F O R T
Volume 11, Issue 1
W O R T H
C O U N T R Y
D A Y
Winter 2020
Seniors Alexandra Galloway The FWCD Falcons Robinson won back-to-back and Campbell were SPC 3A Football Championships in 2018 crowned 2018 Homecoming and 2019. They defeated The John Queen and King. Cooper School 41-0 for the 2019 win.
Photo © Glen Ellman
Photo by Sterling Steves ’80 Photography
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Volume 11, Issue 1
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 Caroline Corpening Lamsens ’99 Director of Admission Chelsy Merrill Director of Fine Arts
F E AT U R E S
Tom Mitchell Chief Financial and Operations Officer
20 Moncrief Library Celebrates a Milestone
Brian Phelps Athletic Director
In 25 years, the FWCD Library has evolved from a small room in the Round Gym to the Upper School Commons to its own state-of-the-art building.
Steve Stackhouse Head of Upper School John Stephens Head of Middle School
26 Remembering Ted Sanford H’98
Sandra Tuomey Director of Advancement
FWCD’s second Headmaster, Ted Sanford H’98 will long be recognized for his unwavering dedication to the arts and his commitment to and support of faculty.
Steve Uhr Director of Technology EDITOR
30 Center for International Studies: A Difference Maker
Shannon Rossman Allen ART DIRECTOR
FWCD embarked on an enhanced commitment to global citizenship in April 2018 with the establishment of the Center for International Studies (CIS). Partnerships with Fort Worth Sister Cities International and Students Shoulder-to Shoulder allow the center to cultivate global competency.
Lisa Koger CONTRIBUTORS Paige Farris Chisholm ’87 Rachel Donahue Yolanda Espinoza Mel Hurst Danielle Jain Debby Jennings Kim Johnson Renee Pierce Patrick Powers ’05 Sandra Tuomey Lisa Wallace 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 or email mel.hurst@fwcd.com © FWCD
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The Magazine of Fort Worth Country Day
Cover: Harrison Todora ’20 was one of eight FWCD students to participate in a Students Shoulderto-Shoulder course during summer 2019. He traveled to Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and worked on a Native American reservation that is home to 26,000 members of the Lakota Nation.
IN EACH ISSUE 2
View from My Window
3
Around Campus
8
Giving Back
10
Faculty Q&A
12
The Arts
16 Athletics 38
Alumni News
44
Alumni Profile
49
Class Notes
57
Annual Report
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.
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LET TER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL ERIC LOMBARDI
View from My Window I always appreciate conversations with FWCD alumni. I will never know all 4,200 of you, but I continue to know our school better with every alumni exchange, be it via email, faceto-face or in old-fashioned, hand-written letters. Reunions are my favorite chance to gather stories. My gratitude to all who made it to campus or to Fort Worth for our 2019 reunions, and special thanks for the stories you shared. In those encounters, I hope you will continue to share feedback on what we are doing at your alma mater these days. Some of the important work going on in 2020 comes under the job description of our Director of Strategic Projects, Bill Arnold ’86. In addition to preparing to lead our 10year accreditation, running our Curriculum Committee and transitioning our community service to “service learning,” Bill is overseeing conversations with our faculty and student body on the subject of civil discourse. Bill and I have been heartened to discover how many organizations, schools and others, are being very intentional in their modeling of respectful communication among people who disagree. We obviously have the 2020 presidential election on our minds, but our focus is not limited to those conversations. Look forward to hearing more from Bill on the Civility Project at FWCD. I wanted to use this space to also respond to concerns a few of you raised when you saw our summer 2019 Falconer cover photo. The photo showed seniors in graduation regalia making the flying falcon hand gesture that we all “fly” when 2
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the Alma Mater rolls around to “High as the falcon’s flight, Soaring to grander heights.” I understand the field hockey team created the gesture in 2004. What generated a couple of calls was the fact that the flying falcon bears a very unfortunate resemblance to a gesture associated with white nationalists. Being aware of that similarity, we are working to train our Alma Mater singers to carefully form the falcon “beak” with a pinched and extended index finger and thumb (not the rounded version we associate with “perfect”). At the same time, we are not sacrificing our innocent bonding gesture to the darkness of white nationalism. I remain horrified by the potential confusion, yet grateful that some of you contacted me so we could make adjustments and set our flying falcon apart. Thanks to the 2004 field hockey team for the tradition you began. Any other classes want to make cases for traditions that you started for your alma mater? Do share. Hail to Fort Worth Country Day, Our loyalty to you. Go Falcons,
Eric
Around Campus PEOPLE • HONORS • EVENTS • NEWS
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AROUND CAMPUS
Stackhouse Announces Retirement
His work has not only been about buildings: Stackhouse taught AP Government, World Religions and Economics to Upper School students
Worth from a “start-up” to a vibrant, longstanding beacon of the best work of the FWCD community. And, he served as Interim Head of School during the 2008-09 academic year.
Photo by Glen Ellman
Head of Upper School Steve Stackhouse shared in September 2019 that he will retire at the end of the 2019-20 academic year. Now in his third year in the Division Head role, Stackhouse came to Fort Worth Country Day in 1997, spending his first 20 years as Assistant Head of School for Operations. His work managing FWCD’s facilities, and specifically his work shepherding building projects (Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Center renovation, Mason Middle School Expansion, Fischer Dining Pavilion, Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center and Patton Field House) leaves a truly remarkable physical legacy from which the community will benefit for decades to come.
along the way. He also has led two of FWCD’s 10-year reaccreditation processes. He was in charge of two enormous (3,000-student) ISAS Arts Festivals on our campus. He transitioned Breakthrough Fort
“Steve’s stint as Head of Upper School has been yet another example of his ‘whatever the School needs’ attitude,” said Head of School Eric Lombardi. “He has not merely kept the division up and running; he has moved it forward, from advancing our academic support systems for our students who suffer concussions to orchestrating the initial Senior Capstone projects. He has overseen a significant makeover of the Upper School Commons, and, most importantly, he has taken great care of students and faculty alike.” Stay tuned for a feature article celebrating Stackhouse in the next issue of the Falconer.
Falcon Mascot Named Meet FWCD’s new Falcon mascot! Community members met the mascot at the Convocation event in August 2019, with students taking to the polls in early October to suggest names. Some possibilities were Freddie, Chad, Fluffy, Wingo Starr, Sparkle, Jimmy Falcon, Flex, Flyer and Tex. In total, there were 294 names offered up and approximately 400 ballots cast. The ultimate winner unveiled at the Homecoming Pep Rally? Talon! Welcome to the FWCD family, Talon!
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AROUND CAMPUS
Alexis Stern, EdM, will be the next leader of the Bass Upper School. Her move from California to Texas is a homecoming of sorts. Having grown up in Richardson, Stern graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and began her teaching career at Newman Smith High School in the CarrolltonFarmers Branch ISD as a social studies teacher and coach. Stern will begin her tenure at FWCD with 13 years of teaching and leading experience in public, private and independent schools. Since 2015, she has been on the faculty at The Buckley School, an independent K-12 school in Los Angeles, serving first as the Middle School and Upper School Social Science Department Chair and, most recently, as the Interim Head of Upper School.
as an Education Consultant at Harvard School of Law since 2015, leading annual trainings for the Systemic Justice Project, and working with law students to develop K-12 curriculum. Her work as an administrator also extends beyond her office: Stern will teach a History elective while serving as Upper School Head.
As the two-year Interim Head of Upper School, she has led with vision during a period of significant transition, focusing on the needs of the school’s students and faculty. Stern is described by her colleagues as a student-centered relational leader and systems thinker. She fosters relationships with students and parents, fellow administrators and teachers, and alumni to create an inspiring and supportive learning environment.
“Among the most important work I do is hire the School’s educational leaders,” said Head of School Eric Lombardi. “I am so pleased with the quality of candidates we attracted for the Upper School Head position, and I am grateful that our candidates were so thoroughly impressed and inspired by our faculty on their campus visits. Without a dynamic faculty, we would not have been able to lure Alexis away from California.”
With an EdM in Teaching and Learning from Harvard University and a BA in History from UT, Stern is committed to education. Her commitment extends beyond the schools where she has worked. Most notably, she has served
Officially beginning as the Head of Upper School in July 2020, Stern will first do some transition work with retiring Head of Upper School Steve Stackhouse on an extended visit to campus later this spring.
Marvel’s Hero Project Highlights FWCD Falcon FWCD has a real-life hero on campus. Since seventh-grader Braden Baker appeared on The Ellen Show in 2017 to speak about his fundraising efforts, he has raised more than $100,000 to help kids around the world afford costly hearing aids. His heroic efforts were highlighted in the December 27, 2019, episode of Marvel’s Hero Project, titled “Battlin’ Braden,” which streams on Disney+. The inspiring new, family-oriented reality series tells the stories of 20 young reallife heroes making positive differences in the world through acts of bravery and kindness. Each week, Marvel surprises one of the young heroes by welcoming them into Marvel’s Hero Project and turning their stories into actual comics other kids can read and be inspired by. Baker is an ambassador for the Oticon Hearing Foundation and Ethenos Hearing the Call, having traveled with mission groups to Guatemala, Zambia and Africa. He also works locally with the Fort Worth ISD to provide hearing aids to students.
Photo courtesy of Marvel
New Head of Upper School Named
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AROUND CAMPUS
2019-20 FWCD By the Numbers
1,077
Total Students (JK-12)
346
Lower School Students
353
Middle School Students
378
Upper School Students
159
New FWCD Falcons
52
Legacy Students
148
Full-time Teachers
18
New Faculty Members
21
Alumni Faculty/Staff Members
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Class of 2020 Scholars Senior Lily Melcher was recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist. Melcher is among the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists announced nationally in September 2019 and has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $31 million that will be offered in the spring. She was one of only 1,321 Semifinalists named in the state of Texas. Ten FWCD seniors were named National Merit Commended Students. Ben Alexander, Margaret Biggs, William Burnette, Spencer Grubbs, Claire Guthrie, Sidney Hubli, Sam Kollmeier, Stephanie Morgan, Mitch Overton and Joy Yun were among approximately 34,000 students throughout the nation who were recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Seniors Raul Frias Perez, Sidney Hubli, Mitch Overton, Bailey Melton and Spencer Grubbs were named National Hispanic Scholars. The National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) considers students who identify as Hispanic or Latinx and are from the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands and/or attend school abroad.
AROUND CAMPUS
French Language Comes to Life Middle School French Teacher Rob Napier brought language to life for students in September for European Day of Languages. Eight FWCD eighth-grade French students interacted with 24 students in the Collège Maria Callas in Courtry, France, a town in the Seine-et-Marne département in the Parisian suburbs. European Day of Languages, which is organized jointly by the Council of Europe and the European Union, celebrates linguistic diversity and promotes the importance of language learning and development of intercultural understanding. FWCD students posed their questions in French, asking the students such things as their names, what they ate for breakfast, what their favorite subject is, and who their favorite artist is. The French students then responded in their native language. Tables were turned, and FWCD students were asked questions in English by the French students. They asked: What do you do in your free time? What is your favorite school subject? Who is your favorite YouTuber? What video games do you play? Through the answers, it was clear there are many more connections and similarities as the students laughed and “ah-ha-ed” at the answers. Napier connected with teacher Rémi Casale at Collège Maria Callas when they were both looking to develop opportunities to allow their students to practice what they are learning in the classroom. “This is an impactful experience for students because we’re bringing language to life,” Napier noted. “The key for the students is to communicate: ask questions, listen to answers and develop connections using the language they have learned. It allows each group of students to learn more about how different and how similar their experiences and cultures are!”
Robinson Honored Upper School Spanish Teacher Alison Robinson received a surprise in the mail: a certificate and plaque from the University of Chicago, citing her as an Outstanding Educator. “I was not expecting this,” she said. “I just know that opening the envelope and seeing the accolade was a really nice way to start my day.” The University of Chicago gives newly admitted students the opportunity to recognize the educators who have made a difference in their lives. Each year, more than one-third of the UChicago’s incoming class responds with stories that are truly inspiring. This award recognizes all teachers who are nominated, highlighting the stories that show education’s power to transform. Robinson was nominated by William Thomas ’19. “Mrs. Robinson taught me Spanish both my junior and senior years of high school,” Thomas said. “She saw me at both my best and my worst, but never failed to be an outstanding teacher. She has immense passion for her profession and permanently changed the way I think, learn and view the world.”
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Giving Back
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GIVING BACK
Connecting with Como When Middle School Spanish Teacher Debby Arnold began advising the Middle School Student Council in 2017, she had a desire to get these young leaders involved in community service. While taking a walk with her husband, Bill Arnold ’86, she verbalized this wish. “He looked right at me and said, ‘I know exactly where you should go. I’ve been going there for the past two weeks,’” Debby shared. “He then told me about the Como Community Center.” Hearing Bill’s excitement about the students and volunteers at this community center, Debby looked into the idea of Student Council members giving their time, serving as volunteers and friends to the young children in the after-school program. Since 2017, an average of five Middle School students travel to the Como Community Center every week during the academic year to befriend and work with young students. It began as an opportunity for Student Council members to volunteer a minimum of once a month to ensure a meaningful, dependable commitment. Many gave more of their time as the relationships between the Como staff, their students and FWCD’s team blossomed. In 2018, Debby expanded the opportunity to include all Middle School students, grades 5-8, for a broader reach. FWCD students assist in various enrichment activities with Como students in pre-K through second grade. The after-school program at the Como Community Center, one of the largest in Fort Worth, has been in existence for more than 20 years, with 120-140 students participating each year. While the Como community is more than 100 years old, the community center building, the heart/hub of the neighborhood, was built in 1970 on Horne Street near West Vickery Boulevard. Of the 21 community centers in Fort Worth, Como is the only community center that has a track and field team, as well as pee wee football and cheerleading leagues.
One of FWCD’s strategic goals is to play a more integral role in Fort Worth and the greater community. “My goal in supervising this service opportunity was to show our young leaders how they can help their neighbors,” Debby said. “The community center is literally in our backyard. After being at the community center for a year, I could see that there was even more we could accomplish with additional volunteers.” During their time together, Middle School students are connecting with the after-school program students through arts and crafts activities and paired reading, as well as simple playtime. This service-learning program helps to expand FWCD student learning experiences beyond the classroom walls by providing the students formalized interactions with community leaders, like Clara Kirby, who runs the center, and other Como community members. New in 2019: FWCD’s Upper School cheerleaders and the Falcon mascot began visiting students each month in the fall to inspire them through fun chants and cheers that incorporate the importance of good grades, good attendance and good citizenship. For Debby, working with the community center has been both an eye-opening and a growth experience. “My goal was commitment. I wanted our students to understand that their presence is important to these kids,” she said. “All in all, this is about being good neighbors and just having fun together. Who doesn’t want to be involved in a fun activity like that?”
Vivian Todora ’23 enjoys connecting with the students at the Como Community Center. All FWCD Middle School students are encouraged to take part in this service learning project.
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Q& with Jimmy Brockway and A Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher?
I actually didn’t go to college to be a teacher. I wanted to be an accountant. After two years of less-than-stellar grades because I was wasn’t connecting in the classes, I changed my major to Exercise, Health and Sport Studies with an emphasis in Biology and Education. I now can’t imagine ever doing anything else. It is so great to see students have that ‘ah-ha’ moment when they are finally getting a concept they have been struggling with. As a coach, it’s so fulfilling to help athletes learn through their failures and successes. This year’s graduating Class of 2020 was my very first class at FWCD. I vividly remember my first five minutes with my advisory that first day of school, and thinking this group is going to be fun. It was an incredible first year and an advisory group I will never forget.
What do you love about being a coach? I love coaching because I love being part of a team and competing. Coaching allows me to make valuable connections outside of the classroom and to guide student-athletes in their leadership abilities. I build relationships with my players the way my coaches did with me. I am still connected with my coaches, and I am honored to have that kind of relationship with the athletes I coach. It is a part of my job I take very seriously.
How do you engage students in the classroom? There are many fun things in my room. The two that I use the most to engage with students are my jellyfish and reef aquariums that were purchased with FWCD Parent Faculty Association funds. I use the reef aquarium, a 40-gallon tank with five species of fish, 11 species of cnidarians, three species of arthropods, one species of mollusks and one species of echinoderms. It is amazing to bring students to the tank and let them observe what we have been learning in class and have them see it live. In my advisory, they are learning to test the water, add chemicals, clean the tank and maintain the overall health of the ecosystem. Several times a day, present and past students stop by to see the tank and how it is doing. It will be something the students of FWCD will remember forever.
What does FWCD mean to you? Community, home, family. I have taught and coached for five different schools in my career. None of them felt like I had found my forever school until FWCD. I am blessed to work at a place that is in the middle of a large city, but feels like a small town, close-knit community. I am fortunate to work with amazing teachers, coaches and administrators, my wife, Sarah, included. My son, Jackson [’24], also reaps the benefits of an FWCD education. From the first day I walked in the door, I knew this was the place I had been looking for as an educator and parent.
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FACULTY Q&A
Shelley Rains What inspired your career path? I never imagined I would be a teacher, even though I come from a long line of educators. Sometimes, a profession just calls you, and you are not in control of those missions or career paths. When I was in college at Louisiana State University, some friends and I would officiate church youth basketball leagues and umpire softball and t-ball games. Doing this, you have a tendency to start helping the athlete during the contest. My first teaching job came when Parkview Baptist School in Baton Rouge was in need of a basketball coach. They were kind enough to give me a chance.
What do you love most about teaching Lower School PE? Every day is a new day with Lower School students. They love PE. They simply enjoy playing. The satisfaction for us as teachers is watching them learn a concept or movement in August, and seeing that, in May, they are grasping that concept and movement. You truly get to see these young minds and bodies develop from point A to B.
What makes your FWCD job so special? One of the greatest aspects of being a part of the Physical Education and Athletic Departments is that, as teachers, we teach every level in our JK-12 school. We probably all have multiple personalities because you have to shift your focus as you teach and coach different ages day in and day out. A lot of the time, the students teach the teachers. Our job is to learn how to communicate with students on their level and be able to transition from grade to grade to help them grow as student-athletes and, more importantly, as people. PE and athletics reveal who a student really is as a person. That is when the true learning takes place.
If you were not working as an educator, what career path might you have followed? That is a good question! You have to go where the spirit leads. At one time, I thought that was Cardiac Fitness Rehabilitation. That did not last long, because when the opportunity came along to teach PE and coach high school basketball, volleyball and softball out of college, I went for it.
Last spring, you were inducted into Club Viginti for 20 years of service. Why is that important to you? Country Day has afforded me the opportunity to work alongside some incredible people! The support staff, Plant Operations, grounds crew, housekeeping and faculty have been tremendous in my growth as a member of the FWCD community. I am blessed and thankful for the opportunity to work at FWCD for over 20 years. It has been an incredible journey with so many special memories along the way. Having the opportunity to meet and spend hours with such amazing people and forging longtime relationships with students and athletes is unique here. This life is not about me ‌ it’s about those we meet along the way. WINTER 2020
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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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THE AR TS
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THE AR TS
Supporting CAST Funds Arts Initiatives At Fort Worth Country Day, fine arts teachers inspire innovation and excellence in the classroom. Supporting CAST (Creative Arts Students and Teachers), FWCD’s arts booster club, allows teachers to provide exceptional and, in some cases, one-of-a-kind arts opportunities that enhance student learning. Through gifts and membership, Supporting CAST provides financial support for additional artistic activities in all performing and visual arts areas at all grade levels by connecting FWCD students, JK-12, with great arts and artists from all over the world. From performing arts master classes to visual arts workshops to special guest performances on campus or attendance at renowned arts events and workshops 14
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off-campus, these unique artistic moments engage students in the arts in powerful ways. In addition to providing financial support to arts programs, CAST celebrates the hard work and artistic achievements of FWCD students by hosting receptions at the performing and visual arts events that take place on campus each year. “The grant opportunities are faculty generated,” shared Chelsy Merrill, Director of Fine Arts. “Teachers submit their ideas, and then they are all reviewed and voted on by the Supporting CAST officers and committee chairs,” she said. Those individuals are President Pam Darrow,
Vice President Connie Smith, Treasurer Karla Clum, Membership Chair Megan Gasca, Nominations Chair Lisa Guthrie and Receptions Chair Teri East. Darrow has been leading CAST for the past three years. “I want FWCD student artists, both performing and visual, to be supported in the same way that our student-athletes are supported through Falcon Club,” Darrow said. “I am proud that Supporting CAST approves grant requests by fine arts teachers at all grade levels to provide additional and outside art instruction to our students. These opportunities can expose our students to a deeper type of instruction and participation in the arts.”
THE AR TS
Supporting CAST functions well because of its officers and committee chairs. “Pam is a go-getter and loves the fine arts,” Merrill said. “She is supportive of all of the facets of the department and wants to help students shine as well as offer unique opportunities for every student at FWCD.” Darrow and her team spearheaded the writing of the Supporting CAST bylaws and created fundraising endeavors for the organization. The group also has forged the way for Supporting CAST spirit wear, hosted Art Play Day activities and established a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. “The drafting and approval of the bylaws for Supporting CAST was a labor of love and a long and thoughtful process. It was imperative to me that we have these bylaws so there is a blueprint for the organization to continue and thrive for years to come,” Darrow said. “These bylaws were based on bylaws from many organizations, including the Falcon Club and the Parent Faculty Association, in addition to art organization bylaws from other schools.” During this 2019-20 academic year, Supporting CAST is underwriting nearly 25 CAST grants for a total of $25,000. These grants support such things as a hair and makeup artist for the Upper School fall play and spring musical; master classes and small group lessons for band and orchestra members; a drumline cadence composer; vocal workshops, staging and choreography for choir; guest artists in ceramics, ballet and improv; trips to professional performances; and special performances on campus.
“I am proud that Supporting CAST approves
grant requests by art teachers at all grade levels to provide additional and outside art instruction to our students. These opportunities can expose our students to a deeper type of instruction and participation in the arts.
”
Earlier this year, Merrill enlisted local musician Joseph Carpenter to work with Middle and Upper School percussion students to compose a drum cadence inspired by the “Stop, Look and Listen” cheer that Assistant Head of Upper School Peggy Wakeland shouts at pep rallies. It is titled “The Peginator.” Another impactful grant involved bringing members of the Fort Worth Children’s Opera to campus to perform their show, the Three Pigs Remix, for Lower School students. The show, featuring four singers playing the pigs and the wolf, shared three outcomes, as written by Michael Ching. Remix one featured an inspirational message of collaboration. Remix two taught students that structure and order are better than chaos. Remix three advised students to “read smart,” “think smart,” share with others and take care of one another when times get rough. Following the performance, the singers and pianist took questions from the students, sharing the time involved in preparing a show like Three Pigs Remix, how long they’ve been singing opera, talking about music and more.
~ Pam Darrow President of Supporting CAST “The opera performance was a great opportunity for Lower School students to experience the art of opera in a way in which they could relate. The story was written with kids in mind and included humor and action, as well as a chance to explore the perspectives of the wolf and the pigs,” said Lower School Music Teacher Karla Dunning. “These school visits are so important because they change our students’ opinion of opera from ‘boring’ to ‘fun’ and expand the experience base our students will have when they go out into the world.” Darrow hopes that more parents become involved in CAST, so the organization thrives. “We have been making a diligent effort to inform parents that students at all grade levels benefit greatly from Supporting CAST grants,” she said. “We would love to have all parents become members of Supporting CAST at any level. The arts teachers and students frequently express how grateful they are for the support that CAST provides, and we hope to continue to grow that support.” To connect with Supporting CAST on social media visit facebook.com/ fwcdsupportingcast or instagram.com/ fwcdsupportingcast. WINTER 2020
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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
Senior Athletes Commit to Play in College Seniors Kenzi Carter and Allie Stewart (pictured left) signed their National Letter of Intent in November 2019 to take their athletics to the next level. Carter will further her education at Tulane University in New Orleans and play basketball. Allie will attend Angelo State University in Texas, where she will play soccer. Chris Edwards and Ozzie Fleischer (pictured right) have also committed to play at the collegiate level. Edwards will play soccer at Yale University in Connecticut, and Fleischer will play baseball at Tufts University in Massachusetts.
Chris Edwards
Ozzie Fleischer
Falcons Are Back-to-Back SPC 3A Football Champions
Photo by Sterling Steves ’80
The FWCD Falcons took home their 10th Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) Championship title on November 9, 2019, after a 41-0 victory over The John Cooper School. This was also a back-to-back win for the Falcons who beat John Cooper in the championship last year, 55-41. John Cooper was looking to garner its first state title. The team is coached by Brian Farda, who took on the head coaching position in 2018. The Falcons won the SPC championship in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 2010 (Division 2), 2016 (3A), 2018 (3A). WINTER 2020
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ATHLETICS
Falcons Flying Higher Thanks to FWCD’s athletic booster club, the Falcon Club, Falcons are “flying higher” on the climbing wall located in the Square Gym. In September 2019, the School installed two TRUBlue Auto-Belay systems on the climbing wall. The addition directly benefits the Lower and Middle School PE programs and allows FWCD climbers to climb higher than they have in the past as they master the wall. Excitement soared when the installation was complete, and three additional systems were purchased. All in all, Falcon Club funded three systems and the Ropes Course program two. Upper School History Teacher Sara Teegarden, who oversees the Ropes Course program, was a driving force in promoting this purchase, working with Athletic Director Brian Phelps and Lower School PE Director Shelley Rains.
“This is such an exciting purchase for Falcon Club because the benefit is so widespread,” Phelps noted. “Our students, JK through sixth-graders, will now be able to use these systems to climb past the three-foot line that has served as their “climb to here” rule up to this point. “Our older students can now use the wall for team-building exercises, and the Ropes Course can add it into its program and use it when the weather is inclement and prohibits a Ropes Course outdoor activity,” Phelps continued. “I am just so pleased that the benefit is for all members of our community.” The climbing wall is approximately 30 feet tall. A good portion of the Lower School PE curriculum related to the wall focuses on side climbing. That changes now.
Michael Settle ’99, Jared Connaughton, DeAnn Hall, Missi Olson Kovachev ’89, Rosalyn Thorpe, Mike Vincent, Shelley Rains, Shane Jenke, Lisa Parker, Sara Teegarden, Aimee Jenkins and Paige Farris Chisholm ’87 were trained on how to climb using the TRUBlue Auto-Belay system in the fall.
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“A bulk of what we’ve been teaching students is how to climb horizontally,” Rains said. “That instruction will continue, but the auto-belay allows our Lower School students the opportunity to climb higher in a safe way when they are ready.” Lower School and Middle School students climb in PE several times throughout the year. Lessons are ageappropriate and encourage students to build confidence in their abilities. But the wall has lost some of its “luster” with the older students because they cannot move above a three-foot line on the wall because there wasn’t a safe way to “spot” climbers. “Now, when students are ready to move past that mark, they can, and they will know that it is safe,” Rains said. For Teegarden, the addition of the auto belays is a gamechanger. “Ropes is such a powerful experience for our students; it stretches them outside their comfort zones,” Teegarden noted. “Now there is a new challenge for them on the wall. We can have five climbers side-by-side. Of course, our students will be the primary users, but we can now have faculty/staff team building, SOAR enrichment classes or Fort Wonder Summer Programs focused on climbing. This truly is one of the greatest gifts to the School.”
ATHLETICS
FWCD Dedicates Track In 2017, Joy Ann Havran and her husband, Bob, had a dream to honor their son, Barrett ’98, and his commitment to track and community service at Fort Worth Country Day. That dream came to fruition on, October 4, 2019, when the FWCD track was named Barrett Havran Track. Joy Ann’s friends and family gathered with FWCD Upper School students to celebrate. “You, the students, are all beneficiaries of Mrs. Havran’s work and efforts,” noted Head of School Eric Lombardi. “Thank you, Joy Ann, for this gift.” Director of Athletics Brian Phelps shared the upgrades that are already complete, including a new entryway with signage, updated fencing around the track’s perimeter, additional signage to the press box and concession stand
area, four new long jump pits and two runways, one high jump pit, and a new pole vault runway and landing pad. Funds also were placed in an endowment to ensure that FWCD track and field is taken care of well into the future. Track Program Director Jared Connaughton came across Barrett’s records as he was sifting through archival SPC track records to update the FWCD track and field record board. “Barrett’s name appeared several times on that board,” Connaughton said. “Not only were his performances excellent, but what stood out to me was how well-versed and multifaceted he was. His name appears as a record holder in the jumps, throws, hurdles and as a part of relays. “Records, however, are meant to be
broken,” Connaughton continued. “So it’s my hope that when current and future Country Day athletes cross beneath this archway and look up at Barrett’s name, they’ll ask themselves if they’re willing to put forth the effort, commitment and sacrifice that Barrett did in his pursuit of excellence.” While at FWCD, Barrett achieved numerous accolades in both academics and athletics. During his senior year, Barrett served as captain of the football and track teams and set multiple school athletic records – some of which he holds to this day. After graduating from FWCD, Havran accepted a scholarship to run on the men’s track and field team at The University of Texas at Austin, where he was the ninth-ranked decathlete in school history and ranked 18th in the nation before graduating in 2002. WINTER 2020
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Moncrief Library Celebrates a Milestone:
25 Years
Teaching students to be knowledgeable and skillful users of modern library resources is as essential to their preparation for college and later life as any other single discipline. The access to information and literary resources that is now available through technology and communication demands a forward-looking commitment to a library that will meet the needs of students far into the new century, which is rapidly approaching. ~ Geoff Butler H’98, Headmaster (1987-96)
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The construction for the Moncrief Library took approximately a year. The groundbreaking took place in May 1993, with the building being open in the 1994-95 academic year. The overarching goal of the library was to instruct students in the use of all library resources in the process of organized scholarly research so that students could successfully complete research projects at the secondary and university levels. Class of 1993 representatives (bottom photo) Amy Buis, Kelly Lanier, Sally Thurman and Anne Rehfeldt presented Headmaster Geoffrey Butler with a contribution for the Moncrief Library.
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On November 9, 1994, Fort Worth Country Day dedicated its new library, the William A. and Elizabeth B. Moncrief Library (affectionately referred to as the Moncrief Library), after a year of construction and several years of planning. What made this building so special: a founding gift from the William A. and Elizabeth B. Moncrief Foundation and nearly 70 additional donors who saw the importance of a library for the 21st century. Gloria Moncrief Holmsten ’00, William’s granddaughter, was a seventh-grader at the time. She recalls sitting in the very front of the dedication ceremony with her sisters Adelaide Moncrief Royer ’02 and Celia Moncrief Browning ’02, both fifth-graders. “Tex,” as her grandfather is affectionately known, saw the value of education and the importance of resources in order to gain that strong education. “Tex was always sharing a story of attending UT, where he played golf,” Holmsten said. “He told his father he was going to drop out and join the PGA. His father grabbed him by the shirt collar and told him absolutely not! Education is the road to success.” Debby Jennings, Head Librarian (1975-2015), couldn’t agree more and knew from the start that a library was much needed on the FWCD campus. “When I arrived at the School in 1975, the library was housed in a room in the Round Gym [the current Lower School Music Room],” she noted. “The collection consisted of used books that faculty, staff and parents had donated to the School.” Jennings, the School’s second librarian, was the School’s first librarian with a library degree. “Peter Schwartz [H’98, Founding Headmaster] saw the value of a degreed professional in this role and charged me with expanding the library and its collections,” Jennings noted. When the Peter A. Schwartz Library Learning Center opened in May 1975, the library moved from the Round Gym to its new home on the bottom level of the building, which is now the Bass Upper School. It surrounded the Upper School Commons. Before the move, Jennings whittled down the used-book volumes to 1,500 usable books, mostly in the history genre, as they were the most age-appropriate and fit the School’s curricular needs. Always known as the Upper School building, the two-level 30,000 square-foot facility was considered a library/learning center. It housed 13 classrooms and a conference room on the
second level, while the lower level encompassed the library, two lecture halls, the School’s computer, and a Commons area for meetings and informal student gatherings. Glass partitions made it possible to stand in the Commons area and look through the library to the field beyond. According to an FWCD Archives document dated April 22, 1976, the library was “designed to house a total of 20,000 volumes and to permit usage by 75 students at one time.” The construction of the Upper School/Library Study Center completed the School’s planned facilities development at the time. There were some immediate challenges with the location of the library, which served both Upper School and Middle School students. “I would hear from Middle School teachers and students that they felt uncomfortable coming over to the library on their own with the ‘big’ Upper School students sitting in the Commons hanging out,” Jennings explained. “Also, in inclement weather, the trek from Middle School could be difficult or just called off. It just wasn’t the right area.” In a January 1976 memo about the Upper School building status, Upper School Principal Howard Channell shared that the library’s holdings were increasing and that, by 1977, an addition to the present card catalog would be needed. “Our concern has grown considerably during this year over the distraction the Commons is for library users,” Channell wrote. “On the surface, the glass walls are aesthetically pleasing and apparently functional. In reality, any activity in the Commons is a real visual disturbance, and a large gathering creates a noise problem as well.” Jennings added, “The glass just was not conducive for learning, studying or researching. Students became easily distracted when there was activity in the Commons.” It became clear to Jennings that a separate space was needed. It just took time. She connected with friend and colleague, Jon Shipley. They conspired to put together a plan that would prove Fort Worth Country Day as forward-thinking, committed to serious academics and ready to embrace a future of technology. They would hone their ideas and wait for the right time. Jennings and Shipley approached then Headmaster Ted Sanford H’98 with the idea of a library/technology center WINTER 2020
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that would allow students to research, write, take classroom instruction and work on the word processors — all in one building that was more centralized on campus. In an undated memo to the Headmaster, they shared the goals for the expansion of the library and technology center. Some of those goals were to: •
Expand collection to about 50,000 volumes to ensure satisfaction of most student requests • Expand periodicals on microfilm collection from the present 50 titles to approximately 100 • Add three microfiche reader-printers • Purchase computer terminal for student-generated database searches • Build a professional library collection of books and journals • Incorporate new technology as developed to broaden students’ access to information • Provide reading areas that are isolated from visual distractions The overarching goal: “to instruct each student in the use of all library resources and in the process of organized scholarly research so that each student can successfully complete research projects at the secondary level and at the university level.” For Jennings, it was important that this expanded library be near both Middle School and Upper School classrooms “for ease of access and to encourage frequent use.” She was also set on providing direct access to the library for Middle School students without having to walk through a building with older students. 24
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During Sanford’s tenure, the campus grew to include the William E. Scott Fine Arts Center, Lower School Ryan Annex, a Middle School addition named in honor of the W.A. Moncrief Family, the campus plaza with fountain (made possible by the Sid W. Richardson Foundation), a Lower School playground and a gym addition. Planning the library remained something that Sanford, Jennings and Shipley talked about and worked on together. In 1987, when Geoff Butler H’98 became Headmaster, Jennings and Shipley shared the ideas that had been brewing over the years: their dream of a symbiotic library/technology center that would allow students to research, write, take classroom instruction and work on the word processors — all in one building that was more centralized on campus. Butler asked them to lead the charge. Jennings and Shipley worked directly with the architects to see their dream for the School come to fruition. “We wanted a lot of glass in the building so that it was easy to supervise students,” Shipley noted. “We knew that there might be only one or two faculty members overseeing students as they moved from different areas. Having a good vantage point was important. The architects didn’t really agree with us, but we stood our ground.” Throughout the talks with the architects to the building of the facility and decisions on the furnishings in the building (sturdy wood tables and chairs were important), Jennings and Shipley put themselves in their students’ shoes.
“We ultimately wanted what would allow them to be most successful,” Jennings noted. “We were beefing up our instruction in library research, computer skills … it was important to us that students could seamlessly navigate the research and writing process all in one place.” When all was said and done, the Moncrief Library was built to accommodate 35,000 volumes, reading and study areas, a seminar room and a forward-thinking technology center with up to 45 networked workstations. At these workstations, students were taught computer applications (word processing at the time) and had access to a computerized circulation system and databases for use in their academic work. Much like its long creative process from conception to planning to build, the library has evolved over its 25 years as a learning hub on campus. It has grown from 1,500 good titles to a current combined collection of nearly 33,000 volumes between the Lower School and Moncrief Library. Students enjoy university-quality library services from a team of three professional librarians and one library assistant. Downloadable fiction eBooks and audiobooks are available for checkout on most devices. Online research databases, which contain books, encyclopedias and periodicals, are available for all ages and can be accessed anywhere. The Lower School and Moncrief Library support multiple literacies, including digital,
visual, textual and technological, in order to prepare students in the 21st century. Tutors meet with students in the space and many classes, from Music Theory to Computer Programming, take place in the library. Parents also frequent the tables and common space to wait for their students or help them get a head start on their homework. The Center for International Studies and the FWCD Archives call the Moncrief Library home as well. “This new building [in 1994] was so exciting for the students and the School,” Holmsten shared. “We were entering the 21st century with computers and library databases. It was just so cool, and it seemed like we were ahead of the times. Mr. Shipley was teaching us computers and word processing, and he was so passionate. It was a neat time to be part of something bigger at Fort Worth Country Day.” Tammy Wolford, current Head Librarian and Lower School Librarian, sees the value of the facility and its holdings each and every day. “The Moncrief Library truly serves as the heart of the School,” she said. “On any given day, you will find students, faculty, tutors and community members using every square inch of the building. With three Upper School classrooms, Middle School library classes, the FWCD Archives and a variety of places to study and collaborate, the library is a dynamic community hub.” WINTER 2020
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R E M E M B E R I N G
Ted Sanford H’98 Ted Sanford H’98 will long be recognized for his unwavering dedication to the arts and his commitment to and support of faculty at Fort Worth Country Day, where he served as the School’s second Headmaster from 1976 to 1987. Sanford passed away peacefully in his home on Bainbridge Island in Washington on October 6, 2019. He had chosen not to have a memorial service; the Sanford children, Lindsay ’80, Wendy and Timothy, mourned him privately. When Sanford took the FWCD helm from Founding Headmaster Peter Schwartz H’98, he had already served as a headmaster for 16 years – 10 at the Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington, and six at Thatcher School in Ojai, California. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from Yale Law School after serving in WW II as a Navy ensign. At FWCD, Sanford hit the ground at a sprint and worked tirelessly to continue building a school that Country Day’s Founders had envisioned: a school of the best faculty, with the best teachers in the best teaching environment. Only in its second decade at the time Sanford took over, FWCD benefited particularly from Sanford’s attention to faculty salaries and benefits. “Ted set out to establish that, as professionals, we needed to have a structured salary ladder, benefits and health care, and a retirement program,” said Dan Bloch H’06. “When I first came to Country Day, none of these were in place. We all worked because we loved it and gave the School most of our free time because that’s what you did. I had no contract for several years, just a handshake and an understanding that my needs would be considered. “Ted set up a salary scale with base pay and incentives for advanced degrees,” Bloch continued. “He also determined that workload should be a factor in setting pay levels. Those doing the same job would receive the same base pay, all other factors being equal. He also pushed for creating teacher benefits and including them in a written contract. I
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believe that the first retirement program came early in Ted’s tenure. Each of our Headmasters has had a special focus and added to the growth of the School. In talking with new teachers each year, I have always given Ted Sanford credit for being the most responsible for developing a sense of true professionalism in the teaching ranks and helping us set individual goals.” Sanford’s mantra: “The people make the School.” He believed in using as much of the School’s budget as possible for the classroom, which translated to the teachers. With competitive salaries, he was able to better recruit from a national perspective and make a name for Fort Worth Country Day. Those salaries attracted top teachers, which in turn drew the best and brightest students. While Sanford taught fourthgrade math and lectured in Middle School history classes to get to know students on a personal level, he used these teaching experiences to stay in touch with the teachers to best advocate for them. For Sanford, Fort Worth Country Day evoked family. As Headmaster, he was dedicated to the teachers, students, parents, alumni and Trustees who made up the School. “Together, they produced an incredible sense of family,” he said, “and nothing draws you in like being part of a warm, wonderful family.” An accomplished artist, Sanford took it upon himself to move FWCD into the arts scene. FWCD’s academic and athletics programs were well-established under Schwartz, but Sanford saw the need to broaden options for students. He oversaw the construction of the fine arts building and advocated for the addition of orchestra and ballet to the curriculum. Students had the opportunity to begin playing violin in first grade at FWCD, a commitment that was unheard of in the Fort Worth area at the time. In the April 4, 1986, Falcon Quill, Sanford said, “Now we have probably the best overall arts program of a private school of our size.”
Found in the FWCD Archives, this sketch depicts Headmaster Ted Sanford H’98 perfectly. Do you know who drew it? If so, contact alumnirelations@fwcd.com.
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Joe Breedlove ’78 was a student during Sanford’s tenure, and Sanford ultimately gave Breedlove a job. “What can I say … he gave me my job here, and I will always be indebted to him for jumpstarting my journey in impacting young people’s lives and building a community that is strong and vibrant,” Breedlove said. Breedlove also recalls the 3A’s becoming part of the School’s vernacular when Sanford was head. “Mr. Sanford knew that for us to maintain our status in the community as the premier school, we had to differentiate ourselves. Therefore, the 3A’s were birthed,” he said. “Of course, it was a little misleading, since our enrollment was so small, every student was expected to ‘do everything.’ Believe it or not, there wasn’t a requirement. As a student, you just participated in everything because of the pride you had for the School. Ted was inspirational in pushing this culture change through to what it is today.” Since Sanford’s retirement from Fort Worth Country Day in 1987, the School has thought of the arts and Sanford name as though they are intertwined. The Sanford Arts Wing, serves as a visual thank you in honor of the Headmaster and his wife, Diana, for their steadfast commitment to the strengthening of the FWCD arts curriculum. Today, that facility hosts performing arts classrooms dedicated to music, dance and theatre. During his FWCD tenure, Sanford also oversaw the completion of the Ryan Lower School addition, the Moncrief Middle School addition, the Campus Plaza with fountain and the Square Gym. In addition, enrollment to the School increased from 670 to 902, and the median faculty salary more than tripled to rank within the top 5 percent of independent schools. 28
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Head of School Eric Lombardi connected with Sanford almost immediately after he took on the Head of School role in 2015. “I counted Ted as a friend. In my first year at the School, I visited him at his home in Tacoma. He had just lost Diana, his wife of more than 60 years,” Lombardi recalled. “While he was still mourning his loss, talking about ‘FWCDS’ [as he knew the School] brought Ted immense happiness and satisfaction.” Lombardi’s sense of responsibility guiding FWCD deepened with each successive story Ted shared in their various encounters and letter exchanges, whether they were about his work with Perry Bass H’98, Fort Worth Country Day’s Founding Board President, on a faculty salary fund, or recounting conversations with individual students. “For most of our two hours together in that first meeting, Ted held a football the varsity captains had given him after his last game as Headmaster,” Lombardi said. “It was painted with the winning score of FWCDS over Casady. Similar memorabilia from his FWCD days occupied much of his shelves and most of his home’s walls. He loved our School.” Breedlove has fond memories of Sanford and football games, home or away. “He always found time to get his workout or run in,” Breedlove said. “The funny thing is that he would always run on the opposing team’s track or cross-country course, which inevitably required him to run around the football field in front of Falcon fans or the opponent’s fans, sometimes finishing just before kickoff. I think it was his way to ‘intimidate’ the opponents. If our headmaster is fit and strong, our teams must be incredibly fit and strong.”
(Left from top) Headmaster Ted Sandford H’98 was FWCD’s second Headmaster, leading the School from 1976-87. To stay in touch with teachers and students, Headmaster Ted Sandford H’98 taught fourth-grade math and lectured in Middle School history classes. Bob Minnerly served as the Head of Upper School with Headmaster Ted Sandford H’98 from 1976-86. (Above from top) Ted, Diana and their dog, Tara, spent their “retirement days” in Bainbridge Island in Washington. This “Portrait of a Headmaster,” written by Brenda Seaver who served in the Upper School from 1978-89, appeared in an alumni newsletter.
A highlight for Lombardi involved Sanford returning to campus in 2017. “Claire-Lise Knecht H’06 helped talk him into coming to our Founders’ Day events, a visit he made by riding the rails, taking a train from Seattle to Fort Worth,” he said. “It was my honor to introduce Ted to the entire student body that year and to sit in the Head of School’s Office with another of my esteemed predecessors,” Lombardi said. “I am incredibly fortunate to stand on the shoulders of devoted heads at Fort Worth Country Day. I owe a great deal to Ted in particular for demonstrating true devotion to FWCD.” WINTER 2020
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Center for International Studies:
A Difference In Tibet, Ainsley Hilliard ’20 and Henry Brookman ’22 learned about the many facets of the region and completed service projects such as replanting a native tree species through a Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder class.
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Maker FWCD cemented its commitment to global citizenship in April 2018 with the establishment of the Center for International Studies (CIS). The center, the creation of Director of Strategic Projects Bill Arnold ’86, seeks to cultivate global competency in students through the weaving of global perspectives into the curriculum; work with local partners to contribute to the Fort Worth community; and provide meaningful international and domestic travel and hosting exchanges. “The center serves as the home base for all of the School’s international initiatives, which include overseas summer expeditions, exchange and hosting opportunities, cultural programs and global competency professional development,” Arnold said.
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The center’s inaugural director, Stephen Blan (who also serves as Assistant Head of Middle School) has always sought to connect students with other cultures both locally and globally. “The Center for International Studies at FWCD seeks to develop students’ capacity to thrive in an ever-changing global community,” he said. “We assist teachers in weaving global perspectives into their curriculum and provide students with meaningful travel and hosting exchange opportunities.” A hallmark of FWCD global connection has been its longtime relationship with Fort Worth Sister Cities through its International Youth Exchange Program, which provides opportunities for students to take trips or be part of an exchange group to develop deeper cross-cultural mindsets and understanding. Many students serve on the Sister Cities Youth Board. “As a school, we see so much value in the opportunities provided through Sister Cities,” said Head of School Eric Lombardi. “To be honored by this organization (see sidebar on page 33) for our involvement is really icing on the cake because our students are the ones who are gaining so much.”
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Upper School French Teacher Andréanne Annis is committed to supporting Sister Cities and its programs. She regularly serves as a Delegation Leader on trips; she hosts visitors in Fort Worth; and she was instrumental in Nîmes, France, being named Fort Worth’s ninth Sister City when she served as a translator/interpreter for the organization in 2018. “What an honor and joy to build relationships; to learn about other cultures; to lead students in becoming great ambassadors of our city and to serve as host, translator, educator and ambassador,” Annis said. “The lens through which I view the world continues to be enriched. I am grateful for Fort Worth Sister Cities’ amazingly successful chapter and for the many FWCD students, parents, faculty and staff who have been volunteering at Sundance Santa, traveling with Sister Cities, serving on the youth board, participating in the International Leadership Academy and/ or opening their homes as hosts to many international guests over the years.”
Building Blocks for the Future Blan is using the Sister Cities accolades (see sidebar, right) as building blocks for the future. “Sister Cities is easy to promote among our students because of the unique opportunities the organization offers to young people in Fort Worth,” he said. “Hosting and traveling with Sister Cities has proven to be confidence-building and life-changing for the students who participate in their programs.” During the 2018-19 academic year, eight FWCD students and two FWCD faculty members were accepted to travel on various Youth Delegations throughout the academic year. These individuals traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy; Nagaoka, Japan; Trier, Germany; Toluca, Mexico; and Guiyang, China. Kate Malonis ’23 was a delegate on the trip to Nagaoka. She and her mother, Jamie, had served as a Middle School host family for students from Japan when Kate was in seventh and eighth grades. “It was really Mr. Blan who drew me to work with Sister Cities,” Kate shared. “He noticed that after I hosted, I was very interested in international traveling, and he helped me reach out to them. My trip to Japan was my first trip with the organization, but I’m already planning to apply for more.” During the June 19-28, 2019, trip, she immersed herself in the culture of Nagaoka. “It was interesting to see how people in Japan go about their everyday lives,” Kate said. “This experience opened my eyes to traveling and learning about new things, people and cultures. I would love to travel around the world and be an exchange student. Different cultures fascinate me and make me want to learn more about the country and its people.” While visiting the Nagaoka, Kate stayed with Konoka Hoshino and Riri Yoshida, the students she hosted in seventh and eighth grade, respectively. “It was a very emotional goodbye,” Kate said. “We were all like sisters, and I had finally met their parents and siblings. It almost felt like when I left my mom back home.” Henry Brookman ’22 (pictured far right) has taken two trips with Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SStS). He enjoys the SStS courses because of how the service is conducted. The organization does not come into the community with a set agenda of work projects. Instead the team assesses the current situation and works with local leaders to complete service work.
Sister Cities Honors Fort Worth Country Day came away with top honors at the 2019 Fort Worth Sister Cities International Annual Meeting in September. Each year, the organization presents three awards: the Bob Bolen Award for Outstanding Board Leadership, the Eisenhower Award for Organizational Involvement and Volunteer of the Year. Sister Cities presented FWCD and its Center for International Studies with the Eisenhower Award, and Andréanne Annis, Upper School French Teacher, earned Volunteer of the Year honors. FWCD is the first independent school to receive the Eisenhower honor. Annis is the second FWCD faculty member to be named Volunteer of the Year. FWCD’s relationship with Fort Worth Sister Cities is longstanding. Former FWCD History Teacher Tara Forrest, the 2015 Volunteer of the Year award winner, helped to establish the Sister Cities tradition in the Middle School. She tried for years to help FWCD become an Ambassador Host School before the stars aligned in fall 2014. That year, a delegation of students and adults from Nagaoka, Japan, traveled to Fort Worth, lived with FWCD families and shadowed FWCD students. Both the American and Japanese students learned about the leadership skills they need to succeed in today’s global world, shared their cultural and geographic backgrounds, built positive relationships, and fostered bonds based on broader perspectives and a deeper understanding of what it means to live in a multicultural society. This initial visit led the way for many future Nagaoka delegations (2014-18) to visit FWCD, as well as visits from students from Trier, Germany, in 2018 and 2019. WINTER 2020
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For Kate’s mom, the hosting experience has been full of opportunities, from learning the language to experiencing the food and enjoying the everyday customs and traditional games and dances. “We truly enjoyed embracing these students as part of our extended family, and we keep in close contact with the girls and their families through social media, letters and gifts,” Jamie said. “Once Kate traveled as an exchange student herself, I felt she was about to share our traditions and continue to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Japanese culture and traditions and the beauty of Nagaoka and Tokyo. “Kate returned from Japan a changed person,” Jamie continued. “She gained confidence. Traveling at the age of 14 to a foreign country, not knowing much of the language and living with people you don’t know well forces you to open up to the adventure and try new things. This reconnection taught us that even though we are miles apart, the bonds that Kate has made with Riri, Konoka and their families is for a lifetime and that there is so much more the world has to offer if we explore and open up to other cultures.”
Students Making a Global Difference Another groundbreaking program offered through the Center for International Studies is Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SStS). FWCD is one of only 14 schools to be involved in this prestigious service-learning program that provides ethical leadership development through domestic and international experiential courses. These summer courses offer remarkable opportunities for students and faculty to work alongside local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in various locations as they seek to improve conditions in their communities. In the first year of the partnership (summer 2018), FWCD sent two students, Henry Brookman ’22 and Banner Robinson ’22, to participate in classes in Detroit, Michigan, and Pine Ridge, South Dakota. This past summer, eight students and two faculty members participated in SStS programs in Tibet; Detroit, Michigan; Cambodia; U.S./ Mexico Border; New Orleans; and Pine Ridge, South Dakota. This was Henry’s second year to participate in an SStS course. “I had an incredible experience in summer 2018. My trip to Pine Ridge Reservation was one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had so far in my life and has inspired me to continue to apply for Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder trips,” 34
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he said. “I also chose SStS over other service-based travel organizations because of how SStS conducts its service. The organization does not come into a community with a set agenda of work projects, but rather assesses the current situation and asks local leaders what they need.” Henry’s summer 2019 course took him to Tibet with another Upper School student, Ainsley Hilliard ’20. “I have been fascinated with East Asia for a long time, but haven’t had the opportunity to travel there,” Henry noted. “Tibet also appeared to have similar issues to the ones I saw in Pine Ridge, such as Native and cultural suppression.” Throughout the 18-day session, Henry learned about many different facets of Tibet through the SStS five lens curriculum. “Our trip consisted of eight workdays, four of which we spent in the village of Dora, helping to replant a native tree species,” he said. “The other four days were spent in the Yolonshi Valley, building eco-waste bins as a method of garbage disposal.” Henry also took some time to enjoy the beauty of the country. “During a hike to the Himalayan Mountain Lake Negatso, the altitude made the hike exceptionally challenging, as we
Ainsley Hilliard ’20 spent time with the non-governmental organization the Tibetan Village Project to help promote sustainable development and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Tibet.
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were constantly losing our breath and taking breaks,” Henry remembered. “After hours of hiking through the beautiful Tibetan Plateau, we finally reached our gorgeous destination. It felt like a huge accomplishment, as we were all struggling to persevere.” Henry’s mom, Bari Buckner Brookman ’83, is drawn to the SStS lens curriculum, which prepares students before their trips by exposing them to the politics, culture, geography and economics of the place to which they’re traveling. “Trip leaders and mentors both teach and inspire the students. The focus is on learning about what service is actually needed by those in the regions they visit, as coordinated through the local NGOs,” Bari said. “That being said, the most valuable aspect of Henry’s participation is that he gets the opportunity to experience being a leader and making a difference by first caring about the community to which he travels. Bob Bandoni of SStS says it best: ‘SStS inspires moral imagination.’ What could be better for your kid than that?” For Bari and many others, travel broadens perspective. “Henry gravitated to these experiences on his own because FWCD brought SStS into his ‘realm of possibility,’” she said. “These opportunities have allowed Henry to grab hold of specific interests that he had organically—travel, service to others, foreign cultures, geographically distant locales—and really dive in, commit and go for it. It’s unbelievably powerful and valuable to him.” For Henry, the biggest takeaway is the importance of humility. “I learned never to put myself above others and to always treat them with respect and compassion,” he said. “I also gained an entirely new perspective through which to see the world, which I could not have gotten without going on this trip.” 36
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Teaching Global Responsibility Summer 2019 marked the first time FWCD teachers applied for and gained admittance to serve as SStS instructors. Laura Michaelides, Upper School Learning Specialist, traveled to Panama. Alison Robinson, Modern and Classical Languages Department Chair and Upper School Spanish Teacher, served as an instructor for the U.S/Mexico Border class. Both courses were first-year offerings, with Michaelides and Robinson completing extensive training prior to the trip to learn about the course, the countries, and how best to support the nongovernmental organizations and the students as work was completed. Michaelides’ group, comprising 14 students and three instructors, worked with Give and Surf to support educational programs and enrichment activities for elementary school students over 18 days in late June and early July. The students lived in a hostel on the island of Bastimentos and then took a boat to the community center, also known as “the internet” each morning. “The community center was a building with electricity and internet access,” Michaelides noted. “The communities that these children came from had no electricity and running water. This center was where they came to connect. We also boated to other areas where we supported English language instruction and other activities run by local leaders.” This experience provided students with the opportunity to learn about the diverse and unique cultures that exist in the communities served by Give and Surf. In addition to teaching, the group helped to maintain several local schools through painting and other beautification projects, interacted with younger students while visiting the pre-kindergarten programs, learned from local leaders and hiked to remote beaches. In this striking setting, students reflected on what they learned about compassion, an inclusive perspective and ethical leadership. Robinson traveled to the U.S./Mexico Border. Henry Marlow ’21 was one of the 12 students on the trip. “Our students took part in some 10 activities online before the trip even began,” she noted. “Our goal was ‘learning service,’ rather than service learning ... that is to say, how do we go into a community and learn what a community’s needs are rather than tell the
community what it needs. A lot of what we did was listen – and really hear – peoples’ stories about how they immigrated here.” The group spent time on both sides of the border and slept on a concrete floor in a church on the U.S. side of the border at one point to promote empathy for immigrants who have been detained in facilities. “It is pretty easy to get into Mexico from the U.S., but returning to the U.S. from Mexico could sometimes take three hours,” she noted. Most profound for Robinson was the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. visiting hours on Saturdays and Sundays at the Binational Garden. Family members would line up on both sides of the fence in the garden to communicate with one other, separated by a wall. After the group’s initial exposure to the border region from the U.S. side, the participants drove to the San Ysidro border crossing area and crossed on foot into Mexico, where they worked with Madres y Familias Deportadas en Acción and addressed the significant challenges that aspiring migrants, asylum seekers and the recently deported face as they seek stability and safety in their lives. They also spent time at El Desayunador preparing food and serving more than 1,000 migrants, as well as volunteered with Casa del Migrante, where they played with migrant children and listened to their stories.
What the Future Holds Blan is excited about the opportunities that exist for FWCD students through the Center for International Studies and what the future holds for the program. “The center’s relationship will only grow with Sister Cities and Student Shoulder-toShoulder,” he noted. “And there are more organizations out there with which to connect. Our goal is to provide students with opportunities to understand and investigate the world beyond what they know in their immediate environment. The ability for students to recognize and appreciate perspectives other than their own and engage with others across cultures will only make our world a better place.” WINTER 2020
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Alumni News
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ALUMNI NEWS
“Swearing” in Public Colonel Parker B. Schenecker ’80 (pictured left with Bill Arnold ’86 and Connie Herr) keynoted the 10th Captain David R. “Chip” Herr, Jr. ’80 Memorial Lecture in September. His inspiring words may have seemed unconventional to some – “Swear in public, boldly, often and when in doubt” – but his message was profound. The Colonel shared the first time he remembers “swearing” – when he took his military oath on May 31, 1984, the same day his buddy, Chip, took his. He later “swore” when Chip died: He wore one of Chip’s captain bars on his dog tag for the next 27 years and, upon retirement, returned the captain bar to Chip’s mom, Connie, so they would retire together. And he continues to “swear” daily as he celebrates the lives of his children, Calyx and Beau, who were killed by their mother. “I refuse to let this tragedy change who I am,” Colonel Schenecker said. “I choose gratitude over hate.” The lecture
was emotional for all who attended — nearly 250 FWCD community members and friends. Raw, powerful and inspiring, Colonel Schenecker’s speech is something everyone should hear. View his message in its entirety at fwcd.org/ ChipHerrMemorialLecture. The Chip Herr Memorial Lecture honors the life and extraordinary military service, leadership and heroism of one of FWCD’s very own, Chip Herr. The lecture series honors Chip’s legacy and provides FWCD students and the community with models of service – men and women who make sacrifices each day as public servants and who continue to shoulder the “burdens of command” in the dangerous and complicated 21st century. Herr’s helicopter malfunctioned and crashed in eastern Saudi Arabia during a noncombat mission on February 3, 1991. He is the only FWCD graduate who has died in service to his country.
Homecoming Fun
Falcon Alley was fun for the family – a football toss, kick darts, face painting, Falcon tattoos, balloon art, yard Jenga and cornhole dominated the kids’
attention pre-game. The hit of the night was a party firetruck from FD Party Tours. FWCD alumnus Cory Burns ’01 is co-owner of the fun business. Students sat on the top of the truck, got into the cab and made the truck roar, and simply enjoyed jumping in and out of the vehicle. Check out his business at fdpartytours.dudaone.com. For the second year in a row, the All-Veteran Parachute Team deployed jumpers above the stadium to deliver the flag and coin for the coin toss. This year’s mystery jumper: Paige Farris Chisholm ’87. Homecoming is sweetest with a win, and the Falcons clinched it, beating Austin Consolidated 47-28.
Photo by Sterling Steves ’80
Falcons enjoyed an early October Homecoming and Alumni Weekend on October 4-5, 2019. Alumni reacclimated with their alma mater on campus tours and then reminisced with current and former faculty members at a reception in Moncrief Library. This year, “blasts from the past” included Christine Derber, Sharon Foster H’05, Priscilla Harrier H’11, Sharon Hamilton, Diana Isbell, Eileen Kelly, Claire-Lise Knecht H’06, Jean Hagedorn, Debby Jennings and Tad Sanders. The new Falcon, Talon, also made an appearance.
Paige Farris Chisholm ’87 was this year’s mystery jumper.
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Retirees –
Where are They Now? By Debby Jennings
Claire Lise Knecht H’06 US French 1963-98 Retiring was bittersweet for Claire-Lise because she loved teaching but felt strongly that she should help raise her grandchildren, Brennan ’17 and Noah Woods ’19. She cared for the two full-time until Noah started kindergarten. She then returned to FWCD as a substitute and founding FWCD Archives organizer. With former Lower School Teacher Jean Webb H’01, Claire-Lise gathered photos and documents and organized boxes of historical material related to the School’s history. She still volunteers on this project today and is frequently consulted for her valuable institutional knowledge. Her calendar is full as she attends FWCD events and substitutes often in sixth grade for her daughter, Anne-Lise Knecht Woods ’85. For 10 consecutive summers, ClaireLise and her husband, John, traveled to Europe with groups of students introducing them to European civilization. She remembers how she enjoyed seeing their reactions to exotic food, foreign experiences and cultural differences. She wanted to show students that other cultures can be interesting and fun. Claire-Lise was the founding sponsor of FWCD’s AFS
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program and remains in contact with many foreign exchange students who spent time at FWCD.
Judith Garrett US Spanish 2002-14 Since retirement, Judy and her husband have visited China, Russia, Finland, Estonia and Norway. During their next big trip to her beloved Mexico City, her family will celebrate the 15th birthday of a granddaughter with a traditional Mexican quinceañera. Family and friends will gather from all over. Judy will take charge of finding the best places to eat, “the best part of any trip,” she noted. Volunteer work at her church’s food ministry is an important commitment for Judy. Her group usually makes about 80 sack lunches every two weeks to give to underprivileged children when they get off the school bus. Her church also works with a mobile food pantry in association with the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Judy plans and purchases food for several of these food initiatives. She urges all her former students to friend her on Facebook to keep in touch.
Vivian Potts Music- Strings 1980-97
Alan Potts
Music-Chorus 1979-95 Vivian and Alan still live in Fort Worth. In retirement, they have taken three European trips and enjoyed Paris, Italy, Dresden, Prague and Vienna. They have traveled all over the U.S., visiting all but two states. Their three children, Richard ’87, Courtney Potts Bone ’89 and Crisanne Potts Barker ’93, are local, and they now have grandchildren at FWCD, where Crisanne teaches fifth-grade math. They both continue their music: Vivian played in the Fort Worth Symphony for 45 years before retiring to teach private violin lessons, and Alan is the organist and choir director at St. John’s Church and teaches private lessons at Arlington Heights Music Academy. They have vivid memories of summer music trips they sponsored with FWCD students, including a trip to Oslo, Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.
ALUMNI NEWS
Hitting the Road Alumni Relations took to the road in October 2019 for a Falcons on the Road event in Washington, D.C. hosted by Jim Fleming ’80. Alumni Relations Manager Patrick Powers ’05, Director of Advancement Sandra Tuomey and Head of School Eric Lombardi traveled with former faculty Andy Cordell, Sharon Foster H’05 and Claire-Lise Knecht H'06 to meet up with D.C.-area alumni to reconnect and reminisce. Lombardi shared the 2018 strategic plan and previewed the new facilities master plan.
SAVE THE DATE March 21, 2020
Falcons on the Road strives to keep alumni connected and engaged with their alma mater. The goal is to give fellow Falcons an opportunity to learn about the advances of their alma mater while reminiscing with former classmates. Next up for Falcons on the Road is an event in Houston on February 21. Lauren (Hunt) ’05 and Blake Brogdon ’05 will host in their home in southwest Houston. Plans are also in the works for a Dallas Falcons on the Road. Interested in hosting a Falcons on the Road event in your city? Email alumni.relations@fwcd.com.
Class of 1970 50th Reunion Invitation to follow
Claire-Lise Knecht H’06, Erin Hahn ’08, Donald Davidson ’08, Andy Cordell, William Payne ’06 and Patrick Powers ’05 connect in D.C.
For more information, please contact Martha Schutts Williams ’70 at martha@williamstrew.com.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Celebrating FWCD FWCD’s Classes of ’74, ’79, ’84, ’89, ’94, ’99, ’04, ’09 and ’14 all celebrated reunions this year during Homecoming 2019 festivities. Venues included Original Mexican Eats, the homes of Marsha Harrison Kleinheinz ’79 and Tricia McMackin Doswell ’84, Blue Mesa, Press Café, Bird Café, Rogers Roundhouse, Acre Distilling and Bar 2029. It was inspiring to see classmates reconnecting and remembering the great times they had at FWCD.
1974 Class Reunion Members of the Class of 1974, Webster Dean, Lizabeth Lambert Bowden, Jean Morgan Hagedorn, Lisanne Purvis Davidson, Douglas Arnoult (seated), reminisced with Head of School Eric Lombardi (center) at The Original.
1979 Class Reunion The Class of 1979 reunion was hosted at the home of Marsha Harrison Kleinheinz ’79.
1984 Class Reunion Courtney Palm Hill, Sue Cutler Christie, Laurie Gardner, Emily Minton Redfield and Kristina Davis-Jones celebrated with 1984 classmates at the home of Tricia McMackin Doswell ’84.
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1994 Class Reunion The Class of 1994 got together at Blue Mesa.
ALUMNI NEWS
1989 Class Reunion The Class of 1989 reunion took place at Press Café.
2004 Class Reunion
1999 Class Reunion Members of the Class of 1999 had a fun evening at Bird Café.
Classmates from ’04, (back row) David Brigati, Kate Lattimore Norris, Patrick Polenz, Sharon McAlpine Davis, Whitney Gage, Austin Reilly, (front row) Frances Benoist Compton, Keri DeVos Hickman, Sarah Peerwani Farr and Lauren Wu, spent the evening at Rogers Roundhouse.
2009 Class Reunion The Class of 2009 met up for their reunion at Acre Distillery.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Emily Stewart Lakdawalla ’92 Emily Stewart Lakdawalla ’92 has always had her head above the clouds … out in the worlds of our solar system. An internationally admired science communicator and educator, Lakdawalla is passionate about advancing public understanding of space and sharing the wonder of scientific discovery. She is the Solar System Specialist at The Planetary Society, and Fort Worth Country Day helped to fuel her early passions for science, space, exploration and communication. When she enrolled at FWCD in 1987, her mother, Karen, was Director of Admission. “I pretty immediately found people I could connect with at Country Day, which is not what I expected,” she said. “I was quirky and didn’t feel like I fit in, but I quickly found my classes full of cool intellectual people who loved discussing and debating issues. I had so many reasons to smile as an FWCD student.” A self-proclaimed “faculty brat,” Lakdawalla loved to hang out after school with some of her favorite teachers. “I have such fond memories of Mrs. [Sharon] Foster [H’05], Mrs. [Sharon] Hamilton and Ms. [Liz] Medary in science and of Mrs. [Lelia] Koeppe in art. These teachers and more were about encouraging curiosity and indulging students’ critical thinking.” After graduation, Lakdawalla attended Amherst College, earning a BA in Geology. “I never liked specializing,” she said, “and geology incorporated chemistry, physics, biology and even art and history.” Her thesis focused on structural geology and field studies of deformed metasedimentary rocks in Washington. Not wanting to pursue graduate school right out of college, Lakdawalla took a teaching job at Lake Forest Country Day School north of Chicago, Illinois, for two years – but quickly 44
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realized that classroom teaching was not her calling. Luckily, she received some divine inspiration while conducting a space simulation project using a LEGO rover to explore papermache landscapes of Jupiter’s moons. “It was a confluence of events. It was 1997, and Sojourner was roving on Mars, the Hubble Telescope had had its vision fixed, and NASA’s Galileo spacecraft sent back beautiful pictures of Jupiter’s moons, Europa and Ganymede,” she said. “It occurred to me that I could study geology in space.” Lakdawalla returned to school and earned an MS in Planetary Geology from Brown University. She analyzed Magellan radar images and topographic data on Venus to determine its deformational history. She also discovered in Brown’s Regional Planetary Image Facility a treasure trove of planetary mission data in the NASA archives waiting to be uncovered and explored – a finding that led her to The Planetary Society, where she has worked since 2001. Lakdawalla has dabbled in a bit of everything at the Society, beginning with running worldwide contests that selected and trained high school students to work on mission activities at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She penned her first blog in 2002 and since 2005 has been writing and editing for The Planetary Society’s website, reporting on space news, explaining planetary science and sharing exquisite space photos. Unique in her field, Lakdawalla ultimately sees herself as a science communicator, helping information flow to space fans of all kinds. “I may not always know the answers to a question, but I know who to ask,” she noted. “I love being able to make connections for people. My passion is to help everybody learn something new and wonderful about the countless worlds up there in space.”
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ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Games: Fall and Winter Coed volleyball and field hockey battled it out on November 23, 2019, in the Fall Alumni Games. Alumni Winter Games began with girls basketball and boys soccer in the morning of December 21, 2019, followed by boys basketball and girls soccer in the afternoon. It’s always a fun time when Falcon alumni athletes get together! Field Hockey Chloe Bade Anderson ’05, Coach Paige Farris Chisholm ’87, Kathryn More ’00, Tara Gordon ’12, Reagan Weeks ’22, Macie Mallick ’22, Whitney Baggett Creel ’04, Keri DeVos Hickman ’04, Ainsley Bescher ’20, Allison Moore ’20, Ashlin McCormack ’20
Girls Soccer (Back row) Emma Rooker ’18, Coach Donovan Oliver, Sutton Howard ’23, Taralyn Eschberger ’22, Grace Goldman ’18, (middle row) Caroline Homan ’23, Lauren Mitchell ’23, Alexandra Stewart ’20, Sydney Hudecek ’22, (front row) Campbell Beebe ’23, Vivian Todora ’23, Isabel Juliao ’20
Volleyball Alice Conlin ’09, Ryan Miller ’09, Ryan Jordan ’07, Patrick Powers ’05, Coach Alex Kovachev, Coach Rosalyn Thorpe, Missi Olson Kovachev ’89, Landon Barker ’22, Mark Wong ’22, Mia Kovachev ’20, Stephanie Cook ’20, Eva Kovachev ’25, Jonathan Maberry ’18, Mason Beasley ’15 Boys Basketball White Xavier White ’13, Rush Olson ’86, Christopher Burton ’12, Stephen Levy ’12, Robby Reeb ’07, Grant Johnston ’10, Patrick Powers ’05, Philip Anthony ’05, Alexander Reeb ’11
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ALUMNI NEWS
Boys Basketball Blue Jack McConnell ’17, Joseph Breedlove ’17, Michael Bowman ’14, Jack Mock ’17, Luke Richardson ’18, Harris Podell ’18, Alex Khammar ’19, Luke Walker ’19, Jack Livingston ’14, Jacob Sun ’19
Girls Basketball (Back row) Coach Shelley Rains, McKenna Breedlove ’14, Leslie Ritchie Robnett ’00, Corrine Hyman Quast ’00, Kenzi Carter ’20, Alexandra Peeples ’21, Ainsley Bescher ’20, Audrey Scott ’21, Xixi Hillman ’22, Adelaide Moncrief Royer ’02, (front row) Hannah Peeples ’18, Kathleen Clum ’18, Celia Moncrief Browning ’02, Courtney Reimer Arnold ’11, Tara Gordon ’12, Julia Atkinson ’19, Samantha Burke ’18
Boys Soccer (Back row) Doug More, Austin Reilly ’04, James Kelly ’00, Michael Andrews ’01, Taylor Louden ’03, Peter Alcorn ’01, Mitchell Hanzik ’00, Samuel More ’00, Peter More ’04, Asher Reilly ’00, Andrew Vernon ’05, Davis Laker ’08, Nate Wallace ’18, Adrian Avitia ’19, Alexander Herd ’15, Jay Herd ’79, Stephen Tetirick ’11, (front row) Scott Boyd ’00 , Former Coach Rick Moss, Former Coach Phil Rose, Michael Blank ’00, Immy Khan ’01, Henry Dollahite ’02, Justin Holt ’00, Matthew Mathisen ’13, Graham Pergande ’15, Cavan Vestal ’17, Joe Atkinson ’19, Alex Sanchez ’17, Greg Khammar ’19, Robert Todora ’17, Ryan Prince ’17
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Dalton Dry ’14
Krista Madrid ’14
Bailee Wallace ’14
2019 Wall of Fame Athletes At halftime of the October 4, 2019, Homecoming game, three Falcon alumni from the Class of 2014 were honored for their accomplishments in collegiate athletics. Dalton Dry, Krista Madrid and Bailee Wallace each lettered in a varsity sport at their college or university. They are now members of Fort Worth Country Day’s Athletic Wall of Fame. At Texas Christian University, Dry wore the number 20 as a shooting guard on the Horned Frogs basketball team. He was a four-year letterman and on the All-Big 12 Rookie Team. He also was recognized as a Big 12 All-Academic First Team and as a Big 12 Commissioners Honor Roll (2014-2018) winner. Dry also was honored with the Jim Killingsworth Coach’s Award for TCU athletes. As a team, TCU was the NIT Champion in 2017, and Dry received special recognition from Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. A cheerleader for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, Madrid excelled in exciting the crowds before big games. While cheering at Notre Dame, she served as an ambassador for the school and studied sociology with a pre-health concentration.
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Madrid is currently at UT Southwestern pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy. At Hendrix College, Wallace wore number 7 as a field hockey player. She was a left defense and midfielder her freshman and sophomore years. During her two years playing at Hendrix, Wallace played in 22 games with 12 starts. She now works at Grinnell College in Iowa as an Assistant Director of Development. Congratulations to the newest members of the FWCD Athletic Wall of Fame.
Know an alum worthy of an Alumni Award? Submit a nomination at fwcd.org/alumni today.
CLAS S NOTES
Class Notes
Do you have great news to share with fellow FWCD alumni? To submit information for Class Notes and Alumni News, email alumnirelations@fwcd.com.
1960s Class Agents 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 Class Agents 1971 – Terry Siegel htsiegel@bvc.com 1972 – Richard Garvey richard@jagee.com 1976 – Brad Nowlin brad@bradnowlin.com
Dr. Jenny Freeman ’71 is a founder and CEO of Respiratory Motion, Inc., which has developed and commercialized the ExSpiron. The first and only device that can measure minute ventilation in non-intubated patients, the ExSpiron is basically an “EKG for the lungs.” It brings the sophistication of cardiac monitoring to the evaluation of breathing but is designed for easy use in the care of all patients in any setting. Dee J. Kelly, Jr. ’78 released his sequel book, The Election, under the pseudonym Landon Wallace. Here’s a
synopsis from a news release about the book: “Once a shoo-in for the highest political office in the state, Blake Buchanan sacrificed his lifelong dream to protect his family. Now, a year removed from his withdrawal as a Texas gubernatorial candidate, Blake seeks to revive his once successful legal career while navigating a nasty divorce and shielding his beloved daughters from the fallout.”
sprawling reaches of the back pasture. The result of this access is an intimate portrait of the challenges and achievements of the ranch women of the Lone Star State, along with the land and livestock that sustain them. Alyssa spent November 2019 crisscrossing Texas doing signings in bookstores in Houston, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Alpine and Austin. Her work has appeared in Harper’s magazine, The New York Times Magazine, Time magazine, Newsweek and more.
1980s Phillip Eisner ’83 has co-written a new Netflix series titled Sweet Girl, starring Aquaman and Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa. The series is about a widower out for revenge. 1
Georgia Griffith Fulenwider ’84 and her husband, Chris, welcomed a second grandchild, Lorelai Rachel, on July 30, 2019. Georgia’s son, Andrew; his wife, Melissa; and grandson, Hudson, 4, are so excited too! Alyssa Banta ’85 recently published her latest book, The Texas Ranch Sisterhood: Portraits of Women Working the Land. A photojournalist and writer, Alyssa spent over a year following more than a dozen Texas women through their grueling daily routines – from the messy confines of the working chute to the
Jeff Holland ’86 came to FWCD to talk to Upper School students about his journey from working in Detroit for Ford Motor Company to moving to Los Angeles and becoming an agent and television producer. Jeff also discussed a few of the projects he is working on, including the new Netflix show, Twelve Forever. Laura Bonnell Alexander ’88 was selected as an honoree for the Dallas Business Journal’s 2019 Women in Business Awards. Laura is the Regional Managing Director of Public Finance Advisory Services at HilltopSecurities. She was nominated for her leadership, professional accomplishments and community service. Laura joined HilltopSecurities in 1996, after which she ascended to her current WINTER 2020
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CLASS NOTES
Falcon Weddings Samantha Berry Davis ’11 married Eric Davis in Port Aransas on April 6, 2019. Falcons in the wedding party included other members of FWCD’s Class of 2011: Alexandra Woodcock, Leslie Argenbright, Emily Anne Self, Maggie Albritton, Caroline Hodges, K.K. Maddox and Megan Felton. Other Falcons in attendance were Ashley Miles ’09, David Miles ’08, Cece Miles ’82, Evan Griffin ’11, Alden Griffin ’14, Andrée French Griffin ’80, Sam Berry ’14, Margot Berry ’16, Meredith Berry ’17, Michael Anderson ’18, Katie Anderson ’16, Bryan Kelly ’11, Earl Hoover ’11, Nicki Hubbard ’11, Elizabeth Gaffin ’11, Shannon Sauerhage ’11, Collin Dickerson ’11, Joshua Martinez ’11, Alexander Reeb ’11, Edward Selvik ’11, Sonny Stepp ’11, Joe Pate ’11, Allie Wagner ’11, Sarah Goetz ’11, Haddy Self ’13, Annabelle Doswell ’17, Alex Doswell ’16, Trish Doswell ’84, John Randall Gideon ’14, Beth Runyon Gideon ’78, Jennifer Berry Anderson ’87, Marcia Berry Knutson ’93, Elizabeth Higginbotham Hertel ’81 and of course, her mom, Marilyn French Berry ’81, and father, Mike Berry ’76. The couple resides in Fort Worth. Grace Davidson Connelly ’09 married Daniel Connelly on July 27, 2019, in New York City. Falcons in the wedding party included Anna Hoover ’09, Kelly Fant Goodwin ’09, Kate Petsche ’11 and John Davidson ’15. There were many other FWCD alumni in attendance!
Have an interesting story to share with the FWCD community? Email us at alumnirelations@fwcd.com 50
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Sean Davis ’09 married Miranda McDonald on September 28, 2019, at the Gardens at Los Vaqueros by the Fort Worth Stockyards. Falcons in the wedding party included Jeff Davis ’03, Jay Davis ’01 and William Cravens ’09.
CLASS CLASS NOTES NOTES
Klaus Beck ’89 has a new position at the United Nations Population Fund as the Regional Programme Advisor. The United Nations Population Fund is the United Nations’ sexual and reproductive health agency. Its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Baron Lobstein ’89 boarded the Queen Elizabeth with his family in New York to sail to Europe for his next posting as Chief of the Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy in
Belgrade, Serbia. For the past 10 months, Baron has been in training at the Foreign Service Institute learning Serbian.
1990s
and develop effective products with lasting impact, prioritizing people over profit and staying true to company values. The company is majority woman-owned and specializes in ear care products.
Class Agents 1992 – Craig Christopher craig@tarranttech.com 1995 – Alison E. McManus amcmanus@post.harvard.edu 1997 – Zareen Khan zareen@briggsfreeman.com
Emily Stewart Lakdawalla ’92 was recently featured in an NPR article, titled Robots, Not Humans, Are the New Space Explorers. Emily is quoted in the article stating, “Since the days of Apollo, the greatest adventures in space have been these robots that have gone all over the solar system.” Emily is a Solar Systems Specialist at The Planetary Society, contributing as both a science writer and a blogger. Read her alumni profile on page 44. Elyse Stoltz Dickerson ’93 was honored in November 2019 by the Fort Worth Business Press as a 2019 Great Woman of Texas and as a 2019 Most Admired CEO by the Dallas Business Journal in September. These honors celebrate leadership characteristics such as contribution to company success, civic involvement, career achievement and more. Elyse is the CEO and Co-founder of the Fort Worth-based biotechnology firm Eosera, Inc. Eosera is setting new standards for biotech companies by continuing to innovate
Dr. Cully Wiseman ’97 is a doctor doing mission work in Guatemala. He is a general surgeon in Hood River, Oregon.
Eric Liebowitz/E! Entertainment
position and was appointed to its Board of Directors. As a financial advisor to public-sector clients and nonprofits, Laura and the firm offers a range of services, including advising municipalities, counties, water districts, universities, school districts and airport authorities on bond issuances to fund capital improvement projects. Since 2014, she has led or served on teams handling 164 transactions totaling more than $8.8 billion. Laura also serves as President of FWCD’s Board of Trustees. Recipients of the Dallas Business Journal’s Women in Business Awards were recognized at a luncheon in August 2019. Fellow alumna and FWCD Board of Trustee member Elyse Stoltz Dickerson ’93 earned this award in 2018.
Emmy Award-winning TV host and personality Lilliana Vazquez ’98 is a co-host of the E! daily morning shows E! News and Pop of the Morning! Lilliana joins Austrian TV and entertainment reporter Scott Tweedie. The shows air from 30 Rock and debuted on January 6, with E! News at 7 a.m. ET/PT and Pop of the Morning! at 11 a.m. ET/PT. E! said in August it was moving E! News from Los Angeles to New York and turning it into a morning show. The New York version of E! News will focus on pop culture, lifestyle and entertainment stories, WINTER 2020
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CLASS NOTES
Welcome to the Nest! Do rubber duckies dream of growing up to be FWCD Falcons? We think so. Please let us know when your family increases so that we can welcome another Falcon into the nest!
1
Lorelai Rachel Fulenwider
3
2
Miles Patrick Goodman
5
Joseph Edward “Teddy” Herman, Jr.
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4
Philip Christopher Anthony
6
Torin Kit Powers
7
Walker Lewis Friedman
Allie Elizabeth Fant
CLASS NOTES
Vaquero has developed more than 300 single-tenant and multi-tenant assets across the Southwest U.S.
while Pop of the Morning! will offer what’s billed as “an unfiltered, more indepth and irreverent look at the most talked-about news stories of the day.”
2000s Class Agents 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
Jay Key ’00 has written a comic science fiction trilogy, titled The Adventures of Duke LaGrange. The series hit Amazon’s bestseller status in 2018, which earned Jay a membership in the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America. In addition, Jay was a featured panelist at the 77th Worldcon (World Science Fiction Convention) in Dublin. The panel focused on the current state of comedy in science fiction literature. A collected works omnibus edition of Jay’s work was released in fall 2019, courtesy of Star Wheel Books.
Cory Burns ’01 celebrated seven years working for the City of Dallas as the Water Utilities (Credit Service) Manager. Cory’s job has him managing the water customer accounts and making decisions concerning credit limits, acceptable levels of risk, terms of payment and enforcement actions with customers, as well as hiring and firing of credit analysts, accounts receivable and collections personnel. Cory also has his own party bus company called FD Party Tours. The company currently operates two buses: a 16-passenger bus and a fire truck that seats 10 people at the top. The fire truck was at Falcon Alley during Homecoming 2019. Learn more about his business at fdpartytours.dudaone.com. 2
Megan McAdams Goodman ’01 and her husband, Nathan, welcomed their first child, Miles Patrick, on July 27, 2019, in Austin. W.A. Landreth ’01 was recently invited to become the newest member of the Trinity Bank Board of Directors. A University Scholar at Southern Methodist University, W.A. earned a BBA in Finance and Real Estate from the Cox School of Business. In 2012, he co-founded Vaquero Ventures, a real estate development company that focuses on corporate/national build-tosuit developments. Since its inception,
David Brigati ’04 and wife, Drew, have moved back to Fort Worth with their daughters, Eloise (5) and Penny (3), and their dog, Calvin. They are also expecting Baby Brigati number three. David recently signed with the Fort Worth Bone and Joint Clinic and will be building his orthopedic practice brick by brick starting in August 2019 with fellowship training in hip and knee replacement surgeries.
Charlie Langdon ’04 founded Dynamic Green Concepts, LLC (DGC), a company that was recently highlighted in Forbes magazine. DGC is an international agriculture business that provides an array of sustainable solutions, services, modern technology and education to the world’s most underdeveloped nations, as well as to its most advanced ones. Vaughn Smith ’05 is the Chief Information Officer and also serves on the board. The objective of DGC is to provide hope, prosperity, sustainability and food security to those that don’t have the means to help themselves. The company works to teach people in various countries to help change their lives and ensure agriculture not only continues but prospers. Charlie looks to his seventh-grade biology teacher, WINTER 2020
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Sharon Foster H’05, as the one who helped him realize his aptitude for plant and soil biology. She introduced him to the ginkgo tree, and, in turn, the ginkgo leaf has become DGC’s logo. Sharon taught Charlie that the ginkgo tree has a symbolic meaning of hope, wisdom, unity and longevity. 3
Philip Anthony ’05 and his wife, Mary, welcomed their second child, Philip Christopher, on November 22, 2019. 4
Patrick Powers III ’05 and his wife, Casey, welcomed their third child, Torin Kit Powers, on September 13, 2019. 5
Dr. Madeleine Samuelson ’05 and her husband, Joseph, welcomed their new baby boy, Joseph Edward “Teddy” Herman, Jr. Teddy was born June 7, 2019. The family resides in Houston. Matt Coleman ’06 works at Ogilvy as an Associate Creative Director working on IBM. Ogilvy is an awardwinning integrated creative network that makes brands matter, specializing in creating experiences, design and communications. In 2018, Matt and his team built a blockchain-powered coffee shop for IBM and, most recently, helped to launch IBM’s latest wave of brand work in a series of commercials called “Dear Tech,” the first of which premiered during the Oscars in 2019. 6
Sarah (Kleberg) ’06 and Dillon Friedman ’05 welcomed their new baby, Walker Lewis, on September 29, 2019. Rob Ritter ’06 has a new position at Intuitive as a Marketing Manager. 54
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Intuitive creates innovative, roboticassisted systems that help empower doctors and hospitals to make surgery less invasive than an open approach. 7
Zibby (Graham) ’07 and J.T. Fant ’04 are the proud parents of Allie Elizabeth, who was born in New York City on September 4, 2019. Jake Berman ’08 is the Director of Business Development at Trustwork, which owns and operates multifamily real estate properties throughout the country. The company also specializes in trying to create unique efficiencies in the industry through its proprietary technology platform. Before working at Trustwork, Jake was sourcing, evaluating and executing fundraising for Seed to Series B-stage technology startups. In addition, he had a hands-on role in advising and executing business development, product development and operational tasks for their portfolio companies. Pierce Ekstrom ’08 is an Assistant Professor at the University of NebraskaLincoln. Pierce studies political conflict, its causes and its consequences. Sean Davis ’09 is working as an Analytic Platform Experience Specialist at Buxton in Fort Worth. In his position, Sean ensures that clients have a world-class experience in their analytics platform by training clients how to use the tool and providing analysis to their business questions. Some local clients that Sean personally works with include Marriott, Sally Beauty, Bed Bath & Beyond, Jason’s Deli, Quest Diagnostics, Wingstop and Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurants. Sean also works with one of his brothers, Jeff Davis ’03, who
is a Vice President of Sales/Account Management. Stephen Goodwin ’09 recently celebrated his three-year anniversary at Simpli.fi, a digital advertising company. Kevin Pohler ’09 graduated from Stanford Graduate School of Business in June 2019. He now works at Pearl Energy Investments, a private equity firm in Dallas.
2010s Class Agents 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 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
CLASS NOTES
2019 – Carlotta Murrin cmurrin2000@gmail.com
Jeff Schriber ’10 graduated from Emory University and received a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry. Jeff works at Georgia Institute of Technology as a Postdoctoral Researcher.
Haley Arias ’11 is the Co-founder of MIMI The Label and has a new position at the Wall Street Journal. MIMI The Label is a swimwear brand (MIMIthelabel.com) that launched in November 2018. The swimwear brand had a very successful event at Miami Swim week last July. At the Wall Street Journal, Haley is the Executive Assistant to the Chief Innovation Officer, where she manages the Chief Innovation Officer’s calendar and helps with confidential special projects. Samantha Berry Davis ’11 celebrated her fourth year at Simpli.fi, a digital advertising company, where she serves as a Private Marketplace Media Planner on the Business Development team. In this role, Samantha curates sought-after inventory based on product needs and client requests. Nayelly Dominguez ’11 is a current law student at Texas A&M School of Law and was recently featured in a
Lawtina article. The article speaks to Nayelly’s ambition and drive always to be her best self. Nayelly also is the Founder and President for Women of Color Collective Law Students Association at Texas A&M School of Law. Megan Felton ’11 is the Co-founder of beauty service Lion/ne, which offers 1:1 personalized skincare consultations to help clients develop their unique skincare routines. The process centers on the OBSERV Diagnostic Tool, a skin analysis camera, to pick up on skin concerns the naked eye cannot see, such as pigmentation, fine lines and the “skin’s mood” deep within the layers that will surface over time. Brooks Fleet ’11 is living in Switzerland, and is an intern at UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS). UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Taylor White ’11 is a Writer/Director of Development at Williamsworks. Taylor also has a position at Free Verse Writing, where she recently was promoted to Director of Development. Kirstin Mullins ’13 started a new job as Art Director at The Richards Group in June 2019. The Richards Group is an advertising and
marketing firm based in Dallas. Benjamin Phillips ’13 is the Technical Director at Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. He is responsible for overseeing the construction of all scenery for Theatre Department plays and musicals, as well as offering technical support in the performance space. Benjamin also will be co-teaching Tech Theatre classes. He married his FWCD sweetheart, Kassadi Smith ’15, in December 2018.
Lawrence Woodson ’13 has been working for Move Athleisure for a year. FWCD parent Kara Baker owns the company. Kara’s sons are Bryce Baker ’25, Drew Baker ’19 and Jack Baker ’17. Sarah Harrison ’14 graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2018 and is now attending Creighton University’s School of Medicine. She worked for the National Institutes of Health researching infectious disease. Sarah has two medical papers where she is the second author and will be the first author on a third paper releasing soon. John Hodnett ’14 is a Software Engineer at Quorum Software, a leader in digital transformation for the oil and gas industry. John works on designing, developing, testing and deploying SaaS products adhering to functional and product requirements. John would like to give a special thank you to Jon Shipley for sparking his interest in the programming field. WINTER 2020
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Zane Lincoln ’14 is an Analyst at Related Companies. He helps execute business plans to maximize the performance of a multifamily asset after it is acquired by one of the company’s private equity funds to ensure the best return for their investors. Zane helps monitor metrics like occupancy, leased units, trend percentages, pricing and weekly traffic. Other components of Zane’s work include larger-scale projects like unit upgrades or renovating common area amenities for residents.
Kalison Nix ’14 is working for LaunchPad Recruits as a Client Solutions Executive. In this role, she partners closely with the company’s sales team and plays a key role in developing opportunities to grow the business. LaunchPad Recruits currently is working to close a major deal with McDonald’s in becoming their primary recruitment platform for their job candidates. Prior to LaunchPad, Kalison was a Delegate Relations Manager at a Fortune 50 global events company, focusing specifically on selling financial events to top C-level individuals. On the side, Kalison has been modeling for seven years. She has been on many billboards, worldwide magazines, instore ads and a handful of commercials. Currently, Kalison is living in London with her husband, who she met while studying abroad in college.
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Garrett Podell ’15 graduated from Texas Christian University in May 2019. At TCU, he was a double major in journalism and sports broadcasting. He completed many internships, including working for NFL Network, SportsNet New York, CBS Sports Channel in DFW and Inside the Huddle for the Dallas Cowboys. After graduation, Garrett started working for the NFL Network as a Researcher for the NFL Network Research Department, where he will research, write and stat for NFL.com, as well as all the studio shows that air on TV for NFL Network. Chelsea Garcia ’16 is a Physical Therapy Technician at Green Oaks Physical Therapy. In this role, she supports the physical therapist by preparing the treatment area, patient, equipment and materials. In addition, Chelsea assists patients with performing procedures (exercises), under the supervision of a physical therapist. She also has been working on her internship project, which focuses on the physical therapist’s perspective on the ankle (ankle injuries and treatments, most common injuries, current research on treating ankle injuries, etc.). Ava Shen ’16 is a Cultural Department Intern at the French Consulate General in Boston. In this role, she promotes French learning and French culture in the New England area by drafting speeches for the Consul, inviting speakers for events and composing monthly newsletters. Ava recently was working on a project to promote academic exchange between French and American universities. Ava is a senior at Boston University, where she is majoring in International Relations and
French Studies. She spent her entire junior year abroad in France, first in Grenoble, then in Paris.
Joaquim “Jack” Carvalho ’17 worked as an Intern in Washington, D.C., for Congresswoman Kay Granger. Jack is a senior at Texas Christian University and received 15 hours of school credit as part of the internship. Kit Puls ’17 attends The University of Texas at Austin and started an internship at Redpoint Insurance Group, LLC. Redpoint Insurance Group is an insurance company that supports the objectives and aspirations of their affiliates and provides quality coverage and exceptional service to their policyholders.
IN MEMORIAM Patty Cartwright Hamilton Lee ’20 Ann Montgomery Beverly Ann Robinson H’18 Edgar “Ted” Sanford H’98 Joseph VanderHamm ’68 Jack Noble White
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.
GoandBig Come Home Homecoming and Alumni Weekend is set for October 1-3. Alumni Awards | Thursday, October 1 Nominate alumni now for these prestigious awards at fwcd.org/alumni/alumni-awards. Homecoming Game and Festivities | Friday, October 2 1975
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Class Reunions for classes ending in 5s and 0s | Saturday, October 3 Want to help plan your reunion or get more details on the upcoming events? Email alumnirelations@fwcd.com. Photo by Sterling Steves ’80 Photography