KnightsStandOut

Photos by Mauro Gomez

#KNIGHTS 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.

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.

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 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.

#KNIGHTS 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.”

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

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