Amidst the Trees - Fall 2021 by Forsyth Country Day School

FALL 2021

FCDSMagazine FCDS Forsyth Country Day School 5501 Shallowford Road Lewisville, NC 27023 336-945-3151—fcds.org Head of School Gardner Barrier ’97

Associate Head of School for Teaching and Learning Michelle Klosterman, Ph.D.

Associate Head of School and Director of Admission Nathan Battle

Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations Andrea Matney

Director of the Preschool Harriet Jennings

Director of the Lower School Ann Parke Muller

Director of the Middle School Robin Snow

Director of the Upper School Scott Pohjola

Director of the Johnson Academic Center Megan Newbauer

Director of Philanthropy Andy Clifton

Athletic Director Doug Esleeck

Amidst the Trees Editor Priscilla St. John

Photographer Tom Howell

Student Reporters Joshua James Howard ’22 Melody Moossavi ’22

Design Scarlett Brand, ROODcreative

Printed by Slate Marketing

On the cover: Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

Contributors & Special Thanks Andy Clifton, Aaron Craven, Jan DiBlasio, Michel Ellis, Tom Howell, Cate Reece Lynch ’03, Beth Mack Parents, alumni, and friends of Forsyth Country Day School are encouraged to contribute articles, photographs, and other items of interest to Amidst the Trees. Please send them to: priscillastjohn@ fcds.org or Editor, Amidst the Trees, Forsyth Country Day School, Attn: Editor, Amidst the Trees, 5501 Shallowford Road, Lewisville, NC, 27023. Alumni, alumni families, faculty, and friends of the school are encouraged to send Class Notes updates and pictures as well as birth notes and items for In Memoriam to alumni@fcds.org. Amidst the Trees is published twice annually and sent free of charge to parents, alumni, and friends of Forsyth Country Day School. POSTMASTER: please send address changes to Amidst the Trees, 5501 Shallowford Road, Lewisville, NC, 27023. Forsyth Country Day School is committed to cultivating an inclusive learning community free from discrimination. The School prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex in the administration of its educational policy and practice, admission and financial aid policy and practice, and other school administered programs.

Thank you to our corporate partners! Throughout this issue of Amidst the Trees, you’ll see companies who are FCDS corporate partners. Their generosity allows us to better fulfill our mission of being a community of learners dedicated to preparing students for what’s ahead, and their contributions directly support our students. To learn more about how your company can become a corporate partner, please contact Andy Clifton, our Director of Philanthropy, at andyclifton@fcds.org or call 336.978.3941.

A MESSAGE

from Gardner Barrier ’97 Head of School

CAMPUS NEWS

Student news from campus

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: POSTCARDS FROM A PANDEMIC Navigating college and life in the last year

COMMENCEMENT 2021 Highlights of the 2021 Commencement

HEART OF THE SCHOOL:

How FCDS Successfully Navigated the Pandemic

WE ARE THE CLASS OF 2021

CLASS NOTES

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2021

Meet the 2021 Graduates

Graduations, weddings, and babies...oh my!

a message from

Gardner Barrier

Head of School Gardner Barrier ’97 visits Lower School Furies.

Dear Furies, It’s been a wild couple of years, to put it mildly. We endured a pandemic that forced us into virtual learning in March 2020, then came back to campus for an incredible 2020-2021 school year. Returning to school after lockdown was rather like returning to a home that’s been remodeled—you know the people and the general layout, but everything looks different. Through our entire unusual year, we adapted. Classes met outside if possible. We stood six feet apart. Everyone—including seniors—had to go through carpool and fill out daily Magnus Apps that monitored community health. Plexiglass dividers, lunch outside or in classrooms, study halls in the CAC and gallery, and of course, the ubiquitous masks, defined the new normal. Thanks to these measures, we had NOT ONE CASE of community spread of Covid-19 on our campus. Read more about how we accomplished this rather remarkable feat in Heart of the School: How Expanding our Healthroom Made School Possible During a Pandemic on page 7. Leading us through this year were our newest alumni, the Class of 2021. Despite the fact that they didn’t have the senior year they imagined, they showed remarkable resilience and gratitude for all they COULD have: school in person, sports, the arts, senior

nights, a prom, senior week, and graduation in the CAC like scores of classes before them. They took joy in the little things, in personal connections, and in one another, and my hat is off to each and every member of this exceptional class. Read more about them in We Are the Class of 2021, which starts on page 23. Finally, we had alumni graduate from college into the pandemic, and we reached out to them, wondering how they were doing, how the pandemic affected them, and how they’ve grown because of it. Three of those remarkable Furies share their stories with us in Alumni Spotlight: Postcards from a Pandemic on page 31. Congratulations to the Class of 2021! We can’t wait to see what you’ll do with your lives, and the incredible impact you will—jointly and individually—have on this world. Take care,

Gardner Barrier ’97 Head of School

You made an impact

FCDS

every and helped single live out our mission day. Fifth consecutive year of enrollment growth

806 curious learners

5 State Champions and Wells Fargo Cup Winner

In-person and virtual performances

Caring and dedicated educators, staff, and coaches

170 days of in-person learning

New track, tennis courts, health room, and outdoor spaces

... and much more!

Thank You!

To learn more about the impact you made, go to www.fcds.org/giving/welcome 4

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How Expanding our Healthroom Made

ade School Possible During a Pandemic

You know the saying: “It takes a village to raise a child.” Last year, it took the entire FCDS village (plus a key renovation)—to bring us all back together for an exceptional, if very different, year on campus. “I think it all goes back to our mission—we’re dedicated to preparing for what’s ahead,” said Head of School Gardner Barrier ’97. “Whatever life throws at us—game on. With the pandemic, we leaned into health services. We invested in the health office, in our staff, and we figured it out, because that’s what Forsyth does.” Head Nurse Nancy Hart worked as the health care professional on the school’s COVID Committee, which—when the pandemic first hit—included Gardner, Nancy, Associate Heads of School Nathan Battle, Michelle Klosterman, and Andrea Matney, Director of Facilities Jay Inzko, and Architect-in-Residence Lauren Frye. “After learning to learn remotely, our priority was getting the preschool open,” Nancy said. “Preschool is year-round. Data was coming out from some preschools that never closed because essential workers still needed childcare. The data showed it could be done safely.” Preschool re-opened successfully on June 1, 2020 with masking, social distancing, increased sanitation, and plenty of PPE. “That mission was accomplished with great success,” Nancy said. Next up: how to get everyone else back to campus in the fall. That began with a renovation and expansion of the healthroom that would allow the nurses to separate patients into sick and well areas and to keep the school separated into two cohorts that never mingled: Middle/Upper School and Lower School/Preschool. “Lauren, Jay, and the contractors doubled the health room square footage,” Gardner said. “It was just a practical, common sense thing to invest in the health room during a pandemic.” “They created a little doctor’s office, essentially, with well (non-Covid) and sick (potential Covid) areas and increased ventilation,” Nancy said. “We expanded to two triage areas, two waiting rooms, two bathrooms, and an office for the nurses.” During normal school years, Nancy is the only full-time nurse and has several part-time nurses who rotate in, but last year, there was a whole nursing team: Nancy, Margaret Ann Speakman, Michell Weeks, and Jen Stern. The COVID Committee worked on the logistics of having the entire school (with the exception of students who chose to

FuryFlex via Zoom) return in August safely. In the summer, the division directors joined an expanded COVID Committee to help determine how the school would operate day to day when students returned. First: use outdoor spaces, where transmission rates were lowest (the latest studies show that outdoor transmission of Covid-19 is less than one percent). “We opened up our outdoor areas to teachers, learners, and eating outdoors,” Nancy said. “We’ve got a beautiful campus, and being outdoors is good for the psyche and the soul.” The school created more outdoor classroom spaces, such as the Infinity Amphitheatre, and planned to have as many activities as possible—from lunches to meetings to classes—outside. Working with Nancy Hart and following CDC guidance and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services K-12 Toolkit, Dr. Michelle Klosterman led the team in figuring out how to get students and teachers through the school day as safely as possible. “Michelle ran point on a lot of things,” Gardner said. “She can really execute. Here’s the goal, figure it out. Done.” Once students returned to campus, Nancy Hart, who is usually the face of the health room, was the full-time public health expert. She stayed in the clinic’s back room, monitoring the Magnus app, following up with families who had a child who felt unwell, and dealing with evolving CDC and NCDHHS guidance. “Margaret Ann Speakman was the rock behind me,” Nancy said. “She was able to make everything run smoothly in the health room while I dealt with all of the Covid policies and procedures.” She also credits her other two nurses. “Michell Weeks and Jen Stern also played a really big role in getting the new health room up and running.” Gardner believes that good health—as embodied by the health room and its staff—is the true heart of FCDS. “To me, the center of Forsyth Country Day is not academic excellence. It’s sturdy, healthy, self-aware individuals who are ready to contribute to the world. After that, we get into academics, arts, and athletics. “Nancy is such a good example,” he said. “When I think of Nancy, I think of a self-aware person. She’s the embodiment of the center of campus...she takes care of herself so she can take care of others.” The success of the 2020-2021 academic year—during which FCDS saw ZERO cases of community spread on campus and

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTED INCLUDED: • Mask requirement on campus except for when eating or drinking (removed outdoors in May 2021) • Magnus App to monitor student and faculty health • Carpool with app and temperature checks for preschool through grade 12 (temp checks were dropped after Winter Break) • Ensuring classroom seats were six feet apart; using plexiglass to separate students at shared tables • Making most hallways one-way and installing stickers on the floor to indicate proper distancing • Eating lunch outside or in homerooms -no eating in the dining halls • Staggering dismissals between classes to prevent crowded hallways • Sanitizing all classroom surfaces between classes. • Installing hand-washing and sanitizing stations throughout campus.

had no unplanned virtual days—showed just how solid our policies were and proved the strength of the FCDS community. “It was an effort by every single person on this campus,” Nancy said. We would not have succeeded if ONE person didn’t do their job.” As to the year we’ve just started? It remains to be seen, Gardner said. “We are preparing our kids for a world of uncertainty,

and this past year has been a powerful example of that. We’re approaching this year with calm, agility, and positivity,” he said. “We’re together, and we’ll play the hand we’re dealt...together.”

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FCDS Athletics Breaks School Record, Earning Five State Titles in One Year and Winning the Wells Fargo Cup for the Second Year in a Row

Despite the limitations faced due to Covid-19, FCDS athletics defied the odds by winning five NCISAA state championships – a school record – and earning the Wells Fargo Cup for the second year in a row. Three teams finished as state runners-up, which also contributed to winning the cup. The state champions were: girls’ varsity swimming, boys’ and girls’ track and field, softball, and boys’ lacrosse. Boys’ swimming, girls’ soccer, and boys’ tennis also had solid second-place finishes.

Girls’ Swimming The first state championship winner of the year was girls’ swimming. The Fury girls’ swim team won the NCISAA State Championship for the second year in a row. “To accomplish this in a year when we’ve had more obstacles and less pool time is a huge testament to these swimmers,” said Head Coach Rachel Baker ’13, who leads the team with Co-Head Coach Sawyer Hubbard. “These swimmers stayed committed and took advantage of every opportunity. We were thankful just to have a season at all, so this was better than we could have hoped for!” The girls won their meet with 368 points, beating out Cape Fear Academy with 302 and third-place finisher The Asheville School with 261.5 points. The FCDS girls had four all-state athletes: Carstyn Klosterman, Lexie Breitling, Saanvi Pawa, and Eva Hollar.

The Fury girls’ swim team

Awards First-place finishes: Girls’ 200 Medley Relay - Carstyn Klosterman, Lexie Breitling, Saanvi Pawa, Eva Hollar Girls’ 200 Free - Carstyn Klosterman Girls’ 50 Free - Eva Hollar Girls’ 100 Free - Eva Hollar Girls’ 500 Free - Carstyn Klosterman Second-place finishes: Second Place Girls’ 100 Back - Saanvi Pawa Girls’ 400 Free Relay- Eva Hollar, Saanvi Pawa, Anika Pawa, Carstyn Klosterman Third-Place Finishes Girls’ 100 Fly - Saanvi Pawa Girls’ 200 Free Relay - Lexie Breitling, Addison Davis, Rae Klosterman, Anika Pawa This year the swim team totalled 29 members, which is the largest team in school history. Congratulations to: Eva Hollar, Lexie Breitling, Mary Gray Speakman, Lydia Tyrrell, Carstyn Klosterman, James Snyder, Chris Bannigan, Nathan Jao, Steven Insixiengmay, Sonya McNatt,

Katherine Li, Saanvi Pawa, Aaron Lawrence, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Nichols, Sam Speakman, Alec Jin, Eric Petruzzi, Rae Klosterman, Megan Coates, Madeleine Stark, Addison Davis, Olivia McNatt, Anika Pawa, Addison Winter, Grant Faraci, Harris Breitling, Patrick Perrott, and Mia Fitzsimmons. Track & Field (Boys’ and Girls’) The boys had 30 team members contributing to their win, with 10 team members scoring points in individual events and five more contributing to relay points. Nine girls’ team members scored points in individual events and six more provided relay points. “While every team competing [at the meet] certainly wanted to win, no team had more athletes willing to do everything they could to improve their team’s chances than the Furies,” said Athletic Director Doug Esleeck. “Three girls and five boys competed in four events and scored points in all four. Two girls and one boy scored in three events, and four girls and two boys scored in two events.” The boys recorded 14 personal records in individual events while the girls set seven new personal records in individual events. Additionally, the boys’ 4x100, 4x200, and 4x800 set new season best times, while the girls’ 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800 set season records. Boys’ State Champions Jay Mitchell - Triple Jump, High Jump Landon Williams - 110 Hurdles Will Scott - 3200m Girls’ State Champions JahQueen McClellan - 200m, 400m Jaree Legins - Discus Josie Kilborn, Katelyn Skinner, Sarah Grace Clifton, JahQueen McClellan - 4x400 Relay Fun fact: Matthew Nichols was one of the last boys to qualify for the state meet in the discus – but you wouldn’t know it from his finish! He threw 86-09, a new personal best, and finished an impressive 14th in the state. Two track athletes – Jaree Legins and Maureen Cavanaugh – helped Fury softball win the state title on Friday, then did the same for track on Saturday! Mackenzie Moore, a soccer and track athlete, ran a leg of the girls’ 4x800 that placed second and then played in the double overtime runner-up finish in soccer. Softball Girls’ softball beat High Point Christian two times on May 14 -14-2 and 6-5 - to win the state title and finish their season 15-3. Emily Humphrey was the starting pitcher in both games, striking out 14 batters total, while Laura Bean led the team with five hits and six runs. Boys’ Lacrosse Boys’ lacrosse, which last won the state title in 2016, returned with a roar in 2021 under Coach Marc Winbush. The Furies ended the season with only one loss (13-1) and beat Cape Fear Academy 11-9 to clinch the state championship. On defense, goalkeeper Noble Smith made 16 saves, while Mason Ickes led the offense with four goals, Ian Kennedy and Andre Smith each added two, and Carver Hiatt, Tommy Tessien, and Andrew Peterson all contributed one. Tommy Tessien had two assists while Ian Kennedy and Berk Yalcinkaya each added one.

inal article, “Renewed Views on Gaming During the Covid-19 Pandemic”, discusses some potentially negative effects of video games (too much blue light, too much screen time, etc.), but also highlights positive effects that emerged during the pandemic. Online gaming allowed otherwise isolated individuals to connect and interact with friends safely as a way to promote social development and maintain a sense of normality, he wrote. “Gaming also has many individual and group benefits such as the development of problem- solving skills, serving as a source of entertainment, connecting socially during quarantine, alleviating anxiety and depression, serving as a distraction from contemporary struggles, evading loneliness, and enhancing mental health,” Callum concluded. “With these benefits, remaining safe at home during a global pandemic becomes a lot easier and more promising.” Congratulations to Callum on this impressive achievement!

Ten FCDS Alumni Commit As College Athletes

Top from left: Anika Pawa, Ethan Xiao, and Ava Claire Scherer

FCDS Middle Schoolers Advance in MathCounts Competition Series

By Joshua James Howard ’22 Eight FCDS Middle School students competed in the MathCounts Chapter Competition last February. Traditionally held at Wake Forest University, the competition’s transition to a virtual platform did not prevent FCDS from attaining success. Congratulations to Anika Pawa (first place), Ethan Xiao (second place), and Ava Claire Scherer (eighth place) for advancing as Chapter Invitational Qualifiers! At the Chapter Invitational, students continued to impress, with Anika (first place) and Ava Claire (third place) advancing onward to State Finals. MathCounts Coach Charlotte Phillips reflected on this year’s achievements. “The students really did a fantastic job and worked hard to prepare,” she said. “I am really proud of them for all their dedication, especially during such an unusual year.” Recognition goes to all members of the FCDS MathCounts team for their hard work and continued practice in preparing for the competition: Anika, Ethan, Ava Claire, James Hsu, Sara Insuasti, Charlotte Morath, Yutonia Tang, Katie Thompson, Christine El Khoury, and Grant Faraci. Thank you to Mrs. Phillips for her continuous support and encouragement in organizing math competitions at FCDS.

By Joshua James Howard ’22 Congratulations to the following alumni for committing as college athletes at last May’s signing ceremony! We are so grateful for your passion and dedication and the example you have set for all of our student athletes. Sydney Hopkin (Southern Virginia University - Volleyball) Emily Humphrey (North Carolina Wesleyan College - Softball) Charlotte Jennings (Washington and Lee University - Field Hockey) Josie Kilborn (Mount Olive University - Basketball) Carstyn Klosterman (University of Richmond - Swimming) Jay Mitchell (Converse College - Basketball) Will Scott (University of Vermont - Cross Country) Caelan Smith (Belmont Abbey - Soccer) Noble Smith (Marist College - Lacrosse) Landon Williams (High Point University - Track and Field) After the signing ceremony, the students reflected on the role of their athletic pursuits at FCDS in securing athletic commitments. Will Scott, a freshman at the University of Vermont, expressed his gratitude for the school’s athletics program. “The supportive and encouraging environment of the cross country and track and field teams helped me grow as a runner,” he said. “I would not have the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level if it weren’t for the awesome coaches and teammates at FCDS.” We wish all of our college athletes the best of luck as they continue in their academic and athletic careers!

FCDS actors delight in The Drowsy Chaperone Callum Forest

FCDS Sophomore Only High School Student Published in University Journal

Callum Forest ’24 was published in the Winter 2021 edition of the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science. Callum’s orig-

The Show Must Go On - Upper School Produces The Drowsy Chaperone

By Melody Moossavi ’22 Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Upper School was able to safely and successfully produce this past year’s musical: The Drowsy Chaperone. Director Alex Bodine worked hard in making

sure the musical would be available for viewing in a Covid friendly manner. The production was a wonderful comedy that lit up the audience’s faces from afar. The Drowsy Chaperone was available for online streaming in early spring. The FCDS community expresses a special thanks to the entire cast and crew of the production.

Ben Schomberg and Sophie Scherer derful opportunity. Governor’s School has been a perennially life-changing experience for our students.” Mrs. Harrington also noted that more than 1,600 students across North Carolina applied; only 670 were selected. Fun fact: Governor’s School runs in the family for both Ben and Sophie! Ben’s mother Regina Schomberg and Sophie’s father Brian attended Governor’s School East. Congratulations to Ben and Sophie on this special accomplishment!

FCDS Senior Becomes Inaugural Female Eagle Scout

Top from left: John Speas, Julia Kincaid, and Jack Semke. Bottom from left: Madeline Wild, Teodora Sorescu, and Sherry Li.

Six Furies Place in Le Grand Concours

Congratulations to the following students for placing in the National French Contest: FCDS French III students: Gold medal: John Speas (95th percentile nationally, #1 rank in North Carolina) Silver medal: Julia Kincaid (90th percentile nationally, #4 rank in N.C.) Bronze medal: Jack Semke and Madeline Wild (75th percentile nationally, #8 rank in N.C.) Honorable mention: Teodora Sorescu (60th percentile nationally, #11 rank in N.C.) FCDS French IV students: Honorable mention: Sherry Li Le Grand Concours is a national competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Students were evaluated for their written, oral, and listening comprehension skills in French. In spite of the pandemic and all of the difficulties overcome in schools last year, nearly 30,000 students in all 50 states competed this year in the 86th annual event. French teacher Jeannie Starman is very proud of the students for this special recognition. Félicitations!

Two FCDS Students Attend Governor’s School

Congratulations to Ben Schomberg and Sophie Scherer, who attended N.C. Governor’s School this summer. Ben studied English at the East campus of Meredith College and Sophie studied Natural Sciences at the West campus. “Governor’s School is a highly competitive program, so having two students selected is quite the testament to both Ben and Sophie,” said FCDS Governor’s School advisor Tamara Harrington. “I am glad that we can share our kids with such a great program and that they can benefit from such a won-

Congratulations to senior Sarina Horner, who became one of the country’s inaugural female Eagle Scouts in 2021. Eagle Scout is the highest honor offered by the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts only started admitting female scouts in February 2019. A member of Troop 729, Sarina is one of only two female Eagle Scouts in the greater Winston-Salem area. In order to achieve the distinction of Eagle Scout, candidates Eagle Scout: Sarina Horner must satisfy a number of requirements, two of which are completing at least 21 merit badges and creating a project that serves the community. Sarina earned 58 merit badges and, for her project, created a beautiful and functional kiosk at Reynolda Gardens. Sarina also pioneered the creation of a Cache to Eagle historical hike in downtown Winston-Salem and Old Salem, which tours 13 Eagle projects in just under six miles. It is published on Geocaching.com under username eaglescout729 and was featured on the Bryan on Scouting website. In addition to being one of the Inaugural Eagles (as the first female class of Eagle Scouts is referred to), Sarina earned the Medal of Merit and received a personal letter from the president of Boy Scouts of America. The Medal of Merit is an award given to only about 100 youth and adults nationally each year. “I am so proud that Sarina has blazed this trail and is setting such a positive example for other young women – and young men – who may wish to become Eagle Scouts,” said Head of School Gardner Barrier, who attended the outdoor ceremony at Forsyth Country Day School. “This is such an impressive achievement.” She was featured on WXII News and in Scout Life. The ceremony was also featured on WXII News.

Top from left: Asmithaa Vinukonda, Anika Pawa, Julia Kincaid. Middle: Joshua Howard, Richard Tao, Max Drucker. Bottom: Sophie Scherer, Saanvi Pawa. Not pictured: Crystal Wu

Top from left: Mitchell Anderson, Jack Semke, Emily Masten. Middle from left: Mackenzie Moore, Caden Didier, Mary Brooks Hall. Bottom from left: Keith Pemberton, James Snyder

It All Adds Up: FCDS Aces the AMC

By Melody Moossavi ’22 The American Mathematics Contest (AMC) is a competition in which students take challenging multiple-choice examinations in mathematics. These competitions encourage analytical thinking and problem-solving. This year, 39 FCDS Middle and Upper School students competed online in the AMC 10/12A and/or 12B: AMC 10A First: Asmithaa Vinukonda Second: Anika Pawa Third: Julia Kincaid AMC 12A First: Joshua Howard (AIME Qualifier)* Second: Richard Tao Third: Max Drucker & Sophie Scherer (tied) AMC 12B First: Joshua Howard Second: Saanvi Pawa Third: Crystal Wu Joshua Howard placed in the top five percent of all participants nationally. He was invited to compete in the next level of competition, the American Invitational Mathematical Examination. The AIME is a 15 question, 3-hour examination intended to provide further challenge and recognition to students in North America who have exceptional mathematical ability. This is the third year in a row Joshua has qualified. Congratulations to all of our hard-working Furies!

Take Me to Your Leaders: Meet the SGA!

Congratulations to our 2021-2022 Student Government Association (SGA) officers! Via Zoom in spring, Upper and Middle School students listened to candidate speeches and cast their votes during homeroom or advisory. The Upper School SGA Executive Council is: Student Body President: Mitchell Anderson Executive Secretary: Jack Semke VP for Spirit, Clubs, & Service: Emily Masten VP for Social Events: Mackenzie Moore VP for Judicial Board: Caden Didier

Top from left: Carter Nance, Gabrielle Howard. Bottom from left: Kyle Pemberton, Maggie Wiley Secretary for Judicial Board: Mary Brooks Hall Advisory Council Representatives: Keith Pemberton and James Snyder The Middle School SGA Executive Council is: President: Carter Nance VP: Gabrielle Howard Secretary: Kyle Pemberton Treasurer: Maggie Wiley Congratulations to all of these duly elected Furies!

Giulia Duarte “Bronce” (Bronze) Katherine Li Saanvi Pawa Elliot Sullivan “Plata” (Silver) Joshua Howard Sonya McNatt “Oro” (Gold) Sophie Scherer Congratulations on the exceptional performance, Furies!

Chris Bannigan Erik Petruzzi* Nathan Jao* Steven Insixienmay* Girls’ Swimming Carstyn Klosterman Lexie Breitling Saanvi Pawa Eva Hollar Anika Pawa Megan Coates Rae Klosterman *Conference MVPs

FCDS Athletes Recognized For All-Conference Awards

Spring PTAC All-Conference Athletes Girls’ Soccer Cai Divelbiss Mackenzie Kaplan Lauren Templeton Maddie Templeton Boys’ Track & Field Jesiah Allen Aidan Baydush Andrew Mitchell Jay Mitchell Ryan Reynolds Sam Scott Will Scott James Snyder Carter Sullivan Richard Tao Harrison Tate Landon Williams Rob Young Girls’ Track & Field Ellen Buck Maureen Cavanaugh Lilly Chase Sarah Grace Clifton Josie Kilborn Jaree Legins JahQueen McClellan Catherine Mitchell Mackenzie Moore Katelyn Skinner Softball Ashley Bean Laura Bean Emily Humphrey (Co-Player of the Year) Malaya Saliba Madison Willard Boys’ Tennis Kendrick Lash Alan Trbonja Ben Williams Hank Williams Boys’ Golf Henry Andrews Kyle Haas Luke Tisdale (Conference Tournament Champion) Girls’ Lacrosse Hayden Head Eva Hollar Olivia McNatt Kaci Smith Mary Gray Speakman Caroline Sudler Gracie Whicker

By Joshua James Howard ’22 After a record five state chamBronze, Silver, and Gold National Spanish Exam Winners pionships, FCDS student athletes were recognized at the annual AthFuries Excel on 2021 National Spanish letic Awards Event in May. Congratulations to all of our PTAC All-Conference Examinations Athletes! Thank you to all of our stuBy Melody Moossavi ’22 dents and coaches for their commitment FCDS Spanish language students parto each other and our athletics program. ticipated in the 2021 National Spanish Examinations. National Spanish ExamFall PTAC All-Conference Athletes inations are online, standardized assessGirls’ Tennis ment tools, given voluntarily to about Mary Brooks Hall 4000 middle and high school students throughout the United States to measure Erika Choopani Brynna Myers* performance (interpretive communicaJulia Kincaid tion) and achievement of students who Boys’ Soccer are studying Spanish as a second lanCaelan Smith* guage. Jesse Gargis Students from Forsyth Country Day Owen Fitzgerald School earned a total of one gold, four Jordan Skinner silver, and seven bronze medals along Volleyball with 19 honorable mentions: Erin Roberts FCDS Spanish III students: Ansley Reid “Honor” (Honorary mention) Boys’ Cross Country Worth Byers Will Scott Maureen Cavanaugh James Snyder Landon Greenwood Sam Scott Ryan Harris Girls’ Cross Country Ian Hart Catherine Mitchell Andrew Mitchell Lilirose Caty Allie Szvetitz Mackenzie Moore Hank Williams Girls’ Golf Ana Calderon Ava Gutshall “Bronce” (Bronze) Ana Calderon Nicky Chung Sophie Scherer Max Drucker Jeannie Reed Carol Guo *NCISAA All-State Sam Scott “Plata” (Silver) Winter PTAC All-Conference Athletes Alexandra López Boys’ Basketball Teodora Sorescu Brandon Morgan FCDS Honors IV students: Jay Mitchell “Honor” (Honorary mention) Q Williams Aidan Baydush Girls’ Basketball Sarah Boyles Gigi Currie Sarah Clegg Josie Kilborn Olivia Johnson Jianna Holmes Eric Kelly Boys’ Swimming Pedro Rabadan Ribeiro Aaron Lawrence Katelyn Skinner Ryan Reynolds James Snyder James Snyder Ben Williams

FCDS Inducts Three Individuals and Two Teams to Fury Athletic Hall of Fame

The Forsyth Country Day School Athletic Department and Forsyth Athletic Hall of Fame committee are proud to announce members of the 2021 Fury Athletic Hall of Fame: Eric Nadeau ’06, Alex Tchangoué Wensikoua ’05, the 1993 and 1994 Varsity Girls’ Volleyball Teams, and Coach Bob Jennings. Eric Nadeau ’06, who passed away in 2015, demonstrated athletic excellence in his time wrestling for FCDS, achieving three wrestling state championships, National Prep All-American honors, and a scholarship to wrestle at James Madison University. He left an incredible legacy at FCDS. Alex Tchangoué Wensikoua ’05 was a catalyst and made key contributions to the most dominant era in FCDS girls’ basketball history. In her two years at FCDS, Alex demonstrated athletic excellence, achieving two PACIS conference championships and NCISAA runner-up finishes. She was a two-time all-conference player, conference player of the year, and All-State, boasting a 53-13 all-time record. Beyond her time at FCDS, Alex was a four-year starter at Wake Forest University and played professionally in France for 12 years. The 1993 and 1994 FCDS Varsity Volleyball teams demonstrated athletic excellence on the court. Beyond a 45-0 record for the two-year span, the team accumulated many accolades, including two state championships, winning the prestigious Davidson College Mikasa’s Best of the Best Tournament, being named team of the decade by the Clemmons Courier, and even a feature in Volleyball Monthly Magazine. The teams included Class of 1994 - Shea Green and Natalie Hobson; Class of 1995 - Jennifer Hutz, Kate Moody, Robin Bolstad, Courtney Jellar, Kelly Newcomb, Lindsay Bloodworth, Heather LeVan; Class of 1996 - Leslie MacKeen, Emily Sloan; managers Susan Boyer, Robbie Southard, Massoud Tehrani, and David Roach, under Coach Penny Marshall. Coach Bob Jennings built a culture of successful swim teams in his seven years as head coach of the boys’ and girls’ varsity swim teams, more than doubling each team’s size. He coached athletes who were unable to swim into swimmers who scored key points in championship meets. Under Bob’s coaching, the boy’s team almost completely rewrote the school record board, and multiple swimmers won individual and relay state championships. Bob’s coaching achievements include five-time PACIS Conference Coach of the Year, five consecutive boys’ conference championships (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), four girls’ conference championships (2013, 2017, 2018, 2019), the 20142015 Jim Tobias Award for Excellence in Coaching, and leading multiple FCDS swimmers to compete at the collegiate level.

FCDS Announces 2020-2021 Varsity Athletics Award Winners

Congratulations to the FCDS student-athletes who were recognized at the annual Athletics Awards Event. Most Valuable Player Awards: Boys’ Cross Country: Will Scott Girls’ Cross Country: Nicky Chung Field Hockey: Sarah Grace Clifton

Girls’ Golf: Sophie Scherer Girls’ Tennis: Mary Brooks Hall Boys’ Soccer: Caelan Smith Girls’ Volleyball: Erin Roberts Boys’ Basketball: Jay Mitchell Girls’ Basketball: Josie Kilborn Cheer: Allie Setliff Girls’ Swimming: Carstyn Klosterman Boys’ Swimming: Nathan Jao Wrestling: Aidan Baydush Boys’ Track and Field: Jay Mitchell Girls’ Track and Field: JahQueen McClellan Softball: Emily Humphrey Boys’ Lacrosse: Noble Smith Girls’ Lacrosse: Hayden Head Boys’ Tennis: Kendrick Lash Girls’ Soccer: Mackenzie Kaplan Boys’ Golf: Kyle Haas Baseball: Jonah Guerra All-State: Cross Country: James Snyder Boys’ Soccer: Caelan Smith Girls’ Tennis: Brynna Myers Boys’ Swimming: Steven Insixiengmay, Chris Bannigan, James Snyder, and Nathan Jao Girls’ Swimming: Saanvi Pawa, Lexie Breitling, Eva Hollar, and Carstyn Klosterman Boys’ Basketball: Jay Mitchell Girls’ Basketball: Josie Kilborn Boys’ Track and Field: Landon Williams, Will Scott, and Jay Mitchell Girls’ Track and Field: Jaree Legins, Josie Kilborn, Katelyn Skinner, Sarah Grace Clifton, and JahQueen McClellan Softball: Emily Humphrey and Ashley Bean Boys’ Lacrosse: Noble Smith, Tommy Tessien, Mason Ickes, Ian Kennedy, Berk Yalcinkaya, Keith Pemberton Girls’ Lacrosse: Hayden Head Boys’ Tennis: Kendrick Lash, Ben Williams, Hank Williams Girls’ Soccer: Cailynn Divelbiss and Mackenzie Kaplan Boys’ Golf: Kyle Haas FCDS Major Awards: Margaret Venable/Ralph Nesbit Award for Outstanding Faculty Spirit: Mark Cavanaugh The Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship - Female: Mary Gray Speakman The Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship - Male: Will Scott Jim Tobias Award for Excellence in Coaching: Melanie Nance The John Danforth Award for Outstanding Student Spirit: Carver Hiatt, Jack Semke, Ben Schomberg, Sophie Scherer, James Snyder, and Richard Tao Under Armor partnership announcement and Women of Will Award: Ashley Bean Most Outstanding Female Athlete: Jaree Legins Most Outstanding Male Athlete: Jay Mitchell An outstanding year for the Furies! Congratulations to all!

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We Are The Cl

The Class of 2021 had a senior year unlike any they could have expected—during a global pandemic. After going virtual in March of 2020, they returned to campus with a flourish in August. Despite mask-wearing, social distancing, Plexiglass, and other Covid-19 restrictions they faced, these young alumni gained incredible resilience, learning more about themselves and always finding bright spots in a non-traditional senior year.

Class of 2021, we salute you!

Charlie came to FCDS as a senior. He sought out the school so he could continue to learn during the pandemic. Charlie attends Appalachian State University.

Jesiah joined the FCDS community in sixth grade, and his favorite memory is the first day of senior year. Fun fact: My comfort movie is Shrek. “The best way I coped with finishing high school was learning how important taking care of myself was,” Jesiah said. “Even though it may not feel like it, school is not always the top priority.”

Ashley came to Forsyth as a freshman. “The bright spot of finishing high school during a pandemic is being in person with all of my friends.” Ashley attends North Carolina State University.

Lindsay joined the FCDS community in tenth grade, and her favorite teacher at FCDS was Dr. Sponholtz. “When I was virtual I was able to teach myself how to study and use my time well,” she said.

Lexie came to Forsyth in first grade and her favorite memory is winning the state championship in swimming two years in a row! During the pandemic,“I spent more time [with my family] and got closer to them.”

A lifer, Ellen came to FCDS in pre-kindergarten. Her favorite memory is the orchestra trip to Nashville. “To cope with finishing high school in a pandemic, I relied on my friends and family. It was also nice to have events like prom.”

Kyle joined the Forsyth community in sixth grade. His favorite memory is the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. “I was thankful we were in person my senior year,” Kyle said. “Even though I was a little upset that we did not have a normal senior year, I was still happy with every bit that we got.”

Yichen, called Alex at FCDS, came in ninth grade, and during the pandemic, he stayed focused on protocols: “I kept my mask on the whole time.” He attends University of California, Davis.

Class of 2021 Shelby joined the FCDS community in sixth grade.“FCDS has provided me with the writing and discussion skills that I will need in university and workplace settings. Had we not been prepared in these areas, we would not stand out as much as we do. Finishing high school during the pandemic allowed me to take the necessary time to mature and learn more about myself,” she said.

Chance came to Forsyth in tenth grade, and his favorite memory is his first week here. “It was fun meeting all the new people in the community.” During the pandemic, he coped by “cherishing moments with my friends and loved ones.”

A lifer, Lilly has been at FCDS since pre-kindergarten. Her favorite memory is playing on multiple Fury sports teams. “Getting to come to school in person [during the pandemic] and seeing my friends and teachers every day made this year so much better,” she said. “Some of the bright spots were being able to have sports, senior lunches, and prom.”

Radin joined the FCDS community in ninth grade, and his favorite memory is the orchestra trip to Nashville in tenth grade. “I was not too bothered by the precautions set in place for coming back to school; however, not being able to see people’s facial expressions took some time to get used to.”

Gigi came to FCDS as a junior, and her favorite class was AP Calculus BC with Mrs. Angell. During the pandemic, Gigi learned to enjoy the little things. “Whether that is sitting outside with friends at lunch or winning a sports game, it all means more now!”

Caleb joined the FCDS community in ninth grade. His favorite teacher was Mr. Cavanaugh. During the pandemic,“I tried to stay positive and realize that I still had it much better than other kids who had to do online.”

A lifer, Noble has been at FCDS since pre-kindergarten. His favorite memory is the Apollo 13 field trip in fourth grade. During Covid-19, Noble coped by hanging out with his friends virtually. “The bright spots were getting out to school after being inside for so long,” he said.

Nathan came to FCDS in fourth grade. His favorite memory happened during the musical his sophomore year. “It was at the end of one of the performances. The curtain closed on us singing, and once it closed we all rejoiced and hugged.” During the pandemic, “I just had to put more effort than normal to connect with my friends,” he said.

Owen joined the FCDS community for his senior year, and Mr. Kildahl was his favorite teacher. “Last year I just dealt with what I had,” he said. “This year I was privileged enough to be able to transfer to FCDS where we were having in-person classes and the only big difference was having to wear a mask, which isn’t too big of an ask.”

Jesse came to FCDS in seventh grade, and his favorite memory is playing soccer for the Furies. During the pandemic, his bright spot was getting to come to school in person and see his friends.

Amogh came to Forsyth in ninth grade, and his favorite class was Mrs. Harrington’s Freshman Seminar. “Knowing all of the seniors were going through the same thing [during the pandemic] brought me a sense of comfort, and taking part in some of the senior activities was nice while having to deal with the pandemic,” he said.

Zixuan, who went by Olivia at Forsyth, joined the FCDS community as a junior. She attends the University of Pittsburgh, where she majors in neuroscience and music performance.

Garrison came to FCDS in sixth grade, and his favorite memory is when the 0-16 baseball team won the final game of the year on senior night. “I did not let the pandemic stop me from doing what I loved, which is hanging out with friends and family, hunting, and being outside,” he said.

Jacques joined the Forsyth community in sixth grade. “FCDS has prepared me for what’s ahead by teaching me to think critically and logically about my own opinions and the opinions of others.” During the pandemic, being with his friends “virtually or in person” was the bright spot.

Yuxin, who was known as Jet at Forsyth, came to FCDS as a sophomore. He attends Ohio State University.

Carver joined the FCDS community in fifth grade. “It was very hard [during the pandemic] and I missed my friends, but a bright spot was working on starting the Fury Broadcast Network,” he said.

Henderson came to FCDS in tenth grade, and his favorite teacher was Dr. Sullivan. “We missed out on a lot of fun stuff as seniors, but I’m still happy we were able to have prom and a somewhat normal graduation,” he said.

Eva came to FCDS in sixth grade, and her favorite memory is winning the swimming state championship two years in a row. During the pandemic, “I took advantage of and learned not to take small moments for granted such as eating lunch with my friends and playing sports,” she said.

Sydney joined the FCDS community in tenth grade, and her favorite memory is winning the girls’ basketball state championship in 2019. Originally from Utah, she coped with the pandemic by staying close to friends.

Emily came to FCDS in ninth grade, and her favorite teacher was Senora Lopez. “I was sad that it was not going to be a normal year, but Mrs. Sutton has done everything to help us have a normal year,” she said.

Jack came to Forsyth in sixth grade. Mr. Kildahl was his favorite teacher. What he appreciated during the pandemic: “The virtual days where we got a necessary mental break and learning to truly appreciate every moment you have with your friends,” he said.

Nathan joined the FCDS community in seventh grade, and his favorite teacher was Mr. Trotter. During Covid, “It has been a bumpy road, but getting to have a basketball season and getting to come to school in person for the majority of the year has been nice,” he said.

Charlotte came to FCDS in fourth grade. She attends Washington and Lee University.

Jack’s senior year was his first and last at FCDS. Mrs. Holloway was his favorite teacher. “I transfered to FCDS in the fall [of 2020] because of the pandemic, and I can truthfully say I made the right choice,” he said. “There are so many bright spots this year, from meeting new people to finding a new sport that I enjoy.”

Mackenzie came to FCDS in ninth grade and played soccer for 12 years. “I have coped with finishing high school during a pandemic by talking and spending time with my friends and family,” she said.

Josie came to FCDS as a freshman, and her favorite memory is winning the girls’ basketball state championship in 2019. During the pandemic, “I made goals and stayed focused so that I finished the year strong.”

A lifer, Sam has been at FCDS since pre-kindergarten. He believes it prepared him for what’s ahead by teaching him good morals and a sense of character. “With my time at FCDS, I know how to pace myself and how to put in the work to achieve success. The pandemic was rough on him, but “I found solace in going outside and getting sunlight and being back on FCDS campus.”

Carstyn came to FCDS in ninth grade and her favorite teacher was Mrs. Harrington. During the pandemic, “I made sure to keep in touch with my friends at a safe distance and figure out new ways to get together,” she said.

A lifer, Avi was in the inaugural junior pre-k class. Her favorite class was AP Art because it was fun to meet new people and make art. What she learned from Covid: “I think we all came together and it made finally being able to hang out so much fun,” she said.

Jaree first came to FCDS as a junior and feels very well prepared. “FCDS’s academic program, especially the English department, has greatly prepared me for the rigorous curriculum...in college.” During the pandemic, “Confiding in my FCDS staff and friends who were all going through the same complications definitely helped me not feel alone,” she said.

Yishan, known as Lambert at FCDS, came to Forsyth as a sophomore, and his favorite teachers were Mr. Barrier and Mr. Brown. He attends Wake Forest University.

Yuxuan, known as Sherry at Forsyth, joined the FCDS community as a freshman, and her favorite memories are all of the theater experiences she had. During the pandemic, she joked that “I could blame my stress on COVID-19!”

Katie came to FCDS in ninth grade, and Mrs. Sutton was her favorite teacher. “What helped get me through the pandemic was my friends because we were all going through it together,” she said.

A lifer, Cashlyn has been at FCDS since junior pre-kindergarten. Her favorite teacher was Mr. Martin. “The bright spot of online learning is that it made my life a lot easier with my work at the barn,” she said. Cashlyn is following her passion for horses and working at her family business, Cash Lovell Stables.

Patrick is a lifer who has been at FCDS since pre-K. His favorite memory is going to the state semi-finals and upsetting the number-two seed on the way there. “The best way I got through high school during the pandemic was keeping in contact with my friends and finding things to look forward to,” he said.

A lifer, Catherine came to FCDS in pre-K. Her favorite memory is going to Camp Weaver in seventh and eighth grade. During the pandemic, Catherine said, “I was able to devote some of my time away from school towards creating an all-girls STEAM Camp,” she said. Catherine attends Furman University.

Jay joined the FCDS community as a junior and his favorite memory is setting the high jump record. During Covid, “I stayed focused on what I had to do academically even when I wasn’t physically in the classroom,” he said.

A lifer, Mathew has been at FCDS since junior pre-K. His favorite teacher was Mr. Craven. “The pandemic has made me realize how much I truly enjoy school,” he said. “I am so thankful that we are in person and all the teachers made sure that seniors had a special year.”

Ellie came to FCDS in sixth grade and she’s looking forward to meeting new people and having new experiences in college. During the pandemic, “I leaned on my friends and neighbors when I felt down and needed some encouragement,” she said. “All of my teachers were so kind and understanding during the pandemic, so it made finishing high school much easier.”

Slate came to FCDS as a junior. During the pandemic, she learned to embrace the extra time with her family. “I also learned to adapt quickly given the variability with college tours, requirements, lower acceptance rates, restrictions, and such.”

Madeline is a lifer who came to FCDS in kindergarten. Her favorite memory is playing the zookeeper in the kindergarten musical. “My favorite line was, ‘Well hold your horses! What’s going on here’?”

Erin came to FCDS as a freshman and Mrs. Sutton was her favorite teacher. “My friends really helped me get through this year,” she said.

A lifer, Cody had been at FCDS since kindergarten. His favorite Forsyth memory is the annual tailgate picnic that (usually) kicks off each year. His pandemic coping strategy? “I stayed focused and watched a lot of television.”

Carolina came to FCDS in tenth grade, and her favorite memories are what she learned from all of her teachers. “They will stay with me forever and aid me during and after my college journey.” Attending school actually helped her cope with the pandemic. “I created art with my friends, had conversations with friends after school, and participated in science labs.”

A lifer, Johnny came to FCDS in pre-K. His favorite teacher is Mr. Kildahl. During Covid, “I coped by staying in touch with my friends and took time to participate in hobbies I enjoy,” he said. “One bright spot was that I had more time with my family.”

A lifer, Will came to FCDS in pre-K. His favorite memories are running cross-country and track & field. During the pandemic, “I made sure to just focus on smaller tasks,” he said. “Thinking about the big picture made finishing assignments difficult.”

Andre joined the FCDS community in ninth grade, and he’s looking forward to college. “I know that college is one more step to being in the real world and me being on my own.” During the pandemic, Andre felt less stressed. “I had a lot less time on my hands,” he said. “I could focus on other things.”

Caelan came to Forsyth in fifth grade, and his favorite teacher was Mr. McBride. During Covid, “I just kept going knowing I will be done soon; the pandemic has not really bothered me.”

Noble came to FCDS in eighth grade, and his favorite memory is competing in the lacrosse state championship. He’s philosophical about the pandemic. “In life you just have to be grateful,” he said. “There are people who have it way worse or way better than me—I just have to focus on the things I can control and continue to be me.”

Michael joined the FCDS community in first grade, and his favorite memory is playing on the eighth grade basketball team with Coach Winbush. Michael attends High Point University.

Mary Gray came to Forsyth in fourth grade, and her favorite memory is winning the state championship in swimming two years in a row. “Spending time in [the] community with friends and family was such a bright spot during this hard year,” she said. “Also, getting to come to school every day in person was such a blessing.”

Andrew came to FCDS in ninth grade and his favorite memory is hanging out in the Fury Cafe. “The pandemic,” he said, “was tough, but having a school that was super supportive really helped.”

Addy joined the FCDS community in sixth grade and Mr. Craven is her favorite teacher. During the pandemic, “I coped by reading as many books as I could with the extra time that I had,” she said. “My bright spots were being able to spend quality time with my family.”

A lifer, Haley came to Forsyth in pre-K and her favorite memory is the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. “My teachers definitely helped and supported me throughout this [pandemic] year,” she said. “I could not have done it without them.”

A lifer, Carter started FCDS in pre-K. He’s looking forward to being able to hike more often in college. Carter kept it positive during Covid. “One positive of wearing a mask was not having to fake a smile when talking to people,” he said.

Haixin, called Tracy, joined the FCDS community as a senior and her favorite memory is playing in the FCDS String Orchestra. She coped with the pandemic practically: “I trained myself to stay focused in front of the screen.”

Yuxiao, known as Richard, came to Forsyth in ninth grade and his favorite teacher is Mr. Trotter. During Covid, “I coped by keeping myself focused on tasks and school work such as college applications, as well as hobbies like photography and filmmaking,” he said.

Brittney came to FCDS in sixth grade, and she’s looking forward to new friends and interesting new classes in college. During the pandemic, “I just kept looking ahead instead of looking at all of the negatives,” she said. “I was happy that we got to do prom this year.”

Caitlin joined the FCDS community as a senior, and she is looking forward to making new friends and cool classes in college. “I am so glad I had the opportunity to switch to FCDS [during the pandemic],” she said. “I enjoyed being in person for my senior year and making lots of new friends.”

Leo came to FCDS as a junior. Mrs. Harrington is his favorite teacher. During Covid, “I coped by disregarding grades, which is easier when you have been admitted somewhere,” he said.

McLean came to Forsyth as a senior and he’s looking forward to gaining new experiences in college. “Since FCDS was in person, it made it much easier to handle schooling,” he said.

A lifer, Lydia started FCDS in pre-K. She’s looking forward to making new friends in college and seeing what life has in store. During the pandemic, “staying active with my horse really helped things, especially when I was out of the water because it helped me take a break from everything,” she said.

A lifer, Catherine joined the FCDS community in pre-K. Her favorite memory is “forking” the campus with plastic forks during senior week - lots of bonding with her classmates! “The pandemic made me really appreciate the time we had with one another,” she said. “I focused on looking forward to fun events like prom and prank week.”

Jingjing, called Tina, came to Forsyth in ninth grade, and she’s looking forward to developing her creativity further in college. She had a skill for coping with the pandemic: “My way to make it easier was to try something new,” she said. “Developing healthier living habits did strongly support my mental and physical health, and I gained strength and muscles at the same time.”

Landon joined the FCDS community in ninth grade. He’s looking forward to being independent, making new friends, and continuing his track and field career in college. “Sports were a big factor in mentally helping me throughout the pandemic,” he said. “They just helped me get my mind off of everything that was going on in the world.”

Edwin came to FCDS in eighth grade. His favorite memory is having an early release due to snow during his freshman year. “The bright spots [of the pandemic] were when we returned to in-person learning,” he said. “Senior year was very enjoyable when we partook in events like the senior parade and senior nights.”

Go Furies! 29

After graduating from Forsyth in 2017, these FCDS alumni went to college at three diverse schools across the country. They were prepared for college, but what happened when their plans met pandemic? We talked to Lauren Do, Ben Merrick, and Helen Staren to find out. Lauren Do ’17 earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in cultural anthropology from Davidson College, but the path wasn’t always clear. “I actually switched [majors] a lot,” Lauren said, going from pre-med to math to psychology to—finally—English. She was happy in the humanities and loved school from that point on. During her junior year, the pandemic hit. “I went virtual in March 2020 and stayed virtual until graduation, and it definitely took a toll on me mentally,” she said. “I was on campus for the fall of my senior year and moved off campus (but nearby)

for the spring semester, and losing the ritual of walking to class, passing friends, and engaging in person with my classmates and professors was definitely hard, and that sense of community I found on campus is definitely something I took for granted in the moment.” Lauren struggled to stay motivated in class and in her hunt for a job after

college. “My school shortened our semesters and took away breaks so that we couldn’t leave campus, and the increased workload with no time off was definitely harder on all of us than we anticipated,” Lauren said. She moved to Rhode Island this year to serve as a corps member for Teach for America, teaching seventh grade SPED/

LA (Special Education and English Language Arts). “I feel incredibly lucky and proud to have the opportunity to grow into an anti-racist educator and hopefully have a positive impact on my students’ lives and educational experiences,” she said. As it has with the Class of 2021, coping with the Covid-19 pandemic made Lauren stronger and more resilient. “I think having to work through my own mental health barriers this past year has made me a stronger person, and I have also learned a lot this past year about how to maintain long distance/virtual relationships, which is a skill I am grateful to have as I transition into post-grad life.” The Forsyth Experience “I will be forever grateful to Mrs. Harrington and Mrs. Harvey for giving me the writing skills that carried me through my undergraduate education, internships, and now into my teaching experience,” Lauren said. “Of course, I have built upon those skills throughout my English courses in college, but they gave me a solid foundation that not everyone has the privilege of obtaining in high school.” Ben Merrick ’17 earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and began working as an associate software engineer for Veeva Systems in the Bay Area of California in August (He will work remotely until early 2022). When the pandemic hit, it had a tremendous impact on him and his education. “We were sent home in the early months of the second semester without a plan for the end of the semester, and we were shortly introduced to online learning,” he said. “Zoom, a word I never knew existed, became a part of my daily vocabulary as students and teachers alike were figuring out how to navigate this uncharted territory.” He struggled with online learning at first. “I’ll admit, procrastination strikes me every once in a while, but the accountability of going to class, handing in homework, and taking tests kept me on my toes,” Ben said. “When the whole world was turned upside down by Covid, I began to feel very distant from school and my academics as life began to drone on from behind a computer screen. After a while, I could not take how out of touch I had become, so I developed a new plan to become more engaged in my online learning,” he said. “I did everything in my power to become more engaged, whether that was forcing

myself to ask questions in class or jumping on Zoom with the TAs in office hours.” Harder than online learning was the social isolation. “What impacted me the most in this troubling time was the lack of social interaction. I began to miss the daily interaction I had with my friends, and although we could Zoom and FaceTime, it just wasn’t the same,” he said. “This isolation definitely impacted my mental health and wellness, which had its own effect on my academics. I took for granted meeting up with friends to study or taking class in person. But as the semester progressed, we found ways to come together once again in new and creative ways.” Despite—or rather, because of the challenges—Ben grew as a person during the pandemic. “I absolutely feel more resilient,”

he said. “This past year has not been easy—we all know that—but what has allowed us to continue to fight and push has been our unity...I think the challenge of this last year has opened my eyes to so many new perspectives that I had not seen before, and without the challenge of this last year, I would absolutely not be where I am today. We grow and learn as we always do!” The Forsyth Experience “Global pandemic aside, college alone is full of challenges and difficulties that not many people are prepared for. A rigorous path of education paired with a brand new social and cultural environment is surely a recipe for struggle,” Ben said. “I can proudly say that FCDS helped prepare me in a way that made me confident to jump into that next chapter. I learned countless life and academic lessons at Forsyth that allowed me to enter college with a new and open perspective on education and community. There are so many elements to college that I believe no one will ever be fully prepared for, but the caring

members of the FCDS community (shout out to Tamara Harrington, Joe Trotter, Virginia Perry, and Nancy Hart) definitely made the transition easier for me. I will always be grateful for the members of the FCDS community! Helen Staren ’17 earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Arizona State University in the spring and began working immediately. The way she earned her degree, however, was decidedly non-traditional and took a great deal of innovation on her part. “After spring break 2020, my fellow nursing students and I received the unexpected news that we would have to leave campus and start online classes,” Helen said. “This was especially difficult for our laboratory class and clinical. Our laboratory class was what taught us the physical actions of nursing (inserting IVs, hanging medications, assessing a patient hands-on, etc.). Our patient simulations were all pre-recorded in our patient rooms so it all felt like a video game and the scenarios would play out according to what we said to the ‘patient,’ our teacher, via the Zoom microphone,” she said. Students were no longer allowed in the hospitals for clinicals, though she was chosen for a short-term clinical during the pandemic. “It was half of the in-person training we would have normally received,” she said. “I felt overwhelmed that I was entering my career with less than optimal hands-on experience,” Helen said. “However, once I started work, I was given extra learning opportunities to allow myself to care for patients confidently and safely.” Helen’s biggest challenge during the pandemic was figuring out how to complete her laboratory class virtually, but it grew her resilience. “We would have to record ourselves completing skills so as to be graded. One skill I had to complete online was a tracheostomy suction on a pediatric patient,” she said. “I used an old Cabbage Patch Kid, a funnel, an Apple headphone cord as my suction tubing, and a hula hoop as a bedrail to maintain patient safety. My adaptability was challenged and creativity was certainly explored! In healthcare, resilience is a must so as to deal with the daily uncertainties of [our profession].” The pandemic also added stress on a personal level. “Covid-19 brought some extra nervousness to my role as a new graduate nurse,” she said. “Because I had high-risk family members at home, entering the hospital again felt scary because I did not want to bring the virus home to them.”

Despite the challenges she faced, Helen achieved her longterm dream of being a pediatric nurse. In September 2021, she was certified to administer chemotherapy and become a certified pediatric hematology/oncology nurse. The Forsyth Experience “I was certainly prepared going into college at Arizona State. Going to FCDS as a senior in high school was a challenge for me, but the support I received from all of my teachers made the change feel less intimidating,” she said. “When I auditioned for Little Shop of Horrors, Mr. Hicks invited me to join chorus. I had never been in a choir before so I felt timid, but also excited as I was an avid shower singer! Mr. Hicks is truly one of the most inspirational men I have ever met. His choir room became my escape. Mr. Hicks reminded me to always step outside of my comfort zone, have a little fun while doing so, and there is nothing that music can’t fix!” “Mrs. Holloway taught me that home can be in the form of people,” Helen said. “She had made a big move and was new to FCDS like me. Her classroom felt like home on the days when I was homesick. She cared about me and made me feel like I belonged when the new girl from Arizona felt like an outsider. I am so grateful for the education I received at Forsyth and the experiences I had. I felt fully prepared for college and for my current profession as a pediatric nurse.”

NOTES

Commencement

2021

Hey, hey, hey - we’re alumni now! 36

Congratulations to Charles Benton Allen – Appalachian State University Jesiah Antoine Allen – Howard University Ashley Rayner Bean – North Carolina State University Lindsay Anne Bonsall – High Point University Alexa Bradford Breitling – Tulane University Ellen Hampton Buck – Emory University Kyle Richard Budd – University of North Carolina Wilmington Yichen (Alex) Cai – University of California, Davis Shelby Anna Caine – University of Rochester Chancellor Artega Carter - Greensboro College Lillian Thayer Chase – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Radin Farahnad Choopani – Appalachian State University Virginia Grayce Currie – Texas Christian University Caleb Rayne Divelbiss – Appalachian State University Noble Thomas Ellis – University of North Carolina Asheville Nathan Joseph Faulk – North Carolina State University Owen Connor Fitzgerald – California Polytechnic State University Jesse James Gargis – Appalachian State University

Amogh Gorantla – Wake Forest University Zixuan (Olivia) Guo – University of Pittsburgh Garrison Saunders Hall – North Carolina State University Jacques Thomas du Val d’Epremesnil Hall – Duke University Yuxin (Jet) Hao – The Ohio State University Carver Alexander Kalani Hiatt – Syracuse University Henderson Steele Holder – Furman University Eva Marie Hollar – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Sydney Hopkin – Southern Virginia University Emily Madison Humphrey – North Carolina Wesleyan College Jack Preston Hutcherson – University of Pennsylvania Nathan Christopher Hutchins – North Carolina State University Charlotte Team Jennings – Washington and Lee University John-Henry Addison Jordan – Hampden-Sydney College Mackenzie Reagan Kaplan – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Joselyn Kilborn – University of Mount Olive Samuel Miller Kilby – Clemson University Carstyn Klosterman – University of Richmond

Avi Jare Yish Yux Kath Cash Patr Cath Jam Mat Eliz Ann Mad Erin Cod Car John Will And Cae

the Class of 2021 Avi Taylor Kurtz – Elon University Jaree Michael Legins – Winston-Salem State University Yishan (Lambert) Li – Wake Forest University Yuxuan (Sherry) Li – Smith College Katherine Ruth Long – University of Arkansas Cashlyn Reed Lovell Patrick Ingram McBride – University of Virginia Catherine Tate Mitchell – Furman University James Ivan Mitchell – Converse College Matthew Joyner Nichols – Ohio University Elizabeth Hamilton Norman – Wofford College Anna Slate Northington – University of Rhode Island Madeline Elizabeth Pollock – Wake Forest University Erin Paige Roberts – Cape Fear Community College Cody Christopher Robinson – Appalachian State University Carolina Fernandes Rocha Lima – Vanderbilt University Johnathan Michael Scott – Brigham Young University – Idaho William Cowan Scott – University of Vermont Andre Delano Smith – High Point University Caelan Fitzpatrick Smith – Belmont Abbey College

Noble Drake Smith – Marist College Michael Scott Spaugh – High Point University Mary Gray Speakman – Davidson College Andrew David Spittler – University of Oklahoma Addysen Grace Stanley – East Carolina University Haley Lynn Stock – Davidson College Carter Reid Sullivan – Appalachian State University Haixin (Tracy) Tan – University of Rochester Yuxiao (Richard) Tao – University of Southern California Brittney Marie Tate – University of North Carolina Greensboro Caitlin Anne Tisdale – University of Virginia Leo Barclay Trbonja – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gordon McLean Turner – Southern Methodist University Lydia Kaylor Tyrrell – Sewanee: The University of the South Landon Williams – High Point University Edwin Xiao – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Catherine Anh Young – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Jingjing (Tina) Yuan – The New School, Parsons School of Design

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