F O R T
Volume 10, Issue 2 Summer 2019
W O R T H
C O U N T R Y
D A Y
FROM HERE
anywhere…
WHERE CAN OUR FALCONS SOAR?
These colleges and universities listed represent the institutions where FWCD seniors have been admitted.
More than
$11.6 ///
million in meritbased scholarships and awards
Adams State University American University American University of Paris Arizona State University Auburn University Austin College Austin Community College Baldwin Wallace University Ball State University Baylor University Belmont University Berklee College of Music Berry College Blinn College Boston College Boston University Brandeis University Butler University California Institute of the Arts Case Western Reserve University Champlain College The Citadel Clemson University College of Charleston College of William & Mary Colorado School of Mines Colorado State University Colorado State University-Pueblo Columbia College Chicago Concordia University Texas Cornish College of the Arts Creighton University Drexel University Duquesne University Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Evergreen State College Florida Institute of Technology Fordham University George Mason University George Washington University Georgetown University Hampton University Hardin-Simmons University High Point University Hofstra University Hope College Howard University Indiana University James Madison University Lamar University Lehigh University Long Island University, Brooklyn Long Island University, Post
Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Maryland Marymount Manhattan College Midwestern State University Mississippi State University Montana State University Muhlenberg College The New School North Carolina State University Northeastern University Nova Southeastern University Ohio State University Oklahoma State University Pace University Princeton University Purdue University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rice University Rollins College Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Rutgers University Sam Houston State University Santa Clara University Seattle University Seton Hall University Sewanee: The University of the South Southern Methodist University Southwestern University Spelman College St. Edward’s University St. Mary’s University of San Antonio St. Olaf College Stephen F. Austin State University Suffolk University Syracuse University Tarrant County College Temple University Texas A&M University Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Texas A&M University at Galveston Texas Christian University Texas State University Texas Tech University Texas Woman’s University Trinity University Tulane University Tuskegee University University of Alabama University of Arizona University of Arkansas University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego
FORT WORTH COUNTRY DAY
CONGRATULATES the
CLASS of 2019
University of California, Santa Barbara University of Chicago University of Colorado Boulder University of Colorado Colorado Springs University of Denver University of Georgia University of Hawai‘i at Manoa University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Mary Hardin-Baylor University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of Miami University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of Missouri University of Nevada, Reno University of North Texas University of Notre Dame University of Oklahoma University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Puget Sound University of Richmond University of San Diego University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Dallas University of Texas at San Antonio University of the Sciences in Philadelphia University of Tulsa University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin-Madison Vanderbilt University Virginia Military Institute Wabash College Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Wellesley College Wesleyan University West Texas A&M University West Virginia University Wright State University Xavier University of Louisiana Yale University
Schools in red indicate where graduates will attend
fwcd.org 817.732.7718
At Fort Worth Country Day, we believe that understanding and respecting differences not only inspires compassion and empathy, but also fosters intellectual curiosity and creativity. We embrace the diverse cultures, experiences and perspectives that comprise and enhance our learning environment. We commit to sustaining and growing an intentionally inclusive community.
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Volume 10, Issue 2
Eric Lombardi Head of School Bill Arnold ’86 Director of Strategic Projects Trey Blair Head of Lower School Joe Breedlove ’78 Executive Director of Breakthrough Kathy Lott Director of Admission and Financial Aid Chelsy Merrill Director of Fine Arts Tom Mitchell Chief Financial and Operations Officer Brian Phelps Athletic Director Steve Stackhouse Head of Upper School John Stephens Head of Middle School Sandra Tuomey Director of Advancement Steve Uhr Director of Technology EDITOR Shannon Rossman Allen ART DIRECTOR Lisa Koger CONTRIBUTORS Paige Farris Chisholm ’87 Rachel Donahue Yolanda Espinoza Caren Handleman Mel Hurst Debby Jennings Kim Johnson Renee Pierce Patrick Powers ’05 Sandra Tuomey Lisa Wallace
SUMMER 2019
The Magazine of Fort Worth Country Day F E AT U R E S
21 New Look and Feel for Summer Camps The fresh new look and feel of FWCD’s summer camps are designed to entice campers from FWCD and the DFW metroplex to imagine, learn, create and engage.
24 K-Rodeo Celebrates 50 Years FWCD’s Kindergarten Rodeo celebrated its 50th anniversary in January. In the past half-century, more than 2,500 kindergarteners have performed in this beloved tradition.
28 The Senior Capstone Experience To foster intellectual curiosity and reflection, FWCD introduced a new interdisciplinary elective – Senior Capstone – to allow students to create summary experiences outside the traditional curriculum.
34 In a Class of Their Own The Class of 2019, 101 members strong, joined the alumni Falcon fold on May 17, bringing FWCD’s total number of graduates to 4,165. IN EACH ISSUE 2 View from My Window 3 Around Campus 10 Giving Back 12 Faculty Q&A 14 The Arts 18 Athletics
Questions? Concerns? Comments? Contact Shannon Allen at shannon.allen@fwcd.com Send address changes to: Fort Worth Country Day Advancement Office 4200 Country Day Lane Fort Worth, Texas 76109 mel.hurst@fwcd.com © FWCD
38 Alumni News 42 Alumni Profile 50 Class Notes 56 From the Archives The Falconer is published biannually for Fort Worth Country Day families, alumni and friends by the Advancement Office. Opinions represented may not necessarily be the position of the Board or administration. Fort Worth Country Day has an institutional commitment to the principles of diversity. In that spirit, FWCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or national origin in admissions, the administration of its educational policies, financial aid, athletics and other School-administered programs.
SUMMER 2019
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LET TER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL ERIC LOMBARDI
View from My Window
The Falconer is distinctive from every other publication that comes from Fort Worth Country Day because of its primary audience: you, our alumni. In this biannual publication to keep you updated, we aim to celebrate the School and its current goings-on, while we also seek to celebrate the experiences and accomplishments you, our now nearly 4,200 graduates, have amassed. The pride those of us who are on campus today feel being a part of the FWCD community hits us as we drive Country Day Lane every day. We hope to use the Falconer to give you, as alumni, reminders and renewals of the pride you feel recalling your experiences as a student. We can all be incredibly appreciative of our school, of its students past and present, its faculty and staff past and present, and so many of our “products”: from pieces of art to research papers and discoveries, to performances, both athletic and artistic. We want the arrival of this publication to be an opportunity to relive your experiences and to renew your Falcon pride. With that goal in mind, I hope you don’t read this issue of the Falconer in solitude, but that you also share it, or memories that it conjures, with others. I hope you find yourself wanting to be
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a little more connected; maybe wanting to “like” or “follow” our social media channels; find yourself perusing our website and seeing recent video stories from the School; or, best of all, perhaps contacting a classmate, former teacher or coach. We are a stronger community with the greater involvement of our alumni. We have high expectations for everything we do at Fort Worth Country Day, including how we engage with our alums. To that end, I am thrilled that we have an alumnus who began working on June 1 as our full-time Alumni Relations Manager. Patrick Powers ’05 is himself excited to be back at his alma mater, not just coaching boys volleyball, but now running our Alumni Office (see page 44). You will hear from him and see him a great deal in the days ahead. Please be aggressive about sharing with Patrick your stories, your memories, your hopes for the School’s involvement with fellow alums and your points of pride for Fort Worth Country Day. Go Falcons!
Eric Lombardi Head of School
Around Campus PEOPLE • HONORS • EVENTS • NEWS C.D. Falcon joins Head of School Eric Lombardi on campus in his office for Falcon Fridays. Cathy Gullo, Middle School Theatre Teacher, fashioned Falcon’s outfit so he felt right at home at FWCD.
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3
AROUND CAMPUS
When I Grow Up “By learning
about community helpers, students are able to recognize the importance of how a community works and what it takes to be part of a community. ~ Sara Roush
”
Art Flash Bob National Junior Art Honor Society members and friends donned painting smocks and Bob Ross wigs to participate in the inaugural Bob Ross painting event: A Flash Bob. Holly Clifford, Middle School Art Teacher and NJAHS Faculty Advisor, hosted the event for students in April. Each student had an easel, canvas and paints, which were set up strategically in front of the television screens so that they could watch Ross as he demonstrated painting techniques and helped them bring their paintings to life. Students viewed the “Golden Rays of Sunshine” video and followed along as Ross led them step by step through the project. 4
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The sky’s the limit for these junior kindergarten students who explored different types of community helpers and what they may want to do when they are older. A variety of community helpers visited with the JK students, including Officer Mike Kuzenka of the Fort Worth Police Department and Heather Scoggins from Fort Worth Children’s Dentistry. The students also visited Fire Station No. 16 and Dr. Lester Kuperman’s orthodontics office. “By learning about community helpers, students are able to recognize the importance of how a community works and what it takes to be part of a community,” said Sara Roush, Junior Kindergarten Teacher. “Students explored different community helpers and the tools they use to help other members of our Fort Worth community.” The unit concluded with a fun dress-up day where students came to school dressed as which community helper they want to be when they grow up.
AROUND CAMPUS
FWCD Names New Master Teachers The Endowed Master Teaching Chair designation is the highest distinction earned by FWCD faculty members who have a sustained record of teaching excellence. The School has nine total chairs that are awarded for three-year terms. Each honoree goes through an extensive application and interview process. While all FWCD faculty adhere to the Principles of Professional Excellence, Endowed Master Teachers are those who consistently go above and beyond expectations.
“These teachers represent the very best in
education – their students and colleagues adore them, they study their craft, and they embody Head of School Eric Lombardi’s tenets: They engage, challenge and connect. ~ Bill Arnold ’86
DeAnn Hall is The Perry and Nancy Lee Bass Distinguished Teaching Chair in Athletics and Physical Education. Hired as a part-time coach and PE substitute teacher in 2003, Hall joined the FWCD family full-time in 2004. She has served the School for 16 years in a variety of roles in the Athletic Department. A grades K-6 PE Teacher, Hall also has coached six different teams in the Middle School and Upper School. In addition to teaching Dynamic Physical Education to Lower School students, Hall has served as a Lower School Families group co-leader. Hall holds a BA from Creighton University. Tammy Wolford is The Perry and Nancy Lee Bass Distinguished Teaching Chair in Lower School. She joined the FWCD community in 2011 as Lower School Librarian. Well-known for her fun costumes, Wolford teaches lessons in the library nearly every day to students in junior kindergarten through fourth grade. She took on the Head Librarian and Library Department Chair role in 2015. Prior to FWCD, Wolford served as a classroom teacher and went back to school to earn an
”
advanced degree to become a librarian. She holds a BS in Education from Northern Illinois University and an MLS from the University of North Texas. Robin Willis is The Perry and Nancy Lee Bass Distinguished Teaching Chair in Middle School. With 26 years of teaching under her belt, 17 of those at FWCD, Willis has served as a Middle School Math Teacher since 2002. The Eighth-Grade Team Leader, Willis has served as Middle School Cheerleading Program Director, National Junior Honor Society and MathCounts sponsor, and has coached Middle School softball. She holds a BA in Education from The University of Texas at Austin and an MEd from Texas Christian University. “These teachers represent the very best in education – their students and colleagues adore them, they study their craft, and they embody Head of School Eric Lombardi’s tenets: They engage, challenge and connect,” said Bill Arnold ’86, Director of Strategic Projects. Hall, Wolford and Willis join current Endowed Master Teaching Chairs Carrie Cheng, Lisa Dickerson Davenport ’87, Chloe Bade Anderson ’05, Colin Douglas ’06, Bob Booth and Jackie Rains, whose terms began in November 2017.
SUMMER 2019
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AROUND CAMPUS
Four New Trustees Elected FWCD’s Board of Trustees elected three new Trustees – Ricky Brown, Dak Hatfield and Merianne Roth – for a first term (2019-21). David Minor was elected to serve a oneyear term, replacing Liza Lee, who had to step down. Russ Fleischer, Josh Korman ’92, Chris Rooker and Robert Sturns were elected to a second, three-year term. Learn more about the new Trustees. Ricky Brown is the inaugural Principal at I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and Visual Performing Arts. Working in the Fort Worth ISD since 2000, Brown graduated from the University of Maine with a BS in Business Administration, Marketing. After 10 years of teaching and coaching, he furthered his educational career earning an MEd in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. Brown has been directly involved in opening two new academies in Fort Worth ISD: Young Men’s Leadership Academy, a nationally recognized school, and I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and Visual Performing Arts. He also was responsible for rebranding Jacquet Middle School. Brown and his wife, Kena, have one son at FWCD. Dak Hatfield is President of Hatfield Advisors and Partner of Half Acre Management. The two companies specialize in commercial real estate brokerage, investment, strategy, development, and project and property management. Hatfield serves on the Board of the Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council; Development Committee Member for Near Southside, Inc.; Advisory Committee Member for the Fort Worth Housing Authority; and Board Member of University Little League. He earned an undergraduate degree in finance/real estate from Texas Christian University, obtained his Certified Commercial 6
THE FALCONER
Investment Member designation in 2009 and achieved his Project Management Professional designation in 2012. Hatfield and his wife, Robyn, have two children at FWCD. David Minor is President of Minor and Associates, an investment and businessconsulting firm. A lifelong business owner and entrepreneur-educator, Minor was the Founding Director of the Neeley Entrepreneurship Center at Texas Christian University. In his last year at the university, the program was named the model undergraduate entrepreneurship program in the country. Entrepreneur Magazine recognized Minor as a National Top 10 Entrepreneurship Center Director, and, upon leaving TCU, he was granted the title Founder Emeritus. In 2016, he was inducted into the Fort Worth Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. David has served on business and nonprofit boards, including the Greater Fort Worth Boys and Girls Clubs, the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society for United Way and the local chapter of the World Presidents Organization. He is the father of two Falcon alumni. Merianne Roth is a strategic communications and marketing leader with corporate experience in consumer retail with brands ranging from Pier 1 Imports to Oakley, as well as the hospitality, health care and nonprofit sectors. A longtime resident of Fort Worth, Merianne is involved in community and professional organizations, including executive committee board service for Presbyterian Night Shelter. She is a Leadership Fort Worth graduate and serves on the Session of First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth. Merianne and her husband, Steve, are parents of two Falcons.
AROUND CAMPUS
Music Mastery Seniors in AP Music Theory showed off their song-writing and composition skills. To demonstrate their mastery over melody, harmony and rhythm, they were asked to write musical compositions. “While composition writing is not part of the AP Music Theory curriculum, this composition-writing exercise allows me to see how well information is being learned and processed,” said Upper School Music Theory Teacher Jon Shipley. In this assignment, Shipley, who has been teaching the class for 12 years and using the composition exercise for the past three or four years, asked students to write a 64-measure (minimum) structured composition – ternary (ABA sandwich), canon, rondo or themed variation (intros and codas accepted). This year’s compositions were “A 24 pack of grape jelly uncrustables” by Chloe Gilpin, “The Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow” by Robbie Heine, “Fake Fugue Hours” by Meredith Mitchell, “It’s Real Civet Hours” by Tommy Bullock, “My Last Two Brain Cells Arguing about the Difference between a Grilled Cheese and a Melt” by Grant Zoota, and “Ambience of Tiananmen Square circa 1989” by Will Thomas. “I liked how much freedom we were given with the assignment,” Heine said. “By this point, we all knew how to analyze music and what rules to follow or consider when writing music, but this assignment really taught us how to use what we’ve learned to create an actual piece of music.”
Newbery Honor Author Visits Campus Newbery Honor Award winner and New York Times bestselling author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, shared her personal story with students. She covered the joy of reading and writing as well as her passion for writing historical fiction. Bradley is the author of 17 books, including The War that Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won. Her books have been translated into 19 languages.
2018-19 Scholarship Recipients The following students held these Named Scholarships in the 2018-19 academic year. Edward P. Bass Scholarship Sydney Becan ’20, Jae Washington ’19 Beverly Anne Robinson Faculty Endowed Scholarship Reagan Hall ’24, Trinity Outland ’30, Joy Yun ’20 Malone Scholars Program Tommy Bullock ’19, Viraj Gandhi ’19, Mary Grace McGann ’22, Landen Walker ’22 Peter A. Schwartz Scholarship Diego Casanova ’19 Captain David Herr Memorial Scholarship Ashlin McCormack ’20 Reilly Family Foundation/ Breakthrough Fort Worth Scholarship Raul Frias ’20 Alumni Endowed Scholarship Farris Chisholm ’19, Isaac Griffin ’19, Josey Reed ’19 Ella C. McFadden Scholarship Rachel Ellman ’19, James Womack ’19 Moritz Scholarship at FWCD Alex Orozco ’20 Betty Reese Memorial Scholarship Kelly Pham ’21 Gayle G. and Evan D. Peterson Scholarship Lorena Manrique ’28 Joey Pollard Memorial Scholarship Adele Wilson ’21 SUMMER 2019
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FWCD Competes at Code Quest 2019
Two teams of FWCD computer science students showed their coding expertise in this year’s Code Quest event at Lockheed Martin. Tommy Bullock ’19, Robbie Heine ’19 and Arnav Anand ’19 placed 19th, and Logan Harvison ’19, Grant Goldman ’20 and James Womack ’19 placed 29th. There were 38 teams competing in Fort Worth.
Code Quest is an annual computer programming competition where teams of two or three high school students each work together for 2.5 hours to solve problems by using JAVA, Python, VB.net, C, and/or C++ programming to complete the “quest.” The problem set, which consists of 15-20 challenging problems, is created by Lockheed Martin engineers and computer programmers. In 2019, Code Quest was hosted on April 27 at 23 Lockheed Martin sites around the world, including Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Poland, Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, Texas, California, South Carolina, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey, Florida, New York and Connecticut. “Fort Worth is the most competitive site,” said Shaheen Matuni, Upper School Computer Science Teacher. “This is the final competition that the students participate in each year. In total, Lockheed hosted 657 teams with 1,793 students at 23 Lockheed Martin facilities around the world.”
Teacher Wish Granted Pajama Cardinal, Watchman Goby, Coral Beauty Angelfish, Clown Fish, Yellow Tang, Blue Tang, Dalmatian Linckia Starfish, Bubble Anemone, Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Purple Hammer Coral, Pulsating Xenia, Candy Cane Neon, Devils Hand Leather, Green Star Polyp, Hermit Crab … what do all these things have in common? They live in the new 40-gallon aquarium purchased by an anonymous FWCD donor for Middle School Science Teacher Jimmy Brockway. Brockway has wanted a larger aquarium for his students for nearly five years. When teachers were asked to share some of their “wildest dream wishes” for this year’s PFA Teacher Wish List, he added a 40-gallon saltwater aquarium to the list. Every teacher at the School had the opportunity to submit a request. The responses included items at all price points – everything from Magnatiles and Legos to Spanish novels and world maps. 8
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“It has been a dream of mine to have an aquarium like this in my classroom,” Brockway shared. “This is such a great learning tool. The students can see, first-hand, the marine life in action as I am lecturing. The experience is unlike watching a movie, viewing a slide show or looking at photos on a poster because the action is happening, right there in the tank.”
AROUND CAMPUS
4-H Chicks Are Born
Class of 2019 By the Numbers
101
Seniors in the Class of 2019
$11.6 million
Awarded in merit-based scholarships and awards
74%
of the students received meritbased scholarships and awards In March, the JK-12 4-H program presented Lower School Science Teacher Barbara Meyers with several dozen eggs to hatch in her classroom. All the eggs were laid at FWCD by chickens raised in the 4-H Poultry Club. Eighteen chicks hatched on April 9 and 10, so, on April 11, Veterinarian Rhodes Murphey ’91 (father of Henry ’26 and Malinda ’22) came to campus to vaccinate. Rachel Werner (mother of Evie ’28 and Gibson ’24), who serves as a parent advisor to the Poultry Club, learned how to administer the vaccinations. Ultimately, Dr. Murphey would like to teach more parents and the older 4-H students how to vaccinate the babies, to further enhance the Poultry Club’s teachings. “A big part of our goal is to have people involved who are knowledgeable about the chickens,” Dr. Murphey said. For Werner, the sky’s the limit for the 4-H Poultry Club members: “This experience is the kind of thing that could encourage a student to go to vet school,” she said. “Can you imagine how many scientists could be forged as a result of this type of project?” Meyers has been hatching chicks at FWCD with students for 30 years. It is one activity that excites students in all divisions, as Upper School, Middle School and Lower School students alike will be found cuddling with the baby chicks after they are born.
671
Applications submitted by the class
154
Different college and university acceptances
55%
of graduates attending out-of-state colleges and universities
11
Seniors recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program and/or the National Hispanic Recognition Program
SUMMER 2019
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Giving Back
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GIVING BACK
Smile Maker “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.” ~ Dolly Parton Katie Bynum ’20 is in the smile business. “It is one of the first things people notice about each other,” she said, “but not everyone is born with the confidence to smile.” Bynum founded the Smile Club at Fort Worth Country Day during the 2018-19 academic year, partnering with Operation Smile, an international medical charity that provides safe and free surgeries to children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial conditions. “Children all over the world suffer from cleft palate,” Bynum said. “Many families do not have the access or finances to pay for the correctional surgery. The Smile Club at FWCD encourages students to step up and raise money to help these families.” Operation Smile’s global network of medical professionals donates hundreds of thousands of hours toward the care of children around the world each year. Because not every country or community is the same, the organization works with local medical professions, governments, hospitals and other non-governmental organizations to create models of surgical care in order to reach as many children as possible. Bynum started the club because she feels compelled to give back. With the Upper School’s community service component linked to graduation (students must complete at least 40 hours of service during their Upper School tenure), Bynum felt she and her classmates could make a more global impact. To start the club, Bynum enlisted the help of Rita Zawalnicki, Upper School Registrar and Community Service Coordinator, as her faculty sponsor. “Katie’s passion was evident. I did not know that more than 170,000 children are born each year with cleft issues,” Zawalnicki said. “Katie did her research and inspired Smile Club members to act.”
Bynum and the club’s 75 members first took part in a thirdparty fundraiser with Raising Cane’s fast food restaurant on University Drive. In December, volunteers promoted their cause and Operation Smile, asking patrons to mention Operation Smile at the register so that 15 percent of the price of their meal would go to the organization. Bynum and Smile Club members earned $250, enough to help with one surgery. Inspired to do more, Bynum planned a fundraising walk for the Smile Club, but the possibility of inclement weather in the spring concerned her. Since there had been no fine arts coffee house events yet during the school year, Bynum approached Director of Fine Arts Chelsy Merrill and asked for support in staging a Smile Club Coffee House. The Fine Arts Department was able to support the club’s endeavor and on March 1, students performed in the FWCD Scott Theater. Tickets were sold to community members for $10 each – all proceeds benefiting Operation Smile. Her classmates came out in full support: Sam Elkind ’19 shared a short film; Catherine Andrew ’20 sang; Kynnedi Smith ’21 recited an original short story; Smith, Andrew Nober ’21 and Banner Robinson ’22, members of the CeleryHeads, performed improv; Natalie Claire Collins ’20 harmonized on her guitar; Emma Pyron ’21 tickled the ivories; Julia Petsche ’20 played her ukulele; Chloe Gilpin ’19 sang an original song; Claire Guthrie ’20 and Avery Pate ’19 performed a duet; and Joe Breedlove ’78 sang a soulful song. Even more Upper School students, faculty, friends and family came out to support the performers and the cause. As a result, the Smile Club raised nearly $900. “There were smiles all around, from the performers and audience to the Smile Club members,” Bynum said. “There is nothing better than making a difference in the lives of others.” FWCD Upper School students can join the Smile Club and participate in more fundraisers this fall.
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Q& with Melodee Halbach and A What led you to Fort Worth Country Day 21 years ago?
Les Hofheinz was the Director of Theatre, and he called me in the spring of 1998 and asked me to apply for the job. At the time, I was interviewing for the same position at a new school, Colleyville Heritage High School, and was soon offered that job. Before I accepted it, I drove from my house to the school and back – during the times I would be on the road. I turned the job down. Life is too short to live part of every day in that much traffic. So I applied to FWCD and was ecstatic when they offered me the position.
What FWCD role do you most treasure? I’ve served as mentor, teacher, director, advisor, committee member. The role I most cherish is mentor – to all my students. I’ll use this year’s new Musical Theatre class as an example. Because of the nature of the class, the students and I grew very close. I hold dear the connection I make with each and every one of my students. This particular payoff was at this year’s ISAS Fine Arts Festival One Act Venue. Every student pushed their comfort levels to the side and performed solos and ensembles – in front of a full house. It was a beautiful thing to behold.
How did the alumni letters tradition evolve? What a powerful tradition! When it began, in 2005 or 2006, it was so spiritually compelling. We all just knew it would continue. It is an emotional ritual that ties students to the past, their friendships with the alums writing the letters, and to the future, as they will one day write the letters. The common denominator in the letters is that there is nothing like our department’s family. That sentiment inspires the students to look around and appreciate the love and devotion they share with their peers; the friendships and connections that are made during the process of producing a show.
Do you have a favorite musical (or a few!) that you directed? How does one pick a show – or a few – that stands out among the others? Every single one of them offered a unique gift to me and the audiences. Here goes … but to all of you who are reading this and were in other shows, my love for you isn’t any less! They are Brigadoon, The King and I, Seussical, Little Shop of Horrors, Fiddler on the Roof, Back to the 80s, Chicago High School Edition, West Side Story, Urinetown, Damn Yankees, Legally Blonde, Little Women and Spamalot. Visit www.fwcd.org/halbach for the reasons why and a few more Q&As.
What will you miss most about FWCD? I’ll miss the connections with my students. I have a great love for all of the students who have passed through this department. Each one has made a place in my heart.
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FACULTY Q&A
Kathy Lott What did you enjoy about your various FWCD roles? An excellent education is something no one can ever take away from you. I believe what the research says about a solid algebra foundation being so important for success in college and beyond. After all, everything in life has a variable. Since leaving the classroom in 2014 solely to focus on my admission and financial aid work, I miss the students. They do keep you young and in touch. Most importantly, I miss those ‘ah-ha’ moments when a student gets it.
Why is FWCD’s Duke TIP program so special to you? Duke TIP is a wonderful outreach for FWCD. We are the only site in North Texas, giving the School even broader visibility and reach. The program, sponsored by Duke University but hosted on our campus, provides a medium for our teachers to try new things. It’s a great admission opportunity because the students identified by Duke are prospective Falcons. As a Duke TIP parent myself, I quickly saw the benefits of the program for students, teachers and parents.
Of all the “hats” you have worn at FWCD, what is the most important to you personally? I have always had a passion for numbers. As an Algebra 2 teacher from 2001 to 2014, I helped students reach their math potential. My numbers focus was enhanced in 2006, when I became Director of Financial Aid. Now, my numbers passion centers on providing tuition assistance and scholarships for students at FWCD. Over the years, our budget has grown to what it is today: We granted $3.3 million in financial assistance in 2018-19. That equates to 23 percent of our student body or 1 in 4 students receiving aid. I am proud of these numbers and stats. Do I wish there was more money to give? Of course. My heart is fully ‘in’ when it comes to helping parents realize their educational dreams for their students. I worry when a family experiences significant life events, like the loss of a job or loss of a spouse. I cry when we have spent our budget for the year, and I have to tell a family we cannot provide assistance. When parents contacted me saying they could afford tuition payments with the financial aid award, but were worried about extras, such as carnival, prom, required trips, AP Exams, etc., I enlisted the help of the Parent Faculty Association and the Business Office – to create the support services arm of the Financial Aid Office. Now a process is in place to assist with extras while keeping tuition assistance confidential.
What are your retirement plans?
I’m not fully retiring, so don’t think you’re getting rid of me that easily. I’ll be training someone during the 2019-20 academic year on how to disperse tuition assistance. I am looking forward to spending more time with my two grandsons, playing more golf, staying longer at the beach during the summers and volunteering more now that I’ll have the time.
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The Arts The City of Fort Worth is internationally known for its vibrant arts scene. At FWCD, we inspire innovation and excellence through our celebrated ballet program, visual arts classes, choral programs, band, orchestra, drumline, performing arts and technical theatre.
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SUMMER 2019
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THE AR TS
Students Light up the Stage in Chicago Chicago High School Edition electrified audiences as the cast brought unstoppable energy to the stage. This year’s show was FWCD’s 50th musical performance and Director of Theatre Melodee Halbach’s 21st, and final bow, at the School. “For the past six years, I have had people begging me, please, can we do Chicago,” Halbach said. “I just happened to get a theatre magazine in the mail. I flipped it open, and there was an ad for Chicago High School Edition, so I applied … like immediately.” “It’s been interesting to tackle this material because it’s not typically what you think a high school can do,” said Claire Guthrie ’20, who portrayed Velma opposite Jazmine Gomez ’22 as Roxie. “But I think we’ve done a good job of keeping the integrity of the production, but also adapting it for a high school audience.”
For Halbach, this year’s performance was bittersweet. “There is no greater gift than being trusted by another human being,” she said. “They are trusting me to get them ready to get up there and perform. No matter what you do in life, you’re going to have to get up there in front of people. And if you do it with confidence, you got ’em.”
FWCD Names Director of Fine Arts Chelsy Merrill, MEd, was named the next leader of the Fort Worth Country Day Fine Arts Department in December. Merrill had been serving as FWCD’s Interim Director since the beginning of the academic year. Since arriving at FWCD in July 2018, Merrill has encouraged students to explore their artistic pursuits and foster appreciation for the arts. She has supported the School’s first-ever full production (complete with 124 performers) of The Nutcracker in the ballet program’s 35th year, the 50th Upper School musical (Chicago High School Edition) and the 11th year of the creative visual arts team working in the Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Building. Previously, Merrill served in the United States Marine Corps (1993-97) and was on active duty and played saxophone in 16
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the 4th Marine Air Wing Band in New Orleans. A graduate of Texas Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music Education, she began her career as a Middle School and High School Band Director in Blanco ISD and, later, moved to Spring Branch, where she completed an MEd in Leadership of Learning at Abilene Christian University while serving as Band Director at Spring Branch Middle School. She moved into school administration, serving in Assistant Principal and Academic Dean roles in schools in New Braunfels and Spring Ranch. Merrill has shared that she has fallen in love with Fort Worth Country Day. “I drive to work each day, smiling, knowing that I am going to be challenged, supported and amazed by the visual and performing arts teachers on my team,” she said. “The level of rigor, depth and care put into each lesson is amazing, and I look forward to learning from each of them. I feel so fortunate to be a part of the Falcon family.”
THE AR TS
FWCD Unveils Greenroom Unadorned and void of technological elements, the Black Box was a performing arts space used as a classroom, practice area, small performance venue, dressing room, storage space and more. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, renovations transformed the space into a state-of-the-art Greenroom.
set from the stage to the Greenroom. New, easy-to-fold and lightweight choir risers replaced the dated and cumbersome risers, and a 40-foot by 8-foot stage extension addition provides expansion of the performance area. A portable Wenger Acoustical Shell, which projects sound outward, enhancing the quality of the show, also was added.
Fresh paint, new flooring, a mirrored and professionally lit dressing room, modern furniture and a focal wall showcasing every FWCD musical production poster brighten the aesthetic appeal of the Greenroom, but the integrated technological features are truly impressive. The focal point on the far wall is a sleek flat-screen with a real-time display of what is happening on stage. A Clear-Com intercom system allows untethered communication from the Greenroom to the wireless headsets of Stage Managers and light and sound booth.
Supporting CAST, FWCD’s fine arts booster club; faculty and staff members; administration; and theatre alumni came to the Greenroom opening in December. Those in attendance enjoyed tours of the room and a short program.
“The Greenroom is a continual work in progress. Although it may appear finished, I am constantly listening to feedback from students and faculty to ensure that this space is functional for all and figuring out how the space can be further tweaked to enhance the experiences that students receive at FWCD,” said Director of Fine Arts Chelsy Merrill. “I love seeing the reactions of people when I show them what lies beyond the plain, brown entrance door. The newest hidden gem on campus is quite spectacular.” The renovations and improvements were not exclusive to the Greenroom. A new set of risers was purchased for the FWCD Scott Theater negating the need to move the School’s existing
“I love that our performers have this beautiful and highly functional space. With the fabulous productions they create, they deserve the best,” said Head of School Eric Lombardi. “This re-creation was a collaborative effort, starting during the tenure of Denise Mullins and ending with Chelsy’s particularly wonderful idea of creating an FWCD Theatre Wall of Fame.” During the evening’s festivities, Lombardi also shared that Melodee Halbach, FWCD’s beloved Director of Theatre, would be retiring. See page 12 for her Q&A. Halbach was most heartened to see the wall of musical posters in the Greenroom. “I was so sad when they were taken down from the Scott Theater walls,” she noted. “Those posters conjure so many memories for me, and I loved seeing them every day. But the focal wall is incredible. I absolutely love this feature of the room and know our theatre alumni will appreciate it as well.” SUMMER 2019
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Athletics
An integral part of the FWCD experience is participation in athletics. FWCD Falcons demonstrate a high regard for sportsmanship, effort, health, fitness and school spirit.
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ATHLETICS
2019 Major Athletic Awards Outstanding Freshman Athletes – Katherine Martin ’22, Rogan Crumley ’22 Outstanding Sophomore Girl Athlete – Karli Reed ’21 Barrett Havran ’98 Outstanding Sophomore Boy Athlete – Ayris Gratts-Cole ’21 Dr. Bill Curtis ’67 Award – Chris Edwards ’20 Richard Steed ’83 Award – Kenzi Carter ’20 Awarded annually to the undergraduate athletes whose athletic talents significantly contribute the most to the FWCD athletic program Class of ’72 Award – Lane Kimmel ’19 Don Welch Memorial Trophy – Julia Atkinson ’19 Awarded annually to the senior athletes who demonstrate consistent improvement in athletic performance William A. Landreth Jr. ’67 Award –Drew Chilcoat ’19 Class of ’70 Award – Kaitlyn Johnson ’19 Awarded annually to the outstanding senior athletes whose athletic talents significantly contribute the most to the FWCD athletic program Varsity Awards – Drew Chilcoat ’19, Sam Elkind ’19 Presented to the rare athletes who letter on 12 (or more) varsity teams The Charles B. Varnell Athletic Trainer Award – Grant Zoota ’19 Presented to the student athletic trainer who has made a significant contribution to the Athletic Department
Dr. Lawrence P. Kleuser Memorial Trophy – Lydia Barron ’19, Joe Atkinson ’19 Awarded annually to senior athletes who have, in athletic endeavor, displayed the qualities of character, sportsmanship, enthusiasm and team spirit and have contributed significantly to the general excellence of Fort Worth Country Day Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Award – Elena Casement ’19, Chas Berry ’19 Awarded annually to senior athletes who most nearly epitomize the ideal scholar-athlete by demonstrating academic excellence and outstanding athletic performance while attending FWCD Rosacker Award – Vivian Todora ’23, Paul Ray ’23 Presented annually to outstanding Middle School athletes Old Sport Award – Dr. Lester Kuperman Presented annually to an FWCD community member who is a big booster, faithful fan and super supporter of Falcon athletics year in and year out.
Chas Berry ’19 and Elena Casement ’19 (pictured on page 18) were honored with the 2019 Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Award.
Senior Signs to Continue Baseball Career Jackson Norman ’19 signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his baseball career in college. Norman will attend Trinity University in San Antonio.
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ATHLETICS
Back on the Mat Fort Worth Country Day wrestlers are on the map … mat … again. After several rebuilding years, wrestling numbers have grown, and the Falcons’ success is flourishing. In 2015, FWCD hired Hugo Muñoz as Program Director/Coach. Muñoz, along with Middle School Wrestling Coach Randy Gonzales, has worked tirelessly to grow the next generation of wrestlers for the School. Hard work paid off this year at the Southwest Preparatory Conference Championships, where the Falcons put the FWCD stamp back in the wrestling world with Rogan Crumley ’22 finishing as the silver medalist in his weight class, and Mac Toomey ’22 and Pearce Wallach ’20 finishing fourth in their respective weight classes. “I am so pleased with the trajectory of our wrestling program. Not only are numbers up in the Upper School, but our Middle School program is very promising as well. I attribute much of the excitement and rise of participation to Coach Muñoz,” said Athletic Director Brian Phelps. “Hugo
brings an infectious energy, and he has a true affinity for our kids. Coach Gonzales taking over in the Middle School has solidified that program as well. Together, Hugo and Randy are a powerful combination, and, with both of those individuals leading the wrestling program, there is much to look forward to in the near future.”
Settle Returns Michael Settle ’99 is returning to his alma mater to serve as Baseball Program Director/Varsity Head Coach, Lower School PE Teacher, Grades 3-6 Athletic Coordinator and Middle School Boys Volleyball Coach. An FWCD Original, Settle was a wide receiver on the football team and played basketball and baseball for the Falcons. He also played baseball outside of school in the fall and summer. In 1999, he was only the fourth baseball player from the Southwest Preparatory Conference in two years to sign an NCAA National Letter of Intent. Settle signed with Texas Christian University. 20
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Settle was a star for TCU’s baseball team from 2000-03, where he participated in two All-Conference campaigns; earned Conference Player of the Week recognition on multiple occasions; and received the Matt Carpenter Most Valuable Player Award, the Bryan Holaday Outstanding Defensive Player Award and the Lou Gehrig Award for RBI Leader. After earning his degree, Settle spent the next few years traveling the nation and the world playing professional baseball. In his 20-year coaching career, Settle has worked at the youth, middle school, high school, college and international club/ professional levels. His previous roles
include serving as an Assistant Baseball Coach at All Saints’ Episcopal School, Wheaton College and Texas Christian University. In 2010, he founded the St. Francis Episcopal School (Houston) baseball program.
NEW LOOK AND FEEL FOR SUMMER CAMPS Summer camps at Fort Worth Country Day have a new look and feel, designed to entice campers from Fort Worth Country Day and the DFW metroplex to imagine, learn, create and engage. Michael Carmody, Director of Auxiliary Programs, is the brains behind the new brands of camps: Fort Wonder Summer Camps and Falcon Sports Camps. He joined the FWCD team in spring 2018 to oversee and evaluate Falcon Fun in the Sun, the School’s previous summer camp, to create a new camp experience that would be attractive to students of all ages from the local area. “Falcon Fun in the Sun offered many great things, but it was evident that we lacked brand recognition beyond the FWCD community,” Carmody noted. “I wanted to create a look and a name for our camps that would stick in the minds of the greater Fort Worth community, ultimately increasing our ability to attract students to our summer camps who do not currently attend FWCD.
“Through the camp experience, these families have the opportunity to interact with our faculty, staff and facilities, increasing the likelihood that they will see it as a great option for lower school, middle school and high school,” Carmody continued. “With a name and logo that is inviting and appealing to these families, we are one step closer to achieving that goal.” With the support of his supervisor, Tom Mitchell, Carmody and a creative committee reviewed the camp system and decided that splitting them into two entities made sense. “Campers will be learning the Falcon way of engaging in athletics when they attend sports camps, so keeping our athletic logo and our mascot at the forefront of the marketing for these camps made a lot of sense,” Carmody said. “Our sports are well-known in the community, and our coaches are well-respected.”
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center, with arts and athletics as pillars. The doors of the castle are wide open, signifying an inviting, welcoming stance to the Fort Worth community and beyond.”
Falcon Sports Camps utilize the School’s traditional Falcon head logo, which already has brand recognition in the DFW area. What Carmody added to the sports camps was a marquee competition each day so that campers feel they get to participate in something new and different. An example might be a free-throw shooting contest. “These competitions give campers something new to look forward to each day of camp,” Carmody shared. “By having the campers apply what they have learned throughout the day in a high-energy competition, we are breaking up the day-to-day routine that one may experience in other sports camps in the DFW area. These memory-making marquee events give campers the chance to put their newly acquired skills to the test, with the chance to take home collectible prizes. The marquee events are also great conversation-starters for parents and children at the dinner table at the end of each camp day.” When creating the Fort Wonder logo, Carmody conjured his younger self – and reached out to others to do the same – to think about cherished childhood memories. Imagination and creativity were the driving forces of the Fort Wonder Summer Camps logo. “I was thinking about when I would build pillow and blanket forts with my friends and my sister when we were growing up,” Carmody said. “Through imagination, we would take these
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Fort Wonder Summer Camps are a mix of the tried-and-true and the excitingly new. Day Camps (Pre-K-Grade 5) ran weekly from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with seven themes, including Superheroes, Wonder Games and Ocean Adventures. Specialty Camps (JK-Grade 12) highlighted specific educational topics to fuel campers’ existing interests and to spark engagement in new areas. everyday objects and create magical castles that would transport us to a new world that had limitless possibilities.” Memories of those pillow and blanket forts inspired the castle logo. Fort Wonder’s secondary logo, a stacked F and W, is inspired by the livestock branding marks that are quintessentially part of Fort Worth’s culture. That secondary logo is built into the castle image, serving as the main structure’s top edging and flag. “I wanted the new logo to evoke the hallmarks of our camps: safety, imagination, creativity and big ideas,” Carmody said. “A castle seemed like a perfect fit to symbolize those concepts. We kept FWCD colors to connect the logo back to the School, and the three structures of the castle each represent one of FWCD’s 3A’s: academics at the
With 29 themes, campers enjoyed some favorites like Kids in the Kitchen: Around the World, Lego Mania, The Write Start and Mastering the College Essay. There were also new options: Recorder Karate, Animal Safari, Yoga Camp, Camp Cardboard, Neon Art and Glass Creations. Extended care from 7:45 -8:45 a.m. and 3:30-6 p.m. was available as an add-on for families looking to create a full-day, weeklong experience. “We also ‘back-loaded’ our back-toschool camps, placing them the week of August 5 to coincide with teachers and students returning to the classrooms,” Carmody said. “It gets everyone involved in the spirit of returning to school.” To create energy at the beginning of
each camp day, an opening ceremony took place. Campers arrived to an upbeat atmosphere with music and excited counselors. “Fort Worth doesn’t have many ‘campy’ camp options,” Carmody recalled. “Those traditions and rituals that make camp camp are what we want Fort Wonder and Falcon Sports Camps kids to connect with and look forward to. This will be a time for campers and counselors to have fun, let loose and create memories.” As of June 14, there were nearly 1,500 enrollments for summer 2019. Visit www.fortwondercamps.org (Fort Wonder Summer Camps) and www. falconsportscamps.org (Falcon Sports Camps) to learn more.
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K-Rodeo
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Celebrates 50 Years Fort Worth Country Day celebrated a big one in January. It was the big five zero for the Kindergarten Rodeo! Sixty-eight students from the Class of 2031 dazzled their parents, alumni, former faculty and the Class of 2019 on Friday, January 25. Much has changed since the first K-Rodeo in January 1969: That show featured 36 students who sang one song, “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” and participated in two events, bronc riding and steer wrestling. In the past half-century, more than 2,500 FWCD kindergarteners have performed in this beloved tradition. The K-Rodeo, as it is affectionately known, began in the 1968-69 academic year. Then Kindergarten Teacher Melinda Miller created the fun program for students to express themselves. She tapped Dan Bloch H’06, then Fifth-Grade Teacher (now Middle School Science Teacher), to play the banjo after she saw him playing for his class one day. Bloch embraced that role in the very first rodeo, strumming “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” He played for the morning and afternoon kindergarten performances, which took place in the advancement area of the Schwartz Administration Building, the kindergarten classroom at that time. Bloch recalls that there were only a few rodeo events done silently – bucking bronco and steer wrestling – in the show, and they lasted much longer than today’s events because Miller did not blow a horn to end competition. He loved the rodeo so much that he offered to play background music the following year. Miller said yes. While “Deep in the Heart of Texas” remains a staple from year one, the rodeo program has evolved over the years. “The K-Rodeo was initially only a performance for parents because of limited space,” Bloch said. He recalls the rodeo being shared with fellow Lower School students in the mid-
1970s, and that during the 1989-90 academic year, halfday kindergarten ended, and there were four kindergarten teachers for the very first year. That original foursome was Miller, Barbara Meyers, Leann Ramsey and Janice Malone Richardson. The rodeo events are unchanged from those early days. The bucking broncos and steer wrestling were the main events. Calf scramble was an early addition. “Bull riding was instituted when the teachers discovered those big rubber balls with handles,” Bloch said. The events expanded when the number of kindergarten classes grew to four. Today’s rodeo events are steer wrestling, trick roping, bareback bronc riding, cutting horses, calf roping, calf scramble, barrel racing and bull riding. The musical program expanded with Christine Derber, who served as Lower School Music Teacher at FWCD for 30 years. For years, the rodeo featured “Deep in the Heart of Texas” and banjo accompaniment during the events. Derber added a more pronounced music component, which includes “The Star Spangled Banner,” “Oh I am a Cowboy,” “I am a Texas Star” and, of course, “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” The performances are now more elaborate and polished. “Even now, so many years later, I have a wonderful time playing for the rodeo,” Bloch said. “I try to pace the music to the event that is unfolding in front of me. I have some songs that I play every year and some that I throw in off the top of my head. I’ve even been known to throw in a Beatles or Dylan tune every once in a while. It all seems to work, and the rodeo is well received each and every year. For me, the Kindergarten Rodeo is an opportunity to begin developing relationships with the kindergarteners that can last another 12 years.”
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While the K-Rodeo celebrated its 50th, so did Bloch. He reprised his role wholeheartedly as the banjo player for the Class of 2031 for the 50th year in a row. This year was extra special for him: His granddaughter, Eliana Montgomery, performed. Head of School Eric Lombardi honored Bloch at the start of the program, presenting him with a specially crafted FWCD Kindergarten Rodeo belt buckle. Miller’s children, Laura Miller Rattikin ’78 and Scott Miller ’80, were present to see this year’s 50th rendition and to celebrate their mother’s vision. The K-Rodeo also was presented with a proclamation from the Office of Mayor Betsy Price in remembrance of this milestone. Kindergarten Teachers Mallory Alexander, Laurie Brown, Lisa Dickerson Davenport ’87 and Cynthia Reyes, along with Kindergarten Assistants Kris Johnson, Sheree Kinnaird, Lynn McBroom and Denise Pulido, worked with the students to choreograph this year’s 50th performance. Karla Dunning, Lower School Music Teacher, oversaw the musical interludes. Following the rousing performance, former faculty and staff, current kindergarten teachers and alumni attended a luncheon in the Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center. They enjoyed a through-the-years slideshow and reminisced about their roles in the rodeo. Who knew in 1969 that students would be performing in the Kindergarten Rodeo 50 years later? Miller’s idea has become a unique and treasured part of Country Day life. “When you think about the concept, you have to be struck 26
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by the ingenuity of the idea,” Bloch said. “When I reflect on all the presentations I have seen over the years, most of the performances put on by young children followed a very similar format: Children would stand in rows and sing songs or recite a verse in unison. The more introverted children would simply mouth the words—and some wouldn’t even do that—while the less inhibited would dominate the stage with their personalities. “Mrs. Miller was a rare individual who realized that the reticent child would only perform in a non-threatening situation,” Bloch continued. “The Kindergarten Rodeo became the perfect venue. In this program, there is room for the rambunctious cowboy or cowgirl to explode across the room, while providing the opportunity for the meekest to prance daintily in a controlled manner. Personalities are clearly expressed without any intimidation. No student is forced beyond his or her own comfort zone, which makes this event a hit with children as well as parents. It has been interesting for me to see what the wild bull rider or timid rope twirler in kindergarten grows into by the time they reach me in fifth grade. Usually, the personality trait remains to some degree.” Though the K-Rodeo has become more stylized with props and backdrops, the program itself remains well-structured and is utterly beloved. The essential element: Students are free to express themselves. “It was a great privilege to work with someone like Melinda Miller early in my career,” Bloch said. “Her insight into the minds of young people helped me to form my own approach to teaching. I’m glad that the Kindergarten Rodeo continues to be true to the genius of a great teacher.”
(Left) The Class of 2031 and the Class of 2019 posed together following the 50th Kindergarten Rodeo. Kindergarteners now perform the rodeo for the seniors, and many reminisce and recall their roles 13 years earlier. (Right) Janice Malone Richardson joined the kindergarten team in 1989-90. (Second Row) Katelyn Le ’31 enjoys the steer wrestling event. William Cobb ’31 rode one of the new “bucking broncos.” Dan Bloch H’06 celebrated his 50th rodeo with Sara Akhtar Smith ’91 and Jessica Ross Poole ’91. (Bottom Row) It’s fun to be a rodeo clown! Oliver Gadberry ’31 embraced his role. Eileen Kelly joined the K team in the 1990s.
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The Senior
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Capstone Experience The most effective schools have an organizational rhythm of reflection, review and renewal. Just as students learn in the classroom, it is essential that a school and its faculty learn and aspire to be better each day. To foster intellectual curiosity, reflection and engagement among seniors as they conclude their educational and social experiences at Fort Worth Country Day, the School introduced a new interdisciplinary elective: Senior Capstone. The core behind the Senior Capstone idea is to allow students to create customized summary experiences outside the structure of the traditional curriculum. In this pilot year, 30 students in the Class of 2019 chose to engage in this exercise, immersing themselves in a passion project that included exploration, research, and a final project and presentation that articulated their growth.
Rachel Ellman ’19 worked with Dr. Gina Hill, Associate Professor and Coordinated Program in Dietetics Director at Texas Christian University, on her Capstone Project, “Food Waste or Redistribution.”
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“Capstone allows
students to apply what they learn in the classroom and tap resources in the greater community.
”
~ Steve Stackhouse
The Senior Capstone idea gained traction as the result of a detailed faculty proposal that was explored by Summer Fellows, Upper School and Middle School faculty members in the History and English Departments, in summer 2018. “At that same time, there was a national discussion among independent schools about alternative skill-based transcripts,” said Steve Stackhouse, Head of Upper School. “This all seemed connected and important. As seniors are looking at colleges, considering different majors and career choices, we wanted to encourage them to think differently and break the barrier of the conventional discrete course.” By senior year, students have the academic background, creativity and intellectual dexterity to make connections between courses and across the disciplines. “Capstone allows students to apply what they learn in the classroom and tap resources in the greater community,” Stackhouse said. “It presents travel, community service, summer work and internships as learning opportunities. Capstones could explore career interests, solve
a practical problem, be an artistic expression or more and encourages students to learn from experiences beyond the berm.” The Capstone “class” format devotes time, structure and resources for students to do in-depth research. Capstone Supervisors, typically FWCD faculty/staff members, monitor progress, facilitate work and check deadlines. Mentors, who are experts in their fields, guide research and serve as a sounding board for further exploration. “We hope students use Capstone to organize their thoughts and reflect on their educational experience,” Stackhouse said. “The concept is akin to the classic old-world tutorial where faculty and mentors guide students.” This year’s projects took on many formats: films, exhibits, presentations, music, displays and more. Topics ran the gamut. Students were involved in developing an ice cream shop (Riley Hammett ’19); stage managing and directing plays and musicals (Joe Westermann ’19); writing, performing and producing an album now available on Spotify (Chloe Gilpin ’19); designing an addition to a historic Fort Worth home (Campbell Robinson ’19); highlighting the importance of language immersion (Sarah Clark ’19); interviewing a grandmother who lived in Belgium during World War II (Noah Woods ’19); and sharing current and traditional fashion in Vietnam (Katey Franks ’19). “The breadth and depth of topics were profound,” Stackhouse noted. “Some of the students took on outside internships with their mentors to immerse themselves in their topics. We worked hard to be consistent in our expectations across a variety of diverse projects, managing them through a committee that represented the academic departments.” Diego Casanova ’19 did an impressive presentation titled “Drug Repositioning: A Better Future for Pharmaceutical R&D and
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Patient Health.” During summer 2018, Casanova spent time researching medulloblastoma and how drug repositioning can alter current chemotherapy treatments with Dr. Riyaz Basha at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. As a result of that work, Casanova’s name was included in an abstract titled “Copper-clotam for neuroblastoma” published by the doctor. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with Dr. Basha,” Casanova said. “Dr. Basha and his team were extremely welcoming and eager to teach. I'll always be thankful to them for confirming my hopeful career path and my passion for helping others,” Casanova said. Rachel Ellman ’19 highlighted nutrition in her project, “Food Waste or Redistribution?” Working with Dr. Gina Hill, Associate Professor and Coordinated Program in Dietetics Director at Texas Christian University, she focused on the nutritional challenges for those living in “food deserts,” urban areas where it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food. Having previously volunteered at the Tarrant Area Food Bank through National Charity League, Ellman heard employees talking about food deserts. “It made such an impact on me to know so many people in our community didn’t have access to nutritious food for their families,” she said. Because she plans to major in nutritional science, Ellman asked Dr. Hill to be her mentor. “Dr. Hill brought up the issue of food waste in our world, so I decided to research it more,” Ellman said. “TCU students worked with the Nutrition Department to collaborate with their food provider to create a Food Recovery Network, and I was inspired to find something similar at FWCD.”
“Through
this project, I discovered how passionate I am about the issue of food waste and that I want to do something about it.
”
Rachel Ellman ’19
As she researched, Ellman learned about laws, statistics, and food waste in countries around the world and in the U.S. She researched phone apps that are already in the business of reducing SUMMER 2019
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“Having been published before, I wanted to make sure Abby approached the paper with the intent of publishing.”
~ Dr. Heather Peace
food waste, how food waste contributes to global climate changes and more. “My intended project [in addition to writing a research paper] was to look for places to implement a Food Recovery Program in which I would connect with the organization to create a program that would ensure that leftover, consumable food is donated to a local philanthropy,” Ellman said. “SAGE [Dining Services at FWCD] has cut its food waste and didn’t have enough leftovers to have a viable program.” Ellman reached out to Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine to try to redirect leftovers from the landfill to a nonprofit, but due
Abby Shaffer ’19 connected with Dr. Heather Peace in order to write a publishable paper on Game Theory, the study of how people make economic decisions. Her Capstone: “When is Kindness an Economic Incentive?” (Far Right) In her Capstone Project, Katey Franks ’19 explored daily fashion in Vietnam as part of a trip to see her birth mother. Dr. Marcy Paul, Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Systems in the School of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, served as her mentor. Dr. Paul also directs the UNT Health Science Center Women’s Resource Center and is Associate Director of a research institute on women and gender.
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to time constraints and liability concerns, she was unable to get that aspect of her project in motion. “Through this project, I discovered how passionate I am about the issue of food waste and that I want to do something about it.” Ellman hopes her Food Recovery Program will one day come to fruition. Abby Shaffer ’19 tackled Game Theory in her project, “When is Kindness an Economic Incentive?” Upper School Math and Science Teacher Dr. Heather Peace was her Mentor. “I became interested in Game Theory, the study of how people make economic decisions, over the past two summers. I
took courses in economics at Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania,” Shaffer said. Shaffer hypothesized that both business models in her project, a hospital (multistage game) and a car dealership (one-shot game), valued customer care and kindness over advertising because they see more profits from word-ofmouth advertising than traditional advertising venues. From the onset of the project, Shaffer was interested in publishing an article in an academic journal. “Having been published before, I wanted to make sure Abby approached the paper with the intent of publishing,” Dr. Peace said.
Shaffer hypothesized that “customer service and positive relationships with customers would hold a higher value in businesses modeled by multistage games [something played/ used multiple times] and have a lower value for businesses modeled by one-shot games [something played/used only once]. “She designed a hypothetical model illustrating the Nash equilibrium in each scenario,” Dr. Peace said. “She wrote interview questions and contacted an administrator at a hospital (multistage game) and a general manager at a car dealership (one-shot game) for interviews.” Together, Shaffer and Dr. Peace analyzed the taped interviews, using the Constant Comparative Method for qualitative analysis. “Abby determined the themes and rejected her initial hypothesis,” Dr. Peace said. Shaffer submitted the article to PPE Review: Philosophy, Politics and Economics, a biannual scholarly journal for high school students designed to encourage gifted young learners to attempt the publication process. The article is under consideration for publication. Next year, approximately 30 seniors will pursue passion projects and begin their preliminary research during summer 2019. “We have a student interested in writing a novel and another who wants to design a dance program to foster fitness in the Lower School,” Stackhouse said. “I look forward to the work our students, Capstone Supervisors and Mentors complete over the summer and early fall months.” Head of School Eric Lombardi is pleased with the Capstone projects. “I love that the concept emerged from Summer Fellows grant work of a wonderful group of teachers,” he said. “I especially love the products we have seen in this first year. The students involved consistently took advantage of the opportunity they were being given to take a deep dive into an area of real interest for them. The projects are the product of great teachers inspiring great students to maximize their potential. ” SUMMER 2019
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In a Class of Their Own Epic … Legendary … Gusto … All words used to describe the Class of 2019 in various speeches throughout the evening on May 17. One hundred one new graduates joined the alumni Falcon fold bringing the School’s total alumni number to 4,165. The class, which submitted 671 applications and was accepted to 154 colleges and universities, will attend 52 different institutions throughout the United States. To date, 55 percent of the class will attend out-of-state colleges and universities. Seventy-five seniors were awarded more than $11.6 million in merit-based scholarship awards. Valedictorian Alexandra Galloway will attend Yale University, and Salutatorian Diego Casanova will continue his education at Rice University. 34
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“Over these past 13 years, our class has embodied the phrase “book-smart,” yet maintained its own lively personality,” Casanova said. “We made it. Embrace the gusto of our class.” Kindness, one of FWCD’s core values also came up regularly in speeches. “Remember who you are as we enter college and adulthood. Do not change yourself for others; hold steadfast to your convictions, to kindness, to grace, to generosity of spirit,” Galloway said. “Your memories, your friendships, your hopes: These are the things you will carry with you in the future.” Board President Laura Bonnell Alexander ’88 also focused on kindness. “Our society tends to focus on achievement – academic, athletic, career,” she said. “As we continue to move
forward through various stages of life, it’s important to keep in mind we may be praised for our accomplishments, but we are remembered for our small kindnesses, our humor and the ways we have brightened the lives of others.” The seniors’ gift to the School honors the class’s legacy of enthusiasm. Lydia Barron shared that the current folding chairs at Rosacker Stadium would be replaced with new, brightly colored benches that can accommodate more students and are more conducive to school spirit. “We hope that the students who follow us will remember the importance of pride in our school and supporting our fellow athletes,” she said. The class raised $10,000 for the project. The bleachers will be installed for the fall football season.
Spencer Smith, the class’s faculty-chosen speaker, centered his speech on justice. He left the students with the following: “I hope you will remember that it’s not a sin to try hard, though it might be a sin NOT to, especially when you’ve been given so much. Try hard, folks – try hard to build or repair relationships in your family, try hard to see the image of good in everyone, try hard to know yourselves before diagnosing the ills in others. Justice starts in your soul, and if it’s worth trying, try hard.” To view the entire ceremony and hear the speeches, visit www.fwcd.org/graduation.
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Alexandra Galloway Valedictorian A National Merit Commended Student, Alexandra Galloway ’19 is a Fort Worth Country Day Original. She will attend Yale University where she plans to continue studying language. A member of the Ballet Department, Galloway was a regular in School productions, enjoying roles in The Miracle Worker, Harvey, Chicago High School Edition, The Matchmaker, The Crucible, Spamalot!, Little Women and Anything Goes. She served as co-editor of Falcon Quill with Diego Casanova ’19 this year. Galloway was bitten by the travel bug in eighth grade when she took part in a Fort Worth Sister Cities International program in Nagaoka, Japan. As a freshman, she was one of 100 students chosen out of nearly 1,000 to participate in the Yale Young Global Scholars trip to Beijing, China. She joined students from around the world, taking seminars on international law, public health and the psychology of power. Serving as Secretary and President of the Fort Worth Sister Cities Youth Board, Galloway was honored with the organization’s 2017 Youth Volunteer of the Year Award. Her Sister Cities travel continued as she lived with host families in Japan, China, Indonesia, Hungary and Eswatini, fostering positive cultural relations. She is adept in Spanish and credits that to FWCD’s stellar Language Department and its teachers. “Fort Worth Country Day provides students with the opportunity to explore different languages and has taught me that I can learn any language that I set my mind on learning,” she said. 36
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Diego Casanova Salutatorian Faculty and Staff with their graduates Anne-Lise Knecht Woods ’85 and Noah Woods Ed, Farris and Paige (Farris) Chisholm ’87 Meredith and Tom Mitchell Yolanda and Roy Espinoza with grandson Adrian Avitia Kaitlyn and Kim Johnson Nelson, Alison, Campbell and Banner Robinson ’22 Kenneth Crutcher and his basketball team graduates
A National Hispanic Scholar, Diego Casanova ’19 joined the FWCD community in sixth grade. He will attend Rice University, where he plans to major in biochemistry. Casanova challenged himself in Upper School, graduating with eight AP and seven Honors-level courses. From an arts perspective, he focused on computer coding and journalism and later shared the FWCD story through the Falcon Quill, as a reporter and then as co-editor as a senior. Casanova played soccer, ran cross country (serving as team captain) and participated in track. He uses running as an outlet when he needs to de-stress and step away from the busyness of school life. His best 5K time is 17:55 minutes. A leader in the Upper School, Casanova served as Diplomacy Club President, an Admission Student Ambassador, a member of TEAM Service for four years, a Student Council Officer as a freshman and a senior, and a Link Crew and Honor Council Officer and Community Representative as a junior and senior. Last summer, Casanova spent his summer researching medulloblastoma and how drug repositioning can alter current chemotherapy treatments with Dr. Riyaz Basha at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. As a result of that work, Casanova’s name was included in an abstract titled “Copper-clotam for neuroblastoma” published by the doctor. To read full valedictorian and salutatorian profiles, visit www.fwcd.org/graduation.
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Alumni News
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ALUMNI NEWS
Super Bowl Dream Come True On Saturday, February 3, a lifelong dream for Courtney Corbeille Krauss ’06 came true. She cheered with the New England Patriots Cheerleaders in Super Bowl LIII. The Patriots took on the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta’s MercedesBenz Stadium. With more than 25 years of cheering under her belt, Krauss was ecstatic to fulfill this dream. “When you’ve put in countless hours of work into your passion over several decades, it is the greatest feeling when it finally pays off,” Krauss shared. “I wish I could go back and assure my younger self that all of those long nights at cheer and dance practice would be worth it in the end!” Born and raised in Fort Worth, Krauss began cheering at the age of 5. “At the Bingo Night-CDS Auction, we bought the ‘Cheerleader-for-a-Day’ Package,” recalls Judy Corbeille, Krauss’s mother. “We borrowed a varsity cheer uniform and had a tiny replica made in her size.” Krauss cheered with the varsity cheerleaders at the Homecoming game that year and was hooked on cheerleading. Dance was always part of Krauss’s life. She took ballet at the Gayle Corkery School of Ballet on the FWCD campus as well as through Carrie Cheng, FWCD’s Director of Ballet. She attributes her flexibility and technique to the 13 years of study she devoted to ballet. A varsity cheerleader for four years, Krauss was named captain of the squad her senior year. She continued to cheer in college at the University of Miami and the University of Oklahoma. In 2011, she earned a place on FWCD’s Athletics Wall of Fame as a collegiate cheerleader. Cheerleading did not end for Krauss following college graduation. In 2010, she auditioned with more than 2,000 others for a role in Bring It On: the Musical. She was cast as one of two “flyers” for the world premiere. After a successful run in Atlanta in 2011, Krauss was asked to stay on for the North American 13-city tour and for the Broadway run in 2012. Krauss also shared her expertise with cheerleaders around the
world as a coach and instructor for the Universal Cheerleader Association (UCA). With UCA, she traveled to Scotland, Australia and China, among other countries. Once back in Texas, Krauss cheered in the Dallas Mavericks system and was a Dallas Stars Ice Girl for two years. Last April, she auditioned for the New England Patriots Cheerleading Squad and was thrilled to be chosen from hundreds of candidates. Her NFL cheerleading dream had come true. Now her dream has come full circle with the opportunity to cheer for the Patriots at the Super Bowl. “Besides running onto the field into the confetti as the play clock was winding down, my favorite part of the Super Bowl experience was the celebratory parade back in Boston,” Krauss said. “Over 1.5 million people lined the streets to cheer on the Duck Boats. It was simply electric.” SUMMER 2019
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ALUMNI NEWS
Retired Faculty –
Where are They Now? By Debby Jennings
Donna Poye Rubin First Grade 1991-2010 In 2010, Donna relocated to Michigan with her husband, Bernie, and soon landed a job as a first-grade teacher at Detroit Country Day School. She now is fully retired and looking forward to traveling and spending time with her daughters, Ivy Poye Pierce ’07 and Sarah Rubin. Donna maintains her connection to young children by volunteering to read aloud with her therapy dog, Pax. A published author, Donna introduces children to local history and culture through her books, Log Cabin Kitty and Apple Cider Pup. She is finishing her third book, Cherry City Kitty. Donna’s fondest FWCD memories include the annual musical assemblies her team produced. Each teacher would rotate roles as director, choreographer, producer and designer. “The best part was that we recycled the musicals every four years and dedicated the production to the fourth-graders who had done the same show when they were first-graders,” Donna said. “That’s the sense of FWCD community I will always remember.”
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Chuck Maddux
Steve Hoover US Math 1986-2013 When Steve retired, he and his wife, Ann, sold their home and bought an RV to travel throughout the U.S. and Canada. They visited almost every state and all the Canadian Maritime provinces. After so much traveling, they missed the “brick and mortar” and settled in Oklahoma. Downsizing to a smaller RV allows them to visit state parks and natural areas. Having a physical home has allowed Steve to expand his hobbies: gardening with native plants, walking, reading, and learning about the history and culture of the area. “This Three Rivers area of the Creek Nation is rich in history,” Steve said. “We enjoy discovering the culture of the Creek and Cherokee.” Steve is about to become a great grandparent and is excited to experience this new role. Active on Facebook, Steve enjoys keeping up with his former students. His words of wisdom: “Enjoy life, every minute of it! And please, vote!”
Sixth-Grade History 1991-2017 Chuck’s passion is to travel. He has traveled to places he remembers his father describing from his 28-year U.S. Navy service. “I am retracing my father’s steps, duplicating his wonderment with mine,” he said. In 2017, Chuck returned to Finland after 49 years to see his Finnish family. He recently toured Italy and the Balkans and plans to visit Russia. Chuck has now set his sights on some American locations. He retraced a segment of the American Revolution in Boston, Lexington and Concord and visited the WWII Pearl Harbor monument. He is exploring Texas and basing his trips on FWCD student suggestions. For many years, sixth-graders researched a region and designed a “7-Day Tour of Texas” popup book. Chuck has been visiting the locales featured in those books. “Watching sixth-graders morph into 12th-graders was my greatest reward,” Chuck said of his time at FWCD. He is proud of his contribution to moving technology into the classroom and remembers his respect for and rapport with the faculty/staff.
ALUMNI NEWS
Club V Members of FWCD’s Club Viginti gathered at Joe T. Garcia’s on April 7 for their annual dinner. Founded in 1997, Club V recognizes faculty and staff who had given 20 years or more of service to FWCD. The group meets annually for a School-sponsored dinner. New members are inducted each year on Founders’ Day, and this year six members joined its ranks: Michael Parker, Lucy Biggs, Sherrilan Gilley, Sheree Kinnaird, Janie Garrett and Shelley Rains.
Began FWCD Career in 1960s Tad Sanders H’98, Claire-Lise Knecht H’06, Dan Bloch H’06 and Sharon Foster H’05
Began FWCD Career in 1980s Bobbi Westendorf, Cindy Allen, Dan Jones, Scottie Bartel, Ann Arnold Packer, Cecilee Lindsey, Tad Sanders H’98, Mona Goone McDaniel, Christine Derber, Ed Chisholm, Eileen Kelly, Barbara Meyers, Joe Breedlove ’78, Dan Foust and Diana Isbell
Began FWCD Career in 1970s Joe Murph, Jody Price, Butch Traeder H’16, Sharon Hamilton, Debby Jennings, Norma Wilkerson H’07, Andy Cordell and Bill Baker H’12
Began FWCD Career in 1990s Trisha Franks, Holly Clifford, Shari Lincoln, Aimee Jenkins, Chuck Maddux, Lucy Biggs, Janie Garrett, Alison Robinson, Joan Massey, Kay Robinson, Mary Kay Varley, Anne-Lise Knecht Wood ’85, Sheri Fuller, Ronda Hill and Michael Parker
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ALUMNI NEWS
Alan Meeker ’83 Alan Meeker ’83 is making his name known in the medical technologies field and the sport of polo. He oversees two different business ventures through The Crestview Research Institute and CQuentia, yet both are significant passion projects. In 2000, Meeker developed Type I diabetes, a chronic disease with no cure. That will change under Meeker’s watch. Crestview Research Institute scientists are working to produce insulinproducing beta islet cells from a donor’s non-beta islet cells. He is dedicated to finding a cure for the millions who live with the disease. His commitment honors Aiden ’22 and Gavin ’25. “My sons are the pleasure of my life,” Meeker said. “If I can live longer by working on and finding a cure, that’s my goal. To extend my time on earth to be a father.” As CEO of CQuentia, Meeker strives to improve patient health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs through genetic testing and technology. “We develop and deliver diagnostic tests to determine which medical treatments work best for each patient,” he said. “By combining data from those tests with a patient’s medical history and unique circumstances, health care providers can develop targeted treatment and prevention plans. This approach to precision medicine is revolutionizing health care.” Meeker’s work with Crestview also relates to a passion for horses and the game of polo. As a child and FWCD student, he took part in three-day events—dressage, cross country and show jumping. Now he plays polo avidly in South Carolina at Crestview Farm, where he houses 40 to 100 horses on his 415-acre property. It was in 2008 that Meeker began cloning horses to develop the top polo horses in the world. “Polo players can ride as many as 12 horses in a match,” Meeker said. “The horse and its stamina, strength and agility are as important as the player’s expertise.” Connecting with Argentine polo legend Adolfo Cambiaso, who had some of the world’s top polo horses, Meeker licensed the genetics of those horses. Cambiaso and Meeker are now partners, 42
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dominating the field. Meeker has developed cloning technology and procedures that result in an 85 percent success rate for delivering a live foal. In layman’s terms, skin cells from a donor animal are implanted into an egg of a donor female horse after that egg’s DNA is removed. Crestview was featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes and National Geographic Explorer. At FWCD, Meeker loved school, sports and the arts, but never in his wildest dreams imagined he would clone horses or pioneer diabetes research. “FWCD gave me a rock-solid start to launch into whatever was next for me,” he said. “I was challenged while at Country Day and have fond memories of Mrs. [Beverly Anne] Robinson [H’18], Mrs. [Lelia] Koeppe, Mrs. [Jean] Webb [H’01] and Mr. [Tawny] Kilbourne. I received such a wonderful foundation here that I found college to be boring.” He attended the University of Oklahoma as a petroleum engineering major and transferred to TCU, where he studied business before deciding he did not want a “linear education.” He left college to work in oil and gas and real estate. When it came time to choose a school for his boys, Meeker did his due diligence, as he does in all business ventures, and toured the local schools. “It wasn’t a given that my boys would attend Country Day because I did,” he said. “They are my sun and my moon, so I want the very best for them. When I came for the tour, FWCD rose to the top of the list. There’s a healthy culture here that is supportive of students as they learn.” Both boys became Falcons in kindergarten. Aiden shares his father’s love of polo. He is nationally ranked and travels all over the country to play. Gavin also plays polo, and has a theatrical side and enjoys the arts opportunities the School provides. He also is active in competitive athletics. “Success requires a solid foundation,” Meeker said. “FWCD provided me that, now I am providing that to my boys. My life’s purpose is to be a good father to them.”
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ALUMNI NEWS
2005 Alumnus Named Alumni Relations Manager There’s a familiar face on campus serving as FWCD’s new Alumni Relations Manager. Welcome, Patrick Powers ’05! No stranger to FWCD, Patrick is an FWCD Original and attuned to the needs of alumni and students. His siblings are also alumni – Elizabeth Powers Brooks ’10, Teresa Powers Stephenson ’07, Mary Powers Louden ’03 and Catherine Powers Bevan ’01 – as are some of his in-laws – D. Taylor Louden ’03 and Brett Stephenson ’07. Patrick has served as FWCD’s Boys Varsity Volleyball Head Coach since 2018 and before that was FWCD’s Varsity Assistant Boys Volleyball Coach and JV Boys Head Volleyball Coach for nearly five years. Powers earned a BA in Telecommunications and Marketing at Pepperdine University, where he was a member of the men’s volleyball team from 2005-10. He also holds a JD from Texas Tech School of Law. Prior to the alumni relations team, Patrick worked for Northwestern Mutual in Fort Worth as a financial advisor, specializing in insurance and financial planning. Email him at patrick.powers@fwcd.com or alumnirelations@fwcd.com and say hello!
Alumni Author Shares her Story Whoosh! Wham! FWCD Libraries welcomed Kat Albers Kronenberg ’85 to campus in February. Kronenberg, the author of Dream Big (2017) and Love Big (2019), met with junior kindergarteners, kindergarteners and first-graders to read her newest release, Love Big, and share her inspirational message about positivity. Students enjoyed reading along with Kronenberg as her characters learn to take a thoughtful pause and discover the power of shared smiles. Kronenberg also met with sixth-graders to discuss her journey to become a published author and share her insights about the writing process. “I was meant to write a book about the power of a smile to help us all live our best life,” she said.
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Class of 2018 Gathers Around the Fire Pit It was a chilly evening on December 20, 2018, for the inaugural lighting of FWCD’s newly installed fire pit outside of the Lower School. Beside the crackling fire, the Alumni Association welcomed back Falcons from the Class of 2018 for a couple of hours of hot chocolate, s’mores and catching up with friends. More than 20 alumni were in attendance and happy to have completed their first semester of college and unwind with family and friends for the holidays.
ALUMNI NEWS
Inaugural Founders’ Day of Giving a Success In addition to observing Founders’ Day on March 6, 2019, Fort Worth Country Day celebrated Founders’ Day of Giving. The Advancement Office chose this event as a day for FWCD community members to give back to the School. Founders’ Day commemorates the School’s incorporation on March 6, 1962, and how so many lives were forever changed by the 16 Founding Trustees who came together with a trailblazing vision of a school that offered its students the best in academics, the arts and athletics. Falcons were asked to share their “Why I Give …” stories on social media with the #FWCDFalconsgiveback and #whyigivetofwcd. Those stories overwhelmingly poured in from alumni. Here’s who helped kickoff this campaign: Caroline Corpening Lamsens ’99, Rob Semple ’95, Anne-Lise Knecht Woods ’85, Bill Arnold ’86, Mary Carolyn Clay Gatzke ’93, Paige Farris Chisholm ’87, Michael Steinbrenner ’12, Craig Christopher ’92, Robert Todora ’17, Brian Evans ’17, Max Gordon ’17, Chris Cooper ’17, Kelly Lanier Tierce ’93, Colin Douglas ’06, Bailee Wallace ’14, Joe Breedlove ’78, Annabeth Reeb ’13, Emily Wilkinson ’14, Alexandra Stevens ’85, John Brookman ’80, Connor Cassady ’15 and Michael Ginsberg ’95. The goal was to raise $25,000 for the FWCD Fund, the School’s annual fund, between midnight and 11:59 p.m. on March 6. At the end of the campaign, the total amount raised was $26,980.50 with 71 supporters (48 alumni, 19 parents, 3 faculty/staff members and 1 friend).
“Our collective support
raised more than $25,000 and helps take our students from here, anywhere …
”
~ Helen Todora
“We are immensely grateful to the entire Fort Worth Country Day community who were a part of this endeavor,” said Helen Todora, an FWCD parent who served as 2018-19 FWCD Fund Co-chair with her husband, Michael. “Our collective support raised more than $25,000 and helps take our students from here, anywhere ….” The 2019-20 FWCD Fund began its fund drive on July 1. To make your gift, visit www.fwcd.org/give today.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Falcon Alumni Share Their Expertise then Cornell University (New York); Gustavo Torres ’16, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Reagan Mulqueen ’16, University of Notre Dame (Indiana); and Jacob Rains ’16, Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) comprised the panel that took the Class of 2019’s questions. The alumni spoke about their academic and social experiences in college, all agreeing that they were exceptionally wellprepared for the academic work they encounter. They stressed good time management and connecting with a mentor as being critical to their success. Do professors take attendance at college? What’s it like to live with a roommate? How do I know if I should “rush”? What kinds of activities are available on campus? These questions and more were addressed in College Chat, an annual College Counseling-sponsored event. Amanda Stephens ’15, University of Oklahoma; Brendan O’Connell ’18, Gap Year
The annual event invites recent graduates back to Fort Worth Country Day to share their perspectives on college with the current members of the senior class. This year’s depth of experience was important – students heard from juniors and seniors in college and were afforded the opportunity to ask questions about a gap year.
Class of 2019 Joins the Alumni Association The Class of 2019, 101 members strong, donned their caps and gowns to process through the Lower, Middle and Upper School divisions on Tuesday, April 26, for the annual Cap and Gown Parade. Complete with a speaker blaring “Pomp and Circumstance,” the seniors were greeted with smiles, cheers, high fives, happy tears and hugs from students, faculty members and staff. The parade ended at the Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center with a chicken and biscuit breakfast and a brief presentation about the importance of the Alumni Association with Rob Semple ’95, 2017-19 Alumni Council President; Alexandra Stevens ’85, then Alumni Council President-Elect; and Bari Buckner Brookman ’83, 46
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Alumni Council Member. All council members stressed the importance of support and networking that fellow Falcon graduates provide to one another. Semple addressed the graduates formally at commencement on May 17. “On behalf of the graduates of Fort Worth Country Day, I welcome you to the Alumni Association. We exist to serve you and to keep you connected with one another and with your alma mater,” he said. “After tonight, all 101 of you may not ever be in the same room again together. Always remember you have only one high school alma mater. Country Day is a part of your common bond. I encourage you to work to strengthen that common bond: be an active participant in this community that will be available to you for the rest of your life.”
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Games On Saturday, November 24, 2018, FWCD held its first Alumni co-ed volleyball game. Head Coach Patrick Powers ’05 called out some warm-up drills while alumni limbered up in the Round Gym. Former volleyball coach Butch Traeder H’16 was in attendance and cheered on the players. Saturday, December 22, 2018, was game day for the boys and girls soccer teams and the boys and girls basketball teams. This eventful day opened with a fantastic turnout for the boys alumni soccer game, with alumni joining the varsity boys for an actionpacked game finishing with a final score of Alumni 4, Varsity 2! Next up was the girls alumni basketball game where alumni took on the FWCD girls for a lively and competitive game. The boys alumni basketball game closed out game day with alumni playing and cheering one another on.
Join us for Fall Alumni Games! November 23, 2019 10-11:30 a.m. Coed Volleyball Game/ Field Hockey 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch 12:30-2 p.m. Flag Football/5K Register today at www.fwcd.org/alumni
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ALUMNI NEWS
Busy 2019 for Falcons on the Road Falcons on the Road made stops in Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Long Beach (California) and Washington, D.C., this year to connect with alumni. Director of Advancement Sandra Tuomey represented the School in Philadelphia sand gathered with a small group of alumni in January at McGillin’s Olde Ale House. Emily Hudson ’83 and her husband hosted a Boston gathering of Falcons on the Road in February. Alumni chatted and reminisced with Head of School Eric Lombardi, Director of Advancement Sandra Tuomey, and beloved faculty members Dan Bloch H'06 and Peggy Wakeland.
Philadelphia: Sandra Tuomey, Russell Mischel ’79, Lynda Mischel, Carmen Armstrong, Jack Armstrong ’79 and Jay Stouffer ’09
The group then traveled south to the borough of Manhattan, New York, where they joined Joe Breedlove ’78 and Bill Arnold ’86. Despite blustery air, sleet and falling snow, everyone ventured to Greenwich Village and the historic home of FWCD parent Andrew Solomon. More than 30 alumni from the Class of 1972 through the Class of 2013 attended. Long Beach, California, was the next stop for an event at Boathouse on the Bay in late-February. Despite the LA-area traffic, alumni met to connect with Head of School Eric Lombardi, Middle School Science Teacher Dan Bloch H’06 and Former Lower School Music Teacher Christine Derber. The final Falcons on the Road event took place in Washington, D.C. in May. Alumni connected with students from the Class of 2021 visiting the nation’s capital and FWCD faculty members Bill Arnold ’86, Brady Benoit, Colin Douglas ’06, Jennifer Giroir, Sara Teegarden, Andrew Thomas and Lisa Wallace.
Washington, D.C.: Erin Hahn ’08, Cody Bills ’11, Ed Landreth ’03, Robbie Stackhouse ’14, Stephanie Stouffer ’07, John Davidson ’15, Emily Englander ’12, Nayelly Dominguez ’11
The mission of Falcons on the Road is to engage with alumni in their current cities and give fellow Falcons an opportunity to learn about the advances of their alma mater. Want to host a Falcons on the Road event in your city? Email alumnirelations@fwcd.com. 48
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Long Beach: Christine Derber, Matthew Malkan ’73, Eric Lombardi, Alicia Henry ’07, Joel Nesvadba ’00, Travis Guba, Ivi Acuna ’90, Elise Embry, Jonathan Nesvadba ’00, Dan Bloch H’06
ALUMNI NEWS
In Memoriam Carol Wamsley Carol Wamsley, former FWCD Library Assistant for 21 years, passed away on June 8 following a valiant fight against breast cancer and all its complications. Through her battle, Carol gave the School community many reasons to admire her courage and strong faith. She is now reunited with her beloved husband, Al, a former FWCD Security Officer, who passed away in fall 2014. The Wamsley family has been a part of the FWCD community since 1995, when their daughter, Alison Wamsley Burgett ’08, began kindergarten. Carol volunteered in the library at the School and began looking for full-time work.
“After the honor of being a stay-at-home mom for four years, I was ready to get back to work when Alison started school,” Carol said in a fall 2017 Falconer article. “My background was in banking, and I was hoping to find a job close to FWCD, so I could get Alison to and from school.” When she still did not have a banking job after Alison’s kindergarten year, she applied for the Library Assistant position. “God had a plan, and it was a great one for our family,” she said. Carol began the job in fall 1996. Over her 21 years at the School, Carol valued FWCD’s caring and supportive community. She was most proud of the annual book fair, where the library team and volunteers created an exciting week for students. She retired in 2017 and moved to Tyler to be closer to Alison and her son-in-law, Dan. Carol’s first grandchild, Hailey Beth, was the absolute light of Carol’s life.
Beverly Anne Robinson H’18 Former Upper School English Teacher Beverly Anne Robinson H’18 passed away on June 9. Anne was celebrated this past fall when the School bestowed upon her Honorary Alumna status, the FWCD Alumni Association’s highest honor. Anne joined the FWCD community as an Upper School English Teacher in 1971 after spending six years teaching in the Fort Worth ISD. She was hired by Founding Headmaster Peter A. Schwartz H’98 and worked under five Heads of School from 1971 until 2007. During her FWCD tenure, Anne’s focus was always on her students. She was fair, funny and straightforward, challenging students to be the best readers and writers—and their best selves. In addition to
teaching, Anne was the Upper School Assistant Principal from 1977-86, and she served as Chair of the English Department, Director of Summer School, Student Council Advisor and a Softball Coach. Anne also championed the Faculty Endowed Scholarship program under Headmaster Geoffrey Butler H’98, working with a fellow teacher to enhance the scholarship fund. She was proud to see it grow beyond her dreams. The world was bright for Anne because of her students, who she wanted to be sure were provided for should they need tuition assistance. The fund was renamed the Beverly Anne Robinson Faculty Endowed Scholarship Fund in 2008 in her honor. Upon retirement in 2007, Anne shared what makes FWCD stand out: “I think the one quality which distinguishes our school from all the others—besides the fact that we prepare students for college better than anyone else—is the generosity of its parents and supporters.”
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Class Notes To submit information for Class Notes and Alumni News, email alumnirelations@fwcd.com
1960s
1967 – Bill Curtis, curtis@acm.org 1967 – Bill Landreth blandreth@liferoy.com 1968 – Paul Stouffer pstouffer@sbcglobal.net 1969 – Steve Geis, stgeis@hotmail.com 1969 – Gail Widmer Landreth gaillandreth@sbcglobal.net
1970s
1971 – Terry Siegel, htsiegel@bvc.com 1972 – Richard Garvey richard@jagee.com 1976 – Brad Nowlin brad@bradnowlin.com
Jill Miller Perrin ’77 moved back to Texas after 30 years in California, New York City, Kentucky and New Jersey. She resides in Dallas and has spent many wonderful days and nights with FWCD friends from kindergarten (fellow graduates from the Class of 1977 Shelly Seymour, Amy Stevenson, Annette Williamson, Kelly Cash, Lynn Williams McCone, Cyrena Nolan, Stephanie Steves Burk, Alan Goodrich and others). Jill became an empty-nester at the same time she returned to Texas and decided to go back to school! She attended the Coaching Program at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and is now an Executive Coach/Solopreneur. She named her practice Unlocked Leadership. 50
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Alumni from the Class of 1969 celebrated 50 years as Falcons on May 18 at City Works in Clear Fork with a casual lunch. Pictured are (front row) Brent Hyder ’69, Jeffrey Siegel ’70, Cathryn Seymour Dorsey ’69, Bobette Withers Grant ’69, Gail Widmer Landreth ’69, (top row) Jon Kelly ’69, Walker Holland ’69, Stephen Geis ’69, George Thompson ’69, Eliot Barnett ’69 and Edward Benton ’69. Special thanks to Gail and Stephen for organizing this mini-reunion; they were instrumental in bringing this group together in 2017 as well.
1980s Wendy Davis Gerrish ’87 was featured in the April issue of Parker County Today in the “Talk with a Business Titan” section. In the Q&A feature, she answered such questions as what her day-to-day life is like as President and General Manager of October Hill Farm, how she got into the business, what her “back-up” job would have been and more. October Hill Farm is the cover feature for Parker County LifeStyle (Issue 1, 2019) which highlights the farm and its quest to bring jumpers back to North Texas.
1990s
1992 – Craig Christopher craig@tarranttech.com 1995 – Alison E. McManus amcmanus@post.harvard.edu 1997 – Zareen Khan zareen@briggsfreeman.com
Elliot Goldman ’90 founder of the Greatest Gift Catalog, appeared on NBC 5 and shared how his catalog would benefit 20 area nonprofits during the 2018 holiday season. Elyse Stoltz Dickerson ’93, Founder and President of Eosera Inc., was featured in the World Changing Women Podcast by Conscious Company Media. The podcast highlights how Elyse created a successful company by going out and finding a problem that needed a solution and how she transformed one of the worst days of her life (when she was let go from her job) into one of the best things that ever happened to her. Gordon Johndroe ’93 serves as Vice President, Communications,
CLASS NOTES
Government Operations, at Boeing in Washington, D.C. He was quoted in the article “Boeing vows ‘transparency’ to 737 max buyers in new outreach.”
Turkish pedicab driver who draws police attention and endangers his brother and himself. The film won the Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction. Maggie Hughes Irwin ’99 and Courtney Crummel Summers ’99 are spearheading the Class of 1999’s 20th reunion. Plan to join your classmates on October 5 at Bird Café in Fort Worth at 7 p.m. RSVP to alumnirelations@fwcd.com.
2000s Dr. Erica Foust Haley ’94 is a veterinarian and the owner of Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. Her practice was just voted Best Vet and Pet Services in Georgetown, TX. She is pictured above with her dad, retired Upper School Math Teacher Dan Foust. As a child, Erica talked her parents into bringing home everything from hamsters and parakeets to dogs and cats. When she was 14 years old, she began working as a kennel technician in a small animal hospital. She continued to work there as a veterinary technician on weekends and holidays into her college years. Erica attended Texas A&M University for her undergraduate work and graduated in 2001 from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. She practiced for four years in Austin before purchasing Georgetown Veterinary Hospital in 2005. Her particular area of interest is in exotic pet medicine and surgery. Suzanne Andrews Correa ’97 was named as a Sundance Film Festival winner for her short movie “Green,” which she directed and co-wrote. “Green” is about an undocumented
2001 – Craig P. Barbolla cpb@mcdonaldlaw.com 2001 – Susanna Gorski Bartolomei sgorski323@gmail.com 2002 – Ashley Stein astein@briggsfreeman.com 2003 – Will Northern will@northernrealtygroup.com 2004 – Kate Strickland Jennings kjennings610@gmail.com 2006 – Rachel Holt Hausser rachelhausser@gmail.com 2007 – Anne Hargis Olson christina.roxanne@gmail.com 2007 – Stephanie Stouffer stephaniestouffer@gmail.com 2009 – Mary Dambro marydambro@mac.com 2009 – Brittany Jenkins brittanyajenkins07@gmail.com 2009 – Margaret Harper mpalmerharper@aol.com
Dr. J. Mack Slaughter ’02, an Emergency Room Physician with EMC of TeamHealth, created Music Meets Medicine, an organization that focuses on children’s hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The nonprofit brings music to young patients with chronic illnesses using jam sessions, music lessons and financial donations. A 2009 graduate of TCU, he was featured in the spring 2019 issue of TCU Magazine.
Taylor Hood ’03 and his wife, Kristen, welcomed their first child, Richard Nolan Hood, on May 10, 2018. The family lives in Nashville.
2010s
Josephine Tempongko ’01 and her husband, Alex Bishop, welcomed a son, William Reynaldo Bishop (Wally), on April 23, 2018. The family has made their home in Maui, HI.
2010 – Claire Davidovich clairedavidovich@gmail.com 2010 – Ashley Uptegraft auptegraft10@gmail.com 2011 – Alex Manson Klinedinst laklinedinst29@gmail.com 2011 – Kate Petsche kate.aep@gmail.com 2011 – Nayelly Dominguez ndominguez@smu.edu 2013 – Jonny Clum clumjonny@gmail.com 2013 – Oliver Newberry oliver.newberry@utexas.edu
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2015 – Connor Cassady connorcassady@sbcglobal.net 2015 – Madelyn Luskey madelyn.luskey@gmail.com 2015 – Shelby Sanford shelby.e.sanford@vanderbilt.edu 2016 – Delaney Fleming delaney.fleming97@gmail.com 2016 – Branson Nelson branson.nelson5@gmail.com 2016 – Jacob Rains jrains22@gmail.com 2018 – Sam Carlile fwcd@samkc.me 2018 – Kacey Melton kcmelton@umich.edu kmelton0000@gmail.com 2018 – Kathleen Clum kathleen.clum22@gmail.com 2018 – Maggie Brants MargaretBrants@gmail.com 2019 – Alexandra Galloway alexandragalloway@icloud.com 2019 – Sarah Clark clarksarah160@gmail.com 2019 – Megan Lammons meganlammons18@gmail.com
Emily Samuelson ’10 graduated with an MBA from Rice University in May. She is moving to Seattle post-graduation to work as a Senior Business Consultant at Boeing. Sam Tall ’10 is working for Studio71 as the Manager of Music Networking Operations. Studio71, one of the world’s largest YouTube multi-channel networks representing more than 8 billion plays per month, was acquired by German mass media conglomerate ProSieben in 2015. The Manager of Music Network Operations role is the point person for all music-related matters throughout the company worldwide. Prior to this, Sam served as Strategic Project Manager at TuneSat, a music technology company in New 52
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York that uses audio recognition software to precisely track and monitor the use of music on TV and the Internet for music labels. Sam still actively manages artists independently, having previously worked with such artists as Grammy-nominated Kevin Garrett, BBC Radio favorite Violet Skies and Canadian indie pop darlings Valley.
While the Class of 2021 was in Washington, D.C. in May for its annual trip, students and faculty connected with fellow Falcon Janet Montesi ’12, who serves as the assistant to Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.
Malcolm McDonald ’14 was accepted into Baylor College of Medicine Medical Scientist Training program. This is an eight-year program during which he will earn a medical degree and a PhD. Malcolm also was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Duke University prior to graduating. Cooper Baird ’15 was one of three William and Lee University athletes honored at The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association 2019 NCAA Division III men’s outdoor track and field ceremony, which took place in New Orleans on Sunday, May 19. Cooper recorded the third-fastest time in the South/ Southeast region in the 1500m (3:56.36) at the Bison Outdoor Classic on April 13. This marks Cooper’s second outdoor all-region citation and his third commendation, overall. Hannah Cramer ’15 graduated from Southern Methodist University
Alex Reeb ’11 shared a photo that was taken of him and his classmates and parents at Wild Acre Brewery in Fort Worth over Thanksgiving.
CLASS NOTES
with a Master of Science in Applied Statistics and Data Analytics. In July, she started at AT&T Dallas with the Technology Development Program.
Taft Henderson ’15, Alex Herd ’15, Griffin Hughes ’15, Jake McCoy ’15, Brian McConnell ’15, Connall McCormack ’15, Russell Padfield ’15, Sawyer Stratton ’15, Madeleine Tunnard ’15 and Walker Wade ’15 received their Aggie Rings from Texas A&M University. The Aggie Ring is a unique representation of achievement, as it can only be ordered when the student completes specific academic requirements. Kennedy Stovall ’15 joined the celebration with her friends. Annalyn Kumar ’15 graduated from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business with a concentration in marketing and strategy & innovation. She accepted a full-time position with AMP Agency in Boston on the media team. She is building, running and tracking the performance of paid search (Google and Bing) and paid social media, working on multiple accounts including RxBar and Hasbro Pulse. Brandon Evans ’16 sat on a student panel at Austin College with four other college students and gave advice to FWCD ninth-graders about life at a liberal arts college. The high school
Finn Connor ’18 and Sam Carlile ’18 spent time showing FWCD’s journalism students around the New York University campus and shared some insights about freshman year in college. Lisa Wallace took students to NYC in March for the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s spring high school journalism convention. one of five juniors who will participate in a combination of coursework, undergraduate research and community engagement in multifaith contexts. She is majoring in religious studies and global studies with an Africa focus. Her minor is peace and conflict studies and leadership studies. Her research work will consider the role of religion in the lives of migrants in East Africa, with a specific focus on refugees in Tanzania, among whom she will conduct ethnographic fieldwork. freshmen and their advisors, Jennifer Giroir and Molly Risewick, took a college trip in March to tour the Austin College campus. Sarah Jane McDonald ’17 was named a Multifaith Scholar at Elon College. This honor comes with a $5,000 scholarship to support creative and engaged research and global study in topics connected with religious diversity and multifaith encounter. Sarah Jane is
In Memoriam Maeghan Albach ’91 Tallon Eschberger Cornelia “Corky” Friedman Leland Hodges, Jr. Peggy Sellers Rayzor Beverly Anne Robinson H’18 Ace Thurman Carol Wamsley Jane Watson SUMMER 2019
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Falcon Weddings
Anna DuBose ’07 and Peter Morrissey were married on July 21, 2018, in Aspen, Colorado, at the Pine Creek Cookhouse. Falcons in the wedding include Jamie DuBose ’09 and James DuBose ’75. The couple resides in Brooklyn, NY.
Allison Relyea ’09 married Jacob Alexander Dumas on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Falcons in the wedding party included Hillary Relyea Gerdts ’07, Maddie Relyea ’13, Anne Harper Mahaffey ’09, Margaret Harper ’09, Logan Pulido ’09, Courtney Reynolds ’10, Sam Rios ’22 and Isa Rios ’23. 54
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Michael Allen ’06 married Layne Kula on October 6, 2018, at the Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, MT. Falcons in the wedding were Mark Dowling ’06, Tim Seiber ’06, Garrison Taylor ’06, Ashley Allen Carr ’04 and David Carr ’03. Falcons in attendance from the Class of 2006 were Meredith Nieswiadomy Ray, Breck Ray, Thomas Duggins, Colin Douglas, Chris Darden, Courtney Corbeille Krauss, Emily Skipper McDermott, Ben Dollahite, Brice Taylor and Justin Hardin. The Allens reside in Los Angeles, CA, where Michael is a Creative Executive for Jim Parsons’ production company, That’s Wonderful Productions, and Layne is an Interior Home and Wedding/Event Designer working all over the country. She also designed their wedding, which was published online in Martha Stewart Weddings.
CLASS NOTES
Phillip Ells ’09 married Jennifer Leslie in Austin on April 14, 2018. Avid campers and rock climbers, the couple met while rock climbing. Falcons in the wedding were Shan Kasal ’09 and Will Collins ’09. Philip and Jennifer live in Austin, where Phillip is a Software Engineer at Banker’s Toolbox, and Jennifer is Parenting Program Manager for Easterseals.
Erin Parker ’12 married Brandon Williams on June 8, 2019, at Rogue River Lodge in Trail, Oregon. Erin’s parents are Lisa and Michael Parker, both FWCD faculty/staff members. Falcons involved in the wedding included Erin’s siblings, Reagan Parker ’16, Sawyer Parker ’22 and Ashley Escobedo ’12. The couple resides in Eugene, Oregon. Erin is coaching softball at Churchill High School, and Brandon is applying to physical therapy graduate programs.
John Hill ’09 and Katherine Runkle were married on May 12, 2018, in the chapel at Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina. Falcons in the wedding party included James Hill ’97, Elizabeth Hill Deegan ’00, David Miles ’08, Sam Brotherton ’09, Chase Caraway ’09, John McColm ’09, George Hill ’25 and Charlie Hill ’27. Katherine works on Capitol Hill, and John works for Navigant Consulting. The couple resides in Washington, D.C.
Garrison Taylor ’06 married Katie Culhane on October 27, 2018, in Minneapolis. Class of 2006 Falcons in the wedding were Colin Douglas (Best Man), Michael Allen, Whit Richardson and Brice Taylor. Garrison is an investment banker for Credit Agricole, and Katie is an accountant for Ernst & Young. The couple resides in Chicago.
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From the Archives
Troupe 1992-93 Improv has been in existence at Fort Worth Country Day since the early 1990s. In this extracurricular club, students would perform at assemblies during Upper School announcements. The students, faculty and staff were known to throw out scenarios to the club members who rose to the challenge and gained lots of laughs. Past Improv Troupe coaches include Tom Orr, Pam Chernick, Les Hofheinz and Steve McGaw. Pictured are (front row) Jeffrey Kenney ’93, Catherine Wall ’94, Hannah Stinson Head ’94, (back row) Linda Bernstein ’93, John James ’94, Mikey Abrams ’95, Joey Sholdra ’93, Anna Widner Taylor ’94, Austin
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Jones ’93, Julie Johns Schmidt ’94, Endyia KinneySterns ’94, Neil Stewart ’96, Courtney Jennings ’96 and Rob Hunnicutt ’94. Today’s FWCD Improv Troup is known as the CeleryHeads. According to McGaw, who served as coach from 1997-2019, the name CeleryHeads came up because of a terrible piece of amateur pottery that he found put out by the curb one Saturday afternoon. “I had had it in my home for years, and, when we needed a vessel from which to draw topics for the group, it seemed a natural choice,” McGaw said. “The students loved it, and we adopted the name.”
Be part of their legacy.
The Peter A. Schwartz Legacy Society Fort Worth Country Day established the Peter A. Schwartz Legacy Society to honor and recognize those individuals who have made planned or estate gifts to Fort Worth Country Day.
Contact Sandra Tuomey, Director of Advancement, at 817.302.3223 or sandra.tuomey@fwcd.com
4200 Country Day Lane Fort Worth, Texas 76109-4299 Address Service Requested
Parents: If this issue is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the FWCD Alumni Relations Office of the correct new mailing address by contacting us at alumnirelations@fwcd.com.
It’s Time to Celebrate What it Means to Be a Falcon! FWCD Homecoming and Alumni Weekend 2019
October 4-5 October 4 Festivities
Barrett Havran ’98 Track Dedication • Campus Tours • Former Faculty/Staff Reception • Falcon Alley • Homecoming Football Game • Athletic Wall of Fame Induction
October 5 Festivities
Coffee Talk with Head of School Eric Lombardi
Reunion Celebrations – All Weekend Long! 1974 | 1979 | 1984 | 1989 | 1994 | 1999 | 2004 | 2009 | 2014 Want to help plan your reunion or get more details on the upcoming events? Email alumnirelations@fwcd.com, and we will connect you with classmates.