THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS A PERFECT TIME TO REFLECT AND REMIND US WHY WE ARE PROUD AND GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
Hockaday
Dear Hockaday Community,
It’s been an incredible year, and this community has so much to celebrate. Although May is always a whirlwind, this year felt especially packed as I celebrated the graduation of two of my children from graduate school. Attending different ceremonies at other institutions allows me to fully appreciate the special tradition that is Hockaday’s Commencement. The remarks from our speaker, Dr. Shanda H. Blackmon ’87 were especially relevant, as she reminded our graduates about the importance of resilience and determination, qualities that will serve our girls well as they head into the future.
During our opening convocation in August, I spoke to the girls about embodying the Four Cornerstones. They have worked hard to demonstrate Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics this year–on our fields and courts, in our classrooms, and in their interactions with one another.
At our end-of-year celebration, I reminded them that the Cornerstones still apply over the summer when we aren’t together on campus. Lower School students provided examples of how to demonstrate the Cornerstones this summer, which included going to the library, swimming, being kind to siblings, and doing what was asked of them the first time. I encouraged everyone to
read every day (not on a screen!), to get some exercise, and to exhibit character and courtesy at all times–even when no one is watching. I also reminded them that all online behavior should adhere to the same high standards for character and courtesy.
We are excited to send the Class of 2024 off to college, and we know they will continue to make a difference in their communities. The Class of 2024 is attending 66 outstanding universities nationwide and internationally, and we are so proud of our newest alumnae.
Faculty support is an ongoing strategic priority for the School, and we are thrilled to recognize outstanding faculty members through the Distinguished Teacher program. You can read more in the Faculty Awards section.
Additionally, we celebrated seven retirees this year. I am grateful to Sunny D’Apice (Private Music Instructor, 28 years); Francisco de la Rosa (Groundskeeper, 12 years); Jill Dorman (Nurse, 13 years); Linda Hill (Upper School Math, 8 years) Jesus Lares (Maintenance, 34 years); Justino Rodriguez (Groundskeeper, 34 years); and Barby Power (Assistant to the Head of Upper School, 33 years) for their many years of service to the School. Congratulations to all on your retirement!
As we end this year, I thank you for your support and encouragement. This is an extraordinary community and an exciting time in the life of the School, and I look forward to the journey ahead.
I hope you have a restful summer, and I can’t wait to see everyone on campus in the fall.
My best,
Dr. Laura Leathers
Eugene McDermott Head of School
Head of Upper School Lisa Culbertson ’96, the 110th Commencement Speaker Dr. Shanda Haley Blackmon ’87, Board of Trustees Chair A. Shonn Brown, and Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Laura Leathers
Believing in the limitless potential of girls, Hockaday develops resilient, confident women who are educated and inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.
Commencement
CLASS OF 2024
MAY 18, 2024
On a beautiful evening in May, the Class of 2024 crossed Ashley H. Priddy Commencement Terrace and received their diplomas at Hockaday’s 110th Commencement. The graduates enjoyed the many time-honored traditions that make the Hockaday Commencement ceremony so special: the walk from Teardrop Garden down the Metzger Plaza stairs, the Honor Guard gladiola arch, and the beautiful flower baskets. The entire Hockaday community was thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these 128 graduating students.
THINGS ARE CHANGING, BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT I WANT TO REMAIN CONSTANT. NO MATTER WHAT CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, WHO YOU MEET, AND WHAT YOU DO, I WANT EACH AND EVERY PERSON HERE TO SHIELD THE GOOD IN THEM THAT I HAVE SEEN AND THAT I KNOW WE HAVE. THAT SPARK, THAT PASSION AND FIRE FOR LIFE. I WANT YOU TO TAKE IT WITH YOU AND SHOW IT OFF TO THE WORLD, BECAUSE 2024, WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF GREATNESS, AND THIS IS OUR LEAP INTO THE FUTURE
ELENA ZEBALLOS, Class of 2024 Commencement Speaker
GRADUATES—SURROUND YOURSELF WITH A WISE COUNCIL. CHOOSE FRIENDS WISELY AND CHOOSE THOSE WHO WILL MAKE YOU BETTER AS A RESULT OF SPENDING TIME WITH THEM. CHOOSE THOSE WHO TELL YOU THE TRUTH RATHER THAN WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR. FEEDBACK IS A GIFT. DON’T SHUT IT DOWN. LISTEN HARD FOR IT. KNOW THAT ALL THE AWARDS AND PLAQUES ON THE WALL ARE MEANINGLESS COMPARED TO THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU BUILD AND THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE TO EACH OTHER DURING CHALLENGING TIMES. BE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
DR. SHANDA H. BLACKMON '87, 110th Commencement Speaker
Class of 2024
CUM LAUDE Society
In 1946, Hockaday was granted its Cum Laude Charter. The Hockaday chapter of Cum Laude honors those among us whose academic achievement and scholarship have been extraordinary. Admission to Cum Laude is the highest academic honor Hockaday can bestow upon a student. Evan Miller Brown ’16 (below center) was the featured speaker at the induction in April.
NATIONAL MERIT Semifinalists
NATIONAL MERIT Commended Students
FOUNDER'S DAY Awards
Since 1959, members of the Senior Class have been nominated by faculty and peers for this distinguished award, which is given at a special ceremony near Miss Ela Hockaday's birthday in March. The recipients embody the Four Cornerstones of Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics. The 2024 recipients of the Founder’s Day award are (left to right) Alyssa Anderson Caroline Warlick, Lily McKenna, and Elena Zeballos Maggie Parker ’07 (below center) spoke at the Founder's Day ceremony.
CLASS OF 2024 College Matriculation
Senior TRADITIONS
SENIOR YEAR AT HOCKADAY IS A SPECIAL TIME.
Senior year marks a time of highly anticipated privileges such as college t-shirts and off-campus lunch, as well as special events thoughout the year: Senior retreat, sunrise breakfast on the first day of school, Daisy Days, Senior Nights in Athletics and Fine Arts, and more! These experiences help the Seniors bond as a class and create special memories as they embark on their next adventure. The Class of 2024 has certainly left its mark on Hockaday and will be remembered for its supportive friendships, accomplished scholars, and school spirit.
RETURN TO YOUR Roots
Seniors who attended Hockaday in the Lower School are invited to return to the Lower School for a “Return to Your Roots” program. The afternoon is a walk down memory lane with Fourth Grade students reading childhood highlights submitted by Seniors and their parents. The girls sing songs from their days at Rotunda Rocks, and their parents create poster boards filled with photos and memories from their time in Lower School.
SENIOR Heritage Receptions
The rich cultural legacies of Hockaday’s self-identified Seniors were celebrated at the Sixth Annual Asian and Pacific Islander Senior Heritage Reception, 19th Annual Black and African Senior Heritage Reception, and the Seventh Annual Latin and Hispanic Senior Heritage Reception. The receptions featured special food, music, remarks from Seniors, and cultural traditions. Speakers included Priya Sureddi Patel '04 Ivy Winfrey '08, and Monica Lira Bravo ’99
ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HONOREES
BLACK AND AFRICAN HONOREES
SPLASH Day
The final Daisy Day and Senior Splash Day was a wet and wild day of fun! Students decorated their skirts with their college branding and drenched their advisors, college counselors, and underclassmen while enjoying lunch, games, and water slides.
The
SENIOR Farewell
The Thursday before Commencement, Seniors and their parents gathered on campus for a final farewell. The students elected Amalia Evans (Class of 2024) and Karen Sanchez, Upper School Math teacher, to give remarks as they gathered to say goodbye.
ONE OF THE AMAZING THINGS ABOUT HOCKADAY IS THAT WE ARE ALL A PART OF THIS FAMILY FOREVER. ONCE WE LEAVE GRADUATION TERRACE IT IS NOT THE END, BUT RATHER A NEW BEGINNING. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT EVERY ONE OF YOU DOES.
AMALIA EVANS, Class of 2024 Senior Farewell Speaker
Form DAY
Forms I, II, and III competed in Form Day on the last day of school to win the spirit stick, given to the class who wins the most competitions. Competitions included the leaky barrel, bucket brigade, and marble madness games, as well as tug-of-war. Congratulations to the Class of 2025 for winning the spirit stick this year! Also, congratulations are in order for the Class of 2027, which was awarded best dressed, and the Class of 2026, which took home the sportsmanship award!
UPPER SCHOOL Awards
Buford Gray Damonte
Obert
Ring DAY
Ela Hockaday selected the jade stone because it was a symbol of wisdom, and the first ring was designed in 1917. The Class of 2025 received jade rings during the Ring Ceremony in May and also donned their white blazers for the first time as a class! Outgoing class president Elena Zeballos (Class of 2024) presented each girl with her ring, and incoming president Tori Fair (Class of 2025) addressed the rising Seniors.
The
HEALTH
Physical
Junior
Health
The
Fourth Grade RECOGNITION
LOWER SCHOOL Awards
CATHERINE PATRIZI LOWER SCHOOL POETRY AWARD Ruth Campbell
COVER ART WINNER FOR 'THE HOCKADAISY' Cameron Oxford
Eighth Grade GRADUATION
MIDDLE SCHOOL Awards
SAVANNAH
Lower School PRODUCTIONS
EVERY STUDENT HAS THE CHANCE TO SHINE!
Students put on the greatest show in town at the Pre-K Circus; Kindergarten and Primer welcomed spring with “Squirm! A Wiggly, Giggly, Squiggly Musical;” First Grade incorporated their lessons into “Tales of Temples and Tombs;” Second Grade showcased their music skills with a strings performance; Third Grade culminated their learning with “The Adventures of Lewis and Clark;” and Fourth Grade performed a show-stopping musical, “Jukebox Time Machine.”
FIRST Grade
SECOND Grade
THIRD Grade
KINDERGARTEN AND Primer
Middle SchoolTRADITIONS
MIDDLE SCHOOL Trips
Trips in Middle School are an opportunity for students to expand their horizons through travel and bond as a class. Sixth Graders loved their week-long trip to Williamsburg and Washington D.C., where they visited Jamestown Settlement, Ford’s Theatre, the International Spy Museum, the Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr. and World War II memorials, museums, Arlington National Cemetery, the National Archives, and more! Fifth Grade spent time at Camp Balcones Springs ziplining, rock climbing, crafting, and horseback riding. Seventh Grade headed to The Vines Center, an outdoor education facility that is part of the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, where they enjoyed four days of learning survival skills and shelter building, leadership activities, kayaking, and hiking. They also visited Central High School to learn about the Little Rock Nine, the first Black students to attend the school.
GREEN AND WHITE Day
One of Hockaday’s most beloved Middle School traditions is the year-long competition known as Green and White. Students vie to earn points for their team during PE, and at the end of the year they participate in Green and White Day, complete with a pep rally, dance-off, water games, and tug-of-war competition. In addition, each team can earn points for spirit and sportsmanship. Congratulations to members of the Green team, whose flag will be flown outside of Penson Gym for the next school year!
FIFTH GRADE Authors
For the past 30 years, Fifth Grade English students showcase their learning by writing their own narratives. Pre-K, Kindergarten/Primer, and First Grade students and teachers are gracious audience members for these budding authors, who enjoy reading their stories aloud!
FIFTH GRADE Olympics
During the Fifth Grade Olympics, students learn about the Olympic values and participate in opening and closing ceremonies and various athletic events. The girls are divided into countries, and medals are given for basketball, field hockey, rowing, table tennis, soccer, swimming, and track and field.
Fine ARTS
HOCKADAY Theatre
The Hockaday Repertory Company performed "The Wolves" by Sarah DeLappe at this year’s ISAS Arts Festival and in the Lacerte Family Black Box Theater this spring. The play offers a glimpse into the lives and conversations of a high school indoor girls’ soccer team. The characters engage in discussions ranging from the Khmer Rouge to ornithology, delivering overlapping and hilarious dialogue.
SPRING Dance
Hockadance took to the stage in April for their annual Spring Concert, which was entirely choreographed by students. Dancers selected songs, dance styles, and costumes and incorporated feedback from the adjudicators at the ISAS Fine Arts Festival earlier in the month for their final performances.
HOCKADAY Debate
At the National Debate Coaches Association’s National Championship in April, the Hockaday team of Dithyae Devesh (Class of 2025), Sophia Shi (Class of 2027), Riya Sangapu (Class of 2026), and Mischa Rutledge (Class of 2026) were runners up in the national championship on a difficult 3-2 decision. Lily Vollbrecht (Class of 2027) received third best speaker, Aimee Hsu (Class of 2026) received fourth, Riya Sangapu eighth, and Dithyae Devesh ninth place, respectively.
LOWER SCHOOL Arts
For the past two years, Lower School teachers Christina Brandt, Lori Ott, and Denise Jones have led an integrated study of Art, Music, and Literature of the Harlem Renaissance for Fourth Graders. Students created visual art, music, and poetry in the style of the Harlem Renaissance and displayed their work in the Ann Bower '67 Gallery in May.
FILM Festival
The Upper School Hockaday Film Festival in April featured films from Anu Akingbade (Class of 2025), Savannah Chun (Class of 2026), Victoria Cruz (Class of 2027), Gabriela Gaona (Class of 2025), Gretchen Jones (Class of 2025), Anika Kapoor (Class of 2025), Isla McKenna (Class of 2026), and Helen Railsback (Class of 2024).
HOCKADAY Publications
Hockaday’s literary magazine, Vibrato, (staff pictured above) won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) Gold Crown Award in March. The magazine features student art, literature, photography, and media. The CSPA recognizes overall excellence in either print or digital student publications across America, chosen by a panel of judges. The Fourcast, Hockaday's newspaper, won a Silver Crown Award.
VISUAL Arts
Students showcased their visual arts pieces in the Ann Bower '67 Gallery and the Ownby Family Lobby during receptions and exhibitions throughout the year.
Tennie McFarland Class of 2025
Jane Hochman Class of 2024
Siri Cherukuri Class of 2024
Mary Grayson Horton Class of 2024
Ariana Kincheloe Class of 2030
Zariah Arrington Class of 2027
Ava Thigpen Class of 2025
Dixey Piper Auer Class of 2024
Hockaday ATHLETICS
LACROSSE WINS FOURTH STRAIGHT STATE TITLE
Hockaday's Varsity Lacrosse team won the state title for the seventh time and fourth year in a row, defeating the Frisco Fury on May 12. Mae Flanagan (Class of 2025) recorded six goals and one assist, and Riley Damonte (Class of 2024) added three scores and an assist. Charlotte Schultz (Class of 2025) registered two goals, three caused turnovers, and eight draw controls, and Aynalie Charron (Class of 2025) pitched in with a pair of goals. Goalie Alex Blue Baron (Class of 2025) recorded four saves.
ROWERS WIN FIRST NATIONAL TITLE
In May, Hockaday Rowing qualified six boats in five events for USRowing's Youth National Championships. All five boats advanced to the "A" Final at the four-day Youth Nationals Regatta in Florida in June, where the top eight boats race for a National Championship. Hockaday's Under-17 Double (right), made up of Peyton Johnson (Class of 2026) and Lillian Sells (Class of 2026), won the national title! Hockaday also took bronze in the Under-19 Second Varsity Quad, finished fourth in the Varsity Straight Four, and finished seventh in both the Under-19 Varsity Quad and the Under-17 Varsity Quad. Hockaday's Under-17 "B" Quad finished 18th overall.
FIRST HOCKADAY OLYMPIAN
Teal Cohen '17 (second from left) won the Women’s 4X with her crew at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland in May, and will row at the 2024 Paris Olympics! She began her rowing career at Hockaday, continued at The University of Washington, and competed at the world level for in the Under-23 and Senior National Teams. "We were confident going into our race that if we executed what we had been practicing, we would end up in a good place," Cohen said. "It's a dream come true to qualify for Paris."
Image courtesy of Row2K
Faculty & Staff AWARDS
THE JOHN KILLION MEMORIAL AWARD
Lindsay Longshore, Upper School Math Teacher
The Killion Award was established by Mary Louise McNeese Forteith JC ’42 and Anne Elizabeth Zimmermann ’91 in memory of former Upper School English Teacher John Killion. The Senior Class votes on the award to honor and recognize a Hockaday teacher who goes out of his or her way to help students in and out of the classroom and who makes the learning atmosphere exciting, thus exemplifying those qualities so loved in Mr. Killion. This year, the Seniors selected Lindsay Longshore, who joined the Upper School faculty in 2022.
The seniors who nominated her said, “She really cares about all of her students. She gets to know them personally so they can relate that to how they approach their work. Even students who haven’t had her talk to her because she is so welcoming and warm hearted. She is super encouraging, even when you don’t think you’re doing well. If you need help with a concept, she will help you become comfortable with your own ability to understand it. She is a very supportive person in general and will always listen. Her classroom is a really calm place because of her. Students are excited about going to her class even when working on difficult topics because she is fun while always keeping students on track. We always feel super prepared.”
THE ACKERMAN AWARDS
The Ackerman Family Endowment for Faculty Support and Recognition was established in 2008 with a generous gift from Edward and Helma Ackerman honoring their daughters, Paula Ackerman Menendez '87 and Samantha Ackerman Asch '91, whose Hockaday teachers inspired them in the classroom and to a lifetime love of learning and teaching. This endowment funds faculty compensation and supports Hockaday’s efforts to strengthen its character education and mentoring programs.
THE ACKERMAN AWARD FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION
THE UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Adriana Cruz Security
The Unsung Hero award recognizes the accomplishments of Hockaday staff members who have positively influenced a program or organization from behind the scenes with a positive attitude, a willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary, and a commitment to excellence. Nominees are individuals who help the Hockaday community achieve its goals and aspirations, even in the face of adversity. The award recipients exhibit a can-do attitude, are hard-working, humble, honest, kind, and enthusiastic. Jeff Arrington, Director of Safety and Security, said, "Adriana is the quintessential servant leader whose ubiquitous positive energy has been encountered by many; her contributions have been the silent force propelling her team forward for the past two years. With meticulous attention to detail, excellence, and a selfless spirit, she has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure the smooth functioning of her team's projects, processes, and overall operations.”
THE ACKERMAN AWARD FOR FACULTY MENTORING
Leslie Gardiner Lower School Math Specialist
YEARBOOK DEDICATION
Scott Bowman
Assistant Head of Upper School and History Teacher
The Class of 2024 dedicated Cornerstones, the Hockaday yearbook, to Mr. Scott Bowman, Assistant Head of Upper School and History teacher. “After having Mr. Bowman as a teacher for three years, I can safely say he is one of the best teachers at Hockaday. He has really changed my attitude toward learning and mindfulness as I’ve gone through Upper School,” said Ashley Chemmalakuzhy (Class of 2024). “Mr. Bowman is a kind, selfless, caring, and supportive teacher and advisor who never fails to offer assistance to anyone,” said Caroline Warlick (Class of 2024).
In 2006, the Ellen Higginbotham Rogers Award for Faculty Excellence was established in honor of Ellen Higginbotham Rogers ’59 to recognize teaching excellence. It is given annually by the Alumnae Association to a faculty or staff member who makes an impact on the students and the education the School provides them. In April, the Alumnae Association selected three finalists for the 2024 award, and the winner was Dr. Stephen Balog.
THE ELLEN HIGGINBOTHAM ROGERS AWARD FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE
A.D. Ebeniro Health and Physical Education Teacher
Tanya Ivey Lower and Middle School Librarian
Dr. Stephen Balog Upper School Science Teacher
Karen Sanchez Upper School Math Teacher
Jeri Sutton Upper School Math Teacher
Katy Lake Upper School Registrar
DISTINGUISHED Teachers
Hockaday’s incredible faculty are at the heart of our School’s legacy of excellence. Our teachers place students first and make the Hockaday experience unparalleled. In 2011, the School established The Endowed Distinguished Teacher Program in recognition of faculty excellence, and we currently have six Distinguished Teachers among our faculty.
Hockaday’s first class of Distinguished Teachers – Diane Glaser (Middle School English), Dr. Beverly Lawson (Upper School Science, Science Department Chair), Ed Long (Upper School Fine Arts, Fine Arts Department Chair), and Steve Kramer (Upper School History, History Department Chair) left behind a storied legacy of excellence in teaching.
In February 2022, a new class of Distinguished Teachers was named: Brandi Finazzo (Upper School Science), The Lyda Hill ’60 Distinguished Teacher, Darin Jeans (Middle School History), Distinguished Teacher endowed by an anonymous donor, Susan Sanders-Rosenberg (Middle School Art, Visual Arts Department Chair), The Nancy Penn Penson ’41 and John G. Penson Distinguished Teacher in Fine Arts, and Tymesia Smaw (Lower School Faculty) The Lyda Hill ’60 Distinguished Teacher.
The title of Distinguished Teacher refers to a position and the qualities of teaching and scholarship. The Distinguished Teacher program aims to recognize and reward exemplary teachers, often ones of long-standing tenure, for their life-changing work with students. These teachers’ skills in the classroom, their ability to bring subjects to life, their ongoing research and scholarship, and their impact on their students’ lives make them each deserving of the title.
THE BARNEY YOUNG DISTINGUISHED TEACHER
Amy Banks, Lower School Science Teacher
Earlier this year, the School received a generous gift from anonymous donors to endow a new Distinguished Teacher position, which the donors named in memory of our beloved former Life Trustee, Barney Young, whose legacy of service and devotion to education markedly impacted the School. Mr. Young served on the Hockaday Board of Trustees from 1971 to 1977 and 1990 to 1998 and served as Chair of the Board from 1994 to 1996. In 1997, Mr. Young was made an Honorary Alum, and he was named as a Life Trustee in 1998. From 1998 to 2004, he served as Chair of the Hockaday Tomorrow Campaign.
Lower School Science Teacher Amy Banks will serve as The Barney Young Distinguished Teacher, effective July 1, 2024. Amy’s joy for teaching and interest in encouraging a love of science in Hockaday's youngest learners are remarkable. Her devotion to Hockaday girls over the past 20 years is evident daily and visible to her colleagues and Lower School parents in all she does. Amy’s innovative approaches to teaching help girls develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they become enthusiastic science students.
Amy has been a teacher at Hockaday since 2004 and teaches Second, Third, and Fourth Grade Science. In addition, Amy created and co-teaches the Fourth Grade Maker Education course “Create, Collaborate, and Innovate” and the new Third Grade course “Science and Social Impact.” Before coming to Hockaday, she worked as a molecular genetics research scientist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX and Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT.
Amy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction with Graduate Certification in STEM from the University of Cincinnati. While in graduate school, she received the 2017 Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the College of Education.
In 2018, Amy was awarded the Prentiss Grant to enable summer travel to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. In 2019, she was awarded second place in the Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching, an annual state competition sponsored by the Texas Medical Association.
Amy has served on many school-wide committees, including the Load and Compensation, Safety, and Program Committees. Amy and her husband, Matt, have a daughter, Kathryn ’15, who recently graduated from the University of Chicago School of Law.
THE ACKERMAN FAMILY DISTINGUISHED TEACHER
Dr. Lauren Miskin, Middle School English Teacher
In April, the School received a gift from the Edward and Wilhelmina Ackerman Foundation to endow a sixth Distinguished Teacher position, The Ackerman Family Distinguished Teacher. This impactful gift made by the Foundation, Samantha Ackerman Asch ’91 Paula Ackerman Menendez ’87, David B. Ackerman, Eddie Ackerman, Emma Mechtilda Simons ’21, and Lilly Wilhelmina Simons ’24 continues and builds on the Ackerman family’s significant commitment to Hockaday and Hockaday’s faculty. The Ackerman family previously endowed The Ackerman Family Endowment for Faculty Support and Recognition, The Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Ackerman Endowed Faculty Fund and Financial Aid Fund, and The Dr. Beverly Lawson Endowment Fund in support of the Science Department and has supported the School in many other significant ways.
Middle School English Teacher, Dr. Lauren Miskin, will serve as The Ackerman Family Distinguished Teacher, effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Miskin joined Hockaday’s English Department in 2018 as a Middle and Upper School teacher. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Classical Studies from the College of New Jersey, a Master of Arts in English from Drew University, and a PhD in British Literature from Southern Methodist University. Before joining Hockaday's faculty, Dr. Miskin received SMU’s Hughes Fellowship and held a Lecturer post at the University of Texas, Arlington. Her academic research explores the interplay between fashion and literature and has been featured in several peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Miskin embodies the spirit of excellence, innovation, and mentorship in every facet of her work. She strives to show her students that literary studies can offer new perspectives and glimpses into history while also teaching them the concrete skills of analysis and self-expression they will need throughout their lives. She is gifted in curriculum design and pedagogy, constantly evaluating and improving, resulting in an innovative Eighth Grade English Social Impact class and several cross-disciplinary collaborations. Her clear understanding of how to teach the art of writing and analysis of literature ignites a passion for storytelling and critical thinking within her students.
Dr. Miskin cultivates a sense of belonging and collaboration in her classroom, which nurtures her students’ growth as writers and individuals. Her leadership in launching the Middle School Writing Center interns and her thoughtful plan for expanding this work in the Lower School is transforming how all our students view the writing process. Beyond the classroom, Lauren Miskin is a mentor, generously sharing her innovative approaches and wisdom with colleagues and enriching the Hockaday community.
JILL DORMAN Health Services, 13 Years
LINDA HILL Upper School Math Teacher, 8 Years
BARBY POWER Administrative Assistant to Head of Upper School, 33 Years
JUSTINO RODRIGUEZ Groundskeeper, 34 Years
FRANCISCO DE LA ROSA Groundskeeper, 12 Years
JESUS LARES Maintenance, 34 Years
SUNNY D'APICE Private Music Instructor, 28 Years
Alumnae WEEKEND
WELCOME Home!
Alumnae Weekend was a wonderful way to reconnect on campus and celebrate our shared Hockaday history. Alumnae from around the country returned to campus for the Alumnae Day Luncheon and Awards Program, Reception Honoring Young Alumnae and Alumnae Affinity and Special Interest Groups, and Family Picnic. The Class of 2024 was formally initiated to the Alumnae Association by Alumnae President Abby Hoak-Morton ’05 (opposite page, below right). Members of the Class of 1974 (left), who celebrated their 50th Reunion, wrote letters to their Fourth Grade pen pals and enjoyed a special reception. Hockaday is grateful to event chair Mallory Fosdick Leblanc '01 (below left) for her leadership.
Above: Julia Small '24, Hockaday Medal awardee Nicole Ginsburg Small '91, Sadie Small (Class of 2027)
Below left: Hockaday Honorary Alum awardees Tymesia Smaw and Sabrina Kessee with Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Laura Leathers
HOCKADAY MEDAL Award
NICOLE GINSBURG SMALL '91
ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION President
ABBY HOAK-MORTON '05
ALL-SCHOOL Celebration
Students and faculty celebrated the end of the year with an all-school gathering and popsicles on Ashley H. Priddy Commencement Terrace! Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Laura Leathers thanked everyone for an amazing year and reminded students to live out the Four Cornerstones this summer. Students heard remarks from Sunnie Wang (Class of 2025), Tori Fair (Class of 2025), and Franny Ombrello (Class of 2028). Lower School students Zara Weathers (Class of 2033), Dorothy Carter (Class of 2033), Keza Atigo (Class of 2034), and Coco Desai (Class of 2035) gave examples of how students could practice the Four Cornerstones when they are away from campus this summer. It was a perfect way to end the 2023–2024 School Year!
ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE HOCKADAY COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE 2023–2024 ANNUAL FUND! YOUR GIFT MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON CAMPUS THIS YEAR, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
