Triangle Winter/Spring 2018

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WINTER/SPRING 2018

LEARNING BY SERVING – Stor y on Page 32 –

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 An "eclipse to remember" made August 21 another great day at BA! In a pre-eclipse assembly, NASA astronaut Dr. Luke Roberson, Mrs. Wendy Stallings' brother, explained in detail how the eclipse would occur and safety precautions for viewing. A festival atmosphere prevailed with lunch, ice cream, and the distribution of solar viewing glasses. Students and faculty were joined on the field by many parents, alumni, and friends. BA band director Mr. Matt Nygren arranged an appropriate selection of recorded music including “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers, “Sunrise, Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” by Elton John, and concluding with “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles, which all played during the event. During the eclipse, students were in awe of the darkening sky and many “oohs” and “aahs” were heard. Thank you to BA science faculty members, especially Mrs. Stallings, for organizing the BA Eclipse Day.

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HEADMASTER Curtis G. Masters HEADMASTER EMERITUS William B. Brown, Jr. 2017-2018 TRUSTEE CHAIR Cayce Powell

from the

Headmaster Dear BA Family, So much of what I remember as having significance in my early life centers around the behaviors of individual people, both adults and young people, who influenced me. A few weeks ago a group of us involved in school work were asked to recall moments when someone specifically encouraged leadership or reached out to affirm something that they had seen in us. Although we had been asked to recall specific moments of encouragement, we all found ourselves remembering people who had lived out a pattern of affirmation and encouragement. And, as it turned out in our recent discussion, I believe it is true that our most significant impact is made by a pattern of how we live our lives, not just by single profound moments. Influence and impact is hard to measure or quantify whether in the short term or the long term. But one thing does seem certain as we look back on our own experiences; people have more influence on us than they may realize, and of course the converse is true as well. We are having more influence on others than we realize. In this collection of brief glimpses into some parts of the mission of Brentwood Academy, we share stories of influence and impact. Our hope is that even as you rejoice over the few stories we share, that you also take some time to reflect on those who have influenced you, and perhaps share with them what an impact they made. Perhaps it will also help us to pause and reflect on how we are using our influence to love God with everything we have, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. God has positioned each of us uniquely to encourage one another in every good work, nurturing and challenging each person to the glory of God. As we look forward to some landmarks, such as the upcoming 50th anniversary of Brentwood Academy, it is fitting to also look back to count our many blessings, chief among which are the people placed in our lives. May God bless you as you continue to play your part in the mission and ministry at Brentwood Academy, and the community around you. Sincerely,

Curt Masters

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2017-2018 ALUMNI COUNCIL CO-PRESIDENTS Patrick McCoin '95 Elizabeth Edmonds Walker '03 2017-2018 BA PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Leslie Henderson EDITORS Leah Hoskins Susan Shafer STAFF WRITERS Lulu Luton Clark ‘76 Lindsay Fowlkes '86 Leah Hoskins Jeanne Natwick Susan Shafer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Landon Woodroof '00 GRAPHIC DESIGN Phil Goodman PHOTOGRAPHY Shelly Arms '14 Andy Collignon Lynda Fadler Barry Robbins Cooper Smith '16 Jennifer Vickery Smith

The Triangle magazine is published twice annually under the direction of the Brentwood Academy communications department and is distributed without charge to family and friends of the school. Additional copies available upon request. Brentwood Academy 219 Granny White Pike Brentwood, TN 37027 615-373-0611

brentwoodacademy.com facebook.com/brentwoodacademy twitter.com/baeagles instagram/ba_eagles_tn


W I N T ER/SPRIN G 2018

Contents 6

Mrs. Barbara Stewart—Honored for Dedication to Civics Education

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Remembering Mrs. Maggie Speight—BA's Only On-Campus Resident

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Bryce Prior '13—Aspiring to Revolutionize Small-Satellite Industry

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Will Reynolds '13—Offering Hope to A Friend

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Fine Arts Highlights

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Athletic Highlights

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Jim and Yolanda Chapman—Angels of Adoption

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Student Ambassadors Gain Leadership Experience

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Learning By Serving—Winterim 2018

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Kaysie Rogers Lackey '99—Artist, Innovator, Entrepreneur

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Alumni News

Brent wo od Aca de m y Mis s ion 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.

On the cover: The China Winterim trip landed at Maria's Big House of Hope in Luoyang where team members threw a huge birthday party for the orphanage children. Pictured are (left to right) Izzy Chapman '19, Toby Wilson '18, and Jackson Gregory '18. The team was led by faculty member Jim Chapman who has supported children at Maria's for several years (see story on page 26).

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FAC U LT Y

S P OT L I G H T

Barbara Stewart

Barbara Stewart AWA RDE D Y M C A H O N O R

Brentwood Academy faculty member Mrs. Barbara Stewart was presented with the 2017 Buhl Award for Dedication to Civic Education at the Tennessee YMCA Center for Civic Engagement annual benefit dinner. The dinner took place at the Tennessee State Capitol on September 30, with over 200 attending. The award is named after Arthur ‘Mike’ Buhl. Mike Buhl was an educator who spent more than 25 years volunteering with the YMCA Model Supreme Court and International Court of Justice, teaching students not only the importance of such bodies of governance, but also about servant leadership and the importance of civic engagement. Past recipients include: 2013 - Governor Winfield Dunn 2014 - Congressman Jim Cooper 2015 - Secretary of State Tre’ Hargett 2016 - Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey The YMCA Center for Civic Engagement staff and advisory board selected Mrs. Stewart as the 2017 recipient because her dedication to civics and education has inspired multiple generations to be engaged citizens. Since 1978, Mrs. Stewart has served as the Brentwood Academy advisor for the YMCA Center for Civic Engagement programs and has impacted the lives of hundreds of young people. She teaches honors and AP history in the upper school, along with sponsoring the Brentwood Academy chapter of the National Honor Society. According to Center Director Susan Moriarity, “Barbara is an inspiration, not only to the children whose lives she’s touched, but to all of us who are lucky enough to call her a friend.”

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Barbara is an inspiration, not only to the children whose lives she’s touched…


Brentwood Academy graduate Allison Dove Gossett ‘06 presented the award to Mrs. Stewart. Allison served as Youth in Government Governor in 2006 and was an active participant in the BA Youth in Government program. Mrs. Stewart commented, “I am greatly honored to receive the Mike Buhl Award given in the name of a man who meant so much to the Model UN and Youth Legislature programs. Youth Legislature and Model UN have been so beneficial for the students at Brentwood Academy as well as to all of the students and advisors who have attended. I know these programs will continue to thrive under the leadership of Susan Moriarty and her staff. “ The Tennessee YMCA Youth Legislature began in 1953. Since, the program has expanded from a small legislative conference to include all three branches of Tennessee government as well as a media and lobbyist component. In 1980, a Model United Nations conference was added. In 2008, the Center for Civic Engagement became a program center of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. At that time, the name Youth Legislature was changed to Youth in Government. Currently, seven Model United Nations conferences and eleven Youth in

Pictured with Mrs. Stewart are this year's National Honor Society officers. From left: Harrison Smith '18 (Secretary), Morgan Bussard '18 (Vice-President), Mrs. Barbara Sewart (Sponsor), Sarah Bryant '18 (President), and Michael Bowling '18 (Treasurer).

Government conferences are held each year. In 2008, the Leadership Conference for the elected officers of MUN and YIG was added. Tennessee’s program is the second largest YMCA program in the nation. This year, more than 6,000 students from over 130 different schools participated in Model United Nations and Youth in Government. That doesn’t include the nearly 300 volunteers who give generously of their time throughout the year.

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r e m e m b e r i n g

Mrs. Speight

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BRENTWOOD ACADEMY'S ON-CAMPUS RESIDENT

photo by Shelly Arms '14

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BY AMANDA BUTLER EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE HEADMASTER

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rs. Speight was a tough yet sweet lady. She was married to Harley long ago, and when you asked her about him she would gaze back into her memory and say, “He was a brilliant man.” He passed away quite young, and they did not have children. She worked her whole

life and retired, and over those years she was invested in Brentwood’s development as a city, was a supporter of the arts, and was involved with her church and friends. She was very independent, and it took her years to warm up to BA and our folks, but in her later years she quietly adopted all of us and the campus too. There was seldom a day when you wouldn’t see her picking up trash or sticks, returning a lost item from the parking lot to the front desk, or even retrieving something from the trash she was sure was mistakenly discarded. We all enjoyed her tomatoes, figs, and other goodies she shared from her garden. She was strong and hardworking: tending her garden, cleaning her gutters, and often being mistaken for 70-something when she was 90! She was a world traveler, as were her brothers. I got to room with her on a trip to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and I enjoyed her company. She showed particular pleasure and fascination every time we drove by farms and she pointed out “cultivation” and native flora. One of my favorite memories is when she would crack a joke and after the punchline she would sway backward and forward and clap her hands in laughter. As she out-lived most of her family we got to know her more, and I am so thankful.

Although she was no one’s

grandmother, if I could give her an honorary title, I’d say she was mine.

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Thoughts from Bill Brown FOUNDING HEADMASTER

Maggie was part of BA's foundation…she was here before we were. She stayed with us through thick and thin, even in the early years when we innocently parked our cars on her property at Friday night football games! Maggie had a servant's heart. In the early mornings, you could see Maggie walking Maryland Way picking up paper and cleaning the streets...no credit...just loving Brentwood. She continued to attend BA ball games and school functions and served as our resident expert on horticulture. Maggie is the reason we were able to stay in our present location as she made her property available to the school. It would be so easy for her to be resentful of our early intrusion into the quiet Brentwood life that I know she loved, but she welcomed us and for that I will always be eternally grateful.

OBITUARY

Maggie Pierce Speight Maggie Speight passed away Sunday, February 4, 2018. She was preceded in death by her spouse, F. Harley Speight, Sr., her parents, Allison A. and Bessie J. Pierce, and her siblings, Jewell, Ola Ray, Buddy and Dr. Guy Pierce. She was a retiree of the Nashville Gas Company and a member of the Family of God at Woodmont Hills Church of Christ. She was a member of the Master Gardener and Perennial Plant Society and a supporter of the Nashville Symphony. Celebration of life was Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at Mount Olivet Funeral Home. In 2011, Maggie Speight was honored at the dedication of the Harley and Maggie Speight Garden near the yellow "Art House" on campus. Mrs. Speight is pictured with Brentwood Academy Headmaster Mr. Curt Masters, who made the presentation at a “garden party.”

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By Reneé Pitts FORMER BA ART TEACHER

In memory of my dear, beloved friend Maggie, who was my first friend when I moved from East Tennessee to Nashville. My beautiful Datura lilies were a gift from her. I could not thank her, you know....gardeners will never let you thank them for flowers. She enriched my life in so many wonderful ways. Growing up in rural Mississippi as a child during the depression was hard, and her dad taught her how to hunt and live off the land. Nature, birds, good food, good art, and music were her favorites. She was a widow for many years and didn’t have children, so I just adopted her as family. She never missed a symphony if she could help it, and she travelled the world on her own and with BA faculty and students well Into her 80’s and 90’s. I made sure she was introduced to my students so they could meet a treasure! Sometimes they didn’t know what to think about her, but it was always entertaining and eye-opening! We introduced her to the game of basketball, and the last years we were at BA, she became a die-hard fan. Pear trees, lamb's ear, daffodils, Lenten Roses, iris of every color, climbing wisteria and roses, ferns, figs, asparagus, cucumbers...she grew them all. Her gardens were understated, simple but beautiful, with an English influence. The smell was heavenly. Garden sculptures were here and there but they were mostly the kind that were natural or old garden tools propped up like they had just been left there after being used to till the soil. I especially loved a sculpture of a small girl smelling a flower. “Do you know who that is?” she asked me once. When I replied “no” she said, “That’s me!” Barely over 4 feet tall, she was a juxtaposition of spirited independence and humble, tender kindness. You had to know her awhile to see below the surface. She was authentic, genuine, and as my father used to say, “a corker.” She enriched my life beyond measure.

Painted by Renee' Pitts in memory of Maggie Speight.

Thank you, Maggie, for being my friend! The world is a better place because you were in it. I wish I could catch a glimpse from this earth as you smell the flowers of heaven and ask if you could get a “start.”

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Reprinted with permission from the Brentwood Home Page WINTER/SP RING 2 018

OUT OF THIS WORLD Bryce Prior '13 and Company Aspire to Revolutionize the Small-Satellite Industry

By LANDON WOODROOF ’00 Reprinted with permission from the Brentwood Home Page

L

ike computers and cell phones, satellites have gotten smaller in recent years.

Some of these satellites, called CubeSats, which are cube-shaped as their name would suggest, are so tiny they can fit in the palm of your hand. The larger ones are about the size of a microwave. These satellites have an immense amount of computing power and countless uses, from tracking cargo ships in isolated sections of the ocean, to searching for oil supplies, to sensing nutrients in the soil in different parts of the globe.

Prior, BA's 2013 Valedictorian, and his partners at Leo Aerospace think they have found the solution to this problem. Leo Aerospace was founded in Los Angeles, California in October 2017 by Prior and fellow Purdue University graduates. The company is striving to make the CubeSats revolution a development that can benefit business and industry by offering a cheaper, quicker and more reliable way for

The diverse and awesome potential of these satellites has led to an explosion of interest in CubeSats by the business world. There is a problem, though. “The issue is that there is not currently a great way to get them to space,” Bryce Prior '13, vice president of operations and strategy at Leo Aerospace, explained. “The only way to get to space right now is by ride-sharing. Basically, it’s just hitchhiking. It’s really disadvantageous. They kind of get just thrown out on the way up. They don’t get to choose when they get to launch. They don’t get to choose where they go. It costs a lot of money.” "Governor" Bryce Prior served in Youth in Government during his senior year at BA.

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companies to get their small satellites into space. Basically, Leo Aerospace plans to use high-altitude balloons to take rockets high up into the atmosphere where those rockets will launch the satellites.

“We saw there was a huge need in the space industry for the type of technology we were developing,” Prior said. “We started developing it with customers’ needs in mind and out came this company.” The idea for the name of the company came in 2016 in Germany. Prior and Leo Aerospace co-founder Dane Rudy were in the country working for DLR, the German equivalent of NASA. They were based in the city of Braunschweig, which is known as the Lion City. That, combined with the fact that a star in the Leo constellation, Regulus, is one of the brightest in the night sky led to the name.

I knew that whatever it might be, I wanted to do something that had to do with space. “It’s specifically tailored for the little guys,” Prior said. “All the tech already exists; you just have to put it together the right way, and it will work and better solve the problem for small satellite developers.” Prior believes that Leo Aerospace will be able to offer customers an array of advantages that other companies cannot. For instance, Prior said that members of the Leo Aerospace team have spoken with over 160 potential customers to ask them what they need from a launch system. One of the most popular answers had to do with turnaround times. Prior said that small satellite developers currently have to wait an average of two or two-and-a-half years before their satellites are launched. “We hope to be able to say, ‘Call us six months ahead of time, and we can get you that launch,’” Prior said. Leo Aerospace also seeks to give its customers more control over where in space their satellite is launched. Under the current hitch-a-ride system, you kind of have to just go where the main rocket goes. “We want to be able to say you get to pick where you want your satellite to go,” Prior said.

Prior said he fell in love with space at a young age when his dad took him to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “It just really struck a chord with me,” he said. “It was like ever since that day I knew that whatever it might be, I wanted to do something that had to do with space.” His love of science was fostered at Brentwood Academy, where he said he first realized that engineering provided the surest path to get where he wanted to go. He studied space propulsion and vehicle design at Purdue University’s School of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. Upon graduation he went to work for Northrup Grumman Corporation, where he helped with propulsion engineering on the James Webb Space Telescope. At night and on weekends, though, Prior found himself thinking about and working on the problems that Leo Aerospace is dedicated to solving. “It finally reached the point where I had to ask myself, ‘Which one of these careers do I want to take forward?’” Prior said. “I chose to pursue my own company. I had to take that leap of faith.”

By focusing on smaller loads and using preexisting technologies, Leo Aerospace also wants to keep costs low for customers. Although Leo Aerospace just formally became a company a few months ago, Prior said that the idea for the company was born several years ago. What began as a school project at Purdue soon morphed into something else.

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A LU M N I

F E AT U R E

Wi l l Rey n o l d s ' 1 3

A Friend Gives Hope

W I L L RE Y N O LDS ’1 3 SHARES LIFE WITH A FRIEND IN NEED BY L A NDO N WO O DR O O F ‘0 0

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Rep r i n ted wit h pe r mission from t he Brent wood Hom e Page

he two friends met rock climbing. Ben Rankin, age 24, and Will Reynolds '13, age 23, were on the youth climbing team at The Crag in Franklin about seven or eight years ago and quickly developed a kinship.

“We would meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays and just climb,” Reynolds said. “Once we started working at The Crag together we would just go climb outside together. We were climbing partners for several years after that.” Although the two teenagers went to separate high schools — Rankin to Ravenwood High School, Reynolds to Brentwood Academy — and eventually to separate colleges, their connection to The Crag and their love of the outdoors kept them close. They would take weekend excursions when possible to places like Foster Falls, their favorite, where they could get away from the pressures of school and work. Reynolds had always noticed how health-conscious Rankin was, how he would avoid fast food and always pack nutritious lunches for their hiking trips, but he did not know exactly why until a few years ago. “I think it was around 2014 when he started telling me about his condition,” Reynolds said. “That something was wrong with his kidneys and that he had to be conscious of this kind of stuff.” It would be a while longer before Reynolds learned the full extent of his friend’s condition, before he made the fateful decision that came to fruition December 12, 2017 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Rankin first learned there was something wrong with his kidneys at a routine medical checkup in 2010. It was about two years ago that Rankin found out just how serious a problem he had. It was not an emergency, but Rankin would need a kidney transplant in

the near future. “It was more kind of a preventative plan than an emergency situation, which is really the best way to go,” he said. Rankin’s fiance, Lauren Walsh, rallied to his side. She knew that it could take several years to move up to the top of the waiting list for a transplant. She also knew, the sooner Rankin could get a kidney, the better. She hatched an idea. “If he wasn’t going to get one relatively soon, he would have to go on dialysis,” Walsh said. “They say a living donor kidney usually lasts longer, and it’s just an overall better solution than a deceased donor kidney. I thought we should try to spread the word on Facebook and try to get people interested.” The Facebook page she started was called Kidney for Ben. It got a great response. “I had a lot of people sign up to be donors,” Rankin said. “I think I had about 30 people say, ‘Hey I’m interested.’” Rankin said he was humbled and surprised that so many people were willing to give him a kidney. The reality of the situation, though, is that a living kidney donation is not as simple as just signing up. Potential donors must undergo an initial screening and then rigorous testing to see if they are a match for the intended recipient. As time went on, more and more people got weeded out by the screening process. “It was just denial after denial,” Walsh said. Reynolds first heard about the kidney donor search via social media. He decided to bring the subject up with Rankin. “About a year ago, we went fly fishing in the Great Smoky

Ben Rankin (left) and Will Reynolds '13 share a "post op" moment.

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Will Reynolds '13 pursues one of his passions...rock climbing.

Mountains National Park, and I asked him, 'What’s up with this? What’s going on?'” Reynolds said. “Like many guys, we don’t really like to talk about that kind of stuff, especially when we’re climbing or fishing, trying to kind of escape. Those are the types of things you’re honestly escaping when you do that. It wasn’t very natural to ask those kinds of questions. We started talking about it.” Rankin told his friend about the donor list and his need for a transplant. The weekend ended and both friends went back to their respective colleges, Reynolds at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Rankin at Belmont University.

“It wasn’t easy to see a good friend start to struggle going outside,” he said. “The days we went to fish, if it was a bad day it was tough on him. That was really hard to see.”

The life-affecting decision came easily to Reynolds. His friend was in need. Reynolds had what his friend needed. He decided to do something about it.

When Reynolds graduated in May 2017, though, he moved back home and was able to spend more time with Rankin. He attended special fundraisers for Rankin held at The Crag and other places. After reading another one of Walsh’s Facebook posts asking for people to get tested to see if they were a blood and tissue match, Reynolds decided to act. “I had some time off, and I called Vanderbilt, and I scheduled a blood test, and they got back to me very quickly and said I was a match for blood and tissue,” Reynolds said. “Then we started talking about the next steps. That was the first week of October. And then everything fell into place for surgery to happen December 12.” The life-affecting decision came easily to Reynolds. His friend was in need. Reynolds had what his friend needed. He decided to do something about it.

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It had pained Reynolds to watch his generally stoic friend struggle with his health issues in the past couple of years. Rankin would never let on when he was not feeling well, but Reynolds could tell.

Once Reynolds found out he was a match, he asked the people at Vanderbilt if he could be the one to tell Rankin. He picked the perfect spot for making the disclosure: the newly opened, second location of The Crag in South Nashville.

At The Crag, Reynolds asked Rankin how the search was going for a donor. He told Reynolds that he thought that there was someone and that person still had a couple of tests to go through. “He knew about the tests,” Rankin said. “I asked him how he knew about it. Then he said, ‘I’m the one they’re working up.’ So it was pretty cool.” Reynolds remembers the exchange well, too: “I was filling in some of the blanks,” he said. “At one point [Rankin] said, ‘You know a lot about this.’ And I said, 'Yeah, because I’ve been through it. I did the two-day test. And all the tests came back clear. I’m a blood and tissue match. I’m a match. You can have my kidney.' He was speechless for a little bit, and he kept on saying, ‘Thank you. Thank you.’ He’s been so grateful.”


A couple of nights before the surgery, Rankin’s, Reynolds’ and Walsh’s families all got together for an evening of prayer. The next night, Reynolds and Walsh went climbing at The Crag with some friends. They wanted to expend some energy, knowing that they’d be recuperating for much of the coming weeks. The day of the surgery, 30 to 40 people came to the hospital to show their support. “We checked in at the same time, and all of our families were there hanging out,” Rankin said. “They called him back about an hour before I went just to get him ready, and then it just kind of went from there.”

“I think that’s what Ben and Lauren did so well in a very humble way,” he said. “They asked a lot of people to get tested, and that’s why I got tested. Because they asked. If they didn’t ask, I wouldn’t have known how to get tested, and none of this would have happened.” Kaylin Centanni is a nurse at Vanderbilt’s Living Donor Clinic. She said that the first step toward becoming a donor can happen on the clinic’s web site. There, visitors can fill out a form that asks them general questions about their health. “When they fill that out, if they’re hypertensive or have diabetes, it will automatically turn them down,” she said. “But other than that they’ll get a phone call from one of our nurses.”

The surgeries lasted between three and four hours each and both went fine. After Blood tests would likely be the next part of the the surgery, doctors rolled Rankin and process, followed by more in-depth testing. Reynolds into the same recovery area. “We were both waking up from anesthesia Centanni said the need is great. At Vanderbilt so the conversation was kind of hilarious,” University Medical Center alone, she said there Reynolds recalled. “That was a really funny were about 950 people on the kidney waiting moment when we were both waking up. I It's all "okay "and the kidney list. was realizing that it’s gone, my kidney was donation surgery was a complete success. gone, and he was realizing he had kidney Newton Dominey, the owner of The Crag, is function, so that was pretty sweet.” proud of the role his business has played in Rankin’s and Reynolds’ lives the past few years. Around 2:30 AM after the surgery, Rankin decided he wanted to go see his friend again. Doctors had put them in rooms just “It’s surreal for us to be at a place where people can meet and down the hall from one another to encourage walking, Walsh … a simple relationship that starts around a love for climbing said. turns into two men who are very good friends who now have this special link,” he said. Even so, the inspirational story does “It was super painful,” Walsh said. “It was really hard for him to not come exactly as a surprise to Dominey, given what he knows get up, but he got up. It took him several minutes to stand up. about Rankin and Reynolds. “They’re just really good guys,” He got his balance, and he and the nurse and myself walked he said. “Solid, dependable, caring compassionate men at this down to Will’s room really slowly. We surprised Will. It was late in point. They were boys when they started climbing with us. It the night, but we turned on the lights. Ben just wanted to thank makes sense they are friends and are now kidney twins.” him. It was a really cool moment.” Some may wonder how it is possible to say thank you to a The friends hope that person who has given you both others can take a peace of mind and a piece of lesson from their story himself. The question does not about giving to those concern Reynolds, though. going through severe health crises. “It’s one of those things where he doesn’t have to say, 'thank you,'” Reynolds said. "I told him after “Even if you don’t know anyone that needs an organ, if you feel the surgery to just keep climbing. I think that’s the best way you like you should give an organ or donate then you can,” Rankin could ever express thanks.” said. “You can just contact the Vanderbilt Living Donor Clinic and sign up through them.”

The friends hope that others can take a lesson from their story about giving to those going through severe health crises.

Reynolds said that the fact that Rankin and Walsh were open about their need made all the difference.

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Bands The intermediate and upper school bands presented a Christmas Concert on December 5. The intermediate band is comprised of 44 instrumentalists in grades 6, 7, and 8. Both bands and the jazz band are instructed by Mr. Matt Nygren, lead band director and upper brass instructor; Mr. Rick Palmiter, low brass instructor; Mr. Jeffrey Scot Wills, woodwind instructor; and Mr. Joe Smyth, percussion instructor.

Fine Arts AT BRENTWOOD ACADEMY

Oklahoma! Middle school students went "west" in their production of the classic Broadway musical "Oklahoma" in February. The cast and crew of more than 100 students presented three performances much to the delight of the sold-out audiences. The play was under the direction of Mrs. Holly Shepherd Urbanowicz.

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National Champions Middle School and Upper School Dancers are NDA National Champions In March, the middle and upper school dancers competed in Orlando, FL in the National Dance Alliance competition and brought home championship titles. This is the first time BA has won national titles in both the middle and high school divisions in the same year! The teams are coached by Mrs. Robyne Kennedy and Mrs. Erin Nash. The high school team won first place in the Varsity Jazz Division with a score of 96.03. The team was recognized for best choreography and technical excellence. Even more prestigious, the high school girls received the highest score of the entire competition out of 556 dance teams. The middle school dance team won first place in the jazz category. They also received the technical excellence award for their age division.

Frankenstein Dark shadows and a mysterious atmosphere gripped the Brentwood Academy theatre stage as upper school students brought to life the classic tale of "Frankenstein." Under the direction of Mrs. Kasey Arnold Carmona '05, the show and its cast of characters had the audience caught in the grip of the scariest of moments.

All Midstate Chorus Two Chorus Students Chosen for All Mid-State Chorus Jasmine Swain '21 and Smith Collins '19 auditioned and were chosen to be a part of the Middle Tennessee Vocal Association's Mid-State Honors Chorus. Jasmine participated in the Freshman Honors Chorus and Smith participated in the Mid-State Chorus. He also qualified as an alternate for the State Honors Chorus. The chorus is directed by Mrs. Mindy Hoover.

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Chorus The upper and middle school choruses, under the direction of Mrs. Mindy Hoover, presented a Christmas concert of both popular and traditional songs and hymns to a packed house. Tunes included "Silent Night," "That's Christmas To Me," "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," "Winter Wonderland," "Who Would Imagine A King," "A Holly Jolly Christmas," and "White Winter Hymnal."

Guitars Fight Cancer

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Upper school art students, under the direction of faculty member Mrs. Debbie Dunn, gave special artistic touches to three guitars, which were then auctioned off by the T.J. Martell Foundation. The project, GuitarTown KIDS Nashville, benefitted childhood cancer research, and was held in conjunction with the Gibson Foundation, which donated the guitars. Two BA guitars were autographed by musicians Dolly Parton and Jake Owen.


Mr. Austin Groves, Mr. Brad Perry '92, and Mr. Matt Brown '97 are among the many faculty who have shared topics of interest as part of the new BA Podcast.

Brentwood Academy's Podcast In January 2018, the Brentwood Academy Podcast made its debut on iTunes. The podcast was created to share dynamic and thought provoking stories from our faculty, families, and alumni at BA. Episodes currently available include Mr. Jim Chapman, head swimming coach and art teacher, sharing his journey of adopting his children from China. English teacher, Mrs. Jane-Ann Myers, welcomes us into her classroom to see how she is finding success teaching middle school English in an unconventional way, through rap music. Science faculty members Mr. Jeff Bryant, Mr. Tom Cox, and Mrs. Wendy Stallings talk faith and science. If you have not received your daily fill of inspiration, download the Brentwood Academy Podcast in iTunes today!

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Athletics AT BRENTWOOD ACADEMY

State Champions Amidst strong competition, Brentwood Academy athletic teams have consistently put in the work ethic and team spirit leading to state championships. The boys' cross country team placed first in the state meet in November, and the girls' team placed second. Senior Meredith Helton placed first, outpacing all other female runners. The football team scored a "three-peat," bringing home the championship trophy after defeating MBA in the state championship game on the Tennessee Tech campus for the third year in a row. Both the boys' and girls' basketball teams earned berths in the state tournament and used the opportunities to a great advantage: the boys pulled off a "four-peat" and the girls won their fourth state championship in five years.

COACHES of the YEAR (Left): Varsity baseball coach Buddy Alexander '84 was named TSSAA baseball coach of the year following the BA baseball Eagles' win of the 2017 state championship.

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(Right, pictured with his family): Varsity football coach Cody White was named the Tennessee Titans Tennessee high school coach of the year and was awarded a trip to the NFL all-star game.


Sydni Harvey '18 For the second year in a row, point guard Sydni Harvey '18 was named Miss Basketball by the TSSAA. Sydni has been a member of the varsity team since 8th grade and helped lead the Lady Eagles to four state championship titles over the past five years. Sydni has signed to play college basketball at the University of South Florida. She is a four-time State Tournament MVP and has earned AllState recognition over the past four years. In February, Sydni passed the 2,000 point mark for career points and eventually broke the school record set previously by Danna Simpson '98.

Darius Garland '18 Senior Darius Garland was named Mr. Basketball for the third year in a row and helped lead the Eagles to their fourth straight state title this year. Earlier this year, Darius was named a McDonald's All-American, following in the footsteps of Brandan Wright '06 and David Harrison '01. Darius will further his education and basketball career at Vanderbilt University next year. He was also recently named the Gatorade Player of the Year and was selected to play in this year's Nike Hoop Summit in Portland. He was also a 2018 Jordan Brand Classic selection and a finalist for the Naismith National Boys’ High School Player of the Year award.

Airin Spell '18 Senior Airin Spell is the 2018 D-II Individual Heavyweight Wrestling State Champion. He also represented BA on the Tennessee team at Prep Nationals in Pennsylvania this year. On the Eagles' State Championship football team, Airin played offensive guard and defensive tackle and was invited to play at the Toyota East-West Football All-State Classic with the top senior players in the state.

HALL of fame Congratulations to head varsity wrestling coach Scott Wells '99 (third from left, pictured with fellow BA coaches and friends) for his induction into the Tennessee Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. A two-time state champion in wrestling while a BA student, Coach Wells was also being honored for his positive role in mentoring student athletes and his contributions to the sport of wrestling.

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Signing Day 2018 Congratulations to the 18 student-athletes representing nine different sports who participated in the February National Signing Day to pursue athletics and academics at the collegiate level. We are proud of each of these students and their accomplishments! Back Row (L-R) Luke Knox—Football, Ole Miss Graham Tulloch—Baseball, MTSU Jackson Sirmon—Football, University of Washington Gavin Schoenwald—Football, Vanderbilt Daniel Taylor—Football, US Naval Academy Kenyon Garlington—Football, TSU

Harrison Smith '18 (pictured with his mother Amy) received the Admiral William P. Lawrence Award from the National Football Foundation. This is the highest academic honor given to a high school football player.

Alex Cobb—Golf, UT Chattanooga Coleman Jones—Golf, Belmont Darius Garland—Basketball, Vanderbilt Camron Johnson—Football, Vanderbilt Front Row (L-R) Jennifer Jestings—Soccer, Samford Katherine Tyner—Soccer, High Point Makaila Wilson—Basketball, Radford Kallie Searcy—Basketball, Western Kentucky Allie Raab—Swimming, Stanford Meredith Helton—Cross Country/Track, Wake Forest Lauren Hadley Trammell—Tennis, Lee University Jessie Brown—Softball, University of North Alabama

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QUARTERBACKS Randal Mash '75 quarterbacked the BA football Eagles to their first state championship in the fall of '74. He was back on campus to visit with his coach, Carlton Flatt, and to meet Coach Cody White and Gavin Schoenwald '18, the quarterback for the 2017 football state champions, the 13th BA football team to win the title.


BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE By Elizabeth Jarvis Mother of Bryce '17 and Kennedy '18 Written on the occasion of her youngest child's last

Our Super Bowl Star Derek Barnett '14 went from the Brentwood Academy Eagles to the Philadelphia Eagles, with a stop at the University of Tennessee. Now he lays claim to a piece of the Super Bowl trophy! At Brentwood Academy, he was a top college prospect, learning from defensive line coach Jack Pittman. Barnett said the lessons he learned at BA helped set him up for future success. "Great competition, and it prepared me academically and athletically,” he said of BA. “Coach Pittman taught me how to practice, and how to practice hard. You win the games during the week with preparation, and I feel like I learned that in high school and it carried me on.”

athletic event at Brentwood Academy.

This has been the BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE every time I sat in it. Every time. It's seen me through eight BA soccer seasons, six BA baseball seasons, and a handful of track meets. From it, I've watched my kids and their teammates compete, learn life lessons, become stronger, more nimble and adept. I've heard adults build relationships game after game as we gather to cheer for our athletes. I've prayed in this seat. It's kept me elevated off cold, wet, metal bleachers, and prevented me from sitting in pools of sweat. It's undoubtedly saved me backaches as well. I think it's been in my trunk or tailgate almost every day since I bought it because I never wanted to be without it. It's my sanctuary. When I sit in it, time stands still.

Varsity members of the Aqua Eagles are pictured with Coach Jim Chapman at this year's state competition. From left: Noah Elwood '18, Coach Chapman, Allie Raab '18, Shannon Raab '20, Izzy Chapman '19, Caleb Harris '18, Samuel Tiblier '21, Andrew Nguyen '20, and Daniel King '19.

I didn't want today to be the end for a lot of obvious reasons. But the biggest reason is no longer somewhere off in the distance. That time that stood still? I'm ever more aware of its rushing now.

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F E AT U R E

STO RY

J i m C h a p m a n , A r t Te a c h e r

The

Angels of Adoption I n 2001, Jim and Yolanda Chapman were the proud parents of four thriving children. The couple was approaching middle age at that point, but felt God had more in store for them in the parenthood department. They heeded the call and adopted a little girl from China, Izzy '19, and four Chapman children became five Chapman children.

Several years later, when their oldest, Jordan, left the house in his junior year of high school to intern in Washington, D.C., the Chapmans felt moved to expand their family further. They again turned to China and added another young girl, Lydia '23, to the fold. Show Hope is a charity started by Chapman’s brother-in-law, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Jim’s sister, Mary Beth. Among other things, it operates care centers throughout China that serve children dealing with acute health problems. It was at one of those care centers where the next part of the Chapmans’ journey began. It is a journey that has been at turns improbable, challenging and immensely rewarding for the family. In coming to adopt two more girls from China, both with severe medical issues, the Chapmans enlarged their family and their capacity to experience unabashed, joyful love. The Chapmans were recognized on a national level for their willingness to intervene in the lives of children in need. In a ceremony in late September in Washington, D.C., the Chapmans were honored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute as Angels in Adoption. They were selected to be honorees by Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker.

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By LANDON WOODROOF ’00

Reprinted with permission from the Brentwood Home Page

I told people lots of times "When they place your first baby in your arms — that is one of the single most impactful moments of anybody’s life. But when they place a little child in your arms that nobody really wanted…"

The Angels in Adoption program singles out people in all 50 states who “have made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children in need of homes.” The Chapmans attended a special pinning ceremony where they were formally named Angels in Adoption and also had the opportunity to talk with a range of Congressmen about important adoption-related issues, such as the adoption tax credit. They were joined by another local family, Scott and Tracie Hamilton, who are also Brentwood Academy parents. The Hamiltons were national honorees during the three-day event. The Chapmans lovingly refer to their four biological children— Jordan, Canaan, Bethany and Abby—as the “bigs.” In 2006, the Chapman’s had added two “littles” to the family, Izzy and Lydia, who now attend Brentwood Academy. Then they met a very sick, very special baby at a foster home in China.


“The night before we left in the summer of ’06, I was standing in the office talking to the director, and a nurse walked in and placed a little baby in my arms,” Jim Chapman said. “She was about a month old, she was frail and skinny and sick and near death and they said, ‘This little girl is probably not going to make it another six weeks,’ and it just tore me up. I said, 'What can we do?'” Donors to Show Hope are able to sponsor children at care centers in China. The Chapmans were told the little girl in Jim’s arms had no sponsor. “I gave them every penny in my pocket,” Jim Chapman said. He was told his donation gave him the privilege of naming the little girl. He had a name in mind. One he had always liked, Jayne.

(Center) Yolanda and Jim Chapman at the 2017 Angels in Adoption Pinning Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Photo by Erica Baker Photography.

Jayne had a host of severe medical problems. She had cerebral palsy, heart problems and was missing a kidney. She was also missing a portion of her brain. Jayne was considered un-adoptable. Over time, though, the unexpected occurred. Jayne received the medical care she needed at Show Hope, and she grew and thrived.

“I said, ‘Yes, not only does she walk, she runs, jumps, plays and is on the swim team,’” Jim Chapman recalled telling the doctors, who said judging from her brain scans Jayne should be wheelchair-bound in a vegetative state. Jayne, though, had other plans. She is currently 11 years old and a fifth-grader at Currey Ingram Academy.

She deserves to have a mom and a dad. She deserves to know a parent's love. Some time later, the Chapmans got an email from the director of the foster home in China where Jayne lived telling them Jayne was now considered eligible for adoption. Did they know anyone interested? “The next thing we know this little girl named Jayne is now 4 1/2 years old and we’re in the adoption process,” Jim Chapman said. Jayne came to live with the Chapmans in 2010. As time passed, though, Jayne began to thrive. Every step of the way she has defied expectations. Chapman said the family has repeatedly been asked two questions by doctors who look at Jayne’s brain scans for the first time: "Does she speak? Does she walk?"

“Jayne is a walking, talking miracle,” Jim Chapman said. “We get to live with her every day. She’s such a sweetheart.” The Chapman family was now seven kids strong. It seemed their adopting days were over. “So we were just moving on with our happy little life, and there was a little girl that we knew about,” Yolanda Chapman said. This girl, Fahlin, lived at Maria’s Big House of Hope, Show Hope’s main care center in China. The center is named in honor of Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter, Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman, who was killed in an accident in 2008.

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Fahlin was part of the first small group of children to live at Maria’s Big House of Hope. She had a life-threatening congenital heart defect. “She lived on palliative care for about two years,” Yolanda Chapman said. “They didn’t know how long. They were basically just loving her, giving her what medical care they could.” Yolanda Chapman felt God kept putting Fahlin’s name in her heart. Fahlin was the last of the original eight kids at Maria’s Big House of Hope to still live there. Yolanda Chapman told Mary Beth they needed to find Fahlin a home. Mary Beth agreed. There was a serious complication. No one knew if Fahlin would be able to make the journey from China to the United States. “Every doctor was telling us she wouldn’t survive the plane flight,” Jim Chapman remembered. He had actually tried coming up with a Plan B to get Fahlin to an adopted family in the U.S. that involved transporting her by train through Russia and Europe and then by boat to the states. Eventually, a doctor told them Fahlin could make it on a plane if she had plenty of oxygen available. The Chapmans tried locating a family willing to take Fahlin, but no one was willing to take the chance. Again, the Chapmans followed their hearts. “She deserves to have a mom and dad,” said Yolanda. She deserves to have siblings. She deserves to know a parent's love.” As it turns out, Fahlin barely did make it to her new home. Jim and Yolanda Chapman found out later Fahlin’s pulmonary artery was so pinched, the air pressure in the cabin could easily have caused a rupture. The Chapmans brought Fahlin home in February 2015. The little girl had a purple tint from years of a lack of oxygen due to poor blood flow. They thought there was a good chance she would not live to see Christmas. Fahlin has had multiple procedures on her heart which Jim has written about on a blog on the Brentwood Academy website. He started the blog more than three years ago. Despite these formidable medical obstacles, the Chapmans say Fahlin is getting along just fine, thanks in part to her strong personality.

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The Chapman family: (L-R) Canaan and Amy Chapman (with baby Millicent), Jayne, Abby, Yolanda, Fahlin (in front), Izzy, Jordan and Natalie Chapman, Lydia (in front), Jim, Adam and Bethany Chapman Bouchard (with baby Nash).

“She’s bossy, she’s stubborn, she’s feisty, she’s smart,” Yolanda Chapman said. Although their story is inspiring, the Chapmans are careful to point out that not everything is all sunshine and roses. “We have very difficult days,” Jim Chapman admitted. There are the health issues to deal with, but also just the juggling act that is required to care for four children. “Every night before we go to bed we have to have a meeting,” Jim Chapman said. “What’s the plan for tomorrow? How do we get all the kids where they need to be?” “These little girls, man, I told people lots of times when they place your first baby in your arms that is one of the single most impactful moments of anybody’s life,” Jim Chapman said. “But when they place a little child in your arms that nobody really wanted…”


Student Ambassadors This year, Brentwood Academy launched a new Student Ambassador Program. This is a college model leadership program where 26 students are selected through an application and interview process. The ambassadors serve as official hosts at various events at BA and in the community. They have a strong understanding of the mission and ministry, display a high level of responsibility, reliability, integrity and a desire to represent Brentwood Academy. Some of the events where they served include the Brentwood Summer Concert Series, a realtor vendor fair, community family movie night, Admission Day, the Alumni Easter Egg Hunt, and the BA Art Show. This inaugural group of ambassadors has interacted with various people from business leaders to prospective parents and has undergone leadership training with admission and communications team administrators.

Ambassadors represent BA at various events on campus and in the community.

Members of the BA Student Ambassadors are Front Row: Ellie Mullican '20, Hannah Holleman '20, Anna Jones '18, Kylie Wittman '20, Lauren Freeman '20, Sophia Sharpe '20, Elizabeth Heckman '20, Mabry Johnson '20; Middle Row: Matthew Porter '19, Jessie Brown '18, Ellie Gilliam '18, Anna Lynne Brandon '19, Gracey Sanderson '20, Gracie Marks '18, Madeline Guy '18, Maria Arnold '18, Sophia Silvestri '20; Back Row: Braden Murphy '18, Jackson Sirmon '18, Gavin Schoenwald '18, Nathan Clifton '19, Carter Holmes '18, Daniel Taylor '18, James Natwick '19. (Not pictured: Ava Smagacz '18, Caroline Decker '18)

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LOOK I N G

BACK

1978

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It was the fall of 1978... ...and this group of BA students were selected to lead the Student Council. Kneeling are Jeff Cabbage '82, Matt Hendrix '84, and Paul Hoppe '80. Standing are Doug Edwards '82, Wally Knox '79, Jeff Neal '81, Gil Robison '80, Sharon McDaniel '81, Ley Brown '79, and Jacque Chastain '79. Today, the Student Leadership Team carries forward the spirit of servant leadership, with representatives from each grade in the upper school and 7th and 8th graders in the middle school.

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COV E R

STO RY

W IN T ER IM 2 01 8

Learning by SERVING Over the years, Winterim has offered a wide range of opportunities for learning, with faculty designing creative options to keep the course choices fresh and exciting. These have included everything from learning to swing dance to taking trips abroad. In recent years, many students have chosen the opportunity to serve during Winterim—whether with local charities and non-profits or by traveling to needy areas in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and even China. BA teams have partnered with organizations to serve orphans, widows, the elderly, the ill, and the needy. This year was no exception. Teams traveled to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and China where, once again, lives were changed forever. Junior Conner Smith put into words and music the impact on his heart while serving in an orphanage and an infirmary in Jamaica. One night while on the trip, he put pen to paper and grabbed his guitar to write a song that reflects what so many students experienced. His encounter with a young gentleman named “Ken” will be a forever memory.

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Ken's Song You found yourself seated at the table of the lost (Matthew 9: 10) You were friends with the outcast whatever the cost (Mark 2: 16-17) You gave life to a beggar (Luke 18: 38-43) Told a lame man to walk (John 5: 8) The ones that this world wouldn't touch were the feet that you washed (John 13: 14-15) So in the eyes of an orphan; the smile of a stranger In the laughter of a man the world has given no favor The crippled and the poor The humbled and the weak God that's where you were so it is where you will be And that's why I feel you with the touch Of these worn cracked hands I'm holding Oh God I feel you most Through the heart of the Broken (Psalms 34: 18) (Jeremiah 17:7) You loved the ones who hated you the most (Matthew 5: 44) Found pride in the love of a man whose life was without boast (Matthew 6: 1-4) Yeah you walked among the children (Matthew 19: 13-14) And the one whose faith was without visions (John 20: 29) Jesus you saw more to this life than what we are living (John 16: 33) And even as you were whipped and bruised You still cried out forgive them they don't know what they do (Luke 23: 34) And even as they nailed you upon a tree You still gave redemption to a thief (Luke 23: 42-43) You say the last will be first (Matthew 20: 16) And Jesus you died the least And that is why you sit on your throne as a king (Revelation 19:16)

Conner Smith '19 and his new friend, Ken, who inspired the lyrics to "Ken's Song."

And oh it's why I see you In the eyes of an orphan; the smile of a stranger In the laughter of a man the world has given no favor In the crippled and the poor The humbled and the weak God that's where you were so it's where I want to be Cause God I feel you most Right here in this moment Seeing you holding The heart of the broken (Matthew 5: 4)

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ARTIST INNOVATOR ENTREPRENEUR Kaysie Rogers Lackey ’99 Takes Baking to Another Level

A

t a cake decorating class Kaysie Rogers Lackey '99 was conducting at Lavonne Academy of Baking Science & Pastry Arts in Bangalore, India last summer, a local reporter was captivated by the combination of her skill and humor. In an article published in the Bangalore Mirror, he paints the picture of the American self-taught celebrity pastry chef teaching students how to create a Tim Burton-esque character called "Higgins" (pictured at right) who was

standing on one fondant covered leg while balancing a three-tiered mini cake on a platter. Higgins, one of Lackey’s favorite cake characters, is a pot-bellied chef, and Kaysie wanted her students to carve the creases around his tightly-buttoned chef coat as realistically as possible. So, she stuffed a pillow under her chef's coat and marched around the room.

The scene described at the class in India is one that Kaysie has repeated hundreds of times around the world in more than 30 countries and on six of the seven continents. Professional and amateur bakers stand in line to be a part of Kaysie's classes that combine jaw-dropping technique with fun and flair and result in creations that look too good to eat. So how does a self-described "misfit teenager" go from BA "track jock" to a celebrity chef on the Food Network? Kaysie says her mom, Jan Rogers, would say it is because she masters everything shs puts her mind to. "I do get bored easily," says Kaysie. "It guess it is a hobby run amok." Last summer, Kaysie took a brief break in her 200,000mile-a-year travel schedule to visit Nashville and create a wedding cake masterpiece for long-time friend Lee Holyfield Billips '02. "I've known Lee since I was 12; she is my baby sister's best friend, so when she called to see if I

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was going to be in the country, I couldn't resist." Because the four-tier, Swarovski crystal-encrusted creation (at right) was a combined 60-hour project that required a lot of space to build, Kaysie took advantage of an empty Brentwood Academy kitchen for two days in July and shared stories about her unique and inspiring journey as a celebrity chef. These days it is rare for Kaysie to take on a wedding cake project. Her venture into "extreme" cake design and teaching classes worldwide require that she only take a few wedding cake orders a year. She has been running her own business now in Seattle for 13 years and is partial owner of another company, Innovative Sugarworks, a developer and provider of professional grade culinary tools. The road to world travel and appearances on "Cake Wars" and "Last Cake Standing," started with a love of art. After


(Left) A labor of love for a friend, the robin's egg blue bride's cake was on display last summer at the wedding of Kaysie's friend, Lee Holyfield Billips'02. The groom chose a vintage Old South theme which Kaysie sculpted into a familiar figure representing his favorite SEC team, Ole Miss.

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graduating from Belmont University with an art degree, Kaysie made her way to New York and worked in the fashion industry and as a makeup artist. And then one day in 2005, she baked a birthday cake for her sister, Kim Rogers '97. “I remember watching these cake shows on the Food Network channel, and I just got it into my head to try and make one for my older sister’s birthday. I taught myself. I would buy books and practice. I always did sculpting and painting, so I had the eye for art," Kaysie explains. "But, I couldn't cook to save my life." Nonetheless, it’s truly surprising that Kaysie never attended culinary school. Other than a handful of basic baking classes, she went through dozens of recipes and picked up her skills through trial and error. "From that point I started doing cakes for friends. And I realized that I enjoyed it,” she says. The turning point, however, came when Kaysie made a Chanel bag cake which went to a posh restaurant in New York. “I left about 15 business cards at the restaurant just in case anyone was interested, and I got some 30 inquiries after that,” recalls Lackey, who then realized that she had a chance at a new career. She moved back to Nashville to start her business and her mother, who she describes as an “old-fashioned southern cook,” became her apprentice. Today, Kaysie is known for her gravity-defying cakes and magnetic personality which make her a favorite on reality television shows. She has been featured in wedding and cake magazines including "BRIDES," "Martha Stewart Weddings," "Cake Masters Magazine," and "American Cake Decorating." She has won numerous international awards and frequently competes on Food Network Challenge cake decorating competitions such as "Last Cake Standing" where she has emerged victorious three times.

Kaysie has gone from watching the Food Network to starring on the network's reality shows like "Last Cake Standing." (Above), She uses her sculpting skills and expertise with fondant to create a prize-winning creation.

When she’s not away conducting classes, Kaysie is busy sketching new ideas for her cake characters. From a green alien creature to Alice in Wonderland-themed cakes and tattooinspired cakes, Kaysie loves to experiment with unconventional ideas. “I love my characters to have a sense of humor. Otherwise, after a decade of doing this, I would suffer from cake burnout,” says the vivacious pastry chef with a laugh.

Reminiscing how at age 11 she broke her mother’s cake mixer when she botched up a cookie dough recipe, Kaysie’s story is truly inspirational. In fact, in many of her classes, Kaysie shows students pictures of the first cake she made for her sister as an example of how everyone has to make a start somewhere. "I also try to make my classes approachable, so a lot of the cakes are cartoonish and become characters. Many of them have voices." Her biggest project to date? A 9 1/2 foot tall wedding cake, adorned with 3,000 individually hand-crafted sugar flowers which took six months to create. Her favorite flavor? Lemon.

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V I VAT

V E R I TAS

S O C I E T Y

by G ar y N e i l l

Trustee Emeritus Gary Neill (center) pictured with his grandchildren and wife, Debbie (far left).

I

n 1987, Debbie and I decided to send our oldest daughter to Brentwood Academy. We were enjoying the experience at the school and the impact it was having on our family so much, we decided to send our youngest daughter. We were always very involved as parents, and BA quickly became our extended family. In fact, our daughters met their husbands at the school, and we currently have three grandchildren at BA. While our children were at BA, it was easy to be involved; now as grandparents and parents of alumni, we want to remain a part of this community. BA is like any business and needs people to give with their time and contributions to keep the faculty and programs available to invest in our children. BA has had a lasting impact on our entire family, and we feel blessed to continue to be a part of the BA family. Debbie and I continue to volunteer at the school and contribute to the annual fund. In addition, we recently updated our wills and our estate planning to include BA in that plan. This is a great way we can continue to help keep Brentwood Academy the school we love for many more years to come. If you would like to be included in the Vivat Veritas Society, please contact Mr. Ray Mullican '80 (ray_mullican@brentwoodacademy.com). For more information about planned giving, go to: plannedgiving.brentwoodacademy.com. At Brentwood Academy, the Vivat Veritas Society honors those who have given to the Endowment Fund or named BA as a beneficiary in their will.

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ALUMNI NEWS 1970’s Lisa Lanier Syler ‘73 and husband, Rodney, live in

Nashville and are the founders of a year-old health and nutrition company, VASAYO. Their goals are to do business locally and globally and to partner with Hearts and Hands for Humanity, installing wells for clean water in Africa. The organization intends to provide solutions physically, spiritually and financially to 1 million people. Lisa continues to pursue mixed media art and her work has been featured at The City Winery. She and Rodney have four granddaughters. Valerie Battle Kienzle ‘76 had her fourth book, "Lost St.

Louis" released by The History Press of Charleston, South Carolina. Its 10 chapters look not only at lost residential and commercial structures and businesses, but also at various aspects of life as it once existed in the Gateway City. Like many large U.S. cities, growth and change

come with a price. Numerous unique and distinctive architectural jewels have been destroyed in the name of progress, their loss later mourned by local residents. She will be working on two local-interest books during 2018. Jackie Wise-Zigelsky ‘78 is a faculty member at Summit

High School in Spring Hill, TN, where she is a gifted education teacher. She has a new grandson, Arne Bullard. Her son, Kyle, married Emma Tournquist.

1980’s Suzy Hash Constantine ‘82 works with Best Buddies in the

Nashville area as a jobs program supervisor. This program assists individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities find integrated employment.

Pia Rooth Tinsley ‘78 Pia Rooth Tinsley ‘78 hosted four of her BA friends from the class of 1978 at her home in southern California. They shared old memories and created new ones! L to R: Pia Rooth Tinsley, Missy Martin Thomason, Cammie Cherry White, Laura Roark Meadors, and Debbie Daws Garris.

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Todd Panther ‘83 has joined Sherrard, Roe, Voigt, and

Harbison Law Firm in Nashville. A graduate of DePaul University Law School, Todd has more than 25 years experience as a construction law attorney. He was appointed to the American Arbitration Association’s Panel of Construction arbitrators in 2009 and is also listed as a general civil mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Charlotte Sheriff Callis ’84 works in the Brentwood

Academy Development Office with gifts management. Her two sons are BA students, and her daughter graduated from BA in 2017. Sandy Johnson Klein ‘85 is an adjunct faculty member

in the Economics Department at Baylor University and is the director of online education for the Ludwig von Mises Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Auburn University. Sandy lives in Waco, TX, with her husband and three children. Robie Ragland Clark ‘86 teaches eighth grade mathematics

at Lafayette Middle School in Oxford, MS.

Scott Speedy ’87 was elected in October to Franklin (TN)

Ready Davis Bateman ’80 Ready Davis Bateman ’80 visited the BA campus last fall and met up with classmate and Assistant Head of School Ray Mullican ’80 and “favorite” teacher Mrs. Barbara Stewart. All alumni have an invitation to visit BA anytime. You can see what is new and what remains the same!

Third Ward Alderman where he serves on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. He works as a wealth management advisor at Northwestern Mutual. He is a member of the Heritage Foundation and the Battle of Franklin Trust. Scott graduated from Belmont University. He and his wife, Kathy, are the parents of three children.

Haggard, and California Country;" "The Odessey: The Zombies in Words & Images;" and Wanda Jackson's autobiography, "Every Night is Saturday Night." Scott lives in Inglewood, CA, with his wife, Melanie.

Jim Davis ’87 is director of global outreach with Asbury

Paul Duncan ‘94, is a versatile musician, producer, and

United Methodist Church located in Tulsa, OK.

1990’s Scott B. Bomar ‘94, a Grammy nominated writer,

researcher, and music historian, has spearheaded an array of projects for clients including The Library of Congress, Gibson Guitars, Leiber and Stoller Music, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and Bear Family Records. He is a former professional songwriter who was signed to Sony/ATV Music where he collaborated with Eric Church, Brandy Clark, The Derailers, Tom Douglas, Luke Laird, and others. He ultimately moved to the other side of the desk to work in publishing, first for Universal Music Group, and now at BMG. His book, "Southbound, A Survey of Southern Rock," was awarded Best Historical Research in Recorded Rock and Popular Music from the Association for Recorded Sound Collections in 2015. He co-authored the books "The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle

ASCAP award-winning songwriter whose music has been heard from MTV to the stage of Nashville’s legendary Grand Ole Opry. He is equally at home playing with his own rock band, The Echo Division, at the Sunset Strip’s iconic Roxy Theatre, as he is placing hit singles on the Billboard Country and Christian charts for Sherrie Austin ("Streets of Heaven"), Lauren Daigle ("Light of the World"), and Jordan Feliz ("Beloved"). He has had song placement on television shows such as "Boston Legal," "The Hills," "Extra," "The Real World," and "Jersey Shore." As a producer, he has worked on commercial projects for Samsung, Royal Caribbean, Wendy’s, the Criterion Collection, and Applegate Farms. When not in the studio, Paul is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed extensively with artists such as 98 Degrees, Sense Field, Mindy McCready, Mercy Street (RCA), Sherrie Austin, and Nick Lachey. Though signed as a staff songwriter with Centricity Music in Nashville, Paul makes his home in Redondo Beach, CA, with his wife, Jeami, and their daughter, Elliotte.

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Allison Scott Garmon ‘99 lives in the Nashville area

with her husband, Nick. Nick started a business, Garmon Made, selling handmade custom knives and fire pits. He is an artist, but instead of painting or sculpting, he creates functional art. Curt Revelette ‘99 and brother, Mason ’05, recently

opened their seventh Jonathan’s Restaurant location in Hendersonville, TN.

New Students: Children of Alumni Eight new children of alumni joined the Brentwood Academy student body in the fall. Front row: Sinclair Finucane (Michael Finucane ’90), Kate Williams (Shay Williams ’90), and Ali Scott Holmes (Scott Holmes ’91). Back row: Micah Murphy (Chris Murphy ’86), Jack Perry (Brad Perry ’92), Hank Weber (April Tanner Weber ’93), Jack Ward (Terri Bolden Ward ‘93), and Judson Jarrett (Jason Jarrett ’95).

2000’s Josh Holt ‘02 has lived in Los Angeles since 2003, and is

celebrating seven years of marriage to his wife, Amy. He has spent the last eight years producing content for various YouTubers and social media influencers. He is currently writing a feature film for one of the creators of the NBC TV show "Grimm." Josh Lawson ‘03 is the director of sales and marketing for

Essentium, a 3D printing company in College Station, TX. Rebecca McKaskle Parker ‘03 is director of agile delivery

Calvert Gentry McMahan ‘95 and her sister, Brenna, own

Luna Record Shop at the Factory in Franklin.

for Cox Automotive in Atlanta. In her position, Rebecca is responsible for leading, coordinating, and managing the operations and processes for Cox Auto product delivery within her business delivery stream.

Tiffany Smith Redmon ‘95 teaches middle school art at

Becca McCall Hall ‘04 and her husband, Seth, own

the Webb School in Knoxville.

a furniture store, Head Springs Depot, in downtown Franklin, TN. They have a daughter and two sons.

Brock Schoenwald '16 Brock Schoenwald ’16 spent the summer working with a program called Breakthrough Collaborative in New Orleans. They run a summer academy for middle school at-risk students in grades 6 through 9. Students come from a single parent home, are at or below the poverty line, qualify for reduced lunch, are a student of color, or are a potential first generation college student. Brock taught 8th grade science, which included genetics, DNA, and GMOs and also two elective classes. This included lesson planning, and grading. He also had a group of students that he mentored in his homerooms, which were each named after colleges to emphasize the end goal of the program to get these at-risk kids to college. Brock reports “Overall, it was a lot of work and one of the hardest things I’ve done, but also one of the most rewarding, enriching, and fun experiences as well!” Brock is currently a sophomore at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

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Tyler Sturgeon ‘04 is chief financial officer at Friends

Hospital in Philadelphia, where he and his wife, Elizabeth, and young son, Thompson, live. Mary Lynn Ware Adcock ‘05 is an ER nurse at St. Thomas

West in Nashville.

Mike Bowen ’05 is the new director of outdoor programs at

Auburn University. He has a B.S. in communications from MTSU and a master’s degree in recreation administration from Western Kentucky University. Erick Innis ‘06 is a biology teacher at McMinn County

High School in Athens, TN. In November 2017, he was named the Tennessee Science Educator of The Year (9-12) by the Tennessee Science Teachers Association. He also received the 2017 McMinn County High School Teacher of the Year Award. Kalyn Winston Nelson ‘06 was voted best interior

designer for the second year in a row in the Sumner County Reader's Choice Awards 2017. She was also nominated in "Nashville Lifestyles" magazine for best up and coming interior designer. She is in her third year working for Pettis Builders. Brandan Wright ‘06 is continuing his NBA basketball

career with the Houston Rockets after playing with the Memphis Grizzlies. Katie Ware ‘07 moved back to Nashville after five years

in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and is an award-winning National Certified Master Groomer. She opened Nashville Pet Salon in April 2017. Logan Innis Kerr ‘08 is the University of Tennessee

Knoxville regional admissions counselor and assistant director of Volunteer Team. Rob Murphy ’08 is the development director and varsity

boys’ basketball coach for Whitesburg Christian Academy in Huntsville, AL.

Katie Horrell Jacobs '03 Katie Horrell Jacobs ’03 is a stylist for Reese Witherspoon’s lifestyle brand, Draper James, for Pottery Barn, and for Beaufort Bonnet Company. She has been featured in "Martha Stewart Living," "Southern Living Weddings," "Southern Living," and "Nashville Lifestyles." Katie has written a book entitled "So Much to Celebrate," which was released in March and is available on Amazon.

Addie Lee ‘08 completed her masters in nursing at

Vanderbilt University and is a nurse practitioner in Nashville. Ryan von Dohlen ‘08, after more than five years working

as a designer and art director at the global communications agency Weber Shandwick, has started his own consulting business to help clients with creative direction, branding, content strategy, website design, and development. He and wife, Dr. Katrina Adlerz von Dohlen '08, live in Washington, D.C.

Jackson Boyd ‘09 was featured in the new docu-drama,

"Music City" on the CMT television network. The pilot aired on March 1, 2018. Alyssa Visbeen ‘09 is the assistant coach for the University

of the South women’s basketball team.

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Jessica Ganick ‘11 earned at B.S. degree in kinesiology

studies from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and now has her “dream” job as operations manager and instructor for Barre3 Nashville. Virginia “Gigi” Nash ‘12 received her masters in leadership

and public policy from Lipscomb University in December 2017. Lincoln Priest ‘12 completed his MBA at Belmont University

in August 2017 and passed the CPA exam. He is working at Deloitte and Touche accounting firm.

Jalen Ramsey ‘13, a defensive end for the Jacksonville

Jaguars, was named to the Associated Press All-Pro team.

Diamond Stewart ‘13 is a first year student at Savannah Law

School in Savannah, GA, and a member of the mock trial team.

Jay Collins '84 and Will Collins '19 The 2017 state football championship had special meaning in the Collins home. Son Will, a BA junior, played on the team that earned the trophy. Dad, Jay ’84, played on a state football champion team his junior year back in 1982. Like father, like son!

2010’s Carlos Calloway ‘11 is a graduate of the University of

Tennessee with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He lives with his wife, Ashley, in Huntsville, AL, and is an engineering project manager for Frito Lay. Carolyn Matlock ‘11 graduated in May 2015 from the

University of Tampa with a B.S. degree in marketing with a specialization in market research. Following a trip to Africa with classmates and teachers from the University of Tampa, she went to work as a market research coordinator at Assurant in Miami, FL. In July 2017, she became senior analyst of market research at Penn, Schoen and Berland. Carolyn now resides in Seattle, WA. Ellie Lee ‘11 completed her degree in mechanical engineering

at Georgia Tech in 2016 and then spent time traveling in Europe and India. She now works at Apple, Inc. in Cupertino, CA.

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Carson King '15 Carson King received the Sophomore Highest GPA Award at the 2018 Clemson Football Awards Banquet. Carson is a punter for the Clemson Tigers and is majoring in chemical engineering. This is the second year he has earned this honor.


Ali Harper C L ASS

OF

2011

CROWNED MISS TENNESSEE USA Winning over 90 other contestants in the October 2017 contest, Ali Harper ‘11 was named Miss Tennessee USA and the opportunity to advance to the Miss USA pageant in May 2018. According to Ali, the winning moment was surreal as her mother, who was Miss Tennessee USA in 1981, was present at the pageant. Ali’s resume includes a B.A. with honors degree in mass communications from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where she also placed first in a national photography competition. After graduation, she worked at Fox 17 in advertising until starting her own fashion blog, aliandthings. com. “I’ve always wanted to start my own business…I knew if I did this, I could have a voice and speak to women of all shapes and sizes, give them advice on what to wear and how to wear it,” Ali explains. “It also gives me a platform where I can share other ideas including my faith.” She is quick to thank her parents, Ed and Sharon Harper, as well as her family and friends for all of the support she has received and continues to receive as she heads to the next competition and the chance for a shot at the Miss Universe title.

College Counselors Catch Up With Alumni BA's college counselors occasionally have the privilege to visit alumni across the country while attending conferences. In November Ms. Shelley Miller (top left) and Ms. Courtney Jones (top right) made a stop at Washington University in St. Louis, MO and were able to spend time with (clockwise) Will McClellan '17, MacKenize Phillips '15 and Allie Sheets '17. Look for our college counselors who may be coming your way soon!

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Jamie Wiggins ‘13, graduated early from Western Kentucky

University in December 2016 with a major in business finance and a minor in entrepreneurship. After graduation, she completed an internship at the Tennessee Valley Authority, and, in June, she became a market research coordinator for TVA. Griffin Ganick ‘13 received his B.S. in business administration

from Trevecca Nazarene University in May 2017 and is currently working toward his master’s of accounting degree at the University of Tennessee. He will work at Ernst and Young Nashville after graduation in 2018. While at Trevecca, he was named to the first team All-Conference baseball team. Ashlyn Grace Cranford ‘14 has a new EP that was released

on February 21, "Somethin' 'Bout a Song" https://itunes. apple.com/us/album/somethin-bout-a-song-ep/1335592512

Rachel Chamberlain ‘14 Rachel Chamberlain was named Homecoming Queen at the University of South Alabama. She will graduate in May with a degree in biology and concentration in marine biology. Rachel completed an internship with the Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego in 2017 and will pursue a career in marine care and training. Kingsley East ‘14 was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Baylor

University and graduated magna cum laude in professional printing in December 2017. She currently works as an acquisition editor at Baylor University Press and will start seminary at Truett Theological Seminary this summer. Marcus Graham ‘14, is in his senior year at Lindsey Wilson

College. He recently celebrated an undefeated regular season with the Lindsay Wilson Blue Raiders football team resulting in another ring for Mid-South Conference Champions 2017. Marcus was also named 2017 first team all Mid-South Conference-Bluegrass Division. Gracie Knestrick ‘14 won the Tennessee Pre-Service Art

Ginna Claire Mason Moffett '09

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Ginna Claire Mason Moffett originally joined the Broadway cast of "Wicked" in 2016 as Glinda’s standby and then took over the full-time role in the touring company in March of 2017. She completed a month-long run at TPAC in March and April. An Elon University musical theatre alumna, Ginna Claire also appeared in the national tours of "Newsies," and "Flashdance" and originated the role of Korie Robertson in "Duck Commander in Las Vegas." She and her husband, Eric, make their home in New York. (Ginna Claire is pictured with her mother, Jules Mason).

Educator of the Year award. Each year, the Tennessee Art Education Association recognizes outstanding art educators from across the state in a variety of categories. These teachers exemplify the qualities and standards of what it means to be a great art educator, going above-and-beyond for their students. Tanner Priest ‘14 graduated from the University of

Tennessee Knoxville in December 2017. He will be starting the Belmont University MBA program in August and an internship with LBMC accounting firm. Madison Brown ‘15 will spend her spring semester in Italy

with the Auburn University study abroad program.


Michael Renner ‘16, a member of the Arizona State University

cross country team, was one of four team members named to the PAC-12 All-Academic team. Renner, a biosciences major, and a senior teammate led the conference with a 4.14 GPA. George Patrick ‘16 won gold at the USA Track and Field

Andrew Bull ‘14 and Garrett Bull ‘14 Andrew and Garrett Bull competed in The NCAA National Cross Country meet held in Louisville in November, 2017. They were among five team members chosen to run representing the University of Alabama. The NCAA selects two teams from each region (nine regions in the country) plus a few "at large" and individual positions. In all, there are approximately 250 runners. Alabama finished 13th out of 32 teams. Prior to the nationals, they competed in the SEC meet in Augusta, GA. Their times at that meet were personal records. They are seniors at the University of Alabama.

Alex Yost ’15, a junior in the University of Tennessee

Knoxville College of Communications, was awarded a trip to Washington, D.C. for his essay written for the Peyton Manning Communication Competition. While in D.C., Alex and several fellow students visited with Sen. Bob Corker and other government officials as well as UT alumni.

National Championship and Pan-American Games in the decathlon for Under-20 while competing for Team USA. Currently, George has the #1 heptathlon score in the Big 12 and the #8 score in NCAA. Daisy Adkins ‘17 is participating in Florida State University’s

“First Year Abroad” program at the Florence, Italy campus. Classes allow for three-day weekends enabling students to travel. Daisy’s travels have taken her to Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Budapest, Malta, Sicily, Switzerland, and Munich. She will complete her spring semester in Florence and transfer for a 12-week summer session at the FSU campus in Valencia, Spain. Daisy is polishing her two new languages, continuing her travels, and plans to return to Tallahassee in August with 49 credit hours towards her degree in entrepreneurship. Jeremiah Oatsvall ’17 earned the starting quarterback position

at Austin Peay State University and led the football team to a winning season. He was named Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year. Easton Cline ‘17 is in basic training at Fort Benning, GA, with

the United States Army.

Bryce Jarvis ‘17 was named by the Tennessee Baseball

Coaches Association as 2017 Division ll-AA Player of the Year. He is a student at Duke University, where he plays baseball.

Ruby Camille Caldwell ‘15, has released her debut CD,

"RC1." She was featured on Kirk Whalum’s 2017 project, "#LoveCovers," and Whalum is featured on two of her songs. Ruby Camille’s music is on all major platforms. Her project was produced by Stellar award, Dove award, and Grammy award winning producer, Victor Caldwell. Sara Norton ‘15 is a junior at the University of Mississippi

and was recently inducted into Phi Kappa Phi. Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10% of seniors and graduate students and 7.5% of juniors. Sara is majoring in political science with a minor in history.

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Marriages Births and

Top Row Left: William Winstead Perry, Charlotte Mae Cannon, Helen Newton'04, Kasey Arnold Carmona '05, Lacey Young Haeckel '06, Liz Young Edwards '04, Amanda McDowell '04, Kristen Eddleman McCall '04. Top Row Right: Andrew and Ellie Prior '10 Canning, Roman Christopher Reed. Bottom Row: Benjamin '99 and Jamie Walker, Joey Kate Jacobs, Blake and Shelly Arms '14 Roberts, Grant Clifton Taylor, River Eve Nelson, Robert Thomas Rhett.

Marriages

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Benjamin Walker ‘99 to Jamie Lynn Dentino on October 28, 2017

Stephanie Sermonet ‘08 to Jack Clark on October 21, 2017

Jaclyn Hall '02 to Jake Slaughter '01 on March 3, 2018

Brian Smith ‘08 to Sumner Morgan on May 6, 2017

Lee Holyfield ‘02 to B.J. Billips on July 29, 2017

Caroline Askew ‘09 to Matt Hoerner on October 7, 2017

Myriam Mwizerwa ‘03 to Dermot Ryan on September 9, 2017

Cody Nelson ’10 to Shelby Mathews on December 16, 2017

Liz Young ‘04 to Aaron Edwards on October 21, 2017

Gabrielle “Elle” Prior ‘10 to Dr. Andrew Canning on October 20, 2017

Wes Cargen ‘05 to Rachel Thames on September 30, 2017

Carlos Calloway ‘11 to Ashley Lipford on September 30, 2017

Tiffany Evins ‘05 to Alexander Bird on September 24, 2017

Stephanie Sermonet ’11 to Jack Clark on October 21, 2017

Jessica Harris ‘05 to Mark Jones on May 21, 2016

Amy Schardt ‘12 to Mason Werner on September 23, 2017

Ellie Collins '07 to Hunter DeBerry on March 17, 2018

Jamie Wiggins ‘13 to Evan Mingle on May 20, 2017

Emeline Thrash ‘07 to Brian Dunn on August 26, 2017

Shelly Arms ‘14 to Blake Roberts on September 16, 2017


Births

Corrine Barfield Kidd ‘88 and husband, Brock, a son, David Bayne McCray, born November 3, 2016 Aja Brogdon Duncan ’96 and husband, Clark, a son, Charles “Charlie” Gilliam, born November 17, 2017 Nancy West Kennedy ‘99 and husband, Wes, a son, Fletcher Lee, born October 10, 2017 Kristen Bachmann Logan ‘99 and husband, Chris, a daughter, Eliza Carter, born November 11, 2017 Clay Perry ‘00 and wife, Tatum, a son, William Winstead “Will," born September 26, 2017 Adam ’00 and Mary Lewis ‘00 Rosenbaum, a daughter, Wren Summers, born August 31, 2017 Lauren Peck Cannon ‘01 and husband, Shawn, a daughter, Charlotte Mae, born August 21, 2017 Gail Dunn Frey ‘01 and husband, Brian, a son, Ellis Gibson, born October 20, 2017 Chandler Ganick ‘01 and wife, Niki, a son, Maddox Michael, born December 28, 2017 Mary Craig Parrish Tortorice ‘01 and husband, Brandon, a daughter, Ruthie Parrish, born August 23, 2017 Lauren Houk Clay ‘03 and husband, Wesley, a son, William Ayres, born September 27, 2017 Liz Austin Cotten ‘03 and husband, Will, a son, John Austin, born April 5, 2017 Anna McKaskle Day ‘03 and husband, Stuart, a son, Jack Augustine, born November 9, 2017 John Houston ‘03 and wife, Katie, a son, Jones Parsons, born June 25, 2017 Brent ‘01 and Katie Horrell ‘03 Jacobs, a daughter, Joey Kate, born January 18, 2018 Josh Lawson ‘03 and wife, Jenny, a son, Benjamin Oliver “Bo,” on September 15, 2017 Lauren Kimsey Mann ‘03 and husband, David, a son, Mason Leo, born November 24, 2017 Kate Austin McClinton ‘03 and husband, Justin, a son, Harrison Austin, born August 18, 2017 Bowman Richards ’03 and wife, Lauren, a daughter, Margaret Lynn, born December 29, 2017 Emily Henninger Stephenson ‘03 and husband, Judson, a son, Mack Payne, born October 23, 2017 Cliff Taylor ‘03 and wife, Kathryn, a son, Grant Clifton, born December 17, 2017 Seth Goodman ‘04 and wife, Jenny, a son, Thompson Phillip, born July 3, 2017 Rebecca McCall Hall ‘04 and husband, Seth, a daughter, Lucy Copeland, born December 16, 2016 Hunter Mize ‘04 and wife, Catherine, a son, Winfield Alan, born December 27, 2017 Rachael Ogilvie Schaefer ‘04 and husband, Michael, a daughter, Adeline Mae, born June 29, 2017 Shay Laws Shiely ‘04 and husband, Michael, a daughter, Margaret Jane, born October 28, 2017 Tyler Sturgeon ‘04 and wife, Elizabeth, a son, Thompson Miles, born June 25, 2017 Mary Lynn Ware Adcock ’05 and husband, Chad, a daughter, Ezra Grace, born October 7, 2017 Kendrick ’05 and Lane Jacobs ‘05 Newton, a daughter, Lila Allen, born June 30, 2017 Hunter Askew ‘06 and wife, Grace, a son, George Fredrick, born May 8, 2017 Lacey Young Haeckel ’06 and husband, Chris, a son, Hayes Christopher, born August 2, 2017 Kalyn Winston Nelson ‘06 and husband, Alexander, a daughter, River Eve, born April 17, 2017 Eliza Vaughn Richardson ‘06 and husband, Patrick, a daughter, Sara Vaughn, born November 11, 2017 Caroline Carter Smith ‘06 and husband, Andrew, a son, Hank Jackson, born September 23, 2017 Sarah Stark Murphy ‘07 and husband, Joseph, a daughter, Penelope Ann, born September 8, 2017 Jordan Rhett ‘07 and wife, Dre, a son, Robert Thomas, born September 23, 2017 Caitlin Rodgers Chapman ‘08 and husband, Luke, a daughter, Celia Mae, born October 11, 2017 Esther Buck Swafford ‘10 and husband, Greg, a son, Beckham Thomas, born June 21, 2017 Christina Priddy Reed ‘11 and husband, Austin, a son, Roman Christopher, born November 23, 2017

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Brentwood Academy grandparents were warmly welcomed on campus on the final day of Spiritual Emphasis Week to visit with their grandchildren and to hear stories and music by Christian musician and singer Steven Curtis Chapman.

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Brentwood Academy Leadership 2017-18 Board of Trustees Cayce Powell, Chair Natasha Freeman, Chair-elect Jon Billington Adam Black ‘92 Michael Blanton J.Mac Brown ‘83 Larry Burkhart Sharon Moore-Caldwell M.D. Bill Decker Stephanie Skinner Ben Stanga Emily Crockett Tulloch ‘82 George Allen West IV D.D.S. ‘94 Dick Wright

Trustees Emeritus Ellen G. Adams Steven R. Adams Charles H. Anderson David F. Bacon Jr. ‘82 Lee Barfield Mary Lee Bartlett Edith Bass H. David Bearden Michael Blanton Nancy S. Brasher ‘73 Charles D. Brown J.Mac Brown '83 William B. Brown Jr. Steven R. Brumfield Dorothy Bullard Louis Eugene Bullard Rachel Burgin ‘80 Jack A. Butler Douglas Cabbage William Cate James M. Clift B.C. Clippard J. Richard Cole Sr. Dan Coley ‘74 Don Cowan Michael Coyne Jack Curtis Jan Rodgers Dale ‘80 J. William Denny Stuart H. Dill Holly S. Dobberpuhl Thomas C. Duncan Robin S. Dunlap Kenneth H. Dupree Margaret S. Dye Cathy Rowan East ‘80 Robert Echols Rodes Ennis Anne C. Faris

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S. Jackson Faris Betty Finucane William F. Fleet Jr. James E. French Carol Knox Frist Albert Gasser Jack Gilbert Sam MacPheeters Glasgow Thomas Randall Goodman Anthony Gordon Mark Alan Graham H. Lynn Greer Patricia Hart Boxwell Hawkins Jerry Heffel T. Michael Helton M.D. ‘88 G. Landis Holmes Michael Hottinger Persis D. Houston Jr. C. Andrew Howell IV ‘73 James R. Humphreys Hunter Husband Jr. Arnold Huskey Frances Caldwell Jackson Mickey Jacobs Gordon Kennedy ‘78 T.P. Kennedy Jr. William H. Kenny Jr. Corinne C. Kidd ‘92 Miller Kimbrough Donald J. Kitt Walter Knestrick Ronald F. Knox Jr. William M. Kottas Jr. Glenn L. Lawrence Jeffrey P. Lawrence M.D. John M. Leonard M.D. Greg Lewis George P. Linebaugh Jr. Don Logan ‘81 Roland Lundy Stephen M. Maggart George Mathews M.D. Thomas F. McDow III Steve Meek David E. Miller James H. Miller Stephen Miller ‘91 David Minnigan ‘76 Jeff Moseley Donald Mullican Mark Neal ‘80 Gary A. Neill Andrea Overby Michael S. Peek Dan Pierce

W. Hampton Pitts Jessica G. Pleasant Pat S. Ralls Mitzi Renfro John Roberson Jerry Roberts A. Battle Rodes David Rogers Honey Rodgers Joe M. Rodgers Ben Rowan II W. Paul Rutledge Ellen R. Sadler Maxey L. Sanders ‘73 Bill Sheriff Sharon Sheriff Karen A. Simpson Jane M. Smith Reese L. Smith III Shirley Stansell Bob Stine Carl D. Storey III ‘76 Regg Swanson Clyde Swift Bill Tallent Michael Tanner Raymond E. Tarkington Daryl W. Terry Denny Thompson Gif Thornton Jr. ‘80 Greg Thurman Benson Trimble Terry Turner Norman B. Urmy Charles D. Vaughan William B. Wadlington, M.D. Morris Werthan George West III Judson A. Whorton Bill Williams Glenn R. Wilson Richard Wright Randall N. Yearwood William Youree

Lifetime Honorary Trustees C. Dan Brown Albert Gasser (deceased) T. P. Kennedy, Jr. (deceased) Walter Knestrick Hampton Pitts Joe M. Rodgers (deceased) Ben Rowan Bill Sheriff William Wadlington (deceased) Dick Wright


Administration

Student Leadership Team 2017-18

Curtis G. Masters, Headmaster

Shannon Shoemake Mizell '06

William B. Brown, Jr., Headmaster Emeritus

Elizabeth Richards Webb ‘06

Morgan Bussard ‘18

Ray Mullican ’80, Assistant Head

Catherine Hightower Coley '08

Will Collins ‘19

Paul Compton, Upper School Director

Andrew Hinson ‘08

Mary Grace Gower ‘20

Nancy Simpkins Brasher ’73, Middle School Director

Ryan Roberts ‘09

Jackson Gregory ‘18

Jeff Bryant, Dean of Faculty

Spenser Smith ‘10

Jackson Harvey ‘18

Andy Bradshaw, Dean of Students

Sarah Bryant ‘18

Jordan Harvey ‘20

Rian Berger, Spiritual Life Director

Annual Fund Committee 2017-18

Cody White, Athletic Director

Michael and Brittany Drescher, Co-Chairs

Grace Hawkins ‘21

Jason Mathews, Admission Director

Hal and Amy Conditt, Co-Chairs

Meredith Helton ‘18

Sue Gering, Financial Aid Director

Cayce Powell, Board Representative

Kennedy Jarvis ‘18

Susan Shafer, Communications Director

Kristin Phillips, Faculty Representative

Jennifer Jestings ‘18

Jason Oggs, Business Manager

Parent Representatives:

Curtis Johnson ‘20

Andi Holbrook, Development Director

Mike and Leslie Arthur

Emma Neely ‘21

Lulu Luton Clark '76, Alumni Director

Sonny and Stacey Clark

Andrew Long ‘18

Paula Booten, Registrar

Robert and Melissa Collins

Paxton Perry ‘20

Shelley Miller, College Counseling Director

John and Lorelee Gawaluck

Ben Pearce ‘19

Jason Beddoe, Security Director

Racal LaNier

Jackson Peden ‘21

Scott and Andrea Louderback

Willa Stansell ‘19

Rick and Lisa Lovins

Jasmine Swain ‘21

Leslie Henderson, President

Matt ’88 and Sarah MacIntyre

Kate White ‘20

Michele Simpson, President-elect

Andy and Felicia McComas

Wade Williams ‘20

Mandy Atchley

Dirk and Rachael Melton

Lauren Williamson ‘18

Shannon Barnhill

Wendy Munnell

Lily Wilson ‘20

Kristi Stone Elzinga ‘88

Donna Reels

Toby Wilson ‘18

John Gonas

Jim and Kathy Schwartz

Julie Hannah

Tondalanea and Freddie Scott

Allison Hayes

Mike and Lisa Yawn

Parents’ Association Board 2017-18

Mary Page Hickman

Cameron Hawkins ‘19

Student Ambassadors 2017-18 Maria Arnold ‘18 Anna Lynne Brandon ‘19

Phil Husband ‘89

Parent Ambassadors 2017-18

Karey Johnson

Tim and Ann Brinkmann

Nathan Clifton ‘19

Nicole Hardwick Jones ‘90

Joseph and Lee Cazayoux

Caroline Decker ‘18

Christy Stanga

Brett and Kara Clark

Lauren Freeman ‘20

Lana Thrasher

Scott and Amy Cole

Ellie Gilliam ‘18

Pam Tyner

Kerry and Brooke Collins

Madeline Guy ‘18

Kym Whitley

Eric and Kelley Descher

Elizabeth Heckman ‘20

Pete Wittman

Cary Glotzer and Traci Duke

Carter Holmes ‘18

Shelly Willis

Rod and Natasha Freeman

Mabry Johnson ‘20

Evan and Amy Fulcher ’94 Gower

Anna Jones ‘18

Tim ’94 and Laura Hickman

Gracie Marks ‘18

Lulu Luton Clark ’76, Alumni Director

Racal LaNier

Ellie Mullican ‘20

Patrick McCoin ‘95, Co-president

Leon and Jennifer Lekai

Braden Murphy ‘19

Elizabeth Edmonds Walker ‘03, Co-president

Eddie ’94 and Jordan Lunn

James Natwick ‘19

Kathy Capps ‘79

Dirk and Rachael Melton

Matthew Porter ‘19

Harriet Brown Bailey ‘81

Ben and Karen Merrill

Gracey Sanderson ‘20

Dick Cole ‘84

Dan and Stephanie Murphy

Gavin Schoenwald ‘18

Scott Cathey ‘86

Tom and Carole Naslund

Sophia Sharpe ‘20

Angela Peters Lauer ‘88

Tim and Carissa Pereira

Sophia Silvestri ‘20

Matt MacIntyre ‘88

Justin and Robin Perkins ’93 Petty

Jackson Sirmon ‘18

Amy Zinn Spodeck '92

James and Dana Smith

Ava Smagacz ‘18

Matt Jennings ‘92

Jimmy and Tara Ward

Daniel Taylor ‘18

Kristen Ingram Smithson ‘93

Ed and Jamie Warner

Kylie Wittman ‘20

Kim Smith Elliott ‘95

Dennis and Doris Wells

Jason Jarrett ‘95

Damien and Lisa Wong-Ken

Alumni Council 2017-18

Jessie Brown ‘18

Jonathon Loffi '98 Polly Bibb Douse ‘01 Peyton Smith ‘02 Meg Rutledge Smith ‘02

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