Falconer - Spring 2010 by Fort Worth Country Day

F o r t

W o r t h

C o u n t r y

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VVool luumme e 1 1, I ss ss uu ee 2 â&#x20AC;˘ S pp rr ii nn gg / S uu m mm me er r 2010

Congratulations

Class of 2010!

CONTENTS Vo l u m e 1 , I s s u e 2 • S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 0 1 0

20 CAMPUS NOtES 2 3 4

Message from the Head of School Record Snowfall on Campus Faculty Faces 50 Years of Love and Laughter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 6 Lower School Howdy, Padnuh! Kindergarten Rodeo. . . . . . . . . . . 8 Teaching with Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 12 Middle School National Junior Honor Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Middle School Awards & Recognition . . . . . . . . . 14 Introducing Chaka Cummings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 16 Upper School Cum Laude Society Inducts 20 New Members . . . 16 FWSO Creates Magic for Upper School . . . . . . . . 17 Senior Awards & Recognition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 24 Performing Arts

Cover photo by Glen E. Ellman

37 Fancy Meal Celebration 38 Athletic News

FWCD Signs Three NCAA Division I Athletes. . 39 The Year in Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 43 FWCD Wins Two CASE District IV Awards 43 Faculty Reunion 44 Speaker Series Dr. Ric Bonnell ’85 and Jon Bonnell ’89. . . . . . . 44 John Holt Smith ’87. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 46 Alumni News Falcon Fiesta Alumni Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Fore! Golf Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 46 Class Notes 54 Falcon Palooza 55 Peter A. Schwartz Legacy Society 56 FWCD Families Spring Break in Europe

32 features 20

Graduation Class of 2010

The Class of 2010 celebrated their graduation with faculty, family and friends May 15 at Will Rogers Auditorium.

26 Founders Day

FWCD recognized faculty and staff for their years of service March 5; the highlight was a speech given by Capt. Wendy Kosek ’00, who was injured this past year in Iraq.

28 Making a Difference Around the World

FWCD tries to instill the value of service in its students, many of whom have devoted time, talent and treasure to improving the lives of people across the globe.

32 Every Day is Earth Day

A celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, FWCD’s Every Day is Earth Day was so much more. Earth Day provided the opportunity for students, faculty and staff in all divisions to interact with and learn from one another.

Please note these corrections to the fall issue of The FALCONER with our apologies: Tad Sanders, former faculty member, was misidentified in a story about the Reunion luncheon. Stephanie Foster ’84 was misidentified in photo #3 (with Liz Stapp Fleischer ’84) on page 45.

Get more from our issue on your smartphone! The snap below and at the end of selected articles in this issue allows you to access a layer of fresh content for Web-enabled smartphones. 1) Download Microsoft Tag Reader on your mobile at www.gettag.mobi. 2) Once the free app is up and running, aim your smartphone’s camera at the box below and snap it to see more content or watch a video. Snap here to access Fort Worth Countr y Day’s website.

Tiffini Crum

Message from the Head of School Wow! What a great year we have had at Fort Worth Country Day! The Class of 2010 set the tone for what turned out to be a successful year from start to finish. Ninety-four seniors walked across the stage of Will Rogers Auditorium May 15, ready to start college, the next phase of their lives. Exciting times! Three programs come to mind when I reflect on the beginning of this year. The Admissions Office launched the “Catch the Spirit ~ Pass it On!” campaign to build enthusiasm and rapport among our current and new families. The senior girls established “Sigma Iota Sigma,” a sorority for all senior and freshman girls, which firmed our family bonds. The Class of 2022 participated in the Building Bridges program, a time to learn about each other and build connections they will rely upon for their 13-year journey at FWCD. These programs are representative of FWCD’s family community, and we are glad you are part of that.

Luke Walker ’19, Lower School Principal of the Day, confers with Head of School Evan D. Peterson.

Our students continued to achieve academic success, with 29 seniors recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, National Achievement or National Hispanic Recognition programs. The class has been awarded $5,547,020 in merit-based scholarships to date. Athletics pumped us up with a great year of achievements, capped off by two SPC Division I Champion teams and much more – enough to allow FWCD to finish fifth out of 15 coed SPC schools (and the top-ranked SPC school in Tarrant County!). I was very pleased to see our seniors take the field, the court, the mats and the pool to compete for their school, even though they could have taken the year off. That says something to me about their pride in the red and blue. Three of our graduates will participate in NCAA Division I athletics – Elizabeth Vance, field hockey at the University of Louisville; Emily Samuelson, soccer at the University of Pennsylvania; and Nicole Dory, track at the College of William and Mary. FWCD theatre student Paige Friedman ’10 received the 2010 Betty Lynn Buckley award for Best Female Ensemble Member. Other West Side Story nominations included Best Musical, Best Male Actor, Best Male Supporting Actors, Best Male Ensemble Actor and Best Female Ensemble Member. In addition, Cody Jenkins ’11 and Friedman were accepted to the prestigious Broadway Theatre Project to study this summer, and three students’ plays were selected as finalists for the High School Playwriting contest. Twentyfive students showcased their work at the Senior Art Show held at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. Those are just a few highlights from a year of delightful and challenging activities for our students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. As you look through the pages of this magazine, you will see photos and read stories about some of the events that have taken place since the fall/winter issue hit your mailbox. I hope you enjoy the summer!

Evan D. Peterson Head of School

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Volume 1, Issue 2 Spring/Summer 2010 Administrative Team Evan D. Peterson Head of School Steve Stackhouse Assistant Head of School Tom Mitchell Chief Financial Officer Joe Breedlove ’78 Director of Breakthrough Frank Gendusa Athletic Director Rob Hereford Head of Upper School Barbara Jiongo Director of Admissions Shari Lincoln Head of Lower School Paula Parrish CFRE Director of Advancement John Stephens Head of Middle School Randy Tierce, Ph.D. Director of Performing Arts Steve Uhr Director of Technology

Record Snowfall on Campus In an unprecedented winter, 11.5 inches of snow fell in Fort Worth in a two-day snowstorm. It caused widespread power outages but at Fort Worth Country Day, it just caused “outage,” meaning that students from various classes found themselves “outside” making snowballs and snowmen! Snow of this depth is unusual and it did force the School to let out early on Thursday and close on Friday, much to the happy hoorays of students and even teachers, for an unplanned long weekend! Photos by Tiffini Crum

Advancement Team Evan D. Peterson Paula K. Parrish CFRE Emily Bintliff Courtney Bourgeois Holly Ellman Lisa Koger Renee Pierce Kate Wilkinson Jennifer Willour The Falconer is published biannually for Fort Worth Country Day families and friends by the Advancement Team. Opinions represented may not necessarily be the position of the Board or Administration. Send alumni news and updates to Courtney Bourgeois at cbourgeois@fwcds.org or 817.302.3292. Send comments to Paula K. Parrish at pparrish@fwcds.org or 817.302.3223.

Top: Matthew Summers ’10 takes a brisk walk across campus. Contemplating their snowball fight are: Jirah Mickle ’11, Alex Manson ’11, Ellie Stackhouse ’11 and Katherine Livingston ’11; and on the ground are Alexa Griffin ’11 and Ginny Andrews ’11. Top left: Cameron Fraser ’12 and Taylor Washuta ’12 display their snowman.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Falconer: © FWCD 4200 Country Day Lane Fort Worth, Texas 76109-4299

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Bottom left: Dennis Heinrichs, grounds, employs a work vehicle as a snowplow.

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FACULTY FACES

FACULTY

Faces

Fort Worth Country Day’s faculty and staff are not satisfied to sit on their laurels. Many are busy working on advanced degrees, pursuing professional development opportunities, writing for books and magazines and more. These are just a few highlights from the past year.

Eric Boberg, Upper School English teacher, completed his MBA at Texas Christian University last August. In December he was notified that he won a “Top Neeley Scholar” award in the Professional MBA Program. The award is given for being placed on the MBA Dean’s List for all eight semesters. Boberg graduated with a 3.957 GPA. Chuck Kraus, Middle and Upper School band teacher, recently earned a doctorate of higher education and administration from the University of North Texas. His master’s degree is in education administration. Nate Kogan, Upper School history teacher, recently had his first article, which is about the LDS Church’s pavilion at the New York World’s Fair, published in the fall issue of the Journal of Mormon History. The title is “The Mormon Pavilion: Mainstreaming the Saints at the New York World’s Fair, 1964-1965.”

Bridges program.

Lower School Division Head Shari Lincoln recently had her article “Getting the New Parents to Know One Another” published in the January issue of The Head’s Letter. The article highlighted the Lower School’s Building

Faculty and staff members Kathy Lott, director of financial aid, associate director of admissions and Upper School math teacher; Steve Stackhouse, assistant head of school; and Steve Uhr, director of technology, presented at the National Association of Independent Schools’ annual conference in January. The trio created a customized template that is a tool for finance

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committees to make budget projections and see the effect of changes five years out. Cathy Walachin, director of the Malone Foundation, was among attendees who was impressed with their creation.

50 Years of Love and Laughter! Together, Eileen Kelly and Kathy Williams have given 50 years of their lives to teaching and loving children at Fort Worth Country Day. Both were honored recently with a reception in the Goff Dining Rooms, where former and current students, parents and teachers came to reminisce and celebrate. Photos by Lisa Koger

Mike Vincent, soccer program director and PE teacher, and Tom Delaney, chair of the visual art department, have published a children’s picture book called Luke’s Big Game. The book is about a little boy who loves soccer and is eagerly awaiting the day of the “big game.” Mike wrote the story and Tom did the watercolor paintings for the book. The Lower School Library has a copy. David Berthold ’99, director of technical theatre, completed his advanced degree in teaching this winter with an endorsement in gifted and talented education at the University of Texas at Arlington. In addition to earning his master’s degree this year, he completed his state teacher certification in theatre arts and is currently training to become a ropes course facilitator. Jon Shipley, Upper School Imaginative Writing teacher and director of the Writing Center, has published another fantasy short story, “Fire and Stone,” in an anthology titled The Four Horsemen. This is the fourth story he has had published in an anthology this year.

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Eileen Kelly

For the past 21 years, Eileen Kelly has greeted five- and sixyear-olds on their first day of Kindergarten at Fort Worth Country Day. Beloved by students and parents alike, Kelly retired at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Kelly began her teaching career at age 20 in New York City and taught for many years, with a stint at Kinkaid before coming to FWCD in 1989. “Teaching has always been my passion,” she recently said. She loves spending time with children and watching them learn and grow. Parents appreciated Kelly’s unique abilities to relate to their children. “Mrs. Kelly just ‘got’ Avery,” said Paige Pate. “From the minute Avery walked into her classroom, Mrs. Kelly knew how to approach her and motivate her to learn.” Paige Farris Chisholm ’87 thinks that Kelly’s greatest strength is her study of the human brain, how it develops and

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how it works. “Mrs. Kelly is amazing. She’s able to help you understand how your child learns, and how you can best help him or her.” Kelly is the mother of Eileen Kelly Rinaudo ’97, Frank Kelly ’02 and Kathleen Kelly ’04, each of whom has achieved great success at MIT, Harvard and Harvard, respectively, and after college as well. Kelly recently said, “It was a great privilege to teach at the same school my three children attended. I truly enjoyed every minute of my time at FWCD. It has been fun to come each day and meet so many smiling faces and people excited about being part of the community.”

Kathy Williams An integral part of every Lower School assembly for the past 18 years, and a teacher here for 29 years, Kathy Williams has made an impact at Fort Worth Country Day. She first looked at FWCD as a school for her daughter,

Allison Williams Olsen ’93, but soon decided she wanted to be part of it, too. Williams is probably most often associated with the Lower School Talent Show, which she chaired or co-chaired for 22 years. “We have such talented students here, and I loved giving them a chance to shine.” “Kathy is a fantastic teacher all around, but her biggest strength is inspiring students to love to read,” said Laura Elkind. “Many of the boys in her class this year have read all the Harry Potter books – and loved them!” “Mrs. Williams really taught me to be independent,” said Lindsey Rattikin ’10. “I loved her class because I got to work at my own pace and figure out how I learned best. I continue to use everything I learned from Mrs. Williams, not only in my classes, but also in other parts of my life, and I will forever be grateful for all she taught me.” “We feel truly blessed to have had her for two of our children at Country Day,” said Maura Rattikin. William Rattikin ’19 was asked for his favorite thing about Mrs. Williams and he replied, “That’s hard because there are so many good things, but probably that she’s funny and really nice!”

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LOWER SCHOOL

LOWER

School

Fourth Grade State Float Parade The culmination of all the skills students have learned in Lower School are combined in this final month-long project. Fourth graders are randomly assigned a state in Social Studies after they have studied the country as a whole. They research their state and write a report.

Lisa Koger

“Famous Americans… was absolutely fabulous! It was so amazing to see the kids in costume and question them about their character,” said Michelle Holloway. “They all did a wonderful job! I learned many new things about people I had already heard of, and I learned about many people I didn’t know about. It was a wonderful project combining so many different elements, and the kids did a wonderful job bringing it all together. I love that it incorporated research, essay writing, poetry, art, public speaking and the composition of the display boards – all done by the kids.

Above: Coleman Fortson ’18 with his Famous American, Van Cliburn.

Lower School students participated in Field Day May 21.

Mary Elizabeth Murrin ’20 hugs her Community Hero, grandfather Stephen Murrin, Jr.

The third grade Student Council representatives carry the welcome banner that kicks off the parade. The fourth graders are announced with an introduction they have written themselves. At the end of the parade, they present a cookbook of their state’s local dishes tied up with a wooden spoon to their mothers. Recipes for their cookbooks must contain products grown in that state.

Photos by Tiffini Crum

Community Heroes Second graders worked from a photograph to paint a portrait of someone they considered a community hero. Subjects included firefighters, news anchors and a chef, to name a few. The artists and their heroes were honored at a reception in the Fischer Dining Pavilion Jan. 26.

Lisa Koger

Right: Ben Belton ’18 portrays his famous American, Teddy Roosevelt.

“The fourth grade teachers did a wonderful job guiding their Famous Americans. This is a crown jewel in the Lower School empire! Thank you again for a memorable event for my fourth grader and our family.”

Tiffini Crum

Famous Americans

Kate Alexander ’22 pours tea for Mr. Peterson while Coleman Hanson ’22 serves cookies at Miss Spider’s Tea Party.

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Joaquin Castro-Balbi ’22; Mark Hart ’22; Shari Lincoln, Lower School Division Head; and Madeleine Milliorn ’22 attend the annual Miss Spider’s Tea Party in Meg Rubin’s Kindergarten class.

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Glen E. Ellman

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Lisa Koger

Aidan Vogelson ’18 proudly displays his New Mexico float.

Pirate Foluke Fabuyi ’22 enjoys a Kindergarten Treasure Hunt.

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Elena Casement ’19 and her father, John, at Mathorama, practicing math skills.

“The float parade is a very independent project that is research-based,” said fourth grade teacher Darlene Ignagni. The students conduct some of their research on the Internet with Mandy Lofquist in the computer lab. Ignagni added, “This parade and the Famous American projects are the climax of fourth grade. From here the students go on to Middle School, and they are really prepared for independent study. We are grateful to all previous Lower School teachers who have helped the children build their skills on top of which this pinnacle is achieved.” FALCONER

Lisa Koger

Kendall Lehman ’22 presents the flag during the Grand Entry to FWCD’s Kindergarten Rodeo.

Howdy, Podnuh!

“The Kindergarten Rodeo is without question the event that I await with the most eager anticipation each year. It is a reminder to me that we are meant to be a K-12 school with each level contributing to the culture that is FWCD,” said Bloch. Photo by LIsa Koger

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Clockwise from upper left: Femi Adedokun ’22 as a rodeo clown; Nicholas Pakis ’22 gets startled by the buzzer; Dan Bloch H’06 plays the banjo; and Sara Conroy ’22 tries to “lasso” Lottie Lydick ’22.

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Dan Bloch H’06 has played the banjo at the Kindergarten Rodeo for 40 years. He’s as much a part of the tradition as the costumes and the scenarios. Every year, Kindergarten students take on the roles of cowboys and clowns, horses and cows. They rope, ride and corral each other in a staged rodeo that draws cheers, laughter and applause almost to tears! “It’s the most fun I have in a day,” said Bloch.

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Lisa Koger

LOWER SCHOOL

Bubbleologist Hope Rozanski ’20 gets help from Caroline Staniford ’20 at the Lower School Bubble Festival, an annual event that celebrates the joyous exploration of science.

Mandy Lofquist, Lower School computer lab specialist, wants her students to be passionate about learning. “If they are excited about learning new things, they will be engaged and involved in what they are learning,” she said, and technology plays into this as well as their regular classes. “Today’s students were born with technology. They understand it, and it drives their learning,” Lofquist explained. The Class of 2019 began working with Promethean boards in their classroom in

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second grade (2008-2009). The second grade team was the first to write up a plan requesting the new technology for their classrooms. They underwent training in the use and integration of the technology into lesson plans to compliment traditional teaching methods.

said, “Most lessons now have excellent, large visual elements – whether from scanned-in materials, Web sites or flip charts. Sometimes these allow students to manipulate text or figures. In second grade, we actually think this has caused grades to go up!”

It was natural then for third grade classrooms to receive the boards this past year, so that the class introduced to them in second grade would be able to progress. At the end of this spring semester, Promethean boards were installed in fourth grade classrooms, and Kim Buck, fourth grade teacher, immediately started using hers.

Each teacher is able to adapt the tool to his or her teaching style. Joni Heinzelmann, third grade teacher, used a story from Tumblebook Library to teach a math concept, using the story as a catalyst for a geometry lesson.

Depending on the budget and other factors, Promethean boards will be installed in first grade classrooms in 20112012, followed by Kindergarten. “The Promethean boards are big,” Lofquist said. “They make the lessons come to life. Kids can interact with them, and it goes far beyond traditional learning.” Joan Massey, second grade teacher,

Technology also helps students who are kinesthetic learners, who learn best by moving their bodies, activating their muscles as they learn. Lofquist said, “It gives these kids a chance to get up and move and manipulate something on the Promethean board, such as a giant protractor, using their gross motor skills.” Karen Davis, third grade teacher, adds, “By using a large enough ruler, students can actually see the difference between measuring to the ½ and ¼ inches of something.” fwcd.org

Andrew Porter ’20 celebrates the 100th day of school with a T-shirt decorated with 100 pieces of bubble gum.

Stacy Sanford, Lower School science teacher, uses the document camera to demonstrate lessons for students. She has also employed the computer, DVD player and projector so students can share the projects they have created with their classmates. “This allows the student to complete a project in a format he/she is comfortable with, such as making a DVD report or PowerPoint of a planet,” she said. Lofquist incorporates what students are learning in their classroom with what she does in computer class. For example, first grade had a unit on robots this year, and she added Robot Factory to her website (www.fwcdtechie.com), enabling students to build a robot to complete chores. Each grade level has a page on this website, providing additional resources, learning games and activities. As the Lower School moves toward differentiated instruction, technology will be a key component. “It’s just going to get better and better,” Lofquist said.

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Cynthia Rimmer Prince ’87

The use of classroom technology at FWCD continues to grow in every division. The Lower School has taken on several initiatives in technology and has shown tremendous growth in the use of interactive whiteboards and active response systems. Steve Uhr, director of technology, established the FIT (Faculty Initiative Technology) program in 2006. The program provides faculty with opportunities to try emerging technologies and includes components for budgeting, professional development and peer collaboration.

Lisa Koger

Tiffini Crum

Teaching with Technology

New FWCD parent J.J. Henry signs the T-shirt of Ryan Prince ’17 at the Pink Out Lemonaid Stand during the Crowne Plaza Colonial NIT.

Julian Cedillo ’17, Christopher Cooper ’17, Sidney Diamond ’18, Jordan Diamond ’21, George Marlow ’17, Thomas Marlow ’19, Henry Marlow ’21, Hunter McLean ’17 and Ryan Prince ’17 had a “Pink” Lemonaid stand during Pink Out Day at the Crowne Plaza Colonial Golf Tournament. Professional golfer and new FWCD parent J.J. Henry stopped by to sign autographs for about 30 minutes. The kids raised $2,000, all of which was donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. FALCONER

MIDDLE SCHOOL

MIDDLE

National Junior Honor Society

School

2009-2010 Members and Candidates for Induction 2009-2010 NJHS Officers

Kennedy Stovall ’15

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Kate Yeager wears a laurel wreath headdress.

Seventh grade Vicksburg trip: Madeline Sullivan and Kate Laughlin dress in authentic antebellum attire. Lisa Koger

Sixth graders Alexander Chieffalo and Natalie Clifton parade through campus during Greekfest. The parade route ended at the Kindergarten Commons, which was set up for a Greek feast that included hummus, baklava and other traditional treats.

Current Eighth Grade Members Catherine Murray John Callaway Deep Nana Aakash Doshi John Randall Gideon Salik Naqvi William Nober Alden Griffin Ricky Rodriguez Clinton Harlin Ben Sankary Ryan Hunt Samantha Sawyer Hannah Kelly Imran Shah Kathryn Kientzy Daniel Sun Zane Lincoln Haley Wall Elizabeth Lindsey Malcolm McDonald

Seventh Graders head to Vicksburg It’s not every day that American history students get to “step back in time” to actually live the history, but every April that’s just what FWCD seventh graders do in Vicksburg, Miss. Each student has a part to play or presentation to make based on research conducted at school prior to the trip.

Robin Willis

Some speak at battlefield monuments and others at the National Cemetery; some have portrayed lawyers or jurors or soldiers or abolitionists.

Eighth graders look forward to the annual Big Bend Trip, led by Debbie Schofield and a host of parent and faculty volunteers.

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The itinerary includes visits to the Riverfront Murals, Tara Wildlife Preserve, Linden Plantation and tours of historic homes. The students stage a trial in the Old Court House, eat a plantation dinner on the museum grounds, hold a debate on slavery and listen to a studentproduced Civil War musical review at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center. Teaching history by living it – that’s what it’s all about! fwcd.org

Current Seventh Cooper Baird Ryan Burke Alyssa Dry Emily Fischer Isabelle Goetz Casey Hammett Jennifer Haston Joel Horton Georgia Rae Hull Emily Hyde Roshan Kasal Libby Kerrigan Kenzie Knox Annalyn Kumar

Grade Members Kathryn Laughlin Connall McCormack Megan Meadows Sarah Memon Margaret Moritz Tillar Murray Graham Pergande Ryan Pohler Sarah Ransom Shelby Sanford Sabrina Strain Madeline Sullivan Coleman Walker

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Robbie Stackhouse . . President Jack Livingston. . . . . .First Vice President William Kleinheinz . . . Second Vice President Ally Barber. . . . . . . . . Secretary Katherine Haley . . . . .Parliamentarian Sydney Mulqueen. . . . Historian Melody Rodriguez. . . . Treasurer

Front row, left to right: Olivia Darrow, Noah Cody, Andrew Burgos, Margot Berry, Katherine Anderson, Johnny Serralta, Brian McConnell, Isaac Klein Middle row, left to right: Reagan Mulqueen, Matthew Lee, Emma Lattimore, Ketrick Karsten, Michael Jacobson, Braden Horton, Matthew Frantz, Molly Englander, Marshall Dike Back row, left to right: Jessica Yeager, John Wittman, Alex Towle, Kristin Robinson, Savannah Norman, Sarah Nolan, William Newton, Branson Nelson, Margaret Murray Not pictured: Caroline Cameron

Seventh Grade Candidates Issac Klein Brian McConnell Johnny Serralta Sixth Grade Katherine Anderson Margot Berry Andrew Burgos Caroline Cameron Noah Cody Olivia Darrow Marshall Dike Molly Englander Matthew Frantz Braden Horton Michael Jacobson Ketrick Karsten

Candidates Emma Lattimore Matthew Lee Reagan Mulqueen Margaret Murray Branson Nelson William Newton Sarah Nolan Savannah Norman Kristin Robinson Alex Towle John Wittman Jessica Yeager

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Element Day is enjoyed by students in Larry Coffee’s eighth grade science class. It celebrates the completion of the research and production of a webpage about an element of the student’s choice. It lets the students look for creative uses for the element and design a costume representing that use. Pictured: Samantha Hughes, third place, who was lead, which can be used in the making of fishing weights. Second place was Caleb Rooker, who represented silicon, which is a semiconductor used in computer chips. First place was Robbie Stackhouse, who was beryllium, which is a lightweight element used in the skin of helicopters. Photo by Lisa Koger

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MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School Awards & Recognition

Outstanding Scholar in Fifth Grade: Jared Imber ’17 Outstanding Scholar in Sixth Grade: Reagan Mulqueen ’16 Outstanding Scholar in Seventh Grade: Melody Rodriguez ’15 Outstanding Scholar in Eighth Grade: Ricky Rodriguez ’14

Head of School Evan D. Peterson presents Ricky Rodriguez with the Top Scholar Award.

Through his academic diligence, consistency and genuine pursuit of intellectual rigor, Ricky Rodriguez ’14 has achieved the highest cumulative GPA for the overall academic year in Middle School. His name will be engraved on the Top Scholar Plaque that hangs in the Middle School office.

2009-2010 Kathryn Kibbie Citizenship Award

Chaka Cummings, FWCD’s new assistant head of the Middle School, can be counted on for at least one thing – making decisions in the best interests of the students. He is passionate about presenting the most varied opportunities and choices for them. “My passion is working with students and helping them develop into the people they want to be,” he said.

Patrick Gordon ’14

Lisa Koger

The FWCD mission statement clearly states that fostering intellectual development is a central goal. Although this is always a cooperative effort involving students, teachers and parents, and often a group process incorporating many students at the same time, each year the school makes Outstanding Scholar Melody Rodriguez ’15, Reagan Mulqueen ’16 and Jared Imber ’17 awards to an individual at each grade level. These students, at their particular grade levels, have earned the highest cumulative GPAs for the year. This is clearly a result of their dedication, determination and intellectual curiosity.

Introducing Chaka Cummings

This award is presented annually to the student who is chosen by the faculty as the outstanding citizen. This award is the most distinguished award given by the Middle School because it represents the highest values of honesty, trustworthiness and concern for others. The Kathryn Kibbie Citizenship Plaque hangs in the Middle School and will carry the name of this outstanding citizen.

Patrick Gordon ’14, Cynthia Rimmer Prince ’87 and Evan D. Peterson

Christine Collins Memorial Award

Cummings most recently taught world geography at Trinity Valley School, so he was somewhat familiar with FWCD before setting foot on campus to interview for this position. While at TVS, he created and executed a new geography curriculum that focused on map skills and geographic and cultural themes while integrating technology, oral presentation skills and team dynamics. He also created and led the school’s Community Partners Program, which focused on involving students in community service and philanthropy. Prior to coming to TVS, he taught at St. John’s School and Lexington Catholic High School, both in Kentucky.

John Wittman ’16 The Christine Collins Memorial Award is given annually in memory of Christine Collins. Christine started at Fort Worth Country Day as a Kindergarten student in 1993, and she loved school and all it had to offer. Christine died from a brain tumor as a sixth grade student, and this award was established by her family and friends to remember her.

John Wittman ’16 receives the Christine Collins Memorial Award from Karen Collins.

The Christine Collins Memorial Award honors that sixth grade student whose determination, perseverance and hard work exemplify the commitment that Christine exhibited in her life. Equally important is that the recipient’s heart mirrors Christine’s as seen through the qualities of kind-heartedness, empathy, compassion and sensitivity to others.

Cummings earned his bachelor’s degree in educational studies at Berea College in Kentucky and his MBA at the University of Kentucky. “I wanted to try business, and worked at Procter and Gamble as a senior analyst in their finance department,” he said. “I missed working with students too much and I got back into the classroom. My MBA has provided me valuable insights in designing my curriculum, and I believe this degree and the training and experiences I have had will be an asset to me in my new role as assistant head of the Middle School at Fort Worth Country Day.

Rosacker Athletic Award

James Rains, Middle School athletic coordinator; Helen Rosacker; Reed Simpson ’14; Robert Arnold ’14; McKenna Breedlove ’14; and Head of School Evan D. Peterson

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Lisa Wallace

The Rosacker Athletic Award, named in honor of Col. R.C. “Rocky” Rosacker, former FWCD athletic director, is given annually to the top boy and girl middle school athletes, This year two boys tied for the honor.

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“I learned the value of project-based education while earning my MBA,” Cummings continued. “I brought these tools into my classroom, where we did SPRING/SUMMER 2010

multiple simulations. These skills are the ones being demanded by future employers, and I want my students to be best equipped to meet those demands through personal experience.” His training with All Kinds of Minds taught him to look at learning differences first, and then come up with a creative solution for what will work with each child. “All Kinds of Minds trains educators in a program called Schools Attuned. This program teaches educators about working with students with differentiated learning styles, and creating strategies for identifying and managing these differences in a classroom setting. As the learning services coordinator at FWCD, I will work with students, parents and teachers to develop plans to help further their learning inside the classroom and develop study skills and organization. We will try to remain in constant communication to ensure that plans are working and make adjustments as necessary.”

Wish List From time to time we have prioritized requests from faculty and administration to help improve their programs. If interested, you can help directly by purchasing all or part of the following: Middle School Expansion (Name of your choice) $2 million Turf for the Field (Name of your choice) $1 million Endow Big Bend Trip (Name of your choice) $500,000 Lower School Faculty Professional Development $6,000 Middle School Faculty Professional Development $12,000 Upper School Faculty Professional Development $18,000 First Grade Promethean Interactive Boards $12,000

Cummings grew up in Harlem as one of eight children. Sports have always been part of his life. As a boxer, his record is 60-1, with 57 knockouts. He uses his boxing experiences as a way to connect to the students. He also played baseball, basketball and football, and coached varsity football.

Lower School Classroom Remodeling Call for price

Cummings said, “I bring passion to my work, and energy to what I do. I love what I do, and I try to convey that to everyone on a daily basis. I will always try to do what is best for our students!”

Student Choir Chairs $3,120

Cummings and his wife, Bobbie, are in the process of adopting a child. Their other “child” is a dog that “thinks he’s people,” Cummings joked. Cummings’ first day at FWCD is July 1. Stop by and see him in the Middle School Office.

Ballet Program $6,000 Athletic Trophy Cases $5,000

Underwrite a Page in this Magazine! $250 Contact Paula Parrish in the Advancement Office if you would like to help with one of these projects. 817.302.3223. pparrish@fwcds.org FALCONER

UPPER SCHOOL

UPPER

School

Cum Laude Society Inducts 20 New Members Tiffini Crum

Originally modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude Society membership selection honors scholastic achievement and is limited to 10 percent of the junior class and 20 percent of the senior class, elected over two years. Additional selection criteria include good character, honor, integrity and academic course load.

Texting While Driving Lab Experiment ;-( Ryan Reesing ’11 as a blind and deaf student.

Diversity Day

Front row: Earl Hoover ’11, Emily Anne Self ’11, Caroline Rodriguez ’10, Allison Yamagata ’11, Aya Alame ’11, Miranda Madrid ’11, Katie Siegel ’10, Jennifer Lindsey ’10, Courtney Reynolds ’10, Lauren Weathers ’10, Laura Lindsay Tatum ’10 Back row: Parker Nelson ’10, Jonathan Hardin ’10, Patricia Mays ’11, Katherine Livingston ’11, Joshua Scoville ’11, Spencer Shaw ’11, Ahmed Memon ’11, Michael Diffley ’10, Clinton Elledge ’10

Students in FWCD’s Upper School celebrated Diversity Day Jan. 14. In a departure from the first two years, which featured multi-cultural presentations, the focus of this year’s Diversity Day was physical challenges. Students were randomly assigned either a disability or the duties of helping a person with a disability. Some students were blind; some had various degrees of hearing impairment; some had issues with the use of arms and hands; and others needed to use crutches, canes or wheelchairs. Photos on this page by Lisa Koger

Senior BBQ

FWSO Creates Magic for Upper School Students and Faculty at a Birthday Party for a 300-year-old Violin By Christine Derber FWCD students arrived at school Feb. 11, where a blanket of heavy wet snow covered the ground. During the next 24 hours, Fort Worth would receive a record-breaking 11.5 inches of snow. But at 9:45 a.m., a different type of magic occurred in the Upper School Commons. Michael Shih, concertmaster of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by harpist Naoko Nakammura Stromberg, performed a private 45-minute recital for the Upper School. Shih plays a 1710 Stradivari violin, and 2010 is the 300th anniversary of this exquisite instrument. Antonio Stradivari, the builder of this violin, was born in Cremona, Italy, in 1644. During his lifetime, he made approximately 1,116 instruments – mostly violins but also violas, cellos and a few guitars, lutes and mandolins. Only about 700 are still in existence. The instrument played by Shih was built when Stradivari was 66 years old, during what is known as Stradivari’s Golden Period, which lasted from 1700-1720.

Right: Claire Davidovich ’10; Fred Stewart, plant ops; Laura Lindsay Tatum ’10; and Caroline Reyes ’10 Below: Courtney Reynolds ’10 gets the barbecued chicken hot off the grill from Karl Velasco-Lehmann ’10 while Fred Stewart (center) looks on. Stewart donated the meat.

Shih talked to the students about the maple, varnish and various chemicals and minerals used to treat the wood that contains the secret as to why Stradivari instruments are unsurpassed. He even demonstrated a passage of music on one of the school’s violins and then on the Stradivari. Everyone could hear the difference. Shih and Stromberg performed work by Donizetti, Saint-Saens, Currier, Ibert and Massenet. The students sat in quiet awe as the golden sound of the violin and angelic harp filled the Commons with truly gorgeous sounds. It was a magical experience; a moment that will certainly be a musical highlight in our students’ lives.

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fall/WINTER 2009

Junior AP Statistics students have designed an experiment to test the effects of texting while driving. Kyle Fraser, Stephen Tetirick (above), Sonny Stepp, Earl Hoover, Kellen Moczulski and James Terry designed the experiment for use with the XBOX 360 game Forza. Terry provided a game console as well as a realistic steering wheel, complete with floor gas pedal and brake. Twenty faculty and student volunteers participated in the study. Participants completed three runs of a curvy 2.3mile stretch of road. The first run allows the participants to get used to the game controls. In the second, participants drive a “control” run; this involves driving between 20 and 60 mph as cleanly as possible. During the final run, participants drive the same course while receiving two text messages. Responses to these text messages must be at least two words long. Initial calculations show, with 95 percent confidence, an average decrease in speed of 4 to 17 mph while texting. Final results are forthcoming, but early calculations indicate a significant number of traffic violations, such as crossing the center line and crashing, occurred while texting. FALCONER

UPPER SCHOOL

Senior Awards & Recognition

Photos by Tiffini Crum

Senior English Student Rachel Jackson Writing Beyond the Classroom Award Sam Tall Senior French Student Heather Sims Senior Latin Student Allison Yamagata

Laurie Rodriguez

Senior Spanish Student Colin Ford

Siegel Art Award Ceramics Lauren Grubbs Annie Heinzelmann Photography Award Ginger Epstein Haley Markwardt Rhode Island School of Design Book Award Keller Reese Ted Sanford Award Wesley Davis, Heather Sims Etoile Dancer Award Wesley Davis, Heather Sims

Playwriting Competition Finalists Six out of seven finalists in the annual playwriting competition sponsored by Circle Theatre and Fort Worth Theatre were FWCD students. The plays of Caroline Rodriguez ’11, Virginia Greene ’12 and James Ekstrom ’10 received a staged reading at Circle Theatre May 16. Five of the FWCD finalists and semi-finalists are pictured above: Virginia Greene ’12; Melodee Halbach, Middle and Upper School theatre teacher, James Ekstrom ’10; Caroline Rodriguez ’11; Sydney Darrow ’12 and Ian Ford ’11.

Miranda Madrid ’11 and Aya Alame ’11 plant native plants in the Green Roof experiment.

Outstanding Instrumentalist Award – Band Mikey Brooks

FWCD students planted demonstration tables on campus with various types of soil, soil depth and plant palette to determine which combinations might work best on a green roof. The tables were designed by consultants Jon Kinder and Dave Williams of Prairie Design, and were built with a $15,000 grant to improve native habitats.

FWCD Leadership and Musicianship Award – Band Sam Tall Outstanding Instrumentalist Award – Orchestra Erin Loth, Katie Siegel

Colin Ford

Senior Mathematics Student Colin Ford

Senior Art Student Allison Yamagata

Dalton Dry ’13; Nick Palko ’13; Bobby Baumeister ’13; Cade Fuller ’13; Rita Zawalnicki, Upper School community service coordinator; James Terry ’11; Matthew Fleet ’11; Kunal Patel ’12; Alex Gates ’12; and Rachel Hughes ’13 clean up FWCD’s portion of Trinity Trails.

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Siegel Art Award Art History Marilyn Newberry Laura Lindsay Tatum Koeppe Award for Painting Lindsey Stiefel SPRING/SUMMER 2010

Behind the Curtain Award Karl Velasco-Lehmann Class of ’72 Cameron Horton Varsity Awards Annie Heinzelmann Julia Jennings Erin Loth Elizabeth Vance Don Welch Memorial Award Erin Loth, Allison Yamagata William A. Landreth, Jr. ’67 Award Keller Reese Class of ’70 Award Emily Samuelson Dr. Lawrence P. Kleuser Memorial Trophy Miles Bratton Annie Heinzelmann

Flight Award Laura Lindsay Tatum Ashley Uptegraft Lauren Weathers

History Chairman’s Award Burke Kleinheinz

Outstanding Students of the Sciences Nicole Dory, Juan Favela, Colin Ford, Jonathan Hardin, Parker Nelson, Tim Sotman

Shining Star Award Parker Nelson

Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Award Nicole Dory, James Ekstrom

Senior History Student Heather Sims

Mathematics Chairman’s Award Juan Favela

Best Performance – West Side Story Jonathan Hardin

Erin Loth

FWCD Leadership and Musicianship Award – Orchestra Taylor Soulis Outstanding Senior Theatre Award Rashaun Sibley Best Performance – As You Like It James Ekstrom Clinton Elledge Colin Ford Paige Friedman Jonathan Hardin

Falcon Quill Award Lindsey Rattikin Heather Sims Falcon Quill – Most Valuable Claire Davidovich Class of ’75 You Make Me Smile Award Ashley Uptegraft

Juan Favela receives the Headmaster’s Heart and Hustle Award from Evan D. Peterson.

Andrew Cordell Community Service Award Claire Davidovich Breakthrough Fort Worth Hero Edward Monreal Jeff Schriber Headmaster’s Heart and Hustle Award Juan Favela Humanitas Per Disciplinam Award James Ekstrom Paige Friedman Alumni Association Award Claire Davidovich Campus Award Laura Lindsay Tatum Falcon Award Heather Sims

FWCD Year-End Awards To see the complete listing of end-of-year awards for Lower, Middle and Upper School, go to https:// www.fwcd.org/ftpimages/123/misc/ misc_81435.pdf or snap this tag with your smartphone. (For instructions on downloading the free app, see page 1.)

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Valedictorian

Graduation

Class of 2010

Colin Ford ’10 has played many roles since he stepped onto Fort Worth Country Day’s stage in sixth grade, most recently as Valedictorian of the Class of 2010. From Link Crew Leader to Math Club President to member of FWCD’s improv troupe, The Celery Heads, Colin’s influence can be seen throughout the campus. An accomplished vocalist and celebrated member of our theatre program, Colin’s performance as Feargal McFerrin III in Back to the 80’s: The Totally Awesome Musical earned him a nomination for the Betty Lynn Buckley Award for Best Supporting Male Actor.

While Dr. Chuck Kraus led the Fort Worth Country Day band in “Pomp and Circumstance,” the Trustees, faculty and staff processed into Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium with the Class of 2010 following immediately behind. It was an early afternoon graduation, a change from years past, but one that offered significant improvements. With support and suggestions from parents earlier in the year, adjustments were made in the ceremony that elevated the program to a level everyone enjoyed. Special Events Coordinator Courtney Bourgeois helped Rita Zawalnicki, Upper School registrar, and Assistant Head of Upper School Peggy Wakeland with logistics and placement of furniture to open up the stage and enhance the overall appearance. A giant banner hung behind the graduates framed them on the stage and added a new look to the ceremony. Flowers and greenery added to the ambiance. These changes literally set the stage for a more dignified presentation.

After exhausting FWCD’s math curriculum last year, Colin spent his senior year taking Multivariable Differential Calculus and Linear Algebra online through Stanford University’s Education Program for Gifted Youth. Last spring, Colin was honored with the Faculty Endowed Scholarship, an honor given to the student who best represents excellence at FWCD, both in and out of the classroom. Colin is talented, energetic and inspiring, and possesses a rich and sincere love of learning – a winning combination that will bring him continued success as he pursues his undergraduate studies at Rice University.

Salutatorian Heather Sims offered the invocation and President of the Board Randy Gideon praised the students for their success in so many arenas this year. The senior class asked history teacher Dean Barker to speak and his remarks generated cheers and lots of hugs.

A high-flying Falcon and member of the FWCD community since Kindergarten, Heather Sims ’10 fully embodies the School’s core values. Recognized for her outstanding academic talent, Heather’s honor of being named Salutatorian of the Class of 2010 is one of many accomplishments. Heather is committed to strong ethical ideals and her determination to give more than 100 percent to every task is most admirable. The winner of this year’s Falcon Award, Heather is a natural leader.

Valedictorian Colin Ford and Paige Friedman also spoke to their class and praised them for their sustained leadership through the years. The class was awarded $5,547,020 in meritbased scholarships to date. This number exceeds last year’s total amount by more than $300,000. After the ceremony, the students and faculty headed outdoors for a lovely reception under a tent organized by junior room reperesentatives Laura O’Brien and Mary Katherine Tetirick. Next year, graduation will be Friday, May 13, 2011, at Daniel Meyer Coliseum on the TCU campus.

Salutatorian

People are drawn to Heather’s “can-do” attitude and her capacity for being fair. Elected by her peers, Heather was a twoyear member and president of the Honor Council. A supportive friend, Heather is a mentor to younger students. As one of this year’s editors-in-chief of The Falcon Quill, Heather offered positive feedback each day, and created an ideal working environment where students felt supported and empowered to meet their writing goals and deadlines. A talented dancer, Heather has studied ballet at FWCD since fourth grade. She has taken every opportunity to improve her technique, and it is her serious work ethic that has made her a role model within the department. Heather will attend Davidson College in the fall and will continue to make a difference in the world far beyond Davidson’s North Carolina campus. Opposite: Head of School Evan D. Peterson helps Courtney Carter ’10 with her tassle.

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Photos by Lisa Koger

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SPRING/SUMMER 2010

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Glamourcraft School Division

Paige Friedman ’10 addresses the Class of 2010 at Commencement.

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Jonathan Hardin ’10, Sam Tall ’10 and Lindsey Stiefel ’10 share last-minute hugs.

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Siblings Madeline Berthold ’10 and David Berthold ’99, director of technical theatre, enjoy a moment at graduation.

SPRING/SUMMER 2010

Lisa Koger

To view speeches from this year’s graduation go to https://www.fwcd.org/podium/tools/SlideShow. aspx?a=123432 or snap this tag with your smartphone. (For instructions on downloading the free app, see page 1.)

Michael Diffley ’10 poses with his “gift” for the Head of School.

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PERFORMING ARTS

PERFORMING

Arts

1. Jets: Haley Pigman ’13 as Velma and Cody Jenkins ’11 as Riff 2. Sharks: Lalitha Kasal ’11 as Anita and Jonathan Hardin ’10 as Bernardo 3. James Sanders ’11 as Tony and Caroline Rodriquez ’11 as Maria 4. The full cast performs “Somewhere.”

West Side Story

5. Cody Jenkins ’11 and the Jets 6. Shark girls Victoria Bliss ’11 and Tate Hanchin ’12 dance to “America.”

Photos by Glen E. Ellman And the Buckley Award goes to… Paige Friedman ’10 for Best Female Ensemble Member in her role as Anybodys in West Side Story. Paige’s honor is the first Buckley acting award ever won by FWCD. The recently graduated senior was stunned by the recognition but gave a gracious and articulate acceptance speech, displaying her years of improv experience, befitting the occasion. Congratulations, Paige!

The Tenth Annual Betty Lynn Buckley Awards were held May 20 at Casa Mañana. The awards honor excellence in high school musical theatre. FWCD was nominated in these additional categories: Paige Friedman ’10 won the first FWCD acting award at the Buckley Awards. Senior cast and crew members: Front row: Gregory Lehrmann, Rachel Jackson, Rashaun Sibley, Marquel Norton, Caroline Reyes, Paige Friedman, Colin Ford, Parker Nelson, Emily Boyle, Jennifer Lindsey Back row: James Ekstrom, Jonathan Hardin, Clinton Elledge, Grant Johnston, Karl Velasco-Lehmann, Jacob Pope, Edward Monreal

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James Sanders ’11 for Best Male Actor Jonathan Hardin ’10 for Best Supporting Male Actor Cody Jenkins ’11 for Best Supporting Male Actor Marquel Norton ’10 for Best Male Ensemble Member Caroline Reyes ’10 for Best Female Ensemble Member West Side Story for Best Musical All schools that received a Best Musical nomination performed during the awards ceremony. FWCD performed “Tonight” from West Side Story. fwcd.org

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Founders Day Founders Day 2010 recognized FWCD faculty and staff for their years of service to the School. Angie Goin was inducted into Club Viginti for her 20 years of service. This year’s guest speaker was Capt. Wendy Kosek ’00. Recognition for 35 years of service: Debby Jennings

Recognition for 10 years of service: Ken Allen, Maria Lupe Arechar, Andy Beasley, Consuelo Debora, Tom Delaney, Leo Desormier, Theresa Fuss, Joni Heinzelmann, Darlene Ignagni, Missi Olson Kovachev ’89, Reyna Martinez, Kellie McLarty, Maria Olvera, Chad Peacock, Cynthia Reyes, Craig Slayton, Fred Stewart and Lisa Wallace. Recognition for 5 years of service: Lynnette Burleson, Chris Edmonds, Holly Ellman, Frank Gendusa, Tammi Holcomb, Meg Rubin and Rita Zawalnicki Photo by Tiffini Crum

Tiffini Crum

Recognition for 30 years of service: Dan Foust

Capt. Wendy Kosek ’00 displays the piece of shrapnel removed from her leg. Capt. Wendy Kosek ’00 flanked by her parents, Joe and Susan Kosek.

Kosek described the violent expolsion that changed her world but not her spirit. She even brought show and tell – a piece of shrapnel the doctors removed from her shattered right knee. Formerly a runner, Kosek has changed her workout routine, but her attitude is still positive and forward-thinking. In her moving address at Founders Day, she recounted the numerous people at FWCD who helped shape her attitude and instilled in her a commitment that helped her recuperate after numerous surgeries. Kosek thanked the faculty of FWCD profusely for their sacrifices that were both motivating and inspiring. She said, “The positive impact of the faculty can be seen by the numbers of faculty who are completely committed to their students. They attend student events, help them after school and never seem to tire of them. They are our mentors and our friends.” Kosek added that FWCD faculty see their teaching jobs as a profession and devote themselves entirely to their students. She said she learned perseverance, confidence and the ability to overcome challenges while at FWCD. “I had all the tools I needed to succeed at Notre Dame and in the Air Force ROTC. I am deeply thankful for what I learned at Country Day.”

Capt. Wendy Kosek ’00 and Cindy Allen, executive assistant to the Head of School, share a hug.

To read Capt. Kosek’s moving speech – go to https://www.fwcd.org/ftpimages/123/ misc/misc_80778.pdf or snap this tag with your smartphone. (For instructions on downloading the free app, see page 1.)

Recognition for 10 years of service: Front row: Maria Lupe Arechar, Ken Allen, Theresa Fuss, Darlene Ignagni, Joni Heinzelmann, Kellie McLarty, Cynthia Reyes, Reyna Martinez, Consuelo Debora Back row: Maria Olvera, Chad Peacock, Fred Stewart, Lisa Wallace, Andy Beasley, Missi Olson Kovachev ’89, Craig Slayton, Tom Delaney, Leo Desormier

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Making a Difference Around the World Around the world or around the block, Fort Worth Country Day students, alumni, faculty and staff devote countless hours and an abundance of talent and energy in making the world a better place. Whether it’s something simple like the Lower School Student Council’s annual collection of toiletries for the Presbyterian Night Shelter project or as complicated as uprooting your life and moving to South Africa to do HIV/AIDS research, there is a common plaid fabric woven throughout. Here are just a few stories of how the people of FWCD are making a difference.

Photo courtesy of Wade McMullen ’01

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“I know that down the road overseas medical work will be a permanent part of my career. I am hopeful that once I am done with my surgical training, I’ll be able to spend more time practicing medicine overseas. I really love Guatemala and hope to work with the indigenous Mayan populations that live in the western part of the country.” Richard “Cully” Wiseman ’97

Richard “Cully” Wiseman ’97 is currently a surgery resident training in Seattle. “International health and overseas medical work has been an interest of mine since college,” Wiseman said. “I graduated in 2001 and delayed starting medical school a year to work and travel with another friend. We applied for and won a scholarship from Vanderbilt University that funded 50 percent of our work; the other half came from donations, including many FWCD families.” Wiseman and his friend studied and worked with HIV patients in South Africa; taught computer classes and volunteered at a large rural hospital in Tanzania; and established a pediatric health project in Guatemala, which continues today (www.primerospasos.org/main.html). While in medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Wiseman helped start SIGHT – Students Improving Global Health Together – UTMB’s first international health interest group. Prior to his fourth year of medical school, he received a Fogarty Fellowship and lived in Durban, South Africa, while doing HIV/AIDS research and treating AIDS patients at one of the organization’s free clinics. Although he is in Seattle training in general surgery, he makes it back to Guatemala to help when he can and check on the progress of Primeros Pasos. “I know that

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down the road overseas medical work will be a permanent part of my career. I am hopeful that once I am done with my surgical training, I’ll be able to spend more time practicing medicine overseas. I really love Guatemala and hope to work with the indigenous Mayan populations that live in the western part of the country.” Elizabeth Pratt ’04 has taken a different path to global service. After graduating from Stanford University in 2008, she spent significant time teaching in Mexico, Thailand, China and Australia, and currently teaches in Tanzania.

Pratt became interested in teaching through her experience with Summerbridge, now Breakthrough Fort Worth. “The connections I made with students and the results I saw as a teacher with Breakthrough led me to study education in college,” Pratt said. “I’d like to pursue a career in educational leadership or research, and spending some time in the classroom as a full-time teacher is the first step.” The many rewards Pratt experienced by teaching around the world have not come without challenges. “My challenges have included negotiating a basically immutable bureaucracy in China, learning

“My challenges have included negotiating a basically immutable bureaucracy in China, learning how to work with students whose English knowledge is nonexistent or very low, and learning how to teach up to nine lessons in a single day.” Elizabeth Pratt ’04

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how to work with students whose English knowledge is nonexistent or very low, and learning how to teach up to nine lessons in a single day,” she explained. “Also, while living abroad in regions where few other foreigners do, one automatically becomes the subject of much curiosity from locals.” Pratt has gone out for a run, only to have flocks of children and adults join in and run along with her. Living in a dump is not something that comes to mind when you consider housing options for humans. But that’s exactly the situation Wade McMullen ’01 discovered in Managua, Nicaragua. After graduating from the University of Southern California, he moved there to work for a year for a small, grassroots community development non-governmental organization called Manna Project International. He helped run a public health program benefitting malnourished children and their families who lived inside the city trash dump. Following that, he spent two years working for a faith-based human rights organization, International Justice Mission, that helps ensure justice for victims of violent oppression in the developing world. He worked on a team in Bangalore, India, that assisted the Indian government in rescuing families from bonded labor slavery and prosecuting the slave owners in Indian courts.

in Boston and Durban, South Africa. He completed research on the human immune system and HIV infection. Harlow’s program in Durban has emerged as a cutting-edge research institute in a resource-constrained setting, developing local collaborations and directing young scientists toward careers in research. As a master’s candidate to two schools of Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health and the School for International and Public Affairs, he served as a producer for the iThemba Film Project, an award-winning documentary film that premiered on the Sundance Channel. The film traces personal stories of HIV infection in South Africa, and serves to this day as an advocate for universal treatment access.

Humanity Award from the FWCD Alumni Association. He touts FWCD’s well-balanced educational approach incorporating academic rigor, arts, athletics and community service as solid preparation for his career. Axton Reilly ’06 traveled to the far east, where he was moved by the severe poverty of Bangladesh and India. Reilly took short-term action by purchasing a big pot of cooked, hot food at a shrine in India and serving 50 destitute children. After he returned to college at Sewanee: The University of the South, he addressed longterm hunger needs by sponsoring a student to make the same journey he had made. In addition, he sponsored two students to intern with a microfinance organization serving the poor. Students at Fort Worth Country Day learn to give back beginning in Kindergarten by bringing in gently-used mittens, scarves and hats for homeless children. Each year the students participate in community service projects, such as completing a chore to earn a dollar to help save the rainforests, bringing in books for students at an economically-disadvantaged elementary school, to name a few.

Middle School students continue serving the community by making Jason Harlow ’96 stands at the equator in Uganda care packages for FWCD’s on a trip to see the mountain gorillas in the Bwindi recent graduates as they begin to study for finals, Impenetrable Forest. He currently attends organize the School’s Race law school at New York for the Cure team, work University, where he helped write a report Upon graduation from Columbia in 2007, with children at the Pythian Home in on human rights abuse in the Philippines Harlow joined the Clinton Foundation Weatherford and more. for the United Nations, among other HIV/AIDS Initiative’s effort to increase efforts. He received a fellowship from NYU pediatric access to antiretroviral therapy The Upper School formalizes the program last summer to work with a local NGO to within a targeted set of 40 low-income by requiring students to complete 40 help build the rule of law in rural Sierra countries. After returning to the United hours of community service to graduate. Leone, and helped investigate a dispute States he joined the Harvard Initiative for Most students go above and beyond that between the local community, government Global Health, and is responsible for a new requirement, with Edward Monreal ’10 and a multinational gold mining company. program to identify, recruit and develop at the top of the list this year with 743.5 the next generation of scientific leaders hours of service to organizations, such as Jason Harlow ’96 put his molecular from resource-limited countries. Breakthrough Fort Worth, Habitat for biology and biochemistry degrees to work Humanity, the Fort Worth Public Library for the Partners AIDS Research Center Harlow received the 2009 Service to and more. SPRING/SUMMER 2010

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Every Day is Earth Day Photo by Glen E. Ellman

More than 1,100 students in grades K-12 and about 200 faculty/ staff members participated in the school’s second cross-discipline event. Titled Every Day is Earth Day, the event was timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the day set aside to celebrate the planet. What each person did that day depended on their grade level or teaching assignment, and ranged from learning what can be recycled to planting trees, and from creating tree people art to making a commercial for Earth Day. “My vision of Every Day is Earth Day was in color, yet not in 3-D like the outstanding event it turned out to be,” said Andréanne Annis, Middle School French teacher, co-chair of the Earth Day steering committee and Reading Council president. “The steering committee planned for every detail, as to us, every day had been Earth Day for quite some time. After verifying the weather report, meeting with plant ops and the entire faculty/staff the day before, I knew the event would be amazing! “We envisioned a cross-divisional, K-12 event that would enrich by its content and interactions. We dreamed big, met our objectives and ended up with something that was even greater than our dream!” said Annis. The Reading Council’s mission statement is to bridge the gaps

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within FWCD’s K-12 community while fostering literacy. The movie created by Lisa Wallace’s yearbook DVD staff for the general session showcased people and projects from all three divisions while inspiring the passion to learn about our earth, the courage to lead and the commitment to serve. Annis said, “Together we really can make a difference and stimulate the motivation to read. Throughout the day, I could see juniors and seniors seated with lower school students sitting on their laps and a sea of Falcons wearing green. Those who read can lead, and that unites us powerfully!”

Kathy Williams’ students worked with Stephen Tetirick ’11 and Katherine Livingston ’11. “I was amazed at how well those two juniors stepped right in to help the little ones in my third grade class. The kids were hanging onto them when it was time to go. It was a great experience for all the students.”

80 sixth graders fished. 36 fish were caught and released.

The first graders performed their play Every Day is Earth Day for the Middle and Upper schools. Janie Bradford ’21 was thrilled because the Upper School students gave them a standing ovation. “When we were doing a bird’s eye view picture, I was in the ‘D’ in Day,” she exclaimed.

Maddie Sullivan ’15 found Earth Day to be All had a great day Debby Jennings, head librarian and co-chair exciting and fun. Along with other seventh graders, of the steering committee, agrees. She saw she taught kindergarteners how and what to recycle. on the water! Every Day is Earth Day as a way to strengthen the “It will be very helpful to them and their families in the bonds of the FWCD community. “We hoped to get future,” she said. – continued on page 35 students to interact across divisions in addition to learning To view the first grade’s performance more about conservation and nature.” In addition, faculty members of Every Day is Earth Day go to www. had the opportunity to work with teachers in other divisions. “It’s youtube.com/watch?v=tk9GNkIlggY& wonderful to see us all working on something we are excited about feature=related or snap this tag with and that brings us together,” she said. your smartphone. (For instructions on downloading the free app, see page 1.)

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Katie Neathery ’16 and Sarah Nolan ’16 enjoy class outside.

Yearbook DVD staff celebrates after completion of the Earth Day movie. Back row left to right: Madi Bass ’13, Ellie Stackhouse ’11, Bryan Kelly ’11, Wynne Philpott ’12, Victor Flores ’13, Caroline Rattikin ’13, Shelby Roberts ’12, Brittany Alexis ’12 Front row: Shannon O’Brien ’11, Alex Espinoza ’12, Whit Maddox ’12

“Earth Day taught me a lot about how much we waste each year,” said Spencer Pergande ’17. He also learned how many things we can recycle. “One thing that amazed me was that we could rebuild all our commercial airplanes three times over with the aluminum we throw away.” Pergande enjoyed the recycle relays. “Those were some funny ways to recycle! Altogether, Earth Day was a good day.”

Above: Yun Jae Sohn ’12 creates tree art. Below: Bailey Wallace ’14 and Beth Ann Herd ’14 test water samples from the pond.

Shelby Stripling ’11 enjoyed volunteering because she came to FWCD in ninth grade and didn’t have the experience of being in

First grade presents Every Day is Earth Day play.

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Earth Day by the Numbers 4 flower beds planted, plus a red oak tree with additional plants in the Kindergarten Playground Sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts

1,100 sack lunches served outdoors by Sage More than 400 stone pine trees sent home with Lower School students for family planting

While it might seem like an opportunity to “goof off,” fishing in the pond for sixth graders was actually integrated with the Earth Day theme. Jim Brady, boys volleyball program director and P.E. teacher, and Michael Parker, Middle School humanities teacher, led groups fishing in the pond. Parker said, “We discussed five aspects of fish habitat – water, food, structure, space and oxygen – plus the issues that arise from destruction or pollution to any aspect of the habitat. We also talked about how natural events on the earth affect the results of catching more or less fish on any particular day, such as clouds vs. sun, high vs. low pressure systems, water clarity and temperature.”

Kellie Scott ’11 assists first graders with their recycle signs.

Isabella Burnette ’15 shows Isabella Gutiérrez ’22 where to look for the reycle symbol on a plastic bottle.

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Fifth graders string popcorn to feed the birds. Also pictured: Karen Curella, Middle School French and Spanish teacher; Angie Goin, Middle School registrar; and Courtney Bourgeois, alumni and special events coordinator.

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Holly Ellman

Elizabeth Hodnett ’16 helps Margaret Murray ’16 unhook her fish.

Earth Day Photo Contest winners back row: Michael Parker, Sherrilan Gilley, Lisa Koger Middle row: Robbie Stackhouse ’14, Lauren Pinto ’13, Kirstin Mullins ’18, Clark Sheats ’18, Brendan O’Connell ’18 Front row: Chas Berry ’19, Julian Cedillo ’17, Grant Goldman ’20, Max Vittimberga ’19, Katie Bynum ’20, Banner Robinson ’22

the Lower School here. “I had a great time making arts and crafts and playing games that had to do with Earth Day. I liked seeing what goes on in second grade on a special day.” Aidan Karsten ’21 was excited about the hike. “I saw an animal footprint,” he said. “My favorite program was performing the first grade play for the upper schoolers.” The highlight of the afternoon’s general session was watching the video of the morning’s activities put together by the yearbook DVD class. Editors Shannon O’Brien ’11 and Ellie Stackhouse ’11 joined staff Brittany Alexis ’12, Madi Bass ’13, Victor Flores ’13, Whit Maddox ’12, Wynne Philpott ’12, Caroline Rattikin ’13 and Shelby Roberts ’12 filming the Recycle Relay, the dedication of the Peace Pole, putting together the giant Earth Day photograph and more. “Earth Day this year was truly an amazing experience,” wrote Melody Rodriguez ’15. “From relays to watching the first grade play, to making animals out of clay, this was a day that I will never forget.”

To view the making of the Earth Day photo on pages 32-33 go to www. youtube.com/watch?v=Jcu3xJ0ABAE& feature=related or snap this tag with your smartphone. (For instructions on downloading the free app, see page 1.)

Fifth graders Ann Staniford and Reagan Smith help “green” the campus by planting flowers.

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Breakthrough students and student teachers enjoyed the 14th annual Fancy Meal Celebration luncheon at the Fort Worth Club June 28. This annual affair raises much-needed funding for Breakthrough Fort Worth’s summer session, and serves as an important learning component in the program.

earned the honor of Most Improved Campus for 2008-2009. Aligning with Jurado’s Breakthrough roots, Citizen Schools are a growing network of after-school programs designed to complement classroom learning for students in the middle grades.

Some of Jurado’s best Breakthrough memories include being part of a team and meetings The event ensures students an opportunity in the faculty room brainstorming to create to gain real-life experience practicing skills engaging lesson plans. “Most of all, I loved in conversation, etiquette and deportment. when a student would take a leadership Joycelyn Jurado, To prepare, these young people work with role—speaking in front of the group, leading Fancy Meal keynote speaker student teachers to study proper table manners, an activity, answering a question. I loved review acceptable topics for conversation and hold a mock seeing students own their learning and find a moment of personal luncheon to practice their skills. pride that pushed them forward.” Jurado added, “My proudest accomplishment as Breakthrough’s program coordinator was Breakthrough students consider it a great privilege to participate in becoming a leader – promoting a culture where learning is fun and Fancy Meal. The activity is considered a “right of passage” that the developing a culture of achievement.” program’s eighth grade students look forward to each year. Jurado’s Breakthrough experience influenced her career path. “My Rising ninth grader Zavedia Herod participated in the 2009 event time at Breakthrough allowed me to explore teaching and ignited and has an especially fond memory of that day. As the luncheon within me a passion for social justice in education in out-of-school adjourned, an executive seated with her handed Herod a business time. I was supported by students, Breakthrough staff and the card and encouraged her to call if she needed anything. Herod still FWCD community. Breakthrough paved the way for me as a has the card. She said it meant a lot to her, and she continues to be scholar and leader in education toward service in my community.” in awe “that someone so important really wanted to help me.” Breakthrough also has contributed to her current position. This year’s keynote speaker was former Breakthrough associate “Breakthrough has an amazing culture that stands on values, is Joycelyn Jurado. She was a student teacher in the program’s 2004 infused with joy and has a mantra that begins, ‘We are young summer session and served as program coordinator from 2004 to people who choose to make a difference.’ I grew so much as a 2006. Jurado earned her master’s degree in educational leadership leader and human being in my time at Breakthrough. In my from the renowned Teachers College of Columbia University. work now, I try to create an environment where everyone can be Since 2007, she has served as the founding campus director for empowered with the same joy, creativity and passion I found at the Citizen Schools at Kealing Middle School in Austin, which Breakthrough.”

fall/WINTER 2009

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ATHLETIC NEWS

ATHLETIC

News

Jim Brady

FWCD Signs Three NCAA Division I Athletes on National Signing Day!

Jim Brady

Elizabeth Vance ’10 will be a member of the field hockey team at the University of Louisville. Elizabeth was a captain of the Division I Championship field hockey team this year, and was named High School All American for the West Region. Elizabeth also was a member of the soccer team, track and field team and was MVP in golf her sophomore year.

Matt Heinzelmann

Tina, Elizabeth and David Vance

Drs. Lad and Laurie Dory and Nicole

CountryDayPhotos.com

Nicole Dory ’10 will continue her career in track and field at The College of William and Mary. Nicole has been an SPC Champion several years in a row in the pole vault, triple jump, long jump and 4x100. She is also the current record holder in all four events. Along with track and field, Nicole also has been a part of the field hockey, soccer and cross country programs.

This year, two girls teams – field hockey and soccer – made it to the big game and walked off the field as Division I Champions. Eleven girls were members of both teams.

Athletes display their two Division I SPC Championship rings. Front row: Shannon O’Brien ’11, Julia Jennings ’10, Elizabeth Vance ’10, Hannah Pohler ’10, Nancy Bonds ’11, Taylor Smith ’12 Back Row: Annie Heinzelmann ’10, Haley Arias ’11, Emily Samuelson ’10, Emily Self ’11, Claire Buechele ’12

The last time two FWCD teams won in the same year was 20042005, when boys volleyball and girls basketball won. The last time two boys teams won was 1995-1996, when wrestling and volleyball won. In 1983-1984, the rare feat of three girls teams being crowned SPC Champions – volleyball, basketball and softball – topped the charts. Congratulations to these two teams and their hard-fought and much-deserved Championships!

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Dr. Todd, Emily and DeDe Samuelson

CountryDayPhotos.com

As an athlete, one always dreams of the “big game.” In the world of FWCD athletics, that big game is the SPC Division I Championship game. When you look at the conference and realize how many teams and how much talent exist, that feat becomes quite daunting. To make it to that big game takes a lot of preparation, dedication, determination, talent and guts.

Jim Brady

Champs x 2

Emily Samuelson ’10 will play soccer for the University of Pennsylvania. She was all-conference in soccer and was named to the Star-Telegram Super Team. Emily was a captain of the Division I Championship soccer team this year. In addition, she was a member of the Division I Championship field hockey team and was named to the National High School All Academic Squad. She also was a member of the track team.

Good luck to these three amazing student athletes as they continue their careers at the next level! SPRING/SUMMER 2010

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ATHLETIC NEWS

The Year in Sports... 8

9 8. Blake Waltrip ’12 intercepts the ball. Photo by Cody Bills

9. Kyle Fraser ’11 broke five school records this season.

Photo by Vicki Devine

10. Courtney Reimer ’11 fights for the ball. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com 11. Tim Sotman ’10, Parker Nelson ’10, Jonathan Hardin ’10 and James Ekstrom ’10, helped lead the team to a third-place finish at SPC in wrestling.

Photo by Tom Delaney

12. Kamryn Conway ’13 cheers on the Falcons. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com 13. James Chilcoat ’12 drives to the basket. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com 14. Taylor Smith ’12 was selected to play on the U.S. World Cup U17 team. Photo by Cody Bills

15. Xavier White ’13 looks to pass.

Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com

1. Keller Reese ’10, selected to the Private School All-Star Football Game, was an Old Spice Red Zone nominee. Photo by Jim Brady 2. Elizabeth Eliot Dyess ’10 cheers on the Falcons. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com

3. Cameron Horton ’10 prepares to pass. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com

4. Tara Gordon ‘12 was selected to compete at the National Futures Tournament this summer in Virginia Beach. Photo by Matt Heinzelmann 5. Daniel Steinbrenner ’12 passes his opponent. Photo by Vicki Devine

6. Lauren Grubbs ’10 and Margaret Lee ’12 lead the way for the Falcons. Photo by Vicki Devine 7. Troy Fore ’10 passes while Kevin Murphy ’12 supports his teammate. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com 8. Madeeha Sadiq ’12 and Abby Cox ’12 give their all. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com

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15 FALCONER

ATHLETIC NEWS

Fort Worth Country Day Wins Two CASE District IV Awards

The marketing team decided to embrace FWCD’s Fort Worth Country Day was one of only two well-earned reputation of having a rigorous independent schools recognized by CASE (Council Can curriculum while also illustrating the joy our for the Advancement and Support of Education) g challengin students have in lifelong learning. Lisa Koger, with a Grand Award in a group that included mostly fun? marketing manager, designed the ads using a colleges and universities in the district. Only five other be series of photographs of students engaged in independent schools in the Southwest District earned science projects, orchestra and other activities. awards. The projects were created and produced by the The ads were used to advertise admissions events Advancement Team. for prospective families in the fall, and continue to be used to drive families to take a personal Awards Offered: so! Our students think tour and consider FWCD. Grand Award, presented for an entry judged to be the best of its class FWCD also earned a Special Award for the Excellence Award, presented for an exceptional entry eight-page advertorial inserted in the Jan. Achievement Award, presented for an 11 Fort Worth Business Press in conjunction outstanding entry with the paper’s Private School Guide. “College Ready, World Special Award, presented at the judges’ discretion for an entry Ready, Future Ready” was designed by Koger, and the articles that deserves recognition were written by public relations manager Holly Ellman; director of Advancement Paula Parrish, CFRE; Kristin Vaughn, director FWCD earned the Grand Award for print advertising projects for of College Counseling; and Steve Uhr, director of Technology. the “Can Challenging Be Fun?” advertising campaign. The concept The piece was used to provide a larger context of our school to for this campaign was initiated by Barbara Jiongo, admissions prospective parents, assure them they would be welcome at FWCD director. When sifting through the new student surveys from last and to remind current families of our many accomplishments. year, the top two descriptive words students wrote about FWCD were fun and challenging.

8:30-10 a.m. Jan. 20 and Feb. 3, Coffees and Tours: 3, 6 p.m.* K-12 Prospective Parent for Grades 5-12: Feb. 24 Dinner and Open House e Grades 1-12: March 3 A’s Prospective Family 1; Application Deadlin e Kindergarten Feb. Application Deadlin tour.

e a personal 3209 09 to arrang@fwcds.o 817.302.32 rg or 817.302. Call us atRSVP at yespinoza to Yolanda Espinoza 9 *Please

4200 Country Day Lane,

Fort Worth, TX 76109-429

www.fwcd.org

1. Robby LeBus ’10 slides into home. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com

2. Juan Favela ’10 and his teammates were SPC Division 1 runner-ups and North Zone champions.

Club Viginti and the FWCD Alumni Board Host a Faculty Reunion Dozens of former and current faculty, staff and alumni came to the Fischer Dining Pavilion for the second annual Faculty and Staff Reunion. It was a time to reconnect and renew relationships made at FWCD through the last 40 years. People lingered over tall tales and friendships.

Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com

3. Claire Buechele ’12 and the varsity girls tennis team made it to the SPC Division II finals. Photo by Lisa Koger 4. Girls Golf Team displays their SPC Division I Runnerup Trophy. Samantha Berry ’11, Julia Jennings ’10, Annie Heinzelmann ’10, Kyle Fraser ’11, Nancy Bonds ’11 and Coach Dean Barker

Former faculty and staff who had not been on campus recently had the opportunity to tour the new Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Center with tour guide Tom Delaney, chair of the visual arts department. They were duly impressed with the awardwinning building.

Photo by Matt Heinzelmann

5. Greg Caraway ‘11 goes for the birdie. Photo by Cindy Bills 6. Taylor Washuta ’12 fends off the attacker, assisted by Karl Lehmann ’10. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com 7. Clifton Harlin ’11 broke the FWCD pole vault record and was SPC champion. Photo by CountryDayPhotos.com

Bob Balch of Tulsa was the former faculty member who came the farthest distance to attend the reunion. Balch was a music teacher from 1966-1976 and began FWCD’S tradition of an annual spring musical.

8. Nathan Bowser ’13 hurdles to the finish. Photo by

CountryDayPhotos.com

9. Siddharth Gutta ’13 answers with a backhand. Photo by Vicki Devine

10. Erin Parker ’12 prepares to steal. Photo by Maribeth Reeb 11. Meaghan Houston ’12 helped varsity softball earn a third-place finish in the SPC Division I tournament. Photo by Maribeth Reeb

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Club Viginti was formed in 1997 for

11 11 fwcd.org

SPRING/SUMMER 2010

faculty and staff who have worked at FWCD for 20 years and are still employed at the school. New members are inducted annually at the Founders Day celebration. There are 47 Club Viginti members with the induction of Angie Goin this year.

Jean Webb H’01, Debby Jennings and Claire-Lise Knecht H’06 helped organize the party for former faculty and staff. Many alumni turned out to see their favorite teacher as well.

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SPEAKER SERIES

Photo courtesy of Ric Bonnell

Series

Above: Dr. Ric Bonnell ’85 waits with an injured girl for transport to the United States where she undewent multiple surgeries. Left: Dr. Ric Bonnell ’85, D’Ann Bonnell, Jon Bonnell ’89 and Dr. William (Bill) Bonnell

The FWCD Spring Speaker Series was held April 6 and featured the Bonnell brothers. Dr. Ric Bonnell ’85 and Jon Bonnell ’89 shared experiences from their efforts to assist patients in Haiti during the aftermath of the January earthquake. Ric arrived in Haiti three days after the earthquake and treated patients, while Jon worked with people who owned private planes and raised money to coordinate more teams of doctors from all over the country to help. Ric said there was a huge effort from the Fort Worth community that made it possible for his team to be there.

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Ric and the other doctors were able to treat and save many people injured by the earthquake, including a miraculous recovery by a girl who was hit by a bus. Her pelvis was split in the middle, and she required treatment they could not provide with their supplies in Haiti. Her family was terrified to send her to the United States, but Ric promised them he would bring her home. A plane arrived to pick her up and fly her to Florida. She received the medical attention she needed and is walking today and back with her family. Ironically, she would not have survived if the earthquake had not happened, because the doctors would not have been there to help her. Jon said the planes going to and from the United States were never empty. There were always supplies or passengers on them, and the price to make the trip was sometimes as much as $80,000. Many pilots were not covered by their insurance once they left the United States, so it was very risky and generous for so many people to offer their planes.

Ric began by showing pictures from trips to Haiti prior to the earthquake, so the audience could see the country’s state before the disaster. He first went to Haiti through a church mission several years ago. He has returned several times to treat patients, so he had local contacts who helped him when he arrived after the earthquake. Fortunately, the hospital was not badly damaged by the earthquake, but Ric’s team still faced many struggles. There were limited supplies, no electricity and chaos in the streets with people trying to get out of the city.

The hospital has a dirt road running through the middle of it, dividing the patient rooms and the operating rooms. Every time they had to transport a patient from bed to surgery, they had to cross the road with heavy traffic and dust in the air. Without electricity, they lost all light once the sun went down. They wore helmets with small lights attached at the top, allowing them to write their plan for the following day on a white display board for everyone to see. Ric said maintaining organization was essential for working to their fullest potential.

Ric continues to travel to Haiti, but on a less frequent basis. He and Jon said if you are interested in helping out during disasters, it is important to have worked in that particular country before. If you have any kind of base set up, with prior relationships to people in the country, you can do so much more.

Photo courtesy of Ric Bonnell

FWCD’s Speaker Series presents speakers and topics of interest biannually to the FWCD community. In the fall, John Holt Smith ’87 spoke about his art and in the spring, Dr. Ric Bonnell ’85 and Jon Bonnell ’89, spoke about their mission to Haiti.

The cultural barrier was another problem. When their team first arrived, they had to earn trust from the Haitians, because they were taught that Caucasian people would steal from them. They also were terrified of losing limbs, so the medical team had to be very careful when explaining things to patients. They told one man they would do everything they could to not amputate his leg – but he heard the word “amputate” and ran from the hospital.

To see the video about Dr. Ric Bonnell’s mission to Haiti go to: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=pp4hUM99Egg or snap this tag with your smart phone. For instructions on downloading the free app, see page 1.

Tom Delaney

SPEAKER

John Holt Smith ’87 returned to campus as part of the fall FWCD Speaker Series. The event was held in the new Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Center, which was the perfect venue for Smith to discuss his career and life as an artist. Smith began his lecture with a few nostalgic pictures of the FWCD campus. It was interesting to see the structure of the old Sanford Arts Center and compare it to the new facility on campus. Smith discussed former teachers and how FWCD inspired him to take the path he believed was meant for him, even if it was not a secure path. After graduating from the University of California in Santa Barbara in 1991, Smith went to New York City without any direction or much money. Smith spent several years in New York City and gradually made his way into the art world. He returned to Fort Worth in 1999. He opened his own studio and has been selling paintings ever since. Initially, Smith focused on portraiture. Over the past few years he has been working on “sequence paintings.” Sequence paintings start with a digital picture of nature, and through a computer program, he stretches the image until its color sequence is captured – which ends up being a series of vertical lines. Smith then paints the lines with an airbrush on an aluminum panel. He joked that the warehouse he gets his aluminum from does not believe he is a painter. Smith also has a series of “eye sequence” paintings. In a process similar to the sequence paintings, he takes a picture of the eye, stretches it to capture its color sequence, then paints the image on an aluminum panel. In 2005, Smith was commissioned by DFW Airport to create a sequence painting for the new international terminal. The “Limerock Sequence” was installed at DFW in Terminal D, just past the customs area, and is 8x30 feet of acrylic enamel on aluminum. Smith lives in Fort Worth with his wife, Sarah Akhtar Smith ’91, and their two children, Holt and Wyeth. Holt will join the FWCD Kindergarten Class of 2023 next fall.

Dr. Ric Bonnell and his medical team awaiting takoff to Haiti.

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fall/WINTER 2009

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ALUMNI NEWS

News

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! The 2010 Sophomore Career Breakfast was March 25 in the Upper School Commons. Seven alumni returned to campus along with five current and past parents to speak to sophomores about their careers and how they chose them. The students enjoyed breakfast burritos from Tres Jose’s and then broke into small groups to listen to the speakers. This year’s speakers included: John Thompson ’93 - commercial oil/gas litigation (Cantey Hanger) Brad Hancock - Business/Entrepreneurship (TCU) Jane McGarry - broadcast journalism (NBC) Jon Bonnell ’89 - chef/entrepreneur (Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine restaurant) Greg Meyer - NFL referee (who was a referee at last year’s Super Bowl) Kelly Decker ’98 - commercial civil/general litigation (Decker, Jones, McMackin, McClane, Hall & Bates) Jenna Strom - athletic trainer (FWCD) Mike Tapp ’88 - investments/private equity/hedge funds (Longhorn Capital) Randy Gideon - architect (Gideon Toal) Courtney Crummel ’99 – advertising (Concussion Advertising) Chris Semple ’97 - investment banking (Goldman Sachs) Brent Hawthorne ’85 - technology architecture (Pulte Homes)

Falcon Fiesta Alumni Awards Dinner

Spotlight On… Photo courtesy of Texas A&M/The Big Event

ALUMNI

Mallory Myers ’07 received the Points of Light Award for her work as the director of Texas A&M’s Big Event in fall 2009. The award was presented by President Barack Obama, who was invited to present by Points of Light founder and this year’s host, President George H.W. Bush. President Bush initiated the Points of Light program to award and acknowledge community service nationwide.

Jane McGarry shares her broadcast experience.

The Big Event’s mission statement: “Through service-oriented activities, The Big Event promotes campus and community unity as students come together for one day to express their gratitude for the support from the surrounding community.” Its purpose is to say “thank you” to the residents of Bryan and College Station who support Texas A&M. The projects are primarily outdoor activities to help the local community and range from painting houses to yard work and washing windows.

This year’s Falcon Fiesta Alumni Awards Dinner featured seven recipients: Tori Adams as the 2010 Honorary Alumna; David Ekstrom ’75 received the Jean Webb Service to Alma Mater Award; Col. Parker B. Schenecker ’80 received the Service to Humanity Award; Philip Eisner ’83 received the Falcon Star Award; and Stephen Alton ’74, Dr. Kristi Keil ’83 and Tom McGrath ’88 were the Distinguished Alumni. Each recipient had wonderful things to say about his/her alma mater, but the focus of the night was on former faculty. Many former teachers were praised for inspiring and motivating the students, and many of the recipients said that Fort Worth Country Day was their family. Col. Parker B. Schenecker, Head of CENTCOM (Central Command for the U.S. Army), mentioned the School’s motto, “Humanitas per Disciplinam,” and said he continues to model that in his daily life.

Stephen Alton ’74, Col. Parker B. Schenecker ’80, Dr. Kristi Keil ’83, Philip Eisner ’83, Tori Adams H’10, David Ekstrom ’75, Tom McGrath ’88 and Bobby McGehee ’88 gather for a group picture at Falcon Fiesta.

Dr. Kristi Keil ’83 said her background at FWCD taught her how to reason, to maintain an open mind and to feel good about hard work. David Ekstrom ’75 continued by saying FWCD faculty set high standards and urged students to get involved. Ekstrom sees these attributes in current faculty members through his children who attend and have graduated from the School. This event continues to grow; more than 100 people attended the celebration! Photos by Lisa Koger

John and Claire-Elise Knect H’06

Tad Sanders and Stephen Alton ’74

Mary Rabalais Collins ’83 visits with a favorite former teacher, Sharon Foster H’05.

Philip Eisner ’83, right, shows Col. Parker B. Schenecker ’80 how he’d look with hair.

Dr. Asad Dean ’90 and Paula Parrish, Director of Advancement and Communications, catch up at the Falcon Fiesta.

The Big Event is sponsored by A&M’s student government and involves more than 1,300 students. It has grown to be the largest one-day community service project completed by college students, and several other colleges have modeled similar programs after The Big Event.

John Thompson ’93, Mike Tapp ’88, Kelly Decker ’98, Randy Gideon, Jenna Strom, Greg Meyer, Courtney Crummel ’99, Chris Semple ’97 and Brent Hawthorne ’85

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Myers, a senior, is a political science major. She spends many hours volunteering as a child mentor in addition to her Big Event responsibilities. fwcd.org

fall/WINTER 2009

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ALUMNI NEWS

The 16th Annual FORE! FWCD Alumni Golf Tournament, chaired by Bobby McGehee ’88, Josh Korman ’92 and Robert Chu ’93, was April 19 at Mira Vista Country Club. Congratulations to the teams who placed in this year’s tournament! First Place – PhysAssist Team of Alex Geesbreght ’92, Andrew Geesbreght ’98, Michael Gratch ’98, Ben Stolz 1

Second Place – Village Homes Team of Michael Dike ’88, Vance Detwiler ’88, Marc Howard ’88, Theron Bryant Third Place – Eyeworks Group and Chu Eye Associates Team of Chris Haller, Brandon Brewer, Michael Moore and Derick Mesch

The first place team of Andrew Geesbreght ’98, Alex Geesbreght ’92, Michael Gratch ’98 and Ben Stolz enjoy their moment in the spotlight.

2010 FORE! Sponsors:

Corriente Advisors, LLC Lanter Westermann, PC Mira Vista Country Club Village Homes EyeWorks Group, Chu Eye Associates BMC Select/Marvin Windows & Doors Korman O’Brien, LLC Texas Capital Bank Higginbotham & Associates Community Bank Jerry’s Sporting Goods PhysAssist Scribes, Inc. Vernon Ford Dodge Waco Bend Ranch, Ltd Klabzuba Oil & Gas, Inc. Photos by Lisa Koger

Above: Chris Haller, Brandon Brewer and Derick Mesch receive mini Falcon helmets for their prize.

Below: Will Harvey ’85 prepares his drive while team members, Andy Poland ’88, Bobby McGehee ’88 and Doug Woodcock look on.

4 1. Eyeworks raffle winner Lew Cutter ’72 had a great day. 2. Evan D. Peterson, Head of School; Louis Baldwin; and Bill Landreth ’67 reminisce. 3. Former athletic directors Joe Breedlove ’78, Will Stansbery H’08 and Kevin Long and Frank Gendusa, current athletic director, enjoy the day at Mira Vista. 4. Mark Fowlkes putting for par.

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fall/WINTER 2009

5. Lew Cutter ’72, Brad Baker, Tim Nolan and Richard Garvey ’72 take a breather.

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CLASS NOTES

CLASS

Notes

1980s 1981

1960s 1967 Dr. Bill Curtis was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for his contributions to software process improvement and measurement. This past fall he was awarded the William H. Kadel Career Achievement Award by Eckerd College, where he earned his B.A. He is currently a senior vice president and chief scientist at CAST Software and recently became the founding director of the Consortium for IT Software Quality, a global initiative to radically improve the dependability of business software. Darcy Walker landed in Chicago 16 years ago after a five-year stint living in Brussels, Belgium. She graduated from Yale and earned her MBA from Wharton. Darcy spent 25 years at Citibank, where she became the senior consumer risk officer for the United States, then joined Morgan Stanley at their Discover Card. She retired five years later and spent the next three years running a Community Music School. Darcy was recruited by a private equity firm to consult on some acquisitions – one of which was Chr ysler – and now commutes to Detroit and is the chief risk officer at Chr ysler Financial. In between all the above, Darcy has ser ved on numerous arts boards, become a serious opera fan and travels ever ywhere with Jean Pierre, her redheaded miniature poodle. This summer, she and Jean Pierre will tame the gardens and be lazy except for a quick trip to Paris. You can find Darcy on Facebook and Linked-In.

1969 Andy Shields recently graduated from the U.S. Tennis Association High Performance coaching program.

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1970s 1974 Shannon Sweeney Wright has been made the interim president of the USA Racquetball Foundation. She oversaw the National Singles Championship in Houston last month.

1978 Several alumnae from the FWCD Class of 1978 had a 50th birthday reunion in Las Vegas. Pictured are Beth Runyon Gideon, Laura Miller Rattikin, Mindy Willis Hanzik, Alicia Rattikin Lindsey, Karen Fortson Davis, Muriel Knecht Parnell, Kim Vincent Dale, Janet Maberry Dickerson, Liz Hudson Decker, Susan Steed Barnett and Michelle Miteff Purvis.

1983 Cynthia Parker MacDonald has been making speeches to local Maine high schools on behalf of the Melanoma Foundation regarding the harmful effects of tanning booths and taking precautions for exposure to the sun.

1984 Rev. Mike O’Neil is attending Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, for graduate work in Christian studies.

1986

1979 Jack Armstrong spent his 20th year in West Chester, Penn., with his wife, Carmen Khan, whom he met at a yoga class at the Caravan of Dreams in 1986. They own the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre and a business printing election ballots. They have a son, Michael, who is a sophomore in college studying film, and a daughter, Emily, who is in seventh grade and obsessed with surfing. They also have the “world’s best dog,” Olivia. At this point, Jack’s fondest hope is to keep it going just like this as long as he can.

1990s 1990 – Reunion Year Kendall Lehman ’22 and Ellie Gunnin, daughters of Meg Kendall Lehman and Nancy Hunnicutt Gunnin, enjoyed a “spa day” after the first week of Kindergarten. (photo below)

1985 – Reunion Year Laura Laesecke was recently appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. She has been a deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 1992. Laesecke earned a juris doctorate degree from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University.

Brad Greenman and wife, Julie, welcomed new baby Shifra Tova Dec. 22, 2008. She joined her sister and three brothers. They live in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel.

Dr. Farhan Ali was the first to use the Impella heart pump device in Tarrant County. The device keeps blood flowing properly during heart surgeries and prevents the heart from going into shock and acute heart failure. Christine Stasikowski Loredo was recently named vice president of marketing at Fuzebox in San Francisco.

Alan Cross is married to Melinda Wade, an actress. They have a delightful daughter named Willa.

1987 Jeff Greenman and wife, Arlene, had a baby son, Naftali Tzvi, Nov. 16. He was welcomed by his seven brothers and sisters. They also live in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel.

1988 Chef Tom McGrath and wife, Andi, fwcd.org

Dec. 21. She joined her big brother, Judson William.

1994 Ting Wang Bresnahan gave birth to John Joseph Bresnahan IV, Nov. 27. He arrived about 2 1/2 weeks earlier than scheduled, tipping the scales at 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 20 inches. John Joseph is “Jack” after his grandfather.

Mimi Mauze Siff has gone back to school at Union Presbyterian Seminary in the Master of Divinity program. This summer she will live at her mother’s house in Fort Worth while she completes a rotation as a chaplain intern at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.

To submit information for Class Notes and Alumni News, contact Courtney Bourgeois, Alumni Relations Coordinator at cbourgeois@fwcds.org or 817.302.3292.

Join us on

welcomed Madison Judith McGrath (below) on Jan. 14. Madison tipped the scales at 9 pounds, 7ounces.

1991 Sarah Akhtar Smith and FWCD moms Chelsea Ray and Kim Boyd, have started a blog called “Go to Girls,” a guide to all things smart, stylish and sophisticated. The blog has information on fashion, recipes, great gift ideas, beauty, entertaining and much more! Visit www. gotogirls3.com and subscribe to receive bi-weekly posts via e-mail.

1992 Lisa Carrington Voight and Jason Voight welcomed daughter, Sawyer Suzanne Voight, fall/WINTER 2009

Valerie Newell Riener is hard at work running her home-based embroidery business, Embroidery by Valerie, from her home in San Antonio. Founded in 2005, Embroidery by Valerie ships items with elegant and beautiful designs all over the world. Find out more at www. EmbroideryByValerie.com. Tiffany Thomas Gebhardt and husband Sean welcomed James Peyton April 28, 2009. They reside in Dallas. Amy Blankenship-Williams and husband Chris welcomed Avery Elizabeth Williams on May 27, 2009. She joined her big sister, Emma Grace, 6. The family lives in Fort Worth.

1995 – Reunion Year Chris Settle and Caroline Keith Settle ’00 welcomed Lawrence Daniel Settle Nov. 18.

1996 Katherine Allen and Brandon Warren Weaver were married Sept. 19 at Schottenkirche St. Jakob’s in Regensburg, Germany. The couple recently moved to Colleyville. Marcella Zinno Rolwes welcomed Heidi Sophia Aug. 22. Heidi has two older brothers, Raph, 6, and Colin, 3.

1997 Kurt Ryan Anderson, along with wife, Meagan, welcomed Eva Kate Oct. 19, 2008. Big sister Rachael, now 3 years old, loves her little sister.

Chris Semple married Lucy Ann McCulloch March 13 at the Stone Chapel at Matt Lane Farm, with a reception following at The Barn at Pratt Place Inn in Fayetteville, Ark. Falcons in the wedding include Hunter Semple ’01, Rob Semple ’95, Mike Nayfa ’97 and Matt Hyder ’97. After a honeymoon in Hawaii, the couple lives in Dallas. Nikki Reynolds Reasor had her second child, Hadley Nicole Reasor, Feb. 28, 2009. Hadley was born on her big brother Hudson’s second birthday! Nikki lives with her family in Keller, and is a stay-at-home mom while her husband, Scott, is a portfolio manager for Diesslin & Associates. Chad Feehan was one of the producers of All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, an ingenious neo-slasher flick that’s been stuck in distribution limbo since 2006. When he saw his fellow Mandy Lane alumni, director Jonathan Levine and writer Jacob Forman, land big Hollywood gigs, Feehan decided he wanted to tr y writing and directing himself. The result, Wake, is a sly thriller about a young couple who check into a creepy motel. Wearing his horror movie influences proudly on his sleeve (the brand of cigarettes in the film is Overlook, a nod to Stephen King’s The Shining), Feehan neatly ratchets up the tension without ever devolving into Hollywood cheesiness. Joe Kosek was promoted to the rank of major in February. In May he will receive his MBA from the University of Notre Dame. In July he will attend the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., for one year before moving on to future positions of responsibility in the Army.

1998 Lilliana Vazquez recently did a segment exploring infomercial weight loss techniques with Joan Rivers on NBC. To watch the clip, go to http://www. nbcnewyork.com/shows/lxnewyork/ LXTVN_Joan_Rivers_Puts_Infomercials_to_ the_Test.html. Katherine Clay got engaged to Raymond Strecker of New Jersey on July 3 in Paris.

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CLASS NOTES

The couple is planning a small wedding in August in Vail, Colo. Chris Keyland and his wife, Brittany, gave birth to their first baby, Sean William Keyland, Oct. 9.

2004

2001

Katherine Anderson married Mark A. Daniels from Houston, and will move to Albany, N.Y., in May.

Drew Snyder was featured in Fort Worth Weekly for his gallery in San Diego and its representation of Texas and FWCD artists. Drew is currently exhibiting Steven Hook ’03 and John Hook ’99. Fellow Falcons Marka Kiley ’04 and Lillian Anderson ’04 attended the opening. (See photo below.)

Chris Anderson completed his MBA at Fordham University. He currently lives in Falls Church, Va., where he is a consultant with the international consulting firm Accenture.

Jenna Tutjer, LMSW, was honored as an Emerging Social Work Leader at the third Annual Awards Dinner of the New York chapter of NASW (National Association of Social Workers) Dec. 3, 2009. Jenna is the director of a program based out of Hunter College in New York City that partners with high schools in Harlem and Manhattan to prevent high school dropouts and encourage graduation. Jeffrey Scott ’99 and Jamie Crum from Colorado Springs, CO, were married May 1 in Fort Worth. Groomsmen from FWCD include Todd Humble ’99, Malcolm Louden ’99, Michael Settle ’99, Trent Taylor ’99, Joey Laborde ’99 and Michael Gratch ’98. Joe Breedlove ’78 gave an awesome guest performance of “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”

After several years of frequenting the Flying Saucer in Austin throughout law school, Stephen Tatum Jr. received his official saucer on the wall March 27. Reed Clay ’97, Carly Mills Tatum ’00, Jessica Johns ’00, Laura Blanton ’01 and Megan McAdams ’01 celebrated the momentous occasion with him. Be sure to look for Stephen’s (aka: Flutie) saucer next time you’re in Austin for a visit.

2002 Adelaide Moncrief married Charles Royer, III March 20 at the Vintage Club in Indian Wells, Calif. Falcons in the wedding were Celia Moncrief Browning ’02, Gloria Moncrief Holmsten ’00, Georgina Austin Baker ’02 and Kathleen Ross ’02. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii and lives in Fort Worth.

Flora Baird went home from New York and brought her puppy, Tyrese, to attend a party at her mother’s house, Robin Brookman Kinsel ’73, to celebrate Canine Companions for Independence’s 35th anniversary of “providing exceptional dogs for exceptional people.” Fellow Falcons Bari (Buckner ’83) and John Brookman ’80 also attended.

2000s

Kate Keyland married Chris Roberts, of Austin, Sept. 6, 2008, at the Villa Antonia overlooking Lake Travis. They currently live in Austin. Kate now goes by Kate Roberts.

Jay Davis is a police officer in Burleson, Texas. He returned to FWCD to speak to the science classes of Bill Arnold ’86 and Christy Alvear.

1999

Alison Rose married Thomas Essaye Jan. 8 at St. Patrick’s Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., with a reception following at the Jupiter Beach Resort in Jupiter, Fla. Falcons in the wedding include Maggie Hughes ’99 and Katie Wilson ’99. Tom and Alison are both graduates of Vanderbilt University, and reside in their new home in Jupiter after honeymooning on a cruise in Alaska.

Carly and Stephen reside in Austin, where Stephen works at the Texas Attorney General’s Office and Carly works in sustainability marketing at Dell.

2003 Kara Lynn Anderson and Charles Thomas Snyder were married June 27 at First Christian Church of Fort Worth with a reception following at the Ashton Depot. Falcons in the wedding: Louise Burgher ’03, Sarena Green ’03, Samantha Rutledge ’03, Monica Ferguson ’03, Kristen Agura ’03, Kathleen Ross ’02, Georgina Baker ’02 and Chris Anderson ’01. Following a honeymoon in the Pacific Northwest, the couple resides in Oklahoma City. Jeff Davis works for Buxton as a senior analyst. He enjoys working there and taking time off to play a round of kickball or foosball with his co-workers. His unofficial name is the “ambassador of fun.”

Sarah Watson Ofner graduated with an MBA from Rice University May 14, and she will join Ernst & Young as a senior consultant in their Advisory Services practice later this year. Melissa Altaras Fulcher welcomed baby Emma Kate Fulcher June 17, 2009.

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Drew was recently accepted to pursue a doctorate in the history, theory and criticism of art at UCSD, where he will start in the fall. In addition, Drew recently launched the website http://andrewsarts. org, which is built to promote the arts and art journalism in southern California and around the world. Fellow Falcons will contribute to the project.

2005 – Reunion Year Natalie Bracken was photographed performing in the ballet, So Long Ago, written by TCU faculty member Susan Douglas Roberts. Marty Sohl Photography, Courtesy TCU

2006 Katie Bain has been granted a master’s and doctoral fellowship at the University of North Texas, and will begin work on her Ph.D. in clinical psychology starting this fall. Katie graduated from TCU in May.

Jenna Tutjer ’99 married Kyle Manahan on Wrightsville Beach, N.C. Oct. 3. Jenna and Kyle stayed there until the following week, enjoying the beautiful beach and hotel. They continued their honeymoon in a cabin in the Poconos, enjoying fall in the northeast.

2000 – Reunion Year Caroline Keith Settle and Chris Settle ’95 welcomed Lawrence Daniel Settle Nov. 18.

Frances Benoist was accepted to medical school at UT-Houston Medical School for the fall semester.

Melissa lives with her husband in Temple, Texas, where he is an attorney and she is taking time off from teaching high school Spanish to stay home with their daughter.

Carly Jeane Mills ’00 and Stephen Lyle Tatum Jr. ’01 were married Jan. 16 in Austin. The wedding party included Falcons: Brooke Mills ’07, Carter Tatum ’98, Jessica Johns ’00, Sarah Watson Ofner ’00, Christine Keyes ’00, Kate Terry More ’00, Elizabeth Hill Deegan ’00, Hunter Semple ’01, Doug Mills ’02, Henry Dollahite ’02, Peter Dollahite ’04, David Mitchell ’01, Todd Crawford ’01, W.A. Landreth ’01 and Will Rodgers ’01. fwcd.org

2009

Georgina Baker ’02 married Trip Austin April 5, 2008, at Christ Chapel Church with a reception following at the Tennis Pavilion at Mira Vista Country Club. The couple honeymooned in St. Barthelemy, French West Indies, and now resides in Fort Worth. Falcons in the wedding include Celia Moncrief Browning ’02, Kathleen Ross ’02, Louise Burgher ’03, Adelaide Moncrief Royer ’02 and Kara Anderson Snyder ’03. fall/WINTER 2009

Annalee Hurst won Best Performance in a Tisch 48 competition where film students had to write, film and edit a three-minute film that involved a prompt, a prop and a line they were given. Click here to read more about the competition: http://www.nyutusc.com/nyutusc.com/ Tisch_48_-_2010.html. Sean Davis was the assistant wrestling coach at All Saints’ Episcopal School this past winter.

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Megan & Carl Roland, Qu

intin & Jill Cassady

Charter Membership open until Dec. 31, 2010

A small, but vital group of Legacy Society charter members and VIPs gathered at Mira Vista Country Club for the first-ever official induction into the Society. Charter members received custom lapel pins with the Society’s unique logo and a certificate of membership. Each guest received a gift box with a custom chocolate that carried the same logo. (See the new logo at the top of this article.)

The event was at Ridglea Theater and the PFA Party committee did a great job giving the venue a face lift. Everyone enjoyed the laid back atmosphere at this year’s party and the crowd was still dancing at midnight!

To see the video from Falcon Palooza, go to https://ww.youtube.com/watch? v=Da4aig4yDaQ&feature=related or snap this tag with your smartphone. (For instructions on downloading the free app, see page 1.)

Paula Parrish CFRE, director of advancement and communications, welcomed the group and explained how people can join the Legacy Society. She desscribed five of the many vehicles donors may use to provide for Fort Worth Country Day in their estate plans.

Deborah &

Scott & Michelle Sankar

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Head of School Evan D. Peterson gave a touching story about Dr. Asad Dean ’90 that validated the power and extent of FWCD’s reach; the personal relationships built here are for a lifetime. The freedom, leadership and confidence our students gain as part of their education here sets them apart from all the rest and keeps them coming back and giving back!

Tony Loth

Monica & Roge

r Cyprian

fwcd.org

Norma Wilkerson, long-time English department chair, talked about paying it forward. She also shared stories of how Fort Worth Country Day Falcons are special and genuinely care about each other. She thanked the Legacy Society members for their gifts to a future they may never know. It is this optimism, trust and appreciation for a superior school that encourages others to pay it forward. fall/WINTER 2009

Glen E. Ellman

This year’s PFA party, headed by party chair Shannon Ricca, was “Falcon Palooza” and featured several bands from the Fort Worth Country Day community. The night kicked off with Middle Class, a band composed of several FWCD Middle School faculty, and was followed by The Last Band Standing, The Pengwins, Railhead and The Front.

First annual Peter A. Schwartz Legacy Society Charter Membership Dinner an Elegant Affair

Evan D. Peterson, Tori Adams, Jim DuBose ’75 and Randy Gideon pose immediately after the first annual induction ceremony.

There were a number of speakers, and the themes were very different. Jerry Taylor, along with her husband James, joined the Legacy Society because of the lifelong friendships they made when they were FWCD parents. She said they believe their two daughters were nourished and nurtured at Country Day. Jerry said, “All parents have to make a will. When you think about the future, you begin to think about things that mean a lot to you. Fort Worth Country Day is a top-ranked school with a wonderful web of intelligent young people. Our daughters are excellent and capable and Country Day

helped make them that way. It was natural for us to include the School in our will.” Charter membership is open to anyone who lets us know they have made a provision of any kind for FWCD in their estate plans by Dec. 31, 2010. Just contact Paula Parrish in the Advancement Office and sign a confidential Statement of Intention form. To learn more about how you can invest in the future of FWCD, please contact Paula Parrish CFRE, Director of Advancement, at 817.302.3223 or pparrish@fwcds.org. FALCONER

FWCD Families Spend Spring Break in Europe Ten-Day Tour Fabulous!

“This was really a fabulous trip,” Parrish said. “The families were just wonderful and we all had a terrific time. I think we saw everything we could possibly see in 10 days! It was a real honor and pleasure to get to know these families this way.”

Paula Parrish

After three days in Paris, and a brief and very cold visit to the Versailles palace, the group boarded the TGV (speed train) to Geneva, Switzerland. They spent a lovely afternoon eating Swiss fondue and walking around the old center of town. Then, they drove a short distance into the Alps to the charming ski village of Chamonix, where the families went ice skating, downhill and snow skiing and up to the Glace du Mer (ancient glacier). Taking the Louvre by storm, the Carter, Lattimore and Rosenthal families pose in front of the famous inverted pyramid in the lobby. After they saw the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory and the Venus de Milo, they had lunch under the stained glass dome of the Galleries Lafayette and then went shopping in Paris’ chic department stores, including Au Printemps. Back row: Clint Carter, Burk Rosenthal, Julie Rosenthal, Clinton Carter Jr. ’14, Radha Carter Middle row: Regan Rosenthal ’16, Emma Lattimore ’16, Margaret Lattimore ’18, Natalie Rosenthal ’16. Kneeling in front, Liz and Mike Lattimore.

FALCONER

Fiona Robertson

Paris in March can be cool! FWCD families hang out at the Eiffel Tower. Back row: Radha Carter, Clinton Carter Jr. ’14, Clinton Carter, Michael Lattimore, Liz Lattimore Front row: Margaret Lattimore ’18 and Emma Lattimore ’16.

Director of advancement and communication, Paula Parrish, a seasoned globe-trekker herself, led her 19th tour that started off in Paris, and traveled through Geneva, Chamonix, Nice and Monaco.

Ice skating in Chamonix, France, was a fun evening adventure for all the young girls on the trip. Liz Lattimore, left, danced across the ice with Emma Lattimore ’16, twins Regan and Natalie Rosenthal ’16 and Margaret Lattimore ’18.

Group leader Paula Parrish and Julie Rosenthal explore Montmartre. Taking the Paris Metro, they stopped long enough to see the busy nightlife at the Moulin Rouge (the Red Windmill).

From there, they skipped across Italy and hit the French Riviera, staying on the Cote D’Azur in Nice. They visited the ancient city of Eze atop a large mountain, toured Fragonard, the French parfumier, and visited Monaco, home to the Grimaldi monarchy. Parrish is ready to take all three families back to Europe in the summer of 2011. “This time, we are going to do Italy,” she said. “They were so much fun, I never want to travel abroad again without them!”

Paula Parrish

She was accompanied by her sister, Emma ’16, age 12, and their parents Mike and Liz Lattimore. Two other families were on the trip as well: Clinton and Radha Carter and their son, Clinton ’14, age 14, and Burk and Julie Rosenthal and their twin daughters Regan ’14 and Natalie ’14, also age 12.

Paula Parrish

At age 10, Margaret Lattimore ’18 was the littlest world traveler on the FWCD Alumni/ Family tour of France during Spring Break. Full of energy and a beautiful French beret, she took on Europe like a Pro! Even when the Eiffel Tower elevators virtually closed on her nose, she kept on going.

On their way to the French Riviera, the group crossed from the French Alps through the Italian Alps.

fwcd.org

Rome! Florence! Sienna! Verona! Assisi! Venice! Lucerne! See the ancient Roman Colosseum and Forum, Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s David, Mount Pilatus in the Swiss Alps and so much more! Look at what we will do! • Make a pizza the Roman way and have a pizza party in Rome! • Ride the world’s steepest cog railway and cable car up 7,000-foot Mount Pilatus (Named for Pontius Pilate) • Visit the balcony in Verona where Juliet is said to have encountered her Romeo. • Tour Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. You are cordially invited to join the Alumni/Family Trip to Italy and Switzerland over Spring Break next year because travel changes lives and inspires the soul. Paula Parrish will once again escort a FWCD tour overseas. “It’s far safer than Mexico and far more beautiful! The art and sculpture alone are mesmerizing” she says. All alumni, parents, grandparents, students (especially seniors!), family friends and faculty/staff in the FWCD Falcon Family are welcome to join the group!

Early Bird Deadline is June 30. Save $300 if you register by then. Reserve your space for just $195. Full payment is not due until Dec. 1. The early bird cost is $3,477 for children and $3,852 for adults. To qualify for this rate, you must register online at www.ACIS.com or complete an application available in the Advancement Office by June 30! This fee includes: • Round trip airfare from DFW • All hotel accommodations in 3 and 4-star hotels • All transportation and transfers • All breakfasts and dinners (And tips associated with those meals) • A 24-7 multilingual Tour Manager • 10 days in Italy and Switzerland! Online registration details: March 11-20, 2011 Departure City DFW Departure Date March 11, 2011 Group # 53615 Program name is Italy and Switzerland Group Leader Paula Parrish CFRE

4200 Country Day Lane Fort Worth, Texas 76109-4299 Return Service Requested

SAVE THE DATE! 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

FWCD Homecoming – Oct. 1-2, 2010

2010 Class Reunions

Plan to attend Fort Worth Country Day’s homecoming events, including the football game Friday night and the reunion class lunch at Joe T’s on Saturday. Check the FWCD Facebook site or the official school website at www.fwcd.org for details and more information! Contact Courtney Bourgeois, alumni and special events coordinator, at cbourgeois@fwcds.org or 817.302.3292.