PORTRAIT OF A IN THIS ISSUE:
2014 Graduation The Next Step Campaign Victory Reunion Recap
Leader Ann Teaff, Head of School 1998 – 2014
OBSERVATIONS
Ann Teaff with her advisees from the classes of 2014–2017.
My dear fellow students, In many ways I feel I am one of your fellow students
because I have learned so much from you these 16 years I have been at Harpeth Hall with you. Most of you will spend at least 16 years in school. That is the span of time from 1st through college graduation. That is exactly how long I have been at Harpeth Hall. The symmetry means something to me. It reminds me we are lifelong learners and forever students, always growing. It reminds me how much I have grown over these 16 years because of you. As this is the last time I address you as Head of School at Harpeth Hall, I have something I want to say: Thank you. Thank you for many, many things, but especially for these things below. You often have said you have learned from me. While you may have been learning from me, I was learning from you. Here are some of the lessons I have learned from you.
Courage
N
one of us is immune from self-doubt, including me. In that moment of self-doubt, I would think of you. I would picture you as eighth-graders and seniors and the courage it takes to stand on the stage of the Frances Bond Davis Theatre and deliver a speech before your peers and the faculty. Doing so is not easy. It is why we ask you to do it. For some of you, it is very hard.
I want you to know that when the challenge before me seemed too great, I would think of you and find my confidence. I truly have been inspired by your belief in me, and I hope I have inspired you in the same way. I believe in you.
How change begins
V
ery early in my time here, over pizza lunch with freshmen, I learned that the young girls did not feel the older girls were as supportive as they could be. I asked the freshmen what they could do about it. How could they help change things? One of the freshmen responded with wise words that rang true with me that day and still do: We will be different. As we become older, we will help change things. I was so proud of her and this group of girls because they did exactly what they said they were going to do. As the school’s leader, I certainly could have told everyone to be nice. Or I could challenge the girls to find their own solution and help create the culture they wanted at Harpeth Hall. The takeaway for me here, reinforced by you many times over the past 16 years, is that girls can make a huge difference in their own world if we give them the chance, if we empower them.
1
Determination
I
I
The answer usually is not facilities or programs, though those are important. Most of the time the seniors talk about people. Specifically, they talk about teachers and the community of other students. That is the heart of the School. The loving support by faculty and fellow students is what makes Harpeth Hall uniquely special and transformative.
One of our traditions at Harpeth Hall is the song each Upper School class sings at the end of Assembly. I remember one group of fifth-graders that did not want to wait. Fifth-graders came to me saying they wanted to have a song they sang at the end of Assembly: “We want to write a song,” they said. “Why not us?” My answer was what you might expect and probably something you have heard before: You have to wait your turn. It’s a privilege. Be patient. Your time will come.
have asked the seniors this question many times over the years. I want to capture their thoughts as they near the end of their Harpeth Hall years to see how we can improve the Harpeth Hall experience for others. I ask them to identify what is essential to the experience of being a student at Harpeth Hall — what matters most in a Harpeth Hall education.
Embrace the challenge
I
n recent months, I have been visiting with alumnae across the country to talk about their Harpeth Hall experience, what they are doing now, and the connection between the two. One alumna told me about her Winterim experience in Cambodia and how it is shaping her career path. She gave me something to think about as I reflected on the value of a Harpeth Hall education. Often, the girls who gain the most from Harpeth Hall are those who face the most challenges, the ones who push themselves the most, often reaching beyond what feels comfortable. They are the ones who understand the values of hard work and discipline. These alumnae visits are informative and rewarding in so many ways. What gives me great satisfaction is hearing the stories of these young women who did not necessarily feel they were “stars” at Harpeth Hall but have become stars as adults, thanks in part to the lessons they learned here.
Success is curvy
V
isiting with alumnae over the years has reinforced for me something else. Success is not measured in advanced degrees, professional careers, or money. Success is defined by what you gain as you follow your path, and only you can come up with the definition. Our alumnae find their path in life by following their own hearts and dreams. In the process, I have learned that success is not a straight line. It is curvy.
saved this one for last because part of me hesitates to share it, hoping you do not take away the wrong message. We have rules for a reason. We expect them to be followed. Sometimes, however, you bend a rule, and it makes us smile.
I am sure this group of fifth-graders heard me. I am sure they knew they were not supposed to write a song, but they did it anyway. They sang it to me one day shortly after our conversation. I loved their song, and they were proud they had created one. They never sang their song at Assembly, but I had a feeling the girls all remembered the song, so I asked them to sing it again when they were seniors and we were having our traditional Senior Picnic at Kirkman House. Please let this be a lesson in determination, not rule-breaking. You inspire me in so many ways, not the least of which is your spirit. May it sustain you as well as it has sustained me. And may you follow the curvy path, wherever it leads. If you get lost, remember those six words. They will help you find your way. I am so very proud of you. With your leadership, I don’t worry about the future. I look forward to it. You are smart, hardworking, visionary. You have big dreams. You live large lives. You have many options for your lives. I always wanted a daughter. Now in addition to my precious Cindy McPherson, I have hundreds, thousands of daughters. Bless you for your dreams and for these lessons. I will carry them with me always. Continued blessings on you, dear fellow students,
Head of School Ann Teaff
Some of you will wear suits; some will wear scrubs; some of you will wear artists’ smocks; some will wear hard hats; some will wear chefs’ hats. All of you will be successful, and in very different ways. I am inspired by that.
Summer 2014
OBSERVATIONS
What is most important
2
CONTENTS
In This Issue:
Features 7 State Champions Head coaches describe what it takes to win a state championship.
12 Exceptional Educators Two teachers recognized for outstanding teaching.
13 Summer Reading Looking for a good book to read this summer?
16 End-of-Year Celebrations
pg. 18
Honor Day, Step Singing, and Graduation highlighted. pg. 6
24 Portrait of a Leader Ann Teaff ’s visionary leadership transforms Harpeth Hall.
pg.
26 Board Leadership
pg. 29
We salute Board Chair Nancy Graves Beveridge ’80.
32 Reunion Recap A photo essay of 2014 Reunion.
Departments
A Timeline of Milestones during Ann Teaff ’s Tenure follows pg. 24
A TIMELINE OF Milestones during Ann Teaff’s Tenure 1998 On July 1, 1998, Ann Teaff becomes the fifth head of school for The Harpeth Hall School. During her 16-year tenure, her visionary leadership and unshakeable commitment to the pursuit of educational excellence for girls transforms Harpeth Hall into one of the country’s premier independent schools.
1999 Starts the first official international exchange program with St. Stithian’s School in Johannesburg, South Africa to encourage students to immerse themselves in the culture of another country. Today, Harpeth Hall offers additional exchanges in China, France, Germany, and New Zealand.
2000
2000
Introduces laptops to faculty and pilots a laptop program with our eighth-graders, achieving our goal of equal access to this learning tool and empowering our students to become more active learners.
As part of Harpeth Hall’s reaccreditation process, the Board of Trustees revisits the Mission Statement and the phrase Harpeth Hall educates young women to think critically, to lead confidently, and to live honorably is added.
Hires the first Service Learning Director who develops a comprehensive program for our middle and upper school students, helping them to develop a deeper understanding of social responsibility and an appreciation for the diversity of the world by engaging in meaningful service. Harpeth Hall is one of only 66 schools nationally, and the only one in Middle Tennessee, to be given the National Service Learning School award recognizing the School’s outstanding community service program. Launches $42 million capital campaign entitled The Campaign for Harpeth Hall to address important needs of the School, including expanding and upgrading facilities and increasing endowment.
2001 Institutes the 8th Grade Speech program and later the Senior Speech program in 2004 to provide our students with additional public speaking opportunities to master an important life skill. Harpeth Hall community adopts its Values Statement: The Harpeth Hall community — students and faculty — has chosen respect, integrity, individuality, and trust to be our guiding principles. These values reflect our reverence for expressing kindness toward and acceptance of others, our commitment to diversity, forgiveness, and achieving one’s personal best, and our dedication to the service of others.
2005 The Campaign for Harpeth Hall concludes with $44 million raised. Significant improvements and new facilities were completed including the new Ann Scott Carell Library, the Dugan Davis Track and Soccer Complex, Patton Visual Arts Center, and Daugh W. Smith Middle School. In addition, the following facilities were renovated: the Jack C. Massey Center for Mathematics and Science, George N. Bullard Gymnasium, Frances Bond Davis Theatre, Marnie Sheridan Gallery, and Souby Hall. Another goal met during the capital campaign was more than doubling our endowment — from $9 million to over $21 million.
HALLWAYS
pg. 24
Leaders A Leader of
2009
2006
2008
Implements a Good to Great initiative with trustees and faculty following the reading of Jim Collins’ best-seller, Good to Great. The faculty adopts the Faculty Core Purpose as part of the initiative:
Receives the Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Harpeth Hall’s Environmental Stewardship Initiatives which teach students that they can live in a more energy efficient way and become tomorrow’s leaders for environmental sustainability.
Our core purpose is to nurture a sense of wonder, to instill a will and facility for learning, and to promote cultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and service to others. The pursuit of these goals will inspire students and faculty to combine knowledge with goodness and reflection with action.
2007 Dedicates the Hortense Bigelow Ingram Upper School, made possible by a lead gift from the Ingram Charitable Fund. With more than 35,000 square feet of renovated space, the Hortense Bigelow Ingram Upper School provides the academic facilities needed to support the rigorous college preparatory program of today and tomorrow. Installs the first high school synthetic field in Tennessee specifically for soccer and lacrosse thanks to a gift by loyal supporter and sports enthusiast, Joe C. Davis, in memory of his mother, Dugan Davis, a long-time Harpeth Hall teacher and coach. Receives the National School Library Media Program of the Year Award for our exemplary school library media programs, which are fully integrated into the school’s curriculum, and for our commitment to ensuring students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.
Middle School athletics moves to open participation to fulfill our mission of allowing our younger students a myriad of options for selfexploration. By having a sport without tryouts open to any girl each season along with tryout teams, all can participate and experience the physical, social, and emotional growth athletics offers during these pivotal years.
2009 Founds the Online School for Girls, the first-ever online school dedicated to secondary education for girls, with three of the country’s top independent girls’ schools.
Launches the public phase of The Next Step — Strengthening the Mind, Body, and Spirit, a $35 million campaign focused on building a new Athletic and Wellness Center, acquiring contiguous property, increasing endowment, and sustaining a strong Annual Giving program.
2011
During Ann Teaff ’s tenure
Adopts a Wellness Statement to foster a wellness culture in all areas of school life and to promote balanced lifestyle choices that lead to a healthy, meaningful life.
transformational changes occurred at Harpeth Hall: Arts
Added four new choirs since 2002: Upper School Chamber Choir, Advanced 5/6 Choir, Advanced 7/8 Choir, and Lads and Plaid, a collaborative choir between Harpeth Hall and Montgomery Bell Academy. Tripled participation in the Middle School and Upper School orchestra programs.
2014
2010 Receives a $250,000 Edward E. Ford Leadership Grant to establish The Center for STEM Education for Girls at Harpeth Hall, designed to increase girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering, and math studies in high school and college and to encourage them to aspire to STEM careers.
Concludes The Next Step — Strengthening the Mind, Body, and Spirit campaign with the opening of a 60,000 square foot Athletic and Wellness Center, adding 4.8 more acres to the campus, increasing endowment by more than $10 million and sustaining a $1 million Annual Fund. Presents 88 diplomas to the Class of 2014, bringing the total number of graduates who have received a diploma from Head of School Ann Teaff during her 16-year tenure to 1,472.
ff begin Ann Tea o page insert intr page 25 from continued
Athletics Admission Enrollment: 539 to 681 Percentage of students of color: 6.5% to 12.7% Financial Aid: $360,000 to $1.7 million
Increased the number of Middle and Upper School teams from 21 in 1998-1999 to 44 teams in 2013-2014 Doubled the number of State Championships at the varsity level from 22 championships in five sports in 1998-1999 to 50 championships in nine sports by 2013-2014.
B
The Harpeth Hall campus has grown from 33.6 acres in 1998 to more than 44 acres today. The additional land acquired over the years has enabled us to expand academic buildings and to site the new Athletic and Wellness Center in an ideal location. Additional land will help meet the demand for more athletic fields and green space to support the growth in our student body and to enhance the learning environment for the long-term.
I am convinced that Ann Teaff has taken Harpeth Hall from good to great. All you have to do is remember the Harpeth Hall campus in 1998 and see the campus of today to realize how much Ann accomplished as Head of School. There are the unseen improvements as well: The Online School for Girls, the music program, the employee evaluation system, the balanced budget, the increase in the endowment and so many more innovations and accomplishments. As chairman of the board, I loved working with Ann and over the years she has become a special friend. We were lucky to have her as Head of our School.” — Susan Willingham Simons ’60, Board Chair from 2000 to 2009
Working with Ann Teaff has given me a privileged ringside seat to see what is in her heart, and what I have witnessed and experienced is a deep, selfless, steadfast, and unconditional love for our girls and this community. Her leadership has been transformational, and her legacy will be reflected for years to come in the lives of the hundreds of girls for whom she provided the opportunity to learn to think critically, lead confidently, and live honorably.”
Observations
3
Academics
6
Service
7
Athletics
10
Performing Arts
16
End-of-Year
Celebrations
38
Regional
— Dr. Nancy Graves Beveridge ’80, Board Chair 2008-2012, 2013-2014
Ann Teaff simply raised Harpeth Hall up to be a premier girls’ school in the United States. She not only modeled to the girls a paragon of great values: The highest expectations of oneself in all areas, including compassion, hard work, citizenship, and she did it in the spirit of humor and grace. What more could a school ask or receive. Her work for Harpeth Hall went above and beyond. At the same time she was fulfilling these most important qualities, she also was a great administrator. She really was a once-in-a-lifetime head of school, and how incredibly fortunate Harpeth Hall is to be the school to which she gave her commitment. On a personal note, I am grateful because she inspires me as a person, friend, and businesswoman. I just think, ‘Wow’ when I think of her, and I love her smile!” — Delphine Sloan Damon ‘86, member of the Alumnae National Advisory Council
Summer 2014
Gatherings 41
Class Notes
HALLWAYS STAFF
Ann Teaff, ol Head of Scho
om ce and wisd
gra have the May you ly, learning what is To act kind ish between can be To distingu most of them t is not. debated, but taining and wha leader are often while also main Personal
human admired to do. dients for an sensitive and right thing he main ingre een remaining what one thinks is the ol and is do a balance betw Head of Scho distilled to h forward and nge of every the community gh skin to marc e everyone is a challe nts constitute ion. a tough enou pleas cular decis and the stude you cannot with any parti the students the parents, Knowing that The faculty, for s would agree one. best er is group t lesson numb rity of all three Head of School is, “wha school is made better that a majo as . ’s compass lens then the and it is rare sharper focus for Ms. Teaff through that on is given The true north If every decision is seen ow, and the missi ing, swall to meet run?” rsation and st pill for them in the long with each conve students is not the easie s test keeps her aim true. and stronger litmu for the Ms. Teaff ’s d. , what is best simplicity of girls, perio Sometimes the the for but teachers, the right thing nor for the it has to be of the day, At the end
T
The Endowment maintains our campus facilities, provides resources to meet financial aid requests, and supports our talented faculty who help shape our girls’ passion for learning. Endowment grew from $7.6 million in 1998 to more than $38 million in 2014.
Property
world, and dant in our ip are abun ership.” t leadersh “Level 5 Lead seminars abou . Jim Collins calls it onal humility ches, and mix of pers after year r ooks, spee the perfect growing year creates bette Leaders have ions, which in turn 5 l the lists keep Leve er. to Collins, hard decis virtuous lead According to make the cted on a ssary refle nece evelt in the ssional will dore Roos is actually and profe ago, Theo son> who y, best s. A century is the <per institution counts. . .it Franklin Cove critic who ors such as the have Auth le, not ” is ntly. “It Effective Peop strives valia s to be s for Highly arena. . .who yone seem Seven Trait ip alone. Ever his book, known for s on leadersh ns of book ip. and written doze holy grail for leadersh blessings the with Celtic e, in search of O’Donohu book filled k by a little Us, by John er,” the I was struc e between for a Lead Spac sing the Recently, om. To Bless ve in his “Bles for what a good words of wisd bestseller, but I belie and wishes s, ns a blessings on his verse is by no mea ulates his n reflecting tifully artic has Whe beau who be. , or to auth strive of Ann Teaff er should thoughts odies and true lead filled with s. She emb s help but be sixteen year line one walk for the last one cannot ted leader n of the fine , never been our devo O’Donohue’s descriptio approach ct of refining ones opinion, Ann every aspe ming and my Always refor ibility of change; in at Harpeth as a leader. poss er the lead a of void qualities of give you arrogant or d the best follow will plifie that so exem ories ing Teaff has and mem years of work the verses through the Hall. I hope age point of my vant a glimpse Ann. closely with
Director by Jess Hill, er School of the Upp
Endowment Funds
FEATURE
FEATURE
pg.
2
Joanne Mamenta, Editor Lauren Finney, Designer Photographers: Peyton Hoge, Joanne Mamenta, Michael Strasinger, and Uchida Photography Hallways is published twice a year by The Harpeth Hall School 3801 Hobbs Road, Nashville, TN 37215. www.harpethhall.org This magazine is printed on FSC certified paper made up of 50% recycled content including 25% post consumer waste.
HALLWAYS
COVER
Ann Teaff portrait by renowned portrait artist Michael Shane Neal.
Academics
The Harpeth Hall Cum Laude Society
The Harpeth Hall Cum Laude Society received its charter in 1973. The primary purpose of the Cum Laude Society has been to recognize scholastic achievement of students while simultaneously striving to encourage qualities of excellence, justice, and honor. Students inducted in March were seniors Abigail Claire Biesman, Rebecca Lynn Blair, Grace Marie Hawkins, Carson Elizabeth Hewett, Samantha Bailey Hopp, Brianne Widney Morrow, and Mary Caton Peffen. Juniors inducted were Brianna Jade Bjordahl, Annika Michele Brakebill, Carolyn Paige Edwards, Catherine Woods Falls, Reagan Elizabeth Freeman, Katee Goldenring, Sophie Adele Pilkinton, Rebecca Jasmina Rousseau, Miriam Elizabeth Stinson, and Elizabeth Grace Turner. Faculty member inducted was Michele O’Brien, Middle School history teacher.
Carell Artist in Residence Master Puppeteer Brian Hull enthralled, engaged, and entertained students in assemblies and workshops as part of his weeklong Carell Artist in Residency Program in February. The Carell Artist in Residency program was established by the late Ann and Monroe Carell and their daughters, Julie Carell Stadler ’77, Edie Carell Johnson ’80, and Kathryn Carell Brown, and supports an artist, musician or writer for a week’s residency of workshops and lectures. Mr. Hull is the creative genius behind the Nashville Public Library’s Marionette Program. To view one of his assembly presentations, visit https://vimeo.com/86070279.
3
Language Immersion For the fifth year, Harpeth Hall will send students to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). Ellie Beahm ’14 has been accepted to the program to study Persian in Tajikistan, and Catherine Falls ’15 has been accepted to study Arabic in Morocco. The NSLI-Y is a fully funded national program that provides high school students the opportunity to learn “lesser commonly studied foreign languages, including Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish.” To date, seven Harpeth Hall students have participated in this program, studying Chinese in China and Arabic in Egypt, Morocco, and Turkey.
Journalism Awards
At the Tennessee High School Press Association’s (THSPA) annual state-wide awards ceremony in March, Jocelyn Sitton ’14 won the Tennessee High School Press Association’s H.L. Hall Outstanding Student Journalist Award. This award, named for the former THSPA director, goes to the student exhibiting strengths in various journalistic areas and strong leadership skills. Additional awards included first place for Best Overall Newspaper, Logos; first place for Best Overall Literary Magazine, Hallmarks; first place for Best Inside Page Design; third place for Best Editorial; and honorable mention for Best Editorial. Summer 2014
Siemens Challenge Competition
ACADEMICS
4
T
wo middle school teams from Harpeth Hall placed in the top 45 finalists in the nation for the prestigious Siemens Challenge competition. In fact, they were two of three teams that were finalists from Tennessee. The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge encourages middle school student teams, working with a team advisor/mentor, to identify environmental issues of concern and create sustainable, reproducible improvements in their local communities.
From left: Avery Taylor, Becky Smith, and Adison Fields
From left: Ashley Zhu, Becky Smith, Gavi Abelow, and Marguerite Trost
Harpeth Hall’s first team researched non-native plants and, to a lesser extent, animals and their effects both globally and in Nashville. Students learned about the various processes to ameliorate the spread of non-native plants, especially through the interactive mapping of non-native locations, and surveyed Harpeth Hall to measure awareness of the issue. Students arranged meetings with representatives from Warner Parks to help with its Invasive Plant Control program and developed plans to educate the public about the invasive threat and prevention through planned workshops. The second team wanted to see if students would reduce the amount of electricity used at Harpeth Hall by setting up a monitoring system where students could see how much electricity they were using in real time. The hope was that this would encourage behavior changes that would reduce the school’s overall use of electricity. Middle School Science Department Chair Becky Smith mentored each team.
2014 Upper School Awards Day Honors Junior Book Awards
Sophomore Book Awards
University of Chicago Book Award:
Keely Hendricks
Kate Goldenring
Harvard University Book Award:
Rebecca Rousseau
Hollins College Book Award:
Nava Shaw
University of Pennsylvania Book Award:
Annika Brakebill
Princeton University Book Award:
Brianna Bjordahl
Randolph College Book Award:
Noni Marshall
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal Award:
Morgan Hosay
Sewanee: The University of the South Book Award:
Briley Newell
Vanderbilt University Book Award:
Rhodes College Book Award:
Wesleyan College Book Award:
Sloane Fuller
End-of-Year Awards
FRESHMEN • SOPHOMORES • JUNIORS All senior award recipients on page 22 Elizabeth Pope Evans Award Recipients for Highest Grade Point Average (GPA)
Juniors: Annika Brakebill, Carolyn Edwards, Kate Goldenring, Sophie Pilkinton, Rebecca Rousseau Sophomores: Kristen Barrett, Keely Hendricks, Melissa Markham, Lucy Massey, Abby Sparrow Freshmen: Zsozso Biegl, Grace Anne Holladay, Emily Jenkins, Anna Owens, Claire Smith
Carolyn Edwards
Chemistry Award: Rebecca Rousseau ’15
University of Virginia Jefferson Book Award:
Outstanding Junior Research Paper:
Sophie Pilkinton
Washington and Lee University Book Award:
Helen Mistler
Carolyn Edwards ’15
Eta Sigma Phi Latin Award (Second Year)
Grace Anne Holladay ’17
Wellesley College Book Award:
Best Techie Award: Marliese Dalton ’15
Yale University Book Award:
Junior: Izzy Essary Sophomore: Callie Jane Simmons Freshman: Bitsy Pendleton
Marliese Dalton Catherine Falls
HALLWAYS
Lauren Grace Himes ’14 and Elizabeth Allen
Class Spirit Awards
Ellie Beahm ’ 14 and Ann Teaff Janette Fox Klocko and Brianne Morrow ’14
SEEK
ACADEMICS
E
5
Middle School Students Engage in Independent Research
ighteen seventh- and eighth-graders received medals at an all-school assembly in April for their independent research in the SEEK program. SEEK stands for Scholars Engaged in Extending Knowledge and was established nine years ago to provide a student enrolled in the seventh or eighth grade at Harpeth Hall with a means to pursue independent study in an area of her choice. It is designed to encourage a student to expand her learning beyond the standard curriculum with the aid of an in-school and/or out-of-school mentor. SEEK is the quest for “scholarship for its own sake and for its own reward,” said Mary Lea Bryant, Director of the Middle School. In her keynote speech, Joelle Phillips, president of AT&T Tennessee, shared that she is a neighbor of Harpeth Hall and how much she enjoys hearing the cheers of fans and players on the softball field because of what that sound represents. “It is the sound of women encouraging other women. It is the sound of encouragement and that is fantastic.” To Ms. Phillips, Harpeth Hall’s students can thrive because they are nurtured in a community that “engages in encouragement of one another.” Indeed. Mrs. Bryant reminded the audience that with “support and encouragement, students have the imagination, intellect, and energy to achieve high levels of excellence.”
Here are a few of this year’s SEEK Fellows with their projects. Visit www.harpethhall.org to read about the rest of the projects.
Neha Ramanna studied ballet and pointe shoes and built her own pointe shoes.
Caroline Spindel researched solar wind and how it is impacted by Earth’s magnetic field. She designed a model of the sun’s interior using Tinkercard, a tool used to create digital designs that can be printed using the 3-D printer.
Olivia Olafsson studied the evolution of the “book” and created a book that features pages from each of the major historical points in the creation of the modern book.
Sarah Tolbert researched the importance of nutrition for Type I diabetics and created a cookbook containing healthy, diabetic-friendly recipes.
Summer 2014
SERVICE
6
Service Projects
Supporting Girls’ Education and Alleviating Food Insecurity Lwala Dodgeball Tournament
T
wenty-six cleverly themed teams of high school students from across the city competed in our annual Dodgeball Tournament to raise funds for the Lwala Community Alliance. Almost $3,000 was collected through team registrations, donations, and Lwala merchandise sales. Each year, Harpeth Hall students commit to raising $10,000 to provide new uniforms and reusable sanitary pads for sixth-grade girls in Lwala, Kenya, to encourage them to stay in school. Harpeth Hall’s Bear Necessities bookstore sells notecards featuring pictures of students in Lwala taken during a Winterim trip. The cost of the notecards is $10 for a packet of five or $17 for two packets.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
M
ore than 100 students, faculty, family members, and alumnae participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 20. This is the fourth year that Harpeth Hall students and alumnae have joined forces on this day to alleviate Middle Tennessee food insecurity, which means not having reliable access to sufficient quality food. At Second Harvest Food Bank, 95 participants sorted 4,704 pounds of non-perishable items, bagged 968 pounds of apples, and collapsed boxes for recycling. At the Nashville Food Project, which is overseen by Executive Director Tallu Schuyler Quinn ’98, 20 participants remained on site to help chop, mix, and cook a warm meal that would be delivered to a community of homeless and working poor individuals in Davidson County. The remaining participants, many under the age of 6, helped prepare a garden bed at The Nashville Food Project’s Wedgewood Garden site.
HALLWAYS
Harpeth Hall fielded a state championship team in each of the three seasons during the 2013 -2014 school year. We asked our head coaches:
ATHLETICS
7
Coach Polly Linden
What Makes a State Championship Team?
Coach Meggie Lucas and Kirstin Robertson ’14
Swimming and Diving The Harpeth Hall Swimming and Diving Team won the 2014 state championship. It was the eighth state championship for Coach Polly Linden, who has coached the team for 20 years. This season, many strong teams were in the hunt for the state championship. “Our girls did a great job rising to the occasion when they knew the championship was on the line and swam fast,” said Head Coach Linden. Not all teams are able to do this. Head Coach Jim Romero and Lydia Witty ’15
Some buckle under pressure. Not Harpeth Hall. “They had the desire to win,” said Coach Linden, “They also had incredible support from each other and from the school. Lots of fans came to cheer them on, and I think that contributed to the win.”
Soccer A committed team, seniors taking on leadership roles, and a new coaching strategy from first year Head Coach Meggie Lucas and her coaching staff of Anne Weingartner and Austin Jones Reeves ’03 led to the school’s first state soccer championship last fall. “The team developed a stronger work ethic, playing tougher in practice. This is hard for our girls because they are taught to be nice, but our seniors showed through practice they would play aggressively — sliding, tackling — and it changed the culture of our practices and ultimately our games,” said Coach Lucas. Throughout the season, the team kept November 2 in its sights — the date of the state championship game. “I told them that I expected us to be in that game and that we would win. And it was the whole team that won, not just 11 players.”
Track and Field “As a coach it has always been and will always be my philosophy to create an environment where winning becomes contagious — where the desire to compete every day in practice becomes the norm. In my opinion this is what breeds championship athletes and teams: Athletes who are confident yet not cocky; athletes who embrace your philosophy and respect you as a coach and mentor. At the end of the day, your athletes must be willing to sacrifice every individual goal for the good of the team,” said Head Coach Jim Romero. Summer 2014
ATHLETICS
8
Track and Field State Champions
Athletic Season Round-Up Annika Brakebill ’15
Molly Power ’17
ATHLETIC SUMMARY FOR 2013 – 2014
MIDDLE SCHOOL
UPPER SCHOOL
Cross Country HVAC Champions
Soccer State Champions
Golf HVAC Runner-Up
Cross Country State Runner-Up
Soccer HVAC Runner-Up
Basketball State Semi-Finalist
Swimming and Diving HVAC Champions
Swimming and Diving TISCA State Champions
Tennis HVAC Runner-Up
Riflery State Runner-Up
7/8 Track and Field HVAC Runner-Up
Tennis State Semi-Finalist
5/6 Track and Field League Champions
Track and Field State Champions
Claire Temple ’16
Kennedy Potts ’14 Swimming and Diving State Champions
COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT ATHLETES Reagan Alley | cross country and track | Rhodes College Liz Curtis | lacrosse | Washington & Lee University Lauren Grace Himes | soccer | Davidson College Rebecca Morris | soccer | Washington & Lee University HALLWAYS
Kennedy Potts | basketball | Lipscomb University Claire Ramage | soccer | Vanderbilt University Kirstin Robertson | soccer | Austin Peay University
SOPHIE PILKINTON:
9
ATHLETICS
Three-Time State Champion Sophie Pilkinton ’15 is the first Harpeth Hall athlete in more than a decade to earn a state championship in three sports in one year — soccer, swimming and diving, and track and field. The last student was Allie Bohannon ’04 who competed on the state championship cross country, basketball, and track and field teams during the 2002-2003 school year. Allie went on to run track for the University of California at Los Angeles. Like Allie, Sophie garnered her athletic accolades as a junior. To Sophie, there were a number of factors that contributed to these state championship titles: Jordan Burkart ’16
• Commitment of coaches. “They believed in us, inspired us, and poured their hearts into their efforts. In turn, each person wanted to give their best effort for the coach and each other.” • Upperclassmen leadership. “They created a special bond among the girls; it takes certain upperclassmen to bridge the gap with lowerclassmen.” • Universal contribution. “It was not always the expected players who made the difference — though they often were remarkable — rather, it took the whole-hearted effort of others who rose to the occasion, giving their personal best.” • A common goal. “We wanted to reestablish Harpeth Hall as a dominant force within the athletic community.” • Depth of talent. “Each team had members who had yearround experience in each area outside of Harpeth Hall. Some even had played together, which was to our advantage, through travel soccer (TSC), Nashville Aquatic Club, and Precision Track.” • Commitment to practice: “Many of the girls not only had school practice, but also practiced additionally in the evening in that same sport or even another.”
Lizzy LeBleu ’15
Sophie believed each team played in honor of Head of School Ann Teaff ’s final year. “Under Ms. Teaff ’s guidance, athletics have prospered tremendously. Harpeth Hall’s flexibility with multi-sport athletes was critical to this year’s success, which we owe to Ms. Teaff ’s leadership. The image of her in the stands, waving her dark magnolia green flag, remained etched in our minds, inspiring greatness each time we had the privilege to represent Harpeth Hall.”
2014 State Track and Field Championship: Sophie won three individual state championships -- 4x800 relay, 4x400 relay, and 800M run. This is her third straight championship in the 800M; she won as a freshman, sophomore, and junior.
Emma Pruett ’15
Summer 2014
PERFORMING ARTS
10
Performing
Upper School One Acts
Spring Dance Concert, “Every Journey Begins with A Dream”
Upper School One Acts
Middle School Spring Music Concert
HALLWAYS
Arts Middle School Musical “The Little Mermaid”
PERFORMING ARTS
11
Spring Dance Concert
Middle School Spring Music Concert
Upper School Spring Play “Almost Maine”
Summer 2014
Exceptional Educators Share
FACULTY
12
What do you hope
your students take away from your class? LULU HAMPTON OWEN CHAIR
Anne Riegle
“I
hope my students take away a joy of learning. I want them to laugh and enjoy the process. I want them to communicate well and work together as a team. The truth be told, they may not remember what an indirect object is in 20 years, but I hope they will always love to learn.” Lulu Hampton Owen Chair was established in 1993 by a bequest from Lulu Hampton Owen, a founding board member and a member of the Harpeth Hall Board of Trustees for 20 years. This award is bestowed annually to a teacher who demonstrates excellence in scholarship, unusual ability to communicate with students, excitement about teaching and learning, a commitment to the moral and intellectual development of students, and a dedication to the life of the school.
HEATH JONES PRIZE FOR THE PROMISE OF EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
Maddie Martin Waud ’05
“I
hope my students leave my class better able to address real-life problems. While a lot of the math we do does have practical applications for daily life and certain jobs, I know these students will always live in a world where they can google formulas and look up solutions. So, I try to prepare my students to think critically about a problem, assess what information they will need, collaborate with their peers, and communicate their process clearly. I hope they leave their fear of math behind and become more confident about their abilities in my class, and learn how to solve problems well from start to finish.” The Heath Jones Prize is awarded to a full-time teacher who has had five years or less of full-time classroom experience and who has taught at Harpeth Hall for two years or more. The award is dedicated to A. Heath Jones, a teacher and academic dean at Harpeth Hall from 1984-1996. HALLWAYS
Summer Reading
FACULTY
13
Students
All-School Reads
Each summer, Harpeth Hall’s Middle and Upper School students have a required All-School Read supported by the Massey Lecture Series Fund. This year, the mathematics department chose the two books. Upper School students will read The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. The novel is an enchanting story about what it means to live in the present, and about the curious equations that can create a family. Middle school students will read The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This novel centers around the adventures of Sam Westing’s sixteen heirs after they are challenged by him to unravel the secret behind his death.
Harpeth Hall chooses two books for parents to read over the summer and invites parents to participate in book discussions in the fall. This summer’s all-parent reads are: The Myth of the Perfect Girl: Helping Our Daughters Find Authentic Success and Happiness in School and Life by Ana Homayoun. Ms. Homayoun is our Today’s Girl in Tomorrow’s World Symposium speaker and will address parents and the community at 6 p.m. on Oct. 28 in the Frances Bond Davis Theatre. Admission is $10. Redefining Girly: How Parents Can Fight the Stereotyping and Sexualizing of Girlhood, from Birth to Tween by Melissa Atkins Wardy.
Harpeth Hall
All-Parents
Summer Reads
Looking for a Great Summer Book to Read?
Check out these recommendations from Harpeth Hall librarians
for Adults
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt HALLWAYS
for Children
Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo The Candymakers by Wendy Mass Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea Smile by Taina Telgemeier Breathing Room by Marsha Hayles
Summer 2014
Summer Programs Enrich Faculty Development
FACULTY
14
FELLOWSHIP OFFERS
Jefferson Library in Charlottesville, Virginia. With the dual goal of enhancing their classroom teaching and contributing to the collection of digital resources available, teachers will collaborate on projects such as lesson plans, curricular units, resource packets, or other creative products rooted in the history of the founding principles and their relevance today. For her research, Ms. Richarde will study the relationship between Jefferson’s idealism and the reality of slave ownership. “Middle school students are intrigued by the notion of fairness, and they expect words to be supported by actions. They are fascinated by the key arguments of the Declaration of Independence and of Jefferson’s deleted slavery critique, and they want to understand the seeming contradictions in his world,” said Ms. Richarde who hopes to “seek a greater understanding of the slavery debate as it applies both to Jefferson’s life and to the nation at large.” As part of her curriculum, Ms. Richarde has her students study history from a variety of different perspectives. “The American Revolution is examined from the Loyalist, Neutralist, and Patriot viewpoints, as the issues of the day come to life in debate. The controversy surrounding slavery is similarly explored, as students examine primary source materials written by both abolitionists and slaveholders,” said Ms. Richarde.
Window into History
C
athy Richarde, Middle School history teacher, received the prestigious Barringer Research Fellowship for Teachers of American History. She is participating in the Monticello Teacher Institute in July. The goal of the institute is to provide an immersive professional development opportunity for secondary school social studies teachers, giving them the opportunity to research and study at Monticello and the
LITHUANIAN TRIP
Deepens Teacher’s Understanding
P
amela Carver, Chair of the Middle School English Department, spent a week in Lithuania in June with four Montgomery Bell Academy teachers to gain a deeper understanding of the country in advance of a curriculum project between Harpeth Hall and MBA students. The teachers met with government officials, conducted research, and interviewed survivors of the Stalinist deportations to Siberia. The trip was arranged by local author Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray. Ms. Septys’ book was the 2013 Summer Upper School All-School Read, and she gave an inspiring presentation at an all-school assembly last fall. The book will be the 2014 Summer All-School read for MBA students. Harpeth Hall seventh- and eighth-grade students will read the novel over winter break and share impressions and ideas with MBA students through a blog. The novel recounts the forcible relocation of countless Lithuanians in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country in 1939. It centers on 16-year-old Lina, her mother, and her younger brother who are sent to a forced-labor camp in Siberia. “Visiting the sites from Between Shades of Gray and meeting with actual survivors of this era, whose numbers are dwindling, will provide us with unique opportunities,” said Mrs. Carver prior to the trip. HALLWAYS
JENNIFER ADAMS AND TRACI KELLER:
Developing Leadership
O
ver the last five years, the Harpeth Hall Middle School Leadership Program has gained national and local recognition. Jennifer Adams, Director of Counseling, and Traci Keller, Middle School Dean of Students, have consulted with schools nationwide that are developing leadership programs and presented the Harpeth Hall Middle School Leadership Program at conferences across the country.
FACULTY
15
Last April, Jennifer and Traci presented at the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education’s annual two-day Symposium on Leadership Development at Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas. Harpeth Hall was one of three schools chosen to be a part of the symposium. More than 60 educators from schools in California, the East Coast and Texas engaged in conversation about the importance of leadership development.
Violet Jane Watkins Harpeth Hall History Teacher 1955 –1978
A
lthough very petite in stature, Violet Jane Watkins was not a teacher to be overlooked. When bringing the tales of early settlers to life, she is remembered for perching precariously on her desk, performing an amazing balancing act. “The students were torn between learning ‘the rest of the story’ or watching to see when the scale might tip — leading to her tumbling onto the floor. I’ll bet that her balance remained in check for the 23 years she taught at Harpeth Hall,” recalled Susan Handly Hammer ’71. Violet Jane Watkins passed away on April 28, 2014, the only child born to Nashville physician, Dr. John T. Watkins, Jr. and wife, Violet Burnside Watkins, on August 22, 1918. Alumnae remember Miss Watkins for her ability to make American history come alive in the classroom and her joy of bird watching. “Miss Watkins’ legacy is in the grace and humor with which she imparted innumerable history lessons. I learned so much from her,” recalled Sheridan Anglea Dulaney ’70. Peggy Craig ’71 remembered how Miss Watkins kept binoculars nearby in case a distinct and melodious chirping was heard.
“If you were lucky enough to be taking a test when this beautiful interruption occurred, chances are you were awarded five bonus points just by identifying her little friend,” added Peggy Craig. Even in her 90s, the petite Miss Watkins was a force. Sallie King Norton ’71 visited with her in early spring and remarked how sharp her mind was. In fact, Miss Watkins was meeting with her tax accountant at the time of Sallie’s visit. “It was obvious that she knew exactly what was going on with her personal finances, and she made it quite clear that he understood as well!” Besides teaching history, Miss Watkins’ early life made history. She became the subject of several articles and documentaries regarding her engagement to Lt. Charles Winnia, a WWII Marine Aviator, whom she met while attending Vanderbilt University. Lt. Winnia and his aircraft were lost over the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific and he did not return. His diary, a heartfelt expression of his relationship with Violet Jane Watkins, was later discovered and identified and, along with his letters to her, led to a National Public Radio (NPR) documentary. Summer 2014
GRADUATION
16
Honor Day Celebrates 8th Graders
8th Grade Awards The 45th Annual Honor Day on May 26 celebrated the happiness of the day as well as the joyful spirit of the Class of 2018. Honor Day began in 1969 when Harpeth Hall recognized the first eighthgraders to receive certificates of merit for completing the School’s Middle School program. Honor Day Speaker McKenzie Darnell challenged her classmates “to keep our happiness, bliss, laughter, love, and our desire to care for each other as we cross Souby into a whole new world.”
HALLWAYS
Elizabeth Hausman Community Service Award • Ashley Miles Hawkins Polly Fessey Award • Alina Lizzy Asad Lindy Sayers Award • Eleonor Cheri Wright Director’s Award • Marguerite Fillebrown Coombs Carol Clark Elam History Award • Sydney Lynne Schwartz Head’s Award • Emma Marguerite Trost Spirit Award • McKenzie Elaine Darnell Honor Day Speaker • McKenzie Elaine Darnell Daugh W. Smith English Award • Maya Pallavi Misra Louise Wills Algebra I Award • Elizabeth Gail Blade Patty Chadwell Award • Margaret Louise Gaw Most Outstanding Athlete Award • Melissa Anne Baioni • Lauren Elizabeth Lee Speaker at Athletic Awards • Taylor Augusta McDermott
Step Singing
Gives us a sense of place
GRADUATION
17
Lady of the Hall and Class Representatives Lady of the Hall Rebecca Bryan Morris 12th Grade Class Representative Brianne Widney Morrow 11th Grade Class Representative Jeanetta Helen Mistler 10th Grade Class Representative Sydney Estelle Webber 9th Grade Class Representative Grace Anne Holladay
I
Passing the leadership of the school to the rising senior class.
t was fitting that the 2014 Lady of the Hall Rebecca Morris spoke of Harpeth Hall as being a second home for her and her classmates in her remarks during the Step Singing ceremony, held May 25 in the Ann Teaff Quadrangle on Souby lawn. Home is a place of traditions, comfort, and familiarity. Home gives us a sense of place. As Rebecca said in her remarks, “Most of us are thankful for our home because it is where we can always expect to find what we seem to need the most — be it a word of advice, a hug of encouragement, or a nostalgic tradition.” Step Singing is a ceremony that is almost 100 years old and was brought to Harpeth Hall along with other traditions from Ward-Belmont Preparatory School in an effort to maintain unbroken continuity between the two schools. Step Singing is part of Harpeth Hall’s home, its tradition, and represents to thousands of alumnae a sense of place. Read Rebecca Bryan Morris’s complete remarks on the Harpeth Hall website, www.harpethhall.org
8th Grade Herald Ashley Rosemary Zhu 7th Grade Herald Wesley Nicole Hastings 6th Grade Crownbearer Parima Prim Wiphatphumiprates 5th Grade Crownbearer Bailey Erin Grissom Flower Girls Simmons Louise Bone, Meridian Marguerite Cloniger, Margaret Adelaide Cummings, and Anna Kathleen Simpson Summer 2014
18
Graduation CLASS OF 2014
H
ead of School Ann Teaff, in her final commencement remarks in the newly named Ann Teaff Quadrangle on Souby lawn, shared one of her favorite memories of the Class of 2014. “One of my most precious memories I always will hold dear is watching you as you sing the Alma Mater — arms around those next to you, beautiful smiles on your faces that reflect your affection for one another and for your School. One of your classmates said so beautifully recently: “ ‘Our voices [really do] ring with happiness’ as we sing about a place we love, and ‘our hearts are [truly] filled with pride’ to be a part of such an incredible school. Harpeth Hall has given me more than I could ever have anticipated or expected, and it really is a ‘privilege to sing’ about a place so dear to me.” On May 26, 2014, eighty-eight seniors processed for the final time across Souby lawn for the 63rd Commencement Ceremony of The Harpeth Hall School, signaling the culmination of years of dedication to learning, exploration, and growth. The Class of 2014 will attend 45 different colleges and universities from coast to coast in 19 states and Washington, D.C. this fall.
HALLWAYS
19
Summer 2014
GRADUATION
20
HALLWAYS
GRADUATION
21
Summer 2014
GRADUATION
22
Senior Awards • Lady of the Hall | Rebecca Morris
• Mary Varina Frazer Latin Award | Ellie Beahm
• Katie Wray Valedictorian Award | Reid Patton
• L’Esprit Français | Amy Jo Weaver
• Second Honors | Hannah Maclellan
• Lucie Fountain French Award | Abby Biesman
• Third Honors | Morgan Dentz and Lauren Grace Himes
• Espiritu Español Award | Katie Bryant
• Senior Class Representative to Lady of the Hall | Brianne Morrow
• Spanish Award | Lauren Grace Himes
• Elizabeth Pope Evans Award | Ellie Beahm, Morgan Dentz,
• Cum Laude Award | Sarah Mulloy
Lauren Grace Himes, Hannah Maclellan, Reid Patton
• Head’s Award | Brianne Morrow • Director’s Award | Amna Asad • Idanelle McMurry Award | Lauren Grace Himes • Susan McKeand Baughman Award | Ellie Beahm • Patsy White Bradshaw Citizenship Award | CiCi Rutherford • English Award | Jocelyn Sitton • Susan Souby Spirit of English Award | Lilly Wimberly • History and Social Sciences Award | Wallen Dean • Biology Award | Julia Warner • Physics Award | Hannah Maclellan • Pickens Science Award | Morgan Dentz • Math Award | Morgan Dentz • Helen Mullins Manning Mathematics Award | Hannah Maclellan • Eta Sigma Phi Latin Award (Senior) | Sarah Mulloy • Ottarson Latin Award | Rebecca Blair
HALLWAYS
• Honor Dancer | Morgan Dentz • Fine Arts Award | Emily Stewart • Outstanding Choral Student | Meg Henderson and Molly McConnell • Outstanding Instrumental Student | Katherine Scudder • Best Thespian Award | Carrie Ferrelli and Brianne Morrow • Kirkman House Award | Charlotte Hughes • Rhode Island School of Design Award | Sarah Mulloy • Cindy Crist Art Purchase Award | Emily Mace • Marnie Sheridan Art Award | Hayley Gammons • Class Spirit Award | Cici Rutherford • Graduation Speaker | Arin Chambers • Most Outstanding Athlete | Lauren Grace Himes • Pat Moran Athletic Award | Whatley Hamilton • Susan Russ Competitor’s Award | Rebecca Morris • Emmons Woolwine Scholar-Athlete | Hannah Maclellan • Corinne Oliver Tennis Award | Maggie Draughn
GRADUATION
23
The Harpeth Hall CLASS OF 2014
Casey Caldwell
University of Alabama
Elena Carro
Clare Gilmore
University of Tennessee
Ariana Giovetti
Liza Martin
was accepted to 116
University of Kentucky
colleges and universities
Marymount Manhattan College
Drexel University
University of Mississippi
Asha Collins
Liza Hach
Bellarmine University
Catherine McDowell
throughout the United States and abroad and will attend 45 colleges in 19 states and Washington, D.C. Reagan Alley
Rhodes College
Erin Anderson
University of Tennessee
Amna Asad
Vanderbilt University
Mary Katherine Austin University of Georgia
Ellie Beahm
University of Virginia
Abby Biesman
Johns Hopkins University
Cason Blackwell
University of Tennessee
Rebecca Blair
Duke University
Mia Brady
Columbia College Chicago
Deery Brooks
Texas Christian University
Katie Bryant
University of Texas
Betsy Buzhardt
Auburn University
Katie Buzhardt
Auburn University HALLWAYS
Arin Chambers
University of Pennsylvania
Monica Ann Coode Clemson University
Molly Crofford
University of Alabama
Liz Curtis
Washington and Lee University
Wallen Dean
Hamilton College
Morgan Dentz
Washington University
Maggie Draughn
University of Alabama
Madeleine Dugan Furman University
Carrie Ferrelli
College of Charleston
University of Georgia
Jordan Martin
University of Miami
Priya Gupta
Whatley Hamilton Furman University
Grace Hawkins
Miami University
Meg Henderson
College of Charleston
Carson Hewett
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lauren Grace Himes Davidson College
Sam Hopp
Wake Forest University
Charlotte Hughes Barnard College
Mary Eugenia Hunt Auburn University
Abbie Jennings
Anne Fioravanti
Auburn University
Kea Francis
University of Mississippi
Brennan Frazier
Auburn University
Arianna Frederick
Sewanee: The University of the South
Elon University
Belmont University
University of Texas Miami University
Riley Frost
Caroline Johnson Catherine Jones Callie Kirkland
Ashley Lanquist
Southern Methodist University
University of Chicago
Hayley Gammons
University of Virginia
Mary Hannah Gentry
University of Virginia
Berry College
Sewanee: The University of the South
Emily Mace
Hannah Maclellan
University of Tennessee
Molly McConnell
University of Georgia
Rebecca Morris Washington and Lee University
Brianne Morrow
Wake Forest University
Sarah Mulloy
Wake Forest University
Khadijah Naeem
George Washington University
McCall Nickels
University of Tennessee
Jacque Okai-Tetteh Howard University
Ellie Osteen
University of Tennessee
Sarah Pagnani
Santa Clara University
Julia Pair
Miami University
Maddie Parikh
Miami University
Emily Patterson
Anna Proctor
Southern Methodist University
Claire Ramage
Vanderbilt University
Kristina Rechter Miami University
Emma Reineke
Sewanee: The University of the South
Claire Robert
Miami University
Kirstin Robertson
Austin Peay State University
CiCi Rutherford
University of Mississippi
Casey Schwartz
Tulane University
Katherine Scudder
University of Alabama
Jocelyn Sitton
Texas Christian University
Emily Stewart
Carnegie Mellon University
Molly Underwood
University of Tennessee
Leah Wade
University of South Carolina
Julia Warner
University of Virginia
Amy Jo Weaver
University of Alabama
Middlebury College
Reid Patton
Conleigh Werkhaven
Mary Caton Peffen
Lilly Wimberly
Duke University
University of Georgia
Hannah Peterson
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Kennedy Potts
University of Alabama
Washington and Lee University
Katherine Woosley
Sewanee: The University of the South
Lipscomb University
Summer 2014
FEATURE
24
A Leader of Leaders
HALLWAYS
1998 On July 1, 1998, Ann Teaff becomes the fifth head of school for The Harpeth Hall School. During her 16-year tenure, her visionary leadership and unshakeable commitment to the pursuit of educational excellence for girls transforms Harpeth Hall into one of the country’s premier independent schools.
1999 Starts the first official international exchange program with St. Stithian’s School in Johannesburg, South Africa to encourage students to immerse themselves in the culture of another country. Today, Harpeth Hall offers additional exchanges in China, France, Germany, and New Zealand.
HALLWAYS
2000
2000
Introduces laptops to faculty and pilots a laptop program with our eighth-graders, achieving our goal of equal access to this learning tool and empowering our students to become more active learners.
As part of Harpeth Hall’s reaccreditation process, the Board of Trustees revisits the Mission Statement and the phrase Harpeth Hall educates young women to think critically, to lead confidently, and to live honorably is added.
Hires the first Service Learning Director who develops a comprehensive program for our middle and upper school students, helping them to develop a deeper understanding of social responsibility and an appreciation for the diversity of the world by engaging in meaningful service. Harpeth Hall is one of only 66 schools nationally, and the only one in Middle Tennessee, to be given the National Service Learning School award recognizing the School’s outstanding community service program. Launches $42 million capital campaign entitled The Campaign for Harpeth Hall to address important needs of the School, including expanding and upgrading facilities and increasing endowment.
2001 Institutes the 8th Grade Speech program and later the Senior Speech program in 2004 to provide our students with additional public speaking opportunities to master an important life skill. Harpeth Hall community adopts its Values Statement: The Harpeth Hall community — students and faculty — has chosen respect, integrity, individuality, and trust to be our guiding principles. These values reflect our reverence for expressing kindness toward and acceptance of others, our commitment to diversity, forgiveness, and achieving one’s personal best, and our dedication to the service of others.
2005 The Campaign for Harpeth Hall concludes with $44 million raised. Significant improvements and new facilities were completed including the new Ann Scott Carell Library, the Dugan Davis Track and Soccer Complex, Patton Visual Arts Center, and Daugh W. Smith Middle School. In addition, the following facilities were renovated: the Jack C. Massey Center for Mathematics and Science, George N. Bullard Gymnasium, Frances Bond Davis Theatre, Marnie Sheridan Gallery, and Souby Hall. Another goal met during the capital campaign was more than doubling our endowment — from $9 million to over $21 million.
2008
Implements a Good to Great initiative with trustees and faculty following the reading of Jim Collins’ best-seller, Good to Great. The faculty adopts the Faculty Core Purpose as part of the initiative:
Receives the Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Harpeth Hall’s Environmental Stewardship Initiatives which teach students that they can live in a more energy efficient way and become tomorrow’s leaders for environmental sustainability.
Our core purpose is to nurture a sense of wonder, to instill a will and facility for learning, and to promote cultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and service to others. The pursuit of these goals will inspire students and faculty to combine knowledge with goodness and reflection with action.
2007 Dedicates the Hortense Bigelow Ingram Upper School, made possible by a lead gift from the Ingram Charitable Fund. With more than 35,000 square feet of renovated space, the Hortense Bigelow Ingram Upper School provides the academic facilities needed to support the rigorous college preparatory program of today and tomorrow. Installs the first high school synthetic field in Tennessee specifically for soccer and lacrosse thanks to a gift by loyal supporter and sports enthusiast, Joe C. Davis, in memory of his mother, Dugan Davis, a long-time Harpeth Hall teacher and coach. Receives the National School Library Media Program of the Year Award for our exemplary school library media programs, which are fully integrated into the school’s curriculum, and for our commitment to ensuring students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.
Middle School athletics moves to open participation to fulfill our mission of allowing our younger students a myriad of options for selfexploration. By having a sport without tryouts open to any girl each season along with tryout teams, all can participate and experience the physical, social, and emotional growth athletics offers during these pivotal years.
2009 Founds the Online School for Girls, the first-ever online school dedicated to secondary education for girls, with three of the country’s top independent girls’ schools.
2009 Launches the public phase of The Next Step — Strengthening the Mind, Body, and Spirit, a $35 million campaign focused on building a new Athletic and Wellness Center, acquiring contiguous property, increasing endowment, and sustaining a strong Annual Giving program.
2010 Receives a $250,000 Edward E. Ford Leadership Grant to establish The Center for STEM Education for Girls at Harpeth Hall, designed to increase girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering, and math studies in high school and college and to encourage them to aspire to STEM careers.
2011
During Ann Teaff ’s tenure
Adopts a Wellness Statement to foster a wellness culture in all areas of school life and to promote balanced lifestyle choices that lead to a healthy, meaningful life.
transformational changes occurred at Harpeth Hall: Arts
Added four new choirs since 2002: Upper School Chamber Choir, Advanced 5/6 Choir, Advanced 7/8 Choir, and Lads and Plaid, a collaborative choir between Harpeth Hall and Montgomery Bell Academy. Tripled participation in the Middle School and Upper School orchestra programs.
2014 Concludes The Next Step — Strengthening the Mind, Body, and Spirit campaign with the opening of a 60,000 square foot Athletic and Wellness Center, adding 4.8 more acres to the campus, increasing endowment by more than $10 million and sustaining a $1 million Annual Fund. Presents 88 diplomas to the Class of 2014, bringing the total number of graduates who have received a diploma from Head of School Ann Teaff during her 16-year tenure to 1,472.
Endowment Funds The Endowment maintains our campus facilities, provides resources to meet financial aid requests, and supports our talented faculty who help shape our girls’ passion for learning. Endowment grew from $7.6 million in 1998 to more than $38 million in 2014.
Property Athletics Admission Enrollment: 539 to 681 Percentage of students of color: 6.5% to 12.7% Financial Aid: $360,000 to $1.7 million
Increased the number of Middle and Upper School teams from 21 in 1998-1999 to 44 teams in 2013-2014 Doubled the number of State Championships at the varsity level from 22 championships in five sports in 1998-1999 to 50 championships in nine sports by 2013-2014.
The Harpeth Hall campus has grown from 33.6 acres in 1998 to more than 44 acres today. The additional land acquired over the years has enabled us to expand academic buildings and to site the new Athletic and Wellness Center in an ideal location. Additional land will help meet the demand for more athletic fields and green space to support the growth in our student body and to enhance the learning environment for the long-term.
I am convinced that Ann Teaff has taken Harpeth Hall from good to great. All you have to do is remember the Harpeth Hall campus in 1998 and see the campus of today to realize how much Ann accomplished as Head of School. There are the unseen improvements as well: The Online School for Girls, the music program, the employee evaluation system, the balanced budget, the increase in the endowment and so many more innovations and accomplishments. As chairman of the board, I loved working with Ann and over the years she has become a special friend. We were lucky to have her as Head of our School.” — Susan Willingham Simons ’60, Board Chair from 2000 to 2009
Working with Ann Teaff has given me a privileged ringside seat to see what is in her heart, and what I have witnessed and experienced is a deep, selfless, steadfast, and unconditional love for our girls and this community. Her leadership has been transformational, and her legacy will be reflected for years to come in the lives of the hundreds of girls for whom she provided the opportunity to learn to think critically, lead confidently, and live honorably.” — Dr. Nancy Graves Beveridge ’80, Board Chair 2008-2012, 2013-2014
Ann Teaff simply raised Harpeth Hall up to be a premier girls’ school in the United States. She not only modeled to the girls a paragon of great values: The highest expectations of oneself in all areas, including compassion, hard work, citizenship, and she did it in the spirit of humor and grace. What more could a school ask or receive. Her work for Harpeth Hall went above and beyond. At the same time she was fulfilling these most important qualities, she also was a great administrator. She really was a once-in-a-lifetime head of school, and how incredibly fortunate Harpeth Hall is to be the school to which she gave her commitment. On a personal note, I am grateful because she inspires me as a person, friend, and businesswoman. I just think, ‘Wow’ when I think of her, and I love her smile!” — Delphine Sloan Damon ‘86, member of the Alumnae National Advisory Council
Summer 2014
FEATURE
FEATURE
A TIMELINE OF Milestones during Ann Teaff’s Tenure
2006
Recently, I was struck by a little book filled with Celtic blessings and words of wisdom. To Bless the Space between Us, by John O’Donohue, is by no means a bestseller, but I believe in his “Blessing for a Leader,” the author beautifully articulates his blessings and wishes for what a good and true leader should strive to be. When reflecting on his verses, one cannot help but be filled with thoughts of Ann Teaff, who has been our devoted leader for the last sixteen years. She embodies every aspect of O’Donohue’s description of the fine line one walks as a leader. Always reforming and refining ones approach, never arrogant or void of the possibility of change; in my opinion, Ann Teaff has exemplified the best qualities of a leader at Harpeth Hall. I hope the verses and memories that follow will give you a glimpse of my vantage point through the years of working so closely with Ann.
F
or the past six years, we have been working alongside fellow trustees and Annual Fund and Campaign volunteers to raise funds for The Next Step: Strengthening the Mind, Body, and Spirit Campaign. We are pleased to announce that we have met our campaign goal of $35 million. The final campaign total will be announced at the Leadership Dinner in September 2014. Major milestones accomplished in this campaign include:
1 2 3
Completed construction of the 60,000 square foot Athletic and Wellness Center;.
To honor Don McPherson and his unwavering commitment to Harpeth Hall, the School planted a Nuttall Oak in the Ann Teaff Quadrangle on Souby lawn. “Don McPherson has been Harpeth Hall’s cheerleader — attending every event possible during his weekly visits to Nashville, humbling himself to dress up in all sorts of crazy costumes for the annual Halloween dance, and even answering to Mr. Teaff regularly when called upon. Don, thank you for loving us and loving Ann like you do.” — Board Chair Nancy Graves Beveridge ’80
4
Acquired all of the remaining Johnstone Court properties and closed the street, and acquired a 3 acre property at Hobbs Road; Raised over $1 million for the Annual Fund each year of the campaign.
With sincere thanks, Barbara Richards Haugen ’68 and Jane Berry Jacques ’72
“At the end of the day, many leaders can raise money, erect buildings, and hire good folks. However, true transformation, the kind that stirs the soul of a little girl and shows her the way to the curiosity and self-awareness that will make her a woman of integrity who can courageously and purposefully pursue any dreams she chooses — that kind of transformation most surely comes from love. Ann, you have modeled it, lived it and changed us all for good.” — Board Chair Nancy Graves Beveridge ’80
For more information, contact Susan Moll, Director of Advancement, at moll@harpethhall.org or 615-346-0087.
Summer 2014
HALLWAYS
FEATURE
ot long ago, a new head from another school visited Harpeth Hall, and Ms. Teaff became quite worried after the meeting. She was concerned because this leader had referred to the school as “my school,” and she had said on more than one occasion, “my faculty,” and “my students.” She knew instinctively that these possessive pronouns should never be verbalized, and she wanted to find a kind way to help this new leader. As she explained to me, the Head of School is not the owner of the school, she is merely the custodian for a period of time. No one would argue that Ms. Teaff has given her heart and soul to Harpeth Hall, and she was able to do this while remembering that she was only here for a small part of our almost 150-year history. She always kept in mind that her job was to transmit this school not less, but greater, better, and more beautiful that it was transmitted to <her>.
s. Teaff is energized by meetings with people. She always prefers sitting around the table to emails, phone calls, or — heaven forbid — texting. Over the first few months on the job, sixteen years ago, she met one-on-one with each of the employees at Harpeth Hall. She wanted to know what they loved about the school and what they would like to see made better. She listened closely and carefully, and even after a decade on the job, she could still remember some of the tidbits a certain teacher or administrator shared with her in 1998. To this day, she makes sure that she meets individually with all new teachers at the end of their first term. She wants to know what they need and how we might improve the acclimation of any new teachers to the Harpeth Hall community in the future. Her days are filled with face to face meetings. If Ms. Teaff calls a meeting, there is no preconceived notion of how it will unfold and what plans might develop. If the other person requests a meeting, she is all ears and works hard to understand and, if necessary, act on that person’s point of view during and after the designated time.
N
I
Ann Teaff Head of School by Jess Hill, Director of the Upper School
May you learn to cultivate the art of presence In order to engage with those who meet you.
t amazes all of us that Ms. Teaff can keep up with so many trends and changes in education. She continues to learn new things every year, and she challenges all of us to do the same. She is bright and engaged and at the same time, Ms. Teaff is quick to tell a struggling student that she was not the smartest or most clever of her friends growing up. She has a ready smile when she shares the truth that her closest high school friends are sometimes a little amazed at the position she has landed. Her secret is hard work and a love of learning. As adults we know these things matter more than always being the straight “A” student, and what a gift to have a Head of School who believes it, too.
Ann Teaff with Pat Moran at the Open House
Above and Beyond
May you never put yourself at the center of things. May you act not from arrogance but out of service.
May you work on yourself, Building up and refining the ways of your mind.
Raised over $10 million for Endowment, 72% of which went to Financial Aid Endowment;
You can still join us in taking The Next Step by supporting this essential campaign and giving Harpeth Hall students the opportunity to grow strong in mind, body, and spirit. Through your gifts you are preparing our students for a lifetime of success.
To honor her dedication and love of Harpeth Hall, the School has named the space that surrounds Souby lawn as the Ann Teaff Quadrangle.
B
ooks, speeches, and seminars about leadership are abundant in our world, and the lists keep growing year after year. Author Jim Collins calls it “Level 5 Leadership.” According to Collins, Level 5 Leaders have the perfect mix of personal humility and professional will necessary to make the hard decisions, which in turn creates better institutions. A century ago, Theodore Roosevelt reflected on a virtuous leader. “It is not the critic who counts. . .it is the <person> who is actually in the arena. . .who strives valiantly.” Authors such as Franklin Covey, best known for his book, Seven Traits for Highly Effective People, have written dozens of books on leadership alone. Everyone seems to be in search of the holy grail for leadership.
FEATURE
CAMPAIGN
FEATURE
A Lasting Legacy
Campaign Victory: Taking the Final Step
May those who work for you know You see and respect them.
P
May you have the grace and wisdom To act kindly, learning To distinguish between what is Personal and what is not.
T
he main ingredients for an admired leader are often debated, but most of them can be distilled to a balance between remaining sensitive and human while also maintaining a tough enough skin to march forward and do what one thinks is the right thing to do. Knowing that you cannot please everyone is a challenge of every Head of School and is lesson number one. The faculty, the parents, and the students constitute the community and it is rare that a majority of all three groups would agree with any particular decision. The true north for Ms. Teaff ’s compass as Head of School is, “what is best for the students in the long run?” If every decision is seen through that lens then the school is made better and stronger with each conversation and meeting, and the mission is given sharper focus. Sometimes, what is best for the students is not the easiest pill for them to swallow, nor for the teachers, but the simplicity of Ms. Teaff ’s litmus test keeps her aim true. At the end of the day, it has to be the right thing for the girls, period. Summer 2014
erhaps more powerful than believing we can accomplish something ourselves is having those around us believe we can do it. Ms. Teaff has a great deal of faith in this faculty and would hold us up to any group of teachers and administrators in the country. It is affirming to know that our Head of School is so proud of our team. It brings out the best in all of us. The pride she feels for the faculty rivals only her depth of admiration for the students and alumnae. In her mind, very little is beyond the reach of a Harpeth Hall graduate. Of course her ultimate wish is to see one in the Oval Office before she dies, and I think she fully expects it to happen.
From To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings; First Edition 2008. Copyright © 2008 by John O’Donohue HALLWAYS
M
May you know the wisdom of deep listening, The healing of wholesome words, The encouragement of the appreciative gaze, The decorum of held dignity, The springtime edge of the bleak question.
M
s. Teaff would say that a school can rise and fall with the “little things.” We can learn to hold doors for each other, and suddenly we all feel like a closer community. We can choose to avoid words that may hurt someone present or absent from a conversation, and suddenly we have a standard for what we will and will not tolerate when we are outside of this community. We can teach our students to speak with conviction, and suddenly their words are more thoughtful and hold more importance. Finally, we can choose to learn something from each experience and each challenger along the way. When we take the time to uncover the element of truth in each point of view, suddenly we have nothing to fear.
May leadership be for you A true adventure of growth.
M
any stories and anecdotes fill my mind as I reflect on so many rich memories of watching our leader in action over the last sixteen years. It has been a privilege to be a teacher and an administrator during Ms. Teaff ’s full tenure at Harpeth Hall. My blessing was to be given the opportunity to have her as my teacher. I have described only one aspect of what Ann Teaff has shared with Harpeth Hall. She is and will always be a friend, a sister, and a mentor to many of us. May we all thank her for doing the hard work of being an excellent leader of this school and all the while claiming every day as “a true adventure of growth.”
CAMPAIGN
25
Emily Cate Tidwell ‘75, Barbara Richards Haugen ‘68, Jane Berry Jacques ‘72, Nancy Graves Beveridge ‘80, Don McPherson, Ann Teaff
Kent and Susan Burns with Leigh and Brian Reames
Jane Berry Jacques ‘72, Matthew Jacques, Anna Mayo Jacques ‘03, Barbara Richards Haugen ‘68
Luke Simons, Martha Ingram, Barbara Chazen, Susan Willingham Simons ‘60
Celebration photos taken during Patrons of the Hall Dinner in May and Community Open House in June. Dallas Hagewood Wilt ‘86 with daughters Marshall and Josie
Edith Trost Kirkland ‘88, Beth Kirkland, Noni Nielsen ‘93, Marguerite Nielsen Orndorff ‘90
Summer 2014
CAMPAIGN
26
Campaign: Leadership
Stepping Up to Support and to Serve Harpeth Hall erhaps it was destiny that led Dr. Nancy Graves Beveridge ’80 to step into the role of board chair at the beginning of Harpeth Hall’s The Next Step: Strengthening the Mind, Body, and Spirit campaign. A wellness advocate and long-time runner, Dr. Beveridge knows personally what it means to step forward. The daughter of an international shoe importer, Dr. Beveridge has worn many shoes on her personal and professional paths. As a Harpeth Hall student in saddle shoes, she thrived in the classroom; in running shoes, she soared on the cross country team. “Harpeth Hall is where I always wanted to be; it was where my best friends were; it was where the faculty supported us; I was made to feel I could do anything,” recalled Dr. Beveridge. With a strong educational foundation, Dr. Beveridge’s path took her to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and then to Wake Forest University where she earned a medical degree. She returned to Nashville to work as a pediatrician, and she reconnected with Harpeth Hall alumnae who began bringing their children to the new pediatrician in town. “A nice number of my patients are Harpeth Hall students, so I have always had a personal interest in them and their school life. As a board chair, I have enjoyed seeing my patients in their academic setting,” said Dr. Beveridge.
“Nancy is the living
“Nancy is the living embodiment of the mission of Harpeth Hall — educating women ‘to think critically, to lead confidently, and to live honorably.’ With a joyful spirit and with a passionate commitment to the School and to the work of the board, she has devoted countless hours to the hard work board leadership requires, including serving year after year on 13 Harpeth Hall board committees, as well as being the inspirational and tactical leader of the board. She is strategic in her thinking, and ensures the Board focuses on its role as a strategic leader,” said Head of School Ann Teaff. During her tenure as board chair, Dr. Beveridge guided Harpeth Hall through an important phase in the life of the school. A bold leader who was of Harpeth Hall.” undaunted by the economic downturn over the last six years, she called the board to action in embarking on The Next Step: Strengthening the Mind, Body, and Spirit, a $35 million campaign to build a state-of-the-art Athletics and Wellness Center, increase endowment, purchase contiguous property, and raise $1 million in annual giving for each year of the campaign. Through her leadership, the board focused on implementing its Strategic Plan Priorities, including maintaining program excellence, increasing a robust pool of applicants to Harpeth Hall, adding collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships, nurturing leadership within our school community, and focusing on strong finances and modern facilities.
embodiment of the mission
Soon after establishing her medical practice, Dr. Beveridge stepped back on to the Harpeth Hall campus, serving as the Alumnae Board president from 1993-1994 and serving on the Distinguished Alumna Selection Committee in 1994 and 1999. With her daughters, Betsy ’03 and Glory ’08, attending Harpeth Hall, Dr. Beveridge continued her commitment to the school, serving as a trustee from 2001-2007, and on the Alumnae Gifts Committee of The Campaign for Harpeth Hall from 2002-2004. In 2008, she was asked to serve as board chair. “I was not sure if I had the skill set. I’m a reactor. I take a set of problems and try to figure out what’s going on,” recalled Dr. Beveridge. But Dr. Beveridge knew she had to take that next step. “I knew my role was to support the vision of Head of School Ann Teaff. We developed a very trusting relationship, supporting each other and the mission of the school,” added Dr. Beveridge. HALLWAYS
Chair of the Board of Trustees Dr. Nancy Graves Beveridge ’80
As board chair, Dr. Beveridge was thrilled to work with an outstanding board of trustees. “The people who join this board are so intentional; there’s energy; they love this school. The board is upbeat and forward thinking. Everyone has been supportive of Ann and her vision. It has been such a privilege serving with these trustees.”
Dr. Beveridge credits the support of her husband, Mark, and the example set by her parents, David and Gloria Graves, as her motivation to follow in the footsteps of former strong board chairs and visionary trustees. “My husband was so encouraging and said, ‘You can do this; you need to do this,’” recalled Dr. Beveridge.
Campaign: Donor Profile David and Gloria Watson Graves ’49:
A Commitment to Harpeth Hall
T
he Graves praise Harpeth Hall for providing an exceptional education for Nancy and her two sisters, Allison Graves Robinson ’77 and Lucy Graves Hollis ’81. “The heart of this school is the students,” said David Graves. For the Graves, there was no question their daughters would attend Harpeth Hall. “I’ve said this many times: Our girls were so different and had different interests and abilities, and Harpeth Hall met the needs of each one of them,” added Gloria Graves. With their daughters as students, the Graves were active parents. The Graves recalled purchasing warm up suits for the cross country team. “We were supportive of the coach, and we loved Harpeth Hall and the teachers. Our girls got a lot of individual attention,” recalled Gloria Graves. Supporting a school that nurtures and develops a girl’s passion is what continues to motivate the Graves’ commitment to Harpeth Hall. The Graves support an endowment fund that provides income for the school to help all girls. A few years ago, they established The Chen Jaymin Prize Chinese Award, a gold medal that is awarded to the top senior in Chinese language. David Graves established this prize in honor of his late business partner and friend. In establishing this prize, the Graves honor the importance of the lifelong relationships that Harpeth Hall fosters. In fact, their long history with founding faculty member Patty Litton Chadwell WB ’35, led them to give to the Miss Patty Chadwell Challenge to raise funds for the Athletic and Wellness Center. Miss Chadwell taught Gloria Graves at Ward-Belmont and later her three daughters at Harpeth Hall. Besides their financial support, the Graves give back by serving on key volunteer committees. David Graves served as a trustee from 1991-2000, while Gloria Graves served as the Ward-Belmont representative to the board from 2009-2011. They both volunteered on committees for The Campaign for Harpeth Hall, a $44 million capital campaign that concluded in 2005. “One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is a great education,” said the Graves. Thanks to the Graves’ continued support of Harpeth Hall, they are ensuring that more girls have an opportunity for a great education.
Students Benefit from Chinese Award
27
Former trustee and past parent David Graves established the Chen Jaymin Prize Chinese Award, a gold medal that is awarded to the top senior in Chinese language, in honor of his late business partner and friend. In establishing this prize, David and Gloria Graves honor the importance of lifelong relationships that Harpeth Hall develops. Below are two students who received the award during their senior year at Harpeth Hall and have continued their pursuit of Chinese language. Abby Smith ’11 Since graduating from Harpeth Hall, Abby has become the first Chinese Studies major at Rhodes College (paired with an English major). She has received three awards for her Chinese Studies at Rhodes, most notably the school’s Thakkar-Freeman Award for Chinese Studies, which included a scholarship. In the summer of 2012, she spent eight weeks at the Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan to further her Mandarin Chinese language studies. This summer she is studying for six weeks at the Southwest University for Nationalities in Chengdu, China. “No matter where I go, my Chinese language and cultural studies have proved invaluable, and I am so glad that I have continued to pursue this path.” Natalie Reiman ’13 Natalie is continuing her Chinese language studies at DePauw University. “I placed into intermediate Chinese and will be taking advanced Chinese this upcoming school year. Taking Chinese at Harpeth Hall helped me excel in my speaking, listening, reading, writing, and overall understanding of the language. Ms. (Jingli) Jurca also greatly increased my knowledge about China through her stories about her vast experiences from life.” Summer 2014
Campaign: Donor Profile
28
CAMPAIGN
Harpeth Hall Became
A Second Home
F
for Patty Delony
or Patty Delony ’66, Harpeth Hall is home. With her aunt and namesake Patty Litton Chadwell WB ’35 as a founding faculty member, Patty grew up on the campus and remembers picking apples and pears at an orchard located where the Dugan Davis Track and Soccer Complex is now. She remembers her mother, Jane Chadwell Delony, a 1939 graduate of Ward-Belmont, helping to support the fledging Harpeth Hall program by sewing tennis dresses for Patty Chadwell’s teams. Patty Delony helped her aunt sort sports equipment. As Ward-Belmont traditions took root at the newly formed Harpeth Hall, Patty Delony was the first flower girl for Harpeth Hall’s Lady of the Hall at the age of 3. While in elementary school at Woodmont School, she always knew she would one day attend Harpeth Hall: “I remember telling people my parents were saving money so I could go to Harpeth Hall.” By the time Patty arrived as a freshman in 1962, Harpeth Hall had expanded its facilities beyond the original building, now known as Souby Hall. Patty recalls taking English classes upstairs in Souby Hall and First Aid and Hygiene in the basement, affectionately known as the “mole run,” and classes in the new building, configured to add more classrooms, a dining hall, and an auditorium. Patty thrived from the personal attention she and other students received from the teachers: “Harpeth Hall made me feel as if I could do anything,” said Patty Delony.
She went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Duke University and a master’s degree in finance from Georgia State University. “In the corporate jobs I held for 25 years, my main responsibilities were financial analysis and investment management, but people often came to me for help with reports and marketing brochures because of my strength in writing and grammar. In later years, when I had my own business, financial writing was the main focus. My education at Harpeth Hall was a major factor in my ability to support myself for all those years; the ability to write clearly distinguished me from others in the financial world.” Through her time, talent, and resources, Patty Delony is giving back to the school that has meant a great deal to her and her family. In addition to advocating for the importance of planned giving and serving as an honorary member of our National Advisory Council, Patty has named Harpeth So many of us benefitted from our Harpeth Hall Hall as a beneficiary of education, and ensures its future. her estate. “I don’t have children or heirs, and I will always appreciate the love and support this school showed to my mother and my aunt over the years. Harpeth Hall staff and faculty made my mother and Aunt Patty feel special. Patty Delony These relationships were important to them and they are important to me.” on the steps
“
giving back
of Souby Hall in 1951.
”
Patty Delony hopes her example will encourage others to think of Harpeth Hall for their estate planning. “So many of us have benefitted from our Harpeth Hall education, and giving back ensures its future.” We are grateful to Patty Delony for her commitment to Harpeth Hall. If you would like to include Harpeth Hall in your will or other planned giving vehicle, please contact Susan Moll, Director of Advancement, at 615-346-0087 or moll@harpethhall.org. We would be honored to recognize you as a member of our Founders Society.
HALLWAYS
ALUMNAE
29
F
By Scottie Fillebrown Coombs ’78 Director of Alumnae Relations
or over a decade, Ann Teaff and I have been plaid partners, crisscrossing the United States, connecting with hundreds of alumnae where they live. Serving as Harpeth Hall’s consummate ambassador, Ann Teaff has embraced the plaid. She truly loves Harpeth Hall as if she was a graduate herself. In fact, at Reunion in May we presented her with one of the Milestone Society pins, given each year to alumnae celebrating their 50th Reunion, therefore making her an honorary alumna. Ann loves visiting college alumnae and getting a glimpse into their worlds. She is so proud of all of our alumnae and treasures hearing about their personal and professional accomplishments. In turn, she is ready at a moment’s notice to tell anyone and everyone about our alumnae and how amazing they are. Ann Teaff has been the face and voice of Harpeth Hall, spreading the word and warmth to our alumnae for 16 years. Just as Ann Teaff loves our alumnae, our alumnae love Ann Teaff! Read what some of our regional hosts have to say about her visits throughout the years:
“Ann welcomed Harpeth Hall alumnae whenever it was possible to get folks together on her travels. I was fortunate to help host such events in New York City and Atlanta. Her presence was uplifting and helped us to look back at memories and look forward into the future with the education of young women. She reinforced everyone’s allegiance to Harpeth Hall and provided an opportunity for alumnae to renew their friendships. She succeeded in broadening support beyond Nashville. “ PAT SPICKARD WILDMAN ’58
“August will mark my 10th year in Washington, D.C. I moved here for college, and fell in love with the city. Each year, without fail, Ann Teaff has made her way to the nation’s capital to host an alumnae gathering; one that I look forward to every year. I don’t know many people who are my age who still feel such a connection to their alma mater, and a lot of that has to do with Ann Teaff. For those few hours each year at our alumnae gatherings I get to connect with other women who understand what being a Honeybear really means. I am proud to have served under Ann Teaff as Student Body President, and am equally as proud now, that she too, joins the Honeybear alumnae ranks.” HADLEY HINES ’04
“Ann Teaff is such a Harpeth Hall treasure. I will miss working with her on our annual NYC event every January. She made an enormous impact on so many young women and her magnetic energy and enthusiasm will be missed greatly. “ MARCIE ALLEN VAN MOL ‘92
Summer 2014
30
“I always look forward to Ms. Teaff’s Chicago visits. Seeing her reminds me of plaid skirts, tea cakes, and class songs — her visits reconnect me to my alma mater that I miss so much.”
“Seeing the younger alumnae interact with Ann Teaff at the LA event was so heartwarming. They all love and respect her very much. Several of the girls even shed a tear during the event reminiscing with Ann about what Harpeth Hall means to them. I think having her in LA was like having a slice of home on the West Coast... I know I felt that way. What an incredible gift to have a Head of School that brings so much heart to her job in addition to her innumerable and impressive credentials.”
CAROLINE WINSETT ’09
KIMBERLY IRION YUNGFLEISCH ‘96
“When Ann contacted me to attend an alumnae event in Paris I was thrilled to learn that there were other Harpeth Hall alumnae in France. What a great initiative on her part which helped re-establish my relationship with Harpeth Hall. We saw each other several times after that in Nashville and in France. We are wishing her all the best in the next phase of her life. I hope to continue to enjoy a glass of wine together when she comes to Paris.” CANDICE BURGESS NANCEL ’78
“I, along with Ann, was so happy to host the 2014 alumnae event in NYC at BMI, located at 7 World Trade Center. We wanted the alumnae to enjoy a space where they could be comfortable with each other, and to allow them to better understand the boundless energy and resilience of the people of New York City by seeing it firsthand from the windows of our offices. There were more alumnae in attendance that night than we had anticipated, mostly due, in my opinion, to the fact that Ann was there. She brought a spirit to the gathering that reflected her commitment to us, as both younger and older women, and we knew she was, and would always be, there for us. She also reminded us that we had a common thread amongst us that would forever be a part of our lives — Harpeth Hall. We were there, together, as a family, and Ann reminded us that we could always count on each other. She was right. For this I am grateful, and I believe I speak for all in attendance that evening — just look at the smiles in the group picture!!!!! “ ALISON SMITH ’79
Calling all Alumnae Artists! The 2015 Alumnae Art Exhibit is February 20 – April 1 on the Harpeth Hall campus with the Opening Reception on February 20. Previous alumnae exhibits have featured almost 100 works of art from alumnae artists representing classes from all the decades. Artwork has included paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, and jewelry. Details about submitting work will be distributed in August. FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Alumnae Director Scottie Coombs, coombs@harpethhall.org or 615-346-0090.
HALLWAYS
To read more about Harpeth Hall’s history, as well as the history of our predecessor schools, Ward-Belmont and The Ward Seminary for Young Ladies, visit our digital archive collection. Either visit the Harpeth Hall website, www.harpethhall.org, click on About Us and then click on History and Archives in the left-hand column or type this URL in your browser: http://www.archive.org/details/harpethhall.
Career Day
ALUMNAE
31
For 8th Graders
In February, the Alumnae Office with the aid of Alumnae Board representatives Mary Brooke Akers Bonadies ’93 and Abby Sinks Spaulding ’03 held Eighth-Grade Career Day to give students the opportunity to meet and question successful alumnae in a variety of career fields. Holly Meadows Baird ’97 Registered Interior Designer; Tuck-Hinton Architects Abbay Eaden Blankenship ’90 VicePresident/Mechanical Engineer; Southern Machinery Company Christine Taherian Cahill ’04 Adult Nurse Practitioner; The Surgical Clinic, PLLC at St. Thomas West Mary Tom Crozier ’05 Pharmacy Intern and Graduate Student; CVS Whitney Daane ’83 Senior Vice-President, Creative; Kobalt Music Publishing Marian Russell Eidson ’82 Major Gifts Officer; Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee Audrey Ball Guest ’02 Account Executive; Music City Tents & Events, LLC Cari Johns ’03 CEO and Founder; Commerce Street Events Lisa Shipp Kimbrough ’01 Director of Marketing; Parman Energy Anna Ruth Brown Kimbrough ’94 Project Architect; Studio Eight Design Anne Elizabeth McIntosh ’96 VicePresident, Membership and Business Development; Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation
Kate Tarleton Meriwether ’98 Women’s Health and Adult Health Nurse Practitioner; Associated Urologists of Nashville Annsley Miller ’05 Intern Architect; Thomas, Miller, & Partners, PLLC Amanda Norman ’00 Owner/Artist; Amanda Norman Studios Hayley Phipps ’04 Veterinarian; Cool Springs Animal Hospital Marnie Reasor ’91 Owner/Homeopath Practitioner; Resplendent Healing Victoria Schwab ’05 Author; Disney*Hyperion, Tor, Scholastic Lauren Simpson ’04 Events Manager; Ryman Hospitality Properties – Grand Ole Opry House Caroline Smith ’97 Equine Veterinarian; Little House Animal Hospital/Atone Farm Nancy Wood Stabell ’88 Owner/Principal; Wood Stabell Law Group Margaret Walker ’06 Art Consultant; Stanford Fine Art Tricia McWilliams Ward ’00 Campaign Director, Tennessee Light The Night Walks; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Summer 2014
Reunion 2014:
ALUMNAE
32
On Campus Events
Alumnae Panel
(L-R) Liz Van Volkenburgh ’69, Jeannie Cochran DuBose ’79, Sabin Nettles ’09, Markell Lewis Miller ’99, Ellen Maguire Vick ’89, and Appy Frenchman ’94
Harpeth Hall Today
HALLWAYS
Reunion 2014: Milestones Society
ALUMNAE
33
2014 Distinguished Alumna:
Evelyn Dickenson Swensson â&#x20AC;&#x2122;45 (center) pictured with her daughters, Lise Swensson, Karen Luisana, and her sister Sue Dickenson Swensson â&#x20AC;&#x2122;49
Summer 2014
Reunion 2014: Almost Alumnae Luncheon
ALUMNAE
34
Seniors and their Alumnae Mothers and Grandmothers
HALLWAYS
Reunion 2014: Cocktails on Campus
ALUMNAE
35
Summer 2014
Reunion 2014: Class Parties
ALUMNAE
36
d1954 — 60th Reunion
d1964 — 50th Reunion
d1974 — 40th Reunion
HALLWAYS
d1959 — 55th Reunion
d1969 — 45th Reunion
d1979 — 35th Reunion
Reunion 2014: Class Parties
ALUMNAE
37
d1984 — 30th Reunion
d1989 — 25th Reunion
d1994 — 20th Reunion
d1999 — 15th Reunion
d 2004 — 10th Reunion
d 2009 — 5th Reunion
Summer 2014
Regional Gatherings: New York City
ALUMNAE
38
HALLWAYS
Regional Gatherings
ALUMNAE
39
Wake Forest University
Elon University
Chapel Hill, NC Chapel Hill, NC
Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN Summer 2014
Regional Gatherings
ALUMNAE
40
Washington, D.C. Yale University
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Los Angeles, CA
Lexington, KY
New Orleans, LA
Palo Alto, CA
Philadelphia, PA
Visit www.harpethhall.org/ to view more On The Road photos
Charlottesville, VA HALLWAYS
Sewanee: The University of the South
As a member of Harpeth Hall’s National Advisory Council, Kimberly Irion Yungfleisch ’96 organized a Harpeth Hall Day of Service in Los Angeles, CA in April 2014. The Los Angeles area alumnae partnered with Dress for Success, an international not-forprofit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Alumnae sorted business suits and separates, accepted new donations, and assisted women in the resume center. Back row: Courtney Thomas ’02, Rachel Cherney ’00, Caroline Green ’10, Anna Schwaber ’03 Front Row: Pauline Lewis ’03, Kimberly Irion Yungfleisch ’96
stay connected!
More than 2,000 Reasons to Stay in Touch Harpeth Hall’s social media sites have more than 2,000 participating members. Join us and stay connected with alumnae from around the globe.
Become a fan of Harpeth Hall’s Facebook page and join
1,915 fans who cheer on alumnae, students, and faculty. Visit https://www.facebook.com/HHBears
Follow us on Twitter and join 1,335 followers who learn about what’s happening on campus and in the education arena. Visit https://twitter.com/HarpethHall
Join LinkedIn and our Alumnae Group network with over 600 alumnae-only members.
HALLWAYS
Summer 2014
ALUMNAE
Dress for Success
41
ALUMNAE
42
1972 Paula Rippon
attended Harpeth Hall on an American Field Service scholarship. She has worked for the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research as a biochemist for the past 20 years. Recently, she was appointed as Laboratory Safety Coordinator, a challenging role that extends her skills beyond those of a practicing scientist. Paula lives in New Zealand and is married to Dr. Michael “Mike” Beare, a soil scientist also employed by the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research and a graduate of the University of Georgia. She also has two sons, Michael and Andrew.
1976
Kathy Herbert Granger is the new Superintendent of Schools for the Mountain Empire Unified School District in southeastern San Diego County, in California.
1978 Emily Chiles Dresch
is now the Senior Managing Director of Private Banking at Metropolitan Bank in Nashville. As a tribute to Ann Teaff ’s final year as Head of School, Amy Grant Gill spoke, performed, and delighted all at an all-school assembly on February 21. Sheri Klein Warnke has created her own company called Th!nk Media & Marketing in Nashville, a full-service marketing company with a focus on consumer engagement and acquisition. Its philosophy is personalization by building custom-tailored solutions to meet any marketing objective.
1982 Emme Nelson
Baxter is a Founding Partner of Boulevard Communications LLC, a strategic communications and public relations firm in Nashville. Elizabeth Robbins Hawkins served as President of HALLWAYS
class notes the Harpeth Hall Parents Association this past school year. Her daughter Caroline is a 2012 graduate and attends Furman University; daughter Eliza is in the class of 2017, and her son Charlie graduated in May from Montgomery Bell Academy and will attend Vanderbilt University in the fall.
1986
During the summer of 2014, Kristin Breuss completed her theology degree. She was ordained as a deacon in the Church of England at St. Paul’s Cathedral and was assigned to a curacy at the Holy Trinity Swiss Cottage in northwest London.
1997
Holly Meadows Baird is a Registered Interior Designer for Tuck-Hinton Architects in Nashville. Currently, she is pursuing an MBA degree in non-profit management from Lipscomb University and serves as the university’s chapter president for the National Association of Women MBAs.
2002 Emily Clark King
1989
Christine Johnston Warren has published a book entitled Honky Tonk Debutante: The History of Honky Tonk Music As I Care to Tell It. The book tells the history of honky tonk music as part music history and part memoir. Christine blends facts and research with folklore and personal anecdotes.
1994
Holly Whetsell Coltea is the owner/operator of Nashville’s first location of barre3, a fitness franchise based in Portland, OR. The barre3 exercise studio is located in The Gulch.
1995
Vadis Turner was featured as a young contemporary quilter in a film about quilting that accompanied an exhibit entitled Work by Hand: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. The exhibit featured 35 quilts from the decorative arts collection of the Brooklyn Museum, ranging from 18th century to 20th century.
“agencies” including food pantries, soup kitchens, and low-income shelters. She monitors and provides guidance and support to nearly 120 agencies. She has public health interns and AmeriCorps service members on her team, and enjoys mentoring many people. Lindsay Voigt earned her master’s degree in International Political Economy and Development at Fordham University. She is now working with WaterSHED Asia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where she interned last summer.
1998
Kate Tarleton Meriwether was the recipient of the 2013-2014 Junior League of Nashville’s Paragon Award for Outstanding Service. Kate served as the Sustainer Services Co-Chair from 2012-2014 and has transformed the sustainer program through events, focus groups, and the new Sustainer Advisory Committee. Julianne Shelton received a Master of Public Policy from Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and also earned her International Development Certificate.
1999
Markell Lewis Miller lives in Ann Arbor, MI, with her husband, Jason. She works at the food bank, Food Gatherers, as the Manager of Community Food Programs. In her position she oversees the department that maintains relationships with all of the
received her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco and is a pediatric resident in Oakland, CA at Kaiser Permanente Hospital. Shirley Li has moved from Hong Kong back to the United States for a new job as the Senior Manager, Cash Strategy for Charles Schwab Corporation in San Francisco, CA.
2004
Hannah Menefee Dudney graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School in May 2014 and has moved back to Nashville for her residency at Vanderbilt University. Berry Kennedy earned both an MBA from the Ross School of Business and a master’s of science degree from the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Michigan. She has taken a position with the consulting firm The Cambridge Group, located in Chicago.
2005
Anne Granbery graduated from NYU College of Nursing with a master’s degree in May 2014. Anne was selected as the Master’s Student Valedictorian, and she had the honor of leading her classmates in the candidates’ procession
2006
Monisha Chakravarthy graduated from Boston University School of Law and will attend the Vanderbilt University Medical School in the fall. Anne Walker Harrison finished holistic natural culinary school last fall and after traveling for a few of months this winter, she took a job with a San Francisco-based boutique public relations firm that represents Napa Valley wineries. The founder and president of this all-female firm is a graduate of The Hamlin School, an allgirls school in San Francisco, and is a huge proponent of single-gender education. Paige Watson works in the hospitality industry as a sales manager for Loews Hotels in Nashville and handles the larger meetings for the southeast market of Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In her sales position, she has achieved “Super Star” status two years in a row.
2007
Allison Buntin received her Master of Education from the University of Denver in August of 2014. English Taylor graduated from the University of Virginia in 2011 and worked for the Atlantic Media Company in Washington, D.C. for two years in business development. Most recently, she worked for a New York City
news media startup called The Skimm, a daily email newsletter that has been featured in Glamour and Vanity Fair. She also started designing jewelry in early 2012. In the fall of 2013, she started graduate school at Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago where she will receive a master’s degree in Integrated Communication and Marketing in December 2014.
2009 Margaret Factor
graduated in December 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama and is working as a labor and delivery nurse at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, AL. Rachel Kurilko graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a minor in history. She is a Staff Sergeant in the Tennessee Air National Guard.
2010 Elizabeth Akin
graduated from Samford University with a degree in journalism mass communication and a minor in marketing. She was the president of Samford’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), as well as captain of the Samford cheerleading team. Caroline Aston graduated with honors from Southern Methodist University in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Physiology and Enterprise. She was awaded the Kenneth Pye Outstanding Greek Leader Award. Currently, she is working as a health professional at Compass PHS in Dallas, TX. Claire Cato graduated with honors from Vanderbilt University in May 2014 with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as a senior
and was on the Dean’s List all eight semesters of college. She will be attending graduate school at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor to obtain her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry. Kyle Campbell graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. She was a Fulbright Scholarship finalist and is an alternate for an English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia. Rohini Chakravarthy graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Neuro-Science and will attend Vanderbilt University Medical School in the fall. Olivia Coble graduated from Colorado College in December 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She will be leading three-week outdoor trips with Moondance Adventures this summer and will begin working for a nonprofit called SOS Outreach in Denver this fall doing leadership development and outdoor programming for at-risk youth. Claudia Crook graduated from Pomona College with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and a minor in French. While at Pomona, she received the Chrighton Scholarship in Media Studies, the Ahmanson Scholarship in Arts and Humanities, and the Pomona College Media Studies Scholarship. During the summer of 2014, Claudia was a Senior Interviewer in the Pomona College Office of Admissions. Grayson Eckert is attending the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Butler University working on her Pharm D. and will graduate in May 2016. She is minoring in chemistry and plans to work as a pharmacist in a retail or hospital setting. Tess Erlenborn graduated with honors from Sewanee: The University of the
South with a bachelor’s degree 43 in art. During the spring of 2014, her art pieces entilted “Hurt and Rejection” were displayed in the Carlos Gallery of the Nabit Art Building at the university. As part of her honors candidacy, Tess gave a presentation to discuss both of the graphite and ink pieces. Tess’s interests in fairytales, storybook narrations, and escapism are prevalent throughout her work, which she says embodies “the duality of the imagination, which is both rational and nonsensical, and is portrayed by creatures that incorporate realistic and familiar imagery, and human and animal qualities.” Allison Fazio graduated magna cum laude from the University of San Francisco with a bachelor degree in Media Studies in May 2014. Josephine Gilmore graduated magna cum laude from Boston University Honors College in May 2014 with a major in history and a minor in Spanish. She works as the Merchandising Coordinator for a startup e-commerce site called Nyopoly. The site is based on an innovative technology that empowers its customers to negotiate the price they want for a product that they love. Emily Hong graduated from Yale University and has received a Fullbright Award to work in South Korea. Her senior thesis, “Race and Environment in the 21st Century: Digital Inequality in San Francisco’s Chinatown,” has been selected as a winner of the 2014 Henry K. Hayase Prize in Asian American Studies. The award was presented to her during Yale University’s graduation ceremony. Emily also received The Roosevelt L. Thompson Prize, presented to a graduating senior for commitment to and
ALUMNAE
at the College of Nursing’s graduation. Whitney Downs Hermandorfer is currently working on her Juris Doctor degree at The George Washington University School of Law and will be working as a summer associate at Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C. In January of 2014, Hyperion released Victoria Schwab’s newest novel The Unbound, the sequel to the Young Adult novel The Archived.
Summer 2014
ALUMNAE
44 capacity for public service. Suzanne Howell graduated cum laude from Furman University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science in May 2014. She will attend graduate school at Tufts University and pursue a master’s degree in both Public Health and Food Policy and Applied Nutrition. Mary Allyn Johnson graduated from Wake Forest University with a double major in English and Communication. She lives in Washington, D.C. and works as a Marketing Assistant for a healthcare consulting company, Advisory Board Company. Sara Martin graduated with honors from Southern Methodist University in May 2014 with a double major in Advertising and Psychology. She has accepted a position with Martin & Zerfoss, Inc. in Nashville. Kelly Meehan will join Teach for America in Alabama. Sabrina Mohsenin graduated from Tulane University in May 2014 with a double major in Psychology and Communications. She has accepted a position as an Internet Marketing Associate with Search Influence in New Orleans. Kristen Oslin graduated cum laude from the Univeristy of Alabama in May 2014 with a degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. She has accepted an internship at Lewis Communications in Birmingham, AL. Mary Daniel Smith graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She will attend graduate school at the University of Georgia this fall and pursue a degree in speech pathology. Allison Stark graduated from the University of Tennessee in May 2014. She HALLWAYS
class notes is a registered nurse at Knoxville Children’s Hospital and has been assigned the position of “floater.” In this position, she will arrive at work each day and will be assigned to whatever department in the hospital has the greatest need, which requires her to be knowledgeable and flexible across multiple departments. Chelsea Stessel graduated from the University of Southern California and moved to New York City to work for NBC Universal. Grace Stumb graduated from Vanderbilt University and will be teaching special education at DuPont Tyler Middle School in Hermitage, Tennessee this fall. Grace Tipps graduated from Grinnell College in May 2014 with a degree in English. She was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa society and plans to spend the upcoming year in Nashville while she prepares to apply to medical school in 2015. Emily Tseng graduated in June 2014 from Princeton University with an AB in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and was inducted into the Sigma Xi Scientfiic research honor society. She is working for ventureforamerica.org, an organization that trains and places recent college graduates in start-up companies for two years, teaching them to be entrepreneurs. Emily’s start-up assignment is with Biomeme in Philadelphia. Biomeme turns smartphones into portable, low-cost labs for quick DNA diagnostics and on-site disease tracking. Hannah Kate Wilkins graduated summa cum laude from Texas Christian University in August 2013 with a degree in Psychology. Currently, she is working in the Human Resources
Department at PhysAssist Scribes, Inc. in Fort Worth, TX and will be attending law school at the University of Tennessee in fall 2014. Jaya Williams graduated cum laude from Pitzer College in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in both Organizational Development and Graphic Arts. She has accepted a position as Designer and Marketing Manager for a new restaurant in Santa Barbara and plans to apply to MBA programs next year. During college, Jaya was the head of the Claremont Colleges’ progressive publication, and co-founded the Claremont Journal of International Relations.
2011Annalee Mueck
attends the University of Tennessee and spent six weeks during the summer of 2013 working for Abbottagra in the Loire Valley of France. Abbottagra specializes in the growth, development, and distribution of quinoa throughout the Loire region of France. During her internship, she assisted with marketing initiatives from organizing publicity for the Tour de France, expanding its customer base by reaching out to regional school cafeterias and businesses, to conducting market research in a local boulangerie and developing new recipes for quinoa. Through this learning experience, she gained a mastery of the French language as well as a knowledge of quinoa as it goes from seed to table. Eliza Taylor is a junior at Furman University double majoring in communication and political science and has made the Dean’s List every semester. She served as rush chair for her sorority, Kappa Delta.
Currently, she serves on Furman’s Pan-Hellenic Council and as a Furman Ambassador working in the admissions department. This summer, she will intern in Greenville, SC with the public defender’s office and later with Congressman Jim Cooper in Washington, D.C.
2012 Leah Caplan attends
the University of Georgia and presented her research from this year at the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) symposium. In addition, she was elected co-president of the Undergraduate Neuroscience Organization. During the summer of 2014, Leah will take part in a cancer research internship at the University of Michigan. Caroline Hawkins was named a Furman University Summer Fellow and will complete her Poverty Studies minor in Nepal with Adventures in Missions this summer. Maddie Shankle, a rising sophomore, was granted two fellowships to spend the summer working with a PhD candidate in the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She and her mentor are investigating the food web dynamics of small, seasonal ponds and the role methane might play in them.
2013
Abbey Butner just completed her first year at American University in Washington, D.C. While in Wash-
in Memoriam Bradley WB ’32 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away May 14, 2014. Her love of travel led her to become a travel agent specializing in large groups. She is survived by her son, daughter, and two granddaughters. Sara Frances Draffen Russell WB ’33 of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away April 21, 2014. She is survived by one son, nine grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. Dorothy Colmery Webster WB ’36 of Greenville, South
Carolina, passed away April 17, 2014. She was an active member of the community and her church. She is survived by one son, two grandsons, three granddaughters, and seven great-grandchildren.
Betty Caldwell Garber Fuller WB ’40 of Birming-
ham, Alabama, passed away March 10, 2014. She will always be remembered by her family for her loving nature and delicious dinners. She is survived by her husband, Justin Fuller.
Virginia S. Daries WB ’43,
of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2014. She taught in the India-
ington, she took a photograph of the United States Capitol Building during the cold and snowy winter of 2014. The photograph, entitled “National Mall” was selected by American University’s literary arts magazine, Amlit for the spring 2014 issue. Sarah Hong was chosen to participate in the Tishman Environment Merit Scholars program at Parsons, The New School of Design. She will spend 12 weeks this summer in
napolis public schools. Ginny is survived by one son, one daughter, two granddaughters, two grandsons, and four great-grandchildren.
Gilmore Women’s and Infant’s Center at West Penn Hospital. She is survived by one son, one daughter, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Carmalee DeGeorge WB
Alice Banks Carr WB ’48
’44 of Houston, Texas, passed away April 24, 2014. Carmalee was gifted with many artistic talents. She remembered her father’s teachings in business and gave back to the community through volunteering for numerous organizations. She is survived by two brothers and many nieces and nephews.
of Brentwood, Tennessee, passed away May 14, 2014. She taught for many years in the Atlanta public schools. She is survived by her nephew and great nephew.
’51 of Savannah, Georgia, passed away on March 15, 2014. An energetic volunteer, she spent several hours each day transcribing books into Braille as gifts to blind children and was a member of the Junior League of Birmingham, Michigan. She is survived by her husband, one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren.
Helen Wiggs Englert WB
Mary Jeannette Baker
Mary Louise Zanone Flautt WB ’44 of Nashville,
Tennessee, passed away April 22, 2014. One of her favorite lifelong activities was her involvement with Young Life from its beginning in Nashville over 40 years ago. She is survived by one brother, two sons, two daughters, including Lucie Flautt Moucka ’74, 16 grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Marilyn Anderson Gilmore WB ’46 of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, passed away on January 26, 2014. Marilyn and her husband supported many charitable organizations in Pittsburgh and established The
Fairbanks, AK working at the Northern Alaska Environment Center. She will engage in conservation research, develop environmental education programs, work on grassroots campaigns to advance pro-environment policies, and support programs to foster sustainable development and awareness in communities throughout the state. Katie Hong took a gap year in Belgium after graduating from Harpeth Hall in 2013. In the fall
’48 of Woodbridge, Virginia,
passed away on March 2, 2014. Mrs. Englert was a lecturer for Weight Watchers and the author of two books. She also contributed articles to professional journals. She is survived by her husband, one daughter, one son, one grandson, and several nieces and nephews. Donia Craig Dickerson WB ’50 of Nashville, Tennessee,
passed away on February 28, 2014. Donia was an art dealer and lecturer in art history since 1960. Her lifelong focus had been to introduce art and music appreciation to children. She is survived by one son, two daughters, ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one niece, and two nephews.
of 2014, Katie will attend the American University School of Foreign Service. Anna LeBleu completed her freshman year at Duke University and was one of four novice rowers who successfully walked onto the Duke Women’s Rowing Team. She is a member of the 4th Varsity 8 boat that took second place at the season opener Cardinal Invitational at Clemson University in March 2014. Aidan Nettles is a dance major at The University
Marcia Fobes Smith WB
Hibbitts WB ’51 of
Portsmouth, Virginia, passed away April 4, 2014. She had a 40-year career as a Red Cross volunteer and staff member. She is survived by her husband, two sons, and two granddaughters.
Beth Bond Davis ’74 of Fairfield, Connecticut, passed away May 31, 2014. Beth graduated from Brown University and the Thunderbird School. She led and helped organize countless fundraising events for the Mercy Learning Center and the Norma Pfriem Breast Care Center and for many others. Beth is survived by her husband, Andy, one daughter, one son, sisters Anne Davis ’73 and Pat Davis ’82, her brother Joe, and many nieces and nephews including Frances Dean ’12 and Wallen Dean ’14.
of Alabama and a member of the Parent Ambassador team, a dynamic and small team of students who are recruited, selected and hired to work with the Office of Parent Programs and its events. As a first year student-athlete at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, Liza Southwick was named the first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Women’s Tennis Player of the Week in 2014. Summer 2014
ALUMNAE
Leonora “Noncie” Reed
45
Claire Moll ’07 and Daniel Grayson Juneau
46
Camille Bentz ’09 and Aaron Forrest Barrett
Susanna Trabue ‘93 to Stephen Gerard Navyac on April 29, 2014 Lesley Foglia ‘00 to Charles Thomas Tiller on September 1, 2013 Cari Johns ‘03 to Christopher Isham on February 8, 2014
Adair Freeman ‘06 to Justin Morse on September 14, 2013
Mary Stengel ‘03 to Donald Clayton Bentley III on October 5, 2013
Claire Moll ‘07 to Daniel Grayson Juneau on June 14, 2014
Kim Alfery ‘04 to Travis Tingey on May 18, 2013
Emma Hunt ‘08 to Phillip Lovell on May 4, 2014
Melinda Higgins ‘04 to Jay Louden on November 16, 2013
Alex McLure ‘08 to Perry Anthony Colvin on May 31, 2014
Sirisha Kavuri ‘04 to Keertan Reddy on May 26, 2013
Camille Bentz ‘09 to Aaron Forrest Barrett on October 12, 2013
Christine Taherian ‘04 to Justin Cahill on August 24, 2013
Rachel Kurilko ‘09 to Robert Hosé on June 28, 2014
We need your Nominations Do you know a fellow alumna who deserves
• • Distinguished Alumna recognition? Please consider nominating her • • Spirit of Service Award today for one of the Alumnae Awards • • Athletic Hall of Fame
C
Distinguished Alumna Award
andidates are women who are trailblazers, display extraordinary gifts of leadership and organizational ability, and are moving spirits in health, welfare, cultural, or civic affairs. Nominations due by November 1.
T
Spirit of Service Award
he recipient of the award is a woman who has gone above and beyond the call to serve her community and the world and who embodies Harpeth Hall’s mission to “develop responsible citizens who have global perspectives and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world.”
T
Athletic Hall of Fame
he Athletic Hall of Fame members have displayed outstanding athletic ability by competing at the state level, played on or coached a national or international team, been on a national championship team in college, or represented a country in an Olympic sport. Honorees may also have exhibited extraordinary courage and perseverance in pursuit of a sport.
All nomination forms are available at www.harpethhall.org. Click on the Alumnae tab
HALLWAYS
ALUMNAE
47
Mary Stengel ’03 and Donald Clayton Bentley III
Lesley Foglia ’00 and Charles Thomas Tiller
We welcome photos in our Class Notes, Marriages and Births sections. We prefer high resolution, 300 dpi jpegs. Email your digital photos to Alumnae Coordinator Lisa Harrison, harrison@harpethhall.org.
BIRTHS Delia Hardin Darst ‘92 son, David “Hardin” Darst on December 12, 2013 Appy Frenchman ‘94 son, Keshav Frenchman Parikh on March 14, 2014 Lindsey King Martin ‘95 daughter, Caroline Anne Martin on January 23, 2014 Jenny Mudter Moore ‘95 son, Clark Joseph Moore on December 26, 2013 Sarah Oliver Warburton ‘95 son, Oliver Melvin Warburton on March 26, 2014 Margaret Bass Tyler ‘96 son, Edward Bass Tyler on November 7, 2013
Kate Celauro ‘98 son, August “Gus” Isaac Schultz on May 19, 2014
Cathy Crafton Lewis ‘00 son, Shepherd Fitz-Hugh Lewis III on May 5, 2014
Elizabeth White Noble ‘98 son, Spencer Crosby Noble on May 15, 2014
Betty Elrod Perkin ‘01 son, Finn Tiger Perkin on February 2, 2014
Emily Cummings Berry ‘99 son, James Cummings Berry on October 16, 2013
Anne Sanders Bradley ‘02 son, Charles Clayton Bradley, Jr. on May 12, 2014
Kelsey Thompson Bickley ‘99 son, Greer Andrews Bickley on May 7, 2014
Caroline Moses Sprouse ‘02 son, Hal Daniel Sprouse on May 2, 2014
Kelley Anne Andrews Allen ‘00 son, Robert “Bear” J. Allen III on April 28, 2014
Catherine Beckner Perry ‘03 son, Charles DeBardeleben Perry, IV on May 21, 2014
Mackenzie McCracken Averbuch ‘00 son, Maxwell “Max” Stephen Averbuch on March 28, 2014
Margaret McNeilly Thompson ‘03 twin sons, John “Jack” Glover Thompson and Robert “Neilly” McNeilly Thompson on December 22, 2013 Kate Jacques Fabling ‘07 son, John Willem Fabling on December 21, 2013
Finn Tiger Perkin
Emi Mimms ‘07 daughter, Roberta Day Mount-Mimms on December 30, 2013 Laura Callaway Morgan ‘02 son, John “Jack” Barry Morgan on March 29, 2014 Caroline Anne Martin
Edward Bass Tyler
Maxwell “Max” Stephen Averbuch
Mary Olivia Mullin ‘07 daughter, Olivia Rose Magdos on February 15, 2014 Summer 2014
RETROSPECTIVE
48
Ward-Belmont students feel at home in the realm of good books.
Library:
An Environment of Learning
The library has always held a special place for Ward-Belmont students.
“Ward-Belmont students feel at home in the realm of good books,” according to The Story of Ward-Belmont. The Ward-Belmont library contained 16,000 volumes and a large number of current periodicals. The ‘Browsing Room,’ adjoining the main library, was an informal reading room. Like Ward-Belmont students, Harpeth Hall students also enjoy being surrounded by books. Harpeth Hall’s library contains almost 30,000 volumes and numerous current periodicals. At Ward-Belmont and Harpeth Hall, the library have been a focal point on campus and the heart of learning.
Digital Archives Yearbooks, historical records, and catalogs of
Harpeth Hall and its predecessor schools, The Ward Seminary for Young Ladies and Ward-Belmont, are available online through our Digital Archives. Readers can access the archives at www.harpethhall.org, click on About Us and then click on History and Archives in the right-hand column or type this URL in your browser: http://www.archive.org/details/harpethhall.
HALLWAYS
What Matters Most s Chairs of the Annual Fund, we quickly recognized that one of the many distinguishing features of Harpeth Hall is its community of generous and loyal supporters. This community, comprised of current parents, past parents, grandparents, alumnae, faculty, and friends of the School, allowed us to surpass our Annual Fund goal of $1million. We value each and every gift and are extremely grateful for the 2,100 donors who contributed to this year’s Annual Fund. Just as impressive as our donors, is the team of volunteers who dedicated their time and talents to make our goal a reality. These volunteers shared their enthusiasm for Harpeth Hall by reaching out to all possible donors. We are grateful for the work of each volunteer who joined us in this endeavor and wish to especially recognize the following Chairs: Lisa and Jonathan Cole: Parent Chairs Tricia and Doug McDowell: Major Gifts Chairs Collins Hooper ’88 and Jessica Viner ’89: Alumnae Chairs Jackie Glover Thompson ’64: Reunion Chair Jean Ward Oldfield ’47: Ward-Belmont Chair Pam and Mike Koban: Parents of Alumnae Chairs Beth and Bill Campbell: Grandparent Chairs Polly Linden and Bekah Hassell: Faculty Chairs Finally, we are pleased to announce that Tricia and Doug McDowell will serve as Chairs of the 2014-2015 Annual Fund. Tricia and Doug successfully chaired the Major Gifts Committee for the past two years, and we are confident the Annual Fund will reach new heights under their leadership.
What Matters Most is providing our daughters with an exceptional education that prepares them not only for college, but also for life. Educational excellence and unlimited opportunities are the hallmarks of the Harpeth Hall experience and are made possible through support of the Annual Fund. To everyone in the Harpeth Hall community who helped us reach our goal, we say thank you for allowing this standard of excellence to continue for every Harpeth Hall girl. With gratitude, Kay and Walter Lang 2013-2014 Annual Fund Chairs Parents of Meredith ’11, Kathleen ’13, and Tara ’15
H AR PET H HAL L 2013 -2014 ANNUAL FUND Continue our tradition of excellence and support the young women at Harpeth Hall today. Click the Giving tab at www.HarpethHall.org or call Tracy Campbell, Director of Annual Giving, 615-346-0083.
Non-Profit U.S. Postage
PAID Nashville, TN Permit No. 1857
The Harpeth Hall School
3801 Hobbs Road Nashville, Tennessee 37215
Join in the celebration!
Save the Date! May 1 – May 2 • Celebrating classes ending in ’0 and ’5!
Take a walk down memory lane
Harpeth Hall 2015 Reunion