50th Anniversary Issue
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 Director of the Middle School Michelle Klosterman, Ph.D.
Associate Head of School for Student Life Director of the Upper School Nathan Battle
Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations Andrea Matney
Director of Advancement Andy Clifton
Director of the Lower School Dennis Moser, Ed.D.
Director of the Johnson Academic Center Ashley Clark
Amidst the Trees Editor
Priscilla St. John
Publication Design
Scarlett Jessup, ROODcreative
Printed by
Slate Marketing
Contributors & Special Thanks
On the cover: Can you believe we’re 50 years old? This collage of images captures who we were and who we are.
Jan DiBlasio, Renee Foust, Tom Howell, Cate Reece Lynch ’03, Beth Mack, Chris Turner 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, P.O. Box 925, 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, P.O. Box 925, 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 sponsorships from companies who support the school. 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 through the Forsyth Fund, the Fury Club, and the Arts Alliance. To learn more about how your company can become a corporate partner, please contact Andy Clifton, our Director of Advancement, at andyclifton@fcds.org or call 336.978.3941.
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A MESSAGE
from Gardner Barrier ’97 Head of School
CAMPUS NOTES
What’s happening on campus
BOTH/AND: ATHLETICS AND ARTS
Athlete or artist? Instead of either/ or, FCDS celebrates both/and
ALUMNI SNAPSHOTS
Five fabulous Furies, one from each decade. See what they’re doing now.
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FCDS: A TIMELINE
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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FIRST IMPRESSIONS
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FIFTY YEARS
Who doesn’t love a makeover? How a few key changes can have a big impact.
Young Furies ponder the past and future
45 2019 COMMENCEMENT
Head of School Gardner Barrier ’97
a message from
Gardner Barrier Dear FCDS Community:
Fifty years ago, our school was little more than a plan hatched by our founding families. They had a casual conversation one Sunday after church about the need for an independent day school that would offer a co-educational, non-denominational alternative for students in elementary school through twelfth grade. One thing that strikes me about these folks: they were pretty young - most only in their 30s. They weren’t educational experts. What they had was a vision, the courage to follow it, and the determination to see it through for the good of their children - and for the other children Forsyth Country Day would come to serve. To raise money to start the school, they actually passed around a cigar box to collect cash, checks, maybe even IOUs - and called themselves the Cigar Box Club. And it worked. As we celebrate 50 years of Fury and 47 graduating classes (the class of 2020 will make 48), I would like to express my gratitude to our founders, our first students and teachers, and to the Cigar Box Club for starting us on the path we all travel together today.
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If we have the courage to dream as big as they did and to confidently follow those dreams for the betterment of our children and our school, I know we’ll be celebrating our 100th anniversary (and counting) 50 years from now. I hope you enjoy this issue of Amidst the Trees, which strives to celebrate our 50th anniversary as it shines a light on what we’re doing in the here and now.
Gardner Barrier ’97 Head of School Follow @gardnerbarrier on Twitter
FCDS 50th Celebration Weekend Thursday, April 16, 2020 Home Games
- Soccer - Girls' Middle School - 4 p.m. - Tennis - Boys' Middle School - 4 p.m. - Baseball - Boys' Varsity - 4:30 p.m. - Lacrosse - Girls' Varsity - 4:30 p.m. - Tennis - Boys' Varsity - 5 p.m. - Lacrosse - Boys' Varsity - 6 p.m. - Soccer - Girls' Varsity - 6 p.m.
Friday, April 17, 2020 Alumni Golf Team Outing - Noon Pep Rally/Time Capsule Reveal - 2:30-3:15 p.m. Junior Fury Clinics - 4-5 p.m. 6-12 Choral Concert - 5-6 p.m. AP Design Reception - 6-7 p.m. Family Celebration - 5-8 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, 2020 Fury 5K - 9 a.m. Alumni Art Gallery - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Alumni Games
- Basketball - 10-11 a.m. - Soccer - 11:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. - Baseball/Softball - 12:30-1:30 p.m. - Lacrosse - 1:45-2:45 p.m. 50th Anniversary Gala - 6-9 p.m. After Party - 9-11 p.m. Reunions - Various times
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Forsyth Country Day:
An architectural rendering of the Shallowford Road campus design. When FCDS opened in 1970, classes were held in the basement of Trinity United Methodist Church on Country Club Road while the campus was being built in Lewisville on land donated by William N. Reynolds, III. The school had 35 teachers and 195 students.
Although FCDS published a 1972 yearbook, Alpha Bibleon, the first Pegasus was published in 1973. It retains the name to this day.
The 1979 boys’ varsity soccer champions with Coach John Danforth.
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Charles R. Evans, Jr. served as headmaster from 1970 to 1972.
: A Timeline
The 13 students in Forsyth Country Day School’s first graduating class recieved their diplomas on June 9, 1973. They were: Bleeker (Bahnson) Strand, Joy (Baynes) Turnblad, Chris Butler, Noah Chatham, Julie (Davis) West, James Douglas, Tancy Entwistle, David Gray, Lyell (Hanes) Abbott, Lars Harper, Sonja (Lewis) Glass, Donna Oldham, and Ellen (Trotman) Foltz.
Things are looking up for these Lower Schoolers in the school’s first yearbook.
Mark Hagerman, the founding Lower School Director, became headmaster in 1972 and served until 1977.
The staff of FCDS’s first newspaper, Mustard Walls. The paper was named for the hue of the walls in the original Founders’ Building.
Newspaper advertisement, 1972
“The Blue Goose”, FCDS’s original bus, was retired in 1979 due to new bus regulations.
Gerry Cooper served as headmaster from 1977 to 1981.
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The FCDS Booster Club was established in 1980. It became the Fury Club in 2006 and is still supporting Fury Athletics today.
The play’s the thing in 1981. On September 28, 1984, Gordon Bingham held a Bricklaying Ceremony for what would become the auditorium and gallery.
Two pre-kindergarten students explore the outdoors in 1986 – the year pre-k debuted at FCDS.
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In 1983, the Pegasus staff dedicated the yearbook to Alex Bigioli from Italy, right, the school’s first exchange student. By its 50th year, FCDS was welcoming students from diverse cultures throughout the world, hosting 40 international students in 2019-2020. The group pictured here is the 2018-2019 International Club.
The Parents’ Association president lays a brick for the auditorium building in 1985.
R. Gordon Bingham became headmaster in 1981, serving in the position for 19 years. During his long tenure, the school added the auditorium building and the library and technology center.
The first swim and wrestling teams were formed in 1985.
Soccer gets a new home when Taylor Field is dedicated in 1988.
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In 1990, the “lifer” legacy began with Susan Gibbs and Brian Patterson: the first two Furies to attend FCDS from kindergarten or pre-k through graduation. The class of 2019 boasted 12 lifer alumni and - by tradition - each recieved a copy of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum from their kindergarten teachers at commencement.
The Fury lacrosse tradition is born! The boys’ varsity lacrosse team was added in spring 1998. In 2016, boys’ lacrosse would win its first state championship.
In 1995, students and staff looked on eagerly as a time capsule was buried to be opened in 2020.
Long-time chemistry teacher and theater director Peter Funk, left, treads the boards alongside his students in a 1995 production of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.
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The campus in 1998
Students gather in the original library space in the early 1990s
The Williams Library Discovery Center opened in 1995.
Pattie Stoltz taught at FCDS from 1975-2016.
Under the leadership of Coach Penny Marshall, the Fury girls went undefeated for two seasons and won back-to-back state volleyball titles.
No matter the decade, a pyramid never goes out of style.
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FCDS adds junior pre-kindergarten in 2007-2008.
The Nancy K. Rea Soccer Stadium was dedicated on Oct. 23, 2001.
The Johnson Academic Center, which opened in fall 2001, provides a student-centered atmosphere that allows each student to reach his or her full potential through support services and enrichment activities.
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Thanks the generosity of the Sutton family, FCDS dedicated the Sutton Softball Field in 2008.
In 2006, the Upper School is named for longtime English teacher and former Upper School Director Pattie Williams Stoltz.
The Childress Activities Center, established in spring 2001, is the school’s premier gymnasium. It houses varsity and JV sports competitions, pep rallies, and hallmark events for the school, including commencement. The Childress Center hosts many external events and is one of the greater community’s most sought-after sports venues.
Hey, hey, hey! In 2004, FCDS surprised founding teacher John Danforth by naming the building in which he’d served for 40 years the John A. Danforth Middle School.
Upon the retirement of Gordon Bingham in 1999, Henry M. (Hank) Battle, Jr. became the headmaster and served until 2011. During his tenure, the campus was expanded to include the Johnson Academic Center and Pike Building, the Childress Activities Center, and several other key athletic facilities.
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In 2016, Gardner Barrier ’97 became the first alumnus to serve as Head of School. Under Mr. Barrier, FCDS adopted a bold new mission that harkens back the roots of the school: FCDS is a community of learners dedicated to preparing our students for what’s ahead. Gold! Alumna Kathleen Baker wins Olympic gold and silver medals in swimming and sets a world record in 2016.
Installed by Acting Head of School Joyce Henson in 2012, Spirit Rock was first used by the Class of 2013 and today serves as a premier spot for First Day pictures. Signing Spirit Rock as a senior has become a Fury tradition.
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Second graders work in the Engineering Center on Innovation Day.
The Martin family dedicates the Martin College Counseling Office in 2017.
In the winter of 2018, FCDS unveils Arts on Main, a newly renovated area of state-ofthe art classrooms, offices, and storage space for the visual and performing arts. The beautiful light-filled Jarrahi Family Center for Visual Arts, given by the Jarrahi family, serves as a beautiful and functional focal point.
The Fifth Grade Academy was created for the 2018-2019 school year to help rising fifth graders succeed in the transition from Lower to Middle School. Austin Dillon ’09 won Daytona 500 in 2018.
In summer 2018, the Tierney Gymnasium was remodeled and updated to include an upstairs cardio theater and group classroom. On the ground floor, the old gym was updated and the Cavert Wire Training Center was created in the back.
In the summer of 2019, FCDS reimagined and redesigned spaces for better flow, design, and functionality. The Foster Board Room became the Foster Creative Commons, and the lobby in the Johnson Academic Center become the Welcome Center.
Vince Stumpo, who served as headmaster from 2013-2016, founded the Early Advantage Program, which grew into today’s successful preschool program.
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FCDS Boys’ Cross Country Wins State Championship! Congratulations to the Fury boys’ cross country team, which won the NCISAA-3A state title in October in what Coach Joe Scott called “a total team effort.” It was the first boys’ cross-country title win since 2000. Throughout the meet at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, the Furies toughest competition was Coastal Christian, which had defeated them at the Hare & Hounds early in the season when the Furies were missing some of their top runners. This time, the Furies eked out a six-point victory, with Coastal Christian finishing in second place. The boys were led by all-state runners Zach Moore in fourth place, Will Gray in sixth, and Will Scott in seventh place. Also key were Sam Scott’s 14th-place finish, Carter Sullivan’s 18th, James Snyder’s 33rd, and Elliot Sullivan’s 52nd. Among the meet’s many highlights were ninth grader Will Gray’s sixth-place finish and #5 runner Carter Sullivan’s last mile, in which he moved up at least five spots to earn crucial points for the team. Coach Scott attributes the win to the boys’ hard work and effort — all of which started back in June. “Tough workouts. Early morning long runs on Saturdays or Sundays when most of their friends were still asleep. All those voluntary summer workouts that were as well attended this year as any since I have been coaching, as well as the mutual support and respect they have for one another,” Coach Scott said. “That’s what it takes to win a championship, and that’s what these boys did.” The young Fury girls’ team finished seventh, beating their eighth seed by one. Freshman Nicky Chung led the girls’ effort with a 21st-place finish. They had a strong top-four pack of Nicky Chung, junior Josie Kilborn at 30th, eighth grader Lilirose Caty at 33rd, and junior Catherine Mitchell at 34th. Freshman Teodora Sorescu and seventh graders Josine Sindram and Katelyn Reed also contributed to their positive finish.
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Three FCDS Students Compete in Comprehensive Math State Finals
On April 11, Lucas Zhang, Joshua Howard, and Gary Yu competed in the 41st North Carolina High School Math Contest at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Approximately 1,600 students competed at the regional level to try to earn a spot in the finals. There were 130 participants from 41 schools across the state who qualified at regional contests. Congratulations to Lucas Zhang for winning a cash prize as a member of the third place sprint team and for being our top scorer. Congratulations to all for representing our school so well at NCSSM and thank you to their coach, Teresa Angell.
FCDS Wins WELLS FARGO Cup This spring, Forsyth Country Day School won the Wells Fargo Cup—the most prestigious athletic award for independ-
FCDS Spanish Students Honored for National Excellence Congratulations to 26 FCDS Spanish III and Honors Spanish IV students who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2018-2019 National Spanish Examinations. Students earned a total of three gold, four silver, four bronze medals, and 15 honorable mentions. “Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams. The exams are taken by more than 146,000 students in the United States.
ent schools in North Carolina. Awarded by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the cup recognizes overall excellence in high school athletics. Schools earn points in the fall, winter, and spring sports seasons, gaining 50 points for a championship, 45 for a runner-up finish, 40 for third place, and finishing with 15 points for eighth place. With the Fury girls’ basketball team’s state championship win and soccer, softball, baseball, boys’ golf, boys’ swimming, boys’ and girls’ track and field, and boys’ cross country placing, FCDS earned a winning total of 527.5 points, taking the cup by more than 100 points over the second-place finisher. FCDS last won the Wells Fargo Cup (formerly the Wachovia Cup) in 2001. Previously, it won in 1982, 2000, and 2001. Athletic Director John Stubblefield, Ed.D., who joined the faculty last year, is extremely proud of Forsyth’s athletes, coaches, and program. “At FCDS, we view athletics as a co-curricular activity that serves to further advance our mission of preparing students for what’s ahead,” he said. “Winning the Wells Fargo Cup is a tremendous achievement that recognizes our committed athletes, dedicated coaches, and supportive parents.” Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches! Go Furies!
The award recipients are: Gold Medal Recipients: Karthik Lalwani, Patrick McBride, and Sid Subramanian Silver Medal Recipients: Rebecca Drucker, Zachary Moore, Lilli Jewell, and Carolina Rocha Lima Bronze Medal Recipients: Lexie Breitling, Jack Hutcherson, Mary Gray Speakman, and Carter Sullivan Honorary Recipients (Total): Will Andrews, Ellen Buck, Phillip Clifton, Amogh Gorantla, Garrison Hall, Eva Hollar, Charlotte Jennings, Sarah Jin, Mackenzie Kaplan, Emily Kelly, Spencer Muller, Sahar Sayess, Haley Stock, Max Volland, and Edwin Xiao.
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Eleven Middle Schoolers Earn Division Awards in May Congratulations to five Middle School students who were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the school community in May. (Note: students are listed by their current grade below, but were recognized for the previous grade at the time of the ceremony). Sixth grader Malaya Saliba, seventh grader Nathan Foncilus, eighth grader Caroline Sudler, and freshman Sadie Tucker won the Outstanding Core Value Award. This award is given to the student who served as a positive role model for his or her peers, contributed to the community both in the classroom and beyond, and inspired others to leave a legacy of character and commitment.
Six Upper School Musicians Earn Chairs to All-State Orchestra
Duncan Hart, Zach Moore, Sherry Li, Shelby Caine, Clyde Morton, Nathan Faulk, and Phoebe Turvaville earned chairs to the North Carolina American Strings Teachers Association All-State Orchestra. The students were chosen from more than 250 video submissions of the top string players in North Carolina. They attended the NCASTA All-State Orchestra Festival at Cannon School in October, where they had the privilege of working with nation-
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Sixth grader Carter Nance, seventh grader Olivia McNatt, eighth grader Jack Norman, and freshman Andrew Mitchell won the John Danforth Award. Named for founding teacher John Danforth, this award is presented to that member of Forsyth Country Day School who, by his or her spirited attitude towards others, demonstrates a commitment to service and an involvement within and beyond the school community. Freshman Max Drucker won the Academic Excellence Award. This award is presented to that student in the eighth grade who has displayed the greatest intellectual curiosity and self-discipline in academic achievement and has been a student at Forsyth Country Day School for at least four semesters. This student is considered the top student of his or her class, sets the bar high on tests and exams, and has shown evidence of intellectual promise and achievement inside and outside of the classroom. Freshman Ian Hart won the Middle School Achievement Award. This award is presented annually to the Middle School student who has demonstrated the most marked improvement in both academic performance and personal development over the course of his or her time at FCDS. Freshman Meredith White won the Middle School Leadership Award. This award is presented to the eighth grade student who has exhibited the qualities of leadership and service that fulfill the ideals of Forsyth Country Day School. This person is a true leader in every aspect of the Middle School and inspires other members to do their best as well.
ally renowned orchestra composer and conductor Kirt Mosier and enjoyed master classes and sectionals conducted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte String Faculty.
We the Furies: Election 2019
The people have spoken. Both Upper and Middle School students cast their ballots Spring 2019, bringing victory (and responsibility) to the following duly elected Furies as officers of the Student Government Association (SGA) for the 2019-2010 school year: President: Kevin Dunn Vice President, J-Board: Jozy Unal Vice President, Social Events: Mary Gray Speakman Vice President, Spirit, Clubs, and Service: Peter Cromie J-Board Secretary: Jacques Hall SGA Secretary: Yu Otaki.
NINE FCDS Students’ Art Recognized at Dixie Classic Fair
Congratulations to the following students, whose art was recognized at the Dixie Classic Fair this fall. Lower School First Place: Blake Ferguson Second Place: Anabelle Bailor Third Place: Lillian Kazakos
Middle School SGA Executive Board: President: Abigail Merhoff Vice President: Andreas Kazokos Secretary: Ryan Nichols Treasurer: Carter Nance Social Director/MS Fun Nights: Springer Hiatt Public Relations Director: Alexandra Lopez Service Project Director: Asmithaa Vinukonda House Prefects: Ajay Singh, Kelso Harvey, Gianna Novembre, Ava Claire Scherer, Aiden Wiese.
Middle School First Place: Rae Klosterman Second Place: Bella St. John Third Place: Caroline Sudler Upper School First Place: Sterling Charles Second Place: Jaree Legins Third Place: Ellen Buck
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First Impressions
First impressions count—especially when you’re making a decision about where to send your child to school. Forsyth Country Day has always had the right stuff for a great education: first-rate academics, amazing teachers who know their students and their subjects, a close-knit and supportive community, and a beautiful, expansive campus. But was the front of the school making a good first impression? Not so much. Head of School Gardner Barrier noticed it the moment he arrived at FCDS—the lobby of the Johnson Academic Center, where the admission office is located (and where prospective families come to meet with Ashley Verwoerdt, the school’s Director of Admission), was dated and formal with green and blue marble floors, yellowed off-white walls, elaborate window coverings, and stuffy upholstered sofas and chairs. At the back was an enormous two-person reception desk that would have looked at home in a corporate bank. “I looked at the space and wondered, ‘What is the point of this space?’ We were in a lobby from the 90s,” Mr. Barrier said. “We started thinking about it with the idea of what the space should be doing and with the idea of what kind of first impression it was making. The old space did not read ‘for what’s ahead’.” The “we” in that sentence is important. Mr. Barrier felt so strongly about improving the first impression FCDS was making that he formed a First Impressions Committee composed of key administrators, faculty, and two students, Kevin Dunn and Nasia Ballas, to represent all constituencies on campus. One key member of the committee was architect in residence Lauren Frye. Lauren learned a lot about the school through her work on the committee and through design. “It’s critical when designing anything to understand who the audience is, and one of the most successful things we did was to make it welcoming to all—that means people of all cultures, all abilities, and all ages.” The reimagined lobby is painted a very light gray and the flooring is white and gray vinyl plank. Without window treatments, light floods the room. In one corner, there’s a tiny table, stools, and toys for the smallest Furies (or prospective Furies). Nearby, on a large dark blue rug with a swirling circular pattern, four dark gray contemporary club chairs surround an oval walnut coffee table. Blue ottomans serve as extra seating or a good place to set a cup of coffee or a book. The reception desk, now along the right wall, is a sleek, streamlined custom piece made of maple and black quartz. “The colors now fit the brand of the school,” Lauren said. “It feels bright and lighter. Because it’s so light, your eyes are automatically drawn to the window, to the beautiful trees and lake, and the natural light is amplified.” The individual chairs were chosen over couches very intentionally. “We wanted people to feel comfortable, so we chose
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chairs rather than couches. People feel more comfortable in a space they can make their own, even if it’s only to move a chair or an ottoman a few inches.” The rug repeats the circle of the ottoman and echoes the school’s seal itself as well as its colors. “It’s playful yet sophisticated. It’s visually consistent and I love it because it fits the color scheme perfectly.” On the far wall, where the old reception desk used to be, is the We Are FCDS wall—which features those words, cut by engineering teacher Joe Trotter on the school’s CNC machine—at the very top. The wall also features 13 rectangular metal panels that feature frequently changed pictures of students and events as well as three video monitors—one that features FCDS statistics, photos, and videos, one that welcomes guests by name, and one interactive one with a touch-screen that allows visitors to delve into areas of the school—from pre-school to college counseling— that interest them the most. “The interactive wall came about because we asked, ‘How can you spend time in this area in a way that allows you to experi-
ence FCDS from the get-go’?” Gardner said. “The interactivity will allow them to get to know us from the moment they walk in the door.” Although the resulting space looks like an expensive overhaul, it was executed with an eye on costs, said school project manager (and long-time orchestra director) Aaron Craven. “In terms of cost, we went through a substantial bidding process,” he said. “We partnered with members of the community and sponsors for items like the custom-made desk, then went with discount brands for the rest of the furniture.” Using less expensive furniture will allow the space to continue to evolve over time so that it remains modern, relevant, and flexible. The whole First Impressions project isn’t just about the lobby; it’s setting the tone for updating the rest of campus going forward. “We’re creating a blueprint for how we transform the campus over time,” Mr. Craven said. Mr. Barrier agreed. “We’re trying to dial up the intention in all that we do, and this design is consistent with that. It shows who we are and what we’re aspiring to be.”
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That’s Trivial!
50 Years. 20-ish Questions. 10 Winners. Hey! Hey! Hey! Can you ace John Danforth’s ultimate FCDS quiz? If you get the answers right and you’re one of the first 10 Furies to submit your answers at alumni@ fcds.org, you’ll win some sweet 50th anniversary swag. (Yes, the answers are printed below, but we trust you. Honor Code.) Ready? 1). At what church did FCDS begin classes in 1970? A) Lewisville United Methodist B) Messiah Moravian C) Shallowford Presbyterian D) Trinity United Methodist 2) You sang it 1,000 times. What’s the last word of FCDS’s alma mater? A) Day B) Trees C) Stay D) Forsyth 3) This school has gone to the dogs! Which headmasters were known for bringing their dogs to school? A) B) C) D)
Charles Evans and Mark Hagerman Gerry Cooper and Hank Battle Hank Battle and Gordon Bingham Gordon Bingham and Gardner Barrier
4) Bonus round on headmaster’s dogs. What were the dogs’ names? A) Scout and Forester B) Pebbles and Jack C) Horace and Leopold D) Queenie and Maddie 5) What was the name of the school’s first bus? A) The Fury B) The Blue Fury C) The Blue Goose D) The Deathtrap 6) How many students were in the school’s first graduating class? A) 13 B) 11 C) 15 D) 9 7) What is the name of the jungle gym on the playground? A) Alex B) Charlie C) Bob D) Sheila 8) What was the school’s enrollment in 1978? A) 580 B) 525 C) 597 D) 540 9) What’s the book given to “lifers” at graduation? A) B) C) D)
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10) In the school’s first year at the church, where did the boys change for PE? A) The office B) The boiler room C) The boys’ bathroom D) The bus 11) What famous movie did all Upper School students attend in 1970? a) Love Story b) Patton c) MASH d) 2001: A Space Odyssey 12) In what year did Smartboards first appear in FCDS classrooms? A) 2005 B) 2009 C) 2007 D) 2003 13) Where was the first FCDS soccer game played? A) Shaffner Park B) Miller Park C) Summit School D) High Point 14) What “tool” did second headmaster Mark Hagerman carry with him when walking down the halls at the church? A) A hammer B) A plunger C) A pencil D) A gavel 15) What student (who later graduated and eventually became an alumni parent) learned to operate the school’s first computer? A) Kathryn (Leinbach) Brown B) Liston Orr C) Anne (Butler) McDowell D) Kim (Erlacher) Johnston 16) Why was the cabin built? A) For physical education B) As part of an early engineering program C) To avoid writing a term paper D) As a work detail for kids who got in trouble. 17) Who was driving the bus when it crashed into the second floor walkway at the church? (Also, how is that possible?) A) John Danforth B) John Danforth C) John Danforth D) Rob Caskey, or so John Danforth says 18) What two students officially helped “break ground” at the current campus? A) Carol (Cowan) Morris and David Rogers B) Elizabeth (Pollock) Ladd and Paul Pfeffercorn C) Suzanne (Taylor) Ramm and George Whitaker D) Susan (Gunter) Moffit and Douglas Kennedy 19) What sport debuted at FCDS in the 1973-1974 school year? A) Volleyball B) Golf C) Lacrosse D) Field Hockey 20) Who taught Forsyth’s first Creative Dramatics class? A) Brad Stephenson B) Jane Pfefferkorn C) Peter Funk D) Meredith Harvey Intrigued? Please see the answers below.
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1) D; 2) A; 3) B; 4) D; 5) C; 6) A; 7) B; 8) D; 9) A; 10) B; 11) D; 12) C; 13) A; 14) B; 15) A; 16) C; 17) D; 18) A; 19) D; 20) B
Smith & Shehan Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery A. Todd Smith DDS & Mark T. Shehan DDS
Go Furies!!
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Both/And: Athletics and Arts as Parts of the FCDS Puzzle When you think high school—and especially the way it’s portrayed in pop culture—students are quickly and unfairly categorized by what they like to do. What if a school and its culture gave you room to try a bit of everything, making that exploration part of the school culture? At FCDS, an estimated 80 to 85 percent of students in eligible grades—sixth through twelfth— play at least one sport, and some play two or more. Among that same group of kids, a strong majority also sings in the choir, plays in the string orchestra, participates in plays, or takes one or more visual arts classes. Take that, John Hughes. “Our participation numbers in both sports and
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arts are so high,” said Head of School Gardner Barrier. “We’re showing our students a full menu and making it logistically and philosophically possible to try a lot of things so students can see where their passions lie.” Athletic Director John Stubblefield Ed. D. agreed. “We really think of athletics and arts in Middle School and Upper School as co-curriculars rather than extra-curriculars. We want to be inclusive of everyone who’s interested in playing because being part of a team or part of a musical group helps them learn skills that will serve them throughout their lives.” From sixth grade through varsity, the athletic
program tries not to make cuts in order to encourage kids to try a sport. “This is all about developing players and students,” Dr. Stubblefield said. “If you have an athlete who is interested in a sport and is willing to work hard, come play. Because of the number of sports we offer, we need players...we’ll teach you the sport.” Fine Arts Department Chair John Kildahl and his colleagues have a similar philosophy. “With the arts and sports, you don’t know until you try. Our approach in visual and performing arts is that these are teachable skills...you don’t have to be born with talent,” he said. “If you show up every day with a decent attitude, you’ll get better. It’s not magic.” Jaree Legins, a junior who transferred to FCDS from public school this year, embraces a both/and philosophy herself. She’s an actor, a 2D visual artist, and a talented singer who also plays softball and throws shot-put and discus. “I plan to go to college for softball and visual art, so I have to keep those balanced,” she said. “At some schools, it’s hard to do both. Here, I like how [arts and athletics] are so open to sharing people.” Junior Zach Moore—a violinist who plays in the string orchestra and in a string quartet, Dischord, and also runs track and cross-country—agreed. “I feel like everybody is able to engage in so many different things. Nobody has a single identity here. You can do more and try more.”
An arts experience—whether it’s a visual or performing art— can play a key role in a students’ day. “You need a point in the day where you can think differently, in a different learning style,” Mr. Kildahl said. “I think art classes can be awesome moments that provide a break. In visual arts, you’re up and moving around, working with your hands, maybe listening to music.” Both arts and athletics help to build community at the school as well. “When you join a team or the orchestra or choir, you become a part of something bigger than yourself. You become part of a group with a common goal, and you learn to work together,” Dr. Stubblefield said. “Kids who are involved become more supportive of one another.” Forsyth Country Day is able to encourage this exploration and involvement through its close-knit community. “The teachers and coaches talk to one another. Kevin Westwood (associate athletic director) and John (Kildahl) work together to try schedule games around arts events like concerts and plays, and vice versa,” Dr. Stubblefield said. “We make choices to head off conflicts that force a student to have to choose between two things they really enjoy doing.” “The people here help you make it work so that you can do what you want to do,” Zach said. “I wouldn’t want to have to choose between athletics or music, and they make it so that I don’t have to.” Ultimately, the exploration encouraged by not forcing kids
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into an either/or box with athletics and the arts but encouraging a both/and mentality benefits the students and fulfills the school’s mission, Mr. Barrier said. “They may be great athletes and great artists. They may be great athletes and mediocre artists, but the point is that they’re exploring. They’re being
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creative, taking risks, trying new things. To learn and grow in a place where everyone has the freedom to do that is huge. We’re teaching values and lessons that will stay with them long after the season or the performance is over.”
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Fifty Years:
Young Furies Ponder the Past and Future
We asked the FCDS kindergarteners and first graders two questions: “What was life like 50 years ago?” and “What do you think life will be like in 50 years?” Here are their answers.
What was life like 50 years ago? “There were no bikes. There were no recording buttons on the remotes.” - Anastasi “Lots of grown-ups went to school here.” - Sara “I think they had little TVs and the TV had only four to six channels.” - Lillian “There was not much technology.” - Dominic “My Nana was a nurse and a basketball player. She had 20 baskets in one game.” - Brooks “I was not born yet and I also saw nothing.” - Vasoula “I have not been born yet, or my mom and dad, maybe? I do not know yet.” - Harper “Ms. Riddle [his teacher] would have different kids, but one will be scared I think.” - Jaxon “Maybe Ms. Riddle was a kid.” - Lancet “They were building FCDS.” - Sydney “My dad was 5 and he was young. He started soccer. At home, he still has memories of them.” - Desiree “There were not many people here at school” - Robin
What do you think life will be like in 50 years? “I think I will be a teacher 50 years past and I think I will have 13 kids in my class.” - Paige “I think I will be on The Voice because I love to sing!” Harper Kate “In 50 years, I think there will be purple cars.” - Harper “I think in 50 years I will play for the Braves!” - Gentry “There will be floating cars, Lego buildings, and someone does the kamehameha and someone goes super saiyan blue.” - Liam “We would not be in college. We would be a grown-up.” Koston “I would be 50 years old.” - Mason “Everyone will be excited because FCDS will be 100 years old.” - Keegan “In the future they will have robotic fish tanks and a tech city with robots in it.” - Aaron
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“There were no bikes. There were no recording buttons on the remotes.” - Anastasi
“We would not be in college. We would be a grown-up.” - Koston 38
Donna was with FCDS from the very beginning. She attended the school for three years, starting at Trinity United Methodist Church on Country Club Road and graduating with the first class in 1973. In the years after graduation, Donna earned her bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and her master’s degree from Duke. She worked as a reporter and editor for a newspaper, then worked in communications for Duke University Hospital (director), Dell Inc. (communications manager), and Ahold Delhaize (director of internal communications and brand). Today, Donna is manager of community engagement - Americas for Amazon Web Services. “My entire experience at FCDS was the best – whether it was helping to name our mascot, founding the yearbook and newspaper, being the school’s first Teen Page Correspondent for the Twin City Sentinel, or navigating the old and new campuses and establishing what has become a tradition of academic, athletic, and community excellence,” she said. “ I have so many memories. As the first African American graduate, the times that created FCDS are vivid memories as well.”
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After graduating from FCDS in 1985, Ali earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then moved to Chicago, where he studied at the famous
Second City and Improv Olympic and was a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade. He moved to New York City in 1999 to write for Saturday Night Live. In 2002, Ali founded the Peoples Improv Theater (PIT), which received numerous accolades, including Best Comedy Club (The Village Voice), Best Improv Lessons (New York Magazine), and Best New Development in Comedy (Time Out). Ali is also a working stage, commercial, and TV actor, appearing on stage in the 2017 run of The Profane at Playwrights in New York. He’s appeared on Law & Order, 30 Rock, Inside Amy Schumer, and Delocated, and his film credits include The Bourne Legacy, Edge of Darkness, and American Gangster. In 2017, Ali came back to North Carolina to found the PIT-Chapel Hill.
Kenny teaches in the School of Business at Wake Forest University (his undergraduate alma mater) in the undergraduate
and graduate business programs. He also conducts research in food marketing and in various areas of consumer behavior and advertising. “As an Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Business Program at Wake, I now have the opportunity not only to teach but also to manage (with a great team) the Undergraduate Business Program at Wake,” Kenny said. “Wake and FCDS are the schools that, as Miranda Lambert might say, ‘built me’.” Forsyth is dear to Kenny for many reasons - but especially because it’s where he met his wife, Caroline McAnally Herbst ’94 (both attended from grades six through 12). “We frequently discuss our extensive shared memories, and it invariably leads to laughter and to happiness. Our years at FCDS were among the best of our lives,” he said. “I have such distinct memories of the remaining buildings and places on campus that housed much of my childhood - great days spent at FCDS with Adam Schwartz (’93). I remember so fondly other terrific individuals with whom I attended FCDS. The school was truly a family – such a close-knit community of people and friends. #WhenYouSayForsythSayFCDWhenYouSayForsythSayFuries #BeatBishop.” Kenny said he owes his teaching career, in part, to his experience at Forsyth. “ The way in which the teachers at Forsyth engaged students in the classroom is etched deeply into my mind. I know that some of the mannerisms and pedagogical innovations with which many of the best teachers at FCDS instructed their classes have informed the way that I connect with students inside the classroom at Wake. Our teachers at Forsyth additionally seemed to enjoy a bond with students outside of the classroom. They made time for us, and they could talk with us about anything – with authenticity and enthusiasm. There is no doubt that the passion with which I was educationally ‘raised’ at Forsyth brought forth curiosity, a thirst for asking interesting questions (that I address now via various research projects), and a motivation to learn.” Soon, Kenny and Caroline will have even more reason to love Forsyth: their son, Max will come to kindergarten at FCDS (Class of ’33) in the fall of 2020. “We are particularly excited to relive the days and nights spent traveling to games at, among other schools, Westchester Country Day, Greensboro Day, Charlotte Latin, etc. We are Fury FANatics.” (and if you have a late1980s Fury FANatics bumper sticker, please let Kenny know).
A lifer, Wes started at FCDS in pre-k. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, Wes worked at ESPN for six years, focused on marketing and advertising for Monday Night Football, Grand Slam Tennis, and mobile products such as WatchESPN (which was the start of streaming). After earning an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Wes went into management/ strategy consulting. He works on growth strategy and M&A projects across a number of industies as a senior consultant with EY-Parthenon.
Wes and his wife Kariann have a daughter, Frances, and live in Chicago. “I think FCDS had (and still has) a strong sense of community, and I truly felt at home on campus for 14 years,” Wes said. “From the classroom to the sports fields, I truly made some amazing friends that I still keep in touch with more than 15 years after graduating.” He has especially fond memories of soccer trips, growing the lacrosse program, and working to build the first-ever Habitat for Humanity Youth United House. “To be part of this effort, which I think continues to this day, was a great experience.”
Shortly after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2015, Kathleen moved to New York City to pursue a career in advertising. Within her first year at Y&R, one the world’s most iconic global ad agencies, she realized that she was more passionate about developing brand strategy than executing it and moved to Lippincott, a creative consultancy specializing in brand and innovation. Three and a half years later, Kathleen continues to enjoy the balance of rigor and creativity that brand consulting brings along with the exciting opportunities to travel and work with global brands on their pursuit to create ever-deeper connections with customers.
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In Memoriam Forsyth Country Day expresses its deepest sympathy to the families of the following Forsyth Country Day School alumni, faculty, and friends. These listings include all information recieved by press time. If a friend or loved one is not included and you would like him or her to be remembered in our next issue, please send the information to christurner@fcds.org.
David Bodenhamer ’76
Dave Bodenhamer passed away in Winston-Salem on July 1, 2019 after an extended illness. He was 61. After graduating from FCDS in its first decade, Dave earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. David had many interests. He and his sons loved large dogs, raising five boxers over the years. He was a talented musician, an avid outdoorsman who spent many weeks each year at the family beach house on Ocean Isle, and he was even known for his Elvis impersonation. Dave is survived by his wife of 30 years, Doris, his sons William ’13 and Michael ’18, and his father, David L. Bodenhamer, Sr. His mother, Peggy, passed away in 2013.
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William Spry ’03
William Dennie Spry III passed away on August 22, 2019 while in California on business. He was 34. William graduated from FCDS in 2003, where he enjoyed great success in academics and athletics. He was captain of the soccer team and served as president of the senior class. After FCDS, William earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University and his JD/MBD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon graduation from Yale, William worked for the The Pence Group, a real estate development company in Washington, D.C. After graduate school, he become an investment banker with Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York City. In 2016, he joined Johnson Development Associates in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he served many
leadership roles, including chief financial officer, and later chief operating officer as well as president of the self-storage division. In addition to his myriad professional successes, William pursued life with zeal and humor. He loved snow skiing, sports car racing, reading, golf, surfing, and traveling (he visited all seven continents and had planned his next trip to outer space). Above all, he was known for his love and kindness to others, and the special bond he shared with his family. William is survived by his loving family: parents Bill and Penny and his siblings: Charles ’06, Thomas ’09, and Brennan and his sister, Erin Spry Staton.
Sydney Fearrington ’10
Sydney Fearrington passed away on May 31, 2019. She was 27. A native of Lewisville, Syd was crowned Miss Lewisville in 2009. She graduated from FCDS, where she was a varsity cheerleader as a senior, in 2010, and then pursued a number of vocational directions. She excelled at customer service due to her sweet and charming personality, and was working at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Bib’s Downtown at the time of her death. Syd was an avid equestrian who showed horses in high school, and she loved animals big and small, caring for many creatures deemed unlovable by breed, age, or appearance. She is survived by her mother April Wark, her stepfather Peter Wark, and her sisters Devin and Sophia Wark.
Making Room for History To honor the school’s 50th anniversary, Forsyth Country Day created a new History Room in the area that was formerly the admissions suite. “We thought about all of the wonderful things we had up in the archives in a closet, then we started reimagining this space,” said Head of School Gardner Barrier ’97. “It struck us as a great place to showcase our history - to show who we are not only to our prospective and current families, but to our alumni and friends as well.” By October, the space had been transformed into what’s now called the History Room or the FCDS Museum. An old display case was brought down from the Middle School and filled with meaningful mementos from newspaper clippings to old uniforms to architectural renderings reflecting the school’s past. On the walls, a timeline illustrates the school’s founding in the 1970s through the 2010s...with room to grow into the next decade. Library carousels hold issues of Pegasus, the yearbook, and an old reference stand houses scrapbooks of newspaper clippings about the school and its students. “It’s going to mean a lot to a lot of people,” Mr. Barrier said. “The reaction from everyone who’s seen the timeline and the history room has been, ‘Wow’. “It’s just unbelievable,” said founding teacher John Danforth, who had the opportunity to be one of the first to tour the space. “I got such a kick out of seeing the timeline on the walls and looking at the displays. It brought back so many memories for me.”
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2019COMMENCEMENT In 2019, FCDS graduated 60 wonderful seniors. All of them made incredible contributions to the school by sharing their gifts, talents, and daily presence with the school community. By tradition, Forsyth Country Day gives four student awards to members of the graduating class and one faculty award at Commencement. This year, the winners were: Pattie Williams Stoltz Director’s Award - Lauren Taylor Carolyn P. Spencer Faculty Award - Katherine Angell Hagerman Award - Yasmin Horner Founders’ Award - Jacob Parker Jones Faculty Award - Teresa Angell
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Jaqueline Lopez presents Lauren Taylor ’19 with the Pattie Williams Stoltz Director’s Award, which is presented annually to the senior who has exhibited marked academic improvement and whose actions reflect an appreciation of the ideals of freedom and responsibility in his or her personal growth as demonstrated in the distinguished work of Pattie Williams Stolz.
Virginia Perry with Yasmin Horner ’19, winner of the Hagerman Award. The Hagerman Award is presented each year to the senior who best exemplifies the characteristics of citizenship and service to the school and community.
Katherine Angell ’19 with Meredith Harvey. Katherine was awarded the Carolyn P. Spencer Faculty Award, which is given annually to that senior whose academic and personal excellence has best demonstrated a full appreciation of the opportunities offered by Forsyth Country Day School and whose actions reflect love of learning, thirst for knowledge, and positive spirit as demonstrated in the distinguished work of the late Carolyn P. Spencer.
Head of School Gardner Barrier ’97 with valedictorian Jacob Parker ’19. Jacob earned the Founders’ Award, which is presented annually to the senior with the highest weighted grade point average after completion of the senior year.
Excellence seems to run in the family! Longtime Upper School math teacher Teresa Angell earned this year’s Jones Faculty Award, which recognizes the teacher whose love, understanding, and commitment to others embodies the highest ideals of the teaching profession.
Alumni parent Dr. Anthony Atala,W.H. Boyce professor and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, gave the 2019 Commencement address.
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Meet our newest alumni, the Class of 2019! Congratulations to the members of Forsyth Country Day School’s Class of 2019 on their many impressive accomplishments and contributions to the life of the school. We miss you already, but we wish you joy and success in college and in life. Please keep in touch! Katherine Emma Angell - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Anna Tyler Baker - College of Charleston Madeleine Elizabeth Bennett - University of Vermont Alexandra Kay Bouplon - University of North Carolina at Charlotte William Prescott Breitling - Davidson College Meredith McGuire Cavenaugh - Wofford College Serena Chen - University of Washington Noah Bleecker Chmil - Furman University David Sumter Craig - Purdue University Olivia Rebecca Diaz - Columbia College Nathaniel Gray Essick - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Sydney Shay Fasel - Johnson and Wales University Garrett Lee Flinchum - Guilford College
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Demetri Constantine Hodges - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Caleb Array Hollar - Appalachian State University Yasmin Jarrahi Horner - University of Virginia Giovanna Mackenzie Hutchins - North Carolina State University Madison Ashley Jackson - University of South Florida at Tampa Oliver Patrick Jewell - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Ellen Jiang - University of Southern California George Joyner - Wake Forest University Haleigh Fern Kozlowski - University of Lynchburg Anna Constanza Lammel - Wake Forest University Marcos Federico Lammel - Wake Forest University Martina Edith Lammel - Wake Forest University Amy Lan - University of Connecticut
Maya Ruth Leander - Westminster College Sarah Elizabeth Leonard - Savannah College of Art and Design Natalie Ann Lertola - East Carolina University Sophie Liu - Brandeis University Elisabeth Llanaj - University of South Carolina Gracyn Claire Mansfield - East Carolina University Anastazia Novembre - High Point University Jacob Henry Parker - Dartmouth College Nicholas Clark Peters - Indiana University - Bloomington Elizabeth Ann Poppe - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Kathleen Erin Quinn - Furman University Hannah MacKenzie Reid - North Carolina State University Trevor McFayden Rich - Miami University, Oxford Carmen Loreen Roberts - Guilford College Sahar Ahmad Sayess - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill William John Scarpa III - Auburn University David William Schomberg III - Davidson College Coleman Avery Sell - Appalachian State University Perrin Grace Shuler - Furman University
Madeline Burch Smith - University of Richmond Alexandra Eugenia Sorescu - Furman University Emma Brice Spencer - University of Richmond Hannah Amalia Spencer - Washington and Lee University Charles William Spittler - University of Oklahoma Nicholas James Strauch - Duke University Joseph John Szvetitz V - Winthrop University Lauren Ruth Taylor - University of North Carolina at Charlotte Cason Edward TeVault - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Harrison William Thomas - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Sohni Uthra - Cornell University Ashley Victoria Walker - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities John Bennett Woodard III - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Lydia Yu - Vassar College Gary Yu - University of California San Diego
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Hail to thee, our alma mater Thine we’ll always be Shine upon the lakeside waters Proud amidst the trees Alma mater, alma mater Here our hearts will stay Our lives, our minds are better for you Forsyth Country Day
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