Perspectives CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL MAGAZINE | SPRING 2017
DISTINCTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION LIGHTING UP PERU BRIAN “THAT GUY” HUSKEY ’87
Ready to Lead Country Day READY
Contents 24
Lighting Up Peru
FEATURES
14 16 18 23 24 28
Creating a Diverse Academic Community All My Children Our 75th Anniversary Celebration Brings Community Together Alumna of the Year: MC Belk Pilon ’92 Lighting Up Peru Mr. (Brian) Huskey ’87 Goes to Hollywood
Distinctive Learning Environment The special insert in the center of this publication outlines Country Day’s plan for future-ready learning spaces that prepare the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers.
DEPARTMENTS 3 Head of School’s Message 4 News & Notes 31 Alumni Matters 35 Class Notes
Perspectives EDITOR Lee-Anne Black CONTRIBUTORS Lauren Batten Nancy Ehringhaus Jonsie Evans ’95 Beth Lawing Ashley McHugh Mike Nuckles Adele Paynter PHOTOGRAPHY Lee-Anne Black Jonsie Evans ’95 Joe Hernick Beth Lawing Michael Mauney The Professional Photography Group DESIGN Windtree Studios/Robert Locklear
Our Mission
Through excellence in education, Charlotte Country Day School develops the potential of each student by fostering intellectual curiosity, principled character, ethical leadership, and a responsibility to serve.
Affirmation of Community
Charlotte Country Day School is committed to living as an authentic, inclusive community. Our pursuit of this commitment to community recognizes and affirms the richness brought by difference and discovered through commonality. For more information about our Mission, Key Values, and Affirmation of Community, please visit charlottecountryday.org/mission.
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Inside cover
PERSPECTIVES
This past fall, we held a “day in the life” photo shoot and captured first grader Minerva Vyas rapt in attention as her teacher, Michelle Mulligan, read a story.
The visually stunning Upper School production of The Wizard of Oz reminded us “there’s no place like home.” Pictured are Alana Markel, Kenny Letts, Lee Cohen, and Nicklaus Ipock.
School Leadership 2016–17 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OFFICERS: Arthur C. Roselle, Chair Louis A. Bledsoe III ’77, Vice Chair Todd A. Gorelick ’82, Vice Chair Dr. James W. Roberts, Vice Chair A. Wellford Tabor, Vice Chair Scott R. Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer
MEMBERS: Dr. Adelle Anthony-Williams David M. Benson ’85 Howard C. Bissell* Dr. Lauren Browne Christi Byron Edison P. Cassels ’87 Theresa Drew Ken V. Garcia Mike James Dr. Ameesha P. Kansupada Kathleen Knox Krupa Leigh F. Moran James H. McLawhorn Amy F. Owen ’81 Mary Claudia Belk Pilon ’92 Walker L. Poole Steven L. Purdy ’87 Sally Saussy* ’67 Laura A. Schulte Stoney Sellars Glenn Sherrill ’89 Stephen Shuford Catherine Stempien Bill Zimmern ’95 Mark E. Reed (Ex-officio) *Life trustee
2016–17 ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL Mark Reed, Head of School Scott Waybright, Assistant Head of School Matthew Less, Head of Upper School Warren Sepkowitz, Head of Middle School Adele Paynter, Head of Lower School Joe Hernick, Director of Educational Technology David Lynn, Director of International Studies Brian Wise, Director of Diversity Planning Abe Wehmiller, Director of Athletics Nancy Ehringhaus, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Lauren Batten, Director of Advancement David Mancos, Chief Financial Officer
Message from the Head of School
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ver the course of this school year, we’ve celebrated many aspects of our long and successful 75-year history. There are so many reasons to make us feel pride in our school—from the many times Country Day has led the way in education to the beloved traditions that bind us as a community. Over and over, community members have shared with me in person and through e-mails and letters just how much they appreciate their connection to Country Day. As I read through these, along with those shared on the school Web site and on social media, what stands out for me is the way the adults in our community have always cared so deeply about the well-being and success of the children in our care. Clearly, Country Day is a place where students are known, loved, challenged, and inspired, day after day, year after year, and decade after decade. Throughout this issue of Perspectives, you’ll see stories of individuals who are making a difference in the lives of children in a variety of ways. Forward-thinking Board members, administrators, and philanthropic leaders are ensuring that we are fully preparing to educate the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers. Teachers are constantly fine-tuning curriculum to deepen understanding and encourage students to lean in. Coaches are continuously demonstrating that the life lessons learned through athletics are meaningful, regardless of the team’s overall success. And two members of our food service team Mr. Reed and Middle School Student Council epitomize the idea that we are all one, President Drew Riley, just prior to his speech, at the All-School Convocation and 75th big Country Day family. Anniversary Celebration. For me, what these stories really reflect is our community’s belief in our school’s mission and values. What we teach at Country Day goes far beyond our rigorous academic program. Strong character, a commitment to selfless service, and respect and empathy toward others are all fundamental to developing the type of leaders our world needs. I have great confidence that whoever is looking back to assess the next 75 years will conclude that, together, we prepared our students for a lifetime of impact and fulfillment.
Sincerely,
Mark Reed Head of School
SPRING 2017
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NEWS & NOTES
HONORING HEARTFELT INVESTMENT Two New Giving Societies By Lauren Batten, Director of Advancement
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was in Austin, Texas, recently, presenting at a national conference on the work we’re doing in Advancement at Country Day. Afterward, a peer from an independent school in Florida approached me and said, “You need to remember just how fortunate you are to work at a school that has such an extraordinary culture of philanthropy.” He was exactly right. Country Day’s exceptional culture of philanthropy has been shaped lovingly and intentionally by parents, alumni, students, grandparents, parents of alumni, and other friends for 75 years. It reflects a recipe for sustaining institution: deep engagement creates ties that bind, and when people become vested in our school’s success, their treasure usually follows. It is a precious ethos, envied by many—one deeply rooted for generations. And our national leadership position in the independent school sector is a direct result of its potency.
THE LOYAL SOCIETY In recognition of consecutive giving for at least five years
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hen Harold Hope ’90 was chosen as Country Day’s graduation speaker his senior year, he spoke about the three things a parent can give a child: the place of his or her birth, a family name, and an education. At the time, Harold appreciated his education. He appreciates it even more in the years since, which is why he supports Country Day. “Country Day gave me my close friendships. I graduated with a strong foundation and was prepared to succeed in college and law school,” said Harold. “My wife, Kathryn, and I support and invest in education first and foremost. We believe a good education can change the trajectory of a person’s life and career.” Living in New York City, Harold stays connected to other Country Day alumni and the school through local gatherings. “I’m impressed with Country Day’s forward-thinking philosophy. It has strong leadership and has adapted to change over the years. Country Day is a worthy institution.”
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Recognizing our culture of philanthropy During our school’s 75th anniversary, we introduce two new giving societies to celebrate the exceptional culture of philanthropy shaped by so many over time. The 1941 Society honors lifetime giving to our school, and the Loyal Society recognizes those who have given consecutively for at least five years. These two special giving groups join the established Oak Society, Selwyn Society, and the Young Alumni Selwyn Society. Each of us has an important role to play, just as generations have before us, in not only sustaining Country Day, but also perpetuating its reputation as a national leader in education. Below, donors share why they have been so devoted to Country Day, illustrating it’s the people behind each gift and the story that inspired it that shape the rich texture of our philanthropic culture. Thank you for your steadfast and generous support of our students and faculty, and know that the spirit behind your gift is as precious and lasting as the gift itself.
NEWS & NOTES
1941 SOCIETY
In recognition of generous lifetime giving to Country Day
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he Dowd Family, and especially Frank Dowd IV ’74, has played a significant role in much that makes our school special. Frank’s grandfather was one of Country Day’s founders 75 years ago, and Frank’s parents—Frank Dowd Jr. and the late Sally Carson Dowd—sent all six of their children here and were actively involved in the life and leadership of the school. Frank has followed suit, serving as chair of the Board of Trustees, as well as chair of the Campaign for Students. He, and his wife, Janice, are the parents of three Country Day graduates: Will ’14, Diana ’16, and Sally ’16. The influence of the Dowds can be seen on both campuses. Middle School students experience scientific discovery in the state-of-the-art Dowd Science Building, student-athletes play on Dowd Field, Lower School students learn in the Dowd Computer Lab, and in the years ahead, our entire community will gather in the new Dowd Student Center, projected to open in 2019. “Country Day has been good to our family and the Charlotte community, and we are delighted to give back by supporting the school’s strategic visions,” said Frank. “I received a great education and was happy to provide that same experience for my three children. I know I benefitted from the vision and the resources of all those people who stepped up to the support the school while I was a student, and even those who came before my time. I believe that those of us who can give back, need to do so.”
THE OAK SOCIETY
In recognition of those who have included Country Day in their estate plans Country Day parents Jamie and Hunter ’80 McLawhorn have supported the school in many ways over the years with their time, with their leadership, and with their giving. Most recently, Jamie was inducted into the Honorary Alumni Association, in recognition of his faithful commitment to Country Day and our mission. Jamie’s impactful leadership has been felt as a Board member; co-chair, along with Hunter, of a record-breaking Annual Fund campaign; chair of the Campaign Steering Committee; and member of the Campaign Cabinet.
Jamie said, “Hunter and I support organizations that have had an impact on our family. The two that have had the most profound impact are church and school. We love the Country Day community—the faculty, staff, administrators, current families, and alumni. It’s an important part of the DNA of the school and what makes it special. “Our oldest daughter, Bess ’15, and our son, Jack (Christ School ’18), left Country Day with a strong foundation and have been successful in the paths they have chosen. We know our younger daughter, Molly ’18, will too,” shared Jamie. In addition to their annual giving, and capital projects support, Jamie and Hunter have included Country Day in their estate plans. Jamie has
seen firsthand through his work on another nonprofit board how transformative and impactful legacy gifts can be. “By including a gift to Country Day in our estate plans, we are making a strong statement to our family about what is important to us,” said Jamie. Jamie and Hunter (Johnston) ’80 McLawhorn with their children Jack ’18, Molly ’18, and Bess ’15. Jamie was recently inducted into the Honorary Alumni Association.
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NEWS & NOTES
A HOME RUN for Ed Walton
The Bucs’ longtime baseball coach was inducted into the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame By Mike Nuckles, Assistant Director of Athletics
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veryone calls him “Coach”—the many hundreds of Country Day students he has coached over the course of four decades, his two daughters, his five grandchildren, and members of the Charlotte community at large. But Ed Walton now has something else you can call him: a Hall of Famer. Coach Walton was inducted into the North Carolina Baseball Coaches
Association Hall of Fame in a formal ceremony in Greensboro, North Carolina, on December 2. A baseball coach for Country Day and Carmel Academy since 1974, and junior varsity football coach for 24 seasons, he has touched the lives of countless Country Day students. Coach Walton experienced tremendous on-field success as a varsity head coach, winning 540 games and nine state championships. Though he completed his final season as head coach in 2004, he continues to serve as an assistant coach for the Bucs each spring. Indicating how meaningful he has been to the Country Day baseball program, the Cannon Campus baseball facility was named Ed Walton Field in his honor in 2009. “Coach Walton represents so much of what makes Country Day the special community that it is,” said Abe Wehmiller, director of Athletics. “As a Country Day coach, parent, and grandparent, he has such deep roots here and such care
“He was tough, but as a young person he was exactly what I needed, and I loved playing for him.” —Alex Whisenant ’83
for what we do here, and you can feel that every time you interact with him. The Hall of Fame induction is a recognition that he’s touched other communities around the state in that same way.”
Community Mentor In addition to his impact at Country Day, Coach Walton co-founded Baseball for Life, a mentoring program that reinforces positive behavior and develops life skills through baseball. “As executive board chair for Baseball for Life, Ed has been able to enrich the lives of countless young men in Charlotte by providing mentors, education, baseball instruction, and leadership opportunities through the program that he created,” said Head Varsity Baseball Coach Mike Hennessey. Given his impact, it’s no surprise that Coach Walton was joined at the awards dinner by at least 40 friends, family members, and former players. “Ed is one of the most respected coaches in the Charlotte baseball community, and we are extremely fortunate to have him,” Coach Hennessey said. “Coach has been a mentor and friend for over 20 years. We are all extremely proud of Coach Walton and congratulate him on this much deserved honor.”
NEWS & NOTES
GOOD ADVICE FROM
National Merit Semifinalists
This past fall, 16 seniors were recognized for outstanding academic performance in the National Merit Scholarship Competition, which honors the highest-scoring entrants from each state for this distinction, based on PSAT scores. We asked our semifinalists for their advice to younger students on doing well in school. HERE’S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY >>>
Andrew Gardner Planning to major in chemistry with a minor in economics
Olivia Jones Planning to major in music performance
I advise younger students to study hard and to not be afraid to take risks because you never know where an opportunity can get you. In addition, remember that it’s okay to ask for help.
Florian Wernthaler Undecided but wants to major in a math or science
I have found that working hard is a very important habit. This includes paying attention and taking notes in class, always doing homework, and challenging yourself. If you procrastinate or become complacent, things probably will not go so well.
Maylin vanCleeff
I would recommend any young student should use those around them: peers, teachers, and family members as ways of getting the help and support that any successful student needs. We’re lucky enough to be surrounded by those who genuinely care about our success, and allowing those people to help you can only better your education. Getting a little extra help from a teacher or having a friend to study with before a big test are invaluable resources that students have at their disposal.
Leaning toward a double major in some form of engineering (aerospace, mechanical, or computer science) and economics
My most helpful advice I could give to younger students is to always go and talk to your teachers and ask for help if you are struggling with an assignment or don’t feel prepared for a test. Even those teachers you think are intimidating are more than willing to assist you in any way they can. I can think of so many times when I would have done really poorly on a test or assignment if it weren’t for the assistance of my teachers.
Sebastian Oberkfell Undecided between some combination of physics, chemistry, economics, and psychology
Success is not contingent on effort alone but a clear understanding of the objective and a strategic approach to accomplishing it.
Mica Oberkfell Congrats to all! I enjoyed reading everyone’s advice to younger students.
Tara Surratt Bobb Great advice! I will share with our students at the middle school.
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NEWS & NOTES
HOW TEACHING MATH
Has Shifted Since We Were Kids
Study after study has shown that the messages we send students about math are what impact students’ math performance. By Adele Paynter, Head of Lower School
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n the fall, we had our first curriculum night of the year to educate parents about our new Math In Focus program, which spans grades K-6. Among some of the shifts parents can expect to see in the coming years (see more on next page), the most transformative part of the curriculum to me is the fact that attitudes (like perseverance, confidence, interest, etc.) are taught as part of the program. I was one of those children (who am I kidding, one of those adults!) who thought that I was “just not a math person,” and while I went through honors calculus in 8
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high school, I did so by memorizing algorithms with no underlying understanding of them. To this day, I still find myself feeling a pit of anxiety in my stomach when I know I have a math problem in front of me. I saw so many kindred “math phobes” at our math night this fall; so many of us were thinking, “Geez, I hope that they don’t ask me to do any math tonight!” Here’s the thing: Study after study has shown that the messages we send students about math—NOT our own math knowledge—are what impact students’ math performance. In other words, our
own math anxiety (when we say “math is hard” or “I was never good at math”) is the ONE THING that has a direct impact on our children’s math skills. So, it’s critical that all of us math phobes out there stop worrying about mistakes, lean into that discomfort, and tell our children that:
• Math is exciting! • It’s a subject—like any other subject— that can be learned with hard work. • There’s no such thing as a “math person” or a “nonmath person,” and • That math is all around us!
NEWS & NOTES
More Components of Math In Focus Additional aspects of the program that may be different from the way adults learned math, include:
1. Mathematical problem solving/thinking
is at the heart of the program, and from the get-go, students are asked to manipulate numbers strategically in order to solve challenging problems. Research has shown that what ultimately separates high and low achievers in math is number sense—the idea of the size of numbers and the ability to separate and put numbers together flexibly (composing and decomposing numbers). For example, when solving 29+56, you can easily turn that into 30+55—a MUCH easier problem to work out.
2. The approach is a mastery-based approach to teaching math, and so there is a much greater focus on depth of understanding vs. breadth of knowledge. You will see students spend much longer lingering on concepts/skills/ processes than in prior years, which creates a really strong foundation as a student progresses through the discipline. In Lower School, the emphasis is on number sense and operations.
TECHNOLOGY
THAT DEEPENS LEARNING In today’s Middle School classroom, the subject matter is often similar to what Country Day students learned in previous decades—after all, grammar is grammar. But the opportunities for creativity, real-time self-assessment, collaboration, and self-expression have greatly expanded thanks to our use of technology. Applications like Socrative Assessments allow teachers to create multiple choice and true/false quizzes that students complete on their iPads. The program provides immediate feedback, allowing teachers to instantly connect with students as learning happens. In fifth-grade language arts, Patti Daniel uses Socrative to reinforce grammar lessons. For example, after a lesson on the three kinds of verbs—action, linking, and helping—she wrote a 10-sentence assessment in which students had to identify the type of verb used. After every question, students receive immediate feedback, which either reinforces or corrects knowledge. “Students really like receiving that immediate, real-time feedback,” says Mrs. Daniel. “It allows them to build on their skills and really own the knowledge. I also can very easily see classroom patterns, so it’s a great assessment tool for teachers to know if we need to review certain material.”
3. To support deep understanding, each new concept is taught with the following progression: concrete g pictorial g abstract. This ensures that students understand ideas conceptually so they ultimately understand the algorithms they are using as shortcuts. There is a high degree of differentiation in the program, though students are not accelerated in the program; instead, they are pushed to go deeper in their understanding and application of their skills.
CHECK OUT BUCSBLOG
Administrators and faculty regularly contribute their thoughts and expertise in the BucsBlog. Check it out at charlottecountryday.org/BucsBlog.
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NEWS & NOTES
SUCCESS For Girls’ Tennis...Again
Country Day Captures Fourth Straight Title By Mike Nuckles, Assistant Director of Athletics
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fter a second straight season of undefeated play against opponents from the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA), Country Day’s girls’ tennis team clinched a fourth consecutive state championship, defeating Cary Academy, 5–1. Buccaneers Head Coach Calvin Davis credits his players for working as a team throughout the season in attempting to achieve their goals. “This win was about the same thing it’s been about all season: unity, working together, pulling together,” Coach Davis said. “We were working hard early in the season to find the right combinations,” Davis said. “Maybe to people on the outside looking in it could have looked 10
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confusing. But I think at the end of the day, everyone can see how it worked out.” Coach Davis has led the Bucs’ girls’ program to 14 state championships, in addition to 16 –Coach Davis boys’ state titles. This year’s team finished with a 17-1 record, including a 17-0 mark against NCISAA competition. The Bucs are 69-5 since 2013.
“This win was about the same thing it’s been about all season: unity, working together, pulling together.”
No Strangers to Success From a historical perspective, this is not the first time the team has won four
straight titles. The Bucs achieved similar success from 2000 to 2003. However, even that doesn’t match the streak of eight straight titles between 1990 and 1997—the longest streak of state championships for a Country Day team in any sport. The first two titles in that streak came under the guidance of Head Coach Art Abbott, who started Country Day’s program in 1988. Calvin Davis was at the helm for the final six.
>> TO LEARN MORE about the history of Bucs athletics in various sports, visit
charlottecountryday.org/CountryDay75.
NEWS & NOTES
CALVIN DAVIS Inducted into the Honorary Alumni Association
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alvin Davis is synonymous with Country Day’s tennis program and its record of success. For his decades of dedication and commitment to shaping student-athletes, he was honored in February as this year’s faculty and staff inductee into the Honorary Alumni Association. In introducing Coach Davis, Head of School Mark Reed said, “Calvin has built a boys’ and girls’ tennis program that is chockful of state championships, all-state player recognitions, college scholarships, and coaching recognitions. But what’s most impactful and meaningful to our school is the role Calvin plays in developing young men and women of honor, in teaching them how to win with humility, and teaching them to be leaders on and off the court.” That role of teacher, mentor, and nurturer came through loud and clear in a video tribute from current and former players, including Tripp Phillips ’95, who
is the associate head men’s tennis coach at UNC-Chapel Hill. Tripp said, “I first met Calvin when I was 13 years old. In a tournament, someone made the comment to my mom, that ‘You will never outgrow Calvin Davis.’ I really had no clue what that meant. But now, years later, I and anyone else who had the privilege of playing for him at Country Day know exactly what that means. “The lessons he taught all of us about hard work, about discipline, about taking pride in what you’re doing, about picking up the guy beside you—all those lessons that helped us win those state titles—are lessons that we took with us for the rest of our lives. As a tennis coach, he’s just amazing. For me, I was incredibly fortunate in my career to play in all the grand slams against the best players in the world, and I can tell you that there’s no chance I could have ever done that if it hadn’t been for my time with Calvin.”
At the Honorary Alumni Association dinner, Calvin told several stories of how the school community supported him and his family through the years. He said, “Country Day is a family and I’ve seen everyone making good things happen here for 26 years. Every day that I come to Country Day, it is my desire to give back to each and every one of you for the outstanding education you gave to my son.”
ABOUT CALVIN DAVIS
Since 1990, Calvin has built a tennis dynasty at Country Day. Over his tenure, the girls’ program has won a total of 14 state championships, while the boys’ program has earned 16 state titles. As coach, mentor, and nurturer of young talent, Calvin has seen more than 80 of his players move on to play at the college level, and three have played on the professional tennis tour. Country Day is not the only organization appreciative of Calvin’s dedication and talent. He has been named Charlotte Observer Coach of the Year four times and one of its Top-10 Coaches of All Time. In February 2016, Calvin was named Member of the Year for North Carolina by the Professional Tennis Registry. He was also named High School Coach of the Year by the USTA North Carolina in 2005. In addition to coaching both varsity teams and serving as tennis program head, Calvin founded and operates TAP Tennis (Tennis Advancement Program), a junior tennis academy held at Country Day’s Cannon Campus.
Calvin Davis with his mother, Naomi Davis, and his wife, Sahsine Davis; (back row) son Calvin Davis III ’99 and his wife, Jalisia; and sister-in-law and brother Stephanie and Eric Davis. Calvin's daughter, Nikki Davis-Green, was also in attendance.
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NEWS & NOTES
DOERS: Country Day Students Making a Difference
At Country Day, we go beyond academics to instill a lifelong desire in each student to contribute to the greater good and lead by example. Laura Dooley and Anna Elsasser, seniors: The summer before their junior year, these two friends interned at Promising Pages, a nonprofit that provides low-income children with the literary sources they need. Their primary responsibility was to host book parties for the children. “I love how excited these children are when you give them their very own books to take home,” says Laura. “They are so appreciative!” Adds Anna, “I love building up the confidence in young readers so that they will love reading as much as I do. The experience made us want to create a Promising Pages club at Country Day.” For the past 18 months, Anna and Laura have grown their club to 65 members and used the experience for their IB CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) project, a requirement of the IB Diploma. And they are inspiring younger students. After reading about Anna and Laura’s Promising Pages club on BucsNet, second graders Hayden Beasley and Laura Kares were inspired to collect 75 books to donate on Service Saturday (see page 21). Laura and Anna will graduate knowing they have left a legacy of service at Country Day.
Dylan Singhi, tenth grade: Through a volunteer experience organized by Country Day, Dylan was exposed to OurBridge, an after school program for K–5 children who are new to our country. He says of that experience, “I was really inspired when I saw all these kids here. I thought that it was absolutely amazing; how far they had traveled to come here and how they’re fitting into society, and I just wanted to be a part of that.” So Dylan created an Upper School club called R.I.C.E. (Refugee and Immigrant Care and Education), which is devoted to helping OurBridge and other immigrant communities.
You can learn more about Dylan’s story at charlottecountryday.org/LeadThinkDo.
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NEWS & NOTES
William Harrison, fourth grade: When William was in third grade, he visited Loaves and Fishes with his class to sort canned foods and learn how hunger affects people globally and locally. With that experience in mind, and wanting to donate his profit from the third grade “Kids in Business” project to a worthy cause, William naturally turned to Loaves and Fishes. Over the summer, he sent the organization $55 along with a note explaining why he wanted to help support the hungry. Loaves and Fishes posted the note on Instagram and said, “William, we can’t thank you enough. This $55 will go a very long way to feed hungry people and kids just like you. We will always remember you and your kind and generous spirit.”
You can learn more about William’s story at charlottecountryday.org/LeadThinkDo.
Leigh Moran Honored for Volunteer Service On February 16, longtime, dedicated volunteer Leigh Moran was honored with the Chuck L. Hood Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes a volunteer who has given exemplary service to Country Day. Head of School Mark Reed said, “Leigh’s approachable style and willingness to roll up her sleeves makes her the kind of community member others want to emulate.” For nearly 20 years, Leigh has served as a committed volunteer, leader, and ambassador for Country Day, demonstrating an active belief in the school’s mission, tireless energy, positive determination, and a heartfelt commitment to the betterment of our students’ experiences. Her many leadership roles include serving as chair of the Head of Lower School Search Committee; president of the Parents’ Association; Annual Fund chair with her husband, Jerry; member of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Advancement Committee; and member of the Campaign Cabinet. She and Jerry are parents to Emily ’17, Sara (The Blair School ’14), and Katie ’11.
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FEATURES
DIVERSE CREATING A MORE
ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
“We All Fit Together” mural by Sherry Harris and Delphia Daniel’s kindergarten class.
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FEATURES
Increasing financial aid to deserving students is just one way we are creating a more socioeconomically diverse community of learners.
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By Nancy Ehringhaus, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid
hrough our community-wide Strategic Planning process several years ago, a vision to fully prepare students to lead and thrive in a changing world rose to the top as a key priority for our school. Central to preparing our students for this world is creating a socioeconomically diverse academic community. In fact, research has proven that a diverse environment leads to better learning outcomes for all students. To that end, the Board of Trustees formed a Financial Aid subcommittee that spent the better part of the 2015–16 academic year examining current practices, in light of our aspirations for the future. The committee recognized and researched the need and desire on the part of our community to build a student body more reflective of the broader community. It was determined that enrolling students who have the greatest financial need will naturally increase diversity of all kinds; and therefore, an increase in need-based financial aid will best help Country Day achieve its goals.
A Record of Success We know that a student’s ability to succeed is not incumbent on his or her socioeconomic profile. Over the past 10 years, we have committed more than $16 million to financial aid recipients, who have matriculated to such fine institutions as
the University of Virginia, UNC-Chapel Hill, Davidson College, and Harvard Law School, and now are making an impact on our world for the better as lawyers, entrepreneurs, professors, and more. Over the past five years, we have also partnered with Sugar Creek Charter School, KIPP Academy Charlotte, and A Better Chance to attract talented and intellectually curious students who would flourish at an institution like Country Day, but who would not otherwise have the means to do so. Yet, we aspire to do more. In academic year 2015–16, 16 percent of our students received financial aid. In contrast, the independent school national average last year was 21 percent. Nevertheless, the thirst and desire across Charlotte to attend Country Day is strong, as is Country Day’s desire to open our arms to talented students. Each year, we average between 15–20 students who qualify for admission, but neither Country Day, nor their families, have the resources to make a Country Day education a reality. As Charlotte and Mecklenburg County strive to address and remedy the significant upward mobility challenges facing our community, Country Day is eager to be a part of the solution. In fact, Head of School Mark Reed is lending his personal and professional leadership to this community-wide issue through his role as chair of the Children and Youth Committee of the Foundation for the Carolinas. Providing educational access for talented students is just one way Country Day can partner with the greater Charlotte community in addressing the critical needs facing our community, while also creating an environment here at
school that more accurately reflects the changing world around us.
Looking Ahead With all this in mind, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the subcommittee recommendations of increasing financial aid offerings over the next four years in order to enable us to matriculate an additional 19 deserving students a year. This commitment increases our overall aid to 20 percent of our student body. Through both prudent fiscal planning by the Board, along with a strong culture of philanthropy, we are committed to offering assistance to an increasing number of deserving students. As we wrap up another highly successful admissions season, I am delighted that we are able to both broaden our reach to exceptional and deserving children, while also enriching the educational experience for every Country Day student by creating a learning environment that increasingly reflects the world for which we are preparing them.
The last four years of graduates receiving financial aid include recipients of Morehead-Cain and Park Scholarships, military academy appointments, and student-athletes playing at Division I, II, and III colleges and universities. SPRING 2017
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FEATURES
ALL MY CHILDREN Rachel Carter and Evelyn Hill bring big hearts and special connections to the Country Day campus By Lee-Anne Black, Editor
For the hundreds of children, large and small, who pass through the Dickson-Sanger Dining Hall each day, two people serve up much more than a nourishing meal. Caring, kind, funny, and personable, Rachel Carter and Evelyn Hill have connected with Country Day students, teachers, and parents in a way that goes well beyond their job duties. The evidence is in the notes and drawings of appreciation that hang in their work spaces, in the Facebook connections they maintain with graduates, and in the camaraderie they share with our athletic program’s players, cheerleaders, coaches, parents, and fans.
“I get up early in the morning and I think about my Lower School children, and then the high schoolers. I can’t let them down. I look at it like I’m your parent away from your parent.” –Evelyn Hill
10
PERSPECTIVES
FEATURES “I just love the kids,” explains Evelyn. “I get up early in the morning and I think about my Lower School children, and then the high schoolers. I can’t let them down. I look at it like I’m your parent away from your parent. It’s not just me and Rachel; everyone who works here is a parent. They’re all my kids.” And the kids feel that love. Evelyn Turner, a third grader in Marsha Hodgin and Stacy Lynch’s class wrote in an essay about Ms. Evelyn: “She is so, so caring. If you or your friend get hurts, she will always, and I mean always, be there for you. She always does her best for us.”
Opening the Door When the duo first started working at Country Day, 12 years ago for Rachel and 10 for Evelyn, the community connections were confined primarily to the dining hall. About seven years ago, Rachel, whose teen son was playing football at Waddell High School, began sharing her mutual interest in sports with the Buccaneer varsity players. “The football connection really opened the door,” says Rachel. “I had fun talking with and cheering on the kids and started to go to games on Friday nights. Then I got Evelyn to start coming with me.” In time, these avid Bucs fans were fixtures at both home and away games. In turn, the parents of players have embraced Evelyn and Rachel, often making sure they have tickets for away games and inviting them to team dinners. “They take such good care of our boys,” says parent Christy Hall. “They have fun giving them nicknames and cheering loudly with encouraging words. The boys love it and so do I.” For example, they nicknamed Thomas Jackson ’14 “Action Jackson” and even named a burrito after him his senior year. This past fall, Thomas has made an impact as a wide receiver for the Tar Heels (see page 43). “It feels good to see these kids doing well and know we were in their lives,” says Rachel. “When I see Thomas on TV, I get to point and say ‘Hey, that’s one of my kids who came through my line.’”
In addition to football “It feels good to see games, Evelyn these kids doing well and Rachel and know we were in usually attend their lives. When I see graduation, Thomas on TV, I get and they take part in Moving to point and say ‘Hey, Up and other that’s one of my kids events when they can. For who came through Rachel, who is my line.’” a single mom –Rachel Carter of three and was briefly homeless, working at Country Day allows her to relive a high school experience she didn’t have. She says that working here has also helped her to be a better parent. “When I was younger, I didn’t think going to college was important. As I got older and became a parent, I saw
the importance. The teachers and counselors here have helped me guide my son successfully so that he could go to Western Carolina on an academic scholarship.” Evelyn, who has four grown children of her own, says it’s very rewarding when students invite her to a graduation party or talk to her as a trusted adult. “They have a lot on their minds, and I am always here for them,” she says. And like any good parent, she also adds, “but I don’t sugarcoat. This is the real world and they need to know that.” She continues, “As much as I like being a part of their lives, the real highlight for me is when a parent comes up at a game or here in the cafeteria and says, ‘I just want to meet you because I’ve heard so much about you.’ That is just so amazing and we are all one family.”
Evelyn Hill, Ian Hall ’17, and Rachel Carter.
Fran Hundley Tennant Thank you so much for taking such good care of our boys!!!!
David S. Ball They’re lucky to have you supporting the boys and cheerleaders.
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75 Anniversary OUR
th
Celebration BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER
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PERSPECTIVES
A highlight of the day was the student speakers. Student Body President Owen Engel, Middle School Student Council President Drew Riley, and fourth grader Avery Johnson (pictured) all spoke of the values of empathy, understanding, and community.
Hundreds of community members gathered for the special celebration.
On
September 22, exactly 75 years to the day that Country Day first opened its doors, thousands of community members—including alumni, parents of alumni, retired faculty, and former Board members—came together in Belk Stadium to celebrate our school’s legacy at the All-School Convocation and 75th Anniversary Celebration. Though the day began with drizzle and news of unrest in Charlotte, the mood quickly lifted as the students arrived and the program began. As is tradition for the All-School Convocation, we recognized our school’s strong history and welcoming community by having a veteran teacher, Patsy Ratterree, and new faculty member, Joe Trifiletti, lead the processional of the Class of 2017, who walked hand-in-hand with the classes of 2029 and 2030.
All students and faculty received a T-shirt designed by sophomore Mary Whisnant.
Our special guest speaker was former Head of School Margaret Gragg Bissell. In her remarks, Margaret recounted the many ways that we, as a school community, celebrate and affirm community. It was also announced by Board Chair Art Roselle that the Board had unanimously voted to confer on Margaret the title of Head of School Emeritus. For 32 years, Margaret’s deep commitment to excellence in teaching, her passion for students and their success, and her strong desire to preserve our caring community have shaped Country Day. Head of School Mark Reed shared, “One of my goals this year is to not just look inward as we celebrate our 75 years, but to also think about what we can do for others. Selfless service has always been a hallmark of Country Day.” See page 21. The event ended with more than 1,660 students and 300 faculty and staff joining together for an aerial photo captured by a drone—see the back cover! Thank You: A special thank you is extended to our 75th anniversary chairs—Kristen Walton Wester ’93, Mary Tabor Engel, and Jonsie Evans ’95—along with the many, many additional parents and faculty and staff members who helped make our celebration so special. Margaret Gragg Bissell, who was named Head of School Emeritus, with Mark Reed, and Art Roselle
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A Schoolwide, YEARLONG CELEBRATION
Our 75th anniversary theme has been embedded in school life in multiple ways. Take a look at just a few ways we celebrated as a community.
At the 68th annual Halloween Parade, the fourth-grade teachers dressed as members of the Class of 1962, Country Day’s first senior class, in honor of our school’s 75th anniversary.
Wells Fargo’s Duke Energy Center was lit up in green on September 19 and many community members captured it on social media.
The Alumni Art Show included works by 38 alumni artists from the classes of 1973–2016 and showcased our deep legacy of creative expression. See page 33.
Second graders celebrated with their holiday door decoration.
SEE MORE
20
To see more ways were have celebrated this special year, visit charlottecountryday.org/CountryDay75.
PERSPECTIVES
The Upper School musical cast was expanded to Lower School this year, as fourth graders played adorable munchkins in The Wizard of Oz.
On Service Saturday, Reese and Jordan Pham made sandwiches for Urban Ministry Center. Mom, Brandon Jordan Pham ’93, said, “We all really enjoyed it and decided we should make Service Saturday a family tradition at least once a month.”
CELEBRATING WITH
SERVICE
Students in Lisa Kick Gardner’s Public Speaking class made blankets for Beds for Kids. They discussed and analyzed recent Upper School assembly speakers while cutting and knotting the material.
Members of the National Junior Honor Society sold treats during the Middle School Walk of Hope to support Beds For Kids.
Service and engaged citizenship have always been integral to every student experience, starting with our second graders selling war bonds in 1942. In honor of our 75th anniversary, Country Day is supporting 75 local families through Beds for Kids, a Charlotte-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide beds and essential furniture to children and their families in need. To date, our community has raised nearly $13,000 for the organization through numerous activities like the Middle School Walk of Hope, advisory snack sales, and donations made through a student-led charity ride at FlyWheel. On Service Saturday, February 25, student groups and the community came together to donate two truckloads of donations, including books, light bulbs, bedding, mattresses, and bedroom furniture. Beds for Kids was not the only beneficiary of the hundreds of hours of service demonstrated by students on Service Saturday. To name just a few activities, younger students baked treats for police and firefighters, older students cooked meals for the homeless and packaged necessity bags, a group of ninth graders cleaned up the property at The Relatives, and others participated in cleaning up woods and streams.
In March, TreesCharlotte provided every Country Day student with an oak seedling to plant around the city. Fourth and fifth graders helped prepare the seedlings for planting and learned how trees benefit our ecosystem. Additionally, 75 larger oak trees were planted by the senior class at a new park in West Charlotte. Students are incorporating the 75-year theme into other service projects as well. For instance, the National Honor Society donated 75 household starter kits to the Charlotte Refugee Center, the Middle School Student Council donated 75 handmade washcloths to Charlotte Family Housing, and 75 desks were donated to Above and Beyond Students. Many families came out on Service Saturday to pick up blanket-making kits.
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There’s STILL
TIME TO SHARE YOUR STORY
“
I have wonderful memories of playing field hockey for Coach Julie Shaw. She was so encouraging and taught me to love the game.”
THANK YOU to everyone who has joined us in celebrating all that has made Country Day special for 75 years. See more memories at charlottecountryday.org/CD75Memories.
“My fourth-grade art teacher was Tony Birch, a real artist who wore a beret and smoked unfiltered Camels. He was an inspiring art teacher ahead of his time, introducing us 10 year olds to Picasso and contemporary art, while rock and roll and jazz played in the classroom. My report card read, ‘Pinkney is a talented young artist who should spend more time in the art room instead of being on the football field.’” —Pinkney Herbert ’73
—Kristen Walton Wester ’93
“There were so many teachers that I loved and I knew loved me. The list is long, the memories make me smile. Thank you, Country Day, what a great foundation you gave me. And thank you, Mom and Dad, for sending me there.” —Anne Pell Harkness ’74
“A separate middle school campus with exceptional faculty and staff is definitely one of the highlights of a Country Day education. I was very sad when my youngest left Middle School!” —Katy Beltz, Country Day Parent
“Looking back on my high school experience at Country Day, the committed and inspiring teachers I had the opportunity to engage with daily still stand out to me the most. It wasn’t until I got to college that I fully grasped how unique my high school education had been and how involved the teaching and tutoring staff was at Country Day.” —Erin White ’14
“Country Day is where I grew up. I would be a different person without Charlotte Country Day School and the community that surrounds it. Above anything else, this school has provided me with the lessons, values, education, life skills, role models, and friendships necessary to use and rely on out in the real world of college, jobs, and even family. I am proud of who I have become because of the value and dignity I was treated with at Country Day.” —Madison Letts ’15
#CountryDay75
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PERSPECTIVES
“COUNTRY
DAY IS VERY NICE AND I LIKE IT HERE.” —Henry Riggins, Kindergarten
“
Coaches John Cook and Ed Walton are legendary in their profession. As a young athlete, no one could ask for better leadership and direction, not only with the playing of the sports, but also with what they taught us as young men and women.” —Mike Cofer ’82
You can help tell our incredible Country Day story by sharing your memories, favorite traditions, and photos—from the past or today. Just visit charlottecountryday.org/CountryDay75 or use #CountryDay75 on social media.
FEATURES
ALUMNA YEAR of the
Mary Claudia Belk Pilon ’92
On February 9, Mary Claudia Belk Pilon— or MC—a 1992 graduate, was named Alumna of the Year for her valuable contributions to both our own school community and the wider world of education. The award is presented each year to an individual who has distinguished him or herself in their profession, community, at Country Day, or all of the above. Head of School Mark Reed said, “In honoring MC, we recognize that her great work is not just at Country Day, where she serves as an engaged parent, a strong alumna supporter of the school, and a thoughtful Trustee who cares deeply about the future of our institution. This award is also about all that MC has done outside of our school through her work with Belk Scholars and promoting upward mobility. She has been phenomenal and she will be a gift to the state as her impact grows and grows and grows.” After earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology and communications from Roanoke College, MC spent 12 years in retail management for the family business, Belk, Inc., before transitioning to the Belk Foundation, which focuses on improving early childhood education, teaching, and leadership in public schools. Today, MC serves as Board chair of the John M. Belk Endowment, where she is highly focused on transforming post-secondary educational opportunities to meet North Carolina’s evolving workforce needs. Kristy Tesky, who serves as executive director of the John M. Belk Endowment, said of MC, “She has this vision that nothing is impossible. North Carolina is on an uphill
battle. We have a lot of our population that is either undereducated or not going through with their education. North Carolina was the hub of great manufacturers at one point; it has changed over the years and now we have to figure out how to reinvent ourselves. MC is thinking in that language.” Nicole Hurd, the founder and CEO of College Advising Corps, adds, “This year we’re in 105 schools across North Carolina. It’s all because of MC’s leadership. She cares so deeply about students, she cares so deeply about opportunity. So it’s not about just one program for MC. It’s about a pipeline so that every student can reach his or her potential.” Additionally, MC has championed children and education through her participation on the boards of the John M. Belk Scholarship Advisory Board at Davidson College, Belk Foundation, Good Friends, Greater Enrichment, College Advising Corps, Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation, The Fletcher School, and Country Day, serving on the Advancement Committee. In 2014, MC represented the John M. Belk Endowment at the White House College Opportunity Summit, hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
MC and her husband, Jeff ’92, have three children: Katie, 3rd grade; Jack, 4th grade; and James (Fletcher School, 7th grade).
MC also has been awarded the Roanoke College Medal and CPCC’s Distinguished Service Award. She is a devoted advocate for advancements in research and care for pediatric nephrology.
She has been “phenomenal
and she will be a gift to the state as her impact grows and grows and grows.” –Mark Reed
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Lighting up
PERU Student curiosity and leadership, combined with administrators’ knowledge and contacts, bring cross-cultural service learning to life. By Lee-Anne Black, Editor
It all started with a question. Last year, while attending a Model UN conference, then-sophomore Camila Saavedra asked Director of International Studies David Lynn if the school could add a service learning trip somewhere in South America. Mr. Lynn was open to the student-driven idea and knew of a potential opportunity. As it happens, Charlotte’s very first sister city was Arequipa, Peru. And local philanthropist and art gallery owner Jerald Melberg has led a campaign to build the Charlotte School, which has grown from a one-room facility in 1988 to a large campus serving over 1,000 local K–12 students. Camila and her friend Ramona Suris began researching needs at the school, which serves a low-income community, and learned they would greatly benefit from the installation of solar panels—a worthy, but costly endeavor. Around the same time, Mr. Lynn serendipitously heard that the city of Charlotte had a dormant fund that needed to be dispensed quickly for a worthy international cause. Camila and Ramona presented their plans for a service learning trip at a meeting of the Charlotte International Cabinet and they were awarded funding to purchase solar photovoltaic panels. Additional project funds were provided by a matching grant from the Charlotte Rotary Club and private donations. 24
PERSPECTIVES
Student leaders Ramona Suris and Camila Saavedra with new friends from the Charlotte School.
Country Day students, including Violet Phillips, helped teach parents at the Charlotte School how they could install solar panels to light their homes.
Jack Homesley conversing in Spanish about the solar panel project with administrators from the Charlotte School.
From there, Mr. Lynn, along with Director of Educational Technology Joe Hernick, and Dick McCracken, an engineer and avid supporter of the school in Arequipa, traveled to Peru to lay the groundwork for the service learning experience; touring the Charlotte School and meeting with teachers, students and administrators, and local power company engineers to plan for installation of the panels. Meanwhile, Camila and Ramona continued to help plan and lead the experience from the student perspective, including organizing preliminary meetings for the 15 Upper School students involved. On February 17, the group began nine days of service, learning, and new experiences. In addition to their service work in Arequipa, the group traveled to Cusco, hiked the Inca Trail with llamas, and toured Machu Picchu at dawn. Given the beautiful surroundings, trip leaders Mr. Hernick taught the students photography, while Paty Prieto, Upper School Spanish teacher, shared her knowledge of architecture. Mr. Lynn, Mr. McCracken, and Mr. Melberg also joined the group at the Charlotte School. SPRING 2017
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Peru Through
Student Eyes Hiking the Inca Trail was made easier by the beautiful surroundings. Julian Gagnier captured this shot of the Peruvian villagers who regularly walk the trail with their llamas.
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PERSPECTIVES
One of many stunning photos by trip leader and photography instructor Joe Hernick; here he captured a rural family using a math app on their smartphone.
Llamas were everywhere in Peru, including this friendly face captured by Grace Tabor.
Along the Inca Trail, Jenny Gosney captured the handiwork of local weavers.
Many of the students at the Charlotte School had never seen a digital camera before. Abby McGahan captured this moment of Julian sharing his talent with new friends.
Cloudy skies highlight red walls in this photo taken by Sara Reid Lewis at the Santa Catalina Monastery, in use since the 1500s.
Sophia Pruett captured this challenging nighttime photo of the Cathedral in Arequipa.
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MR. HUSKEY GOES TO
Brian Huskey ’87 is the self-described “That Guy” that you may recognize on the screen but not necessarily know by name. He specializes in comedy and his talents run the gamut from guest-starring in How I Met Your Mother to Veep to The Real O’Neals to commercials for Sonic Hamburgers and the Toyota Sienna. He currently stars in the TBS series People of Earth, which is gearing up for its second season. By Beth Lawing
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PERSPECTIVES
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FEATURES
W
HEN BRIAN HUSKEY ’87 was a second grader in Ms. Sammie Yopp’s class, he had to write a speech about what he wanted to be when he grew up. “After all these years, I’ve literally kept that speech written by second-grade me about how I wanted to be a comedian,” Brian recalls. Brian is living proof that childhood dreams can come true. The successful actor/comedian now lives in Hollywood and is currently starring in the TBS series People of Earth, a TV-14 comedy about an
alien abductee support group. Brian plays the part of Richard, a man who claims that he and his wife were abducted by Reptilians when, in reality, she just left him. “Richard is a man who is in deep denial,” Brian explains. “He is fun to play.” Brian remembers his Country Day years with fondness. His mother, Mary Anne Huskey, was a beloved teacher in the foreign language department. “When I was a little kid, I always had an hour to kill after school because my mom’s Upper School classes let out later than mine, so I
Brian says that this speech, written in second grade at Country Day, helps him stay resilient when the going gets tough in landing new roles.
got to float around school and the Learning Center until she was finished for the day. I distinctly remember being aware of a tractor on campus. One day, I climbed up on the tractor and let go of the hand brake. The tractor began rolling toward one of the classroom buildings. I also remember Mr. (John) Bristor running over to avert a crash! As a child, I had the sense that the school was mine to explore.”
Hitting the Lottery If Country Day was built for Brian, why not Hollywood? “Having this dream of being an actor in Hollywood is like saying, ‘I think I want to jump off the Empire State Building and win the lottery at the same time and land on my feet.’ What makes you the happiest is often the most difficult to achieve. But if something really excites you, it’s a real privilege to experience it and give yourself a shot at it and work at it as hard as you can.” Brian’s path to acting wasn’t a direct shot. After working for a newspaper in Chapel Hill, Brian was well on his way to becoming a professional photographer. He moved to New York City to pursue photography full time. That’s where he discovered improv comedy—what he truly wanted to do, and what eventually led him to move to Los Angeles. Following your dreams in Hollywood is easier said than done, especially when a writers’ strike coincides with an economic downturn. Did Brian ever think of calling it quits? “Oh yeah, it got to a really dire point. I had a lot lined up—two movies that were possibly going to be made by Paramount and a series on VH-1—and then everything went away. It all disappeared,” he remembers. “I had to learn that the nature of being an actor in Hollywood is unpredictable. You have to enjoy the work for what it is and budget out the pay. Being an actor has required me to adjust to the circumstances instead of letting the circumstances control me. I had to work extremely hard at sticking with acting because I don’t have any other skill sets,” he jokes.
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..................................................... FEATURES
The Gift of Flexibility Brian credits his Country Day experience with exposing him to unique ideas and perspectives. “In Hollywood, there are business deals going on everywhere and it’s all based on unpredictability. Everyone is pitching themselves and their ideas to get into a work situation. Country Day gave me the gift of flexibility for situations changing and that gift has allowed me to experience myself in a lot of different ways.” For example, Brian’s willingness to try out unique experiences led to his affiliation with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where he still performs a weekly improv show (it’s also where actress/comedian Amy Poehler was one of his teachers). “It was discovering the world of improv that gave me the voice, inspiration, and training to become an actor. I never did formal training in university or at any kind of acting school. Again, I think it was being open to the alternatives that led me into acting. If I had gone to drama school, I would have been intimidated and bummed out by all the egos,” he says.
What has Brian learned about himself in making a living in one of the most unforgiving cities in America? “I’m definitely drawn to the type of material that you see me in,” he says. “When it comes to being an actor, you can only fudge so much
anger, or desire—and then letting the audience make a judgment about my character later.” The childhood dreams Brian Huskey proclaimed in his second-grade speech for Mrs. Yopp have come true. Young Brian,
“In Hollywood, there are business deals
going on everywhere and it’s all based on unpredictability. Everyone is pitching themselves and their ideas to get into a work situation. Country Day gave me the gift of flexibility for situations changing and that gift has allowed me to experience myself in a lot of different ways.”
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because of the physical package that you’re in, but then there’s also your personality to consider,” he explains. “These days, I know my skill set well enough to know whether I’ll be able to bring something to the role. The feedback I receive is that I give off a normal guy persona who also has an unpredictable explosiveness and a bit of repression inside. I really enjoy playing someone with tension—be it insecurity,
who dreamed of being a comedian, has gone on to have other teachers in his life, including Amy Poehler. He has worked in numerous projects with Seth Rogen and Will Ferrell, and now works with Saturday Night Live alums such as writer Norm Hiscock and actress Ana Gasteyer on People of Earth. It goes to show that with hard work and dedication, you can reach for the stars.
INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS “I loved teachers who exposed me to multiple ideas and who were accessible to all of us. In the four years that I had Mr. (Rob) Williams for art, he always played music while we worked. Mr. (Gary) Sullivan talked to us about literary art movements in sync with events in world history such as the Cold War and WWII; he cracked my head open, stirred up my brain, and taught me that nothing exists in a vacuum. And he made me mix tapes of his favorite indie music, which is pretty cool.”
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PERSPECTIVES
ALUMNI MATTERS
5 WAYS
BUCSCONNECT CAN BE A RESOURCE FOR YOU
We recently launched BucsConnect, a networking platform created especially for alumni, parents of alumni, and current and former faculty/staff. Here’s a sampling of features and benefits. Learn more at bucsconnect.org.
1
Search for a mentor to guide you in developing your career and leadership skills. (OR offer to serve as a mentor)
2
Get advice preparing your resume or prepping for interviews. (OR answer questions about resumes/your profession)
3
Connect with alumni who can introduce you to key contacts in your field. (OR introduce others to your business network)
4
Find a roommate or housing in your current/future city of residence. (OR find a renter for your house/condo/apartment)
5
Meet up with alumni living nearby who enjoy similar interests. (OR share info about what’s happening in your neighborhood)
All alumni, parents of alumni, and current and former faculty/staff are invited to join. Sign up today at bucsconnect.org.
You can sign up in less than two minutes by importing your LinkedIn or Facebook profile.
More than 300 members are already willing to be mentors. Share your knowledge, skills, and connections.
Find a job or internship.
Network with more than 5,500 community members in hundreds of locations and professions.
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ALUMNI MATTERS
ALUMNI EVENTS
Home for the Holidays
Atlanta Gathering
In November, we hosted a gathering at the home of Cameron and Stuart Sherrill ’92, pictured here with Head of School Mark Reed, Jonsie Evans ’95, and Stuart’s brother and Country Day Trustee Glenn Sherrill ’89.
Members of the Class of 2013 and their parents gathered for “Home for the Holidays” at Providence Road Sundries on December 20, 2016, including Carley Tucker, Mattie Newson, and Elizabeth Beltz.
Alumni Basketball Game Caroline Allbert and Sherri McGirt, parent of 2013 classmate Reid Farber.
Basketball alumni played in the annual Alumni Basketball Game over the Thanksgiving holiday. Next year, the alumni game will be played on the Saturday of Homecoming Weekend. Stay tuned for more details.
Alumni Legacy Family Cookout
Sisters Samantha Hance Bosco ’90, Lindsay Hance McCullough ’93, Meredith Hance McBride ’97, and their children attended the Alumni Legacy Family Cookout in September.
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PERSPECTIVES
Jennifer Pollard Wright ’96 with her sons Lucas, Weldon, and Brooks.
ALUMNI MATTERS
75th ANNIVERSARY
Alumni Art Show
As part of our 75th anniversary celebration, Country Day curated an Alumni Art Show to showcase our deep legacy of creative expression. The show featured works by alumni artists from the classes of 1973– 2016 and a variety of media and subject matter. Hundreds of art enthusiasts, including alumni, parents of alumni, retired faculty, and current students and parents, attended the Artists’ Reception hosted by Friends of the Arts on February 24.
The Sasz family was involved in the show in many ways. Nancy Hanes Sasz ’85 was a participating artist; daughter, Patsy (9th grade), was the subject in the photograph (shown) by Katherine Davis Brooks ’85; and Sally (12th grade), who currently serves as the president of Country Day’s National Arts Honor Society, guided tours of the Hance Fine Arts Center before the reception. Husband/dad Steve rounded it out as a guest.
Madison Letts ’15 (artist) was joined by her proud family including her grandmother, Betsy Brand, who served on the 75th Anniversary Planning Committee in 2015–16, and her parents, Kenny and Elizabeth Brand Letts ’88.
The Class of 1973 was well represented both as artists and guests. Among those in attendance were Holly Hitchens Patton (artist), Debbie Smith, Pam Pardue Goode (artist), Gay Chapman Vann, Pinkney Herbert (artist), Judd McAdams, and Martha Jane Poisson.
Participating artist Charlotte Woolf ’08, who lives in New York City and was unable to attend, shared a photo (taken by her mother, Melissa Woolf) on Instagram of her classmates Elizabeth Bernstein, Vicky Waldthausen, Audrey Singer, Jocelyn Cassada, and Emily Ransone, who came out to support her.
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ALUMNI MATTERS
April 28/29 2017
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF COMMUNITYandCONNECTION BBQ & Oyster Roast
SATURDAY APRIL 29
12:00PM 2:00 PM
ATHLETIC PAVILION, CANNON CAMPUS
Gather with many generations of Country Day students, parents, and faculty/staff for a family friendly community celebration in honor of our 75th anniversary. Enjoy delicious food, live music by the Inlaws Band, and activities for children. Purchase your tickets online by April 21.
See the full schedule of events and register to attend: charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend
Whether it’s been days or decades since you last stepped on campus, Country Day’s 75th anniversary is the perfect time to come together to celebrate what makes our school so exceptional—our community of leaders, thinkers, and doers. We hope you will join us for this special time of connection.
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PERSPECTIVES
FEATURING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS OF ALUMNI, AND FACULTY/STAFF
CLASS NOTES
CLASS NOTES 1962
Our apologies to Madeline Anderson Finney for misprinting a class note published in the summer 2015 issue of Perspectives. Madeline did not remarry—it was her children, Jane and Harrison, who remarried.
1963 Nancy Main Linsley is enjoying retirement and world traveling with her husband, Clyde. They visit their son and his family in Gastonia, North Carolina, several times a year.
1964 Boyce Lineberger Ansley – see memorial on page 44. The Class of 1964 offers our deepest sympathy to Carol Vulgan Motil and her family for the passing of her mother, Elizabeth Vulgan, on July 1, 2016.
1965 James Love’s grandson and namesake, James Love, was born on September 27, 2016, in Brooklyn, New York.
1972 REUNION TIME! The Class of 1972 will celebrate our 45th Class Reunion on April 29. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend for details. The Class of 1972 offers our sincere condolences to Paul Bell and his family for the loss of his father, Paul Bell Sr., on January 20, 2017.
1973
1980
After spending most of last year working as a field project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders at the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Northern Tanzania, Chip Hunter and his wife, Katie, took a vacation to ski in the Alps for a couple of months.
The Class of 1980 offers our sincere condolences to Ann Fleming Bourgeois and her family for the loss of her mother, Helen Fleming, on September 23, 2016.
1974 The Class of 1974 offers our deepest sympathy to Morris Bell and his family for the loss of his father, Paul Bell Sr., on January 20, 2017. Lucinda Nisbet Lucas is working on her second album with producer Jason Scavone and hopes to release it later this spring. lucindalucas.com
1976 The Class of 1976 offers our sincere condolences to Tom Smith and his family for the loss of his mother, Maureen Smith, on January 14, 2017.
1977
Marcus Hayes’ brother, Tim, suffered a massive stroke on December 23 and has been in the intensive care unit and progressive care unit since that time. Marcus is currently staying in Texas with Tim, while his wife, Meg, handles the day-to-day operations of Hayes Law. Unfortunately, Tim did not have health insurance, but friends have set up a Go Fund Me campaign to help with his medical bills. Marcus asks that you please keep Tim and their family in your prayers. Libby Miller Kelligrew has a six-year-old child and a child going to college next year, so there’s never a dull moment in their household. Bruce Robertson passed away on April 30, 2016, at his home in Sarasota, Florida.
REUNION TIME! The Class of 1977 will celebrate our 40th Class Reunion on April 29. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend for details.
1978 The Class of 1978 offers our deepest sympathy to our classmates and their families who lost loved ones in recent months. Paul Bell Sr., father of Betsy Bell Liles, passed away on January 20, 2017. Colleen Smith Turner’s mother, Maureen Smith, passed away on January 14, 2017. Joel Martin is proud to announce the opening of his wife Angel’s furniture shop, Madison on Main, in Pineville, North Carolina. The store features repurposed furniture by several local artisans.
Mark Uptegraff and his son, Mark Steven Uptegraff ’14, went fishing at the Santee-Cooper Reservoir over the New Year holiday.
1981 The Class of 1981 offers our deepest sympathy to Doug Bell and his family for the loss of his father, Paul Bell Sr., on January 20, 2017.
Al Dickens was the featured alumni speaker at Country Day’s Cum Laude induction ceremony on February 7, 2017. His children, Al Dickens ’11 and Bess Dickens Kelpin ’09, came to campus to hear their father speak.
CLASS OF
1971 REUNION
The Class of 1971 gathered for a reunion in November at the home of Ellen and Rick Verdone. Pictured here (l to r): Spence Swain Durham, Dorsey Tillett Northrup, Bevie Hemby, Jeannie Brown Bickett, and Carolyn Nash Phillips.
Gregg Walker attends seminary and expects to earn a master’s of Divinity in June 2018. His wife, Ann, works for a commercial real estate firm. Their oldest son, Nathan, graduated from UNC-Wilmington in May 2016. Joshua and Eli, their fraternal twin sons, are now sophomores at NC State and Sewanee: The University of the South, respectively.
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CLASS NOTES
1987 Matthew McKelway ’85
HIS VISION BECOMES REALITY
Photo credit: Eileen Barroso
Matthew McKelway, Takeo and Itsuko Atsumi Professor of Japanese Art History at Columbia University and an expert in the history of Japanese painting, was named director of the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Japanese Art in February 2016. The Burke Center was envisioned by Matthew and made a reality by a $13 million gift from the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation for the purpose of advancing the understanding of the art and culture of Japan. Matthew earned his doctorate at Columbia University after studying fine arts and Japanese at Amherst College. A childhood encounter with a Japanese student at Davidson College, where his father taught, was the beginning of his interest in East Asia. Although he fell in love with history and French while at Country Day and at Amherst, the pull of Japan was strong enough to land him there during college and for a total of 10 of the next 30 years. Matthew’s research has focused mainly on the history of Japanese art from the 16th through early 19th centuries. He has published numerous articles and books and is currently co-organizing an exhibition that will open in Zürich in September 2018. Besides teaching at Columbia, Matthew has been a guest professor at the Free University of Berlin, University of Heidelberg, Waseda University, Seijo University, and in spring 2017 is teaching at Columbia’s program at Reid Hall in Paris, where he regularly sees his Country Day French teacher Janine Thoma.
1982 REUNION TIME! The Class of 1982 will celebrate our 35th Class Reunion on April 29. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend for details. The Class of 1982 offers our sincere condolences to Shelley Boulware Schrum and her family for the loss of her father, Bob Boulware, on October 4, 2016.
1983 The Class of 1983 offers our deepest sympathy to our classmates and their families who lost loved ones in recent months. George Fleming’s mother, Helen Fleming, passed away on September 23, 2016. Gene Bumgardner, mother of Sumner Bumgardner, passed away on June 20, 2016.
1984 The Class of 1984 offers our sincere condolences to our classmates and their families who lost loved ones in recent months. Chuck Mauney’s brother, William Mauney ’87, passed away on November 24, 2016. Debbie Ostrow Vitale’s
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father, Paul Ostrow, died peacefully in his home on September 30, 2016. Tracy Mann Larson is excited to be back in private practice at Thrive Center for Personalized Healthcare and Wellness in Charlotte. thrivecarolinas.com
1985 The Class of 1985 offers our sincere condolences to Bobby Boulware and his family for the loss of his father, Bob Boulware, on October 4, 2016.
1986 Natalie Whisenant Conner is now the U.S. representative for Beyond The Orphanage, a nonprofit whose mission is to support, enable, and empower at-risk orphaned children to become self-reliant adults. beyondtheorphanage.org The American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys recognized Greg Plumides as a 2016 10 Best Criminal Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction.
REUNION TIME! The Class of 1987 will celebrate our 30th Class Reunion on April 29. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend for details.
Note from Lauren Appelbaum: “Aloha Kai Ko, I will not be able to attend our 30th reunion and I am sad I will not be able to connect with everyone. I am still teaching social studies at Kealakehe High School, and this is my 17th year teaching for the public school system in Hawaii. Both of my parents have passed. To all my classmates, I hope y’all are thriving as well as your children. If anyone visits Kona, please look me up.” Adam Foodman is co-owner of O2 emc, LLC and the chief operating officer of O2emc, LLC and O2 Energies, Inc., a utility-scale solar energy developer and independent power producer in the Southeast. Brian Huskey – See page 28 for story. William Mauney – See memorial on page 44. Laurie Goldman Smithwick was a featured speaker at TEDxCharlotte in October 2016. Her talk, “You ARE an Idea Person,” explored the subject of ideas. Laurie suggests that ideas are not impulsive, unpredictable, switch-flipping bursts of brilliance. They are, instead, the product of diligence, exploration, and collaborative thinking.
1988 Glenn Bouley is pleased to announce his engagement to Suzette DeCoste. Glenn continues to run a successful family-owned printing and graphics company. He and his fiancé are planning a June 2017 wedding and will reside in Belmont, North Carolina. Stephen Byrum was recently named Charlotte territory manager at Smith Stevenson, a manufacturer’s representative to plumbing manufacturers. Stephen was initially commuting weekdays from Greenville, North Carolina, to Charlotte, but now lives “Fonzie Fonzarelli-style” in the garage apartment of Edwin Peacock. Stephen and his wife, Christine, have two daughters and hope to relocate the family to Charlotte in 2017.
CLASS NOTES husband, Gus, and their son, James Wade Walton (1). “Wade” was born on February 19, 2016, and named in loving memory of Carroll’s brother, Wade Barrow Rogers ’87.
1991
The Class of 1988 offers our sincere condolences to Molly Mauney Warren and her family for the loss of her brother, William Mauney ’87, on November 24, 2016. Jason Levergood and Miako Smith were married in Middleburg, Virginia, last fall, with fellow classmates, Garrett Erdle, Brian O’Leary, and Edwin Peacock, present. Jason’s sister, Elizabeth Levergood George ’85 was a bridesmaid. Jason is a director with Grant Thornton International, and Miako is an executive with Google. They live in Brooklyn, New York.
1989 The Class of 1989 offers our deepest sympathy to Joan Fleming Lamb and her family for the loss of her mother, Helen Fleming, on September 23, 2016.
David and Kirsten Mahoney Abbott welcomed their first child, Ingrid Lundin Abbott, on October 4, 2016.
1990
Tim Barker and his wife, Courtney, launched a new business, Veraison Wine and Events. Their storefront in Vancouver, Washington, opened in August.
The Class of 1990 offers our sincere condolences to Sara Burnett Hart for the passing of her father, Harry Burnett, on September 9, 2016.
Tracy McCaskill Singer and her husband, Ron, recently moved into a new home in the Eastover neighborhood of Charlotte. Three years ago, Tracy and Ron welcomed into the world their precious daughter, Payton Singer, who joined older sisters, Emmye and Olivia Crawford.
Kimberly Kelly Snipes lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband, Bryan, and daughter Madison (2). She has assumed the position of CIO for USAA Bank.
Oscar-winning songwriter (“Let It Go”, Frozen) Kristen Anderson-Lopez continues to stay busy balancing a successful career and family. She co-created In Transit, Broadway’s first a cappella musical which opened in December. She and three other composer-lyricists first came up with the idea for a “theatricappella” show after singing together in an a cappella group in 1999 and 2000. Kristen and her husband, Robert Lopez, are currently working with Disney Studios on another animated feature film, Gigantic, and a Broadway production of Frozen, as well as on a personal project, a musical titled Up Here.
Alicia Morris-Rudd has been nominated to be the president-elect of the Junior League of Charlotte (JLC). Founded in 1926, the JLC is made up of nearly 2,000 Charlotte-area women and has provided more than 1.5 million hours of volunteer service and more than $13.5 million to the community. Brad Treat and his wife, Kristen, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Noelle Marie Treat (“Ellie”) on August 17, 2016.
The Class of 1991 offers our deepest sympathy to John Boulware and his family for the loss of his father, Bob Boulware, on October 4, 2016.
1992 REUNION TIME! The Class of 1992 will celebrate our 25th Class Reunion on April 29. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend for details. The Class of 1992 offers our deepest sympathy to MC Belk Pilon for the passing of her mother, Claudia Belk, on February 8, 2017. Claudia was a former Country Day trustee and former member of the Board of Visitors. In addition to Country Day, she provided support and leadership to numerous other charitable and community organizations throughout Charlotte and North Carolina. Jenny Hall Robeson and John Linn ’94 have teamed up again at HIFU Prostate Services (HPS) to bring a recently cleared FDA treatment for prostate cancer, to the U.S. market in partnerships with urology groups. HIFU, which stands for high-intensity focused ultrasound, offers patients an effective, outpatient prostate cancer treatment that preserves quality of life that is often compromised with surgery and radiation. HPS has 12 treatment facilities across the United States including one in Charlotte. John and Jenny worked together from 2006–2012 at SonaCare Medical, the manufacturer of this technology. John founded HPS in 2015 and serves as the CEO, while Jenny serves as the chief sales officer. hifuprostateservices.com
Carroll Rogers Walton co-wrote Ballplayer with former Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones. Carroll was a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for 20 years. She now lives in Charlotte with her
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CLASS NOTES
1994 Wilson Walker ’94
ONE-MAN NEWS TEAM Armed with a laptop, camera, an adventurous spirit, and inquisitive mind, Wilson Walker ’94 is a one-man news team covering a wide variety of stories in San Francisco and across California. While his focus is regional, his work often addresses larger trends and movements across the U.S. After graduating from Davidson College with a BA in history, Wilson spent the first years of his news career behind the scenes as a producer for various stations. Five years ago, he took on a new challenge as a multimedia journalist responsible for shooting, writing, and editing all of his own stories. Wilson describes the transition, “My boss had our chief photographer give me a one-week crash course in photography and editing. I had no idea at the time, but it was a life-changing moment. Suddenly, I was off to every bizarre corner of California assembling stories and learning about things that absolutely fascinate me.” Wilson has covered the Occupy movement, the 2014 South Napa Earthquake, the broad effects of the San Francisco tech explosion, the Bay Bridge, the Bay Lights, and three Super Bowls. He’s also put a lot of effort into covering California’s major drought in recent years. “The drought affects people’s lives in so many ways,” Wilson shares, “and through my work, I’ve managed to break a number of different stories that were subsequently picked up by other media outlets around the world. It’s very rewarding when your work helps shape a larger conversation.” Wilson earned two Emmys for his coverage of the 2007 Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo and the city’s “Batkid” event in 2013. He has also received two Mark Twain Awards from the Associated Press. Thinking about his last 17 years, Wilson shares, “As a kid, I was really into current events, politics, history, and what I would loosely define as rhetoric. Making a career out of it happened completely by accident. Journalism is a great line of work for people who aren’t afraid to get rapturously interested in something. The other big part is people. Politicians, the rich and famous, regular folks, and convicted murderers in San Quentin—people are amazing, and you get to meet all of them.”
Nancy Hechenbleikner Coley, and her husband, Cam, welcomed their first daughter, Stella, on October 3, 2016. Big brothers Richard, Michael, and Charles were thrilled to add one more to the Coley clan. Sarah Nichols Hughes is now senior director of Development at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Scout & Molly’s, a women’s boutique founded by Lisa Kornstein Kaufman (now COO/creative director), was recently recognized as the fastest-growing retail franchise in the country. Lisa opened the first Scout & Molly’s boutique in Raleigh in 2002. The franchise includes 30 stores with 10 more slotted to open by the end of April 2017 in 23 different states. Additionally, they have 100 units sold and 70 franchisees across the country. scoutandmollys.com John Linn – See Jenny Hall Robeson ’92 note.
1995 Jaime Hinsdale Foster was one of 20 honorees in Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40” 2016 class, which recognizes the state’s best and brightest. Jaime is the founder and owner of Georgia Grinders Premium Nut Butters.
1997 REUNION TIME! The Class of 1997 will celebrate our 20th Class Reunion on April 29. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend for details. Regan and Marshall Wood welcomed a daughter, Charlotte Palmer Wood, on March 1, 2016.
1998
1992 Continued in the series, “Ties That Bind: 1000 Hours of Women’s Work,” visualizes the lives of 47 women who tracked the hours they spend on paid work and unpaid work. Made of 1,000 handmade tiles each representing an hour of time worked, the sculpture was assembled in a public performance at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, in San Francisco, on September 23, 2016. carrying-stones.com
1993 The Carrying Stones Project, created by Katie Sawyer Rose, a sculpture and metalwork artist working in the San Francisco Bay Area, is an ongoing series of sculpture, performance, and social practice works that explores gendered work inequality in its many forms. Her first major work
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Will Bigham and Shaw Kuester are working together to revitalize Main Street Fort Mill, South Carolina. Will, owner of The Pizza Peel, the Flying Biscuit Café, and the Improper Pig in Charlotte, plans to bring a 3,000-square-foot restaurant to Kuester Cos.’ Main Street development.
Cam Buchanan and his wife, Spencer, joyfully announce the birth of their son, Cameron Criswell Buchanan (“Wells”), on September 7, 2016.
CLASS NOTES
1999
Ward Gibson married Rachel Newbery on December 31, 2016, at St. Marks United Methodist Church in Charlotte. Walt Hutchinson, Mark Pelshak, and Jason Shroff were groomsmen, and Derek Barker ’99, Matt Cochrane, and Michelle Goryn were in attendance.
C.C. Davis, his wife, Jalisia, and their daughter, Chloe (4), welcomed a baby girl, Ava, in June.
Sarah and Ben Dobson welcomed a son, Benjamin Samuel Dobson Jr. (“Sam”), to their family on August 15, 2016. He joins sisters Ellie (K) and Kate.
Nancy Donaldson Gauss ’01
VISUAL STORYTELLER Adrienne Plyler Johnson and her husband, Matthew, welcomed a son, Sawyer Beckham Johnson, on September 5, 2016. Sawyer joins his (very proud) big brother, Stone Ellis.
Ellen and Stewart Peery are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Rebecca Lorraine Peery, on June 3, 2016. Anand Shah and his wife, Deepika, have been married for eight years and have a son, Adi (2). They recently relocated to the Washington, DC, area. Nick Spain and his wife, Jamie Pentolino, welcomed their first child, Jackson Dylan Spain, in May 2016. Marni Strumwasser was promoted to executive director, Global Head of Legal Recruiting at JP Morgan Chase.
If you’re perusing The New York Times (NYT) online, you just might be watching the work of Nancy Donaldson Gauss ’01. As executive director for video, Nancy works with a large team to report and produce video stories, develop new series, and coordinate large-scale projects. “It’s an exciting, but challenging, time to be a visual storyteller,” Nancy explains, “Journalism and media have been through tremendous, constant change over the last decade. The way that people consume news has evolved dramatically, both in terms of the platforms where we tell stories and the technology we use to tell them.” To remain at the forefront, Nancy and her team are constantly exploring new ways of reporting, such as using virtual reality and 360 degree video as part of their interactive projects. The photography and English classes Nancy took at Country Day certainly sparked her interest in storytelling through images and words; however, her biggest inspiration came from experiencing her Shakespeare teacher, Mary Allen Todd, demonstrate such contagious passion for her subject matter. Nancy admits, “I went to college not knowing what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, but I knew that I wanted to feel as strongly about my work as Ms. Todd felt about teaching Shakespeare. When I began to recognize the potential for me to develop that kind of passion for photojournalism, I knew it was a worthwhile pursuit, despite not knowing where it would take me.” Well, it’s taken her quite far in just over a decade. After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2005 with a BA in journalism, Nancy has worked her way up the multimedia journalism ranks at some of the most well-respected news media groups and publications, including the NYT, CNN and The Washington Post. Since 2007, she has been nominated every year for a national News & Documentary Emmy and won twice. Her work has been recognized by World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year International, Peabody, Scripps Howard, and The Alfred I. du Pont Awards. She also leads international and national journalism workshops and teaches courses at The International Center for Photography in New York City.
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CLASS NOTES 1999 Continued
2003 In November 2016, Thomas Cluderay started a new job as general counsel of Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park (yellowstone.org), and now splits his time between Washington, DC, and Montana accordingly.
Hal and Ensley Parkinson Mahoney joyfully announce the birth of their daughter, Fallon Marie Mahoney, on September 28, 2016.
Brittany Brackett Luther, her husband, Derek, and big brothers William (4) and Charlie (2), welcomed Anna-Brackett Luther on May 3, 2016.
Tyler Hager opened a fifth CharBar No. 7 restaurant in Southern Pines, North Carolina, in August.
Rebecca and David McPhail were blessed with a baby girl, Anne Stewart McPhail, on March 1, 2016.
2002 REUNION TIME! The Class of 2002 will celebrate our 15th Class Reunion on April 29. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend for details.
Mary Lindsey Warren Severs and her husband, Brad, welcomed their first child, Mary Henley Severs (“Henley”), on May 4, 2016.
2004
2000 Clary Hilliard Gray and her mother, Liz, have expanded their business, Hilliard Studio Method, online. They launched a new Web site that allows users to live-stream classes. HSM is known for their core-focused, low-impact, Pilates-like workouts that incorporate weights and resistance training. Jeremy and Caroline Anderson Jinkins announce the birth of their second child, Anderson Michael Jinkins, in May 2016. After his birth, the family of four moved to Atlanta. Phillip McLamb and Slates Snider are opening a brewery, Resident Culture, in an old warehouse in Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood. They’ve brought in Chris Tropeano from Russian River Brewing to be the head brewer and are targeting a May opening.
Chris and Rainey Barnett Carey welcomed another daughter, Sarah Sellars Carey (“Sellars”), on August 2, 2016. Big sister, Birdie, adores her little sister!
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Cindy Hlavacek graduated from medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill in May 2016. She matched into general surgery and is now a resident physician at Brookwood Baptist Health in Birmingham, Alabama. Evan Kridler and his wife, Kira, announce the birth of their son, a beautiful boy Camden Jeffrey Kridler (“C.J.”) on May 29, 2016.
Asa Edwards is an attorney with Maginnis Law in Raleigh focusing on commercial litigation, employment law, and consumer protection. He was recently appointed to serve as North Carolina chairman for the National Association of Consumer Advocates, a nonprofit association comprised of more than 1,800 attorneys throughout the United States who represent consumers victimized by fraudulent, abusive, and predatory business practices.
2001
Trent Hawthorne spoke to the Class of 2017 and their parents at Country Day’s Senior Convocation in September. Along with Trent’s family, two of his former teachers, Ed Kelly and Mike Fresina, came to campus to hear him speak.
Katherine Wood Melvin and Charles Melvin were overjoyed to welcome their second daughter, Lucy Laney Watson Melvin, to their family on May 22, 2016. Big sister, Barrett, is adjusting quite well to her new role.
Leah Brown Wood and her husband, Jonathan, are pleased to announce the birth of their son, James Murphy Wood. James was born December 5, 2016, weighing eight pounds, six ounces. The Wood family resides in New Orleans and enjoyed celebrating baby’s first Mardi Gras in February.
Caroline McGuire married Trey Winslett on May 21, 2016, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. The wedding party included Beth Kentner Brinkman, Jessica Smith Brush, Katie Beaver Debnam, David Kridler ’03, Will McGuire ’06, Lee Norelli Pedersen, and Vance Witman ’03. The newlyweds reside in Charlotte where Caroline is a senior wealth strategy associate for Rankin Wealth Management at UBS Financial Services, Inc. and Trey is a director in Investment Grade Credit Strategy at Wells Fargo Financial Services, Inc.
CLASS NOTES Conner Marx produced and starred in the political thriller If There’s a Hell Below, which premiered at the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Conner was also named Best Actor at the 2016 International Online Web Fest for the series Phoenix Run.
Candace Hutchins Price and her husband, Andrew, welcomed their first child, Thomas Henry Price (“Henry”), on May 12, 2016.
Ryan Singhi, MD, was selected for subspecialty fellowship training in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Brooks Whiteside was named one of Charlotte Agenda’s Top 30 Under 30, which recognizes young professionals making an impact in the Charlotte community.
2006
Francie Rudolph founded FR Custom Catering, a full-service, boutique catering company in Charlotte.
Meredith Ashcraft Schulz and her husband, Jonathan, were blessed with a daughter, Eleanor Rose Schulz, on January 1, 2016.
Davis and Annie Smith Warlick joyfully announce the birth of their son, Anderson Davis Warlick III. He was born on July 19, 2016, weighing seven pounds, one ounce, and was 20 1/2 inches long. The family resides in Charlotte.
2005
Tucker Griffith and Caroline Burton ’07 were married on April 9, 2016, at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte. The wedding party included the groom’s brothers Jimmy Griffith ’04 and Pender Griffith ’14, his classmates Devon LoParo and Adam Specker, the bride’s sister, Emily Burton Kasprak ’04, and her classmates Carver Morrow Draughn ’07, Meghan Sweeney Huff ’07, and Abigail James ’07. The mother of the groom is Anne Pender Griffith ’77. The couple resides in Charlotte.
2007 Hayes Ashcraft married Kathryn Harris on May 14, 2016, in Charlotte. The wedding party included Tommy D’Alessandro, Henry Gass, Austin Monahan, and Andrew Shaw, as well as sister of the groom Meredith Ashcraft Schulz ’04. The couple resides in Atlanta, where Hayes is an associate with Guggenheim Securities, Investment Banking and Kathryn is a graphic designer with Carter's. Pictured (left to right): Mark Ethridge, Drew Wittman, Bryan Ives, Michael Tate, Austin Monahan, Emma McCrossan, Kathryn and Hayes Ashcraft, Frank Adams, Elizabeth Foss, Tommy D’Alessandro, Harrison Dawkins, and Andrew Shaw.
REUNION TIME! The Class of 2007 will celebrate our 10th Class Reunion on April 29. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend for details.
Kelsey Caldwell Alexander, and her husband, Derrick, are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Coy Derrick Caldwell. Coy was born on November 27, 2016, at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, weighing six pounds and was 20 inches long. Caroline Burton – See Tucker Griffith ’06 note.
2008
Lovell Holder co-wrote and directed Loserville, his feature film debut now available online and by video on demand. The film, featuring numerous TV and movie stars, follows a dorky high school senior named Chuck as he navigates a rather complicated senior year. The production team included Tony Award winner Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy), and the editor was Oscar winner Richard Halsey (Rocky, Edward Scissorhands). loservillefilm.com
Jody Clark Geary and her husband, Will, welcomed a baby girl, Jennie Luck Geary, on December 19, 2016.
Kacie Blue, a certified technology tutor and Apple support professional, recently founded Current Tech, a personal technology consulting service located in Charlotte that educates clients about their communication devices and how to let technology work best for their everyday needs. currentclt.com Dan Paustian was a top-five finalist on the 2016 season of the competitive cooking show MasterChef.
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CLASS OF
2011 REUNION
2008 Continued
Katie Plyler married Jesse Mendes on June 18, 2016, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. The wedding party included maid of honor, Caroline Plyler ’12, groomsman, Will Plyler ’12, and bridesmaids Lillie Cochran, Julia Ehringhaus, and Becca Ratcliffe. Jocelyn Cassada and Mary Brown Taylor served as ceremony readers. The couple honeymooned at Sea Island, Georgia, and currently resides in Grenada, where Jesse attends medical school.
Charlotte Woolf is working toward a MFA in visual arts at SUNY Purchase School of Art+Design. Last fall, her work was included in SlowExposures, an annual juried exhibition celebrating photography of the rural south in Concord, Georgia. Charlotte was also chosen as a feature photographer for the Human Body Issue of F Stop Magazine. (Check out her interview here: fstopmagazine. com/charlotte_woolf.) This semester, she’s teaching digital photography to SUNY undergrads. Charlotte continues to freelance, working as a photographer for The Harlem Movement Theatre Company and as a photo assistant to Photo District News’ Top 30, Frances F. Denny.
Jenna Bernstein recently earned a master’s of arts in strategic communication from American University. She lives in Washington, DC, and works as a client relations associate at DDC.
2009
Olivia Haworth married Alex Scott Dial on November 19, 2016, in the LDS Oquirrh Mountain Temple. The couple lives in his hometown, South Jordan, Utah, where Olivia teaches first grade.
2012 REUNION TIME! The Class of 2012 will celebrate our 5th Class Reunion on April 29. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniWeekend for details. Bess Dickens and Peter Kelpin were married on April 16, 2016, in Charlotte. Her bridesmaids included Country Day classmates Anna Scott Ferree, Lindsay Miller, Betsy Bryan Pitts, Tricia Teter, and Alexa Valenstein. Bess and Peter met at Davidson College and now reside in Charlotte.
Alison Schiffli and Curt Orshoski were married on June 18, 2016, at Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte. The couple lives in Washington, DC, where Alison works for global public relations firm Burson-Marsteller, and Curt works at a law firm while finishing his law degree at George Mason University School of Law.
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2011 The Class of 2011 celebrated our 5th Class Reunion on November 26, 2016. View reunion photos online.
Katie Daniel graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in December 2015, with a degree in psychology and management in society. She works as a research associate in a neuropsychology lab at Duke University. Will Davis created and directed the original stage production And Then: A Science Fiction Folk Event, which ran in August 2016 at the Theater at the 14th Street Y as a part of FringeNY.
CLASS NOTES Bryan Erb graduated from Case Western Reserve in May 2016, with a degree in chemical engineering. During his senior year, Bryan set a school record for the most touchdown receptions in a season and he was named UAA President’s Council Academic Athlete for the second year in a row. Bryan recently accepted a position with DeNora in their research and development division. Geard Fossett is working toward a master’s of healthcare administration at UNC-Chapel Hill. Raina Johnson graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina in May 2016, with a bachelor’s of science in business administration and management. She spent the summer in Vietnam teaching seventh and eighth grade math and coached soccer. She also had the opportunity to travel to Southeast Asia, visiting Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. This fall she started working as a sales and marketing representative with Techtronic Industries in Miami, Florida. Lawson Joyner graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2016 and works as an enterprise technology consultant for Oracle in Los Angeles.
Thomas Jackson ’14
WALK-ON TO SCHOLARSHIP ATHLETE Thomas has progressed from childhood fan, to walk-on wide receiver, to scholarship athlete, to making game-winning plays for the Tar Heels. As a freshman, Thomas joined the football team as a walk-on prior to the 2014 season. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, he became a scholarship athlete his junior year. Coach Larry Fedora said, “He tries extremely hard all of the time. He’s going to give you his best effort. That’s why he got put on scholarship this year.” Thomas continued to prove himself throughout the season. On October 1, he gained national attention for his 34-yard touchdown reception, which gave the then unranked Tar Heels a 34–28 lead over Florida State, in what turned out to be an upset for the 12th ranked Seminoles. Thomas wears No. 48, the same number as his dad, David, who also played for UNC as a defensive back for two seasons and captain of the 1969 team.
2013 The Class of 2013 gathered together for “Home for the Holidays” at Providence Road Sundries on December 20, 2016. Visit the alumni Web site to view photos. Last summer, Alex Kim studied chemical engineering and French through the IPL International Summer School at CPE Lyon. Judith Cohen was selected as one of the top ten “Outstanding Seniors” at Vanderbilt University and recognized during halftime of the Homecoming Game this past fall. She is pursuing an individually designed major in cross-cultural communication and Romance languages with minors in corporate strategy and Italian. Judith aims to work in advertising, brand consulting, or human rights, though ultimately intends to fuse this work to propose creative solutions for greater human rights issues.
2016 William Byron dominated NASCAR’s Truck Series regular season in 2016, winning a rookie-record five races. In August, Hendrick Motorsports announced a multiyear driver agreement with William, which included a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series ride. For the 2017 season, he has signed to drive the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. williambyron.com
Carter McKaughn plans to work as a tax associate for Grant Thornton beginning fall 2017. With high hopes of passing the CPA exam, he later plans to move to a larger city, such as Atlanta.
2014 Akanimo Eyo starred in the Syfy film Isle of the Dead, which premiered on August 18. Jocelyn Purdie was selected as a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the nation’s largest leadership honor society, by Queen’s University.
Before heading to the University of Pennsylvania, Cabir Kansupada presented his research, “copper(I) complexes with an N-heterocyclic thione (NHT) ligand derived from caffeine,” alongside PhDs and graduate students at the American Chemical Society Conference in Philadelphia, on August 24, 2016. The presentation was based on his research at UNC-Charlotte during summer 2015.
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CLASS NOTES
In Memoriam We are deeply saddened by the loss of the following Charlotte Country Day School alumni.
Alumni Boyce Lineberger Ansley ’64 passed away on June 20, 2016. She graduated from Hollins College in 1968, after which she moved to Atlanta. Everything that Boyce touched was the beneficiary of her enormous heart. She was a firm believer in philanthropy and in giving back of her time, her energy, her funds, and her wisdom, and she raised the bar for all. She was a natural leader and instinctive fundraiser; as a consequence, she was in demand by the many organizations whose purposes were aligned with her varied interests. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Boyce was awarded the American Historic Preservation Award from the Garden Club of America and the Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award by both the Georgia and National Societies of Fundraising Executives. The Trust for Public Land recently named Boyce as the 2016 Conservation Champion. She lived her life to the fullest with integrity, grace, courage, and tremendous humor, as well as a little-known penchant for writing poetry. In addition to her husband, Shepard, she is survived by daughters Anna Ansley Davis and Poncie Bryan Ansley, both of Atlanta, as well as many relatives with connections to Country Day.
SHARE YOUR NEWS
Submit a Class Note online at charlottecountryday.org/classnote, or contact your Class Agent.
1966 - Millie Dalton Cox - milliedcox@gmail.com 1972 - Dorothy Tull Mothershead - dotmothershead@gmail.com 1980 - Katherine Edwards - keedwards@live.com 1980 - Karen Culbreth Weatherly - kweatherly@charlottenc.gov 1981 - Alice Griffin Shrader - aliceshrader@gmail.com 1982 - Chip Knox - charles@knoxgroupinc.com 1982 - Wanda Culbreth Townsend - wandatownsend@parkerpoe.com 1983 - Betsy Downs McIntyre - betsydownsmcintyre@gmail.com 1984 - Debbie Ostrow Vitale - dovnc@aol.com 1985 - Nancy Hanes Sasz - nancysasz@icloud.com 1986 - Melissa Gibson Estes - mgibsonestes@carolina.rr.com 1987 - Jimmy Flowers -jflowers4189@gmail.com. 1987 - Laurie Goldman Smithwick - laurie@leapdesign.com 1988 - Edwin Peacock - edwin.peacock@nmfn.com 1989 - Melia Northcott Hunt - meliahunt@msn.com 1990 - Mary Beth Tice McIntyre - marybeth@belleproperties.com 1991 - Steven Cole - cole.steven@icloud.com 1992 - Jenny Hall Robeson - jennyhall1@yahoo.com 1993 - Jaime Morris Pearman - jaimepearman@carolina.rr.com 1994 - Sarah Nichols Hughes - snichughes@gmail.com 1995 - Jill Triana - jtriana76@gmail.com
William Mauney ’87 passed away unexpectedly on November 24, 2016, in Greenville, South Carolina. Will received a BA from Lees-McRae College and worked in the commercial lighting industry in Greenville. He loved the mountains and spent most of his early career in Banner Elk, North Carolina, working in the outdoor industry involved in golf, snowboarding, and white-water rafting. He also loved baseball and one of his greatest joys was taking his son to games. Will is survived by his wife, Allyson Mauney; son, Jacob Mauney; brother, Chuck Mauney ’84; and sister, Molly Mauney Warren ’88.
1996 - Karen Hutchinson Ridout - karen.ridout@charlottecountryday.org 1997 - David Walker - davidbwalker@gmail.com 1997 - Betsy Currie Zarzour - betsyzarzour@gmail.com 1998 - Holly Walker Hunter - ehwhunter@gmail.com 1999 - Logan Chalk Foose - lfoose@cchrealtors.com 2000 - Kara Hager - kara.hager@gmail.com 2001 - Amanda Lemonds Tomlinson - amandaltomlinson12@gmail.com 2002 - Brantley Anders Templeton - brantley.templeton@gmail.com 2003 - Blakely Offutt Infante - blakely.offutt@gmail.com 2003 - Ivan Mothershead - imothershead@gmail.com 2004 - Sarah Bell Farber - sarah.b.farber@gmail.com
In Memoriam listings in this issue include notices received by the Office of Alumni Relations between May 16, 2016–December 31, 2016.
2005 - Caroline Henderson Dowd - henderson.caroline1@gmail.com 2006 - Sarah Schweppe - sarah.schweppe@wellsfargoadvisors.com 2007 - Carver Morrow Draughn - carvermorrow@gmail.com 2008 - Anne Howard Dooley - annehowarddooley@gmail.com 2009 - Caroline Davis - carolinelenoradavis@gmail.com 2010 - Gatesy Hill - shghill@gmail.com 2011 - Lindsey Freedman - lfreedman11@gmail.com 2012 - Alli Smith - smithal1@sewanee.edu 2013 - Caroline Allbert - ceallbert@gmail.com 2014 - Megan Schlernitzauer - m.schlernitzauer14@gmail.com 2015 - Shannon Baker - shanbake@live.unc.edu 2016 - Lucy Pedlow - lpedlow12@gmail.com Don’t see a Class Agent for your year? Consider serving as your Class Agent or in another alumni volunteer role. Visit charlottecountryday.org/AlumniVolunteer for more details.
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PERSPECTIVES
BUCSNOTES A ROUND-UP OF FUN FACTS EVERY BUC MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW.
6
The number of buildings on Cannon Campus in 1960 when the school moved to its permanent home. Fairview Road did not exist and we truly were a school in the country.
5,638
The number of current alumni, who span seven decades of Country Day pride. And they’re all invited back for Alumni Weekend, April 28–29. See page 34 for details.
49
The number of “Country Day Firsts” highlighted on our special 75th anniversary Web site, beginning with our founding as the first area independent school in 1941. Check it out at charlottecountryday.org/ CountryDay75.
12
The number of Heads of School over the past 75 years. Margaret Gragg Bissell, our longest serving leader, was recently named Head of School Emeritus (see page 19).
3
The number of variations to our school seal since it was first adopted in 1960. Always present is the acorn, which symbolizes perseverance and hard work.
1960
1981
Current
SPRING 2017
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Nonprofit Org. US Postage
PAI D
Charlotte, NC Permit No. 984
1440 Carmel Road Charlotte, NC 28226-5096 charlottecountryday.org
1,000+ Likes
Oh, what a day! At the All-School Convocation and 75th Anniversary Celebration 1,660 students and 300+ faculty/staff joined together for this aerial photo commemorating our birthday celebration. It was by far our most popular social media post of the year.
