learned that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My mindset changed, I began to think about everything Blue Ridge had to offer: precisely, the community it provides. The bonds I have built with this class, alumni, and underclassmen have really had an impact on my life and my time at Blue Ridge School.”

Thanks to the global pandemic, the Class of 2022 had to overcome challenges that were new to boarding school students. Three and four-year boys in this graduating class initially arrived at Blue Ridge to a boarding

school routine and lifestyle familiar to many alumni. That changed in March 2020 when the pandemic forced the unexpected closure of campus and the beginning of distance learning. Upon the return to campus that fall, these students were met with masks, social distancing, and modified athletics. Thankfully, their senior year has seen the return to near normalcy – plus the opening of a brand new dining hall.

Their personal achievements are many, but their collective achievements and the strength of their brotherhood formed under adversity put the Class of 2022 in rare company.

Leadership Awards Presented During Commencement

Scholarship Award to the Senior who has the highest grade point average for the Senior Year — Ruiyang “Mike” Wang of Shanghai, China

Alumni Awards to the Seniors chosen to be the class representatives in the Alumni Association — Derek Godwin of Durham, North Carolina, and Ruiyang “Mike” Wang of Shanghai, China

Sons of the American Revolution

Outstanding Citizenship Award to the Senior who exhibits the qualities of dependability, cooperation, leadership, and patriotism — Maybank Burgdorf of Williamsburg, Virginia

Daughters of the American Revolution

Good Citizen Award to the Senior who represents the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism

— Nicholas Berger of West Lafayette, Indiana

The John L. Trimmer Citizenship Award to the Senior whose citizenship is exceptional and deserves recognition — Houston Emory of Devon, Pennsylvania

The Edward M. McFarlane Award to the Senior who has quietly but steadily embraced the Blue Ridge School’s offerings and program — Matthew Sawyer of Galena, Maryland

The Headmaster’s Award to a Senior for outstanding contributions to Blue Ridge School — John Hess of Potomac Falls, Virginia

The Roy Petty Award to the Senior who has distinguished himself by unselfish service to Blue Ridge School — Ruiyang “Mike” Wang of Shanghai, China

The Thomas H. Wilcox, Jr. Award to the Prefect who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service in the performance of his duties — Miguel Robiou de la Noval of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Hongye

“Allen” Li of Shanghai, China

The Clarke Worthington Award to the Senior who has had the most wholesome influence on the school community during his years as a student and a leader — Lucas Dudley of Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

The St. George Award to the Senior who has responded best to the Blue Ridge School philosophy and has demonstrated outstanding leadership — Derek Godwin, Jr, of Durham, North Carolina

A FAMILIAR FACE RETURNS

Blue Ridge School is happy to announce the return of JC Ignaszewski to the Battle House staff as senior director of institutional advancement.

Previously, JC spent 10 years at Blue Ridge in several roles culminating with

the senior director of development where he oversaw the annual fund, major gifts, endowment, planned giving, and capital initiatives. More recently he has worked in fundraising at the University of Virginia, supporting both the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. At Weldon Cooper he established the Senator John W. Warner Scholarship Endowment Fund for Public Service and created the Energy Transition Initiative Fund, raising support which focused on sustainability, renewables, and clean energy public impact research.

Associate Head of School for External Affairs Franklin Daniels says, “I am delighted to welcome JC back to Blue Ridge. His first decade here was an important and successful time for our School, and I know he is as committed as ever to the success of our mission and every one of our students.”

Ignaszewski says, “I am honored and excited to be coming back to the Blue Ridge School community. Blue Ridge has a special place in my heart. I had

SHREK THE MUSICAL

The annual winter musical is alive and well at Blue Ridge School thanks to the efforts of our dedicated drama faculty and incredibly talented student actors.

This year’s production of Shrek the Musical, an adaptation of the popular film franchise, wowed audiences for three performances in February. Director Anna Grey Hogan led the effort, along with Assistant Director Alexander Keevil, Music Director Mike Vinson, Master Carpenter Jamie Bourland, and Set Painter Dave Welty. Kasey Chadwick ’23 took on the title role as well as student assistant director duties.

Theatrical productions give our students the chance to express themselves in new and exciting ways, as well as showcase their talents for family and friends. Mark your calendar for February 2024 and make plans to attend next year’s production.

an incredible 10-year experience that allowed me to grow professionally and personally. I was able to establish meaningful relationships, work on some incredible initiatives, and be a part of some record-setting fundraising years. I am looking forward to renewing this success and working with our talented team once again.”

At Blue Ridge School, Ignaszewski will focus on leadership giving in all its forms, as well as stewardship of the St. George Society. He will also play a leading role in the realization of the soon to be completed Campus Master Plan, which will guide the physical development of the BRS campus over the next decade.

Ignaszewski lives in Madison, Virginia, with his wife Katie and daughter Hailey. His nephew Andrew Link is a 2016 graduate of Blue Ridge and a winner of the St. George Award, the School’s highest honor.

ROBB SASSER III ’82 CHAIR OF THE BOARD

The gavel has officially passed, and Robb Sasser is the new chair of Blue Ridge School’s Board of Trustees. Robb has been a member of the Board since 2014 and served on the Executive and Finance committees. He lives in Florence, South Carolina, with his wife Daryn and their two children. Robb is an active member of his local community and has been a leading financial advisor for nearly 25 years.

Robb says his experience as a Blue Ridge student was wonderful and it gave him the self confidence he needed to succeed in college and in life. He is grateful for the effort so many people have made in the school and feels obligated to do his part. “I believe it is now my time to ‘pay it forward’ to current and future students - and their families. I enjoy seeing firsthand all that is required to operate a successful boarding school. I also enjoy the entire Blue Ridge team and being back on campus frequently. As my wife says, it is one of my ‘happy places’.”

As Board Chair, Robb will be working closely with Head of School Trip Darrin and the administration to ensure that Blue Ridge School keeps its mission, is financially sound, and is prepared for the future. His list of goals for his term reflect those responsibilities:

• Increase net tuition revenue by continuing the post-COVID enrollment momentum with

mission appropriate boys

• Continue to grow the School’s endowment through annual contributions and planned giving

• Complete a market study to see what other opportunities there may be for our campus assets and resources

• Complete the campus master plan that is underway, including a thorough study of our dorm and student gathering space needs

• Continue to support and collaborate with Head of School Trip Darrin and the leadership team that is second-to-none

• To have fun serving!

Robb says, “Blue Ridge is a special place with special people working to help young men thrive. The volunteer work of our Board is important but we will have fun serving, all while advancing the mission of our School.”

Board Chair Robb Sasser’82 receives the gavel from out-going Chair Jill Kalinski.

New Trustees for 2022

Rick Jones P’18 of Vienna, Virginia, is the father of Myles Jones ’18 and the principal and co-founder of Zeneth Technology Partners, a cybersecurity consulting firm. He has more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in business development, sales, and client management across multiple industries. Mr. Jones has a business degree from Syracuse University.

Dr. Paul Simko of Charlottesville, Virginia, is the Frank M. Sands Sr. Associate Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. He teaches both accounting and financial statement analysis; he has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin.

Lee Shore ’90 lives in Carrollton, Texas, with his wife Melissa. He is president of United Salvage Associates, which provides salvage and inventory services after natural disasters and catastrophes to clients around the world. Mr. Shore has served on the BRS Alumni Leadership Council and is a graduate of Texas Tech.

Hope Tate of New York, New York, is a veteran banker and retired as partner at Emigrant Bank Fine Art Finance. She has supported many charitable organizations and served on the Board of the New York Chapter of the Fund for UNICEF and the DH Hill Library at North Carolina State University. She is a previous member of the Board of Blue Ridge School and twice served as president of the New York Auxiliary of Blue Ridge School. She has a bachelor’s degree from Meredith College and an MBA from Fordham University.

KIRWAN EARNS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The Board of Trustees honored Athletic Director Parker Kirwan with the 2023 Distinguished Service Award, which is regarded as the Board’s highest expression of thanks and appreciation for service. Board Chair Robb Sasser presented Kirwan with the award during morning assembly of the March Board meeting.

Kirwan has been Athletic Director since 2021 and has been a fulltime teacher and assistant varsity basketball coach since 2017. He teaches English and created and teaches Blue Ridge School’s sports broadcasting class, which produces Baron Sports Network and provides play-byplay announcers for many Baron games on campus. As assistant varsity basketball coach, he has been instrumental in

helping the Barons win five state titles in seven years.

Mr. Sasser says, “Giving students choice and voice, Parker consistently comes up with creative ways to engage students in project-based learning experiences. Through a variety of projects, students in his classes learn marketable skills that allow them to stand out in college applications. His students develop a strong skillset in communication, interviewing, podcasting, creative writing, video production and project management.”

Kirwan was recently selected from hundreds of applicants around the world to participate in the Action Research Program of the International Boys

Schools Coalition. His research is on “promoting healthy masculinity beyond the classroom,”

He holds a master’s degree in sports leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL LIBRARY

After years of research, planning, and fundraising, the School opened the new library last fall and it has been a hit with students and faculty alike.

Ricky Cortines Rama ’23 of Spain says, “The new library is amazing. Not only is the space more comfortable, the entire attitude of the library is more approachable. Clubs meet here. Students study here during free time. And the resources, though the same as before, somehow seem more accessible. The old library always seemed a little out of the way and stuffy. This library is in a familiar place, the old dining hall, and the furniture is cool and modern. I really love it.”

This is Cooper’s fifth year at Blue Ridge School. She says that when she first started at the School she was encouraged to determine what a new library might look like. “So, I did a lot of research into what makes an effective 21st century library. What I decided was that we are moving towards a ‘learning commons’ and that mentality of providing a variety of individual and shared spaces, more opening and more welcoming. That is exactly what our boys need. The only time boys came into the former space was when they had to for a class or when they wanted to get on the internet - because

we had the best wifi. I wanted this to be a bigger draw.”

For the boys to feel comfortable in the library and to take ownership of it, Cooper created a space that is bright, comfortable, and flexible. The design mixes recognizable elements of the old dining hall – the exposed beams, stone fireplace, large windows, and array of flags – with new bookstacks, individual study carrels, modular tables and chairs, and soft couches.

The library features leading technology, not just physical hardware like giant touchscreen Promethean Boards and the aforementioned wifi, but also copious electrical outlets to recharge laptops and mobile phones and access to numerous online research databases for students to use for research projects and papers.

“When the former library was built, it was a leader. They had so many digital possibilities. Having the study carrels around the perimeter and the low bookcases, that was the style of the time. Now libraries strive to create a community, shared space. The furniture now is mobile and modular so students and teachers can arrange furniture to suit their needs. You couldn’t do that in the former space.”

The location of the new library could not be much better; it creates a natural extension of the academic hall just beyond Matt Bennett’s history classroom and the MakerSpace. It is more connected to the daily academic experience.

To provide students with a new dining hall and library, the Board of Trustees determined it would be most cost effective and efficient to switch the locations of the facilities. However, that meant building the new dining hall while students continued eating in the old dining hall, so Cooper needed to move the contents of the library to a temporary location: the NYA Student Center. She had already completed an exhaustive analysis of the print collection and reduced it by half, removing extremely damaged and out-of-date books. She then put two-thirds of the remaining collection in storage - carefully organized so she could retrieve books requested by teachers and students. Cooper worked out of the temporary space for about a year and half until the new library was ready.

Furniture was ordered and assembled while new windows, lights, floors, and wireless internet were installed and walls were painted. Then Cooper had to move

“I’m not a shoosher,” says Librarian Katie Cooper. Modern libraries are active with student collaboration, presentations, multimedia, lessons on conducting research, and much more. Though there are periods of quiet, such as during study hall, Blue Ridge School’s new library is a buzzing hive of learning.

The new library retains many of the distinctive features of the former dining hall, including the beautiful beams and rafters, flags from the countries and states of our students, and the towering stone fireplace.

the library collection again, from storage into the new space. While most of the books were moved by professionals, the entire school community gathered to move the final volumes from the temporary space to their new home in a “bucket brigade” stretching nearly the length of main campus.

Joe Corrigan ’23 of Northern Virginia says, “Moving the books from the temporary library to their new home made everyone feel like a part of the project, and even though we didn’t move all of the books, it reminded us of what a great resource the library is for us.”

The new library is fully operational, but the work of the librarian is far from over. Cooper is an advisor for the School’s chapter of the National Honor Society and working on creating a Library Club so students can play an active role in selecting new additions to the collection. She and Art Teacher Dave Welty are preparing a space in the library to showcase student art. But her biggest challenge may be improving the collection database so our students can find more relevant information. Cooper is going through the collection – book by book – to update the database beyond title and author to contain relevant keywords. For example, if a student is researching the Declaration of Independence, they would not have found relevant books in BRS’s collection unless “Declaration of Independence” was in the title.

There is much to talk about concerning the new library. When you stop by to chat, Ms. Cooper won’t shoosh you. Rather, she will gladly tell you all there is to know about Blue Ridge School’s exciting new facility.

Jay Kim ’23 of Seoul, Korea, uses the natural light from the large windows to read among the bookstacks of the new John B. Young IV Library.

GRADUATION

WEEKEND

ALUMNI

From the dedication of the Shook Family Patio (right) to the annual clay target tournament (above) to a surprise visit by the Dyke Volunteer Fire Department (top), the Fall 2022 Alumni Weekend was full of good times with great people.

WEEKEND

SHOOK FAMILY PATIO OPENS

Family, friends, and classmates of the late Marc Shook ’74 gathered on the Saturday morning of Alumni Weekend to celebrate his life and to thank his wife Cynthia and the many generous donors for the new dining hall patio that now bears his name.

The Cynthia and Mark Shook ’74 Family Patio opened for student use this fall and is the final piece of the popular, new Williams Dining Hall. The new patio offers considerably more dining space and allows students and faculty to enjoy the beautiful weather of St. George, something that has been on the School’s wishlist for many years.

During the formal opening of the patio, Cynthia Shook said, “This is such a honor to Marc’s memory. We’re so pleased that the boys here will be able to enjoy this outdoor space and make just as many wonderful memories as Marc and his friends.”

Marc Shook is remembered as a loyal friend with a great sense of humor. He was an outstanding athlete at Blue Ridge School and distinguished himself as a student leader. He had a successful career in commercial real estate and enjoyed spending time at both the ocean and in the mountains. Undoubtedly, Marc would have enjoyed sharing a meal and soaking in the view with family and friends on the new patio.

ALUMNI HONORED

Blue Ridge School is proud to recognize five alumni for outstanding service and dedication to their communities and to the School. The 2022 alumni award recipients are shining examples of the range of interests and influence that Blue Ridge

School graduates have following their years on campus. We are exceedingly proud of their accomplishments and know they will be lasting examples for future generations of Blue Ridge School students.

The 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Joshua H. Watt ’72 of Johns Creek, Georgia. This highest honor for Blue Ridge School alumni recognizes its recipients for extraordinarily distinguishing themselves in their community and career. Josh graduated from the University of Georgia where he was a leading member of the football and lacrosse teams. He has been a senior financial advisor PIM portfolio manager with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network for nearly 30 years and is a former member of the Blue Ridge School Board of Trustees. Josh and his wife Julie have two children and four grandchildren. He is an active member of his church and the University of Georgia Football Lettermen’s Club.

The Henry Morschheimer, Jr. ’67 Founder’s Award honors alumni who have demonstrated their commitment to and support of the philosophy and goals of Blue Ridge School. This year’s recipient is Jim McKenry, Jr. ’82 of Richmond, Virginia. Jim graduated from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga and quickly made a name for himself in the men’s apparel industry. His company, The Bird Dog Group, handles U.S. sales and distribution for European men’s apparel brands. Jim and his wife Lela are active with several Richmond-area non-profit organizations. He also serves on Blue Ridge School’s Alumni Leadership Council.

The Anthony T. Noel ’78 Alumnus of the Year Award recognizes demonstrated

devotion to Blue Ridge School through volunteering of time, energy, and support to the School and fellow alumni. This year’s recipient is Robert Vinson, Jr. ’87 of Decatur, Georgia. Rob is a graduate of The College of Charleston and has worked in real estate and real estate tax consulting for nearly 30 years. He currently serves on the Alumni Leadership Council. He says, “I didn’t come back to BRS until 12 years after the summer school counseling job. And that was 2000. Then I came back for my 20th reunion in 2007 and have been back to just about every reunion since. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but BRS helped make me who I am today, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to join the BRS family.”

The Young Alumnus Awards goes to two brothers this year: Brannon Schmidt ’12 and Mason Schmidt ’13 of Erwin, Tennessee. The Schmidt brothers developed a love of the outdoors while students at Blue Ridge School and recently turned that passion into a river guide and paddling business. Mason says, “Brannon and I are honored and feel very lucky to be given this award among the amazing group of alumni that BRS has. We would not be here at Blue Ridge Paddling today without our experience at Blue Ridge School. The outdoor program and the staff at BRS opened Brannon’s and my eyes to this industry’s potential and really sparked our desire to get into the industry. I will never forget the canoeing trip that we took down the Shenandoah River during my time at BRS. Followed by an amazing multi-day expedition style trip down Desolation Canyon in Utah. Those memories will last forever and are truly the moments that inspired us to do what we are doing now.”

HALL OF LEADERS COMPLETED

The reimagining of how Battle House can serve Blue Ridge School and the community has expanded significantly with the creation of the Hall of Leaders.

The new Hall grew from a renovated out-building adjacent to the main house and flows into the new expanded back patio, the final piece of an improvement plan made possible by an estate gift by Margaret Curran.

The Hall of Leaders was conceived by the Alumni Leadership Council, and approved by the Board of Trustees, to celebrate alumni, community members, donors, athletic teams, and more for their extraordinary contributions to Blue Ridge School.

The physical space will be a lasting reminder for future generations of

the remarkable history and people who comprise this School. Though

of Leaders. The Alumni Leadership Council has drafted parameters for recognition, which have been approved by the Board, and the next step is the formation of a selection committee. That committee will consider nominations for the Hall of Leaders and weigh those nominees against the approved induction parameters.

Many options for representing inductees are still being considered, though a modern digital component would allow many alumni to be included and the incorporation of text, photographs, and video highlights from both time as a student and from professional and personal accomplishments.

construction is complete and the building formally dedicated, no one has yet been inducted into the Hall

The first Hall of Leaders induction ceremony will likely be held in 2023.

IN MEMORIAM

Andrew Paul Griffiths ’05 of Jacksonville, Florida, died on April 30, 2022. He attended Jacksonville University and graduated from Jacksonville Culinary School. He loved all types of music and played guitar and mandolin. He enjoyed roller blading and crafting his own skateboards. He is the brother of Michael Griffiths ’98.

James D. “Shorty” Harkins ‘48 of West, Texas, passed away on March 12, 2022. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War and had a career in construction before retiring in 1992. He enjoyed playing golf, fishing, traveling, and spending time outdoors. He was an active member of the West community and a friend to all.

Franklin A. Van Beuren ‘72 of Charlottesville, Virginia, died on April 18, 2022. He was a graduate of the University of Arizona and held seats on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

Burton Lee Doggett III ‘72 of Ladysmith, Virginia, and Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, passed away on February 1, 2017. He attended Averett College and traveled the world as a commercial fisherman and merchant marine. He was the manager of The Virginia Bazaar for the last 17 years and loved to travel and to fish.

William Johnson Fuller III ‘72 died on January 23, 2021. He was a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University, and Kingdom Life University. He worked in commercial real estate and software sales for many years before he and his wife became missionaries serving in Zambia. He played many sports well and loved the water; he was an expert at slalom water skiing.

Lawrence Byron Chappell Bostian ‘72 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died on April 22, 2022. He overcame several disabilities to become a talented athlete, including two-time Virginia state wrestling champion while at Blue Ridge School. He was a graduate of the University of Tampa. He had a long career with Anheuser-Busch. He is remembered for his playful attitude and his love of sports, family vacations, magic, and pinball.

Sean Willam Lawrence Curran ‘04 of Charlottesville, Virginia, died on December 30, 2021. He was a teacher and coach who worked as a learning specialist in Blue Ridge School’s Fishburne Learning Center for a time. He enjoyed playing and coaching soccer and had the privilege of coaching the Barons alongside Matt Bennett. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia and was a graduate student at Mary Baldwin University.

William Morrison Flippen III ‘83 of Richmond, Virginia, died on January 4, 2022. Though his sight was severely limited during his school years, he was a fiercely competitive athlete, even completing the Shamrock Marathon with friends from Blue Ridge. Retinitis Pigmentosa claimed his vision completely, but Mr. Flippen lived independently and operated a successful vending machine business.

Jeffrey John Wood ‘87 of Fishersville, Virginia, passed away on February 7, 2022. He was president of L.E. Wood Equipment Company and remembered as an incredible father, friend, and mentor who “never knew a stranger.” Mr. Wood was a graduate of Virginia Tech and a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Timothy Edwards Ashman ‘82 of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away on April 13, 2022. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College and founded Ashman Manufacturing & Distributing. During his long career, he served as president of the board of the Food and Libations Association of Virginia, and he won the Commissioner’s Award from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for his support and contributions to Virginia Agriculture. Tim was an active golfer and fisherman. He is remembered as a wonderful husband and father.

Howard Kaye, Jr., ‘65 of Boston, Massachusetts, on December 8th, 2021. He was a veteran of the US Army and a graduate ofBoston University. He worked for 10 years in the Office of the Mayor of Boston in several roles including as a chief of logistics for the 1976 HRH Queen Elizabeth II visit celebrating the Boston-America Bicentennial. Mr. Kaye spearheaded several entrepreneurial projects extending across industry sectors including telecom, technology, air transport, defense, and healthcare.

Will David Rhame ‘74 of California and Florida died on August 23, 2020. He was a broker with Shearson Lehman Brothers, an entrepreneur, inventor of the first standalone bumper sticker machine, and author of Business Golf and The Voyager series of educational books.He enjoyed playing tennis and was director of tennis at many country clubs. He graduated from the University of North Texas.

Lowry Blair Kline ‘85 of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on January 27. 2022. He had a career in the construction and concrete business. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially during trips to the beach and to the family farm. Mr. Kline enjoyed fly fishing, listening to music, and cooking for family and friends. He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

John Kevin Philips ‘73 of Monterey, California, died on January 21, 2022. He was a graduate of The University of the South and Nasholah House Theological Seminary. He served for many years as an Episcopal priest and chaplain. He was an avid adventurer and took up SCUBA diving mid-life.

Joel Arthur Dermid, Jr. ’60 died on September 13, 2022. He was a graduate of North Carolina State University and earned an MBA from Webster University. He was an accomplished civil engineer and named Engineer of the Year by the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers. He specialized in transportation and was instrumental in the early development of Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

Gregg R. Liles ’84 of Columbia, South Carolina, died on March 13, 2021. He was a member of Shandon Baptist Church and loved to be at the beach, go out to eat, or watch movies and enjoy music. He was an avid collector of Star Wars memorabilia, computers, and technology.

Richard Henry Randolph ’77 of Santa Barbara, California, passed away on August 4, 2022. At Blue Ridge he was a letterman for soccer and cross country and winner of the English and Spanish awards at graduation. He graduated from the University of Virginia and worked in financial services. He was an avid surfer and traveled the world surfing throughout his life. He is the brother of Virgil P. Randolph IV ’77.

Benjamin Randolph Burton ’75 of Concord, North Carolina, passed away on August 8, 2022. As a boy, he was an active Boy Scout and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He loved the outdoors and had a career in landscaping and horticulture. Mr. Burton was a graduate of East Carolina University and a dedicated fan of Pirate athletics. He was happiest when he was clad in purple and gold cheering the Pirates to victory in Dowdy-Ficklin Stadium.

Donald B. Cremeans ’72 of Huntington, West Virginia, passed away on April 14, 2019. He was a lifeguard, a contractor, a Cabell County teacher, a record store owner, a member of West Virginia Trout Unlimited, and founder of D.B. Cremeans Rod Co. creating one-of-a-kind, handplaned Split Bamboo fly rods.

Robert W. Nugent ’72 of Morgantown, West Virginia, passed away on July 3, 2022. He graduated from West Virginia University with a master’s in technology education. He was the owner-operator of Pro-Net Solutions. He loved to cook and was an accomplished home chef. He was an animal lover and rescued many stray dogs and cats.

Elizabeth Crockett Way ’59 of Scottsville, Virginia, died on July 19, 2022. She was her class valedictorian at Blue Ridge Industrial School and graduated from Ferrum College and Madison College before becoming a school teacher. She and her husband Peter operated the Tros-Dale Home for Boys.