Triangle – Spring 2024

SPRING 2024

BRENTWOOD ACADEMY MAGAZINE

FROM THE HEADMASTER

CURT MASTERS Headmaster

As we look ahead with anticipation to the things God has in store for us (I think of the blessing of our eighth grandchild due to be born in a few months’ time), those moments remind us to look back as well to other times of celebration and growth. As we remember the past, we are able to give God thanks for what he has done, while at the same time refreshing our awareness that God is at work in ways that we often do not recognize in the moment, and that our future moments are safely in his hands.

Several of the articles in this Triangle edition address a variety of challenges faced by members of the Brentwood Academy family–health, embarking on mission work in a new country, presenting a solution for flag disposal for the community, and choosing a challenging path at the Naval Academy, to name a few. Know that the work that God has called you to do is being accomplished, not prevented, even and especially in the midst of challenges, as exemplified in the lives represented in these articles. God is a very present help in time of trouble, and his work of drawing people to himself will be accomplished. May God give you and your family peace that passes understanding and increase your certainty of his hand of protection and provision as you trust in him, knowing that his greatest miracles are miracles of the heart.

As we live out the mission and ministry of Brentwood Academy, celebrating great successes and learning through challenges, may our story point to the story of the gospel, boldly offering hope and encouragement as we embrace “Another Great Day at BA!” Recognizing that we always have a choice in how we respond and that God is always at work gives us the confidence to nurture and challenge each whole person, body, mind, and spirit, to the glory of God. We are thankful for your support of Brentwood Academy and for how God has positioned so many of you to provide prayer, financial support, and encouragement for our community.

Trusting in His power to do more than we can ask or imagine,

Curt Masters

BRENTWOOD ACADEMY MISSION

Brentwood Academy is a co-educational, independent, college preparatory school dedicated to nurturing and challenging each whole person — body, mind, and spirit — to the glory of God.

CONTRIBUTING

Kristin

Kolbe

Taylor

Erin

brentwoodacademy.com

facebook.com/brentwoodacademy

linkedin.com/school/brentwood-academy/

LIVING IN GRATITUDE

BY ERIN GRIMSON MCCALL ’10

ERIN GRIMSON MCCALL ’10

Iremember feeling a clear sense of duty entering my senior year at Brentwood Academy. As I prepared to go out into the world (not too far, just to Knoxville and the University of Tennessee), I felt it was my duty to arm myself with certainty. The best way to remain unshaken in the truth would be to build a protection of apologetics around my heart. My safety would be in stability, in knowledge, in control. After college, my early years of marriage and starting a small business further compounded my love for my own special strain of a god complex. I left college with no debt, married, and saved for a house. “This is of my own doing! I earned this milestone and I am safe because I earned stability. I am being rewarded for my patience, my goodness, my faithfulness.”

My husband and I became pregnant with our first child in the summer of 2021. We told our families and closest friends and began to dream about preparing our home for a new life. At our 20-week appointment, we were told that something was wrong with our baby’s development. Within a whirlwind of a few days, we had been passed along to multiple specialist teams and eventually sent to Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital is leading the way in innovations for treating our son’s diagnosis, Bladder Outlet Obstruction. After an initial weekend of testing and fluid infusions, we sat down with a panel of specialists who outlined every possible outcome for our son’s life, should he make it to term, should he survive at birth. Returning to our hotel that evening, we felt completely spent. I oscillated between sleep and tears. In those moments, my deepest fears seemed to come from beliefs entrenched deep in my spirit. I cried to my husband, “This cannot be real.” “I just want him to have a normal life.” “I hate this plan. I want them to work harder. I want them to find another way.”

Looking back now, I feel so much compassion for that version of myself. At my core, I believed that safety and uncertainty could not coexist. Health was owed to my child. This was my right, my inheritance, my earned blessing for good behavior. I clearly remember wondering

to myself, “Is this going to ruin our life?” This implied my core belief that if certainty, health, and a standard of material wealth were removed from our life as a family, our chances at joy were diminished. This belief tracked with my lived experience to this point. The leaders in my high school life taught about countercultural living, but I didn’t seem to know anyone that chose to compromise their standard of living through giving to the poor. So there must be some value to money. The environment I grew up in warned against the prosperity gospel, and yet the Christians around me drove expensive cars. So material wealth isn’t inherently corrupting. I worked hard to save for a house. So there must be some correlation between my work ethic and the type of life I deserve. Trials may come in the short term, but ultimately life should feel protected and abundant.

During Wade’s in utero treatment, we logged a lot of hours in dark exam rooms. Eyes on a monitor, we were always hoping to see enough amniotic fluid around our baby to sustain life. Seated next to us through these procedures was our Maternal Fetal Specialist, one of our spiritual pillars through pregnancy. Wade’s treatments were performed three to four times per week by the time we arrived at 37 weeks of pregnancy. During each treatment, I would lie with my growing belly exposed. My husband would stand behind me, holding both my hands. Then, our doctor would silence the room. She created a silent moment before she took up her instruments to prepare her heart as well as her mind. The first time she called for the room to be still and silent, I remember thinking, “Our baby needs fluid, please hurry.” My mind was racing, thinking that if we met our baby’s need as soon as possible, we could be spared from a life of illness. She created time and space there in the darkness for us to pray. We prayed to different gods. Sometimes my prayers were only, “Have mercy.”

In the months to come, our specialist would sit beside me, guiding a needle into my abdomen, delivering fluid to our baby. In that time, she would ask about the parents we wanted to be. She would dream with us about the life our

son could have. She was the first person we shared Wade’s name with. Her response was, “Of course! Because we’re making this crossing together.” Our process in pregnancy was not about mitigating the severity of our son’s illness. We were not fighting a battle with or for our son. Our pregnancy was about softening our own hearts. It was about releasing certainty and control so that we could be appropriate support for this new life. We hope to raise our son to desire peace in his heart and love for his community. We hope to raise him to be curious, to love humanity, and for his teachers to be many and varied.

is relatively new, and we are so grateful that we were able to transition home for that period rather than continue a life confined to the hospital. That said, dialysis is a short term solution for a baby with no functioning kidneys. The long term goal was to find Wade a kidney of his own that would enable his body to thrive.

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The birth of our son broke open a new quality of life for our family. This young and improbable life has taught us so much about where our contentment lies.

The birth of our son broke open a new quality of life for our family. This young and improbable life has taught us so much about where our contentment lies. We are learning to deal not in what is owed to us, but what we owe to each other. We are learning that if our sense of safety is in our health, our savings, our command of absolute truths, we are done for.

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Erin Grimson McCall ’10

Once Wade was discharged from the hospital after his first seven months of life, we relocated to Nashville so that Wade could be a Vanderbilt Children’s patient and so that we could be close to the majority of our immediate families. We were sent home performing nightly at-home dialysis on Wade to compensate for his lack of kidney function. The technology to send a baby home on dialysis

In the summer of 2023, our family received the news that I (Erin) was a match and that we were cleared to move forward with transplant. This news was so relieving, and it kicked off a summer of preparation for our family’s next surgical milestone. On August 7th, 2023, Wade and I sat in connecting hospital rooms, being prepared by anesthesia for our kidney transplant surgery. Phillip waited patiently while my left kidney was removed, transported down the hall, and transplanted into our son’s body. By the time I was awake and coherent, Wade’s body was already responding to his new organ. We were yet again in awe of the innovations in medicine that allow our son a chance at a full life.

Our son is a transplant patient, which means his medical journey will be lifelong. Transplanted organs have a shelf life. The dream is that this kidney will last Wade anywhere from 12-20 years, but there are never any guarantees. If his recently transplanted kidney serves him for 20 years, we’ve received an undeserved gift. Whenever his body is finished with this kidney, we will keep moving. We are learning to live in gratitude for each day that this organ can serve his body. One day we will be back in another conference room, discussing the search for the next kidney that Wade will need for his next chapter of life. Our prayer is not that an imperfect organ will miraculously last forever within an imperfect body. Our prayer is that our hands will forever be pried open. Releasing control, releasing any excess we may acquire. That we would pass hope along to those walking this road after us.

To contribute to Wade’s future medical fund, visit cota.org/cotaforwade.

SPEIGHT HOUSE DEMOLITION

MOVING FORWARD IN FAITH

In early November 2023, demolition began on Mrs. Maggie Speight’s former house on Brentwood Academy property, allowing for a new entrance to improve safety and logistics for entering and exiting campus, along with the new Bill and Beth Brown Center for Academics and Student Life to provide additional space for the further flourishing of our students and their families.

Mrs. Maggie Speight and her husband bought the land a few acres at a time in the early 1950s from Tede Mayfield, who inherited a farm from her mother. After declining multiple offers from people who wanted to buy her land following the death of her husband in 1965, Mrs. Speight ultimately decided to sell her land to BA in 1999, with the provision that she would be able to remain in her home for the rest of her life. The 20 acres sold to BA allowed BA to remain in its current location, increasing BA’s footprint to 50 acres.

With spirited independence and tender, humble kindness, Mrs. Speight could often be seen picking up trash on campus and driving friends to their doctors appointments, in addition to cleaning out her gutters and traveling internationally into her 80s and 90s, until she passed away in 2018.

Mrs. Speight, a master gardener with understated yet beautiful gardens, often shared both garden starters and her knowledge with others. Similar to the care she took when cultivating the gardens on her land, BA now hopes to cultivate her land as well, not for growth of gardens full of plants, but for the further growth of each whole person — body, mind, and spirit — to the glory of God.

We will continue to honor and remember her contribution to our BA family, both concretely through her land and through the lives she impacted in our community. We are thankful for Mrs. Speight’s support for and belief in the mission and vision of Brentwood Academy.

Congratulations

COACH CARLTON FLATT

10-time state championship winner inducted into the Middle Tennessee Football Official’s Association Coaches Hall of Fame

Long-time Brentwood Academy football coach

Carlton Flatt received the inaugural honor of being inducted into the Middle Tennessee Football Official’s Association Coaches Hall of Fame in January. With a large number of former Brentwood Academy players and coaches in attendance, MTFOA Board member Junior Ward and other representatives of the organization presented Coach Flatt with the honor on campus.

Coach Flatt coached at Brentwood Academy from 19692006, winning ten state championships and notching ten runner-up finishes. With a career record of 355-68-3, he is third on the state’s all-time wins list. In addition to the field at Brentwood Academy being named in Flatt’s honor, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, theTennessee Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame. Earlier this year, the Tennessean named Flatt the coach of its AllLegends Team, a compilation of the greatest Nashville area high school football players from 1960-2019.

“Carlton is a pioneer in the coaching field and has always been special to the MTFOA Officials. He has always been a gentleman on and off the football field and it is our honor for Carlton to be our first inductee,” shared Junior Ward of the MTFOA. Brentwood Academy Headmaster Curt Masters added, “Carlton Flatt is part of the foundation of

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Carlton is a pioneer in the coaching field and has always been special to the MTFOA Officials. He has always been a gentleman on and off the football field and It is our honor for Carlton to be our first inductee.

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Junior Ward, MTFOA

Brentwood Academy and our mission to nurture and challenge each student to the Glory of God. It’s always a privilege for us to see him recognized for the many ways he has impacted our community, including the hundreds of football officials he interacted with over the years. We appreciate MTFOA for recognizing Coach Flatt with their inaugural Coaches Hall of Fame award.”

The Middle Tennessee Football Official’s Association is Tennessee’s premier secondary school football officiating association, comprised of individuals dedicated to the highest standards of training, professionalism, and knowledge. The MTFOA services secondary school programs from middle school through the varsity high school level, encompassing the Middle Tennessee areas of Davidson, Sumner, Williamson, Wilson, Cheatham, and Robertson Counties. Congratulations, Coach Flatt!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

TAYLOR DICKINSON ’23

A DIVINELY APPOINTED EXPERIENCE

It all started with a book. That book planted a seed and a desire, and that desire was to go to Uganda and love on children. At the age of ten, I just could not understand why my parents would not move our family to Uganda so I could start loving on these children immediately. My mom did search for mission trips that our family could participate in, but she was not able to find one that would take a ten year old child and actually do something meaningful. So I was told that we would do a mission trip once I got into high school. And then COVID-19 hit. Yet again, my dream of doing mission work was sidelined. Covid was not all bad, however. Because of it, I was able to move back to Nashville and attend Brentwood Academy.

I attribute so much of who I have become to my time at Brentwood Academy. There were teachers at BA who opened my eyes to a different world of missions and ministry. Those same teachers infected me with their passion for Christ and for doing good in this world. They went beyond making sure I knew how to conjugate my Spanish verbs, solve the quadratic equations, not end a

sentence with a prepositional phrase, and recite the Ten Commandments. Teachers like Mr. Nguyen, Doc Roc, Mrs. Wade, Coach Ker, Mrs. Christian–they encouraged me, spent time talking to me about my passion for service, and did not try to make me go to college first. I felt seen, heard, and understood. Imagine how nervous I was when I sat down to tell my college counselor, Mr. Beckley, that I did not want to go to college and was not sure I ever would. Instead of making me feel embarrassed or full of shame, he listened to me and embraced my unconventional plan. He not once tried to talk me out of it or suggest that I only go for a couple of weeks. He knew that would not satisfy me, that I wanted to immerse myself in the culture and form real relationships with the Ugandans. He became a champion of my dream all the while setting me up to succeed should I decide to one day go back to college.

The other huge impact on my life was Mrs. DeeAnn Hodge. I had grown up going to Camp Wonderfully Made every summer when I was little. Not only did we learn about Jesus, play tennis, swim, and make fun crafts, but Miss DeeAnn made sure that we had hearts for service. Each day we made something that we were to give away to someone else. The sadness of aging out of her camp was quickly overshadowed by the excitement of finally being able to be a counselor. Senior year, she decided to start an after school tutoring program at a North Nashville low income apartment complex, and she desperately needed volunteers to help her run it.

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These children have a piece of my heart. We have watched them change in front of our eyes...

Taylor Dickinson ’23

Since I was not involved in sports, which turned out to be another God orchestrated blessing, I had the time! So every Monday and Wednesday, my mom and I would drive the 30 minutes to go up to Haynes Garden and love on the precious kids, tutor them in homework, and teach them about Jesus. These children have a piece of my heart. We have watched them change in front of our eyes, and the biggest indicator of this is to listen to the prayers they pray.

When it came time to tour college campuses and start filling out the applications, I dragged my feet. I came home from each college tour completely unsatisfied. I could not picture myself at any of the campuses, yet I knew I had to apply, so I just started filling out applications. One Sunday night I was up late finishing my essay, and my mom walked into the room to see how I was doing. I told her I was struggling and did not want to go to any of the colleges. I blurted out, “And maybe I will just go be a missionary in Uganda!” My mother looked at me, gave me a hug, and said, “I think you just need to go to sleep.” The next morning, I walked into the kitchen and told her I was serious. She looked at me and said, “OK! Let’s start researching.”

My mom and I both kept coming up with the same ministry. So, surely this was a sign from God. We were completely excited until there was a hiccup with my age. At this point, it was February, and I had no idea what I was going to do, but I just knew I did not want college. We decided we needed to put a deadline on this decision. My mom said we would continue to pray about it, but if we did not have a ministry by the end of Spring Break, we would just need to decide on a college. A couple of days before Spring Break, my dad remembered a physician he had worked with who had connections to Uganda. A phone call was made, which led to two more conversations. This all culminated in a Zoom call with Mama Phoebe Sozi in Uganda, and my now Ugandan parents said yes to having this “muzungu” come be a part of their family and ministry.

Divine Care Ministry was started by Peter Sozi and his wife Phoebe. The AIDS epidemic wiped out an entire generation of people their age, which left children orphaned with no one to take care of them. Mama Phoebe started taking the children into their home to feed, love, and educate them. Dr. Rick Rogers, an orthopedic surgeon from Murfreesboro, found out about the Sozis, visited Uganda, and helped them form their nonprofit ministry. Divine Care has existed solely on the donations of supporters, faith in God, and a lot of prayer. They have two schools, Divine Hope and Divine Grace, which are both boarding and day schools, two churches, a farm, and a coffee bean plantation. The Sozis have welcomed many mission teams over the 25 years they have had their ministry, but they have never had someone stay for ten months. But that did not stop them from saying yes to what they felt God was calling them to do.

The Sozis have been amazing. They have welcomed me into their home, and I am known to everyone as Taylor Sozi. I have spent these first months learning about their ministry from all angles. I have spent time in their administrative offices where I have helped plan evangelism mission trips to an unreached area in Northeastern Uganda called Karamoja, assisted in social media campaigns, participated in leadership and youth conferences, and written presentations. I even preach up front in church! I have sat with the women in the

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Ultimately, this experience has brought me closer to God, has brought me so much joy, and has made me want to live my life differently. ”

Taylor Dickinson

’23

Women’s Empowerment Center, which is in the church. These women come every Monday and Tuesday and have been taught a trade such as sewing, weaving, and knitting so that they can make items to sell and provide for their families. I go on house visits with the pastor team and am able to check on church members in the community. This has greatly expanded my view of the poverty level that is abundant in Kampala. Sitting in on the administration

meetings has given me a new appreciation for money. It has been heart wrenching to hear of the stories of children who want to go on to University but who cannot because the ministry does not have enough money at the moment. To know how little the teachers make, that they could make more money working for someone else but they stay at Divine Care because they want to work for such a great organization, has rearranged my concept of money and how much we waste on frivolous things that could be doing good for this community.

I have spent time in the schools, but mainly in Divine Hope, which is the school 15 minutes from where we live. Building relationships with some of the girls has been a high priority. I have gained their trust, and they have opened up to me about the hardships of their life. Sheena is one of the girls. Her mother left her with her three month old baby when Sheena was only eight years old because she went to work in Saudi Arabia where she could make more money to support the family. I was completely astounded because you would have never known that Sheena had to become a mother herself at eight years old. Meeting Sheena has changed me forever. This girl lives a hard life, yet she has joy. How I can ever complain given all the comforts we have in America is beyond me.

Another fun activity I have done is make bracelets with some of the older classes. To see the sense of pride they had when they completed their creation was incredible. Not only were they making bracelets for themselves, but they were making them for other people as well. During the month of November, I taught my own “Baby Class,” which are the four and five year olds. Their teacher is out on maternity leave, and I could hardly control my excitement.

One of my other most favorite activities is visiting the remote region of Karamoja. There are truly people who live in grass huts who have never heard of Jesus. So to be a part of this evangelism is probably one of the most rewarding experiences to date. In fact, my dream is to build a compound in Karamoja so that I have a house that can accommodate mission teams, have a church, and a clinic. My mother had someone call her two days before we left for Uganda to tell us we could not go to this region, that it was too unsafe. But this is where the greatest need is, and if we have been called to take the gospel to all the ends of the earth, I am pretty sure God would not be happy if we played it safe and people went unsaved.

It seems hard to believe that I have changed so much in the 12 weeks that I have been there, but I truly have. Growing up, I did not like to spend the night at other people’s houses. Just ask Mr. Husband about a certain night he was kicked out of his bed and went to the couch so that I could sleep in bed with Mrs. Husband! I was a picky eater. I would never go to summer camp. And now here I am, living 30 hours from home, in a foreign country, eating foods I never would have eaten, and taking baths out of a bucket when in Karamoja. My faith has been strengthened to a point I never thought possible. I have seen a lame little girl prayed over, healed, and walk. I have seen evil spirits prayed out of possessed children. I have seen the faith of the Sozi family and the power of prayer. They have prayed specifically for things, and I have seen them happen time after time. I have talked to people who have practiced witchcraft, told them about Jesus, and watched them accept the Lord as their Savior. I have found out that we were lost in the bush and walking and singing right where the

“cattle warriors” were hiding, so that the only explanation for how we remained unharmed was their eyes and ears were closed by the Lord so we could pass safely. But my faith has also been tested. Each of these experiences has also made me question things, which in turn led me to the Bible to do some research which then ultimately led me to be strengthened. But I do have a different view of God, and my relationship is different to Him than the relationship that the Ugandans have. I also sometimes

SO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN UGANDA?

By Stephanie Dickinson

It was late one Sunday night. My daughter, Taylor, was filling out college applications. She had been touring campuses all fall and came home from each one unsatisfied. This particular night, she was putting the finishing touches on her college essay. The application deadlines were the next day. I asked her how the applications were going, and she said, “Horrible. I don’t want to go to college. I just want to go be a missionary in Uganda.” I patted her head, gave her a hug, and said, “I think you need to go to bed.”

I’m not sure I slept that night. Thoughts were swirling in my head. See, Taylor had read a book as a little girl about a teenager who went to Africa and had always been mad that we wouldn’t move our family there. It truly was something she always wanted to do. When she woke up the next morning, she walked out into the kitchen, and I said, “Taylor, were you serious about the Uganda thing?” I was convinced she had just said this in a moment of frustration. But to my amazement, she replied, “Yes, Mom. I really am.”

Those five words started this mama in motion. Immediately, I began reaching out to people who knew people. And Taylor started doing the same thing. We

feel like I am not a good enough Christian, that my faith is not strong enough, that I don’t pray boldly enough. Ultimately, this experience has brought me closer to God, has brought me so much joy, has made me want to live my life differently. And probably, the thing that Mr. Beckley is most excited about is that I realize I do want to go to college, that I will be more effective with that degree under my belt. As Dr. Gonas put it while touring Belmont, “You have a toolbox, Taylor, now you just need

both kept coming up with this one ministry. Surely, this was a sign from God. Everything started falling into place and lining up. Further confirmation, right? Until it wasn’t. Which left us reeling. We were coming up to spring break, and Taylor still knew in her heart that this was what she wanted to do. I looked at her and said, “Taylor I think we need to pray and kind of have a deadline. If we don’t come up with an organization for you to go with by the end of spring break, then I think we need to proceed with college.” She agreed.

As I was talking to my husband, he remembered a colleague he had worked with who was from Africa. He immediately called him, thinking he might know of a nonprofit. That phone call was an answer from God because Dr. Ikejiani put us in touch with Dr. Rogers and Divine Care Ministries. After a couple of phone calls between Dr. Rogers and Mark, Dr. Rogers and Taylor, Joanna and Taylor, and finally a Zoom call between all of them and Mama Phoebe, the Sozi family agreed to have Taylor come live with them for a year.

Peoples’ reactions have been all over the board. We had so many people who supported us immediately, but we also heard the same questions over and over.

“Why doesn’t Taylor just do it for a month?”

“Aren’t you worried about her safety?”

“Are you really going to let her go?”

“She just needs to do this after college.”

to put some tools in it.”

I know I am only 19, but I can look back at my life and see how God planted that seed and allowed it to slowly grow. I can see how every mountain top and every valley He let me experience contributed to the growth of that seed. I know He is not done with that seed, and I cannot wait to see what He does with it next. But the one thing I do know is that the flower that will grow from that seed is going to bring God all the glory!

The entire time there just was this peace that Mark and I had about the situation. Don’t get me wrong. I am a worrier at heart. So, of course, I would worry about things. But even still, I just kept talking to God and believing that He was her ultimate protector. And how could Mark and I keep Taylor from doing something that God had placed on her heart? How exactly would we answer to Him if we told her she couldn’t go?

The day arrived for us to take her. Mark was not able to go, so my son, Brett, came with me. I had been anxious the weeks preceding the trip. But when I tell you, within moments of meeting Phillip, Mama Phoebe, and Pastor Sozi, that anxiety simply went away. We spent six days with the family, learning first hand about their ministry, visiting Divine Hope and Divine Care, worshiping in their churches, meeting the women at the Empowerment Center, having children pray over my family, and being embraced by women who told me they had been praying for our family and that they would love and take care of Taylor as if she were their own. It actually made me mad that I had wasted so much precious time and energy even doubting for a second that God had been orchestrating such an amazing plan all along. Yes, we cried as we left each other, but all I have to do is look at this picture of Taylor. This is the look of PURE JOY! God was in control all along, and the Divine Care Ministries family has her and is loving her probably better than even I could!

Phillip kept telling me, “God is everywhere, but He lives in Uganda.”

And you know what? I believe it.

From BA to USNA

A TRADITION OF SERVICE

“Having been appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy, I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.”

— Oath of Office, United States Naval Academy

Brentwood Academy’s legacy of sending students to the United States Naval Academy (USNA) has spanned over 20 years and includes five alumni as current Midshipmen at the USNA: Lauren White ’23, Patrick Melton ’22, Elijah Oatsvall ’21, Koko Antis ’20, and Gus Elliott ’22. Each alum notes the value of the BA experience and how it contributes to their success at the USNA, including the BA College Counseling Office and its impact on their experience. “There’s an initial application and a final application, and you have to be nominated by a congressman or a senator, so that’s a whole other separate application, [along with] interviews,” states Koko, following her grandfather’s footsteps by choosing the USNA. “I had no idea how it worked. My college counselor at the time did an amazing job researching and finding out that information for me…helping me to review my essays, help[ing] me with interview practices, things like that.”

BA alums attending the USNA cite BA’s schedule and the opportunity for involvement in many areas as key influences in their successful experience at the USNA. Most recently an admissions counselor for the USNA, following an assignment on the USS Alabama Blue submarine from 20182021, BA alum and 2016 USNA graduate Lieutenant Kwazel Bertrand ’11 states, “Being that BA is a college preparatory school, it offers challenging classes and a supporting environment that would prepare you academically for the USNA. Also, being involved in sports and other extracurricular activities allows you to develop different talents and become well rounded to assist in growing your leadership potential at USNA.” Lauren adds, “At BA there are so many extracurricular opportunities. You’re around people who want to win, who want the best for

you, and who want to push you to your limits. And so that made me realize that I wanted to be around those people for a lifetime,” noting that influence on her choice of the USNA for her further education. Lauren continues, “BA is no doubt a challenging environment, but it’s a challenging environment to make you a better person. I would be up early in the mornings, I would be up late at night working on homework or extracurriculars, but the discipline and the growth that I experienced through that has helped me here [at the USNA] and has been the most valuable skill that I’ve used to be successful in my short time here.”

Participation in a variety of BA’s extracurricular programs continues to benefit these BA alums currently at the USNA. Patrick notes that the schedule at BA is “very similar to the way that the USNA requires you to be doing a lot of different things. You’re always balancing and figuring out what your priorities are. That translated very well from Brentwood Academy when I always was having to worry about schoolwork as well as participat[ing] in the robotics program in addition to my sports.” Patrick continues, “I think the biggest things that I learned in robotics weren’t necessarily learn[ing] how to build or program a robot. It was learning how to form and strengthen relationships with people and work with

them: teamwork, problem solving, being able to look at a situation and come up with a solution. In the USNA as well as the military in general, there are a lot of situations where you don’t have a lot of instructions and you have to figure out the best way to go about a situation to bring about the best result.” Koko, also benefiting from her experience with the robotics program at BA, has recently requested to become a nuclear surface warfare officer after her graduation from the USNA. She adds, “What

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BA prepared me for the workload that I was going to expect here, to know how to manage that time and how to really apply myself in multiple areas at once .

Katie White (BA College Counseling), Patrick Melton ’22, Lauren White ’23, Elijah Oatsvall ’21, Koko Antis ’20, Gus Elliott ’22, and Brian Beckley (BA College Counseling)

Koko Antis ’20

[the robotics team] taught me was really how to work well with a team as far as coming up with ideas, making a product, testing it, and then eventually competing and within that competition working with other teams, getting to know them, what works well, what doesn’t. I translated that to the USNA because you’re thrown into a group of 40 plus people whom you’ve never met, who are from everywhere across the country and internationally, and you have to learn about them and learn what makes it work and what makes it not work.” Gus agrees, “BA instilled a determination and a work ethic. You can pursue what you want to pursue. There’s a lot of athletic opportunity. There’s a lot of academic opportunity. I took 15 AP classes at BA. If you are good at fine arts, the theater productions are amazing. Robotics is really good, drama, and speech and debate. If you’re good at something and you want to take it to the next level, BA does a really good job at that.” Patrick adds, “BA makes an effort to make sure everybody has the opportunity to do everything that they can.”

Reflecting on their time at BA, the USNA Midshipmen also note resilience, time management skills, and problem solving as key traits that contribute to their ability to succeed at the USNA. Gus adds that athletics at BA “definitely [taught] resilience,” which proves helpful at the USNA because “you might have boxing in the middle of your class. You might have had a plebe [first year] workout in the morning. You still have to go to school. So I do all these activities and still have to excel. You’re graded on it. You take the physical readiness test. So you’re almost graded on how resilient you are here.” Koko adds, “BA prepared me for the workload that I was going to expect here, to know how to manage that time and how to really apply myself in multiple areas at once.” Reflecting on his experience at the USNA several years ago, Lt. Bertrand also states, “I did feel prepared for the USNA, and subsequently the USNA prepared me for my role in the Navy after graduation. The involvement at BA can keep you busy with academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. This will challenge you in some way or another. You will soon learn to overcome those challenges in order to succeed, whether it’s leaning on your classmates and teachers or getting better at your craft. While at the USNA, I came across similar challenges where I had to utilize my classmates, professors, and other assistance to

help me get through those challenges. They were tougher but the concept is the same to ask for assistance and keep getting better.”

Additionally, these alums have found that their foundation of faith, fostered by BA, has served them well in a new setting at the USNA. Patrick notes, “Brentwood Academy gives you the foundations that you need in order to go out into the world and take your faith as your own. I grew up in a Christian household, and so the USNA was the first time…I’m like, okay, there’s nobody–my parents aren’t here, my friends aren’t here; it’s all me. The USNA has a lot of really great opportunities for religious extracurricular activities. Getting plugged into those as well as going to church every weekend as a personal choice was something that I really enjoyed doing.” Gus agrees, saying, “When I went to BA, my faith was one of my highest priorities. And so, when I got here, the first club I joined was Officers’ Christian Fellowship.” Lauren, also impacted by her experience at BA, shares, “Senior year Christian Dynamics was a huge part of my

faith. Mr. Nguyen taught us how to go through the Bible and actually read it in depth and not just read the words, but actually understand what they meant. And that was a huge part of my faith. It’s a skill that I’ve used in the few months here.” Koko also notes, “Your faith is such a huge part of your day to day life [at BA]...they also challenge you to question why you believe it’s true. And I think that’s the skill I most took here because you come here, everyone is from different places, everyone has a different belief system. Coming here is really challenging to your faith. You have to really be confident in yourself and who, what you believe in, and I think BA gave me those skills to look at what I believe and why and be confident in that choice, not just to go with the flow with people around me.”

Driven by a desire to serve others and for being challenged and held to a high standard, each BA alum currently at the USNA notes with appreciation the relationships from BA that have continued into this next stage of their lives. Koko comments, “BA taught me how to manage my time and then also still how to make those connections with people and my teammates in order to be successful.” Patrick states, “Even now after I’ve been at the USNA for a year and a couple months, I enjoy going back [to BA]. The teachers still know you by name, everybody is excited to see you back.” Additionally, Gus reflects, “ If you’re looking to join the BA community, just know that you’ll be loved, first and foremost. They’ll ask me how I’m doing, they genuinely care about my wellbeing. The amount of love and care they pour into each student is really special.” Lauren agrees, stating, “Life is all about relationships, and BA has the best relationships that you’ll ever find. The relationships you have with your teacher, the people around you, there’s nothing that can compare to that.” Koko, still valuing her relationships from BA even into her final year at the USNA, shares, “BA is special to me because I met my best friends there. It’s a difficult school, so you’re all kind of struggling

together, but that forms the best friendships. I met some of my best friends that I’ve ever had that I still talk to to this day, who are doing nothing like I’m doing, but because we have that shared experience of working hard, doing multiple things at once–sports, academics, the arts, things like that, we all kind of have that shared experience and just a really, really deep connection.”

“

The uniqueness of BA having five students [at the USNA] at [the same] time–we’ve never had a situation like this. The closest I’ve come was having a school with two students at the same time.

”

John Ohlinger retired Navy Commander

Time has proven the thorough preparation received by BA alums that has allowed them to succeed at the prestigious USNA through the development of their character and work ethic, their ability to face a challenge, their pursuit of their faith, and the way they value relationships with others. Blue and Gold Officer John Ohlinger, retired Navy Commander and USNA class of ’69, states, “BA is one of the top schools in the state for students who are qualified. And they also have an ingrained will to serve. We are just trying to knock the doors down to get them the offer, and we focus on making sure they make the right decision. The uniqueness of BA having five students [at the USNA] at [the same] time–we’ve never had a situation like this. The closest I’ve come was having a school with two students at the same time.” Lt. Bertrand, currently attending the Submarine Officer Advanced Course to become the Weapons Officer on the USS Hampton on his next tour, adds, “My advice is that if any student has any interest in going to the USNA, you should definitely strive for it. When I was a student at BA, I was afraid to make that commitment. I was afraid to take that path. I didn’t know where that path would lead me or what I was getting myself into. However, I am extremely grateful that God helped me to make the choice to go to the USNA, and I have had a tremendous experience. It will make you the best version of yourself, and you’ll meet lifelong friends.”

“I have had a tremendous experience. It will make you the best version of yourself, and you’ll meet lifelong friends.”

— Lt. Kwazel Bertrand ’11

CLASS OF 1973

FIRST 50TH REUNION

“OUR REUNION RANKS AS ONE OF MY FAVORITES, and at my age, I have had many opportunities to attend! The older you become, the more you realize the sanctity of life, and that it is important to take opportunities when you have them. Your former classmates are people with whom you truly have a commonality and a history. Our class was able to connect on a deeper level through this reunion.”

—

Nancy Brasher ’73

“THE BEST PART OF OUR REUNION was reconnecting with our classmates and reminiscing about those first few years at BA. It was especially nice to have Mr. Brown and Coach Flatt join us. They had a great time hearing some of our favorite memories. It was inspiring to take a tour of the school, which has grown from a five classroom building to an impressive multi-structure campus.”

— Maxey Sanders ’73

“MY

was reconnecting in person with 14 of the remaining 19 members of my Class of 1973. It was as if 50 years had not possibly gone by. We all recognized what an important role we played in the formation of a school that is still operating today under the founding Triangle principles of physical, mental, and spiritual growth for each student. It means a lot that many traditions which the school celebrates 50 years later began from our humble class of 21 students, and that realization caused us to have great pride in our accomplishments.”

— Jeri Campbell Moore

“I HAD A FANTASTIC TIME AT OUR 50TH REUNION! I loved seeing how the campus has grown. I was at a loss for words about the theater and robotic spaces; astounding! I was happy to see many of the traditions that we started–like the Senior Class Composites–are still being done after all of these years. I loved seeing the memory tables filled with scrapbooks and other souvenirs. Hearing other classmates’ stories was hilarious! It made me feel so good to see Mr. Brown blush and laugh about some of the rules in the handbook back then.” — Ame Arlt ’73

FAVORITE PART OF THE 50TH REUNION WEEKEND

’73

Left to Right: Maxey Sanders, Debbie (Krauth) Sanders, Tim Perry, Nancy (Simpkins) Brasher, Jeri (Campbell) Moore, Arnold Dillon, Paul Frick, Ame Arlt, Kim Bauman

BRENTWOOD ACADEMY ANNOUNCES HONOREES OF INAUGURAL

ALUMNI & FRIENDS AWARDS

Brentwood Academy has implemented the inaugural Alumni and Friends Awards as a way of celebrating five decades of alumni and friends who are living out Brentwood Academy’s mission and ministry and are having an impact on advancing God’s Kingdom. Honorees for 2023 include the following:

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI OF THE YEAR:

Mike Macintyre ’84 for his commitment to the mission of Brentwood Academy, both personally and in his position as a head college football coach.

Mary Craig Tortorice ’01 for her faithful dedication and service to both her students and to The Covenant School during the tragic events last year.

YOUNG ALUMNI OF THE YEAR:

Reagan Heath ’13 for his unwavering dedication to the Nashville community through his work as a police officer for the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Sarah-Catherine Martin ’17 for demonstrating excellence in her academic endeavors and supporting and inspiring other young alumni.

FRIEND OF THE YEAR:

Carissa Pereira for her unparalleled dedication to the Brentwood Academy community and tireless service to those in need.

Leigh Ann Whitt for demonstrating her love and support to Brentwood Academy through her significant volunteer efforts.

FAMILY OF THE YEAR:

The Ron and Kaye Knox Family for their commitment and contributions to the Brentwood Academy community. As parents and grandparents, their familial ties extend across generations to three children and seven grandchildren.

Chandler ’10 and Will Blalock ’10 for their inspiration to countless people who follow their faith journey after a serious accident.

LettersFROM THE PAST

When current Middle School Christian Life Director Coach JD Binger taught 6th grade English, he presented his students with a unique assignment: creating a time capsule by answering a variety of questions, placing the assignment in an envelope, and addressing the envelope with their home address before returning the envelope to Coach Binger, who would then mail this assignment to his students after their graduation. “I wanted to get them to write and to also practice addressing an envelope. When I was a senior in high school, one of my teachers did this for my class, and I thought it would be fun to do with my students,” recalls Coach Binger. Multiple classes have now received this time-capsule assignment from their past.

“I do remember the exact class when we wrote that letter,” recalls Luke Collins ’20, currently working in the

country music industry as a tour manager. “I remember being excited about it. I remember thinking how far away it felt when he said he was going to send it to us after we graduated. It was funny looking back and seeing my answers to certain questions.” Reflecting upon his time at BA, Luke notes, “Brentwood Academy taught me the meaning of hard work in all aspects of life. I think football and my teachers had the biggest impact on my time at BA. Whether it was Coach Norris getting on to me about a missed tackle or Mrs. Bauchiero taking time with me after Spanish class to go over an assignment, I was always thankful for how much Brentwood Academy poured into students. I am also thankful for the spiritual guidance that BA gave me. In 8th grade, I had a rough time. I was learning about life and crossed some of BA’s boundaries. BA and the faculty showed me what the grace of God looked like walking through that process. My time

LETTERS FROM THE PAST

back freshman year through senior year was a four year period of growth, failure, and sanctification through the grace of Jesus. The faculty guided me through that.”

Adam Wass ’20, currently finishing his last semester at UT Knoxville where he will graduate with a double major in Finance and Supply Chain Management, states, “When I read my letter, my first realization was how much I have matured. There were a mixture of jokes, unrealistic expectations (playing in the NBA if you can believe it), and I even said I would go to an Ariana Grande concert with a friend as the one thing I do before I die (still haven’t gone; I have failed my past self). Overall it was funny to see how priorities and ideas shift over time.”

Jacob Grundy ’20, currently finishing his senior year at Auburn and majoring in Supply Chain Management, had a similar response: “When I received the letter, I was shocked because I had completely forgotten about it.

When I opened the letter, my first thought was, ‘What was I thinking back then!?’” Jacob adds, “There are a lot of things that I am grateful for from my time at BA. However, one thing I loved was how small our class was. In our graduating class, I believe we had 36 guys. During our time, we all grew very close, and I still talk to a lot of those guys.”

“I didn’t appreciate BA enough while I was there,” Adam states. “Not only was I amply prepared for college academically, but I also feel like I had a good understanding of the world around me and developed so many relationships that I still foster today. I also miss the competitive culture, always being challenged athletically, academically, and spiritually.” Noting Coach Binger’s impact on his students, Adam shares, “he is always able to direct something happening in your life back to your faith. He always came to class and practice in a good mood and did such a great job relating to younger students and making learning more fun.” Luke adds, “Coach Binger really taught me to not take life too seriously. I remember when I didn’t make the soccer team in eighth grade, I was devastated. We kind of just laughed it off, and he told me to get ’em next year. My passion quickly changed to

There are a lot of things that I am grateful for from my time at BA... In our graduating class, I believe we had 36 guys. During our time, we all grew very close, and I still talk to a lot of those guys.

Jacob Grundy ’20

football in high school, but he taught me in that moment that nothing is as bad or as good as it seems, and all you can do is learn and move on. I always felt supported as a student, athlete, and person when around Coach Binger.” Jacob also notes the significance of relationships with faculty in addition to the friendships with his classmates: “One thing I have always enjoyed about Coach Binger is his humor. He knows when to be serious, but outside of those times, he is fun to be around. I think it is very important to have that kind of relationship with coaches instead of only seeing them on the field. Coach Binger has done a lot for me and taught me a lot to the point where I would call him a mentor. He coached me from 6th grade all the way up to my senior year, and I would say the biggest way he impacted me was teaching me how to lead others. I am not a very vocal person, but he saw how I impacted others even when I did not see it. He has taught me so much more, but I think leadership is something we talked about consistently.”

After reconnecting with some of the students in their next stage of life after sending these letters, Coach Binger states, “Relationships are always the most fun, most enjoyable part of the job–what wakes you up in the morning. People flocked to Jesus–there was something attractive about Him because of how He treated people. When I come to school, I try to show enthusiasm when I see students, to be overtly in favor of their success. Jesus loved us while we were yet sinners and died for us. We have the opportunity to treat students not as they deserve but as we’ve been treated.”

Currently loving his role as the Middle School Christian Life Director, Coach Binger “marvels at the story we’re all in” as he gets to share the Good News of the gospel. He reflects on his time teaching in the classroom and his soccer coaching experience at BA, noting that “when teaching, it’s fun to open up a world you’re passionate about to help students see something really cool amidst the school day. When coaching, you get to develop lifelong relationships and to see the full range of human emotions and be with them in those moments to either celebrate with them or turn them towards the light.” The time capsule assignment exemplifies Coach Binger’s influence, still present years after coaching and teaching these BA alums, as the letters provided reminders of each person’s growth and the impact of relationships formed at BA that will continue to have an impact for many years to come.

LETTERS TO THE PAST

Advice these alums (and Coach Binger!) would give themselves when they were younger if they could travel back in time…

ADAM WASS ’20:

“Live in the present. If something won’t matter in a year, don’t spend a minute worrying about it. Stay off social media and limit your screen time. Being outside and present is way more fulfilling than a device.”

JACOB GRUNDY ’20:

“Pick your friends wisely.”

LUKE COLLINS ’20:

“I would tell myself to focus. We grow up in a world full of distractions and darkness. My advice would be to seek the good and focus on how I can help others.”

COACH BINGER:

“You can work harder than you think you can. These are the years where you can craft yourself. I wish that had been a louder anthem at that point. It also would’ve been helpful for someone to tell me not to be too focused on the outcomes but be faithful to the process. Also, God is better than you think He is. Go find out!”

BRENTWOOD EAGLE SCOUT

PROVIDES FLAG RETIREMENT BOX TO CITY HALL

The American Flag is such a powerful symbol that many people hesitate lowering it once the flag’s faded edges begin to fray. These tattered banners continue to wave above homes and businesses, even though the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Flag Guidelines state that “it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

The idea of burning Old Glory makes people a little uncomfortable, so to help with the process, Boy Scout Troops across the country host respectful ceremonies to retire these symbols. But how do you get your old flag into the hands of your local Boy Scouts?

Taylor Wimsatt, a senior at Brentwood Academy, solved that problem earlier this year when he built a flag retirement box for his Eagle Scout project. That impressive wooden box, with a brass deposit slot, now sits in the Brentwood City Hall lobby at 5211 Maryland Way.

“As a younger scout, my best memories included the work associated with the fire we built in the evening,” Taylor said in a press release from the city. “The campfire not only symbolized a great day of activities, but it also initiated our flag retirement ceremony. As I got a little older, I started to appreciate the importance of preserving the honor and dignity of our nation’s flag.

“This shouldn’t be seen as a duty but a symbol of one’s commitment to patriotism, respect and service. Installing the flag retirement box gives everyone in the community confidence that their cherished flag will be retired properly.”

The community has embraced this new amenity, with more than 50 flags deposited in the box during its first few months. Those flags have since been retired respectfully by local Boy Scouts.

Taylor’s flag retirement box may be popular among residents, but Brentwood City Hall isn’t always the most convenient place to visit. His younger brother, Jackson Wimsatt, is now working on a second flag retirement box for his Eagle Scout project. When he finishes that box later this year, Jackson will install it at the Brentwood Service Center, 1750 General George Patton Drive.

For information on how to care for an American Flag, including a helpful listing on “Do’s and Don’ts for Displaying Old Glory,” visit the U.S. Department of Defense website.

GET TO KNOW

COACH PAUL WADE

Coach Paul Wade joined Brentwood Academy in January as the new head football coach of the Eagles. Junior Kolbe Harmon sat down with Coach Wade to help introduce him to the BA Community.

KOLBE:

Where does your passion and love of football come from?

COACH WADE:

I think it probably goes back to the fact that I was not a very good football player. I was a walk-on at Tennessee Tech, and I knew that I was not going to get to play. Even though I was probably in the top two or three of the strongest guys on the team, I knew that position-wise, I was probably out of luck, so I turned that into a love of coaching. At the end of my career, in order to graduate early, I got out of football and was actually hired back as a Graduate Assistant to coach with the offensive line and the tight ends. The mentors that I had there, as well as in high school, instilled in me the love of football.

KOLBE:

What is it about the BA football program that attracted you to coach here?

COACH WADE:

Coaching and teaching at Nashville area private Christian schools as long as I have, I’ve known about Brentwood Academy for a long time. I actually interviewed here 12 years ago, interviewed again last year, and like they say, third time’s a charm, and so it worked out! I’ve always followed BA, not only knowing Coach Flatt from long ago, but also knowing many of the assistants and coaches that have worked here, not only in football, but also in other sports. In my opinion, BA is the icon of football in the state of Tennessee. The success and the tradition here is second to none, and I’m excited to get to be a part of it.

KOLBE:

What are some of the biggest changes that fans of BA football might see this upcoming season?

COACH WADE:

The first thing fans will notice is that we’re going back to the other sideline. We’ll be away from the crowd, so we’re going to flip back sidelines. I remember coming over here, watching games, and BA was on that sideline. I remember coming over here and coaching against Brentwood Academy, after Coach Flatt, and coaching from that sideline, and looking into that stadium, being on the opposite end, being towards a little bit quieter, but also being able to look into the crowd. I think it will give us a little more control of the environment, and I think it’s just a better backdrop for Friday night football.

I’m a traditionalist and as far as that goes, the tradition has been the red jersey and the gray pants. I’m not sure fans will see us many times in blue, if any. The red jersey that Coach Flatt put on the field many years ago is the standard of BA, and that’s something that I wanted to represent this year.

I think fans are going to be excited with what we do, but they’re going to see a little bit different of the scheme. We’ll be a little more slowed down on offense. We have too many kids, I think, that are going to have to play both ways.

Obviously, just watching some game film from last year, there were some situations where I think you guys were tired in the second half, and I think that you can control that on offense. You can’t control it on defense because you can’t control what the other team is going to do offensively. But we can control our pace on offense, and I think that’s going to make us stronger to the fourth quarter when we have more chances to win some games.

KOLBE:

Tell me a little bit about your family.

COACH WADE:

Thank you for asking me about them! My wife and I have been married 31 years. This is her 30th year as a librarian at a small elementary school in Old Hickory. We have two boys. My oldest is Parker (28), and my youngest is Pryce (24). I actually left a head coaching job in 2010 for them to get to go to Ensworth. Went to Ensworth as an assistant, offensive line, offensive coordinator for them to get to play there and step up their game, if you will. Parker played football at the Naval Academy. He was a starter there for two years and is currently still serving his payback tour. He works for a two-star admiral in Washington, DC and lives in an apartment near the Washington Monument.

Pryce graduated from the University of Tennessee and became a Vol for life. He traveled all over the country with his buddies, going to all the stadiums and following Tennessee football. He currently works down at Music Row as a sports and entertainment banker and has a lot of professional athletes and country music stars that bank with them.

We have two dogs that also we consider our kids, since we’re empty nesters now. We have two miniature Dachshunds. One is Olive and the other is Navy.

KOLBE:

That’s very cool. What do we, as players, have to look forward to with you as our new head coach?

COACH WADE:

Wow. Intensity, loud. But also, I would consider myself a relationship-builder. Everywhere I’ve been, kids that I have coached, and that have graduated in those programs, have followed me throughout my career.

When I left DCA in ’99, a lot of those kids came and watched our games at CPA. When I left CPA, a lot of those kids came and watched my games at Davidson… same at Ensworth, etc. It’s full circle. I now have former players who have sent me their sizes for gear and tell me they can’t wait to come over here and watch us play. I feel, Kolbe, I’m the type of guy that can really get on a kid and coach them up hard in practice, yet walk through the locker room and dap them up and tell them it was a good day, or it’s a bad day and we’ve got to get better here. It’s a mutual conversation, not something where I’ve taken it out on them, or they leave mad. We’ll leave it on a good note.

As far as a scheme, I think what we do is going to be fun. The attacking style defense, a pro-style offense. We’re going to be more wide open. I’m excited to do that with you guys. I think we’re going to see a brand of football that not only the newer BA families and kids can be excited about, but also the old hats, the ones that were here back in the 80s and 90s can be real excited to watch too.

OUTSTANDING

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS

MENSI STIFF ’23 – PAN AMERICAN UNDER 20 CHAMPIONSHIP

After winning Tennessee Girls' Track and Field Gatorade Athlete of the Year for the third time in her Brentwood Academy career, Mensi Stiff ’23 qualified for the Pan American Under 20 Championships. Mensi traveled to Puerto Rico in August to compete against the best athletes in the world.

Mensi was named a United States team captain, where she set the number four all-time outdoor prep shot put record with her lifetime best throw of 54’9.5”. With that throw, she was able to secure the gold medal.

GEORGE MACINTYRE ’25TENNESSEE TITANS “NEXT ONES”

After throwing for 3,229 yards and 25 touchdowns this past season, five-star quarterback, George MacIntyre ’25, represented the Tennessee Titans at “Nike Next Ones” in February. MacIntyre is one of 33 football players who will compete in the event. Tennessee Titans wide-receiver Treylon Burks surprised George during Marine Biology class to present him with Nike and Titans gifts to acknowledge George’s achievement.

40 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 10 YEARS

TYLER TANNER ’24 –2,000 CAREER POINTS

Tyler Tanner ’24 scored his 2,000th career point against Ensworth High School on January 4, 2024. He joins Brandan Wright ’06 and Darius Garland ’19 as the third Brentwood Academy boys’ basketball player to achieve 2,000 points in his career.

In his junior season, Tyler won the 2023 Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year in the state of Tennessee. As a junior, he averaged 19.6 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game, and 3.1 steals per game while leading Brentwood Academy to its ninth state championship.

BLADES BROWN ’26U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONS

After winning his third individual state championship, while BA secured the team 2023 TSSAA state championship, Blades Brown ’26 was invited to compete in the U.S. Amateur Championship to compete against the best amateur golfers in the world. While Blades was there, he became the youngest co-medalist in U.S. Amateur Championship history at the age of 16 years old, breaking the record of Bobby Jones, who set the record in 1920 when he was 18 years old. He also set the course record for Colorado Golf Club with an eight-under 64 round.

BRENTWOOD ACADEMY WELCOMES THE

U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

Atypically quiet fall break on the Brentwood Academy campus was instead a flurry of activity and excitement as BA welcomed the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) to campus for soccer training camp. Several weeks out from their international window, their previous training site had a scheduling conflict. Resulting from BA previously hosting international and professional teams, BA came up as a potential location through Coach Otey Smithson, one of BA’s soccer coaches. After visiting to scout the site, they determined that BA’s facilities surpassed their expectations.

The team spent four consecutive days at Brentwood Academy, training on the soccer field and working out in the state-of-the-art weight room as the team prepared to

face Germany in a friendly at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, their first international game before taking on Ghana at Nashville’s own Geodis Park later in the week. Head BA Boys’ Soccer Coach Phil Masters ’06 shares, “You have all these guys on their pro teams. They’re playing for teams around the world–from Italy to England to Germany–and FIFA sets up these international windows throughout the year. Teams like the US or England or Italy, wherever, those countries can have their teams play together. They have hundreds of players just dreaming to put on that jersey, so everything is evaluated. They go to a city, usually have a camp, and then go play a couple of games. In this case, they had a four day camp before playing Germany and Ghana.”

“We were thrilled to host the USMNT on our soccer field and campus facilities. Our players and coaches had full access to closed training sessions and were able to meet and talk with the players each day. It was an incredible opportunity to watch these elite athletes and coaches perform and compete as they represent our

“

They were very willing to share practical soccer knowledge while remaining aware that they’re representing something bigger than themselves, striving to ensure that everyone has a good experience.

Coach Phil Masters ’06

country at the highest level of the game,” says Coach Masters. “As a BA alum, I love this place. I’m so proud of BA. Having other people enjoy it and come on campus and say, ‘Wow, this is awesome’--I love that so much. So it was pretty exciting, not only to have that happen, but to have that happen with an organization I’ve followed my whole life–it was an intersection of two things I love. Walking around the 7th grade den, they kept saying, ‘This is incredible! This is a school!?’ They ended up using the 7th grade den for their meeting instead of the hotel conference room.”

Gregg Berhalter, USMNT Head Coach, shared, “Brentwood Academy offered us a fantastic environment and conditions for our training camp, and we appreciate the opportunity and hospitality of the coaches, players, and school administration.” Accustomed to playing in the best facilities in the world, the top selection of soccer players in the US often commented on BA’s incredible facilities–the condition of the soccer field, the expansive weight room, and the thoughtfully designed middle school building.

The USMNT manager shared that wherever they train, their focus isn’t just to grow the game nationally, but also, “Let’s grow the game at this place while we’re here.” They showed up and followed through on open access for BA’s coaches and players, answering questions about strength training, how they use GPS tracking with performance analysis, how they time their sessions, and how they manage the details that go into running a smooth session–the “lesson planning” of their sessions. Coach Masters notes, “As a teacher and a coach, I noticed that they scaffolded their instruction very clearly–using everything from whiteboards and different types of cones.” They were very willing to share practical soccer knowledge while remaining aware that they’re representing something bigger than themselves, striving to ensure that everyone has a good experience. “Definitely some practical, helpful things for my coaching and teaching, just thinking about the game, but also watching those guys personally handle the pressure of the spotlight they’re under,” states Coach Masters.

Coach Cameron Petty ’17, one of BA’s soccer coaches, had an opportunity to interact with the USMNT keeper

coach Fabian Otte. Recently named the keeper coach for the US team, Otte’s first session happened to be on BA’s soccer field. Coach Petty, “look[ing] like a boy on Christmas morning,” observed the intensive and unique keeper training: the dynamic movements and the sensory limiting strategies, including goggles to prevent seeing clearly and other obstructions in the way of the keeper as they worked through dynamic drills. The opportunity to watch these training sessions in person will have a lasting impact on both Coach Petty and on BA’s soccer program as some of those techniques are applied.

Every day Brentwood Academy students on the soccer team volunteered to assist with the USMNT on BA’s campus, allowing our players an opportunity to observe and interact with the USMNT. One BA student who volunteered was stationed in The Rock when a group of players were having trouble connecting their phones to the speakers. His phone was set up with BA’s wifi, and the players made a spotify list on his phone to play on the speakers. “Just being able to have our players have

BA Coaches JD Binger and Phil Masters watch the USMNT practice at BA

those little moments, those run ins…and when we have the next World Cup in three years, he will see those guys playing and know he still has the Spotify list on his phone,” says Coach Masters. BA’s soccer players were able to “interact with soccer at the highest possible level in our entire country. They don’t have to go somewhere to get backstage access to something or field passes,” Coach Masters continues. “For our players to see these guys–this is where we train every day–it’s not just good enough for us, it’s good enough for US Soccer with serious expectations for facilities. It’s not an exaggeration at all to say we have world class facilities. We have a world class team that said, ‘Hey, this is awesome.’”

“I loved being able to watch all the behind the scenes work,” shares Coach JD Binger. “I’ll never forget opening the door watching these guys filing into The Rock–guys you’ve seen compete, represent America at the highest level, and it was surreal to see that. I was grateful to be part of that and impressed by how Coach Masters

was able to organize and communicate to turn it into an amazing experience for all of us. It will be exciting to see what grows out of that. Good days lie ahead for Brentwood Academy and for the boys’ soccer program.” Reflecting on the experience, Coach Masters notes, “We had so much help, so many people coming in to help–parents, other teachers, Coach Tom Cox lining the field with phone flashlights because the US soccer had very specific dimensions they needed to prepare for their next games. Everyone was involved–a lot of support–athletics department, facilities, parents, students. That was what made it so special–the community got to experience that.” The BA community will continue to benefit from the experience with the USMNT, cheering them on as they prepare to host the 2026 World Cup.

Use this QR code to listen to a special edition of the Brentwood Academy podcast with Mr. Binger and Dr. Masters sharing about the experience.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Academy Singers Showcase

Upper School Musical Footloose

Rock Band Concert

Jazz Band Concert

Dance Show

Chorus Concert

Band Concert

March 21-22, 7:00 PM Theatre

April 18-21, 7:00 PM & 2:00 PM Theatre

April 30 at 7:00 PM Band Room

May 2 at 7:00 PM Band Room

May 3 & 4, 7:00 PM & 4:00 PM Theatre

May 9 at 5:00 PM Theatre

May 9 at 6:30 PM Kennedy Gymnasium

MOVING FORWARD

Groundbreaking for BA’s new chapel, entrance, and additional parking spaces will take place on April 12, 2024, thanks to the generosity of BA families and the grandparents of BA families.

With seating for 175 people, the chapel will provide additional opportunities for the Brentwood Academy community to worship, learn, and fellowship with one another, in addition to hosting a variety of events: Bible studies, worship nights (currently held off-campus), BA DADS’ coffee stops, Moms’ Bible Studies, faculty worship events, and professional development. Additionally, the new entrance and parking will result in traffic flow changes and will offer a more visible and welcoming entrance with increased safety due to a new traffic light-controlled entrance/exit on Granny White Pike. More than 60 additional parking spaces will provide easier access to parking for school events as well.

Continuing with the Forward in Faith vision, the Innovation and Arts classroom addition will expand learning

opportunities at BA by providing space for the following: a Business and Entrepreneurship Center, a Middle School Robotics Lab, and two Fine Arts Classrooms. Raising capital for these classrooms will continue through the spring, with the goal of breaking ground this summer.

The next step in the Forward in Faith vision provides for additional campus enhancements and the Bill and Beth Brown Center for Academic and Student Life. The center will include a new dining hall with indoor and outdoor seating, a Grab and Go café, a new campus store, fellowship space, seven new classrooms, along with additional space for learning support, an Experiential Learning Center, as well as admission and college counseling offices.

We are thankful for the generous support from the BA community, and we invite you to prayerfully consider

Breaking GROUND CEREMONY

Friday, April 12 at 1:00 PM

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT UPDATE

PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS HAVE PARTNERED WITH BA TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HIGH QUALITY TURF FOR THE BASEBALL INFIELD.

Outfitted with new high quality turf on the infield, game, and bullpen mounds, the baseball field will function more efficiently in various types of weather while eliminating daily field maintenance in those areas. Most importantly, the turf will result in rarely losing practice time and will often help to avoid game rainouts, providing additional opportunities for the use of the baseball field.

FOREWARD

By Kristin Vazquez

The following pages include the story of Mr. Curt Masters, written by him and originally shared in the Triangle Magazine in 2009, Vol. 1. On February 21 this year, Mr. Masters shared the news he would be retiring after the 20242025 school year. His daughter Kristin, editor of this magazine, shares these beautiful words in preface to this article. SPECIAL FEATURE

When something breaks in the Vazquez/Yanes/ Masters houses, inevitably some young child will confidently state, with determined optimism, “It’s ok! Baba can fix it.” Known to BA as Mr. Curt Masters but to his grandchildren as their beloved and kind Baba, my dad has shown up for our life events enthusiastically, conspicuously in support of our family as he has for the BA community as well. After cheering me on through all of my life challenges and milestones–from so many little moments like taking me to the bus stop as a child on the back of his bicycle while teaching me “Masters are Toughest on the Hills!” while peddling us uphill, making up endless “Felina the Flying Horse” stories to delight and entertain, teaching my AP Calculus class, yelling “Oh Yeah!” and “Tenacious Defense!” from the stands at my games, to bigger events like graduations and marriage and having children, taking me to radiation followed by Wendy’s frosties for 17 treatments in a row, and helping us with multiple cross-country moves–what a privilege it is to have a turn to cheer him on as he enters the next stage of giving of his wisdom and time in new ways.

My dad has lived his life as an echo not just of the mission and ministry of Brentwood Academy but also of the gospel–not claiming perfection but clear in his need, and

of all of our need, for Jesus as our savior, loving God and loving others well. I remember as a child talking with my dad about how his dad, my grandpa, was killed, and wondering what it must have been like for my dad to grow up without his dad after the age of 12. When asking my dad if he considered my grandpa a hero, he said that he saw his dad as a hero not because of the way his life ended but because of the way he lived his life. My dad’s consistency, optimism, kindness, spirit of adventure, sense of humor, encouragement, and confidence in the Lord–the way he has lived his life–has made him our hero as well. We have lived with him as he has laid down his life for this community and for our family for decades, and when we look back on the heritage he has built for us and the legacy he leaves for Brentwood Academy, his life story, as reprinted here, sets the scene for “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1).

What a privilege to be able to call Curt Masters my father, my colleague, and my friend. While the end of this season at Brentwood Academy is not without longing for “Another Great Day at BA!,” we are excited about the time we will spend with our parents in this new season and will certainly all have plenty of things waiting on Baba to fix!

MISSIONAL IMPACT

GRATEFUL FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE

Iwas born in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada, where my American parents were attending Prairie Bible Institute after having finished college in the states, to prepare for mission work. There they heard a missions speaker named Ebenezer Vine share the need for those who would respond to God’s call to go and share the gospel message to those in places so remote that they had never heard the good news of salvation through faith in Christ, and particularly in a new outreach in the mountainous and remote interior of Dutch New Guinea. The name of his mission organization that they eventually joined, fittingly enough, was Regions Beyond Missionary Union, evoking the powerful words of 2 Corinthians 10:16, and that old hymn written by Albert and Margaret Simpson in 1904:

“To the regions beyond I must go, I must go Where the story has never been told; To the millions that never have heard of his love I must tell the sweet story of old.”

My parents’ decision to respond to God’s call to the mission field led them to Dutch New Guinea (the big island north of Australia, which would later be called Irian Jaya, Indonesia) to work with stone-age tribes-people in the interior highlands. My parents learned the local language at an already established mission station, and then my father walked into a new area to open a new station located about seven days’ difficult trekking from the nearest airstrip.

The idea of building a mission station may sound simple at first glance. But it involved choosing a site that would allow an airplane to land that was near villages, learning a language among people who regarded strangers as enemies, finding a way to purchase enough land to build an airstrip in the open area between the five villages, and then actually building a landing strip by hand, before bringing the rest of the family in by small airplane to join him months later. Large rocks had to be heated with fire and then cracked with water carried from a nearby river. Food supplies were dropped from the air, and I remember among other stories my dad told that at some point they decided to eat dinner after dark because it was taking too long to pick all the bugs out of the rice.

When the airstrip was finally built, we flew in to join my father. It was not until years later that we learned that the local leaders had planned to kill all of us when we got off of the airplane. But when one of the chiefs saw my mother’s red dress, he took it as a sign of blood and a bad omen, so he and others stopped the plan to shoot all of us. (I am confident that God could have used a blue dress just as well to move the chiefs from their plan, but it seems safe to say, “Good choice, Mom!”)

Our home was simple, with pole walls, bark floors covered with burlap bags for rugs, thatched roof and outer walls, a wood stove, an outhouse, and running water after my dad found a spring up the side of the hill (that he fenced off to keep pigs out) and ran a water line to a barrel on the side of our house. The first one up lit the fire, naturally, and I love the picture I saw often of my dad sitting by the fire with his Bible open on his lap, reaching forward every now and then to stoke the growing blaze in the wood stove. Eventually my dad built a house out of sawn lumber. He had the sawmill engine flown in and built the mill and the house from scratch, with local help in felling trees and dropping them to the base of one of the many cliffs surrounding our valley where he cut boards that became our floors and walls. One addition to the new house was a tin roof and actual glass windows (the small luxuries that we take for granted). If you have not fallen asleep to the sound of rain on a tin roof, I will just say that it ranks right up there with the wood fire’s snap and hiss and pop.

On scheduled trips, Mission Aviation Fellowship planes would stop by every week or two to bring in a mail bag and supplies from the coast, sometimes with replacements if what we ordered was out of stock. So it was that our assortment of dried soups

showed up as hundreds of packets of pea soup (no longer a favorite of mine), and our order of assorted canned cheese came in as a case of caraway seed cheese (an acquired taste that I enjoy much more now than I did then). Our contact with the outside world was rare enough that we treasured letters, and the packages that held delicacies from “the states” were ceremonially opened. New books were devoured immediately, while news magazines and candy were strictly rationed to last as long as we could drag them out (three M&Ms for you, and three for me).

One feature of choosing to build our house on land located between the surrounding villages (so as not to be “for” one village or “against” another) became clear quite soon. Where would disputes between villages in that valley be settled? On neutral territory, obviously! So our front yard was occasionally the setting for loud exchanges that led to arrows being fired back and forth. (All men over the age of puberty carried bows and arrows everywhere they went, with most of the arrows designed for people, and perhaps a few pig or bird arrows.) One of the great injustices of life, or so it seemed at the time, was that when the fighting was going on while we lived in the house with the grass roof, Dad made us get under the folding metal table as the arrows were being launched into the air around us (not at us, but in our “yard”), while he got to stand in the doorway and watch! At least once a chief named Momas (we called him Superman because he was so big and strong) picked up my six-foot tall dad by the arms and moved him back to our doorway and said, “You don’t bother us, and we won’t bother you!”

Another vivid memory involving Momas began in the early predawn light, when a woman burst into our house, gasping and crying, and found her way under my older sister’s bed. Momas slammed the door open shortly after her, followed the sounds she was making, reached under the bed and dragged the woman outside. He then yelled at her briefly (something like “Don’t you EVER…) and shot her twice in her hand, and three times in her thigh. She was one of his wives, and she had done something to upset him enough that he shot her, but not to wound her seriously. In that culture, women were treated as property, with roughly the value of one of the pigs. Years later, when I returned in 1992 to the valley, I saw that woman still alive and well, with the three scars on her thigh and the two on her hand.

“ We cannot always see the fruits of our efforts in the short term, and the measures of success that God uses are eternal, not temporal. ”

As a brief aside, let me mention that Dad was offered several pigs for my older sister when we arrived, perhaps as a gesture of good will once they decided that we were not going to be killed. Although I can joke now about how I thought, “SELL!” in fact it was more than a little scary to contemplate such transactions as a second grader.

After learning the language well, my parents began to have an impact in at least four areas. First, they were teaching any who would come to “school” how to read and write their own language (first put into writing by my parents). Second, they treated sickness and injuries with antibiotics, dressing changes, and such first aid as they could apply. They treated burns from kids rolling into the fire in the middle of their hut in their sleep, toothaches that required a tooth to be pulled without anesthetic, arrow wounds, cuts, worms and parasites and many other ailments, sometimes with advice from a doctor over the radio, and rarely with a doctor flying in or a patient being flown out to get help. Third, they gave out seeds liberally and without

charge, to try to provide more nutrition to supplement the common problem of malnutrition and a lack of vitamins in the diet composed primarily of sweet potatoes. Then they bought back the produce for salt or other trade goods, and shipped the vegetables to the coast, where the land did not support gardens as well. Fourth, and most importantly, they began to gain the trust and understanding of the people well enough that they could share the hope that they found in knowing Jesus Christ as their personal savior, translating and teaching Bible passages and truth.

Little by little, people began to believe in Christ and to trust Him for forgiveness for their sins and for freedom from fear. Whatever the veneer of culture, civilization and sophistication surrounding people, each of us has a need for forgiveness and for a personal relationship with God that can come only through faith in Christ. And in the customs and realities of life in those tribes, fear of each other and the constant warring, fear of the spirits that mysteriously controlled massive earthquakes, frequent landslides, and the torrential rainfall that could wipe out the food supply, fear of the traditions that treated women as property and strangers as enemies, and fear of the unknown all kept people enslaved to fear. So the message of hope and a loving God brought with it a freedom from fear and forgiveness from the sin that binds each of us. As some began to respond, they brought others to hear the message of the gospel as well.

Early in my seventh grade school year (September 1968) my father and another missionary, Stan Dale, made a trip by foot from our mission station to Ninia (the Dales’ station) to find a place to build another airstrip. With people responding to the gospel close to our stations, a new airstrip would make it easier to spread the message of hope in the rough territory that took seven days of hard walking to traverse. On that trip my father and Stan Dale, along with several native men, were shot and killed by people from the Seng Valley. When they did not check in by radio as scheduled, we did not know what had happened,

but eventually a few men who had been with them found their way to another mission station where they told how the men had been followed by a large group of men, then attacked and killed. The people of that valley were determined that they would not allow outsiders to influence their ancestor and spirit worship, and this clearly seemed a setback to the work that God had called my parents to do. I am reminded again of a later verse of that same song:

“To the hardest of places He calls me to go, Never thinking of comfort or ease; The world may pronounce me a dreamer, a fool, Enough if the Master I please.

To the regions beyond, I must go, I must go Till the world, all the world, His salvation shall know.”

We cannot always see the fruits of our efforts in the short term, and the measures of success that God uses are eternal, not temporal. One thing is certainly clear - God is a master at turning defeat into victory, and God used a plane crash and the survival of one nine-year-old boy in that same valley months later to open the hearts of those same people whose hearts had been hardened. Although there is certainly still spiritual warfare going on in that area, I have had the rare privilege of meeting one of the men who helped kill my father, who is now a pastor carrying that message of forgiveness and hope on to others. I am reminded of Joseph’s comment to his brothers when he said in Genesis 50:20, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good...”

When I returned to Koropun, our mission station, in 1993 for a

25th anniversary memorial service for my father, I was 36 years old, the same age that my father had been when he was killed. An old man came up to me and said, with his gnarled hand on my nose, “You have the face of your father!” Of course that was an emotional time, but I think of the spiritual parallels there, as our relationship with Christ continues to mature and we see His likeness in those who grow in Him. And it was in that way that I saw the face of their Father in those spiritual leaders who had come to know Christ personally because Phil and Phyliss Masters introduced them to the message of hope and forgiveness through faith in Him.

After my father was killed, my mother decided, after much prayer and discussion, to stay on the mission field. She was three months pregnant at the time, and although she faced many difficult questions about her direction and purpose and provision, God used her scripture memory to keep speaking to her. (One especially difficult thought was the idea that the people, who were cannibals, had eaten the bodies of the men they had killed. Early on we were told that they had been afraid to eat the bodies, and had been talked out of doing that, but later when the men were more comfortable sharing what had happened, we found out that the men’s bodies had been eaten.) At the time it was a very painful image, as you can imagine. For about a year and a half she had been “hiding God’s words in her heart,” memorizing a verse each day so that she had a treasure of truth that God kept bringing to her mind when she felt overwhelmed or discouraged. And God surrounded her with faithful friends who supported her in prayer and sacrificial giving to allow her to continue her work in Irian Jaya.

Again, at first blush this may seem like a natural decision, but it was my father who was the ordained minister and the one who had done most of the public speaking. But when we returned to the states for furlough two years after Dad had been killed, God gave her a confidence and a personal testimony of His

faithfulness that opened doors to ministry in ways that she had never anticipated. She returned to the mission field until she retired, and all of her five children graduated from high school overseas before returning to the states for college. To this day, at age 91, although she has retired from the “field,” she still speaks at missions conferences and churches, shares with women about serving the Lord as a single woman, or being a single mom, or following God’s calling and trusting Him whatever the circumstances.

As I reflect on how God has provided for all of us, it seems important to note that although God does promise a special reward for those who die for their faith, and that He will provide for those who lose loved ones for Christ, neither my father nor my mother chose this path of being killed. In fact, most of us will not have much say in how or when we will die. The choice we do have, and the choice my parents did make, is how we will live. Will we respond to the call to serve God wherever He places us, whatever the cost? The reason that I appreciate my parents so much has nothing to do with what they could not control and would not have chosen, but rather with what they did do with the opportunities God gave them and the choice they made to spend their lives to share their hope in Christ with others. May we have the boldness to do the same!

“

Little by little, people began to believe in Christ and to trust Him for forgiveness for their sins and for freedom from fear. ”

FROM HEADMASTER the

Dear BA Family,

I have informed the Board of Trustees that I will be retiring at the end of the 2024 – 2025 school year, after having been blessed to be a part of this wonderful Brentwood Academy family for 25 years. As my wife Cindy and I have been prayerfully considering this for some time, and have been in conversation with the board leading up to this announcement, I know that the board is well positioned with a thoughtful and prayerful process for identifying the next person God has been preparing to step into the role of headmaster.

Cindy and I, along with our family, continue to treasure the opportunities we have had to see God’s hand of provision and protection for the school. We are deeply grateful for the many friendships we have made, for the encouragement and support we have felt, and for the tremendous team of faculty, staff, board members, students, and parents with whom we have had the privilege of serving. And we continue to thank God for Bill Brown’s vision and leadership, along with the many parents who joined him in building the school, establishing its mission, and committing to do all that we do for the glory of God. It is with special appreciation that I think of the many who have served on the Board of Trustees, including all those currently serving, who have held responsibility over the years for the mission and ministry of Brentwood Academy.

As we look forward to a strong and smooth transition of leadership, it is important that you know that the values of our school and the commitments to those values are fully supported, defined, and articulated at both the board and staff levels. The search will be led by those who are committed to our Christ-centered mission. They will be seeking much input and prayer as they take on the task of identifying the person who will support, encourage, and lead our school culture and family to live out our mission and ministry. I trust that you will join with us in praying for wisdom, clarity, and direction.

When Bill Brown came on stage during my induction to BA in the fall of 2000, he handed me a track baton, directing me to carry it onward as he handed over his role and responsibilities. I know that there is much work for us to do in the coming year before I pass the baton on to our third headmaster. This will be another great year at BA, and when we exchange the baton, I know that God will continue to accomplish his purposes through all who serve him.

In his service with you,

Curt Masters

FROM CHAIRMAN of the BOARD the

Friends,

It is with much emotion that I write to inform you that Curt Masters, our headmaster for the past 25 years, has notified the Board of Trustees that he intends to retire after the 2024 – 2025 school year. I have mixed emotions because of what Curt has meant to me personally, but more importantly, because of his impact on the entire Brentwood Academy family for the last quarter of a century. However, I am excited to see the next chapter in Curt’s life and how he will continue to live out God’s plan for him and his family.

In my meetings with Curt, it became very apparent he wanted to ensure the school was best positioned for the future. Curt has worked tirelessly protecting BA’s mission and building a leadership team, faculty, and staff, who not only believe in our mission, but demonstrate it with our children. What a blessing to have a headmaster, leadership team, faculty, and staff working together to provide BA’s triangle philosophy in a Christ-centered environment. The board is in full alignment that BA is well positioned for the next chapter. God has been faithful to BA, and our school is certainly blessed with both a successful past and very bright future. Again, Curt has done an amazing job preparing us for the next chapter. This is why the board and I are excited about the future of Brentwood Academy.

The Board of Trustees will conduct a thoughtful and thorough search for Curt’s successor. We ask for your prayers throughout the process. In preparation for this announcement, the board has been working diligently over the last eighteen months by establishing a timeline and creating a search committee, that with the Lord’s blessing, will result in finding our new head of school for the start of the 2025-2026 school year. The search committee chairman is Nathan Brandon, and he will send a separate letter sharing more details on our preparation and the search process. The board is committed to keeping the BA community involved and updated as the process progresses. As you have heard me say before, BA is special to my family, and I know it is to each of your families. I am confident God will bring BA the right leader who strongly believes and is committed to our Statement of Faith and Mission – to the Glory of God. Curt will continue to serve as our headmaster throughout the next school year and partner with the board and his successor through any necessary transition. I would ask that during this time, you take every opportunity to join the board in thanking Curt Masters for his leadership and exceptional service to Brentwood Academy for the past 25 years. We pray God will continue to bless Curt and his wonderful family.

In closing, as I was reading through the BA handbook, I came across three important scriptures to our school’s history.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well – Matthew 6:33

Be still and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10

…And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

These scriptures illustrate our school’s foundation for unity – past, present, and future. Please join me in praying over these scriptures as your board and the BA community embark on the search for our next leader.

Respectfully,

David F. ‘Buddy’ Bacon, Jr. ’82 Chairman, Board of Trustees

BRENTWOOD ACADEMY

ALUMNI NEWS

ELIZABETH

GIDDENS ’ 76

released her book Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley through UNC Press. She builds the tale of how a seemingly isolated village played a role in some of the greatest dramas of the colonial era, using archives, census records, property records, personal memoirs, and more.

VALERIE BATTLE KIENZLE ’ 76

was the first female to graduate from BA who attended all six years. She co-owns Beech Hill Farm with her mother and brother. Located in Williamson County, the National Register property has been in the family since 1796. Valerie spent her career in various writing-related positions, authoring nine books along the way, stating that her love for writing began in eighth grade at BA. She was a reporter and co-editor of The Talon and worked on the Aeire staff. Valerie lives in Weldon Spring, MO, with her husband, Michael, a dog, and two cats.

STUART SMITH ’ 78 AND KATHRYN STOCKHOFF ’ 18

members of the Nashville Legacy Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley, were named in the second annual Forbes/SHOOK Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams list.

JOHN WADLINGTON ’ 80

and fellow Brentwood Academy alumna Bonnie Bennett Dixon ’80 tailgated together with their families at a Clemson University football game last fall. Cameron Dixon (Bonnie’s son), Bonnie Bennett Dixon ’80, John Wadlington ’80, Anna Wadlington (John’s daughter)

GREGG JOHNSON ’ 84

is general manager of the returning Nashville Kats arena football team.

AIME CARD ’ 91

published her book The Tigerbelles: Olympic Legends of Tennessee State. The book tells the true story of a coach and his team pursuing an opportunity to run at the Olympics in Rome.

JULIE KAISER ALLEY ’ 92

competed in a “dream come true” on CBS’ Survivor 45 season. Julie remains in close contact with all the castaways, particularly the dominating Reba 4. At home, Julie is a trust and wealth advisor, having pursued a law degree at the age of 40.

TERRI

BOLDEN

WARD ’ 93

poses with her diploma after her son, Jack Ward ’23, received his diploma at the 2023 graduation ceremony.

DAVID PEDEN ’ 97

is in his first year as Assistant Head of School at The Galloway School in Atlanta, GA.

BETH BAKER ’ 98

was promoted to Dean of Instruction at HG Hill Middle School. Beth is also the school’s Athletic Director.

CURT REVELETTE ’ 99 AND MASON REVELETTE ’

05

opened their 12th restaurant, Jonathan’s Grille, in Gallatin. Their next location is opening this fall in Lebanon. The Revelette’s wines and bourbons have gone live in numerous restaurants and hotels in Miami and New York, including Eleven Madison (voted best restaurant in the world in 2017), Il Mulino, Prime 112 and more.

JOY WISE TODD ’ 02

was featured in a TN Lotto commercial in the fall.

KATIE HORRELL JACOBS ’ 03

released her new book The Chocolate Chip Cookie Book: Classic, Creative, and Must-Try Recipes for Every Kitchen. From cookie dough milkshakes to chocolate chip cookie cheesecake to the classic recipe that started it all, this book features more than 100 chocolate chip cookie and cookie-inspired recipes – including vegan, paleo, and gluten free – with gorgeous full-color photos throughout.

ASHLEY CARNEY O’BRIEN ’ 04

completed the 2023 Chattanooga Ironman Triathlon on September 24. An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of races consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon 26.2-mile run completed in that order, for a total of 140.6 miles. It is considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.

TYLER STURGEON ’ 04

was promoted by St. Louis based Mercy Health Systems to Chief Financial Officer of Mercy Hospital South, the fourth largest hospital in the state of Missouri. Tyler, his wife Elizabeth, and their children Thompson (6) and Lydia (4) live in Joplin, MO. Tyler is a CPA and graduated Summa Cum Laude with an accounting degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville where he also received his MBA.

CHRIS JORDAN ’ 08

former linebacker for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, held a grand opening for his studenttraining organization, Foundation Fitness of Alabama, in November 2023. Foundation Fitness is a speed and agility program focused on providing an environment where people can grow spiritually, physically, and mentally. Chris uses the acronym G.A.S. with his students: God, Ability and Speed.

STEPHEN RICHARDS ’ 09

Owner of Richards Bespoke, Stephen has dressed Patrick Mahomes for many football games and red carpet events, including the 2023 and 2024 Super Bowl.

TAYLOR NORTON ’ 11

will complete his General Surgery Residency at the University of Arizona in June 2024, and begin a yearlong Fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at the University of Alabama Birmingham in July.

TYLER EMERY ’ 12

graduated from Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2023. He lives with his wife in Lexington, KY, where he is a first-year resident at the University of Kentucky Health Care.

KINGSLEY EAST GIBBS ’ 14

a Graduate of George W. Truett Theological Seminary, was one of 14 seminary students chosen for the 2023 Seminary Program of the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE). Gibbs joins a diverse group of 84 FASPE fellows who were chosen through a competitive process that drew applicants from across the U.S. and the world. Kingsley is a youth minister at DaySpring Baptist Church in Waco, TX.

BRANDON TAYLOR ’ 14

recently became engaged to Ebony Marie Fernandes. The family also includes son Bryzell Taylor.

BRADY WILLIAMS ’ 14

received his Doctorate in Philosophy from Baylor University in May. His area of study was Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Additive Manufacturing Processes. He was previously awarded his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in May 2019, and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in August 2022, from the University of Alabama. After receiving his Ph.D., Brady will be living in Huntsville, AL, working as a Senior Engineer for the National Institute for Aviation Research.

MATT BINKLEY ’ 15

accepted a position as a Demand Planner at MARS Petcare in Franklin. Matt serves on the BA Alumni Council.

PETER RICHARDS ’ 15

graduated from Emory University with a double major in Human Health and Psychology. He went on to complete the Special Masters Program in Physiology at Georgetown University. Peter was accepted into Lincoln Memorial University’s DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. Peter has enjoyed his first year as a medical school student and is excited to be pursuing his lifelong dream.

LAURA BOWN ’ 15

lives in Evanston, IL, where she is a Mental Health Therapist with Belmont Depression and Anxiety Center in Chicago.

REILLY CALLIS ’ 17

earned her B.F.A. in Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design in March 2023, followed by a Spring Alumni Term. Her “Meraki” exhibition, a joint effort with a classmate, featured illustration, printmaking, and photography, and was displayed at Cedar House Gallery.

BRYCE JARVIS ’17

made his MLB roster debut in August for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He struck out three in a three-inning relief appearance.

KRISTIAN MTETWA ’17

was recently named a Rising Star by WealthManagement.com. He was nominated for executive leadership in ThinkAdvisor’s LUMINARIES Awards in 2023.

MICHAEL BOWLING ’18

lives in Madison, WI, where he is an Infrastructure Engineer with Epic Systems.

STEPHEN HOUSER ’18

graduated from the University of Tennessee in May 2023, with a Bachelor of Architecture and is now working for the architecture firm Danielian Associates.

OLIVIA LENTCHNER ’18

wrote, published, and illustrated a book titled Ocean Stories. She moved to northern Maine and is currently working at a marine research institute/shellfish hatchery called the Downeast Institute. She also accepted a research position at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, located in Acadia National Park’s Bar Harbor where she assists with a Ph.D. student’s project on aging in the African Turquoise Killifish, a relatively new model in biomedical research to study aging in its molecular components and related diseases.

GAVIN SCHOENWALD ’18

received his undergrad and MBA from Vanderbilt University while playing football all four years. His many accomplishments include being named team captain for two years, voted as Player of the Year his senior year, making the all-SEC Academic Honor Roll all four years, and being named to the 2023 NFF Hampshire Honor Society. Gavin currently lives in Georgia and is the Athletic Sales Manager for Plae, an athletic performance solutions company.

HUNTER CRANFORD ’19

is touring with good friend and BA graduate Conner Smith ’19 and made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry November 28, 2023.

COURTNEY LEKAI ’ 19 AND MATTHEW MCMILLAN ’ 19

recently became engaged and will be getting married in June 2024. Courtney is in law school at the University of Alabama, and Matthew works for Regions Bank in Birmingham.

JAMES NATWICK ’19

recently launched a coffee company, Copa Coffee. The five roast options are all organic and ethically sourced. Visit @copacoffeeco on Instagram for more details.

GEORGE PAYNE ’ 19

graduated from UT-Martin in May 2023, where he competed as a member of the cross country and track teams. George is currently pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he is using his remaining NCAA eligibility to compete as a member of the Alaska Anchorage cross-country track teams. George helped the squad advance to the DII NCAA cross-country meet where the team earned 32nd place.

MATTHEW PORTER ’ 19

graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in May and was a recipient of The Carnegie Mellon – West Point Scholarship, allowing him to earn a master’s degree in international relations and politics at Carnegie Mellon. Matthew is using his remaining NCAA cross country and track eligibility to compete. In the fall, Matthew won the NCAA DIII Mid-Atlantic regional crosscountry meet, helping lead Carnegie Mellon to first place as a team. He then competed at the DIII NCAA cross country national championship where he helped the team finish 6th.

MAGGIE TEAT ’ 19

graduated in May 2023 from Tennessee Tech University with a degree in Biology and Health Sciences. She will attend Logan University in Chesterfield, MO this May in pursuit of her Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

SLOAN ROGERS ’ 21

is a junior at The University of the South at Sewanee. She was awarded the Order of the Gown as a sophomore and has been on the dean’s list each semester. This year she earned the Heights National Alumni scholarship. She is a speaking and listening tutor and a member of the Arcadian team.

In Memory of

KELLY SMITH NORTON ’ 79

CAROL COFFMAN RHODES ’ 80

SCOTT WHITSON ’ 82

WILL HUSBAND ’ 96

BEN BOYD ’ 98

EMMA GRACE THRASHER ’ 19

accepted a full-time teaching job at Thompson’s Station Elementary School teaching special needs K-5. She is engaged to be married on August 25, 2024 to Jordan Cram.

Due to limited space in our alumni section, Brentwood Academy may edit responses for length, style, formatting, relevant content, and printing as space will allow.

2023 CLASS REUNIONS AT BRENTWOOD ACADEMY

CLASS REUNIONS

We had so much fun celebrating our alumni reunion years last fall, and we're already looking ahead to next year's reunions! If you graduated in a class ending in -4 or -9 and have an interest in planning your class reunion this fall, please reach out to Kelly Smith at Kelly_Smith@brentwoodacademy.com.

ALUMNI MARRIAGES

JUSTIN ANDERSON ’ 13 TO TIFFANY MANGIONE ’ 13 on August 19, 2023.

JED LONGEWAY ’13

to Taylor Fisicaro on August 6, 2023 in Glen Mills, PA. The couple currently reside in Dickson, TN.

KRISTIN CONNIFF ’97 to Robin Ghosh in March 2023.

KIMMIE SPERRING ’04 to Keith Johnson on October 6, 2023.

AMY STEINHOUSE ’05 to Travis Newman on September 23, 2023.

MOLLY PEACH ’13 to Cameron Brousseau on April 22, 2023.

JAY CLARK ’07 to Kristen Ward on April 15, 2023.

ALICIA ADLERZ ’10 to Lee Ketzler on May 13, 2023.

TYLER EMERY ’12 to Dr. Marissa Hilliard on June 3, 2023.

WILL PEACH ’13

to Rachel Eddings on May 13, 2023.

CAITLIN KENNEY ’14

to Kaden Thompson on October 28, 2023.

LAURA BOWLING ’15

to Corey Bown in April, 2023, at Cedarmont Farms in Franklin.

MEGAN MEADOW ’15

to Michael Bellanti on October 21, 2023, at the Barn at Stonegate Farms in Murfreesboro, TN.

EMMY HICKMAN ’18

to Peyton Neisz in July 2023.

SARA NORTON ’15

to Ben McIntyre on April 15, 2023, at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville.

MAGGIE HOLCOMBE ’17

to Garrett Williams on July 8, 2023, at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

MARIA TESLA ARNOLD ’18

to Michael Lee Tucker on September 3, 2022. The couple resides in Spring Hill, TN.

BETSY SPURGEON ’20

TO ETHAN PEAT ’19 on June 24, 2023 at Cedarmont Farms in Franklin.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

HUNTER ADAMS ’05

and wife, Aimee, welcomed their third child, Caleb, on November 21, 2023. He joins sisters Annabelle (5) and Harper (3). The family recently relocated from Miami back to Nashville.

JULIA CROWNOVER ’05 and husband, Wilson Harwood, welcomed their first child, Ava Catherine Harwood, on June 30, 2023.

LAURA GENTRY DEFATTA ’06 and husband, David, welcomed twin boys, William and Griffin, in March 2023. They join sisters Mary Bennett (9) and Ady (6).

SAMANTHA LITTLE MARTIN ’06 and husband, Nicholas, welcomed their first child, Brett Houston, on April 27, 2023.

ELIZABETH RICHARDS WEBB ’06

and husband Neil welcomed their daughter, Addison Elizabeth, on July 4, 2023. She joins brothers Maddox (7) and Tyler (3).

LINDSEY QUEENER ’08

and husband, Tim Snyder, welcomed twin daughters, Gemma and Abigail, on November 6, 2023.

SARA NORBY REESE ’08

and husband, Matthew, welcomed their fourth child, Haddie Joy, in October, 2023.

RYAN ROBERTS ’09 AND WIFE BRITTANY TUCKER

ROBERTS ’ 09 welcomed their third child, Tucker, October 26, 2023. He joins siblings Ruthie (5) and Jack (2).

CONNOR BROADBENT ’10

and wife, Caroline, welcomed their third son, Shep, in June, 2023. He joins brothers Gatlin (6) and Brooks (4).

VIRGINIA BURKHART SANDERS ’10

and husband, Kevin, welcomed their second son, Bennett Lee, on November 25, 2023. He joins brother James (3).

MATT ’10 AND KATIE BROWNER ’11 WEST welcomed their daughter, Annie Elizabeth, on October 31, 2023.

ROSS GOODMAN ’12 and wife, Megan, welcomed their first child, Mary Randall, on September 16, 2023.

SHELBY COLLINS ROSE ’ 14

and husband, Walker, welcomed their son, James Walker, on November 10, 2023. He joins sister Mimi.

AAQUIL ANNOOR ’15

and wife, Margot, welcomed their son, Giovanni Aaquil “Gio”, on April 4, 2023. The family lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

AMY SCHARDT WERNER ’12 and husband, Mason, welcomed their son, Rallings Hudson, on March 23, 2023.

MARSHALL ’13 AND BAILEY ARTHUR ’15 GRAY welcomed their second son, Mason Edward, on July 31, 2023. He joins brother Jonas (2).

ASHLYN GRACE

CRANFORD JONES ’14 and husband, Daniel, welcomed their daughter, Lily Gene, on August 22, 2023.

JO HELEN BAULCH

SMITH ’ 15

and husband, Andrew, welcomed their first child, Andrew Oxford IV “Ford”, on March 20, 2023.

MEREDITH BECK STUTZMAN ’16

and husband, Tanner, welcomed their daughter, Isabel Ann, on May 8, 2023. The family lives in Sarasota, Florida.

THE ALUMNI GARDEN

We invite alumni to participate in our Alumni Garden with a custom inscribed brick. Each brick symbolizes the foundation and the path traveled as a graduate of Brentwood Academy. The bricks are a focal point of the garden and are a beautiful way to recognize a legacy.

The cost of each brick is $320, and funds raised go to the Alumni Endowment Fund. Bricks will be inscribed with the name and graduation year of each alum. Bricks may be purchased by alumni, their parents, or others in honor of a Brentwood Academy graduate.

March

RSVP

Awarding-winning Christian recoding artist, Natalie Grant performs at the third annual Christimas in Brentwood on December 3, 2023.

SAVE THE DATE THIS YEAR!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2024