The Magazine of Episcopal - Summer 2019

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T H E

M A G A Z I N E

O F

EPISCOPAL Episcopal School of Jacksonville

Summer 2019


Mission Statement The mission of Episcopal School of Jacksonville is to provide a superior college-preparatory education in an environment marked by high expectation, Christian nurture, and social diversity. Through a balanced program of academics, arts, and athletics, Episcopal’s faculty seeks to instill in each student intellectual growth, character development, responsible leadership and a commitment to community service.


LEADERSHIP 2018-2019 Board of Trustees Len Allen Claudia Saenz Amlie ’87 (Secretary) Clare Berry ’73 Beverly H. Bonaparte, Ph.D. Stephen D. Busey (Chancellor) Troy M. Davis ’93 Kelly Flanagan ’02 Heather Fouts Michael J. Grebe David C. Hodges, Jr. ’90 (Chairman) Mark R. LaBorde ’84 The Honorable Donald Lester R. Brian King John B. Magevney ’89 The Very Rev. Katherine B. Moorehead (Vice-Chairman) Helen C. Rowan (Treasurer) John C. Schmidt ’70 Sally Haskell Singletary ’86 William N. Steitz III Carl E. Stoudemire III ’75 Stephen M. Suddath ’73 Kenneth D. Sweder Arnold D. Tritt, Jr. ’81 Ryan J. Uitti Theodora D. Walton Sidney E. Wells ’91 The Right Rev. Samuel John Howard, Bishop of Florida, Ex-Officio The Rev. Adam S. Greene, Head of School, Ex-Officio Charles Chunn ’98, Alumni Board President, Ex-Officio Foundation Board Robert M. Clements John A. Delaney Stephen D. Moore Jr. John E. Sawyer IV Kenneth D. Sweder David C. Hodges Jr. ’90, Chairman Board of Trustees, Ex-Officio The Rev. Adam S. Greene, Head of School, Ex-Officio

Trustees Emeriti William B. Bond E. Bruce Bower Peggy P. Bryan J. F. Bryan IV Stephen D. Busey John W. Donahoo Jr. † David W. Foerster Henry H. Graham Jr. † Joan S. Haskell Preston H. Haskell III Mark Hulsey † Delores T. Lastinger Allen L. Lastinger Hugh M. Magevney III J. T. McCormick † Thad L. McNulty Walter A. McRae Jr. † John A. Mitchell III Jane S. Munnerlyn † W. Wilson Munnerlyn † The Rev. Doctor Robert R. Parks † Gert H.W. Schmidt † The Honorable Gerald B. Tjoflat Elizabeth Walton † William H. Walton Jr. † Mary Winston † James H. Winston † Katharine K. Zambetti Head of School Emeritus Charles F. Zimmer Honorary Trustees Michael D. Abney † William B. Barnett Margaret B. Berg † Jackie J. Busse The Rt. Rev. Frank S. Cerveny Robert M. Clements Maxwell K. Dickinson Thomas M. Donahoo J. Dix Druce Jr. Bertram N. Herlong † Richard H. Jones Dr. Ross T. Krueger Joan W. Newton Marian B. Poitevent Luther F. Sadler Richard H. Suddath † The Very Rev. Gustave J. Weltsek †

Alumni Board Charles Chunn ’98 – President Heather Rainey Moseley ’88 – President-Elect Katherine Donahoo Nott ’90 – Vice President of The Episcopal Fund Peter Blumeyer ’08 – Vice President of Membership Ashley Helmick ’07 – Secretary William Milne ’00 – Chaplain Lesley Marchman Gittings ’06 – Eagle Society Chair, Ex-Officio Members at Large Mary Burke Baker ’93 Brooks Fraleigh Cannon ’97 Mary Lanier Cook ’94 Darren Glenn ’91 Lee Haramis ’10 Jennifer Stopiak Hayes ’90 Leigh Elizabeth Black Isreal ’05 Brad McCollum ’08 Graham Riley ’00 Shannon Shea ’89 Julie Wiggins Sorenson ’98 Stacy Byrd Thomas ’07 Tracy Thompson ’12 Deanna Thornton ’10 Nick Walker ’10 Katharyn Smith Woods ’07 Editor Meg Scheu Sacks Design and Production Katie Lawrence Contributors Jane Labossier Heather Newman Johnson ’90 Jennifer Windley Missy Ketchum Lisa Allen Andy Kidd ’99 Katie Lebhar Black ’95 Chip Stroud Julie Carter Photography Brandon Westerman ’99 Laura Evans Photography Joe Kohla († deceased) ESJ

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Table of Contents 6 7 20 64 82 96

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From the Head of School Alumni Features Campus News Alumni News Advancing Episcopal End Notes

Summer 2019


PHOTO

Episcopal’s rowing team warms up on the Ortega River in late April. Photo credit: Joe Kohla

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

This semester was a particularly busy one on campus as we continued work on our Seek Boldly strategic plan, putting measures in place to track progress on fulfilling its goals and beginning to strategize for next year. Our Health, Safety, and WellBeing program finished a successful inaugural year, including a partnership with Baptist Health, and multiple on-campus events for students, faculty, and staff that tackled tough issues which we felt were vital to address: vaping, mental health, and healthy relationships. We also began working closely with faculty and staff at Beaches Episcopal School, in anticipation of becoming one school on July 1, 2020, a day we eagerly look forward to celebrating. I was filled with mixed emotions as this past school year came to a close. On the one hand, with the support and guidance of Episcopal’s incredible faculty and staff, our amazing students made us proud with all that they accomplished. I was ready to “put a bow” on a year in which we had seen so much success. On the other hand, watching the personal and spiritual growth of our Eagles, seeing our senior class provide peer-to-peer leadership across all Four Pillars, and feeling our sense of community continue to flourish, I didn’t want this school year to end!

We graduated the Class of 2019 on May 18, and they received admission into some of the finest colleges and universities around the world. Seniors were accepted into more than 200 schools, 19 students will continue to play a sport in college, and more than 20 will pursue a fine arts degree at the country’s most competitive art and architecture programs. Truly we could not be more proud of what they have contributed to Episcopal and who they are becoming. We hope they will, as they leave our campus, begin to understand how much they mean to us.

One of the many highlights of the year was our dedication of the theatre in the Munnerlyn Center for Worship & Fine Arts in honor of Sally Maguire Deming, longtime Director of Fine Arts and teacher, in April during Reunion Weekend. It was heartwarming to see so many return to campus to participate in this special event. The gathering was the epitome of what makes this community so special: dedicated teachers who love what they do, students who love to learn and pursue their passions, and an overwhelmingly supportive community of alumni, parents, former parents, faculty, and friends who are fully committed to our school and devoted to ensuring its mission lives on every day.

The Board of Trustees and I continue to look to the future of our school and are immensely grateful for the love and dedication found every day in this very exceptional Episcopal community. At our Baccalaureate service at St. John’s Cathedral in May, I spoke of how our graduating seniors represented the best ideals of our Portrait of a Graduate, to be released this coming school year. At the beginning of this year I asked two things of our seniors: to lead and to live with honor. The Class of 2019 lived into both of these requests with such grace and such joy. The way this class lived as examples for so many underclassmen has made Episcopal an even more blessed place.

I was especially pleased to see how Fine Arts – one of our Four Pillars – has influenced the lives of many of our alumni, even though they may no longer dance or sing on stage. The lessons our students learn outside of the classroom have a profound impact on creating who our students become, even after Commencement. This is a tenet true of all of our pillars: Academics, Fine Arts, Athletics, and Spiritual Life.

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It is through your continued support, generosity, and caring that we will continue to educate the finest students in Jacksonville for generations to come. Sincerely,

The Rev. Adam Greene


Fine Arts

A Pillar of an Episcopal Education

All aspects of school life are touched by Fine Arts, one of the Four Pillars of an Episcopal education. From fulfilling academic course requirements to developing spiritually and emotionally, all students experience the life-changing benefits that come with learning an instrument, performing in front of others, or creating with their own two hands. Participation in Fine Arts can define a student’s time on campus as little or as much as he or she prefers. From performing or serving on the tech team in a full scale musical, to photography, to ceramics, or singing in the chorus or playing an instrument, the breadth of visual and performing arts opportunities at Episcopal is

expansive. Choosing to pursue the arts after graduation is something many alumni do, and we featured several in the Fall 2014 issue of The Magazine of Episcopal as well as in other editions. In this issue, we share stories of alumni who were strongly influenced by their time and participation in Fine Arts at Episcopal, but who have professional careers that may not be in the field. We hope their stories will inspire you to ask yourself the following: In what way has each aspect of my Episcopal experience – Athletics, Academics, Fine Arts, and Spiritual Life – affected where I am today and what were the lessons I learned from those experiences that I carry with me?

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ALUMNI PROFILE

John Koski ’85

Theatre Experiences Provide Skills Necessary for Professional Success As Global Chief

and it’s my job to handle the

Legal Officer for

firm’s legal affairs. The law firm

Dentons, the world’s

is my only client.”

largest law firm, John Koski ’85 is immersed in a wide spectrum of issues that take him all over the world.

Given the size and reach of his firm’s work, the issues he is working on are ever-changing, as is his travel schedule. “I consider London a short flight,” says John. “I don’t

In the 20 years he has worked for

even take off my shoes.” He travels

Dentons, he has given counsel on

regularly to Australia, Costa Rica,

governance, structure, litigation,

South Korea, China, and everywhere

transactions, insurance, regulation,

in between.

compliance, investigations, and professional responsibility matters. After serving for a decade as the

John says that the variety suits him, and he’s been that way since he was in high school at Episcopal.

“Working with the theatre group was helpful in developing abilities to speak in public and engage with crowds, which have been useful in my work.”

“The ability to have a variety of extracurricular experiences was a good

firm’s US General Counsel, his work

background for my working world,”

as its Global Chief Legal Officer now

he says. “I was involved in theatre –

is mostly abroad.

I was in Our Town and Insects – and I

“I am working with thousands of lawyers,” says John. “Dentons has 9,500 attorneys all over the world,

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have very good memories of being in those productions. I was also really involved in Student Government, the Discipline Council and Brain Brawl.”


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Of theatre in particular, John says that it

got hired at Dentons. “It was totally

taught him skills that he still uses today:

serendipitous,” he says. “I was lucky to

“Working with the theatre group was

join the firm, which most people know

helpful in developing abilities to speak

as the one where Scott Turow (the best-

in public and engage with crowds, which

selling novelist) works.

have been useful in my work,” he says.

“Scott continues to work pro bono,” says

After graduating from Episcopal, John

John. “The fact that he has stayed on and

went to Vanderbilt University, where

continues to work says a lot about him.”

he majored in political science and psychology. He received his JD, cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the University of Miami School of Law, where he was the senior articles editor of the University of Miami Law Review. As a Floridian, he thought his career would be in Florida until he moved to Chicago for personal reasons and

Though he travels most weeks, John makes sure to get home to his wife and two children on the weekends. The family lives in Evanston, Illinois. “Episcopal was a terrific education,” says John. “The rigor was great, but so were the extracurricular experiences. I have great memories of my time there.” k

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Walter Ware III ’08

At the Heart: Meaningful and Impactful Stories As a freelance professional in casting, Walter Ware III ’08 knows the importance of finding the right character for a role. He works with Starz, Lionsgate, and NBC, and worked with Disney on the Freaky Friday world premiere musical as well as James Lapine and his new play, Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing. His upcoming project is Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist on NBC.

“...storytelling has guided his life’s path from his time at Episcopal until the present day.” “Such incredible experiences and spectacular shows,” Walter says, and explains the two reasons why he loves his job in casting: the unknown and the opportunity afforded within a new work. “You never know what a performer is going to do when they walk in that door. The world is theirs to shape as I am merely an observing passenger for the next minute to 10 minutes watching their storytelling,” says Walter of the first reason. “When selecting the actors for a brand new work the writers and

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creative/producing team are often still figuring out these characters. They are looking for just the right person to bring their character to life and more than likely to additionally shape the character arc as the writers continue to develop their story,” says Walter regarding the second reason. “The opportunity to search for that talent and that essence of ‘the it factor’ that this particular person possesses is the ultimate satisfaction in casting for me. It’s such a vulnerable thing, what actors and writers do together – the actor putting themselves out there while the writer bares their soul and works to form their imagination and story onto the page and eventually to an audience. It’s thrilling.” To Walter, the characters involved in a piece are an essential part of the storytelling, and storytelling has guided his life’s path from his time at Episcopal until the present day. “Fine Arts has helped me become the person that I was always meant to be. To be able to share stories and impact people’s lives by invading their world through entertainment – not only to allow them to escape but also to challenge them to think and question the world we live in – is its own form of ministry,” he says.


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Walter did not plan to go into casting. He originally planned to be a musical theatre director after his experiences with Katie Lebhar Black ’95, Mary Helen Solomon, Sally Maguire Deming, Taylor Lee Horne ’00, Megan Elsila, Debbie Higgins, Julia Daze, and Missy Ponder Reston in the Episcopal Fine Arts Department. Walter participated in Peter Pan, Guys and Dolls, Our Town, Godspell, and The Diviners while on campus, just to name just a few. “I had so much fun getting to sing “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat” as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls. Nothing beats a showstopper. I remember straddling two church pews in the third verse of the song so vividly. I was terrified of falling and thrilled to be alive,” he remembers. But when Walter began working for Signature Theatre in Virginia, he became involved in casting because of the amount of work involved for the artistic department. “Signature was casting larger and more elaborate shows and they needed someone who was dedicated to casting, so they promoted me into the Casting Director and Artistic Associate position,” he shares. “I would cast their full season, be an artistic aide on

shows, become an artistic ambassador to the Washington, D.C. and Virginia community at large, and line produce their smaller shows. Casting was not my focus at first but I have fallen in love with it.” If Walter could cast himself in anything, it would be Sweeney in Sweeney Todd, or The Baker in Into the Woods. “Despite the giants and the witches and the twists and turns of life, we must continue to move on through this life of intermingled stories,” Walter says. “The opportunity to work on fun, meaningful and impactful stories will always be at the heart of what I do.” k

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Mark Pariani ’07 Design Influences Life Mark Painter Pariani ’07 has always loved to build things, and growing up, LEGOs were his favorite toys.

project and office photography, firm legacy documentation, and internal project management.

“While most people were playing with trading cards or video games, I was in my room assembling anything I could think of with my assorted LEGO bricks,” said Mark.

“I absolutely love the variety of my work. My many responsibilities in my job allow me to cast a wide net that addresses several of my personal design interests such as architecture, photography, and graphic design,” he shared.

Now, as an Associate Architect at ELM | Ervin Lovett Miller – Architecture and Design Firm in the San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville, Mark is able to act upon his desire to build -- and more importantly, his passion for design, which he believes critically affects every part of human life. “Design impacts every aspect of our daily lives. Design influences what kind of car we drive, what kind of space we live and work in, the food we eat, and the media we consume. We can’t even look at our

Growing up, Mark was surrounded by art and design, as both his parents worked in the field. At a young age he began to realize the impact design can have on people’s lives, and his time spent in the Episcopal Fine Arts Department helped solidify his appreciation of the importance of art in the world and how to problem solve. He specifically credits his experience with art teacher Joyce FitzRandolph with helping him to learn these valuable lessons.

“Studying art not only gave me a better appreciation for art, it also opened the door to studying design, critical thinking, and problem solving.” phone without seeing a pre-designed user interface and apps that are specifically tailored to our every need,” said Mark. At ELM, he is responsible for conceptual presentation graphics, drawings, and diagrams for client meetings, including schematic design drawings, construction documents, graphic design, marketing materials, 12

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“The knowledge I gained studying fine arts at Episcopal and beyond has brought an invaluable skill set to my personal and professional life. Studying art not only gave me a better appreciation for art, it also opened the door to studying design, critical thinking, and problem solving,” said Mark. “When creating a work of art the artist must address the limitations of the medium they


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are working in. This forces the artist to think critically and invent new solutions which can be applied to just about any challenge in life.” M.C. Escher is one of Mark’s all-time favorite artists, due to his use of surreal architecture and interconnected geometry. “Escher’s piece ‘Day and Night’ (1938) is a beautiful representation of duality and harmony. Most aspects of life have a certain level of duality. The key is to try and reach a harmony and to not let one side outweigh the other,” Mark shared. “I strive to reach this harmony in everything I do and the best example I can share is how I blend both my passion for architecture and photography at every opportunity. I allow this creative duality to influence both my professional work and personal life.” A personal turning point for him during his high school years was being cast in Guys and Dolls in 2006. “For the first time I truly had to collaborate in a team effort while also having to learn quickly how to work well with others. I was a senior and I had no formal theater training. I also threw myself into the technical side

of things by joining the tech crew and was faced with learning a whole new trade,” said Mark. “But even with no prior experience I was still expected to fulfill a leadership role because I was a senior and older than most of the other students. This forced me to learn quickly so I could pass on my knowledge to the younger students and help them grow as well.” He notes Katie Lebhar Black ’95, Jay Deen, Megan Elsila, and Sally Deming were essential to his success while participating in Guys and Dolls. “The teamwork skills I gained from my time in Guys and Dolls helped inform both my college and professional careers by teaching me to work well with others and to be generous with my time in all things,” said Mark. Mark is a 2011 graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and holds a Professional Masters of Architecture and minor in photography from SCAD as well. In addition to participating in Guys and Dolls and The Diviners, he was a Chapel band member, a studio art honors portfolio student and an AP Art History student. His work was shown in the 2011 “Perspectives” alumni art show in the Munnerlyn Center. k

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Art Small ’93

Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken Participating in theatre while at Episcopal helped train Art Small ’93 to think on his feet and it is something he uses even now when he’s onsite giving product demonstrations for software in his role as a CRM Solution Architect at Alithya, a consulting company for corporate software. The Wiz, Runaways, and 1940’s Radio Hour were Art’s favorites, and he

As an exceptional professional in the corporate software field, being “Art” is a good role to play. says performing in them “taught me to be brave and put myself out in potentially uncomfortable places in

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front of lots of people. It taught me to listen to others to be aware and react in context.” Last year Art helped his company win a $1 million contract over another competitor, and the client cited his demonstrations as one of the main reasons they went with his company. “I can attribute most of my career success and personal satisfaction with friends at least in part to my ability to stand strong and speak in front of and with people, and to adapt how I’m speaking and interacting with people based on verbal and non-verbal feedback,” he said. Art works closely with customers to determine their software needs, then goes to demonstrate how it can work for them. “I love the duality of both doing things to adjust the software but also being in front of and speaking with customers to sell the products and services,” he said.


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Two other important lessons he still uses: “Persistence and ‘the show must go on,’” he said. “I put them to use every day. Everyone can have a bad day or bad moment, but that doesn’t define you. You have to keep putting yourself out there and you can’t shirk your duties. You have to get your job done.”

While Art said, if given the chance, he would prefer to play Peter in Peter Pan, he truly could star in the title of his own Broadway show, one he said he’d call “Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken.” As an exceptional professional in the corporate software field, being “Art” is a good role to play. k

Art’s persistence has clearly paid off professionally, as he also has earned a Six Sigma Black Belt. He has a passion for technology, especially Microsoft’s OS and business software, and enjoys helping others to better use it and understand it.

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Swan Moon ’03 The Show Must Go On “The show must go on,” is the most

intelligence reporting, innovations

important life lesson Swan Moon ’03

strategy, document management,

believes she learned from her

and IT billing and coding.

participation in fine arts while a student.

at Episcopal in the Fine Arts

She explains that to her, what that

Department, including A Midsummer

mantra really means is to “always

Night’s Dream and the school

put your best foot forward because

“Fine Arts teaches those fundamental concepts that traditional education cannot.”

at the end of the day accurate, thorough and dedicated hard work always shines.” Accurate and thorough work is essential in her role as a IT Business Operations Analyst for Watson Realty Corp. Swan has worked in the technology field since she majored in economics at the University of Florida, where she worked part time at the UF IT Computing Helpdesk and did website administration.

variety show, helped her develop “interpersonal communications, the ability to gauge the audience and feel out the crowd, understand implied meaning and body language, public

Now she manages operational

speaking, and inflection of tone to

activity and functionality for Watson

captivate during story telling,” all of

Realty through escalated systems

which are necessary professionally to

and applications support, on-

her today.

boarding, process improvement, vendor management, business

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She shares that her experiences

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Her most important professional accomplishment to date: serving


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as the project manager certifying

“The art of storytelling and

a multi-location total facilities

understanding the key moments to

management 401(b) non-profit Ability

grab your audience’s attention is so

One government contractor to become

important in life and leadership,”

ISSA (International Sanitary Supply

said Swan. “Fine Arts teaches those

Association) CIMS (Cleaning Industry

fundamental concepts that traditional

Management Standard)-Green Building

education cannot.” k

certified. The certification demonstrates an organization is capable of delivering a green cleaning program based on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards that take a serious focus on human health and environmental best practices. As part of this process, Swan facilitated training, created all of the documentation, as well as managed the entire process from beginning to end. This involved simultaneous management of multiple people in different areas of the company, working together to accomplish the certification. Her leadership skills were well tested, but she already had the skills she needed to succeed.

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Carissa Dawson Braselton’93

We are All Connected and Need Love and Grace If given the chance, Carissa Dawson Braselton ’93 would once again like to sing jazz with a flower in her hair while standing on a piano, as she did in Episcopal’s production of The 1940’s Radio Hour. In the meantime, she sticks to her lifelong mantra -- one she first heard from former Director of Fine Arts Sally Maguire Deming: “Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like it’s heaven on earth.”

Carissa first started out working at a local children’s theatre in Jacksonville after graduating from the University of North Florida, where she wrote and secured a grant through the Jacksonville Children’s Commission to teach theater and dance in after school programs in Title I schools. “I fell especially hard for one school in particular in one of Jacksonville’s most economically challenged neighborhoods. I basically harassed the principal to hire me, and I began working within the most restrictive

“Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like it’s heaven on earth.” She brings this spirit to her work as a teacher and curriculum writer in Columbus, Ohio, where she loves working with and for the benefit of children. “Children are designed to create. In my opinion broadening a child’s artistic experiences helps to foster curiosity, creativity, discipline and a desire to want to learn…for life,” shared Carissa. 18

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educational environment for children who were labeled with cognitive and behavioral disabilities,” she said. This work is something she had enjoyed since high school – bringing the arts to communities in need. “As a member of the Touring Company, we had the opportunity to bring the arts to a number of people who needed it most. Most notably,


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we visited Children’s Home Society to share their stories through music,” said Carissa. “I can also remember visiting a convalescent home to spread a little love and cheer during the holidays. These moments help to shape my personal belief that we are all connected and need love and grace.” While working with the Title I school in Jacksonville, Carissa was able to establish a Fine Arts Guild through philanthropic support. Her students were able to learn ballet and modern dance routines, violin instruction and African drumming. She taught theatre classes, and other teachers provided visual art, folk craft, and chorus and music instruction, resulting in a showcase of the students’ work. The school also had a Fine Arts Week – Art from the Heart – including a visit from the Cummer Museum, the Jacksonville Consortium of African American Artists, musicians, Jackson Pollack day, and a sidewalk chalk competition.

“My fine arts experience at Episcopal taught me the importance of listening, walking a mile in someone else’s shoes, coming together with other people to create something out of an empty space, and dancing to the beat of my own drum. A life without music, art, theater, dance, storytelling, would be no life at all,” Carissa shared. “I believe that my love of the arts has enabled me to show gratitude and compassion, solve problems with creativity, love freely, and find understanding in tough situations. I learned how to work tirelessly for what I am passionate about and dust myself off when I make mistakes. I learned if I have a vision, to follow it and create what is necessary. Presently, I have the privilege of inspiring children, including my own, and writing material to further their academic success.” While at Episcopal, Carissa performed in The Wiz as Dorothy, The 1940’s Radio Hour, Runaways, Once Upon a Playground, Help! and Repertory Singers. k

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Episcopal Names Munnerlyn Center Theatre in Honor of Sally Maguire Deming Alumni, parents of alumni, and current and former faculty and staff honored longtime theatre teacher and former Director of Fine Arts Sally Maguire Deming by naming the Munnerlyn Center Theatre in her honor at a special dedication ceremony on April 26. The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, blessed the newly named theatre and the theatre workshop. The theatre workshop, “Jimbo’s Workshop,” is named in memory of Sally’s husband, Jim Deming, who made the sets for Episcopal productions for many years.

The Rev. Adam Greene referred to the verse as well in his remarks, saying, “One of our own mustard seeds was planted back in 1981 - the year Sally joined our Episcopal family. She and her team surely grew that seed into a great tree. So many of you have sheltered in the branches of this tree that Sally helped create. You flourished as you sang and danced, as you acted and played. You have grown and have given back. We are all better -- our incredible school is better -- for that mustard seed being sown almost 40 years ago.”

The dedication also featured tributes by Sally Hogshead ’87, and Charley Zimmer, Head of School Emeritus, and the Demings’ son Casey Deming ’07. Members of the Class of 1997 performed a theatre skit and led the crowd of guests in singing “Rainbow Connection,” one of Sally’s favorite songs. Alumnus Clay Greenhaw ’06 produced a video of clips from alumni across the country wishing Sally their best.

Sally Maguire Deming joined the Episcopal staff in 1981 as a theatre intern and continued to teach theatre and speech, direct the performing arts, and eventually the Fine Arts Department, for the next 37 years until her retirement last year. Sally was the recipient of the Davis Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1993. Jim “Jimbo” Deming passed away last year. After retiring from the City of Atlantic Beach, Jimbo worked as a theatre technician for theatres throughout Jacksonville.

Sally thanked those in attendance and spoke on the importance of never giving up, always believing, and on Matthew 17:20 -- faith the size of a mustard seed -- that nothing is impossible with God. Small gift bags of mustard seeds were distributed after the dedication to guests. 20

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“As I have gotten older, I have come to see the true meaning behind this Sallyism: ‘Leave a place better than when you found it.’ It doesn’t have to be a physical place. It can be in friendship,


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Left to right: Kacey Lewis Roache ’00, Bart Vickers ’97, Casey Deming ’07, Jonathan Stimler ’98, Sally Deming, Jay Klaitz ’97, Taylor Lee Horne ’00, Charles Chunn ’98 in front of the workshop named for Jim Deming, who built the sets for ESJ productions.


CAMPUS in business, just in life in general. Sally taught me what can happen when you bring a smile, love, joy, and kindness into any situation,” said Kacey Lewis Roache ’00. “Watching decades of students come back and honor Sally at the Deming Theater dedication was the perfect example of a place and hearts affected for the better by a magnificent woman who taught us how to be great actors and even better people.” The contributions to name Deming Theatre totaled more than $107,000 from 203 donors and will provide needed upgrades to the 2003 facility’s sound and lighting. Episcopal is grateful for the Sunshine Project Committee members who came together in support of Sally and Jimbo to make the Deming Theatre and Jimbo’s Workshop a reality: Diane Bajalia, Liz Donahoo Bishop ’88, Jennie Trimble Busey ’97, Katie Graham Forde ’97, Frances Poitevent Hutto ’88, Jay Klaitz ’97, Kacey Lewis Roache ’00, Art Small ’93, Jonathan Stimler ’98, Dearing Setzer Thoburn ’88, Bart Vickers ’97, Kim Vincenty, Sharon Vinyard, and Robin Virtue. k

1. Sally Deming and The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, in Jimbo’s Workshop. 2. Sally Hogshead ’87 speaks at the dedication. 3. Casey Deming ’07, Sally and Jimbo’s son, speaks during the program. 4. Shelby Westerman Ratchford ’97, Alison Graham-Smith Hunt ’97, Bart Vickers ’97, Katie Graham Forde ’97, Jennie Trimble Busey ’97, Jay Klaitz ’97, and Jonathan Stimler ’98 performed together for the first time since high school. 5. Kim Vincenty, Ashton Vincenty Wikstrom ’08, John Wikstrom ’09, and son Jack. 6. Sally Deming and Charley Zimmer, Head of School Emeritus, who worked together to build the Munnerlyn Center.

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College Counseling and Fine Arts Enhance College Application Process By Julie Carter, Associate Director of College Counseling Each year, beginning in ninth grade, each student in the Upper School meets with an Episcopal college counselor. Our goal for these meetings is to get to know the student and their short-term and long-term goals to then offer advice and direction for the coming years. Given the depth and breadth of Episcopal’s Fine Arts curriculum, it’s not surprising that many students express excitement for the study of fine art. Those who are interested in studying arts in college discuss their ambitions and goals with their college counselor, who then serves as a valuable resource and personal guide through the college search and application process. Meanwhile, in the Fine Arts classrooms, lessons and discussions organically include topics that shape and prepare students for continued study at Episcopal and beyond. Students are encouraged to save work they’ve done and keep track of performances they’ve given for possible inclusion in a portfolio, audition, or arts resume. Instructors talk to students about the requirements and experience of majoring in the arts in college, offering coaching and mentorship, and willingly help students navigate the college portfolio and audition processes when initiated by the student. This year Fine Arts began offering video sessions for 24

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students whose college applications required a recorded audition. While these brief descriptions highlight the longstanding strengths of the college process for fine arts students at Episcopal, College Counseling has been excited to take on the charge in the Seek Boldly strategic plan to “further strengthen college counseling for students pursuing fine arts at the next level - increase our expertise and guidance with respect to college counseling in support of students who want to pursue the arts after ESJ.” College Counseling and Fine Arts are taking additional steps to increase awareness and participation in the existing framework while also looking for ways to innovate. Eager to explore the possibilities, College Counseling has committed to continued professional development in the advising of students in arts. In six short months, we’ve attended annual national and regional conference sessions focused on arts admissions, attended a National Portfolio Day event, networked with college representatives at a national Visual and Performing Arts College Fair, and toured fine arts facilities at numerous colleges and universities. Our College Counseling staff is staying on the forefront of the college process


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Students Pursuing Arts in College Student College

Degree

Alana Gregory

Chapman University

Dance

Precious Lavender

Alabama State University

Dance

Emily Waters

Florida State University

Fashion Entrepreneurship

Courtney Kurlas

College of Charleston

Studio Art

Janice Si

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

Art

Grace Mickler

Belmont University

Audio Engineering Technology

Marah Jones

University of Tampa

Architecture

Christopher Carney

Tufts University

Architecture

Sophie Schuler

Tulane University

Architecture

Ana Ion

Alfred University

Ceramics

Rhyan Reid

Spelman College

Vocal Performance

Sarah McCawley

Vassar College

Music Therapy

Jesse Leonard Fashion Institute of Technology

Fashion Business Management & Photography

Abigail Weiss

Virginia Commonwealth

Photography and Graphic Design

Michelle Mahfoud

College of Charleston

Fashion Marketing

Abi Dannheim

Savannah College of Art & Design

Fashion Design

Lillie Rose Tritt

The University of Chicago

Visual Arts

Janelle Sessoms

Kent State University

Fashion Management

Caroline Lamm

College of Charleston

Theatre

Ben Ketchum

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dramatic Arts

Gracie Guy

Florida State University

Acting

Jake Moorehead

Pointe Park University

Musical Theatre ESJ

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CAMPUS for fine arts students and working to understand and identify industry trends and concerns. College Counseling and Fine Arts have worked together to enhance their collaboration, as well as increase opportunities for the departments to share information, ideas, and ask each other for input. We have a shared list of prospective arts students, which allows us to provide thorough and complementary guidance. One of our college counselors visited Fine Arts meetings this year, with plans for more frequent presence in the future. In April, the interdepartmental collaboration met great success with a College Prep 101 information session for students and parents that focused on the arts in college. At that event, we debuted a quick reference guide for students interested in college performing and visual arts. A more detailed, robust guide is in development to share with Episcopal families early next year. Working together, we’re devising other initiatives to enhance the college application process for fine arts students, as well as bring awareness to the great work we already do. Students and families are always encouraged to share their plans, express their interest, and ask any questions they might have regarding a particular passion they would like to pursue in college. By intentionally pursuing professional development opportunities related to the fine arts college application process, coordinating closely with Fine Arts, and keeping ahead of trends and innovative ways to assist students interested in pursuing a fine arts degree, College Counseling is working to be supportive as possible to our students who want to continue their arts experiences after graduation. k

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Commitment to Students THE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT WILL: k E ducate students about the experience of majoring in an art. k S uggest additional opportunities to practice and hone the craft. k Hold audition-filming sessions. k Offer free headshot photography. k A ssist students in curating and preparing portfolios. k A dvise students in preparing an arts resume.

THE COLLEGE COUNSELORS WILL: k P rovide comprehensive college counseling services - from development of the initial college list, preparation and review of college application and essays, to preparation for interviews. k H elp students identify arts programs that align with their goals. k H elp students think about application strategy. k H elp students understand the myriad of ways to study arts in college. • Recommend schools for an “arts” college list and a “non-arts” college list. • Talk with performing/visual arts teachers about student interest and talent. • Prompt teachers to best guide and assist students with artistic portions of application.

k M anage expectations. • Inform students and families of the competitive and unpredictable process • Advise students and families of the additional costs associated with the process

k P rovide guidance to use every part of the student’s college application to convey who they are and demonstrate their talents and skills.


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Showcasing Episcopal Talent in Student Performances Episcopal’s annual spring dance concert, this year titled In the Moment, highlighted the individual moments that make life precious. The show featured choreography by guest artists as well as Amber Daniels, Director of Dance, and Tess Sturgeon ’08, Assistant Director of Dance. Each piece involved a collaboration of artists, from choreography to the dancers. Numbers included titles such as “Ellis Island,” “Schoolyard Shenanigans” and “The Slate.”

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1. In the Moment dance concert photos

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CAMPUS The spring band concert, An Evening of Wind Ensemble and Chamber Music, featured the ESJ instrumental ensembles. Directed by Greg Hersey, Director of Instrumental Music, the concert included the Middle School Concert Band, comprised of seventhand eighth-grade students, performing “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. Senior instrumentalists Jessica Hogan, Chandler Bateh, Noah Yco, and Witt Witt took the stage alongside instrumental adjuncts and Mr. Hersey for a farewell performance, a classic Disney selection entitled “You’ll Be In My Heart.” A crowd favorite, “Lights Out,” featured percussionists in a darkened Deming Theatre, with only green, glowing drumsticks visible to the audience. The program concluded with all of the instrumental music students sharing the stage for one final selection, “The Forge of Vulcan.” The 2019 spring chorus concert, A World Music Celebration, honored music traditions from around the world and featured songs from different cultures around the globe, including “Daa Naa Se” (Ghana), “Mo Li Hua” (China), “Te Aroha” (New Zealand), “Ani Ma’amin” (Israel), and “My Good Lord’s Done Been Here” (USA). “There is one thing that unites us all: the pervasive love of music,” said Carolyn Tuttle ’03, Director of Choral Music. “Music has the potential to be one thing that brings us together. I hope that as these students study this music, wrestle with the language, hear new tonalities, and try music outside their comfort zones, that they have a greater appreciation for that music and the culture it comes from.”

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The spring theatre performance, Radium Girls, was performed in the Sikes Theatre by Upper School theatre students from April 10 – April 13. Radium Girls takes place in 1926 when radium was a miracle cure and luminous watches were all the latest rage - until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. The play was directed by Taylor Lee Horne ’00, Upper School Theatre Director. Radium Girls playwright D.W. Gregory held a playwriting workshop and a Q&A for students performing in the show. “It was incredibly beneficial for students to hear about the research, forethought, and revision that goes into writing a historical play. They were excited to use this information to enhance their performance,” said Taylor Horne. k

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2. An Evening of Wind Ensemble and Chamber Music spring band concert photos 3. A World Music Celebration spring chorus concert photos 4. Radium Girls performance photos ESJ

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How Guest Artists Enrich and Expand Students’ Fine Arts Experiences By Katie Lebhar Black ’95, Director of Fine Arts When you send your student to Episcopal with his or her artistic education as a priority, you may think that you are simply getting the area’s finest arts faculty with their own professional artistic endeavors and extensive knowledge in their field. True! That certainly describes the Fine Arts Department faculty. The 15 full time faculty members and the fine arts staff are unparalleled in their artistic disciplines. They present at conferences, they perform in professional concerts and productions, they consistently display their own art work at local and national galleries, and they dance in professional companies. So why do we still need guest artists to visit campus? Episcopal has a long history of artistic collaboration and an outstanding record of incorporating experts in many artistic fields into the experience of ESJ artists. But with such a fantastic faculty, you may wonder why this remains a priority for the Fine Arts Department. There are many reasons and I welcome the opportunity to share these with you, but I need to start by bursting your scholastic bubble:

Jim Solomon is a guest music artist who worked with Middle School Chorale on drums before the spring concert.

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the teachers don’t know everything. Yup - it’s true. I know you may have heard the phrase “jack of all trades; master of none.” I would certainly not use this phrase to describe our faculty. Rather, I would say that our fabulous Fine Arts Department faculty are “jacks of all trades; masters of a few.” In the fine arts, as in many fields of study, there is so much diversity within each art that it is simply impossible for that discipline’s teacher to dive deeply into all forms. Let me give you a few examples. For many years, our instrumental music program has employed guest artists


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Theatre, English, and science students had the opportunity to meet D.W. Gregory, playwright of the spring Upper School theatre show, Radium Girls. Ms. Gregory facilitated a playwriting workshop with theatre and English classes and held a Q & A with the cast of the show.

to work with our student musicians. Woodwind players have a different technique than brass players, who have different needs than percussionists. Within one field of study it is imperative that we train our students with a level of individuality that is applicable to their instrument and skill set. Did you know that it is standard practice in the field for student musicians to play side by side with professionals, even in the concert setting? Additionally, if you have a wind ensemble and no oboe player that year, you must have certain instruments to play certain pieces. The practice of having professional guest artists in the music program is integral to the learning and the production process. For that reason, each year we make sure our student musicians have what they need to succeed and grow, under the direction of our master educator and conductor, Greg Hersey, Director of Instrumental Music. In dance, Episcopal brings in many guest artists to collaborate and choreograph for our annual dance concert. Unlike in band, this practice is unusual for a high school, and even for a college

Students worked with Valerie Vigoda, lyricist and composer of the off-Broadway musical Striking 12, as a lead up to the show’s Florida premiere in the Munnerlyn Center in November.

program. ESJ is driven by a desire to expose our dancers to many styles and people in the field of dance. We have the opportunity, unlike other schools in our area, to be a program that stretches our students to explore many more styles of dance than our faculty can give them. By bringing in guest artists, we give our dancers opportunities to dance with choreographers from all over the country and sometimes the world. These opportunities shape their repertoires (and their resumes!), allow them to work with professionals who expose them to new styles, and help them connect with college and professional programs nationwide. As in all of our disciplines, our singers have one director for four years. Therefore, our choral music teachers bring in guests to teach new styles of music, to coach in the languages in which the music is written, and to evaluate seniors as they prepare for college programs. Additionally, our chorus program participates in local and regional events where the students ESJ

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Staff Sergeant Kevin Dill is a snare drummer for The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, “The Official Escort to the President of the United States.” He visited Episcopal music students in November.

Kristin Cronic ’07 visited Draw, Paint, Print students in April. Kristin is a full-time painter, after serving in the U.S. Navy and graduating from the United States Naval Academy.

are exposed to a guest conductor, an important step in their education as they learn to adapt to different teaching and conducting styles.

that their artistry can take as they look to becoming professionals in their fields. It is also a priority for our visual artists to go out into the community to see the work of artists at their studios throughout the city. They visit our city’s own museums and galleries for artist lectures and more.

In theatre, we bring in college professors to run mock auditions to prepare students for what they might face after high school. We bring in guest directors to stage plays because it is so important for our actors to be stretched to work with a variety of people, since that is the real world of the stage production. We bring in writers, physical comedians, stage combat professionals, and technical theatre experts in make-up and costume design to expose our students to the variety of ways to participate in theatre in college and beyond. The practice of theatre is not only the actor on the stage! Our visual arts teachers consistently bring in people to lecture and demonstrate the wide world of visual arts. This year alone we brought in painters, commercial photographers, graphic designers, and mixed media artists to show students the many shapes 32

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Episcopal students are the most fortunate artists in Jacksonville. They learn from the most qualified teachers and are also exposed to national experts. As students take classes from these guests, all are given the gift of perspective: the reminder that being an artist is not just who you are, but it truly can become what you do with your professional life. Whether or not they choose artistic careers after their time at ESJ, students will graduate with a broad understanding of the arts and options for lifelong participation. And all Episcopal students are given opportunities in numerous special assemblies to see these artists at work and be reminded that the arts nurture body, mind, and spirit. k


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Global Community Day Explores Mental Health Issues Through Fine Arts As part of the school’s Health, Safety, and Well-Being program, Episcopal’s 2019 Global Community Day on February 12 explored mental health with the theme “You Are Not Alone.” The day focused on destigmatizing mental illness, which affects one in five people. Middle and Upper School students spent the afternoon in two different activities: students worked on art therapy projects supported by local non-profit Indigo Art Therapy and visual arts instructor Mark Zimmerman, and also watched Fine Arts performances in the Munnerlyn Center -- including dance, music, monologues, and videos -- on different mental health conditions such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and OCD. Each piece was followed by a comment or interpretation.

“Student interest informed the decision to address mental health as a theme for Global Community Day. Early in the year students expressed a desire to intentionally seek ways to reduce stigma about mental illness and support the programming that would help achieve that goal,” said Amy Burrows Perkins ’92, Director of Student Services. “Faculty

(right) Courtney Kurlas ’19 explored depression and anxiety as part of her AP Drawing portfolio concentration requirements. (below) Students colored and created buttons during Global Community Day. The pieces will be used for an on-campus art installation during the 2019-2020 school year.

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(above) Choral students, (left) dance and (right) dramatic performances explored different aspects of mental health.

and staff engaged in similar conversations throughout the year, especially after the tragic deaths of several Jacksonville students in the fall. Since Global Community Day has traditionally been focused on a topic that has worldwide impact as well as local significance, it was a great way to tie all of our conversations together.” Incorporating art into Global Community Day was a natural fit. “I strongly believed that the arts was poised to be (and frankly needed to be) in the front of this community conversation. So many of the 20% of students who suffer from a mental health related illness had already found their way into our classrooms. We owed it to them and to each other to advocate for mental health awareness,” said Katie Lebhar Black ’95, Director of Fine Arts. “We began to brainstorm: What if the arts could allow students with mental health illnesses to not only process their 34

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situation, but also launch their recovery? What if the arts themselves could promote healing? What if the student artists themselves could promote awareness? These were all things we were able to explore with Global Community Day this year.” Leading up to Global Community Day, many things were already happening with arts and mental health connections: theatre students gave performances related to two of the themes that the fall Baptist Health speaker series events highlighted -- anxiety and eating disorders. Choral students had practiced “You Are Not Alone,” which is a song from the musical Dear Evan Hansen. Dance students had already performed a piece related to ADD and the challenges it presents. Many visual arts students were already wrestling with these topics in their portfolios. One of the first Episcopal and Jacksonville: Partners in Arts partners was with Indigo Art Therapy, a


CAMPUS local organization whose mission is to provide art therapy to children and teens with diagnosed mental illnesses. In the fall, staff from Indigo came to ESJ to train National Art Honor Society members to run peer art support groups. “It was only natural then, that as Global Community Day themes were surfacing, Fine Arts would take a visible place in the equation,” said Katie Black. With the help of Technical Theatre instructor Colton Spurlock, fine arts students created an art installation for campus. Life-sized wooden silhouettes were cut out and installed in strategic places on campus. Each silhouette included a personal narrative or written piece that addressed a different aspect of mental health. “The silhouettes represented the many who are among us and the individuals we interact with daily. The purpose of having them installed throughout the campus was to raise awareness by creating an interactive experience for us all,” said Colton Spurlock.

Clockwise from top: Wood silhouettes of people were installed around campus as part of Global Community Day. Each silhouette focused on one aspect of mental health. Students create individual art pieces that will be made into one large group art project as part of Global Community Day activities.

Finally, Media Production students created a powerful video on different aspects of mental health to share with the community. (It can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/316612201) “The ‘what if’s’ were answered - the arts is indeed a place for those who need healthy self-expression and healing creativity. The artists were able to spread light and truth into this troubling conversation. The school is ready to destigmatize mental illness, and ready to show our city that we have been and will continue to be a place where students do not have to feel alone,”’ said Katie Black. “This conversation around student health and the idea that the arts can speak to this generation’s biggest concerns will continue. The arts will always be both a vehicle for student wellness and a participant in community conversation.” k


CONGRATULATIONS 2019 GRADUATES! University of Alabama at Birmingham Alabama State University The University of Alabama Albany State University Alfred University Allegheny College American University The American University of Paris Appalachian State University Arizona State University The University of Arizona Auburn University Auburn University, Montgomery Babson College Barnard College Barry University Bates College Baylor University Belmont University Berry College Bethune-Cookman University Boston College Boston University University of British Columbia California State University, Sacramento

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University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara Catholic University University of Central Florida Centre College Chapman University College of Charleston University of Chicago The Citadel Clark Atlanta University Clemson University Colgate University University of Colorado at Boulder Colorado College Colorado State University Columbia College Chicago Concordia University Ann Arbor Connecticut College University of Connecticut Converse College

Cornell University Creighton University Dartmouth College Davidson College University of Delaware University of Denver DePaul University Dickinson College Drexel University Eckerd College Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University The Evergreen State College Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Fashion Institute of Technology Flagler College Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Institute of Technology Florida International University Florida Southern College Florida State University University of Florida Full Sail University Furman University George Mason University

The George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Southern University Georgia State University University of Georgia Gettysburg College Gustavus Adolphus College Hamilton College - New York Hampden-Sydney College Hampton University Hawaii Pacific University High Point University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hofstra University Howard University University of Illinois Indiana University Ithaca College Jacksonville University James Madison University Kansas City Art Institute Kent State University King’s College London Lafayette College Lamar University Lewis & Clark College Liberty University Louisiana State University


Members of the Class of 2019 will be attending more than 80 different schools after graduating from Episcopal and were accepted into more than 200 colleges and universities located around the world, including the following: Loyola University, New Orleans Manhattanville College Marshall University University of Maryland, College Park Marymount Manhattan College University of Massachusetts, Boston Mercer University Miami University, Oxford University of Miami Middlebury College Millikin University University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of Mississippi University of Montevallo University of Nebraska at Lincoln New College of Florida University of New Hampshire New York University New York University Abu Dhabi The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University University of North Florida Northeastern University

Northern Vermont University Nova Southeastern University Oklahoma City University Pace University, New York City Palm Beach Atlantic University University of Pittsburgh Point Park University Pratt Institute Princeton University Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte Rhodes College Richmond, The American International University in London University of Richmond Rollins College Rutgers University Sacred Heart University Salem State University Samford University San Jose State University Santa Fe College Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art and Design The University of Scranton Seton Hall University Sewanee: The University of the South

Shenandoah University Sonoma State University University of South Carolina University of South Florida, Tampa University of South Florida, St. Pete University of Southern California Southern Methodist University University of Southern Mississippi Southern University Spelman College St. Johns River State College St. Olaf College St. Thomas University Stetson University Suffolk University Tallahassee Community College The University of Tampa University of Tennessee, Knoxville Texas A&M University Texas Christian University The University of Texas, Austin The New School - All Divisions Thomas University Tufts University

Tulane University United States Air Force Academy United States Naval Academy The University of Edinburgh The University of Manchester The University of the Arts University of West London Utica College Valdosta State University Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Tech University of Virginia Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University University of Washington Wellesley College University of West Florida College of William & Mary Wingate University Winthrop University University of Wisconsin Wofford College The College of Wooster Xavier University of Louisiana

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Celebrating Baccalaureate & Commencement

This year Episcopal’s graduating class included 151 seniors. The Class of 2019 and their families celebrated Baccalaureate on Friday evening, May 17, at St. John’s Cathedral during a traditional and spiritual Episcopal church service. On Saturday, May 18, Commencement began at 9:00 a.m. at the Acosta House.The Class of 2019 heard from Nathaniel King as valedictorian, Jack Barksdale as salutatorian, and LillieTritt as senior speaker. 38

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The Rev. Adam S. Greene, Head of School, and David C. Hodges ’90, Chairman of the Board ofTrustees, gave the diplomas.The Right Rev. Dorsey Henderson, Assisting Bishop of the Diocese of Florida, gave the closing prayer and benediction. Photos on the Kirwan Flag Plaza and a reception in the Buck Student Center followed the ceremony.









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25 Year Faculty Recognition Episcopal’s tradition is to recognize faculty in The Magazine of Episcopal when they reach 25 years of service to the school. This year Kasse Eppley, Assistant Athletic Director, and Sis Van Cleve-Miller ’82, Community Service Coordinator, reached 25 years of service. Kasse Eppley has long been part of the Athletic Department, where she currently serves as Assistant Athletic Director for Middle School and as Varsity Softball Coach. She joined the school community in 1994 as the Varsity Softball Coach, and her teams made two final four state appearances between 1994 and 2003. She has also served as Episcopal’s Physical Education Department Chair (18 years), Head JV Volleyball Coach, and Head Middle School Softball Coach. Kasse is a two-time recipient of the John Ryan Coach of the Year Award (2016-2017 and 1998-1999), and the Davis Award for Excellence in Teaching (1998). She is a member of the school’s 1966 Society of loyalty givers. She and her husband, Roy, are the parents of Kami Eppley ’21 and Austin Eppley ’22. Sis Van Cleve-Miller ’82, one of more than twenty people in her family to attend Episcopal, has served the school in many ways since she re-joined the community as a staff member. Sis was most recently the Community Service Coordinator, working with student organizations and clubs to support their non-profit partners in Jacksonville. She also worked in College Counseling as a counselor for many years and headed the New Horizons program, which works to provide students who otherwise may not be able to attend Episcopal the opportunity to enroll. As an alumna, Sis served on the school’s Alumni Board for more than ten years. She is a member of the school’s 1966 Society of loyalty donors, and throughout her time at Episcopal has volunteered her time in many ways, including the Career Day Committee and as a Reunion Weekend Committee Chair. Sis has supported Celebration and the Golf & Tennis Tournament and helped to raise funding for the Towers House (College Counseling Office). Her daughter, Pepper Van Cleve-Miller, is a member of the Class of 2018. Sis retired from Episcopal in the spring to pursue her passion of therapeutic horseback riding instruction. k 48

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Tracy Jester and Kate Wallis ’01 Named Davis Award Winners professional knowledge and ability to Tracy Jester is a Physical Education serve her students. Her commitment to instructor and serves as the Associate and relationships with her students was a Director of Honor Education. She has theme throughout the letters nominating worked at Episcopal since 2002. In addition her, which noted students’ eagerness “to to teaching, she has also coached several talk with her long after teams, including class is over,” as well as Volleyball and Softball. her ability “to guide them She won the John Ryan and help them develop Excellence in Coaching as thinkers and writers.” Award in 2010-2011. Another colleague wrote, In recent years she “If she isn’t the essence has presented twice of what we hope ESJ at the Florida Council graduates will be, we need for Independent to go back to the drawing Schools (FCIS) and board. Quietly, modestly, joined multiple with excellence in all learner-centered book that she undertakes, she and action research gives so much of herself groups. She recently The Davis Award for Excellence in Teaching was given to Kate Wallis ’01 for Upper School and to her students and her ran two school-wide Tracy Jester for Middle School at the end-of-year colleagues, and they all Health, Safety, and faculty celebration luncheon on May 30. emerge better for their Well-Being activities, time with her.” helps to lead the Honor Council, and earned Established in 1992, the Davis Awards for her CPR instructor certification so that Excellence in Teaching are presented each year CPR certification could be added to to selected teachers who personify quality in the Physical Education curriculum. Her their teaching and in their influence on student nominations described her as the “the learning; who consistently and unselfishly go ultimate colleague and collaborator” and above and beyond normal expectations of time, as “a committed educator who thinks about energy and devotion in working with students; who the well-being of her students and who is demonstrate the rare ability to motivate students constantly searching for ways to improve to higher and higher levels of achievement; and their educational experience through her who have consistently made use of opportunities discipline.” for continuing education to improve themselves professionally. This award is intended to inspire Kate Wallis ’01 returned to campus to all Episcopal teachers to pursue uncompromising teach in the English Department in 2011. excellence and caring in the classroom. k She serves as a mentor to other faculty and works on a variety of committees on campus, consistently building upon her ESJ

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Carolyn Tuttle ’03 Wins Timothy Award

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Carolyn Tuttle ’03, Director of Choral Music, was named the 2019 recipient of Episcopal’s Timothy Award in Chapel on May 8. The Timothy Award is presented annually to a teacher who exemplifies the ideal of Christian service to students and to the community. The award recognizes the service of the individual and the importance of a vital Christian faith in the daily life of the school.

someone is in need, she is the first to respond, not only feeling empathy and compassion but then taking action to love and care for the person. Carolyn models a life of service for her students to emulate.”

“Carolyn truly has a servant’s heart,” said The Rev. Teresa Seagle, Chaplain. “She leads her students to use their gifts and talents for the sake of others. When

This award is presented in loving memory of T.S. Roberts Jr., and given by his family. “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.” (1 Timothy 6:20) k

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The recipient of the award receives a check for $2,000 and also can designate another $1,000 gift to go to the charity of his or her choice.


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Jennie Rankin ’89 Nominated for The Guardian Award by Amaria Simmons ’19 She always knows what to say or do and although I may not be the best at showing my appreciation, I am beyond grateful for the hugs, joy, positivity, love, and perspective that she brings into my everyday life.”

At Senior Honors Convocation on May 17, science teacher Jennie Rankin ’89 was named the 2019 Guardian Award winner. Ms. Rankin was nominated by senior Amaria Simmons. In her nomination of Ms. Rankin, Amaria wrote: “I consider her my guardian because of the constant positivity that she brings into my life. There are so many mornings where I walk into her classroom during my free period exhausted from school work, college preparation, and extracurricular activities. Instead of letting me mope around feeling bad for myself, she reminds me how hard I’ve worked to become the student that I am and that I should always keep pushing myself. Other times, she instructs me to take a nap and gives me a sweatshirt to use as a pillow.

Amaria also shared how Ms. Rankin’s support during difficult times in her life had strengthened her faith and always made her feel loved and cared for. Ms. Rankin has been a faculty member at Episcopal since 2007 and is the mother of Austin ’15 and Georgia ’22. The Guardian Award was established in 1999 by Mr. and Mrs. William L. Dahl. Seniors are given the opportunity to write an essay about a faculty member who has been a role model for them during their years at Episcopal and has helped them understand how important these guardians are. The senior who writes the winning nomination receives a $1,500 college scholarship and the Guardian Award recipient also receives a $1,500 cash award. k

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Fall Sports Teams Succeed at District, Regional, and State Competitions Baseball District runner-up and regional runner-up

Girls Tennis District champions, and regional runner-up

Girls Lacrosse District champions, and first regional playoff victory in program history after a 20-10 win over Fletcher

Boys Tennis District champions, regional champions, and state final four

Boys Lacrosse District runner-up Girls Rowing Third in the state (scholastically) Boys Rowing Fifth in the state (scholastically) Middle School Softball IMSC champions

Girls Track District runner-up and twelfth in the state Caroline Johnston ’19 – state champion in triple jump (broke Episcopal record) Gabi Carter ’19 – state runner-up in long jump; fourth in the state in high jump 4x100 team broke Episcopal record Weightlifting Jake Nance ’19 – twelfth in the state Wrestling Kyle Hopkins ’20 – state runner-up

Boys Soccer District runner-up, and regional semifinalist

1. Athletic Banquet 2. Baseball 3. Boys Lacrosse 4. Girls Lacrosse Senior Night 5. Girls Rowing 6. Softball Senior Night 7. Boys Soccer 8. Tennis Senior Night 9. Track Senior Night 10. Wrestling Senior Night

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Signing Day Episcopal celebrated Signing Day during a special ceremony in the Semmes Gym on February 6. Nineteen members of the Class of 2019 will be playing a sport at college next year. Baseball Cayden McGarity – Florida Southern College Basketball Hollin Hakimian – Wellesley College Ana Ion – Alfred University Football Zack Blair – Concordia University, Ann Arbor Jake Tylski – Charleston Southern University Golf Apryl Parker – Eckerd College Samuel King – Cornell University Colin Sirbaugh – Stetson University Alex Whitehead – Belmont University Lacrosse Stela Chepenik – Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Boys Soccer Stefan Zec-Bobek – Flagler College Rowing Danielle Alton – Nova Southeastern University Julia Downes – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kiefer Washburn – US Naval Academy Swimming Cole Crane – University of Texas James Kim – Tufts University Cross Country/Track and Field/Triathlon Gabi Carter – University of North Florida Caroline Johnston – Clemson University Volleyball Leah Williams – University of Tampa

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Back in the Spotlight: Eagle Swimming Soars Again Episcopal’s swimming program has experienced a resurgence during the past five years under the leadership of Aquatics Director and Head Coach Martin Zubero. Almost as soon as Coach Zubero was hired, the Elizabeth Simpson Walton ’71 Aquatic Center and the Randy Reese Pool received substantial upgrades thanks to Episcopal’s Lead the Way campaign. The investments in coaching staff and facilities have paid immediate dividends as Eagle swimmers posted historical

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times over the past few years. Eagle swimmers have broken numerous records, won district, regional, and state championships, and just recently recorded their highest team finish since 1980 with a state runner-up finish at the 2018 FHSAA state championships. “Back when I first started at Episcopal, the swim team was not able to crack the top 15 at states. We usually placed second or third at districts and regionals.


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Coach Zubero has been the head coach here since the beginning of my eighth grade year. Now just five short years later, he has turned Episcopal into one of the main powerhouses in the state,” shared Cole Crane ’19. Cole himself is headed to swim at the University of Texas this fall, which has won five of the last seven NCAA titles. This past summer Cole represented the United States at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Fiji in the under 18 group. During the Episcopal swim season he was named The Florida Times-Union’s boys swimmer of the year. He earned AllAmerican honors by winning the Class

1A 50-yard freestyle (for the second year in a row) in 20.32 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 47.76. “Coach Zubero is a true professional in everything he does. Whether he is coaching our varsity high school swimmers or our younger age group Amberjax swimmers, he gets everything out of his athletes. It was obvious from his first day on the job that he was going to get our swim program back on the national stage like it was in the 1970’s and 1980’s,” said Athletic Director Andy Kidd ’99. Coach Zubero is a three-time Olympian for Spain. He attended the University of Florida where he was an SEC champion,

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CAMPUS an NCAA champion, an NCAA record holder, and was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He competed at Barcelona Olympics and won gold in the 200 meter backstroke, setting an Olympic record that stood until 1999. As a coach, he has been named the Florida Head Age Group Coach of the Year and the ASCA Age Group Coach of the Year for Florida Swimming. Coach Zubero has brought his talent and passion for coaching to the Episcopal pool and the Eagles have benefitted. “He is an amazing coach because of his amazing understanding for the sport and his willingness to learn something new,” said Cole. “Coach Zubero has a love for swimming and for all of us. No one on our team would be where we are today in and out of the pool if he had not become our coach.” Coach Zubero was named the 2019 recipient of Episcopal’s John Ryan Excellence in Coaching Award this year at the Athletic Department’s end of year award ceremony. This award recognizes the coach whose team reaches its potential in an environment that values and teaches leadership, performance, self-discipline, integrity, and teamwork.

top: The boys 1975-76 swim team is presented with their national championship. There were nine swimmers on the team named All-Americans that year under Coach Randy Reese. bottom: Nancy Hogshead-Makar ’80, who won three gold and one silver medals at the Olympics in 1984.

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“We had a pretty special year finishing last season with twelve school records, a top ten finish at the 1A state meet for the girls, and a state runner-up finish for the boys. It was one those special years when everyone came together and did their part individually and as a result we met our team goals,” said Coach Zubero. “As good as we were last year, I think we have a great chance at breaking many of those school records this fall.”


CAMPUS Alumni may remember Episcopal swimming’s days of glory in the 1970s, when the 1976 team was named National Champions by Swimming World magazine. Nine swimmers on the team, coached by Randy Reese, were named All-Americans that year. Coach Reese also trained several Episcopal swimmers during those years who would head to the Olympics: Nancy Hogshead-Makar ’80, who won three gold and one silver medals at the 1984 Olympics, and Bill Forrester ’76 who swam in the 1976 Olympics and won a bronze medal. Alumni who swam under Coach Reese at Episcopal and when he was coach the University of Florida recently raised enough donations to help upgrade the swim facility and name the Episcopal pool in his honor in the fall of 2017. Episcopal also recently dedicated the Elizabeth Simpson Walton ’71 Aquatic Center. The aquatic center now includes boys’ and girls’ locker and changing rooms, a new weight room, an elevated

spectator observation deck, coaches’ offices, team meeting rooms, new starting blocks, restrooms and pool deck showers. The complex also includes a new pump house and pool system that allows the pool to be heated and cooled, providing a single-temperature pool all year round for ESJ and AmberJax swimmers. The pool deck has been enlarged, creating a better experience for visiting teams during meets. Access to the new concessions stand is also part of the facility’s redesign. “The improvements mean the facility is now on par with the quality of our programs,” said Andy Kidd. “We are immensely grateful for all who have supported our swim program, coaches, and students over the past few years. The swim team’s recent success is a testament to the love and support they receive from this community, and the excellence of our coaching staff and facilities. These new school records will be tough to beat, but if I know Coach Zubero, he is up for the challenge!” k

Episcopal’s 2019 Swim Records Boys New Records ● 200 Medley Relay (Caden Staggard, Mats Kemp, Jace Crawford, Julian Smith) – 1:35.61 ● 200 Individual Medley – Jace Crawford – 1:51.56 ● 500 Free – Jace Crawford – 4:30.00 ● 50 Free – Cole Crane – 20.32 – Individual State Champion ● 100 Fly – Cole Crane – 47.76 – Individual State Champion ● 400 Free Relay (Cole Crane, Scott Haney, Jace Crawford, Caden Staggard) – 3:06.16 ● 200 Free Relay (Cole Crane, Scott Haney, Julian Smith, Reed Bankston) – 1:25.09 ● 100 Free – Cole Crane – 44.93 Girls New Records ● 200 Medley Relay (Mary Kate Kelley, Sophia Mantegari, Kate Wilkerson, Allie Alton) 1:49.14 ● 100 Backstroke - Mary Kate Kelley – 55.30 ● 200 Free – Kate Wilkerson – 1:53.25 ● 400 Free Relay (Mary Kate Kelley, Kate Wilkerson, Allie Alton, Sophia Mantegari) 3:36.33

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Celebrating Community Service Day 2019 Episcopal held its annual Celebrating Service Day on April 17, and students, faculty, and staff completed more than 4,500 hours of community service in one day. “Most people feel empathy for others who are in need, but this empathy and compassion can be transforming when it leads to action. When we serve others or a community in need, not only do we meet a need but our focus shifts from ourselves to others. Our hearts are transformed. This is why we have Celebrating Service Day every year,” said The Rev. Teresa Seagle, Chaplain.

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Students participated in helping different organizations around the city as well as doing service on campus. Organizations included Wounded Warrior, North Florida School of Special Education, Arlington Community Academy, Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, Williams Family YMCA, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, The Well, Farm Share, Hope Haven, Dupont YMCA, and Clara White Mission. Middle School students spent the morning working on a food packing project for Hunger Fight, packing more than 29,000 meals. Students made more than 350 bag lunches for the Jacksonville homeless, which were distributed later that day. An


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afternoon dodgeball tournament to benefit Warriors Wings, an Episcopal student club that supports Wounded Warrior, raised more than $400 for the organization. In addition, performing arts students took dance, music, and theatre on the road, performing at several schools in the area, including The Cathedral School, Lakewood United Methodist Preschool, Seaside Charter and Arbor Terrace Memory Care, an elder care facility. “A school-wide pause from the academic rigor of our normal day to focus on helping others helps to create a culture of giving,” said The Rev. Seagle. “We hope Celebrating Service Day and other service opportunities our students engage in will lead to a life centered on service to others.” k

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Episcopal Welcomes Grandparents to Campus Episcopal held its annual Grandparents’ Day event on January 25. Grandparents and special friends came to campus for a performance in the Munnerlyn Center followed by lunch in the Buck Student Center. More than 400 guests attended from more than 10 states.

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ALUMNI

Reunion Weekend 2019 Class years ending in 4 and 9 celebrated reunions this spring, attending Reunion Weekend on April 26 and 27. The weekend included a special dedication of the Deming Theatre and Jimbo’s Workshop in the Munnerlyn Center on Friday night, followed by an all-class party on the Acosta House lawn. Individual class parties were held Saturday night at different locations around Jacksonville – including the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club (1984), Manifest Distillery (1989), Aardwolf Brewing Company (2004), and the home of Shaara Pajcic Swallow (1999). Classes 2009, 1994, 1979, and 1974 celebrated class parties on the Episcopal campus.

REUNION WEEKEND COMMITTEE Episcopal thanks the 2018-2019 Reunion Weekend Committee members who made these events possible through dedication of their time and talent. Reunions provide a great opportunity for alumni to reconnect with old friends and the Episcopal community. We look forward to welcoming our alumni to campus each April and are grateful to these committee members for their leadership and support. Mary Lanier Cook ’94, Chair 1974 - Alan Almand, Ed Booth, Eric Holmberg, Rick Stein 1979 - Randy Gordon, Linda Cobb Ingham, Clicker Hamilton Morgan, Peter Tuggle 1984 - Chris Farrell, David Friedline, Jane Hughes, Paula Forster Kendrick, Amy Foerster Lyerly, Anne Grace Lee, Erin Matthews Richardson, Jennifer Scruby Ryshawy 1989 - Paul Dent, Susannah Clarke Doherty, Wade Lindsey, Meghan Lynch Niemczyk, John Paul Saenz, Shannon Shea, Trip Stanley 1994 - Mary Lanier Cook, Heather Halliburton Douglas, Kerri Cannon Napoleon 1999 - Shaara Pajcic Swallow 2004 - Baker Berg, Ryan Hixon, Matt Worsham 2009 - Corey Jackson 64

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SAVE the DATE OCT. 4

2019

HOMECOMING OCTOBER 4, 2019

Pajcic-Hunt Field at Jangro Stadium Alumni BBQ Dinner: 6PM-8PM Details to Follow

7PM


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Ties that Bind: Alumni Legacy Graduates Episcopal’s Alumni Association welcomed legacy alumni members of the Class of 2019 and their families to the Legacy Lawn Party at the Alumni Office on the morning of Commencement. The gathering on the patio was a tradition started in 2010 by the Alumni Board and Alumni Board member Arnie Tritt ’81 to honor alumni legacy graduates. This year, Episcopal welcomed 22 legacy graduates.

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David ’84 and Jack Barksdale

Diane Morse ’77 and Cole Crane

Paul ’89, Kirby, and Heidi Luebke Dent ’88

Maggie and Scott Gallagher ’92

Sidney Gibbs and Lanier Drew ’76

Charles ’87 and Margaret Gibbs

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Alexander and Annie Hughes Goldfield ’86

Meredith Wachtel ’90, Jack, and Ed Hines ’80

Stephanie Athey ’90 and Ward Jarvis

Will ’84 and Ben Ketchum

Michael ’87 and Xander Magevney

John ’89 and Bond Magevney

Heather Rainey ’88, Olin, and Jim Mosely ’80

Niels ’88 and Connor Murphy ESJ

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Henry and Fred Page ’85

Curry ’87 and Curry Pajcic

Rob ’86, Nick, and Kristan David Podvia ’88

Lillie and Arnie Tritt ’81

Emily and Michael Waters ’80

Not pictured: Stela and Brett Chepenik ’90, Zoe and Charles Cobb ’83, and Dougie and Doug Milne ’86.

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Clare Gebert Berry ’73 Named Alumna of the Year The Alumnus of the Year Award is given during Reunion Weekend to an alumnus who has consistently provided exemplary service to Episcopal by enhancing the mission, success, stature, and well-being of the school. Episcopal’s incoming Alumni Board President Heather Rainey Moseley ’88 announced the 2018-2019 Alumna of the Year award winner, Clare Gebert Berry ’73, on Friday, April 26, during the Reunion Weekend opening night party on the Acosta House lawn.

Clare has been involved in the school as an alumna, parent, and Board of Trustees member. Her generosity to Episcopal has set an example for fellow alumni and has enriched every area of campus. She is a member of the Fifty by 50 Society of lifetime leadership donors, the Great Oak Society of leadership donors, and the 1966 Society of consecutive year donors (for almost 30 years!). Her realty company supports the school through the Corporate Partner program as well.

“Clare’s enthusiastic and energetic support of Episcopal has long been appreciated by everyone she works with on campus,” said Heather. “We are deeply thankful for her giving spirit, and the way she champions the school no matter where she is or what she is doing. We know she does it out of the deepest love for Episcopal.”

Clare has served the school as an alumni class representative for many years; served as a Reunion Weekend committee member; has been a Career Day speaker and hosted a Career Launcher intern; and she has also been a Parent of Alumni Episcopal Fund Chair and advisory chair. Clare served on the Board of Trustees for seven years, during which time she was on the following committees: Executive Committee, Admissions Committee, Marketing Committee, and Buildings & Grounds Committee. She was also the Lead the Way capital campaign major gifts committee chair and a core committee member. Clare and her husband, Vance, have one son, Vance, who is a member of the Class of 2005. k

Incoming Alumni Board President Heather Rainey Moseley ’88, Clare Gebert Berry ’73, and The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, following the presentation of Clare’s award of Alumna of the Year.

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Episcopal’s Alumni Association works to bring alumni together at different events throughout the year, both on and off campus. Make sure to follow Episcopal on Facebook or visit esj.org/alumni/alumni-events for all upcoming event information.

College-age alumni from the classes of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were invited back to campus for a holiday lunch on Saturday, December 22, at Jangro Stadium on the Semmes Observation Deck. Alumni enjoyed favorites from Hightide Burrito and Miss Mary’s brownies from Garden Shed, as well as catching up with each other. Alumni soccer players returned to campus on Saturday, December 22, for the annual games hosted by the Alumni Association in partnership with coaches Kate Bowles and Tim Broderick. Alumni enjoyed playing on Pajcic-Hunt Field in Jangro Stadium with former teammates. Episcopal lacrosse alumni, parents of alumni, and current lacrosse families enjoyed the season’s first official tailgate on Tuesday, March 5, on the Forbes Event Lawn. A complimentary BBQ dinner was provided by Corporate Partner U.S. Legal Services before Boys Varsity Lacrosse defeated Stanton on Pajcic-Hunt Field. 74

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Over the Christmas break, Episcopal hosted a panel of African-American alumni who spoke to current students and families about their Episcopal experience and their paths in college and beyond. The evening was part of Episcopal’s diversity and inclusion initiative which seeks to raise awareness of the diversity of our school community and how the school can improve its service to non-traditional families. Thank you to parents Michael and Kimberly Huyghue for spearheading this event! Episcopal’s Young Alumni group enjoyed a great evening catching up over drinks at Aardwolf in Jacksonville on Thursday, February 28. In 2016, the Alumni Board established the Young Alumni Committee in an effort to provide additional support for young alumni events and initiatives. This group focuses on engaging alumni who graduated within the past 15 years.


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2

3

Episcopal’s alumnae group met for a Saturday service event at Sulzbacher Village on Saturday, May 11. They completed a hands-on service project and a took a tour of the facility. In the fall of 2018, Episcopal’s Alumni Association established an alumnae group to support and encourage other women alumni and students through networking, service, and educational leadership. k

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5

1. College alumni holiday lunch 2. Alumni soccer game 3. Lacrosse alumni and parents of alumni tailgate 4. African-American alumni panel 5. Young alumni group at Aardwolf 6. Sulzbacher Village alumnae service event

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Welcome to the Alumni Association, Class of 2019! KEEP YOUR EAGLE PRIDE ALIVE! Connect on social media. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and join our private alumni LinkedIn group so you’ll always know what’s happening. Attend alumni events. College-age alumni: plan to attend the College Holiday Lunch during the holiday season in December 2019. Support your alma mater. Make your gift to The Episcopal Fund each year by visiting esj.org/donate-now


ALUMNI

2018-2019 ALUMNI CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

Episcopal is grateful to its team of Alumni Class Representatives who serve as liaisons between the school and their class. The primary responsibility of the Alumni Class Representative is to contribute their time, thought, and energy to the lasting connection between their classmates and Episcopal. If you are interested joining our team of Alumni Class Representatives, please contact Heather Newman Johnson ’90, Director of Alumni Relations, at alumni@esj.org. 1971 Mary Tucker Fouraker Patty Anderson Ubbens 1972 Brad Berg Julia Sonntag Daze Whitney Oren 1973 Craig Hamilton Alan Moore Becky Vodrey 1974 Skip Booth 1976 Lanier Drew Wendy Dickinson LaPrade Kristy Olson Miller 1977 Francine Andia Walker 1978 Alison Montgomery Bartz Cyndy Ira Reynolds 1980 Sherry Smith Hieb Whatley Law Jim Moseley 1982 Rick Alexander Cris Scott Tennant 1983 Jane Loop Pomar 1985 Raymur Walton Rachels

1986 Julie McFall Batson Annie Hughes Goldfield Laura Green

1997 Brooks Fraleigh Cannon Tasha Nickodem Stevens

1988 Heather Rainey Moseley

1998 Charles Chunn Kyle McClung Julie Wiggins Sorenson

1989 Jeff Bryan Shannon Shea 1990 Jennifer Stopiak Hayes Katherine Donahoo Nott 1991 Liza Barnett Emmet Darren Glenn Cristi Peterson Skeels 1992 Cara Freeman Bowyer Amy Burrows Perkins

1999 Jorge Oliver Kevin Vaughn Emily Humphries Wise 2000 William Milne Eddy Oliver Graham Riley 2003 Beth Anne Frost 2004 Baker Berg

1993 Mary Burke Baker Carmen Sacerio Chartrand

2005 Carley Glasser Leigh Elizabeth Black Israel

1994 Mary Lanier Cook Kerri Cannon Napoleon John Naugle

2006 Lesley Marchman Gittings Darren Zeigler

1995 Anne-Marie Forbes Hulsey 1996 Tiffany Kidd Post

2007 Justin Davis Ashley Helmick Stacy Byrd Thomas Katharyn Smith Woods 2008 Peter Blumeyer Brad McCollum

2009 Corey Jackson Emily Lewis 2010 David Drew Lee Haramis Deanna Thornton Nick Walker 2011 Francesca Mantay Mickey Simmons 2012 Keegan Ball Tracy Thompson Mary Dudley Lee White 2013 Elizabeth Daw Caroline Oakley Cutler Renard Phoebe Stephens 2014 John Michael Currie Natalie Lewis Richie Mullaney Sid Yarlagadda 2015 Lawrence Sims Collin Walker 2016 Laurel Lee 2017 Davis Cury Caroline Still 2018 Danielle Corbin Turner Riggs Emily Teems

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ALUMNI ’74

part of Jacksonville’s

Kelly Riesterer Groth resides

Edward Booth, an attorney,

Westside. Randy is the senior

in Michigan with her husband

is a new partner at Boyd &

vice president and national

Christian and their children

Jenerette. He’s also an aviator

agency counsel for Fidelity

Reese and TJ. She shares,

and offers legal counsel each

National Financial. She

“We moved to a new home

year at the Experimental

served as a commissioner of

last summer and have

Aircraft Association

the Jacksonville Economic

been enjoying more space

AirVenture Oshkosh in

Development Commission

and being close to friends.

Wisconsin.

from 2006 to 2012 and

My husband and I visited

currently serves on the

Germany last month where

’82

Jacksonville International

he gave a lecture about 3D

Lori Harrell Hershey is Board

Airport Community

technology in orthodontics

Chairwoman of the Duval

Redevelopment Area

at the International Dental

County School Board where

Board. A former member of

Show in Cologne. This fall

she represents District 7,

Episcopal’s Board of Trustees

our daughter will begin first

which includes Jacksonville’s

and Alumni Board, Randy

grade and our son will begin

Southside neighborhoods.

has three children who are

Pre-K3.”

also Episcopal alumni-Cris Scott Tennant has

Mac Shoemaker ’12, Will

retired from a career as a

Shoemaker ’13, and Anne

senior project accountant

Bayley Shoemaker ’17.

with a major engineering

Celebrating Randy’s election are

firm. She and her husband,

fellow Episcopal alumni and city

Ed, have three sons, two

leaders Randy Wyse ’84, left,

of whom graduated from

President of the Jacksonville

ESJ. Cris and Ed have three

Association of Firefighters;

granddaughters. Cris is

Randy DeFoor, center; and

looking forward to traveling

Randy Reaves ’01, right, First

Chris Pence ’01 and Mark

and playing “Grammy.”

Vice President of the Fraternal

Warren ’03 started Haand, a

Order of Police.

ceramics company, in 2012.

’01 and ’03

Mark attended the Penland ’84

School of Crafts on a two-

Chris Farrell has been

year fellowship. Chris, who

appointed Global Head of

has been a potter since his

M&A for Ahold Delhaize.

time at Episcopal, studied

He lives in New York and

business and accounting

commutes to Boston and

in college and graduate

Amsterdam.

school. He worked for a large corporate accounting firm

78

’01

but continued to pursue his

Randy Poitevent DeFoor was

Katie Baird Collins is a

love of pottery. In 2012, Chris

elected to the Jacksonville

seminary graduate and works

left corporate accounting and

City Council, District 14, in

in ministry in the Presbyterian

Mark completed his Penland

May where she will represent

Church.

Fellowship, and together

Summer 2019


ALUMNI the two formed Haand.

’06

Haand now employs a staff of 15 and operates out of a 13,000 square-foot former hosiery mill in downtown Burlington, North Carolina. Chris is responsible for the business side of Haand. Mark

Tyrone Gayle passed away

is responsible for the design

in October 2018 after a

and creative direction. Each

valiant battle with cancer.

piece is created in an efficient,

His family and friends have

low waste environment

started a scholarship fund

committed to using as few

at his beloved Clemson

impactful resources as

University in his honor.

possible, like rainwater and

Tyrone, who spent his career

sunlight, and re-using clay scraps whenever possible. ’05

JT Townsend’s legacy lives on, improving lives through the JT Townsend Foundation. JT suffered a catastrophic injury on the football field in 2004. He went on to graduate from Episcopal and then college at the University of North Florida and started

Christopher Chenot graduated from the University of North Florida in 2009 with a B.B.A. in Business Management. He works for Coors and lives in Golden, CO. He hiked the entire Appalachian Trail (south to north - 2,200 miles) from March - September of 2018.

his foundation to help other disabled children and adults in Northeast Florida. JT passed away in 2013; however, his legacy lives on and today, the JT Townsend Foundation has helped more that 440 families to date. The foundation provides adaptive equipment and services including wheelchairs, adaptive strollers, car seats and spinal cord injury therapy to help improve the quality of life for those who are disabled. To learn more or to donate visit, JTGIVESBACK.org.

working in politics, believed strongly in creating more opportunities for underserved communities in the political world. This scholarship would annually provide two minority Clemson students the resources necessary for an internship in public service, whether on a campaign, on Capitol Hill, in the White House, with an interest group, or with a non-profit. A personalized mentorship experience is also included as part of the program. Tyrone’s family is raising funds to ensure that this program is available to students at Clemson for years to come. Those interested in contributing to Tyrone’s legacy can go to: https://cualumni.clemson. edu/remember/tyronegayle. Tyrone’s Episcopal teammates have created the Tyrone Gayle Award,

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ALUMNI which recognizes an athlete

role last fall appearing in

who exemplifies Tyrone’s

Legally Blonde and The

competitive spirit and

Little Mermaid before he

compassion for others.

auditioned for Rock of Ages.

’10

’09 Sarah Weldon Chilson married Jeff Chilson on August 26, 2017, in

Jordan Giglio married

Jacksonville.

Jacquelyn Chlebowski on December 29 at The Glass Factory in downtown Jacksonville. He continues

Mycah Bullard Hunter

his work with Disney as

and her daughter, Lively,

a mechanical engineer.

were recently featured on

Jacquelyn is a speech and

Little English’s website

Jessica Griggs Swinton

language pathologist with a

(an upscale lifestyle brand

married Joshua Swinton on

private practice in Clermont,

that sells classic children’s

September 9, 2018, in Aliso

FL. Nick Walker ’10 and

clothing). Mycah is also

Viejo, CA, where they have

Christian Addison ’10 were in

owner and author of her blog

lived for almost three years.

the wedding party.

homesweethunter.com.

Jessica is the head of marketing for Snap.Build, a

Sasha Glinski has spent

Mark N. LaDuke was a

lender who helps small and

time working on multiple

featured member of the

medium-sized home builders

projects in New York City

ensemble cast Rock of Ages

get streamlined access to

for Fashion Week, theatres,

tenth anniversary Broadway

project funding for land and

and Julliard. She is currently

Tour. He performed in

spec homes.

scenic supervisor and lead

Jacksonville on January 10 at the Times-Union Center

John Wikstrom’s film “Ask

Festival Opera House near

for the Performing Arts. Mark

Me Anything” will be directed

Cooperstown, New York. She

relocated to Los Angeles

by late comedian Robin

and the Glimmerglass crew

to attend Berkeley, where

Williams’ daughter Zelda. The

also provide scenery for the

he initially worked as an

film is a 2018 Blacklist script

Houston and Chicago Operas

executive assistant for the

that weaves dark celebrity

– a testament to her well

Osborne family before

secrets and the dangers of

rounded education at ESJ.

moving on to session work

the digital age together into

as a singer. He earned the

a cat-and-mouse thriller. The

Golden Ticket in the 2013

film earned John a spot on

season of American Idol,

Tracking Board’s “Young and

which helped prepared

Hungry” list of 100 writers to

him for a turn in musical

watch in 2019.

theatre. He earned his first 80

painter for the Glimmerglass

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ALUMNI ’11

Chadwick’s RBI double was

Francesca Mantay Jones

his third hit in W&L’s March

was married on August 18,

23 win over Guilford and the

2018, to her best friend, Philip

190th of his career.

’17

Jones. They are excited to celebrate eight years together

’15 – ’16

and their first anniversary this year. ’12

Henna Awad presented at

Keegan Ball recently

a scientific conference in

transferred roles within

February, 2019. She is in the

JPMorgan and joined the

Honors College at Florida

Quantitative Beta Strategies

State University and was

group as a client portfolio

selected in the fall for FSU’s

manager.

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP).

Tyler Rice accepted a new job

Allie Bast ’16, Maggie

at Parker Hannifin Aerospace

McQuiddy ’16, and Danny

’18

Division as a manufacturing

Voss ’15, are currently in the

Sara Himebauch was named

engineer.

Master’s of International

to the President’s Honor List

Business program at UF. They

at the University of South

Brigitte Witmer attended

are participating in the Global

Carolina in the fall of 2019

Stanford for technical theatre.

Immersion Experience in

for achieving a 4.0 GPA for

She is currently working in

Malaysia visiting international

the semester. She became

educational technology in

companies.

an Alpha Delta Pi sister and serves on USC’s student

Chicago. ’16

government as a School

’14

Kimberly Hogan attends

of Journalism and Mass

Brooke Corbin graduated

Notre Dame and is an

Communication Student

from Notre Dame and is

accounting major with a

Senator.

working for Bosch in their

musical theatre minor. Anna Baumeister is a

IT rotation which has her in Chicago this year before

Kaiden Ketchum completed

freshman at Columbia in

moving her to Germany.

her junior year in the

Chicago and is majoring

Hamilton Lugar School of

in theatre with a focus in

’15

Global International Studies

improvisational comedy.

Chadwick Feeley set the

at Indiana University. She

Washington and Lee

is majoring in International

University (W&L) hit record

Studies and Arabic and works

in March. Chadwick played

part-time for a translation

shortstop for the Generals

company.

and graduated this year.

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ADVANCEMENT

On Saturday, February 23, an amazing

coming or volunteering at Bash to learn

committee of dedicated volunteers led

more about this fantastic event. Bash also

by event chair Andree King (parent of

had an Instagram account and used the

Nathaniel, Samuel and Walker King,

#ESJBASH19 throughout

members of the Class of

the year. The addition of a

2019) converted the River

table purchasing option also

Field into a glamorous

provided a separate pre-

camping experience

party featuring a bourbon

for over 300 guests

tasting hosted by ESJ

for GlampFest Bash

parent of alumni Bonnie

2019. Guests enjoyed

King, whose son Max

a freshly grilled camp

was a member of ESJ’s

menu prepared by ESJ

Class 2013.

parent and notable local chef Matthew Medure

With its casual, laid

and bluegrass music by

back style making it

Brett Bass and The Melted

different from many other

Plectrum.

fundraising auctions, Episcopal’s annual auction

This year the committee debuted several new elements to increase

designed to gather Episcopal friends and

the community’s involvement in the

family to celebrate Episcopal and raise

annual gala. Episcopal parents hosted

money for the school. Offering large auction

three luncheons in their homes throughout

items such as vacation getaways and

the year with an open invitation for

private dinners and “All Things Episcopal,”

anyone in the ESJ community to attend.

Bash netted $90,000 this year, which went to

These luncheons are an opportunity

the school’s operating costs. k

for anyone who might be interested in

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was an informal event

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ADVANCEMENT

Corporate Partners Sporting Clays Tournament 2019 On February 4, Episcopal hosted a

Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and

sporting clays tournament at Jacksonville

Business level Corporate Partners spent the

Clay Target Sports in appreciation of the

morning skeet shooting followed by lunch

Corporate Partners who provide ongoing

catered by The Bearded Pig. k

support to the school through business sponsorships.

If you are interested in supporting the school through Episcopal’s Corporate Partner program, please contact Missy Ketchum, Director of Advancement at ketchumm@esj.org.

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Episcopal Names New Trustee Emeritus and Honorary Trustees The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, hosted a special Board of Trustees dinner in the Berg Gallery of the Munnerlyn Center for Worship and Fine Arts on Tuesday, May 14. At the dinner three trustees were honored for their service and dedication to the school with honorary and emeritus designations, which are the highest honors awarded to members of the Episcopal community.

Episcopal partner schools for more than 25 years, and most recently served as Head of School for Beaches Episcopal School from 2001-2013, and during her tenure moved the school forward with exceptional advances in facilities, technology and curriculum. Under her leadership Hope Hall was constructed on the BES Honorees Luke Sadler, Jackie Busse, Steve Busey, campus with the school’s and The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School. The Future is Now capital campaign. Jackie was also a member of the Vestry at St. John’s Cathedral, and currently Stephen D. Busey was named Trustee serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Emeritus. Steve has served as an Episcopal Cathedral School. She is a leadership donor Trustee and Chancellor of the school since to Episcopal and has contributed annually for 1981. Chairman of Smith Hulsey & Busey, many years. Jackie is also a parent of alumni. Steve’s expertise in litigation and bankruptcy Her late daughter, Allison Jennings, was a has been nationally recognized. Florida Super member of the Class of 1991; her stepson Mark Lawyers has named him one of the top 100 Busse graduated in 1987, and her stepdaughter lawyers in the state of Florida, and he has been Katie Busse Woodliff graduated in 1990. listed for years in Best Lawyers in America. Luther F. “Luke” Sadler was named an Steve has served on the Executive Committee Honorary Trustee. Luke served on the Board of the Board of Trustees for more than 30 of Trustees from 1999-2007. He was a member years, guiding the school as its Chancellor and of the Finance, Admissions, Nominating and as a keeper for the school’s founding charter. Executive Committees of the Board. Luke has He has also served as Chancellor and Senior also served as Chairman of the Corporation Warden of St. John’s Cathedral. His children, Section of the Florida Bar Association, a Brooks ’95 and Durrell Busey Myers ’99, are board member for MOCA Jacksonville and Episcopal alumni, and Steve is the grandfather for Episcopal Children’s Services, and as of Scott ’23. In addition to donating his General Counsel for the Jacksonville Chamber professional and personal time for so many of Commerce. Luke is a lifetime leadership years, Steve has contributed to the school for donor to the school and has contributed at decades and is a lifetime leadership donor. a leadership level annually for 20 years. His ties to Episcopal span three generations: his Jackie Jennings Busse was named an father served on the school’s original Board of Honorary Trustee. While on the Board of Trustees, and his daughters are alumni. Luke’s Trustees (2013-2018), she served as a member daughter Anna Sadler Mann is a member of of the Buildings & Grounds Committee, the the Class of 2008, and his daughter Cate is a Admissions Committee, and the Marketing member of the Class of 2005. k Committee. Jackie has worked at three ESJ

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Chris Farrell ’84

Blessed by Episcopal Education and Community understand that the foundation Episcopal gave me and that the network of friends I formed there have been a constant source of support throughout my life.” When he was a student at Episcopal, Farrell played varsity soccer for four years and was named an All-State player. “Soccer was incredible for learning about teamwork,” he says. He says Judy Norman (English) was his favorite teacher because her high expectations stemmed from her belief in her students.

Chris Farrell ’84 has lived an international life and had a successful career in cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He’s lived and worked in England, Japan, Belgium, and Latin America. A global profession was part of his plan when he graduated from Episcopal, but he says that journey of his life has not been linear. “You can’t have success without some failure,” he says. “I have had my share of both.” Farrell has included Episcopal in his estate plans, because he wants to give back to a place that provided an anchor of values and relationships that still sustain him. “I wasn’t smart enough or mature enough when I was here to grasp what I had been given,” he says, “but fairly early in my career I began to 88

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Farrell graduated from Episcopal knowing that he wanted to work in international business. He earned an economics degree from Stetson University and went straight to New York City to seek his future. “I applied to hundreds of institutions and got hundreds of rejections,” he says. “I finally got a job at a Japanese bank called Nippon, and I was the only American in a training program full of Japanese people.” At the time, American business disparaged Japanese business, but Farrell soaked up everything he could about the Japanese way of working and way of thinking. He picked up an MBA at Fordham while living in New York, then began taking positions across the globe. “As a young person, I kept hearing that to have a good career, you have to differentiate yourself,” he says. “I


Chris presented Presiding Bishop Michael Curry with a copy of President Jimmy Carter’s book on faith.

differentiated myself by raising my hand when my employer was looking for someone willing to move overseas.” That willingness led to moves to multiple countries and continents. In 2007, just as he was on the verge of moving to Hong Kong, he learned that he would need open-heart surgery to correct a leaky aortic valve. “I was 40,” he says, “and my father died of a heart attack when I was 10 and he was 37.” The experience changed him. “I didn’t let it stop me, but it definitely shaped the way I view the world,” he says. “I was someone who never really allowed people to help me, and open-heart surgery requires that you let people help.” Among the helpers were his pals from Episcopal. “I had 30-40 people come to visit me during that time,” says Farrell, “and many were my old friends from high school. I can’t articulate what that meant to have that foundation of support during a very vulnerable time.” One such friend was his classmate, Jennifer Scruby. “The thought of losing Chris is unfathomable. So it’s only

natural that we’ve all rallied around him when he’s dealing with his heart issues. Fortunately, he’s got a lot of strength and resilience,” she says. “The way he comes back from it all, with all his passions and perseverance intact, is remarkable and inspiring.” His first open-heart surgery was not his only health challenge, however. Just last year, Farrell contracted a nearly fatal infection in his heart that resulted in a second open-heart surgery. His recovery was a struggle. “I am a very optimistic person,” Farrell says. “I tend to think that you can overcome anything. But I lost that frame of mind.” Buoyed by his wife and twins, and by close friends and faith, Farrell regained his health. “Perseverance and evolution have marked my life,” he says. His latest evolution is a professional pivot to film producer. Farrell is producing a film on former president Jimmy Carter and his love of music. His illness threatened to derail the project, but ultimately it kept him inspired to recover so that he could complete the work. “Doing this is film is a ministry for me,” Chris says.

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ADVANCEMENT In addition to producing the film about Jimmy Carter, Farrell is working for a company he previously worked for, Ahold Delhaize, and is now serving as global head of mergers and acquisitions. He’s based in New York but commutes to Boston and Amsterdam. Farrell says he wants his children—boy and girl twins—to have resilience. “You have to be able to overcome failure,” he says. “And Episcopal allowed us to fail. I made a lot of mistakes academically and socially, but the faculty and administration allowed for that. They were stern when they needed to be but provided a very nurturing environment.” Reflections like these prompted Farrell to include Episcopal in his estate plans. “The school certainly taught us to give back, so it doesn’t matter that I don’t live here (in Jacksonville) and don’t have that connection day to day,” he says. “It’s important to me to recognize my connection to Episcopal. The years from age 12 to 18 are the most dynamic period of growth that you have. I am incredibly blessed to have the education and community that Episcopal gave me.”

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The Mary Packer Cummings Society honors individuals who have provided for Episcopal through deferred gifts such as bequests, life insurance, annuities and trust agreements. The society is named in honor of Mary Packer Cummings, who once owned a summer estate on Episcopal’s property and left it to St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral after her death in 1912. Following her example, donors of planned gifts provide for the school’s future by providing unrestricted income or specific designated purposes such as endowment, capital improvements or program areas. We welcome the opportunity to have a confidential conversation with you at no obligation. If you would like to join The Mary Packer Cummings Society, or would like information on planned giving to ESJ please contact Missy Ketchum, Director of Advancement, at ketchumm@esj.org. k

Chris and the Jimmy Carter film’s director, Mary Wharton, and writer, Bill Flanagan, after meeting with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.


Why Give? CHARLIE HUNT, Episcopal Coach for 37 years “During my time at Episcopal I have been blessed to be a part of the lives of so many wonderful students and families. I am proud of what Episcopal represents and the continuous support the school receives to carry out its mission. The Episcopal Fund has provided improvements in the classrooms, an enhanced fine arts experience, and high quality athletic equipment and uniforms, all of which continue to make Episcopal a special place to be.” GRAHAM RILEY ’00, Alumni Board Member “I support Episcopal today because I have realized how important the experience was, something I did not appreciate while I was a student. Episcopal is the finest educational institute I have had the privilege of attending. The student body is respectful and kind. The faculty and staff genuinely care about each individual student’s personal lives and education. The administration fosters an atmosphere where you are encouraged to pursue your relationship with your faith in the same way as you are encouraged to pursue your education. Episcopal’s environment is one that I want my four children to be a part of one day. I want other children to be able to have the same opportunity that I had growing up – to attend ESJ – and so I support Episcopal through a gift and by donating my time.” JOY AND HILTON DEMPSEY, Grandparent Chairs Grandparents of Bradlie ’23 and Sarah ’25 “We are blessed to have Episcopal School of Jacksonville in our community. Episcopal is a school that is built on the love and support of many thousands of families before us. Donors before us provided the financial and personal support to build the facilities and programs that enrich each of our grandchildren’s lives, and because of this an incredible foundation has been built over the past 52 years. As grandparents, we collectively hold the opportunity and responsibility to build upon the efforts of earlier generations of grandparents. We love Episcopal and all of the dedicated professionals that have committed their lives to the development of our grandchildren.”

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The Episcopal Fund gives you the opportunity to designate your unrestricted gift to the area that means the most to you. Whether it’s $50 or $50,000, collective donations to The Episcopal Fund make an immediate impact on our students, our faculty, and our campus. ESJ

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END NOTES

Class of 1977 Honors Senator John McCain The nation honored Senator John McCain after his death last August for his lifetime of service to his country as a longtime statesman and military hero. McCain moved to Jacksonville in 1966 and returned here in 1973 after six years in Vietnam as a prisoner of war. His sons Doug and Andy both graduated from Episcopal -- Doug in 1977 and Andy in 1980. Commander McCain was the

Commencement speaker for the Class of 1977, a memory that members of the class wanted to honor after McCain died. This year forty-three members of the Class of 1977 contributed to the brick paver display near the front of campus as a way to memorialize their connection to Senator McCain. k

Commander McCain presented his son, Doug, with his Episcopal diploma.

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IN MEMORIAM

John Donahoo Jr., Trustee Emeritus John Donahoo Jr., Trustee Emeritus, passed away May 28, 2019. A steadfast supporter of the school, beloved by those he knew professionally and personally, his servant’s heart for his family, friends, community, and the Episcopal Church, guided a life devoted to the love and care of others. John was, among many honors, a 50 year member of the Florida Bar Association and admitted and qualified as an attorney and counselor of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was President

of St. Vincent’s Foundation, Evergreen Cemetery Association, Duval County American Cancer Society, Meninak Club, and Willing Hands. He was deeply involved with Jacksonville University, the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Young Life, and served on the state boards of the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross. He was given the National Philanthropy Award for Outstanding Volunteer Commitment in 2000.

John Donahoo and George and Eunice Semmes along with Gus Weltsek, then Dean of St. John’s Cathedral, at the groundbreaking for the Semmes Gym in the late 1980s.

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The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, John Donahoo, and David C. Hodges ’90, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, at the dedication of the baseball training facility named in John’s honor in 2017.

A member of St. John’s Cathedral for more than 50 years, he served on the Vestry, the Executive Council of the Diocese, and received the Distinguished Service Medal for the Diocese of Florida in 2003. In 2009, he and his wife, Patricia (Patty) Hamilton Donahoo, received the Bishop’s Cross Award. John was a Charter Member of and served on the International Board of the Compass Rose Society and in 2014 was honored in London by the Archbishop with the Compass Rose Medallion. Episcopal named John a Trustee Emeritus in 2012. He served the school as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1985-1993 and 1998-2005. Episcopal’s baseball training facility was named for John on March 7, 2017. The surprise dedication honored his longtime love for the school and his support for its athletic programs. John personally operated the backhoe to create dugouts in the early years of the baseball program. He was instrumental in building a relationship between Eunice Semmes, a Jacksonville philanthropist who

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loved children, and the school. Through John’s encouragement, Mrs. Semmes made lead gifts to build the Semmes Gymnasium in the late 1980s, and the Olympic-sized swimming pool, which opened in the early 1990s. John is survived by Patty; his children, John Donahoo III ’88 (Gina) and Katherine Donahoo Nott ’90 (Chris); and five granddaughters: Libby ’18, Abigail ’20, and Anna ’20 Donahoo; Kaitlyn ’18 and Lauren ’20 Nott. He is also survived by his brother and Episcopal Honorary Trustee Thomas M. Donahoo (Hazel), nephew Tommy Donahoo ’84 (Jennifer), great-niece Jane ’18, great-nephew Mitchell, who attended Episcopal as a member of the Class of 2021; and his niece Lizzie Donahoo Bishop (Tom) ’88 and great-nephews Tommy ’20, John, Michael, and great- niece Liza ’18. A memorial service was held Tuesday, June 4, at St. John’s Cathedral. Gifts in his memory may be sent to St. John’s Cathedral, Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center, Episcopal School of Jacksonville, St. Vincent’s Foundation, and Jacksonville University. k



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