Hallways: Values that connect our community (Winter 2024)

HALLWAYS

Values that connect our community

Spotlight

Paul Stumb

By Adelaide Davis ’79

Paul Stumb showed up.

He spent a full life showing up for family, friends, and patients — physically and emotionally, with expertise, dedication, care, and support. And Paul Stumb showed up for Harpeth Hall, the school near and dear to his wife, Mary Schlater Stumb ’53, at a multitude of events and with his planned giving.

Paul’s ties to the school were not limited to Mary. His mother, Grace Cavert Stumb WB ’29 C’31, and grandmother, Florence Peterson Cavert WS ’08, were all part of the history of Harpeth Hall and its predecessor schools, Ward Seminary and Ward-Belmont.

His sister, Florence Stumb Davis ’55, daughter, Susan Stumb Jones ’85, daughter-in-law, Kathy Denton Stumb ’79, and granddaughters, Grace Stumb Barbieri ’10, Mary Denton Stumb McFadden ’13, and Katy Stumb ’17, make up an impressive family legacy that has graced the halls of Souby, Wallace, and Massey, not to mention the courts and the fields. His granddaughters fondly recall the unwavering support of “Pap,” a familiar face in the bleachers, always cheering them on to victory.

A lifelong learner, Paul understood the importance of education and the inherent value of single-gender education for girls. Seeing the difference it made for his wife, daughter, and granddaughters, he made Harpeth Hall the beneficiary of his

IRA as part of his estate planning. This generous gift from Paul, as well as from Mary, will go toward the school’s dream to build a modern STEM Center that will match the talents and aspirations of our upper school students and faculty, enhancing The Jack C. Massey Center for Mathematics and Science that Mary helped raise the funds to build in 1985.

Paul Stumb showed up for Harpeth Hall, and through his thoughtful gift, his legacy continues to make our school better, stronger, and more beautiful.

Paul kept the following mantra on top of his computer:

The Founders Society recognizes individuals who have included Harpeth Hall in their estate plans. If you are considering a planned gift to Harpeth Hall, please contact Associate Director of Advancement Beth Sherrard Fernandes ’97 at 615-301-9295 or beth.fernandes@harpethhall.org.

Paul Stumb with his wife Mary Schlater Stumb ’53

ACADEMICS & ACCOLADES

2 Observations from Jess Hill

6 Elizabeth Ecker Returns to Harpeth Hall as Middle School Director

8 Middle School Celebrates 20th Anniversary

20 Guest Speakers Talk About AI and the Power of Listening

36 Alumnae Story Inspires Suppport for Cancer Research

37 How to be Green Through and Through

38 Honoring Ann Teaff

42 Reese’s Book Club Makes Special 100th Selection

4 Student Voices: Middle School

5 Student Voices: Upper School

12 Seniors Soar at Opening Convocation

14 Inside the Hall: Middle School

16 Inside the Hall: Upper School

18 Honor Assembly

19 National Merit Scholars

48 Upper School Career Day

ATHLETICS & THE ARTS

22 In the Spotlight: Performing Arts

24 Nine Celebrate on Signing Day

28 Athletics Highlights

COMMUNITY & CELEBRATIONS

43 Sweet Summer Send-off

44 Sunday on Souby

46 Halloween Carnival

47 Grand Open House

53 Alumnae Holiday Party College Age Brunch

ALUMNAE NEWS

52 Alumnae on the Road

55 Award Nominations and Call for Summer Interns

56 Class Notes

64 Marriages

66 Births

68 In Memoriam: Alumnae

70 In Memoriam: Past Faculty and Staff

71 In Memoriam: Trustees

24 12

HALLWAYS STAFF

Jessica Bliss, Editor

Lauren Finney, Designer

Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09, Editorial Staff

Rory Fraser, Staff Photographer

Contributing Writers: Adelaide Davis ’79, Elizabeth Lefler ’25, Polly Linden, Annie Linley ’23, Susan Moll, Faith Urban ’29, and Nora Wang ’21

Contributing Photographers: John Amis, Jessica Bliss, Peyton Hoge, Wade Payne, and Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

With additional contributions courtesy of the Harpeth Hall Archives

Hallways is published twice a year by:

The Harpeth Hall School

3801 Hobbs Road, Nashville, TN 37215

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Inour school community, there is power in making our values visible and known. When we are able to articulate our values, we are able to, in the words of author and educator Parker Palmer, “create a space in which a community of truth is practiced.”

The exercise of naming and sharing Harpeth Hall’s values has been a meaningful endeavor for all of us. Last year, we asked our students, faculty, families, and alumnae to discuss and list the core values they believed best defined this community. Each constituency agreed that resilience, confidence, integrity, honor, curiosity, creativity, kindness, and respect were the values we consistently upheld as a school.

As individuals, when we seek to understand personal values, we begin to see and understand each other more clearly. As a community, when we focus on the values we have in common, our sense of connectedness is strengthened and we foster an ongoing conversation about things that matter.

In this issue of Hallways, you will see our students, faculty, and alumnae expressing and living these values. They are focusing on what matters most to them.

As an example, in the upper school this year, clubs have collaborated to raise awareness and support for pediatric cancer research at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. That shared action illustrates one way our girls are making a meaningful difference inspired by school values of kindness and honor.

And the list continues. Our girls long for honest conversations and real-world challenges to help solve. By cooking meals and hosting clothing drives for the homeless, making treats and toys for dogs at the humane society, brightening the day of healthcare workers with notes of gratitude, and working to keep our environment cleaner through local river cleanup and recycling efforts, our students and teachers are creating a shared experience that is larger than themselves.

Our students also share a deep desire for connection, and schools are fertile ground for meaningful relationship building. When we start from shared values, the rest falls into place. We all begin to feel less alone and more hopeful about the future. Honesty, openness, and a connection between the classroom and the larger world mean we are talking about things that matter — really matter.

In the pages ahead, you’ll read about an alumna who has returned to lead our middle school, reflecting Harpeth Hall’s unparalleled sense of community. You’ll also see a touching example of a decades-long relationship filled with respect and admiration between a former student and her teacher.

Authentic connections with one another cultivate hope — not blind optimism, but a belief that things can improve. Together, our girls and our community strive to define and uphold the core values that shape us as individuals and as a school.

Watching our students live their values and accomplish so much each day is inspiring. They think far beyond themselves and their classrooms, viewing the world as their learning environment. Their potential to create a better future fills me with hope, and I think it will for you as well.

Jess Hill Head of School

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Scan

read Jess Hill’s blog, Bears Repeating

By Faith Urban ’29

Harpeth Hall’s values are the core of our community from 5th through 12th grades. Whether it’s demonstrating kindness and respect to a classmate, or being encouraged to grow a curious mindset by a teacher, Harpeth Hall’s values are reflected within our school by students and faculty every day, constantly reminding us of the importance of developing shared values with one another.

Reflections

Having personal beliefs and values is extremely important, but it is also crucial to remember that having shared values within a community allows one to grow and become the best version of herself with all of her classmates by her side. This is demonstrated at Harpeth Hall day by day, and gives us, students, the opportunity to learn and develop our school’s values with all of the girls around us.

Stepping onto the Harpeth Hall campus for the first time, I didn’t know how much this school was going to push my peers and me to develop so many essential values that would urge us to become strong, honorable, and independent people. I look back now, having grown many of these characteristics, and remind myself how those new, important values have not only helped shape who I am, but have also brought my classmates and me closer. A key source that has helped evolve the connection I have with other Harpeth Hall girls is the honor code. Harpeth Hall’s honor code urges us to develop integrity and honor, both academically and socially, shaping us to become reliable, trustworthy young women. Because of Harpeth Hall’s honor code, we are constantly being brought together through respect, kindness, and trust, and continuing to grow as one strong community.

Becoming a student at Harpeth Hall means reflecting upon our values each day, and learning how sharing them with other girls helps our maturity, responsibility, and connection progress. I have learned so much during my years at Harpeth Hall, but most importantly, I have learned the power of having shared values in a community and joining other girls to demonstrate them together. As we become older, honor, integrity, resilience, curiosity, and the rest of our school’s values are understood more deeply and reflected within our everyday lives, on and off campus, helping us become true Harpeth Hall girls — thinking critically, leading confidently, and living honorably.

on Harpeth Hall’s school values

By Elizabeth Lefler ’25

Harpeth Hall, a uniquely strong community that boasts interdisciplinary talent coupled with strong character, can be represented by the number 100.

In my first year at Harpeth Hall, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote. Each morning, I park in spot #100 in the Esteswood lot between Souby Hall and the Frances Bond Davis Theatre. Furthermore, our community is 100% committed to banners hung in that very theatre that proclaim our values of resilience, integrity, kindness, respect, confidence, creativity, curiosity, and honor, creating a sense of unity between students and faculty alike.

For over 100 years, Harpeth Hall has been a place where young women are inspired to pursue knowledge to further their intellect and character. There is a deep sense of trust and respect between students and faculty, creating the conditions for lasting bonds between strong mentors and inquisitive students. For instance, I attribute my confidence in my intellect to Ms. Keen, whose difficult honors biology class during my freshman year pushed my boundaries and developed my work ethic and resilience. She inspired me as a mentor, and I not only returned for AP Biology but also went on to mentor the younger students in the same challenging class. The same respect is present between students, as I have seen in Dance Company, where dancers of all grades support each other to create a cohesive show twice a year. Central to this environment is an ingrained sense of honor. While we, as students, strive for 100s on each assignment, impassioned by a love of learning and demonstrating our knowledge, our mutual sense of integrity comes first. This integrity is present in our senior class of 100 students, each of whom sets an example as a Harpeth Hall honeybear by representing a harmonious blend of humor, intelligence, kindness, and honor. As the leaders of the school, we represent the culmination of years at the Hall. The formative values we learned will continue to shape the lives of future honeybears, encouraging young women to pursue knowledge and honor confidently. Together, from our enthusiastic senior class and eager 5th graders to the attentive faculty, our community is strengthened by its diverse array of academics, artists, and athletes who, with shared values, create an environment for every student to flourish.

Shaped by a storm, rooted in community

By Jessica Bliss

Elizabeth Townsend Ecker '00 brings resilience and confidence to Harpeth Hall’s middle school

When Hurricane Katrina’s wall of wind and rain tore through New Orleans in 2005, Elizabeth Ecker — then a young teacher at St. Scholastica Academy — found herself grappling with the devastation and loss that followed. The wild waters leveled buildings and washed away the places where children slept and ate. Displaced students came to school without uniforms, books, or the comfort of their own belongings. Some students didn’t arrive at all. “We didn’t know who would show up in the classrooms each day,” Ms. Ecker recalled. “All we could do was provide a warm and inviting place for them.”

Ms. Ecker, too, was not spared from the ruin of the storm’s wake. Her home was heavily damaged, leaving her to seek temporary housing by bunking up in a friend’s dining room. Yet, each day, she commuted to school to teach French and World History — and, even more than that, to be a source of comfort and stability for her students.

“It really spoke to the power of a school community,” Ms. Ecker said. “For so many of these families, all they needed was a place where they knew their girls would feel safe and welcome — a place where they could take their minds off everything else and just learn and be with other girls, even in unimaginable upheaval.”

The months that followed Katrina became foundational to Ms. Ecker’s philosophy as an educational leader. “I learned early on that you can’t go wrong if you keep the students at the center of your decisions,” she said. The experience also reinforced the importance of flexibility and empathy — qualities she has carried with her throughout her career from her early days at St. Scholastica to an 18-year tenure at Isidore Newman School and now to Harpeth Hall, where she is in her first year as director of the middle school.

In her role at Harpeth Hall, Ms. Ecker — a Harpeth Hall Class of 2000 alumna — combines her deep connection to the school with decades of experience as an educator. And she remains steadfast in her belief that “there’s so much more we can provide beyond academics.” She wants to provide for current Harpeth Hall students all that Harpeth Hall provided for her.

Shaped by creativity and connection

Ms. Ecker’s journey from Harpeth Hall student to educator reflects the power of those experiences.

She came to Harpeth Hall in 9th grade and quickly found connection through her creative interests. A graceful and talented ballerina who performed in Nashville Ballet’s “Nutcracker” for many years, she joined Dance Company at Harpeth Hall. She landed roles in Harpeth Hall and MBA’s first collaborative musical, “Guys and Dolls,” and then in “Grease.” She also worked on the “Milestones” yearbook staff, where she became layout editor her senior year, spending many memorable Friday afternoons on campus immersed in design.

“I wasn't a naturally outgoing kid when I was younger,” she said, “and to have a place where girls aren't just encouraged to lead, but where it is the expectation that every girl will take on some sort of leadership role, whether formal or informal, was incredibly helpful to me in my development as a teenage girl.”

Winterim also had a key part in shaping her future. As a high school junior, Ms. Ecker interned with the French teacher Pam Polk McKnight ’63 at her former elementary-middle school in Nashville. In the classroom, Ms. Ecker (then Ms. Townsend) clicked with the students, enjoying their humor, energy, and playfulness, which made teaching them feel natural.

“That was when not only did I recognize that I really did want to pursue education, but I also recognized that I really was passionate about middle school education,” she said.

To her Harpeth Hall classmates, that was no surprise. Close friends remember her rainbow array of pens and artistic handwriting, leaving her notes and agenda not only organized and color-coded but beautiful as well. She was also always willing to help a peer who didn't understand something in class.

“She was very smart and could often be found ‘teaching’ others, even as a high schooler,” classmate and close friend Laura Snyder Bonfiglio ’00 said. “Her leadership skills still stand out to me as she had many of the same characteristics in high school that she does now — good listener, patient, kind, and not afraid to speak up.”

Leading with purpose

Ms. Ecker’s passion for creativity, collaboration, and guiding others carried through to her professional life. After graduating from Harpeth Hall, Ms. Ecker attended Rhodes College. She began her teaching career at St. Scholastica Academy and then, in 2006, joined the faculty at Isidore Newman School.

In her third year at Newman, she took on the role of 6th grade class dean and team leader. She enjoyed thinking creatively about programmatic planning. She fondly remembers field trips to view the public art that brought the city back to life after the hurricane. One of the highlights was a piece by Banksy, one of the world’s most famous and illusive artists. She also recalls the fun projects she dreamed up to teach 11-year-olds about Louisiana and New Orleans history — including the study of a state museum display entirely dedicated to sports tailgating.

The class dean role allowed Ms. Ecker to more closely observe the responsibilities of the dean of students and division director, inspiring her to pursue her master’s degree in educational leadership at the

University of New Orleans. In the years that followed, she became assistant head and then head of the middle school at Newman. Looking back now, she said, the skills and experiences she gained as a Harpeth Hall student became a common thread in the roles she took on throughout her career.

“The feeling of someone believing in me, my ability to step confidently in front of a group of people, all of the bits and pieces that I gained as a Harpeth Hall student coalesced as I was pursuing more professional leadership roles,” she said.

That belief in herself shapes the way she engages with students and colleagues today, helping them find and express the same self-confidence.

A full-circle moment

Ms. Ecker knows that having the opportunity to work at a school where there is such a personal connection doesn’t come around for many educators. The foundational elements that defined Ward Seminary, Ward-Belmont, and Harpeth Hall through the generations remain as strong today as they were when she was a student.

“An all-girls education gives girls an inherent sense of value that they don’t always get at co-educational institutions,” she said. “We empower girls to find their voices, share those voices, and stretch and challenge themselves in a place where they feel supported. … In my years as a student, as an alumna, and, now, as an administrator, I know that Harpeth Hall will always keep pace with innovation, being intentional about integrating new technologies, new information, and new tools in a way that is deliberate and has the girls’ best interests in mind.”

As director of the middle school, Ms. Ecker prioritizes clarity, communication, and a people-first approach in her leadership.

“Even when it’s hard, transparency about decision-making helps families, students, and faculty feel supported and aligned,” she said.

SIX QUESTIONS with Elizabeth Ecker

1. As an alumna of Harpeth Hall, what is it like walking the campus now as the middle school director?

It is familiar and nostalgic, yet exciting and new all at once! The community feel that I came to appreciate as a student is still very much present, and much of the physical layout of the campus is the same, but there are also some amazing, state-of-the-art facilities that have been added since I graduated in 2000!

2. If you could step back in time and have a conversation with your high school self, sitting in a Harpeth Hall classroom, what advice would you give her?

Don’t squander these years and this amazing Harpeth Hall experience. Don’t hesitate to try something new, even if you have no prior experience with it. Never again will you have the opportunity to take risks in such a supportive environment.

3. What is something people might not know about you without you telling them?

I’m typically a strong speller, but ever since my time as a student at Harpeth Hall, I always have to second guess myself on one word: is it barracuda or bearacuda?

4. Magnolia Green or Silver Gray? Magnolia Green!

5. If you were to participate in the middle school talent show, what would be your go-to act? Lip Syncing? I’m sure that doesn’t count as a true talent, but it suits my strengths because, while I know a lot of song lyrics, vocals are not my forté.

6. What have you enjoyed most about being back at Harpeth Hall so far?

The commitment that I see from students and faculty alike is incredible. I feel privileged to count myself as a member of this dedicated community.

Her leadership style resonates with colleagues like Amy Campbell Pearson ’00, a middle school math teacher and former classmate. “Elizabeth is a quiet but strong leader who is living out the Harpeth Hall mission statement. She is an excellent listener, deep thinker, and strong problem solver. … She has always lived honorably. She is honest, kind, and cares about others. As a past student and alumna, Elizabeth already loves Harpeth Hall. Now, as the leader of the middle school, I know how much Elizabeth cares about each teacher, every student, and our school.”

Ms. Ecker has never forgotten what it means to have that kind of support — particularly in difficult times.

In her office in the Harpeth Hall middle school, Ms. Ecker has a framed photograph of the entire Isidore Newman School student body. The portrait was sent to Harpeth Hall from Newman after Hurricane Katrina as a gesture of gratitude for welcoming displaced students from New Orleans into the Harpeth Hall community following the storm. Though Ms. Ecker wasn’t yet teaching at Newman when the photo was taken, it is a reminder of the connectedness of her career — and of the kindness and care that carries through the generations at Harpeth Hall.

Through all she has experienced, one principle remains at the core of Ms. Ecker’s leadership: “A school is so much more than a place to learn. It’s a community, a refuge, and a foundation for growth — even in the most uncertain times.”

By Jessica Bliss

highlights community investment in educational exellence for girls

Middle school 20th anniversary

The7th grade girls walked through the middle school hallways in 2004, orange hard hats secured over their braids and barrettes, like a crew of curious young construction workers.

For the previous nine months, their educational home had been Harpeth Acre Woods, a collection of portable classrooms on the edge of Harpeth Hall’s 44-acre campus. On that spring day 20 years ago, the girls explored the newly constructed middle school, getting a sneak peek of the building that would celebrate its grand opening that fall — the start of their 8th grade year.

“I remember first walking into the new building, standing at the top of the large, bright stairwell, and feeling so excited to explore,” Haley Clare Joyce ’09 said.

As they wandered through the halls that day, their footsteps bouncy with anticipation, the experience promised a transition from a temporary learning space to a permanent cornerstone in Harpeth Hall’s history. The new building wasn’t just a structure; it symbolized the culmination of a strategic vision that had been years in the making — one that allowed the school to welcome more students to Harpeth Hall and elevate all-girls education in the city.

Two decades later, the Daugh W. Smith Middle School sparks that same excitement. The building celebrated the 20th anniversary of its grand opening on Aug. 24, 2024. The

halls that first welcomed the middle school girls in hard hats, this year welcomed the Class of 2032 as new 5th grade students and alumna Elizabeth Townsend Ecker ’00 as the new director of the middle school. And the program is thriving.

“I think the middle school building reflects the type of education we want for our girls,” said Betsy Malone, who was director of the middle school when the new building opened. “One in which lessons involve working together in critical thinking. One in which they pursue learning in such a way that it taps into each girl’s talents and helps her work on her challenges.

“This might seem lofty that a building can promote this, but the building gives us space for technology, for working in groups in the classroom, for having space to do individual projects. The building allows for individual responsibility because it is big and open, and the girls learn to handle that freedom.”

Constructing a Vision

Bringing the middle school program to new heights by constructing a new building required a bold vision. Head of School Ann Teaff, who served as Harpeth Hall’s head of

school from 1998 to 2014, spearheaded the ambitious effort, driving the "big dreaming" necessary to elevate Harpeth Hall’s educational offerings and presence.

“The original middle school building had been here for quite some time, but we wanted to expand our program,” said former middle school director Mary Lea Gibson Bryant ’72. “The demand was there for girls in this city to have an all-girls education, and the existing middle school building was just not adequate to meet that charge. It had wonderful faculty and staff, but we needed a building that matched the program that we were developing. Ann Teaff saw that immediately.”

Ms. Teaff worked closely with Jean Ann Banker, now an honorary trustee who served as board chair from 2001 to 2004. The dynamic duo knew that the vision would take significant philanthropy, and they also knew what it took to inspire the community to invest in girls education. The Campaign for Harpeth Hall, co-chaired by Edie Carell Johnson ’80 and Bob McNeilly, would eventually raise $44.1 million and lead to the construction not only of a new middle school building but also the Ann Scott Carell Library, the Dugan Davis Track and Soccer Complex, and the Patton Visual Arts Center from 2000 to 2005. Notably, however, the middle school construction was the most challenging as it

required relocating hundreds of students to portable learning spaces.

“The decision to take down the middle school and build a new building was a hard decision to come to, but it was the best decision for this campus,” Ms. Banker said. “What it allowed was a building to be built where the teachers could give the input for the programs that they

were trying to deliver, and the space could be designed to enhance their teaching.”

It was a monumental task, and Ms. Teaff led the process with a steady presence that focused on the girls’ day-to-day experiences while advancing the campus. The two women worked closely with real estate expert Elizabeth Nichols, who served as a trustee

from 2001 to 2007. Ms. Nichols embraced the challenge of creating the portable learning space Harpeth Acre Woods, giving it a magical feel for the girls, as well as designing and building the middle school on Harpeth Hall’s hilly property. When the building was complete, Ms. Nichols named the courtyard outside the south end of the middle school in honor of her mother, Jean Litterer, Ph.D., a highly regarded Hillsboro High School principal and civic leader.

“I know the faculty and the students have some wonderful memories from that time,” Ms. Banker said.

Community built with thoughtful design

Their excitement soared when the Class of 2009 walked through the hallways with their hard hats for an advanced look at the building before their 8th grade year. And when they stepped into the completed middle school in August 2004, they realized how special the place would become to them.

The students were so excited and in awe of the space, in fact, that Ms. Malone remembers girls turning cartwheels down the halls.

“Seeing our new home away from home for the first time felt like a dream,” Ellen Thomas ’09 said. “... The classrooms felt like warm, safe places and were equipped with all the tools and technology we needed to reach our highest potential.”

In the space, wooden lockers stood heads taller than any middle school student. Large, light-filled classrooms provided plentiful space for collaborative desk arrangements and cozy corners for reading. Science classrooms boasted lab tables and ample room for growing plants and raising amphibious creatures.

“Teaching moved from ‘teacher in front — students in desks’ to a cooperative approach of students engaged together in projects,” Ms. Malone said. “The larger classrooms and common spaces accommodated this

project-based approach. We were already at the forefront of interdisciplinary project-based learning, and the building gave us the space to ‘take off.’ ”

The impact of the building's design went beyond aesthetics — it shaped the students’ daily experiences. The shift from the old to the new building enhanced not only the physical space but also the way students interacted and built their community.

“I spent the first two years of my experience at Harpeth Hall in the old middle school building, and it’s clear how much architecture and space design can influence a community,” Ashley Hayden ’09 said. “Transitioning from the long, narrow hallways lined with lockers to the more open, pod layout made it easier to connect with the entire class, not just those near your locker. The new design truly fostered a sense of community and collaboration.”

Ms. Hayden vividly remembers the carpet — which made the space feel safer and more like home, a contrast to the cold, vinyl flooring that is common in other schools. The pods, designed to encourage collaboration and connection, became central to the middle school experience.

“Friendships were forged in the pods,” Ryllis Lyle ’09 said. “We snacked (even though we weren’t supposed to), we shared secrets, we crammed for tests, and spent idle time between classes together.”

And the education felt elevated, too.

“I began to see how technology could positively impact my education, even in the humanities,” Ms. Lyle said. “I continue to benefit from this 20 years later, as a writer in STEM and a communicator navigating the advent of AI.”

Groundbreaking of the Daugh W. Smith Middle School

The previous middle sdhool building

A strong foundation

The space where students learn expands their opportunities to develop new skills and pursue future ambitions, and yet the building is one chapter in the story of Harpeth Hall’s Daugh W. Smith Middle School.

“Celebrating Milestones,” a book about Harpeth Hall’s history, features a quote from Idanelle McMurry, who was the head of school when the Harpeth Hall middle school opened in the original building in 1968.

Ms. McMurry was asked why Harpeth Hall added a middle school. Her answer is as accurate today as it was then, “It seemed the best way to stabilize the backgrounds of all the students entering high school. And it worked.”

As Ms. Bryant, then interim middle school director, said when she spoke to Ward-Belmont alumnae at the Milestones Coffee last spring:

“Having a student come to Harpeth Hall in 5th grade gives us an eight-year opportunity to watch a girl grow into a confident young woman. It is also eight years of exposure to high levels of academic excellence, athletic and artistic opportunities, and what it is like to live in an honorable community.

“Those of us who work in middle school are often asked why we choose these ages to work with — known for ups and downs, strong emotions, and awkward social interactions. My answer to this is that being able to witness the miracle that takes place from the ages of 10-14 is a privilege.”

The middle school program includes the core subjects of math, science, social studies, English, and world languages. Art, drama, dance, physical education, and Life Balance classes offer time to be active and creative while developing self-confidence and self-understanding. Approximately 91% of middle school students play at least one sport during the school year, and last year, the middle school musical Disney’s “The Little Mermaid JR” had a cast and crew of nearly 80 girls.

There is a middle school robotics program, an independent study program, Model United Nations, Youth Legislature, Public Purpose, and many more curricular activities. The memories and friendships formed in middle school at Harpeth Hall remain foundational for years to come — just as the building has for generations of students.

Major milestones of The Campaign for Harpeth Hall

The Campaign for Harpeth Hall from 2000 to 2005 raised $44.1 million. Through the tremendous outpouring of support, Harpeth Hall:

• Constructed the Ann Scott Carell Library

• Constructed the Dugan Davis Track and Soccer Complex

• Constructed the Patton Visual Arts Center

• Constructed the Daugh W. Smith Middle School

• Renovated Jack C. Massey Center for Mathematics and Science

• Renovated Souby Hall

• Doubled endowment to over $21 million

• Raised $1 million each year for the Annual Fund during the five-year campaign

“To say we have a full and rich program,” Ms. Bryant said, “is an understatement. For all Harpeth Hall students, the middle school is more than just a building — it is a space that inspires a sense of belonging and possibility.”

At Opening Convocation, Harpeth Hall

Girlsgreeted friends and teachers as they passed the faculty art show and spilled through the doors to the Frances Bond Davis theatre for Harpeth Hall’s Opening Convocation. As the 5th graders — the newest Honeybears — scanned the letters on each aisle and found their seats, they noticed that the largest section of the theatre stood empty. Yet, none of the older students seemed worried about the sea of vacant seats.

Just after 8 o’clock, Head of School Jess Hill stood at the podium and welcomed each grade to a new school year. Finally, she asked the question the 5th graders were wondering: “Where are the seniors?”

The answer came with far-off cheers and the sound of 100 girls running through the gallery. Music blared as the Class of 2025 burst into the theatre. Dressed in aviator jackets, sunglasses, and shiny dog tags, the seniors channeled their “Top Gun” knowledge to celebrate their theme for this year: “Soaring in the sky in 2025.”

Senior and Student Council president Kate Stankewicz represented the senior class by encouraging the community to embrace the “turbulence” that can come as a student works to learn new things and embrace new experiences. For Kate, challenges are merely opportunities to reach new heights. She recounted what she learned in upper school

By Nora Wang ’21

science teacher Leslie Chamberlain’s physics class. “Pilots assess the right wind currents and pressure to climb high into the sky,” she said.

Becoming a pilot requires hard work. “It takes time and effort to soar,” Kate said. As she gave advice to each grade, she assigned each of them a role on the flight crew. From the 5th grade air traffic controllers to the 11th grade aircraft handling officers, everyone contributes to Harpeth Hall’s supportive learning environment, she said.

Though different grades play different roles, strong values tie everyone together. “Harpeth Hall has changed in so many ways since I was a student here 25 years ago — new buildings, different teachers, additional programs — but all the important things have stayed the same,” Director of the Middle School Elizabeth Ecker, a Harpeth Hall alumna, said, pointing out new banners lining the walls of the theatre as a reminder of the values of a strong school community.

One of the values featured in these banners and recognized by 8th grade student Louisa Cummins, who represented the middle school as an Opening Convocation speaker, is kindness, which was the theme of the 2023-2024 school year. This year, students are challenged with a new theme: “responsible citizenship.”

seniors encourage students to ‘soar’

She also noted that pausing to try to understand peers with different viewpoints is not always easy. “You might be thinking to yourself: ‘My, that is a lofty goal,’ ” she said. “I would reply, saying, ‘What is the purpose of a goal if not to be aspirational?’ ”

How do students begin to navigate complicated circumstances and differing opinions? Ms. Hill offered a simple yet powerful idea. Harpeth Hall can serve as an example of

In her opening address, Ms. Fondren-Bales, the director of the upper school, spoke about how different communities have different understandings of responsible citizenship. In an “increasingly polarized world,” Ms. Fondren-Bales stressed the importance of recognizing nuance and assuming good intentions in others.

a community that fosters respectful public discourse by emphasizing the importance of open-minded listening. “Listening is a gift to the other person,” she said. “It helps us tend to the moral convictions of others. Perhaps a shift needs to be made in public discourse from ‘what’s in it for me’ to ‘what’s in it for us.’ ”

At the close of Opening Convocation, as the seniors filed onstage and looped their arms around each other leading the school in the alma mater, it was clear that they were prepared to guide the Harpeth Hall community. The Class of 2025 is ready — not just for the best year yet, but for everything that awaits them after they walk back up Souby Lawn in May.

TheUnlocking the past: Ward-Belmont stories bring history to life

year is 1919. For nearly 24 months, American service members have been positioned in trenches across Europe, fighting for victory in WWI. Now, finally, the boys are coming home. On the steps of the Tennessee State Capitol, Ward-Belmont girls, dressed in red, white, and blue, form a giant American flag to welcome home the men of the 114th and 115th regiments in a parade attended by over 200,000.

The April 8, 1919, issue of “The Ward-Belmont Hyphen” recalls how the girls marched “in military form up Capitol Boulevard, with onlookers cheering, and our coquettishly ruffled red, white and blue caps and jackets causing great excitement.” The words of the Ward-Belmont students who attended that day are preserved in Harpeth Hall School Archives. WWI is just one snapshot of time in an expansive collection of photographs, letters, yearbooks, and well-preserved memorabilia that date back to the origins of Harpeth Hall’s predecessor schools. These records, available both digitally and physically, help current students learn about the school’s history and how students, much like them, experienced major moments in world history.

In the fall, current students saw WWI through past students’ perspectives during an 8th grade history project. In small groups, the girls poured over the archives to read from “The Hyphen” about Ward-Belmont students who encouraged their classmates to knit sweaters for soldiers when America entered the war. The students flipped through programs from patriotic events and looked at war thrift cards pasted into a 1917 scrapbook created by Ward-Belmont student Ferne Wray. The students also read the editorial note in the 1917 edition of “Milestones” yearbook that read, “Ward-Belmont is endeavoring to send out into the world, not girls to frivol away their time nor to be drones in life’s workshop, but young women with a purpose in life, who will be invaluable citizens to this United States of ours, and who can shoulder some of the burdens of the world and make it a better place to live in.”

Through the eyes of the Ward-Belmont students that came before them, current 8th grade students gained a better appreciation for what life in

America was like during WWI, adding depth to their understanding of history. The Harpeth Hall School Archives are an invaluable resource for students, adding a personal dimension to their learning and enriching their understanding of the past. “We want the archives to be used by the students; we want them to learn from those materials,” said archivist Leigh Mantle. “This project was a great opportunity for the archives to be present in the classroom and assist students in learning about the time period.”

Photo courtesy Harpeth Hall School Archives

Passing resolutions in Model UN to make the world a better place

In a conference room filled with middle school students from across Middle Tennessee, Harpeth Hall students confidently present the results of weeks of research, teamwork, and diplomacy. Through resolutions modeled after those in actual global diplomacy initiatives, the girls offer solutions to address issues from healthcare to environmental challenges at the 2024 student Model United Nations (Model UN) conference.

Model UN is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students play the role of delegates from different countries and attempt to solve real-world issues from the perspective of their assigned country. At the 2024 conference, students presented a dozen resolutions, including bills to improve healthcare for women and children dealing with the effects of malaria, to reduce trash along the

Mediterranean coast, to improve healthcare access in Bulgaria, and to reduce violence against women in Cote d’Ivoire.

“I enjoyed participating in Model UN because it lets you debate global issues, improve speaking skills, and work with others, while also helping you grow personally through teamwork,” Aadhya Gattu, an 8th grade student and a winner of an Outstanding Delegate award, said. “It also teaches you a lot about different countries by exploring the major challenges they face and gaining new insights into global issues.”

Model UN provides students with the opportunity to put Harpeth Hall’s strategic priorities into action by amplifying their voices, ideas, and convictions.

“Through their participation in the program, students deepen their understanding of global issues and enhance their ability to think critically about the world around them,” faculty sponsor Cathy Richarde said. “They sharpen their research, public speaking, and problem-solving skills as they advocate for meaningful change, and they gain practical experience in analyzing policy proposals and responding to criticism.

“In essence, the Model UN program equips girls with the knowledge, confidence, and skills necessary to become informed, active citizens who can make a positive impact in a democratic society.”

Of the 10 resolutions that earned enough votes to pass in the General Assembly, four were awarded the Outstanding Resolution award, and five students earned Outstanding Delegate awards.

2024 OUTSTANDING DELEGATES

Annika Abramson, 8th grade Taylor Bighem, 7th grade Aadhya Gattu, 8th grade

Biology goes big during the 6th grade cell project

When Harpeth Hall’s 6th graders arrive for science class each day in the fall, they don’t just walk through the door. Instead, they pass through the wall and membrane of a cell. Inside the classroom, the adventure continues. To get to their desks, they navigate over and under a maze of strings draped across the room created to mimic a cell's microscopic, yet mighty inner workings. Hanging from the ceiling, a bright green structure depicts the Golgi apparatus. Nearby, a tissue paper-adorned cylinder holds the structure of the attached ribosome within. At the center of the room, a bright pink paper-ladened sculpture represents the nucleolus, or as the students call it, “the mayor of the cell,” complete with an interactive demonstration of ribosome production.

The experience is all part of the cell project — a much-beloved middle school experience where 6th grade students help transform their classroom into an enormous diorama. Using recycled materials, the girls work together to build the cell, demonstrating, at magnified proportions, how something so small performs incredibly important jobs in biology.

“The cell is hard for the students to visualize sometimes because it is microscopic, and even when we look under the microscope, they still can’t see the parts of the cell and the different organelles,” science teacher Corri Calandra said. “This project makes it come to life for them. They can see how the different parts of the cell work together and what they should look like.”

“It is also really fun and great for teamwork,” she added. “It is really cool to see them, at 11 years old, be able to work as engineers and make things work and improve and redesign if their design failed.”

Helen Jane Thompson, 8th grade Fia Valentine, 8th grade

New Wellness in the Woods class inspires adventure and appreciation of nature

Last August, 13 Harpeth Hall students spent four days living in the woods at Montgomery Bell Academy’s Long Mountain Campus.

As the inaugural class of Harpeth Hall’s newest course, Wellness in the Woods, the girls embarked on a journey that pushed them out of their comfort zone, tested their teamwork skills, and immersed them in the natural world.

The course, developed by Harpeth Hall wellness teacher Buffy Baker ’87, was inspired by her experience working with Outward Bound, an outdoor education program.

“You can see students grow in such a short amount of time when you get them out of their comfort zone,” Coach Baker said, “and going into the woods, out of their normal environment, is an immediate way to achieve that. I am always reminded after a Winterim trip of what our students gain from three weeks of being in an environment that pushes them and being away from home. Wellness in the Woods is the same idea — pushing students and opening their eyes in a different way.”

During the four-day experience, girls hiked, ziplined, spelunked in caves, completed high ropes courses and teamwork exercises, camped in yurts, and fully immersed themselves in a technology-free experience. They also took on leadership roles for essential tasks such as leading hikes, cooking meals, and cleaning up camp. “A lot of the trip is catered to team-building activities and their own ability to manage their fears and push their own personal limits,” Coach Baker said.

“They got to step into roles they may have never experienced. Hopefully, that empowered them or allowed them to feel what it's like to have leadership rest with them. They were running it.”

Along the way, faculty chaperones were there to support the students, but as Coach Baker explained, they were the “guides on the sides, not the sage on the stage.” That autonomy allowed the students to take ownership of their experience with meaningful takeaways.

"The course helped me focus on living in the present moment and appreciating the little things," senior Evie Moore said.

Learning the lyrics: How Chinese becomes a song that sticks

From the “ABCs” to the “Fifty Nifty United States,” the use of song has always been a catchy way to learn and recall information. In Jingli Jurca’s classes, that technique translates — even in Chinese.

Ms. Jurca knows that learning a new language with an alphabet so different from English’s can be a daunting task. So, she uses song — broken into four distinct parts — to help students through the journey. First, her Chinese II and Honors Chinese III students are given the Chinese characters to the song and use reading comprehension skills to interpret the words. Then, they listen to the song and write the Chinese characters of the words. Next, they listen to the song and interpret the meaning. Finally, they translate the English lyrics into Chinese characters.

These steps echo the skills required to learn Chinese: reading comprehension, handwriting and character recognition, and understanding the meaning. Ms. Jurca believes that when students are excited about a subject, they are more likely to stay motivated and committed to keep learning. This enthusiasm not only helps them retain information but also boosts their confidence in their ability to succeed. And just like a catchy tune stuck in their heads, Ms. Jurca hopes that enthusiasm ensures the lessons learned will stay with them for a lifetime.

Tracking the Sun

On the edge of Souby Lawn, girls stand on a patio holding yardsticks and staring up into the sky. They take some measurements, jot down a few numbers, and go back inside. The same thing happens the next sunny day at Harpeth Hall, and the next, for an entire semester. But what are the girls doing? The answers can be found in Gary Schott’s AP Environmental Science classroom on the second floor of Massey.

There, the girls record the measurements they take outside and plug the data into a mathematical model to create a set of graphs that shows the position of the sun relative to the Earth. In order to create their data graphs, the girls record the length and position of their shadows from the same spot each sunny day.

“We have been doing this for four years,” Dr. Schott said. “It is an exercise in how you can do multi-varied analysis. [...] I use it as a way to talk about meteorological models, which use a lot of data from different variables to make predictions about what the weather is going to be.”

As the seasons progress, the sun's movement away from and then back toward the Earth affects the temperature, and, therefore, how the planet’s environment functions. By analyzing the data they collect, student scientists can recognize patterns, make predictions for the future, and use critical thinking skills to relate the data back to the Earth’s environment.

For the girls, the excitement of seeing a longterm project starting to come together is a reminder of the power of STEM education in action.

the assembly, students recite and sign the honor pledge, promising to demonstrate academic integrity while they foster an honest and respectful learning environment.

The Honor Assembly also serves as the introduction of the middle school Honor Education Committee and the upper school Honor Council, each of which includes a select group of students who model and support their classmates in Harpeth Hall’s honorable actions.

For Director of the Upper School Frances Fondren-Bales, the tenet of living honorably requires something important of the students.

“Think Critically: in the life of a school, that is our jam.

Lead Confidently: pretty clear in terms of defined principles of leadership,” she said. “Live honorably? Doesn’t this mean different things to different people? What does honor look like in our everyday lives?

For me, it is helpful to think of the words highlighted in our values statement and how they play out in our daily lives at school.

“Respect in the way we speak to one another. Resilience in the way we bounce back from disappointment or take on hard things. Integrity in the way each of us is unwilling to compromise our moral principles.”

Ms. Fondren-Bales encouraged students to ask for help when they are feeling overwhelmed rather than taking shortcuts and always to keep the ethics of their decisions in mind. She reminded the students of the signs that hang in every classroom on campus depicting a red circle with a line through the word “perfect” — signs that signify that the teachers at our school do not expect perfection. It is normal to make mistakes; the focus is on learning from mistakes and completing work that shows “your thoughts, your critical thinking, your creativity in your work,” Ms. Fondren-Bales said.

WBy Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

hen a Harpeth Hall graduate steps into the world beyond campus, she does not do so alone. With her, she carries the strength and guidance of the values she learned at Harpeth Hall, each upheld by the pillar of honor that strengthens the school community.

“Honor is a lifelong commitment, not a high school endeavor,”

Anna Cate Graham, senior and president of the Honor Council, said at the 2024 Honor Assembly. “Harpeth Hall imparts on us a lesson of character that will carry us to create respectful communities. The honor code builds respectful and responsible leaders, teachers, lawyers, and mothers. …If you are a student at this school, you are incredibly privileged to call yourself a Harpeth Hall girl. We share our title and our code of conduct proudly.”

Each year at Honor Assembly, students focus on the meaning of honor at Harpeth Hall — both in the sense of academic honor and, more broadly, in how they carry themselves in the world. As part of

In the middle school, the “Honor Education Committee (HEC) is one of the most integral leadership groups that exists in our division,” Director of the Middle School Elizabeth Ecker ’00 said. “The HEC is charged with incorporating education opportunities for middle schoolers throughout the year so that we all can share an understanding of the expectations of honor at Harpeth Hall. … In my experience, Harpeth Hall’s premium on academic honor sets our school apart — in the best way.”

Helen Weatherford, an 8th grade member of the HEC, explained the importance of signing a universal community Honor Pledge: “We are promising to put in our best effort and honesty in all of our work, and we are promising to be a community of respect and value.

“I've learned through my past three years at Harpeth Hall that honor is so much more than just the honor code,” Helen said. “Honor also represents all of the girls and women who’ve come before us and the legacy that they’ve left. It represents the way our community works together.”

National Merit recognition reminds students they are confident and capable

By Jessica Bliss

Four Harpeth Hall seniors earned the distinction of 2024 National Merit semifinalists. With their diverse interests and goals — ranging from biomedical engineering to international relations — these honorees exemplify Harpeth Hall’s academic spirit and supportive environment.

“Harpeth Hall is a really academically rigorous environment,” Katherine Thomas said. “… National Merit [recognition] is a reminder that I am more capable than I think I am and that Harpeth Hall's challenging curriculum pays off.”

The road to National Merit semifinalist recognition begins during a student’s junior year when she takes the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The exam measures a student’s critical reading ability, mathematical problem-solving skills, and writing competency.

To advance as a National Merit finalist and be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record and receive recommendation letters from school officials. They must also submit a scholarship application to highlight their academic record, participation in school and community activities, and demonstrated leadership abilities. Honorees are among the top 1% of high school students nationwide and represent Harpeth Hall’s commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity and academic excellence.

“To me, being a National Merit Semifinalist means that I can be more confident in myself moving forward,” Ariadne Vidalakis said,

“because I now have evidence that I have a solid academic foundation for my future studies.”

Alongside the National Merit semifinalists, seven additional Harpeth Hall students were named commended scholars. The recognition is not only a validation of academic success but also a testament to the opportunities Harpeth Hall provides for its students.

A Winterim internship at the Duvall Biomedical Engineering Lab at Vanderbilt helped Ariadne learn more about the shortage of research on mental health medications. She hopes to combine her interest in biology and neuroscience with her engineering skills to work in mental health drug development and delivery.

Cailin Rork is passionate about French, history, and global discussion and hopes to study international relations. For Katherine, history has always been her favorite area of study because she loves to read and learn about the world around her, but that is not her only passion — she also loves violin performance and hopes to join a string ensemble in college.

And Harpeth Hall’s Honors STEM Research program has allowed Lily Bowen to develop real-world skills that support her interest in the intersection of math and social justice. She hopes to use the science of statistics to pursue data analytics and effect change.

From advanced coursework to individualized support, Harpeth Hall faculty also play a pivotal role in helping students reach their potential, and the girls credit the achievement to the high-quality education, guidance, and support they received in their years at Harpeth Hall.

“My teachers at Harpeth Hall have been pivotal in my academic journey,” Lily said. “From assisting me where I need help to pushing me where I need an extra challenge, they have supported and stretched my learning in all the right ways. I truly would not be the student I am without them.”

2024 National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalist Honorees

• Lily Bowen

• Cailin Rork

• Katherine Thomas

• Ariadne Vidalakis

2024 National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Scholars

• Tilly Anderson

• Lucy Farringer

• Anna Lamb

• Elizabeth Lefler

• Reagan Nisbet

• Lily Thompson

• Lily Wang

‘Bringing people together through common values for a shared future’

Speaker

Samar Ali encourages Harpeth Hall students to strengthen relationships through the skill of listening

By Jessica Bliss

“Growing up, I never would have guessed that my hyper-local activities would connect with global aspirations, but they have,” she said. “This intersection is where I work daily. It brings me joy.”

Samar Ali passes Harpeth Hall almost every day with her daughter. A few months ago, as the two drove past campus together, a special note was in the air. “I’m going to be speaking there today,” Ms. Ali told her girl.

“What are you going to talk about?” her daughter asked, with all the curiosity of her 4-year-old preschool self.

“Primarily about listening,” Ms. Ali replied.

Ms. Ali has focused her career on learning, listening, and “bringing people together through common values for a shared future.” She grew up in Waverly, Tennessee, as a “small-town girl in a complex world.” She traveled the globe with her family and was active in Humphreys County, where she lived. If there was a community activity that needed a volunteer, she was there. She was in student government and competed in athletics. Her focus was always on finding a path or purpose in life that centered on fairness for all people.

Students,

“Welcome everyone,” upper school English teacher Joe Croker’s voice echoed through the speakers in the Frances Bond Davis Theatre. “Today, we are thrilled to introduce Eric Hudson, a true leader in educational transformation.”

“Eric is a strategic advisor and facilitator,” history teacher Adrienne Jacobs continued, “helping schools adapt to rapid changes in education. He is all about learner-centered assessment, human-centered leadership, and strategic program design.”

As the introduction went on, it seemed like a typical way to greet a guest speaker at an all-school assembly, except for one thing: It was not actually Mr. Croker and Ms. Jacobs introducing Mr. Hudson. It was AI.

The twist elicited audible gasps in the student-filled auditorium. The amplified audio sounded so real as if the two teachers sat in front of a high-quality microphone to record the words. It was a perfect segue to meeting Mr. Hudson, a seasoned educator who visited Harpeth Hall’s campus to speak about the role of AI in education.

AI: An ‘arrival technology’

AI is everywhere, Mr. Hudson said as he led off each of his three sessions — one for students, one for faculty, and one for parents at Harpeth Hall, Ensworth, USN, and Oak Hill. From “what-to-watch-next” recommendations on YouTube and special effects in movies to autocomplete in text messages and self-driving cars, the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence has introduced powerful new tools. That extends to education.

But how can students learn to use this tool to deepen their learning rather than let it replace critical thinking and writing? And how can parents and

Ms. Ali is a lawyer, conflict mediation practitioner, social entrepreneur, and the founding president and CEO of Millions of Conversations, an organization dedicated to bridging divides and fostering dialogue among Americans. She is also a research professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University and co-chair of the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy.

Her specialties lie at the intersection of national security, economic development, and human rights. She has worked on complicated conflicts as a White House Fellow and as an assistant commissioner of international affairs in the governor’s office for the state of Tennessee.

It can be easy, she said, to be a young person today and look around and see only where adults disagree with each other. Pew Research shows that unfavorable opinions of the opposing

faculty, and parents learn to

educators best familiarize themselves with AI to guide students in using it responsibly and ethically?

He began with an assertion: AI isn’t going away. Mr. Hudson referred to AI as an “arrival technology,” which means it is considered an advancement that becomes so embedded in daily life that it reshapes society not always by individual choice. Much like the introduction of the internet and smartphones, adopting or engaging with an “arrival technology” becomes inevitable.

For that reason, Mr. Hudson said, it is important to understand the technology not avoid it.

“I think the most important skill that not just students but all people can have right now about AI is to know enough about it so that we can make good decisions about how to use it and how not to use it,” Mr. Hudson said.

‘They don’t think. … They don’t have feelings.’

To begin, one of the most important steps is to know how to evaluate the content generated by AI tools. Mr. Hudson spoke to students about “hallucinations” (AI-generated responses that contain false or misleading information), “deepfakes” (often-convincing artificial images, videos, and audio recordings generated by AI), and “artificial intimacy” (when individuals form relationships with bots and turn to them for therapy and advice in place of educated human professionals).

“It’s really important to know that even though these tools can do a lot of stuff, they cannot do a lot that we can do,” Mr. Hudson said. “They don’t think. They don’t understand. They don’t have feelings. Even though what they produce feels human-ish, it doesn’t actually have human qualities.”

And that, Mr. Hudson said, is why he talks so much with students about decision-making. When it comes to AI, it is the human’s responsibility to implement reasoning and take into account ethical considerations. That includes in learning.

political party have doubled on both sides since 1994, and the degrees of unfavorableness are at record highs today.

Ms. Ali’s work focuses on finding the way through polarization to a shared future. Her research has led her to develop a matrix that displays how, collectively, people can work from a cycle of hate to a path to peace. “We don’t want to lose the belief in the power of what happens when we come together,” she said.

The way forward, she said, requires listening. Harpeth Hall has displayed a commitment to shared values, she noted as she looked around the theatre at the banners displaying words including respect, integrity, honor, and kindness. Students, faculty, and the wider school community turn to these values to bring them together — that same idea can be applied to interactions beyond campus. When people genuinely listen to each other, she said, they often find they have more in common than they have differences.

What does it mean to listen? As she spoke to students, Ms. Ali defined listening as “the

process of receiving, constructing meaning from, and responding to spoken and/or nonverbal messages.” Then, she offered a few tips for how students can actively listen to others.

Understand why you're listening — and listen fully. Notice if your mind drifts to what you’ll say next. Focus on the words being spoken and reflect not only on your reaction but also on the other person’s intent.

Approach another person’s words and ideas with curiosity, even if you don’t completely understand their perspective; use that as an opening to ask a follow-up question. Show up in a way that is productive and committed to the conversation.

Avoid having sensitive conversations over text.

Remember that listening to someone with whom you don’t entirely agree doesn’t mean compromising your values — it does mean engaging with respect and treating them with respect.

think critically about AI in education

Much of the early discussion about AI in education focused on the idea that students may be using the technology for unapproved assistance. That may be writing essays, solving math equations, or asking for scientific solutions to homework problems.

This type of interaction is known as offloading cognitive learning. The chatbot is doing the “thinking” for a student. This is similar to what happens when adults put an address into their GPS and mindlessly follow the blue line instead of recognizing the spatial cues that lead to learning a driving route.

Rather than automating learning, Mr. Hudson talked about using technology to augment learning. For example, a student may choose to upload her notes from class and ask a chatbot to create a practice quiz from the content for her to take.

He encouraged students who are interested in this type of idea to turn to the adults in their lives to help guide their use of the technology as they learn about it together. He also reminded students that even in doing that, AI is not yet reliable in its responses and often makes made-up information appear as truth. A student must know how to fact-check details using vetted sources or use her own knowledge to confirm the accuracy of what AI says.

“If you go into some of the tools and ask them to write a paragraph about something, some of the sentences might be right, but some of the sentences might be wrong,” Mr. Hudson told students. “So, we are still in a place with the technology where we can’t 100% trust the output. We have to use what we know and what we are able to do as humans to check whether the output is correct.”

Potential for good, guided by a human-centered perspective Even with the concerns that emerge with AI, Mr. Hudson also spoke about the technology’s potential for positive outcomes. Right now, AI is being used to help decrease the spread of Malaria, support doctors in diagnosis, and aid those with disabilities. For example, Mr. Hudson demonstrated an

Inspired by Ms. Ali’s words and in reflection of the school’s commitment to responsible citizenship and civil dialogue, students and faculty reflected on the tenants of listening in advisory and were invited to sign their own “Pledge to Listen,” which said:

As a student at Harpeth Hall, I pledge to listen to others who hold different opinions, views, or beliefs. I will try to understand their reasons and their perspectives and will respectfully express my own in return.

“Listening,” Ms. Ali said, “requires us to slow down.”

And, she said, it is one of the gifts students can give to others.

“My wish for you is that you will all use your time here to establish a foundation where you will decide what your gift is in this world,” she said, “and, as you recognize your gift along with the gifts of your fellow classmates and community members, I hope you embrace the pathway to nurturing your talents.”

By Jessica Bliss and Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

app for individuals who are hearing impaired that can take audio inputs and turn them into an AI-generated video of a person signing what is being said. Another app can read aloud a photo of text to aid individuals who do not see well.

AI, he said, does have the power to improve productivity and enhance the human experience. To harness the positive potential, Mr. Hudson challenged students, teachers, and parents to approach AI from a human-centered perspective with a curious, critical, and knowledgeable mind. In other words, to gain a base understanding and foundational literacy of generative AI.

As AI integrates even deeper into daily life, Mr. Hudson emphasized how important it is to be aware of the technology’s lightning-fast advancement without much oversight. Currently, he said, there is no government body regulating AI technology. Companies are being relied on to make decisions about the morals and ethics of the tool's abilities — and, though many tools do have age restrictions written into their terms, Mr. Hudson said it is similar to social media in that it is up to the adults or students to ensure they are following those guidelines.

He also noted that chatbots are a “black box,” meaning a person can see what goes into a chat and see what comes out of a chat, but that individual can’t see the internal mechanics of AI — those are unclear or hidden from users and even from developers. That makes it even more important to keep from inputting personally identifiable information into bots.

“We don’t know what happens to the stuff we put into AI,” he said.

For parents and teachers, Mr. Hudson's biggest piece of advice was a literacy-forward approach: “If our kids are using AI, then let’s teach them how to use it safely and wisely,” he said. While students and adults may not control how AI shows up in their lives, “We all have agency. AI is very powerful. It can be used for positive benefits and we can teach students how to use it for positive benefits.”

In perfect harmony: The upper school choir and orchestra join forces for a Masterworks Concert

With bows skating across strings, the Harpeth Hall upper school orchestra plays the opening notes of the “Gloria” chorus from Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Heiligmesse.” In the risers behind them, the upper school choir begins to build, their voices bursting over the melody of the instruments. This Masterworks Concert, a recent addition to the performing arts season spearheaded by orchestra director Lori McDermott and choir teacher Matthew Pyles, provides an opportunity for the two performing arts groups to collaborate and explore a classical repertoire. “Hallways” sat down with Ms. McDermott and Mr. Pyles to reflect on the harmonizing of the two genres.

The Masterworks Concert is now in its second year as part of Harpeth Hall’s performing arts season. How did it come together?

Matthew Pyles: This has been a dream of Ms. McDermott’s for a long time.

Lori McDermott: I really love that our girls have the opportunity to work together and perform together. When we hold separate concerts with orchestra and choir on separate nights, it is great to see that progression throughout the years from grades 5 through 12 [for the singers and musicians], but the girls rarely get to see each other perform unless it is an assembly or special event. They love working together. They really have a greater appreciation for each other.

Mr. Pyles: I think the other part to this is that our choral classes have so many types of music to learn that we don’t always spend a lot of time on classical music. The Masterworks Concert is a good way to authentically lean into music from Baroque and classical periods with the orchestra. Also, because it’s the first concert of the year, the skills that we pick up there — being able to read music really well and being able to sing with the right technique to pull off [the classical style] — that sets our choral students up for success for the rest of the year. So it’s pedagogically sound, as well, beyond the collaboration aspect of the concert.

How do the choir and the orchestra work together?

Ms. McDermott: Each class works independently, and then we find windows of time to put them together.

Mr. Pyles: As far as how Ms. McDermott and I work: Towards the end of the year, I start looking at music that’s appropriate for the

students that I have coming in on the vocal side. A lot of the music from the era was written for mixed voices, and we have a growing treble program. So, trying to find a good arrangement — and one that has an orchestra part with it — is a challenge. Once I find a piece that I think works, I send it to Ms. McDermott to find out if it is playable and if it meets the orchestra’s needs.

What are the challenges for the choir when adding the layer of orchestra and for the orchestra when adding the choir?

Mr. Pyles: It’s a different way of thinking about the music because they support each other. With choir, we have our piano player, and the way that the pianist does her phrasing really impacts how we sing our parts. With an orchestra, each instrument’s part often doubles or supports the vocal lines. So we have to make sure, for example, that the violas are doing the same articulation that the singers are doing, or vice versa. Another example is if there’s a breath mark.

Ms. McDermott may not normally have the orchestra lift, but because I know that the students need to breathe, we might have a little lift in that section.

Ms. McDermott: I would say the same thing. It’s balanced too. We are able to switch around and manipulate the dynamics so we don’t overpower or we don’t get lost.

Mr. Pyles: For example, this year, I needed the soprano two sound to be brought out more, and the cellos supported the singer’s sound. What do you think the rewards are for the students?

Mr. Pyles: The exposure to the style of music. They leave with a different appreciation and set of vocabulary than they would otherwise have, and they carry that forward.

Ms. McDermott: I love that the girls get to work with each other, and I think they really love that too. They get to support their peers. Also, it’s important and beneficial to have a concert before the winter concert. They want more chances to perform.

Mr. Pyles: This concert, because we have the collaboration, feels elevated. It solidifies this group mentality, thinking: ‘We are capable of doing really classy things.’ It also creates a group identity for the music department. Now that we have started doing this, we see ourselves as a cohesive unit working towards the same goals.

On stage with Kiki Christopher ’25

Senior Kiki Christopher has captivated audiences with her starring roles on stage, from her performance as White Rabbit in last spring’s “Alice in Wonderland” dance concert to her standout portrayal of Tanya Cresham-Leigh in “Mamma Mia!” This fall, she premiered her own choreography to Billie Eilish’s “The Diner” in the 2024 fall dance concert. As she looks ahead to studying dance at the University of Alabama, Kiki — this year’s president of Playmakers, vice president of the Honor Council, and co-president of the Fashion Club — reflects on finding her feet in two artistic disciplines.

As both a dancer and an actor, what do you think are the biggest differences and similarities between the two disciplines?

Similarities: Within dancing and acting you must have a commitment to growth — to understanding your capabilities as an artist while constantly raising the bar for yourself. Whether that be in building technique or learning a new trick in dance or becoming a stronger, more emotionally intelligent actor.

Differences: Both of these disciplines require immense drive and stamina, but for different reasons. For dance, you must be dedicated to putting your body through strenuous physical training in order to reach an end performance you are proud of. For acting, you must understand the emotional, social, and physical cues of a natural person with the intention of fully fleshing out the character you are creating.

Did you know that Harpeth Hall has an official school podcast? Check out our first episode of “Bear in Mind” about the fall musical, “Mamma Mia!,” written and narrated by Nora Wang ’21.

What was the biggest challenge and reward of seeing a new dance come together from the idea to the final performance?

My greatest reward was creating a piece using a blend of styles involving modern and elements of jazz. This dance gave me the ability to practice the teachings of a modern intensive I took during the summer and combine it with the jazz technique I had been taught for years. My greatest challenge was choreographing without immediately being able to teach my dancers, as you never know how the movement you create will look executed by a larger group.

What advice would you give Honeybears who want to perform?

My advice would be to follow your instincts — if performing interests you, then try it out on a level that is professional yet fun, like performing arts at Harpeth Hall! On a deeper level, the teachers within the theater and dance departments only want to see you succeed, so let your fear of a new activity coexist with the excitement of a new opportunity!

Harpeth Hall has history making nine athletes sign Division I letters of intent

No one had a busier signing day or wore more T-shirts than Coach Meggie Lucas.

With three varsity soccer players and her own lacrosse-playing daughter committing to continue their athletic careers as Division I college athletes, there were a lot of speeches to be made and different T-shirts to be worn.

She began with Northwestern purple before donning South Carolina garnet and black, then on to the maroon of College of Charleston, and finally the black and gold of Vanderbilt University for her daughter. Coach Lucas sprinted from one side of the gym to the other as she spoke about each of her soccer players and then sat down, exhausted and elated, to watch her own child sign on the dotted line.

It was a record-setting pace, which was fitting for the theme of the day. From career-best times to game-winning scores, athletics is often a story of numbers. On Nov. 13, at Harpeth Hall’s 2024 National

Signing Day celebration, those numbers took on new meaning, representing the dedication and drive of the athletes behind each milestone.

The most significant number: Nine.

Nine exceptional Harpeth Hall students signed national letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at Division I colleges and universities. Never before have so many Harpeth Hall athletes put their names on the line during the fall signing period, making this a record-setting season.

Further putting this achievement into perspective are notable statistics from the NCAA:

• In basketball, only 1.4% of high school female athletes go on to play at the Division I level.

• In soccer, the number is slightly higher at 2.7%.

• For lacrosse, it’s 4.3%.

• In cross country, it’s 2.8%.

• And in rowing, it’s 7.2%.

“These numbers remind us just how elite this group of athletes is,” Director of Athletics Kylene Lee told a gym filled with fans and supporters on signing day. “Out of thousands of high school female athletes, these nine young women have risen to the top. They have earned their place through countless early mornings, late nights, and weekends spent training, competing, and striving to improve.”

Beyond the numerical measure of achievement, at Harpeth Hall, each stat represents a story of resilience, teamwork, and the legacy of student leadership on the courts, fields, and tracks. “This isn’t always an easy dream to fulfill,” Harpeth Hall lacrosse coach Megan Clark said. These girls have achieved their dreams.

“To our nine signees: Today, you join an exceptional group of athletes who have gone before you, paving the way for women in sports,” Coach Lee said before the athletes signed their college commitment letters. “You are not only making history for yourselves or Harpeth Hall, but you are also contributing to the larger narrative of female empowerment and excellence. … This is a monumental achievement, and we are so proud of each of you.”

Harpeth Hall’s Division I National Letter of Intent Signees

Annamaria Bacchetta —

Dartmouth College, Cross Country

A talented distance runner in both cross country and track, Annamaria already showed great poise as an 8th grade student, practicing with the varsity cross country team before racing in the Middle School State Championship in Knoxville and competing in the high school level Metro Meet, where she placed 2nd behind teammate Bella Guillamondegui ’23 and 3rd at the TSSAA state meet. From there, she continued to excel, lowering her times in cross country and track events year after year. She helped lead Harpeth Hall to back-to-back team cross-country titles in 2021 and 2022, with 8th and 5th place finishes, respectively, and a runner-up team finish in 2023.

“In addition to being a great athlete, Annamaria is also a tremendous teammate,” Harpeth Hall cross country coach Jenny Jervis said. “She energetically participates in practice and excitedly encourages her fellow runners. She celebrates their successes with boundless joy and enthusiasm, and she compassionately supports them when they suffer challenges. We would regularly hear her cry out to a teammate after a strong run, praising her for her feat or offering a bear hug to someone feeling poorly.

“She also brings the fun! We could always count on her to provide an upbeat playlist and start a dance frenzy for everyone around her to join in. Annamaria wears her heart on her sleeve. She lets you know how she’s feeling, and she shines light and energy on everyone she encounters. The Big Green of Dartmouth is lucky to welcome this young woman to Hanover.”

Lily Bowen — Brown University, Cross Country

As a freshman new to Harpeth Hall, Lily brought her dynamic combination of athletic prowess and mental fortitude, becoming an immediate contributor on both the cross country and track teams. She helped Harpeth Hall win its first state championship in seven years with a strong performance after an injury in 2021. Her 7th place individual performance at the 2022 state meet earned the Honeybears a repeat team title. During the 2023 cross country season, Lily was one of the top runners, not only in Division II-AA in Tennessee, but in all divisions in the Southeast. She finished in the top eight or better in all six of Harpeth Hall’s races, including an excellent showing at the state meet, placing 3rd in one of the toughest divisions in the TSSAA and contributing to Harpeth Hall’s runner-up team title.

“In addition to being a top-notch runner, Lily is also a wonderful leader and teammate,” Coach Jervis said. “She was often the first to practice, always ready to help corral her teammates for warm-up or dynamics, to encourage them during a difficult workout or to cheer them on in a race. She always did her assignment the ‘right way,’ be that dynamics, a workout, pre-hab work, strength and conditioning, or nutrition. When leading a group of younger runners, she affectionately referred to them as her ‘squad’ and brightly motivated them to complete the workout or to compete at their best level. … We are excited that she is remaining a Bear, this time a Brown one, and we look forward to hearing about her adventures and successes in Providence, Rhode Island.”

Quinn Erim

Northwestern University, Soccer

In her career as a Honeybear, Quinn amassed an impressive list of accomplishments: more than 63 goals and 18 assists, three-time DII AA All-Middle Region, 2021 and 2023 Tennessean All-Midstate, a 2023 State Player of the Year nominee, and a 2024 DII AA All-State team honoree. She was also a member of the 2021 state championship and the 2023 state runner-up teams.

“As an 8th grader on varsity and a starter in every season she played, Quinn has been one of the most impactful players in the state of Tennessee,” Coach Lucas said. “If you’ve ever watched her play, you’d know she’s a force. As a forward, Quinn has an incredible ability to turn on a defender and leave them in her dust. Her speed and skill allow her to take on multiple defenders, often creating space for a shot—and what shots she made! … She was a constant threat on the field. In large part due to her lethal attack, the Harpeth Hall Honeybears outscored our opponents more than 5:1 in the seasons when she played.

“It goes without saying that Harpeth Hall will miss our Quinn. It has been an honor to coach you and watch you play. Northwestern University is lucky to have you.”

Helen Ghertner —

University of South Carolina, Soccer

As one of “the most competitive and tenacious” players Meggie Lucas has ever coached, Helen has been a vital part of the defense and midfield that has led Harpeth Hall to the state tournament year after year, including the 2021 state championship and the 2023 state runner-up titles. Helen has earned many individual accolades, as well, including multiple selections to the DII AA All-Middle Region team, all-state honors, and a 2023 nomination for Girls Soccer Player of the Year. She was also named to the DII AA All-State Team for her efforts this year.

“Beyond her exceptional skill, Helen brings an unteachable edge to the game,” Coach Lucas said. “When she steps on the field, it’s full throttle. Every play, every pass, Helen plays with relentless intensity. It’s not uncommon to see her shut down an attack with a perfectly timed slide tackle or out-jump her opponents to win a header. She’s a force wherever she plays. Coaches urge their players to ‘leave it all on the field,’ and that’s exactly what Helen does every game.”

Clara Scott Harden West Point, Cross Country

As a four-year member of the Harpeth Hall cross country team, Clara Scott contributed through her dedication, discipline, and thoughtfulness building team unity and striving for excellence. Her performances contributed to the team’s 2023 Division II-AA state runner-up finish.

“Watching her compete, there is just one word that comes to mind, gritty,” Coach Jervis said. “For her, there was only one way to approach a competition full effort and full speed. One could rarely tell how Clara Scott was feeling during a race because her expression never changed it was resolute.

“... She has been instrumental in our success as a team, both by building team unity and striving for excellence in her running and in her demeanor. She will be a wonderful Mule at Westpoint.”

Ava Krumwiede — Harvard University, Basketball

With her relentless defense and clutch jump shot, Ava helped lead the Harpeth Hall basketball team to back-to-back 20-win seasons. She has twice been named to the all-state, all-region tournament, and all-region teams while earning a coveted spot in the 1,000-point club.

“Ava has shown us what it means to be a true athlete. Her dedication is clear not only in every game but in every practice, every late-night workout, and every sacrifice she has made to pursue her dreams,” Coach Amy Josephson said.

“But as we all know, it’s not just Ava’s talent on the court that has brought her here. It’s the hours of hard work, the resilience to push through challenges, and the commitment to personal growth. Harvard University is not only gaining an outstanding athlete but also a person of great character, intelligence, and integrity.”

Gracie Lucas —

Vanderbilt University, Lacrosse

Gracie made the varsity lacrosse team her freshman year, developing her talents by playing against some of the best offensive players in the state. During her sophomore and junior seasons, she was named to the All-American South team and was selected to play for Team Tennessee at the USA Lacrosse Women’s Division National tournament, where she helped lead Team Tennessee to win the championship in their division.

In her two years of starting on Harpeth Hall’s defense, Gracie has collected 73 ground balls and caused 55 turnovers. She led the region in stats defensively, earning TGLA all-region and TGLA all-state honors as a sophomore and junior. She also helped lead the Harpeth Hall team to three consecutive state titles.

“Her speed and footwork are some of the best I have ever seen,” Coach Maggie Clark said. “Gracie’s ability to lock down on an attacker and force turnovers are some of her greatest attributes. Her lacrosse IQ continues to grow, and she’s been crucial at leading our defensive unit. … Vanderbilt is getting the best defensive player in the state.”

Lyla Schick — College of Charleston, Soccer

A versatile, dynamic player, Lyla excels in all areas of the field defense, midfield, and striker. She reads the game well, knowing when to drop back to defend and then, in the next moment, burst into attack.

“Lyla is the kind of player coaches dream about,” Coach Lucas said. “She loves the game of soccer and is fiercely committed to it. I’ve rarely seen a player more dedicated, more driven to put in the extra work to improve her game. Whether it’s the off-season or after practice, Lyla is constantly pushing herself often found running drills on her own, determined to get more touches and perfect her skills. And that dedication is unmistakable on the field. Lyla’s touch on the ball is second to none; it’s as if the ball is glued to her foot as she cuts, sprints, and maneuvers past opponents.”

Lyla’s impact goes beyond her dedication and drive; she was Harpeth Hall’s top assist-maker this year and has been recognized as a 2023 and 2024 DII AA All-Middle Region player, as well as all-state this season. “The College of Charleston is lucky to have such a talented, driven, and inspiring player,” Coach Lucas said.

Ryan Van Mol Jacksonville University, Rowing

From the beginning, Ryan showed her potential by earning the stroke seat position often considered the most important in the boat. Located in the seat closest to the stern, the stroke rower is responsible for the boat’s stroke rate, rhythm, and cadence and for setting a steady and often powerful pace for the rest of the crew. Always the first to arrive at practice, Ryan showed her work ethic and determination. “I remember being in the launch when Coach Kesor said: ‘That girl, Ryan, she wants it, and she puts in the work,’ ” Harpeth Hall’s rowing coach Ashley Hallock remembered. “That is exactly what we wanted.”

With her calm and competitive nature, she led the Harpeth Hall rowing team by bringing out the best in each rower. The Bears finished 6th

at the 2024 Midwest Championships in May, with Ryan helping her boat make the podium in the Women’s Junior 4x. That was followed by an appearance at the SRAA National Championships Regatta.

“I’m very excited for her future,” Coach Hallock said. “I know Ryan will thrive at Jacksonville University.”

HONEYBEAR NATION HIGHLIGHTS

Fall Varsity Athletic Honors

Soccer

DII-AA All Middle Region Team:

Seniors Quinn Erim, Helen Ghertner, and Lyla Schick; honorable mention — seniors Gracie Lucas and Sarah Wojciechowski

DII-AA All-State Team:

Seniors Quinn Erim, Helen Ghertner, and Lyla Schick

Volleyball

DII-AA All Middle Region Team: Senior Emaline Cash; honorable mention — senior Reagan Nisbet and sophomore Brooklyn Scruggs

An athlete who displays Harpeth Hall’s values on the court and in the classroom

Senior Celia Brien received the 2023-2024 National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) student-athlete award of excellence. This award honors athletes who demonstrate sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity while displaying exceptional character. Honorees are nominated and selected by the vote of area coaches and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletics Association (TSSAA).

Middle School Athletics

5th & 6th Grade

Volleyball won the HVAC Jr. Championship Cross country came in 2nd at the HVAC Jr. Championship Soccer won the HVAC Jr. Championship

7th & 8th Grade

Cross country won the HVAC Championship Tennis came in 2nd at the HVAC Championship Soccer won the HVAC Championship

Scan this QR code to watch a video highlight celebrating our middle school fall athletes

Hearts for service

Harpeth Hall girls spread kindness within and outside Harpeth Hall through participation in clubs

By Annie Linley ’23 and Jessica Bliss

In an annual assembly address, Director of the Upper School Frances Fondren-Bales gave the students a deceptively simple assignment: be kind. Modeling the word, which was chosen from Harpeth Hall’s values statement, seemed like an easy A, but in a whirlwind of school, sports, arts, and activities, Ms. Fondren-Bales reminded the girls that kindness is not always simple.

“Here’s the reality,” she said, “kindness is pretty easy when things are going well. It is when we are feeling stressed or sad or mad or put on the spot that kindness can be a challenge.”

It is important, Ms. Fondren-Bales urged the girls, to remember that their development as people is just as important as — and often much harder than — their development of skills. She encouraged the girls to focus on their relationships: those with people they are close to, those with people they would like to know better, and those with people they do not know at all.

“I believe it is incumbent upon us to steep our interactions with one another in kindness,” she said, because “the warmth and comfort of community come from the bringing together of our individual, unique selves.”

The community of kindness Ms. Fondren-Bales referred to is one built around a collection of shared values, including respect, integrity, honor, curiosity, creativity, and community. Harpeth Hall provides opportunities for the girls to reflect these school values outward toward the greater community through clubs, which are primarily run by the girls, allowing clubs to represent what the students care most about.

“Whether it is Care Bears, ActNow, Green Club, Best Buddies, or another student-run initiative, clubs give students the chance to practice what we value at Harpeth Hall,” Head of School Jess Hill said. “Through service, advocacy, or collaboration, the girls are not just talking about kindness, integrity, honor, and respect — they are living it. These experiences help them grow into the type of leaders who can make a meaningful difference in any community of which they are a part.”

Here is a look into how clubs elevate Harpeth Halls values through care in the community.

Care Bears club creates community spirit through Public Purpose

Every Thursday afternoon, middle school Spanish teacher and Public Purpose coordinator Katie King looks forward to seeing which middle school athletes, dancers, artists, or engineers will join the after-school Care Bears club to dedicate their time to service.

Care Bears provides middle school students with opportunities to engage in meaningful community service outside of their grade-level service learning days. Focused on fostering kindness toward people and animals locally and globally, the club connects students to agencies already partnered with Harpeth Hall, strengthening those relationships. During the 2023-2024 school year, nearly 75 students attended at least one meeting. This year, over 30 students have already participated.

The club's projects span a variety of initiatives: collecting used markers for the Terracycle program, making encouraging locker signs for students in the musical, baking cookies for an annual American Cancer Society bake sale, crafting Thanksgiving centerpieces for Fannie Battle Day Home for Children, and creating dog treats and toys for the Nashville Humane Association.

“Kindness is apparent in each Care Bears meeting, whether through heartfelt interest in our community partners or longing to connect in a small group setting,” Ms. King said.

The students are deeply committed to the organizations they support, and working alongside equally passionate peers strengthens their dedication. Many 7th and 8th graders in Care Bears also serve on the middle school’s 48-member Public Purpose Advisory Board, which organizes service events such as the Winter Wear Drive for the Homeless Education Resource Program at Metro Nashville Public Schools (HERO at MNPS) and the Kids Camp Fundraiser for the Lwala Community Alliance, a Harpeth Hall partner since 2011.

This year, the advisory board collected 350 pounds of Halloween candy for the Ronald McDonald House, and 6th grader Grace Freeman gathered comfort items like scarves and socks for chemotherapy patients. Student Council Public Purpose representative Mary Logan also organized a winter drive for Room In The Inn.

“It is

so important to have Public Purpose at Harpeth Hall because it gives us a purpose greater than ourselves.” — Mary Logan, 8th grade

Public Purpose programming supports students from 5th through 12th grades, encouraging critical thinking about local and global issues while equipping them with the skills to address challenges and make meaningful change.

“When you can touch the hearts of someone you wouldn’t normally be in contact with, it is incredibly powerful.”

— Katie King, middle school public purpose coordinator

“It’s important for me to be a part of Public Purpose because as my classmates and I are giving, volunteering, and helping, it makes us feel like we are making our community better,” said 8th grader Bryn Johnson, a member of the advisory board. She volunteered as a Lwala kids camp counselor and helped organize the winter clothing drive. “It seemed like a small thing, but it showed that a small act of kindness can make a big difference.”

ActNow delivers big impact with small acts of kindness

Harpeth Hall prioritizes a healthy school-life balance, but upper school students often juggle demanding schedules with academics, sports, arts, and extracurriculars, leaving little time for service. Enter ActNow, an upper school service club that provides opportunities for students to engage in meaningful community work during the school day.

Founded by alumna Sara Brown Fleishman ’11, ActNow encourages students to participate in hands-on activities that benefit the community. For example, this year, the club wrote notes for nurses and patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Abe’s Garden, an assisted-living and memory care facility. These seemingly simple gestures carry significant meaning. As faculty sponsor and math teacher Polly Linden explains, “The stories that come back to us let us know just how much impact small acts can make.”

ActNow’s student leaders work to reflect Harpeth Hall’s values of curiosity and kindness through club activities, which, club

co-president Conner Folk said, enables students “to feel eager to get involved within the community while always keeping kind and joyful spirits, no matter the task.” To achieve this, the club encourages members to suggest new organizations, service events, and creative crafts to expand its reach. “Student input broadens our service scope and helps us make a bigger difference in Nashville,” Conner added.

The club’s broader focus centers on providing meals for Nashville families and individuals experiencing homelessness, including students in the city’s public schools. ActNow has maintained a long-standing partnership with Matthew25, an organization supporting veterans and men experiencing homelessness. The club has hosted allschool food drives, bake sales, and sponsored a team for Matthew25’s annual Walk in the Woods. Members also visit Matthew25 to cook and serve meals, fostering meaningful connections.

“When we go to Matthew25, it’s not just about providing a meal,” Ms. Linden said. “It’s about sharing conversations with the men there.” These personal interactions resonate deeply with Harpeth Hall

students. “The girls do such a great job; there are some men that sit with them for over an hour chatting.”

ActNow’s co-president Charlotte Bartholomew emphasizes understanding the deeper purpose behind service. “We encourage members to reflect on the impact they have by explaining the significance of each event and reviewing outcomes through slideshows afterward,” she said.

This reflective approach helps students connect kindness with action. “Acts of service are kind in a general sense,” Charlotte said, “but more than this, our service events encourage a sense of respect for people who endure different experiences and hardships than ourselves. Our club members grow in confidence as they make an impact on others. We become more curious as we experience situations outside of our comfort zones. Some of our service events require uncomfortable

conversations, but this is where true growth happens as we engage in curiosity and empathy.”

ActNow embodies Harpeth Hall’s mission of cultivating confidence and leadership. From writing notes to serving meals, the club’s efforts demonstrate how small acts of kindness can make a lasting impact on individuals and the broader community.

Green Club inspires students to act for a sustainable future

Care for the community extends beyond people to include caring for the planet. For students passionate about sustainability, the upper school’s Green Club offers meaningful ways to show kindness to the Earth.

The Green Club’s initiatives vary widely, from creating dog toys from old T-shirts for the Nashville Humane Association to weaving sleeping mats from repurposed plastic for Nashville’s homeless community. Students also participate in local river clean-ups and replant trees in areas affected by tornadoes. One tree-planting project, organized by the Nashville Tree Foundation (NTF), was made possible through Harpeth Hall trustee Noni Nielsen ’93.

These projects connect members to the broader Nashville community, but the Green Club also impacts Harpeth Hall directly. Faculty sponsor Diana LeMense, yoga and dance instructor, highlighted the club’s leadership in promoting mindful consumption and composting in Harpeth Hall’s dining program.

“Students in the Green Club helped educate the campus community about the benefits of composting and mindfulness of food waste,” Ms. LeMense said. “Removing trays from the lunch line and encouraging students to take only what they need, with the option to return for more, has raised awareness around food consumption and waste.”

The Green Club also tackles fast fashion’s environmental and socioeconomic harm. In response to growing awareness among students, the club began hosting formal dress swaps for events like prom and winter formal, reducing the need for single-use purchases.

Ms. LeMense expressed pride in this shift.

“I’m heartened to see more students swapping,

thrifting, and prioritizing quality over quantity.

”

event is organized and sponsored by the national Best Buddies organization, and Harpeth Hall students volunteer to help bring energy and make sure it runs smoothly.

—

Diana LeMense, Green Club faculty sponsor

Through these efforts, Green Club members channel their passion for sustainability into actionable changes, addressing issues important to their peers and making a tangible difference for the planet.

Best Buddies fosters friendship and inclusion at Harpeth Hall

While many school clubs are Harpeth Hall-specific, one kindness-oriented club is part of a larger organization. Best Buddies is an international nonprofit dedicated to fostering one-on-one friendships and employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). In 2022, Harpeth Hall created its own chapter of Best Buddies, joining the ranks of several Nashville area high schools with existing chapters.

Witt Culpepper ’24, who served as president of Harpeth Hall’s Best Buddies in the 2023-2024 school year, said the goal of each Harpeth Hall chapter member is “to serve as a friend and mentor to people with IDDs, support and participate in events, and create opportunities for Best Buddies.”

One event that garnered much enthusiasm among club members was the Friendship Ball hosted at Bridgestone Arena. The ball is a homecoming-like dance designed to give nontraditional high school-age students access to a quintessential high school experience. There is formal dress, music, dancing, and lots and lots of joy. The

Many of the club’s smaller-scale activities are done in conjunction with chapters at other schools in Nashville. MBA hosts the annual gingerbread house decorating, and last February, Harpeth Hall hosted a Valentine’s Day event for the buddies. While it is tempting to say that Best Buddies exists to extend kindness toward community members with IDDs, the Harpeth Hall Best Buddies officers instead emphasized the kindness that is shared between the buddies and the volunteers.

“This club has taught me so much about kindness, mostly through the buddies,” remarked 2023-2024 secretary Charlotte Bartholemew, “they are all so joyful and sweet.” Conner Folk agreed, noting, “It isn’t always easy to step out of your comfort zone, but so many of the girls in our club have formed amazing relationships with our buddies by simply attending events and having conversations with them.”

Mutual respect among students of different physical and cognitive abilities is paramount to the Best Buddies mission, both at the national level and at the Harpeth Hall level. Harpeth Hall girls are especially good at fostering such a community of respect: “There are so many strong bonds that are formed through Best Buddies,” Witt said.

The officers hope that the inclusivity and acceptance demonstrated by the Best Buddies initiatives inspire Harpeth Hall students and the greater community to spread kindness toward people different from themselves. Charlotte put it well: “If someone is different from you, it doesn’t make them any less worthy of belonging.”

Through service learning projects students make a meaningful difference

In a warehouse filled with cereal boxes and canned goods, Harpeth Hall 7th grade students faced a challenge: "How can we optimize space and nutrition in a weekend food backpack program for students?"

Working in small groups, the students used 3D modeling and math skills to find creative solutions. They reimagined packaging, maximized meals per bag, and added small surprises like candy to make the experience more joyful for recipients.

“This experience bolstered my belief that middle schoolers are capable of changing the world if we let them,” science teacher Becky Smith said. Opportunities to make a difference are part of daily life at Harpeth Hall. As part of the curriculum, middle school students participate in two service learning days per year. Each grade has a different focus: 5th grade students emphasize environmental service, 6th grade engages with educational service, 7th grade works with food insecurity, and 8th grade students can pick from several areas.

Generations of Harpeth Hall 7th grade students have gone to Second Harvest Food Bank on their service learning days to learn about food insecurity and the work Second Harvest does to combat it in Middle Tennessee. The Class of 2029, however, was the first to apply its knowledge of 3D modeling, acquired as part of 7th grade math classes, to participate in the BackPack Project.

The project assembles gallon-sized plastic bags, or “backpacks,” filled with easy-to-prepare meals for students experiencing food insecurity. School lunches are often these students’ most reliable meals, so the backpacks,

containing cereals, entrees, snacks, juice, and shelf-stable milk, are vital during weekends or holidays. However, inefficiencies in the packing process, including wasted space and limited nutritional content, present challenges.

The 7th graders worked to optimize the backpacks, boxes, and pallets to increase the amount of food delivered. Collaborating in small groups, they tackled issues creatively. Some focused on rearranging items to fit more food, while others reimagined box dimensions to reduce wasted space. Several proposed sustainable alternatives, such as drawstring bags or reusable lunchboxes, to minimize environmental impact. Adding small treats like candy to brighten the recipient’s day was another popular idea.

The students calculated the efficiency of their changes, measuring percent increases in nutrition, items per backpack, or backpacks per box. Their results were impressive, with each group presenting innovative ideas to improve the program.

HARPETH HALL’S VALUES STATEMENT

Harpeth Hall’s values are the foundation of our school community.

The project left a strong impression. One student said she enjoyed “using math and creativity in one project.” Another shared how meaningful it felt to help a real cause. Elissa Patel summed it up: “When you participate in public purpose, you can make a difference in the lives of the people you help.”

• We build resilience, empowering our girls to be confident in their beliefs and abilities.

• Integrity and honor guide every decision and action.

• We celebrate intellectual curiosity and creativity, encouraging a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

• Kindness and respect enrich our interactions and strengthen the bonds within our community.

Together, we uphold these values, building a community where every individual feels supported and inspired by our educational mission.

Ms. Smith observed the girls’ enthusiasm: “One way I measure the success of a project is if I overhear students talking about it in the hallways or the lunch line. And they were talking about this one.”

Through their work, Harpeth Hall students demonstrated how creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking can address real-world challenges and make a lasting impact.

Sisters’ strength inspires support for childhood cancer research

When Isabel Johnson ’24 was 4 years old, her family’s world shifted with her leukemia diagnosis. Again, at age 10, the disease returned.

For her younger sister Grace Johnson, just two years behind in age, those early years were a blur of hospital rooms, extended family care, and afternoons spent playing games by Isabel’s bedside.

When Isabel was diagnosed a third time at age 16, the story changed. This time, Grace then an 8th grade student at Harpeth Hall became a key player in Isabel’s healing journey.

“The first two times my sister was diagnosed with cancer, I was tested to see if I was a match to be her bone marrow donor,” recalled Grace, now a junior at Harpeth Hall. “Unfortunately, I was not close enough of a match either of those times. However, the third time she was diagnosed, I was allowed to be her donor.

“This was only possible because of the new technologies that were capable of making someone who is not usually a match become one. Without the increase in funding for cancer research, the science might not have been advanced enough for the transplant to happen.”

That knowledge, along with her family’s personal story, has inspired Grace to lead Harpeth Hall upper school students in a coordinated effort to raise money for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. This year, several clubs have collaborated on initiatives to raise awareness and support, including:

• A focused theme of childhood cancer awareness throughout the month of September, complete with an informational booth at the fall Beargate athletic celebration

• A coordinated initiative to write notes of gratitude to healthcare workers

• A Public Purpose Council-hosted event to make craft kits for hospital patients

• A commitment to donate 10% of proceeds from the junior class fundraiser to Monroe Carell

• A Student Council and ActNow collaboration to plan and host a Fall Fest for upper school students from Harpeth Hall and MBA. The event included live music, and proceeds from ticket sales and a bake sale went to Monroe Carell.

“Students stepping up for this cause truly is making a difference in people’s lives,” Grace said. “... Writing notes can feel so simple and easy, yet it really does have a huge impact on individual people. The children receiving craft kits are feeling noticed and seen in the midst of difficult situations. The five minutes students are spending on these activities are creating moments that patients will always remember. I think it is also so important to show gratitude towards the healthcare workers. Their jobs are super hard, and they spend all of their time helping other people. It is important that people are recognizing and appreciating

By Jessica Bliss

their hard work. It is so meaningful that such a quick task can have a positive, lasting impact on others.”

All of these efforts reflect the intentional focus Harpeth Hall places on teaching students how to make a difference in their communities and the world.

Inspired by shared school values, students come together around the question of how they can contribute to the greater good, and then, inspired, they turn outward to our community.

“We teach them how to channel that care,” said Jessie Adams, Ph.D., who serves as Harpeth Hall’s director of community engagement and the upper school Public Purpose coordinator.

“Our girls learn to work with our nonprofit partners in a way that truly meets the needs of the community.”

In total, Harpeth Hall students raised more than $3,600. It is significant to note, Dr. Adams said, that the money did not go to a general hospital fund but instead directly to support cancer research for pediatric patients in the Nashville community, which makes the direct impact feel even more tangible to the students.

“The support from students at Harpeth Hall helps us fuel the latest advances in treatment for children with cancer,” said Dr. Debra Friedman, who serves as the E. Bronson Ingram Chair of Pediatric Oncology, the director of Monroe Carell’s division of pediatric hematology/oncology, and the deputy director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

“It is so special to see students giving back and raising funds for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt because they can see how their efforts directly impact their community and the children facing cancer in Middle Tennessee and beyond. Their generosity will help us make new discoveries to better understand what causes childhood cancer and how to prevent it, so that ultimately no child will have to experience this horrible disease.”

For Grace and her family, seeing the efforts of her classmates has been personally moving. Grace hopes that these efforts will bring other families the same outcome as her sister, who has been healthy and in recovery ever since the stem cell transplant. Isabel, now a Harpeth Hall alumna, is a freshman at UCLA and is “having a great time living life as a normal college student,” Grace said.

“This journey has shown me how the collective work of others can make a huge difference for those in need,” Grace said. “It is encouraging that it is possible for one person alone to leave an impact on others. It is even more encouraging to know that a huge group of people collectively giving back can make an everlasting impact. Whether big or small, deciding to give back and help others truly does make a difference. Living through these experiences, I can clearly see how supporting a cause can help heal a family.”

Polly Linden is a Harpeth Hall math teacher and sponsor of multiple co-curriculars focused on making a meaningful difference in our community, including ActNow service club, the largest club on campus. Ms. Linden also cares deeply about the environment and leads the school in many green initiatives, including marker and coffee pod recycling. She wants to spread that enthusiasm throughout our school community. Here are a few ways Ms. Linden hopes to inspire us all to achieve “green goals.”

By Polly Linden

During the holiday season, we often see an influx of stuff. The result is that we then have some stuff to pass along. When cleaning out my closets, I always feel better when I can find someone who can use whatever I am passing along, as long as it is in good condition. Although Goodwill is a fine option, they tend to get inundated. Also, when possible, I like to get items to people free of charge. So, the next time you are purging items from your house, consider who might be able to put them to good use. The ultimate goal, for me, is to keep items out of the landfill. So, here are some ideas to get you started both in Nashville and for our alumnae throughout the United States.

Shoes/running shoes/sneakers If you have gently used shoes, there are plenty of good, easy options, one of which is Soles for Souls. Check out their website for drop-off sites; they have locations across the country. Don’t have a site near you? You can also ship shoes for free with Zappos for Good. Additionally, Team Nashville on West End collects gently worn shoes and works with a local agency that shares them with the unhoused population right here in Nashville. Everyone needs shoes, so sometimes it just takes a little research to figure out how you can get them to those who can use them. Just this past fall, the Harpeth Hall faculty donated their gently worn running shoes to help outfit a cross country team in Memphis that one of our alum had started. It was a win-win for all of us! And if your shoes are too well worn to pass along and you would like to keep them out of the landfill, check out GotSneakers.com. They are a zero-waste sneaker recycling company. Just order your postage paid shipping bag, fill it, and drop it at the post office.

plenty of agencies that can put them to good use. One such agency in Nashville that happily accepts old phones is Dismas House, a reentry program for formerly incarcerated. There are also programs like Cell Phones for Soldiers that have drop-off sites. And if your phone is no longer functional, just be sure to dispose of it properly at an electronics waste site. Many big box stores also offer recycling for small electronics.

Clothes As I mentioned, sometimes I want to get good, gently used clothes into the hands of people who need them at no cost. Recently, I was cleaning out a closet of good suit jackets so I did a little research to see who could use them. I ended up taking them down to the courthouse for the public defender. Everyone knows it helps to look good when you go to court, so they have a closet of dress clothes to offer their clients. For less formal items, if I

am looking to pass on clothes, I try to donate them to an organization that gives back to the local community. For Nashville-area options, This-N-That Thrift Shop in the Nations is one such organization their proceeds support programs of the St. Luke’s Community House. (And if you have more than clothes to donate, just check out their website to see what they accept.)

Of course, as with cell phones and sneakers, sometimes clothing items are too worn or stained to pass on. With billions of tons of textile waste being sent to landfills in the United States every year, I am glad to have found a solution the Take Back Bag. For just $20, the fashion company For Days will send me a postage-paid bag that I can fill with textiles. When it’s full, I just seal it, drop it off at the post office, and order another bag. Money well spent if it keeps textiles out of landfills.

Cell phones As technology continues to improve, many of us upgrade our phones regularly. Electronics are best kept out of landfills, so it’s always best to recycle them. If they still have some life in them, there are

It might take a little extra effort on your part, but knowing you’re helping others and doing a little something to help protect our environment makes it all worthwhile.

Visionary leadership

By Jessica Bliss

Ann Teaff’s legacy at Harpeth Hall recognized with honorary award

nn Teaff began her career in education in the classroom. Each day, through her love of history and English, she taught her students to see the stories that shaped the world.

When Ms. Teaff joined Harpeth Hall as the head of school in 1998, her dedication to understanding the past steeped her in the school’s story. For nearly two decades, Ms. Teaff wove the narrative of Harpeth Hall’s valued all-girls tradition with a bold vision for the school’s future, transforming Harpeth Hall into one of the country’s premier independent schools.

Now, as the recipient of one of Harpeth Hall’s most distinguished honors, she has become a celebrated part of the school history she so skillfully helped to shape.

In reflection of her unwavering commitment to Harpeth Hall and her distinguished career in education, Ms. Teaff was honored at Harpeth Hall’s 2024 Leadership Dinner with the Louise "Dede" Bullard Wallace Award. The award recognizes individuals who embody the qualities of dedication, leadership, and service that Dede Wallace, Class of 1953, exemplified throughout her life. Ms. Teaff joins a distinguished group of past recipients, each recognized for their lasting contributions to the school.

Ms. Teaff’s leadership at Harpeth Hall spanned nearly two decades, from 1998 to 2014, a tenure marked by her visionary guidance and deep devotion to uplifting young women. Under her direction, Harpeth Hall strengthened academic programs, innovated in areas of technological advancement, enhanced professional development, and elevated the school’s mission. Ms. Teaff also led the school through two successful capital campaigns that beautified, modernized, and expanded campus.

In the words of a past board chair Jean Ann Banker, Ms. Teaff had a “far-reaching vision, boundless energy, and the biggest heart” of anyone she had ever known.

‘The house that Ann built’

Ms. Teaff arrived at Harpeth Hall during a time of expansive globalism and rapid technological growth. A gifted educator who began her career teaching English and history at University School of Nashville and Garrison Forest School in Owings, Maryland, Ms. Teaff came to Harpeth Hall focused not just on what was happening in the Nashville market but on the advancements in education taking place nationally. Her goal was always to move Harpeth Hall forward in a way that expanded the boundaries of what girls and young women could dream and achieve.

Ms. Teaff turned heads when she introduced the 1:1 laptop program at Harpeth Hall, making the school the first in Tennessee to provide a computer to each student. She worked with three other school heads to establish the Online School for Girls (now One Schoolhouse), pioneered Harpeth Hall’s Center for STEM Education for Girls, increased

school enrollment by more than 25%, and instituted student international exchanges — among many other achievements.

“I heard her described once as dynamic, and I thought, ‘That’s it — she is dynamic,’” said Mary Lea Gibson Bryant ’72, a past trustee and former director of the middle school. “And I mean that in all the ways. She was always moving. Her brain was always moving. Her thought process and her ability to be at 30,000 feet and yet be right there in the classroom with the kids when she visited was really remarkable. She was positive always — and she still is positive. And she brought to us a new sense of energy that came to her so naturally.”

No corner of campus was left untouched under Ms. Teaff’s leadership. Thanks to the gifts of many generous donors, the campus grew from 33.6 to 44 acres, and the endowment grew from $7.8 million to

$40 million. She worked with the board of trustees to launch successful capital campaigns that led to the construction of the Daugh W. Smith Middle School, the Ann Scott Carell Library, the Patton Visual Arts Center, the Dugan Davis Track and Soccer Complex, the Athletic and Wellness Center and improvement of other facilities, as well as the renovation and naming of the Hortense Bigelow Ingram Upper School. Shortly before Ms. Teaff’s retirement in 2014, the Metropolitan Council recognized her by naming May 1, 2014, Ann Teaff Day in the city of Nashville.

“I told her when she retired, I said, when they write the history of this school, they are going to say, ‘This is the house that Ann built,’ ” Harpeth Hall media arts and English teacher Joe Croker said.

and lasting impact

Ms. Teaff was honored at Harpeth Hall’s 2024 Leadership Dinner with the Louise "Dede" Bullard Wallace Award.

A legacy of love

In addition to shaping Harpeth Hall’s strategic direction, Ms. Teaff was known for her personal investment in the lives of students, faculty, and alumnae. Her approach to education — centered on building relationships, fostering curiosity, and nurturing leadership — left an indelible mark on the school.

“Ann had this way of holding the bar very high,” said current Head of School Jess Hill, who taught and served as director of the upper school during Ms. Teaff’s tenure. “She did that for herself, but she also did that for others. It wasn't so much that she was expecting everyone to rise to that bar, but she knew they could do it.

“She believed in their ability, and she always thought more of their ability sometimes than they did of themselves. And so we all rose to the occasion. We worked hard. We wanted Harpeth Hall to be a better school.”

Ms. Teaff’s legacy at Harpeth Hall is one of grace, strength, and enduring impact. Her late husband, Don McPherson, was a loyal supporter of Harpeth Hall and, most importantly, of Ann. She led with a steady hand and a deep belief in the potential of every young woman who walked through the doors and every faculty member who taught at the school — and her influence continues to be felt in every corner of our community.

The Winterim Travel Fund, which assists girls receiving financial aid with expenses related to Winterim academic travel and international exchange, was given at the time of Ms. Teaff’s retirement by the Henry Laird Smith Foundation

and the Warner family. Ms. Teaff and Mr. McPherson created The Corinne Sphire and Joseph Teaff Scholarship Fund in Ann’s parents’ names to provide tuition assistance for young women with financial need, as well as The Faculty Innovation Fund to provide resources for faculty who wish to launch a creative and innovative concept meant to enhance teaching and learning in the 21st-century classroom.

Perhaps Ms. Teaff’s daily presence is felt most in the school’s mission itself, which she helped to crystalize and solidify into the phrase that endures today. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations of Harpeth Hall students to think critically, lead confidently, and live honorably.

Bob McNeilly, Jean Ann Banker, Robin Ingram Patton ’84, Susan Willingham Simons ’60, Ann Teaff, Edie Carell Johnson ’80, Ann Scott Carell, and Monroe Carell, Jr.

Harpeth Hall seeks to honor individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the School. The Louise “Dede” Bullard Wallace Award was established in 1969 for this purpose. Dede Bullard was a member of the original student body on Harpeth Hall’s Green Hills campus. She graduated in 1953 — the school’s second graduating class — and was chosen Lady of the Hall that year. While at Harpeth Hall, she helped establish the spirit of this new

Past Dede Bullard Wallace Award Recipients

school by being involved in all phases of campus life. As an alumna, she entered the Nashville community with the same spirit of involvement. After her untimely death in October 1969, the Harpeth Hall Board of Trustees established an award in her memory. The award is presented periodically to recognize conspicuous achievements and contributions to Harpeth Hall. Since its first presentation in 1974 to Dr. Martha Overholser Hammonds, there have been a total of

Ann Teaff 2024

Adelaide Grace Davis ’79 2019

Peggy Smith Warner ’54* 2016

Martha Rivers Ingram and Robin Ingram Patton ’84 2014

Ann Scott Carell* 2009

Jean Ann Stewart Banker 2007

Carol Clark Elam ’66* 2001

Patty Litton Chadwell WB ’35* 2000

Jacqueline Glover Thompson ’64 1999

Lindy Beazley Sayers 1998

Susan McKeand Baughman ’56* 1997

Mary Schlater Stumb ’53 1993

Britton and Norris Nielsen 1989

Robert W. Kitchel 1987

Polly Jordan Nichols ’53* 1986

Tracy Caulkins Stockwell ’81 1985

Jeanne Pilkerton Zerfoss WB ’43* 1983

Mary Elizabeth Cayce WB ’28* 1982

Polly Fessey WB ’43* 1980

Idanelle McMurry ’43* 1979

Daugh W. Smith* 1977

Martha Overholser Hammonds* 1974

*Deceased

Scan here to watch a video about Ann Teaff’s legacy at Harpeth Hall

24 individuals honored with this award, including the most recent honoree, former Head of School Ann Teaff

“She could communicate the vision,” honorary trustee Varina Frazer Buntin ’61 said. “She’s enthusiastic, and she’s good with people. She made you want to participate and be a supporter of Harpeth Hall and make it a better place.”

Comfort and connection

By Jessica Bliss Reese Witherspoon honors the enduring influence of her Harpeth Hall English teacher

Margaret Renkl has a way with words.

In her writing, she explores the upturned earth of a worm’s home and the aria of a red-winged bird. She chronicles the buoyancy and gravity of light in a cycle of changing seasons. She befriends the flora, translating the feelings of fronds rooted in stillness and tasked with resilience. Through it all, she adds context to the complexity of human existence in the natural world.

Her lyrical reflections on nature, family, and the South have earned the celebrated Nashville author widespread acclaim. However, few honors match the one she received this past fall when her former student, Reese Witherspoon ’94, announced that Ms. Renkl’s latest book, “The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year,” would be the 100th selection for Reese’s Book Club.

On a sunny afternoon in mid-August, as the two women prepared to film the book club announcement, they walked through Harpeth Hall’s campus with a comfort of their own, sharing laughter and stories as they reminisced about their shared time together at Harpeth Hall.

For Ms. Renkl, the honor of being a Reese’s Book Club pick is as personal as it is professional.

Before she became a recognized name in literary circles, Ms. Renkl inspired girls at Harpeth Hall, where she taught English from 1987 to 1997. She still remembers a young Reese, a bright and curious high school student who would visit her during lunch to chat about literature and life. Their shared love of words and ideas left a lasting impression on both women.

Nearly four decades later, the teacherstudent connection has endured and blossomed.

“You taught me so much,” Ms. Witherspoon said as she sat with her former teacher in the Harpeth Hall library. “You saw something in me and encouraged me.”

As Ms. Renkl reflected on that sentiment, she responded with a kindness of her own.

“You already knew that language, that stories were the way to make something make sense that is hard to make sense of,” she told Ms. Witherspoon.

Words, she said, have that power — and Ms. Renkl’s transition from educator to author has been marked by profound insights into the interplay between people, their surroundings, and the desire to find purpose amid life’s perplexities.

In 2009, she founded Chapter 16, an online literary magazine featuring Tennessee and Tennessee-adjacent writers, which she edited for 10 years. Since 2017, she has served as a contributing weekly opinion writer for “The New York Times.” She has also published two other books “Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss,” which won the Reed Environmental Writing Award in 2020, and “Graceland, At Last: Notes on Hope and Heartache From the American South,” which won both the Southern Book Prize and the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay in 2022.

In “Comfort of Crows” — a yearlong journal observing the delicate ecosystem in Ms. Renkl’s own backyard — she invites readers to be mindful of the interconnectivity of all living things.

With her book club pick, Ms. Witherspoon brings attention to the same concept of connection — the one that endures between teacher and student and the one Ms. Renkl contemplates in her writing of “Comfort of Crows.”

In early August, our newest Harpeth Hall alumnae enjoyed the annual Sweet Summer Send-off in a final hurrah before heading off to college. The Class of 2024 shared an ice cream sundae bar as they said goodbye to friends and Harpeth Hall faculty.

Sunday on Souby

Harpeth Hall's fall festival welcomed families and alumnae for a fun-filled afternoon of entertainment and community connection in October. The event featured musical performances by Harpeth Hall students, an exciting kids zone, the popular cake decorating contest, cotton candy, sno-cones, and lots of laughter and sunshine.

Harpeth Hall had the best Halloween celebration on record this fall with the senior class dressed in Lorax theme, a costume contest, “Thriller” flash mob, and faculty dance contest. Plus, our 6th grade students planned and oversaw the annual Halloween Carnival, which featured cookie decorating, monster can toss, face painting, a witch hat ring toss, ghost bowling, treat bag decorating, and much more. This spooktacular event was a blast for our students, our alumnae children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews!

Grand Open House

Harpeth Hall middle school students welcomed the grand people in their lives to learn about their classes, listen to musical performances, and meet their teachers at the Grand Open House.

Harpeth Hall alumnae inspire students to embrace challenges and find their purpose at upper school career day

By Elizabeth Floyd Read ’09

Claire Tattersfield ’15 knew when she set out to write her first children's novel she was going to be “bad” before she was “good.” So, she made a plan. For the next four months, Ms. Tattersfield wrote a children’s book every single day. Some were good, some needed improvement, but it wasn’t until she unlocked a rhyming structure for her writing during that fourth month that she truly found her voice. That work became her debut book, “Cupig: The Valentine’s Day Pig,” a New York Times bestseller.

This lesson aligns with Harpeth Hall’s values of building resilience, empowering confidence, and celebrating intellectual curiosity to embrace challenges as a part of personal growth. Signs hang in every classroom to remind students that the goal is not to be perfect, but rather to put forth your best effort. As over 50 alumnae from across professional career fields returned to campus to talk to students during this year’s upper school career day, this theme was often repeated throughout the afternoon as girls were encouraged to take risks, find their passions, and know that it is okay to not know what you want to be or to stumble in your path finding your career.

“Harpeth Hall students, in general, hold ourselves to very high standards, and that’s really wonderful,” said Madeline Wiseman ’09, a lawyer with the National Student Legal Defense Network. “But also, you have to show yourself grace and compassion and know that you don’t have to have it all figured out. …Give yourself room to try new things. High school should be a time of working hard and learning all that Harpeth Hall is teaching you, but also it’s exploring and trying new things, and failing, and experimenting.”

As a part of that experimentation process, alumnae reminded students that it is okay to make a career change, to find something else they are passionate about.

“When you talk about pivoting [in your career], it's never a bad thing if you find something that you're more excited about,” Terri Beuerlein Lankford ’98, chief of staff at Google, said. “Always be super excited about your job. If you’re not, you’re not doing the right thing and you need to find something else. Because, no matter what it is, you will be better and you will have more success at something you are passionate about.”

More than anything, students were encouraged to trust the skills they have learned at Harpeth Hall.

Lindsay Jacques Irving ’06 discovered that firsthand when she began an internship with the Honorable Ellen Hobbs Lyle ’75 after law school. Chancellor Lyle told her, “You've already learned how to be a lawyer from going to Harpeth Hall. You already have the skill set.”

“What she meant by that,” Ms. Irving, who is now a partner at Holland & Knight, said, “was that we learned how to think critically, how to analyze problems, how to write clearly, and how to communicate whatever we are trying to advocate for. That’s what you are learning here and that will carry you so far forward in this profession or any other that you choose.”

Harpeth Hall’s career day serves as a powerful reminder to all students and alumnae about the vast network of successful, driven women who are there to help and support each other throughout their lives. For students, hearing from alumnae firsthand is a chance to see their own potential reflected back to them as they navigate the rest of high school, college, and their early professional careers, knowing that they have a legacy of Harpeth Hall women standing with them.

Words of Career Wisdom from Harpeth Hall Alumnae

“For me, the biggest takeaway from Harpeth Hall was confidence. I discovered who I was and left here comfortable in my own skin. And feeling confident made me more comfortable in who I am as a leader.”

— Neel Webb Young ’02, Independent Consultant, BMV Luxury Travel

“I think I would tell my 9th-grade self maybe not to put so much pressure on myself, but even today, I can feel the work ethic that is ingrained in me — and that started at Harpeth Hall. So I would say, ‘Capture that.’ If you work hard, it’s going to work out for you. It may not be linear, and it may not be exactly what you picture doing — you may change careers a billion times — but if you work hard and follow what you want to do, you are going to be okay.”

— Kat Ward Booth ’97, Deputy Criminal Chief, White Collar Crime, United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee

“What I have learned about leadership throughout my time at Harpeth Hall, in college, and in my career is that you don't always have to be the person that's up in front of the room or in front of the class or the person who is the executive in order to be a leader in the environment. Something that really resonated with me at Harpeth Hall is this idea of active followership — being participatory but really intentional in how you choose to be a part of a group. …I think that a lot of people lead by how you treat others and how you respect yourself within a group.”

— Claire Perrone ’12, Director of Operations, Sylvan Health

“Show up as your authentic self. It can be easy to think that you have to be like everybody in the workforce, but your value is also how you think differently.”

— Mary Graham Harvey ’12, Manager, Brand Engagement, HCA Healthcare

“You can't be afraid of change and of taking a leap. … Once you get into a job, you're like, ‘Okay, I know what I'm doing.’ That's a nice feeling, you think? … You know what to expect. …And when you change jobs or industries, you start back over. …You have to be comfortable with that feeling and know that it's okay, that you don't really know anything. …Everyone has been at day one, where they know nothing. And so don’t feel embarrassed or intimidated by that. …Sometimes you need a new challenge.”

— Beth Binkley Mason ’08, Chief Customer Officer, Wayspring

“Don’t look too far ahead. You don’t have to have it all figured out for it to all work out.”

— Sarah Riley Saint ’12, Lead Epidemiologist for the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System, Tennessee Department of Health

“Sometimes it’s important that if you are nervous about something, do it and learn from it — even if you are not good at it, you will do better the next time. I think Harpeth Hall instills that confidence.”

— Hayley Phipps Robinson ’04, Associate Veterinarian, Belle Meade Animal Hospital

“Believe you are in the room for a reason. [If it is a room of mostly men], make sure you highlight the diverse opinions you can bring as a woman. … Puff up your chest and make sure your voice is heard.”

— Abby Sinks Spaulding ’03, Owner, Financial Planner, Continuum Planning Partners

Thank you to all of our alumnae participants!

Virginia Ballard 1981 President, Calton Consulting Services

Marnie Reasor 1991 Homeopathy consultant, Resplendent Healing

Jennifer Moroney 1994 Attorney, Moroney Law Group, PLLC

Susanne Davis Reseland 1996 Financial Advisor/Member, Davis Reseland LLC

Kat Ward Booth 1997

Deputy Criminal Chief, White Collar Crime, United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee

Beverly Hodgson Conley 1997 SVP, Client Experience and Investment Operations Manager, Truxton

Terri Beuerlein Lankford 1998 Chief of Staff, Google

Megan Youngblood 1998

Associate Vice President, Vanderbilt Health Services, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Megan Casey 2000 Director of Ecommerce, Rich Products

Tricia McWilliams Ward 2000 Consultant, Purpose Possible

Michelle Gaskin Brown 2001 Senior Manager, Public Policy, Amazon

Mary-Grace Harvey Robb 2002 Relationship Manager, VP, FirstBank

Neel Webb Young 2002 Independent Consultant, BMV Luxury Travel

Allison Oldacre Griffin 2003

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Vanderbilt Children’s Center for Child Development

Abby Sinks Spaulding 2003 Owner, Financial Planner, Continuum Planning Partners

Elizabeth Conrad 2004

Senior Manager, Publications and Data Management, Amgen Inc

Berry Kennedy 2004

Chief Operating Officer, Terraformation

Hayley Phipps Robinson 2004

Associate Veterinarian, Belle Meade Animal Hospital

Amanda Powell Smith 2004

Managing Director, Ankura Consulting

Sarah Baker Daugherty 2005

Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Lifepoint Health

Hadley Miller 2005

Principal / Relationship Manager, Diversified Trust Company

Lizzie Napier 2005

Nurse Practitioner, Women Obstetrics & Gynecology

Katie Shaub Thackston 2005 Senior VP, Strategy & Product, IVX Health

Betsy West 2005

Global Senior Manager, User Centricity, Mars

Meg DeLozier Ferguson 2006

Plastic Surgeon, DeLozier Plastic Surgery

Lindsay Jacques Irving 2006

Partner, Holland & Knight

Caroline Anderson Millican 2006

Pricing Strategy, Senior Planner, Nissan Motor Corporation

Kate Steele 2006

Co-Owner, H Three Events

Jillian Peterson Wright 2006 CEO, Onsite Women's Health

Caroline Tanner Everett 2007

Director of Corporate Responsibility, AllianceBernstein

Reed Pankey 2007

Senior Transaction Manager, Amazon

Laurie Spradley 2007

Vice President of Operations, Goo Goo Cluster

Katie Best Hardy 2008

Senior Manager, Accenture

Beth Binkley Mason 2008

Chief Customer Officer, Wayspring

Clair Bartholomew 2009

Senior Recruiter, Main Street Rural Health

Phoebe Carver Lane 2009

Director of Strategy & Partnerships, One Acre Fund

Elizabeth Floyd Read 2009

Communications Manager, Harpeth Hall

Madeline Wiseman 2009

Counsel, National Student Legal Defense Network

Ash Grewal 2010

Head of Brand Partnerships, Kit

Mary Lynne Graham Kaatz 2011 Financial Advisor, Baird

Becca Factor Lapidario 2011

TriStar Division Director, HCA Healthcare

Joanna McCall 2011

Senior Research Analyst, Greater Nashville Regional Council

Sara Anderson Tynes 2011

Assistant Vice President, Aon

Mary Graham Harvey 2012 Manager, Brand Engagement, HCA Healthcare

Claire Perrone 2012 Director of Operations, Sylvan Health

Sarah Riley Saint 2012

Lead Epidemiologist for the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System, Tennessee Department of Health

Warner Tidwell 2013

VP of Touring, Crom Tidwell Merchandising

Mary Eugenia Hunt Smith 2014

Owner, Mary Eugenia Interior Design

Claire Tattersfield 2015

Associate Editor, Penguin Random House

Katie Nicholson 2016

Owner, Luxe Palm Aesthetics

Lucy Smith 2016

Senior Associate, Audit & Advisory, LBMC

Elizabeth Tirrill 2016

Associate Attorney, Neal & Harwell, PLC

Helen Lazenby 2017

A&R Coordinator, Sony Music Publishing

Marguerite Coombs 2018

Speech Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow, National Healthcare Corporation

Maggie Tattersfield 2018

Assistant Agent, The Cat Agency, Inc

KINGDOM

Alumnae on the Road

CHICAGO UNITED

Holiday Party

Inside the beautiful home of Katie Howell Fayard ’00, more than 200 alumnae gathered for the annual Ward-Belmont and Harpeth Hall holiday party. Emily McAlister Frith ’75 and The Corner Market catered the event, and Warner Tidwell ’13 captured the evening's memorable moments through her expert photography.

College Age Brunch

Harpeth Hall welcomed back to campus alumnae from 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, to celebrate being home for the holidays.

Call for Nominations!

Now accepting nominations for Harpeth Hall’s 2026 Alumnae Awards

Harpeth Hall strives to recognize the extraordinary achievements of our alumnae with a variety of awards. From leadership and serving as an example for other women to outstanding service to excellence in athletics, these recipients deserve recognition from their alma mater.

Harpeth Hall/Ward-Belmont Distinguished Alumna Award

The Harpeth Hall/Ward-Belmont Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes graduates who have achieved wide recognition for professional excellence and leadership. Candidates for this award are women who are trailblazers, display extraordinary gifts of leadership and organizational ability, are moving spirits in health, welfare, cultural, or civic affairs, have achieved wide recognition for professional excellence and leadership, serve as an example for other women, and have attained unusual success in highly competitive fields. Distinguished Alumna Award candidates may also be women who have been nationally recognized for vision, skill, and commitment to make things happen.

Alumna Spirit of Service Award

The Alumna Spirit of Service Award recognizes and celebrates outstanding service by a Harpeth Hall/Ward-Belmont alumna. The recipient of the award is a woman who has gone above and beyond the call to serve 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.” Award candidates are women who demonstrate an innovative approach to solving a problem or meeting a need, show a high level of commitment to their project, make a meaningful impact on the people or community they serve, inspire others through outreach and education, exhibit visionary and empowering leadership, and teach and mentor others interested in making a difference through service.

For more information and to find nomination forms visit HarpethHall.org/alumnae/awards-spotlights

Harpeth Hall Internship Opportunities

Do you know a college or graduate student looking for professional experience in communications or advancement and alumnae relations? Maybe that person is you! We have just the opportunity!

Harpeth Hall has two different part-time internship opportunities available this summer. These paid positions offer flexible days and hours Monday through Thursday. They are ideal roles for alumnae who seek work experience over the summer but may not be able to commit full time.

Advancement/Alumnae Relations

Join the advancement/alumnae relations office this summer as an intern. We seek Harpeth Hall alumnae interested in fundraising and alumnae engagement. You will learn about our donor database Raiser’s Edge and the Alumnae Network app, the Harpeth Hall archives, alumnae programming, event management, alumnae engagement, and networking initiatives, and you will help prepare the office for the coming school year. Typical tasks include alumnae research project management, photography work, archives assistance, data entry, and general administrative and office duties. Come join our team!

Communications

Join the Harpeth Hall communications team this summer as an intern. This opportunity is great for alumnae interested in marketing and multi-media storytelling. You will join a creative and collaborative team and gain experience in website layout and design, newsletter creation, social media strategy, analytics, photo and video brainstorming and production, ad creation, content management, and more. Specific projects include assisting with visual archives, editing student and parent handbooks, and planning and writing editorial content for the school year ahead. Our 2024 summer interns wrote multiple features published in this year's Report on Philanthropy and this issue of Hallways magazine. We love new ideas and big-picture vision. We are eager to have you on our team.

How to Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to the alumnae relations office at alumnaeoffice@harpethhall.org detailing either the specific internship or the type of work you wish to accomplish, as well as other pertinent information. Contact Scottie Fillebrown Coombs ’78, director of alumnae relations, for questions about the advancement/alumnae relations internship at coombs@harpethhall.org or Jessica Bliss, director of marketing and communications, for questions about the communications internship at jessica.bliss@harpethhall.org

Applications due by April 4, 2025 Two interns will be hired for each department.

Class Notes

Emily Binning Stallings ’65 graciously opened her home in Boone, North Carolina, after the devastation of Hurricane Helene to help people suffering in the area. She provided hospitality for showers, food, and water to neighbors who were affected.

Fonde Thompson Werts ’68 has spent the past year volunteering with three other women at the Metro Transitional Center of the Georgia Department of Corrections, teaching sewing and quilting to a small group of women nearing the end of their incarceration and preparing to reenter ociety. Through HeartBound Ministries, a non-profit organization, the program focuses on fostering life and work skills, creativity, mutual respect, and optimism for the future. The initiative has led to remarkable growth in the participants’

self-esteem and confidence, with a shared sense of accomplishment and enthusiasm for learning. From creating small scrap quilts to complex bed quilts, the group has worked collaboratively to achieve their goals.

Craig Kelley Adkisson ’71 welcomed granddaughter Emerson Kelley Adkisson on June 22, 2022, born to son, Clay Adkisson.

Anne Byrn Whitaker ’74 launched her latest cookbook, “Baking in the American South,” last September. The book chronicles the rise of Southern baking from the humble, make-do recipes of our ancestors to its place as one of the world's richest culinary traditions. With 200 recipes and more than 150 photos from 14 states, “Baking in the American South” has the biscuits, cornbread, cakes, and rolls that will help you bake like a Southerner, even if you aren't. Readers will experience the recipes and the stories

Emily Glasgow Bruno ’64 has demonstrated extraordinary determination and endurance, competing in marathons, duathlons, triathlons, and Ironman competitions. In 2003, she shared her journey to becoming an international triathlete in her book “Ironwomen Never Rust.” This year, Emily reached new heights by summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, conquering its 19,000-foot peak!

behind them that showcase the substantial contributions Southern baking has made to American baking at large.

Carolyn Kaeser Tasillo ’75 lives in the Clearwater, Florida area, where she and her husband, Chris, are realtors with Premier Sotheby's International Realty, specializing in waterfront homes, second homes, new construction, and relocation. In their spare time, they enjoy being with their daughters and their families, as well as boating to Three Rookers Island and getaways to Islamorada in the Keys. Chris is a retired executive chef, so they enjoy sampling the menus of restaurants around the Tampa Bay area. They are proud parents of two wonderful dogs.

Inez Pennington '76 and her Manchester Terrier "Kipsey" placed fifth in the finals of the AKC Agility Invitational in December and placed fourth in the finals at the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster.

Frances Carpenter Andrews ’77 retired after 25 years selling real estate in Nashville. She is happily chasing seven grandchildren under the age of 5 and is

Congratulations to former basketball Honeybears, Melissa Hayes Baker ’80, Ann Webb Betty ’81, and Tracey Hill Woodward ’81, for being inducted into the Rhodes College Athletic Hall of Fame at homecoming in November. Each was a member of the 1983-1984 conference-winning college basketball team at Southwestern, which is now Rhodes College.

expecting one more in January. She and her husband, Doug, recently celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary.

Amy Grant ’78 and her husband, Vince Gill, were named the 2024 honorees of Belmont University’s prestigious Rick Byrd Character Award. This annual recognition celebrates individuals who exemplify unwavering integrity and make significant contributions to their community and profession. Through this award, Belmont honors those who, like Coach Byrd, promote a legacy of leadership, a winning tradition, and a culture of selfless service. The award ceremony took place at the Country Music Hall of Fame in October.

Mary Addison Hackett ’79 was one of eight Tennessee artists awarded a 20242025 Current Art Fund Grant, a regranting program from the Andy Warhol Foundation and TriStar Arts. Her project will explore the intersection of photography, neurodiversity, and mental health.

Elizabeth Bass Parman ’79 celebrated her debut novel, “The Empress of Cooke County,” at Parnassus Books in September.

The book is set in a gossipy small town during the turbulent 1960s and is full of Southern charm and unforgettable characters. It is a novel about found family, what it means to be loved, and how being true to yourself can have life-altering consequences. Elizabeth grew up entranced by family stories. She has lived in New York and England, and spends her summers in a cottage by a Canadian lake. She has two grown daughters and lives outside Nashville. She is busy writing her next novel, “Bees in June,” a story about the mystical power of bees.

Congratulations to alumna Lela Hollabaugh ’85 for being selected to Nashville Business Journal's Best of the Bar honoree list for 2024. She is the managing partner of the Nashville office of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.

Nancy Brown King ’86 has been appointed Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Bankruptcy Judge Marian F. Harrison. Nancy took the oath of office on Sept. 11, 2024.

Jacqueline Saturn '86 is President, North America and EVP, Global Artist Relations for Virgin Music Group. She was named as one of the Power Women of Hollywood 2024 by “Variety,” alongside notable names such as Emma Stone, June Squibb, and Rachel Kondo. When referencing her work she says, “Artist development is a belief and commitment to helping an artist tell their story to new audiences and connect with them in sustaining ways. That doesn’t change. It’s the vehicles of expression and execution that change with societal innovation. It’s a beautiful and rewarding ride we take with artists.”

Congratulations to Nancy Wood Stabell ’88 for being selected to Nashville Business Journal's Best of the Bar honoree list for 2024. She is the founding member of the Wood Stabell Law Group.

Congratulations to Ellen Ozier ’90, MSW, LCSW, APS-C, OSW-C, who received the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine Gary Winzelberg Excellence in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Teaching Award for 2023-2024. Ellen is the clinical social work team lead for Duke HomeCare and Hospice and is completing a two-year program in narrative medicine at Columbia University. This interdisciplinary field uses narrative skills from the humanities and the arts to enhance healthcare delivery, addressing structural inequality and social justice. In addition to her work with Duke Hospice and the

Duke University Medical Center, Ellen will facilitate narrative medicine workshops for UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine Hospice and Palliative Medicine physician fellows in 2024-2025. She is also collaborating with a Duke physician to conduct workshops for students across healthcare disciplines through the Duke University School of Medicine's Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and the History of Medicine.

Mary Carmen Englert ’91 wrote her first two books, “Seven Pathways: Ancient Practices for a Deeper Relationship with God” and “Seven Pathways: Journey through the Gospel of John,” and launched her website, www.sevenpathways.com, during her cancer journey. “Seven Pathways” will guide you to care for your soul and recenter your life, so that you can live and thrive from your God-given identity through ancient, proven practices. Mary Carmen's story of staying in a place of hope during years of illness and suffering will inspire you when God seems distant, life is difficult, or when you might be questioning God. While steeped in biblical, historical, and contemporary research, Mary Carmen simultaneously creates a sense of connection and intimacy for readers as she weaves in her own struggles, how she experienced and practiced the pathways, and how these practices can be adapted and personalized in your own journey.

Leigh Wayburn Burns ’92, based in London, spent much of her career in medical and security risk management with International SOS, managing global crises like evacuations and disease outbreaks. After stepping away in 2018, she founded Lacuna Sports, inspired by her daughter’s struggle to find appropriate cricket gear for girls. Lacuna Sports addresses gaps in sportswear for female athletes, offering thoughtfully designed, inclusive clothing

such as period underwear, hijabs, and gear tailored for diverse body types. Now a leader in this growing movement, Lacuna is gaining global recognition for empowering women and girls in sports. Leigh attributes her confidence and entrepreneurial spirit to her time at Harpeth Hall, where she learned to use her voice and pursue innovative paths.

Kate Sherrard Chinn ’93, partner at MP&F Strategic Communications, was named to Leadership Tennessee's Signature Program Class XI. Leadership Tennessee was founded in 2013 with a mission to foster non-partisan dialogue on issues of state importance, connecting and deploying a network of diverse leaders and engaged citizens.

Sarah Phillips Collins ’94 recently accepted the position of associate chair of fashion marketing and management at Savannah College of Art and Design. Sarah has been an integral part of the SCAD fashion program in Atlanta since helping launch it in 2005. In her new role, Sarah will bring her wealth of experience and leadership to further strengthen SCAD's renowned fashion education across all locations.

Anne Hancock Toomey ’97 was appointed to the Nashville Health Care Council Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term. The council strengthens and elevates Nashville as a healthcare-focused city and offers engagement opportunities where the industry's most influential executives come together to exchange ideas, share solutions, build businesses, and grow leaders.

Reese Witherspoon ’94 and Margaret Renkl

Marissa Moses Russ ’98 was named as one of the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers.

Congratulations to Bahar Azhdari ’00 for being selected to Nashville Business Journal's Best of the Bar honoree list for 2024. She is associate general counsel for labor and employment at Brookdale Senior Living Inc.

In 2022, Laura Snyder Bonfiglio ’00 and her husband opened All Washed Up, a clean, modern laundromat focused on efficiency and comfort in Bellevue, Tennessee. They have enjoyed the change and learned a lot about being small business owners.

Mimi Mayo Beaver ’01 and Carey Floyd McDonald ’01 are co-chairs of the Harding Art Show, Harding Academy's largest fundraiser, which is celebrating its golden anniversary in 2025. For 50 years, organizers have celebrated art while helping raise crucial funds to support Harding Academy and arts education.

Michelle Gaskin Brown ’01 is the manager of public policy at Amazon. She was selected once again as one of the Nashville Business Journal's top connectors. Michelle is Amazon's on-theground point person for conversations with local and state officials and one of the highest-ranking Nashville executives at one of the world's largest companies.

Heidi Richardson ’02 started a new job as the assistant director of donor relations and hospitality and concierge services at Vanderbilt University.

Maggie Waltemath Ash ’03 was featured in the July/August 2023 cover story of “Sophisticated Living Nashville.” She is the owner and principal designer of Margaret Ash Design.

Clare Harbison Ashford ’03 was named one of Curriculum Associates’ Extraordinary Educators in 2024. She was the only teacher recognized in Tennessee. She was invited to travel to Boston to meet with other teachers from across the country to discuss the amazing things going on in classrooms and how to promote student growth and equity.

Kendra Abkowitz Brooks ’03 served as the moderator of The Nashville Food Project's "The Future of Food: Just and Regenerative Agriculture, Climate Change, and Ecological Healing." The event was part of the organization’s community conversation series.

Lauren Ezell Minear ’03 is a critically acclaimed indie folk-pop singersongwriter, psychotherapist, and mother based in New York. She released her second album, “Chasing Daylight,” last June. The music is a colorful exploration of visibility and self-discovery.

Hadley Hines Pettway ’04 completed her 10th marathon and earned membership in the Marine Corps Marathon Runners Club, an achievement requiring the competition of at least five Marine Corps Marathons. Quite an accomplishment for someone who once hesitated to join high school cross country for fear she couldn't finish the race.

Meg Wright ’04 lives in Phoenix, where she works as a college counselor at Phoenix Country Day School and recently celebrated her 10th year in the role. When Vanderbilt University hosted an admissions program at PCDS, Meg connected with one of Vanderbilt’s representatives, Ally Fontaine ’12, discovering their shared Harpeth Hall connection.

Stacey Woidt ’05 was featured in an Edutopia video series on making learning more playful. In May 2023, Edutopia filmed

her culminating project on the physics of pinewood derby cars at Casco Bay High School, where she taught physics from 2015 to 2023. The title of her featured story is “Bringing Math and Physics to Life With a Model Car Derby.” Following the 2022-2023 school year, Stacey accepted a new teaching position at Scarborough High School in Scarborough, Maine. She teaches engineering and robotics to students in grades 9-12. Her advanced engineering class participated in the offshore floating wind turbine competition at the University of Maine.

Dr. Meg DeLozier Ferguson ’06, a plastic surgeon, returned to Nashville to join her father’s practice, DeLozier Plastic Surgery. Meg completed her general surgery residency at The University of Tennessee Health and Science Center College of Medicine in Memphis and her plastic surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. During both residencies, she was honored with the chief resident teaching award. She is thrilled to be back in Nashville, working at DeLozier alongside fellow Honeybears Sara Morris Garner ’03, Tracey Robinson ’92, and Emme Simpkins Sandoval ’00.

Jillian Peterson Wright ’06, CEO of Onsite Women's Health, served as the 2024 executive leadership chair for the Nashville Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk. She said, “This was an incredible opportunity that allowed me to work alongside a dedicated committee of leaders committed to driving fundraising strategies that make a significant impact.”

Cari McDonald Hutchins ’07 served as a panelist on The Nashville Food Project's "The Future of Food: Just and Regenerative Agriculture, Climate Change and Ecological Healing." The event was part of the organization’s community conversation series. Cari is the working lands division manager at the Cumberland River Compact, a Nashville-based non-profit advancing clean and abundant water in the Cumberland River basin. In her role, she has the privilege of accompanying farmers on their journeys to become excellent soil and water stewards. Knowing that "how we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used," Caroline says. She works daily to advance the health of land, water, and people through her work with the compact and board position with Tennessee Local Food.

Annie Killian ’07, OP, Ph.D., a member of the Dominican Sisters of Peace and assistant professor of English at Ohio Dominican University, was elected to the national council at Pax Christi USA, an organization that rejects war and all forms of violence and domination. Annie believes that non-violence is central to Catholic teaching and hopes she can be influential in making more people aware of the importance of adopting a culture of non-violence and antiracism. “The message is more important now than ever," she said.

Peyton Curley ’08 is a former teacher who used her experience and passion for working with children to launch her business, The Social Emotional Teacher, LLC. Peyton is devoted to providing parents, educators, and mental health

workers with the resources and strategies they need to develop and nurture social-emotional learning skills in children. She has published two books: “Growth Mindset Workbook for Kids” and “Lily and Nico: Social Skills, Friendships, Feelings, and Facing Challenges.”

Emily Manning ’08 moved to Kyiv, Ukraine, in November. She is the energy attache in the U.S. Embassy.

Margaret Factor ’09 is not only a classmate of Caroline Winsett Weldon ’09 but was able to connect with Caroline's newborn daughter Mamie in the hospital as her nurse.

Katie Schull ’09 is the executive director of data and accountability at ReNEW Schools in New Orleans, where she received the 2023-2024 Network Staff of the Year award.

Katherine Deal ’13 completed her master’s degree in public health in December 2023 and will graduate from The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2025. While in school, she has had the opportunity to travel to the Galapagos islands and Argentina to provide veterinary care in underserved communities.

Kathleen Lang ’13 is pursuing her Master of Business Administration at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France, with the support of the Forté Foundation, an organization committed to advancing women's leadership across the globe. Prior to business school, Kathleen spent seven years at corporate advisory firm, Brunswick Group, where she worked in the firm's New York and London offices.

Lizzie Boston Malloy ’13 and Lizzy LeBleu ’15 were named to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Tennessee Chapter's Top 30

Under 30, a program recognizing young professionals on strong career trajectories who are actively engaged in their community and eager to make an even greater impact. Nominees are selected by their employers, co-workers, and peers for this honor.

Aidan Nettles ’13 joined Florida Atlantic University as the new assistant professor of dance. For the past five years, she was the assistant professor of dance at The University of Alabama. Aidan is eager to engage with a dynamic academic community and explore new opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Jane Winsett ’13 earned her master's degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Kate Capizzi ’16 joined law firm Maynard Nexsen’s financial services practice group in New York City. Her practice concentrates on securities-related matters and the defense of broker-dealers and other financial services professionals. She is also experienced in supporting civil and commercial litigation matters.

Claire Temple Dunkley ’16 recently passed the Tennessee Bar Exam to become a licensed attorney in Tennessee.

Hannah Huth ’16 is in her final year of medical school at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, studying to be a pediatric oncologist. She was selected to participate in the NIH Medical Research Scholars Program. During this yearlong research immersion for future clinician-scientists, she contributed to a groundbreaking project led by NIH Oxford Cambridge Scholar James Anibal, using AI and voice analysis on mobile apps to screen for

diseases. The project has trials underway in Vietnam, Rwanda, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Memphis. Inspired by her own childhood experiences as a patient with delayed treatment for brain tumors, Hannah is focused on integrating technology and medicine to improve early diagnostics and accessibility worldwide.

Lauryn McSpadden ’16 took part in an educational Zoom panel for prospective Harpeth Hall families of color led by the Office of Admission and Financial Aid in December 2023. Lauryn is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Abby Sparrow Profancik ’16 is pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University, where she is a Dean's Scholar.

Anna Grace Cole ’17 graduated with honors from The University of Tennessee College of Law. She is currently an associate in Baker Donelson's Nashville office and a member of the Health Law Group.

Hailey Lund ’17, a senior project manager with HCA Healthcare, completed her training with the Young Leaders Council (YLC). YLC was founded in 1985 by the Council of Community Services, in partnership with the Frist Foundation (formerly the HCA Foundation) and the United Way, to address an emerging and immediate need to broaden and strengthen Nashville's volunteer leadership base.

Justine Sitton ’17 received her Master of Library and Information Science from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and works as a cataloging archivist for the Bank of Montreal in Chicago.

Gracie Harris ’18 will continue her career as a logistician with the U.S. Department of the Army, following her training year at Ft. Gregg-Adams, Virginia. She will serve as a water supply specialist at the Detroit Arsenal under the U.S. Tank-automotive and Armament Command in Warren, Michigan.

Caleigh Dennis ’19 is a software development engineer for Amazon Web Services. She was promoted to be an L5 software developer and is the youngest L5 in her division and among the youngest across all of AWS.

Katie Stark ’19 was a 2024 Jenna Chiavelli Clinical Research fellow at Lenox Hill Neurosurgery in New York City.

Lydia Beachum ’20 joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps for the 2024-2025 year and will be placed at Joseph's House in Washington, D.C. as a social work aide.

Meg Beuter ’20 was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant’s Award for the 2024-2025 year and is teaching English as a foreign language in Kenya, Africa.

Stefanie Chiguluri ’20 earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with a minor in studio art from Washington and Lee University in 2024. She is serving as the Denise DeBartolo York Fellow with the San Francisco 49ers, gaining valuable hands-on experience across multiple departments, particularly in areas where women have been historically underrepresented.

Leelee Denton ’20 graduated from the United States Naval Academy as a scholar/ athlete in lacrosse, where she served as captain her senior year. She is an ensign in the Navy and began her career as a Navy pilot in Pensacola, Florida, where she will

attend two years of flight school, followed by a minimum eight-year commitment in the fleet.

Ellie Ford ’20 graduated summa cum laude from Baylor University and received a Bachelor of Arts in religion with a minor in educational psychology and business administration. She is the minister of children and families at University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. Reese Graves ’20 graduated from the United States Naval Academy and is an ensign in the Navy, currently stationed in Hawaii and embarking on her career in cryptologic warfare. In the U.S. Navy, cryptologic warfare involves intercepting and analyzing enemy communications, cyber operations, and electronic warfare to protect and defend U.S. assets. It plays a vital role in information warfare, helping disrupt adversary operations and secure Navy systems across cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Laurel Grissom ’20 graduated with a 4.0 from The University of Alabama’s honors college, where she studied finance and Spanish. Laurel is a project manager at AE Industrial Partners, a private investment firm with $6.2 billion of assets under

management focused on aerospace, national security, and industrial services. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Eleanor Henderson ’20 graduated magna cum laude from Bryn Mawr College with a Bachelor of Arts in growth and structure of cities and a minor in international studies.

Martha Milek ’20 graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South, with a bachelor's degree in economics. She is now working as a finance management analyst for Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sarah Parks ’20 graduated from the University of Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in education with highest honors in speech communication disorders from the School of Education and Human Development and a second major in cognitive science with a linguistics concentration from the College of Arts and Sciences. She is pursuing a Master of Science in speech-language pathology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Eleanor Rankin ’20 graduated with highest distinction from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an honors Bachelor of Arts in political science and as an Honors Carolina Laureate. She is pursuing her Juris Doctor at Washington and Lee University School of Law.

Isabel Sachtleben ’20 graduated from Elon University, where she majored in marketing and minored in photography. She is pursuing her graduate studies in international marketing at King's College London.

Annie Taylor ’20 graduated from the United States Naval Academy as a scholar/ athlete in track and field. She was captain of the team her senior year and was named the Patriot's League Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2024. She was the top female graduate and #5 overall in USNA's 2024 graduating class. She is a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

Gaby Viner ’20 graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude with honors in comparative literature from Barnard College of Columbia University.

Rebecca Viner '20 graduated summa cum laude with honors in political science from Colgate University. She is a corporate paralegal with Paul, Weiss in New York.

Jessie Wills ’20 graduated magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis. She joined Equal Access International in Washington, D.C. as a project assistant for its Securing Nigerian Communities project.

Quinlan Cyr ’21 graduated in May from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada with a Bachelor of Arts in geography: environment and sustainability. She interned in the Harpeth Hall advancement office and school archives this past summer and will return to British Columbia to spend the winter months working in the mountains. Quinlan hopes to attend law school.

This past summer, Bailey Grissom ’21 completed the world's longest annual charity bike ride with the nonprofit organization Texas 4,000 for Cancer. She biked from Austin, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska, to raise hope, knowledge, and charity in the fight against cancer. Highlights from her 4,000+ mile journey consisted of biking up Pikes Peak, completing a 208-mile challenge day, and talking with hosts and strangers along the way about the journey and mission. Bailey rode to honor her Harpeth Hall exchange student's father, Michael Sittmann, who passed away from stage 4 cancer in 2021.

Fiona Muldowney ’21 made the Chancellor's List for fall and spring semesters at the University of Mississippi in 2023-2024. During the summer of 2024, she interned at LBMC in Nashville. She is applying to the University of Mississippi’s Patterson School of Accountancy with hopes of starting her master's degree in the fall of 2025.

Weatherly Spence ’21 was named Panhellenic president at Rhodes College in the spring of 2024.

Nora Sullivan ’21 spent part of her junior year in Madrid, Spain, in 2023-2024. She returned to Harpeth Hall this past summer and interned in the communications department. Nora is a current senior at Saint Louis University, where she studies marketing.

Nora Wang ’21 returned to Harpeth Hall this past summer and interned in the communications department. She is a current senior at the University of Pennsylvania, where she studies anthropology, journalistic writing, and music. She also enjoys teaching violin and viola with Play on Philly, a nonprofit organization serving children across Philadelphia.

Kate Wilson ’21, a senior civil and environmental engineering student at Auburn University, was the recipient of the 2023-2024 Student Civil Engineer of the Year award given by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Alabama section. Rising singer-songwriter Liz Allen ’22 and friends performed an evening of live music at AB in Hillsboro Village. AB, formerly Anzie Blue, is Nashville's only woman-owned music and event venue, founded by Marcie Allen Van Mol ’92.

Katalina Guma ’22 is a junior at Duke University, maintaining an impressive 4.0 GPA while majoring in public policy. She has already fulfilled the requirements for her French minor, having transferred credits from Harpeth Hall and completing study abroad programs in Paris and Provence last summer. In addition to her academic achievements, Katalina represented Duke and the United States in a prestigious ceremony in Paris,

honoring the elite mountain infantry unit of the French army, "les Chasseurs Alpins." This past summer, Katalina was actively engaged with Duke Engage, a community outreach internship program in Miami-Dade County. She worked with Dade Legal Aid, a charity providing free legal services, and also held an internship as a legal aid at Kubicki Draper, a leading insurance defense firm based in Miami. Katalina has been studying abroad this fall through Duke's program at NYU in Florence, Italy.

Annabelle Nolan ’22 attends the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, studying art history and international relations. After working at Harpeth Hall this past summer as an advancement office intern, she studied French in Switzerland before returning to Scotland. She hopes to attend law school following her graduation from St. Andrews.

Betsy Rogers ’22 is a junior at Furman University, where she studies politics and international affairs and French. She is spending her fall semester studying abroad in Rennes, France. This past summer, she interned in Harpeth Hall’s advancement office.

Kate Maree Brewer ’23 had a successful year at Otterbein University, where she loves being part of an inspiring community of artists and professors. Highlights include performing in Otterbein Theatre's Main Stage productions of “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “A Midsummer Night's Dream” as well as 11th Hour Theatre's “Legally Blonde” and “Songs for a New World.” She performed improv comedy monthly as a member of the Mainstage Improv Troupe, receiving the Alan and Christy Coupland Theatre and Dance Endowed Scholarship awarded to an outstanding first-year student. Kate Maree also declared a second major in mathematics alongside her Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Ava Cassidy ’23 received the University of Oklahoma President's Outstanding Freshman award. Additionally, she received a Gallogly College of Engineering Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Lorelei Christopher ’23, a sophomore at Sewanee: The University of the South, was inducted into the university's distinctive Order of the Gown. Harpeth Hall faculty member Rory Fraser, a Sewanee alumnus

Barby White ’83 earned a Bachelor of Arts in both English and French at Vanderbilt University. After several years as a special needs education teacher, she spent six years in the corporate work/family balance field in Washington, D.C. She has since worked as a teacher, in event planning, in business development, and as a community volunteer. Barby has served in numerous roles at Harpeth Hall including Alumnae Board secretary, Annual Fund current parent chair, Annual Fund class chair, Annual Fund Major Gifts Committee member, and Reunion class chair. Her Harpeth Hall family members include her sister, Lindy Speight Thompson ’85, her stepmother-in-law, Dudley Brown White WB ’49, who is an honorary trustee, her mother-in-law, Govan Davidson White WB ’48 (deceased), her sisters-in-law, Margaret White Ratcliff ’65 and Betsy White McDonald ’69, and her aunts-in-law, Margaret White Greenlee WB ’38 (deceased) and Elizabeth Davidson Clark WB ’46 (deceased). Her husband, Govan White, is the managing partner and co-founder of Covenant Capital Group. The Whites have a Harpeth Hall daughter, Molly White Viola ’11, and two sons, Davidson White and Richard White, who graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy.

*The Summer 2024 issue of Hallways featured an incomplete bio for new trustee Barby Speight White ’83. This is the corrected bio.

and member of the OG, presented her with her gown. Members of the OG wear the gown as a badge of academic distinction.

Annie Linley '23 was an intern in Harpeth Hall’s communications department this past summer, in addition to working remotely on introductory physics programming at the University of Virginia, where she is a current sophomore. Annie is studying math and physics, serves on the UVA Honor Committee, and tutors algebra at Monticello High School.

Charlotte Myers ’24 received the Jackie Pitts Award for excellence in lacrosse. Named in honor of the U.S. Women's National Team legend and National Lacrosse Hall of Famer, the award recognizes high school girls lacrosse players nationwide for service to their team, school, and community, with nearly 70 athletes earning the distinction this year. The Jackie Pitts Award is part of the USA Lacrosse high school recognition program, along with All-American and All-Academic honors for players and Coach of the Year awards.

’24,

,

, Mabry Neuman ’24, and Lila Jane Pulliam ’24 reunited at the University of Mississippi as they joined Chi Omega together.

Shreya Priyadarshi ’24, an Inspirit AI leadership fellow, explored AI implications on healthcare in a project on pneumonia detection. As part of this project-building program by Stanford and MIT graduate students, Shreya helped create a computer vision system to diagnose pneumonia from chest X-rays. The project involved reviewing neural networks and creating convolutional neural networks in Keras to process medical images. They refined their models using transfer learning adapted from expert models. The fellows evaluated their models on field data and learned to create artificial data using image transformations to enhance performance on real-life data.

Harpeth Hall classmates Morgan Dawson ’24

Josie Garrison

Kate Lenderman ’24

HALL HALLWAYS

Whatley Hamilton Flournoy

Gray Wallace Quirk

Mary Lindley Carswell Hubbard

Emily Stewart LaPorte

Lilli Robinson Donaldson

Lilly Carver Montgomery

Meade Wills Le Lay

Jane Winsett Macdonald

Jocelyn Sitton Poole

Melissa Markham Fesmire

Grace McCaskill Powell

Kate Sangervasi Webb

A.K. Dettwiller ’96 to Tony Thompson on Oct. 5, 2024

Lauren Melkus ’96 to Jordi Tarroch Mejon on Sept. 14, 2024

Laura Lea Bryant ’04 to Kerry Degman on June 17, 2024

Mary Lindley Carswell ’05 to Matthew Hubbard on June 15, 2024

Sarah Anne Spaulding ’06 to Jesse Munitz-Alessio on Oct. 5, 2024

Caitlin Anthony ’07 to George Schubert on Sept. 21, 2024

Mary Helen Crafton ’07 to Matthew Daeley on Oct. 19, 2024

Kate Sangervasi ’07 to Baxter Webb on Sept. 28, 2024

Rachel Cochran ’08 to Clark Buden on May 23, 2024

Stephanie Miller ’10 to Steven Stanislaw on May 28, 2022

Marianna Weaver ’10 to Paul Zettler on Nov. 2, 2024

Lilli Robinson ’11 to Rob Donaldson on April 20, 2024

Eliza Taylor ’11 to Matthew Shelden on Oct. 19, 2024

Lilly Carver ’12 to James Montgomery on Oct. 19, 2024

Gray Wallace ’12 to Joe Quirk on May 18, 2024

Katelyn Williams ’12 to Jacob Ramsey on Nov. 16, 2024

Meade Wills ’12 to Cyril Le Lay on Sept. 21, 2024

Anne-Elise Cain ’13 to Clark Ross on June 8, 2024

Katherine Ferguson ’13 to Preston Rains on Aug. 17, 2024

Emma Smith ’13 to James O’Sullivan on May 18, 2024

Jane Winsett ’13 to John Macdonald on Oct. 18, 2024

Cat Weiss ’13 to Christina Estimé on Oct. 12, 2024

Whatley Hamilton ’14 to Paul Harrison Flournoy on Oct. 5, 2024

Callie Kirkland ’14 to Sully Brown on April 27, 2024

Emily Mace ’14 to Henry Crochiere on Sept. 7, 2024

Hannah Maclellan ’14 to Khari J. Williams on July 20, 2024

Mary Caton Peffen ’14 to Parker Williams on Sept. 28, 2024

Kennedy Potts ’14 to Nick Carrier on Sept. 27, 2024

Jocelyn Sitton ’14 to Jordan Poole on Oct. 22, 2024

Emily Stewart ’14 to Jeffrey LaPorte on Aug. 10, 2024

Ally Burch ’15 to Juan Pablo Martinez on Aug. 24, 2024

Emma Himes ’15 to Bennett Webb on Nov. 2, 2024

Meredith Martineau ’15 to Ryan Bein on Nov. 23, 2024

Leah Portis ’15 to Griffin Schwab on Aug. 10, 2024

Olivia Caldwell ’16 to Alex Kramer on Nov. 2, 2024

Olivia Dobbs ’16 to Nathan Bryant on Aug. 3, 2024

Laura Draughn ’16 to Jackson Siktberg on June 8, 2024

Melissa Markham ’16 to William “Witt” Thomas Fesmire on Sept. 14, 2024

Grace McCaskill ’16 to John Daniel Powell on June 1, 2024

Abby Sparrow ’16 to Joseph Profancik on Oct. 5, 2024

Leslie Stark ’16 to Kevin Frazier on Aug. 24, 2024

Claire Temple ’16 to Josh Dunkley on Oct 12, 2024

Franny Ford ’17 to George Devaney on May 18, 2024

Kate Sullivan ’17 to Michael Colliers on Aug. 24, 2024

Claire Temple Dunkley

Abby Sparrow Profancik

Caitlin Anthony Schubert

Leah High ’01 son, Frederick Orion Hilgenkamp, on Jan. 18, 2024

Shirley Li ’02 daughter, Madden Yan Li, on April 25, 2024

Katie Atkins-Ritzen ’03 daughter, Emmaline Kay Ritzen, on July 23, 2024

Allison Oldacre Griffin ’03 daughter, Lily Campbell Griffin, on May 24, 2024

Anna Mayo Jacques ’03 son, Matthew Berry "Bear" Jacques, Jr., on Dec. 27, 2023

Valaree Casamer O'Connor ’03 son, Hayes Carter O'Connor, on July 23, 2024

Mallory Atkins Goodson ’05 daughter, Palmer Lane Goodson, on May 31, 2024

Ryan McLaughlin Wood ’05 daughter, Ellison Elizabeth Wood, on July 16, 2024

Claire Nuismer Gaines ’06 son, Landers Deon Gaines III, on July 11, 2024

Anne Walker Harrison Wilson ’06 daughter, Celeste “Cecy” Casey Wilson, on Aug. 17, 2023, and daughter,

Mary Eliza Wilson, on Oct. 5, 2024

Megan Turney Clark ’08 son, Charlton "Charlie" Thomas Clark, on Nov. 17, 2024

Anna Armistead Clinton ’08 son, William Wyatt Clinton, on Jan. 25, 2024

Sharlene Rivers Zinn ’08 daughter, Charlotte Mai Zinn, on May 13, 2024

Taylor Witherspoon Schipani ’08 daughter, Mattilyn “Mattie” Taylor Schipani, on Aug. 31, 2024

Lauren Bounds Gallagher ’09 son, John “Jack” Anderson Gallagher, on Aug. 21, 2023

Caroline Winsett Weldon ’09 daughter, Maeve “Mamie” Wallace Weldon, on June 20, 2024

Mary Daniel Smith Danieley ’10 daughter, Mary James Danieley, on June 19, 2024 ALUMNAE

Elizabeth Ragan Holets ’10 daughter, Ruth Elizabeth Holets, on July 1, 2024

Molly Saint Sung ’10 son, Theodore “Theo” Michael Sung, on June 7, 2024

Cristine Osteen Terasaki ’10 daughter, Camille Mei Terasaki, on Aug. 14, 2024

Jean Broadhurst Schoeneweis ’11 son, Theodore Logan Schoeneweis, on Feb. 22, 2024

Meg Stark Conaty ’12 son, Thomas "Tommy" James Conaty IV, on July 8, 2024

Katie Neal Sullivan ’12 daughter, Kathrine “Kit” Janes Sullivan, on Nov. 28, 2023

Jessie Davidson Virgin ’12 daughter, Elizabeth Lou Virgin, on June 5, 2024

Grace Hawkins Franklin ’14 son, Lucas Emerson Franklin, on June 16, 2024

Ellie Osteen Garstin ’14 daughter, Calvert “Callie” Hart Garstin, on June 22, 2024

Betsy Buzhardt Thompson ’14 son, Robert Hayes Thompson, on Oct. 22, 2024

Eleanor Smith Estes ’16 daughter, Louise May Estes, on Nov. 26, 2024

We welcome photos in our class notes, marriages, and births sections. We prefer high resolution, 300 dpi jpegs. Email your digital photos to the Director of Alumnae Relations Scottie Coombs at coombs@harpethhall.org.

Frederick Orion Hilgenkamp

Theodore “Theo” Michael Sung

"Tommy" James Conaty IV

Landers Deon Gaines III

Camille Mei Terasaki

Madden Yan Li

Lily Campbell Griffin

Palmer Lane Goodson

Ellison Elizabeth Wood

Celeste “Cecy” Casey Wilson Mary Eliza Wilson

Mary James Danieley

Kathrine “Kit” Janes Sullivan

Calvert “Callie” Hart Garstin

Maeve “Mamie” Wallace

Lucas Emerson Franklin

William Wyatt Clinton

Dr. Mildred Stahlman WB ’40, of Nashville, passed away June 29, 2024, at age 102. An esteemed Ward-Belmont and Vanderbilt University alumna and recipient of the 1995 Harpeth Hall Distinguished Alumna Award and the 2004 Vanderbilt Distinguished Alumna, Dr. Stahlman was a pioneer in neonatal medicine. Over her 44-year career at Vanderbilt, she practiced, taught, and conducted groundbreaking research, serving as director of neonatology and director of the specialized center for research in newborn lung disease. In 1961, she established the first modern neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the United States, possibly the world, and developed a prototype baby-size respirator.

Her innovative work saved countless lives, beginning with her first premature patient, Martha Humphreys Lott ’79, who was treated with Dr. Stahlman’s negative pressure breathing machine. Ms. Lott, who later graduated from Harpeth Hall, is now a nurse in Vanderbilt’s NICU, continuing the legacy of care that once saved her life.

Renowned nationally for her expertise in neonatal pulmonary adaptation, hyaline membrane disease, and fetal cardiopulmonary development, Dr. Stahlman’s contributions transformed the care of premature and critically ill infants. Her extraordinary impact endures through the medical professionals she trained, the lives she saved, and the families she touched.

Ann Scott Fort WB ’43, of Nashville, passed away Feb. 21, 2024. Ann was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Singing Hills Garden Club, the Centennial Club of Nashville, and Cheekwood. She is survived by two daughters, one son, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Corinne Craig Kemp WB ’44, of Englewood, Colorado, passed away June 25, 2024. Corinne was an active member of her community. She and her husband ran the Riverton Auction Barn in Riverton, Wyoming, for many years. She is survived by one son, two daughters, 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Sally Jacks Moss WB ’45, of Flint, Michigan, passed away Jan. 9, 2024. Sally taught elementary school for 30 years and was a community volunteer. She is survived by one daughter.

Betty Ann Ward Stumb WB ’45, of Nashville, passed away Nov. 15, 2024. Betty Ann was active in St. George’s Episcopal Church. She loved to paint and play bridge. She is survived by her son, daughter, Lisa Stumb Woodring ’77, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Gloria Stephens Dinsdale C’46, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away Aug. 1, 2024. Gloria was a longtime supporter of the arts and a community volunteer. She is survived by one daughter, one son, 10 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Mary Laura Cannon Gardner WB C’46, of Valencia, Pennsylvania, passed away June 27, 2024. She was a founding member of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and was responsible for founding the string education program in the Nashville public school system. She is survived by one daughter, two sons, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Grace Harding Harbison WB ’46, C’48, of Lebanon, Tennessee, passed away Nov. 23, 2024. She had a 42-year career in education, both as a teacher as well as an advocate for public school programs and

initiatives. She is survived by her son, daughter, Louise Harbison Buell ’77, five granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren.

Betty Covington Boaz Oropallo WB C’46, of Auburn, New York, passed away Oct. 6, 2024. She is survived by one son, one daughter, a grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joyce Sessoms Taylor Tallent WB ’46, of Johnson City, Tennessee, passed away on Oct. 23, 2024. She taught elementary school and was a member of the Methodist Church. Joyce is survived by two sons, seven grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Marguerite Elias Wagner WB ’48, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away Oct. 1, 2024. She was very involved in the arts both in Rockford and Sarasota, Florida. She is survived by three sons, one daughter, and six grandchildren.

Anne Ross Boyd Raker WB C’49, of Lexington, Kentucky, passed away Oct. 1, 2024. Anne was active in the Naples community and was a master gardener. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Martha Hull Roupas WB ’49, of Piney Flats, Tennessee, passed away July 21, 2024. Martha was a teacher and retired from more than 30 years of licensing daycare centers. She is survived by two sons, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one brother, and many nieces and nephews.

Mary Phil Thomas Hamilton WB ’50, of Nashville, passed away Aug. 21, 2024. Mary Phil was a graduate of Vanderbilt University and was a longtime resident of Chattanooga in addition to Nashville, where she was involved in many community organizations. She was a member of Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville and First Centenary Church in Chattanooga. Mary Phil is survived by two sons, her daughter, Mary Phil Hamilton Illges ’78, eight grandchildren, including Whatley Hamilton Flournoy ’14, and 11 great-grandchildren.

ALUMNAE

Betty Louise Hightower Pewitt WB C’50, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away Sept. 8, 2024. Betty was active in many civic organizations in Birmingham. She is survived by her sister-in-law, three sons, nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

June Oliver Eagan WB C’51, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away Dec. 13, 2023. June worked for the American Red Cross as a caseworker in military hospitals and on disaster relief in North Carolina and New York. She later became an active community volunteer. June is survived by two daughters, two sons, 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Polly Morgan King WB ’51, of Leighton, Alabama, passed away May 25, 2024. Polly was a librarian for 37 years at the Leighton Public Library and a longtime member of the Muscle Shoals District Service League and Leighton United Methodist Church. She is survived by her husband, three daughters, five grandchildren, one great-grandson, and one stepsister.

Carole Grant Moulthrop ’52, of Atlanta, passed away June 29, 2024. Carole was a decorator and real estate agent. She is survived by her husband, daughter, son, two grandsons, one granddaughter, and one great-grandchild. Carole is also survived by stepchildren and step-grandchildren.

Amelia Spickard Watson ’53, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away Oct. 25, 2024. Amelia worked as a school librarian and later as the parish ministry coordinator at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville. She is survived by her son, daughters Laura Watson Davenport ’83 and Becky Watson ’87, sister, Pat Spickard Wildman ’58, four grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

Margaret Jane Blackwelder Rowland-LaBash ’54, of Franklin, Tennessee, passed away July 27, 2024. Jane loved art, travel, and helped manage her husband and son-in-law’s offices. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, as well as step-children.

Peggy Smith Warner ’54, of Nashville, passed away Nov. 9, 2024. Peggy served as chairman of the Harpeth Hall Board of Trustees, was later named an honorary trustee, and received the Louise “Dede” Bullard Wallace Award for her outstanding contributions to the school. Beyond Harpeth Hall, she was a civic leader, chairing numerous boards, serving as Belle Meade mayor, co-founding the Cashiers Historical Society, and excelling in philanthropy. Her leadership, vision, and generosity left a profound and lasting legacy in her communities. She is survived by her husband, son, daughters Jeannette Sloan Warner ’78 and Mary Laird Warner ’82, six grandchildren, and a large extended family.

Elizabeth (Betty) Caldwell Parish ’56 of San Antonio, Texas, passed away May 24, 2024. Betty was involved in many community organizations and had a successful wedding planner business. She is survived by her sister Lucy Caldwell Painter ’62, two daughters, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Ann Stokes Tubbs ’57, of Dadeville, Alabama, passed away Sept. 5, 2024. Ann was committed to many Huntsville organizations, including the Huntsville Literary Association, the Huntsville Symphony Guild, the Burritt Museum, and the First Presbyterian Church. She is survived by her husband, son, daughter, and six grandchildren.

Mary Ann Gray Tate ’59, of Franklin, Tennessee, passed away June 7, 2024. Mary Ann was a successful caterer and was involved in Historic First Presbyterian Church. She is survived by her sister, daughter, two grandsons, one granddaughter, and three great-granddaughters.

Judith Shanks Denton ’61, of Broomfield, Colorado, passed away Oct. 15, 2024. She taught math, earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, and founded an electronic medical records company with her husband. Judy is survived by her husband, one son, one daughter, a brother, and four grandchildren.

Mary Rebecca Thompson Cherry ’62, of Nashville, passed away Oct. 9, 2024. Mary Becca was an active tennis player and accomplished seamstress. She is survived by one son, two daughters, Diana Thompson Finlayson ’85 and Elizabeth Cherry Barrett ’92, eight grandchildren including Aden Barrett ’23 and Olivia Finlayson ’24, two sisters, Diana Thompson ’67 and Carolyn Thompson Beckner ’76, one brother, and her sister-in-law Jackie Glover Thompson ’64, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Lucy Hoffman Miller ’62, of Albany, Georgia, passed away Nov. 10, 2024. She had a career in education, was active in the Junior League, and enjoyed horseback riding. She is survived by her husband, daughter, son, brother, and granddaughter.

Susan Parker Davidson ’66, of Kennesaw, Georgia, passed away Nov. 3, 2024. Susan enjoyed traveling and showing Arabian horses. She is survived by her husband, three sisters including Mary Parker Fiore ’62 and Peggysue Parker Kretsch ’58, one brother, and five grandchildren.

Genevieve Steele Edwards ’67, of Verona, Wisconsin, passed away Oct. 5, 2023. She received an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Genevieve is survived by her husband, two children, two grandchildren, one brother, and her sisters Damaris Steele ’63 and Elizabeth Steele ’74.

Polly Craig Hogan ’69, of Nashville, passed away Aug. 19, 2024. She is survived by two sons, one daughter, six grandchildren, her sister, Peggy Craig ’71, and her aunts, including Carole Minton Nelson ’56.

Mary Elizabeth "Liza" Reynolds Buttrey ’70, of Nashville, passed away Nov. 5, 2024. Liza loved music and worked for a local radio station. She is survived by her brother, sister, Elaine Reynolds Harr ’72, and nieces and nephews.

Sarah Beasley Crouch ’71, of Nashville, passed away July 19, 2024. She was a lifelong member of Calvary United Methodist Church and worked for several childcare service providers. Sarah is survived by her husband and her son.

Carolyn Sloan Burton ’81, of Denver, passed away June 13, 2024. As one of the top middle-distance runners in the nation, she was an academic and athletic all-American. She received a track scholarship to Stanford University and was named to Harpeth Hall’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. After completing her medical degree, she had a long career as a psychiatrist. She is survived by her mother, Carolyn Thomas Burton ’56, sisters Leslie Burton ’79 and Lissa Burton Copeskey ’79, nephews, and her life partner and his daughters.

Ashley Sheridan Wilson ’97, of Manhattan Beach, California, passed away in April 2024. She was a graduate of Texas Christian University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and was a physician assistant. She is survived by her parents, her husband, two sons, and one daughter.

Elaine W. Green, of Clare, Michigan, passed away July 15, 2024, at the age of 101. She was the assistant to Dave Wood during his tenure as head of school at Harpeth Hall. She worked alongside Mr. Wood in Souby Hall from 1983 to 1990. Following her husband’s job relocation, Mrs. Green worked in a similar role at Central Michigan University. After she left, Mr. Wood stayed in touch, always calling her on her birthday. She is survived by her daughter, her daughter-in-law, three grandsons, one granddaughter, and nine great-grandchildren.

PAST FACULTY

Anthony “Tony” Louis Springman, a beloved teacher, coach, and mentor at Harpeth Hall, passed away Aug. 15, 2024, just one day after celebrating his 71st birthday. Mr. Springman had been courageously battling cancer.

For 33 remarkable years, Mr. Springman was a cornerstone of the Harpeth Hall community, shaping the lives of students, faculty, and families with his wisdom, sense of humor, and unwavering dedication to education. From his arrival in 1987 until his retirement in 2020, he left an indelible mark as a social sciences teacher, coach, department chair, faculty representative to the board of trustees, and recipient of the prestigious Ellen Bowers Hofstead Chair in the Humanities.

“The best schools operate with a shared sense of purpose and community where administrators, teachers, parents, students, alums, and boards actively seek to carry out the school’s mission. Students and teachers are at the center of this community, and the faculty is central to the school’s success.”

Tony Springman's Philosophy on Teaching

“For the past 40 years, I have found myself in a classroom on the first day of September. I have had ample opportunity to consider the many aspects of education. I believe the best schools are those that operate with a shared sense of purpose and community where administrators, teachers, parents, students, alums, and boards are all actively seeking to carry out the school’s mission. Students and teachers are at the center of this community. The faculty is central to the success of any school. As teachers, we must recognize the individual talents and abilities of each of our students. We must offer them challenging work that prepares them for their immediate future as college students. We must incorporate technology and its many uses in the classroom. Until we become a society that is free of gender bias, the best vehicle for developing self-esteem in young women remains the single-gender school. The outstanding teachers understand that we must help our students develop a value system that will serve them and their communities for a lifetime.”

Mr. Springman’s career in education spanned 45 years, beginning at University School of Nashville, St. Henry’s, and Christ the King, where he also served as principal. A Vanderbilt University graduate with a Master of Education from Tennessee State University, Mr. Springman brought an unmatched depth of knowledge and curricular leadership to Harpeth Hall. He developed some of the school’s most beloved courses, including psychology and contemporary issues, which challenged students to think about the world and their role in it. His teaching style, equal parts rigorous and engaging, encouraged active participation and intellectual curiosity. He was not afraid to push his students to refine their ideas, ensuring they left his classroom as sharper thinkers and better citizens.

Beyond academics, Mr. Springman’s influence permeated every aspect of Harpeth Hall. His efforts ranged from designing the school’s parking space assignment system to pitching in for practical tasks like mowing lawns, painting buildings, and even teaching driver's ed. He was the school’s first softball coach, varsity basketball coach for 11 years, and assistant athletic director. He helped establish the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club and was the faculty sponsor. Mr. Springman’s legacy also included his work with Youth in Government and Model United Nations. His colleagues remember him as a leader, master teacher, and dear friend to this community — in addition to his sharp wit and knack for good storytelling.

Outside of Harpeth Hall, Mr. Springman’s life was marked by his deep commitment to service. He was a dedicated volunteer with CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates), advocating for children in the criminal justice system, and remained an active member of his church, serving on the vestry of the Episcopal Parish of Alton after retiring to his hometown in Illinois. His faith, compassion, and commitment to helping others defined his life just as much as his love for Cardinals baseball, his dogs, and his cherished family.

Mr. Springman’s enduring impact on Harpeth Hall and beyond will be felt for generations. His teaching philosophy, which emphasized community, individualized learning, and the development of lifelong values, remains a guiding light. His former students and colleagues will forever carry with them his lessons, humor, and example of living with purpose and joy.

He is survived by four children, four grandchildren, his siblings, numerous cherished cousines, nieces and nephews, and by his wife, Lisa Ferguson Springman ’78, another Harpeth Hall past faculty member. It was on the steps of the Annie Allison Library, where the Ann Scott Carell Library now stands, where Mr. Springman first asked Lisa to go on a date with him. Months later, in the same exact spot, he proposed at midnight in a pouring rain storm. The Harpeth Hall community and all who knew Mr. Springman mourn his passing and celebrate the incredible legacy of a man who dedicated his life to making the world a better and brighter place.

PAST TRUSTEES

Margaret “Peggy” Smith Warner ’54

On Nov. 9, 2024, Harpeth Hall lost a great champion of educational excellence for girls. Peggy Smith Warner ’54 had a tremendous impact on her alma mater. She enrolled in Harpeth Hall upon the closing of Ward-Belmont in 1951, was president of both her junior and senior class, and was the Katie Wray Valedictorian. In the 1954 Milestones, Peggy was considered by her classmates as most likely to be “First Woman President of the USA.” Fortunately for Middle Tennessee, she channeled her considerable talents to leading and investing in institutions she cared about most, with Harpeth Hall being chief among them.

Peggy served as a Harpeth Hall trustee from 1985 to 1997, as board chair from 1991 to 1995, and as an honorary trustee from 1998 until her death. She boldly added the 5th grade to the school in 1993 and was a tireless advocate throughout her life for the importance of a strong endowment. In 1998, she established the Leah S. Rhys Fund for Faculty Enrichment upon Ms. Rhys’s retirement as Harpeth Hall’s fourth head of school. During Peggy’s time of service, she participated in the school’s capital campaigns. Notably, she named a chemistry classroom in the Jack C. Massey Center for Mathematics and Science in honor of her daughters during The Campaign for Harpeth Hall, which spanned from 2000 to 2005. Also during this campaign, she invested generously in the Smith-Warner

Jeannette Warner ’78, Dr. John S. Warner, Peggy Smith Warner ’54, Dr. J. Sloan Warner, Jr., and Mary Laird Warner ’82 in September 2016 at the Leadership Dinner honoring Peggy.

Family Scholarship Fund, which she established in 2003 with her mother, Margaret Thompson Smith WB ’33, and her daughters Jeannette Warner ’78 and Dr. Mary Laird Warner ’82. With an initial gift in 2014 from the Henry Laird Smith Foundation, she and her family established and have continued to support The Winterim Travel Fund, which gave the school the ability to offer scholarships for academic travel during Winterim to juniors and seniors relying on financial aid to attend Harpeth Hall.

Peggy’s devoted and influential leadership was integral to the school’s growth and success. When Peggy began her term as board chair, Harpeth Hall’s enrollment was 394 students, and the school’s endowment was $1.8 million. Harpeth Hall’s current enrollment is 721 students, and the endowment was over $74 million by the time of Peggy’s death.

For her many contributions to Harpeth Hall’s financial strength and all-girls mission, the school honored Peggy with the Louise “Dede” Bullard Wallace Award at the Leadership Dinner in 2016. With her husband, Dr. John S. Warner, son, Dr. J. Sloan Warner, Jr., and her daughters, Jeannette and Mary Laird, all in attendance, the Harpeth Hall school community showed love, respect, and appreciation for a truly great leader and philanthropist who positively shaped Harpeth Hall for students today and for all future generations.

“Peggy Warner welcomed me and proved to be eager to broaden Harpeth Hall’s impact in the community. There was little she wouldn’t do for the school she loved as she led the board toward decisions with far-reaching consequences.”

— Leah Rhys, Harpeth Hall Head of School 1991-1998

PAST TRUSTEES

AS PUBLISHED IN THE TENNESSEAN

Margaret “Peggy” Smith Warner of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, after a sudden illness with her family at her bedside. She was 88.

She was preceded in death by her parents Henry Laird Smith, Sr. and Margaret Thompson Smith and her brother Henry Laird Smith, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Dr. John Sloan Warner; daughter Jeannette Sloan Warner, son Dr. J. Sloan Warner, Jr. (Jane), and daughter Dr. Mary Laird Warner (Russell Stewart); grandchildren Jerome Blakeman Goldstein, Margaret Warner Goldstein, John Sloan Warner III, Colton Day Warner, Russell Orson Stewart, Jr., and Henry Laird Stewart; brother Overton Thompson Smith (Jeanette); and sister-in-law Catharine Donahoe Smith.

period in its history, strengthening its financial sustainability and reaffirming its commitment to excellence in girls education. She was later named an honorary trustee of Harpeth Hall and received the Louise “Dede” Bullard Wallace Award for her outstanding contributions to the school.

Peggy understood the power of philanthropy and was an effective fundraiser for institutions that she championed. She co-chaired the Swan Ball, then benefitting Cheekwood, and also served on the board — later becoming president — of the Canby Robinson Society, supporting Vanderbilt Medical School.

Born on September 13, 1936, Peggy attended Robertson Academy and entered Harpeth Hall School in the year of its founding, serving as president of the senior class before graduating in 1954. She attended Sweet Briar College for two years prior to transferring to Vanderbilt University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She graduated with an English degree magna cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

In 1958, Peggy married John Warner, and they moved to Minneapolis for his medical training. After living in Portsmouth, Virginia, and Durham, North Carolina, they returned home to Nashville in 1965 with three young children in tow.

Peggy led a full, gracious, and meaningful life as a civic and community leader, wise and supportive friend, devoted wife and mother, and so much more.

Upon returning to Nashville, she immersed herself in community organizations. It is a tribute to Peggy’s leadership skills that she was named “President” or “Chairman” of nearly every board she joined. She served as president of the Junior League of Nashville, president of the Friends of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ensworth School, among others.

Peggy was most devoted to her alma mater, Harpeth Hall, where she served as chairman of the Board of Trustees during a pivotal

In later years, she used her gift of leadership in the civic realm. She served as a city commissioner and then mayor of the City of Belle Meade. Family and friends wore bright yellow T-shirts emblazoned “Peggy for Mayor,” as they canvased neighborhoods in her support. She was also a member of the inaugural class of Leadership Nashville and served on the board of the trust department of the Nashville branch of First Tennessee Bank and the board of the trust department of First American Bank.

In their summer home in Cashiers, North Carolina, Peggy was founder and President of the Cashiers Historical Society and proclaimed Chattooga Club Citizen of the Year.

Business aside, Peggy was just plain fun. She cherished time among friends as an active member of the Nashville chapter of the Garden Club of America, the Centennial Club, the Review Club, the International Study Club, and the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. She was a communicant of Christ Church Cathedral and St. George’s Episcopal Church.

In so many areas, Peggy simply excelled. Her thumb could not have been any greener, her scratch-made bread any tastier, or her tennis forehand any more formidable. She loved being in the outdoors, whether hiking trails in Cashiers, scuba diving in Bonaire, or serving as “first mate” when she and John sailed around the Caribbean and Aegean Seas with the “Sheppard Place Navy.”

and Claiborne

The Annual Fund

Clay and I are honored to lead this year’s Annual Fund. Thank you to all who have already given. What a gift it is to witness the generosity of so many in our community! We are grateful for your commitment to our school’s mission to educate girls to think critically, lead confidently, and live honorably.

Our daughter, Kennedy ’26, entered Harpeth Hall in the 7th grade, and she has thrived. We have been impressed by the caliber of her teachers and their ability to motivate each girl to do and be her best. We appreciate the quality of the academic curriculum as well as the breadth of opportunities available for girls to learn and grow through sports, arts, and clubs. As parents, we also value the school-wide principle that one’s mistakes are essential in learning. Over the past five years, Kennedy’s experiences have resulted in transformational growth. From her intellectual curiosity to her willingness to take risks to her confidence to meet any challenge head on and more, she has been nurtured and shaped by this supportive Harpeth Hall community.

It is a privilege to work alongside the advancement office and so many dedicated volunteers, including parents, alumnae, grandparents, and trustees to connect with and invite the larger community to be an integral part of the great things happening at Harpeth Hall. With the strength of our support, Harpeth Hall will continue to educate girls boldly so that as graduates they can move through the world with confidence, resilience, and purpose.

Again, thank you for your commitment to Harpeth Hall. If you have not yet, we ask you to join us in giving to the 2024-2025 Annual Fund. Your investment in our girls and our school will undoubtedly pay dividends long into the future.

Gratefully,

Amy and Clay Richards 2024-2025 Annual Fund Chairs

Support the Annual Fund online at HarpethHall.org/Giving. Questions? Please contact Director of Annual Giving Tracy Campbell at 615-346-0083.

Clay, James, Amy, Kennedy ’26,

Richards

The Harpeth Hall School 3801

Backto REUNION 2025

Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, 2025

FRIDAY, MAY 2

Milestones Society Luncheon

1955, 1960, 1965, and 1970 celebrating their 70th, 65th, 60th, and 55th reunions

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Marnie Sheridan Gallery

Campus Tours led by Student Ambassadors

3:30 p.m.

Meet outside the Bullard Bright IDEA Lab

Memorial event remembering Tony Springman

Time and location details to come

Followed by a reception

Use

You

SATURDAY, MAY 3

50th Reunion Brunch honoring the Class of 1975

10:30 a.m.

Kirkman House

Winterim in May classes and times to be announced

Alumnae Panel Discussion 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.

Patton Visual Arts Center — Richards Room

Campus Tours led by Student Ambassadors 4:30 p.m.

Meet outside the Bullard Bright IDEA Lab Cocktails on Campus

All alumnae and guests are invited to this festive complimentary event to visit with current and former faculty members and to reunite with classmates and friends. 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Bullard Bright IDEA Lab