Photo courtesy of Jon Marbaise
2 0 1 4 S E CO N D S E M E S T E R N E W S GUS BLASS III AWARDED 2014 HARRIET CALHOUN STEPHENS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Former Board Member Gus Blass didn’t know why he was specifically invited to attend Class Day on May 16, but as Mrs. Harriet Stephens took the podium and began describing the work of a man who served on the Board of Trustees during the School’s most critical years, he started to smile. Mrs. Stephens wanted the honor to be a surprise for Mr. Blass, whom she said “worked tirelessly alongside her and other board members for two years to get the Middle School, Upper School, Gym and Dining Hall built.” Moments later, Mrs. Stephens called Blass to the stage to accept the second Harriet Calhoun Stephens Distinguished Service Award, the highest volunteer service honor that the School bestows.
Photo (l to r) Episcopal Board of Trustees President Chuck Erwin, Debbie Pettibone, Ben Winter, and Harriet C. Stephens
BEN WINTER AND DEBBIE PETTIBONE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2014 JACKSON T. STEPHENS OUTSTANDING SENIOR AND FACULTY AWARDS The winners of this year’s Jackson T. Stephens Outstanding Senior and Faculty Awards are two of the most deserving in the School’s history. Benjamin Scott Winter, the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award, is a true scholar who has compiled a superior record of academic achievement and has demonstrated an unparalleled work ethic.
Mr. Blass began service to Episcopal Collegiate School in 1998 when he helped the school find its current permanent site. Brokering a deal for the property, he negotiated getting the train tracks and power lines that were present moved so that the school could be built. Thanks to Mr. Blass and others, the gates of the current campus opened in the fall of 2000 and the Upper School opened a year later. “He has also served on the Foundation Board of Directors since 2009, still contributing his time and business acumen in service to the school,” said Mrs. Stephens. “It is my honor to present the second Harriet Calhoun Stephens Distinguished Service Award to a friend for whom I have such respect and gratitude, Mr. Gus Blass III.”
“He sets high expectations, seeking excellence in all endeavors and challenging fellow classmates to do the same,” said Chuck Erwin, President of the Board of Trustees. “Ben leapt into every undertaking with a unique sense of the possible and an earnest belief that the work undertaken daily here will make a difference in not only his life but in the lives of others. When asked by one of his teachers earlier this year how he wanted to be remembered, Ben responded, ‘I want to be remembered as that guy who changed the world—for good.’ ” Debbie Pettibone, the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Faculty Award, is equally exceptional. As Upper School Foreign Language Department Chair, she sets high expectations for student learning yet is humble, energetic, and innovative in the way she facilitates the development of her students. “At Episcopal, there are few groups that she does not impact,” said Erwin. “Whether coaching volleyball, chairing the Foreign Language Department, sponsoring the Diversity Council, or taking a group of students, in conjunction with her role as a member of the Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission of Little Rock, to the re-enactment of the 1963 March on Washington, she gives tirelessly of herself each day. “An ardent champion of the multiple, cross-disciplinary perspectives that students gain through studying a second language and culture, she is bilingual and working hard to master French and Portuguese as well. She has led trips to both Costa Rica and Trinidad, which underscore her passion for both languages and the environment.” Ben received a $5,000 award to be used at his discretion. Pettibone received a $10,000 grant: $5,000 for continuing education and $5,000 to be used at her discretion. Presented on Class Day May 16, the Stephens Awards are the two highest honors awarded by Episcopal Collegiate School. The Stephens family presents the awards annually to the senior student and faculty member who best exemplify the work ethic of Jackson T. Stephens, along with their leadership and contributions to the school.
EIGHT INDUCTED INTO CUM LAUDE SOCIETY
Photo (l to r): Harriet C. Stephens, Distinguished Service Award Winner Gus Blass III, and his wife Becky at Class Day, May 16, 2014
THREE EPISCOPAL SENIORS AMONG NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Congratulations to Max Goldberg, Ben Winter, and Miller Wilbourn, all members of the Class of 2014, who earned college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships. All three were among the eight Episcopal Collegiate seniors who advanced as finalists in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Competition. Finalists also included Colin Clemmons, Jacob Dowell, Ned Curran, and Wyatt Davis. Nicholas Simmons is a National Achievement Finalist. The finalists represent approximately 12 percent of the Class of 2014. More than 1.5 million high school students nationwide enter the National Merit Scholarship Competition by taking the preliminary SAT (PSAT) qualifying exam, which tests critical reading, math and writing. Only 16,000 students nationally qualify as semifinalists and less than one percent of all those tested earn finalist standing. Photos (l to r) Max Goldberg, Ben Winter, and Miller Wilbourn
Photo: (l to r) Wyatt Davis, Miller Wilbourn, Laura Lanier, Charles Compton (back), Ben Winter (back), Brooke Davis (front), Will Mahaffy (back) and Fletcher Carr
In April, the School recognized six members of the Class of 2014 and two faculty members as having earned membership in the Cum Laude academic honor society. The students are Brooke Davis, Wyatt Davis, Laura Lanier, Will Mahaffy, Miller Wilbourn, and Ben Winter. New faculty members are Upper School Biology Teacher Charles Compton and Head of the Upper School Fletcher Carr. Stan Whittlesey, Upper School Math Teacher, is President of the School’s Cum Laude Society Chapter. Inspired by the Phi Beta Kappa model at the college level, the Cum Laude Society was founded in 1906 to honor scholastic achievement in secondary schools. Induction into the Cum Laude Society is the highest academic honor bestowed upon an Episcopal Collegiate School student. Episcopal Collegiate School was selected for Cum Laude membership in its very first year of eligibility. Only a handful of schools have ever achieved this distinction.
MONTGOMERY FAMILY AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO TWO SENIORS Congratulations to Seniors Carly Waschka and Mary Hannah Madigan, recipients of the 2014 Montgomery Family Scholarships given by Susan and Bill Montgomery of Dallas, Texas. The Montgomery Scholarships are given each year to Episcopal Collegiate students who have committed to attend (photo, l to r) Carly Waschka and Mary Hannah Madigan at Commencement, May 17, 2014 the University of Arkansas and have accumulated strong records of academic achievement, leadership, and citizenship outside the classroom.
WINTER AND LANIER NAMED VALEDICTORIAN, SALUTATORIAN “This year’s valedictorian has set the academic bar extremely high during his four years in the Upper School,” said Head of School Steve Hickman. “And with energy to more than match his 4.55 cumulative GPA, he has been a force in all areas of school life.” On Class Day, May 16, Ben Winter was formally honored as the Valedictorian of the Class of 2014.
Photo (l to r): Class of 2014 Valedictorian Ben Winter and Salutatorian Laura Lanier
Class of 2014 Salutatorian Laura Lanier is twice captain of the state champion varsity girls tennis team, four-time all-state tennis state champion, all-conference and all-state soccer player, senior class secretary, and a three-year Honor Council Representative. Laura’s scholarship is all the more impressive given the depth and breadth of her out-ofclass accomplishments. Academically, she has heaped a great deal of rigor on herself, amassing 12 advanced and AP classes, and yet graduated with a sterling 4.51 grade-point average.
“It’s hard to imagine where our school and the Class of 2014 would be without this year’s Salutatorian. It’s not only the sheer number of things she does, but the manner in which she does them that distinguishes her work and elevates the community. Bottom line; she is a doer,” said Hickman.
MILLER WILBOURN AND BEN WINTER AWARDED COUNTRY’S TOP MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS Two of the most sought-after college scholarships in the nation were awarded to two Episcopal Collegiate School seniors. Gordon Miller Wilbourn earned the Morehead-Cain Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), and classmate Ben Winter accepted the Jefferson Scholarship to the University of Virginia (UVA). The total value of the scholarships is approximately $390,000. Ben was also offered the prestigious Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship to Vanderbilt University. Miller and Ben are the only students in the state to be awarded these scholarships. Both awards cover all tuition, housing, student fees, meals, and books for four years. In addition, the Morehead-Cain Scholarship fully funds a four-year summer enrichment program made up of diverse, customized experiences that begin the summer before freshman year. After a rigorous application process, Ben was one of only 120 finalists who earned the right to interview at the University of Virginia, and one of only 36 to walk away a Jefferson Scholar, said Phil Hooper, Director of College Guidance. Miller traveled to UNC Chapel Hill in March and “wowed his interviewers, earning his way into the rarified company of incoming Morehead-Cain Scholars,” he said.
EPISCOPAL CELEBRATE
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piscopal collEgiatE school awardEd dEgrEEs to an amazing group of young men and women at the School’s 11th Commencement on Saturday, May 17, 2014. As they prepare to join the ranks of freshmen at many of the country’s top colleges and universities, the 60 members of the Class of 2014 leave a legacy of achievement that is unprecedented in the School’s history.
The Class of 2014 includes three National Merit Scholars, eight National Merit Finalists, one National Achievement Finalist, two Presidential Scholar nominees, a Jefferson Scholar, and a Morehead-Cain Scholar. With 40 percent of the class scoring a 30 or above on the ACT, it’s no surprise that approximately 75 percent of the class received more than $7.5 million in merit-based scholarship offers. This energetic group of students also managed to donate 9,200 hours of service to their community over the past four years. In his class speech, Houston Downes said: “We have grown up in the shadows of history. Miller Wilbourn addresses his classmates at Commencement
Ben Winter celebrates with his family after graduation
EPISCOPAL MOBILIZES TO HELP THE COMMUNITY OF MAYFLOWER One of the more emotional moments of the spring occurred in the aftermath of the devastating tornadoes that struck Mayflower and Vilonia on April 27. In the face of the catastrophic damage to these communities and in light of the intense conference athletic rivalry that has developed with Mayflower, the Episcopal Collegiate community worked quickly to let the citizens of Mayflower know that they were very much in the thoughts of the Wildcats. Over four days, students, teachers, and families brought in enough relief supplies to, very literally, fill both the large and small Episcopal Collegiate buses. Community members formed a chain to load the buses on Thursday afternoon, while Joy Schultz’s art classes created a beautiful ‘Mayflower Strong’ banner to display on the lead bus as it made its way into Mayflower. On Friday morning, Monty Smith, Richie Marsh, Fletcher Carr, Troy Jackson, Travis Hill, and Micah Marsh met Mayflower native Brittney Richardson at a designated staging center in Mayflower to unload the supplies. With the help of the Mayflower High School principal and some other volunteers, the buses were emptied and the relief supplies set up for distribution. In addition, a check in the amount of $2,000, raised by a group of Episcopal parents, was deposited into the town relief fund. And finally, the ‘Mayflower Strong’ banner was presented to the Mayflower cheer squad.
SUMMER SCIENCE SCHOLARS Arkansas Children’s Hospital Stella Boyle Smith Summer Science Scholar Award Jackson Bridges and Liza Hill spent eight weeks this summer shadowing physicians, attending rounds Photo (l to r) Jackson Bridges, Ezra Feldman, Shelby Powers, and Liza Hill and clinics, and touring different hospital units as well as participating in a mentored research project involving children’s health. Arkansas Children’s Hospital faculty members from various pediatric subspecialties taught basic science and clinical research techniques to the students and helped the students gain exposure to clinical medicine. Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute Summer Research Fellowship During this eight-week fellowship, Ezra Feldman and Shelby Powers were directly involved in medical research under the guidance and supervision of physicians, scientists, and graduate students. Each student was personally matched with a project that was interesting and suitable for them. Students were exposed to cutting-edge research and techniques in their fellowship experience.
ARKANSAS STARTUP WEEKEND On Friday, April 4, 80 students representing 16 high school teams from across the state of Arkansas gathered at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service for the first-ever High School Startup Weekend, an event that grew out of the work of Startup Weekend, a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who convene on weekends all over the world to learn the basics of entrepreneurship and strategies to launch startup ventures. What made the Arkansas High School Startup Weekend so unique was the fact that this event marked the first time ever that a Startup Weekend was organized around and centered solely on high school entrepreneurs. Startup Weekend has held over 1,800 events in 120 countries around the world over the past several years, but never an event such as this one, in which high school students competed to earn a range of entrepreneurially-relevant prizes. Episcopal Collegiate School fielded one of the 16 teams in this event. Team RiverRider included Cogan Wade ‘16, Will Goodson ‘15, and Adam Jackson ‘16, as well as faculty sponsor and Upper School Head Fletcher Carr. Team RiverRider spent more than 30 hours developing its business model to present to a national panel of judges and mentors. Their game app, RiverRider, allows players to navigate through six of the world’s most endangered rivers; as a player journeys down each river, the points earned correlate to actual funds raised for conservation and clean water programs across the globe.
Photo (l to r) Cogan Wade, Will Goodson, Adam Jackson, and Fletcher Carr
Ultimately, the team’s business plan and final four-minute pitch to several hundred participants and observers earned two awards during the business model creation weekend the inaugural Clinton School of Public Service Social Impact Award and the Daniel Cayce Scholarship, which included a $1,000 cash award.
LAURA DUNNAGAN WINS NATIONAL SPANISH HONOR SOCIETY TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP Junior Laura Dunnagan is spending her summer in Spain, thanks to a travel scholarship awarded by the National Spanish Honor Society. Dunnagan is one of only 20 students in the country to win the highly-competitive Bertie Green Travel Scholarship. To be considered, students must write a two-page essay in Spanish on a topic related to Spanish Photo: Laura (center) with her sister and mother on culture, produce a five-minute video interview, and submit a Class Day after winning the Harvard Book Award resume and recommendation letters. Upon her return, Laura will write an essay about her trip for publication in the Honor Society’s scholarly journal, Sociedad Honoraria Hispánicas. This is the second year a student from Episcopal Collegiate School has won the scholarship.
CLASS OF 2012 Amber Raneem Alley Class Treasurer College of the Holy Cross
Anne Morley Gonzalez Class Vice President Yale University
Jackson Taylor Rawlings University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Taylor Elizabeth Barton
Michael Brandon Hairston
Austin Reinhart Schoessel
Episcopal Collegiate School Congratulates the Class ofCaitlin 2014 on TheirMareece Acceptances to Sarah Allison Dior Griffin Logan Nolan Ray University of Arkansas University of Arkansas Illinois University the Following Colleges and UniversitiesSouthern at Fayetteville at Fayetteville in Carbondale
ES THE CLASS OF 2014! Through programs in chapel in the past four years, we’ve had the privilege of hearing the stories of veterans who have seen evil and made the conscious decision to oppose it. Through our classes, we’ve learned about the pioneers of freedom such as Washington or Franklin; we’ve learned about the engineers of change such as Lincoln or King, and we’ve seen the difference one man, one woman, or someday even one of us can make if we hold true to what really is an American Constitution, a relentless determination. Together, we form a group of future artists, lawyers, teachers, doctors, and businessmen and, in every aspect, we must keep pushing, keep fighting, and keep learning.” Congratulations Class of 2014! We are so proud of you! To view photos of the commencement ceremony, visit the media gallery at episcopalcollegiate.org.
University of Arkansas Roger Williams University ofUniversity Arkansas Oklahoma State University Arkansas State University at Fayetteville at Fayetteville Mary Scarlett Sherwood Savannah College of Art and Design Auburn University Margaret Anne Beetstra Lenard Hall University of Arkansas ScrippsDevin College Austin College Washington University Williams Baptist College at Fayetteville Sewanee: The University of the South Barnard College in St. Louis Cindy Lillian Henriquez Kelly Ellen Singer Smith College Barton College Katherine Ann Bowen University of the Ozarks University of Arkansas Bates College University of Arkansas Southeast Missouri State University at Little Rock Laura Katherine Hildebrand at Fayetteville Southern Arkansas University Baylor University Hendrix College Robert Jeffrey Staten, Jr. Southern Methodist University University of Louisiana at Lafayette Belmont University Kelsey Erin Brass Zana Lovell Horne Grinnell College Stanford University Bowdoin College University of Arkansas Jordan Thomas Stepka Katherine Bailey Brown Texas A&M at Fayetteville University of Tulsa University Carleton College University of Mississippi Del’Juan Tavaviqus Jackson Matthew Howard Stewart Texas Christian University Centre College of Arkansas Hendrix College University College of Charleston Jack Andrew Bunce Trinity University Arkansas State University at Fayetteville Steele Strauss University of Alabama College of William and Mary Erin Elizabeth Campbell Kristen Roselie Kent College of Charleston of Arkansas at Fayetteville Dartmouth College University of Arkansas University Class Secretary Kendal Alan Strayhorn University of Arkansas Davidson College at Fayetteville University of Arkansasat Little Rock University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Eckerd College Teneal LaVette Charles University of Central Arkansas at Fayetteville Maryof Caitlin Mahaffyat Boulder University Colorado Furman University Henderson State University Samuel Edward Thoma Southern Methodist University Georgia Institute of Technology Chelsey Breanne Copas University of Florida University of Illinois University of Central Arkansas Jack of Edwin McCoy at Urbana-Champaign University Georgia Hamilton College University of Arkansas Claude Chapman Cousins, Jr. Sarah Elizabeth Throckmorton University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Hampden-Sydney College at Fayetteville Harding University University of Arkansas University of Mary Washington Elizabethtown College at Fayetteville Elizabeth Grace McDonough Howard Moose Turney, Jr. University Mississippi Henderson State University Classof President James Jackson Dowden Hampden-Sydney College Vanderbilt University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hendrix College Texas Christian University Maddie Warwick Vollers University ofJackson Oklahoma High Point University Jeffrey McIntyre James Rogers Eubanks Loyola University Chicago Duquesne University John Brown UniversityUniversity of Arkansas University of Pennsylvania Anna Elizabeth Wilbourn at Fayetteville Olivia Patton Mississippi University ofCates Southern Loyola University Georgetown University University of Arkansas University of Tampa Lyon College at Fayetteville Claire Alle Worley University of Texas at Austin University of Mississippi Marist College University of the Ozarks Marymount Manhattan CollegeOF 2012 CLASS HIGHLIGHTS University of Tulsa Middlebury College • The Class of 2012 with 44 of students University Virginiawill enroll in 28 different colleges Millsaps College and universities across 15 states. Vanderbilt University Oklahoma State University • 31 students representing 70% ofUniversity the class, generated merit-based scholarship Wake Forest Ouachita Baptist University offers with one and four-year values totaling justLouis over $3,390,000. Washington University in St. Pitzer College Wheaton College Rhodes College • The Class of 2012 contributed over 6,000 hours of community service during Rice University their four years in Upper School.
CHOIR RECOGNITION DAY HIGHLIGHTS WILDCATS WIN 7TH STATE QUIZ BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP! ORCHESTRA ANDCLASS Episcopal and Superior Morewon thanSweepstakes 120 academic, fine arts, and athletic awards were presented to Middle and Upper Episcopal Collegiate School sailed to its 7th State Quiz Bowl Championship on April 26, Collegiate’s orchestra Concert ContestatinClass March. students DayAbby on May 16. Top awards included the Middle and Upper School winning 325-190 over Fountain Lake in a match broadcast live on AETN. This year(1) ratings at the Region ISchool Harkins, violinist and orchestra was selected Serviceconcertmaster, Awards and Junior Book Awards. Congratulations to all of our winners! marks Episcopal’s 9th consecutive appearance at the final game of the state tournament. Congratulations to team members Ben Winter, Alan May, Colin Clemmons, Jacob Dowell, as a member of the All-State Orchestra, is a firstRoss for (US) and Sidney Dassinger (MS) Service Awardswhich - Courtney Nicholas Simmons, Jackson Bridges, Ezra Feldman, Victoria Jones, Dylan Wright, Adam Hall,Collegiate. Kiril Laskarov, orchestra director, was Episcopal The Rev. Canon R. Ewing Jackson Jr. Middle School Medal - Emma Towe Caleb Dowell, Anna Feldman, and Coaches Stan Whittlesey and Bruce Hall. named as conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Prelude Orchestra. Mr. Laskarov participated the finalSewanee concert of Junior BookinAwards: Award for Excellence in Writing - Therese Janosky; the symphony’s season along with two & students: Cole Hartsell Washington Lee University - Jackson Bridges; Jefferson Book Award (Univ. of Va.) ShelbyHadden, Powers; cellist. Penn Book Liza Hill; Harvard Award - Lauraratings Dunnagan; (far right), violinist, and Owen OurAward Upper -School Concert ChoirBook received Superior at the Yale Assessment, Book Awardwhich - Alanallowed May the choir to perform at the State Choral Performance Assessment. Regional Choral Performance The Concert Choir earned Excellent ratings at the State Assessment, placing in the top five performance groups in their classification. The Middle School Chorus earned a Superior Rating at the Regional Choral Performance Assessment.
Congratulations also to stand-out players Ben Winter and Alan May who were named to the All-Tournament Team for both the regional and state tournaments. Ben was also recognized as the Most Valuable Player of the regional tournament.
SUPERIOR ACCOLADES FOR BROADCAST EPISCOPAL 8TH GRADERS JOURNALISM STUDENTS OUTPERFORM IN AREA At the 2012 Arkansas Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) contest, MATH COMPETITION Episcopal Collegiate’s student-produced news magazine, “ECTV News,” Congratulations to the 8th Grade Muearned Alpha a Superior award in the General Excellence Theta Team for winning 1st Place in theECTV was also honored with the All-Arkansas award, category. Annual Mu Alpha Theta Mathwhich Competition is the highest distinction a broadcast program can receive held at Mount St. Mary Academy. 8th The staff also earned five Superior awards and three fromThe ASPA. Grade Team included Samuel Best Rhee,ofShelby ASPA awards for their stories. Staff members pictured (left Worsham, Jackson Rayburn, and Sadie Flannery. The team of 24 won the School Overall to Points right) Award are Clayton Cunningham, Turner Kennedy, Steele Strauss, in addition to individual awards for Shelby Worsham, 2nd place, and Samuel Rhee, 3rdBen place. Winter, Mareece Griffin, Austin Schoessel, Katie Mowery, Sheffield Spence, Ned Curran, Ellie McDonough and, Congratulations to our outstanding Middle School mathematicians and to faculty sponsor Jo Stoltz!Michael Hairston. Other staff members include Hans Braunfisch, Jackson Bridges, James Eubanks, horizontal, Photo (l to r) Students Emma Towe, Sidney Dassinger (top right), and Courtney Ross. William McCastlain, Madison Moody, Carly Roberts, Amanda Russell, Robert Staten, and Claire Worley.
SHELBY POWERS EARNS TOP ACT SCORE
Shelby Powers, a rising senior at Episcopal Collegiate School, earned in her first attempt a top composite score of 36 on the ACT test. Nationally, on average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students who take the ACT earn the top score. Among test takers in the high school graduating Class of 2014, only 1,162 of more than 1.8 million students earned a composite score of 36.
WRESTLING CONGRATULATIONS 5TH GRADERS!
The Episcopal Collegiate wrestling team won 10th place in the state Marking their transition to Middle School, the competition this year. Excellent performances by two of our team members fifth group of Episcopal Collegiate 5th graders were brought them medals: sophomore Will Griffin (left) captured 3rd place honored at a recognition ceremony the last week of and junior Jason Giordano (right) placed 4th. school. Each member of the Class of 2021 received a certificate and an olive wood cross made in BethPowers is Team Captain of the Varsity Girls Cross Country and lehem. Citizenship Awards were presented to Grant Track teams, where she was named Most Valuable Runner for the Wild (photo above, left) and Meredith Campbell past three years. She was named to the All-State Cross Country WILDCAT BASEBALL (photo above, right) for their demonstration of the and All-Arkansas Academic Track and Field teams. On Class Day, School’s core values of Respect, Reverence and Senior baseball player Robert Staten (right) will compete for a starting position as an outfielder this she received the 2014 Jefferson Book Award and is the winner of Responsibility. Harper Hicks (photo below, left) fall at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Robert holds 13 of the 14 all-time offensive category the 2013-2014 Latin IV and AP Calculus BC Awards. She is a and Phoebe Sanders (photo below, right) earned at Episcopal Collegiate. He ranks 9th (.552) and 10th (.550) all-time in the state of Arkansas 2014 Summer Science Scholar and member of the National Jr. Classical League, therecords Latin Club, Scholarship Awards for their academic efforts batting average, ranks 6th (.496) all-time in the state of Arkansas in career batting the National Honor Society, and the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. Shelby for is asingle-season Senior and achievements. average, and ranks 4th all-time in the state of Arkansas for single game RBI’s (7)! Peer Leader and Class Vice President.
William McCastlain ’15 proudly carries the school banner at Commencement
ECTV RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION
Photo (l to r) William McCastlain and Margo Lee at the ECTV anchor desk
Congratulations to the Upper School’s Advanced Broadcast Journalism students for their honors at the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association 2014 Convention. ECTV News received a “Superior” rating in the General Excellence category, as well as the prestigious “Best of ASPA” distinction! Congratulations to Line Producer Amanda Russell and Broadcast Advisor Ashley Honeywell!
CURBSIDE COUTURE 2014 HIGHLIGHTS SPRING SEMESTER Even with a short trip to the basement due to tornado warnings, Curbside Couture 2014 went on as planned at the Clinton Library on April 27. After months of work, Episcopal’s 12 student designers and 22 models unveiled an impressive line-up of garments made from recycled materials that earned four out of the five awards given that night. Congratulations to designer Jade Pfeifer who took top honors and won a $500 cash prize. Designers Lily Warren and Celeste Jennings won 3rd and 4th place prizes respectively, and Colin Clemmons was the recipient of the Singer Creativity Award, which also came with a cash prize. Congratulations to all of our talented designers on their beautiful creations and to our faculty sponsor Joy Schultz!
EPISCOPAL EXCELS IN MUSIC From school and community concerts to spring performance assessments, the Episcopal choirs, orchestra, and percussion ensembles had another stand-out semester. In Lower School, the Kindergarten “K Scat” performance of improved jazz on Grandparents and Special Friends Day was nothing short of spectacular! While our Middle and Upper School choir students were lending their considerable talents to the spring musical, they managed to earn top scores once again at the Central Region Choral Performance Assessment! Congratulations to all!
Arkansas First Lady Mrs. Ginger Beebe and Episcopal pianist Duane Chen
The orchestra continued a busy concert schedule, hosted three public concerts and six Chapel performances, including a beautiful performance on Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 24, which included a stunning piano solo of Chopin’s Waltz No. 42 by 7th grader Duane Chen. Percussion is as big as ever at Episcopal. A record 60 students took percussion this year, including 34 Middle School students. Our Lower School students enjoyed another hands-on percussion concert in April. Our students learned about West African music from guest percussion instructor Dr. Mike Vercelli, Director of the World Music Center at West Virginia University.
VISUAL ART Episcopal visual art students continued to support community service projects, creating custom pieces for Homes for Haiti, Home Plate Heroes, Eggshibition, and the BeLikeBrit Orphanage. Upper School students also published 805 works of art on the Artsonia National Online Art Gallery and the Lower School published an amazing 1,000 student pieces! Our artists continue to win awards and be recognized at the highest levels in state and regional art competitions. Congratulations Episcopal artists and teachers!
SPRING AUCTION NETS RECORD $200,000 Thanks to your support and the incredible work of Auction Co-Chairs Ellen Kreth and Shelly Tucker, the Spring Auction exceeded $200,000 in proceeds that will benefit faculty professional development over the next two years. Thank you to all those who attended and bid on items, and special thanks to our wonderful sponsors and donors! Emily Fletcher sketches the outline of her portrait of an orphaned girl living at the BeLikeBrit Orphanage in Haiti
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS DELIGHTS EPISCOPAL AUDIENCES
Photo left (l to r) Auction Co-Chairs Shelly Tucker, Ellen Kreth and Parents Auxiliary President Traci Braunfisch
Photo (l to r) Sha and Mike Murphy, and Tracy and AJ Jemerson.
ANNUAL FUND SETS RECORD! Chaired by Episcopal parents Josephine and Robert Covington, the 2013-14 Annual Fund had a record-setting year! With the goal of raising $400,000, the campaign exceeded that goal with a total of $438,000 in pledges and gifts. Thank you to Josephine and Robert and to the many parents, faculty, staff, and friends who gave to the Annual Fund this year. The money raised through the Annual Fund will help cover the difference between what it costs to educate an Episcopal student and the tuition received from our families. The Annual Fund benefits every student on campus and every program the school offers.
The Covington Family (clockwise from left, standing) Nell, Robert, (seated) Mary and Josephine
The Theatre Department’s successful production of Once Upon a Mattress was a milestone on many levels. The adapted musical is the largest of the school’s productions in set and cast size. In three performances, the 23-member cast performed 21 musical numbers as they brought Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale to the stage. With standing-room only crowds, Episcopal audiences loved it! Congratulations to the cast, crew, and Theatre Director James Mainard O’Connell, on an outstanding show!
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PICTURED FROM TOP: 1. SENIORS IN SHIRTS: Seniors unveil their college choices at the Annual Senior T-Shirt Picnic. 2. TRIUMPHANT GRADUATE: Rory MacNichol holds up proof of his accomplishment! 3. BRAVO: These Episcopal students made up Arkansas’ Top 10 on the National French Exam. 4 - 5. FUTURE RAZORBACKS: Kristie Hadden and William Pollock celebrate their four-year merit scholarships to the UA Honors College with their families and Honors College Dean Robert McMath. 6. KINDERGARTEN KICKIN’ IT: Varsity soccer players host another great clinic for our Kindergarten students. 7. HELPING HANDS: Lower School students Alex Brown and John Michael Murphy load tornado relief supplies for the community of Mayflower. 8. EPISCOPAL GENERATIONS: A special moment between a grandmother and grandson on Grandparent’s Day. 9. WOO PIG SOOIE: Seniors headed to the University of Arkansas celebrate at the Senior T-Shirt Picnic. 10. WHAT’S IN THAT TRUNK?: Preschool students are mesmerized by the elephants on a field trip to the Little Rock Zoo. 11. HOPE FOR HARPER: Senior Brooke Davis with Harper Marsh, age 3, during the Hope for Harper Wristband Campaign to raise money for childhood leukemia. 12. FASHION FUN: Noted fashion designer Korto Momolu with our talented Curbside Couture student designers. 13 - 14. ONCE UPON A MUSICAL: The cast takes the stage in the spring production of Once Upon A Mattress. 15. DRUM MAJORS: Episcopal percussion students perform beautifully at the spring concert. 16. BRAIN POWER: New members of the National Jr. Honor Society are inducted in a special chapel ceremony. 17. IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S . . . : Allie Freeman leaps high to help the Wildcats win their first state basketball championship. 18 - 19. STATE CHAMPIONS: Coach Micah Marsh and the players celebrate a historic season. 20. SO LUCKY: (l to r) Larry and Kathy Bryant, Tracey Schumaker, and Jeff Utech at the Spring Auction. 21. AT THE TRACK: Our Junior High Track Teams celebrate a great season. 22 - 23. FIELD DAY FUN: Lower School students enjoy the end-of-school year celebration. 24. THE GANG’S ALL HERE: A group of Episcopal students hang out after lunch.
WINTER/SPRING VARSITY ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS Boys Basketball
SENIOR ATHLETIC AWARDS Outstanding Female Athlete: Brooke Davis,
State, Regional & Conference Champions
Laura Lanier
All-State: Allie Freeman, William Pollock, Kelvin Robinson Wrestling
9th in State; All-State: Will Griffin
Baseball
2nd in District & Advanced to Region; All-State: Douglas Munson
Boys Soccer
Conference Champions & Advanced to State Playoffs;
Outstanding Male Athlete: William Pollock Special Awards: Kristin Barnes, Houston Downes, John Michael Ekdahl, Will Griffin, Margo Lee, Hannah Maxwell,
All-State: Ethan Brass, William McCastlain,
Katie McCain, Conner Noland
Thomas Rose, Kahry Wright Girls Soccer
All-State: Lizzy Estes, Laura Lanier, Elsie Pugh Boys Track and Field
Wyatt Davis, Megan Drew, Lizzy Estes, All-State Wrestler Will Griffin
Max Goldberg, Seungmyn Ha,
3rd in State & Conference Champions
Katie Hadden, Will Mahaffy,
All-State: Will Mahaffy, Conner Noland,
Courtney Ross, Amanda Russell,
Scotty Nichols, Miller Wilbourn Girls Track and Field
Sportsmanship Awards: Clayton Cunningham,
Conference Champions & Advanced to Elite Eight
3rd in Conference and Advanced to State
Caroline Stebbins, Koby Strayhorn, Delia Wade, Miller Wilbourn
BASEBALL TEAM FINISHES 2ND IN DISTRICT TOURNAMENT; ADVANCES TO REGION The boys varsity baseball team compiled a school-best 13-8 record and for the first time advanced to the Regional Tournament for the second consecutive year. The team qualified for regional play by virtue of its 2nd place finish in the 3-5A District Tournament. In the finals of the District Tournament, the team lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to Mayflower. Senior John William Henderson led the team in innings pitched and finished the season with a 1.76 ERA. Douglas Munson led the team in batting with a .373 average. Henderson, Munson and Houston Downes were named All-Conference and Munson was selected to the All-State team.
NINE ATHLETES RECOGNIZED BY ALL ARKANSAS PREPS; MICAH MARSH NAMED BOYS OUTSTANDING BASKETBALL COACH In a record-setting year, nine Episcopal athletes were selected for state-wide recognition by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s All Arkansas Preps Committee: Allie Freeman (Basketball and Football: Sophomore Teams); Laura Lanier (Tennis: Team of the Year); Mahlon Martin (Basketball: Second Team); William Pollock (Golf: Team of the Year); Elsie Pugh (Tennis: Team of the Year); Kelvin Robinson (Basketball: Sophomore Team); Jack Carney and Chris Macy (Sophomore/Freshman Teams, Boys Soccer); and Margo Lee (Girls Soccer, Second Team). Allie Freeman was the only athlete in the state to be named All Arkansas Preps in two sports. William Pollock was the recipient of the PARK Student Athlete Award, given to the standout athlete who excelled in the classroom. Coach Micah Marsh was selected by All Arkansas Preps as the Boys Basketball Outstanding Coach of the Year.
BOYS CAPTURE SCHOOL’S FIRST BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Photo (l to r) Basketball Coach of the Year Micah Marsh celebrates after the varsity boys win their first state championship in basketball!
BOYS TRACK TEAM CAPTURES CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP; FINISHES 3RD IN STATE TRACK MEET For the second consecutive year, the boys track team claimed the 3-5A District Track and Field Championship. Highlights included first place finishes in the 4x800m (Conner Noland, Miller Wilbourn, Will Mahaffy, and Scotty Nichols) and 4x400m (Wilbourn, Noland, Nichols and Erbie Jennings); a 1-2 finish in the Discus (Justin Gooseberry and Photo (l to r) Varsity track athletes Will Mahaffy, Scotty Nichols, Miller Wilbourn and Connor Noland Cori Gooseberry); a 1-2-3 finish in the 800m run (Noland, Mahaffy, and Nichols); and 1-2 finish in both the 1600m and 3200m runs (Noland and Mahaffy). Jennings also finished 4th in the 100m, 3rd in the 200m and 2nd in the 400m. Other solid performances were posted by Ladell Tyler, William McCastlain, and Max Goldberg. Noland was recognized as the High Point winner of the meet, logging victories in five events (800m, 1600m, 3200m, 4x400m relay, and 4x800m relay). As a result of their strong conference performance, the team qualified seven athletes in 11 events for the 3A State Track meet. Despite having one of the smallest squads in the field, the boys finished third out of 31 teams. The Wildcats were led by Noland, who capped a phenomenal career by winning the 3200m title and capturing second in the 1600m. The 4x800m team of Wilbourn, Noland, Mahaffy, and Nichols finished second. Other notable performances were turned in by Cori Gooseberry and Justin Gooseberry in the Discus (4th and 5th place, respectively), Mahaffy (5th in the 1600m and 3200m) and a 6th place finish by Jennings in the 400m. Noland, Mahaffy, Wilbourn, and Nichols were named to the AllState team. The girls team finished third in the Conference, qualifying several athletes for the state meet. Notable performances in the Conference Meet were turned in by the 4x800m relay team (Gracie Kreth, Sally Barnes, Therese Janosky, and Emily Fletcher); Chelsea Flowers (2nd in Discus), Shelby Powers (2nd in both 1600 and 3200m); and Sally Barnes and Theresa Janosky (1- 2 finish in the 800m). Also contributing to the girls 3rd place overall finish were Emily Fletcher, Gracie Kreth, Becca Zolten, Mattie Thornton, and Collise Dennis. At the state meet, Barnes finished sixth in the 800m and Powers placed eighth in the 3200m.
Led by Mahlon Martin’s 21 points and Allie Freeman’s 17 points, the boys varsity basketball team garnered its first 3A State Championship with a 62-56 win over Charleston High School. The game featured several other outstanding performances, including Kelvin Robinson’s three steals in the first quarter, William Pollock’s second half, shut-down defense on Charleston’s top scorer, and Justin Gooseberry’s clutch fourth quarter baskets. The team finished with a 29-3 record, capturing Conference and Regional Championships to go along with their State Championship. In both the Conference and Regional Championship Finals, the team beat a very talented Mayflower group. The Wildcats ended the season with a 29-3 game winning streak. They did not lose to a 3A team. Martin was named State Tournament MVP and joined Pollock and Robinson on the All-State Tournament Team. Freeman, Martin, and Robinson were named to the 3A All-State Team, recognizing their outstanding seasons. They were joined on the All-Conference Team by Gooseberry and Pollock. Martin was named to the All-Arkansas Preps Second Team and Freeman and Robinson were named to the All-Arkansas Preps Sophomore Team. Coach Micah Marsh was named All-Conference Coach of the Year and All-Arkansas Preps Outstanding Boys Basketball Coach!
BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS CLAIM CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS; GIRLS ADVANCE TO ELITE EIGHT FOR 7TH TIME The girls soccer team continued its winning ways, securing its third consecutive Conference title. The girls opened state play with a convincing 2-0 win over Dardanelle, advancing to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year. Unfortunately, they faced a tough Conway St. Joseph team and lost a tightly-contested 2-1 match. Amalie King, Lizzy Estes, Laura Lanier, Margo Lee, Katie McCain, and Elsie Pugh were selected to the All-Conference Team. Estes, Lanier, and Pugh were named to the All-State Team. In the eight years since the program started, the girls soccer team has amassed an outstanding record. They have captured four conference championships, made eight state tournament appearances, and participated in three final fours and three state championship games. The boys soccer team captured its second consecutive conference championship, qualifying the team for the state tournament. In the state tournament, the team lost in double overtime in the first round to a highly-motivated Green Forest team. Ethan Brass, Chris Macy, William McCastlain, William Pollock, Thomas Rose, Braylon Smith and Kahry Wright were named to the All-Conference Team. Brass, McCastlain, Rose and Wright were named to the All-State team.
Photo (l to r) Varsity soccer players Laura Lanier and Margo Lee at graduation rehearsal after winning in the first round of the state soccer tournament
ALUMNI NEWS! If you are a graduate of Episcopal Collegiate School, please share news with us by emailing Marty Trieschmann at mtrieschmann@episcopalcollegiate.org. We can share it with other alumni in the next edition!