FWCD Falconer - Volume 15, Issue 1

Seniors Carolina

Murrin and David Yun were crowned the 2023 Homecoming Queen and King.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Eric Lombardi Head of School

Amy Witten

Assistant Head of School for Student Services and Academics

Chelsy Beninate

Assistant Head of School for Operations/ Director of Fine Arts

Trey Blair

Head of Lower School

Stephen Blan

Head of Middle School

Leigh Block

Athletic Director

Joe Breedlove ’78

Executive Director of Breakthrough Fort Worth

Caroline Corpening Lamsens ’99 Director of Admission

Nicole Masole-Rose Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion

Tom Mitchell

Chief Financial Officer

Sandra Tuomey Director of Advancement

Steve Uhr

Director of Technology

Peggy Wakeland

Head of Upper School EDITOR

Shannon Rossman Allen

ART DIRECTOR

Lisa Koger

CONTRIBUTORS

Elizabeth Baxter

Yolanda Espinoza

Caren Handleman

Debby Jennings

Reggie Johnson

Renee Pierce

Amanda Stephens ’15

Whitney Truax

Sandra Tuomey

Lisa Wallace

Geraldine Williams

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 advancement@fwcd.com

Volume

FEATURES

12 A Beacon of Hope and Resilience

Marty and Jim Norman’s Forward Together Campaign gift establishes the Strother Norman ’25 Climb That Mountain Endowed Scholarship.

16 FWCD Launches Forward Together Campaign

FWCD announced the largest campaign in School history on October 6, 2023.

22 FWCD Community Makes Their Mark

As FWCD constructs a new Lower School, community members bid farewell to a building filled with beloved memories.

26 It Takes a Village

FWCD’s 60th year took shape as faculty and students moved into the Lower School Village.

30 Breaking Ground on the New Lower School

On a frigid January day, the community gathered with enthusiasm to celebrate the groundbreaking of the eagerly anticipated Lower School.

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.

© FWCD 2024

View From My Window

Dear Falcon Families, Alumni and Community,

It is an honor to be leading FWCD at its 60th anniversary. My charge has been to sustain the incredible work that came before me, while also looking to set the School up for continued success in its second 60 years.

For our longstanding success, we owe a great deal, particularly to our founding Head of School, Peter A. Schwartz H’98. An experienced school leader when he arrived here in 1962, Peter was hired for his proven success leading schools and particularly for his high standards. Our founding Board of Trustees did incredibly well identifying Mr. Schwartz and luring him and his wife, Alice, to Fort Worth.

The School these board members envisioned, and that Peter developed, would serve students by providing an academic program to rival – and exceed – the education provided by the country’s leading boarding and day schools, but this time right here in Fort Worth. In addition, the School they founded would instill a sense of community that would inspire civic leadership, both here in Fort Worth and in any city our alumni call home. Sixty years later, their goals have been realized. Falcon alumni are accomplished in every professional field imaginable, often as leaders in their professions and in their communities.

Sixty years after our auspicious beginning, we remain committed to Mr. Schwartz’s high expectations. We aspire to be always improving. Some of that improvement is in the classrooms or on fields, and some of that improvement we seek in 2024 involves our facilities. Many of our facilities have served us well for decades, but they no longer meet Fort Worth Country Day’s standards for today or for the future. We have important work to do for our current students and for those yet to come. That work is the goal of the current comprehensive campaign, Forward Together. In the pages of this magazine, you’ll read about alumni, current students, current and retired faculty, many of whom credit their years at FWCD as the foundation of their personal philosophies, civic engagements, and family credos.

As members of this community, you, too, will be invited to join the campaign as contributors to ensure the facilities and endowment goals are achieved. My great hope is that you will accept this invitation and become a founder of our school's second 60 years.

Sincerely,

Eric V. Lombardi Head of School

Dear Fellow Falcons,

As a student at FWCD, my focus and time were spent on classes, assignments, tests and activities such as sports and the arts. I was unaware of the School’s leadership – the Board of Trustees, the Head of School and administration. In fact, if anyone had talked with me about becoming Board Chair, I would have laughed, shaken my head in disbelief, and run off to join my friends in class or school activities.

Now, here I am, serving my school as Board Chair, in partnership with other Falcon alumni, many of whom were my classmates. Together we are honored to keep our school at the forefront of education opportunities here in Fort Worth. We are now parents of current students, watching them mature and explore their world, guided by outstanding faculty.

The 60th anniversary of FWCD is truly a time to celebrate and to reflect on the School’s achievements, as evidenced by our alumni and their accomplishments. The pages of this magazine provide ample examples of how FWCD has been instrumental in our lives.

It also will provide insight into ways you can be a leader beyond service as a board member, by contributing to the comprehensive campaign. Doing so ensures the future of our school and our future alumni, providing financial resources and facilities that will serve students for the next 60 years.

Enjoy the tour through the past and a window to the future. And consider becoming an investor for the next generation of Falcons.

Sincerely,

Brian Crumley ’92 President, Board of Trustees

Around Campus

Photo by Glen Ellman

Girls Basketball Secures SPC Championship

The Falcon girls basketball team soared at Winter SPC in Houston in early February. They etched their name in history as 2024 SPC 3A Champions; boys soccer clinched the Runner-Up title in a hard-fought battle; the swim team made waves in the pool as Runner-Up with 18 total medals; girls soccer nabbed third place; and wrestling placed fourth with eight Falcons placing in their weight classes. Pictured above is the girls

basketball team: (back row) Assistant Coach Amanda Watts, Varsity Coach Shelley Rains, Reagan Hall ’24, Olivia Kersh ’24, Ryleigh Hall ’27, Katie Bruce ’24, Elizabeth Rooker ’27, Amelia Dickerson ’26, Francie Ratino ’27, Assistant Coach Aimee Jenkins, (front row), McCartie McPadden ’27, Emily Klein ’24, Carden Kimball ’24, Kylie Carter ’24, Kerri Tsai ’26, and Assistant Coach Kanyee McLeod.

Sophomore Artist Honored

Ashton Theesfeld ’26 represented FWCD at the Dallas Young Artist Exhibition, a selective show sponsored by Blue Print Gallery in Dallas. She received one of only five Honorable Mentions for her work, which included a cash prize of $500. Theesfeld selected, edited and submitted eight of her photographs to the gallery for consideration, and all eight were accepted into the show. “Ashton’s passion for excellence and unrelenting dedication to her craft are reflected in each piece she creates,” said Sil Azevedo, Upper School Photography Teacher. “She was selected to represent FWCD in this exhibition due to the consistent quality of her work. She always goes above and beyond. The fact that she is a sophomore, exhibiting side by side with juniors and seniors from the best high school art programs in the DFW metroplex is a testament to Ashton’s artistry.”

AROUND CAMPUS

FWCD Honors Student Scholars

Seventeen FWCD students were honored by the National Merit Scholarship Program and the College Board National Recognition Program in the fall. “This group of students exemplifies FWCD’s commitment to the 3A’s,” said Head of Upper School Peggy Wakeland. “They embody a well-rounded approach to their education, actively engaging in the arts and athletics and continuing to excel in all that they do while shouldering demanding academic workloads. These students are leaders, and we could not be more proud of their accomplishments.”

In February, senior Arjun Vasudevan was named a National Merit Finalist. Before becoming a Finalist, he was among the more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 69th National Merit Scholarship Program. Vasudevan was one of 1,535 Semifinalists in Texas, about 10% nationwide.

Since 2021, the College Board National Recognition Programs honor students for excellence in the classroom and on College Board assessments, including the PSAT and/or AP Exams. Nine FWCD students recognized in the 2023-24 school year: (back row) Ginny Cáceres ’24 (National Hispanic Recognition Award), Alyssa Rollings ’25 (National African American Recognition Award), Alexis Del Pozzo ’25 (National Hispanic Recognition Award), (front row) Gage Stubbs ’24 (National Indigenous Award), Rising Huckaby ’24 (National African American Recognition Award), Jordan Jones ’25 (National African American Recognition Award), and Lucas Callahan ’25 (National Hispanic Recognition Award). Not pictured: Sofia Garcia ’25 and Carolina Zamorano Beyart ’25 (National Hispanic Recognition Awards).

National Merit Commended Students are seniors (pictured right, back row)

Abbie Proell, Rhea Alexander, Dabin Lee, (front row) James Thomas, Cal Stonesifer, Blake Brown and Jack Bradford. Approximately 34,000 Commended Students nationwide were recognized for their exceptional academic promise.

FWCD Celebrates Veterans

November 10 was a day of remembrance. All three divisions celebrated Veterans Day in different ways. Lower School hosted FWCD parent and Air Force Veteran Elijah Supper; Middle School seventh graders hosted the annual Veterans Day program, which featured Air Force Veteran Cavan Craddock (father of Everett Craddock ’28 and husband of Middle School Humanities Teacher Dr. Tammy Craddock) as the keynote speaker. Upper School experienced the powerful Missing Man Table ceremony (pictured top).

Stadium Flag Pole Dedicated to Veterans

Head of School Eric Lombardi dedicated a new flagpole on campus to special veterans at November’s Middle School Veterans Day program. An anonymous donor gifted the flagpole, by the scoreboard on Howard Family Field in Rosacker Stadium, and dedicated it to U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Bill Arnold ’86 and fellow FWCD veterans. Arnold, who worked at FWCD for 28 years (1994-2022), served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1990-94 and was a Marine Reserve from 1994-2006 (active duty in Iraq in 2004). He is now the Founder and Director of Blue Diamond Recreation, a nonprofit organization committed to providing restorative recreation activities for veterans and families challenged by the effects of the war.

Juniors Serve at Feast of Sharing

The Class of 2025 served a Texas-style holiday meal to members of the Fort Worth community in November at the annual Feast of Sharing event sponsored by H-E-B and Central Market. The celebration took place at Dickies Arena, where 1,000 community volunteers served 10,000 meals in four hours. FWCD Upper School students have been volunteering at Feast of Sharing since 2011. That year, they traveled to Dallas. It became the junior class outreach in 2012 when the Feast came to Fort Worth. This year, 73 of the 84-member junior class served meals and cleared tables during the event.

FWCD Morehead-Cain Semifinalist

The Morehead-Cain Foundation announced in December that Lily Hyde ’24 was a Semifinalist for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Only 20 percent of Morehead-Cain nominees advance to the Semifinalist level. The Morehead-Cain Scholarship is a four-year, fully funded educational experience for students of the highest caliber at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her application, Hyde identified her junior year AP English Literature Teacher, Leigh Block, as the educator who has had the most profound impact on her.

Throughout her junior year, Hyde experienced Block’s passion for teaching firsthand. “I don’t think there was one day of class where he didn’t light up as he was teaching, and this is just such a special thing to experience as a student. Whenever I emailed him asking for his opinion on my ideas for approaches to an essay, he would email me back with a long list of the pros and cons of those ideas, adding on other detailed explanations of other avenues I could explore and signing off with an all-caps ‘YOU’VE GOT THIS! YOU’RE GOING TO CRUSH IT! YOU’RE A ROCKSTAR!’” she shared. “It was tremendously reassuring, and the care and attention he dedicated to helping me improve my writing and make it the best it could be made me want to put the same care and attention to it, too. Whatever I do in life, I aspire to be as passionate about it as Mr. Block is about teaching.”

Cheng to Serve as Adjudicator in Taiwan

Director of Ballet Carrie Cheng will serve as an adjudicator for the Taiwan International Ballet Grand Prix (IBGP) this summer in July. In addition to the adjudicator role, Cheng will teach masterclasses and lectures. Her husband, Li Chou Cheng (former Professor of Professional Practice in Ballet and Modern Dance at TCU and current FWCD Ballet Conservatory Instructor), will join her. For several years, the Chengs have been associated with the Taipei International Ballet and its competitions as Art Consultants. “The language of dance is international, and I am excited to be part of such a prestigious competition and look forward to the International Ballet Grand Prix and the experiences it provides,” Cheng said.

Ambassadors Host BTFW Super Saturday Tour

On a Saturday in October, 20 FWCD students in grades 8-12 volunteered to give campus tours to Breakthrough Fort Worth seventh and eighth graders during a Breakthrough Super Saturday event. FWCD students shared facts about the Bass Upper School and FWCD’s dedication to the 3A’s, in addition to sharing their favorite School memories, favorite food from the Fischer Dining Pavilion, and the arts and athletics they participate in. The goal of this tour was to provide information about the campus that is home to the BTFW program and to share FWCD’s commitment to a college-preparatory experience.

Auxiliary Services Shifts

Kelly Lanier Tierce ’93 has shifted from the role of Assistant Head of Lower School to Director of Auxiliary Enrichment Programs. She replaces Michael Carmody, who left the School in December to launch his own full-time national summer camp consulting business. The Auxiliary program position has been split: Tierce manages Fort Wonder and SOAR. Auxiliary Athletic Program Manager Branson Nelson ’16, who also works with the Athletic Department on social media and facility rentals, adds the Campus Store and Falcon Sports Camps to his responsibilities.

Giving Back

By Whitney Truax

Fourth Graders Support The Welman Project

“What is this?” “Where does this go?” “What’s this considered?” These are some of the questions fourth graders asked at The Welman Project, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit that distributes surplus and donated materials for creative use in schools.

The collaboration between the Class of 2032 and The Welman Project was born out of a desire to enrich students' understanding of community service while benefiting the School and the broader Fort Worth educational landscape. Initiated by Kelly Lanier Tierce ’93, the JK-12 Service Learning Coordinator, the project aimed to instill a sense of purpose in students while supporting the cause of repurposing surplus school supplies and other teaching items. The Welman Project focuses on “filling a classroom, not a landfill.”

“We knew we wanted to do a service project when we moved from the Lower School to the Village, and we wanted it to be authentic for the students,” Tierce said. “Our connection with Welman allowed students to help their current and former Lower School teachers determine what to pack and move while simultaneously helping other teachers in the larger Fort Worth community by donating items they would no longer use. One of the things I love about The Welman Project is they allow younger students to come to their facility and do hands-on volunteer work. “Students don’t just drop off a box; they learn what happens with the donation.”

Fourth Grade Teachers Kelly Jenkins, Courtney Corbeille Krauss ’06 and Sara McCullough took the lead, inviting Lauren Watson, Welman’s Community Engagement Enthusiast, to share insights about the organization’s mission and what items could be donated. Watson shared that

Welman takes just about anything – other than live animals and clothing! Fourth grade classes were then paired with a grade level or support faculty member that they would assist with packing.

Teachers were already busy cleaning out their classrooms, but the fourth graders came in enthusiastically, diving into the task and boxing up bulletin board borders, construction paper, boxes of crayons, and various school essentials. The camaraderie experienced during packing was the fun part: Students had the opportunity to help their former teachers, and teachers got to catch up with their past students. After the packing, it was time to take a field trip to The Welman Project. Each fourth grader loaded the bus with a “bus buddy”: a box of supplies to donate.

Students toured the facility, unloaded their boxes, and rolled up their sleeves to start the organization process. The FWCD fourth graders unpacked and sorted every box the School brought in and earned high praise from The Welman Project’s team.

“That day, I saw students stepping up and being excited about helping others,” Tierce said. “They loved sorting the donations – some students never looked up, taking their jobs seriously and working hard the entire time.”

As their visit ended, the students surveyed their donations and the work they had completed. It was evident that the service project had left a lasting impact on the students, their teachers, and The Welman Project. With over 100 boxes of school supplies donated, the partnership between Fort Worth Country Day and The Welman Project proved to be a resounding success, promising future collaboration.

A Beacon of Hope New Endowed Scholarship:

On October 8, 2022, Marty and Jim Norman celebrated a milestone beyond their oldest grandson’s 16th birthday. It was the day Marty fulfilled a promise. Ten years and three months earlier, a car accident left her grandson, Strother Norman, paralyzed from the chest down. Strother's parents, Blythe and Darin, were spending the night regularly in the hospital with their son. To give them a chance to rest, Marty also spent nights in the hospital. She recalls one night when 5-year-old Strother called out in his sleep: “Marme, Marme … I have to climb this mountain. Help me climb this mountain.” A distraught woman wanting to console a child, Marty did what anyone would do. She took Strother’s hand, looked at him tenderly, and made a promise: “I will help you climb this mountain,” she told Strother. “We will all help you climb this mountain.”

Marty wrestled with that promise until Strother’s birthday. On that day, Strother received his driver’s license and drove away in a hand-controlled automobile of his own. “On October 8, 2022, that promise was fulfilled. When our family saw Strother drive away in that adaptive vehicle, we all witnessed a miracle,” Marty said, “for we all saw and knew that Strother had climbed that mountain.”

Strother’s Story

In reality, Strother has conquered mountains most of his life. At the age of 5, Strother was in an automobile accident that required the “jaws of life” to extricate him. He spent 44 days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Cook Children’s Medical Center and had multiple surgeries. As a result, Strother has full use of his arms and retains great dexterity in his hand but has no feeling below the chest, which confines him to a wheelchair.

Strother received extensive care and rehabilitation from Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago. It became clear that Strother would not be ready for his first day of school at FWCD. Blythe and Darin thought the right thing to do was to withdraw him to make the spot available to another student.

Marty went to the School to begin the withdrawal process. She met with then Head of Lower School Shari Lincoln, who encouraged her to keep Strother enrolled. Marty recalls Lincoln saying, “We are a family here at Fort Worth Country Day, and we are here to help your family and Strother.” Strother’s Kindergarten Teacher, Caroline Corpening Lamsens ’99, echoed the sentiment and began planning

Hope and Resilience

ways to connect Strother and his classmates while he was in Chicago. “We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support our family received from everyone at Country Day,” Marty said. “Everyone was behind Strother from the start, wanting him to be part of the Class of 2025.”

On the first day of school, August 20, 2012, Strother and his classmates had a Skype video call so they all could meet. Lamsens’s goal was to ensure that Strother felt part of the kindergarten class despite the distance and his recovery. These Skype calls continued weekly, and Lamsens created videos on her iPad of activities to share with Strother to keep him learning and engaged.

A Supportive Community

To prepare for Strother's in-person arrival, Lamsens and Lincoln hosted programs and activities to help students understand what to expect when he started school. Lamsens and her kindergarteners pushed a wheelchair around campus to learn how Strother could travel to and from the Butler

“ We are a family here at Fort Worth Country Day, and we are here to help your family and Strother.”

~ Shari Lincoln

Kindergarten and Lower School buildings and the Fischer Dining Pavilion. FWCD alumnus Rob Ritter ’06 spoke to students about his wheelchair – an extension of his body –and how he lives independently, driving to and from work every day in a special truck.

“Rob’s presentation was eye-opening, informative and inspirational,” Marty said. “I could not believe that Country Day was so willing and open to preparing Strother’s classmates in such a thoughtful way.”

Strother joined his kindergarten classmates in person on October 1, 2012, and has not looked back since. In the past 11 years, he has endured additional surgeries to ensure his mobility, but Strother’s sense of humor, resilience and strength of character have remained unshakeable.

In 2016, Strother, Blythe, and Lower School Health and Wellness Counselor Theresa Fuss introduced a wheelchair challenge to educate fourth graders on what a day in Strother’s chair feels like. The goal was to create a sense of empathy for the obstacles he overcame daily. “Strother Challenge” participants took “wheelchair training” with Strother before the challenge and completed a reflection piece in a journal. Strother taught students and faculty how to turn, slow down, wheel up and down hills, and safely maneuver up and down ramps.

Fuss was the first to take the challenge at the Lower School Red Ribbon Fun Run. “The fun run was eye-opening. Strother was rolling along with me, and we were progressing pretty well, but he wanted to go ahead with a friend, and, of course, I said yes,” she recalled. “As the grass began to build up in my wheels, I started to better understand Strother and his behavior. I don’t think we realized how hard it is to maneuver a wheelchair day in and day out.”

Lamsens also took the challenge. “The Strother Challenge was just that, a challenge,” she said. ”My day in Strother’s chair was filled with many emotions: happiness, sadness, laughter, victory and amazement for what Strother endures and embraces each day.”

When Strother was a student in the Mason Middle School, the Class of 2017 honored him with their graduation gift. They designated funds for an elevator to be installed in the Upper School, knowing Strother would one day be navigating the two-story building.

“What a blessing for this community to acknowledge and care for Strother so much,” Marty said. “Fort Worth Country Day is not just a school; it is a home, a community, a place of belonging. This caring community experiences joy and sorrow and celebrates stories of triumph and resilience. I truly do not know where we would be without this school. Jim and I wanted to do something that showed our family’s gratitude.”

Creating a Scholarship

That “something” turned into a charitable fund called Climb That Mountain. Recognizing the importance of endowments in providing financial stability and sustainability for FWCD, Marty and Jim established a need-based endowed scholarship. It is inspired by Strother’s incredible spirit and aptly named the Strother Norman ’25 Climb That Mountain Scholarship

“We knew nothing about creating a scholarship, so we reached out to Sandra Tuomey [Director of Advancement] and Caroline Lamsens to discuss our ideas,” Marty said. “I just knew we wanted to do something for this school that had given our family so much.”

Scholarship recipients are selected based on how they have climbed or are climbing a personal mountain of challenges (physical, emotional, psychological or developmental) and financial need.

“I hope this scholarship serves as a beacon of hope for students,” Marty said. “Strother is who he is thanks to this incredible community, and Jim and I want others to have this opportunity.”

Strother added, “I am happy to be the inspiration for the

scholarship, but it all should be about helping others achieve their hopes and dreams.”

When developing the Climb that Mountain scholarship, Marty and Jim focused on helping the School. Strother’s focus was on impacting individuals immediately. He wanted to support recreation opportunities and expressed that desire to his grandparents. As a result, the Climb That Mountain charitable fund has four initiatives: educational scholarships, recreational mobility, developmental disabilities and international programs.

Nothing has stopped Strother's zest for life, athletics and activities. He has managed FWCD’s football, basketball and wrestling teams; he plays basketball, hunts and fishes. There really is nothing he won’t try. He recently was certified by Adapt-Able Scuba, which provides experiences in the medium of water for people with physical, emotional and developmental disabilities to enjoy scuba diving. At Strother’s request, Climb that Mountain provides funding to train individuals with physical disabilities to experience freedom of movement and independence in the water. He hopes to go on a trip to Cozumel and put those skills to use with his brother, Hodge ’27, and his father.

In addition, Strother gives back to the basketball team he played on for nearly seven years, the Dallas Junior Wheelchair Mavericks. “Most of our tournaments are out of town, which

requires overnight stays,” Strother noted. “Some kids need the right wheelchair and equipment to play. Supporting the Mavs allows players to attend out-of-town tournaments and have the equipment to play at their best.”

A humble young man, Strother is focused on finishing his junior year while helping others through the Climb That Mountain Scholarship. “I want others in wheelchairs or facing challenges to feel hope and not worry if they have what they need to succeed and thrive,” he said. “I had been counting down the days for my driver's license since I was 8. Driving away on my own felt amazing.”

Marty and Jim Norman’s gift is an example of the impact you can make on the lives of others with a gift to the endowment through the Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign.

If you are interested in learning more about making a gift to the School’s endowment, please email Sandra Tuomey, Director of Advancement, at sandra.tuomey@fwcd.com.

Comprehensive

FWCD Launches Forward Together

Comprehensive Campaign

Fort Worth Country Day kicked off its Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign in spectacular fashion on Friday, October 6. The celebratory event featured a lively atmosphere, incredible music from Falcon 6-0, and a significant announcement: an impressive $31,250,000 had already been raised.

More than 200 members of the FWCD community gathered in Falcon Alley for the momentous occasion. The night was filled with the energetic tunes of Falcon 6-0, featuring vocals by Breakthrough Fort Worth Executive Director Joe Breedlove ’78, saxophone artistry from Upper School French Teacher Andréanne Annis, and versatile guitar playing from the talented Dave Lincoln. The crowd danced to the beats of Celebration and Ride Sally Ride while kids enjoyed facepainting, balloon art, and various games. Parents seized the opportunity to catch up in the cool autumn weather, savoring treats from The Egg Stand food truck and indulging in ice cream sandwiches from Pokey-O’s.

Brian Crumley ’92, President of the Board of Trustees, set the tone for the evening. “We are celebrating our 60th year. We are about to begin construction on a new Lower School a year after we completed these beautiful fields,” Crumley said, in reference to the new state-of-the-art field hockey field, the turfed Howard Family Field in Rosacker Stadium, and the cutting-edge resurfaced Barrett Havran Track. “And we are working to refresh the strategic plan to provide a compass for the School for the next several years.”

The Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign Steering Committee received heartfelt appreciation from Crumley. Acknowledging their pivotal role, Crumley thanked William Butler ’96, Gloria Moncrief Holmsten ’00, Heather and Ryan Senter, Randy Eisenman ’93, Rob Semple ’95, Gantt Bumstead, Stephen Luskey ’01, Helen and Michael Todora, and Bryan King.

“Our deepest appreciation goes to our donors,” Crumley continued. “Your support has really made a lasting impact on this school, and your generosity allows us to stand here today. We are grateful for the inspiration you are going to provide as we move forward.”

“This is already the largest campaign in the School’s history, and we aren’t done yet,” he said. “The School’s 2018 strategic plan and facilities master plan provided the road map to get us here, to this point.”

Those plans helped to determine the campaign priorities, which include the completed athletic fields, an increased endowment, a new Lower School, and The FWCD Fund. Butler also expressed the campaign's importance for the School's future development and improvement.

“As we start our next 60 years, the successful completion of this campaign will allow us to further develop our people and programs and enhance and improve our teaching spaces, specifically with our Lower School,” Butler said

Brian Crumley ’92, President of the Board of Trustees

William Butler ’96, Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign Co-Chair

To date, 100 parents, many of whom are alumni, and 70 faculty and staff members have given to the campaign.

Head of School Eric Lombardi echoed the excitement, emphasizing the campaign’s role in enhancing teaching spaces and programs. “Those Temporary Village buildings are the visible part of the campaign. The not-so-visible parts include raising money for the endowment; $8 million is our goal, and continuing to raise money for The FWCD Fund,” Lombardi said. “The Fund is important each year … it is a differencemaker, a margin-maker for us.”

Forward Together Constituency Co-Chairs Heather and Ryan Senter announced that the School had achieved 80% of its fundraising goal. “This day has been four years in the making,” Heather said. “We encourage y’all to join us. We have been part of this community for 15 years, and we knew from the start that we were in the right place. We are here to help us get to that finish line.”

Ryan added the importance of stewardship. “Something unique is happening at Fort Worth Country Day right now. We are here because of others, and now we have the

Taylor Luskey Lacey ’04 and brother Stephen Luskey ’01 with Taylor’s daughters, Louisa ’35 and Margo ’35; Gloria Moncrief Holmsten ’00 and Meredith Luskey

Board of Trustee Member Orlando Carvalho with his son, Jack ’17

opportunity to build something better than we received,” he said. “We have the opportunity to dig deeper and continue that.”

The highlight of the evening came when nine students revealed the campaign's total amount raised in a fun countdown accompanied by confetti cannons. Walker Luskey '30, Lyle Luskey (former Falcon), Monty Holmsten ’30, Kit Holmsten ’32, Gunni Holmsten ’34, Sarah Mitchell McMillan ’29, William McMillan ’34, Mary Blake McMillan (future Falcon) and Bradleigh Bowman ’29 revealed the number from right to left, $31,250,000. The excitement continued as attention shifted to Rosacker Stadium, where fans witnessed skydivers from the All Veteran Group, piloted by William Runyon ’80, landing on Howard Family Field and cheered on the varsity football team as the players and coaches walked through a tunnel of Lower School students, high-fiving and cheering.

Jack Carvalho ’17 added to the energy, engaging the crowd with campaign trivia and interviews during the game. Various speakers, including faculty and staff, shared their excitement for the future Lower School building. Coleman Anderson ’33, Third Grade Teacher Katy Thompson Hobbs ’97, Head of Lower School Trey Blair, Lower School Librarian Tammy Wolford, then Assistant Head of Lower School Kelly Lanier Tierce ’93, Fourth Grade Teacher Sara McCullough, Fourth Grade Teacher/Varsity Cheer Coach Courtney Corbeille Krauss ’06, and William Butler ’96 all spoke with Carvalho about different aspects of the Lower School. They touched on their favorite rooms, the Temporary Village, the Lower School Library, beloved traditions, and excitement for the future.

The evening embodied the spirit of FWCD, characterized by community strength and collaboration. As Crumley shared at the start of the event, “The Forward Together campaign shows the strength in what you can accomplish when you work together. In the spirit of Margaret Mead, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world.’”

For more details on the Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign, visit fwcd. org/campaign. If you have questions or need assistance making a gift, contact Sandra Tuomey, Director of Advancement, at sandra.tuomey@fwcd.com.

Champions for Falcon Athletic Programs

By Caren Handleman

Through the dedicated leadership of Venessa and Robert Howard, champions for the Forward Together athletic fields enhancements initiative, Falcon studentathletes are enjoying upgrades to a field hockey field and Rosacker Stadium, now named Howard Family Field, that include the installation of turf, and the Barrett Havran Track, which provide international-caliber surfaces.

As a result, the football program now has opportunities to train and compete on various field types. The upgrades to the track & field facilities directly support student performance. The field hockey upgrade sets a new standard in surface technology, positioning FWCD as one of only three schools in Texas to implement it. These enhancements ensure students can continue participating in athletics safely on tracks and fields that now meet and exceed competition standards. Beyond benefiting Falcon athletes, these improvements enable FWCD to host significant athletic events, providing invaluable opportunities to showcase the campus.

Upgrading the athletic fields to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the track & field program was a top priority, serving the entire Falcon student body and providing opportunities for FWCD to host high-level track & field meets.

The Howards worked tirelessly to explain and share the benefits of enhanced fields to the athletic program and the athletes. Following their leadership, 21 donors joined them as investors in the project. The donors who made the athletic fields enhancements a reality and their excitement for the impact the improvements would have on the sports programs, including preparing athletes for events on artificial turf, both at the Upper School level and eventually collegiate sports, not only enhance the present but also laid the groundwork for the success of future generations of athletes.

The groundbreaking for the new fields was on May 18, 2022, with the fields ready in September 2022 for most of the fall sports season. Venessa and Robert, parents of Sutton ’23 and Sloan ’25, shared their thoughts about the importance of athletics in developing character, fair play, and cooperative and collaborative attitudes. “I really feel like this is a transformational project for Country Day. And it’s a chance for us to turn the corner in our athletic program…. Athletics is not more important than history, English or math, but it is as important,” they said. “And it is a good sign we are recognizing this as a school and as a community. As you look around, what a great group of kids … and as a school and community, we owe it to them to give them the best opportunity for success.”

At the dedication ceremony on November 30, 2022, proud Falcon parent, alumnus, Trustee, and Comprehensive Campaign Steering Committee member William Butler ’96 expressed gratitude to all the donors, Trustees, Steering Committee and administration. “We began this process in January [2022], and we were able to complete our fundraising in just six short months,” he shared. “... a special thank you to the Howards. They championed this cause; we couldn’t have done it without them. This is the beginning of Phase I of the Master Plan and Comprehensive Campaign. I look forward to sharing more details with you about the plans for the rest of the campaign.”

Constituent Campaign Champion

Volunteers (back row) Richard McMillan, Vern Spurlock, Edward Manuel, John Brookman ’80, Reid Shackelford ’93, Dan Bloch H’06, Joseph Berkes ’98, Michael Bornitz, (front row) Ryan and Heather Senter (Constituency Co-Chairs), Larkin McMillan, Carol Spurlock, Haddy Manuel, Katy Rhodes Magruder ’98, Joy Ann Havran, Claire Berkes, Jerry Taylor, and Leigh Taylor Bornitz ’95; not pictured: Andréanne Annis, Bari Buckner Brookman ’83, Asad Dean ’90, Bob Havran, Hugo Muñoz and James Taylor

FWCD Community Makes Their Mark

Fort Worth Country Day community members began formally saying their goodbyes to the Annie Richardson Bass Lower School building on October 20 at a special Make Your Mark event during Homecoming. With over 200 alumni, FWCD families, students, and former and current faculty members, the Lower School Atrium brimmed with nostalgia and camaraderie as the community came together to bid a heartfelt farewell to the building that has been entrusted with the School’s youngest Falcons since 1964.

History of the Building and Lower School

In a significant chapter of Fort Worth Country Day's history, the Lower School was home to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. In December 1970, the School officially adopted the name Annie Richardson Bass Lower School. Fast forward to December 1978 for the groundbreaking ceremony that marked the beginning of construction for the Lower School Ryan Annex. Opened in October 1979, the building, christened the Helen McKee and Thomas M. Ryan Lower School Annex, added another dimension to FWCD’s educational landscape.

It wasn't until 1991 that kindergarten students found a dedicated home in the newly built kindergarten building, which was dedicated as the Butler Kindergarten Building in 1996 in honor of Head of School Geoffrey Butler H’98 (1987-96), who moved FWCD kindergarten from a half-day of school to full day in 1989. Four years later, fifth graders transitioned to the Paul W. Mason Middle School (October 1995), concluding their 32-year journey as an integral part of the Lower School.

This journey through time and development encapsulates the evolution of Fort Worth Country Day's Lower School, a testament to its commitment to providing quality education while honoring the legacy of those who played pivotal roles in its establishment.

Making Their Marks

The focal point of the October 20 evening was the atrium, where a bare wall stood waiting for the community to leave their love notes. Armed with markers and a healthy dose of sentiment, those in attendance took turns jotting down their messages, creating a mosaic of appreciation for the building and its memories. Many came to leave their mark, making the evening a true testament to the enduring spirit of the community and another cherished memory to tuck away.

Conversation buzzed in the Lower School Library, as groups of alumni and teachers, past and present, flipped through yearbooks, shared stories, and caught up. Among the FWCD familiar former faculty faces in attendance were Dan Bloch H’06, Chuck Hubbard, Ann Buis, Janie Garrett, Edwena Thompson, Diana Isbell, Claire-Lise Knecht H’06, Mary Kay Varley, Sharon Foster H’05, Eileen Kelly, Janice Richardson, Kay Robinson, Sharon Hamilton, Christine (Derber) Leuck, Debby Jennings, Joni Heizelmann, Joan Massey, Karen Davis and more.

As the evening drew to a close, the atrium wall became a patchwork of genuine memories. It stood as a concrete reminder that, while this Lower School chapter was closing, the connections formed within its walls would persist in the hearts of those who called it home.

Alumni and current and former faculty and staff left their mark on the Lower School Atrium wall.

Pictured are (clockwise from top: Janie Garrett and Madi Bass ’13; Chuck Hubbard; Mary Hallman Smith ’03, Kathyrn Garvey Cain ’03 and James Gorski ’03; and Cindy Allen.

The celebration in the Lower School was a reunion unto itself. Pictured (from top) are Diana Isbell, Mary Kay Varley, Edwena Thompson, Kay Robinson, Ann Buis and Janice Richardson; Jackie Rea and Dan Bloch H’06; Grace Goldman ’18, Heather Goldman, Adelaide Moncrief Royer ’02 and Charlie Royer; and Eric Lombardi.

It Takes a Village

Fort Worth Country Day started its 60th school year with excitement and fond farewells. With the Board of Trustees’ unanimous decision to green-light the construction of a new Lower School building in Spring 2023, a series of events that will redefine the physical landscape of the campus and transform the learning experience for generations to come was set in motion.

A Swift Transition

First steps took place in summer 2023 to secure temporary, manufactured buildings for the Lower School's use during construction. Ramtech Building Systems in Mansfield reserved 11 modular buildings for the School, with building delivery scheduled for October. This ambitious endeavor also included preparing the Middle School softball field to house the Lower School Village and constructing a temporary road for carpool and fire lane purposes. Faculty and staff spent the summer purging classroom items and packing materials no longer needed or used during fall semester. Items were also sent to the Welman Project (see the Giving Back article on page 11) to be recycled and repurposed for other teachers.

In August, Head of School Eric Lombardi shared with grades 1-4 families that the move from the Lower School to the village would occur the week following Thanksgiving, November 27 through December 1. The move required an

additional week of break for those students so faculty and staff could complete the shift to their new rooms, unpack, and create an inviting learning atmosphere. “The muchanticipated new Fort Worth Country Day Lower School building is coming,” Lombardi wrote to parents. “In the spring of 2025, we anticipate a significant celebration as our faculty, staff and students move into a signature space for the School’s next 60 years. The road to that spring 2025 celebration includes some challenges.

“The first significant challenge will be moving our first through fourth grade classrooms out of the current Lower School building and into the Temporary Village [now called the Lower School Village],” he continued.

Linbeck Project Manager Trey Silva is responsible for the building project’s schedule. “Roughly from July to October, the preparatory work took place, repurposing the softball field by leveling the ground and putting in the villages’ infrastructure,” he said. “Before the delivery of the portables, the electrical, internet, water, and sanitary sewer infrastructure had to be put in place.”

A Village is Born

Ramtech began delivering the village buildings on October 2, 2023, through the Bryant Irvin Entrance, which required adjustments to the front gate entrance bollards to accommodate the wide-load buildings. The last building arrived on October 11. Once all pieces of the village were on campus, the wood-decking operations immediately started to provide access around buildings.

“While constructing the wood decking, the electricians and plumbers made all the required connections to the buildings to get them operational,” Silva said. “The final parts were easier to put together, as it was more of a plug-and-play feature within the design of the portables.”

While the electricians and plumbers were working their magic, Ramtech installed all the floors and ceilings inside the buildings. “The City of Fort Worth signed off on the Lower School Village on November 16,” Silva said, “and the goahead to move was given on November 17.”

The Temporary Village, consisting of 11 buildings with 10 trailers housing 20 classrooms (two per portable), two Science classrooms, a Collaboratory and the Lower School Library, is a testament to meticulous planning and execution. Classrooms have their own bathrooms, student desks, some “cubbies,” and the necessary technology for teaching and learning, creating a self-contained and efficient learning environment.

Tammy Wolford, Lower School Librarian, estimates that about 25% of the library moved into her village classroom, which has approximately 3,500 books. The rest of the catalog is stored in the Moncrief Library and easily accessible to her. “The best thing about the Village Library is the sense of peace when you walk through the door. I truly never appreciated how the constant movement and noise all around our previous library impacted our lives,” Wolford said. “From the moment I greet students on the walkway overlooking the pond until we start checking out, there is a sense of calm. The word that I hear most often from our volunteers is cozy. I agree!"

The Office Quad, housing Academic Support Coordinators, the Health and Wellness Counselor, and Sherrilan Gilley in the main office, adds a layer of security and functionality, with all visitors checking in before connecting with students.

A Technological Transformation

Director of Technology

Dr. Steve Uhr oversaw the Lower School Village’s technology installation, which features a robust extension of the FWCD wireless computer network. “A new, dedicated fiber runs from the Fischer Dining Pavilion to building No. 7 [fourth grade classrooms], providing access to the main computer network,” he said.

Throughout October, FWCD’s technology team wired each classroom with network drops to accommodate classroom needs. Each building has wireless access points providing coverage devices. Just before Thanksgiving break, the interactive whiteboards from the old Lower School building classrooms were removed and reinstalled in the village classrooms with new cabling. During the move, all of the classroom hardware also was relocated: Faculty computers and printers, student iPads, and Chromebooks were moved to the new classrooms so they would be ready for December 2, the first day of classes in the Lower School Village.

Lower School Library

Lower School Classroom

Collaboratory

Faculty Dedication Shines

Dedication and resilience shone brightly during the transition from the old building to the village. Teachers and staff worked tirelessly to pack up their classrooms, unpack in the village, and create an engaging and imaginative learning environment for students. Cozy, comfortable and casual, the Lower School Village classrooms exude warmth and familiarity. Doorbells add a layer of security (all classroom doors are locked), with family members coordinating with Gilley in the Lower School Office building to connect with teachers and their students when necessary.

“Our faculty team was the working definition of perseverance,” Blair said. “They had every reason to wear their emotions on their sleeves and vent their frustrations, yet it was a working, smiling, positive energy vibe throughout movein week. I think, on some level, we were presented with the opportunity to reinforce our community and culture. It hasn't been without challenges, but there is a shared, ‘We are all in this together kinda vibe.’”

Kelly Lanier Tierce ’93, who served as Assistant Head of Lower School at the time of the move and is now Director of Enrichment Programs, took a hands-on approach to enhance common areas. Student-decorated ceramic tiles from the old building adorn the village buildings, creating inviting porchlike resting areas with Adirondack chairs, potted plants, and gnome homes.

The tiles came about because parents asked about the plans for some of the Lower School building murals. “There’s so much love and history in each of those tiles, and it seemed a shame not to take any of them moving forward,” Tierce said. “ I was hoping that a little bit of love from our previous building would help bridge the gap that a temporary building just couldn’t provide on its own.”

Before the building’s demolition, Tierce pulled off a tile to see how easy it was. Success was mixed, with some tiles pulling off easily while others shattered. She ultimately salvaged what she could and then tried various ways to get them to stay on the village buildings through weather changes. Lower School Science Teacher Barbara Meyers has some of her butterflies in front of her classroom as well.”

Some planters set out by Lower School Academic Support Coordinator Theresa Fuss and Meyers in front of their buildings inspired Tierce to add more. “We’re so blessed at Country Day to have nature and beauty all around us. I wanted to bring some of that nature and green to our village spaces to make them a little bit more homey,” Tierce said. “I

tried to place the planters in communal spaces so that our faculty and students would see them daily and maybe find inspiration to update them and plant in them for upcoming seasons. I also felt compelled to add some fairy elements and gnome items to go with our village theme. I think it turned out cute!”

Creative Play on the Village Playground

Central to the Lower School Village is the playground. Plant Operations team member Dewayne Dodgins built a bridge that connects the village playground with the kindergarten playground, providing a seamless experience for first grade students during recess. A mulched play area on the village’s east side was for second, third and fourth graders. The Village Playground features playground mulch free of twigs, soil and leaves, acts as a weed barrier, and helps with drainage. Until March, playground features included spike ball sets, soccer goals, a Gaga Pit, a mini basketball hoop for “dunking practice,” a giant Connect 4 game, and many balls and Frisbees. Starting the week of February 26, the School began installing two student-favorite playscapes from the old playground – the Infinity Web and the Stacked Timber Wall – in the Village Playground. While the recess offerings differ from the old playground, Blair has found that creativity flows in the students. “They are running around, playing tag, finding a cozy nook under the village walkway to create a campfire scene, and are genuinely happy to enjoy time outdoors.”

Overall, the transition to the Lower School Village has been a success due to the planning and coordination of all School departments and staff to ensure the temporary classrooms were ready to receive students and provide an environment that supports learning and creativity for students and faculty.

Breaking Ground on the New

January 17, 2024, was frigid, but the Fort Worth Country Day community was ablaze with energy and excitement as the School broke ground on its state-of-the-art, $25 million Annie Richardson Bass Lower School. With completion slated for spring 2025, the new 32,720-square-foot Lower School will provide an inspiring, modern, light-filled, indoor-outdoor learning environment for 350 students in grades 1 through 4.

Board of Trustees President Brian Crumley ’92 welcomed the crowd, which gathered in the Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center for the program. Crumley spoke about FWCD’s Founding Head of School, Peter Schwartz H’98, and his reflections shared with the Star-Telegram on the School’s 20th anniversary: “The continuity of faculty, of parents, and kids –a spirit that won’t quit – has made Fort Worth Country Day,” Crumley said, invoking Schwartz’s quote. “I can’t think of a better characterization than Peter’s words to describe what has enabled this groundbreaking today.”

He expressed gratitude to all of the campaign volunteers, Trustees past and present, and the visionary giants who built the original Lower School in a field of wildflowers. Crumley

gave a heartfelt thank you to the Lower School project donors. “I want to extend our deepest appreciation to all of the donors to the Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign that have enabled two transformational projects for the School over such a short period of time with the athletic fields enhancements and this new Lower School,” he said. “What we are here to celebrate is a perfect example of ‘a spirit that won’t quit’ when we work together in continuity to achieve common goals … Forward Together.”

Recalling the path to January 17, Head of School Eric Lombardi expressed gratitude to the FWCD community members who helped to create and shape the vision of campus for the next 60 years through the selection in March 2018 of San Antonio-based architectural firm Lake|Flato to create the School’s campus master plan. And later, to the hiring of Lake|Flato to design the building and Linbeck to construct the School.

“For the groundbreaking of the School’s original three buildings in December 1962 … we talk about a cold December day with temperatures in the 20s and construction

New Lower School

equipment making lots of noise in the background. Sound familiar?” he asked.

Lombardi chronicled some key groundbreakings. “For our first three buildings, we went from purchase to groundbreak in three months. And we took nine months from that groundbreak to occupying those buildings with our very first 210 students,” he noted. “We had other groundbreakings just on the old Lower School alone as we made two significant additions. There was the groundbreaking for the Annie Richardson Bass Lower School in March 1964 and the Helen McKee and Thomas M. Ryan portion of the Lower School in December 1978.

“Today represents a groundbreaking day seven years in the making,”

Lombardi continued. “I love that today’s groundbreaking is like December 12, 1962, cold and blustery. “The omen is good! We’ve gotten 60 great years out of those buildings … may it be so for the new Lower School.”

Someone who lived the Lower School experience and is now experiencing it as a parent is Whitney Baggett Creel ’04 Her words honored and remembered that building, which stood for so many years, and celebrated the excitement of an amazing new chapter for the School.

“I remember when I first heard the chatter about a new Lower School. My initial response was, ‘Oh no they won’t! They better not! How could one even think about replacing our beloved building,’” Creel said. “Sixty years

Celebrating the Lower School Groundbreaking are Brian Crumley ’92, William Butler ’96, Howard Walsh ’92, Lindsey Walsh Dickerson ’96, Greg Papay (Lake|Flato), Laura Bird, Stephanie Bird Baker ’08, John Ryan, Eric Lombardi, Randy Eisenman ’93, Amy Knight Brown ’94 and April Knight (James and Dorothy Doss Foundation), Liz Stapp Fleischer ’84, Gloria Moncrief Holmsten ’00, Adelaide Moncrief Royer ’02, Kit Tennison Moncrief ’70, Kate Johnson (Amon G. Carter Foundation), Stephen Luskey ’01, Meredith Luskey, Rob Kelly (William E. Scott Foundation) and Becky Burleson (Linbeck).

of childhoods are held inside those walls, including my own. After I sat in my feeling and took time to reflect, I realized I was only thinking about myself. About my experience. About my memories.

“What I wasn’t thinking about were my own children and their classmates and the future generations of students who call this place home,” she continued. “Once I let all that sink in, my next question was, ‘So when do we start? I’m ready!’ Talk about a complete 180, but really, how cool is it to get to go to a school in a stunning new building with state-of-the-art technology and classrooms, indoor and outdoor learning spaces, abundant natural light, the highest level of safety and security, a community storybook tree, a gathering place for all grades to be together as one. They are going to make the same memories I did.”

Learning from transformative educators, fostering lifelong friendships, learning and exploring in a new building will enhance and add to the FWCD Lower School experience. Creel expanded, “Where would we be right now, today, if the leaders, the donors, the educators of our community hadn’t stepped up to give and build this school six decades ago? We would not be here. I want to do my part to lay the groundwork for another 60 years and beyond.”

Campaign Co-Chair William Butler

’96 wrapped up the ceremony with a thank you to the Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign leadership and the School’s generous donors. “To the donors: Thank you for taking our calls, listening to our stories, and giving to our School,” he said. “But we aren't finished yet and have a little ways to go. Heather and Ryan Senter and their committee will be moving us forward to a successful end to the campaign.”

(Top) Fourth graders George Louden, Louise Manuel and Nicklaus Knuckley share items for the Lower School time capsule. (Right) Whitney Bagget Creel ’04 spoke passionately about the new Lower School building. (Below) Bruce Thomas, Tyler Crumley, Carol Spurlock and Dan Bloch H’06 were among the more than 100 FWCD community members who braved the cold for the groundbreaking.

Lower School Student Council members stole the ceremony by presenting items for a Lower School time capsule to Head of Lower School Trey Blair. Fourth grader Zaid Farr kicked off the presentation. “Thank you all for coming to the groundbreaking of the new Lower School,” he said. “We are all members of the Lower School Student Council and are here to present to you all items that the Lower School students have created to be a part of a time capsule.”

Fellow fourth grade students Clara Hatem, Jonty Lightbound, Ida Kate Parsons, George Louden, Louise Manuel and Clarisa Coscia each met Blair at the podium to pass on items from junior kindergarten through fourth grade. Nicklaus Knuckley ’32, capped off the presentation by delivering the time capsule. “We present to you our Lower School time capsule, which will be unveiled 60 years from now!”

Blair joked that he’d see everyone in 60 years before expressing gratitude. “I simply want to say thank you,” he said. “We are so excited. I know there are a lot of memories attached to the old Lower School, but the new building is going to be awesome. And that is because of you all.”

Your contribution to Fort Worth Country Day’s Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign is vital for the School’s continued success. Please consider making a gift of pledge by Wednesday, May 22, 2024, the last day of school in FWCD’s 60th year, to help secure a bright future for Falcons for the next 60 years. Contact Sandra Tuomey, Director of Advancement, at sandra. tuomey@fwcd.com or 817.302.3223 or visit the campaign website at fwcd.org/campaign.

New Lower School Features

FWCD’s new Lower School will be infused with natural light, connections to the outdoors, tuned acoustics, and appropriate technology to expand the school’s delivery of future-focused experiences and activities. Included in its project scope are:

● A 2,130-square-foot library with floor-to-ceiling windows, a fireplace, reading nooks, adaptive furniture, soft seating, and sliding glass doors that open to an outdoor courtyard built around a giant chinkapin oak tree.

● Two dedicated science labs, a collaboratory/makerspace, and study rooms for tutoring and smaller breakout sessions.

● A window-filled commons area for special programming, class performances, lectures and more.

● First and second grade wing on the building’s north side, complete with its own covered outdoor learning space designed to encourage exploration, collaboration, and adventure beyond the traditional classroom.

● Third and fourth grade wing on the building’s south side, with its own covered outdoor learning space that supports active learning and creative thinking.

● A playground with sports court and play structures that were originally funded and purchased by FWCD’s Parent Faculty Association in 2018.

● Sustainable design features, including skylights, light shelves, LED lighting, rainwater collection, and drought-tolerant landscaping with native shrubs, grasses, and water-conservation technologies.

● Integrated technology to foster student interaction, including flat-screen displays in all classrooms and learning spaces.

● Communications and security platforms with digital signage, two-way paging, a high-tech intercom system, and proximity-controlled exterior doors.

● Emphasis on safety and security, with one access-controlled entrance.

● A commons area as a dedicated safety shelter, with windows and walls built to withstand 250 MPH winds in the event of a major storm or tornado.

● Offices for Academic Support Coordinators, a Health and Wellness Counselor, faculty/staff meeting rooms, and multiple communal and collaborative spaces.

“Our new Lower School is designed to create exceptional learning environments within classrooms and communal spaces while delivering dramatic improvements for safety and efficiency,” said Head of School Eric Lombardi. “It will have a strong connection to our campus’s amazing outdoors, while also giving our faculty and students first-class spaces to inspire the highest level of elementaryappropriate learning.”

To design and construct the new Lower School, FWCD selected San Antoniobased Lake|Flato Architects as its architectural/design partner, Dallas-based Hocker for landscape architecture, and Fort Worth-based Linbeck as general contractor.

$1,000,000 +

Bird Family Foundation

Anjie (Landreth) ’94 and William Butler ’96

Amon G. Carter Foundation

James and Dorothy Doss Foundation

Liz (Stapp) ’84 and Russ Fleischer

Folsom Point Charities

Bryan King

Marsha (Harrison) ’79 and John Kleinheinz

The Lowe Foundation

Meredith and Stephen Luskey ’01

Leslie and John David Moritz

William E. Scott Foundation

Walsh Family

$100,000 -

Christina and Hunter Allen

Anonymous

Susan Lay Atwell Fund

Stephanie (Bird) ’08 and Cody Baker

Claire and Joseph Berkes ’98

Lauren and Andrew Blake ’93

Cornelia Blake

Leigh (Taylor) ’95 and Michael Bornitz

Whitney (Baggett) ’04 and Todd Creel

Tyler and Brian Crumley ’92

Kim (Williamson) ’75 and Glenn Darden

Randy Eisenman ’93

Nicole and Leonard Firestone

FWCD Parent Faculty Association

Mary Carolyn (Clay) ’93 and Ben Gatzke

Nancy Hallman

Gloria (Moncrief) ’00 and Erich Holmsten

Venessa and Robert Howard

Teresa and Luther King

Taylor (Luskey) ’04 and Thomas Lacy

Lisa and Ryan Lakovitch

Gail (Widmer) ’69 and Bill Landreth ’67

Regan and W.A. Landreth ’01

Malone Family Foundation

Haddy and Edward Manuel

Louella and Nicholas Martin Charitable Fund at the North Texas Community Foundation

L&M Charitable Foundation

Kit (Tennison) Moncrief ’70

Lauren and Bryan Perkins

Ally and Davis Ravnaas ’03

Christine and Austin Reilly ’04

Missy and Randy Rodgers ’70

Abby and Will Rodgers ’01

Laura and Chris Rooker

Adelaide (Moncrief) ’02 and Charlie Royer

The Ryan Foundation

Heather and Ryan Senter

Harriet and Jarrett Shields

Mary (Hallman) ’03 and Dwayne Smith

Eleanor (Mauze) ’83 and Jon Snyder ’78

Alexandra and Houston Sullivan

Tara and Robert Warren

$10,000

Tasa (Lefler) ’88 and Frank Anderson

Anonymous

Bari (Buckner) ’83 and John Brookman ’80

Ann and Frank Bumstead

Robin and Gantt Bumstead

Evie and Geoffrey Butler H’98

Donors

Jan and Bill Clinkscale

Morgan and Walter Coleman

Georgina (Moncrief) ’94 and Cliff Condrey

Elyse (Stoltz) ’93 and C.D. Dickerson ’94

Garvey Texas Foundation

Robyn and Dak Hatfield

Melissa and Scott Huffman

Elizabeth (Murphy) ’88 and Mark Jones

The Korman Family

Lindsay and Bradley Lawrence

Maribeth and George LeBus ’77

Debra and Eric Lombardi*

T.J. Brown and C.A. Lupton Foundation

Michelle and Scott Marlow

Tanya and Patrick McClanahan

Alison E. McManus ’95

Courtney and Matt Mitchell

Keelie and Matt Montague

Sheridan Morris

Marty and James Norman

Pam and Jamie Packer

Matt Rainwater ’94

Gail Rawl

The Roach Foundation

Merianne and Steve Roth

Anne and Bob Semple

Katie and Rob Semple ’95

Carol-Sidney and Houston Simmons

Wesley (Van Wyk) ’94 and Marcus Snyder ’93

Carol and Vern Spurlock

Kathleen and Randall Stepp

Claudia and Rod Stepp

Jerry and James Taylor

Helen and Michael Todora

Sandra and Troy Tuomey*

Malathi Ravi and Avinash Vallurupalli

$1 - $9,999

Shannon and Craig Allen*

Christy and Manuel Alvear*

Andréanne and Alan Annis*

Debby and Bill Arnold ’86 *

Crisanne (Potts) ’93 and Jeffrey Barker*

Elizabeth and Connor Baxter*

Chelsy and Anthony Beninate*

Trey Blair*

Sarah and Stephen Blan*

Cheryl and Dan Bloch H’06 *

Mandy and Leigh Block*

Stacy Bourne ’02*

Andrea and Joe Breedlove ’78*

Kena and Ricky Brown

Hester and Michael Burdman*

Claudia Coscia and Julio Cedillo

Carrie and Li Chou Cheng*

The Clifton Foundation

Alicia and David Coke

Dorrine DeChant*

Tanya Charfen and Hugo Del Pozzo

Stephen Dickey ’89*

Karla and Christopher Dunning*

Siouxsie and Ed Easter*

Yumiko and Johnny Evans*

Theresa and Douglass Fuss*

FWCD Class of 2023

Rebecca and Brian Gleason*

Heather and Elliot Goldman ’90*

Tricia and Byron Gossett

Clint Hagen*

DeAnn and Todd Hall*

Joy Ann and Bob Havran

Tammi Hodges*

Sarah and Drew Hollingshead*

Teresa and David Hoppe*

Mel and Keven Hurst*

Aimee Jenkins*

Kelly Jenkins*

Lexi and Reggie Johnson*

Kris and Ben Karr

Libits Kendall

Lisa and Ken Koger*

Catherine and Wilfried Lampka*

Kristin and Todd Larsen*

Christy Lennox*

Shari and Dave Lincoln*

Mandy and David Lofquist*

Courtney and Wayne Lundquist

Jerry Mahle*

Monika Mathur

Lori McCormack*

Alvin Morales

Martha (Oswald) ’99 and Paxton Motheral

Brittany Nelson*

Katherine Nelson ’16

Rebecca and Marcus Ozaeta

Lisa and Michael Parker*

Katie (Malone) ’97 and Clay Peterson ’96*

Renee and Tony Pierce*

Laura and Robert Piwetz

Denise and Gary Pointer

Meredith (Nieswiadomy) ’06 and Breck Ray ’06

Alison and Nelson Robinson*

Maria and Jose Saldana

Myrna and Steve Sam*

Lisa and Randy Shaw*

Ned Smith*

Christine and Kevin Spikes*

Cynthia and Robert Sturns

Cristina and Peter Szmigiel*

Laura and Bruce Terry*

Kelly (Lanier) ’93 and Buddy Tierce ’92*

Jerre and David Tracy

Whitney Truax*

Peggy Wakeland*

Carrie and Kenneth Wall*

Lisa and Neil Wallace*

Kathy Welch*

Geraldine Williams*

Amy Witten*

Tammy and Greg Wolford*

* Denotes Faculty/Staff

This list reflects gifts to the campaign as of March 1, 2024.

with Andréanne Annis and Q

What do you love about teaching at FWCD?

I love guiding Falcons in developing their moral compass and prepping for college and shaping tomorrow’s leaders! I came to FWCD in 2002 after serving as President of the North Texas Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). My passion for teaching is demonstrated by communicating information and modeling core values through a variety of techniques. We sing, rap and act to learn tools to express thoughts and be understood. If learning a second language is a long process of re-discovering how to communicate, teaching a language empowers students to embark on a journey that may change how they view the world and themselves.

How does it feel to be a Club Viginti member?

I was humbled and proud to join this group of faculty and staff who have served the School for 20 years or more. It’s a dream come true! I recall a dinner with Evan Peterson [H’15] during his first year as Head of School where he asked us to share our professional aspirations. I said: “I’d like to earn a stone,” referring to the old stones representing Club Viginti members. I added that I wasn’t sure what education would look like in 20 years, but I was committed to living out our mission to inspire the passion to learn, the courage to lead, and the commitment to serve.

Why do you support The FWCD Fund?

I have witnessed the construction of amazing fields and buildings, including the beautiful Middle School Expansion where I teach. I know the percentage of faculty and staff participation makes a powerful impact when seeking donor gifts. This year, Hugo Muñoz and I were Faculty/Staff Fund Co-chairs. I was happy to help us get close to 100% to enhance every Falcon’s experience!

Share some fond FWCD memories and accomplishments.

I taught French to grades 5-7 for 12 years in the Middle School team. I also created a camp, Mystère à Paris, and was a Reading Council member with Debby Jennings. We co-chaired three K-12 events: Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, Earth Day, and the School’s 50th anniversary! In 2014, I moved to the Upper School, where I took students on an immersion program in Trois-Rivières, Canada; hosted French students and teachers with Language & Friendship; created a cultural experience in Normandy and Paris; took Oral Proficiency Interview training from the American Council for Teaching Foreign Languages; developed the Business French post-AP course leading to lifelong certification from the French government; and earned FWCD’s recognition from AATF as an Exemplary French Program with Honors. Outside of school, I served Fort Worth Sister Cities and contributed to adding Nîmes, France, as Fort Worth’s ninth Sister City and was a Youth Delegation Leader. Other contributions like these and Tara Forrest’s led to FWCD receiving the prestigious Eisenhower Award.

and Hugo Muñoz

What led you to FWCD?

Coach Joe Murph gave me the opportunity when I was a teenager to train with his team from 2001 to 2004 in the offseason. The moment I drove onto campus, I was impressed with the facilities and the level of wrestling from his team. I knew attending FWCD at that time was out of the question, but remember telling my mother how great it would be if I got to coach there one day! Now, as a Coach and PE Teacher at the School, my daughter, Sophia [’31], is a student. It’s crazy how it all works out.

Did you always want to be a teacher and a coach?

As a student, my teachers believed in me and pushed me to strive for excellence. At one point, I thought they were harder on me than other kids and complained, but as I matured, I understood they were setting the bar high and wanted me to see my potential. As a result, that’s what my goal is with my students and athletes. I teach first, third and fourth grade students and enjoy teaching students basic athletic skills. I strive to be silly and to connect with students while working out, playing games, and teaching them to interact positively with their peers.

What do you love about coaching and teaching?

I love that my job is never the same and that I am helping students evolve as athletes, in and out of competition. Some of the best lessons my kids learn are not related to their sport but rather the character they build through their sport.

My coaching philosophy is built around attitude and effort. You can convince your body and mind to accomplish great things with a great attitude. As an athlete, you cannot control outcomes; instead, you must focus on your efforts in practice and competition. I like to believe that I lead by example. I am still an active competitor in Grappling and JiuJitsu competitions. I understand the feeling the kids have when competing, and I always want to support them and give them the resources they need to succeed.

Why do you support the School and its annual fund?

I understand the importance our facilities play in being able to teach to the best of my abilities. I am also proud that The FWCD Fund helps support kids who desire to attend the School with tuition assistance. This year, I was a Faculty/Staff FWCD Fund Co-chair with Andréanne Annis. I took on this challenge to give back for all the opportunities I have been afforded at FWCD. Without the ability to train with Coach Murph, my love for wrestling would not have translated to success in life. I am also blessed to be a Falcon parent and want Sophia to have the best opportunities in academics, arts and athletics.

Alumni News

Alumni Athletes Inductees

FWCD is incredibly proud of the Class of 2018 Alumni Athletes – CJ Landrum, Kat Clum, Turner Symonds (all pictured left), Samantha Burke and Colbi Jordan. These outstanding individuals each took their athletic talents to the collegiate level. They have earned their place on the prestigious FWCD Alumni Athletes Wall of Fame. Landrum played softball at the University of Georgia for all four years

of her college career. four-year starting outfielder, Clum played for Brown University. Symonds played football for four years at The University of Texas at Austin. Burke played for both Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Nova Southeastern University in Florida. A Horned Frog cheerleader from 2018 to 202, Jordan also served as the team’s Social Media Manager.

Class of 1990 Soars Again: Repeat Win in FWCD Fund Challenge

For the second year running, the Class of 1990 earned highest-percentage-ofgiving to The FWCD Fund accolades during the four weeks of the Alumni Peer-to-Peer Giving Challenge. They secured their win with a more than 60% participation rate. As winners, the class earned a special red carpet luncheon.

The overarching goal of the challenge was to increase alumni giving to The FWCD Fund by introducing an element of friendly competition between classes to motivate alums near and far to participate and contribute to the School.

“What our class has done is unprecedented among annual giving,” said Asad Dean ’90, Alumni Council President. “Our level of participation far exceeds national averages and literally a doubling and tripling of the averages. I hope it has shown the Falcon community that participation is the most important aspect of peerto-peer. I credit the entire Class of 1990, who led us to a repeat victory. To me, it certainly is historic. Their

collective kindness, generosity, and Falcon spirit fly higher than ever. I feel a great affinity for my class and what we accomplished together.

“As the saying goes, ‘To the victor goes the spoils.’ Fort Worth Country Day spoiled us with a fabulous, southern comfort meal. Every class that achieved 60% was eligible for this incentive,” Dean continued. “Alumni Relations

Manager Amanda Stephens ’15 rolled out the red carpet for us …. Chef Steve [Novak] and Pastry Chef Kaitlyn [White] delighted us with their culinary capabilities. It was a festive lunch complete with Country Day plaid accoutrements. Everyone who attended had a great time, and we really appreciate how special our alma mater made us feel.”

Class of 1990 alumni pictured above are Ivi Acuna, Farhan Ali, Chris Cotham, Asad Dean, Kurt Greve, James Haddaway, Natalia Castro Hanson, Marta Otero Hubbard, Darin Norman and Jennifer Wilemon Verdecchia.

Katy Rhodes Magruder ’98

Katy Rhodes Magruder ’98 is a proud FWCD alumna who dedicates herself to ensuring that the School continues to thrive. An FWCD Original, Magruder’s FWCD connection runs deep: She is President-Elect of the Alumni Council and committed to enhancing the School’s facilities as a Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign donor and committee member.

“I am so thankful my parents gave me the opportunity to attend the School. It is a big commitment financially, especially seeing it from the parent perspective," she shared in reference to her stepdaughter, Megan ’23, who attended the Upper School for three years.

The commitment, however, paid off in invaluable ways for them both. Megan’s transformative experience at FWCD led her to excel academically, develop strong study and writing skills, and ultimately gain admission to The University of Texas at Austin. Magruder attributes this success to the work ethic, accountability and life skills instilled during her stepdaughter’s time at FWCD.

Magruder has enjoyed a successful career that started in the Visitors Office of The White House for President George W. Bush. That role ultimately led her to become the Special Assistant to the President of the Dallas Center for Performing Arts Foundation, Director of Executive Services on the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, serve in a Chief of Staff capacity for the largest single-family office in New York City, Director of Donor Relations and Events for Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign, Director of Client Relations for Muzinich and Co., and the Director of Development for Texas 2036.

Magruder eventually returned to The Fort and now serves as the Fort Worth Market Leader for PNC Private Bank clients, where she oversees a team of professionals that ensures that all PNC Private Bank clients benefit from a full complement

of investment, trust, financial planning and private banking services to help them achieve their financial goals. Her professional journey reflects the principles she absorbed at FWCD, including the fundamental building blocks of dedication to excellence and teamwork, and the people who influenced her — students, teachers, and coaches — each leaving a profound mark on her path to success.

Some of those impactful people who shaped her journey were Butch Traeder H’16, who dedicated summers to instilling confidence, work ethic, and purpose as Volleyball Coach; Bill Arnold ’86, whose engaging teaching style made history courses enjoyable and relevant; and Lelia Koeppe, who influenced Katy’s artistic passions. “I learned more at Country Day in the way of leadership, academics, work ethic and community than I learned anywhere else, and it set a pathway for the rest of my life,” she said.

Magruder’s deep appreciation for her Falcon experience fuels her commitment to giving back to her alma mater. “I am beyond thankful for what Country Dave gave to me,” she said. “I want to do anything to help Country Day thrive.”

As a member of the Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign, Katy has dedicated her time to sharing the campaign’s story and helping to fulfill the funding for the new Lower School building. “This campaign is about ensuring that future generations can experience the same transformative education that Megan and I received,” she said. “And it all starts in the Lower School.”

Katy’s story is a testament to FWCD’s lasting impact. As an alum and active participant in the School's initiatives, she embodies the spirit of giving back, ensuring that FWCD remains a beacon of excellence for future generations. Her commitment shows a dedication to perpetuating the legacy of excellence she experienced at FWCD, ensuring it endures for generations.

Student Body Presidents

Across different years, they all had one common title – Student Body President. During Homecoming Weekend in October 2023, FWCD hosted a reunion lunch for past Student Body Presidents. Head of School Eric Lombardi (far left) and Head of Upper School Peggy Wakeland (far right) welcomed (from left) William Burnette ’20, Carter Tatum ’98, James Gorski ’03, Craig Barbolla ’01, Buddy Tierce ’92, Walker Gaines ’24, Campbell Robinson ’19, Brad Nowlin ’76, Jennifer Wilemon Verdecchia ’90 and Randy Eisenman ’93. Whether they championed less homework or more out-of-uniform days, it was great to have these fine folks back on campus.

Dallas Falcons on the Road

Alums got together in D-town at the first Falcons on the Road event of the year. It was hosted by Brett and Todd Crawford ’01. The stories shared in conversations were a testament to the amazing journeys our alumni have embarked on since their Country Day days.

Pictured: (back row) Joe Breedlove ’78, Sharon Foster H’05, Zane Lincoln ’14, Dan Tatum ’81, Kaitlan Moczulski ’04, Bill Albers ’74, Martha Cox ’81, Tyler Brous ’01, Todd Crawford ’01, Brett Crawford, Will Ellis ’01, Billy Smirnis ’07, Michael Andrews ’01, Lili Hyder Luth ’01, Erin Banks ’98, Christine (Derber) Leuck, Connor Cassady ’15, Dan Bloch H’06, (front row) Eric Lombardi, Noe Guevara ’07, Nayelly Dominguez ’11, Amanda Stephens ’15, Frances Benoist Compton ’04, Brandon Houpt ’95

Whiz Quiz

FWCD’s Whiz Quiz Reunion proved that brainpower and brews make for the perfect combination as our alumni battled it out in a friendly game of trivia at Fort Brewery. With the smartest kids in school back together, the competition was fierce among (pictured right) Stephen Nolan ’15, William Payne ’06, Chris Cotham ’90, Jack Carvahlo ’17, Manuel Alvear, Brent Hawthorne ’85, Asad Dean ’90, Stephen Dickey ’89, Rebecca Garrett Finn ’99, Brandon Houpt ’95, Andrew Blumberg ’05 and Christy Alvear, but the afternoon was filled with fun and great memories.

Alumni Happy Hour

We loved raising a glass with our alums at the Alumni Happy Hour at Fitzgerald in November. More than 90 alumni attended. In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, everyone was grateful to have the opportunity to reminisce about the past and toast to the future. Stephen Nolan ’15, Connor Cassady ’15, Taft Henderson ’15, Jake Mccoy ’15, Michael Estrada ’15, Amanda Stephens ’15, Kennedy Stovall Henderson ’15, Sarai Dominguez ’15 and Isabelle Goetz ’15 were among the alums who gathered. Cheers to sweet memories and even sweeter friendships.

December Holiday Party

When it comes to the holidays, it’s all about family, and there was nothing sweeter than spending time with alumni families at the Alumni Holiday Party on December 20, 2023. From decorating gingerbread houses to crafting hot chocolate masterpieces, every moment was sprinkled with happiness. Roman (the horse) added a touch of magic with festive horse and carriage rides through campus.

FWCD Class Reunions

With cheers and nostalgia, FWCD alumni who graduated in years ending with a 3 or 8 came together in The Fort to celebrate Homecoming and their class reunions on October 20 and 21. In a packed Rosacker Stadium, the Falcons soared to a definitive victory over the Oakridge Owls 52-13.

Save the date for next year’s Homecoming:

November 1 and 2, 2024.

Class of 2013

Rosacker Field

Rogers Roundhouse

Rosacker

their festive Friday evening reunion. Adam Uptegraft, Hamza Malik, Siddarth Gudha, Julian Van Beest, Jared Lankford, Beau Ralstin, Nithin Reddy, Thomas House, Haddy Self, Leslie Tuggey, Katherine Carvahlo, Madi Bass, John Ferguson, Collin Tidwell, Austin Meadows, Lily Cowan, Taylor Ray, Hilary Rattikin Breitigam, Gaddis House, Oliver Newberry, Carson Phillips, Cade Fuller, Kaitlyn Frantz, Bobby Baumeister, Kaelyn Scoville, Brindley House, Grace Cowan, Megan Ray, Madison McDade Neiner, Kamryn Conway Ellerman, Fallon Appleton, Rachel Hughes Williams, Annabeth Reeb and Whitney Wood had a great time catching up!

Fitzgerald was the place to be for the Class of 1998 as they celebrated their 25th-year reunion in style. Falcons in attendance were (back row) Ryan Craft, Charles Persons, Erin Banks, Kelly Decker, Katherine Clay Strecker, Lee Hallman, Brian Dunaway, Ben Hood, David Chicotsky, (front row) Amanda Irvin Petross, Malia Batzel, Lilliana Vazquez, Carter Tatum and Tiffany Reese.

The Class of 2003 brewed up great memories and laughter at Maple Branch Craft Brewery for their 20th reunion. Pictured are (back row) Darren Cain, Mary Elizabeth Levy Van Meter, Crawford Rodgers, Mary Hallman Smith, Dwayne Smith, Steven Hook, Zach Reimer, Kent Watson, (middle row) Kathryn Garvey Cain, Tyler Goldthwaite, James Gorski, Frank Darden, Jeff Davis, Allison Medvic, Kara Anderson Snyder, Charles Snyder, (front row) Edward Landreth, Olivia Garcia-Hassell and Will Northern.

The

went straight from

Field to Rowent straight from

to

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Although Pamela Murrin couldn’t be at her reunion physically, she was sure to be there in spirit as the Class of 1983 rang in the festivities at her lovely home. Pictured are David Bonham, Broose Dickinson, Kim Ratliff Truman, Greg Stevens, Bari Buckner Brookman, Scott Miller, Jeff Brand, Joey White, Billy Brentlinger, Nick Weir, Dick Steed, Kristi Keil, Barbara Scroggie Knaggs, Mary Rabalais Collins, Susie Chambers Peddicord, Jennifer Snyder, Brooke Hyde Straub, Cynthia Parker MacDonald, Emily Hudson and Carolyn Shelton Fitzpatrick.

Mexican cuisine and

other’s company at Tinies in Near Southside. Classmates who attended were (front row) Courtney Mays Anderson, Mary Boschini Geiger, Kathryn Gaffin Cummins, Stephanie Bird Baker, Sarah Nieswiadomy Osuorji, Adelaide Hallum Church, Hunter Harvison, Rachel Hamilton Ranschaert, Paul Dollahite, English McBride Boyd, William Summers, David Miles, Marshall Mays, Pierce Ekstrom, Ben Eppstein, Ben Sexton, Chris Corbeille and Chris Pierce.

back celebrity guests – Sharon Foster H’05, Claire-Lise H’18 and John Knecht – to help ring in the festivities. Falcons celebrating included Chip Payne, Bob Dowling, Jim Stouffer, Dick Sealy, John McClung, Frank Stevenson, Matthew Malkan, Allan Kelly, Susie Bond Green, Debbie Blair, Leslie Tatum, Kim Pease, Charlotte Munn Ward, Susan Andrews Morgan, Molly Todd D’Arcy, Candy Garner Atkins, Eric Lombardi, Sharon Foster, Gwen TIlley Morgan, Eddie Cunningham and Claire-Lise Knecht.

Westbend. Classmates who attended were (back row) Robert C. Chu, Randy Eisenman, Andrew Blake, Anne Rehfeldt Maddox, Eve Ettinger

Wym Van

Elyse Stoltz Dickerson, Gordon Johndroe, John Thompson, (front row) Crisanne Potts Barker, Meggan Craft, Kelly Lanier Tierce, Alicia Adams Suit, Allison Carpenter Yoder and Regina Mactal Rivera.

The Class of 2008 brought a taste of Texas to their reunion as they enjoyed

each

The Class of 1993 raised the roof as they celebrated their reunion at Quince’s rooftop patio in

Shulman,

Wyk,

The Class of 1973 celebrated their 50-year reunion at River Crest Country Club. We tried to keep the party down, but there was no quieting this rowdy crew of classmates. They even invited

Alumni Winter Games

On December 23, 2023, alumni FIRED IT UPPP on the basketball courts and soccer field for the Winter Alumni Games. It was fun dusting off the old jerseys and getting the gang back together. Although their joints might be feeling the effects of time, the alumni’s soccer and basketball skills are still on point.

Save the date for the Spring Alumni Games: April 19-20

Back Row: Kyra Gibbons ’24, Margaret Anderson ’25, Lindley Williams ’26, Caroline King ’25, Elizabeth Dike ’25, Sadie Peterson ’25, Lainey Liberto ’25, Carly Walker ’24, Alexis Del Pozzo ’25, Eleanor Holm ’26, Annabelle Smith ’28, Mary Wesley Smith ’28, Hailey Seiden ’26; Front Row: Sutton Howard ’23, Caroline Sanders ’23, Sadie Schuster ’22, Lauren Mitchell ’23, Vivian Todora ’23, Finleigh Ashburn ’25

Back Row: Kylie Carter ’24, Assistant Coach Amanda Watts, Hannah Peeples ’18, Sydney Airheart ’23, Caroline Klein ’23, Varsity Coach Shelley Rains, Carden Kimball ’24, Emily Klein ’24, Katie Bruce ’24, Olivia Kersh ’24, Francie Ratino ’27; Front Row: Alex Peeples ’21, Meredith Nieswiadomy Ray ’06, Madison Ray ’36, Allegra Sturns ’07, Jalan McFarland ’13, Assistant Coach Kaynee McCleod

Back Row: Charlie Bynum ’22, Jack Mock ’17, Ned Newton ’20, Cody Reynolds ’98, Ben Tomasic ’21, Ayris Cole ’21, Jack McConnell ’17, Xavier White ’13, Drew Chilcoat ’19, James Chilcoat ’12, Mike Bowman ’14, Stephen Levy ’12, Nathan Bowser ’13, Garrett Podell ’15, Jack Livingston ’14, Femi Adedokun ’22, Jack Carmichael ’22, Robert Lydick ’22, Luke Walker ’19, Carter Daly ’22, Varsity Coach Joe Breedlove ’78, Harrison Kemmer ’23, Referee C.J.; Front Row: Jackson Davis ’03, Rush Olson ’86, Imran Shah ’14, Ahmed Memon ’11, Alex Espinoza ’11, Colin Fredian ’21, Antoine Gross ’13, Will Bruce ’23 and Sam Jones ’20.

Back Row: Varsity Coach Mike Vincent, Quinn Gibbons ’25, Jordan Jones ’25, Eduardo Rodriguez ’25, Diego Hatcher ’26, Jesus (Chuy) Orozco ’25, Harrison Johns ’25, Dario Rosas ’25, Paxtyn McPeak ’26, Luke Vincent ’26, Jacob Dederick ’27, Henry Harrington ’25, Rayden Liddell ’27, Cannon Black ’26, William Runyon ’26, Grady Roth ’27, Truman Roth ’24, Humberto Zamorano ’21, Kegan Vestal ’21, Oliver Cristobal ’21; Front Row: James Stein ’98, Alexis Espino ’23, Mohid Sadiq ’23, Peter Alcorn ’01, David Miles ’08, Andrew Geesbreght ’98, Andrew Billingsley ’97

12 Days of Alumni Giveaways

During December, in a festive showcase of alumni-owned or managed businesses, Alumni Relations Manager Amanda Stephens ’15 orchestrated the “12 Days of Alumni Giveaways” social media campaign. The initiative, hosted on Instagram, aimed to expand FWCD’s alumni network. A total of 163 alumni participated in the campaign by liking the photo announcement, following the account, and tagging three former classmates in the comments for a chance to win one of the prizes.

Day 1: $50 gift card to The Magnolia Wine Bar donated on behalf of Emily Englander ’12 and Molly Englander ’16. The winner was Allison Relyea Dumas ’09.

Day 2: Goldieglow Skin Care Gift

Basket donated by Sarah Ransom ’15. The winner was Meredith Nieswiadomy Ray ’08.

Day 3: Wrapped in Love Scarf by Allison Castillo Designs donated by Allison Hoffer Castillo ’93. The winner was Courtney Siegel Landes ’00

Day 4: Pickleball Gift Basket donated by Amy Lively at Prippie. The winner was Connor Cassady ’15.

Day 5: $100 gift card to The Lunch Box donated by Immy Khan ’01. The winner was Mary Powers Louden ’03.

Day 6: Handcrafted necklace and earrings donated by Jodie Robbins MooreChonody ’83

To give the prizes a distinctive spotlight, Stephens unveiled one each day and announced the randomly selected prize winner for the following day. The initiative successfully fostered community engagement and celebrated the businesses of alumni entrepreneurs. Thank you to our alumni participants listed below:

from her company Jodie M. Jewelry. The winner was Rachel Ellman ’19

Day 7: $100 gift card to The Squire Shop donated by Todd Humble ’99. The winner was Audrey Laker Madigan ’12

Day 8: Meals & Merch Gift Basket donated by Blair and Wade Chappell ’97 at Pearl Snap Kolaches. The winner was Olivia Buis Prince ’14

Day 9: A handcrafted holiday bottle and cards were donated by Olivia Buis Prince ’14 from her business, The Grand Millennial. The winner was Paige Farris Chisholm ’87.

Day 10: $100 gift card to The Meat Board donated by Greg Kimmel ’87. The winner was Chloe Bade Anderson ’05

Day 11: Bonnell’s Gift Basket donated by Jon Bonnell ’89. The winner was Katia Khammar ’18.

Day 12: Two tickets to the Creel Family Philanthropies Summer Soiree event donated by Whitney Creel ’04. The winner was Adelaide Moncrief Royer ’02.

Retired Faculty –Where are They Now?

By Debby Jennings

Art Burke

US Math/Administration 197892

At FWCD, Art was Math Department Chair and Upper School Dean of Students, taught AP Calculus, and advised Whiz Quiz, Middle School MathCounts, Student Council, Camp Anytown, and magazine sales.

Since retiring in 2010, Art and his wife, Sue, and their schnauzer, Scruffy, live in McKinney. Art is a crossing guard, works part-time for the PGA, writes songs, plays guitar and piano, and travels to his native Nova Scotia. He just completed a book of stories about Nova Scotia golfers. Art’s two sons, Steve and Matt, are both in Texas, so he sees them often.

Art treasures memories of his years working with Dan Foust, Susan Crummel, Steve Hoover, Chuck Hubbard, Dan Jones and Evan Peterson H’15. “They molded and shaped me into a better teacher,” he said.

Pamela Chernick

US Theatre/Head of Performing Arts 1990-98

Since 2008, Pam and her husband have divided their time between Denver and Niwot, Colorado, and getaways to warmer climates. For nearly 14 years, they wintered in Maui, where Pam helped start Maui Preparatory Academy’s theater program, now known for its outstanding music and theater performances.

Recently, the couple bought a condo in La Quinta, California, where Pam takes cooking and craft classes, plays bocce ball and MahJong, and is in a book club. Her two daughters and four grandchildren live in California and Colorado, so she sees them often. The Chernicks also have taken trips to many countries in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Russia.

“FWCD was by far the most enriching and supportive place I have worked,” Pam said. “I wouldn’t trade my time there for anything in the world.”

Bobbi Westendorf Business Office/Controller 1982-2013

Bobbi was hired as a part-time Administrative Assistant in the Upper School Office but quickly shifted to the Business Office (Accounts Receivable, Transportation Director, Controller). In that position, she successfully guided the School through 25 business audits.

Bobbi and her husband, Ron, live in Weatherford. They have been on cruises, ridden motorcycles in Galveston, been in the Mardi Gras parade, and spent time in Gulf Shores and Mexico. She recently returned from Ireland. A volunteer at her church, Bobbi is Chief Advocate for the Southwest Deanery for the Tribunal of the Diocese of Fort Worth and a member of St. Vincent de Paul. She joined the Parker County Newcomer and Women’s Clubs, serving as Treasurer and Chair of Friends Connecting. She plays MahJong and connects with FWCD friends in Book Circle each month.

Bobbi’s fondest FWCD memories involve the people. “It was a beautiful experience to walk around the campus and know each person,” she said.

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

1980s

Class Agents

1981 – Martha Cox marthaccox@yahoo.com

1981 – Dan Tatum danltatum@live.com

John Brookman ’80 was named to the 2023 Super Lawyers list in the category of Alternative Dispute Resolution. This exclusive list recognizes no more than 5% of attorneys in Texas. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication, is a research-driven, peerinfluenced rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

LanCarte Commercial Real Estate announced the addition of Jordan Johnson ’86 as Senior Vice President. According to the Fort Worth Report, Jordan has orchestrated some of the

most significant commercial real estate deals in Fort Worth, marking a career that spans three decades. Before joining LanCarte, Jordan served as Senior Vice President at NAI Robert Lynn Company, where he made notable contributions to the retail and hospitality real estate sector.

Richard Glover ’87, CEO of the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, was recently published in the Orlando Voyager. According to the article, Richard was chosen to lead the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, taking the helm there in April 2022. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) has continuously accredited the zoo since 1986. AZA accreditation represents the highest standards of animal care and well-being, business practices, and active animal conservation work. Richard says he is most proud of the team’s dedication and passion and the vital animal conservation work they do.

1990s

Class Agents

1992 – Craig Christopher craig@tarranttech.com

1995 – Alison E. McManus amcmanus@post.harvard.edu

1997 – Zareen Khan zareen@briggsfreeman.com

Rehan H. Ali, ’92, M.D., and his wife, Zainab Ali, recently made the cover of Society Life Magazine. Rehan practices emergency medicine in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and his wife is the provider at an urgent care clinic they own in Keller. They were recognized for their service in the field of medicine. They reside in Westlake with their four sons.

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) recently announced Elyse Stoltz Dickerson ’93 as an Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Southwest Award Winner. By winning this award, Elyse joined an esteemed multi-industry community of entrepreneurs who have driven their companies' success, transformed their industries, and positively impacted their employees and communities.

2000s

Class Agents

2001 – Craig P. Barbolla craig.barbolla@gmail.com

2001 – Susanna Gorski Bartolomei susannagb@protonmail.com

2002 – Ashley Stein Ralston astein927@gmail.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

Susanna Gorski Bartolomei ’01 recently started a new position at Compass. Susanna looks forward to working with the most forwardthinking brand in real estate and providing unmatched concierge service to her clients. Susanna has more than a decade of experience. She prides herself on her communication, knowledge and experience.

Brian Coyne ’02 joined Blue Origin on September 11, 2023, as Senior Manager of the Engineering Data Systems & Architecture (EDSA) team. The EDSA team delivers and supports interrelated tools that manage foundational engineering data for spaceflight systems. The team is building tools for the engineers who design, operate and maintain Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket by bringing complex data together and generating meaningful information for decisions. They build effective software solutions and tools that support engineering and operational teams from vehicle design

through tactical maintenance and repair operations. The role requires working closely with leadership throughout New Glenn and Blue Origin. Brian would like to express his deepest gratitude to Dr. James Aldridge H’14, who, in high school, ignited Brian's passion for science and computer science. Around the year 2000, Dr. Aldridge took the request from a small group of students, studied over the summer, and created the first Computer Science AP course in FWCD history. This set Brian on a path in his career that has led him to this newest stage. Dr. Aldridge's legacy continues through all of those he inspired.

Kate Strickland Jennings ’04 was named a 2023 DFW Child Magazine "Mom Approved" Child Therapist, and she was also named in the 2022 Class of Fort Worth's 40 Under 40. Kate's therapy office, The Bug & Bee, is across the street from FWCD at The LAKE Center, and her daughter, June, just started kindergarten in Mrs. Wall’s class. Also housed at The LAKE Center are services for pediatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, reading tutoring, and private pilates.

Bryce Parten ’07 started a position as Senior Director of Paid Media at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Before that, he was the VP of Client Services at iProspect, a global, award-winning digital marketing agency. At A&F, Bryce will lead and develop a holistic media strategy for the enterprise, overseeing paid media and organic search for Hollister, Abercrombie Adults, Abercrombie Kids, and Gilly Hicks.

Chazz Robinson ’08 was recently

promoted to Senior Program Manager at Specialized Bikes, a major bike manufacturer, managing two programs aimed at youth development through cycling and physical activity.

William Cravens ’09 accepted a new position as an Associate Attorney in the Intellectual Property Litigation group for the Dorsey & Whitney LLP law firm. In the new role, William is looking forward to working with creative and innovative brands and companies, ranging from topic areas of art, literature, and scientific innovation. Some of the firm's clients include Chanel, Crumbl Cookies, and Zipline International, Inc. (a company that provides blood packs to remote hospitals in Rwanda), to name a few.

2010s

Class Agents

2010 – Claire Davidovich clairedavidovich@gmail.com

2010 – Ashley Uptegraft auptegraft10@gmail.com

2010 – Miles Bratton mebratton91@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

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!

Mary-Madison Eagle ’06 and her husband, Edwin Buffmire, welcomed their first child, MacLean Buffmire, on May 8, 2023. The couple is overjoyed by their latest addition to the family.

Sarah (Kleberg) ’06 and Dillon Friedman ’05 welcomed Henrietta “Etta” Mamie Friedman, born September 11, 2023. She is already so loved, especially by her sister and brother, Lainey and Walker.

Courtney (Foreman) Franko ’06 and her husband, Andrew, welcomed Charles “Charlie” Thomas Franko on July 31, 2023, and couldn’t be happier about the latest little addition to their family.

Courtney Corbeille Krauss ’06 and her husband, Dave, are the proud new parents of Jack Barnes Krauss, born on May 9, 2023.

Madeline Merrill Sheridan ’06 and her husband, Thomas, are proud to introduce Elliott Merrill Sheridan, who arrived on December 24, 2023. Seasoned veteran big sister Berkeley is excited to show newly minted big brother Taylor the ropes.

Zibby (Graham) ’07 and JT Fant ’04 welcomed Jack Howard Stone Fant, “JH,” on September 22, 2023. He joins big sister Allie and big brother JW.

Rachel Stepp Lackey ’07 and her husband, Garrison, welcomed John Randall “JR” into the family on September 29, 2023. Weston and MK love their new baby brother.

Thompson Purvis ’07 and his wife, Lauren, celebrated the birth of Olivia Caroline Purvis on May 16, 2023.

Olivia’s older brother, Thompson V, is thrilled by the latest addition to their family.

Ally Plump Moore ’09 and her husband, Spencer, are in love with their latest bundle of joy, Sadie Forrest Moore, born on April 11, 2023.

Melissa Purvis Raulston ’09 and her husband, Doak, are thrilled to announce their latest addition, Virginia “Wynne” Raulston, born on February 4, 2023. Their older daughter, Margot, is a proud big sister.

John Jiongo ’12 and his wife, Michelle, celebrated the birth of their 8-pound, 12-ounce bundle of joy, Dutch Edward Jiongo, born on May 9, 2023.

Mattie Karsten Rice ’13 and her husband, Adam, welcomed Charlie Thomas Rice into the world on April 30. Ketrick Karsten ’16 and Aidan Karsten ’21 are proud uncles.

Rachel Hughes Williams ’13 and her husband, Chase, welcomed Sloan Katherine Williams on May 3, 2023. Big brother Charlie is so excited to have a new baby sister.

Sabrina Strain Acuña ’15 and her husband, Alec, welcomed their second daughter, Camila Gamze Acuña, on March 30, 2023.

Shelby Sanford Langford ’15 and her husband, Kyle, are excited to announce the birth of their first child, David Justin

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

Alex Espinoza ’11 started a new position as a Microsoft Solutions Specialist at SHI. SHI is an IT Solutions Provider that helps over 17,000 businesses in their IT environment. Alex is responsible for engaging with customers, helping them navigate through the alwaysevolving Microsoft technologies, and ensuring they are getting the most out of their investment for their operational functions and business initiatives.

Nathan Bowser ’13 recently started a new job as an Account Development Representative at NielsenIQ. Nathan focuses on helping smaller beverage and alcohol companies grow by selling them various data platforms.

Sarah Harrison ’14 graduated from The Creighton University School of Medicine on May 10, 2023. Sarah lives in Boston and is a first-year resident at Cambridge Health, a Harvard University teaching hospital.

William Nober ’14 is a Staff Economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). CEA is an agency within the executive office that does economic analysis for the public and for internal policy advice. William primarily works on energy and competition issues.

Ricky Rodriguez ’14 recently passed the bar examination to become a licensed attorney. Throughout the summer, Ricky utilized the FWCD campus as a quiet place to study. He said, “Being back at the School really helped with getting in the right mindset and approach of buckling down, but managing the heavy bar stress was much easier given I was where I first learned to manage big exams.”

Mary Barber ’15 has been living in Copenhagen for four years. She first moved there to earn a master's degree in security risk management. Mary has joined the Copenhagen office of Workday, which is a software development company, as a Cybersecurity Compliance Engineer. She is helping to ensure that Workday meets the necessary cybersecurity standards to manage risks and keep customer data secure.

According to The Fort Worth Report, Devon Davis ’15 joined Cantey Hanger, LLP. Devon graduated from Washington and Lee School of Law in

Virginia. While there, she clerked for Judge Robert M.D. Turk in the Montgomery Circuit Court of Virginia and was President of the Staples Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, an international law fraternity. Her previous experience includes working as a Legislative Assistant in the Tennessee House of Representatives, interning for Tune, Entrekin & White, PC, in Nashville, and clerking for John Allen Chalk at Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Schwartz, PLLC.

Jack Sankary ’16 was recently promoted to Sales Engineer at Pacific Energy Concepts (PEC). PEC provides custom, turnkey energy efficiency projects, including LED lighting, EV charging, and power monitoring for commercial and industrial customers looking to save energy and hit their sustainability goals while providing a brighter, safer workplace for their employees. Being new to the Sales Engineer role, Jack now gets to run his own book of business.

Molly Cassady ’18 graduated from SMU in 2022 with degrees in marketing and journalism and a minor in advertising. Upon graduation, she worked as a Marketing Manager at a Dallas IT consulting company. After a year, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in politics and media. Molly recently accepted a position in production at Newsmax Media, where her primary responsibilities involve ensuring the smooth operation of live shows and maintaining an updated schedule for the shows. Whether it’s early mornings covering breaking news or late nights scheduling guests for upcoming shows, every day is different for Molly, which makes it exciting.

Jordan Klein ’19 graduated from Tulane University from the A.B. Freeman School of Business with a B.S.M. in Marketing and Management. During her time at Tulane, she loved exploring the New Orleans area. Following graduation from Tulane, Jordan will continue her education at Queen Mary University of London to pursue a master’s degree in international marketing and business strategies.

Kaitlyn Johnson ’19 graduated cum laude from the University of Tulsa: Collins College of Business. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in management with a specialization in sports management and minoring in exercise and sports science. Upon graduating, Kaitlyn accepted the Global Partnerships Graduate Associate position with the Orlando Magic.

2020s

Class Agents

2020 – Stephanie Cook smcook350@gmail.com

2022 – Mary McGann marygmcgann@icloud.com

2023 – Lillian Buchanan lillianbuchanan0722@gmail.com

2023 – Chelsey Etta chelseyetta@icloud.com

2023 – Aurnoosh Eelani aurnoosheelani@gmail.com

Allison Moore ’20 had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in the French Riviera. She studied management and marketing at the SKEMA Business School in Sophia Antipolis. Allison had an incredible immersion experience living in a small French town and attending classes with local French students and other international students. Allison said the experience abroad allowed her to become a worldly citizen, build cross-cultural relationships, and gain a new perspective on French culture and way of life.

Jenna Schaffer ’22 started a new position as VP of Finance at The Women's Network at Baylor University. The Women’s Network is the largest collegiate women’s networking organization in the U.S. Its mission is to connect collegiate and recently graduated women to one another and to leaders across many industries while celebrating women’s ambition.

Mary McGann ’22, a psychology major at the University of Denver, was recently selected for one of two spots among 800 psychology majors to be a Research Assistant in one of the campus-sponsored labs. She also secured a summer job that will keep her in Denver, working for the University in their New Students and Family Programs Department.

Lillian Buchanan ’23 and Caroline Grebe ’23 reunited during the semester at the University of Virginia. Wake Forest and Duke played in the ACC Tournament hosted at UVA, so the girls came to support their teams and got to see each other.

In Memoriam

Janie Beggs

Thomas Brock

Robert Colby ’03

Sharon Craft

Ron Curley

Ann Snyder Foreman ’79

Stephen Goodwin

Ted Gorski

Priscilla Harrier H’11

H.W. "Bud" Hoffer

Janice Kelly

Charles Kendall

Theodore Mack

Lenore McLeland

William “Bill” Riley, Jr. ’67

Claire Robin

Maurice Salminen

Robert Smith

Keith “Bill” Watson ’00

Cynthia Weichsel

John H. Williams

Vivienne Hanger Wilson

Gerri Woodward

Beverly Horton Yates

Diane Young

Falcon Weddings

Claire Buechele ’12 married Bond Foster on June 24, 2023, in Dallas. The pair held their rehearsal dinner at the Dallas Arboretum the day before the wedding. On the big day, the ceremony was at Highland Park United Methodist Church, and the reception was at Arlington Hall.

Elizabeth (Beth Ann) Herd ’14 married Jackson Baker on June 10, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, with a reception at Shady Oaks Country Club. Both the ceremony and reception venues hold a special place in Beth Ann’s heart, as they are the very places where her parents celebrated their marriage in 1993. Falcon bridesmaids included Griffin Young West ’14, Claudia Boyd ’14, Genevieve Hodges ’14, Maggie Crockett ’14, Alden Griffin ’14 and Margaret Philpott ’14. Beth Ann and Jackson currently live in Austin with their dog, Winnie. Beth Ann is a first-year law student at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, and Jackson works for a real estate investment firm.

Austin Meadows ’13 and Missy Loeffel were married in Austin on June 3, 2023. The ceremony took place at the Riverbend Church, and their reception was at the Austin Country Club. Among the members of their wedding party, Megan Meadows ’15, sister of the groom, was one of the lovely bridesmaids. The groomsmen consisted of the following Falcons: Carson Phillips ’13, Andrew Ryan ’13, Bobby Baumeister ’13, Jonny Clum ’13, Thomas House ’13 and Oliver Newberry ’13

Meaghan Houston ’12 married Steven Meyer on June 24, 2023, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Audrey Laker Madigan ’12 was one of her bridesmaids. Meaghan and Steven had been together for 4.5 years when they married and moved to Charlotte last summer (2022). They have a dog named Ava, and Steven surprised Meaghan by having his family secretly pick her up from doggie daycare to take pictures with them before the ceremony!

Cassidy Bates ’15 married Gibson Duwe on September 9, 2023, at the top of Aspen Mountain. Several Falcon bridesmaids accompanied her down the aisle, including Riley Dean ’15, Ellee Conway ’15, Christina Paulus ’15 and Carlyle Rascoe ’15. Sarah Ransom ’15, Cassidy’s FWCD best friend since the fourth grade, was the maid of honor. A fun fact about the happy couple is that they had dated for 10 years before getting engaged!

Mixson Staffel ’15 and Emma Claire Barnes tied the knot in Houston on May 6, 2023. The ceremony was at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, followed by a reception at the Hotel ZaZa in the Houston Museum District. Mixson was supported by Falcon alumni groomsmen Stephen Nolan ’15, Russell Padfield ’15, Griffin Hughes ’15, Sawyer Stratton ’15, Ben Fortson ’15, Alex Herd ’15 and Austin Westermann ’16.

Thomas Samuelson ’12 married Caroline Sandy in Dallas on May 12, 2023. Falcons in attendance included Madeleine Samuelson Herman ’05, Annie Samuelson Schorfheide ’07, Emily Samuelson Mitchell ’10, and former faculty member Eileen Kelly.

Peter Ray ’10 met Lauren Oseland in the middle of 2020 at a local Dallas coffee shop called Foxtrot. Little did the pair know that they would be getting married three years later, on April 22, 2023. The ceremony and reception took place at Mae’s Ridge in Johnson City. Falcons in the wedding party included Megan Ray ’13, Meredith Nieswiadomy Ray ’06, Taylor Ray ’13, Breck Ray ’06, Carson Ray ’13, Cameron Horton ’10, Burke Kleinheinz ’10, Reed Brunette ’10, Perry Ginsburg ’10 and Elkin Kleberg ’10. Peter and Lauren recently moved back to Fort Worth.

Eleni Michaelides ’15 and Alexi Kapetanakis tied the knot on July 22, 2023, in Corfu, Greece. The pair met in Austin and are both half-Greek. The wedding was a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony in the Metropolitan Church of Corfu, followed by a reception at the Ekaterini Estate that included Greek dancing and plate-breaking, traditional Greek wedding customs. Kassadi Smith Phillips ’15, Ben Phillips ’13 and Nicholas Aufiero ’17 were all in attendance, as well as former FWCD teacher and mother of the bride Laura Michaelides.

Katelyn Tierney ’15 exchanged vows with Thomas Marsh on March 25, 2023, in Fort Worth. The ceremony took place at sunset on the Shady Oaks Golf Course. Katelyn had many Falcon bridesmaids standing by her side on the big day, including Sydney Phillips ’15, Carlyle Rascoe ’15, Ellee Conway ’15, Kate Laughlin ’15, Emily Hyde ’15, Christina Paulus ’15, Cassidy Bates ’15, Sarah Ransom ’15 and Devon Davis ’15. For the groomsmen, Brandon Tierney ’09 was a part of the groom’s party and couldn’t be happier for his little sister. Katelyn and Thomas moved back to Fort Worth in June, where Katelyn is a Client Service Associate at Morgan Stanley, and Thomas is a Regional Sales Manager at Carbyne.

Hannah Cramer ’15 married William Hamilton on August 19, 2023, in Banff, Canada. William is a Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot. Hannah’s brother, Cameron Cramer ’16, and Maddie Tunnard ’15 were at the wedding.

IN MEMORIAM

Priscilla Harrier H’11

Priscilla Harrier H’11 passed away on December 18, 2023. She was Fort Worth Country Day’s very first Lower School Librarian, serving the School from 1978 to 2011. Debby Jennings, FWCD’s Head Librarian from 1975 to 2015, is responsible for bringing Priscilla to the School. When Debby began to concentrate on the Upper School collection and research skills classes, she convinced then Head of School Ted Sanford H’98 to add a position so she could develop a K-12 program. “Priscilla was hired, and we worked together for over 30 years,” Debby said. “She was a master teacher/ librarian whose mission was to connect kids to books. It worked because they knew she would do anything for them. She was a cheerleader for reading.”

One of Priscilla’s trademark phrases – “One … two … three, eyes on me; one … two, eyes on you” — is remembered fondly. She loved helping children appreciate reading and created unique activities to bring literature to life. Priscilla instituted “Country Time at Country Day,” which involved reading accounts of pioneer days, popping popcorn over an open fire in the Lower School fireplace, milking a cow, and churning butter.

Also known as “The Lower School Bookie,” Priscilla thought of FWCD as her “professional utopia” because she was allowed the opportunity to match children and their families

with books that inspired them to appreciate the printed word. She was serious about making reading a lifelong pleasure. Modeling excellence and intellectual curiosity for her students, Priscilla taught them to love reading and to seek knowledge through books while also teaching them to use the library as a resource for learning. She formed book clubs and brought in guest authors to share their passion for literature with students.

Upon retirement in 2011, Priscilla was awarded Honorary Alumna status, the FWCD Alumni Association’s highest honor. During the 2018-19 academic year, the Moncrief Circle road was named Priscilla Harrier Way.

“Selfishly, I was so grateful to have my own time with Priscilla in my first few years at FWCD,” said Head of School Eric Lombardi. “She was such a fan of our school, had a wonderfully irreverent side, and was one of the reasons for my quick comfort in being a part of this community. My own parents saved the letter she wrote them after she met me.”

Priscilla embodied what Fort Worth Country Day is all about, and all who knew her are blessed to have had such an amazing person as a colleague and as a teacher of Lower School students. She will be missed.

From the Archives

Carved from the Prairie

Excerpt from Destined to Flourish, FWCD’s 50th-anniversary book:

Few people remember precisely what was said at the groundbreaking on December 12, 1962. It wasn’t because the words weren’t important. The noise from the bulldozers in the background made the speeches difficult to hear. The people gathered were taking a bold rise. They had acquired a plot of land for their school, but it was in a rural area known more for livestock than learning. Though they had made their decision, a huge question remained. Would parents who were accustomed to taking their children down the street to public school be willing to drive to a private school out in the country? … As hands chilled by the first 20-degree morning of the season guided the turning of symbolic spadesful of dirt, mighty earthmovers were already transforming the surrounding cattle pasture. With no time to waste, the urgency to create Fort Worth’s first coeducational independent school was all around them – and the excitement was practically deafening. Pictured above are Founding Trustees Perry R. Bass H’98 and Thomas M. Ryan.

See the 2024 re-creation of this photograph on page 35.

The Peter A. Schwartz Legacy Society

Fort

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.