Triangle Spring 2022

Headmaster from the

Dear BA Family,

What a great message Spring brings to us all! Built into this season that we enjoy in this part of the world, we are surrounded by vivid expressions of growth, renewal, and emerging beauty. Each of these expressions remind us that God has designed these explosions of new life as countless invitations for us to delight in him and to worship him with wonder and adoration. In that wonder and adoration, we find also the ability to anticipate what is not yet – or perhaps more importantly, to trust that in God’s timing, all things will be made new, and that he is at work redeeming all things.

I am grateful for that certainty, in a world where uncertainties abound. The stories that follow reflect on God’s faithfulness, provision, and purposes. We are so thankful for our founders, past parents, and alumni who have been faithful stewards of Brentwood Academy’s purpose, and whose sacrificial investments continue to bear fruit. With that same deep gratitude we appreciate the sacrifices being made by current families and generous donors, allowing us to develop unique learning opportunities, to continue campus enhancements, and to provide a legacy for families and faculty who will be joining us in the years ahead.

As we finish out this year, our focus on our core values continues to motivate our every decision, working to deliver an exceptional academic experience in a Christ-centered environment. At the same time, we are preparing for the coming year and the years ahead with a commitment to encouraging faith in Christ, developing an awareness of our identity in him, and equipping our students to use their many gifts and talents for his glory.

Thank you for the part you play in living out the mission and ministry of Brentwood Academy. May God continue to grant an increase for eternity as we serve him together.

In His service with you,

HEADMASTER

Curtis G. Masters

HEADMASTER EMERITUS

William B. Brown, Jr.

2021-2022 TRUSTEE CHAIR

Eddie Lunn ‘94, Chair

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Cara Sadler ‘16

EDITORS

Chandler Blalock ‘10

Lea Ann Renner

Barbara Carney

Amanda Butler

STAFF WRITERS

Cara Sadler ‘16

Lulu Luton Clark ‘76

Jennifer Vickery Smith

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Anna Grace Rawls ‘22

Allie Raab ‘18

Chip Cirillo

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Phil Goodman

PHOTOGRAPHY

Andy Collignon

Phil Goodman

Cooper Smith Productions

Jennifer Vickery Smith

Fifth & Broad

Terry Wyatt

The Triangle magazine is published under the direction of the Brentwood Academy Office of Communications and is distributed without charge to family and friends of the school. Additional copies available upon request.

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ChristianLife

MAKING FAITH THE PRIORITY

Walking through the doors at Brentwood Academy, many glance over the mission statement of the school day after day without giving it a second thought. It reads, “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.”

What exactly does it mean to nurture and challenge each student’s faith to the glory of God? The Christian Life team seeks to better answer this question for both current and prospective families of BA. Christian Life Director Rian Berger explains, “We don’t want people to be surprised when they come to Brentwood Academy. We want [students] to get a Christ-centered, scripture-based education, and we don’t want them to be surprised by that.” Each day, teachers read scripture and pray with their students, support their lessons with Bible verses and biblical principles, and share their own faith and how it shapes their lives–inside and outside of the classroom.

Matt Brown ‘97, Christian Life team member and Christian Dynamics teacher, explains why teachers need to be able to share a Biblical worldview with their students:

“We don’t take for granted that just because you’re a Christian and you know your subject, that you know how to weave biblical truth into that subject. Our goal is to intentionally train all of our faculty to find those biblical principles and crossovers within the classroom and subject to help students love God and love their neighbor better through science, history, math, and

The one thing I would want students to walk away with is that they know God loves them, and because of what Christ has done for us on the cross, we can live in the freedom that God has called us to.

RIAN BERGER, DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

Above: Students enjoying Sabbath Day in November 2021

Right: Brooks Brown ‘22 writes out the senior theme verse chosen by the Class of 2022.

more.” While teachers implement biblical truth across subject areas, students can expect exciting changes in the Christian Life classes, too. Next year, students will have the opportunity to take additional Bible electives, and teachers will continue to use the new virtual reality technology to bring Bible stories to life, thanks to a generous donation. (See page 8)

Students can walk down the hall by Mr. Husband’s classroom and overhear him reciting wisdom proverbs, or watch Dr. Cox explaining the intricacies of God’s design to his AP Biology class, or see Mrs. Vazquez show her students what it means to have faith even in difficult circumstances. Ultimately, the teachers’ goal, echoed by Rian Berger, is to find effective ways to “expose students to the gospel and the saving power of Christ daily, not only for their salvation, but for their daily walk with the Lord.”

While this goal of encouraging students’ faith will never change, the ways in which BA faculty do so have changed and will continue to change as time goes on. What started decades ago as Spiritual Life at BA, including weekend-long retreats, daily chapels, and more, has expanded and evolved into so much more.

“Brentwood Academy has changed a lot. It’s not the same school it was 20 years ago. Some people may think that’s good; others may think that’s bad. But the way I see it, I don’t know of any school that doesn’t change. The world and culture we live in push us to declare what we really believe. So, at BA, we want to be clear about what we believe,” says Rian Berger.

“Spiritual Life” has transitioned to “Christian Life;” the old-school weekend retreats have turned into occasional “Sabbath” rest days where students can fellowship together on campus and choose different seminars to attend; daily chapels have become weekly chapels, with advisory groups and teacher-led devotionals to

supplement during other days of the week. Additionally, the Christian Life team designated grade-level chaplains to serve as spiritual mentors that connect deeply with and encourage fellow faculty and students on a daily basis.

This kind of relational investment into students’ spiritual lives continues to move beyond school walls. Out of a desire to create more space for students to worship with their peers, Emily Borders and Matt Brown ‘97 work together with the senior class to host worship nights throughout the year, both off and on campus. Emily Borders, French teacher, explains: “Student-led worship night is something I felt led to start several years ago. We formed a group of students to pray, plan, and promote. The first one was in January 2018 at The Well, and it was such a huge success. Not only did a lot of upper schoolers attend, but they participated. God did something special that night, and it lit a fire in many students.” These students have a desire to grow in their relationship with Christ; worship nights, led by their peers, give them the

opportunity to really take ownership of their growth. “There are so many students who are passionate about their faith and want to grow. They just don’t always feel completely comfortable doing that in a school setting. But being at the worship nights, it allows them to see there are others just like them, and they think ‘Oh, you love Jesus too?’”, says Borders.

Our goal is to intentionally train all of our faculty to find those biblical principles and crossovers within the classroom and subject to help students love God and love their neighbor better though science, history, math, and more.

MATT BROWN ‘97, CHRISTIAN LIFE FACULTY

Above: Seniors Caroline Kelley and Anna Switzer enjoy a walk around campus during Fall Sabbath day in November. Right: Caroline Whitt’22 looks through scripture at the annual Senior Theme Verse Retreat in Dixon, Tennessee.

Student-led worship night is something I felt led to start several years ago. We formed a group of students to pray, plan, and promote. The first one was in January 2018 at The Well, and it was such a huge success. Not only did a lot of upper schoolers attend, but they participated. God did something special that night, and it lit a fire in many students.

Christian Life at BA is more than just another school program. It is teachers who weave biblical truths into their lessons and make time to talk about life with their students; it is leaders who carefully design experiences for students to find rest and connect with God; it is students who want to

see each other grow. From intentional teaching to Sabbath day retreats, and everything in between, Christian Life at BA is there to help students discover who they are in Christ and their purpose in His greater story. Rian Berger articulates this well. “The one thing I would want students to walk away with is that they know God loves them, and because of what Christ has done for us on the cross, we can live in the freedom that God has called us to.” BA faculty, however, do not want students to learn about God just for their own benefit; they want to challenge them to share their faith with others. “Ultimately, at graduation,” says Brown, “they are sent out with the tools they need to share the love of Jesus out in the world.”

EMILY BORDERS, WORLD LANGUAGE FACULTY

CHRISTIAN LIFE GOES VIRTUAL

The Christian Life department received an incredibly generous donation of twenty Oculus 2 virtual reality headsets equipped with software from Epika Studios that offers detailed, interactive tours of the tabernacle and Herod’s Temple, with many more tours of biblical sites coming in the future. As students explore these intricately reconstructed sites, they encounter a wealth of historical and biblical knowledge through

Fresh Faces

After 20 years at Brentwood Academy, Rian Berger will be moving to North Carolina to take a position as the Middle School Spiritual Life Director at Charlotte Christian in North Carolina. We are grateful to Rian for his bold Christian leadership, his passion for the hearts of our students, and loyal friendship to so many at BA.

We are excited to announce Freddie Scott will be our new Director of Christian Life. Mr. Scott’s experience serving as a pastor, his extensive background in personal and professional growth, along with his leadership and engagement style will help lead students, parents, and faculty as we navigate life together in a Christ-centered environment.

JD Binger will join Mr. Scott in the department as the Middle School Director of Christian Life. Mr. Binger will lead chapel and teach Bible classes in the middle school. He will work closely with Mr. Scott to develop exciting programming to engage our 6th-8th graders in their Christian faith and character.

Linus Nguyen will teach Bible classes in the upper school and assist Mr. Scott, Mr. Binger, Matt Brown ‘97, and Steve Widmaier in the Christian Life Department. Mr. Nguyen currently serves as the lead pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Houston, TX and has worked in various areas of student ministry. As a part of the Christian Life staff, he will assist with family discipleship and the integration of Christian Life across the academic curriculum.

a personal guide as well as a multitude of scrolls found throughout (the Temple tour has around 500). The goal of this technology is to offer students an immersive experience that helps bring the pages of Scripture to life and orients students within the world of the Bible in a fun and engaging way.

We seek to nurture the whole person — spiritually, intellectually and physically — so we work to ensure strong academics and challenging athletics prosper together in an environment where God is the foundation. To be effective, this model of education requires a spirit of cooperation rooted in wholesome relationships, which we strive to cultivate every day.

Get the Brentwood Academy experience firsthand and see if our community is right for you and your family! Tours are available daily by appointment.

Program Goals

• To expand the student’s worldview and knowledge through exposure to new ideas, new cultures, and/or new skills.

• To deepen relationships among students and faculty by working together in small groups.

• To model a love of learning through faculty involvement with students.

• To eliminate the misconception that learning only occurs in a classroom environment and thus to develop lifelong learners.

• To reinforce the ideas or concepts taught in the classroom in a different environment.

Brentwood Academy students prove that learning does not only happen in a classroom – it can happen anywhere. Each year in January, upper school students have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and gain new experiences through the Winterim program. Small groups of students sign up for a variety of three to ten-day long, non-traditional, experiential courses led by their favorite teachers that are designed to expose them to new ideas, cultures, and skills. This year, students could choose from a variety of trip locations such as Puerto Rico, San Antonio, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Zion National Park, Salt Lake City, and following the Civil Rights Trail. Many students, however, choose to stay local and participate in a wide range of options on BA’s campus and in the Nashville community.

Additionally, students can opt to find a week-long internship or another service project of their choice. Senior Meredith DiPasquale chose to go to Puerto Rico and recounts some of her favorite memories: “We were able to serve at a boys’ foster home, tour a local fruit farm, swim in a bioluminescent bay, hike in a rainforest, and explore waterfalls. I have taken Spanish classes at BA since 7th grade and was finally able to immerse myself in the language on the island. I loved the opportunity to practice my Spanish, learn more about the Puerto Rican culture, eat delicious food, and establish great relationships with people.” Regardless of where students choose to go, they are challenged to explore academics, art, athletics, nature, and service, thus encouraging a deeper love of learning at BA and beyond.

DR. KRISTIN PHILLIPS

MIDDLE SCHOOL FACULTY & SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR

Teacher. Coach. Advisor. Science Chair. Self-proclaimed “Lifelong Student.” Dr. Kristin Phillips has quite a few titles at Brentwood Academy, and now she’s adding another to the list: Doctor of Education. Dr. Phillips has been teaching at Brentwood Academy since 2013, but recently earned her Ed.D. through Lipscomb University’s Learning Organizations and Strategic Planning program. God’s timing and a love of learning prompted Dr. Phillips to begin filling out applications a few years ago, and the rest is history.

Although many teachers earn doctorate degrees in order to advance their own careers, Kristin’s focus is on others. Instead, her motivation is to better serve her colleagues, students, and the school as a whole. Dr. Phillips explains, “I want to be somebody who can encourage, support, and advocate for fellow teachers. I have experience and knowledge, and I want to use that to help my colleagues try and achieve new things in their classrooms.” Whether it be new curriculum, teaching strategies, or technology, Dr. Phillips is passionate about helping her fellow colleagues grow.

Continued learning is important for teachers because education is always changing, especially with new technology and increasing demands for students. She explains, “If we expect our students to continue learning and growing, we should be learning and growing too; that’s part of the reason why I went back to school.” Dr. Phillips and her colleagues are committed to supporting students as they prepare for life after Brentwood Academy.

I want to be somebody who can encourage, support, and advocate for fellow teachers. I have experience and knowledge, and I want to use that to help my colleagues try and achieve new things in their classrooms.

Although her doctorate degree is not in the science field, Dr. Phillips finds that her new experiences have changed her teaching for the better. In her classroom, learning goes far beyond seventh-grade science content. On the surface, she teaches them about the solar system, but on a deeper level, Dr. Phillips challenges them in ways that are applicable inside and outside of her classroom. She wants her students to see they have a purpose in life that is far greater than they can imagine, and that they have something unique to contribute to the world. Dr. Phillips prompts her students to consider how they can use their unique skills on a daily basis. “How can they be problem solvers? Are they good communicators? Will they start a science project and include others? Do they show leadership skills? These are the ways I want my students to grow in my classroom. Ultimately, I try to challenge them to see how they can take the skills God has given them to contribute to his greater story.”

Dr. Phillips’ greatest hope for her students is for them to follow God’s plan for their lives, wherever it may lead. She models this sentiment well. “I always say God laughs at our plans. I never thought I would end up where I am today, but I felt called. I just hope that God uses me and my degree however he chooses to, and I want to be open to whatever that looks like.”

THE DOCTORS ARE IN

We are privileged to have many exceptional faculty members, including these who have gone on to earn their doctorate degree.

Warren

Tom

Phil

Kristin

Jason

Dr. Phillips works Nya Grace McKeown‘26

Bezuidenhout, Ed.D.

Cox, Ed.D.

Masters, Ed.D.

Phillips, Ed.D.

Powell, Ed.D.

Bill Preble, Ed.D. René Rochester, Ed.D. Steve Widmaier, D.Min. Dan Wilkerson, Ed.D.

Brentwood Academy began a new tradition this year as family and friends celebrated the first annual Christmas in Brentwood celebration. Volunteers transformed the Quad into a Christmas village with a nativity scene, Christmas crafts, food trucks, an Academy Singers concert, the lighting of a Christmas tree, and more. Brentwood Academy also partnered with Nashville Rescue Mission so that attendees could donate supplies to fill their Christmas wish list. The best part? The entire community was invited to join in on the fun. Jason Mathews, Dean of Admission and Community Engagement, explains,

“For the past few years, we have been talking about putting on a new event to bring the community together. When we say community, we’re not just talking about BA students. We’re talking about our entire community–neighborhoods throughout the greater Nashville area. One of the things that makes us distinctive as a school is that we celebrate Jesus Christ and His birth at Christmas. So, for us, Christmas in Brentwood was a way to bring our community together and share the gospel message of Jesus Christ.”

After the outdoor festivities, community members had the option to purchase

tickets for a live Christmas concert by Christian music group Point of Grace. Shelley Breene, member of Point of Grace and BA mother of an alumna, says, “Point of Grace was so honored to be a part of Christmas in Brentwood. The best faculty and parent volunteers in the world transformed our campus into a winter wonderland! What a gift to the community of Brentwood. I’ve heard nothing but incredible things about BA from all who attended.” Christmas in Brentwood proved to be the perfect way to usher in the Christmas season, and Brentwood Academy is excited to offer this new tradition to the community for many years to come.

SAVE THE DATE CHRISTMAS IN BRENTWOOD DEC. 4, 2022

ALLIE RAAB CLASS OF 2018

OLYMPIC DREAM

Olympic Trials 2021 was the intersection of dreams fulfilled and prayers answered. I started swimming at age five and always dreamed of going to the Olympics. Qualifying for the Olympic Trials, making semi-finals at Trials, making finals – each of these goals were stepping-stones along the path that brought me closer to my Olympic dreams. Last summer, I saw years of hard work and time in the pool pay off when I raced in the finals of the 200 breaststroke at the 2021 Olympic Trials.

Allie Raab swam for the Aqua Eagles under Coach Jim Chapman and her mother, Coach Jamie Raab. Allie is now a student-athlete at Stanford University where she majors in Mathematics, minors in Education, and serves as co-president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

My story, however, begins in the spring of 2019, at the end of my freshman year at Stanford University. Our team had just won the National Championship, and personally, I swam best times in all my events, earning NCAA All-American honors in my two best events. After our short break, I was excited to get back to work with my teammates. However, about a month into training, I started to have pain in my right shoulder. Despite treatment and formal physical therapy, the pain persisted for several weeks. After a few months of consistent pain, an MRI showed I had tendinitis, and I got a cortisone injection to try and calm down the inflammation and make the pain more tolerable. The shot did not help. I was going to PT multiple times a week, seeing our trainer on the other days, modifying my weight-lifting plan, and limiting my swimming in the pool. After several months of trying everything, yet feeling no relief from the pain, I decided to not compete at Nationals at the end of the summer and take some time off at home.

I started sophomore year feeling good in the water after the time off. The pain felt better, and I was able to swim full practices again. I was excited to race with my teammates again at our first meet of

Top: Allie with her family on National Signing Day at BA.

Bottom: Allie (center) with mother and BA faculty member, Jamie, and dad, Greg Raab.

the season. The next week, however, my shoulder was hurting more than it had in months. It felt like all the progress I had made was gone, and I was back to square one. I had another shoulder MRI to see if anything had changed structurally. This time it revealed a torn labrum. Considering the amount of time left in the season, the next step was to try an ultrasound guided injection to specifically target the injured area. After the injection, I took a few days off, then got back in the water to start training again. The pain was more manageable, but I would just have to learn to handle it in order to keep swimming. I wasn’t ready to retire just yet, so learning to manage the pain became an everyday ordeal.

I continued to train through the pain for a few months, racing a few times in our dual meets, but it was a series of highs and lows each week. It was exhausting mentally, physically, and emotionally. Swimming had been something I loved to do, and it gave me a place to get away from the other stressors of life. But at that point, I dreaded going to practice each day because it meant more pain for my shoulder and more modifications for every set. I began crafting the words I would use to tell my coaches and teammates that I was done with swimming. But God had other plans. One morning I was biking to class with a teammate and explaining to her that I thought it was time to close the door on my swimming career. She looked at me and said, “We will support you in whatever decision you make because we love you. If you’re ready to be done, that’s okay. But just know that seeing you keep

coming to practice each day and trying to stay positive through this has been so inspiring to me and everyone else on the team.” In that moment, I felt like God was speaking to me through her and telling me to keep pushing through; there was still more for me to do. Continuing to swim wasn’t about me, but it was about my team. Even if I couldn’t complete a practice, my teammates could, and I could be in the pool with them encouraging them each step of the way. This was the mindset I began to take into practice every day. We only had a couple more weeks until the PAC-12 Championships, and the NCAAs were only a few weeks after that. I had a limited racing schedule at PAC-12s, but I was there with my teammates. When I raced the 100 breaststroke, I swam a best time in prelims and was shocked when I looked up at the scoreboard at finals to see that I had won the race. With my inconsistent training and all the mental and physical ups and downs, I wasn’t sure I would even be racing at the meet, let alone winning an event. It was truly by the grace of God that I was standing there at the top of the podium.

Two and a half weeks later, during the week of March 9, 2020, our team was getting ready to leave for NCAAs. I had one more meet to endure with my shoulder pain, and then I would have surgery which would take me out of competing at the Olympic Trials that summer. But again, God had other plans. That was the week when COVID-19 started to hit the U.S. and everything began to shut down. March Madness was cancelled, spring sports

Olympic Trials Pool- Omaha, Nebraska

seasons were cancelled, and all remaining winter sport NCAA championships were cancelled, including ours. My immediate reaction was disappointment and anger. We were less than a week out from our meet. Why couldn’t we just finish the season? But when I thought about it a little more, this was actually good for me. I didn’t have to endure the pain through another meet. Although I was devastated for my teammates and coaches, this was the break I needed.

When our meet got cancelled and we were sent home from school, we decided to reschedule my surgery to as soon as possible. So instead of swimming at NCAAs on March 19, I was in the operating room on the last day of elective surgeries before hospitals were closed. The timing of my surgery and recovery coincided with the pandemic in our country; there was nothing that I could do but trust God with the future. Swimmers everywhere were out of the pool quarantining, so I was in the same boat as everyone else. Being quarantined at home gave me a lot of time to think, pray, and spend time with my family as I recovered. The Olympics were postponed a year, which meant I wouldn’t have to miss out on racing at the Olympic Trials. When it was time to start going to physical therapy, the offices were open again and I was able to get treatment. When it was time for me to start getting in the pool again, pools were starting to open. When it was time to start building back up my training, I was able to fly back out to school and train with my coaches.

My junior year at Stanford looked a lot different than years past, but I was thankful to be at school training and getting back to my previous self in the water. While the end result of the 2021 season wasn’t the team success we had hoped for, it was a huge personal success. I was racing again, swimming best times, and I regained my love for the sport. From the end of the NCAA season to the Olympic Trials, I had three months to become faster and stronger.

Fast forward fifteen months after having surgery, I was racing at the Olympic Trials in front of thousands of people. No matter the results of my swims, I was just happy and grateful to be racing. I think that’s part of the reason why I was successful at the meet; I wasn’t putting pressure on myself to achieve a certain time or finish a certain place. Obviously, I still wanted to race well and had my goals of making finals, but I knew that whatever the outcome, God had orchestrated it all. He made all of it possible, and now I have this story and platform to be able to share how amazing He is. If I could go back and rewrite my story so that I didn’t suffer through injury and surgery, I wouldn’t change a thing. I am so grateful for all that my experience taught me about myself and about God. If there’s one thing for me to take away and share from this journey, it’s that God’s timing is always perfect, and he can turn any burden into a blessing when you trust him.

Allie taking the podium at the USA Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska

Fitness Center

GETS MAJOR UPGRADE

The Brentwood Academy Fitness Center in The Rock received a facelift over winter break. The full redesign offers enhancements to benefit the entire student body by greatly increasing the usable space for training for all students.

Design enhancements include:

• Accommodation for more than 100 students in a session compared to 50 previously

• Double the amount of workout stations (24) featuring new dumbbells, medicine balls, and plate weights

• New “floating” flooring for a safer workout

• State-of-the-art iPad and camera technology offering an online platform for improved workouts

• Branded aesthetics

Head varsity tennis/golf coach and project coordinator Mark Sutton adds, “The updates made to the student fitness center have vastly increased the usable space for each Brentwood Academy student. This renovation further enhances our physical fitness and wellness program to support our school’s triangular mission.”

We are grateful for the many donors who have made it possible for us to execute this exciting first phase in our campaign as we continue to advance our campus master plan, delivering missioncentric innovations in programming supported by these dynamic facility enhancements. Be sure to stop by and see these exciting renovations in person!

Libby started her career in healthcare, most recently leading the managed care contracting division at Covenant Surgical Partners. She pivoted into the private equity space, providing middle market companies with executive leadership at Northcliff River Associates. She now focuses on stewarding the resources of her family office. She also owns and operates (with her brother) a highway maintenance business, Big AL Mowing.

Libby is a graduate of Furman University. She lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, her young son, and her massive dog. They are members of Calvary United Methodist Church.

BIG AL MOWING LIBBY PHILLIPS CLASS

OF 2007

How did Big AL Mowing start, and what is the purpose of your business?

It was actually a family joke for a long time that became real. We realized that we wanted more time with our family, and we wanted to make faith-based investments. A lot of people run faith-based companies as non-profits instead of faith-based businesses. We wanted to start a business that has a Kingdom impact. My husband is a United Methodist pastor here in Nashville, and he serves with a local homeless ministry. Over the years we have established relationships with folks that are unhoused, need jobs, or live below the poverty line, and we hire them to work for our company. We try to remove barriers when it comes to things like securing a lease, opening and maintaining a bank account, getting a driver’s license, and more. We also have a chaplain on staff to pour into them spiritually. Our main goal is to support our employees holistically.

What is one way people can create lasting change in their communities?

Building individual, personal relationships. We’ve really become like family with our employees; we get to dig in deeper with them. Everyone is a snowflake, meaning everyone is unique in their own way. Oftentimes people will group individuals together because they assume that they all need help in the same way, but everyone is so different. So, we’ve found that helping people on an individual basis is what works well for us. Some people need help with financial literacy, or going to the DMV, or securing housing, or something completely different. When we build meaningful relationships with those around us, we can better support and give them resources because we know what their individual needs are.

What is your best piece of advice for someone wanting to start a faith-based non-profit or business?

We went big. We wanted to build our entire business around this idea of helping others, which is great, but that doesn’t mean everyone has to do that to make an impact. On a smaller scale, start with this question: “How can I impact one person?”

Changing even one person’s life is great. Try not to get too far ahead of yourself with trying to change the world but start with impacting one person in your life. Sometimes that’s even more transformative in the long run.

How did your time at Brentwood Academy influence your life and career path?

When I was a student at BA, I was the upper school girls’ basketball manager. I like to say I was the best manager. On a serious note, the team went through a lot of highs and lows while I was there. We won a state championship one year, and then we lost the next which was really hard. We had a player involved in a major car accident, and we had to rally together. Through it all though, Coach Rhonda Brown taught me so much about how to lead and “run a ship.” Her coaching and mentoring style has deeply impacted how I work now.

DAVID WISE

DIRECTOR, ACADEMY SINGERS

Following the retirement of the beloved Jenny Oldham, Brentwood Academy began the search for a new Academy Singers director. The process was a long and difficult one, as it takes an incredibly special individual to direct such a unique group with a legacy spanning thirty years. The most talented and qualified candidate by far proved to be David Wise. His excellent work preceded him in his arrangement of the hymn “It Is Well,” which the Academy Singers recorded and performed as part of our set list last year. He has taken us to new heights by giving us great publicity and many opportunities to perform, including a feature on the nationally-televised Nashville Holiday Music Special. Mr. Wise has a patient and encouraging teaching style, which makes learning from him engaging and rewarding. He has jumped wholeheartedly into this new adventure and was thrilled to give us an overview of his career and his perspective on directing the Academy Singers in this interview. Enjoy these excerpts from my conversation with David Wise.

(AGR) Tell us a little bit about what you did before coming to Brentwood Academy.

(DW) After college, I started singing at Disney in 1996. I sang for the Voices of Liberty show and then did a brief stint on a cruise ship. I discovered that I really loved session singing. It was my biggest passion. So, for over 20 years now I have been a session singer. I learned I was a really good sight reader, and I knew I could sing high and diversify my voice to be able to sing in a lot of different styles. About six or seven years ago, I made the decision that if I wanted to continue in the music business, I had to continue to reinvent myself and evolve a little bit, so I started to do more producing.

(AGR) Tell us about your family.

(DW) My wife, Heather, and I have been married for 22 years. She was a dance captain on the first Disney Magic cruise ship that ever went out. We have four children. Hannah Grace is a sophomore at Lee University. Taylor Grace is a high school senior this year. Dawson is a sophomore. Our youngest, Autumn, is in fourth grade. They’re all very musical. They all sing. We’re a very dramatic family!

(AGR) What has surprised you the most about your new position as Director of The Academy Singers?

(DW) I knew how good and talented this group was. I just didn’t realize that I was going to be able to push the group as far as I’ve been able to push you guys. I’ve gone into my studio now since our recent recording session and listened to “A Million Dreams” and my goodness, I keep thinking to myself, how did they pull this off? I know adult groups that can’t

do this! And it just goes to show that the legacy that Jenny (Oldham) created is so deep in a foundation that’s rooted on musicality and sight reading and all the things that matter so much.

(AGR) What’s something you wish you knew as a performer when you were our age?

(DW) I was probably 25 years old when one of the best session singers I’ve ever worked with said this to me, and I wish I would’ve known it when I was your age. She said, “If you know what you’re doing, shut up.” As a performer, especially when we’re young, we want to prove to everybody that we can do it because singing and performing is emotional. But when you’re talented, you don’t have to. All you have to do is go out there, be yourself, and let what you do speak for itself. So, if you know what you’re doing, shut up!

(AGR) How do you see the Academy Singers growing and changing in the years to come?

(DW) Legacy is really important to me. The students have heard me talk about this all year. Jenny built a foundation for 30 plus years, and our job is to take the torch and to continue running. I want to see the group have more opportunities to be exposed, to go out and sing for more people. To me, you guys are leaders, and I want this group to become the flagship representation for Brentwood Academy.

Anna Grace Rawls is a senior and a four-year member of The Academy Singers

BALD EAGLE SERVES AS GOOD OMEN FOR BLADES BROWN ‘26, BRENTWOOD ACADEMY'S EIGHTH-GRADE GOLF STATE CHAMP

By Chip Cirillo/Courtesy, Brentwood Home Page

The eagle held a fish in its talons and started devouring it on the driving range.

It remained there as Brown went through his normal warmup routine.

When Brown left for the first hole, the eagle flew up to a tree that is above the tee.

Brown, an eighth-grader who golfs on the Brentwood Academy Eagles’ team, took the first-round lead after closing his round by chipping in for an eagle from 20 yards out on the final hole.

When Brown returned for the second and final round, the eagle flew over the driving range while he was warming up and went back to the same tree.

“As soon as I saw the eagle, I was like, that’s our mascot,” Brown said. “It’s a sign. And then when I chipped in, I was like, wow, it must have been the eagle.”

Brown, 14, turned in a magical performance when he became one of the youngest golfers ever to win a state golf tournament.

He shot 11-under par for 36 holes to win the TSSAA Division II-AA championship with rounds of 64 and 69.

The 133 total was the seventh-best score in DII-AA history.

Not bad for an eighth grader.

Brown is surprisingly mature for his age, which probably helped him deal with the pressure.

“I’ve been playing with those guys all summer,” Brown said. “I tried to normalize the situation. It doesn’t even feel like I won a state championship. It just feels like a normal tournament to me.”

Four seniors, including 2020 champion Sheldon McKnight of Baylor, tied for second.

He called the older golfers in the field big role models.

Brown golfs with many of them during the summer on the Sneds Tour, a junior circuit.

Brown recorded seven birdies during the first round, but it got off to a rocky start when his first shot went into the water.

“Well, Brandt Snedeker, when he shot a 59 he happened to bogey the first hole and so I was like Brandt Snedeker shot a 59 and he bogeyed the first hole. Why can’t I?” Brown said. “I didn’t let that get me down at all because I know that there was going to be a bogey somewhere.”

Brown rebounded quickly with a 10-foot bogey putt from a difficult uphill spot above the hole.

A bald eagle landed on the driving range at Sevierville Golf Club while Blades Brown ‘26 was warming up for the state tournament in October.

Blades stands alongside BA golf coach, Mark Sutton.

“That probably won me the tournament because it doesn’t feel good to start with a double-bogey,” Brown said. “For it to go in kind of gave me the extra momentum for the next hole. So I knew my putting was going to be surprisingly good that day.”

Brown heated up on the back nine, going 6-under. His 64 was the fourth lowest round in TSSAA state tournament history.

Brown pretends he’s way over par after shooting under-par scores in the first round to keep himself aggressive on the course.

“That kind of eases the blood and you can be more aggressive,” Brown said. “(Otherwise), you’re kind of begging to get off the golf course because you want to keep this score as good as it is.”

By pretending he’s over par, Brown focuses on improving his score, not playing it safe.

It rained during most of the tournament, making Brown’s accomplishment even more impressive.

“Sometimes I would practice in the snow,” Brown said.

“Sometimes I feel like I had frostbite, but the more you can push yourself the better you’ll do in those situations.”

Brown learned the game from his dad quickly. He started playing when he was 9. By age 13, he was already beating him.

“He’s going to have his pick of schools across the country if he continues this work ethic and ascent that he is on,” Sutton said. “You won’t find a young man who works harder than he does. I mean, he lives at the golf course, he really does.”

Sutton has already talked to college coaches who believe he could help their team right now.

“I firmly believe he’ll play for money,” Sutton said. “There is no doubt in my mind. Now he has to stay healthy, the stars have to align, but he has the work ethic, the mentality and the God-given talent to do it.”

“The thing that separates him is his scoring clubs, so 125 yards in, 100 yards in, he is extremely talented. He made putt after putt after putt in wet, rainy conditions and he does that a lot.”

Brown won the region tournament with a score of 5-under par. He became the fourth BA golfer to win a state title and the first since Dylan Healey ‘12 in 2009.

His mother, Rhonda, coaches the BA girls basketball team. She played at Vanderbilt before becoming the first pick in the 1998 WNBA draft.

Rhonda was a point guard as are Blades and sister Millie, a BA senior and University of North Carolina-Asheville commit.

“We’re all point guards,” Rhonda said. “We’re tiny, so we didn’t have a lot of choice, right? Better learn how to handle the ball if you’re going to be small.”

Blades, who is 5-foot-6, is named after his mom’s maiden name. She’s watched his work ethic first-hand.

“He spends a ton of time on the golf course,” Rhonda said. “You win in the dark. We’ve got a little chipping thing in our back yard that he plays on all the time and he’s always hitting balls at the club, just working on his game. If he’s not, he’s watching film. He loves it.”

KAREN SCHWARTZ SUTTON ‘90

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Brentwood Academy is excited to welcome Karen S. Sutton ’90 as the new Director of Development. After graduating from BA, Karen earned her B.A. from the University of Kentucky and then attended graduate school at Belmont University. She started her independent school career as an English teacher and then served as an administrator at Harpeth Hall School for twenty-three years.

Karen’s BA story began in 1986 as a freshman when she and her step-brother Chad Folk ’90 followed in the footsteps of her cousin John Snow ’87 and her sister Elizabeth ’88. When looking back on the decision to attend Brentwood Academy for their family, Karen reflects, “My father always had an fondness for Mr. Brown (the first headmaster of BA) as he was his track and field coach at BGA, and he respected and admired Mr. Brown as a coach and mentor with steadfast faith. Our parents wanted us to have an education that provided spiritual, academic, and athletic growth, and the mission of BA remains consistent for what we want for our family today.”

Karen’s husband Mark Sutton is the Associate Director of Admission and Financial Aid, varsity tennis coach, and varsity golf coach. During his time as the varsity tennis coach, he has expanded the 6th–12th grade tennis program to include sixty plus studentathletes. The girls’ and boys’ golf programs continue to grow at BA, and Coach Sutton stood alongside Blades Brown ’26 as he won the 2021 TSSAA golf state championship.

Mark, Karen, and their family continue the BA legacy. Eli Sutton ’21, a three-sport athlete, was the recipient of the Carlton Flatt Outstanding Athlete Award, an award that Karen also received in 1990. He is currently a student-athlete at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he plays football. Sadie ’23 is a Flight magazine author and a varsity volleyball and track and field athlete.

We are excited that Karen and her family continue to be a part of the BA story!

BRENTWOOD ACADEMY

NEWS ALUMNI

Brentwood Academy alumni now number 3,790 after the 2021 graduation. The following are alumni news items. Alumni are invited and encouraged to send their updates to karey_johnson@brentwoodacademy.com

Julie Pickard Rogers ’77 retired at the end of 2021 from working at Floyd Health System as an attorney/compliance officer. She and her husband, Gregory, live in Rome, Georgia.

Gordon Kennedy ’78 is in his final year playing guitar for the Garth Brooks’ Stadium Tour. The tour includes many stadiums in North America and will end in Ireland this September. They have sold out 5 nights at Croke Park in Dublin…82,000 per show!

Charlie Hynes ’86 is the Senior Vice President Supply Chain for Citi Trends in Georgia. He and his wife, Elaine, have three boys with the oldest in college at Kennesaw State University. Elaine owns and runs a clothing store, Fishtales, a Christian centered gift store near Reynolds Lake Oconee, GA. Charlie is the acting Georgia Renegade Basketball Director/Coach. This is an elite AAU basketball program for 7th graders in the surrounding community in which they live. He has coached over 1000 games and 3000 practices over the past twelve years in baseball, football, and basketball.

Jack Howell ’87 has been the principal at Portland East Middle School for the last 11 years. During the pandemic school year, they became the first STEM accredited middle school in their district in Sumner County.

Leslie Shaffer South ‘01 and husband, Eric South, are the founders of Gladiator Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to support brain cancer research and to help patients and their families fight like gladiators. Gladiator Project already has raised over $125,000 in an effort to find a cure for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), after Eric himself was diagnosed with this grade IV brain cancer in 2021.

Josh Sanders ’02 is entering his 20th year working in Public Safety. He was recently promoted as the Fire Marshal for Rutherford County, where he oversees the Arson Investigation Unit, Code enforcement section, and the public relations/ outreach section of the Fire Marshal’s Office. Josh and Katie have two children, Aubrey and Parker, and have been living in Murfreesboro since 2012.

Elizabeth Edmonds Walker ’03 is teaching science and math in the middle school at Brentwood Academy and coaching middle school cross country and track. She graduated with a B.S. degree in family and consumer science with an education minor and a Master of Arts in teaching and learning from Lipscomb University.

Daniel Bradfield ’04 works for the United States Air Force and is finishing up a three-year assignment in the Pentagon this summer. He was one of four Air Force officers selected to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College at Quantico for the 21-22 academic year.

Michael Schmidt ‘04 is the Director of Operations and Technology Development for Enomalies, a specialty prototyping firm located in Lexington, KY. They have a full contract with the Office of Naval Research to create and deploy 3D training software (the Rapid Synthetic Environment Tool, aka RSET) for US warfighters that utilizes 3D scanned environments captured in the field. They have architected the software in such a way that also makes it useful for first responders such as fire, police, and EMS to train at their desks and in VR for mission planning, triage, and after-action review in the buildings specific to their jurisdiction. Michael has been with them full time for over four years and loves having hands-on influence in both the authoring and creation of their products and in the continued development of the business itself.

Michael Pelster ’05 returned to Nashville in the summer of 2021. He is a Mohs surgeon and general cosmetic dermatologist at Nashville Skin with offices in Nashville and Clarksville. Michael, his wife Meredith, and daughter Millie live in Nashville.

Kalyn Winston Nelson ’06 has entered her fifth year in business as Kalyn Nelson Interiors. She was recently featured in a Nashville Voyager magazine article for her interior design work (August 2021). She recently bought a home in Nolensville with her husband and two children.

Caroline Eddleman Fausel ’08 recently published a cookbook called Prep, Cook, Freeze: A Paleo Meal Planning Cookbook She is the creator and CEO of Olive You Whole, the health and wellness website dedicated to helping you live with vitality and longevity. She creates mostly Paleo and Whole30 compliant recipes and resources to help you along your clean-eating journey.

Brooke Baggett ’07 PharmD, MS, BCPS, was promoted to the Assistant Director of Pharmacy Supply Chain and Finance at The University of Florida Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Brooke obtained her B.S. in biochemistry, cellular, and molecular biology from the University of Tennessee. She then went on to obtain her PharmD from the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy in Nashville. Following pharmacy school, she completed her combined PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residency at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, N.C., along with a Master’s degree in Health-System Pharmacy Administration from the University of North Carolina.

Jacob Stallings ‘08 was one of the speakers during this year’s Christian Life Week. Jacob, formerly a catcher for the Pittsburg Pirates, will join the Miami Marlins this spring. Jacob was this year’s National League recipient of Major League Baseball’s Golden Glove Award. Jacob and his wife Amy Beth ’08 are expecting their third son.

Chad Boring ’07 is working for HCA Healthcare as CFO of Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Florida.

Will Long ’07 has been named the first vice president of Business Development for Realtracs in Nashville.

Andrew Eshelman ’08 is the founder and president of Eshelman Construction and Eshelman Development. Eshelman Construction is a licensed commercial and residential contractor in the Nashville area founded in

2016. The company specializes in commercial mixed use, adaptive reuse, historic renovation, and tenant buildout commercial projects. The company has completed several notable local projects, such as The Patsy Cline Museum, Mother’s Ruin, The Wash, Emerson Hall/The Vic, Bad Axe Throwing, and Ember’s Ski Lodge. Andrew and his wife, Anne Ward, and 18-month old son, Henry, live in Green Hills. They recently bought a historic 1930’s cottage that they are in the process of renovating. Anne Ward is a nurse practitioner at a local OBGYN clinic. Anne Ward and Andrew are excited for their second baby due in March of this year.

Amy Fadler ‘08 received her Master’s in educational leadership in December 2021. She teaches U.S. History at Summit High School. Amy received her B.S. in secondary education with a concentration in history from Lipscomb University.

Matt Sells ‘08 is currently in his second year at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management, where he serves as Executive Vice President of the student body. After graduation, he will start as a vice president in the Turnaround Strategy Group at AlixPartners, LLP in New York. Prior to school, Matt worked in M&A Advisory at Deloitte. Matt is a CPA licensed in the State of New York.

Gage Adkins ’11 graduated from Mississippi State with a Bachelor’s degree in construction management. He has worked in general contracting since he graduated in 2015 for Robins and Morton and American Constructors. Gage is currently a Development Manager for LifePoint Health. He manages the process of building and opening new hospitals for LifePoint and associated joint-ventures. He works with architects, engineers, and consultants on site selection and site due diligence, in regard to zoning, land plan approval, site restrictions, municipal requirements, closing and other site-required issues. Gage travels about two times a month to projects across the country. He is currently working on projects in Peoria, Illinois; Pine Bluff, Arkansas; and Jackson, Mississippi.

Sarah Sermonet Barnett ’11 works in Pain Management at Avanos Medical which is a medical device company. For the past three years she was a regional account manager working with 16 reps in nine states but was promoted in January to product manager of the portfolio as a whole. It was a really exciting step for her and she absolutely loves what she does. A large part of their mission is helping patients manage chronic pain with the goal of helping to avoid any long-term pain medication prescription which is a mission close to her heart.

Robert Hinson ‘11 completed his Master’s degree in healthcare administration at Colorado State University Global. He received his B.S. in biomedical engineering from the University of Tennessee in 2015. He is presently working

as an area sales rep for Advanced Energy at Medtronic in Chattanooga, TN, where he lives with his wife, Kaylyn.

Drew DeLong ’14 worked in the policy planning staff for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, then went on to get his MBA at Southern Methodist University. Drew lives in Dallas and is currently working as an associate at Kearney, a strategic advisory firm. He focuses on client topics pertaining to the overlap of high-tech and policy, such as semiconductors, 5G, lasers, etc.

Dawson Knox ’15 set a post-season NFL record, becoming the first tight end in league history to catch two touchdowns in the first quarter of a playoff game during the Buffalo Bills’ 47-17 victory over the New England Patriots. Against the Patriots in the Wild Card round, Knox recorded five receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 17.8 yards per reception.

Vance Lipsey ‘15 is currently working at the city of Eagleville, TN, and just celebrated his one-year anniversary with his wife. He has a Master’s degree in public administration from Wayland Baptist University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Bethany College.

Caroline Willis ’15 graduated in May 2021 with a Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology from Auburn University. She is currently finishing her clinical fellowship year at Columbus Speech and Hearing, Columbus, Georgia.

Kennedy Jarvis ’18 is in her senior year at Auburn University where she is majoring in finance and minoring in psychology. Kennedy received the President’s Award for the College of Business. Each year Auburn recognizes one outstanding student from each college for their academic excellence and extracurricular success. Kennedy is the copresident of the Auburn Financial Management Association, FMA. FMA provides a support network for the top students interested in finance careers. These elite students represent the Harbert College of Business and Department of Finance in premier business engagements, leadership seminars, case competitions, corporate visits, and continuing education programs designed to foster engagement and personal relationships within the university and beyond. Upon graduation, Kennedy will work as an investment banking analyst with Moelis & Company in New York.

Cole Marciniak ’15 works for Novartis in pharmaceutical sales in Nashville. He is in the cardiovascular division and sells a medication that can help reduce the effects of heart failure.

Joe Collins ’16 completed his Marine officer training course and is currently taking additional training at Quantico awaiting his next assignment. He is a graduate of Samford University. Joe is the son of BA graduates Chris ‘80 and Angie Curtis ‘81 Collins.

Michael Dennison ’16 is working as a radar engineer with Boeing in St. Louis, MO. Michael graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2020 with a degree in electrical engineering.

Darius Garland ‘18 is in his third season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was the NBA Eastern Conference player of the week in January 2022. He helped Cleveland win four consecutive games by posting double-doubles in two games and a tripledouble in another. He became just the fourth player in Cleveland history to post a triple-double before the age of 22. He is a member of the 2022 NBA All-Star Team.

Blake Taylor ‘16 graduated magna cum laude from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee where he also earned his Master of Accountancy (MAcc) and passed the CPA exam in May of 2021. He is now working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Nashville.

Claire Cheeseman Eaton ‘17 graduated from Belmont University in April 2021 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Honors Leadership. Claire and her husband, Kaden, moved to Indianapolis, IN

Clayton Ladd ’18 continues to play football at the University of Mississippi, beginning as a defensive end and recently moved to the position of middle linebacker for the Ole Miss Rebels. A couple of highlights this year were reuniting with Gavin Schoenwald, former BA teammate and Vanderbilt tight end, at the Ole Miss/Vanderbilt game (shown here with BA alum Luke Knox, also an Ole Miss teammate), and going to the Sugar Bowl with the team. Clayton is majoring in fine arts with an emphasis in graphic design and a minor in business.

where she started a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership and Design at the University of Indianapolis. Claire is also finishing up her collegiate running career there.

Maddie Barnhill ’18 started working for Vol Team at the University of Tennessee during her sophomore year of college and currently works for the football team in the recruiting department. She works many admissions events for the team, along with game days. Maddie hosts prospective players and their families and friends in Neyland Stadium on game days. Maddie volunteers at Young Williams Animal Center, where she fell in love with a “problem dog” named Cash and adopted him! She will be graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Lyla Dyer ’18 will graduate from Auburn in May with a degree in biomedical engineering. She will be working for Georgia Pacific in Florida.

Kyle Ladd ’21 travelled to Chicago last fall, prior to his start at University of Alabama-Birmingham, to play with Nashville United’s men’s team in the U.S. National Amateur Cup Championship as a guest player to stand in for the team’s goalkeeper who was injured. Kyle is majoring in kinesiology at UAB with plans to pursue an advanced degree in sports medicine.

Follow Brentwood Academy on social media for all the latest happenings.

In Loving Memory

Edwin Kelley Swift ’75 (1957-2022) – Kelley passed away on January 31, 2022. He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee to Betty Jo and Clyde Edwin Swift on April 27, 1957. Kelley was preceded in death by his father Clyde and his brother Clark Alex Ander Swift. Kelley was voted wittiest from his class at Brentwood Academy where he was a standout offensive tackle on the football team. He went on to graduate from The University of the South in Sewanee, TN, in 1979, where he played football and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He had retired from a long career in the insurance

business. He was an avid sportsman, a youth football coach and a devoted husband, father, son and brother. He is survived by wife, Anne Newell Swift; son, Edwin Taylor Swift ‘09; mother, Betty Jo Swift; and sisters, Gwendolyn Swift Mottice ‘76 (John); Joellyn Swift Helman ‘81 (Eric); and a host of loving nieces and nephews. Kelley had a huge heart and was a faithful and lifelong friend to many.

Marriages

Reid Clark ‘03 to Martha Valentin on May 8, 2021.

Martin Johnson ’07 to Lauren Chiozza on April 23, 2021.

Jackson Boyd ‘09 to Macey McIntosh on November 13, 2021.

Cody Taylor ‘09 to Yasmin Salimi on April 10, 2021.

Sam Wilson ’09 to Tori Aaron on December 11, 2021.

Michael Fister ’11 to Erin Walsh on October 23, 2021.

Sarah Sermonet ’11 to Ed Barnett on April 10, 2021.

Graham Waldrop ’12 to Hailey Paul on September 5, 2021.

India Way ’12 to Ray Misewicz on October 24, 2021.

Valerie Griffin ’13 to Will Jones on May 22, 2021.

Dylan Kennedy ’13 to Alexis Butler on October 10, 2021.

Olivia Dickerson ’14 to Mack Lambert ’10 on June 5, 2021.

Rebecca Johnson ’14 to Michael Tenoschok on April 10, 2021.

Mary Tate Bullion ’15 to Cody Holder on September 4, 2021.

Madeline Burkhart ’15 to Jackson Sweatt, on November 19, 2021.

Hunter Terrill ’16 to Will Fox on January 8, 2022.

Claire Cheeseman ’17 to Kaden Eaton on June 20, 2021.

Sydney Marks ’17 to Cameron Petty ’17 on July 17, 2021.

Reece Powell ’17 to Meagan Thomason on November 27, 2021.

Cecily Powell ’19 to Zac Tolleson on July 25, 2021.

Births

Andrew Parrish ’97, and wife Lauren, a son, Whitaker “Whit” David, born April 16, 2021.

Jackson Brasher ’03, and wife, Meagan, a daughter, Kathryn Lane, “Laney”, born April 30, 2021.

Kelly Dillon Bankes ‘03, and husband, David, a son, Luke Dillon, born November 18, 2021.

Emily Masters Yanes ‘03, and husband, Dres, a daughter, Kiara Lena, born November 4, 2021.

Kyle Booten ’04, and wife Emma Amador, a daughter, Luna Paula, born February 6, 2021.

Caroline Mills Dilbeck ‘04, and husband, Ty, a son, Fitzgerald “Fitz” Manning, born January 9, 2021.

Kelsey Tunney Bohler ’05 and husband, Zach, a son, Abraham Peter, born March 29, 2021.

Taylor ’06 and Lydia Northern Dudney ’06, a son, Heath Hackett, born August 7, 2021.

Meg McAlister Miller ’06, and husband, Caleb, a daughter, Lucy Collins, born July 23, 2021.

Chad Boring ’07 and wife, Kelly, a son, Charles Bentz, “Charlie”, born July 13th, 2021.

Johnson ’07 and Catherine Hightower ‘08 Coley, a daughter, Ava Parker, born September 12, 2021.

Ellie Collins DeBerry ‘07, and husband Hunter, a son, Jackson Scott, “Jack”, born December 8, 2021.

Maggie Hardwick Batts ’09, and husband, Ben, a son, Benjamin Shawn, born June 18, 2021.

Taylor ’09 and Brittany Cameron ’09 Brasher, a daughter, Cameron Taylor, born December 2, 2021.

Will ’10 and Chandler Parks ’10 Blalock, a daughter, Ruth Evelyn, born June 3, 2020.

Jay ’10 and Maggie Brian ’10 Luna, a daughter, Mae Elizabeth, born April 21, 2021.

Christina Priddy Reed ’11 and husband, Austin, a son, Boaz “Bo” Hardin, born September 27, 2021.

Marshall ’13 and Bailey Arthur ’15 Gray, a son, Jonas Arthur, born September 17, 2021.

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY

AT BRENTWOOD ACADEMY

Every year, Brentwood Academy hosts hundreds of grandparents on campus for the annual Grandparents’ Day celebration during Christian Life Week. Students and their families got to hear from an extra special guest this year: Grammy award winning gospel music artist, CeCe Winans. She spoke about how her parents and grandparents instilled wisdom in her from a young age. Even when her friends were not making wise decisions, CeCe always strove to do what was right. Her grandparents had shown her that doing the right thing always led to a better path in life. CeCe’s testimony emphasized the importance of family and how important that is in our individual spiritual development. The grandparents who attended the program expressed heartfelt gratitude that Brentwood Academy values and protects the idea of treasuring one’s legacy and obedience to Christ .

THE ALUMNI GARDEN

LAYING A FIRM FOUNDATION & PAVING A PATH TO THE FUTURE

Weinvite our alumni to participate in our Alumni Garden with a custom-inscribed brick. Each brick symbolizes the foundation and the path that you now travel as a graduate of Brentwood Academy. The bricks are a focal point of the garden and are a beautiful way to recognize your legacy.

The cost of each brick is $300, 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.

TO PURCHASE A BRICK, SCAN THE QR CODE: Questions: Contact Karey Johnson at karey_johnson@brentwoodacademy.com