PILLARS - The Episcopal High School Spring 2019 Magazine by EHS Houston

Before the Bell • Giving through Art • Athletics Review

Episcopal High School was founded in 1983 as a four‑year coeducational day school within the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. ACCREDITATION Independent Schools Association of the Southwest MEMBERSHIPS National Association of Independent Schools National Association of Episcopal Schools Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Educational Records Bureau College Board National Association for College Admission Counseling Texas Association for College Admission Counseling Southwest Preparatory Conference MISSION Episcopal High School is an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas established for the purpose of providing a superior education in preparation for college and a significant life thereafter. Through a rich offering of academic, spiritual, artistic, and athletic programs, the School provides an opportunity for each student to reach his or her maximum spiritual, intellectual, social, and ethical potential. Operating as a Christian community within the beliefs and traditions of the Episcopal Church, EHS in its teaching philosophy emphasizes understanding and responding to the individual needs and capabilities of each student. In an effort to reflect the community we serve, EHS strives to maintain a student body that is diverse in its social, economic, ethnic, and academic backgrounds. ADMISSION Episcopal High School admits students of all races, colors, and national/ethnic origins to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national/ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other school‑administered programs. ALUMNI Please share your news with the EHS Alumni Association. Send information to: Margaret Young myoung@ehshouston.org 713‑512‑3600

Ashley Long along@ehshouston.org 713‑512‑3478

b facebook.com/groups/EHSHoustonAlumni x instagram.com/ehs_alumni j linkedin.com/grps/Episcopal‑High‑School‑Houston‑Alumni‑1029617 This publication is printed on FSC certified paper with soy‑based inks.

Episcopal High School P. O. Box 271299 Houston, TX 77277‑1299

The Episcopal High School Magazine, Spring 2019

IN THIS ISSUE From the Head of School 04 #KnightsStandOut 06 Bright Knights 14 Note to my Freshman Self 20 Before the Bell 22 Alumni Weekend 46 Pop Quiz 50 Class Notes 54 The Last Word 58

ON THE COVER

Lani McHenry '20 finds her inner artist and gives back to others along the way. Photo by Scott Cunningham.

SAVE THE DATE Commencement 05-19-19 Alumni Leadership Day 11-5-19 Auction Gala 02-21-20

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Several years ago, Episcopal began its Senior Homilists Program, now one of the most popular of all the Chapel Ministry programs. No speaker captures the attention of the community better than a senior reflecting on a formative or transformative experience. We are lucky to have such a robust program in place, a program that reflects the diversity of background, appearance, and proficiency so important to EHS today and since our founding. Witness the advice that seniors offer to their freshman selves in the article on page 20, and you’ll see why the program is so important to the inclusive culture at EHS: “Take the opportunity to get to know people…All it takes is a little extra effort and being ‘all in’ for EHS…Learn more about the people that you do not necessarily think you will like, because you have no idea who you could become friends with. Take the opportunity to get to know people.” What stands out as these seniors reflect on EHS is the spirit of inclusion that unites this diverse community. Within this issue of Pillars, you will find several illustrations of our community at work and at play, examples of the diversity that is one of our greatest strengths and the inclusive spirit that is one of our greatest blessings. Take, for instance, the work that Lani McHenry ’20 does in the studio to benefit the children of St. Jude’s. McHenry came to us with lots of talent and a heart for service, and at EHS she found the perfect vehicle for extending and perfecting those talents and that heart, ETV being the latest expression of both. Read about the work that Elliott Jones ’19 created for her project “Child Detention Centers” or the work Jackson Williams ’19 accomplishes with his project “Super Program V5,” and you will know the richness and variety of interests and experiences across campus. The sense of belonging that ties this variety together doesn’t happen without the concentrated effort of students and faculty working together toward the common purpose that our founders envisioned: Students inspired to lives of significance in service to others. Scott Cunningham’s photo essay on page 22 illustrates that hard work, work that begins early in the morning and continues late into the evening, work that no one sees but that makes all the difference, every day. It is our shared purpose, expressed in ways great and small, that unifies us, that allows us to take such a rich and varied group of freshmen and mold them into the coherent whole that is EHS. It is that shared purpose that continues to draw alumni back to campus for reunion events like the one on page 46 and that motivates them to chose EHS for their own children. If you haven’t been back in a while, make plans to visit. We look forward to welcoming you. Have a wonderful summer–and Go Knights!

Ned Smith Head of School

# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Students Earn National Scholastic Awards Four students who won local Scholastic Awards advanced to the national level to earn additional medals. Anna Moise '20 earned a national Silver Award for her flash fiction piece, "Where the Sun and Moon Meet." Collaborators Mea Ayers '19 and Austin Reppert '20 earned a Gold Award for their film and animation work, "Shadows." In the category of journalism, Elliott Jones '19 earned a Gold Award for her project, "Child Detention Centers." Teachers and students were elated with the recognition and eager to share their reactions: Flash Fiction – Anna Moise "I am very honored to receive a National Silver Medal for my piece Where the Sun and Moon Meet," says Moise. This piece was originally dedicated to a friend going through some hard times, so to see that it has been recognized at the regional and national levels makes me very happy and proud." Creative writing teacher Hillary Houle adds, "I am thrilled for Anna and her national Scholastic win. She has learned the power of her voice and the incredible value of revision. I imagine we'll be reading published pieces of her work on a larger scale one day."

Film & Animation – Mea Ayers and Austin Reppert "This poem was originally very personal," says Reppert. "Sharing it has been a wonderful experience, and I think Mea has done a fantastic job turning my words into stunning visuals."

Ayers says, "When I first read Austin's poem, I was immediately inspired by his tactful imagery covering a controversial yet relevant topic. I have enjoyed experimenting with cinematography and editing techniques to convey Austin's message and the exciting journey of watching the film come to life." Their teacher, Pejman Milani comments, "As an instructor, it's always rewarding to see the work my students create be recognized outside of the classroom. This marks an incredibly encouraging success for the program," he continues. "The film Shadows is personal and gorgeous, explorative and contemplative. It's a non-narrative piece that still manages to convey an emotional poignancy that resonates even after the film ends. The film explores mature themes like loneliness that can be tough. What's unique about the film is that it's executed so well that it can act as a catalyst to have conversations about its serious content." Elliott Jones - Journalism Jones describes her reporting about the child detention centers as an effort to seek—and to tell–the truth. "I wrote about the child detention centers holding Central and South American children all across the Southwest, because I wanted our community to know the harsh reality of our current immigration policies," she explains. "I decided to approach this issue headon so people would understand what was, and is, happening to hundreds of children and families, not just as immigrants, but as human beings. I believe that the more hard facts we know about issues, the more willing we are to spark change in our policies that are violating basic human rights."

Journalism teacher David Framel, impressed with Jones’s work and maturity says, "Elliott's award-winning editorial demonstrates her growth as a journalist over the last few years; she has learned to convey ideas in a quick and concise way and to think critically, while harnessing the most important trait she brings to her journalistic endeavors–empathy–a quality every news writer must possess and one that can't be taught."

Amiri Scrutchin Wins Top Honor Out of the 20 talented high school artists and film programs represented in the South by Southwest Texas High School Shorts screening, Amiri Scrutchin's film "Double Cross" won the Special Jury Recognition award during the Film Awards Ceremony in March. ETV instructor Pejman Milani credits Scrutchin's creativity and work ethic for the strong results. "The level of competition was fierce," Milani explains. "It really speaks to both the talent and perseverance of Amiri, who put in a colossal number of hours outside of the class to create a polished, finished product."

#KnightsStandOut

Renovated Underwood Theatre Opens Doors with “Fiddler on the Roof” students take arts classes all four years of high school." To meet the demand, the school is launching a capital campaign for a new Visual and Performing Arts Complex that will feature flexible classroom spaces, a small theater for intimate performances, and a meeting space that can accommodate 200.

Opening night of EHS Onstage's Spring Musical "Fiddler on the Roof" celebrated the premiere performance in the newly renovated Underwood Theatre. An audience of more than 800, including alumni, current students, families, and faculty filled the comfortable blue seats, and many attended the pre-show reception in Glassell Hall, courtesy of the Dads Club. Head of School Ned Smith began the evening with a message of gratitude for all attendees, cast, and crew. He thanked the donors, many of whom were present, for the resources committed to upgrading the theatre. The revamp includes increasing the number of seats to 944 and adding wing space to the main stage for set pieces and actors. Most useful, he noted, are three back-of-house dressing rooms that can accommodate 13 actors and actresses in each room. "Some of you may remember running in your costumes from the Convent to the theatre during performances," he recalled with a smile, referring to the days prior to on-site dressing rooms. Smith noted that enrollment in arts courses and programs is so strong that "more than 80 percent of Episcopal

George Brock, coordinator of EHS Onstage for 15 years, says the "Fiddler on the Roof" premiere represented a key moment in his career, where he remembered past productions and imagined future possibilities. "There is so much more space backstage now," Brock explains. "This gives us the opportunity to explore new ways of creating scenery and lighting. It also allows for larger casts and more interplay between all of the performing arts. That's how we were able to incorporate dancers from the dance program into 'Fiddler on the Roof.' We had the space for them! Large dressing rooms that function for the entire cast allow us to dress in the Underwood. In the past, we had to

dress in the Convent and then move to the Underwood. This saves tons of time and makes all of our logistics much easier to manage. "More important," he continues, "is that when students see the school put resources toward the house renovation, it tells them that what they do as artists is valued and celebrated in a concrete way. You could see the lift in their energy and their approach to working on the show. They like being in the space and want to share it with others. "Showing the renovation to alums and their families has been a great joy," Brock adds. "You can feel a sense of pride coming from former students as they realize that all of this change has come about because of the work they did in sometimes difficult conditions. I tell our current students that they are standing on the shoulders of giants. It's the foundation laid by those past students who put the EHS theater program on the map. You can draw a straight line from their work and commitment to this beautiful renovated Underwood Theatre!"

Photo by Teagan Ashworth '19

# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Athletics Shows How to Stand Out The 2018-2019 school year is one for the record books. The story of the year is certainly the efforts of the varsity boys soccer team as the Knights captured their fourth straight SPC title. The historic season was further validated when the Knights were crowned national champions by Top Drawer Soccer. The Knights outscored their opponents 73-3 in yet another undefeated season. The efforts of the girls cross country team may very well be the highlight of the fall season as each team member set personal-best times in surprising the SPC field and capturing the SPC runner-up trophy. The Knights were led by three freshmen who all finished in the top-20, earning all-SPC recognition. Katarzyna Kwiatkowski (3rd place), Ella Newman (8th place), and Kate Freeman (13th place) paced the Knight runners. Girls volleyball capped their historic season with an SPC runner-up trophy after falling to St. John's 3-1 in the final. The Knights finished the season with 39 wins. This year’s football team faced familiar foe Kinkaid in the SPC 4A title game Saturday evening and lost 41-21. The two teams played an exciting first half and entered the start of the second half tied at 14. Kinkaid made some incredible plays in the second half to take the lead and limit the Knight offensive opportunities. Boys volleyball saved their best for the SPC tournament as the Knights crushed Casady 3-0 in the opening round. The Knights dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to #1 seed Trinity Valley in the semifinals and finished fourth after losing to St. Stephens 3-1 in the consolation final.

Field hockey started the tournament with a thrilling 2-1 victory over ESD on Thursday night. The win marked the first time in six seasons that the Knights opened SPC tournament play with a win. The Knights then faced #1 seed Trinity Valley and gave the Trojans all they could handle before dropping at 1-0 decision. The Knights played Hockaday in an exciting fifth-place game and lost a heartbreaker 2-1 in sudden-death overtime. The sixth-place finish is the highest finish for the team in several seasons. In addition to the exploits of the boys soccer team in the winter season, the boys basketball team capped another outstanding season with a secondplace finish in the SPC tournament. The Knights fell 69-64 to a talented Houston Christian team in the title game. The wrestling team featured three SPC champions and three more finished as runners-up as the Knights held of Casady and St. Mark's for second place. The girls soccer team capped their strongest season in many years with a fourth-place finish in the SPC tournament. The Knights earned the #2 seed in the south zone on the strength of impressive wins over Kinkaid (4-0) and Houston Christian (2-0) and opened the tournament with a commanding 2-0 win over Trinity Valley. The girls basketball team earned big wins over Hockaday and Trinity Valley to place fifth in the SPC tournament. The Knights’ only loss in Fort Worth came against the eventual runner-up Greenhill School. The EHS swimming and diving teams finished eighth (boys) and ninth (girls)

at the SPC Championship Meet. Sela Sanders finished 5th in girls diving and Sam Randall set a school record in the 100 Free. The boys 200 Free and 400 Free Relay teams set school records as well. As Pillars magazine goes to press, the spring season featured the return of Coach Mike Donnelly to the helm of the boys lacrosse program. The Knights capped an impressive season with a sixth-place finish in the SPC. The EHS softball team defeated Kinkaid 5-3 in pre-SPC play, clinching another undefeated SPC season. They landed as the top seed in the south zone for the SPC tournament. The team went on to win the SPC Championship, defeating St. John’s 6-1. This is the third year in a row the softball team has brought home the trophy to EHS. Perennial top contenders varsity baseball clinched the #2 seed in the south zone and fought hard but fell to Kinkaid 1-0 to claim runners-up in SPC. Varsity girls lacrosse earned the #3 seed in the south zone and persevered to win 6th in the SPC tournament. The girls tennis team earned the #5 seed in the south zone and made much progress this year. EHS hosted the SPC track and field tournament on the resurfaced Candace Simmons Track and Field Complex. Both the boys and girls teams had impressive seasons, and Kwiatkowski (1600m), Julius Young (200m), and Donovan Jackson (discus and shot put) earned medals. -Jason Grove, Director of Athletics

#KnightsStandOut

Photos by Mauro Gomez

# K NIGHTS STAND OUT EHS Soccer Teams Embrace Technology Both the girls and boys varsity soccer teams enjoyed historic seasons this past winter. While the boys team captured their fourth consecutive SPC title and a national championship nod from Top Drawer Soccer, the girls squad earned impressive wins over Kinkaid and Trinity Valley and finished fourth in the SPC tournament. While many factors contributed to both teams' successes, the use of cutting-edge technology cannot be ignored. Thanks to the generosity of the Dads Club, both teams competed this season while sporting the Titan 2 Realtime GPS sensor system. These devices, implanted on vests worn under the jersey, allowed the coaching staff to track over 150 metrics including sprint distance, total distance, top speed, and explosive accelerations. The system also gave coaches access to performance and fatigue scores and work rate indicators that allowed better postgame recovery and next-day practice plans. Titan sensors and similar systems have become commonplace at the highest levels of competitive soccer. After utilizing this innovative product for an entire season, EHS boys coach Travis Smith is a believer. “The sensors give us the ability to monitor players workload and make sure that their bodies are recovering properly. The biggest impact they had was how motivated the players were to perform in terms of physical effort because they wanted to put the most miles in or have the highest speed marks. For example, in a game that our players were not mentally focused on, our physical effort was low, and unlike years past, we could quantify this lack of

effort and hold the players accountable. They absolutely responded.” EHS girls coach Baron Heinemann credits the Titan 2 sensor system with his team’s strong performances in key games down the stretch. “The data about distance traveled, sprint distance, sprints made at certain rates, area of the field covered the most (heat map) and even individual sprinting runs (straight vs. diagonal runs) was all extremely useful in tweaking or adjusting the playing style of our players. This data also helped us to find better ways to use players in different areas of the field based on their tendencies and strengths. We could use the data about distance traveled to decide which players to rest more when games were played in back-to-back days or even 48 hours apart.” Due in large part to the success of both soccer teams, as well as the interesting and useful data provided by the sensors, several other EHS athletic programs are making plans to utilize this technology.

Check Out the Underwood Library The Underwood Library has long been a central meeting place on campus, and even with the renovation of the Underwood Student Center, the library has kept its place as a study hub, as well as a venue for special events and guest speakers. In November, Dr. Dennis Huston from Rice University presented a program to English and Film classes on film history and technical effects used in the creative process. Dr. Huston

showed clips from iconic films like “The Graduate” and “Dirty Dancing,” in addition to clips from Shakespearean adaptations, to illustrate how a filmmaker can uses his or her lens to help tell a story. That same month, Haley Streff, a genetic counselor with the Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor University, spoke to all freshman biology classes. Her visit followed up the completion of the genetic disorder project. In December, a group of women scientists presented a program about engineering, technology, and minorities. They shared how they achieved the goals they had set out for themselves, offering a model of success stories for our STEM students and enterprising young women. Prior to Valentine’s Day, Science Department Chair John Flanagan gave two demonstrations on the history of famous pieces of jewelry and the science behind it using lasers. He also shared his extensive jewelry book collection in the library display case during the month of February. For Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March, the English Department and Diversity in Action co-hosted readings of diverse voices and women authors, respectively. Students and faculty chose their favorite pieces and not only read the text but also shared why it had meaning for them. EHS’s Underwood Library remains a center of scholarship, learning, and intellectual curiosity. We look forward to more events in the months to come.

#KnightsStandOut

NASA Knights Nine students from the Science Club, along with the sponsor Justin Hickey and Science Department Chair John Flanagan, experienced an up-close, VIP Level 9 tour of NASA last month. The 5-hour tour included the Saturn V Rocket, the giant Vacuum Space Environment Simulator, the Aquatic Neutral Buoyancy Training Facility, the International Space Station (ISS) Mission Control, and the Robotics Development building. Part of the day included talks with several NASA officials, including Gordon Andrews, a Mission Control 1992 flight coordinator, who discussed the discovery of natural anti-matter Helium through the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and answered students’ questions about black holes. The visual highlights were many, but Flanagan says the Vacuum Space Environment Simulator was particularly memorable for its massiveness and ability to replicate extremes of 302 degrees Fahrenheit, or 387 degrees below Fahrenheit. The simulator is currently being used to test the James Webb Telescope—Hubble Telescope’s successor. Students also marveled at the Neutral Buoyancy center, where trainees don 300-pound spacesuits and practice aquatics moves in a pool that mimics the microgravity of spaceflight. “Students watched as two astronauts and four safety and operational divers were practicing an extra-vehicular activity that will be performed on the International Space Station,” says Flanagan.

While visiting Mission Control for the space station, the students were welcomed by Deputy Chief of the Space Exploration Division Vuong Pham, who is Dean of Faculty Nguyet Pham’s husband. They learned that EHS Class of 2009 Colin George works at NASA as an ISS flight controller. We got to visit his section of Mission Control, called CRONUS,” says Flanagan. CRONUS controls and monitors on-board data and command centers. Based on the enthusiasm and interest of the Science Club attendees, Flanagan expects more Knights to join the ranks at NASA in the coming decades.

Derby Knight – An Unforgettable Race! On Friday, February 22, the EHS community “placed their bets” for an EHS win to celebrate Episcopal High School at Derby Knight. The 35th annual Auction, held on campus in the spectacular Hildebrand Athletic Center, raised necessary revenue for Episcopal High School. Co‑chairs Sabrina Espinosa, Patricia Hammond, and Lyria O’Brien, along with countless volunteers and generous donors, raised an astounding $1.1 million for the School's operating budget.

outstanding Live Auction. All “won big” while supporting EHS. During the Pillars Up portion of the Live Auction, EHS student Mark Nylund ’19, illustrated how EHS has impacted his life. “No matter what my future holds, I can say with full assurance that Episcopal High School has equipped me with every tool necessary to enter the real world and live a significant life for others.” Mark’s testimony combined with the generous EHS community raised $187,000 for Episcopal. With our Kentucky Derby complete, EHS is gearing up for Auction 2020 “Blue Knight Masquerade.” Co-chairs Elizabeth and Will Galtney, Aaron and Daryl Hoover, and Elizabeth and Gregg Thompson promise an unforgettable evening that can’t be missed! For the latest "Blue Knight Masquerade" news and updates, check the School's website and weekly Windows eNewsletter. If you would like to get involved, contact Debbie Kelley at dkelley@ehshouston.org or Mandy Malone Loper '98 at mloper@ ehshouston.org.

Decorations Chairs Kameron Craft and Linda Elmer worked with City Kitchen to transform Alkek Gym into an elegant evening at the Derby. Upon arrival, guests were greeted with Oaks Lily cocktails and Mint Juleps, while donning exquisite wide-brimmed hats and fascinators. After a gourmet dinner, guests raised their bid cards high for the

# K NIGHTS STAND OUT Truly Divine – Performing Arts Interim Term Trip to London

Garmon Ashby (front) and EHS Chorale (back) in Benitez Chapel at EHS This past Interim Term, two ensembles, the EHS Chorale, and the cast and crew of the winter play, “Twelve Angry Jurors,” performed overseas in London, England. They sang in an ancient cathedral and rehearsed and staged their play in a famous private school with connections to Shakespeare. For Garmon Ashby, Chair of Performing Arts, the trip marked a personal and professional high point that brought his family, old friends, and current students and colleagues under the same, soaring cathedral arches. “Throughout the week,” he says, “the EHS group visited classic tourist spots like Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London.” But the remarkable moments, he explains, were the two days they produced “Twelve Angry Jurors” at the Alleyn’s School and performed evensong in Southwark Cathedral.

The 300-year-old Alleyn’s School was founded by Edward Alleyn, one of the greatest actors of Shakespeare’s time. Located in the Theatre District, a neighborhood once traveled by Elizabethan actors–and even The Bard himself–the school has educated many of England’s renowned citizens. The EHS Onstage actors presented “Twelve Angry Jurors” to Alleyn’s students and spent downtime getting to know the Londoners, exchanging Instagram handles to stay in touch. Wednesday’s evensong performance, says Ashby, connected his years growing up in South Africa with his recent career in the United States. For the service of choral evensong, an Anglican tradition, the chorale performed music by two South African composers, Stephen Carletti and Peter Klatzow. Ashby’s sisters Ruth and Mary both attended, as well as his father, Godfrey Ashby, a retired Anglican bishop who had recently confirmed one

of Ashby’s nephews in the cathedral. “The sound in that tall gothic building just rang around—the resonance was glorious. It was obvious the EHS students were moved by the sacred experience,” Ashby adds. Before flying home to Houston, the group made one last stop at the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studios, where they explored iconic movie sets, toured sound stages, and discovered the special effects designed to create Hogwarts’ flying broomsticks and levitation spells. Says Ashby, “It was a perfect ending to an enchanting London tour.”

#KnightsStandOut

EHS Chorale takes special journey to Southwark Cathedral

EHS students after performance at the Alleyn's School

“Singing in Southwark was a majestic feeling–as if we were all ascending into the sky. My favorite song was ‘We Three Kings.’” – Beder Edlibi '19 “Getting to travel to and perform in London has been one of my favorite experiences at Episcopal. It was slightly nerve-wracking to share the show that we had been working on for so long with kids who we had never met before and would most likely never see again, but they loved the show and asked us a lot of questions afterward. They even added most of the people in the cast on Instagram which was really fun! I think it’s exciting that we can now say that EHS Onstage has performed internationally!” – Quinn Ogle '20 “Singing in Southwark was a majestic feeling–as if we were all ascending into the sky. My favorite song was ‘We Three Kings.’” – Beder Edlibi '19

“London was a dream come true that allowed me to express my inner-artist and explore my passion for choral music. The moment I walked into Southwark Cathedral, I loved getting the opportunity to explore the building before performing. We found these small chapels around the altar, set apart from the church, that were beautifully decorated with murals and sculptures; we even found the Shakespeare memorial (my favorite part). Eventually, we entered the choir stalls at the altar for evensong. As we sang our hearts out, I felt a rush of pure happiness. I realized that the bond between the group was special. In that very moment, we had become a true family.” – Gwendolyn Diaz '21

“Everything came together: the music, the space, the people; we were all there, singing to the glory of God and sharing our gifts, while also having our spirits lifted by imagining all the people who have sung and worshiped in that space before us.” – Kate Teagarden '22 “It’s not very often that you get a chance to perform in such a historical building with ties to all kinds of famous figures such as Dickens and Shakespeare. Southwark is the oldest Gothic church in London, and it was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever set foot in.” – Liam Griffin '20

Bright Knights

PROGRAMMED FOR SUCCESS

Jackson Williams '19

“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.”–Steve Jobs Although only a high school senior, Jackson Williams ’19 can look back at his life and see the dots connect. As a preschooler, he loved to build Lego Star Wars sets and construct intricate loops of toy train tracks. The combination of imagination, logic, and problem solving–and the ability to create in solitude–set his mind on fire. In middle school he discovered video games. But unlike other preteens, he figured out how the games worked and taught himself to write code so that he could build a video game of his own. “By studying YouTube videos that taught how to program, I learned how to program basic video games,” Williams explains. By the time he reached age 16 and was a sophomore at EHS, Williams blended his programming abilities and a new interest in investing to create financial analysis software. “I read Robert Kiyosaki’s book ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad,’ which emphasizes the importance of investing to build wealth. I became fascinated by finance. I wondered–could I build an algorithm that identifies market trends and predicts smart stock buys?” Yes, he could. He named the software “Super Program,” which is now on its fifth update in two years. “I call it 'Super Program V5,'" he says. “The algorithm works really well for day trading and swing trading blue chip stocks,” he says. “I don’t like to sit through long cycles where sectors can be affected by viral news or current events.” The results of his strategy are measurable and impressive. Friends–and a few teachers–have asked when he can invest for them. “In college, I plan to take the Series 65 test and earn my securities license.” “The list of what I would like to do next is growing,” he adds with a smile. Most days he can be spotted wearing a business suit in preparation for afternoon meetings with local businesses, including a car dealership, who have contracted with him to create mobile apps. “Episcopal has given me the freedom to explore my passions,” says Williams. “I’ve completed coursework that challenged me but did not overwhelm. The Independent Study Program has allowed me to continue the development of Super Program and advance skills like public speaking and business planning.” Any stock trends he’d like to share? “The growth in artificial intelligence is booming, and I like chip makers who are focused on that sector.” With that bit of advice, he politely says goodbye, straightens his tie, and heads to a client conference. –Claire C. Fletcher

Bright Knights

GIVING BACK THROUGH ART AND FILM Lani McHenry '20

Junior Lani McHenry’s passion for art ignited at a young age, when she learned how to paint with her grandmother. “Painting was a fun way to express myself,” McHenry recalls. She was an “art kid” from that moment on, but it wasn’t until age 9 or 10 that she was able to merge art with her desire to help others. “I was watching this commercial with my parents for St. Jude’s and cancer research, and I wanted to do something about it. My mom asked me how I could contribute and that’s when we got the idea for me to set up art shows that would benefit the organization.” Last year, McHenry’s artwork made $1,700 for St. Jude’s. She begins creating art during the holiday season, usually around 30 or 40 pieces. McHenry also takes orders for custom paintings or drawings. “After I sell my last painting, I put the money together and send it to St. Jude’s. The last few years, I’ve hosted my art show at Pottery Barn Kids. I did research and found out they also give to St. Jude’s, so it was a natural partnership,” she explains. “I’ve also put up artwork in art galleries and coffee shops in my neighborhood. I just like the feeling of giving back.” McHenry’s creativity isn’t limited to canvas. She also makes movies, sings, writes her own songs, writes poetry, and does musical theatre. Her love of performing started when she was 5 years old and did a year at the local Theatre Under the Stars Academy, where she learned how to act and sing. The classes taught her how to use her voice on stage. McHenry continued her training in theatre and also participated in the HITS program in the Heights. In high school she performs in the student-directed one act plays here at EHS. Recently, she’s expanded and begun making movies, which has included participating in the ETV program. “The film industry is such a difficult one to get into,” McHenry explains, “and you have to wait for someone to pick you. I decided my best bet was to make my own films.” She directs and stars in her own shorts, which are usually 1-5 minutes long. She produced her first movie instead of a holiday art show last year and donated her ticket sales to St. Jude’s, just as she had done with her art sales. McHenry’s dream is to attend NYU and study film, and then make movies for a living. This year, she’ll be going on full scholarship to a summer film program there. She’ll work on three separate projects during the summer and learn how to improve her skills in scripting, editing, and filming. McHenry credits her mother with inspiring and supporting her artistic ambitions. “‘You don’t have to be book smart,’ my mother always said. ‘Just be passionate about something.’ The advice I’d give anyone looking to become an artist is this: The best way to prove something of yourself is not by telling people but by showing people. Just do it. Take the risk. It would be easy to waste your time, telling people what you’re going to do, but it’s better to just do it. Even if the work is terrible, that’s how you learn.” –Emma Tsai

MOMENTS

To the right, a student snaps a photograph by the Crum Field House as her classmates are caught in joyful laughter during break.

NOTE TO MY FRESHMAN SELF

Seniors provide words of wisdom to younger versions of themselves

Contributors: Katy Davidson '19, Carter Bunk '19, Tyler Johnson '19, Sophia Casetta '19, and Emily West '19

Before the Bell By Scott Cunningham

06:45:02 - Coach White works with varsity girls lacrosse defensive squad

Before The Bell

Before the first bell, all is not quiet at EHS. Cars roar on Loop 610, while doves and wrens sing full throttle, chortling from the live oaks and magnolias between Bissonnet and Fournace streets. Food service staff arrive at 5:00 a.m. and begin brewing coffee for breakfast or chopping vegetables for lunch soups. Their chatter travels from the kitchen to Trinity Courtyard, mixed with aromas of sautéed onions and carrots and yeasty snacks being baked for Break. By 6:00 a.m., security unlocks the Bissonnet gates–signaling the new day. Darkness lifts, and the parking garage begins to fill. Expectancy permeates the air as sports teams practice on the fields, and faculty and staff log workouts alongside student athletes in the Hildebrand Athletic Center weight room. EHS grounds-keepers welcome cool morning temperatures, ideal for planting annuals like hibiscus and petunias, splashes of spring color that greet walkers on their daily treks from the Trotter Building to Benitez Chapel. By 7:00 a.m., campus traffic builds. Parents drop off underclassmen, and teachers arrive to attend meetings or tutor students on difficult math concepts and writing assignments. To prepare for a successful school day at Episcopal, much work needs to be done. Dedicated staff and faculty ensure that no detail is overlooked before the 8 o’clock bell. —Claire C. Fletcher

05:49:30 - Mr. Argueta unlocks the front door to EHS

06:03:13 - Mr. Trauba walks onto campus from his house on Bissonnet

Before The Bell

06:19:42 - The USC receives a delivery of food for the next few days

06:24:15 - Mr. Davis plants flowers outside the USC

06:28:26 - Girls lacrosse does warm-up drills to start practice

06:30:02 - Mr. Chastain arrives to campus with work clothes in hand

06:34:56 - Ms. Nelson pulls ham, egg, and cheese biscuits from the oven

06:39:22 - Ms. Benavidez sorts through pizza crusts for lunch

Before The Bell

06:39:58 - Girls lacrosse does burpees under the lights

06:40:00 - Sweet treats are laid out before going into the oven

Before The Bell

06:40:11 - Mr. Michael relaxes while waiting for runners to arrive

Before The Bell

06:41:16 - Ms. Alexander helps with food prep for lunch

06:41:43 - Ms. Ho starts her day in the Business Office

06:41:46 - Mr. Randolph catches up on emails

06:42:59 - Coach Adams goes over a play with the offensive squad

06:48:41 - Things get interesting in the USC kitchen

06:50:33 - Mr. Chastain deadlifts about 335 lbs.

06:51:26 - Mr. Framel begins grading papers

06:54:39 - Ms. Kelly enters the Trotter building

06:57:35 - Tyler Johnson '19 enters Alkek gymnasium

06:59:08 - Tyler Johnson '19 laces his shoes

06:59:09 - Girls lacrosse runs a set play

07:00:55 - Mr. Avera arrives to prep for a meeting

Before The Bell

07:03:08 - Mr. Schwarz caught unaware

07:04:26 - Amiri Scrutchin '19 texting

07:11:35 - Ms. Eisenberg and Tyler Donovan '19 in Trotter

07:16:04 - Ms. Arias preps greens for lunch

07:19:34 - Ms. Arnold gives morning tutorial with LeAnn Dromgoole '21

07:24:12 - Mr. Randolph speaks during a meeting

07:29:54 - Liam Griffin '20 finishes his breakfast to-go

Before The Bell

07:38:43 - Mr. Hickey reviews assignments before class

07:48:36 - Ms. Owens gives a tutorial in Geometry

Before The Bell

07:52:58 - Students gather in the library

07:55:40 - Students crowd into the USC

07:58:05 - The school day begins

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2019

1989•1994•1999•2004•2009•2014 EHS alumni returned to campus to reminisce about the past and explore the renovations. A series of events filled the weekend of April 5-6, which provided alumni an opportunity to tour campus, explore the city of Houston and even hit the golf course. In the Alumni Chapel service, EHS students were able to hear from both of the Alumni Weekend award recipients. Katie Barnes ’92 and History Instructor and Coach Travis Smith both gave heartfelt talks about the impact of EHS on their lives. Barnes said “Value your friendships and family, follow your curiosity, even if it scares you, and always do a good job and finish it with a positive attitude.” Friday night alumni from decades of class years joined in the festivities and enjoyed an extraordinary food and spirit paring menu from Eloise Nichols Bar and Grill. In addition, the evening featured Barnes and Smith receiving their awards and a toast by Ned Smith, Head of School, including updates on EHS and alumni accomplishments. Saturday brought individual class year reunions held at homes and venues around the city. Capping a fun-filled weekend was Monday’s Dads Club and Alumni Golf Tournament. Thank you to this year’s host committee members. They did a remarkable job coordinating all the details and preparations. Attendees look forward to next year’s party and reunions. –Ashley Long

Alumni Weekend 2020 is April 3-4. We hope to see you there! (Photos from milestone reunions to the right) 46

Photos by Marc Nathan

Stars at Knight Party

Katie Barnes '92 –Bishops Award Winner

Travis Smith – Hexagon Distinguished Faculty Award Winner

Stars at Knight Party

Photos by Chris Bailey Photography

Q+A with EHS Teachers

Pop Quiz turns the table on teachers and asks them to respond to 11 quick questions. Their enthusiastic responses reveal the values, quirks, and interests that make them so effective in leading EHS students.

GEORGE BROCK Theatre Program Coordinator

George Brock was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended St. Edward’s in Austin and Lamar University in Beaumont where he majored in Theatre. Brock says he was “distracted” by a career in morning radio but eventually went on to complete a B.F.A. in Theatre through Rocheville University’s online program. This is Brock’s 15th year at EHS. He started as a part-time director and theatre faculty member and moved to fulltime in 2010, finally becoming Theatre Program Coordinator in 2012. Besides directing plays and musicals, Brock is also a member of SEED Group 1 and the Choices Faculty Action Committee as well as the Calendar Committee. What’s on your playlist right now? Dave Matthews Band; Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross; The Temptations; Original Cast Recording Tuck Everlasting; Coldplay; Tupac; Beethoven’s Symphonies & Piano Concertos. What was the first concert you attended? Kansas for their “Point of Know Return Tour” at the Birmingham Jefferson County Civic Center. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you pick for a career? Write. I secretly want to write for a living. What is your proudest accomplishment? The Freedom Tour that we did a couple of years ago for Interim Term. We rehearsed “Godspell,” did performances of “A Piece of My Heart” and learned a lot about the Civil Rights movement as well as ourselves. It was amazing.

Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget? Netflix. I love me some Netflix. Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired your career? Charles Ellis. He was my high school theatre teacher. I am a better person from having him as my mentor those four rollercoaster years. If you traveled back in time, what period would you choose? I would say 1564 to 1616–the time of Shakespeare. What trait do you most admire in your colleagues? Their commitment to their students, their willingness to go the extra mile, and their love of life and wonderful sense of humor.

What trait do you most admire in your students? Their ability to rise to a challenge. Their openness to exploring ideas that they had never considered before. Their passion and zest for life. How kind and charitable they can be at times. Read any good books recently? “Artemis” by Andy Weir–he also wrote “The Martian.” I love his characters and his view of the future. If you could eat only one meal this week, what would it be? Breakfast–two eggs over easy, hash browns, grits and biscuits with red-eye gravy.

ERIN RUSSE Science Teacher

Erin Russe grew up in San Antonio and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Biology. This is Russe’s seventh year teaching and fourth year at EHS, teaching AP Environmental Science, Biology, Geology, and Marine Biology. Russe is also assistant registrar and co-chair of the Faculty Technology Mentors. For the last six years, she has been a teacher mentor for the Rice University IBB Girls’ STEM Initiative and is currently enrolled in a graduate course at Rice studying nanotechnologyenabled water treatment systems. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, golfing, and spending time with her family. What’s on your playlist? I’ve been listening to more podcasts than music. I enjoy science, news, and true-crime podcasts. What was the first concert you attended? Maroon 5 and John Mayer at the Woodlands Pavilion in 2004. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you pick for a career? Being a travel agent or travel blogger seems like a pretty good gig. What is your proudest accomplishment? I haven’t achieved it yet, but I set a goal to visit 30 countries by the time I turn 30. Currently, I am one year and five countries away from reaching my goal. Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget? I got an Amazon Alexa for my birthday last year and it’s a pretty cool gadget.

Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired your career? I am still very close with my 8th grade Poetry/Creative Writing teacher, Mrs. Francis, and my Experimental Physiology professor from UT, Dr. English. It was Dr. English who helped me realize that by teaching high school science, I could experience the best of both worlds!

There is always someone willing to help, lend support, and keep looking on the bright side. What trait do you most admire in your students? I respect my students’ motivation and self-advocacy. They ask good questions, and are unafraid to ask for help or guidance.

If you could travel back in time, what period of history would you choose? The Mesozoic Era (Age of the Dinosaurs and Pangaea) to see how life and the earth has changed over the last 250 million years.

Read any good books recently? "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" and "The Red Queen." I made it my New Year’s resolution this year to read more, and it has been fun to explore genres I wouldn’t normally pick.

What trait do you most admire in your colleagues? I admire and appreciate my colleagues’ positivity.

If you could eat only one meal this week, what would it be? Thai red curry.

BOB MATTHEWS English Teacher

Bob Matthews earned his undergraduate degree from University of Texas at Austin and is currently working on a collection of short stories to complete a masters from Rice University. This is his 15th year at EHS, where he teaches English II Honors and English III, directs the Independent Study Program, cochairs the Tech Mentor Program, and works on creating content for the school website. Matthews went to high school at Kinkaid, but as the brother of four EHS grads, he says with a smile, “At the end of this year–my 15th at EHS–I will have equaled their combined time on campus. I win!” What’s on your playlist? There are some bands that I listen to over and over–Of Montreal, Dirty Projectors, Talking Heads, The Beatles, The Magnetic Fields, and Sufjan Stevens–lately I can’t get enough of Big Red Machine. What was the first concert you attended? In 1984, I attended the Michael Jackson Thriller tour. If you weren’t teaching, what would you pick for a career? When I graduated from high school, I was on my way to being an architect, but for some reason, I transferred out of the architecture school at UT without taking a class. I still love building things and tend to stare at and talk about buildings for longer than anyone around me wants. What is your proudest accomplishment? Sometimes former students will contact me randomly to say thanks. It gets me every time. Do you have a favorite app or tech gadget? I get lost for hours watching woodworking videos on Instagram.

Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired your career? In a strange bit of scheduling, I only had two English teachers in high school. Kate Lambert–who is the current chair of the English Department at Kinkaid–taught me the first two years and was my advisor all four years of high school, and German Urioste taught me my last two years. Those two are profoundly responsible for my love of literature. If you could travel back in time, what period of history would you choose? I’d like to go back to the late 1920s or ‘30s in Aracataca, Colombia, and befriend a young Gabriel Garcia Marquez so that I could hear the stories of his grandparents. What trait do you most admire in your colleagues? People on this campus work really hard and give freely of their time.

What trait do you most admire in your students? Like the faculty and staff, they achieve an absurd amount on a daily basis. They have my absolute respect. Read any good books recently? I just finished and immediately started rereading Denis Johnson’s collection of short stories "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden." As far as I am concerned, it’s perfectly written. If you could eat only one meal this week, what would it be? Maharaja Bhog: It’s an Indian vegetarian thali restaurant, and it is Houston’s best treasure. They have no menu. You sit down, and they bring you the food they have prepared for that day, and they don’t stop bringing it until you tell them you can’t possibly eat another bite.

CLASS NOTES

Send your updates to Director of Alumni and Annual Giving Margaret Young at myoung@ehshouston.org so that you can be featured here in the next issue of Pillars magazine!

Brandi and Josh Westheimer '92 welcomed a baby girl, Lyla, on October 4, 2018.

Shannon Buggs '88 has been appointed by Mayor Sylvester Turner as the first director of the Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities, where she will focus her efforts on developing strong collaborative relationships with neighborhood residents, City of Houston departments, nonprofit organizations, and private donors. Libbie Masterson '88 became the proud mother of twins, Mariquita and Peter Masterson, on November 16, 2018.

Lauren Levicki Courville '96 was recently tapped to be the new President of Dress for Success Houston. She is the second President in the organization’s 20-year history.

Bereswill, Jenny Childers, and Becky Bereswill (photo above) welcomed in the New Year on a rooftop in the Old City of Jerusalem! Roula Nassar Gerguis '92 and Steve Gerguis had a baby boy, Anthony Steven, on July 18, 2018. Jamil (Mullen) '92 and Carter Higley '97 became the proud parents of a baby boy, Jackson River, on March 3, 2019. Jamil and Carter have four children: Selah, Grace, Wilson (Bea Bea), and Jackson River.

Dean of Faculty and EHS Math Instructor, Nguyet Pham, loved catching up with alumni Susan Bryan Jackson, Meghan Wallace Bailey, Beth Norris Stavinoha, and Kathy Smith Dupuy (photo above) during their recent class reunion.

On a Christmas break trip to Jerusalem, Elizabeth Toedt, Allison

Meredith McCord '92 was recently featured on the Discovery Channel. Her episode of Silver Kings followed her to the Florida Keys to chase Tarpon and Triple Tail on fly with Captain Jared Raskob. Meredith McCord possesses over 150 IGFA World Records in Fishing (#2 Female in the world), has won fly fishing tournaments, and hosts fishermen and women all over the world in pursuit of fish on fly. Her adventures have taken her from Alaska and Argentina to the jungles of Bolivia and Brazil and to the rivers of Iceland, Russia, and Mongolia. Along with her passion for fishing, Meredith started and owned the Mad Potter Studios in Houston since 1998 and has led various mission trips around the world.

Allison (Blanton) '97 and Spencer Stasney joyfully announced the arrival of a baby girl, Carlyle Ann, on May 22, 2018.

Krystina (Atkinson) '98 and Steven Cotton welcomed a baby boy, William "Bailey" James, on December 18, 2018. A.D. (Achilefu) '98 and Joseph Ebeniro became the proud parents of a baby boy, Jeremiah Obioma (photo below), on November 5, 2018.

Katie and Will Miller '98 welcomed a baby boy, William F. Miller V “Liam,” on December 14, 2017. Big Sister Hannah loved coming to EHS to see the recent spring musical, “Fiddler on the Roof.” Nicole (Laurent) '98 and Joseph Romano had a baby boy, Oscar Laurent, on December 2, 2018.

Robin (Jones) '99 and Jason Begnaud welcomed a baby boy, Bryson Reece, on October 18, 2018. Kara Lampe '99 joyfully announced the arrival of her baby girl, Davi Rose, in May 2018. Brae (Eberle) '99 and Donald Whitehead had a baby girl, Abigail Grace on April 9, 2018.

Denise and Collier Crouch '00 welcomed a baby girl, Cesley Francine, on May 15, 2018. Annina (Stefanelli) '04 and Jordon Emmott '00 became the proud parents of a baby boy, Charles Eli, on January 8, 2019. Leah (Spann) '00 and Brad Lacy welcomed a baby boy, Pierce William, on October 22, 2018. Gina and Brad O'Neill '00 happily announce the arrival of a baby girl, Anne Bradley, on April 17, 2018. Blakely Richardson '00 and Daniel Soteldo have two children, Maybrie Ella (August 7, 2013) and Lynden Hollis (November 29, 2018). Jenny (Campo) '00 and Rusty Rogers had a baby boy, Tennyson Monroe, on May 25, 2018. Brooke (Forester) ’00 and Clayton Wisian had a baby girl, Annabelle, on December 28, 2017.

Jordan (Buckalew) '01 and Hank Glasgow joyfully welcomed a baby boy, Carter Cline, on July 6, 2018. Lauren (Robinson) '01 and Clay Grasso became the proud parents of a baby boy, Owen David, on May 10, 2018. Sandra and Ryan Mendez '01 had a baby girl, Ava Delilah, on March 24, 2018. Carrie (Blurton) '01 and Mike Pierson welcomed a baby girl, Madeline Virginia, on December 26, 2018. Carli and Daniel Slaton '01 happily

announce the arrival of a baby boy, Max Isaac, on July 27, 2018.

Elizabeth (Burdett) '02 and Jose Zarate welcomed a baby girl, Annalise Victoria, on August 7, 2018. Courtney (Evans) '02 and Andrew Henke had a baby girl, Adeline Patricia, on January 4, 2018. Kristen and George Jackson '02 announced the arrival of a baby girl, Leighton Maria, on May 25, 2018. Sarah (Lodowski) '02 and Ben Kitchen became the proud parents of a baby boy, Frederick Cameron, on July 22, 2017. Maley (Thompson) '02 and Robert Passberger had a baby boy, Robert "Rob" Thompson, on January 8, 2019.

Anne Louise (Conway) '03 and Brett Blanchard joyfully welcomed a baby boy, Robert Bookman "Bo," on January 25, 2019. Diana (Dunlap) '03 and Elliott Bridger became the proud parents of a baby boy, Benjamin Norman, on February 25, 2019. Cooper (Brown) '03 and Mike Lapoint had a baby boy, Everitt Jason Ellis, on July 10, 2018. Michelle and Kellan Caldwell '03 joyfully announced the arrival of a baby girl, Kinsey Ava, on April 1, 2018. Megan (Breitenwisher) ’03 and Stephen Goldfarb welcomed their son, Robert Sanders, on April 11, 2019. Jessica (Miranda) '03 and Howard Haryanto '03 had a baby girl, Ophelia "Lia" Miranda, on March 22, 2018. Sarah (Craig) '03 and Chris Houston welcomed a baby girl, Natalie Catherine, on July 12, 2017. Jamie and Sonny Reil '03 became the proud parents of a baby boy, Carter James, on February 9, 2019. Kate McLean '03 (photo top right) is partnering with Brian Brossa on a new podcast called Pre-Shift. With Gow Media as their home, Kate and Brossa record their show each week and share a combined 35 years of experience in food and wine. Be sure to check out Pre-Shift on iTunes, Spotify, and AudioBoom.

Will Neuhaus ’03 along with his wife, Jennifer, co-chaired the recent Neuhaus Education Center Luncheon with his sister and brother-in-law. Guest speaker, Sonia Manzano, otherwise known as Maria on “Sesame Street,” captivated the audience with her stories of over 40 years on the show.

Lauren and Bryan Athon '04 welcomed the arrival of a baby girl, Clarke Julianne, on September 16, 2018. Annina (Stefanelli) '04 and Jordon Emmott '00 became the proud parents of a baby boy, Charles Eli, on January 8, 2019. Lindsey (Frachtman) '04 and Scott Friedman had a baby boy, Nathan Jarett, on December 14, 2018. Katie and Sam Miller '04 are the proud parents of two girls, Lucy Elizabeth (March 2, 2017) and Jane Samantha (November 28, 2018). Amy Montgomery '04 and Mike Montgomery welcomed a baby boy, George Huguley, on May 7, 2018. Caroline (Schiller) '04 and Brendan Murphy have two children: Jack (September 17, 2013) and Evangeline Marie (March 27, 2019). Sara (Lyons) '04 and Reid Patten happily announced the arrival of a baby boy, James Webster, on February 18, 2019. Mary Plumb Senkel '04 shared that both Woody and Susie are well on their way to becoming future Knights! Leslie Rice '04 received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in May 2019. She is doing her postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at BCM/TIRR in Houston.

Class Notes

Spencer Evans '05 will join the faculty of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) as a professor starting fall 2019. You can follow Spencer’s art at www.spencerevansart.com. In addition, Spencer was recently married in January. We welcome his wife, Laila, to the EHS family.

Caroline (Conway) '05 and Stephen Lipscomb welcomed a baby girl, Louise Francis, on September 7, 2018. Amanda and Juan Martinez '05 had a baby boy, Bane Alexander, on February 2, 2019. Mindy (Wooldridge) '05 and Clark Samuelson became the proud parents of a baby girl, Clara Ann "Annie,” on May 3, 2018.

Lauren (Bricker) '06 and Jeffrey Hodge joyfully announced the arrival of a baby boy, George Henry, on October 30, 2017. Jenny (Kean) '06 and David Morrison had a baby boy, Jack Campbell, on December 6, 2018.

Kate (McCarroll) '07 and John DeWitt became the proud parents of a baby girl, Charlotte Ann "Charlie," on June 20, 2018. Katy (Odom) '07 and Patrick Sermas happily announced the arrival of a baby boy, James Wendell, on February 17, 2019. Heather (Scruggs) '07 and Matt Waters had a baby boy, Henry James, on March 10, 2018.

Phili (Van Tho) '08 and Austin Carden '08 welcomed a baby girl, Payton Van Tho, on August 17, 2018. Kelly (Mayorga) '08 and Anthony Chacon became the proud parents of a baby girl, Zaya Penelope, on November 27, 2018. Kellie (Nolen) '08 and Harrison Hastings had a baby boy, Wells Neuhaus, on September 2, 2018. Emily (Brlansky) '08 and Connor Tamlyn joyfully announced the arrival of a baby boy, James Randall, on February 8, 2019. Chelsea Stavis '08 played Leah, the lead in the “Hooked” web series. The series won numerous awards including Best Web Series at Garden State Film Festival and Best TV Series at Los Angeles Independent Film Awards. Richard Campo '08 and Landi Lausen '09 both work in the Real Estate Investments division of Camden Property Trust. Richard is the Manager of Real Estate Investments and Landi is the Design Development Manager. The two EHS alumni love working for a company that has been ranked #19 on FORTUNE’s 22nd Annual 100 Best Companies to Work For list. This marks the 12th consecutive year that Camden has been included on FORTUNE’s list.

Ben Estus '09 (photo top left) with his new wife, Amanda, pose with Ben’s father, Tom, and Steve Leisz at their recent wedding in December.

Emily (Jaschke) '09 and Taylor Wells became the proud parents of twin girls, Olivia Ann and Grayson Carol, on November 8, 2017. Kyndall Krist '09 and Jailyn Marcel '10 (photo right) returned to campus for Alumni Leadership Day as participants on the Communications panel.

After teaching Religion at EHS the last five years, John Drexel '10 and wife Rebecca are moving to Honduras where they will be missionaries at The Micah Project. The Micah Project is a non-profit organization in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, with three group homes for young men and boys, an outreach to street children, and a variety of other ministries. In January, Katherine Kuntz '10 launched her own travel company called Hope African Adventures. They offer personalized safaris and unique wilderness excursions throughout Southern and East Africa. Their mission is to make Africa travel accessible to everyone and inspire tourists to “be the change.” Katherine’s exciting launch of her company follows her 2017 completion of a one-year program where she was immersed in life on game reserves throughout South Africa and Botswana and received her safari guide qualifications.

Kyndall Krist '09 and Jailyn Marcel '10 shared their experiences in the Communications industry with seniors during the fall’s Alumni Leadership Day.

Georgia Wahl '15 won Section B of the triple jump for The University of Texas at Austin with a Personal Record of 12.91 meters.

Class Notes

Forrest Pressler '17 (photo below) was back on campus to celebrate the launch of Forrest Place Café. During his tenure at EHS, Forrest researched coffee, equipment, and operations to make his dream come true.

Harrison Hobbs '18 (photo bottom left) and mom Melissa enjoy cheering for The University of Texas at football games. Harrison is an active member of the Longhorns Band.

Ford McCann '18, Blake Ogle '18, and Ryan Fulgham '18 welcomed the new school year as freshmen at Georgetown University. Sophie Allen '18 is also part of the EHS contingent at Georgetown. Former Knights reconnected in Florida when NESCAC rivals Tufts and Hamilton softball played opponents. Alexis Aboulafia '18 and Christian Cain '15 (photo below) share a special moment.

Walker Little '17 played in twelve games and started all twelve at left tackle for Stanford University this Fall. Little was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention during a standout year where he protected the blindside of K.J. Costello, who finished with second-most passing yards in a season in school history. On March 27, 2019, Abbie Wrather '17, sophomore at Sewanee, was named as a field hockey student-athlete on the Zag Sports/NFHCA Division III Scholars of Distinction.

On April 6, 2019, Peter Geib '18 had his first collegiate hit for The University of Texas at Austin baseball team.

The Last Word

FROM BOBA TEA TO CHICKEN FEET: EXPLORING ASIAN CULTURE IN HOUSTON by Chen-Yun Kate Liang

Extending the classroom beyond the walls of Episcopal is a goal of mine in teaching Chinese. Each year, I create an experience that immerses my students in the rich and diverse Asian cultures that define Houston. In February, I took a group of 26 students, along with faculty members Krystal Irven and Mike Hodgson, to Houston’s Chinatown. We planned a day of activities that included a temple, a grocery store, a restaurant, and the Taiwanese Culture Center to celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival. When we arrived at the Texas Teo Chew Temple, a traditional Daoism temple only 15 minutes away from school, students already felt like they had entered a foreign world. Inside the temple, my students made their way through the smoke and the fragrance of incense. They noted the otherworldliness of the statues of different gods, and I explained what each god represented in Chinese culture. Some students were practicing the Dao style of prayer to show their respect. Outside the temple, we stopped to take a group photo in front of a fountain that depicts all the animals represented in the Chinese calendar. I was pleased to see how excited the kids were when they recognized all the different animals! As we left the temple and drove to commercial Chinatown, the street signs were written in Chinese and Vietnamese. Small details like these make the students feel like they’re exploring a new city. At the corner of Bellaire and the Beltway, we shopped in a Chinese grocery store where I assigned students a scavenger hunt. Students had to find all the bizarre food items from the following list: cow tongue, dried herbs, pigs’ blood, chicken feet, lotus tea. They laughed at the unfamiliar choices. One student even purchased a black chicken wrapped in cellophane and brought it home to show his family. While the juniors and seniors were completing their scavenger hunt, the freshmen enjoyed lunch dishes at Fufu Café, savoring the aromas of chicken and pork. Rice was served in separate bowls; I stressed that sticking the chopsticks into the rice is forbidden and is a sign of disrespect. At this meal, we were served the traditional Chinese dishes on a Lazy Susan in the middle of the table, which is typical of a family meal. Students learned that the youngest one at the table pours the jasmine tea for everyone else. I requested that the

restaurant distribute chopsticks and not forks, so that they had an opportunity to showcase their chopstick skills. Even with so many dietary restrictions and personal preferences, my students finished all of the dishes and told me that this was the best Chinese food they had ever eaten. For dessert, they tried a boba tea available in a variety of flavors and sugary intenseness. Touring the Taiwanese Culture Center was a highlight of the day. Volunteers at the center shared with us pictures and stories of various Lantern Festival traditions in many Asian countries. The students participated in making dessert balls consisting of rice flour that the volunteers cooked for us before we left the venue. These traditional treats were sweet and chewy—not what my students were expecting as a dessert! I was proud of them for being open-minded about trying this ethnic holiday treat. I remember eating these growing up in Taiwan; my mother would make the rice ball dessert soup on the last day of winter. The Chinese believe you should eat a sweet treat on the last day of winter to celebrate your life and the attainment of one more year of wisdom. We were honored to have the Taiwan Cultural Center director greet us and explain the history of various art pieces in the lobby before we returned to our buses and headed back to Episcopal. The director passed out calendars as gifts, to demonstrate the importance of gifts in Asian cultures. On the way back to school, students were chattering nonstop about their day in Houston’s Chinatown. The underclassmen eagerly anticipate next year’s field trip, when they will visit a different temple. In moments like these, I realize I am not only the students’ Chinese teacher, I am also the bridge that connects them to a new culture. Chen-Yun Kate Liang teaches Chinese I through Chinese AP. She received her B.A. at the Chinese Cultural University in Taipei, Taiwan, and her M.S. at Sam Houston State. Liang is the sponsor of the Chinese Honor Society and has taught at Episcopal for four years.

John Flanagan greets an alumnus at the alumni Christmas lunch

2018 ‑ 2019 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle Executive Chair Randa Duncan Williams Frances Alexander, Henrietta K. Alexander, Matthew K. Baird, Shelley Torian Barineau, J. Craig Chandler, W. Craig Childers, Greg Curran, Rod Cutsinger, William A. Edens Sr., J. Todd Frazier ‘88, The Rev. James M. L. Grace ‘94, Terri Havens, Elizabeth K. Howley, Jenna Junell, Alecia Lawyer, Clay Manley, George O. McDaniel III, Laurie N. Morian, Dis Netland, Townes G. Pressler Jr., Joe Pyne, A. Haag Sherman, Ned Smith, Trey Snider, Duncan K. Underwood ‘89 Life Trustees John F. Austin III, Edward C. Becker, The Rt. Rev. Maurice M. Benitez †, W. Craig Childers, Lacy Crain, The Rev. Laurens A. Hall, Victor A. Kormeier Jr., Frederick R. McCord †, Laurence B. Neuhaus, The Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne, Joel I. Shannon, Lynda Knapp Underwood, The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly Executive Committee J. Craig Chandler, The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, William F. Galtney Jr., Melinda Budinger Hildebrand, Victor A. Kormeier Jr., George O. McDaniel III, Dis Netland, A. Haag Sherman, Ned Smith, Lynda Knapp Underwood, Randa Duncan Williams, Thomas M. Wright

LEADERSHIP Head of School Ned Smith Associate Head of School Nancy Laufe Eisenberg

Director of Finance and Operations Evelyn Cambria Principal Kim Randolph

Dean of Faculty Nguyet Xuan Pham Director of Advancement Peggy Haney Dean of Spiritual Life The Rev. Beth Holden

Dean of Arts and Innovation Jay Berckley Director of Athletics Jason Grove

PILLARS MAGAZINE TEAM Director of Communications Claire Fletcher Graphic Design Scott Cunningham Photography Scott Cunningham

Contributors Teagan Ashworth '19 Emma Tsai Chris Bailey Photography Ashley Long Chen-Yun Kate Liang Mauro Gomez Marc Nathan

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PILLARS - The Episcopal High School Spring 2019 Magazine

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